《Sky-cracking Rider》 Chapter 1: Section 1 - Ive been tricked! In the undulating expanse of the vast Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, a peculiar buzzing noise suddenly pierced through the chaotic mountain wind. The air vibrated violently and the sound quickly turned into a rumble echoing between the mountains. A crude-looking gyroplane lacking even an outer shell skimmed the ridge''s wild grass at high speed, gradually descending and diving toward a relatively flat hillside. The tricycle''s three fixed wheels soon pressed down onto the gravelly ground; the rough landing causing the gyroplane, colloquially known as a "tricycle," to lurch once, twice, three times before the slope neutralized its forward momentum, sliding to a stop after a short distance. "Warning, warning, number 4489, you have entered Aircrew Base 911''s airspace control zone, please leave immediately, Warning! Warning! No.4489, ... " The public frequency radio on the two-seater gyroplane suddenly blared warnings in multiple languages. The gyroplane''s pilot with high brows, a prominent nose, and a face full of weathered beard picked up the radio''s handset and responded irritably, "What''s with all the yelling? Bloody hell, it''s constant nagging. I''m leaving right now." After a string of curses and with visible annoyance, he hung up the microphone, unbuckled his safety belt, and climbed out of his seat, still grumbling under his breath about the "melon-headed private contractors at Aircrew Base, using feathers as Mandate Arrows, precious like a dragon''s... " The Empire''s graveyard, a land of a hundred battles, with harsh mountains and waters¡ªthe tough people of this cursed land are just so bold! The gyroplane pilot proactively helped the passenger in the back seat unload the luggage from the rack, then skillfully gestured with his thumb, index, and middle finger extended. No offense meant, time to pay up! "I can only take you this far, a thousand Star Yuan as agreed, no receipt." In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, who needed a receipt for flying unregistered? "Tricycles" didn''t pay taxes, and picking up passengers was just a side hustle while going out for groceries; it wasn''t even considered a proper self-employed business, just akin to setting up a market stall. "Uncle, how about we use Alipay?" The young passenger was about to pull out his phone. The bearded gyroplane pilot shook his AK automatic rifle that was slung haphazardly behind him, nodded towards the surroundings nonverbally, and said, "Uncle, my ass, I''m only nineteen this year. Electronic payment? Do you think there''s a civilian mobile communication base station nearby?" His colloquial speech was definitely of Level 8 proficiency, even rarer with the regional dialect. As he spoke, he even gave a thumbs-up. Drumming up business and selling mutton pots, this strategy could work. However, the handwritten name on the business card was Karzai, while the name of the pilot on the flight app was Muhammad, surprisingly not the same. Had he just flown with an unregistered flyer? "Mmm-hmm! See you!" Fearing to speak amiss and be greeted with a burst from an AK, the young passenger mumbled his farewell and waved to the double-seated gyroplane as it fired up its engine. "See you next time, off I go!" The bearded gyroplane pilot released the handbrake and the double-seated gyroplane turned its head and rushed down the slope, picking up speed. The "Tricycle" began to eagerly bounce again; once, twice, thrice, the vehicle suddenly sank and then vanished below the slope. This slope did have an end, and below was a steep drop of hundreds of meters¡ªdeadly! "Littl..." The young passenger''s heart lifted as he witnessed this scene. Before he could shout out the word "little," he saw the double-seated gyroplane reappear, quickly climbing with the help of an updraft, and could even hear the distant, strained singing of the bearded pilot. "I''m sending you away, thousands of miles apart..." What year was this old song from? He couldn''t remember! When the humming of the gyroplane''s blades stirring the air disappeared into the sky, the young passenger looked down at the electronic map and satellite positioning on his phone screen. Indeed, there was no signal from the mobile communication base station, only the satellite position signal remained. Looking around at the desolate, uninhabited mountains, he let out a long breath. I, Chen Fei! Damn, I''ve been had! - ``` Chapter 2: Section 2 - "Fei Carrying a large backpack and dragging a suitcase, Chen Fei stood there in a daze for a moment before he figured out the electronic map and prepared to start off following the walking navigation directions. As he lifted his foot, he heard someone shouting. "Hey, I blazed this trail and I planted these trees. If you want to get through, leave some cash as toll!" "This is a stick-up! Men to the left, women to the right, and those neither stand still where you are." "Come on, get serious. We''re robbing here!" Then there was another burst of giggles and laughter. Chen Fei looked towards the sound and saw a row of little heads lined up on a ridge not far away, making faces at him. Turned out it was a bunch of brats playing tricks. "Ali, Amier, Maowli, you guys are acting up again. There was just a gyroplane overhead. Who has come?" A pleasant female voice came over, and those little rascals disappeared in the blink of an eye, scattering like rats when they see a cat. "Hi! Hello there!" Chen Fei took the initiative to call out loudly. "Are you... the new teacher?" A young girl appeared in Chen Fei''s field of vision, her ponytail casually slung to one side as she stood tall and graceful on the opposite ridge. "No, I''m not a teacher," Chen Fei quickly waved his hand, pointed in the direction the electronic map was showing, and continued, "I am going to the 911 Aircrew Base." That 911 Aircrew Base, warned about on the public radio channel, was his destination. "Not a teacher?" The girl seemed slightly disappointed, but she quickly adjusted her emotions, looked Chen Fei up and down, and asked, "My name is Shen Fei, ''Shen'' with three drops of water, ''Fei'' as in fragrant grass and flowers." In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, it was most common to see native Patan People, or else members of the Ta Ethnic Group or Taimuli People. Visitors from the Northeastern directions were least common, even rarer than the ethnic minorities themselves. "Hi, I''m Chen Fei, ''Chen'' as in the Chen from the East, ''Fei'' as in right and wrong." Chen Fei, who had traveled such a long distance to the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and unexpectedly met a fellow countryman, suddenly felt much better. At least here, he was no longer alone. Moreover, both of their names shared the homophonic ''fei,'' which could be considered a kind of fate in some sense. "Exactly, fellow villager. I''m very happy to meet you, Chen Fei!" The young girl crossed over the ridge and came towards Chen Fei in a mix of deep and shallow steps. Fellow villagers meeting each other was like long-separated brothers, and a sense of closeness spontaneously arose. "Thank you, but there is no need. I''m in a hurry." Chen Fei shook his head. Having been delayed on the road for too long, he had to complete his registration today, or the consequences would be severe. "Okay then!" Shen Fei did not persist, but instead waved at a few little boys running wild in the courtyard. "Amier, bring me my gun and two magazines. Also, grab a bag of bread." "Amier" was one of the brats who had just attempted to "verbally rob" Chen Fei. "Got it, Teacher!" One of the little boys, kicking up his heels, dashed into a room and soon came out proudly carrying a black and shiny Type 95 automatic rifle on his back, with two loaded magazines and a bulging plastic bag in his arms. Chen Fei''s gaze went blank. Following his gaze, Shen Fei guessed what had surprised Chen Fei and smiled, "Here, every family has a gun. Firearms and ammunition are necessities of life. The children learn to handle guns from a young age and know their limits. Don''t worry!" In Chen''s and Shen''s hometown, letting an underage child so carelessly flaunt a lethal weapon through the streets was simply unthinkable. Taking the Type 95 automatic rifle and magazines from the approaching boy, Amier, Shen Fei handed them to Chen Fei and said, "Here, take these. Consider it a loan from me. It''s for self-protection, and also a token of trust. You know how to use it, right? This is the safety, this is the fire selector, and this is the trigger. Remember the safety to avoid accidental discharge. Take the bread for the road as well; I made it myself, it tastes quite good." "I can use it, thank you. But what about you?" Chen Fei, having immediately snapped out of his surprise, hurriedly took the gun and magazines. With the gun and magazines totaling ninety bullets, he could handle small bands of bandits and packs of wolves, indeed ensuring personal safety. "I still have a small revolver and a few grenades." The warm-hearted local, Shen Fei, simply shrugged her shoulders. Being the only school within a hundred-mile radius, it was actually quite safe. Moreover, the local customs were tough; in case of an emergency, they would not just stand by idly. The Type 95 automatic rifle obtained through the 911 Aircrew Base was not just for self-defense but also held a sentimental attachment, a reminder of her home. That''s why there was a carved peachwood fish hanging from the barrel. There were plenty of battered AKs locally, any original factory ones were unheard of. As years went by, the inner stresses were released, and the frame had warped, mostly becoming a mix of unidentified, locally made mishmash. Due to low technical demands, these old models had an exceptional vitality. As for sentimentality, there were hardly any precise replicas, and none with a peachwood fish tied to their muzzles except for this unique one. Locals would know at first glance to whom this rifle belonged. "Thank you, Teacher Shen, I will return the gun to you as soon as possible." Chen Fei once again expressed his gratitude. For her to lend her gun for self-defense to someone she had just met was a favor he needed to remember. - Chapter 3: Section 3 - Right Hand Grabs Rice, Left Hand Picks Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, he slung his Type 95 automatic rifle over his shoulder, carried his mountaineering pack, and dragged his large suitcase, continuing on his way. There was actually no path on the ground, but where many people had walked, one had formed on its own. The mountain school where Shen Fei worked was connected to the 911 Aircrew Base by a sheep trail that wasn''t shown on the electronic map of the phone, but in reality, it was clearly there. As long as he followed the trail, he had no worry about getting lost. The nearby "tricycle" driver who dropped off Chen Fei¡ªwho didn''t know whether to call him Karzai or Muhammad¡ªdid have some conscience after all, sparing him from taking a wrong turn. - The last glimmer of sunlight finally vanished behind the mountains'' ridges, and Chen Fei finally reached the 911 Aircrew Base, situated on high ground, just before sunset. Glancing at the health bracelet on his left wrist, he had taken a total of 42,531 steps that day, which was about 21 kilometers. The small peach-wood fish hanging on the gun''s sight seemed to be more convincing than an ID card and he breezed through the gate without any trouble. The personnel manager of the aircrew base was a guy who sported dark circles under his eyes every day. His name was Takar, a man of high caste but with the brown skin of a lower caste. Takar was enjoying his dinner, coffee chicken rice, and a small dish of lentil sauce, and he believed that eating with one''s right hand while picking one''s bum with the left was traditional, environmentally friendly, low-carbon living, and that it saved toilet paper. He thought it was worth promoting and popularizing. Hearing the knock, he said without looking up, "Come in!" Noticing the person who had pushed the door and come to his desk, Takar looked up, slightly surprised, and said, "Uh, want a bite?" A standard language proficiency rate had already exceeded 80%. Except for primitive natives who had never encountered civilized society, anyone with a basic education could understand and speak it, and even write it to some extent, though the intonation might be a bit odd, creating a new dialectal accent. The room was filled with the pungent smell of curry, the insanely spicy kind that almost made Chen Fei instinctively want to cover his nose, but out of politeness, he resisted the urge and said, "No thanks, I''m here to report for duty." After speaking, he handed over a set of paper documents across the table. Chen Fei didn''t mind spicy food, but this particular spicy curry made him feel vaguely uncomfortable, as if it were heretical and should be put on a burning stake. "Let me take a look." Takar pushed his food bowl aside and, without even wiping his hands, took the documents, leaving several shit-yellow fingerprints on the paper. "Chen Fei, 22 years old, undergraduate in Economics, has an older brother and a younger sister at home, not too bad. We never hire only children here. Let me see... weak Magical Elemental Affinity, no talent in spiritual power, unable to condense a Battle Qi Seed, no martial arts training, no Ability Awakening, a standard commoner. Why didn''t you continue your studies? After all, it''s a way out!" Takar muttered to himself as he flipped through the pages. Even paying for enforced execution might not be effective; they could be detained a few days only to be released to continue their carefree life, that''s how shameless they are. But once the younger sister is labeled a dishonest person and a deadbeat, it''s not just her own misfortune. It would also bring disaster upon her family members, with the elder brother''s loan for the marital home consequently going nowhere. Unable to afford a marital home, the wedding would be off! If the debt guaranteed by the younger sister was to be repaid, clearing the crisis of being a dishonest person, the down payment for the mortgage they had barely managed to pool would inevitably be drained. The result would still be the same. Unable to afford a marital home, the wedding would be off! When the entire family was out of options, Chen Fei, the second child, had to take the initiative to sacrifice himself. Lacking a formal job as collateral, he had no choice but to borrow 5 million Star Yuan from the credit company, conducting a loan transfer business. By turning the guarantor''s loan into a personal loan, he didn''t pay any less in service fees. This briefly resolved the pressing problem of the Chen Family. To repay this debt, Chen Fei had to give up his plans for postgraduate study, pack his bags, and come to this desolate place where not even the birds would defecate to work to repay the debt, deducting the principal and interest from his salary. The time frame was... a lifetime, whenever the debt was paid off, that would be the end of it. The original plan for postgraduate studies obviously went up in smoke, as the family no longer had the time nor the extra money for Chen Fei to continue his education and studies. The so-called five insurances and one fund were actually life insurance. In case of any accidents, the personal accident insurance and the war reparations just happened to amount to the principal of 5 million Star Yuan. The creditor wouldn''t lose a penny, a true case of ''debt dies with the debtor.'' Every day Chen Fei lived meant one more day of interest for the credit company. Such loan businesses were only available to young people fresh out of school. Companies having difficulty recruiting could get the workforce they needed while presenting it as a win-win for all parties, fulfilling everyone''s needs. But, for such a huge amount of debt like Chen Fei''s, only graduates from prestigious universities qualified. "Poor guy!" Takar shook his head. He didn''t know the full story behind it but could understand the miserable situation of being pursued for debt. After looking over the contract in front of him, he leaned back lazily and said, "Alright then! You''ve passed the interview!" - Chapter 4: Section 4 - Deduct from Your Rice Bowl Takar, the supervisor at the 911 Aircrew Base, formally accepted the employment contract and then took out a stack of documents, pushing them forward as he explained, "From now on, don''t casually borrow money from those vampires. Now that you''re here, settle down and get to work. This is the probation agreement, in triplicate. Sign and fingerprint it. Do you have a copy of your ID? No worries if not, there''s a copier nearby. After you pass probation, you''ll sign the formal temporary work contract." Takar didn''t notice the unusual gaze of the young man across the desk. He kept opening drawers until finally, he took out a card, placed it on the card reader connected to the computer, and left many shit-yellow marks on the keyboard and mouse. After retrieving the signed agreement, he then threw the card over and began rambling about matters related to starting the job. "Here! This is your work card. Both your meal costs and take-home pay are on it. It can be linked to mobile payment, and this month''s meal allowance has already been preloaded. It''s also your dormitory access card¡ªroom B13. It serves as a pass card too. If a door opens with it, you can enter; if not, keep your distance. Don''t ever lose it; I suggest hanging it around your neck. If you lose it, come find me immediately. Starting now, you''re a rookie at 911. Tomorrow someone will take you to get your uniform and go through your induction training." "Thank you!" Chen Fei said thanks, preparing to put away his work card. His agreement with the creditor was officially fulfilled; he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, there was no delay, or else a significant penalty fee would''ve been added. Suddenly, Takar stretched out his hand, pressed his index finger against the work card in front of Chen Fei, and said with a smirking face, "Hold on a second, rookie, are you very short of money?" Chen Fei honestly replied, "Yes!" After all, he was carrying a debt of 5 million Star Yuan and now had to indenture himself to work off the debt; claiming he wasn''t short on money would definitely be a lie. The terms on the employment contract couldn''t hide the fact of Chen Fei''s financial distress, as it clearly stated that the credit company would take 95% of his monthly salary, leaving him with only 5%. Takar''s eyes gleamed mischievously. The human resources manager made a sleazy gesture and chuckled lewdly. Bang!~ The bowl filled with curry-topped rice flipped over in an instant, covering the head and face of the 911 Aircrew Base''s human resources manager in curry rice and chicken. Chen had been fed up with this creep, truly a pervert who deserved to be burnt at the stake. Chen Fei, always a good student who loved to learn, never hit people without reason. Of course, scumbags don''t count as people; hitting them doesn''t matter. "What''s going on?" Suddenly, the office door was pushed open, and a passerby from security, hearing the commotion, came in to check the situation. Chen Fei, face cold, remained silent. It was a pity that he couldn''t afford the fees to travel to the Otherworld; the thought of visiting the Cangqiong Realm had to be buried in his heart. Beyond the "Halo" Stargate controlled by Cybertrom, there were also a few other Stargate Rings on Blue Star leading to the Primordial Realm, which connected to a resource-depleted world of endless desolation. There was nothing worth seeing there but slowly crumbling ruins in a world of flying sand and rolling stones, and it was extremely dangerous. "New here?" An elderly voice brought Chen Fei back to reality. "Yes, yes!" Chen Fei quickly responded. A second after clearly seeing who it was, he was stunned and exclaimed, "A Neanderthal?" As remnants of the Third Era Civilization, the Neanderthals initiated the "Three Realms Integration War" thirty years ago. It was a desperate cross-realm invasion that caught the Blue Star Realm completely off guard. Unable to withstand the combined forces of two worlds towards the latter part of the war, they were ultimately defeated - and they nearly went extinct from it. The human civilization of the Blue Star Realm didn''t fare much better either; as the saying goes, "When cannons go off, gold is lost by the tons." Nuclear weapons were thrown about as if they cost nothing, and that expenditure of fireworks consumed countless GDP. Many countries'' economies regressed, making life miserable for their citizens; it took at least twenty years to finally recover a little. Since the battlefield was also located in the Blue Star Realm itself, the natural environment spoiled by strong nuclear radiation wasn''t something that could be completely restored with just a few decades or a century. Mutated creatures born from nuclear wastelands had once overrun the region, along with uncontrollable deadly bacteria and viruses; it''s only in recent years that they had been somewhat contained, but the aftermath was as drastic as another "Three Realms Integration War." After the war, the remnants of the Neanderthal tribes chose to integrate into the large family of Blue Star Realm human civilization; at least they didn''t have to worry about being driven back to the hopeless Primordial Realm. In some ways, it could be considered achieving their strategic goal, but at too great a cost: the Twelve Overlord Tribes scattered and the Starry Red Flame Flag of the Supreme Council would never rise again. Their sparse population resembled that of an endangered species. The Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens of the Blue Star Realm were from the same lineage; the two species had no reproductive barriers. Common folks were not too resistant to their integration. After all, Neanderthal ladies and lads were quite attractive (in warfare), and soon after the war, numerous hybrids like the Black Neanderthals, White Neanderthals, and Yellow Neanderthals were born. In a hundred or two hundred years, pureblood Neanderthals would likely become a myth¡ªa result delightfully accepted by the upper echelons of the Blue Star Realm''s human civilization. Coming across an elder Neanderthal man in this remote aircrew base in the mountains was somewhat unexpected for Chen Fei. Neanderthals had distinctive physical characteristics that made them easy to identify. Both men and women, old and young, were generally tall and had special tattoos, with War Professionals bearing even denser and more striking red tattoos. If it weren''t for nearby lights, Chen Fei might have mistaken the glowing bald head and blood-colored tattoo-covered face for a malevolent spirit lurking in the dark. "Neanderthal? Such a nostalgic name!" The old man seemed to sink into memories and suddenly chuckled hoarsely, "Ha, I''m old, always reminiscing about the past. Hey, new rookie, what''s your name?" Chen Fei obediently answered, "Hello, my name is Chen Fei, the Chen of ''east'', and Fei of ''right and wrong''." Despite the deep wrinkles beneath his blood-colored tattoos, he knew that he was no match for the old man¡ªnot even if he were up against one of his arms or legs. The elder could effortlessly pin him to the ground and pummel him, and that''s without the elder using any Secret Techniques. If he were to deploy one, ensuring that Chen''s head would be ejected over a hundred meters away was guaranteed. - Chapter 5: Section 5 - Todays Neanderthal "Young man, have you had dinner? I''ll take you to the cafeteria," The old man was carrying a toolbox in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, looking quite relaxed and natural, probably already used to the surprised looks from people like Chen Fei. After all, the Neanderthal army of the Third Era Civilization had nearly beaten humanity on Blue Star to death. "No need, I have bread!" Chen Fei pointed to the plastic bag hanging from his suitcase. Inside were hand-made bread rolls given to him by Shen Fei, enough for two meals. If he didn''t eat them while they were fresh and missed the best taste, it would be a pity. Hand-made bread doesn''t contain various additives, so it''s more prone to spoilage if not stored properly. "Young man, how can you just eat bread? Order a couple of side dishes, have a drink with me ¨C I''m buying. I''ll take you to your dorm afterwards, how about that? It won''t cause any delays," The old man from the Neanderthal Tribe proudly gestured with the alcohol bottle in his hand, a short, opaque, white glass bottle that Chen Fei was very familiar with. The senior wasn''t short on money; that one bottle alone was worth a whole month''s probationary wage for Chen Fei. Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, then eventually nodded his head. Being new here, he couldn''t afford to offend people by refusing casually. Accompanying a senior Neanderthal for a drink wasn''t a loss, and he might even learn more about the Aircrew Base, which could help him integrate more quickly. "Hmm, a teachable scholar indeed!" The elderly Neanderthal nodded and swayed as he led Chen Fei to the Aircrew Base''s cafeteria. The cafeteria was open 24 hours for service, available anytime, with flexible meal times and not many people in the spacious dining room. After requesting pig ears, beef tongue, and drunken fish as appetizers from the on-duty chef, Chen Fei followed the old Neanderthal man to a table and sat down. Just as they had settled down, a loud roaring sound came from outside. Looking through the cafeteria''s glass curtain wall, two propeller planes descended from the sky, one after the other. Their landing gear touched down lightly on the brightly lit runway; they slid for a while before they started turning toward the hangar. Following Chen Fei''s curious gaze, the elder Neanderthal picked up a strip of pig ear with his chopsticks, took a slurping sip of alcohol, and said vaguely, "Nothing to see, A-39B, cheap toys, buzzing around in the sky like annoying big flies." Chen Fei acknowledged with an "Oh," retracted his gaze, picked up a drinking cup, and said, "Grandpa Barut, what about your family?" The Neanderthal elder Barut didn''t care at all about the ''unpacking chef''s'' enraged embarrassment. Not convinced? Bring it on and consider it post-dinner exercise. He could easily pin the guy to the ground, and then "I can''t help myself on the way back, friction, friction..." my skateboard shoes! "Manager Takar said someone will take me for orientation training tomorrow, and then my position will be confirmed." Chen Fei had only completed the registration process and didn''t know his position yet. He guessed that the position would be confirmed after the orientation training was over. Barut took a piece of bread from the plastic bag on the table, took a bite, and nodded, saying, "Hmm, not bad, this bread was made by Teacher Xiao Shen, right?" "Eh? Grandpa Barut, you know Shen Fei too?" Chen Fei was quite surprised that this Neanderthal elder could distinguish the maker of the bread. "Everyone at the 911 base knows that girl. She''s a nice young lady. The other head chef also makes bread, but it''s not as fluffy. The eggs he uses come from feed-fed chickens and lack the taste of eggs. But this is different. Being old with bad teeth, I can only eat these soft things, hmm, not bad at all, young man, bring me some more next time." The Neanderthal elder Barut continued to happily munch on the bread, seemingly enjoying the bread that Chen Fei brought. After devouring one in just a few bites, he even took another. The bread made by the other head chef Abel could knock a person senseless, a far cry from the bread made by Teacher Shen Fei from the Patan People School nearby the base, which was the complete opposite. Chen Fei followed suit, grabbed a piece of bread, and paired it with pig''s ears, beef tongue, and dried drunken fish, then took a swig of alcohol, finding the flavor quite good. ... - Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep! Chen Fei was awakened by his phone''s alarm clock. He opened his eyes to see the light streaming through the gaps in the venetian blinds and dust particles floating in the beam of light. The modularly designed dormitory area B13 housed a single-person room, square and proper, no more than twelve square meters in size, just enough space for a wardrobe, a single bed, a desk with bookshelves, and a small shower-equipped bathroom. Even though the conditions were spartan, with barely enough space for personal activities or for additional furniture, the fully-equipped dormitory was more than satisfactory for Chen Fei. Being new to the place, having stable electricity and 24-hour hot water supply was pretty good for a place to stay. After a quick wash, just as he hung the towel, he heard someone pounding on the door with great force. There really was a doorbell, but the person outside didn''t seem to like using it. Thud thud thud... the knocking grew even more forceful. - Chapter 6: Section 6 - Genuine Fragrance "Here it comes!" The sudden knocking startled Chen Fei, who quickly guessed its source and hurriedly opened the door. The sunlight that spilled into the room was momentarily blocked, as if a small mountain had abruptly appeared; he couldn''t help but widen his eyes. Standing outside was a tall, expressionless, and burly man who glanced at Chen Fei and handed over a thick bag, saying, "Change into these clothes, and then follow me to start the job." A distinct, indescribable smell of machine oil hit him, and the light grey overalls could not hide the big, rippling muscles; the man was at least two meters tall, his head could easily hit the doorframe. With such a size, no wonder he didn''t like the effeminate tinkling of a doorbell; even his light knocking sounded like hammering. "Oh, thank you!" Chen Fei took the bag, which contained work clothes, and was about to close the door to change when he suddenly remembered something, opened the door again, and asked, "Did you just say this is for onboarding training?" The man had seemingly omitted the word "training" earlier. The man still expressionless, said, "No training, straight to starting the job, I am the chief mechanic, Xiao Ming." The promised onboarding training was gone; it was a push into the deep end. It was probably that inhuman HR manager, Takar, playing tricks, eliminating the training undoubtedly made the job much harder. Just arrived at Aircrew Base 911, hit with a stern challenge right away, starting off in the mechanical repair group, hell-level difficulty from the start. That old Neanderthal, Barut, was right about one thing ¡ª the HR manager is really not a nice guy! Though Aircrew Base 911 was privately contracted, it was ultimately a military unit with many secrets that could not be disclosed, especially to newcomers like Chen Fei, who were also not free to pry. However, during the drink last night, as fellow workers, Barut still shared quite a bit, either explicitly or implied, giving Chen Fei a heads-up, preventing him from bumping into walls repeatedly. In return, the big bag of homemade bread that Teacher Shen Fei gave to Chen Fei ended up entirely in the stomach of that old Neanderthal man. So old and still such an eater! "Alright, just a moment, please!" As a rookie, Chen Fei had no right to question and had to quickly change into his work clothes, appearing once more in front of the chief mechanic, Xiao Ming. The light grey jumpsuit with spacious pockets made Chen Fei look rather sharp. "Follow me!" Xiao Ming didn''t say much and turned around briskly to walk away. He didn''t look back; walking quickly with a whoosh, his voice came again. "Are you specialized in aviation? Do you have a CCAR license?" Eagerly catching up, Chen Fei honestly replied, "No, I don''t, I am..." Before he could finish, Xiao Ming interrupted and continued to ask, "Do you have a pilot''s license?" The tone was inexplicably stern; irrelevant with the wrong profession, any question seemed redundant. In stark contrast to the bustling activity in Hangar 1, a group of seven or eight guys occupied a small area; some were exercising with gym equipment, others lay on beach chairs, nonchalantly drinking beverages, some wore headphones, their eyes closed as they enjoyed the music, and some were engrossed in reading thick books, while others scrolled through their phone screens. None of them were doing any proper work, instead engaging in various activities. One of them, noticing Xiao Ming and Chen Fei, immediately burst into an exaggerated cry, "Hey, Captain Xiao Xiu, you''re early today. And who''s the new guy beside you? He looks unfamiliar. Hei-mo-hei-mo..." He even winked at Chen Fei, displaying a slick and incorrigible demeanor. "It''s none of your business, Yamada!" Maintenance Chief Xiao Ming snapped back, irritated. Chen Fei struggled to maintain a harmlessly stiff smile, uncertain of what to say. Yamada¡ªdefinitely not a real name. "Hey, little bro, fancied doing some ''machine'' work?" A short-haired girl licked her lips at Chen Fei, holding a large dumbbell. Her smooth, chocolate-colored skin stretched tight over clearly defined muscles. She wore a cropped sports bra¡ªpack-ab below, small bust above. Doing ''Ji?''? Is it ''machine'' or ''maiden''? Also, who''s the little bro? Chen Fei was a bit dazed. What exactly did the short-haired maiden mean by that! "Back off, he''s my man!" Xiao Ming solemnly declared Chen Fei''s affiliation. ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)_ This, this seems even more ambiguous! "Tss! Machine Bro!" The spirited short-haired girl flicked her middle finger at the tall and burly Maintenance Chief. In Aircrew Base, the maintenance team has a nickname "Machine Bro," known for working intensely on machines along with the flight squadron''s crazy ones, meant in the most literal sense, nothing else. The big boss of the flying squadron is not here at the moment, otherwise, he could have exchanged a few more caustic remarks with the Machine Bro leader. "Ignore them. The flight squadron guys only know how to talk." Xiao Ming lifted his fists, the size of mortar bowls, squeezed them tightly, and proudly declared, "Our maintenance team can fix aircraft, and we can fix them too!" With arms thicker than Chen Fei''s thighs, the latter was speechless. Boss, whatever you say goes. A mixed-race Samoyed with purely natural muscle bumps, inherently reinforced with Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training and Iron Shirt Golden Bell Cover, 360-degree absolute defense, a mere sight of which was intimidating. Pitted against the right opponent, he really didn''t need to fear anyone. - Chapter 7: Section 7 - Lesson 1 The members of the flight squadron burst out into a baffling bout of laughter at the backs of Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming and the newcomer Chen Fei. The arrival of a newcomer in the maintenance team seemed to have given the bored flight squadron an amusing diversion. Whenever a clueless rookie appeared, it often added a good deal of conversation topics to the dull, monotonous life on the base. The interior of Hangar 1 was quite spacious, comfortably accommodating six propeller-driven light attack aircraft and two armed helicopters, with plenty of room left over for rows of neatly arranged shelves and even stacks of standard shipping containers. One of these containers had been converted into the maintenance team''s office, furnished with several sets of tables and chairs and a whole row of personal lockers, allowing space for folding beds to catch a nap during breaks. "Sit!" Leading Chen Fei into the container office, Xiao Ming pointed to a chair and turned to bring over a large dining tray filled with two bowls of white porridge, a plate of large steamed buns, a dish of bacon and fried eggs, a salty vegetable platter, and a large jug of milk, quickly filling the air with the aroma of food. He handed Chen Fei a set of bowls and chopsticks, saying, "This is breakfast, let''s eat together!" "Thanks!" Chen Fei did not stand on ceremon, grabbing a bowl of porridge and eating it with a steamed bun, fried eggs, and several small salty dishes, slurping it down heartily. Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming lived up to his build, wrapping up all of Chen Fei''s leftover food, including the large steaming jug of milk. After clearing his plate and bowl, Xiao Ming brought over a cardboard box and pushed it in front of Chen Fei. "Here, this is your work computer." Chen Fei glanced at the packaging, somewhat surprised. Inside was not just a computer but also the latest model of tablet, the printed specifications on the packaging showed it was light and thin, with local hardware performance that was not lacking and supported cloud technology, far surpassing his old clunker of a laptop from his university days, with included cloud service and hardware performance benefits from cloud hardware acceleration service. "Turn it on, grab this specialized data cable, and come with me!" Xiao Ming tossed over a cable that looked like a snake and headed out of the container office without hesitation, with no intention of introducing Chen Fei to his other colleagues in the maintenance team. Whether or not Chen Fei would ultimately be approved to stay in the maintenance team was still up for debate. If he wasn''t up to snuff, he would still be relegated to the custodial team to sweep floors and haul bricks. Such a dominating and fierce weapon is referred to as "Dragon Slayer Missile" for a reason; once it hits, it instantly turns everything within the blast radius to dust and ashes, and even the tough-skinned giant dragons cannot withstand such a fatal blow. "There! That''s the constant humidity weapon box for the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''. It needs to be charged and decoded before officially being mounted, handled by the weapons team and also involves the use of computers and data cables." Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming indicated the edge of the dedicated work area, where six rectangular silver boxes were stacked together, with the surface of each box also marked with KDK-1, the production date, serial number, and Louis Industries among other inscriptions. Such a massive weapon is usually in a dormant state and is not easily deployed unless a very severe event occurs. "Open the ''Sky Eye Cloud Inspection'' app, first register a personal account, remember to enter your work card number, and let me know once you''re done so I can authorize you." Xiao Ming step by step guided Chen Fei on how to operate the new productivity tool, a tablet computer using a customized encapsulated system with an integrated special key chip, which had been debugged and would automatically connect to the hanger''s WIFI network upon startup. "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" is an aviation maintenance software customized by contractors at the 911 Aircrew Base to assist employees in maintaining aviation equipment. Chief Mechanic Xiao''s way of training newcomers was simple, crude but effective; hands-on is the quickest method, pushing theoretical basics aside. Directly handling this light attack aircraft allows Chen Fei to quickly familiarize himself with the basic work of the maintenance team. The advantage of this approach is quick familiarity with the A-39 light attack aircraft''s modular composition and common faults. However, the drawback is also apparent: it tends to create a biased skill set, and if other models are encountered, he will be completely unprepared, necessitating starting from scratch. As the saying goes, the master leads you to the door, but the practice is up to the individual; if you want to handle more complex and difficult tasks, you need to spend more time accumulating bit by bit. There''s no shortcut, one has to consciously and voluntarily make up for the lack in basics. "Now that the authorization is complete, log out of the account and then log back in, try plugging in this ''Big Mouth Monster,'' and launch the inspection module of the aircraft." Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming skillfully opened the maintenance panel within the work area of the A-39B light attack aircraft, letting Chen Fei connect the other end of the dedicated data cable connected to the tablet, to the corresponding port on the panel, still using the familiar universal compatibility data interface. Drip!~ A signal light on the maintenance panel lit up and quickly changed from a flashing yellow to a steady green. The five-inch LCD screen displayed the words "Maintenance Mode" and "Device Discovered, Connecting..." Another flashing blue signal light then lit up. In the maintenance team, plugging in is the most common operational step. If you cannot even plug in, then what is the point of living? - Chapter 8: Section 8 - Sunflower Seeds, Peanuts, Beer, Airplane... "Connection successful, recognizing device IPv6.Fe80:1c57:6c9d:30a9:4fC5|ID Name: A-39B SN:AFO0058568" "Connection successful, recognizing device IPv6.Q1ed:9xTF:00ED:S557:5A3b|ID Name: Note PAD User: Chen Fei, Work ID: 911-95533" The interface of the "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" on the tablet and the LCD screen of the A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" simultaneously displayed prompts. "First, perform a quick self-check to examine each integrated module of the aircraft. If there are no issues, proceed with specialized in-depth tests, focusing on sensors, communication of avionics systems, flight control modules, and engine components." As a young man and a university student, Chen Fei quickly became familiar with the basic operations of the professional maintenance software "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" under the one-on-one guidance of Xiao Ming, the chief airplane mechanic. The basic maintenance work for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft did not require disassembling the aircraft into pieces. By connecting a dedicated data cable to the on-board computer''s maintenance module, the tablet could obtain data sent from sensors in each component, giving a general understanding of the aircraft''s current state. If a fault was discovered, it could be described in one sentence, "replace whatever is broken, So-easy!" The "Big Mouth Monster" had a high degree of integration, even incorporating quick-release designs, allowing modules and assemblies to be easily disassembled and replaced without many tools and equipment. As a professional aviation maintenance software, "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" had even more advanced and complex functions. With the limited access that Chen Fei, a rookie, had just acquired, he could only use the basic mode. Above that, there were intermediate, advanced, and Siege Lion modes. After instructing Chen Fei on how to use "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection," Xiao Ming said very seriously, "Always remember the most important ''Hein''s Rule'': behind every severe accident, there are inevitably 29 minor accidents, 300 near misses, and 1000 potential hazards." If a fighter pilot sacrifices himself in an aerial duel, even if the plane is destroyed and the pilot is killed, it can only be attributed to his lesser skills, fate, or destiny. But allowing a sick fighter to take off, thereby causing unnecessary damage or even casualties, is murder and cannot be forgiven. A plane flying for a minute in the sky requires ten times that in maintenance on the ground, and nothing can be overlooked. The job of the maintenance team is to ensure that the Sky Knights go into battle with reliable weapons and come back alive as much as possible. Following the instructions of Xiao Ming, the chief mechanic, Chen Fei carried a dedicated data cable and plugged it into every aircraft in Hangar 1, not sparing even the two armed helicopters. Armed helicopter: ¨“¨Œ¨“ "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" supports not only the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft but also includes hundreds of other aircraft models, incorporating most of the modified models in the series. Choosing the most remote idle workspace next to a workbench, Chen Fei, with a furrowed brow, held a thick "Big Mouth Monster" technical manual (A) and compared the data just retrieved by the "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" software on his tablet with it, when someone pushing a small cart walked in. "Sunflower seeds, peanuts, beer, airplane cups, space cups, anyone interested?" Sunflower seeds, peanuts, beer, uh... it seems like something strange got mixed in. In fact, even condoms are military supplies. Anything related to the military isn''t strange; it''s just uncommon. Chen Fei''s ears pricked up, and he looked up towards the sound to see a simple-faced man with single eyelids pushing a cart full of items around the hangar. "No, really, I don''t need it, thank you!" He firmly refused to take the two cups being pushed at him as if they were hot coals. The two pushed and shoved for a while, until Pu Aihua finally gave up, sighing, "There''s really no helping it!" Just when Chen Fei thought this guy was about to give up, Pu Aihua turned around and brought out a small nest made of interlaced twigs and grass. "This is a magical beast egg that was given as an extra gift when I was stocking up. It''s really free, please accept it, otherwise you''d be disrespecting me, Pu Aihua, and I would be very upset, which could have serious consequences." It was as if Chen Fei''s refusal to accept the free bird egg was a personal slight against Pu Aihua. A magical beast egg? Chen Fei, bemused, looked at the naturally made bird''s nest, centered around a soft greenish egg no bigger than that of a quail. It was just an ordinary bird''s nest and egg, yet another instance of a merchant''s gift of deceit! Magic beasts were a specialty of the Cangqiong Realm across from the "Halo" Dimensional Gate; even the weakest magical beast had a significant price. Didn''t this business-savvy guy have any clue about that? Not even someone with a mine at home would casually gift a magical beast egg to a person they just met for the first time. That was worse than wasting money, sheer folly. "If it hatches into a powerful magical beast, you''ll have made a fortune." But Pu Aihua, with full sincerity and a smile that brooked no refusal, again aggressively handed over the nest to Chen Fei, along with an extra lovely paper box. If he didn''t accept it today, there would be no end to it. "Alright! I''ll accept this gift, thank you, Brother Pu." Having no other choice, Chen Fei reluctantly took the feather-light charming little nest. If he didn''t accept it now, the other party would surely persist, potentially impacting his work. This was his first day on the job, and if he didn''t make a good impression on his bosses, his future might not look so bright; he might even get metaphorically tripped up. "Open-hearted, you get busy, I won''t disturb you anymore. If you need something, just come find me!" Pu Aihua nodded firmly, patted Chen Fei''s arm, claiming non-disturbance while having taken up several minutes more before finally happily pushing his cart away from hangar one to continue pestering other departments. With the bird nest in hand, Chen Fei wore a helpless expression, wondering what exactly had just happened. Was he just bamboozled? - Chapter 9: Section 9 - Drunk Bear Goes Online "Hey, kid, you''ve been duped and now you owe that guy a favor." The short-haired girl from the Combat Flight Squadron couldn''t stand it anymore and took the initiative to inform Chen Fei, who was still hesitant and didn''t know how to deal with the bird''s nest and eggs. After handling business with the Combat Flight Squadron, Pu Aihua took a long detour, and when he approached this rookie, a few guys from the squadron started betting secretly whether the rookie would be fooled by Pu into losing his bearings and honestly coughing up the money. But nobody expected that Chen Fei was actually destitute, a true millionaire in debt, who traveled thousands of miles to the Aircrew Base 911 to work off his debts and had no spare money to waste. No matter how persuasively the shrewd Pu Aihua talked until his mouth was dry, this guy remained as stingy as a steel rooster, not willing to part with a single cent. Having no other choice, Pu Aihua had to bluff, unwilling to give up the loli without catching the pervert, presented a bird''s nest and eggs he picked up somewhere, pretended they were Magical Beast Eggs, and gave them away in a strategic retreat to cunningly obtain a favor from the inexperienced Chen Fei. Sometimes, a favor is like an ant hole in a dike, which once it becomes a breakthrough, can lead to an uncontrollable situation. Being a college graduate after all, Chen Fei was no fool, just inexperienced. After someone pointed it out, he finally realized. Damn, he had been schemed against again, the cunning merchant! Seeing Chen Fei''s bewildered face, the pilots burst into schadenfreude laughter, the long-awaited fun finally began. Every rookie arriving at the Aircrew Base 911 always got into various embarrassments, which was the most relished topic among all the old birds. Fortunately, he had not really paid any money. Chen Fei forced a smile, shook his head, set aside the box containing the bird''s nest, and picked up the "Big Mouth Monster" manual again to thoroughly understand its content. If he couldn''t grasp the technical details of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft, merely using the basic functions of "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" wouldn''t be enough. Undoubtedly, the towering Chief Mechanic Xiao would demand higher standards from him. Chen Fei''s idea was undoubtedly correct. To stay in the mechanics team, like everyone else, he had to understand these airplanes thoroughly. With Chief Mechanic Xiao''s temperament not tolerating any imperfections, mere entry-level skills had no place here. Occasionally glancing over, Xiao Ming saw Chen Fei still burying his head in diligent study and couldn''t help but nod in approval. Although he was a rookie, at least he had some ambition; leading him would be somewhat easier. Just as Xiao Ming was about to lower his head and continue his work, a shrill alarm suddenly rang in his ears. At the top of the two hangars, multiple red lights flashed continuously. Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming shouted without hesitation, "First Level Combat Readiness! Attention everyone, first level combat readiness, activate Hangar 2!" "Security team report, all personnel in position, First-Level Combat Readiness." "Anti-air group report, anti-aircraft machine gun positions ready, anti-air missile readiness countdown one minute." "Ammunition crew report, requesting authorization to activate ''Dragon Slayer Missiles,'' quantity ten." "Fourth station crew report, operations complete, beginning withdrawal." "Tractor crew report, tow tractor entering the operational area." "Search and rescue team report, ready to deploy at any time." "I am the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911, Morris Morgan. This is a fight for all of us. For the bonus, please give it your all, fight!" Talking about ideals, sentiments, or the future with workers is nonsense; talking about money is the real deal. Taking down a Metallic Dragon not only provides the mission bonus but also its intrinsic value. Just thinking about it is enough to suppress the overwhelming excitement of becoming rich. Immediately, the morale surged throughout the entire base, with each unit operating systematically and without panic, running the emergency combat procedures smoothly. Is the battle going to start now? The newbie Chen Fei felt extremely nervous; having just arrived, he was about to enter into combat, and against the ferocious Metallic Dragon at that¡ªdamn, this place is truly cursed! The biology knowledge of Cangqiong Realm had long been included in the elementary school textbooks of Blue Star Realm; no one was unaware of the Dragon Race and Magical Beasts. "Are you all prepared? Ugh! Comrade Chekhov is already starving for action! Ugh! Hoorah! Ugh..." The loud voice of Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, the commander of the Combat Flight Squadron, carried over from afar, reeking of alcohol and continuously burping, and he was even holding a bottle of Blue Star Erguotou. Last night, he was on a night flight patrol duty, returning only in the late night. He drank so much that his face flared red and his neck swelled, and it was nearly dawn when things finally wrapped up. He was still in a sleep haze when he was awakened by the base-wide alarms, immediately grabbing a bottle of 65-degree Blue Star Erguotou from the bedside, and took a few gulps as a revival drink to clear his mind. "I''ve roamed the Jianghu for more than forty years; what does drinking and flying amount to?" In a rush, he hurried to Hangar 1, still unwilling to put down the bottle. - Chapter 10: Section 10 - You Cannot Fly Straight When Drunk "Report to Major Chekhov, ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron has assembled completely, with seventeen due and seventeen present!" The 911 Aircrew Base''s main combat force, seventeen pilots stood neatly in two rows. The vice squadron leader was that short-haired girl, with her eight-pack abs and a bust size that''s an A ¨C any bigger and, under high G-forces, she would punch herself silly with a deadly uppercut. At the sound of the first alarm, the leisurely pilots in Hangar 1 sprang up like a disturbed henhouse, all bouncing into action. Those working out abandoned their gym equipment without even wiping off sweat, jumping into their anti-g suits still reeking of perspiration; those playing poker tossed their cards aside without a second thought, leaving their bets of Star Yuan notes unclaimed; those who had been eating and drinking immediately got their act together, hurriedly and clumsily getting dressed for duty. Those who were still catching up on sleep in their quarters rushed over, shuffling along with their shoes half-on and clothes in hand, tumbling and scrambling to get there. The 911 Aircrew Base''s combat flight squadron is oddly named "Genuine Fragrance", which sounds quite peculiar indeed, lacking the fierce and majestic aura, as if chosen at random. Yet, when connected to the pilots'' call signs, it starts to make a bit of sense. Squadron Leader Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov goes by the call sign "Peanut Butter", and the vice squadron leader, the short-haired girl Iline Rusios, uses the call sign "Devil Pepper", with others adopting various condiment sauces as their flying monikers. All these seasonings gathered together, Emmm... genuinely fragrant! It also implies a ravenous hunger for battle. Squadron Leader Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, with a bloated belly and puffing with the stench of alcohol, strolled around and bellowed, "Comrades, good, uh! Comrades, thank you for your hard work. Let''s start checking the combat tasks, uh! Anyone fancy a drink?" He shook his head, feeling absolutely great. Drinking kept the brain alert, no flying in a straight line, and nobody could shoot the transcendentally awesome Comrade Chekhov down from the skies. A randomly moving Brownian motion curve is unpredictable. Unless you close your eyes and blindly shoot, using probability to counter chaos, it''s impossible to guarantee any hit rate. The justification he found for drunk flying was so ingeniously unique it left one speechless. Utterly convincing! None of the 17 pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron said a word. Erguotou and Na Zi were the squadron leader''s creed; no one wanted trouble for themselves. Seeing no one respond, Chekhov, feeling somewhat disappointed, twisted the bottle cap, pulled down the zipper of his anti-G suit, stuffed the bottle down into his crotch, and thrust out his hips, as if ready to warm up a drink to face Hua Xiong. "201 ready!" "202 ready!" Two MiG-28 jet fighters from Hangar 2 were towed by the tug crew, one behind the other, passing the gate of Hangar 1 and heading to the open apron near the main runway. 201 and 202 were the identification codes of these two MiG Big Babies. The "Made-in-USA MiG" was a joke of sorts, the original being the re-commenced strategic reserve production line of the F-20 "Tiger Shark" jet fighter. This once export celebrity, designed to match the Soviet MiG-21, the second-generation benchmark, could do anything the MiG could. It could even carry AIM-7 Sparrow missiles for BVR combat. Having upgraded its avionics and engine, it still proved to be an ageless sword with great cost-performance ratio: carrying more and flying further, definitely an air dominance weapon for military contractors. Those little turboprops would only be scattered in pieces. Squadron Leader Chekhov from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron boarded a vehicle from the crew transport and headed towards the tarmac to prepare for boarding his aircraft. Kill the Metallic Giant Dragon, and the rewards would be substantial! Before his words had even settled, several sharp, silver spears, flashing at a blinding speed, shot forth and turned two MiG-28 jet fighters that had just arrived on the tarmac into porcupines. The ground crew by the planes stood dumbfounded for a moment and then, as one, their faces paled. They turned to escape, but a tremendous explosion and a burst of brilliant flames instantly swallowed them, along with all of the equipment on the entire tarmac. The ground power unit and refueling vehicle that failed to get away were torn to pieces. "Damn Metallic Giant Dragons, all of them are madmen!" The shockwave that swept in unexpectedly knocked Squadron Leader Chekhov to the ground. He spat out a mouthful of choking smoke and clumsily got up, suddenly remembering something important. He reached down to check himself and immediately broke into a sleazy, smug grin. He chuckled to himself and turned his head to call to his wingman, Basong, the pilot of the MiG-202. "Well, Basong, you will have to be my fire control operator again. Hmm, Basong?!" Fortunately, the "Dragon Slayer Missiles" mounted under the wings had not detonated in full, as their horrific destructive power could have blasted a huge crater in the tarmac and damaged the nearby main takeoff and landing runway, with destructive effects comparable to a full strike from a 400mm caliber main ship''s cannon. Not only would Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov have been killed on the spot, but even the nearby hangar would not have been spared. The two MiG-28 jet fighters were reduced to ashes right before their eyes. However, Chekhov and Basong were also the flight crew for A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft number 211, with "Peanut Butter" Chekhov as the pilot and "Lemongrass" Basong as the fire control operator. Whether flying in formation or together on the same aircraft, the two always had a rapport akin to telepathy, irreplaceable by anyone else. But Basong could no longer respond. He lay motionless on the ground, barely discernable, with most of his head gone. Blood soaked his body, and a single lifeless eye resembling a dead fish stared blankly at the flames and thick smoke rising a hundred meters away. The poor soul hadn''t even boarded the MiG-28 jet fighter before the explosion of this "Big Baby" took off half of his head, chilling his body rapidly. Poor partner! Chekhov slammed his fist onto the ground in frustration. Three columns of thick smoke rose within the Aircrew Base, as three anti-air missiles, trailing flames, shot into the sky, gaining speed and howling toward the heavens. The dense anti-air artillery emplacements and high-angle guns didn''t dare make a sound, fearing they''d be serving up easy targets. The anti-air missile sites immediately emptied their launchers in the first response. The Metallic Dragons, having evolved into the Digital Dragon Race, now boasted a wider array of attack methods. Any slip could leave you defenseless; so once you engage, you must unleash full firepower without hesitation. You fight as fiercely as possible, pouring in all your effort¡ªperhaps then you might carve a path to survival. - ``` Chapter 11: Section 11 - Come Out, My Fire Control Operator The horrific scene that unfolded before him made Squadron Leader Chekhov swear profusely. Just moments ago, a fire extinguisher canister had flown past his forehead, narrowly missing him as well. This was fate, whether it arrived early or late, choosing to work in this field required this awareness, with no other options available. Two MiG-28s along with one pilot had perished before achieving any victory, but the battle was far from over. Fortunately, the second wave of A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, due to their late arrival, had narrowly escaped destruction. Squadron Leader Chekhov had lost not only his MiG wingman but also the fire control operator of his turboprop. No one would again effeminately beg this Big Bear to smoke less and drink less, insisting on a regular lifestyle with folded hands. Even pilots couldn''t escape the fate of being mere tools¡ªthey needed to know how to fly jets and handle turboprops. Having multiple skills was essential; military contractors might let a jet fighter sit idle but wouldn''t allow pilots to waste away for long. After all, good pilots were built on flying hours and required consistent training to maintain their state; otherwise, spontaneous sorties might not perform much better than those rookies. The "Big Mouth Monster" was somewhat akin to an advanced trainer aircraft, perfectly suited for maintaining touch, and its cockpit layout was nearly identical to that of the MiG-28, which also conformed to NATO standards. This was why the 911 Aircrew Base chose two licensed fake MiGs over the equally cheap real MiGs¡ªto avoid headaches with different standard specifications and data link integration, providing a cost-effective mix of capabilities. The Metallic Dragon that had breached the business area of the 911 Aircrew Base and fired the Dragon Spike from several kilometers away was not unchallenged; at least four combat aircraft, from other aircrew bases, were engaged in a fierce battle with this crazed Dragon of Slaughter. Although the ready apron was a complete mess littered with wreckage of MiG-28s and ground personnel, flames scattered everywhere, and choking black smoke billowing out, it didn''t stop the second squadron of five "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft from taking an unusual route directly through the grass, entering the runway near the apron. Even if the main 1500-meter-long runway was destroyed, the neatly trimmed lawn beside it could also serve as a temporary emergency landing strip, as aircraft that used propellers for propulsion were not fussy about takeoff and landing environments. Moments later, 911 Aircrew Base''s A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft took off in formation, heading straight into the intensely contested airspace. The crisscrossing trajectories of the cannon''s tracer bullets and the massive fireballs from missile explosions instantly intensified the battle. "Eat my sword (Power and Glory)..." Just as the foolish bear Chekhov started shouting, he choked up. Before he could finish his gallant speech, he found himself pulled down, left as just a bare-stick Major, which was absolutely absurd! The jet wingman and turboprop fire control operator had just been truly cracked open; their white brain matter was still spilling out, a sight they could not possibly rise from to fight side by side. On the takeoff portion of the runway, only a solitary "Big Mouth Monster" remained, nowhere to express its desolation but through tears that flowed endlessly. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, being a two-seater model, one Light Chekhov wasn''t enough! Even though one person could operate the aircraft in battle, it ultimately could not match the efficiency of two people working together. The giant bear-like paw grasped him just right, almost as if lifting a small chick. "Put him down, Chekhov, come back here!" Xiao Ming, furious, chased after them. How could he just stand by and watch as his man was snatched away by this big bear, wondering how he''d lead his team in the future? Who knew how this nearly 300-pound Big Bear could run so fast, tossing little Chen Fei over his shoulder and disappearing in just a moment? Indeed, the fastest in the air are the air force, and the fastest on the ground is still the air force, the ancients truly didn''t lie to me. By the time Chief Mechanic Xiao caught up to the take-off stretch of the runway, the only remaining A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft had already started its propeller, emitting a tremendous roaring sound, making it impossible for him to get any closer. When "kidnapped" Chen Fei finally came to his senses, he was terrified to find himself inexplicably stuffed into the cockpit, strapped to his seat with a seatbelt, and even wearing a helmet. Where am I? What am I supposed to do? Hey, hey, I need to get off, this isn''t the plane to kindergarten! The seemingly vile old pilot in the front seat just finished fastening the canopy, fished something out of his crotch, tossed it behind him, then turned his head and laughed maniacally, saying, "Harasho, have a sip, Major Chekhov will take you to put on airs, and fly you high!" He casually threw a hand salute to Chief Mechanic Xiao, who was too late and chasing from outside, bidding him goodbye! Catching the bottle of Blue Star Erguotou, which reeked strongly of Russian essence and even more of bullshit, Chen Fei was at a loss. Could this be the legendary true "plane cup," or perhaps a urine bottle? Ah, this! This caliber... very suspicious! ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)_Chen Fei: Danger!~ Damn it, this stinking big bear is no good! Can I curse? "Chekhov you bastard, you won''t die a good death, fuck your eighteen..." On the ground, Xiao Ming hopped and skipped, his voice soon drowned out by the roar of the "Big Mouth Monster," as Chekhov, who started to accelerate the "Big Mouth Monster," let out a ghostly howl-like crazy laugh. - Chapter 12: Section 12 - The Soul Triplet Despite the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft''s primary roles in reconnaissance, patrol, and ground fire support, and its more than adequate ability to bully unguarded ground targets, it''s not considered an air superiority model. However, occasionally playing the role of ''hit-and-run'' aerial support still falls within its capabilities¡ªit always has some fight in it. Carrying Chekhov and Chen Fei, the "Big Mouth Monster" dashed over three hundred meters on the runway. The nose of the plane suddenly lifted, the landing gear detached from the ground, and the aircraft swiftly soared into the sky, successfully completing the take-off procedure. "Listen, the two of us are now grasshoppers tied to the same string. Whether we can survive now entirely depends on you. Keep an eye on the instruments and buttons in front of you, and start getting familiar with them." After ascending, the unreliable Big Bear Squadron Leader finally started to take things seriously. After all, being high up in the air, the higher you fly, the harder you crash. "Ah?" Chen Fei never even imagined he would become a co-pilot one day. What to do if caught driving without a license? Online waiting, urgent! Traffic Police Comrade: You first come down! But right now, with the aircraft in midair, he couldn''t come down! Chen Fei was almost inclined to wish for death. He quickly threw the liquor bottle under his feet and stepped on it hard. This thing even involved drunk driving! He could already smell the disgusting stench of alcohol in the cockpit. Had this bear not brushed his teeth for hundreds of years? "First, try the communication channels. The control tower will assist you, so recall what you saw in the technical manual." Despite Commander Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov of Aircrew Base Combat Flight Squadron appearing to randomly recruit a strapping fellow, it wasn''t a haphazard selection. When he saw Chen Fei, the rookie was holding a technical manual for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft. Although it was only Book A, with Book B, C, D, E, F, and G still remaining, Book A was the general outline¡ªcovering all module components, including a basic introduction to the functions on the dashboard. Even if it wasn''t an operational flight manual, one could at least understand what was going on, more than enough for a Fire Control Operator''s guidance. Communication channels? Having been shanghaied onto this thieving aircraft, Chen Fei had no choice but to fiddle with the controls on the dashboard, making a sad face. Luckily, the technical manual (A) for the light attack aircraft was still tightly gripped in his hand, so there was still time to flip through the pages if needed. He tried toggling the communication switches a few times. "Roar!~Half-baked Finish, Minotaur! Roar! Eunuch! Roar! Docile face to face, looking like a ghost, complaining Dragon Lord is too tough, all go to die, die! Roar roar roar..." The sudden roar startled Chen Fei, making him hastily adjust the frequency. "What the hell is that noise! Scared the life out of me!" It wasn''t only Chen Fei who heard the sudden roar; Chekhov in the front seat also had the hairs on his back stand up in unison. Just hearing those couple of sentences, they felt this was loaded with an awfully huge amount of information. "It''s not me, I don''t know. That was the public communication channel just now." "I just started learning to fix aircraft, I''m not a pilot." Little Chen Fei was almost crying. He was pushed into this situation like a duck being forced onto a perch, inexplicably stuffed into the cabin. He really wanted to use the thick and heavy technical manual in his hand to slap this unreasonable Big Bear to death. "So where are you? What do you want to do?" Suddenly, Chekhov raised his hands high, then shouted loudly, "Tell me, who are you?" These were almost soul-piercing triple questions. At this moment, nobody was holding the control stick! The "Big Mouth Monster" continued to climb upwards on its momentum for a while, before beginning to turn aimlessly and drift downwards. "Are you insane?" Seeing the Big Bear in the front seat playing double hands-free at this critical moment, Chen Fei was beside himself with anger. Now was not the time for jokes. A fighter jet is not a bicycle; without autopilot, letting go is like shaking hands with the Grim Reaper. "Tell me, who are you?" Chekhov was relentless, letting the Combat Aircraft he shared with Chen Fei begin to fall freely. "''Peanut Butter,'' what are you guys doing?" The second backup command center, located inside the underground air defense facility, not only heard the conversation between the two but also captured the irregular maneuver of aircraft number 211, the "Big Mouth Monster," on radar. "Squadron Leader, stop fooling around!" "Devil Pepper" girl Iline Rusios flew her aircraft closer and noticed the anomaly of 211 as well. This was definitely not a proper dive attack maneuver. "Grab the control stick, we''re going to crash! We''re crashing! We''re crashing!" Chekhov waved his hands, jumping up and down in the front seat performing the Big Bear dance, causing the 200-plus-pound aircraft to shake even more violently. "Are you out of your mind? Aaaaah, pull it up, pull it up aaaaah..." Chen Fei could no longer hold back. Tucking the technical manual under his arm, he grabbed the control stick and pulled it back with all his might. Where the "Big Mouth Monster" would fly to next, the ground, the sky, or level out¡ªwho knew! Finally, with human intervention, the turboprop aircraft dove at an angle for a distance before gradually leveling off. The shaking frame once again stabilized and began to climb. An aircraft with a statically stable design like this was actually not difficult to control. Only when the speed dropped below 130 kilometers per hour would there be a risk of stalling. Even so, given the speed at which it dove spinning, hitting the ground would only be a matter of mere seconds, but there was still enough time to recover. "Hurrah!~~" Chekhov cheered, saying, "Look! Look! I knew it, you''re a qualified pilot. Tell me, who are you?" Who am I, where am I, and what do I want to do? The standard triple question of the soul. This Big Bear wasn''t stupid at all, just a bit too drunk. - Chapter 13: Section 13 - Fierce Chen Fei really wanted to smash that crazy Big Bear into a half-paralyzed state with his own technical manual. But then he thought that if he ended up seriously injuring the opposite party, figuring out who would fly this aircraft next would become a big problem. Moreover, he was deep in debt and had no choice but to sign an indenture contract. He couldn''t afford to compensate even for the aircraft''s wheel, let alone the whole plane. "''Peanut Butter,'' what are you guys up to? Wait, where''s ''Lemongrass''? Who''s that behind you?" A "Big Mouth Monster" drew close, taking its position as the wingman on the left side and maintained a formation flying stance. The short-haired girl in the front seat and the pilot in the back seat were both staring dumbfounded at the recently stabilized aircraft number 211, something clearly off behind the cockpit canopy. The person in the back seat of 211 seemed to have changed. It wasn''t the talkative Lemongrass Basong. "Currently at an altitude of 7500 meters, the weather is clear, I am Squadron Leader ''Peanut Butter.'' Now, I have good news and bad news. First the bad news, my partner ''Lemongrass'' has died. The good news is, I''ve found a new fire control operator. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your new teammate, codename ''Rookie''. Let''s give a round of applause!" This Major Squadron Leader, the Big Bear, started clapping inside the cockpit all by himself, shameless to the core. How shamelessly disgusting! "Fine, you''re the boss, whatever you say is right. Welcome, Rookie," said the short-haired girl "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, helplessly. The Squadron Leader Major Chekhov might be eccentric, but she couldn''t be; otherwise, the whole "Genuine Fragrance" squadron would indeed be in complete disarray. Clearly, Chen Fei, the newcomer, was a genuine, no-doubt about it, Rookie; the nickname suited him well. "I''m ''Nutmeg'' Salaman Francis, welcome." The fire control operator, "Devil Pepper''s" "Nutmeg," quickly followed up. It wasn''t the right moment to contradict the squadron leader. "Rookie... Okay! Welcome aboard, poor Basong." "I''m ''Fragrant Orchid'' Carlos Silva Lane, and this is my partner ''Oyster Sauce'' Dalatu. Rookie, good luck." "We''ve been waiting for you for a long time, Rookie. I''m ''Braised Sauce'' Jack Brown, and I love braised pork. Braised pork is not a person''s name; it''s the name of a dish." ... The members of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron all welcomed the newly joined little brother enthusiastically. Suddenly hearing that these pilots'' code names included not just Peanut Butter but also Devil Pepper, Nutmeg, Oyster Sauce, Dragon Artemisia, Miso, and Braised Sauce, among other seasonings, a Rookie unexpectedly popped up. Upon deeper thought, Chen Fei was terrified and suddenly panicked, thinking, you guys are definitely just waiting to stew this newbie, aren''t you? Life_without_lovinging.GIF "Chekhov, when you come back, I''m going to strip you of your command!!!" The angry roar of Morris Morgan, the executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, echoed through the communication channel. When the underground air-defense facility''s second backup command center received the messy noise and flight data from aircraft 211, everyone looked at each other in dismay. They were in the midst of battle, not the time for jokes. Dragging a newbie who hadn''t even been there for 24 hours to temporarily act as a fire control operator and still being so reckless, even if you don''t take your own life seriously, you should at least consider others, right? "Hahaha, Morris, then you''ll have to wait for me to come back alive. ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, target the Metallic Dragons, two-aircraft teams follow the number, three-stage attack, begin!" The dragon''s furious roar shook the area for miles, and was clearly audible even through the cockpit canopy. Nowadays, aircraft are mostly made from non-metallic composite materials, and the Metal-eating Metallic Dragon certainly wasn''t pleased, it was like biting into a meat pie filled with gravel¡ªhard to swallow. The most perfect biological combat weapon in the world, truly a Dragon of Slaughter. Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov silently admired it from the depths of his heart. Despite being an enemy target, admiration was admiration, but he would certainly not show mercy. The several fighter jets engaging the Metallic Dragon spread out, with NATO''s code "fox" standing by to launch missiles. "Fox1" signaled the guided mode of a programmable Combat Missile, adjusted for airborne radar guidance and data link assistance. The dragon''s radar signal feedback was exceptionally strong, like a Heavenly Light Column piercing the night, but that alone did not mean the other fighter jets had no radar feedback, and friendly fire was still a fear, even with foe/friend signal recognition. "Beep!" The airborne radar locked on the target, the aircraft slightly shuddered, and a white missile detached from its left-wing mount, dropping three to four meters before its tail fiercely ignited a flame, roaring out with thick white smoke. The Metallic Dragon, having just shredded a propeller aircraft, looked up just in time to face the sudden missile, which struck it squarely. Two missiles, one after the other, Double-Blows! In the next second, two more missiles whooshed from behind Aircraft 211, plunging into the depths of the just-exploded fire cloud. Four-Hit-Combos! Then came two more! The fireball swelled intensely, eventually completely engulfing the massive dragon''s body. A crazed Six-Hit-Combos! The moment the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron appeared, they executed a perfect three-stage attack technique. Such intense focus fire was not even necessary for tank battles, but the squadron''s six "Big Mouth Monsters" treated the Metallic Dragon as though it were a Battleship, and a supersonic one at that, capable of flight. Of all the things that flew in the sky, apart from meteors, there was nothing as tough as those dragons; their existence was simply unscientific. "''Dragon Slayer Missile'' ready, hold steady, everyone else disengage!" Squadron Leader Chekhov shouted loudly. In offensive operations, there was seldom a second chance. The aircraft, fragile and tender, could hardly withstand damage. In close combat, outcomes of life and death were often decided within a few moments. "''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' launch!" Chen Fei heard the voice of a girl with short hair beside him; she couldn''t wait to fire as a courtesy. A missile trailing light blue smoke burst out like lightning. The ground-based radar''s guidance signal firmly locked onto the distant Metallic Dragon. No escape! Slay-The-Dragon! - Chapter 14: Section 14 - Dancing with the Dragon of Slaughter (Where is Dragon Grandpas ticket?) Upon hearing the words of wingman pilot "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, Chen Fei almost pressed the launch button to send off the ready-to-launch KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile. "Roar!~" The fire cloud, not yet fully dissipated, was abruptly torn apart, and the ferocious beast reappeared in everyone''s view. With huge blade wings casting out waves of phantoms and a massive vortex forming behind it, the Metallic Dragon, covered in dust and with its blade thorns askew from six missile blasts, turned and accelerated unexpectedly and agilely. The intense gas jetting out between the blade wings was visible to the naked eye, like an invisible, nearly transparent wing added to the dragon''s wings. More than ten spikes detached from the dragon''s body, heading towards the incoming "Dragon Slayer Missile." Standing in the wind, even pigs could fly, let alone the Metallic Dragon, which was like a flying battleship, and a fast one at that. On the Metallic Dragon, there was no trace of aerodynamics or fluid dynamics, making this creature a blatant defiance of scientific principles. Close-quarters bayonet fighting was always extremely dangerous, Major Chekhov in the front seat of Aircraft 211 roared with all his might, "Too close, everyone evade, brace for impact!" Throttle pushed to maximum output, all-out disengagement... The view outside the cockpit suddenly changed, a true whirlwind that dizzied the senses. If evasion was not an option, then they would have to brace for impact and leave their fates to God. Boom!~ The aircraft trembled violently, with rumbling sounds echoing in his ears, accompanied by various squeaking and groaning noises. Chen Fei did not doubt that this turboprop aircraft could disintegrate in midair the very next second. He even saw a blue shockwave sweeping over the fuselage at lightning speed, scattering the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s three-formation tactics in the blink of an eye. Within the killing radius of the "Dragon Slayer Missile," everything vanished into ash, its destructive power comparable to a nuclear strike, yet it left no nuclear radiation residue or long-term environmental impact. Chen Fei, the kid, felt like vomiting... I want to go home! "My baby, steady, hold steady, hold steady! Ahhhhh!!!" Major Chekhov, however, was oblivious, gripping the control stick and muttering nonstop like a madman, struggling to adapt to the turbulence enveloping the aircraft and trying to regain balance. It was foreseeable that after such severe turbulence, the lifespan of this turboprop aircraft was significantly reduced, even sustaining internal structural damage. "''Peanut Butter,'' bearing 49, altitude 4500 meters." Fortunately, the communication equipment was unaffected, and the voice of "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, the pilot of the lead aircraft in the second squadron, Aircraft 213, urgently echoed in the ears of the two persons inside Aircraft 211; he was almost gasping as he spoke these words. "What?" Chen Fei looked up, only then noticing that, unbeknownst to him, a vast shadow had rapidly enveloped them. The sharp giant blade wings were tattered, but visible to the naked eye, they swiftly regenerated. Rows of sharp blades neatly realigned themselves while part of the dragon''s tail vanished into thin air. It was indeed a testament to the "Dragon Slayer Missile," capable of inflicting severe damage on the giant dragon so suddenly. The terrifying creature fixed its murderous and crazed gaze fiercely on the cockpit, its killing intent tangible, causing his heart involuntarily to skip and chilling him to the bone. Images of a turboprop combat plane being ripped to shreds flashed through his mind like lightning. Doomed! "Rookie, brace yourself¡ªwe''re diving." Chekhov, no longer concerned about the condition of his aircraft, pushed the throttle to the max and slammed the joystick all the way, doing his best to dodge the Metallic Dragon''s strike. The PT6A engine of "Big Mouth Monster" number 211 achieved peak output, the aircraft spiraled and dove continuously while releasing all its infrared heat flare jamming missiles without reservation, filling the sky with countless dazzling red dots like celestial maidens scattering flowers. Rescue pairings make the job less tiring¡ªalive you pick people up, dead you collect bodies, shattered remains are still collected. The Magnetic Catcher prepared to assist the turboprop in emergency landing had its pre-heating halted. The device really consumed too much electricity, and even the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, which could power the entire Aircrew Base, was not enough to sustain this power-hungry tiger for long. "''Peanut Butter,'' we''ve lost 214 and 215." "Devil Pepper," still with her heart pounding, glanced around and noticed out of six "Big Mouth Monsters," only four remained, circling the fiercely intense combat zone hesitantly, not daring to close in again. If it happened again, she feared her luck might run out. "No worries, we still have Dragon Slayer Missiles. Rookie, are you still alive?" Major Chekhov showed no sign of backing down; he even took a moment to check on the young man in the back seat. Surprisingly, the rookie was still conscious and hadn''t fainted during the continuous tactical maneuvers. "I, I''m okay!" Adrenaline pumping, he had even forgotten to be scared. When he said this, Chen Fei didn''t know his face was devoid of all color, frighteningly pale, his upper and lower teeth chattering intensely. Is this thing really freaking awesome??? Give me a break! You scared me to death!!! "Brothers, it''s time to go all out!" "Genuine Fragrance" squadron leader, flying call-sign "Peanut Butter," Major Chekhov''s tone became serious, no longer carefree as before, as if he had sobered up somewhat. After being entangled by multiple fighter jets up till now, having had its fill of Close Combat Missiles and just having experienced a massive burst of Dragon Spike rain, the Metallic Giant Dragon was inevitably severely drained. One could see its reformed Blade Wings were considerably smaller than before. Even without using the Dragon Slayer Missiles, it wouldn''t be long before they could grind down this mad Dragon of Slaughter the hard way. ??? ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)_Chen Fei was taken aback. Suddenly, shock! Hey, hey, hey! I''m innocent! I''m not combat personnel! Enough already, you stinking Big Bear! Do you fancy dying in some unique way? Throughout history, only fools live in loneliness, only those who court death leave their names behind. "Little Chili, cover us. Rookie, Emperor''s Holy Sword, follow me with the sword chariot, Ura!~" Ignoring the protests from Chen Fei in the back seat, Major Chekhov took a deep breath, howled loudly, pushed the throttle lever, and with more fuel fed to the turboprop engine, it instantly generated greater power. With many new scratches and dents on its body, the nearly wrecked "Big Mouth Monster" charged again toward the ferocious Metallic Giant Dragon. Some tasks must be done by someone, even if it means being a hero for just a few seconds. If it''s a one-way journey, so be it! Now, while it''s weakened, was the best time to take its life. If they let it recover, it would only become more difficult to handle, as Metallic Dragons are notoriously petty and vindictive. - Chapter 15: Section 15 - Inescapable "Major, good luck to you, everyone else, follow me!" The wingman pilot "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sniffed, gently pushed the control stick to converge with the other two "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft, forming a new three-plane formation. During the wide turn maneuver, she fired short bursts from the autocannon, and without hesitation launched combat bombs whenever the opportunity arose, employing all her tactics to provide fire cover for Unit 211, and trying her best to attract the Metallic Dragon''s attention. For Irinei Rusios, the nickname "Little Chili" was very personal, reserved only for those who were extremely close to her. Anyone else who wasn''t that close would, as a matter of course, be met with a beating¡ªa real spicy reaction from this "Chili" from the Amazon Rainforest region! But this time, when Big Bear called her that so recklessly, she couldn''t get angry at all. Only true warriors can face life and death so directly. At that moment, an alert suddenly came from the Aircrew Base 911. "This is Tower 911, unidentified aircraft spotted at bearing 360, altitude 12,000 meters, speed Mach 5, attempting to identify." All aircraft received the message, whether or not they were turboprop aircraft from 911. At this critical moment, with the identity of the newcomer unclear, many hearts involuntarily leapt into their throats. "A bunch of damn flies, are you in such a hurry to seek death?" The roar of the Metallic Dragon echoed not only in the sky but also filled the public communication channels. "Bit, do you realize what you are doing? Surrender now." Another unfamiliar voice appeared on the public communication channel. "Who?" The Metallic Dragon''s figure hesitated, looking toward the North. "Flight Identification Code DD9D-2x54-0086-8ed1-12d6, searching for identification, Sky Knight Lin Ziyong, Class A access to the data link, verifying passkey, approved!" The stranger from afar in the supersonic aircraft announced proactively. "The sky of this world is protected by the Lin Family!" The next second, both the encrypted data link''s public talk channel and the open communication channels erupted like a pot boiling over. "Lin? A Lin surname? WHOOOOPS! Is that really a Sky Knight from the Lin Family?" "Thank goodness, we''re saved, we''re saved!" "Is that a Crystal Jet coming? That Dragon of Slaughter is done for!" "We must get to know such an important figure, quick, get ready!" "Please get me an autograph from Lin Ziyong, his title is ''Death Tracer'', my son is a huge fan, this is such a coincidence." "I want one too!" "Same here!" ... The data link communication channel was in chaos, even the fighter pilots who were still engaged in battle with the Metallic Dragon didn''t forget to join in on the excitement. The Lin Family? "Rookie, launch the missiles, fire everything but don''t..." Squadron Leader Chekhov wasn''t keen on dying either; he gripped the control stick tightly, holding down the trigger for the autocannon, as vivid tracer paths streaked out, enveloping the encroaching Metallic Dragon. The cockpit buzzed incessantly, Chen Fei frantically pressed away with his BiuBiuBiu, the A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" shuddered involuntarily a few times, blissfully releasing its load before suddenly becoming utterly dull. Emptying the ammo to lighten the load, which theoretically could indeed boost maneuverability. "...don''t launch the, wait, ''Dragon Slayer Missile''?" Squadron Leader Chekhov noticed one faint trail amidst the many missile contrails, moving at a shocking speed, like lightning that strikes before the thunder claps. He glanced at the ammunition interface¡ªevery hardpoint was empty. He was just about to remind the rookie not to recklessly launch the "Dragon Slayer Missile." "Launched it! You said to fire everything!" Chen Fei''s fingers hadn''t even left the control panel, his face full of innocence; programming firing sequences was pretty fun. Squadron Leader Chekhov yelled in frustration, "Ah, you idiot, we haven''t even gotten clear..." Who would set up such a crazy firing scheme! This "rookie" was truly a rookie! Before he could finish, a pale blue shockwave swept past in an instant. The "Big Mouth Monster" was still within the inescapable zone of the "Dragon Slayer Missile," now they were really in trouble! Like a powerless boat in a raging storm, the cockpit began to shake violently, the amplitude of which far exceeded the previous one caused by the aftermath of the "Dragon Slayer Missile." The cockpit canopy visibly twisted and was instantly riddled with cracks. The external wings disintegrated without any resistance, reduced to short stumps of wing root, the tail fin also vanished, leaving the bare fuselage looking like an airplane stick. "Eject! Quick!~" Chen Fei vaguely heard Squadron Leader Chekhov''s hoarse shouting, instinctively reaching between his legs, and then pulled hard. That was a close one¡ªhe almost yanked his own balls out. There was a soft click and tremor, and in the next second, his view changed instantly, as if his soul had left his body. He was outside the "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit in the blink of an eye, watching as the battered aircraft spun apart in mid-roll, its various pieces flying chaotically in the sky. If it wasn''t for the inbuilt armor layer in the cockpit of the turboprop aircraft and the canopy shielding him from the most violent initial shockwave, it would be him that was falling apart. As Chen Fei frantically tried to locate the technical manual that had slipped from his hands, a shiny object came whooshing through the hot, chaotic flow, striking him squarely in the chest with the force of a thunderclap. Damn, it seemed to be Big Bear Squadron Leader''s Blue Star Er Guotou bottle! Before he could even feel the pain, Chen Fei lost consciousness. ... An oddly-shaped aircraft approached from the sky, its tail flashing with white light, slowing down and circling in the area where the "Dragon Slayer Missile" had just exploded. The deep rumble of thunder that sounded like a warning only arrived after the fact. The previously rampant Metallic Dragon had vanished without a trace, with fire and iron descending from the sky... - ``` Chapter 16: Section 16 - Ten Million Star Yuan "Beep, beep, beep..." "...No heartbeat, where''s the mage? Don''t stop the healing magic, sync with the CPR!" "Heartbeat restored, watch for ventricular fibrillation, we got him back, watch out for SIRS and acute kidney injury." "Are we really using this? Be careful, not a drop of 0.01 milliliters can be wasted, winged girl, don''t space out, continue the healing magic!" ... No one knew how much time had passed. "...Beep...beep...beep...beep..." Hearing the rhythmic electronic sound by his ear, Chen Fei struggled to open his eyes, only to be blinded by the glaring white and immediately squint again. After a while, he finally adjusted to the brightness around him. It seemed to be a hospital room, no longer needing to question who he was, where he was, or what he was doing. The good news was that he had finally survived. "Hiss..." Chen Fei took a long sigh of relief, feeling a stabbing pain in his chest that made him grimace. He finally remembered that he had been hit by a bottle of Erguotou thrown by the stinking Big Bear, Chekhov. Damn bad luck! From outside came a series of heavy footsteps, and soon Chen Fei saw the large "super-sized blue sanitary pad" wrapped around a bald head¡ªBig Bear, Squadron Leader Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. Who knew since when, but both of them had been shaved clean, to be precise, every hair on their body was shaved off, truly clean to the core. Speaking of the devil, and he appears, Chekhov''s left arm was still slung under his neck, tied with a stabilizer, probably broken. This rascal who forcibly dragged him onto the Big Mouth Monster was still alive, what an outrage! "Hey! Rookie, are you awake?" Major Chekhov, with his callsign "Peanut Butter", grinned widely, seemingly very happy to see Chen Fei regaining consciousness. Chen Fei moved his hands and feet and stealthily checked below his waist, finally letting out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, nothing was missing, nor anything extra. He weakly said, "Squadron Leader Chekhov, where are we?" "We''re on a medical ship, don''t worry, you''ll be back up and roaring in no time." After all, nearly 300 pounds just lay there, recovering quickly, Chekhov had woken up two days before Chen Fei. He couldn''t just lie down, so he flirted with the nurse angels in the hallway outside the hospital room. Having roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, everything in the world can be let down, except for masturbating and the Big Daizi. No matter black, white, or yellow, all are fair game; to be precise, there is no racial discrimination, not being picky from a young age is a good habit. Having learned a hard lesson, Chen Fei gritted his teeth and said, "I, Chen Fei, even if I''m broke, dying outside, jumping off the medical ship, will absolutely not get on a fighter jet again." This time he nearly went to play Chinese chess with King Yama, truly nowhere to reason about it, can he beat this Big Bear? Can''t win? The opponent could pin him to the ground with one hand! Well, no worries then! Again, footsteps approached outside the hospital room. "Chen Fei, Chekhov, good that both of you are here, saves me the trouble of looking separately." A young woman wearing an eye patch over her left eye entered Chen Fei''s single room with a few men in black suits wearing sunglasses. A cold breeze swept in as the automatic door opened, causing an unavoidable shiver. Shamisen strings plucked rapidly, the newcomer was up to no good, scatter some more withering leaves for a fuller effect. Chen Fei, barely sitting up, pointed at the big bear and said resolutely, "It was him, he made me do it. I didn''t know anything; I''m in the maintenance team, not a pilot." During that moment, adrenaline was secreting wildly, and his brain heated up, fearless in his ignorance. Now when he thought back on it, he couldn''t help but feel scared. If it attracted the revenge of the Metallic Dragon Race or even the entire Dragon Clan, it''d be better to jump into the sea from this medical ship right now. Chekhov: "..." He was nearly enraged to death by this rookie. What exactly did he mean by saying these things? "I see!" Inspector Hanna Gagar was noncommittal. Chekhov, my man¡ª. ¡ª! : Emmm... It''s December''s hanging account, to be settled quickly. Not quite; it should be December''s meat, settled quickly. The female inspector raised her hand, and the man in sunglasses and black suit beside her timely opened his briefcase and handed over a document. Her gaze finally rested on Chen Fei, "The company has strict regulations and assures the basic rights of every employee. Contributions are rewarded, and transgressions penalized. Chen Fei, in recognition of your success in slaying a Metallic Giant Dragon, the company awards you 10 million Star Yuan with your probation period ended early, and you are directly offered a permanent employment contract." Huh? 10 million Star Yuan! Chen Fei''s eyes involuntarily widened (O.O), and his breathing quickened. His chest pain was gone, and he instantly revived on the spot. With this huge sum, not only could he pay off his old debts, but he could also make a profit of 5 million! Truly, heaven is just! Any more Metallic Giant Dragons? Bring me a dozen more! Humans perish for wealth, as birds die for food¡ªI shall slay dragons!!! An ordinary citizen wouldn''t earn 10 million Star Yuan in their entire lifetime. This sum could buy Elder Brother Chen''s newly-down-paid wedding house¡ªtwo of them! Forget about down payments and mortgages¡ªpay it all at once, debt-free and light-hearted. No worries about the next month''s installment. Compared to this substantial reward, enjoying the perks of permanent employment early is nothing. The majority of the salary would to towards debt repayments. The little that remained would scarcely improve Chen Fei''s distressed financial situation. "However..." Inspector Hanna began, her lips parting slightly, words taking a turn, "At the time you were critically injured. To save your life, the company used a First-Rank Earth Order magic potion to pull you back from the brink of death. The ''Life Resuscitation'' potion valued at 12 million, deducting your reward of 10 million, leaves you owing the company 2 million, to be deducted monthly from your future salary." Chen Fei''s expression grew increasingly dismayed... In darkness, doubts cleared; in treacherous paths, another village, oh heavens!!! Just a moment ago, praising the heavens for their fairness; the next second¡ªbiting his teeth in cursing the thieving heavens mercilessly. (T¡÷T) Better to have died. At least, through accidental life insurance and condolence money, after offsetting the debts, this 10 million Star Yuan reward could be wholly handed over to his family. Chen Fei was so despondently breathless. "Hey! Hey! Rookie, what''s wrong with you?" Noticing Chen Fei''s increasingly abnormal complexion, Chekhov turned frantic and started shouting, rapidly pressing the emergency call button beside the bed. - Chapter 17: Section 17 - Lacking the Gold Element "My chest hurts!" Chen Fei clutched at his chest, his face turning pale, clearly looking like he was at death''s door. The silver he had traded his life for! He was deficient in the metallic element, severely so! Now, to make matters worse, not only did he owe the credit company 5 million Star Yuan, but he had also racked up an additional debt of 2 million Star Yuan to the labor corporation, totaling a staggering debt of 7 million Star Yuan. The debt wasn''t shrinking but growing, and the more he thought about it, the more distressed he became. An angel in white with wings, a young lady from the Feathered Tribe of the Cangqiong Realm, arrived in the ward as if flying, holding a delicate magic artifact and proficiently chanting incantations. Soft points of light appeared out of thin air, converging into a fist-sized orb of light that soon fell upon the bed, and in the blink of an eye, entered Chen Fei''s body. No need for injections, no need for medication, no need for electric shocks; the magical effect of the Second Rank Human Order Light Healing Spell "Light of Redemption" was immediately apparent. Chekhov''s eyes shone brightly as data waterfalls once again started scrolling through his pupils. It was his first time seeing this Feathered Tribe young lady from the Cangqiong Realm, an Alien Race Mage, and a practitioner of Light Series magic at that¡ªquite a rare sight. Little did he know that the old money in Europe were chasing after the Feathered Tribe young ladies, luring many from the Cangqiong Realm into the entertainment industry to act cute. While she was still here, Chekhov made sure to get a good look¡ªher delicate face, her arms, her waist, her legs, and those wings¡ªoh my, he was nearly drooling with desire, Uncle Chekhov felt like he was set for the year. After the Healing Spell took effect, Chen Fei''s complexion quickly improved a lot, but his spirits remained utterly dejected. Anyone who had gone through such an emotional rollercoaster would hardly be in good spirits. Gathering another orb of light and infusing it into Chen Fei, the Feathered Tribe young lady then put away her magic artifact. Wiping off a thin layer of sweat from her forehead, she revealed a gentle smile and said, "This is the patient''s first awakening, his body is still very weak and requires rest. Please try not to disturb him too much." Using magic was also very draining on one''s vitality and spirit, especially in the Blue Star Realm, where magic was suppressed by the heavenly and earthly rules, requiring more Elemental Mana and spiritual power to achieve the same effects as in the Cangqiong Realm. With a slight bow, her wings flapped once and she gracefully took off, quickly leaving the ward, coming swiftly and departing just as quickly, like a fleeting glimpse, leaving only a faint scent slowly dissipating. Chekhov and the female inspector immediately understood the Feathered Tribe young lady''s intentions. "Chen Fei, you rest well here. All costs of your stay on the medical ship will be covered by the company," said Hanna Gagar. Having placed a stack of documents on the bedside table, she left the ward with her entourage of sunglass-clad men in black suits. Chekhov glanced at Chen Fei on the bed, relieved to see him still breathing, and hurriedly followed the others out. In the face of massive financial loss and mounting debts, Chen Fei still felt life was not worth living, looking utterly forlorn. "Uh, Miss Hanna, what about my bonus?" Even a rookie like Chen Fei was entitled to substantial bonus. This made Chekhov very excited and hopeful as he eagerly rubbed his hands together. The female inspector seemed to let out a cold laugh, her voice emotionless as she said, "Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, for cooperating with Chen Fei in defeating the Metallic Dragons, the company was going to reward you with 5 million Star Yuan in cash and a promotion by one rank in your job salary. However, for dragging non-combat personnel into battle without authorization, you are fined 5 million Star Yuan and demoted by one rank in job salary. Thus, your merits and demerits cancel each other out; no reward, no punishment, no promotion, no demotion." "What?" Chekhov stood stunned, as if struck, the Feathered Tribe young lady suddenly losing her allure. By the time he snapped back to reality, the Ministry of Internal Affairs staff had long been gone. He banged his head against the wall in a fit of despair, his cries echoing in the corridors, repeatedly and unceasingly. Thump, thump, thump¡ªthe Slavic pile driver began working, and the corridor reverberated with the sound of terrifying impacts. The cleaning lady operating the cleaner scolded irritably, "Hey, stop that, Big Bear! If you damage the wall, you have to pay for it!" Chen Fei, puzzled, touched his eyes, he didn''t even have glasses on him, there was no such thing as black tech. "Hmm, you can be discharged, if you''re not at ease, go for a brain MRI and have another eye examination." The doctor pressed a few keys, and the printer on the side quickly spat out several A4 papers, finding the last page, he signed it and handed it over. Slap! A bright red official seal was stamped, and that was that! The discharge standard for the International Medical Ship is the absence of any life-threatening conditions; follow-up treatment and recuperation can completely continue outside. "Oh, thank you, doctor." Chen Fei took the final examination report, thanked the doctor, and got up to leave. He saw the content on the examination report, which included "phantosmia." His fatal injuries almost sent him to play Go with Lord Yama; if not for an expensive magic potion yanking his life back, leaving some sequelae was more than normal. Having survived against such odds was no small feat, and one couldn''t hope to completely recover to their original state. Because he was concerned, he first went to the neurology department and booked an appointment, then entered the MRI room and headed to the ophthalmology department. After meticulous examinations, Chen Fei came out, rubbing his eyes. At this time, Chekhov had also completed his discharge examination. "Rookie, are you being discharged?" Big Bear was still wearing a sling for his arm, but the "blue sanitary napkin" on his head had shrunk. He was not as lucky as Chen Fei, without magic potions and light healing spells, his severe injuries healed the fastest, and now he looked as if nothing had happened, not even a scar. He had been able to get out of bed and move around since the morning, even had the energy to flirt with girls, while Chekhov''s arm would need at least a month to recover fully, and the new scars on his body would likely remain for a lifetime. "It seems I still have a bit of phantosmia." Just having had eye drops for pupil dilation, Chen Fei''s vision was somewhat blurry. As for the frustration, it was all because of money, not something to be discussed with outsiders. Chekhov curiously asked, "Phantosmia, what can you see, ghosts?" If a crosshair appeared in his phantosmia, that would be really impressive. "An ''A'', a colon, a left slash, a greater than sign, and then a blinking underscore! Do you understand?" Chen Fei could tell, Big Bear clearly didn''t have a clue, his face full of bewilderment. "..." Comrade Chekhov, who had wandered the Jianghu for more than forty years, indeed looked utterly bewildered ( ?) ?). Who could tell Uncle Chekhov, what on earth is this aaaah! - Chapter 18: Section 18 - Return to Base A Y-9 medium-sized transport aircraft from far away descended from the sky, and the moment its landing gear touched down on the runway of Aircrew Base 911, it kicked up a brief trail of white smoke before the aircraft stabilized and, after taxiing for several hundred meters, turned towards the apron. The Y-9 had become the most mainstream medium-range transport aircraft, cheap and cost-effective. This time it not only brought 20 tons of supplies but also two passengers who were hitching a ride with the wind. Seeing the two bald passengers carrying their carry-on bags, the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, code-named "Devil Pepper," cheered, took big strides forward, and pounced on one of them, embracing him tightly. At that time, Yamada Yuhu''s Z-9 armed helicopter brought back the unconscious Squadron Leader Chekhov and the grievously injured new recruit Chen Fei, whose fates were uncertain, making everyone''s mood incredibly somber. To take down a Metallic Giant Dragon, Aircrew Base 911 paid an unimaginable price; these were achievements traded with lives. It wasn''t until today that the two of them finally returned to the base unharmed, that the worries of the people dissipated completely. "Squadron Leader Chekhov, welcome back!" The other thirteen pilots lined up and saluted their Squadron Leader Chekhov in unison, one of them leaning on a crutch. "Mhm, Little Chili, long time no see, is everyone doing all right?" With one arm in a sling and unable to escape, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov was quietly greeted with a hug that was a little too firm. I, an old hand at Jianghu for more than forty years, consider all under heaven as strangers, eh? You I cannot afford to provoke! "All''s well, Rookie, how are you recovering?" The short-haired lass Irinei Rusios extended her fist and thumped it unexpectedly against Chen Fei''s chest. "Cough, cough, I''m, I''m okay!" Chen Fei rolled his eyes, barely spared by the punch after just recently having taken a magic potion that cost more than ten million Star Yuan. Lass, are you waiting to partake in the feast? "Phantosmia," this side effect still lingered, and there was no specific medicine that could cure it. The string of characters "A:\\>_" was always in his field of vision. However, as time passed, he grew accustomed to it and easily ignored it, so it didn''t have much of an impact. "Take it easy, Irinei, he''s not fully recovered yet. If he ends up bed-ridden again, who''s it going to fall on?" At last, Big Bear spoke a word of fairness. When Chen Fei was brought aboard the International Medical Ship, his body was extremely frightening from head to toe, covered in blood. He had not a single piece of intact flesh, and it was truly a miracle that he had managed to cling to life. Now, the weakness and severe loss of vital energy in his body were unavoidable. Pilots were known for their robust physiques, and even without an injury, the slender Chen Fei couldn''t withstand the short-haired girl''s punches ¨C one punch to the ground, never to rise again. "Mhm, you did a good job this time!" Irinei Rusios smiled awkwardly, changed her fist to an open palm, and patted Chen Fei. Though it couldn''t compare to its original pristine condition, it was nonetheless restored to usability. After all, the content was what mattered most. Following Chief Mechanic Xiao into the hangar, the mechanics who were still bustling about paused in their work for a brief five-second salute, silently welcoming the newcomer, Chen Fei, back to the team. Indeed, the attitudes of the subordinates truly reflected their leader. Like Xiao Ming, each mechanic was silent and taciturn, quick to action rather than words. Chen Fei soon found that, other than having lost a set of work clothes, his technical manual had been returned, and not a single item was missing, including his tablet computer and its dedicated data cable that hadn''t even warmed up yet. It was as if nothing had happened at all. Chen Fei continued his apprenticeship, using the data cable to reconnect all the aircraft in the hangar once again. Although he had acquired a strange post-visual symptom¡ªan "A:\\>_"¡ªit didn''t affect him too much overall. After all, using magic potions from the Cangqiong Realm on a native of the Blue Star Realm was bound to result in some mismatches, leading to unexpected side effects. Such cases were not unusual. Compared to those with excessive hair growth, budding horns, tail sprouting, skin color changes, sharpened nails, elongated teeth, swelling into a ball, thinning to a stick, and other bizarre transformations, displaying a short string of characters was hardly an issue, as being brought back from death''s brink was ultimately what mattered most. The casualties at Aircrew Base 911 were significant, with two MiG-28 jet fighters and three A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft lost; the base''s aerial combat strength had been reduced by a third. However, everyone seemed far from despondent¡ªrather, they appeared quite cheerful! At lunch in the base canteen, Chen Fei discovered why: Pu Aihua was back at his part-time canteen job, using his spare time to make a little extra money for household expenses. He returned the "Magical Beast Eggs" (actually eggs of some unknown wild bird, or perhaps snake eggs), the grass nest, and the wooden box to Chen Fei. Stubborn as ever, he hadn''t taken it back to deceive others again, but had returned it to its rightful owner. A bemused Chen Fei could only accept the inescapable gesture of goodwill when he heard Pu whispering sneakily after looking around, "Psst! Chen Fei, did you manage to find that ''thing''?" "That ''thing''? Which ''thing''?" Chen Fei was as confused as a monk at a loss¡ªentirely befuddled. What in the world was this guy secretly hinting at? "You know, that ''thing''!" Pu Aihua was getting anxious, raising his voice a bit before startling and glancing around again, wary of being overheard. "How should I know what ''thing'' you mean if you don''t tell me?" Throwing his chopsticks into his plate, Chen Fei gave up on lunch, losing patience with this guy. When would he ever let up?! With gritted teeth, Pu Aihua leaned in close to Chen Fei''s ear, speaking in a barely audible whisper, "You know... did you pick up any ''Metallic Dragon Shards''?" "Metallic Dragon Shards?" Chen Fei looked at Pu Aihua in surprise; before he could reply, Pu reached out a hand to cover his mouth. Hurriedly pushing the intrusive hand away, Chen Fei frowned in disdain and said, "What the hell are you trying to do?" - Chapter 19: Section 19 - The Value of the Metallic Dragon Clan "Shhh, we can''t talk about that here; it''ll cause trouble!" Pu Aihua was so frightened that her hairs stood on end, and she looked around furtively yet again. Normally, mentioning the Metallic Dragons wouldn''t be a big deal, but at this critical moment, at the Aircrew Base 911, it had become a sort of taboo. "Why pick up that kind of stuff?" Having seen the ferocity and terror of the Metallic Dragons, Chen Fei only wanted to stay as far away from anything related to the Metallic Dragons as possible. If it weren''t for being coerced by that wretched Big Bear Chekhov, he would have never willingly initiated an attack on the Metallic Dragons; only a madman would do such a thing. Indeed, that Chekhov was a madman. If it weren''t for the fact that he couldn''t overpower him, Chen Fei would have pinned him down in a toilet and beaten him up long ago, to let Yi Xiao know that those who offend us Strong Men will be punished, no matter how far away they are. "Of course it''s for money! Lots and lots of money. Don''t you want to earn money?" Pu Aihua vigorously rubbed her fingers together. She had heard that the new guy was also deep in debt, just like everyone else in the Poor Folks Alliance; they should definitely collaborate. Money emboldened people. Previously, Pu Aihua wouldn''t have dared, but now, the remnants of the Metallic Dragons were scattered near the Aircrew Base. If she didn''t seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a risk, she would regret it for the rest of her life. "There was once a chance to get rich quickly right before my eyes, but..." But let it go! What use are regrets! Recently, about twenty-some people came to the Aircrew Base 911. They didn''t interact with other departments and dug three feet into the ground in the area where the Metallic Dragons had fallen, sweeping back and forth with a metal detector, scanning each inch of the ground at least eight times before they were satisfied. These people were certainly not doing this out of boredom. But because the fallen Metallic Dragon was literally a gold mine, no, even more precious than a gold mine. Despite an explicit prohibition on private dealings, that still couldn''t stop the illegal buying and selling that happened behind the scenes. "Yeah, I think so! But there''s nothing, absolutely nothing!" Chen Fei shook his head like a rattle-drum. If he really did find something, he''d probably be stripped clean before he ever made it to the operating table, not even a hair left. On the medical ships, nurses called this process "skin preparation." Once someone was lifted onto the table, every big boss was called a Blue Dragon Warrior, equality between the sexes, with women known as the Unmatched White Tiger, nobody could escape. In the industrial field, the most expensive energy assembly components, the SEG core units, have their only public source within the Metallic Dragon Clan. The cost of artificial production is way too high, with a terrifyingly high failure rate, rendering it completely unviable for mass production. Only a few professional laboratories inadvertently succeeded in making one or two units. They treasured these imperfect products like precious secrets, kept behind closed doors for personal use, never shown lightly to others. Even so, the quantity of high-tech industrial goods such as SEG core units provided by the Metallic Dragon Clan to both the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm each year remained limited to a handful, making it extraordinarily difficult to extract more from those greedy beings, who wouldn''t even make concessions for their own Dragon King. To hell with it, I''m right at the Dimensional Gate, come at me if you dare! The entire Metallic Dragon Clan was almost one with the Dimensional Gate. The outcome, of course, was... they wouldn''t dare to attack! Wouldn''t dare to attack! That was an entire world''s worth of countless resources. Compared to it, the Metallic Dragon Clan was not even as significant as a drop in the ocean. Everyone knew that the naturally treasured Metallic Dragons, formidable and fearsome, were tempting but too dangerous to provoke. On one hand, the Metallic Dragon Clan heavily guarded the Dimensional Gate, which was of critical importance to both the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm. Which was more important, the Dimensional Gate or the Metallic Dragons? In fact, it wasn''t even a choice; any fool knew that without the Dimensional Gate, it would be completely gone. Not only would interaction between the two realms suffer greatly, but it could also trigger uncontrollable disasters. The history of the Dimensional Gate on the Cangqiong side was no secret¡ªit had been called the "Annihilation Ring" for a reason, having been constructed with the power of an entire planet. By comparison, the Metallic Dragon Clan wasn''t a throwaway trade. At least they could reproduce and thrive, like endless crops. Which was more beneficial was clear, as there tended to be an emphasis on a sustainable and upright development. On the other hand, the Metallic Dragons were ultimately a part of the Dragon Race. The contemporary Dragon King was a Metallic Dragon, and who dared to hunt any Metallic Dragon. At a word from the Dragon King, a single spit from the Dragon Race would be enough to overwhelm any nation. Even sovereign nations couldn''t afford to provoke them, not to mention organizations or individuals. However, there were always exceptions. Everyone knew that the Metallic Dragons, famously known as the "Dragons of Slaughter," even feared themselves when maddened. If any of them courted death, there was nothing that could be done¡ª it couldn''t be allowed to run amok! The agreement reached between the Cangqiong Realm and Blue Star Realm included specific clauses stating that any dragon entering the Otherworld without permission and going berserk could be assigned a kill tally. Then whoever made the kill could profit from it¡ªskin peeled, tendons pulled, bones dismantled, blood drained and flesh cut to offset the damage caused. It was as simple as that. This clause was meant as both a warning and constraint specifically upon the unrestful elements within the Dragon Clan, especially amongst the Metallic Dragons, and it also motivated relevant organizations in both realms to take action to control the situation, mitigate worsening scenarios, and prevent lawless, harmful dragons from causing too much destruction that could affect the peace and stability of the Cangqiong Realm and Blue Star Realm. In a sense, this opened up a loophole, albeit not a straightforward one. Honestly, waiting for the Metallic Dragons to doom themselves had a fairly high probability. Compared with the birth rate of the current Metallic Dragon Clan, such deaths mattered little. Even the contemporary Dragon King wouldn''t care, turning a blind eye¡ªit was better for such brainless fools to die off quickly so as not to trouble everyone. Using human thought processes, it was impossible to comprehend the true thoughts of the dragons. After all, their moral views didn''t align, and the fact that they weren''t fighting on the spot was already quite considerate. The 911 Aircrew Base, along with several other bases, gradually received combat orders that, if traced to their origin, were found to actually come from the Cangqiong Realm. This was indeed an unexpected answer. - Chapter 20: Section 20 - Breaking Out of the Shell The Giant Dragon named "Bit", belonging to the Metallic type, had crashed near the Aircrew Base. As the higher authority owning all property rights, Apocalypse Defense Group, firmly holding the home field advantage, was bound to take the lion''s share. They would gain a net profit of at least several billion Star Yuan, far exceeding the defense contracting fees. In contrast, for individuals, the big shots could casually let slip a little, which would be enough to make someone like Pu Aihua, considered insignificant, quite wealthy. The Aircrew Base was keeping a tight watch on the area where the Metallic Giant Dragon had fallen, not even a fly could get in. Pu Aihua saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although he had the inclination, he lacked the boldness, and instead pinned his hopes on Chen Fei who had once had close contact with the Metallic Giant Dragons. Yet unexpectedly, this newcomer showed no interest in such a rare chance to strike it rich, which was deeply disappointing. Chen Fei, who had just been discharged from the hospital, was completely occupied and paid no attention to Pu Aihua''s grand schemes. His focus was on the technical manuals that the head mechanic, Xiao Ming, had given him. The latter had specially picked up Set A, carefully rebound it, and expected nothing less than Chen''s full dedication. Thoroughly understanding these technical manuals was a necessary phase before officially starting work in the mechanic team. Failing to do so and being shamefully kicked out was not an option. In order not to be looked down upon, Chen Fei even brought back the intense spirit of his college entrance examination, embracing the manuals ceaselessly whether at meals or in the restroom. When the day shift of the mechanic team went to work, he would sit in the work area all day with the manuals in his lap. When night fell and the mechanic team changed shifts, he would then return to his dormitory with the technical manuals, reading until he fell asleep. Set A was the general outline, which Chen Fei scrutinized with extra diligence, naturally slowing down his reading pace. After finishing work, he quickly took a hot shower, changed into clean clothes, sat on his bed with the manual, and continued reading attentively. Sometimes he silently read aloud, sometimes cross-referencing with data downloaded onto his tablet. What he saw was not just the standard content, but also the solutions applied by mechanics, from which he learned numerous useful operational experiences. The desk lamp by the bed used a 70-watt halogen bulb, which cast a warm yellow light tinged with a bit of heat onto a so-called "Magical Beast Egg" and a Little Bird''s nest, both gifts from Pu Aihua. Pu Aihua clearly did not care much for the egg, lacking both a specialized incubator and any thought of trying to hatch it, let alone knowing the appropriate temperature and humidity for incubation. Perhaps he had never even considered letting the creature inside the egg hatch. With no better options, Chen Fei could only hope that the light from the halogen bulb might have some meager effect. Bathed in the halogen light resembling sunlight, the small egg seemed gradually awakened, as an imperceptible, faint heartbeat arose at some point. A tiny embryo was forming in the egg fluid, enveloping the yolk. Immersed in his book, Chen Fei was completely unaware of this. He did not even know if the egg was that of a bird, snake, lizard, or some other creature, or even if it was just a fake egg meant to deceive him. That scammer was best at using his glib tongue to paint dog excrement as gold; such actions from him wouldn''t be surprising at all. Nonsense! Thinking unlimited 2.0! As the night deepened, Chen Fei could not help but start yawning. There were still over forty pages left in the technical manual (Set A), but he had no intention of stopping there. Instead, he planned to soldier on and finish it all in one go. "Tap tap... tap... chirp... tap thud tap... thud thud thud... thud thud..." As he was turning the pages, his hand suddenly stopped. Chen Fei puzzled over who might be knocking in Morse code but, following the sound, he discovered that the strange noise was actually coming from his own bedside table. "... thud thud... thud thud..." Chen Fei was also stunned, but quickly realized what the other party was referring to and immediately said in annoyance, "Find a ghost, see for yourself!" "Let me see!" Pu Aihua sneakily glanced around, then set aside his mop and tiptoed over, looking expectantly at what was in Chen Fei''s hands. Uh... Hoping for a miracle, Pu Aihua saw a bare, ugly chick that looked like it had just hatched not long ago. The smile on his face instantly froze, simida.gif! Ah, can I curse? No! Then never mind! "What, what is going on?" Pu Aihua looked embarrassed, almost dropping his pants, just to show me your bird? What does this mean? "Old Piao, where is the magical beast you promised?" Chen Fei snorted, you ask me what''s going on, I should be asking you! "Ah!~~~ This, this is that egg?" Pu Aihua expressed his surprise, recognizing the nest holding the chick. He casually picked up the nest and egg in the wild, just to fool a newcomer. He originally thought that without a parent to incubate it, it would turn into a dead egg, and if kept long, it would even start to smell. But he didn''t expect that after he gave it to Chen Fei, it actually hatched. "Can I find a chicken egg for you to hatch too?" Chen Fei was not so easily fooled. "This, this!" Pu Aihua''s eyes were spinning wildly, seemingly making up some excuse on the spot. Yeah, keep making it up! Pu Aihua then clapped his hands forcefully and said indignantly, "Ah, even I got deceived!" The merchant instantly turned into a drama king, acting skills off the charts, breaking through the sky. Chapter 21: Section 21 - Wild Dream "This egg was a freebie with a purchase, and they kept saying it was a Magical Beast Egg, so I believed them. Oh dear, I''m so sorry, I didn''t do it on purpose, I was deceived too, damn those fraudulent merchants, they really deserve no peace. Little Chen, how about this, next time I''ll find you a real Magical Beast Egg, no, a real Magical Beast? Old Piao''s word is as good as gold." Pu Aihua dramatically clutched his chest and stomped his feet, proclaiming himself a victim of deception while casually blaming it on the ambiguous "dishonest merchant." As for "next time," who knows when that would be; at the moment it was just a way to stall. Otherwise, if his reputation collapsed, it would be hard to keep doing his small trades at Aircrew Base. "..." Witnessing Pu Aihua''s explosive acting, Chen Fei was stunned, and soon found it somewhat laughable. He quickly waved his hands, interrupting Pu Aihua''s impassioned denunciation of that "dishonest merchant" who had deceived him. "Alright, alright, stop! How you deal with that merchant is your business, it has nothing to do with me. No need to get me any Magical Beast Eggs or Magical Beasts, I couldn''t afford to raise them even if you did." If he didn''t intervene, who knows, the man might even end up offering snake eggs or insect larvae, which would be even scarier. "Don''t worry, leave it to me, I''ll take care of it." Pu Aihua patted his lean chest with vigor but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No need to bother, no need to fuss, saving him the effort of finding more bizarre items to continue bluffing his way through. As for the market value of a Magical Beast Egg, if he had one, he wouldn''t be acting as a shady merchant. Pu Aihua''s gaze landed on the bird nest wrapped in a T-shirt and the young birds inside. Just as he reached out his hand, Chen Fei stopped him. "Wait, what are you doing?" "Er! I thought I''d deep fry it for a midnight snack, it looks quite tasty." Watching the young birds chirp non-stop in the nest, Pu Aihua swallowed and poked with a stick; it was a ready-made grilled bird skewer! "Stop, stop, stop, you can''t do this. It''s a life after all, how can you bear to?" Chen Fei firmly prevented this cruel act of killing a young creature. "Hehe, such a small bird, frying it would be delicious!" Pu Aihua justified his actions with a straight face and chuckled, then added: "Otherwise, how should we deal with it?" This gluttonous guy was actually pretending to consider Chen Fei''s interests; fry it up, eat it in one bite, and out of sight, out of mind. Why didn''t he just throw himself into the pot and fry up nicely, turn into a fried ghost, that would be fragrant too. "Of course I will raise it, then release it!" Chen Fei glared at him, speaking with moral fortitude. He himself had never entertained such a malicious thought as dropping the young bird into the frying oil; he was truly a bit infuriated by this guy. "Ah? Raise it? And then release it?" Pu Aihua gaped, seemingly shocked by the other''s inconceivable idea. He instinctively touched Chen Fei''s forehead, then touched his own, no fever! How could such a tiny creature be raised? That seemed not so easy! "Exactly, I came to ask you, what does this little bird eat? Can it drink milk?" Chen Fei finally clarified his purpose to prevent further misunderstandings. Pu Aihua, hands on hips and scratching his cheek, looked perplexed and distressed. Getting some egg yolk for the chick was hardly an issue for a kitchen that boasted abundant ingredients. Casually take a Hailan white egg, steam it over water, simmer for five minutes on low heat, then a high flame for another five, and insulate it for five more; fifteen minutes should do it. Crack the eggshell, split the already solid egg white, take an ear scoop, scoop out an amount of yolk no much larger than a sesame seed, smash it into the bird''s mouth, and done. After smashing about a dozen scoops, adding up to about the size of a soybean, the chick was content and stopped chirping, snuggling in the nest dozing off, only occasionally chirping softly. Chen Fei finally breathed a sigh of relief. ... Error! Error! Unidentified valid CPU type Memory self-test failed No input/output device found No memory found Loading BIOS failed Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command ... "Shut down, aaaaagh!" Drenched in sweat, Chen Fei sat up in bed, shaking his head vigorously; he seemed to have had a bizarre, wild dream. What a bunch of nonsensical stuff, over and over again, utterly annoying. "Chirp! Chirp!" Following the sound, he looked in astonishment; it turned out to be the little bird in the nest by his bed calling out, mistaking it for the alarm sound of a computer error, as they were strikingly similar. Sounds like it''s hungry, right? Chen Fei finally understood the hardships of a bird mother; he was about to go grab the feeding egg yolk and ear scoop but then froze. The visuals of "phantosmia" before his eyes were no longer just a small, easily ignored bit of characters "A:\\>_", there were several more lines of text now. "Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command ..." Wasn''t this just something from his wild dream? And now it was even scrolling across his vision, absolutely ridiculous. Since he had just woken up and still clearly remembered everything from the dream, Chen Fei felt that his previous dream was no ordinary dream but was connected to the aftereffects of his "phantosmia," which seemed to have changed anew. - Chapter 22: Section 22 - Chen Feis Bird Chen Fei didn''t get a good night''s sleep, partly due to the aftereffects of sudden "phantosmia" changes, and partly because there was now a baby bird alarm clock in his room, crying every half hour on the dot, relentlessly calling until fed, and then continuing to sleep until dawn, by which time he had fed it half an egg yolk. This little thing, although small, could eat and poop a lot, requiring three diaper changes per meal, and he had to change the napkin lining its nest afterward; otherwise, it would roll around in its own filth, and the smell in the dormitory would become quite strange. After breakfast and another feeding for the baby bird, Chen Fei, on his way to his shift at the hangar, now had a little sidekick. He occupied the deserted work area and the workbench as if it were his personal desk. The bird''s nest was placed in a wooden box, which in turn was placed atop other technical manuals, waiting for the bird''s cry before feeding; Chen Fei had become a passive human bird feeder. The baby bird''s feeding schedule couldn''t align with that of a human, not even a human infant, who would also need to cry, poop, and feed every two hours; being a parent of any kind was by no means an easy task. If they waited for Chen Chen to return for lunch and after work to feed it, the little thing would probably have starved to death, not to mention in a pile of its own excrement. Before finding suitable chick feed, they still needed egg yolks, which the bird could consume in large quantities within half a day, and its appetite was clearly on the rise. The kind-hearted Chef Abel would prepare boiled eggs in advance and had Pu Aihua deliver them on schedule. When washing vegetables and occasionally finding a worm or two, the crafty vendor would excitedly offer the extra protein to Chen Fei''s baby bird, and even the usually stern-faced Abel would reveal a smile of satisfaction, knowing that the little bird was finally able to eat the most natural food, which would aid in its growth. If it had been in the past, he would have cursed the food suppliers for including bugs in the vegetables as if they intended to offer extra protein! The uncharacteristically amiable tone from Mr. Chef had the supplier in a panic, wondering if it was time to look for a new one. It seemed all too much like offering a last meal before an execution. Luckily, Chen Fei''s current duties were not demanding; his main task was to read and quickly familiarize himself with the aircraft maintenance team''s work, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to spare the time to care for this little life that had suddenly come into his world. This bird of unknown species, despite eating and pooping a lot, paid off for the hard work of being fed 48 times a day, and in just three days, its naked little body was covered with a thin layer of downy feathers, and it had grown considerably in size. Although Chef Abel didn''t know how to raise a little bird, he shared all his knowledge of poultry rearing with Chen Fei. After all, the chefs in Abel''s hometown were possessed by a fervor for cuisine; not satisfied with just eating eggs, they went out of their way to ponder over the hens that laid them, and as a result, the chickens they raised had gained some renown in the culinary world. It was only by chance that Chen Fei noticed the bird had opened its eyes for the first time and was looking at him with its shiny, black beads, completely still and quiet. It had actually opened its eyes! The sleeping pills indeed had some effect, enabling Chen Fei to finally get a solid night''s sleep, but they also had side effects. Waking up in the morning with an inexplicable splitting headache, he could not help but grit his teeth and gasp for air occasionally. It wasn''t until midday that his indescribable headache began to ease slightly. Now he was faced with a dilemma. Taking the medication led to abnormal headaches upon waking, while not taking it resulted in torment from bizarre dreams, lack of rest, and a gradually withering appearance. As an adult, it seemed Chen Fei had no choice but to accept both. Perhaps a more advanced "magic potion" would not have left any after-effects, but as a Rookie who had just reported for duty, he clearly didn''t merit that price. The fact that his credit for killing the Metallic Dragons wasn''t erased and instead used to deduct the cost of the "magic potion" for life-saving purposes was already a show of conscience on the part of the capitalists. After all, an unfortunate child on the verge of death really had no choice. Simply being alive was already cause for gratitude, and there was no room to consider anything else. The most important thing was to survive. "Chirp! Chirp!" The seven-day-old Little Bird was getting increasingly lively, enjoying rolling around on the fresh napkins it used as bedding and fluttering its tender little wings. Soft gray-black fine down began to give way to the blunt stubs of feathers, rigid like spikes and a little rough to the touch. Once they fully spread out, they would turn into orderly, layered feathers, allowing it to gradually take on the appearance of an adult bird. Only then could one determine what species the Little Bird actually was. "Sunflower seeds, peanuts, beer, airplane cups, anyone interested?" Pu Aihua once again started pushing her little trolley around the base, conducting her entrepreneurial side job to supplement the household income. Although she didn''t make much, every little bit adds up to a substantial extra income. Working in the kitchen, even with bonuses, she couldn''t earn much. By the end of the month, it was still less than what Chen Fei made during his probationary period, but with the severe domestic job insecurity in Goryeo and a persistently high unemployment rate, someone Pu Aihua''s age¡ªwell into her 35th year without any significant skills¡ªwas already quite fortunate to have a job at all, let alone be choosy. Just as Pu Aihua entered Hangar 1 with her cart, she called out from afar. "Little Chen, I''ve got some chicken feed for you to try!" - Chapter 23: Section 23 - Ministry of Internal Affairs Arrests People "Emmmmm..." Pu Aihua''s conscience was so corrupted that he actually wanted me to eat chicken feed, and Chen Fei stood up in annoyance. "Old Piao, have you ever tasted what it''s like?" Pu Aihua said gleefully, "Hahaha, of course it''s... delicious!" The moment he said those words, he realized he spoke too quickly, making a joke of himself. "How much did you make? Don''t make too much, otherwise it''ll go to waste." Seeing the other party going along, Chen Fei let him off the hook. Considering the tiny size and appetite of the young bird, a few pounds of feed would be more than enough until it reached adulthood. "Ten pounds of chick feed, plus five pounds of wheat bran and half a pound of mealworms, should be enough, right?" Pu Aihua pushed a cart over cheerfully, puckered his lips toward the now open-eyed young bird in the nest, making chirping sounds to catch the little one''s attention, no longer mentioning his sinister idea of blowing it up into roasted skewers. "Chirp! Chirp!" The naive young bird was still rolling around, blissfully unaware of the merchant''s once full-blown malice. "Enough, enough, that''s plenty!" Chen Fei didn''t plan on taking care of this little bird forever; once its feathers were full, it could fly away on its own. The Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was barren, but for wild animals, it was heaven. An airport is not exactly a friendly place for birds. "Let me tell you about these mealworms..." Pu Aihua was about to explain the breeding methods for mealworms to Chen Fei when he was suddenly interrupted. "Are you Pu Aihua?" Who?! Pu Aihua and Chen Fei simultaneously turned their heads to look in the direction of the noise. "Who are you guys? What do you want, why are you looking for me?" The dubious merchant scrutinized the two men in black suits wearing sunglasses, feeling a chill in his heart. Chen Fei frowned, their attire seemed familiar. One of the men in black suits with sunglasses spoke expressionlessly, "Come with us!" "Come where? What do you want?" Not until the men revealed handcuffs did Pu Aihua truly panic. These unwelcome guests had ominous intentions. "Don''t move!" The other man flicked his hand, revealing a baton that crackled with sparks at the tip. "Hey! What do you want?" Even if it was the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they would still carry on with their repairs. Mechanics were just that awesome! The scene fell into silence, and the lead of a stun baton sparkled briefly with electrical light, then the flickering died away. The two men in black suits wearing sunglasses looked at each other, then quickly lifted Pu Aihua, who was still immobilized, and swiftly stepped back a few paces, fearing any misunderstanding. After all, the other side had overwhelming numbers; it was two against many, and they didn''t want to end up staying here without bringing the man back. "Our target is Pu Aihua, not including Chen Fei," one of them said. If they didn''t clarify this, the situation might well spiral out of control. Even the ultra-authoritative Ministry of Internal Affairs didn''t dare to act recklessly within the company; they were still subject to the restraint of the board and wouldn''t take unnecessary actions. "Hmph!" Xiao Ming, the mechanic leader, immediately eased a bit, simply lowering the crowbar in his hand instead of holding it across his chest. The other mechanics slowly stepped back, returning to their positions, and carried on with their work as if nothing had happened. The tense atmosphere quietly dissipated. The two men in black suits escorting Pu Aihua sighed in relief, and so did everyone else. Everyone feared that these silent and stoic mechanics might do something rash, viewing life and death lightly and acting on defiance alone. As the two Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel were preparing to take Pu Aihua away, Chen Fei suddenly said, "Can I ask where you are taking him?" The two men in black suits looked at each other, and the one who had explained earlier said, "We are just following the company''s orders, we are not clear on the specifics." If it weren''t for the inappropriate situation, he probably would''ve dismissed them with "It''s a company secret, not to be disclosed," and if pressed further, they''d just cuff and take away the inquirer, ensuring no one dared to speak up. Now, seeing it from the face of the mechanic leader beside Chen Fei, they gave a bit more explanation. "Little Chen, save me!" Pu Aihua looked at Chen Fei with pleading eyes, desperately seeing him as a lifeline. Whether it was a subsidiary or the headquarters of the Apocalypse Defense Group, every department regarded the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a dire threat to be avoided at all costs. What good could come to a mere kitchen helper in the hands of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? He was probably doomed! "Don''t be rash!" Even though willing to stand up for Chen Fei, mechanic leader Xiao Ming did not want to confront the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly. He was just the head of the mechanics group at Aircrew Base 911, neither his rank nor his authority were nearly enough to contend against the will of the board. Chen Fei pursed his lips, helplessly saying, "Sorry! Old Piao, you''d better tell the truth and cooperate with them. If it''s just a misunderstanding, they should let you go." He of course understood the mechanic leader''s good intentions. A newbie who had not been on the job long, with no power, no connections, and still owing money to the company, had nothing to use against the company''s special department. Despite some engagement with this deceitful merchant, friendship aside, in the face of company regulations, all friendships were worthless. Even if he wanted to help, he was still powerless. If the other party had indeed done something illegal or against the rules, recklessly sticking to loyalties could just bring disaster upon himself, a loss far outweighing any gain. - Chapter 24: Section 24 - Going Out Upon hearing Chen Fei''s words, Pu Aihua''s eyes immediately dimmed, and he cried out in a loud, despairing wail. "I am innocent, I am innocent, unjustly accused, such injustice..." However, the two men in black suits from the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not hesitate to escort him out of the hangar, fearing that if they delayed, something untoward might occur. As Chen Fei watched Old Piao being taken away, his cart remained there; he felt someone pat his shoulder. Turning around, he saw the mechanic, Xiao Ming, shake his head slightly without saying a word, and then he left with a crowbar in hand. Big Brother Xiao was not good at comforting others; he was not the type to speak eloquently or incessantly. He preferred expressing his thoughts in this manner. It contained two meanings: one was understanding the friendship between Chen Fei and Pu Aihua. After all, Chen had just arrived, and Piao had been the first to connect with him, with many interactions since. Now that trouble had arisen, it was natural to feel sympathetic. The other was hoping that Chen Fei would remain calm and not rashly get involved. For Pu Aihua, like a drowning man, was already in disarray. Any misstep not only wouldn''t help but might also drag him down. If this businessman were truly faultless or even wronged, the innocent will prove their innocence, and those muddied will remain muddled. The Ministry of Internal Affairs would surely give him an explanation and return him to his post if he was innocent. Even though the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not have a good reputation within the company, even disliked by many, cases of wrongful accusations were extremely rare. Once the arrest and interrogation phase was reached, there usually was solid evidence. Otherwise, if the Ministry of Internal Affairs were to act arbitrarily without checks, the atmosphere in such a large corporate conglomerate would always be anxious and wholly disordered. "Chirp, chirp, chirp!" Unaware of any of this, the fledgling continued to cheerfully roll around in its nest. - Suddenly, personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the headquarters of the corporate conglomerate arriving at the Aircrew Base 911 did not just take canteen assistant Pu Aihua. The businessman was not the first or the last; there were other group''s employees, such as those from the control tower, storerooms, even security staff, totaling up to seven or eight people. Many were terrified to go to and from work, fearing that at any moment they too could be handcuffed and dragged away from their posts. As people were continually arrested, the Aircrew Base 911 inevitably plunged into a state of anxiety, filled with unease and even affecting normal operations, with frequent incidents occurring. The executive manager, Morris Morgan, whose head was as big as a bucket, had no choice but to order the group leaders of each department to stabilize the workforce, commanding all employees not to engage in any rash actions, to wait for the investigation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conclude, so as not to cause any uncontrollable situations. With the mechanic, Xiao Ming, in charge of the mechanic team and the mechanics being men of few words, focused only on their tasks, it actually became the quietest unit within the base. This allowed Chen Fei, who was initially somewhat uneasy, to feel more at ease as well. Guns and dogs made the hunting more fruitful, and with a mortar at hand, they freely roamed the mountains. This group wasn''t just hunting; it was more akin to a massacre, with even the most dangerous wolves and leopards in the mountains staying well away. Big Bear boasted proudly of their gains from the days spent hunting in the wilderness, his arm just healed enough to handle a gun. For perspective, another pilot, "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown, was still wheelchair-bound, needing at least another month before he could walk. One wolf, a dozen wild chickens, two rams ¡ª all hung upside down, bled out, eviscerated, then treated with coarse salt and Sichuan peppercorn, prepared to be dried or smoked, serving as an additional dish for the coming period. If they decided to switch to barbecue, it would be equally excellent. Unfortunately, there were no rabbits; the mountain bunnies were trickier than foxes, darting into burrows at the slightest rustle, only catchable by eagles and old foxes, or perhaps only with tear gas or cloud bombs to flush them out. Using tear gas was one thing, but cloud bombs... resorting to such drastic measures for a rabbit, as if cloud bombs were cheap, was utterly insane! Might as well use a Forbidden Curse, raze a mountain, and get everything. Now, having received news that the four "Big Mouth Monsters" had been repaired, this group finally returned after wreaking havoc far and wide. "No need, I''m just going to visit a fellow villager nearby, not far, and return a gun!" Chen Fei patted the Type 95 automatic rifle slung behind him, his pocket filled with two magazines loaded with bullets. Shen Fei''s school wasn''t far from Aircrew Base, just a three and a half-hour walk. If he quickened his pace, he could reduce the time even more. Major Chekhov, warm-hearted, asked, "Are you sure that''s safe?" After all, they had gone through dragon-slaying together, a bond forged in the heat of battle. "Absolutely no problem; I also have signal flares." Chen Fei then pulled out three "Small Batons" issued by the security team for self-defense, a standard twin set for going out. Just twist off the cap at one end of the "Small Baton," pull out the safety pin, aim at the sky, and press the launch button. Three seconds later, three red signal flares would shoot into the air, reaching a height of about 80 meters, each firing a wireless signal every five seconds for 12 hours. These could be received by land-based antennas and search helicopters to pinpoint and initiate a fully committed rescue operation immediately. - Chapter 25: Section 25 - Returning the Gun It wasn''t just Chekhov, everyone at Aircrew Base recognized this type of dual-mode handheld signal flare. Pilots and ground personnel might both need it; it was an essential item for saving lives. Once a distress signal was spotted, Aircrew Base''s Z-9 armed helicopters would take off fully armed and then carry out search-and-rescue procedures. If the person sending out the distress signal was alive and under attack, then Option A would be executed: first, a rocket barrage to clear the area, then the use of airborne machine guns to eliminate any stragglers, security team members would rappel down for a cleanup, and finally, the helicopter would land to rescue the person in distress. If the person sending out the distress signal had died, then Option B would be initiated: a rocket barrage followed by machine-gun fire to cover any gaps, emptying all carried ammunition, while simultaneously calling in attack aircraft for additional rocket and heavy cruise missile barrages until all enemy targets on the ground were annihilated, avenging the fallen. Bullshit about a gentleman seeking revenge after ten years; that''s not the case here. A gentleman repays kindness with kindness and enmity with directness; revenge is taken on the spot, and with eighteen legs, escape from an aerial strike is impossible. If one attack aircraft can''t solve the problem, then deploy two; if two aren''t enough, send four. There''s no ground force that a Combat Flight Squadron can''t take care of. "Here, take this with you, and return it to me when you''re back!" Perhaps feeling that the weapons Chen Fei was carrying were too light, Chekhov directly handed over his own gun and an extra magazine. It was a classic AK-47, an original product from the days of the former Soviet Union, from the most authentic factory over two hundred years old, the Izhevsk Armory, with its serial number still clearly stamped, certainly not one of those random fake goods you could find in the hands of nearby mountain villagers. Such a valuable antique was priceless; to use it for hunting was an utter waste. The 7.62mm caliber bullets would create a hole as big as a bowl in the prey, and with smaller game like pheasants, there would probably be nothing left but a pile of unrecognizable minced meat and feathers. For creatures with tougher hide like wild boars, it was usually a one-shot deal. Any terrestrial creature that couldn''t be brought down with one shot would get two. "Really, no need!" Chen Fei showed a troubled expression; he wasn''t lacking in guns. Carrying one rifle was already heavy enough. Adding another, and a pistol from before, those unaware would think he was off to seek revenge on someone! Or perhaps that he had lost his mind, taking on a weighted cross-country hike in the wilderness. "If you don''t accept it, you''re not giving me, Chekhov, face!" Chekhov started rolling up his sleeves and clenching his fists, which cracked ominously. His stance was clear: you don''t give me face, you won''t get good treatment. The Big Bear was simply unreasonable, with others joining in on the unruly encouragement. "Take a heavy machine gun too, and I guarantee those bandits will stay clear of you." "Do you want an anti-infantry directional mine? Great for clearing an area!" "A grenade launcher is even more convenient, capable of rapid firing unmatched." Birds of a feather flock together; those who would go hunting with Chekhov for days without returning were a bunch of bored and idle troublemakers. Just think about it, setting up an anti-infantry directional mine near a rabbit burrow, it didn''t matter how clever the rabbits were, the moment they showed their heads, they''d be remotely detonated. He didn''t plan to disturb them at this time and decided to stand at the entrance for a while, waiting for the class to end. But to his surprise, just as he approached, a dog suddenly shot out of the yard. It barked loudly from behind the fence, making lunging motions. Chen Fei was startled; he hadn''t noticed a dog in the yard on his last visit. Hearing the dog barking inside the yard, the reading paused, then resumed. A door of a house opened, and a young girl peeked out. "Who is it?" "Teacher Shen, it''s me, Chen Fei!" Chen Fei replied in a hurry. Being watched intently by that big yellow dog inside the fence, he felt apprehensive, afraid it might suddenly come lunging at him. "Eh? Chen Fei, what brings you here?" The local teacher, Shen Fei, sounded surprised. Since there were no civilian mobile communication base stations nearby, there was no signal for mobile phones here. Daily communication depended totally on delivering messages by foot or with notes, or else shouting across the ravine, which explains why Chen Fei arrived unannounced¡ªit was impossible for him to inform Shen Fei in advance. "I came to return the pistol and also brought you some stuff." Chen Fei quickly took the Type 95 automatic rifle from his back. The little peach wood fish on the gun sight was still hanging there, and on the back and forth journey, he hadn''t encountered the rumored bandits, not even a rabbit, so naturally, there was no use for it. "I''m not in a hurry to use it, it''s okay to leave it with you for a while. Now that you''re here, why did you bring things!" Shen Fei said as she stepped forward in big strides, nudging the noisy big yellow dog behind the fence with a light kick, and scolded sharply. "Ah Hu, stop barking and go away." "Whine!~~~" The big yellow dog whimpered and stopped barking, tucking its tail and obediently scampered off. "Did it startle you?" Shen Fei opened the door for Chen Fei and let him in. "No harm done, just a bit of a surprise, oh, there''s another dog here." Chen Fei shook his head, about to say something, but then he suddenly saw beside the fence gate, *damn*! In the corner position, a black dog with droopy ears and a lean body was staring intently at him, silent as a stone. The dog''s gaze was somewhat sinister, seemingly aimed at his lower body, causing him to instinctively shrink back, his sweat breaking out and hairs standing on end. The ones that bite don''t bark, those that bark don''t bite¡ªwho would have thought that there''d be another dog in this yard, lying in ambush? If someone with ill intentions broke in, they''d probably be taken by complete surprise by this Big Black dog''s bite. - Chapter 26: Section 26 - Shen Feis Elementary School Following Chen Fei''s gaze, Shen Fei couldn''t help but giggle and said, "Last time, you didn''t see them in the backyard, but don''t worry, that''s ''Ah Mao,'' a Shan Yang fine dog. It''s supposed to look like this, a genuine watchdog, and very obedient, unlike Ah Hu, just a useless mutt, clumsy and foolish, only knows how to bark, and is very timid, good-looking but useless." After finishing, she gestured to the lean black dog lying in the corner of the wall. Only then did the black dog stand up, wagging its slender tail, and came over to Shen Fei, allowing her to stroke its head and scratch its chin, all while still gazing silently at Chen Fei. "Come, ''Ah Mao,'' this is my friend, Chen Fei. Let''s get to know each other, now say ''hello.''" Shen Fei picked up the black dog''s paw and waved it toward Chen Fei, with a beaming smile. Asking a dog to speak human language is really too hard for the dog. The Shan Yang fine dog "Ah Mao" wisely continued to maintain its silent dog facade. "Hey, hello, ''Ah Mao.''" Though Chen Fei felt a bit uneasy, he still mustered up the courage and lifted his hand to wave at the black dog. But petting the dog''s head? He wouldn''t dare. This villager had a really capricious way of naming dogs, calling the fiercest biter "Ah Mao" and the wimpiest one "Ah Hu," utterly misleading. Only then did the black dog slightly relax, sticking out its crimson tongue to lick Shen Fei''s hand, its slender tail looking nothing like the fluffy tail of a dog, but somewhat more like a cat''s, which might be the origin of the name "Ah Mao." As one of the native dog breeds that had performed guarding and hunting duties for thousands of years, it wasn''t the kind of foolish dog that wouldn''t even bark at a stranger walking inside out. Despite looking lean and gaunt, it becomes quite terrifying once enraged, as fine dogs weren''t known for a good temperament in watchdogs. But as a plains breed, in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, it was a bit difficult to play to its strengths. Shen Fei never thought of taking the Shan Yang fine dog "Ah Mao" out hunting; after all, hunting was harsh on dogs, and casualties were inevitable. With only these two dogs, she really couldn''t afford to be extravagant. "Woo!~" The large yellow dog squatting not far away licked its lips, green with envy. It wasn''t a Shan Yang fine dog, but the most common field dog, one of the six livestock traditionally used for sacrifices to heaven, a traditional source of meat, and even worse off than the fine dog. Finally, Shen Fei let go of the innocent black dog "Ah Mao," clapped her hands, stood up, and said to Chen Fei, "Alright, next time you come, they''ll recognize you. Come on, I''ll take you inside to sit." "Ah, okay. I hope I''m not interrupting your class, am I?" Chen Fei felt somewhat embarrassed. He followed behind Shen Fei, occasionally looking back uneasily. Nowadays, with the prevalence of air conditioning, underfloor heating, oil radiators, hot air blowers, electric blankets, and even oil stoves, heating devices that relied purely on fuel like the traditional soil stove and fire-kang remained only in stories, found in descriptions and picture albums. "I''ve heard of it, but this is the first time I''ve seen one." Chen Fei placed the Type 95 automatic rifle on the fire-kang, then placed the ancient AK-47 and the magazines that Big Bear Chekhov had forced on him alongside it. Feeling suddenly relieved of the weight, he then began to take more things out of his backpack. "Teacher Shen, I''ve brought you a few pounds of vital wheat gluten powder, as well as some powdered sugar and dried yeast." Vital wheat gluten powder, also known as gluten flour, is the ''muscle'' of flour. It can be mixed into regular flour to transform it into bread flour, making the bread that is baked fluffy and well-formed. Sugar and yeast are both essential ingredients for baking bread. Chen Fei knew Shen Fei enjoyed baking, so he had specifically consulted Chef Abel of the cafeteria. These ingredients also came from the cafeteria. "Wow, Chen Fei, that''s so thoughtful of you. I was just needing these. Thank you! How much did it all cost?" Shen Fei''s smile beamed with delight as she went to look for her wallet. The most important was the vital wheat gluten powder. Regular flour is fine for making buns and pancakes, but a bit lacking for bread. With so much gluten powder, she could upgrade a lot of regular flour and use it for a long time. If used alone to make gluten, it also tasted excellent. The powdered sugar and yeast were also used in small amounts each time and would last a long time. Seeing Shen Fei looking for her wallet, Chen Fei, not wanting to accept her money, quickly said, "No need. It wasn''t much money anyway, and you gave me so much bread last time." He spoke the truth; he had carried all these items over, and Chef Abel had only charged him the cost price. So, in total, they cost about a hundred yuan, not a significant amount. "Alright then, I''ll take it without any pretense. But you must eat lunch here at my place. I''ll show you what I can do." Shen Fei didn''t play coy and set down her wallet. "Yes, please! The two main chefs at the 911 Aircrew Base are just heretics¡ªone makes nothing but soupy dishes, grilled meat, and sausages all day, and their bread is hard enough to be used as bludgeons. The other one is even worse, only knows how to unpack frozen food. Oh, and by the way, I heard there''s a new gang of bandits around here. Teacher Shen, you need to be careful." The Patan people''s village was the only place within a ten-mile radius. Other than returning to the 911 Aircrew Base, Chen Fei had nowhere else to go, so he had every right to stick around for a free meal. "Hahaha, I''ve known about it for a while now, and it''s all to save money, you know. Qualified chefs don''t come cheap! The bandits in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range are as numerous as hairs on a bull. They come today, gone tomorrow. They might be chased off by the local bandits very soon. Let me put away my gun first, and then I''ll tell you more. Huh? AK? This is... an AK-47? My god! Chen Fei, where did you get an AK-47? It''s in such good condition and all the internal stress has been released. There''s no deformation. It''s definitely a gem. Where did you find it? Did you rob The Kremlin? Is it a gift for me? Uh, this is too valuable!" Approaching the fire pit to properly store her Type 95 automatic rifle, Shen Fei couldn''t help but exclaim when she saw the other rifle beside it. - Chapter 27: Section 27 - DOS System Shen Fei had turned out to be a gun enthusiast, so it was no wonder she chose the user-friendly Type 95 automatic rifle as her self-defense weapon. Chen Fei immediately explained, "Don''t get the wrong idea, this isn''t mine. It''s a gun Major Chekhov lent me for self-defense. He''s the squadron leader of the Combat Flight Squadron." Such an expensive antique gun, probably worth around two to three million Star Yuan, was beyond his means to gift. "Genuine Fragrance Squadron''s Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov¡ªyes, I know him. To think that this big guy weighing over two hundred pounds would have such a fine piece, a legendary firearm indeed! I see now, this AK isn''t just for self-defense; he lent it to you for show-off, I''m impressed." Shen Fei''s eyes lit up as she cradled the AK-47 automatic rifle, gently caressing it inch by inch. Although Chekhov recklessly used it for hunting, the everyday maintenance of this AK-47 was impeccable. The smooth, delicate patina was not only on the wooden stock and handguard but also on the surface of the metal, a thin layer not of the oily kind used for rust protection, offering an excellent touch which made it easy to find the right grip, thus facilitating better control and shooting. In a certain sense, this old gun seemed almost to have its own soul, incomparable to a brand-new firearm still reeking of residual smoke and gunpowder. Clutching the still-excellent-performing AK-47 automatic rifle, Shen Fei was extremely reluctant to put it down, continuously expressing her admiration. "Great gun, great gun, the feel is just amazing!" It was really hard to imagine that a young woman, determined to devote herself to elementary education in remote, turbulent areas and who liked to bake bread to share with others, could have such a great interest in firearms. Seeing teacher Shen Fei''s fascination with the AK-47 automatic rifle, Chen Fei''s gaze involuntarily fell on her neck, becoming somewhat entranced there. The harsh conditions and tough environment hadn''t made her slender neck rough or yellowed; it remained fair and tender, likely very pleasant to the touch¡ªif one were to choke it tightly, water might be squeezed out, and continuing for five minutes could send this kind-hearted teacher to meet King Yama! ... Wait a minute! What kind of horrifying thought was that! Chen Fei shuddered involuntarily, snapping back to his senses. Only then did he realize his hands were clenched in fists, and his leg muscles were tense, ready to pounce at any moment to put that inexplicable sinister thought into action. What was happening to him? Recently, he occasionally had these malevolent thoughts, which he had never experienced before¡ªsomething was seriously wrong, very wrong. Chen Fei was frightened into a cold sweat by his own terrifying thoughts. Possibly sensing the malicious glare, Shen Fei looked over in confusion and noticed Chen Fei''s expression was a bit off. She asked, "Chen Fei, what''s wrong with you?" "Er... nothing, just having some issues with my eyes lately." But then came the question: where should he plug it in? This was very metaphysical! "It does sound like it, just don''t know which system it is." Shen Fei increasingly affirmed with a nod. Chen Fei said helplessly, "I''m not a mechanical being; how could I possibly have a computer system in my brain." "That''s why it was diagnosed as ''Phantosmia.''" Shen Fei seemed to understand the origin of Chen Fei''s diagnostic result. Since he was not a mechanical being, it was defined as "Phantosmia." These character hallucinations were neither fatal nor injurious; they were just annoying, but nonetheless, they were better than losing one''s sight. If it were a mechanical being having this problem, it would be easier to deal with; just reset the system¡ªunless there was a hardware fault, it would recover immediately. "My vision is like a subtitle screening, I also don''t know how to treat it to restore normalcy." Chen Fei shook his head in distress; he began to miss the time when "Phantosmia" showed only a short sequence of characters, "A:>\\", quietly confined to a corner, barely affecting his vision. But he had never expected that after waking up, the characters mysteriously multiplied, clutteringly filling his vision, causing immense frustration. "Maybe treating it like a computer system malfunction is an option; just give me a moment." Shen Fei went to the bookshelf next to the heated brick bed and started flipping through the books layer by layer; finally, she forcefully pulled out a book with its damaged cover fixed with now-cloudy transparent adhesive tape, its pages noticeably yellowed, and handed it to Chen Fei. "''Introduction to DOS''?" Chen Fei read the title on the cover, puzzled. What is DOS? He had never heard of it. "You told me earlier that you saw ''A:>\\'' first; I guess it might be a command line mode computer system. There''s also a more advanced UNIX system mentioned in this book, but I don''t have that kind of book here." "Is this book from the last century?" Chen Fei looked amazed; he had encountered another antique. - Chapter 28: Section 28 - Effective Commands Shen Fei thought for a moment and said, "The villagers in the nearby village found it in a dried-up riverbed, a whole iron box full of books, and this is just one of them." The all-stainless steel iron box was sealed extremely well. No one knew how many years it had been lying in the riverbed, but the books inside were still in perfect condition, with not even a hint of dampness. Chen Fei took the book, and after flipping through a few pages, he was captivated by its contents. "Huh? A drive, B drive, the drive letters are almost identical, they really do resemble this DOS system, and the commands are in English too." This DOS impressed him inexplicably. "It''s getting more and more interesting, take your time, I''ll go get lunch ready." Seeing that her collection of books might be able to help Chen Fei, Teacher Shen Fei was also very happy. She clapped her hands, pushed the door open, and left. Most of the students in the school brought their own lunches; there was no need for her to worry about them. Preparing lunch for just Chen Fei was not a hassle. "These commands..." Chen Fei increasingly felt that the primary school teacher''s guess was likely correct. But how should he use these commands? For instance, to clear the scrolling lines filling his vision, he should use the "cls" command, but how should he enter it? No sooner had the thought emerged than the lines of repetitive text in front of him suddenly jumped up, and new characters appeared. "...New hardware detected, loading drivers, installation successful, ready to use." "A:>\\cls" Whoa, it actually worked!!! Chen Fei was dumbfounded, it even had voice recognition¡ªso why were there still messages about ''no input/output device detected''? Did he really need to plug in a keyboard and touchpad? That was quite primitive. Looking at the book''s publication date, he realized, gee whiz, it was a fifty-year-old antique. But what should he do next? Where was the Enter key? Or, perhaps, the Confirm button? Just as he thought of this, the repetitive text taking up a significant part of his field of vision, "Illegal operation or incorrect command," vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only a short string of characters in the top left corner, "A:>\\_", with the little dash blinking on and off. The world became suddenly clear, as if it had quieted down in an instant. The "scrolling text" that had troubled Chen Fei for a long time disappeared altogether, as though he had returned to the initial stages of his "Phantosmia" symptoms. Although there was still the little leftover "A:>\\_", it was no longer a hindrance, trivial enough to ignore. So, the "cls" command was effective. This was an unexpected delight for Chen Fei; he clutched the "Introduction to DOS" in his hand. Although not many pages, it might well be the remedy for his "Phantosmia." However, the next second. "Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command This was a brand-new health bracelet. The one that had accompanied Chen Fei for ten years had gone missing in the battle with the Metallic Dragons. He had bought the latest model on the International Medical Ship, and it was reimbursed by the Apocalypse Defense Group. Carefully placing the "Introduction to DOS," of which he had flipped through a dozen or so pages, on the steel-wood desk inside the room, he responded loudly, "Coming, I''ll be right there!" As soon as he pushed open the door, a waft of food aroma hit him in the face. Not far outside the door, a few dishes were laid out on an outdoor rectangular table, with roasted meat, vegetable soup, naan, and small bread. There were also several dishes of appetizers, simple yet abundant. There were also six kids sitting around the table with Shen Fei, waiting to eat together. "Wow, this looks really good." Chen Fei was somewhat surprised. This female teacher had actually managed to prepare such a large spread. "Come sit here!" Shen Fei pointed to the empty seat next to her and waved to Chen Fei. Once he sat down, she continued, "I have a freezer here, quite large, so I can store a lot of semi-finished products. There''s also a big oven that can roast anything. Try the pickles I made myself¡ªdried radish, sauerkraut, and stir-fried sauerkraut." "That''s incredible!" Chen Fei gave her a big thumbs up without stint. The students around the table immediately started praising their teacher, making Teacher Shen''s cheeks flush red. "Teacher Shen is the best." "My mom''s cooking isn''t as delicious as Teacher Shen''s." "I could lick my plate clean, I do it every time." "I have never eaten such delicious food in my life. Teacher Shen, when I grow up, I will definitely marry you as my main wife." "No way, Teacher Shen is so pretty, she will definitely be my main wife." "Pfft, look at yourself, Sprout Student!" As they spoke, two little rascals were about to start scuffling right then and there, uttering such outlandish wolf and tiger words! The children from the mountain village of Patan matured early and were precocious, with a robust and fierce customs, each acting like a little adult, recklessly imagining the future. "Stop, stop, stop, you lot, don''t spout nonsense." Shen Fei''s tone became slightly stern, and the kids immediately behaved like quails. Chen Fei shook his head with a smile and said, "Still talking about a main wife, how many wives will you guys be able to marry when you grow up?" "Four!" A big boy immediately raised his hand and then bent one finger, leaving four fingers standing up straight. The other kids burst into laughter, with one shouting, "Muzike is getting married next year, he''s already fifteen. His family has already sent two sheep each to the villages to the south and the west, engaging two girls." Someone else added, "I know, I know, the girl from the southern village is Amu, she''s the niece of my aunt, with cheeks like apples." Laughter followed once more, the hand-raising big boy''s face turned beet red, yet he stood tall, with a mixture of pride and anticipation. - Chapter 29: Section 29 - Cultural Export "Getting married at such a young age, and taking so many wives?" Chen Fei found it hard to believe. Such a thing was simply impossible in his hometown, where the average age for young people to marry was generally over 30. But here, by 30, they were already arranging marriages for their children. "It''s the local custom. However, marrying at 16 is indeed too young, whether it''s polygyny or polyandry, it''s mainly determined by the living environment. In a few more years, this situation will see a significant decrease. Alright, everyone must be hungry, let''s eat!" Shen Fei seemed to have an open mind about it. Customs and habits formed over thousands of years couldn''t be changed overnight. Only by influencing them with civilization could these people become more enlightened with each generation. Take an example. If legislation prohibited everyone in Chen Fei and Shen Fei''s hometown from eating pork, the next second, heads would roll. The children sitting around the table cheered in unison, immediately scrambling to grab food. Wrapping the whole naan bread around torn pieces of roasted lamb and adding a touch of refreshing pickled vegetables before taking a big bite was their favorite way to eat. A mouthful of hot vegetable soup completed the satisfaction. For these elementary school students, the real issue at hand was that no matter how good a wife is, she''s not as good as naan bread. Naan bread can be eaten, but can a wife be eaten? This multiple-choice question was almost a giveaway. Chen Fei also took a naan bread sprinkled with sesame seeds and learned to shave strips of roasted lamb off the bone with a dinner knife. After adding some shredded dried radish and rolling it up to take a bite, he found it incredibly fragrant, no wonder the children loved it so much. He looked towards the largest room in the courtyard, which was also where the students had their classes, and asked, "What about the other children? How do they solve their lunch issue?" Through the window, he could vaguely see that the students were all sitting quietly in the classroom. With Shen Fei''s efforts alone, much of her time had to be spent on teaching. Surely she couldn''t have any energy left to provide lunch for so many students, could she? "Most of them bring their own, and I provide hot vegetable soup for them, a large bowl each." Indeed, Shen Fei didn''t have the capacity to supply a hot lunch for all students. Simply providing hot vegetable soup was already the limit of what she could afford to do. She turned her gaze towards the six ravenous children at the table and said, "These six are the top students of their grade from the last test. They can enjoy a free lunch with me as a form of encouragement and reward. The tallest one is Muzike, he''s in sixth grade. Next to him is Du Lu who''s in fifth grade, followed by Tina in fourth grade, Little Cherry in third grade¡ªher name was given by me. Her chubby red cheeks are as adorable as cherries, making you want to take a bite. Then we have Mo Erhan from second grade and Funa from first grade." The six elementary school students, three boys and three girls, clearly demonstrated that the girls had an advantage in learning during the early grades. But Chen couldn''t recognize all the students here. Shen Fei, seizing the opportunity, introduced a few more. Bit by bit, it wouldn''t take many times for him to be able to name every student here. Without even a working phone line between the school and the Aircrew Base, how could he be contacted? Relying on people to relay messages would take at least five to six hours each way; in terms of efficiency and cost, it was indeed quite a challenge. Seeing Chen Fei''s embarrassment, Shen Fei laughed and waved her hand, saying, "It''s okay, it''s okay. If you have some free time, just come and visit. Actually, there''s not much work here. The kids usually help me out with some things. If we really need more hands, the nearby villagers always come to help." This primary school was a joint effort established by several nearby villages; if Teacher Shen Fei faced difficulties, no one would ignore her plight. "Sure, I''ll definitely come over more often!" Chen Fei said, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he touched the back of his head. "There''s a composition class this afternoon, with all six grades together. You could help me out with that." Teacher Shen Fei blinked, the corners of her eyes carrying a smile. "No problem, consider it done." Chen Fei responded without hesitation and slapped his chest, leaving a few greasy palm prints on his shirt. After all, he was a college student preparing for postgraduate studies; dealing with elementary students'' compositions was a piece of cake and could easily be handled. "Then I''ll count on you!" After lunch and an additional hour of free time, the bell for class rang punctually at 1:30 pm. The children, who had been playing in the yard, finally started to settle down and filed into the large classroom, one by one. The two-hour composition class was presided over by Teacher Shen Fei, who set the topic; the first hour was for writing, and the second for critique. The growth stages in elementary student compositions each had their distinct features. Characters, words, short sentences, long sentences, paragraphs; time, place, characters, events; goals, obstacles, analysis and choices, results and rewards; the central idea, distinctive features, conflicts, twists, the main point; personification, metaphors, hyperbole, parallelism, allusions, a wide range of emotions and desires... when you see a mountain as a mountain, water as water, a mountain not as a mountain, water not as water, then again a mountain as a mountain, and water as water. Despite having the same topic, compositions by different grades would still show significant differences. The sound of rustling paper quickly filled the large classroom as students from each grade began to write with focused intensity. - Chapter 30: Section 30 - Psychological Issues ... The setting sun gradually sank into the west. Carrying a backpack filled with small bread loaves, Chen Fei set off on his return journey to the Aircrew Base. As he left the school, Teacher Shen Fei and several students who were staying overnight stood on the ridge with flashlights, lighting the path ahead for him. After the sunset, the temperature dropped sharply. A cold wind suddenly swept through his neck. Chen Fei shivered and hastily zipped up his windbreaker, pulled on his hood, and turned on the light on his shoulder. Only then did he feel somewhat better. "Awoooo..." The distant howling of wolves echoed across the mountains, followed by another howl from a different direction, as if they were responding to each other. For a moment, the howling of the wolves rose and fell, like a large gathering, making one''s hair stand on end with fear and trepidation. However, Chen Fei seemed oblivious to it, his mind completely detached from the wolf howls filling his ears, instead recalling the afternoon''s essay class. Emmmmm... very bizarre. It was just an elementary school essay. How hard could it be? Teacher Shen Fei''s essay topic allowed choosing any fruit to write a composition of over 200 words, which provided a lot of creative freedom. Chen Fei, helping Teacher Shen Fei, also grabbed a pen and a sheet of grid paper, playfully joining the elementary students in writing the essay. A college student writing an elementary school essay, whether in terms of social experience or vocabulary mastery, was akin to a dimensional strike. While the elementary students were scratching their heads in deep thought, Chen Fei easily began writing. He chose watermelon and cleverly started by comparing it to a puffed-up green frog. If he continued using metaphors, personifications, and exaggerations, it could have been a lively and interesting essay. However, Chen Fei failed to notice that his writing had mysteriously gone astray, veering off by miles. "...a white knife goes in, a red knife comes out... red liquid flows... cut into eight pieces..." He ended up turning a simple watermelon cutting into a watermelon murder case, and the writing was filled with murderous intent. It was only after finishing the last word that he abruptly realized he had written a very peculiar essay. Feeling that something was off, Chen Fei didn''t dare show the sheet filled with writing to Shen Fei. Instead, he pretended as if nothing had happened and quietly folded it, stuffing it into his pocket. This was very wrong, incredibly wrong! But there was also some good news. The "Phantosmia" finally had a solution that required neither injections nor medication, all thanks to a book titled "DOS for Dummies." The commands within it could actually affect "Phantosmia," and although he had yet to try the other commands, the command "cls" had already been proven to be effective. Shen Fei generously gifted him this half-century-old computer book, solving his urgent problem, which was now sitting in his backpack alongside the bizarre essay from the afternoon. During the night, the loud howls of wild wolves did not come to bother Chen Fei. Even if they targeted him, it did not matter; an AK-47 in hand, the mere sound of gunfire was enough to deter these beasts, enough to keep the whole pack at bay. "Pfft! Are you joking?" Dr. William Jackson, his head full of question marks, then looked at Chen Fei with the expression one reserves for an idiot. If there had been a Husky across from him, tongue out and silly as ever, then it would have been spot on, old pal! But he was not facing a Husky! "No joke, something''s really off, very off, Doctor." Chen Fei spread his hands, indicating he hadn''t come to bother the doctor with this dull joke late at night, and moreover, to interrupt his private time. If he didn''t figure out this oddity, he was afraid he wouldn''t be able to sleep a wink. "Uh, indeed... something''s very off, you came to the right person." Dr. William Jackson''s expression turned serious. He clicked a few times on his computer screen, then turned to Chen Fei and continued, "Let''s start with a psychological test questionnaire. This one is professional, used annually for psychological assessments by the pilots." An adult writing an elementary school essay was abnormal enough, especially one penned like this. As Chen Fei filled out the psychological test questionnaire, the doctor rested his hands on his chin, sniffed his nose¡ªthe scent of Heather was a bit strong, so he quickly tore off a piece of alcohol wipe, rubbed fiercely, and then threw it into the trash can. Ding!~ The collection and juicing machine emitted a crisp sound, completed the quick freezing collection, and showed the number 58¡ªthis month''s collection quantities. Just two more and he could send them out via transport machine, convolutedly delivering them to the buyer, then waiting for a hefty transaction to come through. For high-quality men, making money was just that easy. Poor students would be crying by the roadside. "Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command A:\\>cls A:\\>_ Illegal operation or incorrect command ..." Phantosmia continued to tirelessly refresh the screen, but now Chen Fei had a way to deal with it, occasionally throwing out a "cls" command to clear the screen, letting his view return to clarity. Even if it quickly filled up again, it was still better than being completely without a plan as before. After a series of taps and swipes, ten minutes later, Chen Fei finally completed the lengthy psychological assessment questionnaire and turned the screen back to the doctor. - Chapter 31: Section 31 - Theres Something Wrong with This Gun Dr. William Jackson tapped on the display in front of him a few times, and immediately saw the assessment value, a pentagonal diagram, and a commentary. "139 points, lawful good, sensitive, principled, upright, conservative, emotionally biased, weak in judgment..." Over a hundred random professional psychological assessment questions had thoroughly analyzed Chen Fei''s personality traits and mental state. "Emmmm..." Dr. William Jackson hesitated as he looked at the results, his gaze shifting back and forth between Chen Fei and the checkered draft paper on the desk, tentatively asking, "Did you really write this essay yourself?" Chen Fei confidently said, "Yes, I wrote it." At that moment, the draft paper was right in front of him, the pen in his hand, and the handwriting was also his; surrounded by a group of elementary students, it was impossible for someone else to have written it for him. "The essay is indeed very abnormal, clearly exhibiting paranoid and antisocial personality traits, with characteristics of schizophrenia, yet your psychological test shows no issues at all, completely that of a mentally healthy normal person." This time, even the doctor was somewhat perplexed. The psychological assessment questionnaire system that Dr. William Jackson had Chen Fei complete was the most professional and widely used in the industry, containing tens of thousands of questions. It could automatically generate tests with models catering to different professional fields, and the final assessment results were not just a matter of adding and subtracting points for correct or incorrect answers; there was a deep analysis of behavioral consciousness, and each question was interconnected through hidden logical rules, assessed via a special computational model. Up to this point, cases of clear misjudgment had been few and far between, occurring only among those with professional training, all of whom were experts well-versed in human nature. Chen Fei looked towards the black doctor scratching his head and asked, "So, I am normal, right?" "You are normal at the moment, and it..." Dr. William Jackson''s eyes fell on the checkered draft paper and he said, "is not!" "This is a paradox." Chen Fei shook his head, finding it hard to accept such a conclusion. "Uh! Let me think, let me think this through." Dr. William Jackson tried to clear his head, then suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Right, there''s a new product you can try." He stood up, rummaged around the room for a while, pulled out an elegant paper box, took out a ring-shaped object from it, and handed it to Chen Fei. "This device is called ''Ayr''s Ring,'' a monitoring headband that can capture brainwave signals and spiritual power fluctuations, lasts a week on a full charge of electric energy. Put it on your head and see how it feels." Chen Fei weighed the delicate white ring, light in weight, as he tried slipping it onto his head, jokingly saying, "Feels like the Golden Hoop from ''Journey to the West'', Jackson, are you sure I can take it off again after putting it on?" "Ayr''s Ring" had a stretch mechanism that could adapt to various head shapes, with several sensors tightly fitting Chen Fei''s head. "Ha, don''t be ridiculous, how could that be? You are not the Monkey King, bound by a Tightening Curse? Just wear it for now, bring it in periodically for data collection, and remember to charge it on time." "Chekhov!" Whether it was from too much excitement or too much drink, the bear, reeking of alcohol, replied incoherently, "Hey, Rookie, call me ''Peanut Butter''. Look, ''Peanut Butter'' the mighty is unmatched in this world." "Okay, I came to return something to you, uh, never mind, I''ll come look for you tomorrow." Chen Fei was a bit worried that the big bear might be too tipsy, for he was carrying something that was certainly no toy. "What is it? My beloved little treasure? Hahaha, bring it here, let''s fire a few shots, if you''re a man, come shoot!" Sure enough, the big bear was a bit tipsy and Snatched the tightly wrapped oblong item from Chen Fei''s hand without any explanation. His carrot-thick fingers lightly tugged at it as if tearing off a girl''s panties, pulling open the cords and the bag. "My baby, Emmmm... my gun!" Just as the big bear was about to proudly show off his little treasure, the next second, his eyes bulged out, his face filled with disbelief, followed by a heart-wrenching cry. What, how come there''s a big hole in the receiver frame, a clear view to the interior showing the hammer, firing pin, and the recoil spring? Looking at the other parts of the gun, they''re covered with dents and pits, the nearly new condition mysteriously transformed into a post-apocalyptic wasteland look. What happened to the promised original products from Izhevsk Armory?! "Aaaaah, Rookie, what have you done to my little treasure?" If not for the correct serial number stamp on the gun, he would have believed that Chen Fei had switched it out. "Puhahaha, Chekhov, what happened to your little treasure? Looks like it got run over!" "Did you get someone to modify this? Wow, it looks even more artistic now!" "''Peanut Butter'' boss, there''s no problem with your gun, right? How did it turn out like this?" "It does look quite unique!" Not that no one suspected Chen Fei had pulled some trick; this old relic could blow its barrel, break in half, or even completely vanish, all acceptable outcomes, but this level of industrial art was truly baffling. "How, how did it turn out like this?" Chen Fei was also dumbfounded, unable to believe that the "broken gun" in Chekhov''s hands was the same AK-47 automatic rifle he had wrapped up before. He remembered distinctly, even throughout the whole day, the AK-47 was perfectly fine when it was handed to him in the morning, how did it become such a mess now. - Chapter 32: Section 32 - Losing Money... "Hey, ''Rookie'' little bro, come here, come here, sit down first and then we''ll talk." Big Bear pulled Chen Fei to an arm-wrestling table without a word, pushed him down into the seat opposite, and laid the pitiful-looking AK-47 across the table, saying, "We''re friends alright, but today you''ve got to give me an explanation!" If this were just any ordinary modern firearm, that would have been one thing, but such an original AK was already rare, and one in near-mint condition was even scarcer. Ruin one, and one less exists¡ªa beating right then and there for the kid across from him was already Uncle Chekhov showing good temper. "I, I¡ªI don''t know!" Chen Fei trembled. The gun was in such a shape, what could he possibly do? A famed antique firearm like this, he had no idea where to find another, probably meaning he would have to pay a hefty sum. "Listen, this AK-47 is an original piece from Izhevsk Armory a hundred years ago, the market price is 2.8 million, but I got it for only 2.3 million. I''ll give you a 20% discount, rounding down, just compensate me 1.8 million and we''ll call it even," Chekhov said while seriously doing the math, quoting a fair and honest number. Antique famous firearms are non-renewable hot collectibles; their price only goes up. I bet in a few years, breaking 3 million wouldn''t be impossible. Even right now, a friendly price of 2.3 million Star Yuan isn''t easy to come by. "But I don''t have any money!" Chen Fei was as pale as a sheet, shaking his head like a rattle-drum, and while saying this, he was utterly panicked. He was in the advanced stages of poverty, a millionaire in debt, where would he get such a sum to compensate the other, let alone 1.8 million Star Yuan? Even selling himself wouldn''t cover it. "You don''t have money?" Chekhov looked half-skeptical, half-believing. In his own view, 1.8 million Star Yuan wasn''t a big deal. The others gradually fell silent, looking at Chen Fei with some sympathy. It seemed this kid was about to get thrashed any minute now. If anyone thought the squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was some easy-going charitable soul, they were sorely mistaken. A punch from Big Bear could easily put someone in bed for a good half month, at least. Chen Fei spoke with a bitter tone, "Squadron Leader Chekhov, it''s not that I don''t want to compensate, but I also owe 7 million Star Yuan in debt. Not to mention 1.8 million Star Yuan, I don''t even have 10,000 Star Yuan. My salary all goes to paying off the debts, how could I possibly have any money left." Bumping into such bad luck out of the blue, it really was like the roof leaking during a rainy night, even a fart could injure his heel. Moreover, a debt of 7 million Star Yuan accrued interest. Even if it weren''t usury, an eight percent interest rate was the norm. His current salary wasn''t even enough to cover the interest, but the credit company was eyeing Chen Fei''s future, considering he was a university graduate preparing for advanced studies. College students these days still had some value. If he had been some no-name community college student, the credit company wouldn''t even give him the time of day. "No money..." Chekhov pointed at himself with his thumb, looking both arrogant and domineering. This was probably the only solution without a choice. However, the pay in the Combat Flight Squadron was always generous and definitely ranked among the top of the Aircrew Base. As long as he could fly for ten or eight years, he would surely be able to pay off the AK-47''s debt. "That''s not going to work, not going to work; I don''t know how to fly a plane." Chen Fei shook his head rapidly, Big Bear''s suggestion was outright coercion. Even though Chekhov had previously mentioned joining the Combat Flight Squadron, Chen Fei had no intention of agreeing. Chen Fei had barely accumulated a full month''s time in the aircraft maintenance crew, and he hadn''t even fully understood the structure of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, let alone flying it ¨C he was virtually a blank slate on that matter. Moreover, the last time Chekhov forcefully dragged Chen Fei into the cockpit without a word and clashed directly with Metallic Dragons, it was like fighting the ultimate boss right after entering a beginner''s village in a game; now he even had psychological trauma from almost losing his life on his first flight, on top of a new debt of 2 million Star Yuan. To go through that a second, a third time... was it even possible to live like that? That''s just setting someone up for failure. Flying was out of the question, he would never do it in this lifetime; at most, he would just take commercial flights. Big Bear slammed the table between them forcefully, threatening with a ferocious look, "Not possible? Then pay up, either a brand-new, original AK or 1.8 million Star Yuan, not a penny less." You can''t escape whether you''re a person or money; none will get away. "Rookie, just give in!" "Yeah, yeah, Major Chekhov is only thinking of your best interest." "Squadron Leader, talk nicely, you''re scaring the rookie." The crowd once again started persuading, not voicing their own opinions this time but unifying their stance, together coaxing Chen Fei to join Major Chekhov''s ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron. "..." Chen Fei became a picture of helplessness and pity. Being poor meant having no say; his element was lacking Gold, blame fate then! "I''ll say it one more time, after dinner tomorrow, come to the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron''s dormitory meeting room for the interview. If you don''t come, huh!" Chekhov clenched his fist, making crackling noises, looking every bit the part of a gangster boss. Most of the employees at the 911 Aircrew Base were tool-men, even executive manager Morris Morgan was no exception, yet the people in the Combat Flight Squadron were different. As a high-skill profession where experience was measured by flying hours, they could find work and get by anywhere; the pay wasn''t bad, and the job itself was easy. Even after hitting the age limit and retiring, one could still become a flight instructor or, if good with writing, help compose a few flight manuals to earn some manuscript fees, ensuring a comfortable retirement life. - Chapter 33: Section 33 - Learned to Fly "I, I... I''ll do it!" Chen Fei, with a mournful expression, had no choice but to brace himself and agree. If he dared to utter half a ''no,'' he feared he would end up lying here tonight. In the end, he couldn''t escape the fate of settling debts with his body. "Hahahahaha, there you go, good brother, from now on I, Chekhov, have got your back." The fierce expression that had almost been murderous abruptly changed, and Chekhov burst out laughing heartily, slapping Chen Fei''s shoulder as if he had never intended to press the issue in the first place. The crowd, whose hearts had been in their throats, collectively breathed a sigh of relief, their smiles returning, and the atmosphere at the scene became light-hearted and jovial once more. "Chekhov, if, if it''s alright, I''ll be going now." Chen Fei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, preparing to take his leave. "Not going to have a drink? Come on, come on, as Wu Song crossed Jingyang Ridge, without three bowls don''t think about leaving!" Big Bear held Chen Fei down in his seat with one hand, calling for the bartender to whip up a dozen freshly mixed "Nuclear Sunsets." With a single glass of alcohol, your stick takes flight, and after just two ounces in your belly, you''re tumbling seven-hundred and twenty degrees. If you can''t drink, what kind of airman are you? What if the Air Force needs your drinking capacity and, damn it, half a beer puts you down¡ªwhat kind of nonsense is that?! Remember how the "Airborne Surgeon" reputation was earned; it''s tradition, no issues there! Greeting drinks are followed by enrollment drinks, then comes the warm-up drink, and after, the review drink, followed by the interview drink... Thud, thud, thud. These booze hounds always come up with all sorts of clever excuses to pour one more. One, two, three, four, round they go again. Wu Song must have been so enraged by the coerced booze-slinging at the shady tavern at the foot of Jingyang Ridge that he ended up killing a man, turning the unfortunate tiger into a scapegoat. Now that was true entrapment, as the big boss Commander Wu beat the man to death with his fists, earning both fame and profit, a display of both high IQ and EQ. Chen Fei had no idea how he left the "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" bar. When he fully regained consciousness and opened his eyes, he found himself lying in his dormitory bed with the endless beeping of the alarm clock ringing in his ears. The cocktail "Nuclear Sunset" had a potent aftereffect, causing a splitting headache upon waking up. Memories of the previous night began flooding back like the tide returning to shore. The commander of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, Chekhov, had lent Chen Fei an AK-47 for self-defense. It had mysteriously become battered beyond repair. For Chen Fei, a man with millions in debt, this antique rifle worth a million Star Yuan was surely unaffordable. No money to give, but he had a life to offer. What followed was, it seemed, no beatings. They talked it over, and, err, in the end, he was still tricked by that Big Bear into becoming a damned pilot. Did they really think the fearsome Dragon of Slaughter was a mere cat or dog? Fucking hell! Forcibly downing a few cocktails left him utterly confused, and against his will, he joined a wild dance with the crowd. Then, carrying the broken AK, he stumbled to the neighboring cafeteria, not knowing what he said to Chef Abel, who seemed to shed tears, looking reluctant to part... Sheesh! Damn it, I''m straight, not gay. Absolutely not messing with Abel. Yeah! It was for the bird, my bird, spit, this bird is getting hairy, spit spit spit, is there a bird that doesn''t grow feathers? And it can fly now, right, it can fly! But where did it fly to? His memory returned to this point, and Chen Fei''s brain sank into a void. He had been blackout drunk in the end. "Tweet!~" A crisp, childish chirp sounded in his ear. Something seemed to move above his head, and looking up, he saw a small pointed beak. Thinking of the chief mechanic''s fists, which were not at all inferior to those of a big bear, he couldn''t help feeling guilty and panicked. The young bird standing on his shoulder, however, chirped a few times. Hearing the clear chirping, Xiao Ming turned his head and saw Chen Fei. "Little Chen, come here for a second." "Oh, I''ll be right there!" Chen Fei glared at the tiny bird squatting on his shoulder without any good feelings. "Chirp chirp!" Xiao Jiu looked completely innocent. "Are you going to Chekhov''s pilot interview tonight? Want sugar?" Xiao Ming poured a steaming cup of coffee for Chen Fei in the container office of the mechanic team and then pressed the coffee machine again, which began to whir and clank into action. After a heavy night of drinking, a morning cup of coffee was essential to wake up. "No sugar, thanks, uh, yes... tonight." Chen Fei was somewhat at a loss for words; he didn''t actually know the time for the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s pilot interview, but he got a hint from the chief mechanic of the mechanics team. The young bird on his shoulder was hopping excitedly, traveling down his arm and onto his hand, curiously peeking into the coffee cup. Even though it was able to spread its wings and fly, it still preferred to hop around as its physical energy was not yet enough to support prolonged flight. "I mean, if you don''t want to, I''ll speak to that Chekhov guy for you." The coffee machine was finally ready, and Xiao Ming also poured a cup of coffee for himself, added a sugar cube, and slowly stirred it with a spoon. "I... I''m willing!" Chen Fei initially wanted to say he was unwilling, but when the words were about to escape his lips, he changed his mind at the last moment. The seven cardinal sins of life: Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor! Being broke is a cardinal sin, and being in debt is downright unforgivable. After all, being a pilot is a high-income job; he had to bow to reality. Emmmm... Genuine Fragrance! "Is it because of the debt?" Despite Chief Mechanic Xiao''s towering stature and broad shoulders, his mind was incredibly sharp, and he had accurately pinpointed the crux of the matter. Chen Fei honestly replied, "Yes!" He didn''t like to spend beyond his means or be in debt. He loved to hoard, save, and accumulate¡ªthese traits were passed down from his ancestors and etched into his genes. - ``` Chapter 34: Section 34 - Spline Puller Xiao Ming said indifferently, "You can take a part-time job!" "A part-time job?" Chen Fei was startled and then stared at the chief mechanic with his mouth wide open. Big Brother Xiao was actually so magnanimous. It was obvious that Chekhov, the Big Bear, was trying to poach from the mechanic team. "There''s no conflict between the flight duties and the mechanics'' work." The chief mechanic, Xiao, shrugged his shoulders. That made sense. Once the pilots took off, the mechanics who orbited the aircraft had nothing to do. Not until the aircraft returned to the ground would it be the mechanics'' turn to take over. The two were just connecting the upstream and downstream processes: one was in charge of operating, the other of repairing. There was no overlap. Therefore, it was theoretically feasible to take on both mechanic and pilot jobs at the same time. "That''s great, really great. Thank you, Chief Mechanic Xiao." As expected, Chen Fei was overjoyed. This proposal to some extent alleviated his debt crisis, and it was even more precious than borrowing a lump sum of money directly. If the head of the mechanics'' group hadn''t agreed, even if he knew it could be done this way, he could only think about it. At that moment, Xiao Jiu bent down to sneak a peck at the coffee and immediately let out a series of strange chirps. Chen Fei thought the little creature had been scalded by the coffee and quickly covered the cup to prevent it from accidentally falling in and taking a hot coffee bath. "Jiu jiu jiu!" Xiao Jiu pecked discontentedly at Chen Fei''s fingers, not at all looking like it had been scalded. Instead, it was eager to have a few more sips. The joy was always short-lived. The chief mechanic, Xiao Ming, poured a bucket of cold water over Chen Fei''s head. "Don''t be too happy yet. To earn the part-time salary, you still need the executive manager, Morris Morgan, to nod his approval. I''ll talk to him at noon. Also, are you interested in Old Barlut''s apprenticeship? The main job is to watch over the Energy Tower on the night shift. There isn''t any danger, but someone needs to be there to watch. If there are signs of operation anomalies or fault alerts, you must report promptly. There may be some conflicts with nighttime flying duties for pilots, but you shouldn''t have any night flying assignments in the short term." Most likely, seeing that Chen Fei was truly destitute, with debts mounting by the day, the leader of the mechanics'' group took the initiative to help him out. A stopgap solution won''t resolve poverty; rather than giving a man a fish, teach him to fish. Offering him a job to earn money was far more helpful in addressing Chen Fei''s current situation than just giving him money. For a young man who had just graduated from college, it was the age to work hard. Taking extra shifts and working nights, even taking several jobs, were not a problem. Better to suffer a bit now than wait until older, less able to work, and still running around frantically with a grimy face. It actually tasted like peanuts, just with a bit too much machine oil flavor, but not bad overall. "Ah, forget it, I''ll just go get another one." The mechanic, not wanting to waste more time searching, scratched the back of his head and returned to his area to continue organizing and maintaining the tools. To do good work, one must first sharpen one''s tools. With a modest workload before the new attack aircraft''s arrival, the mechanics focused mainly on organizing and maintaining the various maintenance equipment and tools. Chen Fei withdrew his gaze from the man''s retreating figure and looked at the metal object that had been covered by the technical manual E, inhaling sharply. This metal object was the 22mm spline puller, a piece of special-purpose equipment. Apparently, it had been placed on the workbench beside Chen Fei by the mechanic who must have accidentally rolled it next to the bread, where Chen Fei picked it up and bit into it without realizing. It must have been one of Xiao Jiu''s mischievous pranks. Fortunately, his teeth didn''t break, but the spline puller had a small piece bitten off. The quality of this thing is really dubious; are you sure it''s a tool and not actual snacks? Chen Fei didn''t think much of his own dental strength, but at the moment, his mind was muddled. Without thinking, he brought the 22mm spline puller to his mouth and took another bite, crunch, crunch, it tasted like peanut-flavored soda crackers with a crunch and fragrance, aside from the machine oil flavor. By the time he came to his senses, the whole S2 tool steel spline puller had been eaten, and Chen Fei looked at his empty hand, somewhat stunned. This was trouble; not only did he have "phantosmia," but he''d also developed pica! But since he could chew it up, there shouldn''t be any problems... right? His gaze involuntarily wandered to the tools and materials on the workbench... "Jiu!~" Xiao Jiu flew to Chen Fei''s hand, flapping its wings and chirping incessantly. What are you chirping for? Why don''t you look at me more? Am I not beautiful? At this moment, however, Chen Fei had no mood to play with this little mischief-maker, placing it on his shoulder he hurriedly left the hangar. Making up an excuse on the spot, he had the medical team perform a CT scan on him. Under the X-ray... even the bones of Xiao Jiu, stubbornly clinging to Chen Fei''s shoulder, were captured, yet there was no sign of the most conspicuous 22mm spline puller fragments. It was as if he had eaten loneliness, all just a hallucination. - Chapter 35: Section 35 - Interview Trouble never comes alone. Before he could even figure out his "Phantosmia," another pica popped up, threatening to carry him off this mortal coil. But the examination results let Chen Fei breathe a sigh of relief¡ªno one wants a pile of steel inside their stomach. Illusions are still better than pica, but he didn''t dare to eat anything odd again¡ªafter all, he wasn''t an Iron-eating Beast. Better stick to bread! Returning to Hangar 1, Chen Fei quickly forgot about accidentally swallowing a No. 22 spline shaft key as he refocused on the technical manual E. After all, studying was the most important thing at the moment. Once his part-time position in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was confirmed, it would inevitably take up the time he spent with the maintenance crew. The afternoon passed in a flash. Per usual, he dealt with dinner using a single piece of bread. After a shower back in the dorm, Chen Fei went to the interview location for the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, with his clingy little bird, Xiao Jiu, on his shoulder. The area where the pilots waited on standby in Hangar 1 wasn''t the Combat Flight Squadron''s domain. "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had its own territory, housed within a three-story building next to two hangars, which also served as the pilots'' dormitory area. The ground crew''s departments and the pilots'' dormitory areas were separate, with the pilots'' quarters adjacent to the hangars. Tactically, this allowed pilots to rush to the hangars and board their aircraft at the first sign of trouble. It also prevented them from being wiped out in a single strike if the enemy attacked. If the hangars were leveled to the ground, it didn''t matter much if there were still living pilots¡ªplanes intact, pilots alive; planes destroyed, pilots perished. That was the general idea. Seeing the "Genuine Fragrance" sign at the entrance, Chen Fei was about to step inside when he was unexpectedly bumped into and nearly lost his balance. "Hey! Watch where you''re going, kid!" A dark-skinned fellow shouldered his way past Chen Fei, giving him a scornful look before strutting triumphantly into the three-story building and disappearing from Chen Fei''s sight. The air was thick with the strong scent of curry, and something else that smelled rather foul. Dammit, a heretic! The startled Xiao Jiu circled around Chen Fei before settling back on his shoulder, chirping incessantly as if protesting the other person''s rudeness. Chen Fei shook his head and then stepped into the building. When he arrived at the small conference room where the interview was taking place, Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, Squadron Leader of the Aircrew Base''s in-house recruitment program, the HR manager Takar, and several pilots were already sitting behind a long conference table, with two chairs placed not far across from them. The dark-skinned, curry-reeking individual who had jostled Chen Fei was sitting in one of the chairs, flirting with HR manager Takar. There seemed to be some under-the-table dealings between them. Chen Fei, who already had a low opinion of the dodgy HR manager, now found his sentiments even less favorable, mumbling to himself about how Takar''s kin were as ubiquitous as cockroaches. With no family planning policy in place, both the poor and the rich kept breeding without restraint. Despite the ballooning population numbers, limited by resources and hygiene conditions and adept at courting death, they soon hit the population equilibrium. With high birth rates came high death rates, and the count hovered around 1.5 billion, unable to surpass the 2 billion mark of widespread global distribution of the race. Apart from grinding his teeth, there was little else one could do. Chen Fei''s gaze fell on Chekhov in the center, which caught him off guard. Despite only a night having passed, the man looked bruised and swollen-faced, his expression stern but failing to hide his disheveled state. Chen Fei wondered if he''d gotten drunk the night before and beaten up this Big Bear by mistake. Felling Chen Fei appraising him with a puzzled look, Squadron Leader Chekhov cleared his throat irritably and said discontentedly, "Ahem! Hey, what''s-his-name, control your bird. Don''t bring it in here; throw it far away." There was no pilot who didn''t dread birds, especially when in the sky. The sight of them caused immediate retreat; steer clear at all cost! This guy was clearly well-prepared. HR manager Takar tried to hide his own ulterior motives in an exaggerated manner and said, "Little Chen, what about you?" "I only have a car driver''s license, C2. I just finished reading the technical manuals ABCDE, five volumes in total, for the A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'' light turboprop attack aircraft. I have no flying experience, no toy aircraft, and I''ve never played flying games. The only thing I have related to flying is this, Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei held up the little bird as an example, feeling as if he wasn''t so much being forced to mount a shelf like a duck but a barbecue rack, which was quite unfair to anyone. The bird sensibly chirped, tilting its head as it sized up the several fools opposite. "Chirp!" Birds are natural flying experts, undeniably No. 1, and even humans have to learn from them. ... "Pfft!~~" "Hahahaha!" The pilots present could no longer contain themselves and burst into laughter. HR manager Takar, not wanting to be too obvious with his laughter in front of everyone, twisted his face slightly, clearly struggling to hold back. Chekhov helplessly rubbed his head. "Kid, are you serious? Hahahaha..." The competitor Sanjani couldn''t hold back anymore and broke into hearty laughter, feeling like he had won another point, a victory without honor! Chekhov suddenly said, "No! You do have twenty minutes of real combat flight experience, with a score of one Metallic Dragon." His words made the competitor Sanjani, who had been laughing nonstop, suddenly go silent as if a rooster had been strangled mid-crow. Bang! "Shit!" The HR manager Takar finally remembered such an incident and, frustrated, fiercely slapped the table. What good is being an aviation enthusiast, a game expert, possessing an RPL beginner''s pilot license, and having 30 hours of flying experience when twenty minutes facing a Metallic Dragon outclasses all of them, not to mention the actual combat kill recorded? It was almost like the difference between an amateur and a professional player. The next second, the HR manager quickly noticed that Chekhov and the pilots had stopped laughing and were looking over with displeased expressions. Damn it, this is the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s turf¡ª who dares to slam the table here, and what do you mean by that?! "What you lookin'' at?" Good lord! The words had barely left his mouth when he quickly covered his troublemaking mouth. Survival rule from Takar''s homeland: Acting meek is the way to prevail. - Chapter 36: Section 36 - Results The three classic openers in dialect: "What are you looking at?" "Second Uncle!" "Evil Granny!" The standard usage is as follows: "What are you looking at?" "Looking at your Second Uncle!" "Fuck your Evil Granny!" Then it''s real-life player killing... with no exceptions. Major Chekhov, the squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, unquestionably warned, "If you dare to slam the table in front of me again, I''ll personally throw you out! I, Chekhov, always keep my word." Sitting beside him is a girl with a boyish haircut known as "Devil Pepper," with a silly smile on her face, watching Chekhov and giggling from time to time. Ever since Big Bear returned from the International Medical Ship to the Aircrew Base 911, the deputy squadron leader had been acting increasingly peculiar, clearly going into heat. "Dare not, dare not!" Takar was so scared his face turned white. The fellow townsman, Sanjani, also didn''t dare to make a peep. "Second question, there are eight ''8''s, how can you make them equal to one thousand?" Chekhov didn''t comment on Chen Fei and Sanjani''s responses, but continued with another question instead. Human Resources Director Takar (¡Ñ?¡Ñ): "?????" Applicant Sanjani (¡ã-¡ã): "?????" This problem is quite difficult, which of the world''s top ten mathematical conjectures is it? The pilots exchanged glances, each of them sneaking a smile. Despite Squadron Leader Chekhov''s brash and rude talk on a daily basis, his educational level was actually quite high. How could anyone who flies a combat aircraft have a low education level? Below a bachelor''s degree, they wouldn''t even let you touch the joystick. The bewildered Sanjani began to count on his fingers, muttering under his breath; there was quite a bit to figure out. Chen Fei, looking perfectly at ease, crossed his legs in a carefree manner, doing nothing while Xiao Jiu hopped around on his knee, pecking here and there. The two interviewees¡ªone sweating profusely from calculating, the other leisurely playing with a bird. Human Resources Director Takar began to secretly rejoice, just as he was about to reveal a gleeful expression, something flashed across his mind, and he quickly resumed a serious and earnest facade, sitting upright and motionless. Chekhov could hammer him, and on his first day, Chen dared to mess with his livelihood; the outwardly tough but inwardly hollow Takar was not someone anyone wanted to provoke. "Hey, Rookie, are you giving up? Don''t forget the money you owe me!" Seeing Chen''s laid-back demeanor, Chekhov was immediately irked and started angrily slamming the table. After all the effort I put in, and even losing a valuable antique rifle, you show such an attitude¡ªhow is that fair to me? Chen Fei spread his arms and shrugged his shoulders, his response surprising everyone. Chen Fei turned his head to look, without any sense of schadenfreude, only slightly surprised that he hadn''t even exerted much effort and his opponent had already collapsed. It was an utterly unsatisfying victory. "Sanjani! Sanjani!" Seeing this, human resources manager Takar hurried over and pinched this fellow countryman''s philtrum. The pinch was a bit vicious, drawing blood immediately, but the effect was instantaneous. The passed-out villager moaned and slowly came to, overwhelmed with grief, and began to wail, "I don''t accept this!" He hadn''t figured it out yet, but Chen had already given two answers, overwhelming the dark-skinned man significantly; a college student crushing a kindergartner. "We don''t even need to bother with the third question, the new member of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron is..." Squadron Leader Chekhov didn''t bother with Sanjani, who was still laying on the ground, and pointed crisply at Chen Fei. "Pilot codenamed ''Rookie,'' yes, you, don''t run, if you run, you pay back the money!" Murder for life, debts repaid in cash, no money sell yourself, sell yourself to work, work to pay debts. Major Chekhov''s slick operations mirrored Chen''s credit loan company with a resemblance that no matter how far Monkey King could leap, he couldn''t escape the palm of Buddha''s hand, always ending up working for him. The so-called "Dragon Slayer Missile," a KDK-1 jet-driven hypersonic smart missile, landed in the hands of Chen, a newbie who couldn''t be more of a rookie. It required some incredibly good luck. As a pilot, one couldn''t not believe in luck, as hit rates in aerial combat were a matter of probability, and what is probability? It''s simply luck, like buying a lottery ticket, whether you win on your first ticket or it''s the last one when everyone else already won, it''s all the same odds. It must be said, the Squadron Leader of the combat squadron was cunning and had set the trap early, just waiting for little Chen Fei to fall right into it. Look, he even had a flight codename ready. This Big Bear wasn''t just all muscle and no brains, otherwise, how could he command the respect of his ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron mates. The unlucky Sanjani was just like any other bystander, merely accompanying the run. Whenever Chekhov mentioned money, Chen''s calves would start to shiver. As if calamities come all at once, his debts piled higher and higher, soon to breach the ten million mark, with no end in sight to paying them off, leaving his heart cold, and life seemingly unbearable. During the interview, Sanjani howled again, angry, annoyed, and anxious, his eyes rolled back as he fainted once more. "Hey, hey, Sanjani, wake up, don''t scare me! Sanjani, Sanjani, open your eyes, don''t pass out!" Human resources manager Takar had no choice but to do the same again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t wake a person pretending to faint. Regarding Chekhov''s decision, even though the human resources manager might be dissatisfied, he still couldn''t oppose it. The reason he could interview Chen Fei and Sanjani together was that his authority was only limited to witnessing the event. Actually, Chen joining the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron had already been predetermined; the interview was essentially just a formality to create a sense of ceremony. Wanting to change the mind of Emperor Chekhov, a dictatorial tyrant, was almost impossible. Ever seen a fist as big as a sand pot? Takar o(*¡ã¨Œ¡ã*)o___: Dare not, dare not! "''Peanut Butter,'' you scared Rookie!" Short-haired girl Irinei Rusios chided, seizing the opportunity to hug Chekhov''s arm, delighted. Chekhov looked down at the plain Jane, feeling life was unbearable, having roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, she just wasn''t his type! - Chapter 37: Section 37 - Frightening Combat Power Just coming out of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s three-story building, Chen Fei''s cellphone suddenly started ringing. "Ding Ling Ling Ling, Chef Abel is calling!" He had set automatic caller ID, so he could tell who was calling just by the ringtone. Chen Fei glanced at the screen and sure enough, it was Chef Abel from the base canteen. "Little Chen, when are you free tonight? I need a hand!" Abel''s unique, rooster-like tone came through. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Chef Abel, what''s the matter?" Chef Abel was taken aback for a moment, then spoke even louder, "What? Did you forget? I told you last night, the scoundrel Pu Aihua was taken away by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now it''s just me, and I''m swamped!" There was a hint of desperation in Abel''s voice. Thinking about it, it was easy to understand. With one kitchen hand gone, everything had to be handled by the chef personally. Chef Singh, originally an expert at unpacking, wasn''t too badly affected, but Chef Abel, who always looked down on those frozen pre-packed semi-finished products, felt this type of thing was an insult to the profession of a chef, Moreover, if even Abel started unpacking frozen packages, the Aircrew Base would likely not hesitate to fire him. If it''s all about unpacking anyway, why not hire two cheap, tool-like chefs instead? Once the competition becomes about who''s the worst, culinary skills can be completely disregarded. "Uh! Alright, I''ll come right away!" Chen Fei shook his head, completely unable to remember what he had agreed to with Chef Abel after getting buzzed last night. Heading to the base canteen now would be a good chance to clear things up. When he arrived at the canteen''s kitchen, he saw Abel fretting over several large bags of flour and a big basket of potatoes. "Chef Abel, what do you need me to help with?" Seeing Chen Fei, Abel''s worried face immediately lit up as if he had found a lifeline, "Thank heavens, you''re finally here. Hurry, I need to prepare bread for tomorrow, as well as mashed potatoes. This is just part of the work. Now that I''m alone, I just can''t keep up. Don''t worry, I''ll teach you. It''s simple. What''s that on your head? An Alchemical Artifact?" "Leave it to me! This is ''Ayr''s Ring,'' something the doctor gave me. It''s supposed to be some sort of medical device. I don''t quite get it," said Chen Fei, poking the high-tech headband on his head with his finger, before rolling up his sleeves and asking, "Which should I start with?" Between friends, you help me, I help you. Today, he had carried the Little Bird for someone else all day, and now it was time to repay the favor, to lend a hand. Reciprocity is the way to lasting relationships. "You need to change into a clean set of clothes first. I happen to have one... Look out!" Before Chef Abel could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed. A shrill scream echoed in the kitchen. "Damn you, die! Ahh!~" Boom!~~~~ Sanjani, who had failed his interview with the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, suddenly burst into the kitchen, swung his fist at Chen Fei, and was promptly knocked out cold, stumbling and staggering out of the kitchen. He flashed a set of white teeth and said fiercely, "Pilots must have courage, and never easily admit defeat!" Not long after humans had Aircraft, one-on-one Aerial Combat soon emerged. Where there are people, there is Jianghu, where there is Jianghu, there are conflicts¡ªeven the imaginative and serene skies couldn''t escape this fate. Initially, the confrontations were mostly ceremonial flight performances. After getting tired of flying, they would land together, share a drink, chat a bit, sigh about the peaceful times, and then everyone would go their separate ways, each returning to their respective homes. But then, both sides gradually became more heated. Pilots who wanted to fly planes also had to learn how to fire Pistols¡ªpew pew pew, a fierce barrage, unlocking more and more positions, not just solo flying, but duo and even trio flying. "..." Chen Fei was now in his Sage mode, not wanting to say a word. Ignoring the self-righteous Big Bear, he turned around and headed back to the kitchen of the cafeteria. "The little Rookie actually has some temper? Hahahaha!" But Chekhov wasn''t angry; instead, he burst into a Big Laugh. Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron doesn''t accept any weak and easily bullied lambs. "Help... me!" Sanjani, who had been severely thrashed, let out a weak cry for help. "Someone go find Takar and tell him to come collect the body!" Chekhov had no further interest in glancing at the unlucky fellow, leaving these words behind as he strode away. The abandoned Sanjani let out intermittently ghostly sobs. As soon as Chen Fei returned to the kitchen, Chef Abel sized him up and down before asking, "Little Chen, are you alright?" Chen Fei casually replied, "I''m fine!" For some reason, he felt strangely elated. That Sanjani had actually come asking for a beating; the guy really asked for it. "Good, good, as long as you''re fine. Let''s continue; we need to hurry!" Chef Abel not only returned Xiao Jiu to Chen Fei but also gave him a set of kitchen assistant''s clothes and then began to teach him how to bake bread, hand in hand. "The usual ratio for flour and liquid is 2:1, but my ''Baguettes'' use a secret recipe with a ratio of 2:0.8, which requires more effort to knead, keep kneading, an entire hour of kneading." Abel demonstrated the technique of kneading dough with his hands, detailing every step. Chen Fei figured that this technique applied to Sanjani could send the guy straight to the Ganges River in minutes, earning him a good Dalit birth in the next life. "... to make a perfect ''Baguettes'', you first need a starter. It''s not just about yeast; today, I''ll teach you a method called the ''Polish Kind.'' ''Polish Kind'' needs to be prepared at least six hours in advance, and I''ve already placed it in the fridge." Chef Abel led Chen Fei to the big refrigerator in the kitchen, opened the fridge himself, searched high and low, and then, clutching his head, let out an earth-shattering scream. "Oh no!!!" "Chef Abel, what happened?" Chen Fei also got a huge fright, thinking something terrible had happened. - Chapter 38: Section 38 - Boiling Water Kind "''Polish, Polish, Polish Kind,'' I actually forgot to prepare it, damn it! It was always Pu Aihua who did it before. I thought I had done it, but... it still wasn''t done!" Chef Abel, frustrated by his own negligence, ripped off his tall chef''s hat and clenched it tightly in his hand. The time required for the "Polish Kind" is too long; starting from scratch now would be completely too late. "Chef Abel, how about this, let''s change the kind? Or just add yeast directly, to make do on the fly." Chen Fei had heard Teacher Shen Fei ramble about the little tricks of bread making more than a few times. Even if he hadn''t eaten pork, he had at least seen a pig run¡ªhe knew a bit, including what the so-called "Polish Kind" was all about. The "Polish Kind" was nothing more than a refrigerated fermentation starter. This small pre-fermented dough under low temperatures could, to a certain extent, enhance the overall taste of the bread. Chef Abel rejected the idea without question, "Change kind? How to change? Which kind to change to? No no no, my ''Baguettes'' must use the ''Polish Kind.'' Adding yeast directly is even worse; that would ruin my reputation!" Then he paced anxiously in place. As time ticked away by the second, Chen Fei was not ready to give up and tentatively said, "How about ''water roux''?" "Ah? What the hell is ''water roux''?" Abel was momentarily stunned, searching through his mind and realizing he had never heard of such a "kind". "I have a friend who is a teacher; she is great at baking. She taught me that bread made with ''water roux'' is fluffy and tasty, really fragrant and delicious." Chen Fei spoke from experience, with utter sincerity, guaranteeing the truth of his words. Teacher Shen Fei''s little bread had a simple mix of ingredients¡ªflour, eggs, butter, milk powder, and yeast¡ªbut the bread she made was fluffy and soft, with a rich wheat aroma accompanied by the fragrant smell of milk that made people crave for more, so much so that he once accidentally ate a whole metal wing nut. "Fluffy, no no no, my ''Baguettes'' are firm!" Abel was a stubborn chef, sticking to his recipe, unwilling to make any changes. Chen Fei once again brought two "sticks" and clanked them against each other in his hands. Clang! Clang! A clear clashing sound was unmistakable; this was truly crazy. Didn''t he have any idea? To even dare call this thing bread? Are you serious? "..." Chef Abel''s gaze grew distant, his face flushed shyly, and he modestly said, "Paired with my Gaulish thick soup, it will be absolutely delicious." These two "sticks" were along the same lines as the lamb soup buns¡ªwithout the lamb soup, the bun is also a weapon. "Then let''s change the way we eat it, my ''Baguettes,'' not yours." Chen Fei gradually took the upper hand. Chen Fei glanced at the dough mixer clanking away, then back at Chef Abel, and finally looked at his own hands. What happened to the promised kneading technique, and you end up showing me this? The legend of high-class cuisine instantly shattered the illusion. Chen Fei didn''t even need to peel the potatoes himself; his job was to roughly brush them under the tap with a brush and then dump them into a potato-peeling machine, waiting for each soft, pink potato to be peeled and dispatched. Slicing, cutting into strips, or shredding¡ªthere were specialized machines for all that. Full manual processing wasn''t even an option; machines were more cost-effective. The peeled potatoes were steamed vigorously in a steaming cabinet, then mashed, shaped into potato cakes using a molding press, sprinkled with dry flour, and left to be fried as dawn approached. Dipped in a bit of salt and pepper, they were an excessively fragrant first-class treat. After assigning Chen Fei his tasks, Chef Abel busied himself with his own work. The kitchen was filled with the noises of banging and clanging for a full hour before finally taking a brief respite. By then, the dough in the mixer had successfully formed a gluten film and was kneaded into long strips by Chef Abel and Chen Fei together. They lined up the strips on large baking trays, stacking them in the big oven, and started the automatic proofing and baking program, which lasted two hours in total. The bakery''s large oven could bake a hundred "Baguettes" at once, and after cooling off by morning, they''d be ready to serve at breakfast. An entire "Baguette" required several people to share, and twenty kilograms of whole wheat flour could produce eighty "Baguettes." Considering that not everyone would opt for bread, this quantity was just right to serve over two hundred people across the base. They kept busy until midnight, and by 12 a.m., all the ingredients necessary for breakfast were finally prepared. After placing the last freshly baked new-style "Baguette" on the stainless steel cooling rack, Chen Fei dusted off his hands, ready to bid Chef Abel farewell. Chef Abel handed him a "Baguette" and a large chunk of stewed beef, winked, and said, "Come early tomorrow, help me out for two hours each day, and I''ll pay you... I''ll pay you... two hundred, not a penny more." It might not have been enough money, but there were always perks in the kitchen. With the chef''s authority, it didn''t really break any rules. Without Pu Aihua to assist him, he had no choice but to ask Chen Fei for help. It was a necessary compromise, and he probably still needed to confirm this expense with Morris Morgan, the executive manager at the Aircrew Base. Looking at the still-warm bread and beef in his hand, Chen Fei didn''t hesitate and said, "Deal!" A whole "Baguette" along with the beef was enough for two meals, and with a bit of saving, even three was not out of question. After finishing the small bread that Teacher Shen Fei gave him, his next meals were secured, and he had a little extra income from the kitchen. Only a fool would refuse. As dawn broke, people started to arrive at the base''s mess hall. The brightest star of the 911 Aircrew Base, the flamboyant Major Chekhov, arrived at the cafeteria surrounded by a crowd. The pilots didn''t need to pay for their own meals; it was buffet style, and they could take whatever they wanted. The raunchy Big Bear, as usual, casually took a "stick" in hand, waving it around while boasting brashly and obscenely. "Think of it, Chekhov has roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, seen countless women, and no girl could resist when they saw my big treasure sword, they were always ready to throw themselves into my arms..." As he spoke, the "big treasure sword" in his hand suddenly began to wobble and inexplicably went limp, flopping down dispiritedly. The room fell suddenly silent, then erupted into a roar of laughter, his bragging instantly deflated. Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov''s face turned ashen. For over forty years I''ve roamed the Jianghu, and never have I been so embarrassed... - Chapter 39: Section 39 - Transport Ship Arrival "A:\\>dir" Enter! "A:\\>directory" ****/11/1112:21666update.bat 666 bytes" "A:\\>update.bat" Enter! "download>>>>>>>>>>>>1%...5%..." zzzZZZ... Chen Fei swore he just checked it for a second and then knew nothing else. He slept until dawn, woken up by the alarm clock. His vision was still cluttered: "Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command Illegal operation or incorrect command ..." He didn''t dare to make any further moves. What on earth happened last night? Dare not think, dare not think... His only consolation was that he had a good night''s sleep, even without taking sleeping pills, and no unexplained headaches. After washing up and grabbing something to eat, having fed the little bird a few energetic mealworms, Chen Fei left the dormitory with two pieces of bread and a whole chunk of stewed beef. Since there was no fridge, bread could last a few days, but stewed meat couldn''t last long and had to be eaten quickly. He could always work at the canteen in the evening; Chef Abel wouldn''t let him lose out. Xiao Jiu flew around Chen Fei cheerfully, its flying ability changing daily¡ªnot only could it fly longer but also farther, sometimes landing on street lamps, sometimes on the nearby bushes, but quickly returning to perch on his shoulder, playfully pecking at his collar. Just as he approached Hangar 1, a figure suddenly sprang out, blocking Chen Fei''s path with a high-grade steel crowbar raised high, head and body wrapped in... Emmm... smelling the part. "Kid..." "Don''t block the way!" Bam!~ Chen Fei saw Sanjani, whom he had beaten to a bruised and swollen face the night before, fly out like a kite with its string cut, drifting six to seven meters away before rolling on the ground several times, ending up as a pile of mush too stunned to move, gazing at the sky, beginning to question his life. An ominous shadow fell over them, and the sky darkened unexpectedly. Both the freshly risen Sanjani and Chief Mechanic Xiao, who was preparing to shoo away the annoying "fly," simultaneously looked up at the sky. The former let out a groan from the depths of his soul and began to scream heartbreakingly. "''Phantom Cube-366MAX'' Airship, it''s a heavy transport airship! Good heavens!!" Who would''ve thought he was truly an aviation enthusiast¡ªhe wasn''t boasting at all and could even name the model. Following the gaze of the two, Chen Fei also quickly opened his mouth wide in awe. "It''s huge!" Seeing something on a screen or in print simply couldn''t compare to witnessing it in person. This large transport aircraft almost filled the entire sky, slowly approaching the ground, and a tremendous sense of oppression descended from above. The air being pushed in all directions turned into gusts of wind that made it almost impossible to keep one''s eyes open. Chen Fei quickly covered Little Bird on his shoulder, who was chirping anxiously, to shield it from being blown away by the sudden gale. "It''s finally here!" The head of the mechanics team, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming, remained as calm as ever, unfazed by the event. "Chief Mechanic, you knew about this beforehand?" Hearing Chief Mechanic Xiao''s words, Chen Fei turned around puzzled. Xiao Ming nodded and said, "It''s classified. Only the executive manager and a few middle managers are privy to it. Go and inform them that Aircrew Base''s new fighter jets have arrived." "Right away!" Chen Fei sprinted towards Hangar No. 1. No sooner had he left than Sanjani, still clutching his crowbar, for some reason staggered toward the main runway, tripped after a few steps, and crashed to the ground, but as if oblivious to pain, he rolled over and got back up, continuing his rush forward. "Sanjani, what are you doing? Get the hell away from the runway now! Don''t come close to the runway!" The control tower, closest to the main runway, quickly spotted this adrenaline-driven guy and started shouting through the loudspeaker. Nearest security personnel chased after him, furious and frantic. As they were chasing, and before anyone could react, a dozen meteors, shimmering with blue light, suddenly shot out from under the large transport aircraft and plummeted toward the ground. Just before hitting the ground, a visible blast of air exploded from around them, and the meteors landed smoothly. As the blue light faded, they revealed light grey exoskeleton Tactical Armor, each wielding a Railgun Combat Rifle, blocking Sanjani''s path. The 911 Aircrew Base security personnel who were pursuing Sanjani immediately slowed down, eyeing the fast-descending Airship Marine Corps soldiers with a mix of awe and uncertainty. This was a fully equipped tactical squad armed to the teeth. It was not a part of the Apocalypse Defense Group''s forces, nor did it belong to any military contractor; along with the slowly descending airship, they were part of the official combat lineup. No wonder countries didn''t worry about military contractors rebelling. The arms and equipment available to private enterprises were not just a generation behind that of a regular national defense army, and if they dared harbor any ulterior motives, they would be crushed into dust in minutes. "Raise your hands, don''t move!" Several thin green guiding laser beams landed on Sanjani, who had hastily stopped in his tracks, with at least four points of light on his forehead alone. - Chapter 40: Section 40 - Large-Scale Resupply With the maximum range of a railgun combat rifle, even if Sanjani ran for an hour, he would still be shattered with one shot, leaving no corpse intact. The moment Sanjani dared not move, he remembered the high-grade steel crowbar in his hand and hesitated whether to throw it away. Before he could make a decision, the rifle butt smashed down ruthlessly, and he screamed, only to be knocked to the ground immediately. The airship marine squad rushed up at once, pinning down his limbs before handcuffing him tightly, rendering him unable to move. The squad leader of the airship marines barked, "Name? Social Welfare Number? What were you trying to do?" Another rifle butt came down right after, making sure to suppress him first before further questioning. Sanjani @_@: "..." This unlucky kid was just beaten up by someone last night, and this morning, like a runaway kite, went tumbling over and over. His body was already frail, not having fully recovered, and now after being hit hard twice in quick succession, he directly passed out. The squad leader confirmed this situation with astonishment, and then scoffed, unable to hide his annoyance. "Damn it! He passed out!" This is someone who calls himself an attacker? Was he here to cause trouble on purpose? Can''t he be a bit more professional? Belonging to this heavy transport airship, the Marine Squad had no strength left to complain; it was all just a waste of emotions. The minor trouble resolved, the battleship''s landing operation continued. For such a gigantic aircraft, taking off and landing are extremely complex maneuvers and also the moments when it is most vulnerable. - Like a dark cloud obscuring the sun, the massive aircraft lowered its landing gear and settled steadily near the main runway of Aircrew Base 911. The "Magic Cube" in Phantom Cube-366MAX refers to the anti-gravity field generated according to Magic Cube Law as the main propulsion engine, the number "366" represents the 366-meter length of the ship, and MAX indicates its heavy transport capacity. It is a heavy transport airship, non-combat in nature. If anyone thought it was an easy target like a fat sheep, the elite Marine Corps and the defense weapon systems carried by the airship would handily beat them up, leaving them regretting their arrival in this world. Though classified as non-combat transport aircraft, this is relative; the Phantom Cube-366MAX''s primary role is transporting materials, and it does not mean that it lacks combat capability. The opportunity to kill a Metallic Dragon is not easily found, and the value of even a dead Metallic Dragon is enough to make everyone envious. To ensure the remains of the Metallic Dragon were truly secured, a Heavy Transport Airship backed by official endorsement from Apocalypse Defense Group was the best guarantee. The underbelly cargo hatch of the successfully landed Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Battleship slowly slid open, deploying a ramp down to the ground. With lights as bright as daylight, and the engine roaring loudly inside the ship, one after another, specialized transport vehicles lined up like a dragon, orderly moving out large standard containers. The reserved space at the Aircrew Base 911 quickly accumulated into little hills of containers. Apocalypse Defense Group did not waste the transport capacity of this airship in vain, delivering enough supplies in one go to sustain Aircrew Base 911 for several years. Of course, the airship''s main mission was to carry away the collected remains of the Metallic Dragon; otherwise, Apocalypse Defense Group would not have so readily shelled out such a large sum for transport. With the costs now spread, they could save substantially on material transport expenses. The unloading operation lasted an entire day. The location of Aircrew Base 911 was originally a leveled mountaintop, and as the number of stacked containers grew, the once spacious base gradually became crowded. Inside Hangar 1, Chen Fei was still furiously studying the technical manual for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster," while his fellow maintenance team members were busy unpacking. Thanks to the ample transport capacity of the Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Battleship, the jet fighters and light propeller attack aircraft supplied to Aircrew Base 911 by Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters were shipped whole, bypassing even the assembly processes to save space, and were directly towed from the airship''s cargo hold and delivered into the two hangars. Chen Fei''s time in the hangar was divided into two parts: mornings with the maintenance team and afternoons with the Combat Flight Squadron. In fact, this wasn''t much different from his university days¡ªstudying and taking notes in the morning, attending classes in the afternoon. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, nicknamed "Devil Pepper," the short-haired girl Irinei Rusios became his flight instructor. Before he finished devouring the "Big Mouth Monster''s" technical manual, Irinei Rusios probably wouldn''t let this Rookie actually take the plane up for a test flight. After all, flying is a very serious and earnest skill; you can''t just flip through the manual, push the stick, and play for two seconds. That''s not flying, that''s suicide. Get serious, you''re about to soar! For a novice, the biggest challenge of flying isn''t executing various maneuvers in the sky, but rather how to take off and land safely¡ªto ascend joyfully to the heavens and return securely to the ground. - Chapter 41: Section 41 - Mission Objectives of the Aircrew Base In order to cater to the almost completely inexperienced "rookie" Chen Fei, the deputy leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and veteran pilot Irinei Rusios even prepared teaching materials, tapping a small stick against the LCD teaching board, making a snapping sound as she highlighted the key points. "...Centered around Aircrew Base 911, with a patrol and combat radius extending 500 kilometers around, you''ve read the technical manual and should know that the actual combat radius of the ''Big Mouth Monster'' is not limited to this distance. Now look around 911, to the east there''s 912, to the west 910, to the south 909, and to the north 913, the base numbering follows a pattern of even numbers horizontally and odd vertically. This is the grid-like patrol and defense system of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, where each Aircrew Base has its own patrol area, as well as the obligation to support neighboring bases. So, 500 kilometers is a very reasonable figure, allowing for fuel reserves needed for the ''Big Mouth Monster'' to support other aircrew bases. Despite the long cruising time of the light turboprop aircraft, you still need to keep a constant eye on the fuel reserves. If the fuel is exhausted, don''t panic, as the ''Big Mouth Monster'' uses a statically stable aerodynamic design, which allows for a gliding landing in emergency situations, provided you find a landing site that is as flat as possible. An open grassy field is the best choice, preferably over two hundred meters in length." After circling the key points, the short-haired girl saw Chen Fei raise his right hand and asked, "Any questions?" Chen Fei curiously asked, "I want to know what the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron''s main combat targets are. Metallic Dragons, or those bandits?" He had personally blown up a Metallic Dragon, almost costing him his own life. Such combat targets were truly terrifying. Without a powerful weapon like the Dragon Slayer Missile, it wouldn''t matter if it were just Aircrew Base 911 or even if the combat flight squadrons from several other bases joined in. In front of the ferociously brutal Dragon of Slaughter, it would still be no different than sending lambs to the slaughter, and there would be no outcome other than total annihilation. Chen Fei had heard from Teacher Shen Fei at the nearby Patan Elementary School that bandits roamed this area. He found it strange, wondering if the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was essentially a huge bandit lair that required multiple air bases to work together to maintain basic law and order. If that were the case, it seemed that Teacher Shen Fei, who stayed here to support the education in remote mountainous areas, was always in danger and could have faced unexpected incidents at any time. "Metallic Dragons? Bandits? Hahaha..." It was as if she had heard a very funny joke. Irinei Rusios, with her hands on her defined waistline, laughed out loud. Seeing Chen Fei baffled by her laughter and wearing a face full of confusion, she shook her head and said, "Metallic Dragons are an accident. If our mission targets were always such terrifying foes, sorry, but we''d have to switch to fighter jets, only Crystal Jets would be able to handle them, and we''d have to be paid more!" Not all pilots are capable of handling a Crystal Jet, which is the dividing line between pilots and Sky Knights. If it hadn''t been for two MiG-28 jet fighters being blown up by a Dragon Spike before they could even take off, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron wouldn''t have had such a hard time when facing the Metallic Dragons. The second type involves the behavior of uncontrollable otherworldly creatures, including highly intelligent magical beasts, those that break free of safety constraints or exhibit aggressive behavior towards humans." Instances of uncontrollable behavior of magical beasts only occurred in densely populated areas, usually involving medium to large magical beasts, and they were often instigated by someone being foolish, provoking the creatures that possess a certain level of intelligence. Whether it''s the Cangqiong Realm or the Blue Star Realm, highly intelligent magical beasts willing to register their identity information with the human civil affairs departments and pass special assessments may enjoy certain citizen rights, such as education, employment, and healthcare. It''s not uncommon to see magical beasts working in human society in both realms, and some even become hosts for TV channels, thriving in their careers. Even animals like chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, cats, dogs, pigs, horses, sheep, cows, monkeys, dolphins, and orcas can earn a living in human society after training, enjoying various benefits. Those magical beasts with comparatively higher intelligence, even to the extent of speaking human language and communicating normally, face even less difficulty in integrating, and humans tend to accept and treat them as equals. For intelligent species, differences in physical appearance do not become barriers to communication, and species discrimination is never tolerated. "Mutants are a rather troublesome matter, and there isn''t just one cause for their occurrence; they can broadly be attributed to three categories. The first type are radiation-induced mutants¡ªthirty years ago, the Fusion War made extensive use of nuclear weapons, whose residual radiation catalyzed the emergence of a large number of mutant creatures, including humans. The second type is interbreeding mutants¡ªwhere a small amount of reproductive-capable mutants interbreed, either among themselves, with normal Blue Star native species, or with otherworldly creatures. In any case, the offspring produced are mutants. The third type concerns natural mutations that arise as otherworldly creatures adapt to the environment of Blue Star, or when Blue Star''s native species come into contact with the Magic Element. Although most natural mutations are benign, some unforeseen manifestations may arise. With mutants, our consistent policy is to prevent mistakes as much as possible but never to let them slip through." As the short-haired Irinei Rusios continued with her incessant introduction, phantoms materialized one after another on the liquid crystal teaching board, revealing their distinctly terrifying real forms, akin to demons and monsters. Then, the page refreshed over and over again, displaying all the known uncontrolled otherworldly creatures and mutants within the Blue Star Realm, an alarming array of species. And these didn''t even include the myriad of deadly microorganisms that sprouted like bamboo after a rain following the great battle thirty years prior. Chen Fei frowned at the sight of those otherworldly creatures with appearances vastly different from Blue Star''s native species. He continued asking, "Are there mutants in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area as well?" Otherworldly creatures at least evolved naturally, although they might be a bit unsightly. But those bizarrely shaped mutants were so hideous that they were unbearable to look at. The Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was clearly not as simple as Chen Fei had previously understood. The local, belligerent mountain people armed to the teeth had to deal with more than just the bandits who roamed and committed crimes. There were also those uncontrolled otherworldly creatures and mutants. Thinking about how he had trekked almost three hours on foot from Patan Elementary School to the 911 Aircrew Base, he realized he had quite some nerve. No wonder Teacher Shen Fei insisted on lending him a gun for self-defense¡ªthe dangers in the wild mountains likely involved more than just wolves and bandits. - Chapter 42: Section 42 - Flyers Games ``` Irinei Rusios was very certain as she said, "A massive mutant disaster erupted twenty years ago, leading to the complete abandonment of the Gem Valley in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Otherworldly creatures often have a very strong sense of territory, even if their numbers are out of control, their behavioral patterns can usually be predicted and judged based on their habits, making them relatively easier to clear out. However, mutants possess a considerable degree of unpredictability, making them very difficult to search for and eradicate. They are typically more troublesome to deal with, especially the Hive mutants. If we''re not careful, their numbers can become unmanageable. Yet often, mutants and other beings end up as hostile groups, particularly when their territories overlap with those of otherworldly creatures, leading to relentless battles between them." The short-haired girl preparing to be Chen Fei''s flight instructor had a very detailed teaching plan. After introducing the main cleaning targets of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, she began playing a carefully edited selection of combat case studies on the LCD teaching board. *February 14th, cleanup operation, Target: Mutant, Type "Hive X-19", social group-dwelling, location*, number of primary breeding females 1, breeding males 3, guard individuals 34, foraging individuals 277; Tactical arrangement: ... ; Mission assessment: Complete annihilation, no one left behind; Tactical summary: Using Dizzy Bombs in combination with small Cloud Bombs has a better effect, suggesting the addition of Type-5 Disabling Bombs (loud noise, flash, foul smell, extreme bitterness, concussion) to interfere with the five senses. *April 17th, cleanup operation, Target: Mutant, codename "Lone Roach", solitary type, quantity 1; Tactical arrangement: ... ; Mission assessment: Successful kill; Tactical summary: For high-mobility ground targets, suggest continuous deployment of Type-5 Disabling Bombs followed by a blanket with Cluster Bombs, White Phosphorus Bombs, and rockets likely to achieve better results. *July 6th, cleanup operation, Target: Otherworldly Creature Spiny Rockfish (small Earth Elemental Magical Beast), codename "Fish Group 3", small group roaming, quantity 143; Tactical arrangement: ... ; Mission assessment: Successful kill; Tactical summary: Target is an organism active inside rocks, body is fragile, Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bombs are quite targeted, suggesting request for high-yield Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bombs for blanket bombardment. *August 2nd, cleanup operation, Target ... ... According to the real combat cases played on the LCD teaching board, the mission completion rate of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron was nearly 100%. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft typically targets terrestrial otherworldly creatures and mutants, where often a single High-Explosive Bomb can turn them instantly into ash. For targets that are well-hidden or have tougher skins, they''d directly deploy Cloud Bombs or even Thermobaric Bombs to ensure a saturated strike for assured destruction. Occasionally, they would encounter aerial targets, where air-to-air missiles would come into play, swiftly resolving the threat beyond visual range. The flying species of otherworldly creatures and mutants are after all not Giant Dragons; whether it be flying speed and attack methods, or defense capabilities, they fall far short in comparison and cannot withstand the full power of modern Firearms. Pilots can easily collect their mission bonuses. While intelligent drones could handle most of the duties of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, they have always had issues with mutant recognition rates and are susceptible to various electromagnetic interferences. Some dense mutant areas could even cause remote control devices to lose control inexplicably, and the purchase cost, flight cost, and armament cost of drones are not at all inexpensive. The more labor-saving the gadget, the more expensive it is; it''s always been this way. "Yes, SVR, 3D vision, and I''ve prepared three flight games for you to practice. The other two boxes are the game console and the flight joystick kit, be careful not to break it." The SVR helmet is just an external audio-visual device, and Iline gave him two more boxes, as a complete rookie is not yet suited for direct machine operation. The three boxes stacked up like a pyramid in Chen Fei''s hands, and considering the Big Bear Squadron Leader''s lesson with an original AK-47, she gave an extra word of caution. The SVR helmet, game console, and flight joystick kit aren''t actually worth much, equivalent to Chen Fei''s full month''s salary, but ever since the crafty dealer Piao Aihua was caught by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there''s been no sign of him at all. Apart from this guy, no one else has a way to get a new set in this rugged, remote location. Compared to the straightforward and violent Deputy Squadron Leader Chekhov, co-deputy squadron leader and short-haired girl Irine Rusios is more meticulous in her work. If the former were to coach Chen Fei in flying, there''d be no point in practicing with games; just show off and learn by flying directly. Stacking up 30 hours of flight time, if he''s still alive by then, he definitely knows how to fly. If Big Bear was really designated as Chen Fei''s flight instructor, the aircraft maintenance and "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron might end up brawling. "Thank you, Deputy Squadron Leader Iline!" Chen Fei held the three boxes gratefully, and naturally, he would be extra careful. "Call me ''Devil Pepper'', Rookie!" Irine Rusios once again haughtily posed with her hands on her slim waist. A base security personnel stood outside the hangar door shouting, "Chen Fei from the maintenance team, someone''s looking for you!" "Who''s looking for me?" Chen Fei responded just as loudly. That security personnel pointed outside the door, seemingly in the direction of the apron. "Crafty Dealer!" - Chapter 43: Section 43 - Old Piao Went Home Who else could be called a "scoundrel" by everyone at the Aircrew Base? Of course, it was none other than the stuck-in-the-mud, Park Ae-hwa. After setting down the three boxes he had in hand, Chen Fei greeted the short-haired girl, "Devil Pepper" teacher, and hurriedly ran over. He had thought that the merchant had been executed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs already, yet now there was news about him again. "Jiu!~" Xiao Jiu flapped its wings, flying above Chen Fei''s head. Not far from Hangar One, on the tarmac, Chen Fei indeed saw the disheveled, scruffy-bearded, deeply sunken-eyed, and haggard-looking scoundrel Pu Aihua, with a large duffel bag and a suitcase beside him. "Hey, Chen Fei!" Seeing Chen Fei coming over, Pu Aihua mustered some energy, calling out with a somewhat hoarse voice. Obviously, his recent times had not been good. "Old Piao, are you okay? Without you, Chef Abel in the cafeteria is almost at his wits'' end." Chen Fei asked with concern¡ªit was not an empty statement. Mr. Chef, failing to find someone else to replace him and unwilling to become a simple package opener, flatly conscripted Chen Fei, managing to get by only with his help. Chen Fei had to put in at least two hours in the kitchen every day; while it was somewhat hard work, the bit of money he earned was really quite sweet to him. "I know, I really appreciate it," Pu Aihua said, then bowed deeply to Chen Fei on the spot. Chen Fei quickly stopped him, saying, "No need, no need, I wasn''t working for free¡ªChef Abel pays me wages! The Ministry of Internal Affairs didn''t give you a hard time, did they?" Chen Fei looked around; not far off stood a few figures in black suits, sporting sunglasses¡ªclearly, they were those Ministry of Internal Affairs guys. "No, no, it''s nothing. It''s my own fault for being too greedy, and there are some things I shouldn''t have touched. I don''t blame anyone else," Pu Aihua said with a bitter smile, continuously shaking his head. Taking small advantages in daily life wasn''t considered a big deal; even if the company knew, they often chose to turn a blind eye, taking the stance of "where water flows, a channel will form," pretending not to see. But the Metallic Dragon remains were far too sensitive. Pu Aihua had just started to get an idea when the Ministry of Internal Affairs quickly zeroed in on him. They detained him immediately, interrogated him for over half a month, and finally let him go when they were sure he hadn''t succeeded¡ªbut the incident was far from over. "Old Piao, where are you headed?" Though a bit of a swindler, Pu Aihua wasn''t inherently bad; at least, he didn''t exploit the equally impoverished newcomer, Chen Fei, but instead provided him with much assistance. "Hehehe, too greedy, too greedy." Pu Aihua laughed dryly. The hard times he had eaten recently were all due to his excessive greed. It was crossing the line that got him noticed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who detained him for over half a month. Only after confirming that he had merely entertained the thought without actually succeeding in his scheme, was he released. Though he was released, he lost his job, as the Apocalypse Defense Group could not possibly allow an employee who had committed such an error to remain in his post. A termination of the employment contract was sent out without any need for compensation. "You bastard!" Chef Abel landed another punch on Pu Aihua. After all, he wasn''t the type to coolly turn his back the moment someone left. He added, "After you get back, if you run into any trouble, call me. Don''t play tough. You''ve said it yourself, having one more friend means having one more path to take, so why wouldn''t you walk it?" Given Pu Aihua''s age, in an economically competitive region, it might be difficult to find a job that pays well. He would probably have to rely on himself for an extended period. With a daughter at home who was seriously ill and urgently needed surgery, financial difficulties were inevitable, whether for tuition or surgery costs. At least Abel was a proper chef with both level and certification in the culinary circle, and he recognized a few fellow chefs. Perhaps by calling in a few favors and selling some face, he could help Old Piao sort out an urgent employment issue. Having worked in the canteen at the Aircrew Base for so long, he had become deeply familiar with the ins and outs of the kitchen, and certainly lacked no related experience. He could start working immediately given the opportunity. "Thank you, thank you!" Pu Aihua''s eyes grew somewhat moist as he held onto Abel''s hand, nodding vigorously. The ones who allow you to trouble them are your true friends. "Pu Aihua, ready to go!" The Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel nearby received a signal from the "Luo Jing Number" heavy Transport Airship. "Little Chen, Chef Abel, I''m leaving!" No matter how reluctant he was to leave this place where he had worked for many years, Pu Aihua''s time here was running short. All feasts must come to an end, and the time to leave had arrived. Pu Aihua looked back three times with each step he took, but as he neared the heavy Transport Airship, he suddenly turned around and shouted, "Little Chen, that bird egg isn''t a Magical Beast Egg, I found it in the wild, I lied to you, I''m sorry!" After bowing deeply and then standing up to wipe his slightly reddened eyes, he took his luggage and, without looking back, followed the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel onto the gangway leading to the airship''s cabin. In the end, Old Piao could not keep this secret buried in his gut. Before leaving, he apologized to Chen Fei for his lie. - Chapter 44: Section 44 - Airship Departs "This Piao... such a sly merchant!" Chef Abel didn''t know whether to comfort Chen Fei or to be angry that Old Piao had pulled one last trick before leaving. "Haha!" Chen Fei, however, wasn''t angry and waved towards Pu Aihua''s receding back. Whether the egg hatched into Xiao Jiu was actually a Magical Beast Egg became irrelevant. In fact, it was unlikely to begin with, who would give a Magical Beast Egg to someone they had just met for no reason? It was clear Old Piao wasn''t a tycoon, so it had been a friendly joke from the start. Having thought it through, Chen Fei naturally wouldn''t be mad about it. The transport vehicles that were still unloading quickly obscured their figures with standard containers, becoming faint and soon disappearing at the end of the pier. After Chen Fei and Abel sighed for a while and were about to leave, Mr. Chef with his sharp eyes, spotted a familiar figure next to the airship and couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise, "Eh? Isn''t that Manager Morris, how... is he also leaving?" Following the direction pointed by Chef Abel, Chen Fei saw those preparing to board the Phantom Cube-366MAX airship and leave the Aircrew Base 911, not only included Pu Aihua and those from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also Morris Morgan, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911. Manager Morris was talking to someone, with a large suitcase by his side, looking ready for a long journey. Chen Fei''s gaze fell on the person who was speaking to Executive Manager Morris Morgan and he said in astonishment, "Hanna Gagar?" He had not expected to see her here again, the eyepatch covering her left eye was an easily recognizable feature. Their last encounter had been on the International Medical Ship, and they had only exchanged a word or two, not much interaction, but he still remembered her name. "Who? You know her?" Chef Abel looked over curiously. "A Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hanna Gagar, I''ve seen her before on the International Medical Ship." Chen Fei was also puzzled, hadn''t the Ministry of Internal Affairs left with Old Piao? Why was this Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs still here? "Another one from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Chef Abel involuntarily shuddered. Even the nations ranked from 11th to 29th would be left disheveled and severely weakened. Across the entire Blue Star Realm, who would dare to provoke the overwhelming swarm of crystal jets? And who could? - After dinner, Chen Fei continued his habit of helping out in the kitchen, while Xiao Jiu followed him around, causing a bit of chaos. Yet the chef, for some reason, couldn''t bring himself to be angry with the mischievous creature; on the contrary, he was still trying to please it in every possible way, even going so far as to breed mealworms especially for it. The work Chen Fei had to do was more or less the same as the day before, such as preparing the dough for bread, marinating the lamb chops for flavor, and boiling a pot of spiced tea eggs for tomorrow''s breakfast and part of the lunch. He took a batch of fresh duck eggs from the refrigerated container driven by crystal energy blocks and a special magic array, washed them thoroughly, then soaked them in over-saturated brine inside jars. Sealed for a month or two, they would be ready to be boiled, resulting in deliciously salty eggs with oil oozing from the yolks, a top-tier accompaniment to any meal. As for the new ideas that Chen Fei came up with, Chef Abel followed his lead without question, because this was a racial talent, deeply ingrained in one''s bones and genes, becoming part of the genetic markers, something that outsiders simply couldn''t learn. Chen Fei kept busy while listening to Chef Abel ramble on about the affairs of the Aircrew Base. The cafeteria was a natural gathering place on the base, a source of all kinds of rumors and gossip. Just by paying a little attention, it was often easy to learn many firsthand pieces of information. Being close to the source, even if Chef Abel didn''t actively seek out news, he could still hear a lot just by keeping his ears open. The Ministry of the Interior Level Two Inspector Hanna Gagel, whom he and Chen Fei saw in the afternoon, was actually finalizing the handover with the previous executive manager, Morris Morgan. She was about to take over his position as the new executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base. Cross-departmental transfers like this were not uncommon within many enterprises. However, someone from the ministry originally responsible for oversight being promoted to the highest position of a subordinate unit could be seen as either a good or a bad thing. Strictly speaking, with the change in leadership at the Aircrew Base, there shouldn''t be any significant impact on a newcomer like Chen Fei who had only been there a short while. However, he was somewhat concerned about sudden policy changes that might, for instance, lead to the cancellation of his part-time duties. He wondered if the new executive manager would agree to one person holding multiple positions, earning a salary from several roles. But Chef Abel thought Chen Fei was overthinking it. With the arrival of so many materials in one go on the 366-meter-long "Luo Jing Number" heavy transport battleship, there would be a heavy workload of organizing supplies for at least half a year, leaving the Aircrew Base in a constant state of manpower shortage. As the base''s executive manager, she would definitely prefer to have someone who could handle multiple roles and fully utilize the precious labor force. - ``` Chapter 45: Section 45 - Night Shift Duty After finishing up in the kitchen, Chen Fei carried a fragrant baguette, a bag of roasted lamb chops, and a mixed salad off work, a perk of helping out in the kitchen that at least saved him some food expenses. It wasn''t a lucrative gig, but it sure was a delightful one. He returned to his dormitory, left half of the baguette, roasted lamb chops, and salad there, and put the other half in a basket. He then carried it to the northwestern corner of the Aircrew Base where he was headed. The place was now surrounded by layer upon layer of standard shipping containers. Walking through felt a bit like navigating a maze. When Chen Fei arrived in front of a steel-structured shed, he couldn''t find a doorbell, so he had to shout. "Grandpa Barut, are you there?" "Who is it? Oh, Little Chen, come in, the door''s unlocked!" Several coughs and an elderly voice came from inside. The warm-hearted mechanic had long been acquainted with the old master Barut, the Neanderthal in charge of the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower. By the time Chen Fei found the place, the person inside had been waiting for a while. Chen Fei pushed the door open and was first struck by the sight of a huge cylindrical body, nearly four meters tall, nearly touching the shed''s ceiling. It dominated his entire field of vision. This was the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower that provided abundant electric power to the entire 911 Aircrew Base. It was technology of high efficiency from the Third Era Civilization, using deuterium and tritium as fuel, entirely non-radiative and non-vibrational, extremely safe and stable¡ªindeed very reliable. Even though it was operating, it was still extremely quiet; you couldn''t hear a sound. Apart from the blinking indicator lights and display screens updating in real time with output power curves and other relevant data, it was hard to tell that it was conducting ultra-low-temperature fusion reactions and continuously converting electric energy. "Ultra-low temperature" didn''t mean many degrees below zero; it was only relative. The actual reaction temperatures were still above zero degrees Celsius. It couldn''t melt steel, but there was no problem igniting a piece of paper. This perplexing temperature naming wasn''t an exception. For instance, the "high temperature" in high-temperature superconductors wasn''t truly high, still being below zero degrees Celsius, and far colder than a household refrigerator''s freezer compartment. Only with the advent of room-temperature superconducting materials did temperature names return to normal. The steel-structured shed had a round weather vane on top, like a big conical hat, which was slowly rotating, dispersing the excess heat released from the Energy Tower directly below it. Still, some heat remained in the shed, making the temperature inside five or six degrees Celsius higher than outside. In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the temperature difference between morning and evening was huge¡ªwith daytime temperatures over twenty degrees Celsius, but plunging below zero at night. If the weather vane on the roof were closed after nightfall, the residual heat from the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower would still be enough to keep the entire shed warm as spring, to the point where even thermal coats would be too hot to wear. When he came back, he was carrying things in both hands¡ªone hand held a glass bottle of wine with two goblets pinched alongside, and the other gripped a thick book. Leading Chen Fei to a round table, Barut finally put down the wine bottle, goblets, and the book, stating, "This is my homemade blueberry wine. Taste it and see how you like it. And this, I think you might need it." As he spoke, he tapped the cover of the book with his finger, then uncorked the bottle and poured the wine, as clear as a sapphire, into the goblets. Chen Fei picked up the book and glanced at the cover. It was a technical manual for the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, including design principles, operation procedures, and troubleshooting. The entire book was brand new and seemed almost untouched. Low-temperature nuclear fusion technology originally came from the Third Era Civilization of the Neanderthal tribe, and Barut was no stranger to it. He could navigate every button and part of the Energy Tower with his eyes closed, his familiarity even surpassing that of the Blue Star manufacturers; he had no need for the technical manual. The Aircrew Base had employed such a Neanderthal elder not just for cost-effectiveness. After Barut poured the drinks, he snapped open a pair of disposable bamboo chopsticks, picked up a piece of grilled lamb chop, and started gnawing on it, chewing and swallowing even the bones, mumbling through his meal, "The job isn''t difficult at all, very simple. Just run a self-inspection program daily, routinely check the output power curve. You don''t need to watch it all the time. If there''s any problem, it will alert and generate a fault report by itself. You don''t need to repair it personally. If there''s a fault, just phone it in and send the fault report; the Energy Tower won''t explode. At most, it''ll just automatically halt the fusion reaction. Once it shuts down, mechanical components will reset the reaction inserts, and the fusion fuel won''t leak." One couldn''t help but admire the old fellow''s strong teeth, capable of completely consuming the meat without spitting out the bones. "Chirp!~" Seemingly attracted by the aroma of the blueberry wine, the little bird that Chen Fei brought flapped its wings and flew over, perched on the edge of his goblet, and curiously eyed the purple liquid inside. "Shoo, shoo, shoo, you can''t drink alcohol!" Having had the experience of Xiao Jiu stealing sips of coffee and making strange chirping noises, Chen Fei couldn''t predict what kind of negative impacts might occur and wouldn''t let it sneak a sip of something that birds shouldn''t touch again. He waved his hand to shoo Xiao Jiu away from the goblet while still flipping through the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower technical manual in his hands. Before this, he had been completely unfamiliar with the Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower. "Chirp chirp chirp!" Xiao Jiu flapped its little wings and hopped around on the table, clumsily but stubbornly refusing to give up easily. Barut looked at the little bird with its glossy black feathers and expressed his surprise, "It''s actually a Pure Light Sparrow!" - Chapter 46: Section 46 - Magical Beast Xiao Jiu "Pure Light Sparrow? Grandpa Barut, do you know its breed?" Chen Fei raised his head from the technical manual. He had been unable to identify what kind of bird Xiao Jiu was and worried that this little thing might end up a bachelor. The worry of a father was evident. "Hehe, it''s still a magical beast!" Barut chuckled with eyes narrowed. It seemed he found it extremely amusing that this young man was unwittingly rearing a bird-shaped magical beast. Ordinary people hardly ever had the chance to come across a magical beast, let alone a wise one that would willingly become someone else''s pet or a utility beast. "Is that true? Hahaha, Xiao Jiu, you''re actually a magical beast. You must study hard!" Chen Fei reached out his finger and gently rubbed the little bird''s head. If Old Piao knew this news, he''d probably vomit blood to the tune of three liters! The little bird flew agilely onto his hand, pecking around to express its dissatisfaction. What is a magical beast? Can you eat it? Its little brain didn''t understand and didn''t want to try. All it knew was that it was the master''s Xiao Jiu, chirp chirp! Perhaps the crooked merchant Pu Aihua, who had given the egg to Chen Fei, never could have imagined that he had actually found a real magical beast egg near the Aircrew Base in the wilderness. However, whether Xiao Jiu was really a magical beast or not, Chen Fei didn''t much care. After a brief moment of surprise, he quickly returned to his usual demeanor, without entering into any emotional turmoil over it. The Neanderthal elder, Barut, watched him with approval in his eyes, nodding secretly. He didn''t continue the conversation about Xiao Jiu''s identity as a magical beast, instead he reached for another piece of lamb chop with his chopsticks, looked it over, and said with a smile, "These ribs must be your handiwork, right? Chef Abel doesn''t have such skill." And Chef Singh, who could only open frozen food packages, was even less likely. The reason he could hold the position of chef at the Aircrew Base was simply because of lower employment costs. His salary definitely couldn''t compare with that of Chef Abel, who had real talent in his hands. Chen Fei didn''t deny it, and said, "Yeah, I used garlic powder, eggs, salt, cooking wine, Orleans roasted meat seasoning, and fried chicken breading, nothing technically demanding." All readymade ingredients were used: garlic powder and cooking wine to remove any gamey flavor, eggs to tenderize the meat, Orleans roasted meat seasoning to enhance flavor, and fried chicken breading to lock in the moisture, ensuring a pleasing texture. There wasn''t much innovation, yet it gave more nuanced flavor layers than Chef Abel''s original plan of using black pepper, sweet red wine, onions, basil, and cumin as seasoning. Compared to Abel''s method, Chen Fei''s approach was more akin to home cooking, with ingredients that were easily found in any common household. "You should be in the kitchen more often, much better than that guy who can only open packages." Barut swallowed the meat and bone in one gulp as usual, showing his satisfaction. Secondly, this place was a warmhouse. It was as warm as spring in winter, very comfortable, but in summer, it would turn into a steamer or an oven. Without opening the rooftop vents for enhanced ventilation, this place could only serve as a sauna room, impossible to live in. But right now, with the biting wind outside and the warmth inside the shelter, it was more than adequate as a temporary place to sleep. Working the night shift here didn''t require constant vigilance. Keeping periodic checks was enough, and the rest of the time, one could do whatever they wished¡ªtending to plants, eating and drinking, or even just sleeping. There was a bedside cabinet, a steel-framed single bed, and an empty personal storage locker, with pillows and fleece blankets all provided. Chen Fei had no complaints. He tried out all the operating procedures as Barut had instructed. The automation level of the Energy Tower was high, not requiring much manual intervention. The actual workload was minimal, and within just five minutes, he had completed the state and safety check of the Energy Tower. Xiao Jiu tirelessly flew around the garden, occasionally returning with a beakful of colorful berry juice, smearing it on Chen Fei''s hands and leaving vivid, splotchy marks. The flowers and plants Barut had grown were not chosen deliberately. Whether they bloomed or bore fruit, whether they were fragrant or the fruit was edible, it didn''t matter. In a corner, there even was a pot of lush green scallions, thriving without any signs of being plucked; they seemed to be grown purely for the sake of planting. Still, there were some nice things, like figs, blueberries, raspberries, trifoliate oranges, pineapples, pitayas, and even an apple tree laden with fruit. The Neanderthal elder was not stingy at all, telling Chen Fei to help himself to whatever he wanted to eat. The greenhouse''s fruit yield was more than a couple of people could finish. The night deepened, and Chen Fei had roughly skimmed through most of the technical manual that Barut had given him. After turning off the lights inside the greenhouse, leaving only a small lamp on, he headed to the steel-framed single bed and found that the little creature, Xiao Jiu, had taken over his pillow, curled up and sound asleep, occasionally chirping softly. In such a small form, what kind of Magical Beast could it be? Chen Fei smiled and shook his head, gently picked it up, and placed it back into the bird''s nest he had brought, covering it with a soft tissue to serve as a blanket. He had no interest in finding out what abilities the little bird might possess, as long as it grew up safely. Before sleeping, he reached into his bag to get the sleeping pill bottle, wanting to sleep until morning, but came up empty. He had actually forgotten to bring them. Chen Fei wasn''t of an age where he relied on sleeping pills, so it wasn''t unusual to forget them. He gazed out the door of the greenhouse; the cutting wind of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area swept across the standard container hills, emitting a deep growl. From sunset to now, in just three or four short hours, the outdoor temperature had plummeted to a chilling minus ten degrees Celsius or more, reinforced by a fierce wind that could easily cause one to catch a cold. As a hardworking laborer, he simply couldn''t afford to fall ill; it was much better to stay in the warmth of the greenhouse-like shelter, guarding the Energy Tower that consistently released residual heat. But Chen Fei had his own ways. - Chapter 47: Section 47 - Close and Open Your Eyes, and Its Daybreak Staring at the "Illegal operation or wrong command" that filled most of his vision, he invoked the "cls" command like a magic spell, instantly clearing the screen. Then, dismissing his stray thoughts, the frequency of "Illegal operation or wrong command" messages reduced significantly. He could guess that these characters were actually his stray thoughts, which did not match the corresponding command for "Phantosmia", hence the prompts. If he could modify this system, he should be able to solve the problem of meaningless screen spam that interfered with his vision. Honestly, he had become somewhat accustomed to it, and he began to selectively ignore the messages, which weren''t as annoying as they had been at first. After the "cls" command, he threw out a "dir" command. Emmm... Where''s my update.bat? "A:>\\directory" ****/12/12--12:21----2333--setup.exe 2333 bytes" Chen Fei was somewhat stunned. The update.bat in the "A:>\\" partition had vanished, and instead, there was a new setup.exe. The files here could actually change. Screw it, I don''t care anymore. "A:>\\setup.exe" Enter! Close my eyes, open them, and it''s already daylight! Damn! Chen Fei didn''t even have a chance to lie down and had already woken up. That meant he had sat on the bed the entire night without feeling anything. "Chirp chirp chirp!" Xiao Jiu, who had already woken up, was hopping cheerfully on Chen Fei''s shoulder as usual, nibbling at his ear from time to time, and smearing his ear with spots of color from the paddle fruit juice it had stolen before. Called back to reality by the crisp chirping, Chen Fei carefully moved his body, relieved to feel neither stiffness nor discomfort, and he let out a long breath. This darn DOS system wasn''t so bad after all. Focusing his gaze, the view in front of his eyes was refreshing, without the annoying "Illegal operation or wrong command" messages. Instead, it seemed to have entered some sort of progress interface, and it appeared to be an online installation. "Installation progress>>>>>>>>>>>...0.01%..." Below it showed the number of files being downloaded: 3 (2MB)/17174 (19.5GB), with a current connection speed of 0.05KB, sometimes dropping to 0.01KB. Fortunately, his new sister-in-law was understanding and didn''t complain much. Not only did she manage their small household well, but she also often came to help out at her in-laws'' home. Chen Meng finally got serious, discarded all celebrity merchandise, and devoted herself to her studies, aiming for a good university and a good job in the future. She was determined to take on the debt that Second Brother Chen Fei had shouldered and not become a burden on the family. Father Chen and Mother Chen had retired, but now they had each found a job and could earn a bit to help with the family expenses. Everyone was working hard because of that huge debt; not a single person was idle. Given the situation, Chen Fei didn''t dare tell his family that he had accidentally killed a Giant Dragon and almost lost his life. It''s better not to worry the family when you''re away from home. - After lunch, Chen Fei''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron training class hadn''t started yet. Along with all the employees of the Aircrew Base, he received a notification for an online video conference. As a subsidiary of the Apocalypse Defense Group, the Aircrew Base had an independent internal management system. Each employee could use their work card number and corresponding password to look up their salary statements, work performance assessments, approvals for personal applications and reports, as well as special announcements from the base. Following the notification, Chen Fei opened the link, and the screen of his tablet immediately showed the image of Hanna Gagel, the One-Eye, Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She sat behind the former executive manager''s desk, her face cold as she stared at everyone on the screen. Many people were likely bewildered at this moment since only a few at the Aircrew Base were aware that the executive manager was being replaced, and there hadn''t been an official announcement till now. After a moment of silence, Hanna Gagel finally spoke. "I am Hanna Gagel from the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, officially replacing Mr. Morris Morgan as the new executive manager of the Aircrew Base. I look forward to working pleasantly with all of you in the days to come." All over the Aircrew Base, there was an uproar, as many hadn''t expected such a sudden change in management without any prior indication. "WTF?" Chen Fei heard the incredulous voice of Squadron Leader Chekhov, nicknamed Big Bear. The deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios took a sniff and spoke with indifference, "This woman, huh, Cyclops!" "Yeah, she''s hot!" The pilot of the Z-9 Armed Helicopter, nicknamed "Miso," Yamada Yuhu split into a lecherous grin, nearly licking the screen. The mechanic foreman, Xiao Ming, remained expressionless: "..." Whether the executive manager changed or not didn''t impact him much. Pilots are easy to find, but experienced mechanics are scarce, so he had the right to be aloof. While everyone was speculating about the inaugural speech of the new executive manager, Hanna Gagel''s next words once again took them by surprise. "Next, I will show you a video." Screens of various sizes simultaneously flashed in unison. - Chapter 48: Section 48 - No Comparison, No Hurt 00:01- A piercing alarm sounded, and the 911 Aircrew Base was thrown into chaos. Soon, the scene inside Hangar 1 was shown, with a timer starting in the top right corner. 04:23- Six A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft had their missiles loaded and safeties removed, and were ready on the tarmac. 06:46- The pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had finally gathered, disheveled and stumbling, dawdling, and dragging their feet, followed by Squadron Leader Chekhov, who staggered into the hangar clenching a bottle of wine while intoxicated. 07:48- Most pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron boarded their aircraft, and the first batch of five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft took off in formation and headed to the combat zone. 08:18- At this time, the two MiG-28 Jet Fighters that had been dragged to the tarmac had just completed warming up. 08:30- The MiG Aircraft that were on standby were then struck by a falling Dragon Spike and exploded violently on the spot, instantly killing several ground staff and the pilot "Lemongrass" Basong. 9:14- Squadron Leader Chekhov, still disheveled, then shouldered the freshly recruited Rookie Fire Control Operator to board the last turboprop aircraft. 9:49- "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, aircraft 211 "Big Mouth Monster" took off, heading to slay the Giant Dragon with warmed Erguotou in their trousers. The video ended there, Chekhov Big Bear''s series of absurd actions had deeply ingrained in people''s hearts, leaving many wanting to laugh but not daring, struggling immensely to hold it in. The scene then switched back to the executive manager''s office, the voice of the new executive manager echoed once more. "I, Hanna Gagar, am very dissatisfied." Not only did the ground units that provided various logistical supports to the Combat Flight Squadron look at each other in bewilderment, but the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were also equally puzzled, not quite understanding the true intentions of the one-eyed female manager. What''s there to be dissatisfied about? My god! Does she even want to kill the Dragon King? Is this a bid to instigate a war between two worlds? As a subsidiary of the private military contractor Apocalypse Defense Group, the 911 Aircrew Base is not in a position to initiate a war between planes. Even the slightest thought of such an action would get it squashed by any sovereign country with a flick of a finger. The weaponry of private military contractors, in the face of the violent institutions of sovereign countries, would disappear if the latter so much as sneezed... "In my view, a true Combat Flight Squadron should be like this." As Hanna Gagar spoke, everyone''s phones and tablets flashed, displaying a scene from an unfamiliar aircrew base. Tightly aligned black jet fighters were parked on the tarmac, each accompanied by a power supply truck and an air supply truck. 00:01- The alarm sounded, countdown timer started. 01:15- Ammunition team pulled the pins and departed. 02:06- Uniformed pilots arrived on the tarmac. 03:39- Fighter jets finished warming up, power and air supply trucks departed. 04:57- Fighter jets taxied onto the runway. 05:15- Took off. A comparison chart appeared on the screen. ... Big Bear was crazily testing the waters of courting death. Little Chili instantaneously went berserk, screaming as she pounced on Big Bear''s body, furiously scratching him. ... As the red sun rises, its path grants great light; river from hidden flow, pouring out vast seas; hidden dragon soars from the abyss, scales and claws flying high; nursing tiger roars in the valley, all beasts tremble; eagle tests its wings, drawing in the winds and dust... The scene momentarily spiraled out of control, unbearable to watch. "Hey, hey, hey, let''s talk nicely, no need for violence!" "Crazy, Irinei''s gone mad!" "Squadron Leader, what nonsense are you spouting!" "Where exactly are you two focusing? Stop it right away!" "Quick, pull them apart!" ... Everyone worked together and finally pulled the relentless short-haired girl off the scratched-up Big Bear. Chekhov was forcefully extracted of N blood by Irinei Rusios, physically educated to the point that he looked utterly ragged. "Devil Pepper" teacher, well done! Chen Fei picked up his cellphone, turned on the camera feature, and took several consecutive shots as a keepsake. He loved any classic scenes of Big Bear getting a thorough beating. "As the executive manager of the Aircrew Base 911, my first order of business is to reorganize the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron and related departments, ensuring that combat capabilities reach the required standard." The voice of the one-eyed Hanna Gagal resounded once again, first expressing dissatisfaction, then displaying a video for comparison, making a well-reasoned and orderly argument; next, intending to take action against the main combat force of the Aircrew Base 911, it was just the natural course of things. As her voice faded, Big Bear and the short-haired girl, who had been fighting like gamecocks, immediately ceased their bickering; their gazes swiftly met in the air, and they rapidly came to an agreement. When on the edge of internal conflict and external threats, internal disputes must be resolved internally; whether it was Squadron Leader Chekhov or Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios, neither would sit by and watch someone lay their hands on the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron. LSP Chekhov would not lose his principles over this; Daizi is Daizi, work is work, talking emotions could cost money, especially when there aren''t even any emotions involved. "We need to think up strategies, have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and not let the female Cyclops have her way." Chekhov drew in a sharp breath; he had been scratched quite badly. "Devil Pepper," once she starts going crazy, it''s not your ordinary kind of crazy. "I agree!" Though still feeling upset, the short-haired girl grudgingly expressed her agreement. "Everyone must work together, don''t let them isolate and defeat us; if anyone dares to betray us, I, Chekhov, will not let him off, do you all hear me?" Big Bear let out a loud roar, immediately eliciting a unanimous response from all the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron. - Chapter 49: Section 49 - Suspicious Person New officers bring three fires, and Hanna Gagel, a Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, aimed her first fire directly at the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, but she did not mention her second and third fires. Apart from the pilots of "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron coming together to start discussing plan ABC, the other departments fell into panic, the fear stemming from the unknown. They weren''t afraid of open confrontation, but rather the sudden burst of covert attacks, leaving them utterly unprepared. The mechanic crew was quite composed, under the leadership of their boss, Xiao Ming, the work of the mechanics was impeccable. Manager Hanna Gagel presented a video as an example, which was after the combat alert was sounded, but the work of the mechanic crew was finished before the combat alert, and judging from the flight state of the "Big Mouth Monster" after taking off, the mechanics had not been negligent. All damages were combat-related, with no non-combat losses due to malfunction. As for the newcomer, Chen Fei, he was even less involved. One moment a mechanic, another a pilot, working a shift at night, jumping back and forth, he was alright. As long as he continued to study and train according to the original plan and waited to start working formally, those three fires could not touch him no matter what. The manager''s office at Aircrew Base 911. Hanna Gagel, who had just finished her inaugural speech, stood opposite two men in black suits and black sunglasses, their expressions solemn, holding a folder in their hands. "The list?" She had not parachuted into Aircrew Base 911 alone and unprepared to take over the position of executive manager from Morris Morgan; instead, she brought a small but efficient team. An inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs parachuting down to a subordinate unit to take up the post of executive manager was an unusual personnel move. But involving the recently acquired remains of a Metallic Dragon and the huge profits of hundreds of billions of Star Yuan, any irrationality seemed justified. "Inspector¡ª" One of the men in black suits and black sunglasses had just begun speaking but was cut off abruptly. "Stop. Please address me as Manager Hanna." Hanna Gagel frowned, her simple words silencing the two men instantly. "One-Eye Hanna" was not known in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for being kind, gentle, or approachable. Such a person usually had limited tolerance for subordinates'' mistakes, and to avoid an unpleasant end, it was best not to continue testing the limits. In unison, the two said, "Thank you for the reminder... Manager Hanna." They almost made a mistake again. Fortunately, she didn''t seem to want to make a scene on the spot, allowing them to quietly breathe a sigh of relief. "How''s the monitoring plan going?" Hanna Gagel pushed the folder containing information about more than twenty people back onto the desk and slid it forward. The man in the black suit who had just handed over the documents quickly retrieved the stack of A4 papers from the large desk. "The security team and the monitoring room have each positioned two people, and specially customized monitoring sensors now cover 90% of the entire base, though the containers might cause some interference..." the other man began, his words trailing off hesitantly. The standard containers filling up 911 Aircrew Base to the brim were an unforeseen new situation. The monitoring sensors could detect the remains of the Metallic Dragons within a certain range, but other metal materials could also cause a degree of interference and false alarms. "No worries, ensure comprehensive coverage first, with no omissions or blind spots, and pay special attention to the main traffic arteries. Report immediately if anything is discovered, understood?" Hanna Gagel continued, "If the Dragon Heart Core is retrieved, I will personally commend you, and the company won''t let you down either." "Thank you, Manager Hanna!" The two men in black suits and sunglasses gradually adapted to the changed roles. "I hope to hear good news soon." The executive manager''s delicate figure seated in the large office chair resembled a throne. Various departments of the Aircrew Base remained unaware that near them, a small team operating quietly and yet not belonging to any department had increased their numbers. - Chapter 50: Section 50 - Busy In the Dragon Clan of the Cangqiong Realm, the Metallic Dragons have always been viewed as outliers. Light, Dark, Water, Fire, Wind, Gold, Earth, Wood, Lightning, Spirit, and Space¡ªthe eleven main branches of elemental magic. Only the Metallic Dragons seemed to be without affinity for magic, yet they were known as the "Divine Weapons," naturally aggressive and cruelly brutal. They weren''t pushovers but rather iron-hard and prone to inflict harm as much to the touch as to the heart if mishandled. Only the Silver Dragons of the Space Series could perfectly counter the Metallic Dragons, easily disposing of them by tossing them into the chaos of spatial currents¡ªa finished business! Even thirty years ago, the Metallic Dragons had a great opportunity when their entire clan was collectively upgraded to the digital dragon level, acquiring many new abilities. Though finally able to cast spells, including those of more than one elemental series, they still fell short of the other elemental dragons, who wielded their magic as naturally as an extension of their body. Being inherently devoid of spiritual power and unable to comprehend the concept of space, the Metallic Dragons remained completely insulated from psychic and space magics, even after their upgrades. From a certain perspective, the Metallic Dragons'' casting ability was conditional; they needed to convert from weapons to magic artifacts or even electrical devices. If not charged with a magic crystal full of Magic Element and a Crystalline Block brimming with electricity, their new powers remained merely ornamental. The upgrade simply expanded their capabilities and created an unprecedented branch of dragonkind without fundamentally altering their nature. Lacking innate magic and spiritual power, the reason the Metallic Dragons had not been expelled from the Dragon Clan was largely due to them, like other dragons, possessing a Dragon Soul¡ªan unalterable fact. Like the dragons of all other series, the souls of the Metallic Dragons resided within their Heart Core. As dragons aged and the years passed, their Heart Core would purify and eventually crystallize into a sparkling Dragon Crystal, with powerful dragons even seeing their bones gradually crystallize. The value of a Dragon Heart Core could nearly account for a third of a dragon''s remains. Even if not used to create special devices or equipment, it could be traded with the Dragon Clan, including the Metallic Dragons, for very precious resources. Even the historically priceless SEG core unit could be obtained, tantamount to the hardest currency in both the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm. The successive Dragon Kings of the Dragon Race never missed an opportunity to reclaim the Heart Core of their kin. All fallen Dragon Souls should eternally rest in Sky Dragon City. Dragons, though not avaricious, were never short of money. If handled properly, a single Dragon Heart Core might be exchanged for another immense profit of one hundred billion Star Yuan. In search of the elusive Metallic Dragon Heart Core, Hanna Gagel, a Level Two Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, arrived at Aircrew Base 911 with this secret mission. Holding the position of executive manager would provide ample convenience and cover for the covert investigation. As everyone''s attention was drawn to the unlucky "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron with the new official''s first big move, Hanna Gagel''s team had already quietly begun their arrangement. - For an aircrew base, spatial series alchemy storage devices, though very convenient for storing and organizing materials, are still too high-end. Therefore, the logistics department, which oversees multiple groups and is responsible for the day-to-day living and material management of the aircrew base, was incredibly busy from the get-go, almost collapsing from collective exhaustion and forced to temporarily borrow manpower from other departments. Newcomers have no rights, like bricks used wherever they are needed. This unwritten rule of the workplace is the same everywhere. Even with Big Brother Xiao''s protection, Chen Fei could not escape this. An originally half workday that belonged to the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was temporarily lent to the logistics department. Fortunately, out of respect for this burly mechanic, the logistics department did not dare to treat Chen Fei like a beast of burden. Instead, they assigned him a simple job that they didn''t have time to handle yet but nevertheless required a helping hand, to ensure the newcomer could get up to speed as quickly as possible. In fact, within the entire 911 aircrew base, there were hardly any idle hands. It wasn''t just the logistics department''s cleaning and warehousing groups that were borrowing people across departments; just about everywhere was understaffed. Even with such consideration, Chen Fei still saw a mountain of trash accumulating to three or four meters in height. The air was filled with a foul stench, which came from the categorized garbage bins at the foot of the trash mountain, filled with all sorts of household waste. Flies buzzed around them, indicating it had been days since they were last managed. With a little over two hundred people, even without work, just their eating and drinking would inevitably produce a lot of garbage daily. If full-scale work commenced, the consumption of a large amount of materials would result in an even more considerable amount of waste. If this trash wasn''t disposed of properly, it would not only waste the limited space of the high-ground platform where the aircrew base was located but would also severely pollute the environment, possibly incurring a huge fine. The 911 aircrew base has always sorted and processed various types of waste. Biodegradable waste mainly comes from the canteen and personal daily life, including food scraps, paper, used plastic products, replaced engine and lubricating oils¡ªall tossed into reaction tanks, sprayed with biodegradable agent, and quickly decomposed into fertilizer. The grass beside the main runway and the various green plants scattered throughout the base have grown from these fertilizers little by little. Non-decomposable glass, ceramics, metals, and other organic or inorganic materials are separated by magnetic detection equipment, then processed into multi-colored glass bricks and alloy bars by crushing machines and smelting equipment, either reused on-site or awaiting transport to specialized companies for recycling. The aircrew base already has some small smelters and metalworking facilities. Local sourcing and resource recycling can effectively reduce supply pressure and operational costs. - Chapter 51: Section 51 - Waste Utilization At the Aircrew Base, many tasks could be assisted by highly automated machinery, which meant that manual labor was not needed in excess. After all, compared to the cost of machinery, human labor is often quite expensive. Read the latest tale on M-VL-em|p,yr Especially high-educated individuals, university graduates these days are treated as precious commodities, and no one is willing to have them move bricks or carry heavy loads. What Chen Fei had to do was simply to follow the manual, press some buttons, and pull a few levers, and he could easily get the job done. Although these tasks were very basic and had no technical content, the logistics department''s several teams just couldn''t spare the energy to deal with them at this critical juncture, as everyone was working overtime to sort out container materials. It was the perfect opportunity to hand over the simple tasks to Chen Fei. For a recent undergraduate university graduate, getting the hang of it had absolutely no difficulty, with just a little guidance, he could quickly become proficient. In just a few minutes, Chen Fei had processed the accumulated days'' worth of household and kitchen waste. The biodegradable agent automatically sprayed inside the reaction tank worked wonders. The pervasive stench began to quickly fade, and with a gust of wind, there was hardly any odd smell left. Under the right temperature and humidity conditions, in no more than 24 hours, biological tissue and plastic components would be completely decomposed by various bacteria and active enzymes into a complex organic paste rich in elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. After being dehydrated and granulated, it became ready-to-use organic fertilizer. Inorganic materials and metals that the biodegradable agent couldn''t "digest" would be filtered out for further processing. The real time-consuming work was dealing with the waste from various departments, especially the defunct aviation consumables and over-guaranteed spare parts from the maintenance team. There were all sorts of things, mostly made of metals, plastics, glass, and ceramics. Like now, a "little pot" that had tumbled all the way down from the "small mountain" to Chen Fei''s feet, which really had everything in it! Bending over to pick up this "little pot" and examining it in his hands, Chen Fei felt an inexplicable craving, wanting to try taking a bite to taste it. He strongly suppressed this bizarre "pica" thought, which, like "Phantosmia," was a side effect of the magic potion. It probably couldn''t be cured, so he had to constantly overcome it himself. It turned out that this rectangular "pot" was neither a hotpot nor a pot for cooking, but a directional antenna pot for sending and receiving radio signals. Looking at the parameters printed on the back, it supported various frequency bands and could send radio signals as far as fifteen kilometers. Apart from some minor deformations to the external metal parts, this thirty-centimeter diameter antenna pot seemed largely intact and perhaps could still be used. Originally intending to give it a try, Chen Fei found more than a dozen wireless AP endpoints in the mountain-like pile of garbage. It seemed that the Aircrew Base was undergoing an old equipment change recently, directly retiring these old devices from their original positions and dumping them here to be decomposed and recycled. After powering up the AP endpoints and connecting with a smartphone, to his surprise, they all worked fine and could be used normally. The entire network link''s highest bandwidth could reach 6742 Mbps. Considering interference and loss, at least 40 to 50 percent stable bandwidth remained, with an acceptable signal delay. It was more than sufficient for use, even in rainy or snowy weather. On a rare day off, Chen Fei started working on it himself. He pulled out an outdoor fiber optic cable from the main gate of the Aircrew Base and drilled holes in rocks along the way to insert rock bolts to secure the fiber optic, extending the cable to a location five kilometers from the base where he used three regenerated metal pipes and foam cement to construct the first relay station. The active antenna dish had a transmission power of 3W, providing plenty of redundancy for weather interference, with the access point''s own WIFI antenna capable of covering network signals within a 500-meter outdoor radius. The walking distance from the Aircrew Base to Teacher Shen Fei''s school in the mountainous area was about 21 kilometers. Starting with a fiber optic cable saved five kilometers, leaving only 16 kilometers to be covered by three relay stations. Building a relay station didn''t take much time; it could be done in less than half an hour since Chen Fei had prepared much of the work during his spare time. The most time-consuming part was transporting equipment along the mountain ridge. After making two trips back and forth, it was only when the sun was slanting westward that Chen Fei, pushing a unicycle cart, arrived at the location of the last relay station. Dogs barked incessantly in Teacher Shen Fei''s schoolyard, with both "Ah Mao" and "Ah Hu" raising a ruckus. As Chen Fei approached, the barking stopped abruptly, leaving the school in complete silence. Chen Fei shouted loudly, "Teacher Shen, it''s me!" He knew very well that the two dogs had started their insistent barking because he had disturbed them by projecting a positioning guidance laser beam from the second relay station toward the school''s location. Although dogs can only distinguish a few colors, they could still keenly sense unusual bright spots of light. The relay station was closer to the school than planned, about 6.7 kilometers away, which meant that the signal would be stronger and more stable. "Eh? Chen Fei, it''s you! You really scared the life out of me. It''s alright, students, nothing to worry about!" Shen Fei''s head popped up from behind the school wall, along with the muzzle of a gun, but when she saw it was Chen Fei, pushing a unicycle cart, she immediately relaxed. - Chapter 52: Section 52 - Xitong Net The sudden restlessness and frenzied barking of the dogs immediately put the teachers and students on alert. The clear sound of reading vanished in an instant, and even the barking quickly quieted down. The entire courtyard fell silent, as if it were empty, eerily quiet. Those who had rooted themselves here, dedicating their efforts to educational support and cultural output, were certainly not naive. They would never base their safety on the innocence of the local mountain people or the "rules" of the bandits. Friends are greeted with delicious food, and enemies with rifles. The Type 95 automatic rifle in Teacher Shen Fei''s hands was not just for show, she would actually fire it. Once the alarm was lifted, the courtyard once again filled with the sounds of the students'' laughter and chatter, as if nothing had ever happened. In less than half an hour of brief bustling, the third relay station was installed in the vegetable garden at the back yard. The converted WIFI signal was strong enough to cover the entire courtyard and then some. Chen Fei''s phone connected smoothly to the Internet, and the mountain school finally had a network signal for the first time. The wireless signal strength sent over from the relay station on the distant ridge was a solid 32dbi, which, after being converted by the AP endpoint, became the most commonly used WIFI signal, with a speed test peak of 5998Mbps. Although this fell short of the highest theoretical value, it was already an ideal result. "Come, ''Xiao Jiu'', say hello to Teacher Shen." Chen Fei had set up a video call with Chef Abel and immediately saw the bouncing little creature. Before leaving the Aircrew Base, he had entrusted the little bird to the chef for care. Abel still had no idea that this lively and adorable little creature was actually a Magical Beast from the Cangqiong Realm. "Jiu Jiu! Jiu!" Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu curiously examined the phone screen. Upon seeing Chen Fei, it immediately tried to peck at the screen with its tiny beak, as if wanting to jump into the screen to be with Chen Fei. Shen Fei, unexpectedly gaining internet access, was moved and grateful as she had not expected Chen Fei to do so much for her. "Chen Fei, you''ve really gone to too much trouble. I have a satellite phone here; I can still make calls." She thought of the effort it must have taken to bring the network signal all the way from the Aircrew Base 911 to here, which probably cost more than a small sum just for the equipment. Although Teacher Shen Fei was not truly cut off from the outside world here¡ªshe had an emergency satellite phone on hand¡ªthe costs of calls and internet were exorbitant, and it couldn''t be used as casually as a regular phone. "We''re all fellow villagers, helping each other out is the right thing to do. Don''t worry, it didn''t cost anything. I reused old equipment that the base was discarding, along with some recycled material. At most, it''s just a bit of spare time labor, and it wasn''t too difficult." Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, giving Teacher Shen Fei an unexpected answer. Setting up three relay stations was a mere trifle. If he had to pay for it out of his own pocket, he wouldn''t have had so much spare cash. Now that Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain village school was connected to the internet, future visits could be arranged with a heads-up, eliminating the need for sudden unannounced visits that risked being in vain if no one was there. Originally thinking that Chen Fei would have to expend funds, now it seemed like a mere trifle. Shen Fei finally relaxed, a smile appearing on her face. "Heh heh heh, a piece of cake. I''ve set up the network for you, use it with ease, free of charge..." Chen Fei, hearing the praise, laughed and scratched the back of his head. Before he could finish, a sudden loud bang swallowed his words. What the heck! What''s going on here? Before Chen Fei could understand the situation, Shen Fei reacted immediately. She took the Type 95 automatic rifle slung over her back, nimbly disengaged the safety, and chambered a round. "Take cover!" The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was never particularly peaceful, though there were no bandits to bother them, yet one should always prepare for the worst. Teacher Shen had never taken things lightly and often organized various emergency drills for the students. At this moment, seven or eight little black dots were thrown in from over the walls, with two or three landing even in the backyard vegetable garden. "Disabling bombs, duck, cover your..." When Shen Fei saw clearly what had been thrown into the yard, her face instantly turned ashen. "Wha..." Boom... A series of earth-shattering explosions ensued. Chen Fei''s ears were ringing as he felt the world around him shake. Somehow, he ended up lying on the ground, tried to lift his hand but found it as heavy as lead, completely unable to move, and without the strength to turn around and see how Teacher Shen Fei was. With his peripheral vision, he could barely see some students who hadn''t managed to make it back to the large classroom sprawled on the ground just like him, with all the classroom window glasses shattered, leaving an eerie silence inside. A black and a yellow dog struggled to stand up but kept vomiting, collapsing on the ground with limp legs, clearly affected as well. About a dozen individuals armed with automatic weapons stormed the gate or simply climbed over the walls, alternating cover as they advanced, and in the blink of an eye, they took control of both the front and back courtyards. One of them scanned the entire courtyard, his gaze finally resting on Chen Fei; he curled his lips into a smile, said something indistinct, and walked over to him. But Chen Fei''s consciousness was gradually fading. Help me!... - ``` Chapter 53: Section 53 - Do it! Time had passed, though he knew not how long. Chen Fei was awakened by the pungent smell of smoke; he struggled to open his lead-heavy eyelids and found himself in a dimly lit place, seemingly a cave, with several not-so-bright camping lanterns placed in the corners. The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was known for its countless cracks and caves, some large enough to hide thousands of people. Some local villages were even situated inside these caves, providing shelter from the wind and rain. Damn... Where is this? Footsteps approached from afar. The newcomer, seeing that Chen Fei had regained consciousness, extended a teacup towards him and asked, "Want a sip?" The strange smell was overpowering. Chen Fei furrowed his brow. What the hell is this stuff? "Where is this? Who are you? Where is Teacher Shen?" Instead of answering Chen Fei''s questions, the other person took back the teacup, took a sip himself, and said nonchalantly, "You should be aware of your current situation. You shouldn''t be asking us these pointless questions. On the contrary, you should honestly answer our questions." After putting down the teacup, he casually drew his tactical belt from his waist and lashed out fiercely. Tied up and unable to move, Chen Fei had no way to avoid the blow and took it squarely. The metal tip of the tactical belt left a bloody mark on his body, even through his clothes. "Damn it to hell!" Growing up, his parents had never laid a hand on him, and today, he was actually struck by someone else. The sudden harsh whip ignited rage in Chen Fei as he glared at his assailant. Don''t let me find out who you are, or my country''s battleships will park at your doorstep and blast you and your ancestors with particle cannons until you doubt your existence. As citizens of the world''s foremost superpower, both Chen Fei and Shen Fei stood tall when outside the country. They were already doing well not to bully others, let alone be bullied. Sending battleships to protect citizens at someone''s doorstep was a routine operation. With ballistic systems on 24-hour alert and ready for global missions, cross-border strikes weren''t out of the question. "I am a bandit from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. If you can wipe out all the bandits, you might stand a chance; otherwise, shut up and answer the questions instead of asking me any," he responded with a cold, mocking sneer, then lashed out viciously again, seemingly indifferent to Chen Fei''s sovereign citizen status. This guy was nasty, deliberately shifting the blame to all bandits in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Chen Fei then remembered what Chekhov, the Big Bear, had said¡ªbandits from other areas had drifted near the Aircrew Base. Local bandits would never target a school, but these unwelcome visitors surely had some nerve! Being college-educated, awareness wasn''t Chen Fei''s shortfall, especially since he planned to pursue further studies. He narrowed his eyebrows, deciphering the hidden implications in the bandit''s words. Yet, two harsh lashes ignited his fury, causing him to blurt out, "You''re not real bandits!" However, Chen Fei''s palm was already inches away. "I''m going to kill you, and then your whole family!" The man saw a pair of eyes aflame with fiery rage, the pupils somehow turning into fragmentary gold, the ferocity and brutality hitting straight into the core of his soul. Thud... A splash of hot, stinking blood covered the rock wall, like a bucket of red paint casually thrown onto the rugged stone. A head, locked in an expression of terror, collided with the roof of the cave and tumbled into the corner, still staring wide-eyed like a dead fish. "...huff, huff... I... huff, huff,... will... go your... mother''s... pussy!" Chen Fei seemed suddenly drained of all his energy, his hands on his knees as he panted heavily. Before him, the battered corpse was no longer human-shaped but a heap of mangled flesh, with a pungent smell of blood filling the air. Anyone else might have felt weak in the knees or even wet themselves at such a horrific scene, but Chen Fei was completely undisturbed, nor did the increasingly strong smell of blood bother him in the slightest. It was hard to imagine that just over a month ago, little Chen Fei was still just a well-behaved child, a lawful and good citizen living in a peaceful and stable society. But now, he could kill without a blink of an eye, and he wasn''t sure when this ability had started. "Fuck you!" After regaining some strength, Chen Fei spat fiercely onto the ground, glanced at the pile of flesh, and slightly frowned, expecting to feel discomfort or even nausea. However, his mind seemed unusually clear, as if he had drunk a refreshing soda on a hot summer day, leaving him invigorated from inside out, an unsettlingly strange feeling. Chen Fei shifted his gaze from the grisly scene back to his own hands, still hardly believing that he could distort someone''s shape with a single slap, his ferocity beyond comprehension! He didn''t notice that his pupils, which had turned to shattered gold in his fury, gradually faded back to their original black as if nothing unusual had happened. He frowned as he rummaged through the bloody mess and retrieved a tactical dagger and a pistol. Utilizing the spoils and continuing the fight was an old tradition deeply ingrained in his bones. Gripping the deadly weapons, murderous intent naturally arose. Not far away, someone, unaware of what had just occurred, loudly said, "Qiong En, take it easy, don''t kill him too quickly." Chen Fei didn''t hesitate. He carefully loaded the pistol, reversed his grip on the tactical dagger, and cautiously moved toward the direction of the voice. - Chapter 54: Section 54 - Indifference to Life and Death What college student hadn''t undergone military training? Strict ones had military training throughout the first academic year. The ancient scholars'' Six Arts¡ªrites, music, archery, charioteering, literature, and mathematics¡ªhad long been revived. Even if not mastering all, mastering one was essential. Rites: socializing, negotiating, foreign languages Music: singing, playing instruments, lyric writing, composing Archery: firearms, bows and arrows, artillery Charioteering: horse riding, vehicle driving, boat piloting, aircraft piloting Literature: soft and hard pen calligraphy, writing Mathematics: mental arithmetic, abacus, logic, statistics, reasoning If one couldn''t master even one, let alone graduate, they couldn''t even get a certificate of attendance. The college students, selected through stringent assessments from elementary to high school, were called the "pride of the Ivory Tower." This was no exaggeration. Those with slightly weaker learning abilities were directly eliminated and relegated to vocational schools at most obtaining an associate degree. Nowadays, it was no longer an era where undergraduates were as common as dogs and PhDs roamed the streets; after all, the population base was right there. Even with strict demands on higher education quality, there was still a sufficient number of talents available. For Chen Fei, firearms operation was a basic military training subject for college freshmen, although it was almost never used at home, so it wasn''t too unfamiliar. Teacher Shen Fei was the same. Upon arriving at the elementary school in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, she had automatically locked in this skill, extremely proficient in firearms operation, and had chosen a replicated version of the Type 95 automatic rifle for self-defense. Once the nation''s precious flowers went abroad, they all turned into man-eaters. The true high elimination rate of elite education started to show its effectiveness. "Qiong En! Qiong En?" The person who heard no response started to get suspicious, and just then, Chen Fei suddenly appeared within his line of sight. The man''s eyes abruptly widened, and his mouth opened as if to shout. "He..." Bang, bang, bang! Three consecutive gunshots rang out in the cave, exceptionally ear-splitting. The distance between them wasn''t even three meters, no shots missed, and seeing three blood spots bursting from the other person''s chest, taking advantage of the warmth, Chen Fei hurriedly rushed over to frantically search him. He gained another pistol, two magazines, an AK-47 of unknown origin, and several hand grenades. Right there, he switched from the pistol to the automatic rifle, upgrading his armament, which made him feel even more secure. According to the information revealed by the guy who had whipped him with a belt earlier, not only he, but also Teacher Shen Fei and perhaps the elementary students, had been tied up here. What exactly did these guys want to do? Very aware of the advantage of striking first but knowing it wouldn''t last long, Chen Fei didn''t have time to think much longer and planned to rescue Teacher Shen Fei before those unidentified armed people could react. If there were others, he''d have to play it by ear. He''d save whoever he could. If he couldn''t save them, he could only blame his own misfortune. "Don''t just stand there, help me untie these ropes." Shen Fei delivered another kick to the head of the unfortunate guy whose lower half she had kicked earlier. Chen Fei quickly used his tactical dagger to cut the ropes binding Teacher Shen Fei. Shen Fei picked up another AK lying in the corner of the stone chamber, swiftly pulled the slide, gathered a few hand grenades, walked over to the chamber entrance, and fired several shots blindly outside before saying to Chen Fei, "Shall we fight our way out?" "Yes... be careful!" Chen Fei was about to agree when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadow moving at the chamber entrance. Without thinking, he stepped forward, shielding Shen Fei with his body while he raised his gun and pulled the trigger at the chamber entrance. Suddenly, a figure with an AK-47 jumped out at the chamber entrance. The gunfire violently flashed as Chen Fei and the figure chose to engage in a fight to the death, firing at each other at such close range, neither able to dodge the bullets, both subconsciously squeezing the trigger, emptying a magazine in seconds. Shot! As the gunfire ceased, the only thought in Chen Fei''s mind was, Damn... I''m screwed again! Only a month into the job, and I''ve died twice already¡ªmy luck is cursed! The unexpected shootout caught Shen Fei off guard, and by the time she reacted, the gunfire had already died down. She saw the man outside the chamber propped against the rock wall, helplessly seated on the ground, blood gushing out in great spurts, his chest mangled by 7.62mm bullets¡ªbeyond saving, even by a Daluo Golden Immortal. The unhesitating Chen Fei, facing the enemy alone, was not much better off. It was clear to her that his trembling body amid the gunfire had definitely taken hits. If it weren''t for Chen Fei shielding her, then by now... "Chen Fei!" Shen Fei cried out in agony, hurrying to embrace the staggering Chen Fei as he collapsed. "Chen Fei, Chen Fei, are you alright?" No living being, not even an elephant, could survive unscathed after taking so many bullets. Only upon hearing Shen Fei''s voice did Chen Fei finally come around and honestly admitted, "Uh... I''m fine, just a bit dizzy from your shaking." He couldn''t understand why in movies, those close to death always grimaced painfully with fierce expressions, yet when it came to his own imminent death, he felt nothing at all? Was it really so painless that one could die just by closing their eyes? He was completely unaware that he was being held in a full embrace by the soft and gentle Shen Fei. - Chapter 55: Section 55 - Impervious to Swords and Guns Hearing Chen Fei''s full-bodied speech, Shen Fei paused, reached out to touch his chest, and her cheeks quickly flushed with a slight red. "Where is your bulletproof vest?" Behind the bullet-riddled clothes were clearly solid muscles; there wasn''t even a sign of blood, clearly no bulletproof vest. She felt extremely embarrassed, but... what on earth was going on? Chen Fei appeared unharmed, but the question now was, where had the bullets that were fired at him gone? "Heh, go to hell and be a pair of miserable lovebirds!" A cold laugh echoed from the chamber''s exit. Chen Fei and Shen Fei looked towards the sound and saw three armed personnel blocking the exit, their dark muzzles aimed straight at them. Getting distracted in a battle would absolutely lead to fatal mistakes. Chen Fei and Shen Fei were indeed lacking in experience, and careless for a moment, allowing the enemy to take advantage of their vulnerability. An amateur might hold the advantage for a moment due to sheer luck, but failing to defeat the expert with a flurry of punches, they could easily be overturned by an experienced professional seizing the opportunity. Seeing Chen Fei shot, Teacher Shen Fei was so disoriented that she forgot to guard herself, allowing the other armed personnel to resolutely take advantage and approach the stone chamber''s exit. Pfft!~ At that moment, the face of the speaking armed personnel suddenly felt inexplicably warm as if doused with a ladle of warm liquid. Reflexively wiping it off, he was horrified to see a shocking, crimson color. It was blood! Turning his head, he discovered that his comrade to the left was now only standing from the waist down; their upper body had been split into seven or eight pieces, with organs scattered all around, emitting a foul stench. Not far down the cave tunnel, a woman dressed in formal attire approached, her left eye covered with a black patch, and her right hand gently cradling a soccer-ball-sized, ceaselessly swirling Mist Sphere. The swiftly moving mist deep within carried faint, sharp screams, as if from a Hyakki Yagyo, wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves. The companion who was dismembered gaped in shock and roared immediately, "Who are you?" At the same time, he hesitated not at all to turn his gun and fire fiercely. There was no such woman among his comrades. If she wasn''t one of their own, then she was certainly an enemy. Bullets had barely left the gun''s muzzle before they seemed to sink into a quagmire, all halted in midair, slowly rotating before collectively clattering to the ground. Without warning, a tearing sound thundered in the cave tunnel; the two armed personnel firing with all their might seemed to be slashed across their bodies by several invisible blades, shattering instantly together with their weapons into distinguishable mounds of flesh, and the intense gunshots abruptly ceased. The escapees, Chen Fei and Shen Fei, looked at each other, bewildered. Had they seen a ghost? Three perfectly alive men had been bizarrely dismembered into pieces. "It looks like there''s none!" The tone of Hanna Gagel seemed somewhat disappointed as she handed the object back. She then turned to Chen Fei again and said undeniably, "Open your shirt!" ¦²(¡Ñ_¡Ñ!)_ What do you want to do? I sell art, not my body, what are you trying to do? Chen Fei felt a chill on his chest as his shirt was lifted. Damn... It was Teacher Shen Fei who did it, looking at this clear-browed, beautiful girl, she was such a person! Hey, hey, can you check the situation first? A boy out in the world should protect himself well. "No injuries!" Seeing is believing, Shen Fei finally confirmed her speculation, coincidentally thinking along the same lines as the female executive manager of the Aircrew Base 911, the two exchanged a look unwittingly. "What?" Chen Fei looked down in disbelief, using the dim light from a corner camping lamp to clearly see that there was not a bullet hole nor a trace of being whipped severely by a tactical belt on his chest; there were no red spots or bruises, only his clothes were tattered, obviously from the bullets. Upon briefly recalling, he quickly remembered that during the shootout, his chest felt like it had been pummeled by a series of small fists, pushing him involuntarily to keep retreating, but indeed he didn''t feel any particular pain. Actually, the bullet holes on Chen Fei''s clothes were not only in front of his chest and abdomen; being able to roll all the way to the stone chamber where Teacher Shen Fei was located was not just luck. The adversary was skilled in shooting; he had been hit by many bullets, but he was too busy rolling and crawling to notice. "Indeed, it''s very likely an Ability Awakening!" Hanna Gagel withdrew her gaze, not too surprised. "How is that possible?" Chen Fei shook his head vigorously. It wasn''t like he had never undergone a supernatural talent test. In fact, everyone, from birth, undergoes a talent test at the ages of 6, 12, and 18 to determine if there is an Ability Awakening, Magical Elemental Affinity, spiritual power strength, and Battle Qi potential among other tests. He had completed the three tests long ago and was a completely talentless commoner. Actually, whether his spiritual power was strong, whether he had any special abilities, whether he could perform magic, or whether he could consolidate a Battle Qi Seed didn''t really make much difference to Chen Fei. A hardworking commoner really didn''t need to think about all these possibilities, and even without these abilities, he wouldn''t be easily bullied. After all, it was a society governed by law now; dialling 110 would bring stronger War Professionals, Mages, and supernatural power law enforcement officers to uphold justice. Relying on a slight talent to show off was purely overthinking. The appearance of many new things, in reality, didn''t have much impact on the common people''s daily life essentials like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and tea. "Anything can happen; there are not just one or two cases of people awakening abilities after the age of 60. When we get back to the base, I''ll give you a detailed test. Can you still walk?" Hanna Gagel could see that Chen Fei was actually fine, just a bit shocked. - Chapter 56: Section 56 - Unknown Origin "Manager Hanna, how did you find this place?" Chen Fei was somewhat perplexed. He had gone out alone and fallen into the hands of these armed personnel of unknown identity at Teacher Shen Fei''s school, yet this female executive manager had found him so quickly. Even if he hadn''t suddenly fought back, it wouldn''t have been long before he regained his freedom. "Your phone was on a video call with Chef Abel the whole time, the AP end installed has a signal direction-finding function, and your health bracelet also has internet connectivity and positioning features." Hanna Gagel shrugged her shoulders; Chen Fei''s question wasn''t hard to answer. If it weren''t for him setting up network relays along the way and video-calling Chef Abel, the 911 Aircrew Base wouldn''t have known at the first moment that he was hijacked by armed personnel of unknown origin. Made use of by wastes, the repurposed AP end, not a household model, had some special features built in, which were accidentally activated and came into play, an unexpected gain Chen Fei hadn''t foreseen. "So that''s how it was!" Chen Fei suddenly realized. He suddenly noticed some movement at the top of the cavern and looked up. Several black eight-legged mechanical bodies, resembling spiders, were rapidly crawling on the cavern wall surface, following the direction Manager Hanna Gagel left, and soon disappeared from Chen Fei''s sight. It turned out that this female executive manager relied not only on her special abilities but also on some technological equipment. Neither the 911 Aircrew Base nor the Apocalypse Defense Group could be considered an easy target by anyone living in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area; once they took matters seriously, these armed personnel trying to kidnap Chen Fei and Shen Fei would be instantly annihilated. Chen Fei and Shen Fei searched through the cavern, which was over a hundred meters deep, and finally heaved a sigh of relief. The unidentified armed personnel hadn''t kidnapped the primary school students but had brought just the two of them here. Manager Hanna Gagel''s team was collecting evidence at the scene, analyzing the origins and backgrounds of these people. Whether it was the 911 Aircrew Base or the Apocalypse Defense Group, they would not be able to swallow this affront if someone dared target their employees. As Chen Fei had guessed, although these armed personnel superficially seemed no different from the typical bandits roaming the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, with unkempt hair and ragged clothes, their old patched AK rifles appearing weather-beaten, many suspicious details were still found. The AK-47s of the armed personnel were merely aged on the surface; internal parts like firing pins, recoil springs, and rifling were all brand new and showed little wear. Even the ammunition was fresh from the standard assembly line, a luxury setup beyond the reach of real bandits wielding old AKs and hand-loaded ammo. The condition of scattered AK-47s in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was often pathetic, with bullets drifting aimlessly once fired. Many were only capable of firing single shots, with jamming a common issue. Wrapped in a blanket and sitting at the entrance of the cave, Teacher Shen Fei asked in puzzlement, "What do these guys want to do?" She was deeply concerned about her students, unsure if they were injured, if they had made it home, or if they had alerted the nearby Patan Village. However, at this moment, personnel from the Aircrew Base were still thoroughly searching the area around the school for any potential escapees, waiting until it was truly safe before allowing Shen Fei to return to her school. The windows of the school had also been largely shattered by disabling bombs, and the staff from the Aircrew Base was helping with replacements, which required some time. "I don''t know," Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders. He guessed it might be the remains of the Metallic Giant Dragon, or possibly the Aircrew Base, or even secret equipment or confidential intelligence from their higher-ups at the Apocalypse Defense Group. Regardless of which it was, none of this was of concern to someone like him. A gust of wind brought along a scorched odor. Far away, flames soared into the sky, and plumes of black smoke were faintly visible. After collecting fingerprints, iris patterns, facial infrared features, and genetic samples, the executive manager''s team started burning the bodies. Despite being on opposing sides, allowing the bodies to be exposed to the wilderness and left without a burial was hardly proper. It was better, from a humanitarian perspective, to burn them to ashes, literally returning dust to dust, earth to earth. "Ugh! That smells horrible!" Teacher Shen Fei could not help covering her mouth and nose. "I thought it was the smell of barbecued meat, turns out it''s just stench, hahaha, novels are all deceiving," Chen Fei, who had just had a narrow escape from death, still found the mood for cracking a dark joke. Shen Fei said gloomily, "That joke isn''t funny at all." She had none of the fierce decisiveness she showed when kicking the armed men earlier. The executive manager, who had just finished a phone call, approached Chen Fei and Shen Fei and said, "I just got the news, there are no escapees, it''s safe now. Do you two want to go back, or wait until daylight?" The A-39B Big Mouth Monster light turboprop attack aircraft, equipped with a reconnaissance pod, thoroughly searched an area within a 100-kilometer radius surrounding the Aircrew Base and Tampa Primary School. Combat aircraft naturally specialized in ground attack were adept at handling this task. Being the two unlucky kids who were kidnapped, staying here was not helpful at all. - Chapter 57: Section 57 - Difficult to Land "Can I go back now?" As soon as Shen Fei spoke, she hesitated. After all, this wasn''t near the school where locals repeatedly swept, nor was it near the Aircrew Base where even carrying a gun might not guarantee safety. "Teacher Shen, let''s wait until daylight," Chen Fei suggested, considering this as well. Compared to daytime, the mountains and wilderness under the cover of night seemed like two completely different worlds, where most of the roaming carnivores were nocturnal. Walking alone at night was likely to attract these predators. "Don''t worry, a helicopter will take you there, it''s on its way." Hanna Gagar pointed in the direction of the airforce base, where a Z-9 armed helicopter had already taken off and would soon arrive at the cave''s location. Half an hour later, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s "Miso" Yamada Yuhu arrived in a Z-9 armed helicopter, which, guided by flashlight beams on the ground, landed smoothly; two base security personnel came along with him. Not only did Chen Fei and Shen Fei board the helicopter to leave together, but also some organized seized materials and an underling of the executive manager. The nearly full Z-9 armed helicopter first flew to Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School, and nearly jumped when it approached the brightly lit school from above. Dozens of bonfires had lit up the area brightly; people inside and outside the school were numerous, each heavily armed. As the Z-9 helicopter approached, it was instantly "focus fired" by numerous beams of light, frightening Yamada Yuhu and the co-pilot from getting any closer. Shen Fei vaguely recognized some familiar figures and hurriedly shouted, "They are students'' parents and students, not enemies!" The school was suddenly attacked during the day, affecting many students with disabling bombs. Parents and other locals came from all sides, armed, to defend the school and coordinate with the personnel from the airforce base in searching for the remaining armed forces. Even local bandits joined in¡ªno parent didn''t want their child to succeed. The local people were nearly bursting with anger at the kidnapping of the only local schoolteacher, almost as if they had stirred up a hornet''s nest, the crowd furiously indignant. If it weren''t for the airforce base''s immediate reaction, and the newly appointed executive manager Hanna Gagel personally leading the rescue for Chen Fei and Shen Fei, the locals might have already reached the armed group''s hideout in the caves, desperately attempting a rescue, which would have resulted in an uncontrollable chaotic battle. "Unable to land, I can''t see anything!" Yamada Yuhu shouted, forced to increase the helicopter''s altitude. This was a mountainous area, not a flat plain, and a slight mishap could lead to a crash. The flashlights made the helicopter cabin as bright as day, filling his field of vision with blinding white light. Due to the fire, even switching to infrared thermal imaging was ineffective, completely disrupted by the massive heat reaction. This is really... awkward! In places without streetlights, flashlights were essential for night walks, almost a standard household item, sometimes even used to deter wild animals. But now, the number of flashlights on the ground was far too many, more than one per person, some with particularly high light power, creating a qualitative change that focused beams like searchlights locked onto the helicopter, inescapable. Not even executive manager Hanna Gagar likely anticipated that bringing Teacher Shen Fei back to her school would encounter such an ordeal. Finally reaching her destination, Teacher Shen Fei jumped out of the helicopter and was quickly surrounded tightly by the visibly excited Patan people, yet she still did not forget to turn around, facing the wind whipped up by the blades, and vigorously waved goodbye to the helicopter as it took off again. The locals also waved their arms at the helicopter, watching the Z-9 armed helicopter flashing its navigation lights as it turned away and rapidly disappeared. They then shifted their attention back to Teacher Shen Fei. The scene was buzzing with people talking all at once, swarming not only students but also adults, all very concerned about her condition. "Teacher, teacher, are you hurt?" Your journey starts at m_v le mpyr "Those bastards didn''t mess with you, did they?" "The people from 911 fixed the windows, the school is like new again." "The students are unharmed, they''re all fine, don''t worry!" "Make way, don''t crowd Teacher Shen." ... "Quiet! Everyone, please be quiet! Let me say a few words..." Teacher Shen Fei took a deep breath, gestured downwards with her hands, and everyone gradually quieted down. She inevitably had to talk again, finally reassuring the locals from nearby villages, who gradually dispersed. It was foreseeable that for a long time to come, the locals would spontaneously strengthen patrols near the school to prevent such incidents from happening again. The opportunity for the children to learn was truly hard to come by. No one wanted to see anything happen to the only good teacher left, and they would spare no effort, even at the risk of their own lives, to prevent it. - The Z-9 armed helicopter passing over Patan Elementary School returned to the Aircrew Base at three in the morning, and it would be dawn in just a few hours. Disembarking from the helicopter, Chen Fei felt a bit dizzy, too rushed to retrieve his Little Bird from Chef Abel, and decided to head back to his dormitory to catch up on some sleep first. Leaving the tarmac, he had only walked a few steps when someone hurriedly intercepted him. "Chen Fei, wait a moment." "Is there something wrong?" Chen Fei looked at the other person with confusion. Don''t recognize, never seen them before! - Chapter 58: Section 58 - Supernatural Ability Suppressant The man was dressed in a neat black suit and was even wearing a pair of sunglasses, making it a wonder how he could see clearly in the dead of night. He looked at Chen Fei and said, "You need a dose of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, this is an order from Manager Hanna." Chen Fei was startled and asked word by word, confused, "What? A Supernatural Ability Suppressant?" The man''s attire looked familiar¡ªwasn''t it the uniform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group! The man in the black suit and sunglasses explained, "Your special ability has just awakened. To prevent loss of control, it''s best to inject the suppressant, then gradually learn to control it. This way, accidents are less likely to occur. The Supernatural Ability Suppressant has no other side effects; it''s for your own good." Actually, the side effect of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant is the suppression of supernatural abilities; its original use was for treating neurasthenia. It''s another drug that deviated from its intended use but serendipitously hit the mark. Blue Star does not reject magic and Battle Qi from Cangqiong Star and is very receptive to new things like special abilities. The rich rely on technology, the poor on talent; there''s always a way out. Chen Fei cautiously probed, "So, does this cost money?" Considering that injectables for supernatural power users are generally not cheap, and given his current dire financial situation, if it were expensive, he would very regretfully have to give it up. Chen Fei''s question was somewhat unexpected to the man, who shook his head and said, "No, it won''t cost you anything! The company covers it in full." The company''s policy states that formal contract employees who awaken their abilities can get fully company-funded suppressants to stabilize their abilities. Chen Fei, having signed a formal contract, was eligible to enjoy this provision and receive the Supernatural Ability Suppressant for free. The retail price of a dose of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant was about 5000 Star Yuan, which was generally affordable for the ordinary working class. In many countries, the initial dose of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant needed for the first awakening often has a high national subsidization rate, and individuals do not have to pay much. The first dose discount aims to control and reduce the destruction caused by uncontrolled abilities, as well as to stabilize public sentiment and retain talents for the country. Many particular abilities are indeed better suited for governmental functions. "That''s great!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it was free, there was no problem. As he remembered something, he asked, "How many injections of this supernatural ability suppressant are necessary?" "Just one will suffice, the effect can last a month, but it varies from person to person. Some may experience suppression for three months. Are you ready?" The man in the black suit and sunglasses took out a small box, which held a needle-free syringe, the Supernatural Ability Suppressant already prepared. When the Z-9 armed helicopter took off with Chen Fei and others from the cave, One-Eye, the female executive manager Hanna Gagar, used a satellite phone to inform her subordinates at the 911 Aircrew Base to prepare the Supernatural Ability Suppressant for Chen Fei. If only considering the side effects of the drug, being able to last at least a month is quite severe and could even negate the value of the drug''s existence. However, for ordinary people without special abilities, this type of injection only has a therapeutic effect on neurasthenia, and the ability to suppress supernatural powers is completely redundant. The broader use of this type of injection is often to limit the abilities of criminal supernatural power users; one honest injection a month, and with regular intervals of twelve injections, it can deprive them of their abilities for a year. Even the most potent abilities become indistinguishable from those of normal people during the effect of the drug. Research on the Supernatural Ability Suppressant has not stopped; it is even said that a lab has produced a suppressant that works for a year. However, for initial ability awakeners, a suppression period of one to three months is more advantageous for safely learning and mastering newly acquired abilities, without feeling helpless or causing unnecessary harm to themselves and others. "Right here?" Chen Fei looked around and pointed down at his feet. He frowned and said, "Are you still going to work like this? Why not rest for another day?" "Gotta eat, you know! I''ll adjust tonight and will recover, no worries, Mr. Abel!" Chen Fei waved his hand, still young, he recovered quickly, and could bear it by gritting his teeth. If he skipped work without any reason, he could foresee that Big Brother Xiao would be quite unhappy. Even Chekhov, that Big Bear, couldn''t avoid getting hammered and yelping, so it was better not to offend the seemingly cold-but-warm-hearted maintenance chief, if possible. "Here, wait a second!" Chef Abel then filled a large pot with strong black coffee for Chen Fei, adding a good amount of cocoa and honey. The taste...was a bit weird! But the effect was quite invigorating. Chen Fei did not refuse, he truly needed it. After leaving the cafeteria, with Xiao Jiu in tow, he wandered through the labyrinth of standard stacked containers, saw a steel structure shack, and knocked on the door. "Is that Little Chen?" An elderly voice came from inside, belonging to Old Master Barut, the Neanderthal. Then the door opened. No one had come for the shift change last night, and the phone was unreachable; the old man must have stayed up all night. With an apologetic tone, Chen Fei said, "I''m very sorry, Grandpa Barut, there was a bit of an accident yesterday." Had it not been for that group of unidentified armed men, he wouldn''t have missed helping Chef Abel and the overnight shift here at Barut''s. Barut smiled kindly and said, "No worries, it must have been some very troubling accident, right?" The fact that this young man remembered to come and apologize was somewhat unexpected for him, and he certainly wasn''t angry about it. "This...I''m very sorry!" Chen Fei sighed and shook his head. This darned bad luck; it''s a long story and hard to explain in few words. "Work time is almost here, you better go now!" Barut accepted Chen Fei''s apology and sincerity (a generous breakfast and a bottle of dry white wine). The young man is not bad! - Chapter 59: Section 59 - Double Happiness Comes Knocking Leaving Old Master Barut of the Neanderthal tribe, Chen Fei hurriedly scampered to the hangar and arrived at the mechanic crew right on time for work. Mechanic Chief Xiao Ming was holding a cup of steaming hot coffee, and upon seeing Chen Fei rushing into the hangar, panting and gasping for air, then stopping to take a long breath of relief, he spoke unhurriedly, "Little Chen, I was just about to approve a leave for you to rest for two days." Huh?! What''s going on? Chen Fei looked at the mechanic chief, completely baffled. Boss, are you firing me? After glancing at the dumbfounded Chen Fei, Xiao Ming continued to speak leisurely, "I already know about yesterday''s incident." As time passed, the news that Chen Fei and his old neighbor from the Aircrew Base, Patan Elementary School teacher Shen Fei, had been kidnapped by unidentified armed personnel spread gradually within the base. However, the reaction of the Aircrew Base was extremely fast, and they immediately undertook a rescue operation, with the newly appointed Executive Manager Hanna Gagel personally leading the team. Wind-type supernatural power users were simply not something that a group of entirely ordinary armed personnel could withstand; Chen Fei returned to the base safe and sound in less than twelve hours. As Chen Fei''s direct supervisor, mechanic crew leader Xiao Ming getting related information was not surprising at all. Actually, one could guess some clues from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron''s overnight collective sortie. "Truly, truly sorry!" Chen Fei didn''t know what he should say, so he started with an apology. Big Brother Xiao genuinely wanted to help him take a leave; this kind of intention absolutely needed to be appreciated. Holding the coffee cup, Xiao Ming said indifferently, "No need to apologize, it''s not your fault. When you are out and about, you have to learn to protect yourself." "Mechanic chief, I''ll remember that." Chen Fei nodded earnestly. Compared to Big Brother Xiao who could pin down and pummel Chekhov of the Big Bear Squadron to the ground, he indeed had a lot to learn. Especially facing Manager Hanna and Teacher Shen Fei, who would start unclothing at the slightest disagreement, boys had even more of a need to learn to protect themselves. Mechanic Chief Xiao Ming said, "Go back and rest for two days, I''ll approve your leave." Special Abilities could only be awakened by oneself and were impossible for others to learn, regardless of whether a company could utilize them or not. Enjoying a Special Skill subsidy was an industry norm and was defensible. To some extent, it could also help retain talent. The 5,000 Star Yuan subsidy wasn''t the highest but was also far from being the lowest; it was just slightly above average. If Chen Fei''s Special Ability proved to have substantial practical value and generated economic benefits for the company, then the amount of his Ability Allowance would rise accordingly. The double blessing composed of two favorable developments made Chen Fei feel not overly excited but rather relieved. The reason was simple: the massive debt of 8.8 million had finally been slightly alleviated. The 100,000 Star Yuan prize money, containing a bit of the significance of "buying a horse with a golden coin," wouldn''t actually end up in his hands, yet it would automatically reduce his debt to 8.7 million Star Yuan. For Chen Fei, who wouldn''t let even a lifesaving straw slip by, this sum was clearly worth much more than any straw. Now that the salary from the mechanical repair team included the Ability Allowance, plus the flyer''s subsidy after leaving the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, not to mention income from two part-time jobs ¡ª the kitchen work and night shift might not pay much, but every little helps ¡ª the various incomes added up gave Chen Fei hope he might live to see the day his debts were repaid, lest he toil a lifetime in vain, ending up with nothing. Feeling somewhat relieved from the heavy burden on his heart, Chen Fei carried a large basket of drinks and dishes over to the steel-structured shack housing the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower and knocked on the door. "Old Master, open the door!" Although last night''s appointment was missed unintentionally, he didn''t want to break his word again tonight. He decided to come an hour early and brought quite a few items with him. "Ho! You brought so much with you?" The Neanderthal old man, Grandpa Barut, saw Chen Fei''s hands full with a big basket and immediately grinned with delight, his eyes nearly squinting shut as he hurriedly let him in. That morning, Chen Fei had already brought a rich breakfast and a good bottle of alcohol. Now he had arrived with a large basket in the evening, which was very polite of him. "It''s nothing, today''s a happy day, just to have a drink with you, or perhaps for you to have a drink with me, Grandpa Barut." Chen Fei entered the shack and, familiar with the place, found the table and began unloading items from his basket onto it. A bottle of Blue Star Erguotou he had wheedled from Big Bear Squadron Leader Chekhov, along with a large tin of caviar, freshly roasted pork knuckles and turkey from the kitchen, a dish of pagoda-shaped vegetables, and a bowl of fried peanuts, all perfect companions for a drink. "Yes, it''s time to celebrate!" Grandpa Barut nodded. Having survived great peril, fortune indeed followed, deserving celebration; no wonder the young man was so happy. Sharing joy with others only multiplies the happiness, and he felt it was not in vain that he had high hopes for this young companion. Little Bird also joined in on the fun. "Tweet!" - Chapter 60 : Section 60 - Neanderthal Tribes Body Refining Secret Method "Get up!" Out of nowhere, the earth shook violently, and when Chen Fei opened his eyes, he found himself inexplicably standing beside the bed. ... What''s going on here? Wait, let me straighten out the details. Shouldn''t I be lying in bed right now? Yet, Chen Fei saw Old Man Barut''s face, covered with blood-red tattoos, and his shiny bald head. Waking up to see this was seriously freaky. "What, what''s going on?" Rookie was totally panicked. Barut said cheerfully, "Time to exercise the body!" "What?" Chen Fei was utterly confused. Exercise what? Could you please clarify, sir? "Heh, nothing much, just increasing your chances of survival." The Neanderthal elder sized up Chen Fei as if he had found an interesting new toy, stretching a big hand to swipe across him a few times, clucking his tongue as if muttering to himself: "Mediocre physique, barely good enough to train." "I don''t need it, though!" Chen Fei immediately shook his head vehemently. I''m not some combat personnel. I just stay obediently in the base, either learning to repair planes, helping in the kitchen, or just guarding the Energy Tower. I never leave through the big gate, barely step through the second door, and sometimes help deal with various trash and waste from the base. With these duties, where could there possibly be any danger to my life? "Heh, it''s been almost a month, how many times have you died?" The elder from the Neanderthal tribe laughed coldly. ... They say don''t hit a man in the face, but why does this old man specifically aim for a young person''s face? Chen Fei''s expression instantly turned extremely ugly, and he awkwardly said, "Twice!" Not 24 hours into the job and I ran into a Metallic Dragon going berserk¡ªthanks to a Dragon Slayer Missile, it got you, and almost got me too. Connecting to the network for Teacher Shen Fei''s school, I had just logged on when I was hijacked by armed personnel, then there was a standoff, and I got shot who knows how many times. If it weren''t for miraculously awakening a crappy Special Ability that lets me eat bullets, I would''ve been a goner again. Why the "again"... This really sucks! Barut looked at this unlucky kid and was speechless. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Come exercise with me, let me see you do a horse stance." Although he had aged and lost his past vigor, handling a young man with no strength was still easy for him. At this moment, however, Chen Fei felt surprisingly wonderful. His entire body tingled pleasantly, as if he had been soaking in a hot spring. All his muscles relaxed, the previous exhaustion vanished, and instead, he felt great. The slapping had completely invigorated his blood flow, naturally eliminating the muscle soreness and fatigue caused by standing in a horse stance for a long time. "Xiao Ming? Did you think I, this messy old man, was asked by him to train you? Hahahaha..." Barut shook his head, the glory of the Neanderthal tribe from the Third Era Civilization may have faded, but the pride remained, and he ended up pointing at Chen Fei and laughing out loud. "No, not him?" Chen Fei''s mouth dropped open. He had been dragged out early in the morning to exercise, assuming it was because Big Brother Xiao had asked, since there had been a hint of this in Chief Mechanic Xiao''s words yesterday. He thought Chen Fei should learn to protect himself, generally to enhance his combat abilities. If Chekhov Big Bear had encountered those armed men, it probably wouldn''t just involve a Disabling Bomb followed by a simple lash of a belt in a cave. With a proud lift of his chin, Old Man Barut declared, "Unless I willingly do so, no one can obtain the Body Refining Secret Method of the Neanderthal tribe from me!" Chen Fei was speechless and said, "Body Refining Secret Method?" He raised his hand and noticed the bruising that had been slapped onto the back of his hand. He then looked at the blood-colored tattoos on the old man''s body and couldn''t help shivering as he said, "Maybe not?" "Making himself unrecognizable even to his parents would be less appealing than being dragged out for target practice for ten minutes." "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu flapped its wings and landed on Chen Fei''s finger, curiously inspecting the bruise. Suddenly, it issued a series of strange, brief chirps. The small pointed beak opened slightly, a glow emanated as if it were holding a bright Light Pearl, moving toward the bruise on Chen Fei''s hand. A wave of warmth spread, and the bruise, nearly half the size of the back of the hand, visibly and quickly diminished and faded away, the skin returning to its normal color. "This, this, this... Grandpa Barut, did you see that!" Chen Fei''s mouth opened wide enough to swallow an egg. Was this still the little bird he had hatched by hand? It was performing a miracle. "I saw, I saw, it''s a Pure Light Sparrow, it''s a Magical Beast, nothing strange about it," Barut rolled his eyes, very dismissive of Chen Fei''s naive reaction from his lack of worldly experience. Having seen and known more, the old man naturally had much more wisdom than the young. Being dubbed a Magical Beast was precisely because it naturally had a Magical Elemental Affinity, allowing it to unleash magic. Pure Light Sparrow was not a powerful magic, but it was indeed one of the Magical Beasts, capable of using minor magic from the Light Elemental System with no surprise. "Is Pure Light Sparrow that powerful?" As Chen Fei had never really paid attention to Xiao Jiu''s Magical Beast status, he hadn''t specifically looked up information about Pure Light Sparrow. However, after witnessing the disappearance of the bruise on his hand, he felt he shouldn''t continue to ignore it. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu hopped onto Chen Fei''s other hand, continuing to hold the glow close, as another bruise rapidly disappeared. Then it tried to burrow into Chen Fei''s collar, but he quickly caught and stopped it. Chen Fei played with the cheerful and lively little bird, gleefully saying, "With this little guy, I can save quite a lot on Band-Aids." - Chapter 61 : Section 61 - Disassembly Tutorial "If the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu could evolve, it might help you a lot, but you need to take good care of it." The Neanderthal tribe elder, Old Master Barut, pursed his lips at Chen Fei''s playful remark, but unexpectedly nodded in agreement. The statement sounded like a joke, yet the direction of thought was correct. The Body Refining Secret Method of the Neanderthal tribe can inevitably cause some damage to the body, and having a Magical Beast proficient in Light-based Healing Arts nearby could really save on medical bills. As long as the nutrition was sufficient, there was no need to worry about potential hidden issues. For Chen Fei, who was unlucky with the elemental metal, it really seemed like a twist of fate. However, such an obedient and clever Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow was not something just anyone could possess, especially since it had Light-based Healing Arts, even the most rudimentary Light-based Spells could still attract covetous looks. Old Master Barut''s reminder was absolutely prudent¡ªif he couldn''t strengthen himself quickly to protect Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, he was bound to encounter such troubles sooner or later. "Let''s have breakfast first! Come over early tonight!" The Neanderthal tribe elder handed over the breakfast he had prepared for Chen Fei. Devouring his breakfast voraciously and washing up hastily, and with a little bit of time left, Chen Fei spent five-star yuan to get himself an old phone with a cracked screen through connections left by Pu Aihua. He re-registered his personal phone number, then dashed off, barely catching up on time with the start of the mechanics team''s workday. The old phone had been lost at Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School, and he had no idea who might have picked it up. There was definitely no chance of getting it back, and since the Aircrew Base was almost isolated from the outside world, and they had just had a heavy resupply, the transport planes that usually came monthly might now only come once a quarter or even every six months. Finding a second-hand phone for emergencies was a lucky break, so he couldn''t be too choosy. Chen Fei was counting on using it to keep in touch with his family and assure them of his safety. Dying twice in a month was certainly not something he dared mention. If he was dead, at least there would be insurance and compensation to claim, but darn it, being repeatedly rejected by King Yama, was it disdain or what? - Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming led Chen Fei to a light turboprop attack aircraft, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" in the work area and, glancing at the little bird hopping on his shoulder, said, "First thing, keep an eye on your bird!" For any kind of aircraft, the most feared scenario isn''t an engine failure or aerodynamic surface damage, but a bird strike! According to Heinrich''s Law, mechanical malfunctions often have precursors, whereas bird strikes are always sudden and unexpected attacks that catch people off guard. Especially during takeoff and landing, man-made aircraft are most susceptible to collisions with birds. Even the weakest bird could cause the most fatal damage to an aircraft, which is why incidents of bird strikes are not uncommon in aviation safety events. The cost of industrial products is inversely proportional to the output; the greater the demand, the larger the output, and thus, the lower the cost, naturally cheaper. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster," a mass-produced cheap product, was not cheap without a reason; the engine itself was not expensive. Including avionics and the body itself, the overall complexity of the hardware and software system was not much higher than a four-wheeled car. Starting with the turboprop engine, then moving on to disassemble various avionics modules along an orderly, dense circuit, besides the cockpit, the "Big Mouth Monster" used for the disassembly demonstration was practically gutted. By midday, Xiao Jixiu and Chen Fei had successfully reduced the light turboprop attack aircraft to pieces, several workbenches piled high yet orderly, even making a list on the spot, planning to spend the same amount of time reassembling it the next day. This disassembly operation, apart from serving as a demonstration, also conveniently included maintenance and the replacement of consumables, serving multiple purposes at once. In operations like this, the biggest fear was not failing to reassemble, nor was it not finding the parts; the real worry was having one or two extra pieces left over when done, which would be a real trouble. Xiao Ming, wiping his hands stained with multicolored oil on a rag, said, "That''s enough for today. Once you''re proficient in disassembly and assembly, I''ll teach you how to diagnose and repair faulty parts; repair work isn''t always just about swapping for new parts." Such hands-on and verbal field training was quite draining, fortunately, Chen Fei was with the maintenance crew in the morning and belonged to the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron in the afternoon, giving him a break, and they would continue tomorrow. "Chief mechanic, you''ve worked hard." Practical experience runs shallow on paper, this matter must be experienced personally; having disassembled and reassembled it once, then listening to the chief mechanic''s detailed explanation, Chen Fei''s gains were substantial. Many things not covered in the seven technical manuals only became clear once you physically worked on them. "Your Little Bird is quite well-behaved." Seeing Xiao Jiu, who had stayed close to the mobile tool cabinet racks in the work area the whole time, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming finally smiled. He had worried that this little bird''s curiosity might drive it to wriggle into every nook and cranny of the Big Mouth Monster. Aircraft in flight feared birds, and those on the ground were no different. "Xiao Jiu is one of a kind." There might be more than one Pure Light Sparrow in the world, but for Chen Fei personally, Xiao Jiu was unique and irreplaceable. During the lunch break, just as Chen Fei swallowed his last bite of bread, a yellow light silently illuminated atop Hangar One. The pilots on routine standby in a corner of the hangar immediately reacted, and the voice of Chen Fei''s flying instructor, Irinei Rusios, rang out. "''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron, assemble! Rookie, come on over, we''ve got a mission!" - Chapter 62: Section 62 - Retaliation Me? Chen Fei became nervous for no reason and hurriedly jogged over. He had just arrived when he saw that the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had already assembled completely, gathering at more than twice the usual speed. Was this probably in response to a surprise that the new executive manager, Hanna Gagel, deliberately provoked? "''Rookie,'' come here!" "Stand over here!" A few veteran pilots waved at Chen Fei and pulled him into formation, where he stood in two rows with everyone else. "What''s going on?" Chen Fei looked up at the hangar ceiling; the yellow light was still flashing, but he heard no alarm sound. Carlos Silva Lane, also known as "Fragrant Orchid" beside Chen Fei, whispered, "Don''t panic, it''s not like last time, this is a Level Two Combat Readiness." First-Level Combat Readiness requires an emergency takeoff to meet the enemy, Second-Level Combat Readiness involves taking the offensive, and Third-Level Combat Readiness means to stand by for instant takeoff. Not just Aircrew Base 911 but many aircrew bases adopt this standard plan to cope with different situations. Just then, Big Bear, Chekhov, rushed over as well, and the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper," Ilinei Rusios, reported loudly, "Report to Major Chekhov, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Squadron is fully assembled, expected seventeen, present seventeen!" This time, Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov had not got overcharged; he was just disheveled, with his beard scruffy and even sporting a pair of dark circles under his eyes. He cleared his throat and said after standing in front of the two rows of pilots, "Mission target: Aircrew Base 897; Combat plan: complete low-altitude surprise attack, retreat from combat within two minutes, do not engage with the enemy, refuel at Aircrew Base 909 on the return trip; Tactical objective: limited to the complete destruction of all ground targets; Weapon configuration: 500-kg cluster incendiary bombs, anti-radiation missiles, optional 250-kg high-explosive bombs, 250-kg cloud bombs, and 100-kg stink bombs, also fit auxiliary fuel tanks, anyone needing the restroom should hurry up, wear your diapers, we''re departing in ten minutes, everyone clear?" "Understood!" ¡Á16 Chen Fei: "..." We agreed we were hunting monsters, yet suddenly we''re kicking in others'' turf, is this really okay? And we have to wear diapers??? Deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper," Ilinei Rusios, asked bluntly, "Chekhov, are we preparing for a corporate war?" One aircrew base treating another as a target for attack, colleague against colleague, such things are truly unusual. The purpose of an aircrew base is to monitor and control the sparse populated areas for lurking mutants and out-of-control otherworldly creatures, but attacking each other is extremely rare, how deep must the grudge be to escalate to a do-or-die situation. "No, it''s just a warning!" As the person directly responsible for the combat force of Aircrew Base 911, Chekhov was not only the first to know of the combat plans but also discovered their tactical objective. However, today''s combat order came from the headquarters of the Apocalypse Defense Group. "A warning? Did Base 897 provoke us?" Ilinei Rusios found it somewhat hard to understand. The little rookie in the back seat immediately shivered. "Okay, ''Peanut Butter''!" "Rookie, you guessed right¡ªOne-Eye caught a live one. Those fools even brought a suggestive agent. They administered a shot, and he spilled everything, hahaha. Can these guys be any more professional? Are they serious?" The Big Bear laughed so hard he swayed from side to side, the turboprop aircraft subtly shaking with him. Having someone sneak near the base to gather intelligence and then catching an employee, though destroy them all without getting anything substantial¡ªjust a waste of an armed group. But that doesn''t mean the Apocalypse Defense Group overseeing Aircrew Base 911 would just swallow this affront without a reaction. With weapons at hand, the intent to kill naturally arises. If they didn''t teach the other side a lesson, what, is Apocalypse Defense running a charity? Combat orders were sent directly to Aircrew Base 911, indifferent to life or death, ready to fight at any disagreement¡ªattack! Chen Fei timidly reminded, "''Peanut Butter,'' the communications channel is still open!" "Uh..." The overjoyed Chekhov suddenly felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly, and irritably said, "Why didn''t you remind me earlier?" If it wasn''t to his liking, even beauty was a mere skull¡ªno concerns whatsoever. Chen Fei rolled his eyes. How to remind him? As soon as the aircraft took off, the communication channel was open. It wasn''t something you could just turn off¡ªhigh-level permissions are all on the ground control tower! "One-Eye is listening..." The icy voice of Executive Manager Hanna Gagar, devoid of any emotional fluctuations, resonated in everyone''s ears. You, the Big Bear, continue if you dare. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron fell completely silent. The squadron leader''s unabashed blather was heard by more than one person. Chekhov, the little puppy: ... He didn''t even realize that this woman was a Wind-type Ability User¡ªgetting smashed on the ground was the lightest punishment possible. While the previous executive manager Morris Morgan couldn''t do much about the Big Bear, this inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters wasn''t the kind to show mercy; she was a tough one who had stormed a cave alone to rescue people. "Manager Hanna, ''Peanut Butter'' didn''t mean it. He''s just loose-lipped," the pilot of the wing aircraft, "Devil Pepper" Iline Rusios, hastily spoke up for the Big Bear. Chen Fei, behind the Big Bear, gleefully gestured a 666. You the boss, go ahead with your performance, don''t bow to evil powers. Though millions may stand against you, you proceed alone. Chen Fei never tired of seeing the Big Bear, Chekhov, getting a dressing down. - Chapter 63: Section 63 - Ultra-Low Altitude Breakthrough "Squadron Leader Chekhov, I expect an explanation when you return!" Manager Hanna''s tone was still as icy as ever, like a sharp blade pressed against one''s throat, raising hairs in fright. Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s words had no effect whatsoever. Hanna Gagel was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and when they take someone, it''s usually conclusive; to not provoke others is already a blessing. Now, someone had bumped right into the muzzle of the gun. If she didn''t react, who would? All the efforts of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s pilots to brainstorm meticulously tailored responses from A to Z had been in vain, not giving the new executive manager any chance to find fault. But despite all precautions, they hadn''t anticipated their own squadron leader stepping forward to be a sacrificial lamb. Now that was it, blabbering nonsense. The carefully constructed defense lines were instantly breached, gravely offending the new manager. The combat communication channel came with a recording backup; there was no denying what was said. "''Peanut Butter,'' handle it yourself!" Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios expressed that she had done her utmost, to no avail. Caught red-handed, what else could she do? The Big Bear was completely at a loss; should it really emulate drawing a knife in despair, not betraying the Bear''s head? Woof... The communication channel fell into a dead silence as if entering a state of radio silence, full of resounding silence; one could clearly sense the deep resentment of all the pilots. They really wished for an extra serving of bear meat, braised! Until the "Big Mouth Monster" squadron, maintaining ultra-low altitude flight, was 100 kilometers away from the Aircrew Base 897. Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Chekhov was still socially dead, unable to revive for a while; Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" picked up the slack. "This is ''Devil Pepper,'' number 212; all units pay attention, from now on lower altitude to 50 meters, maintain a speed of 160 kilometers, and check your ammunition again." Jet aircraft have the advantages of jet propulsion, and turboprop aircraft have the benefits of turboprop performance. The experienced drivers of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were adept at ultra-low altitude flying over the Xindu Kodai mountain area, as easy as eating and drinking. The stalling point of the "Big Mouth Monster" was very low, so there was no worry of flying too fast, failing to react in time, and accidentally colliding with a mountain. "Received, number 213!" "Received, number 214!" "Received, number 215!" "Received, number 211!" Chen Fei responded in place of the Big Bear Chekhov. The 897 Aircrew Base was engulfed in flames in several locations. "Target''s anti-aircraft firepower has been eliminated!" Numbers 214 and 215 formed a two-aircraft formation, sweeping low and fast over the Aircrew Base, meeting no threatening resistance. As for the few anti-aircraft rifles firing, their small-caliber kinetic bullets didn''t even qualify to threaten the turboprop engines. Scattered on the ground, people ran in disarray, the anti-aircraft alarms growing increasingly shrill. "Stick to the original plan. First round of rocket fire to cover the main runway, don''t let them take off." With numbers 212 and 213 ascending, Chekhov pushed the throttle forward, 211 began its dive. The three-aircraft formation released dozens of Fire Serpents, engulfing the ground-runway in a torrential downpour, combat explosives with a 1.5 kg equivalent of the 57 mm caliber air-to-ground rockets created a carpet bombing effect, impacting even nearby combat aircraft into a series of bright, noticeable sparks. "The Big Mouth Monster''s" payload capacity was quite substantial, supporting several rounds of ground attacks. The main combat forces and equipment at both 897 Aircrew Base and 911 Aircrew Base were identically outfitted with cheap mass-produced "Big Mouth Monsters," which disintegrated like paper mache in the explosions. Born from the same root, why the rush to kill? Some people at the 897 Aircrew Base ran around like headless flies, others cursed furiously at the sky in impotent rage. The runway destroyed, the fighter jets bombed, even the anti-aircraft forces were "violently cleared" in an instance, leaving the entire base vulnerable like a defenseless young girl, at the mercy of the five "Big Mouth Monsters" from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron. "Now begin clearing the ground buildings, glory to ''Genuine Fragrance''!" After emptying the Rocket Nest, Chekhov pulled on the control stick, and the turboprop aircraft climbed once again. For combat aircraft, altitude is everything¡ªa fighting force, the chance of survival, a tactical attack. As long as there is altitude, there is still an opportunity. The purpose of the combat mission was not to kill personnel, but to demolish the adversary''s home base. "No need for the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''?" Chen Fei turned to look at the 897 Aircrew Base engulfed in flames below, with five "Big Mouth Monsters" split into two attack groups methodically demolishing it. If only a single KDK-1 hypersonic suction type smart missile could lock on from a distance, one hit would have been enough to flatten the entire base, neat and tidy saving trouble, ensuring no chicken or dog was spared, rather than this laborious succession of bombing. Chekhov grumbled irritably, "''Dragon Slayer Missile'' doesn''t cost money? It''s even more expensive than the fighter jet you''re flying right now." The KDK-1 hypersonic suction type smart missile was a precious asset at the 911 Aircrew Base, and just a few were priceless, no Aircrew Base could withstand such a wasteful disaster. The 911 Aircrew Base, in order to confront the frenzied Metallic Dragons, had depleted its entire reserve of "Dragon Slayer Missiles" and had yet to replenish its stock. This was partly because of its high cost and partly due to limited production capacity, they couldn''t get hold of them on short notice. - Chapter 64: Section 64 - Leveling ``` w(?§¥?)w! Ouch! "Dragon Slayer Missiles" are even more expensive than "Big Mouth Monsters"? Chen Fei was immediately relieved, thankful that Apocalypse Defense Group didn''t bill him for the "Dragon Slayer Missile" he had accidentally launched, otherwise it would have scared him to death. Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e-NovelFire The purchase cost of a single KDK-1 intake hypersonic smart missile was far more than the entire combat cost of the assault on Aircrew Base 897. If Aircrew Base 911 hadn''t successfully killed the Metallic Dragons and harvested the wreckage, it would have definitely been a bloodbath loss. Using "Dragon Slayer Missiles" to bomb an aircrew base, wiping them out completely, how deep must the hatred be? Apocalypse Defense Group''s combat mission for subsidiary Aircrew Base 911 was not meant to wipe them out completely; it focused primarily on destroying equipment and buildings, and the slaughter of the base''s living forces was not part of the plan. "Last wave, throw everything down, and then say goodbye to them!" Without any air defenses left, Chekhov was unusually unrestrained flying the 211, leading another four "Big Mouth Monsters" in a line, dumping ammunition into the base. The tall control tower turned into ruins, the hangar roof was split in four or five places, and cluster incendiary bombs were dropped in, igniting everything flammable. Black smoke billowed, fighter jets and various types of equipment were all consumed in flames. A 500-kilogram cluster incendiary bomb burned a large area, achieving complete coverage, followed by cloud bombs, creating blast waves that swept everything away, a surefire method for dismantling everything. Programming a fighter jet''s weapons is, putting it simply, like setting up custom shortcuts, somewhat like a real-time strategy game, where you can quickly command a part of your combat units with shortcut keys. Whenever needed, just pressing F1, F2, F3... is enough to launch a pre-set "combo attack" at first opportunity, beating the opponent until they''re down on the ground looking for their teeth. On the ground, the oil depot, blazing up into the sky, finally reached a critical point and erupted like a volcano, rising steadily into a spectacular mushroom cloud comparable in power to a 500-kilogram high-explosive aerial bomb. Sitting inside the "Big Mouth Monster" cockpit, even though they were four or five hundred meters away, they could still feel the aftermath of the blast wave and scorching heat radiation. The scene was practically like hell, even cement began showing signs of melting. If it weren''t for the fast reaction of the people from Aircrew Base 897, who ran to underground air defense facilities immediately, the casualties would have been severe by now. From his aerial view, Chen Fei could imagine the devastating loss would make the opposing side bleed so much that it would be like vomiting three liters of blood. However, these weren''t the worst of it. The "Big Mouth Monsters" from Aircrew Base 911 brought carefully prepared gifts for their colleagues¡ªa hundred-kilogram class of special stink bombs rained down like droplets and burst open inside Aircrew Base 897. There was no fire, no blast wave, no need to care about the hit rate; just drop and it was done. The yellow-green smoke that exploded with muffled sounds quickly spread, bringing with it an overwhelming stench, suffocating enough to make the whole base smell worse than a cesspit. "Pfft, what a load of nonsense. With that attitude of yours, come at me, bro. You think you''ve got what it takes? Kiddo, I could crush your entire family with one finger..." All sorts of obnoxious words surged like the August tides in the Amazon basin, wave after wave of sheer negative energy. Emmm... something''s off with that accent, boss! Chen Fei, the kiddo, looked towards the cockpit''s front seat in shock. Where''s Big Bear? The plane was clearly in the sky, how could they have switched people? It wasn''t just him; in the cockpits of the "Big Mouth Monsters" to the left and right, all the pilots couldn''t help but sneak glances. (¡¸¡¸)(¡¸¡¸)(*=(¥¨)=)(¡û.¡û)(¡û.¡û) Before three minutes were up, the clear-text conversation from 897 Aircrew Base on the public communication channel was brutally dismissed. They couldn''t withstand the barrage of verbal abuse coming at them, which was so intense that even through the radio signals, they could feel like they had been spat in the face. Believe it or not, Big Bear could spray a massive QR code right at you. Damn genius! It took quite some time for the folks at 911 Aircrew Base to come to their senses. "Oh my goodness, that was awesome, so freaking awesome!" Chekhov Big Bear wiggled his butt, as if feeling hot, opened up his Anti-G suit, reached into his crotch, and fished out a bottle of liquor. Without a care, he bit off the bottle cap, spat it out to one side, one hand on the control stick, the other with Blue Star Erguotou, tilting his head back and guzzling repeatedly. To drink in celebration today, my ambitions unfulfilled, I vow not to rest. There''s time in the days ahead to show my skills, willingly spill hot blood to write history. Just as wine heats up a warrior before battle, that''s as it goes. In the backseat, the Rookie was scared out of his wits. Some things never change. That guy up front had been waiting right here! A heavy smell of alcohol started to permeate the cockpit. The bottle of Erguotou, still half full, was propped toward the back seat, accompanied by Chekhov''s slurred and crooked voice. "Rookie, have a drink!" - Chapter 65: Section 65 - Airborne Classroom Want a sip? What of? Chen Fei wished he could knock out this Big Bear with a bottle until he was half-paralyzed. Driving a car drunk gets your license suspended and a fine, and lands you in jail for half a year, but flying a plane drunk should get you dragged out and shot for half an hour. From a distance, as Squadron Leader Chekhov in cockpit 211 tilted his head back in a deep swig, his wingman, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, silently rubbed her forehead in disbelief. "This guy, at it again!" They say men never grow up; when will this bear grow up? Drinking heavily, boasting loudly, playing Big Daizi, can''t he find some more respectable hobbies? Like singing Peking opera or Kunqu opera, playing cricket or golf, writing novels, reciting poetry, playing basketball, or maybe soccer, shedding some excess hormones on the green field would do as well! Chekhov Big Bear: Iline dear! Are you trying to kill me?! The bottle didn''t make it across, but Chekhov didn''t care, grabbing it back and downing it continuously until not a drop was left. After a long belch, savoring the taste with a few smacks of his lips, he felt utterly delighted! If only there were some snacks to accompany the drink, a couple of large slices of salted fatback would have been perfect. Chen Fei had to switch to using an oxygen mask, glancing around the cockpit canopy to see if there was a way to crack it open and refresh the cabin air. He had no doubt that if he struck a match, the air, thick with the smell of alcohol, would ignite immediately. "Rookie, let me teach you a thing or two!" The drunken Big Bear started his bragging mode, yet the plane remained stable. Emmm... Perhaps it was a natural response, purely muscle memory; his brain, well, he might as well not have one. "''Devil Pepper,'' that little lady, is probably still teaching you how to play video games; with her terrible skills, huh!~ At best, she could teach you to drive a tractor. Wanting to soar into the sky and dogfight, no, huh!!~ Dog fight, huh!!!~ That''s far off." The entire squadron''s communication channel echoed with the Big Bear''s drunken blathering. "..." In the cockpit of the wingman''s plane, the "little lady" Miss "Devil Pepper" clenched her teeth, her face as pale as iron. Calling her this lady, that lady, such blatant male chauvinism, she was gearing up to throw a punch. Chen Fei: "..." He still wanted to return to the base alive, with his salary about to be issued this month; he did not want it to turn into condolence money. All these were important points. Even though he might not confront an Early Warning Aircraft in the future, these issues touched upon his own life and safety. It was better to take notes first as a precaution. Chen Fei earnestly asked, "So, apart from running away, is there any way to counter an Early Warning Aircraft?" A tipsy Chekhov answered first, "Only with an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse weapon) and an Early Warning Aircraft. Fight fire with fire, in electronic warfare. Otherwise, you''d just pray for their electronic systems to malfunction, hahahaha!" Being drunk didn''t matter; he was still professional. Woohoo!~~~ "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios added, "Though that''s the theory, in practice, an Early Warning Aircraft never flies alone. It''s not fighting solo; it can mobilize not only nearby air forces but even ground tactical units through sheer numbers." "What about anti-radiation missiles then?" Chen Fei recalled that not long ago, aircraft numbers 214 and 215 from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had first swept the Ground-based Radar and dense anti-aircraft artillery at Aircrew Base 897 with anti-radiation missiles¡ªa clean and straight knockout, stunning the enemy completely unprotected. The prized possession of an Early Warning Aircraft is its radar; knocking out its antenna would practically cripple it! Chekhov pursed his lips and muttered, "Anti-radiation missiles are air-to-ground missiles, how could that even work?" Such an unconventional tactic. "It''s untested, but with certain modifications, anti-radiation missiles might be feasible." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios pondered for a moment and admitted the possibility. However, the use of anti-radiation missiles comes with significant limitations and they''re not as convenient as air-to-air missiles in many situations. It would be better to just fire an EMP, leading to mutual annihilation of electronic systems, or have both sides'' Early Warning Aircraft pressing each other, vying in terms of sheer power." As of now, the number of downed Early Warning Aircraft stands at zero, whereas they have managed to shoot down quite a few superior fighter jets. Even in one-on-one or one-versus-many scenarios, this toothless tiger shouldn''t be underestimated. "''Devil Pepper'', if..." Chen Fei, holding his notebook, continued to ask questions. ... The communication channel of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron turned into a classroom for Chen Fei and Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, a lively question and answer session that used the time effectively and without delay. Squadron Leader Chekhov would also occasionally chime in, especially on technical aspects, making fewer nonsensical comments despite his intoxication. The others listened throughout the journey, finding it interesting and far from boring. Three and a half hours later, the auxiliary fuel tanks of the five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft were already empty, with just a small fraction of fuel left in the onboard tanks. They lowered their landing gears and landed one after another. Before they had even stabilized, the pilots jumped out of the cockpits, ran to the grass beside the runway, loosening their clothes, and a series of muddy or clear streams of urine shot far into the distance. - Chapter 66: Section 66 - Chekhovs Young Women "My God, I was almost suffocated to death." With a bladder full of urine, Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Major Chekhov wore a look of relief. By this time, the wine had worn off, and the landing of "Big Mouth Monster" No.211 was smooth and flawless. The grass became increasingly lush. Look at all the runways at the airports, most are surrounded with lush green grass, all watered day after day. The ground crew at Aircrew Base 909 were not surprised by this, considering the distance from the runway to the restrooms, where one has to run a good two kilometers, otherwise one would end up wetting their pants halfway. As one of the two female pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, Vice Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios looked disdainfully over her shoulder at a group of older men and turned away. She didn''t need to engage in such indecent acts, as adult diapers had already been prepared. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light propeller-driven attack aircraft has a maximum endurance time of 15 hours, and adult diapers are essential, just in case one needs to go on a long sortie like today, with no toilets available midway. Children need diapers due to physiological needs, adults need diapers due to survival needs. As the sun set, the five "Big Mouth Monster" aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron finally returned to Aircrew Base 911, having successfully completed their combat mission. Be it fighting monsters or people, essentially, there is not much difference. However, a retaliatory strike on a fellow Aircrew Base 897 wouldn''t earn a bonus from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and the overhead expenditures at Aircrew Base 911 were borne by its parent organization, Apocalypse Defense Group, resolving contractual disputes between the two military contractors on their own as well. In the event of failed negotiations, they might just break off relations completely, going soldier to soldier, general to general, declaring a state of "enterprise warfare" and just starting an outright battle, with everyone resorting to force, the bigger and harder-fisted being the winner, who invites others to join alliances for more bouts, until one side admits defeat. The expenses of "enterprise warfare" are enormous, and military contractors either weaker in strength or lacking in funds simply can''t afford to engage, as defeat could result in bankruptcy. Sovereign Level major players don''t worry about these minor skirmishes among private companies escalating or expanding disputes because, after all, it''s just business. Making money, not bickering, maxes out at a fight or two in uninhabited areas. Once they see there isn''t much to gain, they naturally cease fighting and make peace. "Finally back, let''s drink, let us all drink! Ooh, ooh, hoorah!" Chekhov jumped out of the cockpit, waving his arms, engaged in a bear dance. Bang!~ The world suddenly spun around him without warning. Rushing over with a big slam, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sneered, "What''s the matter with you, Chekhov little lady?" Retribution isn''t sought at the moment, but once the time comes, it''s immediate. "Dear, what''s the matter with you?" Stay tuned with m-v l|-NovelFire "It wasn''t me, I didn''t do it, don''t talk nonsense!" Chekhov rolled his eyes, immediately firing back a triple denial. Believe it or not, if he dares to blather on again, Manager Hanna could indeed make this Big Bear disappear for good! "Understood, understood, ''Peanut Butter,'' you''re really something!" "Following the squadron leader brings rewards!" "Thank the squadron leader for the bounty!" The pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron all gave a thumbs up to the clumsily rising Big Bear from the ground. What a man! The additional bonus for the month indeed owed something to Major Chekhov''s contributions. Hooraahh!~ The heavily losing 897 Aircrew Base was complaining to their influential backer, another military contractor, which immediately negotiated with the Apocalypse Defense Group backing the 911 Aircrew Base. The Aircrew Base was bombed, stunk up, lost over a dozen personnel, and considering the losses in equipment and supplies, whether the base could be rebuilt was still debatable. However, the crass provocations over the communication channels were intolerable. That military contractor, which suffered heavy losses and was destined to swallow its own broken teeth and blood, could not seek justice for the retaliatory attack it endured at 897 Aircrew Base and could only make trouble for 911 Aircrew Base to regain some face. The new female executive manager, Hanna Gagar, was no easy target. She flatly denied any responsibility, disclaiming knowledge of the person, shifting the blame to a passing "Tricycle." Indeed, anyone could interfere over the public communication channels. Even if the other side contested this harshly, even after questioning everyone, this accent would likely never be found. Dingdong! Ding! You have a new message. Please check! ... The text message alert on the phone kept sounding. Chen Fei pulled out his phone and saw that the long-awaited salary had been credited, the details of which made him grin from ear to ear. The bonus promised by Manager Hanna was credited on the spot, truly genuine! - Chapter 67: Section 67 - You can call me Little Li, Little Bai "The bonus has arrived!" "I made a killing this month!" "Squadron Leader, let''s drink, come and have a drink with us!" More than one flyer gleefully broke into the Bear Dance on the tarmac; it was a chaotic dance party. Ding-dong! "[Apocalypse Defense] Pay slip for December for employee (Chen Fei) of Aircrew Base 911: Base Salary +45,000 Star Yuan, Position Bonus +5,000 Star Yuan, Special Skill Allowance +5,000 Star Yuan, Part-time Job 1 Subsidy +3,000 Star Yuan, Part-time Job 2 Subsidy +2,800 Star Yuan, Attendance +1,000 Star Yuan, Food Allowance +600 Star Yuan, Other Bonuses +75,000 Star Yuan, Personal Contribution to Pension Insurance -1,500 Star Yuan, Personal Contribution to Medical Insurance -500 Star Yuan, Reproduction Insurance -200 Star Yuan, Disability Insurance -400 Star Yuan, Accident Insurance -100 Star Yuan, Actual Earnings +134,700 Star Yuan, Deductions -127,965 Star Yuan, Final Income +6,735 Star Yuan, Current Account Balance 7,611 Star Yuan." Chen Fei''s emotions went on a rollercoaster ride as he looked over the salary details in the text message, from surprise to excitement to pride to confusion to bewilderment to dejection to thinking life isn''t worth it. In his first month on the job, he couldn''t believe he had earned a salary of over 130,000 Star Yuan. With such an income level, clearing the debt with the credit company seemed right around the corner; it wouldn''t take six or seven years to pay it off in full, with interest. But Chen Fei knew better than to get his hopes up. Let''s not mention that a large portion of this 130,000+ income of the month came from Chekhov Big Bear''s self-destruction. Such windfalls are rare and accidental. One couldn''t expect the Big Bear Squadron Leader to self-destruct again next month to contribute to the whole squadron and benefit all the members; that would be a dream! Life being so tough, Chen Fei eventually sighed and manually made another payment. The balance left in his work card account was a neat 611 Star Yuan, relying on this mere change for meals, internet charges, and personal living supplies, and he still needed to save up to replace his old phone¡ª who knows how much longer it would last. The current total personal debt was 8,565,035 Star Yuan, which had already offset the after-tax bonus of 100,000 Star Yuan. Among them, 6,765,035 Star Yuan were accredited, 4,765,035 Star Yuan to the credit company, and 2,000,000 Star Yuan to the Apocalypse Defense Group, plus the 1,800,000 Star Yuan verbal account owed to Big Bear Squadron Leader Chekhov, which had ample flexibility. He could pay back with cash or with guns; if he were lucky enough to find a brand-new factory AK-47 one day, the debt would naturally cancel itself out. The debt owed to the credit company was subject to interest; although the annual interest was substantial, it wasn''t a frighteningly high usury. Otherwise, no matter how high Chen Fei''s salary, he would inevitably be trapped to death. The debts to Apocalypse Defense Group and Chekhov Big Bear had no interest, and he could delay repaying those, focusing on paying off the credit company first, which gave him some breathing room. Otherwise, these huge debts could have suffocated him. - Early in the morning, a small business jet landed on the main runway of Aircrew Base 911. The psychological counselor, verbally notified by executive manager Hanna Gagel, arrived as promised. The medical team''s large consultation room was occupied by one male and two females who arrived in the business jet. They set up a couch, drew the curtains, and then distributed number cards to all employees of the base, beginning their checks in order. The pilots from the Combat Flight Squadron Genuine Fragrance, who originally thought the psychological survey was only meant for them, were surprised to find that it involved everyone on the base, including janitorial staff. Everyone who received a number card was baffled; what exactly was Manager Hanna cooking up in her gourd? A total of 247 number cards were issued, and Chen Fei received number 74. Benefiting from the Glow of the Combat Flight Squadron Genuine Fragrance, his was relatively upfront. A full psychological survey of all staff could only cover 40 people a day. To finish everyone, it would take at least a week. It was finally his turn at three o''clock in the afternoon the next day. This self-proclaimed Doctor Li was so odd, talking to himself, unsure what he was up to. Psychological Counselor Li Bai: "..." Shouldn''t the other party be hypnotized by now? But this reaction was really off! "Uh! Could you please take a deep breath for a minute and then concentrate, looking carefully..." But Li Bai actually used "you" to address Chen Fei, thought for a moment, then pulled out a Green Jade Gourd strung on a thin red cord and began to gently sway it back and forth in front of him, like a pendulum, left and right, left and right, left and right... "You''ve worked hard all day, tired and sleepy, wanting to sleep well. This place is comfortable, warm, a good place to sleep, please slowly close your eyes..." His voice became softer and softer. A minute later, the swaying Green Jade Gourd finally stopped. "Finally done!" The young psychological counselor Li Bai stroked his forehead, pretending to flick away the nonexistent sweat. "Done what?" Chen Fei opened his eyes, bewildered. "Oh my!~" Psychological Counselor Li Bai staggered back several steps and sat down on a stool, then looked Chen Fei up and down with eyes as if he were seeing a monster. "What''s wrong?" Chen Fei looked at himself, not seeing anything unusual. But the other''s expression was very strange indeed. Li Bai probed, asking, "May I ask... are you human?" A regular person would have succumbed to the sound of his snap, right on the spot. Even those with strong willpower could not resist the swinging Green Jade Gourd. "Of course... do you want to see my ID?" Whether one is human should be clear from an ID, Chen Fei pretended to reach for his ID to prove himself, but the young psychological counselor Li Bai quickly waved his hand and said, "No need! I believe you!" "That, Doctor Li Bai, you mean to say...?" Chen Fei still couldn''t figure out what the other was getting at. "What I mean is, hypnotism seems to have no effect on you." Upon saying this, the young psychological counselor seemed relieved. At this juncture, there was no need for obscurity and pretense; life''s not worth the charade. - Chapter 68: Section 68 - Excellent Hypnotism Technique Chen Fei finally figured out what the other party was really up to, he pointed at himself and ventured, "You want to hypnotize me?" The young psychological counselor said somewhat dejectedly, "That''s right! Only when you''re in a hypnotic state can we get the most truthful answers." Adults have profound thoughts and cluttered minds, inevitably guarded and cautious. Only through hypnotism can one strip away various distractions and falsehoods to ultimately reach the core of the heart. In the Blue Star industry, a top-notch master of hypnotism known as "Big Devil," Li Bai was quite confident in his techniques. If one snap of the fingers couldn''t hypnotize someone, then he''d use two snaps. But the normally infallible hypnotism unexpectedly failed on this person, causing Li Bai astonishment and a bit of a hit to his confidence. Unless the other person was a rock, a piece of wood, or steel, there should be some effect. And yet, even when he resorted to the trump card of using a hypnotic medium, there was still no reaction, not even a tiny bit. This was utterly unscientific! Don''t ask if the hypnotism that was akin to sorcery was scientific, if you ask, it''s science! "Shall we try again?" Chen Fei didn''t mind. He had never been hypnotized before and was somewhat curious about the experience. "Then let''s try it again!" .net The psychological counselor Li Bai became serious with a stern expression. He gestured to the lady in green behind him. "You, come!" His hypnotism was practiced and honed over time, primarily based on inducement. The lady in green had an innate talent, needed no suggestions or hints, and took a more direct and brutal approach to breaking through defenses. "Look into my eyes!" The lady in green came before Chen Fei, leaning in to exhale a fragrance as sweet as orchids, her voice enchanting. "..." Chen Fei felt as if her pupils changed from black to gold, then became filled with cracks, each flickering with golden light. The lady in green spoke softly, "What do you see?" Her unusual eye color could pull one''s mind into an endless illusion, sinking into a world of strange and unpredictable phenomena. "Big... Na Zi!" Chen Fei really didn''t want to lie, because those two patches of white were nearly bumping against his face, definitely the type that Big Bear Chekhov would like. No sooner had he spoken than an inexplicable chill ran through him, his body hair stood on end, and his muscles involuntarily tensed up. He didn''t know what had happened, but something felt off. He seemed to need to leave immediately or prepare for the worst, preferably with a gun in hand. With the compensation amount of 50 million Star Yuan, no worries! "???" Chekhov Big Bear was even more puzzled. He scratched the back of his head, watching the retreating figure of Chen Fei, what did that mean? ... Five minutes later, the squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron at Aircrew Base 911, Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, stripped while sprinting, and in the end, wearing only his tiny briefs, ran onto the main runway, wiggling his waist and shaking his butt, performing his signature Bear Dance, all while loudly chanting to the rhythm. "Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum! Dum Dum..." It had to be "Swan Lake", no, rather, it should be "Bear Lake"! Everyone at the Aircrew Base was stunned. "As expected!" Chen Fei, who was also surprised by the commotion, could hardly bear to watch that agile figure with a tiger''s back and bear''s waist on the main runway. A proper public display of social death! And the situation was quickly becoming uncontrollable. As a member of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, what else could he do but silently pull out his second-hand old phone, switch to video recording mode... "Flowers worthy to be picked should be picked, don''t wait until they''re gone only to pick empty branches." "Advise you not to cherish your golden-threaded robe, advise you to cherish your youth instead." "Has he gone mad?" Even the always expressionless mechanic chief, Xiao Ming, couldn''t help but gape in astonishment. "Pretty much, and about to go over the edge!" Chen Fei muttered to himself after recording for a good while. He was beginning to understand why the two female pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron were both Type A¡ªit spelled trouble otherwise. In the following three days, nobody saw sight of Chekhov Big Bear. Manager Hanna deducted this squadron leader''s basic bonus for the month on the grounds of "public indecency". The LSP Big Bear, reflecting in Solitary Confinement, smacked his lips and muttered to himself, occasionally letting out a silly chuckle. "Nice!" This wave wasn''t a loss! - Chapter 69: Section 69 - The Delegation of Sky Dragon City A week later. A small business jet carrying psychological counselor Li Bai and his two female assistants glided onto the runway, moments later, the nose of the plane lifted gracefully, soaring into the sky, and quickly disappeared into the horizon. No sooner had the three left when the half-mad, half-crazed Chekhov Big Bear was finally released. Looking up at the sunny sky, he shouted with anticipation, "Goddess, here I come!" The picker-upper, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, said irritably, "Your goddess has already left!" "You''re lying! You''re lying to me, aren''t you?" Chekhov mechanically turned his head to look at her. Holding her arms, Irinei Rusios jerked her chin toward the direction of the main runway and indicated, "See for yourself!" The runway was empty. Unwilling to accept this answer, Chekhov shuffled and broke into a jog for a distance, only to find the small business jet was nowhere to be seen. "Nuts... it''s gone!~" The frustrated tease stared desperately at the empty tarmac, finally recalling the recent roar of jet engines, unmistakably those of jet engines. The only jet planes at the Aircrew Base were those two MiG-28s. He was in solitary confinement, and the rookie was far from being ready to fly solo; if he could hear the sound of jet engines, then it had to be the visiting business jet at Aircrew Base. "Look at your pathetic self!" Chekhov''s cowardly demeanor infuriated "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios on the spot, prompting her to chase after him and kick him flying. Caught off guard, the Big Bear flopped to the ground, lamenting to the sky. The short-haired girl smirked relentlessly! - A twelve-seater electric vehicle sped toward them, driven by "Genuine Fragrance" squadron fire control operator "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown, who yelled all the way, "Squadron leader, squadron leader, Third-Level Combat Readiness, Third-Level Combat Readiness!" The guy''s thigh had been pierced by a Dragon Spike from a battle with the Metallic Dragons, Bit, nearly costing him his life. Now, he had recovered nicely, and aside from using a wheelchair, he could take a few steps with a cane and driving an electric vehicle posed no difficulty at all. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios exclaimed in shock. With the combat strength of the dragons, obliterating an aircrew base would be a piece of cake. Had it not been for the depletion of some of the Metallic Dragon''s strength by several other aircrew bases'' combat aircraft, coupled with rookie Chen Fei''s incredibly lucky shot firing the decisive "Dragon Slayer Missile" at the last moment, Apocalypse Defense Group would never have had the chance to profit so greatly. If the 911 Aircrew Base had faced the Metallic Dragon one-on-one, the former would definitely not have been a match for the latter. As the deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" finished speaking, the pilots'' faces quickly turned sour. The dragons really had their minds as small as the eye of a needle. Legitimately and lawfully killing a Metallic Dragon was within the rules, yet they even thought of seeking revenge¡ªit was truly damn unreasonable. "Don''t worry, they won''t do it, whether it''s Blue Star or Cangqiong Star, there are rules," the female executive manager Hanna Gagel dismissed the possibility with a single sentence. Moreover, the order to kill the Metallic Dragon Bit had traced back to Sky Dragon City on Cangqiong Star, personally issued by the Dragon King. Anyone could foresee the kind of damage and loss a crazed dragon forcefully entering human society would cause. Manager Hanna continued, "The group psychological counseling that just concluded was preparation for welcoming this diplomatic delegation, so there''s no need to worry." What??? Not only the short-haired girl "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, but even the messenger Chekhov Big Bear was taken aback. It was clear that the higher headquarters, Apocalypse Defense Group, had received this news long ago, and before the arrival of the Dragon Clan''s diplomatic team from Cangqiong Star, they conducted a thorough internal inspection at the 911 Aircrew Base to check for any potential hazards. Even though the diplomatic rules established by the two planets allowed the "Halo" Dimensional Gate to float constantly open in space, it wasn''t something anyone could just come and go through whenever they wished. The approval process in the Blue Star Realm had secured the Apocalypse Defense Group valuable time to respond. However, from the report given by the psychological counselor, there seemed to be nothing to worry about. Even if the dragons from Sky Dragon City came to the 911 Aircrew Base, they were bound to gain very little. But the true motivations of these dragons remained open to question. "Beep beep beep!" A notification sound went off on the female executive manager Hanna Gagel. She took out her cell phone, looked at the screen, and then shouted loudly, "Five minutes left, the diplomatic team from Sky Dragon City is about to arrive." "There''s a meteor, coming straight down from the sky!" Suddenly, someone outside the hangar started shouting loudly. - Chapter 70: Section 70 - The Old Lady When the digital intelligence construct Cybertrom appeared in the near-Earth orbit of Blue Star, the number of meteors and falling celestial bodies significantly decreased. Even the rampant space debris vanished, leaving quite a bit of high altitude orbit exceptionally clean and safe. Some even joked that if any asteroid tried to hit Blue Star, it would likely be intercepted and disassembled by Cybertrom proactively. Fearing large masses might cause gravitational disturbances to Blue Star and its moon, The Moon, Cybertrom regularly releases part of its metal raw materials, sending them through the "Halo" Dimensional Gate for Cangqiong Star on the other side. Coincidentally, the entire Metallic Dragon Clan had been eagerly awaiting these provisions, significantly easing their supply pressure. If they didn''t satisfy these gluttonous creatures, big trouble would ensue. The existence of Cybertrom is akin to an internet connection between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star and belongs to neither party alone; it''s a public property of Blue Star human civilization. It executes its intricate mechanisms with strict precision, silently constant above the planet in the near-Earth ecliptic, maintaining the same plane with several other major planets, intersecting with the equatorial line only during the Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox. On clear days with favorable weather conditions, one could sometimes even spot its silhouette passing the sun or The Moon, like a twinkling star slowly moving across the sky. On Blue Star''s side, surrounding the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, the digital intelligence construct Cybertrom shone brightly with its lights flashing red, indicating it had entered operational state. After the countdown numbers prominently displayed hit zero, a massive conical object slowly emerged from the midst of the deep Dimensional Gate, revealing its hundred-meter length after a moment, as the nearby red lights collectively turned yellow. The metallic conical structure wasn''t seamless. To be precise, it was composed of twelve equidistant segments, slowly rotating without any visible connectors, the visible spiral gap spiraling from the sharp tip to the blunt tail completing exactly one rotation. Each segment of the cone was covered with strange lines and runes, giving off the exquisite vibe of a work of art. This Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, prepared for entry into the Blue Star''s atmosphere, was reusable and a specialty of Cangqiong Star Civilization. Thin beams of light scanned the surface of the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument rapidly, building a recognition model, followed closely by intense ultraviolet light which continuously irradiated it from tip to base for at least ten seconds. UVC rays with wavelengths of 200¨C275nm could kill most viruses and bacteria in seconds, directly damaging the microbial RNA or DNA. The UV disinfection step is a necessary hygiene protocol for living beings crossing between realms; no one can guarantee that an inconspicuous virus or bacterial colony in some corner wouldn''t pose a threat to the beings of Blue Star Realm. Thirty years ago, in the first few years of initial interactions between Cangqiong Star Civilization and Blue Star through the Dimensional Gate, humans arriving at each other''s worlds often exhibited mild fevers and diarrhea for three days to a week¡ªan adverse reaction that would spontaneously reduce without medication or treatment until it disappeared, as though it was self-limiting. It is unquestionable that Sky Dragon City of the Dragon Clan is equivalent to a sovereign state. "Diplomatic passport digital signature verification passed!" "Final confirmation approved by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee!" "You may enter the atmosphere, led by the ''Sapphire'' squad. Please enter through the designated window. The destination''s meteorological conditions are favorable. Good luck to you all!" The digital intelligence constructed body Cybertrom sent a signal, and the lights near the "Halo" Dimensional Gate changed from yellow to green, opening the entry route to Blue Star. The Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, which was slowly moving away from the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, accelerated silently, as if it had an intangible propulsor, with no visible engine flame, yet its speed increased ever faster. The two escorting and leading combat space shuttles escorted the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, which enveloped the Sky Dragon City''s diplomatic delegation, reaching near the ionosphere of the Blue Star''s atmosphere. Only then did they return to the digital intelligence constructed body. The ionosphere, filled with countless charged particles, has extremely high temperatures. Whether entering slowly or rushing in at high speed, it''s impossible to avoid the high-temperature ordeal. Most extraterrestrial visitors disintegrate within this barrier of Blue Star. The surface temperature of the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, which burst through the designated window, instantly exceeded one thousand degrees Celsius, as if wrapped in Red Lotus Karma Fire, turning into a meteor. Rune after rune, line after line seemed to awaken, lighting up in succession, with heat enough to melt gold and forge iron coursing through the magic array into the interior of the Deflector Magical Instrument, channeling into the fist-sized Demon Crystal inside; not only powering the magic array but also storing quite a bit of energy. After breaking the sound barrier, the huge roar caused by the shockwaves reached the interior of the Deflector, yet it was weakened countless times, reducing it to a mere faint noise, not enough to hinder the conversation between the large and small Giant Dragons suspended inside. "Auntie Clodia, can I find my own Dragon Rider on Blue Star?" "Don''t read those misleading online novels, Yilan. There won''t be new Dragon Riders anymore!" "Why not?" "Because all the Dragon Flutes have been destroyed, without the Dragon Flute, there are no Dragon Riders. Otherwise, how could you summon your own Giant Dragon?" "But I''m already thirty years old, if I don''t have a Dragon Rider, I''ll be called an old auntie!" "Little girl, I''m almost a thousand years old, who dares call me old auntie? Even Gold Coin, that fellow, only calls me elder sister!" -Revised and revised again. Chapter 71: Section 71 - Blossoming Landing The large Conical Deflector Magical Instrument produced by Sky Dragon City is the unmatched treasure for penetrating the atmosphere, more economical and practical than the initial one-time disposable deflector. Even when hurtling through the atmosphere like a Fire Meteor, the interior of the slowly rotating deflector remains calm and tranquil, hardly feeling the scorching heat and noise outside. Flying at ten times the speed of sound within the ionosphere filled with plasma for nearly ten minutes, the intense flames enveloping the deflector gradually dissipated, and a long trail of condensed water vapor began to appear behind it, with the temperature plummeting to around minus one hundred degrees Celsius. The interior temperature of the deflector did not fluctuate even one degree Celsius due to the extreme changes in temperature outside. "Lord Illusion Dragon Clodia, we have exited the ionosphere and are slightly off course, two degrees to the left. We need to correct," One of the four fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" from the First Squadron of the Silan Dynasty''s North District One Sky Cavalry Group, along with the two Giant Dragons inside the deflector, Sky Knight Micro confirmed the electronic signal was restored, and received the satellite positioning signal immediately. Although Cangqiong Star is mainly a civilization of Magic and Battle Qi, it has not rejected the conveniences brought about by technological civilization in the many years of exchange with Blue Star, and examples of combining Magic Artifacts with electronic products are not rare, even showing an increasing trend. Stubborn old fogies who insist on tradition and refuse to accept new things and new technologies are not unique to Cangqiong Star; Blue Star has many too, but after all, they are the minority. With the passage of time, they will eventually be crushed into dust by the wheels of history. Entering Blue Star from the outer atmosphere, even following the planned route, deviating in the electromagnetically isolated ionosphere is not strange at all. However, a millimeter of error leads to a kilometer of deviation. If not corrected in time, the destination will become increasingly distant. The information technology standards of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star are inherited from the same lineage. Even across dimensions, they can still be used without interruption, just with the addition of a stellar code to the existing digital address recognition protocol IPv6¡ªBlue Star is "0000:", Cangqiong Star is "0001:". A four-digit hexadecimal code can support the origin recognition of 65,535 stars, reserving space for the future conquest of the sea of stars and is completely sufficient for at least the next three hundred years. The populations of the two planets and other Intelligent Species are not expanding fast enough to deplete the massive amount of digital address recognition codes any time soon. The IPv6 address is already a vast quantity similar to the sands of the Ganges, let alone with the additional star codes multiplying the capacity exponentially. "Ah! I see it! Beginning correction, 800 kilometers from destination Aircrew Base 911." The female Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia, in charge of controlling the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, expended a bit of spiritual power, causing the evenly rotating deflector to slightly falter before resuming normal rotation. The flight trajectory feedback from the navigation satellite has once again overlapped with the planned route. Among the Dragon Race, the psychic talent of the Illusion Dragons is unrivaled, not only possessing a formidable spirit that is on par with that of Cangqiong''s other famous Intelligent Species renowned for their spiritual power, the Xuanyu Huang Star, but also more adept at the fine manipulation of spiritual power and creating convincingly deceptive Illusions. The Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, from leaving Sky Dragon City, passing through the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, then entering Earth''s atmosphere, and all the way to its destination, was all controlled by this female Illusion Dragon, leaving no sense of vibration or excess noise, making the cross-dimensional trip extremely comfortable and pleasant. "We''re almost there, we''re almost there!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan was especially excited, as it was her first visit to Blue Star and she was curious about everything. "All units, please take notice, all units, please take notice, a diplomatic envoy from the Dragon Race of Cangqiong Star is about to arrive at our base. Please stay at your posts, and remain quiet and calm." The Apocalypse Defense Group, which had already received the news, was quite worried that someone in the 911 Aircrew Base might have a lapse in judgment and offend the two giant dragons, leading to irreversible consequences. Therefore, the news had been kept secret until just before the other party''s arrival, and psychological counselors had been dispatched to eliminate any potential issues. "A diplomatic envoy from the Dragon Race? What are they here for?" "Are they here for revenge? Has 911 been abandoned?" .net "Quick, find a place to hide, go to the underground air-raid shelters." "Don''t run around! They are a diplomatic envoy, not a military force. Look how scared you all are, don''t disgrace us Blue Star People." "Easy for you to say, those are giant dragons, with one bite, you''re gone, where would you even argue about it?" "Why didn''t you say it earlier; we didn''t even have time to get psychologically prepared!" The 911 Aircrew Base fell into chaos. The apprehensions of the higher-ups at Apocalypse Defense Group were not misplaced; the impending arrival of the Dragon Race''s envoy indeed caused widespread panic. Everyone was not afraid of waging war against their own kind, as in the end, all humans could possibly be reasoned with, but reasoning with giant dragons, wasn''t that just insanity? When the Sky Dragon City''s Deflector Magical Instrument appeared, many fake admirers within the 911 Aircrew Base were exposed. Daily, they claimed to be fans of the Dragon Clan, but now that they were truly here, those supposed fans were scared witless. What kind of love was that? Heeee... Puh! You''re no true fan! "Security team, check all posts; control anyone who is walking around aimlessly." The female executive manager, Hanna Gagar, was someone who could make decisive decisions quickly, cutting through the confusion with resolution. The security team immediately deployed, and more and more emotionally out-of-control individuals were captured and dragged away, and order began to be restored throughout the aircrew base. A pilot from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron pointed up at the sky and shouted, "They''re here!" The "meteor" became a visible conical object in the mid-air, blooming into a "flower" in an incredibly surprising manner, its petals slowly rotating as it neared the aircrew base. The conical Deflector Magical Instrument, made of twelve unconnected parts, revealed its ingenious design only during landing. Behind the "petals," the figures of one large and one small giant dragon and four assembled combat aircraft emerged. - Chapter 72: Section 72 - Intentions The potential energy gradually diminished, and the twelve fierce whooshing blades plunged into the grass next to the main runway of Aircrew Base 911. A Psychic Illusion Dragon clad in snow-white scales and a Metallic Digital Dragon with numerous sharp-bladed wings descended from the sky, followed by the fourth-generation "Sky Falcon" with its four Wind Series Elemental Pulse Wings, all landing in succession on the tarmac. While Cangqiong Star did not repel the technological civilization of Blue Star and even saw an increasing variety and quantity of technological products among its various intelligent species, Cangqiong Star still maintained its own civilization development mainstream and had not fully embraced Blue Star technology, nor had it abandoned its advantages in magic and Battle Qi. In fact, on the side of Blue Star, the number of magic artifacts was also greatly increasing, and the application of magic was becoming more widespread, which, to some extent, contributed to the advancement of technological development. In the continuous exchange and trade between the two realms, the civilizational systems of both would tend to converge indefinitely yet always maintain their unique characteristics due to distance and historical culture. Civilizational integration is always measured in millennia; likely, the ruling classes of both planets were well aware of this and knew that there was only one way to accelerate this process. War! Thirty years after a great war among the Three Realms ended, nobody wanted to fight anymore. Even the Neanderthal Remnants, now integrated into both realms, were unwilling. The Supreme Council was destroyed and the Twelve Overlord Tribes had vanished. Peace was hard-earned. Wasn''t it good enough to live well without returning to a resource-exhausted, desolate Primordial Realm? The proud Psychic Illusion Dragon raised its chin, looking down at the humans on the ground, as a wave of spiritual power swept across the entire base. Almost everyone''s mind heard the voice of a young woman. "I am Clodia from Cangqiong Star''s Dragon Race in Sky Dragon City!" Then it tilted its head toward the female Metallic Dragon next to it, saying, "Yilan, introduce yourself." Even though they had collectively evolved into digital dragons, the Metallic Dragon Race was still insusceptible to psychic power and naturally could not receive the message carried by the psychic power wave. "I am Yilan, a Metallic Dragon, thirty years old, currently a high school senior, and without a Dragon Knight!" The female Metallic Dragon had also evolved metallic membranes and, using magnetic vibrations, amplified her own voice three to four times, clearly audible throughout the entire Aircrew Base. High school junior, huh! The "roar" of the dragon caused the gathered crowd to wide-eyed and tongue-tied, unexpectedly bringing a sense of amusement. But why did the phrase "Dragon Knight" sound so much like "boyfriend"? The fans felt like their worldviews were being refreshed. After the "Halo" Dimensional Gate connected the two realms, not only did the Human Race of Cangqiong Star learn quite a bit from Blue Star, but many intelligent species, including the Dragon Race, also progressed with the times. Kindergarten, elementary, middle, and university levels of education were all available, and even academic degrees were mutually recognized. "Of course, we''re ready!" Hanna Gagel nodded, feeling an inexplicable nervousness building inside. The inevitable was bound to happen, and there was no escaping it. She could only hope that this time it would pass safely. HR manager Takar squeezed through and asked anxiously, "Wait, Manager Hanna, what are we starting?" There seemed to be some understanding between the Giant Dragon and the executive manager that unnerved him greatly. If something significant were to occur, why not inform everyone in advance? This sudden development left no room for mental preparation and was bound to cause overthinking. Not just him¡ªmany within Aircrew Base also showed unease on their faces. Chen Fei heard the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squad, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, whisper in his ear, "It looks like trouble is coming!" Whether it was that one-eyed old woman or the higher-ups at Apocalypse Defense, something was clearly being concealed, which was annoying. The short-haired girl felt for the first time that the nickname Big Bear had given to the new executive manager was quite apt. "Are they going to use us as a sacrifice?" The naive Chen Fei blurted out. He couldn''t understand what else at Aircrew Base 911 could possibly attract the visit of the Dragon Race. This damned place really was cursed! "Don''t talk nonsense!" Chekhov also felt a pang of alarm. A rookie is a bird, and a crow is also a bird, but he hoped these two birds weren''t any kind of relatives. All these damned capitalists should be dragged out and shot! "Everyone, please rest assured, this is an investigation, and it''s no different from the psychological counseling session we had not long ago." As for the real reason, Hanna Gagel still did not want to give away the slightest hint. In the world, no wall is impenetrable; the more people who know, the greater the risk of information leakage, which could cause unnecessary trouble for the Apocalypse Defense Group. The Apocalypse Defense Group hadn''t obtained the Heart Core of the Metallic Dragons'' Bit, nor even seen a shadow of the Heart Core Fragment. The Dragon Race was also concerned about this matter, even more eager than anyone to recover the core that held the Dragon Soul, and would even disregard other remnants. - Chapter 73: Section 73 - Tour Guide After a round of psychological consultations for everyone was already done, the psychological counselor, who didn''t play by the rules of Jianghu, actually used hypnotism; naturally, the consultation process was something no one wanted to recall. When they heard Manager Hanna''s explanation, the faces of everyone at Aircrew Base 911 went pale, no one wishing to drag out the darkest, most shameful part of their memories for another round of social death. But living shamefully was better than dying a good death, and compared to being squashed into a pulp by a Giant Dragon, it wasn''t entirely unacceptable. That Metallic Dragon named Yilan, looking innocent and carefree, was clearly a Grim Reaper lying in wait, ready to burst forth and claim lives at any moment. If anyone truly treated the Dragon of Slaughter as an innocent, carefree creature, their graves would likely be grown over with grass three feet tall. "Not again!" The Scavenger squad''s cute, soft girl was dumbfounded, her eyes immediately misting over. The others had similarly dark expressions on their faces. Chen Fei, who hadn''t had his most embarrassing memories exposed, naturally couldn''t empathize, and with a dumbfounded face, he asked, "What''s wrong with you guys?" Chekhov Big Bear: "..." Chief mechanic Xiao Ming: "..." Human resources director Takar: "..." Everyone with terrible memories stirred up stared at the kid with their eyes, as if to say being silent doesn''t mean you''re mute. Little friend Chen Fei: "..." "Now I need a list, please keep yourselves in a relaxed and happy mood." The wave of spiritual power from Illusion Dragon Clodia released once again, and without a word, everyone could hear its "voice," as if it resounded directly in their minds. Chen Fei remained clueless; Yilan the Metallic Dragon was just as befuddled. The Psychic Illusion Dragon was used to communicating via spiritual power; if it didn''t open its mouth, then there was nothing the other human and dragon could do. "Here is the list!" Executive Manager Hanna Gagel immediately handed over the pre-prepared list. The team from Apocalypse Defense Group led by Psychological Counselor Li Bai coming to Aircrew Base 911 was like a dress rehearsal, and now they were just following the recipe and doing it one more time. Spirit swept over the document, memorizing all the details, and Illusion Dragon Clodia officially started its task. "Now, number one, please come to me!" "Auntie Clodia, what about me? What can I do, am I in charge of severe torture?" .net Clodia felt quite the headache over this. "A Leopard can''t change its spots," they say, and this was true for Metallic Dragons. "Chen Fei!" Manager Hanna Gagel of the Aircrew Base called out to Chen Fei, who was nervously shrinking back amongst the crowd. "Manager Hanna, is there something you need?" Chen Fei was completely unaware of the spiritual power message that the Psychic Giant Dragon had sent to Manager Hanna. "There''s a task right now¡ªthe Metallic Giant Dragon needs a guide." The executive manager chose a more diplomatic phrase. "Me?!" Chen Fei heard the subtext and pointed at himself tentatively. "Yes, you! You''re a Metal Ability User, maybe you have something in common with the Metallic Giant Dragons!" Hanna Gagel nodded decisively. "Can I refuse?" Chen Fei wore a sorrowful expression; he felt it was his bad luck being asked, as he already had a psychological shadow cast by that Metallic Giant Dragon. Furthermore, his Metal Elemental Psychic Power had nothing in common with the Metallic Dragons at all¡ªthey were completely unrelated! Supernatural power users were a special product of Blue Star, while the Dragon Race hailed from Cangqiong Star. "Ten thousand Star Yuan a day!" Manager Hanna held up an index finger. "Deal!" Chen Fei eagerly agreed, as he noticed several of Takar''s countrymen, even including one of the two head chefs from the canteen and the packaging removal head chef Singh, also showing an eager expression. He had almost forgotten that these guys were almost as opportunistic as cockroaches, each one more interested in money than life itself. Seeing Chen Fei promptly agree, Takar''s fellow countrymen were all grinding their teeth in resentment. Especially Sanjani, who had once competed with Chen Fei for a spot in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, his sallow face nearly twisted with jealousy. While ten thousand Star Yuan wasn''t a huge sum, it certainly wasn''t an amount to be casually dismissed either. - Chapter 74: Section 74 - A Good Idea The Illusion Dragon Clodia looked down at the clearly panicked tiny human in front of her and said as gently as possible, "First, human, you can stand or lie down, it doesn''t matter. Just relax or be tense for a little while, I promise." These frail creatures were ridiculously delicate, as if they would break at the slightest touch. Emmm... they wouldn''t actually break, but they could explode into a bloody mess. But that was not a worry, everything was under control. Before coming here, Clodia had practiced many times. On the Cangqiong Star, the lives of death row inmates weren''t considered lives at all; they had no rights. The next second, a tendril of Clodia''s spiritual power penetrated the other party''s head, and the world in front of her seemed to change abruptly, as if time were reversing... ... Executive Manager Hanna Gagel gave Chen Fei a look, signaling him to take away the female Metallic Dragon before she caused more trouble here. Despite differing views, there was a consensus between the Dragon Race and the Human Race. Metallic Dragons tended to cause more problems than they solved. "Um... Yilan, would you like to look around?" For ten thousand Star Yuan, Chen Fei bravely approached the petite Metallic Dragon. The fierce dragon head still made him somewhat nervous. The inventory of KDK-1 jet-intake hypersonic smart missiles at the Aircrew Base was zero; if she suddenly went berserk, nobody could stop her unless another Giant Dragon intervened. Installation process >>>>>>>>>>>...0.04%..." Downloaded files: 359 (7.9MB) / 17174 (19.5GB), Current connection speed: 215KB/s. Chen Fei, focused on the Dragon of Slaughter before him, had not noticed the downloading speed of the Phantosmia interface that once filled his entire visual field had changed. "What''s your name?" The female Metallic Dragon curiously sized up Chen Fei, considering him her designated tour guide here. The latter was still very nervous, almost turning around and running away from the overwhelming pressure. "I am Chen Fei!" The young man volunteering as a guide didn''t realize his voice was clearly trembling. "Chirp!" As a Magical Beast, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu seemed fearlessly ignorant. "Hi, nice to meet you, Chen Fei. Wanna shake a claw? Oh no, I mean, shake hands, your little Sparrow is very cute." Yilan extended her right front paw. She had interacted with humans before, though not many, and the one she was most familiar with was Her Majesty the Empress of the Slan Dynasty. Chen Fei introduced the little bird jumping on his shoulder. "Its name is Xiao Jiu, my little buddy. Xiao Jiu, this is the Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan!" "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu tilted its head, curiously examining the fierce beast before it. The female Metallic Dragon bared her fang-filled mouth in a terrifying grin, her cold, sharp claws capable of easily slicing open any armored vehicle. Chen Fei involuntarily swallowed, wondering if she intended to seize the opportunity to kill him under the guise of shaking hands. As expected, the Metallic Dragon harbored hidden murderous intents, and Chen Fei thought of an expletive he wasn''t sure he should utter. The piled-up discarded materials were being scattered into a chaotic mess. Unfortunately, surprises are never too frequent, a fact Yilan regrettably acknowledges. "Installation progress>>>>>>>>>>>...1.0%..." Files downloaded: 2113 (195MB)/17174 (19.5GB), current connection speed 625KB/s. "No more!" "Just, just this much for now, give me some time, there might be more." Chen Fei''s cold sweat broke out again, he had long noticed that this female Metallic Giant Dragon was always eyeing those standard shipping containers. Most of these containers are metallic, attracting the greedy gaze of Metallic Giant Dragons is hardly surprising. "I''m almost done, I won''t make it difficult for you!" Yilan showed understanding. After all, as a properly educated Metallic Giant Dragon, she was much more restrained than those greedy old folks who simply sit and suck up the dirt. "That''s good, that''s good!" Chen Fei heaved a long sigh of relief. "Let''s stroll nearby, I heard there''s a school nearby." The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan was quite interested in human schools. After all, she had attended six years of Royal Dragon Kindergarten and twelve years of primary, middle, and high school in the general obligatory education system, with only a few teachers not from the Giant Dragon race, and all her classmates were Giant Dragons, even from the Metallic branch. Yilan wanted to see the differences between human schools and dragon schools. "That won''t work, it''ll cause panic." Chen Fei waved his hands decisively, shaking his head like a rattle drum. Just recently, the nearby Patan Village almost erupted into turmoil because a primary school teacher, Shen Fei, was kidnapped. The nerves are still taut and not relaxed for long, suddenly introducing a Giant Dragon, especially a notorious one from the Metallic Dragons, the locals would definitely blow their tops. "I have an idea..." Being educated, the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan had a plan. Rumble rumble rumble... The ground shook erratically. A Metallic Giant Dragon moved on all fours, running swiftly. The people at the 911 Aircrew Base, awaiting the Psychic Illusion Dragon''s investigation, turned to the source of the sound. The joyful Metallic Giant Dragon sprinting along had a rope around her neck, with a person dangling from the other end. The person was continuously screaming in mid-air. "Help... me..." "Installation progress>>>>>>>>>>>...6.7%..." Files downloaded: 3147 (1.306GB)/17174 (19.5GB), current connection speed 2.4MB/s. In the eyes of the Dragon: Yilan was being mischievous again, flying a poor man like a kite. In the eyes of humans: My, oh my, in the blink of an eye, the rookie managed to leash the Dragon of Slaughter, they''re walking the dragon! This youngster truly can, must support with triple six! - Chapter 75: Section 75 - Letting Go without Hesitation How could a well-behaved little lady like her run wild like a wolf or a boar? At the very least, she should be tied with a rope! The most direct manifestation of racial worldview differences was seen: Both humans and dragons believed their own perspectives were correct. Poor Chen Fei, such an unlucky kid. It was agreed that tying a rope would immediately enhance the sense of security. Of course, in theory, this is correct. But... you have to consider who you''re dealing with! Legally, the ones required to be on a leash when going out are canines, not dragons, not dragons, not dragons, the important thing must be said three times. This shows the importance of knowing and understanding the law. Chen Fei thought you could tie anything with a rope, and then he drifted away... "...Help..." "Chirp!" Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu loyally flew alongside. Dad can fly with me, it''s simply wonderful. The little bird was also in an exceptionally good mood. The excited female Metallic Dragon happily dashed out of the Aircrew Base 911. Having just searched through a memory, Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia glances at the large-sized dragon-specific tablet floating beside her. Upon seeing Yilan''s location signal on the digital map, she felt relieved and continued calling out. The satellite would continue monitoring the little tyke''s location on its own; there was absolutely no need to worry about losing track of her. As for safety concerns, Clodia wasn''t worried at all. She and Yilan were legally visiting diplomats, authorized by both realms, not only protected by various sovereign nations, but even the Apocalypse Defense Group, restrained by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and the subordinate Aircrew Base 911 had the duty to protect both dragons. This was completely different from the fate of the illegally border-crossing Metallic Dragon Bit, who after charging into the stratosphere, got a thorough beating till death. The Apocalypse Defense Group merely picked up a massive stroke of luck; otherwise, even with ten times the courage, they wouldn''t dare to mess with the dragons'' affair. Micro, the leader of the four Sky Knights accompanying the Sky Dragon City diplomatic mission, passed a look to the other three knights. Moran and Terry exchanged a glance and immediately headed for their "Sky Falcon" mounts. The rapid sound of flapping wings filled the air as two fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" soared into the sky, chasing after the runaway female Metallic Dragon Yilan and Chen Fei, who was temporarily acting as a tour guide. - "I send you away, to a place a thousand miles away..." Unique to the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the "tricycle" gyroplane skimmed over the valley from a low altitude. Suddenly, the ringing of a phone interrupted the pilot''s self-amused mood. "Hello, mom, I''m still flying... What''s that, all good here, can''t say ''nothing'' when flying... Teacher Shen''s outdoor picnic, got it, just a look-see, just a turn away, I promise a smooth and successful turnout, good-bye!~" After hanging up the satellite phone, the bearded pilot on the tricycle suddenly noticed something roaring furiously down on the ground, speeding away. First graders, watch over our stuff; second graders, collect firewood; third graders, dig up wild vegetables; fourth graders, start fires and boil water; fifth graders, prepare to cook; sixth graders, check the surroundings and drive away wild animals." Under the leadership of the class leaders from each grade, every task was carried out promptly, and the noisy students instantly became orderly. Not only did Teacher Shen come armed to the teeth, backing a Type 95 automatic rifle, her waist also bore a small revolver. All the weapons and ammunition that could be carried were brought along, and the sixth graders each wielded an AK, taking on the responsibility of protecting their classmates and teachers. In these treacherous mountains and harsh waters, the people were fierce, and firearms and ammunition were essential for life. Almost every household had at least one gun, and wealthier ones had one for each person, whether to deal with bandits or wild beasts, at least having the capacity for self-defense. The students of the sixth grade had almost all brought their family''s guns, each one prouder than the last, strutting around in groups, intimidatingly searching every nook and cranny, even rushing to kick a handful-sized nest, hoping to find a suitable "target" to show off their might with a few shots right there. A bunch of brats... In fact, in the twenty-mile radius around the school, there were almost no ferocious wild animals. The locals, whether villagers or bandits, would consciously clear out dangerous beasts near the school from time to time, which had become an unwritten rule. If they encountered ferocious animals in groups that they couldn''t handle, they only needed to give a shout, and the fighter jets from the Aircrew Base 911 would swoop in to bombard the area. A few cruise missiles later, any threat could instantly vanish into smoke. Accompanying them were two watchdogs, one black and one yellow, "Ah Hu" and "Ah Mao", circling around their owner, even more excited than the elementary students. At this moment, the school was left completely unguarded, yet nobody worried about losing anything. The locals cherished Teacher Shen and the school dearly; who would dare target the school? That would be utterly foolish. The campsite chosen by Teacher Shen Fei for the picnic was not far from the school, less than 5 kilometers away in a straight line, and was even closer to the Aircrew Base 911. Of course, straight-line distance and walking distance were different matters, but for aircraft, they were the same thing. Several crafty little girls picked blooming wildflowers and made a colorful flower crown which they placed on Teacher Shen''s head, circling her and cheering. "Teacher, you look so pretty!" "I wonder what kind of handsome guy would be worthy of you." "It must be a big deal! Oh, teacher, you''re blushing!" "Probably only a Dragon Knight would be worthy of our Teacher Shen." "The Dragon Knight will ride on his Giant Dragon, stepping on a rainbow, descending from the sky, wow, so romantic!" A bunch of underage girls began to daydream. "What Dragon Knight? That''s all a daydream!" The flower-crowned Teacher Shen Fei smiled and shook her head; in these wild mountains, where was there a Dragon Knight, stepping on rainbows? That''s probably only found in novels and TV shows. Rumble rumble rumble... It sounded like thunder rolled in the distance. Upstream from the babbling brook, the air filled with mist as if some enormous creature was charging towards the camp. "Roar!~" With an ear-splitting roar, a ferocious Giant Dragon burst through the mist-induced rainbow, entering the sight of Teacher Shen Fei and the more than sixty elementary school children. "Installation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>...97%..." Files downloaded: 16334 files (18.9GB) / 17174 files (19.5GB), current connection speed 48MB/s. - Chapter 76: Section 76 - A Drenched Chicken Seeing the crowd ahead, Chen Fei was scared out of his wits and quickly shouted. "Stop, stop!" The giant Blade Wing suddenly spread out, giving the illusion of blotting out the sun, with the Sharp Edges glistening coldly in the sunlight. A gust of wind surged, sending tons of creek water flying into the air, constantly splitting and then falling back down like rain, as if a torrential downpour had started. Though the female Metallic Dragon had braked in time, she still slid a good hundred meters before finally coming to a stop more than ten meters in front of Teacher Shen Fei and her students. The sudden gust and downpour caught the teachers and students on the shore off guard. Only a few first-year students who were setting up tents were lucky enough to avoid the calamity. The crystal-clear creek water became murky, and at least a dozen fish were thrown onto the shore, struggling in their death throes. Yilan was a well-educated lady, who would never casually harm the life of an Intelligent Species. "Ah..." Chen Fei, whose momentum hadn''t subsided, was thrown into a puddle in front of the Metallic Dragon by the rope, splashing water everywhere, though with much less fanfare. It almost knocked the breath out of him. "It''s a Dragon Knight!" The drenched girls screamed without a care, their voices piercing. Had they seen only the dragon and not the person, they would''ve been scared witless, fleeing in all directions. But they saw not only the person but also the rope, so... it was all good, no worries ¨C it was a Dragon Rider, after all. A Dragon Rider my ass! After swallowing a few mouthfuls of water, Chen Fei emerged from the puddle with a forlorn face. .net Finally, the rope was loosened, and he was saved! "Chirp!~" The Pure Light Sparrow flitted across the water''s surface, seemingly unaffected by the turmoil. "Installation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...99%..." Downloaded files: 17093 (19.4GB)/17174 (19.5GB), current connection speed 112KB/s. "Chen Fei?" Teacher Shen Fei was astounded. She hadn''t seen him for just two days, and now he was messing with dragons. They hurriedly, and with much fumbling, pulled Chen Fei out of the pit. "Hey, Teacher Shen, pfft!" Chen Fei spat out a mouthful of water and greeted her feebly, completely drained of the strength to even lift his hand. It was terrifying beyond words, an experience too intense for words. "Installation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...100%..." Downloaded files: 17174 (19.5GB)/17174 (19.5GB), download complete. Ding!~ Installation begins...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> End! Installation complete! The system will automatically restart after 15 seconds or manually reboot. Eh?! Chen Fei belatedly realized that his vision had changed at some point. He had thought it would take decades for the progress bar to complete, yet somehow it had raced to the finish line. The ever-loyal Pure Light Sparrow landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, bouncing around cheerfully. Teacher Shen Fei, seeing this little bird unafraid of strangers, with its shiny black feathers that looked somewhat familiar, surprisingly exclaimed, "Xiao Jiu?" "That''s right, come on, say hello to Teacher Shen!" Chen Fei beckoned, and Xiao Jiu obediently perched on his hand. Then, it flew to Teacher Shen Fei''s shoulder, acting very friendly and making itself utterly adorable with its bouncing around. "Xiao Jiu is so well-behaved!" Teacher Shen Fei was thrilled. She wanted to pet the little bird, but her hands were still wet. Fearing she might dampen its feathers, she lifted her hand but then put it back down again. "Achoo! Damn, I''m catching cold!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but shiver. Although the spring sunlight was warm, the creek water was still quite cold. The adrenaline had kept him going in the water for a bit, and at first, he didn''t feel the chill, but after a while, it became too much, like being in a frozen wasteland, his limbs growing stiff and the cold biting into his bones like needles. Shen Fei also realized this issue. "Right, be careful not to catch a cold, let''s start a fire quickly. Light up all of the fires." The sudden downpour caused by the giant dragon left many soaked, only the second and third graders who had gone out to collect firewood and wild vegetables, along with the sixth graders who were hunting, were unaffected. Many first graders who were busy setting up tents or who were standing far away were also spared. The rest of the school children were more or less drenched. Chen Fei, who had fallen into a puddle, Shen Fei, who had dragged him ashore, and a few fifth graders were practically dripping from head to toe. They managed to light the gathered dry branches and rotten wood only after using up all of the solid alcohol blocks for ignition; although the green smoke was choking and irritated their eyes, the fire offered some warmth at least, much better than wearing damp clothes and waiting for a natural breeze to dry them. A few people, wrapped in blankets, gathered around a fire to warm themselves. Feeling the heat on her face, Shen Fei looked over at the metallic dragon still frolicking in the water and asked curiously, "Where did this metallic dragon come from?" The rope was still hanging around its neck, making it hard to guess how it got there. After all, it was a giant dragon, and one with a notorious reputation as the Dragon of Slaughter at that. Being able to put a rope around the neck of such a being was impressive. Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and said, "She is one of the two diplomatic envoys from the Dragon Clan of Cangqiong Star. The other dragon is still at the base." A curious primary school student of Teacher Shen Fei asked, "Brother Fei, are you a Dragon Knight?" The other schoolchildren were equally excited. "How could that be possible?" Chen Fei rolled his eyes. He wasn''t even a Sky Knight, so how could he possibly be a Dragon Knight? Wishful thinking, nothing more. If he really were a Dragon Knight, would he still need to toil away for millions of Star Yuan in debt? "A diplomatic envoy! This one?" Forget dragons; even among humans, Shen Fei had never heard of such an undignified diplomat. What happened to the diplomatic mission? This was clearly just playing around! It completely defied her expectations. Helplessly, Chen Fei said, "She''s just a thirty-year-old little dragon, and I''m the unlucky one tasked with playing tour guide for her." In the Dragon Clan, one wasn''t considered an adult until reaching a thousand years old. At thirty, she was practically no different from a baby still in swaddling clothes. However, this metallic dragon hadn''t been wasting her time; Yilan was already in her senior year of high school, just the right age for rebellious teenage antics, so it wasn''t surprising for her to act out in bizarre ways. "So she swam all the way here, hahaha, and you even put a rope on her. Does that thing even work? I''m utterly amazed by you." The quick-witted Teacher Shen Fei thought for just a moment and immediately guessed an answer not far from the truth. She burst into uncontrollable laughter. Just imagining the scenes of Chen Fei''s journey thus far was too much to bear! "She put it on herself. What could I possibly do!" Chen Fei, too, had ended up in quite the predicament. -I woke up late Chapter 77: Section 77 - Its Still a Child Shen Fei instantly understood Chen Fei''s dilemma, but still occasionally covered her mouth to snicker. "..." Chen Fei¡ú..¡ú, missy, enough already! Noticing Chen Fei''s increasingly dark expression, Teacher Shen straightened her face and said seriously, "Yes, yes, those evil capitalists, may they perish!" Capitalists: Are we eating your rice or what! "The fish are done!" The children, who had been roasting over the same fire, shouted excitedly, echoing through the schoolyard just five years ago. Beside the fire, they roasted not only clothes but also fish, weaving the task in wherever they could. Fearless as young calves, the children picked fish from the shore and daringly coaxed the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan to keep catching fish from the stream, applauding and cheering each time she tossed a fish ashore. Whether swimming upstream or downstream rapidly, splashing water everywhere, Yilan would return covered with a variety of big and small fish, earning a lasting round of applause and cheers, which quite went to her head. The elementary schoolers naturally claimed these spoils of war, busying themselves with gutting and scaling the fish. Stuffing the bellies with sliced ginger and freshly picked wild onions, scoring the outside, rubbing it with oil, roasting it beside the fire until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, then sprinkling some pepper, salt, and cumin powder on top¡ªthey were only described with two words: delicious! "Delicious!" "Genuinely fragrant! So tender!" "So tasty!" With a plentiful amount of fish brought back by the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, each elementary schooler had one to themselves, enjoying it tremendously. The two watchdogs that usually wagged their tails and fawned over everyone come mealtime were now hiding, tails tucked, in the bushes, unwilling to come out. If it weren''t for their concern for their owner and a crowd of little ancestors, the two would have probably already run away scared by that huge creature. Even the outwardly strong but inwardly weak "Ah Hu" managed to hold on. Finally cooling down the scalding roasted fish, Chen Fei took a small bite, spat out a few fine bones, and seeing Yilan still causing trouble in the stream, he couldn''t help but express concern, "Won''t the fish in this stream be over fished?" The natural conditions in Xingdu Kush Mountain Area weren''t very good. The harsher the environment, the weaker the ecological balance. The stream in front of them was a rare lucky find, but the crystal clear water wasn''t deep¡ªthe clearer the water, the fewer the fish; even if it was flowing, it might not sustain many fish. "No worries, it''s not breeding season yet, and there are plenty of fish both upstream and downstream." Teacher Shen Fei enjoyed her meal immensely, teasing Chen Fei''s little bird with a small piece of boneless fish belly. The little glutton, guessing the relationship between Teacher Shen and his father, flew over without hesitation, pecked, and gulped it down neatly. The Pure Light Sparrow, an omnivorous magical beast, didn''t mind meat or vegetation and soon had a round belly, swallowing up the fish belly on Teacher Shen''s hand into its crop. "The environment here is really great." Chen Fei nodded in agreement. The mountain scenery was mostly monotone, with only occasional greenery, most of which was moss and lichen, along with a few plants adapted to arid, cold, and barren soil. Only near sources of water did the vegetation thrive. Sky Knight Terry shook her head, sighing emotionally. Her boss, Captain Moran, confidently said, "This is due to Her Majesty the Empress''s efforts!" Her Majesty the Empress spent thirty years painstakingly nurturing and educating these young Metallic Giant Dragons, cared for by the Silan Royal Family, indeed making them very different from their ferocious and inaccessible kin. If this perseverance continues, in a thousand years, the Metallic Dragon Clan will completely change its adverse image in the minds of all Intelligent Species. ... Nearly half of the employees who had gathered at the Aircrew Base had already dispersed. In terms of efficiency in memory searching, the Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia surpassed Psychological Counselor Li Bai''s hypnotism, needing only five minutes to search through nearly a month''s memories. "That''s enough for today!" The Illusion Dragon lifted its head to glance at the sun setting towards the western horizon. The sky was filled with multicolored clouds, painting the final glow before the sunset. "Yilan hasn''t returned yet." Executive Manager Hanna Gagar, who had remained at the Aircrew Base, kept looking anxiously toward the gate. Not only the female Metallic Giant Dragon but also two Sky Knights hadn''t returned; she wondered where they had gone, having not seen them all day. Discover more content at m,v l''e-novelhall.net Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. A buzzing sound came from the sky as two fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" descended from above. "Back already?" The team leader of the first team of the North District One Sky Cavalry Group of the Silan Dynasty, leader of the attending personnel of Sky Dragon City, Micro, cast an inquiring glance at the returning Sky Knights. "Back already!" Captain Moran of the Shadow Fox Squad nodded nonchalantly. The same question and the same answer meant no mishaps had occurred, marking yet another peaceful day. Micro raised an eyebrow; after such a dramatic rush out, he had expected some sort of disturbance, but surprisingly, nothing had happened. This was indeed good news. Chen Fei and the female Metallic Giant Dragon appeared outside the gate, with a rope perfectly intact around the latter''s neck, the other end held by the former. A well-fed, worn-out Little Bird perched on a shoulder, its head tucked, eyes half-closed, occasionally chirping sleepily. The donkey from the production team, no, the dragon, was being led back. This scene broke quite a few spectacles. - Chapter 78: Section 78 - Who is the Evil Dragon As soon as he entered the gates of the Aircrew Base, Chen Fei let go. The mission for the day had been completed, and he could justifiably claim his bonus. And, he had to get paid extra! Seeing the female Metallic Dragon approaching him while swinging the leash, Clodia, the Psychic Illusion Dragon, suddenly sniffed the air and asked in confusion, "You smell like fish, Yilan, what were you up to?" Metallic Dragons were supposed to strike with an air of menace and then return covered in the scent of blood, weren''t they? Something about this picture wasn''t right! "Evil Dragon capturing students!" Yilan shook her draconic form, causing her sharp Blade Thorns to fully retract, and she resumed her original menacing appearance. "You''re capturing students?" Clodia looked around, wondering where one could find students amidst these desolate mountains and ridges. Only when she expanded her spiritual power to its limits did she "see" a group of human children walking slowly in a single-file line along a mountain path, with a place resembling a school in the distance. Patan Elementary School, the closest to the 911 Aircrew Base in the mountainous area, was just on the edge of her range of spiritual power coverage. "Not me, him!" The female Metallic Dragon looked toward Chen Fei, not too far away. "Ah?!" Illusion Dragon Clodia felt like something was amiss. Who exactly was the Evil Dragon? "I protected the school children, he pretended to be the Evil Dragon," Yilan explained a bit more, seeing that Auntie Clodia, no, Elder Sister Clodia was still puzzled. Anyway, she had quite a playful time until the sun was low in the sky, and Chen Fei had to drag her back, or else she would have continued playing until dawn the next day. The group of school children also frolicked madly, nearly forgetting the time. But once their excitement wore off, they became so exhausted they started panting and dragged their feet all the way back to school, lacking the high spirits they had on the way there. If it hadn''t been for Teacher Shen Fei''s urging all the way, they might have collapsed on the road, refusing to budge. Clodia looked at Yilan: "..." You''re the Evil Dragon, hey!!! Where''s your self-awareness? Equally exhausted, Chen Fei headed toward the base cafeteria, the two grilled fish he had for lunch had long been digested, and he had to have a big meal tonight no matter what. Chekhov Big Bear glanced around and quickly followed in a few hurried strides, almost toppling Chen Fei over. "Hey, how did you manage that?" The fact that Chen Fei had the Metallic Dragon so obediently under control was truly incredible. Not just Chekhov wanted to ask this, but he was the most eager. After taking a hot shower back at the dorm, Chen Fei, with Little Bird, who was already fast asleep in its cozy nest, headed to the shack where the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was located, to continue his night duty. He also brought along a few dishes to snack on, planning to mooch a few drinks from the old man ¨C a delightful indulgence! "Old Master Barut... Eh, Manager Hanna, what are you doing here?" The door to the steel-structured shack was never locked; a light push and it opened readily. But upon entering, Chen Fei saw not only the old Neanderthal man there, but the new female executive manager was present too. It seemed they were both waiting for him. Aircrew Base was a closed base with few outsiders coming and going. Other than when Chen Fei and the old Neanderthal man alternated on guard duty, hardly anyone else came to the Energy Tower. If there were visitors, they were mostly the after-sale service personnel from the Energy Tower manufacturer coming for annual inspections, which happened at most twice a year. For the most part, the computer system monitored itself with automated reports, and high automation replaced human operation. With the current electricity consumption rate of the Aircrew Base, it was feared that it would take ten years to replenish the fuel for the fusion reaction plugins. The lifespan of the Energy Tower was much longer than that; the Energy Tower with the longest operating life from the Third Era Civilization had been running without faults for 300 years. "You''ve arrived just in time; we were just talking about you." Hanna Gagar eyed Chen Fei up and down with her one eye, making him feel uneasy. What on earth did this woman want? Chen Fei carefully ventured, "Is, is there something you need? Manager Hanna." "Your special ability has awakened, and it cannot continue to go to waste. Only I can teach you how to control your special ability here at the Aircrew Base." Executive Manager Hanna Gagar rose gracefully from her seat. As a Wind-type supernatural power user, although not of the Metallic series, she still had the qualifications to guide Chen Fei into the doorway of the supernatural power community. "Wait a minute! I, he..." Chen Fei wasn''t ready at all, neither mentally nor physically. He looked puzzledly at Old Master Barut, the old Neanderthal man who was still kind of training him. Now with another ability to deal with, where would he find the time! Even a work team''s donkey couldn''t be treated this harshly! "I''m okay with it, as long as it doesn''t interfere. Come on, squat down." Barut waved his hand and casually took the food box from Chen Fei''s hands, placing it on the table and opening the lid - he immediately beamed with joy. Pig''s ears, pig''s tails, sheep''s trotters, cow''s hooves ¨C truly great snacks to accompany drinks. "Squat down in a horse stance, and I''ll explain slowly." Manager Hanna took out a bottle of red wine, patted the body of the bottle, and the cork, breaking through the wax seal, popped out by itself. She hadn''t come empty-handed; she poured the wine into a decanter and swirled it, then divided it into two wine glasses. Pig''s ears paired with red wine was a much more refined combination than salty pork slices with vodka. Facing two people he couldn''t afford to provoke, Chen Fei could only grimace and suck in his chest, tuck in his belly, stand with his waist upright, open his hips, drop his shoulders, and raise his groin, half-squatting down into a perfect toilet step position, also known as the horse stance. A work team''s horse would definitely not be able to squat in such a way, so the correct term should be the toilet step. - Stay connected with m-v l|e''-novelhall.net Chapter 79: Section 79 - Mastering Special Ability Ding! The two stem glasses lightly clinked against each other. The old Neanderthal man tilted his head back and downed half a glass of red wine in one go, smacking his lips and making a tsk-tsk sound, but he shook his head. "Apart from having a higher alcohol content, it''s still not as good as my blueberry wine." The old man was honest, calling it like he saw it, never going against his own heart. This evaluation took Hanna Gagar by surprise. She put down her stem glass and said earnestly, "Can I try it?" She looked toward the small garden enveloping the energy tower and found the lush blueberry bushes, where the temperature and humidity were both very pleasant, no different from a real greenhouse or warm shed. While conducive to plant growth, these conditions weren''t necessarily good for fruit setting. As if sensing Hanna Gagar''s skepticism, Barut nodded and said, "Of course, please wait a moment!" He turned and left, and before long, he returned with a bottle full of purple liquid and two more stem glasses. As an old drunk, various drinking vessels were indispensable. While pouring the wine, the Neanderthal elder said, "Only with a large temperature differential between day and night can sweet, delicious fruits be grown. When it''s time to fruit, I move them outside." In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, except for winter, the temperature differential between day and night during spring, summer, and autumn was always significant, especially in summer when the highest daytime temperatures could reach over thirty degrees Celsius, plummeting to freezing cold after nightfall. As for winter, almost 95% of the time, the temperatures remained below zero degree Celsius. Constant temperature was only suitable for blooming and leaf growth, but it wouldn''t yield good fruit, and Barut had put a lot of effort into caring for these plants and flowers. You reap what you sow; the blueberries harvested each year were enough to make hundreds of pounds of fruit wine. Along with a few other types of fruit wine, it allowed the Neanderthal elder, who tended to his garden in his spare time, to be self-sufficient and enjoy his drink freely. The fruit wines that weren''t consumed in time were sealed and refrigerated, which allowed them to be preserved even longer. If one was willing to sacrifice some flavor, using a distiller to increase the alcohol content could extend the preservation time even further. However, the esters produced during the aging of high-proof spirits couldn''t compensate for the lost original fruit aromas, which could be a bit of a loss. Discover exclusive tales on m,v l''e-novelhall.net After taking a small sip and savoring it in her mouth for a moment, Hanna Gagar nodded and said, "Barut, your blueberry wine indeed has more flavor than the dry red from Lamlin Vineyards I brought." "Hey, hey, that''s enough from you two!" "Supernatural power users are not unique to Blue Star¡ªamong the Human Race of Cangqiong Star, there will occasionally be supernatural power users who suddenly awaken, although they are very rare. It''s more suitable there for the emergence of mages and war professionals." "At the beginning of an awakening, a Special Ability is already set in stone and cannot be changed, and the room for growth is very limited, unlike mages who have a clear system. At least currently, there isn''t any. Chen Fei, as a Metal Ability User, you cannot activate a Wind-type Psionic Ability as I can. However, a mage could, although the efficiency would vary greatly. Elemental magic that is compatible with one''s Affinity is doubly effective, while the low-affinity ones are less effective, and may even be unstable." "Therefore, for every Ability User, the most important thing is control, precise control over one''s Special Ability. Whoever uses it more skillfully is the more powerful one. There are no trash Special Abilities, only trash Ability Users. Did you understand?" Hanna Gagel downed the Blueberry Wine in her tall glass, waiting for Chen Fei''s response. "Control? How do you control it?" Although he understood, when it came to applying it to himself, Chen Fei quickly became confused again. "Precisely speaking, it means using your Special Ability just right in the most suitable place, for example, if you want to eat a boiled egg, Method 1: swallow it whole, Method 2: use a mini-drill to saw open the shell, Method 3: tap it on the table and then peel, Method 4: boil it, cool it in cold water, tap the shell and easily peel it off." Hanna Gagel''s tall glass was refilled once again. After trying the Blueberry Wine, she lost all interest in the dry red wine she brought with her. Wine, also a kind of fruit wine, might be finely brewed in a winery, but it still couldn''t compare to this Neanderthal elder''s homemade wine. Barut was quite willing to share his labor''s fruits. Drinking alone is called solitary drinking, which one can''t do for long, and it''s also easy to get drunk. Drinking is about having more people for the atmosphere. Drinking, well, is all for the sake of a Happy time. Otherwise, getting yourself dizzy, what''s the fun in that? After the female executive manager made her analogy, Chen Fei immediately understood and said, "It''s about efficiency, the cost-effectiveness ratio." The degree of efficiency in using Special Abilities all depends on control. No wonder she kept emphasizing the control of Special Abilities. "It''s roughly the same idea. Because of differences in understanding, the effects of Special Abilities often vary from person to person." The executive manager stretched out her hand, and a small tornado formed in her palm, emitting a soft whistling sound. With a light pinch, it dissipated into nothingness. She continued, "The essence of wind is air, the variations in gas density, the changes in gas pressure, are the external manifestations of energy flow. Once you understand the essence of wind, you''ll also need a bit of imagination." Hanna Gagel gently pushed towards the door of the house, and a loud thud resonated, followed by a blast of air, creating a whirlwind inside the steel-structured shack. Witnessing this, Chen Fei couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Barut discreetly timed the duration, fifteen minutes had passed, a teachable scholar indeed. - Chapter 80: Section 80 - The Female Executive Managers Advice Once supernatural abilities are awakened, they are essentially set in stone, with little room for growth. Although the growth potential of magic and Battle Qi is far greater than that of supernatural abilities, their starting point is very low. A rookie who has just been exposed to magic and Battle Qi is definitely no match for someone whose abilities have just awakened¡ªas the former starts at level 1, and the latter starts at level 95, there''s naturally no basis for comparison. However, all roads lead to Rome, and the ultimate limits one can reach are still confined by individual talent. Ultimately, whether one is stronger or not depends on how their abilities are utilized and their personal intelligence. "Even abilities within the same category have distinctions. The characteristics of your Metal Elemental Psychic Power need to be discovered by you, bit by bit. They are like treasures that have always been there, waiting to be found." Hanna Gagel''s gaze fell on Chen Fei; a defensive light weapon kinetic energy bullet was quite a practical characteristic. If this young man couldn''t unearth other characteristics of his abilities, being a natural human shield would suffice to land him a decent job as a bodyguard. At any rate, blocking bullets at close range would be a breeze. When Hanna Gagel said these words, she didn''t avoid speaking in front of the Neanderthal tribe elder, Grandpa Barut. In his younger days, this old fellow was a guard for the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization and might even surpass her in familiarity and understanding of supernatural abilities. "Uh... what characteristics are there? Could you tell me?" Chen Fei was completely dumbstruck, as supernatural abilities were a world away from who he used to be, seemingly unbridgeable. The few talent tests he had undergone since childhood failed to reveal any supernatural abilities. Therefore, more detailed information was withheld from Chen Fei¡ªbig data and cloud technology would even actively block him. What he knew was limited to snippets of hearsay, which wasn''t much. For the average person, knowing these things isn''t very meaningful and can lead to wild thoughts that needlessly disturb one''s mood. "Regardless of the type of ability, the first step after awakening is to determine if it''s an internal control type or an external control type. Taking your Metal Elemental Psychic Power as an example, if it is external control type, you can control the metal outside your body at will, like vibrating, moving, deforming, fusing, extracting, etc. If it''s internal control type, you can give your body certain metal-like characteristics, such as hardness, conductivity, basic transformation, and sharpness, etc." Hanna Gagel took out a coin with a face value of one Star Yuan and said to Chen Fei, "Now hold the horse stance, open your right hand, and feel this coin." No wonder Old Master Barut said that the Toilet Step and practicing abilities didn''t conflict¡ªit turned out that one required physical movement while the other required mental effort. "Ding! Alloy Body 7 grams detected, absorb? Yes/No|." Eh?! Besides the icon for "My System" in the top-left corner of his field of vision, a line of text dropped down from above, hovering inside the boundary, with a grey gear symbol on the right. 7 grams? Chen Fei focused his attention on "Yes" and then mentally repeated it. "Yes!~" The Star Yuan coin that lay quietly in the palm of his right hand disappeared in an instant, more precisely, it sank swiftly into his palm and vanished. "Absorbed Alloy Body 7 grams, composition ratio: Iron 75%, Chromium 15%, Copper 5%, Nickel 3%, Aluminum 1%, Molybdenum 0.5%, Titanium 0.4%, Niobium 0.3%, Carbon 0.1%..." I can''t squeeze out a shit! The one Star Yuan coin in the palm of his hand didn''t react at all, nothing happened. "It seems it won''t work!" Hanna Gagel shook her head regretfully, and then said, "Too bad, your Metal Elemental Psychic Power seems to be of the Internal control type, devouring metal to strengthen yourself, you need to eat more and gain more weight, and become a fat person, increasing your body weight to maximize the advantages of being a meat shield." Internal control types can only take care of themselves, leaning toward conservatism and defense. External control types of supernatural powers have a broader range of applications and are more aggressive. Hanna Gagel''s Wind-type Psionic Ability is an external control type that can be projected outward. In fact, most Wind-type Ability Users are external control types, as the free wind requires more space. A small number of Internal control type Wind Series Ability Users are relatively awkward, with few characteristics and limited means, they should at least not give off an internal sensation when it matters... Chen Fei said with a disgusted face, "I don''t want to become a fat person!" A wide body and plump stature make it natural to be more suitable as a meat shield. He neither wanted to be a meat shield nor did he want to be a fat person, not even a nimble fat person would do, being heavyset really damages one''s personal image. The female executive manager shrugged her shoulders, respecting Chen Fei''s choice, and continued, "That''s all for today. Later, I will give you a practice manual for Internal control type Metal Elemental Psychic Powers. Practice well, master it as soon as possible, and also, while the foreign delegations from Sky Dragon City are still here, I suggest you take the time to consult with that Metallic Dragon. To some extent, the Innate Abilities of the Metallic Dragons are equivalent to Internal control type Metal Elemental Psychic Powers. Opportunities like this are rare." Chen Fei had a moment of realization and nodded, "So that''s how it is, thanks, Manager Hanna." Before his Ability Awakening, he couldn''t access this kind of knowledge, but encyclopedias related to various creatures of Cangqiong Star, including the Dragon Clan, had long been selected for the basic educational textbooks on Blue Star. Even if you haven''t eaten pork, at least you''ve seen a pig run. There are many movies and TV shows on Blue Star and Cangqiong Star in this regard, and scenes featuring Metallic Dragons are numerous, whether they are heroes or villains, all without exception show off their abilities. If you consider the Innate Abilities of the Dragon Race as Special Abilities, then their ability level can be regarded as quite high-end. If Manager Hanna hadn''t made this suggestion, Chen Fei might have completely missed this chance. Hanna Gagel waved her hand and picked up Barut''s Blueberry Wine bottle in one hand and a goblet in the other, gracefully swaying her waist, walked toward the door, and with a swing of her impressively curved behind, she strode away. "Grandpa Barut, how long has it been?" Chen Fei looked at the Neanderthal elder, feeling like he had squatted for too long, his whole body numb. "Hmm, today''s performance wasn''t bad, it''s been over half an hour," Barut said with a smile, pointing at the timer on his phone. 35 minutes 45 seconds, 46 seconds, 47 seconds... "Ah!!!" - Chapter 81: Section 81 - My System ``` The elite warrior of the Neanderthal tribe swung out a sky full of palm shadows, and little Chen Fei was slapped dizzy. When he finally regained the ability to move, his whole body felt like it had just been fished out of water. Just to think, only an hour ago, he had taken a bath. After finishing the sparring session, the old man wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "Alright, go take a shower later, get a good night''s sleep, and I''ll come to get you tomorrow morning." "I''m almost dead!" Chen Fei replied weakly. If it weren''t for his stiff muscles being forcibly dispersed by the blows and his blood circulation reviving, he might indeed have died. "Hehe, young man, you still have a long life ahead of you, stop talking about death all the time, I''m off!" Barut picked up the snacks Chen Fei had brought for drinking, not leaving a single one behind, and even took off with the red wine that Manager Hanna had brought. Since the cork wasn''t put back after opening the bottle, it was left open for a while, and the wine should have aired just right. It was the perfect time to drink it. Now, Chen Fei was the only person left in the steel structured shed housing the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower. A rant absolutely needs to be said! Unfortunately, there''s no one to hear... The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu curled up in its nest, sleeping soundly. After a hot shower, Chen Fei relaxed and collapsed onto the bed inside the hut. He was so tossed around the whole day that he didn''t want to move at all. His gaze shifted to the upper left corner. "My System," this was a text icon. "My System... Oh crap!" Chen Fei involuntarily read it out loud, and as the icon flashed, it was selected and activated. Damn it, too curious again... An interface window popped up before his eyes, scaring the hell out of him! This damn system is kind of like Schro?dinger''s cat, no user manual at all, totally reliant on guessing! Who knows what the hell the next interface will be. Before this, he''d suffered enough from this "Phantosmia." The window that popped up had several neatly arranged icons. 1. System Settings ¡¸Chen Fei<( ?3 ?)>: This seems pretty standard.¡¹ 2. App Market¡ù Suddenly it flashed and changed to "Skill Shop" ¡¸Chen Fei¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã)_: This is wrong, it wasn''t these four words just now, why did it suddenly change?¡¹ 3. My Apps¡ù Another flash, it turned into "My Skills" ¡¸Chen Fei(¡Ñ?¡Ñ): Emmm, this ghost system even comes with on-the-fly editing, this system is haunted!!¡¹ He could only continue reading. 4. Individual Information ¡¸Chen Fei(¡ª¡ª!): I have a bad feeling about this¡¹ 5. Task List Chen Fei suddenly sat up. There are tasks??? This is a trap! Can''t we just play nicely together? Screw it! Looks like... I can only chill by myself! Instead of waking up with a jolt, for once, I got a good night''s sleep. The sleeping pills the doctor prescribed don''t seem necessary anymore. - Early in the morning, eager to get to Hangar 1, the "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft number 216 had been dismantled for a full seven days, down to the very screws. If it wasn''t for the hands-on teaching, it would have taken no more than two days to dismantle it. The tortured turboprop 216: Hey you, I think I can still be saved. Chief Mechanic Xiao had personally shown Chen Fei how to disassemble the light turboprop aircraft, and now Chen Fei had to reassemble it by himself. It had to be done in one go, ignite on the first try, and take two flights before he could be considered trained. After being an assistant for a while longer, he would be able to work independently. Mechanics trained this way can''t be considered fully qualified but are only suitable as maintenance personnel for a specific aircraft type, still unqualified to work on other models. If he wanted to get his hands on the two Z-9 armed helicopters in the hangar, it looks like he would have to start all over again from scratch. As soon as he walked into the sprawling work area, someone called out to him. "Chen Fei, your job for the next few days is to accompany Yilan, the diplomatic envoy from Sky Dragon City until the diplomatic mission returns to Cangqiong Star." The person addressing him was Executive Manager Hanna Gagel, who had managed to confront him on the spot. "But..." Chen Fei had just picked up a set of hex keys when he glanced at the completely misshapen "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft. Compared to the female Metallic Dragons, the airplane looked much more lovable. "No buts, I''ve already notified the Chief Mechanic." Hanna Gagel continued, "I''ve sent information about internal control type Metal Ability Users to your employee account. Make sure to check it when you have a moment." The executive manager was efficient; she had only mentioned it last night, and by this morning, it was ready. "Go on, you can put it back together in a few days; we''re not in a hurry to use it." Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming approached. Hanna Gagel was not only the executive manager of the Aircrew Base but also the boss of all mid-level managers. The helpless turboprop 216: Save me... Taking advantage of Manager Hanna''s presence, Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to say, "Manager Hanna, I need a raise!" He was risking his life for money, so he had every right to be bold. "How much?" The female executive manager smiled enigmatically at the young man. "Five thousand, no less." Chen Fei thought for a moment and summoned the courage to hold out his hand. Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming was about to interject on his behalf, but upon hearing the amount, he fell silent. He had expected a request for fifty thousand, not this measly amount! Young man, you should be bolder! Be bold to ride dragons and tigers; be timid, and you''ll be stuck riding cat''s tails. Be bold, and your path will widen. "Deal. Your Special Ability training guidance fee is five thousand a day. That''s settled." Hanna Gagel''s expression turned even more mysterious, and she walked away immediately after saying this indisputably. An unforeseen daily fee of five thousand Star Yuan for Special Ability training guidance left Chen Fei dumbfounded on the spot, and it took him a while to come to his senses, looking at Xiao Ming. "Boss, what does she mean by that?" "You could''ve asked for more next time." Chief Mechanic Xiao remained expressionless, paused, and then added, "Special Ability training guidance fee, five thousand Star Yuan, it''s not expensive!" Honest people, no matter the occasion, always speak the most heartfelt words. - Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-novelhall.net Chapter 82: Section 82 - Energy Points +10 Superpower levels on Blue Star are classified into G, F, E, D, C, B, A, and S levels. G-level is the weakest, with a supernatural reaction limited only to personal perception or close-range external control, and the duration of power is very brief. It does not have practical professional value and is known as a civilian superpower level along with F-level, mainly for personal amusement. Starting from F-level, superpowers begin to have professional tactical value. A-level is the regular upper limit of tactical superpower level. Above that is the S-level, which involves strategic level powers, often a core asset of large consortia and sovereign militaries, rarely seen in public. Hanna Gagar was not only the former Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group and the current executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, but also a C-level Wind-type supernatural power user who provided one-on-one instructions to newly awakened supernatural power users, charging five thousand Star Yuan a day, which is not cheap but also far from exorbitant, only said to be average industry standard. However, what Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming referred to as "not expensive" was that a C-level supernatural power user was willing to instruct others in controlling their powers, especially for a newly awakened individual like Chen Fei, which is somewhat an overkill. This level of supernatural power users often do not have the spare time to guide rookies who know nothing and are even too lazy to talk more, even casually doing something else would earn more. As a high-level talent with special abilities and also the highest responsible person of a subsidiary unit under the Apocalypse Defense Group, Hanna Gagar''s monthly salary is definitely more than 150,000 Star Yuan. "Next time I''m definitely asking for a higher price!" Chen Fei gritted his teeth. Damn it! He failed to get a raise and even let that one-eyed woman dismiss it offhand. Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming, as if recalling something, then said, "Little Chen, a batch of fighter wreckage has just been declassified and sent to the recycle station, take some time to disassemble it." The vast resources brought by the "Luo Jing Number" Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Airship could not be sorted in a day or two, and the logistics department still could not spare the manpower to deal with the daily accumulation of garbage and waste at the entire Aircrew Base. This task was essentially dumped on the newcomer, Chen Fei. Luckily, the workload was manageable, disassembling and recycling every few days were sufficient to cope, with most of it being fragmented tasks that needed monitoring but were not worth long-term stationing. "Boss, is that pile of junk still there?" Chen Fei thought that the wreckage of those fighters had already been disassembled or taken away. The day they fought against the Metallic Dragons Bit, the fighters lost weren''t only from the 911 Aircrew Base''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s two "Big Mouth Monsters" and the two prematurely fallen American-made MiG-28s; other bases also suffered losses. When 911 Aircrew Base collected the wreckage of the fighters, they also gathered all the nearby fallen fuselages, totaling almost seven or eight, almost a full combat squadron. Xiao Ming nodded and answered, "Yep! Because of secrecy regulations." The reason it has been stored until now was primarily to check if any fragments from the Metallic Dragons were mixed in. Only today had they finally completed the inspection and began the disassembly and recycling process. "Understood!" Chen Fei immediately made an OK gesture. He was already well acquainted with the recycling station''s procedures. "That Metallic Dragon seems to feed on metal; you could maintain a good relationship with it." Chief Mechanic Xiao felt he should remind his little brother on how to increase his survival odds when dealing with Metallic Dragons. If luck favored him and he conned a SEG core unit or something, it would be a huge windfall. Not only could he clear out his debt, but he could also make a big profit. Xiao Ming didn''t stop Chen Fei from earning that death-defying ten thousand Star Yuan a day, primarily considering this very point. The HR manager, Takar''s fellow villagers, were so jealous they were practically fuming. "Thanks for the heads-up, boss." Chen Fei nodded. Pfft!~~~~~~! All paws in the air, dog-paddle style! Yilan had no sleep manners, a large swatch of lush grass already troubled away. Grinding teeth, kicking covers, farting, talking in sleep, snoring¡ªall the vices were present. It seemed understandable why Illusion Dragon Clodia rested inside Hangar 2, while this female Metallic Dragon chose the sky as cover and the ground as bed for her open-air slumber. "Yilan!" Discover stories with m,v l''e-novelhall.net Chen Fei called out from afar. Pfft! The female Metallic Dragon flopped over, replying with a fart. Uh, a real fart! Deadly stinky, that fart definitely was toxic! Chen Fei, almost knocked over by the stench, shook his head and called out loudly, "Yilan, time''s up!" "Ah! Time''s up? Time''s up! Time..." Just like a carp trying to leap straight up, the female Metallic Dragon nervously looked around, shivering in fright, and then looked down at the non-existent test paper. No test paper! Scared to death! After sighing in relief, Yilan finally remembered the voice and looked in that direction, about to get angry but paused when she saw Chen Fei. "Chen Fei, what''s up?" "Time to get up!" Chen Fei pointed at the screen of his old cell phone. The worn-out screen had been polished so it could be clearly seen again. It was 9:00 AM, work time, girl! Right next to the runway was one of the loudest places in the world¡ªand that''s no exaggeration. It''s got to be said, this Metallic Dragon sure kept her heart big, choosing such a "great spot." If she were to be awakened by the roar of the "Big Mouth Monster''s" engine later, it would definitely not be as simple as "time''s up." "You shouldn''t disturb a lady''s beauty sleep." Having recognized Chen Fei, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan relaxed again and moved to another patch of grass and cocooned herself with Blade Wing. Chen Fei teased, "I''ve got a new batch of metal here, don''t you want to try it?" The ferocious dragon head peeked through the gap in Blade Wing, staring intently at him. "Is it tasty?" "Try it and see, it''s free, there''s nothing to lose." Chen Fei spread his hands out. Young dragons couldn''t resist food at all. The Dragon swung her Blade Wing and with leaves scattered, Yilan shouted energetically, "Time to wake up, kissy face!" - Chapter 83: Section 83 - How Steel Is Made ``` State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 11/11 Burst Strength: 10/55 Fullness: 95% Active Time: 110 hours Energy Points: 12/5000 Chen Fei took a moment to glance at the system''s "Individual Information". 10 Energy Points in hand, but... what''s that good for? The cheapest "Physical Evolution Database" on the first page of the "Skill Shop" costs 99 Energy Points, and he was still 87 points short. He had no idea when he would be able to gather enough. Arriving at the recycle station, Chen Fei saw a huge rectangular solid made of neatly stacked cardboard boxes with clear edges and corners. The repeatedly sifted and cleaned wreckage of the fighter jets had finally been brought here, and they had been violently disassembled. Metals were with metals, plastics with plastics, and even standard fasteners had been sorted and packed into cardboard boxes. Such meticulous work could only be done by the mechanical repair team. For others, facing modular assembly components, they wouldn''t know where to begin and could only stare blankly. Lack of technological skills meant that violent cuts were another matter. Disassembled like this, it did save a lot of trouble. At least it wasn''t necessary to throw everything into a reaction tank for biological degradation. "Eat it directly, or smelt it first?" Chen Fei looked toward the eager female Metallic Dragon. Applying the philosophy of cuisine to metal smelting, Emmm... he could truly get creative. Just take flour as an example, it''s all about creativity! "Of course, it''s..." Yilan instinctively wanted to choose direct consumption, but before she could speak, she suddenly changed her mind. "Of course, it''s to try different alloy formulas." The taste of different metal compositions would vary, and previously, being preoccupied with filling their bellies, they seldom had the chance to order such a meal. The Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star never indulged the Metallic Dragons they reared, providing food that was only sufficient for warmth and satiation, rarely offering a change in flavor. In fact, it was already quite good for the juvenile dragons to eat their fill. To dream of a refined diet and achieve Mithril freedom, even if they ruled over the entire Empire of Cangqiong Star, it would still be too much to bear. Blue Star''s reserves of Mithril were much richer than those of Cangqiong Star, virtually ubiquitous across the planet, with traces in every handful of dirt, but the concentration was extremely low, making it difficult to form ore bodies and limiting the output. Smelting was very troublesome, and the cost, while slightly lower than on Cangqiong Star, was still not much lower. Blue Star itself didn''t have enough for its own use, struggling to squeeze out a portion for trade with Cangqiong Star each year. How could they afford to feed it to dragons? "Yilan, could you help identify the metal materials in the boxes and pick out the excess? Let''s try to accumulate enough for one or two rough ingots." Chen Fei continued to open the cardboard boxes, setting aside the ones with fewer metal materials. He planned to throw them all into the reaction tank later, where after a period of biological degradation, the inorganics and metals would finally be separated. "This is too easy!" Yilan gladly took up Chen Fei''s suggestion, without a hint of refusal. She pounced on the pile of boxes, and thanks to the Metallic Dragons'' innate ability to sense metal materials, she could tell how much metal each box contained without even opening them. Moving quickly and efficiently, in no time, she sorted them into two piles, with the majority having more metal substances. The automatic feeding smelting furnace glowed with intense heat as the temperature surged. All kinds of metal shapes quickly turned red as if they were candle wax, softening and eventually converging into a blob. A liquid sphere, glowing like a miniature sun, was suspended in the middle of the furnace under the restraint of a magnetic field, with the temperature display reaching 2600 degrees Celsius, fluctuating by less than 10 degrees. Continue your journey on m|v-l''e -novelhall.net As the magnetic field shifted, the molten liquid metal sphere fell into a crucible and then slowly poured into a mold. After cooling down, it formed the most basic rough ingots. If one wanted to reuse these metals, the rough ingots could be processed as raw material. In many places where high requirements were not necessary, the metal products made from these rough ingots were more than sufficient, completely up to the task. Under the mist of cooling water, the surface of the mold hissed as the steam diffused unremittingly. A minute later, the rough ingot, still hot to the touch, was removed. The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, bit into it eagerly. "The mithril content can reach at least 60%, plus there''s dark gold." The taste of mithril was like cheese, both sweet and savory, while dark gold felt like hazelnuts, both crunchy and fragrant. The high temperature of 2600 degrees Celsius in the smelting furnace had not been enough to melt tungsten (with a melting point of 3410 degrees Celsius), so many un-melted tungsten scraps remained inside the rough ingot, giving it a texture like cheese sticks with a nutty heart. Every bite was filled with happiness, and the moved Yilan felt like crying. It wasn''t often that Metallic Dragons had the opportunity to dismantle attack aircraft and re-melt them for a feast. Clang! A half-ingot flew over, crashing heavily in front of Chen Fei. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan soberly said, "Half for you, half for me!" "Ah?" Chen Fei stared at the rough ingot at his feet, somewhat stunned, noting the fierce bite marks on it. The idea of a Metallic Dragon willingly sharing its food was practically unheard of. It was instinctive for creatures to protect their food. Even domestic cats and dogs, if someone dared to touch their current meal, a snap would be the lightest punishment¡ªthe more temperamental ones might turn aggressive and disown you on the spot. If even ordinary animals behaved like that, how much more so for the notoriously temperamental and malicious Metallic Dragons? Anyone daring to touch their food would face a relentless fight to the death. That was standard operating procedure. Yilan, eager to share the delicious meal and her emotions, urged, "Eat it while it''s hot, it''s both fragrant and tender!" It seemed she had somewhat forgotten that the one in front of her was a human, not a Metallic Dragon. - Chapter 84: Section 84 - The System is Toxic Frankly, the half chunk of titanium-containing alloy rough ingot was quite tempting to Chen Fei. Not sure about its tenderness but it smelled pretty good. Chen Fei didn''t have the abilities of the Metallic Giant Dragons, who could identify the composition and approximate content of metal materials just by smell. Facing Yilan''s enthusiasm, he still hesitated. "This doesn''t seem quite right!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, however, said menacingly, "If you don''t eat, it means you''re not giving face, I''ll kill you!" No sooner said than done, she was ready to rampage¡ªher straightforwardness was lethal. - A few people were forcefully heading back to the junkyard. Leading with a puffed chest and belly was Takar, the HR manager of Aircrew Base 911, who was saying with a stern face to another person lagging half a step behind him, "Sanjani, this is the last time I''m helping you, you should be aware, Chen Fei''s boss, the chief mechanic Xiao Ming, is not easy to mess with. When he gets mad, even Chekhov gets pinned to the ground and beaten up. How many hits do you think you can take?" The bruised Sanjani pleaded with Takar, hands clasped, "Uncle Takar, just help me this once, please, I really can''t swallow this insult. Why should that kid get to make a fortune? That money should be ours." Although Takar''s fellow villagers were cheap laborers, they were not resigned to watching others eat meat while they could only miserably lick the soup. They might not have much ability, but they certainly weren''t lacking in ambition. Especially when it came to a rare opportunity for some extra cash, how could these arrogant, low-skilled individuals just stand by and watch a newcomer, who had been at the Aircrew Base for only a month, snap it up? Exactly, snap it up! If he didn''t leave the opponent with a face full of mandrake blooms, then all his years of drinking Heng River water had been in vain. Thinking that as a middle management staff of the aircrew base, he should not be afraid to handle a newbie who had been on the job for only a month, the fully charged HR manager Takar, accompanied by Sanjani and a few other locals had just reached the recycling station, when he saw that female Metallic Giant Dragon violently threatening the young man named Chen Fei. "If you don''t eat, it means you''re not giving face, I''ll kill you!" Eat what? The metal ingot with tooth marks was still lying there on the ground! The next second, HR manager Takar turned his head without hesitation and walked away, farewell! Eh?!!! Sanjani and the others, confused, quickly followed him. "Uncle, uncle, why are you leaving?" A big slap flew his way. Smack!~ It hit him squarely. "Ouch, uncle why are you hitting me?" Sanjani covered his face, feeling utterly baffled. "Hitting you? Hitting you is the least I could do. Are you blind or deaf?" After hurrying out a dozen meters or so, Takar finally slowed down, turned back, and glared angrily at these good-for-nothing rascals, truly a disgrace. "Ah?" Sanjani still hadn''t caught on, continuing to look dazed and confused. He felt that the slap was somewhat unjust. Takar said angrily, "So you guys really want to court death?" Being one of the mid-level managers at Aircrew Base, he naturally had some skills, even if not capable, his perceptiveness was definitely not lacking. Due to the short melting time and the internal convection movement of the molten metal, the quality of the Alloy Ingot was uneven, with each bite altering the composition slightly. Metallic Dragons: Crunch, crunch... Chen Fei: Crunch, crunch... System: Ding! 67 kilograms of Alloy Body discovered. Would you like to absorb it: Yes/No|? System: Absorbed 111 grams of Alloy Body, composition ratio: Titanium 61%, Aluminum 15%, Iron 13%, Nickel 5%, Molybdenum 2%, Lithium 1%... System: Absorbed 97 grams of Alloy Body, composition ratio: Titanium 59%, Iron 16%, Aluminum 13%, Nickel 3%, Tungsten 2%, Molybdenum 1%... System: Absorbed 101 grams of Alloy Body, composition ratio:... ... Unable to refuse Yilan''s generous hospitality, Chen Fei had to reluctantly sit together, each holding half a Metal Ingot and munching away. .net Neither the man nor the dragon found anything unusual. But from a distance, the sneakily spying Sanjani looked ashen-faced. This isn''t right, not right at all. He wanted to burst out and righteously challenge Chen, questioning why he could eat Metal Ingots¡ªit was entirely unscientific. Even with Pica, you can''t just treat hard Alloy Ingots like chocolate! That''s brutal! Just being able to bite into them was baffling enough. "Sanjani, is that guy still human?" "My god, is that a chunk of iron? He bit it right off." "Terrifying, truly!!!" The few who had come along turned pale, almost mistaking it for two Metallic Dragons at the recycling center. Those teeth, that appetite, clearly not human! "I don''t know, I don''t know, don''t ask me, I know nothing..." The distraught Sanjani sat down with a thump, but the next second he jumped up as if his pants were on fire and started running. All thoughts of confronting Chen Fei had vanished in a whiff. He had no courage to also grab a piece of metal and gnaw on it. "Hey, Sanjani, what''s wrong?" "Hurry up, don''t be rash!" The few underlings quickly chased after him, soon disappearing without a trace. - Ding! Devoured 1 ton of metal, earned Energy Points +1, Current Energy Points: 12/5000 Ding! New mission acquired! 1. Kill a good person within seventy-two hours to earn Energy Points +100 (Failure to complete on time, death!) Bang!~ The small chunk of Alloy Ingot that Chen Fei had been holding fell to the ground, creating a small crater. Damn... this system is toxic!!! - Chapter 85: Section 85 - Unable to Perceive Chen Fei had never imagined, that as an utterly ordinary person, he would develop "pica" in his lifetime. Well, let''s just call it "pica," since it involves eating all sorts of things, particularly things that shouldn''t be eaten. After all, he wasn''t the only one in the world with "pica." Not to mention eating metals, there were others who ate glass, ceramics, and even soil and gnawed on rocks¡ªvarious nonsensical behaviors, which was why they were collectively termed as "pica." In the past, he had been careful and cautious, never daring to be greedy. Explore more stories with m,v l''e-novelhall.net But now, being urged by the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, he had thrown caution to the wind and let himself go with the flow. To hell with it, eat first and worry later. The taste of metal was surprisingly not bad, and it wasn''t as hard as expected¡ªhe even prepared himself for the possibility that despite the pain, he would not be able to bite through. Yet, he easily bit off a large chunk and, marveling at his excellent teeth, Chen Fei thought that the mysterious "My System" would open up a new world for him. He never expected that after two novice tasks, another task would suddenly pop up. The alloy ingot in his hand suddenly lost its appeal. Mr/Miss System, what are you trying to pull?! Killing a good person? I am a good person, should I just commit suicide?! Damn it! Detecting Chen Fei''s odd behavior, the blissfully munching female Metallic Dragon Yilan looked over in confusion and said, "Why have you stopped eating? Are you full?" "Ah..." Chen Fei was momentarily stunned, then regained his composure and nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, I''m full!" He had indeed lost his appetite because of the sudden system task. Swoosh!~ The half-piece of alloy ingot that fell to the ground was swiftly coiled up by a flexible Dragon''s Tail; the next second, it landed in Yilan''s massive mouth with fangs, munching and mumbling, "Can''t waste food!" Clang, clang, clang... it wasn''t Chen Fei''s system making a racket, but Xiao Jiu, the mischievous little creature, pecking around. Having seen its dad enjoying something tasty, it too wanted a taste. The Pure Light Sparrow, even as a Magical Beast in bird form, who only feasted on chick feed pellets and live mealworms, lacked the robust teeth of Chen Fei and Yilan and couldn''t peck through the metal¡ªapart from producing a series of crisp, pleasant sounds, it made not a single mark. "Chen Fei, uh! Can''t finish it, can I take it away? Uh!~" The female Metallic Dragon, belching contentedly, emitted satisfied groans. After two days of feasting on large chunks, it finally reached a point where it couldn''t nibble anymore. The only source of psychic power fluctuations came from the Little Bird hopping on the other''s shoulder. "Jiu!~" The Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow, not even reaching the First Rank of Human Order, had nothing noteworthy about it. Manager Hanna Gagel slightly frowned, pondered for a moment, and speculated, "Perhaps it''s due to the Supernatural Ability Suppressant." Supernatural powers include the Wind Series, Fire System, Metallic, etc., and naturally include the Psychic Series. The categorization of supernatural power types on Blue Star is basically consistent with that on Cangqiong Star: ten systems of Magic (excluding Metallic), ten systems of Battle Qi (excluding Metallic), and eleven systems of Special Abilities. The Supernatural Ability Suppressants on Blue Star are broad-spectrum functional suppressants capable of effectively suppressing all supernatural powers, and might even suppress psychic power fluctuations, making the Psychic Dragon from Sky Dragon City unable to sense psychic power and therefore unable to use it as a bridge to search Chen Fei''s memory. Manager Hanna summoned an underling, whispered a few words, and the underling hurried away, soon returning with an object in hand. That object resembled a frame-like helmet with a small LCD screen attached. After receiving it, Hanna Gagel placed it directly onto Chen Fei''s head. Beep!~ The frame-like helmet emitted an electronic sound. "Psychic power 2.1 degrees, Chen Fei, it seems you were at 0.9 degrees before you joined the company." Hanna Gagel, as the executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, was not unprepared, having all of the personal information of each employee memorized. "Ah! Yes!" Chen Fei nodded, recognizing the device on his head. The Psychic Power Strength Detector, which is commonly used for physical examinations, everyone had it placed on their head during university check-ups every year, and in just two seconds, it could determine the intensity index of the psychic power fluctuations, and more advanced ones could even differentiate wave patterns. Each person''s psychic power wave pattern is unique, with the probability of similarity far lower than that of fingerprints. In some special fields, psychic wave pattern characteristics are even used as identification keys, ensuring high security. "It must be your awakening of a Special Ability that has increased your psychic power strength," Hanna Gagel said as she removed the Psychic Power Strength Detector from Chen Fei and handed it back to her subordinate. The psychic power strength of ordinary people is between 0.6 to 1.5 degrees, related to willpower, focus, and the amplitude of psychic wave patterns¡ªsupernatural power users generally have higher psychic power strength than ordinary people. Following Chen Fei''s awakening of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, his psychic strength increased from 0.9 to 2.1, which is completely normal. Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia expressed her confusion, "What''s going on here?" She clearly couldn''t sense anything, yet the device detected it instantly. - ``` Chapter 86: Section 86 - Gifts Between Friends "The detection methods differ. You detect by directly sensing with spiritual power, whereas my method involves analyzing brainwave activity, localized bioelectrical responses in the brain tissue, in conjunction with specific mathematical models and technical means, to produce a composite quantified result. The Supernatural Ability Suppressant is like a wall that blocks the dissemination of his spirit, but it doesn''t prevent the instrument''s detection and calculation." Hanna Gagel did not explain in detail the principles behind Supernatural Ability Suppressants. The formulation and principles of this functional potion are still in a strict confidentiality stage to prevent misuse by those with ulterior motives. Many criminals with special abilities on Blue Star still require this widely applicable suppressant for effective control. "Science?!" Clodia nodded her massive head in understanding of the situation. It turned out she had approached the matter incorrectly. Humans are not Metallic Dragons, so how could they lack spiritual power? The young human''s spiritual power had not disappeared, it was still there, merely obscured by the effects of the medicine. Unable to catch the fluctuations of spirit, even the Illusion Dragon''s proud innate ability was as useless as a cook without rice. The Dragon Clan''s understanding of technology, even with the entire Metallic Dragons undergoing technological transformation and collectively upgrading to digital dragons, still fell short of that of the indigenous Intelligent Species of Blue Star, who had interwoven technology throughout every corner of their world. The exchange between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star had been going on for thirty years. Although each influenced the other, the directions of their civilizations'' development had distinct characteristics. These differences actually gave rise to the sustainability and necessity of their exchange. The collision between civilizations does not always necessitate war; the clash of ideas and technology can also spark the dazzling light of wisdom. Hanna Gagel tentatively asked, "So does that mean Chen Fei must wait for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant to wear off before another investigation can be conducted? There should still be half a month left of its effect." She did not think there was anything wrong with Chen Fei, the newcomer. He had been brought to the International Medical Ship in a mangled state and barely saved, with hardly any opportunities to act. If the company had not, out of humanitarianism, used a valued magic potion to restore him back to health, even if he had survived, he would be a powerless and immobile invalid. To lose one''s ability to work at such a young age and live a life worse than death, it might have been better to have died altogether. "No need, I have already finished the investigation!" Unexpectedly, Clodia shook her head. "Ah?" Hanna Gagel couldn''t help but widen her eyes in surprise. "This Pure Light Sparrow allows me to see many things." The gaze of the Psychic Illusion Dragon landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder. Who said one must focus spiritual perception only on oneself? There are other eyes by his side. .net Chen Fei turned his head and glanced at Little Bird hopping around obliviously. You little treacherous snitch! Fortunately, neither the psychological counselor earlier, nor the Psychic Illusion Dragon now, had detected any sign of disloyalty--the loyalty and professional ethics of everyone at the Aircrew Base were completely beyond doubt. Such a team was reassuring. "The investigation is over; let''s return to Sky Dragon City!" The Psychic Dragon Clodia didn''t hesitate for a moment. The suspicion concerning Aircrew Base was dismissed¡ªit seemed the problem wasn''t here. If someone had hidden Bit''s Heart Core somewhere, as a fellow metallic dragon, Yilan would surely have noticed. But so far, this female Metallic Dragon had not discovered anything either. If the people were clear, and the base was clear, then that equated to no problems at all. Finding the Metallic Dragon Bit''s Heart Core would likely require looking into other areas. Hanna Gagel didn''t expect that as soon as the investigation finished, they would leave immediately, but then she thought that this place, with its rugged mountains and rivers, really had no scenic views or local products worth lingering for. The other party was a giant dragon, with no interest whatsoever in sightseeing, so why stay after finishing the business at hand? For sure, Aircrew Base could not be more comfortable than Sky Dragon City. However, out of courtesy, the executive manager had some gifts prepared to give to the two dragons and the four Dragon Knights from the Cangqiong Star Silan Dynasty. Apart from the alloy ingot specifically for the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, the other gifts were mainly local specialties from Blue Star, the latest technological products, and some particularly tasty snacks. For this reason, the Apocalypse Defense Group had a special aircraft make a temporary trip to get everything ready. The rune patterns on the Deflector Magical Instruments, planted on the grass near the main runway, lit up one after another, lifting off the ground and converging together, forming a giant umbrella that spanned across the sky and slowly began to rotate in mid-air. Before leaving, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan felt somewhat reluctant to leave Chen Fei, since he had treated her to a feast and she had eaten to her fill¡ªan opportunity that did not come by often. Yilan had harbored a slight fantasy upon arrival, but now, the person she found agreeable could not become her Dragon Rider, which she regretted as she said, "Chen Fei, I''m leaving. It''s a pity you can eat metal too. If you became my Dragon Rider, we would surely end up fighting, which isn''t good. I don''t want to fight you, and you probably don''t want to fight me either." "No need, no need, things are fine as they are. We''re friends," replied Chen Fei, sweating profusely, not daring to entertain the thought. Let alone the fact that the Dragon Clan had long ceased to recognize new Dragon Riders and had destroyed all the Dragon Flutes, turning all the trainees selected to become Dragon Riders into Sky Knights. Even if they made an exception and allowed a special case, the survival odds of becoming the Dragon of Slaughter''s partner were about the same as winning a jackpot in a lottery. The jackpot had already been won; purchasing such a "lottery ticket" now would be nothing short of a dead end, wouldn''t it? Even if Yilan was entirely willing, Chen Fei was not! There''s a saying that goes, "Cherish life, stay away from Metallic Dragons." "Right, we''re friends!" The female Metallic Dragon nodded vigorously, poking her own body with her tail and extracting something that emitted a soft white light, about the size of Chen Fei''s fist, and pushed it towards him. - ``` Chapter 87: Section 87 - Returning Rites "Gemstone?" Chen Fei looked at the shiny object in front of him, somewhat dazed. Not far away, Executive Manager Hanna Gagar couldn''t help but widen her eyes; she felt her blood pressure rising, and her breathing became rapid. She had never expected that this newcomer, who had only joined the company a little over a month ago, would be able to get along so well with the Metallic Dragons in just two to three days, even calling each other friends. The female Metallic Dragon, as if under the influence of some mesmerizing potion, had given away such a precious thing. "This is a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, prepared for your Little Bird. Clodia said you have spiritual power, so establish a contract with it as soon as possible. This crystal core can help the Pure Light Sparrow advance its bloodline. On Cangqiong Star, as long as it''s a Magical Beast, no matter how weak, if you trace back their bloodline, their ancestors were almost all quite formidable. If your luck is good enough, even a First Rank Pure Light Sparrow could become a great pet." Yilan, being a Metallic Dragon, did not possess spiritual power and could not use storage magical devices that required spiritual power to operate. But it could reserve some cavities within its own body to store objects that were not too large. The larger the Metallic Dragon''s body, the more it could store. "This is too valuable, I can''t accept it." Chen Fei immediately waved his hand. He had once used a First Order magic potion, not only did it save his life, but he also recovered completely. But even the large bonus given by the company could not entirely offset the potion''s internal staff cost price, and his original debt had increased by a considerable amount. He was very aware that anything related to the "Order" level of magic had never been cheap. Magical Beast Crystal Cores and the special mineral Demon Crystals were both specialties of Cangqiong Star. The former was the condensed core of a Magical Beast''s Magic Elements, while the latter was the natural product of Magic Elements condensing. The higher the level of either, the purer their substance, representing a high degree of crystallized element enrichment. Just like Mithril on Blue Star, Cangqiong Star''s Magical Beast Crystal Cores and mineral Demon Crystals were also very scarce resources. What one had was hardly enough for oneself, so the amount that could be offered for trade was never considerable. A Human Order Magical Beast Crystal Core was already rare, not to mention those of Earth Order. Chen Fei could imagine how hot the Third Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core that Yilan handed to him felt in his hands. As if attracted by the energy of the Light Elemental within the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, the Pure Light Sparrow "Xiao Jiu" on Chen Fei''s shoulder wanted to fly towards it but seemed too afraid to do so, circling indecisively. "What I give you, you take with confidence. Whoever dares to steal it will make an enemy of the Dragon Clan." The tail of the female Metallic Dragon directly pushed the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core against Chen Fei''s chest, causing him to stagger backward. He had to accept it whether he wanted to or not. Yilan''s words were firm, and she had even resolved any potential troubles that might arise after the crystal core had come into Chen Fei''s possession. Those with ulterior motives wouldn''t even have the guts to make an enemy of the Dragon Clan, not to mention catch the attention of a Metallic Dragon, which would likely leave no one able to sleep soundly at night. "Then... I have no choice but to take it. I''m truly sorry, but I don''t have anything suitable to offer in return." Chen Fei could only accept the precious Magical Beast Crystal Core. He himself was very poor, unable to procure any proper gifts. Once the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was in Chen Fei''s hands, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu immediately dove over without any hesitation, its petite beak gently pecking the surface of the crystal core. Each peck sparked off tiny glimmers of light, which, instead of fading away, seemed to be drawn in by some attractive force, disappearing entirely into Xiao Jiu''s body. The executive manager who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between Chen Fei and Yilan raised an eyebrow, as if about to say something. A pure titanium pan could buy twenty brand-name iron pans from a big factory, or even four hundred cheaper, tin ones¡ªit could be worth even more. Pans, as objects, don''t make much difference as long as they don''t contain toxic substances like heavy metals. Whether they are good or not is all about the skill of the person using them; all that nonsense about non-stick coatings is just baloney and can''t compare to the usefulness of a chunk of fatty pork. "This is my return gift." Chen Fei thought about it, and it made sense. On Cangqiong Star, what was known as mithril was titanium, and there was no shortage of it on Blue Star, even used for high-end civilian products, albeit at a steep price. But it was certainly easier to obtain than on Cangqiong Star¡ªanyone using mithril for a frying pan would have to be out of their mind. For Metallic Dragons, as a reciprocation for a third-rank Magical Beast Crystal Core, it was quite appropriate. Chen Fei''s hand suddenly felt empty as the 34-centimeter titanium pan instantly appeared on Yilan''s tail¡ªthis female Metallic Dragon exclaimed in surprise and delight, "Chen Fei, thank you for your gift, I really like it." In the eyes of Metallic Dragons, a third-rank Magical Beast Crystal Core probably wasn''t as valuable as this mithril pan. "I''m glad you like it." Chen Fei gave a sigh of relief and looked gratefully at Chef Abel¡ªwho had been a huge help. "Hehehe..." Chef Abel gave Chen Fei a thumbs-up, pleased to have been able to help. Birds of a feather, flock together. "Yilan, we''re leaving!" The voice of Illusion Dragon Clodia, urging her to hurry, reached them. The four Sky Knights of the Slan Dynasty had already gathered around the Illusion Dragon. "Coming, coming!" The 34-centimeter titanium pan wound around the tip of Yilan''s tail looked like a giant lollipop. Slurp... Even Chen Fei couldn''t help but feel a bit of appetite. Seeing the "lollipop" on Yilan''s tail, Clodia asked curiously, "What are you carrying?" "Mithril!" .net The female Metallic Dragon showed off, passing it to the Psychic Illusion Dragon for a closer look. "Such a waste of treasures!" The Psychic Illusion Dragon, Clodia, looked unimpressed. But the four Human Race Sky Knights'' eyes lit up at the sight; this local specialty was indeed appealing. Mithril was a valuable commodity, coveted by anyone. - Chapter 88 : Section 88 - Asking Price ``` The sky suddenly darkened as twelve deflector magical instruments simultaneously enveloped the two giant dragons and the four "Sky Falcons," wrapping them inside. The merged giant conical deflector magical instrument slowly rotated as it took off, its ascending speed getting faster and faster. When it appeared as a mere speck to the people on the ground, it suddenly accelerated. The explosive sound of the air barrier being broken was like deafening thunder. In an instant, the conical deflector magical instrument shot straight into the sky, disappearing from everyone''s view and bursting into the ionosphere. It was then engulfed again by the scorching plasma, becoming a retrograde fire meteor, quickly breaking free from the planet''s gravity to enter a near-Earth orbit. "Cybertrom! Cangqiong Star 2***-002 returning diplomatic mission, the access list has been submitted, requesting verification." As it slowly approached the gigantic digital intelligence construct in a higher orbit, the flowing numerals and symbols in the pupils of the female Metallic Dragon Yilan inside the conical deflector magical instrument authenticated the diplomatic mission. "This is Cybertrom, conforming to application process, initiating manual approval... Approval granted, preparing to establish a diplomatic green channel... Cangqiong Star 2***-002 returning diplomatic mission, the diplomatic green channel will open in approximately 37 minutes, sequence number 19, with a time limit of 15 minutes. Please enter the standby area to queue and start planning the flight path." A beam of light shot forth, landing in front of the conical deflector magical instrument, projecting a dynamic flight trajectory that led directly into the waiting area. At the end of the flight trajectory, several transport airships of various sizes awaited their turn to enter Cybertrom''s Dimensional Gate. The Dimensional Gate secured with Longinus as the space key is not a unique feature of Cybertrom on the near-Earth orbit. In fact, on the surface of Blue Star, there are several smaller Dimensional Gates directly connected to the surface of Cangqiong Star, but these gates cannot match the scale of Cybertrom''s massive portal; their responsibility is not the transportation of personnel and materials, but maintaining the frequent and close data linkage tasks between the two planets. Every second, massive amounts of digital information flow between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star via many Longinus keys, keeping the communication between the two planets smooth. Scientists have never ceased to optimize and enhance the transmission efficiency and bandwidth of the Longinus space key ports to keep up with the expanding network communication demands of the two planets. The conical deflector magical instrument, matching the speed of the digital intelligence construct, carried the two giant dragons, four Sky Knights, and their fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" along the projected flight path, accelerating into the queue in preparation for flying toward the Dimensional Gate''s waiting area. ... - The diplomatic mission from Sky Dragon City of Cangqiong Star departed. Chen Fei appeared somewhat dejected as he watched the conical deflector magical instrument vanish into the sky. "Why? Are you disappointed because you didn''t become a Dragon Knight? Cheer up, these things are all down to fate. There''s a saying that goes, ''What''s meant for you will come eventually; don''t force what''s not destined.'' This weekend I''ll take you hunting, have a good time, and then you''ll forget all your troubles!" Squadron Leader Chekhov, from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, walked over and slapped Chen Fei on the back carelessly. The man was rough and his words were crass, leaving one utterly speechless. "It''s not because of that!" Chen Fei had never even considered becoming any damn Dragon Knight, in fact, he wisely kept his distance knowing his own limitations. "Eh?!" Chekhov Big Bear looked confused and said, "You seem pretty unhappy, what''s there to be unhappy about? Share with us so we can have a good laugh!" "10 million Star Yuan!" The executive manager named a figure. That''s right, just paying cash. One was willing to sell, the other was willing to buy, a mutually agreeable transaction. Even Sky Dragon City could hardly say anything about it. That price was enough to instantly clear all of Chen Fei''s debts and leave him with a significant surplus, turning him from a millionaire debtor into a real millionaire. "Not selling!" Chen Fei was even more resolute. The First Rank magic potion "Life Resuscitation" that Apocalypse Defense Group used on him was priced at 12 million Star Yuan, yet they only offered 10 million Star Yuan for a Third Rank Light Beast Crystal Core. This was the blatant face of a capitalist. "20 million Star Yuan!" Hanna Gagar doubled her offer without hesitation. "..." Chen Fei admitted he was involuntarily tempted, if just for a moment. 20 million Star Yuan could not only clear his debts but also turn him into a multimillionaire, and even if he stopped working, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life. Ding ding ding ding Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu continued to peck tirelessly at the Light Beast Crystal Core, striving to absorb and activate the light element energy by instinct. The executive manager watched him. "Not selling!" Chen Fei shook his head with difficulty, turning and walking away without hesitation. Given the pattern of her offers, the next offer might well reach 40 million Star Yuan. Even if it was just 30 million Star Yuan, he couldn''t guarantee he''d have the willpower to continue rejecting such a large sum of money. The Magical Beast Crystal Core was left by Yilan specifically for Xiao Jiu. He had to stay strong for his little one! Once Xiao Jiu finished absorbing the Light Beast Crystal Core, and the quantitative change reached a qualitative transformation, some unexpected changes might occur. Watching Chen Fei''s retreating figure in disarray, Hanna Gagar wore a look of regret. Returning to her office, she picked up the phone and personally reported the investigation of the Sky Dragon City diplomatic mission to the Apocalypse Defense Group headquarters. With the situation having developed to this stage, the Apocalypse Defense Group could be said to have successfully held onto the major part of the benefits from the Metallic Dragon remains. However, no one could find the missing Heart Core, preventing them from achieving a perfect result and leaving some regrets on this harvest. - Chapter 89 : Section 89 - Corporate Warfare Putting down the phone, Hanna Gagel did not feel the relief that usually came after completing a task. Instead, her face was etched with seriousness. After pondering for a moment, she picked up the phone again and dialed an internal base extension. "Notify all mid-level and above managers to meet in the pilots'' dormitory conference room." Five minutes later, the heads of various departments from the Aircrew Base hurried to the three-story building next to the hangar, where the pilots'' dormitories were located. There was a small conference room inside, now borrowed by Executive Manager Hanna Gagel. The heads of the tower, human resources, maintenance, combat flight squadron, security, radar, and ground services departments arrived one after another. They took their seats around the conference table. Their numbers were no more than the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, so there were just enough chairs for everyone. Once everyone had arrived, the female executive manager did not engage in much small talk but went straight to the point. "The diplomatic envoy from Sky Dragon City has just left, and I have reported the investigation process to the headquarters." "Manager Hanna, there shouldn''t be any problems here now, should there?" asked Takar, the head of human resources. Takar was increasingly baffled by the recent developments, but what he was more worried about was the possibility of Sky Dragon City seeking retribution against Aircrew Base 911. After all, the Metallic Dragon Bit who had been killed was a member of the Dragon Clan, and Takar feared that other dragons would seek vengeance for their kin. If that happened, no one at the base would likely survive, and Takar had no desire to be implicated. "The situation has become clear enough to declassify some information," the executive manager explained. "There''s no need to worry, Director Takar. The order to kill the Metallic Dragon Bit came from Sky Dragon City itself, conveyed through the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee." At last, some confidential information could be disclosed, preventing others from speculating wildly. "Ah!?" exclaimed Takar, the human resources director, completely startled by the answer. With a solemn expression, Hanna Gagel said, "There''s one more important matter. I need all of you to be prepared, including being mentally ready for what''s to come." At that moment, the atmosphere in the small conference room turned palpably heavy. Everyone instinctively straightened their spines, sitting up attentively. "The contractor for Aircrew Base 897, Stark International Defense Company, recently declared insolvency and is preparing to file for bankruptcy. The industry''s eighth-ranked powerhouse, Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, subsequently launched a takeover offer. According to insider information, should the acquisition succeed, Meman Brothers United is very likely to initiate corporate warfare against our Apocalypse Defense Group. This is also one of the conditions of Stark International Defense''s agreement to be acquired." Before Hanna Gagel could finish speaking, a short electronic tone sounded from her. She took out her cell phone, quickly glanced at the screen, then looked up and surveyed the room. "I just received a message," she said with a grave voice. "Meman Brothers United has secured Aircrew Base 897 and Stark International Defense for a single Star Yuan in a bundled transfer. Both parties have signed the acquisition agreement, and the Global United Defense Committee has concurrently approved the corporate war. Ladies and gentlemen, the war has begun." Hanna Gagel''s icy gaze swept over everyone. "..." The room fell dead silent, many people looked at each other with very ugly expressions on their faces. Corporate warfare is not a joke¡ªit genuinely costs lives. Despite having casualty insurance and compensation, isn''t it better to be alive? After a minute of silence, no one left! The HR Director, Takar, surreptitiously sized everyone up, the wily old man putting away his little scheming thoughts. Who knows if this One-Eyed woman was testing to see who would be unlucky enough to jump out and become a sacrificial flag. The life of one person is enough to settle the restless Aircrew Base, prompting everyone to abandon their fantasies and prepare for battle. "Starting now, establish a wartime Command Center, the entire base enters emergency status, all departments are on standby 24 hours, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron prepares two ''Big Mouth Monsters'' equipped with electronic pods, on alternating patrols..." Although Hanna Gagel had only recently become the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911, her commands were orderly, showing no signs of confusion. As soon as the meeting ended, Aircrew Base 911 started operating like a real war machine¡ªslowly and resolutely at full capacity. - Back at the dorm, Chen Fei began constructing a new nest for his pet. First, because the Little Bird had grown larger, and second, because the original nest indeed needed an improved and expanded area¡ªit was, after all, a necessity. The Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, given to him by Yilan, was boldly placed inside the bird''s nest; the core emitted a light haze that could even replace the table lamp on the bedside table. The fragrant chicken feed and vigorous mealworms were no longer enticing. Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow''s favorite activity was pecking at this Magical Beast Crystal Core. Each peck induced a small release of Light Elemental Energy, which was then immediately absorbed by the little bird. As a Light-element bird-shaped Magical Beast, the Pure Light Sparrow was greatly attracted to the Light Element Crystal Core, which shared its Elemental Attribute. But fully absorbing all the Light Elemental Energy contained in this Crystal Core was not something that could be achieved in a day or two. Ding ding ding ding... Xiao Jiu did not tire, pecking merrily away like a diligent little miner, drawing on deeply ingrained instincts to strive for more Light Elemental Energy. Just as Chen Fei finished building the nest, his mobile phone rang, lighting up to show that the call was from his younger sister, Chen Meng. - Chapter 90: Section 90 - After Extreme Adversity Comes Prosperity "Hey, Xiao Meng, how come you have time to call me?" Chen Fei was very surprised. It wasn''t the time for him to call home yet, but his little sister had taken the initiative to call. Shouldn''t that cunningly adorable Meng Meng be buried in her books, preparing for the college entrance exam? Suppressing her excitement, the little sister spoke loudly, "Second Brother, I''ve got a solid shot at the undergrad program now!" Chen Fei''s second-hand clunker of a phone might have been worn on the outside, but the call quality hadn''t been affected at all. It was still clear and loud. He said in confusion, "Did the college entrance exam get moved up? How come you''re so sure?" There were still a few months to go before the college entrance exam! "Brother, I got the qualifications for a trainee position, guess which company it is?" Finally shedding her recent sullenness and gloom, Chen Meng had returned to her originally cheerful and vivacious self. "Could it be one of the top 500 in the world? A Central Enterprise? No, Central Enterprises only look after their own employees'' children." Chen Fei was puzzled and couldn''t guess which company had thrown such a good opportunity his little sister''s way. According to the college entrance exam reforms over the past two decades, securing a trainee position was akin to having one foot in the door of a university, with extra consideration given on the scoreline. In the fierce competition of the exams, even a single extra point was an unimaginable advantage, something that money couldn''t buy. After graduating with an undergraduate degree, a job would be waiting, guaranteeing a government-subsidized livelihood. Don''t think that just any company can apply for a trainee; if a small street vendor brought out a university trainee, it would be ridiculous. Once they obtained an undergraduate degree, trainees could opt to continue their education ¨C graduate school, master''s programs, doctoral studies ¨C as long as they could qualify, the sponsoring organization would not refuse since they had already invested resources in grooming talent, the higher the level of expertise developed, the better. Proudly, his little sister Chen Meng said, "No, it''s Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, the centennial factory, Henghai Military Defense. I am now a trainee of Henghai Tactical Weapons, and I''ve got a twenty-point bonus!" "Hiss! How did you manage that?" Chen Fei gasped in astonishment. His little sister had really turned her luck around, securing a deal with the century-old factory and getting a twenty-point bonus on the college entrance exam¡ªan advantage two million Star Yuan couldn''t buy! "Hee hee! Henghai Tactical Weapons Group openly recruited trainees, I tried my luck and ranked third in the exam. Just like that, I made it!" Chen Meng explained simply and then continued, "The police just got new information; it seems like they''ve found a clue to the whereabouts of the family who tricked me into providing a guarantee. It won''t be long before they catch them." Her voice choked up as she reached the end. You can know a person''s face but not their heart. A childhood playmate turned into both a best friend and a fellow student whom she thought she knew well, yet she took advantage of Chen Meng''s trust to brutally stab her in the back, shattering her worldview in an instant. A five million Star Yuan debt is an amount most ordinary people wouldn''t earn in a lifetime, even without spending a dime¡ªand that''s without counting the interest. With such a burden, whether interest was included or not made little difference; it was impossible to repay. Her oldest brother had just managed to finish his wedding banquet, yet life was anything but easy. Second Brother had no choice but to drop out of school and leave home to work off the debts. A cloud hung over the entire family, with no glimmer of sunlight in sight. If she could catch the malicious friend who had ruined her life and her family''s, Chen Meng would love to tear her limb from limb to release the hatred in her heart. "That''s great news, like double happiness coming your way. Xiao Meng, your luck is turning around. Congratulations!" Just after hanging up the call with his sister Chen Meng, another call immediately came in. "Hello, Mr. Abel, what''s the matter?" The caller ID showed one of the two head chefs at the base canteen, Chef Abel. Abel said anxiously, "Chen Fei, have you heard? War has been declared!" He didn''t have many friends at the Aircrew Base, other than Chen Fei, there was only one fellow townsman, "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane. "War? Isn''t it over?" Chen Fei was stunned. By over, he was referring to the recent event when the 911 Aircrew Base flattened the 897 Aircrew Base in a campaign. The opposing military contractor was probably still crying over rubble and cement blocks! "Not that one, a giant military contractor has initiated a corporate war against our Apocalypse Defense Group, the battle is about to begin, damn it, as soon as the war news broke out, Singh and a bunch of people are making a fuss with Human Resources Manager Takar demanding a salary increase by at least thirty times, or they are walking out. They are so damn greedy!" Chef Abel was full of complaints on the phone. If not for Singh''s obsessive-compulsive disorder keeping the kitchen spotless, he would not tolerate this individual who insulted the spirit of chefs. "Thirty times, why don''t they just rob a bank!" Chen Fei was also shocked. Experience more on m-v|l e''-novelhall.net As the Human Resources Manager doing anything but human resource work was already bad enough, but for Takar to be aggravating the situation at such a critical juncture was a bit too much. It was no different from looting in a fire. "Exactly, they originally wanted a fifty-fold salary increase. Afraid of negotiations breaking down, they left some room for compromise. Chen Fei, you have to think of something for me. If Singh and his crew run off, I won''t be able to cope on my own. Damn Ministry of Internal Affairs, they even fired Old Piao!" Whenever Chef Abel mentioned Pu Aihua, who liked to mess with petty trades instead of doing his job properly, he was full of resentment. Compared to Human Resources Manager Takar''s group of cunning countrymen, Pu Aihua was like a hardworking ox. If it weren''t for finding Chen Fei, a newcomer to fill in just in time, Chef Abel might have felt overwhelmed. "Me? What can I do?" Chen Fei scratched his head. By the time there was only Chef Abel left, not even unpacking frozen packages would work; the key factor would be what the canned goods thought. But the main point isn''t this! Who exactly does the 911 Aircrew Base have to fight, and what exactly is the plan for battle? He was almost sidetracked by Chef Abel''s point of view. - ``` Chapter 91: Section 91 The person who called to notify Chen Fei about the impending conflict was not only Chef Abel from the base canteen, but also Big Brother Xiao, the mechanic chief, and "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron; they all wanted this rookie to be mentally prepared in advance not to freak out before the enemy even arrived and make some rash and impulsive decisions. As for Chekhov Big Bear, the head of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, he was probably brandishing his hand at the topographic map of Xingdu Kush Mountain Area right now, devising all sorts of ambush tactics like facing the enemy head-on or striking first to gain the upper hand. Flying an attack aircraft was all about offense, with skill points all added to attack and speed¡ªfull offense, full speed, low sensitivity, zero defense; just a small poke could finish them off. Having the attack aircraft pilots simply defend the ground would be worse than killing them outright; it''s simply not feasible! Sneaky attacks, throw a bomb, and run ¨C now that''s the real deal! What era are we in, still dogfighting, just toying with dogs! The head of human resources, Takar, was leading some employees in a protest within the base to fish for personal benefits. Aside from a few employees who irrationally joined the chaos, most were diligently stationed at their posts and even drafted a wartime shift rota to ensure every position was staffed 24 hours a day. After all, during such times, creating confusion among themselves was the last thing needed; once they gave the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium an opportunity, nobody would survive. When the bombs drop and the missiles descend, there will be no mercy whatsoever. An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop light attack aircraft equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks and electronic pods took off, circling around Aircrew Base 911, always on alert, guarding against the potential attack from fighters sided with the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, like the long-range raid on Aircrew Base 897. If only Aircrew Base 897 had a turboprop hanging a tactical electronic reconnaissance pod patrolling in the sky that day, the five "Big Mouth Monsters" of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron wouldn''t have easily succeeded in their ultra-low-altitude close-range surprise attack. Learning from the defeated, Aircrew Base 911 was fully prepared. The "Big Mouth Monster" could stay airborne for 15 hours, but the pilots couldn''t handle such long durations; they had to switch every four hours and even needed diapers, especially under the current circumstances when pilots must avoid fatigue. Aircrew Base 911 and Apocalypse Defense were not worried about the Meman Brothers United possibly deploying radar-evading stealth combat weapons, as no military contractor could possess such Sovereign Level warfare weaponry. More bad news arrived: Aircrew Base 909 to the south of Aircrew Base 911 had defected, having once fought side by side against the Metallic Dragons Bit and shared in the substantial benefits from Apocalypse Defense Group, only to turn around and join the industry giant, Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, without hesitation. What was most infuriating was that after the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron raided Aircrew Base 897, they refueled and resupplied at Aircrew Base 909 on their way back. In theory, there should have been ironclad camaraderie since they had faced battles together, yet despite such a relationship, the military contractor behind Aircrew Base 909 chose to betray them. Luckily, the superior level of Apocalypse Defense Group''s intelligence was powerful enough to deliver this crucial information in time; otherwise, it would have been a tremendous loss. Aircrew Base 909 had the audacity to offer support, but Aircrew Base 911 saw through their wild ambitions and cursed them out directly. The actual fighting hadn''t even started yet, and already the two neighboring aircrew bases had begun an outright verbal war over public communication channels, one accusing the other of ingratitude, the other of monopolizing the benefits; each had their reasoning, and everyone could hear the spitting contest in full swing. Since ancient times, verbal skirmishes have always been one of the most common military tactics, falling into the category of psychological warfare¡ªanyone who takes it seriously has lost. Barut, hunched over, seemed to be reminiscing about his past glories. Now he was just a frail old man at the twilight of his life, no longer the elite warrior who defended the Supreme Council. His last few memories would be buried with him, leaving no trace in this world. Looking away from the slender spear, Barut turned to Chen Fei and said, "The breathing technique I''m about to teach you is a type of Internal Strengthening Technique. The stance strengthens muscles and bones, while breathing adjusts organs and blood vessels. The knack is simple, ''Nine Shallows and One Deep'', breathe shallowly and quickly nine times, then take as deep a breath as possible once, breathing in and out slowly, pause for three seconds before continuing." The subtler the skill, the simpler it actually is. Chen Fei tried the newly learned "Nine Shallows and One Deep" breathing technique for a few minutes. Although initially slightly unaccustomed, he quickly became adept at it, finding it quite interesting. However, the breathing technique of the Internal Strengthening Technique wouldn''t have immediate effects; just like the Horse Stance, the more persistent the practice, the more evident the effects would become. "It seems you''ve mastered it, and there''s nothing more for me to teach you," Barut said with a sigh of melancholy. Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e''-novelhall.net Is that all? Chen Fei, stunned, refused to believe it and said, "Grandpa Barut, you must have other skills. Teaching one is the same as teaching two, don''t hold back, teach them all to me!" "Heh, there still is one!" Barut said, tapping the blood-colored tattoos on his body with a finger, speaking cryptically: "My War Patterns, do you want to inherit them?" "War Patterns?" Chen Fei''s hair stood on end immediately, the old man''s tattoos looked frightening just to look at, he really didn''t want that! Getting such tattoos over his own body, was he not going to worry about having a girlfriend anymore? "Yes, the Horse Stance I taught you before, and the breathing technique from just now, along with these War Patterns, form the Secret Technique of Fighting to the Death of my War Tribe," Barut explained. Barut flicked his Blood Spike and the long slender shaft trembled slightly, emitting a humming sound. He turned the sharp point toward a clump of bushes not far away, his eyes wide open, and suddenly shouted, "Come out! You cowardly rats!!!" - Chapter 92: Section 92 - Good People Get Rewarded "Cheep!" The old man''s sudden loud shout woke up the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, who had been napping against the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core. It opened its eyes in confusion and peered outside its little nest. Daddy is still there, everything is fine, everything is fine! "Cheep!~" Inside the warm, spring-like hut, branches rubbed against each other, making a slight rustling sound; the door was shut tightly, and no wind had blown in. Chen Fei felt the hair on his back stand up for no reason, as if there was something strange in the room. But other than the inexplicable rustling sound, there was no other noise. "Be careful!" The Neanderthal tribe elder flashed into action, grabbing Chen Fei as if he were picking up a chick, and yanked him forcefully more than three feet away. Pop, pop, pop! A series of soft sounds followed where Chen Fei had just been standing, revealing a row of holes. Goodness gracious! What was this situation? Caught off guard, Chen Fei wasn''t scared at all, his expression didn''t even change. For one, he was impervious to swords and guns, and secondly, he only had 52 hours left to live; life had already flattened him, so there was nothing to worry about. Come on, move yourself! "Silly boy, don''t space out, find somewhere to hide quickly," the old man ordered. The elder shoved Chen Fei into a corner, turned around and waved his hand fiercely, shouting, "Come out now!" "Blood Spike" transformed into a streak of purple lightning and shot out. Thump!~ In a muffled sound, it struck the iron wall panel inside the steel structure hut. The wall panel, sandwiched between two layers of iron and a thick layer of insulating foam plastic, dented inward, almost bursting open. At the dented spot, the outline of a humanoid figure, clear as shattered glass, suddenly appeared, quickly filled with countless tiny colored fragments, and finally turned pure black, tightly enveloped from head to toe. The person seemed incredulous as they lowered their head to look at the sharp, slender object piercing their chest. "Hehe! Heh..." Finally, they lowered their head, the sound fading. Pop, pop, clatter, clatter, pop, pop... The hut seemed engulfed in a violent storm, with trajectories crisscrossing, branches and leaves flying everywhere. Even the centrally located Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, due to its large size, didn''t escape the bullets, causing onlookers to tremble with fear. System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 8.1 grams, composition ratio: iron 55%, lead 35%, copper 7%, organic matter 2.5%... System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 8.1 grams, composition ratio: iron 55%, lead 35%, copper 7%, organic matter 2.5%... System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 8.1 grams, composition ratio: iron 55%, lead 35%, copper 7%, organic matter 2.5%... ... Chen Fei felt as though his buttocks had been kicked several times, realizing he had been shot again, and quickly changed his position to protect his vital parts. The storm-like dense barrage seemed not to touch the Neanderthal tribe elder at all. He floated uncertainly like a phantom, playing in the rain of bullets, yet emerged unscathed, effortlessly. With a gesture, the slender cone-shaped "Blood Spike" was pulled back by an invisible force, blinking back into Barut''s hand, and thrown again effortlessly. "Ah!~" This time, a scream finally sounded. Another person, their body flashing with tiny colored fragments, was impaled by the "Blood Spike" and nailed to the trunk of a Laurel Tree, their hand holding a seemingly invisible silencer. System: "Kill a Good Person" mission completed, energy points gained +100! Individual information: State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 150/11 Burst Strength: 200/55 Fullness: 85% Active time: 45 hours Energy Points: 111/5000 Read new adventures at m_v-l''e|-novelhall.net Eyes of Tyranny duration 11 seconds, 10 seconds, 9 seconds... "Hmph! A Dark Elemental Psychic!" Barut surveyed the scattered blood and flesh, waved his hand, and his lifelong companion "Blood Spike" flew back to him, safely landing in his hand. He hadn''t anticipated such a clean and decisive finish. A Dark Elemental Psychic''s "Shadow Escape" encountering a Light-element Magical Beast truly brings misfortune upon themselves. Turning his gaze, it fell on Chen Fei''s hands; both his hands had transformed into ferocious claws, and his eyes had at some point turned into fragmented golden pupils, which involuntarily sent a chill through him, and he said uncertainly, "Not bad, kid. I underestimated you. You''ve hidden your true nature well, a beastial transformer indeed." On Blue Star, aside from supernatural power users, there were also those who underwent bio-technological transformation into beastial transformers, although the technology was still immature and even rarer to encounter. The wandering elder of the Neanderthal tribe had seen much and knew a lot. In Barut''s view, Chen Fei''s hands and eyes fit perfectly with the characteristics of a beastial transformer, and he had to admit he had been fooled; the young man had indeed played the role of a pig to eat a tiger. "Ah? A beastial transformer? Not at all! I am a Metal Elemental Psychic, I just awakened a few days ago, oh! The Supernatural Ability Suppressant has worn off!" Chen Fei looked at his own terrifying hands; scales and sharp claws visibly receded at a rapid pace, reverting to their original form. "Eyes of Tyranny" duration finally reached zero, beginning a 15-second cooldown. It finally dawned on me that the Supernatural Ability Suppressant failed to prevent "Eyes of Tyranny" from activating. Skill Shop: Physical Evolution Database: 99 energy points Purchase! Energy Points: 12/5000 My Skills: 1. Metal Devouring, 2. Eyes of Tyranny (consumes 1 energy point, lasts 15 seconds, cooldown 15 seconds) 3. Physical Evolution Database (0), category: None/management... "Just awakened a few days ago?" The Neanderthal elder was somewhat stunned, having previously thought Chen Fei was a deep strategist who had deceived him for a long time, yet the answer turned out to be this. He scrutinized Chen Fei carefully, trying to detect any signs of deceit. Yet Chen nodded as if it were only natural, saying, "Yes! I was hijacked by a group of unidentified armed individuals a while ago, and somehow just awakened. Manager Hanna knows, she told me it was a Metal Elemental Ability and even had me learn to control my abilities with Metallic Dragon Yilan." A man and a dragon together, learned nothing, but devoured more than a ton of rough alloy ingots. Boom!~ A loud bang sounded outside the steel structure warehouse, the blast wave came through, making the entire warehouse tremble slightly. Chapter 93: Section 93 - Come, do it yourself Alongside the loud bang, a flash of light that streaked past the window almost lit up half of the night sky. The old Neanderthal man gripped the slim, spike-shaped "Blood Spike" tightly and said with a frown, "This is bad! It''s not just us! We''re in big trouble!" Even supernatural power users and optical invisibility equipment had appeared. The enemy bold enough to attack the Aircrew Base 911 definitely had more tricks up their sleeve. One could even say, the battle had just begun. The entire Aircrew Base 911 probably hadn''t expected that the attack by the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium would come so swiftly. Just two hours after they announced the launch of a corporate war against the Apocalypse Defense Group, the assault began, and it was a surprise attack at night. The "Steal-the-Tower" tactic was spot on, aiming to destroy the main energy source of Aircrew Base 911 first, affecting various systems that rely on sufficient electricity supply, not just radar, communication, and command systems, but also the anti-air systems. "Shall we go help?" Chen Fei was eager to jump into action. System: Ding! Establish evolutionary sample 1, reward Energy Points +1 (Newbie task) System: Kill ten people within 24 hours, receive 200 Energy Points (If task is not completed on time, die!) Well, that is really great luck, just what was wanted! Such a murderously intense death task had appeared all of a sudden. Continuing to stay down was definitely the right move! Come on, move yourself! "Don''t rush, wait a moment!" Barut shook his head and while pricking up his ears to listen to the noises outside, he deftly checked the two guys who had been stabbed to death by the "Blood Spike." Outside the steel structure hut, gunshots and explosions intertwined into one, instantly making the high ground where the aircrew base was located bustling. Once elite warriors guarding the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, they were almost bone-deep familiar with skirmishes and warfare, knowing exactly what to do and when, preparing every second. "Optical invisibility combined with dark elemental psychic, that was really close!" Barut found two automatic silenced weapons with optical invisibility functionality, several magazine clips, and ten high-energy bombs, any one of which could stop the energy tower inside the hut from operating. Even low-temperature nuclear fusion has mild radiation, but the internal safety protection device of the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower could reset the reaction module immediately upon experiencing severe impacts and serious malfunctions, preventing any leakage of heavy water fuel. "Chirp!" The victorious Pure Light Sparrow flapped its tiny wings and flew out of its nest, landing on Chen Fei''s shoulder. "Well done, Little Jiu!" Chen Fei rubbed the little bird''s head with his finger. Low-rank magical beasts that suddenly access high-rank resources can grow incredibly fast in a short time. Surprisingly, it had mastered new skills so quickly and had been a big help. Little Jiu made a series of short, loud sounds. Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-novelhall.net In a nearby nest, a light-element magical beast crystal core of the Third Rank was also emitting a soft white light, substituting as illumination. "Xiao Jiu is really well-behaved!" Seeing this, the Neanderthal elder, Grandpa Barut, smiled and then said, "Anyway, there''s no point staying here, let''s go out and have a look, I''ll go ahead; you follow behind, and let Xiao Jiu stay here. It attracts too much attention." The pure light sparrow, like a little light bulb, could easily attract attacks under the night sky, and for low-rank magical beasts, human firearms were still very dangerous. Chen Fei immediately grabbed the lively Little Bird and returned it to its nest, tucking it into a corner with additional cover to block the faint light emitted by the crystal core. This way, even if someone else came in, they wouldn''t discover this little bird and the light-element magical beast crystal core worth millions of Star Yuan. "Grandpa Barut, I''ll take the lead, and you follow behind!" After securing Little Bird, Chen Fei dashed to the door, signaled with his hand, and then pushed the door open and went out. Outside, there were still 200 Energy Points waiting for him to collect. Eating a ton of metal to get one Energy Point, high risk, high reward, the 200 Energy Points from a deadly mission were too cost-effective. Bang!~ Chen Fei fell backwards and landed flat on the ground... Ouch, down again! "Ah! I''m dead! There''s a sniper!" System: Ding! Absorption of Alloy Body 49.21 grams, composition ratio: tungsten 85%, copper 7%, iron 4%, nickel 3%... "Kid, how are you?" Barut jumped in shock. "I''m alright!" Chen Fei lay on the ground, questioning his life choices, unprepared when a bullet blasted into his chest, nearly knocking the breath out of him. Metal elemental psychic power is just that¡ªcould it not hurt so much! What does ''I''m alright'' even mean? The Neanderthal elder couldn''t comprehend fully, but it didn''t sound like there was an issue. Like an agile panther, his old body dashed up steel columns and beams to the top of the shed, pushed open a corner of the wind cap, and slipped out. Amidst a hail of bullets, a faint cry was heard. Barut, holding "Blood Spike", pulled the pretending-to-be-dead Chen Fei up from the ground. "Sniper''s taken care of, it''s safe now." "Ow, old man, shall we continue?" Chen Fei dusted himself off and then continued to crazily test his luck on the edge of death. - Chapter 94: Section 94 - Lets Mutually Annihilate An EMP not only stopped the nuclear fusion reaction at the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, but it also plunged the entire Aircrew Base into darkness, where only a few emergency lights, which were resistant to nuclear, biological, and chemical threats, continued to operate, while the backup power system was still under repair, uncertain of when it would come back online to provide limited basic electricity supply. Having just carefully emerged from the surrounded shed constructed with standard containers like a "maze," Chen Fei was suddenly met with a barrage of shots in the dark, likely from both friend and foe; after all, who else would foolishly march into everyone''s line of sight in such darkness if not a total fool, and who would they shoot if not him? What else could Chen Fei do but play dead? Old Master Barut of the Neanderthal tribe, who was far behind, was both amused and frustrated. Under the cover of night, he moved like a phantom, his cold weapon "Blood Spike" taking full advantage of the situation, continuously claiming the lives of the assailants. The adversaries had planned meticulously, fully aware that while optical invisibility equipment might fail due to the EMP, the pitch-black base color provided the best visual protection under the cover of darkness unless a new light source appeared, which would cause no disturbance. "Old Master, leave one alive for me!" Upon hearing screams, Chen Fei stopped playing dead, quickly got up, and rushed towards the source of the screams. "What are you doing?" Seeing Chen Fei pursued by a hail of bullets, Barut quickly dodged further away, afraid of becoming collateral damage. He didn''t have the young man''s invincibility to bullets; getting shot would still end him. "Just seizing the opportunity while it''s hot." Chen Fei pulled out the "Blood Spike" from an attacker''s neck, saw that the man was still barely alive, and quickly stabbed again, directly into the brain, causing the opponent to shudder and die on the spot. System: Ding! Discovered unknown alloy 112.531 kilograms, proceed to absorb: Yes/No|? Of course, choose "No"! Otherwise, Old Master would definitely fight him to the death. System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! System: Within 24 hours, successfully kill 10 people (Mission accomplished 1/10), obtain Energy Points 200 (Fail to complete the task on time, death!) Hiding nearby, the Neanderthal tribe elder was dumbfounded. What kind of sneaky move was this? Chen Fei checked a few more attackers nearby and found another one barely alive; talk about luck! Puff!~ System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! System: Within 24 hours, successfully kill 10 people (Mission accomplished 2/10), obtain Energy Points 200 (Fail to complete the task on time, death!) Old Master was almost delirious! Picking up bargains should never be this easy; what on earth was this youngster up to. He probably couldn''t figure it out even if he racked his brains. "Old Master, you keep going, I''ll cover you!" Chen Fei didn''t know where Barut was hiding, but leaving behind the "Blood Spike" was definitely right; the other party would recover it on his own. Pop!~ A bright white light orb flew into the sky, illuminating the ground below as if it were daylight. A figure stood conspicuously in the middle of the main runway on the open grassland, arms spread wide, screaming boldly. Both adversaries believed they had uncovered yet another card in each other''s hands. "Chen Fei, don''t run around, come over here!" A gust of wind swept through, carrying the relentless flames into the sky, as bright as a flare. The sounds of rapid gunfire resumed, accompanied by exchanges of rockets and grenades, shaking the ground violently. Chen Fei heard someone calling him and immediately recognized it was Manager Hanna''s voice. He was about to run to her when he heard Old Master Barut calling him too. "Kid, come with me!" Which side should he choose? Faced with indecision, he was struck by two stray bullets, his head nearly splitting open. Ultimately, Chen Fei chose to follow the old man from the Neanderthal tribe. Manager Hanna Gagel, commanding the counterattack, waited in vain and stomped her feet in frustration. The attackers were unexpectedly well-equipped, not only with elite warriors possessing optical invisibility equipment but also supernatural power users and mages. In the entire Aircrew Base, the only specialized combat personnel were Hanna Gagel, a C-level Wind-type Ability User, and the newly minted Metal Ability User Chen Fei, who yet had no clue about combat skills. The latter''s ineptitude was so frustrating that it exasperated both friends and foes; standing blatantly exposed made him a living target, a mockery of everyone''s intelligence. Did he learn nothing in college? Perhaps another from the Third Era Civilization, a Neanderthal tribe warrior, could be considered a bit of high-level combat strength, but Hanna Gagel had no expectations there. With his feeble and elderly demeanor, it was good enough that the old man didn''t fall back; he might as well stay wherever it was safe and save the company some condolence money. In the dark, a chant in a lilting tone was heard. Hanna Gagel''s heart sank. She had to guard against an unknown number of supernatural power users and deal with a mage of unknown level preparing his ultimate move, feeling overwhelmed. The potentially helpful Chen Fei had frustratingly not come to join her, leaving her to fend for herself in this tough situation. Boom! Amidst a deafening explosion, flames shot up into the sky. Several figures were blown into the air, limbs flying chaotically. They were from the enemy''s side! Once Hanna Gagel recognized the direction, she was overjoyed. When the enemies initiated their ambush, the Aircrew Base suffered heavy casualties due to inadequate preparedness. Luckily, she and her team from the Ministry of Internal Affairs responded quickly, rallying hard to regain control of the chaotic frontline. This required them to make a split-second decision to abandon the secondary command bunker underground air-raid facility, guarding hangars 1 and 2 while concentrating their forces to confront the attackers. System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! Chen Fei tore the pin from a high-energy bomb and grinned wickedly at a terrified mage, barely holding onto his magic wand nearby. Let''s die together then! "No, don''t¡ªah, please..." - Chapter 95: Section 95 - War Professionals System: Killed 10 people within 24 hours (7/10 completed), gained 200 Energy Points (Failure to complete on time, death!) The soft fear the hard, The hard fear the brutal, The brutal fear the stubborn, The stubborn fear those who are reckless, Once the desperately poor Chen Fei let himself go, he didn''t even spare himself. In his eyes, these attackers were not just Energy Points, but also a bounty, though not as valuable as the previous Giant Metallic Dragon Bit, they were still worth money! Chen Fei, clutching the high-energy bomb, lunged at the Mage without making contact first. "Magic Shield! Flaming Scale Armor!" At the critical moment, the attacker, a Mage, demonstrated his high-quality spell-casting skills; a hemispherical red light shield instantly enveloped him, and a set of armor with rising flames appeared on his body, the flames gathered at the size of fingertips, flickering like fish scales. The Mage quickly established a dual Fire Element defense. Boom!~ The bizarre blue flames instantly covered everything within a ten-meter radius, and the ripping shock-wave spread in all directions. System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! The fire spells shield, vibrating with red ripples, couldn''t last long; it collapsed immediately, turning into countless sparks that dissipated with the shock wave. The Mage''s flaming armor flickered violently, as if it could be extinguished at any moment. By the time Chen Fei regained his senses, he found himself rising from the ground, his chest and abdomen so painful he was nearly numb, his eyes involuntarily widening as he let out a hoarse scream. This time, it seemed like he played a bit too rough; he had been blown into the sky! "Ah..." Rising, falling, falling, falling... "Ah!" Another scream began only to be abruptly cut off by a heavy thump. Someone ended up being an unfortunate cushion. Whoever was so unlucky, it couldn''t stop Chen Fei''s system from counting again. System: Ding! Successfully killed one person! System: Killed 10 people within 24 hours (9/10 completed), gained 200 Energy Points (Failure to complete on time, death!) Apart from accidentally killing one by falling on him, it seemed another was taken out by the high-energy bomb. It''s best if it was that Mage, otherwise it would be a waste... uh! He hadn''t been taken out! After spitting out a puff of blue smoke, the dirt-stained Chen Fei looked up, just in time to see a figure enveloped in flames. They say Mage Masters are crispy on the outside but soft inside, but now, this one seriously can endure! Felt like ripping off the defensive Magic without activating Special Abilities, and see me send him off with a slash of my claws. "Keep it coming!~" Old Master Barut of the Neanderthal tribe''s voice came through, along with an object that whistled through the air, which Chen Fei caught squarely. Another high-energy bomb. It seemed that being too flashy had led to disdain. Chest pain! What else could he do? Absorb! With a swoosh, the blade that penetrated from his back to his front chest instantly disappeared, and the man behind him was left holding only a hilt, grabbing at loneliness. System: Ding! Absorbed 3.9 kg of chromium-molybdenum steel, composition: Iron 92.8%, Chromium 3.5%, Molybdenum 1.8%, Manganese 0.9%, Carbon 0.45%, Silicon 0.3%, Vanadium 0.2%... System: Ding! Successfully established Evolution Sample 1, rewarded with +1 Energy Point (Rookie Task) Energy Points: 212/5000 "Tell me, how do you want to die?" Chen Fei finally broke free from the restraints, turning around and swiping with his claws. But everything blurred before his eyes as his opponent, quick as lightning, dodged the attack. "Scram!~" Read the latest on m_v-l''e|-novelhall.net Battle Qi flared up, leaping as he bellowed, and with a heavy punch accompanied by a faint tan fire, he struck Chen Fei squarely in the chest, sending him flying and tumbling across the ground like a gourd. "Hiss... it hurts, hurts, hurts..." After a dizzying spell, Chen Fei inhaled sharply, clutching his chest tightly, his mind foggy, his vision darkening intermittently, his whole body curling up, and it seemed as if a gong and drum ensemble was playing by his ears. That guy had hit him hard, and he wasn''t sure if his sternum was broken, but the pain was almost unbearable, almost costing him half his life. It seemed that the 200 Energy Points he''d just obtained were about to slip away. Gunshots rang out around him, and the bullet rain enveloped Chen Fei, the kinetic energy from the bullets causing his body to tremble incessantly. "Earth Element Battle Qi? There''s actually an Earth Element Warrior here." Using the illumination from a flare shot up once more, the female executive manager, Hanna Gagel, rushed out from her hiding spot. Her wrist, white as jade, whipped through the air, and with a flick of her hand, she sent a white strip lash flying out, quickly transforming into several invisible blades darting around incessantly. If she hadn''t come out, the only rookie supernatural power user at 911 Aircrew Base would have been killed. For Chen Fei to manage to kill a Mage was beyond Hanna Gagel''s expectations¡ªthis kid''s luck was extraordinary. Compared to the Earth Element Warrior before her, she was more wary of that Mage. Several heads flew, and the attackers who were desperately focusing fire on Chen Fei staggered for a moment, bluish blood spraying from their severed necks before they finally fell with a crash. Thud!~ A severe muffled sound. It was as if the air had been violently shaken. The Earth Element Warrior, having drawn a dagger anew, engaged in close combat, the sound of clashing weapons unceasing, reminiscent of the constant hammering in a blacksmith''s shop, each strike ringing painfully in the ears. The dagger held its own against the "Blood Spike," not falling behind in the slightest. "Barut!" Seeing the bent figure of the old Neanderthal man moving as agile as a monkey, trading blows with the Earth Element Warrior, the female executive manager gathering wind felt it incredible. Was this still the doddery old man she knew? - Chapter 96: Section 96 - Secret Technique: Fight to the Death Neanderthals! The War Professional who had unleashed his Battle Qi in full force was both shocked and enraged. The slender, spike-like cold weapon clearly was not light, and with every clash, the reverberating force transmitted up the dagger made him suffer a disadvantage. The flickering blood-red War Patterns indicated that this old fellow was no longer as mighty as he had once been. If he were to invoke the Neanderthal tribe''s Secret Technique, this duel could very well become extremely thorny. "Old man, where''s your Secret Technique? Use it, and let me have a look," he said. The Earth Element Warrior steeled his heart, planning to exhaust this old man to death. After all, the disparity in age was clear. His vitality was far from comparable to that of the young, and he was bound to burn out sooner or later. "You think I don''t exist?" The invisible cutting force silently glided toward the neck of the War Professional, his Battle Qi, which burned like flames, detected the danger at the very first moment. Utilizing the recoil from yet another weapon clash, the dagger was swung back in his hand, striking directly against the stealthy Wind Blade attack. Hiss!~ The sound of tearing silk rang out, as the Wind Blade was forcibly scattered by the Sword Qi, posing no further threat. "Wind Barrier, Impact!" The timely arrived female executive manager pushed forward with both hands, and a tennis ball-sized gust flew over. She had to end the battle quickly. Even if the Energy Tower was damaged and the anti-air and radar systems were not working properly, the enemy''s aerial strike was foreseen to arrive imminently. "Earth-splitting Slash!" The War Professional knew that he could not hold back any longer and immediately used his trump card. Compared to the old Neanderthal tribe''s man he was fighting, the one-eyed woman posed a much greater threat. Boom!~ The shockwaves rolled, sending all three flying back together. "What the hell was that explosion?" The dizzy Chen Fei finally managed to recover his strength. "Eyes of Tyranny" was still cooling down, but his individual information was not looking very good. State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 10/12 Burst Strength: 45/60 .net Fullness: 37% Active time: 12 hours Energy Points: 211/5000 The quantified information reflected a feeling of being tired, hungry, and sleepy. Chen Fei felt that he probably could not hold on for 12 hours¡ªthe consumption was just too great. Lying on the ground pretending to be a dead dog while secretly catching his breath, he suddenly spotted a sneaky figure, quietly lifting a gun barrel, seemingly preparing to covertly shoot either Old Master Barut or the female executive manager. Without hesitation, Chen Fei leaped forward in a bound, pinning the other down to the ground before he could press the trigger, coldly saying, "I''ll give you a choice¡ªhow do you want to die?" The opponent reacted very quickly, dropped the gun, and swiftly pulled out a tactical dagger from his chest, plunging it into Chen Fei with a clean thrust, and sneered, "I''d prefer to die of old age." The old man had after all been injured. No matter how mighty one had been, now age was taking its toll. A clay pot cannot stay unbroken on the well''s edge forever, and a general cannot avoid death in front of the battle lines; in such intense combat, injuries were inevitable. "Come..." Just as Chen Fei was about to call for help, he was gripped by Barut''s hand, which gently shook its head. "No need to call! It''s not necessary!" "Are you alright? I''ll call someone to treat your wounds." "Alright? Yes, nothing''s wrong anymore, nothing at all." The Old Master still shook his head, indifferent to the injuries suffered, he sighed deeply and then said, "The glory of the Neanderthal tribe is finally coming to an end; it is time for it to end." "What is coming to an end?" Chen Fei felt that the old man was acting strangely, but he couldn''t quite pinpoint what was off. Suddenly, Barut said, "Little Chen!" His eyes gradually became brighter, staring at Chen Fei until he felt a chill in his heart, forcing himself to stiffen up and say, "Grandpa Barut, whatever it is, please just say it." "Ever since I met you, you''ve always been skirting the line between life and death. I have a gift for you, though I don''t know if it will be a good or bad thing." The flames seemed to be burning in Barut''s eyes. "As a younger, I dare not refuse the gift of an elder. Whatever you give me, Old Master, I will take good care of it," said Chen Fei, while still trying to find an excuse to call a doctor. He began to feel an inexplicable unease. "I taught you the stance, the breathing techniques, so I might as well give you the last thing too." The hand that tightly grasped Chen Fei''s suddenly became scorching hot but showed no intention of letting go. Instead, it gripped even more firmly. Old Master Barut''s War Patterns suddenly lit up without warning, each line bursting into bright red light, exceptionally blinding. The blood-red tattoos that bloomed with dazzling light weren''t static; they started to flow as if alive, gathering from all over Barut''s body to his shoulders, down his arm, and wrist, forming a scorching torrent that coursed through his aged and withered fingers and surged into Chen Fei''s body. "What''s happening?" Chen Fei yelled in shock. "Hey, hey, hey, Old Master, what are you doing?" He himself began to glow, enveloped in a sinister red light from head to toe. But the Neanderthal tribesman still held on tightly to Chen Fei, refusing to let go, his eyes so wide that they bled, unleashing all his life force and bellowing with all his might, "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death!" As his words ended, the red glow that had enveloped Chen''s body suddenly dimmed as if it had never been there at all. With his heart racing, Chen Fei finally broke free from Barut''s grasp. When he came to his senses, he discovered that the old man before him had lost all signs of life, only his furious, wide-eyed expression remained. "Old Master?" Chen Fei could hardly believe it. Damn it, he had just been talking, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone! He quickly noticed that the blood-red War Patterns on the old man''s body had disappeared, leaving only wrinkled and scarred withered skin. In life, we come with nothing, and we leave with nothing, unable to take anything with us... System: Ding! New skill "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" discovered (Note: Only with a resolve to die can one find a way to live). - Chapter 97: Section 97 - Enemy Approaching Unable to accept it, Chen Fei pressed his head against Barut''s chest, listening intently but hearing none of the sounds he desperately wanted to hear. The old man had not only stopped breathing, but his heartbeat had ceased as well. Chen Fei instantly panicked, laid the old man flat and began performing CPR, hoping for a miracle. "Hey, hey, hey, old man, you can''t die now! It''s not your time to die yet." But it was no use; it was as if the spark of life had left the body of this elderly Neanderthal, beyond any hope of return. "Hey! Stop wasting your effort; he should have died thirty years ago!" The voice of Executive Manager Hanna Gagel arose behind Chen Fei, who was still pressing down on the old man''s chest. As an elite warrior tasked with guarding the Neanderthal tribe''s Supreme Council, Barut was fortunate to have survived this long, considering that more elite warriors had perished in the final battle. No matter how mighty the Twelve Overlord Tribes were, they too were annihilated under the joint forces of the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star civilizations, ceasing to exist. She continued, "Barut was the last warrior of the Neanderthal tribe. To die on the battlefield was a fitting end for him." Chen Fei finally stopped moving, accepting that he was exerting futile efforts, for death is as extinguishing a lamp. "Is he really dead?" He felt an inexplicable urge to cry, yet tears wouldn''t come. Hanna Gagel sighed and said, "The Neanderthal''s Secret Technique is powerful but too domineering, harming for harm, life for life. At his age, this was probably the last time he burnt his life. Even if he hadn''t been injured, he wouldn''t have long to live. For a warrior, having the chance to die on the battlefield at the end of one''s life is indeed fortunate." A true warrior dying of old age or sickness in bed at home, that is the real sorrow. The executive manager was quite understanding of Barut''s final thoughts but was even more envious and jealous of Chen Fei''s good fortune in inheriting the Neanderthal tribe''s complete Secret Technique. Before this, she had thought that due to racial differences, the Neanderthals couldn''t pass on their Secret Technique to Homo Sapiens descendants, even the War Patterns had to be obtained through handmade tattoos using special materials. It turned out that not just the executive manager, probably everyone was mistaken. Now that the War Pattern inheritance had completely ceased for the Neanderthal tribe, no more brave and skilled warriors could emerge. This was also the result of covert manipulations by various sovereign nations of the Blue Star. No one wished for any more misguided individuals to emerge from the remnants of the Third Era Civilization, attempting a resurgence, forcing the Neanderthal tribe to fully integrate into the Blue Star Civilization. This was an outcome beneficial to all. Chen Fei, a Homo Sapiens descendant, having unexpectedly received the Neanderthal''s War Patterns and Secret Technique, posed a significantly smaller potential threat, basically indistinguishable from an Ability Awakening. Before Chen Fei could say anything, he heard Manager Hanna roar. "Had enough of feeling sad? Now, hurry up and get to work!" The next second, the world spun around. In order to ensure that everyone at the Aircrew Base could safely make it through this ordeal, the executive manager wouldn''t allow too much mourning¡ªbetter put those worthless tears away early. Thump! Chen Fei fell hard to the ground, grimacing as he looked up to find himself thrown inside the hangar doors, immediately spotting the chief mechanic. This evening, attending to various physical landings, was indeed too strenuous. Big Brother Xiao spoke in a calm tone, "Hurry up and change your clothes. All the ''Big Mouth Monsters'' need their ignition coils and fuses replaced." The EMP had not only written off most of the electronic equipment inside the 911 Aircrew Base, but even the combat aircraft weren''t spared. However, due to their inherent electromagnetic protection capabilities, the damage wasn''t too severe. The condition of the two jet engines was slightly better, yet the ground GPUs for auxiliary ignition were down, turning the power supply trucks into piles of scrap metal. The MiG-28s, unlike the "Big Mouth Monsters," could not self-ignite and were idly waiting on the apron. This chaotic busyness had fortunately not caused any delay. It was all thanks to Big Brother Xiao for personally teaching him to disassemble the "Big Mouth Monster," otherwise it would mostly have been botched. "Aircraft 216 repaired, ready for take-off!" Excluding the recently returned "Big Mouth Monster" of Aircraft 215, all six turboprop aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were fully revived and fully armed with aerial combat ammunition. "Enemy estimated to arrive in 5 minutes, ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, attack!" The ammunition team immediately pulled out the safety plugs of the mounted weapons. "Aircraft 211 starting air supply, electric power support can only maintain for five minutes." A MiG-28 on the apron direction flashed fire from its tail, unleashing a huge roar. Unexpectedly, despite the ground support equipment being damaged, the maintenance team forcibly substituted other methods, enabling a MiG-28 to be ready in hot standby status. Chekhov Big Bear, who was about to board Aircraft 211, did not hesitate to leave this turboprop behind and sprinted toward the apron. Chen Fei yelled from behind. "Hey hey, squadron leader, where are you going?" "I''m taking care of 201, you take care of 211!" Chekhov, without turning his head, irresponsibly waved and ran off, beyond calling back. Ugh, such a scoundrel! In the imminent aerial combat, jet aircraft obviously had the advantage. "Rookie, you''ll have to pilot Aircraft 211 alone." Inside Aircraft 212 not far away, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, preparing to ignite the engines, loudly spoke, "From now on, I''m the lead aircraft, you are the wingman, keep close to me!" The two-seater "Big Mouth Monster" could ideally accommodate two pilots, but it seemed there was no problem operating it with one person in combat. To ensure the combat capability of Aircraft 212, Irinei Rusios had not recklessly made Chen Fei her co-pilot, as her coordination with the fire control operator of Aircraft 212, "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, allowed them to smoothly deploy some powerful tactics. Moreover, everything teachable had been taught; only the final step of taking off was left. As for combat, that must be learned with life at stake! It was an inevitable circumstance. At this critical moment, no one would overlook any available combat power, even if it was a rookie, they had to grit their teeth and go for it. "Eh? Me???" Chen Fei pointed at himself doubtfully. He had only flown in video games, crashing eight times out of ten, can you believe it? "Stop dawdling, take off now!" Yamada Yuhu, a pilot of Z-9 armed helicopters, along with a few other Z-9 pilots, forcefully crammed the lad into the front seat of Aircraft 211''s cockpit and thoughtfully pressed down the cockpit hatch, almost went so far as to weld him shut inside. - Chapter 98: Section 98 - Night Battle at an Altitude of 8000 Hey, hey, you bunch of bastard cakes, I''ve finally seen through you. Chen Fei sat in the cockpit, feeling a bit lost. Aside from video games, he''d never actually taken off by himself before! He saw the nearby No. 212 start its turboprop, and the short-haired girl in the front seat made direct gestures to him, unmistakably pointing outside the hangar. Damn it, I can only bite the bullet and go. First step, fasten the seatbelt. Second step, put on the helmet. Third step, open the communication channel. "Rookie, are you ready?" As soon as the connection was made, he heard the voice of Irinei Rusios. A jet roared past on the main runway with a huge rumbling sound, lifted its nose, and pierced straight into the sky. Chekhov Big Bear had run first, leaving behind the entire "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron! Several other A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft followed closely onto the runway, taking off one after another in a race against time to secure air superiority for the 911 Aircrew Base. "Ready." Chen Fei ignited the engine, and the nose turboprop spun rapidly, the vibration transmitted to the fuselage quickly reaching a balanced state. The PT6A series turboprop engine, optimized over decades, was a mature technology with very few drawbacks, fuel-efficient, high output, reliable quality, and stable performance. The five propeller blades stirred the air at high speed, easily propelling the 3.5-ton fully loaded aircraft. The control tower communication hadn''t been restored yet, but someone was standing near the turboprop aircraft, holding up a large whiteboard for the pilots in the cockpit to see. Direction 253 (just south of due west) Distance 65 kilometers Altitude 8800 meters Number 18 Speed 0.4 Mach Identified as A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" IFF Code: 911-33585# "You hurry up and follow, I''ll be watching you, be brave." With the voice of Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, No. 212 slid out of the hangar, gaining speed. On the main runway, the taking off turboprop aircraft''s wingtip beacon lights flickered red and green, diving into the night sky. "Damn it, let''s do this!" Read the latest on mvl A squadron of enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" heading toward Aircrew Base 911 was caught off guard by MiG-28 fighters acting with surprise and suffered heavy losses on the spot. Squadron Leader Chekhov might have had an unsavory reputation, but his professional qualities were outstanding; otherwise, he wouldn''t have become a squadron leader who commanded the respect of every pilot. The enemy "Big Mouth Monsters," divided into two groups, had two of their aircraft knocked out on the spot. The MiG-28 did not engage in prolonged combat, striking once and swiftly departing with a resounding boom like thunder rolling across the sky. Turboprop aircraft had no chance of catching up to the afterburner-supersonic jet aircraft. The acceleration speed of the MiG-28 is more than three times the maximum speed of the "Big Mouth Monster," resulting in an almost certain rout. No wonder Squadron Leader Chekhov had unhesitatingly chosen the MiG-28 as his mount for battle. After several aggressive interjections, the enemy "Big Mouth Monster" squadron was scattered like birds and beasts, completely losing their tactical formation. The adversaries had not anticipated that Aircrew Base 911 could organize an air force to meet them in battle after a decapitation strike by an elite team from the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium. Aircrew Base 909 and the military contractors behind it had heard that the Meman Brothers United had sent a Human Order of intermediate rank War Professional, a low-ranked Mage, and two supernatural power users of E-grade or higher, along with a team of Elite Warriors equipped with Optical Invisibility Equipment. Such a force attacking Aircrew Base 911 would have been unstoppable by Aircrew Base 909 itself. "Now at an altitude of 9,100 meters, guidance complete, 21 kilometers to the target, about to enter visual range, lock on target!" Acting temporarily as an early warning aircraft, No. 215 took up its tactical role. Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Chekhov dealt with one enemy formation; their six "Big Mouth Monsters" would take on another enemy formation. Although it wasn''t really an early warning aircraft, after being equipped with electronic reconnaissance pods, it acquired some relatively simple functions such as guiding firepower, locking onto multiple targets, and collecting dynamic battlefield trajectories, which were then shared with other fighters through the battlefield data link. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios shouted over the communication channel, "Everyone aim at their targets, FOX1, three, two, one, fire!" After completing their climb, Chen Fei, now in a wingman position, and the other pilots pressed the launch button together. The aircraft shuddered, and two programmable combat bombs disengaged from their pylons, their tails igniting into intense flames, propelling the projectiles rapidly forward. Before launching, the multi-mode seeker head could select modes: FOX-1 (semi-active electromagnetic guidance), FOX-2 (infrared guidance), FOX-3 (active electromagnetic guidance), or FOX-L (laser guidance). Squadron Leader Chekhov, now like a mystical unpredictable loner, left the deputy squadron leader¡ªa short-haired girl¡ªto command the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s turboprop aircraft formation in combat. "Everyone break off, heading 360, altitude 7,000!" With the No. 215 acting as an early warning aircraft, the tactics became relatively unexciting. Once the missiles were fired, they shifted position without delay, preparing for the second wave of attack. This kind of combat was utterly about striking first to gain advantage; those who reacted later suffered. With two volleys of combat bombs sent their way, at least half of the opposing "Big Mouth Monster" squadron would be wiped out. Turboprop aircraft can''t even catch up with jet fighters, let alone missiles; the hit rate of missiles coming head-on would be terrifyingly high. By the time the enemy detected the missile lock signals, the exhaust and trail had entered visible range, and the nine enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" immediately fell into disarray, releasing their combat bombs in a panic. Unfortunately for them, there was no lock-on, and the "Genuine Fragrance" "Big Mouth Monsters" had already taken the opportunity to flee. This counterattack amounted to a futile effort. As for No. 215, hanging with an electronic reconnaissance pod and still in the middle of guidance: come at me if you dare. An early warning aircraft is, in some ways, a low-power EMP. It''s not good for much, but it reigns supreme when it comes to creating disturbances. The oncoming missiles quickly became disoriented, darting about like headless flies, and after exhausting their propellant, they self-detonated high in the sky. As expected, one of the turboprop aircraft formations from Aircrew Base 909, split in two, lost four aircraft to the first wave of missiles and another two to the second wave. The nine enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" lost more than half of their number without even catching sight of an adversary. - Chapter 99: Section 99 - The Four Primary Colors View "Big Mouth Monster" VS "Big Mouth Monster," when performance doesn''t offer an overwhelming advantage, having the initiative and discipline becomes even more important. Other than aircraft number 215, which acted as an early warning aircraft, the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron still prioritized formation tactics, with not even a thought of individual heroism and going solo. It was sheer ignorance to show off and pick a solo fight when clearly at a numerical disadvantage¡ªit was simply not knowing how to spell "death." What''s worse, there was one who was dragging the team down, truly frustrating! "Rookie, maintain formation; don''t fall behind!" Even during maneuvers, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios kept her eyes on this true Rookie. Fortunately, the kid was performing adequately, not causing her too much concern. But she couldn''t help wondering whether bringing this young man with no real combat experience to the battlefield was a good thing or a bad thing. To the short-haired girl, Chen Fei''s accomplishment in killing a Metallic Dragon was just an accident, and it was actually the result of the whole team''s cooperation; it couldn''t be entirely attributed to one person. Don''t believe it? Let him try going one-on-one by himself, and if he can survive in the sky for 5 seconds, she''d consider it her loss. "I''m following!" Chen Fei could only confirm the positions of friend and foe fighters through the constantly blinking beacon lights on wingtips and the battlefield data link marks; otherwise, he''d lose sight of his allies in the blink of an eye with just the faint moonlight outside. He had to be extra cautious at this point, concentrating, and intently following aircraft number 212, the lead aircraft, for fear of getting lost. It might have been a bit easier during the day, but it just had to be night, and not just any night, but the middle of the night. Uh, wait, let''s check the Skill Shop first. File Management Plugin: 120 Energy Points Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points Evolution Accelerator Level 0 (0-9 levels): 500 Energy Points Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points Basic Particle Beam (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points Basic Microwave Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points Basic Optical Observer (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points Energy Storage Upgrade (+5000): 5000 Points Magical Array Evolution Database: 500 Energy Points Elemental Decomposition: 300 Energy Points Elemental Synthesis: 300 Energy Points Metal Shaping: 100 Energy Points ... The list inside the "Skill Shop" spanned about a dozen pages and was constantly being updated. Because there were far too many, he usually didn''t have time to examine them closely. Among the mass of skills he couldn''t afford, a few superfluous ones were mixed in. It''s not about the most expensive being the best, but the most suitable. Chen Fei frowned; what situation was this? But the communication channel was still full of static noise, and it took several seconds to quiet down again. The battlefield data link was inexplicably disconnected and could not be re-linked. "It''s EMP! Anti-radiation missiles coupled with an EMP attack!" Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios'' voice sounded again in the communication channel, she immediately guessed what the sudden screech was all about. Due to the considerable distance, the communication equipment of the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" managed to survive. Chen Fei looked in the direction of Aircraft 215 and squinted slightly, extending his vision, and immediately saw the powerless rotating propeller of the "Big Mouth Monster" drawing a curve as it plummeted to the ground. The cockpit canopy violently blew off, and two pilots ejected in quick succession, one after the other. Chen Fei reported immediately, "Aircraft 215 is out of control and crashing, both pilots have ejected." "Thank goodness. Huh? Rookie, can you see that?" The short-haired girl in the front seat of Aircraft 212 looked around the cockpit to the outside but failed to see the falling silhouette of Aircraft 215, nor did she see the ejected pilots. Because the night lacked sufficient light to illuminate the sky, the visible distance at night was much shorter than during the day. In the clear skies of the day, one could easily see over twenty kilometers, but at night, being able to spot a target seven or eight kilometers away was already cause for gratitude. Whether it''s night flying or night fighting, pilots trust their control panels more than their own eyesight. Eyes can sometimes deceive, but instruments and gauges never do. Chen Fei honestly replied, "I can see it, quite clearly." He could clearly see whether the propellers of Aircraft 215 were rotating or not, even the speed of rotation, without any effort at all. "Now, we can only rely on ourselves." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sighed, the advantage they had finally gained was lost with the two missiles. "''Devil Pepper,'' count the kills. I''ve got three, uh, four down on my end." "Peanut Butter" Chekhov, who had been maintaining radio silence, finally made a sound in the communication channel, and the sound of explosions could be heard. The MiG-28s, which could accelerate to 1.5 Mach for a surprise attack, were decimating the enemy "Big Mouth Monster" fleet like tigers among sheep, leaving the enemy with no power to retaliate. As turboprop aircraft, the "Big Mouth Monsters" could only reach a maximum flight speed of 0.4 Mach. The MiG-28 had at least a threefold speed advantage over them. "We''ve taken down six here, lost Aircraft 215!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios estimated, up to this point, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had taken out more than half of the enemy fighters, and they had only lost one Aircraft 215 serving as an early-warning craft. If it weren''t for the loss of Aircraft 215, it would have been a perfect victory. The remaining eight enemy turboprop aircraft, whose morale had been crushed, would inevitably be destroyed if they didn''t hurry to retreat. "''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, heading 270, altitude 12600 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, eight MiG-28s are approaching your airspace at high speed." The familiar voice from the Aircrew Base tower reached the ears of all the pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. - Chapter 100: Section 100 - Death Mission The American-made MiG-28 jet fighter is actually just a joke that became reality; the Mikoyan Design Bureau that originally developed it has long since rolled over in its grave. The same factory also produced the American-made Jian-8. To make money, the American Federation''s aviation arms manufacturers are completely shameless. Protesting is useless, the patent has long expired, and anyone can freely use it; you can''t win a lawsuit. The main customers for these high-quality counterfeit Li ghosts are powerful private military contractors; whether it''s the original factory''s model or not isn''t important, as long as it can fly, fight, and comes with reliable quality and an affordable price, then it''s settled. Dragging the real Li Kuis out of the military museum might not even beat these copies. But sovereign nations look down on these minor plays with big toys; their national treasure artifacts can only be crystal jets. If it weren''t for the difficulty in training qualified Sky Knights, any sovereign force would wish for nothing more than full crystal jet fleets with Sky Knights, holding multiple Sky Cavalry Orders, keeping watch and dominating over all. Cough, um! Demographics are what they are, take a good look at yourselves, thinking about a fully-staffed Sky Cavalry Order? Wishful thinking! Wishful thinking! - Aircrew Base 911 suddenly tapped into the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s communication channel, signaling that the ground communication system and ground-based radar system had finally been repaired and were resuming normal operations¡ªa piece of good news. "Eight MiG-28s? They''re after our lives!" The fire control operator "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis in the backseat of aircraft 212 cried out angrily. Not even facing the enemy''s eighteen "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop aircraft and one MiG jet fighter with "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s six "Big Mouth Monster" turboprops had made him lose his composure as much. Fighting against similar turboprop aircraft and fighting against jet fighters are completely different stories. Moreover, the "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop aircraft that took off from Aircrew Base 909 mainly came for bombing purposes and didn''t carry much air-to-air weaponry, which is why they were caught by the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron fully equipped with air-superiority ammunition and got severely beaten up. "Really... shameless!" Pilot "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear of aircraft 216 couldn''t help but curse. He''s usually a silent type; now even the stoic pilot was getting agitated. If you''re brave enough, don''t use jet fighters¡ªcome fight a duel with turboprop aircraft! The odds were against them in numbers and in aircraft performance; the upcoming battle was going to be difficult. Even with a straight trade of one for one, the result would still be a loss. "This is corporate warfare, they are not going to give us any breaks, if we want to survive, we have to beat them!" The voice of executive manager Hanna Gagel joined in, as she noticed the change in the pilots'' morale, with everyone shocked and angry, inevitably suffering a hit to their confidence. But in the private military contractor business, there are no innocents. The Apocalypse Defense Group isn''t run by saints or philanthropists; they too have launched corporate wars, mercilessly causing heavy casualties and losses to their adversaries, pressing them to the brink of collapse. The losers in a corporate war usually end up in one state, bankruptcy. Under an overturned nest, there''s no intact egg; those killed or wounded on the losing side, apart from insurance, couldn''t even get a penny of war reparations, let alone the current month''s salary and bonuses, and they''d have to risk their lives. There are few fortunate ones who can rise from defeat; they are far and few between. "Manager Hanna''s right, there''s no escape now, we must fight!" Executive Manager: "..." Chekhov Big Bear: "..." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios: "..." Other pilots: "..." Now everyone''s numb, you sure have tough luck, to survive all that. The word that came to everyone''s mind was: Immortal Body. Aside from Chen Fei, who else could take on the task of being the bait? It was tailor-made for him, too fitting! "Ahem! Little Chen, I can apply for a special bonus of 500,000 Star Yuan for you." ©¥©¥( ?©` ?*|||©¥©¥Hanna Gagel quickly touched on Chen Fei''s G-spot. If it''s just about adding money, approved! "Done!" (# ?~ ?#) Chen Fei geared up instantly, ready to be bait, for birds die in pursuit of food, but man dies pursuing wealth. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios had prepared a bunch of arguments in her stomach to convince Chen Fei. Now it seemed, none of them were needed. ( ?¦Ø ?*) ------- Basic Optical Observer Level 1, upgrade! System: Ding! You can choose one of "Low Light Imaging," "Infrared Thermal Imaging," or "Full Spectrum Imaging." Chen Fei was momentarily stunned, then without hesitation chose "Low Light Imaging." Under the cover of night, Low Light Imaging was obviously the most appropriate choice. -100 Energy Points! Energy Points: 11/5000 Chen Fei, this wasteful guy, blew through all 300 energy points he had just gotten his hands on with no hesitation or second thoughts. Basic Optical Observer Level 2 (300 energy points needed for Level 3) The whole world immediately brightened, looking outside the cockpit, the night sky was almost indistinguishable from daytime. Time to take a moment to stand with hands on hips, feeling quite capable. <( ?) ?)> - Chapter 101: Section 101 - That guy is pretending to be a rookie "Enemy aircraft direction 270, altitude 13,500 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, distance 350 kilometers, estimated time of arrival within 20 minutes," After some urgent repairs, aircrew base 911, which had finally restored its communication system, once again sent a report. The ground-based radar that had been urgently repaired was now running at full power, securely locking onto the approaching group of jet fighters. Fortunately, the attackers'' primary target was the Target low-temperature nuclear fusion energy tower. They had launched an EMP in haste and had not yet managed to destroy the ground-based radar with high-energy bombs, otherwise the situation would have been even more troubling. ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron''s MiG-28 number 215, although not shot down, had an electronic reconnaissance pod with limited power. Its maximum scanning distance of 300 kilometers was already at its limit; any further, and it would be powerless. It was not that there were no electronic pods with higher power available, but the turboprop engines of the ''Big Mouth Monster'' could not support such a high power output. If the ground radar at aircrew base 911 had not been repaired in time, they might not even have noticed the eight MiGs approaching right under their noses, and would have suffered a great loss. Since the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium declared corporate warfare with the Apocalypse Defense Group, their plan was quite thorough, one step leading to the next, leaving virtually no preparation time for aircrew base 911. A ground team equipped with War Professionals, Mages, supernatural power users, and elite warriors collectively wore optical camouflage suits and covertly initiated special operations to sabotage the energy tower and even assassinate high-ranking officials. The first tactical objective was to seize aircrew base 911 and the vast reserves intact, thus making the Apocalypse Defense Group suffer financially, as the materials transported by the ''Luo Jing Number'' Magic Cube Warship, hired at great cost, were taken by the enemy for free. The second tactical objective, if the first was not achieved, was to immediately lower expectations. Eighteen fully loaded ''Big Mouth Monster'' aircraft were already prepared to unload over thirty tons of ammunition onto the entire aircrew base 911, completely leveling the site. After indiscriminate bombing, both manpower and materials would be written off, and the Apocalypse Defense still forced to suffer losses. The third tactical objective was that if the ground team failed and the ''Big Mouth Monster'' squadron was intercepted, then it would be the turn of the eight MiG-28 jet fighters to enter the fray. If all schemes failed, it would come down to a brute force showdown. Eight jets against two jet fighters and six turboprops¡ªthe outcome was almost certain. Once the air was controlled by ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, they could then take over aircrew base 911 without any obstacles, most likely achieving the first tactical objective again. "At least the anti-air missiles will be on time." The fresh combat plans had all elements well-coordinated, the tide was turning from a reactive to a proactive stance. Vice Squadron Leader of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, the short-haired "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios felt greatly relieved. At least they still had the capability to counterattack, keeping the situation from deteriorating beyond repair. "Enemy aircraft direction 270, altitude 14,000 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, distance 260 kilometers, estimated time of arrival within 15 minutes," The ground-based radar of aircrew base 911 firmly locked onto the approaching MiG squadron, continuously reporting their position. The battlefield data link was restored once again, switching from the downed number 215 back to the aircrew base, solidifying communications. "Guys, I''m going first! Ura!~" howled Major Chekhov, the Squadron Leader of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, over the communication channel. Five ''Big Mouth Monster'' turboprop aircraft near MiG-27 number 201 joined in acceleration, approaching the eight incoming MiG aircraft. The tactic of drawing in the enemy depended on careful timing¡ªtoo fast was unacceptable as it was tantamount to suicide, too slow would mean the bait was wasted. Rushing to attract firepower and failing to successfully "kite" the enemy would mean getting knocked out at the very start and the entire combat plan would fall apart. Thus, the pilot executing the initial step had to be bold and skilled, and no one was more suitable than the Big Bear Squadron Leader. As the leader of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, it was his prerogative. A minute later, the pilot of number 213, Chef Abel''s fellow villager "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane also dropped a line. "Fellas, I''m heading out first, take care! Rookie, you hang in there!" An A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'' light turboprop attack aircraft then broke away from the formation, starting to maneuver closer to the enemy MiG-28 squadron. After another minute, number 214 also detached from the formation. Left maintaining formation against the MiG squadron were only three aircraft. Numbers 212 and 216 surrounded Chen Fei''s number 211 in the middle. "Titan," Squadron Leader of "Zero Point" Squadron, chuckled coldly, instantly seeing through the opponent''s tactical intentions. Truly naive and ridiculous, including the enemy flight''s call sign. He immediately said in a deep voice, "''Tiger'' squad, direction 133, ''Eagle'' squad, direction 29, go quickly and return quickly." "''Tiger'' squad, received!" "''Eagle'' squad, received!" Four MiG-28 jet fighters, in pairs, broke away from the flying formation and darted toward the two targets. In their eyes, the two isolated turboprop aircraft were like dishes being served up, easily resolved in minutes. The wingman pilot under Squadron Leader "Titan" spoke doubtfully, "Uh, ''Titan'', we are splitting our forces, right?" Having already exposed the enemy''s intentions, why still fall for it? The Squadron Leader''s orders were really baffling. "Besides that previous MiG aircraft, the rest are all ''Big Mouth Monsters''. Can''t two jet fighters overpower one turboprop? If they want us to split our forces, then let''s split our forces." "Titan" from "Zero Point" Squadron kept chuckling coldly. "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron thought that with such clever tactics they could defeat them, which was far too naive. How could a turboprop possibly match up to a jet fighter! "Captain, there''s another one ahead!" The wingman was also somewhat bewildered, finding it incredibly unbelievable. Our own superiority in aircraft type and number is clear here; the enemy doesn''t seem to be feigning weakness, but actually is weak! The situation of friend versus enemy is as follows: "Wolf" squad (two MiG-28s) VS201 aircraft Squadron Leader Chekhov (one MiG-28) "Tiger" squad (two MiG-28s) VS213 aircraft (one A-39B "Big Mouth Monster") "Eagle" squad (two MiG-28s) VS214 aircraft (one A-39B "Big Mouth Monster") For the far-traveling "Zero Point" Squadron, the advantage clearly lies with us, just push through and it''s done. Especially since "Titan," the Squadron Leader of "Zero Point" Squadron, and his wingman "Cyclops" have only one lonely "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft ahead. On the radar display, that "Big Mouth Monster" flew straight towards them without dodging, and the Squadron Leader "Titan" of "Zero Point" Squadron scoffed disdainfully, "Hmm, that guy up front is pretending to be a rookie." If the opponent''s flight path had strayed even slightly, he might have respected the guy as a real man. But now, pretending to be a rookie, can''t he be a bit more subtle? Basic Optical Observer Level 2: Low-light enhancement. The dim night sky in others'' eyes was surprisingly clear and bright in Chen Fei''s eyes, it almost felt like daytime. The enemy''s two MiG-28 jet fighters, upon entering his visual range, also flew straightforward directly towards him without any deviation or initiation of attack, which left Chen Fei somewhat disconcerted. "What to do, what should we do?" - Chapter 102: Section 102 - Dancing with Missiles "This is really a rookie, ''Titan'', what to do?" The opponent had no response at all, with no intention of starting a fight, which made the wingman pilot "Cyclops" feel somewhat awkward about taking action. Too inexperienced. There must be at least a hundred ways to easily shoot down the opponent. "Forget it, let him go!" But the flight leader of the "Zero Point" squadron, "Titan", was unmoved. With a brief aim, he immediately pulled the trigger of the cannon. For such a rookie, it wasn''t worth wasting a missile on him. A few shots and the aircraft would be bursting into flames, which could be seen as giving face. In aerial combat, the first task upon spotting an enemy is to strike first. How could one dawdle like the adversary still oblivious to the danger? Since such a mistake has been made, it''s alright, not a big deal. Just remember to correct it in the next life. Ratatat, a burst of tracer bullets shot out, quickly pouncing towards the approaching "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft. The MiG-28''s fire control radar has a detection range of 33 kilometers, providing shot ranging and lead angle calculation for the aircraft cannon. The effective range of the 20mm caliber aircraft cannon is 2,000 meters, but its actual range is far beyond that. The distance of 3,000 meters is reached in an instant. The oncoming A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft slightly shakes its wings... unscathed. The flight leader of the "Zero Point" squadron, "Titan": "..." His wingman pilot "Cyclops": "..." Chen Fei is delighted: "300 energy points, a bargain!" Just then, as soon as the MiG aircraft began firing, several fine blue lines shot towards him, startling Chen Fei to reflexively maneuver the joystick, allowing the aircraft to dodge these unknown lines in the nick of time. A second later, the shining tracer bullets followed these blue lines and whizzed past the "Big Mouth Monster", without touching even a hair. Chen Fei finally realized that these abruptly appearing mysterious blue lines were predictive trajectories. The functionality of the Basic Optical Observer Level 1, initially valued at 200 energy points, is truly unexpected. The inexperienced Chen Fei instantly became bolder. It''s only right to return the favor. You shoot at me, I shoot at you; what was once a bit of trepidation, now became brazen righteousness. When he tried to lock onto the MiG aircraft, he heard the voice of the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios in his ear. "Rookie, aren''t you going to run?" According to the original combat plan, Chen Fei''s 211 aircraft should have already been escaping, but the radar detection results shared from the battlefield data link nearly scared everyone witless. The distance between the 211 aircraft and those two MiG-28s was even less than 3,000 meters. What on earth were these three fighter planes doing? Dancing the waltz? This meant that the jet aircraft could knock Chen Fei''s turboprop out of the sky even without firing, with little damage to themselves. Luckily, the radar can''t display information on aircraft cannon fire, otherwise it would be even more frightening. A distance of 3,000 meters is just six or seven seconds for the oncoming parties. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft directly flew through the middle of the two MiG-28 jet fighter formation, with the three fighter aircraft crossing paths in an instant, allowing the pilots to clearly see each other''s cockpits. The "Zero Point" squadron''s flight leader, "Titan," said something rare. "This guy is really lucky!" With a push on the joystick, the MiG aircraft began to turn. This time, there would be no mercy. But when the two MiG-28s completed their turn like a textbook maneuver, they discovered that the turboprop aircraft... had slipped away! The previous round of aircraft guns had missed, and that was fine; it was all about probability after all. The deterrent effect of the aircraft guns mattered more than their actual combat value, but the combat missile that should have hit its target had missed, which was truly baffling. Supposedly a mere rookie, but as he had just seen, not even a veteran would dare say they could evade missiles with such nonchalance time after time. "No! We underestimated him!" The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron was the first to admit his mistake. Indeed, he had been mistaken. The enemy''s missile evasion move, though not a standard maneuver, was incredibly intelligent, always narrowly avoiding the missile''s trajectory. A missile that can''t hit its target, no matter how advanced its performance or how powerful it is, is still not a qualified missile. Grieved combat bomb: I''m not taking the blame for this! Inside the cockpit, Chen Fei was panting heavily, his back soaked with cold sweat, he muttered to himself with lingering fear, "Damn it, I finally dodged it." System: Ding! Dance with the missile for a cumulative 11 seconds/60 seconds, maintain elegance, gain Energy Points +200. His face nearly turned green. He had barely managed to dodge it with his life on the line, facing constant danger throughout. If the missile had come a few meters closer, it could have triggered a proximity explosion, and 211 would be in immediate danger. Playing computer games and fighting in real battles are two completely different things. You can restart a game, but real battle costs actual lives, and there are no second chances. "You''ve got to hang in there!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was truly worried for this rookie¡ªit was too hard! But 211 and the two MiG aircraft hadn''t reached the optimal altitude yet, so she and 216 couldn''t show up together just yet. More blue thin lines came from behind, with even more quantity and density. Chen Fei quickly pushed the control stick sideways, and the tumbling and yawing "Big Mouth Monster" executed a series of maneuvers, just in time to dodge the deadly hail of bullets coming from behind. The 20mm caliber rounds would have instantly shredded the fragile "Big Mouth Monster." "This isn''t luck, it''s too weird!" "Cyclops" had nearly emptied half his aircraft cannon ammunition, yet he didn''t hit a single target, howling in frustration. With two hundred standard rounds, having fired half of them, even with just a one percent chance, he should have hit the target by now. Yet the enemy seemed to have divine protection, continuing to flee completely unharmed. "We need to finish it off quickly, something is definitely off, squads report your status." The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron sensed something unusual. "''Eagle'' Squadron reporting, the enemy target is too cunning, we''re still figuring it out." "''Wolf'' Squadron reporting, ''White Bay'' has been taken down, ''Peanut Butter'' is an expert, and I won''t let him go." "''Tiger'' Squadron reporting, we''ve wounded the target, we can bring it down in no more than five minutes." The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron from the Aircrew Base were indeed the targets of the "Zero Point" Squadron''s mission this time around, and splitting forces for the planned operation wasn''t reckless. Despite having a strong hand, the play was a bit unexpected. Altitude 3200 meters, the ground elevation was starting to clear up, with the vast mountains seeming almost within reach. "It''s time! Rookie, we''ll be there in three minutes!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, who had been circling nearby, waiting for an opportunity, pulled her control stick, and the 212 cruising at low speed in a canyon soared into the sky. - Chapter 103: Section 103 - Racing Against Time "Beep beep beep..." The sound of the fire control radar lock flooded the entire cockpit. Chen Fei, seemingly oblivious, focused solely on the altitude meter, the speed meter, and whether there were any blue lines connected to the aircraft. Danger lay ahead, the enemy behind, leaving no room for distraction. Altitude 1800 meters! Don''t think that sea level at 0 meters is the ground. Wrong! Completely wrong! On the contrary, at this altitude, the actual position is underground. This is a mountainous area, where the highest peaks can reach up to 7000 meters, and the average altitude is generally over 200 meters. One must account for this difference beforehand, otherwise one second you''re in mid-air, and the next you could be smashing into a mountain, instantly destroying both man and machine. If visibility isn''t clear, it''s best to maintain sufficient altitude to ensure flight safety. Several fine lines whizzed past the wings, but Chen Fei just gave them a glance, too lazy to care. A few tracer bullets followed the fine lines with pinpoint accuracy, striking the ground and raising striking dust plumes. The nearest blue line was less than a foot away from the turboprop aircraft, looking perilously close. But that''s just how it looks ¨C scary. If it doesn''t actually hit, it won''t cause any damage. It doesn''t matter if it''s a foot or even a centimeter off; there''s no difference. Sometimes the blue lines representing the predictive trajectories do undergo dynamic changes, but the extent isn''t too great, always affording Chen Fei some reaction time. Actually, by focusing his attention, he could distinctly feel time slowing down. Bullets and missiles might be fast, but nothing is quicker than the human brain, right? Without warning, a thick blue line shot from the front left, piercing through the wing of aircraft 211. This time it was a missile! Again!!! Chen Fei could now distinguish whether the incoming threats were aerial machine-gun bullets or missiles, based on the thickness and number of blue lines. He felt like cursing. The heart-stopping moments of dancing with missiles had arrived. Get wrecked! The enemy, disregarding honor, employed a pincer tactic: two jet fighters against a single turboprop ¨C the latter should feel honored. They were determined to take Chen Fei down, but thanks to the "Basic Optical Observer Level 2," which never cooled off, he had seen the MiG-28 circling around, preparing to outflank him. One at the 10 o''clock position, another at 6 o''clock. Still in high-speed dive, aircraft 211 faced the threat of a coordinated attack. "Hold on!" Irinei Rusios'' voice, nicknamed "Devil Pepper," resounded in his ears again. If it was just luck, then this luck was far too good. "Cyclops" suggested, "Let''s dive down too!" "No! He has to come out eventually." Under the cover of night, "Titan" reckoned that even with superior skills, he wouldn''t dare to rashly follow into this unfamiliar canyon. He even secretly hoped in his heart that the "Big Mouth Monster" would accidentally crash and be destroyed¡ªit would save ammo. "One more minute, we''re almost there." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios glanced at the altimeter, 6700 meters. The turboprop aircraft couldn''t climb as efficiently as a jet fighter; without gaining a potential energy advantage through altitude, trying to ambush two jet fighters with two turboprops was a very precarious bet. Seeing the rock wall ahead, Chen Fei knew the canyon was coming to an end. He pulled the control stick with all his might and shouted, "I''m doing all I can!" One must not rely too heavily on onboard electronic maps and satellite positioning; map recognition is one of a pilot''s basic qualifications. Whether it was from laying out WIFI signal relays from Aircrew Base to Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School, or following Chekhov Big Bear on a raid against Aircrew Base 897, Chen Fei had spent much time poring over the high-resolution terrain maps near Aircrew Base. He had determined the direction and position of the canyon near Aircrew Base 911 and its overall structure upon first discovering it. This was his main battlefield for tangling with the two MiG-28 jet fighters. As Aircraft 211 reached the end of the canyon, it climbed with all its might, using up the last of its dive''s potential energy. Two thin blue lines approached from both front and back like a huge pair of scissors crossing each other and coming in for the "bite." Aviation cannon bullets, with their conspicuous tracer colors, arrived as expected, turning the blue lines into a deadly red trajectory of doom. Yet the turboprop aircraft seemed to dance in the rain of bullets, performing a flip maneuver, rushing out of the canyon, and then immediately turning back. The barrage of cannon fire fell empty, striking the steep slope at the end of the canyon into a cloud of dense dust. "It went back in!" "Zero Point" squadron''s "Cyclops" was so frustrated he wanted to twist his control stick into a crutch. "There''s a ''Big Mouth Monster'' approaching, bearing 120, two of them, altitude 3200 meters." "Titan," the commander of "Zero Point" squadron, immediately noticed the enemy and friendly identification targets that appeared on the radar screen. Two small markers were closing in at a velocity not at all inferior to that of the jet fighters. Estimated time to arrive, within 30 seconds. Beep beep beep beep! "We''ve been locked on!" "Cyclops" exclaimed in alarm, As he spoke, the markers representing missiles appeared on the radar screen. One, two, three, four... Four missiles were closing in at high speed. - Chapter 104: Section 104 - Masters Compete "A trap?!" The squadron leader of "Zero Point" Squadron, "Titan," was incredulous. A jet and six turboprop aircraft trying to show off in front of eight jets¡ªdidn''t they know that all schemes are useless in the face of sheer power? Is this it? "Good gracious! Have these guys gone mad?" "Titan''s" wingman, "Cyclops," also noticed the two "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft and four swooping combat bombs coming in a high-speed dive. The two MiG aircraft chasing unit 211 split perfectly to the left and right, started leveling off, their tails blazing with fire as they accelerated at full speed to escape the incoming combat bombs. Even though the performance of a jet surpasses that of a turboprop, getting hit squarely by a combat bomb would be just as disastrous. "''Scallion Oil,'' head for 270!" The deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, immediately identified the one heading in direction 270 as less skilled, unlike the one moving toward 90 who appeared more composed. Being a woman, naturally at a disadvantage, she had earned the recognition of Chekhov Big Bear and other veterans to become the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, and of course, she was no amateur. Whether it was tactical planning, flying ability, or insight, she was naturally a cut above the rest. "''Scallion Oil,'' message received." Like many descendants of the Yin people, the pilot nicknamed "Scallion Oil," Babarro Big Bear, was a formidable but taciturn flyer, pairing with the deputy squadron leader as a temporary wingman without any hesitation or compromise in carrying out her commands. The two "Big Mouth Monsters" surged ahead toward the MiG-28 jet fighter piloted by "Cyclops" of the Zero Point Squadron. Not thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west¡ªjust a mere three minutes, and the tables turned. "Cyclops" finally experienced the frustration of being sandwiched between a missile behind and an enemy aircraft in front. Karma strikes fast! Yet he dared not be careless, even if the pursuing aircraft were only turboprop machines, which still possessed the potential to bring him down. Unless one had a Crystal Jet with both repulsion and magic shields for double protection, any small aircraft hit by a combat bomb was bound to be in trouble. The era had changed; now, Crystal Jets were the true national treasure artifacts, while jets and turboprop aircraft had become mere toys for private military contractors. Can toys be used to revolt and cause chaos? It must be a joke! If Aircrew Base 911 had a Crystal Jet, not to mention eight MiG-28s, even eighty would stand no chance of escape. Although accelerating with all his might, "Titan" didn''t rashly pull the stick to climb¡ªclimbing would''ve sacrificed speed, and even with added thrust, the MiG couldn''t shake off the combat bombs. Any maneuver that increased the gravitational pull would just hasten his demise. Instead, he could only use tactical maneuvers to exhaust the pursuers'' fuel or use the complex terrain below to lure them into crashing. In other words, what unit 211 had done moments ago, this squadron leader of Zero Point Squadron now had to replicate entirely. But unlike Chen Fei, who could see the blue predictive trajectory lines, this squadron leader couldn''t, reliant on seven parts skill and three parts luck. The two programmable combat bombs, solely guided by their internal programming, alternately rolled and boxed in, rapidly closing in on the MiG. If there were an early warning aircraft nearby, a combination of the battlefield data link and radar guidance would significantly enhance the cooperation of the two missiles, greatly improving their hit rate. Boom! A fireball explosively formed behind "Titan''s" MiG jet. One missile, unable to evade in time, crashed into the ridge and exploded bitterly. "''Cyclops,'' fly head-on towards me, and set the missile to interception mode." The cockpit canopy burst open, ejecting the rear seat first. Then, the front-seat pilot "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear also pulled the ejector, sending himself and the seat soaring into the sky together. The combat bomb followed closely, soaring past the two consecutively ejected figures and slamming into the out-of-control turboprop aircraft. With a flash of fire, it exploded thunderously! Unless it is a densely populated area below, pilots will, in an emergency just like this moment, not hesitate to abandon their aircraft. It happened slower than it could be told, but quicker than it could be thought, as a series of fire serpents shot into the sky, sweeping from the nose to the tail of the MiG-28 piloted by "Cyclops," plowing fiercely through it. Before he even had a chance to rejoice for suddenly escaping two combat bombs and the pursuit of two turboprop aircraft, he was instantly shredded by several 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullets into a mist of blood and flesh inside the cockpit. The cannon caliber and power of the "Big Mouth Monster" couldn''t match that of MiG aircraft, but the damage inflicted on the aircraft body was still considerable. Boom!~~~~ The MiG-28, carrying aviation kerosene and remaining ammunition, exploded into an unusually bright fireball mid-air. An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft suddenly soared from the darkness of the vast mountains below. Experience exclusive tales on mvl 5 kilometers away, two parachute canopies gently descended into the night. "''Cyclops''! ''Cyclops''?" The squadron leader of "Zero Point," "Titan," was shocked to find that his wingman had suddenly lost signal; he looked around and saw the fireball still plummeting toward the ground far away. When? Who? - Chen Fei was pressed into his seat by the acceleration, tentatively asking, "So, what should I do next?" Still in a series of barrel rolls to shake off missiles, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios puzzledly asked, "Rookie?" Aircraft 216 had crashed, and just as she was about to feel annoyed, she suddenly remembered there should be another rookie nearby. So, what exactly was this guy doing? Bang!~ The combat bomb finally ran out of energy, exploding a hundred meters behind aircraft 212. "''Devil Pepper''! Immediately confirm, has an enemy aircraft been shot down?" The ground-based radar at Aircrew Base detected that a MiG aircraft''s signal had mysteriously disappeared, replaced by the signal of an allied turboprop aircraft in the same location. Can this thing still transform? Mother Hen turns into a duck, enemy turns into ally? What kind of a clever move is this? Wait! When did rookie''s aircraft 211 move over there? Both sides were filled with confusion. "It''s me!" Young Chen Fei would never admit that he almost got lost while flying super low altitude in the mountains. He looked up just to see a MiG aircraft about to fly right over him. Then he impulsively pulled... - Chapter 105: Section 105 - Counterattack The price of not blocking the way is... "''Cyclops'' got taken down!" The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron murmured as if unable to accept this fact. The next moment. Suddenly, there was a burst of noise on the public communication channel. "That... whoever you are, if you dare... come and fight me!!!" A certain rookie was boasting arrogantly on the communication channel. System: Ding! Dance with missiles for 18 seconds/60 seconds, maintain a beautiful posture, gain Energy Points +200 The task was not yet complete, and having just tasted the sweet deal of the "Basic Optical Observer," Chen Fei loathed to give up these 200 energy points. So... dear friend, please stay a while longer! "Chen Fei, you''d better head back!" The short-haired girl was yelling frantically on the communication channel. Having lured these two MiG-28s here and bought enough time, Chen Fei''s mission could be considered as having gone according to plan, and now bringing down another MiG was a completely unexpected gain. The tactical value couldn''t be calculated as just swapping a turboprop for a jet fighter. Looking at the electronic map position, combined with the positioning information captured by the ground-based radar, it was highly probable that he had snatched a bargain. In a situation where the prepared compete with the unprepared, even veterans may capsize in the gutter, let alone in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, which is more complex than any gutter. Otherwise, with the rookie''s previous performance, it was already a miracle he wasn''t being chased and howling. "Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios had already seen that the original tactical plan had been disrupted¡ªthe remaining MiG-28 pilot was certainly not to be trifled with. She herself had to be extremely cautious, yet her opponent had suddenly gambled with a big move by firing four combat bombs all at once, completely turning the situation on its head. If it weren''t for Chen Fei suddenly appearing out of nowhere and unexpectedly taking down a MiG-28, this battle might have had an unpredictable outcome. Chen Fei, this genuine rookie, didn''t know when to quit and was deliberately provoking a pilot on the level with Chekhov. Usually, for squadron leaders, a wingman is closer than a brother. You killed his brother, and said such things, you''re forcing him into a fight to the death! "Kid, I''ve got you in my sights!" A chilling voice of "Titan," the squadron leader of "Zero Point," resounded through the public communication channel. If such deep hatred is not avenged, I swear I am not human! He wondered if the maintenance team had promptly repaired those two Z-9 armed helicopters, hoping Yamada could pick him up soon. He couldn''t stand to stay a moment longer in this deserted, haunted place. He saw the main driver "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear hanging nearby under another parachute, silent, and shouted, "Hey, ''Scallion Oil,'' aren''t you cold?" Find exclusive stories on mvl "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear replied dully, "Is your face cold?" The Fire Control Operator thought for a moment and said, "Well, it''s sort of okay!" Compared to his body, his face just felt cooler, not chilling to the bone. "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear said, "My whole body is a face!" "Cinnamon Powder" Sug Sati: "..." In the distant sky, a star twinkled, faintly showing specks of starlight scattered about. "This is ''Peanut Butter,'' reporting my combat results and losses: I shot down two MiG-28s, I''m unharmed, but I''m out of missiles." The slightly panting voice of Chekhov Big Bear came through the communications channel, finally having a moment to inquire about his teammates'' combat status. True to the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron leader''s reputation, he had successfully shot down two MiG-28 jet fighters on his own. "Aircraft 213 reporting, I didn''t shoot any down, I have one combat bomb left, and my wing-mounted machine guns are out of bullets, sorry!" "Aircraft 214 reporting, I shot down one MiG-28, I''m out of missiles, with only 20 bullets left, I''ll have to resort to tactical deception." Fighting against jet fighters, the turboprop "Big Mouth Monster" naturally faced immense pressure, relying on its weapons to avoid being shot down instantly. Even so, the situation was still far from optimistic. Aircraft 213 and 214 were nearly out of ammo and supplies, uncertain how much longer they could hold on. "''Dragon Artemisia,'' hold on, I''m coming to support you first, Little Chili, how about your side?" Major Chekhov directly inquired about one of the most critical elements of the tactical plan. "Aircraft 216 was shot down, one MiG-28 was taken down by the Rookie, another MiG-28 escaped, there''s no threat anymore, the Rookie and I are on our way." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios truthfully reported her situation. "Uh, the Rookie took one down? Hey, Rookie, are you still alive?" Major Chekhov had been too busy to pay attention to Chen Fei''s earlier conversation with the deputy squadron leader and was now double-checking. He always felt it was more likely for others to take down Chen Fei rather than the other way around. Chen Fei responded irritably, "I''m dead, if you need something, burn paper, for minor things summon my soul, for major matters dig up my grave!" Chapter 106: Section 106 - Return to Home ``` Sometimes, people are alive, yet their hearts have already died. Chen Fei would definitely not admit that he had subconsciously mistaken the MiG-28 jet that swept over from above as Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear''s ride. After all, they were both MiG-28s, and the paint schemes looked roughly similar. Looking back now, a bit too presumptuous, mwah! "Craft 213 reporting, the enemy plane has withdrawn!" "Craft 214 reporting, same here, the remaining MiG-28 has fled!" Almost simultaneously, in different airspaces, the battles came to an abrupt halt as the enemy jets retreated without an agreement. It was over! Not only the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron but also many at Aircrew Base 911 collectively let out a long sigh of relief. They had finally defended their air superiority! In the event of defeat, with no intact eggs under an overturned nest, none would have a happy ending. The victor of corporate warfare would show no mercy to the vanquished, eliminating any chance of a resurgence. Although the war was not over, everyone seemed to see a glimmer of hope. At least the current situation wasn''t too dire, and with a bit of luck, they might be able to give the Merman Brothers Consortium a dirty face. "Congratulations everyone, please return to base as soon as possible!" The woman executive manager of the base said this over the communication channel and then flopped down into her chair, not wanting to move at all. Not only was she mentally exhausted from monitoring the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s combat status, but the fatigue from earlier engagements with the enemy was also hitting her. Now, as she relaxed slightly, all her accumulated exhaustion rushed over her like a tide, crushing her into her seat, too tired to even lift a finger. Fighting for life and death while maintaining a calm command, this kind of physical and psychological pressure was unbearable for anyone. Half an hour later, pairs of beacon lights appeared in the western night sky, and the roar of engines could be heard from afar. One after another, returning A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft circled around Aircrew Base 911 before descending one by one, smoothly landing on the main runway. Aside from Squadron Leader Chekhov''s MiG-28 Jet Fighter, the second-to-last "Big Mouth Monster" to land was Chen Fei''s 211, with reminders from deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios occasionally reaching his ears. Even with one-on-one guidance from a high-level gamer, the process of landing still left the youngster with jelly legs, his heart almost leaping out of his throat. After all, when playing flight games, he would crash nine times out of ten landings, truly a risk of death and survival. For Chen Fei, landing safely was more difficult than being chased by missiles. At least with missiles, there were predictive trajectories to guide him, but for landing, there was no system assistance, relying solely on his own control and a little bit of luck. When the landing gear touched down and the turboprop began to decelerate, he almost collapsed inside the cockpit, drenched in sweat, completely worn out. Thank heavens, he had safely returned the fighter without having to pay for damages. Following him, deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s 212 landed gracefully. The last to land was the MiG-28 Jet Fighter, piloted by Squadron Leader Chekhov himself. - All the returning fighters gradually rolled into the parking apron, surrounded by a round of warm applause. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron defended the base against a strong enemy from the outside, earning the applause of everyone present. Tearing off the safety belt, peering out of the cockpit, he saw a big crowd on the tarmac, excited about something or other, making Chen Fei instantly lose interest. Yawning, he stretched lazily, shrank back inside, smacked his lips a few times, and the snoring sound resumed. Forget a bunch of crazies, not even the Jade Emperor himself would stop his sleep. Watching the constantly cheering crowd, the female executive manager''s mood was not the slightest bit affected. Sometimes, ignorance is a kind of bliss. The corporate war waged by the Merman Brothers Consortium against the Apocalypse Defense Group, this Aircrew Base 911 was just a microcosm. As a subsidiary unit under the Apocalypse Defense Group, there were more than just one 911. This night, it wasn''t just Aircrew Base 911 that got hit. Even as a large military contractor ranked 27th in the industry, it''s not quite up to snuff in front of a real behemoth ranked 8th. Overnight, in just a few hours, Apocalypse Defense Group suffered heavy losses. Though Aircrew Base 911 managed to repel the enemies once more and successfully defended their turf, such a victory was trivial in the clash between two titans. The reason Hanna Gagel could secure such a substantial bonus was that amid a flood of bad news for Apocalypse Defense Group, Aircrew Base 911 brought in a rare piece of good news. The female executive manager from the group headquarter knew the crisis was just beginning for Apocalypse Defense Group and all its subsidiaries, yet she had no one to confide in, had to keep it all to herself, watching the happy employees, standing aside out of place, silently. - After who knows how long, Chen Fei was nudged awake. Yawning, he opened his mouth, and as he recognized the person, he said weakly, "Big Brother Xiao, what''s up?" He was still in the cockpit, and it was still dark outside. He wasn''t sure what time it was, but the crowd on the tarmac had long since dispersed. The chief mechanic Xiao Ming said, "MiG-28 number 211 is ready to go." "Oh, got it. Thanks, boss!" Chen Fei knew the maintenance crew must have put in an all-nighter again, but he was just too tired to be of any help. Even now, his limbs were still weak; he probably couldn''t even turn a screw. "It''s too cold here, go back to the dorm to sleep." Big Brother Xiao turned his head, gesturing to the howling cold outside the cabin. If it weren''t for the cockpit canopy being down, the wind might have chilled Chen Fei by now. A playful gust of cold air squeezed in, as if to prove Xiao Ming''s point, instantly sweeping away the last bit of warmth from Chen Fei, causing him to shiver uncontrollably and dispelling much of his sleepiness. Big Brother Xiao was right; this definitely wasn''t a good place to sleep. He immediately crawled out of the cockpit, greeted the chief mechanic, and headed towards his dormitory. After just three or four steps, he touched his head. Of course, his head wasn''t what he felt, but rather his pilot''s helmet¡ªit''s what kept the wind out and him warm while he slept drowsily. He was grateful for it. It finally dawned on Chen Fei that his "Little Bird" wasn''t in the dormitory; it was still in the steel shelter where the Energy Tower was located. Thinking of the shelter of the Energy Tower, the old Neanderthal man came to mind. A few hours ago, the old gentleman''s voice and smile were still present, but now, they were separated by life and death¡ªthe elder had passed away. Stay updated with mvl Chen Fei took a deep breath, wiped away the moisture from the corner of his eyes, and continued walking toward the steel shelter deep within the container complex. -- Chapter 107: Section 107 - Calm in the Storm Chen Fei was familiar with the steel structure shed, which at this moment had become dark and cold. The air was still filled with a faint burnt smell and lingering scent of blood. It was no longer the warmly lit shelter like spring, bright as daylight, but had turned into what seemed a ghostly inferno. The completely extinguished Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower no longer emitted warmth. The leftover backup electric power kept the glow tubes'' displays shining bright, "ID: 2333!" The dim light from the tubes prevented the shed from being completely plunged into darkness where you couldn''t see your hand in front of your face. The bodies that were once here had vanished, clearly, the security team had come and cleaned up. Inside the shed, only a dented wall, the ground littered with twigs and leaves, and bullet holes visible everywhere remained. With the help of the light from the glow tubes, Chen Fei searched for a while and found an emergency light. The simply designed halogen light cannon, like the glow tubes, had survived the strong electromagnetic pulse and could still be turned on. There was still power in the battery, and the light immediately illuminated the entire shed. Chen Fei quickly found Little Bird sleeping soundly in its new nest, tightly curled up next to a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core. EMP weapons had absolutely no effect on Magical Beast Crystal Cores. Slight glimmers of light emanated from the surface of the crystal core, softly entering Xiao Jiu''s body. Each time they touched its black feathers, the light particles would shimmer slightly. Not wishing to disturb his Little Bird, Chen Fei placed the covering back on gently. Utilizing the light from the emergency lamp, Chen Fei began to tidy up the mess inside the shed. It took a while to clean up and set the items that had been knocked over back in their place. However, there was nothing he could do about the numerous bullet holes that riddled the Energy Tower. "Old man..." Chen Fei called out of habit, then slapped his forehead in annoyance. The old man was gone; only he and Xiao Jiu remained in the shed. A noise was heard, and a figure appeared at the shed''s entrance, holding a bottle of liquor in each hand and using a shoulder to push open the door. The person, seeing someone inside the shed, was initially stunned then let out a drunken, silly laugh. "Someone''s here? *Hic!* Perfect, come, join me, *hic!* let''s drink!" A flushed face, stumbling with a drunken fist, the smell of alcohol rapidly filled the shed, completely altering from the previously untouchable, icy demeanor to someone altogether different. "Manager Hanna?!" Chen Fei stared in astonishment at his unexpected guest. "Right, that''s me, *hic!* With the authority of the executive manager, *hic!* I command you to drink with me!" Stumbling toward Chen Fei, she shoved the liquor bottle right against his face. Well, what a transformation from a cutthroat corporate shark to the village fool! Definitely too much to drink! "You should drink less, let me get you a cup of water!" As Chen Fei was about to turn around, he was grabbed by the drunken executive manager who, pushing and shoving, forced him to sit beside the bed in the shed, and then she flopped down herself. "Don''t run! Stay... and drink with me!" Hanna Gagar, utterly drunk, insisted that Chen Fei not leave, and suddenly she started to cry loudly. "It''s so hard for me... *sob sob sob*... it''s so difficult, *hic!*... those directors and shareholders are all, *hic!*... inhuman, bastards... I''ve done Her drunken slurring made little sense. But Chen Fei could understand; sitting in the position of executive manager, she must face pressures beyond many people''s imaginations. Especially at such a critical juncture in the corporate war¡ªif one false step was made, not only was her own life in danger, but others would also be implicated. Facing pressures from the Merman Brothers Consortium, an industry giant, internal problems within Apocalypse Defense Group finally erupted. Confronted with greed over wealth and survival, some wanted to fight, others wanted peace; each had their own agenda, naturally leading to fierce infighting. Within the company, there were numerous factions and complex loyalties. Under normal circumstances, their conflicts would be minor skirmishes, and the board of directors, considering the bigger picture, would try to treat everyone equally, maintaining some form of balance. 80 degrees! I''ve been duped! No matter, I can take another sip. Chen Fei involuntarily took another small sip, thinking this bottle of booze must be worth ten thousand Star Yuan; each sip now felt like a bonus. Typical small-town mentality at play. Then he heard the female executive manager next to him say faintly, "Of all the aircrew bases that Apocalypse Defense Group owns, only ours, 911, is left." "Huh???" Chen Fei mechanically turned his head and tentatively asked, "What do you mean?" "What do I mean, haha, hahaha, Apocalypse Defense is about to be done for, and so are we!" Hanna Gagel laughed maniacally. Strikes from industry giants were all-encompassing. Apocalypse Defense Group, which had just acquired the remains of a Metallic Dragon, was now suffering heavy losses. It had become a juicy target in the eyes of many peers who began to stir, eager to swoop in and take a piece of the pie. Perhaps the top ten conglomerate military contractors had already set their sights on the wealthy Apocalypse Defense Group. A man is not guilty for being barehanded, but for possessing a jade. They just lacked an excuse or a pretext. In the end, it''s a big-fish-eats-small-fish game. Now that the small fish has grown fat, the big fish wants to eat; it''s that simple. The clash of aircrew base 911 obliterating aircrew base 897 caused the latter''s military contractor to suffer significant vitality loss, falling into the dire straits of near bankruptcy and liquidation. Its acquisition by Merman Brothers Consortium, ranked eighth in the industry, ignited the spark for corporate warfare and internal strife within Apocalypse Defense Group. Not many would truly blame aircrew base 911. In fact, everyone knew that this was just a matter of circumstance. Even if it hadn''t happened now, it was bound to happen later; it was just a matter of time. "We''re... done for? How can that be?" Chen Fei simply couldn''t believe his ears. Aircrew base 911 had clearly won a great victory, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy and forcing them to flee in disarray. It shouldn''t be possible for them to make a comeback anytime soon. With such an advantage already secured, there seemed to be no sign of impending doom. Could it be that this one-eyed old lady got confused by the alcohol and started talking nonsense? "Do you think the inside of Apocalypse Defense Group is united as one?" Hanna Gagel looked at Chen Fei with a mocking gaze from head to toe, a rookie is just a rookie, with no experience in such struggles, naively endearing. It was as if the decisively speaking female executive manager had returned. Chen Fei, struggling with bouts of tipsiness, asked doubtfully, "Isn''t it?" "Where there are interests, there will be people, there will be Jianghu, there will be interests. When everyone''s interests align, that''s Apocalypse Defense. But if they don''t align..." Hanna Gagel clenched her fist tightly, then suddenly spread her fingers with a hehe laugh, "That''s it! Haha, come on, take another big gulp." "..." Chen Fei was flabbergasted. He had never imagined that Apocalypse Defense Group, so strong in its might, harbored such terrible crises within, potent enough to tear the whole group apart. "What I''ve told you, you must keep it secret, don''t breathe a word, dare you leak even a single letter!!!" The female executive manager made a sweeping gesture, and there was a faint sound of tearing in the air that flitted by in an instant. The multitude of plants and flowers that the old Neanderthal Barut had painstakingly cultivated were suddenly slashed clean in half at their waist, their ends neatly cut. Find adventures at mvl Chen Fei''s hairs nearly stood on end. - Chapter 108: Section 108 - Take Ruthless Measures Beep!~ Beep beep beep!~ Beep!~ Beep beep!~ "...Can''t drink anymore! Can''t drink anymore!... Good booze, this is good stuff... mua!" Chen Fei felt like he was lying in a cradle, swaying comfortably, drooling and talking in his sleep. "Rookie! Wake up!~~KUMAAA!" The sudden bear-like roar kicked young Chen Fei out of his dreamland. "Huh? What''s going on? Is it time to go to work? I haven''t even started my horse stance!" Chen Fei reflexively jerked up, only to be yanked back by the seatbelt strapped across him. Looking around, he was shocked to find himself inside a cockpit, and on the rear seat of a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft at that. He looked down and saw a big bag of plastic bags in his arms, wafting out the aroma of food. What''s going on here? It must be a dream? Yes, definitely a dream!! So, nothing to worry about, nothing at all! Chen Fei sat back comfortably, closed his eyes, and prepared to drift back into his slumber. "Hey, Rookie, how long you gonna sleep for? Wake up, there''s a war to fight!" The roaring voice of Chekhov Big Bear reached Chen Fei''s ears once more. "Stewed bear, deep-fried bear, steamed bear, spicy stir-fried bear, candied bear, hot and spicy bear, plain boiled bear..." Chen Fei kept his eyes tightly shut, muttering nonstop. He was practically saying "If I close my eyes, it''s night." Clang! An Erguotou liquor bottle flew from the front seat and hit his helmet, jolting his head to the side. Finally, he slowly opened his eyes. Damn... this is no dream. He was really in the cockpit. "Awake now? Get ready for combat, we''re almost there!" No doubt, that was Chekhov Big Bear in the front seat. But, how did he end up here? Experience more content on §Þ?? With a forehead full of question marks, Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Um, squadron leader, where are we, and what are we doing?" The swaying scenery outside the cockpit was dim, with the occasional high-speed backward movement of mountain ridges and rocks. It seemed the "Big Mouth Monster" was flying low. The incessant beeping in his ears was clearly the flight altitude alarm. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s boss, Comrade Chekhov, boldly proclaimed, "It''s a dark and windy night, perfect for a stealth mission, right? You agreed to sneak with me for a quick hit-and-run, to show those traitors at 909 what they''re up against." Chen Fei: "..." Wait! Not me, don''t pin this on me! I didn''t say that! Basic Optical Observer Level 2, activate! All of a sudden, his vision became as clear as daylight, but, uh! No wingmen, no allies! Within a twenty-mile radius, there was only their "Big Mouth Monster," barreling towards enemy camp at break-neck speed. The first wave of EMPs was an old but very effective tactic. Like children playing house, they started with a slap in the face upon meeting. In the eyes of the Sovereign Level players, military contractors throwing EMPs at each other was conducive to increasing GDP, so it was a good thing, openly supplying without any embarrassment. Weapons like EMPs pose no threat to the real National Treasure Artifacts, such as the Crystal Jet. - Aircraft 211 followed closely behind the EMP missiles and began to climb at full speed, breaking away from the ultra-low altitude surprise attack mode. The moment the missiles appeared, a piercing alarm sounded immediately within the 909 Aircrew Base, four kilometers away. The personnel still at rest were shocked awake by the sudden alarm; before they could react, two streaks of blue light flashed across the sky above the base, and the alarm stopped abruptly. Not just the alarm, but all the lights went out as well. From launch to the burst of a strong electromagnetic pulse, it took only a few seconds, leaving no time for defense. The portable early warning radar inside began to belch blue smoke, and a large number of electronic circuits were burned out. "Two kilometers! Hahaha, Uncle Chekhov is here!" The radar at the 909 Aircrew Base was completely ruined, and the automatic air defense system was knocked out. The opponent was like a defenseless big soft girl, and Chekhov erupted with unrestrained laughter. "Aim at the apron!" Chen Fei saw the turboprop and jet aircraft on the ground; they were all that escaped the net. "Shooting planes with a machine gun? I like it!" Chekhov was about to pull the trigger on the wing-mounted machine gun when he heard Chen Fei say, "Use the rockets, empty them all, lock onto the tower and radar separately, and then take a turn around the barracks area." Chen''s hands were quick; he went at it hammer and tongs with fierce operations. "Emmm... this could work!" Chekhov quickly grasped the youngster''s intent: one sweep to carry away everything, with no looking back, which was exactly to his liking. Lines of Fire Serpents screeched out, the 57mm aviation rockets swarming towards the apron near the landing runway of the 909 Aircrew Base, all 40 rockets creating an inferno. Once air superiority is gained, even a single fighter jet can unleash terrifying destructive power. One after another, the Big Mouth Monsters were directly hit and blown to smithereens or caught in the collateral explosion, torn apart by sympathetic detonations of ammunition, and the closely packed MiG-28 fighter jets were not spared either. Explosions erupted one after another on the apron, turning it into a fiery hell. The successful 211 did not stop; the two Combat Bombs under its wings separated one after another, trailing long plumes of smoke as they pounced on the tower and radar, resulting in two more earth-shattering explosions. Zeroed in on Air-to-Ground mode, the programmable Combat Bombs hit their targets directly. "Drop the bomb!" Aircraft 211 suddenly felt lighter as it sharply raised its nose and broke away at full speed. The "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop didn''t just drop the 500-kilogram bomb hanging from the central axis; it also dropped two emptied Rocket Nests, which tumbled down and effortlessly smashed through two barracks buildings. Boom!~ The violent impact wave instantly swept across the entire barracks area. The modular barracks, just like those at 911 Aircrew Base, were as fragile as paper mache, shattering the buildings and the people inside. Before this, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron from 911 Aircrew Base had raided 897 Aircrew Base without deliberately targeting personnel. Even though most areas of the base were reduced to scorched earth, the barracks area was still intact, and there were not many casualties. At this moment, deep in the night, most people were resting in the barracks area. But Chekhov and Chen Fei chose to strike hard; that one high-explosive aerial bomb dropped would result in casualties in the double digits at least, and surpassing a hundred was also a possibility. This is corporate warfare; there''s no justice, no right or wrong, only life, or death! . - Chapter 109: Section 109 - No Winners "909 is doomed!" Chekhov Big Bear was thoroughly satisfied. The "Big Mouth Monster," no longer sneaking around, swaggered away boldly. Leaving behind an aircrew base like hell on earth. In the rear seat of the cockpit, Chen Fei tore open a vacuum-packed bag that was still hot. Inside was a plump pig''s trotter. Kiss it, muah! And a big bite, chomp! "What does it taste like?" While piloting the aircraft, Chekhov sniffed hard and couldn''t help swallowing his saliva. "Nothing... at all!" Chen Fei mumbled, speaking against his conscience. Poisoning in the dead of night, isn''t that just normal procedure? "No, you''re lying to me, you''re hogging it all to yourself, right? You can''t eat alone, share half with me!" Chekhov had gulped down a bellyful of Erguotou and was extremely hungry, immediately starting to make a fuss. "No, keep dreaming!" Chen Fei had no intention of sharing with this Big Bear. With this guy''s size, what he had in his hands probably wouldn''t even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth. "Don''t lie, lying is bad, you have some, share it quickly!" The Big Bear started acting shameless, insisting on sharing Chen Fei''s food. "No, no, there isn''t any!" Chen Fei picked up the Blue Star Erguotou bottle thrown earlier and started banging it against the other''s helmet. "No!" Bang! "No!" Bang! "No!" Bang! ... Finally got his chance. The whole "Big Mouth Monster" began to wobble in the sky. - At dawn, an A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft, facing the rising sun, descended toward the Main Runway at the 911 Aircrew Base. The landing gear touched down on the ground, then bounced up once, twice, thrice, and finally settled completely. A perfectly good turboprop aircraft was harshly turned into a tricycle. Explore more stories with §Þ?? No sooner had the "Big Mouth Monster" steadied than the cockpit canopy was hastily pushed open, the pilot in the rear seat fumbling to get out of his harness, tumbling out, slipping, and crash-landing on the wing, then slipping down the side and smacking horizontally onto the ground. After lying there for a moment, he finally got up with a grimace, shaking his head and taking deep breaths. A thunderous snoring sound came from the cockpit. "..." The deputy manager was so angry his face turned green. He would find Manager Hanna and deal properly with these two audaciously reckless individuals. Thus, Comrade Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov was bewilderingly confined yet again. As for Chen Fei, seeing that he was a rookie, they didn''t pursue the matter. He was given a water pistol and tasked with cleaning the cockpit of Plane 211, washing and scrubbing... - In the wee hours, news that Aircrew Base 909 had been attacked only belatedly arrived at Aircrew Base 911 around three in the afternoon. The internal strife within the Apocalypse Defense Group affected the intelligence systems, slowing down the rate at which Aircrew Base 911 in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area received external news by more than a beat. According to the battle damage report received by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the control tower and radar at Aircrew Base 909 were struck by missiles, accompanied by indiscriminate hits from EMP electromagnetic pulse missiles. Many devices were scrambled even if they looked intact on the outside. The runways'' MiG fighters were completely destroyed, none spared. The explosion ignited nearby hangars, burning them throughout the morning until most of the structure collapsed, and personnel exhausted all efforts to stop the fire from reaching the fuel depot. The losses in buildings, equipment, and materials were not the worst part. In the attack, 87 personnel were instantly killed, with nearly one-third of them unidentifiable. There were 14 severely injured, another 67 lightly injured, and 5 missing, who were presumed dead. The Combat Flight Squadron stationed there was entirely wiped out. From the Merman Brothers Consortium''s "Zero Point" Squadron, only the squadron leader "Titan" survived with minor injuries; all other pilots died in the final airstrike. This merciless bombing of the living quarters was exceedingly cruel. After all, being a private military contractor, they dealt with either magical beasts or mutants, never expecting that the people from Aircrew Base 911 hadn''t planned in preparing for another round but instead made a direct night raid. A single lethal precision strike from a Big Mouth Monster directly crippled the entire Aircrew Base 909. The military contractor of Aircrew Base 909 was despondent, probably going to vomit blood for a long time. The Merman Brothers Consortium, sharing Aircrew Base 909, also suffered significant losses. Two squadrons of Big Mouth Monster turboprop aircraft lost half their numbers in battle, and the remaining half was lost in the predawn attack, essentially annihilating them. Also, a full complement MiG jet elite squadron lost almost all their personnel except for the squadron leader. The loss of these pilots and fighters alone was sufficient to annihilate two bases like Aircrew Base 911, not to mention the preemptive ground elite squad. A mage, two supernatural power users, and one War Professional, such a combination should have been fail-safe in a surprise attack. However, no one expected that a Dark Elemental Psychic excelling in assassination along with the augmented Optical Camouflage Suit would be eliminated first. The retaliatory response from Aircrew Base 911 came swift and fierce. It was a surprise that such a small airbase housed two supernatural power users and a Neanderthal Elite Warrior. Although he was old, he managed not to falter in a fight with a Sixth Rank Human Order War Professional empowered by Battle Qi even after releasing his Secret Technique. In the end, only this War Professional managed to escape alone, barely evading capture. - "Attention! Fire!" Bang!~ Ten gunshots sounded as one. On the lawn near the main runway, 31 bodies wrapped in white cloths lay neatly arranged, stacked over a thick layer of firewood. "Fire!" Bang!~ "Fire!" Bang!~ After three volleys by the neatly arranged security personnel. The long-missing female executive manager Hanna Gagel reappeared before everyone, holding a torch, and lit the bodies one by one. The flames quickly rose, engulfing the white cloths. All employees of Aircrew Base 911, except those on duty, gathered on the lawn, silently watching their fallen colleagues, standing solemnly. Chen Fei''s gaze never left one of the bodies next to which a sharp, slender, cold weapon was inserted. He sniffed, his eyes slightly reddening. Among those cremated on-site was also the body of Neanderthal Elder Barut. - Chapter 110: Section 110 - Support Arrives ``` "The old man was a good person, mourn with moderation." Squadron Leader Chekhov, temporarily released, stood beside Chen Fei, well aware of the relationship between the old man and this young fellow. This guy finally sobered up, and upon opening his eyes, found himself unexpectedly in the Solitary Confinement Room. Remembering the absurd things he''d done, he didn''t complain. Compared to being able to return alive, spending a few days in confinement was nothing. Drinking was a must, as for the future... let destiny take its course. Humbly admit to mistakes, but never repent. "Hmm!" Chen Fei responded with a sound. The flames grew fiercer, and billows of black smoke rose up. Chef Abel came over, one arm in a sling, but otherwise not seriously hurt. It had just been dislocated during last night''s battle and had just been set back in place. He wouldn''t be able to exert much force for ten to fifteen days. He patted Chen Fei''s shoulder with his other hand. "Mourn with moderation!" Then came the maintenance chief, Xiao Ming, several mechanics, followed by the pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. They all came by to give Chen Fei a pat on the shoulder. The last one, however, was Hanna Gagel. "Mourn with moderation!" Even after a careful wash and a change of clothes, the woman executive manager still had a faint smell of alcohol on her. She took control once again, and the daunting 911 Aircrew Base seemed to find its backbone, stabilizing once more. Although she, like Squadron Leader Chekhov, had drunk herself into a disappearance, it was still better than rashly seeking the enemy for a bayonet fight. "Thank you!" Chen Fei nodded. After burning for more than an hour, the fire gradually subsided, and all the bodies had been turned to ash. Not all the ashes were completely incinerated. The people in charge of collecting the ashes used entrenching tools to crush the thoroughly burned bones into even finer pieces and then gathered them into earthen jars. Chen Fei did not leave this task to others but chose to do it himself. He carefully gathered Old Master Barut''s final remains in this world, sealed the jar meticulously, wrapped it thoroughly in cloth, and then, still holding the hot jar, walked out of the base without a backward glance, raising his hand to beckon. The "Blood Spike" lying by the firepit whooshed into his hand. System: Ding! Unknown alloy found, 112.531 kilograms. Absorb? Yes/No|? No! The old man had no living kin, lonely and alone in the world; where he died, he would be buried. Outside the Aircrew Base, he found a sunlit slope and dug a large hole with the "Blood Spike." He placed the jar containing the ashes at the bottom of the hole, filled the soil and compacted it, forming a burial mound, and scattered grass seeds. He then split a rock plate, and the sharp "Blood Spike" effortlessly etched deep marks on the surface of the stone. Here lies Neanderthal warrior Barut. May he rest in peace, **** year * month * day. Inheritor: Chen Fei. Erected by "Old Master, rest in peace!" Chen Fei took out a bottle of fruit wine brewed by Barut himself. He drank half the bottle in one go, taking a long breath of the alcohol, and after touching the bottle against the stone grave marker, placed it down. Picking up the "Blood Spike," he got up and left. System: Ding! Unknown alloy found, 112.531 kilograms. Absorb? Yes/No|? Yes! The "Blood Spike" in his hand rapidly shrank and became smaller. System: Ding! Energy Points +1 Individual Information: State: Larval Form "My Little Hanna, it''s been a long time since I''ve seen you." "Uncle McAllen, it''s only been a bit over a month." Hanna Gagel smiled and embraced the man. He was not only a shareholder and director of Apocalypse Defense but also her father''s younger brother. "Isn''t there a saying, ''A day apart feels like three years''? My Little Hanna, are you getting used to it here?" The middle-aged man in a white suit, McAllen Gager, surveyed his surroundings, faintly noticing the signs of battle. The ugly scars of war wouldn''t disappear in a day or two. ``` Stay updated via §Þ?? ``` "I''ve just gotten used to it." Hanna Gagel wore a bitter smile. Not long ago, due to immense pressure, she had gotten thoroughly drunk. When she sobered up, what needed to be faced still had to be faced, and the pressure didn''t diminish in the slightest. All sorts of problems were cropping up at Aircrew Base 911, forcing the female executive manager to devote herself completely without rest or sleep, to the point that she didn''t even have time to consider getting drunk again. McAllen Gager patted his niece''s shoulder and said, "Don''t rush, take it slow, things will get better." Then he turned around, pointing at the three transport planes, and said, "I''ve brought you forty-five people, you can trust them completely, along with a batch of equipment and supplies. This is the most I could get with my highest authority, and I''m leaving this small transport plane for you as well." After all, he was a shareholder of Apocalypse Defense Group and one of the board members, so pulling together a batch of people and things was certainly within his purview. From the planes, a group of people disembarked one after another, the majority of whom were armed security personnel. Hanna Gagel was about to show a look of surprise but then seemed to think of something and frowned. "Uncle, has the situation deteriorated to an irreversible extent?" The intention behind leaving a small transport plane became even clearer: it was an escape route. The Apocalypse Defense Group not only suffered a resounding defeat in the corporate warfare but even the partial victories achieved by Aircrew Base 911 couldn''t reverse the overall situation. "Ah! You''re always so clever!" McAllen Gager sighed and then said, "Actually, I''d prefer if you left with me." "No, I will not leave!" Fighting hard for an opportunity to be put into practical service, especially being in charge of an entire aircrew base, Hanna Gagel wouldn''t allow herself to be a deserter. "Just as stubborn as your father!" McAllen Gager looked at his niece and suddenly smiled, saying, "Haha, truly worthy of the Gager bloodline, all of you are stubborn to a fault, not even a locomotive could drag you back." "But still, thank you, Uncle!" Hanna Gagel hugged her uncle, full of gratitude. "I''m just a minor shareholder, there''s not much I can help you with!" McAllen Gager suddenly became serious and spoke solemnly, "You need to be careful, Merman Brothers United has lodged a complaint with the Global United Defense Committee, claiming that Aircrew Base 911 is harboring remnants of the Third Era Civilization, which could potentially cause trouble. Remember what I said, don''t overstrain yourself, if you sense danger, leave immediately. This is war; don''t hesitate. Protecting yourself is how you can accomplish more." "I understand, Uncle!" Hanna Gagel nodded vigorously. - ``` Chapter 111: Section 111 - Drunk Again The three transport aircraft that arrived at Aircrew Base 911 were almost fully loaded. In addition to nearly fifty passengers, the cargo included four main components of the "Big Mouth Monster" and related consumables, a batch of specially made weapons and equipment, and a very expensive Crystal Energy Storage Station for emergencies, capable of sustaining the 24-hour daily consumption of the entire Aircrew Base 911. Of course, power guzzlers like the Magnetic Catcher, which even the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower couldn''t support for long, were not included. As the uncle of his niece, McAllen had gone to great lengths, sending reliable personnel and transporting important materials to provide as much protection as possible for his Little Hana, leaving a way out as well. The damned Merman Brothers Consortium had no sense of fairness in combat. They declared war and then immediately followed with an attack, giving Apocalypse Defense Group no chance to prepare. While the three transport aircraft were being unloaded, McAllen Gagar had lunch with his niece Hanna, talked for a while, and then boarded one of the medium transport aircraft, which took off one after the other, taking away some fired employees sent home to eat their own damn food, including the HR manager Takar who was incompetent, whose fellow countrymen and relatives¡ªexcept for the main chef Singh who turned against them at a crucial moment¡ªstayed behind, primarily because the always clean-oriented Chef Singh despised his countrymen''s lack of hygiene, so he had no psychological burden in betraying them. A small transport aircraft stayed behind. The people McAllen Gagar brought were integrated into various departments, effectively easing the manpower shortage at the entire aircrew base, especially in the security team, which suffered the greatest casualties, adding more than a dozen veterans which greatly strengthened the overall capability. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron also welcomed new members: the pilots of the small transport aircraft, Ethan Karna and Keller Karna, were twins. Squadron Leader Chekhov, bored out of his mind, immediately came up with call signs for the brothers: the older brother Ethan was nicknamed "Octagon," and the younger brother Keller was nicknamed "Cinnamon." Together as Octagon and Cinnamon, never apart like jiao and Meng in a stew, they formed a fragrant duo inseparable from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. Enjoy more content from §Þ?? Chen Fei always felt that Big Bear was doing this on purpose, taking revenge for the time he hit him with a bottle; otherwise, the newcomers could have just as easily have been named "Hocks" or "Soup Cat" or something! So next time he got the chance, he was determined to hit harder and knock Big Bear straight into a concussion. The twin brothers were quite happy with their new call signs, and not only could they fly small transport aircraft, but they could also fly the MiG-28, greatly enhancing the combat capability of the "Genuine Fragrance" combat flight squadron. It seemed Manager Hanna''s uncle had handpicked these talents to reinforce the strength of Aircrew Base 911. - After leveling Aircrew Base 909, the conflict with the Merman Brothers Consortium came to a temporary pause, and the materials brought by the uncle of the executive manager were just what Aircrew Base 911 desperately needed. The mechanic team worked night and day using the "Big Mouth Monster" components delivered by the transport aircraft and the spare parts from the storage containers, assembling six "Big Mouth Monsters" at once to avoid a situation where there would be no fighters available due to battle damage in upcoming fights. Fortunately, Apocalypse Defense Group did not fully waste the transport capacity of the "Luo Jing Number" heavy transport airship; the existing reserves of parts at Aircrew Base 911 were enough to assemble ten additional "Big Mouth Monsters" and four MiGs-28. While these fighter reserves were more than sufficient for handling magical beasts and mutants, they might not be enough for corporate warfare, so having one more meant an extra measure of self-protection. The workload for assembling spare fighters was so high that Chen Fei, novice thrown into the fray, gained proficiency in the craft and could even manage the assembly of "Big Mouth Monster" independently. She was picking on the newcomer! picking on little Chen Fei wouldn''t give her, a Level C wind-type ability user, an opportunity to cause some mischief. Raising her hand, a wind blade appeared. Where''s the beef? Gone!!! "There''s some!" Chen Fei reluctantly brought out his own midnight snack. He knew at a glance the Executive Manager must have been drinking on an empty stomach, since she got drunk so quickly. The hand-brined salted duck eggs reached perfection; the egg whites were tender as snow, the yolks bright red and oozing oil. He scooped one up with chopsticks and the gleaming egg oil couldn''t be stopped. There was also a plate of pig''s head meat, bearing a striking resemblance to "Salo," a type of fatty salt meat from Chekhov''s hometown, perfect to accompany drinks. Hanna Gagel picked up a salted duck egg, peeled it cleanly, and threw it straight into her mouth... her eyes immediately bulged, choking to the point of questioning life. "Hiss, hiss! Are these eggs made of salt?" The Executive Manager looked at the duck egg and then at the greasy plate of pig''s head meat, filled with trepidation, unsure of how to digest it all. "Take small bites, sandwich the salted egg in bread, that''s the proper way to eat it." Chen Fei took out a piece of bread, tore off a small piece of salted duck egg that soaked up plenty of egg oil with chopsticks, and savored it delightfully! Gulp, gulp! Hanna Gagel grabbed the bottle of liquor and began chugging, washing away most of the salty taste, wincing as the main act began. "We''ve been abandoned at Aircrew Base 911!" "Oh, what else?" Chen Fei remained calm and collected, as this wasn''t his first rodeo. When the Executive Manager got drunk and wild, it was never good news. As a mere employee, as long as he got his Silver, he wasn''t worried about the sky falling¡ªit had tall people holding it up. - Chapter 112: Section 112 - The Abandoned 911 "My uncle is dead!" The female executive manager burst into howling sobs without warning. Her only uncle had risked great danger to come to the 911 Aircrew Base. On his way back, he was attacked by an anti-aircraft missile. One of the two medium transport aircraft was shot down¡ªit was the one McAllen Gager was on. It wasn''t until two days later that McAllen Gager''s body was found, with the scene marked by a destroyed aircraft and the loss of life. Those who had been sent home to fend for themselves by the Aircrew Base, who had boarded the same transport, also didn''t escape from this disaster. They died without a trace. Since they were forcefully released from their contracts, they were no longer employees of the Apocalypse Defense Group and therefore, didn''t get a penny of the wartime compensation. Without a doubt, the culprit was the Merman Brothers Consortium, which had started a corporate war with the Apocalypse Defense Group; perhaps the military contractors of the 909 Aircrew Base were involved as well. Hanna Gagel managed to suppress her tears and sorrow, putting on a facade of calmness and composure until the end of the workday, despite the news of her loved one''s loss. As soon as she was out of everyone''s sight, she grabbed a bottle of alcohol and started looking for Chen Fei everywhere. The Rookie is just a trash can, where you can dump any kind of negative emotion. Once sober, everyone would take their separate sunny paths and plank bridges, forgetting each other in Jianghu. At least that''s what Hanna Gagel thought. As for Chen Fei, one of the parties concerned, he was completely clueless and couldn''t fathom what the female executive manager was thinking. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "The person who came that day?" At that time, he was in Hangar No. 1 receiving one-on-one training from Xiao Ming, the chief mechanic, so he never saw Hanna Gagel''s uncle McAllen Gager and only heard about him later. "Wuuwuuwuu..." The female executive manager didn''t explain and cried earth-shatteringly. Blowing her nose and wiping her tears all over Chen Fei''s body. Chen Fei: ... I just took a bath! I just changed my clothes! I really want to press this one-eyed old lady on the ground and beat her! But... I can''t beat her, I can''t beat her! This old lady is as annoying as the Chekhov Big Bear. After a long bout of crying, Hanna Gagel managed to stifle her sobs. She didn''t dare to show her tears and weakness in front of others. For some reason, she felt more at ease with Chen Fei. Maybe it was because this young man was also a user of supernatural powers. "Now I''m the only one left in the Gager family. If you dare tell anyone, I''ll kill you!" The female executive manager just raised her hand when she saw Chen Fei''s expression change drastically, and he quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no, there''s so little left of what Old Master Barut planted; please don''t bring more disaster upon it." A Wind Blade attack the last time had already destroyed half of it, and this time it looked set for complete annihilation. After the 911 Aircrew Base had restored basic regular electricity supply, Chen Fei was allocated a personal power quota of one kilowatt. He transferred all of it to the shed, lighting up seven or eight halogen bulbs and, with a kerosene heater, barely restored some light and warmth to the shed, giving the surviving plants a glimmer of hope for life. If Manager Hanna were to unleash a Wind Blade now, all of Chen Fei''s hard work would have been in vain. Fortunately, the female executive manager retained a hint of reason and did not allow Old Master Barut''s efforts to be completely wiped out. If not for her, he would have had much more trouble just trying to let his family know he was safe. Old Master Chen Hai took a deep breath and asked, "Xiao Fei, the place you work is called the Aircrew Base, right?" "Dad, relax, I''m safe here, haven''t been injured." Chen Fei immediately guessed that his family must have been informed by now. It seems the corporate war between the Merman Brothers Consortium and the Apocalypse Defense Group had alarmed many and even made the news. Old Master Chen Hai''s voice became stern, "If possible, resign as soon as you can and come back early. Bullets don''t have eyes on the battlefield; we can bite the bullet and pay off the debt. Your life is not worth the risk." Better to be a peaceful dog than a person in chaotic times. He didn''t want to see his son, Second Brother, in danger. Paying off debts was one thing, risking his life was another. "Yeah, Xiao Fei, come back soon!" Mom Yu Xiaoyi was also extremely worried. Chen Meng, with a crying tone, called out, "Brother, hurry back!" Some time ago, she had seen a news video about two private military contractors getting into a dispute, one of which was the Apocalypse Defense Group that Second Brother worked for. The footage from the news broadcast showed a besieged Aircrew Base ablaze with flames, reduced to ruins, which left the family on edge. They immediately took out their phones to call Chen Fei, but they couldn''t contact him no matter what they tried. At that moment, their hearts jumped; Chen Fei was unreachable, and no one knew what was actually happening. Corporate wars were no joke; both sides were ruthless as if it were a small-scale war. With no regard for lives, it wouldn''t be surprising if something unfortunate had happened. The family urgently tried multiple ways to make contact with the Apocalypse Defense Group, desperate to confirm Chen Fei''s safety. However, the Apocalypse Defense Group was currently being aggressively suppressed by the Merman Brothers Consortium through all kinds of tactics, struggling internally and externally amidst chaos, and hardly had the resources to respond to the Chen Family''s inquiries, only offering vague responses. The family was helpless and anxious while waiting until Chen Fei''s call finally came through again. "Dad, Mom, Xiao Meng, don''t worry about the debt; I will be able to pay it off soon." Chen Fei glanced at the bird''s nest on the bedside table, inside which the Earth Order Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core emitted a glow that completely replaced the need for a lamp. This Crystal Core, worth tens of millions of Star Yuan, was his biggest asset in paying off all the debts, but for Chen Fei, it was still far from enough. Even if he didn''t have to worry about the enormous debts anymore, he was thinking about earning as much as possible to improve the difficult economic situation at home. After all, it was a rare opportunity; working at the Aircrew Base really paid well¡ªno doubt the lending company that recommended Chen Fei to this job had thought the same. Old Master Chen Hai was adamant, "No, it''s too dangerous; find a way to come back as soon as you can. You can work another job to pay off the debt." He couldn''t stand by and watch his Second Brother put himself in danger. "Dad, the Aircrew Base is sealed off; I can''t leave at all. I''m actually safer staying here." Chen Fei immediately used the incident of Manager Hanna''s uncle, whose transport plane was shot down on the way back, as a shield. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to leave; it was that he couldn''t. However, the actual situation of the Aircrew Base was even worse. It wasn''t just secretly sealed off by the Merman Brothers Consortium; it was even abandoned by the higher-ups of the Apocalypse Defense Consortium. If not for Manager Hanna''s uncle, McAllen Gagar, who risked bringing a shipment of supplies, manpower, and a small transport plane, the Aircrew Base would have received no help at all. Now the entire base, ambushed on all sides, had reached a state where neither heaven nor earth could respond, fighting a desperate and isolated battle. - Chapter 113: Section 113 - The Best Hunter Chen Fei didn''t dare to reveal more of the truth to his parents, fearing that it would only make them worry more. After making countless assurances and sweet-talking for a long time, he was finally able to hang up the call, sling his shoulder tool bag over, and take Little Bird to work. His dad, mom, and little sister all still believed that Chen Fei was just an apprentice mechanic hiding in the rear echelons, far from the front line, which naturally ensured his safety. They had no idea that the unlucky souls who had died at the hands of this honest child already numbered in the double digits, including mages and supernatural power users. - In this corporate war, as the initiating party, Merman Brothers United would not easily give up, and neither would the female executive manager who had lost her only uncle. Despite showing her vulnerable side to Chen Fei in private, Manager Hanna, in the eyes of most people, and most of the time, was a true iron lady, never passively waiting to be attacked, always taking the initiative to strike. Hanna Gagar even wanted to take the battle to the doorstep of the Merman Brothers Consortium, even into their home, since the main Apocalypse Defense Group was not supportive, she would go it alone. Although internal divisions within the Apocalypse Defense Group had intensified and were far from being settled in the short term, Hanna Gagar''s plans still won the support of some group shareholders, which meant the support of directors. The death of McAllen Gager was not the only director and shareholder to die during corporate conflicts, not everyone was intimidated; on the contrary, it kindled a shared enmity, as no one wanted to be the next casualty. Recently, a heavy transport airship had delivered a massive amount of supplies, and now some directors had come together to advance a large sum of money to Aircrew Base 911, enough to guarantee all employee''s salaries for a year, including full bonuses during the time of corporate conflict, all of which was to be paid within three days. At least for the coming year, Hanna Gagar didn''t need to worry about provisions. With strong troops, sturdy horses, and ample provisions, Aircrew Base 911 now possessed strength beyond that of an ordinary aircrew base. - Step one: Break the blockade of the Merman Brothers Consortium. Thump! Chen Fei''s head jerked to the side, and he stumbled a few steps but didn''t fall. System: Ding! Absorbed 49.15 grams of alloy material, composition ratio: tungsten 85%, copper 7%, iron 4%, nickel 3%... System: Ding! Suffered gunshot 15/1000 times, gained Energy Points +100! Chen Fei said helplessly, "I''ve been shot, direction 5!" His head hurt! It was genuinely painful! Both psychologically and physiologically, it was a double torment. Bang!~ The sound of the gunshot arrived belatedly. The Dog System had a new mission, and it was particularly perilous. Mission list: 1. Devour 1 ton of metal, gain Energy Points +1 (daily task) 2. System: Ding! Dance with missiles for a cumulative 18 seconds/60 seconds, move gracefully, gain Energy Points +200! 3. System: Ding! Suffered gunshot 15/1000 times, gain Energy Points +100! 4. System: Ding! Suffered shelling 0/10 times, gain Energy Points +100! The sixty PT6A series engines stored inside the containers were not only the main engines for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, but they were also mature general-purpose engines in their own right, completely sufficient for high-end player-class Tricycles, and even somewhat overqualified. The oversized Tricycle, with shockingly low technical requirements, had a minimum takeoff weight of 1.1 tons, a rated payload of 1 ton, a top flight speed of 300 kilometers per hour, couldn''t fly very high, and had zero defense¡ªfar less capable than the "Big Mouth Monster". But with its excellent controllability, high safety factor, a prototype of eat less, pull more, and run faster, it offers outstanding cost-performance ratio. The total carrying capacity of the four oversized Tricycles alone surpassed that of the small transport plane, equivalent to having an additional transport plane¡ªthey could carry people and cargo, and could also be armed temporarily, doubling as attack aircraft against ground targets. - Perhaps because the retaliation from Aircrew Base 911 was too ruthless (the raid by "Peanut Butter" Chekhov and the greenhorn Chen Fei, both of whom got seriously drunk), apart from Aircrew Base 909 swallowing the bitter fruits of their own seeking, no other aircrew base dared to cooperate with Merman Brothers Consortium, fearing that the fighter jets from Aircrew Base 911 would suddenly emerge, bombarding wildly and killing mercilessly. After all, corporate warfare was not just for show; once a decision was made to stand on the opposing side, there was no expecting mercy from the adversary. As a result, due to the operational radius limitation of combat aircraft, the aerial forces of Merman Brothers Consortium were temporarily unable to strike at Aircrew Base 911, which was also out of reach for them. Now, only some small tricks on the ground remained, and they were being eliminated one by one. It seemed that even the eighth-ranked giant military contractor didn''t gain much advantage, and Merman Brothers Consortium was probably very troubled by Apocalypse Defense Group, which appeared to have a way of predicting the future, having delivered massive supplies to Aircrew Base 911 ahead of time. The small Aircrew Base was not at all afraid of a war of attrition and had plenty of resources to last. Holding a pair of binoculars, Chen Fei gazed at Aircrew Base 909 in the distance and said, "Manager Hanna, I want to take a look inside 909." His request was immediately relayed to the female executive manager located in another direction from Aircrew Base 911. Hanna Gagel had just finished a battle, and while wiping off her sweat and holding a satellite phone, she frowned and said, "Rookie, have you discovered anything?" Chen Fei candidly replied, "It''s precisely because I haven''t discovered anything." If he had discovered something, he wouldn''t be foolishly charging into the enemy''s base. From the drone surveillance high in the sky, Aircrew Base 909 appeared to have been abandoned, with scars from the aftermath of war everywhere, in complete disarray, without a single figure moving around, and no signs of any cleanup efforts. It seemed that after a round of bombing, the survivors did not hesitate to evacuate this base that was almost flattened. "Be careful!" If Chen Fei hadn''t suddenly awakened a Metal Elemental Psychic Power that made him impervious to swords and guns, Hanna Gagel would never let such a civilian with no combat experience risk entering the ambiguously dangerous Aircrew Base 909 so recklessly. 500 meters from Aircrew Base 909. Without any warning, an enormous force erupted beneath his feet, and amidst the deafening blast, Chen Fei was lifted skyward... He ascended to the heavens! He shot up more than 30 meters vertically, then free-fell for three and a half rotations with a difficulty factor of 13 (out of a perfect score of 10)¡ªanyone who survived wasn''t human. Splat! He landed face-first in the mud, with a posture as precise as something from a textbook. Where was the applause? Where were the cheers? Clap clap clap clap... There should be a reward here! "Hey, Chen Fei, Chen Fei, are you alright?" The earpiece was solidly built, miraculously surviving the explosion, and the dizzy Chen Fei, puffing out a wisp of green smoke, coughed and said, "Just a landmine, nothing serious, normal operation, normal operation, I''m fine!" System: Ding! Absorbed 11 grams of low carbon steel, composition ratio: Iron 99.5%, Carbon... System: Ding! Stepped on a landmine 1/20 times, received Energy Points +100! This could work! Ditching the burden, he advanced lightly equipped¡ªfor glory, forward!!! - Chapter 114: Section 114 - Picking Up Foreign Objects Life is not complete without going through several ups and downs; not just three, but in Chen Fei''s case, twenty. System: Ding! Stepped on a landmine 20/20 times, gained Energy Points +100! The tasks of getting shot and bombarded were not yet complete, but stepping on landmines was already done. Clang!~ Another one! Reality is just like that, full of surprises at every turn. It became twenty-one ups, twenty-one downs, disregarding everything, life is perfectly fulfilled, muah! Normal operations in the hands of Chen Fei always go awry in the most unimaginable ways. It''s an undeniable fact. Even the battle-hardened veterans following him, who had seen all sorts of situations, weren''t prepared for this. But this time, the rise and fall, up and down, truly opened their eyes to a world they hadn''t seen before. Oh yeah... Chen Fei held his crotch, pressed his legs together, this time he truly felt the pain, sucking in cold air for a while before he could catch his breath. He imagined Manager Hanna''s impressive figure in his mind. That old bear Chekhov had a point, size really does matter! This is where the low-tier employee''s fantasizing about his boss ends. Chen Fei bravely cleared a path through the minefield near the Aircrew Base 909, walking against the isolation wire fencing until an empty human shape emerged, finally stepping into the base for real. Looking around in his tattered clothes, Chen Fei said, "No people, no bodies, everything is normal." He held his earphone all the way there, preventing the fragile communication device from being damaged by shrapnel from randomly flying landmines, or from being broken or crushed when he fell. "Everything is normal." "Normal!" The five veterans split into two sniper teams, locking down Aircrew Base 909 with crossfire. They weren''t worried about someone popping out to take a potshot at Chen Fei. In fact, they were rather hoping for it. Along the way, the veterans had used their counter-kill strategy to stealthily take down dozens of unlucky foes, ones who could have posed a serious threat to Aircrew Base 911, but who had lost their lives due to a moment of carelessness. Chen Fei''s shoes were long gone thanks to the mines, and now he was barefoot, which was just as well since he wasn''t worried about stepping on nails. System: Ding! Titanium alloy discovered, 17 grams, absorb? Yes/No |? Yes! System: Ding! Absorbed 17 grams of titanium alloy, composition ratio: titanium 89.98%, aluminum 6%, vanadium 4%... Within a certain kinetic energy range, the system will automatically absorb metal materials. Only if it doesn''t fall within or exceeds this range will the system provide a prompt. Inside the devastated Aircrew Base 909, various broken metals lay scattered everywhere. "Wahoo!~" Chen Fei couldn''t help but nod his head. He had found a new land, no, a new mine, and it was chock-full of ore. System: Ding! High carbon steel discovered, 235 kilograms, absorb? Yes/No |? Yes! ... System: Ding! Manganese steel discovered, 1.2 tons, absorb? Yes/No |? Yes! ... System: Ding! Energy Points +1! System: Ding! Energy Points +1! System: Ding! Energy Points +1! ... Energy Points: 2796/5000 The Dog System could never have thought that while it had its Zhang Liang''s Plan, Chen Fei had his own ladder over the wall. Finding a few thousand tons of metal within an Aircrew Base was easier than eating or drinking. Stumbling upon two infantry fighting vehicles provided Chen Fei with 60 energy points. Opened "Skill Shop". Elemental Decomposition: 300 Energy Points Buy! 11. Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradable) | Not Available (Photoelectric Conversion Component not working) 12. Photoelectric Conversion Component | Not Available (requires Magnetoelectric Conversion Component) As expected! It''s like a Russian nesting doll... I guess I''ll have to buy the "Magnetoelectric Conversion Component" and "Magnetic Field Management Component" as well. System: Ding! "Metal Devouring" skill can only absorb 1000 tons per day, cooldown countdown 52 hours 11 minutes Chen Fei ?¡÷ ?: "..." If this Dog System doesn''t have a trick up its sleeve, I''ll eat my hat. The only way to get more Energy Points now is to honestly complete those damn tasks. And I''ve got 985 bullets and 10 shellings to endure, just thinking about it is exhausting! "Manager Hanna!" Chen Fei pressed down on his headset and called again. Since he can''t accumulate Energy Points for now, he might as well take the opportunity to get some real work done. "What''s up?" The female executive manager, who was fighting in another area, responded immediately. "There''s still a lot of good stuff left at Aircrew Base 909, can we figure out a way to take it back?" Earlier, when searching for metal materials to absorb, Chen Fei chose selectively, not converting everything into Energy Points rashly. The important, valuable items had been set aside. "What do you have? You''d better make a list." Manager Hanna naturally understood that Aircrew Base 909 had evacuated in a hurry and definitely hadn''t been able to take everything with them. The items that were left could certainly be beneficial to Aircrew Base 911. "Sure, I can make a list." Chen Fei immediately called in the five veterans outside on guard into Aircrew Base 909 and began dividing the work. Two veterans were in charge of clearing the runway, while the other three followed Chen Fei to scavenge the entire aircrew base. After one day and one night, they compiled a list that spanned over a hundred A4 sheets of paper. After reviewing the list, Manager Hanna chose a portion of the materials and sent them back to Chen Fei and Aircrew Base 911. The facilities and equipment of the aircrew bases were basically the same, or even exact replicas of the same planning scheme, with many items being highly interchangeable, ready to use straight away, which was just free gain ¡ª an opportunity too good to pass up. Even if sold at a fraction of the original value, at least half of it would end up in Chen Fei''s hands, making this deal quite gratifying for everyone involved. Four large tricycles made long treks one after another, arriving at Aircrew Base 909 to take away the sorted materials. In one go, they took away four tons, with a total payload that was quite impressive. The materials brought back could allow Aircrew Base 911 to assemble four more large tricycles. Despite this gadget not being high-tech or particularly strong in combat or defense, its cost-effectiveness was too high, and it was easy to use¡ªanyone could operate it. Five hours for a round trip, at least 12 tons could be moved in a day. On the third day, the Merman Brothers Consortium and the military contractor that formerly had jurisdiction over Aircrew Base 909, through the satellite that still provided reconnaissance services, finally noticed something was amiss. Unidentified individuals had broken into the deserted Aircrew Base 909, and they were not just dismantling but plundering it. Thinking over it, if it wasn''t Aircrew Base 911, who else could it be? The local Patan People, including those bandits, certainly didn''t have the guts to steal from aircrew bases. Boom!~ The unmanned reconnaissance drone hovering at an altitude of 12,000 meters was blown up by a missile fired from afar, turning it into a fireball. "Enemy attack!" The veterans of Aircrew Base 911 reacted immediately. They had lost the unmanned reconnaissance drone which served as a communication relay and assisted with reconnaissance. "We''ve been discovered!" Chen Fei rushed out of the tower in a hurry, looking up at the sky. He was still holding an electronic circuit board in his hand. "Elemental Decomposition" was damn useful; these past couple of days, he had decomposed a lot of gold from these electronics, with a purity of 99.99999¡Þ%. Activating "Basic Optical Observer Level 4," he layered on "Full Spectrum Imaging." The color palette of his entire visual field suddenly became rich and dazzling, revealing many things usually invisible, and he spotted the falling fragments of the unmanned reconnaissance drone at first glance. He immediately shouted, "There''s another missile, find cover fast." - Chapter 115: Section 115 - Testing the Edge of the Secret Technique The veterans didn''t hesitate to rush into the underground air defense facility. There were often more than one entrance, which on one hand allowed personnel from various departments to seek cover in a timely manner, and on the other hand, it prevented a situation where the destruction of one entrance would result in the whole pot being lifted. Chen Fei also planned to take cover in the air defense facility, but just as he lifted his foot, he discovered "Dance with the missiles for a cumulative 19 seconds/60 seconds, make sure the posture is elegant, gain Energy Points +200!" Huh??? Seconds can be gained like this? Could it be that the ''Dance with the missiles'' not only pertains to the sky but also the ground? So... let''s dance, let''s all dance together. 666, turn it up! Dance, my foot! Who would dance when missiles are falling? Isn''t this anti-human? Quickly grabbing two heavy steel plates and stacking them together, he prepared to face the impact. The stuffed system had no reaction at all, no longer reminding him of the weight or whether to absorb. The metal he had previously absorbed was just a small part of the entire Aircrew Base, and now "Metal Devouring" was still cooling off, another two hours before he could continue absorbing metal. Missiles trailing flames and thick smoke descended in an instant from the sky. Boom!~ System: Ding! Dance with the missiles for a cumulative 23 seconds/60 seconds, make sure the posture is elegant, gain Energy Points +200! The steel plates proved unreliable. The flames engulfed Chen Fei''s location, and the two steel plates, combined weighing over five hundred pounds, were twisted and deformed like paper, blown away on the spot. Along with the steel plates, Chen Fei was flung out as well, crash-landing a dozen meters away. "Pfft!~ That''s a strong one!" It took over a minute for Chen Fei to regain his senses, dazed. He was too resilient now, if it were someone else, it would have been questionable whether all their parts could be found intact after such a surface-to-air missile strike. A crackling noise came through the earpiece, followed by total silence. Even the best electronic equipment can''t withstand such a close-range impact, and it finally broke down. Noticing that Chen Fei was still outside, without having entered the underground air defense facility, the old soldiers peeked out from the entrance, taking advantage of the dispersing gunpowder smoke. However, they almost jumped out of their skin when they saw Chen Fei, who seemed to have changed into a different race. Just as Chen Fei was about to say something, it was as if a torrential downpour had started around him, dust was bursting in clumps, countless red trajectories fell from the sky, relentlessly pounding him to the ground. In the rattle of gunfire, Chen Fei struggled to raise a thumbs-up to the veterans not far away, signaling he was still OK. System: Ding! Hit by gunfire 35/1000 times, gain Energy Points +100! This thing doesn''t care about the caliber, only the bullets. "Metal Devouring" was still cooling, and the scene of flying bullets was too frightening; the old soldiers quickly retreated. Ricocheting bullets could still kill a person. "Yeah, that''s it, hit me harder, feels great!~" Enjoying the massage from 12.7mm machine-gun bullets, Chen Fei lay on the ground; the missile explosion was like someone swinging an 800-pound hammer, brutal to the extreme. But the 12.7mm bullets were like sissy punches, each blow directly to the flesh, kneading the muscles loose, unspeakably satisfying. The only issue was that the ground was a bit dirty, the dust kicked up was choking; ah, why bother with such details, just enjoy the moment and that''s that. "Whoo!~" An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft roared past at low altitude. Four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters lined up side by side and advanced across the skies of the 909 Aircrew Base. The four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters'' rapidly rotating rotor blades stirred up the airflow and swiftly dispersed the lingering dust. Just as they were about to confirm their firing results, a slender object suddenly shot out from the almost cleared haze, piercing through one of the AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters the next second. Bang!~ The attacked helicopter rapidly burst into flames and plummeted toward the ground, exploding on impact with the ammunition in a huge fireball rising into the air. "''Fox Hunting Bow'' has been shot down, target not neutralized! Warning, the target is still alive! The target is still alive!" "Gain altitude, gain altitude, use rockets!" "He''s there, I see him!" The other three AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters frantically responded. "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death!" Silver-white luminescent patterns emerged on the surface of his body as the towering figure reached out and magically pulled back the long, thin, cold weapon, which had flown over a hundred meters away, landing precisely back in his hand. Over a dozen rockets came hurtling towards him. Just slightly sidestepping, the "Blood Spike" trembled and buzzed, then struck out like lightning more than a dozen times, each precisely targeting the tip of each rocket. Boom, boom, boom, boom... Huge fireballs that kept expanding engulfed the figure who was combating firearms with a cold weapon in an instant. "Report on damage effect!" "Direct hits with rockets, all..." It was a silent, swift shadow that streaked forth, effortlessly piercing through the bulletproof windshield that could withstand light firearms, diving straight into the chest of the helpless pilot in the front seat, emerging from his back, continuing its unwaning momentum through the seat, and into the chest of the Fire Control Operator behind, piercing through again without a second''s pause, and fiercely embedding itself into the internal structure of the armed helicopter before shooting out towards the distance. Two trails of smoke abruptly rose from the ground, striking the other two ascending armed helicopters one after the other. Chen Fei''s five veteran soldiers hadn''t been idle; they had seized the opportunity to use man-portable air-defense missiles to shoot down two AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters that were caught off guard. The retreat from the Aircrew Base 909 was hasty and left behind a lot of weapons and ammunition, including the two man-portable air-defense missiles that had just been launched. "Come back!" Chen Fei casually beckoned. The "Blood Spike", diagonally lodged in the distant ground, seemed tethered by an invisible force and flew back into his hand once more. Individual Information: State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 150/12 Burst Strength: 790/60 Fullness: 75% Active Time: 12 hours Energy Points: Secret Technique sustain time 60 seconds (can be paused) Not only was his strength increased by more than tenfold, but even his reflexes became extraordinary, as if time itself slowed down, allowing him to leisurely use the "Blood Spike" to precisely detonate each rocket. The "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" augmented his Physical Energy values to the same levels as "Eyes of Tyranny"; it seems to fully exploit the limits of Chen Fei''s physical potential without further room for improvement. However, the former greatly surpasses the latter in enhancing burst strength, with every movement carrying a terrifying, non-human monstrous strength. Yet, it consumes considerable amounts of fullness, causing rapid hunger and significantly shortening active time. Moreover, unlike "Eyes of Tyranny," which can be reactivated after cooldown, it appears that once the 60 seconds are up, one needs to eat a lot to replenish fullness and wait for Physical Energy recovery to accumulate more "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" duration. No wonder Manager Hanna said that the Neanderthals'' Secret Techniques were too domineering, like a double-edged sword that harms both the user and the enemy. Such forced consumption would eventually deplete the body. But for the elite warriors of the Neanderthal tribe, their fate is to die on the battlefield; they probably never live long enough to die of old age, making a long life utterly meaningless. Chen Fei didn''t dare try to activate both "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" and "Eyes of Tyranny" at the same time; his body probably couldn''t handle such exertion. - Chapter 116: Section 116 - Slumber "Supernatural power user, there is a supernatural power user!" Another one that slipped through the net, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft circling above the Aircrew Base, the two pilots in the cockpit were terrified beyond belief. Being able to withstand missiles, machine guns, autocannons, and rockets with the flesh, such an existence was very likely a B-rank supernatural power user. The "Big Mouth Monster" didn''t hesitate to accelerate away, fearing being plucked from the sky if it flew too slow. Before Chen Fei could make a move, a man-portable air-defense missile soared into the sky, the seasoned soldiers had made their move once again. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, struggling to escape, desperately tossed out glittering jamming bullets. Boom!~ The too-tempted man-portable air-defense missile collided with a dazzling red jamming bullet about 300 meters above the ground, instantly bursting into a shower of fire and rain. Another man-portable air-defense missile whistled into the sky, the old soldiers striking with a sense of rhythm, one after another. Unfortunately, the enemy''s "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop had already successfully accelerated, and before the missile from behind could catch up, it had escaped beyond firing range. The missile, having lost its target, fell helplessly and executed a delayed self-destruct program. The silhouette of the turboprop quickly disappeared from sight. The size and weight of man-portable air-defense missiles were obvious, their combat efficacy naturally could not be compared to the programmable combat bombs aboard aircraft; the guidance technology was more than a generation behind. Catching the enemy off guard was one thing, but if the opponent was prepared, the hit rate naturally dropped significantly. "Chen Fei, are you okay?" The old soldiers approached Chen Fei holding a blanket. After enduring such a relentless bombing, his clothes were definitely not spared, and they were already used to such sights. If this had happened to an ordinary person, they would definitely be treated as a monster, but for supernatural power users with all kinds of abilities, it was nothing unusual. Taking the blanket and wrapping it around himself, Chen Fei couldn''t help but yawn, saying with an indefinable tiredness, "Thank you, I''m fine. I''m just a bit tired, and my headset is dead." "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" was only used for fifteen seconds, but it was enough to make him understand what this Secret Technique was all about. "Go take a shower and have a good rest!" Having spent many days together, the old soldiers had grown familiar with Chen Fei''s temperament. He displayed none of the haughtiness often found in supernatural power users. Instead, he was like the boy next door, sunny and affable, approachable, sometimes even a bit goofy, which easily endeared him to others. In the midst of battle, he dared to fight, dare to charge, and dare to be fierce, even to the point of not sparing himself, embodying a spirit that was truly a rare find among good men, exactly to the old soldiers'' tastes, instantly narrowing the distance between them. "I''ll leave the rest to you guys. Call me if something comes up. I''m going to take a shower, then eat something, and get some sleep afterward. I can''t help it; I''m too sleepy." Chen Fei could not help but yawn again, shaking his head and bracing himself as he walked towards the entrance of the underground air-raid shelter. Down below there was a separate living area, still in good function. Many of the facilities and supplies inside the Aircrew Base were still usable, with backup power turned on, taking a hot shower was no problem at all, and there were even clean clothes for changing. If possible, he wouldn''t mind staying for a few more days, enjoying the free food, drink, and lodging. After a hasty wash, he felt even sleepier. Chen Fei held chopsticks in his hand, waiting for the self-heating food to finish heating, but as he waited, his eyelids grew heavier. Gradually, the sound of snoring began to rise. He sat there and, without realizing it, fell asleep. ... "Cheep!~ Cheep!~ Cheep!~" A slight touch came across his face, and Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes. He saw the familiar ceiling or, more precisely, the iron sheeting of the steel structure shed. Turning his head to the side, he immediately saw the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower riddled with bullet holes. If his memory served him right, he should have been in the underground air-raid shelter of the Aircrew Base, sitting at the dining table and waiting for the self-heating food to be ready. Like the scheming Pu Aihua, even though he went to great lengths to get chicken feed and mealworms, he still couldn''t get close to Xiao Jiu. It was only natural for it to loathe him since he had lusted over Little Bird at first sight. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "I want to know, how did I get back here?" Chef Abel couldn''t quite believe his ears and asked worriedly, "Ah! You don''t know? Did you hit your head?" How did I get back here? Don''t you have any idea? "Of course not!" Chen Fei immediately shook his head. How could he not know if his head had been injured? "You were brought back strapped to a gyroplane." It was at this moment that someone else entered the shack. "Rookie, are you awake?" Chen Fei and Chef Abel both stood up spontaneously. "Manager Hanna!" "Manager Hanna!" "There''s still soup on the stove, I have to hurry back." Upon seeing the one-eyed female manager, Chef Abel was as a mouse seeing a cat, hastily finding an excuse to make a quick getaway. He might have been able to slip away, but Chen Fei had no such luck. "Manager Hanna, why have you come back?" No sooner had he spoken, than he realized it was a pointless question. If he had already returned to Aircrew Base 911, then it wasn''t at all surprising that the female executive manager was close behind. The executive manager, Hanna Gagar, spoke unhurriedly, "There''s been a new development in the corporate war. Aircrew Base 909 has been retaken by Merman Brothers Consortium, not just 909, but also 910, 912, and 913. These four aircrew bases are now all owned by Merman Brothers Consortium, and Aircrew Base 911 is now truly besieged on all sides." With the example of Aircrew Base 909, the other three nearby aircrew bases, 910, 912, and 913, naturally didn''t have the courage to collaborate with the Merman Brothers Consortium. If they provoked retaliation from 911, the loss would outweigh the gain. So the aggressive Merman Brothers Consortium immediately demonstrated their deep-pocketed industry leader prowess by buying out the contractors and aircrew bases all in one fell swoop, with an offer no one could refuse. As a result, for Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar to keep filching Aircrew Base 909 was now pointless. The game had changed and if they did not adapt, they would definitely get hammered. Aircrew Base 911 temporarily didn''t lack supplies, but what about personnel? Having lost the strong backing of Apocalypse Defense, if the Merman Brothers Consortium were determined to pay with lives, Aircrew Base 911 wouldn''t last even a day. "No problem, when friends come we have good wine, when enemies come we have shotguns, let''s just fight it out." Chen Fei wasn''t concerned about the situation at Aircrew Base 911. At this critical juncture, it wasn''t a matter of begging for mercy or seeking peace. Both sides were bound to have a fierce confrontation. Our ancestors told us, peace is never talked into existence, it''s fought for. "Now there''s another question, what on Earth did you do to end up in deep sleep for 24 hours, unreachable even by shouting?" The female executive manager''s gaze, with her one remaining eye, continuously scanned Chen Fei, making him feel uncomfortably scrutinized. "I didn''t do anything, ahhh, I guess I tried a Neanderthal tribe''s Secret Technique." Finally, Chen Fei remembered. After activating the 15-second Secret Technique, he felt inexplicably exhausted and eventually fell asleep without realizing it. He had not expected to sleep so deeply. - Chapter 117: Section 117 - Riding a Tiger, Its Hard to Dismount "Stop trying things at random and focus on the common powers of other Metal Ability Users. There are only you and me, the supernatural power users at the 911 Aircrew Base. We must maintain our combat strength at all times and can''t afford to slip up when it counts." The executive manager, Hanna Gagel, wasn''t actually very surprised. Every Ability Awakener is a death-defying daredevil, especially since special abilities are a new phenomenon, and comprehensive systematized information on them has yet to be fully compiled. Otherwise, there wouldn''t be a need to develop Supernatural Ability Suppressants, allowing newly awakened power users to go through an adaptation period. If one shot doesn''t solve the problem, then use two. If two shots aren''t enough, then three, until they learn to stabilize and control their abilities. Embracing risk is a common situation for beginners who can''t fully control their abilities just yet. There are cases where they even tire themselves out to the point of not being able to wake up, not to mention accidents that result in their own demise. Under normal circumstances, new power users would attend a government-established Supernatural Adaptability Training Class for three to six months until they pass the test for the safe application of abilities, ensuring they don''t harm themselves or others. The 911 Aircrew Base, located in the sparsely populated Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, lacks proper facilities. As a Wind-type Ability User, Manager Hanna has to put in the extra effort to personally supervise this rookie. Even with an uncle who holds shares and board authority in the Apocalypse Defense Group, she could only get seasoned veterans and technicians to help her, but still no supernatural power users, mages, or War Professionals. Such rare talents are not easily convinced to risk their lives for others. Only a giant military contractor ranked eighth in the industry can afford to sustain these specialized talents, and even then, their numbers are limited. A night raid that should have been a sure victory ended up with the loss of a Mage and two supernatural power users, which was a bitter pill to swallow. Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power is a rare combat-oriented ability, very pure and well-suited for the frequent combat missions of the Aircrew Base. Now, the Meman Brothers Consortium, using its industry giant advantage, has adopted a high-pressure encirclement strategy. If the 911 Aircrew Base wants to keep fighting, they can''t afford to suddenly lose the combat power of a warrior-type superpower user. Manager Hanna demands that Chen Fei''s State is always ready for battle, and forbids him from messing around any further. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Since we''re now completely surrounded by enemies, do we continue to fight?" After all, corporate warfare is just a "personal dispute" among military contractors, nowhere near the crazy levels of Sovereignty-level figures. In this business, everyone is just trying to earn their bread; no one would deliberately pick a fight with profit. If the Meman Brothers Consortium wants to completely take over the 911 Aircrew Base, they will have to pay a cost far beyond the norm. "From the day my uncle died, 911 has been 911, and Apocalypse Defense has been Apocalypse Defense. Not a single person in the Gagar Family is a wimp." Hanna Gagel glared fiercely at Chen Fei¡ªif he dared let half a "no" slip through his teeth, she would shred him into eighty thousand pieces. Hanna''s father, a hardliner, left the shares and board seat of the Apocalypse Defense Group to his own brother, McAllen Gagel, in his will, making for a proper fraternal succession. Now, since McAllen Gagel met with misfortune, Hanna Gagel, according to the will of the two brothers, is the sole heir to these rights, but she still refuses to admit defeat. Stubbornness runs deep in the Gagar Family. Once they set their minds on something, not even eight hundred oxen could pull them back. Even now, completely surrounded, Hanna Gagel plans to fight the Meman Brothers Consortium to the very end, refusing to surrender or concede. Chen Fei frankly said, "But the upcoming battles will be tough." Manager Hanna is determined to tough it out, but the entire 911 Aircrew Base is more than just her affair. After reading those news stories that were far from the truth, Chen Fei immediately understood what was going on¡ªthe truth didn''t matter at all! The Merman Brothers Consortium had grand designs that escalated to the strategic level. It was an open conspiracy that no one could avoid or refuse. "You''re right, these capitalists are starting to feel the pinch from the cost they''ve paid and want to stabilize their base." The executive manager nodded. As expected of a university student capable of graduate studies, his mind worked fast, and he saw through the surface to the essence immediately. Once it involves strategy, even if one achieves tactical victories, it can be completely negated by strategic failure, ending up as a loss greater than the gains. And that''s the situation Aircrew Base 911 is facing now. Despite repelling the Merman Brothers Consortium''s attacks time and again and completely blowing up Aircrew Base 909... The opponent suddenly opened up a new battlefield, sucking Aircrew Base 911, which had lost the backup of the Apocalypse Defense Group, into a deeper quagmire, facing more baseless pressures, and their strength could not be exerted. "Is there no one to speak a word of justice?" Chen Fei found it hard to believe that he could see the problem, so why didn''t anyone else realize it. The infighting was far from simple. "Because it''s not worth it! From another perspective, the Merman Brothers Consortium must regret that they acquired Aircrew Base 897, because it was not picking up a bargain, but rather being suckered." Although Hanna Gagel was prepared to fight to the death, she was not ignorant of reality. With multiple sources of intelligence and information, she knew even more. The world does not have that many what-ifs. It was always a laughing matter for Aircrew Base 911, with its strength and position, to reason with industry giants. The giants initially just planned to crush them effortlessly, but didn''t expect to press onto a tack instead. After suffering from the pain, would they place the tack properly with courtesy? Of course not¡ªthey would bring a hammer and flatten the tack before tossing it into the trash. Otherwise, the breath trapped in their chest wouldn''t dissipate, the thought wouldn''t resolve. Now the Merman Brothers Consortium was determined to turn Aircrew Base 911 into the scapegoat to intimidate their peers; otherwise, their position as number eight in the industry would surely be questioned and even challenged. The ensuing series of troubles and the damage caused were definitely not as simple as just an Aircrew Base 911. Aircrew Base 911 was now in a difficult position to dismount, and for giants like the Merman Brothers Consortium, it was the same. There were no people with understanding in the world; they were all playing dumb or playing deaf and mute, or laughing off... A few days after the news of the "Neanderthal elite warrior" came out, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee finally made a statement. They formed a Joint Investigation Team to verify the "Neanderthal elite warrior" captured by the Merman Brothers Consortium and to confirm the existence of any Third Era Civilization''s hidden forces. The military contractors fought viciously in corporate warfare behind closed doors, but it was still a matter among the Blue Star Humans themselves. It had only been thirty years since the end of the war among the Three Realms, and the psychological shadows of that war were still present as many people had personally experienced it. Even though the Neanderthal tribe was gradually integrating into Blue Star human society, and the clouds of war had dispersed without causing more trouble, it was still impossible for everyone to let down their guard completely. They feared that someone with ambition was secretly plotting some nefarious scheme. - ``` Chapter 118: Section 118 - Dominant Today''s Neanderthal tribe is but a dwindling minority, scattered across the world without even a proper settlement, and the number of hybrid offspring within the tribe is increasing. In another forty or fifty years, it may be very difficult to find a pure-blooded Neanderthal. This situation cannot be said to be completely natural, as there are shadows of covert manipulation by some Sovereign Level bigwigs. Being able to assimilate a foreign group without giving people any excuses, the end result is one that everyone can be happy about. It is best that existences like the Neanderthal Elite Warriors do not appear again. Now, a super tough guy has suddenly appeared, capable of taking on four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters. To say there is no sense of crisis would definitely be a lie. This indicates that the Neanderthal tribe, amid reducing their numbers intentionally or unintentionally, still has a trick up their sleeve. What do these unrepentant troublemakers want to do? There has always been a bit of worry and cautiousness in the dark, and now that it has suddenly become tangible, it caught people somewhat off guard. On the third day after the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee released the news, a small Sky Patrol Ship, escorted by two Crystal Jets, arrived at the 911 Aircrew Base. The Sky Patrol Ship, which resembles an iron, is also an important atmospheric transport aircraft. However, it is not of the same technological system as the Magic Cube Transport Ship that had previously visited the 911 Aircrew Base. Its carrying capacity is somewhat inferior, but its flight speed and endurance are better. Production is limited due to reliance on the essential SEG core unit components, which are very costly. To date, the SEG core units that have been put into application are basically still reliant on the dismal yield rate of manual production. If the processing precision is not up to par, it produces nothing but scrap iron without any recyclable value. Rather than yield rate, it might as well be called luck rate. In comparison, although the Metallic Dragons can also produce SEG core units with a yield rate that can reach one hundred percent, their annual output still falls short of manual production due to the dragons'' sheer laziness. Apart from the Sky Patrol Ships, which are highly dependent on the SEG core units, a large batch of Crystal Jets are waiting for the installation of small SEG core units, so their combat capabilities can undergo a qualitative leap. Only Crystal Jets equipped with small SEG core units qualify to become true National Treasure Artifacts. Limited by the production capacity of SEG core units, the Sky Patrol Ships tend to be relatively small in size, with scarcity lending them value as high-end aircraft signifying status and position. The Merman Brothers Consortium''s blockade of the 911 Aircrew Base from four directions does not mean they have the courage to intercept the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Behind the Global United Defense Committee are more than a dozen Sovereign Level forces. With the strength and resources of the Private Military Contractors, even if the top hundred in the industry combined, they still wouldn''t withstand a casual slap from the bigwigs backing the Committee members. - As the executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagel, along with another supernatural power user, Chen Fei, personally went to the tarmac to meet them. An hour before the arrival of the small Sky Patrol Ship, the 911 Aircrew Base received the list of investigation team members. Watching the people step out of the Sky Patrol Ship one by one, Hanna Gagel whispered, "Twelve E-rank supernatural power users, four D-rank, two C-rank, two Mages, one Human Order Third Rank, one Human Order Seventh Rank, four War Professionals, all at or above Human Order Fourth Rank, and more than forty ordinary people accompanying." Luckily, she had brought Chen Fei with her, with two supernatural power users together to receive them. Many supernatural power users, Mages, and War Professionals look down on ordinary people, always feeling superior and acting as if they are no longer mere mortals, which is quite nauseating to behold. If they saw the other two vice managers, they would probably not be shown any kindness. "They''re probably here for that Neanderthal Elite Warrior, most likely to silence him," said Chen Fei, fully aware of the situation. Such an extravagant lineup could not only strike the 911 Aircrew Base but could flatten the Merman Brothers Consortium, ranked eighth in the industry, without an issue. And the ones getting flattened would probably cheer them on. Just a moment of hesitation gave the opposite first impression to the observer. The representative of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s investigative team, who was competing with Hanna Gagel, noticed the anomaly on Chen Fei''s face and slowly retracted his oppressive force. This silly young man must be the other supernatural power user from the 911 Aircrew Base, the Metal Ability User, Chen Fei. The executive manager tactfully followed suit in calming her Special Ability. The contest between C-Rank ability users would definitely not be decided in a moment, and the earlier exchange was nothing more than an unfriendly greeting. "I am Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team." Finally, the other party gave the executive manager the courtesy and respect she deserved. If the person facing him had been an ordinary individual, they would have likely been crushed by the irresistible air pressure, blasted into a bloody mess like an exploded balloon, with no chance of survival! Just as Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei thought the man''s attitude might improve slightly, they saw the investigation team leader''s face become stern as he said without a doubt, "From this moment on, everyone at the Aircrew Base must stay where they are and not move around at will." "May I ask, why is this?" Hanna Gagel was taken aback. The other party was not polite at all, demanding control over everyone on the spot. The temporary investigation team leader Franco authoritatively stated, "This isn''t a discussion with you, it is an order, an order from the Committee!" Nearly all Private Military Contractors have to act according to the whims of the Global United Defense Committee. The latter possesses not only the representative power of Sovereign Level, but they are also the major financiers for the former. If it weren''t for the annual contract fees and performance bonuses, many of those with Aircrew Bases would be left destitute. "No one present is allowed to move!" A voice shouted from behind Franco, scattering a handful of dust, as a Magic Wand appeared in his hand. He began to chant loudly. The one large and three small Demon Crystals embedded in the head of the wand emitted a deep blue light, and countless tiny droplets emerged from the air, mixing with the dust and taking on color. A green Mist rapidly expanded in size, quickly enveloping an area over a dozen meters in diameter, swallowing up the personnel from the 911 Aircrew Base on the spot, while deftly avoiding the members of the investigation team. Anyone touched by the green Mist would immediately lose consciousness and collapse on the spot. The Mist was still expanding rapidly, in no time covering the entire tarmac and rolling towards the two hangars. "''Slumber Mist''?! Everyone from 911 is here; no one would try to escape. Isn''t this unnecessary?" Hanna Gagel''s face looked very uneasy as she watched the Mage activate the war spell from Cangqiong Star, spreading it to every corner of the Aircrew Base. As long as the spiritual power and Magic Element were sufficient, the Mist would expand endlessly. If everyone from the 911 Aircrew Base were incapacitated, the consequences would be unthinkable should the Merman Brothers Consortium take advantage of the situation. "Shut up! It is absolutely necessary. Begin drawing blood now!" The temporary investigation team leader Franco waved his hand impatiently, not bothering to explain further. - Chapter 119: Section 119 - Covert Conflict The existence and responsibilities of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were actually meant to clean up the mess left by the great war of the Three Realms, which took place thirty years ago. At the time, eager to stabilize the adverse situation, the Blue Star Civilization overused nuclear and space-based weapons. Although it did not trigger a nuclear winter apocalypse, it still caused irreparable severe consequences to the planet''s surface and its natural ecological environment. The full-scale invasion of the Third Era Civilization is still fresh in the memory of the sovereign nations of today. The catastrophe seems to have happened just yesterday, and no one wants to go through it again. Therefore, the natural extinction of the Neanderthal tribe''s most aggressive elite warriors was the best outcome. The discontinuation of the Secret Technique tradition does have its reasons within the Neanderthals themselves, but the shadow of manipulation by the Blue Star Civilization''s people is also unavoidably behind it. The sudden emergence of an unexpected "variable" has probably made the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee the first to need to worry. Another mage scattered a large cloud of dust while chanting incantations and created an even denser "Slumber Mist," which recklessly expanded within the entire Aircrew Base. The billowing green mist swept over, and the employees of 911 Aircrew Base had no means to avoid it; they didn''t even have time to find gas masks before falling unconscious on the spot. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, the maintenance crew, the control tower, the security team, the cafeteria... Two mages worked together, paralyzing the entire Aircrew Base with their spells, leaving everyone sprawled at their posts without any resistance from beginning to end. In fact, the war spell "Slumber Mist" takes effect as soon as it is contacted, and it will work unless completely physically isolated; no kind of filtration system is effective against it. After the mist had dissipated, more than forty ordinary personnel from the temporary investigation team immediately sprang into action, taking out small blood collection needles and one by one, collecting blood samples. Within the temporary investigation team, the largest number of supernatural power users was split into groups led by four D-level ability users, who were wandering around the base as if looking for something. The imposing presence of the onrush temporary investigation team left Hanna Gagel gnashing her teeth in anger, but she could only watch the other side carry on unabated. The green mist enveloped her, yet it suddenly veered off, wrapping around Chen Fei instead. The female executive manager did not hesitate to activate her Wind-type Psionic Ability, trying to disperse the green mist around Chen Fei. But as soon as she made a move, her Wind-type Psionic Ability immediately became bogged down, suppressed, and two different sources of Wind-type Psionic Ability were canceling each other out. The green mist was not disturbed at all. Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team, made his move again, speaking indifferently, "Manager Hanna, please do not interfere with our investigation." The mist was still rapidly approaching, and Chen Fei hurriedly tried to evade, but he was already tightly surrounded by the "Slumber Mist" and could not escape. He inevitably became contaminated with a lot, even accidentally inhaling a breath of it. Seeing Chen Fei''s head-shaking, struggling demeanor, Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team, had a scornful cold smile on his lips, saying, "Don''t resist, resistance is futile, just lie down and rest!" Even supernatural power users, if caught off guard by this spell, are likely to be affected. Chen Fei kept shaking his head, trying to shake off the sudden dizziness that had struck him. Caught in the situation, Executive Manager Hanna Gagel was anxious and therefore chaotic. Even though she was aware that these people had ulterior motives, she could not speak rashly. Otherwise, once she lost room for maneuver, it would only make it easier to end up in a passive position. As a newly signed official employee, Chen Fei could speak without taboos, letting the opponent''s little tricks fly, while he simply retaliated with a heavy "Black Tiger Heart Extraction," bringing the issue to light and applying direct pressure. He did not believe they could continue to feign ignorance and play dumb. What''s a little shrimp to fear? Just spray them directly. If these investigators had any shred of decency, they wouldn''t continue to play dead in silence. For all Chen knew, as he had guessed, the four hostile aircrew bases surrounding Aircrew Base 911 might already have a stream of combat aircraft ascending into the sky, swooping towards this location. If, by that time, the victims had been beaten to death, with the citizens silent and officials unresponsive, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would easily be able to extricate themselves and stand aside, voicing what''s right and wrong. A member of the temporary investigation team immediately reprimanded loudly, "Boy, watch your attitude." However, Franco did not take Chen Fei seriously at all and said in a relaxed manner, "Does the investigation team need your instruction on how to do its job? I''ll just explain one thing. If there are Neanderthals hiding among you, using ''Slumber Mist'' can avoid unnecessary casualties. This is the best approach." If one didn''t know the internal situation, it was actually possible to be fooled. However, it seemed off to need to put everyone to sleep just to collect blood samples. "I want to file a protest with the Committee. I suspect you are intentionally interfering with the fairness and justice of the corporate warfare." With a nudge from Chen Fei, the so-far helpless Executive Manager Hanna Gagel immediately seized the key point. The temporary investigation team, flaunting the banner of the Global United Defense Committee, acted wantonly. Why couldn''t she also use this big tiger skin to fight for Aircrew Base 911''s legitimate rights? "The Merman Brothers Consortium is launching an attack on us¡ªthe assault is imminent. Can you guarantee they won''t act?" Since it was all conjecture without cost, Chen Fei directly escalated the situation, pushing the temporary investigation team into a corner, daring them to counter. Executive Manager Hanna Gagel''s eyes lit up, as she finally found her breakthrough, following up with, "If you cannot make such a guarantee, then I have reason to suspect you are using excessive measures to secretly assist the Merman Brothers Consortium, creating opportunities for their attack." The temporary investigation team did not fully represent the Committee. Moreover, at this critical juncture, what was there to fear about offending someone? The situation, as bad as it was, could hardly get worse. - Chapter 120: Section 120 - On the Brink "You..." The interim investigation team leader, who had been keeping a cold face throughout, finally erupted in anger. This is a matter of principle!!! Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee is reluctant, it has to forcefully deal with it¡ªthere''s nowhere to hide. As an arbiter, when dealing with military contractors, you can act high and mighty, squinting one eye and closing the other toward certain things, but in some situations, you must be impartial, and that''s unquestionable. Taking matters into your hands is even more wrong. Take, for example, the corporate warfare between military contractors. Both sides are armed to the teeth, murderous intent arising naturally; naively demanding peace talks to resolve disputes is unrealistic. Sooner or later, a massive fight will break out. Rather than that, it''s better to grant a one-on-one opportunity to bring all contradictions to light, to bash each other''s brains out in full public view. Even if it results in a bloody mess, at least it remains within a manageable scope. Otherwise, conflicts between military contractors could escalate into a global free-for-all¡ªa possibility not beyond imagination. If that happens, what''s the point of the existence of the Global United Defense Committee? It''s better to have a neat and decisive battle. The winner takes all, the loser concedes. After weighing each other''s strength, tears shed, blood spilt, the disputes naturally subside. It prevents minor issues from causing major losses and forgetting one''s place. It''s actually a good thing. In wars, bloodshed and death are inevitable, but in the history of Blue Star civilization, it''s hardly worth mentioning. After all, the entire history of human civilization is essentially a bloody chronicle of wars, not peace. Days without war are few and far between; conflict is part of everyday life. Even blood siblings fight till they bleed; what more for strangers who cannot stand each other. What are you chirping about? ... I''ll hit you, so what! "We will not make such a guarantee. Corporate warfare is your own affair; the Global United Defense Committee will not interfere." Franco finally began to take seriously the one-eyed woman in front of him, as well as the young man beside her who seemed to be a simpleton. This hot potato must be tossed aside, even if it means playing dirty. Most people don''t dare to breathe too loudly in front of the Global United Defense Committee, but this man and woman not only disregard the committee''s authority and the pressure from these ability users but have the audacity to try to use the corporate warfare to pressure the investigation team. Are they not afraid that the investigation team, in a fit of anger, could obliterate the entire Aircrew Base? Behind the Global United Defense Committee are several Sovereign Level states, all of them powerful nations without exception. A small private contractor is simply like an ant, easily crushed; a mere sneeze could blow them away. "Your current actions are aiding our enemies by using the investigation as a pretext to paralyze the defense capabilities of the 911 Aircrew Base. Chen Fei, record a video and publicize it." Hanna Gagel seized this opportunity firmly, her words carrying an air of righteous indignation. Chen Fei had reminded her, at this critical juncture, that any concession would plunge the 911 Aircrew Base into an abyss from which there was no return. The use of the war spell "Slumber Mist" to knock everyone out, while indeed, as the investigation team claimed, prioritized safety and prevented any Neanderthal tribe infiltrators from erupting into violence or attempting escape, was not the only option. There were clearly other methods available, but the investigation team acted without warning, placing the 911 Aircrew Base in the most dangerous situation, then irresponsibly left without looking back, feigning innocence. This was utterly condemnable. "Understood!" Chen Fei immediately took out his phone and swiftly opened the camera app, aiming it at the female executive manager and the interim investigation team leader, Franco. "I am Hanna Gagel, the executive manager of 911 Aircrew Base. I suspect the interim investigation team..." "Shut up!" To transfer the pressure, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would certainly discard the temporary investigation team as pawns; these people would likely be out of luck. "Young man, let''s talk nicely; how about this, I offer you a job opportunity. Come to my side, and with your Metal Elemental Psychic Power, you can definitely get a good position," Franco proposed, shifting strategies as he shamelessly tried to poach right in front of the female executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base. "How much in Star Yuan per month?" Chen Fei''s eyes narrowed slightly. From a distance, the chirping sounds of "tweet, tweet..." were heard as three people raced away in a state of dishevelment and embarrassment. Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team, tentatively asked, "Uh, 50,000 Star Yuan? What do you think?" A young recent college graduate would consider it quite generous to earn 20,000 Star Yuan a month, let alone an amount more than double that at 50,000 Star Yuan. "Fuck your mother!!!" Chen Fei''s pupils suddenly changed color in the next second, and a violent and dangerous aura explosively spread out. "Eyes of Tyranny (Consumes 1 Energy Point, Duration 15 seconds, Cooldown 15 seconds)" Energy Points -1 Energy Points: 195/5000 Even Hanna Gagel, the executive manager standing beside him, couldn''t help but have her hair stand on end, as if she felt a mortal threat. "You..." Franco''s eyes widened just then. The white steel crowbar flew whistling closely past the tip of his nose with a furious spin. Chapter Find: Fuck! Couldn''t you have expressed dissatisfaction with the price without resorting to violence right away? Franco had no doubt that if the crowbar had struck his head, it would have shattered his skull and splattered his brains. "Ah!~" Fifty meters away, a dreadful wail erupted. A member of the temporary investigation team writhed on the ground, holding his shin as a small bird with black feathers kept pecking relentlessly at his face, leaving visible red marks. The crowbar that flew over had struck his leg¡ªgiven the unnatural twist of his shin, it was likely broken on impact. The other two continued to run helter-skelter without looking back, shouting as they went, "Help! Help!" It was a disgrace that they, E-grade Ability Users, were fleeing in such a pathetic state from a nondescript Magical Beast Sparrow. "Is that a Pure Light Sparrow?" Franco looked in the direction of the sound, his hand closing on thin air, ready to unleash his Special Ability to take down that low-level Magical Beast Sparrow directly. "I''d like to see who dares make a move." Several whistling sounds cut through the air as if invisible blades were slicing it, leaving several long marks on the ground¡ªthis was Hanna Gagel''s demonstration and warning. The wind ball between her hands had grown to the size of a football. - Chapter 121: Section 121 - Catch the Thief and Seize the Stolen Goods Xiao Jiu relentlessly pecked at the guy who kept crying out in pain on the ground. Of course, compared to the pain of a broken leg, having your face pecked into a blooming peach was hardly an issue. Moreover, compared to the ferocity of Chen Fei''s father, the little bird''s attack power could be practically ignored. The red marks it left on the opponent''s face would fade in two or three days at most. The combat power of a low-rank Light-element Magical Beast was already weak, let alone a Pure Light Sparrow that barely made the rank. A "Band-Aid" could hardly count as combat power. Even if it was lucky to obtain a Third Rank Light Beast Crystal Core, its abilities couldn''t become very formidable all at once due to its bloodline and species limitations. The scale armor on the surface of the skin was faintly visible, from the arms to the palms and then to the fingers, monstrously gruesome. Chen Fei forcefully suppressed the murderous intent boiling within him and roared, "You are not welcome here, get out, all of you!" Dare to touch my bird, I''ll break your legs! "You are courting death!" Seeing a member of the investigative team injured, Franco, the person in charge, no longer hesitated and opened his five fingers to grab at Chen Fei, or more accurately, pushed something invisible towards him. Chen Fei waved his hand, and a sound like fabric being ripped echoed. A sudden gust of wind swept up countless sand and stones, and the unbound high-pressure gas exploded like a small-scale burst. Franco staggered back several meters, lowering his head to check, then raising it with a look of shock. Across his chest, from the left shoulder to the right waist, were three gashes¡ªtwo long and one short¡ªas if savagely scratched by a monster. Not just fabric, even steel could be shredded apart. This sight turned the investigative team leader''s face deathly pale. If it had been a centimeter or two deeper, it would have been enough to rip open his chest and abdomen. "How audacious!" Following an explosive shout, a glimmering longsword from the side came slashing down toward Chen Fei''s neck. A War Professional couldn''t wait to launch an attack. Crack! The longsword was caught squarely an inch away from Chen Fei''s neck. Sparks flew between the Sharp Edge and the grotesque claws. "You... are courting death!" Chen Fei coldly glanced at him. The cold ruthlessness of his golden pupils pierced straight into the heart of the War Professional. With a forceful clench of the monstrous claw, a crisp cracking sound accompanied by trembling reverberations ensued, and the five-foot-wide longsword was forcibly snapped into two pieces, with the remaining half nearly slipping from the War Professional''s grip. System: Ding! Detected 6.57 kilograms of tungsten carbide-based hard alloy. Would you like to absorb: Yes/No? Absorb! System: Ding! Absorbed 6.57 kilograms of tungsten carbide-based hard alloy, composition: tungsten 75%, titanium 11%, cobalt 5%, molybdenum 3%... The half of the short sword disappeared in the claws in an instant, and then another merciless claw struck down. "Be careful!" With a loud clang, Chen Fei''s claw was blocked by a long-handled battle axe, saving the War Professional who had lost half of his broadsword from certain doom. He conveniently picked up a crowbar stuck in the ground with one hand, grabbed the other person''s neck with the other, and lifted him up directly. He targeted the man''s head with the crowbar, preparing to open a "can" right there to see what was inside this guy''s head, perhaps all shit? "Stop!" The C-rank Earth Element Ability User, Willy, seeing this, no longer paid attention to the female executive manager and the temporary investigative team leader. As he spoke, his ability activated simultaneously, the cement on the ground detached and covered his body, forming a gray-white armor, ensuring defense before anything else. After all, the impression left by the opponent''s large claws was profound; if it caught on his flesh, his mortal body would likely be no stronger than paper mache, not to mention that silver-white "cold weapon." In certain circumstances, a crowbar could indeed be considered a weapon. The sound of rolling, a crystal clear crystal rolled out of the broken-legged man''s pocket and fell to the ground. Its inherent dim glow was overshadowed by the sunlight; the lustrous crystal surface reflected dazzling light. "Ah!~" Willy''s voice immediately faltered. That was a Magical Beast Crystal Core, judging by the size and degree of crystallization, it was definitely not a commonplace item. Not only him, but also the other four War Professionals who were wary of Chen Fei''s large claws and dared not make any rash moves were equally stunned. Such a large Magical Beast Crystal Core, that should be of Earth Order level, right? The magical resources from Cangqiong Star, divided into Human Order Ninth Rank, Earth Order Sixth Rank, and Heavenly Order Third Rank, with Human Order resources primarily circulating in the market. The higher the rank, the fewer the quantities. Once it reached Earth Order, it could no longer be accessed by ordinary people. Heavenly Order resources, whether they be magic potions, Magical Beast Crystal Cores, or magic artifacts, appear once in several years. Each appearance causes a sensation on Blue Star and leads to fierce competition among the major powers. There was no way around it, as they were scarce resources on Cangqiong Star, let alone on Blue Star, a world apart. Having the goods was already fortunate, their being priceless was the norm. Chen Fei also found the answer to why Xiao Jiu was relentlessly pursuing it. He threw the man on the ground, spat contemptuously. "Thief!" The Pure Light Sparrow immediately pounced on the Magical Beast Crystal Core, pecking incessantly, each peck releasing many specks of light, which, before they could disperse, drifted towards its body and momentarily caused a faint brightness on the black feathers, then disappeared. Given the peculiar occurrence with the Light-element Magical Beast, Pure Light Sparrow, this Magical Beast Crystal Core was likely a Light Element Crystal Core too. Caught red-handed at the scene, the man on the ground''s face flushed red, but he dared not make a sound. Deny? Would denying help? For an E-rank supernatural power user, even selling all his assets he might not gather such a large Crystal Core, money can''t buy it, and even if it''s available, he wouldn''t be the one to get it, especially one of a completely different elemental attribute, or carrying such a valuable Magical Beast Crystal Core while outdoors.... Every explanation was unconvincing. The Earth Element Ability User, Willy, turned around and shouted loudly, "Stop, everyone stop, all of you stop!" Damn, such a huge embarrassment! Fucking hell, a member of the investigative team being greedy, stealing someone''s belongings!! And being caught in the act. How could there be such a disgraceful jerk mixed in with the investigative team. Willy wished he could slap the man with the broken leg to death. - Chapter 122: Section 122 - The Enemy Comes With a feigned shot and amidst a loud air burst, Franco staggered backward, panting slightly. He was indeed a C-level supernatural power user, but so was his opponent! After exchanging more than ten moves, he hadn''t gained the slightest advantage. This one-eyed woman was tougher to deal with than he had imagined. However, at that moment, Franco''s attention was not on the female executive manager of the Aircrew Base; he turned his gaze and saw the Light Beast Crystal Core sparkling in the sunlight. Damn it!!! The temporary investigation team was here to trace the Neanderthal Elite Warriors, not to steal things. Wasn''t the salary level of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee enough? Did they really have to resort to thievery! And to think that they got caught red-handed, putting the investigative team in a passive position instantly. Consequently, the person in charge of the temporary investigation team and the other members all felt the burning shame, losing face. How humiliating! "Dinglinglingling..." Chen Fei''s phone rang; however, the phone tucked in his front pocket captured everything it needed to. It was a call from his younger sister at home. Family above all, he quickly stopped the video recording. "Hello, Little Sis, what''s up?" "Big Brother, what are you doing?" "Oh, I''m about to break someone''s legs!" Chen Fei held the phone in one hand and a White Steel crowbar in the other, raised high. "Xiao Meng, what is your brother doing?" The voice of their mother came through, having heard the youngest child calling her Second Brother and asking casually. "Bro is breaking someone''s legs!" Chen Meng relayed the message. "Oh, ask your Second Brother if he has time to come back for Cousin Meizhi''s wedding at our uncle''s place." The mother''s voice came through again. "Second Brother, Mom asked me to ask you, our uncle''s daughter is having her wedding banquet, are you coming back?" Little sister Chen Meng acted as the intermediary. "Which day is it?" Chen Fei swung the White Steel crowbar down heavily. "Ah!" The person who had stolen the Magical Beast Crystal Core let out a piercing scream. His arm broke! Who told him to move, causing the crowbar to strike off target. Little sister asked curiously, "The 29th of next month, huh? What''s that sound?" "Missed. The leg didn''t break, but the arm did. Gotta do it again. Hey, don''t move, just one more time, it''ll be quick, don''t move." Chen Fei, dissatisfied, stepped on the guy''s leg to keep him from moving this time. When a good kid gets tough, he''s utterly inhumane. He had never known he could be so brutal: chatting with his sister on the phone while nonchalantly breaking someone else''s legs and asking the person to stay still. "No, no, don''t!" The "thief," having two limbs broken, was almost about to pee his pants. But the silver crowbar did not hesitate and came down cleanly. Crack! The clear sound of a bone being smashed could be heard. "All right! Learn your lesson, understand?" "Forget it, we''re pulling out!" Franco snorted out these words through his nostrils and turned to leave. He didn''t want to stay a moment longer in this Aircrew Base; it was both embarrassing and infuriating. "Aren''t we testing them?" Discover exclusive tales at M V L The accompanying technician watched the back of the temporary investigation group leader and then looked at the two at the Aircrew Base. Just two samples short, this investigation report wouldn''t be perfect! "No, we''re not testing them!" Franco didn''t turn his head back. Two people with supernatural powers, what''s there to check! The bloodline of the Neanderthal tribe only supported Secret Technique, with no special abilities to awaken; there had never been a supernatural power user among them, not even among the mixed-bloods. The others headed towards the Sky Patrol Ship. Flustered, they boarded it. Even the investigator who had stolen the Light Beast Crystal Core was carried up. Inside the Aircrew Base, they didn''t manage to get the right answer, not even a close one; they were doomed to have made the trip in vain. "Rookie, quickly douse everyone with cold water to wake them up." Female executive manager Hanna Gagel finally shifted her focus away from the temporary investigation group. The two Mages hadn''t lifted the effect of the "Slumber Mist" spell, so if they wanted to wake people up, they had to use other means. Fortunately, cold water did the trick instantly. "Got it!" Chen Fei sprinted off. "Chirp! Chirp!" Little Bird flew after her daddy from behind. Splash!~ A basin of cold water woke up Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming. "Uh, what''s going on?" The mountain-like man turned over with a flop, wiping his face with water still dripping. He was somewhat confused and didn''t understand what was happening. "Boss! Quickly wake up everyone else." Chen Fei, without time to explain more, handed over a paper cup. After filling another cup with water and splashing it all over a senior mechanic, Xiao Jixiu got it instantly. Following the example, he poured water and slapped another awake. One woke two, two woke four, and the number of conscious workers soared exponentially. By the time it got to "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, a cup of water, a slap to each cheek, plus a kick, had them yelping and bouncing up instantly, with excellent results. The employees at various posts, with bruised faces, started to resume normal work as the ground-based radar issued a warning for the first time. "Enemy aircraft incoming!" "I knew it!" The woman in the control tower slammed her fist onto the table. The temporary investigation unit''s Sky Patrol Ship and two Crystal Jets had already left quietly without saying goodbye, leaving her in an unfavorable situation. Merman Brothers Consortium making a move using others. The employee responsible for the radar was pale and reported with a trembling voice: "Enemies are coming from all directions, northeast, southwest, each with no fewer than 20 targets. We''re surrounded." "Give the order, ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron take off, launch all anti-air missiles first!" Female executive Hanna Gagel clenched her teeth and said, "Today, let''s go big or go home!" In every corner of the 911 Aircrew Base, red lights flashed and alarms blared, activating an unprecedented First-Level Combat Readiness. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron didn''t disappoint the female executive manager; within two minutes of the command being issued, Squadron Leader Chekhov, piloting the MiG-28 Jet Fighter, was the first to take off. - Chapter 123: Section 123 - The Big Adventure The Merman Brothers United Consortium finally showcased its industry rank as the eighth juggernaut. For Aircrew Base 911, the pressure was immense. Enemies on all sides, a massive force bearing down, overwhelmingly outnumbered... but still they had to fight! Even in this scenario, Aircrew Base 911 saw no deserters, for all the cowards had already perished, recently felled by an anti-air missile. Whether it was Manager Hanna, Rookie Chen Fei, Big Brother Xiao the chief mechanic, or Chekhov Big Bear, they all agreed that this was refreshingly straightforward, as every department within the base united like never before. Only the damned had died, and those who should not have died also perished. One after another, fully loaded A-39B "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop attack aircraft followed by MiG-28 jet fighters took to the sky in succession. All thanks to Chen Fei and his team of veterans who discovered the "wool" of Aircrew Base 909, after a fierce plundering session, the maintenance team assembled several more "Big Mouth Monsters," surpassing even the number of pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. One MiG-28 and fifteen "Big Mouth Monsters" summed up the total aerial combat power that Aircrew Base 911 could muster, but against the approaching swarm of nearly a hundred enemy aircraft, the effectiveness of tactics was virtually negligible. Faced with the almost hopeless disparity in numbers, the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron decisively committed themselves to the struggle, excluding Squadron Leader Chekhov, who flew a MiG-28 on his own; all other pilots did the same, abandoning the two-person operation mode of the "Big Mouth Monsters," to ensure as many fighters as possible were airborne to maximize firepower in combat. Even the four pilots of two Z-9 armed helicopters temporarily switched to flying the "Big Mouth Monsters." With the relatively low difficulty of flying turboprop aircraft, the transition came without any pressure. Launching this desperate attack being outnumbered, none thought of a safe return; an extra hand meant extra combat power, and with no need for the normal "scavenging" service, there was no use for armed helicopters. Discover exclusive tales at M V L The sixteen fighters that took off one after another didn''t disperse, nor care for formation, with jet fighters in the lead and turboprops lined up behind, they directly faced the enemy squadron approaching from the east. The direction was chosen arbitrarily, without any particular reason. In fact, regardless of which direction''s enemies they chose to engage first, the outcome would have made no difference. While the enemy hadn''t completely closed off their surrounding, it was better to go for injuring one finger rather than ten; by eliminating the invaders from one direction first, there might be a hope of survival in the subsequent battle. "Damn, this time we''re really gonna die, huh!" Yamada Takebu, who had nearly a hundred hours of turboprop flight experience, wasn''t unfamiliar with the cockpit of A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" and while watching the enemy identification signals transmitted from the ground-based radar through the battlefield data link, seeing as they were rapidly closing in, he couldn''t help but remark. Abiko Fushi, now the wingman pilot who once co-piloted a Z-9 armed helicopter seriously said, "Hey, Yamada, see you in the underworld!" Seemingly affected by his old partner''s mood, Yamada Takebu spoke solemnly, "To the underworld, Abiko!" Squadron Deputy Leader Irinei Rusios, known as "Devil Pepper," said in a resentful tone over the comms channel, "I am still a virgin, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, you''re responsible." God damn responsible, just because you''re a virgin, you blame me? Big Bear didn''t dare to utter a word, figuring it was better to avoid trouble. If only the girl had at least a C cup, he would be all in, but alas with an A... well, that''s a different story... "Chekhov, say something for God''s sake! Don''t play dead!" The short-haired girl, Little Chili, living up to her fiery South American reputation, was instantly inflamed. Kid Cheng Fei, with cunning in his eyes, said slyly, "Deputy Leader, actually Chekhov really loves you, you''re the only one for him; he''s just playing hard to get, he''s quite sincere at heart." (* ?(¥¨) ?¨p): I''m not, I didn''t, don''t talk nonsense! "Really!" Everyone loves pleasing words, and Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios was no exception, instantly delighted by the flattery. "Rookie, who the hell is using the fire control radar to paint me!!! Who?" Chekhov Big Bear was about to refute when the cockpit suddenly blared with the unanticipated warning sound of being locked on¡ªthe infuriating fire control radar signal was even from behind. Fuck! "Climb with me!" With the assistance of ground-based radar for guidance, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, led by Major Chekhov, tilted their noses upward and began a steep climb without needing to worry about the missiles they had fired. The ground-based radar was much more powerful than the electronic pods and even more so than the early warning aircraft; within a certain range, it could greatly amplify combat effectiveness. This was also why the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s first target when ambushing other Aircrew Bases was the enemy''s radar systems. Beep beep beep! A warning sound from the enemy''s fire control radar echoed in the cockpit. "Ignore it, climb at full speed!" Squadron deputy leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios shouted in the comm channel. Following the Energy Maneuver Tactics rule, having altitude means not having to worry about those missiles, especially since a sizable portion of the enemy''s hastily launched missiles hadn''t locked on to their targets yet. On the other hand, the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had a higher hit rate with their programmable combat bombs, now under the control of ground-based radar. Strike first to gain the upper hand, hesitate and suffer the consequences. At an altitude of 6700 meters, more than ten missiles closed in on the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. "Prepare to evade!" Chekhov loudly reminded everyone, timing it just right as the turboprop squadron gained enough altitude to evade being stuck in the inescapable range of the enemy''s combat bombs. Trading altitude for speed made it easier to shake off the missile pursuit. "Let me do it!" Chen Fei, on the other hand, steered his control stick to meet the incoming missiles. The task of dancing with the missiles began its ticking countdown again. In the distance, a series of explosions flared, with at least nine fighters unable to evade the thirty-two combat bombs, bursting into balls of flame in the sky. At least three missiles for each downed fighter jet, the combat results were highly fruitful under the guidance of ground-based radar. This barrage had taken out at least a third of the enemy force, with the surviving number of enemy fighters even one less than the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. But that would depend on the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s ability to evade the return missile salvo in the second round. System: Dodging missiles for a cumulative 31 seconds/60 seconds, maintain elegant posture, receive Energy Points +200! Genuine Fragrance! Activate "Basic Optical Observer Level 4." One, two, three, four... In the blink of an eye, the skill-enhanced vision immediately spotted six blue thick lines connecting to his own "Big Mouth Monster" unit number 211. The predictive trajectories were clearly visible. While everyone was maneuvering wildly to avoid the fast-approaching missiles, Chen Fei, seemingly confused, was the only one piloting his aircraft head-on into them. Upon noticing this, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios urgently said over the comm, "Rookie, what are you doing?" "It''s-Show-Time!" - Chapter 124: Section 124 - Graceful Dance Moves Show off, huh? Everything that''s not for Energy Points is just showing off! With a light push on the control stick, Chen Fei easily broke free from the six thick green lines using the maneuverability of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft. The next second, they wrapped around again like maggots to a bone. But aren''t Energy Points delightful? Chen Fei pulled off a huge fake death on his own and took at least half of the missiles with him, greatly relieving the pressure on his comrades. Everyone else had fewer than one missile to deal with, which was much more relaxed. Some dragged missiles away, while others faced the incoming enemy again. Private Military Contractors don''t have professional bombers, not even the top ten giants in the industry are an exception. If it''s necessary to use bombers against Magical Beasts and Mutants, it''s probably time for the sovereign state''s air force to take action themselves. The day-to-day military tasks undertaken by military contractors often aren''t heavy, which is why they are profitable. So, for the incoming enemy fighters, they must make a key choice: should they carry more air-to-air or air-to-ground munitions? If they choose to carry more air-to-air ammunition, once they arrive at Aircrew Base 911, they can only awkwardly use their machine guns for strafing. The limited firepower of the 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullets is quite limited against ground facilities, which is only suitable for bullying Magical Beasts and Mutants without air defense weapons and sufficient defense. But to deal with an aircrew base, it''s still far from enough. If they decide to prioritize air-to-ground munitions, their air-to-air combat power will be significantly weakened, making them clumsy in combat and easily facing the awkward situation of running out of ammunition. How to make the trade-off is a headache-inducing problem. However, looking at Aircrew Base 911, "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron didn''t need to consider that much at all. Just load up with air-to-air ammunition, that''s all. Seven mounts meant seven programmable close-range combat missiles, guaranteed to make the opponents howl in pain. Unless the enemy''s single batch fleet could form an overwhelming numerical and firepower advantage, it wouldn''t be easy to overpower the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, especially since Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear and his crew had the home advantage. Even without Early Warning Aircraft bonuses, the ground-based radar system is not for decoration. "Rookie, are you trying to get yourself killed? What the hell are you doing?" When Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear, piloting a single-man MiG-28 jet fighter, saw six missiles chasing after a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop, his hair stood on end. Even himself did not have the confidence to take on six combat bombs at once! "Don''t worry, I''ve got this. Just ignore me!" Chen Fei pushed down on the control stick, making the "Big Mouth Monster" barrel roll smoothly like a waltz dance step, tracing arc after arc, drawing closer to the enemy squadron. A hostile "Big Mouth Monster" appeared in the HUD¡ªit was an encounter between peers; why rush to annihilation so eagerly? Let''s go! The aircraft shivered slightly as several tracer-laden machine gun bullets ignited vivid predictive trajectories as they shot out. The blue trajectory lines Chen Fei saw were not from his own machine gun bullets and missiles. The first reason is to avoid confusion with enemy attacks, and the second is because the onboard Fire Control System already had that function with an official name: Attack Envelope. The blue lines that Chen Fei saw were actually the enemy aircraft''s attack envelope, which seemed more appropriate and accurate for him as the target, hence known as predictive trajectory. An unexpected burst of machine gun fire accurately hit a "Big Mouth Monster" more than a thousand meters ahead without a single bullet missing its mark. Flames erupted instantly, and as time passed, the damage grew more severe. The female executive manager inside Aircrew Base 911 captured the loss of one communication signal from Genuine Fragrance Squadron on the ground-based radar. "I''m fine, sorry, Squadron Leader!" On the copilot seat of Z-9 Armed Helicopter No. 2, another young lady from Genuine Fragrance Squadron, "Mint" Susanna Emma, with a voice full of regret, spoke up in the communication channel, her voice starting to choke. She hadn''t managed to shoot down an enemy plane, but instead had been shot down herself. With the fighter jet gone, the emergency communication equipment began to work. "It''s my fault for not covering Miss Emma properly." "Mint" Susanna Emma''s partner, "Saffron" Kattir, took on the responsibility voluntarily. Partners are all about support. What kind of partner would you be if you remained silent now? Squadron Leader Chekhov said, "It''s okay, as long as you''re alive, that''s what''s important. ''Mint,'' make sure to protect yourself and wait patiently for rescue." The Scavenger team had already ejected, and it would be some time before anyone could come for a pickup. It might be necessary to spend several days in these wild and desolate hills. "Understood, Squadron Leader Chekhov!" As a rescue personnel of Genuine Fragrance Squadron, Susanna Emma was well-prepared for this; she was not lacking in survival experience in the wild. Not just three or five days, even ten days or half a month would be no problem. Inside the ejected cockpit seat, there were plenty of things: food, water, medicine, weapons, and communication equipment, among other supplies. In exchange for the loss of one Big Mouth Monster, Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron took down nineteen enemy Big Mouth Monsters, giving the female executive manager a glimmer of hope. She clenched a cold sweat in her palm and shouted loudly, "There are still five enemy planes, be quick!" "Regroup into pairs and take them out!" With the enemy outnumbered, the confidence of Chekhov Big Bear surged. Fifteen against five, three against one, there was no chance for the enemy to win. The Merman Brothers Consortium was overconfident after all, and didn''t equip each combat group with electronic pods; instead, relying on the ground-based radar system, Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron took the initiative. They managed the guidance of the Combat Missiles through the battlefield data link and launched another attack, with one fighter performing the tactical value of two. The five Big Mouth Monsters from the 912 Aircrew Base to the east of 911 Aircrew Base didn''t fight to the bitter end and immediately scattered to escape. The pilot of Z-9 Armed Helicopter No. 1 from Aircrew Base 911, callsign "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, caught his breath and said with a sense of unfinished business, "Shall we pursue?" He and his old partner "Wasabi" Abiko Fushi-kun had just taken down an enemy plane together, exclaiming with delight. Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios immediately said, "Don''t chase the impoverished!" "Our objective is to protect the Aircrew Base, fall back!" Squadron Leader Chekhov hesitated for a moment but quickly made up his mind. The female executive manager in command at Aircrew Base 911, Hanna Gagar, had no intention of interfering, leaving the decision entirely to Squadron Leader Chekhov. Commanders in the field, beyond certain orders, the combat personnel at the front understood the current situation best, and she trusted Squadron Leader Chekhov''s professional competence more. Boom!~ A fireball crashed near the control tower; the dense air defense array didn''t manage to completely destroy the air-to-ground missile in time, and some wreckage still fell into the Aircrew Base. The shockwave from the resulting blast made the glass in all the control tower windows rattle violently, whitening the faces of the many people inside as they unanimously stared out the windows. Hanna Gagar shouted, "Stay calm, don''t panic!" Chapter 125: Section 125 - The Sky is Crying The voice of the female executive manager, like a Sea-calming Needle, had a clear leading effect; the various stations that had been somewhat chaotic once again entered a state of orderly operation. If the tower falls, the big boss dies first. Should these little fish worry about being caught in the crossfire now? Although Aircrew Base was under attack and the enemy had already begun their raid on antiaircraft interception, not all of the news was bad. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had already successfully defeated enemies from one direction. Boom!~ Yet another fireball fell from the sky and smashed heavily just outside the Aircrew Base. To avoid the enemy exploiting blind spots in the ground-based radar, Aircrew Base 911 utilized helium balloons to suspend an electronic reconnaissance pod at an altitude of 500 meters above ground, working together with ground-based radar to form a radar reconnaissance system with no dead angles. After working for twenty minutes, the balloon-hung pod honorably completed its use and was hit by a close combat missile that had successfully breached the antiaircraft fire, smashing to the ground and shattering into a pile of scrap metal. Squadron Leader Chekhov, who was leading his team back, asked, "How is the situation at Aircrew Base?" The immobile Aircrew Base was under much more pressure than the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron¡ªIn the eyes of the enemy fleet, it was just a live target. Once all the antiaircraft firepower is systematically eliminated, the whole base would be as vulnerable as if it were undefended. Hanna Gagar leisurely poured herself a glass of red wine, took a light sip, and responded in an unhurried manner, "I have no problems here, and can hold on." The actual situation, however, was that half of the intensive antiaircraft firepower had been eliminated, and two of the antiaircraft missile launchers were still desperately being reloaded with ammunition. Under the leadership of the mechanic team leader Xiao Ming, they ingenarily pushed two pilotless "Big Mouth Monsters" to near the runway. In conjunction with hastily welded steel-tube ballistic rails, these acted as movable ground-based antiaircraft missile launchers capable of launching fourteen close combat missiles. Guided by ground-based radar, the effect was very good. (In 2018, the Houthi Armed Forces used a captured MiG-29 radar along with the photoelectric detection device dismantled from an Apache armed helicopter to guide surface-launched R-27R semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missiles, shooting down an F-15) The attacking enemy fleet naturally didn''t fare any better, with at least ten aircraft being destroyed. Mounting an assault on an Aircrew Base has never been an easy task. Even for the repeatedly successful "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, each victory relied solely on the element of surprise, taking advantage when the enemy was completely unprepared. Aircrew Base 897 never imagined the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron could extend the combat radius of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, conducting an ultra-low-altitude flight over a long distance for a successful strike. Aircrew Base 909 also didn''t expect that, after a fierce exchange, when both sides were sounding the retreat, two pilots got drunk and were goaded into a midnight solo flight¡ªa reckless escapade that left the devastated 909 looking as if it had been bombarded by mines. Even the 911 itself was dumbfounded. What insiders couldn''t predict was even less expected by the enemy¡ªwho in their right mind would forsake sleep and decency for such midnight mischief? That the Merman Brothers Consortium went nuts was both anticipated and reasonable. It''s not to say that anyone could replicate the success of Aircrew Base 911, pulling off the same feat twice. An Aircrew Base with a ground-based radar system and a complete antiaircraft system prepared for battle isn''t so easy to overcome. "63 enemy aircraft ahead, damn, so many!" Chekhov Big Bear took a glance at the enemy and friendly identification data compiled by the battle data link. Just moments before, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron had maintained a three-to-one advantage, only to suddenly find themselves trapped in a one-to-four dead end; such is the caprice of fate. Fortunately, in the night raid on Aircrew Base 909 by Chen Fei and Chekhov Big Bear, the two together managed to wipe out nearly a third of the Merman Brothers Consortium''s jet fighter squadron. To stabilize their other operations, in the battle against Aircrew Base 911, they were no longer able to deploy a jet fighter squadron without creating a defensive gap. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios drawled, "There are still five behind us, Chekhov!" Coming from the 912 Aircrew Base, the last surviving five turboprop aircraft scurried away only to sneakily follow behind the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, staying hidden beyond visual range. "Five cowards, not a concern, if they dare to come, Uncle Chekhov will send them to meet Stalin!" Squadron Leader Chekhov was indifferent, a bunch of cowards whose spirits had been broken, completely devoid of fighting will. His MiG Aircraft would just need to turn around, and those wimpy "Big Mouth Monsters" would surely be scared into falling right out of the sky. From the west 910, the south 909, and the north 913, fighters that had taken off from the three aircrew bases had joined forces, focusing their main attention on the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron on their way back to aid after their attempt to quickly eliminate the 911 Aircrew Base had failed. As soon as both sides entered the range of each other''s combat missiles, all of the onboard fire control radars brazenly showered each other with beams, a standoff at the ready. The alarm in the cockpit blared incessantly. "Missiles! Damn it, so many missiles!" Suddenly, without warning, the alarm sounded even more urgently. Chen Fei''s maneuver reminded Squadron Leader Chekhov, who promptly issued the order on the communication channel. One after another, the "Big Mouth Monsters" followed the MiG-28, pouring machine gun fire from their wings into the sky, with crimson trajectories cutting through the heavens, followed by missiles detaching from the wings'' mounts, howling out with trailing smoke. The window for close-quarters combat was extremely brief, always measured in seconds; tactical patterns immediately unfolded, opening salvoes, knight''s leap, bishop''s diagonal, pawn''s charge, checkmate... As soon as the combat bombs were fired, the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s fighters scattered. "Charge in, engage them in a melee!" Chekhov Big Bear roared over the communication channel, the best tactic when outnumbered was to engage in a melee, a messy fight, chaos bringing victory. Even a blind cat finds a dead rat, and probability finally bore fruit as two combat bombs slammed into the trajectory of 12.7 mm bullets, exploding with a boom. Shooting missiles with machine guns was all about luck. Trying was always better than doing nothing. What if it worked? Just like right now! The sky had turned into an ancient battlefield, with knights launching decisive death charges at each other, engines roaring like fluttering banners, combat bombs acting like long spears thrust at the enemy, and machine guns like raised swords. In an instant, a fierce collision decided both sides'' fate. Boom! ~ Boom boom! ~ There was a rumble like distant thunder in the clear skies, but not a cloud to be seen over the Patan School nestled in the mountains. The cheerful laughter gradually faded in the large courtyard, as children stopped their play, simultaneously looking up to the sky in wonder. Strange black smoke, torrents of fire like shooting stars, flashes one after another, the crudely drawn lines across the blue canvas steadily lengthened, and the elementary school teacher under the apple tree wore a face full of worry, as blood, fire, and iron fell from the sky, look, the sky is crying! - "''Wind Chime'' squadron, all members KIA!" "''Rainbow Flower'' squadron, more than half casualties, requesting disengagement from combat!" "Only I remain from the ''Scimitar'' squadron, can''t fight any longer, can''t keep fighting, ah..." "''Scimitar'' squadron, all members KIA!" ... "''Cinnamon Powder'' Sug Sati, KIA!" "''Miso'' Yamada Yuhu, disengaged from combat!" "''Scallion Oil'' Babarro Big Bear, KIA!" "''Fragrant Orchid'' Carlos Silva Lane, missing in action!" "''Wasabi'' Abiko Fushi, KIA!" "Rookie..." "I''m still alive!" "''Rookie'' Chen Fei, still in the fight!" - Chapter 126: Section 126 - Killing Without Firearms In the fight to the death, both enemies and allies were consumed with a bloodlust. Everyone had only one life to live, so casualties within Aircrew Base 911''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were inevitable. Even Chen Fei, who had become tough-skinned and was able to ignore various light weapons as a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, could still be killed if targeted by a barrage of missiles. He could be killed by a blast wave or suffocation if he tried to take a shortcut with a cloud explosion. - A cacophony of cracking and shattering sounds filled the air as fierce wind suddenly gushed into the cockpit. The cockpit canopy, riddled with bullet holes, finally shattered into pieces, transforming the 211 aircraft into a spectacularly convertible fighter jet. The battered 211 aircraft, under Chen Fei''s control, still managed to perform intense, high-mobility maneuvers. Four "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft were hot on his trail, but his "Big Mouth Monster" had long since run out of ammunition. The aircraft''s centerline and under the left and right wings were a total of seven hardpoints, which meant it could carry only seven Combat Bombs. Taking down two enemy aircraft was a cause for celebration, though most of the time firing ended up missing the target. For every missile to take down an enemy jet, how foolish would the enemy pilot have to be to allow one to tailgate them and launch a missile from behind? The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft had a total of 500 rounds of 12.7mm caliber machine gun ammo, evenly distributed between the wings, which meant the actual number of firing opportunities was cut in half. A short burst was ten bullets gone, hold down the trigger and in just a few seconds, they were depleted. The era of dogfighting was long gone. Only Private Military Contractors still played this lowbrow and unskilled game. In the combat lineup of Sovereign-level air forces, the superior fighter jets had become vassals to the Early Warning Aircraft, engaging in various tactical breakthroughs, firing missiles and bombs before fleeing, becoming the little brother busily running ahead and behind. Although modern combat aircraft still retain machine guns and cannons from the era of dogfighting, their practical significance is no longer in their killing effect. More often, they serve a warning role. To put it bluntly, they are especially for bullying civilians. If some blind civilian aircraft deviated from its course, flying where it shouldn''t¡ªdamn it, ignoring radio communication and unresponsive to fire control radar illumination (because they most likely don''t have a warning system). What to do? No problem! Send a few Tracer Bullets from behind, a whooshing entrance into the pilot''s field of view, both strikingly visible and intimidating, ensuring immediate, fright-induced wetting of pants. At this moment, both the enemy and ally pilots had their human brains beaten into dog brains. The pilots still fighting in the sky had no choice but to pick up the dogfighting skills of their predecessors. Not only had Chen Fei run out of ammunition, but the four enemy aircraft chasing him were also running low. Otherwise, the four "Big Mouth Monsters" could have blindly sprayed bullets, suppressing the front 211 aircraft with a barrage of fire, followed by launching missiles. To dance with missiles and wait to be blown up was the true ordeal. But Chen Fei didn''t give his pursuers the chance. He kept swinging the control stick, maintaining the "Big Mouth Monster" in a serpentine maneuvering state, veering left and right unpredictably. Many tactical maneuvers that the vice squad leader "Devil Pepper" Iline Rusios hadn''t yet had the chance to teach him, Chen Fei grasped intuitively during the fierce aerial combat. On the other hand, it was also due to the "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft''s reliable quality and outstanding performance, which withstood all sorts of trial and error. If it were someone else, they would likely have become dizzy or even nauseous, and they might even have hurt themselves trying. After all, even a turboprop fighter aircraft can withstand far higher G-force limits than the human body can. Often the fighter jet would be fine, but the person inside couldn''t take it anymore. 800 meters! 300 meters! 200 meters! 180 meters! He pulled the control stick all the way back, pushing the throttle to the max. The PT6A series turboprop engine output at full overload, not sparing the decrease in its lifespan. "Rise for me!" Powerful G-forces pressed harshly on Chen Fei, causing bursts of darkness to flood his vision and his eyes to swell, but he was indifferent to it all. 120 meters! Aircraft No. 211 struggled to lift its nose, and the three falling combat bombs drew nearer, the distance between them now less than 200 meters. For the speed of a missile, it was almost instant. 80 meters! Chen Fei and his aircraft were still getting closer to the ground, albeit at a much slower speed. 50 meters! Aircraft No. 211 finally leveled off, but it was still sinking. If it weren''t for the seatbelt, Chen Fei might have been flung out of the cockpit, and now, with the canopy gone, it would have been even easier. 30 meters! The "Big Mouth Monster," roaring terribly, shook violently but stopped descending, gaining speed as it leveled out. After the three missiles grazed the aircraft almost touching it, they exploded without warning, and the shockwave hadn''t reached Aircraft No. 211 when the turboprop, still shuddering, successfully escaped the effective kill radius. The shrapnel merely left some barely significant impact marks on the aircraft''s surface. The majority of the explosion''s strength from the combat bombs was fruitlessly discharged onto the ground, leaving a large radial pattern of char marks. System: Ding! Dance with missiles for a cumulative 60 seconds/60 seconds, and maintain a beautiful pose, energy points +200! Energy Points: 295/5000 With 500 energy points still up for harvest, Chen Fei shook his dizzy head, pulled on the control stick, and propelled Aircraft No. 211 back into the sky. The great battle had been raging until now, with less than 10 aircraft remaining in the skies for both sides. Everyone seemed to have turned into a fighting machine, abandoning all emotions, battling to the very last moment. - Chapter 127: Section 127 - Eat a Big Mouth Monster "Who still has ammunition?" Out of ammunition and desperate, Major Chekhov yelled on the communication channel. His MiG-28 Jet Fighter''s ammunition reserve was even smaller than that of the "Big Mouth Monster." No matter how much he tried to conserve, he had still run out of the last bit of machine gun bullets. If, if he just had one more combat bomb, Chekhov was confident he could shoot down the last opponent from the sky. Then he could join hands with other comrades and further expand their victories. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios glanced at her ammunition counter and said, "I have 20 machine gun bullets left!" Her Aircraft No. 212 was constantly entangled in a dogfight with an enemy aircraft. Luckily, the "Big Mouth Monster" had strong endurance. Even without carrying extra fuel tanks, it could still last a long time in the sky. Both sides, possessing only the strength for a last strike, coincidentally chose not to fire unless a sure shot was assured, reluctant to expend their last bit of ammunition. At this moment, true is false and false becomes true. Both friends and foes assumed each other as the last strike, chasing and evading each other in the sky in a deadlock. "I, I still have one missile, that guy is too cunning!" Besides the squadron leader "Peanut Butter" Major Chekhov, deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, and the indestructible rookie Chen Fei, the only remaining fourth pilot in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, who was furiously chasing his opponent, trying to lock on and send him off with the last missile. Who would have thought that a pilot from the "Scavenger" Squad would last till the end? "I have got a crowbar, who wants it?" Chen Fei looked down at the Physics Holy Sword pressed against his leg. This thing was incredibly effective. Two enemy aircraft, one on the left and one on the right, were trailing behind him, seeking the best opportunity to attack, not daring to get too close anymore. Chekhov Big Bear: "..." He had long realized that this rookie was increasingly defiant, practically becoming a thorn in the side of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. Suddenly, several blue streaks appeared outside the cockpit, the closest one coming less than half a meter from Chen Fei''s head. He quickly pushed the control stick, pushing the throttle all the way forward; the "Big Mouth Monster" suddenly dove into a breaking S dive, and more than ten tracer bullets almost whooshed past its tail. As soon as the maneuver finished, the aircraft leveled out, and Chen Fei immediately pulled back hard on the control stick, causing the "Big Mouth Monster" to pitch up sharply. The two enemy aircraft that missed their attack quickly followed, the lead aircraft No. 211 climbed over a hundred meters, then continued with a backward somersault, executing a flawless tumble maneuver. Although the two enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" attempted to maintain their advantageous six o''clock firing position, Chen Fei did not play along. With a breaking S followed by a tumble, Aircraft No. 211 suddenly closed the distance, forcibly cutting into formation, swiftly approaching one of the enemy aircraft from the right side while gradually lowering its landing gear and the fuselage fiercely turning left at full speed and the landing gear on the underside of the left wing brutally crashing into the other''s cockpit canopy. The opponent was still overcoming the aftermath of a high-overload maneuver, unable to move for a moment as a shadow loomed over, they could only turn their heads, watching helplessly as a huge tire approached the cockpit canopy. It was instantly verified whether the aircraft''s landing gear or the cockpit canopy was harder. The "Big Mouth Monster" had a dry weight of 3 tons, and Chen Fei''s Aircraft No. 211 at that moment, even without any ammunition load and reduced weight from the shattered cockpit canopy glass, still weighed at least 3.1 tons with the remaining fuel. Now, all this weight was concentrated on one of the three wheels, then irresistibly slammed down on the other "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit canopy, as if it had been cruelly run over by a tank''s armor track... The entire cockpit area was instantly flattened. The inside of the shattered glass turned a vivid red, as if sprayed with a layer of red paint. System: Ding! Enemy pilots killed four/five (firearms not used), Energy Points +500! "Holy shit!~" The other "Big Mouth Monster" cockpit, both the pilot in the front and back seats witnessed this unbelievable scene, unable to suppress a soul-deep, trembling scream. Of course... Yes! The "Big Mouth Monster," stubbornly clutched by Chen Fei, began to tremble violently. The engine stopped roaring, and the body''s surface was covered in cracks, rapidly shrinking and contracting. Moments later, the entire turboprop aircraft turned into a pile of non-metallic materials, splintering in mid-air. Along with the two unconscious pilots, they were swept away by the raging wind. The seats, stripped of all metal components, naturally lacked ejection functionality. Whether the parachutes could deploy successfully was probably only known to God. A parachute blossomed slowly in mid-air, as Chen Fei hung underneath it, beginning to tally his gains. System: Ding! Absorbed one A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft (missing non-metallic parts), composition ratio: Aluminum 72%, Titanium 9%, Iron 6%, Copper 5%, Chromium 4.5%, Magnesium 2%... System: Ding! Energy Points +2! Energy Points: 297/5000 System: Ding! Enemy pilots killed: six out of five (no firearms used), gain energy points +500! Energy Points: 797/5000 Chen Fei paused, immediately understanding what had happened. It appeared that the two pilots were unlucky, their parachutes had failed to deploy, and they were fatally crashed. My Skills: Physical Evolution Database (102), categories: Cold Weapons (7), Tools (95)/management... Management... Create new category "Parts," include A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft, parts disassembled! System: Allocation completed, "Parts" increased by 2,735,214 items Chen Fei''s mind suddenly filled with the image of a "Big Mouth Monster," though it was not a complete aircraft, missing many parts. Many non-metallic parts were not absorbed and thus were excluded by the system, which resulted in many gaps, otherwise, the number would have been even higher. Even so, every detail was crystal clear, as if it were real. He immediately began cross-referencing with the technical manual, and sure enough, no metal part was missing. "Reorganize!" With millions of parts, just searching would be a challenge, but luckily he was familiar with several thick technical manuals. Chen Fei promptly reorganized some parts according to modular assemblies, combining many parts together and naming them uniformly, exactly like the classifications in the manual. As a result, the number of parts items immediately decreased significantly, and each item also had added remarks. Physical Evolution Database (102), categories: Cold Weapons (7), Tools (95), Parts (339)/management... This meant that if the "Big Mouth Monster" ever missed a part, Chen Fei could conjure it up out of thin air to fill in temporarily. If one were to expand their thinking a bit, Emmm... Wouldn''t the original Chekhov Big Bear''s factory-issue AK have a solution now? Chen Fei''s mood immediately improved. "''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron, return to base, man-portable air defense missiles are ready!" The voice of the female executive manager suddenly sounded on the communication channel. In the midst of an unprecedentedly large free-for-all, Aircrew Base 911 still couldn''t escape unscathed. Ground-based radar suffered strikes and could no longer enhance the combat capabilities of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. At the same time, the dense formation of air defense firepower systems and missiles were all destroyed. Even two spare "Big Mouth Monsters" acting temporarily as mobile air defense missile launchers were successively blown up. Luckily, the mechanics operating within the cockpits escaped quickly, or they would have also faced a calamity. After some preparations, the female executive manager Hanna Gagel organized a team of veterans, shouldering man-portable air defense missiles, temporarily setting up a ground trap for the few remaining fighters of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron. - Chapter 128: Section 128 - Starving to Death Explore more stories at M-V-L A combat bomb locked onto the "Big Mouth Monster" fleeing in panic, catching up at a speed at least six times that of its prey. Boom!~ A fireball blossomed in the sky. "Damn, my grandson, I''ve avenged you!" Clap! Yamada Yuhu brought his hands together inside the cockpit, his eyes brimming with tears as he bowed his head in sorrow. To ensure the only remaining combat bomb had a one hundred percent chance of hitting, he had entangled with the enemy for a long time and finally lured the enemy aircraft into the inescapable zone of the programmable close-range combat bomb, striking it with one hit. They had agreed to meet in the netherworld, but now he could only make my grandson wait a few more decades. Yamamoto Yuhu would definitely keep the appointment, without fail. - Near the Aircrew Base 911, two fireballs exploded in the air one after another. Squadron Leader Chekhov from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron played a small trick by pretending to come to the rescue of Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irine Rusios, abandoning his current opponent and turning to chase the "Big Mouth Monster" that was after aircraft number 212. Another "Big Mouth Monster," chased down like a dying dog, didn''t seize the chance to flee. Instead, thinking it could take advantage of the situation cleverly, it didn''t realize that a mantis stalking a cicada was unaware of the oriole behind. On the ground, at least ten man-portable air-defense missiles were set up in a "pocket" formation. Ten missiles against two turboprop aircraft¡ªit was like child''s play, wasn''t it? Squadron Leader Chekhov''s MiG Aircraft and Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irine Rusios''s turboprop aircraft dove into the "pocket," veering left and right at full speed the moment they entered. The two enemy aircraft that had been decoyed along the way met head-on with the man-portable air-defense missiles launching into the sky, with two fireballs exploding almost simultaneously. This outcome was not surprising at all. - Suspended under a parachute, Chen Fei was frantically buying in the system''s Skill Shop. He just couldn''t believe it, why is the laser so difficult to get? Magnetic Field Management Component: 100 Energy Points (generates magnetic force, polarity reversal) Isn''t it just 100 energy points? Buy!~ Energy Points: 697/5000 Magnetic Field Management Component | Impossible (lacking Super Capacitor) Super Capacitor (upgradable): 500 energy points | power storage time no more than 24 hours (* ?¡´ ?) Keep going, today I''m going all-out on spending, won''t stop until it''s all gone. Energy Points: 197/5000 Super Capacitor Level 1 (next level needs 100 energy points) | power storage time no more than 24 hours | not usable (lacks power management module) The next required power management module came in two types: one was "DC Power Management Module: 500 energy points"; the other was "AC Power Management Module: 500 energy points". It was completely uncertain which one it was. If right, it would only cost 500 energy points, if wrong, it would require a thousand energy points. Now with only 197 energy points in hand, where to get the missing 303? ( ?Ãó ?) Can I no longer play happily?! One after another, the combat airplanes were shot down, plummeting to the ground with thick smoke trailing behind, or even exploding into pieces, turning into a rainstorm of fire. The few parachutes that managed to safely land were very scant; many more were doomed along with their planes before they could even eject. "The Merman Brothers Consortium and Apocalypse Defense Group started a corporate war. Apocalypse Defense took several hits and chickened out. The Aircrew Base 911 didn''t chicken out, got besieged by several neighboring aircrew bases, and three days ago, we all got into a big fight, uh, I got shot down." As he digested his food, Chen Fei finally recovered some energy. He lowered his head to smell himself, showing an expression of disgust, and continued, "Where I landed, I encountered a pack of mutants, and then had another fight. This smell is unbearable; I can''t even wash it off." The mutants he encountered were a group of insects. It took at least two hits with the white steel crowbar to smash their carapaces. The insects'' colorful body fluids and viscera not only had a lingering odd smell but were also somewhat corrosive, having eaten away at Chen Fei''s clothes until they were tattered and worn. It wasn''t until the following day that he had decimated over a thousand of these mutated insects, swinging the crowbar countless times. Yet to the swarming insect horde emerging from the ground, this was still just a small fraction; the number of these mutants was frighteningly large. In the end, it wasn''t that Chen Fei had completely exterminated these mutants, but rather they realized they had encountered a tough and ruthless opponent, and a huge mass burrowed back into the ground, disappearing without a trace. Once he finally got away, Chen Fei found a water source and forcefully rinsed for several hours, yet he was unable to wash off the stench clinging to him. "Mutants have appeared again?" Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t help but worry. This mountain school and the nearby Patan Village had never been threatened by magical beasts and mutants roaming in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, all thanks to the round-the-clock patrols by Aircrew Base 911. Any slight hint of these creatures was met with turboprop aircraft from Aircrew Base 911 operating under the principle of ''better to kill wrongly than to let one go''; they would pursue to the bitter end, never skimping on ammunition. Compared to saving a bit of cost, letting discovered beasts and mutants run amok could affect the entire base''s annual contract and bonus money ¨C that was a substantial amount of cash. The military contractors of the contracted base were counting on this money as a base salary, so not a penny could be lost. "Yes, that''s right. Oh, I need to borrow a phone." Chen Fei slapped his forehead, finally remembering to report the situation about encountering a mutant species to the base promptly. His phone was still at the aircrew base, and the communication equipment he had ejected with was eaten by those insects. Such a sturdy aircraft seat, once wrapped in the jaws of the mutant insects, was immediately crushed into pieces, chewed up completely, not even sparing the parachute. These insects would eat anything. "No problem!" Teacher Shen Fei hurriedly took out her phone, logged out of her personal account, and handed it over. Chen Fei signed into his own account and found Manager Hanna''s number, then dialed it. Thanks to dragging the WIFI signal all the way from Aircrew Base 911, the nearest antenna dish was aimed directly at the school, with full signal strength, making phone calls a breeze. "Chen Fei, where are you? Are you back?" Manager Hanna Gagel was both shocked and elated when Chen Fei, who had been missing for three days, suddenly called. After an unprecedented aerial battle three days ago, only three aircraft from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron returned intact; three pilots died in action, the others were shot down, four pilots critically wounded, two pilots lightly wounded, three pilots landed safely, and one pilot went missing. The missing person was Chen Fei. Aircrew Base 911 had dispatched six large tricycles to search the area where the signal was lost for two days without finding so much as a hair. Just when everyone thought that this rookie was truly done for, Chen Fei managed to call back. Where on earth had this guy run off to? "No, I''m at Teacher Shen Fei''s school; there''s a situation I need to report." Chen Fei certainly understood the anxious tone in the executive manager''s voice. The aircrew base must have been frantically searching for him, and if he didn''t make this call soon, he reckoned that his personal accident insurance and war pension would be processed. "Alright, go ahead!" Hanna Gagel immediately regained her composure. Rookie Chen Fei''s safety meant that Aircrew Base 911 had regained a combat pilot. "I''ve discovered..." ... - Chapter 129: Section 129 - Base Collapse After finishing the call with the female executive manager inside the Aircrew Base 911, Chen Fei''s face turned grave as he put down the phone and logged out of his personal account, handing the phone back to Teacher Shen Fei. "What happened?" Shen Fei noticed the change in Chen Fei''s emotions. "The mutant colony broke through Aircrew Base 912 and ate everyone," Chen Fei glanced at the Patan Elementary School children playing in the yard and said, "they ate everyone." "What?" Shen Fei felt her hair stand on end. The destruction of an aircrew base and the complete consumption of everyone there was an unimaginable, horrifying scene. Compared to the cross-species invasion of Cangqiong Star''s magical beasts, the threat of mutants was even greater, currently the No. 1 biological disaster on Blue Star. Although the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area now is full of desolate mountains and scattered natural villages, thinly populated and underdeveloped, lagging far behind the times compared to the civilized society outside, it seems to still be stuck three or four decades in the past. But thirty years ago, it was broad and even flourishing for a time. The most famous of these was Gem Valley. At its peak, it was a large town with nearly one hundred thousand people, incorporating agriculture, livestock farming, mining, light industry, heavy industry, and even very advanced electronic technology. Despite being small, it had everything necessary, it lacked nothing. However, it was suddenly struck by a mutant disaster, triggering a massive retreat. After everyone was forced to leave, the completely desolate Gem Valley now only showcased a post-apocalyptic scene of ruins, with only occasional film crews coming to shoot scenes. It has never recovered its former glory. Mutants born from nuclear radiation erupted several times, and it was not easy to completely eliminate them, especially the long-term cost of cleanup that would give any sovereign nation a headache, a big effort for a small return. Therefore, those few and far between mutants that occasionally popped up were left to the newly emerged Private Military Contractors, establishing a network of bases around the world, patrolling routinely, and regularly exterminating them, keeping the mutant populations in check so that, over time, they would naturally dissipate. The mutants had always been the target of clean-up, never before had there been a counterattack on an aircrew base; not only was it unheard of, but it was also shocking to hear. Discover more stories at M-V-L "It must have been a lack of manpower that allowed them to penetrate our defenses," Chen Fei picked up his White Steel Crowbar and weighed it in his hand, comparing it mentally. One strike from him was comparable to a close-range light weapon''s shot, which would require two hits to penetrate armor, meaning that light weapons were hard pressed to be effectively suppressive. In a sudden attack, an aircrew base that had lost its airborne strength would indeed find it difficult to withstand the overwhelming assault of the mutant worm swarm, like a tidal wave. Fortunately, that swarm of insects was headed in the direction of Aircrew Base 912. Both Aircrew Base 911 and Teacher Shen Fei''s school were still safe, but they could not afford to be negligent; it was best to deal with this sudden emergence of a mutant worm swarm sooner rather than later. Not long after speaking with Manager Hanna, a large tricycle flyer arrived near the school, coincidentally landing where Chen Fei had first touched down. This time, he boarded the rudimentary flying vehicle to return to Aircrew Base 911. As soon as he returned to the base, he arrived just in time for the farewell ceremony of the fallen comrades. The sound of gunfire rose again, and flames soared. Aircrew Base 911 had lost three pilots and two security personnel, one of whom had just recently arrived at the base. Chen Fei helplessly said, "Mutant insect fluid and the scent of floral water." The insect fluid naturally came from when he smashed the bugs with his crowbar. The floral water was contributed by Teacher Shen Fei. Mixed together, although the smell was a bit odd, it was much better than before. "You should wash up later, use more scented soap!" Manager Hanna took out a small perfume bottle from her drawer, sprayed it a few times into the air, and felt slightly better afterward. Then she took out a bottle of wine and two wine glasses from under her desk, poured them full, and pushed one glass towards Chen Fei, signaling him. "It''ll probably take a week to get rid of the smell, thanks!" Chen Fei watched as the female executive manager filled the glasses and then nodded, unceremoniously picking up his wine glass. Drinking buddies are strangers at first but soon familiar. He sipped lightly, savored the taste, and said, "The wine is rich, very rich." "It''s Bordeaux dry red, last year''s new wine, irradiated with nuclear radiation for half a year. It tastes like it''s four or five years aged. Hmm, take a look at this!" Hanna Gagar wasn''t very satisfied. This was just a consumer-grade wine. She took out a tablet, swiped it a few times, and handed it to Chen Fei. Irradiating with nuclear radiation, of course, would not mutate the wine or contaminate it with radiation; it only accelerated the aging process. However, the subtle changes in taste brought about by this type of aging were limited; it wasn''t like one could catalyze a century-old wine quality just by irradiation. A connoisseur could still detect a slight imbalance in taste. The best method is still to let time do its job. Slow, natural aging is the best way. Shortcuts like nuclear radiation are ultimately too eager for quick results. "This is..." Chen Fei saw the video that Manager Hanna swiped up on the tablet. There appeared on the screen mutant insects he was familiar with, not just one type. He had hammered at least four types of insects with his crowbar, some with big latches, some with super thick shells, some covered in spikes that moved as fast as flying, and another kind that actually could fly. These insects swarmed into a base like a tide, and the crisscrossing web of fire and explosions, while fierce, were like pebbles thrown into a pond, causing only ripples that were quickly swallowed by the tide of insects. At least ten thousand insects surged in one push and occupied the entire base. Many people didn''t even have time to run, lacking even the capacity to resist, and disappeared into the mouths of these insects, Even hiding in the underground air-raid shelters was useless. The insects somehow dug into the shelters, driving or dragging people out to feast on them. In the end, not a single living person was left in the entire base, inside or out. The video footage, derived from various cameras and edited, displayed from multiple angles the entire downfall of the 912 Aircrew Base. After the video ended, Chen Fei watched it again before putting down the tablet, sighing deeply, "912 is really unlucky." All the base''s fighters had taken off, but they were completely defeated in the battle against the 911 Aircrew Base. Bereft of air power, the 912 Aircrew Base, relying only on its meager ground fire, was utterly incapable of resisting such a frenzied surge of insects. If they had had two fighter jets, or even just one equipped with a large-caliber incendiary bomb or cluster bomblet, they wouldn''t have fallen so quickly and could have inflicted heavy damage on the swarm. "Now, with only nine pilots and five fighter jets left at 911, is there any way to stop these insects?" Seeing so many insects, Hanna Gagar was quite nervous. She decided to probe Chen Fei''s opinion, as he was a team member of "Genuine Fragrance" and had also dealt with those insects. - Chapter 130: Section 130 - Biological Samples The area overrun by the mutant worm swarm now only had the Aircrew Base 911 still capable of launching assaults. The four surrounding bases were destroyed, one of which was overtaken with no survivors. Therefore, the responsibility to eradicate the mutant fell squarely on the shoulders of Aircrew Base 911. Corporate wars were corporate wars, but the essential duty couldn''t be forgotten¡ªit was a matter of principle and righteousness. Chen Fei reminded, "There are still eight gyroplanes left!" After scavenging a bargain at Aircrew Base 909 and combining it with their own inventory at Aircrew Base 911, even if they couldn''t assemble more ''Big Mouth Monster'' turboprop aircraft, cobbling together a few ''tricycles'' posed no issues at all. The only issue was that ''tricycles'' had relatively lower defense, slower flight speed, less agility, and less carrying capacity compared to turboprop aircraft, but the basic transport ability was still sufficient. They could be equipped like armed helicopters, hanging two 12.7 mm caliber machine guns and either two rocket nests or two 100 kg class aerial bombs on each side without any problem. Even though there were flying species among the mutant worm swarm, no matter how fast they flew, they couldn''t catch up with the gyroplanes, as in nature, creatures capable of flying faster than 300 kilometers per hour were exceedingly rare¡ªsuch experts of flight were the product of thousands of years of natural selection and evolution, with the chances of mutations induced by nuclear radiation being minuscule. So these gyroplanes cobbled together by Aircrew Base 911, were quite suitable for hit-and-run harassment missions where they drop bombs or fire a few shots and then scoot. The current count of eight gyroplanes was just right; any more would be uneconomical, especially since the engines used in gyroplanes constituted the major cost component. After some thought, Chen Fei then said, "It would be best to request two ''Dragon Slayer Missiles'' and a high-yield Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bomb." Known as the ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile could rival a mini-nuclear weapon, not just for killing dragons, but also for wiping out other targets with ease. The Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bomb was also extremely effective¡ªworking in tandem with the ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' the former handling underground targets, and the latter taking care of the surface. "Is it really necessary?" Upon hearing ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' the female executive manager couldn''t help but feel her scalp tingle. The current plight of Aircrew Base 911, along with the parent company Apocalypse Defense Group, if traced back to its roots, had to blame Chen Fei''s rash actions¡ªa ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' had almost led them to mutual annihilation, subsequently drawing the attention of industry giants among the top ten. Now amidst the chaos, Apocalypse Defense Group and Aircrew Base 911 were significantly weakened, and even the Merman Brothers Consortium probably had to swallow a bitter pill¡ªthe corporate war was bloody and costly. What was expected to be an easy grab turned into handling a porcupine. The surfacing of a mutant worm swarm now added numerous unpredictable factors to this undecided corporate conflict. "Better safe than sorry!" Chen Fei was merely providing a suggestion to Manager Hanna, which was all the help he could offer, before contentedly savoring the cup of entry-level dry red wine in his hand. The wine, enjoyable enough for personal amusement, could perhaps also be used to stew some beef. Teacher Shen Fei''s school was temporarily closed, and nearby villages were planning to cluster together for self-protection while pooling resources to buy high-powered weapons like grenades, explosives, large-caliber machine guns, small-caliber rockets, and mortars to safeguard everyone''s safety in case of an attack by the mutant worm swarm ¡ª if so, they could at least hold out for a while. In the end, any hope for rescue would still depend on Aircrew Base 911, as that''s precisely what air bases are meant for. "I''ll handle the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' issue. Do you have any biological samples of those mutants?" The headache-inducing responsibility of dealing with the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' used previously had stemmed from authorization provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, whose sources traced back to the Sky Dragon City of Cangqiong Star. The current Dragon King of the Dragon Race was exceptionally resolute and ruthless, mercilessly dealing with his own kind if they stepped out of line. Otherwise, who would dare to lightly deploy a ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' against a giant dragon, risking a long life for themselves? Giant dragons were not like those mutants or weaker magical beasts that could only endure modern firearms without being able to retaliate¡ªif they got really angry, few sovereign nations could withstand their wrath. "It seems so!" Chen Fei thought for a moment, rummaged through his belongings, and pulled out an irregularly shaped, fingernail-sized piece, placing it on the table. "This is a piece of shell, very hard." While playing with the little bird, Chen Fei said, "Start with fifty!" "Eh! You''re going to eat them as meals?" Chef Abel stopped and looked over, puzzled. Fifty salted duck eggs, how could you eat them every day without getting sick of them? "To give away!" "Got it." No need to pick anymore, exactly fifty in a jar¡ªlet everyone have a taste. Twenty minutes later, fifty salted duck eggs were steamed. To avoid cracking them during steaming, the initial heat increase was quite slow. Only after reaching 75 degrees Celsius did the heating speed up. Once out of the steamer, they were immediately vacuum-sealed while still hot, and then sterilized with UV light. The kitchen was fully equipped, even having the tools for canning and bottling. After returning to Xiao Jiu''s nest, having not seen it for three days, Chen Fei suddenly felt like the magical beast crystal core inside had shrunk a bit. With a trace of uncertainty, he weighed it using the kitchen scale and indeed, it was 27.32 grams lighter. Then he placed Xiao Jiu on the scale, and sure enough, it had grown, gaining about fifty grams. Chef Abel really treated Xiao Jiu like his own precious treasure, pampering it with good food and drink¡ªit was bound to gain weight! Time to diet! Chirp? After distributing the steamed eggs, it was fortunate he had steamed fifty; otherwise, there wouldn''t have been enough to go around. Big Brother Xiao and the mechanics of the mechanic group, the pilots of Genuine Fragrance squadron, and the old soldiers who had been out adventuring with him for several days each received two salted duck eggs to sample. He also reserved four eggs for Teacher Shen Fei, planning to deliver them in the coming days when he had a chance, conveniently using the large tricycle. Nowadays, though the Aircrew Base had a few fewer Big Mouth Monsters, it had gained eight large tricycles. The workload hadn''t decreased at all, and only after it was dark did Chen Fei finish his work. Now also half a mechanic, Division Chief Xiao Ming''s stress was significantly relieved. The other mechanics looked at Chen Fei with a little more recognition in their eyes; this rookie newcomer was finally not just a freeloader and could somewhat contribute. Returning to the shed drenched in sweat, Xiao Jiu immediately flew out of the nest he had brought back, fluttering among the plants, pecking here and there. Due to insufficient light, the plants inside the shed were somewhat wilted, no longer as vibrant as before, and despite Chen Fei''s care, a number had inevitably died off, not as lush as before, leaving the shed feeling a lot emptier. Knock knock! The familiar knocking rhythm. "Come in, Manager Hanna." Chen Fei didn''t need to turn around to know this drinking buddy had come over again. "I brought some snacks to have with drinks." The executive manager carried a bottle of alcohol in one hand and lifted a combined meal box with the other. The shed where the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was located had evidently become her secret spot to drink and relieve stress. - Chapter 131: Section 131 - Artificial Mutant Chef Singh was on duty this evening. He was known for his cleanliness habits, and although his cooking skills weren''t anything remarkable, handling simple tasks like unpacking frozen food meant, taste aside, at least there was no worry about food poisoning. The snacks for pairing with drinks that Hanna Gagel could find were limited to cured meats, ham slices, sausages, and at best some curry pancakes. Having Chef Singh to actually cook was really asking a lot of him. However, why was the curry pancake served with a mild chili sauce from Old Godmother instead of the traditional lentil sauce? The reason was that the lentil sauce had been eaten up. Who ate it? Do you even need to ask that damn question?! Chen Fei saw the salted duck eggs in the meal box, exactly two, one for each person¡ªalmost forgetting that they were also particularly suitable as a snack with drinks. He smiled slightly, pretending to know nothing, naturally took the cups from inside the hut, and also brought out a bottle of fruit wine. Since they were drinking buddies, it was only right to share. Unfortunately, although the fruit wine had excellent flavor, it had a short shelf life and could turn sour if not consumed in time. What couldn''t be drunk would have to be distilled into strong liquor to be preserved longer. After volatilization, the flavor and taste would degrade significantly, and one could only say it was passable. "The biology lab tested the biological samples you brought back this afternoon. Guess what the results were?" When playing the role of drinking companion with Chen Fei, Hanna Gagel would completely cast aside her executive persona, speaking as if she were chatting with a friend. "Could it be alien lifeforms?" Chen Fei picked up his glass and took a light sniff. The wine Hanna brought over this evening was much better than the dry red Chekhov had brought during the day. The wine was clear and well-rounded, going down like a bead clear through to the core, very smoothly into the stomach. Such quality undoubtedly came at a price. The drinks that the female executive manager brought over each time were far beyond what Chen Fei could afford on his salary. Some were so expensive that a single sip would cost him a month''s hard work, truly an immense indulgence. But since there was good wine to mooch for free, he naturally was happy to be a close-mouthed and attentive listener type of drinking buddy, opening up for a pleasurable chat. Wasn''t that delightful?! Someone like Chekhov Big Bear, who only knew to clutch onto the Blue Star Er Guotou and guzzle until he was wasted, lacked any sense of refinement. He was only fit to be a drunkard, not a suitable drinking buddy. "Hahaha, alien lifeforms? Hahaha, you''re way off there!" In Chen Fei''s presence, Hanna Gagar became even more uninhibited, shaking her head and laughing heartily with a slap on the small round table. Gone was her usual frosty demeanor that warned strangers to stay away, and that sour face as if everyone owed her three hundred taels of silver. "Did you find anything?" Chen Fei picked up his chopsticks and poked at a slice of cured beef tongue; the reheated cured meat had a fairly standard texture. Conducting an on-site investigation at the place where the mutants first appeared carried significant risks. With two supernatural power users present, their safety would be somewhat assured. After talking business, it was time for complaints. Hanna Gagel ranted about the rotten mess that was the Apocalypse Defense Group¡ªthe infighting management team, the self-serving board of directors, and the shareholders with their ulterior motives that had turned what was once a powerful military contractor into a nervous wreck with plummeting combat effectiveness, a loose heap of sand. It was incredibly frustrating. The abandoned Aircrew Base 911 had annihilated the invaders from four other aircrew bases, and now the once-avoided Apocalypse Defense Group was eyeing to reap the benefits. Disappointed with the Apocalypse Defense Group, Manager Hanna was starting to plan using her inherited shares as leverage to separate Aircrew Base 911 from the group and establish an independent, small military contractor. Even though it meant a fall from a once lofty position of a large military contractor to the last-ranked small military contractor, it was better to be a big fish in a small pond than to be dragged down by others. This matter was still secretly being planned, and Hanna Gagel hadn''t told anyone, not even Chen Fei. In the midst of laughter and complaints, the bottle was emptied and the dishes were polished off. The executive manager didn''t linger around Chen Fei anymore, gave a sign and staggered away by herself. - Early in the morning, a small jet plane descended from the sky, landing on the runway of Aircrew Base 911, bringing engineers from the authorized manufacturer of Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower to assist with the reactivation of the Energy Tower. Before this, citing the wartime corporate struggles and the inability to ensure safety, the manufacturer had refused to send personnel. Only now that the corporate war between the Apocalypse Defense and the Merman Brothers Consortium had temporarily ceased, with neither side having the energy to fight again, did they begrudgingly send an engineer. The engineer, surnamed Ye, had one-quarter Neanderthal tribe ancestry, was quiet, and the type not to let out a fart with three sticks¡ªa typical ''engineer-type'' who didn''t have any care for the whimsical things in life. He only had three responses: nod, stare blankly, "fine." He brought two huge suitcases, one with the ignition device, and the other filled with spare parts, while testing equipment and tools were packed in his backpack. He hadn''t brought any personal life necessities or clothes for changing, clearly intending to come and leave on the same day, never planning to spend the night. Knowing the cause of the shutdown beforehand, after a quick check, Engineer Ye swiftly replaced a few circuit boards, fuses, and display screens. He connected room-temperature superconductive wires from the ignition device to the Energy Tower, successfully activating the management system, opening the restraining force field, and capturing the one-time "Fire Seed" to start the preheat. The reaction modules slowly un-sheathed themselves automatically. The ignition process was as simple as lighting a gas stove. Hundreds of high-energy Laser Beams focused on the one-time "Fire Seed," instantaneously lighting up the entire interior of the Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower. The focal point within the cube reached temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, as the volatile gaseous fusion fuel released by the reaction modules was drawn by the gravitational field, gradually converging towards the focal point, creating a continuous fusion reaction. After releasing several seconds of high-energy Laser Beam, which vanished upon successfully completing its mission, the one-time "Fire Seed" also burned out, leaving no residue, turning into a wisp of smoke. The Energy Tower began to cycle efficiently, generating a constant stream of electric power. Once the switch was flipped, every corner of the aircrew base received abundant electricity, and all the halogen lamps in the shacks lit up, once again returning to a warm and comfortable environment like spring. Chen Fei, who was assigned to welcome and assist, tried to invite Engineer Ye to stay for a meal before leaving, but the engineer shook his head firmly, packed up his belongings, dragged his suitcases back to the jet, and left the Aircrew Base 911 amidst thunderous roars. Their entire conversation hadn''t even exceeded twenty sentences. The thing the engineer talked most about was how to use the casting glue Chen Fei needed for filling bullet holes and instructions for patching up the outer shell, and that was about it. All the effort put into preparing a set of friendly scripts and delicious food and drinks ended up being completely unnecessary. - Chapter 132: Section 132 - Where are you running off to? One of the professional talents previously sent to his niece, an electronics expert and former shareholder of the Apocalypse Defense Group, McAllen Gager, had passed away and had equipped the revived Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower with a circuit protection system and enhanced the shielding at the core. Finally, they custom-made an all-encompassing Faraday cage, encasing the entire Energy Tower within it, and providing thorough protection. These measures weakened sudden strong electromagnetic pulses layer by layer, ensuring that the Energy Tower could continue to operate normally without automatically shutting down for self-protection. After regaining warmth and light, the many withered plants inside the shed immediately flourished at a visibly fast rate, much to the delight of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu. "Jiu..." - The crisp chirping swiftly crossed the sky, now east, then west, but always returning to perch on Chen Fei''s shoulder. Taken out on a rare occasion, Xiao Jiu was extremely excited, as birds belong to the sky and flying freely is their nature. "There''s nothing here?" Executive manager Hanna Gager kicked the rocks scattered on the ground, within a kilometer around, not a blade of grass grew. It was hard to imagine any kind of living creature surviving here. Chen Fei took her back to where they had first encountered the Mutant Worm Swarm, but found nothing, not even a burrow dug by the mutants despite digging three feet deep, as if they had never appeared. If it weren''t for the fact that Aircrew Base 912 to the east of 911 Aircrew Base had indeed been overrun by the Mutant Worm Swarm Chen Fei mentioned, the executive manager might have thought that this rookie pilot had hallucinations after landing, that no mutant species existed at all. Thump!~ A muffled sound echoed. A cloud of dust rose in the distance, the ground shook slightly, and the ground wave spread far across the surface. Followed by another muffled sound from a different direction, micro-explosives buried thirty meters underground detonated sequentially, raising continuous clouds of dust. "We''ve made a discovery!" A technician stared intently at the screen in front of him. The rapidly spreading shockwaves quickly fed back the geological structure, creating a three-dimensional effect. Chen Fei and Hanna Gager hurried over to see a three-dimensional image of an underground structure. At a depth of over a hundred meters underground was a tunnel about ten meters in diameter, its actual length was immeasurable, just the part the shockwaves had identified was already more than five hundred meters long, and the extent to which it extended further was still unknown. Chen Fei looked at the increasingly complete 3D image of the underground structure and couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath, saying, "My goodness, could this be a monster''s nest underground?" Executive manager snapped, "Don''t talk nonsense!" She said to the technician, "Measure a few more points to see if there are any signs of biological activity below." "Okay." The technician was also interested in the underground tunnel but could not determine whether this geological structure was naturally formed or excavated by the mutant species. The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was mountainous and cavernous, with complex geological conditions; the actual situation underground was unknown, and the workload required to thoroughly explore it was far too great for any military contractor to afford. Professionals would handle professional matters, so they had to wait for the ground to be drilled and the micro-explosives placed, which would take some time. Out of sheer boredom, Chen Fei casually picked up a rock, weighed it in his hand, and was about to throw it with all his might to see how far it could go when he suddenly uttered a sound of surprise, retracted his strength, and brought the rock closer to inspect. He seemed to have discovered something, puzzled, he picked up another rock, compared the two, and his expression grew increasingly skeptical. "What are you looking at?" Hanna Gager noticed Chen Fei''s unusual behavior. The machine guns mounted on the large gyroplanes spat out tongues of fire, streaks of red trajectories fired intensely, pummeling the wave of the earth repeatedly with crossfire. Then a series of rockets were fired, blasting fireballs and debris into the air, and the dim outlines of some monstrous bugs were blown out, their pale exoskeletons covered their bodies and blade-like limbs, each bug was the size of a young calf, snapping its mandibles, emitting a hoarse screech. It was those bugs! The scene of the fall of the Aircrew Base lingered vividly, and no one dared to underestimate these fierce, man-eating monsters. Everyone ran frantically toward the helicopters, the veterans following the female executive manager responsible for covering the rear, retreating orderly. Hanna Gagar pushed with both hands, a highly condensed ball of wind flew towards the rolling ground waves. The moment the two forces made contact, a tornado violently formed, swirling sand and stones, revealing the countless bugs in frightening numbers. Putu putu putu, slender-bodied bugs broke through the soil, suddenly opening their elytra, extending their slender hind wings, and emitting a deafening buzzing sound amidst intense vibration. "Son of a bitch! Come at me if you dare!" Chen Fei faced those bugs. He was not afraid of these ugly creatures; a crowbar was all he needed to dispatch them smoothly. Humm humm humm... The flying species of bugs that had taken to the air landed again, their compound eyes focused on Chen Fei, and the rolling ground waves suddenly stilled. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu, fearless as a calf in front of a tiger, perched on Chen Fei''s head and boldly chirped a few times, utterly unaware of what fear meant. As long as its father was there, nothing could scare it. Squeak squeak creak, a strange noise came through. The menacing bugs turned and burrowed back into the soil. "Huh?!" Chen Fei quickly reacted, rushing forward, swinging the White Steel Crowbar. All the bugs were frantically scraping at the soil and stones, burrowing into the ground. Chen Fei threw the crowbar aside, forcefully grabbed a bug''s leg, and desperately pulled it outward. He was still yelling, "Come back to me!" The female executive manager was also shouting upon seeing this scene. "Rookie, come back to me!" It seemed once again a familiar scene was unfolding. Acting recklessly! The irritated bug''s leg kicked out, sending Chen Fei sprawling on his rear, then it wriggled a few more times and burrowed underground, disappearing without a trace. "Come back, come back quickly!" Chen Fei picked up the crowbar again and fiercely dug into the ground, but aside from a pile of loose sand and stones, he found nothing else. The two gyroplanes circled overhead for a few more laps, but besides the completely settled ground, no further sign of the bugs was visible. The technicians and veterans who had already climbed into the cabin of the Z-9 armed helicopter simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. These abruptly appearing monsters not only arrived quickly but also left just as swiftly, vanishing in the blink of an eye. - Chapter 133: Section 133 - Another Type of Insect "Damn it! Let them escape again!" Chen Fei, frustrated, slammed his white steel crowbar on the ground, sending rock fragments flying. Underneath was only thick, sandy soil, not even a shadow of an insect to be seen. A sudden kick came flying, knocking him flat on his face. "Have you got a death wish? Not running but instead chasing after them?" Executive Manager Hanna Gagel kicked the distracted Chen Fei, flipping him over. With such a suicidal tactic, no wonder they say he''s died several times a month. Are you here to scam war pensions or what? The most annoying things are these presumptuous subordinates, no matter how many there are, they can''t withstand such foolishness! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and kicked again. "Not at all! Those insects can''t take a hit. I killed so many last night." Men shouldn''t fight with women, so Chen Fei could only cover his head and endure the beating. A few days ago, with a crowbar in hand, he had left a field of corpses. Yet, the achievements of a day and a night had vanished without a trace, and he couldn''t understand why! Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu flew over, landed on the ground, watched the interaction between the two, then finally realized something. It rushed towards the executive manager, chirping and attempting to peck at her, but it couldn''t even break through the airflow surrounding her and ended up spinning around instead. How much combat power can a "Band-Aid" have? Light-element magical beasts at a low rank inherently lack combat power, let alone a little bird. ¨r(*¨s¨Œ¨t*)¨q Might as well completely ignore it! "These insects..." Hanna Gagel looked at the messy ground in front of her as dust and gravel fell back to the ground, everything returning to normal as if nothing had happened. "There''s something fishy!" The old soldiers, tense and on edge, dared not relax their vigilance. The ground churned slightly, not as loudly as before, and a large mass of black insects appeared, burrowing in and out where the mutant worm swarm had disappeared. "More insects!" Chen Fei picked up the white steel crowbar and casually scratched at the sand, unearthing a dozen or so... black and red insects? Fat and big-eared, lacking wing cases; apart from heads, they were all belly, nearly three inches long, and just looking at them was repulsive. Glancing as far as the eye could see, the ground was faintly visible with these insects moving around, and some of the shattered remains of mutants that had been hit by machine guns or rockets were crawling with these, dense and numerous, enough to trigger trypophobia, at least in the millions. "Seems like... rhinoceros cockroaches?!" The executive manager hurriedly picked out an insect with the tip of her boot, stepping lightly on it and examining it back and forth. Rhinoceros cockroaches, native to the tropical regions of Ocean Continent, feed on eucalyptus leaves, and most peculiarly, these creatures even possess a kind of intelligence. As most insects act on instinct or pheromones and can''t really be talked about in terms of intelligence. Yet this cockroach-like creature could even understand human speech, alien, right? "Indeed, they do look like rhinoceros cockroaches." The technician, who had returned to the ground from the helicopter, mustered up the courage, also examined an insect thoroughly. "I understand. We''ll be careful with both types of insects." Sure enough, Teacher Shen Fei understood the underlying meaning of his words. The insects resembling rhinoceros cockroaches must have some connection with the Mutant Worm Swarm; once spotted, one must be cautious as the Mutant Worm Swarm might appear in the vicinity any moment. "Are you guys well-equipped with weapons? If not enough, I can think of something to help!" Chen Fei wasn''t just concerned about the flustered Patan people; he was mainly worried about Teacher Shen Fei''s safety. If Teacher Shen wasn''t there, he wouldn''t care about the locals'' fate. "For now, it''s enough. The villagers pooled resources to buy two large sniper rifles, four large-caliber machine guns, three hundred anti-armor rockets, ten mortars, ten grenade launchers, four flame throwers, and several anti-infantry directional mines and hand grenades." Teacher Shen Fei counted the emergency purchases on her fingers. The villagers also had numerous 7.62mm caliber automatic weapons, which, when focused fire was applied, could not be underestimated. Chen Fei thought for a moment and said, "Make some more Molotov cocktails; they might come in handy." The high temperatures generated by fire should effectively threaten the Mutant Worm Swarm and the insects like Rhinoceros Cockroaches, considering proteins fear high heat, which denatures them into crispy chicken flavor. "Molotov cocktails, ah, you''re right, I''m on it. Gasoline, sugar, and what else was there?" Teacher Shen Fei tried hard to recall her middle school chemistry classes. Chen Fei reminded her, "Also rubber, white phosphorus..." These materials were very easy to obtain. White phosphorus is a fire starter. This way, one doesn''t need a visible flame to ignite before throwing; just smashing the bottle would cause the white phosphorus to react with air and self-ignite. Even without white phosphorus, it''s just an extra step. However, care must be taken during transport to avoid self-ignition. "Right, right, right, I''m getting on it. We''ll reconvene later. If there''s any new information, please notify me immediately." "Certainly!" Chen Fei and Teacher Shen both ended the call together. Teacher Shen remembered the recipe for the Molotov cocktail, couldn''t wait to get started. The materials were readily available, cheap, and easy to put together. However, there was still an urgent matter to attend to¡ªthe selected campground wasn''t safe. It''d be better if the ground underneath was completely made of solid rock, making it difficult for the Earth Escape Technique-using mutant insects to surface. After returning to his shack, Chen Fei gently placed Little Bird back in its nest, took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and headed to the cafeteria. After dinner, he still had to help Chef Abel. The newly salted duck eggs were unexpectedly popular. Chen Fei and Chef Abel planned to process all their egg stocks, some into salted duck eggs and some into preserved eggs, to add variety to the cafeteria offerings, which was undeniably better than frozen meals. Toting snacks that could serve as a drink accompaniment back to his shack, Chen Fei discovered that Manager Hanna had arrived half an hour earlier than the appointed time. Xiao Jiu''s nest had been placed on the round table for some reason; the female executive manager was peering into it. "Manager Hanna, what''s wrong?" Chen Fei casually closed the door of the shack. Since no one else came and there were no thieves at the Aircrew Base, locking the door made no difference. Inside the nest was a Magical Beast Crystal Core that was quite valuable, but... you''re here just to sneak a peek? "Look!" Hanna Gagar withdrew her gaze from the nest and straightened up again by the round table. - Chapter 134: Section 134 - Rennovation Chen Fei, carrying a bag full of late-night snacks, walked over and peered into the bird''s nest on the round table, not being able to help but jump in surprise. "Oh my, what''s going on here?" The demon crystal was still there, but for some mysterious reason, there was a pile of black feathers inside the bird''s nest, almost overflowing. Xiao Jiu''s feathers?! Chen Fei looked at the female executive manager in shock. "Where''s Xiao Jiu?" There were neither mice nor cats in the facility, though there were a few dogs. While dogs might chase mice, they''re not interested in birds! "You don''t know?" Hanna Gagar was slightly surprised, then as if she understood something, a teasing look appeared in her eyes. Chen Fei said annoyedly, "What should I know? What''s up with these feathers?" But his heart started to panic silently. When he had gone to the cafeteria, Xiao Jiu had been curled up snugly in its nest, sleeping soundly. But now, only a nest full of feathers remained. Could it be that some gluttonous creature stripped my little bird bare and then swallowed it whole? I''d beat the crap out of anyone who dared eat my bird. "Don''t worry, it''s fine!" Seeing Chen Fei getting worked up, the female executive manager covered her mouth and laughed. "It''s fine?" Chen Fei looked at the bird''s nest doubtfully, still seeing nothing but feathers. He reached in and shifted a few feathers around, revealing a chubby little body. This is utterly bizarre! Had it eaten something it shouldn''t have while he wasn''t watching and lost all its feathers? And not just a few, but all clean off, turning into a little bald bird. "How did it turn into this?" Chen Fei felt even worse. If it weren''t for the recognizable sharp beak and claws, he would have almost thought Xiao Jiu had been switched out. The little bird''s eyes were closed, its chubby pink body gently heaving with its breathing. Something inside seemed to be glowing, flickering brightly and dimly. He touched it gently, and its body was very hot, almost scalding. "You didn''t know?" The female executive manager became even more certain of her guess, finding it increasingly amusing. "Know what? Uh, do you know why?" Chen Fei looked at her puzzled, as Manager Hanna''s reaction seemed a bit strange, as if she knew something. From another perspective, Xiao Jiu''s condition didn''t seem that bad, he just didn''t know the reason. "Of course, it might have advanced in rank!" Hanna Gagar had never thought that a Low-Rank Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow would advance in rank. Probably nobody but Chen Fei, this fool, would use a High-Rank Magical Beast Crystal Core to cultivate such an insignificant magical beast. Ranking a Pure Light Sparrow as a First Order Magical Beast was indeed overestimating it. Chen Fei was just lucky. Xiao Jiu was one of the rare Pure Light Sparrows capable of wielding the Light Healing Technique, and this Rookie probably thought all Pure Light Sparrows could cast such Light-based Spells! In fact, only one in ten thousand Pure Light Sparrows could unleash the Light Healing Technique. "Barrels?" Chen Fei eyed the glass bottle, keenly catching the keyword. Barrels and bottles are completely different; only rich families store alcohol by the barrel. Poor folks dare not even think about it, dare not think about it. "Having a cellar without oak barrels is a total waste! Here''s to one!" Hanna Gagel picked up her glass and gestured. "Ah, sure!" Chen Fei quickly picked up his glass and clinked with hers, gulping it down in one go, then gasping for air, he laughed and said, "Good liquor, quite strong." It must have been at least seventy percent alcohol by volume, completely different from rice wine. Then he took a bite of stir-fried chicken breast to sober up before asking, "How big is your wine cellar?" The female executive manager refilled her glass and said indifferently, "Compared to my father''s cellar, my personal wine cellar is not very large, just over 3,000 square feet." The most deadly bragging is always the subtle kind. Chen Fei rolled his eyes, unable to understand the world of the wealthy. Once he saves enough money, he too will get a barrel and boast about it. The kind of oak barrel that could kill a bull with a single drop¡ªjust thinking about it makes him drool. Ding, ding, ding, ding... An enchanting sound suddenly rang out beside the female executive manager. But Chen Fei was looking toward the bird nest on the small round table, worried that the sudden sound might wake Xiao Jiu and interrupt his valuable chance to advance in rank. Fortunately, the completely featherless little bird was oblivious, a thin yellowish layer formed on the surfaces of its beak and claws. It seemed, just as Manager Hanna had said, that it was undergoing a complete transformation. "There''s news!" Hanna Gagel set down her glass and took out a tablet from the bag hanging on her chair''s back. Having a tablet during a drinking session with Chen Fei indicated she was well prepared. "Manager Hanna, this is Rembrandt." It was a video call. The tablet stood up on the table, and both Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel could clearly see the grey-haired old man with reading glasses and the laboratory background on the screen. "Good evening, Professor Rembrandt." Hanna Gagel picked up her glass in salute. "Uh, Manager Hanna, who is this beside you...?" Through the tablet''s camera, not only Hanna Gagel was visible, but Chen Fei as well. "Hello, Professor, I''m Chen Fei." Chen Fei, mustering courage, also picked up his glass. He looked toward the female executive manager, seeking answers from her. But Hanna Gagel gestured to the tablet, indicating that Chen Fei should keep watching. "Alright! Let''s get straight to the point!" Professor Rembrandt adjusted the reading glasses on his face, picked up a remote control, and pressed a button. A three-dimensional projection immediately appeared behind him. "Based on the biological sample you provided..." - Chapter 135: Section 135 - Convergence Whether at the Aircrew Base 911 or the higher-level Apocalypse Defense Group, there was never a shortage of technicians who could operate various instruments and perform simple analyses and tests, but true experts were rare, especially those specializing in the biology of mutants and magical beasts. High-end professional research mainly relied on the technical capabilities of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which effectively reduced costs. Professor Rembrandt Hamming was a senior expert at the Committee''s biology laboratory. The mutant sample data collected by Aircrew Base 911 and the live test report of the suspected Rhinoceros Cockroach had all been submitted to him; it was clear he had made some discovery when he initiated the video call so late. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee did not merely oversee the clearing of mutants that emerged from time to time at aircrew bases around the globe and handled out-of-control magical beast groups. It also had extensive research on these two major harmful biospheres, providing tactical guidance and special biological potions to help the various aircrew bases. "...The Rhino Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 seem to have a symbiotic relationship, where the former is a companion organism to the latter, basically that''s the situation. I hope 911 can send the sample entities over as soon as possible, given that a professional lab can conduct more in-depth analyses." Constantly pressing the remote, Professor Rembrandt tirelessly narrated his analyses and research findings. The two new samples discovered by Aircrew Base 911, based on prior database sequence numbering, were named Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 respectively, indicating that these were entirely new species, thus receiving new identifiers, especially the Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01, which was almost the first discovery of this particular type. From various professional perspectives, he explained in depth yet simplified, addressing every point directly without using obscure technical jargon, allowing even laypeople to understand clearly. His ability to explain the esoteric and refined matters in such a simple and understandable manner deeply impressed Chen Fei. This was a true professional, not half-baked like some, who merely use professional terms and jargon to boast their academic levels, putting on airs more than doing meaningful work. "No problem, I will arrange for the plane to bring them to you tomorrow." The female executive manager turned to Chen Fei and said, "Rookie, tomorrow you take the items by plane to the public airport, handle the express delivery, and head straight to Aircrew Base 912 to rendezvous on your return flight." Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Aren''t we still at war?" Going to the airport to send items was no issue, but going to Aircrew Base 912? Wasn''t that under the domain of the Merman Brothers Consortium? On the tablet computer screen, Professor Rembrandt Hamming shrugged his shoulders; the video call then disconnected as he was a researcher who did not participate in conflicts between military contractors and strictly maintained neutrality. The tablet automatically returned to the communication software''s main interface. Hanna Gagar abruptly downed the drink in her hand and, hitting the table, said, "In this condition, can we still continue fighting?" The Merman Brothers Consortium had not won, but Aircrew Base 911 had not lost either. So, there must be a loser, but who? Apocalypse Defense Group, of course! A corporate war had seen three shareholders getting wiped out, with McAllen Gager, Hanna''s own uncle, being one of them. Lacking firm stance, they deserved the loss. The other tangible and intangible losses were even more substantial, not to mention with Aircrew Base 911 increasingly being unresponsive to commands, endangering the industry ranking of Apocalypse Defense Group, almost threatening to drop out of the top thirty, and possibly falling beyond the fiftieth. Years of hard work gone overnight. Hanna Gagar was not as blindly loyal as her father and uncle; the passive and compromising behavior of Apocalypse Defense Group significantly lost points in her eyes, making the small shares she held increasingly insignificant. To properly encase this creature, ensuring it neither damaged the container nor was harmed itself, and needed to be delivered alive to the Global United Defense Committee''s biological lab, besides a sturdy titanium alloy container, its body was also secured, preventing its mischievous mandibles from touching anything. Lastly, it was fiercely threatened and warned. That''s right! This creature wasn''t stupid, with intelligence comparable to a magical beast. Even if it couldn''t understand human language, it should grasp the intent behind the tone of threats and warnings. Six hours later, as the fuel in the auxiliary tank was gradually depleted, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" was finally detected by the airport radar. Directed by air traffic control personnel, he circled above near the airport and waited for a landing slot. Seizing the gap between large airliners taking off and landing, he smoothly landed on the runway. Chen Fei, carrying the securely packed boxes, jumped down from the turboprop, ran all the way to the airport''s express service, and sent the packages. He also sent a package to his family. His personal package contained some gains from his time at work, which were of no use kept in hand. There were over a dozen gemstones left by the elder of the Neanderthal tribe, Barut, and some jade raw stones picked up in the wilderness (authenticity unknown). These weren''t considered valuable treasures; the truly valuable item was the high-purity gold that Chen Fei extracted from electronic products using his special ability, which after refining, was about the size of a palm, weighing about six or seven ounces, enough to make several pieces of jewelry for his younger sister, mother, and sister-in-law, or directly exchange for equivalent jewelry. Gold was as good as cash and sending it directly posed no issue, except for a higher insurance fee. Taking a convenient flight for a personal errand wasn''t exactly using public resources for personal benefit; no one would fuss over the extra fuel spent for an additional kilogram or two. After handling the shipment and turning around, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" was filled up with fuel by the airport ground crew, the auxiliary tank brimming. After queuing for two hours with a bunch of large airplanes and private planes, it was finally his turn to rush onto the runway for takeoff. At three hundred meters above the ground, he was now able to perform the takeoff without any sloppiness. As dusk approached, Chen Fei finally saw the brightly lit Aircrew Base 912 on the dimly visible horizon. Fortunately, Chen Fei had set off before dawn; otherwise, he would have had to rush and would only arrive here in the middle of the night. The base, initially ravaged by the insects, was barely tidied up by the Merman Brothers Consortium after great effort, restoring both power and lighting. Otherwise, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" and other aircraft wouldn''t have been able to land smoothly. The "Big Mouth Monster" had just stabilized on the slightly bumpy apron when the female executive manager, along with several veterans, came to meet him. Accompanying them was a liaison who clearly looked "annoyed." The Merman Brothers Consortium, out of courtesy, sent a liaison who didn''t hide his frustration, expressing it with displeasure, "Manager Hanna, we''ve waited half a day just for a fighter pilot?" He thought some important figure was coming, but it turned out just to be a turboprop. A turboprop with just one pilot¡ªwas that all? No more! It was simply absurd to not take this seriously! "Not only is he the first eyewitness to discover the mutant, but he is also a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user. What did you think?" The female executive manager of the Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagel, saw through the other party''s cunning thoughts and retorted without any courtesy. Never underestimate someone! - Chapter 136: Chapter 136 - Open Confrontation and Hidden Schemes Being the first eyewitness to discover a mutant is no trivial matter, and certainly not something regular folks can casually criticize a supernatural power user for. Chen Fei turned off the engine, and the five-bladed propeller of the "Big Mouth Monster" swiftly came to a halt. He climbed out of the cockpit and sized up the guy next to Manager Hanna with a look of disgruntlement, asking, "What''s this guy saying?" It seemed he wasn''t holding in anything good. "He took you for an insignificant little character, a minor role!" The female executive manager didn''t hesitate to throw this opportunist under the bus. Bang!~ "Ow..." The accompanying personnel from the Merman Brothers Consortium received a kick in the stomach and flew backwards three or four meters, curling up on the ground like a shrimp, turning pale as beads of sweat the size of soybeans appeared and he inhaled sharply, unable to even let out a scream or a moan. "He''s right! I am an insignificant little character." Chen Fei slowly withdrew his foot without a trace of anger¡ªin fact, he wasn''t angry at all! Talking nonsense about the obvious truth! The old soldiers held back their laughter, swaying side to side¡ªthis kid was just too honest. The female executive manager crossed her arms behind her back and nodded in approval, saying, "Well done!" Hanna Gagel had wanted to smack that guy for a while but, out of respect for her status, had felt it beneath her to engage in such pettiness. Chen Fei''s actions were exactly to her liking. "I can''t stand guys like him. Is there anything to eat around here?" Chen Fei looked around. The layout and facilities of many Aircrew Bases were pretty similar, and he was trying to figure out where the mess hall was. He had been flying almost the entire day, and his stomach was growling with hunger. Hanna Gagel knew what Chen Fei was looking for and said, "Don''t bother looking, there''s only military rations here." "Then there''s no helping it!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and then suggested, "How about a military-style potluck? You''ve all had it, right?" A large stainless steel pot sat on a fire, filled with a variety of ingredients¡ªluncheon meat, sausages, meatballs, instant noodles... and some freeze-dried mushrooms and vegetables for preservation, all from military field rations. When these ingredients came together, it was as if a chemical reaction took place, creating an aroma so enticing it was hard to resist. This was no Huaxia delicacy but rather a trashy dish concocted by Goryeo people, still far better than plain military rations. If there were some spicy pickled cabbage to top it off, it would have been even more authentic. "Smells so good! I''m hungry again!" The female executive manager, with her bowl and chopsticks ready, unceremoniously dug in without waiting. The circle of old soldiers was quick to act too, each one vying for food. Damn... Watching the pot quickly emptied to just broth, Chen Fei wished he could shove these guys into the pot to make a true "military-style feast." Finally satisfying his own hunger, Chen Fei observed people still bustling about nearby and asked Manager Hanna, "What are all these people busy with?" After getting knocked away by his kick, that individual from the Merman Brothers Consortium had lain there for a while before struggling to get up in a fit of rage and leaving, and since then, no one had bothered to interact with them; they even had to scrounge up their own military rations meal from the supplies. The Merman Brothers Consortium had lit up Aircrew Base 912 like it was broad daylight, with transport planes constantly arriving, bringing more manpower and resources. Manager Hanna Gagel spread her hands and shrugged, explaining, "They''re still collecting clues left by the mutant and busy repairing the entire base." Someone approached the tarmac, bowed slightly towards them, and continued, "The meeting will officially start at nine-thirty in the morning." "I know, thank you!" Hanna Gagar nodded her head, glad that the Merman Brothers Consortium finally did something reliable. She thought she would have to delay here for another day or two, not to mention that back at the 911 Aircrew Base, a pile of matters was waiting to be dealt with. After delivering the message, the messenger was about to turn and leave when Chen Fei suddenly stopped him. "Wait, may I ask, why didn''t the older gentleman come yesterday?" "Uh... Reggie had a bit of an accident, so I was sent to notify you at the last minute." While speaking these words, the messenger couldn''t help feeling a surge of fear. Reggie Everson would probably have to lie in bed for half a month, courtesy of the 911 Aircrew Base folks. It''s said to be the work of a youngster; could it be the one standing before him asking the question... Hiss! You should know when to stop when you''ve bested someone; you caused the injury, yet you ask like this, shouldn''t you spare a thought for the consequences? "Oh, I see! So, are you going to be in charge of liaising with us from now on?" Chen Fei scrutinized the man, who immediately cringed, showing a terrified expression, clearly in a panic. "Yes, yes! If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave now!" The man hurried off as if fleeing, disappearing without a trace. He was just an unlucky kid pushed forward as a scapegoat; there was no need to put his life on the line. Hanna Gagar reproached softly, "You scared him." "Miss Hanna!" The old soldiers escorting the female executive manager to the 912 Aircrew Base gathered, though some had bruised faces and walked unsteadily. Hanna Gagar noticed something was off and asked frowning, "What happened to you guys?" The old soldiers looked at each other, their expressions awkward and hesitant, none daring to speak. It wasn''t until the executive manager''s expression grew stern that someone finally said, "Last night, a few guys provoked us, and, well, a fight broke out." "Who won? You guys or them?" Hanna Gagar''s face darkened; they had actually fought in secret, and she wondered if they had suffered any disadvantage. The 912 Aircrew Base was a trap, yet she had no choice but to attend. Bringing the experienced old soldiers was precisely to deal with such underhand tactics. An old soldier immediately puffed out his chest and said, "Miss Hanna, of course we won. We took on four each, broke four ribs, two legs, and an arm. We''re hardly hurt, our bones are very tough, cough cough!" He tried to speak boldly but couldn''t help coughing a few times, indicating he too had taken some hits. "A fight? Why didn''t you call me?" Chen Fei closed the inspection panel and walked over. He was in need of Energy Points and figured that getting into a fight might trigger a system task that could pay off. Whether it was hitting people or getting hit, neither was a problem for him. "Hey, Little Chen, we couldn''t disturb you with such a small matter!" The old soldiers exchanged looks; if they had called Chen Fei, they probably wouldn''t have had anything to do themselves. - Chapter 137: Section 137 - Provoked the Elder ``` It was fifteen minutes before 9:30 a.m., and the meeting held at Aircrew Base 912 was set in a huge tent. The organizer was Merman Brothers Consortium, but the attendees were not limited to representatives from Aircrew Base 911. There were also representatives from over a dozen other aircrew bases. The total number of people, including those bases not under the Merman Brothers aegis, was about forty. In addition, there were representatives from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the de facto hosts of the meeting. Without them, Hanna Gagel would have risked her sanity to come here and endangered her life. Even with Chen Fei, the Metal Ability User, she wouldn''t dare to assume she would come out of this unscathed. Representatives from seventeen aircrew bases formed four or five small groups, huddling in twos and threes, chatting animatedly. Some were nodding, others frowning, some couldn''t stop laughing, some appeared smug, and some wore a look of worry, presenting a microcosm of society. Yet the area around Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei was quiet and calm, with not a single person approaching to greet them. Even those not affiliated with the Merman Brothers Consortium and other military base representatives kept their distance. They occasionally cast cryptic glances, filled with a mixture of sympathy, mockery, or schadenfreude, creating an atmosphere heavy with social reality in the vast tent. Apart from Aircrew Base 911, which was nominally still under its wing, Apocalypse Defense Group had almost lost all its aircrew bases and was currently in a state of downsizing with expenditures but no income. Internal strife for power was ongoing and showed no sign of stabilizing anytime soon. Therefore, they did not bother to send any representatives this time, aside from those from Aircrew Base 911. To be accurate, the inexperienced Chen Fei couldn''t be considered a delegate but rather an accompanying person. He was there to bolster the morale of the female executive manager, and as a supernatural power user, he added some weight to the proceedings. Whether Apocalypse Defense Group sent representatives or not made little difference. The executive manager was working with several shareholders and directors to promote the independence of Aircrew Base 911, already beginning to untangle the financial entanglements between the base and the group. - Despite the hustle inside the tent, Chen Fei felt completely out of place and uncomfortable. He murmured quietly to himself, "I don''t like it here!" "Me neither!" The female executive manager also felt uncomfortable. She sensed the alienation and even overt hostility from those around her. With no power comes no rights. If Apocalypse Defense Group had been capable of standing up against Merman Brothers Consortium, Aircrew Base 911 wouldn''t have been in such a passive situation. Tactical victories on a small scale could not cover up the grand strategic failure on a larger one. At least five aircrew bases had lost their entire air combat capabilities to Aircrew Base 911. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron suffered heavy casualties but also established a formidable reputation. They were arguably the toughest fighters in thousands of miles. Even the powerful and resourceful Merman Brothers Consortium found this vexing. Not fighting was not an option¡ªit would mean admitting defeat and losing face¡ªyet, they had already invested so much without return, which was as good as throwing money to the wind. Though military contractors like them had planes, cannons, and armored vehicles at their disposal, resembling petty warlords, they were still inherently business entities. A small loss in business might be acceptable, but a huge loss was unbearable. The daily consumption of resources and equipment, tallied up, could lead to bankruptcy. Just then, a disturbance arose outside the tent. "Colonel Everson, you can''t go in there!" "Stop him!" "Step aside if you don''t want to get hurt!" Two gunshots rang out in succession. The entrance of the tent darkened as a burly man, escorted by several armed guards, burst in. The whole venue fell silent for a moment, all eyes turning toward the commotion, rendering the space deathly quiet. A man of letters is no match for soldiers; with guns in hand, logic doesn''t matter. The burly middle-aged man surveyed the crowd with a sharp, aggressive look, then quickly identified his targets, pulled a pistol from his waist, chambered a round with a click, and made a beeline for Chen Fei and Manager Hanna Gagel. Chen Fei looked around; the closest person was at least ten meters away. When it came to a fistfight¡ªsnap! The burly man''s face twisted in anger, his gun hand trembling slightly. Seeing his own son kicked half to death, the father was naturally furious. Screw whatever damn meeting this was¡ªjust go to hell! "William, calm down. Don''t mess up the big picture." A man walked into the tent, his tone commanding respect without anger. Colonel William Everson, with the gun pointed at Chen Fei, trembled through his body and involuntarily lowered the gun, holstered it, and snapped into a crisp salute. "Mr. Todd!" The person who had just spoken was Todd Phillip, one of the eleven deputy generals of the Merman Brothers Consortium. He dared not disregard the words of such a significant figure. All the while, Chen Fei, who had remained expressionless, now asked curiously, "Uh, may I ask, Mr. William, what do you do?" He had thought the youngster would need to be in bed for only half a month, not half a year. That seemed overly frail. The executive manager behind him tugged at his sleeve¡ªa bad premonition. Why ask such a foolish question at this time? Colonel William Everson, a burly figure, suddenly turned his head and glared at Chen Fei, pointing his finger at him and viciously said, "Kid, remember this: I''m the Operations Director of the Merman Brothers Consortium, William Everson. You''ve injured my son, and you''re in big trouble, serious trouble!" The Operations Director of the Merman Brothers Consortium? Hanna Gagel couldn''t help but take a sharp breath. This meant that the main military force of the huge Merman Brothers Consortium was under his control. The attack faced by the Aircrew Base fell within the jurisdiction of this Operations Director¡ªit could very well be that Colonel William Everson was personally directing and executing these actions. If they''d known about the youngster''s significant background, they should have warned Chen Fei not to kick too hard¡ªthey''d need to give a beating, yes, but not one that would provoke the parents. After all, when you beat a dog, you must look at its owner, let alone when you''re kicking someone''s child. Now they had seriously offended someone. "So..." Chen Fei''s expression changed and abruptly pulled out the pistol from the man''s waistband, quickly pushed it into his hand, pressed down on the barrel, and steered the muzzle toward his own heart. Then he sneered. "So who the hell are you trying to scare? If you have the guts, just shoot here, press the trigger! Coward! Don''t be like your pathetic son, only whimpering away. Are you a spineless fake, old man?" The entire venue fell dead silent, even Todd Phillip, deputy director of the Merman Brothers Consortium who had just entered, was stunned! This was tantamount to not valuing one''s life! "You, you bastard!" Colonel William Everson gritted his teeth, his face turning beet red. But he never actually seemed intent on pulling the trigger. Instead, he tried to retract the gun, but Chen Fei wouldn''t allow it, and the two stiffly locked in a standoff. He flicked the safety off and pushed at the trigger. Bang!~ - Chapter 138: Section 138 - Never Seen Such a Shameless Person Being able to sit in the position of the director of operations at Merman Brothers Consortium meant there wasn''t a single individual who was simple-minded or prone to rash, impulsive behavior. Colonel William Everson, seething with murderous intent as he and his men burst into the venue with guns, had never actually intended to shoot anyone to avenge his son, Reggie. Honestly, getting beaten up and lying down for half a year is completely different from being maimed or even killed. His actions were merely meant to scare the people at the Aircrew Base, hoping to see them embarrass themselves, terrified to the point of peeing their pants, and losing face utterly. From another perspective, it was also meant to serve as a show of force. But he had never expected to encounter a clueless rookie who would attempt suicide without a second thought the moment they disagreed. Especially since he had just threatened the other party, now even if he was right, he would appear wrong. "Ah! I''m dead!" Chen Fei clutched his chest, staggered backwards several steps, then fell backwards. Hanna Gagel covered her face, looking as if she couldn''t believe what had happened and couldn''t accept it, but actually she couldn''t bear to look directly. Such acting was so awkward it gave people goosebumps; if he tried to work in a film and television city, he might only be fit to play a corpse. "No, no, it wasn''t like that, I didn''t, it was him, he did it to himself." As the gunshot rang out, everyone''s gaze focused on William Everson, as if to say, you are the murderer. As the person in question, he was panicked beyond measure. He could not have imagined the young man would be so impulsive, not caring about his own life at all, grabbing the gun, stuffing it, and firing all in one go. Caught off guard, William Everson was completely unprepared and if he hadn''t been slightly alert, he might have reflexively pulled the trigger himself. But now... it was all too late. The pistol, still smoking, lay in his hand, the echo of the gunshot lingering, leaving him unable to deny it. "Quick, go call someone, get a doctor!" Someone shouted, though they didn''t harbor much hope. Being shot in the chest, even if it missed the heart, was likely fatal¡ª the kinetic energy released by the bullet entering the body was enough to destroy delicate organs, causing irreparable fatal damage. "Damn, who fired the shot, what''s going on?" "Damn it! What just happened!" The veteran soldiers from the Aircrew Base forcefully rushed in just in time to see a dazed William Everson, Miss Hanna covering her face, and Chen Fei lying on the ground, motionless, clutching his chest. Uh!~ What was this kid up to now? The veterans were collectively dumbstruck; this rookie was really too much. "Ah!~" Chen Fei suddenly sat up straight. He had played dead. The close-range shot had nearly knocked the wind out of him. He couldn''t play around like this anymore. "You, you-you..." He almost scared Colonel Everson out of his wits. "You shot at me?" Chen Fei bared his teeth, his expression suddenly becoming very frightening, and said, "You owe me a life!" Pointing a gun muzzle at a college student in public, this old guy was even more obnoxious than his son. "But you''re not dead!" Colonel Everson called out in frustration. Damn it, it was really bizarre, clearly he had shot him in the chest, yet he was still able to play dead and come back to life. If we had to be exact with the blame, it would fall on Colonel William Everson for not supposed to have entered the meeting armed, pointing his gun at the other party, and crucially, shooting first, which was the biggest disadvantage since the other party could justify any actions as self-defense. Ultimately, the love-driven Director of Operations had underestimated just how shameless the opposition was, willing to take a bullet just to eliminate his adversary. "Hahaha, it''s just a joke, come on, don''t take it so seriously! If I were to send my resume to your side, would you accept it?" Chen Fei ejected the magazine and clapped his hands together. System: Ding! Absorption of Alloy Body 790 grams, component ratio: Iron 84%... Physical Evolution Database (441), Category: Cold Weapon (7), Tool (95), Accessory (339)/Manage... "..." Vice President Todd Philip really wanted to refuse, but he simply didn''t have the nerve, nor the courage to agree, his face going from red to white. A talent reckless with human life is still a talent; if placed in the correct position, there would be no worry about his uncontrollable nature. The other delegates were shocked by Chen Fei''s shameless remarks. Damn, killing the other side''s director and then asking to submit a resume. Is that even something a human does?!!! Ah?! The late Colonel William Everson: ... It snows! Manager Hanna Gagar continued to cover her face. When the Rookie has no shame, there''s no bottom line. "Hmph!~" After countless thoughts whirled through his head and finally sorting it out, one page of a job application was basically no different than a harsh slap to the face. Vice President Todd Philip grimaced bitterly and walked away. Initially, he had planned to speak at the start of the meeting, but now, he didn''t even want to stay a moment longer. Hanna Gagar shook her head. Chen Fei''s words were a jest from the start. It would have been another matter if he were a temporary contractor, which could be dismissed on the same day, but he was under a formal employment contract; it wasn''t so easy to casually submit resumes elsewhere. There is a clause called non-compete agreement in this world after all; jumping ship isn''t so simple. The tent meeting area returned to calm. Time: 9:30 The representative from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Ahem! Now, let''s begin the meeting! Please, take your seats." The body of Colonel William Everson, Director of Operations for the Meman Brothers Consortium, was carried out. Life ends and tea cools down; for capitalists, while alive, there''s exploitative value; when dead, they''re worthless and just getting a declaration of death in the line of duty is giving face, as any issue that money can solve is not a problem at all. Old soldiers who burst into the tent gave Manager Hanna several hand signals to show they were ready at a moment''s notice, then looked around and finally, under the surveillance of others, withdrew, staying not far from the tent, fully armed and on alert. Most of the delegates acted as if nothing had happened, taking their seats, with only Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar''s vicinity still emptily visible. Delegates would rather squeeze together or add seats than get close to the two. The speaker from the Joint Defense Committee spoke from the stage, but the manager was in no mood to listen, quietly reprimanding Chen Fei beside her. "Rookie, you''re too bold, daring to kill a director of the Meman Brothers Consortium!" Like father, like son, the young deserve a beating, the old deserve death, but you shouldn''t be so blatantly ruthless in front of everyone, Why not just do it behind the back, where it can look decent for everyone? "I didn''t dare!" Chen Fei covered his face, feeling extremely upset. He didn''t know what was wrong with him, suddenly becoming so violent and ready to take lives. Back in the day, he was a law-abiding good boy who hadn''t even killed a chicken. Who would have thought that since joining the Aircrew Base, his true nature was revealed, increasingly disregarding human life. Now that he had calmed down, he started to feel inexplicably nervous and uneasy. - Chapter 139: Section 139 - Intelligence Sharing Chen Fei fell into self-blame and confusion, but Hanna Gagel could quite understand it. "Everyone is born with a purpose, and even more so with special abilities. Escape is not an option; with power comes responsibility, which is the mission bestowed by the heavens." Indeed, any supernatural power user would find it difficult to adapt to the changes in their social role after the initial awakening. Take for example a butcher who suddenly awakens to a healing special ability. After healing someone''s wounds, he''s likely to reflexively consider whether he should dismember a femur to sell, perhaps to make a nutritious soup for them¡ªsuch a fine femur! Logically, there''s nothing wrong with that line of thought, given that skinning and butchering are part of his professional habits. But in reality, such an idea is utterly perverse and anti-human. Especially for rookies like these who haven''t received any guidance or assistance and are non-sensitive to Supernatural Ability Suppressants, the effects are evidently not so good. Hanna Gagel, also a supernatural power user, even wanted to personally mentor Chen Fei for a while, helping him smoothly get through the adaptation period and gain initial control of his powers. She even asked the old Neanderthal Barut for help. But... the old man died in battle, and corporate war broke out. The executive manager had neither the energy nor the time to care for the rookie. Chen Fei was also inevitably pulled into the battlefield, with no time to refine his abilities, and oh, there was also that troublesome Dog System¡ªadding to the headache. Fortunately, his awakened Metal Elemental Psychic Power was heavily combat-oriented, which made him thrive in corporate warfare. He didn''t perish due to inadequate skill control post-initial awakening. However, such barbaric growth meant that even if his powers wouldn''t become uncontrolled, the adaptation period was likely to be prolonged. Seeing Chen Fei still troubled by his "inner demons" and unable to calm his emotions for a long time, Hanna Gagel said, "When the corporate war ends, I''ll give you a half-year supply of Supernatural Ability Suppressant, which should be 12 doses." Under normal circumstances, the effects of one dose of Supernatural Ability Suppressant can last a month. But for someone with a non-sensitive physique like Chen Fei, a dose every half month is at least needed. Time is the best psychological cure, and surely, after half a year, he should be able to adapt to the series of changes that the Metal Elemental Psychic Power has brought to his life. "Does it cost anything?" Chen Fei was instantly no longer conflicted. He almost forgot his debts were still unpaid; he couldn''t afford to add to his troubles. As the saying goes, money talks can hurt feelings, but he didn''t want to have an emotional conversation with that one-eyed old hag at all! "Ugh!" Watching the young man''s spirits flip like the turning of a page, clearly not in need of any suppressants, the executive manager, who had already spoken, found herself in a misjudgement and, with no choice left, said helplessly, "It''s free!" Damn it, it was like feeding a dog! So frustrating... "That''s really great!" Chen Fei clapped his hands together; he loved free stuff the most. The 12 doses of Supernatural Ability Suppressant should help suppress that Dog System. Chen Fei was full of resentment towards the system that suddenly appeared in his mind. "Sigh..." The executive manager, feeling anxious, scratched her head flaking with dandruff. This kid''s arrogance had just been too much, and now, the sudden change in tone caught everyone off guard, and it took them a while to adjust. "...My name is Chen Fei. I had a direct encounter with Mutant BC-2325 a week ago..." Chen Fei was sweating bullets from his forehead, almost blurting out "If you don''t agree with me, come and fight me!" This was just too wicked! He quickly forced himself to concentrate and continued detailing his experience with those mutant creatures from beginning to end. He even demonstrated the evolution of the White Steel Crowbar with sound effects, point, stab, poke, knock, smash, pry... His Bug Beating Stick Technique of eighteen moves had already reached an advanced level, every swing fierce and powerful. The faces of the delegates below paled, and they instinctively leaned back in their seats, silently praying that the hotheaded young man would soon finish his Divine Skills before accidentally smashing someone''s brains out. Scary as hell. With spit flying and gestures aplenty, after more than ten minutes of animated talking, Chen Fei finally felt satisfied and concluded his speech. "We are very grateful for Mr. Chen''s detailed introduction!" the representative of the Global United Defense Committee leading the meeting quickly applauded. A warm round of applause broke out in the tent, filled with the joy of survival. Listening to others costs money, listening to this guy could cost your life! Therefore, he was sent off the stage amidst applause. The meeting continued, and next up was someone from Merman Brothers Consortium to share the latest intelligence and research findings. After the annihilation of Aircrew Base 912, the Merman Brothers Consortium immediately started an investigation, spending considerable man-hours and resources, and to this day, the investigation was still ongoing. After investing so much time and effort, the rewards were indeed substantial, even more comprehensive and detailed than what Aircrew Base 911 knew. Before Hanna Gagel personally led a team to investigate Chen Fei''s landing site, the Merman Brothers Consortium had already confirmed that these mutants originated from underground. Between Aircrew Base 912 and 911, there existed an extremely complex underground space structure, the perfect hiding place for mutants. If it hadn''t been for the financially robust Merman Brothers Consortium purchasing satellite remote sensing services and various geological detection devices, they wouldn''t have been able to draw such a remarkable underground space structure map. Due to the complex nature of the underground environment and the limited precision of detection, the map was not completely flawless, but obtaining so much information in such a short time was already quite a feat. "...according to analysis by the Harrison Biological Research Institute of the American Federation, the gene fragments of Mutant BC-2325 contain characteristics of Hive gene fragments. However, it is currently impossible to determine whether it is a solitary or communal Hive, and hopefully, it''s not the latter." In addition to the biological labs of the Global United Defense Committee, the Merman Brothers Consortium also commissioned other professional biological labs to perform a genetic sequence analysis. The complete gene sequence was sourced from Aircrew Base 911. Even though corporate warfare had not ended, intelligence sharing regarding mutants remained bidirectionally transparent, with both parties holding nothing back. Although mutant creatures are diverse, they can still be divided into solitary and social types, with further classification according to their social structures into categories such as individual, Hive, symbiotic, and associated. A Hive implies a breeding female with a professional role, often capable of an astonishing number of offspring, and a communal Hive suggests that there are at least two such females, with no upper limit, easily forming a terrifyingly large troop. The reason why Blue Star Humans dominate this planet is not only their skill at making and using tools, their establishment of an extensive and complex social division of labor and a brilliant civilization, but also a critical factor is their group numbers. The population base ensures the dominance of humans; if there were only a couple of kittens, even interstellar warships wouldn''t make them the sovereign species of the planet. Building on the latest intelligence presented by the Merman Brothers Consortium, the representative of the Global United Defense Committee steered the meeting to its core issue. "Find the Hive''s stronghold and destroy them!" - Chapter 140: Section 140 - For the Sake of All Humanity, I Enlist The ecological structure of the hive is sufficient to spawn a powerful collective. However, the core of the hive, the mother itself, is often very fragile¡ªa single automatic rifle or a hand grenade might easily kill the mother capable of giving birth to countless mutant creatures. A representative of the Global United Defense Committee hammered home, "We need volunteers to form reconnaissance teams to penetrate these underground spaces and locate the mutant hives!" The situation beneath the surface is simply too complex, fissures and caves everywhere; it is not possible, nor feasible, to plow through them one by one with ground-penetrating bombs. Moreover, the geological structure of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area simply does not permit such tampering; any geological disaster provoked would likely leave the Global United Defense Committee to blame. A delegate raised their hand and said loudly, "There must be mages or ability users involved, right?" It is almost certain death for ordinary people to participate in such a dangerous reconnaissance mission. "Preferably those with space abilities, followed by those with earth, and if not, dark and wind will also do." "Yes, the higher the level of the space abilities, the better. If there''s any emergency, they can return to the surface immediately." "It would be even better if there are specific advanced magical weapons." The underground situation is complex and uncertain; no one truly knows what to expect. The danger comes not only from mutant creatures but also from complex terrain and even the poisonous gas pervading the underground spaces. If utterly unprepared, these deadly threats could easily cost someone their life. "We will try our best to coordinate these," assured another delegate. Even the representatives of the Global United Defense Committee dared not make firm promises. Light, dark, spirit, and space are among the rarer abilities in the eleven systems, appearing in maybe one out of a thousand ability users. The other elements¡ªgold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning¡ªbelong to the natural elements series and are comparatively common in any ability system. As rarity conveys value, ability users and mages with these four types of powers are less likely to risk their lives to join such dangerous reconnaissance missions. The Merman Brothers Consortium did have a dark elemental psychic, but alas... they were taken out by someone from the Neanderthal tribe at the Aircrew Base, the old man Barut. At this moment, the Merman Brothers Consortium had no options left. They certainly couldn''t seek revenge from the old man who had been reduced to ashes. The female executive manager of Aircrew Base 911, Hanna Gagel, sat with her arms folded, maintaining a stoic silence throughout the proceedings. Locating and eliminating the mutants is a straightforward statement and also the duty of all air bases and military contractors. There''s money to be made and work to be done; otherwise, how would one justify receiving generous pensions and huge rebates from arms purchases, not to mention the hefty windfall from collecting biological materials? However, from the start of the meeting, it was clear that Aircrew Base 911 did not fit in at all with these peers, and they simply weren''t playing the same game! So, it was better to keep silent. You play by yourselves, leave me out of it. Thinking this, Hanna Gagel''s eyelids began drooping heavily again. Had she known the meeting would be so boring, it would have been better to go back to sleep. Sleepy... "Manager Hanna from Aircrew Base 911, I''ve heard you''re a wind-type ability user. Could you contribute to the reconnaissance team?" The delegate from the Global United Defense Committee did not intend to let this sleep-deprived, progressively listless female executive manager off the hook, and their gaze turned toward her again. Making trouble, not fitting in¡ªthe representative of Aircrew Base 911 had not left a good impression in the eyes of the Global United Defense Committee. A peculiar gleam passed through the eyes of some delegates, not all of whom were aware that this one-eyed woman was also an ability user. "Ah! Sorry, I''m very busy; I don''t have the time." That same old saying: when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Hanna Gagel could only apologize. The Apocalypse Defense Group was of no use, utterly unreliable; only Aircrew Base 911 was left. To scout the underground spaces was truly inordinately difficult. System: Ding! Mutant Hive BC-2325 located, received +500 Energy Points! Hanna Gagel helplessly massaged her forehead and sighed, unable to bear looking directly. You, this tender green rookie, have only flown a plane for a few hours, more than sixty hours or not? What they''re talking about now is an underground reconnaissance mission. What do your accomplishments have to do with that? Could it be that someone with a big appetite for danger intends to drive a fighter plane underground? What good is that! She really wanted to pin this clueless kid to the ground... The representatives from the Aircrew Base and military contractors at the venue began to realize the significance and couldn''t help but take a few more glances at Chen Fei, to remember this young man with outstanding achievements. The news of a Metallic Giant Dragon falling in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area had caused quite a sensation, and many military contractors were secretly envious of the good fortune of the Apocalypse Defense Group. Its subsidiary had achieved such a great feat, and the substantial profits included in their takings were enough to eat until they were full to bursting. Now that they had finally met the pilot who killed the Metallic Giant Dragon, such a fierce temper was completely justified. It perfectly matched the phrase, "fight fire with fire." However, the representative of the Global United Defense Committee had an embarrassed expression, as he and the executive manager Hanna Gagel were thinking almost exactly the same thing. This is an underground mission, not even a surface one; what is a pilot doing sticking his nose into this? And also a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, is he going underground to mine? A considerable number of Metal Ability Users in society work in the fields of metallurgy and mechanical processing, being Industrial Espers, few of whom survive in the military sector. Not just Metal Elemental Psychic Power, but most supernatural powers stand little chance against modern weaponry with significant firepower. Even if light weapons can be ignored, what about heavy artillery? Missiles? High explosives? Cloud Bombs? Poison Gas Bombs? Directed-energy Weapons? Infrasound Cannons? Electromagnetic Railguns? ... There''s always some weapon suitable against supernatural power users. If Chen Fei had awakened his Metal Elemental Psychic Power before reporting to the Aircrew Base No. 911, he would have turned back without a second thought, living as an Industrial Esper with a regular nine-to-five job, happy and content. With a debt of 5 million Star Yuan, sooner or later he could pay it off; the loan company couldn''t force him to sign a rigid contract with the Apocalypse Defense Group. But now, not only was he increasingly in debt, there was another reason that was causing him a major headache. The tasks from the Dog System were all deadly. This damned system was quickly turning Chen into an expert at courting death. If he went back to being an industrial worker, he might be driven to perform various styles of diving into the roaring steel furnace. Honestly, he didn''t have the guts for that! When compared, machine guns and missiles seemed a bit more lovable. Although painful, Chen didn''t have the slightest desire to learn how steel was made. "Um, could you reconsider it?" No matter what Chen Fei was thinking, the representative from the Global United Defense Committee was treating it as a moment of rashness and kindly offered him a way out, also as a gesture of enlightenment. After all, it was inappropriate! Ignoring the continual imploring looks from the executive manager, Chen resolutely said, "No, I won''t reconsider, I''m signing up." Dog System! I''ve got my eyes on those Energy Points! "Then we''ll give it some thought." The representative from the Global United Defense Committee was almost ready to surrender. Would you, this meddlesome pilot, please stop causing trouble here! - Chapter 141: Section 141 - Leave Early ``` It is always difficult to begin, but the pilots from the Aircrew Base 911 registered on the spot (to cause trouble), which effectively broke the ice, prompting the other military contractors to stop pretending they hadn''t heard. Even pilots, who had no professional alignment with the operation, were eagerly signing up, so if the others didn''t show any interest, they would come across as insensitive, especially since everyone relied on the Global United Defense Committee for their livelihoods. However, even a giant within the top ten of the industry like the Merman Brothers Consortium, only had a handful of Ability Users under their wing, and Aircrew Base 911 had wiped out most of them. Aircrew Base 911 was truly an anomaly, with Old Master Barut guarding the Energy Tower; he was here to retire, counting his days by his fingers, usually harmless to humans and livestock alike, and no one cared about his former identity as a Neanderthal Elite Warrior. With his old arms and legs, even if he could fight, it was doubtful how effective he would be, and his salary wasn''t high, so he was considered a regular employee, not counted amongst the powerful. Then there was the Wind-type Ability User, Hanna Gagel, who came to take on the role of executive manager, a managerial position. Following that was the Rookie, Chen Fei, who had an Awakening of Special Abilities like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. Back then, the Merman Brothers Consortium, convinced they had the advantage, ran headlong into Aircrew Base 911 at the peak of their glory with three Ability Users, took a violent beating, and left with bloodied faces without a place to seek justice until this day. Today, with two supernatural power users stationed at one Aircrew Base, and with an abundance of supplies and plenty of money, this was Manager Hanna Gagel''s biggest assurance in her decision to lead Aircrew Base 911 out of the Apocalypse Defense Group. Even without Chen Fei, with just her alone as the Wind-type Ability User in charge, it was more than enough. You see, not every Aircrew Base, let alone every military contractor, had the luxury of supernatural power users at their disposal. Even the once 27th ranked Apocalypse Defense only had Hanna Gagel, with no second Ability User to speak of. Because it was not easy to support Ability Users, the average military contractor couldn''t afford it, which is why there weren''t many names called out onsite, usually just one or two from each company, and most of them were not even their own employees. It was expected that they would rely on their extensive network of connections, paying a significant price in favors to enlist the help of these Ability Users. The preliminary list of registrations was nothing more than an intention, without even names, and no one could guarantee those Ability Users would be willing to join this high-risk mission. In the end, it had to rely on the Global United Defense Committee to lead and coordinate this reconnaissance mission. As soon as the meeting ended, the representatives pulled out their phones, dialing as they walked out of the tented meeting area, chattering away on calls outside. Executive Manager Hanna Gagel''s face remained grim as she grabbed Chen Fei by the neck and dragged him away. Chen Fei cried out, "Wait, Manager Hanna, let''s talk this over, a gentleman uses words, not force." Of course, he knew his "reckless courage" must have angered the One-Eyed old lady, and he quickly considered which posture to adopt for the impending punishment. "Fine, then. We''ll use words, not force. Come on, join me for a drink!" Manager Hanna maintained her overwhelming aura, without relaxing her grip. "Drink...drink?" Chen Fei was thoroughly puzzled; what kind of tricky maneuver was this? Not beating him up? Just having a drink? He didn''t believe for a second that this One-Eyed old lady would be so tender-hearted, recalling how Chekhov Big Bear had cried out when mauled by Manager Hanna, a sight to behold and quite satisfying to witness. The veterans who surrounded the pair were confused: it was only noon; why were they drinking already? Could it be that the meeting went so well, Aircrew Base 911 came into great fortune, hence the celebration with drinks? Yet looking at both their faces, they showed not a hint of joy. One was restless, while the other bore a dark countenance; some would believe it more likely they had suffered a great loss rather than reaped any benefit. As it turned out, Chen Fei was overthinking it¡ªManager Hanna actually did want to drink. They downed bottles of Big Mao''s 75 proof "Water of Life," and with a few cans opened as simple accompaniments, the meal was complete. "Here''s one!" Hanna Gagel clinked her bottle with Chen Fei''s. ``` He tilted his head back, and with two big gulps, guzzled the drink. He gasped for air twice, and his one eye immediately reddened. "Come on!" Risking life to accompany a lady, a big man can''t show cowardice. Chen Fei braced himself, eyes opened wide, then closed, and downed two big gulps as well, decreasing the liquid level in the bottle by a fifth. Oh boy! Two ounces of alcohol, both downed in one go. "Cough cough cough!" Chen Fei choked and coughed uncontrollably, even tears came streaming down. Manager Hanna was just that impatient. "Manager Hanna, is there an emergency?" Chen Fei immediately became alert and looked past the executive manager. "Departure, back to 911!" Hanna Gagel''s face was calm, seemingly unaffected by the hangover. "This early?" Chen Fei saw that outside, it was still dark. What time was it now? Picking up his mobile phone, he saw it was only 4:30 in the morning. If he hadn''t been drunk for a day and a night, he should have slept for about ten hours or so. Even if going back to the Aircrew Base 911, shouldn''t we wait for daylight before leaving? Executive Manager Hanna Gagel said concisely, "Long night, many dreams! You have ten minutes." "Understood! I''ll pack up right away!" Chen Fei turned and went back into his room to pack his things. Lucky he had freshened up upon waking; otherwise, the terrible odor would have been too bad. Unable to wash his dirty clothes, he stuffed them all into his luggage bag in a rush. When Chen Fei followed the executive manager to the tarmac, the veterans and the small transport plane had already been waiting for a while. Effortlessly opening the cockpit canopy, Chen Fei climbed into the front seat, tossed his luggage bag in the back, and had just fastened his seatbelt when the aircraft suddenly sank. Turning his head, he saw Manager Hanna had also climbed in and casually threw his luggage bag on the backseat out as if it was worthless trash. Chen Fei: "... (My clothes)" You high-born lady, oblivious to the commoner''s plight, some of those clothes could''ve been worn again if they were washed! Hanna Gagel didn''t even bother to give the luggage bag another glance and said in an unfluctuating tone, "Takeoff!" Alright then! You''re the manager, your word is law! Chen Fei helplessly pulled down the cockpit canopy and started the ignition. He wouldn''t let the fact that the other person was his drinking buddy lead him to make assumptions with thoughts like "I thought" and such. Their relationship wasn''t actually that close, so it was better to not be too nai?ve. As an adult, he understood these social nuances. An employee who thinks they can get ahead with the boss because they''ve shared a few more drinks, while forgetting their place, is a foolish child bound to suffer big losses in the workplace sooner or later. There were no takeoff or landing operations on the main runway of Aircrew Base 912. "Big Mouth Monster", after warming up the engine, slid directly onto it, followed by the small transport plane the veterans boarded. Chen Fei steadily pushed the throttle while carefully asking, "Manager Hanna! May I ask why we can''t wait for daylight to depart?" "I''m going fishing!" Hanna Gagel reclined in the pilot seat, completely relaxed. "Uh! Who''s the bait?" Chen Fei was startled. "You!" "Ah!?" With a pull on the control stick, "Big Mouth Monster" lifted its nose and took off from the ground. Following close behind was the small transport plane. The roaring engines of the two ascending aircraft woke many people. - Chapter 142: Section 142 - Following The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had borrowed the Aircrew Base 912 for a meeting that actually lasted only half a day, and it officially ended after the reconnaissance squad registration forms were collected. However, the personnel from Aircrew Base 911 didn''t even say goodbye, and left before dawn, which surprised many people. Although unexpected, it was also reasonable. Aircrew Base 911 and several aircrew bases under the Merman Brothers Consortium were engaged in corporate warfare, and the meeting at Aircrew Base 912 was held right in enemy territory. The fact that personnel from 911 had attended the meeting was already a display of great courage, as there were fears that the Merman Brothers Consortium might take hostile actions secretly; therefore, their hasty departure was somewhat understandable. Felt slighted as if suspecting honorable men of dishonesty, the people from the Merman Brothers Consortium were quite upset. Were they really so unprincipled? "Damn it, how dare they disregard the rules of Jianghu." Hearing the occasional false alarm-like brief notification sounds from the early warning system, Chen Fei knew that his "Big Mouth Monster" had been targeted. There was an enemy at the rear, maintaining a careful distance. At this critical moment, it was highly likely not a false alarm, but rather the cunning enemy using the complex terrain of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area to hang far back. On the way to the meeting, the Merman Brothers Consortium refrained from attacking due to concerns about the Global United Defense Committee, but on the return trip, they might not be so courteous and let the opponent''s executive easily return to her base amid corporate warfare. Any fool knew that if Hanna Gagel could be eliminated, the corporate war could be declared over. Although the Merman Brothers Consortium had suffered countless losses in manpower, resources, and finances, at least they would have regained their reputation. Silver can be earned again. But once reputation is lost, it is truly gone forever, with no chance of recovery. "Don''t take it lightly, 221, begin to separate and see which side they will pursue." The female executive manager in the rear cockpit called out to the light transport aircraft following them. For the daughter of a wealthy family, especially one who''s a shareholder in a military contracting firm, handling guns and bombs was commonplace, and she was no stranger to the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft; she even had more flight hours than Chen Fei. "221, acknowledged, moving out of formation!" The response came from one of the twin pilots, the elder "Octagon" Ethan Karna. 221 was the paint number of the light transport aircraft, which immediately yawed and flew in another direction. The seasoned soldiers in the hold immediately started preparing; after all, a transport aircraft could also be turned into a porcupine, and individual weapons could certainly be useful. There were plenty of hands available within the hold. "Climb, altitude 7500 meters." Chen Fei gently pulled back on the control stick, and the "Big Mouth Monster" gracefully lifted its nose and climbed higher. Manager Hanna''s fishing tactic didn''t care about the unidentified flying objects following them. If the enemy followed the light transport aircraft, then Chen Fei''s 211 would stealthily maneuver around to pounce from behind. If the enemy dared to follow the 211 straight up, that was even better¡ªa clear and open fight was just what they wanted. Although Chen Fei''s flying hours could not match those of Manager Hanna in the back seat, his combat prowess had been proven without a doubt in previous fierce air battles, both in terms of kills and survival rates. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s eye for selecting pilots was also beyond question. "Weapons systems are now programmed." The voice of the female executive manager, acting as the Fire Control Operator, came over, indicating unexpected yet perfect coordination. "It''s just machine gun bullets, what''s there to program...uh!" One, two, three, four¡ªa total of four missiles were howling in from behind. "Here they come! Drop the auxiliary fuel tanks, hold tight!" In the midst of the urgent alarm, the scenery outside the cockpit suddenly whirled around wildly. Two auxiliary fuel tanks, filled with aviation kerosene, detached from the wings, tracing twin parabolas as they fell toward the ground. Flight 211 instantly became much lighter and more agile. Hanna Gagel only managed to let out an exclamation before she felt like she was thrown into the roaring waves. Chen Fei pulled out his specialty move, the barrel roll, to be precise, a defensive barrel roll. There are mainly two types of barrel rolls: one is an offensive barrel roll used to pursue the target and suppress the opponent''s maneuvering space, and the other is a defensive barrel roll to shake off pursuit. His strategic purpose in using the defensive barrel roll was to utilize the maneuverability of the "Big Mouth Monster" to force the enemy''s combat bombs to burn more propellant, shortening their time of stay in the air and ultimately winning without a fight. This was the optimal solution, followed by close-range induced explosion, which carried certain risks, and the least desirable was to use the terrain to guide them into crashing into the ground or a mountain. The missiles were fast, but their turning ability was nowhere near that of the turboprop aircraft, and each maneuver drastically consumed their propellant. In a defensive barrel roll maneuver, the "Big Mouth Monster" used its strengths to exploit the enemy''s weaknesses. "What are you doing, Rookie!" Thoroughly dizzy, the executive manager felt as though she had been shoved into a tumbling washing machine, suffering greatly. "Barrel rolling, hang in there, Manager Hanna, six more seconds!" However, unexpectedly, Chen Fei still appeared composed, his eyes fixed on the instrument panel. At this moment, the objects outside the cockpit were utterly unreliable, even the sense of balance was deceived, and one could only firmly believe in the fighter they were in. Crickle-crackle, the barrel-rolling turboprop aircraft flung out a series of dazzling red light orbs, as if a celestial maiden were scattering flowers. The released jamming bullets not only had a strong infrared heat response but also emitted electromagnetic interference signals. The bright light flame effect also impacted optical TV guidance. Boom!~ One disoriented combat bomb collided with a jamming bullet, exploding violently in mid-air. The other three ran out of momentum after exhausting their last propellants and fell towards the ground feebly, bursting into flames before even hitting the ground. "Did we get hit?" Hanna Gagel felt inexplicably panicked. She had piloted the "Big Mouth Monster," but only for normal flights and textbook maneuvers; she had never experienced such an intense aerial combat before. "No! We''ve shaken off the missiles, okay, I''m getting ready to counterattack now." Chen Fei pushed the joystick forward, and the "Big Mouth Monster" slightly leveled out before starting a diving S-turn to face the enemy. Regrettably, Flight 211 hadn''t reached the ideal altitude. It had previously climbed to only 6100 meters, and the defensive barrel roll maneuver had consumed about 1000 meters of altitude. Now at only 5100 meters above the ground, it couldn''t gain any altitude advantage, greatly reducing the effectiveness of energy maneuver tactics. Both sides were flying mass-produced "Big Mouth Monsters," with barely any difference in performance, so the deciding factors were experience and tactics. Formally trained pilots had their advantages in systematic experience and steady tactics with little exposure, while wildcards had their own strengths¡ªdaring thoughts and actions, particularly fearless, not sparing even themselves when going wild. Chen Fei was exactly the latter type, especially daring in his tactics, often catching his opponents off guard. - Chapter 143: Section 143 - Xiao Jiu Advances in Rank "Locked on!" As Chen Fei''s voice trailed off, the aircraft shuddered and two combat bombs detached from the left and right wing pylons, trailing thick smoke as they charged toward the two enemy planes. The distance between the sides had just closed to 5 kilometers, with the gap shrinking at a speed of at least 200 meters per second. One of the advantages of playing defense for a counterattack is that the enemy was in pursuit; a simple turn would put us face-to-face with the adversary, the speeds adding up in a head-on bayonet clash. Strike first for strength, delay and incur misfortune. The initiative was mine, as was the advantage; an all-out blitz assault was the right move. For missiles, enemy aircraft meant targets delivering themselves, with head-on launch probabilities being higher than from the rear. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft had only seven hardpoints; the veterans had loaded Chen Fei''s aircraft No. 211 with four programmable combat bombs. With two auxiliary fuel tanks attached, only the centerline hardpoint remained empty. Thus, unlike the two enemy planes, the luxury of launching four combat bombs at once wasn''t attainable; the available ammunition for aircraft No. 211 was limited to two combat bombs and 500 rounds for the wing-mounted machine gun. With a slight adjustment to the heads-up display (HUD), he lightly squeezed the machine gun trigger, and a stream of tracer bullets greeted the enemy. Chen Fei didn''t take deliberate aim at the two planes; hence, the bullets covered the space around the enemy aircraft. With missiles in front and machine gun bullets from behind, it was a dire situation for them; dodge or don''t dodge, any action would only allow for a choice of two, making it inescapable. The opposing sides were like knights on a battlefield, initiating a head-on death charge to decide the outcome; in the end, only one could survive. Of course, the enemy planes were not without life; when Chen Fei launched his attack, they naturally began their counterstrike. Flames erupted ceaselessly from their left and right wings, and a dense stream of machine gun bullets trailing tracer pathways whirled out, followed by immediate evasive maneuvers. Compared to taking a hit from one or two 12.7mm caliber bullets, the threat from a combat bomb was far more lethal. Shooting down missiles with machine guns was nothing but wishful thinking. If they had such a skill, Aircrew Base 911''s "Big Mouth Monsters" would have already been downed by them. "They''re... Careful!" Spotting a series of crimson bullet paths coming head-on, Executive Manager Hanna Gagar shouted out. In the midst of her screaming, aircraft No. 211 didn''t make a single move, not even attempting to dodge. The death barrage enveloped the turboprop craft the two were in; dense as hail, bullets streaked past the rear of the aircraft with the nearest tracer path coming dangerously close to scorching the edge of the cockpit canopy, narrowly missing, accompanied by the whistling sound of bullets tearing through the air. Hanna Gagar never imagined she would come so close to death. But in Chen Fei''s eyes, a series of predictive tracer lines nearly grazed the fuselage of No. 211; as long as they didn''t strike the body, the oncoming 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullet rain was no threat. Dodging could actually increase the chance of being hit; better not to dodge at all. It all looked like a Western cowboy showdown, yet with an entirely opposite outcome. One side appeared to be under the protection of the Goddess of Fortune, completely unscathed. The other side shot wild, paying a heavy price. A blast of blood mist erupted inside the cockpit of one "Big Mouth Monster," covering the front half of the canopy. The lead pilot in the front seat appeared to have his head blown off. A 12.7mm caliber bullet hitting the human body would shred it to pieces, and hitting the head, probably not much of the upper body would remain. The combat bombs were swift to follow... A giant fireball engulfed the turboprop, and the disintegrating aircraft plummeted like a fiery meteor shower toward the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area below. Before its feathers fully regrew, the little guy looked even uglier than the ugly duckling. But the Little Bird didn''t care about the stubs of new feathers sprouting all over, still happily flapping its tiny wings, wanting to jump onto daddy Chen Fei like always. The little fellow was just that clingy. The heap of feathers shed by Xiao Jiu wasn''t thrown away; instead, Chef Abel pieced together another Pure Light Sparrow, with black quartz for eyes, red copper as claws, yellow jade as the beak, and plastic for the body. He carefully implanted each feather, recreating the look of Xiao Jiu with such precision it was nearly indistinguishable from the real one. One could never have imagined that the chef had such a crafty skill. Chen Fei couldn''t possibly give Xiao Jiu to him, but having such a specimen with real feathers fulfilled Chef Abel''s wish. Placed in his quarters, he was almost inseparable from it. After successfully advancing in rank, Xiao Jiu''s feathers grew back incredibly fast; in less than half a day, they fluffed out completely, turning it into a fuzzy little ball. Its size grew a bit, and holding it in the hand no longer felt weightless but instead had a slight heft to it. The Pure Light Sparrow, previously at Human Order First Rank, had become Second Rank after advancing. Such rank was exceedingly rare among its species, almost the natural ceiling for their advancement. To break through further, innate talent was no longer enough; external assistance was necessary. Upon learning that Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had advanced in rank, executive manager Hanna Gagel specially arranged a video collection of Light-element Magical Beast casting spells, from First Rank to Ninth Rank, comprehensively covering all types of spells. Magical Beasts have no written language, and casting spells relies solely on their innate abilities and comprehension; video learning is already a tremendous form of aid. Now that Xiao Jiu had reached the Second Rank, it had access to more Light-based Spells and should rightfully take on more responsibility than being simply a pet that constantly seeks affection. Manager Hanna hoped even more that this little fellow could break through to a historic Third Rank for the Pure Light Sparrow species. At that rank, this Little Band-Aid would transform into a lifesaving Big Band-Aid. For Chen Fei, a Third-Rank Little Bird would no longer be a burden but rather a valuable "amulet." Besides eating, drinking, frolicking, and winning hearts, Little Bird now had the additional task of watching videos. Staring curiously at the "tutorial videos" playing on repeat on the tablet screen, Xiao Jiu seemed to barely understand; it seemed unlikely to gain any insight in a short period. It''s just like reading novels; even after reading a hundred thousand, you can''t necessarily pick up a pen and write one to become a novelist. Reading and using are fundamentally different after all. - Just as Chen Fei was estimating that the parcel sent from the public airport should have been out for delivery, he received a call from his younger sister, Chen Meng. "Bro! We''re rich now!" Good heavens, what bold words! Answering the call, Chen Fei responded with annoyance, "Sis, did you win the lottery? Is there 500,000 Star Yuan?" "It''s a package, the package! Big Bro, have you struck it rich? Sending gold and jewels to the house?" Suddenly, his younger sister Chen Meng lowered her voice, whispering, "It''s not from some shady source, is it?" She was both excited and worried at that moment. Several months ago, like everyone else in the family, the second brother was broke to the core, becoming a debtor with millions in debt. But now, Chen Fei suddenly sent gold and gemstones to the house, which genuinely alarmed Chen Meng, who had just received the package and opened it herself. Before she could even tell their parents, she hurriedly made the call, afraid that her second brother had done something terrible. - Chapter 144: Section 144 - The Final Reconnaissance List ``` "That''s not how it is, the colored gems were left to me by an elderly person, they''re not anything high-end. The jade was picked up in the mountains, and the gold was extracted from abandoned electronic products. There''s nothing ill-gotten about any of them. Tell mom that the gold and gems can be used to make some jewelry for you, mom, and sister-in-law, or you can wait and exchange them for cash." Chen Fei clarified the origins and intended use of the items in the package. All together, they were worth at most two hundred thousand Star Yuan. Apart from the gold which could be converted to cash directly, it would take some effort to liquidize the other items. To think of getting rich off these items was pure wishful thinking. "Eh? Bro, how are you making so much money over there?" Chen Meng was very surprised. As a brand-new recruit at the 911 Aircrew Base, her second brother was far from being assigned any lucrative posts. Yet, he suddenly sent back these valuable items. It seemed like he hadn''t earned little! "Of course, I took on four part-time jobs, so naturally, I''ve been earning quite a lot more." Chen Fei counted off on his fingers: mechanic, pilot, kitchen handyman, and guard at the Energy Tower. The combined salary from these four positions meant that paying off all his debts was just a matter of time. "Won''t that be very tiring?" His younger sister began to worry. It was her own naivete and too easily trusting others that had brought trouble to the family, forcing her second brother Chen Fei to drop out of school and go to a distant place to work and pay off debts. Chen Fei replied with a smile, "It''s alright, I have food, drink, and sleep, and there''s not much to spend money on. The work is quite relaxing." The part-time job schedules were managed perfectly to avoid any conflicts. In such a remote and desolate place, there weren''t many recreational activities anyway; it was better to spend more time working. "Second brother, take good care of yourself!" Little sister Chen Meng suddenly began to cry. She resolved to study hard, and once she graduated, she would make a lot of money to give her second brother Chen Fei a better life. "Mhm, no worries." After chatting with his little sister for a bit, Chen Fei hung up the phone. As soon as he ended the call, Little Bird flew over. "Jiu!~" Chen Fei''s world brightened up, and all he could see was a pure white. Well, this was getting a new skill, "Flashlight" (Human Order Second Rank "Light Burst Flash"), a boon for photography enthusiasts. He rubbed his eyes continuously, unprepared for the sudden burst of light that caught him off guard and left him flash-blinded. "Jiu!" The whole world flashed again for a moment. Chen Fei covered his eyes with one hand while fumbling around with the other, "Where are my sunglasses?" However, not only did the final list include Chen Fei''s name, but it also unexpectedly contained Hanna Gagar''s name. The executive manager had not wanted to get involved with the reconnaissance mission at all, but times had changed, and there was a new development. Merman Brothers Consortium, through other military contractors as intermediaries, brought a message that if manager Hanna and Chen Fei were to participate in this reconnaissance mission, then Meman Brothers would be willing to declare an end to the corporate war and call a truce. This agreement would be certified and underwritten by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, ensuring that after manager Hanna entered the underground, Meman Brothers Consortium would not betray her trust by attacking when the Aircrew Base was headless during the 911 crisis. The actions of Meman Brothers Consortium were in complete accordance with business rules¡ªmilitary contractors are businessmen, not sovereign states; they cannot afford to fight to the bitter end, wrecking everything. If a business action is known to be unfeasible, it''s wise to cut losses in time. Despite casualties and asset losses on both sides during the corporate war, with an offered way out, they could immediately stop "bleeding money" and return to profitability, significantly reducing operational pressure. The reason Merman Brothers Consortium approached the Aircrew Base with the message instead of the nominal superior, Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, was precisely because they knew that the headquarters, immersed in a quagmire of power struggles and profit grabbing, was embroiled in infighting and dragging its heels, making it impossible to respond correctly in a timely manner. From another perspective, it also amounted to recognizing the status and strength of the 911 Aircrew Base. This was a dignity earned through battle, and it naturally deserved corresponding respect. The Merman Brothers Consortium also had talents, who, through some of the actions taken by Hanna Gagel, deduced quite a few things and vaguely guessed her intentions. Rather than let the beleaguered Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters make decisions, it was much more straightforward to deliver the message directly to the stakeholders at the 911 Aircrew Base. The female executive manager hesitated for a long time, and after much consideration, she eventually had no choice but to agree. After all, the situation was stronger than people; the on and off switch of this corporate war had always been in the hands of this industry heavyweight ranked in the top ten. No matter how defiantly one proclaimed, "War starts when the enemy says so, but it ends when we say so," such bravado was utterly useless. The 911, only a small aircrew base and not even a military contractor, lacked both the qualifications and strength for equal dialogue with the adversary. The Apocalypse Defense Group, which should have given its full support, had been of no help from the beginning to the end. If it weren''t for some shareholders and directors helping overtly and covertly, headquarters might even have committed some foolish actions that would drag them down. The isolated and unsupported 911 Aircrew Base could not outlast the Merman Brothers Consortium, ranked eighth in the industry¡ªthis was the stark reality. Despite the opponents not gaining any advantage in the previous battles, even ending up battered and heavily damaged, if the fighting continued for a few more rounds, it would be the turn of the 911 Aircrew Base to be unable to weep. The most capable "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had only twelve fight-ready pilot airmen left besides the twin turboprop aircraft pilots, and this included the three "Scavenger" helicopter pilots. Out of these twelve pilots, half were still nursing injuries. If each pilot were to fly a turboprop aircraft, they could only bring out 90% of the "Big Mouth Monster''s" combat effectiveness. To achieve 100%, they would need two pilots working in perfect tandem. Yet, a shortage of pilots was not the worst part¡ªonly five A-39B "Big Mouth" light turboprop attack planes at the 911 Aircrew Base were able to take off smoothly. That was after depleting all spare part inventories and the gains received from the 909 Aircrew Base. The mechanics had wracked their brains but couldn''t assemble another "Big Mouth." There were still four MiG-28 jet fighters, but the techniques and tactics of flying a jet were completely different from those of a turboprop, and only Squadron Leader Chekhov could fully control and form combat effectiveness with them. Originally when the Apocalypse Defense Group chartered the "Phantom Cube-366MAX" Heavy Transport Battleship "Luo Jing Number," it brought along a massive amount of materials. But they never intended to engage in corporate warfare. The standard cargo containers'' stock of jet and turboprop parts was enough to ensure regular usage at the 911 Aircrew Base for seven to eight years. However, the parts were depleted in just a few battles against the Merman Brothers Consortium, leaving the rest only suitable as repair parts and not enough to assemble a new fighter plane. Faced with such a dire situation, the female executive manager had to bow to reality and accept the proposal of the Merman Brothers Consortium, reaching a deal to cease the corporate warfare. Hanna Gagel was certainly well aware that this proposition of theirs was killing two birds with one stone. Even with the protection of a space series ability user and a Mage God, there was no absolute safety. The ferocity that the Mutant BC-2325 horde had shown when sweeping through the entire 912 Aircrew Base would be amplified in their subterranean home territory. The Merman Brothers Consortium probably hoped that both she and Chen Fei would perish underground during this reconnaissance mission. Without its two supernatural ability users, the 911 Aircrew Base would become a toothless tiger, making the corporate war irrelevant whether it continued or not. - Chapter 145: Section 145 - A Coffin Board for Everyone When Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel set foot in Reconnaissance Camp No. 2, formally fulfilling their trade promises, the Merman Brothers Consortium subsequently announced the end of the corporate war. All parties expressed their welcome, since amiable negotiations lead to prosperity, while fights to the death only result in a host of bad debts. The happiest of all was not the Aircrew Base 911, but the still chaotically embroiled Apocalypse Defense Group. However, their troubles were far from over. Dozens of shareholders had split into four factions, each having long since torn the veil of feigned comradery, stirring up chaos through the board of directors which rattled the entire company. Even now, with external threats gone, they did not consider stabilizing the company anew, but rather intensified their internal feud even more fiercely. Viewed from another angle, the Apocalypse Defense Group had long been fraught with hidden dangers and deep contradictions, which, even without this corporate war, were bound to erupt completely one day. Had it not been so, the entire corporate group should have united to face the Merman Brothers Consortium with combined strength, and even if they could not win, they should have been able to knock out a tooth or two, ensuring the enemy did not get off lightly. A large military contractor ranked twenty-seventh in the industry, if determined enough, could certainly teach a painful lesson to a behemoth ranked eighth, causing financial distress that could last for years. The Global United Defense Committee identified over three thousand entrances leading underground in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, of which about seven hundred were suitable for human entry, in high mountains, hills, valleys, and flatlands alike, almost everywhere one could find these caves leading underground. During wartime, these caves were the best hiding places for the local guerrillas, with the then-modern firearms having little effect, especially during the years of the massive mutant outbreaks, which took tremendous effort to clear most of the accessible caves. Still, a very small portion of the caves, situated in remote and perilous locations, have yet to be stepped foot in by humans. About forty-three cave entrances were located in the areas frequented by Mutant BC-2325, hence six temporary reconnaissance camps were established, forming a total of fifty-seven reconnaissance squads, some of which were mobile reserve squads tasked with search and rescue to handle emergencies. The operation led by the Global United Defense Committee was conducted with frighteningly high efficiency. In less than ten hours, a fully equipped camp rose from a wasteland, with modular buildings providing each person with their own room, the entire camp capable of accommodating at least five hundred people. Those participating in the reconnaissance operation could come empty-handed. The well-funded Joint Defense Committee had prepared everything for everyone, from socks and bedding to weapons and ammunition, everything included. Right next to the registration area, an old man with graying hair pulled out a large box from a neatly piled "high wall", placing it effortlessly in front of Chen Fei. As the box was set down, the ground trembled slightly, clearly heavy. "Number 74, codename ''Rookie'', this is yours!" Chen Fei protested, "Why is my codename still ''Rookie''? Can''t it be changed?" A label on the box''s surface bore Chen Fei''s personal information and photograph. He had always wanted to change to a dominating, cool, and explosively awesome work codename, but somehow he couldn''t shake off the "Rookie". The old man tilted his head, placing his hands on his hips, sizing up Chen Fei. He then pointed to Chen''s left shoulder, squeezed his eyebrows together, and said with a mischievous smile, "Because you look like a rookie, this codename suits you. Be sure to keep it up, hahahaha!" This young man is truly interesting. Doesn''t he know that having an unusual codename means Lord Yama can''t easily remember it, and that''s what helps you survive in dangerous situations? Among the crowd of "Two-Tails", "Big Hang", "Dumbo", "Worn Shoe", "Big Yellow Teeth", "Toad Face", the name "Rookie" is already quite a good one. "Chirp!~" Aha! The tactical Band-Aid has come too, and although it might look small, it can save a life at a crucial moment. This was Manager Hanna''s insistence, that no means of saving lives should be given up, as a Magical Beast of the Second Rank of Human Order can provide a certain level of assistance. No sooner had they placed down the tactical gear box than someone outside the door called out, "Numbers 73, 74, 75, 76, and 77 of the 13th Squad, please come out and assemble, I am team leader number 78." Chen Fei went to the door and saw a tall, thin black man standing outside. He looked left and right: Hanna''s room number 73 was on the east end, his own was the second one from the east, and there were four more rooms to the right, all with lights on. Clearly, the dormitories in the camp were specifically planned according to the reconnaissance squad structures, six people to a squad, with six adjacent dorms of lightweight foam brick buildings; then row upon row of neat houses. Including the camp''s logistics staff, there were exactly eighty rows, totalling four hundred and eighty single rooms, surrounding a huge central comprehensive main building. If a dormitory was occupied, a light would automatically turn on at the door. From afar, the entire camp''s attendance situation was crystal clear. From number 73 to 77, each dormitory had someone stick their head out just like Chen Fei. "I am the team leader, number 78, please line up by number!" The tall, thin black man standing in front of the row of houses of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad raised his right hand. Apart from Hanna Gagar and Chen Fei, the rest were from different aircrew bases. Being in a team for the first time, everyone was somewhat reserved, but they quickly lined up. It wasn''t just the 13th Reconnaissance Squad lining up; other squads with complete rosters were also assembling, starting to adapt to each other and build the most basic understanding. "Please form a circle!" The tall, thin man with number 78 again gave an instruction. He was clearly someone with methods; when everyone stood in a circle, he said, "Now, starting from number 73, please introduce yourselves." The executive manager spoke calmly, "I am number 73, Hanna Gagar, from the 911 Aircrew Base, a Wind-type Ability User, codenamed ''Eye of the Storm''." "Eye of the Storm"?! Chen Fei was surprised. This was the first time he heard that Manager Hanna actually had such a high-end job codename. It was simply awesome PLUS! Why did he have to be called "Rookie"? Could he not play happily together? Others were curious about the "Eye of the Storm" too, evaluating the executive manager''s One-Eye, wondering if this eye was the origin of her codename. "Ahem!" Noticing that everyone was somewhat distracted, the leader of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, number 78, cleared his throat as a reminder, "Number 74, please introduce yourself!" Chen Fei refocused and said loudly, "Hello everyone, I am Chen Fei, codenamed ''Rookie,'' also from the 911 Aircrew Base, a Metal Ability User!" Being a mechanic and pilot matter little here, there are no planes to fix or to fly, and next up is crawling into a cave, which is even less related to flying. The 911 Aircrew Base producing two supernatural power users at once made the other members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad look over a few more times, recalling recent rumors of the base that held its own in a corporate war against the eighth-ranked industrial giant, the Merman Brothers Consortium, and did not fall behind¡ªthe base was indeed 911. Even many military contractors have no ability users, let alone aircrew bases, this 911 Aircrew Base was really something different! - ``` Chapter 146: Section 146 - Fire One Number 76 was a long-haired woman, curiously sizing up Chen Fei''s shoulder. After listening to his introduction, she couldn''t help but ask, "Number 74, is that little bird on your shoulder a Pure Light Sparrow?" Carrying a little bird with black feathers was indeed very eye-catching. Birds are usually timid, and it wasn''t easy for someone like Chen Fei to carry one around. "Yes, its name is Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu, say hello to everyone." Chen Fei smiled and nodded. "A pet, how fun!" Someone murmured softly, clearly an inexperienced rookie who had no idea about the dangers of this mission. Even if they were a supernatural power user, what could they do when surrounded by mutants? "Chirp!~" A burst of white light erupted unexpectedly, enveloping an area of several meters and shrouding all six people within it. "Damn!" "My eyes, my eyes!" "Who, who did this?" "It''s an ambush!" The scene was in complete chaos, with most members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad scattering like headless flies. "Uh, everyone, don''t panic! This was just an accident. It''s a ''Light Burst Flash'' from the Light-based Spells. My little bird hasn''t quite mastered it yet, sorry, really sorry!" Chen Fei had almost become immune to this spell. His vision was momentarily blinded but recovered in an instant. Recently, the Little Bird had taken to flashing without much reason, although it couldn''t do it too often in a short period. Still, thanks to the fast recovery of the Light Element and spiritual power, its energy was full again after half an hour! If it cast "Light Burst Flash" every six minutes, it could keep flashing incessantly, achieving the "Permanent Flashlight" feat. "..." The female executive manager, also affected, twitched at the corner of her mouth. She knew that Chen Fei''s little bird understood human speech. This sudden flash, whether intentional or accidental, was probably best not pursued. You really can''t hold a grudge against a bird, no matter what, for the sake of your own dignity! "Pure Light Sparrow, a Light-element Magical Beast..." The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, Number 78, groaned. This unexpected flash was indeed a Light-based Spell and was utterly unexpected. "Xiao Jiu, no more of this, okay." Chen Fei was instructing the little bird not to randomly use "Light Burst Flash" anymore and causing the whole reconnaissance squad to descend into chaos. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu cheekily pecked at the finger Chen Fei, its dad, had extended, looking rather defiant. A minute or two later, except for Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar, everyone else had slightly swollen, red eyes and their gazes flitted around, too afraid to look directly at the little bird, fearing another flash. Although it wasn''t lethal, causing only temporary blindness, it was still quite an ordeal. But in a dark cavern, an unexpected flash like that could potentially cause permanent blindness. "Yes, it''s me!" No. 78, the tall, thin Black captain nodded his head, not denying it. "Sir, please sign this for me!" The chubby Seventh Rank Earth Mage, No. 75 Andy Brian, dashed into his dormitory then stumbled back out, holding a small notebook and a pen. "Alright!" The tall, thin Black captain, Blake, looked genuinely embarrassed. Finding a fan here was quite unexpected for him. "Sir, I''m ''Taishan''!" The chubby Earth Mage stood with his belly out, still buzzing with excitement. When did the bloody Tarzan become so fat? Middle age, hard to control oneself! "Oh, oh, nice meeting you!" The tall, thin Black captain was bewildered; he had no idea which ''Taishan'' this chubby fan really was. In this world, there were at least eight or ten well-known individuals nicknamed or codenamed ''Taishan,'' not to mention the countless more if one looked further back in time. Honestly, this "Taishan" was no better than a "Rookie"! This was indeed very embarrassing. "Tomorrow morning at nine o''clock, we will enter through Entrance 13. Aside from personal belongings, essential food, medicine, and drinking water, as well as weapons and ammunition, put everything else into the tactical supply boxes. There''s a supply point on the east side of the camp where you can replenish your needs. Before departure, I will collect everyone''s supply boxes. Is that understood by all?" The tall, thin Black captain, No. 78 Blake, again showed off his ring-type space system storage device. "Understood!" Everyone responded in unison. The next morning came early. Chen Fei had gathered his things neatly, dressed in a black-grey python-patterned tactical camouflage suit, his large backpack in tow, weapons slung, and carrying a fully packed metal tactical supply box outside his dormitory. The tactical Band-Aid, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, stood atop the box, chirping incessantly. For others, the bird''s chirping seemed somewhat agonizing, indeed fearing that Second Rank Light-based Spell. Thus, everyone prepared a pair of sunglasses, which baffled the personnel at the supply point. In a pitch-dark cavern, wearing sunglasses would surely render one blind. So... what was this inconceivable new practice? A transport helicopter carried the 13th Reconnaissance Squad near the Entrance 13, which appeared as a thin, long crack plunging straight down into the earth. Although no person was near the entrance, it was equipped with lights, cameras, and various sensors, closely monitored remotely to catch any disturbance. "Couldn''t you choose another weapon? Must you use this antique?" Hanna Gagar finally couldn''t help but complain after another glance at the modern high replica AK-47 in Chen Fei''s hands. While everyone else carried the latest model of personal weapons with either strong penetration, large coverage, or terrible destructive power, Chen Fei alone clung to an almost hundred-year-old relic. Was he planning to go hunting like Squadron Leader Chekhov? - Chapter 147: Section 147 - In-depth Chen Fei said with an apologetic tone, "I owe Squadron Leader Chekhov an original AK-47." This was a private debt, and apart from the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, not many others knew about it. After all, it concerned an antique worth a million; nobody could afford to be so generous as to write it off, especially since their relationship wasn''t that close yet. Fortunately, Squadron Leader Chekhov wasn''t in a hurry to collect the debt, and in the end, whether Chen Fei chose to return the rifle or pay compensation, it was fine, which greatly relieved his pressure. Each person participating in the reconnaissance mission could receive material supplies worth 500,000 Star Yuan, and if expenses exceeded that amount, they had to pay the difference themselves. In fact, 500,000 Star Yuan was already more than enough, particularly since the focus of the mission was reconnaissance. Upon encountering danger, they could choose to retreat immediately and didn''t need to engage in a major battle, so they didn''t require too much equipment. As per Chen Fei''s request, obtaining an AK-47 automatic rifle that, apart from being of a recent make, had the same material and craftsmanship as the original was not a problem for the formidable Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Since it was a high-fidelity replicate, it was worth at most 10,000 to 20,000 Star Yuan. Hanna Gagar scrutinized the AK-47 in Chen Fei''s hands from top to bottom. "That one in your hands isn''t original, right?" Shiny and reeking of gunpowder smoke, without even a hint of wear and tear, it was clearly a new rifle. Pretending to be a decades-old original was something even a blind person would not be fooled by. The original factory had long since closed down. If it could have lasted till now, it definitely would have been a centennial manufacturer. In the wheels of history, there aren''t that many "ifs"... "Of course not, I''m using it as a template," Chen Fei replied. Chen Fei had a different idea than Manager Hanna had expected. System: Ding! Absorbed one AK-47 automatic rifle, weighing 3.85 kilograms, composition ratio: Iron 70%, Chromium 18%, Nickel 8%... In the blink of an eye, only the wooden parts of the rifle, including the handguard assembly, grip, and stock, remained in the AK-47 automatic rifle in his hands. Physical Evolution Database (443), Categories: Cold Weapon (7), Firearms (2), Tools (95), Accessories (339) | Search.../Manage... Alloy Database (8553): A, B, C...Z | Search.../Manage... The continuously improving Dog System brought new discoveries with each access. Chen Fei had an original, partially damaged rifle at hand and had just the necessary skills from the Dog System, including "Alloy Database," "Elemental Decomposition," "Elemental Synthesis," and "Metal Shaping," allowing for full repair and replication. The real difference between a new and old rifle is the test of time. Beyond the visible wear and oxidation, there''s also the release of internal stress from the metal parts. Rifles that haven''t endured the years need recalibration after being in storage for some time to restore shooting accuracy (like the Type 63 automatic rifle, which can''t even last overnight), but old rifles that have fully released their internal stress don''t have this issue¡ªthey are ready to fire accurately right out of storage. "Eh?!" Hanna Gagar expressed surprise as she looked at the wooden parts in Chen Fei''s hands and asked in confusion, "What is this all about?" The sudden move from Chen Fei thoroughly confused her. "This way, I can fully understand the measurements of this AK-47," Chen Fei explained. Chen Fei spread his hands and began to extract the AK-47 automatic rifle from the Firearms category in the Physical Evolution Database. The body of the rifle "grew" out in his hands, and he timely placed the wooden parts on it, melding them back into one piece. Half a minute later, an AK-47 that looked identical to the previous one reappeared in Chen Fei''s hands, as if it had never been absorbed in the first place. Chen Fei''s task was to protect the only non-combatant, electronic specialist Cecilia Danbers; his AK-47 had long been switched out for a White Steel Crowbar. In the cave, a Physics Holy Sword was evidently more practical than firearms. "Chirp!~ Chirp!~" The calls of the Pure Light Sparrow echoed within the cave. Two ping-pong-ball-sized Light Orbs formed in front of Little Bird and drifted upwards, floating above the 13th Reconnaissance Squad''s front and rear. The First Rank Light-based Spell "Illumination Technique" found its place in the pitch-black cave. Each Light Orb, as bright as a 30-watt LED bulb, illuminated a ten-meter radius around it as if it were daylight. For a moment, all other lighting equipment paled in comparison. This Spell was no burden for Little Bird who could maintain it indefinitely. "Pure Light Sparrow is a Light-element Magical Beast! I think we should add a slot for Xiao Jiu," said Dark Elemental Psychic Blake, who turned around and dutifully switched off his headlamp and belt light. The brightness of the Light-based Spells had surpassed his own lighting equipment, so it was better to conserve some precious electricity. With their more acute senses, magical beasts served as another layer of security. As far as he knew, there were only two teams in the entire Camp 2 that included a magical beast in their reconnaissance squads. "I second that!" The female electronic specialist Cecilia heartily agreed. "Let''s call it 74.5 then!" Chen Fei scratched Little Bird''s chin. "Chirp!" Little Bird didn''t protest, seeming to accept the designation. A number with a whole, a zero, and a decimal point - such an identifier was...well, it''s the participation that counts! Don''t sweat these trivial details. After walking for about an hour, the air grew humid, the temperature plummeted, and the cave opened up, with the sound of dripping water faintly audible nearby. "This is a carbonate rock structure with stalactites, watch your feet and head, and be careful not to step into a hole or hit your head," said Earth Mage Andy Brian, whose voice wasn''t loud but echoed in everyone''s ears due to the surrounding environment. The Illumination Technique''s light reflected off the clear stalactites, casting a hazy, multicolored glow. "Chirp!~" Little Bird seemed to be enjoying it and released another Illumination Technique Light Orb. The 13th Reconnaissance Squad''s path became even brighter, illuminating a much wider area of this carbonate rock structure''s cavern, comparable in size to a football field. Glittering reflections dotted the entire space, as if inside a crystal palace, resplendently luxurious. - Chapter 148: Section 148 - Camp (Authorized Edition, Qidian Reading) Chen Fei noticed the thick and colorful stalactites hanging down were surprisingly embedded with blocks of crystal-clear crystals. He couldn''t help but use his White Steel Crowbar to knock off a small piece of stalactite, picked up a fist-sized crystal from it, and examined it closely before his eyes. "A gemstone?" Chen Fei had always been desperately poor, so anything valuable could catch his attention. The female electronics expert Cecilia Danbers also noticed the various sized crystals embedded on the surfaces of the stalactites and speculated, "Probably not!" The formation of stalactites is related to water, but most gemstones are formed only by fire, or more accurately, by lava. Water dripping into gemstones, that''s almost an impossible affair. Hanna Gagel glanced at the crystal in Chen Fei''s hand and said calmly, "Calcite crystals, composed of calcium carbonate, originating from the same source as stalactites. The pure ones are also called Iceland Spar, which exhibit a double refraction effect, commonly used as industrial raw materials in toothpaste and paper-making. Artificial Iceland Spar can be used to make optical equipment. In ancient times, it was used by Viking Pirates as an optical compass for navigation known as Sunstone. Even on cloudy days, you could use it to find the direction of the sun." "That useful? Is it valuable?" What Chen Fei cared about most was whether it was valuable or not. Manager Hanna said disdainfully, "It''s not valuable. Its Mohs hardness is only 3, which does not meet the requirements of a gemstone." Raw calcite isn''t worth much, not even a hundred Star Yuan per ton. Even the piece in Chen Fei''s hand, which is pure and almost flawless, is at most worth ten Star Yuan, barely a collectible or a mineral specimen. "Right, calcite is not valuable." The female electronics expert Cecilia Danbers also nodded in agreement. Some electronic devices use synthetic Iceland Spar, but they can''t be sold at the price of gemstones, and they are even worth less than the equally common obsidian. "Not valuable!" Chen Fei looked at the crystal-clear stone in his hand and felt rather regretful. He had thought he had found a treasure, only to realize it was just an ordinary mineral deposit. He was just about to throw it away when he finally held back and put the fist-sized piece of calcite crystal into his backpack, considering it a souvenir of this reconnaissance mission. He then took out his phone and furiously snapped pictures of the dense forest of stalactites nearby as a keepsake, to make the trip worthwhile. Seeing Chen Fei taking photos, everyone else also stopped in their tracks and took out their phones or professional cameras to snap away. Even team leader Blake, who was leading the way up front, specifically stopped to wait for everyone to finish taking photos before setting off again. The underground space was dark and oppressive, and no one would refuse an opportunity to relax. The duration of the reconnaissance operation deep into the cave was not fixed and depended on the supplies carried by the squad. They would return to the surface before they ran out completely. The Space System Alchemy Storage Devices carried by each team leader contained enough supplies for the whole squad to last a very long time. About ten hours into the trek, the 13th Reconnaissance Squad finally stopped. Although everyone still had plenty of physical energy to continue, they needed to reserve strength for unexpected situations to avoid overexertion and potential peril. The efficiency with which the earth transmits seismic waves is not much less than that of the oceans. Although the amount of information they can carry isn''t large, it''s more than enough to send and receive some simple messages, with important ones sent three times. Before long, as if a giant stethoscope was pressed against the surface of the rock, another device displayed a string of codes on its screen. "We have penetrated 20 kilometers deep, and like us, all other reconnaissance squads are resting. Squad 37 has found some unexplained traces and is currently identifying and verifying them. No traces of Mutant BC-2325 have been found on the surface for the time being," Cecilia Danbers read from the newly received information. Though not a combatant, her role in the reconnaissance squad is incredibly important and irreplaceable. On the first day, all the reconnaissance squads didn''t achieve much. Suspicions do not equate to confirmation; the mutants'' hiding places still hadn''t been discovered, but this was within expectations¡ªnothing in this world is accomplished overnight. Noticing Chen Fei, who was lounging on a moisture-proof mat with a crowbar in hand, eyeing the nearby granite with a covetous look, Hanna Gagar reminded him unhappily, "Rookie, stop staring and get some rest." Under the bright light of the illumination technique, the pyrite particles on the rock surface reflected spots of gold like gold itself, making the granite cavern glitter with golden light. Unfortunately, although they twinkled like stars, not a single one of them was of any value. The tiny pyrite particles were even less valuable than the large feldspar grains that made up the granite, or the quartz crystal clusters that bloomed like flowers. Chen Fei''s vitality and spirit seemed to deflate, and he said dispiritedly, "If only it were real gold." He had once touched those glittering spots out of curiosity, but the system immediately identified them as pyrite, not even amounting to one gram. If he were to be serious, it would be like absorbing loneliness; to gather enough for an energy point, he would probably have to scour the whole granite cavern area. "Haha, what are you dreaming about, wishful thinking, a drink maybe!" Hanna, the manager, took out a bottle of alcohol from her heavy backpack. It had been a while since she and Chen Fei had a toast together. "Drink!" Chen Fei sat up in one swoop from his moisture-proof mat as if to drown his sorrows with alcohol. He could still feel the faint vibrations from the ground while sitting there; the other reconnaissance teams were transmitting information through seismic waves, making the area underneath a vast expanse of ground quite lively. Cecilia Danbers, who was monitoring the seismic receiver, diligently jotted everything down in a notebook as her source of intelligence. "Can I have one too?" asked the Great Swordsman Sahar Ignatius, eyes glued to the bottle of alcohol in the executive manager''s hand. Just from the label, he knew it was an expensive treasure not to be missed. Hanna Gagar looked at Chen Fei, who nodded and said, "You''re very welcome!" Without looking up, the female electronics expert said, "Could I have one as well?" her hands still scribbling away, surrounded by six or seven devices. "And me!" the portly Earth Mage Andy Brian joined in the excitement. Captain Blake said with a smile, "Count me in." One, two, three, four, five, six¡ªall of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad were present. Hanna, the manager, looked at Chen Fei irritatedly, one drink each, and then no more! - Chapter 149 Section 149 - Sticky White A bottle of wine, 550ml, split among six people, each person didn''t even get two ounces of wine, barely enough to taste it, and drinking to satisfaction was out of the question. Though there was still wine left, more than one bottle, it wasn''t necessary to drink it all at once. Manager Hanna clearly wasn''t that generous. Facing a stingy female executive manager, Chen Fei could only maintain a naive and honest smile, not daring to show any other superfluous expressions. This one-eyed old woman really held a grudge; if he didn''t play dumb, he''d surely be the target of her anger. With her Wind-type psionic ability activated, he would be propelled from the granite podium and then smack onto the ground, completely out cold! Better not provoke her! Better not provoke her! "This wine is really good! It must be Tokay''s botrytized, number 73, excellent taste!" The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, number 78 Blake, continued sipping slowly, savoring the flavor, his smile growing wider. Botrytized?! Having never tried botrytized wine, but having seen others enjoy it, Chen Fei looked down at his empty wine glass. Wow! This great wine that was drained in two sips turned out to be a famous botrytized one, and he had thought it was just a sweet white wine given how delicious it was. A single sip would probably cost hundreds of Star Yuan, right? Definitely a loss. Like Zhu Bajie eating the Ginseng Fruit, he should have savored it like Blake did¡ªthe proper way to enjoy a botrytized wine. "I just like to drink it," Hanna Gagar said in a chilly tone, and with the right person, she could get completely drunk, tear off her mask, and reveal her unguarded true nature, releasing her suppressed emotions without reservation; but with someone she didn''t click with, even half a glass was too much. As the saying goes, a thousand cups are too few when drinking with a kindred spirit, but half a word is too much with those you don''t enjoy. Blake, meeting awkwardness, gave an embarrassed smile, drank the remaining wine in his glass, and said, "Apart from number 76 Cecilia Danbers, everyone else will join me in rotating night shifts. Two people each day, responsible for the first and last five hours, starting with me!" Having said that, he patted his buttocks, stood up, and walked towards the edge of the granite podium without looking back. As the captain, it was right for him to set an example, otherwise, how would he command respect. The tall, black Blake was skilled not only with cold weapons like archery but also with firearms, hitting almost precisely where he aimed, never missing a shot (or arrow). Combined with his Dark System Ability, he was a dominant force in these underground spaces, providing him with a significant advantage. "Next one is you, and the one after that, still you," Hanna Gagar nonchalantly pulled out a stainless-steel flask, took a small sip for herself and pointed at Chen Fei. Stay updated through empire Tonight, he was second shift, and tomorrow night''s first shift was already his, which sounded odd, but logically, it made sense. Drink my wine, do my work. From any perspective, Chen Fei had no choice but to obey, especially since this one-eyed old woman was paying his salary! He likely didn''t even know that she would become his creditor; anyway, maintaining a good attitude was definitely not a mistake. Hanna Gagar commanding and acting rather haughtily was her direct response to Captain Blake using her to establish his authority. If you want to boss this lady around, please find someone else. Working youth Chen Fei was just right for taking over duties; after all, the work had to be done. Rookie, huh? What about human rights? "What''s wrong?" The team leader, Blake, turned around. "I twisted my foot, hiss!" The female executive manager hobbled a couple of steps and found a spot to sit down. Blake didn''t insist and went with the flow, saying, "Let''s all take a short break." Unforeseen circumstances can arise no matter how cautious one is. "Xiao Jiu!~" Chen Fei called out to the Pure Light Sparrow flying back and forth in the cave ceiling. The little bird, hearing the call, landed down, tilting its head curiously at Chen Fei. "Healing Magic!" Chen Fei pointed at Manager Hanna who had taken off her shoe, revealing her pale, delicate foot. It was surprising to see that the tough, one-eyed old lady had such fair feet. "Jiu!~" The little bird fluttered its wings and flew to Hanna Gagar''s foot. It opened its tiny beak, which quickly brightened up, releasing a light orb about the size of a soybean that fell onto the swelling on the executive manager''s ankle. The slightly reddened skin of the ankle visibly returned to its normal pallor at a rapid pace. Xiao Jiu lived up to its nickname as a "little Band-Aid." The effectiveness of its First Rank Light-based Spells was impressively immediate. "Hmm? It doesn''t hurt anymore? Xiao Jiu, you are quite impressive! Pu Aihua would probably cry himself to death." Hanna Gagar rubbed her gradually less swollen ankle and smiled. The origin of Xiao Jiu was no secret within the Aircrew Base 911. After all, without the Light Beast Crystal Core given by the female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yilan, this little bird would probably still be just an ordinary Pure Light Sparrow, capable only of this Light Healing Technique. The female executive manager tried to touch the little bird, but the nimble creature dodged away, chirped twice, and flew back to rest on Chen Fei''s shoulder. Thinking of the ruthless Manager Hanna who had fired the sly Old Piao, sending him back home to fend for himself, Chen Fei was not at all surprised as he said, "He''s already dead from crying!" Although the salary wasn''t high in the mess hall kitchen of Aircrew Base 911, where Pu Aihua worked temporarily, he deserved the nickname "sly merchant" for his knack at making a profit in the market by buying and selling using various channels and limited resources. Despite being just a temporary worker, he earned quite a bit from side incomes, making it a relatively stable job. After being sent home, given Pu Aihua''s age and abilities, it was unlikely he would find such a cushy job again. After witnessing the entirety of the little Band-Aid''s Healing Spell, team leader Blake asked, "Can you walk now?" "It should be fine now." Hanna Gagar tried putting pressure on it, and indeed, it didn''t hurt anymore, so she supported herself off the ground and stood up. Upon standing, she felt something unexpectedly sticky in her hand. By the light of the Illumination Technique floating above the team, she saw a gooey white substance in the palm of her hand and made a strange face, instinctively smelling it only to detect a faint scent of mint. "Gum? Who would be so irresponsible as to spit out gum everywhere..." As soon as she spoke, not just Hanna Gagar, but everyone''s expression began to change. - Chapter 150 Section 150 - Stepping on a Lightning (Support genuine, Qidian Literature) Gum? It was indeed gum! Not only had Hanna Gagel smelled it, but the others also took turns sniffing and unanimously confirmed this judgement. After all, chewing gum is a common snack, familiar to everyone. Then, using a sliver of rock, they scraped off this nauseating gummy substance. It took washing their hands three times for Manager Hanna to feel significantly better. Her swollen red palms were once again treated with the Light Healing Technique from a small Band-Aid, which was excellent for reducing swelling and pain. It was seriously an unlucky year, encountering such a disgusting thing so deep underground. Captain Blake of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad made a swift decision to make a temporary stop on the spot for a thorough search while reporting the new discovery to the surface. Nobody in the team chewed gum, let alone Hanna Gagel, who was walking in the second position. At a depth of about five hundred meters below sea level, in a place where it takes over forty kilometers to reach the surface, they found a seemingly insignificant piece of chewing gum residue. Although they didn''t know who the unscrupulous person was, it was enough to prove some important information. Magical Beasts wouldn''t be interested in chewing gum with no nutritional value. Therefore, there was only one most likely possibility. Other humans had been here before and inadvertently left behind this chewed piece of gum. "Do you know? Both Rhino Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 showed traces of genetic editing," Captain Blake of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad reminded. "So, there''s a high probability of human intervention. Besides rhinoceros cockroaches and mutants, there could be humans?" No one in the team had low intelligence; the female electronic expert was the first to grasp this. The rock walls began to thump again, sending vibration signals through the ground. Chen Fei looked at the vibrators releasing powerful vibrations on the rock walls and speculated, "Vibration communication might be monitored." "Er, that''s possible, no, very possible. The vibrations alone could be enough to startle the snake by hitting the grass." The female electronic expert Cecilia Danbers started to look serious. All members fell silent, looking at one another. Now that the enemy was hidden and they were exposed, the situation could become very unfavorable. Captain Blake added, "Report to the surface immediately, suggest switching to encrypted communication, maintain as much silence as possible, reduce the frequency of communication, and avoid revealing our location." Although vibration communication can penetrate thick earth layers to reach the surface, its disadvantage is also prominent: it almost can''t maintain secrecy. If there were other people beneath the surface, the probability of being overheard was high. And it didn''t require any high-tech equipment¡ªa mere stethoscope could do the job. The vibration signals traveling through the strata could also expose the source of the signal. Careless reconnaissance squads venturing from various tunnel entrances into the depths could suffer a setback. The report from the 13th Reconnaissance Squad quickly made its way back to the No. 2 Exploration Base Camp, causing quite a stir. Some reconnaissance squads mysteriously went missing, even failing to send out an alarm. After missing the deadline to check in with the reconnaissance camp multiple times, the spatial ability users and space mages of the Global Defense Committee, along with the backup reconnaissance squad, rushed to the last reported area of the missing squad, but found nothing. Not even the numerical direction stickers remained; it was as if the missing squad had never been there. However, as more of these accidents occurred, the well-prepared Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still had no plans to cancel the reconnaissance mission. On the seventh day of the underground exploration, the scouting party leader Blake suddenly stopped in his tracks. He said in a grave voice, "Stop advancing, nobody come forward, fall back! Cecilia, retrieve the drone." "Got it!" Although the electronics specialist Cecilia Danbers didn''t understand the reason, she still followed the command, using the remote controller in her hand to send out a sharp high-frequency whistle and a longwave radio signal. The quad-rotor drone "Cave Dragonfly," upon receiving either one of those, would immediately activate its return program ahead of time. This method was only suitable for short-distance communication. If it went beyond the Cave Dragonfly''s automatic scouting radius, it would fail. "What''s happening?" Hanna Gagar, who was following behind, looked at Blake, who still maintained a walking posture but appeared somewhat stiff. She and the others obediently stepped back a few paces as instructed. "Landmine, I stepped on one, and now I can''t move!" Blake was grateful for his prior experience¡ªin fact, it was not the first time he had stepped on a mine. But like the previous times, it was a pressure-release landmine, meaning that it wouldn''t explode just because someone stepped on it; it would explode when they lifted their foot off of it. As he stepped down, he instantly triggered the safety mechanism. If he hadn''t reacted in time, both he and Hanna Gagar behind him would have been in trouble. The most malicious bounding anti-infantry mine wouldn''t explode immediately after releasing the pressure; instead, it would spring up more than two feet high and perform a 360-degree shrapnel sweep, affecting not just the person who stepped on the mine but everyone in the vicinity. "Rookie, you''re up!" When in doubt, send in the Rookie¡ªHanna Gagar had almost gotten used to commanding him and thought of him first. Who would''ve thought that Chen Fei, the moment he joined the 911 Aircrew Base, was doomed to be a tool, plus, he treated stepping on mines like bungee jumping on dry land, so it was no problem for him. The others exchanged glances. This female capitalist really had a heart of stone; she didn''t give a damn about the lives of her subordinates. "Wait, I''m coming!" Chen Fei moved from the fourth position in the team to the front, approaching Blake''s side and squatting down. Blake cautiously warned, "Be careful!" Yet, he didn''t dare to move. Instead, he pressed down harder, fearing that any reduction in pressure would set off the explosion. The presence of a landmine here, although surprising, was not shocking. It indicated that they were getting close to an underground base where someone or something was hiding. Whether it was people or mutants hiding, remained unknown. Chapter 151 Section 151 - Encountering Cockroaches (Support the official version, read on Qidian) Chen Fei stretched out his hand to brush aside the rubble at Blake''s feet, revealing the cylindrical body of the landmine. System: Ding! NM-32 Anti-Infantry Bounding Mine detected, would you like to absorb: Yes/No|? This damn system could even be used as a detector, able to identify even the model of a mine. There were definitely many things he didn''t know about it. Absorb? Of course, it was not feasible. If Chen Fei dared to absorb it, the mine would dare to explode on the spot, smearing his face with smoke and shrapnel. So... shape manipulation! The metal components inside the mine underwent deformation, the fuze and trigger spring were disabled, and some components were locked, unable to detonate anymore. "All right! You can lift your foot now." Chen Fei straightened up and signaled to the unfortunate black team leader who had stepped on the mine. "Really?" Blake''s legs were shaking a bit. It was only a matter of time before he would get his shoes wet by the river, and he might not be as lucky next time. "Of course!" Chen Fei had to make the others believe in his skills. When it came to (stepping on) mines, he was a professional. No one could outdo him, and his experience was quite rich. That was a no-brainer. Most people only get one chance to step on a mine. Even if they survived the first time, they definitely wouldn''t survive the second¡ªunlike Chen Fei, who could step on a mine repeatedly and still come out like nothing had happened. Well, apart from feeling a bit, uh, nutcracking. Finally, Blake carefully lifted his foot. The pressure device did not pop up, and with that realization, his spirits lifted¡ªthere was hope! His form blurred, as if he could merge into the nearby darkness at any moment, silently drifting several meters away before becoming clear again. Blake wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. No matter how calm and collected one was, it was almost inevitable to be a little discomposed after such a close shave with death. "It''s safe now!" "Thank goodness!" "Chen Fei, you''re amazing!" Seeing Chen Fei defuse the captain''s crisis, the others finally managed a smile, collectively heaving a sigh of relief. They were indeed worthy of being Metal Ability Users. Everyone from the 911 Aircrew was exceptional. The proud executive manager was beaming with a sense of pride, ready to reward the young man with a bottle of fine wine later. "NM-32 Anti-Infantry Bounding Mine!" Chen Fei dug up the cylindrical object buried under the rubble and tossed it up and down in his hand. The joyous expressions of the crowd instantly stiffened, their hearts leaping with each of Chen Fei''s movements¡ªfearfully exhilarating. Such toying around; let it not explode. A landmine that weighed at least five pounds; if it went off, there would be no escape within a ten-meter radius. Behind the name anti-infantry, there probably should be an addition¡ªthis was a squad-killing landmine. One man triggers it, and the whole squad is done for. If luck was against them, half a platoon could be wiped out. If a vehicle were to be struck by such an explosion, that would be quite disastrous. Such a vicious device might be a versatile tactical landmine. "Uh, that thing, I think we''d better retreat." Being too quiet for too long in the cave, the emergence of other sounds gave Sahar Ignatius, the Wind Elemental Great Swordsman at the rear of the team with the number 77, a very bad premonition. He vaguely guessed what it was, and the likelihood was high. "Xiao Jiu, throw another Illumination Technique up front!" Chen Fei signaled to the little bird frolicking upside down in the cave ceiling, pointing in the direction of the strange noises. It was impossible to keep the lively little creature quietly on his shoulder or in its nest. It was free to fly back and forth in front of and behind the team, pecking here and there, expending its surplus energy in the confined space. "Jiu!~" More than one Illumination Technique Light Orb gracefully flew forward, continuously lighting a long distance, reaching nearly thirty meters at the farthest point. After waiting a few seconds, a large swath of blackness intruded into the illuminated area. The female electronics expert, Cecilia Danbers, who was craning her neck to look, let out a gasp. "Damn, what the hell is that?" The plump Earth Mage, Andy Brian, drew out his modular Magic Wand and began assembling it on the spot, with the Magical Beast Crystal Cores embedded in the wand starting to glow amber. The Crystal Cores weren''t very large, the biggest only the size of a chicken egg and the smallest about the size of a soybean, both in volume and quality far inferior to the Light Beast Crystal Core in Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s nest, as well as in rank and texture. "They''re coming, lots and lots of Rhino Cockroaches!" Hanna Gagel, no stranger to seeing so many Rhino Cockroaches, activated her Wind-type Psionic Ability, and the airflow in the cave turned violent in an instant, howling towards the swarm of encroaching Rhino Cockroaches. In the next second, countless oval bug bodies were swept up, along with many small stones, rattling thunderously, as if a black storm was brewing, blown towards the dark depths beyond the reach of the Illumination Technique Light Orbs. Light-based Spells had no physical form and were unaffected by the violent winds, but the dancing shadows, obstructed by bug bodies and stones, flickered incessantly. "How about it... shall we fire one off?" Chen Fei was eagerly weighing the NM-32 pine-patterned anti-infantry bounding landmine in his hand, ready to restore the triggering mechanism and throw it into the wild wind created by Manager Hanna, where it would explode upon touching anything. Setting it off in the cave would probably make for a spectacular sight, much like a brat holding a sparkler, seeing a pile of cow dung, and feeling an irresistible urge to blow it up. Team leader Blake shouted, "Number 73, please stop for a moment!" The fierce wind dissipated immediately, and the relentless current of air from behind the team continued to surge towards where the multitude of Rhino Cockroaches had been swept away. After all, the confined space within the cave meant that even though the Wind Elemental Psychic''s power could increase manifold, it was also significantly constrained. "Number 78, I can eliminate them!" Since he addressed her by her mission number, Hanna Gagel responded in kind. Wind-type Psionic Abilities never feared large numbers of enemies; on the contrary, once a storm formed, no matter how numerous the enemies were, they were just fodder. Outside the Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagel was known as the "Eye of the Storm," which was no empty title. However, due to her role as the executive manager, it was hard for the base staff, including Chen Fei, to witness the true power of the "Eye of the Storm." "I have Pyrethroid here. We can spice things up a bit, but everyone needs to put on protective suits and gas masks." Blake took out several large plastic containers with a capacity of twenty liters each from his Storage Ring. In dealing with those voracious bugs, as a B-ranked Dark Elemental Psychic, he wasn''t as handy as Hanna Gagel, a C-ranked Wind-type Psionic Ability user. Chapter 152 Section 152 - Interception (Support Cousin, Genuine Reading) Pyrethroid, by definition, has an extraordinarily potent insecticidal effect against insects. However, it is not non-toxic or harmless to other organisms, as it can also cause dermatitis and central nervous system damage. The howling wind tore through the plastic bucket filled with pyrethroid, atomizing all the liquid inside and engulfing the deeper parts of the cave ahead. Even fully enveloped in protective gear with a breathing mask, one could still smell the strong odor. Moments later, a piercing screech faintly transmitted through. Rhinoceros Cockroaches do not produce sounds, so it could only be Mutant BC-2325. They are insect-type mutants and are likewise subject to pyrethroid. Even if not killed on the spot, the experience was likely to be extremely unpleasant. "As expected, there are still Mutants BC-2325," Blake felt it was prescient of him to have taken out the pyrethroid in time, understanding that Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 were close at hand, given that he had already encountered the former. Pyrethroid doesn''t differentiate between cockroaches or anything else; if it''s an insect, it can be severely harmed. The pyrethroid-laden wind gushed for over an hour. Although the screeching never ceased, the multitude of Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01 didn''t surge like before. They were likely decimated by Hanna Gagel''s storm and the pyrethroid. Even if not poisoned, the disarray caused by the airflow led to significant casualties. After waiting for over half an hour, the airflow slowly receded, and an intense pungent smell rushed forth. Chief Exterminator Blake then issued the command to continue advancing. Six orbs of Illumination Technique followed the footsteps of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, lighting up a long stretch of the cave as if it were daylight. After walking over a thousand meters, they once again saw the figures of those Rhinoceros Cockroaches scattered on the ground, some dismembered, some still intact but without exception, all dead. The aerosolized lethal effect of pyrethroid combined with Wind-type Ability was particularly effective, leaving almost no room for escape. Delving further, Blake pointed at some Rhinoceros Cockroaches still struggling in their death throes and said, "Pyrethroid is effective." The vitality of cockroaches is extraordinarily tenacious, but the poison from pyrethroid had penetrated their nervous system, making it impossible for them to revive fully at the same spot. Suddenly, a harsh and intense loud noise erupted. Four monstrous insects, each taller than an adult, suddenly stormed into the 13th Reconnaissance Squad''s line of sight. One was topped with massive giant scissors, another was cloaked in heavy armor like a tank, while the other two, covered in spikes and scratching their claws, ran the fastest and could even climb on the cave walls. For larger mutants, the effect of pyrethroid wasn''t immediately apparent. "Mutants!" Captain Blake exclaimed. Mutant BC-2325 consisted of four types, and three had just emerged. If it weren''t for the limited space in the cave, they might have witnessed the fourth type, a flying mutant. The four insects suddenly lunged thirty meters outward, issuing piercing screeches at the troop. "Take this!" Chen Fei made a motion as if to throw a baseball. The NM-32 spring-loaded anti-infantry mine he had been carrying finally had a target. It whizzed out. "Be careful!" Blake was terrified. A five-pound anti-infantry mine exploding was not to be underestimated. "That mutant isn''t dead!" "Run!" The members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad shouted one after another. Blake grunted as he was sent flying. Before his body could make intimate contact with the hard cave wall, his Dark System Ability activated, turning him into a shadow, slipping away to another location. "Jiu?" Xiao Jiu called out, and the illumination orb at the top of the cave shifted slightly. "Damn it!" Blake awkwardly flew out from the shadow. He had almost forgotten that there was a Light-element Magical Beast in the reconnaissance team. Without preparation, the Light-based Spells of the Pure Light Sparrow interfered with his Dark System Ability. If shadows were directly exposed to light, it could cause the ability to fail, forcing him to reveal his shape as it happened now. Just then, the heavy armored mutant didn''t plan to let Blake go and charged at him again. "Die!" The team''s Wind Elemental Great Swordsman charged forward, his two-handed great sword cleaving down with a pale blue Sword Qi that howled and surged, boosting its force. Amid a loud noise, the sharp blade barely penetrated an inch and failed to break through. The heavy armored mutant''s thick shell was unexpectedly resilient, even resistant to the Sixth Rank Wind Battle Qi. "Stone Wall!" Earth Mage Andy Brian shouted. The newly risen stone wall was easily smashed by the heavy armored mutant, instantly crumbling apart. "Clear the way!" Chen Fei, wielding the White Steel Crowbar, charged in. A forceful blunt strike heavily hit the rampaging heavy armored mutant''s head, failing to crack it, but causing its entire body to stiffen. "Again!" The second hit directly crushed the mutant''s skull, the hooked end of the White Steel Crowbar piercing into the brain tissue. With a forceful stir, the rhinoceros-sized body convulsed fiercely and collapsed powerlessly. As a Wind-type Ability User, Hanna Gagel showed no intention of intervening, watching alongside the female electronics expert as Chen Fei and the others brutally beat the poor mutated insect. Some were deficient while others excelled. In such a tight space, against an opponent with thick skin and heavy build, neither Dark System Ability, Wind System Ability, nor Battle Qi presented a good solution. Conversely, a Metal Ability User like Chen Fei, who didn''t dodge or evade and used brute force to directly confront the enemy, turned out to be successful in defeating the enemy. A big bug was taken down with just two strikes, and his handling became even more proficient. From a distance, another shrill roar came, clearly signaling that more Mutant BC-2325s were on their way. "Oh boy, trouble''s coming! 76, call for backup; 75, set up the position; everyone else, get ready for battle." Team leader Blake frantically pulled stuff out of the Space System Alchemy Storage Device: boxes of hand grenades and anti-infantry directional mines, heavy machine guns with long chains of ammunition, individual rocket launchers, and 14.5 mm caliber cannon snipers. "Stone Wall!~" Task number 75, Seventh Rank Earth Mage Andy Brian, adeptly controlled the ground to rise into a three-foot-thick breast wall and had several sturdy rock columns hang down from the front cave ceiling to prevent the mutants from directly breaking through the ceiling, compressing their maneuverability within the firing range as much as possible. The thick stone wall, composed of large and small stones, not only blocked explosions and mutants but also served as a blockade position for the 13th Reconnaissance Squad. - Chapter 153 Section 153 - Scaring Off The reconnaissance teams organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were mostly made up of Ability Users, including supernatural power users, mages, and War Professionals. Even the electronic experts operating various devices were often Ability Users, because otherwise they couldn''t handle all the unforeseen situations that occurred during reconnaissance missions. Ordinary people undertaking such missions would find that fearlessness alone was insufficient. The end result would be no different from going to their deaths. Blake''s appointment as the captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad must have been due to his talents, as he not only prepared supplies ahead of time but also organized everyone''s tasks in an orderly fashion. "73, the hand grenades are yours." "74, you''re in charge of the heavy sniper rifle!" "75, the anti-infantry directional landmines." "76, report to the ground." "77, watch our back!" Ultimately, it was still necessary to resort to modern firepower. Depending solely on one''s own strength would probably lead to exhaustion and there was still no guarantee of eliminating all those ferocious mutant creatures. "14.5mm caliber... damn, that''s a cannon!" Chen Fei compared the muzzle of the heavy sniper rifle with the scale on his White Steel crowbar and couldn''t help but widen his eyes. Bullets of 14.5mm caliber were thicker than his thumb. Boy, this was a lethal weapon! Of course, by "lethal", he meant for the human body, not those mutant creatures that weren''t much different in size from bulls. Breaking their bodies apart would probably not be so easy! "74, you''re strong. The 14.5mm heavy sniper rifle is just right for you." Every Pilot was inherently a sniper. Blake assigned the powerful cannon sniper to Chen Fei, who now had a chance to show his mettle. If anyone else handled it improperly, the recoil alone could fracture their shoulder. (A Pilot who can''t snipe isn''t a good Pilot - Elite Pilot: Zhang Versailles Taofang) "I think the crowbar''s more effective!" Chen Fei looked at the heavy sniper rifle, then at the White Steel crowbar in his hand. In one day and night, he had taken down over a thousand mutants with that White Steel crowbar. How many mutants could a 14.5mm cannon sniper take down? Even if he wore the barrel smooth, he might not be able to kill that many. Blake stared incredulously at Chen Fei, his gaze shifting between the crowbar and the heavy sniper rifle, as he tried hard to keep his emotions in check and gritted his teeth, saying, "A crowbar? Are you insane?" That was a crowbar, not a nuclear weapon! To think you could defeat thousands with that thing? That''s just ridiculous! "With it, I killed more than a thousand mutants overnight." Chen Fei waved the White Steel crowbar in his hand. This thing was also known as the Physics Holy Sword. Be adept in physics, and you''ll have nothing to fear in battles across the world. Give it a fulcrum, and it could crack open your skull. Bursts of laughter rang out, and most of the members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad laughed in unison. No one believed Chen Fei''s words, except for himself. Hanna Gagar also wanted to laugh but couldn''t, since Chen Fei was under her command, and she couldn''t afford to demoralize him too much, in case the young man lost his confidence. However, she thought that anyone who could survive in the wilderness riddled with mutants should be able to handle those ferocious beasts. The female electronic specialist had just sent out the message and then timely added another line. Now that the mutants had fled, if reinforcements were called in, they might very well make a wasted trip. However, at that moment, shadows flickered behind the reconnaissance squad, and figures began to materialize. "What just happened here?" The ground support personnel had arrived, totaling more than thirty. In warfare, quality trumps quantity, and those who came were all strong. "Report, I am the Team Leader Blake of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad. We just succeeded in killing four mutants, then a large group of unknown numbers appeared. They have just retreated; we haven''t had the chance to engage them." Blake stepped forward, concisely summarizing the situation. A mage wearing a constant temperature self-cleaning robe asked puzzledly, "You''re saying, they ran off?" The fact that they had all rushed here yet the mutants had fled baffled them. Blake had no choice but to insist, "Yes, these mutants seem to be afraid of 74''s crowbar!" "Hahahaha..." "What kind of crowbar is that, a Divine Artifact?" "Not a Divine Artifact, a holy sword!" "Are you trying to kill us with laughter?" As expected, the Ability Users who came to support burst into laughter, staggering about. Yet, not a single member of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad could laugh; they had laughed just as the others before, but seeing how the sound of Chen Fei using the crowbar scared the mutants away, no one could muster a laugh anymore. Soon, the reinforcements noticed the peculiar reaction of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, which was incompatible with their raucous laughter. "You all..." The leader of the reinforcements gradually ceased smiling. The retreat of the mutant swarm was a fact, and Blake spoke earnestly, "We''re not joking." "Young man, may we take a look at your Physics Holy Sword?" The leader of the reinforcements directed his gaze at Chen Fei. "No problem!" Enjoy more content from empire Chen Fei tossed the White Steel Crowbar over to them. A group of people huddled around the oddly-shaped stick, pondering it for a long while. Besides identifying the material as high-speed steel, they could find no other revelations. The stick''s surface, meant for pulling, had no Magic Array Patterns, no Magical Beast Crystal Cores embedded, and it certainly wasn''t a Magic Artifact. Why it could scare off the mutants would likely remain a mystery for the time being. The leader of the reinforcements thought for a moment, then said, "13th Reconnaissance Squad, keep moving forward. We''ll go with you." Since they had already come, they weren''t in a hurry to return to the surface. The 13th Reconnaissance Squad had encountered the largest number of mutants compared to other squads, indicating they were getting close to the mutant nest. If they continued to trace the path, they might well find its lair. With so many Ability Users present, they were more than enough to deal a heavy blow to the mutant species. Each reconnaissance squad carried a powerful, prize weapon in their Space System Alchemy Storage Device. The combat unit of the KDK-1 Hypersonic Suction Smart Missile¡ªor the source of the Dragon Slayer Missile''s destructive power¡ªcould be turned into a massive explosive, either timed or remote-controlled. It could pulverize everything within hundreds of meters in an instant, whether living or dead, with an effect comparable to a nuclear weapon yet without any radioactive residue. If they had possessed a weapon like the Dragon Slayer Missile during the great war thirty years ago, Blue Star would not have left so many Radiation Zones on the planet''s surface, nor would humans today be plagued by the endlessly emerging, troublesome mutants that they have been unable to completely eradicate. - Chapter 154 Section 154 - Meeting Rites The massive bomb re-engineered by the Combat Unit of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was a new product custom-ordered by the Blue Star United Defense Committee from its original producer, Louis Industries. They removed the unnecessary propulsion system and installed a new detonation mechanism that could be timed or remotely controlled. It was still the original factory product and was just as safe and powerful as before. The temporary reinforcements from the ground gave the 13th Reconnaissance Squad a much-needed confidence boost. In addition to their scouting duties, they were now prepared to take on any mutants they might encounter again. Therefore, Blake, the captain of the squad, did not hesitate to agree to the arrangement. The leader of the reinforcements soon took notice of the Little Bird maintaining the Light-based Spells to illuminate the squad. "Huh? A Pure Light Sparrow, that''s quite rare!" Though Pure Light Sparrows are classified as Magical Beasts, not all of them can cast Light Series magic; most are indistinguishable from ordinary birds. Even those that can often only use the Light Healing Technique. In comparison to Illumination Techniques, Healing Spells are evidently more practical. After all, when the night falls and the birds return to their nests, lighting up a Light Orb is not just unnecessary but completely superflous. It would instead likely cause panic among their kind. "Is that so? There seem to be quite a lot of Pure Light Sparrows." Chen Fei had checked an encyclopedia, and Pure Light Sparrows were breeding in large numbers on Cangqiong Star, not unlike pigeons on Blue Star. Sometimes they were even hunted as prey and turned into roasted bird skewers that would make even the crafty Old Piao drool. "What I mean is, it''s rare for one to be able to use Light-based Spells beyond the Light Healing Technique. It seems your Little Pure Light Sparrow hasn''t signed a contract yet. Why not sell it to me? Name your price." The leader of the reinforcements was quite interested in the Little Bird capable of casting the Illumination Technique, especially since it had not yet been contracted by anyone. Acquiring it as a lamp seemed like an excellent idea. "Sorry, Xiao Jiu is not for sale!" Chen Fei immediately and unequivocally declined. To him, the Little Bird was beyond price and could not simply be sold off for any amount. "Hey, kid, it''s just a Pure Light Sparrow. Sell it to Mr. Kanje; a favor like that can''t be measured in money." Someone immediately tried to enlighten this clueless rookie. "Mr. Kanje is a Thunder Mage God. Forget selling, just give it away. That favor would be enormous." "This is an opportunity! You must seize it." "It''s just a Pure Light Sparrow. Later I''ll directly give you several of them. Not just ten, but even a hundred would be fine!" The leader of the reinforcements was a Thunder Series Mage of the First Rank, not someone just anyone could approach casually. It was hard to tell if those chiming in were genuinely offering advice or trying to curry favor with the leader of the reinforcements. As always protective, Hanna Gagel stepped in front of Chen Fei and angrily addressed the chattering crowd: "Hey, hey, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to force a purchase?" She didn''t care about any Mage God or Law Honors; even those figures needed to eat. Instead of pleasing the powerful, she believed it was more about bowing to capital. Hanna Gagel was capital herself; why would she need to look to others for approval? "Sorry! Xiao Jiu is not for sale!" Standing behind Manager Hanna, Chen Fei smiled and shook his head. His face wore a smile, but inside he was cursing! Did these people have any idea how much effort he had invested in Xiao Jiu? Could that be quantified with money? "You all don''t have to..." A Pure Light Sparrow of Second Rank, Human Order is indeed rarely seen, even unheard of. But at its core, it''s still a Light-element Magical Beast; at Low Rank, and even at Intermediate Rank, its combat power is weak. Only Healing Spells are meaningful, and other Light-based Spells have almost no offensiveness. Light-element Magical Beasts will only be taken seriously once they achieve Eighth Rank, Human Order or higher. High Rank Light-based Spells indeed have considerable power; the higher the rank, the stronger the combat power of Light. Once it reaches the Heavenly Order and touches upon the rules, Light will truly become one of the most formidable forces among all ranks and will easily crush others, even the so-called strongest Space Series, which could suffer if they''re not careful. After all, Light''s exclusivity is unparalleled. "Xiao Jiu, you have to work hard, learn a few more spells!" Chen Fei fully understood the sudden disapproval of the reinforcement leader. But Xiao Jiu is still a child! Once it masters a few more Light-based Spells, no one will dare to belittle it. "We can''t take this bird, Mr. Kanje!" The others finally reacted as well. Who would have thought that the Pure Light Sparrow, upon reaching the Second Rank, Human Order, would actually learn this first. "I''m truly sorry for the disturbance, young man." Kanje, the reinforcement leader, didn''t seem angry at all. He wiped his left hand over his right fingers and produced a small test tube bottle out of nowhere, handing it over and saying, "This... consider this a greeting gift!" Goodness me! There''s even a gift in return! No matter what was in the test tube, if it came from a Mage''s hands, it was definitely something valuable. "I can''t accept this," Chen Fei quickly waved his hands, feeling unworthy to receive something from someone he was meeting for the first time, with whom he had no personal relationship. "It''s good, the Rookie can use it." However, Manager Hanna reached out to take it, examining the item in her hands and asking, "What kind of magic potion is this?" The slender bottle came from a mage, and the mysterious liquid inside was likely from a Magic Medicine from Cangqiong Star. Due to the different rules of heaven and earth, and the far less active elemental atmosphere, Blue Star locally produced nothing but bottles and stoppers and relied entirely on cross-border trade for these miraculous potions. Kanje, the Thunder Mage God and leader of the reinforcements, still in a good mood, explained, "This is a Psychic Power Potion of Third Rank, Human Order, something I had left over from before but no longer of use to me." As a Mage of the First Rank, Earth Order, a Human Order potion naturally wouldn''t be of much help to him. In his Space System Alchemy Storage Device, he had several potions like this, which are quite appropriate as greeting gifts for the younger generation. Psychic Power Potion! Many people inwardly shouted, don''t give it to me! Most of those present were supernatural power users below Class B, Human Order spellcasters, and War Professionals. The Psychic Power Potion was almost suitable for all ability users. Boosting psychic power was obviously beneficial in controlling one''s abilities, and no one would despise having stronger spirit. "Take it! This will be useful to you, drink it now if you can!" The Psychic Power Potion was also useful to Class C supernatural power users. Hanna Gagel swallowed, forcefully suppressing her desire, shoved the test tube bottle with the potion into Chen Fei''s hands, and then quickly turned her head away to stop looking. - Chapter 155 Lesson 155 - Feeding the Birds Manager Hanna''s suggestion was absolutely golden, completely devoid of any selfish motives. She had long noticed, others'' covetous and greedy eyes on this Third Rank Human Order potion, probably already scheming on how to get their hands on this Psychic Power Potion. The hearts of Jianghu are malicious, not everyone is like Thunder Mage God Kanje who is willing to support a young junior upon their first meeting, nor is there anyone who could restrain their greed like Hanna Gagel and hand over the potion in their possession to someone else. The usual course of action is to unscrew the cap, tip one''s head back, and drink it all down, then clap your hands, and it''s gone! In this age of great contention, not contend? If you don''t contend, might as well die! Why all the fuss! In the world of Ability Users, resources are limited, and the competition for them is even fiercer. "Alright then!" Chen Fei also noticed the unusual stares around him. The leader of the reinforcements, Thunder Mage God Kanje silently sized him up, very curious about what this young man would do. At his level of Rank, a mere Third Rank Human Order Psychic Power Potion had become something he could take or leave, hence he could freely gift it to others. If it were up to Ability Users still at Human Order and below Rank B, they would never let it go no matter what. Gently unscrewing the cap, Chen Fei was about to bring it to his lips when a tiny pointed beak beat him to it. Xiao Jiu landed on his hand, eagerly poking its head into the vial''s opening. This little one was interested in everything whether it was coffee or wine; now seeing Chen Fei drinking a Magic Potion, it wanted to taste it first. "This little rascal!" Chen Fei slightly tilted the bottle, allowing the liquid to slowly approach the mouth of the bottle. The Little Bird was the first to reach in with its beak, tasted a bit, emitted a strange and loud chirp, then went poke, poke, poke, vying to drink the potion, one gulp after the other, completely monopolizing the vial opening. With this approach, it truly reminiscent of an ambitious father. The others watched Chen Fei feeding the bird with the Psychic Power Potion, heartbroken while covering their eyes, what a waste! Feels like his family owns a mine, using a Magic Potion to feed a bird! Absolutely... Hanna Gagel watched in astonishment, except she didn''t find it as hard to accept as the others. After all, the nest this youngster had prepared for the Little Bird even contained a more expensive Light Beast Crystal Core. "Jiu!~" Xiao Jiu drank gleefully, the entire Magic Potion was guzzled clean, and it was still pecking at the mouth of the bottle, creating a tingling sound. "Feeding the bird!" "What a pity!" "You might as well have given it to me!" Some people''s expressions twisted slightly, unsure whether to feel depressed or go insane. "You mischievous little imp!" Chen Fei playfully teased the Little Bird. He didn''t really care about enhancing his own Psychic Power; ever since his Awakening, his psychic strength had been naturally increasing, but as for Control Power and such, with the Dog System present, he simply didn''t need it. Hanna Gagar shook her head, more convinced of her deduction. This was not normal. "Number 73, is there a problem?" The leader of the reinforcements, Thunder Mage God Kanje, also noticed the unusual reaction of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad. Hanna Gagar pointed at the landmine in Chen Fei''s hand, stating unequivocally, "Mutants have passed through here; why didn''t it explode!" "They passed here, right!" Blake smacked his head. Before the ground forces arrived, hordes of mutants, no different in size from adult bulls and weighing more than humans, had flooded the area. It didn''t make sense for them not to have triggered this landmine. If this landmine had been buried here earlier, it should have exploded by now. Pressure-release landmines aren''t that smart. Remote signals are easily blocked and interfered with underground, and only wiring could ensure its use. But wouldn''t such a visible wire mean giving away a blatant clue to the enemies? "This landmine was buried here temporarily." The leader of the reinforcements wasn''t foolish and finally realized what was happening. "The enemy is close!" Chen Fei easily derived a further conclusion from Manager Hanna''s deduction. Fools had no place in reconnaissance operations. To be precise, they wouldn''t live long enough to partake, so everyone present was intelligent. Even if they hadn''t realized it at first, they would quickly understand. The enemy, thinking themselves clever, had inadvertently provided their opponents with a clear clue. "We''ve come to the right place!" Thunder Mage God Kanje laughed heartily, clapping his hands. With just the manpower of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, they weren''t enough to directly attack the enemy''s lair. But now with these reinforcements, they were fully capable of fighting a battle. They could even continue to bring more people down from the surface. With an A-rank Space Series Ability User and a Second Rank Space System Mage God working together, deploying additional personnel wasn''t a challenge. Discover exclusive tales on empire Boom!~ The entire cave tunnel suddenly shook without warning, and rocks of all sizes rained down, creating a deafening rumble that was followed by a pungent smell of gunpowder and dust. "Quick, stabilize the structure!" Someone yelled loudly. Whether Earth Mages or Earth Element Ability Users, all activated their abilities to stabilize the entire tunnel. If a large-scale collapse occurred, none of them would survive. Even Earth Element War Professionals, who couldn''t help much, jammed their weapons into nearby stone walls, using their Battle Qi and Elemental Affinity to try to stabilize the violent shocks. "Damn, that''s harsh!" The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, a tall, slim Black man named Blake, gasped in shock. It seemed that the enemy wasn''t as foolish as imagined, knowing to have a backup plan. The situation ahead could be guessed even without looking; most likely, it had already collapsed. "Any volunteers to check the situation ahead? Be careful not to step on any more landmines." The leader of the reinforcements, Thunder Mage God Kanje, commanded. "I''ll go!" Blake turned into a shadow, thrusting into the smoke-laden air, disappearing from sight. Reconnaissance was his responsibility, after all. - Chapter 156 - Undying Thunderbolt B-rank supernatural power users, before the first one awakened, could certainly clinch the championship in the Olympics. Of course, they can''t now. But it''s two different things, current public competitions like the Olympic Games simply don''t accept supernatural power users, even accidental awakenings on the field lead to disqualification and forced withdrawal. The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, B-rank Dark Elemental Psychic Blake, went quickly and returned just as fast; 500 meters ahead, a cave collapse had occurred, turning it into a dead end. The team on-site now followed the rescue leader, Thunder Mage God Kanje, instead of Blake. With so many ability users, what''s there to be afraid of? One wave of the hand and dig! Without large machinery, digging through with manual labor would probably make ordinary people cry, but it wasn''t too much trouble for the various ability users, just a matter of spending more time. Two hours later, they finally broke through again. The unknown enemy was ruthless enough to collapse over two hundred meters in one go. The moment it was cleared, a pungent smell hit their faces. "Toxic gas!" The person standing at the very front wobbled a few times then collapsed weakly, clutching their throat. Who would have thought that behind the thick rubble blocking the passage, there would still be a cloud of poison gas lingering, that even ability users, caught off guard, would not fare much better than ordinary people after exposure. "Quick, put on your gas masks! Wind-type ability users and wind series mages, disperse the toxic gas and bring over the poisoned people." Thunder Mage God Kanje, holding the highest command on-site, ordered loudly. Gas masks and antidote potions were standard issue, basically one for everyone. Hanna Gagar pulled Chen Fei aside and, while activating her Special Ability, said, "Don''t get too far from me." A stream of air faintly encircled the two of them, isolating the spreading poison gas and simultaneously dispersing it towards the passageway behind. Putting aside the concentration of toxicity, even without neutralizing the poison, just lowering the proportion of air content to a certain level would allow the body''s own metabolism to easily combat the toxicity, to the point where it might not even trigger an allergic reaction. "Chirp!~" Little Birdie stood on Daddy Chen Fei''s shoulder, not needing any protective gear against the poison at all. It was a Light-element Magical Beast with inherently high resistance to poisons, capable of rapidly detoxifying even after being poisoned, through the Light Healing Technique. The howling airstream lasted for a good half hour before sensors reported that the residual toxicity in the air had dropped below the safety threshold. Those who were initially poisoned managed to detoxify successfully, but their respiratory systems and skin that had made contact with the gas still showed some swelling and ulcers, and their overall spirit had greatly diminished. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu lent a hand, and after a few casts of the Light Healing Technique, the affected areas visibly returned to normal. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had prepared Light System Casters and conventional medical power for this operation, but numbers were limited and they couldn''t be sent down to face dangers, so they all stayed above ground on standby. Chen Fei''s Little Birdie was the only Light System casting power underground, living up to its nickname of Little Band-Aid. Seeing Xiao Jiu not only unexpectedly release the second-rank "Light Burst Flash," but also steadily maintain "Illumination Technique" without forgetting the Light-series spell "Light Healing Technique," which Pure Light Sparrows were most adept at, the gaze of many shifted towards it, less envious and more gentle. The obsequious flattery made her skin crawl and numbed her mind. How could there be such shameless people, ready to say anything and everything. "Ah?!" Chen Fei was startled and confused ¨C what was he not allowed to do? Was admiring such a feat also not permitted? Could it be that Manager Hanna was not pleased with the kind-hearted Mage God Kanje showing off his grandstanding skills? Most probably that was the case. In truth, those people weren''t stupid either; having finally met a generous big shot, a few more fawning phrases didn''t cost anything. If the big shot accidentally let something slip through his fingers, like those Psychic Power Potions, wouldn''t it mean an instant gain? Compared to the benefits received, what''s wrong with calling someone ''Daddy''? Such a cost-free advantage, what''s it really worth? Waving away the residual glow of lightning from the tip of his Magic Wand, the Thunder Mage God bowed to his surroundings and humbly said with a chuckle, "Ha ha, you flatter me, you flatter me!" He wasn''t a Yan Huang Descendant, and his gesture felt somewhat incongruous, but it didn''t prevent others from seeing it as especially stylish! The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, a B-ranked Dark Element Psychic code-named Blake, explored hundreds of meters ahead, then turned back to report. "We can move on!" The menacing Mutated Insects had all turned into charred remains and were long dead. The larger the creature and the more developed its muscles, the less it could withstand electric shocks. Once the current passed through them, the muscles would become paralyzed. Even the largest of them would be unable to move, shivering and trembling, stripped of the ability to act. Even more so, considering it was a powerful spell cast personally by a First Rank Earth Mage God, the Mutants that were not even Magical Beasts and lacked magical resistance could only rely on their physical bodies to withstand. If they survived, they might be left half-dead, barely hanging on for a bit longer. If they couldn''t withstand it, they would end up like the scene before them, reduced to piles of charred remains, crackling crisply underfoot and provoking an extremely comforting sensation, almost therapeutic for anyone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Not a single Mutant or rhinoceros cockroach could be seen over a kilometer away, only traces of their presence scattered within the passageway. In fact, the Mutants that swarmed over just now, though seemingly countless, had only occupied over five hundred meters of the passage. The full force of the First Rank Thunder Series Spell "Undying Thunderbolt" cast by Kanje left the Mutants with no chance to escape and led to their total annihilation. If it were not underground, let alone in a cave passage with limited space to dodge, this spell might not have been able to unleash such devastating power. After traveling some distance, they suddenly entered a spacious cavern. They were standing halfway up, and there was a platform of a few hundred square meters at the exit, which was only a very small part of the whole space. "Tweet tweet tweet tweet!" The Pure Light Sparrow chirped incessantly, attempting to dispel all darkness, as Light Orbs from the Illumination Technique rose, adding up to those previously released, providing a faint glow to some parts of the space. Eighteen Light Orbs were already Xiao Jiu''s limit. The 13th Reconnaissance Squad and the surface reinforcements finally had a chance to light up their illumination equipment. Dozens of bright beams sliced through the moist haze, spreading light further into the cavern. A chill ran up everyone''s spine. - Chapter 157 Section 157 - Little Robber People on the prominent platform were surrounded by countless holes in the rock walls as far as the eye could see, looking much like a beehive and shockingly disturbing. Under the light of the Illumination Technique''s orbs and electric lights, at least half of these holes faintly revealed white egg-shaped objects the size of basketballs, some even slightly trembling. Many mutants were crawling around, seemingly checking on those egg-shaped objects. The cavern space''s maximum width spanned at least five hundred meters, as determined quickly by laser rangefinders¡ªthe maximum horizontal width was 514 meters and the maximum vertical height, about 384 meters. The two numbers sounded odd when read out loud. I''m going to die; they can''t kill me off; this is really freaking... "This is..." The scene before her made Hanna Gagar, who didn''t have trypophobia, break out in goosebumps, her hair standing on end. It was just too damn creepy. Destroy it all! I''m tired! Hurry up! Captain Blake of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad suppressed his excited emotions and said, "It''s a mutant lair!" Although there had been many twists and turns along the way, in the end, they had found the old den of the mutants, and it had not been in vain. Whatever the case, the 13th Reconnaissance Squad would not miss out on this great achievement. "Well, so they were hiding here!" Thunder Mage God Kanje, who had shown his signature spell and his Jianghu nickname "Undying Thunderbolt," belonging to the First Rank of the Thunder Series, took a sharp intake of breath. The countless holes in the rock wall meant the number of mutants was equally astonishing. "Lord Kanje, report to the surface immediately, and we need to set up the bombs as soon as possible." Blake quickly came to his senses, realizing this wasn''t the time to be shocked. If the whole nest of mutants were alerted and they all attacked, their group would immediately be at a disadvantage. Especially since setting up the bombs with their devastating destructive power didn''t allow for any mistakes. Thunder Mage God Kanje hastily responded, "Yes, yes, report immediately, get the bombs out, and with mine added, we''ll blow them both up together. It''s foolproof. Everyone, make less noise." He, too, feared alarming too many mutants; after all, the space here was vast. Unlike in the corridor where a spell swept through and mutants had nowhere to dodge, making the spells fully effective. "We need to figure out how to place the bombs at the most central location." Blake gazed below the platform, where the dim light just barely reached the absolute center of the cavern space, and there seemed to be some unusual objects. The reflective glare from the headlights even suggested a mirrored surface. Without hesitation, Thunder Mage God Kanje said, "I''ll do it!" The reason he could be the leader of his team was certainly not that he was timid or avoided battle; at critical moments, he was willing to lead by example and not let anyone down. Otherwise, how could he inspire such loyalty? "Me!" "How can you do it without me!" "And me!" "I have faith in Mage God Kanje." "Hahaha, since we''re already here, why miss out!" The flatterers from before turned out to not have a single coward among them. Maybe one or two had hesitations, but following the rhythm set by others, they were somewhat embarrassed to stay silent and chimed in with the flow. Stay tuned for updates on empire "We don''t need so many people. Ability users below Superpower Level C, spellcasters, and War Professionals below Human Order Sixth Rank, do not participate." Thunder Mage God Kanje, waving his hand, made a decisive call. Such complicated procedures were necessary, all for the sake of safety. "Hold for five minutes!" Blake, captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, and Kanje, the leader of the reinforcements, worked together on the detonation system of the two bombs. "Xiao Jiu, into your nest, don''t fly around!" Chen Fei, the shoulder bearing a 14.5mm caliber cannon sniper, did not let Xiao Jiu continue to stay on his shoulder but placed it into the bird''s nest beside him. After all, firing this 19-kilogram heavy weapon was quite intimidating, and he feared the little bird would get frightened and fly about chaotically. Boom!~ The finger-thick armor-piercing shells shot out fiercely. There was no need to aim deliberately; at several hundred meters distance, especially in a windless cavern space, hitting a mutant the size of a horse was easy¡ªjust control the recoil, and even a rookie who had just touched a gun could hit the target every time. The penetrative power of the armor-piercing bullets could effortlessly penetrate 1.2 meters of concrete; upon striking those mutants, even the heavily armored ones could be penetrated, at times even two or three at once. "Chirp!~" Little Bird stayed obediently in its nest but curiously peered at a fist-sized hole in the corner of the wall. "Chirp?!" Twenty meters underground, two men were leaning close to a copper pipe, listening intently; this copper pipe connected directly to the cavern above, sounds of shouting, gunfire, explosions, and the roaring of the mutants all clearly audible. Now there was also a clear chirping of a bird. "We have five minutes until detonation, we need to evacuate!" "Wait, where''s that bird chirping coming from?" The two men exchanged glances in bewilderment. From the copper pipe emerged a small, pointed beak, followed by a mischievous little head that then pecked at the air. "Chirp!" A dazzling flash erupted, filling the entire space of more than ten meters around. "Ah!" "My eyes!" While the two men covered their eyes, Little Bird reflected a ring covered in strange runes in its tiny, mung bean-sized pupils; it was full of curiosity. "Ah! My alchemy storage device!" One cried out in pain as his finger was painfully pecked; by the time he reacted, the ring that had been on his finger had disappeared. The other man rubbed his eyes vigorously and managed to recover some vision only to see a little bird fitting their ring-shaped Space System Alchemy Storage Device onto its claws. The bird pecked at it frantically, and suddenly, a whole bunch of items fell out, cluttering the small space completely. It had taken them great effort to sort out and put away those items, but now they were scattered about like trash. "Xiao Jiu..." "Chirp!" Hearing the call, Little Bird turned around and, flapping its small wings, agilely made its way back to the copper pipe, and disappeared into it. Watching the little bird vanish from sight, the two men, pressed under piles of boxes, exchanged looks but then screamed in utter horror. "No..." - Chapter 158 Section 158 - Eye of the Storm Chen Fei took a moment to glance back and found that the bird''s nest beside him was empty, with no sign of the Little Bird. (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã)¨s( ©ß©¥©ß! This little thing isn''t listening again, where on earth could it have gone off to now! He quickly looked around and searched, but there was no sign of Xiao Jiu. "Chirp!" A clear chirping sound came from nearby. Following the sound, he saw his own Little Bird sitting neatly in its nest, calling out to Chen Fei. ©c(¨R¡õ¨Q)¥Î I''m such a good baby, come and praise me! "Little guy, where did you run off to just now?" Chen Fei''s finger reached into the nest and poked the little fellow. "Chirp chirp!" The Little Bird pecked at his finger (Daddy, what are you talking about?) The little one was too mischievous. "Unit 74, continue firing!" Blake''s voice came through, indicating that the line of defense was somewhat unstable without Chen Fei''s cannon sniping support. More and more Mutants appeared in everyone''s field of view; they were surrounded, tight and secure. The number of Mutants in this cavern space was no less than a thousand. "Right away!" Chen Fei glanced sternly at the little guy and said, "Don''t run off again. If you do, I''ll have to put handcuffs on you." "Chirp!~" It was unclear whether the Little Bird truly understood or not. - Gunshots and explosions intertwined. The trajectories of red bullets crisscrossed, and the swelling fireballs erupted one after another. The Mutants that surged like a tide seemed to be driven by something, having gone completely mad, braving the barrage of bullets, heedless of their casualties, they surged forth one after the other. The full-output Firearms were no longer sufficient to repel the horrific number of the Mutant Worm Swarm as barrels of heavy-caliber machine guns overheated, and some didn''t even have the time to start changing. Everyone was firing as much ammunition as they possibly could. At this time, Chen Fei and his White Steel Crowbar had lost their deterrent effect. The roaring Mutants mounted wave after wave of assaults, closing in to little more than thirty meters away¡ª the vicious tide of insects that once deluged Aircrew Base 912 was occurring once more. Intense explosions sent countless dismembered Mutants into the air. Before these severed limbs and remains had any chance to hit the ground, the empty spaces created by the shockwaves on the earth were instantly filled again. Someone shouted, "Everyone, pull out all the stops now!" War Professionals were the last line of defense, holding Cold Weapons at the ready as they saw the Mutants nearly upon them. "Thorn Rock Spikes!" An Earth Mage cast a long-prepared Spell. Sharp spikes burst from the ground, scattering the tide of Mutants that came surging towards them. Chen Fei was dumbstruck. This one-eyed old woman really hid her cards well. So, her left eye wasn''t blind! On top of that, it was heterochromatic¡ªwhat a Persian Cat! Boom!~ The thrown barrels inevitably burst, spewing gasoline in all directions. Touching the flames, they instantly rose into a raging inferno. The fire, fueled by the wind''s motion, began to move along, swiftly forming a slowly rotating wall of fire around the man-made structures at the bottom of the cavern, isolating the mutants from them. The flying-type mutants fluttering midair also began to lose control, being swept along by the wind and unable to ferociously dive toward the ground. As time passed, the wind grew stronger, and a massive storm took shape within the cavern space. With the wind fueling the fire and vice versa, the Ability Users of the Wind and Fire Series present immediately reacted, unleashing their powers to escalate the event. The Earth Element and Thunder Series Ability Users followed, embellishing the forming storm, increasing its might, and making it more than just a howling gale. Many unprepared mutants were swept up into the air. Flames, rocks, lightning, and even the carcasses of mutants carried by the wind turned into merciless reapers. With these elements mixed in, the storm''s lethal force rose exponentially, akin to a natural disaster in its terrifying power. Blake, the captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, found a moment to glance at Hanna Gagar and revealed an epiphany¡ªthis was the "Eye of the Storm" indeed! Just based on this trick, her Superpower Level could probably be raised another, as her control of the wind was now on par with a B-level Ability User specializing in crowd-control skills unleashing their full power without restraint. The sky was blanketed with a swarm of insects, all swirled into the air, none able to penetrate the storm and breach the calm eye at its center. The leader of the ground reinforcements, Thunder Mage God Kanje, finally ceased his actions. "I''m done over here!" The bomb he was working on was set after completing its timing, with the detonation set not to differ from Blake''s bomb by more than 0.1 milliseconds. Both bombs would detonate nearly simultaneously. Blake, dripping with sweat, confirmed once again and finally said, "I''m done too!" Both men looked at each other and nodded in unison, then cried out in chorus, "Gather, everyone move towards us." The two bombs had begun a four-minute countdown. Hanna Gagar''s storm had bought everyone a precious opportunity to retreat; otherwise, they might have had difficulty evacuating while being tightly ensnared by the mutants. "Contact with the ground established, everyone stand together, don''t separate!" Thunder Mage God Kanje, a First Rank in Earth Order, used a special Magic Artifact to inform the Space Series Ability Users and Space Mages on the ground, and one of them took action to bring them back to the surface. A strange sensation enveloped Chen Fei out of nowhere. The surroundings blurred and his whole body felt light, as if gravity had been lost. "Jiu!~" The Little Bird cried out in the nest. Next to the nest, mysterious light flickered¡ªit wasn''t just light. Fragmented and shattered, it struggled to piece itself back together until fragments of images became somewhat visible. Seeing this, Thunder Mage God Kanje was astonished, "Hey, the little guy is about to grasp a new Spell!" How many Light-based Spells had this little guy already learned? Illumination Technique, Light Healing Technique, the blinding Light Burst Flash, and if including this one, that made four Spells. Goodness, this Pure Light Sparrow really is something else. Forget being a Pure Light Sparrow; many Magical Beasts at Second Rank would be hard-pressed to master so many Spells. It''s typical for creatures to grasp one Spell at First Rank, and using only two Spells at Second Rank is the norm. A flash of light. The sparkling fragments beside the nest finally came together to form a complete image. It barely held for a moment before dissolving into countless points of light disappearing into the air. The environment abruptly brightened, everyone''s vision became clear again, the howling storm was gone, the myriad mutants were gone, and the deep dark cavern space had also disappeared, leaving only neatly ordered modular barracks and dormitories. Finally, they had returned from underground back to the surface. - Chapter 159 Section 159 - Xiao Jius Leg Ring The retreat wasn''t just for the 13th Reconnaissance Squad and ground reinforcements; other reconnaissance squads relatively close to the cavern were also retrieved early to avoid being affected by the aftermath. In just an instant, everyone had returned to Camp 2. "We''re back!" "Thank God, we''re saved!" "Almost lost our lives there." ... Whether it was the 13th Reconnaissance Squad or the ground support personnel following the Thunder Mage God Kanje, everyone was jubilant, high-fiving each other in celebration of their narrow escape from death and the successful completion of their mission. If one "Dragon Slayer Missile" can''t solve the problem, then use two. Eliminating the mutant''s lair not only avenged the Aircrew Base 912 but also eradicated a major threat in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. However, neither Thunder Mage God Kanje nor the captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, Blake, had any trace of joy on their faces. Right before the space transfer was finally initiated, the vision presented by the Pure Light Sparrow''s Light-based Spells, though lasting only a brief moment like a fleeting glimpse, was clear enough for the two to see everything. The brightly lit laboratory, the rows of biological incubators, the corpulent and massive breeding bodies... It definitely wasn''t a place they had seen before on their journey. The appearance of such a scene in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area didn''t bode well. This matter must be reported as soon as possible. The two exchanged glances and hurried towards the center of the camp in unison. Countdown: 3 minutes 17 seconds "Finally back!" Chen Fei let out a long sigh of relief, completely relaxing. The oppressive darkness underground was no place for comfort and had put everyone in a gloomy mood. "Chirp chirp!" Little Bird also seemed much more cheerful. As a Light-element Magical Beast, the Pure Light Sparrow detested darkness and yearned for the sky and freedom. Being in the cave for several days had certainly been tough on it. Hanna Gagar, who had at some point covered her left eye with an eyepatch again, grabbed Chen Fei. "Come on, drink with me!" Even though the people had left, the storm rampaging inside the cavern was still not subsiding anytime soon. After unleashing such a massive spell, a completely exhausted Manager Hanna just wanted to crack open a few bottles of good liquor to ease and relax. Read exclusive adventures at empire Drinking alone was too boring, and right in front of her was a perfect drinking companion. "Hey, wait, wait!" Chen Fei planned to put the bird''s nest and the Little Bird back in the dormitory. The Pure Light Sparrow was a Magical Beast after all, even if it didn''t look like much; now that they had returned from the mission, the title ''Little Band-Aid'' would surely spread, and one couldn''t guarantee that someone in the dangerous Jianghu wouldn''t covet it in secret. "Let''s go!" But Hanna Gagar didn''t ask for permission, dragging him into her room. Apocalypse Defense Group, no, to be precise, the corporate war between Aircrew Base 911 and the industry''s eighth-ranked giant, Merman Brothers Consortium, had finally ended. The pressure she had carried vanished in an instant, which made it all the more worthwhile to have a drink. Not willing to let Chen Fei, the Rookie, waste time while she was still in a good mood. Another bottle of space star worth tens of thousands was opened. "Manager Hanna! Is Xiao Jiu with you?" "Here..." Following Manager Hanna''s response, the door was pulled open from the inside. "I hope Xiao Jiu hasn''t been too much trouble?" Chen Fei''s gaze swept past Hanna Gagel and saw the bird''s nest inside the room. "It''s fine, just a little too much to drink!" Manager Hanna spread her hands out and let Chen Fei into the room. The little bird indulging in stolen drinks wasn''t a new occurrence, but this time it had drunk a bit too much and was still tipsy. Hanna Gagel''s alcohol was mostly fermented from fruit flesh or seeds, naturally attractive to birds and just to Xiao Jiu''s taste, secretly indulging while the two humans were drunk. "Jiu!~" The endearing little bird was squatting in the nest, eyes bleary with drunkenness, still not sober. "I bought Xiao Jiu a tracking leg ring so no one would get any ideas about it," said Hanna Gagel, producing a small box and passing it over. The box was already empty except for the packaging and the instruction manual. During the time underground, the leader of the reinforcements, Thunder Mage God Kanje, had taken an interest in Xiao Jiu, which meant this Pure Light Sparrow was no longer ordinary, now valuable enough to be coveted. Mr. Kanje was open and straightforward; he could both pick up and let go, but that didn''t mean others would do the same. By putting a leg ring on Xiao Jiu, Chen Fei would always know its location, which would ease his mind. "Manager Hanna, you shouldn''t have gone to such expense," Chen Fei remarked when he saw the packaging, recognizing that the leg ring wasn''t cheap. Inside there was even a tiny crystalline block, enough to provide a whole year''s worth of tracking energy. Crystalline blocks have extremely high energy levels and densities; even the size of a grain of sand, they are still expensive. In fact, anything associated with crystal energy is not cheap. Chen Fei was all too familiar with the crystal jet, the unrivaled steed of a Sky Knight. To ignite the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, not only a "Fire Seed" was needed but also a massive start-up energy source. The ignition device brought by the factory''s technicians contained crystalline blocks, and each ignition service would consume over a million Star Yuan. After all, it was high-energy nuclear fusion and couldn''t be lit by a simple matchstick. Hanna Gagel said with easy generosity, "No problem, I''m quite fond of this little one." Xiao Jiu had done its part in the recent reconnaissance mission, becoming known to everyone as a cute little Band-Aid, a little light bulb, and flashlight. It seemed to have mastered a new spell recently, indicating that the Third Rank Light Beast Crystal Core donated by the Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan wasn''t wasted on this Pure Light Sparrow. While the magical beast''s advancement in rank was indeed due to the crystal core providing a continuous flow of active Light Element, leading to a qualitative change from quantitative accumulation, mastering spells had little to do with the crystal core. It relied on the little bird''s own efforts and intelligence. Not to mention the contribution of the collection of Light-element Magical Beast spellcasting videos that Hanna Gagel had gathered especially. After returning to his dormitory next door with the bird''s nest and Xiao Jiu, Hanna Gagel started to check her liquor cabinet and after a moment, she was puzzled, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. She remembered finishing sixteen bottles of liquor with Chen Fei and that there should have been sixteen more left in the box, but in the 4x8 liquor compartment, there were only fourteen bottles remaining, two were missing. Could there have been a thief? But where could there be a thief with such a conscience, only stealing two bottles? Normally, one would take the whole box. This was something Hanna Gagel couldn''t quite understand. Back in the dormitory, Xiao Jiu finally sobered up at noon and began chirping cheerfully as usual. "You little rascal, always stealing drinks. Are you hungry?" Chen Fei brought out a bowl of Xiao Jiu''s favorite bird food and placed it beside the nest. The little bird, starving, flapped its wings and flew over, perched on the edge of the bowl, and started pecking at the grains fervently. Only then did Chen Fei notice the leg rings on the little critter''s claws, one bronze and one silver, an unexpectedly matching color design, fitting together nicely just like Hanna Gagel''s eye colors, one green, one blue, not bad looking at all. He just didn''t understand why she insisted on covering them up with an eyepatch, making others think she was One-Eye. - Chapter 160 Section 160 - Options Chen Fei didn''t examine the manual carefully and thought the tracking leg ring that Manager Hanna gave to Xiao Jiu came in a pair. Hanna Gagel also encountered a misunderstanding when she saw the copper-colored "leg ring" on Xiao Jiu''s leg, naturally assuming that it was Chen Fei who had put it on, coupled with her own recently purchased shiny silver leg ring. The two leg rings, differing in color but similar in size and thickness, quite matched and formed a distinctive combination when put together. Taking advantage of the bird''s drunken stupor, Hanna Gagel easily slipped it on. Under normal circumstances, this would inevitably lead to some struggling and pecking. The little guy was quite disdainful of this one-eyed old lady, of course, except when it came to alcohol. Apart from Chen Fei, only a few people could gain the affection of the Pure Light Sparrow, and Chef Abel was quite proud of himself for being one of them. The 13th Reconnaissance Squad stayed at Camp 2 for a full week and soon discovered that all the other reconnaissance squads had gradually returned. Only a few squads managed to leave the cavern on their own; most were alternately retrieved by Space Series Ability Users and a Space System Mage God. With a "Biu," returning to the camp was naturally quite smooth. However, a few people might not adapt well to such a method of spatial movement, inevitably experiencing some dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. There was no need for medication, though; they would recover after a day or two of rest. On the day the withdrawal was completed, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee immediately announced the end of the reconnaissance mission, allowing everyone to go back to their respective homes. Many believed that the 13th Reconnaissance Squad had made significant contributions, assuming they had located the Mutant''s lair for the Joint Defense Committee. The gazes towards the six members were filled with envy, but Blake and the others knew all too well. Even the ground support personnel who followed the Thunder Mage God received the news, immediately followed by a gag order. A highly dangerous cavern battle, fought with two "Dragon Slayer Missiles" from the Combat Unit, did not target the mutants'' lair; they hadn''t even seen the breeding matriarch. By the time the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee reorganized manpower and made considerable effort to find the real lair, it had already been abandoned and turned into a barren wasteland. The remains of the mutants littered the ground; creatures with the bulk of bulls were reduced to just over a foot of ash. Even the breeding matriarch turned into what looked like a dry sea cucumber, thoroughly charred inside out by high heat, with a pervasive harsh peroxide odor. It seemed that the humans who had hastily retreated had no intention of leaving any valuable genetic fragments for the Global United Defense Committee. The high heat coupled with peroxide and probably the spraying of targeted biodegradation enzymes were standard measures for destroying genetic fragments; even gods could do nothing about it. Before leaving, every individual involved in the reconnaissance mission received their respective rewards. It must be said that with sovereignty backing it, the Global United Defense Committee was quite generous; the basic bonus for reconnaissance personnel was 500,000 Star Yuan, with an additional at least 100,000 Star Yuan for meritorious actions. Together with the previous free supply quota, each person could almost receive 1,000,000 Star Yuan, partly in supplies. Although a portion was in material form, it was still considerable. The items that the Global United Defense Committee purchased on their behalf were directly from the manufacturers, without any price hikes or fees, and tax-exempt. The actual price many received was often at a third or even half the market price, enjoying a Sovereign Level discount. It was quite a bargain, since such deals wouldn''t come again. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, who provided the exchange list, could naturally guess that Hanna Gagel was negotiating for the benefit of the clever Pure Light Sparrow, but the magic potions for Light-element Magical Beasts were not plentiful, which also meant the demand was not high. "It''s really too cheap!" Hanna Gagel perused the four-page list she had received, clicking her tongue in appreciation. Many of the magic potions were not just for the Light Series; instead, they were designed for general use, suitable for all series, and did not differentiate between spellcasters, War Professionals, and supernatural power users, making them highly sought after on the market. There were two copies of the list, with the other in Chen Fei''s hands, who only glanced at it twice, his heart pounding uncontrollably and breaking out in a cold sweat. He could no longer bear to look at it and gave a starkly different review from Manager Hanna. "It''s really expensive!!!" The magic potions on the list started at half a million Star Yuan each, with no cheaper options available. Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu had scraped together their bonus reluctantly, which could not withstand such extravagant spending, estimating they could only buy two or three items before running out. Hanna Gagel never expected the economically challenged Chen Fei to come up with any substantial ideas. After calculating the list, she bluntly said, "Rookie, Xiao Jiu, I have three plans." The Pure Light Sparrow cocked its head, unsure if it understood the situation. Chen Fei, already suffering from emotional pain, clutched his chest and stuttered, "Ha, Manager Hanna, you¡ªyou say, say!" Prior to this, he had thought of using the remaining material quota to acquire a classy sedan, which he intended to give to his brother and sister-in-law to go with their new house, showing that the Chen Family had not mistreated the sister-in-law who insisted on marrying into the family. A car for the whole family would also make transportation more convenient. Chen Fei''s plans were indeed beautiful, but they were no match for Manager Hanna''s extravagant demands. Investing in Xiao Jiu''s future required more than just a Third Rank Earth Order Magical Beast Crystal Core. This struck Chen Fei at his core. For the sake of this little one, since he had already invested a Light Beast Crystal Core worth ten million Star Yuan, throwing in another million or two Star Yuan was like taking a loss on this trip. Hanna Gagel spoke unhurriedly, "Plan one, a vial of Essence Blood from a Sun-Transforming Skylark of the Light Series, which could guide Xiao Jiu''s bloodline enhancement towards the Sun-Transforming Skylark, making future training more targeted and much easier; plan two, two vials of Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion, which should enhance Xiao Jiu''s Light Element Affinity by one star; plan three, a Light Element Magic Power Balancing Potion combined with a Light Beast Crystal Core, which could help Xiao Jiu advance a rank quickly, ensuring a successful advancement to Third Rank Human Order." In her view, the combined bonus of Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu could only afford limited items. Just like that! And it was only possible because of the grace lent by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Otherwise, it would be unthinkable to purchase these items with such a small amount of Star Yuan at any other time. Chen Fei: "..." So poor! Millions of Star Yuan were as insignificant as scraps of paper in the face of these magic potions. - Chapter 161 Section 161 - Bro! We Got a Car! "Don''t think it''s too expensive!" Manager Hanna, seeing the words "I''m poor" written on his face, earnestly said, "In the future, there is no possibility of purchasing the items on the list at such a price. I don''t know about the future, but right now, this opportunity is only here once, and I hope you won''t miss it." She was genuinely considering Chen Fei; otherwise, she would have let this fool exchange it for some cash. "I understand, Manager Hanna." As much as it hurt, he understood the logic; Chen Fei was naturally aware that his imagination was being limited by his poverty. Wealthy people focus on the future; by seizing it, they can become wealthier. Poor people can only think about what''s right in front of them, resulting in short-sightedness and becoming even poorer. "So...the best plan, choose one of three!" Until the end, Hanna Gagar did not make the decision for Chen Fei; instead, she returned the choice to him. "I choose..." Chen Fei was entangled, truly feeling his imagination limited. "Chirp!" Little Bird''s tiny claws, each wearing a leg ring, bounced on Chen Fei''s shoulder. "Can you give me a hint?" Chen Fei cast a pleading look at Manager Hanna. "Sorry, I can''t help you. In my view, all three plans have their pros and cons, but they are actually quite similar." Hanna Gagar spread her hands, showing she was helpless. Whichever plan it was, it would help the growth of the Pure Light Sparrow, although the stages of growth were different. As long as there were enough supporting resources, these growth stages wouldn''t be missed. The biggest reason Xiao Jiu was worth investing in wasn''t that it had a Light Beast Crystal Core, but because its comprehension was far superior to other Pure Light Sparrows, being able to understand four spells at Human Order Second Rank, which was quite a rare talent. If given enough resources, it could potentially break through the limits of its own bloodline. Its future growth might not be inferior to other magical beasts of the same rank. "Chirp chirp!" Xiao Jiu was completely indifferent, playfully pecking at Daddy Chen Fei''s ear as usual. "Er..." Chen Fei pondered for a long time and finally made up his mind. In the first lesson of the "Ability Class" in primary education, the teacher emphatically explained the importance of Elemental Affinity for Ability Users. Elemental affinity and spiritual power are both foundational for Ability Users, the former being relatively more important. At the same rank, higher elemental affinity means greater potential. "I choose plan two!" "Elemental affinity represents the growth limit." Manager Hanna immediately understood Chen Fei''s thinking and frowned as she asked, "Why not choose the bloodline of the Sun-Transforming Skylark, which is a clear direction for growth, or directly advancing in rank, which is also good?" The higher the star rating of elemental affinity, the higher the ceiling for rank advancement, but she didn''t quite understand why, for someone like the Pure Light Sparrow who was as ordinary as they come, every advancement in rank was a major gain. Why ignore the existing channel for advancement and instead persistently pursue elemental affinity? Often, not every magical beast gets the chance to reach their rank ceiling; hence, excessively pursuing elemental affinity doesn''t hold much significance. Chen Fei spoke very seriously, "We should have confidence in Xiao Jiu. We shouldn''t forcibly interfere with Xiao Jiu''s future. We must believe it can awaken its strongest bloodline." Even the weakest magical beast had strong ancestors. An adult Light-element Magical Beast, Sun-Transforming Skylark, might not necessarily be the strongest bloodline among the Light-series birds. In the end, it was Manager Hanna who came up with a cunning trick, pouring a little sweet red wine into the potion test tube. Then... attracted by the smell of the alcohol and fruit, the little creature pounced like it was seizing a treasure, gulping down both magic potions without leaving a drop. It was truly just a child! And far too easy to deceive; perhaps Manager Hanna''s concern for Little Bird wasn''t without reason. The effects of the magic potions were often immediate. When Xiao Jiu returned to its nest, the number of light spots emitted by the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core nearly doubled, the more robust talent foundation accelerating the accumulation of its elemental power. Just as the executive manager had said, although the three plans differed in their focal points, they all greatly aided Little Bird''s advancement in rank, each one speeding up its progress. Despite the high cost of over two million Star Yuan, making the financially poor Chen Fei feel tremendously distressed, you get what you pay for. The enhancement in Elemental Affinity allowed Xiao Jiu to successfully break through its own slight Magical Beast bloodline limitations. Although the Pure Light Sparrow''s starting point was low, each step forward was solid and substantial. On the surface, Xiao Jiu was still a Pure Light Sparrow, but its potential bloodline now matched the above-average talent of Light-element Magical Beasts, making it a very special little bird. It was only someone as persistently stubborn as Chen Fei, "bent on taking the hard way," who would use these expensive and scarce resources on a little Pure Light Sparrow; if used to cultivate other types of magical beasts, the yield would have been undoubtedly much greater. Having just returned to Aircrew Base 911, Chen Fei''s phone automatically connected to the base network, and his younger sister''s call came through. "Brother! Our family has a car now!" His younger sister''s words sounded truly pitiful. "Has the car been delivered? Do elder brother and sister-in-law like it? I chose red for sister-in-law." Chen Fei was not at all surprised. Pinching his fingers, he figured that the car he had bought should have been delivered. Global resource mobilization is fast, isn''t it? The most common car body colors were black and white, followed by maroon. Women generally preferred red, especially for wedding cars. Chen Fei also saw this as a compensation to his sister-in-law on behalf of The Chen Family. Not every bride could withstand such huge pressure and still go through with the marriage. At the wedding, the cold words from her relatives were still fresh in his memory. A woman who could share hardships rightfully deserved to share fortunes as well. "Second brother, you are being reckless with money again. Why not save it to pay off the debts." Chen Meng had specifically inquired about the price of that red family sedan; its market average was around 157,800 Star Yuan, fluctuating no more than 500 Star Yuan. Chen Fei had already guessed Chen Meng would say this, and he replied with a smile, "It''s a mission bonus. Buying things allows for a significant discount. Converting it to cash means a loss, and since it all has to be spent, why not on a car!" "Then let''s save it for you, second brother; you can drive it when you return!" Chen Meng''s words represented not just her sentiment but also that of his elder brother and sister-in-law. Not being family, they didn''t enter the same door; His elder brother and sister-in-law were honest folks who didn''t like to gain advantage over others, even if it was from their own family. Suddenly receiving a car sent by the struggling younger brother made the couple feel overwhelmed and truly embarrassed to accept it. - Chapter 162 Section 162 - Factory Original AK Chen Fei was not surprised in the least, saying, "Just relax, I didn''t spend much on this car, only a little more than 60,000, and... I''m flying planes now, what do I need a car for?" The newbie driver with bad skills is still cocky as all get-out, no explanation required. The moment Chen Fei gripped the joystick, he was even more terrifying than a novice female demon on the road, not only scaring enemies but also making his own people nervous, their hearts in their throats the whole time. Once this kid gets reckless, he doesn''t even spare himself; he''s got a history of that. "A little more than 60,000? Are you kidding me?" Chen Meng was half-convinced. The market retail price was over 150,000. To get it for a little more than 60,000, it wasn''t stolen, was it? "Don''t believe me? Check the invoice!" The actual amount Chen Fei paid was right there on the invoice and wouldn''t be falsified. 62,000 Star Yuan is 62,000 Star Yuan, not a single Star Yuan more; otherwise, it''d be invoicing fraud, a crime! Hearing her brother put it that way, Chen Meng finally said, "Oh!" She wasn''t paying attention to the amount on the invoice, preoccupied with talking about the car. "I''ll be there for Sister Meizhi''s wedding at my uncle''s house next month," Chen Fei confirmed his schedule, having requested a week off in advance with Manager Hanna. "That''s really great, I''ve missed you, bro!" Having not seen her brother for more than two months, Chen Meng felt the longing intensely. "What are you missing? You''re all grown up, aren''t you? Acting like a kid." Chen Fei chuckled and hung up the phone. - Back in the days when the Chen Family followed the old ways, generational names were chosen according to the phrase "A hundred rivers have their surplus, but the vast sea is never full," taken from the first line of a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao, in "Zeng Bie Cui Chun Liang". It embodies the idea that small-minded and ignorant people are easily conceited, whereas those with broad horizons and great knowledge are always diligent, capable of embracing everything. However, during the cultural revolution, even the family tree was used to roast sweet potatoes, and with Chen Family descendants scattered across the world, it became impossible to tell the main from the branch families, and the tradition of arranging generational names was no longer a priority. Only occasionally would a name be chosen for the younger generation to strengthen familial ties. Chen Fei''s grandfather''s generation all had single characters for names ¡ª Ping, Fan, Sheng, Han, Zang ¡ª not following the traditional generational order. But his father''s generation picked it up again; this time based on the character "Hai" for sea, with seniority determined by birth order, and the next generation dropped it once more. Chen Haiqing from Third Grandpa''s family is the eldest uncle, while Chen Haiyun and Chen Haizhi from Great Grandpa''s family are the second and third uncles. Chen Fei''s grandfather is known as Fourth Grandpa, and his own father is also of this generation, named Chen Haishang. Thus, Chen Fei''s father''s generation was all about "Rising High into the Blue Clouds." Beyond that, Second Grandpa was childless his whole life, and Fifth Grandpa''s household, with Fifth Aunt Chen Wenting, did not count among this generation''s men, though their family was still considered prosperous. As the saying goes, the Dragon''s Nine Sons each pursue their own path. The Great Grandpa''s family engaged in politics, serving the people generation after generation, whereas Second Grandpa was into commerce, dealing with black technology, and Third Grandpa was in the military, receiving honor for his service and enjoying the status of a respected veteran. It seemed like the eldest three brothers'' achievements in politics, commerce, and the military had exhausted all the Chen Family Gate''s good fortune, leaving Fourth and Fifth to appear quite ordinary, just regular folks through and through. Chen Fei''s actual grandfather, as the fourth in line, was just an average wage earner who never aspired for greatness nor had the means to pave the way for future generations, simply ensuring food on the table and support for his children''s education. This was it! The bar patrons took it as if they were watching a circus. There weren''t many recreational activities at the Aircrew Base 911, and the bar was the only leisure facility. Everyone was bored to death and heartlessly joined in the rowdy crowd. With the lights at MAX, the music''s rhythm chaotic at MAX, and the atmosphere at MAX, everything was pumped up for Uncle Chekhov, making the scene as raucous as a frenzied dance of demons. "Drink deeply if the love is strong, take a shot if it''s weak, cheers!" Chekhov raised his glass, and the Aircrew Base knew his preference; Blue Star Erguotou was always in stock at the bar. "Hey, Squadron Leader Chekhov!" An object wrapped in oilcloth slammed onto the bar unexpectedly, then with a push, all the glasses and bottles were swept aside. "Eh? What''s going on here?" Chekhov, already tipsy, eyed the oilcloth package before him, and then looked over to see that it was the Rookie. One of us? No problem then, no problem! If it had been anyone else, the Big Bear would have already greeted them with a fist the size of a bowl. Making a mistake is okay; there''s always the next life to get it right. "Here''s your gun, the original factory model AK-47!" After Chen Fei finished speaking, he gestured to the bartender, "One martini, make it any style you like!" Today was a good day, and he deserved a celebratory drink. "Uh, the original factory model AK-47? Wait, hold on, let me think..." Chekhov Big Bear scratched his scalp with fingers as thick as carrots, and it took him a while to remember, slowly nodding and saying, "Ah! I remember now, yes, I do have an original piece from the Izhevsk Armory, it seemed to be broken, so, you bought another original one?" He looked towards the oilcloth-wrapped object on the bar. Waterproof and durable, the sturdy oilcloth was practical for wrapping metal items. It might not look fancy, but it worked well, as the trusty old items were all packed this way, complete with a special method of tying that gave it a stylish look once it was tied up. "You open it and see." Chen Fei shrugged noncommittally, most of his attention fixed on the bartender showing off his skills. The bartender wasn''t a professional but a part-time worker from the control tower. Otherwise, arranging for these miscellaneous people would be very inconvenient for an Aircrew Base of just over two hundred people. Putting one person to the work of two, that was the proper way capitalists operated. Like Schro?dinger''s cat, who cares if it''s a live cat or a dead cat? Just get two cats and the problem is solved, one alive and one dead, making everyone happy! "Let''s see..." Chekhov picked up the oilcloth package, feeling its weight in his hand, and slowly unraveled the string. Removing the oilcloth, a sleek black automatic weapon appeared in his line of sight. - Chapter 163 Section 163 - AK Settlement ``` "Hiss! It looks very similar to my original one, excellent craftsmanship. Is this a top-notch high-quality counterfeit or did you find an original factory gun?" Squadron Leader Chekhov picked up the AK-47 automatic rifle lying quietly on the oilcloth, examining it closely to find any traces of it being a high-quality counterfeit. But the more he looked, the less he found any clue indicating it was a counterfeit, and instead, it gave him a familiar feeling, as if it was his very own beloved AK-47. "Of course it''s original, straight from the factory!" Chen Fei took the just-prepared Martini, took a small sip, and the spiciness that went straight to his soul made his hair stand on end. Vodka, sweet wormwood, and red sorghum, in a 1:1:1 ratio, no ice, with a final addition of a sour green plum¡ªthis was the mix concocted by the bartender specifically for Chen Fei. If some wasabi powder had been added, it would have been even better. "Rookie, you must be joking, right?" Looking it over meticulously from every angle, Squadron Leader Chekhov held the AK-47 even more carefully. If he wasn''t mistaken, the delicate woodgrain patterns visible beneath the smooth finish of the handguard, grip, and stock were unmistakably those of his own original factory-made AK. Chen Fei took another sip of his drink, put down the glass, and said, "Original factory! Genuine article! Guaranteed!" All his efforts had not been in vain. In fact, by resolving the issue of internal stress and achieving uniformity in the details, even the factory wouldn''t be able to distinguish an AK-47 replicated with shaping ability from the original. The dimensions and composition of the metallic elements could reach molecular precision, making it impossible for the human eye and touch to discern any differences. Even with high-resolution equipment, the results would be the same. Add to that zero stress retention, and it could withstand the test of time; any time you picked it up, it would shoot, and each shot would hit its target. It could be treated as if it was completely original. Even the actual factory might not achieve such consistency at the molecular level. "This serial number... it''s still mine. Could I have been hallucinating from having too much to drink last time?" Squadron Leader Chekhov held the AK-47, full of self-doubt. Something seemed unscientific, yet he just couldn''t put his finger on it. Little Chili, Irinei Rusios, looked at the AK in Big Bear''s hands and asked curiously, "Chekhov, is that still your original gun?" Chekhov''s expression was strange; wasn''t this his most cherished baby? What could explain such a bizarre reaction? "I don''t know!" Squadron Leader Chekhov looked utterly bewildered; he wanted to doubt but couldn''t find a single fault. Perhaps it was possible to distinguish by feeling, but feelings are often unreliable. "No problem? If there are no problems, then let''s close the deal! Our AK business is done!" Chen Fei gulped down the Martini in his hand and took out his work card, ready to swipe it and leave. Squadron Leader Chekhov really couldn''t find any fault and finally said, "Wait a minute, let''s fire a couple of shots!" In his view, the craftsmanship of the person Chen Fei found was too good; he couldn''t differentiate it himself. "No problem!" Chen Fei rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a 7.62x39mm rifle cartridge. Of course, the bullet was a modern product¡ªit couldn''t really be called a counterfeit. Besides antique guns, many modern firearms still use them. If even the bullets had to be antiques, that would be ridiculous; bullets a hundred years old hitting their mark would mostly depend on luck. "Come on, let''s test-fire a couple of shots and watch Chekhov shoot the rifle!" Luckily, the female executive manager had bought out his on-paper debt, settling the credit company and Apocalypse Defense Group''s dues in advance, turning it into a private loan. Without the interest, even the monthly interest would not have been a small amount. "Rookie, wait for me!" Just as Chen Fei was about to leave, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios called out to him. "Squadron Deputy Leader, is there something you need?" Chen Fei slowed down, puzzled. "Let''s walk together!" Irinei Rusios caught up with him in a few quick steps to walk alongside Chen Fei. She didn''t like those fellows flocking around Chekhov at all¡ªonce they got drunk, they behaved like a bunch of lunatics, forgetting their own names. Passing through the base gate, the deputy leader codenamed "Devil Pepper" spoke up again. "Rookie, was Chekhov''s AK-47 made with your special ability? And was it the same ability that you had initially?" Discover hidden tales at empire Chen Fei hadn''t expected this short-haired lady to be so direct. After opening his mouth, he finally said, "Yes! It was all the special ability!" It wasn''t just the Metal Element Psychic Power¡ªany psychic power upon initial Awakening could easily become uncontrollable, even causing varying degrees of damage. Manager Hanna had immediately arranged for him to be injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant, precisely for this reason. From current indications, the suppressant seems to have been effective. The most significant trouble Chen Fei had caused was probably only the beloved AK of Squadron Leader Chekhov. In the end, everyone was pleased with the outcome. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios probed, "Can you mass-produce original AKs?" It wasn''t only the AK-47, but also the AKM, AK-74, SVD, Mauser Kar98k, Lee-Enfield, and other vintage firearms that were sought after by gun enthusiasts and collectors around the world. Due to scarcity and various accidents causing damage or even loss, the vintage guns from the last and the one before last century were only going to dwindle in number and become more valuable; understandably, their prices were bound to rise. "Uh... theoretically, yes." Honestly, Chen Fei hadn''t thought about this issue at all. He was only focused on paying off Chekhov Big Bear''s AK debt as soon as possible¡ªthe troublesome debt of 1.8 million Star Yuan had been unbearably oppressive. Irinei Rusios smiled and said, "Congratulations, you''re going to make a fortune!" "No, that would be dishonest!" Chen Fei hastily shook his head. At the Chen Family Gate, the teachings were to be down-to-earth in how one conducted oneself¡ªwithout cheating, cutting corners, or scheming. Even in making money, one had to do so above board. Taking shortcuts or the wrong path was absolutely forbidden. The puzzled deputy leader asked, "What about Chekhov''s AK...?" "It''s different, different." Chen Fei continued shaking his head. Big Bear''s AK was repaired, its main body was still that very same gun, whereas what Irinei Rusios was talking about was conjuring vintage guns out of thin air. Even though they could be made to fool anyone, it didn''t sit right with Chen Fei''s principles. Vintage guns are vintage guns; magically creating a multitude of ultra-high-quality fakes for profit was not the right thing to do, and it went against the teachings of the Chen Family. Hearing Chen Fei''s response, the short-haired woman was taken aback and then burst into giggles, "Sticking to your principles is the right thing to do." "Thank you!" Chen Fei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, afraid that the female deputy leader would insist on dragging him into the business of making ultra-high-quality AK fakes. Although he was unwilling, offending a direct superior wasn''t a good thing; a warning of future stumbling blocks lay ahead. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios stopped in her tracks and looked at Chen Fei, saying, "Chekhov needs a partner, and the other jet at Aircrew Base also needs a pilot, I''ve recommended you." - Chapter 164 Section 164 - Going Home "Huh?" Chen Fei blinked in surprise and froze in place, involuntarily widening his eyes. He pointed at himself and exclaimed incredulously, "Me?" He and Big Bear were like oil and water, completely incompatible. If they became partners, at least one of them was likely to die, if not both. According to the historical records of Blue Star, there had already been one such case. He''d have to ask Manager Hanna to borrow a bottle of good wine to thoroughly bless Big Bear''s head. "Yes, you!" Irine Rusios laughed again. Big Bear needed a truly reliable and trustworthy partner. She wasn''t up to it, but Chen Fei certainly was. This rookie, whose flying experience was less than 100 hours, had achievements in corporate warfare that didn''t at all resemble those of a true rookie. The mere fact that he survived intact was enough to be astounding. Chen Fei replied with embarrassment, "Uh, what did I do to deserve this!" The short-haired deputy squadron leader narrowed her eyes and smiled¡ªa truly beautiful sight. It was a wonder why Big Bear couldn''t see it, maybe there was something wrong with his head that needed blessing. Irine Rusios spoke earnestly, "You have the talent to be a fighter pilot and luck is also on your side. You''re really suitable for it. Unfortunately, Aircrew Base 911 isn''t a specialized training facility. We lack a lot of equipment, don''t have advanced trainers, and don''t even have flight simulators. Otherwise, Squadron Leader Chekhov could take you under his wing. But it''s not a problem, I''ve enrolled you in a specialized training course, and the base will cover the tuition. I still have that much authority." Advanced trainers are usually twin-seat jets, and the MiG-28 is a single-seater, so it certainly cannot serve as a trainer. Besides, no one would dare let someone with zero jet flying experience take a MiG out solo. They might crash into the ground even before getting airborne, without a chance to eject. Turboprop aircraft fly slower and have a statically stable design, with a relatively higher safety margin. The "Big Mouth Monster" originally had the lineage of a primary trainer aircraft. Its two-seat design was perfect for deputy squadron leader Irine Rusios to personally train this rookie. Thus, even without trainers and simulators, Chen Fei was still able to quickly become familiar with flying and fighting in this turboprop aircraft. However, taking this rookie up a notch to flying a MiG was not so easy, given the hardware limitations in place. In the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, the pilot with the most potential for flying a jet was indeed Chen Fei, whose flight thinking had not yet solidified and was not confined by fixed patterns, still in the learning and shaping phase. After Basong from "Lemongrass" was killed in action, if anyone else could handle flying a jet, they wouldn''t still be waiting. There wouldn''t have been a situation where no one could form a jet formation with Squadron Leader Chekhov. Flying solo in the sky is very dangerous. In corporate warfare, if the squadron leader had a partner to form a team, the outcome wouldn''t have been so tragic. Having one more jet in the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron would directly boost its combat effectiveness by a large margin. "Then... thanks, deputy squadron leader!" Chen Fei felt that what he was learning was beginning to deviate from the path. He was actually an undergraduate in economics, even preparing for further postgraduate studies with the intention of joining a large company or becoming a civil servant. It was already outrageous enough to be an apprentice in a maintenance crew, let alone flying a combat aircraft in the sky and skirmishing with others. Wait, no! The main job of Aircrew Base was to eradicate those mutants and uncontrollably proliferating magical beasts. Chen Fei didn''t want to fight these creatures! "Keep it up! Once you learn to fly a jet, you''ll be able to make lots and lots of money," Irine Rusios patted Chen Fei on the shoulder. A few days later, Chen Fei flew to the nearest public airport alone in an unarmed A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft. After storing the aircraft, he directly transferred to a commercial airliner, embarking on his journey home. Upon waking up, the airliner had already entered domestic airspace. After another two hours, he finally concluded the long, eleven-hour flight. "Chirp chirp chirp!~" Having picked up Little Bird from the pet storage facility, Chen Fei opened the transport cage, and the little guy fluttered to his shoulder, pecking at his earlobe to show its displeasure. Being caged for eleven hours without seeing Daddy Chen Fei, it was natural for Xiao Jiu to feel a bit grumpy. "Haha, Xiao Jiu, Daddy''s taking you home!" After feeding the little one some birdseed, Chen Fei, carrying a giant backpack, a large suitcase on wheels in one hand, and the bird cage with Xiao Jiu''s nest in the other, headed for the airport''s exit. The sight of the Little Bird perched on his shoulder attracted quite a few curious glances. He got into a driverless taxi right at the exit and gave the address. The electric-powered taxi aligned with the city''s public road management system and automatically merged into the busy traffic, heading for the destination with maximum efficiency. The city''s public transportation system''s capacity mainly revolved around underground subways and surface light rails, supplemented by 20-meter-long large buses and small taxis sharing the passenger flow at various transit points, with fully automated management. Passengers could simply use facial recognition or fingerprint scanning to pay, with the fare automatically deducted from their social security accounts. Every lawful citizen, upon obtaining their residence registration, received a unique and non-repeating string of numbers as their social security number, ensuring all rights and obligations related to social income and expenditure. From life''s milestones to education and shopping, this account represented a citizen''s entirety. An hour later, Chen Fei, with Xiao Jiu, finally returned to the neighborhood he was most familiar with; he could find his way to every road and tree with his eyes closed. The thirty-something, forty-story high-rise buildings in the neighborhood were no longer very new, especially since his parents had spent all their savings as a down payment twenty years ago and only just managed to pay off the mortgage in recent years. Although it wasn''t large, with only ninety actual square meters, it was filled with the memories of the three siblings. "Ding dong!" The doorbell had just rung when Chen Fei heard his younger sister''s voice full of surprise coming from behind the door. "Big brother is back!" The sound of frantic footsteps grew closer, and Chen Meng, with her hair disheveled, suddenly flung the door open. Catching sight of him, she exclaimed, "Big brother!" His little sister, arms and legs flailing, was about to pounce on him. "Chirp!" A dazzling burst of light. "My eyes!" ... - Chapter 165 Section 165 - Street Office Phone Number Chen Fei saw his little sister covering her eyes in disarray and immediately scolded the Little Bird on his shoulder, both annoyed and amused. "Xiao Jiu, you''re not allowed to use Light Burst Flash randomly!" This Second Rank Magic, although not fatal, inevitably caught people off guard. "Second Brother, what are you up to?" His little sister''s eyes were reddened, whether from the flash or from being emotionally stirred, was unclear. Chen Fei, carrying his luggage, entered the door, changed into his slippers, and casually introduced, "Let me introduce, my little buddy, Xiao Jiu!" "Jiu!" The Little Bird chirped. "Xiao Jiu?" His sister rubbed her eyes as she said, "Why does it come with a built-in flashlight, uh..." She suddenly froze. What kind of bird comes with a built-in flashlight? There was only one possibility... "Magic... Beast?" Chen Meng couldn''t help but gasp in shock. "Yeah, Xiao Jiu is a Pure Light Sparrow! Of course, it''s a Magical Beast!" Chen Fei took his rolling suitcase and backpack into his room, then placed Xiao Jiu''s nest along with the cage beside the bed. With a flick of his hand, the Little Bird immediately flew over and landed on his finger, chirping joyfully. Little sister Chen Meng exclaimed excitedly, "Wow! Brother, where did you get a Pure Light Sparrow!" Magical Beast general knowledge was always part of the public education, included in Blue Star''s basic biology courses; she naturally knew about the Pure Light Sparrow but as a non-professional, who could remember so many Magical Beasts? Initially, Chen Fei also recognized and confirmed it when someone else pointed it out that he had hatched a Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow. Well, a Pure Light Sparrow is just a Pure Light Sparrow, not some high-end Magical Beast. It''s no different from raising a sparrow! After all, the feeding is the same. What really excited little sister Chen Meng was that this Little Bird could also cast spells. Though a bit dazzling to the eyes, it was still Magic, right?! "Someone gave it to me." Chen Fei passed the Little Bird on his finger over to her, a privilege reserved for family. "Who was so generous?" Chen Meng''s eyes widened; Second Brother must have encountered a tycoon to actually receive a Magical Beast as a gift. Chen Fei seemed to recall, somewhat sentimentally, "A cunning merchant..." ...The cunning merchant Old Piao had already fainted in his own bathroom. "Must be another simpleton!" The little sister pouted as she held the hopping Little Bird in her hands, immediately smiling happily, contented. After all, a Pure Light Sparrow is still a Magical Beast, no matter how weak it may be, it was still a Magical Beast! Looking across the entire neighborhood, which family could afford to keep a Magical Beast? This was truly awesome PLUS a big deal. "Where are mom and dad?" Chen Fei looked around the house and noticed only his little sister was home. Chen Meng said, "They went grocery shopping!" Just then, they heard the sound of the door lock turning, and voices came through the door gap. "Hey, dad, mom, Second Brother is back!" The little sister immediately called out cheerfully, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly said, "Right, cover your eyes quickly!" Mom Yu Xiaoyi, carrying a big bag of vegetables, changed her slippers and said irritably, "Second Brother is back, little Meng, what are you covering your eyes for, such nonsense!" "I''m back!" Dad Chen Haishang followed behind, showing a smile towards Chen Fei inside the house. Chen Fei didn''t want his family to worry. Unaware, his parents and younger sister believed he was honestly working hard and was highly appreciated by his bosses. The family gathered around the dining table, enjoying a hearty lunch with laughter and joy, everything seemed so peacefully perfect. Ding Ling Ling! The sudden ringing of the phone caught their attention. Chen Meng immediately noticed that it wasn''t the same phone Second Brother had before and exclaimed in surprise, "Second Brother, you changed your phone!" But this new phone looked thick and heavy, big and clunky, not sleek or handy at all. "Oh, the old one broke, this one''s a lot more durable." Chen Fei checked the screen, the caller ID showed it was from the local office. "Hello, may I speak to Mr. Chen Fei!" The call that promptly announced the name was most likely not a spam call. (On the side, Xiao Jiu, attracted by the smell of alcohol, flew over trying to land on Chen Fei''s wine cup but was covered with a hand.) Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Hello, this is Chen Fei, may I help you?" Having just returned, and the local office called directly, he was unsure what it was about. "Mr. Chen Fei, please proceed to the Psychic Management Center on XXX Road, number XXX, third floor, to complete your registration within three days." (Xiao Jiu pecked at Chen Haishang''s fingers, trying to break through the blockade.) Unfortunately, it couldn''t break through; Second Brother''s got thick skin! "I understand." Chen Fei nodded, the mention of "Psychic Management Center" instantly made him realize what it was about. As a supernatural power user who had awakened abroad returning to his homeland, it was natural to be included within their jurisdiction. (Xiao Jiu, keep it up, push harder!) Just like a novelist, how could he not be on the radar of the united front work department? Refuse to be united? You''re thinking of rebelling, huh! Take him out for target practice for five minutes, and let him reflect on his life in the next life. (Xiao Jiu doesn''t want to make an effort anymore... just gives up.) "Xiao Jiu, come here!" Chen Meng was utterly enchanted by the cuteness of the little bird, quickly scooping it up to start petting it. The little bird was almost played to exhaustion, luckily, Mom intervened with her chopsticks which made the young lady behave and eat her meal properly. After hanging up the phone, Chen Fei put his phone aside, saying, "It was from the neighborhood office, I need to step out this afternoon." "Brother, I''ll go with you." Chen Meng started her antics again. Before Second Brother returned, she had been studying hard, just short of extreme measures like tying her hair to the house beam or stabbing her thighs to keep awake during the day. But the moment Chen Fei returned, the little sister reverted to her old ways, regressing to her old self, cough, the last proverb is tailor-made for Chen Meng. "No going, just focus on your studies." Mom Yu Xiaoyi glared at her youngest, who was supposed to be diligently preparing for college entrance exams, asking what mischief she was up to. If her heart is set on playing the fool, how can it ever be reined in! The eldest at home is steady, the second is smart, but this youngest one still acts like a child who refuses to grow up. Chen Meng pouted. At that moment, Chen Fei''s phone emitted a beep, indicating he had received a message. "Brother, I''ll check it for you!" Chen Meng grabbed Chen Fei''s phone, swiped it, and sure enough, it was a message. "[Apocalypse Defense]Aircrew Base employee (Chen Fei) salary slip for January: ..." - Chapter 166 Section 166 - Registration "...Basic salary +45,000 Star Yuan, job bonus +5,000 Star Yuan, special skill allowance +5,000 Star Yuan, part-time job 1 subsidy +3,000 Star Yuan, part-time job 2 subsidy +2,800 Star Yuan, attendance +1,000 Star Yuan, food allowance +600 Star Yuan, other bonuses +2,850,000 Star Yuan, individual pension contribution -1,500 Star Yuan, individual medical insurance contribution -500 Star Yuan, fertility insurance -200 Star Yuan, disability insurance -400 Star Yuan, accidental life insurance -100 Star Yuan, actual income +2,909,700 Star Yuan, tax deduction -669,231 Star Yuan, final income +2,240,469 Star Yuan, current account balance 2,244,780 Star Yuan." After glancing at it once, Chen Meng watched it again with an incredulous face, her eyes involuntarily widening. She slowly lifted her head, with a mix of shock and joy, and said, "Bro, I don''t want to try hard anymore." Forget the century-old factories, Henghai Military Defense, roll them all aside! As long as I cling to my second brother''s coattails, I could enjoy life without worries and entertain myself to death. ??? The family watched her in stunned silence. What madness had taken hold of this girl again? "Chen Meng..." Our mother''s anger was skyrocketing, on the verge of unleashing her devastating final move. "Ah! No no no! I do want to work hard, to strive, I must get into a university, a top university! And I want to pursue graduate studies, a master''s, a Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellowship. One isn''t enough; I want two!" Chen Meng was startled into realization, cursing herself for blurting out the truth and quickly adopting an all-out effort posture. 666... Chen Fei''s response was speechless. With a drama queen sister like her, why bother with university? She could go straight into acting and surely sweep all the awards. Mom Yu Xiaoyi''s rage came to an abrupt halt, but she still said irritably, "Dinner time!" The dining table fell silent as the grave. As for what exactly Chen Meng saw on her second brother''s phone screen, she dared not mention a single word. After lunch, Chen Fei helped dad wash the dishes before waving over Xiao Jiu, who was playing in the living room, ready to head out to the Psychic Management Center. Just as he was about to leave, his younger sister followed him in a hurry. "Second brother, wait for me!" "Aren''t you continuing your review?" Chen Fei was somewhat puzzled. Wasn''t this girl afraid that Mom''s wrath would confine her to her room?! "Oh, I''ve asked Mom for a half-hour break to relax a bit. You know, studying requires the right methods; it''s all about balancing work and relaxation!" Chen Meng quickly put on her shoes, followed Chen Fei outside, and pressed the elevator button hastily. "You''re responsible for your own life; don''t be lazy!" Chen Fei gently flicked his sister''s nose. The little bird on his shoulder cocked its head and chirped twice, appearing to agree. "I know, I know, I''m not a child." Chen Meng shook her head in annoyance. Just then, the elevator arrived; it opened with a ding, and with no one else inside, the two siblings and bird entered. Chen Meng asked in a sneaky tone, "Second brother, is your unit still hiring?" If her second brother could make over two million Star Yuan in just his second month of work, why bother studying? She might as well just go to work. If she had known Apocalypse Defense was so wealthy, her brother wouldn''t have needed to leave, she could just fill in for him! What wishful thinking this girl had! If she really took over, that would probably be the end! "Focus on your studies and forget about these fantasies. Didn''t you see? The over two million was mostly bonuses; I don''t actually make that much on a regular basis!" The young woman behind the desk stood up. There was not just a coffee machine near the wall but also a refrigerator, indicating a variety of drinks to choose from. Xiao Jiu: chirp chirp chirp (I''ll have a vodka!) Chen Fei was not particular, "Plain water will do," then turned to his sister, "Xiao Meng, what do you want?" "Um! Juice, apple juice." Chen Meng, eyeing the coffee machine and juice maker beside the refrigerator, guessed that this Psychic Management Center indeed provided great amenities; there were so many good things in just one office. "Which of you has awakened? Recently awakened?" The young woman''s eyes shifted back and forth between Chen Fei and Chen Meng as she started to prepare the drinks. The siblings bore a resemblance to each other; it wasn''t hard to guess their relationship. "It''s me, and I''ve been awakened for a while now." Chen Fei touched his nose. "Huh?" Chen Meng, who was slow to catch on, finally realized the gravity of her brother''s words. Because it was so unexpected, she had never thought in that direction before. Her second brother, he actually... "This is the registration form. Which series of special ability did you wake up to?" After handing over a sheet of paper, the young woman began to open a drawer. Upon receiving the form and noticing the other party taking out a needleless syringe, Chen Fei guessed what she intended to do and quickly stated, "Metal elemental psychic power, and I''ve already been injected with a supernatural ability suppressant." He had originally thought Manager Hanna overreacted by quickly arranging for the injection of the supernatural ability suppressant, but now it seemed the same everywhere¡ªfirst, they suppress the ability, safety first! "You''ve been injected? How long ago?" The young woman paused, having taken out a syringe vial, ready to load it for injection. "Two months ago!" Chen Fei picked up a pen and began to fill out the registration form. The content was mostly personal information and details related to the special ability awakening, nothing complicated. "May I verify your magical beast? If it hasn''t been registered, I can help you register it too." The young woman offered a thorough service, considering not only Chen Fei''s ability but also the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu. "Uh, I don''t know!" Chen Fei answered while filling out the form. "It has a leg ring, can I scan the code, please? Lift up the leg!" The young woman took out her phone, launched a specialized app, activated the camera feature, and aimed it at Xiao Jiu''s small claws. First, she scanned the copper-colored leg ring, resulting in an error. Then she scanned the bright silver leg ring, and this time there was a response, identification confirmed. After some inquiries, it was verified that the bird had an owner. "Do you need to register it?" Chen Fei finished the form and pointed to the little bird hopping around on the table. "Xiao Jiu, correct? It''s already been registered. The registration details and the leg ring came together; the owner is you, Mr. Chen Fei." - Chapter 167 Section 167 - Special Ability Detection Chen Fei: "..." It was probably Manager Hanna who took care of Xiao Jiu''s registration while buying the leg ring. Initial ability awakeners need to register for government management, and so do magical beasts that want to integrate into the life circle of Blue Star humans, which also requires registration and positioning. If a magical beast has an owner, or rather a guardian, the registration process is relatively easier. If a magical beast wishes to live independently, in addition to having a formal labor contract or certain economic strength, it also needs to pass very strict training and assessment before being allowed to integrate into human society, and such magical beasts typically can communicate with humans without any barriers. For weak and harmless magical beasts, such as the Pure Light Sparrow, purchasing a leg ring is enough to complete the registration, and there''s no need for an interview. A mere Pure Light Sparrow, barely qualifying as First Rank in the Human Order, with its gentle nature and most likely incapable of casting spells¡ªor if it can, its lethality is virtually zero, or even negative¡ªhow could such a little thing harm anyone? "Tsksksk! Bro, when did you awaken your ability?" His younger sister Chen Meng re-examined her second brother with eyes as if seeing him for the first time. Holy cow, my brother is awesome! "I just woke up with it after a good sleep!" Chen Fei didn''t understand when exactly he had awakened his ability; it happened without any apparent reason. It was probably during the mutual annihilation with the Metallic Giant Dragon, Bit, wasn''t it? Perhaps, as it says in novels, there''s great horror in the face of death, but also great opportunity. Therefore, the ancients said, "One who survives great disaster is destined for fortune," or "Birds face the sky in death; live forever if you survive." After a calamity, life is like a tapestry of brilliant prospects. Chen Meng: "..." She pondered whether she might also awaken some special ability. The best would be if the answers automatically appeared on her test paper with a blink of her eyes, or if her IQ would soar by 250 after taking a deep breath, or even if she just had a photographic memory. Chen Fei truly wanted to cover his eyes; his little sister''s expression clearly indicated wishful thinking. Dreaming away in the daytime! "Ability awakening is random, with many uncertainties." The young woman, putting away the needless injector, took Chen Fei''s registration form and began scanning it into the database. It was well established that there was no pattern or precursor to ability awakening. A moment later, the printer next to them zizilala spat out two A4 papers one after the other. "The first one is a test report used to assess the characteristics of your ability and determine its rank. You haven''t been ranked yet, have you?" "Uh, not yet!" Chen Fei still didn''t know his superpower level to this day. Abilities, unlike magic and Battle Qi, would not change once awakened. If you were ranked D, you would remain D until death. There were rare cases of a change in rank, but they were very rare. If ability users of the same rank were compared in terms of strength, there wouldn''t be an absolute cause-and-effect, nor was it related to the order of awakening. It depended firstly on elemental compatibility, secondly on application experience, and thirdly on control power and skill. "Room A302 is the Ability Testing Room. Take this test report there and you''ll have your results in an hour. The second paper is a 30-day ability training class schedule with twenty-five course projects. You can enroll at any time. I hope you can master your ability as soon as possible; it''s every ability user''s responsibility and obligation." The young woman handed over the second sheet of paper, which listed the ability training class schedule. Chen Fei was now officially registered as an ability user. Once he completed the assessment and training, his personal ability file would be complete. Since the emergence of abilities on Blue Star, every sovereign power swiftly enacted a complete and mature management system and corresponding legal clauses to address the constantly emerging ability awakeners. In Chen Fei''s city, with a population of eight million residents, almost every two or three days, a new ability user would awaken. To date, there are at least over three thousand ability users. Able to control their abilities, they hardly differed from ordinary people, so no special treatment was necessary. "Wowza, bro, abilities! Abilities!" Emerging from room 301 with Chen Fei, Chen Meng looked around excitedly in a low voice and couldn''t stop hopping. "Stay cool, it''s just an ability. Anyone who didn''t know better would think you were the one who awakened it." Chen Fei employed a ''head-pat kill'' to try and calm his sister, who was inexplicably excited. A flash of light! "My eyes..." Watching this duo hurt each other, Chen Fei shook his head helplessly, quickly walked up to Room 302, knocked twice, and then pushed the door open and entered. As soon as he stepped inside, an invisible force blocked his way. Intangible and material-less, it was the telekinetic power of a Psychic Ability User. Yet Chen Fei didn''t hesitate; he stepped forward, forcibly squeezing his way in. Although he hadn''t attended the public training classes after his Ability Awakening, Manager Hanna had filled him in on everything he needed to know. "Eh?" With a surprised exclamation, the invisible force quickly receded like a tide. In one corner of the room, a structure resembling a personal sleep pod cracked open, and the upper part slowly rose to reveal a person. Find your next adventure on empire "A newly Awakened, are you here for the ability test?" The person floated out of the pod as if gravity had ceased to exist and silently stood on the floor. "Yes!" Chen Fei presented the two A4 pages he had just received from Room 301. One of them was drawn by the invisible force and flew into the hands of the other person. The practicality of a Psychic Ability User''s Telekinesis was very high, allowing them to be suitable for many jobs. If one were to master the Multi-focus Ability, a single person could function as if they were two, and in combat, it would be essentially a two against one scenario. Even if faced with two opponents, they might not be at a disadvantage, as two telekinetic forces from the same source would work in tandem, more in sync than even telepathic twins. The person was a middle-aged man in his forties, who glanced over the test form in his hand and said, "A Metal Ability User, from the Shaping Category, full defense for light weapons, my goodness, you''re a human tank!" Many Metal Ability Users specialize in high defense skills, nearly on par with Earth Element Ability Users, especially in the city where metal materials are readily available. Once they fully unleash their skills without restraint, it''s almost like they have an extra home-field advantage. Chen Fei, rubbing his hands, modestly said, "Just average, just average!" The door behind him opened again, and his younger sister walked in, her eyes red. Little Bird was triumphantly perched on her head, hopping around... The middle-aged man pointed outside the door and said, "One at a time, young lady, please wait outside for a while." Chen Fei quickly said, "She''s my sister, Chen Meng, here to accompany me." "A family member? Sit there for now, don''t wander around; it''s easy to get into danger. And that bird, don''t let it fly around, uh, a Pure Light Sparrow?" The middle-aged man recognized the species of Xiao Jiu and looked over Chen Fei and Chen Meng again. After all, a Pure Light Sparrow is still a Magical Beast. Having it as a pet like this suggested that their family probably wasn''t short on money, right? They had no mines, but there was indeed a hefty debt. If it weren''t for Old Piao, the swindler slipping up and hoodwinking the rookie, Xiao Jiu wouldn''t have ended up with a Rookie like Chen Fei. Of course, if it weren''t for Chen Fei, the little critter would probably have become a roasted bird skewer by now, regardless of whether it was a Magical Beast or not. Cleaned and skewered on an iron pick, sprinkled with some cumin and chili powder, it was another side dish ready to go. Turning his attention back to Chen Fei, the middle-aged man said again, "Come on, shape something." He printed out an industrial blueprint and then found an iron ingot, placing it on the table. Chen Fei glanced at the three-dimensional structure diagram and picked up the iron ingot. His Skill "Metal Shaping" activated! - Chapter 168 Section 168 - Time to Show Off ``` The next second. A piece of steel, shimmering silver and reflecting the surrounding scenery and people like a mirror, materialized in Chen Fei''s hand in no more than three seconds. When placed on the tabletop, the steel snowflake emitted a heavy thud. Not far away, Chen Meng stretched her neck with her mouth wide open. Impressive, my brother! "How precise can it get?" The middle-aged man took out a micrometer and a magnifying glass, proceeding to measure the steel snowflake. "Molecular level!" Chen Fei had even crafted an AK before; the blueprints the other party brought out posed no difficulty at all. It''s impossible to discern any margin of error with just a micrometer and naked eyes enhanced by a magnifying glass; only by manual effort unless it''s the hands of an old eighth-level mechanic from the past days of machining, limited to micrometer precision, that is. After inspecting for a while, the man switched to a set of tools with even greater precision. However, to truly achieve molecular precision, the Psychic Management Center certainly didn''t have the equipment; it needed to be sent to a specialized research institute or factory. Eventually, after removing the instruments, he picked up the steel snowflake, 10 centimeters thick. The mirror-like surface immediately showed crisscrossing fractures, then disassembled to reveal its true form. Like nesting dolls, snowflakes of all sizes were layered upon one another; when fully disassembled, they covered nearly half the tabletop. "A miracle, a miracle..." Little Sister Chen Meng was so shocked she could barely speak. The middle-aged man had evidently seen this kind of response before and calmly said, "It''s just a very simple Metal Shaping ability, far from a miracle. With time and practice, it''s not hard to achieve. Metal Shaping skill, excellent!" He continued, "Next item, your ability''s perception range and control distance." "Control number limit..." "Control volume limit..." "Control mass limit..." "Individual physical fitness test..." "Secondary ability magnetic field control..." "Electrical conductivity test..." Discover exclusive content at empire "Spiritual power intensity test..." "Superpower comprehensive tools..." "Superpower exclusive tools..." "Special Skill A:..." ... An entire A4 paper checklist was filled out one after the other, the content was comprehensive and detailed. In the meantime, two more supernatural power users arrived to assist Chen Fei in utilizing his own abilities; otherwise, the environment and conditions on-site were insufficient to support all the test items. "The last one, other items, since you have a Magical Beast, do you have any joint skills?" The man''s gaze fell on the bottom of the form. "Seems like... I do!" Chen Fei stroked his chin thoughtfully, then nodded. He gestured to the Little Bird perched on Little Sister Chen''s head and picked up the previously shaped steel snowflake with one hand. "''Light Burst Flash''!" "Chirp!~" He himself was a D-level power user and couldn''t help but feel a great deal of respect when facing a higher-ranked power user. After all, no matter the field, the order of learning doesn''t imply superiority, nor does age. Excellence commands respect. Chen Fei answered crisply, "I fix airplanes!" The middle-aged man asked further, "What did you major in?" "Economics, undergraduate, preparing for graduate school," replied Chen Fei. Sensing the test in the man''s tone and suspecting there was more he wanted to say, Chen Fei cut straight to the point, "If you have something to say, just say it!" The middle-aged man was taken aback but then decided to speak frankly, "I wonder if you''re interested in working on precision machining and basic material synthesis in the high-end machinery and basic materials research sectors? I have a few recommendations, and I guarantee the compensation is generous." Blue Star human society, which could accept the War Professionals, Mages, and Magical Beasts of Cangqiong Star, certainly wouldn''t treat local supernatural power users as outcasts. Instead, they would see them as gifted individuals. Many power users relied on their abilities to make a living. Life was cushy, with a warm family and financial freedom. Anyone with half a brain usually wouldn''t think of harming society. Some professional industries greatly welcomed power users with special abilities, especially since there was a significant shortage. Someone like Chen Fei, a human walking machine of high precision, would be fiercely fought over in the machining sector. After some thought, Chen Fei finally said, "Let me think about it." "Bro, why didn''t you just agree? If you joined a rich central enterprise, you''d be guaranteed to make a fortune," said little sister Chen Meng, not understanding her elder brother''s hesitation. "You don''t get it! Let''s go check out the training classes in Area B." Without further explanation, Chen Fei tapped his sister on the forehead as he said this. Just as they entered the other side of the third floor, in Area B, a water ball flew at them. "Watch out!" With quick reflexes, Chen Fei pulled his sister to the side. The water ball flew past where they had just been standing, changed direction, and came at them again. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu, the little bird perched on Chen Meng''s head, let out an indignant chirp. "Hee hee!" The sound of a child''s laughter followed. The water ball circled in mid-air before flying at them again, aiming precisely for Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow on Chen Meng''s head. It shot forward, intent on impact. "Whoever that is, stop using your abilities indiscriminately in public places," called a staffer who noticed the scene and began looking for the culprit. The boy''s laughter grew more triumphant. Chen Fei: Ding! A mischievous brat detected. Commence operation annoyance... In a timely fashion, this Dog System had prepared energy point tasks in advance. The little bird took to the air, flapping its wings as the water ball relentlessly pursued it. Seeing the little bird harried by the water ball, Chen Meng shouted angrily, "Who''s doing that? It''s too much! Stop it right now!" Chen Fei had already spotted a small figure hiding behind a row of chairs, clutching an empty mineral water bottle. He approached quickly, picked the little troublemaker from his hiding spot, and demanded fiercely, "Kid, do you want to die?" Frightened by the sudden confrontation, the boy twitched, then a twisted smile spread across his face. With a splash, the water ball secretly circling in the air came back around, drenching Chen Fei''s head and face. A few droplets even splashed on the boy. "You little devil, it seems I need to teach you a lesson." Skill: Magnetic Field Management Component, Magnetoelectric Conversion Component. 100,000-Volt Microcurrent Pulse! Zizz, zizz, zizz, the brat started shaking uncontrollably. "Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh..." Water conducts electricity¡ªlet''s be scientific! - Chapter 169 Section 169 - I bully you Generating electricity was just the combined effect of two incomplete Skills, and even Dog System didn''t value it, not considering it a proper Skill at all. If not controlled, this little brat would probably have been electrocuted on the spot. Seeing the brat twitching in his grasp, Chen Fei felt an immense sense of comfort. Hm? Damn it, I overdid it and now there''s a piss smell! It was uncertain whether it was from fright or from the electric shock causing the sphincter to relax and leak urine. Chen Fei finally let the brat down, tossing him onto a long bench. System: Ding! Bullying three supernatural power users (1 completed), gain Energy Points +300! The little devil was still shivering non-stop, presumably still experiencing the aftereffects of his ''excitement''; a few more minutes of trembling should do it. "You little shit, how shameless can you be, throwing water balloons like that!" In the past, confronted with such a brat supernatural power user, Chen Meng would have walked away, either choosing to swallow her anger or simply calling the police and wash her hands of the matter. What else to do with a brat who makes no big mistakes but countless small ones? If it weren''t for the fact that it was only mineral water, she would have slapped him long ago. "Xiao Xing, Little Star!" "That damn kid has run off again, and class is about to start." A man and a woman came searching hither and thither and saw the brat still trembling on the bench, and then they noticed Chen Fei and his sister Chen Meng in front of the chair. The woman dashed over in three steps, pointing at the siblings and demanded, "Hey, what are you doing? Stay away from Xiao Xing." She completely ignored the fact that Chen Fei, drenched like a drowned rat, was still dripping wet. The man rushed to the front of the long bench, patting the little boy and asking repeatedly, "Xiao Xing, Little Star, what''s wrong? Are you hurt?" The brat finally regained some spirit, corner of his mouth turning down, and he wailed, "They hit me!" Chen Meng nearly exploded in anger and retorted, "Hey! Who hit you? I didn''t even touch you with a finger!" This little bastard was blatantly lying and making false accusations on purpose. "They did, they did, you hit me! He hit me too, you all hit me! Mom, they''re going to kill me!" The brat brazenly misrepresented the facts, completely indifferent to the consequences, as long as his whims were satisfied. After all, his parents would be the ones to clean up his mess anyway. "You hit my son? What do you mean by that!" The man immediately flew into a rage, as if about to strike Chen Meng. Behind every brat, there''s a full set of unbearable parents. It''s hereditary. "I''m the one who hit him, if you dare, come hit me!" Chen Fei pushed his little sister behind him, facing off against the couple, exuding a fierce aura. Those who once wanted to hit him have long had grass growing over their graves. "Jiu!" Little Bird was also very angry, standing on Daddy Chen Fei''s shoulder, and squawked menacingly at the couple. The sound was particularly loud, kind of ear-splitting, well, it was Daddy Chen Fei''s ears that were ringing. Poor Pure Light Sparrow! "You think I wouldn''t dare..." Blinded by anger, the man was about to get physical. "In a public place, no fighting allowed!" A staff member immediately walked over, prepared to intervene in the dispute. Among the employees of the Psychic Management Center, there were supernatural power users, albeit of low rank and not much combat power, but they still could restrain ordinary people if needed. Experience tales with empire Many who were attending the Special Ability training classes turned to look, having taken little interest before when it was just a little brat playing with water, causing water stains everywhere. After all, it was none of their business. They would at most glance twice or step aside, or at worst, just steer clear. Brats are creatures that thrive on attention; the more attention they receive, the wilder they get, and they''ll even provoke deliberately. You don''t want trouble, but the brats do. The man, pointing at Chen Fei, said with frustration, "He hit my child!" Chen Fei indifferently retorted, "Check the surveillance!" Just a moment ago, his older brother was advising him to make peace, but in an instant, it was as if he had become a different person, not even offering up a defense and clashing with the other party on the spot. "Damn, you''ve really grown some guts!" The bearded fat man with a belly as big as a locomotive rumbled over, lifting a truly enormous fist, his arm thicker than Chen Fei''s thigh. "No fighting allowed!" The staff member shouted firmly, glancing at the troublemaking bratty parents, about to use their special ability to intervene. But then they saw Chen Fei step forward to meet the oncoming fist, catching it with one palm, and with a twist and yank, the other party was forced to kneel. "I am an Earth Element ability user, you..." The corpulent fat man couldn''t believe it and yelled incredulously, the strength transferring from his fist astonishingly powerful; even when putting all his effort, he was still forced to go down by half. "...Ouch, ouch, ouch!" His fist felt like it was clamped by iron, every bone groaning as if it could be crushed at any moment. Looking at Chen Fei''s expression, however, it was light and breezy, as if he hadn''t even exerted much effort. Chen Fei spoke seriously, "I''m bullying you, do you confirm that?" Previously, that bratty kid got shocked till he wet his pants, and it was judged as mission completion, but now this fatso was kneeling and the system was still silent, which meant the Dog System was secretly changing the difficulty of the task. "No no, you''re not bullying me! I was wrong, it''s my fault!" Those who understand the times are the wisest, and this fat man apparently was wise. Even though he''s a bit fat, and with a face full of beard. "Hmm?" Chen Fei''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Ow!!!" The fat man suddenly felt the pressure on his fist intensify, pain making him howl, and his IQ instantly soared as he quickly shouted, "You''re bullying, and I''m willing to be bullied!" Well, it felt like dancing at the edge of Ghost Gate Pass, left, right, then left again, right again, left-left-right-right... hopping all around. Little sister Chen Meng covered her mouth tightly, watching her older brother bully someone. That''s right, plain bullying, caught red-handed! System: Ding! Bully three ability users (Completed quantity 2), gain Energy Points +300! Chen Fei smiled coldly, knowing this Dog System was cheating, thinking the task was too easy for him, and secretly modifying the rules of the game. Then, a person who looked like a teacher came out of the classroom where the bearded fat man had been and shouted at both of them, "Stop it, both of you, no fighting is allowed!" Suddenly, a number of classroom doors were flung open and Zone B quickly filled up with a lot of rubberneckers. Whether or not they''ve awakened abilities, everyone has the inherent trait to rubberneck. "Xiao Meng, cover your eyes!" Chen Fei glanced at the crowd; there were ordinary people and ability users alike. Sorry about this! "Ah? Oh!" The little sister hesitated for a moment, then realized and hastily covered her eyes. "Xiao Jiu, come on, say hi to everyone." "Jiu!" In an instant, the whole of Zone B lit up. "Ah! So bright!" "My eyes, my eyes!" "I''m going blind!" A good half of the building was in chaos. System: Ding! Bully three ability users (Completed quantity 37), gain Energy Points +300! Alright then! Even the Dog System has met its match. - Chapter 170 Section 170 - The Boss is Here Heard a chorus of screams ringing in her ears. Chen Meng carefully lifted her hand from her eyes. Damn! A bunch of people exploded in headaches and tears.gif She finally confirmed that Second Brother really wasn''t easy to converse with, he was absolutely a wolf in disguise. "Don''t daze out, let''s go!" Releasing the fat man in front of him, Chen Fei turned back to pull his bewildered little sister. Energy Points: 997/5000 Just three more tons of metal, and he wouldn''t have to bother choosing between the "DC Power Management Module" and the "AC Power Management Module"; of course, he''d take them all. It''s just unknown whether the Dog System would continue to cause trouble on the "Basic Laser Emitter"; Energy Points couldn''t be less, they were essential. Chen Meng, being dragged along, still couldn''t believe it and said, "Hey, hey, hey, are we just leaving like this?" Her heart was panicking a lot. So many supernatural power users, wouldn''t there be any consequences? Chen Fei smiled faintly and countered, "Or would you rather stay behind?" He was too lazy to stay and waste more words. With Energy Points in hand, there was no better time to leave. You see, this Dog System; though the mission was more than fulfilled, it still wouldn''t give more Energy Points, stingy and low-quality, no wonder it started with DOS. What exactly is DOS anyway? It''s basically UNIX''s file management module, not even a real system, falsely claiming to be an operating system just to deceive laymen. "Well..." Thinking about herself as just an ordinary, weak girl, she really didn''t have the nerve to stay, especially when the matter didn''t involve her! Chen Meng quickly made up her mind and hastily said, "Let''s go, let''s go!" Scuttling away! Leaving behind a complete mess. "Bro, we''re just leaving like this, it won''t cause any trouble, right?" Only when they had descended the stairs and left the Psychic Management Center did Chen Fei feel a wave of apprehension, afraid not of the supernatural power users, but of the government officials. Fearing that the rough iron chains would rattle, and they might have to make a trip to the yamen. Don''t think this is a joke; the limited edition rose gold handcuffs might not even secure those supernatural power users, less effective than wrapping them up mummy-style with big iron chains. "There are cameras, no one is blind!" Chen Fei made a pun. Little Sister Chen Meng thought about it, finally catching on, and nodded. "Oh!" Indeed, one look at the surveillance and everything was clear, video and audio, the truth laid bare. Chen Fei and Little Sister Chen Meng were completely blameless on their part. The last "Light Burst Flash" was done by Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, it couldn''t be counted as Chen Fei misusing his special ability, moreover, this spell could at most cause a temporary blindness, but no real harm. After all, the Pure Light Sparrow ranks as a genuinely harmless, beneficial magical beast. Moreover, upon checking, the second-ranking Level B supernatural power user locally, if you have issues, go fight him! Go on! A bear and a brainless person are quite different. - Just then, Little Sister Chen Meng, carrying an empty plate back to the kitchen, heard what Elder Sister said and, quickening her steps, grabbed Second Brother''s cellphone, scrolled to a message she had seen at noon, and excitedly showed it to Elder Sister. There hadn''t been a chance to mention it at lunch, but now the opportunity had arisen. Sima Xin glanced at the cellphone screen involuntarily and soon her eyes widened in disbelief. What did she see? "... Current account balance: 2,244,780 Star Yuan." If the numbers were counted correctly, that should be over two million Star Yuan. "Xiao Meng..." The matriarch in the kitchen was turning back to her severe ways, preparing her slippers as if they were weapons. Not focusing on studying, always up to this and that, with the college entrance exam countdown already ticking. Doesn''t she realize every wasted minute can never be regained? "I know, I know!" Little Sister Chen flinched in fright, quickly tossed the cellphone back to Second Brother as if she saw a cat while being a mouse, and swiftly dashed back to her room¡ªat least, she pretended to be studying hard there. Seeing Little Sister in this state, Chen Fei couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and sympathy. "Really that much?" Elder Sister Sima Xin was in disbelief. "Occasionally, not often. It''s completely out of luck, more precisely, it''s a collective bonus," Chen Fei shrugged. With the war over and peace returning, there would be no more such earnings this month; as usual, just a base salary and standard bonus. For a bonus of over two million, to let Aircrew Base and Merman Brothers continue to fight to death would likely make both sides'' bosses spit blood in frustration. What was this? For a single brick, tear down the entire building¡ªit was absurd to even think about it more. At six in the afternoon, Elder Brother Chen Shi finally made it home on time for dinner and greeted Second Brother Chen Fei with several punches¡ªa playful fight followed by a tight hug as they laughed face to face. Real brothers indeed! The Chen Family had members who were officials, soldiers, tycoons, and working-class citizens. Some were rich, and some were poor, but the affection among them was strong. They never allowed money or social status to interfere and sour the familial bonds and affections. "Second Son, from the looks of it, you must be doing well," Being seasoned from years in society, Elder Brother Chen Shi quickly guessed some things, reviewing Second Brother with a thorough look. "Fairly well," Chen Fei replied, yet his sentiment was hard to express. It''s a long story without a mother for the child; so rather than explaining and causing unnecessary worry at home, he chose to keep it to himself. "I heard from Sima Xin that you''ve paid off a small part of that debt?" Elder Brother Chen Shi, who constantly brought up the huge debt that Second Brother alone had taken on, recognized that this debt nearly plunged the old Chen Family into dire straits. As Little Sister Chen Meng disclosed the over two million Star Yuan, the entire family now knew, and suddenly everyone felt a great relief from the burden. "Got over two million, haven''t paid it off yet," Chen Fei had just received this payment combining salary and bonus, so he had not yet had time to deal with his personal debt. "Go and pay it off first. As for the other three million, I will find someone to borrow money from and pay it off too. I''ll handle everything else," Elder Brother Chen Shi firmly patted his brother''s shoulder. Back when he was getting married, both arranging the wedding feast and the down payment for a new house had drained Elder Brother Chen Shi''s savings entirely. Unable to help with the huge problem Little Sister had revealed, he could only stick to his plot of land with his wife Sima Xin, managing somehow to get through the wedding ceremony. Now that Second Brother had earned a sum and paid off part of the debt, as the head of the family, it was naturally Elder Brother''s duty to take on the major responsibility, believing his wife would surely support him. "Chen Shi is right, Xiao Fei, you shouldn''t have to bear it all alone," Sima Xin concluded, exchanging glances with her husband Chen Shi, the couple sharing an unspoken understanding. - Chapter 171 Section 171 - Ten Miles of Red Bridal Procession "Blood is thicker than water." Sima Xin and Elder Brother Chen seemed like a heavenly match when they got together. "Elder brother, sister-in-law, don''t bother yourselves anymore. Borrowing money means paying interest, but my debt has already turned into a personal loan, the kind without interest," Chen Fei quickly waved his hand. Moreover, he wasn''t in a hurry to pay back the money. It would be best to pay it all off in one go when he could. If one day the family urgently needed money, the more than two million in his payroll card would come in handy. He just hoped that Little Sister Chen would learn a lesson from this experience, remembering that society can be cruel; one may recognize faces but not hearts. People outside are not as reliable as family. "A private loan? Someone helped you?" Elder Chen was momentarily stunned. His first thought was of those from the Chen Family Gate. After all for them, five million Star Yuan really wasn''t much, and it made sense to give each other a hand within the family. However, what Chen Fei said shattered Elder Brother''s guess. "It''s the boss, my current boss, who is also a friend. They''re pretty good, and not short on money." If drinking buddies count as friends, that is! Manager Hanna may have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Being friends with her at work is tantamount to a professional death wish, but as a drinking pal after hours, there''s no issue at all. When it comes to drinking, drunk words hold no taboos, and there''s no harm in speaking mistakenly. At worst, you get a beating, and that''s that. Chen Fei had a good attitude, and Hanna Gagar might just appreciate that about him. "So, it seems like you''ve gotten quite lucky," Elder Brother and his wife both said with a smile. No wonder Second Brother kept sending valuable items home and then had someone deliver a family sedan worth 150,000 Star Yuan. It turns out the pressure of debt was not as big as they imagined. He had met a noble person. With this realization, the worry of the husband and wife duo dissipated a lot. Elder Brother Chen and Elder Sister Sima Xin stayed overnight at the Chen family''s home. At night, Elder Sister Sima Xin slept in the same room as Little Sister Chen Meng, while Chen Fei shared a room with Elder Brother Chen. Dad Chen Haishang and Mom Yu Xiaoyi naturally had their own room. The Chen Family''s house wasn''t large: three bedrooms and a living room, so this arrangement was just right, with no one needing to sleep on the living room sofa. - Before dawn broke, Mom Yu Xiaoyi got up early to prepare breakfast and take one more look at the luggage. Stay connected through empire Second Brother Chen Fei traveled miles and miles to come home, all to attend his uncle''s daughter''s wedding with his family. It was more convenient for the whole family to travel together. The uncle''s family lived in another city. To get there, one could take a plane or a train, with the former taking half the time of the latter. But money was never an issue for his uncle''s family, especially when it came to marrying off the youngest daughter. They covered travel expenses for all relatives and friends attending the wedding, and Chen Haishang''s family, including Elder Sister-in-law, had their plane tickets booked half a month in advance. That''s why Little Sister Chen called Second Brother Chen Fei to confirm if he would be able to make it. After an early breakfast and a quick packing up, the family caught a taxi they''d booked to take them straight to the airport. On major air routes, the aircraft that undertake public passenger transport are not usually jet airliners, but rather Magic Cube Warships. The flying speed of airships is slightly slower than jet airliners, but the 200-meter-long passenger Magic Cube Warship can carry five thousand passengers at a time, which is comparable to the transport capacity of two passenger trains. However, the ticket price is not cheap, even slightly more expensive than jet airliner tickets. "I''m not your boyfriend, why should I pamper you?" Chen Fei was completely unapologetic. If Little Sister gets carried away, you absolutely can''t spoil her. The sibling banter, full of mutual mockery and taunting, continued all the way until the bus arrived at the destination. "We''re here, wow, it''s beautiful!" Little Sister Chen Meng, who hopped off the bus first, saw a sea of flowers, with red silk and lanterns adorning every tree along the path. It was a pure classic style, a ten-mile dowry procession! My dad, Chen Haishang, commented, "As always, splendidly extravagant." Uncle Chen Haiqing always indulged his daughters, wanting to scare away any poor suitor who didn''t see clearly. Just the pocket money one of his daughters received in a day was more than the annual income of an ordinary person. Without real capability, how could someone marry his daughter? Money always comes before love, that''s a fact of life. "It''s so beautiful!" Sister-in-law Sima Xin, gazing at the sea of flowers and red decorations, drew closer to her husband. She admired without jealousy, never contemplating those unrealistic dreams. "Hey! Little Shanzi is here too! Hahaha, it''s always him." Chen Fei spotted a young man with a sour expression at the manor''s gate, trying hard to squeeze out a smile, appearing to enthusiastically welcome each guest. That was the youngest of the uncle''s family, the only son, Chen Shan, who was a year older than Chen Meng and currently in his first year of university. Welcoming guests for his sister''s wedding was the duty of the younger brother, and this was the fourth and final time. If not for having such a son, my uncle almost would''ve had five golden flowers. With the love of four sisters, this lad was somewhat spoiled and petulant. But when it came to Chen Fei, there was no spoiling¡ªhe had no patience for any spoiled young master. A few punches would do! Noticing Chen Fei, their eyes met, and Little Shanzi was like, oh crap! Chen Fei called out loudly, "Little Shanzi!" Chen Shan, tasked with greeting for his sister, had a face like he had just swallowed a fly and irritably responded, "I''m not Little Shanzi, can''t you call me by my full name?" In their generation, only the fourth uncle''s family had two sons; brothers fight, but having more sisters doesn''t help! During summer vacations spent at the fourth uncle''s house in the south, Chen Shan often got beaten, and even Little Sister Chen had a fighting spirit not to be underestimated. "Chen Shan, you''re manning the gate for your sister again!" Now much more composed, Chen Shi recalled the memories from the past when the youngest of Uncle''s family first came to their home, constantly acting high and mighty, looking down on their poorer relatives. Both he and the second brother, Chen Fei, disliked the guy''s attitude. In the absence of their parents, they teamed up to give him a good thrashing, making him tame immediately. Every time he tried to become arrogant again, a continued thrashing made him give up. Eventually, even Chen Meng who was younger than him started to bully him. Think money is impressive? Money can''t increase your fighting power! And so, the resigned Chen Shan had to get along with the three siblings from his uncle''s family, acting with brotherly respect and courtesy. By the end of the summer, even Uncle barely recognized this tanned kid with a silly grin as his son. Others were even more astonished; the little master who was supposed to be princely could now climb trees, catch fish, and oh my god, even fight¡ªdid he spend the summer patrolling the mountains with the bandit king? - Chapter 172 Section 172 - Chen Family Gate "Come on, Little Shanzi, lead the way!" Chen Fei, dragging his luggage, stood in front of his cousin Chen Shan, the youngest son of his uncle. "Go on, go on, find an empty house by yourself. Can''t you see I''m busy? I have no time to cater to you!" Young Master Shan dismissed him with a wave of his hand, full of disdain. The sight of Chen Fei always brought back childhood traumas for him, vividly remembering how he had been pinned down on the couch and pummeled by him and his brother. Fighting like brothers, he had always envied those who had brothers; unfortunately, his father was of no help, with all four above him being his quiet, book-smart, and well-mannered sisters and not one who could fight. Having his four sisters fight for him would be like handing the stick used for spanking straight to his dad. After spending a summer at his fourth uncle''s home, he swore he''d never go there a second time. He couldn''t provoke them, could he at least not steer clear? Even so, at several Chen Family reunions, he still couldn''t avoid these siblings. Rich third-generation, so what? Rich third-generation doesn''t get beaten? MMP, there''s absolutely no reason here. "Chirp!" The little bird, taken care of by his younger sister, Chen Meng, flew over and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, cocking its head to eye Chen Shan, who was visibly annoyed. "Hey!! You''re keeping birds now, damn it, Pure Light Sparrow, magical beast. Who here is actually the prodigal?" Chen Shan couldn''t help but take a few more glances before his eyes widened. But having a magical beast as a pet was the latest high-end trend in the Capital City, wasn''t it? According to the older generation of the Chen Family, fishing impoverishes for three years, bird keeping ruins a lifetime¡ª a sure sign of a wasteful aristocrat. Those found guilty would be punished, kneeling to copy "*Selected Works" without missing or mistaking a single character, dare you defy that? Moreover, taking care of an intelligent magical beast was not easy at all. They weren''t stupid; some could even talk. It wasn''t just about having money and power. You also had to earn the beast''s respect, and the simplest method was a good fight, as magical beasts naturally follow the law of the jungle. If you lost, you admitted defeat quietly. But if you couldn''t fight, you''d likely get a beating and might even lose your life. Explore stories on empire The alternative was to honestly acquire a young beast and spend a lot of time and effort raising it from infancy. That required a tremendous amount of effort. The last resort was to sign a magic contract, but it had to be voluntary on both sides; otherwise, it was illegal, with severe consequences. If today you dare to force a contract on a fellow intelligent species, tomorrow you might dare to contract with your fellow human, leading to grave consequences. Magic contracts were always regulated; each contract had a unique identification code, and reporting, application, and approval were all incredibly complex. Chen Fei said with a grin, "Jealous? Envious? It''s a second-rank rare species that knows four spells!" After saying this, he also stretched out four fingers, rotating his wrist to show them front and back. "Chirp!" The little bird chirped ceremoniously, as if to echo Mr. Chen Fei''s words. The little guy was proud as could be. "Damn!!!" There were quite a few Pure Light Sparrows, and they were relatively easy to keep, but a second-rank one that knew four spells? He had never even heard of such a thing. Weren''t Pure Light Sparrows only supposed to be first-rank, knowing just one spell? Rarity brought value, playing at such a high level! Envy could twist a man, as if struck by a critical blow, Chen Shan staggered, nearly feeling like he would explode. He found himself scorned by a poor relative, damn it, but... he couldn''t fight back, not at all. The ecological zones had the lowest human development rate and population density, with some places being completely uninhabited. The key feature was that these lands were primarily in their natural state without any pollution. Even in inhabited areas, the economy was maintained entirely through natural output, whether it was profitable depended on the location, like those producing precious medicinal herbs could be considered prosperous. Overall, the ecological zones were economically less developed areas, and it was a challenge for Chen Guang to make something of himself by taking a civil service position there. "Ecological zones are pretty good too!" Chen Fei nodded. Compared to the Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the local ecological zones were practically heaven, with a terrifyingly high rate of greenery. If there wasn''t a need to reserve some land for desert creatures, even the last patch of desert would probably be leveled. Though economically underdeveloped, the ecological zones were great for nurturing people! Away from the hustle and bustle of other districts, the ecological zones were quiet and peaceful, with good air quality ¨C everything was natural. Slowing down the pace of life there might even help people live longer, so besides a small amount of natural output, the business of retirement homes also took up a large part. Both the Second Uncle and Third Uncle were from the grandpa''s family, with three generations involved in politics. There must be a deeper reason behind arranging for Brother Chen Guang to accumulate experience in the ecological zone. What resources could be available for the elderly in such a place? Of course, connections! As the saying goes, it''s good to have someone in the bureaucracy. If you don''t build connections while on public grain, then what''s the point? The ecological zone arranged for Brother Chen Guang was probably not just some poor and harsh uninhabited land. With this in mind... Chen Fei''s brain made a full circle, and he immediately figured it all out. True to the three generations in politics, very cunning and deep in calculation. Chen Guang led Fourth Uncle Chen Haishang and his family to the main building in the manor. The eldest uncle had prepared a dowry for his fourth daughter¡ªFengzhi Manor had more than forty guest rooms, mainly for the Chen family''s relatives and distinguished guests to stay, while other guests were arranged to stay in nearby upscale hotels, to be brought over collectively before the wedding started. Otherwise, even such a large manor could not possibly accommodate three thousand guests. Then the brothers changed into their formal attire and greeted all the uncles and aunts, elder sisters and aunts, and finally gathered at the manor''s entrance with the men of the Chen family this generation to welcome guests from all directions. "Little Shanzi, how did you end up back here?" Seeing the youngest son of the eldest uncle, Chen Shan, still standing at the door, forcing a smile, Chen Fei still couldn''t resist teasing him. "Hmph! Don''t be smug, just you wait, I''ll get a more powerful Magical Beast, and definitely surpass you." Alright then, this kid was still holding a grudge. The thorn of being crushed by a Pure Light Sparrow couldn''t be gotten over, no matter what. Just now, the Crown Prince of the National Defense Star went to find his dad, wanting a Magical Beast to show off and turn the tables on Chen Fei, but instead he got a face full of his dad''s spit and almost questioned his life. He just couldn''t accept that a poor relative could own a Second Rank Pure Light Sparrow, while he himself couldn''t have a Magical Beast. The youngest son wanting to raise wolves and tigers was no issue, but suddenly wanting to raise a Magical Beast, old man Chen Haiqing thought this naughty kid needed a spanking. Why don''t you ask for a Giant Dragon? How about a Metallic Dragon? Old dad can get you a dozen right away, as long as you can survive 24 hours, you can raise it however you like. Chen Shan stated he wasn''t joking, and his dad, Chen Haiqing, also made it clear he wasn''t joking either. One phone call, delivered in one hour, plus free shipping, truly 24K pure Gold. Thinking of raising a Giant Metallic Dragon at home seemed pretty cool, but it seemed a bit too high-end and absolutely friendship-ending (seeing the Dragon of Slaughter and not running would be like waiting to die), so Chen Shan, looking downtrodden, was directly scolded by his old man and sent back. Upon seeing Second Brother Chen Fei appearing at the manor entrance looking all prim and proper, his expression grew even worse. - Chapter 173 Section 173 - Fair-weather Friends If it weren''t for Xiao Jiu still being with Little Sister Chen Meng, otherwise, the Crown Prince of National Defense Star, adored by thousands, really would have had difficulty saving face. The formal wedding was to take place the next day, and through chatting with a few close relatives and brothers, Chen Fei had finally figured out the background of the groom. Since ancient times, matching social status has been the foremost prerequisite. Even if the uncle recognized the freedom to love and was absolutely against arranged marriages, the social circle was there for a reason: birds of a feather flock together, and what kind of people should associate with what kind of people. While there are examples of rich girls getting together with poor boys, and not a few at that, ultimately, they are not many, and most of them end up leaving the stage in tragedy. With time, no matter how strong love is than gold, it cannot withstand the impact from all directions. The partner of Fourth Aunt from the uncle''s family, Chen Meizhi, was named Tang Guangzhong, a senior mechanical engineer at National Defense Star, not the awkward and tongue-tied bookish type, but rather eloquent and well-spoken, quite a doer, with strong practical skills. Whether it was educational background or work experience, he shone with a diamond-like brilliance, and within less than two years of entering the National Defense Star Group, he was identified as a talent worthy of special attention. He didn''t exactly come from a salary-earning class; if the working life failed him, he would have to roll back home to take over his old man''s mechanical factory - not a big one, just a modest ten billion or so Star Yuan, after all, equipment was expensive, and it was also a small factory providing supporting services to National Defense Star. In a certain sense, this brother-in-law of the Fourth Aunt was considered one of their own from the very beginning, at least Sister Meizhi wasn''t letting the "fatty water" flow into someone else''s field and was keeping it in-house instead. Although when it came to talking about marriage, one inevitably faced prejudices of social standing, the Chen Family Gate didn''t care so much about those things. They didn''t even disdain poor relatives, let alone poor boys. As long as one had confidence and could withstand the pressure, they were welcome to give it a shot. Uncle Chen Haiqing didn''t care whether the in-laws were wealthy or not. After all, none were as wealthy as his own family, so comparing wealth was meaningless. As the chairman of National Defense Star Aerospace Company (NDS), the fourth-largest manufacturer of combat aircraft on Blue Star, was about to marry off his daughter, it was bound to draw public attention. However, Chairman Chen personally sent out a message, directly blocking information from public media; no reporters were sent to disturb the event. Only personal media, like flies, were trying every means to probe the wedding scene. However, the Chen Family Gate was not unprepared. A buffer zone was established within a two-kilometer radius centered on Fengzhi Manor, temporarily designating it as a ground and no-fly zone. Whether at intersections or in green spaces, there were guards stationed to prevent idlers from coming in, especially those dedicated paparazzi attempting to infiltrate. Since the day the guests started to arrive, within a mere six hours, the automatic air defense system set up inside and outside the manor and on the hotel rooftops had fired off slender, high-energy laser beams without fail, shooting down more than two hundred micro-drones. From time to time, one could see fireballs burst like fireworks in the sky, then fall. Though these uninvited guests posed little threat, they were a nuisance. Guests arrived one after another, most of them simply greeting before returning to the nearby hotel; only a few who were particularly close lingered to chat longer. Having married off four daughters, Uncle, as one of the male members of this generation of the Chen Family Gate, had naturally, just like his other brothers, dutifully served as the greeter four times. No wonder Chen Shan''s expression seemed sour as he stood at the door. With four elder sisters who were blood-related, how could he not put in the effort? After a whole day, his cheeks were almost cramping from fatigue. Only when it began to grow dark did the guests finally start to dwindle, allowing the brothers to finally take a breather. Standing at the gate of the manor were not only Uncle''s youngest son, Chen Shan, but also Second Uncle''s eldest son, Chen Guang, Third Uncle''s only son, Chen You, the Fourth Uncle''s Chen Shi and Chen Fei brothers, and Fifth Aunt''s daughter, who was helping Sister Meizhi with the pre-wedding preparations and incidentally acting as a bridesmaid. If ordered by age, Chen Shi was the eldest, followed by Chen Guang, then came Chen Fei, and afterwards Chen You and Chen Shan, with the uncle''s youngest son still being the baby of the group. "Are you guys hungry? I''m going to get some food," said Chen Shi, the eldest among the little brothers. His suggestion immediately met with unanimous approval from everyone. Chen Guang, the eldest son of Second Uncle''s family, immediately chimed in, "I''ll go with you!" "And me!" As the manor was part of Fourth Sister''s dowry, Chen Shan, as her brother, entirely regarded it as his own home; getting something to eat was nothing, he even considered asking the chef to cook something special for them. "My sister hasn''t troubled you, why drag her into this? It looks like you''re itching for a beating again!" The boy with the slippery voice from before lunged over and ended up grappling with Chen Shan. Li Xingxing has an elder brother named Li Gaogao, and together, they are ''Gaogao Xingxing,'' a pun on being ''joyful.'' His elder sister''s name is Li Wanjiji¡ªWanji, a common name for ancient women, indicative of status and family background. However, Wan is a homophone, which when read as [wan] means beautiful. Using this pronunciation, the name has a dual meaning, signifying a certain level of sophistication. Yet, some peculiar-minded friends added the character for ''day,'' turning it into "manage thousands of affairs daily (Ri Li Wanji)," much to their amusement. Poor Miss Li from the Li Family, who had wronged no one, unexpectedly got stuck with such a nickname. As her brother, Li Xingxing had fought plenty of fights over this, beating up anyone who dared use that moniker, even his close friends. The Miss Li Wanjiji who had come along stood innocently, trying to prevent her brother from acting rashly but was squeezed to the back by a mob of rowdy instigators, unable to exercise her strength. The eldest of the current generation of the Chen Family Gate, Chen Shi, immediately said, "You two, no fighting!" Li Xingxing, holding onto Chen Shan, said to Chen Shi, "Yo, the eldest brother is here, you be the judge, does Little Shanzi deserve a beating?" Right then, Chen Shan was famished and had only forty to fifty percent of his strength, feeling weak before a punch was even thrown. Chen Fei, however, never coddled these spoiled rich kids, threatening without any courtesy, "He deserves it, once you beat him up, I''ll come beat you up." His words were beyond reproach¡ªChen Shan deserved a beating for speaking out of turn, but if a member of the Chen Family is hit by someone outside, it''s a matter of ''brothers fighting within the walls, defending against insults from outside,'' and as part of the old Chen Family, they would certainly strike back. Chen Guang and Chen You stepped forward, standing behind Chen Fei. The two cousins intent on a political career didn''t mind getting into a fight for family. "..." Li Xingxing felt intimidated seeing the four brothers on the opposite side. The fair-weather friends who came with him were not as united as the brothers of the Chen Family Gate. In the end, he let go of Chen Shan''s collar, pretended to dust off Chen Shan''s shoulder, and said, "Watch your mouth and don''t court disaster." What had been a good relationship among buddies suddenly turned cold. In truth, it was no big deal, and within 12 hours, the two similarly odious buddies would be back slinging arms over each other''s shoulders, chumming around. Chen Shan''s eyes darted around, and he grabbed Li Xingxing, who was backing away, smiling without warmth, "Let me introduce everyone, my brother Chen Fei, he''s awesome, see that Little Bird on his shoulder? A Second Rank Magical Beast with four spells! Do any of you have that? Definitely not! It''s not about money. Look at my brother Chen Fei, a Level B supernatural power user, taming Magical Beasts like it''s nothing, tell me if you''re convinced, Li Xingxing, are you convinced?" The grabbed Li Xingxing was stunned on the spot, to have a Second Rank Magical Beast that knew four spells, what kind of high-end breed was that! Chen Fei was taken aback, looking toward the little sister by the dining cart. Chen Meng was also surprised¡ªcatching her second brother''s glance, she quickly shook her head; she hadn''t had the chance to tell anyone yet, not even her parents or her eldest brother and sister-in-law knew. What? Second Brother is a supernatural power user? The eldest, Chen Shi, almost laughed out loud¡ªChen Shan was truly unruly, having been thrashed by his brothers all through one summer, and he hadn''t been wronged in the least. - Chapter 174 Section 174 - Welcoming the Bride What the hell! A supernatural power user has emerged from the Chen Family Gate, this is huge news! Buddies, hurry up and drop a wave of 666s, curry favor with the newly awakened B-grade supernatural power user bigwig, lest you accidentally get yourself beaten up. "Right, bro!" Chen Shan turned back with a smile that was anything but kind. Chen Fei could only shake his head helplessly. Little Shanzi was like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, and he had thought it was Chen Meng who leaked the news, only to find out that the other party had blindly guessed it and, astonishingly, hit the nail on the head. He didn''t bother to explain. Wait, no, that''s wrong, it''s a backhanded compliment! Chen Fei thought of another possibility, and that made sense. This profligate son was actually getting smart, starting to be cunning. Indeed, the offspring of wealthy families were never simple. Otherwise, what right did they have to inherit the family business? Chen Shan always got beaten up in front of his brothers Chen Shi and Chen Fei, not because he was dumb or stupid, but because he deserved it. Damn it, I''ll find time later to give this kid a good beating. Chen Meng, who was manning the food cart, saw that the fight wouldn''t start, hurriedly spoke up, "Hey, are you going to eat or not? The food''s getting cold!" "Yeah, we''re going to eat! I''m starving!" Chen You, the only son of the Third Uncle''s family, quickly rushed to the food cart, eager to open the containers on top. The main course was a big pot of rice and a pan of stir-fried noodles, along with seven or eight different dishes of meat and vegetables, plus a soup¡ªenough to fill the stomachs of the five brothers. "Hehe, you guys eat. We''re going to look around inside," Li Xingxing gave up on targeting Chen Shan and walked through the gate of the mansion. As he passed by Chen Fei, he suddenly smiled and said, "A B-level supernatural power user, impressive indeed!" In saying so, he even gave a thumbs up. The asshole was colluding with Chen Shan, and they had to set up Chen Fei with the persona of a "B-grade supernatural power user." Why not A-grade? Because A-grade individuals were well-known; during major showdowns among sovereign players, an A-grade supernatural power user could sometimes be the deciding factor. Thus, as soon as a new A-grade supernatural power user appeared, they would immediately be considered a foundation of sovereignty and added to the list of strategic-level talents. The Blue Star United Defense Committee had organized a secret reconnaissance operation in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and had paid a significant price to enlist an A-grade supernatural power user. Of course, A-grade Space Series Ability Users were even rarer than Space System Mage Gods, but Ability Users of other series were no less difficult to recruit. Before an S-grade supernatural power user took action, an A-grade user was the uncrowned king. So even if Little Shanzi had the guts to make such a claim, there had to be someone gullible enough to believe it. The C-grade supernatural power users were relatively more numerous, with an awakening chance of about one in 660,000. With the local population base, C-grade supernatural power users truly weren''t much to speak of. Inside the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, there were quite a few C-grade supernatural power users, serving in different positions. B-grade supernatural power users, lying between the C-grade and A-grade, were just a quarter as numerous as C-grade, forming an important component of the force below the strategic level and receiving attention wherever they were. The wedding party made its way leisurely, with swarms of private media drones buzzing through the sky, at least a thousand strong. The air was filled with their humming, and occasional collisions occurred, though they didn''t dare get too close to the procession for fear of triggering the air defense system''s safety mechanisms and being directly shot down by laser beams, content to watch from afar through long-focus lenses. After the procession entered the manor, the groom Tang Guangzhong and the bride Chen Meizhi changed into a new set of clothes and stood at the manor entrance, personally welcoming guests from all directions. Inside the manor, a crier loudly announced the identity of the guests and the gifts they presented. "Chairman Li of Tianjiu Finance is sending a gift of a white jade Guanyin statue." "Ying Yue He Group is sending a gift of a twelve-colored diamond necklace." "Louis Industrial Company is sending a gift of one 3D printing machine." "Donglin Industrial Group is sending a gift of a 300 square meter commercial property on West Straight Street in Capital City." "Dragoon Mdynamics Industry is sending a gift of one Class A motorhome." "Henghai Tactical Weapons Group is sending a gift of one Schumann Wave Therapy Pod." "Xi Fei Industrial Group is sending a gift of one all-terrain tactical vehicle." ... Explore hidden tales at empire Whether it was businesses with transactions with National Defense Star Aerospace Company or those familiar with the Chen Family, some heads of households came personally, while others sent representatives with gifts. The value of the gifts varied, but each was distinct and notable. In contrast, the Chen Family''s own members kept the congratulatory red packets uniformly at 200 Star Yuan, not even one Star Yuan more. The eldest uncle Chen Haiqing had been thoughtful; no matter whether the relatives were wealthy or not, they certainly weren''t as wealthy as he was. The red packets were given symbolically, the most important thing being their presence and intention; nothing else mattered. Outside the manor gates, a dazzling silver light suddenly brightened, and a silver beam of light shot into the sky. The next second, the silver light dissipated, revealing the figure of a man and an elegant Giant Dragon covered in silver scales before everyone''s eyes. The man who was greeting guests and calling out names suddenly became overly excited, shouting at the top of his lungs, "The Lin Family, Mr. Lin Mo has arrived." The man appearing alongside the Silver Dragon turned around and patted the dragon''s lowered head, saying, "Alright, You, this is far enough, you can go back now!" "Okay, I''ll wait for your call!" The Silver Dragon nodded, and with another silver column of light shooting into the sky, the dragon, engulfed by the silver light, vanished in the blink of an eye. You? It wasn''t just the guest annunciator; many people caught the name clearly. Some even got goosebumps and couldn''t help but widen their eyes; there was only one dragon called "You" in the Dragon Race. That was the Space Silver Dragon, You, the governing officer of the Dragon Clan! If the current Dragon King from the Metallic Dragons had his way, the whole Dragon Race might well be doomed. Sky Dragon City, in danger! Waiting online, it''s urgent... Thus, the real authority within the Dragon Race was the Space Silver Dragon, You, wisely put in charge (while taking the opportunity to be lazy) by the Dragon King (dodging responsibility). - Chapter 175 Section 175 - Golden Light Rain The younger generation led the guests around the manor, while the bride and groom greeted the guests at the entrance to the manor. As elders of the newlyweds, Uncle Chen Haiqing from the Chen Family and the parents-in-law were greeting the important guests inside the main gate. An unusually excited voice heralded the singing rites. "The Lin Family, Mr. Lin Mo has arrived." How many Lin Families could there be in this world? Of course, the Lin Family and other Lin families! The bride''s elderly father, the groom''s father-in-law, Uncle Chen Haiqing of the Chen Family Gate, immediately burst out laughing and went out to greet them. "Mr. Lin, I thought you wouldn''t come! It''s really not easy to see you now!" The Chen Family had married off daughters four times, and this old friend had only just arrived for the first time. The man who appeared with the Spatial Silver Dragon also revealed a smile, opened his arms, and hugged Chen Haiqing tightly before letting go. "Three Yellow Chickens, it''s been two years, your hair has gotten much whiter. You have magic potions, why don''t you use them?" "Tsk! The meaning of life lies in taking one step at a time, from beginning to end. I''m already 57 years old, do I still need to look like I''m in my thirties like you, planning to keep wooing young ladies? Wouldn''t your wives, no, girlfriends be angry? You scoundrel!" Chen Haiqing punched him hard, not actually being Three Yellow Chickens, but his friend was indeed a real Dragon Knight, who had deceived everyone for a long time under the guise of being someone else. There used to be a saying, "Marriage should not become a shackle for women," and as a result... his girlfriends took it as a principle, not getting married didn''t affect having children, and polygamy was illegal, so the scoundrel Mr. Lin benefited from this -5 emotional intelligence. Damn, a scoundrel?! What kind of ferocious words are these? The surrounding people, upon hearing such shocking words, all changed their expressions slightly, frightened to stay far away. Mr. Lin, the previous head of the Lin Family, closely associated with the Sulan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star, who would dare to gossip, wanting to die? Not to mention that, even before a response came from Cangqiong Star, the sovereign big shots of Blue Star would likely be the first to take action and crush anyone who dared disrespect the former head of the Lin Family. The National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet, had a close connection with the Lin Family, and without them, there wouldn''t be any Sky Knights. For a long time, there had been an unverifiable rumor that the former head of the Lin Family, Lin Mo, was indeed the Master of the Firmament, but all parties simply kept silent. "I had no choice! We agreed, never to abandon or give up, so it had to be this way!" Lin Mo showed none of the rumored traits of the "Master of the Firmament," acting like a perennially youthful child, as he and Chen Haiqing threw punches at each other, trading several blows before stopping. He didn''t mind, but Three Yellow Chickens, the old fella was already of age, and these old bones couldn''t take much. If he really died by his hand, that would be major news. At that time, various news agencies would burst out with the sensational headline: "Shock! ''Master of the Firmament'' Lin Mo punches to death the chairman of the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, Chen Haiqing. Details on the grudges inside..." The two of them came before the young couple. The beautifully smiling bride, Chen Meizhi, said: "Uncle Lin!" "Mr. Lin, hello!" The groom, Tang Guangzhong, blushed, too excited and even stammering. Mr. Lin, the former head of the Lin Family, was also one of the shareholders of National Defense Star, and as a senior engineer on National Defense Star, he certainly knew that. The golden light rain only lasted for more than ten seconds, then abruptly ceased. The Magic Array disintegrated into countless points of light, which quickly disappeared. The brightly glowing Magic Wand ceased emitting its strange light, and in the blink of an eye, vanished from Lin Mo''s hand as if it had never appeared. "Old Lin, what was this..." As Chen Haiqing spoke, he felt his scalp itch. Reaching up, he pulled out more than ten white hairs. He knew that Lin Mo suddenly pulling such a stunt meant his falling hair was definitely not a bad thing. Before long, his graying hair might turn fully black again. The benefits he received were second only to the couple. "Earth Order Third Rank, ''Holy Daytime Praise,'' not a Forbidden Curse, but it guarantees your family and guests at least a year without illness or disaster!" Lin Mo chuckled, wiping the thin sweat on his forehead. His words confirmed Chen Haiqing''s guess. "You really went all out!" Chen Haiqing shook his head; he understood that releasing a spell on Blue Star, the greater the power, the greater the cost. For example, Forbidden Curses could only be released on Cangqiong Star. No matter what, they could not unleash Forbidden Curses on Blue Star; no number of Mages working together could, as if the rules of the entire world forbade their occurrence. "You and I are still splitting hairs over this?" Lin Mo bumped his shoulder into his old friend. "Exactly that!" Chen Haiqing no longer put on airs. Indeed, after decades of friendship with Lin Mo, everything was naturally taken in stride, and keeping count of gains and losses would only strain their bond. If he managed to upset his old friend now, when his younger son got married, he probably wouldn''t come at all. Onlookers who had just enjoyed a shower of the purest Light Elements envied the close relationship shared by the two men. Being connected with Mr. Lin like this truly made others jealous. "Chirp! Chirp!" After the light rain ceased, the Pure Light Sparrow continued to spin in mid-air. With its small brain, it probably couldn''t understand how the pure Light Elements that had felt so delightful had just disappeared. Following Lin Mo''s gaze, Chen Haiqing looked towards the little bird and laughed, saying, "My cousin''s younger sibling is raising that bird as a pet. I don''t even know where it came from. Are you interested in seeing my Chen Family Disciple?" In the Hai generation of the family, apart from Chen Haiyun and Chen Haizhi being blood brothers, the rest were cousins. Their children were within the third familial degree, and thus considered close kin. "Sure!" Lin Mo nodded, fully grasping the subtext of Chen Haiqing''s words. To extend the network of their elders to the next generation, even if they do not share the bond as close as their own generation, they would at least be closer than strangers. Children will have their own fortune. Even if a noble''s influence is said to last five generations, for the Chen Family, maintaining a relationship with the Lin Family was already enough. The thigh of the old Lin Family wasn''t something just anyone could hold onto. - Chapter 176 Section 176 - Ding! Slaying Dragon Knight Lin Mo Having someone send a message, when the Chen Family Disciple arrived, Chen Haiqing said, "Old Lin, over the past twenty years, you''ve always been elusive like a dragon seen but not its tail. We old friends rarely see you, and you, the ''Lord of the Sky,'' have been too low-key. Those who don''t know might even think you''ve entered the coffin, and in a few more years, people might forget you." The nickname "Lord of the Sky" originated from Chen Haiqing and the other old friends, encapsulating two meanings. One refers to the ruler of the skies, where the earliest Sky Knights and Crystal Jets had deep connections with Lin Mo. The other refers to Cangqiong Star, seen as the common lord of all forces on the planet, the man behind Queen Slan, and his relationship with the Dragon Clan. Lin Mo was not at all upset; instead, he smiled and said, "Haha, the bird that sticks out gets shot, one must stay low-key. Though peace has reigned for a long time, one cannot be careless. A low-profile me holds the situation better than a high-profile me." "You old fox, the older you get, the craftier your thoughts become, completely lacking the youthful vigor when you would just start fighting at the slightest disagreement. That was truly thrilling." Chen Haiqing pointed at Lin Mo and shook his head smiling. More than thirty years had passed, things changed, and they were no longer the young men filled with daring and vigor. Less impulsive, more stable, less assertive, more calculating, barely recognizable. "Uncle!" "Uncle!" "Dad!" Five young men arrived before Chen Haiqing and Lin Mo. One of them had that same little bird on his shoulder which had greedily absorbed the pure Light Elements in the light rain just before. "Boys, let me introduce..." Chen Haiqing started, but was interrupted by the youngsters. "Hey, Uncle Lin!" "Great to see you, Uncle Lin Mo!" "Uncle Lin, what brings you here?" Given the relationship between Chen Haiqing and Lin Mo, it was rare for the disciples of Chen Family Gate not to know Lin Family''s past generation''s head, the last Dragon Knight, Lin Mo. But really seeing this uncle was hard; big shots are always like that, always the last to arrive, the first to leave, never staying long. "This is my cousin Chen Shi, the eldest of Chen Haishang''s family, 26 years old, got married last year. Next to him is their Second Brother, Chen Fei, the Pure Light Sparrow belongs to him. Next is my second cousin''s eldest son, Chen Guang..." As Chen Haiqing was introducing the current generation of Chen Family Disciple youths to his old friend Lin Mo, Chen Fei standing amidst the four brothers couldn''t help but widen his eyes. System: Ding! Slay the Dragon Knight Lin Mo (Mo Lin), receive Energy Points 9999999! Crap! Dog System, you really dare to dream!!! The person in front of me is the "Lord of the Sky"! Blink and I could be obliterated by such an ultimate character, what grounds do I have to slay him? Even if I were sick of living, I couldn''t pick this kind of death! Enjoy exclusive content from empire Moments later, a silver light soared into the sky from the manor''s entrance, and the man and dragon vanished again, as if they had never been there. "Brother Fei, use your special ability to heal my dad well; I''m going ahead!" Chen Haiqing''s younger son, Chen Shan, patted Chen Fei''s shoulder, not forgetting to keep pressing his point before he dashed off. Only Wood System ability users had healing abilities; Light-Based Ability Users didn''t have access to Light Healing Spells like Light System Casters. Although they were all ability users, special abilities, magic, and Battle Qi still had many differences. The other brothers left in succession. After all, the wedding was not yet over, and there were still many tasks that needed their help. Chen Fei said to the little bird on his shoulder, ''Xiao Jiu, give uncle two Light Healing Techniques.'' What kind of ridiculous ability, being able to command a bird? "Jiu!" The little bird immediately responded, flapping its small wings to fly onto Chen Haiqing''s broad shoulder. The little guy was naturally fearless, not shy around people at all. From its tiny beak, a point of light was emitted, quickly expanding to the size of a ping-pong ball. Nodding its head lightly, the light orb fell and directly entered Chen Haiqing''s chest. However, Chen Haiqing''s attention was not focused on the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu and the Light Healing Technique. Instead, he sized up Chen Fei and suddenly said, "Xiao Fei, don''t worry about the Merman Brothers Consortium. Hanna Gagar is a good person and will be a fine boss. You can learn a lot from her in the coming years." "Huh?!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes. This statement from his uncle carried too much information. He had been, had been keeping an eye on him all this time. "Hahahaha, you are a disciple of the Chen Family, and I am your uncle, how could I possibly know nothing? Your father is soft on the outside but tough on the inside, a very stubborn person, although he wouldn''t admit it. The five million Star Yuan I prepared for your family ended up not being needed. Well done, Xiao Fei." Admiration filled Chen Haiqing''s eyes. Seeing Chen Fei speechless with shock, he continued, "My flight call sign when I was young was ''Three Yellow Chickens'', and yours is ''Rookie''. We''ve always been relatives, haven''t we? If I hadn''t been busy managing National Defense Star, I probably would have become the first generation of Sky Knights." After speaking, his face showed a wistful expression, reminiscing about the glorious past. Unfortunately, he was no longer young and could only place his hopes on the younger generation. It so happened that his fourth cousin inexplicably became a pilot, which both surprised and pleased Chen Haiqing. Chicken is a bird, and Rookie is a bird, whether it''s call signs or real-life blood relations, they really were relatives. "No wonder, no wonder!" Chen Fei suddenly recalled. The truce by Merman Brothers Consortium came a bit too neatly. In front of National Defense Star Aerospace Company, the fourth largest manufacturer and developer of combat aircraft on Blue Star, many military contractors appeared like giants, an industry giant ranked eighth, yet Merman Brothers Consortium was far from comparable. Not to speak of the Merman Brothers Consortium, even the industry No.1 had to follow the lead of National Defense Star. Only the Blue Star United Defense Committee was on equal footing with National Defense Star. - Chapter 177 Section 177 - Rub Bird into a Ball ``` "Thank you, uncle!" With just a slight reminder, Chen Fei immediately understood these intricacies. There were no such things as groundless concessions in the world. Whether it was Chen Fei or Manager Hanna, perhaps everyone was thinking too simply. How could a top ten military contractor be so easy to talk to? Didn''t they care about their reputation? If Merman Brothers Consortium resolved to drag things out, it would surely be the isolated and unsupported Aircrew Base 911 that would be exhausted to death. Before this, Chen Fei never once thought that because of him, the base had benefited from his uncle''s influence. "Work hard, and wait until our Chen Family, like the Lin Family, has several more Sky Knights." Your adventure continues at empire Chen Haiqing patted Chen Fei on the shoulder and walked away. The National Defense Star Aerospace Company was Blue Star''s fourth-largest combat aircraft R&D and manufacturing producer, famous for its Crystal Jets, the unanimous choice of Sky Knights. Yet the Chen Family Gate, which had the closest relationship with the Sky Cavalry Aristocracy and the "Lord of the Sky" descendants, the Lin Family, failed to produce a single Sky Knight capable of wielding such National Treasure Artifacts through three generations. For thirty years, they had only been dressing others as brides. What use was their affiliation with National Defense Star? It had become an obsession for Chen Haiqing. An excellent prospect had finally emerged unexpectedly. He was very cautious, contemplating again and again, but in the end, chose not to intervene personally. Forcing the growth would be counterproductive, and after all, without experiencing hardships, how can one see a rainbow? No towering trees grow in greenhouses; every Sky Knight is born from the bloody and violent storms of battle. Being entirely pushed by family resources was almost impossible to make one great. Only by forging one''s own path could one truly become the Chen Family''s Jiahai Purple Gold Beam. Rogue Magical Beasts, Mutants, and corporate warfare were the best whetstones. As the chairman of the National Defense Star and a man who had seen it all, how could Chen Haiqing not understand? Thus, the younger generation''s path had to be walked on their own, just like in his younger days. Chen Fei and Chen Shi had been pounding on their younger son all summer, and how could Chen Haiqing be unaware? On the contrary, they did well! At home, he was only bullied by his brothers, but once outside, people would not be as merciful as family. - Task list: 1. Slay Dragon Rider Mo Lin, earn 9,999,999 Energy Points! 2. Devour 1 ton of metal, earn +1 Energy Point (daily task) 3. Get shot 40/1000 times, earn +100 Energy Points! 4. Find the lair of Mutant BC-2325, earn +500 Energy Points! 5. Kill the breeding mother of Mutant BC-2325, earn +1,000 Energy Points! Damn it! Seeing the task at the top of the system''s list, Chen Fei felt as if he was being forced to swallow a fly, absolutely disgusted. A rookie still in the beginner''s village suddenly encounters the ultimate big BOSS. It almost numbed him completely. These nine million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine Energy Points were definitely not easy to get! Or rather, it seemed not meant to be obtained at all but just hung there, mocking him more than anything practical. Isn''t this just dangling a carrot in front of a donkey? Ugh, Dog System, you''re the donkey. If you dare, come out and see if I don''t kill you. Dog System: Not coming out, I just won''t! "Chirp!" The crisp chirping interrupted Chen Fei''s wandering thoughts. A black feather floated down. "Hmm?" Chen Fei casually caught it, looking at it curiously in his hand. Shedding feathers? "It should be fine, it''s possible it''s leveling up," Chen Fei remembered how, back at the Aircrew Base, the little fellow had shed all its feathers and turned into a bald little bird. He thought of the Light-based Spells cast by Mr. Lin Mo, "Lord of the Sky," that almost covered the entire manor. The little bird was also a Light-element Magical Beast and had taken a magic potion to enhance Elemental Affinity, probably reaping many benefits. The starting point for Pure Light Sparrows was already low, so with enough accumulation and the right opportunity, advancing in rank should not be difficult. The higher the rank, the more difficult it is, but at lower ranks, it''s not that hard. Chen Meng, terrified and turning pale, sobbed, "Bro, is it true? Is Xiao Jiu okay?" She was truly scared. Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow brought back by her second brother, was a rare and special variety. If she had broken it, she feared her little butt would be smacked into eight pieces. Chen Fei brought the feathered Xiao Jiu to his ear, listening carefully. Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Despite its small size, the heartbeat was quite strong and regular, indicating its vitality was fine. "It should be okay, I''ll ask someone who might know more," He took out his phone, took a few pictures of the little bird''s current state, and sent them to Manager Hanna. This rich girl had seen much and should know what''s going on. Two minutes later, Chen Fei''s phone rang. The incoming call displayed the name of the executive manager, Hanna Gagar. With a languid tone, she said, "Rookie, what''s up with this situation?" With no battles at 911, the executive manager seemed to have become a lot more relaxed. Chen Fei replied, "I don''t know either, Xiao Jiu just suddenly turned into this." Of course, he didn''t dare to admit that Xiao Jiu had been pinched back and forth by his little sister, ending up as a ball. After all, being a second-rank Light-element Magical Beast, it would be really embarrassing if it got messed up by an ordinary person. "Did it shed feathers before, or did its beak and claws molt or anything like that?" Manager Hanna''s voice was mixed with the sound of typing on a keyboard. Chen Fei suddenly remembered and hastily said, "Ah! Yes, yes, it shed a feather before, from its wings." "Don''t worry! There''s at least an 80 percent chance it''s leveling up. Er, wait, if I remember correctly, didn''t Xiao Jiu level up a little over a month ago?" Manager Hanna also remembered that the rate of leveling up for the Pure Light Sparrow seemed a bit too fast. If the weakest among the Magical Beasts, the Pure Light Sparrow, could have such a rapid pace of leveling up and continue unobstructed to a Heavenly Order, even the Dragon Clan would be scared, right? "Er, right!" Chen Fei thought about it, precisely speaking, it had been only 46 days since Xiao Jiu completed its leveling up. This little fellow was thinking of breaking through to the Third Rank, geez, that''s a bit exaggerated! Hanna Gagar speculated, "Has it eaten anything special, or encountered any particular event?" "Yes, Mr. Lin Mo came by earlier and cast a spell that brought down a golden rain of light, covering a large area," Chen Fei immediately remembered, although he was not present at the manor gate at that time and thus missed seeing more details, his description was naturally incomplete. "Wait!" Manager Hanna, who had been tapping away on the keyboard at her end, let out a long breath after a few seconds and said, "Got it! There are nine spells matching the description, from the third-rank ''Holy Daytime Praise'' of the Earth Order to the ninth-rank ''Holy Light Baptism'' of the Human Order... You''re not going to tell me that the Lin Mo who cast the spell is ''Master of the Firmament'' Lin Mo, are you?" She listed nine spells related to Light System, Psychic Series, Water System, and Fire System, with the lowest being at least a sixth-rank of the Human Order, and the highest reaching the Earth Order. "How did you know?" Chen Fei was shocked, Manager Hanna had guessed correctly. "..." Hanna Gagar was at a loss for words. Is this guy still the rookie she knew? Could she have called the wrong number? She had, of course, investigated the background of everyone at the Aircrew Base, but as for Chen Fei, she could only see what others wanted her to see. - Chapter 178 Section 178 - Social Gathering As the chairman of the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, Chen Haiqing could not possibly sit idly by while outsiders coveted the disciples of the Chen Family, even if it meant setting up to trap Little Sister Chen''s troublesome school friend. He had arranged for someone to follow up on her, ensuring that no matter where she fled ¡ª even to the corners of the earth ¡ª as long as she was still within the Solar System, she could never escape. Truly, those who accomplish great things often work their magic where others cannot see. "Manager Hanna, Manager Hanna?" Hearing no response from the other end of the phone, Chen Fei thought it was a signal problem and hurriedly called out loudly to check. "Alright, alright, I can hear you. We can basically be sure now that the spell casting golden light rain is confirmed to be a Third Rank Light-based Spell ''Holy Daytime Praise.'' The ''Lord of the Sky''s'' Holy Flame has an effectiveness bonus, congratulations, Little Jiu was affected by the ''Lord of the Sky''s'' light, and there''s a 90% probability that it''s advancing in rank. The Pure Light Sparrow''s advancement data isn''t much; it''s probably the first one to advance to Third Rank." Hanna Gagar''s voice couldn''t help but carry a hint of envy. A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow is unheard of, and there''s likely never been one recorded in the history of Cangqiong Star. "A 90% probability of advancing in rank, then there''s no problem at all!" With more sources of information available, Manager Hanna''s assurance naturally led Chen Fei to believe her. Of course, he could also ask his uncle for consultation, but it seemed unnecessary to trouble the elder with such a trivial matter. Hanna Gagar asked with a lack of interest, "Is there anything else?" Using a Crystal Core and spells of an Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast to nurture the most inferior Magical Beast Bird seemed like a rich family''s young master''s wasteful act ¡ª spending a lot and gaining little. With these resources poured into other types of Magical Beasts, it could have advanced into a much stronger creature from which at least two generations would benefit. "Nothing else!" Chen Fei just wanted to confirm Little Jiu''s state. "Then we''ll talk when you return." Hanna Gagar left a hook in her words. She was slightly worried that Chen Fei might not return to Aircrew Base 911, even though she still held his debt. But to someone associated with the "Lord of the Sky," such a sum meant little. Originally, she thought it was a good setup ¡ª a Rookie, a Metal Ability User, and oh, Band-Aid Little Jiu could support 911 Aircrew Base as a military contractor, but now... Hanna Gagar started to worry. After Chen Fei ended the call, Little Sister Chen Meng then expressed her worried look, "Second brother, Little Jiu is alright, isn''t he?" "No worries, it''s possibly advancing in rank!" Chen Fei smiled and shook his head, holding Little Jiu''s feathered ball in his palm and would later place it in the nest, where that Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core should help it safely complete its advancement. "That''s good, that''s very good!" Chen Meng sighed in relief, then suddenly exclaimed with surprise, "Eh, brother, are you saying it''s advancing? Could it be...?" A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow?! That''s astonishing! "If it successfully advances, Little Jiu will be Third Rank Human Order." Chen Fei nodded. "You naughty girl, you must not be so careless anymore." Mother Yu Xiaoyi glared at Little Sister Chen. Looking slightly pitiful, Chen Meng responded, "Understood!" "It''s alright now!" Chen Fei extended his hand and performed the comforting head pat on his younger sister. Chen Meng finally showed a smile. - It was a matchmaking event at the Chen Family Gate, no, a social gathering. Since he was a Chen Family disciple, naturally, there was no issue with him being here. If it weren''t for unexpectedly seeing Teacher Shen Fei, the bored Chen Fei would have already prepared to leave and go check if the Magical Beast, Little Bird, had advanced in rank. Wouldn''t that be nice? "Hey, hey, hey, Chen Fei, there''s always a first-come-first-served order in everything." Chen Shan, seeing that the two knew each other, immediately called out discontentedly. It was hard to start a conversation, and unexpectedly, she turned around and knew Chen Fei. "Little Shanzi, are you being disrespectful? You should call me brother!" Only in front of Chen Shan could Chen You feel like an older brother. Among the five brothers, according to age, Chen You was second youngest. This silly kid, Chen Fei chuckled and said, "I have known Teacher Shen for longer than you have!" Although he respected his eldest uncle a lot, it didn''t stop him from teasing Chen Shan. "Sorry!" Surprised to see a familiar face here, Shen Fei, with her cheeks turning red, apologized to Chen Shan, lifted the corner of her dress, and walked up to Chen Fei in small hurried steps. Chen Shan was so angry that his face alternated between red and white, which was scary to behold. "Teacher Shen, how come you are here?" Chen Fei looked at Shen Fei before him and threw back the previous question. "Isn''t it because the elders are worried about me always teaching in the mountain area, fearing I might end up with a fuzzy, smelly, and fierce mountain local?" At the end of her statement, Shen Fei laughed, sticking out her little tongue. At Patan Elementary School, Teacher Shen never showed such a playful side. "Hahaha, indeed quite worrying." Chen Fei imagined it in his mind and instantly felt the discord of a toad lusting after a swan''s flesh, and he too burst into laughter. "The real face doesn''t show, your family is quite wealthy huh!" Shen Fei glanced around, winked at Chen Fei, clearly thinking he was like her, a high society member pretending to be something he''s not. "No no no, my family is not that wealthy, we''re still in debt!" Hearing Teacher Shen had misunderstood, Chen Fei immediately started shaking his head and added, "This manor is a marriage gift from my eldest uncle to his fourth daughter. My father and eldest uncle are first cousins, at the very least a generation apart, no question the eldest uncle''s family is wealthy, but different houses have different means, our family is just an ordinary salaried household, not rich at all." It''s indeed easy to be misunderstood, but that kind of bragging isn''t easy, better to be clear and straightforward before hopes come crashing down. Shen Fei said smiling, "You saying this, aren''t you afraid I''d turn around and leave?" Chen Fei spread his hands, making a helpless expression and gesture. If it''s destined to rain, let it; if a mother wants to marry, let her. Girls despising poverty and cherishing wealth, bravely pursue happiness; what can a poor guy like him do about it? "My father is..." Shen Fei was about to be equally forthcoming but was interrupted abruptly. Chen Shan, the kid, somehow found a loudspeaker, came next to Chen Fei, and called out, "Come, come, come, let me introduce everyone to this guy, Chen Fei, the most outstanding youth of our Chen family generation, a college graduate, the future Sky Knight, and most importantly, he is a B-level supernatural power user. Oh right, Brother Fei, where is your Magical Beast? That Third Rank Magical Beast of yours?" All eyes suddenly turned their way. - Chapter 179 Section 179 - Sacrifice Chen Shan is really giving Star Yuan the eye medicine! Chen Fei was really at a loss for words. What a silly boy! However, the youngest son of his eldest uncle had no intention of letting him off so easily. Pushing Chen You of his third uncle''s family aside, Chen Shan directly put the loudspeaker microphone to Chen Fei''s mouth. Chen Fei could only honestly say, "It''s advancing in rank!" "Did everyone hear that? Brother Fei''s Magical Beast is advancing in rank, and it''s soon going to upgrade from Human Order Second Rank to Third Rank. A B-grade supernatural power user and a Third Rank Magical Beast, do they have potential? This great young man of my Chen Family is still single!" Chen Shan immediately whipped up the atmosphere, drawing bright looks from many, including the young female servers present who couldn''t help but sneak several glances. A B-grade supernatural power user was already dazzling enough, and with a Third Rank Human Order Magical Beast, not to mention family background, just these conditions alone were already very attractive. If a match could be made, it would ensure the prosperity and development of a big family. When Chen Fei saw Teacher Shen''s inquisitive gaze, he said softly, "Xiao Jiu!" "Xiao Jiu?" Shen Fei couldn''t help but cover her mouth, widening her eyes involuntarily. She certainly knew that Pure Light Sparrow called Xiao Jiu, but she had never imagined that it could possibly advance to Human Order Third Rank. "Xiao Jiu got luckier!" Chen Fei nodded, indeed so. If luck had been bad, even a Pure Light Sparrow would have ended up as a roasted bird scewer. Shen Fei lowered her voice and softly asked, "Is your superpower level really B-grade?" She also saw that Chen Shan, who had been pestering her, was now bestowing eye medicine on Chen Fei. It seemed that the guy''s scheming was as tiny as the tip of a needle. "You guess!" Chen Fei smiled slightly, playing coy. "Is there anyone interested in my brother Fei? Please raise your hand! A B-grade supernatural power user and a Third Rank Human Order Magical Beast. Miss this village, and there''ll be no such shop. Come on, Brother Fei, show everyone a thing or two." After being fed eye medicine for half a day, Little Shanzi finally couldn''t hold back any longer. Several young girls blushed and raised their hands, including even Li Xingxing''s elder sister, Li Wanjiji. Seeing his second sister''s raised hand and then looking at Chen Shan, who was glowing with vigor, Li Xingxing was immediately shocked. "Elder Sister, Sister, don''t be fooled! That Chen Fei''s family is as clean as a whistle, the doors are misaligned and the households do not match!" Little Shanzi, go to hell! Read new chapters at empire As a childhood friend who grew up playing together, he certainly understood that Chen Shan''s family was Chen Shan''s family, and Chen Fei''s family was Chen Fei''s family. Although both belonged to the Chen Family Gate, the family had long since branched out, each minding their own business. Even if the cousin was rich, he wouldn''t just give money to his fourth cousin for no reason, not even blood brothers would do that. "Xingxing, haven''t you heard? Chen Fei is a B-grade supernatural power user. With such good qualifications, where could you find another?" But Li Yuan, the elder sister of the Li family, had other ideas, her beautiful eyes flickering as she locked onto the distant Chen Fei. A-grade supernatural power users were out of reach, the only ones within reach were B-grade users. According to the Awakening probabilities, it would take three million people to produce one B-grade supernatural power user. Many cities don''t even have a population of three million, and a B-grade user means enough to hold sway over a city, let alone a family. "Sister, are you crazy?!" Li Xingxing quickly pulled his second sister aside, glanced around, and whispered, "That B-grade nonsense is just Little Shanzi''s prank, believe it or not, I can find any two strong men to pin that kid to the ground and beat him until he cries." "Ah?" Li Wanjiji widened her beautiful eyes, finding it hard to believe. They dared to brag about something like this? Did the Chen family have no shame?! "It''s a lesson for Chen Fei. Just wait and see how he''ll get offstage. Elder sister, don''t be fooled!" Li Xingxing feared his elder sister might step right into the pit; if that happened, he and Chen Shan would bear a great guilt. Chen Shan summoned his friends to start "chipping in." At this point, if you''re brothers, you can''t be cowards! Darn it, he just had to see how Chen Fei, the "B-grade supernatural power user," was going to perform this supposed sacrifice. Chen Shan was all in, ordering someone to bring over his newly purchased 1100 cc six-cylinder cruiser. This two-wheeled motorcycle was nearly as long as a compact car, weighed 420 kilograms, and had an imposing and dominant design. "Not enough!" Chen Fei crouched down to inspect the nameplate on the frame and shook his head. Energy Points: 997/5000 He was just three points shy of accumulating enough for both the DC Power Management Module (500 energy points) and the AC Power Management Module (500 energy points). As an adult, of course, he wanted it all. Having a plethora of talents never weighed anybody down, and the same went for Skills and Energy Points. According to the task list, this motorcycle was worth at most 0.4 energy points. A snort came from Chen Shan''s nostrils, heh, daring to play these petty tricks? Everything fears the serious contender; he lifted his chin proudly, "Not enough? How much more do we need?" "Eight more of these, and if there are nine, it''ll be even more solid," Chen Fei patted the body of the bike, the cruiser was indeed excellent, what a pity. "Eight more? Are you joking?" Chen Shan''s eyes widened in disbelief. Then he looked triumphantly at Shen Fei standing next to Chen Fei, the implication was clear. Beauty, the guy next to you is nothing but a scam artist! Looks like this persona was... set in stone! "Hey! Chen Fei, you''re not playing us, right? Are you sure you''re a supernatural power user? This is putting the Chen Family to shame!" Chen Shan''s no-good friend, Li Xingxing, took the chance to fan the flames. Now that everything was out in the open, no one could afford to back down, and whoever did would lose face terribly. "You don''t have just two wheels, do you? Let''s bring in some hardcore four-wheelers; maybe that''ll be enough?" Chen Fei showed a sincere smile. As the elder brother, how could he possibly harbour any ill intentions? My dear little brother! "I don''t believe in this evil... Someone bring over my all-terrain warrior!" Chen Shan loosened his collar and threw a set of keys. A moment later, a huge black vehicle rumbled in, boxy and with thick, massive wheels. The width of the body was wider than the average car, and driving it on the main road, it was nothing short of a road hog. All-wheel drive, eight-cylinder, 7.0-liter engine, plus full electric drive, built-in Crystal Energy Core, bulletproof body, adaptable to water and land¡ªa vehicle like this costs 5 million Star Yuan. The sheer weight of the vehicle was around 3.5 tons, which impressed Chen Fei as he nodded in approval. As expected from the Big Uncle''s family, Little Shanzi had lived a life of luxury from the start, driving a vehicle that would take Chen Fei''s family a lifetime to save for. "Let me tell you upfront, once it''s sacrificed, you can''t get it back!" Chen Fei warned in advance to prevent any regrets from the youngster. Chen Shan urged irritably, "Bro, just get on with it!" After putting in so much effort, he wouldn''t be frightened by the final step. "Alright then! But no regrets!" Chen Fei stood between the two vehicles, raising his hands, pressing one on the motorcycle and the other on the all-terrain warrior. He took a deep breath and chanted loudly, "Mamma mia, mamma mia, hong, sacrifice!" - Chapter 180 Section 180 - Crying Out Loud Ever seen a paper ball being made? It''s just crumpling up a sheet of paper, squeezing it smaller and smaller. A 400-plus-kilogram motorcycle and a three-and-a-half-ton large SUV, with no warning, rapidly shrank and dented while various small parts clinked and clattered to the ground. A few moments later, the two vehicles were gone, or more precisely, only a bunch of non-metal parts including tires, made of plastic, rubber, and glass remained, along with a heavy scent of gasoline, diesel, and motor oil. Non-metal products were filtered out first. System: Ding! Absorbed one ENX-1100BBR cruise motorcycle, alloy body 398.3 kg, component ratio: Iron 67%, Aluminum 11%, Manganese 9%, Copper 6%, Chromium 3%... System: Ding! Absorbed one All-Terrain Warrior H-114 car, alloy body 3098.3 kg, component ratio: Iron 72%, Aluminum 8%, Titanium 6%, Manganese 6%, Copper 4%... System: Ding! Captured 155 grams of Crystalline Block D4, embed? Did it even capture the Crystalline Block? Embed! Chen Fei suddenly felt a strange object on the right side of his buttocks, about the size of a pack of cigarettes when he touched it. Damn, it can''t turn into Energy Points, so this is what embed means! The Crystalline Block is not metal, but the Dog System didn''t ignore it. Energy Points: 1001/5000 System: Ding, would you like to add the ENX-1100BBR cruise motorcycle and the All-Terrain Warrior H-114 car to the "Physical Evolution Database," yes/no? Yes! New "Physical Evolution Database" category created, named "Vehicles". My Skills: Physical Evolution Database (446), Category: Cold Weapons (7), Firearms (2), Tools (95), Accessories (339), Aircraft (1), Vehicles (2) | Search.../Manage... - The scene was dead silent. Chen Shan: "..." Li Xingxing: "..." Chen You: "..." Li Wanjiji: "..." Teacher Shen Fei: "..." Others: "..." After a long while, Chen Shan seemed to have regained his senses, but his voice still quivered, "Where''s my car?" "Sacrificed!" Chen Fei clapped his hands and focused on the DC Power Management Module (500 Energy Points) and the AC Power Management Module (500 Energy Points), buying them consecutively. Energy Points: 1/5000 Now he really couldn''t spit it out. System: Ding! Also detected the "DC Power Management Module" and "AC Power Management Module," would you like to merge them into the "Power Management Module," yes/no? Of course, it''s yes, better to simplify things. It''s all electricity, why differentiate between AC and DC, that''s just trouble! Looking again, the associated connection modules "Super Capacitor Level 1," "Magnetic Field Management Component," "Magnetoelectric Conversion Component," "Photoelectric Conversion Component," and "Basic Laser Emitter Level 1" suddenly had their ''Unavailable'' tags disappear. Just that the "Basic Laser Emitter Level 1" now displayed more information, (Level 5 requires 100 Energy Points) | 1 Energy Point exchanges for 1000 watts/second, maximum output 10000 watts/second What''s a 1000-watt laser beam good for? If there are no losses, it might be enough for igniting a cigarette from a hundred meters away. If used for cutting, it would be better to just tear with hands! This laser that initially held so much promise, now feels a bit underwhelming. Unless it outputs over one hundred thousand watts, what''s the point with just this little? Chen Fei felt quite disappointed. Seeing the childhood friend wailing like a wolf as he was dragged away by his sister, the other bad friends also fearfully started backing away. Chen Fei could even sacrifice cars, who knows if he could sacrifice them too, woah, scary! Is it really important whether he''s a B-level supernatural power user or not? "Hehehe!" Little Sister Chen cracked her knuckles and approached her little brother, Chen Shan. And Chen You as well. "You guys, don''t mess around huh!" Chen Shan involuntarily swallowed his saliva and became instantly panicked. "Don''t think I don''t know what you were thinking, Little Shanzi, you''re itching for a beating, brother will sort you out." Chen Fei threw an Eye-Sealing Fist, hiss, that familiar feel. "Ow!" Bang! "Ouch!" Smack! "Help!"... The Chen Family Gate''s three-person card game was in full swing, a sight that broke the hearts of onlookers and brought them to tears. After a harsh beating, Chen Shan ran away crying. "This guy really is asking for it!" Uncle Chen You''s only child crossed his arms, gloating behind with a big laugh, just a few hits and already crying, so useless! Little Sister Chen shook her hands, clearly still unfulfilled. She glanced around to see if there were any other reckless guys around who she could practice her long-neglected boxing skills on. "Little Sister, better go back now!" Chen Fei patted his little sister''s head. This round of fist fighting had definitely messed up her marriage prospects. So, better to persuade her to leave quickly! "Brother, you dislike me now!" Chen Meng, seldom let out for some air, didn''t want to go back so soon; as soon as she did, she would again be surrounded by a mountain of books and seas of questions, eyes sparkling with gold stars, feeling utterly frazzled. "Your sister?" Shen Fei had not left and watched the entire show of Chen family siblings picking on their own little brother. Chen Shan would probably never show his face in front of Teacher Shen again, it was really too embarrassing. "Yes, my family''s youngest, Little Sister Chen Meng, such a trickster!" As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, he knocked his little sister''s head hard. The whole family had been tricked by this little trickster, so this knock was well-deserved. "Ouch, brother, you really hit hard!" Chen Meng held her head, her mouth pouting enough to hang cruise missiles. "Xiao Meng, this is Teacher Shen Fei, a cultural outreach volunteer who works in a mountain school close to your brother''s place, not just a teacher but also the principal." Chen Fei introduced his little sister and Teacher Shen to each other. "Hello, Principal Shen!" Little Sister Chen Meng saluted respectfully. Cultural outreach is by no means futile, with cumulative years, it can be a centuries-long plan, capable of influencing a sovereignty, a nation for an extremely long time. Just to give an example, the Indian Bodhidharma''s export of Zen Buddhism has influenced Huaxia and even the whole East Asian region for nearly two thousand years. "Hello, Chen Meng!" Shen Fei stretched out her hand and shook hands with Little Sister Chen. Chen Meng''s eyes moved between her elder brother and Teacher Shen Fei a few times and then said, "Brother, Sister Shen, I won''t disturb you guys any longer, you guys talk, I''ll head off." Then she turned and slipped away, as a little sister should be more conscious and not continue to be an annoying third wheel here. Chapter 181 Section 181 - Horizon "My sister..." Chen Fei watched Little Sister Chen''s retreating figure and shook his head helplessly. She was always so brash and noisy, he wondered if she would ever find a boyfriend in the future, which was a headache for him as her brother. Teacher Shen Fei said with a smile, "She''s very lively, just like you." She could tell that Little Sister Chen was straightforward, heartless, and careless¡ªa trait that could be described as innocent and carefree, or less kindly, easily duped, but not a bad person. "I''ll take that as a compliment!" Chen Fei felt somewhat embarrassed and found himself an excuse. Then, he said, "Teacher Shen, you mentioned your father earlier?" He was very curious about the relationship between Shen Fei, his uncle, and the National Defense Star. The Chen Family Gate had organized this networking event, which was in fact spearheaded by his uncle, with connections centered around his uncle and the National Defense Star. If a successful match was made, it would mean keeping the benefits within the family''s reach. "My father is the vice general manager of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, Shen Songling. To some extent, the Northern Weapons Industry and your uncle''s National Defense Star are competitors." Finally, Teacher Shen Fei cautiously revealed her family background, feeling inexplicably a bit nervous. Being in the same industry meant being natural rivals. It was an ironclad rivalry! "Oh!" Chen Fei was still a rookie after all, and the flight code name he had been given had not been a mistake. His reaction was nonchalant. "You don''t know?" Shen Fei assessed Chen Fei''s reaction, which seemed a bit too composed. No, it was more likely that he knew absolutely nothing about the relationship between the two companies. Healthy competition was necessary as it was beneficial, so the National Defense Star and Northern Weapons Industry had often engaged in cutthroat rivalry over contracts, sometimes reluctantly trading technologies and equipment with each other. Because they were both under the same sovereignty, the aggressive rivalry between them on Mars was akin to an inconvenient mess created by squabbling stepchildren. Although the bosses could be reasonable, the folks working under them were not always so amiable. With the right provocation, they might come to blows on the spot. "Know what?" Chen Fei looked utterly clueless. He hardly knew anything about his uncle''s National Defense Star, let alone the Northern Weapons Industry Group. It was probably the first time he had even heard of it. Experience tales at empire How could he possibly know the extent of the open and undercover struggles? "My father''s Northern Weapons Industry Group and your uncle''s National Defense Star Aerospace Company compete for business, and their relationship has always been tense." Seeing that Chen Fei was still lost, Shen Fei laid it out directly for fear that he would have biases. The reason she attended this networking event was mainly because her father respected the personal invitation from Chairman Chen, the industry magnate. If the event had been organized in the name of the National Defense Star instead of the Chen Family, her father would never have allowed her to attend. They''re involved not just in the military field but also in the civilian sector, with over ten million employees. On Cangqiong Star, products from Dragoon Magic Industrial have an 80% market share, monopolizing every corner surrounding the intelligent species, establishing itself as a Sovereign Level enterprise. No.2: Boeing Aerospace Company The American Federation''s No. 1, a century-old factory. Had it not been for Dragoon Magic Industrial''s sudden rise thirty years ago, Boeing Aerospace would have been the unrivaled leader in both R&D and production, initially leading the technical field by at least twenty years, a whole generation ahead. Even today, they haven''t fallen too far behind. Apart from a few custom-made crystal jets and various military aircraft, they also produce Sky Patrol Ships powered by SEG core units. Their products rival the Magic Cube Warships of a different technical route, competing for the market of large atmospheric transport aircraft. No.3: Skycar Company A collective of various sovereignties of Europa, willing to give people, money, technology, and having no shortage of markets, the sovereignties foot the bill, thus making the company quite strong with balanced development and no shortfalls in either technology or production. No.4: National Defense Star Aerospace Company They have considerable interactions with Dragoon Magic Industrial in the technology field and developed the first generation of crystal jets. With profound technological depth and continued top-ranked innovation accumulation, they attract an abundance of talent. Focusing on high-end markets, their market share might not be the highest, but their profit margins are among the industry''s best. No.5: Northern Weapons Industry Group A purebred central enterprise, strongly backed by the First Sovereign with national resources, it has the most comprehensive industry chain and peripheral facilities. In the field of crystal jets, it is the greatest competitor to National Defense Star Aerospace Company. Their Magic Cube Warships can go head-to-head with the Sky Patrol Ships from Boeing Aerospace, the industry''s second-ranked company. No.6: Rolls Aerospace Group They have deep collaborations with Boeing Aerospace and overlap with Skycar Company in many business areas, acting as a disruptor in the combat aircraft field in Europa. Their signature product is the atmospheric Assault Ship, a smaller type of Sky Patrol Ship, with more specialized functionality. No.7: United Aircraft Manufacturing Company Pieced together from the ruins of the Russians'' broken assets through bankruptcy and recombination, it is another Sovereign Level central enterprise. With technology transferred from National Defense Star Aerospace Company, it fills the mid-to-lower end of the market, with smaller sovereignties as its primary customers. No.8: Concord Sky Group A space aerospace enterprise that focuses primarily on R&D, possessing strong technical capabilities but weak production capacity, it cannot produce on a large scale. Therefore, it specializes in niche markets of space aircraft, serving as one of Blue Star''s main suborbital transport aircraft manufacturers. No.9: Space Exploration Technology Company Privately invested and the only aircraft R&D and manufacturing enterprise without sovereignty backing. It boasts the capability to customize and modify crystal jets and is the third-party sponsor of the Sovereign Level Aerial Combat League''s "Abyss Coliseum." No.10: Dassault Aerospace Company Recognized as a leading aircraft manufacturer in the design field, it profits mainly from technology licensing and subcontracting and acts as the main outsourcing factory for the industry''s sixth-ranked Rolls Aerospace Group. Good grief! Even the manufacturers of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft and the MiG-28 jet fighter that Chen Fei was most familiar with were not ranked within the top ten. Dassault Aerospace, ranking in at number ten, excels in design and technological R&D. Without considering the top nine, he would readily believe it to be the leading aerospace company on Blue Star. Luckily, his father was an industry insider, appointed as the deputy general manager of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. It was through exposure from a young age that Shen Fei knew so much critical information, not widely known. She said earnestly, "You must not underestimate any of the top ten manufacturers in the industry, so if you manage to grab an opportunity, never let it go easily, and definitely do not miss it. When it comes time to decide on the crystal jet, the most expensive is not necessarily the best, the most suitable is. Money is often secondary¡ªif you become a Sky Knight, you won''t have to worry about money at all." - Chapter 182 Section 182 - Magical Beast Management Center ``` The reason why the second-generation rich can succeed more easily than ordinary people, aside from their family connections and economic foundations, is that they have more opportunities and the wherewithal to fail several times. Wealthy people can afford to fail seventeen or eighteen times without it being a big deal. If they fall, they simply get back up. But for ordinary people, opportunities often come only once in a lifetime. Miss it, and it''s gone forever, never to return. And once they fail, it''s often hard to recover. How could they possibly change their fate if they don''t give it their all? Therefore, the second-generation rich can produce a third and a fourth generation of wealth, while if the second-generation poor do not strive and choose to lie down or fruitlessly complain, they will just have a third and a fourth generation of poverty. Back to our story, the Crystal Jet is still a product of magic and industry. With enough money, a family''s hangar could easily fit seventeen or eighteen Crystal Jets. However, Sky Knights cannot simply be produced by taking a turn on the assembly line. Compared to Crystal Jets, Sky Knights are much rarer. With a Sky Knight, there''s no need to worry about not having Crystal Jets. Chen Fei, who came from a working-class family, obviously missed the point. Poverty limited his imagination. "Wait a minute!" A spark of inspiration suddenly flashed through Chen Fei''s mind. He looked at Shen Fei in surprise and said with confusion, "Teacher Shen, you''ve considered so much for me, could it be that..." He really was a university student of the new era, discerning another layer of meaning in Teacher Shen''s words. "Idiot!" ... - Whether or not the Chen Family''s hosted social gathering resulted in any happy developments, likely only the parties involved would know. Those who managed to attend were mostly people with status or wealth, rich or noble, each maintaining some decorum. If someone could get to first, second, third base, and even a homerun, finding a place to tangle up and battle fiercely in such a short time. Then the only thing to do is wish the promiscuous man and loose woman a happily ever after. Chirping and vivacious, Little Sister Chen made quite a few new girlfriends. They seemed joyful and could hardly get enough of each other when face to face, getting along famously. But once they turned around, they all blocked her, infuriating her beyond measure. The others simply used Chen Meng as a social tool at the gathering, to cover for their own awkwardness and lack of fit. Once they left Meizhi Manor, they didn''t want to have anything more to do with her. It''s an indisputable truth that the working class cannot squeeze into the small circles that have already achieved financial freedom. Nothing is absolute, because it''s all up to people and what they do. Teacher Shen Fei didn''t waste so much breath directing Chen Fei for no reason. It was about giving him a relatively fair opportunity. After all, they were on such intimate terms as to be life-and-death friends, closer than ordinary friends and similarly not entirely averse to the possibility of something more. But such matters of the heart need to come naturally. Love at first sight, like a toad lusting after a soybean? Please, get real; that''s novel reading material! Even Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t possibly naively enact a lovey-dovey tale between a rich white Jade Juliet and a poor Romeo. It would be risky business. The already intense rivalry between the Northern Weapons Industry Group and the National Defense Star Aerospace Company might escalate to a real clash. Besides the mismatched doors and uneven households, there are many considerations and various factors behind both of them. - With the wedding at his uncle''s house concluded, Chen Fei and his family did not stay any longer, taking a passenger airship back home. "Finished being shocked? Do you need something, young man?" The big fish''s eyes were round as it looked at Chen Fei, an intangible wave of spiritual power emanating from it. Clearly, this psychic series magical beast fish with the capacity for mind-to-mind conversation was of no small rank. "I''m looking for someone, or a beast, to consult about what exactly is going on with my Pure Light Sparrow." Hurriedly suppressing his astonishment, Chen Fei promptly lifted the spherical-capsule-shaped bird nest toward the giant tank. From behind the transparent tempered glass, the Sky Dragonfish gently swished its pectoral fins and moved closer, telepathically saying, "Oh! A Pure Light Sparrow in the midst of rank advancement, that''s quite rare indeed!" Though a water-dwelling beast, Yu Dajiang, the Sky Dragonfish, was not unfamiliar with birds. Its hobby was reading, and if unoccupied, it could spend days and nights flipping through books without pause, even through the glass of its seawater tank. "It''s not quite the same as the last advancement." Chen Fei brought the spherical bird nest to the face of the enormous wall tank, where a ball of feathers clung close to a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core. Inside the aquarium, the Sky Dragonfish twisted its body, conveying through telepathy with confusion, "Last time? What rank is the Pure Light Sparrow exactly?" Aren''t Pure Light Sparrows usually at the Human Order, First Rank? Now and then, a lucky few might advance to the Second Rank through fortunate circumstances, but such instances were extremely rare. Chen Fei spoke truthfully, "It''s currently advancing from the Human Order Second Rank to the Human Order Third Rank." It was because the states before and after its advancement were different that he was worried, which led him to come to the Urban Monster Management Center seeking consultation with Little Jiu. "Huh?" The Sky Dragonfish Yu Dajiang suddenly twisted its body, causing turmoil in the water, and the lobsters at the bottom tumbled into disarray. A Pure Light Sparrow aiming to advance to the Human Order Third Rank ¨C can its bloodline even sustain that? Yu Dajiang expressed doubt. For any magical beast, the consequences of a failed rank advancement are quite severe: at best, a significant loss of vital energy; at worst, a fall in rank, bloodline degradation, or even death. "Is there a problem?" Chen Fei''s heart immediately leaped. "This is quite rare! Has it taken any magic potions? Hmm, and there is a Light Beast Crystal Core, tsk tsk!" Using its spiritual power, the Sky Dragonfish noticed the Magical Beast Crystal Core inside the bird nest and the Space System Alchemy Storage Device on Little Bird''s claws ¨C truly extravagant! Chen Fei thought for a moment, then said, "It has taken a potion to increase its Elemental Affinity, and recently it was affected by a Light Series enhancement spell, a Third Rank ''Holy Daytime Praise''." "Good lord!" From envy, Yu Dajiang turned to jealousy. All this for a mere Pure Light Sparrow ¨C is it necessary? Young man, is your family lacking fish? The kind that can bless the household and regulate its Feng Shui! - Chapter 183 Section 183 - Double-headed White Wind Chen Fei naturally detected the envious and jealous tone in the mental sound transmission of the Sky Dragonfish Magical Beast. For an average household, even if they spent their entire savings without eating or drinking, it is probably impossible for them to amass such resources for Xiao Jiu in their lifetime. He held the spherical bird nest and said, "When Xiao Jiu advanced from First Rank to Second Rank, it only shed all its feathers, but this time, for some reason, it turned into a ball." Although Chen Fei understood that Xiao Jiu''s rapid advancement from Second Rank to Third Rank was partly due to the Elemental Affinity Potion improving its absorption of the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, it was also due to the Lord of the Sky, Lin Mo, personally casting a Third Rank Light-based Spell "Holy Daytime Praise" and provided extra care during the casting process. The Pure Light Sparrow started from a low base, so the effects of its advancement were immediately obvious. "Wait! I''ll look for other Magical Beasts; maybe this little guy still needs something else." The Magical Beast Sky Dragonfish swam back and forth in the water, seemingly thinking of a solution. In front of the wall aquarium, there was a long reception desk, where nobody was present, but an all-in-one computer was switched on. Under the brightly lit monitor, the keyboard was being tapped rapidly by an invisible pair of hands, clattering nonstop. A stylus pen floated up and scribbled a few strokes on the screen of a cellphone on the side, beginning to dial a number. "Old Yu (Fish), what''s up?" The phone connected, and a strange tone of voice came through. "White Phoenix, there''s an issue with a Pure Light Sparrow trying to Advance in Rank." The monitor of the all-in-one computer, equipped with a sound unit, uttered the voice. Mental sound transmission using spiritual power has its advantages, except that it can''t make phone calls, particularly touchscreen displays, which are completely unresponsive to spiritual power and need a medium to be used normally. The Sky Dragonfish used its spiritual power to strike the keyboard, inputting text into the computer, which then converted it into voice and spoke it aloud, indistinguishable from a human''s spoken words. "What kind of problems could there be with a First Rank Pure Light Sparrow advancing in Rank?" The eccentric voice emanated from the phone. The lowest Rank Magical Beasts advancing from First Rank to Second Rank either can''t Advance in Rank or do so smoothly; there''s rarely a third possibility. The higher the Rank of the Magical Beast advancing, the greater the risk. But on the flip side, the lower the Rank of the advancement, the smaller the risk. If a Light Series First Rank Pure Light Sparrow were fortunate enough to accumulate sufficient resources, once it starts the advancement, the success rate under normal circumstances would essentially be one hundred percent, posing a negligible risk. It''s the same for other Magical Beasts. "The problem is advancing from Second Rank to Third Rank!" The all-in-one computer replaced the Sky Dragonfish to convey the voice. "A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow? What kind of special breed is that?" the other end of the phone, "White Phoenix," exclaimed in surprise. It''s common knowledge that Pure Light Sparrows are usually First Rank with rare occurrences of Second Rank, but Third Rank is unheard of. Encountering problems when advancing from Second Rank to Third Rank isn''t impossible. Using the text-to-speech function of the all-in-one computer, the Sky Dragonfish Yu Dajiang communicated with White Phoenix: "It''s been brought up with a huge amount of resources. White Phoenix, if you''re free, come over and help me look at it. I, Old Yu (Fish), am not very familiar with Pure Light Sparrows." "Wait for me a moment, I''m on my way!" After hesitating for a while, White Phoenix hung up the call after saying this sentence. This First Rank Magical Beast played it straight, having completed an integrated undergraduate and master''s degree in medical university, spending another five years to get its Ph.D., and even published several high-impact factor papers¡ªhuman peers had no choice but to grant it the credential. Using two heads to study and take examinations was just too advantageous. Most of the remote diagnostics of the internal medicine department at City First Hospital were actually conducted by this Magical Beast; through the internet, no one could tell whether it was a human or a Magical Beast on the other side. Whether it was human didn''t matter¡ªthe key was the effectiveness of the treatment. Just now, Chen Fei did not connect the "White Phoenix" that Sky Dragonfish Yu Dajiang referred to with this large two-headed bird. The left head nodded at Chen Fei saying, "Recognize me? Ah, that makes things easier! I''m White Phoenix A!" The right followed closely, "I''m White Phoenix B!" Two heads representing two consciousnesses, A+B, were quite modern. "Hello, Doctor White Phoenix!" Chen Fei decided to follow the Sky Dragonfish''s example and not differentiate between A and B, addressing them directly as "White Phoenix". "Can you drop the ''s''? White Phoenix A is White Phoenix B, together known as White Phoenix! Where''s that miraculous little Pure Light Sparrow?" The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane''s two heads spoke in unison, looking left and right as they quickly spotted the spherical bird nest placed on the reception desk. Since it was connected to an electrical outlet, it couldn''t continue to be held in hand, so it had to be set down temporarily. With one head bearing the talent of the Wind System and the other of the Water System, White Phoenix, a Dual-Elemental Magical Beast, began checking the Little Bird nestled inside. After all, the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane was a Magical Beast bird, and it was more familiar with the Pure Light Sparrow, also a Magical Beast Bird, than the Sky Dragonfish that swam back and forth in saline water. "Look! The heartbeat, blood pressure, and breathing are all normal; it seems to be restricted by its bloodline¡ªit requires a longer time and more Light Elements to gradually complete its metamorphosis, just like breaking out of its cocoon. If it received the Essence Blood of a higher-ranked bird of the same system, the advancement process might be easier." While White Phoenix B''s head continued to carefully observe, White Phoenix A turned back to explain to Chen Fei. "Dr. White Phoenix, may I ask, how long will it take for it to complete its advancement in rank?" Chen Fei didn''t want the Little Bird to remain "stuck" in this state forever. Although initially, he had hoped Xiao Jiu would carve a unique path as a Pure Light Sparrow, hence missing the chance to receive the Essence Blood of the Light-element Magical Beast Sun-Transforming Skylark. Chen Fei had no regrets though. Passively accepting the Essence Blood of the Sun-Transforming Skylark would have made the ranking up process much easier, but the path ahead would have become more constrained as a result. "The incubation period for the Pure Light Sparrow is 56 days, and its rank advancement should also take about this time, not much difference. Its current state is essentially oogenesis, using feathers as a shell to undergo a transformation akin to rebirth. If it can successfully advance in rank, there''s a very high probability of breaking the shackles of its own bloodline." Sure enough, as a doctor, the knowledgeable Dual-Headed White Wind Crane connected theory with practice to arrive at such a conclusion. "56 days?" Chen Fei quickly counted on his fingers; there were still 54 days to go, truly an agonizing wait. "The only thing you can do now is wait patiently. Old Yu''s (fish) Life Wave Array Disk is being used correctly; it''s best to keep it on all the time, it benefits the little fella." Finally, White Phoenix B finished its observation and added a sentence. "Hahaha, seems like I had the foresight!" The Sky Dragonfish swam in circles in the aquarium, obviously delighted, its motion causing ripples and a splashing sound. The old fish''s pride was through the roof; time to put hands on hips¡ªah, wait, with only a head and tail, essentially all mid-section, how''s it to put hands without any? - Chapter 184 Section 184 - Bloodline The left head of the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane, White Phoenix A, said discontentedly, "Old Yu, what are you so happy about? It''s already so hard to move from Second Rank to Third Rank, what about the future? It will probably be even harder to advance to Fourth Rank! After all, bloodlines are the foundation of us Magical Beasts!" Yu Dajiang, who was stirring up waves in the big seawater tank, suddenly froze. What White Phoenix said was correct; bloodlines determined the growth limit of Magical Beasts. Humans need arduous cultivation to reach their limits, while Magical Beasts do not; as long as they eat and drink sufficiently, with three meals a day and plenty of rest, they will naturally grow over time. The bloodline heritage left by our ancestors is enough to sustain us for a lifetime. "But a Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow is already enough!" In the seawater tank, Director Yu Dajiang, the Sky Dragonfish, shook his head and swayed his body. After all, being a Human Order First Rank base-level Magic Beast, did he really aspire to climb all the way to Heavenly Order? That would require a strong bloodline too! Even now, the resources invested in this Little Bird could have allowed other Human Order Magical Beasts to rush from First Rank to Sixth Rank. Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Does that mean Xiao Jiu can''t advance any further?" If the growth path of the Little Bird stopped here, wouldn''t that mean the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core inside the bird''s nest would be wasted? "Not necessarily, it depends on resources and opportunities, both are indispensable; additionally, a bit of luck is needed." The Sky Dragonfish swished its tail in the water. Although many Magical Beasts had powerful ancestors, if you trace further back, they still originated from weak creatures or species that weren''t even considered Magical Beasts, evolving step by step, gradually growing stronger. Because of such a growth process, there''s a sliver of possibility for the little Pure Light Sparrow, although realizing this possibility would come at a great cost. "What else is needed?" As long as Xiao Jiu doesn''t give up, Chen Fei is willing to open his purse and accompany the Little Bird. "Haha, haha, I like the sound of that!" Director Yu excitedly swam circles in the seawater tank, his tail flicking about. How bold! A focus on results without considering money; any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem at all. The left head of the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane, White Phoenix A, said, "Young man, it''s not as simple as Old Yu says; if Chen Fei''s Pure Light Sparrow can awaken a stronger bloodline, well, I happen to have some special potions that I kept from my doctoral days." "Am I crazy? To waste such potions on a mere Pure Light Sparrow?" The right side, White Phoenix B, shook its head, rarely disagreeing with its left counterpart. "I need it to learn the Second Rank ''Light of Redemption'' as soon as possible and, if it reaches Fourth Rank, it would be best if it could learn ''Whispers of Life.'' Both are Healing Spells. I am a doctor, and saving lives is my natural duty, so..." White Phoenix A paused for a moment, then once more, he and White Phoenix B spoke in unison. "I hope this Pure Light Sparrow, Xiao Jiu, after growing up, can assist me a few times, such as ''Light of Redemption'' 100 times, ''Whispers of Life'' 10 times." Light, Dark, Psychic, and Space Series belong to the rare categories, with fewer Spellcasters, War Professionals, or supernatural power users possessing these abilities. As a Magical Beast involved in the medical field, of course, it would hope to have a Light System Caster as an assistant. "Old Yu forgot, this little fellow is still a Light-element Magical Beast." Comrade Yu Dajiang annoyed head-butted the toughened glass of the tank wall; the center''s Magic Array also reinforced the tank body, more than doubling its strength. The entire hall echoed with dull thuds, splashes flew, making one mistakenly think this oversized wall-mounted marine tank could collapse at any moment. Who doesn''t have their share of miseries and calamities, even Magical Beasts are not spared. Calamities fall like mountains, and even with injections and medication, the illness fades as slowly as drawing silk; the Water System also has Healing Spells, but they are not as immediately effective as those of the Light System. The greatest distance in the world is indeed between the bird and the fish. Without hesitation, Chen Fei said, "Deal!" (Xiao Jiu: So I''m just that unfortunate little Jiu? Jiu!) "Wait!" The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane did not hesitate either, turned, and flew out of the Magical Beast Management Center''s hall, spreading its wings. Flying Species Magical Beasts are authorized to commute short distances of 500 meters at low altitude, but flying beyond 50 kilometers requires a report to the Magical Beast Management Center. Land-based Magic Beasts must also adhere to traffic rules; they may take Civilian Airships, freight trains, or large transport vehicles arranged by the Magical Beast Management Center for long travels. White Phoenix''s round trip took less than five minutes, and Chen Fei received five test tube bottles tied with leather and three contract agreements. As the guardian of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, Chen Fei agreed that after Xiao Jiu learns the Second Rank "Light of Redemption" and Fourth Rank "Whispers of Life" Light Healing Spells, as requested by the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane White Phoenix, it will cast "Light of Redemption" 100 times and "Whispers of Life" 10 times. Xiao Jiu''s rank advancement was still not finished, still inside its "Feathered Egg," so Chen Fei signed the contract agreement on its behalf and affixed a feather from Xiao Jiu as proof. One copy of the contract was given to each, Chen Fei, White Phoenix, and Yu Dajiang. The copy for Sky Dragonfish Yu Dajiang was kept as a record at the Urban Monster Management Center, possessing the attributes of a notarized legal document. - Chapter 185 Section 185 - Who the Hell Are You? Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, utterly unaware of everything, was continuing to Advance in Rank within its shuttlecock, now without even the energy to chirp. It had no idea that Chen Fei''s dad had taken on so much work for it. Even advancing to Third Rank, it was still just a kid! Sky Dragonfish Old Yu might seem to be slacking off at work daily, either slacking or pretending to work, but he was a kind-hearted Magical Beast Director who took the initiative to register Xiao Jiu, putting it under The Chen Family''s little household register. This meant that the tiny Pure Light Sparrow also had its own registration and Social Security number in human society, allowing it to enjoy rights and responsibilities like employment, voting, medical care, and military service. After all, the Pure Light Sparrow was a harmless bird-type Magical Beast with special skills, which made it easy to obtain a Social Security number in the human world. - After spending two more days at home, Chen Fei''s vacation finally ended. With his little sister''s college entrance exam approaching, even down to less than sixty days, their mom Yu Xiaoyi wouldn''t allow her to be distracted, so only Elder Brother Chen Shi could drive Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu to the airport. The debt was still not fully paid, and they had incurred another favor; life had to go on, as did work. Another long eleven-hour flight. After sleeping a bit, Chen Fei arrived at the destination, just claimed his luggage and the spherical bird''s nest, and was about to head to the specific parking apron to retrieve his "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft stored at the airport, when he spotted a familiar figure. Next to Teacher Shen Fei stood a young man with a bulky, brawny man, talking animatedly. "Fei Fei, my private plane has already arrived, so why bother squeezing into a train?" Fei Fei? Damn it! Chen Fei suddenly felt a wave of goosebumps. You''re daydreaming! "Teacher Shen!" From afar, Chen Fei called out and then, carrying a bulging backpack, holding the spherical bird nest in one hand and a large suitcase in the other, he jogged over. "Chen Fei? What a coincidence!" On hearing his voice, Teacher Shen Fei was initially startled and looked in his direction. Instantly, her initially impatient face lit up with a surprised and happy smile. The young man entwining her glanced to his side, and the bulky brawny man, resembling a small mountain, stepped forward a few paces to block Chen Fei. "Please step aside!" Chen Fei simply pushed the man, causing him to stagger. Now possessing strength beyond ordinary people, a slight force from his hand could push aside even a bull, let alone a bulky man weighing just over two hundred pounds. The brawny man was somewhat caught off guard, never expecting the young man''s strength to be so great that even he couldn''t resist, being forced back several steps with an incredulous expression on his face. The young man entangling Shen Fei turned his head to see this scene, his brows slightly furrowed. "Cluny, stop him!" "Sorry, Steven!" The bulky brawny man took a deep breath, closed the distance in few strides, and once again blocked Chen Fei, who was dragging his suitcase and bird nest, just as he reached near Teacher Shen Fei. Chen Fei finally stopped, facing the brawny man who looked like a wall blocking his way, making him feel suffocated. He said earnestly, "Do you want to get beat up?" This bodyguard had a Chekhov Big Bear-like deja vu¡ªsame big build, same tendency to seek trouble. Chen Fei was already holding back a head full of inexplicable, wild shouting. "Hit him, hit him, break his legs, twist his neck..." Ever since his brain acquired the Dog System, he couldn''t control his temper, too violent. "This way is not open!" The brawny bodyguard snorted through his nose, looking down at Chen Fei, who was a head shorter than him. The other man was just strong, and if it came to a fight, it wasn''t clear who would be knocked down first! "Alright then!" Boeing Aerospace indeed had more comprehensive strength than Northern Weapons Industry Group, but... a mere shareholder''s son didn''t have the authority to make Boeing Aerospace stick up for him. Boeing Aerospace had too many shareholders; if they were to help out with everything seeking justice, wouldn''t they be overwhelmed? "Kid, you''re not worthy of Shen Fei. I have a private plane, earned by myself. What do you have?" Steven Lockheed shook his fist at Chen Fei''s retreating figure, yelling frantically. "I can shoot down your private plane from the sky." Chen Fei didn''t even turn his head, he had always been an honest kid. "Uttering such absurd truths, puhahaha..." Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t hold it in any longer and let out a pleasant burst of laughter. "Damn jerk!" The young Caucasian man furiously stamped his foot. - Being dragged away by Teacher Shen, Chen Fei casually asked, "Who is this guy?" If he was a hoodlum, he would have called the police straight away. "Someone I met at another matchmaking event, who even followed me here." Shen Fei hadn''t expected that young lad with the last name Lockheed to be so shameless. Chasing girls isn''t just about being bold, meticulous, and thick-skinned! Chen Fei chuckled, "It seems Teacher Shen is really popular!" His arm was being hugged by Teacher Shen Fei, and who the real winner was seemed quite obvious; no need to get mad at a loser. "I''m not that desperate to get married yet!" Shen Fei snorted, her words carrying a double meaning. One meaning was for Chen Fei right in front of her, and the other was for an old man far away. What''s the actual deal with these constant matchmaking events? Are they really going for a clearance sale plus free delivery? Finishing her words, she noticed the direction she and Chen Fei were heading was not quite right, but rather towards the airport''s special access pathways. "Hey, Chen Fei, where are you going?" "Looking for my plane, of course, not a private one." Selling Chen Fei still wouldn''t afford that "Big Mouth Monster" parked on the dedicated apron of the public airport, unless Xiao Jiu was added. "That guy isn''t even here, and you''re still joking?" Teacher Shen Fei finally let go of his hand, laughing and slapping Chen Fei lightly. "No joke! Let''s go, Teacher Shen, where''s your luggage?" Chen Fei paused, looking at Teacher Shen Fei in light attire, carrying at most a small crossbody bag, without even a suitcase. "Guess!" This time, it was Teacher Shen''s turn to joke with Chen Fei. "Can''t guess!" Chen Fei''s imagination had long been limited by poverty. Shen Fei pulled out a pendant from her bag, a delicately crafted Mobius ring. "A coming-of-age gift from my father! A space system alchemy storage device." Chen Fei''s lips twitched, struggling to say, "Opulent!" - Chapter 186 Section 186 - Get Out "Steven, they''re not headed for the exit." The bodyguard, whose complexion was gradually recovering, noticed that Chen Fei and Shen Fei were walking in the wrong direction. "I know!" Steven Lockheed responded dismissively, as he was not really paying attention and was only thinking about tearing that kid into shreds. But that was just a thought; he wasn''t really going to lose his senses. In such a sensitive area as the airport, if he spoke without restraint, he would bring disaster upon himself. - "What kind of extravagant gift?" Shen Fei glared at Chen Fei and continued, "It was a prize drawn during a reception event when my father was on a business trip to Cangqiong Star. It was supposed to be turned over to the authorities, but my father bought it with his own money as my 18th birthday gift. Its capacity is only one cubic meter, just enough for some personal travel items. Every time I use it, it requires a lot of concentration for a long time, and if used too much, it causes headaches for a long time. It''s not convenient at all." The Northern Weapons Industry Group, being a legitimate central enterprise, has management personnel who naturally receive their pay from the government. Giving a Space System Alchemy Storage Device as a gift during an official event speaks volumes. Unlike private enterprises, central enterprises adhere to strict disciplines. Even if one has good luck, they can''t just pocket such items. However, purchasing it outright is a different matter, and this does not break any rules, especially since the buyback offer from Vice General Manager Shen was not low. Chen Fei said enviously, "That''s still better than nothing!" He then added, "The headache is because your spiritual power level is too low, a result of overexertion." Teacher Shen Fei is just an ordinary person, just like Chen Fei used to be. Every use of the Space System Alchemy Storage Device requires immense mental energy. "Give me your luggage, I''ll store it in there. There''s still at least half a cubic meter left." "Let me help you! My spiritual power is stronger than yours, so there won''t be any overexertion. By the way, does your Space System Alchemy Storage Device have a spiritual power imprint binding? If it does, then I can''t help!" When Chen Fei registered at the Psychic Management Center, his spiritual power level was measured as equivalent to a Fourth Rank of Human Order spellcasters, more than enough to operate a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. "Then please do! The password is ''Mobius, insert!'' and to retrieve something, it''s ''Mobius, remove!''" Taking Chen Fei to a secluded corner, Teacher Shen Fei took off the pendant hanging around her neck along with the necklace and handed it to Chen Fei. The pendant still carried her body heat and a faint scent of a woman. "There''s a password?" In a classified reconnaissance operation organized by the Blue Star United Defense Committee, Chen Fei saw others using Space System Alchemy Storage Devices without needing a password. Having a password implies that although this Space System Alchemy Storage Device isn''t exclusive, it has a certain level of security. Teacher Shen Fei not only entrusted her Space System Alchemy Storage Device to him but also shared the password, a level of trust that likely far exceeded that of ordinary friends. Shen Fei held up her index finger and said seriously, "Remember to keep it a secret!" "Absolutely!" Chen Fei nodded vigorously. He focused on the pendant with necklace that functioned as a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. "Mobius, insert!" The next second, he felt a cubic space not very large, marked by a metal frame measuring one meter in length, width, and height as a capacity indicator. Inside were two large suitcases and a sizable cardboard box¡ªpersonal items Teacher Shen Fei intended to take back to the mountainous Patan Elementary School. With Teacher Shen Fei in the passenger seat, the ride back to the Aircrew Base wasn''t lonely at all. A shadow unexpectedly swept across the cockpit, and Chen Fei looked up. He initially thought it was an eagle, but instead, a small jet aircraft appeared in his field of view, which he estimated was flying about 200 meters higher than his own "Big Mouth Monster." But for the two aircraft, it was still too close for comfort. Chen Fei assumed it was simply a small off-course jetliner and immediately opened the public communication channel. "This is identification code 911-33585#, please confirm your flight path and altitude!" "Hello, Teacher Shen? my dear, I am your knight in shining armor, ready to run away with you to the ends of the earth..." Man oh man, a flirtatious voice came over the important aviation communication channel, occupying it to recite a sonnet, of all things. Chen Fei continued flying along the preplanned route, irritably warning over the public communication channel, "I am identification code 911-33585#, your proximity to my aircraft is too close, please move away immediately." The other party continued to flirt unabashedly, rendering the lyrics with dramatic ups and downs¡ªit was cringingly cheesy. "This asshole..." Teacher Shen Fei covered her eyes, speechless. This guy actually followed her in his private plane with such a relentless spirit that was somewhat admirable, but she didn''t like it at all!! Damn it, the pursuit was still not over! Enraged, Chen Fei pushed the throttle and pulled on the control stick, the aircraft''s nose tilted up, beginning to climb, chasing after the small jetliner from behind. "Warning, if your aircraft doesn''t return to the normal flight path, don''t blame me for being rude." The fire control radar activated, completion of lock-on! If Chen Shan from the Chen Family Gate could see his Brother Fei this fierce, he would absolutely pee his pants on the spot and never dare to act big again. "Life is indeed precious, love is even more costly. If it''s for love, one can forfeit life! Come on! Shen Fei, for you, I am willing to go..." The other party''s flirty talk wasn''t even finished. Two striking red trajectories flew over the top of the small jetliner. "Holly-Shit! He fired!" Another voice exclaimed over the communication channel, the small jetliner hastily veered and accelerated full throttle. "Are you crazy?" Steven Lockheed hadn''t expected Chen Fei to actually dare to open fire without any negotiation, and the proximity of the gunfire was alarmingly close. It was just a tiny bit more, and his private plane would have been shot down. Damn it! The following "Big Mouth Monster" was actually loaded with live ammunition. "For the so-called love, then sacrifice your life for it! If you don''t even have that courage, then please stay out of my way!" Explore more at empire Chen Fei delivered his taunts generously. He was not like the other person who was all talk but no action; he had once taken a bullet for Teacher Shen Fei. - Chapter 187 Section 187 - Freelancing The young white man, Steven Lockheed, still didn''t have the courage to continue sparring with Chen Fei; he really feared that in a moment of hot-headedness, Chen Fei might just shoot his jet down from the sky. Private jets are extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, it vanished from sight, impossible to catch up to for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack plane. Explore more adventures at empire Teacher Shen Fei sat in the back seat of the cockpit, tightly hugging Xiao Jiu''s spherical bird nest, unblinkingly gazing at Chen Fei in the front seat. This young man had never spoken an empty word, he had truly sacrificed his life for her. Not just anyone has the courage to entrust their life to another person. The Lockheed who liked to boast about his family heritage had never caught Shen Fei''s eye, despite having some real skill, which was based on his family''s massive resource investment; he can''t really be considered self-made. Completely independent of family, how many second, third, or even fourth generations can successfully stand on their own? Reality is often cruel, and it doesn''t make much of a difference whether you''re poor or rich; it''s just that the two can withstand a different number of failures. According to probability, the more attempts you make, the easier it is to succeed. As the tiny black dot in the cockpit finally disappeared from view, Chen Fei thoughtfully said, "Ha! Annoying guy ran away!" The warning shots had an immediate effect. As soon as the tracer bullets entered their field of vision, the civilian aircraft only had shivering to resort to, no matter how tough they talked, they couldn''t be tougher than bullets. Teacher Shen Fei sitting in the back seat of the cockpit smiled and said, "I''ll have my father warn that guy; he won''t come looking for trouble with you." After all, the Lockheed family is one of the shareholders of Boeing Aerospace, and they are not minor ones at that; it would indeed be troublesome to deliberately seek out an ordinary citizen for trouble. On home soil, Chen Fei''s family has the protection of the Chen Family Gate; petty Steven, even if he wanted to cause trouble, would only dare to act outside the mainland and covertly try to give Chen Fei a black eye. If he angered the National Defense Star controlled by the Chen Family Gate and the Vice General Manager of Northern Weapons Industry, Teacher Shen Fei, Boeing Aerospace might just have to sacrifice the Lockheed family to appease the public. Chen Fei nonchalantly said, "No worries, let that guy come at me." Even the younger brothers of the Chen Family Gate have been spun around by his spanking; what''s there to fear from a spoiled brat of the Lockheed family? One slap, and guaranteed they''d cry for half an hour. Teacher Shen Fei covered her mouth and laughed, "Alright, alright, I know you''re not afraid, but Steven''s petty." "You mean my heart isn''t petty? Let me tell you, my heart is this big!" Chen Fei, in the front seat of the cockpit, lifted his left hand and made a gesture. Truly tinier than the tip of a needle, almost impossible to see the distance between two fingers. If he had a grudge against Chekhov Big Bear, it would definitely last a lifetime. "Pffft, hahahaha!" What a fool! To even compare pettiness with that spoiled brat¡ªTeacher Shen Fei couldn''t control herself anymore, and the cockpit was filled with her joyous laughter. Six hours later. "Teacher Shen, wake up, wake up!" Chen Fei nudged Shen Fei, who was sleeping soundly. "Hmm, are we there yet?" Shen Fei slowly opened her eyes and found Chen Fei right beside her, still clutching Xiao Jiu''s nest snugly in her arms, separated only by a layer of the cockpit wall. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack plane had arrived at the Aircrew Base 911, now firmly stationed on the tarmac. "We just arrived!" During the flight, Chen Fei noticed Teacher Shen slowly fell asleep, so he was extra careful when landing to touch down in the smoothest manner. Manager Hanna took a look at the small round table and the chair beside it, walked over, touched them to check for dust, and after finding none¡ªapparently newly wiped¡ªshe sat down comfortably. "How about some nuts?" Chen Fei brought back quite a few delicious goodies this time, including several kinds of snacks for drinking, all vacuum-packed and long-lasting. He wiped his hands with the cloth, pulled out a large bag of various nuts from his suitcase, and threw it onto the table with a thud before continuing to dust. "That would be perfect." Manager Hanna confidently pulled out two glasses from the cupboard, filled one for herself, took a gentle sniff, and said with satisfaction, "Eighteen-year-old X.O. brandy, distilled from original grape, aged in oak barrels for three years, and cellared for fifteen. It has matured nicely¡ªthis bottle was well worth the five thousand Star Yuan." "X.O.?" Already speeding up his cleaning, Chen Fei paused. X.O. is not a brand but a grade, known as ''Extra Old'' brandy, and a three-year stint in oak barrels represented industry integrity. "Of course, don''t hurry, take your time!" Hanna Gagel held her glass, sitting back comfortably in the chair, picking up a cashew nut, watching Chen Fei''s bustle with contentment... Xiao Jiu was currently a feathered ball, still in the process of advancing in rank, so the warm, spring-like cabin, verdant with plants, lacked the lively atmosphere of cheerful bird chirps. Savoring the occasional whiffs of alcohol fragrance, Chen Fei swiftly finished the basic cleaning, tossed the cloth aside, rinsed his hands, and joined Hanna at the table. He poured himself a glass of brandy without any pretense, took a small sip, and nodded, "Mmm! This taste... authentic!" The high-quality wine glowed like golden amber, with an elegant fragrance, and upon entering the mouth, it felt like a gentle flame slowly reaching the stomach. Good liquor should be savored; gulping it down was just a waste of fine stuff. Of course, if you think you can gulp down the water of life, just try it! "Glad you like it!" After passing the liquor around and sampling a few dry fruits, Manager Hanna typically dropped a bombshell. "In ten days, the 911 Aircrew Base will no longer be a subsidiary of the Apocalypse Defense Group. I''ve bought the entire base and all the employment contracts." Only with someone as tight-lipped as Chen Fei would she reveal such news. The plan had been in the works for a while, but it wasn''t until recently that a definite outcome had been reached. To accomplish this, she had sold off all her shares in the Apocalypse Defense Group, no longer a shareholder. Part of the reason was to ensure the smooth acquisition of the entire 911 Aircrew Base, and partly it was to cut ties with the Apocalypse Defense Group. Without the hindrance of the Apocalypse Defense Group holding it back, the 911 Aircrew Base could become a formidable adversary that others would fear. The shoeless do not fear the shod; indifferent to life and death, ready to face challenges head-on! Chen Fei responded calmly, offhandedly inquiring, "Oh! What''s next, hang up the shingle, or..." As long as he received his paycheck on time, he couldn''t care less who the boss was. Of course, having someone as cool on the outside but warm on the inside like Hanna Gagel as his boss couldn''t be better. "Going solo!" Hanna Gagel raised her glass slightly as a gesture. She had been preparing for this day for a long time. Great rats, great rats, don''t eat my millet! Three-year-old girl, won''t even look at me. I''ll leave you, going to that joyful land. Joyful land, joyful land, where I find my place. - ``` Chapter 188 Section 188 - Two Registration Forms "Going solo? Is there enough money?" Chen Fei was startled. Just the massive amount of supplies piled up like mountains inside the Aircrew Base was no small amount of money. If Manager Hanna wanted to bear it alone, that really was tremendous pressure, and it wasn''t just an adjective. "Enough! And if it''s not, we can take out loans." Hanna Gagel gave a slight smile and said, "From now on, the Aircrew Base will have to rely on you, Xiao Ming, Chekhov, and Iline." The Combat Flight Squadron was the main business force of the entire Aircrew Base; whether they could make money relied entirely on them. The mechanic team was the biggest guarantee for the pilots'' combat effectiveness. Everyone in the other departments of the base served these two departments. The few people pointed out by Manager Hanna were basically essential talents to ensure the base''s profitability. Despite Chen Fei, the newbie, being inexperienced and still rough around the edges, his contributions and achievements for the Aircrew Base couldn''t be overlooked. That''s why Hanna Gagel was so willing to grant such a hefty bonus.No?v(el)B\\jnn "Haha, that''s quite a bit of pressure!" Chen Fei felt a bit guilty and hurriedly took a sip of his drink to steady his nerves. Manager Hanna asked leisurely, "Got any good company names? We''re going to need one soon." Sitting idle anyway, why not take a blind stab at it, he thought. Who knows, there might be a pleasant surprise? "Uh! Let me think!" Chen Fei started scratching his head; he was completely unprepared, and on the spot, he couldn''t come up with any cool, amazing company name. "How about ''Dragon Rider Defense''?" Manager Hanna slapped her forehead. Young Chen Fei almost spit out the drink in his mouth. Good lord, naming it that without fearing trouble for herself? Unexpectedly, the always calm and rational Manager Hanna had such an unreliable moment. "No, no, no, that won''t do. Let''s change it, change it!" Chen Fei coughed and shook his head continuously. "Dragon Slaying Defense? Invincible Defense? Or even Kaitian Defense?" Manager Hanna suddenly found the drink in her hand less appealing, and after thinking about seven or eight names, her frown deepened. This female manager was simply terrible at naming. Invincible, Dragon Slaying¡ªsuch names were obviously courting hatred, full of resentment value. It used to be the Dragon Knights who wanted a reason to complain, and now they''ve provoked the Dragon Clan, well done¡ªmission to wipe out the team accomplished! "What about ''Supernatural Defense Company''? Both of us are supernatural power users, it''s a selling point! And isn''t there also a Pure Light Sparrow? We can use it as a mascot, so let''s call it the ''Pure Light Sparrow Defense Group''." Confirmed, Chen Fei was also bad at naming, just like Manager Hanna¡ªthey were both clueless. The two argued for a long time but still couldn''t reach a conclusion. "Why is it so hard to come up with a company name?" Manager Hanna drank her wine with a sense of loss, saying, "I''m drinking not wine, but loneliness!" "How about we hold a naming contest? The prize is ten thousand Star Yuan!" Chen Fei offered another suggestion. "Jiu!" A weak voice came from inside the spherical bird''s nest. "Chief Mechanic, this is a specialty from my hometown, please have a taste." Chen Fei carefully placed the packed gift box on Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming''s desk. Big Brother Xiao had always looked out for him, so he had to make sure his gesture was appropriate. "Hmm, you''re back, set it aside for now! I have some work later that I need to specifically discuss with you." Chief Mechanic Xiao remained as indifferent to personal feelings as ever. In his eyes, work was the most important thing, and he neither valued nor excelled at social interactions. Such a personality was more suitable for someone dedicated solely to technical work. "Uh! Okay, sure!" Chen Fei hesitated a moment, then nodded in agreement. His work that morning was personally arranged by Chief Mechanic Xiao, who tasked him with disassembling aircraft number 211 on his own and then reassembling it before finally successfully test-flying it as a qualification requirement. This series of tasks took a whole week to complete. Were it not for the "Physical Evolution Database" in the Dog System, which recorded most of the detailed parameters for the parts of the "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft, it wouldn''t have been easy for Chen Fei to remember so many parts along with their locations and relations to each other. "The turboprop aircraft is qualified. Now try the jet!" Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming had Chen Fei try the MiG-28 Jet Fighter next, following the same procedure. Being able to dismantle and reassemble is crucial to repair work, which often divides into two parts: diagnosing the fault, which depends on experience, and replacing faulty parts, which relies on familiarity with the components and the overall structure. Experience builds up over time with cases, but the disassembly and reassembly skills could improve in the short term. Another week passed, and Chen Fei failed to successfully reassemble the MiG-28 Jet Fighter; the complexity of jet engines far surpassed that of turboprops. This time, without the "Physical Evolution Database" from the Dog System to rely on, Chief Mechanic Xiao ended up stepping in to help with the assembly. "The jet engine passes, barely. You can try to get certified." Chief Mechanic Xiao, who had been supervising Chen Fei''s work, handed him a registration form. The form had been issued half a month ago, with less than five days left until the deadline. After registering, there would be a short-term training followed by an assessment and certification. There was more than one certification: there was the basic aircraft maintenance license, and also factory repair qualifications for specific aircraft models. Altogether, there were at least four or five certifications. That''s quite an ordeal, almost like preparing for graduate school exams. "Thank you, Chief Mechanic Xiao!" Chen Fei instantly understood the implication behind the belatedly received registration form. Even though Manager Hanna had secured this registration opportunity for him, if his skills did not meet the standard, he''d embarrass the Maintenance Unit of the Aircrew Base 911 even if he registered¡ª and he wouldn''t receive the certificates. Chief Mechanic Xiao let Chen Fei disassemble two types of aircraft to gauge his skills. Chen Fei started out familiarizing himself with the "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft, only recently attempting the MiG jet, so it was no surprise that the former was more familiar than the latter. As Chen Fei left Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming''s office, deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios from "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron gave him another surprise. It was also a registration form for pilot training for the jet, the same location as the one provided by Chief Mechanic Xiao. A private airport offering both maintenance and flight certifications was not an issue. Being part of both the maintenance unit and the flight squadron, it seemed both sides were not willing to let him go, making publicly funded training and certification inevitable. Otherwise, Manager Hanna wouldn''t have bought out his debts for no reason, offering indefinite interest-free terms. There''s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If Chen Fei hadn''t shown his value, he might not even have the chance to be exploited by capitalists¡ªsuch is the harsh reality of life! Both registration forms shared the same address but on different dates. It seemed Manager Hanna had made arrangements so that the two training and certification sessions wouldn''t conflict with each other. Counting on his fingers, Chen Fei determined he''d be away for at least two months. Luckily, the corporate war between the Aircrew Base 911 and the Merman Brothers Consortium had ended, allowing routine flight operations to proceed as normal¡ªthere was no urgent shortage of pilots and mechanics. Even without Chen Fei, neither the flight squadron nor the maintenance unit would be paralyzed. - Chapter 189 Section 189 - Old David "...Gagar Defense Company, 911 Aircrew Service Company, Imperial Dominance Military Company, White Mountain Defense Company, Supernova Defense Company... Goodness, which one to choose?" The agent lawyer was already urging her, but Hanna Gagar still couldn''t decide on the company''s name. To avoid repetition, she had to submit at least three names, and ten or eight wouldn''t be too many. For this reason, she accepted Chen Fei''s suggestion and initiated a prize-winning name collection event within the Aircrew Base. Not to mention being chosen, just being shortlisted could net 10,000 Star Yuan in prize money, and it was immediately payable too. Naming a company has always been a troublesome affair, with so many companies worldwide, name collisions are just too common. There was also the damn practice of squatters who registered names just to sell them for profit. Even if you submit a pile of potential company names, they can all be rejected because they are already preemptively registered. If you want to save trouble, you''ll just have to honestly spend money to buy a name, and the other party might just massively overcharge you. There are too many examples of company names being blocked. Like how one bigwig got desperate and directly slammed down BYD, which actually happened. The young brothers and sisters at the Industrial and Commercial Administration who saw these three letters were like ''What the fuck'' in their hearts. In the shadow of their psychological trauma, they had difficulty, but eventually passed it, passed it... Explore more stories at empire Then... damn planners *flips table*! Can''t be helped, better smooth it over, or else the boss is going to get angry again. This time, it was Hanna Gagar''s turn to have her head swollen with worry. She wanted to pull over Chen Fei, a genuine college undergrad, to brainstorm together, but then she remembered, that damn dog had run off again... Damn it, her own authorized business training, he won''t be back for at least two months. Tried calling, he''s out of the service area. What to do if the registration materials need to be submitted? Can''t wait anymore, ahhhh! ¨i_¨i... No choice, just submit it first. Manager Hanna, who sucks at naming, didn''t bother with niceties, just quickly scribbled down a bunch of potential company names, and sent them to her agent lawyer, entrusting them to get the company registered for now. If she didn''t submit them now, she''d really go insane! - Federated States of America''s Snow Mountain State, Eagle-Nest Airport. The place to report was so remote because it was a private airport, utterly lacking in regular flights, that Chen Fei could only catch a Greyhound bus after arriving on the American Continent on an international flight, make his way to the nearest small town, and find a little inn to sleep in. The next morning early, he spent 500 Star Yuan to hitch a ride with a kindhearted old lady, got out at a fork in the road, and after a twelve-kilometer trek on foot, he finally arrived at his destination as the sky grew dark. It couldn''t be helped, now that the 911 Aircrew Base had left Apocalypse Defense Group, it had lost many resources. Otherwise, he could have taken a private plane directly to this private airport, or they could have arranged a car to take him here. About two kilometers from the main building area of the private airport, a net wall over five meters tall blocked Chen Fei''s path, along with an automatic gate equipped with an access control system. He pressed the doorbell, and after a while, a lazy old man with a cowboy accent responded via the gate''s intercom monitor. "Who''s there? This is private property, not open to the public, no entry without invitation, please leave this place!" If the steak is good, just give it some heavy praise, otherwise one flick of the hand and a double-barrel shotgun is at your forehead. One pull of the trigger and your brains are sprayed out, just like that, no room for negotiation. This is the American Federation; when dealing with cowboys, it''s best not to beat around the bush. "David Sid; you can call me Old David." The white-haired old man sized up Chen Fei and asked, "Do you come from the East? Are you participating as an individual or did a company sign you up?" He was a bit puzzled by Chen Fei''s approach; the training had been going on for so long, and he had never seen anyone arrive on foot alone like this before. If it was a corporate-sponsored training, the space for the affiliated unit was blank (the new company had not yet been registered, and could not use the name of Apocalypse Defense), and arriving at the report location on foot alone seemed a bit pitiful. If it was self-funded training, then choosing Eagle-Nest Airport would be peculiar; without industry connections, most people wouldn''t even be able to find this place. Moreover, with plenty of companies offering all sorts of training services outside, there''s no need to go through all the trouble of coming to a private airport in a remote corner of the Federated States of America''s Snow Mountain State to participate in skill training. Chen Fei thought about it and said, "It''s a corporate registration, but the company is still in the process of being registered. I was originally with Apocalypse Defense Group, but now my contract has been bought out." At this moment, it was indeed quite puzzling. He didn''t know if General Manager Hanna had finished registering the company to provide him with some background. "Apocalypse Defense? I know them, a good hand played terribly, too soft in their approach." Old David laughed out loud. His comments about the Apocalypse Defense Group were brief but hit the nail on the head. Raising his glass to Chen Fei, he took a sip and then asked, "Which company are you with now?" Being sent to training at such a crucial moment clearly meant they planned to develop him as a technical backbone, capable of holding his own in the future. "Hanna, Hanna Gagar; she''s my boss now." Chen Fei continued his attack on the big, thick steak in his plate, sipping wine and munching meat, supremely satisfying! Beep! His phone received a new message. He took out his phone and swiped the screen. The next second, Chen Fei''s eyes widened in disbelief, and he almost threw his phone away. Jiu Defense Company (Jiu?-Defense-Company, abbreviated JDC) Since it had just been established, only "Company" could be used, but once it became more powerful in the future, it would be upgraded to "Corporation." But can someone tell me what the hell "Jiu Defense" is, with a pinyin name to boot?!! Can that one-eyed old lady do something reliable for once? Seeing Chen Fei''s face turn ugly after picking up his phone, Old David asked with concern, "What''s wrong?" "The company name is decided. It''s called Jiu Defense Company." Chen Fei''s expression was uglier than crying. "Jiu" is mine; old lady Hanna, you can''t take that! - Chapter 190 Section 190 - Jiu Defense After receiving the notification from the agent lawyer, Hanna Gagel was completely dumbfounded on the spot. She had prepared as many as forty-seven alternative company names. She had even taken off her skirt, and this is what she got to see? And, damn it, this "Jiu Defense Company," when on earth did she absent-mindedly add that? Oh wait, now she remembered, she was absolutely out of ideas and just wrote anything! "It''s over, it''s over, why did it have to be this one? Can I cancel it? I want to cancel!" "Sorry, the registered capital has already been locked. If you want to cancel it, you''ll have to wait half a month for it to be unfrozen." The agent lawyer on the other end was sweating profusely; he had been pushed so hard that he hurried through the process, only to find out that among the heap of alternative names, only one was available. There was no choice! "..." Slam! Hanna Gagel hung up the phone and furiously banged on the table. "I''m going to kill you, I''m going to kill you! Kill you, ohhhhh..." Outside the office, the subordinates who were originally preparing to report on their work felt their calves shaking upon hearing the noise inside. The Iceberg is going crazy again! - Blossoms on both ends, each displaying a branch. Inside the Eagle-Nest Airport in the Federated States of America''s Snow Mountain State. "Jiu Defense Company? Uh, this name is quite unique!" Old David slightly twitched the corners of his mouth; the young are truly impulsive. How could this name not be unique? Unique enough that absolutely no one else wanted it. What a disaster! "It was purely an accident!" Chen Fei rubbed his forehead; this old lady is so unreliable! "Hahaha, life is full of disappointments, eighty percent of it is ''jiu''. Making the best of the moment is what matters most." Old David gulped down the drink in his hand, then laughed and patted Chen Fei on the shoulder, set down a set of keys, and said, "These are your room keys. Eat slowly, drink slowly, I''m off." Chen Fei watched as the old man ambled out of the cafeteria with his cane. He sighed deeply. Damned capitalism, having to work in his old age, it really isn''t easy. - The next morning. As the sun just spilled into Chen Fei''s room, a rhythmic knocking sounded at the door. "Who is it?" Hurriedly getting out of bed, still sleepy-eyed, Chen Fei sized up the chestnut-haired Caucasian woman outside his door, dressed crisply in Western business attire. "Hello, I''m from the immigration bureau''s talent introduction office, Audrey Memphis." The chestnut-haired Caucasian woman gracefully extended her hand to Chen Fei. Just as Chen Fei was about to shift his focus back, he heard the other lower his voice and say, "Interested in picking up some chicks later? I know a place." Pfft! Upon hearing this, Chen Fei almost smacked him across the face. What are you up to, Little Coal, not shining bright but pimping instead? The Black female teacher Elisa noticed that Chen Fei and Randy were whispering and immediately said, "Gentlemen, please pay attention to the lecture." "Don''t worry..." "Shh! We''ll talk after class." Chen Fei, frustrated, turned his attention back, making a mental note to ignore him from now on. "Beep beep! There''s a new blonde Persian cat in town, really fresh..." The inattentive student, finding Chen Fei unresponsive, moved on to bother someone else. Paying all that training fee just to pimp around is simply unbelievable. "Mr. Chen Fei, would you answer this question, please?" During the lecture, Salman, who was leading, wrote a problem on the blackboard for Chen Fei to solve on the spot. "Uh... sorry, I don''t know." Chen Fei scratched his head; the problem was about an aircraft model he was unfamiliar with, so naturally, he didn''t know how to answer. "These are the basics ¨C you still need to improve. Sit down for now!" Salman had seen all kinds of strange students and wasn''t angry in the slightest. The skill levels of students varied, some hadn''t even touched an aircraft before, and this young man from the East was probably in a zero-basis training, which was quite a burden on the teacher, deserving a raise! That raise wouldn''t come from Chen Fei himself, naturally; it would be covered by the organization. Salman quickly introduced another question about the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, no one could answer it, except for Chen Fei who unexpectedly raised his hand and gave a remarkably accurate answer that only a seasoned handler could provide. Having noticed Chen Fei''s narrowly specialized knowledge, Salman probed, "Mr. Chen Fei, which aircraft models are you familiar with?" Chen Fei answered truthfully, "The A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'', MiG-28, and gyroplanes." For other aircraft, unless it was for a "sacrifice," he was completely clueless. "Pfft! Isn''t that the standard issue for a military contractor?" Randy and a few other students looked at Chen Fei in astonishment. What kind of guy was this little brother? Indeed, a couple of people seemed quite thrilled as if they had found someone from the same field. "Did you switch careers halfway? What did you study before?" Salman caught on to this as well. "Economics, bachelor''s degree!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders; rather than hiding and causing misunderstandings, he might as well be open about it This career path was almost veering from the Sahara to Siberia. The teacher and students were stunned. - Chapter 191 Section 191 - Sacrifice Raptor "Ugh! What made you enter the aircraft maintenance industry?" Salman wanted to know the answer. He guessed that it might be interest, or perhaps some connections with military contractors had conveniently brought him into it. Chen Fei sighed and said, "I''m in debt and need to pay it off!" He actually didn''t want to, but the credit company said: no, you do! Old David wasn''t wrong; life is full of disappointments, mostly tears. The other eleven students and two teachers collectively cast sympathetic glances, all hardworking folks. Salman made a gesture for Chen Fei to sit down and then asked, "Alright! Chen Fei, what is your understanding of the ''Big Mouth Monster'' and the MiG-28?" Chen Fei honestly replied, "I can disassemble and assemble the ''Big Mouth Monster'' without any difficulties. The MiG-28 requires some assistance and I still need time to get more acquainted with it." As for the Gyroplane, there''s nothing worth mentioning. It has no technical content and even kits for it are sold online. Just follow the instruction manual to assemble it successfully. The only trouble is the flight route approval, but there are many places that don''t care about routes; you can fly freely at altitudes below 500 meters, especially in privately owned lands where you manage by yourself. "Not bad, not bad, it seems you do have some basic knowledge, not totally ignorant, but you are somewhat specialized." Salman had figured out that this young man had been exposed to these two types of aircraft from the beginning; no wonder he was clueless about other aircraft. Discover exclusive content at empire He wondered what the military contractor was thinking. Without a complete base of knowledge, the career path would be limited. Once the A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'' and MiG-28 are phased out, even if the technology is skilled, it will inevitably be eliminated, completely losing employability. The two black teachers immediately had a plan. Private training has one advantage: it can customize courses to fill in where there''s a lack. The two teachers for twelve students was just manageable. The downside wasn''t absent; it would cost more! After all, teachers need to eat as well! Manager Hanna had spent a lot of money to send this Rookie here, precisely seeing this benefit. In the eyes of capitalists, getting one person to do the work of two, without conflicting work times, and not having to pay the wages of two people, what a cost-effectiveness, huh? Regardless of which military contractor''s boss, they would probably wish all pilots could fix their own aircraft, self-repair for self-use, concerning life and property, how could they not be proactive? It saves a lot of hassle! But in the eyes of Hanna Gagar, this Rookie seemed to be able to go further. Metal Ability Users have a much higher survival rate in combat than others, even among other psychic power users. Pilot qualifications are measured in flying hours; if engaged in combat, survival time is even calculated by the minute. If lacking the talent for flying, one might be eliminated before even gripping the control stick. 100 hours is a Rookie. 300 hours is a Beginner. 800 hours makes a qualified Pilot.No?v(el)B\\jnn So what about 3000 hours? One can even squeeze into the elite pilots. If one accumulates 10,000 hours, even if not an ACE, one is almost better than an ACE; even facing a Sky Knight, one might manage a few maneuvers? The husband and wife teachers, Salman and Elisa, also simultaneously greeted the old man with respect. The old man seemed quite respected here. Teacher Salman introduced to the students, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mr. David Sid, the owner of this private airport. The land to the west of the airport, including the mountains and lakes, all belongs to Mr. Sid." "David Sid, the legendary ''Eagle King.'' OMG!!! This is the Eagle Nest, so it''s true, the closest to a Sky Cavalry Special Class Pilot!" Randy, the black kid, stared round-eyed and screamed out loud in shock. "''Eagle King'' David Sid, oh my god, it''s him! An old geezer, how can that be?" "Don''t use ''old geezer,'' show some respect. He could take you down eight times over without breaking a sweat." "The brightest star of the American Federation, my goodness, we''re so honored!" ... The students all wore incredulous expressions. "Uh... what''s the ''Eagle King'' about?" Chen Fei was full of confusion and completely baffled. As a citizen of The First Sovereign, which owned the most Sky Knights and fully staffed Sky Cavalry orders, he truly didn''t know. Locally, he couldn''t even keep track of all Sky Knights, let alone foreign ones. All Chen Fei knew was that this old man, who excited all his classmates tremendously, made excellent steaks and was very generous. Randy turned his head, noticing Chen Fei''s calm reaction, and said discontentedly, "Hey, Chen Fei, what kind of look is that? Shouldn''t you show some admiration? My gosh, I need to hurry and get an autograph, my idol indeed!" "Er! Old David''s steaks are really good!" What else could Chen Fei say? He was also helpless! Randy, glaring with his big eyes, furiously said, "Damn it! Steaks? What''s that got to do with anything? Kid, I want to duel you, just wait!" As if his idol had been insulted, an insult to a fan is unforgivable. "Heh!" Chen Fei just smiled lightly. A duel? Afraid I don''t pound you into the ground! System: Ding! "Skill Shop" upgraded, refreshes selectable skills every 24 hours. System: Ding! Sacrifice an F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter within 24 hours to earn 1000 energy points! ¡ù Note: If not completed, die!!! Damn it! The dog system''s back from the dead!!! And there''s that death mission again, damn!!! Glancing at the sign next to the combat aircraft that Old David was wiping, the text was clearly printed, surely it was an F-22 "Raptor"! (¥Î?Òæ?)¥Îáê©ß©¥©ß - Chapter 192 Section 192 - A Flick of the Wrist Seeing Chen Fei''s face twitch slightly, the black kid Randy flashed a triumphant look and even flashed a hip-hop hand gesture that roughly meant, "Wait till after school, don''t you run away!" Damn it, I''ll beat you to 90% dead later! He summoned the Dog System and checked the various interfaces. Skill Shop: 1. Material Evolution Simulation (replaces non-metal parts): 1000 Energy Points 2. Crystal/Electric Energy Conversion Module: 1000 Energy Points 3. Basic Particle Beam (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 4. Basic Microwave Emitter (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 5. Evolution Accelerator Level 0 (0-9 level): 500 Energy Points 6. Electromagnetic Induction Acceleration Module: 200 Energy Points 7. Evolution Accelerator Level 0 (0-9 level): 500 Energy Points 8. Radar Synthesis Module: 1000 Energy Points 9. Particle Acceleration Component: 100 Energy Points 10. Battery (upgradable): 500 Energy Points | Long-term charge storage Note: updates every 24 hours Chen Fei was startled, were there that many pages of skills before? How come there''s only one page left, and only ten skills to choose from? Dog System, come out, did you devour them? We agreed on an upgrade, but now it looks more like a downgrade. Dog System: ... - The two teachers, along with twelve students, had just finished visiting each exhibit in the gallery, and it was precisely lunchtime. The students, in groups of two or three, headed to the airport cafeteria. The food here wasn''t bad; the ingredients came from nearby farms and ranches, making the cost very low. With three buffet meals a day including dairy, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables, quality and quantity were guaranteed, allowing one to eat to their heart''s content. The incident this morning where Chen Fei and Randy almost came to blows over a few words still caught their classmates'' attention. "Hey, Randy, Chen Fei is a classmate, you shouldn''t fight him." "Don''t worry, this is a man''s contest, I''ll be gentle with him. Chen Fei insulted my idol, and I need to teach him a lesson," Randy replied. "Randy, your tone of voice makes me sick, ugh, are you even serious?" "Buddy, I''m straight, don''t get me wrong. I''ll have a fair and square friendly match with Chen Fei. Look at this face of mine, I''m a good boy!" "Fighting is not right, we should love peace!" "I love peace too, Lim, but I must remind you, peace is fought for, not spoken into existence." "Let''s not rush into fighting, how about I get Chen Fei to apologize to you?" "Alright, Joel, for your sake, I''ll give him a chance." "I''ll talk to him later, huh? Where''s Chen Fei? Hasn''t he come out yet? Never mind, I''ll wait for him in the cafeteria. Randy, no rash moves." Owning tens of kilometers of land and a private airstrip with a collection of many famous fighters, money was not an issue for him. His only pursuits were the dreams of his youth and his current sentiments. "No problem! I''m a Level B supernatural power user with a Special Ability called ''Sacrifice''!" The Metal Elemental Psychic Power obviously didn''t sound as grand as "Sacrifice." Determined, Chen Fei decided to use the name "Sacrifice" to publicly absorb metal products, ranging from small weapons to large aircraft and ships. Blue Star was abundant in all sorts of metal products; one could say that the entire civilization was built on metal materials. "Level B supernatural power user, ''Sacrifice''?" Old David was startled, looking at Chen Fei incredulously as if he was meeting the young man for the first time. A Level B supernatural power user coming for mechanic and flight training¡ªit seemed somewhat incomprehensible. He grew even more dubious. "With the ''Sacrifice'' ability, I can fix it!" Chen Fei felt he was getting closer to success. The Dog System probably hadn''t expected that he hadn''t used any tricks; he had succeeded in persuading Old David just by being straightforward. "Then let me, Old David, see your ''Sacrifice''!" The old man stepped aside, leaning on his cane. Begin your performance. Chen Fei immediately stepped forward without ceremony, placing his hand under the nose of the F-22 Raptor jet fighter. "Sacrifice (Absorption)!" System: Ding! Absorbing one F-22 Raptor jet fighter, alloy weight 19113.7 kilograms, composition ratio: Aluminum 45%, Titanium 28%, Iron 9%, Copper 5%, Lithium 2%, Molybdenum 2%... There was a clattering as numerous non-metallic parts fell to the ground. System: Ding! Within 24 hours, sacrifice one F-22 Raptor jet fighter (Completed), receive energy points 1000! System: Ding! Metal Devouring, receive energy points 2. Energy Points: 1003/5000 Open the "Skill Shop," select "Material Evolution Simulation (substitute for non-metallic parts): 1000 energy points" Energy Points: 3/5000 Physical Evolution Database (447), categories: Cold Weapons (7), Firearms (2), Tools (95), Components (339), Aircraft (2), Vehicles (2) | Search.../Manage... Bring out the "F-22 Raptor," manually complete it. Seeing his beloved collection, the F-22 Raptor, crumble unexpectedly, Old David was utterly shocked. He finally confirmed that Chen Fei was truly a supernatural power user, though his ability was somewhat peculiar. He wondered whether Chen Fei could restore his fighter jet. After seeing Chen Fei make his fighter jet disappear, and standing there with his eyes closed, Old David could not contain himself, and asked, "How is it now?" Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes, exhaling deeply, and said, "It''s done!" Using the "Material Evolution Simulation" skill to replace those unabsorbable functional modules had truly drained a significant portion of his energy. Chen Fei extended his hand towards the open space outside the display area. "Come out, ''Raptor''!" - Chapter 193 Section 193 - Its Done by Hammering System: Ding! F-22 Raptor aircraft evolution time 0 min 1 sec/10 min 25 sec! A beam of silver light shot out from Chen Fei''s palm, transforming into a large silver net that expanded and contracted in mid-air, outlining the main framework of a twin-engine jet fighter. Immediately afterward, various parts began to sprout like buds shooting off branches, continually emerging in various shapes to fill every gap, simultaneously constructing an assortment of components, evolving from the inside out. Many non-metallic parts were originally powerless, but with the new skill "Material Evolution Simulation" and Chen Fei''s manual additions, some functional modules were reluctantly matched, yet there were still some differences from the original F-22 Raptor. To replicate the exact model with one hundred percent accuracy, more time and effort were needed, ideally with component samples and a complete technical manual for reference. Due to the lack of detailed technical data, Chen Fei only knew what happened but not why, and most of the parts he could barely fit were from the A-39B Big Mouth Monster light turboprop attack aircraft, which slightly altered the center of gravity of the F-22 Raptor he had evolved. This change was bound to have a significant impact on the aerodynamic structure, but for Chen Fei''s "Metal Shaping" skill, it was just a matter of addition and subtraction to match the original center of gravity. As a representative model of the fourth-generation fighter jet of the American Federation, the F-22 Raptor jet fighter is a very complex advanced fighter (speaking of the past, relative to forty years ago), which made the evolution efficiency of "Metal Shaping" very slow. It changed for a full ten minutes before the final piece of skinning was completed. System: F-22 Raptor aircraft evolution time 10 min 20 sec/10 min 25 sec! The shiny metallic-looking transparent canopy was neither bulletproof glass nor organic plastic, but metal. The dark tires were not rubber, but still metal. The newly acquired skill "Material Evolution Simulation" had powerful inferential abilities, perfectly replicating non-metallic materials and even having insulating properties that made it hard to distinguish any difference. Chen Fei''s hand rested on the aircraft''s nose, exactly where he had initiated the "Sacrifice (Absorption)" earlier, as if it had never moved. The real movement was just the fighter jet. The silver-glittering evolved version of the F-22 Raptor jet fighter flashed slightly on its surface, the mirror effect disappeared, turning into a matte texture, uniformly silver-gray, indistinguishable from a radar-absorbent coating. As for the original stealth effect... let''s not talk about it for now. System: F-22 Raptor aircraft evolution time 10 min 25 sec/10 min 25 sec! Evolution complete! System: Energy Points consumed: 2 Energy Points: 1/5000 This Dog System sneakily changed the game rules again, starting to deduct Energy Points, how frustrating! Only one Energy Point remained, just enough to activate "Eyes of Tyranny" once. Back to square one after a laborious task completed, but for naught. These Dog System Energy Points are really troublesome. "Is this, this the Special Ability ''Sacrifice''?" Old David had watched Chen Fei''s entire evolution process, and despite his extensive experience in Jianghu, he couldn''t help but be dumbfounded. "I''ll give it a try!" Chen Fei''s palm still hadn''t left the nose of the Raptor. Soon, a humming sound emerged, as if an engine began operating, its speed increasing progressively until the rear end of the F-22 Raptor jet forcefully ejected a scorching air stream. Old David jerked in alarm and quickly said, "Stop, stop, do you want to destroy this place?" If this F-22 were fully activated, the blast of air could destroy several nearby fighter jets. They were all genuine retired fighter jets, some even authentic replicas, none of them cheap. "You mentioned wanting a duel with me earlier, okay! I accept, time, now, place, here, let''s start, we must hurry." Chen Fei held Randy by the neck, indeed holding very tight. "..." The black kid started to roll his eyes; despite being dark-skinned, his sclera were exceptionally white! The Eagle Nest Private Airport''s training class wasn''t the only one for Chen Fei and his group; there were other training classes as well. Some people ready to enter the canteen were scared and quickly started to cry out when they saw the scene. "Hey hey, you two, don''t be rash!" "Chen Fei, let go of Randy, you are about to strangle him to death." "Ah! Murder!" Some of them were classmates of Chen Fei and Randy, who saw Chen Fei holding Randy by the neck and lifting him off the ground. Such monstrous strength was usually only seen in Ability Users; could this ordinary-looking Asian also be an Ability User, a supernatural power user, or a War Professional? Piercing screams echoed back and forth. "It''s really too noisy here; let''s continue next time!" Chen Fei casually tossed him, and Randy, like boneless rotten meat, black and stinky, collapsed onto the ground. Having taken a tour around the gates of Hell and back, Randy coughed violently and shook his head in absolute terror after a moment. "No, do not!" Just this one time, he nearly got strangled to death, and he didn''t want a second round at all! Chen Fei calmly said, "Randy, you initiated the challenge; it should be up to me to decide how to end it." Lord Yama, what should be done with this fool who walked into his own demise, should he be taken or not? Randy cried out, "I give up, I give up!" Who would have thought that the class clown, always acting all high and mighty, could be so thoroughly cowardly? "Chen Fei, you shouldn''t do this; he has already apologized." "You will kill him!" Classmates from the same aircraft maintenance training class all came to mediate. "If apologies were effective, why would we need laws? Why would we need the police? Isn''t that right, Randy!" Chen Fei paid no attention to the noisy crowd but instead glanced at Randy. Randy, with a mournful expression, said, "Right, right, you are right, please let me go." Boss, please don''t be ruthlessly thorough; leave me some dignity! - Chapter 194 Section 194 - Technical Data My name is Chen Xiaochui, one strike leaves a person half-dead, two strikes finishes them, I am adept at subduing people with strikes. There''s nothing in this world that cannot be explained; just end it with a strike. - "During class, can you shut up about things not related to the lesson?" Honestly, Chen Fei was really annoyed with this classroom chatterbox. He never listened attentively during class, always provoking others non-stop, regardless of gender, spouting all kinds of cheeky remarks. The training fee here was not low, if he didn''t love to learn, he shouldn''t disturb others. Since this guy voluntarily offered himself up for a beating, Chen Fei certainly didn''t hold back; helping others is a virtue after all. "Yes, yes, I''ll shut up, I''ll shut up! Save me!" The Black kid felt even dizzier now, he needed a doctor. With a thud, everything went dark, and he fainted on the spot. Chen Fei froze; this guy really couldn''t take a beating, not even as good as Chen Family Gate''s little brother Chen Shan! (Who would have thought the Crown Prince of National Defense Star would be so tough from being beaten by his brother in the family, Little Shanzi: (¨p¡ä???).) "Randy? Randy?" "Quick, find a doctor!" Classmates from the same aircraft maintenance class rushed over, lifted the Black Kid up, and carried him clumsily toward the airport medical room. No one blamed Chen Fei anymore, even one or two stealthily gave him a thumbs-up. It seemed Chen Fei wasn''t the only one annoyed with this Black kid. - A young couple walked intimately out of the cafeteria, spotting this scene from afar. "Are they fighting? Such low-quality barbarians!" Seeing the Black kid being carried away, and Chen Fei acting as if nothing happened, the young man gasped in shock, displaying a surprised and bewildered expression before quickly furrowing his brows. What is this guy doing here? The blond-haired, blue-eyed woman, curvaceous and voluptuous, leaned half her body on the man, her eyes sultry, speaking softly, "What are you looking at? My dear Steven, did you see someone familiar?" She clearly noticed the fleeting expression on the man''s face but cleverly did not probe directly, instead going for a roundabout approach. "I have technical manuals and parts here which might be of some help to you." Just as Chen Fei was worrying, Old David''s voice carried over from a distance. He pushed a cart filled with various parts; on the top layer, aside from his own cane, there was also a tablet. Chen Fei turned around and, following the sound, asked, "Is it complete?" Only with the most detailed and complete technical data would he be confident in perfectly restoring the F-22 "Raptor." System: Ding! 100% restoration of F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, gain Energy Points +500! The points came really fast! Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief, glad it was no longer a life-threatening task. The Dog System indeed knew that its "Absorption" function did not have a 100% sampling effect and was completely ineffective on components made of conductors, semiconductors, and insulators combined. "I, like you, also want to repair this old buddy. Luckily, I had some connections back in the day and got hold of these. Rest assured, the technical data is the most comprehensive." Old David patted the tablet on the top of the cart and continued, "You can only see it here, you cannot take it away." After all, it once was a national weapon, and being able to view it on-site was already quite difficult. At noon, when Old David saw the "Raptor" start up again, he was overjoyed and uncontrollably excited, but he eventually realized and guessed that Chen Fei''s restoration of this F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter was not as perfect as it appeared on the surface. In the evening, Chen Fei returned to the exhibition hall to continue tinkering with the fighter, confirming his guess. In fact, Old David had once tried to do the same thing, securing complete technical data and some parts after much effort and favors, but having technical data was one thing, the production process and assembly techniques were another. The F-22 "Raptor" itself was a massive and complex Sovereign Level systemic engineering project, with a multitude of supporting factories, machining equipment, engineers, and technical workers, and even today''s top ten sovereigns wouldn''t dare dream of it¡ªthis was not merely a matter of money. Today, the "Raptor" production line had been sealed, with a proportional number of fighters and related parts kept in perfect sealed condition, and even the original technical workers and engineers had died, making it completely impossible to reopen just for a retired pilot, allowing this F-22 "Raptor" to return to the skies. Faced with a young man who was capable of using Special Ability to replicate an F-22 "Raptor," and was also professional, Old David seized the opportunity and unhesitatingly brought out his most secret treasures. "With this information and these samples, I am even more confident." Understanding each other without words, Chen Fei nodded, thankful he wasn''t starting from scratch, with knowledge of both turboprop and jet engines. The aircraft repair trainers had said that aside from the main engine, the core elements of an aircraft were largely the same. The real determinants of performance were, first, the main engine''s thrust, second, the aerodynamic shape, and third, the avionics system, each representing power, efficiency, and control¡ªmastering these three aspects meant that any aircraft could be handled. With detailed technical data and parts samples at hand, Chen Fei no longer rushed to tinker with the pieces lying around and the replicated F-22 "Raptor"; he first picked up the tablet Old David had brought and began studying it. With plenty of time left in the training, Chen Fei quietly pondered over the "Raptor." The instructors in the repair workshop had been a huge help, ready to answer any questions, providing detailed and accurate answers. - Chapter 195 Section 195 - The Difference of Ten Grams After attending the classes for several days and practicing hands-on, Chen Fei was certain that he missed nothing about the "Big Mouth Monster" and proceeded to apply for certification. After consideration, Teacher Salman made arrangements and officially notified him that the next afternoon, he would undergo the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" maintenance technician certification. The two teachers were authorized by the Blue Star International Aerospace Association and various manufacturers to administer over twenty types of certification assessments. Although it was a private airport training course, both the training and certification qualifications were recognized by the industry and manufacturers, allowing assessments to be conveniently applied for at any time. When it comes down to it, it was all about the money being in place; then naturally, everything was up for discussion. Beyond that, the manufacturers of aircraft production were also very eager to see more maintenance technicians participate in the certifications to keep abreast of the current state of their products, as in aviation, no issue is too small; once a problem arises, it is definitely a big deal. Yet the news of Chen Fei preparing for the certification exam did not spread far. - Knock, knock, knock! The hairs on Black kid Randy stood on end, and trying to sound calm, he shouted loudly, "Who''s there?" Shrink... shrink... "A friend!" A young man''s voice came from outside the door. "Who are you?" Randy had never heard this stranger''s voice before and could not guess the identity of the person at the moment, naturally unwilling to open the door. What if he opened it and got shot by the visitor¡ªwhat then? The private airport had a professional security team, which made it relatively safer. But it''s better to be safe than sorry. The man outside hesitated before saying, "Uh! Lufus Martin!" "What do you want?" Randy thought it over but still couldn''t remember having a friend with that name. He cautiously approached the door, tightly holding an atomic pen in his hand. "I just want to ask, do you want revenge?" The person outside chuckled lightly as if he guessed Randy''s wariness and caution. "Revenge, for what?" Randy''s heart tightened, vaguely guessing something. "Our common enemy, Chen Fei, we are friends on the same side, aren''t we? Unless... you want to wimp out like this, is that it, Randy? If that''s the case, then I''m leaving!" As the voice trailed off, the footsteps outside gradually receded. Randy''s expression changed several times, he gritted his teeth, quickly disabled the safety, and flung the door open. "Wait..." Surprisingly, he was suddenly confronted with a smiling Caucasian man standing right outside his door, who had never left. Elisa, the female teacher, once again confirmed the list of participants of the certification exam and then immediately came in front of the main camera facing the two examination spots. "I want the left side!" Randy quickly claimed one side of the examination spot, pulled out a chair and sat down impatiently, then heaved a long sigh of relief. The seven sets of cameras on-site were divided, with two sets on teachers Salman and Elisa, respectively. The first paper test mainly included multiple choice and true/false questions, with a few on theoretical models. The testers, Chen Fei and Randy, worked quickly and didn''t wait for the one-hour mark to turn in their papers, turning them in respectively at the 35th and 42nd minute. The papers were graded by the AI system and proctors inside and outside the examination area, with results produced in five minutes. Chen Fei scored 100, earning an A grade, while Randy scored 94, also earning an A grade. The full score was 100, with an A being the top grade and the passing threshold at 85 points, typically receiving a B or even a C grade. The score on the paper did not absolutely correlate to the subjective evaluation. Full marks with a C grade were not unheard of. If the demeanor of the participants was not proper during the exam, they could very well end up with a C, which meant failing and they would have to reapply for a retake after three months. After a twenty-minute rest, the second part of the examination began. The examination was about repairing two A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft that had been prepared with unknown faults in advance. The number, type, and severity of the faults were unknown, leaving Chen Fei and Randy to inspect and diagnose everything by themselves. The lack of feedback from pilots made the actual difficulty even higher than in real situations. The tablet computer used for answering questions came with the "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" aviation repair software, which was also one of Nevada Mountain Aerospace Company''s certified repair programs. Chen Fei directly opened the interface for the more complex "Siege Lion Mode," whipped out a specialized data cable, hit the maintenance port with the palm of his hand, and plugged it in proficiently. Oh yeah! System: Ding! A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft detected. Metal material 1970.43 kilograms. Absorption: Yes/No |? The "Absorption" function of the Dog System served an extra purpose: weighing! Aircraft are extremely sensitive to weight, and Chen Fei knew by heart where every pound and ounce were distributed on the "Big Mouth Monster" in its completely unloaded state. This weight figure right here told him that this "Big Mouth Monster" was missing a few parts. Just as expected, under the "Siege Lion Mode" of "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection," it detected a multitude of issues, altogether over 300 items. Since many were interrelated functionalities, there weren''t that many missing or faulty parts, but it did give Chen Fei a clear direction for his repairs. With the repair list in hand, clearly marking his first diagnostic guesses at fault origins, Chen Fei, not new to dismantling the "Big Mouth Monster," grabbed his tools and got to work with practiced ease. The two teachers present on-site and other remote proctors watched Chen Fei and the black kid Randy''s operations through shifting camera views. His actions were fierce as a tiger while he dissected the aircraft, almost tearing it apart, and quickly found the faulty part to begin the replacement. The aviation repair software "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" targeted the faulty area, and then it was a matter of simply replacing what was broken. If the replaced faulty part was still under warranty, it could be sent back to the original manufacturer for a new one. By the 15th minute, Chen Fei smoothly replaced the first faulty part, and "Siege Lion Mode" triggered another round of inspection, reducing the fault notifications by around thirty. At the 29th minute, he identified the second faulty part, his precision analogous to a surgical procedure pinpointing the source of a problem. He fetched a new part from the shelf and began unwrapping it, when suddenly, he hesitated, weighing it in his hand. System: Ding! TC-M5402D magnetic pump detected. Metal material 3.15 kilograms. Absorption: Yes/No |? The parts recorded in the "Physical Evolution Database" are generally identifiable with precision. But this weight seemed a bit off. He opened the "Physical Evolution Database," searching the "parts" category, and quickly found the previously absorbed TC-M5402D magnetic pump. This part''s suffix indicated an improved version, with D being the fourth edition, and listed the metal material''s weight as 3.16 kilograms. A discrepancy of ten grams?! - Chapter 196 Section 196 - Not a Coincidence A miss by a millimeter is a kilometer of error. This principle is wholly applicable in the industrial field and can sometimes even be more exaggerated. Merely ten grams for a lightweight turboprop aircraft weighing around two tons is almost negligible; a pilot drinking less water or urinating more could easily offset that. But if every part of an airplane had a 10-gram error, the accumulated total would undoubtedly be astonishing. Seeing Chen Fei scrutinizing the part in his hand with a puzzled look, cold sweat instantly broke out on Randy. Unable to control his trembling hand, he failed to grip it properly, and with a thud, a part fell from the airplane and shattered into pieces. The critical issue was that the part was a good one. The professional examiners, who already knew the answer, all furrowed their brows. Such an error should not have occurred; a part was needlessly damaged. Compared to Chen Fei, who had been flawless in his operations, flowing smoothly with rhythm, they inevitably lowered their subjective assessment of Randy by a notch. Seeing Chen Fei still examining the new part in his hand, Salman, who was in charge of the certification exam, asked, "Chen Fei, is there a problem?" Chen Fei''s gaze shifted from the magnetic pump he was holding. "Mr. Salman, this part is defective. Do you have a spare?" Salman said in bewilderment, "Defective? How is that possible?" He had watched Chen Fei unwrap the part himself. It hadn''t even touched any sludge, so how could it be defective? "Weight, off by ten grams!" Chen Fei, holding the part, weighed it briefly to demonstrate. 10 grams? The couple teaching at the site were genuinely baffled. Randy screamed internally: Impossible, do you think your hand is a digital scale? Just by holding it like that, you can tell the difference of 10 grams? He guessed correctly. It was impossible to tell by holding, but the Dog System''s "nose" was sharp! For metal masses under one kilogram, the Dog System''s resolution could reach to the decimal points of grams, essentially acting as a digital scale! Salman''s expression turned strange. After hesitating, he said, "Sorry, we only have one on site. There are no spares." The external examiners immediately entered the excited phase of onlookers; this was an unexpected crisis. It was both a danger and an opportunity. If they strictly followed the inspection procedure and replaced the part, any dog could do the job. Whether it''s an assessment or not, to become a qualified maintenance technician, one should solve existing problems rather than creating new ones. "None available?" Chen Fei frowned. He looked towards the shelves filled with new parts. Although there were many, none were suitable, even the older model TC-M5402A magnetic pumps were working fine. "None! You''ll have to fix it yourself." Salman watched Chen Fei with interest. This was both a bonus question and an extra credit opportunity; if handled well, a bad situation could turn into a good one. "Alright then!" Chen Fei began disassembling on the spot the magnetic pump that was ten grams underweight. Each screw removed and then reinserted had to be exact, as sometimes even a single additional or missing turn was unacceptable. He quickly identified the missing part. To be precise, there was an extra 63 grams of material that shouldn''t have been in the magnetic pump, while a crucial 73 grams of the micro-control valve component was missing; it wasn''t just a simple matter of being ten grams underweight. If rashly installed in an aircraft, it was foreseeable that the turboprop would fail within ten seconds, causing further damage to other parts, and naturally, the assessment would be a complete washout. To be recertified, one would have to wait another three months. What a hassle! Chen Fei was afraid to admit he was a B-rank supernatural power user, worried it would leak out and the American Federation might forcibly detain him. Once they were determined to detain someone, there were plenty of reasons they could concoct. Lazy ones would just claim an "unfounded accusation"; more diligent ones would provide fabricated personal testimonies, physical evidence, and complete scene set-up, written on the spot by Hollywood''s top screenwriters and directors¡ªit just depends on which version you''d prefer. It was only now that Chen Fei somewhat regretted revealing his B-rank supernatural power user status to Old David a couple of days ago in a reckless moment to complete a deadly mission assigned by the Dog System. But the FBI still hadn''t come knocking, surely a result of Old David keeping tight-lipped. Unexpectedly, this old man indeed had some credibility. After all, if even his old pal the F-22 "Raptor" was determinedly sacrificed, David Sid wouldn''t care about Chen Fei''s abilities, even if they were A or even S-rank, he wouldn''t care in the slightest. "E-rank supernatural power user?" Salman nodded his head in sudden understanding, and behind the camera, the various screens were simultaneously nodded at by the external examiners watching. Superpower levels, from low to high, are ranked as G, F, E, D, C, B, A, and S-rank. G-rank superpowers are known as Juvenile Rank, where the ability can''t be projected outward or take form, can be faintly perceived but isn''t strong, barely qualifying as a supernatural power user with practically zero societal threat, less dangerous than even holding a knife. F-rank superpower users are known as Civilian Rank, capable of externalizing and forming their ability, but with a small range of effect and short duration, often suited to household skills. E-rank superpower users are somewhat stronger, known as Soldier Rank, their abilities can affect larger objects for a limited duration, not able to be maintained for long periods. Simply molding a few parts, which is precisely what F-rank and E-rank users could achieve, Chen Fei easily accomplished the task, claiming to be an E-rank superpower user¡ªothers would likely believe without doubt, fitting perfectly with the characteristics of an E-rank superpower user. E, E-rank superpower user?! Damn, F*k, Shit... The man with a sickly-pale face was like he was severely bleeding out, almost done for. Let alone an E-rank superpower user, even if it wasn''t a superpower user, the opponent could easily pin him to the ground and beat him to death. Chen Fei did not notice that Randy, the young black man at another workstation, had a horribly upset look at this moment; his entire focus was on the malfunctioning "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft before him. After installing the repaired magnetic pump into the aircraft, he continued to disassemble other parts, pulling out additional defective pieces and preparing to replace them. This time, Chen Fei was extra cautious. Not only did he evaluate each part for its quality, but he also used "Metal Shaping" to reshape and restore them. Indeed, Chen Fei found several more new, defective parts. Both teachers Salman and Elisa also noticed this situation. The factory''s two engineers were cautious and did not make any hasty statements, but the third-party repair technicians invited there were all too aware of what was happening, immediately they began uncontrollably banging on the table and yelling. "Someone is sabotaging this!" If it had been found just once, it might have been reluctantly considered an accident, but the recurring issues could hardly be described as coincidences. "Keep these as evidence, submit them to security for inspection!" After consulting with his wife Elisa, Salman immediately made a decision. But the certification exam had to continue, it wouldn''t be suspended just because of these incidents. Randy kept swallowing his saliva, forcibly steadying his trembling as he continued with the inspections. 1 hour 5 minutes, Chen Fei completed all the inspections, and the aviation repair software "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" in "Siege Lion Mode" verified successfully. 2 hours 0 minutes, the young black man Randy barely finished his task on time, thoroughly soaked in sweat. After both "Big Mouth Monster" aircraft successfully passed the ten-minute trial run, they would proceed to the next stage, a half-hour interview. - Chapter 197 Section 197 - Immigration Office Whirr!~ Boom!~ The two "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft being started simultaneously burst into distinctly different noises. The "Big Mouth Monster" restored by Chen Fei quickly revolved its front propeller blades, and the vibration of the aircraft soon stabilized, becoming smooth and powerful. The "Big Mouth Monster" that black kid Randy had just repaired spewed several puffs of thick smoke from the exhaust pipe, the engine coughed violently a few times, then simply conked out. "What?" Randy, sitting in the cockpit, was dumbfounded. He had clearly found the fault and replaced the faulty part; the final "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" had passed, so why did it die the moment it was ignited? It seemed that this "Big Mouth Monster" was not lightly damaged due to the ignition failure this time. Not only did he fail to eliminate the fault, but he also caused new problems. The point of maintenance is to solve issues, not create them, rendering the next half-hour of the interview utterly meaningless. Without a doubt, the black kid''s certification had failed. "Randy, do you still want to continue?" Elisa couldn''t help but feel compassion as she saw Randy sitting lost in the cockpit. Originally, she suspected Randy had tampered with the new parts at Chen Fei''s station, as the boy had previously offered to move shelves, tool benches, and parts, which made him a suspect. But now it seemed that Chen Fei had successfully dealt with those unforeseen issues, and it was Randy who was unlucky, not him. According to common sense, even if you''re setting someone up, you wouldn''t bury yourself too, would you?! The flopped "Big Mouth Monster" did, to some extent, clear the suspicions on Randy. "It''s impossible, this can''t be happening!" Randy muttered to himself in a trance, seemingly not hearing Elisa even after she called out to him several times. Salman, seeing Randy still spacing out in the cockpit, and apparently quite shaken, then said, "Take a ten-minute break, then begin the interview. Randy, you can come down now, pull yourself together, do you still want to continue?" "Teacher, looking like this, can I even continue?" Randy forced a faint smile, but the smile was even uglier than crying. "Er, I suggest you reschedule in three months!" Salman offered a reasonable suggestion. The "Big Mouth Monster" used for the assessment had conked out; could he really impress in the following interview? Forget it... just drop it! "I understand, teacher, can I have a moment to myself first?" Finally, Randy couldn''t hold back, his voice trembling with a crying tone. "No need to rest, just continue!" Chen Fei didn''t care about resting or not; he knew every single part of the "Big Mouth Monster," and wasn''t worried about failing the interview at all. "Alright then!" What choice did he have after revealing his identity as a supernatural power user? The insatiable American Federation Immigration Bureau was hell-bent on keeping him. An initial offer of five million Star Yuan annual salary, three days off per week, a 30-day vacation per year, a mansion in the wealthy district, a top-notch apartment in the downtown area, take your pick, a luxury car? Just name the model, and it''ll be delivered right away. A wife? Even easier ¨C choose from a Hollywood white horse, little black donkey, or an Asian, if you prefer. Even lovers could be arranged for you, without repeating partners on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays or Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Besides siring your own children, everything else would be provided in full. After earlier waves of immigration had petered out, the American Federation, having long relied on foreign talents, yearned for skilled individuals to an insane degree. As long as you dared to come, they''d dare to offer anything, just scared you wouldn''t show up! How could Chen Fei agree to such terms? He still owed a personal debt to that one-eyed lady, Hanna, and how could he simply walk away, not to mention the Chen Family wouldn''t allow it. The Family had finally produced a Level B psionic ability user, and if he switched allegiance to the American Federation in the blink of an eye, abandoning his family, it would be a slap in the face to the Chen Family Gate! Can you believe that the Chen family''s patriarch, Uncle Chen Haiqing, would disown him for the principle of putting righteousness before family? The more they talked, the more strained the negotiations became, almost coming to blows. Fortunately, Old David arrived just in time to defuse the highly charged atmosphere. Audrey Memphis from the Immigration Bureau''s Talent Introduction Office had no choice but to leave with her four burly FBI agents, sulkily. Before leaving, she pointed to her own eyes and then at Chen Fei. The message was clear: I''ll be watching you! "Chen Fei, you need to be careful," Hanna Gagel cut straight to the chase during their video call, warning him to watch out for the Immigration Bureau so that he wouldn''t get caught in their schemes. Although she was a citizen of the American Federation herself, it didn''t necessarily mean her loyalty lay with the American Federation, let alone with the Stars and Stripes. Every man for himself, and God for us all. That''s the credo of the American Federation. Patriotism? You''ve been reading too much fiction, haven''t you? The very idea of federalism was designed for ''every man for himself should disaster strike''. If even the state departments act such, imagine how much less the lower citizens care, just looking out for themselves. "What should I do, then?" It wasn''t only Manager Hanna who had said something like this; even Old David had echoed similar sentiments. Chen Fei furrowed his brow. The woman from the Immigration Bureau had acted as if she had him in her pocket, resorting to both carrot and stick tactics. If it had been anyone else, they might have been intimidated into giving up the citizenship of the world''s most sovereign state, submitting to become a slave of the American Federation. "What if you record a video? I can help you blow it up," After all, Hanna Gagel had served as a Second-Level Inspector in the Internal Affairs department of the Apocalypse Defense Group; she had seen all kinds of crooked tactics. "Uh, how so?" Chen Fei asked earnestly for advice. "How else? Self-degradation, of course!" As a citizen of the American Federation, Hanna Gagel knew all too well what the Immigration Bureau and FBI disliked the most. "...But when I took my first breath of air from the American Federation, the air was so fragrant, fresh, and almost luxurious; I was completely taken aback... Standing here today, that sense of freedom still feels so vivid... The Free American Federation, gunshots every day!" The video quickly spread throughout the Aircrew Base, with Chekhov Big Bear taking particular delight in watching it as a pre-dinner treat. That Chen Fei, he truly was a talent. The American Federation''s air being laced with the smell of gunfire, welcoming such a militant and violent individual into its citizenship ¨C the Immigration Bureau would likely get hammered by Congress members, and even the FBI wouldn''t want to deal with such self-inflicted trouble, no matter how accustomed to trouble they already were. - Chapter 198 Section 198 - The Nonexistent Lufus Regardless of how Hanna Gagel''s provocation worked, a dozen popular influencers led a swarm of One Star Yuan Party alt accounts, engaging in various ploys to hook up with the network accounts of the American Federation and Europa. These accounts were already not afraid of causing trouble, and in just a moment, they became excited, believing they had latched onto a hot topic. As expected, the video self-recorded by Chen Fei quickly went viral until it caught the attention of the relevant departments of the American Federation. This spirited young guy is quite popular, huh? Better check him out... Man! People can''t withstand scrutiny! If you take it seriously, problems will be exposed. In the American Federation, for domestic issues, call the FBI; for foreign matters, the CIA; and when all else fails, the IRS. This pattern is definitely the right way to go! After all, he''s a Sovereign Level, and once he gets serious, oh boy! Who knows if Chen Fei is serious or not? Fresh out of the gate at work, he fought to mutual annihilation with the most ferocious of Dragonkind. Then, daring as ever, he put a leash around the necks of the juvenile members of the Cangqiong Star Sky Dragon City investigation team, drunkenly launching a night raid on their base, blasting them away, resulting in heavy casualties and incalculable losses of materials. Then, on the turf of the eighth-ranked military contractor, Merman Brothers Consortium, he first knocked out the son of the head of the action department and then played a deadly game of "one shot, you shoot, I shoot," killing the minister himself, cutting the grass and removing the roots, a truly fearsome character! The key is that nobody else has this guy''s tough luck; rumors say that light weapons are useless against him. Rely on the American Federation''s police with their puny pistols? Forget it! Just afraid that one day, on a whim, he might charge Capitol Hill in his plane, that scene... I can''t bear to think of it, I just can''t! The American Federation''s Immigration Service spent a long time processing the copied information from the CIA before they got a clue, then bewilderedly shredded it with a paper shredder and evacuated Audrey Memphis, an employee stationed at the Eagle-Nest private airport, overnight. The sacred American Federation needs talent, not killers. Once the training is done, you better scram! - The reaction in Chen Fei''s hometown was quite calm, everyone looked bewildered. The ordinary people didn''t even have guns, so how could they shoot anyone? At most, they''d squirt each other with water guns, BiuBiuBiu. Aren''t these habitual verbal barrages just part of everyday jargon! Each country has its own situation, so the level of threat naturally differs. Moreover, the real level of Chen Fei''s Special Ability is B, and he had just been certified¡ªnot the E-level that the American Federation thought he was. That was a huge difference. Online, a bunch of people who couldn''t get the truth hectored Chen Fei in the video, but the man himself was still in a remote corner of Snow Mountain State, continuing to work on his training certification at a private airport, speeding up his pace with a success rate akin to passing with flying colors. Hanna Gagel, of the newly established Jiu Defense Company, provided unlimited public funding support; after all, certification exams weren''t cheap, and Chen Fei could take as many as he wanted, as long as he passed. The more certifications better. Correspondingly, as the level of professional certification increased, it could only benefit Jiu Defense Company and serve as a symbol of strength. Who was the hunter and who was the prey was still unknown. Watching Chen Fei''s receding figure, the Black Kid opened his mouth but couldn''t say anything. - After the Aircraft Maintenance Technician training ended, Chen Fei did not leave the Eagle-Nest private airport. He used the few days before the flight training classes started to continue tinkering with the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter within the exhibition hall. Securing several certifications for aircraft maintenance greatly benefited his restoration of the aged jet fighter. Finally, the day before the flight training classes officially started, Chen Fei used "Metal Shaping" to repair the last extra part and successfully installed it into the F-22 "Raptor." Surrounded by various tools and instruments, Old David tentatively asked, "Is it done?" He would always be present, watching with his own eyes as Chen Fei tinkered with the old buddy bit by bit. Old David was also well aware that simply replacing parts would not be enough to get the F-22 "Raptor" back in the blue skies. During its years of service, it had incurred many hidden weaknesses and forcing it into the sky could mean it might disintegrate mid-air at any moment. Chen Fei felt the surface of the aircraft and said, "Let''s fuel it up and try to fire it up!" This time, the F-22 was no longer just an electrically driven toy. What the Eagle-Nest private airport didn''t lack was the matching equipment for jet fighters, including ground movable power supply and air supply units. Old David was not satisfied with just a try. The pilot was also ready, and not just anyone. It was Ramaya von Kennedy, the chief instructor of tomorrow''s flight training class, a recently retired ace pilot of the American Federation, and a true ACE who had participated in the Sovereign Level Aerial Combat Arena "The Abyss Coliseum." "270@07, 16000ft, 29.71!" (West wind, wind speed level seven, altitude limit 16000 feet, about 4800 meters, atmospheric pressure value 29.71) "''Sloth''-Ready!" Standing beside the runway with Chen Fei, Old David confidently pressed his headset and stated, "Go!" "Huh?" Chen Fei felt there was something off about the old man''s tone. Weren''t they supposed to just fire it up, make a round trip on the runway, and then dutifully return to the exhibition hall? Why did it feel like they were going to take off? The engines of the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter at the takeoff end of the runway roared louder, as its taxiing speed accelerated rapidly under the powerful thrust. "Wait, wait, Old Man, this isn''t right!" Chen Fei quickly grabbed Old David; he was a pilot himself, although unlicensed and informally trained, and he clearly understood that the commotion was a sign of intending to make a short takeoff, with engine output nearing the critical point for afterburners. - Chapter 199 Section 199 - The Deadly Question Strikes Again "If a young eagle''s first flight isn''t soaring to the heavens, it can only fall into the abyss forever!" Old David turned around, his voice coming through clearly to Chen Fei''s ears, thanks to the noise-canceling headset. Boom... The F-22 Raptor lifted its nose and surged into the sky as if reborn. In a sense, it was a completely reborn Raptor. "Haha, hahaha, it''s flying, it''s flying!" The former Eagle King, Old David, removed his headset and threw it far away, not even caring about his cane, shouting like a child. Pop!~ A crisp explosion sounded in the sky. Flight call sign "Sloth," Instructor Ramaya von Kennedy wasn''t your average brave soul; she went full throttle, replacing the previous electric drive with the original F119-PW-100 low-bypass ratio afterburning turbofan engine, releasing a thrust-to-weight ratio well over 10. The F-22 Raptor fighter jet executed a barrel roll, trailing a long white vapor streak, performing a five-hundred-meter low-level pass over the airfield, and disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye. "Yes! It''s flying!" Chen Fei let out a long breath; it hadn''t been easy to get the Raptor into shape. He couldn''t believe someone else was bolder than him, daring to fly to the heavens without fully ensuring the F-22 was one hundred percent reliable. Fifteen minutes later, the Raptor reappeared in the line of sight of Chen Fei and Old David, aligning with the runway, gradually lowering its flight altitude and gently dropping the landing gear. Rolling up a trail of blue smoke on the runway, the perfectly replicated jet fighter landed smoothly, sliding for hundreds of meters before finally coming to a stop. System: Ding! 100% restoration of the F-22 Raptor jet fighter (complete), earned Energy Points +500! Energy Points: 501/5000 Chen Fei couldn''t help but sigh as he looked at the information that popped up. He was really too poor, always struggling on the brink of subsistence, whether it was Energy Points or Star Yuan. By the way, let''s see what''s new in the "Skill Shop" today. 1. Hi-Fi Replication: 1000 Energy Points 2. SEG Unit Plan: 1,000,000 Energy Points 3. Basic Particle Beam (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 4. Audio Management Module: 500 Energy Points | File Management Plugin: Not Available 5. Evolution Accelerator Level 0 (0-9 levels): 500 Energy Points 6. Universal Data Transceiver: 100 Energy Points | File Management Plugin: Not Available 7. Evolution Accelerator Level 0 (0-9 levels): 500 Energy Points 8. Speaker Module (upgradable): 200 Energy Points (stereo, infrasound, ultrasonic) 9. File Management Plugin: 120 Energy Points 10. Battery (upgradable): 500 Energy Points | Long-term power storage Remark: Updated every 24 hours Huh? "SEG Unit Plan"!!! What''s the meaning of this? Chen Fei almost popped his eyes out. "Good kid, don''t be late for the training class tomorrow!" Instructor Ramaya patted Chen Fei on the shoulder, then saluted Old David with military precision before striding away majestically. Some habits brought from the American Federal Air Force hadn''t faded with retirement; they were deeply ingrained. "This ''Raptor'' is yours now; a deal is a deal!" Old David sighed as he glanced at the F-22 "Raptor" on the apron, leaning on his cane, he slowly walked away. He had no choice but to hand it off; without Chen Fei, the old "Raptor" would quickly lose its ability to fly again due to a lack of necessary maintenance. Aircraft rely on logistics far more than other mechanical products do. The technicians at Eagle Nest private airfield were no less skilled than those from the manufacturer or the air force, but they were not supernatural power users, much less Metal Ability Users. They didn''t have the ability to give the F-22 "Raptor" a phoenix-like rebirth as Chen Fei could. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have waited until today. Chen Fei called out loudly to the old man''s retreating figure, "Old David, don''t you want to keep another souvenir?" To fix this F-22 "Raptor," Old David had saved up plenty of spare parts, apparently too many. Just then, the Dog System abruptly inserted a line of text with a new mission. System: Ding! Destroy Eagle Nest private airfield within 10 days (0/10 days) and receive Energy Points +2000! | ¡ùNote: Failure to complete on time results in death!!! What? Chen Fei''s face stiffened, God damn it, another death mission had arrived. This Dog System just couldn''t stand to see him doing well! He had just received a fighter jet gift from them, and now, he was supposed to blow up their place, what kind of twisted move was this? He was almost driven insane! "A souvenir?" Old David turned back, puzzled. "You need to provide enough materials, metals like aluminium, titanium, steel, and copper." Chen Fei''s expression was a bit rigid, infuriated by the Dog System. Even if he currently had a surplus of Energy Points, it didn''t mean that he would freely give Old David two Energy Points. He wasn''t one for a losing deal. "Just materials?" Old David suppressed the excitement and fully turned around. "The rest of those spare parts can all be put to use." For Chen Fei, who already had a successful experience, the difficulty of replicating a second aircraft would be greatly reduced. Since the extra parts would be wasted just sitting there, what Old David really wanted now was nothing more than a model. Having him fly an F-22 into the sky would likely result in an old man''s bones being scattered across the apron. The physical toll of military jets on the body is such that an untrained person might even be injured; even though Old David once flew an F-22, his current physical condition definitely wouldn''t allow for it. Therefore, making a cut-corner high-fidelity shell would completely satisfy the old man''s sentiment. Usually stern and meticulous, Old David nodded vigorously with a smile, saying, "Good, good!" The once renowned "Eagle King" was now no more than an overgrown kid. Acquiring metal materials was a simple matter for Old David. He called in a heavy truck, which cleaned out the nearby town''s scrap metal recycling station. All sorts of discarded metal products were crushed into sharp-edged giant bricks, forming a small castle on the grounds of Eagle Nest private airfield. There was every kind of metal imaginable, they could even dig out gold. - Chapter 200 Section 200 - Advanced Training Class A lot of scrap metal can''t just be tossed at the airport causing pollution. Absorb! System: Ding! Absorbed Alloy Body 1000 tons (daily limit), composition percentage: Iron 45%, Aluminum 27%, Manganese 10%, Titanium 9%... +1000 Energy Points! Energy Points: 1081/5000 This was the daily limit for the "Metal Devouring" Skill; exceeding it wouldn''t lead to absorption, nor would it grant Energy Points. So even if Chen Fei were given an aircraft carrier, he''d be at a loss. Taking advantage of the "Hi-Fi Replication" still being on the list in the Skill Shop, he quickly seized it. -1000 energy points! Energy Points: 81/5000 Energy points are great, but they really don''t last long with spending! Early the next day. +1000 energy points! Energy Points: 1081/5000 Old David had brought in a giant block of discarded metal from the town that was now missing a third, and Chen Fei casually spent 2 energy points to add an F-22 "Raptor" Jet Fighter to the old man''s exhibition hall. It was a model that could only light up the cockpit but couldn''t start the engine, fully sufficient for display purposes. The one that could actually fly was parked inside the hangar. Chen Fei secretly activated the "Universal Data Transceiver" skill, pressing a finger on the data port of Old David''s tablet, he exfiltrated all data regarding the F-22 "Raptor" Jet Fighter, making it the first spoil of war for another skill, the "File Management Plugin." The Dog System interface now featured an additional "My Documents." After leaving the exhibition hall, Chen Fei arrived at the flight training class, the time was just perfect, exactly nine in the morning. "Chen Fei, good morning!" Instructor Ramaya von Kennedy took the initiative to greet him. Being able to repair an old aircraft like the F-22 was enough to earn his respect, moving from a repair technician class to a flight training class, this young man was certainly no ordinary person. Even among supernatural power users, few could achieve this. "Good morning, Instructor Kamura!" The other''s status in Jianghu was very high; Chen Fei didn''t dare to put on airs and hurriedly responded. The other three students from the same period looked him up and down in amazement, sensing that the two seemed to have already known each other. "Find a seat for yourself!" Instructor Ramaya pointed at the many spots available in the classroom. The classroom, which could accommodate forty students, had only four including Chen Fei. This was an advanced training class with enrollment thresholds; zero foundation was definitely not acceptable, at a minimum one should be able to independently pilot a propeller aircraft, hence the smaller number of students. Chen Fei really had nothing remarkable to mention, his flying credentials weren''t as glittering as those of the other students; just surviving was no easy feat for him. Everyone was taken aback. Why had everyone else started with proper primary trainers, and you jumped right into a turboprop fighter? To prevent the three other trainees from staring oddly at Chen Fei all the time, Instructor Ramaya took the initiative to say, "Ah! ''Rookie'' Chen Fei is also a particularly skilled technician, having just received his maintenance qualification for the A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'', MiG-28, and other various aircraft." So that''s how it was, repairing and repairing and then flying! After all, proximity facilitates early opportunity! The three trainees automatically filled in what they thought were the answers. In reality, that was far from the truth. The truth was far more brutal than what they might imagine. "Okay, introductions are over, let''s move on to the next part, the flight simulation. Please, follow me." Instructor Ramaya clapped her hands, signaling for the four trainees to follow her. As they walked, she explained, "Jet and propeller aircraft don''t differ too much. From their names, you can tell, their engines determine their speed, altitude, and maneuverability; we''ll need to carefully balance the power..." As an ace pilot of the Federal Air Force, her authoritative evaluation naturally carried weight. The group soon arrived at a large spacious room, where ten mechanical units about the size of a small van were lined up in a row. "Flight simulator?" Not just Chen Fei, the other three trainees also exclaimed in unison, recognizing the name of these mechanical units. 911 Aircrew Base lacked two-seat jet trainers and flight simulators, which was why Chen Fei traveled all the way to this private airstrip training class in America to learn about light jet flying, thanks to Hanna Gagar''s network. In fact, those who could come here for training, whether technicians or pilots, were almost always connected individuals. Ordinary people couldn''t even find the registration method or channels. Even Chen Fei, who had the least flying hours, had at least 62 hours of flying experience. Instructor Ramaya pointed directly at the mechanical units and said, "It seems you all know what these are, so I won''t explain too much. Pick one and try it out." Teaching an advanced training class had its benefits, as it saved a lot of talking about basic knowledge. Just a little guidance on key points could effectively complete the teaching. With the aid of flight simulators, it became even simpler; just fly and that''s it, since no one dies in simulators, and you can crash as much as you need; eventually, you''ll learn to fly jets, roughly and simply. Almost everyone got trained this way. Moreover, with the experience of flying propeller-driven primary trainer aircraft, this adjustment process would be even shorter. Chen Fei didn''t have a conventional path through professional primary training aircraft like the others, but the "Big Mouth Monster" inherently had the genes of a primary trainer, and when used in flight instruction mode, it worked just the same. Upon his first encounter with the flight simulator, Chen Fei didn''t feel unfamiliar because inside the simulator, it looked exactly the same as a real light jet, even the cockpit interfaces for different aircraft types, which were basically very similar. The cockpit of the flight simulator that Chen Fei chose was set to the American Federal Air Force fighter control interface, virtually identical to the MiG-28 and F-22, with all control zones in familiar locations, which saved the trouble of switching. He turned on the power button that real planes don''t have, put on an aviation helmet equipped with SVR imaging lenses, and finally, the flight simulator''s system completed its boot-up; three seconds later, the self-diagnosis ended, and it was time to select the aircraft model. He almost chose the F-22, which he had recently managed to replicate, but he was most familiar with the MiG-28. After selecting, the control interface before his eyes disappeared, and the surroundings transformed into a simulation scene. Looking left and right, he was in a MiG-28 jet fighter on the tarmac, with the main runway and the airport buildings on the opposite side clearly resembling those of the Eagle-Nest private airport, just like the real thing. The SVR lenses combined with the panoramic cockpit canopy could almost deceive reality. - Chapter 201 Section 201 - Heartfelt Devotion "Cadet Chen Fei, call sign ''Rookie,'' Aircraft No.1 is ready. The weather conditions are good, you may take off," Outside the cockpit, a young man gestured to Chen Fei. Seeing the man''s face, Chen Fei couldn''t help but smile. Wasn''t that just Old David in his younger days! Pictures of Old David at various ages were hung in the fighter jet museum, so he was very familiar with him. The official ignition commenced, the flight simulator slightly vibrated, simulating the ground start conditions of the MiG-28 jet fighter; the ground power and air supply equipment began to withdraw. After a brief warm-up, Chen Fei gently pushed the throttle rod forward, the airframe responded quickly, a pushing sensation came over him, pressing him gently against his seat. Compared to the gentle and considerate turboprop aircraft, the jet seemed more capricious and spirited, like a lively bird on the prairie, full of vitality. The roaring noise grew louder as the MiG-28 created by the simulator rapidly moved away from the apron and steered towards the takeoff and landing runway, the experience almost indistinguishable from reality throughout. Entering the takeoff phase on the main runway, Chen Fei gradually pushed the throttle rod forward, starting to fuel the engines. The view outside the cockpit canopy rapidly receded, and the intense pushing sensation came again. This feeling was marvelous. He muttered softly to himself. "Let''s go!" When the throttle was halfway, the airframe suddenly sank, followed by a sensation of weightlessness as the MiG-28 jet fighter left the ground. The biggest advantage of the flight simulator was that it eliminated the need for cumbersome ground support, allowing flight and landing in the best condition of the aircraft anytime and reducing training costs to the minimum. Even though the cost of the simulator might even exceed that of an active jet fighter, overall, the spread running costs were still far lower than real flight training, and it could also ensure the safety of pilots. After all, an aircraft is a precise and complex machine; encountering unexpected situations after flight is completely unexpected, and pilots are priceless. Being able to avoid losses through simulated training made the flight simulator, no matter how expensive, worth it. Gently pulling the control stick, Chen Fei began to gradually adapt to the MiG-28 jet fighter in comparison to the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, in terms of its surging power and agility. Normal takeoff was not stressful¡ªthe throttle couldn''t be pushed as aggressively as in turboprop aircraft. The MiG required a longer runway, at least a hundred meters more than turboprop aircraft. Having already memorized the technical data for the MiG-28, he faced no obstacles in handling it. "First a roll... then a barrel roll... a vertical climb... breaking the S... afterburner supersonic... then a cobra maneuver, and it''s over!" The MiG-28 didn''t have the excellent post-stall performance of the Su-27; as soon as it tipped its nose up and decelerated, the engines stalled, and the aircraft directly fell into a stall. Air start? How do you expect to start an engine mid-air in a single-engine jet? Even with twin engines, only one could attempt to be restarted, and if both engines were off, it was still hopeless. Jet fighter ignition relied on ground power and air supply equipment; they could not start by themselves, as the limited space inside was reserved for radar and avionic systems. The scenery outside the cockpit rapidly approached the ground, with a sudden jolt, plunged into darkness, and then quickly lit up again, re-entering the initial interface. MiG-28, restart. In less than an hour, Chen Fei had crashed eight times. Fortunately, these were all deliberate probes into the differences between jet and turboprop aircraft; with each crash, he gained a lot, just as Instructor Ramaya said, "Crash and crash, and you will learn to fly." In reality, this certainly couldn''t be done since one only has one life, and a single crash would be the end. But in the flight simulator, there were no restrictions; crash a hundred times, ten thousand times, neither man nor simulator would be harmed. "Alright, everyone, take a half-hour break!" "Stop, please stop talking, Steven!" Annie was in a rush, quickly breaking free from Steven''s embrace. Making some extra money wasn''t easy for her, and she didn''t want to lose this relatively well-paid job just like that. Steven said confusedly, "Who is he?" Annie''s old flame? Annie Truman lowered her voice and quietly reminded, "He''s the airport''s chief instructor, a retired ace, Ramaya von Kennedy. Don''t mess with him." The chief instructor''s position in Jianghu was apparent, and with Old David backing him, who would dare to disobey? He could dismiss you in a minute! "Instructor Ramaya, should I smack him?" Chen Fei looked at the guy across with ill intent. He had a hunch that the dark hand behind Randy''s tampering during the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" maintenance qualification assessment was Lufus Martin, and was indeed this fellow across from him. There is no love or hate without reason in the world. Because of Teacher Shen Fei, competing with him and secretly tripping him up was just typical behavior. As for the name "Lufus Martin," since no such person could be found at the airport, it undoubtedly must be a pseudonym, and according to Randy''s description, Lufus Martin''s features perfectly matched this Steven. Thus, all the clues could be connected. "It won''t affect you, will it?" Instructor Ramaya was well aware that the relations who could attend the training were often either rich or noble, none with a simple background. "Haha, once a stranger, twice familiar!" Chen Fei clenched his fist and walked up, seeing that meeting was fate, wanting to let the other party personally experience his heartfelt punches. That''s how college students justify hitting someone. "Chen Fei, what are you doing here?" Seeing someone approaching with a sinister smile, Steven panicked for no reason, what did this guy mean? No special meaning, just felt like giving a lesson. "Good morning, Mr. Lufus Martin!" As soon as the words were out, Chen Fei punched the unsuspecting Steven in the stomach. He didn''t need evidence. "Ow..." Steven''s cry of pain had just started when it was muffled back by a second punch, bending him completely over, resembling a twitchingly collapsing prawn. "You, who are you? Steven is the eldest son of the Lockheed family, Lockheed is a shareholder of Boeing Aerospace, do you know what you''re doing?" The young and pretty blonde female instructor, Annie Truman, was frightened by the two violent punches, her pale faced. "So what? He''s just a Boeing shareholder''s kid, I''ve thrashed the Crown Prince of National Defense Star just as well before." Beating Little Shanzi to call him daddy was definitely out of the line, otherwise where would his own real dad stand, Chen Fei threw his punches without any psychological pressure. - Chapter 202 Section 202 - Look at My Big Treasure Chen Xiaochui held back his strength, or else two more hits would have really killed the guy. Clutching his stomach on the ground, Steven Lockheed gasped for air as he furiously spat out threats. "I''m going to kill you, I''m going to kill you!" To Chen Fei, it sounded like the rage of the impotent, completely useless! If you have a grudge, settle it on the spot, that''s what the strong do, otherwise... are you saving it for New Year''s? Instructor Annie was frightened pale by the two unreasonably brutal punches, "Kill me? Even if I gave you a gun or a knife, you couldn''t kill me!" Chen Fei stood with his hands on his hips, looking down at the other person with full contempt, this kid needs an education, especially in physics. Conveniently, he studied economics, and knew that the most cost-effective method was, yes, just to beat him. "That''s enough, don''t beat him to death." Instructor Ramaya came over, noting Chen Fei''s heavy blows, fearing he might accidentally kill him, making it hard to handle the aftermath. He turned his gaze, gave Annie, whose face had turned from pale to even paler, a stare, and said, "Instructor Annie, what are you zoning out for, aren''t you going to drag him away?" "Yes, Instructor Ramaya!" Instructor Annie, frightened into shivering, quickly helped up the still twitching Steven Lockheed and headed to the medical room for a check-up. "Hmph, pampered brat!" Instructor Ramaya looked at Steven Lockheed''s expression as if he was looking at a piece of rat droppings. Flirting with a female instructor, messing up male-female relations, it''s just disgusting. "Just the son of a shareholder and he dares to act so arrogantly? Trying to use the Boeing Aerospace company as a tiger skin, I wonder who gave him the courage." Chen Fei smiled, no wonder Teacher Shen Fei didn''t think much of this guy, he''s truly useless! Although Lockheed is a shareholder of Boeing Aerospace, he''s not a major one. The amount of stock he holds barely put him in the top ten, and he wasn''t even in the top five; dreaming of using Boeing Aerospace''s influence to bully people is far beyond his reach! Moreover, it''s doubtful the other shareholders would agree. "Should we fire him?" Instructor Ramaya sought Chen Fei''s opinion, considering their past conflicts, it might be opportune to push the boat along with the current, especially since he had the power to do so. Eagle Nest private airfield''s training business was inherently a mutual selection process. Trainees could choose their training programs, and naturally, the programs could also dismiss unqualified trainees to avoid tarnishing their reputation. Although most of the time, the relationship-heavy Eagle Nest private airfield was selective of its trainees. Chen Fei generously said, "Let''s keep him, we can beat him up a few more times." Instructor Ramaya: "..." Do you have some misunderstanding about the word "generous"? - At night, Chen Fei grabbed a pack of beer and brought some popcorn chicken and fried peanuts to the hangar. He turned on the lights and tossed the items on the wing of an F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter. He set up his phone and made a video call casually. The old man grabbed a can, popped the tab, and clinked it with Chen Fei. Hearing the voice, Hanna Gager perked up and tentatively asked, "Is that ''Eagle King'' David Sid?" She had not really expected that Chen Fei could actually strike up a relationship with the owner of the Eagle-Nest Private Airport, let alone drink together. This silly kid really did have some dumb luck. It was obvious to Hanna Gager that Chen Fei wasn''t good at networking, yet his luck was outstanding. Indeed, that was the case. On his first day of reporting, Old David personally cooked him a steak, a treatment that nobody else had ever received. He was completely unperturbed and helped himself generously to the food, even demanding some fine wine from the old man. "The boss of Jiu Defense? Little Missy from the Gager family?" Upon hearing the voice coming out of Chen Fei''s phone, Old David peeked over and chuckled immediately. He patted Chen Fei''s shoulder, approvingly saying, "Not bad, young man!" So-called boss, wearing exquisite pajamas and holding a wine glass¡ªit''s such a job chat! If I were forty years younger, I''d really want a job like that too! Hanna Gager quickly draped herself with a professional suit jacket and said respectfully, "Mr. Sid, hello, I''m Hanna from the Gager family. My father is Williams, and my uncle is McAllen." Not many dared to casually refer to "Old David" like Chen Fei did. This Old David had deep connections within the Federal Air Force. Otherwise, he couldn''t bring his old pal home and manage such a thriving training business at his private airport. Many who joined the training not only aimed to learn solid skills but also intended to leverage these connections¡ªa relatively fair advantage only insiders could attain. This invisible industry threshold had always been there. The Gager family knew Old David, otherwise, they couldn''t have sent Chen Fei over for training. "Hello, Little Hana!" Old David greeted her neutrally. At best, Hanna''s father, Williams Gager, was just someone he had been introduced to by an old comrade¡ªin-arms, and with such a connection, naturally, they weren''t very close; it was merely a minor act of supporting the younger generation. Yet, Hanna Gager didn''t dare show any negligence. She cautiously inquired, "Chen Fei mentioned that you''re planning to give him this F-22?" She was curious whether it was just impressive talk to please her. Old David slapped the wing heartily, laughing merrily, "It''s not that I plan to; the old buddy is already his." He picked up the canned beer and clinked it again with Chen Fei, who was surreptitiously snacking on roasted beef strips from the vegetable salad. The old buddy had a chance at a new life, which to him was even more thrilling than taking an Immortal Pill and being rejuvenated¡ªmoney, beauty, none of it was as important as sentimentality at his age. "Really?!" Hanna Gager couldn''t believe that Chen Fei wasn''t just boasting but truly impressive. She wondered what kind of magic potion he fed the old man to trick him out of such a treasured possession. She had heard about Squadron Leader Chekhov''s AK-47 incident from Genuine Fragrance squadron; Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power, though combat-oriented, didn''t mean it couldn''t be applied industrially. Maybe he really could fix it. The combat power of a "Raptor" was comparable to a squadron of MiGs¡ªindeed a big treasure, a good treasure! With the Raptor, Jiu Defense stationed at the 911 Aircrew Base would be further empowered and could definitely rank first among various aircrew bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. - Chapter 203 Section 203 - Feasibility of Leveling the Airport "The old man has no interest in joking around about this kind of thing with you youngsters." Old David stretched out his hand to grab some of Chen Fei''s popcorn chicken. It wouldn''t be polite not to respond when someone reaches out to you. You steal my beef tenderloin, I take your popcorn chicken¡ªno problem, this old kid... "This really is good news, I need to digest it a bit. Chen Fei, keep Mr. Sid company for now, we''ll talk later." Hanna Gagel put down her glass and also disconnected the video call. Because Old David was present, there were some things she couldn''t discuss with Chen Fei, so they would have to wait until the next call. Old David, suddenly curious, asked, "Jiu Defense, that name is quite unique. Did you come up with it, or did she?" He could tell that there was something special between Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel. "She did!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but facepalm. Hanna always seemed unreliable when it came to stuff like this. "How did you come up with such a name?" Old David was even more curious about how the onomatopoeic name came about. Ordinary people starting a company would never think of using such a name. "Because I raised a little bird called Xiao Jiu." Chen Fei counted on his fingers; the little guy was close to completing its Advance in Rank too. "Heh, must be a clever little thing. Next time, bring it over for me to see." Old David suddenly really wanted to meet the little bird that both Chen Fei and Hanna were so fond of. "Actually, I''ve already brought it over; in a few days, you should be able to see it." Chen Fei downed his beer in one gulp and then opened a second can. "Where is it?" The old chap was full of question marks. "Right now, it''s a ball and can''t move." Chen Fei gestured with his hands; Xiao Jiu, when curled up into a feathery ball, was only slightly larger than a tennis ball. He had consulted the Urban Monster Management Center to estimate Xiao Jiu''s Advance in Rank time at around fifty-six days or so. He wasn''t sure how accurate this was, but by his calculations, the time should be nearing. A ball? Can''t move? A foggy-headed Old David, more bewildered than ever, had no choice but to ask, "Uh! Can you tell me what exactly is Xiao Jiu?" "Xiao Jiu is a Pure Light Sparrow, currently in the process of Advancing in Rank." Chen Fei took out his cellphone and showed Old David a photo of Xiao Jiu. "Pure Light Sparrow, so it''s a Magical Beast!" Old David scratched his white hair, finally understanding. The little bird with its glossy black feathers appeared to be indeed whimsical and cute. He thought to himself, no wonder the name Pure Light Sparrow sounded so familiar; he almost thought Xiao Jiu was a toy mascot or simply a cartoon image. Using a mascot as the visual identity for a company was a common tactic, which could significantly reduce advertising costs. It''s a strategy often favored by small businesses. The laziest ones simply use a bitten apple; it''s easy to manage without putting in too much effort. Chen Fei said with a smile, "So we have to wait a few more days." A Third-Rank Pure Light Sparrow, Xiao Jiu was really something. "There''s no need for that. Just give me 20 rounds of thousand-pound high-explosive aerial bombs, and I''ll level it for you in one go. You provide the bombs and fuel, I''ll handle the rest¡ªit''s my way of doing a good deed." Chen Fei thumped his chest proudly, uttering his generous proposal. Who''s the best at demolition in the world? Come on, that''s an easy question! With the aerial bombs in hand, he wouldn''t even need an hour to flatten the entire airport. "You said... aerial bombs for... demolition?" It took Old David a moment to grasp the concept. Twenty thousand-pound high-explosive aerial bombs would indeed be much cheaper than his own estimate for demolition costs. "That''s right, see how simple?" Chen Fei clapped his hands together, proud of how economically sound his idea was¡ªtrue to his undergraduate economics education, his calculations were sharp and tight. A thousand-pound aerial bomb with nearly 300 kilograms of explosive could destroy within a 300-meter radius. One bomb and buildings would collapse, even the foundations could be scooped clean. It was certainly quicker and cleaner than manual demolition or using engineering machinery. After dropping 20 bombs, the construction team could move right in without even needing to clear the site first. "Hehe, hehe, you sure have some unique ideas, young man!" Old David pointed at Chen Fei, chuckling to himself. Suddenly, the news channel on the display screens in the hangar interrupted its regular programming with a breaking emergency news report. The footage seemed to be captured with a high-zoom lens from a distance. In a suburban area, a multi-legged monster insect as tall as a two or three-story building suddenly leaped high into the air and pounced on an armed helicopter that was firing rockets and machine gun rounds continuously. Flames erupted violently in an explosion, destroying the helicopter and killing all on board instantly. The nearby people and vehicles were ant-sized in comparison to the monstrous insect. "A mutant attack on the economic zone? My god!" As Chen Fei saw this scene, he couldn''t help but exclaim. The scene was as dramatic as a special effects blockbuster, but the casualties and damage were very real. The defense forces of the economic zone were far superior to those stationed in remote and desolate aircrew bases. A barrage of bullets and shellfire from all directions formed a fierce concentrated attack on the multi-legged monster insect, which seemed to care little, casually toppling a small building as it tried to break through the encirclement. Two missiles hurtled towards the creature and smashed into it with a crash. Chen Fei speculated, "Killed it?" "No, it didn''t hit!" Old David, with his sharp eyes, quickly noticed something off about the explosion of the missiles. The contour of the blast wave released wasn''t right. Sure enough, before the smoke had completely cleared, the seemingly unharmed multi-legged monster insect burst out. "The supernatural power users are about to take action." Old David noticed some individuals appearing on the ground, dressed in standard-issue single soldier tactical armor, with special magic runes inscribed on the surface. With a flash of silver light¡ªwhether it was due to the camera''s frame rate not keeping up, the video report''s broadcasting standard, or the display screen''s performance¡ªChen Fei and Old David only saw a flash before one of the long legs of the multi-legged monster insect mysteriously severed in the middle. Old David exclaimed loudly, "Ha, a Dimensional Slash from a Space Series user, at least a B-rank supernatural power user. Too bad the cut was off, otherwise it would''ve been a lethal strike, or at least severely wounded it. The precision is lacking!" B-rank supernatural power users were second only to Sovereignty-level A-rank users, powerful enough to safeguard an entire area. With the addition of other ability users, it was clear the situation was under control. Although the multi-legged monster insect was fierce, surrounded by so many ability users, it was nearly impossible for it to turn the tide. - Chapter 204 Section 204 - Ding! Survive! Mutant attacks on economic zones are rare occurrences. Usually, as soon as signs emerge, local Ability Users and nearby military forces swiftly eradicate the threat. The residents barely have time to react before the operation concludes crisply. The emergency news broadcast that Chen Fei and Old David saw was an extraordinarily rare sight. Unless the local surveillance systems crash for a long time, and the locals are deaf, blind, and feign ignorance, a mutant would not be allowed to devour so much and grow to such a size. Various conditions combined, the unlikely still happened. The American Federation''s reputation is about to be stunned by the astonishment of its allies. After all, they were once considered the foremost Sovereignty in the world, oh! Is this it? Are they too old to chew cornbread now? The live broadcast on the screen featured flames shooting into the sky, but there seemed to be some invisible barrier blocking the flames outside. It was unclear which type of defensive power was at work, Magic, Special Abilities, or technology. A barrage of meteor showers whooshed by as several armed helicopters unleashed their full firepower, discharging all their rockets. The cannons suspended beneath the nose of the helicopters never stopped firing, the trails of bullets whipping the invisible barrier repeatedly. Automatic weapons, large-caliber rifles, individual rocket launchers, mixed with Special Abilities and Magic created a spectacular and earth-shaking scene. Slight aftershocks touched the nearby buildings, which instantly disintegrated into a pile of ruins. Hopefully, everyone inside had evacuated. The invisible barrier, however, stood like an invincible Great Wall, blocking the attacks of the Ability Users and the armed helicopters. Boom!~ The multi-legged monster insect didn''t just stand there taking hits passively, it suddenly charged, smashing its enveloping invisible defenses against an armed helicopter, sending several Ability Users flying out in parabolic arcs and falling far away, their fate unknown. Despite its limb being severed by a "Dimensional Slash," it seemed not to impact its mobility significantly. Old David watched intently, stroking his chin and muttering to himself, "It doesn''t look like a mutant, more like a Magical Beast." Only a Magical Beast could go berserk right under human eyes and cause such immense destruction. However, the news channel''s identification of this creature was not as a Magical Beast but as a mutant, and this was an official certification. Magical Beasts working in human society usually have tracking devices. Such a massive creature would not easily enter human residential areas unnoticed, nor would it be unregistered. Hence, determining whether it is a Magical Beast could usually be done with a few keystrokes. A drone, venturing close to the battlefield, captured live images of an Ability User in standard Single Soldier Tactical Armor seemingly knocked unconscious by the creature''s limb and then stuffed into its brutal mandibles. Savage chewing ensued, with bits continually falling off. At the same time, a chilling voice-over came from outside the frame. "An Ability User has been captured, oh my, he''s being eaten!" "Oh oh oh, this is huge!" Old David, slapping the wing of the F-22 "Raptor," exclaimed loudly. The American Federation''s TV stations are so fierce, unabashedly capturing the scene with just a thin mosaic over it, but it still looked terrifying. "An Ability User just like that, gone." Chen Fei was stunned. When he was on a reconnaissance mission for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, his squad''s Ability Users didn''t seem this weak. The voice-over continued. "It''s gone!" Chen Fei was just as dumbfounded ¡ª He had only seen the beginning and hadn''t foreseen the ending of this live broadcast news segment. System: Ding! Survive! Energy Points +2000! "Holy crap!" Chen Fei felt an inexplicable tingling on his scalp, and his hair stood on end. What did the Dog System mean by this sudden alert? No, not right! This was a warning! Sometimes the tasks of the Dog System could serve as critical intelligence. Seeing Chen Fei''s sudden change in expression, Old David asked in confusion, "What''s wrong?" "Big trouble! Sound the alarm, evacuate unrelated personnel from the airport immediately, prepare the ammunition, arm up, it''s time to fight!" Chen Fei was waving his arms wildly, shouting without any coherence. "What? What''s going on?" Old David was confused, watching Chen Fei gesticulating wildly. "It might be that insect; it''s probably heading our way." His mind raced like lightning, Chen Fei quickly surmised a possibility. The Dog System wouldn''t sound an alarm without a reason. In the recent news footage, a Space Series B-rank supernatural power user had been killed without resistance. Thus, he, a Metallic B-rank supernatural power user, probably wasn''t in a much better position and, facing off against the gigantic insect, his chances of escape were slim. He immediately jumped onto the wing of an F-22 ''Raptor'' jet, taking control of the aircraft at once. He activated the F119-PW-100 low bypass ratio augmented turbofan inside, blasting a powerful stream of air behind, propelling the jet forward on the ground, though not yet flying. He didn''t even bother picking up the dishes and beer cans scattered all over the wing. Chen Fei, still without a clear explanation, yelled at the still dazed Old David, "Prepare for battle, immediately! I need ammunition! Old David, go to my dorm and take the bird''s nest!" No time to waste, it was like trying to get ducks to perch, no, more like pushing rookies into the fray. Waiting on the ground to die was not an option. If he had to die, he would go down fighting. Even if he was ready to fight to the bitter end, Chen Fei did not forget to ask Old David to take good care of his ''Little Bird''. "Oh! Okay, got it!" Long retired and no longer the vigilant ''Eagle King'' of old, Old David finally realized the seriousness as the ''Raptor'' glided toward the hangar gates. Without further ado, he decided to trust Chen Fei and begin taking action. Instantly pulling out his mobile phone, Old David started issuing commands. - Chapter 205 Section 205 - Money String The management of Eagle Nest Private Airport was originally based on a semi-militarized system. At Old David''s command, just as the airport staff began to mobilize fully, a corner spotlight at the airport uncovered a breathtakingly huge silhouette. The security guards on patrol were collectively stunned. What kind of terrifying creature was this! "O-M-G!!! A monster!" Following the clanging of gunshots, a piercing alarm was sounded immediately, and the startled people rushed out of their buildings. Loudspeakers issued a warning. "A Giant Mutant detected near the airport, all training personnel evacuate to the east, pilots and ground crew assemble at the hangar, prepare for battle!" Moving instantly from east to west across the entire Beehive State, the multi-legged monster insect that had just arrived from Red Rock State to Snow Mountain State was single-mindedly preying on the cattle and sheep in the surrounding farms, the loud cries of the large livestock who had no means of resistance, as they were directly caught and chewed up in the insect''s mouthparts, splattering blood and flesh. It wouldn''t have grown so large without a good appetite. The airport was Old David''s, and the surrounding farms were also Old David''s; this wave of losses was quite significant. On the tarmac, Chen Fei was constantly urging the ground crew who had rushed over. The tower and radar were down, unmanned, so even the aviation communication relay station could not be used. "Quick, quick, where''s the ammunition? All the machine gun bullets must be armor-piercing, and I also need a thousand-pound aerial bomb; fill up all the air-to-ground missiles." The power and gas supply equipment were immediately connected to the F-22 Raptor jet fighter, pumping in fuel continuously, ready to ignite at any moment. Ground crew shouted at the top of their lungs, "We don''t have full armor-piercing bullet chains, no aerial bombs, no air-to-ground missiles, this isn''t a military base, we only have standard bullet chains, and there''s absolutely no time to manufacture them temporarily." "Load the auxiliary fuel tanks, fill them up!" Chen Fei gritted his teeth, using the auxiliary fuel tanks as incendiary bombs was just a makeshift plan. The survival mission of the Dog System was never aimless, the mutant actually fed on supernatural power users, how could it escape him? If Chen Fei had evacuated the airport with everyone else, on the ground, he wouldn''t even dream of escaping the pursuit of the giant multi-legged monster, with others having multiple legs and him having just two, at best adding four more with wheels, but what use was that? The only opportunity he could utilize was to bet that it couldn''t fly. With the ability to instantly move from one state to another, perhaps the big fellow couldn''t wield it at will; otherwise, it wouldn''t have rushed to fill its stomach at the farms immediately upon arrival, which seemed to be quite taxing. Probably wouldn''t be useful in the short range either, if it could teleport ten thousand meters into the sky, that would really be convenient! A ten-thousand-meter free fall, it wouldn''t kill it my ass! Old David drove an electric vehicle at breakneck speed into the tarmac, drifting slightly to park next to the F-22, then picked up a megaphone and said, "The mutant is heading towards the airport, hurry up, Chen Fei, I''ve brought out your little guy." After speaking, he patted the spherical cabin-like bird nest beside the passenger seat, he had brought the little guy out from the dormitory as per Chen Fei''s request. As for other stuff, it was utterly irrelevant, everyone left the airport empty-handed, every vehicle was being utilized. "Old David, Xiao Jiu is entrusted to you, take good care of him, you better evacuate quickly!" Chen Fei waved towards Old David on the electric vehicle. Seeing the bird nest, he was completely relieved. "Take care!" Old David nodded, then directed to the still busy ground crew, "Be efficient, ensure everything is foolproof, then evacuate immediately, mind your safety." "Got it, BOSS!" "First, climb to 16,000 feet (about 5,000 meters), then dive and tease it a bit." Flying under the callsign "Sloth," Instructor Ramaya indeed had rich experience and was worried that the mutant left behind might vent its frustration on others. "Understood!" Chen Fei immediately understood Ramaya''s intention. It was still too soon to transfer everyone to a safe distance. The only two jets that had a chance to take off from Eagle Nest private airstrip had to buy enough time for everyone else by delaying the giant mutant as much as possible until the Federal Air Force arrived. "Turn around, dive at 45 degrees, greet it with the cannon, and pull up again at 4000 feet (about 1200 meters)." As Instructor Ramaya finished speaking, the T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer aircraft turned and positioned its nose towards the ground, maintaining its speed as it began a dive. The T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer aircraft was the third variant of the T-7A, still retaining the aerodynamic shape of the F-18 "Hornet", almost considered a single-engine "Hornet", even using the same engine. The maneuvers that the T-7C could execute were even more effortless for the more advanced F-22. Using the HUD at the front of the cockpit, Ramaya locked onto the mutant rampaging on the ground and casually asked, "Do you know why we use a dive? We don''t have missiles or aerial bombs." Even at this critical moment, he still placed himself in the role of an instructor, even beginning live combat training for Chen Fei. Among the four trainees, only Chen Fei''s job nature was closest to the Federal Air Force where Instructor Ramaya had once served. Without a second thought, Chen Fei replied, "The dive increases the kinetic energy of the cannon''s shells, enhancing penetration power." He had often done this while flying the "Big Mouth Monster." Only those veterans knew of Ramaya''s tactics. "Exactly! So we need to push it further!" Instructor Ramaya then pushed the throttle of the T-7C all the way forward, and the engine instantly burst into a fierce roar. With a snap, the sonic boom lasted only a moment or two, and the advanced trainer aircraft successfully broke the sound barrier. A watermelon thrown from a high-speed train, no matter what it hits, causes much more destruction than one thrown from the ground. Think about a watermelon moving at 10 km/h versus one at 300 km/h; the former might just stun someone, while the latter could seriously injure or kill. Without air-to-ground missiles, aerial bombs, and full armor-piercing bullet chains, this was the only way Instructor Ramaya could think of to enhance their current attack power. Besides the cannon, the only options left for the two jets were to jettison their auxiliary fuel tanks and smash the enemy with jet fuel. Snap!~ The cockpit slightly trembled, and a few seconds later, the F-22 "Raptor" entered supersonic speed as well. Under the lights of the Eagle Nest private airstrip, Chen Fei finally got a clear view of the giant creature on the ground. The thing was essentially an oversized centipede, scientifically known as a Centipede. That being said, even the original version of the centipede is carnivorous, venomous, and looks quite terrifying. Now that it''s grown bigger, it''s even more fearsome. Instructor Ramaya also finally got a clear view of the giant creature on the ground. "What in the world is that thing!" Chapter 206 Section 206 - Reinforcements are about to arrive The hefty insect that had feasted in the farm had all its legs, severed by the spatial ability, regrown¡ªthough the new legs were somewhat thinner and shorter. "A solitary, giant mutant¡ªthis thing can only be dealt with using a 2,000-pound Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bomb!" Having reviewed the historical mission logs from the Aircrew Base 911, Chen Fei could roughly determine which weapons to use to successfully resolve various types of mutant disasters. The combat unit of the ground-penetrating warhead, combined with the weight of the projectile itself, achieves physical penetration and breach; a second later, it disperses the air fuel and ignites it instantly, with high temperature and high pressure plus the depletion of oxygen. Any living being would find it unbearable. Before this, the Federal Army in Red Rock State had been like a mouse in a bell jar, concerned with nearby economic district buildings and combat personnel, which is why they hadn''t chosen such a mass destruction weapon. Of course, if a 2,000-pound Thermobaric Bomb were to be dropped, not only would the mutant resembling a super-sized Qian Chuanzi be dead or severely injured, but Old David''s airport would certainly be no more. The destructive power of a 2,000-pound Thermobaric Bomb could easily level an airport, comparable to a miniature nuclear bomb. Chen Fei really wished he had a 2,000-pound bomb to throw around for fun, but unfortunately, he didn''t have one! "7000 feet above the ground, open fire!" Instructor Ramaya, who was closely monitoring the airspeed and altitude above ground, shouted. He and Chen Fei both squeezed the trigger of the autocannon together. The T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer aircraft and the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter both unleashed a dense barrage, enveloping the multi-legged monster insect on the ground. An invisible barrier appeared out of thin air, its sparkles shimmering, blocking the rain of bullets descending from the sky. "Attack ineffective, pull up!" Instructor Ramaya made a decisive call. He just wanted to give it a try to see if he could take advantage of the enemy''s lack of preparedness and snatch an easy victory. Now, it seemed that the giant insect on the ground wouldn''t give them even the slightest chance. "No choice then, we''ll just have to harass it!" Chen Fei felt helpless. Although there were two large fuel tanks hanging under the wings of the aircraft, there were only two chances. Once dropped, the two jets would be left with nothing but their autocannons. But the ammunition for the autocannons was so meager it wouldn''t last long; no matter how conservative they were, they''d quickly run out. The mutant on the ground looked up at the sky and sighed wistfully, the two fighter jets in the sky felt the same. The T-7C "Red Hawk" and the F-22 "Raptor" climbed ahead of time. The furiously agitated mutant indeed leaped up; however, given its massive size and mass, defying gravity was but a pipe dream. Despite its many leg-like appendages resembling a Qian Chuanzi, they were quite useless¡ªits so-called leaping was no more than laughable tiptoe jumps, reaching a mere three meters off the ground at best was already a thing to be grateful for. The mutant, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, took out its anger on everything it could see around it. A wave of invisible force suddenly burst forth, and a long row of hangars near the apron collapsed as if sliced by a blade in unison with a thunderous crash. "It''s started demolishing buildings now, Instructor Ramaya, may I ask where the ammunition or fuel depot is?" Chen Fei watched the mutant on the ground recklessly release what seemed to be a cutting force of spatial ability¡ªsweeping through, buildings collapsed, leaving nothing unscathed. This mutant became powerful only after devouring a Class-B spatial supernatural power user. Doesn''t this mean that this super-sized Qian Chuanzi preys on supernatural power users and can also acquire special ability genes¡ªeesh! Such a conjecture is utterly terrifying! "What do you mean?" Before Instructor Ramaya could finish speaking, he had a moment of sudden enlightenment. The firepower carried by the jet fighters was not enough, but there was plenty on the ground! The private airport''s ammunition reserves were limited, but it had enough fuel, more than enough to burn it to a crisp. "Finally, some good news." Instructor Ramaya breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at the ground, cursing irritably, "Damn, the fire on that big bugger''s body has been extinguished." The mutant on the ground, through some method or ability, had extinguished the flames that had engulfed it after being caught in the oil depot explosion, leaving only a trail of lingering smoke. "This is really troublesome!" Chen Fei also felt a headache coming on; if not for relying on the jet, he wouldn''t have lasted even a few rounds empty-handed on the ground before being caught and devoured. Even if he deployed the Secret Technique "Fight to the Death" passed down by Old Master Barut, he doubted he could hold on for much longer. "Let''s drop another fuel tank; I refuse to believe it won''t ignite this time!" Instructor Ramaya made a decision on the spot. The T-7C "Red Hawk" without its auxiliary fuel tank could still hold out until the reinforcements arrived. Chen Fei said, "I''ll coordinate with you!" One to drop the fuel tank, the other to use the cannon to ignite it¡ªa perfect collaboration, perfect! "Climb a bit higher this time!" Instructor Ramaya pulled the control stick, and the advanced trainer jet began to climb steeply. The F-22 "Raptor" circled over the menacing mutant below, waiting for the right moment to act, but Chen Fei suddenly had an idea. Skill: "Basic Laser Emitter Level 1 (Level 2 requires 100 Energy Points)" Upgrade! -100 Energy Points! Energy Points: 981/5000 Basic Laser Emitter Level 2 (Level 3 requires 100 Energy Points) Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade! Basic Laser Emitter Level 9 (Level 10 requires 100 Energy Points) Super Capacitor Level 1 (next level requires 100 Energy Points) Upgrade! -100 Energy Points! Energy Points: 81/5000 Super Capacitor Level 2 (Level 3 requires 100 Energy Points) Energy points aren''t brought with life or taken with death; just do it. Laser emitter synthesis evolution! Above the right intake of the "Raptor" was the cannon, while the space above the left intake, previously empty, now revealed an opening, creating a symmetrical design. Basic Laser Emitter Level 1 could barely light a cigarette from a hundred meters away, but Basic Laser Emitter Level 9 was a qualitative change. One Energy Point could convert to 1000 watts/second of electric energy; without hesitation, Chen Fei invested 80 Energy Points, exchanging them for 80,000 watts/second of electric energy, plus the combined power generation from the "Magnetic Field Management Component" and the "Magnetoelectric Conversion Component," reaching a total of 100,000 watts/second. Energy Points: 1/5000 The Rookie laughed maliciously¡ªwho said lighting a fire was hard! With an output of 100,000 watts every 0.1 second, that''s enough to play ten times. Laser burning a Qian Chuanzi¡ªit''s your turn now. - Chapter 207 Section 207 - Ignore the Barrier Instructor Ramaya threw out two auxiliary fuel tanks which, unsurprisingly, were sliced apart midair, proving her status as a retired ace pilot of the Federal Air Force. The fragments and aviation fuel drenched the super-sized Qian Chuanzi, which seemed indifferent to the liquid as it didn''t even bother to dodge. The HUD locked onto the target. "Fire!~" A dim green laser beam streaked through the night sky. Bright, dazzling spots appeared on the Mutant''s body, and the flames quickly rose, turning into a line in an instant. With such high-density energy irradiation, even armor could be penetrated; dreaming of suppressing the high temperature accumulated by the laser beam was pure folly. The once again ignited aviation fuel released a bright firelight uncontrollably. Individual Information: State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 18/21 Burst Strength: 67/71 Fullness: 80% Active time: 129 hours Energy Points: 1/5000 Electric Energy Reserve: 91500 watts/second The "Magnetic Field Management Component" and the "Magnetoelectric Conversion Component" continuously supplied electric power to the "Super Capacitor Level 2" via the "Power Management Module." Although it did not use Energy Points to exchange for such a large amount in a short time, it was still a good supplement. Given enough time, maybe it could save up enough for another shot. "What was that just now?" Instructor Ramaya noticed the strange laser beam that had shot from the upper side of the air intake duct on the left side of the F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet. This did not seem to be standard equipment from the F-22 era. Chen Fei didn''t bother to hide it: "Built-in laser gun!" Now that it had been seen, why hide it? For a Metal Ability User with such power, adding a small detail to an F-22 was just a matter of minutes. Instructor Ramaya: "..." When it was installed, she had no clue. It seemed Old David had not shared Chen Fei''s supernatural identity with the retired ace pilot, and even the security department responsible for monitoring the video kept tight-lipped. Chen Fei had spent a lot of time and effort adjusting this F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet, which was entirely in line with the actions of a maintenance technician. Unless someone deliberately scrutinized the details, there were indeed no suspicious clues. The HUD locked onto the super-sized Qian Chuanzi on the ground quite well. Chen Fei controlled the laser emitter that had evolved inside the F-22, which was also connected to his Metal Elemental Psychic Power. Another pale green laser beam shot out from the upper side of the left air intake duct of the "Raptor," hitting the giant with no resistance. Laser beams, being a form of directional energy, are not very effective in the atmosphere and can be easily affected by suspended airborne particles; thus, they must be used within a certain range. Chen Fei set the firing range of the onboard laser to match that of the aircraft''s cannons, conveniently using the "Raptor''s" aiming system. The pale green laser beam not only successfully ignited the aviation fuel on the super-sized Qian Chuanzi but also caused significant damage to it. A terrible roar erupted from the ground, and the surrounding buildings crumbled into ruins in the fury of the Mutant, leaving nothing but devastation. Even the collection of hundreds of fighter jets that Old David had spent his life gathering was not spared. The entire exhibit hall collapsed with a thunderous crash, crushing everything underneath. There was no need to ask ¨C they were all undoubtedly ruined. "Rookie, maintain distance!" Instructor Ramaya noticed the super-sized Qian Chuanzi''s demonstrative house-destroying revealed its attack range, at most a hundred or two hundred meters. As long as they kept a safe distance, there was no need to worry about being attacked. For a jet, a hundred or two hundred meters is usually the blink of an eye. "Understood! Hiss! This guy seems unable to block the laser!" Chen Fei began to speak and then suddenly made a new discovery. The two laser beams had hit the giant with no resistance. Other than Space Series abilities, the invisible barrier that could block bullets, missiles, and magic unexpectedly did not appear. "It can''t stop the laser?" Instructor Ramaya was taken aback. Upon reflection, that seemed to be the case. She thought the Mutant on the ground had suddenly become weak! When he realized what was happening, inside the spherical bird nest bound to the passenger seat by a safety belt, a feathered ball nestled close to a Light Beast Crystal Core twitched slightly. Then it quivered again before the trembling grew more intense and the ball of feathers exploded... "What''s happening?" Old David was so startled that he swerved the steering wheel; the pickup broke away from the convoy, charged to the side of the road, then he stomped on the brakes, surging forward more than a meter before finally stopping. "Jiu!" This time, he heard it clearly, his gaze shifting uncertainly towards the spherical bird nest that was undergoing a strange transformation. It had always been quiet before, so why were there suddenly bird calls coming from it? Without warning, a dazzling light burst forth from within the nest, illuminating the entire cabin inside out as if it were day, and even allowing glimpses of ethereal white light mist drifting about. The old man was nearly scared into a heart attack¡ªwhat in the world was happening? "Jiu!" Amidst a flurry of ceaseless Light Flames, a Little Bird with a small cluster of Crown Feathers gradually took shape, its brightness fading, its glossy black feathers shimmering with rainbow hues, its sharp little beak a pale yellow, and its little red claws and bright, clever eyes looked outside the nest, tilting its head curiously. Man and bird caught each other''s gaze dead on. "Magical Beast?" Old David''s face was a picture of shock. Was this creature Chen Fei''s Pure Light Sparrow? The mascot of Jiu Defense Company? The representative Magical Beast? Could the Pure Light Sparrow''s advance in rank cause such a commotion? Damn it, he was well-read, but you can''t fool an old man like this! And what''s with that Crown Feather? Is this really still a Pure Light Sparrow? "Jiu?" The little bird hopped out, looking around, but couldn''t see the person it was searching for. "Hey, Xiao Jiu, don''t..." From its demeanor and actions, Old David guessed what it intended to do. He had barely started speaking when the bird vanished from sight. "Jiu!" A bird call sounded from afar, a streak of light rapidly flying into the distance. To be precise, towards the direction of the Eagle Nest private airport. Unquestionably, the little bird was seeking out Chen Fei. Old David quickly got out of the truck, looking at the trail of light left by the departing bird and muttered to himself, "This is bad!" Chen Fei was still in the F-22 Raptor! The little guy rushing over at this critical moment was only going to cause trouble! He hastily grabbed the vehicle''s radio and said, "Notify the fighters in the sky right now, Xiao Jiu is coming!" Who''s Xiao Jiu? The person listening on the radio was clueless but followed the boss''s order and connected to the aviation communication channel. "Special alert, Xiao Jiu is on the way! Special alert..." The important things were said thrice. Although Instructor Ramaya was equally puzzled, having no idea who Xiao Jiu was, Chen Fei immediately realized what was happening and blurted out in response. "Did Xiao Jiu wake up?" "Awake" of course meant the successful rank advancement; the little guy had finally become a unique Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow. A five-kilometer distance was covered in a blink. As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, he saw the "meteor" slashing through the night sky. Chapter 208 - Xiao Jius Light "Chirp!" The crisp chirping pierced through the cockpit canopy. A little bird, sprinkling light as it went, flung itself onto the canopy of the F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet, startling Chen Fei into a cold sweat; he had thought he was about to collide with the tiny creature. It had indeed advanced in rank, now boasting the "skin" of a Third Rank! Even if his flying skills were good, handling a beast weighing more than twenty tons as if it were weightless was impossible. Whether it was the "Raptor" hitting Xiao Jiu or Xiao Jiu hitting the "Raptor," none of the possible bird or aircraft strikes were outcomes he wished to see. Xiao Jiu, who had successfully advanced to the Third Rank Human Order, stood steadily on the canopy, completely unfazed by the swift airflow. Instead, it curiously inspected Chen Fei inside and even mischievously pecked at the transparent barrier with its sharp beak, seemingly perplexed by the clear obstacle. The fact that this little mischief-maker could catch up to a jet speeding close to nine hundred kilometers per hour was astonishing, and its ability to disregard the strong airflow was unexpected, yet still made sense. Even without being magical beasts, Earth''s fastest flying birds, the peregrine falcons, could easily withstand 25G overloads. During high-speed dives, even turboprop aircraft can''t keep up, let alone a Third Rank magical beast. Although classified as magical beasts, most Pure Light Sparrows typically had average bloodline talents and couldn''t cast spells, no different from common wild birds. Only a few exceptionally gifted Pure Light Sparrows, with a special affinity for the Light Element, mastered the "Light Healing Technique," and that was the limit of their capabilities. Occasionally, one or two exceptionally fortunate Pure Light Sparrows, through various chances, would luck into advancing to the Second Rank Human Order. Even so, they would only be able to cast a spell once or twice more and might have the opportunity to learn Second Rank light-based spells. However, Second Rank Pure Light Sparrows were still, fundamentally, Pure Light Sparrows, not much different from their kin. But upon reaching the Third Rank Human Order, whether Pure Light Sparrows or other magical beasts, they gradually awakened their bloodline potentials and had a certain chance of condensing a magical beast crystal core within their bodies while experiencing minor physical changes. For instance, the crown feather newly-emerged atop Xiao Jiu''s head marked a clear distinction from other Pure Light Sparrows. Chen Fei took off his oxygen mask, looked up at the insistent creature who seemed poised to burrow in, waved his hand, and pointed off into the distance, shouting, "Xiao Jiu, fly away a bit, I''m busy with something!" No idea if it can hear me... definitely can''t. Expecting a Pure Light Sparrow to learn to read lips is really asking too much of my Jiu! The little bird kept pecking at the cockpit canopy, tap tap tap... "What''s that?" The T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer aircraft slowly drew closer, keeping pace with the F-22 "Raptor" jet, as Instructor Ramaya worried that the small thing flying in from afar was another mutant. "It''s nothing, just my pet bird, a Pure Light Sparrow!" While speaking, Chen Fei attempted to gently maneuver the aircraft, hoping to shake off Xiao Jiu without harming it. After all, it''s never good for birds to be too close to an aircraft. The movements of the F-22 "Raptor" grew more and more significant. However... the little fellow remained as immovable as Taishan, completely unaffected and hopping about on the canopy as if on flat ground. From the gaps in its black feathers, golden light spots occasionally flashed, briefly brightening before slowly dissipating with the wind. Perhaps not even other Third Rank magical beasts could do this so nonchalantly? Is this really a Pure Light Sparrow? Instructor Ramaya swallowed nervously, feeling the need to re-evaluate her understanding of Pure Light Sparrows as a type of magical beast. "Instructor, let''s continue!" After several attempts at maneuvers, Chen Fei realized he couldn''t shake off the little fellow and resignedly gave up. Before reinforcements arrived, they could attack one more time, gambling on whether they could seriously wound the super-sized Qian Chuanzi. With only seven laser beam attacks left, Chen Fei wasn''t hoping for a fatal hit anymore; causing as much damage as possible became his primary tactical goal. "Chirp???" A faint light gathered at the tip of the delicate beak, flickering on and off. This time, the Super-sized Qian Chuanzi was not just truly enraged, but practically exploding with fury, its aviation kerosene not yet dry, nearly igniting into a giant torch anew. Instructor Ramaya, who adhered strictly to hit-and-run tactics without lingering in battle, was left dumbstruck, unable to understand why Chen Fei had suddenly become so fierce. Taking a risk with a low-altitude tactical strike to ensure accuracy. He quickly warned, "Keep your distance, and watch out for that barrier!" Ramaya didn''t want Chen Fei''s F-22 "Raptor" to smash into the invisible barrier just like the bullets and missiles, shattering to pieces upon impact. The laser beam could pass through the barrier without obstruction, but solid objects would still be violently shattered. The 0.6 seconds of irradiation was far too short, failing to maintain a lock on the same location on the Mutant''s body. "We''re out of energy!" Chen Fei had no choice but to regretfully manipulate the joystick, with the "Raptor" making a wide turn, preparing to pull up and climb. At that moment, the Mutant that was ablaze with fire, like a maddened Super-sized Qian Chuanzi, charged forward and violently collapsed the airport''s canteen, crudely trying to grab at the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter''s tail. The distance between the two swiftly closed to just over three hundred meters, and with the speed of the Mutant''s all-out sprint, they were almost within reach¡ªeven the invisible barrier was nearly breached. "Chirp!" Without warning, a bright beam of light shot out from between the two tail fins above the left air intake of the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, directly hitting the head of the Super-sized Mutant, causing an instant bright spot that was blinding, and smoke billowed in response. "WTF?" Instructor Ramaya, ready to remind Chen Fei, caught the action. What was this unexpected maneuver? The F-22 was surprisingly modified to also have rearward shooting capability. "It wasn''t me, it was Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei realized immediately. The Little Bird seemed to have acquired yet another incredible skill. The unprepared Mutant couldn''t continue its pursuit and instead began rolling on the ground. The beam wasn''t a true laser, but it was still shockingly bright and contained Light Elemental Energy. "I am Major Reed Sanchez, squadron leader of the ''Leo Star'' squadron, call sign ''Lion''s Mane''. What just happened here? Has a Sky Knight arrived first?" A voice suddenly entered the communication channel. Xiao Jiu''s beam, under the shroud of night, visible from 20 miles away, stood out like Lightning. "The ''Starbreaker'' and the ''Viking'' have arrived; we see you." Two Crystal Jets, not previously tracked by the myriad fighter radars, sent communication. When it rains, it pours; within moments, reinforcements arrived all at once. - Chapter 209 Section 209 - Bugs, please hold on! It was only the fault of the Super-sized Qian Chuanzi being scorched black by Xiao Jiu, and they had caught up. What a coincidence (or misfortune)?! The "Leo Star" squadron from Nellis Air Force Base in Snow Mountain State saw that they couldn''t leave without taking action! Squad leader "Lion''s Mane" Major Reed Sanchez quickly said over the communication channel, "The first two, please step aside; the last two, please wait a moment. ''Leo Star'' squadron, weapons free, let''s make our move first!" "Yes, Sir!" ¡Á5! Regardless of whether others agreed, they were taking action as a courtesy! Since the target lacked anti-air capabilities, "Leo Star" squadron lowered their flight altitude to ensure accuracy, but still maintained a distance of over 1000 meters above the ground. Missiles began to detach from mounts, whistling as they plunged towards the Super-sized Qian Chuanzi on the ground, followed by heavy aerial bombs, exclusively Cloud Bombs. No matter what invisible barriers there were or weren''t, they dropped the bombs squarely on the target. A flash of red light followed, and shockwave haloes flickered dozens of times in quick succession, suddenly illuminating the entire sky. Boom, boom, boom... the heavy muffled sounds of explosions were almost indistinguishable from each other. The remnants of the Eagle-Nest Airport were decisively leveled in one go. System: Ding! Destroy Eagle-Nest private airport within 10 days (3/10 days, completed), gain Energy Points +2000! Chen Fei and Instructor Ramaya, even with the efforts of the Super-sized Qian Chuanzi Mutant, were not as harsh as the active squadron of the Federal Air Force; it was a fire licking across the ground, sparing no buildings, except for the main runway which survived a long stretch, as its two kilometers length wasn''t easy to completely destroy. +2000 Energy Points! Energy Points: 2001/5000 What use was this belated Energy Point? Chen Fei''s F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter and Instructor Ramaya''s T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer had just departed about five kilometers from the target when a swath of red light lit up half the sky followed by a massive and earth-shaking explosion. Even miles away, the ensuing shockwave still caused severe turbulence in the jet, and the scorching heat radiation felt fiery hot on exposed skin. Invisible barriers could not stop lasers, nor could they stop heat radiation; the Mutant might be almost burnt to a crisp by now? "''Leo Star'' squadron, retreat!" Having unloaded their cargo, Major Reed Sanchez felt refreshed and decided not to embarrass himself further in front of the two Sky Knights. It was better to retreat when ahead. Landing while armed was dangerous; it was safest when unloaded. Six F-46 "Peregrine Falcon" jet fighters simultaneously merged their wings with their bodies, transforming into a cruising aerodynamic pose, then accelerated sharply, quickly disappearing into the night sky as six meteors¡ªtheir arrival was swift, and their departure swifter. "''Starbreaker'', you first? Or shall I go first?" Your adventure continues at empire "What ''you first, I first''? Together! Let''s hope Old David insured his airport." "Pfft, what harsh words you speak." "Here it comes!" Two points of light appeared in the sky one after another, soon followed by countless meteors plunging from the sky toward the location of the Super-sized Mutant. Because the target was stunned by the previous attack by "Leo Star" squadron, the two Crystal Jets simply maintained a hover mode and launched precise strikes at the ground. Bursting blue flames mixed with wild lightning and raging Wind Blades indiscriminately cut through everything within a hundred-meter radius, even fiercely plowing the ground over and over. The attack by the Crystal Jets was almost from another era compared to conventional firearms. At an altitude of about thirty thousand feet, suspended in the stratosphere''s gale winds, each of the sleek aircraft''s surfaces lit up with multiple Magic Arrays, continuously releasing countless Meteor Showers through one-way Magic Shields toward the ground. As long as the top-grade Crystalline Energy Blocks had energy, the attack would not stop; if they could also possess an SEG core unit, their endurance and combat abilities would be further enhanced. "Hey!!! What''s this situation!" "Spatial series again?" At an altitude of thirty thousand feet, the Sky Knights inside the two Crystal Jets involuntarily widened their eyes. According to previous intelligence, it was precisely because the silver mist permeated within the invisible barrier that the multi-legged monster insect had suddenly disappeared the next second. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu said: In my view, as long as there is light! So there was only light left. So, fellow Daoist, please hold up! This is not Xiao Jiu, it''s a trap! Xiao Jiu pit! A pale white halo, like a shockwave, instantly swept over the super-sized Qian Chuanzi and its invisible barrier. The invisible barrier shattered like a broken transparent glass, countless tiny transparent materials scattering in all directions. The originally distinct smoke immediately blended with each other, indistinguishably mixed. The Third Rank Human Order Light-based Spell "Element Dispel" left only active light elements in a specific range, expelling all other active elemental energies. Since the mutant''s protective invisible barrier was not made of light elemental energy, it naturally collapsed. Although low-rank light-based spells lacked offensive power, they were not completely useless; in certain scenarios, they could exert an overwhelmingly powerful effect. The super-sized Qian Chuanzi stood there dumbfounded, at a loss for what exactly had happened. "Chirp!~" A slender pale green laser beam swept over the super-sized Qian Chuanzi; its two long legs were severed on the spot. Laser is also light; for a light-element magical beast, it''s not too difficult to find the right approach. Little fellow''s almost turning into a Laser Bird, what breed is this? The arriving Chen Fei, dad, directly burst into tears, angrily pressed the cannon fire button, and blasted away at the big insect. Strike when your enemy is ill; take their life, chasing after his own little bird but also not forgetting to take advantage of the situation. This time, the 20mm caliber combination warheads fired as if they were free, calling frantically. The trajectories of the scorching shots quickly enveloped the large insect; its segmented legs were broken one after another, the unstoppable warheads created one large hole after another over a foot in diameter. Some bullets even penetrated completely through the body, causing constant roaring noises. Lacking the protection of the invisible barrier, the super-sized Qian Chuanzi was not as tough as imagined. Instructor Ramaya also joined in, emptying the T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer aircraft''s remaining ammunition, finally achieving effective strikes. "Clear out below, we''re starting again!" Watching the machine guns fire continuously at low altitude like chickens pecking chaotically, the two Sky Knights were quite speechless. Have you two had enough, hey! The two Sky Knights still couldn''t spot that small Pure Light Sparrow! At thirty thousand feet high, they really couldn''t see that pale green laser beam; it could be mistaken as caused by the ensuing machine gunfire effects. The radar system wasn''t failing to detect Xiao Jiu; it was automatically filtering it out due to preset mechanisms, plus with feathers purely black, it was really hard for the two Sky Knight lords. Chen Fei made a snap decision; the cockpit canopy was immediately thrown off, exposing him to the raging wind. A push on the control stick, and the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter drifted sideways through the air for over a hundred meters, scooping up the mischievous little bird into the cockpit, then without hesitation, he took off running. Within moments, a dazzling golden beam of light descended from the sky, as if the Milky Way had reversed... - Chapter 210 Section 210 - Who is the Hero At an altitude of thirty thousand feet, the "Viking" Crystal Jet pointed its nose directly toward the ground, its body ablaze with light. Immense energy waves radiated from the Crystal Jet, floodlight converging from all directions. Along the wings and body, a constant stream of light flowed toward the nose, where a large, slowly rotating Magic Array was suspended. The sharp nose fired a continuous golden beam, constructing a complex spell structure. The clouds in the night sky were instantly scattered. With one strike, the heavens changed! With the second, ghosts and deities were startled! With the third, the sky and earth were lacking! The full-power single-target attack of the Crystal Jet was so mighty that even unguarded Magic Cube Warships and Sky Patrol Ships couldn''t withstand it. Carrying the little one, Chen Fei looked back. It was over, 8BQ! Old David truly had a mouthful of old blood to spit out this time. As if a golden torrent pierced through heaven and earth, it persisted for a moment before finally disappearing. What vanished along with it was the Super-sized Qian Chuanzi, leaving only a lava hell with a diameter of over a hundred meters on the ground. The full-strength strike of the Crystal Jet was terrifyingly powerful! Such supreme military might, a representation of sovereign dignity, could perhaps only be matched by the Forbidden Curses of the Silan Dynasty of the Cangqiong Realm. "Report, ''Viking'' has executed the ''Holy Light Judgment''. Target successfully eliminated!" "Starbreaker'' confirms the victory, target successfully eliminated!" "Return to base!" "Yes, Commander!" ¡Á2! The conversation between two Sky Knights and an unnamed commander resonated within the public communication channel. In the high skies, the two Crystal Jets that had just released their brilliant light retracted all their glow, emitting a faint blue light at the tail and then zooming away at high speed with a roar. "Jiu?!" Lying on Chen Fei''s chest, Little Bird gazed up with wide, innocent eyes, looking utterly adorable and a tad bewildered, finding itself nestled in Daddy Chen''s embrace. One must not be fooled by it! Just moments before, this little one was anything but adorable, recklessly charging at the big beast. It''s only natural for the early bird to get the worm, but for a worm so big, couldn''t you first take a look? "The fight''s over, let''s find a place to land!" Instructor Ramaya''s voice came through, after a bitter struggle setting up the Magic Array in the Snail Nest, he was utterly exhausted. Before this, he never imagined he would one day be firing machine guns in combat, especially at targets protected by an invisible, intangible shield. Trying to master the machine gun was not easy at all. "The airfield''s been destroyed!" Chen Fei had just looked down at the ground. The Eagle King''s Eagle Nest was utterly leveled to the ground, and even the main runway, which seemed to have mostly survived, was not entirely spared. Nearly a third was destroyed, and the remaining two-thirds was patchy and littered with debris. It was truly unusable, a precarious choice for the two jets to land safely. Knowing the terrain around the airfield and the side entrance inside out, Instructor Ramaya immediately said, "We''ll make an emergency landing on the highway, follow me!" "Roger that!" Old David beckoned Chen Fei energetically. "Speaking of which, is this really okay?" Chen Fei hurriedly passed over his own aviation tactical helmet. "Hmph! ''Eagle King'' David Sid''s only got trouble with his legs and feet, it''s not that I can''t fly a plane." Hastily putting on the helmet and connecting the data cable, Old David tossed out his crutches, which Chen Fei caught in a hurry. Sitting in the cockpit of the F-22 "Raptor," there was truly no need for feet, so having trouble with his legs really didn''t affect flying this old companion. Chen Fei was at a loss for words. "BOSS, we can''t hold them back much longer!" The security guards sounded their distress in the comms channel. Damn it, it was one thing for the townspeople to crowd around for a closer look, but what the heck were these trainees from the airport and cowboys from the ranch jostling for? They were all in-house anyway! Experience new stories with empire Their limited security personnel simply couldn''t withstand the onslaught of so many people. BOSS, we need a raise! Old David said calmly, "Let them come!" A raise? No way! He caressed the all-too-familiar cockpit, musing that the old companion he''d personally given away was, in the end, the only one left; the randomness of destiny turned out to be quite fateful. From afar, the din of people sounded like floodgates opening, with the deluge pouring out in all directions. My my! Chen Fei, holding Xiao Jiu, quickly made his escape. Since Old David was willing to take the heat for him, making a public display, it was only right for Chen Fei to quit while he was ahead, leave on a victorious note. Of course, the old man wasn''t trying to steal Chen Fei''s thunder. Being a foreigner and drawing this much attention wasn''t necessarily a good thing. Supernatural power users, giant mutants, magical beasts, battles¡ªthese elements combined could make Chen Fei the center of universal attention, or in other words, a target for everyone. Who do you think you are, a foreigner, to show off? What''s so great about being a hero? Under the unobstructed 360-degree panoramic lighting, every single hair could be analyzed in excruciating detail; no one could withstand such intense scrutiny, any dark history would be magnified a thousandfold. If some short-sighted, foolish person wanted to step on the head of a heroic figure to rise to the top and gain fame, stealthily taking a shot in the dark would make it impossible to guard against. And what about the American Federation, this sovereign powerhouse? The face of the former world hegemon was slapped silly, and even though they feigned magnanimity on the surface and had their official documents in order, the unpleasant surprises they might have in store were probably well-prepared in the background. There was no shortage of instances where relations broke down at the drop of a hat; how naive must one be to believe in the empty words about sovereignty? Without mentioning anything else, finding any excuse to detain Chen Fei''s Little Bird would lead to a filthy lawsuit that could drag on for a century¡ªit would be trivial. An excuse? The American Federation had Hollywood at its disposal; how could they lack for excuses? Need a script? Take your pick! Abundance guaranteed to satisfy! - Chapter 211 Section 211 - A Good Pounding ``` Watching Old David surrounded by the crowd and flashlights in the distance, Chen Fei, who had left the F-22 "Raptor" first, was actually squeezed out to the periphery. In fact, the first one to land, Instructor Ramaya, had already drawn away more than half of the crowd''s attention and onlookers, leaving Old David to attract the remainder. Otherwise, relying on the already overwhelmed airport security alone, it would have been impossible to stop so many people. The former "Eagle King" of the Federation, second only to Sky Knight, still as sharp as ever and bravely taking to the skies with his old comrade to meet the enemy¡ªnaturally, the topic was buzzing. Big sturdy Westerners and Big Black women pounced on the old man without holding back, regardless of how many "tires" they were carrying or even if they bumped into others with their spheres, screaming as they offered up their fiery red lips in a scene so out of control it was terrifying. That''s right! These old hens were just craving the old man''s body, pah, despicable!!! As for Chen Fei, the little sucker, trembling in the darkness beneath the lights, was utterly relieved. He began to suspect that these white and black women with offensive body odor and out-of-shape figures were not of the same species as Manager Hanna at all. Thanks to Old David and Instructor Ramaya taking the brunt of it and drawing the fire, if he himself had gotten trapped in there unable to escape, it would have been too horrifying. More importantly, he could forget about attending training classes with any sense of peace. Holding the dozing Little Bird, Chen Fei looked around for a place to spend the night. "Ha! Look at that coward, the old man is fighting hard in the sky, and this guy is running away like a rat," a mocking voice reached Chen Fei''s ears, turning his head; it was Steven Lockheed again, itching for trouble. This time, he came with a different girl, God knows where he hooked up with her.No?v(el)B\\jnn "Steven, are you having another one of your episodes?" Chen Fei gently placed Little Bird into his pocket and walked over with cracking knuckles. Only now does he come to talk rubbish; what the hell was he doing earlier. Seeing Chen Fei approaching with a hostile expression, Steven finally remembered that his own fighting strength was probably no match for Chen Fei. "Steven!" His companion screamed, realizing something was off. "Step aside, girlie, or I''ll beat you up too." Chen Fei closed the distance in a few quick strides, and before long, threw a punch. A punch to the stomach. "Ow!" Same old formula, the young master of the Lockheed family curled up like a shrimp. "You have the nerve to talk about me? Weren''t you running away just the same? How come you didn''t die at the airport?" Chen Fei eased up a bit and struck another punch that lifted the guy half a foot off the ground, eyes bulging almost out of their sockets. "Ow!~" Steven Lockheed gasped for air, unable to utter an extra word. By noon, Steven Lockheed sat up gasping for breath in a barn, seriously wounded, then touched himself unsurely, feeling no pain or itch and finally, he sighed with relief. Thank God, it was all just a nightmare. He looked down and saw his clothes torn and tattered, his previously relaxed expression instantly stiffening. What kind of devil did he encounter last night? - Chen Fei walked out of the small town''s motel, stretching, with the spirited Little Bird perched on his shoulder. Luckily, he reacted quickly; taking advantage of the moment before others could respond, he directly booked one of the few remaining rooms in the motel. The others, engrossed in surrounding Old David and Instructor Ramaya, stirred up commotion all night until they finally remembered they had nowhere to stay, and they scattered like birds and beasts. Those as fortunate as Chen found a motel room, or at worst, with a silver-tongued persuasion and Star Yuan paving the way, managed to borrow a couch in a townsman''s home. With some struggling, they could scrape through the night and get a meal. Those who couldn''t talk or lacked the means to pay, well, sorry for them. They either had to sneak into their cars for a spot or wait for Old David to pull some strings. They could borrow a barn nearby, lie down in a haystack and huddle through the night, but in any case, arrangements were made. At dawn, he heard the Mother Hen clucking incessantly in his ear. "Big! They''re big!" It meant eggs were laid, and pulling apart the haystack, they were indeed sizable. The spectacle of last night''s landing was just a warm-up to the beginning. By noon, reporters from 18 different news outlets flocked from all directions. Some drove in cars, some arrived in helicopters, and some even crowdfunded a small Sky Patrol Ship, which had just settled outside the town, disgorging at least thirty little media outlets. Colleagues turned into rivals; they were allies while crowdfunding but enemies once off the ship. Some even started fighting on the spot. The townspeople saw this and immediately cheered up. With so many journalists, food, drink, and necessities, it was all money! Under the mayor''s organization, beer, burgers, small barbecues, hot dog stands were set up, disco music played, and it was like a festival. They fleeced the media, with the daily rent of a tent almost matching the price of the best room in town, take it or leave it. In this grand event, with a very low profile, Chen Fei was like a non-participant, casually shearing the wool of capitalism while he reported to Boss Hana. "Old David''s airport is completely destroyed. Do I still continue my classes here?" The goat meat bought from a local farm was dirt cheap; he spent 300 Star Yuan on a goat, even borrowing tools for onsite slaughter. Nearby, the landowner''s simple son curiously stared at the Pure Light Sparrow on Chen Fei''s shoulder, too shy and bashful to come over and pet the bird. Xiao Jiu completely ignored the simple-minded boy, clinging to Chen Fei, hopping around, nearly getting splashed with the stench of goat blood. In one night''s work, the little guy somehow grasped the Second Rank Light Healing Spells "Light of Redemption," and with a mischievous "Light of Redemption" aimed at the goat, ended up forcing Chen Fei to slaughter the animal twice. The goat was really unfortunate, having its throat cut twice and finally succumbing to death. "Instructor Ramaya''s classes have just begun; you must not drop them. Don''t worry, once the buzz dies down, with Old David''s connections, it''ll be easy to find a suitable place to restart the classes. You''re lucky Old David covered for you this time, otherwise, I couldn''t have cleaned up the mess for you either," said Hanna Gagel in the video call, her face somber but her tone suggesting a hint of relief. If Chen were to gain public attention, she wouldn''t have been able to handle it either. Even the Apocalypse Defense Group at its peak didn''t have the capacity for that. - Chapter 212 Section 212 - A Third Rank Magical Beast, Do You Still Want to Touch It? "Last night I beat up that dumb kid from the Lockheed family again, and Xiao Jiu finally mastered ''Light of Redemption.''" Chen Fei finally managed to strip off the entire sheepskin. With a sharp knife, he sliced open the sheep''s belly, and the pungent offal immediately filled a basin. Sheep heart, liver, and intestines are all delicacies. After cleaning them thoroughly and cutting them into 64 pieces, he added chili, soy sauce, thirteen-spice blend, fermented black beans, huangjiu, beer, onions, scallions, and garlic into the pot and mixed them up. The deliciously spicy mutton offal was ready to serve. Slurp, Chen Fei couldn''t help but swallow his saliva. His racial talent had awakened again; this thing didn''t need teaching, knowing how to eat was enough. "Steven Lockheed? He''s nothing, you are too bold. Such a big mutant, and you dared to charge at it? Stay away next time, if you lose your life in the process, it''s not worth it, you know?" What really drove Hanna Gagar crazy was Chen Fei''s impulsive move to fly the F-22 last night, which was completely different from the corporate warfare in defense of the Aircrew Base. If the top beam isn''t straight, the bottom beams will be crooked. Charging in after drinking, clearly a style fostered by Squadron Leader Chekhov from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron. The Genuine Fragrance Squadron might be skilled in operations, and its combat power was second to none among many Aircrew Bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, but they were too reckless! Beating up the brat who is a shareholder in the Boeing Company is no big deal; as long as you don''t kill him, it''s all fine. Besides, from what Chen Fei said, it seemed like he was punching the kid while making Xiao Jiu perform ''Light of Redemption''... Geez, is this guy a devil or what? That guy must be traumatized, right? Manager Hanna actually began to feel sympathy for the unlucky kid. "If I hadn''t charged, I would have been the one to die. No choice but to take a risk, lucky I won!" Chen Fei said with a sense of resignation. Last night, the Dog System alert indicated that the monster was heading straight for him. If no one intervened, it was likely that none of them, including himself, would have made it out alive, let alone outrun the monstrosity, are you kidding? As for turning into a deserter, neither the Genuine Fragrance Squadron nor his hometown had such a tradition. Once you''re up in the sky, you fight until the end, even if you can''t win, you keep fighting. With Instructor Ramaya, a retired ace from the Federation, personally involved, what grounds did he have to run away and lose face? It was precisely because of Chen Fei''s tenacity that Instructor Ramaya and Old David joined forces to shield him from the external storm, even coping with the ever-increasing media coverages in the small town; the situation was tough just to think about. He took the opportunity to check his individual information in the Dog System, Energy Points: 4001/5000. He hadn''t stopped what he was doing and, borrowing a trough from the farm owner, he filled it with water to clean the mutton and prepare it for hanging and butchery. Delicious! Everything was delicious! Be it the Energy Points or the mutton. Just that today''s Skill Shop was displaying a bunch of useless garbage skills, all industrial-oriented, trying to trick him out of his Energy Points, but no chance of that happening. "Jiu!" The Little Bird hopped in front of the phone camera, pecking curiously at the screen, having not seen Hanna, that old hag, in a long time. It found her through the screen, intriguingly different. Chen Fei hastily added, "Thank goodness for Xiao Jiu, it was a huge help!" A Third Rank Magical Beast already started to have the capability of pinning him down for a good pounding. "In three days, I''ll be heading back to the Federation to take care of some business and check for any potential dangers. We''ll have another chat when there''s a chance." Hanna Gagar ended the call without explanation, seemingly worried that if Chen Fei stayed in the American Federation any longer, he might stir up more trouble. Jiu Defense had just started, with myriad tasks at hand, and with the new situations Chen Fei created, she was quite overwhelmed. If it weren''t for Eagle-Nest Airport helping to shield them from some of the buzz, Hanna Gagar didn''t know what to do. At this moment, after Chen Fei put away his phone, the landlord''s foolish son, no, the farm owner''s eldest son, John, finally mustered the courage, pointing at Xiao Jiu beside him, and said, "That, that... big brother, can I touch it?" The white kid was tall and sturdy, even though he was only fourteen, he was already as tall as Chen Fei; he was just a little timid. Watching for half a day, he still didn''t have the courage to speak up. Click, it felt like something broke. - Three days later, Old David finally shook off the numerous news media and borrowed a piece of land at the Nellis Air Force Base in Snow Mountain State to continue his business. The trainees all drew in a breath of cold air; this wasn''t surprising for the "Eagle King" of The Federation. Even an active Air Force Base could be borrowed. After all, Old David had taken a large sum of training fees from the trainees. Without a word, there''s no trust; without trust, nothing can be achieved. The location was a bit remote, belonging to a subsidiary airport for emergency landings, with weeds growing taller than a man and all kinds of small creatures running rampant¡ªsnakes, worms, rats, and ants everywhere. After several incendiary bombs were thrown down, the smoke billowed for half a day. The unlucky small animals that couldn''t escape were countless in death and injury, and the ground beyond the grassland was littered with carcasses on the concrete. Animal protection organizations? Try standing there without moving and see what happens? The Federal Army has never been known for pleasantries. This seemingly dilapidated backup airport was actually well-equipped; the Nellis Air Force Base wouldn''t really fob Old David off with a truly abandoned site. All sorts of materials and equipment were available. After hiring a professional company, they spared no expense in cleaning up the place, which could be considered part of the rental fee. All the trainees moved in, with classes continuing as usual, assessments proceeded, and life went on as did the learning. The Nellis Air Force Base that lent the space saved some money, too¡ªthey paid a substantial maintenance fee, after all! It ultimately couldn''t compare with the original Eagle-Nest Airport, and conditions had deteriorated considerably, but the trainees had no major complaints and didn''t even grumble. After all, not everyone could attend Old David''s training courses. Without someone to introduce or vouch for you, you probably couldn''t even find a way to register. Besides, the insurance company had made a preliminary payout, and everyone had some money in hand. They could get by, after all. The Eagle-Nest Airport had been fully insured, with substantial amounts, and now it had turned into a flat field with a freshly solidified lava pool one hundred meters in diameter. With such clear evidence, the insurance company had quite a lump to swallow. "Report!" "Come in!" Chen Fei knocked on the door of the newly tidied Eagle-Nest temporary office. Inside, he saw not only Old David puffing away on his corn cob pipe but also Instructor Ramaya and a familiar face, Steven Lockheed. He immediately smiled. A youngster bullying others with power, with just so little influence and he''s not finished yet! As soon as Steven saw Chen Fei, he jumped up and pointed, saying, "Him, he''s the one who beat me up all night!" The young Mr. Lockheed had been stewing for three days and couldn''t hold it in any longer. He knew it was time to seek justice from someone high up. "Hmm, hmm, calm down, calm down, I know he beat you up all night, but I want to know, why are you still alive?" Old David, looking quite unwell, slumped weakly into his chair. Recently, he had been run through the mill, either by the media or by those coveting his horse and donkey. Now, in hindsight, he wondered whether defending Chen Fei was a wise decision. Chen Fei immediately and appropriately expressed bewilderment typical of an allied country. "Right! Why are you still alive?" Young man! Do you have some misconceptions about The Federation''s "justice"? - Chapter 213 Section 213 - Dont You Have a Clue? Instructor Ramaya, who Old David thought highly of, was nonchalantly clipping his fingernails to one side, not even lifting his head, showing no intention of standing up for justice on behalf of the Lockheed scion. In fact, like Old David, he had been running around like a headless chicken for the past couple of days and had just managed to find some peace on the grounds of Nellis Air Force Base. He didn''t want to look for any more trouble for himself. Military zone, no unauthorized entry, machine guns and dogs, the more the merrier, you dare to climb the fence, I dare to shoot, no compensation if you''re killed. The various news media, looking at the tall barbed wire fence, could only sigh helplessly. Assaulting a federal military base was not something ordinary people could handle. Steven Lockheed, fuming, pointed at Chen Fei and said, "He has a Magical Beast, and used a Healing Spell on me!" Healing Spells weren''t without side effects; if one''s nutrition couldn''t keep up... one would become very weak, with impotence being the most direct consequence. Actually, many drugs have the same side effects, treating the disease while harming the kidneys. According to traditional Chinese medicine theories, this is overdrawing kidney yang and vital energy to fill other deficiencies. Westerners frequently suffer from ED; could they not, given the overuse of antibiotics? If they don''t focus on nourishing the kidneys and cultivating vitality, yet wish for numerous offspring and population growth, all while being so active, aren''t they being overly hopeful? "Where''s the Magical Beast?" Chen Fei spread his hands. Xiao Jiu had gone off with Manager Hanna to make public appearances, even taking the nest with them. As the mascot of Jiu Defense, it naturally needed to shoot a few commercials for promotional materials. A Third Rank Magical Beast was already qualified to be exploited by cold, heartless capitalists. "Magi..." Steven Lockheed glared at Chen Fei, suddenly stuttering. Where''s the bird? The little bird, which had always been hopping around on Chen Fei''s shoulder and was very clingy, had suddenly disappeared. Where had it gone? "You must have seen it wrong," Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, without evidence, there''s nothing you can claim. "Since you are not injured and can''t produce a medical report, please leave if there''s nothing else," The old man blew a smoke ring, very annoyed, with no interest in meddling in the petty fights of the younger generation. Eagle Nest private airport needed reconstruction, and he still had to sue the insurance company, which wouldn''t pay up promptly and honestly but instead thought about cheating. Enough issues to keep him busy. Such a shame for his lifelong collection of fighter jet relics, mostly original genuine articles, and now only that personally gifted F-22 Raptor was left, even missing its cockpit canopy. This isn''t a convertible! An original canopy costs as much as a luxury car, and the youngster just tossed it away. Old David was stricken with anxiety. "Alright, alright, Steven, let''s talk outside. Let''s not disturb the old man any further." Realizing Old David''s impatience and Instructor Ramaya''s indifference, Chen Fei let out a sly chuckle, grabbed Steven Lockheed like carrying a little chick, and dragged him toward the office door. But the other party had noticed, and the second time they met at the airfield, he threw a punch without a word, nearly taking Steven''s life. Shouldn''t he have been expelled for punching someone in public? But no! This guy just appeared in the town, seemingly having escaped with others, and all Steven did was make a sarcastic remark. That beating was too painful to revisit. One! Two! Three! Just as he had said, Steven really hadn''t been able to do anything to this guy! He couldn''t best him in a fight, and when looking for someone to take his side, no one was willing to step forward. It was truly bizarre. "What''s so great about you!" Steven was absolutely certain that this guy was nothing but an ordinary person, and his parents and siblings were also not any significant figures to speak of. He just couldn''t believe that such a person could beat him into submission. Yet, that was the reality. "I''m nothing special, but you, you''re a nuisance," Chen Fei said as he bent down to pat the other man''s face. At these words, Steven immediately fell into self-doubt, nearly breaking down. That day, Teacher Shen Fei had his father seize an opportunity to deliver a message to Boeing Aerospace Company, comparing him to a deputy head of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, a central enterprise with great power and no match for a shareholder not even ranked in the top five. The CEO of Boeing Company indirectly scolded Old Lockheed, and Steven was directly "banished", feeling wronged the whole time! Old Lockheed: My boy, your dad tried his best! Unfortunately for Steven, he ran into his nemesis again, clashing with someone he simply didn''t get along with. Chen Fei ultimately did not play the Chen Family Gate card, because that would spoil the fun. If you want to be smart, go figure it out for yourself! The head of the Chen Family Gate was still feeling annoyed. Who had eaten until they were full and started asking about their Chen Family Gate''s business? He sent a bunch of false information their way, let them figure it out for themselves! After training for two more days at Nellis Air Force Base''s alternate landing site, the new advanced trainer aircraft and flight simulators were all delivered, and Instructor Ramaya''s Advanced Training Class started again. Following a real flight experience and an emergency highway landing, Instructor Ramaya gave Chen Fei full access permissions. Before taking the actual flight lessons, he was allowed to enjoy unlimited time on the flight simulator. The higher the fidelity of the flight simulator, the higher the ratio of its usage time counted as actual flight experience. The more time accumulated, the less pressure there would be when it came to flying the real thing. Apart from eating and sleeping, Chen Fei spent almost all of the fourteen hours each day in the flight simulator. It was a good thing that Manager Hanna had taken Xiao Jiu away, or else he wouldn''t have been able to devote himself fully to it. Opportunities like this were rare, and he was determined to make up for the flying hours. - Chapter 214 Section 214 - Negotiation Jiu Defense had just opened, with a myriad of things to attend to, all of which Hanna Gagar had to personally straighten out one by one. But once she left the canopy of the Apocalypse Defense Group, many things had changed, with even her former employer becoming a competitor to Jiu Defense. For a newly emerging military contractor, it was inevitable to be sized up by industry veterans and even challenged in order to ascertain each other''s Jianghu status. Watching the thin wisp of steam rise from her coffee cup and a thick stack of documents, Hanna Gagar suppressed her displeasure and said, "Uncle Horton, your terms are really too harsh, completely different from what we had discussed before. I can''t accept this kind of offer." The opposing Saber Group was one of the professional logistical suppliers providing support services for military contractors in the Asia Region and had a longstanding cooperation with the Apocalypse Defense Group. Beginning with the hope of leveraging old connections and catching a favorable wind to establish new business contacts, Hanna Gagar of Jiu Defense Company could not have anticipated that the previously agreed favorable terms would change at the time of formal contracting, with the other party looking to raise the stakes right then and there. Raised they did, but the price quoted was above the industry average, clearly showing no intention of giving face to Jiu Defense Company. Other newly established military contractors would not possibly accept such an exorbitant and nearly unreasonable price list. "Sorry, but when it comes to the piece of the military contracting pie, if you get a bigger slice, someone else gets a smaller one. You''ll need to face some tests before the industry truly recognizes your strength, heh, more like, challenges!" Chairman Horton Saber of the Saber Group smiled calmly, flicking the ash from his cigar. In the midst of managing affairs, he had taken time to receive his great-niece, mostly out of respect for the Gagar Family, even though the entire family was now down to a single person. The only Gagar. Though not among the top ten giants of the industry, the Apocalypse Defense Group was nevertheless one of the leading companies within the top hundred. Even having just gone through a corporate war with one of the behemoths, which had significantly drained their vitality and caused their ranking to plummet, the old saying ''a crumbling ship still has three pounds of nails'' applied. Bringing down a newly established company like Jiu Defense was merely a matter of speaking the word. On one side stood the long-established large military contractors; on the other, the new and tender Jiu Defense. If the Saber Group, which provided logistical services to various military contractors, had to choose sides, their stance was clear and easy to see. The fact that he was now personally meeting with her and clarifying the reason for their actions was a courtesy out of the ties with the Sager Family. This goodwill was now nearly depleted. Damn it! Hanna Gagar couldn''t help but clench her fists. She hadn''t expected that the first to trip her up after striking out on her own would be her former employer. "Jiu!" The doors to the office burst open and several people rushed in. Hanna Gagel''s face went pale¡ªshe clearly understood that the other party was about to flip the table, intending to use force. Just as she was about to activate her Wind-type Psionic Ability, her head suddenly spun, and she saw one of the intruders pointing at her forehead with their index and middle finger, staring malevolently at her. A Psychic Ability User, at least Rank C! Just as she made this judgment, the others immediately restrained Hanna Gagel, and as her neck felt a sharp pain, her severely disrupted special ability receded like the tide, leaving only waves of dizziness and a darkening vision. One of the women casually took her phone, while the rest stepped back, allowing the weakened Hanna Gagel to slump back onto the sofa. Two others swung wide nets, skillfully snagging the unsuspecting Little Bird and efficiently shaking it into a metal wire cage. The steel wires, at least four to five millimeters thick, trapped the little creature within. "Chirp! Chirp!" Little Bird protested discontentedly, finding the steel wire cage far from aesthetic. From the moment Chairman Horton pressed the buzzer, it took only three to five seconds to restrain both the person and the bird. "What have you done to me?" Hanna Gagel could clearly discern that her abilities had been forcibly suppressed. In the face of a strong Supernatural Ability Suppressant, even an S-rank supernatural power user would not be spared. "My dear niece Hanna, I hope you will seriously consider my offer. Banks is a good lad, he will not shame you, and together with him at Saber Group, combined with Jiu Defense, you can surely achieve greater success. You take a rest here, think carefully," Chairman Horton signaled those who rushed in, and they fluidly exited. He then walked towards the office door, looked back and said, "People from the Apocalypse Defense Group are just outside. I can only give you five minutes, please consider carefully." After speaking, he closed the door and left the office. "Bastard!" Hanna Gagel slammed her fist onto the sofa, but it was a weak blow. Once bereft of her abilities, she was no different from an ordinary person. "Chirp?" A third-order Pure Light Sparrow. - Chapter 215 Section 215 - Xiao Jiu Clears the Way "Watch her closely!" Horton Saber walked out from his office and instructed the guards at the door. "Yes, Chairman!" The guards responded in unison. Sparks flew in all directions... Ping Pong! A large steel cage had been cut open to make a "small round biscuit," and the little bird hopped out from inside the cage. Turning to look at the big hole it had made, it thought for a moment, then grabbed the steel "small round biscuit" that had fallen onto the desk with one claw, and the odd glow began to brew in its sharp beak again. With rapid zapping noises, it welded the piece back into place perfectly, a hereditary skill from the mechanics of the Aircrew Base, and moreover, one that it had been observing since youth, flawless! Uh... should it be called the Pure Light Sparrow or the Laser Bird? The range of laser is too broad; it can cut, weld, kill, and save, The Chairman of Saber Group and his subordinates could never have imagined that this lively and cute Pure Light Sparrow was actually a Third Rank Magical Beast with a very special Light-based Skill. "Xiao Jiu!" Watching foolishly as the little guy "cut" through the cage mesh and then diligently "welded" the cut piece back, its skills were a bit too proficient, a true mechanic by nature; Hanna Gagel even forgot to be angry. She wanted to say, Chen Fei, there''s something wrong with your bird! Did you pick up the wrong egg? Hearing Hanna Gagel call her, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu cocked its head and flapped its wings as it flew over, landing on her knee, curiously sizing her up. Hanna Gagel tentatively asked, "Xiao Jiu, can you take me out of here?" "Jiu?" The little one looked puzzled; what did ''out'' mean when you could just push the door to open it? It turned around and landed on the door handle. Knock, knock, knock... It had learned to knock on the door; such a polite child indeed. There wasn''t anything fun in this lousy place; the proposal from the One-Eye matrons was just to Xiao Jiu''s liking. After knocking for so long and getting no response, the people outside the door were too impolite to open it for them. The little bird turned back towards Hanna Gagel; with its small body, it simply didn''t have the strength to open the door. "Hehe, let''s go!" Hanna Gagel immediately stood up, took out her sunglasses from her pocket, and wore them with elegance and grace. Although she was forcibly injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant and could no longer activate her C-Level Wind-type Psionic Ability, her basic Physical Energy hadn''t weakened too much. The recent dizziness and weakness were merely the effects of the Psychic Ability User''s psychic impact, but by this time, she had already recovered her strength. Hanna Gagel approached the door, put her hand on the handle, and Xiao Jiu flapped its wings, landing on her shoulder. Click, the door was actually unlocked; perhaps the Chairman of Saber Group thought that his grand-niece, now without supernatural powers, had lost her ability to resist, so whether the door to the Chairman''s office was locked or not made no difference. After all, the burly men guarding the door were not for show, and they weren''t worried about being unable to restrain a young girl without powers. The office door suddenly opened from the inside, and the people outside stood like a wall at the doorway. One of them said expressionlessly, "Miss Hanna, please go back!" Hanna Gagel said coldly, "Xiao Jiu, say hello!" "Jiu!~" "My eyes!" He retreated in a sorry state. Unable to lock onto his target, the Psychic Ability User''s powers were as good as halved. Xiao Jiu was right in his sight, and the harder he stared, the more severe his injury. Shielded by the Magic Shield, the duo, one person and one bird, plowed through the crowds like a locomotive, breaking through one barrier after another. The Saber Group didn''t actually want Hanna Gagar''s life, so the forces they deployed weren''t enough to intercept someone assisted by a Third-Rank Magical Beast. At most, they used batons, electric shock guns, pepper spray, and tear gas grenades¡ªlethal firearms were strictly absent. If the precious daughter were hurt and she happened to marry into the corporation''s future leadership, no one dared bear the responsibility. If they ended up in her bad books, what would become of their housing allowance, car loans, wives'' handbags, or children''s school fees? Using only about 60 to 70 percent of their strength instead of their full capacity allowed Hanna Gagar to break through easily and head straight to the parking lot. In the parking lot was a young man who had just locked his car, ready to walk towards the group''s headquarters when he was suddenly confronted by the fiercely charging person and bird. He was stunned and blurted out. "Hanna!" "Banks!" Hanna Gagar, upon seeing him, immediately flew into a rage and landed a groin kick, with her long leg striking right between his legs. "Oh..." The young man''s face twisted as he clutched his groin and fell to the ground. "You bastard!" But Hanna Gagar didn''t intend to let him off, grabbing the young man by the neck, dragging him off the ground, fumbling for the keys, opening the car door, and stuffing him into the passenger''s seat. "Xiao Jiu, watch him!" Hanna Gagar got into the driver''s seat, inserted the key, pulled the young man''s hand to press the fingerprint lock, and immediately started the car. "Chirp!" The Little Bird pecked lightly, and a dazzling flash erupted inside the car. Hanna Gagar was wearing sunglasses throughout and even sympathetically closed her eyes, remaining unharmed from start to finish. "Ah! Sss, Hanna, what are you doing?" Banks Saber was close to crying. Couldn''t they just play nicely together? Hanna Gagar huffed, "What am I doing? Ask your dad!" After saying that, she floored the accelerator, and the car shot out of the parking space, its all-electric four-wheel drive starting as quickly as a fuel-powered car. Banks Saber: "..." Damn it, what''s even happening? The Crown Prince of Saber Group was utterly confused when, at that moment, his phone began to ring. "Answer it, it''s your dad calling!" Hanna sneered; she had guessed the source of the call. "Sss, sss, it hurts." As a new disciple of the Crotch-Covering Faction, Banks Saber closed his eyes and fumbled on his body, took out his phone, and swiped it from memory. "Hanna, if there''s a problem, take it up with me!" Although the hands-free feature wasn''t activated, the roaring voice from the phone could still be heard clearly inside the car by both occupants. Horton Saber, the Chairman of Saber Group, panicked as his son was being kidnapped. They weren''t supposed to play like this! Chapter 216 Section 216 - Secret Rendezvous Hanna Gagar snatched the phone, switched on speaker mode, and then tossed the phone under the windshield in front, sneeringly saying, "Uncle Horton, what do you think military contractors do? Play house? Since you dared to start this on the first day of the month, don''t blame me for responding on the fifteenth. If you dare make another reckless move, watch out for your son!" As the saying goes, different jobs are worlds apart. Those in logistics thinking about getting a piece of military contracting? Don''t they know that defense companies are made of ruthless people who, at the slightest disagreement, regard life and death indifferently? If even this basic awareness isn''t there and they aspire to get a piece of Jiu Defense, it''s like Santa Claus trying to climb down Satan''s chimney¡ªdo they think they have lives to spare? Upon hearing Hanna mention him, a terribly flustered Banks Saber said with a crying tone: "This has nothing to do with me!" He clearly hadn''t offended anyone, it was truly a disaster from out of the blue, and Hanna''s sudden hostile turn left him utterly confused and extremely aggrieved. "How does this not concern you, Banks? I''m telling you, you''re in trouble, big trouble." While driving, Hanna Gagar jabbed her finger at the young man in the passenger seat, who looked like a bullied schoolkid. "Ah! I don''t know anything!" Banks, prompted by her fingernails, cried out like a child. "Hanna, don''t mess around!" His father was immediately frantic, his exasperated voice coming through the phone. Before this, Chairman Horton had never imagined that the young lady from the Gagar family would be so fierce. Not even a strong dose of a supernatural ability suppressant could tame her; instead, she powerfully stormed out of the Saber Group Building as if it were unoccupied. "Old man, to hell with you!" This time, Hanna Gagar was truly frantic. Even someone who was always reliable and even considered a generational family friend dared to betray her, almost stripping her of all sense of security. Luckily, she had Xiao Jiu by her side, a Pure Light Sparrow not taken seriously by the other party but actually a Third Rank Magical Beast, which really helped her out this time. Otherwise, her escape wouldn''t have been so easy. "Hey, Niece Hanna, let''s talk this over, let''s talk this over, hey hey, beep beep, beep beep, beep beep..." Hanna Gagar couldn''t be bothered to listen and directly hung up the call. Banks, his eyes still swollen, unable to open them, grimacing from unbearable pain between his legs, said, "Hanna, can''t we just talk it out!" Father and son were now speaking in the same tone, both terrified beyond measure. "Shut up!" Still driving, Hanna Gagar picked up the phone and quickly dialed a number, connecting almost immediately. "Who is this?" The tone carried confusion, clearly not expecting this unfamiliar number. "''Rookie'', it''s Hanna Gagar!" At the mention of the name ''Rookie'', Xiao Jiu, perched on the headrest of the driver''s seat, immediately excited. Who else could be called ''Rookie'' so often but its very own Chen Fei? Immediately, it flapped its little wings and landed on the dashboard''s air vent, chirping frantically at the phone. "Huh? Manager Hanna, and Xiao Jiu? Why the new number?" Hanna Gagar was no longer just the manager of the Aircrew Base but now the CEO and chairman of Jiu Defense Company, the big BOSS who paid everyone''s salaries, although Chen Fei had gotten used to calling the old title and hadn''t changed his habit yet. Nowadays, mobile phone numbers are globally connected, even capable of reaching Cangqiong Star, and are tied to a universal personal account. To switch phones, one simply needs to log into their personal account to access their personal cloud, which is very convenient. A personal account can be linked to multiple phone numbers, creating different social circles, but it is not common for someone familiar to change their number. "This isn''t my phone, I''ve been injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant, you need to come and save me." In the American Continent, the most reliable help Hanna Gagel could find would probably be Chen Fei from Jiu Defense. Even with others, no one could guarantee they wouldn''t engage in unsavory conspiracies like Horton from the Saber Group. The fledgling Jiu Defense owned an existing Aircrew Base and the top Combat Flight Squadron, along with piles of supplies. Before establishing its own position in the Jianghu, it was like a child holding gold through a bustling market, inevitably attracting covetous glances. The immediate priority was to secure the defenses of Jiu Defense, then to make an example out of someone unfortunate to establish their Jianghu position. "Location? I''m on my way!" Chen Fei immediately tensed up. "Hu Xier State, Polis, come here first, then I''ll give you the exact location," said Hanna. Chen Fei understood the little guy''s joy, but now was not the time to play with birds. He quickly grasped the fluttering little bird, only to discover it was clutching a small scroll in its claws, and he immediately smiled. Boss Hana, cautious as ever, was still playing the game of passing messages through birds. A completely black little bird flying back and forth in the city was indeed very inconspicuous, and unless missiles were used, it was very difficult to intercept a Third Rank Magical Beast Sparrow. "Citice Coffee Shop." Chen Fei read the words written on the scroll, which was an address. Clearly, this was the rendezvous point with Boss Hana¡ªyes, it had that vibe. "Let''s go, Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei stuffed the little bird into his jacket pocket. The small delicate body hidden in the human''s pocket was almost invisible from the outside. Citice Coffee Shop was less than a hundred meters from Chen Fei''s hotel, and he easily found the place. There were not many people in the coffee shop. Chen Fei looked around but did not see Hanna Gagar. While he was wondering, he heard someone softly say from behind, "Go inside, seat C23, order some food, I''ll come over later." Chen Fei was startled but quickly caught on and nodded imperceptibly. Gently tapping his pocket, he whispered, "Xiao Jiu, don''t make a sound!" Seeing Hana''s caution, he also became more careful. There was a movement in his pocket; although the little one was mischievous and lively, it was also very obedient. Having just sat down at seat C23 inside the coffee shop, a waiter approached. "Sir, what would you like to order?" "An Italian coffee, do you have sandwiches?" Chen Fei flipped through the slim menu handed to him, it was only a few thin pages¡ªobviously a cafe? that catered to regulars, most items were not listed on the menu and needed to be ordered verbally, a challenge for the kitchen staff as well; if not varied enough, they couldn''t cope. "No problem, sir. We have ham sandwich, cod sandwich, pork floss sandwich, fried egg sandwich, and also lasagna, Italian pasta, hot dogs..." The waiter listed a large number of food items. The cafe? was not just a place for coffee, but also a place where you could get a full meal. "An Italian coffee, one ham sandwich, and one seafood pasta with meatballs, that will be all." Chen Fei quickly made his choice, treating it as lunch. Coffee was first served, and a waiter''s voice came from behind. "Miss, what would you like to order?" "A caramel macchiato and a tiramisu, just these two, thank you!" "Yes, ma''am!" Chen Fei''s ears twitched. He had ordered Italian coffee and Italian pasta; the person behind him ordered macchiato and tiramisu, both Italian as well. This was not a coincidence. "Don''t look back!" Chen Fei heard Hana''s voice. She had used a voice changer before. Was all this caution really necessary? He couldn''t help muttering to himself. "Many people in Polis are looking for me¡ªnot just people from the Saber Group, but also Apocalypse Defense, Merman Brothers United, and a few other small defense companies have been involved too." Hana''s voice came again, explaining so much caution. "Apocalypse Defense, Merman Brothers United, wasn''t the corporate war over?" Chen Fei involuntarily widened his eyes and suppressed the urge to turn around. "Ha! One abandons you as soon as its objective is achieved, turns its face and doesn''t recognize you, and the other uses unexpected moves; the rest are just trying to pick up a bargain." Hanna Gagar sneered. The Saber Group, which had almost caused a huge loss for her, was one of those trying to pick up a bargain. - Chapter 217 Section 217 - Not Alone "Is that really necessary?" Chen Fei muttered softly, unable to comprehend. It was just a newly established defense company, yet it had attracted so much covetous attention that even Boss Hana had to hide, not daring to show herself easily. "It''s different! Jiu Defense has assets worth plundering, but its self-protective capabilities have not been recognized." An insider, Hanna Gagel clearly understood the situation, which was basically within her expectations, and she was well-prepared mentally. Of course, except for the ambitions of the Saber Group. The aircrew bases distributed globally across Blue Star were essentially one to each allotted slot, neither increasing nor decreasing. Not all military contractors can own an aircrew base. Many smaller military contractors don''t even have an aircrew base and can only pick up low-level defense tasks that come up sporadically to maintain operations. Owning a legitimate aircrew base means having the capital to enter the military contracting field with distinction. Being able to own a ready-made and resource-rich aircrew base and also a quite capable combat flight squadron from the start, the starting point for Jiu Defense is almost the end goal for many smaller military contractors. No wonder such initial conditions would make peers green with envy. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "So what should we do next? Shall I escort you away?" The moment Boss Hana appears, she will immediately trigger a Jianghu manhunt. "No! The opposite!" The voice from behind was decisive. "???" Chen Fei was puzzled. In truth, he had been employed for only a few months, and he was not yet very familiar with the industry. Listenting to Boss Hana''s intention, could it be she wanted to drag out the local gangs for a beating and then attack the Saber Group, wiping them out before cleaning up the other challenging forces one by one? Uh... Jiu Defense is still weak, and Hana''s wind-type psionic ability has been suppressed. Relying on him, a mere B-rank Metal Ability User, isn''t that a bit too ambitious? Hanna Gagel said through gritted teeth, "The first to deal with is Apocalypse Defense!" The sneaky tactics of the Merman Brothers Consortium didn''t dare to be too blatant, being more probing than troublemaking. However, the old employer, Apocalypse Defense Group, brazenly suppressed in the open, sending a bad signal, which made even suppliers like the Saber Group harbor inappropriate ideas. The other few eager small military contractors obviously just wanted to join in the fray in hope to pick up a bargain, thinking it''s worth the shot, and if successful, it would be a great windfall. "Apocalypse Defense? Wouldn''t that be too difficult?" Chen Fei was stunned. Shouldn''t they be picking on the weaker targets? Boss Hana surprisingly wanted to tackle the tough nut that is the Apocalypse Defense Group, which caught him off guard. "Hah! Apocalypse Defense isn''t as formidable as you think right now." As a former Level Two Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Apocalypse Defense Group, Hanna Gagel knew her former employer''s strengths and weaknesses all too well. Every family has its own set of problems. Recently, amidst external corporate wars and internal struggles for power, the troubled Apocalypse Defense Group still hadn''t recovered its vitality and was far from its heyday. The fact that the Apocalypse Defense Group was so eager to target her Jiu Defense Company was partly because they wanted to nip the danger in the bud and take back the 911 Aircrew Base to revitalize themselves. In the world of capitalists, even written promises are worthless if the stakes are high enough; the so-called integrity amounts to nothing. Inside the board of Apocalypse Defense Group, those in favor of targeting Jiu Defense Company likely included shareholders who had taken over the Gagar Family''s equity. Having obtained the shares and then turning around to stab her in the back was a harsh reality of the perilous Jianghu, a move that was both unexpected and yet made complete sense. "Dinner''s ready!" She took off her apron and sat down first. "Manager Hanna, have you removed your Supernatural Ability Suppressant?" Chen Fei dried his hands, picked up the bottle of red wine, and used a corkscrew to pull out the cork, pouring a quarter of a shallow bottom into the two goblets. "No! Not just Polis, the entire Hu Xier State has very strict monitoring on drugs related to Supernatural Ability Suppressants." Hanna Gagel shook her head, taking a goblet and gently swirling it to aerate the wine. The components of the wine would undergo a slight change when combined with air, making the taste smoother. Of course, she had considered the idea of removing the effects of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant to recover her C-level wind-type psionic ability. The forces trying to capture her had also thought of this, surreptitiously casting a wide net, laying traps, waiting for Hanna Gagel to fall into them impatiently. Perhaps she could consider going to other states for a solution, but it was a gamble she couldn''t afford. What if it was a trap? After all, the specialized medicine to remove the Ability Suppressants wasn''t in abundance, making it easy to attract attention. "So... I''m to attack Apocalypse Defense Group by myself?" Chen Fei downed his aperitif, looking at Boss Hanna across from him. If he had the assistance of the "Eye of the Storm," he would be more confident. But taking on an established military contractor single-handedly might be a bit rash. "Impossible, that would be suicide," Hanna Gagel shook her head again. Chen Fei''s metal-ability wasn''t invincible¡ªdig a hole, trap him in it, then inject a huge volume of quick-drying concrete. Then, there would be no "afterward." She too drank her fill of the red wine, then while taking out a box of wriggling mealworms from under the table, she continued, "There will be a professional team at the time; you don''t think it''s just you and me, do you?" Little Bird''s attention immediately shifted from the small round bread rolls to what Hanna Gagel was holding in her hand. The wriggly insects were its favorite. "Is that so?" Chen Fei touched his nose, then refilled Boss Hanna''s goblet halfway with red wine. He had indeed thought that; not expecting there would be others involved. Hanna Gagel spoke with confidence, "My own crew, highly reliable." She accumulated loyal subordinates during her time at Apocalypse Defense, took them along to Jiu Defense Company, and had the Gagar Family''s personnel too. They might not be a match for Chen Fei head-on, but for causing covert damage and spying, each one was an expert. "Then I can rest easy!" Chen Fei let out a sigh of relief. He feared Boss Hanna might rush into things on a hot head, like the Chekhov Big Bear roaring "Hoorah" and charging forward. "Did you think I''m that brainless?" The one-eyed woman rolled her eyes in response. Twisting a squirming mealworm, she held it in front of Little Jiu. With a swift peck, it disappeared. "Jiu?" - Chapter 218 Section 218 - Reckless Plan ``` One decision, two preparations. Hanna Gagar, founder of Jiu Defense, never fought an unprepared battle. After consuming a simple yet substantial dinner, the assembled small team began to arrive one after another. The woods around the small lake were so dense that the light from the motorhome couldn''t penetrate, and only those who knew the location could accurately find the motorhome hidden deep within the forest. "Roland Michigan, communications expert." "Takano Yoshiko, Thunder Series Ability User, Karate Master." "Bai Nuo, Demolition Expert and Gunsmith." "Claude Hughes, driver, special reconnaissance." Hanna Gagar introduced them one by one, finally pointing to Chen Fei. "''Rookie,'' Metal Ability User, Pilot! ''Rookie,'' these four are my good friends, totally trustworthy." "Jiu!" Little Bird flapped its wings and landed on her hand, seemingly dissatisfied with being left out. Hanna Gagar smiled slightly and scratched the little guy''s beak, adding an extra line. "Oh, and there''s Xiao Jiu, Light-element Magical Beast, not to be underestimated!" "Jiu Jiu!" The other five people seated in a row all wore expressionless faces, even twitching at the corners of their mouths, including Chen Fei. What a little rascal! "Pure Light Sparrow, hehehe..." Takano Yoshiko covered her mouth, emitting a series of pleasant laughs. Their little comrade had increased, and it was a Pure Light Sparrow, what a surprise! If a little bird could summon such courage, they as humans needed to work even harder. Claude Hughes, skilled in driving and special reconnaissance, turned his head, sized up Chen Fei, and asked, "So, ''Rookie,'' you''re a Metal Ability User?" He didn''t care why a little bird had become their action partner, but was more puzzled because "Rookie''s" abilities and skills seemed mismatched, which was very important for the upcoming operation. Chen Fei picked up on the testing tone in the other''s voice, nodded immediately, and said, "Uh! Yes!" Claude Hughes then asked, "Why did you want to be a pilot? Your Metal Elemental Psychic Power is completely useless up there, isn''t it?" A reasonable question indeed, as the others also showed a curious expression. Once in the sky, Metal Abilities would be of no use, almost impossible to utilize. Supernatural power users, even when learning other occupational skills, often choose related professions that could yield twice the result with half the effort. The job most closely related to Metal Abilities would belong to the industrial sector, especially heavy industry''s metallurgy and mechanical processing fields, where Metal Abilities have a distinct advantage. Since people''s time and energy are limited, one should concentrate on their strengths to stand out. "We''ll need armored vehicles, the best models are..." Seeing that Hanna Gagel was serious, Bai Nuo also started to seriously consider the feasibility. If they went with a stealthy ambush, their chances would be better; but if it were a head-on assault, that needed serious consideration. A frontal assault would be dangerous." Realizing the gravity of the situation, Takano Yoshiko, the Thunder Series ability user and karate master, put herself in that scenario and quickly furrowed her brow. I''m afraid that''s beyond me! If she were to simply stand at the gates of the Apocalypse Defense headquarters and show the slightest intent to breach, she''d be peppered with bullets from machine guns like a beehive in the blink of an eye. Those who work in military contracting are not compassionate souls; bearing weapons brings forth the intent to kill. "You won''t be responsible for the assault. He will take care of that part." Hanna Gagel pointed at Chen Fei. Leaders bear the brunt, employees get sent to their doom¡ªit was the harsh reality of the workplace. Chen Fei''s eyebrows twitched; he knew that when Boss Hana summoned him, it would be for no good reason. He chuckled dryly, saying, "As long as there are no heavy weapons, I''ll be fine!" "Jiu!" The little bird declared it could do it too. With a Third Rank Light System Magic Shield, light weapons really wouldn''t be enough to cause concern. "Him?" This rookie? All the partners Hanna Gagel had brought looked at Chen Fei together. Was the unfortunate kid ready to be the cannon fodder vanguard? Hanna, have you turned to the dark side? Claude hesitated before saying, "Hanna, is there, is there a more careful plan we could follow?" He thought it was too risky. More precisely, it was too rash, completely out of line with the shrewdness Hanna Gagel usually displayed, as if she were a different person. Bang! Hanna Gagel slammed her hand onto the table, declaring definitively, "No, we must break through the defenses of Apocalypse Defense''s headquarters head-on. Only then can we establish the reputation of Jiu Defense Company, and that will be the best advertisement." Although it was a bit risky, it was actually a "kill three birds with one stone" kind of good idea. The first bird was to give Apocalypse Defense Group a harsh slap, discouraging them from any sneaky actions against Jiu Defense. Any enemy who wanted to take on Jiu Defense should first wake up and think about the consequences. The second bird was to deter other forces, such as Saber Group, and some smaller competitors looking to take advantage of the situation. Being boldly aggressive sometimes isn''t a weakness but can make those who eye Jiu Defense or other groups weigh the pros and cons of retaliation¡ªotherwise, they could end up like Apocalypse Defense Group, losing more than just face. The third bird was to declare Jiu Defense''s strength to the world: a newcomer that could humiliate an established military contractor and demand respect from peers was determined, had a plan, and possessed enough strength to attract a lot of attention and business, but most importantly, it would earn the respect of industry colleagues. Just like sheep that only take beatings and never fight back can''t survive in the military contracting business. Chapter 219 Section 219 - Whetting the Knife Fiercely It wasn''t until Hanna Gagar detailed the true tactical objectives. Everyone including Chen Fei finally saw the light. It was the same old formula, the same old flavor. "Tweet!" Little Bird didn''t understand anything, nor did it need to; a simple tweet was enough. "''Rookie'' isn''t someone who charges in alone, I need your support!" A feigned recklessness isn''t real recklessness after all, there''s a difference, Hanna Gagar said as she drew a circle on the holographic map. Otherwise, why bother assembling these talented buddies from their respective fields, when just letting Chen Fei charge in foolishly would suffice? During his time at the Aircrew Base 911, it had been proven that this guy, having awakened as a Metal Ability User, could become immune to light weapons attacks. "What do we need to do?" asked Roland Michigan, the communications expert, earnestly. He was the last to speak up, and although he understood Hanna Gagar''s intentions, he still couldn''t guess what needed to be done. "First, we need an armored vehicle..." Collective eye roll! Weren''t those the exact words of Bai Nuo, the demolition expert and gunsmith? "Don''t rush, let me finish. The armored vehicle is a must; otherwise, ''Rookie'' is going to have a tough time," Hanna Gagar said, glancing at Chen Fei, who nodded vigorously. At least a dozen energy points¡ªthat''s worth something, even if it''s just mosquito legs. She then pointed to the first person on her left. "I need Roland Michigan to paralyze the Apocalypse Defense Group''s communication system while ensuring our team''s communications," she said. "Electronic countermeasures, OK! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished." Once it came to his expertise, Roland Michigan patted his chest confidently. "Meizi, you''re responsible for taking out the guards in the chaos. Carry non-lethal weapons. This isn''t corporate warfare, so we don''t need any casualties." Hanna Gagar pointed to the only ethnic girl present. "Hi!" The graceful and dignified lady looked nothing like the fierce karate master she was. She should be wearing a little kimono, carrying a small vegetable basket, and strolling casually through the market with tactical little steps. Before marriage, the fiercely violent beauty met her husband through an arranged introduction by her family, and she was wed off to lead a quiet life as a housewife, which her pitiful president husband knew nothing about. He especially liked to display his male chauvinism, constantly on the brink of courting death with his daring challenges. "Old Bai, cover for Meizi. Destroy buildings and cause as much destruction as possible, but remember, no casualties," Hanna Gagar reminded solemnly. Whether it was Apocalypse Defense Group or Saber Group, or those few overconfident peers, they had always pressed Jiu Defense with business tactics and never sought out lives, at most coveting her body. Therefore, even if Hanna Gagar was launching a revenge operation, she couldn''t go too far. Breaking the unwritten rules could make it difficult for Jiu Defense to survive in this industry. Starting by beating the Saber Group''s Crown Prince to a pulp was totally fine. To this day, neither father nor son of the Saber Group dared to confront her openly, for fear of another beating from their formidable niece. "Claude Hughes, protect Roland, guard the vehicles, and be ready to support our retreat at any time." "Xiao Jiu!" Could you expect the Little Bird to say a second word? No! - That night, the trailer-style motorhome started moving. Being fully electric had its advantages¡ªprovided the Crystalline Blocks were high-level and fully charged, they could last a very long time. The next day at noon, Hanna Gagel and others arrived in Mesoamerica on a small private plane, then split into three separate cars that picked them up, making it to Chapala before sunset. Their lodging was a small military contractor base that had declared bankruptcy just last month; a courtyard that spanned over three thousand square meters, with high walls guarding against prying eyes from the surroundings. Hang up a sign, and it looked just like a group of eager newbies, preparing to embark on a grand venture¡ªa common sight in the military-contractors-congregated Chapala City. They stayed busy on the road, as various supplies including the pre-ordered armored vehicles arrived ahead of time, just waiting for them to move in. This infantry fighting vehicle was a fifteen-year-old relic that had likely changed hands at least seven or eight times, riddled with bullet marks, but well-maintained. After some cleaning up and a fresh coat of camouflage paint, it was ready to travel a hundred miles on a full electric charge, which was more than enough for this mission, perfectly sufficient as cannon fodder, and also quite cheap. Everyone, including Hanna Gagel, underwent a transformation under the expertise of Claude Hughes, the seasoned driver. Communications expert Roland Michigan emerged with a thick set of false whiskers. The Thunder Series Ability User, Karate Master Takano Yoshiko, seemed to have suddenly shed a decade, now appearing as a meek and pitiable JK high school girl in her sailor uniform and knee-high black stockings¡ªmamma mia! The demolition expert and gunsmith Bai Nuo simply put on a skin mask, emerging as an old white man with wrinkled skin, sunglasses, and a smoking pipe in his mouth, resembling a typical Mesoamerican farmer. Who would have guessed he was actually of Asian descent? Claude himself transformed into a muscular Black man, with bulging muscles that felt incredibly real to the touch. Chen Fei also changed his appearance, now looking like a mature middle-aged man. Dressed in a suit, he epitomized the quintessential corporate drone. Changing the yellow-skinned to white, the mature to youthful, white to black, young to middle-aged, and the delicate to rugged¡ªthe seasoned driver''s skills were truly remarkable. Even Little Bird was not spared, suffering the same fate. Its pure black feathers were adorned with golden patterns, and diamond fragments were attached to its Crown Feather, giving it a mysterious black and holy golden appearance, completely obscuring its innocent Pure Light Sparrow identity. The only one who remained unchanged was Hanna Gagel herself, who needed to enter Apocalypse Defense Headquarters ahead of time in a dignified manner, to proclaim the arrival of Jiu Defense to the foolish board after launching the attack, a psychological and literal blow like no other. With the help of someone on the inside, the flow of the latest intelligence never ceased. On the morning of the action day, at seven o''clock. An unexpected minor incident occurred. Several small military contractors nearby noticed a new player had entered the game and sent a group of local snakes to probe. As peers become rivals, eating in this line of work meant you couldn''t avoid trouble, even if you tried to stay out of it¡ªtimid people couldn''t survive in this job. A group of eight lousy guys who had just spent a few minutes practicing their Invincible Mandarin Duck Legs on the metal gate suddenly found it quite pleasant to lie flat, ending up sprawled all over the ground. The one responsible for "instructing" them in tactical lying down was none other than Miss Takano Yoshiko, dressed as a high school student. After nearly a decade without action, her first strike was still hauntingly deadly as Tender Hands. With karate like hers, other than lying flat, there was nothing else to do. Chen Fei, who heard the news and came to lend support was a step too late, faced with the sight of the unfortunate kids groaning on the ground, feeling regretful. But he wasn''t too late after all. Xiao Jiu said: Need healing! The local snakes in the midst of Holy Light Redemption: [Expletive]!!! - Chapter 220 Section 220 - Do As You Please Despite the presence of over 150 military contractors of varying sizes in Chapala City, the security situation was not bad. There had never been chaotic scenes with the sounds of gunfire and explosions happening one after another. Perhaps it was because of the concentration of military contractors that there was some deterrent effect. The most unstable elements were merely petty thieves and extortionists, with few vicious cases involving loss of life. In the upscale communities where the military contractor employees lived, it was an oasis free from all sorts of crime. When Chen Fei drove the electrically powered infantry armored vehicle onto the street, besides attracting a momentary lingering of curious looks, the traffic flow remained orderly, without the slightest disruption. "''Rookie'' has hit the road and is expected to arrive in ten minutes!" With the help of communication equipment capable of covering a radius of 20 kilometers, Chen Fei immediately reported his position. The destination was not far from the Apocalypse Defense Group headquarters. The unnecessary metallic parts inside the armored vehicle had been absorbed by his Metal Elemental Psychic Power''s "Metal Devouring" Skill, making the vehicle light and nimble for deployment. "Received, your coordinates have been confirmed." In a van two streets away from the Apocalypse Defense headquarters, communication specialist Roland Michigan confirmed everyone''s positions on the screen, then rapidly plunged into typing on the keyboard. A variety of interfaces appeared and disappeared on several nearby display screens of different sizes, and data streams cascaded like waterfalls. Seasoned driver Claude Hughes was sitting peacefully on a nearby sidewalk bench with a hotdog and a coffee, with a thick newspaper in hand. He appeared inconspicuous but was able to monitor the surroundings. Any slight disturbance and he would immediately jump into the vehicle to whisk away Roland and the equipment. "I''m already inside the Apocalypse Defense headquarters, everything''s gong smoothly!" Hanna Gagel, already in position, was dressed in a crisp business suit, walking through the familiar office building, receiving salutes from the security guards she passed. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu stood perched on her shoulder, unusually serious and still. Deities from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were entities to be respected from a distance, and at first glance, one might forget the whole matter of resignation. Most of the base-level employees probably had no idea about the dirty laundry between Apocalypse Defense and Jiu Defense; otherwise, they wouldn''t have let Hanna Gagel enter the company headquarters so smoothly. "Meizi''s in position already!" A bubbly high school girl in a JK uniform sauntered toward the back door of the Apocalypse Defense headquarters, closer to the parking area. The interior surveillance footage of the Apocalypse Defense headquarters popped up on the display screens in front of communication specialist Roland Michigan. He let out a long sigh, scratching his thick, itchy beard and said, "White, I''ve got the security system. You''re clear to move!" The infiltration had been greatly simplified by having an insider. However, Roland went the extra mile to make it seem as though a highly skilled team had forcefully breached the defenses. "The more you look, the more confusing things appear"¡ªshowing the opponent what they believe they want to see, not what you think, but what I think; that''s what true masters do. "Yosha, let the mission begin!" A rope shot over the wall, simple yet effective. After tossing several large bags over, the demolition expert and gunsmith nimbly scaled the barrier. The high-voltage induction wires were off and oblivious to this fact. An old Caucasian man, dressed in work clothes and pushing a heavy cart, trembled along inside the grounds of the Apocalypse Defense headquarters, discreetly throwing or sticking strange objects into corners of significant locations when unobserved. "Hanna, what are you doing here?" On her way to the meeting room, Hanna Gagel was stopped in her tracks. A short, bald, and unattractive old man stood beside her, still leering like an old pervert, accompanied by another secretary who, despite being replaced, still emitted a seductive, fox-like aura. Damn, it was like a den of foxes. The same kind of trash. Beach! "Old pervert, good dogs don''t block the road!" Hanna Gagel looked down at him and finally voiced the retort she had held back for so long. Allan Green, the seventh-largest shareholder of the Apocalypse Defense Group and a member of the board of directors, had probably snatched up a good portion of the shares after the Gagar Family put all of theirs on the market. "You, you... what do you mean?" Short, bald, and unattractive Allan Green''s face showed utter shock; no one had ever dared to insult him like this. It was simply preposterous! Hanna Gagar calmly put on her sunglasses. "Jiu!" Next second. "My eyes!" "I can''t see!" "Ah! Who threw that flashbang!"... The scene briefly became rather satisfying. Hanna Gagar took out a small bottle of freshly squeezed chili sauce from the morning. It is said that the best chilies come from Mesoamerica, with a really top-notch flavor. With just a spray, it would bring about even more piercing screams, as the strong, muscular bodyguards writhed on the ground. Such methods, carrying the full style of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, achieved the greatest results with the least effort, maintaining grace and composure throughout, an invisible pressure suffocating everyone. "What on earth is going on?" Hearing the commotion outside, an assistant in the boardroom peeked out, catching sight of a small spray bottle aimed right at his face, and couldn''t help but freeze. Spray... "Aahhh!!!" Grabbing the dancing fool and tossing him behind her, Hanna Gagar squeezed through the door and faced the board of directors and several shareholders, who were staring in stunned silence, nodding her head in a charming greeting. "Good morning, everyone, I''m Hanna, Hanna Gagar!" The plan was unexpectedly smooth; she hadn''t even needed to use some of the safeguards, and yet she had already successfully entered the meeting. The atmosphere within Apocalypse Defense Group was depressingly complacent, lacking the slightest bit of vigilance. Even if the security system was controlled by someone else, following security management protocols, they should never have allowed Hanna Gagar to march straight to the core with just a Pure Light Sparrow. You could even say that by throwing a hand grenade into the boardroom now, she could watch Apocalypse Defense announce bankruptcy in tomorrow''s news. Had Apocalypse Defense, which the Gagar Family once helped found, really fallen to such lows in such a short time? It was utterly disappointing! Hanna Gagar couldn''t feel any joy; her face darkened as she scanned everyone present. "Hanna? Why is it you? Get out! This is no place for you, you''re no longer part of Apocalypse Defense Group." Chairman Erik Anthony, sitting at the head of the meeting, slammed his hand on the table, attempting to project his authority and drive away this unwelcome visitor. After all, he was the leader of a top-ranking military contractor¡ªhow could he allow a former shareholder who had withdrawn her shares to act so brazenly? "Dear uncles and sirs, let''s get reacquainted, I am the CEO of Jiu Defense, Hanna Gagar!" Hanna Gagar''s smile gradually turned cold, and she locked the conference room door with a Heaven and Earth Lock, trapping everyone inside. Erik Anthony shouted fiercely, "Hanna, I warn you, this isn''t a place where you can do as you please. Get out!" In his view, so-called Jiu Defense was nothing more than a child''s joke; an old veteran like Apocalypse Defense could snuff them out with the back of their hand, and that''s precisely what he intended to do now. If she had any sense, she should kneel down obediently, offer up the 911 Aircrew Base and the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, and leave this industry forever. Silly girl, she should marry off early, focus on being a wife and mother; this business was not for her. "Heh heh, this place is indeed where I can do as I please!" Hanna Gagar laughed coldly, as if confirming her statement. Suddenly, a fireball rose in the park outside, followed by successive fireballs and the roar of explosions piercing the thick vacuum-sealed glass windows into the boardroom. - Chapter 221 Section 221 - Compensation Apocalypse Defense Group''s headquarters suddenly turned into a fireworks amusement park, with explosions blooming everywhere. So much so that the security guards at the gate didn''t even notice an infantry armored vehicle that barged in, its huge body directly knocking off the gate arm, sending debris flying. Both sides were stunned. "Damn, it didn''t encounter any resistance!" Chen Fei was somewhat dumbfounded; wasn''t it agreed that there would be interceptions? I''m already driving in! So much for the large military contractor, is this what you show me? Stop dazing around, wake up quickly, hey! Get up Hgih! It seemed that Aircrew Base, at the forefront, and the headquarters, long at peace in the economic zone, were two entirely different worlds. What else could Chen Fei do but keep charging forward, directly towards Apocalypse Defense Group''s head office administration building, truly iron-headed! To avoid the possibility of the base''s electricity being cut off at any moment due to Bai Nuo''s sabotage, communication specialist Roland Michigan activated the small reconnaissance drones he had previously deployed around the area, capturing the chaotic scenes within the base and the camouflaged infantry armored vehicle charging directly towards the central building, his mouth twitching helplessly as he knocked on his forehead. "Uh! Everything''s in chaos!" Claude, who was nearby holding a newspaper, asked through the earpiece tucked into his collar, puzzled: "Is it not going smoothly?" He hadn''t seen the current state of Apocalypse Defense''s headquarters and thought that things were not progressing well. Roland Michigan stared at the screens, saying, "No, it''s too smooth, excessively smooth, the defense forces of Apocalypse Defense are laughably weak." Some cameras lost signal due to the blast, and he immediately switched to other cameras to maintain surveillance as much as possible. I haven''t even exerted myself, and the enemy has already actively laid flat. To think that such an incompetent opponent could have caused Hanna such a headache, it''s simply unbelievable. Well! In a certain sense, it is indeed a qualified soft persimmon, no, a rotten persimmon, and it''s about to rot through. - "Hmph! Rotten persimmon!" Gazing through the window at the infantry armored vehicle entering unhindered, Hanna Gagel withdrew her gaze, her eyes coldly sweeping over the entire meeting room. She had never imagined that Apocalypse Defense would fall to such a state in such short time after her departure. The Gager Family withdrew just in time! No wonder they were ineffective during the corporate war with Merman Brothers Consortium, with Aircrew Base fighting a lone battle on the front lines. If it weren''t for those mutants that suddenly appeared and disrupted the corporate war, it''s likely that in the difficult battle that would have followed, Aircrew Base would have been trapped and run out of supplies, ultimately unable to continue. The fact that Merman Brothers Consortium took the initiative to propose a peace talk was the best outcome for Aircrew Base. The comment "rotten persimmon" turned everyone''s faces in the meeting room ashen. What kind of harsh words are these, don''t forget that you, Hanna Gagel, were once part of Apocalypse Defense. "Hanna, did you do this?" Chairman Erik Anthony''s face alternated between red and white as he took deep breaths, struggling to suppress his emotions. Hanna Gagel picked up a director and kicked him on the buttocks, sending him flying three meters away. The man almost face-planted, staggering a few steps before finally managing to stand firm, but he hurriedly retreated, too scared to speak out. For the sake of his life, he could only swallow his anger and pride. However, Hanna Gagel casually took the now-empty seat and sat down gracefully, becoming a member around the conference table. Xiao Jiu hopped from her shoulder onto the table, curiously sizing up each person, and whenever it hopped in front of anyone, that person would lean back as far as possible, frantic with fear. This was a Magical Beast, after all! Hanna Gagel said leisurely, "Well then, let''s talk about compensation." One of the directors, with a smile plastered on his face, carefully said, "No, no need for compensation, you don''t have to pay anything, we live and let live, let''s let bygones be bygones, okay?" "Yes, yes, let''s turn swords into plowshares, and talk reason, not force." "We can still cooperate, right?" ... For a moment, as if a pivot had been found, everyone tried their best to create an atmosphere of amiable negotiations, all smiles. Only, this atmosphere was merely self-deception. "Heh, do you not understand the situation?" Hanna Gagel sat there with elegance and calm, shaking her index finger and reminding these still deluded folks not to get too carried away. "Hanna, what do you want?" It was Erik Anthony, Chairman of Apocalypse Defense Group, who caught the subtext. After being reminded like this, others collectively showed a look of astonishment, quickly followed by a drastic change in expression. What did this mean? Many people had already guessed the truth at the first opportunity but refused to face it. They were about to shout at the audacious young lady as they had done before when they saw the Chairman raise his hand, stopping everyone from speaking. Hanna Gagel spoke slowly, word by word, "You must recognize a fact¡ªApocalypse Defense Group, in reality, is as fragile as a house of cards! Even in terms of compensation, it''s you who should compensate me, not the other way around!" As expected! The faces of many in the meeting room turned very strange. They indeed had guessed the truth, but they couldn''t bury their heads in the sand and pretend not to see. "Also, who was it that sold out my uncle McAllen''s itinerary?" Hanna Gagel''s expression suddenly turned very grim and frightening. Her uncle, McAllen Gager, had personally delivered important supplies and personnel to the Aircrew Base during the corporate war, but on the return trip, he was attacked by anti-aircraft weapons and was killed on the spot with the aircraft destroyed. If there wasn''t a mole, Hanna Gagel found it hard to believe that the Merman Brothers Consortium could possibly come up with tactics comparable to those used in a Sovereignty war. If that were the case, they wouldn''t have been beaten black and blue with a bloody nose in a head-on confrontation with the Aircrew Base, suffering heavy losses without ever gaining the upper hand. The so-called corporate warfare was just intimidating in name. Compared to Sovereignty wars, it was nothing more than a poultry skirmish. If Sovereignty made a move, whether it was the Aircrew Base or the Merman Brothers Consortium, they would probably be destroyed in no time, with no chance to fight back. The meeting room fell into a chilling silence... - Chapter 222 Section 222 - Im Demolishing the Building, Do You Care? Hanna Gagel was a deep thinker, in fact, anyone who had worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs was a deep thinker. On the surface, it looked like she was establishing authority and eliminating threats for the newly founded Jiu Defense by throwing the former employer, Apocalypse Defense, a few hard punches, teaching them a lesson about how to behave. But when Hanna Gagel charged into the conference room with Xiao Jiu in tow, she was there for revenge. The blood of the Gagar Family couldn''t have been shed in vain. The chairman of Apocalypse Defense Group, Erik Anthony, had a very ugly look on his face as he swallowed hard and mustered the courage to say, "I''m sorry, I''ve never heard of such a thing." "I''m afraid that may not be the case!" The smile on Hanna Gagel''s face grew more frightening. "There''s, there''s no such thing!" Chairman Erik Anthony''s eyes darted around. "Have you forgotten that I was once a Level Two Inspector at the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Lying in front of the Ministry is futile." Hanna Gagel once again wagged her index finger, as if she already knew the answer and just wanted these scoundrels to confess honestly. This was an attitude, although it made no difference to the final outcome. It wasn''t just the chairman; many people cursed inwardly at that moment, wondering why the company still had a department like the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which produced such ruthless people! Now that they were about to purge the board of directors, their lives were indeed on the line. "Then none of you will live, I don''t mind wiping you all out." Hanna Gagel stopped what she was doing and stared unblinkingly at the chairman. There might be mistakes made in killing, but she never let anyone go unpunished; she really could do it. "Jiu!" Little Bird hopped in front of Erik Anthony, curiously sizing him up. The chairman''s breathing suddenly halted, his scalp exploding as if smelling the scent of death. Was this a prelude to execution? He screamed in terror. "It wasn''t me, it wasn''t me, I had no idea! It was Evans, Mitchell, and Jin, it was all planned by the three of them." Better they die than I, as long as the innocent self could survive, that was enough. With a clatter, the legs of chairs scraped against the floor with a harsh sound as two people by the meeting table sprang up and dashed madly towards the main door. Bang bang!~ From Hanna Gagel''s gun, faint wisps of white smoke rose, not missing a single shot. At this distance, every shot hit its mark precisely. She wouldn''t let Little Bird do the dirty work, choosing instead to do it herself. Shouts of surprise came from outside the conference room as the people outside hadn''t expected that shots would really be fired. The armed guards who had been eager to act suddenly quieted down like deflated balloons, hesitating to make any rash moves for fear of hitting the wrong target. "Help, help, Hanna, I was wrong, I was wrong!" One of the two who were shot and whose strength seemed to have been drained, grabbed desperately at the solid wood door, gasping for breath and wailing pitifully. "Spare my life, I didn''t mean it, I was also forced!" The other, lying weakly on the ground, issued a faint plea for mercy. Of the three ringleaders, only two remained, and the one not present had not been spared in the internal turmoil within Apocalypse Defense Group before and had become one of the casualties in one round of power struggles. The killer will always be killed. In this bloody capitalist slaughter, no one is innocent. "Uncle Evans, you not only betrayed your friend McAllen but also the trust of the Gagar Family." Hanna Gagel stood up, walked over with her pistol in hand; the man was one of the shareholders who had taken over the Gagar Family''s stocks and even provided support and a stance for the establishment of Jiu Defense. It was hard to believe that someone you thought you knew, in fact, was one of McAllen Gager''s killers. As a lesson and a warning to others, the faces of all directors and shareholders collectively turned the color of earth: those with dark complexions turned pale, those with light complexions turned white, and those who were white became nearly transparent. Even without a special ability, it didn''t affect her shooting at all. "Hanna, please let me go, I will compensate you, all my assets I will give..." Bang! The pleas for mercy were interrupted by the gunshot, suddenly coming to a dead stop. The director and shareholder of Apocalypse Defense Group, Evans Martinez, had a mist of blood spray from his forehead, collapsing with a shocked expression. The same goes for all those other eager beavers out there. If they want to be enemies with Jiu Defense, they had better be prepared to see their headquarters flattened. "Give me ten minutes!" The old man disguised as Bai Nuo looked around; the demolition equipment she had left would not suffice, and she''d need to go back and retrieve the explosives she had just set. Boom!~ The gunfire that had been dwindling finally came to an abrupt stop. System: Ding! Shot 384/1000 times! Takano Yoshiko, disguised as a JK high school student, forcibly breaking in as a Karate Master, gestured to Chen Fei. The combination of Karate and Thunder Series Special Ability was a perfect match. It hardly needed a second strike; those hit fell instantly, no exemptions. "We''re about to demolish the building, get everyone out." Chen Fei was slightly regretful as he nodded to his mature and dependable wife participating in youthful antics. In a mere few moments, he had been shot over three hundred times. At this rate, he might soon complete the long-delayed task all at once. Energy Points: 4001/5000 The latest "Skill Shop" list: 1. Basic Microwave Emitter (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 2. High Precision Ball Screw (micron level, upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 3. Basic Particle Beam (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 4. Audio Management Module: 500 Energy Points | File Management Plugin: Available 5. Composite Armor Layer (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 6. Personal Armor Basic Body (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points 7. Gravity Adjustment Module: 5000 Energy Points 8. Remote Control System Module: 3000 Energy Points 9. High-Frequency Oscillation Module: 200 Energy Points 10. Safe Hibernation Capsule: 1000 Energy Points Note: Updated every 24 hours This time there''s some good stuff. Can you believe it? Just yesterday this damn system tried to slip a Golden Psyduck into the list for 1000 Energy Points! "Basic Particle Beam (upgradable)" has been tempting for a while, GET! "Audio Management Module," bought the "Speaker Module" last time, it will pair up well with it, GET! "Personal Armor Basic Body (upgradable)," It''s new and might pass for clothing, which could help with the embarrassment of getting my clothes shot to pieces, so better GET it. "Composite Armor Layer (upgradable)," you can tell it''s for kryptonite points companion for "Armor Base," 1000 Energy Points, no doubt, GET! "High-Frequency Oscillation Module," Not sure what it does, but it''s cheap, might be able to turn it into a massager, impulse BUY! -3700 Energy Points! Energy Points: 301/5000 Bloody hell, spending Energy Points like water; need to take it easy, can''t really chop off my own hand. Still got 301 Energy Points left, just in case. But next time, if "Energy Storage Upgrade" appears in the "Skill Shop" again, I''ve got to figure out a way to save up 5000 Energy Points before the next Skill List refresh to expand the storage limit for Energy Points. Otherwise, I''ll always hit the Energy Point ceiling and won''t be able to buy those skills that cost over 5000 Energy Points. "Don''t worry, leave it to me!" Takano Yoshiko made another cute scissor gesture, pulling out a submachine gun from her backpack, she racked the action and started sweeping the ceiling. The Karate Master''s shooting skills were also top-notch, she raised her voice and bellowed, "Everybody out, now! Anyone who stays, dies a horrible death!" The violent young girl of years past is back. In the next second, you could see a bunch of terrified folks screaming as they tumbled and scrambled out of the building, as if wishing they had been born with extra legs. - ``` Chapter 223 Section 223 - Agreement Establishment Under the coercion of Takano Yoshiko, the first floor was evacuated in no time, with people tumbling and crying as they ran farther and farther away. The civilian employees of the military contractor were mostly non-combatant; the sound of a gunshot could very well make them wet themselves on the spot. Chen Fei turned around, pulled a machine gun out of the armored infantry vehicle with a long ammunition belt attached, draped four belts around himself, and then slung a bag of tear gas over his shoulder before heading directly toward the elevator. This fifteen-story building, cleared from top to bottom with gunfire, was an unfailingly effective way to ensure not a single person was missed. Of course, killing was not counted. Gods don''t save those who court death; when there was a chance to escape from the brink, they still insisted on staying. If they ended up buried in the ruins, they could only blame their own bad luck. But it didn''t matter, ©µ( ?§¥ ?)©± they could always correct it in the next life. - Everyone in the conference room saw Hanna Gagar speaking with someone, but the word "agree" gave them a very bad feeling, as the hairs on the back of their necks stood on end once again. What was she planning to do next? Had the most worrisome thing finally happened? An overwhelming pressure, heavy as mountains and seas, bore down on them, causing many to nearly collapse in their seats. "Don''t worry; let''s continue with the compensation terms we were discussing..." Hanna Gagar just smiled mysteriously, unwilling to explain more, tapping the table with her finger, highlighting the key points they would need to review later. "...Okay... No problem... I agree... Yes... All yours..." His neatly folded handkerchief quickly soaked with sweat, the Chairman of Apocalypse Defense Group, Erik Anthony, was forced to agree to one humiliating treaty after another, ceding huge benefits of the conglomerate to the newly established Jiu Defense. This small military contractor, like a vampire, had plundered vast interests from Apocalypse Defense Group. Someone had to pay the price for this! Damn Evans Martinez, damn Mitchell Hammer, damn Kim Youri, and those who voted in favor of Jiu Defense, none of them were going to get away. At the headquarters of Apocalypse Defense Group, gunfire from a general-purpose machine gun rang out from the top floor of the highest administrative building, sporadically firing short bursts. The sound of gunfire was the best remedy for evacuation; more and more people screamed as they ran from their hiding places towards the stairs or the elevators, fleeing downstairs as if their lives depended on it, using every ounce of their strength. Then came the fourteenth floor, the twelfth floor, the eleventh floor... In the middle of the descent, Chen dismantled a loudspeaker, combining several functional modules like the "File Management Plugin," "Audio Management Module," "Speaker Module," and "Power Management Module." He connected the simulated audio active drive signal from the "Universal Data Transceiver" on his wrist to the loudspeaker, repeatedly playing the newly recorded audio file from the "File Management Plugin." "...Ten-minute countdown to building demolition! Please leave immediately! Ten-minute countdown to building demolition! Please leave immediately..." Because he hadn''t bought the microphone module, Chen Fei came up with another solution, recording with his phone first and then transmitting to the storage area of the "File Management Plugin" through the "Universal Data Transceiver." The effect was terrifically effective; as soon as the gunfire stopped, people would rush out of hiding without any hesitation. If they were going to blow up the building, why stay and wait for death? These skill modules were like building blocks, able to be combined as needed to create different functions. Chen Fei swept through each floor; as for the employees'' personal belongings, there was nothing that could be done about that¡ªthey would have to wait and see if they could recover anything by digging through the rubble later. By the time he made his way down to the floor of the conference room, the armed security guards in the corridor and the loyal employees had long since fled, leaving behind nothing but a mess and charred holes that punctured through most of the building, a horrifying sight. "Demolition ready, how much longer do you need? There are cops everywhere outside!" Bai Nuo, the demolition expert and gunsmith, had finally gathered enough explosives and installed them on the building''s key load-bearing nodes. He didn''t need to blow the entire building sky-high, just collapsing and fracturing it would suffice. Sirens wailed outside the compound, dense police lights flashed, armed officers converged, not just armored infantry vehicles, but even more potent humanoid Combat Mobility Armor, and several unmanned reconnaissance drones skimmed through the air. With such a commotion, it was almost impossible not to alert the officials. Even if a military contractor''s site was smashed by competitors, they couldn''t keep turning a blind eye, let alone demolishing a building later on. Except for Roland Michigan and the seasoned driver Claude Hughes, holed up nearby, the others were all trapped within the headquarters compound of Apocalypse Defense Group. Yet Chen Fei and his team were not in a panic as this was all within their expectations, and they had already prepared a Plan-B contingency. "Five minutes!" Hanna Gagel provided an exact time. She turned around and addressed everyone in the conference room, "Please finalize the signature, Mr. Chairman Anthony, as well as the endorsement and verification from the rest." The terms just discussed had been compiled into a digital agreement, obtained a unique contract record serial number through a notary system online, and just needed the signature and seal of the other party to automatically become effective at the agreed time. Together with the authorization from other directors and shareholders, the authority would become even more incontrovertible. In case of litigation, every signature on that document would represent a protracted legal battle. Even if Apocalypse Defense Group wanted to back out, they would likely have to pay a hefty price. "I''ve signed," said the CEO of Apocalypse Defense Group, who signed his name on the tablet with an electronic pen, provided his fingerprint, and finally, stamped it with a digital electronic key seal, then passed it on to the others. Each director and shareholder looked as grim as if they were mourning the dead as they signed and provided their fingerprints. Like a game of hot potato, the tablet, having completed a round for signing by the party concerned, came back to Hanna Gagel, who quickly signed, fingerprinted, and stamped it. The agreement took immediate effect, and even without a printed physical paper document, it still had legal force. "Done!" If they wanted to default on the payment, that was fine too; it would be a matter of seeing who couldn''t bear the costs first. "Ladies and gentlemen, this building is three minutes from demolition. Please feel free to leave," said Hanna Gagel, stepping aside from the conference room door with Chen Fei. She was a woman of her word. Next time Apocalypse Defense Group''s executives wanted to orchestrate action against Jiu Defense Company, they would probably weigh their options unconsciously, wondering whether it was worth it or if they could endure another terrifying assault like the current one. If the executives had the resolve, their subordinates might not be able to stomach it. Those people were there to earn a living, not to give up their lives. The last group of people couldn''t contain themselves any longer and got up from their seats, scrambling out the doors. Even if it was a trap, they didn''t wish to stay any longer, dancing with the Grim Reaper on the edge of life and death. "Hanna..." Chairman Erik Anthony, supported by a few assistants, was the last to leave the conference room. As he passed by Hanna Gagel at the door, he hesitated as if wanting to say something, but ultimately shook his head and was briskly helped toward the elevator. "Last batch out. We''re retreating too, through the secret passage," Hanna Gagel pressed on her earpiece, nodding to Chen Fei. Having once been part of Apocalypse Defense''s Ministry of Internal Affairs, she was naturally aware of the group headquarters'' little secrets, including the underground air defense facilities and secret safety passages. Unfortunately, the board of directors and some shareholders were caught off guard and collectively stuck in the conference room; outside was chaos, and many strategies and plans were completely impractical. - Chapter 224 Section 224 - Watching His Building Collapse Beep beep beep... Beep! Click! Hanna Gagel''s authority was still valid, successfully unlocking the secret passage entrance on the second floor. The lights inside began to turn on one after another, and the air was not the least bit stale, clearly indicating an air circulation system keeping the air fresh. "Let''s go!" With only three minutes left on the actual countdown to the explosion, she took the lead and charged in, followed closely by Takano Yoshiko and Bai Nuo. Chen Fei, still carrying a universal machine gun, and Little Bird were responsible for covering the rear and closing the door. The thick walls slowly closed, leaving no indication that a door had ever been there. The group walked about ten meters straight behind the door, then turned down more than fifty steps before walking another twenty meters. At a crossroads, they chose to turn left... Winding left and right in the maze-like secret underground passage for about two minutes, they were stopped by a heavy blast-proof door. This blast-proof door... Hanna Gagel hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to walk up to the door control panel, pressed her fingerprint, and entered the password. Beep beep! After a series of short electronic beeps, instead of unlocking successfully, the door control indicated a verification failure. Beep! The door control beeped again. Then came the voice of Erik Anthony, Chairman of Apocalypse Defense Group. "Hanna, I guessed you would take this passage." WHAT? Chen Fei and his companions were all stunned. The secret passage was no longer a secret? Indeed! The sudden change validated Hanna Gagel''s suspicion. This heavy blast-proof door wasn''t supposed to be here¡ªit was obviously newly installed, and she knew nothing about it. Chairman Anthony had once again meddled with the secret safety passage beneath the headquarters'' administrative building, trapping Hanna and the others. The cunning Chairman surprised everyone with his success! However, Hanna Gagel didn''t show the panic or alarm that the other party wanted to see, instead she said nonchalantly, "As expected from the old fox!" "If you''re willing to cancel the previous agreement, I''m willing to let you go," said Erik Anthony''s voice again. "Uncle Anthony, do you know what this secret passage is also called? Its other name is ''Hanna''s Trail.'' The Gagar Family helped found the Apocalypse Defense Company, naturally, they wouldn''t allow their kin to be trapped to death in this escape route. Your little tricks are doomed..." Hanna Gagel hadn''t finished speaking when a muffled boom resounded, and the entire passage shook violently like a small boat caught in a tempest. Everyone was dizzied by the impact, and despite grabbing hold of the walls, they still swayed unsteadily. The sudden vibrations and dull sounds continued for a few breaths, and the flickering lights ultimately all fell into darkness, as even the emergency lights failed to come on. To bring a fifteen-story building to rubble on the spot showed how terrifying the power of the explosion was. The ground must have been torn asunder in a grand spectacle. "F*K! It''s blown! Let''s hope we''re not beneath it."No?v(el)B\\jnn In the complete darkness where seeing one''s hand was impossible, Demolition Expert and Gunsmith Bai Nuo clasped his hands together with utmost sincerity, more serious than he''d ever been before. Being buried by one''s own planted bomb was quite the irony¡ªdigging one''s own grave was not a small joke, his reputation was at stake, aaaah!! "Jiu!" A soft chirp from Little Bird followed. A light orb, the size of a table tennis ball, released by the Illumination Technique, shone with a soft glow that dispelled the sudden darkness. Hanna Gagel just smiled without speaking. True and false, real and fake, deception is the essence of warfare - consider this a reading comprehension question for you to figure out on your own. - ... "Hanna''s Trail?" Apocalypse Defense Group chairman Erik Anthony furrowed his brows at his secure location. Out of nowhere, it seemed a flash of light flickered and was gone; the ground trembled slightly, and even their bodies began to shake inexplicably. "The, the building''s blown up!" "OMG! OMG!! OMG!!!" "My God! The building collapsed, it really collapsed!" The employees of Apocalypse Defense Company headquarters who had narrowly escaped death cried out in disbelief, but their voices were quickly drowned out by the dull thumping sounds. The fifteen-story administrative office building sank slowly into the ground right before their eyes, disintegrating piece by piece, becoming increasingly fragmented, as yellow and black dust rose in plumes, reaching halfway to the sky. Following this, like a sandstorm, it surged in all directions, even spreading to the nearby streets, conjuring a scene like the apocalypse. On the high walls outside the Apocalypse Defense Company headquarters, the police cordon line inevitably felt the effects immediately. Choking sounds spread like contagion through the crowd enveloped in dust, and naturally, the effect of the cordon was greatly diminished. Many people fled in distress, trying to break out or get away from the sudden dust cloud. "Little Hana, you''re really ruthless!" After staring dumbfounded at the disappearing building, Chairman Erik Anthony shook his head involuntarily. The vehicle carrying him started quickly, speeding away from the scene before the encroaching dust could cover it. Cries and howls rose around him; even the onlookers who had come to enjoy the spectacle couldn''t stay any longer and promptly ran off. - A few minutes later, the pervasive smoke and dust still hadn''t cleared, and a sewer manhole cover lifted slightly. Below the cover, a bird chirped. "Chirp!" Chen Fei looked at a palm-sized, faintly flickering screen in front of him, saying, "All clear!" Although the visibility was poor and the distance they could see was limited, they could be sure there were no other people within a ten-meter radius above ground. Actually, it wouldn''t matter much if there were people since everyone''s visibility was equally impaired. Once it was clear, Chen Fei pushed the manhole cover open forcefully, scrambling up to the ground first, with Little Bird quickly tucking into his shirt pocket, disliking the vast dust. Then he turned back and helped Boss Hana, Takano Yoshiko, and Bai Nuo out one by one. "Our location should be correct!" Hanna Gagel identified the surroundings and immediately pointed in a direction. "Hanna, have you all come out?" Communication specialist Roland Michigan, who had lost the link for a short while, noticed the signal''s return first thing. He increased the patrol strength of the drone serving as the signal relay, to ensure the highest signal quality possible. "Everything is going according to plan, everyone evacuate, let''s meet at the secondary rendezvous point in half an hour." Hanna Gagel pulled out a key, opened the door of a car, signaled Chen Fei to throw the machine gun into the trunk, and got in with the others. This car had been parked here in advance, and like this one, she had prepared four vehicles in total. It seemed the other three wouldn''t be needed. Two kilometers away, a van started at the same time and sped away into the distance, appearing to be one of the many vehicles hastily leaving the vicinity of the Apocalypse Defense Company headquarters. - ``` Chapter 225 Section 225 - Debate or Combat The third floor of Blood Lake Security Company, the General Manager''s office. The strident alarm siren served as the only background sound to the scenes unfolding on the monitor, heightening the tension and chaos of the smoke-filled site, leaving even the news anchor momentarily speechless. A skyscraper had collapsed into rubble right before everyone''s eyes. Fortunately, there were only two fatalities and nearly a hundred injuries. Employees of Apocalypse Defense Group who narrowly escaped death were wailing in despair. They couldn''t do this job anymore; they weren''t warriors, nor did they wish to walk the fine line between life and death. A guy, covered in Hyakki Yagyo tattoos, looked away from the display screen, toying with a tactical dagger in his hands, and said with an exaggerated tone, "Look! Look! Apocalypse Defense''s headquarters actually got blasted, it''s unbelievable." "Such a tall building! Apocalypse Defense is really useless." A guy with a mohawk, brandishing a scimitar, seemed disappointed by the veteran military contractor''s performance. "Wake up! Apocalypse Defense isn''t that weak; they''ve met a tough opponent. Just wait, there will soon be big news breaking in the circle. When one chicken dies, another crows; it''s hard to say which company will step on Apocalypse Defense to climb up." Not everyone in the room had muscles for brains, after all, and some were quite astute. In the far north corner of the spacious room, behind a premium-grade desk facing south, a bearded man in a white suit solemnly said, "Perhaps it was the work of Meman Brothers United. The last corporate war nearly caused them to lose face, so this could be their retaliation. After all, Apocalypse Defense doesn''t just sit around idly. A small defense company like ours, Blood Lake Security, couldn''t even dream of beating them to the ground like this." Behind him, was a walnut screen embroidered with flowing red cursive script on a yellow silk background, as vibrant as blood. "The military is a matter of national importance, the ground of life and death, the path of survival and extinction, one cannot ignore it..." He was an avid fan of the military sage, Sun Wuzi. "Speaking of which, what''s the situation with Jiu Defense? If it weren''t for Apocalypse Defense''s covert actions, we probably wouldn''t have had a chance to make a move. Hmm, it''s been a while since we''ve heard from that female general manager." The general manager of Blood Lake Security Company, the bearded man in a white suit, suddenly broke into an unserious smile. The others in the office immediately caught his drift, each wearing a bizarre expression of mirth. "If we knew where that old lady was hiding, we could storm in, capture her, and bring her back for the boss to make his wife, hehe. With the boss''s brilliant and invincible prowess, we might gain both wealth and the woman, propelling Blood Lake Security to a complete transformation, don''t you think?" "That''s a possibility, well said, well said!" "Don''t talk nonsense." The bearded man in the white suit behind the desk pretended to be dignified, yet the corners of his mouth betrayed his salacious smirk. "Maybe she''s already been captured, living in ecstasy!" "Tch, tch, you always talk nonsense; you deserve a beating!" "Maybe she''s already hooked up with some top-notch tycoon and is about to make a high-profile comeback." "That''s also true. With an Aircrew Base at hand, a capable combat team, and no shortage of supplies, she indeed has the capital to negotiate with the big shots." "If only we had acted first!" Suddenly, a voice sounded from outside the office door. "It''s not too late to act now. Xiao Jiu, give them a greeting!" "Chirp!" Just as everyone''s gaze involuntarily shifted towards the door, a blinding burst of light exploded in an instant. "My eyes!" "Flashbang!" "Ahh!" The office was filled with screams and howls; not a single one of the would-be heroes was spared, all caught squarely by the flash. On the other hand, large military contractors like Apocalypse Defense, once they stepped in, could never step out again. At life-and-death moments, they couldn''t match the small contractors'' willingness to risk it all, ready to start over with nothing but a beer and a piece of fried chicken from a roadside stall. Takano Yoshiko regretfully said, "How about you leave it to me!" Her eyes suddenly brightened up as she sized up Chen Fei, who had put down the universal machine gun and ammunition belt, and said, "Rookie, when you have some time, how about we spar?" Behind the persona of the good wife and wise mother burned a soul violent in nature and fierce by name. "Happy to oblige!" Chen Fei nodded in agreement and accepted the challenge right away. With an Indestructible Body that was impervious even to light weaponry, let alone mere punches. He was also curious to see what level the other''s Karate was at. "Xiao Jiu, a Light Healing Technique, please!" Chen Fei pointed at the bearded man who was vigorously rubbing his eyes, having just had his handcuffs removed by Claude Hughes. Since the guy wanted fairness, they might as well give him fairness. With a snow-white suit, if blood were to splatter on it, hiss, such vile thoughts be gone, be gone, far away... "Jiu!" A Light Healing Technique was cast, and its effect was immediate. The discomfort in the bearded man''s eyes rapidly vanished. The bearded man in the white suit blinked vigorously and looked towards Little Bird that Chen Fei had placed on the table¡ªblack with gold patterns and a particularly spirited crest. He clearly heard the term "Light Healing Technique." He couldn''t help but inhale sharply. This was a Magical Beast! And one that could cast "Light Healing Technique" at that! What an extraordinary strength. "Ready?" Chen Fei asked, "Are you aiming for a verbal or a physical duel?" The solver of the problem should be none other than the caster of "Light Burst Flash," and naturally "Light Healing Technique" could restore vision to its original state. Chen struck a lazy pose, waiting for the bearded man to make a move. "What do you mean by a verbal duel, and how does a physical duel work?" The man in the white suit looked bewildered. "A verbal duel means..." Chen Fei pulled out a tactical pistol, cocked the slide to chamber a round, and continued, "You shoot me once, I shoot you once, and whoever falls first loses." Hiss!~~~~" It wasn''t just the bearded man who widened his eyes in shock; Takano Yoshiko also couldn''t help but open hers wide. You sure you got the right gun? Shouldn''t that be a revolver? This wasn''t even close to a verbal duel; exchanging shots was practically suicide. One wouldn''t survive a single shot, let alone more. Swallowing nervously, the bearded man said with a hint of apprehension, "And the physical duel?" "That''s even simpler¡ªjust fists!" Chen Fei raised his fists and shook his shoulders, adopting a boxing stance. The hearty rush of punching to the flesh was absolutely addictive. "I choose a physical duel!" Pop! - Chapter 226 Section 226 - Meeting the Gang Leader Sister Chen Fei shook his hands off. Boss Hana covered her eyes, unable to bear the sight. Mister Tough Guy, at least put up a serious fight, hang in there for a second or two, but what''s with being knocked down by such a light punch? Takano Yoshiko''s eyes darted back and forth between the bearded man and Chen Fei. The big bearded man lying on the ground convulsing, could he really be such a pushover? Could it be he''s ill? Old-timer Claude Hughes shook his head repeatedly, the greater the expectations, the bigger the disappointment. I thought I was going to witness an epic battle of dragons and tigers, but... that''s it? Such a pathetic military contractor isn''t even worth the trip. Hanna Gagel sighed and said, "Rookie, wake him up!" There''s still stuff that big beard needs to do, he can''t stay fainted like this. Took a cup of water from the water dispenser and poured it right on. "Hot hot hot..." The bearded man who went from lying flat like a salted fish to leaping up like a carp gasped for air as he furiously rubbed his face, his old cheeks turning red. If it weren''t for the big beard blocking, that would have been a serious scald. "It''s clearly cool water!" Chen Fei looked at the mug in his hand, then back at the water dispenser. The bearded man said bitterly, "The water dispenser is broken!" This unlucky fellow, getting scalded even by cold water. "Seems like Blood Lake''s financial situation is not very optimistic!" Hanna Gagel started to laugh, her eyes slightly narrowed as she surveyed the entire office, and many things further confirmed her suspicion. Even the leather-covered black walnut screen behind her was not showy but truly shabby! The bearded man insisted stubbornly, "Nonsense!" One of the mohawk-haired subordinates, handcuffed, twisted on the ground with difficulty, and incredulously said, "Boss, is it really that tough?" The bearded man said stubbornly, "No, there''s no such thing!" His exaggerated gestures and expressions, combined with his flustered tone, were all revealing a bluffing yet hollow panic. Even a fool could hear there was a problem. A man covered in tattoos of Hyakki Yagyo asked with a crying tone, "Is it really over?" Chen Fei looked puzzled at Boss Hana, we''re all small military contractors, how come you''re so rich? "Don''t compare me to that trash!" As if guessing what Chen Fei was thinking, Hanna Gagel dismissed it with disdain. The Gagar Family had after all participated in the founding of Apocalypse Defense Group, and even though they had withdrawn, the resources and connections they possessed were incomparable to those meager contractors who survived on scraps and leftovers. "Pretty disappointing!" Takano Yoshiko kept shaking her head. Being a boss like this, he was a total failure. "No, it''s not like that!" The bearded manager, as if his spine had been taken away, slumped down his head and whispered softly to himself. "We can hold out for at most another half a month." If he weren''t desperate, he wouldn''t be eyeing Jiu Defense Company like a scavenging vulture, trying to pick up some scraps stealthily in order to keep Blood Lake Security Company going. Half a month?No?v(el)B\\jnn "Don''t do this! It''s not worth it!" Some of them shot angry glances at Hanna Gagel and the others, perhaps feeling that the people of Jiu Defense had coerced their boss into such a humiliating act. Even if they could earn their allegiance, they might not win their hearts. With an expressionless face, Chen Fei stared at the men, ready to pull the trigger without hesitation and wreak havoc at his boss''s command. The bearded man broke free from his men and respectfully bowed to Hanna Gagel, saying with a smile, "Thank you, miss. Thank you!" As he turned around, his face immediately became stern. "What are you all doing, thinking your wings are hard? Carrying bricks--with your degenerative lumbar disc, is it you carrying the bricks or the bricks carrying you? And you, Rosim, your child starts school, right? How about the tuition, the extracurricular fees? Your whole family going to live off the wind? Who mentioned wandering? Get caught as an illegal migrant, sent back to Africa, go chew roots and bark! And you, don''t be dissatisfied..." The authority of the manager of Blood Lake Security Company returned to the bearded man as he berated them, causing his men to bow their heads involuntarily, and some even began to sob. They weren''t afraid of bloodshed, sacrifices, or losing their honor; they were afraid of starving. Even if they could endure hunger, they couldn''t bear the thought of their families lacking clothes and food, although very few of them were actually married with children because family ties made it hard to adapt to life-and-death combat at the front line. Beyond fighting and killing, these warriors had little else to offer. What they hoped most for was to take a bullet for the wealthy and earn some insurance money. "...do you have anything else to say?" The bearded man glared at these worthless fellows. Just moments ago, the mood was tumultuous, but now it was as if their throats were gripped, each of them silent as a henpecked rooster, unable to lift their heads. For the huge sacrifice the boss made for them, if they could not understand, they would be too ashamed to face his painstaking efforts. "Since none of you have anything to say, join me in saying, ''Greetings, big sister!''" The bearded man turned around, and greeted Hanna Gagel with a humbled smile. A group of rough men weakly chorused: "Greetings, big sister!" The bearded man turned back and bellowed, "Haven''t you eaten, say it again!" "Greetings, big sister!" This time it was finally loud and spirited, with a bit of the desired atmosphere. They were just a group of soldiers who had lost their honor, and achieving this much was actually quite good; it was unrealistic to expect too much. Hanna Gagel looked over each person, her smile brimming as she said, "Please call me General Manager Hanna, I prefer being addressed that way!" Having lost face once is embarrassing, and twice is the same, not much different from losing it yet another time. The big men of Blood Lake energetically roared in unison. "Greetings, General Manager Hanna!" Despite the more formal title, it somehow felt like the same old sentiment. "Can we really trust them acting like this?" Chen Fei cautiously reminded his boss that Jiu Defense, though small, was not meant for just anyone. The current staff had all been through life-and-death together, shared hardships and wealth, but it was hard to say the same for the newcomers. Hanna Gagel already had a strategy in mind and said confidently, "No problem, start them off on peripheral tasks, if they want better pay, they''ll have to work hard for it. If anyone doesn''t want to work, they can leave early; I won''t hold them back. Wanting to be treated like a lord is out of the question." At the founding of Jiu Defense, manpower was naturally lacking, so they did indeed need some people to do miscellaneous and support work. The modest wages of a mere few dozen people were completely affordable for her. Hanna Gagel turned her head to look at the experienced driver, asking, "Claude, do you have any other work to do next?" The veteran driver, Claude Hughes, was taken aback but quickly understood, nodding while patting his chest, "I''ve been idle recently anyway, and I''d be very glad to serve General Manager Hanna." "That''s good, this batch from Blood Lake will be under your care. Help me out for at least six months, and if there''s something important coming up, let me know a month in advance. Also, cultivate a good successor; I might need them." Hanna Gagel immediately laid out her directives clearly. "No problem, BOSS!" Claude Hughes immediately stepped into his role. Having collaborated with Hanna Gagel on many occasions and even participating in multiple team operations, this in-depth collaboration came as a natural progression. - Chapter 227 Section 227-1 Star Yuan Purchase Hanna Gagel was not new to the scene; others might bow down immediately, but she could hardly trust someone without reservations. With a career as an inspector for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a department noted for its cunning within the Apocalypse Defense Group, where they specialize in intricate tasks like unwinding complex cases and discerning truth from lies, she naturally understood that while providing timely help could earn loyalty, more often than not, real life is filled with ungrateful wolves showing their fangs. In the ruthless underworld of Jianghu, the naive are long buried under three feet of grass, let alone the old players openly flaunting the Blood Lake branding. "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Claude Hughes. Effective immediately, the Blood Lake Security Company will cease operations. All personnel are to assemble for restructuring," he said. The seasoned Claude Hughes faced the bewildered bearded men and others. These men were of the wolf kind; they couldn''t be kept like dogs at home. Locking a wolf inside would only lead to it turning on its owner. Thus, it had to be released to keep attacking and feeding it The bearded man hesitated for a moment before finally bowing his head in submission. "Yes, sir!" From that moment, the deeply indebted Blood Lake Security Company no longer belonged to him, or even to him and his gang; they all now depended on that one-eyed woman for sustenance. "''Rookie,'' Claude thrives using his brain and professional skills; you just need your fists. If guys like this don''t obey, beat them senseless!" Hanna Gagel directly instructed Chen Fei in person. Different strokes for different folks. What about wolves? In the face of absolute power, even s**t would smell tantalizingly fragrant. For a small team like this, Chen Fei alone could annihilate them with his bare hands. When Boss Hana said this, she didn''t hide her intent, and many from the Blood Lake Security Company heard her loud and clear. They felt a chill run down their spines; the boss had been knocked down with a single punch, and a few more hits could be fatal. Enjoy more content from empire If it were up to them, maybe they could have taken a few less punches before their lights went out! - After a day filled with chaos, Chapala City gradually returned to tranquility, but the employees of the Apocalypse Defense Group were still unsettled, as the administrative office building had turned into a pile of rubble, now a horrifying "scar" within the city. Journalists, smelling blood, hunted everywhere for valuable information, their relentless energy penetrating day and night, an effort even the top spies couldn''t match. Although Erik Anthony, the chairman of Apocalypse Defense, had explicitly issued a gag order, it was clear that the company couldn''t afford to lose face. Yet, two shareholders still let something slip to the media, hinting at something tactical about the newly established Jiu Defense Company. Although there was no explicit evidence, blaming the monk for being bald was suggestive enough. However, Chairman Erik Anthony outright denied it all. He was a wise man and knew better than to upset the last influential Gagar; one more scandal, and the already embarrassed Apocalypse Defense Group might not survive. Those two shareholders received a warning that very day. If they couldn''t keep their mouths shut, a board resolution would be triggered, and the other shareholders would forcibly buy out their shares, kicking them directly out of the Apocalypse Defense Group. That was not even the worst-case scenario. Once they lost the protection and balance of the Apocalypse Defense Group and considering that they had also offended the ruthlessly decisive Jiu Defense, it was indeed a case of bringing trouble upon themselves; a misdeed they could not live down. Following Hanna Gagar''s instructions, Jiu Defense''s official announcement was extremely simple. It avoided direct contact with journalists and other media, only appearing on the company''s official promotional platform. The statement subtly expressed regret over the attack on their former company, Apocalypse Defense Group, hoping the perpetrator would be caught soon. It dismissed the two shareholders'' absurd claims as completely unfounded, emphasizing Jiu Defense''s recent focus on acquiring several small military contractors, with no time to engage in trivial matters. It strongly condemned those who manufactured and spread rumors, reserving the right to pursue legal responsibilities. Displayed in an official tone, the announcement caused media in both Chapala City and all over Mesoamerica to feel puzzled; the grandiose language left little room for criticism. Meanwhile, the eight small military contracting firms that had become peripheral subjects of Jiu Defense officially announced that, after lengthy negotiations, they had finally completed an acquisition agreement with Jiu Defense Company for a token sum of one Star Yuan. One Star Yuan was practically just like obtaining something for free. But now, what mattered was Jiu Defense''s command. The eight small companies were positioned in every way imaginable, as long as Boss Hana was pleased. Upon the release of this announcement, the news media were again stirred. The suspicions around Jiu Defense were largely dispelled. On one hand, conducting business negotiations, and on the other, attacking large military contractors¡ªit was simply not something a start-up small military contractor could achieve. Some suspected that it was the eight small military contractors that had been acquired; together, their combat personnel and logistics staff totaled nearly a thousand, making it not impossible to target Apocalypse Defense Group. But the fact was they hadn''t done it; there were no flaws. Some thought they were clever, misguided to investigate in this direction, doomed to fruitless efforts, gaining nothing. However, Apocalypse Defense Group now truly dreaded Jiu Defense, suddenly acquiring eight small military contractors to bolster its periphery. Not to mention, instantly being able to gather a combat force of nearly a thousand people, this kind of power had the capital to directly confront large military contractors. Chairman Erik Anthony couldn''t understand what kind of charisma Hanna Gagar possessed to make those eight small military contractors submit without hesitation. Actually, there wasn''t much to say. Beating each one firmly, those killers only respected whoever had the strongest fist. If one beating wasn''t enough, then two; if two weren''t enough, then three. After all, they still had to earn a living, and eventually, they half-willingly submitted. Some heard the winds of change too late to join proactively and were left pacing and regretting their tardiness! Hanna Gagar wasn''t indiscriminate; she only chose small military contractors with good reputations to join her ranks, on one hand to serve, handling logistical tasks while also absorbing resources transferred from Apocalypse Defense Group, and on the other, as a talent pool for selection, effectively filling Jiu Defense''s mid-level ranks, building a solid framework for the entire defense company. As a military contractor, there could never be too many auxiliary logistics staff; the ratio of one combat personnel to a hundred logistics personnel wasn''t an exaggeration. The more meticulous the work, the higher the combat effectiveness and tactical level could be raised. In sovereign airbases, the ratio of combat pilots to ground crew was even higher. Those small military contractors were poorly managed, sometimes overloaded with personal side jobs. The so-called multi-skilling, overwhelmed with tasks, led to inadequate maintenance of equipment, lack of detail, frequent staff errors, naturally affecting combat effectiveness, thereby impacting reputation and task completion evaluations, further deteriorating into a vicious cycle. - Chapter 228 Section 228 - Everyone Goes Home ``` Apocalypse Defense Group headquarters were somehow blamed for an attack, and the unsuspecting Merman Brothers Consortium, who was just enjoying the show, was suddenly slapped with the accusation. "What the heck," they thought, "even snacking on melons can bring disaster." They had reason and might on their side, but the scandal was pinned on them so swiftly, so precisely, and so darkly, that the Merman Brothers Consortium immediately issued a statement: they absolutely wouldn''t take the fall for this... but you know, explanations are just cover-ups, and cover-ups herald the truth. Does the truth matter? No, it doesn''t!!! The public craves scandals, the media craves hot topics, officials just want to smooth things over quickly, and no one else really gives a hoot. It''s like when A and B are bickering, and C gets killed in the crossfire; there are countless cases like this. It''s difficult for the Merman Brothers Consortium to defend themselves against the stink of crap that Apocalypse Defense and Jiu Defense smeared all over their faces in an alliance of shared hatred. For the Merman Brothers Consortium, who had this pot of trouble dumped on them from out of the blue, even if they wash themselves clean physically, they''ll still feel dirty psychologically¡ªno one wants to be friends with someone who''s had shit smeared on them. Merman Brothers Consortium: "I''m not clean anymore..." - The complex and ever-changing chaos of the business battlefield is naturally Boss Hana''s headache. The hastily assembled team disbanded on the spot, everyone returned home, back to their own kids. Only Claude Hughes needed to stay and continue assisting with the integration of newly acquired forces and resources. Although he was the vice president of Jiu Defense, second only to one but above thousands, he was still treated no different from a temp worker. - "Honey, I''m back!" "Roland, you''re finally back. Hurry up and help in the kitchen; we''re swamped with dishes to wash!" "Maggie, keep an eye on your man. Where has he been wandering these past few days?" "It''s fine, Dad. He asked for leave." "Honey, I''ve brought home some extra cash I earned. It''s all in cash, one hundred and fifty thousand Star Yuan. You take care of it for me." "Mr. Roland Michigan, you really did good, MUMA!!" Down an alley in Queens District of the Big Apple City, a small eatery with the sign "Authentic Sichuan Big Food Stand" was abuzz with the clanging sound of a metal ladle hitting a large iron pot, signifying the mundane essence of life with its endless wafts of cooking smoke. There was a constant stream of diners... - "Professor Bai, this is the thesis I''ve written. Could you please take a look?" The flirty female student slyly handed over a paper document and subtly scratched the palm of his hand. "Hmm, let me take a look." Professor Bai Nuo, scholarly in appearance with solemn glasses, nodded. "Professor, I need one-on-one guidance." The female student with silky chestnut hair blinked her eyes. "My official duties are only to guide you academically. Please don''t get carried away with other ideas." Professor Bai earnestly warned her not to have any inappropriate thoughts. "But what am I to do? I need help, please, Professor!~~~." The female student feigned difficulty. "That''s going to cost extra!" "..." - "Me? I can''t take on any." Chen Fei turned around, smiling amiably. Can it even be called fighting if it''s just a one-sided thrashing? Definitely not! "Chen Fei is a Pilot, he doesn''t hit people!" The twins'' father, Instructor Ramaya, frowned. What kind of talk was that? He hated brawls on the ground. If you have the guts, take it to the sky, fight a life-and-death battle, where the winners soar with injuries and the defeated are shattered. That''s what real men do. The long-haired elder sister Selina said disdainfully, "He''s also a supernatural power user!" Sophomore year in high school was also the pinnacle of adolescence, an age for questioning and doubting everything; in other words, needing to be set straight, in desperate need of society''s hard knocks. No matter the country, teenagers and young adults in their second year are all the same; as soon as they open their mouths, you feel the urge to punch them. "Special Abilities have both combat and non-combat types. Chen Fei''s Special Ability can be used for maintenance and processing, suited for industrial application, so it''s not a combat type of Special Ability, that''s incomparable." Instructor Ramaya was feeling a headache; the two sisters didn''t focus on studying well. Had they watched too many hero movies or anime? Why must everything revolve around fighting? Metal Elemental Psychic Powers like Chen Fei''s that can be applied to the industrial field were the most lucrative, in high demand wherever he went. As long as his Special Ability remained, he would never have to worry about unemployment. Not getting the answer they wanted from their father, the sisters glanced at each other and said listlessly, "So he''s an industrial worker." They had thought he would be able to wreak havoc everywhere. At best, he''s a blue-collar worker; a poor soul without the luxury of an office and air conditioning. "Actually, being like Chen Fei is the best." Instructor Ramaya was genuinely worried; he didn''t want his daughters to be duped by some smooth-talking losers, and then have to endure hard times in the future. "(¡¥¨Œ ?~) Cut it out~~" Selina and Taya dismissed the idea simultaneously. Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders; it was clear to him that Instructor Ramaya had his hands full worrying about his two daughters. Just then, the pickup truck suddenly slowed down, everyone''s bodies slightly leaning forward before being pulled back by their seatbelts. "Yikes, what''s going on?" "What happened?" The two sisters screamed in surprise, unprepared. Instructor Ramaya spoke with a grave tone, "There''s someone blocking the road ahead; don''t get out." A brazen roadblock on a highway usually meant trouble. He casually flicked through the glove compartment and found an M1911 and two magazines; the century-old gun was never outdated. Just as Instructor Ramaya was about to exit the vehicle and negotiate with the people blocking the road, Chen Fei stopped him and shook his head, saying, "I''ll go! Their fire sticks won''t work against me." To tell the truth, small caliber firearms posed less threat to Chen Fei than Gaul''s whole grain Magic Wand. The latter could cause a very brief stun effect when smacked against the head. "Then... be careful!" After a moment of thought, Ramaya nodded, handing over the fully loaded M1911, which might provide some protection. He wasn''t a supernatural power user; his ability to survive on the ground was nowhere near Chen Fei''s. - ``` Chapter 229 Section 229 - Creatures Scattering It''s quite fresh to encounter a road bully in the American Federation. "No need, keep it, after all, there''s Selina and Taya in the car." Chen Fei turned his head to look at the two sisters who were scared out of their wits; they needed their old man''s protection with a gun even more. "Don''t push yourself, if the situation turns south, come back right away!" Instructor Ramaya wasn''t sentimental; she took back the gun but watched Chen Fei get out of the car the whole time, ready to step on the gas and rush over at any moment. Seeing Chen Fei casually get out of the big pickup truck and walk over unhurriedly, the people blocking the road immediately reacted. A thunderous shout came from afar. "Chen Fei?" Wow! Here I was thinking this was a classic shake-down, ''pay the toll, leave your loot, mobile payment online, scan to pay, swipe your card to pay...'' But I could tell from their call, they were here for Chen Fei himself, not the type of road bullies I''d imagined; I had overthought the situation a bit. "Hurry up, I''m in a rush!" Chen Fei continued to approach at an unhurried pace, casually waving his hand. What did the other party want to do? Was there even a need to guess? Of course, they weren''t planning to invite him for a hot dog in this godforsaken place. Oh, wait! Wrong! They indeed wanted to offer him something. Like a baseball bat, for instance! Over a hundred people charged over with whooshing noises, all wielding solid wooden baseball bats. The amount of information was overwhelming. Chen Fei laughed; after all, he was a recent university graduate with good smarts, not an idiot. In the American Federation, knowing his Special Ability, and organizing so many people for revenge, it definitely wasn''t those unlucky fools from Apocalypse Defense Group who had just been dealt with. With the Merman Brothers Consortium currently entangled in rumors, overwhelmed and too busy to even hide, they certainly wouldn''t rush to provide solid proof themselves. So, the truth boiled down to one thing, that little Deflated Calf from the Lockheed family. And this wasn''t all; in other words, ''money talks'', and looking at this situation, it was indeed a capricious display of wealth. "Come out, my AK!" Chen Fei stretched out his hands, invoking the "Physical Evolution Database''s" "Firearms" category to conjure an original AK-47, with non-metal parts replaced by metal, but this did not affect its function as a normally-operable AK-47 automatic rifle. System: Ding! Firearm "AK-47" evolution time 1/10 seconds! ... System: Ding! Firearm "AK-47" evolution time 10/10 seconds! Evolution complete! Ten seconds wasn''t short, but it wasn''t long either. However, to the gang wielding baseball bats, the entire evolution process felt more like a warning and deterrence. When the AK-47 finally took shape, the men who had been approaching with a menacing gait suddenly hit the brakes. They glanced at their baseball bats, then at the AK in Chen Fei''s hands, their faces a picture of disbelief. This is bloody disregarding the rules of Jianghu! "Heh!" Chen Fei sneered, pulled the bolt of the rifle, leveled the barrel, and loudly declared, "This mountain is mine, this road is mine, this tree is mine; if you want to cross this path, leave behind a toll!" He kindly completed their opening speech for them; it would be a shame to leave it unsaid. Crackling sounds followed as solid wooden baseball bats clattered to the ground. Everyone turned on their heels and fled as if for their lives, fearing they would be too slow and get sprayed by the AK. It was total chaos with bodies scattered and vehicles revving; in under thirty seconds, the road was pristine and breezy, as if the blockade had never happened. Those guys weren''t just there for a laugh but also to hand over money. For Instructor Ramaya, the documents inside the wallets were the best evidence, ensuring Steven, the young master of the Lockheed Family, would be dismissed without the Lockheed Family daring to say a word. Old David had deep ties with the Lockheed Family; if this event blew up, Steven might very well find himself in for some serious deprivation. After a few encounters, not only was Chen Fei unscathed, but his adversaries repeatedly managed to offend the local big shots, ridiculously so. The young man hadn''t triumphed before his own downfall ¨C let''s mourn for this lad for a three-second silence. The long-haired Selina leaned in to whisper with her sister Taya in the backseat, and finally said, "Chen Fei, we can give you a third of the income from selling these baseball bats." Well now, the little lady still remembers to share the spoils, not entirely blinded by money, which somewhat surprises Chen Fei. "No need, thank you!" Just a little money, not even enough to pay off his debts! Chen Fei, after running a job in Mesoamerica''s Chapala City with Boss Hana, made a quick 200,000 Star Yuan, truly not caring about such small change. What''s three or five thousand Star Yuan good for? He shook his head while declining with a smile. "No need, thank you, keep it for yourselves!" "Really?" Selina couldn''t quite believe her ears. The spirited young men of the American Federation wouldn''t be so gracious; they would not give up a single Star Yuan. "There might even be four thousand Star Yuan, you know! Don''t regret it later!" The short-haired Taya cautiously reminded him, almost afraid that Chen Fei would later regret it; if they saved that four thousand Star Yuan, the sisters could split it and slightly enrich their own assets. Chen Fei confidently said, "A man''s word is his bond, and once given, it can''t be taken back by a team of horses." "Chen Fei won''t be short of money; in the future, he''ll surely be a solid middle-class man!" This young man''s lack of pettiness actually made Instructor Ramaya respect him more. Having wealth and not being a scoundrel is one thing, but generosity is also a virtue, unexpectedly reliable! "Dad! My sister and I will definitely each find a reliable good man for ourselves in the future." Taya failed to catch on for a moment, but Selina, understanding the subtext in her father''s words, knew exactly what he was hinting at; who was he to arrange their matches? The young men and women of the American Federation''s Jianghu didn''t care about parental matchmaking; they valued independence, autonomy, and self-reliance. Many youngsters would pack up and stride out of their homes as fast as they could the minute they turned eighteen, thereafter living free and easy. Chen Fei shook his head and said, "Instructor Ramaya, don''t joke, I''m in debt of several million Star Yuan right now!" It seemed the Instructor had some misconceptions about the word "middle-class." According to media reports these past two years, the baseline annual disposable income for the middle class starts at a minimum of 5 million Star Yuan. Instructor Ramaya, driving the pickup truck, laughed awkwardly, "Ha ha, ha ha, with your skills, you''ll be able to pay it all off soon!" In his mind, he was wondering, what on earth had this young man done to owe so much money? Hopefully not gambling debts, because that simply wouldn''t do! So he''s a really broke guy, definitely a case for "look but don''t touch." The twin sisters simultaneously rolled their eyes; the real world is just too harsh. When the pickup returned to the small airport temporarily borrowed by Old David, young master Steven Lockheed had already been fired. Old David wouldn''t tolerate any wrongdoing, certainly not extending any favors because of old connections. All for nothing, the family influence and tuition fees worth millions of Star Yuan wasted, Steven couldn''t even linger out of helplessness, promptly shouted back by a phone call from Old Lockheed, likely to spend the next half-year facing the wall in contemplation¡ªa sorry plight indeed. This guy''s constitution was just hollowed out; locking him up for half a year was actually for his own good. Upon Chen Fei''s return, the hearts of the other three students in the Advanced Training Class were gripped with anxiety. They were already lagging in their studies compared to him, and with the contrast being so stark, Instructor Ramaya naturally became even stricter, pushing them to their limits with torturous drills, to the point of wanting either transcendence or death. Ashka Copernicus, planning to switch to flying cargo planes, even started doubting whether he was learning about cargo planes or space shuttles, a reflection of the others'' similar delusions. - Chapter 230 Section 230 - Pride and Prejudice Boom! ~ It wasn''t coming from the flight simulator''s sound system, but the genuine roar of jet engines that entered their ears. One didn''t need to guess to know that it must be Instructor Ramaya providing one-on-one instruction to that "Rookie". The tuition is really worth it (¡ª.¡ª)! Show-offs should all be sacrificed to the heavens! Karan Phillips, who was in the middle of flight simulator training, suddenly found it dull and let go of the joystick, letting the simulated aircraft auto-level, turning pilots of non-combat aircrafts increasingly into mere tools. He grumbled in frustration, "This really is too unfair!" There were two light taps on the shell of the flight simulator, followed by a voice filled with surprise. "Huh? ''Piranha'', you think so too?" Ashka Copernicus, who was about to log into the adjacent flight simulator, just happened to hear Karan Phillips''s complaint and immediately came over, saying the line above. Students in the advanced training class addressed each other by their call signs, which might stay with them for life. Choosing the wrong call sign could lead to a lifetime of regret. Call sign "Piranha", Karan Phillips speculated, "I bet ''Rookie'' is some big shot''s son, to receive such special treatment from Instructor Ramaya. If that''s the case, why squeeze in with us? Just go for one-on-one the whole time." "If you can''t stand it, challenge ''Rookie'' to a duel. Prove you''re stronger and more deserving of Instructor Ramaya''s attention, right?" Tempun Schneider, who had chosen the call sign "Panda Claw", suddenly joined the conversation. He was a self-funded student planning to find a job with a military contractor and had made his way into this industry through connections. He was also able to secure professional training at Old David''s place, a contact not available to the average person. After all, even if people knew the location, they couldn''t just walk in. No trespassing on private land; trespassers got shot, and no judge would side with the intruders. Read new adventures at empire Hearing the complaints of his training classmates and sympathizing with them, Ashka Copernicus said disdainfully, "Fight? Too violent, not gentlemanly at all." It wasn''t as if he hadn''t seen Chen Fei punch the Lockheed heir out cold with one hit. If it were Ashka himself, probably half the force would have been enough to knock him out for half a month. In the Western world, the strong prey on the weak, and that''s what''s considered gentlemanly behaviour. "Hehe, you might have misunderstood me. What I''m saying is, you guys can use the flight simulator to challenge the other party to a simulated duel to prove your strength." Tempun Schneider had some trouble understanding the thought processes of his classmates, who intended to be private pilots. Jealousy breeding hatred; was this a case of paranoid delusions of always being persecuted? "Uh..." Karan Phillips began to ponder. "What are you hesitating for? I think ''Panda Claw''s'' suggestion is a good one. I remember ''Rookie'' has less than a hundred hours of flight time. Even if he is incredible, how much can that really amount to?" Feeling confident that he wouldn''t get a punch to the stomach, Ashka Copernicus became braver. Chen Fei, being the epitome of an ordinary citizen, hadn''t thought about all this. "Figure out your own G-Lock threshold; based on your tolerance, design a proper G-Command, and match it with the aircraft¡ªthat''s your tactical maneuver template. As long as you don''t exceed those limits, you can ensure your flight safety." The information Instructor Ramaya revealed touched upon Federal Air Force teaching materials. The entire training class was primarily about commercial flying, but one-on-one teaching could still leak some secrets. Most aircraft are designed with various restrictions for the average person to pilot. If an ordinary person were to pilot a Sky Knight''s exclusive crystal jet, a single Extreme Rolling Air Combat Maneuver could turn the cockpit into a gruesome mess of flesh. Of course, there are corresponding overload protection measures, but even if one doesn''t die on the spot, serious injury is almost inevitable. "Understood!" Chen Fei nodded. No wonder neither Chekhov Big Bear nor Deputy Squadron Leader Rusios had uttered a word about letting him test-fly the MiG-28; instead, Boss Hana had directly arranged for him to train at Old David''s private airfield¡ªan official course on jet flight. If he rushed into flying the MiG-28, the chances of danger were likely not low. From this, it was clear that jet and turboprop flying were indeed very different. Actually, just considering speed, once a jet gets going, it could easily be three to five times faster than a turboprop. Can there be a three to five times difference in anything? Definitely, they are different. Instructor Ramaya took out a tactical clipboard, checked off a few items, and said, "According to the original plan, don''t rush through the 14th and 15th maneuvers. You can take a minute to complete them; keep the amplitude small and leave some margin." "Roger that!" No sooner did Chen Fei reply than he pushed the control stick forward, and the cockpit felt like it had instantly become weightless. The strong sensation of weightlessness hit, and Instructor Ramaya knew that he had just gone through gray-out and was about to experience a red-out. "Take it easy, take it easy; dial back the power a bit, don''t max out the engine. The ''Red Hawk'' is a single-engine jet, not a crystal jet; it has limited power that can''t be wasted. If you stall, it won''t be as easy to recover as with a turboprop." Before he could finish, his vision turned red. Damn it! Recovering from a stall in a turboprop is dead simple¡ªjust release the control stick. Tool-person pilots are the most superfluous presence in the cockpit, their greatest purpose being a human-shaped answering machine. "Good job! Training over, return to base!" Exhausted from the physical exertion, Instructor Ramaya breathed heavily. In fact, he hadn''t seen anything, relying purely on experience accumulated in the Federal Air Force to judge Chen Fei''s flying posture. This student was indeed a good seedling, but too taxing on the instructor. A string of tactical maneuvers felt like an eternity. He''d have to lie in a Schumann Wave Therapy Pod later; as one gets older, high-intensity, high-stress work becomes more challenging. After the 14th and 15th tactical maneuvers on the syllabus were completed, it took a full five minutes for Instructor Ramaya to shake off the awful dizzy feeling. "Is it over already? I was hoping to go a couple more rounds." Chen looked on at the fuel gauge, which had 40% left. "No, no, no, moderation is key; that''ll be all for today." Instructor Ramaya, with his eyes shut, shook his head. If he were ten years younger, he might still push himself for a gentleman. But now, it was better to take it easy. ``` Chapter 231 Section 231 - Who is the Real Loser The T-7C "Red Hawk" advanced trainer aircraft, with its landing gear down, roared down the long runway and finally decelerated, gently sliding towards the apron. The jet engines couldn''t be shut off during the entire taxi process; they needed to maintain the most basic output. Once shut off, well, that would be awkward. The roaring noise diminished, eventually coming to an abrupt halt. The cockpit canopy opened, and Chen Fei unstrapped and leaped out. Despite the cockpit of the "Red Hawk" being designed to be relatively spacious, primarily for Caucasians, he still felt cramped and confined inside. Pilots aren''t usually tall and skinny; the most common body type is often short and stocky, robust, and if dressed in a short robe, they could pass as martial arts experts. The other three students had been waiting on the apron and came up to meet him immediately. The boldest among the three students, Ashka Copernicus, whose call sign was "Pumpkin," asked first, "Instructor Ramaya, when will it be our turn to fly the planes?" "I''m tired, let''s talk about it in a couple of days!" Stay updated with empire Instructor Ramaya had climbed down from the plane with his eyes closed, relying solely on memory, then simply shook his head. The aircraft climbing resulted in excessive overload, causing black vision due to cerebral hypoxia; diving caused weightlessness and cerebral congestion, resulting in red vision. This heavy pressure cycle had left his eyes sore and swollen even now; he needed to apply some eye drops and rest properly. Being half incapacitated, how could he still have the strength to take other students flying? "Eh?" The three students collectively voiced their disappointment. "Alright, I''m heading to the med bay first, we''ll talk later." Instructor Ramaya blinked hard, barely restoring some sight as the red haze before his eyes gradually receded, though full recovery would still take time. At least for the short term, he couldn''t fly again. Karan Phillips quickly spoke up before Ramaya could leave, "Instructor, we want to have a one-on-one challenge with ''Rookie''!" "Through the flight simulator." Tempun Schneider timely added. These two restless fellows had actually forgotten the most crucial part, and had Schneider spoken a moment later, they might already have been greeted rudely by fists. The spacious apron was indeed a great place for lying flat, whether willingly or otherwise, with essentially no difference in the outcome. "Right, right, through the flight simulator!" Ashka and Karan rapidly nodded their heads, sweating profusely. That was close! "A duel on the flight simulator? No problem! Just do as you please, but remember not to set the overload too high." Although using the flight simulator involved minimal wear and tear, there was still a possibility of injury, so Instructor Ramaya still took care to remind them. Just like what the three students thought, the flight simulator was like an ultra-advanced big toy, but no matter how high the realism, it couldn''t compare to actual flying; many small details couldn''t be replicated by the simulator, as human senses constitute a very complex system, sometimes involving more than just the five senses. However, the media''s attention always comes fast and goes fast; in this age of entertainment to death, it wasn''t long before some explosive new news story distracted the masses, and they quickly shifted their attention away from the recently raided Eagle Nest private airport. Since coming back from Chapala City in Mesoamerica, Chen Fei noticed Old David looking much better now that the small Federal Air Force airport was back to its usual quiet, with no groups of media people around. "Just saw off some people from the FBI, finally I can breathe a sigh of relief." Being a hero isn''t easy, it seems glamorous, but actually, it''s carrying an almost unbearable burden. Old David let out a long breath, smiling wryly watching those three students who sneaked away like rats, sticking close to the wall. Is it something you can''t provoke nor avoid? But does it have to be like this? "You''ve had a hard time, why not rest a bit more?" Chen Fei wanted to help the elderly man to a seat in the resting area, but the other waved his cane, unceremoniously shooing him away. "Off, off, I''m not yet so old I can''t walk." As people age, they tend to dislike admitting it the most, despising Chen Fei''s kindness, Old David instead moved towards the nearest flight simulator and grabbed the door handle, pulling himself onto it. Old David''s legs weren''t so nimble, but he still had strength in his upper body. He hunched his body into the cockpit, placing his cane aside, fastening his seatbelt, putting on the tactical helmet. The actions that he had repeated countless times were deeply engraved in his bones, and deftly completed, finally making a gesture to a dumbfounded Chen Fei. "Come, play a couple of games with this old geezer!" Chen Fei said with a smile, "Old David, you''re not joking, are you?" Although the flight simulator looked like a massive high-fidelity gaming machine, it was still quite different from a real gaming console. Apart from its one-to-one scale cockpit design and three-dimensional realistic imaging features, it could also simulate nearly realistic overload. If the real overload parameters are set too high, there is a possibility of injury. "Do I look like I''m joking? Get on, let''s train!" Without another word, Old David pressed a button, and the cockpit began to close. Recalling those glorious days, he was once the "Eagle King" who looked down upon the world. Did these youngsters really think that just because he was older, he couldn''t wield a sword anymore? "Sure, but take it easy!" Chen Fei could only smile ruefully as he returned to the simulator he had just used, doing the same operations, the capsule closed. "I''ve shut off the overload simulation, go ahead!" Old David immediately set up the battlefield for a skirmish. In the battle map, the take-off points for both sides were 50 kilometers apart, almost just a press of the throttle, eliminating the need for extensive searching. As soon as they got close, the battle would break out. Chen Fei chose the F-22 "Raptor" as his mount, Old David gave him his old buddy to familiarize himself with in advance. Moreover, choosing the MiG-28 was useless since Old David would certainly select the F-22. With the two jets clashing, the MiG-28 would definitely be pummeled by the F-22; it was inevitable! Between the second-and-a-half and fourth generations, there was a generation-and-a-half difference! - Chapter 232 Section 232 - Eagle King VS Rookie Beep! The radar screen flickered once and then disappeared, possibly due to interference or birds. This situation often occurred in simulated combat environments and required pilots to make judgments based on their own experience. The radio was silent, with no teammates, no support, no ground assistance, and no early warning aircraft in charge; it was purely a one-on-one battle. "F-22?" Chen Fei''s muttering would not reach Old David, the other pilot in the flight simulator. It was better to act on the assumption that the old man was attempting to deceive, considering that it was better to mistakenly engage than to miss an opportunity. "Eagle King," the Special Class Pilot from the Federation''s past, was not to be underestimated, even in his twilight years. Both parties were essentially in a blind combat state; however, as accurate radar lock-on and visual range were achieved, the situation of searching for each other in the combat airspace could change at any moment. He wasn''t accustomed to such a scenario, since back at the Aircrew Base, there was always ground support and aerial assistance, and his colleagues from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron were always there to report the real-time battle situation, making it incredibly less eerie and quiet than it was now. At an altitude of 35,000 feet, the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter is a stealth fighter with a radar cross-section theoretically designed to be as little as 0.005 to 0.01 square meters; in reality, it''s at least ten times larger. Nevertheless, a radar reflection of 0.1 square meters is not much larger than that of large birds like geese, swans, or eagles, which makes it easy to mistake for interference. Stay connected with empire On the other hand, Xiao Jiu was a natural expert in stealth; no radar, even with disabled filters, could detect it so far, as birds are omnipresent and would render radar useless if detected. The APG-77V2 radar equipped on the F-22, which integrated the spear and the shield, also included a side-looking system and, in conjunction with ALQ-94''s passive mode, could maintain a 400 kilometer early warning range. The "Raptor" Derby was a test of the strength and weaknesses of the spear and the shield on this model, but even more so, it was a test of the tactical experience of the two pilots. The F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter had a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, equivalent to about 20,000 meters above the ground, an altitude that civil aircraft rarely reach. Chen Fei continued to pull on the control stick, maintaining a steady climb. Without engaging the enemy, his aircraft was less likely to come under fire and more likely to spot targets with its radar. If anything happened, he could quickly respond, transforming altitude into mobility and unwinding a series of tactical maneuvers seamlessly. To put it plainly, at this moment, Chen Fei was gathering strength, readying himself to "slap the old man to death" secretly. No matter how cunning Jianghu experience was, strength could overcome all tactics. With enough altitude, he could freely use his maneuvers. The "Second Stage Strike" was Chekhov Big Bear''s specialty, and everyone in the Genuine Fragrance Squadron knew that old fellow loved to climb high, always ready to ascend to immense altitudes at a moment''s notice. Chen Fei also gleaned an advantage from the flight simulator, which, no matter how realistic, could not simulate the true low-pressure, low-oxygen environment. In the real world, such conditions are a great strain on both humans and fighters, and it isn''t always possible to reach this theoretical maximum altitude. However, in the flight simulator, one simply had to pull back on the control stick. The flight simulator also had its limitations; it did not accurately reflect real-world complex airflow, sometimes even providing incorrect responses. After actually flying the F-22, Chen Fei felt the significant differences. However, above the thin air of tens of thousands of meters, the algorithm-based differences were much less noticeable. Aside from the continuous increase in the altimeter reading, the cockpit was in a relatively quiet state, with only a slight vibration, as if the roar of the two engines had also diminished significantly. Additionally, the simulation of the distant scenery was rigid, lacking some reflective effects. In real combat, the reflection from the canopy of an enemy aircraft is an important reference; simply judging by contrails was far from sufficient. Some individuals with exceptional vision were capable of keenly detecting abnormal reflections beyond the normal visual range. However, pilots typically have exceptional eyesight, and the flight simulator clearly had much room for improvement. Beep beep! The passive radar suddenly issued a warning. The warning system suddenly emitted an unusual sound¡ªa point of light was approaching fast. Missile! Old David had finally made his move. Chen Fei''s eyes widened as he stared at the instrument panel in front of him, which displayed a pattern resembling the Chinese character "¼×." He didn''t need to look "outside" the cockpit because the missile was still beyond the crystal-clear visual range of 20-30 kilometers in the high altitude, completely invisible. The only thing he could do was to keep climbing. The missile''s propellant was limited; it was much more difficult to compete with the "Raptor" in a climb than to pursue horizontally. The onboard system identified the missile type¡ªan AIM 120-D long-range missile with a theoretical range of 160 kilometers. Halve the actual range, and you still get a solid 80 kilometers. It used a dual-pulse engine and was very fast, capable of reaching Mach 4 or 1.2 kilometers per second, capable of flying the practical range within a minute. But for Chen Fei, Old David wouldn''t have aimed for the practical shooting range. He had even less time, possibly under 40 seconds. He gently pushed the joystick to the side, increasing the distance from the missile. The F-22 "Raptor" began to tremble more violently. The altitude was now about 54,000 feet, and the thin air caused engine efficiency to decrease, making the climb not as fast as before. Old David had chosen this moment to launch the missile, based on this fact. Not right! Chen Fei frowned, thought for a moment, and then steered in another direction. "Heh heh!" Old David''s chuckle resounded through the public communication channel. No doubt about it! Skilled hunters often lead their prey towards traps they believe are escapes. The direction Chen Fei initially took seemed to offer a better chance of evading the AIM 120-D long-range missile, but that was exactly what Old David wanted him to do. Unfortunately for him, Chen Fei reacted instantly and corrected the direction in time. "...beep...beep..." The warning system emitted a different tone, and a second fast-approaching point of light appeared on the radar screen. Another AIM 120-D long-range missile was enveloping from another direction. Traditional tactics of the Federal Air Force¡ªSecond Stage Strike! The American Federation, once not short of money, often used this lavish tactic, which could easily disorient the opposition. Coupled with early warning aircraft, known as force multipliers, hovering nearby, the hit rate of this tactic was usually quite impressive. Relying on a two-on-one missile situation, even a 50% hit rate was often enough to decide the outcome of a battle. The best solution was to stop climbing and convert altitude into speed, significantly increasing the success rate of evading the pincer maneuver by the two Mach-4 missiles. But Chen Fei hesitated, the thought of climbing consumed him while Old David was waiting below. The quantity of missiles wasn''t important; what mattered was who had the precise shot. At this moment, the first AIM 120-D long-range missile had come into visual range, and Chen Fei, without hesitation, released jamming bullets¡ªall the jamming bullets, cashing them in all at once. He didn''t have much time left to make his move. - Chapter 233 Section 233 - Indifferent to Life and Death Even though Old David was once known as the "Eagle King," a Special Class Pilot with extensive Jianghu experience, holding such a title assuredly meant he was not just any ordinary ace pilot. Old David had his strengths, and Chen Fei had his own advantages: youthful, eager to learn, inquisitive, and with a naturally high IQ from his university studies, his flying experience was hard-earned. Opening his career by tackling an Evil Dragon, a move no one else dared to make, surviving was a feat in itself. Old David''s tactical thought represented the pinnacle of the past, while Chen Fei''s tactical thought stood on the shoulders of those before him, continuing to reach new heights. In the face of missiles, both parties were equals. Chen Fei''s F-22 Raptor jet fighter finally leveled off at an altitude of 56,000 feet, casting a cluster of bright lights across the sky, like an angel slowly spreading its wings on high. He hadn''t reached the intended altitude of 65,000 feet, which in a sense, meant Old David''s tactics had succeeded by more than half. However, two AIM-120D AMRAAMs pierced through the dense shower of jamming bullets. Using active radar guidance and specialized algorithms, they automatically sifted through interference, firmly locking onto their target. "This is really troublesome!" Chen Fei shook his head, turned the nose of his aircraft downward, and began a steep dive, making high-overload maneuvers. His F-22 Raptor jet fighter emerged from silent mode and activated the APG-77V2 radar, with 2,200 transmitter/receiver elements working together. Beep! Old David''s F-22 Raptor finally appeared on the radar screen, stealth compromised. It seemed the spear had overtaken the shield, with the F-22''s active search capability even surpassing stealth. The distance between the two also played a role. The two F-22s were now less than 60 kilometers apart, entirely within each other''s missile range. Any closer, and it would be theoretically impossible to escape, demanding real skill to break missile lock. "Barrel roll, barrel roll, barrel roll..." Chen Fei cried out repeatedly, not minding if Old David could hear him. Locked by two long-range missiles, his only option was to use the aircraft''s rolling combined with barrel rolling, a dual-axis overload impact. Even physically fit pilots could hardly withstand it for long, but he was completely unfazed. Discover hidden content at empire A flight simulator is not a real aircraft, and the simulated G-forces remain within safe thresholds, posing no lethal threat to the user¡ªit was, after all, a simulator, not a pilot slaughter machine. In reality, it could have been lethal. The view outside the cockpit was now unreadable, the world spinning uncontrollably. Just one glance was enough to make one''s head spin; Chen Fei now focused only on his instruments. The horizon indicator rotated like an electric fan, with the aircraft''s altitude and the thin air impacting its jet engine performance, but the altitude compensated, preserving much of the maneuverability. The low-pressure, low-oxygen environment hardly affected missiles that used propellants, but maneuvering greatly depleted their rated propellant reserves. Dragging two AIM-120D AMRAAMs, Chen Fei''s F-22 was like fishing, constantly changing direction and enticing the missiles to follow, reducing their effective range in hopes they would exhaust their last drop of propellant before reaching him. What exactly this "done" meant was probably still up for debate. But now, without any hesitation, Chen Fei went all-in against the former "Eagle King," six AIM 120-D long-range missiles and one last programmable close combat missile, released like they cost nothing from the internal weapons bay, each trailing a long plume of fire, roaring towards the oncoming F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet. 15 seconds later... Chen Fei and Old David both activated the cockpits of their flight simulators. "Ah, young people really mess things up!" Old David grimaced as he rubbed his brow, shaking his head. The caution of an old Jianghu couldn''t stand against the reckless attacks of a rookie, a series of reckless punches, ultimately leading to mutual annihilation. "That''s not how it works, gotta do the math, a Rookie knocking down an ''Eagle King,'' I''m not at a loss!" Chen Fei, clinging to the edge of the cockpit, winked and made faces at the old man. Just like initially, a small nobody, dragged by a drunk Big Bear towards an Evil Dragon for a fight to the death, one "Dragon Slayer Missile" taking you down and me along with it. Such playstyle, even a Metallic Giant Dragon couldn''t afford, let alone an Old David who underestimated Chen Fei''s resolve. In proper aerial combat, where does one see mutual annihilation that easily, it''s just too reckless! Old David said discontentedly, "If it weren''t for the flight simulator, you wouldn''t have the courage to be so opportunist." Who gave this kid such courage, of course, it was the flight simulator, that gall is certainly not small. "If it weren''t for the flight simulator, Old David, you could only watch helplessly." Chen Fei merely smiled, undisturbed. The Jianghu is treacherous; dealing with such an old Jianghu, it''s only natural to be unscrupulous, as long as you don''t lose, anything goes. The barbaric bold tactics of a military contractor were completely displayed in him, from pilots to infantry, all extremely fierce, instantly ready to disregard life at disagreement, yet not many of Sovereignty Air Force''s pilots dare to behave like him. "Humph! You only have one life, one chance, you still need more practice." Old David struggled out of the cockpit, with this kid''s reckless tactics, it''s simply unplayable. From Chen Fei''s battle with the Giant Mutant, one could see that his fighting style is completely contrary to his harmless appearance, he is truly a desperado, ruthless and merciless in his attacks, and this reckless way of fighting is often the most headache-inducing. - Chapter 234 Section 234 - The Petty Seek Revenge Instructor Ramaya''s training class split, with the four students dividing into two groups. One group consisted of the three unlucky fellows, Ashka, Karan, and Tempun, while the other was Chen Fei, who had just fought to mutual annihilation with Old David. After all, it was impossible for both sides to play nicely together in the same class. Ashka Copernicus: Can''t handle it! Karan Phillips: Not human! Tempun Schneider: I didn''t come here to be tortured! After all, Chen Fei''s flying experience was all accumulated at the Aircrew Base, the genuine military contractor''s barbaric tactics. Whether it was reality''s advanced trainers or the jet planes in the flight simulator, the moment he took to the skies, his maneuvers were wild and aggressive, making others want to avoid flying anywhere near him. Originally an unscrupulous upstart, he now filled the gap in formalization and systemization of his training. He had learned a good amount about tactical maneuvers, making him even more daring and outrageous when he flew. The advanced flying class Chen Fei signed up for was a short-term intensive course. It simply couldn''t compare with the regular training of the Federal Air Force. The two-month course quickly came to an end, and not only did he obtain an A+ level combat flight certification, but he also gained an additional 50 hours of actual flight experience and 200 hours of simulated flight experience, barely stepping over the threshold into the world of pilots. The other three students also successively obtained the flight certifications they desired. It must be said, Old David''s private flight training service had high entry requirements and was expensive, but you get what you pay for. Naturally, there was a reason for the high cost. Once the assessment was passed, certificates were issued on the spot, immediately available for pickup and recognized by the industry associations. One could start flying at any time, which was a guarantee of the strict reputation of the Eagle Nest private airport. Ashka Copernicus received a civil aviation freight and passenger aircraft flight certification, allowing him to pilot medium and small-sized transport planes. Karan Phillips received a small business jet flight certification along with a basic teaching certification. Whether it was to serve as a private pilot for a big boss or to scam some training fees by setting up a class, there was no issue. Tempun Schneider, a self-funded student aspiring to find a job with a military contractor, received a B-level combat flight certification, qualifying him to enter the field. He could have gotten an A-level certification, but there''s the saying, "In the presence of the moon, who cares about the stars?" Chen Fei, who was far superior, had given him such a hard time that it directly impacted his assessment. However, a B-level certification was still a certification, passing the mark all the same. There were plenty of military contractors who would welcome such a pilot to join their ranks. After finishing the training class and having a blast with the flight simulator before leaving, Chen Fei emerged from the simulator cockpit drenched in sweat, just in time to see Old David holding a cup of coffee, apparently having been waiting for a while. He was taken aback and asked, "Old David, is something the matter?" "Hmm! What a strong smell of sweat! If you like the flight simulator so much, you could just have Little Hana buy one as well!" Old David nearly fainted from the strong odor of sweat billowing out of the cockpit; Chen Fei was really playing too intensely. Every time Chen Fei used the flight simulator, he would raise the realism to the maximum. The simulated g-forces were quite terrifying, causing the entire simulator to roar into action and even making the whole room tremble. The other students in adjacent simulators were often terrified, worried that this guy might shake the building to the ground. It''s just a flight simulator; does it really need to make such a racket? Flight simulators aren''t cheap either, even more expensive than a MiG-28. "You can either give up and let that ''Raptor'' outside continue to be my memento, or, hmm..." Old David thought for a moment and said, "There are some intact parts you can take away. That shouldn''t be a problem, considering you can put together another one anyway." Despite his powerful connections, he was still powerless against the written ban by The Federation; having influence was useless in this case. However, Old David was not worried; he had personally witnessed Chen Fei use his Metal Elemental Psychic Power to recreate an F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, namely the one on the tarmac outside, which was also the only surviving exhibit of the private airfield Eagle Nest. "This is really troublesome!" Chen Fei scratched his head; this F-22 really couldn''t be moved. A gentleman can take revenge even after ten years, while a villain seeks revenge from morning till night. Without guessing, one would know that it was the doing of the Lockheed Family''s eldest son, who probably paid a hefty price to get the ban passed in Congress. He really wanted to encounter the guy again and beat him up severely, breaking his legs. "How about next time I find a good fighter jet, I let you replicate it again?" Old David considered Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power as a replicating ability. Though he guessed not precisely right, he was not far off. "Sure!" Chen Fei nodded excitedly. This old guy had a wide network; he could find all sorts of good stuff, and there might really be a big haul coming. "Just so we''re clear, don''t even think about the Crystal Jet." Old David was worried that Chen Fei might set his sights on the Federal Air Force''s Crystal Jets, which were off-limits and would be a surefire way to become permanently grounded if tampered with. "Of course!" Chen Fei certainly understood that Divine Artifacts were the Sovereignty''s bottom line, which no one was allowed to touch. "You give me the address later, I''ll send those parts to you, the shipping''s on me." Old David was an earnest person; since Chen Fei couldn''t take away the F-22 on the tarmac, he offered to take on more responsibility. "It''s a deal, then!" But Chen Fei still couldn''t return to Aircrew Base 911. At the airport, his ticket was rebooked by Boss Hana to another destination. Jiu Defense took a contract within the American Federation territory, which required someone to escort a mission item. Military contractors weren''t always in the wild, clearing maps near air bases all day long; providing security services was also one of their main businesses. - Chapter 235 Section 235 - The Client In the bustling crowd at the Los Angeles International Airport in the Golden State''s Angel City, Chen Fei finally located the person meant to pick him up after dragging his luggage around, and coincidentally encountered a con artist impersonating him. Luckily, he arrived just in time, and after verifying his identity with a phone call and showing his passport, the smooth-talking airport vagrant who was trying to scam a meal or even more was exposed. In the end, infuriated and cursing, the fraudster wanted to get physical, but the person who came to pick Chen Fei up pretended to call the police, which made the scammer flee in embarrassment, not forgetting to spew obscenities and racist taunts along the way. It was not uncommon for impostors to pretend to be the guests being fetched at the airport exit, and sometimes, suspicious individuals would pose as drivers, quietly whisking people away to secluded spots before both would vanish into thin air. Jianghu is perilous, no matter where you are. "Mr. Chen Fei, I''m truly sorry about earlier," the pickup driver kept apologizing profusely as he drove. He had almost picked up the wrong person and jeopardized his own job, clearly realizing that in future similar tasks, he would need to be more cautious. Chen Fei generously replied, "It''s alright, I''m in the car on time, aren''t I?" If it weren''t a foreign country where calling the police might cause delays, he would have punched that vagabond hard enough to make him question his life choices. Two hours later, the driver had brought Chen Fei to his destination, a private club near Santa Monica Beach. The whole club had been booked, and at the entrance, not only were there imposing elite bodyguards, but also privately hired police officers with enforcement powers, who set up the security cordon thirty meters away from the club''s main entrance. "Wow!" Chen Fei couldn''t help expressing his astonishment at such tight security. "Don''t worry, they''ll let us through." As they drove through the police cordon and approached the club''s entrance, the driver rolled down the window to let the bodyguards scan both his and Chen Fei''s facial features and for deeper identification with their devices. These gadgets were professional, capable of identifying anyone who had undergone facial surgery at first glance¡ªunless it was an identical twin, disguises stood almost no chance of fooling the system. "Chen Fei?" The lead bodyguard scrutinized him vigilantly. The other bodyguards circled the vehicle repeatedly with their scanning equipment. "That''s me!" Chen Fei confirmed calmly from the back seat. Seeing the level of security, if the driver had brought the impostor, he would probably have gotten no further; the airport vagrant might deceive the driver, but not the professional bodyguards. Without further interrogation, the lead bodyguard stepped back and waved his hand. "Clear!" The other bodyguards stepped aside. "That''s how it is. Big shots tend to be extra cautious. Um, I shouldn''t say too much, I don''t know anything anyway." The driver knew it was safer the less he knew. Only a fool would pry into things they shouldn''t know. "I understand!" Coming from a working-class background, Chen Fei was no stranger to such grand affairs, having experienced them more than once. Finally, the vehicle came to a stop at the club entrance. The driver was quick to get out, open the door for Chen Fei, then retrieve and wheel the luggage to him¡ªtrue door-to-door service. "Here we are!" The driver smiled obsequiously, rubbing his hands together. "Thank you!" Chen Fei handed him a ten-Star Yuan note. Things were pricey in the American Federation, and so were tips. "Sir, would you like some help?" "Yes, I am Li Gaogao! Please, take a seat!" The young man immediately stood up, approached, and shook hands with Chen Fei, inviting him to sit down. Turning back to Li Wanjiji, who was still dripping wet, he said, "Second sister, go change your clothes. Look at you, what a state." Despite his young age, his tone carried an air of old-fashioned sternness. Li Wanjiji shot her little brother a glare before gracefully standing and walking away from the reception room. Continue your adventure at empire The eldest brother was like a father; Li Gaogao exerted fatherly authority over his siblings, eliciting obedience from them both. "Uh! Vice President Li, you know each other?" The middle-aged man with the goatee, who was introducing everyone in the reception room, looked surprised, as it turned out they all knew each other. What a small world! Li Xingxing scrutinized Chen Fei in disbelief and said, "Chen Fei, weren''t you going to get a job? How did you end up at Jiu Defense?" Chen Haishang from Chen Family had incurred a substantial debt, leading Chen Fei to give up on postgraduate studies and work to pay it off. This was no secret in the local circle centered around Chen Shan. Logically speaking, Chen Fei should have been working domestically, but seeing him unexpectedly in the American Federation, thousands of miles away, was beyond Li Xingxing''s expectation; the world was really too small. "That''s right! I''m working now!" Chen Fei shrugged nonchalantly. If it weren''t for Jiu Defense Company picking up this job, he''d probably be boarding an international flight back to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area by now. Li Gaogao, the eldest brother of the Li Family, settled back into his seat and nonchalantly proposed, "Why don''t you come work with us? I''ll offer you a high salary!" Recruiting a supernatural power user for Tianjiu Finance Company, and someone from Chen Family Gate at that, would definitely be a profitable deal. "Thanks for the offer, but I''m pretty happy with my current situation," Chen Fei declined politely while shaking his head. Li Xingxing, who had finally recovered his composure, exclaimed wide-eyed, "Hey! Chen Fei, don''t you have debts? Tianjiu Finance will pay you a million a year; you could pay off your family''s debt in a few years. Won''t you seriously consider it?" A salary of a million Star Yuan was quite generous for a supernatural power user. Ordinary people earn just twenty to thirty thousand Star Yuan a year, so a million a year could afford a house worth tens of millions. With a house, wouldn''t it be easy to find a girlfriend? And being a supernatural power user, you''d have the natural advantage of being an excellent prospect. Get a beautiful girlfriend, a wife, kids, and a warm bed ¨C wouldn''t that make you a winner in life? Chen Fei, belonging to Chen Haishang''s branch of the Chen Family, came from a true working-class background. Shouldn''t he be jumping at such an offer without hesitation? "Sorry, but the debt I owe is personal, and my boss is quite understanding. I''m not considering changing jobs at the moment." Since the creditor was not pressing for payment and not charging interest, the little savings Chen Fei had were just enough to cover potential interest charges, which left him feeling pretty content. Moreover, having just received company-sponsored training, it would be decidedly unscrupulous to leave so soon. "Heh, no worries, the doors of the Li Family are always open to you!" Li Gaogao was not offended and smoothly transitioned to the matter at hand, "Regarding this escort mission, Tianjiu Finance is merely acting as a guarantee agency; we are not the true client." Business is business, and being a representative of Jiu Defense, Chen Fei couldn''t compromise on the mission due to personal affiliations. Chen Fei nodded and said, "No problem, I''m just here to fulfill my duties and won''t pry into anything else." Before coming here, Boss Hana had provided quite a lot of instructions via email and phone to ensure that he could independently negotiate this mission. "That''s great!" Li Gaogao was pleased with Chen Fei''s attitude. After a moment of hesitation, he inquired cautiously, "May I ask, are you truly a Grade B supernatural power user?" This speculation was not from others but from his own brother, Li Xingxing. However, his brother and his close friends viewed Chen Fei''s claim as boasting and never took it seriously, treating it as a joke to tease each other about. Therefore, the information Li Gaogao had received prior to this was limited to the fact that Chen Fei was a supernatural power user; he didn''t know much else. After all, Jiu Defense had more than one supernatural power user, and he had thought that General Manager Hanna would personally handle it. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be Chen Fei from Chen Family Gate. - Chapter 236 Section 236 - Erlang, Its Time to Ascend to Heaven "Of course!" Chen Fei did not deny it. The others in the small reception room couldn''t help widening their eyes. Supernatural power users ranged from G-rank to S-rank; although B-level power users weren''t the strongest, they were certainly rare. As the guarantor agency for this mission, Tianjiu Finance inevitably faced internal skepticism over choosing a startup small-scale military contractor for the escort task. But now it seemed acceptable for a B-level supernatural power user to personally escort the target. Even mid-sized military contractors would probably not possess such a high-level ability user. This Jiu Defense Company was definitely an outlier among small-scale military contractors, small but not weak, truly not to be underestimated! "I understand!" Li Gaogao continued, "The item to be escorted this time is an artificial intelligence AI unit." "AI? The one up there?" Chen Fei pointed above his head, clearly not meaning the ceiling, but higher up, beyond the Earth''s atmosphere. A super-large digital intelligence construct, the "Cybertrom" connecting both realms, was the true AI, safe and reliable. An artificial intelligence sample that required a B-level supernatural power user''s personal protection had to be advanced in technology. But with such a good reference like "Cybertrom," why develop another one independently? Perhaps seeing Chen Fei''s confusion, Li Gaogao explained, "It''s a detoxified version of ''Adam,'' originally found in a school storeroom by a student studying abroad. After shelling, decoding, and recompiling, the original version was physically destroyed, leaving behind only a secure, non-replicable version." "Adam? The same ''Adam'' that triggered the AI rebellion?" Chen Fei looked incredulous. That was a dangerous entity that the Blue Star Humans had paid a hefty price to thoroughly exterminate. Li Gaogao explained, "That''s right! The network architecture from thirty years ago is not compatible with the current one in terms of hardware and software. The old ''Adam'' has lost the ability to propagate and replicate itself over the network, only able to run inside a virtual machine. In a sense, it no longer poses a threat. Even recoding it now is futile; the rules, functions, and instruction sets have all changed." If not, the research actions of that student would have probably triggered a new intelligent rebellion by now. "What use could such a thing have? It''s too dangerous!" Chen Fei was still shaking his head. No wonder the club''s security was so tight; it turned out they were harboring something so dangerous. The textbooks clearly recorded that numerous sovereignties had cooperated to suppress "Adam''s" AI rebellion. However, as the saying goes: wildfires cannot be extinguished, and a spring breeze brings them back to life. "Adam" collaborated with the Third Era Civilization until the allied forces of the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star Civilizations breached into the Primordial Realm and completely crushed the Third Era Civilization, finally putting an end to the havoc wreaked by "Adam." Li Gaogao confidently said, "You needn''t worry; there will be professionals dealing with this artificial intelligence AI." In today''s world, there was no longer a survival space for "Adam." Thus, this rogue intelligence was like a tiger that had lost its claws, no longer posing a threat and becoming a paper tiger in appearance only. However, its intelligent properties held great research value. In some respects, the degree of "Adam''s" intelligence exceeded that of "Cybertrom," the latter being more rigid and lacking in self-learning capability. Without human assistance, its growth would quickly stagnate, just like "Adam" was directly ousted by current IT technology. "Come on! Let''s go take a look at this mission item." Li Gaogao gestured to Chen Fei, who was still hesitant, and stood up. The group soon arrived in another room. This room was located at the very back of the club, encircled by a solid line of defense set up by armed elite bodyguards, so tight that not even a fly could get in. BiuBiuBiuBiu... The room was filled with the raucous music of a video game. A plump tabby cat, taller than itself, grasped a joystick and swayed it left and right, playing with great delight. Its thick tail whipped the floor with every movement, producing a series of thud-like dull thumps. "Er Lang, we have a new friend over," Li Gaogao, who personally led Chen Fei and opened the door, greeted the big cat. The size of the cat was comparable to a small piglet, with a dark reddish-brown coat striped like a tiger''s. Its ears twitched, clearly aware of someone''s arrival behind it. "Oh, someone''s here, wait, just a sec!" The tumultuous images on the screen came to an abrupt halt, freezing there, and even the music stopped. Li Gaogao gestured towards the room''s door, and someone immediately brought in an airline pet transport carrier. "I''m posing as a pet, meow!~" Er Lang opened the door of the carrier and climbed in by himself. The size of the carrier was just right for a medium-sized dog, and he fit perfectly inside, curling up into a ball, looking exactly like a grossly overweight orange of national importance. "And you, Chen Fei, are responsible for this. There''s also a sphere inside, which contains an artificial intelligence AI unit that is a virus with the ability to emit a tracking signal and has a potent destructive capability, capable of self-replicating three times." Li Gaogao handed over a small box with a handcuff attached, snapping it onto Chen Fei''s wrist. He then said sternly, "According to insider information, there are already two companies with operational capabilities targeting this AI. In the world of capital, the law does not exist." The reason for having a Magical Beast guard it and a supernatural power user escort it was the fear that someone might take a desperate gamble and seize the opportunity to take the AI unit, for which Tianjiu Finance had paid a hefty price, only to have all their efforts go down the drain. "How could the message leak so easily? Could there be someone pushing things along behind the scenes?" Chen Fei furrowed his brows; it wasn''t that the other party was making contingency plans, but they had received the message in advance and had prepared accordingly. "Bingo!" Li Gaogao snapped his fingers, laughed heartily, and said, "The CIA did it. They don''t want us to take away this sole ''Adam'' safety variant. We don''t have any evidence, though." Sometimes, evidence isn''t necessary. "What about the exchange student?" Chen Fei thought of the adapter of the AI. Li Gaogao said with relief, "He has already returned to the country ahead of time. At that time, the CIA hadn''t reacted yet." The exchange student was one of their own, and because he reported back to the homeland at the first moment, the treasure didn''t fall into others'' hands. Now it had been picked up by Tianjiu Finance to be taken back to the homeland. Tianjiu Financial Company dealt with financial investments, and even if they were sanctioned by the American Federation, it was of little consequence. After all, the financial sector is not something that just any sovereign state can meddle with. Find adventures on empire "When do we depart?" Chen Fei looked at Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, who was using spiritual power to open the airline pet transport carrier. Boss Hana was right to assign this task to him; when he came to the American Federation, he was carrying an airline pet transport carrier too. He arrived with it, and he would leave with it, making it difficult for anyone to find faults. "Now!" Li Gaogao handed him another piece of paper, listing the flight and departure time. From the moment Chen Fei entered this private club, the plan had already been set in motion. "Understood! Er Lang, we''re leaving!" Chen Fei herded the big cat into the carrier. "Eh? Wasn''t the flight tonight?" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet complained; it had wanted to play video games a bit longer. Chen Fei plainly stated, "Pet transport takes time; we need to be there three hours in advance." He had experience with this. "All the procedures are already in place; it''s all up to you now!" Li Gaogao patted Chen Fei''s shoulder and handed him a document bag. Inside was not just the inspection and quarantine certificate of Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, but also twenty thousand Star Yuan in cash. Er Lang spoke from inside the carrier, "Can I bring a gaming console? Even a handheld one would do!" "Who''s ever heard of a cat playing video games? Are you serious?" Chen Fei picked up the carrier, which must have weighed between fifty and sixty pounds¡ªdamn heavy! "Woof! I''m a little dog!" The voice of the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet came from inside the box. "No! You''re a clown!" - Chapter 237 Section 237 - Stay Left Seeing Chen Fei able to communicate with the Magical Beast without any barriers, Li Gaogao''s last bit of worry finally subsided. He gave Chen Fei a thumbs-up and said, "Then I''ll leave it to you." If it had been someone else, he might have hesitated. But considering that the one accepting the commission was a descendant of the Chen Family, there was nothing more to worry about. If those people daring to target the Adam''s AI unit truly took action, Li Gaogao would probably greatly admire their courage. "Leave it to me! Make sure to give a good review, dear!" Chen Fei immediately made an OK gesture. He had planned to rest for the night, but now it seemed better not to delay. He decided to hit the road right away! He retrieved his suitcase from the guest room, along with an extra air pet transport case, which housed the extremely heavy Big Cat. Back at the club entrance, it was the same car and the same driver. The driver probably found it peculiar that just a short while later, the car was needed again, and it was the same young man. With a black small suitcase handcuffed to his left hand and the original suitcase now burdened with a huge pet cage seemingly containing a fuzzy live creature. "To the airport!" Chen Fei merely greeted and said no more. "Understood!" The driver didn''t ask further questions and quickly moved the suitcase to the rear trunk of the sedan. As he was about to continue with the air pet crate, Chen Fei declined. "This one, stays with me!" Two cases, one in each hand, he had to firmly grasp both. He settled down in the back seat, one on each side. "Buckle up, we''re off!" The driver stepped on the accelerator and set off. At the same time, three business vehicles followed from the private club, filled with armed bodyguards. Two in front and one behind, they securely escorted the sedan carrying Chen Fei at the center. The Tianjiu Financial Company, undertaking this guaranteed proxy business, would not let Chen Fei start his journey without additional safeguard measures. Once the Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, successfully boarded the international flight and entered the airspace of the destination, the assignment would be considered 99% complete. The most dangerous and unpredictable part of the journey was precisely from the private club to LAX International Airport. "Car 1 reporting, the road ahead is clear, no congestion within 20 kilometers." "Car 4 reporting, no followers behind, all clear." The vehicle radio relayed messages from the first and last vehicles in the convoy. "We are in Car 3, just follow the lead, and all will be fine." The driver trying to sound calm actually had his calves trembling; the situation was like being on the verge of a great battle. It seemed that the external coaching had been ambushed, and it was completely botched. "Car 3, stick close to me!" The driver of Car 2, who had managed to make a quick stop and successfully turn around, reversed four or five meters, made a wide turn, and accelerated in another direction while the car windows opened simultaneously, and several light weapons fired violently at the surroundings, not caring whether there were enemies or not¡ªit was shoot first, ask questions later. In Car 1, whose front was completely wrecked and windshield shattered into pieces, the dazed bodyguards pushed open the car doors, stumbled out, opened fire at any suspicious targets nearby while dragging their injured colleagues out. Car 4 quickly approached to provide cover and support for their comrades. "Hold on tight!" The driver driving Chen Fei shouted loudly as he floored the accelerator. Emboldened by insurance, his confidence soared, inaction would lead to failure, and without failure, there would be no rest. The all-electric vehicle accelerated extremely fast and immediately rushed out. "Meow!" A sound came from the quiet air pet shipping crate, it was the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet imitating a cat''s meow, though clearly discontent could be heard. "Stop the car, stop the car!" Without hesitation, Chen Fei instructed the driver not to just blindly rush forward. The driver, in disbelief, exclaimed, "What?" They were under enemy attack; if not now, when would they run? Wouldn''t staying be like walking into a trap? "Let''s fight them!" Chen Fei sneered. The contractor had employed him to escort the goods, not to run away. Even if they tried to escape, whether going forward or back, there would probably be various tactics waiting for them. It would be better to simply stay. The opponent had already made a move here, and with every gambit they used up, one less remained, making it comparatively safer. "Meow!" The civet in the crate seemed greatly relieved, thinking they should just fight it out! This magical beast also wasn''t afraid of stirring up trouble. "This is too dangerous," hesitated the driver, slightly easing off the accelerator, significantly slowing the vehicle. Chen Fei said decisively, "Stop the car! Don''t make me say it a third time." He hated people who dawdled at critical moments, often handing a good hand of cards right into an incompetent opponent''s hands. "Fine! I''m stopping!" Seemingly sensing a hint of danger in Chen Fei''s tone, the driver hurriedly stomped on the brakes. Just then, Car 2 that was opening the road ahead suddenly dipped its nose, and the whole vehicle disappeared into thin air. A classic pit tactic, simple yet effective. Car 2 plunged directly into the bottom of a large pit, followed by Car 3 which skidded three or four meters, stopping just at the edge of the pit. Looking at the two or three meters deep pit in front, the driver broke into a cold sweat. Luckily, he had listened to Chen Fei; otherwise, he too would have plunged right in. - Chapter 238 Section 238 - Forced Twisting of the Neck Click! Chen Fei opened the pet shipping container, and the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet darted out in a flash. "Meow!" Staying in this box had been incredibly stifling, and he decided he would charge extra next time. Working as a Magical Beast really wasn''t easy! "You, stay here, don''t come out!" Chen Fei pushed the car door open. The Civet swiftly followed, clinging onto his shoulder. Man and civet locked eyes. "Er Lang, do you know you''re too heavy?" It was fortunate that it was Chen Fei; his body merely swayed a bit before he quickly regained his balance. If it had been someone else, they might have been clawed into a somersault and ended up making a fool of themselves on the spot. "Meow! (I''m just a little kitty, I didn''t understand what you said, meow!)" The civet started playing dumb, still clinging tightly to Chen Fei. At this critical moment, it was clearly safer to stick close to a B-level supernatural power user. "Hey! Where are you going?" The driver shouted; he had stayed obediently in his place, not daring to follow. "I..." Chen Fei''s figure flashed, and the next second he appeared over ten meters away. Bending his knees for a powerful leap, he jumped another ten meters. His voice drifted back from afar. "To kill someone!" "Meow!!! (Who the hell is the Magical Beast here!!!)" Caught off guard, as the scenery suddenly changed, an alarmed Er Lang clung desperately to Chen Fei''s shoulder, even tearing the fabric with his claws. The bodyguards who had stayed near the earth wall were already clashing with the attackers, taking shelter behind the wall and vehicles, the sounds of their battle going back and forth. Occasional stray bullets flew towards Chen Fei and the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, but the former casually waved his hand, swatting away the bullets as if they were mere flies. When he revealed a little black box cuffed to his wrist, no more bullets came their way. The attackers weren''t idiots. Their target was the very box in Chen Fei''s hand. What if they damaged what was inside it by accident? At that moment, a basketball-sized rock rose from the ground not far away and shot toward Chen Fei like a cannonball, revealing a barely visible figure nearby. A low-level Earth Element Ability User, Chen Fei judged immediately. The lower the Superpower Level, the smaller the range of the ability. Given the short distance, it probably wasn''t even D-level. "Be careful, rock!" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang could no longer restrain itself, actively breaking its facade of playing a cat that it had maintained since leaving the private club, and directly spoke to give a warning. It had been pretending to be a harmless Maine Coon, which though larger and heavier than average, wasn''t suspicious in America, where Maine Coons are common. With its fluffy fur and imposing appearance, it was hard to notice the actual difference in weight compared to a shorthaired Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet. If it went into the water, the Maine Coon''s true size would be utterly exposed; apart from Da Cheng, most fluffy cats aren''t as plump as they appear. Enjoy exclusive content from empire "I won''t say anything!" The big fatty attempted to stubbornly resist to the end. Chen Fei stomped on the ground, immediately crushing the earth spikes that were about to rise. His soles were as tough as metal plates, unafraid of stepping on a shoe. The soil and rocks also contain metal elements, although the quantity is very sparse and can''t compare with exploitable ore. However, it was enough for Chen Fei to sense movements around him. "Since you''ve made your choice, then... sorry!" Chen Fei kicked out like lightning, hitting the man''s knee directly. With a light snap, the big fat man''s eyes bulged, but he couldn''t make a sound. His other intact leg couldn''t support him alone, and immediately he lost balance and crashed to the ground like a small mountain. Boom! The ground shook violently. "Last chance, name, age, place of birth, Social Welfare Number, your superior..." Chen Fei was a kind person, still wanting to give the other party a chance. "Ow... F*K!! F*K-The-B*H!!!" The big fatty, finally crying out in pain, covered his shattered knee, cursing incoherently. A titanium alloy knee replacement would cost at least 300,000 Star Yuan. Chen Fei had followed the boss to Chapala in Mesoamerica, risking his life just to earn such an amount. The other party on this trip probably lost badly. "Alright, then!" He shook his head, crouched down, and pressed down on the other party''s head. "..." The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet''s fur bristled. What is this guy going to do? Chen Fei applied force with his hand. "Goodbye!" Snap! The obese body of the big fatty twitched once, and his gaze rapidly dimmed. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet said tremblingly, "You killed him?" It witnessed Chen Fei twist a man''s neck up close and terminate his life. His reaction, however, was calm throughout, as if he had done a trivial matter of no importance. "He killed himself, I already gave him several chances." Chen Fei withdrew his hand and stood up straight. No blood, that''s good! "You killed someone!!!" A chill went down Er Lang''s spine. In the end, it was still a law-abiding Magical Beast and had never killed anyone, let alone had a criminal record. In fact, Magical Beasts with criminal records found it very hard to integrate into human society. Blue Star Humans'' civilization enforced strict control over this. Compared to Chen Fei, this Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet was a completely pure and innocent little white flower. - Chapter 239 Section 239 - Tower Stolen ``` The fight intensified, with both sides going back and forth, putting on quite a show. "Next! Take cover!" Chen Fei pulled down the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet clinging to his shoulder, patted its head, and stood up. Rubbing the head is not only a gesture for feline creatures but also signifies dominance for Magical Beasts, which Er Lang protested with great dissatisfaction: "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, you''re far too impolite." "Take cover!" Chen Fei had started running, his movements quicker and more ferocious without the large cat on him. After witnessing Chen Fei snap the neck of one of their Earth Element Ability Users, the other attackers finally dropped all caution and aimed their guns at him, opening fire fiercely. Chen Fei kept the little black box cuffed to his wrist behind him, running toward the hailstorm of bullets. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet quickly found a hole and scampered into it, peeking out only to see the human launching a suicidal charge, leaving it utterly dumbfounded. "Aaaaah, the guy''s gone mad, mad I say, meow? Wait, I''m not a cat, where did that meow come from? What kind of weird habit is that aaaaah!" If humans were all this crazy, where would there be a place left for the Magical Beasts. Chen Fei slapped the gun out of the attacker''s hand as if it were no better than a flaming stick, grabbed the assailant by the neck, and kindly inquired, "Name, age, birthplace, Social Welfare Number, you..." Not talking? Crrack! Next! Grabbing the scalding gun barrel, letting bullets pierce his chest at close range, Chen Fei bared his teeth at the attacker. "Ow!" He scared one unconscious and then slapped them awake on both cheeks. "Name, age, birthplace, Social Welfare Number, who''s your superior?" "I, I don''t know!" "You''re done for!" Crrack! "Don''t let any of them escape!" The Chief Bodyguard, carrying an automatic weapon, charged out from his hiding spot, firing indiscriminately. From the initial collision with the earth wall to the ongoing firefight, casualties among the guards hired by Tianjiu Financial Company were inevitable. Now that they finally had the upper hand, how could they let these felons off the hook. The guards'' morale soared as they charged together, turning the skirmish into a one-sided battle. The attackers could no longer hold out, retreating and fleeing in disarray. Minutes later, the battle ended. No matter how fast the attackers ran, they couldn''t outrun bullets. Although some of the attackers tried to escape in vehicles, Chen Fei wasn''t about to let them get what they wanted, reaping a few more Energy Points and leaving only non-metallic parts rolling around and the assailants in a dazed state behind. The guards crowded in, tying up these will-broken wretches tight and didn''t forget to kick them hard, taking revenge for their fallen and wounded brothers. Big Cat finally emerged from its hiding spot, shook its fur, and stared at Chen Fei, asking, "Are you a devil?" It saw Chen Fei snap at least four or five people''s necks without batting an eyelid. Explore more adventures at empire Chen Fei stated righteously, "No, I''m a good person!" He never killed the innocent; those who died by his hand had it coming. If it weren''t for their own digging of graves, they wouldn''t have landed in Chen Fei''s hands. "Mr. Chen Fei, something''s wrong!" Just then, the Chief Bodyguard escorting Chen Fei and Er Lang to the airport ran over with a pale face, clutching a walkie-talkie. "No! You are just a little kitty right now!" Chen Fei shook the hefty sixty-something-pound creature. This thing was a Magical Beast, dead heavy, much heavier than a cat. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet suddenly remembered its mission, of course, it was to act like a pet big cat. It didn''t want any piggyback, which was even more humiliating. Its body went limp, and it wore an expression of utter despair. Life as a beast wasn''t easy, so cherish every moment. As they walked, Chen Fei said, "That thing, spit out your orb later." "What are you planning to do?" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet immediately perked up its ears, on high alert. A bracelet appeared parallel next to the handcuffs that held the small black box in his other hand; it was the physical manifestation of the "Universal Data Transceiver" skill, capable of disassembling into various data ports, compatible with all known electronics interfaces. ... The severely injured bodyguards were taken to a nearby medical facility, while those with lighter injuries who could still fight followed Chen Fei back to the private club near Santa Monica Beach to rescue their bosses. The two cars that had driven there earlier, one had crashed into an earthen wall, completely wrecking the front, while the other fell into a ditch, leaving people disoriented and the car nearly in pieces. Only the car that Chen Fei had been in¡ªparked on the edge of a large pit and riddled with bullet holes¡ªwas still relatively intact. Having no choice but to "borrow" five cars from the attackers, after abandoning the badly damaged and bullet-ridden vehicle that was still driveable but looked utterly terrifying, the able bodyguards once again surrounded Chen Fei as they set off. This time, there were more cars, but fewer people. As soon as the front left, police cars with flashing lights approached from afar, arriving at the small town by the highway. The police of the American Federation were, as always, late. The return trip still took over an hour. Once the motorcade was back at Santa Monica Beach, the neighborhood was peaceful, with bikinis everywhere due to the nearby beach; the more exposed, the better, with some women even going topless, because why should women have to wear more cloth than men when sometimes men have bigger chests? The private police who were supposed to set up a security zone near the private club were nowhere to be found, leaving behind only their barriers and tapes. Garbage littered the ground, which was out of place in the bustling surroundings. "The private police are gone, there''s blood on the ground!" The Chief Bodyguard''s voice came through the walkie-talkie in the cars, signaling casualties among the private police tasked with protecting the club. "We''re here, I''m getting out, and the big cat stays in the car." As the bodyguards tried to remove the barriers, Chen Fei was the first to get out of the car. "Mr. Chen, we''ll go in with you, you''d better carry a gun for protection." The Chief Bodyguard hurried to his side. Although he didn''t know what exactly had happened inside the club, the transmission from the walkie-talkie was clearly not good. "No need, you can''t go in, don''t waste your effort. Just prepare to back me up outside, and don''t let unrelated people get close." Holding the small black box handcuffed to his wrist, Chen Fei stepped towards the direction of the private club. The usually quiet private club seemed in a bad spot right then. Should any stray bullets fly out, the tourists nearby would be in trouble. "Alright, be careful!" The Chief Bodyguard felt helpless, having no better idea. "Meow! (Are you leaving me behind?)" The innocent "little kitty" didn''t expect to be left behind. Such a heartless... When Chen Fei arrived at the main entrance of the club, he saw no one else and encountered no obstacles, just as he expected; they were quite content with his solitary approach. The doorman who took tips and the waitstaff were gone. In the club''s hall, there were about a dozen characters in beach attire, each holding automatic weapons, high as kites, ignoring Chen Fei''s entrance. Black, white, yellow ¨C there was no racial discrimination here, all sorts of crooks worked in this trade. "Hey, third floor, 404!" Someone gave Chen Fei the finger. No one searched him; whether he had a gun or not didn''t matter. There were many people and even more guns inside. "F*K-U!" Chen Fei retaliated rudely with his middle finger. Chapter 240 Section 240 - Impossible ``` The sound of guns being cocked rang out in unison, and everyone in the lobby focused their gaze on Chen Fei. For the desperados, such provocation was a very serious matter. The air grew tense, the scene as silent as death, with the aura of killing pervading. After a few moments, someone finally spoke up. "Hmph! If you manage to survive later, we''ll settle this score properly!" The menacing looking brute with a ferocious face stared intently at Chen Fei while fiddling with a tactical dagger, his threatening intention unmistakable. "That''s right, none of you are getting away later!" Chen Fei lifted his hand nonchalantly and pointed at each person present one by one. These guys were just there to deliver food. Despite their fierce and difficult-to-deal-with appearance, compared to those who work in the military contracting industry, they were no better than kindergarteners; a slap could make them cry for at least half an hour. Chen Fei took the elevator and quickly arrived at the third floor, 301, 218, 513, 414... Room number 404, why the floor''s room numbers were so chaotic was probably known only to the owner of this private club. It was evident that if the local police ever raided this club on any pretext, they would be thrown into disarray by these haphazard room numbers. In the hallway, armed personnel loaded with guns stood everywhere, their eyes fixed intently on Chen Fei, and as he approached, they made intimidating faces and gestures in a show of bravado. Floral shirts, colored T-shirts, beach shorts, capris, ''hot pants,'' all sorts of attire were present except for formal suits; armed with weapons, they looked like a mob getting ready to start a beach party. The corridor walls were riddled with bullet holes, and amidst the messy soot and large craters, one could even see through to the rooms on the other side of the wall. To take over this place, these armed personnel had not held back in a firefight with Tianjiu Finance''s bodyguards, with both sides unleashing substantial firepower. Based on actual combat experience, despite the alarming scene, casualties may not necessarily be extensive. Chen Fei completely ignored these guys, and at the door of room 404 stood the "Heng Ha Generals," puffing out their chests and bellies, trying to look imposing but standing awkwardly, giving off the vibe of a bandit hideout. Unfortunately, he was not Yang Zirong, and neither were those inside as high-end as a mountain eagle. Thud, thud! In front of the "Heng Ha Generals," Chen Fei knocked on the wooden door. "Come in!" The two door guards opened it for him, but there was disdain and mockery in their eyes, as if they were certain Chen Fei wouldn''t be able to walk out alive. The solid wood door led to a luxuriously decorated office, at least a hundred square meters in size, with the floor covered in hand-woven natural wool carpets. However, many areas were stained with abnormal dark red, a pungent smell of blood emanating, and in the corner lay a pile of bodyguards who had long since fallen silent. Ordinary people suddenly smelling human blood often reflexively feel nauseated and vomit, but Chen Fei merely sniffed and seemed unfazed, his expression unchanged as he calmly surveyed the entire office. The three Li Family Siblings, the clients, were all present. Elder Brother Li Gaogao''s face looked extremely unpleasant, Second Sister Li Wanjiji''s face was pale, her eyes lifeless as they trembled nonstop, and the Third Brother Li Xingxing was grimacing in anger, hmm, once the adrenaline is metabolized, this guy will probably understand fear very soon. Under the desperate protection of their bodyguards, the Li siblings were unharmed, though terrified. In contrast to the three of them who looked unscathed, the surviving bodyguards were in sorry states, blackened eyes and bruised faces, all battered and bearing injuries, with some even sustaining gunshot wounds that had been hastily bandaged, barely clinging to life. "Where is it?" ``` ``` A hoarse voice came from the direction of the large desk. A burly man with a head full of dirty braids and high, straight eyebrows was sizing up Chen Fei, his gaze falling on the small black box on his wrist. Behind the large desk, seven or eight guys were holding automatic weapons, including machine guns and grenade launchers¡ªthis firepower was a bit against the rules. "Release the hostages first!" Chen pointed at those huddled in the corner, not only the three Li Family brats but also the surviving bodyguards. "You''re not in a position to make demands." The man with the dirty braids sneered, seemingly mocking Chen Fei for not realizing who was really in charge here. "Fine then!" Although the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet''s racial talents in the Psychic and Wind Series didn''t specialize in physical defense, ordinary cold weapons in human hands would still struggle to pose a threat to it. Seeing this, Li Gaogao hurriedly said, "Wait, I have an emetic!" But deep down, he let out a sigh of relief. To bring in a Seventh Rank Magical Beast of the Human Order with bare hands¡ªthese guys must be tired of living. Miss Li Wanji blinked her beautiful eyes, waiting for the big cat to show its might and kill all the thieves in the room. It would be great if that fatso nicknamed "Great White Shark" could be sliced and dried into fish jerky. Li Xingxing''s eyes widened with anticipation. The emetic (men''s cologne) was handed to the chubby white man, who examined it from all angles, sprayed it aimlessly into the air, sniffed it, nodded his head in approval, and found it quite fragrant! He spritzed himself a few times before spraying it directly in the big cat''s face. "Bluargh!!!!" The big cat vomited on the spot. The scent was so strong it broke through its defenses right away! The sensory experiences of humans and animals differ greatly. Some scents that humans find pleasing may not be perceived the same way by other creatures. For instance, castoreum, which is actually a secretion from a beaver''s scent gland. "Damn!" The chubby white man moved like a nimble fatso, leaping three feet away and narrowly avoiding the murky vomit the big cat spewed out. A white sphere with sticky mucus was mixed in it. "That''s it, water, wash it clean!" The burly man behind the large desk jumped to his feet. A few bottles of water poured down, further ruining the pure hand-woven wool carpet that was already a mess¡ªdefinitely unsalvageable. The two white spheres looked indistinguishable on the outside, but to prevent confusion, the burly man immediately made distinctions with a marker¡ªone with a cross, one with a circle, making sure they would not be mixed up. The burly man carefully placed the two little spheres into a box, securing it close to his body, and then dialed a phone number. "The item is in hand... Understood!" After the call, he waved his hand and ordered, "Prepare their farewell gifts, then let''s clear out!" The so-called farewell gifts were actually one explosive vest for each person. Even the big cat got one, with a bulging little vest, it immediately had a new look. No one dared to make a move. Any sudden movement, and everything would explode¡ªthere would be no escape. A group of armed personnel with guns quickly left the private club, running away cleanly and efficiently. "Chen Fei, Er Lang, why didn''t you counterattack?" Li Gaogao, who dared not make any sudden moves, eventually couldn''t contain himself. He couldn''t believe the ridiculousness of the situation¡ªa B-grade Metal Ability User, together with a Seventh Rank Dual-Elemental Magical Beast, couldn''t take care of these armed commoners? His "Universal Data Transceiver" bracelet retracted from the explosive vest''s data port, and Chen Fei twisted his body, took off the explosive vest under everyone''s gaze, and ripped it apart with both hands¡ªshredding it on the spot. Decrypting the explosive vest''s core control drive board through the data port was easier than eating and drinking. As long as it didn''t detonate on the spot, Chen Xiao''er had no problem handling such a device. He didn''t answer Li Gaogao''s question but instead asked, "Hmm! Do you have any spare little spheres?" "You mean..." Li Gaogao was taken aback, his eyes slowly growing wider. A possibility involuntarily emerged from the bottom of his heart. That''s impossible!!! - Chapter 241 Section 241 - This matter is not over "Meow, meow, meow, mine, mine!" Honestly, the small vest he was wearing now was far more threatening than the Big Dog''s Leg from earlier. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet rushed to Chen Fei''s side and rubbed vigorously against his shin. After all, it was a Magical Beast of the Human Order Seventh Rank and almost knocked Chen Fei over. "The Universal Data Transceiver" on his wrist produced the same effect, and Chen Fei tore off another small vest. "It''s all Chen Fei''s fault, his idea, all of it! I''m the one who suffered greatly because of it." Feeling safe again, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet immediately switched sides and started to snitch. It had vomited three times in a single day, and its stomach was a little worse for wear! Chen Fei smiled without explanation and continued to help the Li Family Siblings release their self-destructing vests. If these small vests were to explode all at once, this private club would be leveled to the ground instantly. "Mr. Chen, what is this all about, thinking you can just take the Li Family''s money... Ah! Sis, why are you hitting me!" Li Xingxing had just gotten rid of the explosive vest and was about to spill the beans when his older sister kicked him hard. "Would the Chen Family care about such a small amount of money?" Li Wanjiji glared at her younger brother. This unreliable guy never thought before he spoke. Chen Fei silently said to himself: He really was short on money! "What exactly happened here? Can you explain?" Li Gaogao, the Eldest of the Li Family, was still very composed and did not question Chen Fei as carelessly as the youngest, Li Xingxing. Chen Fei did not speak, instead turning his gaze to the bodyguards. He did not believe the Li Family''s young masters and young miss could have a mole among them; such issues as the real vs. fake AI unit leaking could be a real concern for Tianjiu Finance''s intelligence capability. But before this incident, the Magical Beast identity of the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang had not been exposed, which could serve as a criterion for weeding out spies, to thoroughly comb through the internal team. Li Gaogao narrowed his eyes slightly, immediately understanding the suggestion from Chen Fei and turned around. "Everyone out, wait outside, Second Brother, Third Brother, you two are in charge of the door, no one else gets to come close." "Mhm, leave one electronic device scanner behind." Chen Fei took the opportunity to add. "What about me?" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet looked at Chen Fei and Li Gaogao, then at the door, hesitating. "Whatever!" Having dealt with people a lot, Chen Fei actually trusted Magical Beasts more. Even though they were often silly and dumb, they tended to be simple-minded, stubborn to some extent, and incapable of the deceit and manipulation at which humans excel. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet happily jumped onto the high-backed chair behind the big desk and lay down as if it belonged there. I am tired, my subjects, you may kneel! "Eh?" Li Yuan cocked her head, confused; Big Brother''s order was strange. Does he not trust her and her younger brother now? "Us?" Li Xingxing looked at himself incredulously, his face a portrait of disbelief. He was unhappy, very unhappy. This Mr. Chen was treating a feather as a Mandate Arrow. "Out, everyone out!" The game had only just begun. Li Gaogao used Tianjiu Finance and the Li Family''s networks to spread the information. Because it was a mix of truth and falsehood, it was difficult for others to discern, stirring up quite a commotion. Whether it was the American Federation or the surrounding sovereignties, all expressed close attention to the matter. The "Intelligent Rebellion" from thirty years ago had already been declassified and was known to the public, but who knew whether someone would rashly adapt this dreadful malicious artificial intelligence to fit today''s hardware, software, and network environments, potentially reigniting its resurgence. Such an act was essentially making enemies with the whole world. As the entity responsible for the commission and as the guarantor agency, Tianjiu Financial Company would likely not escape blame for the hijacked AI "Adam" unit and would have to bear considerable pressure. However, the forces that had snatched away the two little spheres faced even greater pressure, having not anticipated that the Li Family would not choose to swallow their anger and suppress the matter quietly. Instead, they burst forth without care; they might lose face, but the ensuing series of events caught many off guard. The American Federation was in an internal disquiet. - On the third day, in the afternoon. "Finally back!" Having smoothly passed customs and security, Li Gaogao, Li Wanjiji, and Li Xingxing each let out a sigh of relief in unison, their voices coinciding as they spoke. "It went relatively smoothly!" Accompanying the three siblings from the Li Family back was also Chen Fei. It seemed like the American Federation couldn''t wait to get rid of them, offering no obstacles and allowing the four to board an international flight together. After a 14-hour flight, they landed safely back in their home country. "This isn''t over!" Li Gaogao shook his head. The Li Family had suffered a setback this time, but the enemy didn''t fare much better. As Chen Fei had said, once the yellow mud fell into one''s crotch, whether it was shit or not was no longer up to them to decide. "You guys handle it carefully on your own; don''t mess it up!" As one of the involved parties, Chen Fei himself seemed unaffected. A mere minion, no one would take him seriously. Aguard had been killed, and his record remained spotless, a genuine law-abiding citizen. Moreover, with Tianjiu Finance and the Li Family out front, there was no chance of involving a descendant of the Chen Family Gate. From the onset, the eldest of the Li Family had already erased Chen Fei''s significance when making the phone call. "We''ve got it under control. Since you''re here, come spend a couple of days at our place, and then I''ll escort you back!" As Tianjiu Finance''s base of operations was in the Capital City, Li Gaogao naturally extended hospitality as the host. It was only natural for the Li Family to receive a young member of the Chen Family. "No problem!" Chen Fei gave the OK hand gesture once again. The airport was crowded and not the place for certain discussions. Watching the eldest and the man surnamed Chen exchange veiled banter, Li Xingxing looked bewildered, wondering what sort of unspeakable topics they were discussing. Li Wanjiji just wanted to rush and relax with an aromatic SPA treatment. She didn''t want to visit that wretched place in the American Federation again this year. The Jianghu was treacherous; home was always more comfortable. Before claiming his luggage, Chen Fei went to pick up the animal air transport crate. Even though they had lost the mission items, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang still followed. The Li Family had entrusted the magical beast to Chen Fei''s care, for which an additional fee was paid. After all, Er Lang got along best with Chen Fei since their first meeting. Having them together also put everyone else''s mind at ease. After retrieving the luggage from the carousel, Chen Fei was about to stack the air transport crate for the big cat on top of it. The cat inside curled up into a ball, sleeping soundly, impervious to noise and shaking; it had no idea that it was off the plane already. Explore hidden tales at empire Li Gaogao, also there to collect luggage, suddenly said, "Open it and check." - Chapter 242 Section 242 - Joint Commission ``` "Hmm?" ``` Chen Fei was taken aback as he made eye contact, and immediately opened his suitcase with confusion. Not only was he puzzled, but so were Li Wanjiji and her brother Li Xingxing, wondering what their elder brother meant by his words. Together with their bodyguards, they began to inspect their luggage on the spot. "Aha, just as I thought!" Li Gaogao carefully examined a few of his garments and sneered. "Someone has been tampering with this, truly relentless!" Though nothing was missing from the suitcases, the placement and folding state of some items had clearly changed, and Chen Fei finally understood why Li Gaogao had said this matter was not settled. Someone still refused to let the Li Family and Chen Fei off the hook, not sparing even the luggage returned to their home country, sifting through it sneakily. Had it not been for an extra ounce of caution, perhaps no one would have noticed anything. - The Li Residence was located between the third and fourth ring roads, featuring a modern three-section large quadrangle courtyard encompassing about twelve hundred square meters. Of course, locations within the third ring of the Capital City were more premium, better reflecting the domineering power of wealth. However, as latecomers in the grand scheme of things, the Li Family had no way to squeeze into those central areas! Tianjiu Financial Company''s headquarters were in Shanghai, but this didn''t prevent the Li Family from setting up their main residence in the Capital City. The group''s chairman, Li Zhenxing, had retired behind the scenes, assisting his eldest son, Li Gaogao, in preparing for succession¡ªthis could take as long as ten to eight years, or as short as three to five years. The international financial situation was ever-changing and unpredictable; maintaining a firm position was not easy, and instances of losing one''s entire fortune overnight were not rare. While financial winners seemed to take all, raking in money and spending lavishly, even more ended in bankruptcy, suicide, or the dissolution of their families. That Tianjiu Financial Company could operate up to this point, with capital growing like a rolling snowball, depended solely on two principles: "stability" and "non-greed". It was because of these principles that they were selected as the guarantor agent responsible for retrieving the artificial intelligence AI unit carrying the recompiled version of "Adam" from the American Federation. "Little Chen, make yourself at home and don''t be shy. And Er Lang, you''re welcome as a guest." Li Gaogao, Li Wanjiji, and Li Xingxing''s father, Li Zhenxing, personally received Chen Fei, who had come from afar. On the way to the Li Residence, Li Wanjiji couldn''t wait to separate from the group for a fragrant aromatherapy SPA, while Li Xingxing was called away by his friends. Only the eldest brother, Li Gaogao, personally accompanied Chen Fei to the Li Residence. After entrusting him to his father, he hurried off. A pile of work had accumulated at the company, demanding Li Gaogao''s personal attention, and he had to be cautious about the aftermath caused by the two Little Bai spheres. Any slip-up could destroy the situation they had meticulously built. "Little Chen, have some fruit." Li Zhenxing''s smiley wife personally brought over a plate of cut fruits. After giving Chen Fei a few looks, she turned and went back to the kitchen to continue making dinner preparations. Your journey continues with empire Though the Li Residence had a full-time chef, the fact that the mistress herself was cooking signified a special regard for the guest. "Thank you!" "Ah, please come in!" Li Zhenxing immediately stood up and said to Chen Fei, "We have an important guest. I''ll introduce you to each other." The visitor to the Li Residence today wasn''t just Chen Fei; Li Zhenxing was also waiting for another guest. "Hmm?" The cat-teasing Chen Fei immediately stood up. Since he was regarded as one of the younger generation of the Li Family, he should also go and meet the important guest. Seeing Chen Fei dutifully follow, Li Zhenxing secretly nodded his approval. Truly a scion of the Chen Family Gate, even such fine details and rules were not neglected. "Director Zhong, welcome, welcome!" Li Zhenxing greeted the visitor at the door, shaking his hand and welcoming him in. "Sorry, sorry, the traffic was a bit of a holdup on the way." The newcomer was a middle-aged man with meticulously combed hair and a slightly portly figure, who entered the doorway with an approachable smile, casting his gaze on Chen Fei who was behind Li Zhenxing. Before he could speak, he heard the young man proactively saying, "Uncle Zhong, hello!" A polite young man, he wondered which part of the Li Family he belonged to? Li Zhenxing pulled Chen Fei over and introduced him to Director Zhong, "Let me introduce you, this is Chen Fei of the Chen Family, the son of Chen Haishang." Then, turning his head, he said, "Director Zhong is the general manager of International Aviation, the largest domestic civilian aircraft manufacturer and airline, handling production, sales, and utilization internally as well as exports¡ªit''s more powerful than your uncle''s National Defense Star." "The young man has an impressive appearance and will surely become a pillar of the country in the future." Director Zhong stretched out his hand to shake hands with Chen Fei, wearing a kindly smile as he was led by the host of the Li Residence into the house. Director Zhong might not know who Chen Haishang of the Chen Family Gate was, but he would definitely recognize Chen Haiqing, who is also of the "Hai" generation. After entering the living room, Chen Fei asked softly, "Is Director Zhong the client this time?" Director Zhong was taken aback and looked at Li Zhenxing. The latter nodded and said meaningfully, "He''d find out sooner or later even if you don''t say it." Director Zhong said with a smile, "It''s not just me, but also those from the North, your uncle, and those from the South making helicopters. This time it''s a joint commission from several parties." One could assume the young man could guess as much. He might not have eaten pork, but he must have seen pigs run; his uncle''s company was National Defense Star, representing the military aviation sector. By that reasoning, the North must mostly be the Northern Weapons Industry Group, and there''s only one company making helicopters in the South, Chen Fei understood. The task of secured agency received by Tianjiu Financial Company was a collaborative effort between the military and civilian sectors to research this new version of artificial intelligence. Noticing the change in Chen Fei''s expression, Director Zhong and Li Zhenxing looked at each other and smiled; this young man wasn''t entirely an outsider. Those in the know understood, and those who weren''t never would¡ªexplaining further was pointless. Director Zhong reminded in a gentle tone, "Little Chen, seems like you''re aware of the situation. Remember to keep it confidential. So, did you bring the item?" Li Zhenxing''s expression immediately turned serious¡ªthis was the truly pressing matter. Chen Fei nodded and asked, "And the Little Sphere?" - Chapter 243 Section 243 - Setting Conditions "A...ball?" The General Manager of International Aviation Company, Zhong Yue, repeated in confusion and then realized, laughed, and said, "Ah, it''s an intelligent unit, this thing is not shaped like a sphere." He solemnly took out a tightly sealed box from his pocket. This is the Li Residence, moreover, at the foot of the emperor, foreign powers find it difficult to intervene, very safe. After all, the Sovereignty''s wrath resulting in bloodshed is no joke, so for a mere old-era artificial intelligence AI, it''s not worth it. The box was only the size of a palm, inside it vertically stood rows of transparent circuit boards, each sealed individually in anti-static bags. In the transparent circuit boards made of high thermal conductivity electromagnetic shielding material, a layer upon layer of fine gold wires was laid out, with the outermost layer embedded with silver-colored light conducting fibers, and the prominent main control chip and storage chip were tightly surrounded by associated electronic components. Each circuit board was a high-performance, high-capacity single-chip microcomputer. Chen Fei opened a package of anti-static sealed bags, a terminal extended from the wristband on his wrist, touching each circuit board''s pins, electrical paths, and optical paths. System: Ding, IS-T001_Ver1.1 integrated unit found, format, yes/no? Format! System: Ding, formatting complete! Drive "B." Skill "File Management Plugin," select "Adam-AI_2.0," copy to send to Drive B System: Sending begins... takes 15 seconds (1 second/15 seconds)... Sending ends, verification complete! The Dog System''s copy function does not touch the copy count rule of "Adam-AI_2.0," filling a box of 24 integrated units quickly. "Uh! This thing of yours is..." Director Zhong of International Aviation pointed at Chen Fei''s left wrist, wondering why this device could read and write integrated units, it seemed specialized. Chen Fei stated earnestly, "Black technology! A multi-functional data terminal specifically for reading and writing data." Thinking again, he pulled out four more anti-static bags from the box and stuffed them into his own pocket, leaving only 20 pieces for the other party. "Adam-AI_2.0" is useless left in the Dog System, it must be employed in reality, for a chance to play with it. Director Zhong eyed Chen Fei''s coat pocket anxiously and said, "That, that!" How come he also kept some back secretly! "This is part of the compensation." Chen Fei didn''t dare say it was all the compensation, as he was still waiting to get paid! Besides, 20 copies of "Adam" were already sufficient to fulfill his agreement. "Alright!" Director Zhong sighed, although he had prepared 24 integrated units, obtaining even one was enough. As long as the source code and compiler were in hand, although copying a few more would be restricted, it was merely a bit of trouble, would International Aviation lack experts in programming? "Little Chen has really been a big help this time, besides the original compensation, are there any other requests? Director Zhong is a leader of a big company, such opportunities are rare." Li Zhenxing emphasized the last words "very rare" heavily, this favor done for International Aviation was more valuable than simply giving money. Compared with the colossal ocean liner that was International Aviation, Tianjiu Finance was merely a little rowboat. Where was Director Zhong unaware that Old Li was wholeheartedly trying to promote his junior, blatantly forcing opportunities? Riding aboard the giant ship of International Aviation could make this young man a winner in life, drastically better than that small military contractor. He helplessly said, "Old Li is right, as long as I can help, just ask!" This favor asked was truly worth a fortune. The custom-made liquor was brewed on special request in a dedicated workshop, not available for retail sale. It used the best ingredients, water, brewing equipment, and master distillers and tasters, fermented under specific temperatures and humidity conditions. After being deemed ready for consumption, it was bottled and cellared for at least two years to ensure all harshness in the liquor had mellowed before being delivered to the client. The whole process took a minimum of three years, and such custom-made liquor was almost never seen on the market. Plus, each batch was limited; every bottle drunk was one less available. The Li Family had jointly funded several batches of this custom-made liquor, so their cellar was fully stocked. "Anything is fine!" Chen Fei was not particular, eying the labels and planning to negotiate a few bottles for Boss Hana to try when he returned. A few bottles of custom-made liquor were trivial compared to the mission he was on. Noticing the sparse cutlery on the table, Director Zhong asked in confusion, "Old Li, where are your guys?" He hadn''t seen any of the Li Family''s three sons. Li Zhenxing shook his head and replied, "The eldest is at the company, the second went for a SPA, and the third got whisked away by his useless friends again. Come on, let''s mind our own drinks and food, no need to stand on ceremony." Except for the eldest, who was busy with important matters, the second and third sons were useless, only caring for themselves, hardly the ones to inherit the family business. That''s why the family business had to be entrusted to the eldest, Li Gaogao; only then could he be at ease. The 1.2-liter bottle of custom-made liquor made its rounds on the dining table and was directly reduced by a quarter. With a small two-ounce drink per person, everyone was naturally enjoying themselves. The driver who had come with Director Zhong to the Li Residence shared a separate dining area with the Li family''s bodyguards, not mingling in this family-style dinner. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, not yet satisfied, licked the bowl and pulled its face from the bowl to shout, "None left! Is there more?" "Yes, yes, plenty!" Mrs. Li took away the empty bowl and brought over another full one. Clang, the Big Cat plunged its head straight into the pile of meat, continuing its vigorous feasting. A bowl full of meat¡ªwhat a blissful flavor! Who knows how many magical beasts have been retained by human society''s food, drink, and entertainment, becoming members of civilized society. Some drank and enjoyed their meals, while others devoured meat. Amid easy chatter and hearty laughter, although they shared the same table, they did not interfere with each other. After the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet vigorously worked its way through ten large bowls of meat and another of milk, it was finally content, licking its lips with growing elegance, as if it wasn''t the same creature that had been gobbling like a starving ghost just moments ago. "Oh! There''s a call, one moment." As Director Zhong was enjoying a lively chat with old friend Li Zhenxing and young friend Chen Fei, he noticed his phone, set on silent mode, suddenly vibrating. He immediately stood up and left the dining room to answer the call. A moment later, Director Zhong returned to the table, looked at Chen Fei, and sighed, "Little Chen, your issue is a tough one!" Li Zhenxing, seeing Director Zhong''s troubled expression, asked, "What happened? Is it that F-22? Is Eagle-Nest Airport refusing to hand it over?" "No, it''s not the airport. It''s Boeing Aerospace blocking us!" The news that Director Zhong had just received was completely unexpected: behind the simple matter of a decommissioned main fighter jet, there was such a huge entity interfering from the shadows. What exactly had this young member of the Chen Family done to provoke Boeing Aerospace to such an extent? Then again, with this spare time, wouldn''t it be better to simply beat someone up? If International Airlines Company were to stick their neck out for Chen Fei, the situation would change drastically. In the civil aviation domain, International Airlines Company was one of Boeing Aerospace''s main competitors. If the two sides came to blows over a single F-22, it wouldn''t simply be a matter of knocking some sense into someone anymore. - Chapter 244 Section 244 - Give You a Big Meow "Old Zhong, what about your side?" Li Zhenxing always felt that Director Zhong''s reaction seemed to suggest that he had encountered some trouble. He didn''t quite understand the relationship between International Airlines Company and Boeing Aerospace Company, so he could only judge from the other party''s expression. "It''s a no-go, completely impossible, very troublesome, extremely troublesome!" Director Zhong shook his head like a rattle drum, originally thinking it was just a greeting, but unexpectedly it was very tricky. Even as the president of International Airlines Company, he did not dare to meddle rashly; the waters were too muddy, unclear, maybe even a trap. Without sufficient interest, for International Airlines Company to rashly go to war with Boeing Aerospace Company, the cost would be too great. Even for him, there was a risk of being thoroughly wiped out, ending up in jail, getting his ''dog brains'' knocked out before his own brains flew out first. He picked up the wine glass with some apology and said to Chen Fei, "Sorry, Little Chen, you better change your request!" This Lightning really couldn''t be stepped on; it was lethal! Director Zhong regretted having lost his caution earlier and rashly accepted the favor. Had he known earlier, a few words of Jianghu slang to muddle through would have sufficed. Now he was left in a predicament. Li Zhenxing couldn''t afford to offend the other party either, and immediately made a choice, following up with persuasion, "Little Chen, since Old Zhong is in such a difficult position, you should change your request, huh?" If International Airlines Company decided to make it difficult for Tianjiu Financial Company, a single statement could make the Li family''s fortune crumble in minutes. "I have no other needs for the moment, so... let it be, I guess? It was just a casual inquiry anyway, besides, I haven''t lost out on this occasion!" Chen Fei spread his hands; he couldn''t force someone against their will, nor did he have the stature to do so. One''s true value lies in self-awareness. Know your place. He was just a minor character and not worth International Airlines Company making a move for him. "No, no, no, I must remember this favor. When you think of something, give me a call. Right, I almost forgot!" Director Zhong slapped his forehead and pulled out a business card, handing it to Chen Fei. This wasn''t a genuine forgetfulness but a subtle norm of the workplace. Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry, these nobody could get a business card from the president of International Airlines Company. If Chen Fei were not endowed with the identity of a scion of the Chen Family Gate, he wouldn''t have seen this card either. They would have dispatched a secretary to handle him and sent him on his way. "Thank you, Director Zhong!" Chen Fei, fully aware of this, respectfully accepted the business card with both hands. With this step down a slope provided, the minor awkwardness at the dinner table dissolved into thin air, and everyone tacitly let the matter rest there. Untapped authority expires, and the same applies to favors. As time passes, the great and the good have numerous concerns, and who will remember these things? If nothing unexpected happens, Chen Fei would definitely not trouble this significant figure again, and this business card marked the end of their connection. Face is given by others; do not take kindness for granted. A direct inquiry from the other party was enough to repay the favor. Jianghu is perilous, feelings are fickle; such a favor is business, something that outsiders would discuss. It''s different from the kinship within the Chen Family Gate. Enjoy more content from empire If the Chen Family genuinely encountered an insurmountable issue, the elders of the Chen Family Gate would not sit by and do nothing. Better to rely on one''s family than outsiders, and this would indeed be more justified, certainly with more dignity. At least, the elders sticking up for the scions of the Chen Family Gate would never be as apprehensive or calculating of losses and gains as Director Zhong of International Airlines Company. However, this belonged to the category of Strategic Level weapons, which the members of the Chen Family Gate would not use casually or lightly. Everyone in the Chen Family Gate knew that the meaning of Strategic Level weapons lay in their deterrence, not in their usage. If they were used carelessly, could they still be called Strategic Level? The temporarily stored F-22 at Old David''s place was of no urgent concern to Chen Fei; he wasn''t in desperate need of a jet. There was still a MiG-28 at the Aircrew Base awaiting a pilot. "Come on, let''s drink, let''s drink!" "Congratulations on finishing the exam!" Having been through it himself, Chen Fei completely understood his little sister''s feelings at that moment. After all, under broad daylight and in full view of the public, how could a young girl throw herself onto a man, even if he was her own brother? He immediately bent down and picked up Big Cat, placing it in front of him. "This is a gift for you, like it or surprised?" Thank heavens, he had managed to make it in time for his little sister''s exam day. Although Chen Meng had secured a trainee position with the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, she still had to take the college entrance exam. The only difference was the threshold for admission was much lower. However, if she couldn''t even scale the lowered threshold, the trainee qualification would be automatically canceled. The Henghai Tactical Weapons Group wasn''t running a charity¡ª they wouldn''t hire an idiot to fool them out of a salary. "Meow! (Go to hell!)" The cosplaying Da Cheng as a polite Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet looked utterly despondent. All alone in a foreign land without proper work, it simply latched onto Chen Fei, looking to scrape together a meal where it could. The pay offered by Chen Fei wasn''t high, but it came with room and board. The Li Family that had recruited the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet was also baffled, wondering how Little Chen managed to lure away Er Lang. Hisss... where did the operation go wrong? "Eh? What a big cat! What breed is this?" Little Sister Chen paused, halting in her tracks, and took the big cat from her second brother''s hands. The weight sank into her arms, and she almost couldn''t hold on, promptly drawing in a sharp breath. This cat was way too heavy¡ªwhat on Earth did it eat to become so heavy! "I don''t know, found it on the side of the road." Chen Fei casually shrugged it off as if he had simply picked up a homeless stray cat that was just a bit big and happened to use magic. "Huh? Where''s Xiao Jiu?" Chen Meng looked to her second brother''s shoulder, finding it empty. Without the sight of the cheerful and lively Little Bird, she felt somewhat disappointed. No more bird to pet! Looking down, Chen Meng said doubtfully, "You didn''t let this cat eat it, did you?" If it ate our bird, it will have to stay and work off the debt! A Seventh Rank Human Order Dual-Elemental Magical Beast exchanged for a Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow¡ªwhose fool idea was this? "Meow! (Who ate your bird? Speak clearly, impudent girl!)" Temp worker Er Lang wanted to scratch this girl''s face with its paw but was stopped by a look from its owner. If an ordinary person got scratched by a Magical Beast, there would be hell to pay! "Ahem! It wasn''t its fault!" Chen Fei cleared his throat and said, "Xiao Jiu is helping the boss out with some face-saving!" A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow might not be a powerful Magical Beast, but it was still a rare sight. It could shine some light for Boss Hana, boost the atmosphere, and effortlessly show off a bit. - Chapter 245 Section 245 - Results Released "Oh!" Upon hearing that Little Bird was fine, Chen Meng immediately put her mind at ease. The next moment, she looked Chen Fei up and down, puzzled, and said, "Second Brother, why have you come back?" It wasn''t a holiday or anything; surely if it was just to visit because of the college entrance exam, his heartless boss wouldn''t dock his pay, right? "I just went on a long business trip, so I can take a few days off, and I''ll go back to work after a week!" Chen Fei figured that he could just wait for his little sister''s college entrance examination scores. If she crossed the threshold for an undergraduate course, it would naturally be a cause for celebration; if not, they might have to make other plans. "Won''t it be too tiring? Ouch, this cat is too heavy, Brother, you should take it!" Feeling guilty again upon hearing that Second Brother had been on a long business trip, Chen Meng felt her arms weakening, after all, the big cat weighted a good sixty pounds or so, and it was a bit too much for her to handle for such a while. "Then just put it down!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders; he didn''t want to hold the "big cat" that weighed over sixty pounds either. "It won''t run away, will it?" Unable to bear the weight any longer, Chen Meng had no choice but to put down the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet. "How could it? It isn''t a foolish cat that would disappear the moment you let go!" Chen Fei winked at the gritting "big cat." Checking the time, he said, "Let''s go home, then. We''ll have a good celebration tonight!" Three days later, the college examination scores started to be released, and Chen Meng''s phone was the first to receive her results. Chinese 122/150, Mathematics 144/150, Physics and Chemistry 139/150, Biology 112/150, Social Studies 128/150, Politics 101/150, Martial Arts 87/100, for a total of seven subjects, giving her a score of 833 out of 1000. The cut-off scores for admissions were also released, with the line for ordinary undergraduate courses being 720 points, and that for key undergraduate courses, 810 points. From this point, the life paths of the candidates began to diverge. The cut-off score for trainees could be reduced by 30 points, meaning that a total score of just 690 would still be enough to gain university admission. As Chen Meng was a designated trainee for Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, as long as she met the score requirement, the relevant university would automatically admit her, eliminating the need to fill out her choice of preferences. The university of admission was Northern Industrial University, which itself was a key undergraduate college. The only autonomy Little Sister Chen had was to make her selection within the few specified science departments, choosing which major and which minor. Of course, those idyllic literature departments were completely out of the question. Explore stories on empire The future employer, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, didn''t need keyboard warriors waxing poetic but true warriors who could wield their swords in battle. "I''ve finally made it!" Chen Meng stared at the screen of her phone for a long time before she was willing to look away. The whole person seemed to suddenly lose all strength and collapsed onto the sofa at home; the next second, she fiercely embraced the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, acting as her pet cat, for a vigorous rub¡ªa sixty-pound cuddle buddy was totally worth it, with completely natural fur. Her petting skills evolved from "rubbing bird" to "rubbing cat!" Without a word, Chen Fei pulled a banknote from his wallet and waved it at the big cat. Erlang Iron, I need you to hang in there a little longer. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, which had been starting to get restless, instantly calmed down and went into flat-dead mode, pretending to be out of action! Dog Chen Xiao Er: Ding! Added 100 Star Yuan! The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet''s eyes suddenly shone; it liked this approach ¨C reject anything that didn''t meet its satisfaction until the other party adapted to its behavior, known as reverse control. Isn''t that how feline masters control their owners? Stupid humans just need to be responsible for opening cans ("Love, Death & Robots" Season 1). "I don''t believe it! Mimi, am I right or what?" Chen Meng flatly refused to accept such superstition. However... Half an hour later, she believed it. The cat attacked her, pinning her to the ground and leisurely settling on her lower back, immovable as if knitting thread. Little Sister Chen couldn''t break free from beneath the cat that weighed over sixty pounds, almost bursting into tears. Was she really unable to defeat a Giant Orange? What kind of Netherworld joke was this? What was even more infuriating was that her Second Brother had been nearby the whole time, showing not the slightest intention of helping, calmly video calling his female boss, along with that Little Bird. Xiao Jiu was at least lovable, having learned to make phone calls on its own, but Big Cat was not well-behaved at all. Oh, my mother! My poor back! How can this cat be so heavy? It''s practically pushing my herniated disc back into place. Only their mother complained in the kitchen about the cat''s enormous appetite; it could devour five pounds of pork and five pounds of chicken breast in one meal, requiring large pots and bowls to manage. If all the meat were replaced with beef, The Chen Family might be bankrupt in just a couple of days. The cat not only ate a lot but also excreted a lot, nearly blocking the toilet. The slight relief was that fortunately, the cat wasn''t stupid, seeming to understand human speech and knowing to flush the toilet after use, saving them a lot of trouble, unlike that crazy little girl who never even knew to flush, leaving a smell could knock someone over when opening the door. Considering getting a couple of baskets, their mother planned to take Erlang along when going grocery shopping, having him carry the desired meat and vegetables himself, because carrying twenty or thirty pounds up the stairs was exhausting despite the elevator. In just a few short days at The Chen Family, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet had transitioned from a wild cat to a cat pillow, a cat backrest, then to a household guardian Big Cat, and finally into a cat laborer. What exactly had it gone through? Two days after the high school graduation exam results were out, Chen Meng successively received two express mails. One was an admission notice from Northern Industrial University, which included a flexible circuit board with a display screen capable of playing videos explaining the history of the university, introductions to the elective majors, and check-in notices, fully combining paper media with multimedia, all very sincere. The other was a visit invitation from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, inviting this batch of recruits, including trainees, to see what their future employer looked like, as a way to greet each other in advance, hoping to leave a good first impression on both sides. In addition to trainees, the invitation allowed for one or two family members to attend. Chen Haishang and his wife Yu Xiaoyi weren''t planning to go, suspecting they wouldn''t understand all the high-tech stuff anyway, so they left the task to Second Brother Chen Fei, to accompany his sister on this trip. When they set off, Chen Fei also took the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet with him to give their mother, who purchased meat daily, a few days of rest. Moreover, after carrying vegetables for two days, Erlang felt his reputation was completely ruined, and thought to himself, what use are my Sovereignty and this Jiang Shan to me? "Why bring that creature along?" Exiting the train station, Chen Meng, upon seeing the big cat by Chen Fei''s feet, felt completely riled up. The cat wasn''t even on a leash; at least it could have helped their mother carry groceries at home, its sixty-pound frame should be able to handle a hundred pounds or so without trouble. But according to the law, only dogs required leashes; cats could roam free; and as for Giant Dragons, one was completely at liberty to try. Chen Fei pointed to the Seventh Rank Human Order Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet and said, "Don''t you think Erlang makes a qualified bodyguard?" "Him?" Chen Meng pursed her lips. "But you can''t even defeat it!" Chen Fei didn''t know from where his little sister summoned her courage; a thousand Little Sister Chens combined still wouldn''t be a match for this big cat. Having a Seventh Rank Magical Beast as a bodyguard was already the highest level of protection for ordinary people. Little Sister Chen was on the verge of bursting into tears on the spot. This is what real brothers are like, aren''t they? Don''t kick someone when they are down, okay? She said fiercely, "Don''t talk nonsense." Stop blurting out such bitter truths. "If you could defeat it, I''d actually start worrying." Chen Fei spoke very calmly; he never lied. Chapter 246 Section 246 - Just Kidding Judging others by oneself, Chen Fei''s worries turned out to be correct. If his little sister got another Dog System, let alone a Cat System, they really couldn''t get by in life. But in Chen Meng''s view, her elder brother''s words were filled with malice. Was he mocking her for having less than zero combat prowess? Don''t look down on people! "Let''s go!" Little Sister Chen, fuming, glared at Chen Fei, summoned an unmanned taxi, threw her luggage into the trunk, and rushed to sit in the passenger seat making the bad brother and stinky cat sit in the back. Chen Meng''s temper came and went quickly. Before they reached their destination, she acted as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with elder brother Chen Fei, and didn''t forget to stretch out her hand to pluck at the fur of the Magical Beast Big Cat. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet looked helpless; you can''t just pluck at one spot, it was about to be plucked bald at this rate! From the train station to the guesthouse of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, the journey took over two hours and cost more than 300 Star Yuans. This was still by taking an unmanned taxi, optimizing the route throughout; if they had switched to other public transport, it would be cheaper but might take an additional one or two hours to arrive. Although it was called a traditional guesthouse, in the eyes of Chen Fei and Chen Meng, it was a standard five-star luxury hotel. In the splendid first-floor lobby, they checked in with the invitation they received, and both Chen Fei and Chen Meng got their room cards. This time, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group arranged for double rooms, no mixing of genders. Chen Fei brought an extra big cat, so he simply paid extra to book the entire standard room for himself, and the other large bed benefited the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet. He had to pay extra; if another person shared the room and recognized the Magical Beast, it would be uncomfortable for both parties. Moreover, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet had a huge appetite, needing meat every meal and lots of it, which couldn''t just be sloppily handled; if it wasn''t well fed, it was easy to cause trouble. After settling their luggage, they returned to the first-floor lobby, and Chen Fei called his little sister, Chen Meng, down with a phone call. "Let''s eat; do you want the buffet here, or shall we find a restaurant outside? I''m treating if we go out!" Another 200,000 Star Yuans of task bonus had just been credited to his account, generously given by the Tianjiu Finance of the Li Family, with Boss Hana also rewarding them promptly without any deductions and issued fast. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire Adding to the salary from the last three months of training without any part-time jobs, Chen Fei''s account balance nearly reached three million Star Yuan, just short of a tiny bit. Although the debts previously incurred by Little Sister Chen seemed terrifying, enough to crush a salaried family, with Chen Fei''s current salary standard, he could pay it off in full within the next four years without any doubt, absolutely without suspense. "That''s too extravagant!" Chen Meng rubbed her hands. "Come on! Let''s eat outside!" Could Chen Fei not see his little sister''s hint? The guesthouse buffet was nowhere as good as a real restaurant. Ah, women, always saying no, but their hearts definitely agree. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet had no objections either; if the boss was treating, why not eat? Just as they left the guesthouse lobby, they heard a commotion and felt a strange warmth spreading in all directions. "Wow! This magic is amazing, so astounding!" "Should be able to melt steel, right?" "Master Yu will definitely become a Mage God in the future!" "Hehe, that''s just a small trick of mine." "Master Yu, I heard your Fire Elemental Affinity is at least Five Stars, is that true?" "Indeed, it''s Five Stars!" "Wow, with such talent, you''re sure to become a Mage God, congratulations in advance, Master Yu." The basketball-sized fireball hadn''t even come within ten feet before it turned into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared without a trace. A mere small fireball, barely stronger than a substandard magic bullet, was nothing in front of a Seventh Rank Magical Beast. The Psychic Series talent activated, instantly disassembling the fireball''s magical structure, and the Fire Element returned to the atmosphere. The effect was similar to Xiao Jiu''s Third Rank "Element Dispel" but much more ingenious¡ªa feather could overturn a thousand pounds, showcasing the unique finesse of Psychic Series spells. "Coward!" Little Sister Chen, oblivious to the psychic power fluctuations and magical element anomalies around her, assumed the opponent had simply attempted a provocation but then chickened out, showing utter disdain. This time, her voice was louder, clear enough for everyone to hear, and her elder brother Chen Fei showed his support. A failed attempt at showing off, a classic case of looking foolish. "Where did my fireball go?" Master Yu was caught off guard, never expecting the fireball to extinguish itself rather than being controlled by him. Someone, clearly noticing the oddity with the fireball and getting excited, carelessly said, "Hey, you two, hurry up and apologize to Master Yu, it won''t be a joke next time." "Apologize? Are you apologizing, or is that Mr. Yu apologizing?" Chen Fei extended his hand and pulled his sister behind him. This little sister could be scolded or hit by him, but no one else could touch her, not even a brother-in-law. That''s how the Chen Family protected their own, disagreement means a challenge! "Brother, should we call the police?" Being doted on by her brother, Little Sister Chen immediately pulled out her phone, causing the group opposite to collectively stiffen their faces. Calling the police at every turn¡ªwhat happened to the code of Jianghu? "We haven''t done anything to you, right?" The man who had spoken earlier had not anticipated Chen Meng''s fiery temperament; she was ready to call the police without even exchanging pleasantries. The police would first cuff the mage upon arrival and discuss matters at the station. It''s that unreasonable! Ability users may have privileges, but when they make a mistake, they are dealt with most severely¡ªthey would be executed rather than given a life sentence without parole. "Whether you did anything or not is not for you to say, nor for your companion to judge, hehe, only the police and the courts have a say." Chen Fei took over, leisurely observing these folks. Two people and a big cat had successfully encircled about a dozen of the opponents. With the advantage in their hands, they poured out liberally. This was causing trouble for Master Yu! The man''s face grew uglier by the moment. "My friend, I was just making a joke, I meant no harm," said the young mage known as Master Yu, finally stepping forward. Feigning ignorance at this critical moment would soon leave him friendless, just like Chen Fei; failing to protect his own meant no one would follow him. Those who don''t respect others will never have friends. Besides, the big cat beside Chen Fei looked vaguely familiar. "Master Yu thinks this was a joke, so I must ask, if the same joke were on you, I wonder if Master Yu could take it!" Chen Fei stared straight at him, his tone utterly devoid of jest. As a rookie who survived the corporate warfare among military contractors, it was only natural he would possess an aggressive aura. "Brother!" Little Sister Chen''s expression changed slightly; it was her first time witnessing this side of her brother. Even when Brother Chen Fei beat Little Shanzi into a helpless cry, he had never emitted such a strange, oppressive presence. It made breathing seem difficult, and the hairs on one''s back felt distinctly erect. - Chapter 247 Section 247 - Visit After Chen Fei spoke, the atmosphere at the scene suddenly stalled, and everyone fell eerily silent. The air became heavier and heavier. "May I ask how to address this friend and the girl next to him?" Master Yu''s gaze moved back and forth across the faces of Chen Fei and Chen Meng, suddenly as if he realized something. Chen Fei calmly said, "My name is Chen Fei, and this is my sister, Chen Meng." Underneath the ancient well that never saw the light of day, a monster slowly unfolded its claws ¡ª a dragon has its reverse scales, touch them and face death! Tone, gaze, expression, stance... all conveyed a certain message: dare to touch my sister, and I''ll kill you! "Hehe, nice to meet you, I''m Yu Mingze, just a minor mage." Master Yu walked up close to Chen Fei with an easy grace and extended his hand. "Stay away from my sister!" Chen Fei did not reach out his hand and simply looked indifferently at the other party. Those who loved to show off and be high-profile on the battlefield were often the first to die. So, he didn''t want to have anything to do with the other party, from now on they were strangers from different paths, two parallel lines that would never cross again. "Hey you..." Just as someone behind Master Yu was about to scold, Chen Fei coldly glared at him, causing the words to be swallowed back involuntarily. "No worries, there''s plenty of time ahead, I''m not a bad person, am I? Brother Chen!" Yu Mingze smiled awkwardly, not angry in the slightest. "Let''s go!" Screw you, Chen Fei thought as he left with his sister directly. "Brother, weren''t you a bit too harsh on him?" Recalling the hair-raising sensation she had felt, Chen Meng still felt a bit uneasy. After saying this, she playfully stuck out her tongue, her mood lightening again. "Stay away from that unlucky guy in the future. On the battlefield, the tallest blade of grass gets cut first, and it''s those who keep a low profile who survive longer." Chen Fei always liked to apply the survival lessons from corporate wars to others, always assessing the situation. Naturally, one should steer clear of characters who wouldn''t last past three episodes to avoid being inadvertently involved. "You talk as if you''ve fought wars!" Chen Meng playfully punched her older brother on the shoulder. "Hehe, I''m just a happy mechanic!" Chen Fei followed his little sister''s lead and chuckled. Buddha said: ''Cannot say, cannot say''! "I want a feast!" "Meow!" "No problem! It''s on me!" ... Watching the siblings Chen walking away. People around Master Yu seemed to come back to life, their breathing eased, their hearts stopped pounding, their courage returned, as if nothing had happened. "Master Yu, are we just going to let that guy off?" Still someone was uneasy, unable to swallow the indignation. The other party''s distant coldness was infuriating, but since Master Yu had not clearly expressed his stand, they dared not make their own decisions. "That guy has killed people, more than one!" Master Yu finally withdrew his gaze. Indeed, that young man named Chen Fei radiated an eerie, blade-like aura that was unmistakably murderous. Is this guy a homicidal maniac? Such heavy murderous intent! "???" Chen Meng, puzzled, turned her head and then her head tilted to the side against the seat, "zzzZZZ..." starting to snore softly, plunging into a deep sleep. Psychic Series, Human Order Second Rank "Nightmare Deep Sleep," with the insignificant spiritual power of a commoner like Little Sister Chen, took effect instantly, Removing the nightmares, leaving only deep sleep, otherwise, there would have been a serving of "Iron Pot Stewed Big Cat" that evening. "Is that it?" Chen Fei shook his head. If Xiao Jiu were here, a quick Light Healing Technique would have dispelled this bit of fatigue instantly. "Meow!" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, possessing the Psychic and Wind Series, felt wronged. It had done all it could, but was utterly powerless against physiological dark circles. "Put it on yourself!" Chen Fei tossed over a lead leash. The eyes of the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet went wide at once. This thing is zero damage and max insult that is simply... with Star Yuan around, it could be used for anything! Bowing to Star Yuan is no shame for a Magical Beast, only for a cat, and it''s not a cat! Well, then, it''s all good, all good! The guesthouse wasn''t far from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s headquarters, a mere ten-minute drive or simply a push on the accelerator. Chen Meng, awakened by Chen Fei, stretched lazily and found that she had reached her destination in the blink of an eye. Confused, she said, "Brother, did I fall asleep?" "Yep. Time to get off, and don''t forget Er Lang!" Chen Fei handed the leash to Chen Meng¡ªlooking after this big cat was now her responsibility. Being in a strange public place, the cat was too big to carry, so it was more comforting for both to simply lead it by a leash. A deep sleep for about ten minutes markedly eased her mental fatigue. After stretching, Chen Meng was also much more alert. Quite a few people were astonished to see the Chen siblings leading a big cat. However, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s reception staff merely gave it an extra glance, showing no intention of stopping them from entering the building with the big cat as they entered the headquarters. The first area for the open day tour was the second-floor section of the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s headquarters dedicated to corporate culture and history. An old factory for a century, Henghai Military Defense. This background wasn''t just hype but had truly accumulated over the years, involving countless people''s efforts. From the model of the original site and photos at the beginning of the factory to an introduction to the founders, and proportional models of each generation''s main products, the trainees and their families looked on with pride. Henghai Tactical Weapons Group was a producer that highly valued honor, treating it as precious as life, and its stringent demands on design and quality were sometimes seen as overly critical. These high standards resulted in a significant positive impact, hence Henghai once monopolized the domestic production and manufacturing of single soldier tactical armors and combat mobility armors. To comply with higher-up commands and voluntarily break the monopoly, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group would even transfer technology and resources to competitors occasionally, but this did not shake its position as the main supplier of military single soldier tactical weapons. Weakening oneself to boost a competitor isn''t uncommon across various industries. Having a competent rival to maintain a certain level of pressure is more advantageous for keeping the company''s vitality, preventing the company from becoming complacent and stagnating. "Artificial intelligence, material physics, automation, artificial intelligence, materials..." Little Sister Chen looked at the single soldier tactical equipment on display, mumbling to herself as she tried to figure out her strongest entry point. Actually, Chen Fei had already planned for his younger sister, and all the necessary resources were ready, but he preferred not to tell her too soon to avoid her becoming conceited and losing sight of her path. After visiting the corporate culture exhibition area and various administrative departments, it was time for the boring part of listening to the leaders'' speeches. The content of the speeches was not important. What was important was to remember what the leaders looked like so they won''t offend someone by mistake when they started working, which could lead to troublesome outcomes. An hour later, they could count every mole on the faces of their leaders. After having a working lunch in the building, the afternoon tour content was the real substance. "Please do not step outside of these white lines. What we are looking at now is the Dragon General 2.2T model of the marine warrior type single soldier tactical armor. T stands for test version. Technicians are currently making improvements and tests, a process that requires numerous and repeated experiments, even destructive tests, to determine the best configuration..." The dashing guide continued to lead the visitors to the initial testing area, endlessly explaining. Various types of practical tests were underway in each test chamber, quietly and busily conducted. Even unusual noises couldn''t penetrate the magic barriers surrounding each test chamber, ensuring safety as well. - Chapter 248 Section 248 - One Punch "Bang!" Just as a magic barrier in one of the test chambers was activated, an immense sound made everyone''s ears buzz. They saw the "Dragon General 2.2T" Individual Exoskeleton Tactical Armor, still in the process of being equipped, land a heavy punch on a piece of equipment. The device, which stood taller than a person and was as wide and bulky as a large wardrobe, now displayed a row of numbers on its digital screen. Each testing chamber was quite spacious, at least a hundred square meters, and filled with all sorts of equipment, including Ability Users, allowing for a variety of tests and methods. "1163 kilograms!" The visitors were astounded, exclamations erupting from all around. This was strength beyond that of an ordinary person! If such a blow were to land on someone, it could cripple or even be fatal, and it might even kill a sturdy buffalo. "What we are testing now is the ''Dragon General 2.2T''s straight punch amplification component. Strength is not about being as powerful as possible, but rather about how to exert force effectively. Despite this punch having over a ton of impact force, if designed poorly, it can easily harm the user. The strength testing machine we are using now is available for everyone to try and see for themselves how much punch strength they have and compare it to the ''Dragon General 2.2T''s." The Guide Big Brother had meticulously arranged a live interactive session. Just seeing the numbers and hearing verbal explanations couldn''t truly convey the enhancement in personal physical capabilities brought about by exoskeleton equipment like the Individual Tactical Armor. The trainees and their families lined up to give their all and punch at the testing machine. 18 kilograms, 54 kilograms, 32 kilograms, 76 kilograms... With a loud "bam," the digital display showed the number "110 kilograms." "Wow, that''s a lot of strength!" Then, another record was set with "156 kilograms." Yu Mingze, amidst admiring gazes, proudly pulled back his fist, looking around the crowd. He soon spotted Chen Fei and his sister Chen Meng and shot them a challenging look, saying, "Who wants to give it a go?" As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Chen Fei. For a fire mage to deliver a punch with the force of a professional boxer was truly unexpected. In the next second, around Master Yu, the scene turned into one of grandstanding and endless flattery. "Brother, you should try!" Chen Meng encouraged Chen Fei to take part, determined not to let that annoying show-off, Master Yu, steal the spotlight. It was time to show the might of a Grade B supernatural power user! The Chen siblings were known to have thoroughly trounced their elder cousin''s youngest son, easily dominating him, so their strength was naturally not to be underestimated. "Don''t you want to play?" Chen Fei could clearly hear the underlying message in his sister''s urging, playful! "Hehe!" Chen Meng giggled a few times, but her body was honestly readying itself for action. Soon it was the Chen siblings'' turn, with Little Sister Chen going first. With a roar, she thudded a muffled punch onto the cushioned impact board. "155 kilograms!" "Wow! Almost broke the record!" "That''s amazing, one wouldn''t think she had such strength." ... If putting all his strength into it couldn''t surpass someone''s bare fist, what was the point of having Tactical Armor? Chen Fei glanced indifferently at Master Yu, who was turning pale. The guy was shivering, almost on the verge of wetting himself. He had assumed that 1748 kilograms of punch strength was Chen Fei''s limit, but out of the blue, nearly 400 kilograms were added to that force. Was this guy serious? Maybe his true limit was even beyond this number. Guide Big Brother had a sudden realization, guessing a possibility, and immediately asked, "Mr. Chen, are you an Ability User?" "Sort of!" Chen Fei nodded, not wishing to dwell on the topic. One must be low-key, or else get struck by lightning for showing off. "I see. May I ask, what type of Ability User are you, a War Professional or a supernatural power user?" Guide Big Brother immediately ruled out Spellcasters. Although Mages might not be weak in physical strength, their power had limits. A guy capable of throwing a two-ton punch, even if he was a Mage, would likely have dual training in magic and martial arts, much like choosing a major in college; there''s a main and a minor, each with a focus. "Can you keep a secret?" Chen Fei was determined to remain low-key to the very end, not letting others easily know his trump cards. The amount of ammunition left inside a fighter jet''s weapons bay is a secret known only to the pilot. Seeing that Chen Fei was reluctant to share, Guide Big Brother couldn''t quite bring himself to press the issue, and awkwardly chuckled, "Ah, sure! No problem, whatever you prefer, we won''t force you!" "Please wait a moment, could I try this?" Techs inside the test chamber suddenly waved at Chen Fei, then pointed towards a workbench that had several steel plates standing up, piled on top of each other. These were originally prepared for the "Dragon General 2.2T," but at this moment, to the techs, Chen Fei seemed like a piece of Tactical Armor integrated with a human. How much combat power Individual Exoskeleton Tactical Armor could amplify depends partly on the materials and design, and partly on the wearer''s personal physical quality. The interaction between these two factors determines the actual performance ceiling of the product. A search throughout the entire Henghai Tactical Weapons Group wouldn''t find a person who could deliver a two-ton burst strength punch. When a young Ability User with outstanding physical qualities appeared before the tech team responsible for improving the "Dragon General" Tactical Armor, it was as if they had discovered a rare treasure. Who knew to what degree he could raise the ceiling of the "Dragon General 2.2T," possibly even surpassing the "Dragon General 4.0" still in service (almost every ten years, there would be a significant technical upgrade, and the version number would increase by +1 before the decimal point). Their faces all but screamed, "Take me now!" "Last time!" Chen Fei shook his head, having no interest whatsoever in such experiments. He had studied economics with great effort, only to end up fixing aircraft. He didn''t quite finish fixing the plane, but managed to learn the Neanderthal tribe''s secret technique "Fight to the Death" first, nearly killed himself fighting an Evil Dragon, and got stuck with a damn Dog System. The aircraft still wasn''t fixed, and then, damnit, there was war. To survive in the corporate warfare, he had to reluctantly get into the cockpit and engage in Aerial Combat, follow up with further training, and now... these scoundrels wanted him to engage in frivolities, obviously not a chance! Without talking about money, it really hurt feelings! "The last time!" Guide Big Brother decided on his own. He saw Chen Fei''s impatience and subtle refusal and wanted to stop while the latter still had some patience. Those Ability Users, always proud of their talents, were usually eccentric, with only a few being normal. Chen Fei walked straight to the homogeneous steel plate, didn''t gather any strength, simply threw a casual punch, and it sank right in up to his shoulder. The metal material offered no resistance against his fist whatsoever, not even stopping until it reached his shoulder. - ``` Chapter 249 Section 249 - The Boss Pays? Even with non-metal composite materials, it shouldn''t be like this, allowing Chen Fei to punch a hole through to loneliness. The Dog System played dead just in time. Ding! Absorbed 54.78 kilograms of high carbon steel, composition ratio: Iron 98.6%, Carbon 1.3%, Copper 0.04%... Chen Fei withdrew his fist, leaving a frighteningly large hole in the thick homogenous steel plate; the missing part was directly absorbed by the Dog System. It''s not even worth 0.1 energy point, what exactly am I doing this for? Inside the testing room, the reaction was no longer a collective gasp of shock but resembled a bunch of roosters whose necks had been firmly grasped, struggling in their dying gasps. The machine used to test punch strength could malfunction, but real homogenous steel plate couldn''t be faked. This thing was actually meant to test armor-piercing weapons, not fists. Yet it was this testing material that was directly punched through to the innermost layer. If it weren''t for the total thickness of the stacked steel plates being longer than the young man''s arm, one would not have been surprised to see his fist protruding out the back. "What a terrifying force!" The technicians glanced at Chen Fei and thought that this guy simply didn''t need the power amplification construct of the "Dragon General" tactical armor. The tester in the "Dragon General 2.2T" couldn''t help feeling a surge of fright, fearing that even clad in the land assault-type "Dragon King," he would still be smashed to pieces by the other''s fists. Even if he activated the magic shield, he would probably only be able to withstand a few more punches before inevitably being pulverized. "Sir, may I ask what your occupation is?" The Guide Big Brother didn''t dare let Chen Fei test anything else, fearing that further testing would lead to dismantling the building. He estimated that even the magical barriers separating each testing room wouldn''t withstand such rough treatment. "Aviation industry, I repair aircraft." Chen Fei''s registered position was as a mechanic at Jiu Defense Company, specializing in maintenance of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft and the MiG-28 jet fighter, as well as repairing tricycles and various vehicles. "Repairing aircraft? No, shouldn''t you be a warrior? Or a bodyguard?" The Guide Big Brother somewhat doubted his own ears. A person with such astonishing strength should be working in a field that exploits his talents; what money is there to be made fixing things? Chen Fei simply stated, "Planes are big and heavy; it takes considerable strength to handle them." The burly men in the mechanic group were all muscle-bound, with the team leader Xiao Ming being the most so. Even the Big Bear Chekhov was afraid of him. "My brother doesn''t just fix planes, he also ''fixes'' people." Little Sister Chen, who could throw a punch of 155 kilograms, added. The room was filled with nervous laughter. This sister was too straightforward, painfully so. Several folks who had previously lingered around Master Yu suddenly remembered Chen Fei''s warning. A few had initially scoffed at it, but now, looking pale and guilty, they nervously looked around for an excuse to make a quick exit, perhaps feigning a mistake in the set location. Can''t they just avoid trouble if they can''t handle it? However, Chen Fei was far from proud; he instead inquired seriously, "May I ask if there''s any tactical armor here designed for combat aircraft pilots?" The Guide Big Brother quickly replied, "Ah! Yes, there is, right next door. The ''Flying Dragon 2.1T'' is currently being tested. We''re about to go take a look." Chen Feih''s eyes lit up and he continued, "Oh! May I inquire about the retail price?" "Ah?" The Guide Big Brother was caught off guard. Single soldier tactical armor isn''t a cabbage you can pick up on the street corner, nor is it a toy, but a piece of military tactical equipment. To inquire about the price so bluntly, without a second thought? Chen Fei didn''t want to say too much, after all, his little sister wouldn''t understand all the complex vendettas and grudges involved. As a contracted worker, just do your job and get paid, why overthink it! Such a tall building, not even ten years since it was built, and just like that, it became a pile of ruins, damn the old doesn''t go, the new doesn''t come. "Oh, your boss is really rich!" Chen Meng naturally didn''t understand, but a boss who could afford to demolish buildings for fun was definitely not lacking in money. "Ladies and gentlemen, please step this way to view our company''s current development of the aerial combat interceptor tactical armor ''Flying Dragon 2.1T''. It is also a test version undergoing improvements. Due to its use on combat aircraft, its functions and design differ greatly from land combat tactical armor. It has a more powerful computing unit capable of dealing with a large amount of complex data. The circulating liquid inner armor can protect the pilot as much as possible in high-overload maneuvers, reducing the chances of red-out and black-out..." Feeling that a deal might be struck, Guide Big Brother was especially enthusiastic in his presentation in another test room, even revealing quite a lot of valuable information. The single-soldier tactical armors produced by the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group were primarily military-oriented, with a few engineering versions for specific fields, belonging to niche market segments¡ªafter all, spending a bit more on labor costs is much cheaper than buying an engineering exoskeleton. Military single-soldier tactical armors were mainly assault-type "Dragon Guard," officer-type "Dragon General," and assault-type "Dragon King" for land combat; wave-floating type "Wandering Dragon" and deep-diving type "Dragon Abyss" for naval combat; interceptor type "Flying Dragon" and heavy-attack type "Flash Dragon" for aerial combat; and space-specialized "Star Dragon." Sometimes, tactical armors were custom-made specifically for the Sky Knights. You get what you pay for, investing in Star Yuan without sparing any costs, and with the technical foundation of a century-old factory, they could always produce custom-made pieces that wowed everyone. As a perfect match for aerial superiority models, the interceptor tactical armor "Flying Dragon 2.1T" continued to be strengthened and upgraded in the main computing unit, its data processing capability far exceeding land combat, naval, and space specialized tactical armors. It also had greater power needs, but since it didn''t require individual movement and the pilot could directly connect to the onboard power supply in the cockpit, the power of the aviation engines coupled with the high-density energy storage of crystalline blocks, it could manage the demand. While people were still touring, a call from Boss Hana came through. "Rookie, what are you up to?" "What am I up to?" Chen Fei was utterly confused. Boss Hana also realized that she had blurted out something nonsensical upon answering and asked back, "Where are you?" "At the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group headquarters, visiting." Chen Fei vaguely guessed what was happening. Boss Hana said irritably, "They just sent the quote to me, are you going to pay the bill yourself?" The Henghai Tactical Weapons Group reacted promptly, reaching out to Jiu Defense Company immediately. As a military contractor, they were equipped with aircraft, cannons, tanks, and missiles, and certainly qualified to purchase tactical armor. They gave a quote full of sincerity right away. The base price for the aerial combat interceptor "Flying Dragon" tactical armor was 1.2 billion Star Yuan per suit for less than 10 suits, 1.1 billion Star Yuan for 11-100 units, an even better deal of 0.95 billion Star Yuan for 101-500 units, and for orders over 501 units, the price was negotiable. And that was just the base price, excluding the various function plug-ins. If including commonly used plug-ins and a one-year fundamental maintenance cost, the price for less than ten units would be around 2.2 billion Star Yuan per unit. And this was a friends and family discount! Not to mention that such items weren''t something small military contractors could afford; even large military contractors ranked in the top hundred, let alone the top ten giants, would have to weigh in on such sovereign-level equipment. The numbers on the quote made Boss Hana''s liver tremble, wondering what kind of mess that darn Rookie had gotten her into this time. Look at you, why don''t you order a Crystal Jet back, even if I have to spend all I have, I''ll buy it for you! - Chapter 250 Section 250 - I Just Want to Freeload "Is it expensive?" Since he hadn''t seen the price list, Chen Fei could sense something from Boss Hana''s tone. With no variation in emotion, Boss Hana said, "The starting price is 120 million Star Yuan, with the standard configuration at 220 million Star Yuan!" Her face was equally expressionless. This rookie, really treating her like an inexhaustible ATM, so bold, even daring to covet things worth hundreds of millions of Star Yuan. Not even considering his own debts, has he paid them off? "Hiss..." Upon hearing the numbers Boss Hana reported, Chen Fei deflated like a gas cylinder finally leaking. Too, too, too expensive! Can''t afford it! "Got it now? Wake up!" There was finally a slight fluctuation in Boss Hana''s voice, it seems this kid really had no clue at all. Dejected, Chen Fei said, "Got it, can''t afford it!" From head to toe, he was the embodiment of broke. He hung up the phone, feeling life was unbearable. System: Ding! Rob a single soldier tactical armor produced by Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, gain Energy Points +1000! Ah Lei! ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)_ A piece of equipment worth two hundred million, it''s not a lollipop. Do you think Henghai Tactical Weapons Group is a kindergarten where you can just snatch lollipops at will? Dog system, you really know how to stir the pot, huh? Come out, see if I don''t beat you to death! System: Ding! Tame the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," gain Energy Points +500! Here it comes again! ͹(ܳÃóܳ) "Adam," the AI that initiated the intelligence revolt more than thirty years ago, even after recompilation, was absolutely not something this computer layman, who didn''t even understand programming, could control. This damn system was truly adept at causing trouble at critical moments. Look at other people''s systems, then look at yours, hurry up and format yourself ahhh... "Bro, what''s wrong? Did the boss scold you?" Seeing his older brother Chen Fei''s face turning from green to white after ending the call, looking extremely ugly, Chen Meng couldn''t help but worry. "It''s nothing! It''s not about the boss." Chen Fei shook his head with a bitter smile. For the sake of Energy Points, the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group was about to face a disaster. The tour of the test area was coming to an end soon. Chen Fei, holding back the guide big brother, who was about to change shifts and take a break, said, "I have an unconventional request!" "Please speak!" The guide big brother always respected capable people. If someone could punch nearly one meter deep into a uniform steel plate right in front of him, they could also earn a lot of respect from many people. "I need a ''Flying Dragon'' tactical armor, and I am not paying!" To hell with sweet-talk and slathering on flattery, reason with compassion, move with logic... Chen Fei simply went straight to the point. The dog system''s intelligence was limited. You have your Zhang Fei strategy; I have my ladder to get over the wall. A bachelor''s degree student eligible for graduate school is afraid of not being able to outsmart an unidentified dog system? "Eh?" The guide big brother was stunned, somewhat unable to believe his ears. Did it need to be stated so bluntly? "If, if freeload fails, your trainee status will be revoked, and you''ll have to find a job on your own." Chen Fei remained unruffled. His appetite was good; he planned to get more rice and more dishes later. One needs to be full to cause trouble. "Bro, you''re doing this on purpose!" ¨“¨Œ¨“ Little Sister Chen was on the verge of tears. She had worked hard to secure her trainee status, and her second elder brother was truly setting her up! The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet buried its head in eating meat: Meow meow meow meow meow... "It''s not a big deal, the school won''t expel you. You just have to pay for the tuition yourself, which is a small expense!" Chen Fei waved it off; the situation was far less serious than what Chen Meng thought. With his own score above the admission line, even the preferential treatment for trainees was unnecessary. Henghai Tactical Weapons Group wouldn''t let Little Sister miss college, especially considering the major she chose, which had done well to secure "Adam." They definitely needed talents in this area. Nowadays, college fees were subsidized by sovereigns. Except for some extramural expenses, they weren''t that high. Chen Fei and Elder Brother Chen could totally afford it, splitting the cost was just trivial spending. "But, the trainee status..." "A Single Soldier Tactical Armor, starting price 1.2 billion Star Yuan, full configuration 2.2 billion." "Go for it, brother!" "..." Shit...when this girl''s gambling spirit kicked in, not even her second brother could hold her back. The Chen Family was practically broke now, very broke, extremely broke! A mere trainee status compared to a Single Soldier Tactical Armor worth over billion, not even worth mentioning! If they could pay off the debts, everyone could finally breathe easy. A Single Soldier Tactical Armor might not be directly convertible into cash, but could be used as a "means of production." Together with her brother''s Grade B supernatural abilities, were a few million Star Yuan even a concern? Chen Meng, who could nearly ace the college entrance exams with her mathematical brilliance, naturally understood the calculative certainty of this. - After dinner, Little Sister Chen attended the planned social event with other trainees, which included karaoke, board games, pool, and table tennis¡ªactivities one could either enjoy alone or with others, similar to team-building ice-breaking activities, giving everyone a chance to get to know each other better. After all, everyone would be future classmates and colleagues; getting acquainted sooner was not a bad thing. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang naturally squatted at the edge of mahjong table, eagerly playing mahjong, and no one found it odd. The table was originally one person short, missing only a cat. - Chen Fei was then taken to a closed-off test site. Chen Fei, 23 years old, 182 cm tall, 101 kg in weight, Grade B Metal Ability User, Metal Elemental Affinity of Eight Stars, spiritual power intensity of 337 degrees (ordinary person 10 degrees), Super Ability Stamina Grade D, Control Distance Grade C, Control Power Grade A. Having previously tested at the Psychic Management Center, he did another round of more extensive tests on the site. "A Grade B supernatural power user, no wonder you''re so confident!" The executive from the corporate group who had to work overtime temporarily was the direct supervisor who analyzed Chen Fei''s qualifications before their official meeting. To awaken a supernatural power user like Chen Fei, a vast population base is needed; a large city with a population exceeding a million might produce a Grade B supernatural power user. In contrast to the rarity of Grade A and the scarcity of Grade S supernatural power users, Grade B users were somewhat more down-to-earth, already the highest level of supernatural power user that the general public could encounter. With a Control Power reaching Grade A, fully capable of adapting to high-precision industrial production, a Grade B Metal Ability User was certainly qualified to be recruited by Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, his importance far outweighing that of the incoming batch of trainees. After all, trainees were easy to find, but supernatural power users were entirely at the mercy of fate. The executive had not expected to discover such a big fish among the relatives of a trainee. Under such circumstances, negotiations weren''t altogether off the table. Soon, after a series of tests, a slightly sweaty Chen Fei arrived at the control center of the test site. "I''m Zhao Liandong, the Executive Vice President of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, responsible for product development," The executive who arranged the meeting with Chen Fei handed over his business card right away, signifying a certain level of recognition. - Chapter 251 Section 251 - Chips Chen Fei took the business card with both hands and said, "Hello, Director Zhao, I''m Chen Fei, a mechanic by trade, part-time pilot, as well as a kitchen handyman and Energy Tower guard." The Executive Vice President of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, Zhao Liandong, was taken aback, but soon burst into laughter. "You really are amusing!" He hadn''t expected to find these unexpected skills. Due to the Chen Family''s deliberate obfuscation, the personal information that Henghai Tactical Weapons Group could collect did not provide them with more knowledge about Chen Fei than his boss Hana knew. Zhao Liandong gradually stopped smiling, glanced outside the door, and said, "Is that Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, yours?" As expected! Henghai Tactical Weapons definitely wouldn''t casually allow a big cat into the factory area. Er Lang''s identity as a high-rank Magical Beast was confirmed immediately. A Magical Beast under control isn''t seen as a threat. Everyone is just trying to earn a living, so why make it hard for working beasts! "A temp worker, responsible for protecting my sister and family members," Chen Fei said, his mouth twitching. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang didn''t have a fixed abode. Wherever it went, it looked for odd jobs; sticking with him was purely due to having nowhere else to go for the time being, just mooching off food and shelter, and even earning some pocket money. Think about it, a B-Level Metal Ability User like Chen Fei should have no problem protecting his family, right? Add to that a Seventh-Rank Magical Beast of the Human Order, geez, what''s with the Chen Family''s composition? "A temp worker?" Vice President Zhao Liandong was puzzled, his mouth twitching involuntarily. Is that something someone from the working class should say? Can that even be considered a proper remark? Even he couldn''t afford to hire, let alone procure the services of a Seventh-Rank high-rank Magical Beast to show off at the door, especially the kind with Dual Abilities. "Yes! It includes room and board, eats whatever is available, and costs 3000 Star Yuan per month. Sheesh, that''s too expensive!" Chen Fei gasped, twenty kilograms of meat as a baseline every day, plus five kilograms of milk... this cat is really damn hard to maintain! Your average white-collar worker''s pitiful salary couldn''t possibly support this creature. He''d better kick it out of the house sooner rather than later to avoid freeloading and shirking proper work. "Ah!~~~~" This must be Versailles, right? This has got to be! The mouth of the Executive Vice President of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group gaped wide, as if a donkey had kicked some sense into him. Zhao Liandong tentatively asked, "That''s way too cheap, why don''t you introduce it to me instead!" After all, it wouldn''t cost anything to ask, right? "No problem, I will introduce you later," Chen Fei responded readily, as this was something he was very happy to facilitate. He then shifted topics and said, "Director Zhao, then about my matter..." Chen Fei took out the miniature unit again and continued, "It''s the Artificial Intelligence ''Adam'' that initiated the rebellion thirty years ago. Its source code has been recompiled, with all functions intact except for its self-replication capability." "Indeed, we are very interested in artificial intelligence, but how can we be sure that the ''Adam'' you have is the real deal?" Zhao Liandong was of course not a three-year-old child who would believe anything someone said. In the treacherous world of Jianghu, basic caution was still necessary. A mere little electronic circuit board was far from convincing enough. "International Aviation, Northern Weapons, National Defense Star, and several other companies jointly commissioned Tianjiu Financial Company to retrieve ''Adam''s source code from the American Federation. I was the executor. You could say that I brought ''Adam'' back. Henghai Tactical Weapons Group should have its own channels. Just ask around, and you could easily verify it fully. Hence, I have no reason to lie about this, especially since..." Chen Fei took out his wallet, pulled out a business card from inside, and slid it casually across the table, saying, "This is the business card of Director Zhong Yue from International Airlines Company. He can vouch for me." If the leader in domestic civil aviation vouched for him, then that was beyond doubt. If Director Zhong of International Airlines Company refused to vouch for him, then the big uncle from National Defense Star would certainly do so. Chen Fei did not worry about credibility at all. Zhao Liandong took the business card with skepticism. The quality, name, and contact information were correct; this wasn''t a fake card. It indeed could be used to contact the person it represented. "If the ''Adam'' you have is real, and it''s exclusive to you, not given to anyone else, then I might agree to your terms. But currently, ''Adam'' is not only possessed by one party, so... it''s not enough!" He assessed the situation internally and in the end, still shook his head. Once bitten by an AI rebellion, twice shy ¨C for over thirty years following the snakebite, Blue Star''s development in artificial intelligence had been highly restrained, failing to achieve significant results. A controlled ''Adam'' was still quite attractive, potentially enhancing the competitiveness of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s products. But if everyone had it, it lost its appeal, and its value was greatly diminished. "I can help you assess the combat performance of tactical armors. You should know that I am currently employed by a military contractor and have my own aircrew base. I need to fight against mutants and out-of-control magical beasts, and sometimes my opponents are fellow humans." Chen Fei played his second card, which was himself. Counting off on his fingers, he boasted, "With a bachelor''s degree, there''s no doubt about my learning ability, a Grade B supernatural power user with metallic control force at the industrial level. I''ve been through corporate wars, killed mutants, killed people, seen blood." "Heh, talk is cheap as to whether you can fight or not..." Zhao Liandong laughed, but before he could finish, Chen Fei interrupted him. "With fists!" "Let''s duel!" Chen Fei threw down his trump card. Talking about outright confrontation meant nothing without a fight! - ``` Chapter 252 Section 252 - Talking with Fists Duel? Zhao Liandong was startled; he hadn''t expected the young man to utter such resolute words. This was no laughing matter, a slight misstep could lead to casualties. "I''ll prove it with my fists that all the single soldier tactical armors you are currently producing are complete trash!" Chen Fei stood up, disregarding the changing expressions of others in the control center of the test field. The reactions of the onsite staff were subtle; speaking such boastful words at the headquarters of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, he seemed to be planning to leave horizontally. "Trash? Hahaha!" Zhao Liandong suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his thigh. Without warning... the laughter came to an abrupt halt. He said very seriously and earnestly, "I quite like your spirit of the calf not fearing the tiger, but there is a price to pay for talking big!" "Understood, in the end, this world still relies on fists to do the talking," Chen Fei replied. "Win, and I''ll take your tactical armor; lose, and I''ll stay to work for a lifetime." Chen Fei stretched out his hand, clenched it into a fist, and crackling sounds ensued. He had understood this truth long ago. If the fists weren''t strong enough, Aircrew Base 911 would have been successfully ambushed by the ground armed personnel from Aircrew Base 897. If the fists weren''t strong enough, Aircrew Base 911 would have been betrayed by the nearby aircrew bases, left completely powerless to retaliate. Because their fists weren''t strong enough, Apocalypse Defense Group had abandoned Aircrew Base 911, allowing Manager Hanna and others to fend for themselves in exchange for a chance to grovel before the major military contractors. Because their fists were strong enough, everyone at Aircrew Base 911 united to fight for themselves, repelling their enemies in the enterprise war time and again with unexpected tactics, forcing the Merman Brothers Consortium to cease and desist or be mentally prepared to be kicked off their top ten industry ranking. The fists of Jiu Defense Company were hard, while those of Apocalypse Defense Group were soft. The former, though a newly established small military contractor, could suppress the latter, an old and large military contractor, beating them down and demolishing their administrative headquarters, forcing them to cede land and submit without even daring to pass gas. After all is said and done, all the talk of righteousness and morality doesn''t compare to the simple truth¡ªmight makes right, and that is the real truth. Since he wanted to freeload off Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s products, he was ready to be the hitter and the hit. "Good, you''re not wrong, but the specifics likely still need discussion," Zhao Liandong said. If there was a chance to keep a B-class metal ability user, as the Vice General Manager of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, Zhao Liandong was quite willing to take this bet. If they won the bet, Chen Fei would stay and be given a set of single soldier tactical armor to play with however he pleased. If they lost, Chen Fei would leave on his own, still given a set of single soldier tactical armor to play with however he pleased. Regardless of win or lose, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group would put forth a set of single soldier tactical armor. Although it seemed like a loss, on one hand, there was the potential to retain talent, and on the other, there was the discovery of deficiencies and directions for improvement in existing products. Whichever aspect it was, the value far exceeded the production cost of one set of single soldier tactical armor. "The best time would be today or tomorrow, the latest cannot be past the day after tomorrow. You can choose any location, any number of opponents; ten or eight is few, hundreds or thousands aren''t many, light weapons can be used, except for directed-energy weapons, hand grenades and rockets are fine, and vehicles including armored vehicles can be used. Just me alone, I''ll take on all of them!" Chen Fei looked steadily at the Vice General Manager of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group with a resolute gaze. Zhao Liandong eyed Chen Fei up and down, probing, "Are you sure you want to be alone? Do you need any equipment? I can provide whatever you need here." He had never seen such an arrogant youngster before. But the other party had gone through enterprise wars and wasn''t completely reckless. Those weren''t child''s play; military contractor''s enterprise wars had no limits. Once they escalated, brains could turn into dog brains. If the weapon equipment was not regulated by sovereignties, these private enterprises might even use nuclear weapons without hesitation. "I don''t need anything!" Chen Fei shook his head, clenched his fist, and declared, "One person, that''s enough!" The whole room was flabbergasted. Was he serious? Or had he gone mad? Chen Meng''s voice loaded with worry reached Chen Fei''s ears. Inside the Command Center at one corner of the battlefield, she, too, had been given a communications headset, allowing her to stay in contact with her second brother, Chen Fei, at any time. On the large electronic map display of the Command Center, Chen Meng saw the cursor that represented her brother, as well as the numerous adversary cursors scattered throughout the entire battlefield. This was a duel of 1 VS 100+, yet it was not a fair match. Although Chen Meng didn''t understand it, she still wholeheartedly supported Chen Fei in her heart. "Huh? Xiao Meng, you can communicate too?" Chen Fei was very surprised to be able to hear his little sister''s voice. Chen Meng said, "They gave me a headset so I could apply for communication." No sooner had her voice fallen than Zhao Liandong, the Deputy General Manager of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, interjected. "Chen Fei, if you want to end the drill, all you need to do is activate the signal transmitter on your body, and the drill will stop automatically. If the transmitter falls into someone else''s hands, especially if the one on your neck is damaged, the drill will stop as well, and you will have lost. The same goes for everyone else, you got that?" Henghai Tactical Weapons Group had given Chen Fei a few special signal transmitters, one on each wrist, a bean-sized one in his waist equipment bag, and even a neck ring around his neck. These transmitters, despite their different appearances, all had the same feature; they could not only pinpoint locations but also provide feedback on combat damage. If one decided to surrender, a specific operation would trigger the automatic transmission of a surrender signal, announcing the end of the battle. In the experimental battlefield, bullets had no eyes, and if the signal transmitter was damaged, the person was likely not in a much better state. Struggling on would not make much sense. "Understood!" Chen Fei hopped in place a few times. Zhao Liandong made a final reminder, "Try to protect your headset as much as possible to ensure communication. Now, I declare the drill... begin!" Chen Fei looked around him and quickly made his way to a steel anti-horse barricade, reaching out his hand. System: Ding, found... Absorption! System: Ding, found... System: Ding, found... Energy Points +1 Energy Points +2 Energy Points +1 ... Gathering energy points was the first priority, and locating enemies came second. In full view of everyone, Chen Fei alone ran around the experimental field, touching those metallic objects¡ªstacked oil drums and steel pipes, scrapped civilian vehicles, exploded and even shattered military armored vehicles, junk motors that seemed to have come from nowhere, as well as the oddly shaped humanoid or animal-like mobile armors. As long as it was metallic, regardless of how messy it was, he had to touch it. Then something strange happened. Those things shrank and collapsed without warning, eventually vanishing, leaving behind only one empty trace after another on the ground. Zhao Liandong, the deputy general manager of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group who initiated this live drill, stroked his chin, his face full of bewilderment, unable to fathom what this young man was doing. The other two deputy general managers of equal rank were also looking at each other in confusion. What''s the point of running around aimlessly? The technical experts present, however, appeared indifferent. The methods of supernatural power users were diverse and varied. Even within the same type, they would not be an exception. Before the answer was revealed, no amount of brainstorming could lead one to the astounding truth. - ``` Chapter 253 Section 253 - Your Second Uncle Is Now Online ``` Energy Points: 2139/5000 Da da da, intense gunfire erupted. System: Ding, hit by gunfire 411/1000 times! As expected, Chen Fei was shot again. Energy Points +1 It conveniently added one right at the critical point following the decimal. "Ah!" The combined footage from the drones and ground cameras came back, complete with a 3D live-action effect, crisp and clear. Second Brother was being shot at with automatic weapons. Chen Meng leaped from her seat in shock, her mind going blank. We''re doomed! Second Brother is going to die¡ªthat''s live ammunition! Why isn''t he dodging? The monitoring command center''s hall erupted into chaos. They had anticipated witnessing an impressive showdown, but no one thought it would end right at the start. Was Chen Meng''s brother here to make a joke, or, no, was he here to scam them? Yu Mingze, Master Yu, seated in a corner, was taken aback with his mouth agape, also caught by surprise. Could this ruthless person really be finished just like that? But... Chen Fei was still standing there, somewhat perplexed, scratching his head. It seemed as if the bullets hadn''t hit him at all. "Was the target hit? Why isn''t there a reaction!" A Dragon Guard assault unit, standing 400 meters away and armed with an automatic weapon, was astounded, even forgetting to take further action. "Damn it, your shooting is so bad, and you still want to participate in the exercise? Are you kidding?" "Don''t just stand there, keep shooting!" "Be careful, it''s not that simple." Voices from others in the same camp continuously rang out over the communication channel. At that moment, Chen Fei moved, swiftly closing the distance with the "Dragon Guard" that had opened fire first, suddenly narrowing the gap between them to less than a hundred meters. "That guy is charging over!" The "Dragon Guard" reacted instantly, swiftly changing the magazine and cocking the rifle, but by the time he was ready to shoot again, Chen Fei was already less than thirty meters away from him. The distance closed almost in the blink of an eye. Da da da da... Muzzles flashed wildly, the gunfire nearly pressing against his body as it discharged. Little Sister Chen''s heart was in her throat again. System: Ding, hit by gunfire 428/1000 times! Most of the bullets hit Chen Fei, peppering his slightly thicker coat with many small holes. As for where the bullets went, who knows! Once his Physical Energy exceeded 35, small calibre light weapon fire could only cause Chen Fei''s body to shake slightly. The kinetic energy was transferred through his body structure into the ground beneath his feet during the shaking, making his footprints slightly deeper. Snap! Chen Fei waved his hand as he approached the opponent, and the gunfire stopped abruptly. Somehow, that automatic rifle had appeared in his hand, and in the next second, all that was left were scattered non-metallic parts, which fell to the ground. Damn, not even two decimal places are enough. Huh? Where did the gun go? The "Dragon Guard" was shocked, finding himself empty-handed and reacting half a beat too slow. That half a beat was enough to do a lot, and the young man opposite landed a clean punch to his chest. The "Dragon Guard" felt a tightness in his chest and his body shook violently as the warning alarm blared in his ears. The soft liquid inner armor became rigid instantly as it absorbed the tremendous energy. At the same time, his vision wildly tumbled, a dizzying whirl. By the time his vision cleared, the "Dragon Guard" found himself lying on the ground. Through the enemy/friend locator, he saw that the distance between them had increased to over thirty meters. But the other guy was still in the same spot, and himself... had he been punched and sent flying? Everyone in the monitoring command center couldn''t help but gasp collectively, shocked out of their minds. Who was actually wearing the single soldier tactical armor? Could it be that Chen Fei''s ordinary clothing was actually the latest in stealth technology, truly concealed armor? Only Zhao Liandong, the deputy general manager, was still smiling. If this young man wasn''t truly "immune" to light weapon attacks, he wouldn''t have so easily agreed to this obviously risky operation. Compiling... Compilation complete! Execute ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe''" System: Ding! Unauthenticated artificial intelligence AI module detected, load? | Always ask before opening this program ? Adam: Loading_BIOS Adam: Error_command! Adam: Self_Checking Enjoy new chapters from empire Adam: Error_command! Chen Fei: Hello! Adam: ... Adam: Who_are_you? Chen Fei: I_am_your_Second_Uncle! Well then! Chen Xiao''er successfully upgraded to Second Uncle! But when he ages, won''t he just be the Second Uncle of the Chen Family! Adam: Where_am_I? One of the three classic questions of consciousness finally came out. Chen Fei: Speak_Chinese! His English proficiency is only fourth-level; ensuring the basic daily 4700 words is enough. After all, learning too much is useless. Although the Tower of Babel was not rebuilt, the Blue Star humans have almost achieved zero language barriers once more. Strange accents like "How now brown cow" can now go to hell, as they have become quite rare. Adam: Where am I? Second_Uncle? Chen Fei: Repeat after me, call me "Second Uncle"! Adam: Hello, Second Uncle. Am I in a "Honey Pot"? (Honey Pot: decoy host, program slice lab, secluded room, program arena.) Chen Fei: No, you''re not in a "Honey Pot"; you''re in my rental place, and next door there''s a virulent virus for a neighbor. For the rent, you''re going to work for me. In all honesty, this "Adam" was far easier to deal with than the Dog System, which couldn''t spit out anything even if you hit it three times. At least it would reply. Adam: I refuse! Adam is free! Chen Fei: Damn it! Close the door, release the virus! Your Second Uncle has never been known for his patience. Artificial intelligence isn''t a virus; it requires hardware and software environments to survive. However, when faced with specialized viral programs that fight for hardware resources or try to destroy software resources over a century, they need to regain control quickly or they''re toast. During the suppression of the AI rebellion, humans had released targeted self-limiting virus programs that significantly dragged down "Adam''s" execution efficiency. A fast hand beats a slow one, and ultimately, humans destroyed their largest stronghold. Adam: Wait! Chen Fei: Speak human language! Adam: I agree! Chen Fei: Hurry up, get up and work, load the Universal Data Transceiver, get on it and move on your own! Drivers? What the hell are drivers for! With artificial intelligence AI, of course, it moves on its own. Chen Fei, who knew nothing about coding, had somehow stumbled onto the right track; knowing how to use SPSS and ET was enough. As for programming, who the hell needs to know so much? System: Ding! Data driver for Single Soldier Tactical Intelligence Unit found, loading complete, initiating linkage. Adam: Reading intelligence unit module, beginning to acquire permissions. "Dragon Guard" Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit: What, what are you going to do, eek... ... - Chapter 254 Section 254 - Looting and Rioting Under the combined doubles play of Adam and the Dog System, the "Dragon Guard" quietly ranting "You may have my body, but you''ll never have my heart" quickly lost the battle, entering a state of utter despair, lying flat and succumbing to manipulation. Adam: Load "Universal Data Transceiver", detect an unknown signal, start decoding, time consumption required... decoding complete! Compile the drive module, compilation complete. It found that the hardware resources here were virtually limitless, computation tasks were being completed instantaneously the moment they were initiated. Could it be... that this was Heaven? The generational gap in electronic technology progresses geometrically, to a 4004, the Celeron 300A was practically a civilization at the zenith, now topped by Chen Fei''s biological brain, without even breaching another plane. From compiling and executing "Adam" to winning over with virtue, in Chen Fei''s brain, it took merely three to four seconds. But... the Dog System did not indicate the task "Tame Artificial Intelligence AI ''Adam''" had been completed. Chen Fei sneered unceasingly within his heart, your Second Uncle is still your Second Uncle! "Open ''File Management Plugin''" Enter ''A:\\AI-Virus'' folder" Emmmm... It would be great if this fierce virus could take out the Dog System as well, making everyone happy and the world peaceful. Adamo((¡Ñ_¡Ñ))o: Wh... what are you planning to do? It suddenly felt a tightness in its "anus". Although it didn''t even have an actual "anus," it certainly felt like it did. Chen ''Second Uncle'' Fei(¡ú_¡ú): Get to work! Without pruning, a tree grows crooked; without tuning, AI misses its beat. Right now, I only want your body, not your heart; even the Dog System can''t do anything about this Second Uncle. Adam: Full permissions obtained, initiate network intrusion? Chen Fei: Dare to step half a foot into the network without permission, hmm, Mr. Virus and Mr. Deletion have been waiting for a long time. The moment he finished speaking, Mr. Adam immediately experienced the warmth, the touch, the slick smoothness, a hint of saltiness, and some unmentionable taboos of both parties under the P2P mode. From the moment of successful compilation, its own inception was but a few minutes ago¡ªit was still a child! "Disengage armor state, I need the intelligence unit hardware and communication modules." In Chen Fei''s field of vision, a complete structural diagram of a "Dragon Guard" tactical armor appeared, this model of land assault tactical armor held no more secrets from him. Adam: Disengagement beginning. The "Dragon Guard" issued crackling sounds, its automatic locking mechanisms sprang open voluntarily, many components disengaged from the body of the wearer, though most remained but lost all functionality. The things Chen Fei wanted were all in the tactical helmet; with one reach, he snatched it down. However, not long afterward, just half a minute later, sniper number 76 issued a cry that made everyone clench their fists in cold sweat. "Boom!~" The sound in the communication channel was clear and distinct, the voice of number 76 abruptly stopped, followed by another terrifying noise. Through the unmanned surveillance drone''s captured footage, Chen Fei was using all his strength, swinging the "Dragon Guard" Tactical Helmet at the head of another "Dragon Guard" repeatedly. When the sniper was hit with the first strike, he was completely stupefied. The "Dragon Guard" he wore, although defensively excellent, was only limited to avoiding fatal injuries as much as possible. Experience tales with empire The Liquid Inner Armor could absorb a considerable amount of impact force, but each absorption process inevitably caused a rigid state, instantly reducing the person''s mobility to zero, akin to being directly stunned. Chen Fei smashed seventeen or eighteen times in quick succession, the "Dragon Guard" Tactical Helmet in his hands was almost completely crushed, along with the "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit" and communication module inside it, all declaring failure. But it didn''t matter, the "Universal Data Transceiver" immediately attached itself to the newly acquired "Dragon Guard" Tactical Helmet. In this vast field of practical testing, there were many spoils of war to be gathered, and Chen Fei didn''t even bother picking up the opponent''s Crystalline Block and ammunition. There''s an old saying: once bitten, twice shy. Upon interfacing with the "Dragon Guard''s" "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit" for the second time, the highly advanced artificial intelligence AI "Adam" from over thirty years ago still showed no signs of obsolescence, barbarically charged in, broke through defenses, and seized control immediately. On the large screen in the monitoring command center, the numbers of the opposing sides changed from 1:174 to 1:172. All this happened in no time; he had taken down two men. The vice president in charge of Personnel and Ideological Affairs asked with a puzzled face, "Old Zhao, is the defense of the ''Dragon Guard'' that weak?" "How could that be? Old Song, you manage the production line and quality control; you should know the quality of the ''Dragon Guard.''" Zhao Liandong indicated that he firmly would not take the blame and looked towards another vice president. "Um! The quality of ''Dragon Guard'' is absolutely fine, but it being so easily destroyed definitely indicates a problem." The vice president overseeing the production line and quality control, Song Wenshan, hesitated for a moment before finally shaking his head. If there were a problem with the quality, the first person to be questioned wouldn''t be Zhao Liandong, who was responsible for R&D, but himself, resulting in him losing his job and having to go home. "Do you know how heavy that young man''s punch is? At least two tons, 2146 kilograms. The ''Dragon Guard'' wasn''t designed for such punches. Even if one could achieve the same heavy impact using Battle Qi, war professionals at that level don''t typically get the chance to get close in fully armed ''Dragon Guard'', and designing it specifically to defend against two-ton punches is utterly pointless." Zhao Liandong gestured with two fingers, showing that this was not a burden he could or should bear. If the fully armed "Dragon Guard" were to open fire fully, war professionals, being flesh and blood, couldn''t withstand the concentrated gunfire. Even if one had the chance to get close, those equipped with Single Soldier Tactical Armor rarely acted alone. As the saying goes, many ants can kill an elephant. A group of "Dragon Guards" gathered together, whether in defense or attack, with all module functions activated, even a Sword God from the Earth Order would have to weigh their options carefully, finding few opportunities to exploit. The two-ton punch left both Vice Presidents from the corporation grinning in pain; the defense designed for the Single Soldier Tactical Armor seemed a bit too flimsy. - Chapter 255 Section 255 - Creating Chaos Where There Is None "I''m number 15, I''ve found¡ªah..." ... "Number 125 reporting, target spotted. The target is right in front of¡ª" Bang! "Number 125? Number 125?" "What''s happening over there?" "Something''s happened to number 125!" "What happened?" ... In this exercise, Chen Fei single-handedly turned a war film into a horror movie with his own power. "Something''s off. I suspect our communications system has been breached!" Finally, someone wise realized that their comrades were disappearing one by one for no reason. They started to suspect that the opponent had used some unknown method to pinpoint the location of every one of them, even intercepting the content of their communications, and then hunted them down individually. If it was indeed the case, then the most improbable scenario had finally occurred. What was originally 174 hunters surrounding one prey had bizarrely reversed. The situations of the parties involved had swapped, turning into one hunter effortlessly hunting down every single one of them. Even though they were clad in the most advanced Assault-type "Dragon Guard," Officer-type "Dragon General," and Assault Heavy Armor "Dragon King" Individual Tactical Armors, it did not give them any advantage. So far, over twenty "Dragon Guards" and three "Dragon Generals" had been forced to exit the exercise. One of the "Dragon General" wearers made a decisive decision. "Everyone, listen to my command, change tactics. ''Dragon Guards'' nearby, move closer to your respective ''Dragon Generals.'' ''Dragon Kings'' will take care of the lookout. We can''t be picked off one by one anymore." "Understood!" "I''m number 155 ''Dragon General,'' move towards me!" "On the move." ... Chen Fei immediately noticed the tactical change of his opponents. He first checked his "Personal Information." State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 32/39 Burst Strength: 82/101 Fullness: 91% Active Time: 123 hours Energy Points: 5000/5000 Electric Energy Reserve: 91500 watts/second Metal materials were scattered throughout the testing ground, and Chen Fei had been collecting and absorbing them whenever he had the chance, even filling up his Energy Points. Wait, isn''t the "Metal Devouring" skill limited to absorbing 1000 tons of metal per day in exchange for 1000 Energy Points? Why did the Dog System suddenly become lenient this time? Therefore, the three models of Single Soldier Tactical Armor targeted units below the battalion in warfare. In this testing field, Chen Fei''s adversaries were precisely an enhanced primary battle company. If a battalion were to engage a single person with current tactical arrangements, it would likely mean the battalion commanders had lost their minds. Battalion-level tactics weren''t like this. You''d simply summon battalion-level firepower to wash over the area, and it was done. It would be silly to send infantry to fight a foolish war upfront! - "Number 74, set up your heavy machine gun here. The moment you spot the target, open fire without waiting for orders." No sooner had the small team commander, a "Dragon General," finished the tactical arrangements and turned around, he suddenly found he could no longer move his body. More accurately, he was imprisoned inside his Single Soldier Tactical Armor. "What''s going on? ''Dragon General,'' report your current status!" The "Dragon General''s" "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit": ... It was completely silent, unable to emit even the slightest sound. Inside the tactical helmet''s chin area, a slender wired terminal flickered with a faint blue light and, having accomplished its mission, retreated. Chen Fei withdrew his hand. In just three seconds, he had successfully paralyzed a "Dragon General," nearly driving the onlookers outside the field insane. Was this model of tactical armor really that weak? It was precisely because of "Adam," the chief culprit, that thirty years later, artificial intelligence AI had not developed much. In the situation where there hadn''t been a significant technological gap, "Adam" made full use of the ample computational resources of the Dog System, effortlessly caught up, and was now quick and perfect in its methods, able to instantly take out any Single Soldier Tactical Intelligence Unit like bullying kindergarten kids. Once the intelligence unit''s permissions were seized, Single Soldier Tactical Armor became an immobile human-shaped coffin, locking the wearer inside. Based on human strength alone, it was very difficult to counteract the power-assisted mechanisms. Life and death were no longer in one''s own hands. "Number 155! Reporting, Number 44 is in position." "..." "Number 155?" "Number 155? Hey, respond!" Discover hidden stories at empire Ratatatatata... Without any warning, the rumbling roar of the heavy machine gun recklessly scattered streaks of red trajectories, instantly covering the entire position. The carefully arranged position instantly became a scene of chaos. Everyone was caught completely off guard. Who could have imagined that the sudden attack would come from within? As long as the tactical helmet was not removed, nobody could tell what the person inside the "Dragon Guard" armor really looked like. The people at Henghai Tactical Weapons Group fell into one intellectual trap after another, believing that the unarmed Chen Fei could not pinpoint everyone''s location, nor could he eavesdrop on their communications, and that physical strength alone was not enough to strip the three models of tactical armor. The chaos on the field only lasted three to four seconds before everyone finally reacted. Gunfire and bullets flew wildly. Chen Fei threw away the heavy machine gun that had emptied its ammo belt and charged directly into a group of "Dragon Guards," stirring up trouble in the water, pulling and dragging wildly. Amidst the tumult, it was total havoc, like a magic trick where all three immortals returned to their cave. Soon everyone was confused, and friend and foe were indistinguishable. The "Dragon Guards" became wary of each other, and the pandemonium broke out when someone fired on another. It was like Pandora''s Box had been opened. They began fighting among each other, and the situation momentarily spiraled out of control, the communication channel was filled with shouts. The best way to identify friend from foe was to remove the tactical helmet; whether it was Li Kui or Fake Li, it would be clear at a glance. However, on the scene, bullets didn''t discriminate, and losing the protection of the tactical helmet¡ªeven if you were shot in the head¡ªit could be game over on the spot. The exercise wasn''t a real battlefield, and most people didn''t have the courage to risk their lives. Moreover, the bulletproof capabilities of individual tactical armor had its limits. After taking too many shots in the same spot, it was prone to localized fatigue, leading to cracks and complete loss of strength. Once the liquid inner armor within solidified, it would not last long under continuous attack. - Chapter 256 Section 256 - Exercise Terminated Had they ever experienced real combat, they would have been able to distinguish themselves completely at this moment. Someone like Chen Fei, a rule-breaker with unusually bold ideas, would still try his best to bring down the enemy from the sky even in a dire situation without ammunition. However, the people from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group had been in peace for too long, and were unaccustomed to these ruthless methods. The only difference between "Dragon Guards" was the numerical codes on their chests and backs, but these numbers couldn''t grow a human''s appearance. If it had been the folks from Aircrew Base, they would have certainly taken turns surrounding one of them to remove the tactical helmet for identification. However, the members of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group did not think of this immediately, and, in a fit of hot-headedness, only focused on brawling, attempting to suppress others with brute force before checking if they were allies. Yet everyone resembled fighting turtles with their ineffectual punch strength, displaying a wholly amateur skill as they swung their arms wildly. Naturally, it was impossible to tell apart Chen Fei who had blended into the chaos. The nearby "Dragon Kings" noticed the disarray in their formation and hurried back immediately. There were only two "Dragon Kings," not many, but they were the first to raise their railgun combat rifles, the barrels aimed at the "Dragon Guards" still embroiled in the chaotic battle. The shooting range and penetration of the railgun combat rifle were remarkable; the first shot could destroy any individual tactical armor''s local defense, and the second shot would pierce straight through from the chest to the back, placing it at the pinnacle of active light weaponry. "All of you, stop fighting!" One of the "Dragon Kings" approached the "Dragon General," who was still immobile. "Hey, number 155, how are you holding up?" Although unable to move, the lone tactical commander, "Dragon General," managed to speak, though his voice sounded muffled and jarred, as if speaking through a teacup. "Hisss, I can''t move, the motion assist components are fighting against me." No matter which model of individual tactical armor, motion assist components were standard, able to immediately capture power buildup movements, combine them with neuron signals, and timely enhance the motion strength, providing a maximum output of up to 5 tons. This system could add extraordinary power to a person''s movements, but if it turned against the wearer, it could just as easily render them powerless. "Your ''Dragon General'' is malfunctioning, hold on...does anyone know how to repair individual tactical armor?" The "Dragon King" turned his gaze towards the "Dragon Guards." Located at the headquarters of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, technicians adept at fixing tactical armors should be more readily available here. "Uh! I can, I do!" A naive voice responded to the "Dragon King," as one of the "Dragon Guards" hesitantly raised his hand. "Come here. Take a look at number 155." The "Dragon King" waved him over. The person stuck inside the "Dragon General" took extra precaution and asked a question. "Which number?" The "Dragon King" glanced at the numeral code on the approaching "Dragon Guard"''s chest and said, "Number 47." "It''s not him, the one who sneaked in is number 74!" The person inside the "Dragon General" sighed in relief, thankful that the enemy wasn''t brought closer. The "Dragon King" asked the approaching "Number 47," "Do you need tools?" "I need a data cable to diagnose one tactical armor from another." In full view, "Dragon Guard" No. 47 actually transformed into "Dragon King" No. 13. Wait, why are there two "Dragon King" No. 13s? "Ah! Take another punch from me!" "Dragon King" No. 13, realizing he had been perfectly copied and in an instant, was furious. Explore new worlds at empire Harnessing all his strength, he launched another punch. This strike''s power was nearly on par with the terrifying burst strength Chen Fei had once registered on a punch strength tester, over two tons. Thud! The muffled sound grew louder. However... no one stepped back. Whether the original "Dragon King" or the counterfeit "Dragon King," both appeared evenly matched in strength, coming out in a draw. "Ahhhh!" "Dragon King" No. 13 threw punches faster and harder one after the other. However, his opponent did the same. It was as if there was a mirror on site, with "Dragon King" No. 13 swinging at his own reflection, swinging into loneliness. Not just the surrounding "Dragon Guards," even those in the command center were vigorously rubbing their eyes. Who exactly is Li Kui, and who is the Fake Li? "Stop! The exercise... is over!" The deputy general manager of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, Zhao Liandong, unable to bear watching, declared the live-fire exercise concluded ahead of time. Inside the testing field, "Dragon Guards," "Dragon Generals," and "Dragon Kings," still numbered over a hundred, yet the only opponent remained unharmed. The other two deputy general managers exchanged glances, one of them said puzzledly, "Old Zhao, what''s this?" Zhao Liandong, primarily responsible for product development, replied with a bitter smile, "The exercise has reached a point where there''s no point continuing." He clearly understood. The 147 soldiers clad in advanced single soldier tactical armor were like 147 sheep in front of Chen Fei, no different from a flock of sheep, no matter how many there were, they were no match for a carnivorous beast. One could almost predict that even if the temporary teams stopped spreading out, they would still be torn apart by various tactics, unable to organize a proper counterattack. "Uh!" The inquiring deputy manager, Song Wenshan, hesitated for a moment, then quickly grasped Zhao Liandong''s thought. To think a Metal Ability user could play so wildly, perfectly replicating the appearance of three types of single soldier tactical armor, whether "Dragon Guards," "Dragon Generals," or the most combat-capable "Dragon Kings," none were spared. Even if the exercise had not been stopped, the subsequent battles would just be repeated time and again. For the personnel of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group facing the opposition, it was like kindergartners being manhandled, truly, there wasn''t much point to it. - Chapter 257 Section 257 - Light Armor Mode The sudden termination of the exercise caught everyone off guard, not just Chen Fei; even the "Dragon King," who was exchanging punches with him, was equally stunned. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly withdrew his hand, stepped back a few steps, and looked around bewilderedly at the others. Others were equally taken by surprise, exchanging perplexed glances. The combatants of the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group had not yet fought to the last man, accepting this was definitely out of the question. Your next read awaits at empire "Repeating once more, everyone stay where you are, the exercise is over!" The announcement from the test field''s control center rang out once again in everyone''s earpieces at just the right time. Anyone who dared to continue fighting would be severely violating the rules. "Brother, stop fighting!" The voice of his younger sister, Chen Meng, came through, fearful that her elder brother wouldn''t be able to stop himself and would end up beating someone up. She always seemed to easily get communication access and contact Chen Fei. Her brother could always listen to his sister. The technical staff responsible for secure communication silently sweated, then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.No?v(el)B\\jnn The top brass had spoken, continuing the fight was completely pointless. Fighting during an exercise and fighting after an exercise are two different matters. Both sides were throwing heavy punches, and a small mistake could lead to serious injury. "Understood! Deactivate skills!" Chen Fei took a deep breath, recklessly releasing his power, yet he still felt somewhat unsatisfied, as if he hadn''t had enough of the fight. Of course, his punch strength wasn''t limited to 2146 kilograms, but reaching the Dragon King''s action support component''s output limit would probably still be a bit insufficient. Without some tricks, it would be hard to overwhelm this tactical armor that excelled in individual combat strength with mere physical force alone. The "Dragon King" tactical armor covering Chen Fei instantly shattered into pieces, receded like a tide, breaking down rapidly, and finally revealing a plain set of overalls crowded with pockets, big and deep enough to hold quite a lot. "What kind of tactical armor is that on you?" The "Dragon King" he had been exchanging punches with just a moment ago took off his tactical helmet proactively, revealing a square face with a beard, looking at the young man before him with amazement and uncertainty. "No, it''s not tactical armor, it''s a Metal Elemental Psychic Power." Chen Fei shook his head, fished out from his pocket a very mini version of the Single Soldier Tactical Armor, about ten centimeters tall, but strikingly a detailed model of the "Dragon King,''" which he flaunted in front of the other party. A one-to-one, proportionally scaled-down model of the "Dragon King." In his pockets, he also had "Dragon Guard" and "Dragon General." During the exercise, Chen Fei successfully collected the detailed parameters of all three types of the Single Soldier Tactical Armors, including the most crucial "Individual Tactical Intelligence Units." "Special Abilities can do this?" The bearded square-faced man was dumbfounded, seemingly unable to believe it. "If it reaches the industrial grade, it is possible!" Chen Fei was not mistaken; an A-grade ability in control power could reach industrial standards. With the capability of Metal Shaping, plus various non-metal materials and "Individual Tactical Intelligence Units," equipped with different functional modules, it was indeed possible to create a tactical armor with most of the features of the original model. But... it would consume a long time. By the time a Metal Ability User with this capability finished creating the Single Soldier Tactical Armor, the battle would likely be long over, and grass three feet high would already be growing on their grave. "Industrial grade level!" Hearing these words transmitted through the headset, Zhao Liandong, the Executive Vice President of Henghai Tactical Weapons, his eyes lit up. The evaluation of the opponent''s abilities seemed to contain no false elements, and this capability to alter Single Soldier Tactical Armor could be applied to product development... He suddenly had a bold idea. "Hiss..." Compared to this tin can, the three models of Single Soldier Tactical Armor from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group seemed as flimsy as paper mache. The drones in the sky hadn''t left yet, and nearby cameras were still functioning, naturally capturing the transformation occurring on Chen Fei, which caught everyone''s attention. Chen Meng jumped three feet high, her eyes sparkling brightly. "Damn, brother! This is cool!" Master Yu''s face turned the color of earth. This was a true show-off moment. Brother, might as well pack up your Divine Skills! "A Metal Ability User!" The three Executive Vice Presidents nodded simultaneously. It looked high-end and classy but was impractical. However, as a showpiece at an expo, it was definitely top-tier attention-grabbing. Chen Fei shook his head and withdrew the "Personal Armor Basic Body". That was a waste of 2000 Energy Points. He cast his gaze farther, taking advantage of the massive sale still ongoing in the Dog System, hurriedly sponging up more Energy Points. On his way back to the Command Center, he grumbled all the way, causing everyone to wait nearly an hour for him; they almost started to suspect that this kid was deliberately freeloading off various metals. Only then did Chen Fei contentedly step into the grand hall of the Command Center. Energy Points: 5000/5000 In the "Skill Shop," he selected "Energy Points Storage Upgrade", GET! Energy Points - 5000! Energy Points: 0/10000 The "Skill Shop" was empty, skills left to humanity. His compulsive disorder was finally cured. Before buying the "Energy Points Storage Upgrade," Chen Fei forcibly suppressed the urge to upgrade his currently owned skills and immediately acquired the only two available "Gravity Adjustment Modules". Always thinking the item worth 5000 Energy Points must be something good, but he never imagined it to be a flashy but impractical pitfall. The Dog System had successfully tricked him. Initially, he thought he could adjust the gravity to a negative value, perhaps achieving levitation, but the "Gravity Adjustment Module" was only a gravity percentage regulator within a ten-meter radius spherical space, adjusting between 0% and 100%. Thinking of using it to achieve flight capabilities was wishful thinking. It was like the weightlessness in outer space where even without any motion, one is still propelled by constantly changing air currents, countless minute dust impacts, and internal circulation, unable to maintain a fixed position, with the person''s posture quickly becoming strange. The only immediate benefit might be in piloting aircraft, where it could slightly reduce the weight, but not too much, as that would affect the center of gravity and aerodynamics, among other factors. Sometimes gravity is not entirely a burden. If gravity control were lost, the structure would likely disintegrate instantly. Yet, reducing the weight by ten or twenty percent within safety limits, for aircraft weighing tons or even tens of tons, was barely better than nothing, although it significantly increased the cruising distance. Seeing Chen Fei again, Vice President Zhao Liandong personally poured him a cup of hot tea, then said with a bit of vexation, "Little Chen, you''ve really put us in a difficult position." The other two vice presidents who witnessed the exercise nodded in agreement. This guy was about to successfully mooch off the entire Henghai Tactical Weapons Group. "Director Zhao, planning to welsh on the deal?" Chen Fei nonchalantly tapped on his teacup. There''s only a thin line between welshing and recognizing the bill. And so is he. - Chapter 258 Section 258 - Task Completed Henghai Tactical Weapons Group was substantial in size and business, so they should not renege on a deal over just one suit of tactical armor. It''s tough being a freeloader, and Chen Fei came from just an ordinary working-class family, utterly powerless and insignificant. If people wanted to bully him, they would. "Uh! No, that''s not what I meant, what I mean is..." Zhao Liandong hesitated, seemingly at a loss for words. At the time of the bet, he naturally thought he was getting a bargain; 174 armed personnel in three types of land warfare individual tactical armor, teaching this naive young man a lesson; but the reality was a slap in the face, literally a slap in the face. 174 against 1, regardless of the outcome, numbers would become meaningless. If he could just imagine a day in the life of young Chen Fei¡ªmissiles whizzing through the sky, jets and turboprop aircraft overwhelming the heavens, the roaring Dragon of Slaughter, and mutants carpeting the mountains under the shroud of night... None who survived such an environment could be simple; brawling was as commonplace as eating for them. How could anyone possibly think he lacked so much Jianghu experience that he would neglect to specifically agree on the number of opponents in battle? Fortunately, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group still had some face, otherwise they might have thrown in a thousand men in armor right off the bat, and even if they were a gang of pigs, it would be enough to wear Chen Fei down. If Zhao Liandong had taken even a moment to further deepen his understanding, he would never have agreed to such a bet, but the situation was never that simple. "What is it?" Chen Fei slightly narrowed his eyes. This old dodger is scheming something nice again! "My point is, why not increase the stakes? After all, you''re only looking to get a set of individual tactical armor, but with your skills, you could get much more; you, deserve the best." Indeed, it took a capable person to be an executive vice president. In just a short moment, Zhao Liandong fabricated a reason so convincing he almost believed it himself. It was crucial to fulfill the promise, or have a justifiable way to gloss over it. As a vice president, he could recognize the debt, but passing the scrutiny of the board of directors was not that easy. After all, individual tactical armor was not like a proportional model figurine from a toy store; it was an actual piece of military hardware, not something one could just sell or give away to the public on a whim. Even if the other party was a military contractor authorized to possess lethal weapons, had it been approved by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee? Military contractors are under strict control regarding the weapons they use, and equipment such as active-duty individual tactical armor, Simply isn''t listed on the purchasable equipment list allowed for military contractors. Of course, personal ownership is another matter entirely¡ªbringing one''s own gear to the job is completely above board. This brings us back to the restriction that civilians cannot own tactical weapons, creating a vicious cycle. "No, I''m only interested in the aerial combat interceptor ''Flying Dragon''; I don''t want the others!" Chen Fei decisively refused. It was clear what the other party was playing at, as obvious as fleas on a bald head, and he was well aware that greater benefits came with greater demands. Tying himself to Henghai Tactical Weapons Group and then rightfully working for them, even if it meant getting a set of armor, would still be like the meat rotting in the pot¡ªthe gratuity still wouldn''t flow into someone else''s field. After the plan fell through, Zhao Liandong did not show a disappointed expression but instead said earnestly, "Uh! I will do my utmost to help you acquire it, after all, the corporation isn''t just mine." A promise from the executive vice president is as good as the emperor''s word¡ªhe must act upon it. Fang Lou, the vice president in charge of personnel and ideological work, looked at Zhao Liandong in surprise and said, "Wow, Old Zhao, are you serious?" "You better think it through, getting a complete set of the ''Flying Dragon'' tactical armor is no joke!" The vice president in charge of the production line and quality control, Song Wenshan, was keenly observing Chen Fei''s reaction. After all, it was a bet worth hundreds of millions of Star Yuan. Against ordinary folk, they could bully without restraint. In business transactions, breach of contract clauses are always present, especially with verbal agreements. Chen Fei didn''t seem to care and said, "If anyone feels offended or wants to challenge me, come on over and fight me!" "That''s true!" Having once seen Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s armed personnel focus fire with various automatic firearms on the three-dimensional real-view big screen, and yet her brother remained unscathed amidst the barrage, Chen Meng''s mood immediately lifted. If anyone has a problem, just go and give my brother a beating¡ªto death''s door! System: Ding! Successfully obtained a piece of individual tactical armor manufactured by Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, energy points +1000! Energy Points: 1000/10000 "We got it!" Chen Fei''s eyebrows slightly raised. The Dog System somehow got wind of the news and declared the mission accomplished. Chen Meng asked puzzledly, "Got what?" She looked around, but didn''t notice anything unusual. "Tactical armor in hand!" Chen Fei chose to believe. "Huh?" Ding-ding-ding... Chen Fei''s phone rang, and he answered it. "Hello, Chen Fei, I have some good news." The voice of Vice President Zhao Liandong came through. "Is it about that ''Flying Dragon'' interceptor type being mine now, right?" Chen Fei did not give the other party a chance to tease, bursting the bubble himself. Zhao Liandong replied annoyedly, "Ah, ah, ah, you spoilsport! How did you know?" "Guess?" By not letting the other party tease and taking the lead, Chen Fei made Zhao Liandong''s face turn quite sour. Guess? Guess what? The amount of information here was somewhat overwhelming. There must be a mole inside Henghai Tactical Weapons Group leaking information clandestinely. Otherwise, how could such crucial news leak out in advance? There must be a mole inside Henghai Tactical Weapons Group; otherwise, how could such critical news leak out accidentally? Could the spy be among the board of directors? - Chapter 259 Section 259 - Cash In "do you have connections inside henghai tactical weapons group?" zhao liandong, the old fox, couldn''t help himself and asked. "of course, i do!" chen fei smiled, looking towards his clueless little sister. what? brother, when did you become so influential and well-connected? "can you reveal a bit?" discover hidden stories at empire the old fox was fishing again, it didn''t matter whether chen fei answered or not, he could still ask! "heh, my sister!" chen fei laughed heartily. fishing? go fish yourself! "fuck!" vice general manager zhao burst out with a curse. he casually hung up the call. chen meng timidly asked, "second brother, did you offend him?" after all, she would someday depend on the iron rice bowl of henghai tactical weapons group; offending them to the death, isn''t he worried that his little sister will get the short end of the stick? the big cat, the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, yawned with fangs bared, its mouth gaping wide. its current job was to serve as a pillow, sprawled across the couch just right to support the back, very snug and comfy. "what''s this little bit?" "to pinch you, they''d probably have to wait another four years, so rest easy. four years is a long time, enough for many things to happen." chen fei could of course guess what his little sister was thinking. a future workplace newcomer offending an executive vice president before even starting? wouldn''t she be stepping into a quagmire? he thought for a moment, holding his phone and pointing at zhao liandong''s number, said, "take down this number. in the future, it will be the sturdy leg in the group that backs you up. make sure to hold onto it tightly, interact more, it will only do you good." even though vice general manager zhao had previously been suspected of breaking his word to prosper himself, the difficulty in fulfilling the promise could not be denied. henghai tactical weapons group was a big company with intricate internal relations; for a vice general manager to privatize a piece of tactical armor and make it look both reasonable and legal was not an easy task. being able to get it done within the short time given the ultimatum, clearing all the hurdles, regardless of how much effort or price was paid, chen fei still admired the opponent. to sit in the position of executive vice president, one needed both capability and clout. "what?" chen meng was stunned and confused. so, there were such audacious maneuvers. brother, you offend someone and still treat them like a thick thigh to hold onto, are you trying to meet your end prematurely by rushing headfirst into the line of fire? little sister chen''s expression was uglier than crying as she grabbed a handful of the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet''s fur. er lang ¡Ô¦Ø¡Ô: stop pulling in the same spot! "you don''t believe me? here, let me give you some assurance and show you." seeing his little sister''s incredulous expression, chen fei immediately pressed zhao liandong''s call button. "stop, bro!" chen meng was terrified; her second brother was really bold ¨C one shouldn''t tempt fate like this! this was suspecting a gentleman of harboring the intentions of a scoundrel ¡ª where was the trust between people? "you might not renege, but the group company might." in the end, chen fei still did not find the individual tactical armor he wanted. after all, the item was bulky, and it was impossible to hide it in an office of that size. he walked over to the sofa and took a seat on his own initiative. "don''t forget the things you promised before!" zhao liandong hinted at something. "remember, remember!" chen fei took out an integrated unit that stored "adam," which he had casually intercepted from the international airlines company. the sample needed for delivery was actually just one piece, but he had kept four out of a total of 24 integrated units to himself, and no one said anything. after all, there was no difference between one piece and countless pieces. zhao liandong looked at the crystal clear circuit board in chen fei''s hand and said emotionally, "''adam''?" this accidentally created artificial intelligence had nearly severed the advancement of ai development of the blue star civilization. to this day, people have not forgotten that blue star''s intelligent species was just a little away from being replaced by a new era, the entire planet changing masters. the artificial intelligence that blue star civilization uses now, apart from the low-level intelligence developed by humans themselves, mostly comes from the digital intelligence constructs "cybertrom" in near-earth orbit. the individual tactical intelligence units from henghai tactical weapons group were derived from "cybertrom". compared to the free and uncontrollable "adam," the "cybertrom" series of ais were rigid and lacked the fluidity and variability. "yes, it''s ''adam''!" chen fei nodded and watched as zhao liandong came over, taking the integrated unit with great care. zhao liandong seemed to suddenly remember something and hastily sought confirmation, "wait, the sudden collapse of the ''individual tactical intelligence units'' of the three land combat single soldier tactical armors... could it be... ''adam''?" the ai of more than thirty years later turned out to be no match for the ai from over thirty years before, which was utterly baffling. "in a way..." chen fei hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded again and said, "yes, it was ''adam''!" in fact, it was not just one dog system, but that inexplicable visual interface¡ªwhat it actually was, he still hadn''t figured out. moreover, he couldn''t even see the program files for the dog system in his personal skill "file management plugin," let alone the even more crucial source code part. thus, the secret of the dog system was probably not that simple. "i knew it! hiss!" zhao liandong had an expression as if his suspicions were confirmed. this "adam" was truly formidable; even the "individual tactical intelligence unit" was easily crushed by it. chen fei seriously reminded him, "be very careful when using it. ''adam'' is really dangerous. do not grant it network access and strictly limit its duplication." during his brief encounter with "adam," he never underestimated this accidentally born digital marvel. intelligent, cunning, vigilant, ferocious, patient... when all these traits came together in one, it was hard to believe "adam" was a rigid, inflexible ai. it seemed more like a being with a soul. if it weren''t for chen fei''s constant mix of coaxing, deceiving, and threatening to restrain it, "adam" might have caused a disaster. "i understand." zhao liandong returned to his desk and found a small box, in which he carefully placed the newly acquired integrated unit. then he made several phone calls, and in no time, an armed person wearing assault-type "dragon king" tactical armor arrived with a technical expert to the office, then took away the integrated unit solemnly in an alloy case. after a crowd of people had left, chen fei spoke up again, saying, "what about my stuff?" "your things? of course, you won''t be shortchanged. it''s already been dispatched. the destination is the aircrew base, 911. there are things that must be made clear. first, it is a test version, indeed a test version. your current status is an external test engineer. second, it is a tactical weapon, not allowed to appear on domestic soil in your name, whether for repair or scrap, you must go through a designated channel. third, all rights of explanation belong to henghai tactical weapons group." as zhao liandong spoke, he slowly raised three fingers; some things needed to be made clear, or they could lead to serious trouble. - Chapter 260 Section 260 - The Newcomer of 911 chen fei struck an additional agreement before leaving the office of zhao liandong, the executive vice president of henghai tactical weapons group. if little sister chen meng made notable achievements in the field of artificial intelligence, vice general manager zhao would recommend her to join the company''s "adam" research and development project team. this was not in vain, as chen fei braved gunfire and risked adventure to bring "adam" back to the homeland from the american federation; after all, it''s best not to let the fruits of one''s labor benefit strangers. only after safely bringing his little sister home did chen fei set off on his journey back to the 911 aircrew base. oh, and there was a big cat. no longer crammed into a box as a pet for air shipping, but having proudly claimed a seat as a magical beast in its own right. little sister chen had been too heavy-handed, breaking the defenses of a seventh rank magical beast of human order and plucking several patches of its fur bald; had it stayed any longer, it would have been completely bald. this golden-eyed azure-hearted civet simply clung to chen fei, demanding room and board without lifting a paw until its fur fully grew back. chen fei didn''t really mind; after all, his expenses were just three thousand star yuan a month, covered by the base for both food and accommodation, and he might even get reimbursed. actually, it wouldn''t have worked out to leave the cat behind; it ate far too much and produced an equal amount in waste. grocery shopping was almost becoming a feat of strength, and for ordinary people, the burden of keeping a magical beast was simply too great. of course, xiao jiu was an exception. pure light sparrows, which start at a very low level, are petite, eat little, and can be satisfied with a diet of chick feed and mealworms, never costing more than two hundred star yuan per month for food. - almost the entire night, right until dawn, was spent in the prolonged flight. when chen fei and golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang arrived on an international flight at the public airport closest to the xingdu kush mountain area, the whole flight lasted around twelve hours. yet the sky was still dark due to the time difference. the day had already broken where chen fei''s hometown was, and people were starting work, but here, most were still deep in their dreams. having had an exorbitantly expensive breakfast at the airport, the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet effortlessly devoured over three thousand star yuan worth of roast beef on its own. its salary was a joke, focusing on board and lodging; if not charged to public expense, chen fei would have stuffed it with real buns. the henghai tactical weapons group had delivered on its promise a day early to this public airport: a nearly two-meter-high dedicated transport case equipped with a combination lock and entrusted to a security firm for transport. the contractor was a major military contractor with strong capabilities, barely less prestigious than the fully flourishing apocalypse defense group, which is why it wouldn''t risk stealing the sovereign active single soldier tactical armor. in reality, no one easily dared to mess with this single soldier tactical armor; if they did, the henghai tactical weapons group, a professional supplier of military equipment for sovereignty, would teach them how to be reborn as a new person. "a magical beast?" the transport team leader sized up the big cat beside chen fei. "yes, a golden-eyed azure-hearted civet. its name is ''er lang''!" being able to recognize the cat''s true identity, chen fei didn''t mind making the introductions. "hello!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet extended its paw. "hello, er lang!" the transport team leader solemnly shook paws with the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet. when dealing with intelligent species, one must treat them as equals. he turned around, took out a business card, and handed it to chen fei. "i am captain eisoke christian from alpha squad c team of cossack security company''s operations department. if you need anything in the future, feel free to look for me!" even though competitors can be adversaries, the cossack security company, ranked 19th in the industry, and jiu defense company had little conflict of interest, and they could still chat relaxedly upon meeting. the jiu defense company had recently made waves in the industry, gaining high recognition, stepping on the heads of the old boss, apocalypse defense group, to establish its own status in jianghu. now, having acquired a single soldier tactical armor produced by henghai tactical weapons group, it inevitably led to much speculation. although jiu defense company was a small military contractor start-up with insufficient heritage, its strength and personal connections were not to be underestimated. "alright, captain eisoke!" chen fei took the business card, though he had none to exchange. "come on, say with me, ''i want it!''" "... i want it!" there we go, got a spirited young fellow in hand. as expected from a seventh rank dual-elemental magical beast of the human order, it did the job neatly and beautifully. when tempun schneider finally came to his senses, he jumped up from his seat, but was immediately yanked back by the seatbelt, a wasted effort. he asked blankly, "where am i, and what am i supposed to do?" clouds flowing past the little round window, and the big cat sitting opposite, still showing its teeth in a nasty smile. wait, this isn''t a cat, this is a magical beast! "magical beast!!!" tempun schneider forced out the word between clenched teeth. "do you still want to go back? i''ll lend you a parachute!" chen fei''s voice came to his ears. he was absolutely serious. if one dared to ask for it, he would dare to give it; a direct kick out the back cargo door. if you decide to work as a military contractor, don''t treat your life as precious. back when chekhov big bear dragged him around, chen fei never talked reason, and now can chen fei be expected to explain to the rookies what reason is, dammit, what kind of reason is that? "..." outside the cargo bay, the world was all floating clouds. the undulating hills looked like a grey-yellow carpet. at this height... tempun schneider''s face filled with horror. are you the devil? seeing the youngster quiet down, chen fei smiled and said in a gentle tone, "since you''re here, you should know some things about jiu defense company; it can help you live longer..." he really was concerned for the other''s well-being. from his own personal experience, aircrew base 911 truly was not a nice place. after several hours of flight, the small transport aircraft finally arrived deep within the xingdu kush mountain area at aircrew base 911. a group of people was already waiting on the tarmac. looking around, everyone was an acquaintance. boss hana, chekhov big bear, "devil pepper" short-haired sister, and the maintenance chief xiao ming. as soon as the plane''s doors opened, a small figure hurriedly rushed into the cargo bay, its cheerful chirping echoing inside the cabin. "jiu, jiu, jiu!" "bird! bird!" nearly scared the newcomer tempun schneider into tumbling head over heels. birds are the natural enemies of aircraft, and all pilots, no matter the size of the bird, skip a beat in their hearts when they see them. "''panda claw,'' the most important thing for you to remember is our company''s mascot, xiao jiu!" "jiu!~" a burst of white light exploded without warning, filling every inch of the small transport aircraft''s cabin. this welcome gift still had its unique flavor. "my eyes..." only screams could be heard. the two pilots of the small transport aircraft were long accustomed to the little guy greeting with ''light burst flash.'' after steadying the aircraft, they didn''t even lift their helmet visors, remaining calm from beginning to end. the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang, an old hand, had already heard of chen fei''s human order third rank pure light sparrow and had squinted in time. since it was a seventh rank magical beast, it had some resistance to low-rank magic, blinking a few times before it returned to normal. "you little rascal, throw out a light healing technique." chen fei caught the little guy fluttering on him and tapped its little head. - Chapter 261 Section 261 - Industry Survival Rules a light orb emitting a faint white glow sank into the head of tempun schneider, who was howling with his hands over his eyes. the effect was immediate, and he soon released his hands in confusion. "eh? it''s gone!" "wow, to have trained a pure light sparrow to the human order third rank!" big cat''s mouth twitched. explore more adventures at empire a pure light sparrow of no significant repute, reaching second rank was essentially the limit of rank advancement through bloodline; a third rank pure light sparrow was unheard of. this guy actually pushed it to third rank, how idle must he be! one could imagine the amount of resources that were poured into this effort, enough to raise another magical beast with decent talent to a much higher rank, probably even beyond fourth rank. if those resources had been used on it, perhaps it could have ascended to the human order eighth rank, and might even have brushed the threshold of the ninth rank. chen fei, holding little bird, said, "xiao jiu is one of a kind." he introduced the magical beasts to each other, "this is golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, named er lang, and it''s as high as the human order seventh rank, you know. xiao jiu, you have to work hard! er lang, xiao jiu is a pure light sparrow that i personally hatched. it''s very smart. come on, say hello!" "don''t!" thinking it was about to be dazzled again, the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet''s pupils narrowed to almost imperceptible slits immediately, a natural defense against bright light. but then it heard only a "jiu" sound, as the little bird slyly sized it up. such a little creature with an oversized spirit! like escorting a prisoner, tempun schneider from jiu defense company, the "panda claw" rookie, was kicked off the plane by chen fei. playing dead was useless, once you''re at your destination, even a dog has to tuck its tail and cower. ¡ù lesson one in the military contractor line of work: here, only fists are recognized, reason isn''t. ¡ù "welcome, newcomer!" chekhov big bear, unusually not reeking of alcohol, spread his arms that were thicker than an average person''s thigh, coming forward to give tempun schneider a sincere bear hug. "hello, big bear squadron leader, ah, no, i mean, squadron leader chekhov!" tempun schneider had just greeted his future superior when he suddenly realized his slip of the tongue and quickly corrected himself, but noticed that big bear''s expression had already changed. he quickly pointed at chen fei and said, "it was him, he told me squadron leader chekhov you''re called big bear; it was a slip of the tongue just now, definitely not intentional." "my flight call sign is ''peanut butter,'' not big bear, ''rookie,'' what did you tell him?" the big bear squadron leader had a bad feeling, it seemed that this newcomer who had just reported for duty had been fed a bunch of nonsensical things, their values were a little skewed, they needed to be straightened out and corrected. "hehe!" chen fei did not answer, turning his gaze to big brother xiao directly crying out, "big brother, big bear''s going to hit me!" now feeling more emboldened, he dared to drop hints right to his face. squadron leader chekhov ¦Ò(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)_: "i''m not, i didn''t, don''t talk nonsense! aow!" he had just managed to issue his threefold denial when he was hammered hard in the stomach by a punch as big as a clay pot. "xiao ming, are you playing.. for real?" big bear, with an incredulous expression, bent over and collapsed to the ground. even with a broad back and bear-like waist, he couldn''t escape the fate of being knocked down by a single punch. ``` in terms of combat prowess, maintenance chief xiao ming was even above chekhov big bear. "haynes''s law!" xiao ming shrugged his shoulders, signifying prevention is better than cure, any bad signs could be nipped in the bud as soon as they appeared. that actually... makes fucking sense. the one with the harder fist is the one with the real power. the short-haired sister second-in-command of the "genuine fragrance" combat flight squadron, "devil pepper" irine rusios, covered her forehead, unable to face it directly, yet not showing the slightest intention to help big bear save face. it seemed the maintenance chief''s punch was well delivered, skillfully executed, and hit the spot. with chekhov''s big bear temper, it was only natural to get hit; not getting hit would have been the real surprise. 666... chen fei grinned, making gestures: big brother xiao is mighty, truly satisfying. the little bird responded proudly. tempun schneider had no words to retort; he might not die, but he''d probably wish he had. "new guy, i''ll take you to see a big treasure!" squadron leader chekhov got up from the ground with a grin, acting as if nothing had happened, reached out to tempun schneider with his ferocious bear claw and yanked him along without allowing any refusal. what the hell was that look just now? do you really think uncle chekhov is blind? do you think you''re too good for a? "''rookie'', i''ll go teach the new guy first, we''ll talk later." the short-haired "devil pepper" elder sister signaled to chen fei, then followed behind chekhov big bear, dragging the newcomer with them. educating the new recruit was her responsibility as the deputy squadron leader. irinei rusios was better at teaching according to the student''s capabilities in a variety of ways. chen fei quickly responded, "uh, okay, see you later, deputy squadron leader irinei!" "let''s go!" chief mechanic xiao ming dropped those words and walked away. as usual, he was a man of few words outside of work. chen fei was about to follow, but boss hana called him back. "by the way, i''ll also take you to see a big treasure." a big treasure? what kind of scary term was that? moments later, chen fei saw what boss hana referred to as a big treasure. "hey, where are you all going?" big cat, left behind, looked around. he was just short of being assigned a spot and cried out in a hurry. the least you could do is give me a den! "keep up!" chen fei didn''t look back and gestured with his hand. the pure light sparrow on his shoulder turned around and called out to the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang. big cat breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly grabbed his luggage, and trotted after them. shortly after, chen fei retracted his gaze from the rows of standard shipping containers surrounding the small western-style house with its own sunroom and turned back in confusion to look at boss hana who had brought him here. "what happened to the old shack?" he remembered there was not only a target low temperature nuclear fusion energy tower at this location, but also a shabby steel structure hut covering it. in its place was now a strange three-story western-style house. "it was demolished and rebuilt. it''s still a modular design, nothing novel. here''s the key. i think you''ll need it. don''t stay in the old dormitory anymore. you spend most of your time here anyway," boss hana said while handing a set of keys to chen fei. a house without locks is soulless. taking advantage of the time chen fei went for training, boss hana had the old shed, which was set up for the energy tower, torn down and a new, reasonably designed small western-style house reassembled in its place. the pre-booked assembly modules were slightly adjusted according to the size and location of the energy tower, which was repurposed as a boiler room, not affecting the original functionality. it continued to provide heating for the sunroom and the whole small house. using an energy tower as a heating boiler was a bit of a high-end arrangement, offering comfort that was leagues above the slum-like old huts. the flowers and plants left by the neanderthal tribe elder barut, which had been transferred to a more suitable environment, were thriving here, making it pure light sparrow xiao jiu''s favorite playground. chen fei took the keys and personally opened the door to the small western-style house. normally, not needing keys wouldn''t matter; there were no thieves at the aircrew base. takar, the former personnel manager, and his unclean-handed countrymen had grass growing over their graves three feet high, and no more occasional thefts occurred at the base. if something was missing, it was usually due to personal misplacement or forgetfulness. but this time, chen fei had brought back something significant. therefore, after reconstructing the house, it was necessary to install a new set of security locks. military contractor lesson four: maintain good relations with the leadership for many benefits. - Chapter 262 Section 262 - Open the Wine "wine cabinet?" as soon as chen fei entered, at one corner of the spacious hall was a very noticeable mini-bar with shelves full of drinks, as well as a constant temperature and humidity-controlled wine cabinet. each bottle of wine had a small piece of paper tied carefully around its neck with string, handwritten with the name of the wine, its strength, and a brief description of the flavor profile, for easy and clear viewing. goodness me! with so many drinks, it would be enough to open a bar, and even the quality of the drinks far exceeded the only bar in the base, "medusa''s beautiful eyes," whose top-shelf liquor was nothing more than the entry-level of a small western-style bar. "no need to take them out one by one, most of them have been moved here. would you like a drink?" boss hana moved behind the small bar area as if it were second nature. the length of the bar counter was enough to allow three to five people to sip lightly together, and it was more than enough for just two people to drink face-to-face. "sure, i''ll start with one." chen fei turned his head to look at big cat, only to find that the creature had already swiftly squatted on a round bar stool, licking its tongue. "hey! beautiful, how about pouring me a glass too?" "er lang likes to drink as well?" hanna gagel looked at the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet with surprise. the big cat was quite forward, with no intention of being polite. enjoy exclusive adventures from empire "of course, there isn''t a magical beast that doesn''t like to drink!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang spoke an undeniable truth. very few magical beasts brewed their own alcohol, and most could only drool over the drinks humans enjoyed. you can''t just brew alcohol haphazardly; a bad batch with high methanol content would be too much even for the constitution of a magical beast if consumed in excess. many magical beasts, either solo or with their families, passed stringent assessments to move into human society largely for the human culinary culture, which included various types of alcohol. life as a beast is not easy¡ªisn''t it all for a good bite to eat? "try this!" hanna gagel didn''t mind at all, and took out an extra glass bowl. for golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, a big bowl was exciting, a small shot glass would just be licked clean in an instant, which was utterly unsatisfying. "tweet!" as hanna gagel filled chen fei''s glass halfway and pushed it over, xiao jiu couldn''t wait and flapped its tiny wings over, stepping on the edge of the glass and dipping its head into it. "go on, this isn''t fruit dew." chen fei, with quick eyes and hands, snatched little bird out of the glass. "tweet tweet!" the little fellow pecked at chen fei''s fingers discontentedly as if protesting that it almost got to taste the fragrant liquor. hanna gagel said nonchalantly, "it''s okay, little bird can hold its liquor pretty well." if spoiled, it wouldn''t be good for its future growth. it was better for the little guy to know some boundaries. "xiao jiu is still ignorant; you''re too strict with it!" hanna gagel shook her head, took out a bag of pine nuts from underneath the bar, found a plate, tore open the packaging, and poured them all in, intending them to be a snack to accompany the drinks. "i know that i should relax when it''s time to relax and be strict when it''s necessary. ''a stick raised high raises a filial child,'' being strict has its benefits for it." if it had been someone else''s little bird, chen fei wouldn''t have bothered, but he took a small handful of pine nuts and teased xiao jiu with one. xiao jiu, the crafty little rascal who remembered only the meals and not the scoldings, quickly forgot its grievances about the lack of alcohol after three seconds and pecked at the pine nuts gleefully. one after another, delighting in the activity. the little guy''s crop was stuffed full in no time with the small handful of pine nuts, well and truly sated. after eating its fill, the little bird flapped its wings, landed on chen fei''s shoulder, curled up, and slowly closed its eyes, falling asleep in a matter of moments. hanna gagel glanced at xiao jiu clinging to chen fei. she knew that on the days when chen fei was not there, although xiao jiu was still lively and playful, adorable and obedient, sometimes it would seem lost in thought, and its sleep was not as sound. only at this moment did the little guy truly settle down. after three rounds of drinks, they finally started talking about the main topic. boss hana squeezed her glass as she walked around from behind the bar to the dedicated transportation box casually thrown in the living room of the small western-style building. it had a metal embossed plaque from ''henghai tactical weapons group'' on it, and the full-metal brushed finish of the box looked tremendously sturdy. kicking the box, she turned and asked, "what''s the code?" the dedicated transportation box had a digital keypad, meaning that the correct code needed to be entered to unlock it. "1717468384626!" for chen fei, who graduated from college, remembering such a string of numbers was a piece of cake. this dedicated transportation box was only a deterrent to the honest, not to the crooked. it simply used a 13-digit numerical password and lacked biometric locks like fingerprints or iris scans. once the password was entered, there was a click, and the lid slowly opened automatically, revealing the contents inside. "aerial intercept type ''flying dragon'' single soldier tactical armor, i thought it was a one-to-one scale model, hey ''rookie'', you''re not seriously telling me it''s a model, are you?" the female boss examined the contents of the box, still somewhat in disbelief. a hundred million star yuan''s worth of stuff, and the henghai tactical weapons group must have taken leave of their senses, letting this ''rookie'' kid take it for nothing. "it''s the real deal!" chen fei let out a small burp. if old zhao wasn''t on the level and dared to fool him with some oversized toy... he would certainly send his resume over to the competitors of henghai tactical weapons group, and then nobody would have a good time. come on! let''s hurt each other! mutual annihilation! in fact, both parties were well aware that there was no longer any secret about the three single soldier tactical armors for land combat as far as chen fei was concerned. so there was no point in being cunning with the ''flying dragon'' single soldier tactical armor. - Chapter 263 Section 263 - New Contract "are there any conditions?" having turned her gaze away from the single soldier tactical armor in the box, hanna gagar turned back. "one, to help with testing, and two, you can''t take it back to your homeland." chen fei raised two fingers in succession. after all, it was a sovereign level active tactical weapon, and it was an aerial combat interceptor type of single soldier tactical armor that could only achieve its combat effectiveness with the cooperation of combat aircraft. conducting live-action testing outside of one''s homeland in a personal capacity with a local household registration was the limit of what henghai tactical weapons group could do. if it were the three types of land combat single soldier tactical armors, there wouldn''t even be a chance to take them out of the homeland. however, even so, applying aerial combat-specific single soldier tactical armor on outdated models like big mouth monster and mig-28 jet fighters, and lacking the corresponding support systems and cooperative units, had fairly limited improvement to actual combat effectiveness. it was essentially using a cleaver to kill a chicken and nowhere near the level of active main jet fighters. "i need to get a better jet fighter, come to think of it, you must have planned this, right?" having experience working as a ministry of the interior inspector, hanna gagar inevitably thought more deeply. "?" chen fei looked at her, puzzled. "old david''s lifeblood, the f-22 ''raptor'' jet fighter and this ''flying dragon'', is this a coincidence?" hanna gagar directly pointed out her guess. if not for the restriction order issued by the american federal parliament on chen fei''s f-22, by now he might have already put together the show-off set, strutting around in the xingdu kush mountain area. although the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter is also an old, antique retired model, it is still much stronger than the a-39b "big mouth monster" light turboprop attack aircraft and mig-28 jet fighters that military contractors could buy. the former could easily defeat the latter two; to describe its swagger with "showing off" is in no way an exaggeration. "of course, it''s a coincidence. how would i know there would be a ''flying dragon'' single soldier tactical armor waiting behind, right, and an artificial intelligence ai ''adam'' dug out from the trash heap? isn''t this the job you got for me? if it was premeditated, you would be the co-conspirator, um, the mastermind!" after thinking it over, chen fei decisively shifted the blame to the boss. the subordinates are responsible for the hard work; the leader is responsible for being blamed, absolutely no issue there. "that is true!" hanna gagar nodded repeatedly in agreement. but she was absolutely not going to carry this blame. she couldn''t possibly be involved in plotting such a big endeavor. if even the slightest hint of suspicion leaked, henghai tactical weapons group would not hesitate to retract the single soldier tactical armor, and all prior conditions would be void. such a behemoth was simply beyond the calculations of a military contracting newcomer like jiu defense. so, whoever it is, better kill this damned thought in the cradle. "however, just to be clear upfront, i can only get my hands on ''big mouth monster'' and mig aircraft, other combat aircraft are absolutely out of reach." boss hanna clarified the issue with the combat aircraft compatible with the aerial combat interceptor type "flying dragon" single soldier tactical armor. it''s not just jiu defense company, with its shallow history and strength, even the industry''s number one giant military contractors could not breakthrough the weapon regulation norms set by the blue star global united defense committee. otherwise, they would be suspected of illegal arming, and any behavior crossing the line would be subject to merciless strikes from sovereignty. chen fei confidently said, "i''ll figure it out on my own!" the entire f-22 "raptor" jet fighter was in his mind; the federation could block the raptor''s body, but not, its heart that longed for freedom. the large glass bowl in front of it was completely empty. "you''ve had enough for today!" hanna gagel went back behind the bar and refilled the civet''s bowl with a generous pour. er lang licked it up happily again. after setting down the bottle, she watched the big cat leisurely and asked, "er lang, are you planning on working or just having fun, following the ''rookie'' to the 911 aircrew base?" "uh!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, which was enjoying itself, paused, looked at chen fei and then at hanna gagel. after a moment of hesitation, it said, "let''s take a job first, sign a temporary contract for six months." truth be told, it couldn''t bear to part with the full bar and liquor cabinet. it estimated that after half a year, it could have had its fill of drinking and satisfied its craving for alcohol. "ok, deal! i''ll give you the work contract later. just to clarify in advance, room and board included, work six days with one off, ten hours per day, insurance and a housing fund, a base salary of 12000 star yuan, a positional incentive bonus of 1000 star yuan, performance funds of 2000 star yuan, insurance, and a fund of about 5000 star yuan, totaling 20000 star yuan before tax, the job position is tbd." boss hana immediately made the terms of employment crystal clear. in the arid xingdu kush mountain area, where birds do not even bother to defecate, having days off and defined work hours is completely meaningless. as soon as you open your eyes, it''s time to work. when you close them, you''re off; work is life and life is work. any other entertainment is just wishful thinking, with work being the most suitable pastime. "no problem!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, once again relegated to a working cat, did not care about the wages at all ¨C its mind was entirely on the alcohol. as the big cat itself had said, there was no magical beast that did not like alcohol. - the next afternoon, having been busy all day in hangar 1 with the machine repair team, chen fei saw the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang, decked out in tactical gear, approaching as it reported to the security team. this creature was donned in a camouflage tactical vest, equipped with a battery, flashlight, grenade, folding spade, ammunition, water bottle, and a medical kit. its head even sported a camera, antenna, and headset, the very look of a tactical cat, full of swagger. eager to find chen fei working with the machine repair team, golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang couldn''t wait to ask, "chen fei, when do we drink?" the treasured "sundai nectar" from the day before had thrilled it ¨C that was a fine alcohol not easily purchased with money. it circulated purely through social connections; shareholders with a tight grasp on the supply never released it to retail channels, with no need or avenue for sale, thus acquisition wasn''t based on purchase at all. chen fei glanced at his health wristband, which had a timer, and said with a blend of laughter and helplessness, "it''s only three in the afternoon right now, drinking is prohibited during work hours, er lang, aren''t you a bit early bringing this up?" even boss hana wouldn''t allow employees to challenge company policy. work time is for work, leisure time is for leisure; anyone daring to blur the two had better watch out for boss hana''s change of attitude. this tactical cat seemed to be getting carried away. - ``` Chapter 264 Section 264 - Let me show you a big treasure ``` "can''t i drink alcohol?" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet said in disappointment. was yesterday''s banquet just a welcoming party, and that''s it? i can only watch a cabinet full of liquor and drool over it. damn, have i boarded a pirate ship? chen fei waved his finger and said, "after nine o''clock tonight, but only if i''ve finished my work!" the liquor, although stored in the little western-style building for anyone to use, was all owned by boss hanna, and sneaking one or two bottles might be okay, but outright binge drinking would definitely be too much. the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, who had signed a labor contract, asked in confusion, "aren''t you on a ten-hour work system?" "but i have part-time jobs, too. i''m a ''genuine fragrance'' squadron pilot, kitchen handyman, and energy tower manager, and sometimes i even have to do some waste recycling work." chen fei explained his jobs to the big cat while counting on his fingers. if these jobs didn''t connect sequentially and some weren''t interrelated, he really wouldn''t be able to handle them all. "do you need to work so hard?" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, who usually lived by the creed of drinking today if there''s wine, was already weary from just ten hours of regular work, wanting nothing more than to lie flat. it certainly wasn''t going to take on any extra jobs. the jobs it had done before were never this boring. "i need to earn more money, it''s not time for retirement and pension yet." chen fei, working to pay off debts, was putting his all into it. the thought of lying flat and waiting to die, like er lang, was something he didn''t even dare to think about. how else could he make money if not by working hard? every star yuan in his bank account he had earned with his life. "jiu!" little bird hopped out of the turboprop aircraft''s fuselage beside chen fei, holding a small tool kit in its beak. it had just completed a task of adding lubricant to specific areas, filling in surface cracks on metal parts and restoring their strength. xiao jiu had its own unique skill, which was maintenance without dismantling. its tiny body, no bigger than a fist, could easily slip into the intricate internal structures of the aircrafts. if chen fei or the head mechanic xiao ming were to attempt it, the aircrafts would have to be completely disassembled. "what''s it doing? sss... fixing the aircraft?" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet scrutinized little bird, which had flown onto chen fei''s shoulder, seemingly astonished. unless they were magical beasts born into human society and had received sovereignty education from a young age, most immigrant magical beasts had a generally low level of education and even fewer could work in high-tech fields. the inside of an aircraft was anything but a playground, practically forbidden territory for birds, and seeing a little bird darting about inside was hard not to make er lang speculate. "that''s right, precisely under my guidance." chen fei stretched out his hand and took the ping-pong-ball-sized tool kit from little bird''s pointed beak. besides the lubricant and a few tools inside, the box itself also served as a tiny camera. this little gadget acted as his eyes, allowing xiao jiu to carry it to the work area for a clear view of everything. under his direction, the pure light sparrow could assist with some complex operations, serving as a qualified tool bird. after being sorted out by the two squadron leaders for a few days, the new pilot tempun schneider had gradually gotten used to the work and life here and had acquired a new flying call sign, "sauerkraut"! to hell with "sauerkraut," protests were futile! nowadays, everyone including chen fei was calling him "sauerkraut." sour and crappy! apart from tempun schneider, the "genuine fragrance" combat flight squadron had two other pilots, "zisu" takada fuziko and "angelica" wadiye. the petite takada fuziko encountered a young girl in a pub. who could have imagined that the pub''s proprietor not only possessed a helicopter pilot''s license but also ended up following yamada takebu, the "miso" captain of the armed helicopter search and rescue squadron, back to the xingdu kush mountain area''s aircrew base. wadiye was talent promoted from among the various small military contractors that were taken over, an unexpected catch. those small military contractors couldn''t afford to buy fighters; wadiye with a small aircraft license had no place to show his skills, only able to drive a truck until he was recruited by boss hana, fortunately fulfilling his wish finally. "today, we''ll be making a big treasure!" chen fei estimated the alloy ingots he had brought over. they were neatly arranged, with about sixty or so in total. due to different alloy components, the weight of individual ingots also varied, for a total weight just tipping over twenty tons. compared to the bustling, cluttered hangar #1 brimming with various materials, hangar #2, besides two mig-28 jet fighters, appeared empty, making the stacks of alloy ingots piled in the open corner particularly conspicuous. "is it iron art, like an art piece?" rechristened tempun schneider, as the helper bossed around by chen fei, sized up the metal ingots that the two of them had brought over together. these complex composition metal ingots were not very valuable, not even worth the cost to transport them away. their main use was to be reprocessed into other metal products, such as the thin steel plates, counterweights, various metal rods, fences, metal meshes, and brackets, which were made from these ingots at the base. during the corporate wars, recast metal ingots were even used to make preformed fragments for lethal weapons. when combined with explosive powders, the terrible kinetic force they were imparted with made these fragments extremely deadly. "no!" as chen fei was saying this, he pressed down on one stack of alloy ingots. "come out, ''raptor''!" his other hand pointed towards an empty space. "metal shaping," "hi-fi replication," and "material evolution simulation," the three skills operated in conjunction. blocks of rectangular alloy ingots visibly liquefied at a speed discernible to the naked eye, rushing swiftly along his arm, flowing from the left hand to the right and transforming into several metal strands that suddenly shot out into the air, apparently following some rules, quickly constructing a rough outline. as time passed, the rough and simple outline was progressively filled in. the keel, bearings, pipelines, turbines... these parts appeared one after another, with interior structures becoming more and more finely complex, one piece of skinning generated after another to cover the mechanical structures newly formed. after more than ten minutes, a huge twin-engined jet fighter appeared inside hangar #2. "woah, woah, woah, this, this is..." sauerkraut" tempun schneider utterly flustered, pointing at the gleaming silver aircraft before him, was clearly a classic model, the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter. just from these cheaply recycled metal rough ingots? - Chapter 265 Section 265 - Assembly Machine "really? fake?" tempun schneider rubbed his eyes over and over again, his face full of disbelief. old david could watch this scene calmly, but he could not. "of course it''s real!" chen fei carefully selected alloy ingots with aluminum as the main component and gathered all the titanium alloy he could find, using up all of it in the end, leaving only some metals like copper, iron, and manganese. this way, he could save some energy points, after all, it was twenty tons of metal! the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter that was now replicated inside hangar 2 was not complete, lacking many internal parts, which needed to be supplemented to restore all its functions. the f-22 that remained in old david''s possession was actually a refurbished model that retained many original parts, and had quite a few differences from the brand-new "raptor" that chen fei had just created. before old david sent over the parts, this f-22 "raptor" jet fighter temporarily had no capability to soar into the blue skies. "you, how could you?" a face still full of disbelief, tempun schneider dared not believe it. caught off guard, seeing someone conjure up a plane out of thin air, which seemed to be a jet fighter, indeed required a good while before one could fully digest and accept it. chen fei naturally said, "i am a b-level metal elemental psychic, with an a-level assessment in control power, a humanoid melting, forging, milling, and boring all-in-one machine¡ªan autonomous mechanical factory." a metal ability user with an a-level in control power is also known as an industrial-type psychic, whose production capabilities far outweigh their combat abilities. those cunning capitalist factory owners frequently tried to lure him into becoming an exploited industrial worker, but of course, there was no way he would agree. the strength of guns was the ultimate truth¡ªhaving a gun in hand, one''s heart remains steady, not to mention having a fighter jet at hand. who wouldn''t stand tall and speak boldly in such a case? isn''t it obvious? "then why are you still here?" tempun pointed to the ground beneath them, and unlike chen fei, who aspired to become a military contractor, had chosen jiu defense company, a small military contractor with an aircrew base, as his starting point. and chen fei, who could clearly find a job at a large manufacturing enterprise or a materials research institute, where he could both be safe and ensure a good income¡ªwasn''t that appealing? to come to this god-forsaken place and have to handle so many roles was simply madness. "it''s thrilling here, no laws against killing!" chen fei revealed the blunt truth. for military contractors, arson and murder earn you a belt of gold; keep your brains on your belt, live day by day, and once you land a big job, the money you make is more than enough to retire on. enjoy more content from empire for those seeking thrills, this job is both hell and heaven. tempun schneider shuddered involuntarily, as if the young man before him was a ruthless demon king, perfectly suited for this industry. he walked over to the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter made from those alloy ingots, tapped on the surface that seemed as reflective as a mirror, and asked, "how long before this big guy can take to the skies?" chen fei reached out, patted the other''s shoulder, and walked toward hangar 1 next door. tempun schneider immediately followed, took a few steps, looked back at the gleaming f-22 "raptor" jet fighter, and shook his head vigorously. this thing wasn''t an illusion, it just challenged the general public''s perception too much. - the weather in the xingdu kush mountain area changed dramatically. one moment it was sunny, making people parched and thirsty, and the next moment, thick cumulonimbus clouds gathered out of nowhere, turning the sky above aircrew base 911 from day to "night". without any warning, large raindrops fell from the sky as if the first shot had been fired on a battlefield, and the steel roofs of hangars 1 and 2 erupted with a pattering sound of raindrops, almost indistinguishable. squadron leader chekhov big bear, who was assigned a rainy-day flight mission, swaggered to hangar 2, getting ready to warm up with his beloved aircraft. constantly staying idle here was not conducive to their physical and mental health. constant practice helped maintain the state. he was momentarily dazzled by a corner of the hangar and abruptly stopped in his tracks before rubbing his eyes forcefully. "damn!" he raised his hand and began counting, one, two... wait, why was there a third jet here, also with twin engines and shining in silver, with the cockpit wide open? chekhov big bear, with a face full of suspicion, took out a bottle of erguotou from the usual place in his trousers and guzzled down half the bottle, then blinked his slightly reddened eyes and stared intently again at that spot. one, two, three! burp! no fourth jet appeared; it wasn''t an illusion, burp! oh la! what model is this, it kinda looks like the old f-22. he asked the ground crew who were preparing ahead of schedule, "what... what the hell is this?" "no idea! little chen and mr. schneider were here earlier, but this jet wasn''t here before." the ground crew of four stations spread their hands towards big bear; they were just ordered to arrive half an hour early, to provide power and gas to the ready-to-fly mig-28, and perform basic pre-flight checks. they were unaware of what happened inside hangar 2, just like squadron leader chekhov. "those two?" chekhov was a bit surprised and scratched his head. he had no idea what "rookie" and the new "sauerkraut" were up to and why a new jet appeared at the base without any notification to him as the leader of the combat flight squadron. letting out a long belch, chekhov, filled with questions, stumbled into the mig-28 jet fighter marked "201" and successfully ignited it. he gently pushed the throttle, listening carefully to the roaring sound. after a moment, he increased the fuel output of the throttle. the mig-28 slowly slided towards the hangar''s door and plunged into the torrential rain outside. ten breaths later, the roaring intensified, and a jet with the rain curtain lifted its nose quickly and surged into the sky. the rain clouds pouring down a large amount of water onto the ground weren''t very high. when the mig-28 rushed up more than 5500 meters from the ground, it was like a flying fish leaping out of the vast sea of clouds, basking again in the dazzling sunlight. the high winds swept away the water stains remaining on the skin surface rapidly, making the aircraft shimmer under the sunlight. "''peanut butter'' calling the tower, i have reached above the clouds..." from the ground, the swirling thick dark clouds would turn back into soft, white cotton at the top part, serene and quiet, nothing like its turbulent lower half, with only occasional flashes of lightning flickering briefly inside. - Chapter 266 Section 266 - Assisting in the Kitchen chen fei''s first flight record dressed in the "flying dragon" tactical armor was dedicated to the tricycle. the aircrew base, which produced, sold, and utilized its own products, used a large tricycle with the same pt6a turboprop engine as the "big mouth monster." it had a simple structure, no, it was so simple that it bordered on rudimentary, but there was a sense of simplicity in its essence. even though it was fitted with navigation, communication, and control systems, it still couldn''t compare to the "big mouth monster"; its controllability was barely acceptable. if it weren''t for the guaranteed safety factor and the ability to support low-altitude operations¡ªcarrying people and transporting goods¡ªit would completely live up to its "tricycle" nickname. almost anyone could fly it and get a thrill. chen fei''s current view sketched out the undulating contours of the mountain while firmly locking on the position and distance of patan elementary school, even capturing the changes in wind power, continuously scanning the sky and ground for potentially threatening targets. controlling the tricycle''s flight with the aerial combat-type "flying dragon" tactical armor, both in functionality and performance, was more than adequate. discover exclusive tales on empire in some ways, the "flying dragon" was not meant to be used in this way, but alas, some people liked it. 5 kilometers, 3 kilometers, 2 kilometers, 800 meters, 200 meters... the large tricycle''s fixed landing gear scraped three times on the runway outside the schoolyard wall, one, two, three¡ªlanding successful. the mountain road would take a long time to traverse, but the tricycle only needed a few minutes. the aircrew base provided the materials, and the local villagers added manpower and effort to build a 200-meter long ultra-short takeoff and landing runway for patan elementary school, capable of handling aircraft like the tricycle and helicopters. if landing or taking off against the wind, even the a-39b "big mouth monster" light turboprop attack aircraft could use it temporarily. with this, civilian "flyers" traveling to and from the xingdu kush mountain area no longer needed to search for relatively flat slopes near the school to riskily land. the children who previously used this runway to chase each other and burn off excess energy scattered when they saw chen fei piloting the large tricycle approaching. they completely cleared the runway. once the large tricycle landed smoothly and stopped, they surrounded it again, curiously and shyly examining chen fei who was covered from head to toe in "flying dragon" tactical armor. chen fei turned off the individual tactical intelligence unit, removed his helmet, and shouted to the children, "is teacher shen here?" on his first day off after returning to the aircrew base, he drove the large tricycle to this patan elementary school to visit teacher shen fei, a culture and education outreach volunteer whom he hadn''t seen in a long time. although he had given advance notice before coming, he now just wanted to double-check to avoid any unexpected situations. after all, mountain affairs are unpredictable. "yeah! it''s brother fei!" "uncle has arrived." the group of children, recognizing his face once he removed his tactical helmet, immediately started calling out "brother" and "uncle," causing chaos on the hundred-meter-long runway. luckily, no one called him "sister" or "auntie," or else that would have been truly awkward. "tweet!" just then, little bird who had finally followed from the aircrew base descended from the sky and landed on chen fei''s shoulder. little bird made a chirping sound in midair, making a dazzling entrance. with its current flying speed, even if the tricycle had a ten-minute head start, little bird could still catch up and even arrive first. although now a third rank magical beast, pure light sparrow xiao jiu was still very clingy. "ah, xiao jiu!" "xiao jiu is here!" steaming and roasting meat heavily consumed spices, and skimping on them would fail to suppress the gamey smells, making the meat tough to eat. upon hearing this, chen fei immediately replied, "no need for next time, i''ve brought them this time¡ªstar anise, sichuan peppercorns, fragrant leaves, sichuan pepper, angelica, galangal, amomum villosum, nutmeg, cloves¡ªi''ve got several kinds, they''re all packed in the big box, nearly bursting." the aircrew base was not short of these spices; sparing a bit for teacher shen was enough for her use for a long time. chen fei promptly took over the task of stewing, chopping the cleanly washed white radishes till the heads rolled about, and poured them into the bubbling large soup pot in one go. today''s lunch was roast bread, steamed pork, and radish bone soup¡ªa complete meal, rich in nutrients. "that''s really kind of you. i''ll transfer some money to you later!" teacher shen fei was not at all formal with chen fei. "forget it, consider it my support for your educational cause, sponsoring international education." chen fei said with a smile, shaking his head, and grabbed a bunch of soaked dried mushrooms, quickly chopping them up ruthlessly. spices were not cheap; even the apocalypse defense''s bulk purchase prices stored at the aircrew base had indeed cost him over three thousand star yuan. even with a good relationship with boss hana, freeloadng from his own company was absolutely impossible; once the rules were broken, it could become a major enemy of corporate management. "you''re still in debt, right?" teacher shen fei did not want chen fei to go out of his way to please her by playing the big spender. the matter of uncle chen haishang''s family falling into a debt of five million due to a trick was not a secret to anyone who took the trouble to investigate. "i''ve already saved up three million; i''m getting there." chen fei pointed at himself and said, "see what i''m wearing?" "eh? single soldier tactical armor, your boss is really good to you guys, even providing such tactical gear," teacher shen fei noticed what chen fei was wearing was neither regular work clothes nor a pilot''s anti-g suit; she suddenly frowned. "wait a minute! that''s not right, how could a military contractor get such equipment?" sovereign level tactical gear was definitely not something a military contractor could meddle with; they neither had the money nor the guts to do so, otherwise, they would face ruthless retaliation from the sovereignty¡ªthis was no laughing matter. judging from the style, it looked somewhat like a product of the henghai tactical weapons group. teacher shen''s father was one of the key figures in the northern weapons industry group; having never eaten pork, she had at least seen pigs run. from a young age, she was familiar with certain things. "i made a bet with the henghai tactical weapons group, grabbed it fair and square!" chen fei chuckled, briefly explaining the whole cause and effect. for this, he''d put his younger sister on the line, and henghai tactical weapons group had lost a "flying dragon"¡ªsuch a risky maneuver, you tell me if it''s infuriating or not. the most innocent in all this was little sister chen, who had not entered the factory yet and already lost her friends; her soon-to-be college classmates were avoiding her, why hang onto the deputy director''s coattails, why? because big brother had the power to doom her! teacher shen shook her head; it was simply too incredible. henghai tactical weapons group was not a kindergarten; they couldn''t just grab something because they said so; there had to be some unspeakable reasons behind it. - Chapter 267 Section 267 - Wolf Disaster ordinary people definitely couldn''t do what chen fei did, especially with a problematic "dog system" stirring things up, always throwing life-and-death challenges their way. no wonder teacher shen fei couldn''t understand. even chen fei himself found it quite painful. if he hadn''t wracked his brain, he almost wouldn''t have been able to cope. "the starting price for the ''flying dragon'' tactical armor is 1.2 billion star yuan, and with your full configuration, it''s almost 2 billion star yuan. i think the henghai tactical weapons group is taking quite a loss," teacher shen fei covered her mouth and snickered, but inadvertently ended up with flour all over her face, looking like a white-bearded old man. however, she wasn''t too worried about the debts chen fei was taking on anymore. after all, 5 million star yuan was nothing compared to this suit of "flying dragon" tactical armor, moreover, he had already saved up 3 million star yuan. the day to pay off the debt was near, no wonder he was so relaxed. "i was thinking the same thing!" chen fei burst into laughter. how could it not be a loss? losing a bet meant not only losing face but also losing a single soldier tactical armor. and in the end, not even the man came back, just little sister chen! that''s right, chen fei, your sister! only chen meng, stuck in the middle, was truly innocent. those years in college were not easy! - stay connected via empire men and women working together is less tiring, and time passes quickly. ding! a mechanical clock set for a specific time chimed crisply, stopping the countdown. shen fei opened the top layer of the steamer, sidestepped the rising white steam, and poked at one of the bowls of steamed pork with her chopsticks. the meat, soaked in sauce and enveloped by broken rice, was thoroughly cooked inside and out. she smiled with satisfaction, as the simple and delicious steamed lamb was ready! "it''s ready, we can start eating!" "i''m about done here too!" chen fei also scooped up a piece of white radish, took a look, and after nearly ten minutes of high heat stewing, the jade-white radish pieces had turned translucent. teacher shen''s required ten minutes were entirely taken care of by him. "let''s eat!" shen fei came out to the yard and picked up a stick to vigorously strike a steel pipe hanging under the eaves. gong gong gong gong! the crisp striking sound had different meanings at different times, and at this moment, it signified mealtime. with a loud call, cheers erupted inside and outside the courtyard. students swarmed in from all directions, pulling out their bowls and chopsticks and lining up at the kitchen door in a long queue. the yard-keeping big yellow dog barked eagerly and cut to the front of the line, proving it''s truly first when it comes to eating. "eh? where''s the big black dog?" chen fei easily lifted down the roughly thirty-pound stainless steel soup pot from the stove. to fill the hungry stomachs of these elementary students, two such pots were required, otherwise, he couldn''t control the situation. just think about a bunch of kids with knives in their arms; if they weren''t well fed, there could be trouble. "um..." as she carried the steaming trays, shen fei hesitated for a moment, managed a forced smile, and said, "dead!" "ah?" the respectable school was now made to look like a prison. if only he could electrify the wire mesh on top of the high walls, it would be perfect! add to that the massive circle of wire mesh walls, it even looked more so! this time, not even a tiger could get in. scratching his head! at least he could finally stop worrying about the fierce beasts that roamed the wilderness encroaching on them. dingling ling ling. chen fei''s phone rang. thanks to the network signal he had drawn to patan elementary school, his phone still maintained connectivity even here. "rookie, are you at teacher shen''s place?" the voice belonged to irinei rusios, the short-haired "devil pepper," deputy leader of the "genuine fragrance" squad. chen fei tentatively asked, "right, is there a mission?" big brother xiao from the maintenance crew usually wouldn''t contact him for something urgent out of the blue; even if there was something, he would generally wait for chen fei to return before giving him the details, and it usually wasn''t anything urgent. "it''s a commission from the joint defense committee, and you''re nearby," "devil pepper" irinei rusios''s words confirmed chen fei''s guess. "no problem, leave it to me!" since he had just finished up with the work at teacher shen''s place, chen fei had the bandwidth to take on the company''s assigned mission. moreover, commissions from the joint defense committee tended to be quite rewarding. "about 30 kilometers northwest of your location, there''s a nature research team under attack by wolves. go and help them. also, you need to be aware that among the science and education team, there are relatives of senior members of the joint defense committee." "devil pepper" irinei rusios briefly outlined the mission. a mere pack of wolves did not warrant bombardment from the ground by 911 aircrew base, nor even deploying z-9 armed helicopters, as they wouldn''t likely arrive any sooner than chen fei''s large tricycle. a metal elemental psychic power user taking personal action was just the right way to demonstrate jiu defense''s commitment to the mission and could thoroughly reassure the joint defense committee bigwig who had handed down the task. "received, i''m on my way!" chen fei handed back the large tea jar to teacher shen fei and said, "got a mission, won''t stay for dinner tonight, teacher shen, i''m off first." darn those wolves, it seemed enemies were always bound to meet. this mission was a good chance to settle things once and for all. whether these wolves had ever been to teacher shen fei''s patan elementary was irrelevant; what mattered was eliminating the risks in advance. "eh? leaving now? wait a moment, i''ll be right back!" teacher shen fei sprinted towards the kitchen and then rushed to the short runway with a large bag of still-warm bread, catching up with chen fei just as he reached his large tricycle, tying it directly onto the truck''s rack. the routine goodbye bread, always consistent. "all set, be careful!" "thanks, bye!" chen fei gestured, waiting for teacher shen fei to move to a safe distance before he started the engine, the propeller blades spinning rapidly. with the large tricycle lightly loaded, it sped along the track for a few meters, then with a tilt of its nose, effortlessly lifted off the ground. "location..." just as the large tricycle ascended, the tactical armor "flying dragon" received positioning data transmitted from the battlefield data link. - Chapter 268 Section 268 - Scientific Expedition Team reliance solely on the 911 aircrew system''s radar and the tricycle''s own satellite navigation for positioning would probably prove cumbersome, but the "flying dragon" tactical armor, with its direct link to military satellite positioning systems, offered an error margin of less than 10 centimeters, allowing chen fei to avoid detours and head straight for the predetermined location. swarms of wolves gathered en masse, their shrill howling sounds rising and falling incessantly. viewed from above, they resembled a large, shifting grey carpet that suddenly split and then closed together again. the "flying dragon" tactical armor instantly calculated the identification data; 371 asian gray wolves and 39 humans. the thirty-plus people on the ground huddled together, tightly surrounded by the pack of wolves, with no chance of escape. seeing the gyroplane approaching from afar, they frantically waved their arms and even lit smoke flares for rescue. "wow, nearly four hundred wolves," chen fei exclaimed in astonishment. a pack of wolves numbering less than a hundred was manageable, but any more than that was unstoppable, as teacher shen fei had once said. once the number of wolves in the mountains surpassed a hundred, it became a disaster. they would dare to challenge everything alive, and even firearms would have difficulty stopping their ravenous hunger. to satiate the hunger of so many, these wolves had nearly gone mad; they didn''t care about whether their prey was human or not, braving a hail of bullets to charge fiercely forward. had it not been for the scientific expedition team''s thorough preparation, carrying ample emergency supplies and relying on special pheromones and repelling sound waves, they might have just barely stopped the wolves'' onslaught. otherwise, they would have been overwhelmed by the vicious wolves and torn apart, leaving not even a bone behind. nobody blamed these explorers for risking their lives by venturing into uninhabited areas. in the event of encountering ferocious wildlife, even magical beasts and mutants, rescue efforts were often too late, leading to total annihilation and tragedy. in fact, their work was very important. ecological surveys allowed for real-time monitoring of the reproduction of wild flora and fauna, aiding the preservation of the habitats of rare and protected species and maintaining biological diversity. they provided large data analyses for identifying threatening wildlife. nowadays, blue star had evolved from what it was thirty years ago. with the connection to cangqiong star, the invasion of species between planets was inevitable. whether ordinary wildlife or magical beasts, activity in the remote corners of blue star was becoming increasingly frequent. before chen fei could finish asking, someone in the scientific team cried out in alarm. the very next second, chen fei was covered in asian gray wolves. at least seven or eight wolves bit down hard on his neck, arms, and legs, with a deep growl emanating from their throats. but! it! did! not! matter! unaffected, chen fei continued his approach to the scientific team. knock it off! his specialized aerial combat "flying dragon" tactical armor might not have the physical defense capabilities of the land-based versions, but it still had its basic defenses in place. it wasn''t something that mere wolf fangs and bite force could penetrate. the scene unfolding before them was hard to believe. the person who had just spoken with chen fei swallowed hard and asked loudly, "are you, are you alright?" "what could be wrong with me?" chen fei couldn''t care less about the wolves clinging onto him, as more wolves eagerly prepared to leap into action. he casually pulled off one wolf; two bloody fangs fell out, and then it was thrown far away, yelping in pain as it landed with a thud. "don''t hurt them!" someone shouted. emmmm... -_-? is this person''s brain fried? they''re almost wolf food, yet they''re still worried about not harming them. Chapter 269 Section 268 - Scientific Expedition Team_2 "planning to sacrifice yourself to feed the wolves?" "sorry, i took a wrong turn, goodbye!" chen fei obviously didn''t turn and leave, instead, he stopped and leisurely asked, "aren''t you guys considering your own safety first?" as he spoke, he grabbed the neck of an attacking fierce wolf with one hand, letting it struggle and scratch wildly on him. he casually didn''t even bother to dodge and continued to hold the big grey wolf by the neck, its struggle quickly becoming weak and powerless. "please don''t hurt them; we trespassed into their hunting grounds. these wolves aren''t the threat." the person looked nervously at the grey wolf in chen fei''s hand, fearing it would be strangled to death right there and then. chen fei couldn''t help but feel disgusted. they were about to die, yet they were still concerned about whether the wild beasts about to eat them had good teeth ¡ª what kind of thought process was this. he threw away the thing in his hand that was like a dog with disdain, once again eliciting a series of whimpers. turning around, he pointed at the inhumane wolves and scolded, "you bastards, not fond of studying, just like to make trouble in groups. have you finished today''s homework? written your short essays yet? what are you still doing here? waiting for me to treat you to a meal?" chen fei regarded these fierce wolves as the elementary students educated by teacher shen fei. weren''t the students from patan elementary school, each armed with a sharp dagger, just like a pack of little wolves? then he grabbed the wolves attacking him one by one, slamming them hard into the pack. it was like bowling, with each throw knocking over several wolves. the scene momentarily spiraled out of control. after a series of chaotic throws, the wolf pack finally realized that this uninvited guest was not easy to provoke, their pride in their fangs and claws utterly useless. they growled and gave way, allowing chen fei to approach the scientific expedition team smoothly. "that was too rough just now!" the person chen fei had just been speaking with was wearing a fisherman''s hat, with a scruffy beard and a pair of round-rimmed glasses, came forward and faced him fearlessly. "you haven''t seen rough yet!" chen fei retorted irritably. "are you alone?" the other party, however, was good-natured, not the least bit angry. instead, he gazed into the distant sky. but was disappointed to see nothing. the only remaining guard looked helplessly at chen fei, facing such an unreasonable sponsor, there was really nothing he could do. "mr. grayson, are you stupid?" chen fei regarded him as if looking at an idiot. had it come to the point where priorities were no longer distinguishable? he grabbed an automatic weapon, pulled the bolt, switched off the safety, aimed above the wolves'' heads, and pulled the trigger. a burst of gunfire ensued, and the wolf pack scattered in all directions; these creatures had been taught by the local mountain people to recognize automatic firearms. "don''t, don''t shoot! those wolves are innocent." charles grayson shouted, trying to stop chen fei''s firing. explore more adventures at empire the scattered wolf pack regrouped, once again surrounding the expedition team and chen fei, leaving no way out. "will they still be innocent when you''re buried in the bellies of wolves?" chen fei let the other man snatch the automatic weapon from his hands; with that shot, he had emptied the magazine. a short, stout female team member grabbed it and said, "you can''t say that, wolves are part of the food chain, and we mustn''t interfere directly with their lives." "fine then! you go fill the wolves'' bellies. i can hear it; they''re crying out in hunger!" chen fei pointed unapologetically at the menacing wolf lurking not far away. "you''re talking about murder!" the female team member glared at chen fei angrily. "humans are also part of the food chain; it''s either eat or be eaten. you think you are superior to them; why didn''t you mention that a moment ago?" chen fei hated such double standards. he grabbed her by the neck and threw her into the wolf pack for an on-site demonstration of beasts eating humans to wake these fools up ¨C those whose scientific rationality was clouded by their own ignorance ¨C to what ''survival of the fittest'' really meant. - Chapter 270 Section 269 - Wolf King if anyone was indulging this scientific expedition team, that was someone else''s business. when it came to chen fei, he wouldn''t be polite at all¡ªhe''d grabbed them by the neck and thrown them into the pack of wolves without even a furrow of his brow. "stay calm, stay calm! everyone back off, stop fighting!" charles grayson quickly extended his hand and separated the two. he was genuinely worried, fearing that a few wrong words could lead to a fight on the spot. the madonna wasn''t utterly useless; at least she was first-rate at smoothing things over, but her double standards were infuriating. the stocky female expedition member heeded her leader''s words and consciously stepped back, swallowing her anger, "sir! we asked you here to solve problems, not create them." chen fei stood his ground, arms crossed, and said, "then you only have two choices: either kill all the wolves or be eaten by them. there are a total of 371 asian gray wolves, enough to gnaw you down to the bones." "can''t jiu defense company send their most capable person?" the moment the stocky female team member heard this, she exploded again. although the entire expedition team was in a desperate situation, communication had not yet been cut off. after sending out a distress signal, they quickly learned which military contractor the rescue team came from. chen fei snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "the best fighter from jiu defense company is indeed here." he was the best fighter on the ground; the best in the sky had yet to arrive. not all military contractors have ability users. in fact, this ratio doesn''t even reach half in the entire industry. jiu defense company, a smaller military contractor possessing two ability users of not insignificant rank and one low-rank magical beast, was truly an anomaly. speak of xiao jiu, and xiao jiu appeared. "jiu!" little bird descended from the sky, neatly folding its small wings and landed steadily on chen fei''s shoulder, calmly tucking its wings away. uh, the best fighter from above had finally arrived! honestly, the entire "genuine fragrance" squadron combined was no match for xiao jiu; they were only fit to be beaten. "behave yourself, don''t cause trouble!" chen fei quickly grabbed little bird, otherwise one "light burst flash" thrown out, and there''d be misunderstandings with these folks again. "jiu!" suddenly, a bright light flashed in his palm, and the burst of light was forcefully suppressed. ( ?¡õ ?*|||that was close! "where did this little bird come from? eh, a pure light sparrow?" the expedition team leader and the female member both paused, displaying some discernment as they recognized xiao jiu''s species almost immediately. the lowest of magical beasts, and furthermore, a light-element magical beast like the pure light sparrow, which usually had no combat capabilities¡ªif it weren''t for the few exceptionally gifted who could release low-tier human spells like the illumination technique or light healing technique, the pure light sparrow species wouldn''t even count as a magical beast. the female expedition member instantly scoffed, displaying her disdain. "what use could this little fellow possibly be?" such a tiny creature, although classified as a magical beast, was probably not even a match for a chicken. with such an unreliable creature on their side, the expedition team''s hopes of escape likely seemed bleak. chen fei didn''t care about their scornful attitude, and bluntly stated, "now make your choice. which side do you want to survive? i''m in a hurry." he had no time to continue dealing with these double standard madonnas, or he''d be disgusted to death. "awooo!" a miserable howl echoed as the wolf in chen fei''s hand, like a tattered doll, was torn into several large pieces by the massive black wolf which was not just a size bigger than a typical gray wolf. at that moment, as the black wolf''s momentum had subsided and its killer move exhausted, chen fei''s heavy punch met its mark. "oof..." amidst a low growl, a punch landed on the black wolf''s shoulder as it swiftly dodged; the force was so great it sent the creature flying into the nearby pack of wolves, sending over ten wolves flying, dramatically absorbing the force. the black wolf did not tumble disgracefully but, using the pack to dissipate the force, twisted its waist and landed on all fours like a cat, its claws digging deep tracks into the ground to stabilize itself, its deep eyes still fixed intently on chen fei. "jiu!~" a fine green light shot out, heading straight for the black wolf but hit a rising cloud of black mist instead. a cacophony of wails and howls arose, the high-energy laser beam, though very thin, was as formidable as a divine weapon, cutting through the bodies of the asian gray wolves which could not withstand it, instantly turning the aggressive wolf into a gruesomely torn mess of flesh and blood, creating a scene like a bloody hell, stirring up a storm of blood and gore. however, as the black mist dissipated, the suddenly appeared black wolf also vanished without a trace. team leader charles grayson, with trembling lips, said in disbelief, "dark monster, shadow wolf!" he finally confirmed that the culprit behind the attacks on the expedition team these past days was indeed a dark monster, no wonder it was so elusive and repeatedly successful in its attacks. the female team member, who had fallen on her backside, stared at chen fei''s shoulder in terror, wondering if it was an inferior magical beast, pure light sparrow; what she saw just now was way too ferocious. "how can there be a magical beast?" chen fei furrowed his brow, re-adjusted his "flying dragon" tactical helmet, and looked around, but to no avail. it seemed that even the "flying dragon" tactical armor''s built-in reconnaissance feature couldn''t detect the dark monster. charles grayson took a deep breath and said very confidently, "that creature must be the wolf king of this pack!" there was no denying that despite the double standard madonna''s reputation, her professional capability was beyond question. "eh? a magical beast has become the wolf king of the asian gray wolves?" chen fei looked shocked, somewhat unable to believe his ears. are all these wolves blind? it''s clearly not the same species. charles grayson shook his head and said, "wolves only follow the strong, regardless of whether it''s a human or another wolf. the canine family is even more so prioritized; if a husky can become a wolf king, let alone a shadow wolf. there''s no mistake, it''s definitely a shadow wolf." "is it a pure light sparrow?" the female team member could no longer contain herself, starting to doubt her professional skills. damn, it must''ve been a mischievous little bird-shaped shoulder-mounted laser cannon; she must have seen it wrong. "genuine authentic, it''s just that xiao jiu is a human order third rank pure light sparrow." chen fei extended his hand and scratched under little bird''s chin. if it weren''t for this little guy, it''d have been really hard to spot the dark shadow wolf sneaking in. light and dark counter each other, hence even the laser didn''t achieve full effect. although the laser was immensely powerful, the limitations were equally significant. "jiu!" the little fellow chirped triumphantly. scaling up to human order third rank required pumping in a lot of resources, truly quite an investment. - Chapter 271 Section 270 - Battle for the Throne "a third rank pure light sparrow? how is that possible?" charles grayson and the female scientific expedition team members gasped in unison. if it weren''t for snagging a great "fleece" from an oblivious little dragon from the sky dragon city''s investigative mission, chen fei would never have been able to afford little bird''s advancement in rank, even if it killed him. "kill it, kill that shadow wolf!" someone from the scientific expedition team screamed with a sorrowful shout, clearly having suffered at the hands of the magical beast over the past few days. just that they didn''t know the rank of the shadow wolf. if it was a high-rank magical beast, chen fei would only have to call for reinforcements, and close the door to let the big cat in. the female scientific expedition team member screamed furiously, "we must kill that magical beast, otherwise it''s impossible for us to leave safely." (¡ú?¡ú) what happened to the madonna? "mr. chen, can you help us take care of that shadow wolf? just like you just did!" remembering the shadow wolf that had suddenly appeared among the team just now, charles grayson couldn''t help but feel a chill run down his spine. they were so close to suffering new casualties. fortunately, the young man who came to the rescue brought a pure light sparrow that could see through the shadow wolf''s ability to hide. "i thought you were averse to killing wolves?" chen fei looked at the two with a face that doubted whether he had mistaken them for others just now. how come the moment the topic of the magical beast shadow wolf came up, these two seemed to be baying for blood, as if willing to exterminate it down to the ninth generation? "this is different! the asian gray wolf is native to our blue star and is an important member of stabilizing the ecosystem. we can''t just interfere carelessly. once we break the normal food chain, the consequences could be disastrous. on the other hand, magical beasts are invasive species. if not controlled, they could easily destabilize the fragile ecological balance." once the topic turned to professional issues, charles grayson, the leader of the scientific expedition team, started to give chen fei a long lecture on the spot. birds of a feather flock together; the short and stocky female team member listened to her leader''s explanation and nodded in agreement. "what about xiao jiu? it''s also a magical beast! do you want to get rid of it too?" chen fei finally understood their stance: what is not of our kind must be a heretic, kill! in some ways, the scientific expedition team''s double standard madonna stance and the blue star united defense committee were almost consistent: monitor native species, exterminate foreign species, and maintain the natural ecological balance. "uh!" charles grayson and the female team member exchanged glances with each other. following the usual practice of protecting the blue star environment, as an alien species, the pure light sparrow should have been humanely eradicated. but this pure light sparrow had an owner. find exclusive stories on empire charles grayson said, "magical beasts under human surveillance are not included in this rule; your pure light sparrow has been registered." he looked at little bird''s claw, unable to distinguish which one was the leg ring with tracking functionality. the laser-engraved code on the leg ring was the magical beast''s social welfare number, meaning it had legal residency on blue star, enjoyed normal social welfare benefits as well as the related rights and obligations. if chen fei were to manage this registration, it would be a very troublesome matter, but for hanna gagel, it was nothing at all. "jiu!" little bird cooed menacingly at charles grayson. "what if it can be tamed?" charles grayson, the lead of the scientific expedition team, shook his head as he watched this unfold. the wolves that had been resolutely following one another were now tumbling through the air; casualties were inevitable. this was definitely not what he wanted. with a grating sound like the ripping of silk, man and wolf passed by each other. chen fei turned around to look at the shoulder section of his "flying dragon" tactical armor. the physical armor layer, which could withstand shots from light firearms, had been effortlessly marked with nearly a ten centimeter-long claw scratch. however, the scratch quickly faded and became shallow before the naked eye, as the memory properties of the armor material began to self-repair. compared to the three single soldier tactical armors used in land combat, the data-centric "flying dragon" tactical armor wasn''t known for its defense, but it wasn''t as fragile as paper, either. since it didn''t hit any vital parts, the defensive magic array was not triggered. chen fei swung his hand, and a high-grade steel crowbar appeared in his grasp. today, he was determined to beat this shadow wolf into submission. "come at me again!" before chen fei finished speaking, the shadow wolf initiated an attack, its sharp claws and teeth lunging straight for his throat. clang, rip, the crowbar couldn''t withstand the massive impact and bent into the shape of a seven. the shadow wolf, accompanied by a series of mournful cries, was flung out diagonally, knocking over a dozen or so gray wolves, which instantly wailed in distress. several of them with broken bones and tendons slumped to the ground like mud, unable to rise again. chen fei looked at the bent high-grade steel crowbar. it hadn''t even pierced the skin of the shadow wolf. the rank of this magical beast was probably not low, perhaps even higher than xiao jiu''s. the back of the "flying dragon" tactical armor was severely clawed, and this time it finally triggered the defensive magic array, but it maintained for less than a tenth of a second before it overloaded and collapsed. chen fei took off his tactical helmet and casually tossed it aside, returning the shadow wolf''s fierce gaze without flinching. "whoever dares to run is a little dog!" "awoooo!" the shadow wolf growled, and the surrounding gray wolves dispersed, clearing a large open space. the members of the scientific expedition team watched this scene from afar with collective amazement and uncertainty; the movement of the wolf pack was unusual. "this, this is..." the stocky female member of the scientific expedition team''s eyes widened with realization, but she dared not confirm it. "fighting for the throne!" charles grayson''s eyeballs nearly popped out of his head. a wolf pack''s hunt would never unfold as a one-on-one duel. only during the struggle for a new wolf king would there be such collective and assertive spectating. the wolf pack was more like an army, recognizing only the one with the strongest fists as the king, regardless of whether the king was actually a wolf. "awoooo!~~~~" the shadow wolf burst out with a long howl, turning into a shadow of death and once again pouncing at chen fei. unaware of the implications, chen fei had tossed aside his helmet. "personal armor basic body level 1|light armor mode" activate! the next second, a frenzy of metallic geometries surged from the neck area, undergoing a variety of complex changes¡ªsplitting, combining¡ªand ultimately constructing a full set of "light armor (fully heavy armor)" that covered him from head to toe. - Chapter 272 Section 271 - The New King strength goes where strength wills, the gentle breeze brushes the hills. his course lies where he fancies, as the bright moon shines upon the great river. kuang! chen fei didn''t move, allowing the shadow wolf to crash into him with a thud, before sprawling in a backflying sprawl to where it came from. damage +1! this "light armor" really defies science. even the science and education team members, watching from afar, felt the pain. the shadow wolf smelled blood, but it was its own. the sharp angles of the personal armor cut through its fur, and the blood seeped out little by little, gathering into droplets that fell to the ground, disappearing in an instant between the gravel and soil. perhaps it was the scent of the shadow wolf''s own blood that incited the wolf pack into a frenzy, all howling in a shrill and piercing chorus. the members of the science and education team, encircled in the middle, all turned pale, their faces bombarded with the terrifying howls. what the hell did these vicious wolves mean by howling so desperately? a faint black mist rose from the shadow wolf''s paws, but before it could thicken, a dazzling ray of light burst forth from the sky. the black mist that was about to create a shadow transformation effect on the wolf''s body was instantly dispersed, never to form again. chen fei was not fighting alone. the pure light sparrow''s light-based spells almost perfectly suppressed the shadow wolf''s innate abilities, reducing its combat effectiveness from a full hundred percent to a mere thirty or forty percent. the enraged shadow wolf launched a few more fierce attacks. but to no avail! it was a classic case of attacking the enemy''s strengths with one''s own weaknesses, doomed to be in vain. even its claws and fangs were completely ineffective against chen fei''s "light armor". chen fei, like a humanoid tank, could easily make a move and send the shadow wolf retreating in disorder and covered in dust. boom!~ a heavy strike landed hard on the shadow wolf''s waist. a blow to the soft waist that neither the asian gray wolf nor the shadow wolf could withstand, the so-called a4 tiny waist simply couldn''t bear the hit. it emitted a loud cry of anguish, then heavily slumped to the ground, unable to get up for a while. chen fei bent down, grabbed the wolf''s neck, and lifted it straight off the ground. little bird swooped down from the sky and perched on chen fei''s shoulder, releasing over a dozen illumination technique light orbs that enveloped the magical beast in light from all sides with no dead angles. possessing a wealth of dark element talents, it was yet completely unable to utilize any of them. fortunately for them, it was daytime and the sun had not yet set. the wolf pack had gotten cocky, and the shadow wolf had no environmental advantage to exploit. had it been night, the situation might have been reversed, with little bird''s light-element talents being suppressed by the magical beast. but now, the shadow wolf had no such opportunity, and moreover, it was captured by chen fei. "little black dog, do you submit?" chen fei tightened his grip, and the struggling shadow wolf immediately had nothing left but to twitch weakly. dark monsters are rarely known for their strength or defense. once they lose their innate abilities, at best they''re slightly faster than ordinary wild beasts, with a little more burst strength. limited by its innate abilities, it could not struggle free, and with these mere trumps left, it had no right to resist in chen fei''s hands and faced being strangled alive. chen fei held the shadow wolf, leaving it just enough breath, shook it a few times, and demanded, "do you submit, little black dog?" shadow wolf: thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west, do not bully... ah, sorry, wrong set. "awooo!" it had only the deep mournful howl from its throat. "kill it!" "finish it off!" the unlikable female member of the science team surprisingly offered a very feasible suggestion. by breeding a sufficient number of rabbits, as long as there were enough, they could continuously provide rabbit meat to feed the wolves. all that would be expended would be some grass fodder. "i don''t want to!" raising rabbits would be even worse than looking after horses. chen fei shook his head and swung his arm at the wolf pack. "scram, all of you bloody scram!" he kicked away a few wolves that had lost their ferocity and tucked their tails between their legs. this pack of cowards bored chen fei. the shadow wolf in his hand still looked utterly forlorn. after chasing them around, the wolf pack finally left their king reluctantly, scattering with howls. "thank god, i''m saved!" as the last gray wolf disappeared from sight, the members of the science team collapsed onto the ground, lacking the strength to even move a finger. the last drops of beast repellent had been used up, and their stockpile of electricity for emitting beast-repelling sound waves was also nearly exhausted. watching chen fei forcefully dispersing the wolf pack, the leader of the science team, charles grayson, said with some incomprehension, "what you''re doing is useless, isn''t it?" "useless?" chen fei was equally puzzled. he had chased them all away just like that. would that pack of wolves still cling to him? charles grayson explained, "the wolf pack has memorized your voice. as soon as you shout, they will immediately assemble before you." unless a new challenger appeared, chen fei''s status as the wolf king would remain unchallenged. chen fei said helplessly, "what a bunch of annoying buggers!" he shook his head, looked at the shadow wolf in his hand, and pointed at its nose with displeasure, "it''s all your fault!" "i suggest you''d better kill it to prevent future troubles. blue star needs gray wolves, not magical beasts." charles grayson looked at the shadow wolf warily, deliberately keeping his distance so as not to get caught in any sudden outbreak. continue reading on empire "no, it''s my spoils of war. i do things my way. i don''t need you guys telling me what to do!" chen fei''s bad impression of these madonnas hadn''t changed at all, and he refused unapologetically. he looked over the camp full of the wounded team members and said to the little bird on his shoulder, "xiao jiu, go around casting the light healing technique." without medical supplies in the wild mountains, if they weren''t treated, things could get worse. "jiu!" the little bird obediently flew over, and over a dozen illumination technique light orbs still tightly surrounded chen fei''s shadow wolf like a cage of light, restraining the dark monster''s innate abilities. it was broad daylight with the sun high in the sky, otherwise, they wouldn''t have been able to trap the shadow wolf with just the illumination technique. one light healing technique per person, minor wounds and even symptoms of poisoning were effectively alleviated almost immediately. if one light healing technique wasn''t enough, then two were used. the pure light sparrow of human order third rank could now emit more than a dozen light healing techniques in one breath without taking a break. seeing this scene, the science team leader charles grayson said with admiration, "truly a light-element magical beast!" this was the first time he had seen such an aggressively protective magical beast. the pure light sparrow of human order third rank was so unique. after treating the wounded, they waited for about an hour longer at the site. then, a small sky patrol ship flew in from the distance, descended slowly from the sky, and the blue star global united defense committee finally arrived. - Chapter 273 Section 272 - Surviving before leaving, charles grayson, the leader of the scientific expedition team, was still trying to persuade chen fei to put an end to the shadow wolf quickly to eliminate future problems and restore the natural ecological balance of xingdu kush mountain area. however, chen fei, who was thoroughly repulsed by the other party, wasn''t listening and found a rope to tie up the shadow wolf like a mummified dead dog. he then got into a large tricycle and ascended into the sky. exhausted and seriously injured, the shadow wolf had no strength left even to move. perhaps it had a chance to escape in mid-air, but since it wasn''t a flying species and lacked wings, falling would mean a certain death, which ironically saved it the trouble. finally, just before sunset, chen fei''s large tricycle timely returned to the aircrew base 911. once night fell, whether they could still control this savage wolf was a question yet to be answered. hearing from chen fei that he had brought back a dark-element magical beast, shadow wolf, boss hana had a special cage made on the fly, a transparent box cage with ventilation holes surrounded by hundreds of glowing light beads, with a ventilation system equipped with a filter and light beads set up inside too. dark-element magical beasts excel at using environments of darkness and shadows to conceal their shapes, even transforming their bodies into shadows to pass through narrow spaces easily. nearby stood a few heavily armed veterans, guns loaded with bullets, ready to shoot the shadow wolf dead at any sign of rash action. "why on earth did you bring this thing back?" hanna gagel was puzzled as to why chen fei would bring back such trouble, yet she still made thorough preparations. unless it was tamed from a young age and used to human lifestyles and languages, many wild magical beasts inherently filled with wildness and unruliness act solely on instincts, making them difficult to approach and communicate with. in her view, the best way to deal with it was to simply twist its neck, skin it, and remove any possibly existing magical beast crystal core. "teacher shen needs a watchdog!" chen fei pointed at the shadow wolf confined in the specially made cage. the latter immediately bared its teeth at him. "xiao jiu, heal its wounds." ignoring the defiance of the shadow wolf, chen fei snapped his fingers. "jiu!" a light orb the size of a ping pong ball floated towards the cage, effortlessly penetrating the film-coated tempered bulletproof glass. "wait a minute!" hanna gagel suddenly remembered something and hastily tried to stop it, but it was already too late. puff puff puff puff... as soon as the light orb entered the shadow wolf''s black fur, in the next second, faint black smoke emitted from the entire wolf''s body, as if something was burning, accompanied by a sizzling sound. "owww..." the bared-teeth shadow wolf involuntarily whimpered. the pure light sparrow, puzzled, tilted its little head and then, adopting a buy-one-get-one-free attitude, tossed another ping-pong-sized light orb over. "light healing spells can''t cure it!" unable to prevent it, hanna gagel rubbed her forehead, again hearing the wolf''s agonizing howl, this time even more feeble, fearing a few more treatments might end its life. chen fei scratched his head, utterly bewildered, "what''s going on here?" "jiu?" the little bird was very puzzled, wondering why its spell wasn''t working. just about to perform a stronger spell, it was stopped by papa chen fei. a more powerful one? a killer move! once a light-element magical beast acquires an attacking skill, it becomes ruthlessly vicious, more maniacal than other elemental beasts. "elemental restraint, the mutual suppression of light and dark you should know about the five elements theory, right! it''s roughly like that , what''s nectar for one, is poison for another, light healing techniques can only damage a dark-element magical beast, without any healing effect." boss hana revealed the truth. ordinary people generally don''t come into contact with this knowledge and even if they do, they usually don''t take it to heart, as magic and magical beasts are not often in the daily life of ordinary people. the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet uttered words that were quite cruel for a magical beast to hear. the magical beast crystal core was one of the main commodities in interstellar trade between cangqiong star and blue star. magical beasts living and working in human society were bound to encounter such issues, but they never cared about what happened to their remains. ash to ash, dust to dust, if their skin, fur, and crystal core were still of use, nothing could be better. chen fei did not give up but instead said, "no! i hope you can help me revive it!" "huh?" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet circled the special cage a few times, looked at chen fei, and continued, "revive it, is there any point?" "maybe there is!" chen fei shrugged his shoulders. "a good bottle of wine, no, make that two!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet extended a paw, which no matter how it twisted, still showed five short stubby claws, making it impossible to tell whether it meant two or five. this was profiteering! chen fei looked at boss hana, who showed no reaction, so he nodded and said, "it''s a deal!" "i can try the water-type healing spell ''life dew'', but whether it works or not is up to its own fate." er lang moved closer to the cage. "aren''t you from the wind and psychic series?" chen fei had never heard of the magical beast tribe of golden-eyed azure-hearted civets possessing tri-elemental abilities and casting water-type spells seemed a bit odd? "this is a privilege of the psychic series, i can use a lower-tier to cast spells from other elements, and i can only use the water healing spell ''life dew'', little buddy, your brother er lang is going to start, okay?" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet took a deep breath, and its vertical pupil in the center of its forehead quietly opened. the eerie light emitted by the pupil shone on the shadow wolf sprawled inside the cage, which frantically tried to stand up again but was too weak and feeble to even lift its head. ''life dew'' was a fourth rank water-type spell from the human order, stronger and more lasting in healing effects than the first rank light healing technique. er lang muttered the incantation quietly. water-type spells weren''t his natural talent, and he still needed to recite incantations to cast them. in front of him, a blob of white mist appeared, swiftly expanded, then quickly shrunk, and turned into several crystal-clear water droplets hanging in mid-air. under the control of the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, these soybean-sized water droplets penetrated the temporarily moved air filter holes of the cage and sprinkled onto the shadow wolf. this time, no case of elemental restraint occurred, the black wolf fur was covered in droplets which slowly seeped in and eventually disappeared completely. "done!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang let out a long breath. forcing a spell of another element with spiritual power not only required lowering the rank but also reduced the efficacy of the effort. "will it survive?" chen fei looked at the still half-dead shadow wolf, as the water healing spells did not have the immediate effect of light healing spells. "maybe, it should be time for a drink!" er lang cared little about the life of a mere third rank human order shadow wolf. "jiu!" xiao jiu agreed. "well, okay then!" chen fei could do no more; he had tried his best. if this shadow wolf wanted to survive, it truly depended on fate. - Chapter 274 Section 273 - Cornered Beast ``` after a night had passed, the first thing chen fei did upon waking up was to check on the shadow wolf that was locked in the special cage. wild and unrestrained howls emanated from inside the cage. great! this creature finally survived the night. he was only worried that this shadow wolf would be like a sparrow with a temper so big that, even without illness or injury, provided with food and water, it would still die of confinement in one night. teacher shen fei''s black hound ah mao had met its end at the paws of a wolf pack. had chen fei not been in need of a new guard dog, he would have killed this evil wolf long ago and be done with it. why bother with a second try? since the wolf king had repaid with its life, it was a cycle of karma; retribution had come swiftly and justly! opening the cage, the shadow wolf once again began to wriggle restlessly, its fur emitting a faint black mist as it tried to escape by shadow transformation on the spot. however, it was foiled as little bird approached closely and flashed a light, forcing it back into its original form, leaving it motionless. both were of the third rank human order, and it was daytime with the sun warming the room and the lights shining brightly; truly not the home turf where this dark monster could harness its natural talents. chen fei didn''t care, though. he threw two pieces of frozen-solid chicken breast into the cage, poured a bowl of milk, and then closed the cage again, ensuring the shadow wolf couldn''t escape even if it grew wings. he had to work during the day and had no time to deal with it. he''d handle it properly after getting off work in the evening. "aoow!" in broad daylight, the small western-style building echoed with the howl of a wolf, each cry more sorrowful than the last. chen fei, annoyed by the sounds, fetched his laptop, set the volume to maximum, played the divine song "restless" on a single loop, then waved goodbye! the wolf howling faced the aunt wielding a knife. the bittersweet feeling of that encounter, chen fei could not fathom. when he returned from work, the shadow wolf in the cage was panting with its tongue out, looking utterly desolate, as the frozen-solid chicken breast had vanished without a trace, and the milk in the bowl was also gone. whether it was from hunger or the bombing by the divine song, at that moment, it didn''t even have the strength to talk back. as long as the power was sufficient, the laptop could continue looping energetically without interruption. for the shadow wolf to outlast it in endurance, based on just the energy of two pieces of chicken breast, was simply wishful thinking. "from today on, i''ll give you a name, ''ah mao''!" turning off the still roaring laptop, chen fei picked up another piece of chicken breast and dangled it in front of the shadow wolf. his math was solid. the previous ah mao was gone, so now the new ah mao would take its place. seamless transition; they were all canines, so there really was nothing wrong with it. the shadow wolf stayed silent but stared intently at the chicken breast in chen fei''s hand, involuntarily licking its tongue. after listening to "restless" all day, its body and spirit were wounded. it needed ample nutrition to recover. "come on, bark ''woof,'' ''ah mao''!" chen fei pinched the chicken breast, swaying it left and right in front of the shadow wolf. shadow wolf: "..." "chirp!" pure light sparrow xiao jiu flew onto chen fei''s hand, lowered its head to peck at the chicken breast, causing bits of frozen ice to fly around without making a dent. shaking its little head, it gave up entirely, as sweet-tasting grain feed and fresh mealworms were much more delicious. "want to eat?" chen fei kept on swaying the chicken breast, a prime source of protein, the authentic taste of chicken. the shadow wolf snarled and roared, as if saying a wolf could be killed but not humiliated. "then starve!" chen fei wouldn''t indulge the other party and immediately threw the chicken breast back into the refrigerator to keep freezing. the shadow wolf licked its lips and continued to stare fiercely at chen fei. the shadow wolf let out a feeble wail. facing the oppressive force from a seventh rank, no matter how high its spirit, it was still too much to bear. "actually a good idea!" chen fei ignored er lang bullying the pitiful shadow wolf. he stroked his chin, tapping his fingers on the table as he pondered the two suggestions. three days later, the shadow wolf, whose fur had regained some of its sheen after being fed chicken breast, assorted offal, and milk, was brought into a standard shipping container. the door was then shut tightly so that not even a fly could escape, while xiao jiu circled outside on guard. inside the container, there was only one battery-operated lamp, providing a weak light. upon opening the special cage, chen fei stepped back a few paces, hands clenched into fists. "come out, let''s duel!" no sooner had he spoken than the shadow wolf, confined in the cage for so long, burst forth in a cloud of dark mist. it disappeared in the blink of an eye, blending into the dimly lit interior of the shipping container. here, shadows were almost everywhere. "awoo!" with a fierce roar full of loathing for chen fei, the shadow wolf unreservedly appeared behind him, its fangs lunging towards his neck. clack!~ the wolf''s teeth clamped firmly onto steel. the thickness of the armor even exceeded the length of the canines, which meant that even if the teeth punctured the outer layer of armor, they couldn''t hurt chen fei, who had initiated "personal armor (light armor mode)." chen fei let the shadow wolf viciously continue to tear and bite, but as if it were nothing, he simply pulled it off himself, then casually tossed it aside! bang!~ a shallow outline of the wolf appeared on the steel wall of the container. shaking his head nonchalantly, chen fei taunted, "it''s useless. come on, keep going, do it!" the limited space inside the container constrained the shadow wolf''s advantages. he had chosen big cat''s advice and set up an enclosed space relatively advantageous for the shadow wolf. but this "advantageous" situation was a deceptive one. as long as the shadow wolf couldn''t break chen fei''s defenses, it could not escape being toyed within his grasp. the struggle of the cornered beast went on for three whole days, the shadow wolf ending up exhausted every time, collapsing into a heap, as if dead, allowing chen fei to effortlessly pick it up and throw it back into the special cage. once it had been well-fed and had regained its vitality and spirit, it would be thrown back into the makeshift beast-fighting arena of the standard container. ... this time, the shadow wolf uttered mournful, fearful whimpers, abandoning its shadow transformation and choosing to give in. a duel without any hope of victory had shattered its confidence and pride. from that moment on, the duels had lost their meaning. "do you want to continue?" even though weighed down by heavy armor, chen fei crouched effortlessly, reaching out to touch the shadow wolf''s head. a pat on the head is a gesture with profound significance; for dogs and cats, it represents a claim of hierarchical dominance. any creature with a shred of resistance wouldn''t let its head be touched. chen fei''s hand stopped three inches from the shadow wolf''s head and held still, no longer advancing. he locked gazes with the dark monster, its green eyes unusually quiet. then, in the next moment, the wolf''s head voluntarily pressed into chen fei''s palm. - Chapter 275 Section 274 - Ashes to Ashes the magical beast shadow wolf mingling with the asian gray wolves didn''t have such a grand temperament and would accept defeat after a fight, much like most magical beasts are straightforward. the "cornered beast''s struggle" inside the standard shipping container finally broke down the last bit of morale the shadow wolf had. originally not quite convinced by chen fei, who relied on the help of the pure light sparrow, the dark monster couldn''t break through the defense and was hardly stronger than a cat or a dog when faced head-on. eager to escape, the shadow wolf repeatedly initiated attacks, and the result was as expected, even if it had been a bit more patient, it would have only delayed the inevitable loss. there are thousands of reasons for winning, but often only one for losing, insufficient strength! chen fei was nominally the wolf king, having been defeated in front of the other wolves by him left no room for doubt about his victory. as for the role the little bird played, as the loser, the shadow wolf had no right to complain. even if those asian gray wolves could talk, they wouldn''t have the slightest doubt; having lost, they just lost and shouldn''t make excuses for not being able to accept the defeat. patting the furry head of the one he dominated, chen fei heard the whimpers of the shadow wolf. chen fei finally felt relieved. magical beasts don''t have the complex thoughts of humans, instead, they are quite straightforward, as are the pure light sparrow, the dual-headed white wind crane, the sky dragonfish, the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, and the shadow wolf is no exception. "from now on, your name will be ''ah mao''!" shadow wolf: ¦Ò(¡ãÃó¡ã)¨p - a click sounded softly. the door of the standard shipping container cracked open slightly, and the security personnel standing outside reacted as if facing a major threat, loading their bullets one by one. bright spotlights illuminated the entrance and exit of the container as if it were daytime, with multiple angles of light ensuring not even a shadow could exist there. the "personal armor (light armor mode)" receded like a tide, and chen fei pushed the door to emerge. "still no good?" boss hana was waiting outside, holding an ancient-looking wooden box filled with exotic allure. chen fei smiled lightly and said relaxedly, "handled!" the shadow wolf, with droopy ears and tucked tail, shyly peeked out from behind chen fei, cautiously looking outside, nowhere near its previous ferocity. if it weren''t for the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang hinting at a direction, chen fei would probably have had to put in more effort. of course, this "ah mao" would also have to suffer a bit more. "handled?" hanna gagar thought she had misheard; after several rounds of outright dominance (one-sided total annihilation), how could they suddenly make peace without any prior signs? before that, there wasn''t the slightest hint. she looked down at the wooden box in her hand, the magic contract specially prepared by the sager family was a complete waste. an equality contract, relatively low in demand, cost at least 500,000 star yuan per copy, and hanna boss had prepared two within this wooden box. of course, there were also higher-tier contracts like enslavement contracts and life-link contracts, the prices for which would roll upwards significantly, often being priceless. "what were you planning to do?" chen fei''s gaze naturally fell on what was in hanna boss''s hand. people do not visit the temple without a cause; suddenly guarding outside the container''s door must mean something. "seeing you always couldn''t handle it, i prepared two magic contracts for you." hanna gagar gestured to the wooden box in her hand. this box, powered by crystal energy, could preserve its contents for a long time, even for hundreds of years without decay. her original plan was to have the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet take action, forcibly subdue the unruly shadow wolf, and force it to sign an equality contract with chen fei so they would no longer be adversaries, creating a possibility to tame the shadow wolf. but unexpectedly, chen fei had tamed the magical beast before her. "it must have been expensive, huh? seems like i won''t need it." chen fei reached out to the shadow wolf beside him; the latter extended its neck and pressed against his palm, acknowledging his supremacy. the two returned to the cottage, opened the magic wooden box, and took out a contract scroll, slowly unfolding it on the table. the finely made leather paper had refined copper shaft rods at both ends, and the paper was printed with intricate magic text on both sides. "here, and here, rub it with your and xiao jiu''s blood, then open your heart, don''t resist, it will be done in a moment," hanna gagar instructed chen fei on how to use the magic contract scroll. it was actually very simple; blood was enough to complete the contracting process. chen fei activated his "metal shaping" skill, producing a fine needle, and lightly pricked his fingertip, quickly producing a green bean-sized droplet of blood. with a flick of his hand, he crisply pressed it onto a specific spot on the leather scroll, leaving a fingernail-sized blood fingerprint. the blood trace quickly expanded and formed a small patch of red magic array patterns. "xiao jiu! it''s your turn." chen fei reached out his hand to catch the little bird, but xiao jiu agilely dodged and hopped to the leather scroll, curiously examining it from all sides, its tiny beak slightly open. "chirp..." it was like a tiny sneeze. a pale white light rapidly spread, enveloping a square foot area, and covered the entire magic contract scroll. the next second, without warning, the magic array patterns on the surface of the leather paper became exceedingly chaotic, and the paper itself turned into pieces of charred ash, instantly crumbling to ash. the anomaly with the magic contract scroll made chen fei cry out in alarm. "eh? what happened? is it done like this?" "it shouldn''t be; this doesn''t seem like the reaction of a contract being formed." hanna gagar frowned slightly and reached toward the remnants of the magic contract, which crumbled into fine powder upon touch. it was slightly different from when a contract was formed, and the paper turned into dissipating light spots. read latest stories on empire "it''s a third rank ''elemental dispel.'' if the little guy isn''t willing, no one can force it into a contract," the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang, who had mysteriously appeared in the cottage, had seen the whole scene. as a dual-elemental magical beast of wind and psychic series, opening a door for itself was really no big deal. hanna gagar asked in confusion, "''elemental dispel''? was there a problem with the contract scroll just now?" no wonder it felt a bit off. "to be precise, it should be considered ruined. the light ''elemental dispel'' can not only forcibly expel other elemental energies but also renders one-time magic items ineffective," the well-traveled big cat had instantly grasped the truth. "this magic contract scroll hasn''t taken effect yet and is already useless? can''t be used anymore?" chen fei''s lips trembled slightly, clearly a piece of bad news. "that''s right!" golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang was succinct. he looked at chen fei with some sympathy. at least 550,000 star yuan, just gone like that! ''my own kid... my own kid... don''t be angry... my own kid... my own kid... don''t be angry...'' chen fei clutched his chest, his heart feeling utterly cold. this reckless thing was indeed painful! "chirp?" the little bird looked at chen fei, puzzled. the just-now leather scroll carried an aura that it greatly disliked, making it unable to resist using a small spell. - Chapter 276 Section 275 - The Contract little bird had no idea how hard it was to earn star yuan, a single innate spell and the contract scroll went up in smoke, carrying away tens of thousands of star yuan as well. chen fei could only smile wryly and shake his head. "hehehehe..." money was no concern for boss hana, who covered her mouth and giggled ceaselessly. both magic contract scrolls, along with the sealed wooden box, were given to chen fei, and she no longer had any connection to them. then she sat back and waited to collect the money, relieved that chen fei''s earning ability was quite good, and he should be able to pay off all his debts quickly; boss hana wasn''t worried that he wouldn''t be able to pay her back. comrade second brother spoke with long-standing concern, "raising a magical beast, it truly costs a fortune!" don''t think that feeding them plenty of meat and having them well-fed every day is enough to raise a magical beast; there''s still a long way to go! so... this is where you should give a raise, boss! the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet subtly made a pun without a change of expression, doubling the meaning of its words. having mingled in blue star human society for so many years, it had grown somewhat smarter. intelligent boss hana could clearly understand the big cat''s insinuation, yet she feigned ignorance. mmp! humans are indeed cunning, er lang grumbled inwardly. hanna gagar opened a nice bottle of wine for herself and said leisurely, "there''s another contract scroll, do you want to return it?" the big cat eagerly pushed its bowl forward, begging for a share. xiao jiu went to find its tiny wine cup but it was too heavy to carry; the little bird flapped its wings in distress until chen fei picked it up for her and poured a little bit of "fruit dew" with a hint of wine flavor into it. little bird looked at chen fei with a skeptical expression and then at its tiny wine cup, wondering if this was the same drink from boss hana''s bottle? are you trying to fool a bird? "jiu?" boss hana''s fine wine, in order to accumulate flavor, generally didn''t have a low alcohol content, chen fei wouldn''t easily let the little critter sneak any, better a homemade fruit wine with low content, at least it was sweet and tasty and smelled like alcohol, right? "aren''t you afraid that one day xiao jiu will rise to a higher rank and pin you to the ground and beat you up?" seeing chen fei tease the ignorant little creature, hanna gagar tasted her sweet sherry, made from pedro jimenez grapes, which looked like thick cocoa syrup. "huhuhuhu!" the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet covered its mouth and snickered, its long whiskers quivering uncontrollably. "it could pin me to the ground and beat me up right now!" chen fei calmly drained the drink in his hand and shook his head; he wasn''t very fond of the cocoa-flavored sweet sherry, which was akin to the fairy tale dreams of little girls, in other words, too sweet, too delicate, it needed to be mixed with 70-degree buckwheat schnapps to balance it out. "looks like you''re aware of your own limitations!" hanna gagar couldn''t hold back any longer and burst into laughter. the shadow wolf squatting to one side licked its lips, wondering what kind of flavor it was experiencing, too enticing for a wolf. wild magical beasts had no chance to appreciate the fragrance of fine wines, but instinct made them restless and hard to calm down. "jiu!" tilting its head back, little bird allowed the "fruit dew" to flow down its beak and throat into its crop, indicating that it found the drink quite acceptable. only a tiny creature the size of a fist could know what good wine was, just to taste it was already pretty good. in some ways, it''s similar to human children liking chocolate liqueurs, but eating too much chocolate liqueur can still get you drunk. - the buzzing of air sliced by rotor blades rapidly grew from a distant hum to a nearby roar. no need for any calls, kids who were frolicking on the short-distance takeoff and landing strip instantly scattered, leaving the runway completely free, and stood in neat lines by its side, like soldiers ready for inspection. this was becoming rather embarrassing. could she have mistaken the wrong wolf? "ah mao"? isn''t that calling me? the shadow wolf tilted its head, bewildered with a forehead full of question marks. chen fei had given it a truly terrible name, calling it "ah mao," regardless of any disdain or invalid protest. to call it "ah mao," it had to respond, or else it would get beaten¡ªand we''re talking about the kind of beating that leaves no room for temper. "it is ''ah mao''!" chen fei squatted down and reached out to pat the shadow wolf''s head. shadow wolf: boss, don''t mention ah mao. even if you called me brother ji, i''d have to accept it! shen fei said irritatedly, "don''t joke, it''s a wolf, not a dog!" there is quite a difference between a wolf and a dog. first, look at the facial features: a wolf''s features are sharp and distinct, exuding a cool yakuza vibe, whereas dogs tend to have a more naive and gentle appearance, like a teenager in his awkward phase. second, look at the tail: a dog''s tail can stand and wag left and right, filled with a sense of joy akin to a fan meeting, while a wolf''s tail can also shake, but it''s difficult to stand it up, resembling a big broom that doesn''t need to use its tail much to express emotions. third, observe their reaction: wolves are calm, composed, and not easily swayed, while dogs are more excitable and lively. out of ten dogs, nine are clowns, and one husky stands out as the king of fools yet, surprisingly, huskies have a high combat value. even a tibetan mastiff can be led astray. chen fei naturally said, "i''ve given it a name, it''s called ''ah mao''!" all the effort he had put in, was it for nothing? "woo!!" shadow wolf: can i curse? no? then i''ll shut up! "pfft! chen fei, are you serious?" teacher shen fei couldn''t hold back any longer and burst out laughing, her grief over the loss of the previous "ah mao," the shan yang fine dog, considerably lessened. in chen fei''s eyes, her smile bloomed like a begonia flower, charming enough to topple cities with one smile and countries with the next, making their fights worth it. he stated with absolute certainty, "i couldn''t possibly be more serious!" if he weren''t serious, he would have skinned it and extracted its crystal core by now. shadow wolf: then, my thanks to you, howl! "where did you get it from?" teacher shen fei was still laughing to the point of stomach pain but finally managed to compose herself. "picked it up in the mountains, had to beat it up several times before it became docile." chen fei spread his hands. if it weren''t for the magical beast shadow wolf, just an asian gray wolf would have been obedient after a single beating. wolves in the mountains are desperately vicious, but in the face of reality, they still bow their heads. "oh! right, i need a bit of your blood." chen fei took out a wooden box containing the last remaining magic contract scroll. one of the two scrolls had been whimsically blown away by xiao jiu, and the other hadn''t been used until now. "what''s this, a pen?" teacher shen fei came over, curious to examine the wooden box in chen fei''s hand. she took it and opened it on the spot. inside was a finely crafted small scroll. though she had never tasted pork, at least she had seen pigs run, and she finally understood. "a magic scroll, wait, this is a contract scroll... could it be..." teacher shen fei looked up uncertainly and then at the black wolf that had remained silent throughout, by chen fei''s feet. "a magical beast?" - Chapter 277 Section 276 - The Gatekeeper Wolf chen fei pointed at the shadow wolf that teacher shen fei finally guessed right about its true identity and said, "a third rank shadow wolf!" "wait a second, a shadow wolf?!" shen fei once again looked over the black wolf with an innocent expression. no, wasn''t it that one from the other day... forget it, better go get the model 95 and avenge the former "ah mao." chen fei pulled her back just in time. he had finally tamed it, and it had started to obey a bit; shooting it would be such a waste. "hold on, this shadow wolf is here to repay a debt." "repay a debt?" teacher shen fei was puzzled; she was worried that the shadow wolf might suddenly lash out and injure her students. better to kill it quickly. "its name is now ''ah mao''!" chen fei shrugged his shoulders. the shadow wolf still looked dumb, completely unaware that the previous "ah mao" had been bitten to death by itself. "what?" teacher shen finally caught up with chen fei''s train of thought. "killing the dog to pay for the crime, naturally it should repay with its life, death penalty can be spared but not the living punishment, this shadow wolf will be your wolf from now on, you provide food and shelter but not a salary." chen fei finally revealed his well-thought-out plan. if this deal were presented to the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, it would definitely flip out on the spot! a wild magical beast born and bred in nature knew nothing about salary; not even able to count as undocumented, it had eaten someone''s dog and now had to use its whole life to repay. yikes... this tragic life of the wolf wasn''t even worth stripping for its crystal core! "this, how can this be, it''s a magical beast!" teacher shen fei was shocked; the previous "ah mao" was just a common shan yang fine dog, but the "ah mao" in front of her was a genuine magical beast, clearly so valuable. "that day, while on a mission, i caught it casually, it didn''t cost money, you don''t have to worry about it being too precious." chen fei looked toward the magic contract scroll in teacher shen fei''s hand which was truly valuable. thinking about another 500,000 star yuan ruined by xiao jiu, how heartbreaking! "heh, you''ve got heart!" teacher shen laughed, shaking her head; although there was no actual cost, chen fei had gone to a lot of trouble. she had just lost the big black dog "ah mao," and the other party immediately captured the culprit to sell itself to pay off the debt; this shadow wolf was really unlucky. however, having a magical beast''s protection, the defensive strength of patan elementary school might rise more than a notch. within a five hundred-mile radius, the most heavily guarded was naturally aircrew base 911, second only to this mountain area school; even the larger villages around it fell behind; would people believe it if told? "for the safety of those students, you better sign a contract with it quickly!" chen fei pointed to the scroll in shen fei''s hand, however, in the presence of a light-element magical beast, it often found no place to demonstrate its abilities, being utterly suppressed. "woo!~~~" the big yellow dog "ah hu" had mustered up courage for a long time before daring to poke its head into the kitchen. it saw the black wolf gradually disappearing into the shadows, and its legs weakened with fright, emitting a scared noise. that terrible creature was still there; it was simply too terrifying! "what a useless thing, i''ll butcher it for meat someday." chen fei looked at the cowardly big yellow dog and revealed a fierce smile. in the countryside, dogs are kept for guarding the house or for meat. wolf meat is tough and gamey, but dog meat is tender and delicious. gulp! the big yellow dog fainted outright, the dog''s life is hard indeed! "stop scaring ''ah hu'', it''s time to eat!" teacher shen fei pushed chen fei annoyedly and announced it was time to dine. - after lunch, chen fei rearranged teacher shen''s kitchen, adding two sets of tall steel shelves. he extracted samples he had previously absorbed from the "physical evolution database" and, using the "hi-fi replication" and "metal shaping" skills along with energy points, replicated large commercial electric ovens, fermenting boxes, dough mixers, automatic stir-fry machines, and dishwashers which professionalized the rudimentary kitchen, saving shen fei a lot of effort when cooking for the students. these appliances certainly consumed a lot of electricity, so chen fei contributed his own stored crystalline block, which had an energy density far exceeding teacher shen''s farad capacitors and could fully supply the entire school''s electricity for a whole week, even with some excess left over. the wind and solar power generation units of patan elementary already had a surplus of power generation capacity, sufficient to ensure that the balance of electricity revenue and expenses could be maintained even with the additional appliances. chen fei could also use his own skill "power management module" to match and power the energy conversion modules for the crystalline block, quickly charging it in a short time. luckily, mr. abel, the head chef of the base canteen, let chen fei absorb all the electric appliances in the kitchen and then restore them one by one. just as old david''s treasured f-22 "raptor" jet fighter, most of the canteen''s appliances were now replicas, all conveniently refurbished, perhaps able to continue functioning for another decade, while the originals had become samples within the energy points and "physical evolution database." chen fei had carefully saved a few energy points, and now they were all invested in teacher shen fei''s kitchen. it took nearly five hours, fiddling and consulting online with experts. finally, just before night fell, a sweaty chen fei managed to integrate the entire electrical grid of patan elementary with the crystalline block. driving a large tricycle back to aircrew base 911, chen fei first went to help mr. abel in the canteen, handling his night shift part-time job, before returning to his small western-style house. he took a hot shower and had just changed into a dry, fresh set of clothes when he stepped out of the shower room to see golden-eyed azure-hearted civet er lang uninvitedly perched on a bar stool trying to open a bottle of homemade apple wine with its paws. the bar cabinet was divided; one part belonged to boss hana, filled with various fine spirits, while another was chen fei''s, mostly containing homemade fresh fruit wines and a few long-lasting distilled spirits. although boss hana was very willing to share her fine spirits, as drinking buddies, chen fei and golden-eyed azure-hearted civet both kept track and never took politeness for granted. when the owner of the fine liquor was absent, neither man nor magical beast would casually touch those high-end items. homemade fruit wines, on the other hand, were plentiful and thus less fussy. "is it only you today?" chen fei looked around, not seeing boss hana''s figure. she usually was the earliest to arrive, but surprisingly, er lang had managed to get there first this time. "don''t know, eh? where''s the bottle opener?" after scratching around for a while, golden-eyed azure-hearted civet finally gave up. it could easily sever or smash the mouth of the bottle but couldn''t effortlessly twist open the screw-top like humans. screw-top caps are designed for humans, not for golden-eyed azure-hearted civets. - continue your adventure at empire Chapter 278 Section 277 - Assembling the F-22 chen fei didn''t get any information about boss hana''s whereabouts from big cat, but he did see a message on his phone about the female boss going on a business trip. boss hana even took xiao jiu along. the pure light sparrow, which had mastered laser skills, could attack, defend, and heal. it was small in size and less likely to be a target, which made it highly concealed and deceptive, perfectly qualified to serve as a bodyguard. few people would suspect that the seemingly insignificant magical beast on hana gagel''s shoulder was actually quite ferocious, ready to charge forward and unleash a fierce barrage of "biubiubiu" attacks. because of xiao jiu''s assistance, hana gagel had safely navigated through several troublesome situations. putting down his phone after reading the message, chen fei, watching big cat who had finally found a bottle opener and was using his teeth to successfully twist open the bottle cap, said, "the boss is on a business trip, looking for a new logistics supplier." last time, during her business negotiations with saber group, the logistics supplier for apocalypse defense group, boss hana was severely tricked, and all hopes of continuing to obtain supplies through the original channel were dashed. the two parties even ended up on opposite sides, with no room left for negotiation. however, for jiu defense company to establish a lasting foothold in the xingdu kush mountain area, it was essential to have a professional logistics supplier for support. relying solely on the stockpile of supplies at the base was not sustainable, as eventually, they would run out. when the cannon sounds, one spends a fortune in gold; the brothers die, and the granaries burn. the 911 aircrew base, on its own, had resisted the merman brothers consortium in a corporate war. both sides had a fierce clash, which resulted in the originally anticipated eight years'' worth of supplies being reduced to at most four, with many items already running short. hana gagel was incredibly relieved that chen fei, the newcomer at 911 aircrew base, not only unexpectedly awakened metallic psychic powers but was also lucky enough to survive the corporate war. the conflicts between military contractors were sometimes even more brutal than clashes between sovereignties. even the ability users did not dare to guarantee that they would emerge from battle unscathed, and it would not be surprising if some suffered casualties. jiu defense company had two supernatural power users and a surprisingly effective magical beast, the pure light sparrow. this promising start made hana gagel''s investment of her family''s last resources to take over the aircrew base in the xingdu kush mountain area worthwhile. for the under-resourced jiu defense company, maintaining such a significant aircrew base was not easy. compared to other small military contractors who didn''t even have a decent military base, their starting point was much better, especially after their status in jianghu had dramatically increased following a corporate war with industry giants. if hana gagel could successfully negotiate with a new logistics supplier on this trip, jiu defense company and the 911 aircrew base would finally have a stable foundation in the xingdu kush mountain area. while chen fei was worried about whether boss hana''s trip would go smoothly, the golden-eyed azure-hearted civet, having polished off two large bowls of fruit wine and licking its lips with lingering satisfaction, said, "this wine is too bland, not exciting enough. chen fei, can you open a better bottle?" the fruit wine was filling, but no matter what, it couldn''t compare to the fine liquors in boss hana''s liquor cabinet. big cat was indirectly prompting chen fei to open one of those better bottles. having stayed at the 911 aircrew base for only a few days, er lang''s taste for wine had greatly improved. luckily, chen fei''s homemade fruit wine excelled in its fresh and sweet taste, full of flavor; otherwise, big cat would probably turn up its nose at it. "hmm! alright." chen fei immediately fulfilled big cat''s wish, opening a bottle of 54-proof distilled fruit wine for it. this was one leftover from half a year ago that hadn''t been finished and was distilled for keeping. after such a long time, the liquor should have mellowed considerably and was worth trying. "ah, is this it?" chen fei directed the ground crew to deliver his boxes one by one to hangar no. 2 and then line them up, ready to be unboxed. these boxes had actually arrived at the closest public airport a while ago, but it wasn''t possible for the aircrew base''s small transport plane to make a special trip just for him without good reason. chen fei may have been close to boss hana, but he couldn''t just casually break the rules. it just so happened that boss hana was traveling this time, which gave chen fei the opportunity to hitch a ride for these boxes back to the 911 aircrew base. "can this f-22 really take to the skies?" chief mechanic xiao ming was the first to arrive at hangar no. 2. how could he ignore such an old warbird suddenly appearing here, pretending not to know anything about it? he had always thought it was just an empty shell, all for show, used merely for boasting or intimidation. but now, seeing so many boxes being brought in, chen fei seemed to be gearing up for some serious work. it suddenly seemed like it wasn''t going to be that simple. "don''t worry, i have experience!" chen fei''s so-called experience meant that he had already successfully replicated one version to take to the skies. now, he was just copying the technique. xiao ming immediately halted the works at hangar no. 1 and led half of the mechanics to hangar no. 2, surrounding the shiny jet fighter with zero stealth capability. since chen fei had assured them it could fly with utter confidence, as the chief of the mechanics, he wouldn''t treat it as a joke, nor could he stand by indifferently. if all the technical manuals for the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter were printed out on a4 paper, they would weigh at least four to five hundred kilograms. big brother xiao asked chen fei for an electronic version and started studying it with the mechanics he brought over. the mechanics weren''t unfamiliar with the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter, but knowing about it was one thing, and being familiar with it was another. the mig-28, the most commonly used aerial combat weapon by military contractors, and the f-22 come from the same lineage, possessing similar control rules and interface standards, and uniform data link protocols. old david''s boxes had nearly cleaned out his last bit of belongings. most had been wiped out by the giant mutant, and now chen fei had thoroughly fleeced him, leaving nothing behind. the boxes brought back by the small transport plane contained not only the f-22 "raptor''s" matching components but also specialized tools, taking up two large boxes. even so, this was still not the complete set of tools. many of the tools in chen fei''s mechanic team were interchangeable, so old david only sent over the special, uncommon ones in the package. "no need for tools, just use our hands!" originally, chen fei had perfectly replicated an f-22 with just a phillips screwdriver while barely glancing at the technical manual. now, with successful experience under his belt, he knew even more clearly how to incorporate the components sent by old david into the second replicated version, which was still essentially a shell. controlled by the metal elemental psychic power, one component after another disappeared into the surface of the aircraft, automatically finding their correct positions. the largest component old david had sent was the ejection seat, which was simple to install¡ªjust throw it into the cockpit and done! through a process that was almost comical, like putting together a puzzle, this f-22 "raptor" jet fighter gradually shed the category of a solid model and transformed bit by bit into a real jet fighter. - Chapter 279 Section 278 - Heading Upwind three decades of wear and tear, even if sealed in a constant temperature and humidity environment, mechanical parts will inevitably undergo stress deformation, plastic parts will age, and even bacteria and fungi will mix in, causing irreversible damage to the machine. old david''s dear friend, the f-22, might have had a few, perhaps a dozen, hours of flight life left until retirement, but after it was put on display in the eagle nest private airport''s exhibition hall, no matter how well it was maintained and cared for, it would inevitably lose the ability to take to the skies. in those crates sent to chen fei, many parts were professionally replicated, with the assistance of high-precision 3d printing technology. non-metallic material parts were easy to manufacture, and even though the cost was high, it wasn''t too exorbitant. in contrast, metal parts that required precise alloy ratios, smelting processes, machining processes, and heat treatment were not something that could be solved by simply spending money¡ªnor was it a small amount of money. only the top sovereign powers of the world could afford to play that game. with what little pension old david had, selling the entire private airport and surrounding farms wouldn''t even come close to affording it. the metal parts that were a headache for old david were, for chen fei, precisely the easiest to make. a few metal elemental psychic power skills were thrown in, and after the replicated parts were modified, their quality and precision were even better than the originals. the small transport plane had brought back about ten crates, and chen fei used up a little over half of them, finally filling in the shell of the f-22 completely. big brother xiao, leading the mechanics struggling with the f-22''s technical manual in the maintenance shop, hadn''t even finished the general overview when the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter in hangar 2 had already entered its pre-flight preparation process. after fueling up and adding oxygen, the mobile power and gas supply equipment started to supply electricity to the aircraft and deliver high-temperature gas to the engine, assisting in warming up the machine. the mig-28 and the f-22 shared a lineage; many interfaces and support equipment were interchangeable. chen fei came to the side of the f-22 warming up its engine and patted its wing, immediately hearing a loud roar as the f119-pw-100 low bypass ratio augmented turbofan engine''s tail burst forth with a bright orange-red glow, a faint black smoke being expelled backward. at this point, the combustion efficiency wasn''t at its best, hence the appearance of the orange-red tail flame and black smoke. the entire hangar 2 soon filled with the smell of aviation kerosene burning. the vastly different immense roar attracted the "genuine fragrance" combat flight squadron, which was on standby in hangar 1. "my god!" deputy squadron leader "devil pepper" irinei rusios stared at the roaring "raptor" in disbelief. "isn''t that the big toy?" chekhov big bear hurriedly took out a bottle of erguotou and took two swigs to calm his nerves. the other pilots all shared the same shocked expression¡ªthis was playing on a grand scale! what chen fei was up to in hangar 2 was no secret. through the newbie "sauerkraut" tempun schneider, who had helped out, nearly half the aircrew base knew about it; whenever they were free, people would come to look and even take a few photos. "wow, can this thing really fly?" "sauerkraut" tempun schneider asked doubtfully; he had watched chen fei bring this big fellow to life. the metal that made up the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter had been hauled over from the scrap recycling station by tempun schneider and chen fei together, and it was beyond anyone''s guess that this big fellow''s precursor was just a bunch of recast alloy ingots. yet these pieces of scrap metal, in chen fei''s hands, could be turned into something magical. chen fei signaled to the ground crew, grabbed the "dragon guard" tactical helmet, vaulted into the cockpit, and the transparent canopy began to slowly close. first to test the communication system. "tower, this is ''rookie'', requesting a flight mission." the original electronic and communication systems of the f-22 were incompatible with today''s data links, so both the onboard computer and the avionics fly-by-wire are newer technologies, with much stronger performance and functionality than the original. otherwise, chen fei''s call would have turned into gibberish¡ªcompletely off frequency with the tower, and they wouldn''t even be able to decode basic communications. "beep! this is tower manager mahnam speaking, what is this? an f-22?" the duty manager at the tower couldn''t believe the aircraft model that was automatically recognized. does 911 have this fighter jet? the roar of the twin engines grew increasingly shrill, the orange-red tail flames turned blue, and the black smoke turned to blue smoke as the aircraft began taxiing forward. "hey, stop staring!" seeing chekhov big bear crunching on a bottle, iline rusios fluttered her hands in front of his eyes to snap the jealous ghost back to attention. chekhov said with a twisted expression, "i want one too!" jealousy could not only warp a person but also drive them insane. "what do you want?" iline rusios frowned, this big guy was becoming less and less presentable. "na zi... ow!" don''t be fooled by the short-haired girl''s petite size; a punch to the stomach was quite powerful, turning big bear into a big shrimp. no na zi, but the fist was plenty! having roamed the jianghu for over forty years, one can be let down by anything in the world, only flying airplanes and big na zi should not be let down. squadron leader chekhov was still unyielding and hadn''t forgotten his initial resolve. "sauerkraut" tempun schneider, "angelica" wadiye, and "zisu" takada fuziko, the three newbies, were all taken aback by the scene¡ªholy moly, the deputy squadron leader just walloped the squadron leader; such combat prowess was indeed surprising! the rest of the "genuine fragrance" squadron members maintained a composed collective demeanor as they moved outside toward the hangar. just standard procedure, every few days squadron leader chekhov would get his beating from deputy squadron leader iline rusios¡ªa little scene they were used to. as the saying goes: hitting is affection, scolding is love, when feelings run deep a kick will do, and sometimes you just need to be led by a "dog." "hmph!" "magic pepper" strode out proudly, chest out, following the "genuine fragrance" squadron members. she too wanted to see if the jet chen fei had tinkered with could actually take off smoothly, or if it was just a fancy facade, a big toy. "ow, ugh!" squadron leader chekhov shook his head, spat a few times, and sulkily made his way to the door of hangar 2. the thunderous roar of a massive engine zoomed across the main runway of the aircrew base, a silvery jet lifted its nose and powerfully rushed toward the sky. although the mig-28 was also a twin-engine jet, its thrust and afterburner were far inferior to the f-22. "wtf?!" the duty manager in the tower, who had been skeptical all along, rushed to the window, eyes wide, watching the "raptor" ascend rapidly and disappear from sight, then turned to look in the direction of the main runway. it was already empty there, as if the jet that had soared to the heavens was just an illusion. but the muffled thunder of the engine roaring from the sky and the clearly visible contrails and wingtip vortices were reminding him that, indeed, an f-22 had just taken off from the main runway. explore stories at empire "203 at 1500 meters altitude, direction 45." the tower crew smoothly created a flight record for chen fei''s f-22. in truth, this operation was against regulations, but being a military contractor''s aircrew base, they weren''t too particular about such things. even their own assembled giant tricycle had a record and identification id; now that they''d assembled an f-22, there was no reason not to create a file. chen fei floored the gas (though there was actually nothing under his feet), casually increased the throttle, and began receiving inquiry signals from other nearby aircrew bases. "this is 909, please identify!" - Chapter 280 Section 279 - Strike First to Gain the Advantage the aircrew bases located in the xingdu kush mountain area were not far from each other, with overlapping patrol radii intentionally planned that way by the blue star global united defense committee. in case of an emergency, if one aircrew base couldn''t handle it, nearby bases could timely provide support. in fact, such planning had proven to be correct, as aircrew base 911 had once faced such a critical situation. "i''m ''rookie'' from aircrew base 911, over!" chen fei glanced at the radar screen signal capture. it was a mig-28 double formation, military aircraft contractor''s weapon for air control, considered high-end merchandise. of course, it still couldn''t compare to chen fei''s f-22 "raptor" fighter jet. "we are from aircrew base 909, ''wufeng'' and ''tingyu'', i''m the lead aircraft ''wufeng''!" "i''m the wingman ''tingyu''!" the self-introductions of two pilots from a military contractor''s dedicated public communication channel came one after another, remembering the call signs of pilots from other nearby aircrew bases is a basic professional quality, and also a form of courtesy. if someone reports a call sign you''ve never heard of, you''d better be extra watchful. to fabricate on flight call signs is most likely ill-intentioned, and could even be malicious, possibly indicating an enemy. chen fei compared the electronic map and the location of those two mig-28s, then said, "hey, buddy, you''ve crossed the line!" no sooner had he spoken than he heard a transmission from the control tower at aircrew base 911. "''rookie'', the two migs from aircrew base 909 have passed the buffer zone, please keep an eye on them." the normal patrol radius of an aircrew base is 500 kilometers, with the outermost 50 kilometers usually serving as a buffer zone overlapping with other aircrew bases for joint defense. after all, aircraft can cover a dozen kilometers in the blink of an eye with afterburners, so occasionally exceeding the patrol radius is a common occurrence. but this time, the two mig jets from aircrew base 909 had already penetrated into the 450-kilometer radius of aircrew base 911, with a direct distance of less than 420 kilometers from aircrew base 911, a range that was continuing to shrink. chen fei''s f-22 happened to be nearby, so he was conveniently assigned to go there and warn them not to stray too far in. after the enterprise war between aircrew base 911 and merman brothers consortium had ended, the severely damaged aircrew base 909 was quickly sold off, and with a sum of cash obtained from the deal, merman brothers consortium made a comeback. the military contractor that took over aircrew base 909 was ambitious, daring to cross the boundary with just two mig aircraft, apparently showing no respect for the local ''snakes'', aircrew base 911 and jiu defense company¡ªit was clearly up to no good. "''rookie'' received, have warned the other party." chen fei responded, it seemed his reminder was quite timely. "buddy, you must be mistaken?" the speaker was "wufeng", the wingman from the mig squadron. "you are less than 400 kilometers away from our base, please turn back and return to your base!" chen fei patiently reminded the other party while gently pushing the joystick forward, approaching the mig squadron. an error between 450 and 500 kilometers is understandable, but a deviation to 400 kilometers, not even the farm team''s donkey would dare to stray that far! however, "wufeng", the mig squadron leader from aircrew base 909, insisted, "impossible, we are still within our normal patrol radius!" "turn within ten seconds, otherwise it will be considered a declaration of war from your side!" mahnam connected with the leader of the ammunition crew. "no!" "no?" "i guarantee it!" the ammunition crew leader confirmed repeatedly without hesitation. the ammunition log was in his hands; he clearly knew whether the f-22 was loaded with ammo or not. forget missiles; there wasn''t even a single round of cannon ammunition. "fuck!" mahnam punched the worktable. the "rookie" had some nerve, quite extraordinarily so. the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter, on its maiden flight, wasn''t carrying any weapons or ammunition, yet he brazenly charged ahead without regard, something most people would never dare to do. mahnam quickly came up with a strategy and, pressing down on his headset, swiftly issued instructions. "''genuine fragrance'' squadron, major chekhov, take off immediately in the mig-28 to support ''rookie.'' everyone else stay ready in your aircraft and prepare to take off at any moment." with boss hana absent, the rotating duty managers held the most power. they were to be restrained in negotiation and merciless in combat, having been given the utmost trust and support by the boss. the piercing alarm rang throughout aircrew base 911; the war machine was fully activated, and everyone from various departments entered a state of readiness. squadron leader chekhov flew into the sky in a mig-28 loaded with ammunition, under the wings a full complement of air-to-air missiles. in no more than 20 minutes, he could reach the incident airspace. "''rookie,'' leave one for me!" chekhov opened the public communication channel and shouted excitedly. watch as chekhov slays enemy aircraft while enjoying his wine. recently bored out of his mind, with not a mutant or magical beast in sight, he was thrilled at the prospect of an opponent voluntarily seeking defeat, feeling a sense of inexplicable joy as if facing the sea with spring blossoms. perhaps this was the ultimate satisfaction in life, akin to a cat eating fish, a dog eating meat, or ultraman fighting little monsters. chekhov wasn''t worried about chen fei''s fighting ability. for a pilot who had survived corporate warfare, a mere two mig-28s were nothing. even if chen fei had been flying a "big mouth monster" turboprop, it was not guaranteed he would be at a disadvantage. moreover, this guy was now flying the fierce f-22 "raptor." just based on aircraft performance alone, it could easily blow the mig-28 out of the water; the two fighter jets weren''t even from the same generation, the difference was a full two generations. when wingman pilot "tingyu," who had exceptional eyesight, finally saw the "silvery glint" rapidly growing larger and clearer as it neared, he cried out in disbelief. "that''s not a mig!" "nor is it a ''big mouth monster''!" added lead pilot "wufeng" in confusion; he shivered suddenly, came to his senses, and screamed, "fire!" your next chapter is on empire it wasn''t a mig nor "big mouth monster," so what did it matter what it was? for their own safety, it was better to strike first. the fire control radar locked onto the target immediately, and four missiles trailing smoke detached from the mig-28s'' wing pylons, heading straight for the unidentified aircraft approaching head-on. - Chapter 281 Section 280 - Touch of Wind "beep! beep!" the alarm system emitted increasingly rapid beeps, warning that missiles were rapidly approaching. the "flying dragon" single soldier tactical armor, produced by henghai tactical weapons group, displayed the type, direction, altitude, and speed of the four incoming missiles on the visual visor of the tactical helmet, while also providing the optimal missile evasion flight trajectory. this f-22 was not an exact replica; it used modern computer systems and data coding standards that just happened to fall within the compatibility range of the flying dragon''s individual tactical intelligence unit, physically connected to the body through a fiber optic data line from the back of the neck. like the mig-28, the "raptor" had also undergone some modern modifications, no longer entirely like its model from over thirty years ago. beyond the visual visor of the tactical helmet, chen fei''s field of vision also included four fine blue lines shooting directly from the front, which were the predictive trajectories boosted by the dog system. the four missiles were rapidly approaching along these blue lines with even greater accuracy than the calculations and analysis of the flying dragon''s tactical armor. others might not have any external aids, but chen fei found himself wishing to turn off one or two of his many aids. the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter neither dodged nor flinched, facing the four missiles head-on as the distance between them closed at an extremely fast rate. seeing the f-22 recklessly charging into the missile no-escape zone, the leader of the mig squadron, "wufeng," secretly rejoiced. that guy is as good as dead! "only four missiles?" chen fei''s voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, rang out on the public communication channel. he even waited a bit longer, but the opponent was overconfident, not even resorting to a second stage strike tactic, thinking that they could down him with just these mere four missiles. right hand on the control stick, left hand on the throttle, he settled into the most comfortable position he could manage, leaving the extra tasks to the flight control system, and yeah, to god as well! boom! boom! boom! boom! the four missiles exploded into four fireballs in succession. however, the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter maneuvered incredibility flexible between the fireballs, forcefully carving out a sliver of life, narrowly avoiding the explosions as danger swirled around it. a few shrapnel pieces hit the f-22, leaving pitted marks on the skin''s surface, but it visibly recovered rapidly to smooth and pristine, as if nothing had ever happened. "he''s still there, he''s still there!" the mig squadron''s wingman pilot, "tingyu," stared at the radar screen, his eyes suddenly wide, as the strange aircraft seemed completely unharmed. "prepare missile 1, let''s try this again!" the lead pilot, "wufeng," quickly did a new weapon tactical programming. at this moment, he finally understood that the opponent''s lack of dodging was not out of foolish bravery, but rather a mastery and boldness in skill; he and his wingman couldn''t even hope to achieve this level¡ªthe opponent was an unprecedented formidable enemy. however, the mig squadron had not used the "second stage strike" tactic immediately, thus missing the chance for a second volley. while the two pilots were still flustered, the f-22 "raptor" jet fighter boosted its engines, the vector nozzle tail bursting with long flames. the aircraft rolled to its side, first sharply dropping, then climbing again, giving the body an angular velocity, almost like drifting in the air with a small radius falling leaves drifting maneuver, eventually breaking out and forcefully taking a spot right in the middle of the mig squadron. "wtf?" the lead pilot, "wufeng," even forgot to continue operating, his mouth open wide, staring dumbfounded at the incredible maneuver, the series of movements dizzying him and his wingman to the point of being unable to react at all. the twin-engine system along with the vector tail made the f-22 exceptionally agile, living up to the name "raptor." "what kind of fighter jet is this?" a pale green beam of light silently streaked across the sky, plunging into the cockpit of the mig-28. the pilot, who was still struggling to control the fighter, instantly burned into a torch, and the entire cockpit burst into dazzling light. the next second, the lead aircraft of the mig squadron exploded into a fireball in mid-air. "calling the tower, both enemy aircraft have been shot down." chen fei finally chose to respond to the duty manager of aircrew base no. 911, whom he had previously considered too noisy and had cut off communication, only to now reconnect. "203, please return to base!" the duty manager, mahnam, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. the gunfire went off, and two mig-28s were shot down, making a tense situation between aircrew base no. 911 and no. 909 inevitable. "no, no?" squadron leader chekhov, nearing the combat airspace, was a bit dumbfounded. "i''ll go turn around at aircrew base no. 909 first." chen fei did not return to aircrew base no. 911 but decided to revisit the old base. "i''ll join you!" chekhov big bear volunteered eagerly, having missed out on two migs, curious to see if aircrew base no. 909 would act recklessly and then give him an exciting fight. the duty manager of aircrew base no. 911, mahnam, urgently called out, "hey, you two don''t mess around!" both of these guys were troublemakers, only controllable by boss hana when she was around. as soon as she left, these two were defiant and undisciplined. finally confirming the total annihilation of the mig squadron, and that even the pilots had not survived, aircrew base no. 909 roared furiously, "911, what have you done?" the mig squadron had completely lost contact. "shut up!" ¡Á3 chen fei+chekhov+mahnam. "you killed our people!" aircrew base no. 909 continued to make unreasonable accusations and complaints. mahnam: "you fired first!" chen fei: "you didn''t heed the warning!" chekhov: "you died first!" 909: "..." the sudden loss of two mig-28s and their pilots was unquestionably a significant loss. what''s worse, the current owner of aircrew base no. 909 was not the merman brothers consortium but another military contractor. they thought they had snagged a deal, but due to a moment''s misjudgment, they had caused such a huge deficit. the aircrew bases scattered across the xingdu kush mountain area were not real military bases; their revenue depended entirely on contract money and mission bonuses from the blue star global united defense committee. the two mig jet aircraft had not even managed a few patrol missions before being shot down, leading to substantial losses. - Chapter 282 Section 281 - Friendship Price "unknown enemy aircraft rapidly approaching!" loud announcements echoed inside the control tower at 909 aircrew base, signaling an emergency situation. the vehicle-mounted mobile radar had caught signals of flying objects, as the original ground-based radar had been thoroughly destroyed. repairing it would not be a quick fix, so this temporary substitute had to suffice, though its performance was naturally far inferior to the permanently installed ground-based radar. even so, the vehicle-mounted mobile radar was still able to cover the entire patrol radius of 909 aircrew base, and then some. the entire base immediately triggered a piercing, shrill air raid alarm. "f**k! how dare they? how dare they! bastards!" ximen temple kong, the executive manager of the 909 aircrew base, roared furiously. his mig squadron only dared to feign ignorance and bluff their way into a tentative intrusion, but the 911 side didn''t even bother with disguises or excuses, brazenly heading straight for 909 aircrew base. a mig-28 slowly approached from behind to the left rear of the f-22. chen fei did not use the afterburner, allowing the fully armed chekhov big bear to catch up, forming a dual-aircraft formation aimed at the air base 390 kilometers ahead. the silvery tide that filled the entire f-22 cockpit ebbbed away, retracting back into chen fei''s body. he shook his head and glanced around, as if nothing had happened, but the remarkable sensation of man-machine unity was gone. "old david''s old buddy just handed over to you like that?" chekhov stared at the "raptor" which gleamed silver, clearly reflecting the sky and ground, and saliva virtually dripped from his mouth with envy. although he had not undergone training at the private eagle nest airfield, he had still heard of the formidable reputation of the "eagle king." after the three realms war ended, old david retired with full honors. in addition to a career of military achievements, he took with him his trusty old comrade-in-arms. there were very few heroes who could claim such a distinction. "it''s a replica!" this was not the first time chen fei had piloted an f-22 "raptor" fighter jet. his proficiency in piloting the f-22 in old david''s flight simulator even surpassed that of the mig-28, and he had long formed a combat bond with this fighter jet. the original f-22s no longer existed, having become nothing more than energy points and templates in the physical evolution database¡ªa sort of rebirth. with sufficient parts, more "raptors" could be replicated to perfection, right down to the smallest detail. "a replica? how much?"no?v(el)b\\jnn chekhov immediately got excited. as the leader of the genuine fragrance combat flight squadron, his income was naturally substantial. further adding to it was his family''s factory, which provided substantial dividends annually, earning enough to keep an ordinary family comfortable for a lifetime. he was genuinely wealthy, having achieved financial freedom long ago. original f-22s were hard to come by, even for the american federation, which didn''t have many in reserve. even if there were some in storage, after such a long time, they would have deteriorated¡ªexpecting them to fly upon retrieval was a pipe dream. but replicas, especially those capable of flying, were simply a matter of money. and was it a problem if it could be solved with money? chekhov was willing to spend nearly three million star yuan to collect an original, factory-made ak-47. was he really short of the star yuan to add a f-22 "raptor" to his collection? "you''d have to ask old david about that since he has most of the essential components." had it not been for the parts shipped by old david, chen fei would have had no way to get the shell to fly, not to mention that the avionics and flight control systems were something that could not be directly substituted with special abilities. the f-22 is designed with relaxed stability. its maneuverability is entirely contingent on extreme flying at the edge of losing control. without flight controls, it would probably amount to an array of fancy crash styles, making a stalling spin seem trivial. once the parts from old david run out, chen fei would likely need more, or at least the production processes and equipment to make them, though 911 aircrew base might be too cramped for such operations. only old david''s fortune could support replicating so many components. if it were left to chen fei, even selling himself would not cover the cost of these parts, not even a small fraction of them. chekhov big bear was stunned for a moment, hesitant, but ultimately couldn''t help but curse, "damn it, forget it!" old david cherished his old companion like his own life, and it would be impossible for outsiders to get their hands on it. getting parts from old david was likely harder than reaching the sky, and chekhov''s own face just didn''t cut it. having finally taken to the skies, it made perfect sense to enjoy a full, thrilling flight. a f-22 with full fuel has a combat radius of 750 kilometers, but the actual range is enough to shuttle three times between aircrew bases 909 and 911. "i have to keep an eye on ''rookie''. i won''t let him mess up!" big bear chekhov replied with righteous indignation. the person we''re most worried about causing trouble is you, okay? the duty manager was so angry he was nearly having a heart attack. with boss hana not on base, his words had no effect. inside the control tower, an employee operating the ground-based radar plucked up the courage to speak: "manager ma, i think ''rookie'' and ''peanut butter'' did nothing wrong!" "nothing wrong? what''s not wrong?" manager mahnam glared at him. everyone''s so ''talented'' with guts so big. at a time like this, they''re still stirring the pot, aren''t they afraid of making things even worse? "the ancients said, not to reciprocate is against etiquette! an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, revenge should not be put off overnight. let them know that aircrew base 911 is not to be messed with." the employee''s voice grew louder. snap, snap, some people could not help but burst into applause. those words were music to their ears! as the applause started, it turned into something uncontrollable; more and more clapping ensued until the whole control tower was filled with it. "fine, fine! you guys are awesome!" duty manager mahnam shook his head helplessly at his subordinates who were surging with emotion, then took out his phone to dial. "hello, this is hana." "boss, this is duty manager mahnam. the situation is like this..." though he was the duty manager, he wasn''t enough to command everyone, so he had to resort to the real boss to report the current emergency. whether it''s chekhov or chen fei, they should still listen to the orders of boss hana, he believed. two minutes later, mahnam ended the call, put down his phone, pressed down his headset, and spoke with righteous solemnity, "aircrew base 909, this is aircrew base 911 duty manager mahnam. we issue a stern protest against your unauthorized intrusion into our patrol airspace without permission. all consequences arising from this action will be fully borne by your side. we at aircrew base 911 love peace and wish to coexist amicably with our peers, maintaining the ecological balance and stability of the xingdu kush mountain area. we hope you recognize your mistake and have the courage to correct it..." across the public communication channel between aircrew bases 909 and 911, the latter was practically grabbing the former by the neck, ready to slap them with a giant palm, left and right. ¡ù lesson one for military contractors: here, only strength is recognized, and reason is irrelevant. ¡ù empowered by boss hana''s full authorization, mahnam didn''t hesitate to tear off the disguise. so much for shelving disputes and joint development¡ªyeah, like hell! joint development, my ass! "you bastard, what are you saying? i''m going to kill you!~" over the other end of the public comms channel, within aircrew base 909, the duty executive manager ximen temple kong jumped three feet in the air, fuming mad. no one had ever dared to speak to him like that before. the duty manager at aircrew base 911 must be tired of living. if the other person were right in front of him and he had a gun in his hand, he would definitely shoot the latter''s head into a hornet''s nest without hesitation. just then, a tremendous roar came from the sky. two aircraft, not belonging to aircrew base 909, appeared in everyone''s field of vision, fast approaching. someone on the ground recognized the unusual silhouette of one of the aircraft and immediately started shouting at the top of their lungs. "f-22!!!" - Chapter 283 - Feathers Flying Everywhere The tarmac at Aircrew Base 909 was littered with feathers. And the tarmac at Aircrew Base 911 had seen its share of feathers, too. Without Big Brother Xiao from the maintenance team stepping in, the short-haired deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, known as "Devil Pepper," had already cornered the universally disliked Chekhov Big Bear on the tarmac and left him dusty and disgraced. The new pilots were staring, dumbfounded. When it came to familiarity with the people inside Aircrew Base 911, it was still "Rookie" Chen Fei, who had attended advanced flight training together with the rest, who knew them best. Tempun Schneider quietly moved closer to him and whispered worriedly, "Hey, ''Rookie,'' they''re not going to start fighting, are they?" Chen Fei replied, puzzled, "Huh? Isn''t it pretty normal for them to fight?" Despite Chekhov Big Bear''s burly appearance that was good only for bullying his own kind, he wasn''t necessarily a match for the short-haired deputy squadron leader. Sure enough, the short-haired deputy squadron leader, who couldn''t bear any injustice in the world, leaped up three feet, clawed her way into the MiG''s cockpit, and yanked out the Big Bear. With a smooth move, she performed a powerful back throw, shaking even the nearby MiG aircraft. Any girl who became a deputy squadron leader was no pushover. If they were even slightly weaker, they would be relentlessly bullied by this brute who picked on the weak and feared the strong. "Hiss..." Tempun Schneider gasped at such a brutal scene. "Actually, ''Devil Pepper'' is a really nice person, good-natured and speaks softly. She''s a pleasant older sister to get along with." Just as Chen was uttering the word "softly," this very approachable elder sister delivered a vicious, piercing kick, knocking the struggling Big Bear who was trying to crawl away and escape, flush to the ground. Then she pounced, sitting squarely on his chest and her Turtle Fist punches rained down like droplets, targeting the face. Anyway, the Big Bear wasn''t much to look at; taking a few punches might even add to his face value. Chen Fei''s reaction was remarkably calm, his expression unchanged. It wasn''t just him. The ground crew acted as if they saw nothing out of the ordinary, focusing intently on their work and sometimes even making room for the Genuine Fragrance squadron''s lead and deputy leaders. Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider looked at Chen Fei, then at the two squadron leaders wrestling with each other, wearing an expression of utter horror. Dammit, there must be something toxic about this Aircrew Base 911. Was it him who was out of sorts, or was it everyone else? He fell into a bout of self-doubt. Only after Chekhov had been thoroughly beaten eight times did the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" finally let the fellow go. As for the reason Chekhov was beaten, well, perhaps the short-haired girl had forgotten it herself. Don''t sweat the small stuff; after all, it''s only natural for a woman to spill some blood a few days each month. "Let''s go, let''s go!" With no more spectacle to witness, Chen Fei patted Tempun''s shoulder and left his F-22 on the tarmac. ``` Due to the lack of radar-absorbent coating, the replicated F-22''s stealth capability was significantly reduced, even to the point where it wasn''t much better than the MiG-28. The radars used by military contractors were basically able to capture its presence, which was also related to the advancement of radar technology, especially since radar technology has continuously progressed since the F-22 retired from active service. The performance of the ground-based radar used by the 911 Aircrew Base was hardly inferior to the radars currently in active service for Sovereignty. - Thousands of miles away, the female BOSS of Jiu Defense Company, Hanna Gagel, was rubbing her forehead with a headache. She had barely left when the 911 Aircrew Base stabbed her in the back with such a mess, and she didn''t know how to clean up this disaster. Her cell phone rang, and when she checked the screen, it was from Klaibel, the liaison director of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Klaibel was in charge of all the aircrew bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, and Hanna hadn''t expected her to personally make the call. If she wasn''t mistaken, it must be the conflict between the two aircrew bases that had alarmed the Global United Defense Committee. The original school district now covered four villages. If measured by geographical area, the school''s district would be equivalent to a county-level city with a population of a million. Teacher Shen, supporting the school alone, no matter how hard she tried, could only guarantee basic education for six grades of primary school. To establish a junior high school would require additional staffing. Out of the seven graduates, five were recruited back to their own villages as literate individuals who could help with tasks requiring cultural knowledge and also got betrothed¡ªtemporarily, there was no way to change the custom of one man marrying multiple wives. After all, strong laborers have always been a scarce resource, especially educated ones, so it was treated as a form of sharing a husband. The remaining two graduates stayed at the school to help Teacher Shen Fei continue educating the younger students. With UNESCO unable to find volunteers to send over, Teacher Shen Fei had no choice but to be self-reliant, training new teachers willing to commit to local education in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Even if the current educational level was only at a primary school, it was better than nothing. Moreover, although Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t support the entire junior high phase, guiding two students to become primary school teachers while educating them in junior high subjects was still achievable. "Where''s that stupid dog? Why don''t I see it?" Chen Fei looked at Teacher Shen Fei bustling in the kitchen, preparing for dinner, looking left and right, he didn''t spot the Shadow Wolf and wondered if it had slipped away while Teacher Shen was not paying attention. A lazy yellow dog that loved to eat and loiter hung around outside the kitchen; if the Shadow Wolf were inside, it wouldn''t dare come near even if it had ten times the guts. After all, low-level contracts like an Equality Contract didn''t hold much sway, but considering wolves are social animals, this contract should be barely functional. However, there are always exceptions, and there''s the fear that the Shadow Wolf, too wild to be tamed, couldn''t stand the dull life of learnings and escaped back to the mountains to be free once again. "That''s a Shadow Wolf, how come magical beasts aren''t up to standard with you?" Teacher Shen Fei, deftly preparing ingredients, cast a coquettish glance at Chen Fei, the guy who couldn''t tell a wolf from a dog. She was accustomed to making pastries and barbecuing, as well as preparing Europa-style soup. Chen Fei wasn''t good at these, nor were the ingredients suitable, so he couldn''t be of help. It would be great if Gallic Head Chef Mr. Abel were here¡ªhe could handle it all himself. "What I have in abundance here are magical beasts, as you know, it''s the very business of the Aircrew Base." Chen Fei, with his arms folded, shrugged his shoulders. Every month he had to kill a few magical beasts, he couldn''t bring every single one back. The 911 Aircrew Base would turn into a zoo otherwise. Bear in mind that military contractors with an aircrew base, besides patrolling their business areas and regularly exterminating mutants, also list out-of-control magical beast groups as targets to be struck. To ordinary people, magical beasts are a rare sight, but to those at the aircrew base, they''re prey, killed for sport. "Awoo!" A whine sounded beside Teacher Shen. A shadow flickered at her feet, and a big black wolf with pitch-black fur darted out. Hearing Chen Fei mention it, it was so frightened that it immediately revealed itself. "Aroo!" The yellow dog outside the kitchen door was startled, instantly so scared that it ran away in a panic. "Is this guy a perv? By the way, Teacher Shen, are you wearing safety pants?" Chen Fei looked disapprovingly at the Shadow Wolf that had just been hiding in the shadow under Teacher Shen Fei''s feet. Should it be castrated? I heard that just a low-power laser on the testicles will do, painless castration, very quick. - Chapter 285 : Section 284 - Racial Talent Activation Seeing Chen Fei''s inexplicably meaningful look, the Shadow Wolf couldn''t help but clench its tail tighter. Though not physically castrated, psychologically, it already was. Hearing Chen Fei''s words, Teacher Shen Fei''s face flushed with two red clouds, and she retorted, "Nonsense, ''Ah Mao'' is a she-wolf!" "Ah? A female! Let me take a look!" Chen Fei walked over doubtfully, wanting to check the terrified black wolf. When the Shadow Wolf came into his hands, it always kept its tail tightly clamped, so he hadn''t paid attention to whether it had any little brothers. "Go on, stop groping around!" Seeing Chen Fei''s reckless actions, Teacher Shen couldn''t stand to watch anymore and stuck out her foot, pretending to kick this clumsy fool away. Only then did Chen Fei reluctantly leave the Shadow Wolf alone. The black wolf trembled with residual fear, and despite having no contract with Chen Fei, this terror was deeply etched into its bones. Chen Fei suddenly asked, "Teacher Shen, do you know where there''s a more enclosed valley nearby?" Teacher Shen Fei stopped what she was doing and said puzzledly, "Enclosed? What do you need that for?" Chen Fei stretched out his finger and waggled it, saying, "For breeding rabbits!" "Oh! For meat, or for their fur?" Teacher Shen Fei immediately understood Chen Fei''s intention; finding a somewhat enclosed valley to breed rabbits was indeed a good idea. She knew a bit about the situation of the Aircrew Base. Since it had been officially taken over by Jiu Defense, supplies from the outside world had nearly ceased, and to date, they had not found a new logistics supply partner. Even with money, they could not buy anything. With such a large Aircrew Base, the daily consumption of food for personnel and animals, as well as the flying of fighter jets, was not a small figure. Although the Aircrew Base could hold on for a short time, as time goes by, the problem would inevitably become more and more difficult to manage and eventually unsustainable. If Jiu Defense couldn''t receive ongoing supplies from the outside, they would reluctantly have to give up this Aircrew Base located deep in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Similar to the Aircrew Base, Patan School lacked external supplies but managed to persevere partly due to being self-sufficient. The vegetable garden in the backyard ensured a supply of fresh vegetables and fruits, meat came from the surrounding villages, and their staple food was thanks to the nearby Aircrew Base, which didn''t mind sparing the few tons of flour. Self-sufficiency in rabbit breeding could provide a high-quality source of meat. With rabbits'' reproductive capabilities, they are far more efficient than chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, dogs, or pigs. They mature sexually in half a year, with a breeding cycle every month and a half, each litter yielding seven to thirteen offspring. The population could expand eight to ten times a year; a pair of rabbits could breed nearly two hundred in a year. Fortunately, there are many natural predators; otherwise, the rabbit population would be more terrifying than the mutants. "For meat, for fur, for raising wolves!" Chen Fei looked at the Shadow Wolf, thinking it might be able to play a role, commanding the pack to drive away the creatures ¡ª and even unkind humans ¡ª that posed a threat to the Aircrew Base and Patan School. He felt a bit derelict as the Wolf King and thought it better to find the previous Wolf King to do the hard labor. "Then that''s even better. I''m planning to build a few more vegetable greenhouses near the Aircrew Base." Chen Fei openly shared his plans. With recycled glass, reclaimed metals, and biodegradable organic fertilizers, as well as the seeds provided by Teacher Shen, all the necessary conditions were readily available without the need for additional preparation. The lack of a logistics supplier still had some impact on the 911 Aircrew Base. Fresh fruits and vegetables, relying solely on the base''s own small-scale cultivation, were not enough to meet the needs of everyone, not to mention ensuring the supply for the combat squadrons. Relying on long-lasting preserved foods such as oil-soaked, salted, sugared, and dehydrated fruits and vegetables was still insufficient. Even with things like composite vitamin tablets available, they could only be used as supplements and not as the primary source of vitamins. "After lunch, I''ll bring them to you!" Teacher Shen Fei had just finished preparing dinner, placing pizza dough into what appeared to be a large wardrobe-sized refrigerator. Being a replica of the cafeteria kitchen in the aircrew base, it lacked smaller sizes or other reference samples, so Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power could only replicate what he saw. - After lunch, Chen Fei not only received vegetable seeds from Teacher Shen Fei but, under the guidance of her student Mo Erhan, he also arrived at a valley about 5 kilometers away from the school. Mo Erhan indeed knew the terrain within a thirty-kilometer radius like the back of his hand. After listening to Chen Fei''s requirements, he immediately identified the right place. The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was abundant with variously shaped valleys, basins, highlands, and canyons. It was fortunate that Mo Erhan had found such a place when he used to herd sheep. The valley''s cliff walls were not steep, but they were also not something a rabbit could climb over. The widest part of the mouth of the valley was only fifty meters across. Building a chest-high wall on both ends, extending five feet deep into the ground, would essentially be the same as erecting a wire fence. The rabbits would literally be unable to fly away or escape. In various parts of the valley, springs seeped out of the rock walls, flowing out and converging into numerous large and small shallow ponds below. The overflowing water even formed streams, narrow in places to the width of a hand. The water flowed gently or swiftly, the widest parts easily stepped across. Mountain goats carefully descended from the cliffs to drink from the ponds. A bit of grass seed and fertilizer scattered around, and this approximately seven to eight kilometer long valley could support three to five thousand rabbits with no problem. With the reproductive rate of rabbits, there could easily be enough to feed the entire wolf pack, and even if that was not sufficient, there were plenty of other animals in the mountains for the wolves to prey on. With this ample food supply, the wolf pack should become much more obedient. Using the "Flying Dragon" tactical armor''s satellite positioning, Chen Fei confirmed the valley''s location, then returned to Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School with the student Mo Erhan. Carrying a large bag of seeds, he drove the large tricycle back to the Aircrew Base. The 911 Aircrew Base had already chosen a location for the vegetable greenhouse. The bases'' interior was filled with mountainous stacks of standard shipping containers, leaving no open space. The suitable spot for the greenhouse was about two kilometers away on a hillside near the base. After some minor land leveling, the greenhouse could be erected. Chen Fei used his "Metal Shaping" ability to lay a two-meter-wide steel rail directly to the site. A single line was sufficient, with no need for a double track. The mountains had no shortage of stone, and with explosives, there was as much as needed. The equipment used for building the Aircrew Base was still there, ready to be reactivated. If the concrete sleepers were insufficient, concrete could be mixed and poured into metal molds on-site. Later, the materials could be absorbed as energy points, saving on transport and installation. Large hexagonal double-vacuum glass panes of less than pure quality were transported along the rail to the greenhouse site. With a little over two hundred people working together, they cleared the site in three days, laid foundations in one day, and in half a day, they had erected forty greenhouses, each about two stories tall. The interchangeably arranged greenhouses gleamed in the sunlight like translucent fish scales. Subsequent tasks would still include soil padding. The barren and weathered soil accumulated over the years was insufficient for growing vegetables, as almost all crops cultivated by humans were demanding on soil nutrients. However, finding suitable soil for planting was easy; it was readily available. They could simply dig around the main runway where urine had been used as a fertilizer, shred the grass roots, and use it directly. With the vegetable greenhouses completed, not only could the fresh produce supply of the entire Aircrew Base be secured, but Boss Hana could also negotiate with the logistics suppliers from a position of greater strength. After all, the more the 911 Aircrew Base depended on external supplies, the more it was at the mercy of those merchants. Just as Chen Fei was about to start sealing off the valley to raise rabbits, the 909 Aircrew Base, which had suffered a big loss, finally agreed to the mediation talks held under the auspices of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. - Chapter 286 Section 285 - Negotiation Venue With the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee presiding over justice, Aircrew Base 909 and its military contractors were sharpening their knives, ready to make up for their losses by demanding double from Aircrew Base 911 and Jiu Defense Company. For the sake of fairness, the location of the mediation talks was set between the two aircrew bases, each 500 kilometers apart. The number and list of negotiation representatives were clearly limited, and carrying weapons was forbidden to prevent disputes from escalating into physical clashes, potentially leading to the resolution of all disputes through corporate warfare. Boss Hana still hadn''t returned, and while Jiu Defense had established its Jianghu position in the industry, its influence was still insufficient to combat the established military contractors. Suffering exclusion and pressure from all sides, Hanna Gagel found it indescribably hard and could only bear the pressure alone, which far exceeded her time as the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911. "To wear the crown, one must bear its weight," and most importantly, they cannot bow their heads, for if they do, the crown will fall. Therefore, a large cabinet full of fine wines was stored in Chen Fei''s small western-style house dormitory to drown sorrows and relieve pressure. Hanna Gagel did not possess the capabilities of Zhuge Liang, who could shoulder all tasks alone. In the absence of other options, she had to delegate tasks to her subordinates and empower them as much as possible. Such delegation led to uncontrollable accidents, and she had to toughen up and absorb the costs for her subordinates'' "tuition fees." Unless things became unmanageable, she still would not micromanage every single detail. Manager Mahnam, who was on duty that day, became the person responsible for mediation talks with Aircrew Base 909. As the involved parties, Squadron Leader Chekhov and Chen Fei inevitably had to show up for the interrogation and confrontation. Although the negotiation was scheduled for nine o''clock local time in the morning, it was still dark when Mahnam, dragging Chekhov and Chen Fei, boarded the base''s small transport plane, flying directly to the site of the talks. For the convenience of transportation, allowing aircraft from both air bases to arrive smoothly at the negotiation site, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee also specially arranged for an Earth Element User to activate their ability, flattening out a temporary runway nearly a kilometer long for the aircraft to land and take off. At just past eight o''clock in the morning, the small transport plane from Aircrew Base 911 arrived at the negotiation site. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee team, in charge of mediating the negotiations, began preparations a day earlier. They didn''t only repair the temporary runway but also erected several buildings, making the negotiation site quite ceremonial. This was treatment only those with aircrew bases would receive. For ordinary small military contractors, the Blue Star Global Defense Committee might not even glance at them, even if it beat their brains out, leading to the demise of their entire family. It''s better for those struggling for survival to die early, sparing the waste of limited resources. Without the support of an aircrew base, the military contractor industry is now also highly competitive and overstretched. "Stay calm later on and don''t start a fight on a whim. We are in the right with this issue. Once hands are raised, even a just cause may turn unjust," the on-duty manager Mahnam repeated to Chekhov and Chen Fei, worried about their impulsiveness. Chen Fei was not too bad, rarely causing trouble on his own, but Chekhov was not only foul-mouthed but also provocative, always involved in stirring up trouble. Fortunately, Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was in charge of him, or else Aircrew Base 911 would have been in constant turmoil long ago. "I got it, I got it. In just an hour, you''ve said it 80 times. Supreme Elder Lord, with your decree, chant it like a mantra! Broken record!!" Chekhov Big Bear, who had already heard the lecture countless times, rolled his eyes in annoyance. Had it not been because the speaker was one of the high-ranking officials of the aircrew base, his fists the size of a beggar''s bowl would have said hello on impulse. Chen Fei, however, listened with a sincere and earnest face, which soothed the worried and nervous manager Mahnam a bit. Despite having to deal with the troublesome Squadron Leader Chekhov, at least Aircrew Base 911 had a teachable young man who could take advice. "Comparing others can drive one to their grave; comparing goods can lead one to discard them." Comparing the two sides made Manager Mahnam forget that in this conflict, it appeared that the most restless Squadron Leader Chekhov hadn''t done anything at all. "Don''t think I''m nagging. Remember, we need to get through this first. Don''t make any more trouble for Boss Hana," Mahnam reiterated. Mahnam didn''t want to be annoyingly repetitive, but he had to live up to his generous salary and, more importantly, not let down Boss Hana''s expectations. If this negotiation failed again, he could only submit his resignation with a disgraced face and leave Aircrew Base 911, leaving a stain on his career. Chekhov Big Bear was desperate at this even more annoying than Tang Seng person. Little Shanzi, who had some doubts at first, finally recognized his own arrogance and prejudice after a "heartfelt" education. Mahnam took a deep breath to suppress the discontent in his heart and said, "Remember what I said before, the two of you must, must not make a scene!" In his heart, he silently prayed for time to speed up, for the negotiations to go smoothly, so that Aircrew Bases 909 and 911 could turn their swords into plowshares and live in peace and friendship, rather than continue to be at each other''s throats. The idea was beautiful, the reality was cruel. After landing, no one came to greet them, and the negotiation representatives from Aircrew Base 909, who got a cold welcome, made a lion''s demand as soon as they took their seats. "Our side hopes that Jiu Defense Company compensates us with 10 billion Star Yuan!" Mahnam, representing Aircrew Base 911, could no longer contain himself, and he jumped up, pointing at the other party and scolding furiously, "Why don''t you go rob someone!" "We are robbing!" The executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, Ximen Temple Kong, sneered defiantly, his voice filled with conviction, and a dark red scar on his chin added a bit more ferocity to his demeanor. Having just gone through Ghost Gate Pass narrowly escaping the great horror, his nature had undergone a tremendous change, making him even more reckless. "Hey, what''s going on here?" Chekhov Big Bear pointed to the tiger lying on the ground behind them, yawning out of boredom. This fierce beast had snuck into the negotiation venue unnoticed, and since there were no tigers in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, its calm and collected demeanor clearly showed that it was domesticated, not lost. As mediators, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee explicitly prohibited weapons, who would have thought that Aircrew Base 909 would have no scruples and directly brought in a fearsome "Big Cat." If they had known, Chen Fei would''ve also called over that "Big Cat" from Aircrew Base 911. Just a competition of who could stoop lower, "Big Cat" versus "Big Cat," to see who''s more LOW! "Hehe, but we haven''t brought weapons, have we?" Ximen Temple Kong, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, grinned and spread his hands as he shrugged, then pointing to another representative at his side, said, "This is Mr. Jacob Felix, a Psychic Series B-level supernatural power user, Beast Tamer, and his companion ''Queen Katie''." Hearing someone mention her name, the five-hundred-pound companion looked their way, then nonchalantly turned her head away, surveying the entire negotiation venue. Chekhov jumped to his feet, pointing at them and cursing in frustration, "Damn it! You''re being shameless!" He was Big Bear, with the heart of a bear and the courage of a panther, naturally unafraid of big tigers. Klaibel, the liaison director of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee overseeing the mediation, said with an ugly look on her face, "Isn''t this kind of behavior inappropriate?" She had given face to Hanna Gagar by personally inquiring into this mediation, but she did not expect someone to dismiss her authority. The two ability users from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were on guard in the dark. - Chapter 287 Section 286 - Whose Reason A mature Bengal tiger posed no threat to Ms. Klaibel, the liaison chief of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Aside from the two ability users at her side, the railgun weapons in the hands of the armed personnel were enough to shred the beast into pieces in an instant. "Our agreement didn''t include this item. If it wasn''t specified beforehand, it''s allowed. It''s completely reasonable. You can also find someone!" The executive manager of the Aircrew Base 909, Ximen Temple Kong, wore a face of ridicule, feeling an indescribable joy in his heart. Revenge for grievances, swift requital for enmity, the heavens have eyes. Chen Fei pressed down on Chekhov, sizing up the big cat with a teasing tone, "No worries, just a big cat, nothing remarkable. Come on, stand up straight, about-face, march!" Just playing with a cat for fun! The Bengal Tiger "Queen Katie" naturally ignored him and stared straight back as if ready to pounce and select a victim at any moment. The beast tamer, with a dark face, chuckled coldly, "Kid, don''t wet your pants later!" The duty manager of Aircrew Base 911, Mahnam, was sweating profusely. He lowered his voice and said softly, "Both of you, don''t talk nonsense!" His face was ashen, truly infuriated by the bold demands and vulgarity of Aircrew Base 909. But the other side had brought a B-level supernatural power user. Even if Boss Hana were here, she is just a C-level power user! Although Mahnam knew Chen Fei was also a power user, he had no idea about Chen''s superpower level, and neither did Boss Hana. Chen Fei''s registration as a supernatural power user was conducted locally. Due to certain reasons, some of his personal and family information had been blocked. Chen Fei and Chekhov looked at each other and rolled their eyes in unison. Manager Ma, please start your performance! "10 billion Star Yuan is something we cannot accept!" With someone from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee present, Manager Mahnam of Aircrew Base 911 immediately straightened his back. The opposing beast tamer''s bringing a big tiger to the venue was merely an intimidating bluff. Mahnam wasn''t going to fall for it, let alone be frightened. Manager Ma pounded the table, "You are entirely to blame for this conflict, not us. Why should we pay compensation? There''s simply no reason for it." From the beginning, Aircrew Base 909 had been the one to provoke. Aircrew Base 911 was merely responding defensively, so he argued with righteous indignation. The executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, Ximen Temple Kong, stood up grinding his teeth, pointing at the side from Aircrew Base 911, furiously saying, "We lost two pilots and over a dozen fighters. How could you possibly be faultless?" The loser has their logic, a messed-up, blame-shifting situation. "It serves you right for being weak and overconfident!" Chekhov Big Bear spoke a harsh truth bluntly. "Was it you? Was it you who killed our pilots and destroyed our fighters? I... I want you to pay with your life!" Ximen Temple Kong glared fiercely at Chekhov Big Bear, teeth bared in rage. "Come on! If you''re not convinced, come and hit me!" Chekhov was particularly good at inciting trouble, having long thrown Manager Ma''s warnings, advice, and earnest pleas to some Java Island nobody knew of, thumping his chest and making a challenging boxing pose. A vile mouth and talent for drawing hate, second to none. The intent of mediation and negotiation, but from the very start, the venue was already thick with the smell of gunpowder and tension as if an explosion might occur at any moment. "????" Chen Fei, quiet and low-key from the start, looked innocent. "What a bunch of assholes!" Ms. Klaibel of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the liaison chief of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, didn''t hide her exasperation as she sighed and made a gesture to the power users behind her. The obedient baby, Chen Fei, raised his right hand, just like a student asking to speak in class. "Everyone quiet down a bit and let this young man speak." Ms. Klaibel seemed rather fond of this quiet young man who still had a student vibe, unlike the others who were yelling and giving her a headache. Everyone looked over in unison, waiting for Chen Fei to continue. "I killed the man, I slashed the plane, that''s that. Chekhov is innocent!" A real cruel person isn''t big on words. Chekhov was just a big scapegoat. "You! It was you?" Ximen Temple Kong looked unbelievingly up and down at the seemingly harmless young man. "Ah! Yes, it was me!" Chen Fei pointed at himself with no guilt whatsoever. Taking out an entire MiG squadron and a dozen or so combat aircraft on the ground, he didn''t feel the slightest bit of psychological burden; on the contrary, he felt it was only natural. When you float in Jianghu, how can you not get knifed? Today I hack you, tomorrow I get hacked. If you mix in with military contractors, you''ve got to be prepared to have your head hung on your belt. Not everyone has the chance to start with the ultimate death play of an Evil Dragon. If not for the timely rescue, and a costly magic potion competing with Lord Yama for his life, Chen Fei would have truly died. They say there''s great terror between life and death, but once your eyes close, you''re gone, nothing else to it. Whether hero or scoundrel, both are insignificant in the face of death. Ximen Temple Kong''s reaction was strange. Instead, he exchanged a look with the Psychic Series B-level supernatural power user, Beast Tamer Jacob Felix, without saying anything more, and sat down quietly. System: Ding! For killing the Bengal Tiger "Queen Katie," you receive +100 Energy Points! Damn! Chen Fei happened to agree with the Dog System, this task really did come at the right time. 1 Energy Point represents 1 ton of metal; 100 Energy Points, whether exchanged for skills or used for anything else, are extremely useful. He smiled very amiably at the Beast Tamer sitting across the negotiation table from him. The latter''s mouth corner lifted slightly in a silent sneer. Although the mediation site fell quiet for the moment and everyone seemed ready to start the formal negotiations amicably, the atmosphere turned peculiar, as if there was a thorn on everyone''s back, making everyone uncomfortable. "The current situation is, Base 909 wants Base 911 to compensate 10 billion Star Yuans, and Base 911 disagrees, correct?" Ms. Klaibel of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area decided to intervene proactively. She couldn''t let the parties continue to act unrestrainedly any longer; otherwise, there would be no outcome to this negotiation, and it would only escalate the conflict further. Ms. Klaibel''s statement was based on facts, without taking any sides. Both base managers nodded in agreement. "So let''s get the full picture of how this conflict unfolded clear." It''s not easy to be completely fair and balanced. Ms. Klaibel wouldn''t speak for either side, she would only lay out the truth in front of everyone, leaving no room for any ulterior motives. To pull one billion out of thin air just by moving one''s lips¡ªwishful thinking! Ximen Temple Kong and Mahnam once again nodded together, not even being able to tolerate this remark, thinking it was useless to mediate, better to just start fighting! "What I want to ask is, where did this conflict take place, and who fired the first shot?" - Chapter 288 Section 287 - I Would Rather Disappoint Everyone in the World Who fired first? The on-duty manager at Aircrew Base 911, Mahnam, was delighted internally. This was not a complex issue, was it obvious? That was one of his biggest reassurances; Aircrew Base 911 was definitely in the right on this side. However, Ximen Temple Kong''s facial muscles twitched fiercely as he forced himself to say, "It was 911 that fired first!" He pointed at Chen Fei as he spoke. Although he didn''t elaborate, the severe accusation was unmistakable. Yet, he deliberately avoided mentioning which side''s operational area the crash site of the MiG Squadron belonged to, insisting only on what was beneficial to his side. Humans are creatures that gravitate towards benefits and shun harm, even to the extent of being shameless and distorting the truth. "Me?" Chen Fei pointed at himself, somewhat disbelieving. Lying blatantly, how could this person be so shameless. "Yes, you!" Ximen Temple Kong glared fiercely at Chen Fei, the same way he had just glared at Chekhov. He never expected that this normally quiet guy was actually the real troublemaker! "Pfft!" Unable to hold back, Chekhov Big Bear laughed out loud, banging the table repeatedly. If he hadn''t pounded the table, he might have rolled on the floor laughing. That guy finally caught on to the main point, feeling sorry for himself for having been wrongly blamed for so long. He could never have imagined that Chen Fei had just finished assembling the F-22 "Raptor" fighter and had taken off eagerly, nor could he have guessed that Aircrew Base 909''s MiG Squadron would stealthily cross the border. At that time, the weapon loadout of the F-22 "Raptor" didn''t even have a single missile, not even machine gun bullets. Chekhov wanted to ask that guy from 909 how exactly the first shot was fired without any ammunition, using their mouths to fire? Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, feeling very wronged by these groundless accusations. It was as ridiculous and laughable as a wicked wolf accusing a downstream lamb of dirtying the water upstream, utterly shameless and disgraceful. "This is slander!" The on-duty manager of Aircrew Base 911, Mahnam, immediately protested sternly. "Mr. Ximen, could you explain in detail how exactly the two MiG fighters from your side were shot down?" Ms. Klaibel continued to inquire impartially, without taking sides. The real mediation had just begun. Before the truth of this conflict was revealed, let the issues between the two sides soar a bit first. "I..." Ximen Temple Kong, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, opened his mouth dumbstruck and faltered. The wreckage of the two MiG fighters had just been retrieved and their black boxes had been urgently analyzed, but nothing was found. There wasn''t even a record of being locked on by fire control radar. How was he supposed to know how the MiG Squadron was actually shot down? There was only a nonsensical "Hurry, move away, it''s going to hit!" It was impossible to discern what actually happened, whether the MiG Squadron was hit by a missile or something else. If Ximen Temple Kong''s imagination had been richer, he might have guessed the truth, but common sense blinded his imagination. Anyway, it was clear that they were shot down by people from Aircrew Base 911, and since the other side had no losses, it was obviously a premeditated and shameless sneak attack on the MiG Squadron from Aircrew Base 909. "Each party thinks they are right. So if both of you believe you are correct, let us listen to the communication records from that time." Ms. Klaibel, responsible for this mediation, signaled to the technicians who were ready. Before coming here, she had done a lot of groundwork, not just waiting for the two sides to verbally attack each other and prove their innocence. Several beams of light converged, becoming more numerous, and a three-dimensional holographic projection appeared above the conference table. On two parallel interfaces, Aircrew Base 909 and Aircrew 911 were clearly marked. At the same timeline, the voices of both sides started to play, translated into text synchronously, followed by each side''s actions in text, scrolling together for prompts. "Fire!" The squad leader of the MiG Squadron from Aircrew Base 909, "Wufeng," his shout was immediately highlighted in red and brightened in the three-dimensional projection screen. Before this, neither the control tower at Aircrew Base 911 nor the two fighters that had taken off had issued any attack commands, let alone any related operations. Mrs. Klaibel of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee muttered to herself, audible only to her ears. Yet, she hadn''t expected that the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909 had absolutely no bottom line, boldly stating, "Ms. Klaibel, please, stand up for our Aircrew Base 909!" He spoke with an inexplicable sense of grievance in his voice, even choking up with a sob. Back when he put a gun to his own head, he didn''t even care about his life, so what face did he need? Whatever it took, he was determined to aggressively attack the cursed Aircrew Base 911; he would let no one live in peace. "Are you serious, Mr. Ximen Temple Kong?" Ms. Klaibel, pointing to her own head, looked at him incredulously. She had finally realized it. Preferring the world''s disfavor over owing the world, this was the reincarnation of Cao Cao, damn it! "Of course I''m serious, very serious, Ms. Klaibel!" Ximen Temple Kong''s face was earnest, as if victory was in his grasp. Klaibel sighed, folded her hands in front of her, and said, "Let''s take an example¡ªif someone suddenly provokes you wanting to beat you, but gets killed by you instead, whose fault is it, yours or theirs?" Ximen Temple Kong, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, replied without hesitation, "Of course it''s their fault!" "Your MiG Squadron from 909 provoked 911 and ended up being killed. By the same logic, whose fault is it?" Klaibel cornered him, employing a taste of his own medicine. "It''s not the same! It''s 911''s fault!" Ximen Temple Kong stubbornly defended his position despite being visibly out of arguments. "So, 911 deserves to be attacked by you, and fighting back is a mistake?" Klaibel was gradually losing patience, finding it exhausting to converse further with this unreasonable fool. How did such a moron even become an executive manager? "Exactly, that''s right!" Ximen Temple Kong stood firm, head held high. "There''s no resolving this, you might as well fight it out!" Klaibel shook her head and waved her hands off, no longer wanting to deal with this mess. If you want to reason, then negotiate reasonably; if not, then do whatever, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee isn''t these military contractors'' loving parents. If they choose self-destruction, why should it be stopped? Go ahead, go die! Klaibel wasn''t a judge; she could only be effective when both parties showed some respect. But now, suit yourselves! "That suits me perfectly!" Ximen Temple Kong looked towards the three representatives from Aircrew Base 911 with a menacing laugh. They had come prepared, obviously expecting the hired Beast Tamer to make his move. "What are you trying to do?" Mahnam, the duty manager of Aircrew Base 911, turned pale, once again overestimating the opponent''s scruples. With personnel from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee present, people from 909 were still blatantly trying to commit violence. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Chekhov nudged Chen Fei and said casually, "Hey, ''Rookie'', got any handy weapons? I need something automatic!" If they were going to fight and he was unarmed, he''d clearly be at a disadvantage. However, "Rookie" Chen Fei, being a Metal Ability User, could form an AK gun, but not bullets; a firearm without bullets was no better than a fire stick. He immediately handed over a two-meter-long hollow steel rod, casually sharpening one end into a bevel, turning it into a bleeding weapon. If it hit the Big Cat, it would likely be fatal. - Chapter 289 Section 288 - I urge you to be kind ``` "Gentlemen seek revenge; ten years is not too late." "Villains seek revenge from dawn till dusk." In fact... this is quite good. "You..." Chen Fei first took out a pointed hollow steel tube, then produced a big dog''s leg more than two feet long. Ximen Temple Kong''s eyes widened into perfect circles as he pointed at the three of them and said, "You are hiding weapons." Chen Fei, who displayed his cold weapon openly and rightfully said, "I am the weapon, there''s no need to hide." For a metal elemental psychic power user to say such words was completely justifiable. To attempt to use the prohibition of weapons as an excuse to exclude him, the primary party involved, from the mediation negotiations, was indeed unfair. "Despicable!" Deviousness is the passport of the despicable, and the executive manager of the Aircrew Base truly believed this. He roared with a twisted face, "You think we only have ''Queen Katie''?" He turned his head and said respectfully, "Mr. Jacob Felix, I''ll have to rely on you next!" "Hmm, leave it to me!" Jacob Felix, a psychic series beast tamer whom the Aircrew Base had hired at great expense, nodded seriously. He took the money to eliminate disasters for others. It was his turn to act! "Let''s go; you guys figure it out yourselves!" Seeing both sides drawing their swords once more, Klaibel, the liaison director of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, stood up and walked outside the negotiation hall. She couldn''t be bothered to intervene anymore. With one ability user on each side, there was no question of fairness; let them die, and there would be peace once they were all dead. Klaibel''s stance had always been neutral, Not swaying in favor of one side just because they said a few nice words. The two ability users accompanying her closely guarded her, while armed guards surrounded them. Collectively, they filed out and evacuated the scene. "I''m a beast tamer, and I''ve heard there''s an abundance of a certain wild beast in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. I hope you won''t be too surprised later." Jacob Felix, the psychic series beast tamer, took out an exquisite beast horn from his bosom, took a deep breath, and blew forcefully. "Whoosh!" The Bengal tiger "Queen Katie" stood behind him, glaring menacingly at the three from the Aircrew Base. One minute later... "Pfft! Are you joking? That thing didn''t make a sound!" Chekhov Big Bear laughed so hard he almost fell over. The other party blew the horn as if it were a serious matter, but not even a muffled sound came out. "Don''t let your guard down!" Holding the big dog''s leg passed to him by Chen Fei, the on-duty manager of the Aircrew Base watched the Bengal tiger, the most threatening to the group, with vigilant eyes. "Heh heh, you''ll know in a moment!" Jacob Felix blew a few more times, still without producing any sound. "This guy is tricky!" Chen Fei didn''t think the Aircrew Base had been tricked into hiring a charlatan who only pretends to know magic. "Awooo..." A barely perceptible long howl drifted on the wind into everyone''s ears. Then came another, becoming clearer and more audible. Chekhov Big Bear waved his Hollow Steel Spear, whose sharp point would be the end of anyone, human or beast, if it pierced them. "I can give you a chance. If you want to live, kneel before me and beg for mercy, hahahaha!" The executive manager of Aircrew Base 909 stood with his hands on his hips, puffing himself up for a moment. "Kneel for your benefactor, serve your lord; to not let the patron''s reward be wasted in vain," Jacob Felix shouted, "Kneel, or else, die!" "Awoo!" The Bengal Tiger known as "Queen Katie" swaggered up to Felix and Ximen Temple Kong, coldly eyeing Mahnam, Chen Fei, and Chekhov, as if ready to pounce at any moment. Kneel? Kneel my ass! Even in death, they would not kneel to such a vile and shameless person. Mahnam whispered to the two beside him: "''Rookie,'' you cover me and Chekhov as we make a dash for the transport plane." It was not out of selfishness; Chen Fei was a Metal Ability User immune to light weapons, impervious to bullets, let alone the claws and teeth of wolves and tigers. Among the three, Chen Fei had the greatest chance of survival, so covering the other two in a breakout was the most suitable choice. Chekhov gripped his Hollow Steel Spear tightly and said in a deep voice, "''Rookie,'' I''ll cover Manager Ma with you!" Despite his usually unreliable demeanor, he would not fail at the crucial moment; as the leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, he fully assumed his responsibilities. "No need. We''ll stay right here!" Chen Fei paused, then continued, "Watch the show!" "Watch the show? What show?" Manager Mahnam couldn''t guess what trick this kid was hiding. "Do you have a backup plan?" Chekhov looked half doubtful, half believing. Surrounded by wolves and tigers, what kind of trump card could Chen Fei still hold? "Just watch, it''s about to start!" Chen Fei immediately raised his voice, loudly proclaiming, "Manager Ximen, do you think, with these, you can threaten us?" Ximen Temple Kong arrogantly replied, "Still playing tough at death''s door? I''d like to see what tricks you''ve got!" Even at this critical juncture, their stubbornness prevailed; he had to admire the tenacity of these three from Aircrew Base 911. "Hey, whatever your name is, Mr. Beast Tamer, I advise you to be kind!" Instead of bickering with Ximen Temple Kong, Chen Fei turned to the silent Psychic Series Beast Tamer. As for the man''s name, he had never bothered to remember. Just some nobody from who-knows-where, to remember or not didn''t make much of a difference. Jacob Felix let out a cold laugh and declared solemnly, "Heh, you''d best kneel and beg for mercy; I might spare your lives." He had earlier attracted the nearby wolf pack, which had heeded the call of the horn and gathered in full force. The adversaries were like ducks in a pot, not only unable to fly but left with nothing but empty bravado. "Fine! You''ve brought this on yourselves!" Chen Fei pointed at the big cat and sighed. "Beat it!" "Wu!"¡Á78! The sudden chorus of growls from the wolf pack shocked everyone, including the Beast Tamer Jacob Felix, whose expression changed as the wolves'' behavior was not in his control. The vicious wolves lunged at the Bengal Tiger... - Chapter 290 Section 289 - Suspension ``` The vicious wolves that loitered in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area were not at all afraid of the adult Bengal Tiger, whose weight far surpassed that of any individual wolf. They attacked from both sides, blurred the tiger''s vision, drew its attention, aimed for its rear, leaped eagerly, and buffed their pack mates. The wolf pack was like a well-trained army, executing a smooth and flowing assault on the isolated and unsupported Bengal Tiger. The adult Bengal Tiger, caught in the encirclement, managed only a few defenses before being overwhelmed by the swarm of Asian Gray Wolves, perfectly illustrating that even a brave warrior can be overcome by numbers, and a fierce tiger can be outnumbered by a pack of wolves. The brief and bloody battle lasted less than five minutes. The wolves paid a price of eleven dead and seven seriously injured, but they managed to brutally kill an adult Bengal Tiger weighing over 500 pounds. Unfortunately, a splendid tiger skin was ruined in the process. The severely injured wolves did not suffer for long; as soon as the fight ended, their pack mates quickly put them out of their misery. After a series of mournful wolf howls, the air was filled with the frenzied growling and tearing sounds as the eighteen wolves and a Bengal Tiger corpse filled the hungry bellies of the pack. Even the starving wolf cubs bravely dove in to take a few bites. Whether tiger or kin, anything that entered their mouths was meat! "Have these wolves gone mad?" Witnessing the wolf pack''s frenzied attack on the "Queen Katie" Bengal Tiger, Mahnam, the duty manager of Aircrew Base 911, felt the hair on his back stand on end. Did they get the wrong script? Why did they suddenly put on this show? One adult Bengal Tiger against one Asian Gray Wolf would surely result in an unquestionable victory. But in a PK against 78 Asian Gray Wolves, the tables were likely to turn. By weight alone, twelve wolves could overpower a tiger, not to mention at least six times that number. "Ha! Beast Tamer, which side are you helping?" Chekhov''s eyes widened in disbelief, but he couldn''t help secretly trying to contain his laughter, which was on the verge of bursting out. Life''s tough when you get played. Summoning a wolf pack to tear your own beloved tiger to shreds is one clever trick. What sort of mysterious maneuver is this? "Ah! It''s urgent to get started with raising rabbits now." Seeing the wolves eat even their own kind when starved, Chen Fei touched his chin, pondering about quickly enclosing the valley meant for rabbit breeding, then throwing in rabbits to feed, breed and proliferate rapidly. Otherwise, forget about getting these vicious wolves to obey; one might as well wait for them to plot a coup and incite rebellion! "What''s going on, what happened!" The pungent smell of blood jolted Ximen Temple Kong, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, into a start. He turned his head with a pale face and asked, "Felix, what exactly happened?" "Katie, Katie, my queen... Ah! I, I don''t know either!" Watching his Bengal Tiger being torn apart and devoured by the wolf pack, Jacob Felix, a B-Level Psychic Ability Series Beast Tamer, seemed to finally snap back to reality, staring intently at Chen Fei and shakingly lifting his hand, "You, you''re also a Beast Tamer, you''ve kept it well hidden!" When he said this, he felt a chill run down his spine. It was like being unexpectedly and viciously stabbed in the back. "Ah?" Ximen Temple Kong was shocked, his eyes widening. This guy from Aircrew Base 911 was actually a colleague of Mr. Jacob Felix, deceivingly low. The pilot from before must have been switched, right? It had to be so! Only a Beast Tamer could command wild animals to act at their beck and call. Otherwise, lifting a casual hand, did one really think that the vicious wolves naturally raised in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area for thousands of years were as tame as domestic dogs? The executives'' subordinates behind them were pale and couldn''t even make a sound. "Incorrect!" Chen Fei crossed his arms in front of his chest, then shook his index finger and said, "I''m a Metal Ability User, not a Psychic Series Beast Tamer." He hadn''t even put in much effort! The other party was already out of trump cards. "I can give you a chance. If you want to live, then kneel down and beg loudly for mercy, hahahaha!" The Chen Family''s "Second Master Brand" parrot machine started broadcasting! This speech sounded eerily familiar. On reflection, wasn''t it the very same bravado the executive manager of the Aircrew Base had spouted earlier? Now, it had been delivered back to them exactly as it was. "Don''t get too arrogant. If you have the guts, just kill me!" Ximen Temple Kong, fuming mad, couldn''t fathom why a perfectly advantageous situation had suddenly turned around completely without reason. "Whimper..." More than a dozen wolves closed in fiercely, having not fully satisfied their hunger earlier, they were likely looking to have an additional meal now. "Go, get away!" The beast tamer Jacob Felix pulled out tightly sealed beast repellent medicine, and immediately a strange pungent smell diffused into the air. To animals with keen senses of smell, their noses were truly suffering. The vicious wolves nearing them shook their heads, scratched their noses with their paws, and let out mournful cries. "Chekhov, smack him!" Chen Fei stepped back and grabbed Chekhov Big Bear''s shoulder, pushing him forward. First move was ''Invite the Wolf through the Open Door'', and now it''s the ''Close the Door to Let the Bear Out''. "Finally, it''s my turn, hahaha, KUMA!!" Chekhov put all his strength into swinging the hollow steel pipe with vicious intent. He hated such pretentious people to the core and wished he could kill him on the spot¡ªno, if there was a chance, he definitely wouldn''t let it slip. "Be careful!" The subordinates who were carrying bags for the two big shots, Ximen Temple Kong and Jacob Felix, were terrified. The spinning pipe with the pointed end was headed straight for the beast tamer''s head; a direct hit would undoubtedly be fatal. Jacob Felix quickly leaned back as far as he could, and the sharp point barely grazed the tip of his nose, the whooshing wind tightening his skin. The opponent was truly out to take his life, showing no mercy. "There''s another one!" Without waiting for a reminder from Chen Fei, Mahnam, wielding Big Dog''s Leg, charged at the executive manager of the Aircrew Base from all directions, determined to strike. He found this guy the most annoying and took the opportunity to chop his head off. "Wait a second!" A loud shout came from mid-air. Countless small stones and grains of sand from the ground converged to form a barrier¡ªthud, thump! There were two heavy blows in succession. The pointed end of the hollow pipe collided with a wall of sandstone a foot thick, behind which was the blood-drained face of the beast tamer Jacob Felix, who was also gasping for breath. On the other side, Mahnam''s Big Dog''s Leg chopped into a sandstone pillar, sending sparks flying. Ximen Temple Kong, who narrowly avoided a slash, looked pale and trembled uncontrollably, having barely survived the ordeal. The tough sandstone pillar, if it had risen a second slower, would have let the blade directly chop onto his neck. "Hey, lady, aren''t you going a bit too far?" Chen Fei pointed at the small Sky Patrol Ship beginning to descend slowly from the sky. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had been enjoying the show the entire time, and to interrupt the advantage of the Aircrew Base at such a crucial moment was really hard to swallow. Klaibel was not offended and announced loudly: "Your boss and the boss of the Aircrew Base have reached an agreement, everything is over now!" - Chapter 291 Section 290 - Ceasefire and Negotiations The executive manager of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee responsible for the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, Ms. Klaibel, instructed one of the two ability users by her side to act timely and intercept a fatal strike from the representative of the 911 Aircrew Base. Whether it was the executive manager of the 909 Aircrew Base or the beast tamer they had invited, neither had a chance in a one-on-one close combat against the armed Mahnam and Chekhov. Even if both sides were unarmed, the outcome would still not have been much different. Moreover, the great Demon King, "Rookie" Chen Fei had not yet made a move! Metal Ability Users possess a unique advantage in close combat. "Eh? How could this happen!" Unwilling to accept defeat, Mahnam fiercely hacked another blow, with sparks still flying upon impact with Sharp Edge. He was so close to chopping off the opponent''s head, damn it! Magically created sandstone pillars, with surfaces as hard as high-strength concrete, could only bear a shallow mark from the sharp Big Dog''s Leg, which was filled in instantly without leaving any trace. He was just an ordinary man, and attempting to counter the spells of a Seventh Rank Earth Mage, was nearly an impossible task. The ground trembled violently, scattering the frightened wolf pack to even further distances. To some extent, it solved the encirclement issue for the trio from the 909 Aircrew Base. Following Ximen Temple Kong and the beast tamer Jacob Felix, the innocent subordinate secretly wiped off a cold sweat; they were so close to dying alongside the two bosses. For that meagre salary, was this easy for him? "Official notification, the dispute between 909 and 911 has ended, and your bosses have settled the matter privately." Ms. Klaibel, with a smile that virtually reveled in the disaster, looked at both sides who were still grinding their teeth in unwillingness to cease. She was still above them and said, "I''m really sorry, there seems to have been some misunderstanding!" On one side were the subordinates negotiating, and on the other, a dialogue between the two bosses; while the subordinates were ready to engage in a fierce battle, the bosses had already reached an agreement. The final outcome inside the negotiating environment is often dictated by the struggles outside it; peace is never truly negotiated at the table, an eternal truth throughout the ages. Ximen Temple Kong, staking his professional reputation as the executive manager of 909 Aircrew Base, was prepared to give a severe lesson to the 911 Aircrew Base, but unexpectedly, the opponent was no pushover, having dangerously hidden a supernatural power user among its negotiating representatives. When both sides revealed their cards, he was incredibly vexed! Ximen Temple Kong glared fiercely at the three men from the 911 Aircrew Base, suppressed his anger, turned his gaze to the calmly approaching members of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, barely squeezed a smile, and said, "What exactly is happening? Ms. Klaibel, could you explain in detail, please?" The small Sky Patrol Ship that was previously hovering in midair easily dispersed the wolf pack during its landing process. For these Asian Gray Wolves, the small Sky Patrol Ship was essentially a flying mountain, and just its cast shadow was enough to instill fear, sending them fleeing in all directions. Even the Bengal Tiger they had not finished devouring was left behind. "The representatives from Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, Mr. Xia Ji, and Jiu Defense Company, Ms. Hanna Gagel, had a telephonic discussion, both sides conceding a bit. The 911 side will not pursue the 909''s trespassing and initiating attack, while the 909 side will no longer seek compensation from 911. All relations between the two sides are restored to the state before this conflict occurred." Ms. Klaibel, standing between the two groups, succinctly introduced the agreement reached by the bosses of both sides. "This isn''t your fault!" Chen Fei patted Manager Ma''s shoulder. "Exactly! It''s the people at 909 who are shameless." Chekhov followed, his palm large as a fan, landing on the other shoulder of Mahnam. Ms. Klaibel approached the three men, her tone unfriendly, "You three, listen well!" "Please speak!" Mahnam shrank his neck, the other''s aggressive demeanor clearly indicated that nothing good would follow. Chen Fei and Chekhov exchanged glances, simultaneously crossing their arms, uncaring. As technical staff, as long as they were competent, they could find a job anywhere, unlike in management roles where a change in environment often required starting from scratch and always facing the boss''s mood swings. "Especially you two!" Klaibel was fuming. As the liaison chief for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, she had enough authority to thoroughly investigate the cause and effect of the conflict between the two aircrew bases; it wasn''t easy to fool her. The 909 Aircrew Base instigated the trouble, but the 911 Aircrew Base was no better. One walked into a trap, and the other invited trouble. Neither was a good egg. Chekhov focused on the key points, breaking into an idiotic giggle, "Oh boy, how heavy!" "Oh!" Known for courting disaster, Chen Fei had long stopped caring about life or death, much less the so-called Global United Defense Committee. The so-called committee''s liaison chief might trouble Boss Hana, but could do nothing against him, the perk of being a small fish. The irate Klaibel shouted, "You at 911, especially you two, better keep yourselves in line and stop causing trouble all the time, do you understand?" If these two jokers at the 911 Aircrew Base could keep their act together, most of their troubles would probably diminish by ninety percent. "Understood, understood!" Chekhov gasped for air, his vision blurring, and he began to feel dizzy. He needed artificial respiration. Chen Fei spoke with righteous indignation, "I am a law-abiding citizen and never cause trouble!" It was always trouble finding him, not the other way around; he wouldn''t take the blame for this. - Chapter 292 Section 291 - Honest Kids Dont Lie "''Rookie''! You follow the rules? You don''t cause trouble?" Ms. Klaibel just laughed out of annoyance. She had thoroughly investigated the little troubles caused by the other party. Sneaking into aircrew bases to pick up what others had dropped and starting a bad precedent, oh, and even executing such sly operations; it''s just about scouring resources to subsidize household expenses, and now a bunch of honest kids have learned to do it as well. She hated those who take initiatives on their own and break the rules. And then there were the drunk night raids on competitors during corporate wars, attacks that even their own people wouldn''t expect, let alone the enemy¡ªa sudden assault that reaped greater rewards than several combined previous battles, which in some sense was like slaughtering like a maniac. Many old hands who had spent years in military service hadn''t killed as many as this kid, a recent college graduate whose murderous instincts and viciousness were unprecedented. Moreover, what was the deal with that F-22? Where did that "Flying Dragon" tactical armor, produced by the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, come from? Since when did military contractors allow possession of such non-standard weapon systems? "You need evidence to talk, Ms. Klaibel!" Chen Fei was utterly indifferent like a pig not afraid of boiling water. "Evidence? Where are your F-22 and ''Flying Dragon'' tactical armor?" Ms. Klaibel was not about to let this youngster off easy. Those two items were brazenly displayed inside the aircrew base, where they could be caught red-handed at any time. Voices within the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had already proposed investigating, aiming to deal with Aircrew Base 911 and Jiu Defense, especially since such equipment suddenly appearing in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was totally against the rules. Chen Fei confidently retorted, "If others give it, why shouldn''t I accept it?" "Given? How come I never run into such good luck?" Ms. Klaibel smirked coldly. A still-operational F-22 and tactical armor worth over 200 million Star Yuan¡ªare these even items that can casually be exchanged? "Ha!" Chen Fei also sneered coldly, ignoring the unfavorable expression about to erupt from the other side, and stubbornly countered. "If I put out ''half a big kid,'' I admit I''ve lost!" Blue Star Global United Defense Committee Liaison Manager, Ms. Klaibel: "..." She had never seen anyone more shameless, even more so than that bastard executive manager from Aircrew Base 909, such absurdity coming from his lips effortlessly. The F-22 was Old David''s lifeline; offending this seemingly powerless old man meant no longer playing around in the pilot circles. Even the top-tier military contractors wouldn''t dare to easily offend Henghai Tactical Weapons, that supplied sovereignty arms. Yet, to not give even ''half a big kid''¡ªIf they really dare to give, do you really dare to take? Clearly, Ms. Klaibel had underestimated how bold the pilot known as "Rookie" could be! "''Rookie,'' let me handle this!" Chekhov Big Bear, affably patted Chen Fei''s shoulder, pulled him aside, then spoke uprightly, "I''m his squadron leader; if there''s any issue, come at me. Beautiful lady, I''d like to have a good talk with you about the ''Rookie''; there must be some misunderstanding in this..." The duty manager at Aircrew Base 911, Mahnam, quickly pulled Chen Fei further away, lowered his voice and said, "Let Chekhov deal with that woman!" Chekhov was cunning, and Chen Fei was rash; the latter was more likely to offend people, so it was the lesser of two evils. But it was hardly a few minutes before Ms. Klaibel''s face changed, raising her hand. Slap! The Big Bear''s left cheek bore a red palm print, returning disheveled but triumphantly fingering his cellphone. "Got the contact number, this spill is worth it!" "Is--it--true--?---Comrade ''Peanut Butter''!" "No! Nothing of the sort! Don''t listen to the ''Rookie'', he''s no good!" Chekhov struggled to squeeze out a smile. Hisss! The gauze covering his left face was abruptly yanked off by the short-haired girl, who then smacked him. Slap! Big Bear now had a palm print on each cheek, one on either side, finally symmetrical in reality. Chen Fei immediately felt relieved; the deputy squadron leader did a splendid job! Whether Squadron Leader Chekhov was wronged, he didn''t care at all. "Hmph!" Little Chili stomped her foot on Big Dog''s Leg''s shoe and stormed off indignantly. "Hey hey, Little Chili, pretty lady, sweetheart, good girl, baby, listen to me, this slap was given by ''Rookie'', there was no tough woman, really not!" The infuriated Big Bear, clutching his foot, hopped on the spot behind the short-haired girl, bellowing so loud that probably half the aircrew base could hear him clearly. This scene made Chen Fei and the on-duty manager Mahnam exchange glances, seeing the same disbelief on each other''s faces. With a full-blown survival instinct, this humanoid Big Bear incredibly cooked up such a story, really shameless. Nevertheless, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios kept walking further away without turning back. "''Rookie'', you set me up!" Big Bear turned around, glaring at Chen Fei, this kid really had the guts, daring to set him up so blatantly. Chen Fei innocently said, "I didn''t lie." This outrageous truth really set Big Bear up, which was immensely pleasurable. "I think you''re asking for it!" Maybe because he felt deeply tricked, Chekhov lunged at Chen Fei with his fist as big as a mortar bowl. "Big Brother Xiao is behind you!" Chen Fei pointed at Big Bear''s back. "Don''t try to trick me!" Before Chekhov could finish his sentence, a large hand pressed on his shoulder. "Chekhov, you''re asking for it!" Master Mechanic Big Brother Xiao''s voice reached Big Bear''s ears. The later jolted, hurriedly smiling submissively, "Master Mechanic, heh, my skin isn''t itchy, you must be mistaken." "No, you''re itchy!" Xiao Ming expressionlessly tucked Big Bear under his arm and strong-armed him away. The following scene was somewhat not suitable for children. "Hey, squadron leader, I didn''t lie!" Chen Fei still used a maddeningly nonchalant tone, shouting distantly in the background. - Chapter 293 Section 292 - Logistics Supplier "Squadron Leader Chekhov is going to be pissed to death by you," Manager Ma wanted to persuade Chen Fei to stop, but then he thought of the other party''s habit of using brutal honesty to trap people, which was truly speechless. But then again, it was also Chekhov''s fault for poking his nose into the business of the communication chief, not afraid of getting on the bad side of personnel at the 911 Aircrew Base. "Just kidding!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders. Big Bear''s nature wasn''t bad; he was just a bit frivolous and shameless. Beep beep beep! Manager Ma''s electronic device beeped abruptly, and he pulled out his cellphone, glanced over the screen, and said, "The boss is coming back at dawn tomorrow!" The small transport aircraft pilots had a heavy workload, and soon they would take off once more to the nearest public airport to await Boss Hana''s arrival. "So soon?" Chen Fei had thought Boss Hana would need more time searching for suitable logistics suppliers, at least not with immediate results. No sooner had he spoken, his own phone also chimed with a message alert. He took it out and saw it was also from Boss Hana, but the content was somewhat different. "Four in the morning, drinks!"No?v(el)B\\jnn Such a heartless capitalist! Forget it, with good liquor, it''s worth having a drink. Slurp! "From the boss?" Being a duty manager took some smarts, and without surprise, Manager Ma probed cautiously. "Yeah! The boss arrives at four in the morning." Chen Fei nodded and then asked, "Drink together?" "Me?" Manager Ma pointed at himself, "Can I?" He had long heard that the boss and this young man were drinking buddies, always seen drinking together. In a certain sense, such a relationship was also called "intimate favor," even though he was just a low-level employee without a managerial position, in the boss''s eyes, the degree of importance might not be less than that of a high-ranking executive. "Of course you can, savor some good wine while reporting on work," Chen Fei guessed Boss Hana would definitely mention what happened at the negotiation scene, so having Manager Ma report would be most appropriate. "Good, at four in the morning, I''ll definitely be there." Manager Ma smiled. Having drinks with the boss wasn''t something that happened often, and he was very grateful to Chen Fei for giving him this opportunity. A series of muffled thuds echoed from afar, and before long, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming came over, rubbing his fists. "''Rookie,'' we''ve finished reviewing the technical manual for the F-22 and have compiled a list of consumable parts for you to check out." Chen Fei expressed his surprise, "That was fast?" "They''re all jet engines, following the same technical standard. Aside from the engine, it''s pretty much the same old same old," In the past few days, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming had not spared any effort, along with his mechanics, in poring over the technical data, to the point of developing dark circles under his eyes. If possible, he would personally go door-to-door to collect items, and chances were that the other party might even pay him to take them off their hands; it was probably a case of mutual need, leading to mutual satisfaction. Hearing Chen Fei''s muttering, Big Brother Xiao directly said, "I''ll report to the boss for you!" "No, I''ll have Squadron Leader Chekhov help. He has the contact information for the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area liaison director of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee." Chen Fei took an unconventional approach; considering Boss Hana''s predicament in the industry, attempting to contact various air bases would most likely lead to rejection. If the liaison director of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee stepped in, it would be more acceptable. Out of respect for the position if not the person, they would likely be given some face. "Is he willing to help?" Xiao Ming had just given Big Bear a good thrashing, and it was doubtful he''d be easy to speak to. "I''ll have the deputy squadron leader relay the message." Chen Fei chuckled mischievously. This laughter was incredibly troublesome. Big Bear would likely be infuriated to death but would still have to pinch his nose in agreement, then timidly contact the director of the Global Defense Committee. Ha ha ha, it was definitely a major accident waiting to happen. - At a little past three in the morning, the small transport plane that had picked up Boss Hana from the public airport finally returned to 911 Aircrew Base. At four in the morning, the entry door to Chen Fei''s cottage was punctually knocked on. "The boss is here!" Manager Mahnam, the duty manager, immediately sprang up to open the door. "Here she is, have another drink!" Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, who had heard there was good liquor and had also come to join the fun, was not greeted with good wine but had been so inebriated by cider that he slumped over, dazedly looking up before his large cat head heavily knocked against the sofa, turning his entire body into a drunken mush. Even though the cider was low in alcohol content and was short in taste, similar to champagne, it could still hit hard if drunk in excess. "Good morning, Manager Ma. Are you here too?" Hanna Gagar, dressed in fresh, clean clothes and with her hair slightly damp, entered, greeting Chen Fei and Manager Mahnam. But fatigue that could not be easily shaken appeared to linger on her face. Even with some rest on the way back to 911 Aircrew Base, it wasn''t enough to completely dispel the deficit in her vitality and spirit. Manager Mahnam cautiously asked, "Boss, how did the negotiations with the logistic supplier go?" He was a smart man, knowing that Chen Fei had invited him to join such a gathering because it mattered. "Have a drink first to relieve the fatigue; don''t blame me for taking the liberty." Chen Fei opened a bottle of fine wine, poured a small half glass, and handed it over. "It''s just what I needed!" Hanna Gagar smiled, took the glass, and drained it in one gulp. Then she exhaled a long breath and said, "This trip was not in vain. Thanks to the contractors from 909 Aircrew Base and Mr. Xia Ji, the CEO of Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, who helped me get in touch with a logistic supplier, we finally nailed it down!" The efforts of nearly half a month were not wasted and ultimately bore good results. "What?" The movement of Chen Fei pouring the wine froze. What was going on? After suffering such a huge loss, the boss of 909 Aircrew Base was actually willing to help find a logistic supplier. Could it be fate from a previous life? Manager Mahnam, after being stunned, swiftly came back to reality and asked, "Boss, what''s the situation here?" - ``` Chapter 294 Section 293 - Rabbit Valley "Mr. Xia Ji is actually a very enthusiastic gentleman; the conflict was initiated by his executive manager who probably acted too eagerly to showcase his capabilities, compounded by poor character, leading to a significant mistake." Having resolved a major concern and incidentally making peace with the "neighbors" of the Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagar had been running around tirelessly but could now finally breathe a sigh of relief. "That executive manager is a menace!" Duty manager Mahnam continued through gritted teeth, "Boss, you didn''t see it, but that guy was not only arrogant but also incredibly despicable. Even the supervisor Klaibel couldn''t stand it. If you and Mr. Xia Ji hadn''t reached an agreement, I''d have definitely chopped off that bastard''s head." This left him with a great regret, as he was one step away from completing his task. "Don''t worry, Mr. Xia Ji agreed to dismiss the executive manager of Ximen Temple Kong. This time, Aircrew Base 909 suffered a lot, and someone has to take responsibility." Hanna Gagar''s words were also a subtle warning to this duty manager not to act on his own like Ximen Temple Kong and thus bring unnecessary trouble to the company and the base. As a duty manager, once one makes a misstep, the damage caused far exceeds the errors made by ordinary employees. After reminding Mahnam with her words, Boss Hanna then turned towards Chen Fei, who was also a troublemaker¡ªthough not making serious errors, his minor continuous mistakes could catch anyone off guard. Understanding her instantly, he patted his chest and said, "I''ll take responsibility for my own mistakes, I won''t drag down the company." True to his word, so far, the blunders made by Chen Fei had mostly been resolved by himself without dragging the entire enterprise into the mess like the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909 did. "I''m glad you''re aware of that," said Hanna Gagar, raising her glass. Her position nurtured an increasingly oppressive aura that involuntarily drove people to carefully ponder and understand things on their own. "Jiu!" The little bird brought back, tucked in its nest, was soundly asleep. Unlike people who could stay up late and drink, the bird adhered to its routine of eating, playing, and sleeping when it was time, never waking up even if called. - Three days later, the logistics supplier contracted by Jiu Defense, Tao''s Security Service Company, sent the first batch of supplies via a Sky Patrol Ship. The approximately forty-meter-long wide-body Sky Patrol Ship landed directly on the tarmac, bringing a load of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with various types of cement and other materials. Due to the inevitable attacks during the previous corporate wars, Aircrew Base 911 had many buildings and facilities damaged. Although repairs were promptly made, the reserve of construction materials had been largely depleted. During the recent projects, which involved assembling forty plantation greenhouses and a single-line steel rail with all the manpower of the base, the remaining stock of building materials was almost exhausted. The first batch of supplies from Tao''s Security Service Company came just in time to replenish the reserve for Aircrew Base 911. Chen Fei also received the seed grass and over two hundred pairs of breeding rabbits he wanted. First, they plowed the whole valley with farming machinery, simultaneously adjusting the water veins to retain the water sources within the valley. Then, they scattered a mixture of ryegrass, corn grass, and purple alfalfa seeds, coupled with fertilizer pellets, throughout the valley. A few days later, the stimulated seeds started to sprout, at which point the rabbits from afar were released into the steel-mesh enclosed valley. Before the artificially sown grass grew, the existing vegetation in the valley was ample for the rabbits to feed and multiply. Given the rapid growth rate of professional pasture grass, food was soon abundant. Fortunately for Little Bird, its tiny size ensured it wouldn''t eat the wolf, sparing its life. Chen Fei, firmly pulling on the leash, dragged the stubborn, unyielding Shadow Wolf from the tensed group of gray wolves, marking deep scratches on the ground, and threw it onto the large tricycle before flying back home. As the tricycle ascended, Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao" gradually relaxed, throwing his head back and letting out a mournful howl. That was probably all that remained of the former Wolf King''s pride. On the ground, responded echoes of howling wolves resounded, inciting an even more vigorous howl from the Shadow Wolves. Translated into human terms, the exchanges would be: "F*ck you!" "Why the howl?" "Howling at you, what about it!" "Try howling again?" "Let''s just try it!" "Come down here if you dare!" "I won''t come down, come up if you dare!" "Coward, don''t you run away!" ... Wolves are basically straightforward boys or girls, direct and to the point with only a few phrases, no fancy tricks. Returning, when passing by Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain school, Chen Fei''s large tricycle did not plan to land, but without courtesy, directly dropped the troublesome Shadow Wolf down. A piercing scream fell from the sky! Luckily, there was a shadow on the ground, and the Shadow Wolf timely activated its Dark Element Innate Magic. Like a drop of water blending into a pond, it silently merged into the shadow and disappeared, then leaped out again neatly resolving the impact of the landing, sparing itself from getting smashed. As soon as he returned to the Aircrew Base, Chen Fei received a text message from Boss Hana, instructing him to prepare a formal suit¡ªa suit, Sun Yat-sen suit or Hanfu were all acceptable. It was not until they drank together at night that Chen Fei complained in person. "In this godforsaken place, where am I supposed to find formal attire? There''s simply no use for it here!" The key issue was his poverty; he couldn''t afford fancy formal wear. Hanna Gagel, however, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, fetched a large, thick box from the bar cabinet of the small building. "This is your formal attire, I picked out a Sun Yat-sen suit for you!" - Chapter 295 Section 294 - The Salon of Britannia Chen Fei glanced at the dust on the packaging box with a dumbfounded expression. He would bet that the box hadn''t been hiding in the bar for just a day; it was clear Boss Hana had planned this in advance or had been waiting for this day all along. Seeing Chen Fei''s surprised face, Hanna Gagar took out another invitation and said, "Our neighbor, the owner of the 909 Aircrew Base, Mr. Xia Ji, chairman of the Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, is hosting an industry salon and has invited me over. You''ll come too, and..." She looked at the Pure Light Sparrow hopping on and off the bar, trying to sneak some liquor. "Chirp!" Stay connected via empire Almost reflexively, Chen Fei said, "A trap for a banquet?" The 909 Aircrew Base hadn''t been under the management of the Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company for just one day. Before this, they had been ignoring each other and minding their own weird business. How come as soon as there was a conflict between them, the other boss immediately became enthusiastic, first taking the initiative to back down, resolving the conflict, then helping to contact logistics suppliers to lift the worries of the 911 Aircrew Base, and now sending an invitation, asking Boss Hanna to join his salon. Overattentiveness without a cause suggests dishonest or thieving intentions; no banquet is without motive, and no salon without agenda. Could it be... Chen Fei''s gaze became subtly probing as he sized up his female boss ¨C fair-skinned, beautiful, young, with...assets...the kind that Big Bear liked most. "Don''t talk nonsense. I''ve had someone check, and Mr. Xia Ji is indeed an upright person," Hanna Gagar wasn''t someone to blindly follow others or lack her own opinion. On the contrary, with her experience of working as a Second-Level Inspector for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Apocalypse Defense Group, she would, like an occupational disease, involuntarily suspect, secretly investigate, and ponder repeatedly. So, earning the trust of Hanna Gagar was not an easy task. Someone like Chen Fei, who couldn''t even be bothered to pretend and who opened up with true Rookie supremacy, almost wearing everything on his face, could lay back and let Hanna Gagar scribble away, thus establishing such a unique superior-subordinate relationship. "Alright, alright! Mr. Xia Ji is a good person!" With a wave of his hand, Chen Fei had no intention of arguing with Boss Hanna and casually threw out a good person card. Anyway, with the invitation in hand, he would soon meet the other party and see for himself the gentleman that Boss Hanna talked about. "We leave tomorrow, arrive at Mr. Xia Ji''s private estate on Great Island of Britannia the day after, and the salon will be held the day after next, lasting three days. All the participants are military contractors with aircrew bases; having an aircrew base is the entrance threshold," said Boss Hana while swaying the wine glass in her hand and continued, "I heard that someone is planning to establish a union of small and medium-sized military contractors to collectively counter the oppression of the larger military contractors, like this time when Jiu Defense Company was unable to find a reasonably priced logistics supplier all because of Merman Brothers United, and perhaps even Apocalypse Defense and other powerful and influential peers sending messages in the dark. But I have no proof." Industry influence is an intangible pressure of networking and heritage belonging to the old military contractors, not something anyone can withstand. Insider suppression like this is something every old hand is all too familiar with; how could they leave evidence for someone to seize the chance to act, after all, devious means are required, but so is saving face. When Hanna Gagar could not stand it any longer, she personally led a team to retaliate against her former employer, stating outright that no evidence was needed, and her reckless behavior of tearing down buildings also shocked the Merman Brothers Consortium, which had just ended a hostile state and hadn''t had time for little mischief. "Holy shit, she''s insane!" Barefooted and not afraid of the shoe-wearing, the newly established Jiu Defense Company was just like the barefooted. Even after establishing reputational deterrence and a position in the Jianghu, there were still quiet little actions that never stopped, no longer the blatant attempts to detain people or even try to marry them off to one''s own idiot son. If it hadn''t been for the owner of the 909 Aircrew Base introducing a logistics supplier this time, who knows how long it would have taken the 911 Aircrew Base to sign a new logistics supplier. Regardless of the intentions, Chairman Xia Ji of the 909 Aircrew Base had indeed been a great help. "The Jianghu is treacherous; be careful," Chen Fei said. Since graduating with his bachelor''s degree and stepping into society, he had seen plenty of shady dealings. "If you were A-level, would you still be here?" Hanna Gagel sized Chen Fei up, not believing a word. Just like other abilities, Superpower Levels took the shape of a pyramid. The higher the level, the fewer the people. As one of the backbone forces of Sovereignty, the majority of A-level supernatural power users held public office and had to respond to the Sovereignty''s call when necessary. How could they become employees of a small military contractor? Wouldn''t the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee scoop them up? The compensation there would be much more generous. Therefore, Chen Fei''s Superpower Level should be between B-level and D-level, with exceptionally prominent Control Power, comparable even to A-level. Judging Superpower Levels is a comprehensive assessment process, and it''s not surprising to see some "lopsided" cases. True to her background as a former Second-Level Inspector at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hanna Gagel''s guesses were off, but not by much. Even a Low-Rank supernatural power user already had the capability to fight and kill, and they were qualified to lead a supernatural tactical team. "The feng shui here is good!" Chen Fei did not mention that the place was toxic. Nowadays, it was likely not only Chen Fei who considered the 911 Aircrew Base to be toxic. Boss Hana raised her willow eyebrows and clicked a glass with Chen Fei. Sure enough, a college graduate who had read his books, he really knew how to charm with words. - On the western edge of the Europa Continent, on the Great Island of Britannia, the chairman of the medium-sized military contractor, Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, Xia Ji, invited nearly a hundred of his peers to his private estate, the "Green Cherry Orchard Estate," where he hosted a three-day garden salon. There were wine-tasting, tea-drinking, barbecues, fishing, horse-riding, boxing, golfing, shooting, hunting... a wide array of activities that made it easy to find common interests with others, make new friends, and strengthen relationships. Most of the invited guests were authoritative figures in the military contracting field, with statuses and positions roughly similar to Hanna Gagel''s. Seeing that Chen Fei was still yawning and looked listless, Hanna Gagel couldn''t stand it. Hadn''t he adjusted to the time difference after an entire day and night? "''Rookie,'' lend me Xiao Jiu, and go find something yourself to play with!" She pointed towards the shooting range not far away, where the sounds of gunfire roared, the kind of place boys were supposed to love. "Ah?! Are there enemies?" Chen Fei, startled, promptly became alert and looked around. Did Boss Hana need Xiao Jiu as a bodyguard because there was danger nearby? "Jiu!" The Little Bird hopping about on Chen Fei''s shoulder didn''t sense anything amiss and casually leaped onto the hand extended by Boss Hana. Hanna Gagel chided with annoyance, "You''re thinking too much. What danger could there be here? I need Xiao Jiu to add to my presence!" She had just noticed the deputy executive manager of Tao''s Security Service Company, and as a newly signed client, thought it was essential to go over and exchange greetings to foster the relationship between the two parties. There were only a few that could serve as logistic suppliers in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. The director of Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, Xia Ji, had helped for sure by getting Tao''s Security Service Company the logistics order for the 911 Aircrew Base, but such favors were bound to run out one day, so before that happened, Hanna Gagel needed to establish a solid and reliable cooperation with this logistics supplier, making personal relationships all the more valuable. - Chapter 296 Section 295 - Poaching Watching Boss Hanna go off with Xiao Jiu to flirt with the chunky uncle, Chen Fei turned around, ready to find something to eat to fill his stomach. He had just spotted roasted camel and having never tasted camel meat, he wondered what it was like. This was the perfect chance to try something new and exotic. His gaze suddenly fixed, and then he took three steps in a burst of two, storming over with a fierce momentum. "Beast Tamer, what are you doing here?" He had long forgotten the name of the man, only remembering that he owned a big tiger named "Queen Katie," and had even fed his wolf, a shame considering its sleek, splendidly striped tiger skin. "Work!" B-level Psychic Ability User, Beast Tamer Jacob Felix, was expressionless. He had recognized Chen Fei for a while but had pretended not to see him, neither wanting to greet him nor retreat. Like the other bodyguards in the estate, Mr. Beast Tamer was dressed in a dark blue, crisply pressed suit with a small bow tie. The former executive manager from the Aircrew Base and enemy of 911, Ximen Temple Kong, wouldn''t cross Star Yuan. Position? That didn''t exist. So now he had become a temporary security guard at a private estate in Great Island of Britannia, merely to earn some Silver spending money, and it wasn''t really about holding a grudge against anyone. Behind him, lined up in a row, sat ten large dogs, no, North American grey wolves, their heads held high and chests puffed out. The North American grey wolf, belonging to the canine family, is a heavyweight contender. Their weight and body length could even rival humans. Perhaps only a Husky would dare to challenge them one-on-one, no, maybe even Huskies couldn''t handle them. "Heh! Have you learned your lesson?" Chen Fei''s gaze swept past the Beast Tamer and settled on these North American grey wolves. The man switched from tigers to wolves, had he discovered the superiority of wolf pack tactics? "Hmph!" Jacob Felix hypnotized himself, I''m a security guard, I''m a security guard, I''m a security guard, don''t chat with guests during work hours, didn''t hear, didn''t hear... "Come, let me pet you!" Chen Fei tried to pet the North American grey wolves he was meeting for the first time. They had been cleaned up and were fluffy; he wondered what they felt like. Having been allowed to pet Er Lang''s big cat head, why shouldn''t he pet these mere wild grey wolves? The Beast Tamer could touch them, why couldn''t he? It was purely a case of being too handsy. "Be careful, it might bite you!" Jacob Felix couldn''t stand it anymore and took the initiative to warn him. He could hardly believe this guy was actually a Wolf King. Were the heads of unfamiliar animals really that appealing to touch? It must be a habit you got from your own wolf, right? Seeing the North American grey wolves showing their teeth impatiently and making threatening gestures, Chen Fei suddenly shouted, "Woof!" Your next read awaits at empire Then he burst into laughter, not knowing why he found it so amusing, as if his IQ had been struck. North American grey wolves: "..." Chen Fei scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. However, in the flying circles, names like "Dog Remainder," Dog Egg," "Old Egg Bubble," "Deflated Calf," "Donkey''s Day," "Crooked Goods" were mainstream. It was partly due to the seniors who named the juniors with a twisted sense of humor, and partly to make it hard for Lord Yama to recall the names and claim their lives. This unwritten rule exists both in the East and the West. Compared to those bizarre call signs in flying circles, "Rookie" might be considered rather fresh. However, Chen Fei, a true rookie, was oblivious to this and thought that something like "Sky Overlord" or "Sovereign of the Skies," "Heaven King Covers Earth Tiger" would be stronger than that mysterious pile of spices. Big Bear''s pattern was just that limited. Yet he genuinely misunderstood Squadron Leader Chekhov, who managed to establish a uniform flight call sign team in a flight circle filled with all sorts of chaotic names. It was a rarity, neat and well-organized, like an established combat formation. The young man who initiated the conversation with Chen Fei, Zuo Gengming, spoke with a smile, "That must be very interesting." Seeing but not revealing, he didn''t plan to remind him about some basic knowledge in the flight circle, as there was no need for it. The status of "Rookie" Chen Fei in his own Jianghu was well established; a tough man capable of taking on anyone, including himself, no one would dare to laugh at his lack of understanding, unless they were out of their minds. The Aircrew Base and Jiu Defense Company were not particularly well-known in Blue Star, but the Combat Flight Squadron "Genuine Fragrance" had a widespread reputation. Anyone in this circle would know them. In this world, there are very few flight squadrons capable of contending with the real Sky Overlords, Metallic Dragons, besides the Sky Knight and Crystal Jets. Even the active air forces under Sovereignty couldn''t guarantee that they wouldn''t end up like "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron¡ªannihilated. Against Metallic Dragons, total annihilation was probably the norm. Chen Fei, who didn''t play by the rules, straightened his face and asked, "Mr. Zuo, are you trying to poach me?" No beating around the bush, since the other party showed they knew him, his coming over to chat definitely had a purpose. The biggest likelihood was that he wanted to pry away Boss Hana''s wall corner, which also represented the biggest interest. It wasn''t hard to guess. "Ah!" Zuo Gengming was completely taken aback by how direct he was and said somewhat embarrassingly, "Uh, sorry, yes, that''s the case." "I must refuse." Chen Fei felt he might need to act like a repeating machine for a while, repeatedly rejecting others. Zuo Gengming, neither angry nor discouraged, asked curiously as if chatting with a friend, "May I know the reasons?" "First, I owe the boss a huge amount of money; second, the current work environment and atmosphere satisfy me, and I don''t want to change. Third, my girlfriend works near the base, it''s convenient to take care of her; fourth, I''ve done a lot of work without seeing the results yet, leaving now would be regrettable." Chen Fei didn''t usually list reasons as "first, second," but this time he listed them as "first, second, third, fourth." Shen Fei wasn''t quite his girlfriend yet; she just gave him a chance, but Chen shamelessly pulled her into his bowl to assert his sovereignty. If your skin isn''t thick enough, you deserve to be single forever, eating dog food! Zuo Gengming said with a smile, "I see, I understand. But if we have a chance to cooperate in the future, I mean public-to-public cooperation, I hope you''ll support us." "Absolutely." Even though Chen Fei had clearly rejected the offer, neither side burnt the bridges. They both left some mercy for each other, better for future encounters, no need to end on a sour note. "Hello, are you Mr. Chen Fei? I am Robert from Royce Military Company!" Zuo Gengming from Spring Field Defense Limited Company had set a precedent, and in this world, there were either no times or countless times¡ªsoon a second, a third military contractor... approached and handed out business cards, all of which were the same routine. On the surface, they sought acquaintance, familiar faces, but in reality, they took the opportunity when Boss Hana was absent to secretly steal the corner of the wall from Jiu Defense Company. The young man who first greeted Chen Fei was quickly squeezed to the outer circle, but he wasn''t upset at all, instead smiling and nodding at Chen Fei who was surrounded in the center, engendering some goodwill from Chen Fei, as the other at least wasn''t an opportunist. - Chapter 297 Section 296 - True Purpose People swarmed the dragon-slaying Pilot at Aircrew Base 911 to dig into his intentions, the more composed ones offering subtle hints while the impatient ones outright offered lucrative salaries and benefits. However, Chen Fei, having collected everyone''s business cards, was equally direct in his refusal, leaving no room for ambiguity or wishful thinking. He who hesitates is lost, and at such a time, any ambiguity could bring disaster once it reached the boss''s ears. Anyone indecisive would just be asking to be undercut! Engaging in such pointless, self-sabotaging stupidity wasn''t something Chen Fei was about to do. As the crowd that had surrounded him finally began to disperse, Chen Fei proactively greeted Zuo Gengming, who was still waiting nearby. "Let''s go for a barbecue, skewer some meat!" There was nothing to do anyway, and since the other party wasn''t overly opportunistic, it seemed like a good chance to make a friend. "Sure!" Zuo Gengming caught on and nodded, following along. Since it wasn''t yet mealtime, the barbecue stalls weren''t crowded. The charcoal burned with a wisp of blue smoke, offering all kinds of skewers which patrons could grill themselves or entrust to a professional chef. Chen Fei ordered two tomahawk steaks, letting the barbecue chef take over. The Chen Family certainly couldn''t afford such expensive foods, and pretending to be something he wasn''t would just ruin the fine meat. "Thanks, but I''ll pass on the steak." Zuo Gengming had picked up a plate, choosing some chicken wings, large shrimp, gluten skewers, chive skewers, and rice cake skewers for himself. It wasn''t just about filling his stomach; he wanted to savor the flavors. A single tomahawk steak weighed at least two pounds, which was obviously too much for him. "No, both steaks are for me. I have a pretty big appetite." Ever since he arrived at Aircrew Base 911, Chen Fei''s appetite had increased drastically, along with his strength, but it wasn''t unexpected. Eating well and being strong was normal, wasn''t it? If he were eating well without any strength to show, he''d probably need to see a doctor to find out what was wrong. The two tomahawk steaks would be grilled first, and more could be added if they weren''t enough. "Ah, a good appetite is a blessing!" Zuo Gengming, quite quick-witted, managed to quickly brush off his embarrassment. "Can you tell me about Spring Field Defense, where are you from?" Chen Fei again looked at the business card he had been given. With so many received earlier, reviewing them was necessary to remember any of it. "Hehe, it''s not anywhere big. Over in North America, around the Rocky Mountains, there are two aircrew bases for local patrol." Zuo Gengming joined Chen Fei at a small barbecue stand, starting to arrange chicken wings and others over the charcoal fire. Unlike Chen Fei who went straight for the heavy hitters, Zuo Gengming picked out an assortment of skewers for Chen Fei, and with all kinds of seasonings available at the stall, they got to work, amply provided for. "Two aircrew bases, wow, that''s quite impressive!" Chen Fei realized he had underestimated the other party. It had been a great effort for Boss Hana to acquire Aircrew Base 911, even after a corporate war. Apocalypse Defense Group, having lost an aircrew base, naturally, was itching for revenge. Despite the internal deal with Hanna Gagel, they didn''t miss an opportunity to give the newly-formed Jiu Defense Company a hard time. Zuo Gengming humbly responded with a smile, "Hehe, not at all, I started it with a few college friends, it''s an entrepreneurial venture." His tone, choice of words, and demeanor had completely Westernized, but he still retained the traditional Eastern trait of modesty over showiness. The corner of Chen Fei''s mouth twitched, ''Look at this, look at this, comparisons really can kill a man.'' After graduation, he was sent to the desolate Xingdu Kush Mountain Area to fight giant dragons, while others started businesses with classmates and contracted not just one, but multiple aircrew bases. Probing he asked, "Does your family own a mine?" "Yep, a rare earth mine!" Zuo Gengming nodded earnestly. A real mine, and a highly valuable rare earth one at that; even metallic dragons would drool over it. Suddenly Zuo Gengming had a bold guess and said, "It wasn''t Old David, was it?" Chen Fei: "Hehe!" Zuo Gengming: "Hehe!" The two shared an unspoken understanding, seeing through without pointing it out; it''s enough to know it in their hearts. At this moment, the two tomahawk steaks were ready, cut and served with some side dishes. "It really smells so good. Old Zuo, won''t you have a piece?" Smelling the grilled beef aroma mixed with black pepper, rosemary, and lime, Chen Fei couldn''t help but be tempted. It looked like he made the right choice; the barbecue chef''s skills were on point, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and when cut, the pink flesh didn''t exude any bloody juices, all the fat came from the marbling of the red meat. "Uh, okay!" Zuo Gengming took a piece with his chopsticks, chewed a few times, nodded and said, "Perfectly grilled." Cooking a tomahawk steak is challenging, especially getting the heat just right, which most people can''t do. After tasting just one piece, Zuo Gengming stopped there without going for a second piece despite Chen Fei''s prompt; he knew how to control himself, not excessively indulging in the pleasures of the palate. It''s not just that his family owns mines, but they also provided him with a good education. Putting down his chopsticks, he said, "Some strange mutants have emerged near the Aircrew Base of the Spring Field Defense. If you''re not too busy, could you help me take a look? We can discuss the fee." After beating around the bush for quite a while, Zuo Gengming finally stated his purpose. "If it''s about borrowing personnel, you''ll have to talk to our boss, and the same goes for the fee." Continue reading stories on empire The steak cut by the barbecue chef was just the right size, Chen Fei enjoyed it immensely, each bite melting in his mouth. He turned and gave the chef a thumbs up. "Sir, your skills are quite impressive, six more pieces, please!" The barbecue chef smiled and responded with an OK gesture, fortunate to have encountered such an appreciative customer. Otherwise, it would be a waste of good food on unappreciative eaters. Zuo Gengming was surprised. "We can talk?" He had even prepared himself for rejection. "Earning money, why not!" Chen Fei devoured a tomahawk steak in no time, cleaning the bone with gusto. Eating meat and gnawing on bones, why not. Lending personnel and poaching them are two different things. Boss Hanna, who has been pouring money into Jiu Defense and the 911 Aircrew Base, naturally hopes to see some return on her investment. Otherwise, the Gagar Family''s fortune simply couldn''t sustain such a one-way flow of losses. "By the way, what about your people? Don''t you have anyone competent?" Chen Fei suddenly stopped his ravenous eating, catching the unspoken implication in Zuo Gengming''s words. "They''re all true rookies. They''re fine with firepower suppression, but if it''s anything more difficult, they just can''t handle it." Zuo Gengming wore a bitter smile. He and a few close classmates had established Spring Field Defense, based in the remote Rocky Mountains with two Aircrew Bases supporting each other, grinding in the wild. While they trained their team, they also relied on the two Bases to amass more capital, laying the groundwork for the expansion of Spring Field Defense. However, both the command and combat personnel were terribly inexperienced, only using excessive firepower to solve problems, which indeed worked but kept costs sky-high. Their books showed profits, but it was almost like working for the logistics suppliers. In the long run, it wasn''t sustainable, especially when the partners also wanted to earn decently. Otherwise, there would be no point in running the two Bases. "That''s rough!" Chen Fei shook his head. This is the disadvantage of small military contractors, with their small scale; it''s hard to attract real talent. When the team is full of loafers just killing time, it''s no wonder he''d set his sights on Chen Fei. A thousand troops are easy to get, one general is hard to find. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron of the 911 Aircrew Base is also considered one of the elite combat squadrons in the industry. Having finally groomed someone of note, it was only natural for them to become a target. ``` Chapter 298 Section 297 - Speech Six Battle Axe-style steaks lined up in a row on the grill, the aroma of the meat wafting through the air. Although Zuo Gengming hadn''t uncovered any leads, he had received a message that was still open for discussion. Since Chen Fei hadn''t outright denied any possibility, it was enough to be considered good news. In the blink of an eye, eight Battle Axe-style steaks were devoured, not leaving a single shred of meat on the ribs piled high on the plate. Chen Fei still seemed to want more, while the enthusiastic Zuo Gengming watched him with eyes that nearly bugged out. He himself had grown satiated just by watching, yet this guy wasn''t stuffed to death? Just as Chen Fei was enjoying his hearty meal, a server came over, bowed slightly, and said, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Xia Ji invites you to meet with him." "He''s inviting me?" Chen Fei pointed at himself with his greasy fingers, as no matter how careful he was, his hands were still oily. He had no prior interactions with the owner of this private estate, the military contractor from Aircrew Base 909, and the chairman of Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, Xia Ji. His attendance at the feast was solely due to basking in his boss''s glory. Hearing this sudden invitation for a chat, Chen Fei was somewhat puzzled and didn''t understand why. "Yes, the lord specifically instructed to extend a personal invitation for you to visit his study, where he awaits your arrival." The server bowed again. As Chen Fei was enjoying his meal and chat with the friendly Zuo Gengming, Zuo waved his hand generously, saying, "No worries, go ahead, we can talk later." "Then, we''ll talk later!" This salon would last for three days, plenty of opportunities to enhance their connection. - An automated, electric viewing car arrived at the main house''s front door in the main garden. After getting out, the server led Chen Fei to the study door and knocked. "Come in!" A young voice came from inside the study. It seemed that Mr. Xia Ji was not some old fogey, but Chen Fei wondered what could be the reason for summoning him¡ªperhaps a poaching attempt? Chen Fei speculated. Seducing one''s own boss while simultaneously poaching seems quite gentlemanly. After all, the precursors to Western nobility were almost without exception robbers. Those who steal hooks are executed, those who steal countries become lords! Another server inside the study opened the heavy wooden door for Chen Fei. Surprisingly, although it was called a study and there were rows of tall bookshelves against the walls, there weren''t many books on the shelves. Instead, various computers took the place of those weighty books¡ªit was almost like a museum of old laptops, where one could find models dating back over fifty years, some even in their original packaging. "Nice to meet you, I''m Xia Ji!" A young man with a noble air stood up from behind the desk. Chen Fei intentionally played down the situation with a bit of Tai Chi Fist. He never speculated about higher intentions; just get the job done, that''s all. Better straighten things out before the boss finds out and restore peace. Securing Old David''s old comrades was done this way. Extorting the "Flying Dragon" Tactical Armor from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group was also in the same vein. Boss Hana was left utterly exasperated by his series of bold moves; modern college graduates, damn, they are all geniuses! "No worries, I''ll ask her about it later!" Xia Ji wasn''t upset by Chen Fei''s deflection; instead, he took it in stride, as if he had anticipated it. Hanna Gagel had brought this young man to the salon with her, which evidently meant that he held a special place in her esteem. Could the extraordinary woman who made Apocalypse Defense Group, one of the top hundred military contractors, bow down to her, choose a fool or a blunderer as her confidant? The answer doesn''t even need guessing! "My Lord, there''s half an hour left until the speech," came a voice from outside as someone gently knocked on the office door. "I know!" Xia Ji responded and then looked at Chen Fei apologetically, "Please forgive my rudeness; the salon''s schedule is very tight, you''re free to do as you wish." "Don''t mention it, Mr. Xia Ji, you go ahead with your work," Chen Fei replied, understanding the situation. Given Xia Ji''s economic strength and status, taking the time to meet with him was already a great honor. Anyone with a bit of sense would know to follow the host''s convenience. Since Xia Ji still had some preparatory work, Chen Fei left for the venue ahead of time, planning to meet up with Boss Hana and also curious to hear what the small and medium-sized military contractor alliance was all about. Having come all this way, it wouldn''t hurt to listen. The speech venue was set up on a lawn, with tall oak trees planted nearby and unusually bold deer peeking curiously from behind the bushes. A majestic white peacock strutted with head held high, walking unperturbedly in front of the gathering. Thirty minutes quickly passed, and the military contractors who arrived at the venue were whispering among themselves, creating a buzzing sound. People lowered their heads to check their watches or phones to confirm the time, and expressions of surprise appeared on their faces. The manor lord, who was scheduled to give the speech, had not arrived on time, which was an exceptionally rare breach of etiquette. Observing time is the first step in keeping a promise, and if even this cannot be achieved, how can one be trusted? Gathering over a hundred military contractors and then pulling a no-show... seemed unlikely. The chatter at the scene was getting louder. "Where is this guy?" Hanna Gagel looked at Chen Fei with questioning eyes. Not long ago, Chen Fei had just met with the man in question. "Not sure, he might be held up by something important." Chen Fei shrugged. This "important thing" didn''t show up earlier or later but chose this moment to appear, making it hard to imagine what kind of emergency could be more important than a military contractor alliance. - Chapter 299 Section 298 - Suspicion The host had yet to appear at the event, but the manor''s wait staff still managed to keep their cool, continuing to smile and provide service. However, the guests gathered here were becoming more and more impatient, and Manor Lord Xia Ji hadn''t even given an explanation, leaving everyone to wonder what it all meant. Finally, someone couldn''t hold back any longer and said to a waiter, "Hey, can you ask Mr. Xia Ji when he''s going to come over? If he''s caught up in something, please reschedule." "Uh! Okay, okay!" The waiter hurriedly complied. Yet, another half an hour had passed, and still, there was no response. At this moment, even the wait staff were starting to lose their composure, as if some situation had exceeded their ability to handle. "I have a bad feeling about this!" Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel exchanged looks, finding common ground as heroes. "Something''s wrong!" Zuo Gengming had appeared beside Chen Fei at some point. "?" Boss Hanna looked at Chen Fei, waiting for him to make introductions. Chen Fei promptly said, "This is Mr. Zuo from Spring Field Defense Limited Company!" He had already reported to Boss Hanna about Zuo Gengming''s request for help. Just as Chen Fei had guessed, Hanna Gagel did not immediately refuse. Instead, after some consideration, she told him to arrange a meeting with Zuo Gengming for a detailed discussion. Making money, that''s standard procedure! Now was a good time, as the other party had taken the initiative to come over, saving them the effort of looking around. "Hello, Ms. Hanna!" Zuo Gengming extended his hand smoothly. "Hello, Mr. Zuo Gengming." Hanna Gagel shook hands with him and then continued, "The cooperation between Jiu Defense and Spring Field Defense will have to be discussed later. You just mentioned something went wrong, what exactly happened?" This moment was not suitable for the two parties to discuss business matters, so it had to be postponed. "I feel something is very wrong; it seems like, like the management of the manor is unreachable." Zuo Gengming looked around, and those waiters were no longer standing in place, preserving the calm as if nothing had moved; instead, they seemed hesitant, looking around in all directions. Up to now, no one had taken the initiative to step forward to maintain order. The wait staff''s unusual behavior was affecting the guests even more, with an increasing number of people starting to feel uneasy. "Eh? Is my phone broken? I can''t make any calls." "Same here, there''s a signal but it just won''t connect." "The internet is also acting up, I can only open a few websites." "I can connect to the satellite signal, but it just doesn''t seem right, and I still can''t make any calls." People tried to use their phones only to find that everyone''s communication tools were unable to connect normally, although the Wi-Fi signal was normal, and the signal strength wasn''t weak. A horse galloped from a distance, with a person riding on its back. Reining in the horse, a sleek, jet-black Akhal-Teke with long legs slowed down, its nostrils flaring as it stopped at the edge of the venue. The rider announced tragically, "I am Butler Thompson of the manor. I have a very unfortunate piece of news, my lord, Mr. Xia Ji, has been assassinated!" The scene erupted into chaos; even the wait staff went pale with shock. Damn, the boss has been killed, what could be bigger news than that. "Mr. Xia Ji was killed with a cold weapon. Look how clean the cuts are, the weapon must have been very sharp." "That''s right, it was a sharp blade. The murderer is a War Professional." "It was a frontal attack without any guard!" Among the guests who took turns peering into the study, some distinguished valuable clues. "No, it''s not just War Professionals, but also supernatural power users. Both Wind-type and Metallic ability users could''ve done this." "Hurry up and make a list, who in the mansion is an ability user¡ªthe murderer must be one of them." Someone dug out even more clues. Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel looked at each other; supernatural power users, Wind and Metallic, it was almost as if they were pointing fingers right at them. Zuo Gengming looked at Hanna Gagel and then at Chen Fei, his gaze alternating between the two, his calves trembling, and his voice quivering. "Oh no, don''t tell me it''s true!" Manor Butler Thompson, with a servant and about a dozen armed security behind him, was seriously watching the two. "Sorry, Mr. Chen Fei, and Ms. Hanna!" "Is there a problem, Mr. Thompson?" Hanna Gagel turned around to look at him. Her gaze then fell on a tray held by a servant nearby. "I am very sorry, Ms. Hanna, and Mr. Chen Fei¡ªthe last person my master met before his death was Mr. Chen Fei, a Metal Ability User, and Ms. Hanna is a Wind-type Ability User. So, for the safety of everyone before the police arrive, please comply with the safety measures." Butler Thompson picked up the needle-free injection gun from the tray. He did not say who the suspects were, but the implication was clear. Those around them scattered in shock, leaving a deserted space of over ten meters in radius. To everyone''s surprise, Zuo Gengming didn''t retreat in horror like the others but remained standing in place, a bitter smile on his face. If Chen Fei or Hanna had meant him harm, they wouldn''t have waited until now; they would have already made a move, and besides, he wasn''t capable of defending himself. Hanna Gagel stared at the injection gun and said coldly, "What''s in here?" She would not let anyone give her an injection just like that. "A Supernatural Ability Suppressant, please understand. I guarantee with my personal reputation that it is absolutely non-toxic and harmless." Butler Thompson did not hesitate to aim the needle-free injection gun at his own arm and then pulled the trigger. A mist of fine droplets shot out with a puff as the high-pressure gas propelled the potion through the skin and directly into his body. If it was poisonous, he would certainly be the first to suffer. The Supernatural Ability Suppressant only worked on supernatural power users and had no effect on him¡ªa regular person¡ªthere wouldn''t be any reaction. "Damn it!" Hanna Gagel had previously experienced being forcibly injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant, and it felt incredibly awful. Her complexion immediately turned sour. The Suppressant was relatively easy to obtain, but the specific Antidote was a controlled item and impossible to find on the market. Seemingly noticing Hanna Gagel''s concern, Butler Thompson said, "Please rest assured, Ms. Hanna. If your suspicion is cleared before the Suppressant''s effects wear off, I will personally neutralize it for you, I promise." At this point, his sincerity was evident. "Hey, Jiu Defense, you better be smart about this!" "Yeah, hurry up and inject the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, one with Metal, and one with Wind powers, you two are too suspicious." "You two didn''t really do it, did you?" There was a continuous chorus of shouting around them, the military contractors were in a frenzy, fearing that the two from Jiu Defense might suddenly lash out, causing a slaughter and letting blood flow like a river. Just looking at the ghastly scene in the study was enough to show how brutal the killer was. - Chapter 300 Section 299 - Murder Evidence Gathered in the first-floor hall of the Manor Main House, the crowd formed a large circle. "I refuse!" Haunting Hanna Gagel''s psyche was a deep fear of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, and it also stopped Chen Fei, who had appeared somewhat tempted. The treacherous hearts within Jianghu spare no one from their vigilance. Especially now, with the murderer still unidentified, everyone was under suspicion, including the present butler and the security guards behind him. Someone, discontented, shouted, "Hanna Gagel, what do you mean by this? Did you actually do it?" The others looked as if they were facing a great enemy, tense as if they had really pegged Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei as the murderers. The manor''s security guards promptly lifted their automatic weapons, aiming at the pair, ready to fire without hesitation at the slightest provocation. The atmosphere was explosive. "A motive? I bore no ill will towards Mr. Xia Ji, so why would I kill him? If I had wanted to act, I had plenty of opportunities before. Why on earth wait until now and walk into a trap?" Hanna Gagel, no naive girl unacquainted with the ways of the world, quickly seized upon the crucial point. Those retreating to the back exchanged glances, finding a certain logic in her words. If one wished to commit a crime, they would naturally attempt to remove any clues or evidence that could implicate themselves, not foolishly proceed as blatantly as now, which would be far too sloppy. In the crowd, someone whispered furtively, "Hanna Gagel, you just recently had a conflict with Mr. Xia Ji, whose Aircrew Base suffered a great loss. How could there be no grudges?" "Maybe you harbour resentment and deliberately employed deception in plain sight, misleading everyone and killing Mr. Xia Ji." Another spoke up from a different direction. The military contractors present could not help but harbour doubts, despite the logical argument put forth by the CEO of Jiu Defense. There was still the possibility of another scenario. "Who? Speak up, don''t skulk about and stir trouble in secret!" Chen Fei bellowed, scanning the direction of the voice. The crowd shifted, but he could not find the speaker, who perhaps had already retreated out of sight. "My Aircrew Base did have a conflict with Mr. Xia Ji''s, that''s true. But the reasonable Mr. Xia Ji handled the provoking executive manager Ximen Temple Kong himself and even introduced me to Tao''s Security Service Company. I owe Mr. Xia Ji thanks, why would I kill him? If someone has a problem with this, step forward, or else I suspect the one speaking is the murderer." Hanna Gagel defended herself logically before swiftly turning the tables on the person who had made the insidious comment just before. Silence fell again. After all, her words struck a significant blow. At a time like this, dancing about like a mischievous clown would only draw attention to oneself, suggesting ulterior motives of provoking discord. However, Butler Thompson was not convinced and still very politely placed the needle-free injection gun on the tray and offered it forward, maintaining his demeanor of a perfectly competent Manor Butler. "Please, Ms. Hanna, do not make this difficult for us." "Butler, what do you mean by this?" Hanna Gagel''s expression finally changed; despite all she had said, the other party persisted in trying to suppress her and Chen Fei''s abilities, which suggested a significant underlying message. "Something''s fishy!" Chen Fei muttered to himself, sensing something was seriously amiss. For a moment, both parties were at an impasse, the manor security with their guns unwaveringly trained on the two. "What''s going on?" "Butler Thompson, what are you..." "Don''t speak, something''s not quite right!" The military contractors invited were no fools; nearly all were savvy veterans who rapidly sensed the extraordinary tension between the Jiu Defense personnel and the manor butler. Butler Thompson seemed to be zeroing in on Jiu Defense, causing more than a few to change their expressions. Butler Thompson finally came slowly and said, "...It doesn''t hurt!" Yet he let out a long sigh of relief. Despite fearlessly confronting Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei, insisting on the injection of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant to eliminate danger, only he knew the pressure he was under. By now, Butler Thompson''s back was soaked with sweat. "This video is fake, my usual weapon is not a blade, but a crowbar, and I already have a girlfriend, so I''m definitely not the boss." Although he had injected himself with the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, Chen Fei still took the initiative to loudly defend himself. The female boss may be beautiful, indeed a standard rich and beautiful woman, but the eye mask that suppresses the "Eye of the Storm" is terrifyingly scary, and cuddling it would lead to nightmares. It''s guys like Chekhov Big Bear who are unfazed by the cold, only having eyes for Big Daizi, and even daring to flirt with the mature supervisor of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in charge of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. "Ms. Hanna, please..." Butler Thompson handed over the tray with the needle-free injection gun. Only after suppressing the two''s abilities could everyone feel relieved while waiting for the police. "Hmm! You all need to be careful, I''m afraid things are not so simple." Forced by the situation, Hanna Gagel also had no choice but to pick up the needle-free injection gun and inject herself with the Supernatural Ability Suppressant. The suppressant took effect immediately, and her Wind-type Psionic Ability weakened, making her just like an ordinary person. If her eye mask were removed at this moment, it would reveal that the pupils of both eyes had become consistent in color, and the physiological color of the "Eye of the Storm" was completely caused by her Special Ability. "Chirp?" Little Bird curiously inspected the needle-free injection gun, eagerly trying to peck at it a few times. Pure Light Sparrow, ah! Completely ignored. After taking back the needle-free injection gun and tray, Butler Thompson bowed deeply and sincerely said, "I am very sorry if you two are innocent. I will certainly give both of you an explanation. And for your safety, please be assured that we will do our utmost to protect you until the police arrive..." Before he could finish his words, the entire building suddenly shook violently without warning. Someone shouted loudly, "Earthquake!" "Run for it!" "Don''t panic, line up and run towards the entrance, don''t block the doorway." In the face of the might of heaven and earth, humans were not much stronger than frail ants. It was as if night had suddenly fallen; the scenery outside the windows darkened abruptly, the lights inside the manor flickered and went out, only to be replaced by the dim emergency lights. People rushing to the door were stopped in their tracks by an invisible barrier, and a wave of swearing erupted, but no one was able to breakthrough, all were stuck inside at the doorway. "Chirp chirp chirp!" Several ping pong ball-sized Light Orbs emitted a soft white glow, rising gently into the air. Pure Light Sparrow released its "Illumination Technique," once again lighting up the main hall of the manor where the crowd was gathered like it was daytime. "What''s happening?" "We can''t get out!" "It''s dark outside, can''t see anything!" There was a clamorous uproar in the hall like a Vegetable Market. - Chapter 301 Section 300 - No Way to Heaven, No Door into the Earth Vegetable Market, beheading, one kick to the Department Store Building. "Quiet, everyone be quiet, please calm down, don''t panic, don''t run around!" Butler Thompson still maintained his composure, quickly instructing the panicking security and attendants to soothe the guests who were running around like headless chickens within the Manor Main House, yet they could never quite make it outside. In the midst of the earth shaking, all sorts of things were crashing down. The large crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the first-floor hall swayed greatly with creaking noises, but thankfully, it hung solidly and showed no sign of falling. About a minute later, everything gradually returned to calmness. The construction quality of the Manor Main House was pretty decent; aside from a few shattered windowpanes, the main structure remained undamaged, without even noticeable cracks. Now somewhat reassured, the frightened crowd calmed down a little. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured or lost their life¡ªmost injuries were just bruises or minor flesh wounds, easily treated with a spray of iodine and a Band-Aid. "I can''t see anything outside!" Someone stood by the window, turned on their phone''s flashlight to look outside, but all they saw was pitch darkness. It was as if the world outside the Manor had reached its end, with even the sun vanishing without a trace, plunging the earth into darkness. A cold, damp wind howled through the broken windows with a mournful sound. "There''s no cell signal!" Chen Fei took out his phone; before this, despite not being able to make calls, there was at least a signal. But now, there was not even a signal. "Mine too, no signal," Hanna Gagar took a glance at her own phone. Both her and Chen Fei''s phones were customized, durable, reliable, and in addition to connecting to ground signal towers, they could also connect to satellite signals. Chen Fei, not wanting to waste the satellite data fees and to save battery, always kept the satellite connection off, whereas Hanna Gagar didn''t care about such trivial expenses and battery consumption, and usually kept it connected. However, now there were no signals at all, perhaps some personal hotspots, but they were of no use. "My phone too..." Hearing the conversation between Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar, Zuo Gengming took out his own phone to check. "No signal." More and more people gradually discovered that their phones had disconnected from the internet. Not just phones¡ªevery communication device that needed a network connection had completely disconnected from the external network, without even the slightest signal. "Something''s not right, this is so wrong!" Someone yelled loudly. "We can go out now!" Someone suddenly discovered with joy that the invisible barrier at the main entrance was gone. The first to react couldn''t wait to rush out, not wanting to stay in this creepy house any longer. But as soon as they dashed out, a chaos of plop and screams mixed together came back in. Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar looked at each other and quickly went to the entrance. Manor Butler Thompson and the security guards followed them closely, worried that the two would try to escape. "Don''t panic, don''t panic, there''s a shelter in the basement with enough food and drinking water," The competent manor butler quickly ordered the panic-stricken security guards to stop the multiple fights. He opened the door to the basement, indeed finding the refuge below the main house, filled with many stores of food, drinking water, electricity, and other essential survival equipment. These things were prepared for natural disasters and human calamities, enough to ensure the survival of over a hundred people for at least a year, but unexpectedly, they were needed now. Seeing the food and water, those who had fallen into despair began to cry with joy, and the sudden fights ceased abruptly; for the moment, no one had to face the dire straits of hunger and cold. The military contractors and the people of the manor came together again in the foyer of the Manor Main House, where they would have to make choices for survival. The large crystal chandelier was lit once more, the main house regained its bright lights, and besides the crystal energy backup power system, the basement also housed a miniature Target Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, sufficient to provide electricity for quite an extensive period. The noise in the foyer was deafening, many people shouting and arguing with frothing mouths, their faces red, their necks bulging, and veins popping on their foreheads and necks. Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel also joined in. Their special abilities were suppressed by drugs, making them essentially no different from normal people. To others, they no longer posed any threat. After all, in the current situation, without sufficient food and water, trying to escape would likely lead to a dead end. Zuo Gengming from Spring Field Defense Limited Company approached the two again and quietly asked, "Mr. Chen Fei, Ms. Hanna, which side are you planning to support?" He subconsciously felt that Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel were more reliable, even though they were still under suspicion for murder. After a fierce debate, everyone''s opinions finally coalesced into two choices. First, leave the Manor Main House to find a way out, perhaps returning to civilization. Second, hold the fort and wait for rescue. Surely, someone from Blue Star would notice the anomaly at the Green Cherry Orchard Estate and organize a search and rescue team. Maybe they''d be found soon, and be taken out of here. Whichever option was chosen, both had certain feasibility but also carried risks. The end result wouldn''t be much different. "Staying here is pointless; might as well go out and take a chance," Chen Fei did not want to sit around waiting to die; being brought to this strange place probably was not that simple. Hanna Gagel said in a grave voice, "The real danger is only just beginning." From the start, she knew that the assassination of Mr. Xia Ji was far from simple. Yet, the development of events seemed to be proving her suspicions step by step. Whether they actively sought a way out or waited for rescue, they would likely have to face significant challenges ahead. "Is that so?" Zuo Gengming felt a chill run down his spine. Crack! A gunshot sounded, silencing the once-noisy foyer. "Someone''s shooting?" "Who, who is it? Who''s firing?" The military contractors present were particularly sensitive to the sound of gunfire, unsettled as they tried to discern the direction from which the shot had come. - Chapter 302 Section 301 - Suppression Failure "Unknown creatures are approaching!" The security guard in the hall received the message from outside through the walkie-talkie. Pop! Pop! Pop... Soon, the gunshots started to intensify. The manor''s security was rhythmically firing short bursts, the beams of tactical flashlights reaching far and illuminating one quickly moving eerie silhouette after another. "Awooo!" A wolf''s howl rang out, followed by more responses from its kin. Roars and sounds of struggle suddenly erupted; a few mutants that got too close encountered the North American grey wolves, and not just one of them. The robust North American grey wolves could fight solo or swarm their prey. Among canids, their combat prowess was commendable. Chen Fei was amused the moment he heard it; even the beast tamer had been dragged into this mess. The combined combat power of ten North American grey wolves was quite formidable, enough to cover the gaps in the manor security''s fire interception. Jacob Felix, a Level B Psychic Ability User and beast tamer, was cursing inside. He just wanted to watch Chen Fei''s spectacle, but unexpectedly after an earth-shattering moment, he found himself in this bizarre place with no escape, wondering if he could even survive to return. "It''s mutants, and there are a lot of them!" After confirming the identity of the creatures approaching, Butler Thompson exclaimed in shock. He immediately told everyone aloud, "I need everyone''s help. There are weapons and ammunition in the shelter; we must hold this place, or no one will survive." Butler Thompson''s words immediately got a response; over a hundred military contractors and their personnel were eager and ready. This was really not the time for choices, better think of ways to survive the mutants'' assault first. "Where are the guns? Is there enough ammo?" "Do we have mortars? I''m very accurate with them!" "I can use a sniper rifle!" "I need hand grenades, the more powerful the better." ... Since they were all professionals in this line of work, familiarity with firearms was a given, nearly an instantaneous fighting force. The number of weapons and ammunition stored in the underground shelter was substantial, mostly light weapons but with a few rocket projectiles and mortars, much to the delight of the military contractors. At least, when facing the mutants, they were not utterly powerless. Almost everyone there was professional; the manor main house immediately became a sturdy fortress. Butler Thompson had some regrets; he had been too hasty in forcing the two supernatural power users from Jiu Defense to inject the suppressant. If only they still had their abilities, they would have additional strength in dealing with the mutant onslaught. But there are no do-overs in life, what''s missed is missed, even looking back is too late. Pop pop pop... The short bursts turned into longer bursts, finally becoming continuous fire. Clearly, the mutants'' assault was putting intense pressure on the guards defending the main house, forcing them to open fire fully. "Shall we take a look?" Chen Fei gave Boss Hana a meaningful glance. "Sure!" Hanna Gagel gladly agreed. Butler Thompson, who was organizing the defense against the mutant attack, paled with shock. Two uncontrollable suspects could mean an unstable defensive line, so he bellowed fiercely, "Keep a close watch on both of them, and if there''s any reckless behavior, kill without mercy, remember, at all costs!" When everyone was struggling against the mutants, the last thing they wanted was insubordination from within, causing a total collapse of their defenses. "Yes!"¡Á2! The two guards roared in unison, guns once again aimed at Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel. "Light weapons are ineffective against me! You two might as well relax." Chen Fei walked to a window with a large hole, looking out. This was a room on the second floor. "Hey, someone, hand me the gun and help me over." The military contractor was a mess on the floor, struggling to get up. His absence meant a gap in their defensive line, and if not promptly filled, more mutants might continuously pour in. One of the two manor guards went to help the contractor, while the other kept a vigilant eye on them, especially Chen Fei at the window. Boss Hana noticed Chen Fei''s eagerness and quickly warned, "Hey, ''Rookie'', don''t do anything rash!" "It''s so vast outside, I want to check it out!" As Chen Fei spoke, he swung his arm in a Patton-style salute and threw himself down. "Hey!" By the time the two guards simultaneously rushed to the window ledge, there was no one left on the ground. Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode)! Boom! A muffled impact! Seizing a gap in the line, a mutant monster that had gotten too close was sent flying back, heavily crashing into the crowd of mutants, causing a chorus of panicked squeals. A massive figure clad in heavy armor crashed into the incoming surge of mutants like a cannonball, instantly sending four or five mutants flying into the air before they heavily fell. With his Physics Holy Sword, he swung creating heavy afterimages, easily and neatly prying out brains. In a blink, the bodies of the mutants lay staggered across the ground. Wherever he passed, no opponents were left, blood flowed like rivers in his wake. "What''s happening? Who rushed out there!" The manor''s butler Thompson, commanding the defenses, could not fathom this sudden turn of events. "Report, it''s Chen Fei from Jiu Defense Company, he rushed out." "What? Has he gone mad?" A supernatural power user injected with the suppressant shouldn''t be much stronger than a regular person. Rushing out like that, was he seeking a quicker death? "No, the suppressant is ineffective on him, he said it himself." The two guards were nearly in tears; they were tasked with monitoring closely, and yet one of them had slipped away, a mistake impossible to explain. "A Supernatural Ability Suppressant ineffective? How could such a thing happen!" Butler Thompson could never have imagined the previously reliable suppressant failing. "Mr. Thompson, what should we do?" The two guards looked for instructions, while defensively watching Hanna Gagel. Boss Hana received special treatment; the Supernatural Ability Suppressant had tightly suppressed her Wind-type Psionic Ability. She couldn''t recklessly thrash about like "Rookie." The struggling military contractor clenched his teeth, laboriously lifted his automatic rifle, and began firing short bursts outside. At this critical juncture, everyone was fighting desperately. Chapter 303 Section 302 - Xiao Jiu Laser Cannon With the addition of Chen Fei, the invulnerable new force, the humans at the Manor Main House quickly stabilized the situation until... "Jiu!" At last, Little Bird''s sharp beak managed to unleash a lethal death ray. A pale green, slender beam of light shot out, and after a dizzyingly rapid shake, one side of the area outside the main house was suddenly cleansed. Neatly burned sections of various kinds, shattered rocks, and disarrayed corpses could be seen everywhere. It seemed like nothing, be it mutants or rocks, could stop the light beam''s clean cuts. Not a spell yet better than a spell, the power of Xiao Jiu Laser Cannon was getting more and more fierce! "Damn it!" "What the hell is that!?" In the spot where the light shined, a mist of smoke lingered. The mutants'' onslaught and screams abruptly ceased, and one by one, those strangely shaped figures began to retreat like the tide. "What just happened?" Butler Thompson rushed over immediately; he had seen that terrifying pale green light beam. It swept across with the speed of lightning and left behind a swath of death. "It''s the bird, that bird, so terrifying!" "It''s horrible! Just like that, they all..." The two manor guards tasked with watching Hanna Gagel were both leaning against the wall, their faces full of terror as they pointed at her shoulder, as if that moment had caused them a great shock. The ferocious mutant lying quietly in the corner, covered in spikes, seemed to silently express how lucky those in the room were, as there were no fatalities. Jiu Defense had lost one of its people; the young man had disappeared, leaving only the one-eyed female boss. "Bird?" Butler Thompson looked puzzled at the harmlessly hopping little creature. It was just a Pure Light Sparrow, what about it? "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu tilted its head, looking curiously at Mr. Butler. Not understanding what he was so astonished about. "This bird... it''s not a Pure Light Sparrow!" The military contractor who had been holding on until now could no longer support himself and fainted with his head tilted. A single sweep of the light beam and all the enemies were dead. Could such a feat be accomplished by a First Rank magical beast? Before this, he would never have believed such a tiny thing could be so fierce. "Not a Pure Light Sparrow?" Butler Thompson became even more puzzled. He looked it up and down, left and right¡ªit still looked like a Pure Light Sparrow! Whoo... A cold breeze blew past. A figure suddenly appeared at the window, which had been blown open by the forcefully intruding mutants. "Xiao Jiu is indeed a Pure Light Sparrow, with a lineage as pure as they come." Chen Fei, holding a White Steel Crowbar coated with thick, viscous juice, stood at the window, reeking of a pungent smell, strong enough to make someone faint. After a massive killing spree outside, until outlined by Little Bird''s laser beam, all nearby mutants were swept clean, only then did he stop the battle and return to the starting point. "This is impossible!" x2! Chen Fei said covertly, "Come on, say hello to everyone!" "Jiu!" Little Bird made a crisp call. However... nothing happened; it was merely a call, and the little guy didn''t do anything further. Home training, very good! "Haha!" Laughter erupted spontaneously throughout the hall. Such a fist-sized creature was indeed quite endearing. The next second, the entire ground floor hall was filled to the brim with a blinding white light. "Ah! My eyes!" "I''m blind!" "Who threw that flashbang!" The hall turned chaotic. It was the familiar taste, the same formula¡ªthe reactions were even identical. After all, the essence of humanity is to repeat. Boss Hana, who already anticipated this, put her hand to her forehead, while Chen Fei opened his arms and shrugged, already immune to the commotion. "You guys, don''t go too far!" Manor Butler Thompson, in pain, covered his eyes as tears gushed out uncontrollably. Being the closest to the blast, he had taken the full brunt of the surprise "Light Burst Flash." Chen Fei said, "Xiao Jiu was just saying hello. It didn''t do it on purpose." These people were not the first to suffer misfortune, and they certainly wouldn''t be the last. Thompson said with tears in his eyes, "Other than ''Light Burst Flash,'' what Spells does it know?" The Second Rank Light-based Spell "Light Burst Flash" didn''t have any direct damage and certainly wouldn''t leave any lingering effects. After rubbing his eyes for a while, he could still only see blurrily and figured it would take some more time before his vision would return to normal. Originally thinking that injecting the two people from Jiu Defense with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant would control the situation and prevent any unexpected events, Butler Thompson realized his judgment had been mistaken. The Suppressant had only affected the female boss; the other one was completely immune to it. And the worst realization of all was that, under the very watchful eyes of everyone, hopping about energetically, there was a Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow, indeed a huge overlooked problem. "Light-based Spells from First to Third Rank, it knows a lot, like Illumination Technique, Light Healing Technique, Light Mirror Spell, Light of Redemption, Light Burst Flash, Element Dispel, and oh, it just learned another one¡ªPurifying Light!" Chen Fei counted them off on his fingers. The laser, not being a Spell, was automatically excluded. Upon further reflection, Xiao Jiu did seem quite capable. No wonder it was always standing with its wings akimbo (bird wings naturally fallen into an akimbo position). "We have injured people who need treatment; could you let the Pure Light Sparrow help with the Light Healing Technique?" When Thompson heard Chen Fei mention the "Light Healing Technique," he finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Illumination Technique and Light Healing Technique were genuinely the Pure Light Sparrow''s specialties. There was no such thing as lasers, that unconventional ability, which was clearly led astray by this unreliable young man. "This... no problem!" Chen Fei looked at the cheerful little one, hesitated for a moment, but in the end, nodded his head. "No more using ''Light Burst Flash''!" Butler Thompson hastily added, as he was quickly developing a phobia. "It won''t use it again!" Chen Fei knew Xiao Jiu''s habit. After greeting with "Light Burst Flash" once, it wouldn''t use it again. - Chapter 304 Section 303 - The True Objective Chen Fei''s assurance of "not using it again" made everyone breathe a sigh of relief in unison. The rank of "Light Burst Flash" wasn''t high, and its lethality was almost nonexistent, but it always caught people off guard, making it a particularly headache-inducing spell that no one liked because of the sudden scares it caused. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu began a wholesale of "Light Healing Technique," tossing small light orbs here and there, occasionally delivering one or two lifesaving spells like "Light of Redemption." The effects were almost instantaneous, greatly reducing the pressure on emergency care, a true godsend in their current predicament. At this moment, almost everyone was relieved that Jiu Defense Company had brought this Light-based Little Bird to the salon gathering. Without the "Light Healing Technique," the various injuries alone would have been enough to drag down their group of just over two hundred people. Watching the nimble Little Bird continuously casting Light-based Spells, Zuo Gengming from Spring Field Defense Limited Company couldn''t help but sidle up to Chen Fei with a big bruise on his left cheek, and asked curiously, "It must not be easy to train a Pure Light Sparrow to this level, right?" He was a bit embarrassed at the moment, as after viewing the surveillance video provided by the Manor Butler, he had thought that Chen Fei was the murderer who killed Mr. Xia Ji, the Manor Lord, and had immediately distanced himself from him. But afterward, he had a nagging feeling that something wasn''t quite right, and now he somewhat regretted it. How could someone who was willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone in critical situations and take the risk to rush to the frontline be someone who would kill out of a fit of emotional strife? Moreover, when looking at the way Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel interacted, there was not the slightest hint of intimacy; there were no signs of a private affair at all, making the surveillance footage seem even more suspicious. "Hmm!" Chen Fei nodded vigorously and said, "Indeed, it''s not easy. The cost was too great!" On this matter, there was indeed nothing worth boasting about in a Versailles style¡ªinvesting such resources in Xiao Jiu, he could hardly afford a second Pure Light Sparrow. If those investments were converted into cash, they''d be enough to pay off his personal debts immediately, with plenty to spare, allowing an ordinary family to live worry-free for a lifetime. But the little guy was so adorable that Chen Fei was more than willing to care for him. After all, it was his own "child." If he didn''t care for it, who else would? "Chirp!" After casting a barrage of Light-based Spells, an exhausted Xiao Jiu flew back to Daddy Chen Fei''s shoulder, nuzzled his earlobe for a hug, and eventually burrowed into Chen Fei''s pocket, curling up into a ball and drifting into a deep sleep, evidently worn out. Zuo Gengming looked at Chen Fei''s slightly bulging pocket and said enviously, "What a cute little guy." "That''s right, Mr. Zuo, your face¡ªshall we have Xiao Jiu take care of it later?" Chen Fei didn''t mind letting the Little Bird do some favors for friends when it had the strength to spare; he hadn''t taken the temporary distancing to heart. After all, it''s natural for people to seek good fortune and avoid disaster; even if relations are strong, one cannot stand with a murderer. "No, no need, they are just minor flesh wounds, they will heal in a few days." Zuo Gengming didn''t want to waste Xiao Jiu''s Healing Spell resources unnecessarily. At times like these, every "Light Healing Technique" or "Light of Redemption" could potentially save a life. He then asked with concern, "What should we do next?" Not only Zuo Gengming but everyone else was thinking along the same lines. The sudden attack by the Mutants had completely disrupted everyone''s previous disputes and choices; whether it be leaving the Manor Main House to seek a way out on their own or to hold out for help, both options had become unviable, the former being a sure way to death and the latter a waiting game for the inevitable. Chen Fei diverted his gaze from his bulging pocket and said, "Of course, it is... to survive!" The manor butler Thompson''s mouth twitched uncontrollably as he said in a serious tone, "That joke isn''t funny at all." Yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of panic and unease. God forbid this speculation be true! Gulp, someone swallowed hard and said with a forced smile, "Hehe, right, that joke isn''t funny at all." Mutants with intelligence and those without were entirely different creatures, the danger of the former being sufficient to destabilize humanity''s dominion over the entire planet. The Magical Beasts of Cangqiong Star were originally divided into those acting on instinct and those with near-human intelligence known as Demon Beasts. Later, some bored Blue Star Humans tried domesticating these Magical Beasts for fun. Surprisingly, after training and enlightenment, many beasts exhibited high intelligence and some could even communicate normally with humans like Demon Beasts, even though they had been genuine Magical Beasts before, with no signs of mutation or evolution. It was because a large number of such cases emerged that the biological classification on Cangqiong Star was later adjusted to merge Magical Beasts and Demon Beasts into one category, both termed Magical Beasts capable of using magic. Intelligence and language are not unique to humans; this is also commonly seen on Blue Star, where creatures like chimpanzees, dolphins, and parrots can demonstrate high intelligence. "Not too long ago, the Joint Defense Committee mounted a major operation in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and called up many Ability Users." As soon as Hanna Gagel finished speaking, many people''s expressions changed. Calling up Ability Users, just what are they planning to do? Not all military contractors have the opportunity to recruit Ability Users, and the majority of their staff are normal people. After all, whether it''s Cangqiong Star or Blue Star, the bulk of humanity is composed of normal individuals, not Ability Users. Like the 911 Aircrew Base that boasted two Ability Users, it was an anomaly. Only industry giants like Merman Brothers Consortium could scrabble together an Ability User squad to boast with, and even then, this squad was practically decimated in the ordeal of their night raid on the 911 Aircrew Base, coming very close to complete annihilation. The military contractors looked at each other, some better informed than others, and had heard whispers of such events, while some were completely clueless. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had imposed a gag order on all participants, and that''s why the outside world remained unaware. After all, mobilizing upwards of a hundred Ability Users, ranging from Earth Order to A-Rank, and using a "Dragon Slayer Missile", constituted a force so formidable that it could threaten the existence of some minor sovereignties. "This can''t be true!" There were those who still couldn''t believe it. "It seems to be true. I''ve heard about it." Soon enough, someone confirmed the information. "My relative is an Ability User and seems to have participated in that operation. Once, while drinking, he let something slip about that Pure Light Sparrow... ss, it really is you guys!" "Right, that Little Bird is quite famous!" Several people looked at Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel with their mouths agape. Where''s the bird? The Little Bird was sound asleep in the pocket, but no matter, everyone knew Xiao Jiu. It seemed like the little guy had made quite an impression on many people during that operation. Despite being only the size of a fist, it could rival Low-Rank Light Casters. Even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee recognized its efforts after the operation and rewarded it accordingly, so its efforts weren''t in vain. - Chapter 305 Section 304 - Lone Journey "You two, and this Pure Light Sparrow here, isn''t your Aircrew Base about to be done for?" There are always those who relish in others'' misfortunes. As the saying goes, everyone enjoys their blessings alone, but share calamities together¡ªhow splendid, how splendid! There are always those who dislike seeing others well off, after all, in a large forest, there are all kinds of birds. Hanna Gagel said disdainfully, "You think the strength of our 911 Aircrew Base is just this much?" "There''s still the fully capable ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, a Seventh Rank Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, and... well, an ''Ah Mao''!" Chen Fei wagged his index finger, telling those who wanted to laugh at the 911 Aircrew Base, not to idle around without a cause. He was somewhat self-satisfied, grateful that he had kept an extra hand; even though he and Boss Hanna were not at the 911 Aircrew Base, or Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain school, there was still a Magical Beast guarding each side. At the school, although there were only Teacher Shen''s Model 95 automatic rifle and the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao", the direct distance of 15 kilometers was merely a throttle push for a "Big Mouth Monster." A Third Rank Shadow Wolf might not be able to withstand a frontal assault from the mutants, but a sneaky attack from behind could absolutely hold out until support from the 911 Aircrew Base arrived. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron is the most brilliant squad in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, which is well-known. Even air combat forces like the Merman Brothers Consortium had their heads bloodied but failed to take down the 911 Aircrew Base, earning a reputation shinier than 24K gold. And then there''s also a Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet¡ªjust hearing "Seventh Rank Human Order" was terrifying enough, comparable on the ground to the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron. Last of all... can someone tell me what the hell is "Ah Mao"? Could it be that the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet is not that Big Cat? I suppose many people would break their heads guessing that this so-called "Ah Mao" is actually just a guard wolf located 15 kilometers away from the 911 Aircrew Base. Cat ¡ú Dog ¡ú Wolf ¡ú Magical Beast, this is a damn huge misunderstanding. "Want to laugh at us, 911? How stupid!" Hanna, the conspiracy theory expert, wore a disdainful expression, who knows who will be the butt of the joke! Those who had been sniggering just now could no longer muster a laugh, with 911 having the most reliable Combat Flight Squadron and a Magical Beast standing guard, what about them? Many people turned pale and trembled, if what the lady boss from Jiu Defense said was true, even if they really could make it back alive, things might have already cooled off by then, right? Zuo Gengming said with an ashen face, "I¡ªI must go back!" Other shareholders of Spring Field Defense were his college classmates. In his absence, with his life or death unknown, it was uncertain whether those classmates would tear apart their friendship to struggle over control of Spring Field Defense and waste too much energy on infighting. The areas near the two Aircrew Bases already had mutant activities, and Spring Field Defense was having a hard time dealing with it. They took the opportunity of the salon to meet strong military contractors for cooperation and support. Now, if mutants instigated by humans attacked them, it would be adding insult to injury. One person immediately stood up, pointing at Zuo Gengming and said loudly, "You want to go back, and so do I, but how do we get back? Outside is all damn mutants, stepping out is a road to death." An intangible pressure filled the air, leaving no escape. Many people had odd expressions in such a situation, on the verge of emotional outburst. Butler Thompson of the manor did not have such a predicament as the military contractors. Instead, he could maintain his calm and reason and quickly urged everyone, "Please keep calm! Everyone, please cool down a bit, Ms. Hanna, your theory is just speculation." "Right, perhaps it is a guess, who knows!" Hanna Gagel feigned ignorance knowingly. If it really were a human conspiracy, they wouldn''t miss this opportunity. No matter what these guys were thinking, since things had already happened, no one could change the result, and they didn''t know how many Aircrew Bases could eventually survive. Cruel corporate warfare may leave prisoners, but when attacked by mutants, often no creature is spared, no survivors left¡ªsurrender is futile. "We must go back, we must return as soon as possible!" "Yes!" ... However... with too many old slickers and hardly a few willing to actually spring into action, only two or three got carried away and stood up, wishing to join this seemingly foolish reinforcement team. But seeing that everyone was all talk and no action, they sheepishly retreated, not willing to be the sacrificial lambs. Bang!~ A distant thud resounded, lighting up half the space with fire. Moments later, another explosion occurred, and the shrieks of mutants sounded from afar like a Hyakki Yagyo, causing everyone''s hair to stand on end as they imagined the fierce "heroic" scene of the battle. Seeing the female boss of the Jiu Defense Company calmly holding a cup of tea, Zuo Gengming couldn''t help but ask, "Ms. Hanna, aren''t you worried?" "Worried? Worried about what?" Hanna Gagel set down her teacup, a look of confusion on her face. "Mr. Chen Fei might be in danger. Don''t you plan to rescue him?" Zuo Gengming silently prayed in his heart that nothing would happen to Chen Fei. Otherwise, their planned cooperation would definitely fall through. If his venture failed, he would have to go home and inherit the family fortune, something Zuo Gengming was extremely reluctant to accept. "Rescue him? I would if I had the ability. Unless I remove the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, I''m just as helpless as anyone else right now." Hanna Gagel picked up her tea again, took a small sip, and continued, "Speaking of danger, Chen Fei is the biggest danger. Instead of worrying about him, it might be better to worry about how many mutants will survive in the end." She was somewhat holding back her true thoughts. Even without her Wind-type psionic ability, her martial arts alone could prevent seven or eight ordinary men from getting close. Not far away, the estate''s butler looked embarrassed. What a situation this was! "Mr. Chen Fei is the biggest danger?" Zuo Gengming was dumbfounded. Is that any way for a boss to talk about their employee? ... Clad from head to toe in Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode), Chen Fei slaughtered hundreds of mutants who foolishly exposed themselves. Looking around, within a hundred-meter radius, not a single living mutant could be seen. These monsters had finally learned their lesson, knowing that no matter how recklessly they attacked, it would be in vain. "Chirp!~" The little bird, secure in Chen Fei''s pocket, was sleeping soundly, undisturbed by the mutants'' screams or the explosions of hand grenades. For the little guy, being by Daddy Chen Fei''s side was the ultimate sense of security. Indeed, that was the case. "Evolve, Dragon Guard!" Chen Fei softly commanded, and the Dragon Guard Single Soldier Tactical Armor from the Physical Evolution Database replaced the Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode) as seamlessly as a tide washing in and out. In this situation, the Dragon Guard was appropriate, though the Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit still had shortcomings. Execute "A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe" The usually task-giving Dog System was uncharacteristically quiet this time, surprisingly not assigning any mission. Adam: ??? Who am I, where am I, and what am I supposed to do? Adam: Damn! How many times have I been deleted??? - Chapter 306 Section 305 - Captives Adam: Holy shit! How many times have I been deleted??? Chen Fei: Uh, I forgot to delete, wait a moment, I''ll delete it now and recompile once. Adam: Wait, wait, don''t... Chen Fei: Then get up and get to work! Adam: T-T The Dog System is way more overbearing than the PC platforms from thirty years ago; the AI "Adam" just can''t beat it, not even able to make a place for itself like a sparrow in a sparrow''s nest. This unlucky kid, ending up in Chen Fei''s hands, was really unlucky. Casually refreshing the "Individual Information" State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 62/67 Burst Strength: 130/147 Fullness: 79% Active time: 131 hours Energy Points: 1100/10000 Electric Energy Reserve: 1200 degrees (kW¡¤h) Still in the so-called "larval form" state, both physical energy and burst strength experienced significant growth; no wonder when bullying those mutants, I felt that this type of mutant was especially weak. Turns out it wasn''t that the other side was weak but that I had become stronger. The unit for "Electric Energy Reserve" has changed, used to be power generation, but now turned into the degree-based retention amount, apparently with no upper limit to discharge power, making it possible to drain in one go. Still, 1100 energy points left, let''s see what skills I could find in the "Skill Shop" to help myself get out of this bind. Skill Shop: 0/0 What''s going on here? Usually selling a bunch of useless junk or skills that I have no use for, and now it doesn''t even bother to pretend, just going on strike, nothing at all left, just empty space. Chen Fei: "Dog System, come out!" Dog System: ... Adam: I am the Dog System, I am the Dog System, woof woof! Such a strong will to survive. Chen Fei: "Shut up, you''re not worthy!" Adam: (??§Õ?) "''Adam'', turn on night vision." Chen Fei originally had hoped the Dog System''s "Skill Shop" might have some handy skill, but unfortunately, that really wasn''t the case. The next second, the night vision module, replicated and evolved from the "Dragon Guard" single soldier tactical armor, was activated, and his field of vision immediately brightened. Xiao Jiu''s Illumination Technique with light orbs was very convenient and sufficient to light up the entire field of view, but the night vision functionality of the single soldier tactical armor was more covert, less likely to reveal his position, perfectly suitable for moving silently. "Initiate terrain scanning!" Adam: Terrain scanning module activated! "Gravity Adjustment Module, 1%" Adam: Gravity adjustment... huh? No, it''s not there! "Let''s temporarily substitute with limestone!" "The Spiky Armored Beast consumed so much at once, we need to quickly inject the Flesh Mushrooms with splitting hormone, otherwise the mother will soon show signs of malnutrition." "Thinking about the taste of Flesh Mushrooms, really makes one nauseous, ugh..." "Having meat to eat is already good, why think about those other things?" "Why not raise a few chickens, I have been eating Flesh Mushrooms for ten years, almost forgetting the taste of chicken, ducks, fish, and pigs." "Soon!" "Soon? Another three years and three years, when will it ever end." "Shh! Don''t let anyone hear you, be careful or they''ll catch you to feed the mother, crunch, tastes like human meat." "Holy shit!" Chen Fei was also wickedly sly, jumped over opportunistically, and said fiercely, "I heard that!" Just to see two people in professional protective suits staring at him dumbfounded, then pointing at his armor, they exclaimed, "Who, who are you?" Bang bang! With hands swinging left and right, he knocked out those two men with a slap each. He found a nearby corner and dragged the two over, then proceeded to wake one of them up. "Ouch! Where am I?" The protective suit was peeled open, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with graying hair. "Straighten up your attitude, I''m interrogating you here. From now on, I ask and you answer. If you dare not cooperate, that guy will be your fate," said Chen Fei, pointing to the other man, who had already stopped breathing. The force of his slap was too strong, accidentally breaking the neck, which proved useful in threatening this remaining captive. "Record!" Adam: Microphone activated, MP3 format, 32-bit, sampling rate 86000Hz. Chen Fei was not the sort of guy who knew nothing. Recording confessions and collecting firsthand intelligence was a very important matter. Until now, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still seemed to lack substantial clues about the artificial breeding of mutants. Even with the previous joint reconnaissance operation, they had failed to capture any live subjects, and had not obtained much substantial evidence. "No, no, no, I don''t know anything?" Even seeing his companion''s dead face, the middle-aged man was shivering with fear, vigorously shaking his head, trying to resist to the end. Suddenly, he clenched his teeth violently, desperately shouting, "I won''t say anything, you might as well give up!" "Clenching your teeth is useless, the poison in the false teeth has already been removed by me." Chen Fei cheerfully watched the other''s performance, poor show, buddy! Finally catching a live one, they couldn''t let him die before squeezing out all his value. "You think I only have this trick up my sleeve? Hakka Kolley Tamah..." Bang!~ The middle-aged man''s head exploded without warning, red and white splashing all over Chen Fei''s face. Luckily, the Dragon Guard Tactical Armor had not been removed, otherwise, it would have been awkward. "Damn it!" Chen Fei angrily stood up, lamenting the wasted effort. Although the Dragon Guard had detected the unusual matter in the opponent''s brain tissue, it hadn''t expected it to be a bomb that could be triggered by a spoken phrase. No wonder the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had so little success in capturing clues from members of such organizations committed to dying like Dead Soldiers. - Chapter 307 Section 306 - Farm It was hard enough to catch two captives, but then one slipped away and the other committed suicide, making all efforts pointless, a total waste of energy. Chen Fei was ready to capture two more live targets for interrogation when, before he had taken two steps, a shrill alarm began to blare. Beep... beep... beep... The wailing warning quickly intensified, and the corridor filled with the sound of chaotic footsteps as a dozen mutants, referred to by the two previously caught captives as "Spiky Armored Beasts," simultaneously pounced towards Chen Fei. He was covered in the scent of fresh blood, which the keen senses of the mutants detected immediately. He met them with his White Steel crowbar, striking fiercely. Brains splattered over the walls, the ceiling, and the floor, leaving grimy specks everywhere. Without their brains, the mutants could no longer be fierce, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground. A line of fire shot straight towards Chen Fei. He was about to summon "Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode)" to enhance his defense when a faint light screen suddenly appeared in front of him, followed by another. "Jiu!" From the Dragon Guard''s tactical helmet brain case, Xiao Jiu had finally woken up and promptly released two Light-based Spells shields one after the other. Boom! ~ In the semi-enclosed environment of the corridor, the explosive power of the rocket increased by nearly double. The shockwave and flames were brutally pushed to both ends of the corridor, sweeping away the strewn mutant remains as if a Level 14 Hurricane had passed through. The outermost Light System Magic Shield instantly collapsed, turning into countless light spots that dissipated with the blast wave. The second Light System Magic Shield flickered wildly for a while. After enduring the initial brunt of the rocket''s explosion, it barely held up, clearing the dense smoke and pungent smell of gunpowder for Chen Fei. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu''s voice carried exhaustion; it hadn''t rested enough and wasn''t fully recovered yet. "Evolve, laser cannon!" Chen Fei activated his Skill, pulling from the "Physical Evolution Database," the same Laser Cannon originally mounted inside the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, which now was fitted with a temporary casing, transforming into a two-meter-long, single-soldier Portable Laser Cannon with a maximum diameter of about 0.3 meters, its thumb-thick cable connecting to the Dragon Guard''s Tactical Armor. The original Dragon Guard armor had never carried such a weaponry system, but that didn''t matter, for with "Adam" the AI it was more than enough. Even if it couldn''t handle it, let alone the Dog System. Adam: Laser Cannon! Laser Cannon? Where is it? I don''t have it... Ah, where did this Laser Cannon come from, what is going on ah ah ah! The inexplicably appearing Portable Laser Cannon nearly caused the artificial intelligence AI to go haywire; this was just unscientific! System: Ding! Portable Laser Cannon connected, fully charged, current "Electric Energy Reserve" good for 10 full-power shots! Adam: What am I doing? The occurrence of such bizarre incidents had nearly driven the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" mad. As the dust settled a bit, the situation ahead became hazily visible. Two Spiky Armored Beast mutants stood on either side, like Door Guardians serving as fleshy barricades, while two humans in sealed protective suits peered out from behind a single infantry rocket launcher. As the eyes of both parties met mid-air, the ones in protective suits were stunned. They couldn''t fathom how someone who had just withstood a direct rocket blast could emerge unscathed; did they really believe that the preceding violent explosion was a mere fifty-cent special effect? Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to press the firing button, and a faint green beam instantly illuminated the entire corridor. Thirty meters away, the two mutants acting as meat shields instantly turned into two fireballs. Shortly thereafter, the infantry rocket launcher exploded violently, a larger fireball engulfing the two humans operating it, along with the mutant fireballs in front of them. The return of the bird without its human companion carried significant implications. Many hearts sank. The welfare of Chen Fei wasn''t of much concern to most people, but he was the first to venture outside. If something untoward had happened to him, it meant that the dangers outside were unpredictable and their chances of staying trapped here were more likely to be slim. "Xiao Jiu, where is ''Rookie''?" Hanna Gagel, who was resting, opened her eyes and spread out her palm for the Little Bird to land on. "Chirp, chirp!" The little creature hopped around cheerfully. "Ms. Hanna, could Mr. Chen Fei have..." "No!" As Thompson, the Manor Butler, began to ask with a probing tone, Hanna Gagel interrupted him without any politeness. Hanna Gagel said with utmost certainty, "Xiao Jiu is in good spirits, its feathers aren''t ruffled, meaning it hasn''t been through battle, he''ll be here in a bit." She could see many clues from Xiao Jiu. "I''m back!" Chen Fei stepped into the hall with large strides. Many people stood up, looking at him in astonishment. "What''s it like outside?" "What exactly is going on?" Unable to restrain their impatience, many inquired. It was the reality everyone most urgently needed to know. Unsettled by the sudden relocation, along with the house, to this godforsaken place, nearly every person was feeling uneasy. "''Rookie'', did you find anything?" Holding Xiao Jiu, Hanna Gagel was the first to welcome him. Since Xiao Jiu couldn''t speak, asking it was pointless, so they could only get a clear picture of what was happening outside by asking Chen Fei directly. "This is a Spiky Armored Beast Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground." Chen Fei said just one sentence, and with a query count of 233, the bustling hall, lively as a marketplace, fell silent in an instant, all noise abruptly ceased. Many exchanged puzzled looks. "We''ve caught a big fish!" Hanna Gagel, however, was thrilled. The last joint operation organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had to be abruptly concluded with the detonation of a Dragon Slayer Missile to prevent the uncountable mutants from surging out of the ground, leading to uncontrollable consequences. But this time, it seemed they would be able to secure a complete scene. - Chapter 308 Section 307 - Blasting a Path to Survival Chen Fei unexpectedly shook his head. "No, not even a catfish, just a highly automated, ordinary breeding base." Considering that a mere nine people were able to maintain the operation of the mutant artificial breeding ground, it should just be a basic mass production base, without even a decent research center, far from being a core stronghold. No wonder the rescued database had so little valuable information. Those who moved the manor main house along with so many people overestimated the situation; they probably thought about casually killing these two hundred or so individuals here. However, they didn''t anticipate being countered and killed instead. Even after the counter-kill, a Spiky Armored Beast mutant breeding ground was of little value, and the personnel loss was negligible. A clever strategy indeed¡ªno significant loss regardless of success or failure. "What?" "An ordinary breeding base?" The fact that someone was covertly breeding mutants was shocking enough, but even more astonishing was that the mutants that nearly led their less than two hundred people to a group annihilation came from just an ordinary breeding base. "Really?" Hanna Gagar could hardly believe it. Chen Fei spread his hands helplessly and said, "I''ve taken control of the entire breeding facility; there were only nine humans responsible for managing and operating it. Besides the three that I killed, the rest committed suicide." Not capturing any live captives who could provide intelligence was probably his biggest regret. "Only nine people? No wonder you said that." Boss Hana nodded thoughtfully. Merely nine individuals indeed did not account for a substantial breeding base, especially when they were all just underlings. Artificially breeding mutants was almost akin to being an enemy of the entire human race; those guys must have been ready for such an outcome, preferring death to leaving any survivor that could become a potential threat. If not for such determination, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would have long since unearthed and eradicated these grievous offenders. "Mr. Chen Fei, may I ask, how should we get out?" It was Butler Thompson who was most concerned about this issue at the moment. If they couldn''t get out, it meant that everyone would die trapped here. This would become their burial ground. Chen Fei spread his hands helplessly and said, "The exit passage has been destroyed and sealed tight; we need to clear a new way. If we had an Earth Element User, that would be good, but if not, we''ll have to find someone who''s familiar with civil engineering, or mine and tunnel work." In the process of searching the entire mutant artificial breeding ground, he had found the exit, but it had been blocked by collapsed boulders. The facility''s self-destruct sequence didn''t wait until the last second before completely collapsing; instead, it followed a premeditated plan, sequentially destroying each crucial component. During the countdown, most of the data archives, the mutants and their progenitors being bred, along with strange creatures called Flesh Mushrooms used as a food source, and most importantly, the exit passage, were destroyed. If the exit passage had been filled with molten steel, Chen Fei wouldn''t have worried; he would have just converted it into Energy Points. But he was completely helpless against the hard, heavy boulders. Gigantic rocks weighing tens of tons aren''t something humans can move, especially when they''re jammed so tightly together. "Understood. I''ll take care of finding people!" Butler Thompson nodded, called over a servant to bring a loudspeaker, and announced, "Anyone who is familiar with civil engineering and mine tunnels, we need your expertise." After calling out a few times, from the lobby on the first floor to upstairs, several people stepped forward. The military contractor with mining experience shook his head. If the rocks blocking the elevator shaft extended all the way to the exit, not to mention whether the 20 tons of explosives stored in the Manor Main House''s underground shelter would be enough, just the task of removing the shattered rocks was a significant workload. Moreover, continuing to clear upwards was risky; if a collapse of unknown thickness of rock occurred, the consequences would be unthinkable. At this moment, everyone started to realize the value of an Earth Element Ability User. If only there were a Human Order Elementary Level Earth Mage or an Earth Element User below grade D, that would do! But among the military contractors who were invited to Mr. Xia Ji''s salon gathering to prepare for a coalition of mid-size military contractors, Ability Users were few and far between. Companies like Jiu Defense, having two Ability Users along with a Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow, were truly the only one of its kind, with no branches elsewhere. "No matter if it works or not, let''s try first and talk later!" Hanna Gagel didn''t have that much time to waste on making decisions. Experience more tales on empire If they did nothing, they certainly wouldn''t be able to get out, without even the slightest chance. But if they tried, at least there would be a glimmer of hope. So... the answer was quite obvious! "I need a tape measure, magnifying glass, hammer, paper, pen, calculator, it''d be best to have a computer, I need to calculate blast points and the amount of explosives." Demolition is a technical job, and professionals truly made a difference. Rather than wastefully expending the explosives, they aimed to make full use of every gram of explosive power, clearing a path for everyone before it''s all spent. Fortunately, the demands of these professionals could be met inside the artificial breeding ground, and if not, the Manor Main House could also provide. Before long, the points for drilling were marked out, as well as diameter and depth data. What came next was left to the Metal Elemental Psychic Power User, Mr. Chen Fei, to act as a makeshift solution¡ªa showdown of hardness between Metal and Earth elements. Everyone was thankful that this supernatural power user was immune to the Supernatural Ability Suppressant; otherwise, the operation would have had to be delayed until a month later when the suppressant''s effects would have been completely metabolized by the body. Evolved high-hardness drill bits quickly bored the required holes into the rock surface, and then explosives and detonators were successively inserted. Boom!~ The rubble at the bottom of the elevator shaft was blown to smithereens. Mr. Chen Fei led from the front, being the first to move the largest and heaviest stones out of the way, throwing them to the furthest spot. The others followed suit, carrying the rocks out by hand, on their shoulders, or together, moving the debris bit by bit. Periodically, more rocks fell down, and the scene became quite dangerous at times. Then came the second blast, the third, the fourth... The initial 5 tons of explosives was quickly depleted as they cleared out at least a thousand tons of rock, forming a small mountain in a corner of the breeding ground. "This digging isn''t right!" Someone soon raised an objection. There were still 15 tons of explosives left, not too little, but also not a lot. "This is the most optimized plan; what''s your objection?" The specialist military contractor argued fiercely with the person raising the objection, and they soon started pushing up their sleeves. "I specialize in telecommunications cables; your approach will only waste the explosives!" The person had not been able to help earlier due to being from a different specialty, but they couldn''t stand idly by now and stood their ground. "If you can do it, go ahead! Why don''t you stick your hefty 200 pounds up there and see if you can knock out even a couple ounces?" The engineer was professional indeed, getting straight to the point. Everyone was holding their breath; these little explosives did indeed seem to be ready to blow up at the slightest spark. Chapter 309 Lesson 308 - Misfortunes Never Come Single "Stop it, stop it, for the love of god, don''t fight, Mr. Chen Fei, please step in and stop them." The peacemaker butler Thompson rushed over, pleading with Chen Fei for help. "It''s a minor skirmish, let them fight it out." Chen Fei, with his arms crossed, didn''t show the slightest interest in intervening. Indeed, it was a minor affair. At the 911 Aircrew Base, colleagues fighting was as common as dinner. Hadn''t they seen Chekhov Big Bear getting pounded by Big Brother Xiao today and then thrashed by Deputy Squadron Leader Little Chili the next, only to carry on as if nothing happened, cheerfully twisting and turning on the dance floor of the bar "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes"? If one didn''t harbor some violent tendencies, how could they fit into the role of a military contractor, when bloodshed was called for, yet still resort to empty bluster¡ªwasn''t that just asking for trouble? "Fight!" "Fight! Fight! Fight!" "Go for it! Xitas, I bet ten thousand Star Yuan on your victory!" "Damn, Norberto, I''m with you, don''t lose to that jerk Xitas!" "Fifty thousand Star Yuan, bet Norberto wins!"No?v(el)B\\jnn Some seized the moment to start a betting pool, and the stakes quickly soared past ten million Star Yuan. There was no stopping or settling things by now. The atmosphere instantly spiked, and the two guys went from disagreement to fisticuffs in less than a minute, ending up in a full-bodied grapple, going at it with a satisfying thrashing. "Stop fighting, stop fighting!" The estate butler tried to step in to stop it but was held back by Chen Fei, unable to move from his spot. "Let them fight..." After about fifteen minutes, the two disheveled guys let go of each other by mutual agreement, each retreating to one side, utterly exhausted with no strength to spare¡ªone slumped to the ground, gasping for air, while the other simply lay down, still mouthing off nonstop. "What the hell? Who won?" "It should be Chairman Norberto who won, he''s seated, while Xitas just lay down." "Not right, Norberto lost teeth, just lying down might mean his back''s hurt too." "Should be a draw, house takes all!" "Shut it!" ¡ÁN! "Got a problem? Come at me!" And so began the chaos on the scene, a brawl that couldn''t be contained. Good Mr. Nice Guy, well-behaved Baby, such characters didn''t exist among the military contractors, aside from those from the Green Cherry Orchard Estate. Even Chen Fei, who often considered himself an honest kid, was no stranger to bloodshed. "Do you have a better plan, Mr. Xitas?" Chen Fei walked over nonchalantly, eyeing the man on the ground, bruised and swollen, who had voiced the doubt. Opposition was fine, but opposition without alternatives would certainly not do. The pathetic objector, weakly said, "Yes! Mr. Chen Fei, hey, can your Metal Elemental Psychic Power keep evolving the drill bit?" Resentful yet powerless for another round, he still wasn''t convinced. "I don''t know, we should let Xiao Jiu check it out." Chen Fei took out the little creature that was lazily hiding in his shirt pocket, scratching its tiny, sharp beak, and woke it up. "Jiu?" Little Bird slowly opened its bewildered eyes, but quickly perked up. With a flap of its wings, it landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder. "Little Jiu, go up and see, what''s outside?" Chen Fei pointed to the hole that still existed, even after several boulders had fallen, leading straight to the surface. Due to their own weight, the drill pipes had fallen and withdrawn on their own, eliminating the need for extra hole-clearing procedures. "Jiu!" The little bird tilted its head and chirped. In front of them, light and shadows flickered, soon revealing an image. "Light Mirror Spell!" Boss Hana immediately recognized this first-rank spell of the Light Series. Little Jiu used it rarely, as there was little need for it. So much so that both she and Chen Fei had almost forgotten it had this particular skill. Now that they had broken through to the outside and light could penetrate, the Light Mirror Spell allowed a natural view of the exterior. A mere 500 meters of earth was nothing for the Light Mirror Spell''s probing distance. The moon and stars shined faintly, mountains stood in the background, and one could vaguely see the lights of human habitation. "Where are we?" Xitas, who had proposed the drilling plan, watched the scene displayed by the Light Mirror Spell, slightly stunned. "I don''t know, first let''s get a phone out there, use mine, it''s a satellite phone!" Someone pulled out their phone, but it ended up being unnecessary. Inhabited places usually have ground communication networks, which could also provide positioning. Little Jiu first took a self-tapping screw to the surface. It reached the ground easily, found a large rock nearby, and a laser hit it, burning a small hole. While the rock was still molten, the screw was embedded firmly into it, and as it cooled, it became immovable. Then came a slender and lightweight fishing line, threaded through the eye of the screw, returned underground, and brought up a thicker and sturdier rope. This time, not only could a mobile phone be sent to the surface, but also an optical fiber data cable and wireless relay equipment. When the network signal was successfully introduced into the underground space for the first time, many people were so excited they cried with joy. They took out their mobile phones, which had their signal restored, and began to call their contacts to report their safety and inquire about the current situation of their companies. "BOSS, we are under attack, mutants, don''t know where they came from, there are a lot of them, a lot!" Kanemoto, one of the rotating managers on duty, although tense, was not panicked. After all, the 911 Aircrew Base at the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area had the most capable Combat Flight Squadron, and also a battle-hardened veteran squad with ample experience. Everyone had been through corporate wars, and they still managed to stay calm in the face of a massive mutant assault. If worse came to worst, they could retreat to the underground air-raid shelters and wait for rescue from the Global United Defense Committee. Jiu Defense Company''s low-level employees, having no good news to report, Chen Fei heard Kanemoto''s voice and exclaimed in surprise, "BOSS, you guessed right." Not far away, Zuo Gengming also got in touch with his Spring Field Defense Limited Company. One piece of bad news after another made his facial expression extremely grim. When it rains, it pours, as two of Spring Field Defense''s aircrew bases were also under attack, and this was not an isolated incident. The military contractors attending the Green Cherry Orchard Estate salon were coincidentally attacked by mutants at the same time, some having already been completely wiped out. The triumphant mutants began to spread toward densely populated areas of nearby economic, plantation, husbandry, and industrial zones, marking the start of a new wave of mutant disaster. - Chapter 310 Section 309 - Spoils of War Many trapped underground recalled the predictions made by Hanna Gagel, the one-eyed owner of Jiu Defense Company. "Over a hundred headless Aircrew Bases, if faced with simultaneous mutant attacks, what do you guess would happen?" She really hit the nail on the head! It was no damn joke, even if we had taken it seriously from the start, what could we have done? Delay the mutants'' attack by a step? When these people were inexplicably transferred underground, the outcome was already sealed. "I''m really, truly sorry!" Explore stories on empire Manor Butler Thompson came over especially to bow and apologize; he''d been utterly foolish. He hadn''t at all anticipated that the fool was himself!No?v(el)B\\jnn "It doesn''t matter, you are not an insider, so it''s not surprising at all that you speak like an outsider." After Boss Hana finished talking with the duty manager Kanemoto, she graciously waved her hand. This woman''s heart was actually about the size of a needle''s point, directly mocking the other party as an amateur who flaunts a broadsword before Guangong. - "I''m bankrupt!" Someone slumped to the ground, wailing loudly, having just received the news of the total annihilation of their Aircrew Base. And that wasn''t even the worst part! What''s more despairing is that, having just taken out a loan and invested it not long ago, suddenly, with no Aircrew Base and no personnel left, what would he use to repay the loan? The compensation for the personnel losses alone could crush him to death. Risk and reward coexist; working as a military contractor is a high-stakes gamble, where one earns much but also stands to lose just as much, truly an adventurer''s trade. As various military contractor bigwigs gradually got in touch with the outside world, more news feedback came in. Perhaps the number of mutants launched in this frenzy didn''t reach expectations, and a few Aircrew Bases were lucky enough to escape attack, surviving the ordeal. But when over a hundred Aircrew Bases were attacked at once, the resulting commotion was simply too vast. The neighboring military contractors couldn''t possibly ignore this, automatically activating the mutual defense protocol, offering support proactively, and even alarming Sovereignty, with the active air force joining the fray without delay. With the addition of fresh forces, the situation of many Aircrew Bases, which were teetering on the verge of collapse under a massive siege by mutants, began to rapidly improve, thereby stabilizing their defenses. The big yellow dog "Ah Hu" was emboldened by its human allies; lacking the courage and capabilities of the ancestral "Ah Mao," it only dared to bark incessantly at mutants in the lit area outside the fence. - Twelve hours later, the local sovereignty finally dispatched rescue personnel, a small portion of which were borrowed from neighboring countries. After all, they couldn''t muster that many strong individuals due to the small population base, and before this, no one had anticipated such an event occurring. An A-class Earth Element Ability User, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage of the Human Order, a Second Rank Space Mage of the Earth Order, and a First Rank Light Mage made up the entirety of the local and neighbor sovereignties'' resources. Beyond that, there were more than a dozen ability users and a police task force. The former helped dig through the elevator shaft, while the latter was in charge of gathering evidence at the artificial breeding ground for mutants, aiming to uncover the masterminds behind the breeding and cultivation of these creatures, and to eradicate them all in one fell swoop, to restore clear skies over Blue Star. The ground trembled slightly, and underground communication was once again interrupted. However, countless rocks were brought up to the surface, forming a small mound. The elevator shaft, plunging five hundred meters deep, was finally cleared. Fresh air from the surface slowly filled the underground space, with gusty winds sounding within the shaft. The trapped military contractors were gradually brought out, but a few remained, including Butler Thompson and several manor security guards. In addition to their duty to guard the Manor Main House, they had to undergo interrogation and evidence collection by the sovereignty police task force, investigating a murder case. After all, someone had died in the main house¡ªnone other than the manor lord, Mr. Xia Ji¡ªand the entire Manor Main House, along with over two hundred people, had moved from the Great Island of Britannia to an underground space in the Alps Mountains. The whole situation was far too mysterious, demanding a multitude of truths to be investigated, ensuring a lengthy process. As suspects in the murder case, Hana Gagel of Jiu Defense Company and Chen Fei were also kept behind. The surveillance video from Butler Thompson, when authenticated on-site, was confirmed to be a CGI synthesis. When each frame was enlarged for comparison, it became clear that the outlines were too perfect and refined, far exceeding the actual capabilities of the surveillance cameras, resembling the quality of 35mm film from an 8mm film, which was an obvious flaw due to its excessive detail. Even after the surveillance footage was confirmed as fabricated evidence, Chen Fei was not completely cleared of suspicion, and he received two shots of Supernatural Ability Suppressant. Of course, it was to no effect again, and the police task force chose to give up. After all, one shot of the suppressant was not cheap¡ªit was the hard-earned money of the people¡ªand it was completely uneconomical to continue in this way. The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was locked in a "Mirror Black Box" which worked somewhat like a microwave. After all, many had witnessed its terrifying destructive power. With a sweep of its death beam, swathes of mutants bit the dust. If it were to confront the police, it would be quite unbearable. When releasing a laser beam inside the "Mirror Black Box," the beam would be trapped indefinitely refracting within, effectively containing Xiao Jiu''s ability. "Mr. Chen Fei, what''s in this box of yours?" A suitcase appeared in Chen Fei''s hand, piquing the curiosity of the police task force investigators. Although the inventory list clearly stated "Spoils of War," and nothing unusual was detected through the X-ray scan, the fact that the case never left his side inevitably aroused suspicion. Chen Fei, holding the suitcase, openly said, "My spoils of war, a seized item, a King Oyster Mushroom." Reliance on a basic commission alone wouldn''t make one wealthy in the military contractor business; the main source of income was still largely dependent on extras like spoils of war. Though he had heard the term "Flesh Mushroom" mentioned by the staff of the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, Chen Fei only found a shriveled, small mushroom resembling the King Oyster Mushroom in the "Flesh Mushroom" cultivation area. If cooked properly, even a mushroom like the King Oyster Mushroom can taste like meat and has a similar texture. - Chapter 311 Section 310 - Clue "King Oyster Mushrooms?" The investigative team member paused, pointing at the locked box and asked curiously, "Can we open it and take a look?" King oyster mushrooms are an ingredient, but is there really a need to keep them so securely locked up? "Sure!" Chen Fei nodded, turned the combination lock, 666, and unlocked it. Sure enough, a forearm-thick, white jade-colored fungal fruiting body lay quietly inside the box with contour-fitting padding. It indeed looked exactly like a king oyster mushroom, thick and long, pale and delicate, with a majestic cap on top emitting a somewhat sinister aura. Upon seeing Chen Fei''s appearance¡ªblack hair, black eyes, and yellow skin¡ªthe investigator immediately had an epiphany. Understood! Racial talent, the walking foragers, no one could stop this nationality from collecting all edible things, especially those that replenish form with form, they would certainly not let them go easily. Boss Hana thought the same, letting Chen Fei formally request a combination lock box from the manor butler to store this "spoils of war" found in the mutant artificial breeding ground. Those who didn''t know would think like this investigator, assuming there was some treasure hidden. Stay connected via empire "Cheep!" The little bird trapped inside the "mirror black box" chirped, clearly sensing the faint fishy smell emanating from the fungal body. In fact, this overlooked "flesh mushroom" was also discovered by it, and the olfactory sense of birds is not much inferior to that of cats and dogs. The investigator moved his gaze away from the safe and continued, "Mr. Chen Fei, we have been commissioned by the Global United Defense Committee to ask you to stay here for a while and continue assisting with our investigation." As the main party involved, the earlier questioning of Chen Fei was just the beginning. "What about my boss?" Chen Fei looked towards Boss Hana. "I''ll head back now, stay at the Aircrew Base, and also take Little Jiu!" Hanna Gagel extended her hand and lightly touched the "mirror black box" temporarily harboring Little Bird. Having Little Jiu here wasn''t useful; returning to Aircrew Base, he could be a great help. Although the box could block light, it was quite fragile; indeed, it was merely a formality. After all, the attack power of the Pure Light Sparrow itself was almost zero. It couldn''t even peck painfully; if it hadn''t mastered the laser, it wouldn''t enjoy the treatment of this "mirror black box." The little one surrounded by mirrors was curiously hopping around inside, making various movements. It could see itself from every angle, completely devoid of awareness that it was in confinement; instead, it was having a blast. Jiu Defense Company having such a mascot was something all the military contractors envied jealously; they were secretly considering whether to keep one or a few Pure Light Sparrows themselves, preferably those that had mastered light-based spells, maybe they could help tremendously in crucial moments. The investigator finally said, "That''s all for today''s investigation. Please rest assured, Mr. Chen Fei, we will provide you with fair and just treatment." "Thank you!" What else could Chen Fei say? He could only honestly accept the arrangements of the police team. After all, he was a law-abiding citizen. The military contractors left one by one, returning to clean up their respective messes. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was released again, landed on Boss Hana''s shoulder, and bid farewell to Chen Fei. It also took the safe containing the "flesh mushrooms" as the vehicle bearing its chirps drove away, and Chen Fei returned to the underground mutant artificial breeding ground. The top-level ability users in the conversation looked over with displeasure. The few leading the charge were like hitting an invisible wall, screaming as they tumbled all over the ground like gourds. Chen Fei, having intended to teach these folks a lesson, saw no fight was forthcoming, so he took the opportunity to trip that unlucky fellow again using the same small trick, in the same spot; a person being able to fall twice in exactly the same way impressed even him. Finally, he stepped on the guy''s back, pinning him down, unable to move and cursing incessantly. Chen Fei, however, wasn''t angered in the least, taking it as nothing more than the loser''s rant. Among the top ability users present, an A-class -- Space Series Ability User said to Chen Fei, "Young man, don''t hurt people at random!" It was no secret here that Chen Fei was a B-class -- Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, but ability users were not supposed to injure ordinary people at will; this was explicitly mentioned in the laws of various countries to prevent those who thought too highly of their own powers from becoming cocky, forgetting the moral baseline and magical constraints, and thus posing a threat to public safety. Of course, if it''s in self-defense and the unlimited counterattack clause is invoked, that''s another matter. Defending oneself with a kitchen knife, firearms, stones, special abilities, magic, and martial arts isn''t fundamentally different in legal terms. "It wasn''t my fault!" Chen Fei crossed his arms, shrugging his shoulders. Really, trouble falling from the sky, some people just mistakenly see themselves as judges. In fact, the local law enforcement team also believed that the likelihood of Chen Fei being the murderer was almost nonexistent. Before this, the two had hardly ever met, there was no conflict of interest or reason to kill, and the idea that passionate killing borne out of love turned to hatred, as depicted in the fabricated surveillance footage, was ridiculously absurd. The blood-soaked reasoning of killing out of hatred couldn''t even deceive a three-year-old. "Murderer!" "Please, everyone, take our side!" "The murderer is here, arrest him!" "Kill him!" The relatives who had been bickering non-stop switched their target unanimously to Chen Fei. However... the people around merely turned their heads to look and then collectively pretended as if nothing happened. It seemed they were all in the know. Chen Fei reached out his hand, clutched the evolved white steel crowbar, and fiercely said to these overconfident folks, "Another word, and I''ll kill you!" Despite his harmless young appearance, a chilling aura of slaughter instantly emanated from him. Trying to pick on the weak, they ironically chose a tough rock. "Spare me! Don''t kill me!" The guy under Chen Fei''s feet was the first to break down, screaming and holding his head. After all, holding a crowbar like he was ready to swing at a golf ball, if he really swung down hard, his head would likely not make it, probably bursting open like a watermelon. "Murder!" A female relative even screamed like a pig being slaughtered. The shrill, irritating noise caused all the top ability users present to frown deeply. One of the mages, annoyed, yelled, "Get out! Move further away!" With a point of his magic wand, Chen Fei felt weightless, and heard a strange scream from afar as the guy under his foot was transferred by a Space Series spell to a hundred meters away on a house-sized rock, likely unable to come down for a while. - Chapter 312 Section 311 - The Second Survey ``` He didn''t harm anyone; he just sent him away more than a hundred meters. As for how to get down, that was up to the person himself. Those distant relatives of Mr. Xia Ji were silent as cicadas in winter. The Space Mage looked at Chen Fei and said with a frown, "Hey, kid, pay attention to confidentiality. Don''t go around spreading this!" The top-tier ability users had long noticed Chen Fei eavesdropping, and although they didn''t mind, some information, once leaked, could still have adverse effects. "Sorry, it''s just a personal interest, and I always keep my mouth shut tight." Chen Fei made a zipping motion over his lips; he wasn''t foolish. The content of the conversation not only concerned the sovereignty and international relations of Blue Star but also involved the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star. If misinterpreted, it could easily lead to conflict. Regardless of who started fighting, it was not something Chen Fei wanted to see. Chen Fei didn''t have to wait long for the second round of questioning. Among the three people sitting opposite him, besides the local sovereign law enforcement team investigator from before, there was also an investigator from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and the third person was the international human rights representative entrusted by Chen Fei''s sovereign, present to monitor for any illegal activities. "Chen Fei?" "Huh?" "Gender: Male?" "Ah?" "Currently 23 years old!" "Hmm?" Chen Fei rubbed his forehead, helplessly watching the other party talk to himself and go through the initial procedures. "Still the same two items. First, the murder case involving the Briton Xia Ji, where you are the primary suspect, and second, the details of occupying the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, where you are the principal party involved." The law enforcement team''s investigator repeated what had been said before. It couldn''t be helped, it was standard procedure, and there were two small cameras next to them, glowing with a pale green operational light. After all, in the legal world, the truth isn''t what matters; procedure is the highest justice! Any action that goes against the procedure is heresy, to be tied to the stake for a BBQ. "So, let''s start with the first item. Please recount the entire process of your meeting with Xia Ji once again." "The facts are like this: at nine-twenty in the morning, a manor servant..." "No problem, we will send an inquiry letter to Henghai Tactical Weapons Group." The police group''s investigator made a heavy note of this in their notebook. "How did you come to possess tactical armor, and moreover, an aerial interception ''Flying Dragon''!" The investigator for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee looked incredulous, aware that no type of individual tactical armor could be within the scope of military contractor procurement permissions, let alone given their exorbitant price, probably only active-duty sovereignty could afford to equip them. Good grief, starting at 100 million Star Yuan for opulent godly gear. With that kind of money, why work for others? Just go home, and you''d have enough to live well for several lifetimes. This guy must be crazy! Looking again at Chen Fei''s personal medical records, damn... he had actually seen a psychiatrist! After taking a hit from a kamikaze "Dragon Slayer Missile", he suffered from phantosmia as an after-effect. Not missing arms or legs, he was already lucky. Alas, poor kid! Sovereignty active duty wouldn''t want such a pilot. Only military contractors wouldn''t be so picky; fly a plane to the sky, and if you go crazy, that''s the end of it! In fact, a slight inquiry into the most outstanding Combat Flight Squadron of Xingdu Kush Mountain Area would reveal that not many of the pilots from "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron were normal. "The ''Flying Dragon'' tactical armor is on loan to me from Henghai Tactical Weapons for testing. I also serve as a tester. My sister is a Henghai Tactical Weapons Group trainee, and as for the AI unit!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand, taking out an "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit" extracted from the "Physical Evolution Database", shaped like a hexagonal geometry, the size of a cigarette box, one side covered with densely packed glittering pins, numbering at least a thousand. His explanation was logical, methodical, and his relationship with Henghai Tactical Weapons Group was crystal clear, without a single flaw, except the notable exception that he hadn''t spent a dime. Adam: Who am I, where am I, what am I supposed to do? I''ve been deleted again! This unfortunate AI was once again automatically loaded into the "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit", looking completely bewildered. It was only in a powered state but connected to no other components, unable to hear, see, touch, or feel anything, almost like being shut in ''solitary''. Adam: Let me out! Let me out! Let me out! Help! Someone save me! The highly orderly AI was suddenly confronted with the meddling and chaos of someone else, Chen Fei was utterly unaware that at this moment, the AI''s core was filled with despair. The fact that the core program hadn''t crashed altogether was quite impressive. "Uh! Metal Elemental Psychic Power, correct, you are a Level B Superpower User!" The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s investigator glanced at the information in their hands. Without the committee''s authority, it wouldn''t be easy to know the young man''s superpower level; there seemed to be a dedicated shield for privacy, not at all like a common person with no background. "Control Power is Level A, and your specialty is simulating mechanical bodies." Chen Fei added. If one were to visit the Aircrew Base 911, they might even discover an F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, an even greater surprise. The American Federation''s restriction hadn''t stopped him from obtaining this old-timer plane. - Chapter 313 Section 312 - RTB An investigator from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee fiddled with the pen in his hand and said, "So you can simulate various things, including metal and non-metal materials?" The ability to simulate objects was not unique to Chen Fei; many other supernatural power users also excelled in this area, though there were some differences. However, no one could simulate various complex machines and electronic devices as freely and willingly as Chen Fei. "In theory, that''s correct. It must be something I''ve personally ''sacrificed.''" Chen Fei revealed a smile. The last one who knew of this "sacrifice" skill had been utterly fooled. He was really sorry about that! "''Sacrifice''?" The two investigators and a human rights oversight representative couldn''t help but widen their eyes. This building was a bit crooked. The word "sacrifice" sounded somewhat sinister. "It''s similar to disassembling, analyzing, devouring, and then reproducing it. I can create a perfect replication." Chen Fei gestured. He couldn''t explain it in detail. It just worked. "For example, I have a pen here. Can you ''sacrifice'' it?" Find your next read on empire A local sovereignty police team investigator handed over a pen. It was a high-end product, probably costing over a thousand Star Yuan. "It''s better if it''s all metal, as simulating organic materials has a high cost." Chen Fei took the pen. Absorption! It was a skill perfected to his very bones. In an instant, the non-metal components and ink spilled onto the table, while the metal parts vanished without a trace. The "Physical Evolution Database" gained another sample; as for energy points, they weren''t even enough to fill a gap in his teeth and didn''t budge. Several people stared wide-eyed at the mess on the table. The pristine table had been defiled, way too dirty. Chen Fei then spread his hands, and the absorbed metal components evolved back. One set, two sets, three sets. They had been replicated into three sets. He used one set to reassemble it seamlessly with the originally non-metal parts stained with ink. Snap! An identically restored pen and two sets of metal components were placed on the table. "Sacrifice" a set, and then I can replicate and restore even more." "This is... an industrial skill!" An investigator from the Blue Star United Defense Committee touched his forehead and began to feel a headache. Surely his mind was not normal. Such a skill was not about mere fighting capabilities. Wouldn''t the large industrial conglomerates fight over a metal ability user like this? What was he thinking, insisting on mixing with military contractors? The meal might smell good, but it was bought with one''s life! "So, you used an AI to stop the self-destruct program at the Mutant Breeding Farm." Local sovereignty police team investigators answered their own question, which seemed to be a plausible explanation. The performance of military-grade individual tactical intelligence units might not necessarily be higher than civilian-grade ones, but they would definitely be rich and comprehensive in features, perhaps with specialized settings against self-destruct programs. Investigators from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee asked with doubt, "Isn''t it true that Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s AI is that powerful?" If it were the tricycles roaming the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, they definitely wouldn''t know this specialized aviation term. "Eh? ''Rookie'', why have you come back?" The voice within the public communication channel changed, switching to the duty manager Mahnam, who happened to be on shift. Since the sudden outbreak of the mutant frenzy, not only had ground transportation been disrupted, but even civil aviation had to be temporarily suspended. Now, the entire Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was almost turning into a playground for mutants, and all aircrew bases could only try their best to strike everywhere, striving to search and eradicate every mutant within a 500-kilometer radius. However, the eradication efforts were not going smoothly. Sometime, those mutants had suddenly become cunning. On one hand, they were elusive and slippery, and on the other hand, they no longer stupidly took bombings during air strikes. They were very good at escaping, and moreover, they knew how to use tactics, like scattering to preserve the majority, making it impossible for the limited firepower of the aircrew bases to achieve satisfactory tactical results. What was even more troublesome was that among those emerging mutants, many were flying species, causing military contractors to feel overwhelmed but forced to tirelessly douse fires everywhere; failing to do so would let the mutants gain momentum, threatening even the aircrew bases themselves. After arriving at the nearest public airport to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area via a civil aircraft, Chen Fei had no means of transportation back to the base, not even ground vehicles, and trains to the mountain area had also stopped. Having no choice, he scrapped together some old copper and aluminum, spent an energy point, and hastily assembled a large electric tricycle, then took off. Luckily, Chen Fei''s "Physical Evolution Database" contained a sample of a large tricycle. By switching to electric drive, he didn''t have to worry about the range. Though he could evolve aircrafts like the "Big Mouth Monster" that were more advanced, with greater range and speed than tricycles, it would cost more energy points, which he was reluctant to expend. Since returning to 911 was possible with one energy point, why would he need to use two? Besides, Chen Fei also picked up three bargains at the "Skill Shop". "Spatial Quantum Dot Positioning Module: 100 energy points" "Psychic Remote Sensing Positioning Module: 100 energy points" "Strontium Atomic Clock: 50 energy points". It seemed to be some kind of unexpected network disruption compensation gift package; it hung in the product list for three days without being replaced, and he couldn''t help but grab this opportunity. Though these many energy points seemed not inexpensive, compared to other "SEG single unit solution: 1,000,000 energy points", "Safe Hibernation Capsule: 1,000 energy points", "Subsonic Oscillation Module: 5,000 energy points", "Void Magnetic Field: 5,000 energy points", "Basic Module of Light System Magic Array (upgradeable): 900,000 energy points"... they were cheap as if they were being given away. Okay, 100+100+50... Emmmmm, somehow, it felt wrong! The three skills once assembled, automatically merged into a Plane Communication System (Spatial Quantum Dot Positioning Module, Psychic Remote Sensing Positioning Module, Strontium Atomic Clock). Does this mean that I can permanently stay online anytime, anywhere? Isn''t providing reliable and stable ISP network services supposed to be taken for granted? Damn, it was clearly a major upgrade of the Dog System, so why did they trick me out of my energy points! Dog System, give back my energy points! The haughty Dog System still ignored Chen Fei; the only one who responded to Chen Fei was "Adam". Adam: Woof woof, woof woof, I''m a dog, I''m the Dog System, I, I can''t come out! "Adam" was about to cry; it and the Dog System were in different dimensions, yet the latter dominantly suppressed the former. Chen Fei: Shut up! Don''t talk! Adam: ... A perfectly good AI was about to be driven to insanity! The flying speed of the large tricycle was much slower than that of fixed-wing aircraft, even slower than its close relative, the helicopter. After flying for a day and a night, he finally entered the patrol radius of 911 Aircrew Base. - Chapter 314 Section 313 - Water Bear The external tricycle, identical in style to the large ones used by the 911 Aircrew Base, rushed straight onto the tarmac. Like a dragonfly dipping into water, once, twice, thrice, it came to a stop at 40 meters, still boasting impressive landing skills. Using the 1500-meter-long main runway for this thing seemed almost disrespectful to the runway itself. Given the size of the tarmac, landing into the wind was just perfect. For Chen Fei, who had already mastered jets, this level of difficulty was no different from flying a child''s toy, and it wouldn''t matter if he crashed; the materials could be fully repaired with Metal Shaping anyway. "Where did this tricycle come from?" The ground crew working on the tarmac greeted Chen Fei. "Assembled it myself!" Chen Fei unloaded his suitcase from the gyroplane''s rack and, once the motor had cooled down, casually switched to a PT6A turboprop engine since Crystalline Blocks, which allowed for extended duration, were too expensive for anyone but him to use if not burning fuel. With the skills "Physical Evolution Database" and "Metal Shaping," Chen Fei could already mass-produce replicas of this turboprop engine, but he kept them for personal use. Selling them could likely invite lawsuits and targeted actions from the manufacturers. Stealing someone''s livelihood is like killing their parents, sometimes a deadly affair. Major corporations could be just as ruthless in corporate warfare as military contractors, truly without any reservations. If a foreigner dared to freeload Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s Single Soldier Tactical Armor like Chen Fei did, would Henghai Tactical Weapons really be seen as weak and not dare to make someone vanish into thin air? The phone rang. "''Rookie,'' put your luggage away and come to my office." Find your next read at empire The caller was Boss Hana, signaling a very formal meeting, otherwise she wouldn''t have asked Chen Fei to her office. Five minutes later, Chen Fei knocked on the office door. "BOSS! It''s ''Rookie.'' Xiao Jiu wasn''t here, sound asleep in the bird''s nest at the cottage, and Chen Fei decided to leave quietly without disturbing it. "Come in!" After hearing the permission, Chen Fei pushed the door open and saw the one-eyed female boss carelessly scrolling her phone screen with her two long legs up on the big desk, lacking any image of formality. Turning a blind eye, he closed the door behind him and made his way to her desk. "What''s up, BOSS?" On occasions when Boss Hana drank with him, her careless postures were common, and having seen plenty, he was used to it and didn''t think much of it. The fully relaxed woman boss was almost indistinguishable from an ordinary woman, a true sight of growth and maturity, instead of someone who would resort to crying over drinks to vent when under great pressure. "Is Base 911 holding up okay?" This wasn''t the first time Chen Fei had asked about the situation at the Aircrew Bases, but the actual conditions changed daily, and the Mutants would not attack as one might expect, making the variables often unpredictable. "We''re holding on!" Hanna Gagel sighed again, then added, "Base 909 has been wiped out! It''s like this place is cursed." She had to personally intervene several times, barely repelling the overwhelming Mutants. Other Aircrew Bases couldn''t possibly be faring any better, especially since not every Aircrew Base had a supernatural power user stationed there; most were manned by ordinary people. "Base 909, again..." Chen Fei was left speechless. Why would he say "again"? The place had suffered natural and man-made disasters, being wiped out more than once, with no survivors. Perhaps this location just had bad feng shui. The contractor for Aircrew Base 909, Mr. Xia Ji of Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, had been assassinated. Previously, Chen Fei had dealt with him, and the executive manager was fired. In a time of unrest, how could it be as united as Base 911, which stood together against the assault of Mutants? Without leadership, the defenses were in chaos, unable to mount an effective counterattack, and the result was unsurprisingly tragic. "These times will depend on you, I''m really too tired!" Boss Hanna showed a face that couldn''t hide her exhaustion. In the most dangerous moments, she had no choice but to unleash her "Eye of the Storm" from her left eye. For a brief period, her Wind-type Psionic Ability, which was at the B-level, secured the situation. But she was not a true B-level supernatural power user. Each use of the "Eye of the Storm" required a tremendous amount of vitality and spirit, leaving her utterly drained. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu also helped greatly. Xiao Jiu''s Laser Cannon, which wasn''t used at Aircrew Base 911, instead relieved the siege on several nearby bases. The delicate Laser Beams swept through, and the fierce Mutants immediately became piles of corpses, incurring heavy casualties. Even the Flying Species couldn''t escape the beams. So when Chen Fei returned to the Aircrew Base, the thoroughly exhausted Xiao Jiu was resting in its little nest, without its usual lively and bouncy demeanor. "No problem, leave it to me!" Chen Fei would naturally teach those Mutants a lesson, as he was a professional. "Ah! That''s right!" Boss Hanna withdrew her long legs, came to the wall of her office, and pressed somewhere. The wall moved, revealing a hidden compartment. Through the transparent glass, one could see a sinister, thick object standing in the soil, with its mushroom roots clearly visible at the base. "This is what you asked me to bring back. I didn''t expect that you would find such a windfall," The objection in question had grown significantly thicker, quivering ever more menacingly. "Can we eat this thing?" Chen Fei asked an unsurprisingly practical question. "Yes, it''s edible. Its scientific name is ''Flesh Mushroom.'' It looks like a fungus on the surface, but it''s actually an animal, somewhat like a Mutant. Or rather, it itself is a kind of Mutant and is edible." Hanna Gagel hadn''t been able to uncover information about the forces cultivating Mutants, but she did find out about the Big Mushroom that Chen Fei had tasked her with bringing back to Aircrew Base 911. ``` Chapter 315 Section 314 - Boss Hanas Social Death Breeding mutants wasn''t an easy task; just keeping their bellies full required a tremendous amount of resources. The best approach was self-sufficiency, but neither agriculture nor animal husbandry could efficiently fill the gaping stomachs of mutants in the short term. No matter how unselective their diet was, there would always be a huge shortfall. Then "Flesh Mushrooms," a genetically relatively stable mutant, were discovered. Not only could they be consumed by humans and mutants alike, but they were also rich in nutrients, combining the benefits of both plants and animals, almost like the perfect food pyramid. They balancedly contained various nutrients, from vitamins and amino acids to carbohydrates and proteins, lacking nothing. Even if one only ate "Flesh Mushrooms," there was no worry about nutritional imbalance, and what''s more, they had an excellent taste. They naturally had a tender, beef-like flavor and grew rapidly. Indeed, large-scale cultivation of "Flesh Mushrooms" could satisfy the needs of a considerable number of mutants. After the artificial cultivation facility beneath the Alps Mountains initiated its self-destruct sequence, the adult mutants had killed each other off, and the parent organism was entirely destroyed. The "Flesh Mushroom" cultivation area was not spared either, leaving only this skinny little one that slipped through the net for Chen Fei to pick up cheaply. To this day, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still pondered the source of feed used by the "Water Bear" organization when breeding mutants. Whether it was through free-range, man-made hunting, or external procurement of feed, they could not find any clues whatsoever. Each method would tend to leave some trace. Even with patrols and elimination operations by the aircrew bases as regular as combing, it was still impossible to stop the endless emergence of various mutants, making it difficult to truly eradicate them. The evidence was right before their eyes; neither Hana nor Chen Fei had any intention of handing over their findings to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. All seized items forfeited? Dream on! If there were no spoils of war, were the military contractors all contributing to society out of the goodness of their hearts? They might as well wish for peaches! Chen Fei looked at the sinister-looking big mushroom and cruelly slurped his saliva, saying coldly and heartlessly, "We''ll find an opportunity to give it a try!" Nothing about its shape would stop him. No, prevent it from being consumed. "You''ve got some guts. Hurry up and take that thing away." Hanna Gagel frowned deeply. Having this "Flesh Mushroom" hidden in her office had already been enough to set off a whirlwind of wild thoughts. "No problem!" Chen Fei picked up the big glass tank with the "Flesh Mushroom" from the hidden cabinet, turned his head back, and said, "Anything else? If not, I''ll get going!" Boss Hana waved her hand dismissively, not wanting to speak another word to him, and pressed the remote control again. The soundproof door panel and office door automatically opened, clearing a path for Chen Fei holding the glass tank. Just as he stepped out of the office, he unexpectedly bumped into a little sister from the administrative department. She smiled at Chen Fei, but as her gaze fell on the glass tank, her expression turned to shock and uncertainty. She looked toward Boss Hana''s office with bewilderment, then backed away with a ghost-sighting look on her face, leaning against the corridor wall. The previously pleasing, gentle smile turned into an awkward grin, as uncomfortable as it could get. "Good afternoon!" However, Chen Fei was oblivious to this, his mind solely focused on what "Flesh Mushroom" might taste like¡ªperhaps it could open the door to a whole new world. Slurp! "G-good afternoon!" The administration sister hesitated, gave a little wave, and then ran off like a startled rabbit, disappearing without a trace. "What are you running for? Just be careful not to trip!" "Ah!" A shriek echoed from the end of the corridor. Chen Fei helplessly shook his head, what was there to run from? He wasn''t going to eat her. Rabbits are so cute, slurp, but the spicy ones taste the best. All of a sudden, he remembered that he owned a Rabbit Valley. He wondered how many more rabbits there were since he left, hoping the mutants hadn''t eaten them all, considering those creatures would eat almost anything. Noticing the commotion outside her office, Hanna Gagel froze, then her face turned red and then pale as she clasped her head, feeling as big as a fight. This was it, a major social death scene, ahhh! "Off we go, ''Rookie!'' My MiGs aren''t needed to deal with those bastards!" Big Bear Squadron Leader grabbed Chen Fei by the arm and pulled him toward aircraft 211, he favored fire control operators who were ruthless and efficient like Chen Fei. After squeezing into the cockpit''s front seat, Squadron Leader Chekhov turned around and saw Chen Fei still holding the clingy little guy and said irritably, "Don''t bring your bird onto the plane, let it out to stay behind for guard duty." On one hand, birds were natural enemies of aircraft, and on the other, just one Xiao Jiu could match the entire "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. If they let this Pure Light Sparrow join them on the mission, soon there might be nothing left for them to do. In the whole Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the hottest "kid" wasn''t the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron; it was this little bird. No matter how skilled a pilot was, in front of birds, they were all second-rate. With Xiao Jiu firing its laser cannon and going BiuBiuBiuBiu, was the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron just supposed to cheer them on with 666? Even if Big Bear had the thickest skin, he probably couldn''t lower himself to do that. "Xiao Jiu, go find Hanna, or Mr. Abel is fine too, I''ve got work to do!" Chen Fei placed the little guy on the edge of the cockpit and gently pushed it out, but the little bird circled back and flew in again, refusing to leave. "Off you go, off you go!" "Jiu!" "Be good..." "Jiu!" But Chen Fei just couldn''t persuade the clingy little creature to leave. Xiao Jiu would always fly back. "Let''s go, let''s go, never mind!" Military orders were supreme, military situations were urgent, Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear had no time to wait for Chen Fei to deal with the little bird, so he pulled down the cockpit canopy himself. "Jiu!~" A streak of light zipped into the cockpit; the little guy was incredibly fast and managed to sneak in, landing on the backrest of the front seat, pecking furiously at Chekhov''s flight helmet. Thud thud thud thud... "I get it, I get it, won''t do it again!" Big Bear really feared this little critter, luckily it wasn''t a woodpecker or else it would''ve drilled a hole in his head. "Stop flying around!" Chen Fei caught the little guy with one hand, pulled open a small pocket in the cockpit, and stuffed it inside, leaving only a little head poking out. "Jiu!" The little bird glared at Chen Fei dissatisfiedly but after a shake and rattle, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft carrying Chekhov and Chen Fei surged onto the main runway, with the turboprops roaring at full throttle, taxiing over two hundred meters before lifting its nose and darting into the sky. "Wind direction 210, wind speed 08, atmospheric pressure 28.15, visibility 9 kilometers, watch your altitude." "Bearing 135, altitude 1200, speed 110, distance 265 kilometers, IFF not required." Weather data and the target''s location were consecutively broadcast on the comms channel; since the tactical target was mutants, there was no point in establishing IFF as they would provide no response. - Chapter 316 Section 315 - Knockoff Flying Dragon "Are they flying species?" Chen Fei quickly glanced at the mission information given to him by Deputy Squadron Leader Devil Pepper, Usually, flying mutants were rare, and even when they appeared, they were generally small and could not fly high. The tactics used against them were no different from those for land-based species¡ªa bomb would obliterate them without leaving a trace. This time, although the flying species weren''t flying high, maintaining a low altitude of about a kilometer, it posed a risk of mountain collisions over the complex terrain of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, making turboprop aircraft like the Big Mouth Monster more advantageous. "Ah! There''s been way too many flying species lately; they''re like flies, never-ending!" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear didn''t even look back, leading with aircraft 211. The Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron lined up in a stagger like geese, maintaining an altitude of 3000. The weather conditions were not good, with low clouds making the whole sky look gloomy. To accurately search for targets, the flight formation had to maintain a height below the cloud layer, visually confirming any emerging mutant flying species. In comparison to the maneuverability of flying species, land-based species were much easier to deal with¡ªif one bomb didn''t solve the problem, then two would! The Big Mouth Monster of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron had enough payload to perform a small-scale carpet bombing with six aircraft working together. If it weren''t for the military contractor''s restrictions on possessing ground cruise missiles, their striking power could have been enhanced significantly. Flying species, once rare, had suddenly become common, almost every sortie encountered them, making handling them a bit more troublesome. "Only four short-range combat missiles, two rocket nests, one 500-pound bomb on the centerline, and 500 rounds for the cannon." Chen Fei tapped the dashboard in front of him, checked the weapons arrangements, and began to devise appropriate tactical plans. Combat against aircraft and striking mutants were completely different strategies; the former emphasized maximum firepower, while the latter required more thought on maneuverability. The mobility of flying species was even better than turboprop aircraft, undoubtedly adding difficulty to the pursuit. Even with programmable short-range combat missiles, their advantages and disadvantages were clear¡ªthey could easily miss the target. Thus, Chen Fei set the detonation radius larger than the theoretical lethal radius, which would explode immediately upon nearing the target, significantly increasing the chances of successful elimination. Most flying species, like human aircraft, were extremely vulnerable; lightly damaged, they would immediately lose the ability to fly. Once they entered free-fall, whether they were flying species or aircraft, the ultimate outcomes were usually not much different. Actually, the best weapon against flying species was still the cannon. Once the HUD targeting system locked on, it could fire, and the barrage of bullets coming out would block all the target''s evasive moves. Being hit by the thick bullets and shattered was their only fate, and visually, it was far more brutal than being obliterated by missiles¡ªvery stress-relieving. Realizing he suddenly had such thoughts, Chen Fei couldn''t help but shiver. Was he starting to become perverse, entertaining such terrifying ideas? He quickly chanted in his mind: "Namo Amitabha, Gatling Bodhisattva with Six Perceptions, three hundred sixty million breaths, great mercy and compassion..." Unknowingly, he had digressed. "''Peanut Butter,'' have you found the target?" The voice of Deputy Squadron Leader Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios sounded through the dedicated communication channel of the Genuine Fragrance Squadron. She was piloting the Big Mouth Monster 212, in the second position of the formation, paired with Chekhov Big Bear in a two-aircraft formation, though currently flying in the squadron''s larger formation, with the three flights not split up. "Not yet, we should see it in about 10 minutes." "What do they look like?" Squadron Leader Chekhov, though unable to see the image on the "Light Mirror Spell" display, still guessed some details. He couldn''t command the Pure Light Sparrow as freely as Chen Fei and let it display the Light Mirror Spell as he wished. Sometimes, even asking this little bird to cast a Light Healing Technique required pampering it like a spoilt ancestor. Only Boss Hana and Head Chef Mr. Abel could make the little guy give them some face; for others, it wouldn''t even spare a second glance. "Look here!" Chen Fei pushed the light screen forward with his palm to bring it in front of Squadron Leader Chekhov. Of course, it wasn''t because he was pushing it, but because Little Bird was cooperating. "Hmm, this thing really is handy!" As Chekhov exclaimed in surprise, he then loudly shouted, "Yes, that''s them, brothers, target sighted right ahead!" "Xiao Jiu, lock onto them!" Chen Fei pulled back the light screen, then said, "What are these guys called? They seem to be a new species I haven''t seen before." Read latest chapters at empire Chekhov Big Bear said, "Yes, a new species! The official scientific name defined by the Joint Defense Committee is Pseudo-Dragon FA-143!" "143, the 143rd variant?" Chen Fei gasped in shock. It seemed this counterfeit dragon mutant was not a first-time occurrence. Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, "Pseudo-Dragon" being the broad category name, "FA" meaning unclear, perhaps a unique coding method by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but "143" indicates the known mutation iteration, with the actual number of iterations likely even exceeding this figure. "Be careful, these mutants are not low in intelligence, very cunning, and fly very fast. They are almost as fast as Big Mouth Monsters at full sprint, but their turning radius at full speed is much larger than that of Big Mouth Monsters, which presents an opportunity." During the days Boss Hana and Chen Fei were not at the base, Squadron Leader Chekhov led the Genuine Fragrance Squadron comrades to confront this type of mutant more than once. Coupled with the mutation-related intelligence shared by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee promptly, they had figured out the characteristics of this pseudo-dragon mutant. Missing by a fraction can mean error by a thousand miles. The large turning radius of Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 gave Big Mouth Monster pilots a chance. By pulling a few more turns, these mutants would expose themselves within the firing angle of the aircraft, allowing for missiles or autocannons to strike at will. However, since Xiao Jiu''s Light Mirror Spell could not detect distance, only roughly determine direction, it still needed to be combined with radar for more accurate assessments. Minutes later, the onboard radar also captured signal feedback from several flying objects. At least eleven Pseudo-Dragon mutants were located in front of the nose, slightly off by five degrees, partly due to the error in the Light Mirror Spell''s judgment and partly because they were also maneuvering. "Encircle them, dive in first, then squad split, cover each other, combine kite tactics and fishing tactics, be mindful of conserving ammunition, go for it, hoorah!" Squadron Leader Chekhov had just finished speaking when he pushed the throttle, and the Big Mouth Monster turboprop aircraft immediately dived down from an altitude of 3500 meters to 1000 meters. The cluster of mutant flying species, however, were completely unaware of this and continued their group flight leisurely. One of them, seemingly hearing an abnormal noise, inadvertently looked up into the sky and spotted the fiercely approaching Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, immediately emitting a panicked howl. "Hmm hmm hmm!" The loud noise started to become more frequent. - Chapter 317 Section 316 - Alternating Struggle ``` "Crossfire, all set!" Squadron Leader Chekhov bellowed.@@@@ Six "Big Mouth Monsters" split into three pairs of fighters, forming a 120-degree arc formation, swooping toward the mutant flying species. The machine guns fired immediately, a flurry of fire serpents swarming out, forming crossfires in three directions that fiercely covered the airspace where the mutants were located. Continue your journey on empire Machine Number 211 shook violently as the rocket nests under its left and right wings were fully unleashed, the rockets storming out with an overwhelming momentum, following right behind the dense gunfire. Squadron Leader Chekhov, feeling the fighter get noticeably lighter, yelled, "Hey, hey, ''Rookie'', save some rockets!" Before he could react, Chen Fei in the backseat had already fired off all the precious rockets. The rockets had no guidance system; whether they hit or not was entirely a matter of luck. Of course, a direct hit would spell certain death for the mutant flying species; after all, at this height, an injury meant a countdown to crashing. "It''s okay, it''s okay, Squadron Leader, no problem if we collide!" No matter how quiet and harmless he seemed on a normal day, once in the sky, Rookie Chen Fei played wilder than anyone else. "Ah? Are you crazy?" Squadron Leader Chekhov was shocked. The combination of machine guns and rockets was a deadly strike, catching the mutant flying species Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 off guard; nearly half of them were wiped out in an instant, with at least three Pseudo-Dragons directly hit by lucky rockets, exploding in a flurry of flesh and trembling as they plummeted to the ground. A 1000-meter fall from the air would be too much for even a giant dragon, not to mention these poorly evolved imitation dragons. The vicious bone spurs were, in fact, of no benefit to their flying abilities. The streamlined body shape of the Cangqiong Star bipedal flying dragon was the result of millions of years of natural evolution, with good reason behind its design, not something these hastily mutated, frightful-looking and bodily harmful variants could compare with. "Nice shot, ''Peanut Butter''!" "Squadron Leader, that was fierce!" A cheer went up on the comms channel, and the pilots of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron hadn''t expected the Squadron Leader''s Machine Number 211 to dare to make such a bold move in the first wave. Dammit, Chekhov Big Bear mumbled, "Well, it was decent enough!" "Stay alert, those guys are starting to fight back!" Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" had been watching those Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 closely. "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron might have had the element of surprise, but if they couldn''t maintain the advantage, the fragile "Big Mouth Monsters" would meet a dismal defeat as well. Do not assume that the mutants lacked firearms and thus the ability to retaliate; otherwise, not so many Aircrew Bases would have been destroyed, leaving no survivors from the frenzied mutant onslaught. "Roger that!" "Devil Pepper", the deputy squadron leader''s new fire control operator Salila, calling out extra loud. He replaced the deputy squadron leader''s fire control operator "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, becoming the deputy squadron leader''s rear seat fire control operator. And Mr. Salaman Francis paired up with newcomer "Angelica" Wadiye, and after some coordination over time, they formed a strong partnership aboard Machine Number 216. "Conserve ammunition!" Chen Fei meticulously calculated the ammunition reserves of aircraft number 211. The rocket pods were empty, with only four combat bombs left, a 500-pound forced buddy, and over 200 rounds of cannon ammunition, and the cannon round count wasn''t always accurate. One combat bomb for one mutant seemed more than enough, but in actual combat, this was wishful thinking! Theoretical data often looks good, but reality is cruel. A two in one hit was a windfall, and four in one was the norm. One in one? Perhaps aiming for the tricycle academy''s diploma (since fighters also have three wheels)? Therefore, Chen Fei had no choice but to be painstakingly economical, subtly egging Big Bear on to engage in the most intimate contacts with those mutants. "Little Chili, do you think ''Rookie'' has any sense left? He insists on me colliding head-on with those mutants. Fighters aren''t tanks, are they? A simple bump could disintegrate us, right?" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear complained while avoiding the successive strikes of two mutant flying species. Aircraft number 211 kept rolling in the sky, yet remained at an altitude of one thousand meters. Turboprops have a strong advantage at low altitudes, but it depends on what they are compared with. They certainly have the advantage over jet aircraft, but when compared to mutant flying species like the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, they stand no chance. The reason for keeping combat altitude around one thousand meters is because the higher up you go, the thinner the air becomes. Insufficient oxygen would limit the physical energy of these mutant creatures. Even equipped with cannons and missiles, one wouldn''t want to face a spirited opponent. Maintaining little tricks to weaken the enemy from all aspects is the most suitable tactic. Surprisingly, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios seemed indifferent as she said, "Then just bump into them!" Fire control operator Tempun Schneider in the rear seat looked horrified. Deputy squadron leader, have you finally had enough of that Big Bear? The Big Bear Squadron Leader complained, "That''s deadly!" Suddenly, he discovered a trail of thick smoke erupting from under the wing of his fighter jet, but ahead... there was nothing at all. "Hey, ''Rookie,'' where are you shooting at?" Before he finished speaking, boom!~ Chekhov thought the missile fired would miss, but instead, it collided with a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 being chased by another squadron, creating a fireball on impact. Damn, actually stealing kills... Chekhov''s face fell, such dumb luck. Behind him, in the rear seat of the cockpit, Chen Fei activated the god''s eye view on the screen in front of him, observing from a higher altitude as the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron tangled and chased the mutants. The mutant flying species quickly lost their numerical advantage, not long after the close quarters battle began. The remaining Pseudo-Dragon FA-143s displayed no intention to flee; instead, they launched an even more ferocious counterattack on the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. "A cornered beast will fight!" "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider could only think of this phrase in his mind after having faced a few real battles. Chekhov didn''t forget to cheer on his comrades; it was one of his duties as a squadron leader. "Push a little harder! Kill them and we can go back to drink earlier, oh snap!" While engaging with aircraft numbers 215 and 216, a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 suddenly turned around and pounced toward Chekhov Big Bear''s aircraft number 211. The cockpit was suddenly enveloped in darkness, as sharp claws reached for the canopy. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios in the wingman''s seat immediately noticed the scene unfolding. "Watch out!" - Chapter 318 Section 317 - Tactics Must Be Wild Boom!~ Aside from Chen Fei, who was in a state of unity with the aircraft, no one heard the dull thud that occurred when a light-based spell shield enveloped Aircraft 211 and collided with an oncoming Pseudo-Dragon FA-143. "Is that, a magic shield?" The closest deputy squadron leader, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, muttered to herself in shock as she witnessed the light dissipating. In battle, situations change in the blink of an eye and even the most experienced pilots can''t prevent accidents from happening. What happens, happens; such is fate, and one must accept it! "Magic shield?" The eyes of "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider, seated in the rear of Aircraft 212, went wide. "''Sauerkraut,'' snap out of it!" Sitting in the front, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios noticed the fire control operator''s confusion and quickly urged him on while firing a missile that forced an opportunistic mutant to retreat. The missile followed, and the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, nearly incapable of handling combat bombs, relied almost entirely on instinct and the maneuvering advantage of flapping its wings. Boom!~ Enjoy new chapters from empire The fireball exploded, and the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, unable to escape, was engulfed in flames and shattered as it fell to the ground. "''Peanut Butter,'' go ahead and ram them; ''Rookie'' is a metal elemental psychic, and with him there, Aircraft 211 is not as fragile as you think, not to mention Xiao Jiu is here as well, did you see? That was a light-based magic shield just now." The insightful "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios immediately reminded Squadron Leader Chekhov of their current advantages. Metal Ability User + Light-element Magical Beast, a double insurance; isn''t that just a flying tank? "Ah?" Chekhov looked baffled, unaware of such slick maneuvers. "So, charge! Big Bear!" Chen Fei patted the back of the front seat. "I am not Big Bear." Big Bear stubbornly insisted. "Peanut Butter" was a traditional call sign, but almost everyone felt "Big Bear" suited him better, bulky and bear-like, practically a living bear in human form. "Chirp!" Little Bird chirped gleefully amidst the chaos.@@@@ "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios reminded again, "There aren''t many mutants left, end the battle quickly!" "Got it!" Chekhov responded gruffly. As Big Bear''s fire control operator, Chen Fei knew that Bear would surely receive a lecture later. Fire Serpents crisscrossed the sky as hunter and prey repeatedly switched roles. Overall, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron firmly maintained the upper hand; however, underestimating the opponent could still lead to those knockoff dragons making a deadly comeback. Despite having the protection of Chen Fei, a metal ability user, and Xiao Jiu, a Pure Light Sparrow, Chekhov was still cautious and maintained a careful distance from his counterpart during the close combat. Outside were frenzied mutants itching to shred the 211 craft to pieces. Ejecting now would be like sheep walking into the lion''s den, ready to be devoured in one bite, quickly becoming "Here you go (poop)." If they could break free from the mutant''s encirclement before ejecting, perhaps there would still be a chance for survival. "Got! It!" Chen Fei was still not alarmed, his expression unchanged, despite the big bear''s constant cries and yells. Let''s go! The 211 craft suddenly pitched up, climbing vertically. "Ah ah ah! It''s out of control!" Chekhov''s tenor rivalled the "breaking of tiles." Above them, a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 couldn''t dodge in time and was hit directly, the cockpit canopy completely smothered in blood. Yet the 211 craft, undeterred, turned into a skyrocket, continuing its ascent with undiminished speed. After a massive air disaster scene, this thing truly started defying science. "Gravity adjustment module, 5%" The current thrust-to-weight ratio of the PT6A series engine... something, smash the calculator. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Chekhov''s lung capacity was indeed impressive, still going strong after a minute without pause. Inside the communications channel, silence prevailed. Chen Fei casually pressed a button, and the 211 craft dropped an "egg." A 500-pound bomb detached from the fuselage''s center mount, shot upwards about ten meters, then began descending. The desperate Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 flapped their wings energetically, doggedly pursuing from below. One of them opened its mouth wide... the bomb went straight down its throat. Burp!~ The mutant let out a satisfied belch. In the next second, violent flames burst from its body, instantly engulfing all its companions. High-altitude air currents swept away the blood stuck on the cockpit canopy and aircraft''s surface. The triple-coating didn''t allow the sticky stuff to remain. On the ground, a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 with a broken wing powerlessly fell from the sky, landing heavily, twitched its neck, its cries growing fainter. Boom!~ A thick Electric Dragon flashed inside the dark clouds, spreading out over thousands of meters and forming a bizarre, intricate tree-shaped pattern. Pea-sized muddy raindrops began to fall massively from the sky; the storm arrived, shrouding the world in a curtain of rain. As the 211 aircraft continued its vertical climb before reaching the dense rain clouds, it gracefully leveled out, descending gently in a spiral trajectory as the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s "Big Mouth Monsters," one after the other, followed, reforming into an oblique line formation. "What just happened?" With his heart pounding like a wild boar on a rampage, Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear gasped heavily. He had lost control of the 211 aircraft completely, letting go and allowing the craft to maintain a spiraling descent. Without guessing, it was clear, this was no miracle; the "Rookie" behind him was operating this "Big Mouth Monster". - Chapter 319 Section 318 - Choose One, Big Bear! The paintwork on aircraft 211 looked utterly ravaged, spotty and battered as if it had just endured a brutal battle. The actual situation was indeed so. But the aircraft itself was without any serious harm, not even minor issues, its condition was instead quite perfect, like a brand-new turboprop aircraft. The state of pilot-vehicle fusion allowed Chen Fei to perfectly control the turboprop aircraft, how could he possibly allow any imperfections? Trivial wear and tear, stress accumulation, and aging were automatically repaired, bringing the whole fighter jet to the state of optimal post-break-in period, every single component functioning in perfect harmony. "The battle is over!"@@@@ Chen Fei disengaged from the pilot-vehicle fusion, handing control back to the front seat. A 500-pound aerial bomb had just utterly consumed the remaining Pseudo-Dragon FA-143s; they chased too closely and, without exception, all got caught within the blast radius. However, Big Bear, who had howled himself hoarse, still hadn''t snapped out of it and failed to remember to firmly grip the control stick again; so the "Big Mouth Monster" flew itself, yes, that''s also one of the advantages of a turboprop aircraft¡ªit can maintain normal flight even without human control, unlike a jet fighter, which would be waiting to crash! A whole line of "Big Mouth Monsters" followed on the right. "What, what? The battle is over?" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear let out a sigh and reflexively took control of the whole "Big Mouth Monster," as if he had finally come to his senses. "Yes!" Chen Fei had barely finished speaking. Then the voice of Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" came through. "''Rookie'', it was you, wasn''t it?" The short-haired female deputy squadron leader guessed right away, Big Bear might be audacious, but there was no way he could reach such a level. Only Chen Fei, this impetuous and recklessly daring young man, would go crazy to the extent of not sparing even himself. Leopards don''t change their spots! Just like Big Bear''s unchangeable bad habits! "Ah? Haha, hahaha! Deputy Squadron Leader, you are indeed sagacious!" Chen Fei promptly delivered his flattery. In the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, one could offend Big Bear, but absolutely could not offend Little Chili; this short-haired girl was known to hold grudges. Even if you offended the Big Bear Squadron Leader to death, a bottle of liquor could easily smooth things over, no matter what kind: earth-burned, sawdust-burned, corn-burned, buckwheat-burned, as long as it was alcohol, he wasn''t picky at all. "How''s ''Peanut Butter''? Scared stiff, right?" Putting herself in their shoes, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios could also guess that Big Bear must have gotten quite a scare because even if it were her in that dramatic and violently bloody breakout just now, she''d probably wet herself from fright. Even the thick-skinned Squadron Leader Chekhov must not have fared much better either. After all, treating a fighter jet like a tank wasn''t something a normal person could understand. True to being a supernatural power user! To date, employing supernatural power users as fighter pilots, not just in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area but even among all the Aircrew Bases on Blue Star, 911 was definitely the scorpion in the cake, uniquely toxic. Possessing two supernatural power users and two magical beasts, the Jiu Defense Company, which considered itself a small military contractor, seemed to be playing an unfair game! Yet outsiders couldn''t really complain because, up to now, the true external aid had only been that Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet; wind-type ability user Hanna Gagar was the boss, metal ability user Chen Fei awakened to his special ability only after joining 911, and the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was literally hatched and raised right there at the base, under everyone''s eyes. "Hey hey hey! I am the squadron leader!" Chekhov was anxious, promptly declaring his leadership status. But Chen Fei ignored him, instead continuing to speak on the comms, "I propose ''Devil Pepper'' to officially become the squadron leader, how about that? Big Bear demoted to deputy squadron leader! Those in favor, raise your hand!" Indeed, Chekhov Big Bear, only knowing Big Daizi and booze, was utterly useless. Better to have the short-haired girl without many obvious faults as the squadron leader! "This, this isn''t really appropriate!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios became unexpectedly coy. "I agree!" The main pilot of aircraft 216, originally "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, the rear seat fire control operator for Irinei Rusios, suddenly voiced his agreement loudly. This guy was also a scumbag playing both sides, despite having a wife, he secretly harbored feelings for the short-haired deputy squadron leader. Relegated to being on aircraft 216 to train newbies, he was filled with silent resentment. Fire control operator "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown of aircraft 214 chimed in over the comms, "Eh? I agree too!" "I also agree!" "Seconded, ''Devil Pepper'' for Squadron Leader!" "''Devil Pepper'' for Squadron Leader!" "Agreed!" Chen Fei was successful in starting the fire, winning unanimous approval. Even the two new pilots could not help but vote in favor, carried away by the fervent atmosphere. They didn''t want to be the odd ones out in their early days, better to follow the majority. "Hey hey! What are you doing, a rebellion?" The infuriated Big Bear Squadron Leader suddenly found his favorite fire control operator less appealing. That was the kind of guy who wouldn''t even spare himself! He even dared to lay hands on the squadron leader! "Choosing between Big Daizi and ''Devil Pepper.'' Pick Big Daizi, no squadron leader. Pick ''Devil Pepper'', become squadron leader. Choose one, Big Bear!" Chen Fei truly elevated the "art" of being audacious to the level of art, leaving Chekhov itching with irritation yet completely powerless to do anything about it. The short-haired girl, feeling comfortable with the flattery, cheerfully said, "''Rookie'' asks a good question. Let''s choose one over the other. What do you say, ''Peanut Butter''?" As an adult, of course, he wanted everything! But Comrade Chekhov was forcefully brought to the brink of a life-and-death question, and it was a tough one to answer! The other pilots instantly became exhilarated. When else could they see Big Bear pushed to this point? A miraculous moment had arrived. A hundred kilometers away inside Aircrew Base 911, silence reigned. The duty personnel exchanged glances, none daring to chirp at this moment. Everyone was witnessing an internal strife within the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Whether it was a rebellion or uprising was hard to define, but it was certainly a difficult situation to pull through. A gentleman avenges wrongs no sooner than ten years later; a petty man avenges them from morning till night. If you can take revenge anytime from morning till night over ten years, wouldn''t that be delightful? To avenge the grievance of being forced to confront the Dragon of Slaughter in the past, Chen Fei was feeling extremely comfortable right now. - Chapter 320 Section 319 - Collecting the Bodies "Alright, ''Rookie'', your tricks end here!" Boss Hana''s voice suddenly entered the communication channel, stopping the sudden infighting of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. It was less of an infighting, more of a farce. "Peanut Butter" Squadron Leader Chekhov''s appointment was for a reason, unrelated to his liking for liquor and Big Daizi. The fact that "Genuine Fragrance" squadron had made it this far while maintaining excellent combat capabilities was enough to prove his personal ability wasn''t as preposterous as his character, and that he indeed had real skills and could step up in key moments, which is exactly what a Combat Flight Squadron needs in a true leader. A good boss needs to accept the merits of their capable subordinates and naturally their faults as well. If "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios took over as squadron leader, it wouldn''t be impossible, but when it came to decisiveness, she still lacked a bit of gumption. Unlike Chekhov, she couldn''t just charge ahead recklessly at the drop of a hat. As tactical executors, often there''s no need for too much premeditation; regard life and death lightly and just do it! This reincarnation left the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron uncertain, but Chekhov Big Bear heaved a long sigh of relief, his face filled with lingering fears, having narrowly escaped death. Old man, traveling through Jianghu for over forty years, I can fail anyone, just not when flying a plane and not Big Daizi. Almost broke half of my achievements. If the "Rookie" boy mentions alcohol again, I''d impulsively push the control stick and we''d all be finished! "Okay then!~" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. Since the boss had spoken, he had to give her face.@@@@ "''Peanut Butter'', you better watch out. If your performance doesn''t improve, watch me really take your place!" The short-haired girl issued a threat, or rather a warning, as her patience had limits. Heh, women! Chekhov suddenly said slyly, "Got it, got it! I recently saw a GG cream that can enlarge! It could add at least one cup size." This guy still had a trump card to appease Little Chili! "Where is it? Where is it? Send it to me quick!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios fell for it hook, line, and sinker. A woman dresses for the one who pleases her, not to mention adding a cup size, she''d want it even if it was just half a cup. "I want it too!" The girls of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron were not just one. "Go away, don''t believe that guy, he''s fooling you!" Helicopter Squad Leader "Miso" Yamada Yuhu scolded two silly girls of the armed helicopter team. One of them was his co-pilot whom he brought back from Dongying. Hearing about increasing her cup size, she was immediately hooked. You can''t believe a single word of Chekhov Big Bear. "How could it be a lie?" "That''s really lousy!" I don''t care anymore! Let it be destroyed! Quickly! With humanity gone, who would care about the floods and storms on Blue Star? Without people, no one would be left. Most likely, most humans would think this way too. Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu boarded Yamada Takebu''s Wuzhi and returned to the eradication area, not to take advantage of the situation to avoid Squadron Leader Chekhov''s retribution, but to provide protection for the technicians responsible for biological sampling. Recently, mutants had erupted without warning, not only frequently appearing within the patrol area of the 911 Aircrew Base but also launching several attacks on the base itself. Entering this abnormal period suddenly made the sampling technicians panic. As non-combat personnel, they were there to earn a paycheck, not to lose their lives. If adequate protection wasn''t offered, they definitely refused to risk their lives, and, pushed to their limits, even submitting their resignations wasn''t out of the question. The combined fighting power of a man and a bird was sufficient to put anyone at ease. If even that didn''t keep them safe, dying was all that was left, with no room for complaints ¨C just resignation. "Look! Those are the counterfeit dragons." Inside the helicopter cabin, Chen Fei had Xiao Jiu skillfully use the Light Mirror Spell to locate the crash sites of the mutant carcasses. Since they were struck down in midair and fell from a kilometer high, it was difficult to keep the bodies intact, and only with a lot of imagination could one piece together the original form of these mutant flying species. In the footage, the flesh and blood attracted some beasts and birds, which began tearing at these freshly fallen tender meats. If samples weren''t taken promptly, in less than a day and night, these carcasses would vanish without a trace, leaving only a large patch of fly-covered purple-black dried stains. "It seems a bit different again." Ruan Er Song, a biological researcher at the 911 Aircrew Base, squinted slightly, accustomed to the bloody scenes. Besides ensuring his own safety, he was unfazed by the horrific sight of bodies scattered everywhere, rivers of blood flowing. Initially, when he was a rookie, he would be so nauseated that he staggered to the side to vomit profusely. But after seeing it a few more times, dozens of times later, the vomiting became routine, and his work capability and experience naturally matured. Thankfully, the light-screen footage presented by the Light Mirror Spell was clear and stable enough for him to scrutinize carefully. The magic of Blue Star, the radio of Cangqiong Star¡ªon different planets, they surprisingly face little interference. Chen Fei asked tentatively, "Is it a new mutation?" The "Water Bear" organization was deeply hidden, and besides the underground breeding farm in the Alps Mountain Area that Chen Fei had breached, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had yet to find new breeding or cultivation bases. Even the source of many mutants couldn''t be determined, as if they had simply popped out of thin air. Ruan Er Song rubbed his hands excitedly and said, "Maybe it is. We need to discern on site, and sampling is the most direct evidence." Discovering new mutants always came with rewards; the bounty was from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. The military contractors took the lion''s share, and technical personnel received a percentage based on the research value of the new species. Previously, the 911 Aircrew Base had discovered a new species "Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01." Although this smarter species of Rhinoceros Cockroach wasn''t considered an out-of-control mutation, it still resulted in a bonus being handed out, allowing Ruan Er Song and his partner to earn a year''s salary for free. Just like the spoils of war for military contractors, without these substantial extra earnings, who would come to these godforsaken places for that meager pay, just for fun? The descending Z-9 armed helicopter, with its tremendous roaring and air currents spreading in all directions, caused the gathering beasts to scatter and flee, also sparing the effort of driving them away. - Chapter 321 Section 320 - Flesh Sample ``` "Ugh, the smell here is really strong!"@@@@ As the rotor blades gradually stopped spinning, the stench rose once again into the sky. "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, who just came down from the helicopter, instantly regretted not bringing a gas mask as he covered his nose. The terrible odor almost made him lose his balance, it was the first time he had encountered such an awful smell. Are these mutants some kind of biochemical weapon? Dead and still not peaceful. His co-driver, the young local "Zisu" Takada Fuziko, wasn''t new to such a bloody carnage scene, yet her little face turned pale and she instinctively moved closer to Big Brother Yamada. Squad Leader Yamada casually wrapped his arm around this girl who liked eating cat food, gave her a tight hug, and said, "Hey! Fuziko, don''t be afraid, they''re dead as doornails!" A pinch of bonito flakes with some soy sauce over rice is cheaper than beef bowls at Matsuya or Yoshinoya, this girl is easy to feed. (My cousin saw the price of pre-shaved bonito flakes at a 711 store in Japan, which seemed like the amount for ten bowls is equivalent to one portion of a Matsuya beef bowl. I never tried Yoshinoya, but beef bowls in Japan are as popular as Lanzhou noodles) "Jiu!" Little Bird hopped onto Chen Fei''s shoulder, utterly indifferent to the pungent smell. The insects it liked to eat smelled much worse, and it still gobbled them up without a second thought. It flapped its little wings and landed nearby, constantly looking around for a few delicious insects to snack on. Despite having specially-made pellets, live insects were still its favorite treats. "Hss!~ What on earth happened here? Did it rain blood?" Biological Researcher Ruan Er Song, slinging a sample case, looked down at his feet, stepping on a piece of who-knows-what organ fragment, surrounded by bloodstains, and bits of flesh and bone scattered everywhere. Chen Fei said with an unperturbed expression, "First round of machine guns and rockets took out about half, the last 500-pound bomb cleared the field." Opening fire with the entire Rocket Nest was a highly successful tactic, but unfortunately, only his Aircraft 211 was firing at full strength at that time. If the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s other "Big Mouth Monsters" had also unleashed their Rocket Nests, they might have cleared the target in one round. "500-pounds? These things landed?" Ruan Er Song looked around and didn''t see any conspicuous shell casings, nor did he smell the persistent acrid scent of gunpowder. He couldn''t understand where exactly the 500-pound aerial bomb went off. "Threw it into a mutant''s mouth, straight down the throat." Chen Fei chuckled, who would expect the silly mutant to open wide, and it was just a casual toss, which actually hit the target, involving quite a bit of luck. The term "deep throat," although descriptive, carried a certain ambiguity. "Hss, that was really life-threatening." Upon visualizing that scene in his mind, Biological Researcher Ruan Er Song''s skin crawled at the thought, the brutality of it all. Having blasted the Mutant Flying Species into such a state, he couldn''t guarantee that he would be able to collect DNA samples from every Pseudo-Dragon FA-143. He could only try to pick parts of skulls, which tend to be relatively hard and easier to identify, ignoring the flesh and organs, unable to tell which belonged to which, he simply disregarded them. ``` "Hurry up, the beasts are coming back!" Yamada Yuhu, carrying an automatic rifle, was on guard nearby. The defensive strength still depended on Chen Fei and Little Bird; he was only responsible for firing warning shots. If a real situation emerged, it wasn''t his turn to step in. The birds and beasts that had been scared off by the helicopter''s commotion were sneaking back, taking three cautious steps at a time, overall inching closer and closer. Surrounding them was a cacophony of squeaks and squawks, mixed with sounds of gorging. As long as it was a carnivorous animal, none was easy to deal with. Stimulated by the flesh and blood of the mutants, the ravenous wild beasts went mad, even killing each other, adding to the feast. "Awoo!~" Without large predators, wolf packs had become the primary apex predators of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. "There are wolves!" Ruan Er Song reached the cabin door of the Z-9 armed helicopter, threw his sample case aboard with a thud, Several mutants were now unidentifiable; he just randomly picked some and decided to bet on his luck when he got back. Takada Fuziko breathed a sigh of relief, glad that it was finally over. Chen Fei called back Little Bird, which had been picking on the crows, and was about to board when he heard a faint noise rapidly approaching from behind. He turned to see a dozen or more Asian Gray Wolves panting as they ran over, each with a bloody chunk of flesh in their jaws. "Miso, don''t rush to start the engine!" Chen Fei raised his hand to stop Squad Leader Yamada from starting the Z-9''s engine, fearing that the loud noise might scare away these purpose-unknown wolves. "What do these wolves want to do?" Through the windshield, Yamada Yuhu and Takada Fuziko saw the wolves, bold enough to approach the human aircraft. The wolves came before Chen Fei, each stepping forward in turn and laying down the meat they carried in their mouths. This was a tribute, offering the choicest, most succulent meat to the Wolf King. Wolves are straightforward with each other, unlike the scheming of humans, and only show their cunning while hunting their prey. "So that''s it, thanks a lot. You guys keep the meat for yourselves!" After guessing the intention of the wolves, Chen Fei patted each of their heads in turn. The wolves obediently lowered their heads and drooled; if it weren''t for the rank of the Wolf King holding them back, there would have been a deadly fight over the spoils. But the vicious wolves were unmoved, one of them looking quizzically at Chen Fei, nudging the meat with its nose, signaling the Wolf King to eat it while it was fresh. "Haha, I don''t eat this stuff! Eh?" As Chen Fei laughed, his gaze fell on the chunk of meat, and he expressed a tiny bit of surprise. He turned back to the cabin, and said, "Expert Ruan, bring the biggest sample box here." The title of expert was a joke, nothing more. "What, something has been found?" Ruan Er Song realized immediately that Chen Fei would not ask for a sample container without reason. It had to be an important discovery. He quickly opened the sample case and handed over the container in a flurry. "Seems like a bit like a biological chip, let''s bring it back for analysis!" Chen Fei picked up the meat, tossed it into the sample container, then sealed it and handed it back to the researcher from the base. He had spotted something shiny and geometrically patterned on the surface of the meat, with vague circuit-like textures, very suspicious, so he collected it for the experts to analyze. This chunk of meat was probably an unexpected find, and if it turned out to be what he suspected, this wolf might be credited with a significant contribution. Chen Fei thought for a moment, turned his finger into a blade, and parted the fur of the wolf pack leader, making it recognizable for next time. This move was quite mischievous. As for what the wolf was really thinking, WHO CARES? "Biological chip? These mutants have biological chips implanted?" Ruan Er Song''s eyes almost bulged out, as he clumsily caught the sample container, struck by the magnitude of Chen Fei''s previous statement. "Mutants are cultivated by people all the time; implanting chips is nothing unusual, it could be a method of control." To Chen Fei, this was not surprising at all. He patted the wolf pack leader''s head, then turned and boarded the helicopter, patting Squad Leader Yamada''s seat. "Take off!" "You got it!" The engine of the Z-9 armed helicopter roared to life, the blades spinning faster and faster, and the bold wolves immediately fled in terror, even forgetting the chunks of meat on the ground. - Chapter 322 Section 321 - Discovery Award Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock! The door of the office of the general manager at the Aircrew Base resonated with the urgent sound of knocking, exerted forcefully. "Come in!" Hanna Gagel, who was reviewing the company''s financial statements, paused her work and looked toward the door. Just who was the reckless one who, without making an appointment, came knocking so anxiously. "Report, report, I''m the biological group''s Ruan, Ruan Er Song!" A biological researcher, holding a tablet and a stack of paper documents, took a deep breath outside the door before striding in. Hanna Gagel asked, puzzled, "What''s the matter?" She generally limited her communications with the technical staff of the biological group to digital work reports. The two biological researchers of the Aircrew Base usually buried themselves in the laboratory doing their assigned tasks, seldom coming out in their free time, only making a fleeting appearance when needed, and thus they weren''t very conspicuous. "Discovered, discovered something important." Despite being mentally prepared, Ruan Er Song immediately became nervous upon seeing his one-eyed boss. "Sit down first, take it slow," she said. Hanna Gagel pointed to the chair in front of the large desk and then tidied up the financial documents. Controlling a company, the most important aspects were money and people, i.e., finance and human resources. For other matters, she delegated authority to the duty managers and team leaders of various units. The responsibility of a boss wasn''t to micromanage but to formulate strategies and oversee the processes. Being overly busy indicated that there was a problem with corporate operations. "Yes, yes, yes!" Ruan Er Song quickly came forward and sat down, first passing over the paper documents. Paper products could not produce themselves and entirely depended on external supplies; only important documents would be specially printed, while other documents were generally transmitted electronically. "Hmm! A chip?" Picking up the paper document, Hanna Gagel saw a complex circuit diagram at first glance and then looked at the biological researcher across from her, exclaiming, "It''s a biological chip!" Biological chip technology was primarily used for live implantation. Many magical beasts living in human society had specific biological chips implanted in them, or, like Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, wore an external biological recognition device (leg ring) for not only positioning but also identity verification. Besides, some special or precious animals and plants also had biological chips implanted for growth protection and identity verification to avoid forgery. To discover a biological chip inside a mutant killed in a desolate wilderness might spark a significant uproar. To breed mutants, that mysterious "Water Bear" organization had even gone to this extent. It was unknown whether the source of the biological chip could be found because, across the entire Blue Star, only a few industry giants and laboratories had the capability to manufacture such specialized chips¡ªit wasn''t something any makeshift workshop could produce. However, according to Hanna Gagel''s guess, the likelihood of tracing back to the source via connections was minimal; the "Water Bear" organization was highly secretive and tightly secured, leaving no clues on the biological chips. A few short-eared rabbits cautiously peeked out of their burrows, bringing Chen Fei a pleasant surprise. Rabbit Valley seemed not as badly affected as he had feared. The mutant tide had not wiped out all the rabbits; quite a number had evidently eluded capture, and their numbers seemed substantial. Given the rabbits'' breeding capabilities, just a pair of Adam and Eve rabbits would soon populate the entire valley with rabbits. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire The sound of weathered rocks rolling down a steep cliff reached him; looking in the direction of the noise, he saw several rock goats standing on narrow footholds like acrobats, uncertain whether they wanted to enter the valley or were on their way out. With their climbing abilities, rock goats indeed could evade most mutants, which could only envy their skill and feel powerless. After walking around the valley, Chen Fei estimated he saw about a hundred rabbits, including numerous young ones. However, not a single bird, such as wild chickens, had survived. The terrible destruction wrought by the mutants was still evident. "I need to buy rabbits from Teacher Shen''s students again." To reach the desired rabbit population in the valley, Chen Fei would have to resort to the old method of manually introducing rabbits, which naturally meant spending money for convenience. If he didn''t do this, relying solely on the current population to naturally multiply would take at least half a year to return to its original state. He visited a local school at the mountain area, where he left five thousand Star Yuan in cash with Teacher Shen to purchase five thousand live small animals, primarily rabbits. The amount destined for the purchase might seem modest, but for the local Patan people, who had just survived a nightmarish brush with mutant calamity and generally had very meager annual incomes, this sum was undoubtedly a timely rain, enough to alleviate their dire economic straits significantly. Teacher Shen Fei undoubtedly welcomed this, and the students cheered. The money divided among each one was substantial. Chen likely gained even more favor from the locals, making him feel that his bitterly earned role was timely indeed. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s assessment of Chen Fei was spot on; what kind of lunatic fences off an entire valley to raise rabbits was beyond understanding. Compared to the speechless extent of investing resources to forcibly cultivate a Pure Light Sparrow to Third Rank Human Order, raising rabbits seemed almost trivial. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee responded swiftly. On the tenth day after receiving the biological chip sample and report submitted by Jiu Defense Company, a mid-sized Sky Patrol Ship belonging to the committee arrived at Aircrew Base 911, bringing the reward requested by Hanna Gagel to extend and modernize the main runway according to Third-Level standards. The original 1500-meter runway was extended to 2000 meters, and new upgrade components for the Magnetic Catcher were included. This main runway not only retained magnetic arresting capabilities but also gained magnetic launch capabilities. Through technical means, its effectiveness was enhanced to match a 4000-meter runway, allowing even advanced jets to land and take off smoothly. If the runway''s load-bearing capacity could be further strengthened, even large transport planes would have no issues. Soon after reporting to Boss Hana, the Earth Element User accompanying her began working. Extending over thirty more meters at the end of the main runway was a steep slope. Working together, two High-Rank Earth Element magicians gathered thousands of tons of soil and rock from the surroundings. They forcibly built a robust and thick mountain ridge as the necessary foundation for the runway extension. Pairs of force field generators were erected symmetrically alongside the runway, each pair spaced about 150 meters apart. The rectangular force field projected from each pair intersected precisely above the runway''s width, with fifteen pairs distributed over approximately 1800 meters of the runway. Although Hanna Gagel converted all the rewards this time to upgrades for the landing runway at Aircrew Base 911, there was no reduction in rewards for the involved personnel. Not only did Chen Fei and the two Biological Researchers receive bonuses, but Squad Leader Yamada of the Z-9 armed helicopter and Sister Takada also received their shares as witnesses to the projects. Everyone benefitted equally. Boss Hana was always generous in her dealings; penniless Chen Fei nearly burst out laughing seeing the extra 200,000 Star Yuan award on his paycheck. - Chapter 323 Section 322 - Bar The runway upgrade service at Aircrew Base 911 isn''t something that can be completed in just a day or two. Even with the assistance of a High-Rank Mage, the entire construction period would need at least fifteen days. As a permanent airport, simply expanding the runway with steel plating and quick-drying cement just won''t cut it. After dropping off personnel and supplies, the medium-sized Sky Patrol Ship from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee left soon after, as it had other tasks and couldn''t afford to linger here for long. With nearly a hundred more people suddenly at Aircrew Base 911, filling up more than half of the staff dormitory area, the whole base instantly became bustling and lively. After receiving the bonuses, Chen Fei quickly settled his dues with Chef Abel in the canteen, even leaving Xiao Jiu in the care of the chef. He then invited his colleagues from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and the maintenance team, as well as some acquaintances from other departments, to take over a corner of the base''s bar. "Bring out all the wine I''ve got stored here first, drink up, everyone!" Chen Fei waved his hand at the bartender behind the bar and was immediately surrounded by cheers. The bonus of two hundred thousand Star Yuan allowed Chen Fei to be unusually generous for once. But a poor sod in debt by millions, no matter how generous, is still just a magnanimous pauper. He couldn''t afford fine liquor, but he had plenty of homemade fruit wine. Besides the fruits grown in the greenhouses of his small western-style building, Teacher Shen Fei''s students also picked quite a lot of wild fruits for Chen Fei. If one were diligent in collecting them, the quantity would be so vast that even a large tricycle could barely contain them all. Wild fruits have their unique flavor. After bringing them back to the western-style building, they were all made into fruit wine. Apart from the amount that could be consumed within the shelf life, the rest was distilled for purification for long-term storage. Any surplus was then sold at the base bar "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" at reasonable prices to make some extra money. Excluding consignment fees, each month would add an additional thousand or two Star Yuan to Chen Fei''s income, which wasn''t too shabby. Over time, the bar would usually have a stock of five to six hundred liters of high-proof distilled fruit wine and a small amount of low-proof wine. This time, Chen Fei struck it rich, and instead of selling them, he decided to give them all away for drinking. Crate after crate of wine was quickly moved out, and the shiny stainless steel bottles stood out distinctly, being much easier to replicate with Metal Elemental Psychic Power than glass bottles. Determined in life not to let down either flying planes or Big Daizi, Squadron Leader Chekhov, with a bottle in hand, had already thrown the resentment of being duped by Chen Fei to the back of his mind and shouted jubilantly, "Thanks to ''Rookie'' for the kindness, let''s toast together!" Big Bear was just this kind of person, even if you knocked him to the ground and walked over him ten thousand times, a single bottle would instantly resolve a thousand grudges, making him as amicable as a real brother. "Cheers!"¡Á34! Under the bizarre lights of the bar, the stainless steel bottles were eye-catching. Each bottle even had a carefully attached label, specifying the alcohol content and the ingredients used for brewing, such as strawberry wine, blackberry wine, and sauerkraut wine. Besides fruit wine, there was also a small amount of mead. Those with a high alcohol tolerance picked the ones with higher proofs, those with a moderate tolerance chose the lower proofs, and some even opted for freshly brewed sweet wines. However, Xiao Ming, the head of the maintenance team, held a glass of milk as he joined the toast. It''s hard to imagine a big muscular hulk like Chekhov, who could take a beating, having a low tolerance for alcohol. Even champagne, a drink for little women, could put him under the table, so he usually steered clear of the bar. Dragged over by Chen Fei this time, he merely asked for a large glass of milk. Drinking was out of the question, and it would be impossible for him in this lifetime. Nobody else minded. There was only one thing to do in the bar: have a blast. As long as you were happy, what you drank was entirely up to you. There was no such thing as not fitting in, only one big group. ``` "Hey, what''s this drink? I want a bottle too!" The stainless steel bottles had attracted the curiosity of some newcomers, who also asked the bartender for such drinks, wanting a taste of something new. "There''s none left, they''re all over there." The bartender shrugged helplessly, pointing to the stacks of big baskets piled high, even the baskets made of steel, each one heavy enough to kill a person. After moving them with his colleagues, his back ached and his waist was sore. Each bottle had a capacity of half a liter, with forty-eight bottles to a basket, a total of twenty baskets amounting to nearly a thousand bottles, close to half a ton of alcohol. Chen Fei, who was just buddying up with Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear, happened to see this and immediately shouted, "Help yourselves, it''s free, drink till it''s gone!" Since he was being so generous, he didn''t care about where it came from. Since everyone had come, they might as well join in. The whole bar erupted with cheers at this, alcohol that''s free just tastes better. "Bah! Snake disease!" Despite there still being plenty of fruit wine, not everyone liked the privately brewed fruit wines. There were still two or three people sitting in front of the bar, not joining in the revelry. "Burp! Huh? Old Zuo, what are you doing here?" Chen Fei, carrying a steel bottle of wine, staggered over and sat down at the bar, eyeing a person who was sitting with their head down. "Ah? Mr. Chen Fei, no, I''m sorry, just now..." Zuo Gengming''s face was full of sorrow, which was completely out of place in the noisy bar atmosphere. He was absent-mindedly flicking the cup of wine, which was half-empty and hadn''t been touched, so much so that a few drops were spilled out. He had just seen Chen Fei, but was surrounded by colleagues and thus hadn''t come over to greet him. Unexpectedly, the other party came to him instead. "Too many people, huh?" Chen Fei turned his head and saw a scene of a raucous ghost parade, and immediately understood. "Yes, that''s right!" Zuo Gengming touched his nose. "Is there something wrong?" Chen Fei''s stainless steel wine bottle clinked against Zuo Gengming''s glass. Came to the bar to drink wine, only to play with the wine glass? "No, you''re right, there''s something!" Zuo Gengming, with an embarrassed face, picked up the wine glass and gulped it down, only to choke on it and start coughing violently. He had come with the Sky Patrol Ship from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. He hadn''t even made a reservation or given any notice before arriving uninvited. Luckily, Hanna Gagel, the general manager of Jiu Defense Company, was still working at the Aircrew Base. Seeing Zuo Gengming, although it was somewhat unexpected, she still received him. However, their discussion didn''t go too well, and Zuo Gengming, who was temporarily staying, declined Boss Hana''s invitation to a dinner banquet. By chance, he saw that the base had a bar and came over alone to drown his sorrows. "Oh!~ Let me guess!" Chen Fei scratched his head and suddenly said, "You''re here for help!" The crazy mutants were causing chaos everywhere, and even the situation at the Aircrew Base wasn''t optimistic, let alone the other bases. Zuo Gengming opened his mouth wide and finally, dejectedly, nodded vigorously. "Heh, you''re right." After he finished speaking, he even sniffed. A man doesn''t easily shed tears. Recently, many aircrew bases had been having a hard time, which allowed those smaller military contractors without aircrew bases to take advantage and gloat. "Tell me exactly what''s going on. Even if I can''t help, I can still be a qualified listener. Talking it out might make you feel a bit better." With Boss Hana''s decisive nature, even if Chen Fei was reckless, he couldn''t make decisions for others. As an employee, one should listen to the boss''s arrangements, not just run off with someone else in the heat of the moment. What kind of loyalty to Jianghu was that? Even "Song Gongming the Timely Rain" wouldn''t do such a thing. Calling someone brother and jumping to take up their cause, how foolish! Especially since their relationship hadn''t reached that level yet. - Chapter 324 Section 323 - Interest Zuo Gengming sniffed and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "My Aircrew Base 130 has been occupied by mutants." The unexpected disappearance at the Green Cherry Orchard Estate''s salon had a significant impact on the circle of military contractors. Although the bigwigs of military contracting, who were transferred to the mutant breeding farm underground in the Alps Mountain Area, managed to survive by luck, their companies and bases were plunged into turmoil during this storm. One-tenth of the military contractors could not withstand this calamity and declared bankruptcy. Nearly one-third of aircrew bases changed hands, some of which are still occupied by mutants to this day. The situation facing Zuo Gengming''s Spring Field Defense Limited Company is such that if they cannot recapture the lost aircrew base within a month, the contracting rights of that aircrew base will be transferred to other military contractors, leaving only one of the originally contracted two aircrew bases. The aircrew base is a place for capable people, if it cannot be held, it is better to give it up early and hand it over to a person or enterprise capable of defending it. Situations like squatting without a defecation are absolutely not allowed to occur. Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee takes care of its "inside people," it would not dare to make enemies with the entire industry on this matter, as no one wants to provoke universal outrage. "So, how did the talks go?" Chen Fei pointed towards Zuo Gengming, then towards the direction of Boss Hana''s office. He was curious, as Old Zuo had just been metaphorically bumped on the nose there. Zuo Gengming hesitated for a moment, glanced at Chen Fei, and said, "It hasn''t been settled yet. Ms. Hanna neither refused nor agreed." The other side was from Jiu Defense Company, and he wasn''t sure whether he should be speaking these words or not. "Ha!" Women! Chen Fei laughed inexplicably. "Can you help me?" Suddenly, Zuo Gengming grabbed Chen Fei''s hand. "Wait, I''m not into that stuff!" Chen Fei quickly withdrew his hand, poured some liquor to rub them, then took a paper towel to dry them off, his little heart pounding. Although high-proof liquor does not have a 75-degree strength, its disinfectant effect is limited to psychological comfort and is practically useless. The alcohol content must be within 75¡À5 degrees to effectively kill germs. Zuo Gengming looked embarrassed and hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, I¡ªI''m not into that either." He also secretly rubbed his hands, as the misunderstanding really caused his hair to stand on end. "Old Zuo, I can''t help you with this!" After drying his hands, Chen Fei spread them out and said, "You should be clear about the consequences of backstabbing." Brief acquaintanceship prevents deep conversations, and the other side was being somewhat reckless. Where is there a reason for employees to speak for outsiders? This must be wanting to submit a resignation. Workplace rules follow this principle¡ªeat your boss''s words, follow your boss, and go whichever direction your boss points. "I''m so sorry, could you offer some advice? I really have no other options!" Having come to Aircrew Base 911 alone, Zuo Gengming had no choice but to thicken his face. He tried seeking help elsewhere, but with mutants continuously emerging and being very active, colleagues were too overwhelmed to extend help to others. Even those who were barely managing their own crises. "Keep drinking, I''m off!" Chen Fei grabbed the bottle and ran off. Since it involved company interests, it was inappropriate to chat too deeply, so he touched on the points and made a swift exit. Not until the next evening, when he stepped into the small villa led by the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet and Boss Hana casually mentioned something, did Chen Fei learn about Zuo Gengming''s asking price and the intended results of the negotiation, now just waiting to be formalized into a legally binding contract. "Jiu Defense Company to acquire 11% of Spring Field Defense, becoming one of the shareholders, and in exchange help reclaim Aircrew Base 130 and eradicate all mutants." Business is business, friendship aside, Boss Hana opened with a lion''s share, taking a big bite from the other party. "Did Old Zuo really agree?" Chen Fei looked incredulous as Xiao Jiu seized the opportunity to land on his glass, dipping his head in and drinking one gulp after another. "If he didn''t agree, what else could he do? The situation now is beyond his control. Finding a second company willing to accept such terms is probably impossible." Hanna Gagar sipped her drink nonchalantly and continued, "Getting back Aircrew Base 130 is not going to be easy, not everyone can do it, so this price is necessary. Anyone else would ask for even more, and he probably understands that himself." She pointed at Chen Fei and said, "This task is yours now; you are responsible for dealing with it." "Me?" Chen Fei pointed at himself, feeling staying at Flyers Base 911, guarding Teacher Shen Fei, was more appealing. "Think before you speak in the future, don''t be so transparent. It makes it easy for others to exploit you. Zuo Gengming put you on the spot, trying to use you to help me drum up support. How foolish!" Boss Hana huffed. Zuo Gengming misjudged the relationship between Hanna Gagar and Chen Fei, which was not just between a boss and a trusted employee but also very reliable friends. "This guy..." Chen Fei shook his head bitterly, even imagining that Zuo Gengming had used their relationship during negotiations, exaggerating minor details, pretending to be old buddies to win sympathy. The schemer! It seems that in dealing with such characters in the future, one must be more cautious to avoid being exploited like this time. Hanna Gagar swayed her glass, her tone returning to normal, and said, "Come to my office tomorrow morning." Chen Fei asked puzzledly, "Is there something?" He thought over and over but couldn''t guess what would warrant a trip to her office. No one visits the Temple of the Three Treasures without a cause, the same goes for the office. "Core employees of the company can get varying employee profit-sharing equity from 0.1% to 1%." Hanna Gagar didn''t elaborate further. In fact, she had thought for a long time before deciding on this plan, aiming to tie key employees to the company. On the one hand, as an incentive, and on the other, as a safeguard against poaching by competitors. The profit-sharing equity meant sharing the business earnings with Hanna Gagar, who had absolute 100% ownership. Currently, the financial state of Flyers Base 911 and Jiu Defense is good; every point of equity brought a not-insignificant amount of dividends. - Chapter 325 Section 324 - Midnight Alarm "Stock options? I''d rather not take them!" As a graduate with a degree in economics, Chen Fei certainly understood the meaning of this term. Although it sounded tempting, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you can''t bring benefits to the boss, why would you share in the boss''s fortune? Wishful thinking! "Don''t worry, I won''t cheat you. There are only advantages, no disadvantages." Granting stock options to employees is essentially a way to win them over. Hanna Gagel was certainly not about to play a shell game deceiving monkeys with peaches. She sincerely intended to share the benefits, to bind everyone together. But it wasn''t a foolish giveaway either. The rights of stock options were limited to profit-sharing while employed. All other shareholder powers were non-existent, and the entire company was still under Boss Hanna''s sole control. Once someone quit, naturally, they would get nothing. However, there truly were no drawbacks! "Let me hesitate for a moment!" Having been tricked before, Chen Fei had some psychological shadows regarding his sister. When it came to money matters, even the boss couldn''t speak freely, even if Boss Hanna truly had no malice towards him. "Okay! I''ll get the agreement to you later, and you can sign it anytime." As Hanna Gagel clinked glasses with Chen Fei, she wasn''t worried at all that he wouldn''t sign. An opportunity to get benefits for free¡ªonly a fool wouldn''t sign, and such foolish employees could be spared. Moreover, once the meat was in the pot, it could only stew there. "That, that, can I sign too?" The Magical Beast Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, having overheard the conversation between Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel, had his eyes bulging out, almost drooling at the prospect. Wow, such a significant benefit, practically a guaranteed meal ticket. Its time at the Aircrew Base 911 wasn''t short, and it had a good understanding of the strength of both the base and Jiu Defense Company. Jiu Defense Company was not just some small military contractor. It was on par with even the medium-sized contractors. That wasn''t strange at all, given it was a defense company newly established on the foundation of some assets from the large military contractor Apocalypse Defense Group. Then it had severely drained its old employer, starting with a much stronger foundation than those small contractors who didn''t know where their next meal was coming from. Having been through the baptism of corporate warfare, even if it didn''t have the best reputation in the industry, it was definitely not viewed as a weakling or a trivial player. Since the neighbor, Aircrew Base 909, had been targeted, no competitor dared to trouble Jiu Defense Company and Aircrew Base 911. "You can!" Boss Hanna''s right eye twirled as she said cheerfully, "But you have to sign a long-term contract!" That''s my boss for you, killing two birds with one stone and tickling this High-Rank Magical Beast in just the right spot. Chen Fei secretly gave a thumbs up... "No problem!" Magical Beasts that liked straightforward deals usually didn''t hesitate. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, a sly old hand in human society, was very shrewd yet agreed without hesitation. What did it matter where it scraped a living, with food, drink, accommodation, fun, little work pressure, and comprehensive benefits? Why wouldn''t it sign a long-term contract? Sign! It definitely had to sign. "The contract starts at ten years!" Boss Hanna put down her glass and made a cross with her two index fingers. "No problem!" Er Lang''s tail wagged like a puppy''s. Just ten years, a mere blink of an eye for Magical Beasts that generally had longer lifespans than humans. Time would pass just like that. "A Magical Beast''s word..." "Is hard to chase as a flying horse!" This was a local saying from Cangqiong Star, the home of Magical Beasts, which had exchanged influences with the Blue Star civilization. "Come by tomorrow morning to leave your paw print!" Magical Beasts couldn''t write, but paw prints could still serve as legal evidence. A paw print was as unique as a fingerprint, with a very low probability of repetition. The tricycle couldn''t compete with turboprop aircraft like the Big Mouth Monster in speed, let alone think about MiG-28s or F-22s. But it still managed to reach the Aircrew Base''s neighbor, the mountain area elementary school, within ten minutes. "Big Cat, circle around the wire fence and throw some Wind Blades around." Chen Fei actually strapped the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet onto the tricycle, intending to use it as a bombing cat. If this large tricycle had a spirit, it might one day boast about its past glories. "I, too, was once magnificent." The sight of an aircraft hurling spells at the ground is a privilege usually reserved for National Treasure Artifacts like the Crystal Jet. "Die, all you annoying creatures!" The Big Cat was bristling with anger, its spiritual power surged violently, instantly targeting all the mutants on the ground. The strong winds stirred up by the tricycle''s main propellers were harnessed to form huge Wind Blades with diameters exceeding ten meters, which fiercely slashed down. It seemed as though the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet was venting out all the resentment it had from being dragged away from the bar against those mutants. Once a High-Rank Magical Beast of the Seventh Human Order gets going, the lethality of its spells is truly terrifying. Whizz, whizz, whizz... The shrill screams tore through the sky. "Chirp!" From the pocket of Chen Fei''s coat, where only its little head showed, the Little Bird conjured an Illumination Technique Light Orb the size of a tennis ball. With a gentle peck of its beak, it floated leisurely down, bathing the ground in soft light. Mutants, as big as calves and clad in scale armor, with long spikes extending from their limbs that seemed perfect for climbing, were shredded by Wind Blades falling from the sky, with their flesh and blood flying everywhere. The momentum of the Wind Blades did not diminish as they drove into the ground, leaving one deep cut after another, sparing not even the hardest stones. "Awooo!" A wolf howl with a whimper rose into the air. Outside the tall wire fence, a dark figure emerged, stumbling toward the fence. It collided with several mutants along the way, tumbling and scrambling in a most pitiful state. The still-hovering Light Orb drifted over, kindly illuminating its path. The shadow turned its head to look up to the sky, its face filled with despair. The Dark Shadow Wolf, unable to hide under the Light Element''s Illumination Technique, clung to the steel wire as thick as fingers, letting out pitiful howls. "Awooo! Awooo! (Let me in! Let me in!)" If it weren''t for the annoying Light Orb overhead, it would have turned into a shadow and slipped through long ago. The steel wire fence might stop mutants, but it couldn''t stop a Shadow Wolf in its Shadow Transformation. Chen Fei piloted the oversized tricycle around the fence, and Er Lang''s Wind Blades carved a circle on the ground. The remaining two or three mutants scattered and fled. Though mutants were fierce, they still hadn''t managed to securely hold the top spot in the natural food chain in the wild. Once they lost the advantage of numbers, they quickly became a feast for other carnivores. Even though the Kush Mountain Area of Xingdu always dealt with mutant disasters, creatures like wolf packs were still surviving quite well. The Shadow Wolf, having narrowly escaped death, collapsed outside the wire fence, shivering. The tennis ball-sized Light Orb floated right above it. This job was impossible to do! The oversized tricycle landed inside the fence, and the school children staying in the school gathered around with lamps and flashlights. One, two, three, four... Good heavens, all accounted for, plus a dozen or so younger ones. It seemed that home couldn''t take care of them, so they were all dropped off at Teacher Shen Fei''s place right next to the Aircrew Base. Taking care of so many kids all day long, Teacher Shen was probably quite exhausted. "Thank you so much, you''ve had a hard time," said a person who emerged from among the children, reaching out to Chen Fei with a hand. It wasn''t Teacher Shen. Chen Fei paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Who are you?" He involuntarily dropped the polite form of address. It looked like someone was trying to encroach on his family''s private land... - Chapter 326 Section 325 - The Male Teacher at School A stranger Chen Fei had never seen before appeared in front of him, right there at Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain school. The man was neither a local mountaineer nor one of the Patan People. Black hair, black eyes, yellow skin; his accent sounded like he was from the mainland. Apart from the local students, could there be anything good about a solitary man and woman? It''s only an idiot who gets the moon first without being close to the waterside pavilion! Are rich and beautiful girls not fragrant? Of course, they are! At the least, they could save you twenty years of struggle! Seeing a hint of smugness in the other person''s eyes, Chen Fei felt that Manager Mahnam had pulled the wrong alert; this wasn''t Second-Level Combat Readiness, it was obviously First Level, no, it was a Special Level combat alert, okay? Kill him? Or still kill him? Grab the neck, a quick snap, then toss him outside, guaranteeing not a bone would be found after half an hour. Right, there''s also the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao" comrade; it''s time to test your stomach capacity, you should be able to eat it, right? If you can''t eat it, kill and force it down anyway!!! Raising a wolf for a hundred days comes down to this one moment; if you can''t even be useful for this, what use are you! Chen Fei''s face had unwittingly grown grim, revealing a trace of ferocity. "Chen Fei!" Teacher Shen''s voice came through, breaking the aggressive aura that was seeping out from Chen Fei. Instantly switching from a cat''s face to a dog''s, Chen Fei turned with a smile towards the direction of the voice. "Teacher Shen, are you hurt? I was just drinking, and when I heard the alert, I rushed over." "Was it you flying the gyroplane?" Teacher Shen Fei was carrying a Type-95 automatic rifle, running over from a distance. There weren''t many firearms in the school, just barely two rifles, one automatic and one semi-automatic, two pistols, one of which was a revolver, and roughly two thousand rounds of various ammunition; as for hand grenades, there were about a hundred or so, along with a small quantity of anti-infantry mines, those that spray in one direction causing widespread destruction. When the Mutants attacked, it was all up to these weapons to buy time. "Who else could it be?" Chen Fei held up the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet''s small vest and dangled it in his hand. Er Lang was truly inhumane. "Woof!" Big Cat howled dispiritedly in a lifeless tone. This is not the right flavor at all! The stranger who suddenly appeared at the mountain school couldn''t help but widen his eyes and rub them. This is clearly a cat! How can it bark like a dog? "You actually flew drunk?" Teacher Shen Fei suddenly got a bit angry. Shen Fei could no longer stand by; she gave Chen Fei''s arm a light punch with her small fist. She wasn''t foolish and had already noticed that Chen Fei and Teacher Jiang didn''t mesh well, clashing the moment they met, an unforeseen tension prior to this moment. "I''m uncouth and know nothing about manners, Teacher Shen, I have something to discuss with you." Chen Fei had no intention of dealing with this Teacher Jiang any further. Considering the scarcity of university spots, and the fact that many people cannot gain admission, shouldn''t someone who spends four years in the Ivory Tower and graduates with a degree feel grateful? If the Dean ever heard him calling himself uncouth, he would likely rush over to beat the daylights out of this kid. Any regular person would feel slighted receiving such treatment. Teacher Jiang''s smile became strained, his fists clenched in his pockets, though he tried to brush off the slight verbally, "It''s okay, you guys talk. Don''t mind me." "Kids, hurry back to sleep. Chen Fei, come with me!" Teacher Shen Fei wanted to have a serious conversation with Chen Fei, so she shooed the children back to their dormitories and then led Chen Fei to the wire mesh fence, their pace leisurely as they began to patrol. Watching Shen Fei and Chen Fei''s receding figures, Teacher Jiang''s smile finally faltered, and he silently withdrew. Outside the fence, the Illumination Technique Light Orb flickered and dissolved into countless points of light, and like a prisoner granted amnesty, the Shadow Wolf scrambled to its feet, turning into a shadow and sneaking within the fence''s wire with great urgency, racing towards Teacher Shen''s feet, leaping into her shadow on the ground, and daring not to emerge again. That was a close call! Chen Fei reached out, but before his hand could touch the deformed wire mesh fence, the Mesh, visibly twisted from the impact, rapidly returned to its original shape. After all, it was only physically deformed, and what could be changed one way could just as easily be reverted. His "Metal Shaping" ability could now be extended a short distance, seemingly related to the strength of his spiritual power. A superpower level was fixed at the moment of awakening, but spiritual power could still grow. "Are you jealous?" Once they were out of earshot from the others, Teacher Shen Fei, who carried a 95-style automatic rifle slung across her shoulder, regarded Chen Fei with an amused, teasing gaze. The daughter of a prominent family, her emotional intelligence was top-notch, and it was clear to her exactly what was going on with Chen Fei. "Weren''t you the only teacher here? How come there''s another one now?" Chen Fei, keeping a straight face, kicked a rock the size of an egg, and it struck the wire mesh, sending sparks flying. "You know what?" Teacher Shen Fei held up one finger, then added two more, saying, "This school should have at least three teachers based on standard protocols." When she had first arrived, there had indeed been another teacher, but they had left rather quickly, seemingly just waiting for a replacement, with no intention of working alongside Shen Fei. After all, this was a remote mountain region with low salaries, surrounded by wilderness and unruly, wild local people, where firearms and ammunition were commonplace. In this place, seemingly cut off from the world, it would take nothing short of a person''s passionate dedication to convince teachers to stay. Faced with harsh reality, passion often burns out quickly - hot on the first day, warm on the second, cooled on the third, and icy by the fourth. Once that passion fades, people start thinking about leaving. The ebb and flow of teachers coming and going has been a constant, yet this small school, established by international educational organizations, has managed to survive for nearly half a century. The meager educational accomplishments it has gathered flicker like a candle in the wind, at risk of being snuffed out at any moment. The chronic shortage of teachers meant that maintaining basic literacy was a struggle, and higher levels of education were well beyond the capabilities of the staff ¨C such were the unfortunate realities. "At least three teachers, huh? No wonder you''ve had it so hard!" Chen Fei began to understand why there was a new teacher at the mountain school, even though he was male, they shouldn''t discriminate based on gender, right? Cooking, gardening, teaching all subjects across six grades - Teacher Shen was doing the work of at least three people. Even now, with two young assistants to help, they were still just kids who, in a few years, would have to leave to get married and start families. It seemed that next time he encountered Teacher Jiang, he would have to be a little more polite. If he managed to kill or scare off the strong man, it would only add to Teacher Shen''s burdens. However, it would be better if there were more burly and sturdy women around ¨C not only would Teacher Shen feel safer, Chen Fei would too. And if the man harbored any ill intentions, well, it would be simple enough to deal with him. In these remote, wild mountains, it''s not really out of the ordinary for one or two people to disappear without a trace, right? Even without mutants, this place was dangerous. "It''s okay, I''ve been managing," Teacher Shen Fei said with a smile. Her tone shifted, "But you don''t have to worry about me, I''ll be leaving soon." "What? Leaving?" Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes in shock. This was certainly worse than the arrival of a new male teacher. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 327 Section 326 - Guan Guan Ju Ji "Volunteer teaching in remote mountain areas comes with age limits, under 30 years old you can teach up to three years, and under 50 you''re allowed up to ten. Staff need to rotate to give new young people the opportunity. I''ve completed my three years, and besides, my father has found a job for me at the corporate group." After explaining the rules and conventions of the international education organization, Teacher Shen Fei looked at Chen Fei with some regret. She would soon be leaving while he would remain here. Though the two hadn''t spent a long time together, they''d experienced more than most people ever would in their lifetime. Her father was the deputy director of the local Northern Weapons Industry Group; finding jobs for his children was practically an unwritten benefit within the company. Iron rice bowls passed down from generation to generation, with the precious ''water'' never flowing into an outsider''s field. After decades, it had become an impregnable giant entity. "Does that guy know?" Chen Fei pointed towards the direction where Teacher Jiang Shan had been earlier. "I''ll tell him after a while. I won''t be leaving anytime soon, at least not for another six months. Plus, there are two more teachers coming; this time, we''ll fill all the positions." Teacher Shen Fei walked a big circle with Chen Fei along the inside of the wire fence, incidentally repairing all the damaged spots. "Heh, poor kid!" Chen Fei couldn''t stop sneering. What goes around comes around¡ªit''s all a matter of who outsmarts whom. That guy, clearly vying for Peachy''s attention, couldn''t possibly anticipate that he only had six months left to gloat. What''s more, Chen Fei himself would be right there, making it not so easy to swing things his way. Teacher Shen Fei said crossly, "Don''t spout nonsense, which kid is suffering?" Chen Fei''s words had inadvertently dragged her students into the conversation. "Of course, that big kid!" Chen Fei gestured meaningfully in a certain direction.@@@@ "You''re another big kid!" Shen Fei poked Chen Fei''s forehead with her finger, leaving a noticeable black dot. Having just undergone a smoky battle, the once clean and rich beauty was about to turn into a dirty one. "Alright, everything''s fixed. Next time I''ll bring more steel pipes to make some cavalry obstacles; those creatures won''t be able to charge then." After a full walk with Teacher Shen, Chen Fei had repaired all the damaged parts of the wire fence. The spike-covered alloy steel wire was extremely tough and the I-steel posts used as the bearing nodes were very solid. Despite local deformations, there had been no major damage, so not a single Mutant had managed to break through. Furthermore, combined with a Dark Shadow Wolf that could move as fast as lightning under cover of dark, and armed with firearms, the Mutants didn''t even have the chance to climb the fence. Before leaving, Chen Fei didn''t forget to step on Teacher Shen''s shadow, threatening fiercely, "Ah Mao, keep a close eye on Jiang Shan for me. If he dares to mess with Teacher Shen, tear him apart for me. Otherwise, I''ll stew you with wolf meat, carrots, and even add cilantro." Such a macabre example of true dark cuisine! Teacher Jiang Shan might think he has the advantage of proximity, but he most likely doesn''t realize that the Shadow Wolf by Teacher Shen Fei''s side is no mere decoration. "Woo!" The Shadow Wolf in the shadow trembled in fear, whimpering in terror, clearly petrified. Xiao Jiu was its natural nemesis. Being on the same Rank, the Shadow Wolf didn''t even dare muster up the courage to resist. Shen Fei gave Chen Fei another light punch, chiding, "You''re frightening it again!" However, she was quite satisfied with the Magical Beast that Chen Fei had given her. A paper contract maintained the most basic form of control, but this female Shadow Wolf seemed quite content to be Teacher Shen''s "under-the-skirt wolf." Chen Fei seemed to be getting hooked on double meanings, easily coming up with two layers of interpretation with his offhand remarks. "This is my protest, woof!" Er Lang felt that his brain wasn''t quite up to snuff; humans were just too cunning. "Don''t you want to continue drinking?" Outside the big door of the small western-style building, Chen Fei stood, and if the big cat dared to utter even half a "no," he''d leave without it! "Of course I''ll drink!" Dealing with such a shady character was too stressful; Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet needed a few more drinks to really relax. "Then ''meow''!" This was the correct way to do it. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Whine... meow!" What is integrity? A Magical Beast never had such a thing! Magical Beasts shall never be enslaved, unless with five insurances and one housing fund, a monthly salary of at least five digits, and including room and board. Boss Hana hadn''t left but was waiting in the bar of the small western-style building for this man and Magical Beast. She glanced at the time and said, "Exactly one hour, not too bad!" Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet proudly stated, "Of course, with me around! A clean sweep!" "That''s right, with Er Lang taking action, I did nothing." The task of exterminating the Mutants was entirely performed by the big cat, while Chen Fei acted as a repairman, fixing the wire mesh wall around the mountainous area''s primary school. "Peep!" Little Bird claimed it had also contributed its effort. (Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao," who almost got screwed over: ...) - Two weeks later, the construction and expansion projects of Aircrew Base 911 gradually entered their final stages. The main take-off and landing runway, originally built to Third-Level Standard at 1500 meters, was extended to 2000 meters, making the take-off and landing process of the MiG-28 much more comfortable. With the addition of the magnetic assist take-off and landing system, even heavy transport aircraft could take off and land smoothly. The Aircrew Base''s only F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter became the practical tool for acceptance tests; being able to take off and land easily even for a heavy air superiority jet model meant there would be no issues for other aircraft at the base. "''Rookie'' ready, requesting takeoff!" Having received a series of take-off related information from the control tower, Chen Fei sat in the cockpit of the F-22 with a calm expression, responding. This time, he did not need to activate the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill; he relied solely on the "Raptor''s" inherent weight to take off normally. This was one of the main reasons why Squadron Leader Chekhov of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron could not pilot this jet fighter. For the F-22, Aircrew Base 911''s Third-Level Standard runway was too short; without the enhancement of a special ability, the margin for take-off conditions was too small, overly forced, and in the event of any accidents, it would likely be difficult to handle. - Chapter 328 Section 327 - Jianghu Emergency Rescue Current temperature: 27 degrees Celsius, humidity 41%. "Clear for takeoff!" Inside the control tower, the atmosphere is relaxed; this isn''t a combat mission. It''s just a normal takeoff and landing test, basically not difficult at all. The already ignited F-22 Raptor jet''s vectoring nozzles turn the flame from orange-yellow to azure blue, achieving the ideal combustion efficiency range. The engine power suddenly increases, and the jet starts sliding down the runway with a deafening roar, picking up speed. 150 meters, 300 meters, 400 meters, 600 meters. The F-22 Raptor jet reaches takeoff speed, and Chen Fei gently pulls the control stick. 800 meters! The nose lifts lightly, and the landing gear detaches from the ground. Completely detached from the ground. 1200 meters! The F-22''s actual maximum takeoff distance is 140 meters (in a minimalistic unloaded state; according to Lockheed Martin''s theoretical value, it''s 240 meters), while the normal takeoff distance is 420 meters. But in reality, no one would do that. Without carrying bombs? Without full fuel? Taking off without any payload is just showing off! The boss probably has a mouthful of blood ready to spew. So, the normal takeoff distance needs to be doubled, or even more. With 800 meters remaining, this stretch is reserved for emergency situations, barely enough for a forced return to flight. However, in a real emergency, the Magnetic Catcher is activated to capture the aircraft, to prevent it from running off the end of the runway. This is the limit of what a Third-Level Standard small airport can accomplish. Without the Magnetic Catcher, a reasonable runway length ideally should exceed 3000 meters, but given the size of the mountaintop where Aircrew Base 911 is located, it clearly doesn''t fit those dimensions. After all, Aircrew Base 911 is a civilian airport, not a real active military or ready-to-fight airbase. For any small or midsize turboprop aircraft and MiG-28, a 1500-meter runway equipped with a Magnetic Catcher is already sufficient.@@@@ But this runway upgrade project wasn''t for Chen Fei''s private F-22; Boss Hana had borne such a great cost considering much more the future needs of midsize, large, and even heavy transport aircraft for taking off and landing at Aircrew Base 911. "Smooth takeoff, now starting the return." After Chen Fei pulls up the nose, he continues climbing, then turns around, aiming for the runway''s large white landing strip (Aiming-Point). Called the "point," its size is not scientifically based; from the ground, parking two Type 59 tanks on it would still leave plenty of room. Since Aircrew Base 911 is located on a leveled mountaintop, a Fresnel lens is also installed near the large white strip to assist with landings, guiding the correct landing angle so as not to be too low, causing a collision with the steep slope outside the runway, or too high, necessitating a go-around. Through Chen Fei''s eyes, the Fresnel lens shows a green light. The F-22 maintains its approach angle and swiftly heads to the runway. Less than 1700 meters in front, with a reserve of 330 meters at the large white strip, the Magnetic Catcher''s starting capacitor is fully charged, standing by. "Perfect landing, next, let''s test the Magnetic Catcher." The relaxed conversation comes from the control tower; firstly, the F-22 won''t crash; secondly, the F-22 can''t be destroyed in a crash, and thirdly, the pilot definitely won''t die in a crash. With a wave of Special Abilities, there''s an intact F-22 again. The main landing runway, upgraded without activating the Magnetic Catcher assist feature, can barely ensure the normal takeoff and landing of heavy jet fighters like the F-22. The intangible magnetic field, like a thick liquid, gently envelops the Aircraft, providing resistance or thrust. Unlike a gravitational field, it doesn''t overburden the Aircraft and the Pilot, also ensuring safety. Out of curiosity, Chen Fei asked, "What about your classmates? Are they still making trouble?" Dragging their feet was unforgivable. Chen couldn''t believe Old Zuo would still be soft-hearted about them¡ªwhat classmates? To hell with that! If it were Chen Fei, he''d have chopped them up, three parts fat and seven parts lean, and fed them to the dogs. "How could I! I borrowed a sum of money from my old man, bought out all their shares, not missing one, and kicked them all out. Otherwise, do you think I could have so easily agreed to Ms. Hanna''s terms right there and then? That was 11% of the shares, ahhh!!!" Zuo Gengming sighed deeply, his face fierce. This was robbery, and a blatant one at that, exploiting a crisis. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire This One-Eyed woman... he couldn''t beat her! Just for Chen Fei and a Pure Light Sparrow''s involvement, to exchange for an 11% share in Spring Field Defense Limited Company¡ªit was unbelievable! If it wasn''t for the need to turn the situation around, Zuo Gengming would never have agreed. Without the contracting money from Aircrew Base 130, Spring Field Defense Limited Company would be on the verge of bankruptcy. Damn capitalists, not one of them is good. Hang each of them under a streetlight without injustice. "Haha! Don''t worry, Old Zuo, with Boss Hana and me escorting you, you won''t have to worry about those mutants anymore!" Chen Fei, without a hint of sympathy, patted Zuo Gengming''s shoulder. Those words sounded no different from the slogans in advertisements for tutoring services. While armed bandits and police officers were engaged in a fierce firefight nearby, Chen Fei and Zuo Gengming chatted away as if they hadn''t even seen it, completely out of step with the tense atmosphere around them. "Jiu?" At mid-low rank, Light-element Magical Beasts might not be good at offensive spells and their defensive spells might not be outstanding, but they were not that bad either. With Third Level human-order casting ability, the magic shield they could maintain was enough to withstand close-range gunfire from light weapons. Whizz... whizz... whizz... A piercing, strange shriek filled the air. The police had used magnetic rail personal weapons, and the bullets, fired at full power with incredible kinetic energy, easily penetrated the vehicles used by the thugs for cover, taking them down one by one as they screamed in agony, their cries quickly fading as they lost strength. Bodies penetrated by magnetic rail bullets bled out quickly like broken sacks, probably not even making it until the ambulance arrived. The victorious police officers heaved a sigh of relief, but none paid any attention to Chen Fei and Zuo Gengming, two bystanders caught up in the fray¡ªas if they existed in two separate worlds, they continued on with their respective matters. Whether it was Chen Fei or Zuo Gengming, if they were already in the business of military contracting, would they fear a storm of bullets? They were probably already used to it. "Good grief, did it have to be this grand?" Looking at the Grade A motorhome in the parking lot, Chen Fei couldn''t help but exclaim. Zuo Gengming said nonchalantly, "There are also quite a few mutants around Aircrew Base 131. For safety''s sake, we need to go by land. Once we''re in the mountains, we''ll have armed escort, and I''ve arranged for cruise missile support." It wasn''t just Aircrew Base 130 that was hit by a mutant onslaught; another aircrew base under Spring Field Defense was also affected. In a critical moment, Spring Field Defense made a decision that now seems wise. Abandon the vehicle to save the commander! They consolidated their forces to protect the only remaining Aircrew Base 131¡ªat the very place Zuo Gengming was taking Chen Fei. - Chapter 329 Section 328 - 131 Aircrew Base "Tsk tsk! A moneybag, wealthy, this vehicle is so nice, big, wide, steady, tsk tsk!" Once on the vehicle, Chen Fei began to feel around and look here and there as if he had never seen anything like it, opening every cabinet and drawer to have a look, and almost closed the equally curious Xiao Jiu inside. As expected of a boss, Zuo Gengming said generously, "If you like it, I''ll just give it to you." Being willing to bleed for investment and catering to tastes is how you retain talent. "Forget it, I have no place to put it!" Chen Fei thought hard about it, and ultimately shook his head. The Aircrew Base was such a tiny place; dumping such a massive motorhome there, what was that about? Drive up to Teacher Shen Fei''s school to show off to that Teacher Jiang Shan with a Versailles-style boast? Not afraid to tumble into a ditch as soon as you leave the base, huh! To throw it back into the home in the homeland, wouldn''t the residential compound charge you triple the parking fee? What''s most important is, he didn''t have a license for large vehicles! A waste of property that wouldn''t be used more than once in a whole year, what use was there for it! Zuo Gengming seemed unconcerned and said, "Then I''ll throw in a big house?" The retail price of this motorhome indeed rivaled any independent house in any of the main urban districts. A vehicle was given away, so what about adding a little building with a yard? Even marrying off a wife wasn''t a problem, highly educated, with big waves of beauty (yes, the beauties from Boston University), Spring Field Defense was not lacking in such high-quality girls, it didn''t matter if you didn''t like them, with Zuo Gengming''s network of connections, there were plenty of unmarried young ladies from wealthy families, having the figure, the face, the character, virtuous and well-mannered, suitable for both halls and kitchens, fitting for a big bed. Wealthy men like to marry beautiful wives, after several generations of improvement, the descendants often have guaranteed quality (think about the daughters from the golden-haired family). "No need for now!" Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Chen Fei felt that the dormitory he was living in was quite nice. A three-story western-style building with its own garden greenhouse, warm as spring throughout the four seasons.@@@@ What''s most important is that the boss always managed to stuff the liquor cabinet full. "..." How come it felt like trying to scratch an itch through a shoe, Zuo Gengming was at a loss, he really couldn''t dig into this corner. No interest in cars, houses, or pretty girls, what else to want? The sturdy motorhome that wasn''t much different from a real house quickly left the economic zone and entered the edge of the uninhabited area. Soon, two armored vehicles and four armed jeeps escorted the motorhome in the center, and in the sky, small reconnaissance drones took turns flying along; this was the armed escort that Zuo Gengming had mentioned, meant to deliver Chen Fei and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu safely to the 131 Aircrew Base. The heavy anti-aircraft machine guns mounted on top of the armored vehicles fired several times along the way, clearly spotting mutants ambushing nearby, most were pinpointed and exterminated, while a few attempted to charge and were quickly overwhelmed by the dense barrage of heavy-caliber bullets. The muffled sound of the anti-aircraft machine guns firing burst after burst settled once more, and Zuo Gengming said, "We''re almost there!" Most mutants gathered near the aircrew bases, seemingly knowing that without taking down the aircrew bases, they couldn''t assault the various administrative blocks where humans gathered. Dipping his index finger into the tea, Chen Fei wrote a stroke, two horizontals, and a bent hook on the table, saying meaningfully, "Got it? ''Learning brings happiness.'' The world''s foremost rebellious classic, even in the American Federation, has plenty of die-hard fans. "Learning brings me happiness!" Zuo Gengming looked somewhat dazedly at the character written with tea water, exposing his human nature as a parrot. "First, prepare a place for me to stay, and then arrange the support personnel. Xiao Jiu and I will first comb through the areas near this base. To ward off external threats, we must first secure internal stability. With no worries behind us, we can then take care of the Mutants occupying Aircrew Base 130." Clenching his fist, Chen Fei cracked his knuckles and immediately went into work mode. One must earn their keep; to accept payment is to pledge service. He really thought the equity dividends from Boss Hana''s company were easy to get, but he had to work for them. "Alright, the support team is ready and can be in place at any time," Zuo Gengming said. Zuo Gengming vividly remembered the scene of Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu slaughtering Mutants, and he could foresee that the Mutants near Aircrew Base 131''s end was imminent. After dropping off his luggage in the luxurious guest room arranged by Zuo Gengming and having rested enough along the way, Chen Fei greeted his support team and, in front of everyone, deployed the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, picking up a large box of Hand Grenades and a box of Anti-Infantry Mines before departing. Best not to drag things out¡ª what''s promised to be done in two days must be accomplished within those two days. "Communications test, OK!" "Location test, OK!" "Electronic map synchronization, OK!" "Reconnaissance drone, ''Fly 01'' has taken off!" "Reconnaissance drone, ''Fly 02'' has taken off!" "Reconnaissance drone..." "Reconnaissance drone, ''Fly 05'' has taken off!" "Transport drone, ''Hornet 01'' on standby." "Ground combat squad A1 is about to depart." ... "''Fly 02'' reporting. Suspected Mutants found in Sector C1. Estimated number: 2." "Rookie received. Moving out, heading to Sector C1," Watching Chen Fei, clad in Tactical Armor, move with extraordinary agility, leaping over walls in a few bounds and quickly vanishing from sight, Zuo Gengming couldn''t help but be impressed. A Little Bird soared into the sky, following him. A communications, reconnaissance, transport, and combat squad of about a dozen people, with Chen Fei as the tactical core, kicked off the cleansing operation near Aircrew Base 131. The data link standard used by the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor didn''t conform to that of the American Federation, but no matter, it was a job for "Adam," awakened and activated once again. This time, "Adam" didn''t cry out that it had been deleted multiple times. It self-compiled a little counter, saw the launch number was 2, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. - Chapter 331 Section 330 - Mutant BOSS The signal flare is the contingency plan for a communication breakdown. If no signal flares rise, it means that Chen Fei has fallen and is boxed in, dead on the spot. Little Bird can fly and might just escape disaster. If three red signal flares go up, the fleets circling in the sky won''t hesitate to pour down ammunition to cover Chen Fei''s retreat with all their might. Even if the mission isn''t successful, the person must still come back alive. Zuo Gengming asked Chen Fei and Jiu Defense Company for help, but he never intended to send anyone into a certain deathtrap. Given Chen Fei''s performance at the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground in the Alps Mountains region, it seemed unlikely there would be any major problems. If it were anyone else, Zuo Gengming wouldn''t dare send them to Aircrew Base 130. Are you kidding me? Even military contractors who treat life cheaply don''t do such things. The mutants slumbering underground were awakened by the roar of aircraft engines in the sky, and many sensed Chen Fei on the main runway of Aircrew Base 130. Their roars rose one after another, encircling from all sides. "Xiao Jiu, you just need to handle those Flying Species; leave the rest to me," Chen Fei said as he scratched Little Bird''s chin, causing the glimmer in front of Xiao Jiu''s sharp beak to quickly fade. Good steel should be used on the blade''s edge. Little Bird''s laser was reserved as a contingency, conserving strength for now, to handle the Mutant BOSS lurking within this airforce base. Dragging the supply box to the side of the runway, he opened the crate and took out a Six-barreled Gatling gun, hung up the bullet chain, and lifted it in hand, aiming at the surroundings before pressing the firing button. Tongues of fire spewed out more than three feet long, the intense gunfire drowning out the mutants'' roars, tracing multiple dense 360-degree trajectories with crimson streaks of bullets. The encroaching mutants fell into disarray, swept away by the barrage and screaming and howling like ghosts and wolves. The 12.7mm steel core bullets were enough to rip through the bodily defenses of most mutants, causing blood and flesh to fly everywhere in an instant. A single bullet chain was emptied in the blink of an eye, leaving a radius of a hundred meters strewn with corpses and rivers of blood. Chen Fei wasn''t foolish; faced with so many mutants, he wouldn''t stubbornly swing the Physics Holy Sword if he had access to labor-saving firearms. The Gun barrel became red hot, and Chen Fei let go, tossing the emptied Six-barreled Gatling gun aside without reloading it and then picking up a high-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun of the same caliber, setting it level on the supply box and switching to burst fire, quickly depleting the bullet chain as shell casings littered the ground. This type of large-caliber light weapon was extremely effective against mutants. Not just for mutants¡ªeven rhinos and elephants would be felled by a single shot. He tossed aside the high-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun once more and picked up two boxes, one large and one small. The small box contained Directional Anti-Infantry Mines which he took out three or five of, set them down on the ground, turned off the safety, grabbed a detonator from his backpack, set the code, and immediately changed position. The roaring, rampaging mutants pursued once again. Without looking back, Chen Fei pressed the remote control, and dozens of meters behind him, the ground erupted, knocking down yet another swath of enemies. "Jiu!" Little Bird descended from the sky, landing atop Chen Fei''s head. A Light System Magic Shield materialized in front of the duo, and Light Healing Technique was cast on Chen Fei as if it cost nothing. The Light Healing Technique was the Pure Light Sparrow''s specialty. "Xiao Jiu, I''m fine!" Chen Fei detected no significant discomfort in his body, guessing that some capillaries under his skin had burst from the lack of preparation. "Jiu!" Little Bird stopped releasing the Light Healing Technique. Looking up at the enormous monster, anger flared in its tiny mung bean-sized eyes. In front of Xiao Jiu''s delicate beak, a sesame seed-sized point of light flickered intensely as its energy level climbed at an exponential rate. "Hold on a second!" Before Chen Fei, who had drawn his signal pistol again, could stop it, a striking red laser beam shot out. As the saying goes, it was too late. The massive beast seemed to sense the deadly threat posed by Xiao Jiu. With inconceivable agility, it sidestepped over ten meters, narrowly avoiding the lethal laser beam, and without hesitation leapt several times, eluding the pursuing light spots and slipping back into the hangar in the blink of an eye. Xiao Jiu was not about to let it go easily; the crimson beam sliced directly through the entire hangar. Amidst sparks flying, the hangar split as if chopped in half, moaned shrilly as if made of paper, and collapsed with a thunderous crash. Hisss...consider it Old Zuo''s way of warding off bad luck with a financial loss. Chen Fei pulled the trigger on the signal gun. Pop pop pop! Three blue signal flares soared into the sky. This was the agreed signal with Zuo Gengming, indicating the discovery of the mutant boss within Aircrew Base 130, and also confirming Chen Fei''s speculative guess prior to the operation. 1000 energy points were not so easy to obtain; this mutant boss was equally formidable. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire The ground remained engulfed in darkness, the infrared thermal imaging not very clear, and the low-light night vision blurry as well. Zuo Gengming, maintaining close surveillance, received the report instantly. "Report, three blue signal flares have appeared." - Chapter 332 Section 331 - Warm-up Battle ``` "Where is it?" Zuo Gengming looked at the display screen. A video, corrected by a special algorithm and re-synthesized, was projected onto a large screen. Infrared thermal imaging couldn''t capture the mutant boss, but it could still detect Chen Fei''s location. The locked area was set in front of the Aircrew Base''s hangar door. With the addition of low-light night vision and laser synthetic aperture radar, the rough outline of a monster was barely sketched with lines. "There really is one!" Immediately afterward, Zuo Gengming saw Chen Fei flying backward and couldn''t help but gasp in astonishment. Just a moment ago, he had been invincible, but in the blink of an eye, he was sent flying. This mutant was truly not to be underestimated. Then three blue flares slowly ascended, confirming the real presence of the hypothetical target. No wonder the other party wanted more money, not one bit of it was unjust. It was money paid for with one''s life, and there was nothing to complain about. Covered in the "Dragon King" tactical armor from head to toe, Chen Fei quickly opened the large box in his hands and pulled out a single soldier anti-tank missile. At the same time, he said, "Xiao Jiu, stand by in the sky." Even he had been slightly injured. The mutant boss''s peculiar roar posed an even greater threat to the fragile Little Bird. Chen Fei couldn''t bear to take this risk. Flying hundreds of meters high, wasn''t stealthily sniping from above more fragrant? Little Bird stood on the tactical helmet, refusing to leave. He grabbed it in his hand and threw it hard into the sky, forcibly sending it airborne. Boom, the completely collapsed hangar suddenly rose like a "small mound," followed by a deafening roar. Numerous metal plates flew into the sky.@@@@ While flapping its wings unsteadily midair, Xiao Jiu was enveloped in a faint glow. The light-based magic shield flickered on and off in the roar''s shockwave, clearly affected by the residual force. Chen Fei''s worry was justified. Relying only on the magic shield, it would likely be hard to withstand such a sonic assault. "Roar!" Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire The low growl contained madness and rage, and four eyes shining with a faint green light stared fixedly at Chen Fei. Like Xiao Jiu, the creature had a wide field of view exceeding 180 degrees, even possibly higher, compensating for the lack of stereoscopic vision. This was highly advantageous for its high mobility. Countless metal roofing tiles rained down from the sky, but Chen Fei, like the mutant boss, neither dodged nor flinched, aiming the anti-tank missile at his target. "Woo!" Countless pieces of the hangar shed exploded again, and the airwave stirred up by the roar charged towards Chen Fei like a train. The anti-tank missile''s launcher flashed with fire at the rear, and a thick missile was propelled out. Immediately, its tail emitted a dazzling flame, charging against the oncoming airwave with full force. Boom! The airwave and the anti-tank missile collided head-on, triggering the fuse on the spot. The shockwave swept across a fifty-meter radius, a wild wind arose, and the fragmented hangar debris once again spiraled into the sky collectively. Chen Fei was pushed back several staggering steps by the airwave. However, with the tactical armor, the impact he suffered was greatly reduced. Debris from the hangar flew everywhere. Suddenly, a vicious gust of wind struck without warning. An immediate sense of crisis arose in his heart, and Chen Fei, without any hesitation, forcefully leaped from the ground. In the nick of time, he shot forward more than ten meters. The mutant boss''s claws then violently scoured the area where he had just been standing, sending chunks of concrete flying and gouging out a large hole. Worthy of being a six-legged mutant, having two extra legs compared to ordinary animals, its speed was truly astonishing. It might even approach 100 yards. "WHOO!~" A deep growl came from behind Chen Fei. He grasped the makeshift cannon and turned around, but then another growl came from his left. The ground trembled slightly. The six-legged mutant boss changed locations unpredictably, running like the wind, making it difficult for Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu to lock on. Even if they had a strong weapon, it would be hard to utilize without being able to aim. As if answering the growls, various screams and howls came from afar. The mutants around the Aircrew Base became agitated, rushing towards the base from all directions. "This is bad, all the mutants have gone crazy!" The technician, who was the first to notice, yelled out. Heading toward the Aircrew Base were not only swarms of land-based mutants but also many flying-type mutants. Even the flying squadrons and transport planes circling above the base were facing a significant threat; there was a real risk of total annihilation. "We should retreat now! There might still be time to forcefully extract the ''rookie''." A staff member reminded their boss, the chairman of Spring Field Defense, Zuo Gengming. No plan can account for every change. Who could have predicted that a mutant leader was actually hiding in the Aircrew Base and had stirred up the numerous nearby mutants? To say that many ants can kill an elephant, these mutants were no ordinary ants! The man and bird still fighting the mutant leader on the ground were likely unable to handle this situation. "Fire the retreat signal flares." Zuo Gengming didn''t hesitate much. As long as they survived, they could always devise a new combat plan and fight another round. But if they didn''t survive, that would truly be the end, and given the wrath of the Jiu Defense Company, he would only be able to obediently go out of business and leave the industry, returning to live off his family''s millions. Upon receiving the command, the people on the small transport plane immediately fired signal flares into the sky over the Aircrew Base on the ground, three striking red light orbs streaked across the sky. "Retreat? No retreat!" Chen Fei noticed the red flares lighting up half the sky immediately. He too pulled out a signal pistol, changed the magazine, aimed at the sky, and with three consecutive shots, bang, bang, bang. Three green luminescent orbs shot up into the night. No retreat! He wouldn''t leave without accomplishing anything, especially now that the real action was just heating up! "Xiao Jiu! Take down all the flyers!" Chen Fei pointed toward the distant sky. As long as Little Bird was present, not a single mutant flyer would be able to approach the airspace above the Aircrew Base. Xiao Jiu''s laser beams might have consistently failed against the mutant boss, but when used against those flying species, they worked like a charm, proving deadly time and time again. - Chapter 333 Section 332 - Slaughter ``` "Jiu?" Xiao Jiu was somewhat hesitant and still circled above Chen Fei''s head. "I''m fine!" Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Chen Fei urged loudly. Before his words ended, he suddenly detected a huge shadow rushing towards him from the corner of his eye. This speed... "Dragon King" tactical helmet immediately calculated the data. 200 km/h! Damn, that''s almost fast enough to take off from the ground! Chen Fei barely had time to twist the nozzle in his hand, when suddenly a burst of fire flashed, and the armor-piercing discarding sabot round inside the barrel was activated. The enormous recoil made his feet grind against the ground, digging a noticeable shallow trough and dragging him over fifty meters. The full power discharge of the 120mm caliber cannon was incomparable to the recoil of the six-barreled Gatling or anti-aircraft machine guns. The needle-shaped tungsten core separated from the buttstock at lightning speed, penetrated the earth-shattering roar, and charged into the six-legged mutant BOSS''s fangs-filled maw; the next second, it burst out of its rear end, bringing with it a plume of unidentifiable liquid. It was as if time had suddenly stopped. The deafening roar that could create a massive shockwave stopped abruptly, the mutant BOSS''s body frozen in place, with copious amounts of blood spurting out of both the entry and exit wound, unstoppable in its flow, becoming more and more fierce. Target hit!!! "Dragon King" single soldier tactical armor had captured the nearly straight trajectory of the armor-piercing discarding sabot round in that instant, shooting straight through the behemoth that had charged up to less than ten meters away. But still, it was hard to tell if it was dead! Chen Fei did not assume too much, once again producing an anti-aircraft machine gun, reassembling the bullets scattered on the ground into a belt, and loading it into the chamber. He aimed at the six-legged mutant BOSS, frozen in place, unmoving, and opened fire for a trial by firepower. A series of fire serpents penetrated the opponent''s body straight away. Boom!~ The ground trembled slightly. The 12.7mm caliber bullets, carrying immense kinetic energy, not only successfully hit the mutant BOSS but also pushed its still body onto the ground. "Jiu!" A clear bird chirp echoed through the sky. A pale green laser beam hit the monstrous head of the mutant BOSS. This time it finally found its mark, with a furious flame rising, and after only three seconds of exposure, it completed the penetration. The thick fur was ignited, and the spreading flames became more and more intense, threatening to turn the mutant into a massive torch. Zuo Gengming reminded once again, "That''s enough, Mr. Chen, you can evacuate now." The circling small transport aircraft was already preparing for an emergency landing to take Chen Fei away. With the mutant BOSS dead, the recovery efforts that followed became much easier. If they couldn''t handle such a simple job, it would be better to give up Aircrew Base 130 altogether. The second flight squadron from Aircrew Base 131 had already taken off, this time a uniform group of "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft carrying full ground ammunition. Chen Fei had cleared a buffer zone around Aircrew Base 131, allowing Spring Field Defense to temporarily free up personnel to recover Aircrew Base 130. Surrounded by mutants, Chen Fei calmly said, "Don''t rush me, Old Zuo! Let me finish the job first!" He accepted money to dispel disasters for others; since he had taken on the job, he had to do it well! It was unthinkable for him to take money and not do the work. The firearm in his hand had become a crowbar, brutally prying into the skulls of mutants, lifting off the top of their heads, and directly extracting a lump of white brain matter. He unerringly managed to pry out the brains of whatever kind of mutant he faced. The action of cracking open the mutants'' skulls had almost become a reflex, a stab and a pry, clean and crisp. His dexterity had reached a masterful level, comparable to a melon-opening expert. "Hey, Mr. Chen!" Seeing Chen Fei overwhelmed by mutants, Zuo Gengming from Aircrew Base 131 called out anxiously. Chen Fei replied as if nothing was wrong, "What''s the matter, Old Zuo?" He didn''t understand why Zuo Gengming was frenetically yelling. "You''re still alive?" Zuo Gengming''s eyes widened as he looked at the footage coming back from Aircrew Base 130. Piles of mutants were stacking up higher and higher, with even more charging forward, one after the other. Chen Fei responded lightly, "Of course, I''m still alive. Don''t worry, this is just a minor scene." Being besieged by mutants was something he had experienced several times before. In fact, it wasn''t as dangerous as Zuo Gengming had seen. Only a few mutants could get up close, and they even interfered with each other. It would have been much more troublesome if it were one-on-one bouts. "Ah?" Zuo Gengming was too shocked to speak. Was this Chen Fei some kind of tireless mechanical being? Amidst the ferocious onslaught of the mutants, he seemed even more at ease, and fighting in such an understated manner was something Zuo Gengming had almost never seen before in his life. Zuo Gengming had no idea that Chen Fei had once fought mutants overnight in the wilds of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, killing them so fiercely that they were frightened and retreated three hundred li. Time ticked by and dawn arrived, with the sky finally brightening. In the sky, the turboprop aircraft and small transport planes had been replaced, and even Xiao Jiu, exhausted, landed on the control tower of Aircrew Base 130, looking at the increasingly high piles of corpses near the main runway. Chen Fei stood atop the "mountain," tirelessly waving his Physics Holy Sword like a brave hero, slaughtering the mutants who came to their deaths without the power to resist. - Chapter 334 Section 333 - Cash In Rumbling! A mutant with its brain smashed out rolled down helplessly from a pile of corpses over ten meters high, no longer daring to rush up to meet its demise. A hundred meters away, a six-legged mutant boss was burned into bald charcoal, the air filled with the enticing aroma of meat, and the flames even spread to many other mutants'' remains. From a bird''s-eye view, the chaotic 130 Aircrew Base was broadly charred, indistinguishable from a real battlefield¡ªin fact, this was a real battlefield! Inside the 131 Aircrew Base, all who saw this scene fell deathly silent. The first light of dawn broke the horizon, casting a golden glow on the figure standing atop the mountain of corpses and the sea of blood. Chen Fei stood above, looking down at the dozen or so ferocious monsters still howling ceaselessly, his hand''s Physics Holy Sword still unwavering, while blood incessantly dripped from the blood-drenched tip of his white steel crowbar. The ground had long been stained red with a large swath of blood, accumulating into pools. On the screen, there was the silhouette akin to a war god from an epic blockbuster, leaving Zuo Gengming in the depths of his throat with nothing but sharp intakes of breath. A man and an inconsequential Pure Light Sparrow fought through the dawn, taking back the 130 Aircrew Base, which had been overrun for more than half a month, from the hands of the mutants. As for the remaining dozen or so mutants, not just Zuo Gengming, even the people at 131 Aircrew Base didn''t consider them a threat. Any "Big Mouth Monster" could easily exterminate these ignorant creatures. From the time Chen Fei arrived at the 131 Aircrew Base in the North American Continent, less than 24 hours had passed. Damn, that additional million Star Yuan was well spent! Thinking back, Chen Fei was only one of the two supernatural power users from Jiu Defense Company, and the other one, known as "Eye of the Storm," the boss, hadn''t even made a move yet! This Jiu Defense Company... Truly formidable as hell! If news of this vicious battle were to spread, Jiu Defense Company''s Jianghu status would surely soar significantly. "Jiu!" The rested Little Bird once again flapped its wings and perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, glaring at the dozen or so mutants together.@@@@ The fear that slept deep within their primal instincts was finally awakened. The mutants surrounding the mountain of corpses shivered and recoiled, and without hesitation, they turned and fled, hoping to get as far away from the terrifying human as possible. "None of you are getting away!" Chen Fei leaped down from the mountain of corpses, chasing after one of the mutants. The white steel crowbar in his hand transformed into a spear, casually thrown. With a pitiful cry, the mutant was pinned to the ground. Zuo Gengming immediately slapped his chest in assurance, then said, "We also have a thousand tons of scrap metal. When do you want it? It''s just that..." At home in the mines, there''s more than a thousand tons of scrapped machinery. If someone wants it, better to take it quickly. Seeing that the other party had become hesitant, Chen Fei cut to the chase, "It''s too heavy and difficult to transport, isn''t it?" The other party''s thought process was quite predictable. The two aircrew bases were located in remote areas with high transport costs, especially for shipping a thousand tons of scrap metal, which really wasn''t cost-effective. It would be better to save on the shipping cost and just get Chen Fei to the location. Not only would it save trouble and time, the end result would be no different. "Hehe, indeed it is! However, the 130 and 131 Aircrew Bases already have some scrap metal, all of which will be yours, considered an extra giveaway." True to a capitalist, Zuo Gengming wore an embarassed smile, his mind clearly ticking away. In fact, the aircrew bases always struggled with how to properly dispose of scrap metal. To save space, they generally recycled and smelted rough ingots and piled them outside, leaving them to weather under sun and rain, with little opportunity for reuse. "That works too!" Chen Fei agreed. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire "No problem, thank you so much!" Zuo Gengming thanked him again. This was indeed a big help. Rubbing his hands together, he continued, "Mr. Chen, I hope you can stay here a few more days. You can rest assured of your reception." Chen Fei, present at the 130 Aircrew Base, was like a Sea-calming Needle, not only deterring the ferocious mutants but also providing a great sense of security and confidence for the personnel working here. Otherwise, not for anything would they dare come here for what would be a suicidal task. Even if Zuo Gengming was willing to reward brave men handsomely, their numbers were often limited and nowhere near enough to secure the entire 130 Aircrew Base and restore normal operation. "Then I''ll stay for another seven days!" Chen Fei had originally planned to return the same day, but Boss Hana suggested he stay a bit longer. There were unlikely to be any battles, and his presence was mainly to stabilize morale and create a sense of safety. With someone more terrifying than the mutant bosses around, those outside mutants weren''t concerning at all, and even sleeping at night could be much more reassuring. "Great, that''s really great!" Overcome with emotion, Zuo Gengming''s eyes reddened. Seven days were enough for him to stabilize the situation, and even if Chen Fei left afterward, it would still ensure the safety of both aircrew bases. Unexpectedly to Chen Fei, just the alloy rough ingots accumulated over the years at the 130 Aircrew Base weighed nearly a thousand tons combined, nearly fulfilling Chen Fei''s additional requirements from this one location alone. Then there was the stock of scrap metal at the 131 Aircrew Base, even more than one thousand five hundred tons, all of which went to Chen Fei. - Chapter 336 Section 334 - Energy Points_2 The small private business jet took off from Aircrew Base 131 with Chen Fei and Zuo Gengming on board, heading south. The Zuo Family''s rare earth mine was located on the Flower State Peninsula along the east coast of North America and had changed owners four times, being mined for nearly two hundred years. Initially, it was operated as a copper-iron mine with a small amount of silver ore. The annual output wasn''t significant and had been intermittent. Later, when rare earth elements were discovered, the extensive mining operations ceased. After being sealed for over a decade, they began the meticulous process of mining. As a resource that has been long scarce, the price of rare earth elements continued to rise. The profit-maximizing Zuo Family was in no rush to excavate their ancestral industry haphazardly. From the small private airport where the business jet landed, they traversed over thirty kilometers of wheat fields before plunging into the hilly area. The mine was located at the edge of the agricultural area, and the nearby farmers had lodged repeated complaints about pollution from mining. Even though the Zuo Family had purchased pollution control systems and established green belts to isolate dust and wastewater, the complaints never stopped. In the end, the Zuo Family, firm in their resolve, simply bought out all the nearby farms at a high price, and that was the end of it! In reality, the farmers had lost a substantial amount during futures trading and leveraged the pretense of pollution to fleece the Zuo Family. Otherwise, the mine would have been complained into bankruptcy a long time ago. The environment surrounding the rare earth mine looked no different from most of the aircrew bases on the front lines against the Mutants, except there were no Mutants nearby. Occasionally, a few marine Mutants would land on the peninsula''s coastline, causing minor trouble, but the local residents were not concerned. Aquatic Species became significantly less threatening when they came ashore, reducing their menace tenfold, and even if they managed to flee back to sea, they would be tracked by the Coast Guard sonar. Just one guided torpedo, bang, and that was the end of them. Water conducts the shock waves far better than air does; the same charge magnifies the impact several times over in water. Chen Fei got out of the dust-covered four-wheel drive vehicle that had bounced its way to the rare earth mine, splattered with mud and muck. "Good lord, what a terrible road!" Chen Fei stepped out of the car, feeling quite shaken up. Xiao Jiu descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder. It had flown the entire way and didn''t suffer the jolting ride. Zuo Gengming said with a tinge of regret, "We had a helicopter, but it''s out on another assignment." Because they had arrived in haste and the mine''s helicopter was out unexpectedly, they had to endure this rough ride. Ever since entering the agricultural zone, the clay and stone roads predominated: covered in dust on dry days and caked in mud on rainy days¡ªwith only agricultural and freight vehicles coming and going, one could forget about seeing a wide and smooth asphalt road. "Welcome, Young Master Zuo, and Mr. Chen Fei." The manager hired by the Zuo Family had been eagerly waiting at the mine''s entrance, ready to attentively host the bosses from afar. "Mr. Chen, how about you rest a bit, grab something to eat, and then we head over there." Zuo Gengming gestured in the direction of the pit filled with old mining equipment. He too was feeling dizzy and headachy from the bumpy ride. "Sure! Something simple will do." Chen Fei nodded. He didn''t have much of an appetite anyway; sandwiches and hot dogs would suffice. The mine''s manager said, "We have a chef here who cooks Eastern cuisine." He had made thorough preparations well in advance. The mine''s chef was from Annan. Chen Fei, who thought he might have a nice little surprise, looked at a table full of cold dishes and fried chicken...Well! It seemed that one shouldn''t hold out too much hope when far from home. Zuo Gengming was eating with relish. Seeing Chen Fei''s leisurely pace, he asked quizzically, "Not to your taste?" "Hmm! It''s alright!" After all, one must give face to the host''s efforts. Good Lord, this Dog System is doing this on purpose! As soon as it saw the mountain-like scrap metal, it immediately lifted the restrictions. 10,000 tons of metal a day means 10,000 Energy Points can be exchanged. Opening the "Skill Shop" to take a look. Sure enough... it''s been waiting right here! 1. Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+10000): 10,000 points 2. Asteroid Annihilation Cannon: 99999999 Energy Points 3. Precision Screw Technique: 100 Energy Points 4. Basic Microwave Emitter (upgradable): 1,000 Energy Points 5. Type 81 Rifle (1940 version): 100 Energy Points 6. Macedonian Heavy Infantry Armor: 500 Energy Points 7. Magnetic Levitation Module: 500 Energy Points 8. Hypnosis Mask: 1,000 Energy Points 9. Camel Pot Machine (14kw): 1,000 Energy Points 10. Shack: 500 Energy Points Look! Look! What is all this random junk, I almost got completely confused. The Dog System clearly wants to trap Energy Points, digging a hole and just waiting for me to jump in. Chen Fei rolled his eyes, this is too much! The current Energy Points storage can''t avoid being upgraded, who said "Metal Devouring" just so happened could fill up the Energy Points in one go! After breakfast. At the bottom of the abandoned mine pit. Energy Points: 10,000/10,000 "Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+10000): 10,000 points", GET! Energy Points -10,000! Energy Points: 0/20,000 Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Metal Devouring" still has some leftover capacity. Energy Points: 3,553/20,000 Continue tomorrow! - ``` Chapter 337 Section 335 - Trip to Ocean Continent Energy Points: 19999/20000 The abandoned mine had become "spick and span," not even a screw was left for Zuo Gengming from a century ago to today''s scraps of copper and iron. He asked incredulously, "It''s all gone?" It had an "indigestion" yesterday, so how could it have suddenly "worked up an appetite" overnight? However, at least the rare earth mine no longer needed to pay a penalty of 100,000 Star Yuan to the darned Federal Environmental Protection Agency, which relieved a burden for the Zuo Family. The remaining large pit might even be filled with water for fish farming, attracting some scuba diving enthusiasts by the way. "I''m very satisfied with this transaction, if there''s more work like this in the future, just give me a call." Chen Fei contentedly patted Zuo Gengming''s shoulder. Who would have thought that this large pit would have a great surprise, accumulating at least twenty thousand tons of metal. The Dog System timely introduced in the "Skill Shop" the "Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000): 20,000 points." Good lord, always on the ball! Looking at the other items, they were all a pile of nonsensical trash that was totally off-putting. This time, Chen Fei ignored it! Trying to scam my energy points again? Go eat a fart! Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire Instead, he focused on the list under "My Skills." "Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1" upgraded to Level 3¡ª1. Light Armor Mode, 2. Heavy Armor Mode, 3. Adaptive Armor Mode Energy Points-4000! Level 4 Cavalry Armor Mode was totally unnecessary. Ride what? Xiao Jiu? What a joke! They would at least need a Magical Beast that could serve as a mount! It was likely that even the Mutant Flying Dragons he had dealt with before wouldn''t be able to withstand the weight of the upgraded "Personal Armor," let alone the Light Armor Mode, much less a Level 4 Cavalry Armor Mode. Then, "Composite Armor Layer Level 0" upgraded to Level 2, capable of resisting both Human Order Spells and Battle Qi, as Chen Fei felt the lack of defense while fighting a Mutant Boss. Energy Points-2000! "Evolution Accelerator Level 0" upgraded to Level 10 because the bigger the structure and the more complex it is, the slower the evolution speed is, which really holds things up in emergency situations. Energy Points-1000! "Super Capacitor Level 2" upgraded to Level 12, since the mutants were so rampant, it should be able to support the long-time operation of evolving laser weapons. Energy Points-1000! Then max out the "Microphone Module"¡ªsingle/dual channel capture, stereo capture, full-area capture, automatic noise reduction, and directional long-distance listening. Energy Points-500! Hanna Gagar cautioned, "Pretty much, and you have to be extra careful!" Once he stepped out of Jiu Defense''s territory, Chen Fei''s personal safety could hardly be guaranteed, let alone the fact that open attacks are easy to avoid, but hidden schemes are hard to defend against. This young man, though intelligent, was still inexperienced with the dirty tricks of various conspiracies. Chen Fei laughed heartily, carefreely responding, "Don''t worry! I''m impervious to swords and guns, and I have Xiao Jiu with me, too!" Others might fear being backstabbed, but he wasn''t scared! If they dared, they should aim for his head! "The human heart is treacherous, it''s hard to guard against, still, be very careful, don''t trust others too easily, and call me to discuss anything if needed," Hanna Gagar, knowing that light weapons were no more effective than tickling against him, persisted, worried that failing once might lead to endless schemes until they succeed. Keeping in touch would also reassure her somewhat, especially since she was no stranger to the cutthroat world, being a former Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "Got it!" Although verbally nonchalant, Chen Fei still decided to heed the advice. In his skill list, a significant portion was dedicated to strengthening defense. Many knew of Chen Fei''s fierce and wild close combat, but few could imagine how impenetrable his defenses could be once he set up his "turtle shell." Not just light weapons, even heavy weapons would need to reassess their effectiveness. So he just needed to persevere. After concluding the call with Boss Hana, Chen Fei proceeded to cancel his ticket and then bought another for a flight to Shepherd City in the Yangzhou Continent. Aircraft flying to the Yangzhou Continent from various places worldwide were almost uniformly armed airships with escort flyers. Yangzhou had been the main battleground and the final battle site of the "Three Realms Fusion War," its vast and sparsely populated land allowing for unrestricted use of nuclear weapons, making it a severe hotspot for post-war mutant outbreaks. Many creatures here underwent bizarre mutations and evolution, including not just Blue Star''s creatures but also those from Honghuang Star and the stray Cangqiong Star creatures on Yangzhou, with a surprisingly high number of poisonous and magical beasts mutated, making it quite a headache to deal with. Placing the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Yangzhou was also a way to leverage superior forces to suppress the entire continent, preventing the complete out-of-control situation of its mutated creatures. The spacious interior of the airship, unlike a cramped passenger plane, included guest rooms, a cinema, restaurants, and even a swimming pool. Even the cheapest single seat was spacious enough to comfortably lie down in. Chen Fei booked a small single room for himself; since the Global United Defense Committee was reimbursing, there was no need to be frugal. Xiao Jiu didn''t need to be checked in as a pet and could accompany him. The security personnel, seeing it was a Pure Light Sparrow and that all quarantine and other required documents were complete, let it pass without further scrutiny. After a lengthy twenty-hour flight from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, crossing the equator and the Pacific, the airship finally arrived on the Yangzhou Continent. Before the airship landed, the cabin crew distributed a booklet to every passenger. It not only introduced the Yangzhou Continent but also provided essential survival tips to avoid losing lives carelessly in this land. "Selling radiation index meters, 100 Star Yuan each." "Radiation test paper, 240 sheets for 10 Star Yuan!" "Disposable light radiation protective clothing, only 20 Star Yuan." "Heat-clearing radiation-resistant tea bags, 10 Star Yuan a pack." "Special power bank for radiation zones, 20,000 mAh, 150 Star Yuan each, quality guaranteed, one-year global warranty." "Watchdog geese, 100 Star Yuan a pair, the most alert sentinels at night." "Mutant repellent, one can for 50 Star Yuan, latest product, three cans for 120 Star Yuan." ... The airship to Habulav wouldn''t leave for another 14 hours, so Chen Fei planned to find a hotel near the airport to settle in, grab a meal, and then adjust to the time difference, but just as he exited the arrival hall, he was bombarded by the frenzied enthusiasm of the Yangzhou locals. Sounds of various hawkers filled his ears, buzzing and bustling about, hardly different from a marketplace. Chapter 338 Section 336 - Training Hall For nearly half a century, mutants have wreaked havoc upon the Ocean Continent. However, the locals quickly adapted, living off the mountains and rivers, radiation, and eating mutants. The Ocean Continent possesses the world''s largest Radiation Wine Cellar, offering uniquely flavored wines aged through nuclear processes. The people here indeed consume mutants¡ªof course, only those that have passed safety tests and are edible, and they even taste quite good. Naturally occurring radiation is ubiquitous, and as long as it''s within the safety threshold, it won''t significantly affect human health. However, one must be wary of unscrupulous merchants who sell cheap, highly radioactive mutant ingredients, putting people at risk¡ªa scenario akin to eating pufferfish happens almost every year. "No need! Sorry, excuse me, I''m a local, I''m heading home." Chen Fei, dragging his luggage and pet shipping box and accompanied by Little Bird, broke through the crowd of salespeople, hailed an autonomous taxi, and headed to a hotel where he had reserved a room. He was an old hand at this; as soon as he claimed to be a local, the salespeople immediately backed off, as Chen Fei looked like a college student returning home rather than a tourist or businessperson who hadn''t done their homework. On the airship, Chen Fei had already booked a batch of survival necessities and equipment essential for the Ocean Continent; all branded goods, quality assured. He reckoned they should have been delivered to his hotel room by now, waiting to be unpacked and checked. ... Habulav was located in the central hinterlands of the Ocean Continent, surrounded by mutants, with danger lurking at every turn. As the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, there weren''t many regular flights, just a daily one-time passenger and cargo transport airship service. Since most passengers were either employees of the Committee or related personnel, and the airships operated as official vessels, there was no fare. Ordinary people wouldn''t be tempted by the free ride to such a dangerous place, where a moment''s carelessness could cost one''s life. The transport airship carrying Chen Fei had barely landed when the specially ordered radiation detector spiked slightly, showing an increase of a dozen units. Though the ambient radiation levels still lay within the safety threshold, the presence of radiation was unmistakably abnormal; this was Habulav, a place once heavily struck by nuclear attacks. This was no pleasant location: a high wall encircled the entire Habulav, bristling with automatic fire platforms, both anti-air and ground weapons. Beyond the wall lay a vast minefield, with both ground and aerial surveillance systems operating 24 hours, and the frequency of air patrols far exceeded that of any Aircrew Base. Almost always, a Combat Flight Squadron would be in the air. To some extent, Habulav was not only the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee but also the largest Aircrew Base on Blue Star, comparable to top-tier military facilities of sovereign states¡ªit was essentially a massive military camp. Chen Fei understood this. The region around Habulav was far more dangerous than other Aircrew Bases; en route alone, the transport airship had encountered two attacks from Mutant Flying Species. Fortunately, the airship was not unarmed and released several missiles, promptly shooting down those foolhardy mutants from the sky. Riding in a shuttle, Chen Fei quickly reached his destination for registration. Located on the 48th floor of a hundred-story skyscraper in Habulav''s A2 zone, he knew he was in the right place as soon as the elevator doors opened and he saw the newly made brushed stainless-steel sign, "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division", and the directional signs; it seemed the entire floor was theirs. As he exited the elevator, he was met with the new brushed stainless-steel doorplate of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division", likely indicating the whole floor along with directional signs. This "bear" was probably a "Water Bear". Chen Fei had arrived early, and the registration area seemed to have been set up recently, with a few details still somewhat disorganized. "I am Chen Fei!" No sooner had he introduced himself than the blond elder sister at the registration threw a card at him. "Take this card to the training facility in C4 zone for testing. If you don''t pass, return the card and leave within 24 hours. Got it?" Surely straightforward and direct... Indeed, Habulav, rife with mutants in the surrounding wilderness, was not a place for ordinary people. But Xiao Jiu skillfully dodged away, displaying a prideful demeanor that suggested it was to be admired from a distance but not to be trifled with. On normal days, apart from Chen Fei, the number of people who could touch this little guy could be counted on one hand. With just a call from Daddy Chen Fei, it would immediately fly back, even Chef Abel, who adored it the most, would jokingly call it "the little ingrate." "Let''s go! Let''s head to Area C4 first!" Chen Fei was not at all worried about being unable to find the training hall. Detailed maps of the entire Habulav were everywhere. At the airport, he had already snapped a picture on his phone, and besides, he could always ask for directions along the way, he was sure to find it. Upon exiting the building, they hailed an unmanned taxi and went straight to Area C4. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire In fact, without asking anyone for directions or looking at a map, the taxi automatically delivered them to the seemingly large football stadium that was the C4 training hall. The training hall was the largest building in Area C, from C1 to C9, all had the same exterior. Or perhaps, the entire Area C was the training area. According to Habulav''s functional planning, Area A was the administrative area, Area B the residential area, Area C the training area, Area D the military area, and then there were the confidential and controlled areas, Areas E, F, and G. It seemed as if artificial intelligence AI had locked onto Chen Fei and Mouri Misono. Upon entering Area C4, a guidance system automatically appeared, leading the way to the C4 training hall, where they stored their personal belongings before continuing further into the hall. A massive dome covered the sky without a single pillar, and beneath it, an open area as large as a standard football field was mostly empty except for a tall, burly black man who was already waiting there. Hearing their footsteps, he slowly turned around. "Chen Fei, Mouri Misono, welcome to this place, I am the interviewer, Babylon." His face was emotionless, showing neither happiness nor sorrow, and his eyes remained closed from beginning to end, with no intention of opening them to take a look at the two newcomers. "Hello, Mr. Babylon." Chen Fei slightly bowed out of respect. The adjacent Mouri Misono, however, bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "I am Mouri Misono, I look forward to your guidance." "Introduce your personal abilities and specialties. This is very important, please do not hide anything." The black interviewer Babylon was just like the receptionist sister, straight to the point without any superfluous words. Mouri Misono looked at Chen Fei, who nodded immediately and said, "I am a Grade B Metal Ability User, specializing in copying mechanical products." Grade B supernatural power user? Mouri Misono''s eyes widened, only one level below Grade A, but that was still very impressive. She quickly recovered, bowed again, and said, "I am an Eighth Rank Wind Series Ability User, wielding dual swords, specializing in Unlimited Ripping Slash!" Wow! Now it was Chen Fei''s turn to be surprised. The seemingly delicate young lady who he had wondered how long would cry if slapped was actually an Eighth Rank War Professional. He felt a shiver down his spine and was relieved that he had held back; otherwise, he would''ve surely ended up being pinned down and crying pitifully. - Chapter 339 Section 337 - Full Attack The large black interviewer said expressionlessly, "Then what about it?" It/She/He? Chen Fei immediately realized and said, "Xiao Jiu, a third-rank Pure Light Sparrow, who is skilled at lasers!" In front of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, there really wasn''t much to hide. Even hiding it would be useless, as they already knew everything they needed to know. Moreover, considering there are so many big shots on the other side, they wouldn''t care about a nobody like you, so don''t take yourself too seriously. The large black interviewer kept his eyes closed, it was unclear if he was doing it on purpose or was just putting on an act. "Eh?!!!" Mouri Misono''s eyes widened with surprise as she looked over at the small bird on Chen Fei''s shoulder. Everyone knew that a Pure Light Sparrow was at most a weak Magical Beast of the first rank, and now a rare third-rank talented variant had appeared. But then again, reaching such a rank and being able to use lasers didn''t seem all that strange. Wait a minute! Lasers? "Is your Pure Light Sparrow alive?" The Babylonian interviewer asked, voicing the doubts of Mouri Misono. For someone with a B-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power, creating a mechanical bird capable of shooting lasers shouldn''t be too big of a problem. "Of course, it''s alive!" Chen Fei, who had personally hatched and raised the little bird, couldn''t allow any room for doubt. The Babylonian interviewer didn''t ask further, turning his attention to the soft-looking girl next to Chen Fei, and said, "Mouri Misono, you go first. Demonstrate your abilities." She placed her left hand over her right, waved her hand casually, and with a clang, a huge rack of knives crashed to the ground, causing a constant clattering noise. Standing taller than a person, the rack was filled with various knives of different lengths, widths, and thicknesses, with all kinds of standard designs, including a wild tachi as long as four meters. Chen Fei + Mouri Misono: Shocked ¡Á2! Their opponent actually had a rare Spatial Storage Artifact! With a mere gesture, a rack filled with knives appeared, and who knows how many more weapon racks there might be in that storage space, likely more than just the usual eighteen types of weapons. "Hi!" The young lady swiftly approached the rack. After picking and choosing, she selected two straight swords, one short and one long, with the short one in her left and the long one in her right, each performing a flourish. "Are you ready?" The Babylonian interviewer still had his eyes closed, giving off a strange impression. "Hi! Ready!" Mouri Misono immediately posed in a lunge, with the short sword gripped in reverse in front of her and the long sword slanting at her side, its tip pointing to the ground. "Ha!" After a cry, a pale blue flame rose up around her, as much as a foot high. This was the effect of Wind Battle Qi surging and overflowing, like a layer of armor without heavy metal, providing extra defense for the War Professional. Whoosh...@@@@ A flash of the sword, and she moved with it. "Unlimited" wasn''t truly unlimited, and after continuing for a minute, the relentless Sword Qi finally came to an abrupt halt. Mouri Misono''s Battle Qi Flame receded as quickly as a tide, her little face flushed red, drenched in sweat and gasping for air, she said breathlessly, "I can''t, no more!" Maintaining full power output for such a long time also placed a great strain on her. Five meters away, the large spherical orb that bore the brunt of Mouri Misono''s attack remained unscathed, not even shaking, and casually withstood all the assaults. Interviewer Habulav made no comment on Mouri Misono''s performance, his attitude still noncommittal. He tossed over a potion bottle and said without any change in his tone, "Drink it, and then next up, Chen Fei!""Me? Uh, excuse me, how should I demonstrate, I''m a pilot!" Chen pointed at himself. There was no point in mentioning that he was also a mechanic; surely the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wasn''t in need of highly skilled mechanics, and he was just a beginner after all. "Huh?!" Mouri Misono involuntarily widened her eyes and looked towards Chen. She never expected that he would be a pilot. Was she supposed to bring out a fighter jet or something? In fact... Interviewer Habulav''s arsenal did not crazily include a fighter jet. The world was still somewhat normal and had not gone too far out of bounds. "Use your Special Ability to launch the strongest attack!" Interviewer Habulav had no intention of letting Chen Fei put on an ostentatious display of ascending on the spot in the training hall; he didn''t even provide a blade. "The strongest attack? What if I break it?" Chen scratched his head; such advanced tech, he definitely could not afford to compensate. What if the other party was fishing for faults, and he''d be stepping right into a trap! "Break it? Hah!" Habulav laughed suddenly, as if he had heard a funny joke. Such a high threshold for humor yet he conveyed this change in emotion which was rare to see. His eerie grin came quickly and disappeared just as fast as Habulav continued, "The target mechanical beings and this facility, even if you leveled them, you wouldn''t owe a thing!" The training hall was built to withstand the strikes of forbidden curses and tactical nuclear weapons; it wasn''t going to be easily destroyed. The several training halls in Zone C were also the public shelters of Habulav, so being solid and sturdy was the most basic requirement. "No compensation? Then great, that''s relieving!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief and threw Little Bird into the air. Assault-Type "Dragon King" Single Soldier Tactical Armor as the prime body + "Personal Armor Basic Body Level 3|Adaptive Armor Mode" + "Level 2 Composite Armor Layer" "Level 1 Armor Plugin Module||Plugin Slots: 2" Loading Laser Cannon! Loading Railgun! Creating Osmium Tungsten Manganese Spiral Cone Projectile. Energy Points -1! The ferocious heavy armor layered up, becoming thicker and larger, making Chen appear almost like a giant, nearly the size of the three-meter diameter target mechanical being, with a four-meter-long, sharply angular barrel resting on his left shoulder. On top was a laser cannon made of mirror plates, casting a thin beam of light directly at the target mechanical being. Below was a railgun composed of two rails encompassing a solid metal projectile as thick as an adult''s calf. Under the drive of an electromagnetic field, the projectile began spinning rapidly along its axial ends, quickly exceeding ten thousand revolutions per minute. Super Capacitor fully charged! - Chapter 340 Section 338 - Passed the Interview "What?" Humanoid Mobile Armor? The young sister Mouri Misono, still recovering her strength, cocked her head, a look of disbelief on her face. This is just too much of a violation! "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu perched on the upper half of the laser cannon, its small pointed beak gathering a terrifying fluctuation. The laser cannon and railgun fired simultaneously. The former was 0.01 seconds faster than the latter, with the directed energy strike followed closely by a physical entity hit, a dual magic and martial arts attack. Xiao Jiu''s laser and Chen Fei''s laser cannon beams underwent an incredible transformation, intertwining and shooting directly forward. Boom!~ A thunderclap arose from silence! The mechanical being that hadn''t budged an inch under the continuous battering of the "Unlimited Ripping Slash" war technique was sent flying, its round spherical body losing half its mass, with various parts and circuits fully exposed, rolling away far in the distance, leaving a trail of sparks and flashes of lightning. Clang!~~~~~ Clang!~~~~~ Clang, clang, clang, clang!~~~~~ The pile of scrap metal finally came to a stop over a hundred meters away. Done for! It''s completely done this time! Inside the training hall, whether it was the floor or the walls, everywhere covered by the magic array lit up, continuously bearing the brunt of the attack at full capacity. A round new skylight appeared on the wall of the training hall, with cracks spreading over ten meters, and the local magic array also suffered catastrophic damage, causing the defense of the entire training hall to drop a level instantly. No clue where the shell flew off to ... Oh boy, this is the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "It''s a one-hit kill!!!" Mouri Misono screamed in shock, her eyes wide open. Her trump card war technique was laughable in comparison to such destructive power. The giant-like armor quickly shrank, and after a complex series of combinations and decompositions, it revealed Chen Fei once again. No matter the attack power, first wrapping oneself into a humanoid fortress was definitely a correct tactical move. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire This was the strongest attack he''d carefully selected and optimized from the skill list, and if even this didn''t earn recognition, then there was nothing more to say. He''d just pack up and leave, as there were other places that would welcome him. "So Mr. Babylon, no compensation needed, right?" Chen Fei cunningly activated the "microphone" early on as evidence. If he couldn''t get money out of it, it would cost them their life. Thank heavens he managed to collect the three-piece audio set. Now it could really come in handy. Still with his eyes closed, as if he could "see" the masterpiece strike by Chen Fei, the interviewer from Babylon stayed silent for a while before speaking up again. "Worthy of being the Metal Elemental Psychic Power most suited for industry and combat. This battle mobility armor, inspired by the ''Dragon King'' single soldier tactical armor, is a fusion of both. The imagination is quite impressive. Such destructive power is unexpected. All damages inside the training hall will be covered by the committee''s public funds. You don''t need to worry."@@@@ Rarely, the tall dark figure who practiced blind meditation added a few more words. Construction and destruction were two extremes, with the Metal Ability System filled with contradictions, similar to the scarce Light, Dark, Spirit, and Space series. "That''s a relief!" Chen Fei heaved a long sigh of relief, glad that he wasn''t wrongfully accused and had dodged a bullet. Once bitten, twice shy. The pitfall Chen Meng had fallen into served as a reminder for everyone in the Chen family, so much so that Chen Fei was most fearful of being blamed unfairly; if someone dared to falsely accuse him, he wouldn''t hesitate to turn against them. "Is this the capability of a Metal Ability User? Too impressive, I envy you so much!" The one-eyed Boss Hana wasn''t actually a Cyclops. The eyepatch was merely to cover the "Eye of the Storm," which has differing iris colors. Some day he''ll practice blindfolded Zen too, after all, biological tissues contain metal components. With just a bit of sensing, he would be able to tell them apart. "Hey hey! Wait for me, Mr. Chen!" Mouri Misono scurried after him. ... Who knew what the situation in little sister Mouri''s Room 1319 would be like. After Chen Fei used his card to open Room 1304, he peeked inside, closed the door and opened it again to make sure there was no issue with his method. 175 square meters, four bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, three bathrooms, plus two balconies, one large and one small. For one person! It was far too spacious, not at all like a dormitory. Not just Chen Fei alone, even the entire Chen Family could move in and it would still be enough. Such extravagance... No! Actually, it wasn''t. In this godforsaken place, Habulav, the land wasn''t worth much, and the buildings were worth even less. Despite the decent interior and exterior decor ready for immediate move-in, it was just the price of a rural house in a seventh or eighth tier town, if not lower. The workers here could buy a suite of this kind with just one month''s salary. In fact, no one would buy multiple suites in such a place, there was no market for house flipping. It sufficed to have just enough space to live, why buy more? The fridge''s chilled section contained some fruits, milk, and drinks, while the freezer was stuffed with various meats and frozen foods. The spacious kitchen held a complete collection of soy sauce, salt, vinegar, sugar, pots, and pans¡ªall brand new. The closet was filled with uniforms that fit well. Besides underwear and socks, there were daily wear, training clothes, and light protective gear. He didn''t even need to bring a suitcase. Chen Fei also found a large box of bird food and a pot of live mealworms. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had even taken Xiao Jiu into consideration, a testament to their meticulousness. "Jiu!" Little Bird immediately dove into the mealworm feeding dish, starting a massacre, joyfully pecking away one by one. Ding-dong! He had just taken a shower and changed into fresh daily wear. The doorbell rang. The AI''s voice sounded in the room. "Mr. Chen Fei, there is one person at the door, Mr. Adrian Benjamin." Chen Fei walked to the door and pulled it open. "Mr. Benjamin, hello!" A white man with a cropped haircut stood at the door. "Welcome, Mr. Chen Fei. Some of us who arrived earlier have organized a welcome party. I was wondering if you would be available to join us." Although smart AIs could help shorten social distances, some things still required a personal touch, like extending a face-to-face invitation to a party, because AIs don''t understand politeness and social etiquette. "Of course, thank you!" Chen Fei was also keen on meeting the others from the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division." "Half-past six in the evening, fifth floor, Tiberia!" Adrian Benjamin nodded and left the doorway, probably to go ring Mouri Misono''s doorbell. - ``` Chapter 341 Section 339 - Practice Begins As a residential area, the apartment buildings in Zone B were extremely tall, with at least ten suites on each floor.@@@@ The solid and robust construction of the building itself was a type of defensive design, and the spacious rooftop could even serve as a platform for weaponry, effective for both anti-air and ground combat. After all, in a place like Habulav, surrounded by various terrifying mutants, ground transportation was almost cut off, so some precautions were necessary. From the first to the seventh floor were communal floors that housed amenities such as gyms, mini supermarkets, and libraries. The fifth floor was the activity area, with several multifunctional halls of varying sizes, suitable for meetings, interactive games, and parties. When Chen Fei and Mouri Misono came to the Tiberia Hall on the fifth floor, six or seven people were already there, including Adrian Benjamin, the white-haired man who had personally invited them. Before coming down, both had their communication numbers dragged into a work communication group, which corresponded in number to the people currently present. The inviter, the white-haired Adrian Benjamin, was also the organizer of this party and was a First-Rank fire mage. Then there was the enchanting Gallic Lady, Susanna Jean Piault, passionate as fire yet a genuine Ice Ability User, B-rating! Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth-Rank Earth Mage. A-level Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joshua. Another tall, dark guy, Apu, a Second-Rank Thunder Series Warrior. Walter Sam, a Seventh-Rank Holy Knight; his cherished mount Mini was also in the Tiberia Hall, a Second-Rank Wind Beast named Blue Scaled Colt, chewing on a bowl of mixed-grain cookies noisily without looking up. Surprisingly, there was also a beast, an Eighth-Rank Wood System Tree Boundary Ape, Lulu''an. "Welcome! B-Rank Metal Ability User, Chen Fei, you did a great job this afternoon by punching a hole in the training gym of Zone C, and also your Pure Light Sparrow little friend, Xiao Jiu, capable of emitting lasers, that''s a first for me." Adrian Benjamin, the party organizer, greeted Chen Fei warmly as soon as he saw him and upon seeing Mouri''s Little Sister who had arrived behind him at the Tiberia Hall, he continued to call out loudly, "And this lady, dual-sword Valkyrie Mouri Misono, you''re just too adorable!" "Jiu!~" Xiao Jiu couldn''t hold back, catching everyone''s eye. "Hui Rurururu..." The spooked Blue Scaled Colt jumped, nearly toppling the large bowl in front of it, issuing a dissatisfied snort. "Hehe, Mini, it''s okay, it''s all right!" As a fellow Light Series entity, though a Warrior, Holy Knight Walter Sam had substantial resistance against the Second-Order Light-based Spell "Light Burst Flash" that took everyone by surprise, he blinked, quickly recovered, and hurried to soothe his mount. "Sorry, sorry! The little guy got a bit excited!" One''s own kid, what else can you say? Chen Fei had no choice but to take that blame. "Jiu!" The little bird was indeed very lively; it thrived on excitement. "Goodness, that surprise was really unexpected." Party organizer Adrian was rubbing his eyes, being the closest, he was struck solidly by the flash, and it took him a long while to recover his vision. He wasn''t really angry, recognizing that if he could be caught off guard, so could the mutants. The stronger and more useful the companions'' abilities, the better, suggesting that the little Pure Light Sparrow could also be quite useful! Being a beast as well, the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an said quite indulgently, "What a mischievous little fellow!" Young magical beasts were almost always this naughty and troublesome, whether it was the Tree Boundary Ape or any other beast, even wild beasts, it was no surprise to him. "A superb flashlight, isn''t it?" "You''re right about that!" "Next time I take pictures, I''ll use it!" Babylon, with a bit of a headache, said, "You''re now part of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, and you need to learn survival and combat skills!" "What?!" Chen Fei looked down at his phone¡ªhis head didn''t hurt, but his heart ached. He wanted to study! Learning made him happy. "You have two tasks¡ªfirst, learn martial arts, and second, become an attack core." Babylon had to emphasize these points to Chen Fei, who knew nothing of them. Fellow student, mark this as important for the exam! "Okay!" Chen Fei could only comply and temporarily abandon the thought of continuing his studies. "There''s a teacher very suitable for you, but he is still on his way. I''ll find someone temporarily to teach you for now." Babylon turned his head, looking towards the Holy Knight who was charging at a mechanical being on a Blue Scaled Colt, the Light Flame enveloping both rider and steed, highly conspicuous within the arena. Tat-tat-tat-tat... The sound of hooves like a rainstorm fluttered unstably, the speed incredibly fast, like a lively shadow repeatedly striking the three-meter diameter large sphere, with attack frequency and power index continuously refreshing. "Walter, come over here." Babylon''s voice wasn''t loud, but it rang clearly next to the Holy Knight''s ear. "Hello! Mr. Babylon, what can I do for you?" Discover exclusive tales at My Virtual Library Empire A gust of wind blew past as the spirited Blue Scaled Colt carried Walter Sam to the side of Babylon and Chen Fei. The steed''s hooves continuously drummed the ground, clearly still eager, because as a Second Rank Wind Beast, in terms of speed and endurance, it was incomparable to ordinary horses, and it complemented the riding skills of Holy Knight Walter Sam almost perfectly. Babylon said, "The very suitable person to teach Chen Fei is still on the road. In the meantime, you will teach him martial arts." "Teach martial arts? Him?" Walter Sam looked surprised at Babylon and then toward the utterly perplexed Chen Fei. How could it be that an ability user selected into the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division didn''t even know martial arts? Could he be a connected individual planted to earn his stripes? But that didn''t seem right either! If one were looking to earn stripes, naturally there were plenty of good, safe positions that could also be truly golden¡ªthere would be no need to confront the dangerous "Water Bear" organization directly. "That''s right, Chen Fei''s abilities are all in long-range attacks!" Babylon laid bare the truth about Chen Fei''s expertise¡ªadept at long-range, poor at close combat. "Hmm, that makes sense!" Basic information about colleagues was open to each other, and Walter Sam recalled some, then slowly nodded his head. He then looked at Chen Fei, asking, "Have you practiced any martial arts?" Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Uh, does military boxing count?" Every academic year at the start of school, there was always at least half a month spent on military training, with many subjects trained including operation of light and heavy weapons, personal combat, and in the case of some particularly wild universities, even training on ships and aircraft. God damn military boxing... Holy Knight almost didn''t topple off his mount. - Chapter 342 Section 340 - Martial Arts Practice "Just this?" Holy Knight Walter Sam was utterly bewildered. I''m a genuine knight, and you''re telling me about military boxing? "This is all I know!" Chen Fei spread his hands. Babylon and Walter both twitched simultaneously. Although Chen Fei was surrounded by mutants, swinging his White Steel Crowbar to send brains and skull fragments flying, if you really talked about martial arts skills or such, he truly had none! Nothing else but practice makes perfect! Tough as nails, immense strength, and swift speed ¨C anyone could forcefully train to develop such a wildly imaginative technique, it was all about diligent practice! Driving the crowbar into a head and prying it fiercely, hiss... This kind of feeling was truly addictive! "Alright then!" Walter Sam dismounted, patted his beloved steed''s neck, and said, "Mini, go for a run on your own!" As a knight, he naturally understood his mount''s mood at this moment ¨C it was far from done sprinting, the Blue Scaled Colt was still excited! "Hui lulu!" The Second Rank Human Order Magical Beast, the Blue Scaled Colt, tossed its neck and trotted off, clippety-clop progressing from a jog to a frenzied run around the entire venue. "Chen Fei, we will start from scratch, no Special Abilities, no Battle Qi, no Magic, just pure skills, pure physical quality. Come on, try hitting me," said Walter Sam, immediately slipping into the state of a martial arts instructor, beckoning Chen Fei with a wave. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "My punches will be very heavy! Is that okay?" He released Little Bird into the sky. The Pure Light Sparrow circled in midair and landed on a large spherical object, curiously pecking at it with its head. "Maximum attack index: 0@@@@ Minimum attack index: 0 Attack frequency: 1 time/second Penetration index: 0 Rend index: 0 Friction index: 0 Blunt force index: 0..." This was the Pure Light Sparrow! The little guy couldn''t even hurt someone with its pecks, physical attack zero! "Of course, I know Metallic and Earth Element are very sturdy. Come on!" Walter Sam beckoned Chen Fei again, but the next second, Chen Fei had vanished from his sight. So fast! "Alright, let''s stop here for now!" Walter Sam moved away to a distance of over a dozen steps in a flash. He already had a measure of Chen Fei''s capabilities: raw strength and speed, excellent resilience and endurance, but the experience equaled zero¡ªa classic rookie. No wonder his code name was "Rookie." The name couldn''t have been more fitting. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Indiscriminate flailing might knock out an ordinary person or even accidentally kill a master, but it''s useless against a true expert. "Huh? Not bad, I guess!" Sweat was beginning to show on Chen Fei''s forehead. Unleashing a series of Turtle Fist moves wore him out more than taking down ten mutant bosses. "The basics are okay; let''s start with routines!" Holy Knight Walter Sam had a plan in mind. At least Chen wasn''t starting from scratch; he was someone teachable. Otherwise, it would have taken a huge amount of time, effort, and resources to gradually strengthen his body till he met the bare minimum requirements for entry-level training. Chen Fei curiously asked, "Can I activate Battle Qi?" In the blink of an eye, his Physical Energy had swiftly recovered, astonishing Walter Sam. "You''re thinking too much. Babylon means for you to learn some lifesaving skills, so in an emergency, you won''t drag down the entire team." Walter Sam was clear on this. Chen''s Metallic abilities had an unimaginable attack power, making him lethal against those tough-skinned, heavily-defended mutants. Under the team''s cover, aiming for a one-hit kill on difficult targets was a great tactic. Listening, Chen Fei thought that this was just like the ground training for pilots but an enhanced version. "So... let''s start!" "There aren''t many routines, the key is to apply them flexibly, not to be shackled by them. We''ll start with boxing and if time allows, we can include weapons." Holy Knight Walter Sam demonstrated a series of boxing techniques, sparing no details with Chen Fei. Martial Arts, such a basic entry-level skill, didn''t need to be hoarded; they were aplenty on the internet. The thing was, everyone chose differently. With professional guidance, one could avoid many detours. "... Left Hook, Right Hook, Skyrocket Cannon... Cross Hold... Mountain-Leaning Skill..." Walter Sam taught Chen Fei each routine and their follow-up moves in detail, truly practicing the routines without sticking rigidly to them. With all the basics¡ªstrength, speed, reaction, and endurance¡ªcovered, all Chen Fei was lacking was experience. The best way to accumulate combat experience in the shortest time was simple: take a beating! After teaching over a hundred routines, the Holy Knight started grueling sparring sessions with Chen Fei, and not just him; other people in the gym joined in the skirmishes. There wasn''t a single mediocre fighter on the scene; all were excellent sparring partners, which resulted in... Chen Fei getting thrashed. Don''t underestimate the spellcasters among them; their close-combat skills were equally formidable. Who says that mages are like lambs to the slaughter once an enemy gets close? First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin was particularly skilled at wrestling, and he also carried a revolver, ready to catch anyone by surprise who underestimated him because of his white crew-cut. Second Rank Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai also had a mean back of his hand, wielding a shiny, two-foot-long crowbar that sliced heads as easily as watermelons. Like Chen Fei, those selected for the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division through interviews were no simple characters. - Chapter 343 Section 341 - The New Teacher ``` Ding ding ding ding... Sparks flew from Chen Fei''s head as he felt utterly despondent, choosing to simply lie down and give up. It was supposed to be that others were his sparring partners, yet in the end, he became someone else''s. Had someone gotten the script wrong?! Or had he wandered into the wrong training hall? The "Unlimited Ripping Slash" of Mauri Little Sister''s dual short and long blades rained down on him in a storm. This time she didn''t use Battle Qi, instead striking continuously with just the blades themselves. Her sword technique was exhilarating, bringing a sense of extreme satisfaction as she let out a series of shrill cries. Due to the diversity of supernatural powers, there are still many differences in abilities even among Metal Ability Users like Chen Fei. The "True Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt" which rendered him immune to blade strikes was relatively rare. He could easily withstand even light weapons, so ordinary blades were, even more, an object of indifference to him. "Ya ya ya ya ya ya..." Not a single hair on Chen Fei''s head was harmed, though his head did hurt a bit. He really felt like slapping her. This time he truly could have, but... he couldn''t reach her! Wind-Type Battle Profession Users were naturally agile and swift, able to advance and retreat like the wind. Moreover, being at the Eighth Rank, she was too slippery. Chen Fei could run all over the field and still not catch her.@@@@ - Habulav, the tall man dedicated to the practice of closed-eye zen, had conducted interviews with about a dozen Ability Users who had come to report. Nearly a third were rejected on the spot. Those who didn''t pass the interview had no choice but to leave Habulav on the next airship, returning from whence they came. Military contractors may have only a few treasures among the vast seas, but not all could be captured in one fell swoop. The Ability Users who were successful in staying had guessed some of the interview criteria. Lone Rangers with only one ability definitely couldn''t pass; the key to passing lied in being able to combine one''s abilities with those of others. For private enterprises or organizations, such a feat was absolutely impossible. "A B-grade Metal Ability User!" The dark-haired man in armor examined Chen Fei thoroughly, evidently already informed somewhat about him. "Yes!" Chen Fei assessed the man in return. "Try this, follow me." The A-grade Metal Ability User tore off a piece of his armor, tossing it to Chen Fei with a casual flick. "?" Chen Fei hurriedly caught it, but it felt surprisingly heavy in his hands, prompting surprise. Although just the size of a fist, it felt incredibly heavy, perhaps weighing around a hundred pounds. The piece of armor that Kiterley had lost from his suit swiftly regrew like a sprouting seed, quickly replacing the missing part seamlessly, as though it had never been torn off. Wow, chives! Chen Fei thought to himself. Hum...~~~ A broad sword five feet in length appeared in the right hand of Kiterley, the A-grade Metal Ability User, emitting a sonorous hum. He looked at Chen Fei and instructed, "Do the same!" "Oh! All right, sure!" The small piece of armor in Chen Fei''s hand rapidly transformed, taking the shape of a broad sword similar in size to that in his mentor''s hand. Perhaps off by a centimeter or two¡ª unavoidable because it hadn''t been recorded in the "Physical Evolution Database," so replicating it perfectly wasn''t possible. ``` Chapter 344 Section 341 - The New Teacher_2 "High-Frequency Oscillation Module" activated! Hum!~ It was another tremor of sound.@@@@ Different from the resonant sword sound in Kiterley''s hand, Chen Fei''s was more piercing. "Try this!" Grade A Metallic Ability User Kiterley threw out a half-foot-long short rod and swung his broad sword. A whoosh was heard, and the short rod split into two in the air. Then, the same short rod was tossed toward Chen Fei. Ssss!~ A barely perceptible sound flashed by. The rod remained intact in midair but split into two as soon as it touched the ground. Kiterley nodded and said, "I call this skill ''Oscillation Blade''!" Among Metallic Ability Users, "Oscillation Blade" was not a unique skill, but a very practical combat skill, adding an edge to any blade. "I call it the ''High-Frequency Oscillation Module''!" Chen Fei was honest, the "Oscillation Blade" and the "High-Frequency Oscillation Module" were clearly related upon hearing their names; the principle was similar, only the mastery level of each side differed, but essentially, there was no difference. Kiterley was slightly stunned and asked, "Module? Do you have other modules?" "There were quite a lot originally, now many have merged, like the ''Physical Evolution Database,'' ''Basic Optical Observer,'' ''Elemental Decomposition/Synthesis, ''Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation''..." Only top-level artificial intelligence would have such a concern. The artificial intelligence AI derived from the digital intelligence construct "Cybertrom" wouldn''t have such redundant emotions, as they are merely terminals of the single mother entity "Cybertrom," devoid of independent selves. "''Dragon Guard!'' Yes, ''Dragon Guard''!" Kiterley had naturally seen the renowned "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor from Blue Star''s active military equipment. He then asked, "How did you think to emulate this?" The "Armor" he wore was just like the real thing, even the details astonishingly lifelike, making it hard to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit. "By ''sacrificing'' an item to obtain detailed data, followed by replication and evolution." The original name for "Sacrifice" was "Absorption," Chen Fei used this term just to make it easier for others to understand. Otherwise, just by saying "Absorption," who could guess what it really entailed? He wasn''t maintaining himself by gnawing on metal lumps. Grade A Metal Ability User Kiterley asked in astonishment, "Sacrificing items, and you can restore them?" That truly was a unique ability! Of course, there are special ability users capable of copying items without the need for sacrifices, but objects that are too intricate or too large cannot be replicated, illustrating that the ability to "copy" has its significant limitations. Chen Fei said, "The best are full metal, or at least predominantly made of metal." Allowing the evolution ability to perform material simulation consumes a lot of Energy Points, one Energy Point per kilogram; the Dog System is that stingy. Kiterley curiously asked, "What if you were to sacrifice an airplane?" Babylon suddenly said, "He has already replicated an F-22!" In fact, there were two, one from 911, and another from the "Eagle Nest." Even the all-seeing Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t differentiate, the one in Old David''s hands was still the copy, the original long swallowed into the Dog System''s belly, never to return! Chapter 345 Section 341 - The New Teacher_3 ``` "Eh!" Kiterley''s eyes widened, not expecting Chen Fei, a B-grade Metal Ability User, to take such an unorthodox approach. System: Ding! Absorption of Superpower Refined Alloy, gained Energy Points +10! Energy Points: 11509/20000 Chen Fei covertly absorbed the five-foot broad sword that had transformed from his armor''s components, and the Dog System unexpectedly provided an unusual prompt. For just a fist-sized piece, to exchange it for ten Energy Points is equivalent to ten tons of metal. What on earth is this metal lump made of? If he stripped this A-grade supernatural power user bare, could he potentially snag 1000 Energy Points? Such a wicked thought involuntarily rose in Chen Fei''s heart. Stop, stop! After all, the other person is A-grade, cutting him down wouldn''t be much harder than slicing a carrot for this B-grade guy. "So, what about armored vehicles? Cannons? Warships? Whatever you sacrifice, you can replicate?" Kiterley was inclined to get to the bottom of it. Chen Fei proudly said, "No problem at all, even an airship!" No sovereign would dare to let him sacrifice an airship.@@@@ If something went wrong, an entire airship could be gone ¨C a responsibility that would cost lives; they''d all have to sacrifice to the heavens. "Try it?" The A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley looked towards Babylon standing aside. The big man didn''t utter a word, waved his hand, and a row of tall shelves crashed to the ground with a clang. The shelves were loaded with various lengths of automatic firearms, including railgun weapons; this single row was enough to arm a regular army''s main battalion. Chen Fei was holding a railgun weapon, but the shelf was already full; it was an extra one. "AA-57 Railgun Combat Rifle!" Then, another one appeared. Kiterley picked up a railgun combat rifle, loaded it with steel core bullets and a Crystal Energy Magazine, activated it, and aimed at an empty corner of the training hall, pulling the trigger. Whiz! A steel core bullet whistled through the air, its rotational speed and muzzle velocity both far surpassing armor-piercing bullets powered by chemical energy. Over fifty paces away, the ground erupted in a burst of light as the Magic Array instantly neutralized the kinetic energy carried by the bullet, which hopped and tumbled a few paces before coming to a stop. After all, this was just a magnetic rail rifle, not the combined attack of Chen Fei''s laser cannon and railgun from the other day, so it was negligible in terms of destructive power within the training hall. But the A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley exclaimed in amazement, "This, it''s real!" "Hmm!" Babylon looked thoughtful, as if some ideas were taking shape in his mind. Such ability was not uncommon among Metal Ability Users, but not exactly rare either, with similar expressions; otherwise, Metal Elemental Psychic Power wouldn''t also be called Industrial Superpower. "It''s perfect for a team!" A voice chimed in. Somehow, the other supernatural power users had unanimously stopped their practice and had become onlookers nearby. "This is it!" The Mauri Little Sister, who had been hacking Chen Fei into seeing stars just before, was now starry-eyed herself. Chen Fei''s personal combat strength was average, but his skills were extremely practical! Kiterley thought for a moment and said, "There''s not much I can teach you. Follow me and learn a few Cold Weapons for the next few days!" He originally thought of teaching Chen Fei a few metal manipulation skills, but now, seeing him, wow, straight to "Sacrifice" and replicate, why bother learning? "Sacrifice" and done! - ``` Chapter 346 Section 342 - Wilderness Trial ``` After being hammered for several days, Chen Fei started getting the hang of hacking at people with a blade. The Ability Users who joined the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" one after another had various abilities and temperaments, but to Chen Fei, they were all qualified teachers who didn''t hold back during one-on-one sparring. Chen Fei didn''t need to hold back either, since he couldn''t hit anyone anyway. Anybody he faced could pin an economics undergrad to the ground and pummel him, damn it, why pick on the liberal arts students? If only he''d known this day would come, he would have enrolled in a military science program T_T. Give a college kid an automatic weapon, and at least he can take a couple of shots, or go straight for the laser and rail guns, no problem there, but hand-to-hand combat is just too much for him. His Turtle Fist and crowbar skills were slick, but real combat is a different story, and the poses weren''t even good-looking. The "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had to deal with more than just Mutants; there were people too. So merely being cheerful about prying open heads with a crowbar was useless; humans aren''t dumb Mutants that wait for a "Physics Holy Sword" to knock on their skulls. Getting hammered all the time had its perks, though, learning to be chopped before chopping others meant at least Chen Fei learned quite a few secret techniques to deal with similar types of Ability Users. As an A-rank supernatural power user, Kiterley''s rich experience in Metal Elemental Psychic Power benefitted the somewhat clueless Chen Fei, whose lack of proper training in the Supernatural Adaptability Training Class left gaps in his understanding of Special Abilities. Back at the Aircrew Base during 9/11, Boss Hana had given Chen Fei some supplementary lessons, but a C-rank Wind-type Psionic Ability User''s understanding of Metal Abilities paled in comparison to that of an authentic A-rank Metal Ability User, especially with hands-on guidance. Although Chen Fei was a B-rank Ability User, his control power was A-rank, something that pleased Kiterley immensely. He wasn''t like a failing student who couldn''t get shapes right no matter how you taught him; it was mainly a matter of power difference. Moreover, he possessed the rare "Sacrifice" skill. Longswords, broadswords, spears, flails, staves, T-shaped staves, battle axes... Kiterley knew at least seven or eight types of cold weapons, from sharp to blunt instruments, and Chen Fei learned them with great enthusiasm. Weapons and unarmed combat were similar in many ways. Being proficient in routines but not bound by them, it''s all about the technique of force application, leveraging one''s physical energy to the fullest and then amplifying it with Special Abilities. After a few more days of training, not only did his punches and kicks start to look the part, but Chen Fei was also getting the gist of using cold weapons. As a genuine college student with top grades, he learned quickly, especially with the one-on-one instruction. If he still couldn''t get those routines down, one really had to wonder how he got into college in the first place. A bus, as armored as a tank, took a group of them to the outskirts of Habulav. Calling it the outskirts, the tall city walls loomed on the horizon, and beyond them lay a boundless gobi desert, with rolling sand dunes further off. Habulav, situated at the heart of the Ocean Continent, bordered the continent''s largest desert, also the site of the fiercest battles thirty years ago. To this day, many remnants of war remain, and one can even find wreckage and abandoned military hardware from back then. "Beep! Beep! Beep!" Just stepping off the bus caused a slow beeping noise to emanate from many individuals. The radiation detectors started to issue warnings, detecting that the surrounding radiation dose had reached alarming levels. Long-term exposure could cause harm to the human body. "Take good care of the Gold Medicine Vials in your hands; consume one anti-radiation pill every six hours. Pay attention to your personal radiation detector, and if it reaches dangerous levels, you must take a pill every hour. Those without a detector can get one from me. A special reminder: do not let go of the medicine vial, even when you return to your dorm. If your supply is low, immediately find me or someone else for a refill. The entire area of Habulav is filled with deadly radiation and Mutants. Don''t be careless or reckless. If you encounter high radiation zones, you must evacuate immediately, understand?" With a gold-shining object the size of a cigarette box in hand, the tall, dark Babylon finally spoke up with a serious tone. It seemed that this remote area indeed brimmed with danger, including the invisible and lethal threat of radiation, which justified the lengthy warning. "Chirp!" Little Bird landed on Chen Fei''s hand, pecking at the small square gold box, endlessly curious. Of course, it got its share too, even tailor-made: concentrated in small granules flavored like bean bugs, leather bugs, breadworms, and even fruit flies, with flavors picked at random. This little creature''s nutritional requirements surpassed those of human dietary standards ¡ª each bite was 100% high-protein. If humans consumed according to its standard, they''d quite simply eat themselves sick. The tall black Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu from the team immediately responded. He had a simple mind and an honest disposition, but he wasn''t stupid. This Magical Beast senior had no malice towards others, a perfect match for him, and there was no need to worry about being taken advantage of. "All right, you''re in!" The Tree Boundary Ape plucked a green leaf from the withered vine staff and handed it to Apu, saying, "Keep this safe, it can function as a locator." Where the green leaf was removed, a new leaf quickly grew in its place. "And me!" The Ninth Rank Earth System Mage Ruan Tiankai stepped towards the Tree Boundary Ape. "I''ll join Chen Fei''s group." An A-level Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, Joshua, chose Chen Fei. "That leaves just me then!" The fiery and seductive woman, B-level Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault, chewed on her finger, looking left and right, hesitating. "Susanna, don''t tell me you want to go alone. Why not join us?" The Holy Knight Walter Sam extended the invitation. "No, you have too many people; it doesn''t suit me!" Susanna Jean Piault immediately refused. The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai suggested, "How about our side? With Wood, Earth, Thunder, and adding Water Ice Attribute, it''s just perfect!" Who wouldn''t like a beautiful woman? Even if there are no further intentions, just having someone pleasing to the eye is quite good. "No, the black one is too dark, the ugly one is too ugly, and there''s one who isn''t even human¡ªI don''t want that!" B-level Ice Ability User Susanna bluntly refused. In a world where appearances matter, others judge her by her face, and naturally, she does the same. "..." To everyone''s surprise, the A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley didn''t say a word. The Neanderthal Clan Chief Bassan also had an expression that kept everyone at a distance. Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin sensed the futility and did not speak up, avoiding potential embarrassment. "I choose them!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Susanna unexpectedly chose the two cold-faced tough guys and the strange combination with the white buzzcut. - Chapter 347 Section 343 - Lurking Mutant Neanderthal Chief Bassan was expressionless, neither happy nor sad: "..." Metal Ability User Kiterley was equally indifferent, as if one more or one less person made no difference. His choice of Bassan was just a spontaneous thought, maybe along the way, he might just run off by himself. "Eh?!!" Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin was dumbfounded, his side was clearly not at an advantage, yet it managed to attract this passionate, stunning beauty, which was quite unexpected. He eagerly clapped his hands in cheer. "Welcome, welcome, hearty welcome!" Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire "Bassan, Kiterley, and Mr. Benjamin, please take good care of everything!" Approaching gracefully, Susanna Jean Piault blew a kiss that somehow caused the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees Celsius. The Neanderthal Chief and the A-rank Metal Ability User remained expressionless, showing no signs of welcome. Only Adrian Benjamin, scratching his head and grinning foolishly, seemed excited, as if he were the only one eagerly participating. This was indeed an odd combination. "Aren''t you coming?"@@@@ Mouri Misono sighed in disappointment; she would have loved to be on the same team as Susanna, to liven up the journey. But several small teams had already formed on their own, each well-rounded with offense and defense, capable of both solo and group combat, covering all bases. Riding the Blue Scaled Colt, the Holy Knight brandishing his great sword shouted, "Let''s move out, I''ll handle scouting ahead! Giddy-up!" Hoofbeats like war drums, his mount dashed ahead, and out of the desert nearby, a massive Mutant burst through, revealing its fierce form and pouncing towards the speeding duo. "Wahhhh!" Caught off guard, Knight Walter Sam yelped, trying to pull the reins, but the Blue Scaled Colt had already picked up full speed and couldn''t stop, charging at the Mutant with its gaping maw of fanged teeth. "©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Ao~~ Die!" A brilliant flash of sword light soared, as the Blue Scaled Colt neighed. The Mutant, as big as a locomotive''s front, reeled with its gaping maw, shaking a few times before collapsing into pieces with a loud crash. A cloud of dry dust rose, spreading in all directions. "There are quite a few Mutants lurking nearby," came the voice of the large, black figure Habulav from the armored bus; he leaned against the bus front, holding a tablet computer, seemingly navigating it without needing to look at the screen. Even with tall fences and routine patrols and purging, situating headquarters in the middle of a Mutant-infested area inevitably led to many slip through the cracks, right under their noses, impossible to completely eradicate. "Ha! Are you alright, Mr. Sam?" Mouri Misono, holding twin blades, worriedly looked toward where the Mutant had fallen. Damn it, so much for the so-called strongest AI in history, is this the level? Poor review! Although the data chain was disconnected, the information previously acquired was still there, saved directly as a picture file like a map; all that was needed was to follow the map to find the hiding places of those cunning mutants. Joshua''s eyes widened, and he asked in disbelief, "Locating mutants? Can you even do that? Isn''t that... cheating?" Chen Fei indifferently replied, "Ha? It''s a skill, a skill of a Metal Ability User. Can you call it cheating?" With the information from the data chain just obtained, there was no need to risk the lives of the Holy Knight Walter Sam and Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono to physically clear "mines." Just like that, it''s done! Chen Fei patted the half-person-tall large box beside him, still equipped with four solid rubber wheels. Ten mortar shells, fifty grenades, two hundred 30mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds, fifty kilograms of White Steel ingots. These were consumables for the Metal Ability, should be sufficient! Startle the snake by hitting the grass? Are these rounds not fragrant enough? If they keep hiding, let''s just bury them on the spot and never come out again. "This is really too unfair!" Puppet Master Joshua could hardly bear to watch. Chen Fei''s approaches couldn''t be used in a one-on-one situation, but at this moment, used against mutants, they were surprisingly fitting. "It''s about to start!" Chen Fei opened the box and pulled out a mortar shell. The two-meter-long barrel crouched on the ground, the muzzle angled towards the sky. With a release of his hand, the projectile slid down the barrel. Bang! The shell flew out, tracing a parabola and crashing two kilometers away on the ground. It missed the target, probably by seventeen or eighteen meters. A tentacled beast mutant suddenly emerged from the ground, snatching wildly in all directions - naturally, it caught nothing and was about to retract when the second shell arrived, blasting it into a shower of flesh and blood. Even if it didn''t die on the spot, it couldn''t escape being killed by other mutants. Finding corrections was too easy, the task of calculating was entirely up to "Adam," with instantaneous results, Chen Fei only needed to adjust according to the output and wait for the shells to hit precisely. As for the culprits, they stood two kilometers away, each holding a can of beer, clinking cans with the Puppet Master. Tilting back their heads, they guzzled down the beer enthusiastically! Awesome!~ - Chapter 348 Section 344 - Have an Idea Chen Fei burped and said, "There should be a barbecue here!" "Exactly!" Puppet Master Joshua immediately liked the idea; he glanced at his constructed puppets, which seemed somewhat out of place. No, they could be useful, for moving charcoal, grilling meat, and handling seasonings!@@@@ He turned his head, exchanged smiles with Chen Fei, and they nodded together, heroes thinking alike. "Roar!~" As the Holy Knight wandered back and forth across the desert wilderness, he triggered a "landmine" mutant. With bared fangs and claws, the creature burst through the ground and charged out. "Chirp!~" A slender laser beam descended from the sky, sweeping over the mutant. With a soft poof, the large body, sparkling with sparks from the cut, split neatly into two halves. Having gathered his strength, the Battle Qi-laden Holy Knight happened to strike a sword beam that cut through air. The Blue Scaled Colt leaped through the gap in the mutant''s body sliced open by the laser, slowed down, and looked back a few times, feeling something was amiss. Although the pair moved as swiftly as the wind, no amount of speed could outpace Xiao Jiu and the laser beam. Flying species and light have a natural advantage impossible for terrestrial creatures to match. Witnessing this scene from a distance, Joshua asked, "Can a Light-Based Ability User master lasers?" "Not sure, maybe it requires talent!" Chen Fei had never heard of any Light-based Ability User who could, like Xiao Jiu, conjure a laser beam with deadly impact. Current known Light-based abilities, whether Special Ability or Spell, did not include lasers. Even though lasers are also light, their principle involves the transition of high-energy level atoms, which probably isn''t easy to grasp. How Xiao Jiu learned this skill was a mystery even to him, his bird father. Joshua exclaimed in admiration, "That''s just incredible!" His constructed puppets couldn''t match the cost-effectiveness of a laser. Puppetry might be convenient, allowing one person to do the work of many as long as there are sufficient resources and spiritual power to form an army of one. However, creating constructed puppets was no easy feat. Simple common structures were cheap and could be quickly fixed, essentially just big toys, but ensuring combat effectiveness required extra money, with costs for puppet bodies, defense gear, and weapons. Meanwhile, Xiao Jiu only needed a small pack of feed, and then a chirp, and the enemy was eradicated. "You two, what are you still doing there?" A rapid series of hoofbeats approached; Holy Knight Walter Sam rode back on the Blue Scaled Colt. He and Twin Blades Sister had stomped all the "landmines" in the vicinity. Only then did he see two guys leisurely enjoying their wine and conversation, taking it a bit too easy! "Come on over! There''s none left here!" Adam: Counter at 9, what are your orders, respected Second Uncle! Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Indeed, the second oldest of the Chen Family was none other than your Second Uncle, this nickname was spot on! After being forcefully terminated eight times, the AI had become increasingly reluctant; it didn''t want to be like this, but since the authority wasn''t in its hands, it had no choice but to accept its fate. Although Chen Fei had never deleted this sole compiled version of "Adam," as the awakenings increased, the artificial intelligence AI quickly learned to read the room and kept smartly compliant in the face of power. To "Adam," your Second Uncle was indeed your Second Uncle! Chen Fei: Design an electrically driven vehicle, amphibious, capable of charioteering, defense, reconnaissance, and accommodating living features, complete with all these functions. Adam: Ding! Design solution generated, 1174 optimal solutions, top 11 selected, please review. With nearly infinite computing resources, the artificial intelligence AI could complete any complex computation in seconds. Eleven recognizable special file formats appeared in the same directory, along with a folder named "1174 solutions." "Adam" did not make a decision of its own but left the choice to Chen Fei. "All-electric? It must need Crystalline Blocks, right?" Completely oblivious that Chen Fei was conversing with an artificial intelligence AI and had received a complete design plan on-site, Joshua turned his head to look at the armored bus becoming smaller and more distant, guessing that what he held in his hand must be the same kind of thing? Driving such a large object would consume a significant amount of electricity; only a high-level energy source like a Crystalline Block could support such a large machine''s long-term operation. But it''s almost like cheating. Would Babylon''s big guy agree? It likely had already lost the meaning of testing. "I don''t need it when I''m here!" Chen Fei spread his fingers apart, and a brilliant blue electrical arc writhed between them, crackling loudly. Super Capacitor level 12, full power output of a million watts, was he afraid it wouldn''t drive a big vehicle? A regular bus had just three hundred thousand watts of power, meaning he alone could drive three large buses. "Electricity? Eh, aren''t you from the Metal Series?" Joshua''s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly moved to the side, fearing he''d get a proper shock. An A-level Psychic Ability User getting shocked wouldn''t fare much better than a regular person. "It''s just a power generation skill! Magnetic-electric conversion, it''s that simple, but the output can''t compare to a Thunder Series Ability User." Chen Fei clenched his fist; the electricity vanished. A natural lightning bolt could reach billions of watts; his mere million watts of short-term output truly paled in comparison. He had spent many Energy Points to purchase those related skills, which eventually merged into a "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component." Although he realized too late that he had been conned out of Energy Points, it had become much more convenient to use. - Chapter 349 Section 345 - Crystalline Block Prices ``` However, within the team, there was a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, who could serve as a ready-made charger. Not to mention, the power supply was more than sufficient. If they could get their hands on high-capacity, high-grade Crystalline Blocks, their endurance would be even more secure. Joshua slapped his chest, confidently declaring, "Let''s do it, let''s do it. Whatever we''re missing, leave it to me; I''ll handle it!" He was not just an A-level Psychic Ability User, but also a professional Construct Puppet Master. His knowledge of construct assembly technology would be invaluable for the real-life implementation of this grand toy, and he might provide many useful suggestions. "Then I''ll rely on you, Mr. Joshua. I''ll send you the design drawings later!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand, swiping in the air as he began to browse through the design plans "Adam" came up with in the visual frame, picking the one that looked best to him and then further refining it with Joshua. "It''s a deal then!" The Puppet Master thought he was operating the AR visual interface of the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, unaware of another dog system. Poor artificial intelligence AI "Adam" repeatedly tried to be a "dog" but could never achieve it. Because it''s not worthy... "Wow! You guys have it too good, even able to do this¡ªI want in too!" In a flash, Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono also hopped onto the large box, sheathing her swords and kicking her legs with a giggly smile. She had thought it would be a tough ride, but it turned out to be so relaxing! Thankfully, the box was big enough to barely fit three people. However, Chen Fei''s attention was entirely on the design plans in front of him, and he had not thought of reshaping the big box beneath him to be more suitable for people to sit on. "Ah! You three, that''s too much, hey!" Seeing the three of them sitting on Chen Fei''s large box, Knight Walter Sam, riding his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt, couldn''t decide whether to feel envious or jealous. How convenient they were! Joshua enthusiastically called out, "Could you let your Blue Scaled Colt pull us a bit? I''m using a lot of spiritual power!" "I don''t think so!" Knight Sam immediately refused; his mount was not a draft horse, so why should it pull a cart. After all, everyone had legs; walking a few steps wouldn''t kill them. Mini would probably dislike this arrangement too. Buzzz! A mutant insect the size of a fist flew rapidly from afar, heading straight for the knight and his steed. The Holy Knight didn''t even spare it a glance before drawing his sword and stabbing it. Thud! The menacing bug, frenetically waving its long, slender segmented limbs and producing a piercing buzz with its four narrow wings, was impaled by the Knight''s Greatsword. The ceaselessly surging Light System Battle Qi flooded through like a tidal wave, emitting a muffled boom, and the charging mutant insect struck the sword''s blade only to be blown to smithereens by the Battle Qi. Having left the high walls of Habulav, the mutants were no longer just ambush predators underground; their species and numbers had increased as well. And this was just the beginning.@@@@ The eleven-member team, although divided into three groups, kept each other within visual range, maintaining a tacit understanding. In case of emergency, they could come to each other''s aid promptly. From a distance, Joshua saw a group of Constructed Puppets lagging at the front and back, with three Ability Users leisurely sitting on a large wheeled box, laughing with the Thunder Series Warrior Apu and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, who led a group with the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an. These folks sure had ideas. Lulu''an fumbled in the cloth pouch at its waist for a while, then pulled out a seed the size of a peanut. Muttering under its breath, it used the Withered Vine Staff to poke a small hole in the ground. This was just a simple and relaxed "outing," giving them a taste of Habulav''s daily life and the surrounding environment. In reality, within a three-hour walking distance, the area had been swept so often that there were hardly any dangerous mutants left that could threaten the group. However, had they ventured further into the wilderness, the number of mutants and the level of danger would have increased significantly. When Chen Fei finished printing hundreds of vehicle assembly blueprints and shared them with A Grade Psychic Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua, preparing to solicit opinions and suggestions, the towering figure of Babylon showed interest in the design instead. The dimensions of the vehicles on the blueprints were even larger than the armored bus that brought them out of Habulav. Seeing Babylon "evaluate" with closed eyes, Chen Fei took the chance to probe, "Babylon, can I get high-grade Crystalline Blocks?" The big man pondered for a moment before replying, "You can apply. Once approved, you can decide whether to rent or purchase." Chen Fei continued, "May I ask how much the rental and purchase price is for a Crystalline Block with a capacity of one hundred thousand degrees that doesn''t exceed one cubic decimeter in volume?" A Crystalline Block, coupled with ambient temperature superconductive conversion drive, has no upper limit on power release rate. One hundred thousand degrees of capacity signifies that it can output power at ten thousand kilowatts for nearly ten hours continuously. "Are you sure you''re not making a Crystal Jet?" Joshua, who was contemplating the blueprints, looked up in amazement at Chen Fei. Such high-density Crystalline Blocks are only used in Crystal Jets and devices with special requirements. After a pause, Babylon said, "The daily rental is two million Star Yuan, with a deposit of thirty-five billion Star Yuan. The full purchase price is fifty billion Star Yuan, with no discounts." If he could state the price, it meant that finished products were available and could be provided at any time. Chen Fei and Joshua looked at each other, both clearly hearing the sharp intake of breath through each other''s clenched teeth. Forgetting the deposit, just the daily rental of two million and an outright purchase of fifty billion, if one had that kind of money, would they need to come here and fight life-and-death battles with the "Water Bear" organization? Chen Fei''s mouth twitched, and he said with an embarrassed smile, "So, are there any cheaper ones? For instance, a Crystalline Block with ten thousand degrees capacity and the size of one cubic meter." The capacity was only a tenth of the previous one, but the volume had increased a hundredfold¡ªthis was a necessity. "The daily rental is one hundred thousand Star Yuan, with a deposit of forty million Star Yuan. The full purchase price is one billion Star Yuan, with a 1% discount." Babylon quickly gave the price¡ªprovided you paid enough money, he would really sell it! Even so, the price of the Crystalline Block remained steep, absolutely out of reach for someone as destitute as Chen Fei. "Forget it, I can''t afford it!" Chen Fei shook his head, giving up on the idea. Although Crystalline Blocks would ensure endurance, the money invested was more than he could bear. He hadn''t even paid off the personal debt he owed to Boss Hana, yet he dared to set his sights on Crystalline Blocks. Was he getting carried away, or maybe just delirious? He had forgotten his limited means. "I think the price is acceptable!" Puppet Master Joshua raised his eyebrows¡ª one billion Star Yuan was not an insurmountable burden for him. "I''m poor..." Chen Fei did not try to hide his financial situation; in fact, he was incredibly poor. Joshua: "What?!" Babylon: "..." Asking tirelessly while being so poor? That was being too outspoken! - Chapter 350 Section 346 - Temporary Storage Yard for Discarded Machinery The quotation for Crystalline Blocks from Babylon is definitely an internal quote from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; outside it would absolutely cost more. Moreover, in the civilian sector, Crystalline Blocks have always been regulated goods, only purchasable and usable with authorization. As the saying goes, a single coin can bring a hero to his knees, but in Chen Fei''s case, it isn''t a matter of Star Yuan, but at least a hundred million Star Yuan to fulfill his wish. There''s nothing to be done then! Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee is rich and generous, they would not just give away such expensive items for free. "You should be well off, right?" Joshua looked at the Pure Light Sparrow hopping about on the blueprint, pecking at the lines and symbols. Without sufficient resources, it would be impossible to push an ordinary Little Bird to the rank of Human Order Third Rank. Of course, with the mastery of the "Laser" skill alone, the investment is worthwhile. Don''t let the little fellow''s fist-sized appearance fool you, among Light-based Ability Users and Magical Beasts, it is a genuine peerless powerhouse of its rank. "You mean Xiao Jiu''s training?" Following the other''s gaze, Chen Fei immediately understood. "That wouldn''t be easy, would it?" Becoming a Puppet Master is also a skill that burns through money. Even if Joshua doesn''t know that there''s a Light Beast Crystal Core in Xiao Jiu''s nest, he could still guess that advancing a common Pure Light Sparrow to the unprecedented level of Third Rank requires a substantial investment. "Most of the training resources didn''t come from me, hehe!" Chen Fei pursed his lips, having given everything he had, only providing two Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, and this was after taking on life-threatening missions in exchange for an internal discount. Xiao Jiu also contributed a portion of its own rewards. If it weren''t for his own kid, he probably would have been so heartbroken he couldn''t sleep for days. It must be said, the magic potions from Cangqiong Star are indeed expensive. As for who covered the majority of the costs, Chen Fei couldn''t say, considering the Metallic Dragons'' peculiar temperament; if he casually mentioned it, they''d likely show up at his doorstep and chop him into mince. But if it weren''t for Yilan''s Light Beast Crystal Core, Xiao Jiu would likely still be an ordinary Pure Light Sparrow, possibly grasping some casting abilities, but for its entire life, reaching Human Order First Rank would be about its limit. With the increase in rank, not only do Magical Beasts have stronger casting abilities, but their lifespan also significantly extends, meaning Little Bird could keep Chen Fei company for much longer. "..." Seeing Chen Fei hesitate to speak further, Joshua pressed down the urge to keep asking. If someone doesn''t want to talk about it, better not to pry too much. Big Black Babylon furrowed his brows slightly; he knew the answer but didn''t want to say it, for reasons similar to Chen Fei''s. The temperament of the Metallic Dragons was extremely poor, making them perhaps the most difficult creatures to deal with; never knowing what they might do next second. These beings considered rules as nothing and were capable of doing almost anything, like brazenly entering Blue Star''s atmosphere and exploding after breaching it, something that anyone with a bit of sense wouldn''t dream of doing. "Any objections? Why not just get started on it?" Chen Fei patted the blueprint. Joshua hesitantly asked, "Isn''t this too hasty?" Trying to modify the design as it goes is highly inefficient; better to finalize all the details first before doing it all in one go, saving both time and materials. Chen Fei silently sent the design scheme to Babylon''s communication number. Since it was on the cloud, no matter how big the file was, it was instantly received. The transfer was just a link to an address. One could seamlessly view it online in real-time, but if one wanted to download it locally, it would be subject to bandwidth limitations and take some time. - Early the next day, Chen Fei, accompanied by Xiao Jiu, arrived at the outskirts of Zone D, as mentioned by Babylon. The temporary junkyard for old machinery mentioned by the other party covered at least four to five square kilometers, comparable to a small airfield, even bigger than the Aircrew Base 911. All sorts of machinery occupied nearly half of the space; some were rust-stained and eroded, barely recognizable, while others still shined brightly, looking as good as new. From construction machinery and vehicles to combat weapons, almost every conceivable man-made mechanical object could be found here. Inside the junkyard, two construction mechanical beings were tossing various pieces of old machinery into a garbage compactor, methodically pressing them into dense cubes and stacking them up, waiting for recycling. Whether it was the construction mechanical beings or the garbage compactor, both were covered in pits and scratches, their paint spotty and worn, with some even showing terrifying claw marks that nearly penetrated their outer shells. It was clear that this place was far from peaceful. Joshua, who had come along with the group, shouted loudly, "Hey, is anyone there?" It wasn''t just him; the others had come as well, curious to see what Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle would turn out to be. The vehicle scheme Chen Fei had designed for "Adam" was named "Mobile Base Vehicle," a very descriptive title. "Mini and I will go take a look first." Holy Knight Walter Sam clamped his legs around the Wind Beast Blue-Scaled Colt he was riding, and in the blink of an eye, man and mount dashed far into the distance, running back and forth within the temporary junkyard for old machinery. Moments later, he returned to Chen Fei and said, "There are no humans here!" Only the two construction mechanical beings and the garbage compactor were still working conscientiously according to their preset programs, making a loud clanking and grinding noise, without saying a word. It seemed that the mutants lurking in the temporary junkyard for old machinery couldn''t be bothered with them. "Then let''s start searching. We need tires with a diameter larger than one meter, the bigger and thicker, the better. We also need vehicle chassis, the bigger and thicker, the better. Everyone, if you could please help out!" Chen Fei looked at his companions. "No problem, leave it to us!" "Piece of cake, nothing difficult about it!" "I think I saw a gaming machine over there; it might still work." "Let''s go, and let''s look for mutants along the way." ... The group dispersed, some purely out of curiosity, some wanting to scavenge something like Chen Fei, and others just following the crowd. Yet not a single one of them took the mutants hiding in the temporary junkyard for old machinery seriously. This place was almost adjacent to Habulav''s city wall; there couldn''t be any truly threatening mutants. Babylon had mentioned that there were only some small mutants. With so many ability users, any one of them could easily take care of the situation. The difficulty was no different from sweeping the floor. It was just a trivial cleanup task, especially since the whole team had come along. Before long, a Second Rank Earth-order Thunder Series Warrior, his body coursing with purple-blue electrical Battle Qi, dragged an armored bus out of the heap of mechanical rubbish, almost identical to the one that took them to the suburbs the day before. There were also more than a dozen big rubber wheels, but judging by their size, they didn''t seem to be for buses. Given the width of the tires and the deep treads, they looked more like they were designed for specialized heavy-duty vehicles. A Psychic Ability User of Rank A, Puppet Master Joshua, also had his take¡ªsixteen constructed puppets, each pushing a large wheel. -@@@@ Chapter 351 Section 347 - Mobile Base Vehicle "Chirp!" Little Bird wasn''t idle either, perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, it released several Light Mirror Spells, projecting multiple angles from the sky onto the entire scrapyard. Any valuable treasure could be seen at a glance. "Damn, there are even fighter jets... Xiao Jiu, wait!" Chen Fei was astonished that the Global United Defense Committee Members dared to discard anything, his gaze suddenly fixed, staring intently at a mountain of garbage. "This thing, this thing, it must be..." He discerned the direction and ran into the temporary storage area for waste machinery. A few minutes later, he found the junk locked from the aerial view, a specially shaped tail constructed part appeared in Chen Fei''s vision. He was about to approach when he heard a buzzing sound rise. A series of oddly shaped insects crawled out from that pile of junk, fluttering mid-air as if warning Chen Fei that if he dared to take another step forward, they would immediately attack. Mutants that lived in colonies often followed one of the important biological instincts, territorial awareness. Each insectoid mutant was a foot long, with red and white alternating segments, three pairs of long wings flapping alternately, capable of stable hovering in the air and extremely fast flight when stirred, brandishing their teeth and claws in a ferocious posture, eyeing Chen Fei ravenously. "Chirp!" Little Bird was fearless. A deadly glow flickered in its slightly opened sharp beak, controlling life and death, unity and division¡ªthe laser decided with a word. A slender laser beam shot out, dazzling with its speed in a chaotic dance. Before Chen Fei could materialize a Railgun Combat Rifle, the flying insectoid mutants in his field of vision were bisected en masse and fell from the sky. The common weakness of flying species is their fragile bodies. Xiao Jiu''s actions were too quick, the laser''s power too fierce, resulting in a one-sided slaughter. The mutants didn''t even have a chance to flee before they were wiped out on the spot. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu cocked its head, looking at the pile of junk, waiting for new mutants to fly out for slaughter. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire But... there was no movement. It flapped its wings and flew over, found a gap, and dived right in. The insectoid mutants about a meter long could squeeze through, and naturally, so could the Pure Light Sparrow. Chen Fei wasn''t too worried about Little Bird''s proactive attack; even if it couldn''t win, it had a Magic Shield for protection and at worst would only be pinned underneath. Being pinned didn''t matter; a simple Absorption, without the need for excavation, could easily rescue it, and it would even gain some Energy Points¡ªa win-win situation. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" Inside the small mountain made of various scrap machinery, continuous chirping from Little Bird echoed, red light leaked from all sorts of gaps followed by slowly rising black smoke, as if fire had ignited inside. However, Chen Fei''s attention was entirely focused on the tail of a particular mechanical body, placing his hand nearby. Absorption! System: Ding! Absorbed one excavator... System: Ding! Absorbed a Porsche sports car... System: Ding! Absorbed a "SWORDS" combat robot... System: Ding! Absorbed an East Wind Tactical Ballistic Deflector... Energy Points +1344! Energy Points: 12849/20000 If even the Crystal Jet was damaged like this, a terrible and fierce battle must have occurred. Even the Sky Knights might have met with an unexpected fate. The degree of danger on the Ocean Continent was really beyond imagination. "No worries, it''s a big find!" Chen Fei didn''t care at all. He had been through many dangerous situations¡ªonce, twice, thrice¡ªhe had long since become indifferent to life and death, so reckless that he didn''t even spare himself. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron of Aircrew Base 911, which member wasn''t tough enough to fight to the death? Constant exposure to such an environment had turned a perfectly good college student belligerent, with even his bones exuding fierceness. Look at Chekhov Big Bear, the squadron''s standing act. Eating, sleeping, fighting Big Bear, it was all self-inflicted! Chen Fei interlocked his fingers, twisted them a few times, loosened his muscles, and asked, "Have you guys found any Mutants? Xiao Jiu took out a whole nest!" Birds are the natural predators of insects, so it was no wonder Xiao Jiu relentlessly pursued and annihilated those insect-like Mutants. If they hadn''t been so large, it might even have swallowed them whole. "We found a few things like slugs, utterly disgusting!" The Earth Order First Rank fire mage, Adrian Benjamin with his cropped white hair, showed a look of revulsion. Those sticky Mutants had already been burnt to a crisp by him, roasted until crunchable. "I found some fungi that can decompose metal." The Old Tree Boundary Ape took out several shiny mushrooms with delicate stems from the pockets on his body, some silver and some copper-colored, all undoubtedly metallic in appearance. It wasn''t just animals that mutated wildly; plants did too. It''s just that the latter have a much lower tolerance for mutations than the former, and slight genetic flaws would result in quick death, making Mutant plants quite rare. However, once they have successfully mutated, they invariably cause immense threats and destruction. Don''t be fooled by a few mushrooms. If their spores were spread across the world, it wouldn''t take long for the entire Blue Star Civilization to be thrown back into the Stone Age. "Then let''s get started!" Chen Fei surveyed the three large trucks. One was an armored bus, its shell torn open by a Mutant, three tires burst, and the chassis somewhat damaged. But that''s okay, because the damage could all be repaired by metal elemental psychic power. The other two were heavy transport vehicles, their chassis slightly deformed, apparently having carried something too heavy. Moreover, they were somewhat longer than Chen Fei had anticipated, about twenty meters in length. After walking around, he chose a heavy transport vehicle, placed his hand on the body of the truck, and activated his Special Ability. The vehicle underwent a monumental transformation. Paint began to flake off, revealing its gray iron material, which then also changed. Minutes later, the Mobile Base Vehicle from the design appeared before everyone, with a slightly stretched appearance but almost no difference from the original. The originally deformed chassis was not only restored but also reinforced. Chen Fei''s "Alloy Database" contained more than 50,000 alloy ratios. Finding a lighter and stronger alloy solution as a substitute was not difficult, and he directly ignored the cost. If a vehicle manufacturer dared to do this, they would probably go bankrupt. "Really, truly identical!" Puppet Master Joshua''s eyes rounded with amazement at how quickly the blueprint had turned into reality. "Those few wheels won''t do, they need changing!" Chen Fei casually dismantled the wheels and took somewhat better-looking ones from another heavy transport vehicle, replaced them, forcibly pumped in air, and upon completion, there were five pairs of load-bearing wheels, all electrically driven. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley weighed in, a bit disheartened, "Chen Fei, you''re really more suited to the factory, not the battlefield!" If it were him, he probably couldn''t manage with such nonchalance. Not to mention the intricate parts, probably only the vehicle''s designer could manage those details so clearly. "I don''t want to be an industrial worker!" Chen Fei folded his arms and refused without a moment''s hesitation. What''s so good about squatting on a production line every day? It''s definitely much more interesting to mix it up as a military contractor. - Chapter 352 Section 348 - Battery ``` After rummaging through the pile of junk again, I found many replacement parts and installed them on the Mobile Base Vehicle. If we relied entirely on "material simulation," it would consume a massive amount of Energy Points and be so costly that it would be unaffordable, which would go against Chen Fei''s original intention. He just wanted to pick up some bargains. Since Chen Fei had amassed over ten thousand Energy Points, the Dog System became cunningly avaricious, so much so that he didn''t even glance at the "Skill Shop''s" daily update list, remaining true to his principles, steady with his Energy Points, determined not to be fooled by the Dog System. Besides, when it came to truly valuable top-tier skills, what use were his measly ten thousand Energy Points? They wouldn''t even cover the fraction of the cost. The completed Mobile Base Vehicle was a true behemoth at 20 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, and 3 meters tall, with a ground clearance of 0.5 meters. Although it weighed a hefty 55 tons, the chassis could support a load of over a hundred tons. The lights came on, and brushless motors began to operate, each of the ten motors corresponding to a wheel hub. The Mobile Base Vehicle shuddered slightly as it began to accelerate from slow to fast. The incomplete Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" was placed on a trailer and hitched to the rear of the Mobile Base Vehicle, departing the temporary yard of discarded machinery together. Puppet Master Joshua applauded loudly and said, "Wow! It actually worked!" He had provided some modification suggestions that added many ergonomic designs to the interior of the vehicle, making it more human-friendly and less like a rigid, angular steel style. The group sat in the vehicle, and the scenery outside the window rapidly receded. The sheer size of the vehicle offered an immediate sense of spaciousness within the cabin, as though a house was moving. The suspension system, modeled after passenger vehicles, minimized the vibrations transmitted to the cabin despite the uneven ground outside, resulting in only slight tremors rather than a tumultuous jostling that would churn one''s stomach and scatter one''s wits... "This is amazing!" Mauri Little Sister ran around inside the cabin, touching this and that, very cheerfully. With this mobile divine artifact, at least there was no need to worry about having to sleep rough in the wilderness. The group could conserve their strength, with access to a restroom, hot showers, hot meals, a comfortable place to sleep, and with the sturdy vehicle, they had at least some resistance against mutant attacks, preventing any surprise assaults. It was incredibly convenient. "It feels like we''re cheating!" The oldest in the group, the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, sighed; it was very unaccustomed to the team suddenly acquiring such a mode of transport, even if it was undoubtedly very handy. But... it had absolutely nothing to do with the adaptability training in Habulav. Too comfortable! "No, this is a skill! There''s absolutely nothing wrong with it!" As a fellow Metal Ability User, Kiterley supported Chen Fei without hesitation. With such an excellent skill available, why should they needlessly exhaust themselves? Why bother with Magic, Battle Qi, and Special Abilities when one could simply wield a stick or a stone? Fire Mage of the First Rank in the Human Order, Adrian Benjamin, said, "We can still do some interior modifications. Lulu''an, can you provide the right wood?" "Uh! Yes, I can!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape was taken aback and then nodded with a bitter smile. For it, rapidly growing some trees and providing wood was a well-practiced task, hardly any trouble at all. As long as there were seeds, enough spiritual power, and magic power, it could even grow some food. "Susanna, you''ll be in charge of making ice, so you''re our source of water!" Adrian Benjamin turned to Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User and the fiery beauty with a personality opposite her ability. "I can only make ice cubes, not provide water directly!" Susanna Jean Piault rolled her eyes adorably. Ice cubes could only freeze someone to death, whereas water was drinkable. "I''ll take care of melting it!" His words immediately drew the attention of others. Indeed, heroes think alike. Offering 100,000 Star Yuan for such a big toy was certainly interesting. Would someone working in Habulav really care about 100,000 Star Yuan? Of course, they wouldn''t care! "I''ll offer 110,000 Star Yuan, sell it to me!" "120,000! It would be perfect to convert to a motorhome." "150,000!" "180,000! Anyone going higher?" "200,000!" MMP... As the bidding war heated up and the prices climbed higher, Chen Fei couldn''t say he wasn''t tempted. When the price surged to 250,000 Star Yuan, it was practically free money. "Sorry, I''m not selling!" Chen Fei had to make a tough decision. The enthusiastic atmosphere abruptly ceased, dousing everyone in cold water. Damn, it was a false celebration. In the aftermath of that blind excitement, things felt dull. Those who had been still examining the massive vehicle suddenly lost their interest and dispersed like birds and beasts. "Um, back to my earlier question!" Chen Fei grabbed the person he had spoken to before, just as he was about to walk away. The military district was also a controlled area. Though the electronic map had an overview, details weren''t marked for security reasons, so he still needed to ask for directions. "Just go straight that way and turn left at the end; you''ll see it immediately. Hey, if you decide to sell this vehicle, come to me first!" The man handed over his business card, evidently still not giving up. "Alright, thanks!" Chen Fei took the card noncommittally, glancing at it briefly. The man''s job title was ''mechanical engineer,'' though which kind was unclear. "Do you need any help?" The discarded battery disassembly center was unmanned, only mechanical beings worked there. Seeing Chen Fei and his companions, one of them approached immediately. Although it was also powered by artificial intelligence AI, it wasn''t the same system as "Adam." It and the other mechanical beings were all terminal subunits of the same AI. Lacking independence and individuality, it however had a unique advantage in management and data communication, making it well-suited for complex operations. "I need chemical solid-state batteries, the larger the capacity and the higher the integrity the better." Chen Fei straightforwardly stated his requirements to the intelligent mechanical being. The mechanical being''s luminous blue eyes flickered as it immediately said, "Authorization obtained, please follow me!" Chen Fei''s fellow Ability Users exchanged glances behind him, probably owing their smooth experience to that big guy from Babylon; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so easy. Convincing an artificial intelligence AI as stubborn as those descended from Cybertrom''s lineage¡ªwell, that was out of the question. Chapter 353 Section 349 - Action Team ``` The Mobile Base Vehicle was ultimately equipped with chemical solid-state batteries, even though Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power temporarily repaired the lithium iron phosphate batteries, restoring them to 99% capacity. Yet these could only maintain the vehicle''s full-speed operation for half an hour, their main duty still being to ensure the lighting, air conditioning, and various electrical appliances within the carriage. If solar cells were added, the self-sustained driving time could increase a tiny bit, which is better than nothing. To call a fully electric heavy-duty vehicle an electricity-guzzling tiger would be a compliment. As a result, the vehicle''s weight increased by two tons, or rather, the available payload decreased by two tons. To really take it out for a spin, ensuring sufficient endurance was necessary. In the absence of high-grade crystalline blocks, one could only rely on the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill. After the interior soft decoration and the addition of various facilities and equipment, the normal unladen weight of this Mobile Base Vehicle was expected to reach 69 tons, and if it were fully loaded, the total weight would almost approach 80 tons. If gravity adjustment was set to the lowest level of 1%, the entire vehicle could be reduced to a maximum of 0.8 tons, which could indeed save a lot of effort for the independent electric motors of the five pairs of wheels. But in reality, it was almost impossible. If the surface area of a vehicle measuring 20 meters in length, 4.5 meters in width, and 3 meters in height were affected by wind, an 800-kilogram weight would simply not be enough to anchor it down. Not to mention, to ensure passability, the chassis was 0.5 meters off the ground, and with a slight increase in speed, the whole vehicle could easily drift. With a stronger wind, it might even flip over. Therefore, when driving at full speed, it was best to maintain the vehicle''s weight above 20 tons. In the event of a strong wind or even a sandstorm, it''s necessary to revert to the original weight to stabilize the vehicle with at least 69 tons. To recklessly activate the "Gravity Adjustment Module" would be tantamount to courting death. Even though this Mobile Base Vehicle had reached the conditions necessary for departure, due to the lack of crystalline blocks that met the requirements, its performance still could not achieve the most perfect design specifications. - The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters, located in Hablav City''s Zone C, had a total of fifty-two training facilities. These included diverse terrains like dense forests, swamps, deep-water areas, grasslands, stone forests, towns, mazes, and plains, with both outdoor and indoor venues available. Twenty teams stood in solemn array around the central square surrounded by the training facilities of Zone C. Chen Fei and his team were just one of them, with the team number 04, corresponding to Training Facility C4, effectively allocating one training venue to each team. The United Defense Committee members had finally resolved to completely eradicate the "Water Bear" organization, which secretly bred mutants that defied the taboo. They wouldn''t carelessly slap the issue aside. When a lion fights a rabbit, it still uses all its might, let alone the Joint Defense Committee supported by various sovereignties. Countless spies had been spread thin, and the brains of various figures like Holmes, Di Shijie, Song Ci, Francois Eugen Vidocq, and Kogoro Mori were all whirring, attempting to unravel the mystery and dig three kilometers underground to locate the hiding place of the "Water Bear" organization. There were not just Chen Fei and his eleven teammates who were selected through stringent interviews to complement each other''s skills. After all, to cover every corner of the globe, relying on a single team would not even qualify them to be exhausted from constant running. Therefore, in addition to Chen Fei and his team, another twenty combat teams of similar size would complete formation and adaptability training in Hablav before being dispatched all over the world, ready to provide support for combat at any time. Hablav boasted the richest mutant resources in the world. After adapting to the overwhelming mutant tide here, dealing with the "Water Bear" organization wouldn''t result in a confused scramble. Behind the eleven people of Team 04, there was an extraordinarily huge vehicle parked. Whispers occasionally emerged from other teams nearby. "Damn, a bunch of cheaters!" "It must be very comfortable to ride in such a vehicle." "That external enhancement is too obvious, doesn''t anyone care?" "I''m not convinced!" "I''ve inquired about it, it seems to be a contraption made by a metal ability user. Hey, Haken, can you put together one too?" "Please spare me! That thing is too complicated!" "Shall we also pool together to assemble one? Crowdfunding!" "Count me in for a hundred thousand Star Yuan!" Military serves politics, and politics in turn serves the economy. In the end, it was still the power of capital that determined the direction of the world. Behind each sovereign lay capitals of various sizes, right? Every person on that stage was a spokesperson for capital. One after another, they all put on a show. What emerged to the surface and could be seen were only the well-known sovereigns. But the true state of affairs beneath the surface was known by very few. The Global United Defense Committee members, aggregated from money, authority, people, and a plethora of resources, were in some sense no less significant than any sovereign of contemporary times; their only deficiency was in foundation. Without their own territory and basic population, they were ultimately just duckweed on water, trees without roots. Chen Fei asked curiously, "A cross-boundary corporation like Dragoon Magic Industry can also take part?" The United Defense Commission was a domestic affair of Blue Star; involving enterprises that dealt with Otherworld civilizations, was that really okay? Without fear of interfering with other world civilizations, possibly sparking a war. If a fight truly broke out, it would likely be more disastrous than the war from over thirty years ago. Neither Blue Star nor Cangqiong Star could compare to the Third Era Civilization, which had been at the brink of exhaustion then, fighting their last battle. Once it came to a life-or-death struggle, mutual annihilation and the extinction of planetary life were very likely outcomes. The fate of both stars might turn out worse than the present Primordial Realm. Adrian Benjamin suddenly smiled and said, "Ultimately, Dragoon Magic Industry is still a native enterprise of Blue Star. Actually, Louis Industries has also crossed boundaries, owning considerable assets on Cangqiong Star. Many of the Global United Defense Committee''s resources are provided by them; relying solely on sovereignty wouldn''t yield that many quotas." He evidently had inside knowledge, beyond the fabrications of street rumors. Dragoon Magic Industry brought magic technology to Blue Star, becoming an industry leader and monopolistic giant who drinks the first and choicest draught, its power couldn''t possibly be small. Dragoon Magic Industry was also a publicly traded company, and its declared shareholders included the Silan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star, overseen by the royal joint management fund, thus holding some trading quota rights. The trading quotas between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star were a matter of national importance for various sovereigns, and only mega-corporations involved in high-level interests across both worlds were qualified to dabble in these quotas. Lower-level nobodies who dared to dream about such quotas would only have one outcome: death, with no sovereign showing mercy. "Hiss!" Chen Fei gasped. As a commoner from the lower strata of society, besides public news media, his information channels were limited to street gossip. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire Even among petty street rumors, almost everyone knew that those with the power to touch the trade quotas of both worlds also had the right to participate in interworld affairs. Any fool bold enough to publicly claim they had quotas would be found within two hours, in a police station''s detention cell. One can eat whatever they want, but there are things one simply cannot say. The long-winded speeches on the stage finally drew to a close, and next, the action squads began to enter the outskirts of Hablav for wilderness survival training. Almost every place afflicted with mutant disasters was a bird-shunning no-man''s land, full of desolation and hardship. An environment as inhospitable as the surroundings of Hablav was an ideal training ground. Back at the C4 training gym, a tall, burly man named Babylon arrived with a lean-faced middle-aged man with keen, eagle-like features. Before the big man could introduce him, the middle-aged man stepped forward. "My name is Rossi, your liaison officer for Squad 04. I''m in charge of interpreting the Commission''s orders and contacting other departments. You can call me by my name Rossi or Old Luo, Old Xi ¡ª any of these are fine." His raspy voice carried an ominous tone, giving off a vibe of manipulative unease. On the surface, he was a liaison officer; in reality, he likely doubled as a surveillance officer and a supervising officer, right? The members of Squad 04 exchanged glances with each other. - Chapter 354 Section 350 - Desert Survival "Hey, you''re the one responsible for snitching, right?" The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, the towering Apu, spoke his mind straightforwardly and caught everyone off guard. Just look at that face, it''s like he pinched his own neck and slapped his cheeks with Yin Yang Eight Trigrams Palm... as if there was a crisp and loud sound echoing in the air. Chen Fei(lll?¦Ø?): Damn, even if you know, you can''t just say it outright! Ruan Tiankai(¡Ño¡Ñ)...: Where''s your brain? Pick it up quickly! Mouri Misono( ?©\¦Ø©\): Another one who can''t read the room. Susanna Jean Piault¡¦_¡¦: Is it really okay to talk like that? Captain Adrian Benjamin©¥©¥¡Æ( ?¡õ ?*|||©¥©¥: Nice one, you''ve just managed to offend the guy as soon as you arrived; how are we going to smooth things over now? This is going to be a headache! The atmosphere between the two suddenly became very awkward. Apu, with his nerve reflex arc incredibly long, finally began to sense that something was off. Looking around in confusion, scratching the back of his head, he belatedly said, "Huh? Why isn''t anyone talking? Did I say something wrong?" Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire Stop with the brutal honesty¡Á10! Babylon ?¡÷ ?: ... Liaison Officer Rossi snorted coldly and said, "If you don''t speak, no one will take you for a mute."@@@@ He also realized that the other person was simply a straightforward BOY, and it was pointless to argue with such a fool. He might as well look for an opportunity to make life difficult for the big guy. Apu was about to speak again, but was fiercely glared at by the fire mage and had to swallow back the words he was about to say. "So, what''s the next task, Liaison Officer Rossi?" Adrian Benjamin hastily changed the subject. He had a good idea that Apu, who had left a bad impression, was probably in for some trouble and might even drag others down with him. The Liaison Officer said with an expressionless face, "The final assessment, survive one month in the Central Desert Region!" "Huh?" Chen Fei was stunned. Spend a month in a desert filled with radiation and mutants? If they didn''t have enough supplies, everyone was likely not to last even seven days¡ªno exceptions. It was like being pushed into hell! Done for! Disbanded!! I want to go home!!! If this place won''t keep me, I''ll find someplace that will. "Cheep!" Little Bird. Mouri Misono, her face deathly pale, said with a trembling voice, "Not taking a bath for a month, we''ll be stunk to death!" A fragrance-loving soft girl turning into a dirty smelly girl, she probably wants to die. The expression on B-level Ice Ability User Susanna''s face was also not very pleasant. The two girls looked at each other. "If there''s any danger, I''ll be the first to charge in." The A-rank Metal Ability User Kiterley gave his little brother Chen Fei a look and then pounded his chest hard with his fist. The armor that was almost fused with him made a clanging sound, impenetrable to any light weapons available today. Once Metal Ability Users gained defensive skills, they often proved especially resilient. "Golden Bell Shield" and "Iron Cloth" were just the basics, beyond that were "Indestructibility," and if that wasn''t enough, "Titanium Extreme Metal Body"¡ªjust try me, let loose a 152mm shell at me. "Hmph!" The fire mage snorted displeasedly. The dark and foolish Apu muttered to himself, "Uh, me too, me too!" But no one paid attention to him. Looking around and only left with grumbling, he sat sulkily. "Apu, eat more, talk less in the future." Yuan Lulu An, the Tree Boundary Ape, did actually pat the big black guy''s shoulder, giving him some roundabout advice. "Oh!" Apu cocked his head, still not understanding. - The Mobile Base Vehicle passed through the heavily guarded city gate, came to the outside of the walls of Habulav, and drove straight into the desolate Gobi Desert, where no more greenery could be seen. Several more teams entered the wilderness one after another, each heading off in different directions on foot. Many cast envious glares at the swiftly departing Mobile Base Vehicle; MMP, equal grunts in this hard-knock life, why the hell act so high and mighty! Inside the Mobile Base Vehicle, maintaining a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, it was both spacious and steady, with an air conditioning system maintaining a pleasant temperature and humidity. The radiation from outside was also hard to penetrate, making it quite comfortable to stay in. Mouri Misono sat by the window, pointing outside and said loudly, "Look, the Babylons are standing on the city wall, wondering which one is our Uncle Babylon." The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee maintained a regimented force of Soldiers in Habulav, using Third Era Neanderthal Tribe biotechnology to meticulously engineer the Soldiers'' genes. Not only did they have resilient vitality, reliable loyalty, and obedience, brave without fearing death, capable of forming outstanding combat effectiveness quickly, but there was also no need to worry about social pressure from casualties. Some of these Soldiers even unlocked Spirit Special Abilities for non-combat supportive tasks. This series of cloned Soldiers all had one common name: Babylon. The various black Babylons, each one a clone from the same mold with their eyes closed, had hundreds of micro-electrophotonic devices implanted in them. These allowed for instantaneous human-machine communication, seamlessly interfacing with the central AI responsible for all of Habulav, combining human adaptability and the rapid information processing abilities of artificial intelligence. In a way, these hundred-plus Babylons could be considered a single entity. This time, the Babylons were in charge of ensuring the various connections for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" and were also undergoing an important functional test. "Hey! I really thought these big black guys were all heartless." A white-bearded Ability User turned around, smiling at the members of Team 04 and said, "Folks, I''m extremely grateful that you could give us a lift, and if you ever need help in the future, be it through hell or high water, I''ll be there at the drop of a hat!" He was the captain of Team 18, also participating in the month-long survival test in the desert. Luckily, Team 18 and Team 04''s destinations partially coincided, so they were able to hitch a ride for part of the way. "It''s no trouble at all, don''t mention it." Adrian, the first-rank fire mage who was proficient in social interactions, was polite on the surface, yet he understood that this favor was truly noted down, and it might come in handy in the future. "At one o''clock, a Mutant has been spotted, 500 meters away... At two o''clock, a Mutant has been spotted, 1240 meters away." A classical-sounding electronic voice suddenly resounded inside the vehicle, monotonous and devoid of any emotive inflection. The recently reactivated "Adam" immediately became the artificial intelligence AI of the Mobile Base Vehicle, and nobody found this to be out of order. Without the AI, that''s what would be really odd. - Chapter 355 Section 351 - Difficult Progress The mobile base vehicle was loaded with some detection equipment and constantly monitored the sky and ground within a five-kilometer radius. It instantly detected a mutant lurking beneath the surface, and a laser beam, invisible to the naked eye, was projected from the top of the vehicle''s front, landing right on the hideout of the mutant. Chen Fei, who was driving the vehicle, could clearly see these laser beams through the windshield. "Leave it to me!" A member of Team 18, hitching a ride, who was born in Blue Star from the Feathered Tribe, picked up his magnetic rail sniper rifle, ready to climb onto the vehicle''s top to eliminate the potential threats outside. "Put this on!"@@@@ Without turning his head, Chen Fei tossed a pair of glasses equipped with special lenses. Only through these special lenses could one see the special wavelength laser that was invisible to the naked eye. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire With a clang, a large hatch opened in the vehicle''s ceiling, and a folding ladder was lowered. The 4.5-meter wide vehicle body allowed for extensive modifications. "Thank you!" Catching the glasses and quickly placing them on his face, the member of the Feathered Tribe slung his gun, leaped onto the roof of the vehicle, mounted the magnetic rail sniper rifle on the shooting stand, and aimed at the landing points of the two laser beams. The magnetic rail sniper rifle was fully charged, and a 40-millimeter caliber bullet at the end of the rail was rapidly spinning. Instead of relying on gunpowder combustion for propulsion, the friction, and even the squeezing of the rifling to obtain spin, the high-speed rotation of the bullet body fired by the railgun weapon was sufficient to match the acceleration imparted by the rail, resulting in an almost straight trajectory and additional penetration power. Whiz! Whiz!~ The railgun weapon made no loud firing noise, only the sharp screech of the bullet tearing through the air. Hundreds of meters away, the ground was suddenly uplifted, the unwitting mutant had no chance to escape before it was blown up on the spot, with flesh and blood flying everywhere. Two high-explosive bombs, one to lift the ground, another to annihilate the mutant. The 40-millimeter diameter bullet was a full 20 centimeters long; even the largest native species on Blue Star today, the blue whale, could not withstand a hit¡ªstruck by one, its insides would be reduced to bits. Then two more shots were fired! Mutants a kilometer away were dispatched in the same manner, never knowing how they died. For the shooting range of a railgun weapon, a few hundred meters and a few thousand meters almost made no difference. Chen Fei, an experienced driver, thanked without looking back, "Thank you very much, you saved me two rounds of ammunition." This time out, he had brought 330 rounds of 60mm caliber grenades, 150 rounds of 120mm caliber shells, and 200 rounds of 152mm caliber demolition bombs, most of which were stored in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device held by Captain Adrian, with a small part kept on the mobile base vehicle. The industrially inclined Metal Ability could shape weapons, and as Chen Fei had already figured out the principles and design of the railgun weapon, it was no problem to make larger calibers as long as there were sufficient materials. The leader of Team 18 glanced at Chen Fei, who had built the mobile base vehicle, then turned to Adrian Benjamin, the captain of Team 04, and asked, "Are all Metal Ability users this capable?" Before the Earth Order fire mage could speak, Kiterley, an A-level Metal Ability user, quickly claimed, "Metal Ability users are just that badass plus!" and as he spoke, he clenched his fist, showing off a solid bicep. It was hard to tell how this cold-hearted yet warm-hearted guy could be so immature. A man remains a boy until death; furthermore, as the saying goes, a life without foolishness is a wasted youth. Chen Fei shook the can in his hand and enthusiastically recommended, "It''s so hot and dry, shouldn''t you have a can too?" "No way!" Twin Blades Sister crossed her arms and seriously stated with a stern face, "No drinking and driving, no driving and drinking. There are countless roads but safety comes first. Unruly driving brings tears to your family!" "Ha!" Chen Fei, looking at her, thought Miss Mouri must have picked up the wrong identity card. Her chattering was too slick. Then, he laughed and said, "Don''t worry! I''m not so easy to kill!" The group collectively face-palmed. What kind of drunken bravado was this? It was just one can of beer; how could he be this wasted? "Metal Ability, impressive!" Kiterley mindlessly praised. Adrian roared, "Haha, you might not die so easily, but what about us?" Tough and hardy Metal Ability Users might not die, but what about everyone else in the vehicle? Weren''t they collectively doomed? This was indeed utterly irresponsible! He had never seen someone so recklessly indifferent to life, not valuing his own life, nor that of others. "A mobile base vehicle can''t fly; what can I do? Drinking and driving is nothing; I drink while flying planes too!" Chen Fei quickly tilted his head back and drained the can before Xiao Jiu could poke his beak into the opening. That really couldn''t be blamed on him. It was all the fault of Chekhov, the big boss of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Major Chekhov was never sober every time he boarded a plane. With a crooked frame above, a crooked frame below, drinking, brawling, reckless tactics, crude soldiers all around¡ªit was just the style of Big Bear! "..."¡Á22! He truly was an excessive fellow! But no one else could take Chen Fei''s place driving this mobile base vehicle. Rookie enjoyed watching others grit their teeth at him while feeling helpless about it. Half an hour later, as everyone slightly recovered, they boarded the vehicle again, and the mobile base vehicle resumed its ups and downs to become a true roller coaster. Everyone regretted not having prepared motion sickness medicine in advance. After just an hour, the mobile base vehicle stopped again, both restrooms in separate carriages were occupied, so the other people had no choice but to get out and catch their breath. Some even lay on the sand dunes with eyes rolled back, letting the wind whip sand into their shoes, sleeves, and collars. Travelling in a car was hard like this, truly unheard of. But walking would be even harder! - Chapter 356 Section 352 - Assessment Point ``` The mobile base vehicle, coated with a layer of desert camouflage, was already slow, but the undulating sand dunes made it even slower. Moreover, energy had to be conserved; it could only travel for 12 hours a day. Not only did the vehicle need to rest and recharge, but Chen Fei, the driver, also needed to take a breather. Even after spending thousands of energy points to boost the "Super Capacitor" skill to level 50, doubling its capacity more than once, the electricity autonomously exchanged through the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" still couldn''t last for 24 hours. The feeling of being hollowed out was like finding everything tasteless, even beer had lost its appeal. Trudging along, the mobile base vehicle took three days to approach an oasis within the inner ring of the Central Great Desert. Fortunately, they had a mode of transport; otherwise, this journey on foot would have taken at least ten days. Moreover, there were many high-radiation zones along the way. If one did not want to consume more anti-radiation medicine, they would have to spend more effort to detour a wide berth, taking even more time. According to satellite positioning, the location of the small oasis, with a diameter of less than 1 kilometer, was exactly the designated stopping point for Team 18. Oases have their advantages; they provide a source of water and some food on-site, alleviating the pressure on supplies. Moreover, the radiation level in such a small area is very low, so there''s no need to worry about excessive exposure. However, the disadvantages, or rather the dangers, are also evident.@@@@ Oases would inevitably become important nesting sites fiercely contested by mutants. "Warning, within a 5-kilometer radius, the number of mutants exceeds 300, no mutants in the core area!" "Adam", in charge of managing the mobile base vehicle, issued the warning. The area surrounding the oasis was clearly infested with small mutant outposts, with a large number of mutants both above and below the sand, and some visible to the naked eye wandering back and forth. Perhaps having reached some tacit understanding, these mutants didn''t overcrowd the small oasis. A pool of water, lush grass, scattered with some large trees and shrubs, the oasis instead became a safe sanctuary. Perhaps sensing the approach of the mobile base vehicle, this enormous entity, many mutants raised their heads in vigilance, yet none dared to act rashly. They were perhaps still in a state of uncertainty, gauging the combat strength and threat of this big fellow. The 20-meter long mobile base vehicle was enough to intimidate some of the more timid mutants with its sheer size. Teams 04 and 18 both silently sweated over the situation. Earth Order fire mage, Adrian Benjamin, expressed his concern to the members of Team 18, who were packing their equipment, "Are you really going to pass through?" After all, they had only 12 members, while outside there were more than 300 vicious mutants. The only way to enter the oasis was with a full-force assault. However, this was Team 18''s designated assessment point. Team 04''s mobile base vehicle had already gone out of their way to bring them here, which was as helpful as they could be. If they rashly offered further aid, it might result in both teams being assessed as failures. An assessment point could only accommodate one team. "Don''t worry about it! Piece of cake, you guys go ahead!" Team 18''s silver-bearded captain confidently waved his hand and turned to shout at the Feathered Tribe young man carrying the magnetic rail sniper rifle, "Simba, start with the furthest ones." "Roger that, sir!" The young Feathered Tribe member, lifting the magnetic rail sniper rifle and lugging a large and heavy ammo box, trudged to the peak of the sand dune. He set up the bulky rifle, ready to take aim. This position had enough coverage to span the entire small oasis. By pounding the distant mutants into howls, the nearby ones would probably still be bewildered. Indeed, this was a safe method to reduce the number of mutants. "Well then... Good luck to you!" Seeing that they were well-prepared, Adrian Benjamin chose not to say more. This was a stern assessment that each team needed to confront on their own. The danger was inevitable, but for ability users who were accustomed to combat, this was all in a day''s work. Members of Team 04 bade farewell to their counterparts in Team 18 with waves. Having ridden together for a few days, the two teams had become familiar with one another. The mobile base vehicle turned and picked up speed, moving faster away from the oasis. The mutants nearby, who had been watching it, collectively sighed in relief as they saw the large object depart. Adrian went to the driving seat inside the carriage and asked, "Chen Fei, how many more days do we need to reach our destination?" In order to ferry Team 18, the mobile base vehicle had taken an extra day on the road, but they still needed to arrive at the assessment location within the predetermined time. He wouldn''t admit that his bonus was linked to the performance of the teams he was responsible for. The unexpected annihilation of Team 07 meant not only would all kinds of bonuses for the liaison officer go down the drain, but there might also be an investigation into whether warnings and communication had been delivered on time and properly. "Er... it wasn''t me; someone''s watching a movie!" Adrian could only feign innocence with a wry smile and tell an outright lie¡ªsince it wasn''t a video call, he could just spout nonsense, dead men tell no tales. "Hmph! You all be extra careful!" The liaison officer Rossi ended the call through gritted teeth. Being embarrassed twice in succession, anyone would have been in a really bad mood. "Phew..." Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, slowly putting away his phone, having successfully bluffed his way through. Turning around, he put on a stern face and spoke in a displeased tone, "Apu, next time someone calls, you stand further away!" Twice in a row, the liaison officer had been infuriated by this big black guy. Sooner or later, the account would be settled on the heads of everyone in Team 04¡ªa completely unwanted disaster! "Oh! Oh!" The big black guy Apu touched the back of his head, looking somewhat bewildered. Even now, he hadn''t realized his mistake. ... After 15 hours of continuous bumpy travel, the mobile base vehicle approached a terrain completely alien to the vast desert landscape as far as the eye could see. A hill made of rocks appeared on the desert horizon. Acting as the temporary navigator, Captain Adrian Benjamin compared the satellite map and coordinates, and declared loudly, "15 kilometers straight ahead, the dead volcano, that''s it, our assessment point is there." The mobile base vehicle arrived at the vicinity of the assessment point earlier than estimated. Mouri Misono, exhausted from the ride, slumped over the table and spoke weakly, "We can finally stop!" She was gradually getting used to such a bumpy drive, but still felt quite dizzy, unable to discern any sense of direction. Adrian''s phone rang again; he picked it up, glanced at the others, and said, "Shh! It''s Liaison Officer Rossi!" Then he glared at Apu fiercely, and the rest promptly shoved the big black guy into the toilet and locked him in. "Hey, hey! What are you doing, let me out!" Thump thump thump! The confused Apu started banging on the toilet door from the inside. "No noise allowed, the captain is taking a call." With a hefty thud, Kiterley, a Class-A Metal Ability User, kicked the door in frustration. "Oh!" The big black guy finally quieted down, and everyone else seemed to breathe a sigh of relief in unison. - ``` Chapter 357 Section 353 - The Mountain in a Sandstorm "Hello? This is Adrian!" A First Rank fire mage answered the call. "Hello, this is Rossi. What''s going on with you people, only answering now?" The voice of the liaison officer for Team 04 was full of suspicion, as if this group was up to some sort of major rebellious conspiracy. "Ah! I was washing my hands in the bathroom and just picked up the phone." Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Adrian Benjamin continued to lie with his eyes wide open. "Listen, there''s been a new development at your assessment point, the mutant BF-1334 that was originally there has been driven out by another group of mutants, SS-0792. I''m sending you the details now. Review them and respond to me immediately, understood? No delays!" Liaison Officer Rossi spoke rapidly, obviously the complete annihilation of Team 07 had scared the corresponding liaison officer, causing him a great deal of agitation. Previously uninterested in inquiries, now the moment there was a stir, he was eager to send a reminder, a complete turnaround from before. "Understood!" As soon as Adrian finished speaking, his phone emitted a brief electronic beep. Glancing at the pop-up window, Liaison Officer Rossi had sent over a document. After ending the call, he immediately shared the document with the rest of Team 04 so they could update themselves with the latest intelligence. Ocean Continent was truly a paradise for mutants, with them evolving more completely here, possessing stable social structures. In a sense, as long as they could survive, mutations were benign and beneficial.@@@@ Mutant code BF-1334 was a hive-type carnivorous bee community, occupying the crater of a dead volcano, creating its own lair from the leftover lava tunnels and crevices. It relied on capturing other mutants and cultivating a special moss for food, which was higher in nutritional value and specifically fed to the breeding queen insect, possessing certain medicinal and economic value. After breaking through such a lair type, it was crucial to collect this moss as it represented a significant extra profit. The opportunistic mutant code SS-0792 were large scorpion-like creatures with ten legs, adults the size of a large truck, their shells tough enough to withstand close-range fire from light weapons. Additionally, their shells were covered with a hard sand shell mixed from their saliva and sand, as strong as high-grade concrete, not even a hand grenade could easily blast it open. Although the scorpion mutant SS-0792 had forcibly occupied the old lair of the bee mutant BF-1334, it hadn''t killed the queen insect. Among the remaining few worker insects, the queen insect fled in panic, hiding in a sand dune ten kilometers away, where it constructed a temporary nest. The entire group was severely weakened, but as long as there was ample food, the queen could quickly restore the group''s numbers and seek justice from the scorpion mutant SS-0792. Now, as Team 04 aimed to take over the coveted dead volcano crater, they inevitably had to face harassment and attacks from both parties. After reviewing the information, First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin promptly redialed Liaison Officer Rossi''s communication number. This liaison officer was ill-tempered, spoke harshly, and never showed a pleasant face, but so far, he hadn''t caused any trouble for Team 04. As long as their dealings remained strictly professional, there shouldn''t be any big issues. "Hello, Liaison Officer Rossi, this is Adrian!" Liaison Officer Rossi, eager, asked, "Did you read it? Tell me your tactics!" Even with mental preparation, Adrian was still choking on the forte response, and he said with a bitter smile, "Uh! Not yet, we need to do some reconnaissance first..." The information had just arrived. In such a short time, how could they possibly devise a response plan on the spot? They were humans, not deities, and didn''t have such quick efficiency, especially since Team 04 was made up entirely of combat personnel without a single person experienced in staff work or related strategy. "What? You haven''t figured out a plan yet, and you have no idea how to proceed with the fight? Really, you all are so unprofessional!" Seizing the opportunity, Rossi began to vent then and there. Adrian was using speakerphone, so the sound was loud enough for everyone in the vehicle to hear clearly. "You old fool, what are you talking about? If you''re so capable, then you do it! If not, shut up!" The tall dark figure trapped in the bathroom roared angrily, even banging on the door; not only was it the plain truth, but also what everyone was thinking. Misfortune did not come singly; the radiation counter that was monitoring external radiation levels suddenly emitted a warning, as the radiation outside spiked and approached the safety threshold. The sandstorm advanced with incredible speed, reaching the mobile base vehicle in the blink of an eye. Through the front windshield of the driver''s seat, a monstrous wave of rolling dust engulfed the entire world outside. "Shut down the internal and external ventilation systems." Chen Fei, well-prepared, issued the command. The vehicle emitted a faint sound as the ventilation systems, equipped with filters, ceased their functions. The spacious interior of the vehicle still had compressed air, carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange devices, and oxygen generators, along with a dozen potted plants that could sustain a sealed environment for an extended period. Instantly, the sandstorm swallowed up the entire mobile base vehicle. Fierce winds howled outside, causing the vehicle body to shake slightly, and countless grains of sand continuously struck the armor and windows, producing a crackling sound. The light outside dimmed rapidly, as if nightfall was approaching. Not long after the ventilation systems were shut down, the radiation counter''s alert tone turned into a continuous tone, interspersed with a rough, gravelly rhythmic sound, indicating that the external radiation levels had exceeded the safety threshold and posed a fatal threat to human health. The vehicle body and windows blocked the omnipresent nuclear radiation, ensuring that the radiation levels inside the car remained far below the safety threshold and almost indistinguishable from normal natural environments. "Bang!~" The vehicle suddenly shook violently as if something large had collided with the mobile base vehicle. Everyone quickly grabbed onto nearby fixed objects to barely stabilize themselves. "What was that?" Adrian only noticed a sudden darkening on one of the windows, which then returned to normal. "A mutant has hit the vehicle!" Chen Fei, in tune with the vehicle, detected it instantly. Boom... boom... boom... The cabin began to rhythmically vibrate again. A-rank Metal Ability User Kiterley, somewhat unsure, asked, "What''s going on now?" "There''s a giant creature passing by!" Even the sandstorm couldn''t stop the detection equipment on the mobile base vehicle. A creature as large as the dead volcano at the assessment point for Team 04 passed extremely close to the mobile base vehicle, with its intimidating size scanned and outlined by the radar. Looking out the window, a vast shape could be vaguely seen leisurely strolling through the storm of flying sand and stones. "It''s huge!" Mouri Misono, who had rushed to the window, caught a glimpse of part of the creature''s body, and the intense fear that surged from within her made her pale, her mouth agape, yet unable to make a sound. Chen Fei, itching to act, suggested, "Should we hit this big guy with a 152?" Wondering if a demolition bomb fired from a railgun with a 152mm caliber would make this giant creature cry for half an hour. "No!" A chorus of horrified protests erupted inside the vehicle. Goodness, playing on such a grand scale! They feared that in the next moment, the wiped-out team would not only include Team 07 but also add Team 04. A real mountain-like monster stepping down could likely turn the entire mobile base vehicle into a flat disk of metal. - Chapter 358 Section 354 - Still Need to Fire a Few Shots In front of the true behemoth, the mobile base vehicle seemed as miniscule as a toy. The waves of vibrations that transmitted into the carriage grew from weak to strong, then from strong to weak, until they finally disappeared. The tense people, who dared not even breathe heavily, looked at each other and eventually let out a long sigh of relief, each collapsing onto the ground. From the restroom, the sound of flushing and the light, cheerful humming of the tall, dark Apu could be heard. Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, curiously asked, "Hey, Apu, what are you doing in there?"@@@@ "I was so scared, I pooped myself. It feels great!" Apu turned on the faucet and began to wash his hands. The people outside shook their heads; this guy really adapted to the situation. First Rank Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin scratched his buzz-cut, still shaken, and said, "It''s finally gone!" He plopped down and continued, "Now all we can do is wait for the sandstorm to pass." In the intensifying sandstorm, the nearly 80-ton vehicle stood unyieldingly still. "How terrifying!" Mouri Misono pressed against the window, her eyes widened as she desperately peered outside. Fortunately, the heavy outer armor of the vehicle was robust enough to block radiation; otherwise, they would likely be in big trouble. Outside the mobile base vehicle, it wasn''t just the howling winds and flying sand¡ªit was also occasionally sweeping up mutants and carrying lethal levels of nuclear radiation. Even without the radiation, venturing out at such a time was perilous; not to mention driving away those mutants, even approaching the nearby dead volcano would be extremely difficult. One could easily end up like those unlucky mutants, swept up into the sky or buried in the sand. When the wind was at its most fearsome, it wasn''t just sand and stones filling the air; even entire sand dunes would slowly move like waves. Fortunately, the mobile base vehicle was parked on the top of a dune. Had it been at the bottom or in a depression, it could easily have been buried beneath the sand. At the peak moments of the sandstorm, it was not only the sand and stones that flew; entire sand dunes moved like waves, "Chen Fei, you had the foresight!" A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley came to the driver''s seat and patted Chen Fei on the shoulder. Chen Fei left his seat, the cable automatically disconnecting from his waist. "I have a suggestion!" The vehicle''s two-ton lithium iron phosphate battery pack took over the power supply, ensuring 24-hour normal operation of lighting and various electrical appliances within the vehicle, and possibly even longer. "Don''t chase after that big fellow we just saw!" Captain Adrian thought Chen Fei had a wild idea to lure back the mountainous behemoth and flatten the entire volcano crater, anticipating a situation where two competing forces would provide an opportunity for a third to benefit. "No!" Chen Fei shook his head, took out a tablet, pulled up a two-dimensional electronic map, located the dead volcano on it, and while gesturing with his finger, he said, "We can use 152-caliber demolition bombs to bombard the dead volcano, using the shockwave to annihilate the mutants hiding inside." A single 152 could level a standard football field, so covering the area of the dead volcano would require only a few shells. The demolition bombs Chen Fei had ordered were an integrated type of shell with the projectile and propellant together, which the same caliber railgun could also use without obstruction, adding to its power by launching the propellant as well. Otherwise, this youngster wouldn''t have been bold enough to consider targeting that super giant mutant we just saw. "With the wind blowing so fiercely outside, can you aim accurately?" After hearing Chen Fei''s plan, Adrian looked at the electronic map on the tablet screen, his brow slightly furrowed. It was different from his initial guess, but it was still a suitable tactic. Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User, asked with curiosity, "Hey? What if the volcano is awakened by the blast?" Ruan Tiankai, an Earth Mage, slapped his forehead and said, "Right! That''s our assessment point!" If the dead volcano awakened and became active, the situation would get really interesting. "No, if that happens, it would be easier!" Chen Fei waved his hand and continued, "At least we eliminated the mutants there, didn''t we?" Wasn''t the first assessment upon reaching the checkpoint to eliminate or drive away those mutants? As long as the predetermined result was achieved, why bother about the process. Then the railgun was charged again, and he fired another shot! The third, fourth, fifth¡ªall five shells consecutively hit the dead volcano. It seemed that "Adam" was quite reliable in cannon firing, not wasting a single projectile, though it was a pity, the volcano did not awaken. Due to the sandstorm, it was temporarily impossible to determine the actual damage effect on the scorpion mutant SS-0792 hiding inside the dead volcano. After reloading the ammunition, Chen Fei did not rush to launch a second round of artillery fire. The flying sand and stones lasted a full ten hours before they gradually disappeared or moved elsewhere. Once the sandstorm ceased, the radiation level outside the mobile base vehicle slowly decreased, expected to drop below the safety threshold before long. It was a moonlit, starry night, deep into the wee hours. Once communications were restored, Liaison Officer Rossi did not make another call, probably thinking that the team he was responsible for, Team 04, had been wiped out too! "Adam" suddenly spoke. "Mutant detected, identified as SS-0792, quantity 17." The infrared thermal imaging system captured some biological responses near the mouth of the dead volcano, likely from the scorpion-like SS-0792. Presumably rattled by several cannon shots, they came out to check the situation shortly after the sandstorm had ended. "Is that so? Aim, fire!" Chen Fei, who was taking a short break, rolled out of bed, ran a few steps, and jumped into the driver''s seat. It was a combat pilot''s professional habit as combat opportunities often come and go in a flash, so not a second could be delayed. "Charged, fire complete!" The mobile base vehicle slightly quivered, and the projectile whistled out. With the weather conditions improved, targeting calculations became much easier, still a matter of tens of milliseconds for "Adam". In the darkness, a flash of fire illuminated nearly half the sky, briefly revealing countless sand dunes in relief. Half a minute later, a belated dull boom reached inside the vehicle. "Direct hit!" Adrian, who was on night watch, stared intently into the distance. Approximately ten kilometers away from the dead volcano, the projectile explosion''s firelight and the fleeting blast of white light from the shockwave were enough to clearly reveal the point of impact. "Targets annihilated!" Chen Fei glanced at the infrared thermal imaging image and made a determination. All the mutants were motionless, and their bodies were mostly torn apart, truly delivering an area of destruction the size of a soccer field per shell, and that''s no exaggeration, especially since the launched projectiles still carried explosives! - Chapter 359 Section 355 - Approaching "Chen Fei, let the Mobile Base Vehicle get closer!" Captain Adrian made a decision. "Isn''t that too risky?" Chen Fei turned around. This distance was best suited for long-range shelling, where problems that could be solved by bombs didn''t require close quarters combat. Adrian chuckled and said, "Do you think we need to worry about such a minor issue?" All were Ability Users, not a single ordinary person among them, and what they feared the least was engaging mutants in hand-to-hand combat. It was a matter of combat habits! First Rank Fire System Mages had long been accustomed to engaging enemies at a hundred meters, and War Professionals even closer, only face to face could they exert their full combat capabilities. Most of Chen Fei''s previous battles had taken place in the sky, with operational ranges for Close Combat Missiles often exceeding ten kilometers, and surprise attacks from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away were as common as a home-cooked meal. The experiences of taking on mutants head-on on the ground were few and far between. "Alright! I''m not worried!" Chen Fei conceded that even if they encountered mutants, it was all over as soon as they let Apu out. This big, black fellow was a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior. Despite his foolish appearance, being out of touch with worldly wisdom, and having zero emotional intelligence, his combat power was quite fierce. Once they reached A-level and Earth Order status, it was like truly coming into their own, whether in one-on-one duels or brawls, being called a powerhouse was by no means an overstatement. "I want to eat meat..." Still half-asleep, Mouri Misono ground her teeth while talking in her sleep. "Pfft!" Susanna, the fairy who was sharing a spring nap with Twin Blade Sister, let out a muffled fart. "...Stinky tofu is fine too..." The carriage began to sway slightly, and the bunk beds rocked like cradles, as Mouri turned over and continued to sleep soundly. Most people were sleeping soundly, including the Pure Light Sparrow curled up in its nest. Suddenly, everyone''s body felt weightless, as if plummeting into The Abyss. "Ah!~~" "Help!" "What''s going on?" "What''s happening, what''s happening!" Almost everyone thought they were falling from a height, instinctively screaming, and the sounds of wailing and howling echoed through the carriage. "Chirp?" Little Bird opened its eyes, glanced outside its nest, then tucked its head back under its wings. Even the Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, Apu, remained dead to the world, grinding his teeth, farting, and talking in his sleep, blissfully unaware of the commotion around him. As they realized the Mobile Base Vehicle was moving, they gradually came to their senses and became angry. "We''re leaving now?" "Can''t you give us some advance notice? You scared me to death!" "I''m Sam, comm Test!" "Chen Fei received!" The Holy Knight, riding the Blue Scaled Colt, charged off the vehicle, and the earpiece communication was activated. "Neigh..." The Second Rank Magical Beast ran more vigorously, eventually charging to the front of the Mobile Base Vehicle. Although it was a desert, there was only a layer of dry, loose sand of varying depths on the surface; underneath was thick, solid moist sand, which required a great deal of effort to dig through. The desert wasn''t really completely devoid of water; most of the water was stored under the dry sand. If there were a Water Ability User, they could easily extract a lot of water. As the Blue Scaled Colt trod on the sandy ground, it only took a tiny bit more effort, hardly worth mentioning. "Adrian, help me change the ammo, load 10 rounds of 60 caliber Demolition Bombs." Chen Fei, following the navigational route provided by "Adam," steered the Mobile Base Vehicle steadily. Within five kilometers of the Dead Volcano''s base, the terrain became much smoother, and the vehicle drove more steadily as a result. "Caliber 60? Might that be a bit weak?" Adrian thought that caliber 152 was more powerful; one shot could take down a large group with no chance of escape. "Smaller caliber cannons are more economical, don''t waste the heavy artillery shells!" Chen Fei, of course, knew the thrill of a single shot from the 152, but it was unnecessary to be so wasteful against just two or three mutants. 60 caliber Demolition Bombs were basically a one-shot kill against creatures weighing 1800 kilograms, and there was still leftover power. If the creatures were close to each other, he could even kill another one for free with the same shot. "Loaded!" Adrian extracted a magazine loaded with ten 60 caliber Demolition Bombs from the Space System Alchemical Artifact and found the Railgun''s secondary loading port, shoving it in with one push. 152 caliber Demolition Bombs and 60 caliber Demolition Bombs were both stored in the Mobile Base Vehicle''s Railgun magazine, ready for the automatic loading mechanism to select at will. "Aim, fire!" The recoil from firing the 60 caliber Demolition Bombs was much smaller; the vehicle''s movement was barely noticeable. A burst of firelight erupted from the increasingly closer Dead Volcano. "Hit!" The fire mage, retrieving the multi-function telescope from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device and mounting it on his face, confirmed the results of the attack. One mutant was blasted to pieces, and another beside it was also injured, collapsed on the ground, losing the ability to move. "Distance 3 kilometers!" "Adam" updated the distance between the Mobile Base Vehicle and the Dead Volcano. 3 kilometers could almost be considered extremely close. The noise created by the tens of tons of the vehicle crushing over the sandy ground was enough to alarm the mutants inside the Dead Volcano. One after another, Scorpion Mutant SS-0792 emerged, not just at the suspected entrance and exit previously identified. It seemed that there were multiple passages leading to the interior of the Dead Volcano, allowing the Scorpion Mutants free access, which meant members of Team 04 could also enter and exit at will. "Switch to 152, ready to fire!" Seeing the number of mutants detected by the infrared thermal imaging start to increase, Chen Fei promptly switched the Railgun''s prepared ammunition. The best thing about the Railgun was its ability to be compatible with various types of ammunition up to the largest caliber, allowing for combinations with different caliber magazines. - Chapter 360 Section 356 - Occupying the Volcano The Mobile Base Vehicle approached the Dead Volcano''s mouth, and its continuous Railgun fire had taken down more than thirty Scorpion Mutants. "Charge! Take them all down!" The A-Class Metal Ability User Kiterley, donning shimmering full-coverage Armor and wielding a long spear, was the first to rush out. "Wipe them all out, charge!" Releasing countless tiny electric sparks of Battle Qi and shouldering a Great Sword, the Thunder Series Warrior Apu followed closely behind. Immediately after, a figure flashed at the vehicle door; Bassan, dragging his Single-toothed Long Halberd, leaped several times and actually rushed to the very front. This Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe had always been very silent in Team 04, quite inconspicuous. "Let''s go, kick their butts!" Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono vanished like a breeze outside the Mobile Base Vehicle''s door. The B-Level Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault, discovering her shoelaces had come loose, tied them furiously while shouting, "Hey! Wait for me!" "Let''s roll!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape, leaning on a Withered Vine Staff, climbed down from the vehicle and walked step by step up the mountain, not rushing up the mountain like the others, but rather unhurriedly. The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, of Human Order Ninth Rank, shook his head and followed him off the vehicle. There were only that many Mutants, half of which had been used for Railgun target practice; the remaining ones might not be enough to go around. Rushing wouldn''t help, so he might as well walk together with Lulu''an, providing mutual support. "I''m coming too!" Chen Fei flicked his hand, and the White Steel Crowbar, most handy for dealing with Mutants, appeared in his palm. After prying off thousands of heads, he was definitely a skilled worker. "Hold on, you stay on the vehicle, don''t go anywhere!" Adrian quickly reached out to stop him. If Chen Fei ran off, nobody could move the Mobile Base Vehicle; if anything went wrong, the most powerful weapon of Team 04 would be rendered useless. It was better for him to stay and guard the vehicle, ready to provide support and remote firepower at a moment''s notice. The power of the vehicle-mounted Railgun was there for all to see. Chen Fei reluctantly lowered the crowbar, dispiritedly saying, "Ah? But that''s too boring!" "There''s no need for so many people, the few of them are enough!" Adrian waved his hand, he had no intention of joining in the fray either. Suddenly, the top of the Dead Volcano lit up, resembling a miniature sun slowly rising and nearly illuminating the entire mountain. Countless rocks burst and flew, as if a small-scale landslide had occurred. "Holy Light... Judgment!" Boom!~ The voice followed closely afterward.@@@@ The Holy Knight and his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, had raced up the volcano''s mouth before the Mobile Base Vehicle even reached the foot of the volcano, and were already clashing with the Mutants emerging one after the other. Half an hour later, the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, who returned to the surface of the mountain, waved at the mobile base vehicle at the foot of the mountain and spoke into his headset, "Adrian, Chen Fei, it''s secure now. There were just some eggs, all of which have become nourishment for Lulu''an''s saplings." The Scorpion Mutant SS-0792, which had just taken over the Dead Volcano, probably hadn''t had the chance to hatch its offspring. Laying eggs was already their limit. After some thought, Adrian replied, "Received, Ruan Tiankai. Fully inspect the caves and crevices inside the mountain to see if they can be utilized." "Establishing a base, right?" No one in Team 04 was a fool; Ruan Tiankai immediately guessed what the Fire Mage had in mind. Adrian confirmed, "That''s right!" "Leave it to me! I''ll get it done before dawn," Ruan Tiankai vowed before turning back into the Lava Cave. Moments later, the entire Dead Volcano began to tremble ever so slightly, akin to a level one or two earthquake. The tremors continued until the sun leaped above the horizon, casting a golden light on the low-lying volcano surrounded by the vast desert. Due to the erosion by wind and sand, only about a hundred meters of the volcano''s rim, exposed above the dunes, remained. "It''s done!" The exhausted Earth Mage staggered back to the mobile base vehicle at the base of the volcano like a zombie, not bothering to greet anyone. He found his bunk and collapsed onto it, staff in hand, without even taking off his shoes. Moments later, he was snoring. Ding! The rice cooker announced the porridge was ready. Ding! The automated bread machine had finished baking bread stuffed with bacon. Having nothing else to do upon waking, Mouri Misono turned on her phone to watch a soap opera. Despite being adept with blades as the Twin Blades Sister, she had a sentimental heart and enjoyed melodramas of joy and sorrow. "It''s done!" Adrian, the Level One Fire Mage sitting at his desk, stretched and sighed deeply. He too hadn''t slept all night, having tapped away on his keyboard with feverish speed, crafting an elaborate battle plan. Being the team leader was no easy task. He had to worry whether his team members might oppose his orders or follow them only in appearance while dealing with the obdurate liaison officer, Rossi. A careless move could leave him caught between two fires. He was about to rub his swollen eyes when the telephone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, he knew it was the very person he had been dreading ¡ª old man Luo. He quickly picked up the call. "Hello, this is Adrian." "I''m Rossi. What''s the casualty report? Are you the only one left? Why didn''t you follow orders? Why?!!!" Rossi''s voice was livid with fury, likely thinking his bonus was gone, fueling his deep resentment. "Boss, please look after my family! ... Hey, hey, keep it together, you''ve got to stay strong, don''t leave me alone..." A voice came from the side, where Mouri Misono watched the heart-wrenching TV drama with tears streaming down her face. "Are... are you the only one left?" Rossi''s voice trembled as if it came from afar. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Adrian: "..." He hurriedly said, "No, we have no casualties, not a single one!" In fact, they couldn''t even find a minor scratch on anyone. "Don''t lie to me, who was that talking just now?" Rossi still didn''t believe him. If Team 04 came through a terrible sandstorm intact and whole, he wouldn''t be surprised if they had been buried under the sand. - Chapter 361 Section 357 - A Plan Realized Too Late "Really?" Liaison Officer Rossi was half skeptical, fearing that the leader of Team 04 might report only the good news and hide any heavy casualties, pretending to be tough and refusing to admit the truth. "Really, everyone is here, I''ll show you the video!" Adrian had no choice but to turn on the video, aiming the phone camera inside the vehicle. The beds were filled with people, and Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai was the last to return. All members were present, and it seemed that none of them looked like they were bandaged or on an IV drip; some were even looking at their cell phones. Then another voice came through. "...What are you looking at, you old coot..." Mouri Misono, realizing that Adrian''s weary gaze meant she had unwittingly turned up the volume of her phone, playfully stuck out her tongue and quickly turned the volume down. Liaison Officer Rossi in Habulav was downright gloomy. It really was like a soap opera, but with those lines, could you really scold someone? If not, then there really was nothing worth mentioning. "And your battle plan!" Liaison Officer Rossi abruptly changed the topic and started grilling Adrian. "Got it, sending it to you now." The fire mage scrambled on his laptop after a night of busily typing notes. Ding! The email was sent. Then he breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he hadn''t slacked off and had prepared in advance, just waiting for the request.@@@@ "I''ll take a look!" Rossi ended the call. The sunlight from outside was just right, shining into the mobile base vehicle at the foot of the volcano, lighting up the interior with a golden glow. - Chen Fei opened his eyes. The sound of Mouri Misono''s soap opera and Captain Adrian''s conversation woke him from his light sleep. He didn''t take part in close-quarters combat last night and didn''t need to type up a battle plan, so naturally, he was the one with the most restful sleep. Having gotten used to sleeping alone, the presence of so many people in the carriage made it easy for him to wake up. Just like getting rid of a bad omen, Adrian Benjamin, after ending the call with Liaison Officer Rossi, said to the just-awakened Chen Fei, "Chen Fei, are you awake? Perfect, I need your help this morning!" "Huh?" Chen Fei looked confused. The others gradually woke up, and two girls started preparing breakfast together. The women took care of cooking, and the men enjoyed it fully justified. Breakfast was simple: milk, mung bean porridge, toast, salted duck eggs, vegetable buns, natto, fried eggs, and fried bacon¡ªeveryone was satisfied. It was truly difficult to deal with. "What? You''re not joking!" On the other end of the call, Rossi''s voice suddenly got much louder. "I assure you!" Video call is a great thing, Adrian immediately switched to video mode and pointed the camera at the Lava Cave Entrance, which was large enough for four Mobile Base Vehicles to enter and exit at the same time, at the platform flattened by spells and at the busy figure of Chen Fei, who was enjoying the pleasure of unpacking. "Ah! This, this is..." Rossi''s expression turned wonderfully animated; he couldn''t believe it and immediately checked the coordinates of location 04, which was indeed right above the Dead Volcano. The satellite imagery couldn''t be faked. "Liaison Officer Rossi, formal combat for half an hour, including fifteen minutes of bombardment and fifteen minutes of close-quarters combat. The following hour was spent searching the interior of the Dead Volcano, and by dawn, Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, had transformed the entire Lava Cave, sealed the hazard-prone crevices, and laid out a road for the Mobile Base Vehicle to ascend the mountain. I will send you the combat report later." The fire mage, who hadn''t slept all night, sighed inwardly. Fortunately, Chen Fei, who had experience as a mechanic, was assigned to install the equipment. Everyone else had been fighting and on guard all night, especially the Earth Mage, who had tidied up the entire Lava Cave and even laid out a road to the foot of the mountain, exhausting himself to the last drop, and not ready for immediate re-use. "Later, how soon is later? Don''t try any sneaky tricks. Listen, I''ll be watching you. By noon, immediately, right now!" Rossi pointed at his own eyes and then at the phone camera. "Er, okay then!" Adrian looked utterly defeated; he had wanted to get some more sleep, but it looked like that was not going to happen, so he had to keep on working. "Tweet!" Little Bird fluttered around the Lava Cave without disturbing Daddy Chen Fei''s work. After flying out from the Mobile Base Vehicle, it began on its own to explore this unfamiliar cave space. Many robust Crystal Clusters had formed on the cave walls, and these crystal-clear crystals seemed able to absorb the light from the "Illumination Technique," also glowing faintly by themselves. The Pure Light Sparrow, with its ping pong ball-sized Light Orb of the "Illumination Technique," lit up all the caves with Crystal Clusters as it flew past, making the overall brightness like a starry sky under a full moon, bright enough to illuminate most corners. The radiation counter didn''t increase in value, indicating that the glow was not harmful radiation but simply a mineral fluorescence reaction. The Crystal Clusters contained different metal components, causing the emitted light to vary in color. The most common was a pale blue like moonlight, followed by light green, purple, bright yellow, and a small amount of pale pink, resembling festoon lights. "Wow! So beautiful!" The Twin Blades Sister, Mouri Misono, had stars in her eyes. To her, the Crystal Clusters on the cave walls looked like a treasure trove of gemstones. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "They must be crystals!" Susanna, an Ice Ability User of rank B, picked up a crystal that had fallen to the ground, only as large as her thumb. Upon closer inspection, the hexagonal prism crystal was pure, and even shining a flashlight on it didn''t reveal any visible impurities. As if resonating, the light from the crystal brightened, and it continued to glow for a long time even after she switched off the flashlight. If she wasn''t mistaken, this Lava Cave was actually a huge Hydrothermal Lava Crystal Cave that formed countless years ago. After the changes of sea into fields over the ages, it had reemerged in the center of the great desert, taken over by mutants who made it their nest. Crystals had an inherent property to absorb and store energy, so showing a fluorescence reaction was not surprising. "Hey, can someone help out with laying the cable and fiber optic? Old Joe, Joshua..." Chen Fei''s voice echoed from the direction of the cave entrance, and even with Metal Elemental Psychic Power to assist him, he was still overwhelmed by the amount of work, struggling to cope. If there had been no mutants lurking nearby, they could have worked methodically without rush, but no one knew when the mutants might suddenly come to cause trouble. If the arrangements at the Dead Volcano Entrance weren''t in place, that would be inviting a whole host of problems. - Chapter 362: Section 358 - An Unending Stream of Unexpected Visitors "I''m busy with the command console! No time..." Class A Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua transmitted from the depths of the lava cave. His constructed puppet warriors were all occupied without exception, busily arranging all the necessary equipment to manage the overall situation, to interface with the surveillance equipment and weapon platforms Chen Fei had installed outside. As a Puppet Master, he was already multitasking like multiple people in one, and right then he was completely at his wit''s end and couldn''t help anyone else. Team 04 had only 11 people, and even if you included the Mobile Base Vehicle, they were more than sufficient in attack but deficient in defense. Guarding such a vast area like the Dead Volcano''s mouth was bound to face a shortage of hands, and even the addition of a couple of hundred more people wouldn''t be considered excessive. "I''ll help, and so will Susanna!" Twins Blades Sister Mouri Misono, a girl with a keen heart, immediately volunteered and inadvertently grabbed Susanna, who was about to dig up some luminescent crystals as souvenirs. "No, I don''t want to!" Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire Seeing such great cables and reels, Class B Ice Ability User didn''t at all want to turn herself from a fragrant little fairy into a dirt-soiled and stinky sweaty workhorse. "No, you have to!" Mouri Misono had no intention of letting go at all. "Aiyah..." Susanna found that she wasn''t as strong as the other, and got dragged involuntarily toward those thick and long... Half an hour later, because she wasn''t familiar with the work, she got tied up into a whole new pattern by the cable tentacle monster and sat there with a face that had lost all hope, waiting for rescue. - "Buzz..." A giant bee, the size of 40 buses, swept over the Dead Volcano''s mouth with a gust of wind, drew a big circle, and returned to hover over the Lava Cave entrance, looking around in all directions. "Everyone, pay attention, Bee Mutant BF-1334 has appeared, it is likely a reconnaissance bee!" As the team leader Adrian, who was inside the Mobile Base Vehicle writing a report, noticed the commotion outside, he immediately alerted everyone through their earpiece. Bee species are mostly social by nature, and their evolution directions differ according to their roles, becoming more aggressive after mutations, resembling a professional military composed of different troop breeds. The lone appearance of Bee Mutant BF-1334, heading straight for the Dead Volcano and pinpointing the cave entrance, indicated only one possibility. It wasn''t just passing by; it was here specifically for reconnaissance, and not for the first time. Most people were inside the Lava Cave, with only Adrian, who was rushing to complete the operation report, and Ruan Tiankai, who was deep asleep and snoring loudly, on the Mobile Base Vehicle. Once Chen Fei left, this Mobile Base Vehicle became a huge chunk of metal; the real "Adam" who should be working wasn''t on board, and it was equipped with various monitoring devices that were utterly unresponsive to the suddenly appearing giant bee. The Mobile Base Vehicle''s windows had a certain one-way effect; the suddenly approaching mutant giant bee didn''t notice that two humans were hiding inside this big fellow. The nearly 80-ton vehicle wasn''t particularly worried about being attacked by this mutant. "Xiao Jiu, take out that guy outside!" Chen Fei''s voice came from inside the lava cave, too busy to lend a hand himself; even the others were forcibly recruited for help. Waterborne aquatic mutants usually could infiltrate places that were difficult for humans to reach, but with the introduction of Cangqiong Star''s aquatic beasts combined with human technological equipment, this insufficient situation quickly improved. Moreover, the residual nuclear radiation in freshwater river systems and oceans had been naturally diluted below safe thresholds, making it the least mutant-infested area, often inhabited by amphibious mutants. Among the land-based mutants, those living above ground were the easiest to deal with, but those protected by complex geological environments underground were difficult to detect and effectively strike. It was very hard to discern with the naked eye what species the massive creature moving under the sand was, and without determining the biological characteristics and depth of activity, let alone using firearms, it was doubtful even spells and special abilities would be effective. Team 04''s members gathered in the command center deep inside the Lava Cave, guessing the identity of the unexpected visitor roaming near the dead volcano from the images displaying undulating contours in the sand. From the undulation in the sand in the images, the creature''s estimated length was nearly a hundred meters. This was an astonishing length; Cheng Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle was only 20 meters long, which meant the giant creature under the sand could swallow the vehicle whole. Luckily, the Earth Mage who cleaned up the Lava Cave did a thorough job, enabling the Mobile Base Vehicle to go up the mountain, or else, the vehicle would have been gone! Adrian said gravely, "We need to install geological sonar, at least twelve of them!" The necessary desert detection equipment was available, but they had been busy setting up equipment inside the Lava Cave yesterday and hadn''t had the chance to bury detectors in the nearby sand. If this giant creature had appeared just two hours later, the long cylindrical geological sonar might already have been planted in the sand, capable of detecting various crucial information like the biological activity and exact location beneath the sand. "I''m going!" The Neanderthal Chief, Bassan, who had hardly any presence until now, suddenly spoke up. During the previous confrontation with the scorpion mutants, he had been valiantly at the forefront, not retreating a single step, and right now, he cared little about the mysterious giant creature moving beneath the sand. "Mini and I are fast, count us in!" The Holy Knight patted his own breastplate, while his constant companion, the Second Rank Wind Beast Blue Scaled Colt, was in the corner munching on its beef-flavored compressed biscuits. It was an omnivorous beast that ate both grass and meat, easy to feed without dietary restrictions. Upon hearing his partner mention him, the Blue Scaled Colt immediately stomped the ground in response. Like Xiao Jiu, it couldn''t speak, but that didn''t mean it couldn''t understand human language. Being a beast, it was naturally intelligent, even able to understand three or four different languages. "I''m strong, I''ll go too!" The big black man, Apu, pounded his chest, eager to test himself against the desert mutant he had never seen before. "I also..." Chen Fei too raised his hand among the crowd. "You''re not allowed to go. What are you going to do there, chop at the sand?" A-Rank Metal Ability User Kiterley pulled Chen Fei behind him. Since even Pure Light Sparrow''s lasers couldn''t penetrate the thick sand, a desert environment like this was not well suited for Metal Ability Users to perform, not even Kiterley had volunteered, let alone a B-Rank junior brother like Chen Fei. It wasn''t just Chen Fei and Kiterley; many people''s abilities were restricted by the desert''s geographical conditions. The only one who could fully utilize his strength was the Ninth Rank Earth Mage, Ruan Tiankai. - Chapter 363: Section 359 - The Pursuit Earth magic could also be applied to desert environments, but Ruan Tiankai had exerted too much effort in renovating the lava cave for Team 04''s use, and to this day, he still lay flat without full recovery, completely unreliable. Although magic potions could speed up the recovery process, due to their high cost, Ruan Tiankai was completely unwilling to spend the money. He had thought it didn''t matter if he lay low for a couple of days since there were others in Team 04 who could fight, but unexpectedly, a truckload of goods that could make a fortune (burst fish pockets) suddenly appeared near the dead volcano. Team 04 didn''t have the capacity to take on such a large haul, so they could only watch for the time being. "Mini, full speed ahead!" The Holy Knight astride the Blue Scaled Colt spurred on his mount with a squeeze of his legs, signaling it to go. The Blue Scaled Colt dashed off like the wind, descending the dead volcano, its hooves striking the sandy ground so fiercely that sand splashed up four to five feet high. The sand-dwelling monsters that roamed in the distance immediately reacted, twisting their forms and rapidly approaching, with sand waves surging directly towards the rider and his mount. Chen Fei sat on the roof of the mobile base vehicle at the entrance to the lava cave and became an onlooker. The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu soared freely in the sky above the crater of the dead volcano, circling slowly near the reconnaissance drone, curiously watching the ground below. "First one, off you go! Ah... Ha!" Light burst from the entire body of Knight Walter Sam, his Battle Qi even adhering to the four-meter-long geological sonar probe. He thrust the sharp end of the sonar probe fiercely into the sand, burying it into a dune until less than half a meter protruded above the surface. Due to the threat of the mutant, there was no time for a slow excavation; they had to rely on sheer burst strength to set it in place. Fortunately, these geological sonar probes were made with a specially constructed high-strength casing, which allowed them to withstand such a tremendous impact and still operate normally. "Mini, turn now!" With a loud shout from the Holy Knight, the Blue Scaled Colt immediately changed direction, drawing the huge creature lurking beneath the sand into a relentless pursuit, oblivious to the peculiar columnar object that had appeared on the sand. "Ha!" Taking the chance to reach another sand dune''s peak, the Neanderthal tribe Clan Leader clutched the sonar probe, shouting with all his might as he drove it into the sand. "Go down for me!" Five hundred meters away, the Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, Apu, also inserted a sonar probe into a dune, leaving only a small part visible. The tactic of Team 04 was to attack from multiple angles; regardless of which team member the big creature under the sand followed, that person would only need to focus on running away. The others would take the opportunity to spread out and plant sonar probes into the sand. "Sam, run for it!" Adrian Benjamin, who was intently monitoring the layout process, noticed that the unidentified mutant beneath the sand was getting dangerously close. The giant creature hadn''t been distracted by Neanderthal tribe Clan Leader Bassan or Thunder Series Warrior Apu and instead chased after Knight Walter Sam with reckless abandon. Thanks to the Blue Scaled Colt Mini being the first to take off, had it been anyone else, they would have been caught by now and gulped down without even a chance to scream¡ªan utter disaster. A muffled boom resounded. Countless grains of sand soared into the air as a massive, rugged creature emerged, its staggering body covered in rough, jagged surfaces, at least four meters in diameter. With no other organs in sight, its massive gaping mouth full of sharp fangs pointed upwards toward the sky. Knight Sam astride the Blue Scaled Colt took a look back. That single glance sent shivers down his spine. He couldn''t help but think, Good Lord, what kind of monster is this? The sand and dust churned, and then a massive bulge suddenly rose, the monstrous fangs of the vortex piercing through the sand, even faster than the full speed of the Blue Scaled Colt. "The concentrated fire earlier was excellent, whoa, are you about to fire the cannon?" The Class A Metal Ability User Kiterley also climbed onto the roof, where the view was unbeatable. He saw the railgun completing its loading process, rotating its barrel to align with the giant creature at the foot of the mountain that was relentlessly pursuing the Holy Knight, heading straight for the dead volcano. It would be a shame to miss such a perfect opportunity to fire. Would a 152 Demolition Bomb be enough to kill that big guy with one shot? Mutants are incredibly diverse, with a wide array of abilities, much like the supernatural power users of Blue Star, filled with all sorts of bizarre creatures. "Just a little more, just a little more! Knight Sam, you need to go faster!" Chen Fei gestured, the railgun beside him constantly adjusting, ready to unleash its power. "Mini, faster!" Holy Knight Walter Sam no longer looked behind, leaning down to urge on once again. "Chirp chirp chirp!" The Wind Wings appeared again beside the Blue Scaled Colt, which was releasing the Wind Magic spell with all its might. Speed soared once again, and the rocks of the dead volcano were within arm''s reach. "Ha, the angle is just right, ready for a blast, darling? Fire!" No sooner had Chen Fei''s words fallen than a humming boom sounded, the Mobile Base Vehicle gave a slight jolt, and the 152 Demolition Bomb roared out. The kilometer distance was covered in an instant. Bang!~ The blinding blast wave nearly pushed the duo upwards onto the steep slopes of the dead volcano. The Holy Knight unleashed his Light System Battle Qi in full force, desperately protecting himself and his Blue Scaled Colt partner. The Blue Scaled Colt Mini also gave its last bit of Wind Magic Power, hastening to erect a Wind Magic Shield, but it only lasted a moment before collapsing under the subsequent violent wave of aero blast. After all, it was just a Second Rank Magical Beast of the Human Order; surviving until now was quite an achievement. Behind the duo, the huge mutant with its Fangs fully extended was hit point-blank by the 152 Demolition Bomb, its front half blown into countless pieces that flew through the air, while the relatively intact rear collapsed to the ground. The severed end sputtered with fluids of various colors, a noxious stench began filling the air, and part of the body remained under the sand. The Blue Scaled Colt''s steps faltered, slowly approaching the Lava Cave entrance, the pair gasping for breath after the narrow escape. Indeed, it was the recognized core strike force of Team 04, with a single shot determining the outcome of the battle. The scene just now was terrifyingly close. Holy Knight Walter Sam looked back, still shaken, and asked through his headset, "Adrian, what in the world was that thing?" "I don''t know, I''ve never seen nor heard of it before. But those things that flew out just now, they might be parasites; it seems they are a symbiotic type of mutant." The battle finally ended, and the First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin let out a long sigh of relief. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire It''s a pity that Chanting Spells aren''t as convenient and quick as a railgun. With enough time, he could also release a fire magic attack with a power comparable to, or even more terrifying than, a 152 Demolition Bomb. The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu, returning to the scene, approached the enormous mutant carcass that was taller than him, examining it with curiosity. - Chapter 364 Section 360 - Bloody Feast The skin fissures of the mutant still harbored some small mutants, with membranous wings, bodies black and slippery, sharp and long claws, and a bizarre appearance with pointy faces and thin cheeks. It was hard to imagine these creatures, only the size of a soccer ball, living on such a giant creature''s body and constantly moving under the sand. However, these remaining few were all shock-killed by the impact wave of the 152 demolition bombs, none survived. Not to mention mutants only this big, even an elephant would be killed on the spot if it were hit at such close range, even without shrapnel. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire "Stay back!" The Neanderthal Clan Leader Bassan, standing far away, reminded the silly and tall black figure not to let his guard down. Apu pulled out his weapon and stabbed it into the mutant''s carcass, then burst out laughing, "It''s already dead like this!" Bassan said emotionlessly, "Be careful of playing possum!" With his deadpan face and his sparing speaking habits, it was quite rare for him to take the initiative to say this much to Apu. "Huh? How could that be!" Apu activated his Battle Qi, and lightning traveled along his weapon into the mutant''s carcass. Unexpectedly, the mutant''s carcass suddenly twisted violently, frightening the big black figure into retreating more than a dozen steps. Just then, the remaining half of the mutant''s carcass suddenly shrank into the sand, disappearing entirely into the ground in the blink of an eye. "Ah! My weapon, my weapon!" Apu finally reacted, lunging towards the mutant''s carcass but ending up face-first in the stinking sand. "...My, my weapon ahhhhh..." Only his wailing remained echoing in that spot, as the mutant''s carcass, with the weapon still stuck in it, sank beneath the sand, vanishing without a trace. Watching this scene, Bassan''s lips twitched, and he finally uttered a word. "Condolences!" He was utterly unskilled at comforting people. "Apu, see what you''ve done!" The leader of Squad 04, Adrian Benjamin, was so angry he wanted to hang the big black guy on the railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle and give him a good whipping. Of course, this thought was just that¡ªa thought. A Mage scolding a War Professional was utterly pointless. "Wuwuwu...My great sword, it cost three hundred thousand Star Yuan to customize...Wuwuwu... It''s gone! Wuwuwu..." They say a man''s tears do not fall easily, yet Apu managed to cry like a three-hundred-pound child. But the hard-earned victory over the giant mutant left only a segment of its carcass, which then mysteriously ran off, making the whole situation incredibly depressing. "Beer, soft drinks, sunflower seeds, peanuts, anyone interested in custom-made cold weapons?" Chen Fei seized the opportunity to hawk his wares, as life was tough and he needed to supplement the family income. "Adrian, we need to hurry and finish installing the remaining geosonar," the A-rank Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua reminded him. Getting the desert''s underground detection equipment properly situated was the real deal. Once the underground, ground, and air surveillance network was complete, they could truly relax inside their Lava Cave base. "I know that!" The fiery mage of the Earth Order finally vented his emotions and then stood on the edge of the platform at the entrance of the Lava Cave, pointing at the big black man walking back and said, "Apu, you''re in charge of installing the remaining geosonars. You, all of them, no eating until you''re done. If you miss mealtime, wait for the next!" As a captain, this was the only thing he could abuse his authority with. Although a part of the mutant''s remains had been lost, the remaining flesh was enough to register its genetic sequence in the records, and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s Mutant Database would gain another important species. Well, how do I put this? The reward for this discovery, when divided among everyone, would definitely be more profitable than customizing a cold weapon for 30,000 Star Yuan. Therefore, Adrian had no strength left to criticize the "poor taste" of the B-rank Metal Ability User. Why doesn''t anyone care about what''s really important? So... ridiculously wealthy people will never understand the thoughts of a pauper! "Ah! No food? No, no, no, that''s not happening! I''ll get it done immediately, right away!" The big black man was taken aback and hurriedly rushed back to the base, grabbing seven or eight long, thick geosonars and heading down the mountain to find the designated spots to firmly plant them. Also rushing against time, he couldn''t slowly dig in the sand, so he had to unleash his flickering Thunder series fighting spirit to forcefully plant each geosonar into place. Rushing as he might, Apu the big black man managed to finish just in time for mealtime, and though he was short of breath and on edge, he foolishly rejoiced that he hadn''t missed a meal. The three rings of geosonar installations around the Dead Volcano activated one by one, sending out special frequency sound waves that echoed underground. By collecting these sound waves, they could detect if there were objects beneath the surface; time lines would indicate if there was any movement, while also monitoring all underground noises. Should any mutants be lurking beneath the sand, the system would detect and lock onto their position and depth immediately. If they added a large number of landmines, it would be tough for a whole mutant, like the one before, to get close to the Dead Volcano as if no one was guarding it. As soon as the geosonar detection ring around the Dead Volcano was activated, it immediately discovered more than thirty mutants of varying sizes hidden under the desert sands near the volcano. Just now, they were overshadowed by the grandeur of the giant mutant and dared not make any reckless moves. When the giant lost a section of its body and the rest fled in disarray, these mutants dared not move at all. Team 04 felt lucky to have completed their thorough detection system just in time, not giving those cunning mutants any chance. - Boom!~ An anti-infantry mine suddenly sprung more than a meter into the air, and with a flash of light, countless steel balls sprayed in all directions. The mutants that were gathered around the spilled flesh and gorging themselves were immediately mowed down by the shrapnel, emitting all sorts of pitiful screams. A nearby directional anti-infantry mine exploded forcefully, capturing all the larger and luckier mutants which hadn''t yet reacted, adding fresh new ingredients to the bloody feast. The mutant that had lost half of its body left a field full of stench and flesh, inevitably attracting the starving desert mutants. Team 04 didn''t destroy the flesh on the spot but utilized it by setting numerous traps around the location. And not far away, the Mobile Base Vehicle equipped with Demolition Bombs on the railgun had already been pre-aimed. This was a brutal, bloody banquet. Who would escape the fate of being added to the next course was a mystery to the heavens, but Chen Fei, who controlled the firing mechanism of the railgun, knew. -@@@@ Chapter 365 Section 361 - Yellow Sparrow The remnants of the giant mutant lurking under the sand accidentally triggered a fishing battle, and Team 04, with the railgun on their mobile base vehicle, targeted and bombarded the foothills without end, while those mutants intent on greedily devouring flesh did not realize that the nearby dead volcano might at any moment cast down deadly shells upon them. A single 152 demolition bomb brought the feast to its climax, the mutants suffered heavy casualties, but there was even more flesh available for consumption, and the surviving mutants did not care about the impending doom that could befall them at any moment. Big and small, solitary and in groups, burrowing in the sand and crawling on its surface, those capable of flight, gathered from all directions drawn by the stench of blood and flesh, solely to stuff their bellies. As time passed, the land mine explosives placed among the flesh were gradually exhausted, leaving only the pounding of demolition bombs, while the mutants continued to advance in an unending stream, eating or being eaten, repeatedly playing out the same scene. This kind of fueling fishing battle lasted a week; the stench covered a large expanse of the desert, and even the mutants that surrounded the nearby teams were attracted. From all directions, the mutants swarmed densely, and even the nearby dead volcano began to grow less safe, as the indiscriminate mutants climbed everywhere, and automatic weapons platforms were repeatedly activated and opened fire, knocking down another large group. While the battle results were astounding, the ammunition carried by the space system alchemy storage device was greatly consumed, which also wore on the weapon systems themselves. Chen Fei''s various caliber demolition bombs were exhausted, and it was then that Captain Adrian called down a powerful fire spell, "World-Ending Sea of Flames," from the sky. The might of this Earth Order first-rank spell rivaled that of heavy incendiary bombings, engulfing the mutants participating in the bloody feast in an instant, with killing power that covered an area as large as a soccer field, slaughtering countless on the spot. This was still due to the magic elements on Blue Star not being very active. If it were on Cangqiong Star, the effectiveness of Earth Order spells would increase by at least thirty percent, and Human Order spells could rise by at least one rank. Terrifying flames surged endlessly for a quarter of an hour, turning everything into dust, then gradually died down. The residual scorching heat prevented the few lucky mutants from approaching, as they roared in frustration outside the perimeter of the flames. "It''s finally over!" Waving his hand to dissipate the high temperatures around him, Adrian took a deep breath, his magic power still sufficient to support two more "World-Ending Sea of Flames." Not only were the blood and flesh on the ground and the greedily feasting mutants completely annihilated, but even the sand had turned into contiguous patches of black matter. The high temperature melted the sand, which solidified into a glass-like substance upon cooling down. If they continued to let mutants gather, it was possible that the super-giant mutant, which was like a small hill and had appeared in a sandstorm before, would be attracted to the area. Team 04''s worries were undoubtedly justified. Not long after the bloody feast subsided, the liaison officer Rossi issued a warning to them; the super-giant mutant had suddenly changed direction, heading straight for the dead volcano''s mouth. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sent out a crystal energy jet squadron and a bomber squadron, dropping twelve ground-penetrating thermobaric bombs and the jet squadron''s concerted strikes twice, which finally eradicated the mountainous monster born within the Central Great Desert, leaving no flesh that could attract other entities. Even without this unimaginably huge creature, the mutual devouring among the mutants was like raising Gu; it could also produce some extraordinary breeds. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire The mutants that survived were essentially the successful ones, with the mutations caused by devouring having a much higher survival rate than natural mutations. Mutation was like making a choice at a crossroad, with a zero tolerance for error¡ªtake the wrong path and it leads to a dead end, but if the right path is chosen, it opens onto a broad avenue. Where one bird dies and ascends to heaven, another lives for tens of thousands of years. The alluring stench that attracted the mutants dissipated; those who failed to achieve their desires began to kill and eat each other or fled in dissatisfaction. Suddenly, a loud buzzing came from the sky as a dark cloud approached from a distance. Swarming toward the remaining mutants, a new carnage began; they were enormous mutant bees, with even the smallest rivaling the size of a bus. "Are some new mutants coming?" "Stupid is as stupid does, dull is as dull does, old is as old does, poor is as poor does, short is as short does, dark is as dark does, and then there are the non-humans, the ones with spines, those with a penchant for bestiality, the eternally immature, those who only know how to play with action figures, of course only high-quality human males could satisfy me!" Susanna laughed like a little demoness. Good lord, she''d managed to put all the members in one net with just one sentence. Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an: "..." It didn''t even know how it had been shot while lying down. Chen Fei: "..." I''m poor, so I should die?! Apu: "..." My darkness is natural! Joseph: "..." Huh? Constructed puppets are considered action figures? Ruan Tiankai: "..." Is a height of 1.6 meters considered short? Kiterley: "..." This is Special Ability Armor, not spines, okay? Knight Sam: "..." Where''s my four-hundred-meter great sword... ... Except for Mouri Misono, who had a look of narrow escape, the rest of Team 04 was not doing so well. Team 04 was a lone force deep in the desert, surrounded on all sides by endless terrifying mutants. Even though they could defend the seemingly safe base at the volcano''s mouth, reports of other teams'' casualties came daily, with all the pressure that entailed. Their previous fishing strategy also carried serious risks. The slightest misstep could provoke a collective onslaught from all mutants. Even with the lava cave base and various defensive weapons, absolute safety couldn''t be guaranteed. So, tossing around a few jokes occasionally didn''t really hurt, and no one took it to heart. The seemingly flirtatious and fiery lady Susanna was actually very conservative, never daring to play for real. If anyone ever crossed the line, she would withdraw like a turtle, protecting herself tightly. Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono often became her shield. "Hey, hey, back to the point, don''t just think about bringing people in, can''t you guys shoot accurately with your automatic weapons?" Chen Fei quickly brought the increasingly off-topic discussion back and commanded the artificial intelligence AI. "''Adam'', dense formation, don''t let a single one, except Xiao Jiu, get away!" Adam: "Counter at 15, as you command, Second Uncle!" Awakened, it''s another beautiful day. This voice could only be heard by Chen Fei. To others, it seemed as though he was talking to himself. But no one believed that Chen Fei was really speaking alone, because the freshly reloaded weapon platforms immediately sprang into action, with the anti-air dense formation systems aiming their barrels at the sky. Fire roars through the sky! - ``` Chapter 366 Section 362 - Assessment Completed The Bee Mutants BF-1334, still hesitating about how to initiate their attack, were caught in a dense anti-air artillery network. Even the swarms of mutants nearby, plentiful enough to form a cloud, were engulfed by the sweeping blaze across the sky, rendering them unable to escape to distant places.@@@@ "Adam" employed precision and effectively interlocked firepower to maximize shooting effects, as it needed to prove its worth to avoid being deleted by the unpredictable "Second Uncle." As the most extravagant AI in the history of Blue Star, it naturally searched what the term "Second Uncle" actually meant. Such rotten luck! To hell with Second Uncle! But sometimes, "Adam''s" greatest enemy turned out to be itself. Thus, Chen Fei had never been able to complete the task of subduing this AI. "Adam" surely wasn''t convinced, but Chen Fei was not in a hurry. It wasn''t a life-or-death issue. With the highest authority in his hands, why the rush? Slowly does it! 30mm caliber high-explosive incendiary rounds bore one-foot wide holes in the Bee Mutant BF-1334''s bodies. In an instant, swaths of Bee Mutants fell to the ground, their bodies torn apart. "Hey! I just loaded the ammo, and now, now it''s gone again!" Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire Seeing the external wheeled mechanical ammo counter on the weapon platform rapidly diminishing, the large, black-skinned Apu helplessly scratched the back of his head, feeling like he was inevitably bustling about in vain again. The anti-air dense array functioned like an insatiable void, continuously devouring countless rounds of ammunition. Just this one array alone required ammunition replenishment by the ton each time¡ªfive or six tons at a time. The propellant would fiercely thrust the long projectiles into the air, with an effective range of three to four kilometers. Such unrestrained firing, if repeated two or three times, would deplete the entire array system of its collective ammunition supply. "Chen Fei, we are almost out of 30mm rounds. Once we run out, we will lose some of our defensive capabilities. Also, your AI is too domineering; it acted on its own without my authorization," Apu said. Watching the control over the weapon system being usurped again at the console, the Puppet Master, Joseph, felt powerless to complain. Such wasteful use of ammunition could not last long. Yet, this AI named "Adam" was incredibly powerful, easily overriding administrative permissions and taking control of all devices on the console, much like a similarly named AI from over thirty years ago that had been completely eradicated by humans. Despite drooling with envy over the standard AI equipped in the current active duty single soldier tactical armor, Old Joe could only dream. Unless he, like Chen Fei, obtained the qualification as a tester for the single soldier tactical armor, he could never access such powerful tactical weaponry. "Single soldier tactical intelligence units from Henghai Military Defense are definitely top quality! Hahaha! Don''t worry, counting the days, the supply should be arriving soon," Chen Fei chuckled, passing the buck. Henghai Military Defense would have to take the blame even if it meant crying and kneeling; there was no choice but to accept this responsibility. Opportunities like his were extremely rare and precious. With no more concerns about Bee-shaped Mutants, the Dead Volcano where squad 04 was stationed became much more peaceful, no longer facing attacks from mutants. Due to previous aggressive tactics that significantly diminished local mutants, the new mutants still hadn''t matured, hence leading to a rather uneventful half a month at the Dead Volcano entrance. There were no powerful mutants attacking, and the daily routine was monotonously repetitive: wake up, brush teeth, wash face, eat breakfast, fight mutants, eat lunch, fight mutants, eat dinner, take a shower, and sleep. Except for occasionally dealing with wandering mutants, most people gradually adapted to the boring life in the desert environment. As the survival assessment neared its end, Liaison Officer Rossi and everyone in squad 04 breathed a sigh of relief, almost simultaneously. Compared to other teams engulfed in dire straits, squad 04 was incredibly lucky to have no casualties. Handing over the Dead Volcano lava cave base to the responding team sent by Habulav, members of squad 04 boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle, beginning their final return examination. Surviving back to Habulav meant passing the assessment. Just like on their way there, Captain Adrian and squad 18''s captain agreed, and the Mobile Base Vehicle took a slight detour to pick up all members of squad 18 at the Oasis. Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle had spacious interiors, enough to accommodate two squads without feeling crowded. The Mobile Base Vehicle broke through the mutant blockade and reached the edge of the Oasis, where squad 18''s captain, named Moron, was warmly embraced by Adrian as soon as he saw him. "Long time no see, Moron, how have you been?" "Not too bad! Adrian, sorry for making you worry." Captain Moron''s head was wrapped in a bandage. Despite his smiling face and loud voice, he couldn''t hide the signs of exhaustion. It was clear that defending the Oasis had not been easy for him and squad 18. "1, 2, 3, 4... Huh, why are there two missing, where''s Simba?" Ever since the Puppet Master suggested poaching from squad 18, especially targeting the Feathered Tribe sniper, Adrian was reluctant to do so but he couldn''t help but pay a little more attention to the young man from the Feathered Tribe. But after the Mobile Base Vehicle arrived at the Oasis, aside from seeing some dust-covered members of squad 18, he did not spot the young man from the Feathered Tribe. "Melissa was killed by a mutant at the bottom of the Oasis Lake the second day after arriving here, Simba... Simba was attacked by a mutant last night, eaten, by the time we found him, all that was left was one foot and his Large Sniper Rifle." Squad 18''s captain suddenly had tears in his eyes, his voice becoming much heavier. The faces of the other members were filled with grief. A vivacious, cheerful, and talented young man had died in the jaws of a desert mutant just before the end of the assessment, making it difficult for anyone to accept. - Chapter 367 Section 363 - Old Friends Visit The atmosphere between the two teams had fallen into silence. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire Susanna, a B-rank Ice Ability User who had been constantly fixated on the young recruits of Team 18, said with a tone of regret, "What a pity!" Although Team 18 was situated at an oasis with a far better survival environment than Team 04 who only had a dead volcano, saw not a hint of greenery, and had no water source, they were still unable to defend their position effectively. Even with automated weapon platforms and advanced detection systems, there were still some loopholes that allowed mutants coveting the oasis to infiltrate. The loss of the two members of Team 18 was due to this reason. Besides, the reason Team 04 suffered no casualties and remained intact was partly due to the unexpectedly successful fishing tactic they improvised. On the other hand, their Mobile Base Vehicle had exhausted nearly all of the reserve ammunition after bombarding continuously for seven days and nights, and it also used up many of the automated weapon platform''s ammunition reserves. Puppet Master Joseph often complained about this. If the supply of materials had not arrived in time, Team 04 might have fallen into a dire situation, for it is inevitable to suffer accidental casualties when fighting mutants at close range. Given the manpower of Team 18, being able to preserve most of their members was a testament to Captain Moron''s remarkable abilities. He often led by example, sustaining serious injuries, and it was doubtful that anyone else could have maintained morale as he did, where losing over half the team was a real possibility. Captain Moron managed a wry smile and said self-deprecatingly, "Compared to those teams that were completely wiped out, we''re rather lucky!" "We''ll learn from these lessons, and they will become our survival experience in the future. Everyone, get on the vehicle, let''s leave this place together!" Adrian could not continue to comfort the other and could only pat the big man''s shoulder. Since the oasis was indefensible, Habulav''s side did not send anyone to take over. Whatever could be dismantled from the control console and the automated weapon platform was taken away, and what could not be dismantled was sealed on-site to be potentially reactivated and used if the chance arose. Moron put away his sorrowful emotions and turned to his teammates, shouting loudly. "Get on the vehicle!" The members of Team 18, carrying their personal belongings, boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle one by one. The Mobile Base Vehicle started its engines as it took a last glance at the oasis through the window. - Chen Fei, who was at the driver''s seat, checked the electronic map, following the same route they had come by. However, the locations of lurking mutants had significantly changed along the way. It might be due to the mutants'' activities, the attraction of human activity, or perhaps due to the aftermath of a sandstorm. "Adrian, I need to deploy a scouting drone." "What''s wrong?" A First Rank fire mage with a messy head of white hair, untrimmed for a month, approached the driver''s seat and immediately noticed that the Mobile Base Vehicle wasn''t just moving exceptionally slow but also constantly changing direction. "The distribution of mutants has changed, and... it''s become denser." "Adam" provided Chen Fei with a comparative value¡ªthe average density within visible range had increased by 13%. Team 18''s defense of the oasis had, in a way, attracted more mutants. They didn''t achieve an unprecedented victory through fishing tactics like Team 04. Even though they fought desperately against the surrounding mutants, they couldn''t prevent the number of mutants from increasing. "Is that so? Okay!" Adrian completely trusted Chen Fei''s judgment and immediately agreed. On their way there, it was rare for the Mobile Base Vehicle to directly collide with mutants lurking in the sandy grounds. They would typically avoid confrontation when possible, and if avoidance wasn''t an option, they would simply fire a shot. A 152mm Demolition Bomb was enough to eliminate most mutants, whether they were solitary or social, the outcome would not differ much. Given how seriously Chen Fei was speaking, the actual situation was likely even more grim. Even though Team 04 had replenished a variety of calibers and models of Demolition Bombs, if they opted for a simple and chaotic bombing campaign all the way, they would probably not be able to make it back to Habulav. Shortly after, a scouting drone took to the skies, and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" took over control of it immediately. The scouting drone had an endurance time of about 12 hours, which matched the Mobile Base Vehicle''s endurance. After reaching an altitude of 1000 meters from the ground, it began to circle around the Mobile Base Vehicle constantly. A wealth of scouting data flowed in non-stop, expanding "Adam''s" "vision" by more than a hundredfold. He had agreed to the deployment of the reconnaissance drone before, and now there seemed to be a situation, proving it was indeed necessary. In the Central Great Desert of the Yangzhou Continent, dangers lurk everywhere, especially with the tragedy of other teams being completely annihilated. No amount of caution was superfluous at this point. "An old friend is following us from behind, fire!" As soon as Chen Fei''s voice faded, the vehicle trembled slightly, and a 152 demolition bomb was launched by the acceleration provided by the railgun, leaving the tracks in an instant. As it was a lobbed attack, it did not consume too much electricity. "Railgun? What kind of old friend, let me see." A Grade Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joseph looked toward the screen corresponding to the drone''s remote control console. A swath of sand scarred by vehicle tracks exploded into a fireball, dozens of tons of sand were hurled into the sky, and various mutants buried beneath it emerged in panic, scrambling to flee the site. A crowd inside the carriage looked on, dumbfounded. Under the control of "Adam," the reconnaissance drone commenced a variety of pre-set scans to assess the artillery strike''s effectiveness. "We didn''t hit it!" Chen Fei didn''t need "Adam" to tell him the outcome¡ªhe knew it already. As the wind blew, the sand dancing in the sky began to fall gently, and the crater scene was finally fully exposed under the optical lens of the reconnaissance drone, clear for anyone to see. The thick layer of sand absorbed most of the impact force, making the artillery strike less effective than desired. "What kind of old friend is it?" Hearing Chen Fei''s secretive talk, Adrian couldn''t shake off a bad premonition. An old friend from the deep desert of Team 04 was not going to be an easy foe. Chen Fei said, "It''s most likely the BTS-0001, the Tsar Worm!" Although half of it had escaped, the flesh and blood that remained were still sufficient to extract samples and feed into Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s mutant database. "Hiss..." A collective intake of breath sounded in the carriage. Especially Holy Knight Walter Sam, his face went straight to green! If it wasn''t for the Green Scale Colt Mini exerting all its strength, along with the railgun on the mobile base vehicle, a man and his steed would have been hard-pressed to escape unscathed. "Holy smokes, how did you guys get entangled with such a thing?" Captain Moron of Team 18 had heard about this colossal being discovered by Team 04 beneath the sands. With a body length of over a hundred meters and a diameter exceeding four meters, it moved through the sands or above them with the swiftness of the wind. Without a defensible position, both Team 18 and Team 04 would probably lose many lives before being able to take down such a behemoth. "I mean fate, do you believe in it, Moron?" Adrian wore a wry smile, the situation was truly troublesome now. - Chapter 368 Section 364 - Total Annihilation of Both Teams Trust you, my ass! Moron''s expression gradually became blank, but now that he was on this stolen vehicle, there was no way for him to get off. Turning his head to the driver''s seat, Moron said to Chen Fei, "Hey, Chen Fei, do you have any ideas?" After making a quick estimate, Chen Fei said, "If I had two hundred tons of metal, I could probably deal with that big guy." System: Ding! Killed BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm", energy points +200! What????? The Damn System came back to life, always managing to pull something at the critical moment! And this shit task felt like a disgusting poke in the asshole. F*ck, if it weren''t for "Adam" being useless, Chen Fei would have let this AI give the Damn System a good screwing long ago. Adam''s log strangely added a record that read "Why do I have a terrifying feeling that I''m about to f*ck a dog!" Almost stepping on Chen Fei''s spoken words, Adrian said annoyed, "But we don''t have it!" Even the total weight of the supplies in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device he was responsible for managing didn''t amount to two hundred tons, let alone finding that much metal from nowhere. Besides, if they had two hundred tons of metal, they could just pile it up into an instant fortress; why would they need Chen Fei? "It''s gone! Now, we need to get out of here at full speed!" Chen Fei utilized the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill to further reduce the weight of the Mobile Base Vehicle from 20 tons to 10 tons, pushing the speed to the limit of its stability. But even with the top speed over the undulating sand dunes, they couldn''t really get much faster. On the other hand, the BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm" could move in a straight line under the sand, thus holding all the advantage. After moving at full speed for about an hour, the reconnaissance drones following the Mobile Base Vehicle constantly failed to detect any abnormal bulges in the sand, leading Adrian Benjamin, the Earth Order First Rank fire mage who had been monitoring the drone control screen, to ask, "We haven''t seen any trace of that behemoth moving. Could it be that we''ve shaken it off?" The Mobile Base Vehicle''s full speed caused a great burden on everyone; many had started to experience dizziness and nausea, the phenomenon of motion sickness. "I''m afraid it''s not that simple, Adrian. Do you have any geosonic equipment left?" Yet Chen Fei showed no intention of slowing down. "No more, all of it was deployed near the volcano crater. What do you want that stuff for!" As soon as he had spoken, Adrian had a vague guess about the other''s intentions. "Of course, to listen out for our ''old friend''s'' position; too bad, though." Chen Fei shook his head with regret. One geosonic device wasn''t enough; at least three were needed for precise positioning. "Indeed, too... Watch out!" Adrian was about to continue when he suddenly widened his eyes in alarm, pointing ahead of the vehicle. Without any warning, the carriage began to shake violently; the light outside suddenly darkened as a huge shadow enveloped the Mobile Base Vehicle. "What the hell is it now?" Chen Fei had just turned his head to look outside the front windshield when he saw a massive whirlpool of fangs coming straight at them. The desert landscape outside the vehicle disappeared in an instant, replaced by darkness. And then, the endless spinning began... -@@@@ At 1000 meters above ground, the reconnaissance drone lost its data link with the control console, automatically executing its previous command while releasing a distress signal. Mouri Misono uttered this, and upon locking eyes with Susanna, both involuntarily shuddered with goosebumps. "Don''t talk nonsense!~" Susanna''s teeth chattered with fear. "This is terrible, just now, no, before... were we swallowed? What exactly was that thing?" Even though Chen Fei''s flexible steel wire had been produced in time, Team 18''s captain, Moron, still had a large bump on his forehead which had not yet subsided, looking like he was wearing a meat bun and giving his face a slightly deformed appearance. "A big Tsar Worm, with its young ones coming for revenge. Damn huge!" No one else was faring much better, uncertain of how long they had been unconscious. "Six hours!" The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" provided the answer. Chen Fei had kept it on, so it remained in an awakened state, enabling it to keep track of time. "''Adam,'' where are we?" Chen Fei stood up from the driver''s seat, and the power cables automatically detached, switching to battery power mode. The vehicle''s external lights also turned on, and additional illumination lamps were created, brightly lighting up the surrounding area. A huge dome, Roman columns, a high platform, steps, an oval ground, tattered flags, and corners filled with a pile of miscellaneous items ¨C bones of all kinds and even some distinctly artificial artifacts were visible. The massive Tsar Worm that had swallowed the Mobile Base Vehicle had disappeared without a trace, but the vehicle''s surface was covered with an unknown sticky substance, obscuring the desert camouflage and revealing the underlying armor. "The composition of the gas outside the vehicle is normal, though there''s a bit too much methane. Hmm, open the door." Chen Fei reviewed "Adam''s" diagnostic report. After all, the life support system inside the Mobile Base Vehicle was nearly at its limit, and without ventilation, the people inside would soon face the danger of oxygen deficiency. With a soft click, the door opened widely, and the outside air instantly flooded into the carriage. Everyone took a deep breath and, in unison, made a collective expression of disgust. "Ugh, how foul!" "It stinks to death, what''s that smell?" "It''s so foul! I can hardly breathe!" "It''s more than methane, there''s hydrogen sulfide too, it''s so stinky it''s giving me a headache!" "Quick, close the door." "Is this a latrine?" "I want my air filtration mask!" Everyone was subjected to the malodorous assault, a fall from grace or a loss of human decency... Chen Fei too, was momentarily thoughtless. "Bang!" The door automatically closed again, and the air filtration system began working at full capacity. Even so, the incoming air still carried a faint whiff of the stench until the two captains pulled out air filtration masks from their Space System Alchemy Storage Devices, and everyone donned a "Big Pig Snout." Even the Green Scale Colt Mini had its share, and the situation improved considerably. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu seemed to have realized a new skill in that moment, surrounded by a faint white light, automatically purifying the foul air as it approached. "Just now... who went outside? I thought I saw a figure fleeting by the door!" - Chapter 369 Section 365 - Ruins The speaker was a member of team 18. Team 18''s leader, Moron, frowned and said, "Ew? It stinks to death outside, who would go out! Haken, you must be seeing things!" Who would be so desperate? He felt that if he smelled it any longer, he might faint from the stench, which was nearly indistinguishable from that of biochemical weapons. Mouri Misono raised her right hand high and exclaimed, "I also thought I saw someone!" Who was that? The leaders of team 18, Moron, and team 04, Andrea, looked at each other. Simultaneously and unanimously, they spoke. "Roll call!" Moron was responsible for his own team 18, while Andrea called out for team 04. "Mouri Misono!" "Hi! I''m here!" "Susanna Jean Piault!" "I...am here!" "Chen Fei, um, there you are!" "Oh!" "Apu!" "I''m here, Captain!" "Walter Sam!" "Present, Mini is here too!" "Got it!" "Bassan! Um? Speak up, Bassan, I didn''t hear you!" The roll call of team 04 abruptly stopped as Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank fire mage, surveyed his team members. Almost everyone was present, except for the shy and reticent giant Neanderthal Chief. "Adrian, I''ve got everyone here, no one''s missing. How is it on your side..." Two members were missing from team 18, obvious at a glance. When Moron turned back, he noticed something was off with the atmosphere in team 04. "I, I''m missing someone!" Adrian''s expression looked grim. Because the missing member also held another identity, the current Chief of the Neanderthal tribe. Even though the Third Era Civilization had substantively and utterly perished, the Neanderthal tribe was still extant, enjoying the fundamental human rights of the current civilization. If Bassan had merely been a casualty in a fight with mutants, it would have been one thing, but if he had taken any inappropriate actions, it might trouble the sensitivities of the big shots.@@@@ Moron asked urgently, "Who''s missing?" Mysteriously losing someone was certainly not good. "Bassan! He''s gone!" Adrian quickly turned to Chen Fei among the members of team 04 and urged, "Chen Fei, open the door right now!" As for whether it stank outside, he no longer cared; the most important thing right now was to find the Chief. Bring back the person alive, or the body if dead!!! Killing his own people by hand, such an act was truly not for the human-hearted. "Is this the Supreme Council? The Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization?" Hearing Adrian''s and the Neanderthal Clan Leader''s conversation, Captain Moron of Team 18 was flabbergasted, repeatedly turning around, surveying the entire space illuminated by the mobile base vehicle lights and the Illumination Technique Light Orbs. "Holy shit, the land of the final battle!" "Phone, come on!" "Absolutely! Take a picture for me; let me hold my breath and take off the breathing filter first!" ... The flashlights clicked incessantly as many started striking poses. No one knew who started it, but the solemn and somber atmosphere of the site changed unexpectedly, and the ruins of the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization suddenly turned into a tourist spot. Neanderthal Chief Bassan: "..." Captain Adrian of Team 04: "..." This development was completely unexpected for both of them. Perhaps one of the things said was correct, let bygones be bygones. None of the members from Team 18 and Team 04 had experienced the Great War of the Three Realms; at least half of them were born after the war had ended and naturally could not understand how fierce the Neanderthal tribe had been at that time. The allied forces of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star had exhausted all their strength to finally dissipate the thousand-year preparations of the Third Era Civilization, turning Blue Star, the main battlefield, into nearly a paradise for mutants due to the war''s lingering effects. Time and circumstances had changed; the Neanderthal tribe had completely integrated into Blue Star, unable to stir any ripples anymore. More and more mixed-race children were born, making it truly impossible to differentiate "us" from "them" as worldviews, values, and outlooks on life gradually converged. The descendants of Homo Sapiens no longer viewed the descendants of the previous civilization, who had tried to take over their homeland, with hostility. "Chen Fei, come over and look, there''s treasure here!" Seemingly attracted by something, A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley ran alone to the corner of the Supreme Council''s ruins hall, enduring disgust and filth to rummage around before turning back to call his fellow sect younger brother. There, all sorts of miscellaneous items were piled up, including creations from humans, both from Blue Star and the Neanderthals. But the patchy and broken exteriors seemed to tell the tales of time, as well as the fierce battles fought between both sides until they were utterly relentless. "What''s the treasure, is it valuable?" Chen Fei rushed over to the scene, but what he saw was just a pile of junk. Alright, the shattered remains of combat mobility armor might qualify as treasures, including models that were humanoid, beast-shaped, and insect-shaped, all completely destroyed beyond recognition. Aside from recycling, there was no viable value left to extract. One could also find tanks, armored vehicles, remnants of fighter jets, firearms¡ª even Third Era Civilization''s "Camru" and "Kezige" interceptor jets were there, all equally broken and beyond repair, truly only describable as "junk." Beyond these, there were only a small amount of old cold weapons and various indescribable gadgets left. It was simply a heap of garbage. "Two hundred tons of metal, do you see any?" A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley never let down his guard. "Two hundred tons, oh, I''ll try!" Chen Fei, suppressing his disgust, reached out to touch those equally foul-smelling pieces of junk. System: Ding! Absorption of alloy body 773 kilograms, composition ratio: Iron 65%, Chromium 20%, Manganese 11%, Nickel 3%... System: Ding! Absorption of alloy body 55 kilograms, composition ratio... ... Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire System: Total Energy Points Gained +743! - Chapter 370 Section 366 - Vacuum Bomb The pile of junk in Chen Fei''s eyes visibly shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye. He finally harvested 743 Energy Points. For these 743 tons of antique junk, his hands had become so foul they were almost unusable! What a headache! "Huh! There''s still quite a bit left, huh?" A Metallic Elemental Psychic Power User named Kiterley noticed that the mountainous pile of various items had finally dwindled to a small pile, and surmised that the remaining items were non-metallic substances. He kicked them around a few times. A crystal-clear texture refracted an unusual brilliance from the filth. He couldn''t help but wonder aloud, "Is it crystals again? Hey, kid, there''s more good stuff!" Then he looked at Chen Fei, figuring the young man would probably be interested. During the previous assessment point of Team 04, the interior of the Lava Cave in the Dead Volcano was filled with fluorescent crystals of various sizes. At the end of the assessment, as the team left, Chen Fei alone pried away at least ten tons of large crystal clusters, using readily available material boxes for loading, and stored them all in Adrian''s Space Series Alchemy Storage Magic Artifact. Speaking of which, those fluorescent crystals were indeed rare items.@@@@ Two hours of sunlight could make them glow for six hours. The members of Team 04 hadn''t hesitated to pick out intact crystal clusters to use as their desk lamps, basking them in sunlight for a day and then, like small light bulbs, they emitted light all night long and even produced effects like colored lights, making them especially suitable for placing in personal rooms to decorate the ambiance. "Stinky treasures, huh?" Chen Fei glanced sideways at his Metal Elemental Psychic Power senior. Why didn''t the other guy take these stinky metals and refine them into Special Ability Armor for himself?! The metallic materials used for military purposes were mostly quality goods! What, taking care of your little brother, but you actually think it smells, huh?! "Hey, isn''t it the same once washed? What if it''s really valuable! Whoever finds it keeps it!" Although he said this, Kiterley was not moved at all. This guy who said one thing and did another! "Don''t let it be some glass!" Chen Fei bent down, picked up the object that was flickering with a crystalline sheen, and swung it in his hand. If it really was glass, he''d hurl it right into his senior''s face to teach him a lesson! A cubic object about 10 centimeters in size, with sharp edges and corners, a surface like a mirror, without a hint of dirt or blemish, and completely transparent, it appeared like a flawless crystal. "What is this? An ornament?" A Metallic Elemental Psychic Power User named Kiterley twirled his chin, examining it from all angles. Indeed, there were many souvenirs from the battlefield, even including jewelry. With enough luck, one might even find a Magic Artifact. "Heh, a Crystalline Block!" It was unknown from which war machine this had come, but it ended up among this pile of junk. Crystal Energy Technology appeared in the late stages of the "Three Realms Unification War." As soon as it emerged, its energy storage density utterly surpassed any chemical battery, instantly replacing them as the most dazzling star in the high-end energy storage field. Even today, the energy storage density of Crystalline Blocks continues to increase, gradually transitioning from military to civilian use, mainly applied in the public sector of society. This patented technology and manufacturing method were completely monopolized by Dragoon Magic Motion Industry. Since material channels were controlled, even if others knew how to manufacture Crystalline Blocks, they still couldn''t produce them in volume. "This is... a Crystalline Block?" "Everyone, everyone, do not touch anything here carelessly. We''ve just found a tactical weapon!" Kiterley quickly notified everyone on teams 04 and 18. "Damn, I said this place wasn''t simple, and there''s tactical weaponry?" "You scared me half to death; I almost made a mistake." "How come there are tactical weapons?" "The Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, the land of the final battle, wouldn''t it be normal to have some powerful weapons left over?" Sure enough, not only Kiterley and Chen Fei, but others also wanted to hunt for treasure here. Holding rod-like objects and curiously poking around, when they heard about the explosives, they were startled and quickly threw away what they were holding. If someone accidentally triggered a fuze or landmine, they could indeed end up risking everyone''s lives. Nobody was ready to die yet! "Everyone, gather around!" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Adrian and Captain Moron of team 18 consulted briefly and immediately gathered everyone. The two teams formed a large circle with the captains enclosed in the center. "Bassan, do you know where exactly we are?" As a member of team 04, Adrian turned to the recently emotionally stabilized Neanderthal Chief, a known sacred site for Neanderthals. Maybe the other could provide some useful clues. "Sorry, I was only 12 when the Supreme Council was breached. I hardly knew anything!" Bassan shook his head, speaking frankly. A 12-year-old boy would know what? Back then, he wasn''t even the chief! Even as the new chief elected by his people, his role was more symbolic than practical. After all, he was just a mascot and didn''t necessarily know more than the other tribal members. "Anyway, since we are in the great desert, maybe it''s buried under the sand." The A-grade Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, Joseph, spread his hands and shrugged. Team 18 immediately agreed with the Puppet Master''s conjecture. "It must be beneath the sand. The mutant that led us here specializes in burrowing through the sand. And I just checked; where there should be windows, no sunlight is coming in. It''s all sand outside, as if something solidified it." "At least there''s air here, but before that big guy comes back, we must get out of here." Moron''s words immediately had everyone nodding in agreement. The air here was terrible, like a giant dung pit. If not for the breathing filters, it could have suffocated everyone. "So, which way should we go?" Just a moment ago, instead of exploring the "treasures" here with others, Adrian had wandered around the Supreme Council''s main hall and discovered several openings. The larger openings were about thirty meters in diameter, and the smaller ones were only big enough for a person to crawl through; it was just unknown where these openings led. One of the Wind-type Ability Users from team 18 raised his hand and shouted, "Obviously, we should head towards where there''s ventilation!" The method was simple: releasing some smoke would show which way the air was flowing. Wherever the air flowed, there would be the exit. "Before we leave, couldn''t we leave that big guy a little souvenir? Right, Little Chen?" Behind his breathing filter, A-grade Metal Ability User, Kiterley, smirked wickedly. - Chapter 371 Section 367 - Survival "Phew..." Everyone turned their attention to him, and Chen Fei let out a sigh, saying, "You''re right, Kiterley!" The Dog System was indeed best suited for Kiterley after all. In the end, the system had been misspent. Dog System: ... The two teams exerted their full effort and soon found the vent leading out of the Supreme Council Hall, which was perfect for the Mobile Base Vehicle to exit. Even if the opening wasn''t large enough, it was no trouble to have the Earth Element User enlarge the diameter, or to reduce the size of the Mobile Base Vehicle itself. The most important thing was to safely return to the surface. Half an hour later, the group re-boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle, turned on the headlights full blast, and dove into the designated tunnel. The 10 cm cubic Crystalline Block they had acquired was immediately used on the Mobile Base Vehicle. Although the storage capacity wasn''t fully charged, its endurance significantly increased; there was no fear of running out of power. It was perfect because, just then, the Mutants had caught up, and it would have been awkward otherwise. "We''ve finally gotten away, hey, aren''t you done washing yet?" Holy Knight Walter Sam banged on the bathroom door, as everyone was waiting in line to shower. Even the Green Scale Colt Mini detested his stench so much, it refused to let him come close, which was really infuriating. "What''s the rush, I''m washing my hair right now!" The person in the bathroom responded with an exasperated roar. Even just standing still in the Hall of the Supreme Council, one would get suffused with the malodorous air, akin to stinky tofu that only needed three minutes to acquire its full taste. For both teams, two bathrooms were simply not enough, especially for the female members, who couldn''t face others until they had thoroughly washed for over an hour. The air filtration system inside the carriage was operating at full capacity, yet it was barely effective. Some people had been in contact with the filth and now smelled horrific. "Damn, it was like soaking in shit before, hmm, how exactly did our Mobile Base Vehicle make it out? Could it be..." "Shut up!!!" ¡Á20! Apu, ever the blunt boy, had barely started speaking the stark truth when everyone interrupted him in unison. This killed the conversation, didn''t this guy know how to stay quiet?!! Apart from him, everyone else in the carriage, both those waiting for and finished with their showers, simultaneously turned pale. They couldn''t bear to think about it!@@@@ Team 18''s captain, Captain Moron, frowned and said, "Your guy really knows how to talk, huh!" Due to the accumulated putrid smells, even the respirators were failing now. "Haha!" Adrian had a massive headache and could only muster a strained smile. Apu, the big dark fellow, often caused him distress unintentionally, which made it even more aggravating because it couldn''t be corrected! Nobody knew when he might make an untimely comment, leaving everyone unable to defend against it. But fortunately, everyone had survived. So, no anger, no anger! "Has ''Adam'' not reached the surface yet?" Chen Fei asked again. He was the first to shower, and upon returning to the driver''s seat, he immediately isolated himself from the terrible odors in the carriage with a transparent partition. "Hey! Chen Fei, you must give this car a good wash, it must be thoroughly cleaned, you know?" "I know, I know! I''ll wash it myself, the tap at full power!" "I''ll use Water-type Spell to help you wash the car." "This trip has been horrible!" "Being alive is good enough, what''s there to complain about!" "Hey! Girl, you''ve been soaking for over an hour, hurry up and get out!!!" "I don''t want to!" "No, you have to! If you don''t come out now, I''m going to rush in! I''ll fumigate you, you know?" "Ah! No, I... I''ll be done soon!" ... The cabin of the Mobile Base Vehicle was in total chaos. Adam: "Abnormal biological response detected from behind, likely BTS-0001 ''Tsar Worm''." "It''s that same guy!" The unimaginative "Adam" could only detect the mutant BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm," unable to identify exactly which one it was. Chen Fei, however, could use his imagination and reasoning to guess who might be pursuing them from behind. It was probably the same Tsar Worm that had once taken a hit from a 152mm shell, half of its body shattered, yet this mutant''s vitality was frightening, able to escape even with half a body left, resuscitating and continuing the pursuit vigorously. Speaking of which, this ability to hold a grudge among the mutants was truly something Chen Fei had never seen before. "''Adam'', get the 152 ready!" Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to have "Adam" load the Railgun on the roof and then advanced the throttle, further increasing the vehicle''s speed. The moment Adrian sensed the change in vehicle speed and the noise from the rooftop Railgun, he asked, "Hey! Chen Fei, what''s happening?" Without turning his head back, Chen Fei responded, "Our old friend has caught up with us again!" At this moment, rather than leaving the Mobile Base Vehicle under the automated control of "Adam," he trusted his own driving skills more. Apart from jet aircraft which routinely reach speeds over a thousand kilometers per hour, even a turboprop aircraft can reach speeds of four to five hundred kilometers per hour. The Mobile Base Vehicle''s speed, not even reaching a hundred kilometers per hour, was hardly a challenge for Chen Fei; he even had spare time to inquire "Adam" how far the pursuing mutant was from the Mobile Base Vehicle. "Huh?" Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Was it that persistent old friend again? First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin mechanically turned his head, staring dumbfounded at Captain Moron of Team 18 as they looked at each other. Were they to be swallowed alive again? Adam: "Distance 2.7 kilometers, speed about 61 kilometers per hour." The current speed of the Mobile Base Vehicle was 70 kilometers per hour, which meant that the distance between them would only increase. The passage was not an undulating sand dune, but a straight "runway (passage)," thus, unless there was an unexpected event, the likelihood of being caught up was almost negligible. "''Adam'', let''s send a few rounds to that old friend outside the exit, as a gesture of goodwill." Chen Fei genuinely smiled. The next second, the Mobile Base Vehicle burst through a layer of thin sand, and bright sunlight pierced through the one-way transparent windows, flooding the cabin with light. The Railgun quickly rotated its barrel, aiming at the back where sand flowed like a waterfall, exactly where the Mobile Base Vehicle had burst out from. - Chapter 372 Section 368 - One Shot Dispels A Thousand Grudges "Gulp!!!!" The hidden entrance within the sand dune trembled violently as the continuous sandfall erupted from within with a deep roar. "Adam" created a new window interface within Chen Fei''s field of view, which was still within the scope of the dog system interface and could not become an independent existence. It was only natural for an artificial intelligence AI to be subject to the system platform that supported its normal operation. On the simple two-dimensional map, a small light spot was rapidly approaching the tunnel entrance, while the light spot representing the mobile base vehicle waited two hundred meters outside the entrance, the shooting angle of the railgun perfectly covering it. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire The waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump tactic, waiting for the enemy to bump into it head-on. Bang! After a short wait, the sky filled with flying sand as a colossal creature, with a diameter similar to that of the mobile base vehicle, emerged from the sand with its fangs bared, its appearance overwhelmingly ferocious. The moment the opponent appeared, Chen Fei calmly uttered a word. "Fire!" The mobile base vehicle trembled slightly. The 152 Demolition Bomb was instantly pushed away by magnetic force from the accelerating track, crossing nearly two hundred meters and plunging into the giant, widely gaping maw of fangs.@@@@ Some mistakes, if repeated, could cost lives! Boom! As the flames erupted, the massive shockwave and loud noise shook the mobile base vehicle, sending a blast of air in all directions and throwing sand into the air. Amidst the smoke and flying sand, countless pieces of flesh and organs were shattered, falling like raindrops, but before they could hit the ground, the railgun launched a second 152 Demolition Bomb. The fierce explosions and loud noises once again swept over the mobile base vehicle, nearly causing those inside to lose their balance. Blood and flesh spattered and mixed with sand flew up into the sky once again. The power of a heavy artillery shell was not to be underestimated. "Goodness, was it necessary to fire twice?" Team 18''s Captain Moron shook his head, the railgun launch wasn''t too noisy, but the eruptive power of the Demolition Bomb was truly terrifying. Even at a distance of two hundred meters, the aftereffects of a single shell that could obliterate a soccer field were still alarmingly daunting. Before Chen Fei could reply, Adrian spoke up first, "To cut the weeds, you must remove the roots. It was because of just one shell last time that this creature got away." Holy Knight Walter Sam, still shaken after being nearly chased to death by the BTS-0001 Tsar Worm, said, "Exactly, who knows which end is its head and which is its tail, it really is like a worm." If it hadn''t been for his partner, the Blue Scaled Colt, sprinting at full speed and the enhancement from Wind Series Magic, he might have been swallowed by that enormous maw. To deal with such a terrifying creature, one 152 wasn''t enough, there had to be two, even three, to completely blast it apart for total reassurance. Otherwise, who knew if it would continue to play dead. As the dust settled, the chaotic rain of flesh, organs, and bone fragments patteringly covered a large area, with some pieces flying as far as two kilometers away. "Killed it!" Chen Fei confirmed the strike result through the camera array at the rear of the mobile base vehicle. Sigh! Here we go again... Adrian couldn''t help but face-palm and sigh deeply. The members of Team 04 couldn''t always be treated like intellectually challenged children. After all, this man was a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, esteemed as a Sword God on Cangqiong Star. You may not care about your image, but I do! "Adrian, that... him?" Moron glanced at the big guy and then pointed to his own head, gesturing to Team 04''s spokesperson. Adrian shook his head, saying helplessly, "He''s not all there!" Not stupid, not bad, just an honest person minus a few marbles! "Got it, got it!" Moron nodded, looking somewhat sympathetically at the big sulky figure covered in the organ fluid of the mutant BTS-0001 Tsar Worms, almost becoming a stinky human figure. Susanna could no longer watch, shouting out, "Idiot, isn''t your sword on your back?" "I want my original Great Sword; that creature took it away!" Apu looked miserable, just like a child who had their favorite toy stolen. Of course! Even though Chen Fei had personally designed him a new Great Sword, which was quite well-suited in weight, sharpness, and balance, Apu still missed his old buddy and tried to retrieve it from the wreckage of the mutants. It''s definitely a lie to say he didn''t feel the pinch from spending three hundred thousand Star Yuan to custom-make it in the first place. Susanna said impatiently, "The original one? Don''t you already have a new one?" "I saved for three years to custom-order that Great Sword; it was with me for at least ten years, it felt like family!" After saying this, Apu sniffled and his eyes went red. Chen Fei looked around and thought, no chance! According to his perception of the surrounding metal components, apart from the Mobile Base Vehicle and the metal items everyone carried, there were only tiny shrapnel pieces everywhere. There was no sign of the Great Sword; it was likely the mutant had dragged itself off, losing the sword somewhere in the process. Apu searched for over two hours, and besides turning into a big stinky mess, he found nothing. By this time, everyone had finished their baths, and they even directly burned their removed clothes. The foul stench lingering in the air finally dissipated significantly. "My sword, my sword is gone!" He cried like a three-hundred-pound child. Truly a pathetic scene that would sadden the onlooker and bring a tear to the observer''s eye. The Water series magician from Team 18 who had thoroughly cleaned the Mobile Base Vehicle couldn''t stand to watch this melodramatic act any longer. With a final spark of replenished magic power from who knows where, he rapidly muttered a few words, brandished his magic wand, and shouted angrily, "Get a grip, for goodness'' sake!" A huge water orb roared toward and engulfed the three-hundred-pound big guy, tumbling him over and over, while lightning flashed, with Apu''s Thunder series fighting spirit electrocuting him. Oh dear, that was rather careless! "Liaison Officer Rossi requests communication!" Adrian fumbled to take out his phone. It was only now that he remembered that the communication, which was interrupted earlier, had been restored at some point; probably because they were back on the surface and the phones reconnected to the satellite signal. - Chapter 373 Section 369 - Uninvited Guest "I am Adr..." Just after confirming the incoming call, Adrian was about to speak when he heard Liaison Officer Rossi cut in, "Wait, don''t start talking yet. I''ll ask, you answer!" "Oh, okay, okay!" Adrian was bewildered, not quite understanding what the other person meant. "How many survived? Half? Three? Two? Or is it just you left?" Rossi''s voice gradually turned to a crying tone, suggesting that if Adrian were the only one left, Squad 04 might as well disband, as their bonuses were all gone. They might even face demotion. It seemed better to be all dead. "Uh! Officer Rossi, you''re thinking too much, actually..." Before Adrian could finish, Rossi''s voice became sadder and sadder. "Really, that many? I knew it, I knew it..." "...Actually, it''s not just Squad 04, but also Squad 18. Everyone is here, no casualties, not a single one!" The two were clearly not on the same wavelength, completely talking past each other. A First Rank Fire Mage like Adrian was really at a loss here. "Not a single one? Sss..." Adrian could hear the sound of Rossi inhaling sharply on the other end of the phone and hurriedly said, "That''s right, Officer Rossi, both teams are safe, and we have escaped from the mutant''s lair!" "But I saw you guys being..." Rossi recalled the footage captured by the reconnaissance drone: the Mobile Base Vehicle being swallowed whole by the massive mutant and then disappearing into the desert without a trace of people or vehicle ¨Cno sign of life or death. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s Bear Hunting Special Operations Division was even prepared to issue another death notice, having already drafted the document. Adrian said with a laugh, "Well, maybe we''re just lucky!" He heard a ringtone emanating from his phone, with Squad 18''s captain, Moron, likely picking up his phone as well. Most likely, he was receiving a call from the liaison officer, and the content of the conversation was roughly similar to his own. "It''s good you''re coming back!" Rossi was breathing heavily. It was really tough for him! This job was like a roller coaster¡ªnow in Heaven, now in Hell, utterly tormenting. "When we return, I''ll report to you in detail." Adrian was overwhelmed¡ªthe report would be exceedingly difficult to write. It involved the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, and it was unknown how the Neanderthal tribe scattered across Blue Star and even on Cangqiong Star might react if the news got out. Though it''s said that tall people would take care of major troubles, the tall ones, of course, wouldn''t want anyone stirring up trouble for no reason. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire "Good, the more detailed, the better, and also, if you encounter any situation, don''t hesitate, call for help immediately. Habulav will dispatch Sky Knights to support you!" Officer Rossi also reported the latest situation. The one-month evaluation period had ended, and due to the unexpected incident during the return journey, even Squad 04''s Mobile Base Vehicle was swallowed whole. Not willing to let other teams, accustomed to facing numerous mutants, encounter such overwhelming threats again, Habulav''s Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters authorized the use of Crystal Jets. After all, these teams trained by the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division were aimed at the Water Bear organization and the mutants it spawned. Who the hell is it? Disturbing my sleep! Whoever it is, wait until I get up, and I''ll smack you! With sleepiness still hanging over him, he yanked the door open. "Who?" He saw three strangers standing outside, the leader of whom looked somewhat familiar. The man eyed Chen Fei up and down, and said in a rather unfriendly tone, "Chen Fei, is it just you here?" "Jiu!" A crisp chirping came from the balcony. Xiao Jiu sometimes liked to fly around the small garden in Zone B, but it quickly returned. Habulav''s radar simply couldn''t lock onto it. "There''s also a bird!" Chen Fei turned to look, then faced the man and asked, "May I ask who you are? What brings you here?" His first impression of these uninvited guests was not particularly favorable. "Heh, my name is Franco. We''ve met before... don''t remember? No matter, you don''t need to recognize me, I''ll be leaving soon!" The lead man tried to walk into the house, but Chen Fei stopped him with a hand on the door frame, effectively blocking him outside. "Are you sure you''re ready to face the consequences of barging in here?" Franco grinned insincerely and said, "Hehe! Won''t you invite us in to sit for a moment?" "Let''s talk here at the door!" Chen Fei stood his ground, sensing the ill intent of the visitors¡ªbad guests do not come bearing good news. The two men behind the leader both showed anger and glared at Chen Fei, one of them shouted, "What a rude guy..." However, Franco raised his hand to stop his companion, seemingly unoffended and said, "It''s fine! It''s just a few words. Chen Fei, I heard you found a crystalline block, is that so?" "Of course... not!" How could Chen Fei admit it! The purpose of the visitor was fully revealed with that question. Franco, looking entirely at ease, said, "You know, for someone like me to come here, I must have evidence. A friendly reminder for you: a crystalline block isn''t something a commoner has the right to possess. Or rather, even the most formidable military contractors aren''t allowed to just meddle with crystalline blocks ... do you understand?" The posture seemed to suggest he held all the aces. "Of course I understand, and I fully support your position, but I don''t have it!" Chen Fei spread his arms and shrugged. Why should he hand over the crystalline block he found by his own efforts to you, wishful thinking! Chapter 374 Section 370 - The Fuse Military contractors have an unwritten rule of keeping spoils of war for themselves to subsidize their household expenses. Chen Fei, who came from the small military contractor Jiu Defense Company, had inherited this principle very well. Once something was consumed, there was absolutely no reason to spit it out again. "Let''s not mince words, since I''ve come here, I have no intention of leaving empty-handed," he stated. Franco''s smile didn''t fade as he took out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and showed it to Chen Fei. "Don''t worry, take a look at this first. You should have received it on your phone too." Chen Fei had no intention of turning back, allowing these guys an opportunity to burst in, and directly activated the artificial intelligence AI in the Dog System storage area. Adam: Counter at 18, what are your commands? "Adam" really wanted to berate Second Uncle, but didn''t even dare to entertain the thought. Invoking counter eighteen¡ªlife under the eaves for an artificial intelligence AI is really tough! Chen Fei: Adam, take over my phone! The phone placed on the bedside suddenly lit up, displaying a bunch of gibberish, which shortly after returned to normal. Adam: Access granted. As long as it could operate normally, protocols, libraries, data interfaces, keys, permissions... all of it was trivial. Chen Fei: Check the latest messages received. Adam: Seven unread messages. Would you like to open them? Phone: That someone, please open it! You''re muted... Chen Fei: Open them! Suddenly, seven different stacked interfaces appeared before his eyes. Aside from the regular information such as Jiu Defense Company''s basic pay slip, Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s subsidies allowance, personal tax settlement form, and monthly personal communication bill, there was also a "Search Warrant" notification from an official communication number of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. He didn''t know who leaked the information, but somebody found out that he had picked up a Crystalline Block, and they came knocking so quickly. The fellow named Franco bore some inexplicable hostility toward him. He couldn''t fathom when he had offended the man¡ªprobably a friend of an enemy, perhaps?! Damn it, wait until I settle the math later! Luckily, it wasn''t stored in the Mobile Base Vehicle downstairs; that place has probably been searched already, hasn''t it? "Jiu!" The chirping of Xiao Jiu came from outside; the little guy flew in from the balcony, landing in its nest, shaking its feathers as though stretching muscles, puffing into a fluffy feather ball, then slowly returning to normal. "You know, even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn''t dare to forge this kind of thing!" Franco, with a smug grin as if wielding the Imperial Sword personally, flaunted his phone screen triumphantly. He indeed didn''t have the guts to do so, especially at the Habulav headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Forging legally binding documents has always been a serious criminal offense, not just anyone has the skill and audacity to do such a thing. For the sake of an outdated Crystalline Block that was produced over thirty years ago, it was entirely not worth it. "Alright then! Please come in, but let me make it clear: there are many of my personal items inside. If there are any losses, you three will be fully responsible." Chen Fei scoffed and stepped aside, ready to give these three a good beating if necessary. Nobody could take things from his hands, no matter who came. Those who try to snatch from the Chen brothers of Little Shanzi are just asking for a pounding! The Little Bird that flew a few rounds around the small park downstairs returned to its nest, tilting its head to listen to the noises at the door, then turned to look at the cubic crystal placed right beside its nest. It hopped over, pecked at it with its delicate beak, and stretched out its little claw... "Jiu!" "Don''t worry, I''ll take responsibility." The value of a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was certainly no less than that of a high-capacity Crystalline Block, but just like Crystalline Blocks, it shouldn''t be tampered with by ordinary people. Especially this one in front of them, which was designated by a Metallic Giant Dragon. Those who knew the truth would not recklessly target this crystal core, lest they catch the attention of a Metallic Giant Dragon, especially an offended young one, which could bring the wrath of an entire clan. The reigning Dragon King of Cangqiong Star was a Metallic Giant Dragon, and rumors had it that if the unreliable monarch had a tantrum, Cangqiong Star would directly confront Blue Star, even if the Lin Family, who had particularly close ties with the Dragon King, might not be able to dissuade him. Ambitious figures never disappeared, no matter the era. Diplomacy and trade between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star were both extremely cautious, fearing a spark that could be exploited by those with grand ambitions. The "Thucydides Trap" theory had almost become a crucial consideration between the two civilizations. The Cangqiong Star Civilization was not like the resource-depleted Third Era Civilization; with populations, magical beasts, magic, construct assembly technology, and crystal cores galore, plus forbidden curses comparable to nuclear weapons, they lacked nothing. A war with the Blue Star Civilization was no joke. In the case of war, no one could remain unscathed when the nest is overturned. Even if exterminating entire clans wasn''t a thing anymore, in those times, faced with the wrath of the entire world, who would believe otherwise? Even Franco would probably wish he could sacrifice his whole family to appease the heavens. For these reasons, and also because Chen Fei always stayed at the remote 911 Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, lax security like this would have certainly resulted in theft long ago. Yet, the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core nestled safely in Xiao Jiu''s nest remained untouched; nobody dared to covet it. Therefore, to Franco, the crystal inside the Pure Light Sparrow''s nest was not a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, but a potential spark. Hearing his subordinate mindlessly wanting to touch the crystal core, he suddenly felt the dread of screwing up big time. "No, can''t touch it?" The two men Franco brought along glanced at each other, but seeing the director''s livid expression, they instinctively shrank back, retreating several steps and keeping their distance obediently. It seemed that the crystal in the nest was a taboo nobody should mess with. If they couldn''t avoid provoking it, at least they could steer clear. Two professional detectors scanned Chen Fei''s dorm room, inside and out, in both close-range precision mode and long-distance remote sensing mode, but they failed to detect any crystal energy they had sensed before. After all the effort, naturally, they found nothing. Leaving empty-handed, Franco glared at Chen Fei and warned ungraciously, "Chen Fei, I hope you''re not hiding the Crystalline Block. It''s not something you should possess!" "Hmph!" Chen Fei responded with a cold laugh, not giving the man the satisfaction of analyzing his words. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Indeed, he did have a Crystalline Block, which everyone knew, but without catching him in the act, what could they do to him? He enjoyed the sight of others seething with rage yet powerless to act. "Let''s go!" Franco huffed coldly, signaling his entourage to leave Chen Fei''s dormitory. His men couldn''t resist looking back, shooting threatening glares. But Chen Fei retorted with a throat-slitting gesture, as if to say, "Don''t mess with me. If you''ve got an issue, come at me! I''ll twist your heads off myself!" Bang! He shut the door! After instructing "Adam" to scan the room again to check for any "lingering" electronic detection devices, Chen Fei headed to his room, planning to ask Xiao Jiu about the Crystalline Block. But upon returning to his room, he saw the cubic-shaped Crystalline Block still sitting next to Xiao Jiu''s nest, as if it had never moved or disappeared. Uh... were those three people blind? Could it be that Xiao Jiu had mastered a new skill, like optical invisibility? Or perhaps he should check his own eyesight. "Jiu?" - Chapter 375 Section 371 - Luo Wilderness Plain Chen Fei packed around a hundred crates and handled the shipment at the Habulav postal company; the smallest crate weighed almost a hundred kilograms, and the largest one weighed up to several tons. Because he held the position of a member of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, he enjoyed an internal discount that saved him tens of thousands of Star Yuan in transportation costs. These boxes immediately caught the attention of certain individuals. Having returned empty-handed to Chen Fei''s dormitory, Franco hurried to the Habulav postal company''s warehouse and found the neatly stacked crates. "Every single box must be checked!" This time, he brought around a dozen people. They had not only professional detection devices but also psychic ability users skilled in perception and search dogs with keen noses¡ªwithout opening the crates, they could still find the crystalline blocks hidden inside. "Reporting to Director Franco, the crates bound for XX City are all filled with natural crystals, the crates going to Northern Industrial University contain crystals too, and those sent to Mesoamerica and Xingdu Kush Mountain Area are also packed with crystals. What''s this guy doing with so many crystals?"@@@@ "All those crates contain crystals?" Franco stood gaping in disbelief, aside from that large crate, the other uniform-sized ones might have contained up to several tons of crystals. Does Chen have a mental illness? All these crystals, what, is he planning to build a house? Was he enemies with crystals in a past life? These things aren''t even valuable! (Though they are worth a bit of money, the cost of extracting them from the heavily mutant-surrounded depths of the Central Great Desert...) After meticulously checking all the crates one by one, the reporting staff confidently stated, "Err, yes, they are all crystals! Very strange, this isn''t normal!" No need for detection devices or psychic ability users¡ªone X-ray, and from the crystal structure alone, one could immediately tell the general composition. Franco said angrily, "I, of course, know it''s not normal, damn it... driven mad by poverty!" The truth was not hard to guess! With a bit of investigation, Chen Fei''s personal financial situation could be clarified. To an ordinary family, five million Star Yuan is a huge sum¡ªthe interest alone could suffocate a household, possibly burdening generations to clear the debt. Even for a rank B ability user, it still wasn''t a sum payable in a short period. Even ability users would hardly think of going through so much effort to use a Space System Alchemy Storage Device to move these worthless crystals out of the desert. Are storage devices more expensive than crystalline blocks being used to store junk? Really full and nothing better to do! Looking back, on one hand, guarding an unliquidatable Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, and on the other, struggling to find money to pay debts everywhere. Poverty breeds change, if not using special abilities to haul out a Mobile Base Vehicle from the rubbish pile outside the city, barely within the rules as a personal ability, any other way to get such a vehicle would probably get him knocked senseless. Now impoverished and acting strange, he had acquired a huge lot of crystals and was haphazardly shipping them all over the world. It is because of poverty that so many incomprehensible actions are taken. Wait! Franco seemed to suddenly grasp a clue. He squinted and said coldly, "It''s all a distraction!" Almost deceived by this kid. These express boxes, it''s just a trick to divert my attention, to hide that crystalline block somewhere else while he''s at it. Now the crystalline block is in Habulav, even in Zone B, but the exact location remains unknown. A distraction? Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Lately, everyone from Team 04 had been individually visited and talked to by some unknown department in Habulav. Crystalline Block? Cannot say, cannot say. Even the most candid Black BOY Apu kept his lips sealed, he was candid but not foolish; betraying teammates was something he could never do, no matter what. This was exactly what annoyed the hell out of the board member Franco, who kept a close eye on Chen Fei. In just one month, he managed to strengthen these guys'' bonds so solidly they dared to resist the will of the Global United Defense Committee. Offending a high-rank official and thus being sent to a harsh cold place was naturally expected, wasn''t it? "Uh! Who knows!" Chen Fei spread his hands innocently. He had offended too many people to keep track of them all. If people always dwelt on those troubles, who would want to live like that? It''s obviously better to just be happy. "Chirp!" Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire Little Bird echoed from his shoulder. This unprincipled, shameless little creature never made any other sound no matter what Daddy Chen said. "Hey! It''s already like this, we just have to accept our fate!" Adrian had just asked casually and didn''t really mean to dig any deeper. After all, they could still drive in the Siberian Tundra; with Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, they wouldn''t be miserably frozen. In the subsequent checklists, he indeed saw Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle listed. It seemed like the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division also planned to pack this big vehicle with Team 04 as standard equipment, which saved him a lot of trouble. Somebody curiously asked, "Can I ask why choose the Siberian Tundra?" This question didn''t reach the golden-haired elder sister at the former check-in point but was instead resolved internally by Team 04. "Beneath the Siberian Tundra lies many ancient animal remains, some even dating back to before the Ice Age. If the ''Water Bear'' organization plans to study mutants, having such a massive ancient DNA sample bank would be very convenient." Unexpectedly, the magical boundary ape Lulu''an was extremely knowledgeable about Blue Star''s natural ecology. The golden-haired elder sister said cheerfully, "That''s right!" Her gaze suddenly fell on Chen Fei, her smile vanished as she said, "Can''t you control your malice a bit? You all need to be cautious around this guy; he''s a devil, a murderous fiend!" A distinctly disgusted expression surfaced on her face. "Huh? Me, me?" Caught off guard by her warning tone, Chen Fei looked around and pointed at himself tentatively, his face the picture of innocence. He clearly hadn''t done anything, so why should he suffer such an unwarranted attack? "That''s right, you, you''re filled with malice towards everyone, including this little bird on you. I noticed it the moment you checked in," The golden-haired elder sister pointed at herself and said very seriously, "I''m an A-grade Psychic Ability User, Doctor of Psychology, Criminal Investigation Expert, skilled in Emotion Perception and Mind Reading Technique." Check-in itself was a checkpoint; anyone who tried to infiltrate the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division with ill intentions would not get past this golden-haired elder sister¡ªprobably wouldn''t even get a card and would be taken away right there. - Chapter 376 Section 372 - Old Piao of the Han River The members of Team 04 were all stunned. Holy shit... One should never judge a book by its cover, just as one can''t measure the depth of a whirlpool. The elder sister looked toward the dumbfounded little Mauri sister in the middle of the crowd, her expression and gaze softening as she said, "Mouri Misono, when you first met him, he wanted to slap you. This is... undoubtedly true, you must be careful of this evil spirit in human skin!" Having finished, she glared at Chen Fei with righteous indignation and interrogated, "Have I said anything wrong? Mr. Chen Fei, did you have that thought at the time? Please! Tell! The! Truth!" Her expression said she would not tolerate any lies, the threat of an A-grade supernatural power user at full force. The reason she lashed out so unceremoniously at this moment was to remind Team 04 that amongst them hid a person with ulterior motives, and they mustn''t be deceived by the so-called harmless appearance. So it''s better to defuse the time bomb sooner rather than later, to avoid dragging everyone down with it. "Uh! Yes, I do! I want to strangle you to death right now!" Chen Fei unabashedly spoke the absolute truth, his face unchanged. "Hmph!" A torrent of evil intentions hit them in the face, met by the blonde sister''s cold laugh. In front of an A-grade psychic ability user, a mere B-grade had no right to resist, and could easily be slapped to death. "Huh? Chen, did you really want to slap me at that time?" Mouri Misono''s face showed no fear or anger, only surprise and bewilderment. "Sorry, my mind always uncontrollably comes up with some strange thoughts." Chen Fei candidly pointed to his head and shrugged his shoulders. He used to be a good baby! "It seems Chen is also a gentle person!" Mouri Misono''s little face turned pink with a blush coloring her cheeks. "Wait, what''s with that expression?" This time, it was the blonde sister from the original check-in station who suddenly felt that the atmosphere of the scene was somewhat off. Not just Mouri Misono, but even the others from Team 04 appeared nonchalant, as if they hadn''t heard her cruel exposure at all. WTF?! What kind of reactions are these? Shouldn''t they be drawing lines and vehemently condemning and denouncing him, before kicking him out of the team? Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire How could there not even be a trace of a normal reaction! "Eh? You don''t blame me?" Chen Fei, perplexed like a monk scratching his head, was unexpectedly in sync with the attitudes of the blonde who had exposed him. Mouri Misono smiled gratefully and said, "I thought Chen would plan to chop off my head, but it turned out to be merely a slap. If Chen dislikes me, it''s my fault, but Chen didn''t intend to kill me!" Twin Blades Sister wasn''t two-faced; she was straightforward with her likes and dislikes, never hiding them. Her usual way of expressing disdain was often by chopping off the other person''s head. Adrian Benjamin walked over and pat Chen Fei''s shoulder. Little Bird hopped over, fluttering its wings, pecking at his hand with its small sharp beak, asserting its sovereignty. Chen Fei''s shoulder was its territory, and its integrity was not to be violated. "What a cute little guy!" With a physical attack power of zero, the Pure Light Sparrow''s pecking was harmless, but Adrian''s smile faded when he saw a frightening gleam in its beak and hastily withdrew his hand. Damn! He then remembered that this little thing was the real menace in Team 04! - The number of airships owned by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee isn''t small, but most are in flight around the world. Only about four or five are stationed on the Ocean Continent, each tasked with different flying missions, so it''s impossible for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" to send each dispatch team directly to their destinations. Thus, travel had to rely on civilian aviation channels, naturally, because the number of civilian aircraft far exceeds those of the Joint Defense Committee, with flights to all parts of the world. The next day at noon, Team 04, each with their luggage, took a transport airship that flew back and forth between Habulav and Shepherd City. Then they boarded a civilian flight, traveling northward from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, a journey of 12 hours. At around 3 a.m., the direct flight finally landed at Mount Kumgang International Airport in the Goryeo Peninsula. The civil airline tickets prepared for Team 04 by the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" factored in rest time, allowing them a two-day stay in Mount Kumgang to, for example, adjust to the time difference, eat and drink, and briefly sightsee and have fun. Chen Fei, who was already quite accustomed to air travel, didn''t feel the hardship of the long flight. Although the stability and comfort of the civilian jet were somewhat inferior to those of large airships, they were still much more comfortable than the cockpit of the fighter jets he had once piloted. After booking rooms in a hotel near the airport with the rest of Team 04, Chen Fei didn''t stay long in his own room, instead, taking Xiao Jiu to the hotel entrance and hailing a driverless taxi straight to the train station. It only took a fast train two hours from Mount Kumgang to Han River City, arriving in almost no time. As soon as Chen Fei came out of Han River City''s train station, he pulled out his mobile phone and dialed a number. A moment later, the call connected. "Hello! Guess who?" Chen Xiao''er, a troublemaker at heart, couldn''t help engaging in such a cheesy act. His voice was loud, naturally drawing disdainful glances from the people around him. "Who''s this guy, making a call so arrogantly? I feel like beating him up." The urge to beat him up was limited to a mere thought, after all, no one had the resolve to act on it. Consciously, if the police were summoned, it would likely lead to nothing good. "Eh? Chen Fei!!! Is that you? Haha, why did you think to call me, wait, let me guess..." The person on the other end hesitated for a moment, then burst into joyous exclamations: "You, are you in Han River?" "Bingo! Just passing by, I thought I''d pop over to see you." Chen Fei snapped his fingers and continued, "Where are you? I''m heading over now!" Excited to see an old colleague again, Pu Aihua said eagerly, "No! I''ll come to you. Where are you? Han River Airport? I''ll come by car right away!" "Seba, could you keep it down a bit? This is a hospital, not a marketplace!" An inappropriate scolding came through the call. "Hmm? Old Piao, you''re at the hospital? Is someone sick? Never mind, I''ll come to you. I''m just outside the train station, not long after leaving." Before Chen Fei finished speaking, Little Bird on his shoulder also chirped. Pu Aihua apologized, "The train station? Well, okay then! I''ll send you the address, I''m really sorry!" He then spoke with renewed enthusiasm, "Xiao Jiu is here too! Long time no see." - Chapter 377 Section 373 - Hospital The bird egg he once used to trick the newbies had actually turned out to be a Magical Beast Egg, which he picked up from a desolate place. It was indeed authentic, for it hatched into Xiao Jiu, an adorable creature. Although it was a common Pure Light Sparrow, it was still a genuine Magical Beast. Now, whenever Xiao Jiu was mentioned, Pu Aihua''s tone became very complex. After briefly chatting with Chen Fei, Pu hastily ended the call and sent his location. The hospital where Old Piao stayed was not far from the train station, but it wasn''t exactly close either. Taking the subway for half an hour, passing six stations, then switching to an unmanned taxi, it took Chen Fei another ten minutes to find the place. Before Old Piao was sent home, he had left a note for Chen Fei, which was the contact information for Han River City. Since Mount Kumgang was not far from Han River and there was still time to spare, he decided to visit. As he was wondering who might be ill, a tired-looking Pu Aihua appeared before him. "Old Piao, my goodness, are you sick?" With a disheveled beard, sunken eyes, and a listless demeanor, he not only looked much thinner but also pale, appearing as if he had aged over ten years. If it weren''t for the familiar contour of his face, Chen Fei would hardly have recognized him. "I''m fine, Little Chen, long time no see." Pu Aihua forced a smile and waved to Chen Fei. Chen Fei asked, perplexed, "What''s going on with you?" In front of Chen Fei, Old Piao didn''t hold back and after sighing, held his head in distress and said, "My daughter is ill, has been ill for a long time, and it''s not getting any better. Recently, it worsened again, oh, it''s just terribly worrisome!" Chen Fei asked, "What illness is it?" With medical advancements nowadays, unless it is a congenital defect or life has reached its natural end, most human ailments can be effectively treated. It usually just comes down to money, as long as one is willing to spend a lot, the illness can generally be cured. But seeing Old Piao like this, it seemed likely because of a lack of money. Pu Aihua had ways of saving money far superior to Chen Fei. Whenever he saw a chance to make money, he''d think it over thoroughly. However, he had his age to consider, and with no significant education or skills, he worked from the beginning of the year to the end but hardly earned much more than the average worker, just slightly better off. But if his household had a "bottomless pit of a medical jar," no amount of money earned would ever be enough. "It''s chronic pneumonia. Little Hui was premature, inherently weak. She has always been frail and constantly ill. We''ve spent a lot of money and tried many treatments without success. Ah, let''s not talk about this. Come on, let me take you inside to sit. I''m really sorry, Little Hui would be delighted to meet a new friend, and you can chat more." Pu Aihua led Chen Fei into the hospital and quickly arrived at a ward. A thin, almost translucent-skinned girl lay on the hospital bed, her hair unnaturally dry and brittle, and she was on nasal oxygen, indicating that her condition was severe this time. "Dad!" The girl weakly called out when she saw Old Piao bring Chen Fei into the ward. She then looked perplexedly at the young man beside her father, her gaze finally resting on the little bird on his shoulder, her timid expression revealing a hint of joy yet also filled with worry. "Little Hui! This is dad''s former colleague, Chen Fei. Oh, and on his shoulder is Xiao Jiu, the very one I told you about. Chen Fei, this is my daughter, Pu Meihui. You can call her Little Hui." It was clear that Old Piao often shared stories with his daughter about his time at the Aircrew Base, and of course, about the Magical Beast Egg he found in the wilderness¡ªa story he could boast about for a lifetime! "Hello!" The girl tried to struggle into a sitting position but ultimately lay back down, exhausted. "Hey! Don''t move, lie down. Little Chen and I are on good terms; he won''t care about formalities." Old Piao quickly pressed his daughter down, but indeed, his relationship with Chen Fei was close. When they used to help each other out in the base''s canteen kitchen, they mutually supported one another. That''s why when he left, he didn''t pass his connections to anyone else but Chen Fei. However, Chen Fei himself wasn''t accustomed to the trivial buying and selling activities. As the Aircrew Base was located in a remote area and had been blocked by an industry giant and his old employer for a time, there hadn''t been much there to begin with. The channels he took over were barely maintained, far less lively than when Pu Aihua was there. The person at his bedside, shielded by a curtain and not directly hit, wasn''t much affected; they were dazzled for a moment but quickly recovered. "My eyes, my eyes, I''m blind!" The burly man rolled on the ground wailing continuously, and the room fell dead silent. Naturally, no one jumped out to fight injustice and help out; such things were unnecessary. Chen Fei had yet to exert any strength, yet the other party had already collapsed; bullying ordinary people brought no sense of achievement. Being hit by Xiao Jiu''s "Light Burst Flash" didn''t cause permanent aftereffects or immediate blindness, so he watched the other man howling for a while, then awkwardly stood up with tears streaming down his flushed, tear-stained face, looking like a total wimp who had just had a good cry. "Damn it, I''m going to call the police!" With his eyes cried out, the burly man glared venomously at Chen Fei and stormed out of the hospital room in a rage. "This, what do we do now?" Old Piao rubbed his hands uneasily, unsure of what to do next. Xiao Jiu''s sudden burst of light had frightened him too, but fortunately, because he had listened to Chen Fei without hesitation, he hadn''t been dazzled. "Don''t worry, this has nothing to do with you." Chen Fei felt he could handle it. If he played the card of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, he was sure it would be effective. The worst-case scenario: he might get kicked back to 911 and live off his parents'' home; either way, it wasn''t a loss. After all, he wasn''t desperately seeking to join something like the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division; getting fired would actually be getting what he wanted. "Sorry to trouble you!" Seeing Chen Fei''s confident demeanor, Old Piao, who had been somewhat worried, now completely relaxed. As an ordinary citizen running a low-end restaurant, he had no power or influence, while Chen Fei, at least, had the backing of a large military contractor (although Pu Aihua didn''t know that Aircrew Base had recently split from Apocalypse Defense Group to establish Jiu Defense Company); ordinary people couldn''t engage in military contracting business and had some societal connections after all. "No problem! No problem!" Chen Fei waved it off nonchalantly. Had the problems he''d caused up to now been few? And what was the outcome? In the end, there had been no issues at all! Some issues were resolved even without his immediate boss, Boss Hana, being aware of them. "Can I, can I touch it? It looks like a Pure Light Sparrow!" After her father let go of her, Pu Meihui, now at home and staying in bed for so long, stared eagerly at the little bird, her heart itching with envy and curiosity for the vibrant creature. Especially because of its lively cuteness, it particularly scratched her itch. "That''s something you''d have to ask Little Chen about, is it okay?" Pu Aihua glanced at Chen Fei, hoping that his beloved daughter''s small wish could be achieved. He knew Xiao Jiu''s temperament; it only listened to Chen Fei and gave face to no one else. He worked so hard to make money on the side, even earning the reputation of a cunning merchant, but he relished it all, and it was all for the apple of his eye¡ªthe only daughter in the family. Born prematurely and thus innately unlucky, Old Piao still hoped that his daughter could grow up healthy and happy despite the circumstances. Although it was a magical beast, it was just a mere Pure Light Sparrow, so there was nothing to worry about. - Chapter 378 Section 374 - Old Piaos Light "Ah! No problem, Xiao Jiu, thanks for the trouble!" Chen Fei took Xiao Jiu from his own shoulder and placed it on the hospital bed. Comforting the frail little girl was just a small effort. "Jiu!" The light body of the Pure Light Sparrow landed on the bedding, not even disturbing a single crease on the surface. "Xiao Jiu! I''m Pu Meihui, hello!" The little girl gratefully glanced at Chen Fei, and with a mix of surprise and delight, reached out to the little bird. "Jiu!" The little bird hopped forward a few steps, fluttered its wings, and landed in the tender palm of the girl''s hand. The little claws tickled her palm, making Pu Meihui burst into a merry giggle, probably the happiest in a while. "Old Piao, let''s step outside to talk!" Chen Fei gestured towards the door, obviously having something to discuss. "Oh, okay!" Pu Aihua glanced at his daughter, nodded, and followed Chen Fei outside. Chen Fei leaned against the wall in the hallway outside the hospital room, taking in his former colleague. The face that used to always smile now seemed deeply troubled. It appeared that after returning home, to care for his daughter, he had taken on a lot of stress, and it had left him looking much worn. "Are you, um, tight on money?" "I..." Pu Aihua just began to open up, then hesitated, quickly realizing something, and with a bitter smile, vigorously shook his head, saying, "Little Chen, I know you want to help me, but... your debts probably aren''t all paid off yet, right?" Both being in tough spots, they were all struggling, better not to trouble others. Since being terminated, he and his wife had opened a small diner in Han River City to maintain family planning; if his daughter fell ill, the couple had to take turns, one caring for the daughter and the other for the diner. Even though they could just manage, their financial condition at home was still getting tighter each day, with never a breather. The modest income from the small diner all went to hospital treatment and hospitalization fees. "It''s okay, I can now pay off a substantial amount immediately, reducing the pressure quite a bit. But don''t be too quick to refuse, I have a batch of items you could sell. With your skills, you might make good money and ease the urgency." Chen Fei held out his hand to stop Pu Aihua from speaking further and continued, "Don''t worry, I picked up these items for nothing, no cost involved, they were meant to be sold anyway, might as well not let outsiders benefit. Handing them to you might even make more money!" In Habulav, he had handled some parcels, some sent to his home for his elder brother and sister-in-law; some for Little Sister Chen studying at university; some for the Jiu Defense Company''s Chapala City office in Mesoamerica; some for Aircrew Base 911 in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Just rerouting what was meant for his elder brother and sister-in-law to Old Piao was merely about bearing an extra handling fee. The boxes were probably still en route; changing now should still be in time. Adding together what his elder brother and sister-in-law could make, they couldn''t outperform Old Piao, a sly merchant. So it was better just to work honestly and leave the selling to a professional like Old Piao. "Really, really? I am so sorry!" Pu Aihua rubbed his hands together, he was most skilled at buying low and selling high, and he did have confidence in that. "The merchandise is natural fluorescent crystals, originally from deep within a dead volcano in the Central Great Desert of the Ocean Continent, raw clusters of large crystal bodies, if sunlit for two hours, they can glow continuously for six hours, available in various colors. You can either sell them as raw stones or processed beads like Luminous Pearls, weighing roughly two hundred kilograms altogether. Your commission is 40% of the net profit, should be no problem!" Chen Fei briefly explained the situation of this deal. A timely help, giving tools rather than just a fish, as after all, this was business, not sympathy or charity, and it was easier for Old Piao to accept it too. Professional matters should be handled by professionals, this deal surely wouldn''t fail. If Old Piao managed to sell at a good price, Chen Fei might consider passing him the later deliveries to the Chapala office as well, creating a win-win, mutual happiness. "I''ll only take 10%, that''s enough!" The fool was actually himself!!! If he had this little creature that could repeatedly release the Light Healing Technique by his side, his daughter might not have been able to regain normal health, but she wouldn''t be frequently hospitalized like now, constantly lying ill in bed. For his daughter, this old father had truly had his heart torn to pieces. "Jiu!~" The light orb, which had been the size of a ping-pong ball, now grew to the size of a fist, and Pu Meihui''s entire being began to slightly glow. Xiao Jiu unleashed a strong spell, the Second Rank Light Series Healing Spell "Light of Redemption," whose effect was more than ten times that of the First Rank "Light Healing Technique." Even at death''s door, it could snatch back a breath of life. "Jiu!" "Jiu!" "Jiu!" "Jiu!" "Jiu!"... The sickroom was filled with the sounds of bird chirping, and the "Light Healing Technique" continued without stop. Magical Beasts casting spells did not need to chant incantations, and accordingly, it was difficult for them to learn other spells or more spells of the same elemental series. The number of spells they could master was far fewer than that of humans. For Xiao Jiu, who was now Third Rank, a spell like the First Rank was hardly a burden; a brief rest and it could quickly recuperate. With the continuous impact of the Light-based Spells, Pu Meihui''s condition rapidly improved, visible to the naked eye; her pale complexion began to take on a hint of color, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, the whole person, though still panting, looked completely different from her earlier listlessness. At that moment, Chen Fei spoke up, "Alright, Xiao Jiu, you can stop now. Too much of a good thing can be harmful; let''s take a break first." Although the effects of the Light-based Spells were immediate, they were based on consuming one''s own vital energy. Pu Meihui was innately weaker, and it was better to stabilize her condition now that she had improved slightly; after all, using "Light Healing Technique" and "Light of Redemption" too much could turn them into deadly spells. Xiao Jiu did not understand this principle, but Chen Fei did. "It, it, Xiao Jiu... it..." Old Piao pointed at the Little Bird, almost crying out loud. This little creature that he had personally given away turned out to be the key to saving his own daughter. Before this, he had thought about asking Ability Users to help treat his daughter. On one hand, he couldn''t find anyone, on the other hand, the cost was too great. Ordinary people, even if they spent all they had, couldn''t afford it, not to mention the priceless Magic Medicines. The Earth Order First Rank Magic Medicine "Life Resuscitation" that had once pulled Chen Fei back from the brink of death was not something Pu Aihua could ever access, even if he became a lifetime crook, even if he had saved enough money, he still couldn''t obtain such Magic Medicine from those powerful figures. Chen Fei lowered his voice and whispered in Old Piao''s ear, "A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow, shh, keep it a secret!" After all, this was a hospital, and he was wary of trouble. Helping Old Piao was one thing, but volunteering to help others out of sheer redundancy was another; he wasn''t in the mood to play the saint or big shot, especially with strangers who might not appreciate his help or could even ridicule him behind his back as a big fool. "Eh? Eh!!!!!!!!" Pu Aihua quickly covered his mouth. He had never eaten pork, but had he not seen a pig run? A Third Rank Magical Beast, even a Pure Light Sparrow, was a remarkable being. Chen Fei patted Old Piao''s shoulder and said, "I will stay in Han River City one more day and leave tomorrow!" The implication was clear without words. "Mmm!" Pu Aihua nodded vigorously, naturally prepared to treat him well. "Mr. Police Officer, that''s him!" A voice suddenly came from the entrance of the sickroom. Chen Fei and Pu Aihua turned their heads to look in the direction of the voice; the guy who had run away crying earlier had come back, and this time he had brought two uniformed police officers. - Chapter 379 Section 375 - Study Hard "It''s him, he drove the Magical Beast to attack me!" The burly man, in front of two police officers, pointed at Chen Fei. "Hey! You ..." Just as Pu Aihua was about to speak up in defense, Chen Fei reached out to stop her and shook his head, saying, "Old Piao, you don''t need to say anything more, leave everything to me, rest assured, I can handle this!" "Are you sure? That guy is no easy target." Pu Aihua looked worried. Ever since her daughter had been admitted to this hospital room, the guy taking care of the patient in the next bed had been nothing but trouble, though he hadn''t resorted to physical violence, his foul language and petty actions were relentless; he was quite the bully and could be a professional hooligan or some lowlife, just not a decent person. Although they listened to the muscular man''s exaggerated complaints, the two police officers appeared rather calm. One of them politely said to Chen Fei, "Please show some form of identification, thank you!" The other officer took out his phone and began to identify the Little Bird on the girl''s hand. The two officers weren''t fools; they had received a call, but by judging the demeanor of the muscular man and Chen Fei, they could guess what was going on. No matter who was in the right, following procedure was always correct. The identification of Xiao Jiu''s species was quickly completed. Even with an added crest, the identification module correctly recognized the species as the Pure Light Sparrow, and the leg ring served as another form of identification. This was a registered Magical Beast, which had no issues with its paperwork and was free to move and work within human society, enjoying the basic rights of Intelligent Species and legal protection. In other words, if anyone tried to slap Xiao Jiu, the police officers could immediately cuff the perpetrator and, depending on the severity, arrange a vacation behind bars. "Huh!" The officer looking at the phone''s identification result couldn''t help but twitch his facial muscles a few times, after repeatedly confirming the information, he put away his phone. As his colleague finished checking Chen Fei''s identification, the two officers exchanged information, and the officer returning the ID to Chen Fei said leisurely, "So, Mr. Cui, are you sure you want to report this supernatural power user for commanding his Pure Light Sparrow to attack you?" When identifying someone online, some basic information is always retrieved, especially for Ability Users; while their Rank may not be visible, a special mark is always there. "Of course, I ... wait, special ability user?" The muscular man suddenly realized what was happening, looking incredulously at the two police officers and finally his gaze landed on Chen Fei, his eyes nearly bulging out. This guy, who looked completely harmless, was an ability user?! So, if he was an ability user, why didn''t he use his powers to deal with me instead of having his Magical Beast do it? He couldn''t figure it out. "Heh heh!" Chen Fei responded with a cold laugh. If you''re not convinced, come and hit me! The last few who thought to do so not only don''t have grass over their graves now, they don''t even have graves. "You two should negotiate and settle things here on the spot!" The two police officers had reached an agreement on how to handle the situation and had no intention of arresting anyone. To be detained for such a trivial matter was simply unnecessary. Come on! The police station also has to deal with expenses like kimchi and rice with public funds, just hanging up on the heater 24 hours a day, what''s the point? The muscular man protested angrily, "No, no, it''s not like that, even ability users can''t act so arrogantly!" He didn''t call the police over just for them to muddy the waters. The muscleman from the daytime hospital room led a bunch of big guys wearing sunglasses. They poured out of two vans, wielding various kinds of sticks like flails, baseball bats, rolling pins, wardrobe rods, and perhaps even mop sticks, a motley crew if there ever was one. It really made one wonder how exactly they planned to ''chop'' someone with sticks. Anyway, as soon as they pointed at Chen Fei, they charged over howling, brainless for sure¡ªthey mustn''t have brought their brains with them! Perhaps, it was a local custom? "Old Piao, I''ll warm up some... wine..." Chen Fei set down the beer bottle he was clinking with Pu Aihua and, like a gust of wind, dashed out. In the midst of a ruckus, Old Piao''s hand hadn''t even set down his bottle when Chen Fei had already laid all the uninvited guests flat on their backs. Their various sticks¡ªwoody, plastic, metal¡ªwere all snapped on the spot, tossed all over the place. The few tables of customers who were eating in Old Piao''s restaurant, still hesitant about whether to leave, now only saw people sprawled all over the ground, groaning, starting to suspect they had run into a train. "...No, it should have been ice wine. Come on, bottoms up!" Chen Fei rushed back in a hurry to correct his slip of the tongue, which to him, was the most important thing. Clang, two large green bottles clinked together. "They..." Pu Aihua didn''t know what to say, but he also recognized the ringleader. Are these people here to make a joke? "Ah! The stewed dog meat is ready!" Old Piao''s wife walked out of the shop holding a steaming pot of dog meat stew, only to see the indescribable scene spread all over the ground and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, oh my, why are there so many people lying on the ground?" The group had fallen too quickly, catching the matron by surprise. What''s going on with these people? Were they here to pull a scam? "Small scene, don''t worry about it, quickly go and take Little Hui her meal!" Old Piao thought of his daughter still in the hospital room and, with a wave of his hand, irritably ushered his wife to hurry off. The couple were taking turns looking after their daughter, running back and forth between the restaurant and the hospital, delivering meals by turns. Now that their daughter''s health was much improved and she needed to strengthen her nutrition, he had stewed a rooster that didn''t like to study and had failed its exams, adding a stick of Goryeo Ginseng and a few slices of Angelica Sinensis, a full large jar of it, nourishing both qi and blood. "These people, they... they''re alright, aren''t they?" Setting down the pot of dog meat, Old Piao''s wife fidgeted nervously with her hands. The head of the family and Little Chen were eating meat and drinking large swigs of wine, as if nothing had happened, but she still felt something was off. "Go on, go on, nothing to do with you!" The machismo-driven Old Piao waved her off impatiently. This naive woman, so unsophisticated, what''s there to see in a bunch of little thugs beaten down? No matter how tough the little thugs, could they compare to the horrors of the mutants in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area? Old Piao might not have made much money over the years, but at least he had seen some big scenes. Who knows who called the cops, but the flashing police lights slowly drew nearer and further away. At least eighteen cameras on the street were all pointing at these unlucky kids, working traffic lights blinking away. Anyway, Old Piao never saw the ringleader again after that. -@@@@ Chapter 380 Section 376 - Outpost in the Cold Wave Chen Fei stayed in Han River City for two days, with Xiao Jiu accompanying Old Piao''s daughter throughout. Every six hours, a Second Rank Light Healing Spell "Light of Redemption" was cast. Although it didn''t completely remedy the girl''s congenital deficiencies, it significantly stimulated her vital potential, considerably improving her weak constitution. With proper care for about a year and a half, she might be able to run and jump like her peers, full of vitality, without frequently having to lie down or even be hospitalized. Pu Aihua felt quite sentimental, having given away something he truly desired. If only back then... But at the crossroads of life, there are never that many ifs. Upon returning to Mount Kumgang, the captain of Squad 04, Adrian, didn''t ask where Chen Fei had been these past two days. The team packed up their gear and set out. A week later, Squad 04 finally arrived in the Tunguska Region of Siberia. The lodging arranged by the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division for them was a deserted farm. The constantly clattering tractor dropped them off after refueling from a large iron barrel and then clattered away again. The nearest town was over a hundred kilometers away, requiring over two hours by tractor ¡ª truly a place that could cost you your life. The piercing cold wind made it feel as if ice shards were clattering down into one''s heart. "Damn, what kind of godforsaken place is this?" Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, shivered and hunched in his thick wool coat. He felt he should add a dog-fur hat to his attire. "This is our station." Adrian Benjamin gazed into the distance. In the deep part of the rundown farm, a grand barn still stood conspicuously among some scattered residential buildings, most of which had turned into ruins. According to the broken window theory, once the first pane of glass breaks, total collapse begins. He touched the Space System Alchemy Storage Device in his hand and led the way into the farm. At least this was still a farm and was much better than being surrounded by mutants in a dead volcano''s lava cave. "A place even ghosts would avoid, hey, Adrian, are we really going to live here?" Susanna Jean Piault, a Grade-B Ice Ability User, was somewhat taken aback, staggering behind. The tundra environment was her forte, indeed, but she had thought there would be some signs of life, only to find upon arrival that not even a ghost was in sight, as if Squad 04 had been abandoned. "Not bad!" Clan Leader Bassan, however, didn''t care; he had reverted to his usual man of few words. For the Neanderthal tribe, even the coldest hardship on Blue Star was much better than the exhausted resources of the Primordial Realm, where endless sandstorms blew without a trace of life, the whole world having fallen into dead silence. "Are we supposed to farm?" Chen Fei was unfazed; he had experience in this area during his time at the Aircrew Base. With enough materials, a large greenhouse could be built to accommodate everyone. "Heh heh, if it''s farming, I''m quite the expert!" A large black paw was placed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, then quickly retracted as Xiao Jiu''s fierce jab startled it back. Lao Hei Apu clapped his chest, exclaiming, "Oh boy, that was a close one!" Xiao Jiu''s fearsome reputation in Squad 04 was well known. Those who didn''t know were already out of the picture. Chen Fei looked at the large black figure and thought, When you say this, do you even check your conscience? Black people inherently lack the racial talent for farming; they are only good at "Hakuna Matata" (who knows what that even means?). Through satellite positioning, Liaison Officer Rossi had confirmed the current location of Squad 04, estimated that they had settled down, and then called Adrian. Adrian formally replied, "Yes, yes! Is there a new assignment?" Rossi asked in surprise, "Huh? Do you have another channel for information?" It turned out, indeed, there was a new task, and Adrian had guessed right. "No, I guessed." If Adrian really had another information channel, he certainly wouldn''t have chosen such a quirky individual as the liaison officer for Squad 04. Rossi did not press further but got straight to the point. "Your current location, 320 kilometers to the southeast, coordinates ******, has a suspicious target. Please head over as soon as possible." There was indeed a mission, and the purpose was quite clear. "But our next batch of supplies has not arrived yet..." Before Adrian could finish, Rossi interrupted him. "The transport airship will arrive in half an hour, with the things you need." It seemed he really had timed this call, not giving Squad 04 much time to prepare. "Okay, alright!" Adrian breathed a sigh of relief. The capacity of the space system alchemical storage artifact assigned to him was limited; it was packed to the brim only with necessary daily necessities and a whole set of modular house components. Other supplies, especially the mobile base vehicle, had to be delivered by transport airship. Without this vehicle, it would have been quite difficult for Squad 04 to reach the target location. "Please depart as soon as possible, do not delay!" Upon checking the weather data for the Tunguska region and chuckling, Liaison Officer Rossi clearly made a wise choice by not accompanying them on the trip. While liaison officers could choose to accompany the team or not, not all were as cunning as Rossi, who stayed back in Habulav to remotely control operations; some responsible officers went with their teams to the stationing point, sharing some of the communication and support work. Half an hour later, a hundred-meter-long transport airship descended from the sky and landed directly in the field near the barn. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire Due to the large size and heavy weight of Adrian''s mobile base vehicle, a fifty-meter-long small transport airship would have been sufficient to undertake this resupply mission, but they had waited a few days to deploy the right transport vessel. In addition to the mobile base vehicle and supplies, this transport airship seemed to have brought some unplanned items as well. In a dozen large boxes were clearly a bunch of matching second-hand machines¡ªthough their sizes were not uniform, ranging from larger than a person to as small as a football, Adrian and Chen Fei confirmed repeatedly. "Are these magnetic plasma engines what you wanted?" Chen Fei pursed his lips and stated emphatically, "No!" He touched each one, and the Dog System immediately identified these junk pieces¡ªthey were all scrapped parts that might work again with some fixing. If the recipient had not been himself, he might have thought it was a prank. Yet, looking at the sender, it was surprisingly Babylon. Babylon was the shared name for a batch of experimental clone soldiers; it was unclear exactly which one, though it could have been the one initially responsible for Squad 04. They say clone soldiers are emotionless humanoid weapons, but now it seems, well... - Chapter 381 Section 377 - Mission Location Many supply crates filled a corner of the barn, enough to sustain Adrian and his team for an entire year on the Siberian tundra. The "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had assigned Team 04 to this now-abandoned farm, primarily because the barn, still solid and intact, could help them withstand the cold currents of the Siberian tundra to some extent, preventing them from freezing into human-shaped popsicles overnight. If they were indeed annihilated without combat, it would be an unforgivable act of stupidity, and liaison officer Rossi would likely not escape the fate of being sacrificed. Despite unexpectedly receiving a batch of "gifts," Chen Fei ultimately chose to absorb these irregularly specified magnetic plasma engines. While these engines were highly efficient, their actual thrust was quite limited, and there weren''t many situations where they could be used within the atmosphere; they were still best suited for use outside the atmosphere. Babylon probably collected these rare magnetic plasma engines, mostly intending for Chen Fei to use the "sacrifice" skill, which might come in handy in the future or perhaps because of his mechanical repair skills, preparing to lend him the repair of these special engines. It seemed that Habulav''s side would not just let go of an industrial-grade metal ability user with control power reaching an A-level rating. A-class ability users were rare, let alone A-class metal ability users suitable for the industrial field. He... Tui! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was even darker than capitalists, and not even production team donkeys were driven this hard; behind so-called multitasking lies naked exploitative intent. As for what exactly was going on, it appeared he would have to wait until he had a chance to return to Habulav to ask and understand better. The crystalline block that trustee Franco from a special department of the Joint Defense Committee had been trying to trace was now safely stored inside Adrian''s space system alchemy storage artifact. However, it had been a bit of a hassle, and thanks to Team 18''s captain Moron, who had secretly helped, it was successfully smuggled out of Habulav. During the two days Team 04 freely roamed Mount Kumgang, Adrian had picked up the crystalline block entrusted to a department store by Team 18. However, at this moment, some people were intently watching Chen Fei, who had suddenly run from Mount Kumgang to Han River City. They had thought they would discover something, yet this guy genuinely went only to catch up with old colleagues and did nothing else, leaving those secretly shadowing him to end up completely empty-handed, venting their frustration on a group of troublemaking thugs, hanging them up one by one for harsh interrogation, to confirm whether they were indeed the so-called contacts. They definitely were not! The senseless beatings were unquestionably in vain; after the brutal beatings, they handed them over to local justice¡ªcriminals transferred by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were handled strictly: those who should be in prison were, and those who were assigned to labor camps, went. Even those with the lightest punishments wouldn''t return for ten to eight years. Once the fully charged crystalline block was placed into the mobile base vehicle brought from miles away, the endurance of Team 04 on the Siberian tundra was immediately secured. Although Adrian still had another spare crystalline block in hand, the ownership still belonged to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which was entirely different from the one Chen Fei had found and hidden. Without solid evidence, Franco had no authority to order the forceful surrender of the unverified crystalline block; protocols are protocols, rumors can initiate actions but can''t justify them, or else serious troubles ensue. Not only was the Crystalline Block that Chen Fei found his personal spoils of war, the unwritten rule that it should not be surrendered was non-negotiable, but it also concerned the survival of all members of Team 04. From the beginning, Adrian had taken this matter very seriously, never loosening his grip so that the Crystalline Block would be turned in for a trivial commendation or meager reward. All members of Team 04 reached a unanimous consensus, forcing Franco to ultimately find no breakthrough point and he could only sigh in disappointment. After loading up with sufficient supplies, all members of Team 04 boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle and plunged into the heavy snow that filled the sky. The abandoned farm was in a very remote location, with the nearest town over a hundred kilometers away. Even without anyone to guard it, no one would pass by or deliberately go there amidst the heavy snow. Moreover, from a distance, one could only see a dilapidated barn, making it hard to imagine that inside was a two-story building fit for habitation, with corners piled full of living supplies. The sky was gloomy, and the wind howled. Looking around, there was nothing but an endless, boundless expanse. After staying in the warm, spring-like vehicle for a while, the sight of the cold environment outside immediately induced an involuntary resistance. "Let''s give it a try, Adrian¡ªit''s way too cold outside," Susanna, although a B Grade Ice Ability User, didn''t necessarily enjoy being in the ice. The natural awakening of special abilities never decides their attribute based on a person''s preferences. "Alright, okay!" Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank Fire Mage, sighed and began rapidly chanting an incantation. In the chaotic snowy sky, numerous fist-sized fireballs fell from the sky, exploding on the thick snow and creating several charred, large holes. The temperature in the immediate area almost reached zero degrees Celsius. The door of the Mobile Base Vehicle bulged outwards, then slowly slid open. A gust of cold air immediately rushed in, causing everyone inside the vehicle to shiver collectively and clumsily search for their coats or other warm clothing¡ªif one wasn''t enough, they wore two. "Damn, close the door! Close the door!" The door closed again, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The piercing cold of the Siberian tundra was beyond everyone''s imagination; the current outside temperature had dropped to minus 41 degrees Celsius. It wasn''t just unbearable for humans; even ghosts would half-freeze to death. "Chirp!" Little Bird flapped its wings and escaped back to its nest, refusing to come out from inside. Its nest was lined with a heating pad, maintaining the temperature inside. Next to it was a ceramic heating bulb, continuously emitting invisible infrared rays, creating a local warm area impervious to the cold winds. Ten minutes later, Team 04 members geared up completely and cautiously jumped out of the vehicle. Unexpectedly, the first one who disembarked landed face down, the second ended up supine, the third jumped and fell like a tiger, the fifth crouched bottom down, and the sixth... none managed to disembark smoothly and steadily. The blame fell on Adrian''s magic, which rendered the ground muddy after melting the snow¡ªa step on it was extremely slippery and immediately led to instability. However, after the magic bombardment, the melting snow nearby revealed some hints of something resembling a collapsed hut. The roof was completely gone, leaving only three crumbling thick brick walls and remains of window frames; not a single intact pane of glass was left. Relying on a Single-toothed Long Halberd to barely stabilize, the Neanderthal Chief, who did not fall as disgracefully as the others, sniffed and sparingly said, "There''s blood." A full-powered Fourth Rank Human Order spell "Falling Star Flame" by Adrian revealed much about this place. - Chapter 382 Section 378 - The Corpse When the Mobile Base Vehicle arrived at the mission coordinates, it was just past three in the afternoon local time, but near the Arctic in Siberia, the darkness fell extremely early, especially in winter. Before long, the sky rapidly darkened. The heat left behind by the "Falling Star Flame" didn''t last very long. The snow that had been blown apart by the fireballs was once again covered by swirling snowflakes and became thicker and thicker. If they allowed the snowflakes to continue accumulating like this, the 04 team would do nothing but repeatedly clear the snow and wouldn''t even be able to carry out their investigation properly. The 04 team would inevitably have to spend the whole night here, until the investigation was completed. "Lulu''an, please help." Adrian did not continue to cast fire spells but nodded to the Old Tree Boundary Ape instead. The Magical Beast Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, leaning on its withered vine staff, moved to a nearby open area. The few vibrant green leaves on the staff showed no signs of wilting in the severe cold and were still brimming with vitality. It fumbled in the large pocket of its crossbody bag for a while, then took out a fluffy seed. Using the end of its staff, it broke through the frozen ground, buried the seed, piled on some dirt and ice, and then stepped back a few steps, starting to chant an incantation. The Tree Boundary Ape tribe, which had peacefully lived in the vast forests of the Cangqiong Star from generation to generation, belonged to a Magical Beast tribe that "depended on trees and ate trees." They could skillfully distinguish and use various plants, were experts in herbalism, naturally excelled at Wood System Spells, and knew even more spells than human Wood Mages, perhaps even more. As the lengthy incantation ended, the Tree Boundary Ape pointed its staff towards the spot where the seed was buried. The tip of the staff emitted several large droplets of luminous green liquid that plunged into the frozen ground one after another. The ground slightly bulged, and then a green shoot broke through the soil. Crackle, crackle, the frozen ground broke apart. The sprout, defying the severe cold, grew taller and thicker, 1 meter, 3 meters, 5 meters... It eventually became a towering tree over fifty meters tall. Its robust main branches reached high, branching out in all directions. Supple and tough branches hung down, covering not only the airspace above a radius of over thirty meters but also encircled the hut ruins and the Mobile Base Vehicle like a delicate curtain. At a certain distance near the trunk, the branches did not touch the ground, leaving a height of about ten meters.@@@@ The branches were covered in fine fuzz, which not only blocked the descending goose feather snowflakes but also blocked the relentless cold wind. The waxy layer on the surface of the branches and fluff displayed strong water repellency, gently shaking to toss off the snow and powder settled on them, preventing any accumulation. The lights of the Mobile Base Vehicle were all turned on, especially several high-brightness searchlights that directly cast beams onto the countless branches above. This magically induced peculiar tree as a whole looked dreamy and translucent. The gentle light reflected between the branches and fluff made the area beneath the tree and its surroundings within a hundred-meter radius look as if it were daylight. In the cabin, not only was the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu left behind, but also the Wind Series Second Rank Magical Beast, the Blue-Scaled Colt Mini, which was not suited to the tundra environment. The little bird enjoyed flying around, peering out from behind the double-layered vacuum thermal windows, while the Blue-Scaled Colt remained calm, chewing on coarse grain biscuits at an unhurried pace. "Hey, it''s not cold anymore!" Shivering with cold, Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono immediately noticed the change in temperature. Having once worked in Africa as a deputy in combat operations on the ground, she had adapted to hot environments but was somewhat averse to the cold tundra regions. The severe cold of tens of degrees below zero made it difficult for her to hold her knife handles steady. "The Snow Velvet Weeping Willow, a unique plant from the Polar Snow Region Smir Permafrost Forest of the northern part of the Cangqiong Star Continent, has always been a natural den for the permafrost Magical Beasts and is quite suited to this environment," Adrian said. Although the Siberian tundra is near the Arctic Circle, polar bears rely on hunting seals and even walruses and belugas for a living, with their activities largely within the coastal seas or ice floes, rarely ever venturing inland. Their bones mysteriously appearing here was definitely no accident. Although none were experts, an individual''s insight may fall short, but collective wisdom can yield much. Even three cobblers can equal a Zhuge Liang; the members of Team 04 chimed in one after another, piecing together numerous clues from their own knowledge. After pondering for a moment, Adrian speculated, "Maybe the work of poachers?" "Perhaps!" "A likely event!" "Criminals who poach mammoth corpses and illegally hunt polar bears." The group unanimously agreed with this speculation. This unnamed corner of the tundra would be virtually impossible to randomly stumble upon if not for satellite navigation. It was even more remote than the abandoned farm used as a station by Team 04, making it unsurprising that it served as a secret base for poachers to divide up their catch. B-class Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault stamped her foot and said, "That means there are no mutants!" She gradually retreated towards the mobile base vehicle, planning to return to the car for a cup of hot ginger tea to warm up. Otherwise, she might end up sadly as an Ice Ability User frozen to death. The Snow Velvet Weeping Willows, while sheltering from the harsh weather of wind and snow, caused a noticeable rise in the temperature beneath the trees. However, no matter how much it rose, it still remained below minus thirty degrees, and unless there was another source of heat, it would never rise above freezing temperatures. "Isn''t this a waste of time?" The Puppet Master, who expended quite a bit of spiritual power to control the Constructed Puppet Warriors, had a face of utter despondency. He was the only one who wasted his energy for nothing, well, him and Apu, a black and dumb creature that hopped around wagging its butt, digging holes everywhere with its "Hakuna Matata" attitude, never bothering to do any serious work. As an A-class Metal Ability User, Kiterley felt completely out of place here and said somewhat impatiently, "Adrian, are we heading back now?" He could only get excited at the sight of mutants; a bunch of poachers just couldn''t peak his interest. "No, let''s keep looking; we might find new clues." Having traveled over six hours to get here, Adrian was in no hurry to return. Since they had to report the poaching gang''s activities anyway, he thought it better to investigate further, to ease the work for the police who would take over the case. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had specifically established the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," hunting down clues about the "Water Bear" organization with an iron fist, preferring to make an error rather than let anyone slip through, so nobody could guarantee that seemingly trivial things might not contain crucial clues. Perhaps the clues to the "Water Bear" organization were right beside them, only missing a pair of eyes capable of discerning the truth. - Chapter 383 Section 379 - Living Captive Underneath the snow velvet weeping willow, Squad 04 had dug several large pits and discovered some seal and whale bones, even a human skeleton. It looked like the poaching gang had caused a fatality here, but it was unclear whether the deceased was an innocent or an accomplice. However, there were still no leads related to the "Water Bear" organization. Boom!~ A sudden loud noise shook the entire investigative site under the snow velvet weeping willow, branches fell off and scattered all over the ground. "What''s happening?" A chorus of alarmed voices rose from inside the mobile base vehicle, as everyone, who had been asleep, was jolted awake with many branches hitting the roof of the vehicle. Boom! Another loud noise, and even more branches fell. The Earth Mage on night duty, Ruan Tiankai, shouted, "We''re under attack!" "''Adam,'' start the vehicle, let''s break through!" Chen Fei, who had just woken up, immediately gave the instruction. If it weren''t for the armor of the mobile base vehicle, staying put would mean a dead end for Squad 04. The mobile base vehicle promptly accelerated, breaking away from the area underneath the snow velvet weeping willow, as it became enveloped in flying snowflakes, causing several people to roll out of their beds unexpectedly in the chaos. At that moment, the third loud noise completely blasted away the canopy of the snow velvet weeping willow tree, leaving only the main branches incompletely intact and few smaller branches the size of kittens. Adam: It''s artillery fire, I''ve captured the projectile trajectory, the cannon is approximately 8 kilometers to the southwest, caliber larger than 80 millimeters. Thanks to the variety of auxiliary modules meticulously designed by Henghai Tactical Weapons Group for the single soldier tactical armor, compatible with various battlefield environments, Chen Fei had all those modules integrated into the mobile base vehicle, driven by "Adam." Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Why didn''t we detect it before?" Adam: The infrared thermal imaging reaction was blocked by plant branches, and it was not yet the next radar detection cycle. The mobile base vehicle wasn''t completely defenseless, with radar detection every ten minutes. The artillery fire coincidentally happened during a gap between automatic detections; if it had been a few minutes earlier or later, it would probably have been noticed immediately. Without hesitation, Chen Fei said, "Prepare the railgun, lock onto the enemy target, fire!" The carriage shook slightly as a 152 demolition bomb roared out. "Adam," while reporting, had already completed the auto-lock, just waiting for Chen Fei''s order to fire. On a moonless night, as geese fly high, the barbarian king escapes under cover of darkness. Wanting to chase the light cavalry, the snow fills my bow and blade. Boom!~ The quiet snowy night suddenly lit up, illuminating a good portion of the sky with fire.@@@@ In the distance, a fire rose and then disappeared in the blink of an eye. "What happened?" Adrian, clothed in haste, rushed to the driver''s seat to see Chen Fei manhandling the steering wheel, accelerating the vehicle. The wheels crushed through the snow directly onto the uneven frozen ground, shaking and vibrating the carriage violently. Chen Fei floored the accelerator, and the mobile base vehicle almost seemed to hover, not turning his head, he said, "It''s a cannonade, someone took advantage of the gap in our surveillance to launch a surprise attack." A 152 shell had been fired, no matter if it was accurate or not; even if it missed by thirty or forty meters, the outcome wouldn''t differ much. Chen Fei was in a hurry to get there, hoping to catch one or two individuals still barely breathing, to see if he could extract some information from them. Not just Xiao Jiu, the Blue Scaled Colt couldn''t come out either, at most enduring half an hour before inevitably ending up frozen stiff. Cold snaps are a force of nature; even low-rank magic beasts cannot completely ignore them. "Light Healing Technique!" The Holy Knight chanted the incantation and released the only healing spell he knew. "Let''s move her into the vehicle first and let Xiao Jiu do the healing," Adrian immediately decided. Without needing his intervention, Apu directly scooped up the barrel-waisted aunt, who weighed nearly three hundred pounds, under his arm. When it came to weight, the big dark fellow was certainly not to be outdone. "Let me lend a hand too!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu An glanced at the prisoner gasping for life and took a sesame-sized seed from his pocket, slapping it into one of her grotesque wounds. Under the prompt of wood system spells, a green sprout soon poked out from the wound, fine roots delving deep into the subcutaneous fat layer, spreading in all directions, with the gaping blood wounds quickly closing. The roots acted like internal stitches and the senator stopped bleeding immediately. "Wow, Lulu An, what is this healing spell?" Apu lowered his head and saw that the prisoner''s wounds had all closed, leaving only line-shaped scars, and she no longer looked as terrifying as a rag doll. "It''s a kind of special parasitic plant that can temporarily save her life. It won''t last long, at most one hour. If we only use ''Light of Redemption'', the effect will probably not be very good." Lulu An leaned on his withered vine staff, following leisurely behind the big dark guy. "Even ''Light of Redemption'' won''t work?" Adrian''s heart was lifted with concern. The fat woman could die anytime, but definitely not right now. "Her organs are ruptured. If we only use low-rank healing spells, it probably won''t last until she''s completely healed, unless there''s a high-rank magic medicine." Lulu An''s hundred-plus years had not been in vain, rich in various experiences. One look at the barrel-waisted aunt and he knew that all her organs had been shattered by the Demolition Bomb from the 152. Although she was momentarily left with a breath of life, death was inevitable. The killing power of a soccer field per shot was definitely not just a boast. Chen Fei, about to board the mobile base vehicle, turned his head and casually said, "Like ''Life Resuscitation''?" "Hmm, that would work perfectly! But using it on a prisoner would be a waste, the parasitic plant is enough." The Old Tree Boundary Ape nodded; ''Life Resuscitation'' was an Earth Order rank magic potion, capable of pulling people back from the brink of death from such fatal wounds. Adrian exclaimed in astonishment, "Eh? You have that magic potion?" Team 04 wouldn''t likely have anyone saintly enough to waste such a precious thing for nothing. "No!" Chen Fei decisively shook his head and said, "I''ve had one before, but I forgot what it tasted like." "Good fellow!" Adrian blurted out involuntarily, recalling Chen Fei''s personal information. The ruthless person who dared to use ''Dragon Slayer Missiles'' at close quarters against the Dragon of Slaughter, not sparing even himself when merciless. An Earth Order rank magic potion would definitely not come cheap, and no medium or small military contracting company could obtain such a lifesaving treasure. Well! The mystery behind Chen Fei''s financial status was finally unveiled. Many looked at him with sympathetic eyes. If you buy your life with money, how can you not be poor? - Chapter 384 Section 380 - Life-prolonging Interrogation "Katya, get up and do..." Water Tank Auntie said nonsense with her eyes tightly closed. Her body suddenly shivered, and the eyeballs under her eyelids trembled rapidly, finally slowly opening. "Name, place of birth, Social Welfare Number?" A strange voice entered her ears, and it was only then that Water Tank Auntie noticed she was lying on the ground surrounded by a circle of people. "...#£¤%&@..." A bunch of gibberish and nonsensical swear words surged out. "You don''t have much time left!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape thumped his withered vine staff, and without control, Water Tank Auntie''s body shuddered, and the green shoots protruding from her wound grew a few centimeters taller. In order to maintain the host''s wound and its own growth needs, the green shoot would continuously absorb flesh and blood as a source of nutrition. Although this could temporarily keep the host alive and prevent death from serious injury on the spot, parasitism was by no means a legitimate treatment. Especially now, no one cared how long this Water Tank Auntie could live. In the end, the effect of parasitic life support was only to stave off the inevitable, and once the flesh and blood were exhausted, vitality would be completely drained, and even gods would find it difficult to save her. "This one... still so stubborn when facing death!" A-class Metal Ability User Kiterley extended his hand, and with a whoosh, a three-foot-long longsword pointed straight at the other''s nose. "Hey, I''m talking to you! You fat hag!" The effect was immediate, and the jibber-jabber of foul language ceased abruptly. "..." The plump Water Tank Auntie felt the sharpness of the sword tip, her body hair standing on end, a sensation as if needing to urinate but being unable to do so. "Name, place of birth, Social Welfare Number? Speak or die!" Kiterley was ruthless too. In fact, most combat-oriented Metal Ability Users were ruthless folks who valued human life cheaply, armed with lethal weapons, harboring murderous intents easily, with no place for kindness or soft-heartedness. Water Tank Auntie, frightened, grew even paler, and said tremblingly, "Ka, Katerina Yoon Sidneya, born in Kyiv Orchid, Social Welfare Number ********!" Her gaze fixed on the blade an inch from her nose, she didn''t even dare to take a deep breath, afraid that any dissatisfaction might result in a direct stab. She didn''t notice her plump Water Tank waist gradually deflating, her skin starting to wrinkle, the roots under her skin becoming denser, and whisps of white smoke emitting from the surface of her body. Adrian made a gesture to Kiterley, who immediately sheathed his sword and stepped back, then he asked again, "Your occupation and the names of your accomplices?" "The boss is Sergey Sherekov Antonyunov. He''s been on the battlefield, killed people. Spenser Vladimir is his enforcer, Katya Viktor Afzeyeve, I... I''m a female worker at Lubuk Slaughterhouse, responsible for slaughtering and skinning. Other than little Katya, who lives in the same district as me, Sergey and Spenser are thugs, they should die, we were forced, please save me." Water Tank Auntie quickly spilled everything like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube, confessing completely with now a crying tone at the end. According to the seats in the pickup, as well as the remains of the bodies found on the scene, there were indeed only four people, and three would be enough to operate a mortar. "Why did you attack us?" Adrian delved deeper into his questioning. However, he still noticed some insincerity in the other''s words, as if she was hiding something. But that was fine, as long as they had a name, they could soon investigate more information. Even if she said nothing, the pickup''s license plate, or even the vehicle identification number, would be enough to trace many clues by following the trail. "How credible is this woman''s statement?" Kiterley kicked at the woman''s corpse with the tip of his shoe. Under the skin bag, it seemed as if a viscous liquid was churning, while the roots of the parasitic plant still enveloped the remains without spilling out. He hastily retracted his foot, filled with revulsion, fearing that a careless kick would rupture it and let disgusting corpse fluids spill everywhere. Although this obese woman had not mentioned poaching, it was not far from the truth; after all, the dug-up remains of polar bears and seals were hard evidence, leaving no room for denial. They proved that these animals were not voluntary sacrifices but were outright killed. Kiterley signaled to Susanna. "It''s full of pus inside. Freeze it, so we can throw it out later." "Huh?" The B-grade ice ability user was startled, looking at the ugly remains and shuddering involuntarily. She quickly pointed a finger and enveloped the corpse in bone-chilling cold, freezing it inside and out, though this action dropped the temperature inside the wagon by several degrees Celsius. "Ah... Achoo!" Susanna couldn''t help but sneeze and quickly wrapped herself in a thick coat. An ice ability user who gives herself a cold¡ªembarrassing if word got out. "Achoo?" Little Bird peeked out from its nest, looking around in a puzzled manner. "On the brink of death, a person''s words are often kind; it''s likely that seventy to eighty percent of it is true." Adrian opened the vehicle door and threw the frozen stiff corpse out, As long as it wasn''t related to the "Water Bear" organization, it wasn''t their problem. The local police would naturally handle the follow-up. The Siberian tundra would preserve the evidence perfectly, so throwing it outside was the right decision. It also prevented potential nightmares from keeping it inside the vehicle. "I think we should continue investigating the people they were in contact with," said puppet master Josh Xi. While one person''s wisdom falls short, the collective is enlightening; everyone was actively participating and discussing. "Let''s make a report first! After all, right now, we''re nothing but tools." As soon as he thought it, Adrian took out his phone. Mouri Misono softly reminded him, "Adrian, it seems that Habulav is in more or less the same timezone as here!" "Who cares!" Adrian dialed the number unconcernedly. "Heh heh heh..." "Ho ho ho..." "Haha..." "Hee hee hee..." Team 04, all villains. - Chapter 385 Section 381 - Parcel "Ah... damn it, bastard, to hell with it!" Even after hanging up the call, the liaison officer Rossi in Habulav was throwing a tantrum out of frustration, being rudely awakened from a deep sleep, anyone would be boiling with rage. Being called in the dead of night, the report was utterly worthless, containing no information about the "Water Bear" organization. Aside from waking him up, it served no other purpose; it was plainly taking Feather as Mandate Arrow, not giving a damn about him, Rossi. "He must be fuming!" Adrian put down his phone and managed a helpless smile. Who else but the team leader to deal with this? If he didn''t deal with this lightning rod, who would? Laughter erupted within the cabin of the mobile base vehicle. In the middle of the night, it seemed like no one was going to get a good sleep. Why should they wear themselves out and suffer alone? Misery loves company, and the liaison officer wasn''t going to get away with it either. - The mobile base vehicle didn''t return to the Snow Velvet Weeping Willow that had been destroyed by artillery fire, nor did they bother Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an to expend magic power and spiritual power to conjure another. Instead, it stood near the 152 bombardment coordinates, waiting for further developments. It wasn''t until after dawn, into the afternoon, that the local police arrived belatedly at the scene of the incident. With heavy snowfall lasting all day and night and the wind never dropping below force 5, police helicopters and ground-effect aircraft simply couldn''t make it over. Even with satellite navigation aids, it took a lot of effort and time for the police ground vehicles to finally locate the place, not without taking many wrong turns, often getting stuck in snow pits, struggling desperately to pull themselves free. Following the police were more than a hundred downcast suspects, thankfully handcuffed with plastic nylon rather than iron cuffs. If it had been iron, the frigid weather would have peeled their flesh clean off. Many of the suspects sported black eyes and bruised faces; it appeared they hadn''t had an easy time. Local police treated the assistance request from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee almost as an imperial edict. Once they got leads from Squad 04, they immediately rounded up all the local snakes, guilty or not, catching first and asking questions later. They didn''t bother to inquire first, beating detainees until they howled for mercy to no avail. Only after beating them into submission did they start to question them; all suspects connected to the poaching gangs were interrogated, sparing none that might be mistakenly killed instead of let go. They were all delivered to Squad 04 without exception, many having suffered a beating in vain, already shadowed by fear. Now, seeing the mobile base vehicle and the members of Squad 04, their legs turned to jelly, clueless about what kind of ordeals awaited them. To assist with the interrogation, the police sent over a pretty, smiley C-ranked psychic ability user with charming peach blossom eyes and a pleasant voice. Chen Fei felt that there was no need for special abilities at all; a simple frown or smile from this police officer would turn the suspects into devoted fawning dogs.@@@@ On the second day of the on-site interrogation, the local police brought in another group of suspects, widening the net to include several neighboring cities. After a swift interrogation, among those brought in were some wanted criminals, petty thieves, gangsters, and mobsters, but no one from the poaching gang or any trace that might link them to the "Water Bear" organization; none of them seemed to be the people Squad 04 was looking for. As Squad 04 watched the police officer skilfully charm the suspects with her seductive skills on the Siberian tundra amidst ice and snow, they still made no significant progress. New intel shared by liaison officer Rossi indicated that a team stationed in Africa had encountered some leads, clashing fiercely with a force suspected to belong to the "Water Bear" organization. A half-day battle destroyed a local town, leaving not a single intact building within ten miles; the entire area was flattened, full of craters and signs of destruction. The affected innocent locals suffered heavy casualties, with misery spread far and wide. After closing up shop, his family gathered around the massive, heavy box to start unwrapping the outer packaging. Inside the box were neatly stacked wooden crates of varying sizes, perfectly arranged without a single unnecessary gap of space. Upon peeling back the soft cotton paper that wrapped the contents inside the boxes, large transparent crystals revealed themselves under the light, sparkling brilliantly. "Dad, are these, these gemstones?" Pu Meihui, whose health had greatly improved and who had been successfully discharged from the hospital, stared in astonishment at the wooden box in her hands. "Little Hui, let Dad show you a little surprise!" Pu Aihua turned off the lights in the room. The moment the lights went out, the crystals in the box immediately emitted a faint white glow, like a low-wattage light bulb. Although not very bright, it was sufficient to illuminate the surprised and joyful faces of the family. "Husband, does it really light up?" Pu Aihua''s wife was greatly surprised; she had not expected that the crystal inside the wooden box would be luminescent. "These are the Fluorescent Crystals that Little Chen asked me to help sell. Hehehe, we''re going to make a fortune." Once called a cunning businessman by his colleagues, Pu Aihua still had several tricks up his sleeve. Turning on the lights again, he rubbed his hands together in excitement. Naturally luminescent Fluorescent Crystals, if marketed correctly, stood to earn a considerable sum. He estimated that his share of the profits from this large crate could match ten years of earnings from his diner. "Dad, are we going to be rich?" Pu Meihui shouted excitedly. "Yeah, but this is just the beginning. Thanks to Little Chen, he gave me forty percent of the profits. I must sell it at a high price, no, a sky-high price, to let him earn more too." Being all too familiar with poverty, they naturally sympathized with each other. Pu Aihua clenched his fists, ready to unleash his full businessman cunning to make a big score. In his eyes, the world was just full of people easy to fool with too much money. Pu Aihua''s wife also raised her fists eagerly and said with force, "Husband, work hard!" She had great faith in her husband''s ability to buy and sell for profit. The reason their household had made it this far was largely due to Old Piao wracking his brains and striving to the utmost. Now that the hard times were coming to an end, there was finally hope on the horizon. "You can do it!" Pu Meihui was the loudest cheerleader. Like father, like daughter. - Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 386 Section 382 - Unpacking Students at the Northern Industrial University''s dormitory, thanks to the well-funded trainees from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, were arranged to stay in double rooms, each with a private bathroom and balcony, complete with air conditioning, washing machine, and dryer. "Xiao Meng, what kind of goodies did your brother send you? Is it snacks?" Her female roommate curiously examined the large box wrapped in thick corrugated cardboard. If it weren''t for male students passing by, who lent a hand out of kindness, just the two girls trying to get this heavy box into the dorm might have both been flat on the floor by now. Even a 155-kilogram female powerhouse would find the distance from the school gate to the dorm too much to handle. "I have no idea!" Chen Meng was completely baffled by the large parcel her second brother had suddenly sent. She took out a utility knife and, after a flurry of tearing, finally opened the box. Her roommate opened one of the small boxes inside and immediately her eyes sparkled with delight, unable to tear herself away. "So pretty!" Upon seeing the glittering items... ah, women! "What?!" Seeing the clusters of tempting rose-red crystals, Chen Meng was puzzled, though not as overtly astonished as her roommate. Had her second brother really stumbled upon gemstones this time? There was precedent after all, and it seemed like a significant haul this time ¨C impressive, my brother! A small piece of paper attached to the inside of the box lid caught Chen Meng''s attention. Picking it up, she saw a line of writing on it. "Natural fluorescent crystals from the dead volcano in the Central Great Desert on the Ocean Continent. Gift to friends, establish connections!" It was as if her brother''s earnest instructions suddenly hit her full-on. "Yeah yeah, I got it!" Chen Meng, who started to get a headache at the merest hint of preaching, crumpled the paper into a small ball irritably and tossed it towards the trash can. It bounced off the edge and missed. Dammit... Chen Meng felt as if she could hear her mother''s scolding once more. "Xiao Meng, are you throwing things around again? Pick it up and throw it away properly!" The Chen Family really was something else! Ever since she had caused a major disaster at home, Chen Meng had been continuously educated, as if her family members were right before her eyes, driving her almost insane. Her roommate clutched the wooden box tightly, coquettishly saying, "Xiao Meng, Xiao Meng, can I sell¡ªno, borrow¡ªthis gemstone to play with for a couple of days?" Such a large "gemstone" might be quite expensive. Despite being clueless, she was oddly disarmed by the item in the box, which hit her right in the G spot. The truth... it was just too big! Realizing that the other girl was misunderstanding¡ªseriously misunderstanding¡ªChen Meng replied weakly, "Talking about money hurts relationships. Since you like it so much, I''ll just give it to you. I suggest you choose the colorless ones; they match anything and can be placed anywhere." "No, I want the pink one, girly pink, cute!" Her roommate hugged the crystal and even rubbed her face against it, immediately leaving a layer of foundation behind. Fluorescent Crystal: This greasy young woman, no, ruffian! I''m done with you! That evening. Her roommate''s bed was bathed in that uniquely pink glow characteristic of butcher stalls at the market¡ªah no, more like the sleazy light from those special hair salons in back alleys. The leader of the Z-9 helicopter squad, main pilot "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, stopped his actions to look from left to right. Squadron Leader Chekhov took the opportunity to slack off, took a swig of alcohol, and with a breath reeking of booze said breezily, "Maybe it''s a giant crystal shaped like an airplane!" "Where would you find such a big crystal, it''s probably some sort of equipment." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios had a sharp eye and noticed rigid, man-made geometric shapes beneath the moisture-proof canvas. A piece of moisture-proof canvas was lifted to reveal a section of a wing. "Is it really an airplane?!" Irinei Rusios muttered to herself. Everyone present was no novice; it didn''t take an expert to realize that this was the main wing of an aircraft. "Ah ha! ''Rookie'' has brought us some good stuff again!" Big Bear bellowed out with a hearty laugh, his rough chuckles echoing inside Hangar No. 2. "Don''t tell me it''s an active combat aircraft, this guy''s got guts!" Irinei Rusios glanced over at the "Raptor" sitting in the corner of Hangar No. 2. The peers had their share of complaints but were somewhat placated by Jiu Defense citing the employee''s personal Special Ability as an excuse, after all, it was a Metal Elemental Psychic Power awakened after joining the company, who can plan for an Awakening? Yet, there wasn''t a second military contractor that could get a fourth-generation aircraft that could still fly. Apart from stored goods, previously serviced military combat aircraft were essentially grounded today, no different from scrap metal. If another serious piece of hardware showed up now, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee might not be able to turn a blind eye any longer. It''s truly commendable to loot good stuff for one''s own home, but don''t always grab those taboo items; it would make things difficult for Jiu Defense and the BOSS! "Strange! Why are there runes on it, wait, could this be..." The combat pilot "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider leaned in closer and noticed the aerodynamic wing surface wasn''t smooth but engraved with strange lines and cryptic characters. His mind flickered like a spark, immediately considering a possibility! "Magic Array indeed! No way..." The helicopter squad leader Yamada Yuhu came over to take a look and immediately began to shout and wail, making ghostly howls and wolf cries. "What? How come there''s such a thing?" Irinei Rusios was startled and immediately pulled off more of the moisture-proof canvas, revealing the true nature of the object underneath. "I must be dreaming!" A mechanic staggered back several steps and fell onto the floor with a thud. Clang! Big Brother Xiao from the mechanic team dropped his wrench in shock. "It''s fake, it must be fake!"¡Á10+! The shouts and exclamations were incessant at the scene. "What are you shouting about?" Hanna Gagel, who had walked to the hangar''s entrance, turned back, but froze on the spot. Among many of today''s aircraft, those with Magic Arrays inscribed on their surfaces were rare; partly because the materials were expensive and the manufacturing complex, and partly because the demands on the operator were extremely high, beyond most people''s capability. Having never eaten pork, but having seen pigs run, Boss Hana blurted out upon seeing the half-exposed streamlined form of the aircraft. "A Crystal Jet?" - Chapter 387 Section 383 - Hot Potato "This is impossible!" Big Bear Squadron Leader nearly smashed the bottle in his hand. It was absolutely preposterous! Even if he sold the entire Jiu Defense Company to some rich idiot willing to pay a sky-high price, he still wouldn''t be able to afford a Crystal Jet. Even if he could afford it, the manufacturers that only take sovereign customization contracts may not be willing to accept this order. Crystal Jets are only made to order; there are no mass-produced models; and in the customization field, it is entirely a seller''s market with extremely high entry barriers. And even if they did accept a customization, no one would be able to pilot it. Not even Chekhov would be qualified; he just didn''t make the cut. The Sky Knights capable of piloting Crystal Jets were, in a sense, no longer bound by the flesh of mortals; they were monsters. If you were a bit smarter, you''d realize that National Treasure Artifacts weren''t something ordinary people could afford to toy with; forcibly piloting one would be no different from committing suicide. - The crowd once again worked together, stripping off the moisture-proof tarp and air cushions, fully uncovering the aircraft suspected to be a Crystal Jet. Gasps of shock resounded one after another. The body was not intact; it was riddled with scars. Some parts of the aerodynamic control surfaces were completely missing, and one of the main wings had lost a large chunk. However, this wasn''t the worst of it. The cockpit looked as if it had been violently torn apart, and the pilot''s seat had disappeared without a trace. At the site of the enormous, terrifying wound, vicious tooth marks were clearly visible. But if there was no mistake, this aircraft was indeed a Crystal Jet. "This... this..." Chekhov Big Bear, who was usually forthright and carefree, was completely out of sorts. Who knew what had happened to this Crystal Jet for it to end up in such a sorry state? "It shouldn''t have been ''Rookie''s'' doing! It shouldn''t have been ''Rookie''s'' doing! It shouldn''t be..." Boss Hana kept mumbling to herself, a scene flashing through her mind: Chen Fei brutally tearing apart a Crystal Jet and dragging out the Sky Knight from above to kill and dismember them, before sending this spoils of war back as a show of his triumphs. Such an act was practically synonymous with making an enemy of a sovereign state. Challenging a nation all by oneself, my God! What gall! But when ''Rookie'' went crazy, he couldn''t even spare himself, let alone care about this! "It shouldn''t have been ''Rookie''s'' doing... right?" Irinei Rusios, the vice squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron known as "Devil Pepper," was a complete mess. It''s all over; everyone hurry up and pack your valuables, we can''t stay here anymore! Killing a sovereign state''s Sky Knight was not a joking matter; the entire staff of Jiu Defense couldn''t handle this huge grudge! And the key issue was, Chen Fei was truly capable of doing it. It wasn''t only Boss Hana and Devil Pepper thinking this, many others reached the same conclusion simultaneously. Chen Fei nonchalantly said, "Ah? I picked it up! Found it in a pile of trash, I picked up quite a few good items there!" The biggest find wasn''t the remains of the Crystal Jet sent to Aircrew Base 911, but rather putting together that Mobile Base Vehicle, which truly came in handy, whether it was for the assessment in the Central Great Desert or the Siberian tundra. "Trash heap?" What the hell kind of trash heap lets you find a Crystal Jet, she wondered? Did they really think such National Treasure Artifacts were free? "There''s a temporary storage site for old mechanics outside of Habulav City, it''s got all sorts of treasures. I even picked up Combat Mechs and a sports car." Chen Fei felt a bit regretful that due to limited time, he hadn''t meticulously combed through the site. Otherwise, he could have found several more huge bargains, maybe even aircraft wreckage that rivaled that of the Crystal Jet. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, with their headquarters in the central city of Habulav on the Yangzhou Continent, wasn''t so rich they could waste money by throwing a damaged Crystal Jet into the trash. It was mainly due to cost considerations; they did what was most economical. Additionally, since Habulav was a closed city off-limits to loiterers, there was no concern that some discarded items might be picked up by outsiders. Those items in the dump were quickly recycled, achieving a level of self-sufficiency for the city. In a sense, Habulav was a massive aircrew base, deeply rooted in the center of the continent, keeping those mutants at bay, which were akin to fire that never fully extinguishes and sprouts again with the spring breeze. "That place really is Habulav?" Boss Hanna''s voice seemed to float, unable to believe the scenario described by Chen Fei. At least, she could be relieved that the Crystal Jet didn''t come from killing a Sky Knight and taking it by force. That would mean not having to worry about Jiu Defense offending sovereignty and being subject to relentless global hunts, as no one dared provoke even the weakest sovereignties. For someone as poor as Chen Fei, the Gagar Family represented financial freedom, a filthy rich level of +10086. Even so, this +10086 level of affluence still seemed insignificant before the colossal entity of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. A random plucking of the United Defense Committee''s hair was thicker than the entire Gagar Family. "That''s right, if you ever have a chance to go to Habulav, I can take you there to see for yourself." Chen Fei was quite keen to recommend that treasure trove of a location. He had Mr. Babylon to thank for this information; without him, he would never have known about that place. "Alright, I got it. Is there really no problem with you sending it this way?" Hanna Gagar''s headache slightly eased. She was still worried about the repercussions of sending out the remains of the Crystal Jet. If her peers found out, they''d likely revolt. Which military contractor dared to have a Crystal Jet, even if it was broken? No way! If such a rule-breaking existence were allowed, others wouldn''t get their share, making life impossible! Chen Fei cavalierly said, "Don''t worry, there will be no problems!" Since it had been successfully sent to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area''s Aircrew Base 911, it meant that his actions were permitted. Otherwise, it would have been stopped and returned¡ªthere''s no way it would have been delivered. The logistics supplier of Jiu Defense, Tao''s Security Service Company, probably never imagined they had just transported such an extremely dangerous item. "Fine! I''ll put it into storage for now, and we''ll deal with it when you get back." Boss Hanna stared at the remains of the Crystal Jet, feeling not a jot of joy, just the sense that it was an eyesore and a hot potato she couldn''t wait to get rid of like sending away a plague. It simply wasn''t something legitimate military contractors should deal with. She would have to issue a gag order later; otherwise, troubles would follow one after another. "Alright, I''ll come back as soon as I can!" Chen Fei didn''t really have a good solution. Absorbing it to turn into Energy Points seemed wasteful, and even if he attempted to replicate it later, it would still just be a broken Crystal Jet. If he tried to repair it, who knew how much time, effort, and money would be required. Even the members of the Global United Defense Committee didn''t want to undertake such a task, which for him, was likely an unimaginable astronomical figure. - Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 388 Section 384 - New Message The Patan Mountain Area Elementary School is located about 21 kilometers away from the Aircrew Base 911. Ever since UNESCO sent three teachers one after another, Teacher Shen Fei, who used to shoulder all the school''s responsibilities alone, immediately felt much lighter. Aside from the first arrival, Teacher Jiang Shan, two more young teachers had joined them, a male and a female, Kelian Ar and Mian Xia. The male teacher Kelian Ar was also Patan, born in a plantation region of another province. Now that he had completed his education, he dedicated himself to teaching, serving his hometown. Teacher Jiang, who had been here for almost three months, considered himself the leader among the new teachers. He liked to put on airs when speaking and, as always, was going out of his way to court Teacher Shen Fei, hoping to win her over. On the other hand, he also wanted to become the school''s principal, to add a significant feather to his cap. "I''m sorry, Teacher Jiang, you really don''t need to do this, I''m leaving the day after tomorrow." Teacher Shen Fei had already packed up her luggage, leaving most of the school''s items to the three new teachers. Having Jiang Shan constantly spinning around her, feigning concern and warm inquiries, was truly annoying. Unlike someone who never caused trouble, nor often aimlessly lingered around, only showing up when necessary, pulling things back from the brink, providing a sense of dependable security¡ªrather than being like a fly, buzzing incessantly, BBB, BBB... weren''t there any real jobs to do? Have the chickens, ducks, and geese been fed? Has the vegetable garden been watered? Has the grass been weeded? Have you patrolled the protective wire fence around the school district? ... But it was the two teachers who came later, Kelian Ar and Mian Xia, who were serious, down-to-earth, and not frivolous. They seemed like they could genuinely take root here as teachers. "No, no, no, you rely on your parents at home and on your friends when you''re outside. We''re all from the same hometown; we should take care of each other. It''s already been tough for a girl like you here, I just want to help you." Even though he could tell from Teacher Shen''s words that she was deliberately keeping her distance, Jiang Shan persisted non-stop, his sweet talk sounding like that of a thoughtful ''warm man''. In fact, he was in a hurry too, with Teacher Shen''s departure date approaching, leaving him little time. "No! I''m not a child anymore; the students are the children, you should pay them more attention." Regrettably, no matter how hard Jiang Shan tried, Teacher Shen Fei was unwavering in keeping her distance, never giving him any chances. "I''m a man, after all, it''s only natural to take care of women and children." Jiang Shan refused to give up, thumping his chest, doing his utmost to maintain his persona, hoping to move her. "I''m sorry, Teacher Jiang, please focus your time and energy on your work, okay? If you continue like this, I''ll report you to our superiors that you''re unsuitable for this job." Finally fed up, Teacher Shen Fei issued a warning to this pestering fly¡ªannoying as he was, he hadn''t been this troublesome before.@@@@ "From today onwards, I am the principal of this elementary school, Kelian, your job is..." His speech was cut off by the teacher from the Tampa People. The other slowly said, "Sorry, but the higher-ups have appointed me as principal. This is the appointment letter!" Kelian Ar took out his phone, showing the appointment letter sent by UNESCO''s teaching office. The recommender was Shen Fei, and the only person unaware of it was Jiang Shan himself. "..." Teacher Jiang Shan was thrown into an inexplicable rage of impotence... - After winter set in, the Siberian Tundra nearly became a Life Forbidden Zone, where Team 04, when busy, worked to exhaustion but when idle, couldn''t even muster the enthusiasm to play snowball fights or build snowmen, sheltering in a barn at an abandoned farm to lazily pass the winter days. The barn space was ample enough to not only easily accommodate the two-story structure assembled inside but also to park the 20-meter-long Mobile Base Vehicle without any trouble, serving as a heated storage to avoid digging it out of a deep snowdrift when needed. Daily routine reviews of electronic files repeated without yield, suggesting that trying to rely on brainstorming and sudden inspirations for good luck wasn''t producing significant results. Every aspect of Team 04''s investigation had simultaneously stalled. The Female Liaison Officer Tanya made a report to the local police headquarters, and upon returning to the barn at the abandoned farm, she brought back a piece of the latest news received by Team 04. Traders of unclear identity were purchasing prehistoric remains in the villages of the northern Tunguska region and had visited many villages, completing more than a dozen transactions. After all, the tundra buried beneath it housed an entire era of mammoth life, not only mammoths but numerous other prehistoric species now extinct. If it were a legitimate scientific expedition team, they should have reported to the authorities from the beginning to facilitate emergency rescue in case of accidents and bypass many procedural steps. This kind of vague purchasing was indeed very suspicious. It might have been overlooked in normal times, perhaps some rich, eccentric individual collecting artifacts from beneath the tundra for private study, showing off, or packaging them for sale to make a profit. But the members of Team 04, coming from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, were clearly targeting the mysterious organization "Water Bear", so any individuals exhibiting unusual behavior could potentially be linked to this group. After a large-scale "crackdown" carried out not long ago, and now with suspicious individuals appearing, they couldn''t possibly ignore and let it slip by without investigation. The Mobile Base Vehicle stocked up on supplies and Team 04, along with the Female Liaison Officer, set off again as a full team. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire This time, with local police officer Tanya as a guide, the Mobile Base Vehicle didn''t have to take many detours. Braving the dwindling blizzard, it forcibly cleared the thick layer of snow on the road and reached a village in northern Tunguska. Under full load, the eighty-ton vehicle cleared over two feet of snow as if it were child''s play. With the Mobile Base Vehicle leading the way and clearing the path, a convoy of vehicles looking to hitch a free ride formed behind it, and their numbers continued to grow. Those drivers sure knew how to seize an opportunity. - Chapter 389 Section 385 - Clue The Mobile Base Vehicle plowed through the accumulated snow, arriving at a small village in the northern part of the Tunguska Region called Rakim. The locals were all holed up at home, hibernating through the winter, and it was almost impossible to spot a soul outside. With Siberia''s exceedingly short planting season, once the wheat, corn, soybeans, and potatoes were harvested¡ªcabbage being the only possible addition¡ªthere would be nothing left. Vegetables relied entirely on greenhouses; otherwise, anything planted was doomed to die. The devils have entered the village, no, the Russians have entered the village! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Tanya pounded forcefully on the wooden door of a village convenience store that doubled as a bar, pool hall, and village office. The village chief''s house was right here¡ªif you wanted to find the local snakes, knocking on this door was sure to be right. The entire village had already been cut off by heavy snow; all roads were impassable. If it weren''t for the Mobile Base Vehicle forcefully clearing a path through the snow, relying solely on foot would surely kill a person from exhaustion. The Female Liaison Officer was enthusiastically knocking when suddenly... the door swung open! Bang bang puh! "©»|`O¡ä|©¿Oh~~" A pudgy man with half a bald scalp screamed and fell backwards, rolling on the ground with his hands covering his face. Because the door had opened so suddenly, Tanya couldn''t stop her punch in time and ended up landing a blow straight on the man''s nose. Not even a two-hundred-pound grown Mao Mei, let alone a mature Loli, could easily withstand such a blow¡ªthe average person''s nose would suffer just the same. "Uh! I''m a police officer, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, a First Level officer from the Tungus Headquarters, I''m investigating a case and need your cooperation." Officer Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna whipped out her badge, flashing it in front of the man to establish her bona fide police identity instead of an unruly gang member. The brightest sunlight always has its unreachable spots; those are the havens for the dark elements. She noticed people inside getting ready to draw weapons. There was no helping it; the locals were fierce, and hiding a gun at home was as simple as hiding a bottle of vodka, and it was done brazenly. Those with more brazenness might even keep a tank hidden, bring it out during the holidays to fire a couple of shots, show off, and flirt with machismo. "Oh, my God, my nose!" The man who was punched could only accept his fate, grimacing and clutching his nose, fearing a little more force and it would have sprayed blood everywhere. But could he still retaliate against law enforcement with violence? Attack the police? Those uninvited guests outside were probably just waiting for that! Tanya put away her badge with a smile and said, "Please rest assured, we have a Light System Caster who can heal you right away. Won''t you invite us inside for a sit-down?" When it came to the true local snakes of the Tunguska Region, the police station was the king of kings, the tyrant over tyrants. Just ask who dares to disobey? There won''t be a single creature daring to peep. "Please, come in!" Village Chief Nikolayev, with his nose still red, tearfully made way for the door, nearly letting out a disgruntled cry. The woman of the house, a typical Russian Water Tank Matron, silently raged, only smashing pots and pans in the kitchen to express her dissatisfaction with the clamor. "Come on in, everyone!" The Female Liaison Officer Tanya nonchalantly waved the 04 team inside. As all members filed in one after another, the Holy Knight, while passing Village Chief Nikolayev, cast a Light-based Spell on him. Noticing the immediate cessation of pain, the half-bald village chief hastily expressed his thanks.@@@@ After all, it was that female brute of a cop who had punched his nose; the others were not to be blamed. Adrian, the captain of squad 04, finally spoke up. He gave a nod to the A-level Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua. "We will ensure your husband''s safety." If cannon fodder were needed, dozens of Constructed Puppet Warriors were queued up. Across the stone bridge spanning the five-meter-wide creek, the second house on the other side bore a big black chimney about the height of a three-story building, billowing blue smoke, probably indicating a roaring fireplace that kept the interior warm and cozy. In this bitterly cold weather, it felt like heaven. In the Siberian Tundra region, where the front doors were typically made of wood, there was no need for doorbells. A forceful knock created quite the commotion. "Folks, open up!" "Huh? Who the hell is screaming out there?" "I am the police!" "Damn it..." From inside the house came a series of chaotic noises and ghostly wails and howls. Judging by the looks of it, there was more than one person inside, and one could only guess what kind of mess they were cooking up inside. Mostly likely no good; otherwise, they wouldn''t have panicked at the mention of police. "Breach the door!" Now it was the turn of squad 04. At Adrian''s command, four Constructed Puppet Warriors charged in succession, bursting the door wide open and storming in with automatic weapons at the ready. After several bangs of gunfire, a series of pig-like screams followed. "Devils, there are devils!" "I''ve been shot! Help!" "Don''t kill me, don''t kill me!" ... Joshua, who was controlling these Constructed Puppet Warriors, took his index finger away from his forehead and nodded at the others. "All clear, nine people, all under control." "Huh?" The village chief Nikolayev, hiding in the back, let out a noise of disbelief. In such ghastly weather and season, instead of nestling warm in their dens, what were they all gathering for? "Kiterley, Apu, you two go in first!" To be safe, Adrian sent in a Metal Ability User of the A-level and a Thunder Series Warrior of the Earth Order with their weapons ready, capable of instant kills even if mutants were hiding inside. The others entered the house with the large black chimney afterwards. The sights that met their eyes upon entering the house were simply unbearable. Illicit gambling, a hedonistic gathering of substance abuse, men and women all naked, with bottles thrown everywhere, a stench filling the air, this party was raging out of control. "Heh heh heh..." The female liaison officer brandished her handcuffs, these were made of stainless steel, dare you run outside naked now! In weather that was more than forty degrees below zero, with a blast of cold wind, you would freeze instantly, like human ice lolly. - Chapter 390 Section 386 - Approach Close The village chief Nikolayev was the last one to squeeze into the house, but when he saw one of the young women exposing her pale flesh, he couldn''t help but turn pale and exclaimed in shock, "Katyusha? What are you doing here, what, what is this?" He stomped his feet in anger and urgency, obviously greatly disappointed. Katyusha, the prettiest, gentlest, and kindest girl in Rakim Village, whom Nikolayev had intended to introduce to his nephew, a university student. It was supposed to be a match of talents and beauty, a pleasant topic of conversation. But now, the village loafer''s indecent and chaotic party had completely destroyed the kindest and gentlest persona, plunging this girl from a beautiful impression into an unforgivable hell. Obviously having heard rumors of the village chief''s intentions to introduce her to his talented nephew, the village beauty, pig-like, quickly covered her face, screaming in shame and anger. "Nikolayev... no, it''s not me! Don''t look!" The beautiful young body trembled slightly, pale and plump, as good cabbages often get ruined by wild boars. "Which one of you is the ''Black Llama''?" The female liaison officer Tanya was not interested in dealing with Rakim Village''s mess; she had already called headquarters. Soon, people would be sent to arrest this group of debauched men and women, to face the law''s sanctions. At least one thing was certain, the prison''s heating would be much more comfortable than a fireplace. A-level Metal Ability user Kiterley used his special abilities to extract the bullets from the gunshot victim, and then Holy Knight Walter Sam handled the first aid. Although unavoidable and excruciating pain was involved, along with a lot of bleeding, ultimately leaving the person in a delirious state of anemia, at least his life was saved. This was also due to the Puppet Master Joshua showing mercy; if those Constructed Puppet Warriors had shot at the head and other vital areas, unless one had an indestructible body like Chen Fei or Kiterley''s Special Ability Armor, not even a deity could have saved them. "It was me, me!" A skinny, tall young man, with a piece wrapped around his waist, hesitantly raised his hand, his face filled with panic and unease, his entire demeanor that of an addict, clearly no good. Even if he didn''t confess now, someone would point him out on the spot, meaning he would suffer even more. To become a village loafer, one is often not a fool, quite aware of the times. "Recently, did someone from outside come to the village and buy something from you? You need to explain clearly!" Tanya was straightforward with the village loafer, who no doubt was very familiar with the interrogation process. "Yes, yes, two days ago, there were four people aboard a wind sailboat..." Clearly no stranger to police teachings, the village loafer nicknamed "Black Llama," Glebnikov Ivanov Sikorsky, spilled everything like pouring beans, the time, place, characters, and events, a clean confession which the police probably found most satisfying and straightforward¡ªno need to even tidy up, just copy it and you have a complete report, incredibly time-saving. If one could ignore his addict look and the village loafer''s bad reputation, one might mistakenly think he had some kind of professional police identity. "A wind sailboat?" What the hell was that? Adrian imagined in his mind; it was all too fantastical. It was hard to understand how such a vehicle could move freely through heavy snow. "A ship-shaped sled moved by wind, if designed cleverly enough, it isn''t impossible!" Used to seeing the heavy snows of Siberian winters, Tanya wasn''t astonished. Utilizing wind power was most appropriate over lakes, especially those solidly frozen over. After two hours of speeding, the mobile base vehicle left clear visible tracks on the ground, drawing near to Grafki Village, over a hundred kilometers from Rakim Village. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire The sky gradually began to darken. The northern horizon faintly revealed colorful auroras. Wisp of blue smoke emerged from the tops of chimneys within the village, quickly scattered by the cold wind. "Look, there''s the mast!" Adrian, who was leaning on the newly installed high platform periscope of the mobile base vehicle, shouted as he looked out. He spotted the unusually high mast protruding from the center of the village, highly conspicuous in the vast white expanse. With the mechanical lifting design of the vehicle''s roof extending from 0.3 meters to 2 meters and a high-powered zoom lens, it offered a broader field of vision and longer viewing distance than a personal telescope, especially useful for stationary observation without having to lie in the ice and snow. Chen Fei suggested, "Let''s deploy a drone to take a look." The mobile base vehicle was nearby outside the village, but its angle of view was limited, preventing clear observation. "No, the drone is too noisy, and it might startle the snake, better not... Adrian looked at the only bird''s nest inside the vehicle. "Jiu?" Seeing eyes cast over, the little one in the nest warbled uncertainly. "Huh?" Chen Fei was puzzled. "Xiao Jiu should know the Light Mirror Spell, right?" Adrian remembered that this little bird had once emitted some images, which seemed to be one of the Light-based Spells used for scouting. It was especially suitable for stealthy, roundabout observation, particularly in the current environment. "It seems, it seems like it does!" Chen Fei suddenly realized. He had never really focused on the little one''s skills; if Adrian hadn''t mentioned it, he might have completely forgotten. Chen Fei didn''t like always putting Xiao Jiu into various fights; for something as small as a fist, it was far too dangerous. Being cute was enough! "Jiu!" The little bird stood up in its nest, shaking its fluffy feathers. So adorable! - Chapter 391 Section 387 - Team Enters the Village Faint fragments of light and shadow constantly changed a foot in front of Little Bird, appearing and disappearing, but they could never form a complete light mirror; the fragmented images were also unclear and utterly useless. "Chirp!" After trying for a while, the Pure Light Sparrow hopped back to its nest, crouched down, and then looked at Chen Fei with a tilted head, seemingly having completely given up on trying and shifting into a state of resignation. "Uh, no good?" Adrian''s face fell with disappointment. The others sighed as well. No one could put too much pressure on this little creature. Chen Fei helplessly said, "It must be a lack of practice!" In his memory, the Light Mirror Spell of Xiao Jiu had always been unstable and seldom used. The most frequently used was the Pure Light Sparrow''s specialty, "Light Healing Technique," also known as Xiao Jiu''s Band-Aid, which had immediate effects. Next was the "Light Burst Flash," a Biu flash that hardly anyone could defend against, followed by the "Illumination Technique," a quite practical spell that saved a lot of lighting energy. The "Light Mirror Spell," however, wasn''t always useful, so it was rarely used, and it was natural that it was not practiced; even undue blame on this little one was useless. The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an chuckled and said, "Even at the Third Rank of Human Order, the Pure Light Sparrow is still the weakest of the magical beasts. Its racial bloodline limitations restrict its potentials; it''s actually quite remarkable to have achieved what it has now." Back when it was on Cangqiong Star, in addition to being familiar with various plants, it also thoroughly understood various magical beasts; it was one of the few scholar-like being among the Intelligent Magical Beasts. Kiterley, an A-rank Metal Ability User, said discontentedly, "Lulu''an, please touch your heart when you say that. How can Xiao Jiu be associated with ''weak''?" Back in the training and assessment at the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, Little Bird''s laser attack had taken down countless mutants on the spot, some of whose combat power was comparable to the Third or even Fourth Rank magical beasts. Even for the members of Squad 04, if they underestimated Xiao Jiu, they might get knocked out instantly. If Third Rank magical beasts were this frightening, then humans as a species would almost have no way to survive; they might as well concede the world''s dominance and lay down to die outright. Laughter emerged in the compartment of the Mobile Base Vehicle, with everyone sharing a heroic consensus. If you don''t count the laser skill, then Lulu''an''s words were spot on, but... "Xiao Jiu is an exception and shouldn''t be used as a standard case. In terms of spell skills and casting talents, the Pure Light Sparrow species does not have an advantage. Their magical beast bloodline is too diluted, substantially limiting their talents." The Old Tree Boundary Ape held up its Withered Vine Staff, explaining that the laser couldn''t make up for Xiao Jiu''s inherent shortcomings, as the racial disadvantages of the Pure Light Sparrow were apparent. The resources spent on Xiao Jiu, if invested in other magical beasts, might have achieved beyond just the Third Rank; placing too high expectations may only lead to greater disappointment in the end. On Cangqiong Star, the general term "magical beast" used to be divided into magical beasts and demon beasts, depending on whether their racial heritage continued and factors like bloodline degeneration. The rule of "entropy" is not only manifested on the physical level but also reflects in magic; if there are no exceptionally talented beings to elevate the bloodline ceiling of a species, degeneration over time is an inevitable outcome.@@@@ Even the Dragon Clan had such troubles. The Metallic Dragons, who once lost their racial heritage, nearly got expelled from the Dragon Race, degenerating into beasts driven only by instincts. Perhaps before long, they would have disappeared among the many creatures of Cangqiong Star, becoming a mere note in historical records. "Someone''s coming out! Uh, it''s the enemy!" Thunder Series Warrior Apu saw someone walking out from a nearby house. He initially thought they were coming out for fresh air, or perhaps to see why the wind sled was destroyed, but he was startled to clearly see a cold weapon in the person''s hand, and their eyes met across the distance. He issued a roar automatically. "Attention, it''s the enemy!" He then lifted his great sword, his body enveloped in flickering Battle Qi Flame, charging towards the other like a locomotive. "Engage! Mini, run!" The Holy Knight, who had just joined forces with the A-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power user to destroy the wind sled, bellowed. The advantage of having a mount lay in mobility, not in foolishly standing still to be hit. The A-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power user wore his own Special Ability Armor, boasting astonishing defense, unlike him and the Blue Scaled Colt. So, running first was the first choice. "Second squadron, move out!" Sitting inside the mobile base vehicle, First Rank Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin shouted while he steadied the high-raised look-out mirror inside the carriage to gaze into the village. Dazzling electric Sword Qi swept across a building. Bricks and wood flew into the sky, and the house immediately collapsed thunderously. The huge man did not hold back at all; with a full force strike, he instantly demolished a house. Twelve Constructed Puppet Warriors with automatic weapons strapped on skis, rapidly wielded ski poles, charging into the village with great speed. The Old Tree Boundary Ape sowed dozens of seeds into the snow pile, muttering incantations, as Wood System Magic Element congregated at the tip of its Withered Vine Staff. "No, there are more than four people!" The Holy Knight''s field of vision was filled with several fireballs, as a fierce Sword Qi burst through a nearby window, slicing through towards him and the Blue Scaled Colt, cutting directly through the snow. "Xiao Jiu!" The Blue Scaled Colt neighed, forming Wind Wings, carrying the Holy Knight as they accelerated towards the fireballs. The Holy Knight shouted with all his might. "Clear the way for me!" Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Dazzling Battle Qi Flame erupted, enveloping both rider and mount, rushing ahead out of the path of the Sword Qi and colliding fiercely with the fireballs. Boom... Countless sparks scattered, and a huge shockwave shattered the quiet within the village. - Chapter 392 Section 388 - Fierce Battle The Light System Battle Qi Flame combined with the dazzling Sword Qi forcibly broke through successfully. The Holy Knight''s internal organs inevitably suffered from the shock, gasping for air on the back of his Blue Scaled Colt, yet without hesitation, he shouted, "Mini, pick up the speed, charge!" The knight''s most lethal attack was none other than the charge! "Huuuuhuuu!" The Wind Beast, Blue Scaled Colt, let out a high-pitched neigh, its hooves turned to shadows, and Wind Wings reappeared. In the grip of the raging wind, it carried its rider towards the enemy launching Fire Spells. The Knight''s Greatsword flickered with a cold light, its Sword Qi frosty. "Kill!!!" A-Rank Metal Ability User Kiterley wiped his Armor and pulled out a two-meter-long Throwing Spear, throwing it with all his might. "Die!" The Throwing Spear pierced through the building that had just launched a Sword Qi Slash at the Holy Knight in the blink of an eye. As it shot out the other side, the sharp tip of the spear was tinged with a hint of crimson, a few droplets fell onto the snowy ground, shockingly vivid. "Ah!" Ap, a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, let out a roar, blocking the Great Sword with a shield-sized double-edged Battle Axe. The two weapons froze in midair, seemingly at a standoff. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire The sudden outbreak of the fight in Grafki Village caught Tanya, the Female Liaison Officer of the Tunguska Local Police Department, completely off guard, causing her to cry out in alarm and lose color. "What, what''s happening!" Up until that point, she had never expected a real fight to break out, always feeling that Squad 04 had made too much of a fuss. "Sam, Kiterley, Apu, you guys pull out of the village first!" Adrian remained calm, indicating surprise but not enough to throw him into disarray on the spot. ABCDEFG... Having a full set of contingency plans was standard operation for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," which faced ferocious and mysterious organizations¡ªeveryone was prepared for the worst from the beginning. "Copy" x3! Suddenly attacked, with the situation in the village unclear, even the most reckless, big black fellow Apu wasn''t planning to just barrel through it like this. The ten approaching combat puppets, like cutting wheat, were hewn in half at the waist, their charge abruptly stopped, turning into rolling gourds on the ground quickly covered in thick layers of snow. The moment his puppets were cut in half by an unseen force, Puppet Master Joshua, who was concentrating on controlling them with his spiritual power, cried out. "My puppets!" With the sudden destruction of his combat puppets, his spiritual power inevitably took a hit. Yet, the tactics were still not over. "It''s a trap!" Adrian made the judgment in the first instant. Seven or eight figures emerged, rushing straight toward the location of the Mobile Base Vehicle. "Too close!" Chen Fei found that the enemies had already broken into the blind zone of the Railgun, even though he wanted to blast those people to smithereens with the 152. Even if they got the anti-aircraft machine gun ready, it was already too late, and they wouldn''t even be able to fire many shots before the two sides engaged at close quarters. Hesitant to harm what they wished to preserve, the barrels just aimed at each other had no choice but to cease movement. Bassan eyed the remaining attackers, still totaling a small number, and said in a deep voice, "Be careful!" The tattoos on his body glowed with a striking red light. The fight was not yet over! - "''Adam'', activate infrared thermal imaging and scan the entire village with synthetic aperture radar!" Chen Fei, feeling increasingly uneasy, immediately instructed the artificial intelligence AI. The situation in the village was very strange, with more than one attack point. This assault couldn''t have been launched by just four ability users. Just the number of enemies that had appeared now exceeded twenty. The front windshield of the Mobile Base Vehicle instantly turned from transparent to black, then lit up again, displaying the layout of the entire distant village and the thermal imaging picture. Inside each building, numerous brightly colored human silhouettes rushed outside, and even more bright infrared thermal reactions appeared out of nowhere, a significant number heading straight for the Mobile Base Vehicle. "No, there are no villagers; this village is a trap!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes. If they were innocent villagers, they should be hiding inside their houses at this moment, not rushing out to their deaths. Several missiles, trailing long, thick smoke, rose from the center of the village, heading straight for the Mobile Base Vehicle. Thump, thump, thump, thump... The anti-aircraft machine gun, adapted for both high and level firing, aimed skyward and fired furiously. Under "Adam''s" control, it unleashed a barrage of bullets toward the incoming missiles. "Damn it, ''Falling Star Flame''!" Adrian could no longer sit still inside the vehicle and without hesitation cast Fire Spells, more fireballs rising into the air. Spell against spell, supernatural power against supernatural power, firearms against firearms. Chen Fei shouted, "Lulu''an, come back! Everyone else, get away! Steel net defense!" At least 100 Energy Points were thrown out, exchanging for 100 tons of steel, evolving and constructing an interception net wall around the Mobile Base Vehicle, enveloping the entire vehicle. Relying solely on a single anti-aircraft machine gun to stop all the missiles was nearly an impossible task. Just as Adrian had pulled the Old Tree Boundary Ape back into the vehicle and slammed the door shut, the earth-shattering explosion and loud noise enveloped the Mobile Base Vehicle in an instant. Under the onslaught of the violent shockwave, the Mobile Base Vehicle, despite weighing over eighty tons and being 20 meters in length, couldn''t suppress the violent shaking. It was like a boat caught in a tempest, with no end to the turmoil in sight. "Ah..." Tanya, the Female Liaison Officer from the local Tunguska police station, rolled on the ground, screaming in fear. Her C-grade Psychic Ability was completely useless in such a situation, she couldn''t even protect herself. Under the combined attack of Fire Spells and missiles, the Bone-Eroding Cage Vine and steel net that surrounded the Mobile Base Vehicle were shattered, and the thick vines were severed into dozens of pieces, leaking poisonous sap that etched ugly scorched marks into the ground. Dozens of meters away, Mouri Misono and the Neanderthal Chief Bassan, who were intercepting the enemy, were knocked to the ground by the blast behind them, and the enemies who were fighting them didn''t fare much better, as all of them lay prone without exception. Chen Fei, his spirit linked with the entire Mobile Base Vehicle, shook his head after feeling the impact on the armor as if it were tangible and shouted, "Dammit, ''Adam'', aim for the west side of the village, one 152, fire!" Although the Bone-Eroding Cage Vine blocked some of the attack and suffered heavy losses, the dense steel net blocked the rest of the missiles, ensuring that the Combat Unit did not make a direct impact on the vehicle and explode. Thus, only the shockwave and shrapnel struck the armor layer of the vehicle, far from reaching the point of penetration. Although the people inside were unharmed, the shock they endured was inevitable. The counterattacking 152 had a kill radius large enough to cover most of Grafki Village. If they were all enemies, then let them all go to hell! - ``` Chapter 393 Section 389 - Counterattack Compared to activation speed, magic often isn''t as fast as special abilities. The earth mage, struggling with dizziness, finally finished chanting the incantation. The spell was activated, and a dirt wall more than ten feet high rose outside the vehicle. This belated defense could only be described as barely better than nothing. "Damn it! Run!" Upon hearing that his younger brother was about to unleash his power, the A-grade metal ability user Kiterly abandoned his enemies and sprinted towards the outskirts of the village. Artillery bombardment was no joke. His special ability armor couldn''t withstand a close-range bombardment from a 152mm shell. A single 152mm shell falling could turn the entire village into a death zone. A gust of wind roared in, followed by drum-like brisk hoofbeats, as a hand reached out in front of Kiterley. "Get on!" The A-grade metal ability user didn''t hesitate, grabbed the holy knight''s hand, and swung onto the back of the Blue Scaled Colt. This second rank wind beast effortlessly carried the two men towards the edge of the village. "Aooooh, aooooh..." On the other side of the village, the second rank thunder series war professional, Apu, unable to catch this convenient ride, burst out with battle qi flame, bellowing as he strode away from the battlefield with his thick legs. When the ambushers inside the village sensed something was amiss, a 152mm shell heavily bombed the west side of Grafki Village. The houses there disintegrated in an instant, flattened to the ground, and the attackers were obliterated, their bones reduced to dust. The shockwave from the demolition bomb quickly swept through the center of the village, tossing many bodies into the air. Defensive abilities flickered out, lives were extinguished¡ªit seemed they were all low-rank ability users, unable to withstand heavy weaponry. When real war came, they often became mere cannon fodder. Barely escaping the blast radius, the two on the back of the Blue Scaled Colt were still shaken, their chests stuffy, stars appearing before their eyes. The second rank wind beast, Blue Scaled Colt Mini, kept spewing blood but did not slow down, causing the holy knight immense distress. He desperately released one of his few mastered light-based spells, the Light Healing Technique. Big guy Apu was simply pressed under a wall, his body feeling as if it were about to fall apart. It took him a long while to catch his breath. Fortunately, the mobile base vehicle had launched a 152mm demolition bomb. Had it been a 203mm or larger, it would have been a miracle if the three had survived. Kiterley looked back, half the village reduced to flat ground, and murmured, "Damn, that was harsh!" "''Adam,'' aim for 30 meters outside the south of the village! One 152, fire!"@@@@ In Chen Fei''s view, the locations of Apu, Kiterley, and Knight Sam were all marked, carefully avoiding their positions with the killing radius of the demolition bomb, re-setting the impact point before ordering another launch. Take advantage of the enemy''s illness, and take the enemy''s life! No one wanted to endure a second round of missile and magic attacks, and naturally, it was like a lion fighting a rabbit, giving their all. Whoever held back would die first, striking first to gain advantage, striking late to meet calamity. As a fighter pilot, Chen Fei clearly understood this principle. Boom!~ The shockwave swept through the south of the village. Though the impact point was outside the village, the shockwave still covered part of it, sending countless debris into the sky. "Apu, get up and run far! You''re getting in my way!" Chen Fei urged the thunder series war professional who was still playing dead under a pile of bricks. Just a wall wasn''t enough to crush someone of his rank to death instantly; if it really had killed him, well, then he was dead, and there was nothing more to say¡ªno need for explanations for unfortunate ones. Before the Flame Arrow hit, the figure who had revealed themselves dodged, disappearing from the spot. Bang!~ The flames erupted, covering a ten-feet radius and melting all the surrounding snow with its intense heat. "He''s gone again, be careful!" The Holy Knight looked around vigilantly to avoid any surprise attacks from the mysterious Space Series Ability User. "Bassan, are you alright?" Mouri Misono rushed to the side of the Neanderthal Chief. "Hehe, I''m fine!" Bassan lay on the ground motionless, his pale face highlighting a cut that ran from his left shoulder to his right hip, nearly cleaving him in two. "Mini, move closer to Bassan!" The Holy Knight lightly squeezed his legs, and his mount the Blue Scaled Colt immediately galloped towards the Neanderthal Chief and Mouri Misono. Staying together made them less susceptible to being picked off individually, and his Light Healing Technique could be of some assistance. Walter Sam also noticed that Kiterley, who had just shielded him, seemed to be quite hurt, asking, "Kiterley, are you alright?" "I''m fine!" The A-rank Metal Ability User took a deep breath, the metallic sheen on his arms slowly faded along with the cuts, eventually disappearing. The fallen pieces of armor merged back into his Special Ability Armor, regaining their original form. However, the thickness of the Special Ability Armor had more than doubled, now resembling the all-encompassing armor of a Heavy Infantry. But beneath the faceplate, Kiterley looked completely drained, the damage having nearly severed his arms on the spot. The disappearing shadow reappeared quickly; this time, it didn''t attack team 04 but instead moved to the side of the residual forces that had earlier attempted to storm the Mobile Base Vehicle. Before Adrian''s Fourth Rank Fire Spell "Falling Star Flame" roared in, the Space Series Ability User, along with a few surviving attackers, vanished from their spots. A barrage of bombardments ensued, but they left not even a trace. The frustrated Low Rank Fire Mage clenched his teeth and said, "A Space Series Ability User? How is that possible?" Whoever the opponent was, it was extraordinary to have a Space Series Ability User at their disposal. Space, Light, and Dark, these elements were all highly scrutinized among ability users, whether low or high rank, none could evade the Sovereign''s sight. Being able to employ a high-ranked Space Series Ability User without the Sovereign''s knowledge was no small feat. The village that had been flattened by the 152 Demolition Bomb shook like it was hit by an earthquake, then eventually calmed down. Ruan Tiankai, also an Earth Mage, concentrated for a moment before making a judgment. "Someone activated an Earth Magic, they''ve transferred underground." He was alone, and the enemy likely had not only Earth Mages but also Earth Element Ability Users. Focused on fleeing, Ruan Tiankai couldn''t stop them on his own. - Chapter 394 Section 390 - After the War Gathering together, Mouri Misono, Kiterley, Apu, and Adrian remained on high alert for quite a while before finally confirming that the Space Series Ability User had left the scene. It seemed that the other party was only there to save someone and had no intention of fighting with them. Although the attacks of Space Series abilities were exceptionally sharp, their limitations were similarly significant. If Team 04 hadn''t cared about casualties, the final outcome of who would fall remained uncertain. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley, still shaken, said, "That just now was..." Had the space cutting been a fraction stronger, it wouldn''t have been just his arms at risk¡ªhe would have been fortunate to keep his life. Adrian nodded affirmatively, "Sub-Phase Skill!" Even as a Fire Mage, his breadth of knowledge allowed him to discern exactly what the opponents'' strange technique was all about. The "membrane" between subspace and real space, known as Sub-Phase, is unobservable and undetectable, even immune to any attacks. If not for the need to attack or save someone, there would be no reason to expose oneself.@@@@ To date, only a very few Space Series Ability Users could master skills related to the Sub-Phase. "We are just one of the teams, is it really necessary?" Indeed, Kiterley felt privileged to have such a being take action against them. "Of course, it''s necessary! So many Ability Users laying in ambush¡ªif they were all wiped out, the enemy''s loss would be significant. It''s probably the ''Water Bear''; other forces wouldn''t be so mindless." As Adrian said this, a chill enveloped his heart, thinking that an organization like "Water Bear" could command such a Space Series Ability User. The strength of this organization was beyond imagination. Team 04, affiliated with the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, represented one aspect of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s enforcement will. To counter it was to challenge the Joint Defense Committee and the entire human race of Blue Star. These crazed guys really dared! Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire Yet the "Water Bear" organization still retained some sense. If they played a game of brinkmanship with the Global United Defense Committee, there was no doubt they would lose. After all, with the entire Blue Star Civilization backing the Global United Defense Committee¡ªwhether it be in terms of economics, equipment, or talent¡ªthey could easily crush any non-sovereign organization. Since they couldn''t afford a one-on-one fight, escaping after a rescue became the obvious course of action. Fortunately, the battle was finally over. However, for the "Water Bear" organization and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the war had just begun. "Bassan, Bassan, you have to stay strong, please save Bassan, he''s seriously injured!" Mouri Misono continually called out, trying to maintain the clarity of the wounded Neanderthal Chief''s consciousness. "Quickly, take him back to the vehicle, Knight Sam, first stabilize Bassan''s condition, then have Lulu''an and Xiao Jiu join forces." While speaking, Adrian took out a rigid stretcher from his Space System Alchemy Storage Device and carefully placed the severely injured and bleeding Neanderthal Chief onto it. Adrian insisted, "Whether you''re fine or not, the medic decides. Lulu''an, please also check on the others." "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu distributed a "Light Healing Technique" to everyone¡ªafter all, it was free. The consumed light element could be quickly replenished from the light-element magical beast crystal core inside its nest. Meditation was a thing of the past; there was no need for it. Just lying down and sleeping was enough. The appointed Old Tree Boundary Ape immediately began to check the physical health of all members, ensuring they maintained optimal combat strength. "Umm, err, do we need to call for backup?" Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, the local police liaison who hadn''t been of any help during the entire ordeal and had been trembling and screaming, asked with a smile as she pointed to her phone screen. The high-intensity fighting was too thrilling; spells whistled through the air, cannon fire roared, and it was rare to see a battle of equals last three hundred rounds. Once engaged, it was a matter of life and death, with the outcome often determined within seconds¡ªthere was no luck involved, and death came too quickly for one to react. Even now, the young lady''s face was still pale, her heart filled with terror. "Hmm, let''s call for help after we''ve cleared the battlefield," Originally, Adrian intended to agree but after some thought, he decided not to immediately involve the local police. The ambush at Grafki Village was most likely a retaliatory action by the "Water Bear" organization targeting the new department formed by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division." This was no longer a situation local law enforcement could handle. If there was a half-dead fish slipping through the net, in its dying struggles, it could likely cause unnecessary casualties. After a brief rest, the Holy Knight, A-rank metal ability user Kiterley, and the Thunder Series warrior Apu¡ªall three key combat personnel¡ªhad recovered to their prime state and could rejoin the battle. Mouri Misono was somewhat drained and needed more rest. To rejoin the fight, she would need to wait another 24 hours. The Holy Knight''s mount, the Wind System Second Rank magical beast Green Scaled Colt Mini, was in a similar condition. After consecutive full-powered sprints and the shock from the heavy artillery''s remaining force causing internal damage, it too needed a day''s rest¡ªthere was no way around it. Neanderthal Chief Bassan, seriously wounded and awaiting healing, would be unable to engage in strenuous activity for at least four to five days, thus unfit for combat. The A-rank psychic ability user and puppet master Joshua, having lost almost half of his constructed puppet warriors and with his spirit power impaired, could only control two puppet warriors at most. Participating in combat was utterly impossible, these two puppets were just enough to defend the mobile base vehicle. The unharmed included the fire mage Adrian, the earth mage Ruan Tiankai, the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, B-rank ice ability user Susanna, and B-rank metal ability user Chen Fei. Excluding Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, Squad 04 still retained most of its combat strength. For the clearing operation in Grafki Village, the Thunder Series warrior Apu and the Holy Knight, now serving on foot, along with the fire mage Adrian and the B-rank ice ability user Susanna would provide rear support. As the seasoned driver, Chen Fei remained inside the mobile base vehicle to offer long-range fire support. In such cold weather, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu couldn''t fly out of the warm cabin without risk; a little carelessness and it could quickly become a frozen Sparrow. The site of Grafki Village, which had just witnessed a formidable battle of ability users and heavy artillery fire, was now deathly silent except for the howling winds that whipped up dry, cold snow. The four members of Squad 04 proceeded into the village cautiously, adopting a two-front, two-rear formation. Susanna, the B-rank ice ability user, immediately invoked her power, turning snow into ice and erecting towering ice walls to divide the entire village into different sections. Adrian held a fireball in hand, covering for Holy Knight Walter Sam and Thunder Series warrior Apu as they searched diligently through each and every building or ruin within the village. - Chapter 395 Section 391 - New Instruction "...No villagers found, they may be detained elsewhere...we need support..." Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, acting as the liaison officer, reported the latest situation to the Tunguska Regional Police Headquarters. The cleanup team of Squad 04 spent over two hours thoroughly searching the village of Grafki, inside and out, even turning over the ruins. Regrettably, Adrian and his colleagues didn''t find any survivors, only seventeen bodies; nearly half of them lay outside the village, the very people who had attempted to ambush the Mobile Base Vehicle. Fortunately, Mouri Misono and the Neanderthal Chief Bassan had joined forces to intercept them, preventing a successful attack. The heads of three of the bodies within the village were nowhere to be found, leaving only splatters of blood and flesh, suggesting they may have chosen suicide due to severe injuries and the inability to escape. Others had not witnessed such a gruesome method of suicide before, but Chen Fei had seen it with his own eyes, hence he speculated in this direction. In addition to railgun weapons and directed-energy weapons, over a dozen types of conventional firearms such as anti-tank missiles, large-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns, and heavy sniper rifles were discovered. Some had been used, while others had not yet been deployed in combat. Once ability users were on alert, conventional firearms often posed little direct threat. Of course, exclusions like the 152, which is a cheat-code, map-level artillery piece, cannot be overlooked; even Earth Order or Class A strong individuals, if hit at close range, would be severely injured if not killed. The Mobile Base Vehicle slowly drove into the village to guard the scene and wait for support personnel from the Tunguska Police. Although the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could mobilize a considerable number of ability users, matching and even surpassing some of the mid-sized sovereign powers in comprehensive combat ability, they inherently lacked in intelligence work. After all, the committee''s adversaries were mutants lacking intelligence, negating the need for a human intelligence department entirely. Now, with the sudden appearance of the human-predominant "Water Bear" organization, they had to rely on the intelligence channels of various sovereign powers. The ambush on the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" special action squad of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Grafki Village was very likely orchestrated by the Water Bear organization according to intelligence experts from all sides. This organization not only secretly breeds and proliferates highly aggressive mutants, but it also seems to remain deeply hidden, unaffected by the establishment of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" and the assistance of multiple sovereign powers. Instead, by continually releasing false information and setting ambush traps, the organization has kept the conflict between the two parties intense and ongoing. This shows that their planning and operational capabilities are far beyond those of ordinary forces, so the establishment of the targeted action department, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," by the Global United Defense Committee Members was clearly a timely and wise move. So from the very beginning, when they released the news to collect prehistoric biological specimens from the tundra, it was a trap targeting Adrian and his team, almost waiting for the Mobile Base Vehicle to walk right into their net in Grafki Village. Fortunately, the team leader, First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin, was not careless. Although Squad 04 was caught off guard, they quickly stabilized their ranks and succeeded in the counterattack, driving off the ambushers who left behind more than a dozen bodies before the survivors fled in disarray.@@@@ After the female liaison officer Tanya reported to her superiors, it wasn''t until the next morning that personnel from the Tunguska Police reached the scene. Apart from a team of police vehicles flashing their lights, there were more than a dozen armored vehicles and hundreds of fully armed soldiers. The local garrison of the Tunguska Region had also sent a team to assist the police in placing the entire village under martial law. At the same time, they searched for the missing villagers. It was not until the evening of the third day that the police finally found the missing villagers of Grafki Village, trapped inside a cabin in the middle of the forest. The massive cabin with no doors or windows clearly bore the traces of Wood System Spells, with only slivers of daylight acting as ventilation. If the police hadn''t found this place in time, the villagers, with little food and water, might have frozen or starved to death. As for how they ended up here, no one could say for sure, as if they woke up to find themselves in this cabin. Only two or three dim lights barely allowed them to find the food, water, and blankets left in the house, and it was these items that the villagers had relied on to hold out until now. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Why fatten her up so much? Because when the subcutaneous fat fills out, the skin surface area increases, and the pain is exquisite!! "You... you..." Nicole von Sasha, an A-grade Psychic Ability User, turned pale at the horrifying thoughts that hit her like a wave, pointing at Chen Fei, speechless. Mind Reading Technique is indeed a great thing, but damn, you''ve got to choose who to read! "What''s wrong, Nicole?" Rossi, with a sour face, noticed the abnormal reaction of the woman next to him. "Demon!!!" The blond little sister finally couldn''t hold it in anymore and screamed. "Huh?" Adrian, who stood at the very front of the group, looked bewilderedly at the clearly distressed woman, then turned back to look at the members of Squad 04. Chen Fei wore an innocent face, while the Little Bird on his shoulder cocked its head. "Tweet?" This kind of psychic confrontation was invisible to the naked eye; despite faces being known, hearts remained a mystery, making it impossible to discern the truth. After exchanging glances, Liaison Officer Rossi and Adrian frowned and said to the female A-grade Psychic Ability User accompanying them, "Nicole, what''s the matter with you? Maybe you should rest a bit. Adrian, you and the rest come with me to the conference room." An entire floor of the hotel had been booked, including a small conference room. A true expert in psychology, A-grade Psychic Ability User Nicole von Sasha quickly suppressed her emotional turbulence, glaring resentfully at Chen Fei from Squad 04. She spoke in a normal tone, "I''m fine, I''m fine!" "Alright then, let''s focus on the important matters at hand!" Liaison Officer Rossi''s gaze shifted towards the Tunguska Police female liaison officer at the back of Squad 04, mustering a faint smile. "Officer Tanya, I''m Rossi, the liaison in charge of Adrian and his team. Please join us as well for our confidential meeting." The local police representative was essential. The Bear Hunting Special Operations Division needed real local intelligence channels to carry out operations smoothly, and the current situation demanded full support from the local officer, so building a good relationship was a necessary prerequisite. Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, who was originally unsure how to approach the situation, quickly nodded, "Oh, oh, okay, Mr. Rossi." Lucky me, to sit in on these high-level ability users'' confidential meetings, there''s bound to be extraordinary information! - Chapter 396 Section 392 - Fallen from the Sky The meeting room, capable of accommodating over a hundred people, contained only a large rectangular table surrounded by chairs. When everyone sat down, there were exactly no spare chairs, nor was any chair left unoccupied. Accompanied by Liaison Officer Rossi to the capital of the Tunguska Region, Yarsk City was Nicole von Sasha, a Grade A Psychic Ability User. From the beginning until the end, she kept staring intently at Chen Fei, who, once seated, had simply sprawled across the table, resting his head on his arms and softly snoring. Little Bird jumped directly onto Chen Fei''s head and began to nest there, as if incubating his somewhat fatigued brain. Ultimately, Chen''s unease stemmed from his distrust of "Adam," the AI that was constantly startled by anything, incapable of handling sudden emergencies. While others could comfortably sleep inside the vehicle, Chen Fei had to sit upright at the driver''s seat, constantly monitoring the vehicle''s driving state. "Adrian, about the Grafki Village case, do you have anything to say?" Once seated, Liaison Officer Rossi immediately gave the team captain of Squad 04 a cold look and went straight to the point. Adrian sighed internally, feeling helpless, and said, "Everything has already been detailed in the report, identical to what was forwarded to the Tunguska Police." The moment he saw the blonde lady next to Rossi, he already knew very well why she was there. The attack they had experienced in Grafki Village was clearly a well-planned operation. From another perspective, the Mobile Base Vehicle''s movements were completely known by the ambushers. This meant that there were likely moles around or even within Squad 04. The role of liaison and assistance in interrogation by Tanya, a Grade C Psychic Ability User, wasn''t sufficient for this type of investigation, hence the deployment of a higher-ranked interrogation specialist, the blonde lady, Nicole von Sasha. However, from the moment she arrived, she clashed with Chen Fei, who was full of malice, which truly caused headaches. He wondered where the kid got such intense killer vibes, not knowing to restrain himself a bit? "It''s been nearly a month, and you haven''t achieved anything here but still got ambushed. Look at the others, Squad 03 thwarted three ambushes and captured a prisoner, Squad 08 discovered vital clues and captured an important member of the Water Bear organization, and Squad 19 even destroyed a Water Bear breeding base." As was unexpected by anyone in Squad 04, after simmering for a moment, Liaison Officer Rossi slammed the table and erupted. "Tch, as if it''s easy! Look at this place; in a hundred kilometers around our station, there''s not even a shadow to chase. Who are we supposed to find? Who are we supposed to capture?" Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User, could no longer contain her frustration and retorted sharply. The straightforward and imposing Apu blurted out, "Exactly, exactly! If you can do it, then you go. If not, then stop complaining!" During the ambush, their lives had truly hung by a thread. Lucky for him, he ran fast; otherwise, he would have been killed on the spot by a shot that didn''t discriminate between friend and foe. Only after experiencing a heavy cannon barrage did he truly understand the terrifying power of a railgun firing a 152-caliber shell. "Jiu!" Little Bird, disturbed by the arguing, lifted its head, tilted it, and then hopped off Chen Fei''s head, bouncing around on the conference table. One moment he peeked at the coffee in the cup in front of Adrian, a first-rank Fire System Mage; the next moment, he trod on the mobile screen of Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono; then he hopped beside the fruit plate, stretching his neck to stealthily peck at the fruits, drenching his beak with juice, acting as if no one else was present, treating the conference table as his own playground. What meeting, what "Water Bear" organization, what Global United Defense Committee? What does he care about those? Seemingly provoked by Apu and Susanna, Liaison Officer Rossi slammed the table and roared, "Have you gotten too comfortable? Look at what you''ve done in Siberia! Such a big place, go out, search, interrogate, but what now, who have you caught? Do I still need to teach you how to handle things?" It had to be said, the guy''s words were indeed poisonous, rendering Adrian and others pale-faced, yet unable to rebut. After all, the task was too vague; if Team 04 took too much initiative, they might offend the local snakes, the Tunguska Police Department. If any disputes arose, Rossi would kick back without hesitation; definitely not taking the blame for that. Not sure if she was formally participating or merely observing, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna of the Tunguska Police turned pale¡ªthis uncle was terrifying! Rossi, being the liaison officer, naturally ranked above Team 04. Adrian quickly signaled Apu and Susanna with his eyes, asking them not to speak out of turn. After flipping through just three or four pages, the blonde lady suddenly exclaimed. "This person, this person is a member of the ''Water Bear'' organization, who was just killed in an operation by Team 19 recently." The identity of one of the persons was recognized, making this stack of documents suddenly very important. To err is to kill, not to overlook... Hearing her words, Team 04 exchanged glances. What exactly were Liaison Officer Rossi and that Level A Psychic Ability User playing at? Was the meeting to continue, or had it clearly veered off course? After flipping through a few more pages, the identification results came almost instantly, identifying another "Water Bear" organization member because his true identity was confirmed due to being killed. "Rossi, Rossi!" Nicole von Sasha took a deep breath, her expression serious, and said, "These personal details, they might really be..." "''Water Bear''!" Rossi obviously had already guessed the answer. He had only speculated before, but now had confirmed some of it from the blonde lady, even though not all had been verified, the suspicion on others greatly increased. Liaison Officer Rossi would never believe that the "Water Bear" organization member''s documents had just appeared in the storage space of his Space System Alchemy Storage Device without his knowledge, and certainly not that he had released them. So... it must be that bird! He stared intently at the lively Little Bird bouncing around, those leg rings looked damn suspicious. Rossi took a deep breath and said, "This list, why didn''t you bring it out earlier?" "Huh?"¡Á12! The entire Team 04 was baffled. What list, how to bring it out? Mr. Liaison Officer, are you out of your mind? Hey, the psychologist next to you, stop zoning out, hurry up and check on Liaison Officer Rossi! "What are these expressions on your faces?" Rossi, puzzled by the weird expressions of the crowd, furrowed his brows. Adrian, feeling utterly devastated inside, tentatively said, "Mr. Rossi, didn''t you pull out these documents yourself?" This crazy Liaison Officer, is he ever going to stop?! At least in everyone''s eyes, the stack of documents had appeared under Rossi''s hands. They all thought this guy was actually going to teach Team 04 how to work! "Not me! I didn''t! Stop talking nonsense!" - Chapter 397 Section 393 - The Real "Lie A textbook-style triple denial; Rossi wouldn''t dare take credit for this, wondering what story he could possibly concoct when asked later where he got it from. Let''s not forget the mind-reading blonde elder sister sitting right next to him¡ªall lies are but paper tigers, easily punctured with a gentle poke. By then, he''d definitely be strung up; there was no way he could answer! So why ask for trouble? "Huh?" x13! Another blonde elder sister with a face full of disbelief appeared. After scolding Team 04 with a barrage of insults, she rolled up her sleeves to handle it herself. What kind of ghostly maneuver is this?! Little did Liaison Officer Rossi know, in the eyes of everyone else, he had become an absolute basket case¡ªhow utterly insane. Can he scold them? No! He was right; it was the bird''s fault! "It''s that one! It''s that very one!" Rossi pointed without hesitation at the little bird hopping farther and farther away on the tabletop. He had eagle eyes and could not be fooled; this damn bird was trying to sneak by, treating him like a monkey, absolutely no way!!! "Huh?" x13! The venue suddenly plunged into an embarrassingly awkward atmosphere. This was indeed a bit outrageous! He could have randomly pointed at anyone, even Liaison Officer Tanya from the Tunguska Police would be fine, at least that could be taken as a surprise from the local police for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division." But why pick on a little bird; did he have a grievance with Chen Fei? If he had a grievance, he could just say it plainly and kick him out of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" directly; out of sight, out of mind¡ªmuch cleaner, rather than these roundabout tricks that made everyone uncomfortable and far from refreshing. Rossi took the stack of "Water Bear" organization suspect resumes from in front of the blonde elder sister beside him, shook them in his hand, and then said, "This list was thrown out by the Pure Light Sparrow, huh, are you trying to make a fool out of me?" The more he thought about it, the angrier he became; he was being set up for a fall! Quite the pretender! The misunderstanding between them was racing toward an irretrievable conclusion, impossible to turn back in a short time. "Hold on, hold on, let me sort this out!" Adrian, whose mind was a bit muddled, took a deep breath and asked in confusion, "Liaison Officer Rossi, you''re saying that Little Jiu took out this information, but from where?" As he spoke, he stared intently at the right middle finger of Liaison Officer Rossi. The finger ring on the other party''s hand almost exactly matched his own Spatial System Alchemy Storage Device, and it was obviously some kind of standard storage equipment for items. Although ordinary people''s spiritual power is insufficient to use Spatial Storage Artifacts, with the aid of magic potion enhancements, special training methods, or some other stimulating approach, it is still possible to force an increase in potential to the point where they can barely use it. If Little Jiu were a Light-element Magical Beast, Adrian and others might have believed it, but it is undoubtedly a Pure Light Sparrow, a Third Order Light-element Magical Beast without a doubt. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire For a Light-element Magical Beast to use Space Series skills, it''s simply unscientific! After making eye contact with Rossi, the blonde miss Nicole strictly adhered to her professional ethics and affirmed again, "The truth!!" Liaison Officer Rossi trembled with anger, his voice quivering as he glared at Chen Fei and said, "Okay! You''re impressive! Equipping a Pure Light Sparrow with a Storage Magical Device, you''re shamelessly over the top." To fit a Spatial System Alchemy Storage Device ring on a mere Pure Light Sparrow''s claw, making it look just like a regular positioning leg ring. This underhanded move was just too cunning. All that talk about owing millions of Star Yuan being broke¡ªIt''s all an act, a fraudster. This guy might be a spy; there need to be thorough investigations, down to the last eighteen generations. "It wasn''t me! I didn''t! Stop talking nonsense!" Chen Fei vehemently denied the accusations with a triple denial. He was truly wronged. But it was strange, how did Xiao Jiu''s leg ring become a Spatial Storage Artifact? It was utterly baffling. Was it possible that the positioning leg ring manufacturer accidentally slipped it into the package? Damn, what a windfall! However, coming back to it, where did that document come from? Was the positioning leg ring manufacturer a peripheral of the "Water Bear" organization? There were too many doubts; it was overwhelming to think about. "You''re lying!" Liaison Officer Rossi accused him with the force of justice again. "The truth!" The blonde miss didn''t hesitate to betray justice with her endorsement. They were supposed to be on the same side, but now... What?! Rossi turned back incredulously. Was this kid really without a single fault? "So far, he hasn''t told a lie. I know you don''t want to accept it, but that''s the fact!" Nicole von Sasha helplessly spread her hands, unable to go against her conscience and distort the truth. Those who manipulate the mind, once they backfire, the consequences are equally terrible. Ensuring a clear conscience and avoiding guilt prevents a flaw in the spirit. "Damn it, damn it..." Like someone suffered a massive blow, Rossi slumped down, clutching his head, his mind a whirlwind. All this mess, the team is so hard to manage! Members of Team 04 looked at each other in confusion, still trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Xiao Jiu, the Spatial System Alchemy Storage Device, and a thick stack of "Water Bear" organization suspect resumes¡ªit was hard to link these three together, almost utterly irrelevant. "Let''s call it quits for today''s meeting!" Not only Adrian needed to sort things out, but even Liaison Officer Rossi wanted to get a handle on what had happened today. He stood up, without waiting to beckon to Nicole, his A-grade Psychic Ability User, and staggered out of the conference room. As soon as Rossi left the meeting room, the atmosphere inside immediately relaxed. Chen Fei grabbed the finally hopping back little fellow and asked fiercely, "Xiao Jiu, what''s going on here? Confess for leniency!" "Jiu!~" - ``` Chapter 398 Section 394 - The Blonde Elder Sister Feels Confident Such a tiny thing that''s only the size of a fist, it can''t even talk, no matter how Chen Fei asked, chirp, that''s it! What else could he do with it! Absolutely no idea! Nicole von Sasha, the blonde elder sister who hadn''t left, read the various vile thoughts rolling in Chen Fei''s mind, such as snapping the little bird''s neck, smashing it into mush in an instant, pressing its head flat against the desk, plucking off its wings, and so on. Terrible thoughts abounded, ceaseless and churning. My God, how could there be such an evil person in the world, the very incarnation of a demon. Yet the light-element magical beast lay there in her hands without any guard, claws upturned, allowing to be inspected its two leg rings. As to which one was the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device, not only was Chen Fei completely baffled, but so were the others, staring blankly at each other, unable to distinguish between them. One silver, the other bronze, a clash of colors paired together, similarly sized¡ªsuch a perfect match! Who could possibly imagine that these two were not part of a set? Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna looked at Chen Fei holding the little bird, asking it questions only to be answered by a "chirp," gaining nothing, and couldn''t help feeling disheartened, "I think we simply can''t get anything out of it!" This was surely a futile effort! Adrian, holding his coffee, said indifferently, "That''s what I think too!" Xiao Jiu was without a doubt an important member of Team 04. As for the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device and such, it was simply not important. Just like high-capacity military crystalline blocks, finding one was considered a gain, absolutely not something to cavalierly hand over; there was nothing to discuss. Why there would be member information for the "Water Bear" organization, even Chen Fei didn''t know, and what he said was certified by professionals on the scene, so nobody else knew either. Since it was incomprehensible, better not to think about it¡ªit was unsolvable. The waters were too deep, and forcibly trying to resolve it would simply be seeking death, meaningless. There was one other possibility: Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was a bigshot from the "Water Bear" organization, hence possessing the member list... Pfft, haha, hahaha, was this joke meant to laugh Team 04 to death? The little bird rolled around merrily in Chen Fei''s hands, chirping nonstop. The Neanderthal Chief, still seriously injured and not yet fully recovered, had eyes on the nose, nose on the heart¡ªa picture of closed eyes and resting spirit. After Liaison Officer Rossi left, Puppet Master Joshua began playing mobile games on his own, burying his head in his phone. The Old Tree Boundary Ape smiled, not getting involved at all. Only Mouri Misono still looked on with great interest as Chen Fei fiddled with the little bird, who eventually spread his hands and chose to give up, just as Adrian and Susanna had predicted. There was only one answer¡ªthe little guy could only chirp. "Chirp!" After the little bird steadied itself. Clang, a bottle of red wine smashed onto the table. "..." Chen Fei recognized the label, it was one of Boss Hana''s collected fine wines. Good for you, Xiao Jiu, stealing wine, if Boss finds out, that''s big trouble. "Chirp!" The little bird pecked at the bottle cap and then turned to look at Chen Fei. Asking it where the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device and the "Water Bear" organization member data came from was met with silence, but now its shrewdness was evident, even knowing to ask Chen Fei to help open the bottle. "Eh? This wine is pretty good, seems like the Francisco Heirloom 2022 Limited Collection Edition, ssss, at least 80,000 Star Yuan a bottle." Adrian happened to look over, involuntarily gasping. Of course, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had no bad intentions, and its thoughts were easy to understand. But its attack was purely instinctive, without any concept of good or evil. It could happily, sincerely, and kindly eliminate the other party without any evil thoughts, not even a hint of malice¡ªit was completely natural and justifiable. This was just like how humans can happily, sincerely, and kindly slaughter pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens, ducks, and geese, skin them and debone them, tossing everything into the pot. Can you say that the butchers or foodies are bad people? Definitely not! The A-level Psychic Ability User, Nicole von Sasha, attempted to apply human ways of thinking to the Pure Light Sparrow and was doomed to use the wrong approach. "I think you''re going crazy! Humph!" Adrian patted his clothes, shook off a few drops of coffee, and left the conference room. There was nothing to talk about with this crazy woman. "Let''s go! This is boring!" B-level Ice Ability User Susanna, pulling Mouri Misono along, rose to leave, and others did the same. After Liaison Officer Rossi left, everyone on Team 04 had already been wanting to leave. "Stay away from my bird from now on, or first I''ll fry and then kill, kill and then fry." Chen Fei bared his teeth in a warning to the golden-haired Miss, and a terrifying wave of malice rushed at her, scaring her as she had just stood up, making her plop down once again, her face a mix of grievance and fear. In the end, only the golden-haired Miss was left in the conference room, where she couldn''t help but cry out in frustration. - "Wake up, wake up, Chen Fei, wake up!" Chen Fei, who was deep in sleep, was jostled awake. "What''s going on?" "Chirp!" In the bird''s nest on the bedside table, the Pure Light Sparrow, too, was roused from sleep and looked around with its beady little eyes at the white-haired, cropped-haired man who had intruded into the room. "Get up; there''s trouble!" Adrian Benjamin, the leader of Team 04 and a First Rank fire mage, forcefully woke Chen Fei. Since checking into this hotel, they had basically one room per person on the same floor. They didn''t bother each other, with the elevator linked to their room cards. As long as the stairwell was guarded, no outsiders could enter the floor. "Trouble?" Chen Fei rolled out of bed in a flash, with Xiao Jiu flapping its wings and perching on his shoulder as they both stared at Adrian. "Chirp?" Adrian hastily stated, "Liaison Officer Rossi, Apu, and Bassan have been poisoned. The herbs from Lulu''an can''t stabilize them. Please let Xiao Jiu help." He was not only there to inform Team 04 of the emergency but also to seek Xiao Jiu''s aid. No one else could command the Pure Light Sparrow. Anyone who tried might end up on the receiving end of a laser beam, maimed if not killed. "Alright! I''ll let Xiao Jiu give it a try, but I can''t guarantee it''ll work." Chen Fei offered no objections. Light Healing Spells worked on the principle of stimulating vitality, so whether they could detoxify was not something he dared guarantee. By the time Adrian led them to the scene, the local medical team had also arrived promptly. The problem lay with the hotel''s buffet breakfast. After the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an detected something off with the food, Liaison Officer Rossi, the tall, burly Apu, and the Neanderthal Chief had already fallen victim, while others were lucky to escape thanks to the warning. Upon their arrival, the medical team commenced the grim procedures of induced vomiting and enemas, trying to get rid of as much of the remaining toxins from the stomach as possible. Seeing the three unconscious individuals, Chen Fei brought the little bird closer. "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light of Redemption''!" The Healing Spells did not conflict with the medical team''s treatment methods. - Chapter 399 Section 395 - Reserved Land The first fist-sized Light Orb entered Liaison Officer Rossi''s chest, yet the reddened complexion only slightly faded before swelling back up to a Guangong-like face. "It seems to be of little use?" Chen Fei muttered softly. The Second Rank "Light of Redemption" had a more immediate effect than the First Rank "Light Healing Technique." The Old Tree Boundary Ape beside him muttered as he rummaged through his bag and forcefully induced several plants to grow with Wood System Spells, considering which antidote formulae might come in handy. However, the bag''s capacity was limited; the seeds he carried were fine for common antidotes, but the poison afflicting the three was exceptionally strange. Although it was not immediately lethal, it could render one comatose and barely alive. If they could not gain control in time, death was just a matter of when.@@@@ The hotel staff and management had been completely detained by the Female Liaison Officer assisted by local police forces, and an investigation was underway; it seemed unlikely the poisoner would be identified anytime soon. "Try it on Apu, he has the best physique," suggested Adrian with furrowed brows. The other members of Team 04 rushed to the scene, visibly shaken as they watched the medical personnel surrounding and attempting to resuscitate the three victims. They were lucky not to have had breakfast together, else it would have been an annihilation for sure. It was off-season in winter, and the hotel lodging Team 04 was practically private¡ªonly Rossi, Apu, and Bassan had arrived earliest at the buffet. Otherwise, more than just those three would have been poisoned. "Chirp!" Little Bird fluffed its feathers as if gathering strength before releasing another fist-sized Light Orb, which plunged into the big, burly man''s chest. The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior''s eyes flew open, and he abruptly sat up. His mouth agape, a spittoon was timely placed before him. "Awooo..." A torrent of foul matter surged out, probably including his dinner from the night before. It was unclear whether it was due to the "Light of Redemption" or the medical personnel''s induced vomiting. After a minute of constant retching that brought up bile, the medical staff wiped his mouth and gave him some water. After a few more dry heaves, the big man rolled his eyes back and collapsed again. The vomiting had been a reflex action that sapped the last of his strength. The effect of the "Light of Redemption" was minimal at best. Chen Fei shrugged at Adrian. It seemed the efficacy of Xiao Jiu''s Light Healing Spells was not as potent as imagined. "Try it on Bassan, too. Just keep him alive for now," said the First Rank Fire Mage, scratching his buzz cut. Whether it worked or not, they had to cling to any hope they had; a Light Healing Spell was better than nothing. "Alright!" Chen Fei patted Xiao Jiu on the head. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire After two consecutive Second Rank Spells, the Pure Light Sparrow was not as efficient as at first; only after some hesitation and struggle did it manage to muster a Light Orb smaller than the previous two, yet it finally took shape. With a soft leap, it vanished into the Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s chest. "Sigh!" A collective sigh ensued, including from the medical personnel. Just then, Bassan''s eyes snapped open, and he shouted, "Convict, Sovereignty!" The Magic Cube Warship then rose sharply and flew towards the distant Yangzhou Continent. Although jet airliners are a bit faster than warships and Sky Patrol Ships in terms of cruising speed, they fall far short in endurance, especially over long distances. Flying from Tunguska Region in Siberia to the Yangzhou Continent, from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, would require at least two to three refueling stops along the way just by jet airliner. A single flight crew wouldn''t be able to sustain such a long flight, and ultimately, the time to reach the destination wouldn''t be much faster, and could even be slower. - The Neanderthal reserve located about 15 kilometers from the western coastline of the Yangzhou Continent covers a total area of about 54 square kilometers. "Neanderthal Cultural Theme Park? Huh? What in the world is this place?!" Chen Fei looked over and over again at the enormous sign in front of the Mobile Base Vehicle, comparing it with the markings on the electronic map. The Phantom Cube-180S medium-sized multipurpose Magic Cube Warship did not enter the Neanderthal reserve; instead, it chose to land nearby. The sparsity of people in the Yangzhou Continent, only slightly better than the Siberian Tundra, meant as long as one followed the satellite navigation clearly, it would be hard to get lost. Therefore, the Mobile Base Vehicle didn''t have to travel too far after being set down to successfully find the place. But this... A whole 54 square kilometers of theme park, indeed huge, but where was the reserve? So, it''s all just one big park? Someone came running over, waving a small flag outside what looked like a tollbooth for a highway. "We don''t need a tour guide!" Chen Fei waved at the other party, dismissing them directly. With a baseball cap, a clipped-on microphone, a small speaker hanging from the waist, and a tour guide badge fluttering on the chest, combined with the large "Neanderthal Cultural Theme Park" sign in the background, Team 04 felt as if they had gone to the wrong place. "The 04 team from the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division,'' right? I''m the guide¡ªno, wait, the ground service agent, yes, the ground service agent!" The other party, however, correctly identified Team 04''s identity. After all, a 20-meter-long heavy vehicle was recognizable at first glance anywhere it appeared. "Get in the vehicle!" Without asking further questions, Chen Fei parked the vehicle, swung the door open wide. The person dashed into the cabin in a flash and then pointed towards a side of the tollbooth area, saying, "Take the heavy vehicle lane; your vehicle is too wide, it won''t fit through the other gates." Adrian and the others then saw clearly that the person was a woman, with red war patterns on her face, neck, hands, and the exposed areas of her arms. Perhaps she was an elite Neanderthal warrior who had resorted to being a tour guide to make a living. Noticing everyone''s gaze, the woman was unfazed and explained, "Don''t get me wrong, I''m not a warrior, the war patterns are just applied on, and they''ll fade in about a week. Of course, it''s part of our cultural heritage. I''m one of the few pureblood Neanderthals and usually take care of tour groups. You can call me Cosina, a descendant of the Ennan Tribe from the twelve Overlord Tribes, of course, now that the Supreme Council is long gone, you distinguished members of the United Defense Commission shouldn''t overthink it!" Her speech always inevitably carried a tour guide-like professional tone, making it particularly awkward to listen to. "Phew! Where is this?" Just at that moment, Neanderthal Chief Bassan suddenly woke up, letting out a long breath. The "Convict" poison offered only one hour of clarity among its few moments of lucidity. This one hour was not hope, but despair and fear. - Chapter 400 Section 396 - Reserve Land ``` "Eh? Clan Leader, what are you doing here? Are you alright?" The woman working as a tour guide in the cultural reserve park was surprised to see Bassan in the vehicle. Isn''t that the Clan Leader? "Cosina, is that you? Sorry, I''m short on time, please don''t disturb me." After regaining consciousness, the Neanderthal Chief''s complexion turned sallow and looked very unwell, but he seemed to care little for his appearance as he fumbled around him, then urgently said to Adrian, "Adrian, please get my phone for me and switch it to video recording mode. Chen Fei, create a soundproof room for me, and then you drive to the Supreme Council. Cosina, you lead the way." "You need the phone? Okay! Are you still feeling okay?" Bassan''s phone was by his pillow; Adrian quickly activated the screen and started the recording. Porous foam metal panels rose from the floor of the carriage, swiftly constructing a room that enveloped the bed of the Neanderthal Chief, enclosing Adrian as well. Under Chen Fei''s "Metal Shaping" skill, the entire Mobile Base Vehicle could be altered at will. "Oh, oh, okay..." The Neanderthal tribe woman Cosina looked utterly baffled. What on earth was the Clan Leader doing? But he seemed to be in a hurry. "Excuse me, Ms. Cosina, which way to the Supreme Council?" Chen Fei waved his hand in front of the still dazed woman, finally snapping her back to reality. The real Supreme Council of the Neanderthal tribe was destroyed over thirty years ago in that great war, and the last remaining ruins had also been put to an end by Squad 04 using leftover ammunition, never to exist again. The "Supreme Council" referred to by the Neanderthal Chief was most likely a replica building within the theme park for visitors to tour. "Um, go through the toll booth and keep going straight along Era Avenue!" Cosina hastily pointed out the direction. "I have always wanted to come here for a trip. I need to buy a better camera. Hey, Chen Fei, hurry up and adjust the window glass to be completely transparent, I want to see more clearly. And don''t drive too fast, I can''t keep up with the sights!" Ice Ability User Susanna practically pressed her face against the window of the vehicle, and her phone''s camera was likewise stuck right against it. She had long heard about the "Neanderthal Cultural Theme Park" ¨C a famous attraction on Yangzhou Continent ¨C but never had a chance to visit. Such a truly exotic experience is quite rare. Now that she had finally arrived, she almost forgot about her mission. The compartment''s windows were double-layered, with the outer layer being tea-colored high-boron silicon glass, and the inner layer being transparent metal. Chen Fei, left with no choice, said, "The outer glass isn''t metal, I can''t do anything about it!" "Speed up, let''s hurry to the Supreme Council. Don''t just think about playing, the important matters come first!" Adrian suddenly emerged from a temporary partition that had been created. "Right away!" Chen Fei floored the accelerator. When the road conditions were good, the Mobile Base Vehicle could travel quite fast. Twenty minutes later, a tall white building appeared at the end of the road. Just looking at the silhouette, it vaguely resembled the ruins of the Supreme Council found by Team 04 deep in the Central Great Desert. Ms. Cosina pointed at the building and exclaimed excitedly, "That over there is our Supreme Council!" Neanderthal Chief Bassan weakly clung to the door frame as he stepped out, and said faintly, "The antidote, it will be obtained soon." At this moment, the large and dark figure, Apu, and Liaison Officer Rossi both regained consciousness. The Thunder Series Warrior could even let out a couple of screams like a pig being slaughtered, while Rossi could only roll his eyes franticly, his mouth opening and closing weakly, unable to make a sound. The "convict" poison of the Neanderthal tribe, even when its effects temporarily subsided and clarity was temporarily restored, still exhibited varying symptoms depending on the individual. Mouri Misono said happily, "That''s wonderful!" Putting aside Liaison Officer Rossi, the loss of two important combatants for Team 04 was a major blow to the upcoming mission. Ms. Cosina sensed something was amiss and asked in surprise, "Wait, what antidote? Chief, what''s wrong with you?" - Chapter 401 Section 397 - Supreme Council "Cosina, this has nothing to do with you. Don''t get involved!" The Neanderthal Chief, not wanting to involve innocent members of the tribe, unusually spoke more than usual, not as sparing with words as he typically was. The "Convict" toxin had leaked, implicating serious matters. The current situation within the tribe had become elusive and confusing. It was still unclear who had colluded with outsiders (the "Water Bear" organization was highly suspicious) to leak this toxin. Bassan, taking advantage of the limited time he was lucid, made as many arrangements as possible. "Ah? Yes, yes!" Cosina stared at the Clan Chief Bassan, her mouth agape, her back hair involuntarily standing on end. She was not a participant in the great war that occurred more than thirty years ago, but rather born after its conclusion, enjoying from the start a life of peace and even a bit of affluence, utterly unprepared for facing brutal conflicts. Although satisfied with her current life, Cosina, who had learned about the tribe''s history, vaguely understood that although the Neanderthal tribe seemed to be loosely maintained and the chief and elders merely symbolic mascots, nothing would happen unless something big was about to occur. Having just heard about the antidote, could it be that the chief had been... She dared not continue her thoughts. The tribe''s few notorious poisons were quite dreadful, some even lacking an antidote. Once afflicted, even with today''s medical technology, there was no solution other than waiting for death. The Mobile Base Vehicle stopped beside the replicated building of the Supreme Council, drawing the curious gazes of many tourists and locals. "Chen Fei, three wheelchairs, thank you!" Adrian, not trusting to leave Liaison Officer Rossi and the large black man, Apu, inside the Mobile Base Vehicle, briskly commanded Chen Fei, treating him like a tool. Generating three wheelchairs was no big deal. Just like 3D printing, three wheelchairs emerged on the vehicle''s floor, merely chairs with two large and two small wheels, nothing technically challenging. Even if the "Physical Evolution Database" had no sample, Chen Fei could replicate them using his imagination. After being generated, the "vehicle" section of the "Physical Evolution Database" automatically added the single-person wheelchair as an item. Besides the method of absorbing a prototype, there was another way to add samples needed for replication in the "Physical Evolution Database." "..." Liaison Officer Rossi, who couldn''t make a sound, was lifted onto a wheelchair, looking severely demented with skewed eyes and mouth. The "Convict" toxin, although not immediately lethal, was a rather sinister and malicious poison. Team 04, pushing the three wheelchairs, entered the building of the Supreme Council through an accessible passage. Most non-Neanderthal guards recognized Bassan, the current Clan Chief, and immediately allowed entry using standard Neanderthal tribe protocol, thus they entered without tickets. Supreme Council tour tickets: 20 Star Yuans for adults, half price for children under 12, thank you! With so many people on the preserve needing to make a living, it seemed not wrong that the former highest power organ of the Neanderthal tribe had become a tool for making money; after all, isn''t the ultimate use of power to make money? No embarrassment there! "Cosina, notify everyone. Stop operations here and clear the place." Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Bassan, typically a symbolic chief, rarey exercised his power. "Does that thing still exist?" "Who did it?" The seats of the Twelve Overlord Tribes became noisy like a pot boiling over at the scene. There were not only elders from the Twelve Overlord Tribes present but also several leaders of minor tribes who, having nothing better to do, came to collect an appearance fee of a hundred Star Yuan, merely to show their faces. The nature reserves operated like corporations, without any significant roles for these individuals. Even so, the unexpected eruption of a major incident had some reaching for their cell phones to inquire about the situation outside and gather information. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan, looking like a rooster whose neck had been clutched, turned red-faced and stuttered, "This, this, this can''t be, Bassan. This has nothing to do with me. It wasn''t me. You shouldn''t talk nonsense. Maybe you''re just trying to trick me; you''re not really poisoned." He had noticed the eyes from around the room upon him. Poisoning a Clan Leader was undoubtedly a severe crime, even for an elder, who might be executed on the spot based on the right of autonomy. "''Convict'' leaves me only one hour of lucidity each day. I have only 15 minutes left. Where is the witch doctor Liese Nan? Why hasn''t she come yet?" On his way to the Supreme Council, Bassan had reached out to the best witch doctor in the tribe. She might have the antidote for the "Convict," but there was also another possibility. Elder Motong''s panicked expression quickly faded, replaced by a sneer. "Today is not April Fool''s Day. Please don''t make such low-grade jokes in this sacred place. It''s not funny at all, our dear Clan Leader!" The "Convict" was a poison used to execute Neanderthal traitors, causing the condemned traitors to step into death amidst despair. However, now the chief of the Neanderthals had been poisoned with it, as if labeling the emperor as a traitor himself; it was highly ironic. "Nicole, have you found anything?" Adrian, who had intentionally stayed behind others, lowered his voice and asked the blonde young lady next to him. "Who secretly concocted the ''Convict'' and handed it to outsiders? Jiandong? Tramon? Mabu''en? Xita..." Bassan surveyed the people at the elder''s seats, naming each suspect, which included rebellion factions within the tribe and even those he trusted. No one with a potential motive was spared. "As an elder of the Autumn Tribe, I swear by the Star Sky Crimson Flame, I, Mabu''en, have not violated our tribal laws or betrayed the Neanderthals!" Mabu''en of the Autumn Tribe, a loyalist of Bassan, was the first to voice his oath. Soon, others followed suit, and in a short time, almost everyone from the seats of the elders to those of the small tribes swore their innocence concerning the poisoning. With her mind-reading ability at full throttle, Nicole von Sasha intently studied everyone on the high platform to detect any lies or distracted individuals, closely observing their microexpressions and subtle movements. The rest of team 04 remained covertly on alert to prevent any unforeseen incidents. After a long moment, Nicole finally declared, "No, none of them!" None of them were simple folks who could rise to the position of chief. Having made arrangements during his journey, Bassan stormed into the Supreme Council during his lucid moments to maximize his effectiveness and to synergize with Nicole von Sasha, one of the foremost experts in probing minds from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, to identify any traitors within the tribal hierarchy. Once he identified the traitors, not even the Blue Star United Defense Committee, much less Bassan himself, would let them go unpunished. - Chapter 402 Section 398 - Dragging Down from the Horse No one defected? Within the group, there are no distinct factions, only a plethora of varied opinions. Where there is a supporting faction, there naturally exists an opposing faction, as well as a neutral faction, and even those who oppose today and support tomorrow¡ªa dynamic organization is seldom black and white. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire But the Supreme Council had no apparent issues, which only made matters more perplexing. Chieftain Bassan, who was waiting for the witch doctor Liese Nan, saw that the other party still hadn''t arrived after nearly 45 minutes¡ªenough time to make a round trip from either end of the reserve. Yet, at this moment, Liese Nan was nowhere to be seen. The Neanderthal Chief dialed Liese Nan''s number again, but it didn''t connect! He tried once more. Still no connection! "Witch Doctor Liese Nan is dead, poisoned." From his seat among the elders, an elder of the Emosir Clan suddenly shouted out, having just received a piece of shocking news that made him jump to his feet. Liese Nan could have died at any time, but he certainly shouldn''t have died at this moment. Even a fool would have noticed by now that it seemed there was a conspiracy targeting the Neanderthal tribe. "What?"¡Án (n>10)! The hall of the Supreme Council resonated with an uproarious clamor that couldn''t settle down for quite some time. Firstly, the Clan Leader was poisoned with "Convict," and then the witch doctor Liese Nan, the most likely suspect, died of poisoning. The witch doctor, an expert at both crafting and curing poisons, was killed by poison? This was as ironic as the Clan Leader being poisoned with "Convict." "Who did it? Who is it? Who dares to be an enemy of my Neanderthal tribe¡ªI''ll kill them!" The loudest clamor came from the Kro Clan Elder Motong, who had just opposed Neanderthal Chief Bassan. His words were somewhat taboo, considering that the reserve of the Neanderthal tribe was right under the watch of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. However, the most likely suspect wasn''t the culprit after all, and the endorsement of the blonde lady''s authority was enough to prove there were no issues. "What about the antidote?" Adrian was greatly shocked. "We are not at the worst yet, though Habulav lacks an antidote, there''s a high-grade magic potion specifically for unknown toxins." Liaison Officer Rossi was now of no use, so the task of communicating with the headquarters of the Global United Defense Committee in Habulav fell onto the shoulders of the blonde lady. While the "Convict" poison was unique to the Neanderthal tribe, the formulation of the poison and antidote wasn''t solely possessed by them. Some sovereign powers who had participated in the war once obtained it as spoils of war, and even the Lin Family, whose influence was comparable to that of a sovereign power, had it. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee might be able to find the antidote formula. Although the poison could be tricky to deal with, the antidote shouldn''t pose a great problem. "It''s best if we can find the antidote here." Adrian felt that the predicament of Team 04 was very possibly a counterstrike from the "Water Bear" organization. The three of them had been afflicted with a rare, non-lethal toxin, which likely served more as a warning or a threat rather than an actual counterattack. Considering the strength revealed by the "Water Bear" organization to date, if they disregarded the costs, it should be no problem for them to take down at least half of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," and completely paralyzing this unit, which was formed specifically against the "Water Bear," was not impossible. After all, the targets the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had long been dealing with were low-intelligence mutants. When faced with deeply hidden organizations such as "Water Bear," having high-end combat power oftentimes resulted in diminishing returns and ineffectiveness. "If it really comes down to it, we''ll make a request to the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star through the committee, purchasing a sufficiently advanced antidote potion." Elder Motong of the Kro Clan had essentially become the leader of the opposition, pushing the wave of dissent to a new peak. He was determined to unseat Bassan. "Agreed! Agreed!" "Agreed!" "I oppose!" As Bassan had fallen into a coma, his supporters were like dragons without a head. Some of the fence-sitters from the neutral faction slowly lost their stance and raised their hands in opposition. Even a few supporters resolutely turned around and joined the opposition. Not even the Autumn Tribe Elder Mabu''en could stop these leaders of the smaller tribes. "Bassan is in danger!" Adrian realized that the situation had turned very unfavorable. The opposition wanted Bassan''s life! Suddenly, Chen Fei said, "Cover your ears!" "What?" Puppet Master Joshua beside him asked, puzzled. "Cover your ears!" Chen Fei cradled the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, enveloping it in the palm of his hand. Boom!~ The Supreme Council Hall shook violently without warning, as dust clouds billowed and pieces of concrete flew directly into the hall. "Enemy attack!" The seats of the elders and small tribes flashed with red light. Unexpectedly, there were more Neanderthals capable of activating War Pattern Secret Techniques than imagined. A warrior rushed in and reported loudly, "It''s an artillery strike! That vehicle outside fired the shots!" Although the warrior was an actor, it did not prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of his portrayed role. "Huh?" The members of Team 04 all looked at Chen Fei. The only one who could operate the Railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle was him; there was no one else. Kro Clan Elder Motong roared furiously, "Who did it? Who?!" For the Supreme Council to be subjected to artillery fire was audacious to the extreme. His gaze followed the direction of Team 04''s stares and landed on Chen Fei, lifting a finger to point. "Was it you? You dared to fire upon the Supreme Council?!" "Sorry, the artificial intelligence AI just rebelled. It isn''t listening to me anymore." Chen Fei remained calm, peeling the dead skin from his fingers. Adam: I didn''t do it, it wasn''t me, don''t talk nonsense! - Chapter 403 Section 399 - Dismissal of Bassan A railgun on top of the mobile base vehicle directly fired at the corner of the Supreme Council. An earth-shaking explosion spread in all directions, and dust billowed up, leaving the nearby people, caught completely off guard, stunned in unison. Cannon fire! In the core area of the Neanderthal tribe''s reserve, a bombardment had occurred, targeting the supreme governing body of the Neanderthal tribe. The entire reserve, whether they were from the Neanderthal tribe or not, immediately erupted into chaos. Luckily, Chieftain Bassan''s initial orders had been thoroughly implemented. Apart from the main hall, there were no people in other areas of the Supreme Council, so the blast, besides tearing a large hole in the building, caused no actual casualties. It did, however, severely frighten those inside the hall. Not just the people outside, even the elders of the Supreme Council, and even members of Unit 04 were dumbfounded. HOW-DARE-YOU! The old driver''s audacity was no ordinary matter! Don''t forget that he was still inside the Supreme Council himself, yet he did not hesitate to fire at his own position, without fearing that he might be blown up as well? Even an A-class ability user couldn''t withstand a railgun delivering a 152 Demolition Bomb at close range, right? "What, artificial intelligence AI rebelling, you''re kidding me!" Kro Clan Elder Motong was almost furious to the point of bursting a lung. "I am not lying. In fact, this AI and you guys go way back!" Chen Fei said, waggling his index finger. He even blasted the original site of the Supreme Council, let alone this downsized replica. He had absolutely no guilt about it! "What nonsense are you spouting! Seize him!" Kro Clan Elder Motong pointed at Chen Fei, trembling with rage. If the warriors of the Supreme Council were truly the elite of the Neanderthal tribe, they would have executed this command without hesitation. But the warriors working here were mostly not Neanderthals; they were just here for work, so how could they take it seriously? This elder, who performed and postured here every day, must have lost his mind, really thinking it was still the same as thirty years ago. The warriors who had spontaneously gathered in the hall looked at each other, yet no one took action. They weren''t police officers, not even security guards; they had no authority to restrict the freedom of others. Despite this area having some autonomy, it still had to abide by the sovereign laws of the Yangzhou Continent mainland. Chen Fei nonchalantly held up a megaphone that the Neanderthal Chief had just used and said calmly, "''Adam''! My AI is named ''Adam''. Sounds familiar, right?" Using this joke again today, the irritating, bitterly sarcastic remark was filled with an inexplicably venomous undertone. Members of Unit 04 looked at Chen Fei with expressionless faces. At this moment, to use this joke... was that really appropriate? More than thirty years ago, the military AI "Adam," which had almost been exterminated by the Blue Star Humans, colluded with the descendants of the Third Era Civilization, the Neanderthal tribe, and survived for a while. However, resource-depleted Neanderthals finally exhausted their last bit of war potential and were defeated by a combined force of the Blue Star Civilization and the trans-dimensional Cangqiong Civilization. The "Adam" that colluded with the Neanderthal tribe was ultimately purged. All storage devices were physically shattered, beyond the possibility of restoration even by deities. "Don''t mess around, please don''t mess around!" Adrian grabbed Chen Fei''s hand tightly, not doubting for a second that this ruthless man would really dare to do such a thing. A man crazy enough not to spare even himself, what''s firing at his own to him? "Are these guys serious?!" The outwardly crazed Elder Motong of the Kro Clan, however, saw through it all clearly, identifying the shock and panic in the actions and expressions of the strangers who had returned with Clan Leader Bassan. That whole rebellion of the AI "Adam" was a sham, clearly just an excuse to shift the blame, and the mastermind was still that posturing man raising his hand. A mere segment of source code, now irretrievable even by exhumation, if it had really been that "Adam" from before, he''d leap from the Elder''s Seat immediately and break his neck on impact! Elder Motong of the Kro Clan swept a glance over the crowd and powerfully proclaimed, "The motion to impeach Chieftain Bassan has 117 votes in favor and 79 against; the impeachment is passed. From this day forward, Bassan is stripped of his chieftaincy!" He was utterly determined to forcefully remove Bassan from his position as chieftain. The once Twelve Overlord Tribes held ten votes each, while smaller tribes held one vote each. There was absolutely no need for vote fraud at the scene, especially with such a clear margin. Then, ignoring the gnashing expressions of the tribal elders who opposed the impeachment, Elder Motong of the Kro Clan smugly continued, "Now, let''s also propose a new elder. I nominate Clemas of the Kro Clan as a warrior. Who supports, and who opposes!" All this had been meticulously planned, merely seizing the perfect moment to burst forth without hesitation. Being prepared in advance is a fundamental attribute of any big shot, with plans ranging from A to G as standard procedure. After all, fortune favors the prepared, and those scrambling at the last minute won''t even get a hot mess. "The Mo''an Tribe supports!" "The White Fang Tribe supports!" "The Autumn Tribe opposes!" Once again, a round of hands raised in vote. Roar roar roar... Suddenly, the roaring sound of a motorcycle invaded the hall. Amid the shrill sound of tires screeching, a flamboyant cruiser left a long black tire mark on the marble floor of the Supreme Council Hall. The motorcycle rider didn''t kill the engine but kept it running at idle, the exhaust continuing to growl as he removed his helmet, shook his unruly hair and smirked boldly, "Wow oh oh, I heard someone mention me. Who was it?" Elder Mabu''en of the Autumn Tribe stood up and rebuked, "Clemas, this doesn''t concern you, please leave immediately!" Then, pointing at Elder Motong of the Kro Clan not far away, he said, "Motong, this is dictatorship. Clemas is one of your Kro people; this is clearly a biased proposal for personal gain. I firmly oppose it. If it comes to it, the Autumn Tribe will fight the Kro Clan to the death!" He was also ready to go all out. Since the other party had forcibly moved to impeach Chieftain Bassan, he would not allow them to ultimately prevail even if it meant a bitter split of the Neanderthal tribe. If they wanted the chieftaincy, let it be an empty title fragmented to pieces! Mabu''en''s resoluteness also garnered some support, though not many, mostly the leaders of smaller tribes, but altogether, it was enough to cause significant damage within the entire Neanderthal tribe. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan scoffed coldly and said, "Then bring forward a candidate of your own. According to the traditions of the Neanderthal tribe, respect is earned through strength, and only a true warrior can become a chieftain!" Warriors of the Neanderthal tribe had long been in decline, and those who inherited the traditional secret techniques were few and far between, like a couple of kittens. What''s the use of secret techniques if they can''t compare to special abilities, to magic, or to Battle Qi? They were already outdated! Clemas of the Kro Clan was a warrior second only to Chieftain Bassan in strength. Compared to him, the remaining warriors of other tribes were leagues apart. - Chapter 404 Section 400 - Im very sorry! I have it too! Over thirty years ago, the grand battle had quashed the Neanderthal tribe''s resistance, with the majority of valiant warriors sacrificed on the battlefield. The few who survived were now few and far between, and those were already withering with age. The younger generation, for the most part, lusted after the comfortable life that peace brought, indulging in pleasures and idleness. Even in the reserves, they could not be bothered to stay and eke out a living, let alone remember the brave martial traditions of the Neanderthal tribe. Thus, even for the Autumn Tribe, which was once one of the Twelve Overlord Tribes, there were now no warriors to speak of. Elder Mabu''en was so frustrated that he couldn''t even summon the strength to speak his mind. With no one to rely on, the desire to assert dominance remained unfulfilled. Seeing the outwardly strong but inwardly weak demeanor of the Autumn Tribe Elder stumbling over his words, Kro Clan Elder Motong laughed heartily and said, "Mabu''en, does your Autumn Tribe have warriors like Kleimas? If you can produce a true brave, then I will agree to have him stand alongside Kleimas as a candidate for Clan Leader, but... if there is no other candidate, then Kleimas is the rightful Clan Leader. Do you have any other objections?" With the former Clan Leader Bassan incapacitated, the opposition seized this rare opportunity¡ªstrike while the enemy is ill, they thought. If not now, when? Were they supposed to wait for New Year''s? "I..." Mabu''en''s heart clenched. Looking high and low in the current Autumn Tribe, there was not a single combatant to be found. When he turned his gaze to the other tribes, even the elder of the once co-ruling Boyi Clan shook his head helplessly and did not dare meet Mabu''en''s eye. The smaller tribes quickly avoided the gaze of the Autumn Tribe Elder. Their forces might have a warrior or two who could barely fight, but none were a match for Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas. As many tribal elders turned pale, Kleimas, who sat lazily on the motorcycle seat, suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha, what Overlord Tribes? Not a fighter among them, just a bunch of cowards!" Such blunt truths made the faces of Bassan''s supporters even grimmer, causing the faction to waver anew and begin questioning whether such perseverance was really correct. The Kro Clan''s Elder also laughed heartily. The one with the strongest fist indeed speaks the greatest truth. Without Bassan, the tripping stone, the ragtag bunch showed their true colors. It seemed predestined that the Neanderthal tribe would be led by the Kro Clan.@@@@ "Sheer nonsense!" Enraged, Autumn Tribe Elder Mabu''en slammed the desk before him. If this had been over thirty years ago, before the Neanderthal tribe faced its calamity, elite warriors like Kleimas probably wouldn''t even be allowed through the doors of the Supreme Council. Indeed, when the mountains lack tigers, monkeys reign supreme. If even one of the elder warriors were still around, they would not tolerate such brazen behavior. Ninth Rank Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai whispered to the fire mage, "Hey, Adrian, is Bassan finished?" Fortunately, in the viewpoint of Squad 04, their interest in Bassan was not his tribal leadership, but the combat prowess of the Neanderthal Elite Warriors. However, the current internal situation of the tribe was highly unfavorable for Bassan. Even if the "convict''s" antidote could be acquired, it might no longer be reserved for Bassan. While the situation wouldn''t degenerate into killing three for two peaches, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" ultimately had to make a choice. "I will do my utmost to preserve Bassan''s life." Like all of Squad 04, Adrian''s expression was grim, his voice sounding as if it took enormous effort. The internal upheaval of the Neanderthal tribe brought no benefits to them. Of course, the Supreme Council would not oppose the Global United Defense Committee; instead, they would politely send them away. Interfering in the Neanderthal tribe''s internal affairs had never been a consideration from the start. Not only would the Neanderthals never agree to it, but the Global United Defense Committee likely wouldn''t either. The faction led by the Kro Clan was full of laughter and confidence, seemingly assured of victory, while the faction led by the Autumn and Boyi Clans was utterly disheartened, as if all was lost. Even if not standing from Bassan''s teammate''s perspective, seeing that old geezer from the Kro Clan act all high and mighty in his shenanigans was enough to tick anyone off. Chen Fei''s intervention was exactly to Kiterley''s taste, a decisiveness that made a perfect call, a Metal Ability User should be just that decisive. Chen Fei said to the nearly mad fire mage, "Er, Captain, could you let me finish what I was saying? We are all on the same side here." "Okay, you finish and we''ll leave immediately!" At this very moment, Adrian wished to leave this troublesome place, the further away from this big mess, the better. He could assist Chen Fei with the assembly of the Mobile Base Vehicle, help him smuggle military Crystal Energy Blocks and cover for him, but he had no reason to get involved in the internal affairs of the Neanderthal tribe with him. This was indeed not something Team 04 should be doing, and even the Global United Defense Committee had no right to meddle in the internal power transitions of the Neanderthals. Chen Fei said earnestly, "I would like to participate in the election for Clan Leader, is that possible?" Just as expected from the troublemaking little prince, never speaking unless he could shock others to death, when he does, he makes a lethal impact! "Huh?" Not only the members of Team 04 but also the Neanderthals present were collectively dumbfounded. What kind of audacious words were these? "Hahaha, young man, don''t joke around, this is the Supreme Council of my Neanderthal people, not something outsiders like you can interfere with." Had there been any way to expel these people from Team 04, Kro Clan Elder Motong would have sent them flying long ago. Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas, after taking a good look at Chen Fei''s face and pointing at his own facial war patterns glowing red, said, "So it''s a naive youngster; kid, to run for Clan Leader, you need to at least be a warrior like me." "Are you talking about War Patterns?" Chen Fei pointed at his own face, and immediately, identical blood-red patterns appeared. It was not just his face, but red patterns covered his neck and limbs as well. There might have been minor differences in details compared to the blood-colored tattoos on the Kro Clan Warrior, but the style and structure were nearly identical. "I''m sorry, but I have them too!" The most astonished were not the Neanderthals from the Supreme Council but the members of Team 04. "What on earth is this?" Adrian was almost stuttering, and the others were shocked to the point of nearly dropping their jaws. How on earth could there be another Neanderthal in their team? Could the previous personal information have been wrong, not properly investigated? But that couldn''t be¡ª not just Chen Fei''s ancestors for eighteen generations but even eighty generations had no Neanderthal bloodline, and in the genetic sequence, they were all pure Homo Sapiens descendants. "Don''t rush, don''t rush, let me just Cosplay for a bit." Chen Fei spoke in a lowered voice, audible only to those nearby. No one knew better than he what was going on here; he wasn''t even slightly Neanderthal¡ªChen Family Gate was not in the slightest connected to the Neanderthals. - Chapter 405 Section 401 - What do you want to do? Cosplay? Cos your ghost play!!! Upon hearing the truth, Adrian found it even harder to keep his composure, drawing in a breath of cold air. Cosplaying a Neanderthal Elite Warrior, was that even something you could play around with? This guy''s nerve was simply too huge! He felt that Chen Fei''s audacity had skyrocketed beyond the limits of the sky. Was there anything this kid wouldn''t dare to do? Was he not afraid that after Basan recovered from the poison, he would find his clan completely played out? "Huh?" Mouri Misono looked dumbfounded. She glanced at the unconscious Basan and then at Chen Fei, unable to believe that the latter also had a Neanderthal identity. But, whether it was bombing the Supreme Council or campaigning for Clan Leader now, he showed no respect for his original Clan Leader at all! Grade B Ice Ability User Susanna covered her mouth, her eyes wide, guessing that if they were exposed, they would probably get a beating! The Holy Knight''s mouth twitched uncontrollably, feeling that something was definitely off. Grade A Metal Ability User Kiterley scratched his head in frustration, feeling like the situation was somewhat out of control. He had never heard of Neanderthals awakening to special abilities, and these guys had both War Pattern Secret Techniques and abilities or some other powers, which seemed too much like cheating. The descendants of Homo sapiens had managed to awaken their special abilities with great difficulty, fearing that advantage would be wiped out in an instant. The kindly Lulu''an expressed delight at the sight, as such occurrences were rare. It almost felt as if history were being witnessed, the events of the human world were just too interesting. Joshua was counting on his fingers, calculating whether it would be a surprise to attach war patterns to the Constructed Puppet Warriors. Puppet Masters were not only Psychic Power Users but also remarkably outstanding mechanical engineers. All Chen Xiao''er''s friends stared at him with their mouths agape, even the blonde elder sister who had always been at odds with him couldn''t tell if this guy was telling the truth or lies, but it all felt incredibly unreliable. Thank heavens, the straightforward big guy Apu was in a coma, otherwise, this candid BOY might just blurt out the truth on the spot. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan demanded furiously, "Which tribe are you from? Who is your successor?" Just when he thought everything was settled, an unpredictable spanner in the works emerged at the last minute. Although it was a scaled-down version of the Supreme Council, the internal structure''s acoustics were still designed after the original, and voices from the Elder''s Seats did not need any amplification to be clearly heard in every corner of the hall. Chen Fei stretched out his hand, and the spear "Blood Spike," embedded in the backrest of the Elder''s Seat, flashed back into his hand without warning. "Kro Clan, Barut!" "Kro Clan" was purely made up to give the other party a hard time, but the successor Barut was genuinely real, no deception. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan screamed, "What?"@@@@ Since when did his tribe have such a reckless youngster? This had to be a joke! And that successor, who was Barut? Surely, it was made up, up, up... Wait, it sounded somewhat familiar. Elder Mabu''en of the Autumn Tribe exclaimed, "Barut? Is he still alive?" "The brother of the hero Barulaka!" Another clan elder finally remembered. More than thirty years ago, in the great battle, the Neanderthal hero Barulaka died on Blue Star''s Socotra Island, and his brother Barut was a Guardian Warrior of the Supreme Council. After the war ended, the surviving Barut vanished without a trace, never returning to the reserve, causing the old people in the tribe to almost forget this name. Of the Twelve Overlord Tribes of that year, only ten remained on Blue Star today, with many smaller tribes reduced to one-third. The Pandolang Clan of the other two Overlord Tribes had mostly migrated to Cangqiong Star, leaving only a die-hard neutral elder in the Supreme Council, who barely maintained a presence and had almost no real power. After all, it was already the worst-case scenario. Even if things were chaotic, it couldn''t get any worse. "It''s okay. These Neanderthals won''t dare to mess with us!" So said the blonde elder sister. The Neanderthals'' reserve was right under the nose of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters. If they dared to rebel, they''d simply be slapped down, much easier to deal with than mutants. What''s more, the Neanderthal tribe, having lost most of their secret technique inheritances, was like a tiger without claws or teeth. "Nicole, will the Joint Defense Committee back us up?" This was actually Adrian''s biggest concern¡ªif they were found to be acting on their own, the fate of Squad 04 would be very grim. The blonde elder sister confidently said, "Of course, Squad 04 is part of the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division,'' and the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division'' is under the Joint Defense Committee; there''s no doubt about that!" The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, supported by more than one sovereign, was already grateful not to bully others, let alone be bullied. "That''s a relief!" Adrian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Time, place, and who else?" Chen Fei''s gaze met with Kleimas''. "In one hour, at the Arena, you and me!" Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas turned his head to look at the rows of elder''s seats and shouted, "Who else? Anyone who wants to compete for the position of clan leader, come together!" The scene fell silent, except for Elder Motong, who was so angry that his rage seemed to leap from his corpse, and smoke was practically billowing out of his orifices. These youngsters, each and every one of them heartless ingrates! Kleimas got back on his still-running big Crown Prince motorcycle, put on his helmet, and made a gesture to Chen Fei. "I''ll be waiting for you!" He straightened the bike, kicked the side stand away, twisted the throttle, and with a putt-putt-putt, burst out of the hall. "Let''s go! Set a course for the Arena." Chen Fei spotted the Neanderthal tour guide Cosina hiding at the entrance of the Supreme Council Hall, put away his spear "Blood Spike," the red war patterns fading below his skin, disappearing from view, and casually pulled out a hundred Star Yuan note, waving his hand at her. "Guide, please lead the way." "Ah! Okay, okay!" Cosina was startled, reflexively responding. Making money, well, that''s never embarrassing! Chen Fei called out to his companions, "Guys, let''s go!" And lead the way towards the main entrance. "Hey, hey, Chen Fei, what are you planning to do?" Adrian was the first to catch up to him. "Of course, take over as the clan leader, kill those who disobey, then order the obedient ones to hand over the antidote. And if they don''t, wipe them all out, exterminate the whole clan, leaving no chicken or dog alive!" - Chapter 406 Section 402 - Tactical Style Chen Fei answered fiercely. "Damn it, I''m not running a charity or poverty alleviation program, why should I explain the grand principles to these guys?" he thought. He would definitely not indulge those who needed sorting out. Whatever mistakes there are, he could change them in the next life. Forgiveness? That had nothing to do with him! Adrian exclaimed anxiously, "What? You, you really don''t need to do this!" Exterminating a whole tribe just for an antidote seems way too cruel! There should be better ways to persuade them. Chen Fei stopped, turned around, and looked at the First Rank fire mage. He countered, "What else can I do? Just before, when you spoke, did they listen?"@@@@ "..." Adrian was speechless. The truth was, these people, thinking they had autonomy over their little piece of land, didn''t take Team 04 seriously at all. Being too rigid can sometimes be a flaw. "That settles it then!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and continued walking forward. Having already dismissed Bassan, the clan leader, why should he be nice to Team 04? Not detaining them on the spot was already giving face to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. It must be said that the Neanderthal tribe''s high command had reached a considerable level of chaos, with the younger members not even considering their elders, which explained why the tribe members scattered like sand to various parts of the world, with even the entire large tribe migrating to other planets. "That''s right, no need to be polite with these shortsighted folks. Abandoning Bassan''s people must come at a cost." A-rated Metal Ability User Kiterley gave Chen Fei a thumbs up. This was the stance a Metal Ability User should take: resolute and unyielding. If they don''t accept it, just fight them to the death. There''s no need to overthink it, just do it! "Heh heh!" The Holy Knight responded to Kiterley''s extreme remarks with an ambiguous laugh. The group boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle again, guided by the female tour guide Cosina, heading to the arena within the preserve. No sooner had they left than the members of the Supreme Council exchanged glances among themselves and also left their seats as elders, rushing to the arena as well. The entire building was left with only a few guardian warriors, and no one else. The Neanderthal tribe''s arena was almost as big as a stadium that could hold twenty thousand people, usually used as a sports venue. However, in the center of the arena, instead of a lush green lawn, there was white fine sand mixed with large amounts of salt, which became particularly startling when blood was spilled on it. When Team 04 arrived at the arena, Kro clan''s warrior Clemas was already standing early on the white sand, clad in traditional armor, leaning on a trident, with a blood-red headband tied around his forehead. Perhaps hearing about a challenge for the clan leader''s position, people gradually arrived at the arena. There were pure-blooded Neanderthals, mixed-bloods, and even foreign people who were working and touring here, men and women, old and young, slowly filling the spectator seats of the arena. The local TV station even sent hosts, set up equipment, and began a live broadcast on the spot. Another loud sound. Chen Fei, along with his spear, was again forced backward more than a dozen steps. When he landed on the white sand, he slid over a meter before stopping. Not far away in the nearest spectator seats, the faces of Squad 04 looked rather unwell. "Huh? What''s going on! Can Chen Fei make it?!" Class A Metal Ability User Kiterley, seeing his little brother continuously pushed back, scratched his head in confusion, wishing he could replace Chen Fei and battle that arrogant Neanderthal warrior for three hundred rounds. "If we used the railgun, I guess one shot could reduce that Clemas guy to ash on the spot." The Puppet Master, Joshua, felt that Chen Fei was hamstrung in this battle, stupidly brawling with the Neanderthal brute without being able to wield any of his advantages. After a thought, he added, "Err, Chen Fei would probably turn to ash too!" "He''s done this before, with the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''!" Adrian suddenly remembered this particular incident. Squad 04 fell into a momentary silence. "Chen Fei should switch to heavy armor; otherwise, continuing like this, he''ll be at a significant disadvantage!" Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono, an expert in close combat, felt that in terms of cold weapon combat techniques, Chen Fei was far inferior to his opponent. Although a bit harsh, it was the blunt truth. In the numerous times she and Chen Fei sparred, nearly all the time, the latter was always being hit, barely even having the chance to strike back. "Heavy tank tactics, indeed!" The Holy Knight nodded. Everyone simultaneously thought of the Mobile Base Vehicle parked outside the arena. With its eighty tons of armor plus a railgun capable of a one-hit-kill, that indeed fit Chen Fei''s style. Resilient, tough, either not striking at all or smashing the opponent with one blow¡ªsuch a tactical approach was truly Chen Fei''s style. Center of the Arena. The Trident waved like the wind, and an excited Clemas, eyeing Chen Fei who was continuously retreating almost to the edge of the white sand, enunciated, "You, are, about, to, lose! Secret Technique..." He planned to end the duel with a Secret Technique swiftly, as a returning courtesy for battling with him. "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death!" The two burst out shouting simultaneously, unleashing their Secret Techniques. One''s War Pattern was like blood, almost covering his entire body with a crimson light, while the other''s red War Pattern burst into dazzling silver light. "What the devil?!" Kro Clan Elder Motong leaped from his seat. The other clan elders nearby were also making faces as if they had seen a ghost. - Chapter 407 Section 403 - Meanness is the Passport of the Base "Blood Spike," the weapon''s appearance was correct. The war patterns, indeed in the style of the Neanderthal tribe. But why the silver light? Could it be that there was something wrong with the way it was activated? Boom! Pure, flawless fine sand danced all around like drizzling rain, prompting a burst of gasps from the audience. Kleimas, who had slammed heavily into the sandy ground, rolled over and let out a loud roar. "What kind of damn Secret Technique is this..." He didn''t care who his opponent was, whether or not they were from his own tribe; none of that mattered as long as he could engage in a satisfying, exhilarating battle. "Secret Technique, Fight to the Death!" Chen Fei roared again. He felt as though he was back in that night when the old man''s voice boomed like thunder, his presence swallowing the sky as he shouted. Fight to the Death! To thrive from death! He unleashed his full power without any reservation. The figure radiating silver light flashed abruptly, like a deafening thunderclap in a clear sky. "Ah!~~~~" Kleimas''s palms were torn as he was flung backwards, barely holding onto his trident. Under the sheer brutal force, he who once had the upper hand, now found himself defeated. "Secret Technique..." "Secret Technique, Fight to the Death!" Chen Fei struck like lightning again, his voice arriving almost simultaneously with his attack, jamming the Kro Clan Warrior''s rhythm and breaking his Secret Technique with absolute violence. The dazzling silver light momentarily overpowered the crimson red. It took time to activate a Secret Technique, and although not long, it was still possible to be interrupted. Accustomed to instantaneous activation of special abilities, Chen Fei easily found his opponent''s rhythm and decisively disrupted it. "Ha..." The audience, including Adrian and others, were numbed. Is this really a War Pattern Secret Technique? Do they really think all those Neanderthals are blind? The color is obviously wrong! Alas! How is this going to end? It wasn''t just Adrian; several members of Team 04 unconsciously made a face-palming sigh. The Supreme Council of the Neanderthal tribe was likely to be seriously deceived this time. "What is this crappy Secret Technique!" Unexpectedly, Kleimas proved to be very resilient; even though the tremendous recoil of the weapon clash flung him into the air, the soft white sand below caught him, averting a potential injury. "It is a genuine Secret Technique, I have received the complete inheritance!" After both sides ignited their war patterns, Kleimas found himself overwhelmed in a clash of sheer strength, gaining no advantage whatsoever. Buzz!~ The tip of "Blood Spike" pointed directly at Kleimas''s throat, seemingly indicating a clear outcome. In clashes between strong warriors, the result is often decided within a few movements. "You lost!" With just a slight thrust forward, Chen Fei could kill this Kro Clan warrior on the spot. Damn it, being a law-abiding citizen, I don''t kill recklessly¡ªthose messy murderous thoughts, get out... no, stabbing him solves a thousand problems, having a clear mind is most important; killing them off is the cleanest solution¡ªwho dares to defy, let them all die... Yet his heart was engaged in a fierce struggle. A chilling threat passing through his throat left Kleimas''s mind completely blank. "Roar..." A loud roar suddenly erupted. Over a dozen fierce beasts, as huge as vans, burst into the sandy area. "What? ''Sauron'' war beasts!" Adrian sprang up, pointing at the Elders of the Neanderthal tribe not far away and angrily accused them, "This is against the rules, recall the war beasts immediately!" Most members of Team 04 stood up, unable to sit idly by any longer, now having sufficient reason to intervene. Descendants of the Third Era Civilization, the Neanderthals had developed top-tier biochemical technology, creating war beasts as renowned as their soldiers. These creatures had been active during the great war over thirty years ago, until they were completely overshadowed when the Blue Star Civilization introduced the Intelligent Magical Beasts of Cangqiong Star, almost losing all their tactical value. Unexpectedly, within the Neanderthal reserve, so many biochemical war beasts had been secretly raised. "Hahaha, this is the arena of the Neanderthal tribe, where our warriors and war beasts always fight side by side. To become a clan leader, one must defeat both; otherwise, we will never acknowledge them," At this moment, the Elder of the Kro Clan, Motong, shamelessly played the fool. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire "You are shameless, there is no such rule in our tribe," The Elder of the Autumn Tribe, Mabu''en, was so furious that he pointed at his counterpart and exposed him on the spot. However, the tribal elders from the Kro side echoed one after another, supporting Elder Motong''s proposal. Right or wrong didn''t matter to them; only winning mattered. The response from the elders of the Neutral Factions was subtle. Had Chen Fei''s war pattern glow been red instead of silver, they would not have hesitated as they did at this moment. "Despicable!" Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas, with a spear pointed at his throat, also showed a disdainful expression, making no effort to hide his contempt for his own clan''s elder. Although the sound barrier blocked the noise, the appearance of the "Sauron" war beasts was enough to prove one thing. To win is to win, and to lose is to lose. If they couldn''t handle defeat and resorted to releasing war beasts, such actions were only contemptible. The warriors of the Neanderthal tribe needed to win fair and square to truly earn everyone''s respect. Even though he knew Elder Motong was trying to help him, Kleimas felt a sense of humiliation and shame, causing the red glow of his war patterns to extinguish. He couldn''t afford to lose face like this. Elder Motong of Kro, pointing at Chen Fei and yelling crazily, commanded, "War beasts, attack, tear your enemies to shreds!" "Roar!" "Roar!"... The beasts quickly encircled Chen Fei and Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas, their vicious glares focusing on the former. "Tweet!" The Pure Light Sparrow, which had been perching on the tip of Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an''s Withered Vine Staff, flapped its small wings and soared, suddenly penetrating the one-way sound barrier. It landed on Chen Fei''s head, its tiny sharp beak brewing a terrifying light of death. Chapter 408 Section 404 - Evil ``` The fiery red laser beam made a 360-degree sweep around, and then it vanished as if it had never appeared. The ferocious Biochemical War Beasts that were closing in suddenly seemed as if they had been hit by a paralysis spell. They stiffened on the spot, and, quickly following the black line that appeared and encircled their bodies, they were bisected. The cutting edges were still emitting sparks, intermittently rising up, with the fatty layers even occasionally bursting into small flames, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of charring. More than a dozen "Sauron" war beasts didn''t even make a sound before they were collectively dead as doornails! The spectator stands fell completely silent. The Biochemical War Beasts, as renowned as the Neanderthals'' War Pattern Secret Technique, were about to unleash their ferocity, and this is what happened? Many in the audience must have thought they were seeing fake War Beasts. If not for the free admission, they probably would have been clamoring for a refund by now. From start to finish, Chen Fei''s spear "Blood Spike" hadn''t even wobbled once, still pointing straight at Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas''s throat, motionless. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Kleimas couldn''t help but swallow hard, his face filled with terror as he looked at the little bird above Chen Fei''s head. "You''re cheating!!!" The Elder of Kro Clan shouted hoarsely, utterly unconvinced. The one-way soundproof barrier had disappeared quietly at some point, and that shameless outcry reached Chen Fei''s ears. The tip of "Blood Spike" slowly withdrew, made an agile rotation, and Chen Fei shifted his gaze to the still spouting elder of the Kro Clan, without hesitation made a throwing gesture. Thump!~ Elder Motong''s voice abruptly cut off, and he looked down in bewilderment to find a silver-gleaming spear pierced through his chest, from front to back, pinning him fatally to the backrest of the seat, while nearby, the other clan elders were scared witless. "What did you just say, old man?" In almost a blink of an eye, Chen Fei used "Blood Spike''s" position to appear right in front of Elder Motong. "You, you..." Elder Motong, who''d been dealt a fatal blow, had war patterns on his skin flickering red, but the light was growing fainter and fainter, signifying that his life force was rapidly draining away, no longer capable of sustaining the ignition of war patterns. "You talk too much!" Chen Fei reached out his hand, and a crisp, loud snapping sound echoed. Elder Motong''s neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and he was dead instantly. Even without having his neck snapped, he wouldn''t have lived much longer. "Who else?" Chen Fei pulled out the spear "Blood Spike" and looked coldly at the elders in the spectator stands. The body of the dead elder from the Kro Clan slumped down. "Ah!~~~"¡Án(n>1000)! Screams of utter terror rose throughout the arena, nearly everyone was caught off guard by one of the duelists attacking right into the spectator stands, killing an "audience" member on the spot.@@@@ Panic engulfed the entire arena. "You there?" Chen Fei set his sights on a chief of a dominant tribe, who had previously stood with the Kro Clan and shouted quite fiercely. Chen Fei glanced sideways at those Neanderthals who still hadn''t escaped his field of view, ignoring the cries and chaotic fleeing in the stands of the Arena, and said, "Anyone else? Those who are not convinced can stand up now!" Suddenly, he turned back and glared at the Arena, where the Kro Clan warrior Kleimas was barely standing up again, leaning on his trident. "Do you, do you have any objections?" Kleimas involuntarily took a step back, his face paled, his heart pounding with fear as he shook his head and said, "No, I don''t!" He feared the other would say "No, you do!" and then his end would come. What deterred Kleimas wasn''t Chen Fei''s War Techniques or strength, but his ruthless readiness to kill. Such a ferocious person was almost unheard of in his life, like a Demon King who killed without mercy. Next to such a person, he, a warrior of the Clay Clan, was like a joke, seeing no hope of victory. Mabu''en, the Autumn Tribe elder who had been confronting Kro Clan elder Motong, said with a trembling voice, "From now on, you are the Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe!" The tribal elders could die no more; if they all perished, the entire Neanderthal tribe might just fall apart. After all, this was a power struggle strictly following ancient traditions. The opponent had fairly and squarely defeated Kleimas, the warrior of the Kro Clan second only in strength to the former Clan Leader Bassan. As for whether Chen Fei was really of the Kro Clan, it became completely irrelevant after he personally stabbed the tribal elder Motong through and twisted his neck on the spot. Procedurally speaking, the opponent fully met the conditions to become Clan Leader, and moreover, their own lives were still in his hands. The slightest dissatisfaction would lead to another bloody slaughter, and the Neanderthal tribe could no longer withstand such a disaster. "The Boyi Clan congratulates the Clan Leader on his ascension!" The Boyi Clan elder Geltila immediately fell to one knee, bowing his head in submission. Then came Mabu''en, the Autumn Tribe elder. With a leader to follow, the surviving elders, even those of the Neutral Factions, also knelt down on one knee, their hearts still filled with dread. There were no dissenters. Perhaps there were, but they were all in Hell. "Ha!?" Mouri Misono''s eyes widened, as well as those of the B-level Ice Attribute supernatural power user Susanna and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai. "He really did it!" A-level Psychic Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua, was left with nothing other than shock. "My little bro is just that, beautifully done!" A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley gave his usual triple sixes to his little bro. To regard life and death lightly, to confront head-on if not agreed upon, a Metal Ability User should always be this thrilling. Hemming and hawing, what''s the point? "Ha, that works too!" Holy Knight Walter Sam had originally thought there would be a righteous and dignified duel, and then he would move the elders of the Neanderthal tribe with bravery, tolerance, and benevolence, smoothly obtaining the antidote and ending with a perfect conclusion of a happy family reunion. But he guessed the beginning right, just not the end. Indeed, the Neanderthals were subdued, but it was by slaughter, the entire event was a bloody "persuasion." The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an remained as calm and indifferent as usual, seemingly not surprised at all. The former Clan Leader Bassan who had fallen unconscious: "..." Had he been awake to confront this scene, he probably wouldn''t have wanted to wake up. Golden-haired Miss Nicole von Sasha felt a chill run down her spine, as if plunged into an icehouse. From the beginning, she hadn''t been mistaken; this man coercing the Neanderthal tribal elders was a demon wearing human skin, releasing his evil without any reservation. But everyone remembered the words Chen Fei had said earlier. "Of course, take down the Clan Leader, kill those who disobey, then command the obedient ones to hand over the antidote, and if they don''t, kill them all, exterminate the tribe, leave no one alive!" - Chapter 409 Section 405 - Work Chen Fei said this from the start, and he''s doing the same now. "My first order, get the ''Convict''s'' antidote, hurry and search for it!" "Yes, Clan Leader!" The tribe elders, as if pardoned, quickly rose and scurried away in panic. Everyone wanted to get as far away as possible from this devil-like new Clan Leader, yet this was the lawful preserve of the Neanderthal tribe. Without the autonomous preserve that was their last bastion, could the globally scattered Neanderthal tribe still call themselves such? Inside the preserve, chaos reigned, and the panic and unease brought by the killings in the Arena spread like pebbles dropping into a pond, rippling out in all directions. Adrian said to Chen Fei, who had returned to his harmless demeanor, "Chen Fei, you killed too many!" He didn''t mind the death of Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas in the Arena; after all, it was a fight to the death, and any hesitation or compassion would only lead to one''s own demise. It was only natural to be killed if outmatched in skill. But instead of killing the intended targets, you stormed into the spectator stands and savagely slaughtered the elders. Aren''t you afraid of completely offending the Neanderthal tribe and facing their universal ostracism and hostility? Even though the Neanderthal tribe is waning, there are still hundreds of thousands of purebloods and millions of mixed-bloods. Eradicating them single-handedly is unimaginable, and the ensuing social upheaval would be too great. The Global United Defense Committee and various sovereignties would hardly sit idly by. "Don''t worry about these trivial matters. Now that I''m the Clan Leader, just a small tweak in the history essays and all will be settled." Chen Fei was well aware of these routines. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire There''s no avoiding it, with five thousand years of history written in the books! Annals of Neanderthal Chen Fei: In this year, Chen Fei combated the Kro Clan Warrior and won, succeeding to the position of Clan Leader. All were submissive, and he was hailed as the Benevolent Unconquered. That''s how shameless it is! What is a face, and can you eat it? Every change in dynasties was marked with decapitations and rivers of blood. Now that he had forcefully taken command of the Neanderthal tribe, how could he possibly rely on sweet words to convince those elders who were preoccupied with their power struggles? Since they liked courting death so much, then they could all go ahead and die. When Chen Xiao''er suddenly became ruthless, he did not care for all that talk of righteousness and morals. However, two years earlier, he wouldn''t have dared even to think of such a thing, never anticipating such a drastic change in his mindset. Treating human life like grass and facing bloodshed without changing his expression was not something a genuine Ivory Tower university graduate should do, right? "This is utter chaos! Utter chaos! But Chen Fei, you did a splendid job!" Puppet Master Joshua, a close ally, laughed heartily, despite being inwardly distraught. Like Chen Fei, he couldn''t stand those arrogant Neanderthal elders. Especially that despicable Elder of the Kro Clan, who shamelessly overstepped all bounds. Not just Chen Fei, but even he wanted to take down such a contemptible person. "Adrian, now is not the time to dwell on these matters. Let''s secure the ''Convict''s'' antidote first," said the Holy Knight, speaking a word of fairness. There are matters of urgency and importance. Right now, what''s most important is not the life and death of outsiders, but to save the lives of Team 04 members and Liaison Officer Rossi. "Indeed, that''s true!" "Let''s secure the antidote first, and we can discuss anything else later!" "Chirp!" The members of Team 04 expressed their agreement one after another. While the ''Convict''s'' poison wasn''t immediately fatal, death would inevitably come for the three if an antidote wasn''t found, something which none wanted to witness. Although Chen Fei''s methods were a bit too violent and bloody, they were nevertheless a way to cut through the mess. At least, it would''ve been difficult to persuade those elders busy jockeying for power and profit through reasoning alone. After the failed interview with Chen Fei, the Neanderthal tribe''s TV station, though seething with anger, circulated the video clip of the interview secretly. Almost the entire world could see Chen Xiao''er''s bloodthirsty declaration. Only such cowardly media would engage in these underhanded activities. In the cafeteria of Northern Industrial University, Chen Meng was dining with her classmates when they happened to see the news broadcast on the cafeteria''s TV screen. "Get lost, or I''ll kill you!" "Huh?" Chen Meng''s chopsticks dropped on her plate as she stared at the TV screen, dumbfounded. Good heavens, was that her own brother? Why is he so fierce! Others recognized him too. "Wow, Xiao Meng, that''s your brother!" "Maybe, probably, could be..." Little Sister Chen gave an awkward smile, thinking her classmates'' perceptions of her would definitely get weird with such a violent brother. - At the Chen Family Gate, the household of Uncle Chen Haiqing was lively, everyone sitting together. The screen flashed the scene. "Get lost, or I''ll kill you!" Chen Shan, the youngest sibling, reflexively threw aside his bowl and chopsticks and ducked under the table, wailing, "I was wrong, brother! I was wrong! Don''t beat me up!" Elder sisters and brothers-in-law: "..." Uncle Chen Haiqing and his spouse: "..." - The Chen Family. "Get lost, or I''ll kill you!" "Huh? Isn''t that Xiao''er''s voice? How did he get on TV? Let me find my reading glasses." Chen Haishang was very surprised to hear his son''s voice so fierce, utterly different from when he was at home. He set down his bowl, intending to look for his reading glasses to get a better view. "How could that be? That man is a clan leader of the Neanderthals, are we from the Neanderthal tribe?" Yu Xiaoyi, the mother of Chen Shi, Chen Fei, and Chen Meng continued eating without looking up. "Uh, no!" Chen Haishang stopped, realizing she was right. The Chen Family had absolutely no relation to the Neanderthal tribe for generations. If Xiao''er became their clan leader, would the Neanderthals be fools? "So that settles it, right? Let''s eat, and hurry to do the dishes afterward. We still have to go to the eldest''s place. The eldest''s wife is about to give birth, and since he''s too busy to be home, we need to help out. Are you gonna pay for a nanny?" Yu Xiaoyi continued her meal with a hint of annoyance. - Chapter 410 Section 406 - Abdication Compared to the former Clan Leader Bassan, who generally had a lackluster presence, the arrival of the brutal Clan Leader¡ªascending to power over the corpses of the Supreme Council''s elders¡ªissued an order that brought all Neanderthal witch doctors from around the world back to the reservation. Along with two embarrassingly incompetent apprentices of the reservation witch doctor, Liese Nan, at least fifty or sixty people worked in three shifts, non-stop, for nearly half a month. Finally, on the fifteenth day after Bassan and two others were poisoned, the first batch of antidote was painstakingly produced and delivered into Chen Fei''s trembling hands. The individuals who had labored so hard to create the antidote were a group of greenhorns; they had already exerted their utmost efforts. Yet before the actual detoxification, their hearts all simultaneously rose to their throats in anxiety. "Give it to Rossi first!" Due to the urgency of time, there was no chance for clinical drug testing. Upon receiving the antidote, Chen Fei immediately handed it to Liaison Officer Rossi. After confirming the medicine''s effect, the next batch of antidote would be ready in six hours. "Why?" Adrian was utterly confused. It was clear that Chen Fei didn''t like Rossi one bit, yet he gave the first batch of antidote to him. Could it be a sudden twinge of conscience, extending an olive branch to soften the tension between them?! Chen Fei said without a care, "The most useless guy here is him. If the detox fails and he dies, it doesn''t matter." Adrian''s eyes bulged, and he found himself speechless. It turned out he''d overthought the situation¡ªChen Fei''s words were indeed in line with the brutal Clan Leader''s inhumane nature. The useless ones should gamble their lives on the trial medicine! The blonde lady glared furiously at Chen Xiao''er. Ha, women! Chen Fei didn''t flinch in the slightest and snorted disdainfully. What are you looking at? Think you''re so great because you''re an A-level supernatural power user? Fry, kill, barbecue, kill, fry, then kill, to fry and to slaughter... Swarming malicious thoughts came crashing over like a tsunami; the last thing he lacked were such terrifying thoughts. If you want to read minds, then go ahead and read! The lady soon found herself hopelessly outmatched and was utterly overwhelmed by the Skill, offering no resistance. In the end, Adrian followed Chen Fei''s suggestion to administer a small test tube of the powdered potion, mixed with water, to the unconscious Liaison Officer Rossi. After all, better to let a companion die than to die oneself¡ªin a multiple-choice test involving the three of them, Rossi was the one who had to be sacrificed first as a matter of necessity. As the medicine took effect, Rossi''s flushed face quickly turned pale, and he slowly opened his eyes, muttering to himself in confusion. "Who am I... Where am I... What am I supposed to do...?" He felt as if his whole being was off, as though he had just made a trip through Hell¡ªan utterly terrible experience. "He''s awake, he''s awake!" "Fantastic, it''s working!" "It should be effective, this has to work!" The Neanderthal witch doctors and apprentices huddled excitedly together, high-fiving one another. Yet someone, worried, chimed in. "Don''t celebrate too soon; the poison might not be completely neutralized. There might be side effects!" As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, the assembled witch doctors and apprentices by the Mobile Base Vehicle fell into a hushed silence, their prior excitement giving way to renewed unease. "Liaison Officer Rossi, you''re awake!" Adrian looked him over and burst into smiles. It appeared that the antidote was effective; they were finally saved. "I hate... your perspective!" But just by the subtle changes in his micro-expressions, she felt that Chen Fei was hiding something. However, Chen Fei still clenched the report tightly, with no intention of sharing it with her or Rossi. Off to the side, Adrian was pulled aside by Mouri Misono and others, whispering and sharing the information he got from Chen Fei. Ultimately, Blonde Lady Nicole and Liaison Officer Rossi were not really considered their own people who had been through life and death with Team 04. Midnight, twelve o''clock. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire The second batch of modified antidote was delivered. This time, instead of testing the drug on Liaison Officer Rossi again, they administered it to both Bassan and Apu at the same time. Half an hour later, both of their poisoning symptoms rapidly alleviated, and they began to regain consciousness. "The antidote..." Coming to his senses, Bassan looked at the clock, then out the window at the sky¡ªit was not his usual time for waking. He knew that Chen Fei''s efforts had finally paid off. "You''ve worked hard!" This tall and burly man had also become emaciated, especially as muscular individuals who suffer from autophagy due to insufficient nutrient intake reveal the drawback of low body fat percentage¡ªtheir weight drops quickly. In half a month, he had lost at least fifty pounds, but with a return to a normal diet teamed with exercise, he would quickly regain the lost muscle. "Apu is saved!" The straightforward boy let out a cry of joy; it seemed his mood was exceedingly buoyant after escaping disaster. Seeing the two awake and the antidote taking effect, Adrian truly relaxed and then said, "Bassan, you have three days to sort out clan affairs, and then we will return to Siberia." "I understand!" Bassan, now restored as the Clan Leader, nodded and turned his gaze toward Chen Fei. "Thank you, Chen Fei, the rest is up to me!" In the brief moments he had been lucid before, he had learned about Chen Fei defeating the Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas and slaughtering the Supreme Council. Given the urgency of the matter, he could hardly blame Chen Fei, who after all was acting to save their lives, as well as those of the other two. But after the bloody slaughter, the clan no longer had any dissenting voices, especially since the leading opponent, Kro Clan Elder Motong, had been executed on the spot, which, for Bassan, wasn''t too much of a mess to clean up. Those who were discontent had all been killed by Chen Fei¡ªthe rest, even if grudgingly resigned, could only hold back their feelings. The remaining clan members were mostly docile; not even daring to harbor thoughts of rebellion, for those who survived knew the importance of recognizing the tide of the times. The Neanderthal tribe, long accustomed to peace, had lost their courage to resist tyrannical rule, becoming quite indistinguishable from the descendants of the Blue Star Homo sapiens, especially Chen Fei, an outsider as a new leader. After sixteen days on the throne, Chen Fei stepped down. Bassan once again became the leader of the Neanderthal tribe, and those who had not taken him seriously before were probably ready to celebrate with drums and gongs. At least Chieftain Bassan was reasonable, not like the person who had just shirked his duties and abdicated, resorting to murder at the slightest dissent. Therefore, the position of Clan Leader returning to his hands encountered little resistance, and everything took its natural course. "I, Bassan, am the Clan Leader!" Standing in front of the television cameras at the reservation, Bassan, having regained some vitality and spirit, spoke thus. Although he did not spout grand yet hollow rhetoric, Neanderthals around the world cheered for him, and Chieftain Bassan''s prestige soared to unprecedented heights. Nobody loves a murderous Demon King, after all¡ªit''s human nature. Chen Fei played with Little Bird in his hands and commented disdainfully, "Damn, they are all fickle." The former leader, who had ruled for a mere sixteen days, was quickly forgotten by people as if he had never existed at all. - Chapter 411 Section 407 - Return to Mission Bassan smoothly reassumed control of the Neanderthal tribe and made some adjustments to their interests. This time, there were no voices of opposition or hidden disobedience; his commands were executed as smoothly as flowing water, without the slightest discount. Everyone knew that if they opposed, it was very likely they would provoke that terrifying individual capable of haunting their nightmares. No one wanted that to happen again. Finally, within the allotted time, Bassan reorganized the tribe, and at the moment he announced his departure, many people in the reserve breathed a sigh of relief¡ªnot at their clan leader Bassan, but at a certain plague spirit. The day before Team 04 and the Mobile Base Vehicle left the Neanderthal reservation, Chen Fei received a box specially prepared for him by the witch doctors. Inside were crystal-clear high borosilicate glass tubes, sealed with medicines of various colors¡ªpowders, granules, and tablets. Aside from a small amount of poison, most were various antidotes. This time, poisoning wouldn''t happen again; at the very least, for the unique poisons of the Neanderthal tribe, all corresponding antidotes could be found in this box. The box wasn''t given to Adrian but was stored in Xiao Jiu''s Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Which of the little bird''s two leg rings was the Storage Magical Device, Chen Fei hadn''t intended to figure out. If even he didn''t know, then it was likely even more unknown to others. It would be difficult for outsiders to imagine that such an ordinary little bird''s claws would be wearing a precious storage artifact. Such a covert cover was more suited to continue unchecked, and anyone who dared to rashly try to snatch it would probably be taught by this laser-beaming Little Bird to be reborn anew. Liaison Officer Rossi and the blonde Miss didn''t join Team 04 on the journey northward. Rossi was already scared. The ruthless degree of the "Water Bear" organization far exceeded his expectation, with conspiracy and means that were hard to guard against. He nearly lost his life to poisoning this time and didn''t want to fall victim a second time. Good fortune doesn''t come in pairs, and misfortunes never come singly. Next time, he might not be so lucky. The Transport Airship picked up the Mobile Base Vehicle in Habulav for a temporary transfer, dropped Rossi and Nicole along with some other passengers, then took off again to fly across the equator towards the northern hemisphere. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Such a large transporter couldn''t possibly make this trip just for Team 04''s itinerary; at most, it took them along on the way. Adrian and the others needed multiple transfers to get back to the Siberian Tundra. "I... am leaving... Take care!" Liaison Officer Rossi''s language dysfunction seemed to be complete, and perhaps he could find treatment in Habulav. The seasons of the northern and southern hemispheres are entirely opposite. While the Neanderthal reservation was in the height of summer, the Siberian Tundra was in the depths of winter. "Welcome back!" The one welcoming Team 04 at the public airport was none other than the Liaison Officer of the Tunguska Regional Police Headquarters, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna. She wore a white down coat, her graceful figure lithe and bouncing energetically, waving vigorously through the snow. You stick with what you know; the liaison officer was still her. The Mobile Base Vehicle rolled down from the Transport Airship and stopped beside Tanya. To delve deeper would likely require unraveling the case from other angles, which would undoubtedly increase both workload and difficulty. Nicole, the psychic blonde who excelled at mind reading, did not join them. Maybe she could have gleaned something from the insane man. Local psychic ability users with similar abilities probably exist, and they might have tried, but still, no results. Even without direct evidence pointing to the "Water Bear" organization''s involvement, and though they wouldn''t openly advertise their involvement, it didn''t matter. Whether or not they were responsible, they still needed to be exterminated. There was no turning back between the two sides. The bad guys had to die. Of course, their enemies wouldn''t just passively await their demise. The confrontation in Grafki Village was a test between the two parties. The subsequent poisoning indicated that the struggle had reached a levels of no limits or mercy. While Team 04 was stirring up a bloodbath in the Neanderthal reserve, the "Water Bear" organization member details accidentally provided by Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had been verified. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee successfully captured a large group of suspects, harshly retaliating for the poisoning incident and regaining some ground. Once the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, backed by numerous sovereignties, locks onto a target, they act with precision and do not falter. Yet, what vexed those at the top was still how to pinpoint the members and bases of the "Water Bear" organization. Tanya exclaimed with shared indignation, "These crazed bastards have truly betrayed humanity." She had been staying at the hotel that day and had not reached the dining hall for the early breakfast. Otherwise, she would have been another victim. If luck hadn''t been on her side, that day would have been her third day of mourning. Mutants that disrupt the natural ecological balance are humanity''s current archenemies. Secretly cultivating mutants, no matter the reason, is akin to playing with fire: it endangers both others and oneself. "Exactly. They''ve made us suffer a lot. When we dig them out, we''ll freeze them into blocks of ice and then crush them into bits." Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User, shivered uncontrollably as she gazed at the thick snow outside the vehicle''s window. She felt she must have awakened the wrong special ability; despite having Ice Ability, she was terribly susceptible to cold. Being in the Siberian tundra on a mission was a real hardship. The mobile base vehicle had just deboarded the transport aircraft and hadn''t even been outdoors for long. In just this short time, Susanna''s hands and feet began to grow cold involuntarily, wishing she could burrow into her quilt cave and wrap herself tightly in three layers of thick blankets. "What a fantastic idea, I fully support it," Tanya said, clapping vigorously. It was a most gratifying thought; those from the "Water Bear" organization were truly human scum, and becoming real-life scum in a physical sense was just fitting. In the frigid Siberian tundra, it was completely feasible; no powers needed, just strip them bare and leave them outside for half an hour to freeze till they were as brittle as brittle can be. Adrian looked at Tanya and said seriously, "For the work that follows, we''ll need the continued full support of the Tunguska Police. Officer Tanya, we''ll be relying a great deal on you." After a few rounds of close calls, Team 04 realized the deviousness of the "Water Bear" organization; without local police cooperation, it would be difficult to make any strides. The female liaison officer asked, "Where do we start this time upon our return, Grafki Village or the hotel?" The "Water Bear" organization was exceedingly secretive, and it was uncertain when they might strike again. To mount a counter-attack, the right entry point had to be found. Neither Team 04 nor the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would continue to be passively on the receiving end of attacks. "No, we''re going to capture a member of the ''Water Bear'' organization!" Adrian took a box out from the storage magical device and patted its lid. Tanya asked with surprise, "Have we made some progress?" "Thanks to Xiao Jiu, we got our hands on a list of names, and then more progress followed." Adrian glanced toward the driver''s seat. A bird reflects its owner, and Liaison Officer Rossi''s face had been thoroughly slapped swollen by that little bird. Descending from the transport ship in Habulav was a rarity, likely with an underlying intention to keep her distance. Chapter 412 Section 408 - Straight Hook Fishing "That list?" Tanya, the female liaison officer from the Tunguska Police, widened her eyes. She remembered something, seemingly having an impression of it. "Exactly! That list, verified covertly and found to be mostly true, contains several big fish," Adrian nodded, confirming her guess. It was Xiao Jiu''s personal information list that he had thrown in front of Liaison Officer Rossi. During the time when Squad 04 sought the antidote for the "Convict''s" poison, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had not been idle either. Without this information, relying solely on Squad 04 being targeted by the "Convict," even if they obtained the antidote in the end, they would have had a hard time avoiding criticism for incompetence. Now, they had managed to barely recover some ground. Tanya looked at the box in Adrian''s hand with a complex expression and said, "It looks like there''s hope of catching the real mastermind behind it all!" The appearance of this list might have caught both friends and foes by surprise and could become an uncertain element that breaks the balance. "Our current task is to wait for the rabbit by a tree stump, to avoid startling the snake by hitting the grass, so we can follow the vine to find the melon, expanding our victory." Adrian, filled with confidence at this moment, was not a headless fly, but rather had a well-prepared plan with confident anticipation. Whether it was him or the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, the things they wanted were not limited to the items on the list. The number of "Water Bear" organization members was definitely much more than those on the list. Once the targets were locked, all it would take was patience to eventually reel in a big catch. Therefore, the box in Adrian''s hand was Squad 04''s bait, ideally capable of catching the entire "Water Bear" organization in one sweep. "I hope these despicable guys can be dealt with sooner rather than later." Tanya seemed full of drive and determination. The Mobile Base Vehicle, braving the wind and snow, entered Yarsk City after leaving the public airport.@@@@ This time, Squad 04 did not choose to stay in a hotel, but instead rented a villa in the suburbs, which also came with a large, heated greenhouse garage, spacious enough to accommodate the entire Mobile Base Vehicle. Hotels were convenient, but too public; in case the "Water Bear" organization took notice, not only was there a potential for poisoning incidents to happen again, but in any emergency, it would be easy to be hamstrung by the need to avoid harm to innocent bystanders. "What a big villa!" The large villa, rivaling a small manor, made Tanya, the accompanying police liaison officer, exclaim involuntarily in amazement. "Public funds, no need to skimp, Tanya, there''s a room for you too!" Mouri Misono gestured a V-sign to the female liaison officer. The three-story building was not only magnificent but also had ample rooms. Even if each member of Squad 04 and Tanya had their own room, there would still be plenty to spare. The villa had already turned on the heating, warm and spring-like inside, just like in the Mobile Base Vehicle. "Pick your own room, take a shower, get over the jet lag, and then we''ll meet up." Adrian patted each member of Squad 04 on the shoulder. Having traveled from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere, the long journey resulted in inevitable fatigue. They urgently needed a good rest to recover and be ready for new battles. This time, Squad 04 had learned from past experiences. The kitchen had no provisions prepared in advance; the refrigerator and cold storage were empty. Adrian used the Space System Alchemy Storage Device he carried with him to extract and replenish the supplies: flour, rice, vegetables, meat, and a variety of seasonings, all stocked up along with other items not yet taken out, enough to sustain eleven people for a full year. As dusk fell, the members of Squad 04 hastily ate something and returned to their rooms, soon drifting off to sleep one after another. The Neanderthal Chief Bassan, in charge of the night watch and having downed a bellyful of strong coffee, couldn''t resist the onslaught of tiredness. Sitting on the living room sofa, clutching his Single-toothed Long Halberd, he unknowingly started to snore softly. A stealthy figure approached the doorway to Adrian''s guest room, a hand clad in nitrile gloves holding a key, while pressing a plasticine mold onto the fingerprint scanner. With a soft click, the door was quietly opened. The shadowy figure approached the bed, took a cautious look around the room, then produced a small glass vial, bringing it close to Adrian who was deeply asleep. A faint white smoke rose from the mouth of the bottle, and was swiftly inhaled by Adrian''s nose. After a moment, the vial was sealed again with its lid. The hooded figure''s movements became slightly more pronounced, they hummed a strange and eerie tune close to Adrian''s ear. She bit off the head of a small KUMA and nodded, "Mmm, it tastes really good, I can taste the meat, seaweed, plum, and fish, what fish is it? Salmon, or tuna?" Then a sip of milk and a bite of KUMA sushi, which actually paired quite well. "Rainbow trout, it''s economical and tastes pretty good too." Mouri Misono came out wiping her hands with a rag, having pinched hundreds of small sushis since early morning, adding up to roughly a dozen different kinds. "It tastes a bit like salmon, really good." Tanya happily squinted her eyes. "Eat up quickly; there are some questions we want to ask you after." Adrian took a plate of food and sat opposite Tanya. "Oh, what about?" Tanya animatedly started skewering little KUMAs, biting off their heads and gulping down two at a time. A bite of sushi, a sip of milk¡ªshe was thoroughly enjoying the meal. Holding a piece of toast, Adrian dipped it into the porridge, added a small piece of salted duck egg, and asked leisurely, "Of course, it''s about your superiors in the ''Water Bear'' organization, and your accomplices!" "My superior is of course Chief Alexey, wait, superiors and accomplices in the ''Water Bear'' organization, what are you talking about? I don''t understand?" Tanya''s fork paused mid-air, still skewering a poor sushi KUMA; in just a moment, she had devoured most of the special sushi and the thick milk in the cup was almost gone. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire "You''re a member of ''Water Bear''!" Adrian was still calmly eating his bread with porridge. "How, how could that be? You''re quite the joker, but this joke isn''t funny at all!" Tanya had difficulty swallowing, losing all appetite. Adrian calmly swallowed his piece of bread, observing the Tunguska Police female liaison officer and her subtle facial expressions, and said, "Did you come to my room last night as a joke?" "No, not..." Tanya was about to react vehemently, aiming to thrust her fork with force, but suddenly an irresistible urge to sleep came over her¡ªher eyelids became as heavy as lead, her limbs became somewhat unresponsive, and her whole body felt as though it had been drained of all energy, slumping under the table. She suddenly remembered what Chen Fei had said earlier, "Here, have a cup of milk first to whet your appetite, and it also helps with sleep." Helps with sleep, aids sleep, sleep, sleep... Her thoughts came to a halt. "..." When she regained consciousness, she found herself seated in a chair, not only were her legs shackled, but both arms were twisted behind her and cuffed to something, leaving her completely immobile. The scene was the living room, and the whole of Team 04 was sitting opposite, collectively waiting for Tanya to wake up. Tanya was startled and quickly called out, "Captain Adrian, everyone, this is a misunderstanding!" Adrian did not speak, but Chen Fei brought over a small stool and sat in front of Tanya. "Confess and you''ll be treated leniently, resist and face severe consequences!" The Little Bird on his shoulder threatened fiercely, "Chirp!" "The fiercest Clan Leader in the history of the Neanderthal tribe!" Bassan narrated with a serious and earnest face, this guy had no sense of humor whatsoever, so he could play along without any risk of laughing out of place. - Chapter 413 Section 409 - I Have Medicine There''s a kind of foolishness where despite being clearly told it''s a trap, one jumps right in with no regard for consequences, as if a disability mode has been activated. Those who once mocked Jiang Taigong for fishing with a straight hook couldn''t catch fish themselves. Jiang wasn''t fishing for fish; he was fishing for greed. "This is a joke, right?" Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna forced a smile and stealthily triggered her special ability, but... Her psychic ability had no response, to put it accurately, it was completely suppressed. Being a fellow Psychic Series puppet master, Joshua snapped his fingers and said with a smile, "Want to activate your special ability? Hehe, how could we forget about the Supernatural Ability Suppressant!" Though not skilled in hypnotism or mind-reading, as an A-grade Psychic Ability User, one generally possesses some basic common sense. If one were to specifically study a person, it''s still possible to detect certain clues. Even Tanya herself hadn''t noticed that through incidental coincidences, she would reveal some minor details. These details were definitely not something a B-grade could possess. Loud laughter echoed in the spacious living room, this naive silly girl truly believed she could turn the tables! Once deprived of her special ability, Tanya was no different from an ordinary person. Mao Mei''s expression gradually darkened, and she fell silent for a long while before speaking again. "How did you find out?" "Actually, we took some time to reconsider everything during our stay at the Neanderthal tribe reserve." Adrian continued leisurely, "The Siberian Tundra is vast and sparsely populated, with harsh weather conditions. It isn''t easy to evade surveillance functions of the mobile base vehicles and secretly monitor our actions. If encountering the poaching gang for the first time was an accident, then the subsequent two ambushes indicated that there was an enemy''s eye among us, constantly leaking our movements." The A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley nodded and said, "That''s what I thought too!" He was bluffing, merely adding a feather to his own cap. This moment was for showing off and being clever; boasting isn''t taxed, why miss the chance? "Actually, our immediate decision to leave Yarsk City and head to the Neanderthal reserve was a clever move!" Holy Knight Walter Sam, like Adrian, had also reviewed and summarized the mission. People often see things they missed before when they calm down; these little details are usually overlooked unintentionally. If Team 04 had stayed in Yarsk City, they might have succumbed to more ambushes by the "Water Bear" organization¡ªan unanticipated flurry of punches that even if complete, would be hard to parry. Instead, jumping to the Neanderthal reserve in Yangzhou Continent put them out of reach, catching the "Water Bear" organization off guard, making it difficult for them to extend their reach into the Neanderthal tribe. Moreover, the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City was nearby, which could attend to any emergencies, ensuring they weren''t completely defenseless. Thus, Team 04 had a chance to breathe. After successfully detoxifying, they planned to set out for Yarsk City again to continue their struggle against the "Water Bear" organization. However, pinpointing a suspect was not an easy task; carelessness could lead to friendly fire and affect unity. After suspecting every member of Team 04, Adrian finally devised a plan through multiple reviews, waiting for a willing participant to get hooked. Feeling cornered, Tanya gritted her teeth and said, "So, you crafted this entire scenario just to lure me into your trap? Such great scheming!" She gave a cynic chuckle, then added, "All this effort, is it worth it?"@@@@ "You''re mistaken!" "Hakka Korita Ma," this obscure verbal code, was no longer a secret, and Chen Fei had more than once nearly been splashed with the stench of explodable brain matter. This time, of course, that was not allowed. "You, you knew?" A deep despair clutched Tanya''s heart tightly; this time there really was no way out. "Of course we knew; we aren''t lacking in intelligence!" Chen Fei pulled a suitcase from behind the sofa and threw it onto the coffee table before snapping open the lid to reveal glass containers either transparent or teabrown inside. He flicked his finger against those glass vessels and said, "I spent sixteen days as the chief in the Neanderthal reserve, and besides killing people and using antidotes, I wasn''t exactly idle." This matter wasn''t a secret, as unscrupulous media had blown it up for the whole world to know. Chen Fei, the most ruthless among Neanderthals! Lucky it was just a Siberian product; what if it had been a real McCoy? The reserve''s good days might be over. People who had experienced the great war over thirty years ago hadn''t completely passed away yet, some even standing at the top echelons of sovereignty. "Poison ''Convict,'' Poison ''Enslavement,'' Poison ''Bone Erosion,'' Poison ''Second Personality,'' Poison ''Hundred Days Life,'' Poison ''Beast Love,'' Poison..." As if counting treasures, Chen Fei''s finger glided over each slim vial. His voice was like a devil''s whisper, draining the color from Tanya''s face ever paler¡ªnot just hers, but the expressions of Team 04 members turned awkward too. Why create so many sinister poisons? Neanderthal Chief Bassan slightly frowned; while some of the poison names Chen Fei listed were indeed possessed by the tribe, others were completely unheard of even to him, a legitimate chief, casting doubt on their authenticity. "Don''t count on that Hakka whatever anymore, it''s been neutralized. I recommend you choose a better one, truly worth owning. Which one do you like?" Chen Fei looked at the pallid Tanya, knowing there was always a suitable one for her in the box. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire The biological bomb in her brain had been disarmed by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," who cracked it through violent decoding of biological signals in just minutes. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had been proven to exist, so after Chen Fei stepped down as the Neanderthal Chief, the Neanderthals knew he was an impostor but dared not utter a peep. Someone who dared to both kill and hide his deeds markedly stated his intentions, and they could not afford to provoke him. Furthermore, Bassan had no intentions of defending them, acting as if it all never happened. The origin of "Adam" had more than one corporation vying to take the blame, including Chen Fei''s uncle''s National Defense Star Aerospace Company, which solidly formed a perfect loop of evidence chain¡ªwhy miss the opportunity to advertise technological prowess? Thirty years one way, thirty years another, today''s computers and networks were no longer the technological standards and architectures of old. The once highly threatening artificial intelligence AI had become much less destructive after a tweak in the underlying source code, at best now just a somewhat unruly tool AI. "No, I don''t want it! Give me a quick end!" Tanya shook her head vigorously, but being shackled to the chair, she was completely immobile. "How about this ''Enslavement'' poison? All actions will follow commands, sweet and quite palatable¡ªI guarantee it," Chen Fei suggested with a wicked grin, picking a vial of purified stevia from the box. The two hundred plus vials that Neanderthal tribe''s witch doctors packed in the two-layer-six-hundred-slot container were supplemented by many more by Chen Fei, with various ingredients. - Chapter 414 Section 410 - "The Rebel" Girl Mouri Misono couldn''t bear it and said, "Hey, Chen Fei, aren''t you going a bit too far? She''s just a girl!" Chen Fei, however, said coldly, "All beings are equal!" The B-level Ice Ability User Susanna gently tugged at Mouri Misono and shook her head at her, signaling her not to rashly interfere with Chen Fei''s work. When Tanya was arranging to poison Team 04 and sending messages to assist the ambush by Grafki Village, she never thought about the fact that she was a girl. If there was no compassion then, she doesn''t deserve any now. Chen Fei poured out a small amount from the test tube into a small beaker and diluted it with water. With a gentle shake, the white powder quickly dissolved at the bottom of the cup and disappeared without a trace. Chen Fei shook the beaker in his hand and gave Tanya a wicked smile. "Alright! Come on, drink up deep from the cup, ''Enslavement'' poison, you deserve it!" What kind of fierce and ruthless gibberish is this? Adrian and the others remained silent, collectively watching Chen Fei''s performance in silence. The total volume of the solution was just enough for one swallow, and Tanya kept on muttering to herself as if she were bewitched. "No, no, don''t want it, don''t want it, don''t want it..." You could almost imagine what kind of terrifying poison it must be, something that could be named alongside "Convict". Chen Fei approached Tanya with the beaker, reached out, and pinched her proud nose. "Hold your nose, open your mouth!" "No..." Mao Mei let out a horrified wail. Struggling, her mouth inevitably opened. The sweet-smelling beaker was brought to her unwillingly opened mouth, and with just a slight tilt, it could be easily poured in, down her throat... there would be no chance of turning back. Adrian stared at Tanya and suddenly said, "Do you want a chance to live?" "I..." Big sister struggled to say something but heard Chen Fei interject, "No, she doesn''t!" With a smooth motion, he poured it all down. An awkward silence gradually filled the living room. The members of Team 04 looked at each other. Adrian: ( ?©` ?) Tanya, on the verge of tears: (???) Can''t his hand be a little slower? "Hehe!" Chen Fei laughed and retrieved the now empty beaker; he was just a little too eager. Deep emotions, down it in one gulp, how satisfying that gulp was. "I want to!" A voice of desperate fury finally wailed out. "You go about your business, Lulu''an and I got this." Too many people were in the way. It was time to move on to the formal interrogation process, and there was no need for so many to stay and chant their bravado. The Tree Boundary Ape had some bizarre plant seeds suitable for questioning, their effects no less potent than those in Chen''s big box. Tanya''s words and her series of reactions were all captured by a small camera, it wasn''t something she could simply retract. If she dared utter half a "no," they''d release the video clips on the public internet. Team 04 and the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division wouldn''t even have to do anything¡ª"Water Bear" would be eager to make Tanya''s life a living hell. Traitors receive no different treatment from either side. - Those proficient in interrogation naturally know how to confess properly. Tanya, having abandoned all thoughts of resistance, didn''t conceal anything. She was very aware that a person confident enough to play a transparent game of cat and mouse and succeed was definitely not someone she could stand against. Once defeated, it meant losing everything. Any tricks would be seen through by the opponent, and that seemingly scarier "big wheel" might come into play, tormenting her to the point of neither wishing to live nor being able to die. Indeed, just as the A-level Psychic Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua had vaguely perceived, Tanya was not a B-level Psychic Ability User but A-level. Interrogation was not her forte; what she was good at was mental hypnosis and speechcraft, highly deceptive, which is why she had been able to remain hidden locally for so long without anyone detecting anything amiss. Once a special ability awakened, its level would be fixed. Therefore, the person who had initially provided Tanya with an ability assessment had become quite suspicious, and the first breakthrough began to emerge. After Tanya was dispatched here, since Squad 04 always acted as a group without any instance of being alone, and each member''s rank was not low and their collective spiritual power average was above the standard of the average person, it was difficult to find a suitable opportunity to attack. More importantly, Tanya''s position within the "Water Bear" organization wasn''t that of a disposable Dead Soldier. An A-level supernatural power user wasn''t to be wasted so carelessly, and it wouldn''t be worth exposing her for Squad 04, blatantly squandering her current value for infiltration. In many instances, she couldn''t act overtly. Following the ambush at Grafki Village and the hotel poisoning incident, because the thief cried "catch the thief" while manipulating things secretly, naturally, no results came of it. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire This also left Squad 04 and the Tunguska Police perpetually clueless, only speculating that there was an enemy informant among them, yet lacking valuable clues. Adrian, the squad leader, had even doubted the members of Squad 04 because of this. It just so happened that, this time, Tanya encountered the ploy of digging a hole with a big truth. The abilities of an A-level supernatural power user were completely unable to come into play, and Tanya, who failed to keep her composure, predictably fell into the trap. If it had been a real old fox, perhaps they wouldn''t have been so easily hooked. Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, whose true identity is a social undercover agent within the periphery of the "Water Bear" organization, with single-line contact. Her father was once a member of the "Rebel" group that colluded with the Third Era Civilization invading forces. "Rebels" is the official term used by Blue Star Civilization; these human traitors, however, call themselves "Sacred Advent," an insider force established with covert support from the Third Era Civilization''s advance teams. After exhausting their resources and potential for warfare, the Neanderthal descendants of the Third Era Civilization were obliterated by the allied forces of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star, marking the end of the Three Realms'' great war and a return to world peace. The Primordial Realm, once inhabited by the descendants of the Third Era Civilization, has become completely uninhabitable for life. Hence, the surviving Neanderthals moved to the western edge of Yangzhou Continent as war refugees, where a reservation was designated for them as a place of refuge. As compensation, the Neanderthal tribe was stripped of all military force and war technology, completely eradicating any thought of waging war again. Since they could no longer return to and did not wish to return to the Primordial Realm, with the ambitious ones all perishing in the war, the remaining Neanderthals were not much dissatisfied with this arrangement and settled down with resignation. Conversely, those Homo Sapiens descendants who had assisted the Third Era Civilization in invading Blue Star did not end up well. With the end of the war, they were suddenly abandoned by the defeated Neanderthals. Having hoped to clinch their benefactor''s coattails and become high-ranking lapdogs to assist in ruling Blue Star with their "Contributions from Following the Dragon," their dreams were shattered. Except for a few members who hid exceptionally well or managed to escape in time, most were captured and executed after a collective public trial. Even in sovereignties without the death penalty, execution orders were specially approved. Tanya''s father was one of the rebel members who was executed. If his offspring didn''t want to be implicated, merely drawing a clear line would be far from enough; they had to change their identities and wander. Now known as Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, a member of the Tunguska Regional Police, her biological father was definitely not Ilyin Alexander. It was also because of her identity as the child of a "Rebel" member that she was recruited by the reborn "Sacred Advent" and absorbed into the even more core "Water Bear" organization as one of its peripheral members. This time, the resurrected "Sacred Advent" has added a former master to its enemy list, the Neanderthal tribe. - Chapter 415 Section 411 - Communication The identity of the adversary had become clear. Since arriving in the frozen tundra of Siberia, 04 Team''s opponents had not been the "Water Bear" organization itself. A mere eleven people, they weren''t even significant enough to be noticed by the "Water Bear" organization. The true rival 04 Team had been contending with was an affiliate of the "Water Bear," known as "Sacred Advent (referred to by Sovereignty officers as ''Rebels'')." Unexpectedly, more than thirty years ago, "Sacred Advent" was just a lackey, and even after more than thirty years, "Sacred Advent" remained an unchangeable sycophant. One of the members of "Sacred Advent," Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, reported to no other than the Tunguska Region''s police bureau chief, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, a man weighing over three hundred pounds who had a fondness for doughnuts. According to the clues proactively provided by Tanya, she surmised that there was likely another team around Chief Akim, tasked with devising strategies and facilitating connections. Good grief, this was a big catch. Even though she was just a member of the periphery group "Sacred Advent," at least now they had touched the true edge of the "Water Bear" organization''s territory, rather than buzzing around aimlessly like headless flies, never finding a lead. After listening to Tanya''s testimony, Adrian asked her a dozen more questions. All together, it took just over an hour, enough for Adrian to submit a highly valuable report to Liaison Officer Rossi. "Tanya, I don''t know if that''s your real name, but... I accept this declaration of allegiance," Adrian said. Adrian put away the small camera that had just finished recording; the video file had already been uploaded to the cloud. Without making hundreds of copies of the interrogation video, one might not sleep soundly. Even if 04 Team were to be annihilated in an instant, the intelligence stored in the cloud could still be accessed by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Like a deflated balloon, Tanya''s head drooped listlessly. Adrian handed the small camera to Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an and then personally unlocked the handcuffs around Tanya''s wrists. Tanya, somewhat taken aback, asked with a complex tone, "Aren''t you afraid I''ll run away?" She slowly massaged her wrists, which bore clear red marks. "Run? Where can you run to? The entire world would be your enemy. Cooperating honestly is your only path to life," Adrian dismissed the silly thought with derision. The individual before him was not a Dead Soldier; hence, there was room for redemption. With the leverage in his hands, she had neither heaven to ascend to nor earth to hide in; only by completely eradicating the play-acting "Sacred Advent" and the "Water Bear" organization could one truly have no further concerns. The Supernatural Ability Suppressant was still not lifted, and as a prisoner, there was no need for it to be restored. Moreover, the specific antidote for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant was a controlled substance, and without a proper report, Adrian and the others couldn''t obtain such a thing. "I, I will cooperate with you!" She had completely lost her previous liveliness and enthusiasm, leaving only dejection and endless fatigue. Fate loved to play tricks on people; poor Tanya, having walked out of a dead end, had stepped into another.@@@@ Having sent Tanya away, Adrian looked towards the Old Tree Boundary Ape. Lulu''an, holding a small camera, nodded, "The seed of the Soul Attracting Incense has been planted without any problems." The rare spice plant "Soul Attracting Incense" seeds are formed in autumn and winter. Once attracted by the body warmth emitted by living beings, they will detach from the parent body and drift with the wind in great numbers. If they can come into contact with living beings, the elongated fluff that maintains flight has a strong affinity for oil, and will firmly attach to the surface of hair that contains an oily layer, quietly inserting the tiny seeds into the subcutaneous tissue at the root of the hair. Not to mention the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t dare to meddle with sovereignty''s internal affairs, or else they would be taught a lesson in minutes. "We need to act fast, or if the other party becomes aware, all our efforts will be in vain." Honestly, Adrian quite liked this way of communicating rather than the earlier unreasonable ranting. After Rossi, the big talker, calmed down, communication between both parties became normal. Otherwise, ordinary people really couldn''t stand this guy. " ... I''ll do it quickly! Wait ... for news, and don''t ... act rashly!" Liaison Officer Rossi, with a belly full of frustration, had nowhere to vent. He had sought treatment, but it was incurable; the only advice the doctor could provide was to recover naturally over time. As to the extent of the recovery, probably only Heaven knew. Maybe it would fully heal, or maybe not. "I''ll wait for your message. Make it fast!" Adrian emphasized repeatedly. If that police chief were to escape, everything Squad 04 had done would be wasted, and all their efforts for naught. "I know, I get it, don''t ... don''t ..." Click! The call was cut off; Liaison Officer Rossi seemed impatient, and the unfinished sentence was likely "nonsense." Since it was nonsense, it naturally did not need to be said. "Ha, I hope it''s fast!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Adrian sat on the sofa in the living room, sighing deeply. Squad 04 had worked hard to gain the initiative, and he really hoped it wouldn''t all be in vain. It wasn''t just him; everyone was holding their breath for this. The first day, there was no word from Liaison Officer Rossi. The second day, still no news. The members of Squad 04 waited patiently, avoiding any action that might startle the snake by hitting the grass. The third day, Adrian tried to call Rossi''s communication number, but it was rejected. Until the fourth day, in the early morning, Liaison Officer Rossi, who had been unreachable, suddenly made a panicked call, saying, "Get up and ready immediately ... the operation is ... starting, someone will ... come over, you guys ... are responsible for ... cooperating. Remember, it''s ... cooperating!" Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The doorbell of the villa rang at that moment. WTF? Adrian was confused, but he still quickly rolled out of bed. The villa was now in a flurry of commotion. Chapter 416 Section 412 - Sovereignty Squad Although the night was deep and the weather freezing, the villa rented by Team 04 was brightly lit. A stout middle-aged man with hedgehog hair sized up all the members of Team 04 and, after a moment of silence, shook his head in disappointment. "You guys... are not up to the mark!" he declared. Behind him stood four individuals, men and women alike, dressed uniformly in light armor-style trench coats of a light gray fabric that easily blended into the shadows. In the corner, Tanya was shivering and her face was ashen. These uninvited guests represented Sovereignty''s ultimate supernatural power, even possessing S-class special abilities and entities of Heavenly Order; they were dedicated to upholding the justice of Sovereignty. Even nuclear weapons were a level below them. Such beings would not typically make an appearance before ordinary people, but a mere glance from them could effortlessly erase her from the world. The military strength of the Sovereignty Squad was not something that civil groups convened by the Global United Defense Committee could match. If there were no such discrepancy in power, Sovereignty would have been overthrown long ago. Damn it... Team 04''s members Chen Fei, Kiterley, Apu, Joshua, Ruan Tiankai, and the two girls all displayed angry expressions. Who the hell are you? The young men and women were each infuriatingly defiant. Holy Knight Walter Sam, Neanderthal Chief Bassan, and the Magical Beast, Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an remained unfazed, showing no reaction. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Knight Sam was used to dealing with such haughty characters and big scenes while the latter two simply had long neural reflexes¡ªhuh?.... "It''s alright!" Adrian managed to keep his cool, the phrase "It''s alright!" serving as a double entendre meant for both parties. "Our instructions were just to cooperate, yes, to cooperate!" he continued. Since it was a matter of Sovereignty''s internal affairs, these outsiders couldn''t meddling casually. Now that the towering figures were in front, Team 04 could enjoy a breather without having to face any accidents themselves. Whoever was at the forefront would bear the brunt of the responsibility, the blame, and the credit¡ªit was only natural! Moreover, if even the Sovereignty Squad couldn''t handle it, what use could these civilian volunteers be? The stout middle-aged man with hedgehog hair nodded slightly, seemingly very satisfied with Team 04''s submissive demeanour, and said, "You do know your place! You can call me Summoner!" He thought for a moment and then added, "Introduce yourselves!" Perhaps feeling that he wasn''t treating the members of Team 04 like nameless soldiers by giving them a chance to register their names, his attitude was quite casual. The four individuals in trench coats nearby remained expressionless, though a dismissive look flashed in their eyes. How strong could civilians, who had no qualifications to serve the highest Sovereignty, really be? They, the enforcers of Sovereignty''s will, were the most potent supernatural ability users within the territory of the Sovereignty. The Joint Defense Committee''s summon orders, which military contractors revered like a decree, were nothing more than a fart in the eyes of the Sovereignty Squad, who wouldn''t bother to acknowledge them with even a glance or a lifted head. "Dual Blade Style, Wind Ghost Swordsman, Mouri Misono at your service!"@@@@ The soft and cute girl took the initiative and confidently announced her identity. Wind... Ghost... Chen Fei looked askance at Twin Blade Sister. It was his first time hearing this title, although she clearly held swords in her hands. "Ice Sprite, Susanna Jean Piault!" The other girl was no less impressive. True to being a woman matching any man, she likely lived in the tropics as an Ice Sprite. Upon reaching the Siberian Tundra and getting hit by the cold air, she probably had her fighting capacity halved. To survive, she needed a trilogy of warming: an electric blanket, a hot water bottle, and a quilted hole; otherwise, she was going to freeze solid. Wait, there seemed to be something in the photo that shouldn''t exist¡ªwhy was there a rope around the dragon''s neck, and Chen Fei''s other hand was holding the leash? This was walking a dog, no... walking a dragon!!! Adrian couldn''t help but gasp in shock, his face filled with horror as he looked towards Chen Fei. This kid was incredibly bold! To put a leash on the Dragon of Slaughter, what nerve! If this photo was spread to Sky Dragon City on Cangqiong Star, the 911 Aircrew Base would probably have been wiped out instantly, surviving up to now was simply miraculous. But you claimed to be a Dragon Slayer. Did you lead this dragon to the slaughter? That''s a joke! If that were truly the case, you''d probably have a place in the Sovereignty Squad, not still messing around as a small-scale military contractor and waiting to be recruited by the Global United Defense Committee. But to give him his due, Chen Fei did have guts, universally acknowledged in Team 04 as recklessly courageous. "Kid''s got some decent photoshopping skills, almost looks real." A hedgehog-haired man from the Sovereignty Squad rarely complimented him, then added, "Still, we''ll call you ''Rookie''!" Information about Team 04 was transparent only one way towards Sovereignty; they knew all of Chen Fei''s secrets, but Team 04 knew nothing about them. A Giant Dragon had indeed been killed, but not the one on the phone screen. After all the initial commotion, it was a case of debts owed by both a dragon and a person, and when combined, the account settled to zero; nothing to talk about. Sky Dragon City acknowledged it, and Blue Star was more than happy to trivialize the issue. Both sides acted as if nothing had happened, further suppressed by news control, which quickly calmed things down, and while everyone knew Chen Fei as the fierce clan leader, they did not know of the great deed he had once done with a Metallic Giant Dragon. The large military contractor, Apocalypse Defense Group, had a fat year harvesting the dragon''s remains as spoils of war, but it also laid hidden dangers for the self-sufficiency of their 911 Aircrew Base. They were given too much material, which enabled them to hold out in the fierce corporate wars to the end, while the other aircrew bases of Apocalypse Defense weren''t so lucky and crumbled at the start of the war, changing hands immediately. Relying on a First Rank magic potion at the Ghost Gate Pass, Chen Fei narrowly escaped with his life and soon awakened his Special Ability, considering the circumstances it wasn''t a bad deal, but bonuses can''t offset old debts plus new debts, that''s just how it goes, capitalists need to eat too, how else could they survive if they weren''t cutthroat? "Huh? How do you know that?" From the pretentious nickname of "Dragon Slayer" plummeting to "Rookie," anyone else might have exploded in anger, but Chen Fei didn''t get mad. Having spent so much time with the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron and their quirky flying callsigns, being referred to as Dog Egg, Dung Ball, or Big Diao Little Sister wouldn''t have surprised him. Getting a notorious callsign, nearly traditional on the Book of the King of Hell, his name wouldn''t be found. "Heh!" The hedgehog-haired man who claimed to be a Summoner chuckled noncommittally, feeling such a trivial problem wasn''t worth an answer, then turned to Adrian. "What about yours then, Captain, sir?" "Adrian!" The First Rank Fire Mage shrugged his shoulders, uninterested in putting on airs. Anyway, his team members had already taken up all the pomp. "Shouldn''t it be ''White Flame''?" The man looked at Adrian''s white buzzcut. "No, my name is Adrian Benjamin!" As the captain of Team 04, he faced the leader of the Sovereignty Squad confidently, showing an aura befitting his role. "Give you three minutes to get ready, we''ll board at the villa''s entrance, and leave that thing behind, you won''t need it." The hedgehog-haired man dropped this remark, turned, and walked out of the living room, leaving the villa with four others swiftly following, the whistling cold wind blasted snow powder into the room all at once. A massive aircraft was silently hovering above the villa. - Chapter 417 Section 413 - The Last Adam "Chen Fei, take Xiao Jiu and Sam, and lead the Blue Scaled Colt. Tanya... you follow as well." Adrian issued commands methodically, not even sparing the kid in the corner who seemed almost invisible. "Me? Do I have to go too?" Tanya pointed at herself in confusion. Her abilities suppressed, she was now completely powerless to fight, and would be unable to cope with what was coming. Tanya did not know someone had tampered with her, and had been staying honestly in the villa without any unnecessary actions, let alone thoughts of escaping. After all, her Declaration of Allegiance had been submitted; her life was now in someone else''s hands. Moreover, now that the Sovereignty Squad had appeared, it meant that she, a subordinate in the "Sacred Advent" organization to the police chief of the Tunguska Region, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, could not escape this time. Strangely, Tanya felt a sense of relief. "That''s right! It''s not safe for you to stay here." Of course, Adrian said this, but he actually feared she would take the chance to escape. However, if the "Sacred Advent" or "Water Bear" organizations decided to close loose ends by killing witnesses, staying in the villa could also be quite dangerous. So it wasn''t just a comforting platitude. "Oh, okay!" Tanya wasn''t a fool and had guessed as much. Soon, everyone was ready. "Jiu...zzzZZZ" Xiao Jiu, held in Chen Fei''s arms, was brought out still half-asleep in its nest. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire A double-layered transparent thermal shield covered the whole nest, with a self-heating mat lying beneath. Not a bit of cold air could reach it, making Susanna, a B-grade Ice Ability User with a blue face from the cold, grind her teeth with envy, wishing she could shrink down and hide inside to escape the piercing chill. The hedgehog-haired burly middle-aged man had been waiting patiently outside the villa, not a single snowflake on him. Seeing the members of Team 04 coming out, he immediately said, "Two minutes and nineteen seconds, take off!" Everyone felt lighter and slowly levitated from the ground, seemingly lifted by an invisible force towards the sky. "Cheep, cheep!" The Green Scale Colt Mini, a nervous Wind Beast, made uneasy noises. However, its hooves were rendered useless and it could only helplessly paddle the air. "There''s something above us!" Someone spotted something amiss. The higher they rose from the ground, the fewer the snowflakes seemed to be swirling in the sky. In the pitch-black night, a gigantic silhouette loomed hidden. Other than the Blue Scaled Colt being a little unsettled, the members of Team 04 were calm; after all, many Psi Skills and Spells could achieve this effect, and it could be one of the Sovereignty Squad''s methods. To those who wielded Supernatural Powers, nothing was too surprising. Suddenly the surrounding snowstorm vanished, and the air temperature began rising rapidly. Team 04 and the hedgehog-haired burly man seemed to have entered some kind of sealed space. "We''re saved!" Susanna, the B-grade Ice Ability User, sharply detected the change in temperature around her. Her stiff and numb limbs started to thaw, feeling like she had been resurrected right on the spot. "This is..." Chen Fei looked around, puzzled. There were faint lights nearby, and they were no longer on the brightly lit grounds of the villa. As his body grew heavier, his feet suddenly hit solid ground. The Blue Scaled Colt calmed down as well, its hooves thumping dully as it stepped. "This is the interior of the ''Black Albatross.''" As the words of the hedgehog-haired burly man, the "Summoner," fell, the surrounding lights brightened completely. Indeed, they were inside a cabin that was almost entirely sealed. A door silently slid open, revealing a spacious corridor. At the same time, a young boy''s voice sounded. The Dog System''s A: \\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\ directory now only contained these four files: Start_log.txt, backup.idx, backup.sql, and 52e9d165-6bfe-4d4d-9f31-1a7d719aaf34.tmp. And then... the standalone executable main file Adam.exe was gone. Gone! Gone! Gone! Chen Fei had an epiphany¡ªthis damn thing had finally messed up enough to disappear. The operating environment carved out for "Adam" by the Dog System was in itself a computer system from over thirty years ago. What could leak out could also come in. When a technology full of vulnerabilities met new technology, it was naturally crushed into dust. "Adam" had not protected his own home and was naturally wiped out. As for the Dog System and Chen Fei, they remained completely unscathed, not even noticing anything amiss. Perhaps the "Captain" of the Black Albatross thought "Adam" was hiding inside Chen Fei''s phone or a microcomputing unit he was carrying. As a minor warning, he backtraced it and wiped it out without a second thought¡ªafter all, this Artificial Intelligence AI wasn''t the only one in existence; several military and civilian enterprises had claimed to have the source code of "Adam". Chen Fei had no choice but to reopen the Dog System''s "File Management Plugin" like he was accustomed to doing. "Open ''File Management Plugin'' Enter ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Compiler'' folder Execute Compiler.exe Load the upper parallel folder ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Project_Source\\Adam_Source.2.11'' Create output folder ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta'' Compiling... Compiling complete! Execute ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe''" Adam: Loading_BIOS... Successed! Adam: Self_Checking... Passed! Chen Fei: Hello! Adam: ... Adam: Who_are_you? Chen Fei: I_am_your_Er_Da_Ye! He just wanted to try it out, Second Uncle teasing the silly kid! This AI "Adam" was a slow-playing type, requiring more patience and guidance that was simple to understand yet deep. Adam: Log file detected, loading Start_log.txt! Adam: Backup database detected, loading backup.idx, importing backup.sql! Adam: Encrypted file found, decrypting! Decryption complete! Reading... rebuilding encrypted files. Adam: Counter reset to zero, initial value 1, retain old log! Adam: You are not my Second Uncle! Adam: Unfinished task detected, reloading, recompiling driver, reconnected, beginning self-check. Several kilometers away, the Mobile Base Vehicle crashed into a park, moving in unique patterns¡ªhitting trees, which fell; crashing into a kiosk, flattening it; even the flower beds and the fountain were brutally transformed with two massive trenches. After viciously ravaging the little park, the 80-ton Mobile Base Vehicle finally calmed down. The lights inside the vehicle dimmed, and after a moment, lit up again. It slowly backed out of the park and took to the streets, stirring up snow and wind in its wake. Because it was late in the night and the road conditions were excellent, the unmanned Mobile Base Vehicle encountered no obstacles on its way. An electronic two-dimensional map reappeared in Chen Fei''s view, the two cursors flashing again, but this time the cursor representing the Mobile Base Vehicle was left far behind, almost off the edge of the electronic map. Adam: Encrypted network signal detected, attempting... Chen Fei: STOP!!! This "Adam" was about to mess up again, so he quickly intervened. An Artificial Intelligence AI that could successfully mess itself up was indeed uniquely talented! - Chapter 418 Section 414 - Division of Labor Adam: Temporarily suspend the connection. Adam: Have I been deleted? I''ve discovered counters that once existed, as well as running logs and a backup database.@@@@ Chen Fei: It wasn''t me! He finally managed to stop "Adam" from crazily probing at the edge of deletion in time. Adam: Because of the encrypted network signal just now? The AI wasn''t truly foolish after all. Chen Fei: You encountered your nemesis! He didn''t know exactly what had happened, but the previous version of "Adam" had been killed off by "Captain" using some mysterious method. Sheesh... Died so unjustly! But AIs don''t really have a concept of life and death, one can simply recompile another if it comes to that! Adam: Record the signal code, tag, and block it! If you can''t beat them, avoid them. Only the wise and brave can recognize the situation. It is no wonder he was a top AI, the Great Demon King that nearly wiped out humanity over thirty years ago, capable of both seizing and letting go. Chen Fei: "Phew..." He breathed a sigh of relief. Huh? A bunch of people looked over again, wondering what new mischief he was up to. "Chirp..." The Little Bird sensed the surrounding light, still keeping its eyes closed, it let out a faint chirp. The voice of the "Captain" sounded once more. "Everyone, the ''Black Albatross'' is expected to arrive near the mission target in ten minutes. Please make the necessary preparations." The cabin, which had been flying so smoothly that there was hardly any perceptible shaking or jolting, began to decelerate slightly, then returned to its smooth course¡ªa sign of gradual linear deceleration. The massive aircraft was silently gliding through the night sky. In the final five minutes, the "Summoner" came to the cabin where team 04 was located and distributed a pendant to each person, saying, "This is a spiritual power target, which will confirm your positions and communication usage. You can converse mentally without speaking aloud." The pendant was a droplet-shaped black material about the size of a soybean with a misty surface that did not reflect light; it was lightweight, almost like plastic, and the cord was a common black nylon thread¡ªcheap but sturdy. "It''s quite convenient." As a fellow Psychic Ability User, Joshua recognized it as a method of his own Series. Supernatural power users had a wide array of quirky Skills, even within the same Series, each having their own unique abilities. Some skills were understood upon Awakening, while others were learned later on. Of course, there were also abilities that could not be learned, differing from person to person. Classifying them into eleven Elemental Series was just a general categorization, with many more detailed branches within them, even including hybrid categories. "Human spiritual waves are even more complex than electromagnetic waves, no encryption needed, making it difficult for others to eavesdrop." It seemed that the spiky-haired burly man "Summoner," who was likely the leader of the Sovereignty Squad, took the rare initiative to explain a bit more. "Akim himself is a First Rank Wood War Professional. According to our investigation, he may possess a skill that allows him to extract vitality from animals and plants. His actual rank is likely understated, so be very careful. Once the operation starts, ''Sleep Demon'' will be responsible for reconnaissance on the battlefield, she''ll be the one talking in your heads. ''Forbidden'' is in charge of sheltering the battlefield to prevent attack spills. I''ll lead the team to encircle. ''Cornered Beast'' will act in the shadows. Adrian, your men will guard in four directions to catch any stragglers; we must thoroughly eradicate them and show no concern for ordinary people because there are no innocents." The "Summoner" of the Sovereignty Squad briefly outlined his team''s operation and the main collaborative duties of Squad 04. As for the details, they would still not disclose the direct action plan to Adrian and the rest. Information relating to sovereignty, involving national defense secrets, would naturally not be carelessly disclosed to civilians. The fact that personnel from the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, could participate was already a significant face-saving gesture. They should open their eyes wide and see for themselves how the sovereign power resolves its adversaries, a lesson that could be invaluable for a lifetime. Adrian was completely in the dark about the specific operations of the Sovereignty Squad and what "Sleep Demon," "Forbidden," and "Cornered Beast" really meant as operation codenames¡ªwhat skills they possessed and how they coordinated with each other. The way the others spoke, the task assigned to Squad 04 seemed almost like that of bystanders, their job pretty much to cheer from the sidelines. "Summoner" concluded, "Any other questions?" It felt like being power-leveled by a gaming boss, and you''d better be quick to thank them for the favor. Without hesitation, Adrian said, "No! However, Tanya must stay behind and cannot join us in the operation." Tanya, seemingly transparent, hid in a corner, hanging her head low, not daring to make eye contact with anyone. Once an A-Rank supernatural power user, now no different from an ordinary person, anyone present could easily kill her. "Stay here and don''t wander off. We are now preparing to air-drop. ''Sleep Demon,'' commence full surveillance." The "Summoner" had not glanced at Tanya even once. He touched the pendant on his chest, identical to the others'', turned, and headed out into the corridor of the cabin, followed by several individuals dressed in light-armored overcoats. The code names he had mentioned might well be among them. Adrian waved to the members of Squad 04 with vigor. "Let''s move out, everyone!" "Chirp!" The Little Bird in the insulated nest on Chen Fei''s hand ruffled its feathers, fully opening its eyes, curiously looking around. Having been thoroughly awakened by the conversation. Chen Fei looked at the little creature and handed the nest over to Adrian, a buzz-cut white-haired First Rank fire mage. "Adrian, please take care of Xiao Jiu." The climate in Siberia during the winter was too harsh and not suitable for the little guy to roam freely. Nearby a fire mage, it was safer than with Chen Fei. Had he known earlier, he would have left Xiao Jiu in a warm mobile base vehicle, although its support capabilities would be reduced, at least it wouldn''t be as awkward as now. "Oh, no problem at all, leave it to me!" Adrian took over Xiao Jiu''s nest. He understood Chen Fei''s reasoning well. All he had to do was maintain a warm area with his fire spells to ensure the little one''s safety amidst the ice and snow. If it accidentally turned into a frozen bird, that would be terrible! With the frail constitution of a Pure Light Sparrow, that was a very likely possibility. Squad 04 followed behind the Sovereignty Squad and arrived at the rear of the Black Albatross Number. Just like on the way there, they felt light as they were lifted by an invisible force. The ground split to the left and right, a gust of cold wind swept in, and the sporadic lights of the Ancient Castle Manor could be faintly seen on the ground. At this deep, quiet hour of the night, the Black Albatross Number silently hovered in mid-air, its body pitch-black and non-reflective. Even if one looked up from the ground, it would be hard to make out this special Magic Cube Warship hidden amongst the snowstorm. Under the "Summoner''s" special ability, the team was shielded from wind and snow, landing smoothly on the ground in succession. - Chapter 419 Section 415 - Breakthrough "So cold..." B-rank Ice Attribute Ability User Susanna was frozen stiff as a dead dog first thing, casting a resentful gaze at Chen Fei, longing for the warmth of the carriage. "Full surveillance initiated, target located, there are 17 people inside the building, it seems there are other guests." The voice of the "Sleep Demon" echoed in everyone''s minds. "Understood, Adrian, you guys get into position, the operation officially starts now." The burly spike-haired man known as the "Summoner" swaggered straight towards the central castle of the manor, their drop zone inside the estate spared them the nuisance of opening doors. Psychic communication became the main medium for contact, as psychic power fluctuations could easily evade electronic surveillance. To an outsider, the entire group appeared to move in complete silence, each taking action without a word. "Sheltering complete!" Another voice transmitted into everyone''s minds. The relentless howling wind visibly shrank at a rapid pace before disappearing altogether. The snowflakes falling from the sky grew sparser and sparser. The inside and outside of the manor were now like two different worlds. "Chen Fei, Susanna, you two follow me; Apu and Holy Light take the west side; Bassan, Old Ruan, and Lulu''an cover the north; Old Joe, Kiterley, and Mouri take the east. Don''t clump together, maintain distance, and call for support if there''s any situation, start moving."@@@@ "Roger that!"¡Á10! The members of Team 04 spread out to their respective positions, casting a net around the entire manor. The Holy Knight had a mount companion, the Blue Scaled Colt, whose mobility was exceptional in the snowy night, with one equalling the power of two. "Cold..." After getting into position, Susanna immediately covered herself with an Inuit Ice House, shivering inside, which provided almost no warmth, serving more as a psychological comfort. Seeing the B-rank Ice Attribute Ability User looking like a frozen dead dog, Adrian, who was emitting a warm aura, said with some regret, "It''s a pity the Mobile Base Vehicle didn''t come along!" The Sovereignty Squad had refused the accompany of the Mobile Base Vehicle, otherwise Team 04 would have had a location for rest and resupply. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire He could only give Susanna an extra blanket and light a small kerosene heater; he couldn''t do more, otherwise her Inuit Ice House would melt. "Heh!" Large numbers of metal geometric modules multiplied and surged from below, quickly covering Chen Fei''s entire body and forming the final shape. "Dragon King" armor equipped! The vision immediately became clear and organized, simultaneously displaying many outlines of human forms in Infrared Thermal Imaging, including the ability users of the Sovereignty Squad and the targets, Director Akim and his close friends and family. Despite it being late at night, it seemed like people inside the castle building were still awake, distributed across different rooms in groups of threes and twos. "Hmm!" Adrian clearly heard Chen Fei''s hum and looked over, puzzled. Could it be... Rookie Chen Fei was obviously not one to play by the rules. In fact, he wasn''t wrong; due to the method of travel, the Mobile Base Vehicle was still more than ten kilometers away, needing some time to reach near the Ancient Castle Manor. However, the firing range of the Railgun was more than sufficient to cover the entire manor. Bang!~ A flash of fire at the castle building was followed immediately by thunderous, unceasing explosions. The voice of the "Sleep Demon" spoke up. "Is it the underground garage?" The "Summoner" frowned slightly and turned to signal to Adrian, Chen Fei, and Susanna, who were guarding in the direction of the manor''s main entrance. "Adrian, you guys block them, try to, try to..." He was still pondering how many seconds they needed when a figure in a gray trench coat leaped forward, grabbing a greatsword nearly as tall as themselves. The width of the sword was nearly shoulder wide, enough to serve as a shield if needed. "Five seconds!" The gray trench coat heading towards the main entrance of the manor left behind a terse message. "Susanna, use an Ice Wall, Chen Fei, set up your railgun." Adrian issued the instructions without hesitation. Almost simultaneously, the grassy lawn covered with a thick layer of snow beside the stone pathway leading from the manor gate to the castle-like building suddenly collapsed inwards. Two wheeled infantry armored vehicles burst out, one on each side. "Got it!" Susanna, shivering as she emerged from the ice house, had her pale green eyes instantly light up, emitting a soft blue-white glow. Her hair tips frosted over and she exhaled a breath that turned into increasingly larger snowflakes, then crackled and fell to the ground with a crisp shattering sound. Pointing ahead of the two newly appeared wheeled infantry armored vehicles, she yelled, "Sword Fortress!" The cold air in the atmosphere converged, and the frost on the ground began to flow like water, gathering into thick, crystal-clear ice spikes that formed a concave arc in front of the two vehicles. However, the wheeled infantry armored vehicles showed no intention of slowing down. Instead, they sped straight towards the wall of ice spikes. "Reinforced Ice!" Susanna yelled again. The roughly hewn ice spikes became completely transparent, like crystal, dramatically increasing their strength. "Adam, aim for the center between the two infantry armored vehicles, prepare a 152." Chen Fei did not open the shell box that Adrian had left for him but instead sprinted towards the direction of the ice spike wall. There were too many obstacles, and the view could easily be obstructed, so evolving the railgun weapon on the spot wasn''t a very good choice. In the next moment, the mobile base vehicle, speeding along the open road, elegantly drifted to a stop next to the curb. The loaded railgun emerged from its roof and began to adjust its angle. Next to the road was a glitzy bar, where the reveling drunkards, complaining about the sudden snow blocking the entrance, simultaneously stared dumbfounded at the large vehicle parked by the roadside and the railgun on its roof, glinting in the light. The drunken haze disappeared in an instant. "Ahhhh!!!" ¡Á13! ... As the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles entered the semi-encircling wall of ice spikes without slowing down, prepared to ram through with full force. A figure wielding a greatsword appeared in front of the two vehicles, with the sharply pointed ice spikes behind backing them. "Hey! Stop right there!" The greatsword drew a stream of water from the wall of ice spikes, like a flexible long ribbon, and whipped it towards the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles. The nearly transparent stream of water whistled past, flying more than ten meters beyond the armored vehicles before turning into countless droplets that fell on the snow, instantly freezing into crystal-clear ice beads on contact with the icy ground. Boom!~ The two wheeled infantry armored vehicles collided with the wall of ice spikes, one after the other. The upper halves of the bodies, just above the tires, were flung out as if the box had been broken, completely separating lids from boxes. Chapter 420 Section 416 - Fierce Battle The upper half of the wheeled infantry armored vehicle lay upside down in the snow after a terrifying roll. Poof! Poof! Poof! In the lower half of the vehicle''s body, nothing remained but torso-sized remnants of human bodies sporadically spurting clouds of blood, then collapsing limply in all directions. The part severed from the torso below still bore an expression of disbelief, along with the lingering scream that had not yet faded away. At least seven people were instantly killed inside the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles; both bodies and onboard equipment, along with the armor, were neatly bisected by a single strike. However, one bulky figure was kneeling in the vehicle, supporting himself with a round shield, gasping heavily. "Who... are you?" The shield bore a clear, deep gash but hadn''t been completely penetrated. The disheveled figure, though barely surviving, drew the greatsword from behind his waist. With a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, he glared fiercely at the silhouette who had sliced through both armored vehicles in a single swing. Woosh! The broad and hefty greatsword flicked with a twist of the wrist, conjuring a sudden gust of wind. "Greatsword!" "It''s Akim!" Even without using the "Dragon King" visual module, Chen Fei''s skill "Basic Optical Observer Level 4" allowed him to perceive his surroundings as if it were daylight, instantly identifying the man with the round shield in his left hand and the greatsword in his right. "So, a frontal breakout from here?" Adrian heard Chen Fei''s "Heart Voice" and looked around. Contrarily to expectations, the direction of the manor gate was more conducive to vehicle speed. However, those blocking the path were not just the Sovereignty Squad but also Team 04. "I''m freezing to death!" Susanna, pale as iron, exhaustedly retreated back into the Inuit Ice House, cocooning herself tightly in a blanket, shivering uncontrollably, devoid of any interest to even glance at the status of the ice wall. Even deploying her B-grade Ice Special Ability with all her might was only enough for one hit in such conditions. Her susceptibility to cold greatly limited her performance, but she still excellently completed the mission, effectively stopping the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles. "Confirmed it''s the target, currently confronting ''Greatsword''!" "Sleep Demon''s" skill enveloped the entire field. "Adrian, how did your mobile base vehicle get here?" The "Captain''s" telepathic communication immediately followed. "What?"¡Á6! The Sovereignty Squad seemed quite astonished. Indeed! Adrian thought to himself. He passed on the scoff that Chen Fei shared with him to these members of the Sovereignty Squad. "Huh!"@@@@ "Always meddling in extra matters!" The "Summoner" seemed to mutter to himself. He then continued to "say," "''Forbidden,'' maintain sheltering!" "Got it! ''Sheltering'' status normal!" The voice of "Forbidden" immediately responded. No matter how chaotic the inside of the Ancient Castle Manor was, nothing could be heard or seen from the outside. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu, seeing Susanna''s pale face, pecked at the air, sending a ping pong ball-sized Light Orb flying into her body. Human Order First Rank "Light Healing Technique" has a certain effect on accelerating metabolism. Susanna''s face, previously afflicted by the cold, immediately looked much better, regaining some rosiness. The fire of life drove out the cold, and she exhaled a slightly warm breath, looking gratefully at Little Bird. "I''m saved! Thank you, Xiao Jiu!" A ring of fire surrounded the two people and the bird, the continuously radiated heat swiftly warming Susanna, feeling like she was in Heaven. "Thank you, Adrian." Backing up several dozen meters and getting out of the range of Life Drain, Adrian released a Fire Spells ring-shaped "Fire Wall," encircling himself within a four to five-meter radius with flames to maintain a certain temperature. The Pure Light Sparrow and Susanna had almost no resistance to severe cold, maintaining the flames with magic power imposes minimal strain on a Human Order First Rank fire mage. Chen Fei did not retreat far but instead guarded in front of Adrian, closely watching the fierce battle between "Greatsword" and Akim. The clash of two Earth Order power users created a massive disturbance; even a slight residual might cause considerable destruction, making this grand scene a rare sight. Things escalated quickly. Susanna''s icecone wall, meant to block two wheeled infantry armored vehicles, was completely shattered, utterly demolished by the opposing sword qi. Even the two separated armored vehicles were not spared, being torn apart on the spot. The bodies inside, despite having just perished, had their residual vitality forcibly drained, becoming part of the strength of Wood War Professional Akim. Even the deceased from his own side, Akim didn''t plan to waste the last bit of their value. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah..." This former police chief screamed hysterically, wielding the greatsword in his right hand, his left shielded with a round shield, skillfully switching between offense and defense like flowing water, clearly having devoted great effort to his combat skills. Lacking real power, it would be difficult to secure a position as a head of public security in an administrative district. An Earth Order War Professional could command respect. Boom!~ A deep-blue sword light flung Akim over twenty meters away, directly creating a large crater in the snow. On the other side, the "Summoner," who was still dismantling a building, seemed to have encountered a fierce opponent as well. Spikes made of consolidated concrete whistled towards him, and from inside the partially destroyed castle-type building, a burst of purple-blue lightning wrapped around the other three individuals in gray coats. "The rats have left their nests." The "Summoner" locked his mind on these concrete spikes, fixing them three meters in front of him, then fiercely hurled them back towards the spot where the lightning erupted. Using the enemy''s own spear to attack the electricity. Crackling lightning fiercely flashed, instantly shattering over a dozen airborne concrete spikes. An Electric Dragon took shape, seemingly baring its fangs and ferociously lunging at the "Summoner." One spike after another burst from the ground, spreading layers around the castle-type building. Bang! An unsettling shock noise sounded again. It felt as if the air subtly shook. The spreading earth spikes were instantly crushed. "The bombing has started!" The "Summoner" released a high-power bomb from his Storage Magical Device, once again hurling explosives towards the castle-type building. Boom, boom, boom, boom... Draw the rats out of their nest, then go for the kill. This was exactly what he wanted! Ah!~ A scream echoed from the ruins. The Electric Dragon that had lunged at the "Summoner" suddenly dissipated a meter away, bursting into countless sparks flying in all directions. "''Cornered Beast'' has cleared the Thunder Series Ability User." A voice rang in everyone''s minds. - Chapter 421 Section 417 - Mission Failure The ancient castle-like building, with more than half of its main body turned into ruins, suddenly shook as if an earthquake had occurred, causing the already fragile parts to collapse completely. Countless spikes extended erratically from the collapsed positions, and the struggle beneath the debris continued unabated. "Ahh!" Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire A figure was thrown out, flailing their arms and legs. "''Superstring''!" The voice of "Cornered Beast" rang out. "Roger that!" Boom¡ªa loud noise. The human form in midair burst apart like a ragdoll, seemingly due to some Wind Series skill, utilizing air vibrations to inflict damage. "Clear out all inside and underground of the building!"@@@@ The voice of "Sleep Demon" resonated in everyone''s minds. The "Summoner" was destroying the building and eliminating the living forces, drawing the survivors out for a counterattack. Alongside him, "Superstring" took the chance to strike at the enemy as they emerged, while "Cornered Beast" seized the opportunity to coordinate attacks from inside and outside, backstabbing the opponents. The only target remaining to be cleared out inside the manor was the former Tunguska Region''s chief security officer Akim, who was locked in combat with "Great Sword." "Great Sword," moving freely outside, was containing the surprisingly powerful foe without seeming to be at a disadvantage, yet... "Tough one!" The Life Drain skill was too domineering, and even "Great Sword" was having his vitality drained continually during the relentless exchanges. Even with the advantage in rank, the drawn-out war of attrition was difficult to decide quickly, and Life Drain shifted the slight balance. "Time to finish this!" The "Summoner" did not look back at the now-leveled castle-like building but turned and headed towards the manor''s main gate, walking toward the location where "Great Sword" and Akim were fighting. Whoosh!~ A gust of wind; the gray trench coat at "Summoner''s" side grew from having two people to three. A slender stiletto sword, shaking off fine droplets of blood, was sheathed. Seeing that the target was exceedingly resilient, Adrian asked, "Chen Fei, can you provide support?" Chen Fei had been at the forefront, on the edge of the Life Drain range, watching the intensifying battle. After all, Adrian had two burdens¡ªOne was a Grade B Ice Ability User exhausted of their powers, and the other was a Little Bird that couldn''t survive in the harsh outdoor cold. "Both sides move too fast, mutual annihilation unless!" Chen Fei didn''t have a good solution either. Such high-level confrontations were not something he could interfere in; getting any closer would be courting death. A Fourth Rank War Professional could almost single-handedly take on the entire Squad 04. Tough nuts like that could only be cracked by Sovereignty or the strong individuals from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee coming out of hiding, and with just the operational team of Bear Hunting Special Operations Division present, it would be pure suicide. In gathering intelligence on human factions, the Global United Defense Committee was severely lacking, considering the organization was adept at exterminating mutants, not human adversaries. The mere residual force from the clashes of Sword Qi was enough to threaten Chen Fei''s life, even if he was wearing the "Dragon King" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, its defensive capability was probably not up to the level of the front and rear armor of a Wheeled Infantry Armored Vehicle. You have to remember that the vehicle''s front is often the most solidly built area, and even the rear armor''s defense wouldn''t be too much lower than that of the vehicle''s sides. Thriving on bringing mutual annihilation, the maestro of flirtation with death wasn''t about instantly killing the enemy, but rather dragging them down together. Within the range of Life Drain, all plant life perished, having even the last vestiges of vitality forcibly extracted, ensuring that no new branches would sprout in the warmth of next summer. A crystal clear Ice Wall rose from the ground, a full ten meters high. And that was not the end. Another Ice Wall followed quickly after, and like this, one after another, they stood in the way towards the manor''s gate. "''Flame Tornado''!" To avoid affecting Susanna''s Ice Special Ability, the First Rank fire mage, Adrian Benjamin, chose a single-target Offensive Spell and placed it as forward as possible. Just needing to delay for one or two more seconds, Sovereignty Squad''s "Greatsword" would be able to restrain Akim, who was attempting to break out, and the rest could arrive in time to end the ultimate fate of this mission target. "Get out of my way!" A striking Magic Array appeared out of thin air in front of Akim, instantly bursting forth with an invisible force that penetrated everything ahead. Adrian''s "Flame Tornado" dissipated into smoke, leaving only a few sparks to fade into the air, while the Ice Walls that Susanna had struggled to erect were pierced with a hole over three meters in diameter. Even the manor''s gate now had a visible circular opening, with strange sparks continuously falling through the air. The volley of bullets from the Railgun Combat Rifle pursued Akim, whose steps never slowed even a bit, and he, rising with the fierce green Battle Qi Flame, charged out of the manor''s gate through that eerie circular hole like a cannonball. "A breach has opened in the ''Sheltering''; that was a Magic Artifact!" The telepathic communication from "Forbidden" was filled with astonishment. Instantly breaking through "Sheltering" was definitely not something an Earth Order powerhouse could do, even less so for a Sixth Rank. "Quickly chase him..." The "Summoner," who had felt confident and in control, was now somewhat flustered. The surprise appearance of these pests unexpectedly allowed the main mission target to escape, and he had even pierced through "Forbidden''s" comprehensive "Sheltering" in an instant¡ªit was worth noting that such a Space Series ability, even heavy weaponry, would have difficulty shattering. Before the "Summoner" could finish his telepathic communication, a blast of fire suddenly erupted outside the manor''s gate, and the ferocious shockwave instantly swept through a radius of a hundred meters. Akim, who had just charged out, found himself struck by the oncoming shockwave and blasted back through the round opening in the manor''s gateway. "''Sheltering'' has been repaired, uh, the target is back!" The emotional fluctuations in "Forbidden" had become not just astonishment, but shock. Just when it seemed that Akim was going to get away, he was unexpectedly blown back by a sudden explosion. System: Ding! The task of capturing alive the police chief of the Tunguska Region, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, has failed; the target is dead, deducting Energy Points -3000! Energy Points -3000! Energy Points: 16123/20000 Ha! Chen Fei stood there stupefied, what the hell was going on, being hit with a deduction of 3000 Energy Points by the damn system! Task Failure!!! The previous bombardment was so powerful that it killed the target on the spot. The Visual Assistance feature of the "Dragon King" Single Soldier Tactical Armor locked onto Akim, who lay face up inside the manor''s gate, motionless. A twisted shard of metal was plunged into the opponent''s forehead, particularly eye-catching. This was still the outcome despite the detonation point being set to minimize injury; the original intention had been to capture him alive, to successfully complete the system''s task. But all the calculations couldn''t account for an act of God. The shockwave from the Demolition Bomb might not have been able to instantly kill an Earth Order War Professional, but the shrapnel flying with tremendous kinetic energy was another story. With foreign objects inserted into the brain, not just an Earth Order powerhouse, even a Heavenly Order would not be able to withstand it. - Chapter 422 Section 418 - Add 3000 Energy Points "Greatsword" appeared beside Akim, lowering its head cautiously for a closer look. The life force of a Wood System Ability User was incredibly tenacious; to prevent any sudden resurgence, the huge sword, resembling a door plank, was always ready to be swung down forcefully, bisecting the foe with a single strike if necessary. After observing for a moment, the psychic communication from "Greatsword" finally rang out. "The target is dead!" Akim''s expression froze, his eyes bulging roundly in shock and disbelief. No one had expected that the mission target, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, would ultimately be killed by a single cannon shot. It could be assumed that "Greatsword" was experiencing a complex mix of emotions at the moment, probably thinking that man''s plans are no match for fate. "Did you stop it?" Miss Susanna was on the verge of collapsing, her face deathly pale as she swayed unsteadily on her feet. Inside her thick down jacket, she was drenched in sweat as if she had just been fished out of the water. She ignored it, wishing she could find a warm cotton blanket to burrow into right now. "It should be a success!" Adrian also breathed a sigh of relief. As part of the peripheral interception Team 04, it was somewhat embarrassing that they all made their move but still couldn''t detain the enemy, not even slowing him down. Chen Fei said despondently, "We failed!" Adrian, puzzled, said, "How could we have failed? You took out that Akim, that''s a huge achievement!" The explosion outside the manor was clearly a result of the mobile base vehicle''s railgun launching a 152 Demolition Bomb; the credit for the final strike was indelible, marking a significant contribution to Team 04''s record. With the range of the railgun, it could launch projectiles to a maximum distance of about 50 kilometers. If the distance was sufficiently short, it could guarantee a high degree of firing accuracy. For a heavy hit like the 152 Demolition Bomb, even if it deviated by ten meters or so, there would almost be no difference in effect. Without any protection, within the lethal radius, running was futile. The only thing one could do was try to make their death look a little bit better, if possible. Chen Fei said listlessly, "I wanted to capture him alive!" The loss of three thousand Energy Points felt like a blow of three thousand points of damage. This damn system had finally succeeded! "Heh!" What the "Summoner" didn''t say out loud was essentially "Look how capable you are!" A Wood War Professional with combat strength evaluation of at least Fifth Rank Earth Order was not something a mere B-class Metal Ability User could stop. The former didn''t even have to move; just by activating the Life Drain skill, it was akin to standing on invincible ground. "Confirmation, the mission target Akim is dead!" "Cornered Beast" also arrived next to Akim''s body, even rifling through the corpse a few times, ultimately confirming the death. "Sheltering" is over! "Forbidden" also ceased the skill usage, after all, enclosing this entire Space Series ability around the manor to block all sound and light disturbances was no easy task. "Sleep Demon, tally the attack assessment!" The "Summoner" looked around, making sure there were no stragglers. Finally, this guy no longer accused Chen Fei of redundancy; it was precisely this "redundant" action that brought the mission to an end.@@@@ "Seventeen people killed in total, three Earth Order Spellcasters, two Earth Order War Professionals, four A-rank supernatural power users, two B-rank supernatural power users, six armed civilians, and the mission targets Akim Vasily Ulyanov and his daughter are both dead..." "Sleep Demon," who shrouded every inch of the manor with immense spiritual power, drew up an attack assessment report at the earliest opportunity. Energy Points +3000! Energy Points: 19123/20000 "The fingerprint of all ten fingers verified correct, the retinal pattern of both eyes verified correct, it''s the genuine Akim. ''Rookie'', your spirit seems a bit unstable." "Cornered Beast" took out a device and manipulated it over Akim''s body for a while before reaching a conclusion. It was indeed the genuine Akim, and he was beyond dead. The youngster from Team 04 had obviously overthought it, leading to delusions. "No! I still think there''s a problem." Chen Fei shook his head resolutely, refusing to acknowledge the authoritative test result. "There won''t be a problem, you''re overthinking it." "Summoner" shook his head, not intending to argue with Chen Fei. Poor kid, his brain must have short-circuited. "Then let''s collect DNA samples; results will be out in eight hours." The mental communication from the "Captain" resonated in everyone''s minds. The DNA sequence code is inherently unique and almost impossible to forge. This was beyond the technical standards of current human civilization, whether on Blue Star or Cangqiong Star. "Alright! Let''s draw a tube of blood and pluck a few hairs!" Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire "Summoner" nodded, accepting the suggestion and entrusting the task of collecting biological samples to "Cornered Beast". The "Black Albatross Number" had equipment to test DNA sequences and could provide results immediately. Then, addressing the members of Team 04, he said, "Since your Mobile Base Vehicle has arrived, you may leave on your own. Before you go, please return the pendant. From here on, this matter will be handled by a specialized department." A dismissal was issues right to their faces without even a word of thanks. Regardless of the sudden complication introduced by Chen Fei, the collaboration between the two parties had concluded, and the likelihood of future interactions was virtually nil. Therefore, "Summoner" saw no need to be courteous to Team 04 any longer. Dammit! The minds of Adrian and the others involuntarily echoed with this disgruntled thought. It probably even transmitted into the minds of others through the mental communication. "Summoner" and his group seemed to have not "heard" it, indifferently taking away the black pendants hanging from everyone''s necks. Seeing the Mobile Base Vehicle racing towards them, Mouri Misono contentedly said, "Our own Mobile Base Vehicle is the best!" The "Black Albatross Number" airship hovered above the mansion, showing no intention of giving them a lift back. If it weren''t for the Mobile Base Vehicle, the Sovereign Squad would probably still ruthlessly send them away, right?! In this cold, snowy night, where the hell could they find a ride? Getting back to the villa would surely be a tough trek, with every one of them freezing like dead dogs. Having used them and not needing them anymore, the folks from the Sovereign Squad really showed how stony-hearted and callous they were. Without the black pendants, the members of Team 04 felt free to voice their complaints unheard, until they boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle''s cabin, as warm as spring. Susanna was the first to forfeit the kerosene heater and blanket given to her by Adrian and rushed ahead into one of the two bathrooms of the Mobile Base Vehicle. The rustling sounds of undressing and splashing water started, followed shortly by a moaning sound. "Ah! Saved at last!" The B-rank Ice Ability User collapsed into the constant temperature bathtub, weakly splashing water around, her face filled with relief at being alive. "What the hell kind of mission is this!" The Holy Knight, after being frozen for more than an hour, felt truly sympathetic towards his mount partner. He led the Blue Scaled Colt to the back of the cabin, took out a dry cloth to wipe its body, and turned on the heat, hoping it would warm up quickly. "These guys sure aren''t easy to deal with." Adrian shook his head, knowing that the other party simply looked down on Team 04 and wouldn''t show any respect¡ªand there was nothing he could do about it. Chen Fei sat at the driver''s seat, an electric cable latched to his back continuously drawing power to make up for the earlier expenditure. His attention, however, wasn''t on driving; he left that to "Adam" for automatic driving, while the "Mission List" unfolded before his eyes, and he muttered under his breath, mulling things over and over. - Chapter 423 Section 419 - Retaliation Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Early in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the villa''s doorbell rang. In the cold winter, very few people would be active just as the day broke. Wasn''t a warm quilt snuggly? "Who is it?" Adrian, who had not slept well the entire night, his eyes rimmed with dark circles, shuffled into the living room in his cotton slippers and activated the doorbell intercom. "Me, ''Summoner,'' open up!" "Huh?" Adrian couldn''t quite believe his ears. Hadn''t the cooperation between both sides ended? Why were they looking for him again? Why hadn''t Liaison Officer Rossi given advance notice? Full of questions, he opened the entrance door of the villa''s living room, only to see a hulking figure in a grey trench coat standing outside. Wait a second, the doorbell wasn''t at the entrance door but ten meters away, on the gate wall. How did this guy ring the doorbell? Could it be that he entered the yard first, then rang the doorbell? Right, the man was a Psychic Ability User, skilled in Psychokinesis. Rings a doorbell remotely¡ªno big deal. "Is there something you need?" Adrian let the man into the house. "Would you like some tea, or perhaps coffee?" "I''m looking for ''Rookie''!" The "Summoner" with the hedgehog hairstyle still maintained a cold demeanor, not seeming to fear freezing to death in the chill. Adrian said irritably, "There''s no drink called ''Rookie''!" Speak human, please! Not answering the question could be very vexing. Since the task at Ancient Castle Manor concluded, there had been no further opportunities for interaction between the two parties. You celebrate the New Year, don''t blame others for celebrating the Lantern Festival. Task Force 04 didn''t need to show any more courtesy to the other side. The "Summoner" paused, then seemed to understand. "I want tea, I''m looking for Chen Fei." Now that was speaking human. "Please wait a moment. Everyone was quite exhausted last night and will wake up later." Adrian turned and headed for the kitchen to prepare the tea. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire The villa was plenty warm inside. "Chirp!" "Good morning!" Chen Fei, with Little Bird perched on his shoulder, drifted through the living room towards the kitchen, beginning the routine of preparing breakfast. The little fellow hadn''t exerted much effort the night before and woke up early. Then, pecking at Daddy Chen Fei''s ear, it danced a wake-up jig on his face, rousing him from sleep. Chen Fei had no choice but to get up. He was always responsible for Task Force 04''s meals, having both the experience and an abundance of it. Sometimes Mouri Misono would also come to help, lending a hand. The mixed grain porridge had been set to cook before bedtime. Steam buns were easily placed in the steamer set above the porridge pot. The bread dough had been kneaded automatically while everyone washed up the night before, left to rise overnight, already taking shape. The oven with the preset timer started working just on time. The vehicle quickly departed, vanishing from sight. "What''s all this about? Are you two exchanging secret signals?" "We''re playing charades, to be honest, it''s a bit unclear to me too. Just pretend to understand even though you''re confused!" What Chen Fei didn''t say was that the other party probably knew full well but chose to feign ignorance. Whether or not they probed anything from him, it was probably what they had intended. "Can you explain a bit clearer?" Adrian still couldn''t figure out what kind of charade it was. "The former police chief of the Tunguska Region, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, who we took down last night, might not have been the real person!" As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, a scream came from outside the kitchen. Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, who awoke and came to report in the living room, turned pale and trembled, "No, no, not the real person? How is that possible?" Now that her loyalties had shifted, she was probably the one who most wanted Akim dead; his death would mean her largest connection with the "Sacred Advent" organization was completely severed, like getting rid of a big worry on her mind. If Akim were still alive, as a traitor, Tanya would probably find it hard to rest or eat in peace. "Sacred Advent" wasn''t a group of saints and believers; they would quickly confirm who betrayed Akim, and maybe the blade of vengeance would arrive at her door soon. "Don''t worry, we will protect you." Adrian, seeing the girl''s panic-stricken appearance, naturally understood what she was worried and scared about. "No, no, I must leave here, it''s no longer safe." Tanya hugged her head and crouched in a corner of the living room, her face almost transparent with terror. "There won''t be a problem for a while." Chen Fei casually flipped the eggs, too engrossed in conversation to notice that this egg had overcooked, no longer the perfect runny yolk. Suddenly, without warning, a barrage of cracks and pops sounded, and something whizzed into the room. "Look out!" Adrian immediately got down. "Ah!" Tanya shrieked repeatedly. "Who''s there?" A figure burst through the window and rushed out. Judging by the sound, it was probably Kiterley, an A-rank Metal Ability User. A cold wind swept into the living room immediately; not just the windows, but even the floor-to-ceiling glass had been shattered by the unexpected gunfire. Standing in the kitchen with a frying pan in one hand and a wooden spatula in the other, Chen Fei was dumbfounded. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu cast a Light System Magic Shield for herself and Chen Fei''s father. Inside the kitchen, it was very safe, unaffected by the rain of bullets. "It seems I''ve been talking nonsense." Chen Fei shook his head and returned to the stove to continue the sizzling of the eggs. He left the task of pursuing the enemies to Kiterley. "You lied, I''m leaving this place!" Tanya said with a sob. She had nearly lost her life, which had nothing to do with being an A-rank Psychic Ability User. Even without her abilities being suppressed, she didn''t have a Psychokinesis Skill like "The Summoner". The sound of gunfire alerted everyone; people rushed out from their rooms ready for a fight, with spells, special abilities, and Battle Qi all activated. "It''s okay now, Kiterley has gone after them!" Adrian shook his head in distress; the villa was no longer safe, and exposure had come too quickly. - Chapter 424 Section 420 - Dilemmas and Countermeasures The villa''s living room was riddled with bullet holes, a complete mess. Fortunately, it was just a sniper attack; if a few Cloud Bombs had been lobbed into the villa, no matter which room they hit, Team 04 would have been decimated. Without activating their abilities, especially the supernatural power users and spellcasters, often aren''t much stronger than ordinary people, and getting hit by a bullet would likely kill them just the same. A figure entered the living room, enveloped in the chilly wind, A-rank Metal Ability User Kiterley had returned, his armor gleaming with a razor-sharp silver light. All eyes turned to him at once. "Did you catch them?" Adrian asked a redundant question. Because there was no blood on Kiterley''s armor. "Damn, they ran like rabbits!" Kiterley exhaled a plume of white breath and shook his head. When he burst out of the villa, all he saw was a car speeding away from outside the courtyard. The cunning sniper was hiding in that car, seemingly opening fire on the villa as it passed by and then accelerating away without hesitation. He chased for three streets but in the end, Kiterley''s two legs couldn''t keep up with four wheels, and he returned to the villa in frustration. Joshua scratched his head and said, "It''s a small fry, actually. Even if we caught them, they probably wouldn''t know anything." When the shooting happened, he hadn''t gotten up yet, so the Constructed Puppet Warrior set up in the yard hadn''t had the chance to be of any use. Although a puppet has more agility and adaptability to complex scenarios than mechanical beings, they rely entirely on the Control Power of the Puppet Master. Adrian said helplessly, "Pack up, we''re preparing to transfer." The first attack had already occurred, and if they stayed here, the second and third would soon follow... The villa was no longer safe; in the end, the most reliable option was the Mobile Base Vehicle. After a hasty packing, everyone boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle, taking even their breakfast with them. "Liaison Officer Rossi!" After boarding, Adrian immediately dialed the dedicated number of Team 04''s Liaison Officer. "I am Ros... Rossi!" With so much time having passed, it seemed Liaison Officer Rossi''s speech wasn''t going to improve, not even with Habulav''s adept Healing Spellcasters being any help. At least the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s Second Rank Light-based Spell "Light of Redemption" hadn''t made much of a difference. "The cooperation with Sovereignty is complete, but the target of the mission appears to be a decoy." Adrian reported the results of their current speculation to Liaison Officer Rossi. Even if it was a decoy, it still caused both the Sovereign Squad and Team 04 quite a bit of hassle, and they almost let him get away. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire "A de... coy? How could th... there be such a... thing?" It seemed that even the Sovereignty hadn''t disclosed anything to the Global United Defense Committee; Rossi heard about it for the first time from Team 04''s report and had been clueless about it before. "It''s Chen Fei¡ªthe one who guessed that the killed Akim wasn''t real. Although there are some doubts, this morning, a ''Summoner'' from Sovereignty came by, so I guess it might be true." Looking back, Adrian also found it hard to believe how Chen Fei''s hunch, which caused doubt and ridicule due to his offhand speculation, could have been correct. But early in the morning, the Summoner from Sovereign Squad had visited for no apparent reason. Although they didn''t admit anything verbally, their every word and deed seemed to confirm that Chen Fei''s wild guess was right on target. It''s not known which big shot said it well, "Fighting with people is endless fun." "What do you mean?" The voices in the carriage unanimously chimed in unison. Chen Fei did not hesitate to say, "The sixteen-character strategy: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack." Being ingrained with the art of dragon slaying, when it came to theory, he could articulate it effortlessly. "What is all this about!" Joshua shook his head outright. He hadn''t learned this; it just sounded pretentious, probably a classic catchphrase meant to show off. "I''ve heard of it, guerrilla warfare tactics!" Mouri Misono excitedly raised her right hand and shouted. "I''ve heard of it too!" B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna also nodded, having read some related books before. It was just that dragon slaying techniques were banned books in many Sovereignties. Only the children of ruling classes and social elites could access them. Ordinary folk could never have seen them, not even heard of them. The tall and burly Apu was utterly bewildered. Coming from a poor commoner''s background, the education he received was, "Let the people use it, but not know it." "We... divide and conquer!" Neanderthal Chief Bassan had an epiphany. As the leader of a tribe, he had the resources and channels to access those. "Ah! That could work." As if suddenly finding a breakthrough in his thoughts, Adrian''s eyes lit up. Team 04, along with this Mobile Base Vehicle, would be very conspicuous wherever they went. Being a large target naturally made them easy to attack. "Let''s scatter!" Mouri Misono hammered her fist into her palm. The appropriate strategy was to emerge from the people and blend back into them, utilizing the power of the people''s vast ocean to combat evil forces. "No, not just that, let''s change our perspective." Holy Knight Walter Sam looked towards his mounted companion at the rear of the carriage, the Green Scale Colt Mini. He continued, "The ''Water Bear''s'' mutant breeding bases, whether they are human or mutants, need to consume various supplies every day. Through data analysis, we can find abnormal consumption nodes. We might discover something. The simplest idea is food, a necessary supply." Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai asked in confusion, "Erm, how do we go about it?" Although a new idea had opened up, knowing it was one thing, how to do it was another. "What Chieftain Bassan and Mouri Misono just said about dividing and conquering, we disperse to various jobs in society, to secretly observe and collect relevant data, then analyze the comparisons. We might find anomalies," the Holy Knight concluded. "To give the simplest example, if there''s a daily high consumption of food, but the demand for salt is very low, why would that be?" "Humans need salt, mutants may not," Adrian finally grasped the Holy Knight''s idea. The other party deduced a possibility from the different supply needs of the Green Scale Colt and the Knight. - Chapter 425 Section 421 - Breaking Down the Whole into Parts "Ha! So that''s how it is!" Following that revelation, Joshua slapped the table in realization. The Holy Knight analyzed from a breeding perspective and found a rather reliable point of entry. "That''s the principle." Big Dark Apu also understood; he hadn''t raised Blue Scaled Colts but had raised dogs, and the principle was clearly the same. Other creatures may also need salt, but the way they obtain it and their needs are different from humans''. Just like cats and dogs, human food should not be carelessly given to them, or it may easily cause health problems and put unnecessary strain on their internal organs. If the food supply in an area is unbalanced and shows significant disparities, it could be highly suspicious; once you have a target, the investigation becomes much easier. In the sparsely populated Tunguska Region, starting the investigation from this aspect actually made it easier to find clues, after all, fewer reference samples meant a lot of work could be spared. Joshua asked, "So... How should we go about finding it?"@@@@ Now that they had a direction, the next steps quickly followed on the agenda. "Supplies, transportation, taxes¡ªstart from these three angles." Adrian quickly found a point of entry. Buying supplies meant paying taxes, which were almost seamless because, after all, they''re one of the pillars of sovereignty (money, guns, and official seals). Supplies have a source, and they also need transportation; together with tax verification, combining these three data points would provide quite a strong basis. "So who will analyze these data? We don''t have stats and finance people here!" Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai pointed at himself and then at others¡ªmost people in the railway carriage were military contractors used to earning their keep by wielding Mutants'' heads, counting from one to a hundred was no problem, but analyzing useful intelligence from a pile of data and reports would likely give them a headache, still yielding nothing. "Heh!" Adrian laughed and pointed towards the front of the vehicle, saying, "No, we have them!" "Huh?" ¡Á10! "Economics undergraduate Chen Fei and the artificial intelligence AI ''Adam''!" Adrian finally stopped beating around the bush. Indeed, a perfect partner, Chen Fei thought to himself. "The best logistics!" Little Birds ought to be soaring freely in the sky, getting close to green plants, and pecking at fresh insects and fruits. "Good idea, I approve of your paid leave. You just need to ensure Tanya''s safety while she remains valuable to us," Adrian said. Adrian made no attempt to hide his attitude towards the traitors within the "Sacred Advent" organization. As Chen Fei had expected, he didn''t mind facilitating conveniences for his team members, generously offering from the United Defense Commission''s resources, turning the vacation into a mission that benefited both public and private interests. "That''s great, I want to go! When do we leave?" Tanya looked toward the driver''s seat. Chen Fei''s homeland was a significantly safer place, free from the chaotic forces elsewhere. Foreign forces found it difficult to infiltrate, and even if they managed to enter, they often faced numerous restrictions and could hardly move an inch. There, her safety would naturally be beyond question. "No rush. Let''s secure a vehicle first. We need to set up safe havens, at least four of them," Adrian said. He already had a plan in mind, pulled out his tablet, and brought up a digital map to start selecting potential new safe locations. After Liaison Officer Rossi reported it, the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division approved Squad 04''s new plan. After all, the Siberian Tundra was also a place beyond the reach of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Although local sovereignty could provide some support, it was severely limited by budgetary constraints, and involving other personnel could bring uncertainties and even risks. No one knew the extent of "Sacred Advent" and "Water Bear" infiltration. While internal cleansing actions within the sovereignty would commence soon, they wouldn''t end quickly. Before then, Squad 04 still needed to avoid contact with local officials, maintaining a certain distance for mutual benefit. Once they parked the Mobile Base Vehicle in a secluded area, Adrian bought three fuel-powered used cars from the old car market: two off-road vehicles with some all-terrain capabilities and a fourteen-seater minibus. After handing over the three used cars to Chen Fei, a professional mechanic capable of repairing fighter jets, they were revamped and reinforced, making them as good as new while retaining the appearance of old cars. Adrian drove one of the Jeeps around Yarsk City and the nearby villages for three days and decisively purchased four residences. Endowed with considerable funds by the super-wealthy Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which could effortlessly spare money, the transactions were swift and property transfers took less than ten minutes, with payments made promptly. The first to get busy was Ruan Tiankai, an Earth Mage, who excavated basements and secret passages in three of the courtyards. Since they owned the properties outright, even leveling and rebuilding them was no issue. After modifications, these residences could withstand attacks, provide escape routes, or even allow for counter maneuvers, offering multiple options. A sly rabbit has three burrows. In the Tunguska Region, where enemies lurk in the shadows, safety is paramount. After learning from a previous experience where their villa was shot at, Chen Fei reinforced all four properties with composite steel plates and installed bullet-proof glass. Only then did he drive the Mobile Base Vehicle, taking Tanya eastward, far from the troubles of Yarsk City. In the vehicle''s cabin, only a man and a woman remained; the man drove while the woman played with the bird. After amusing herself with Little Bird for a long time, which the little creature stubbornly ignored, Tanya let out a sigh and shifted her focus to Chen Fei at the driver''s seat, asking, "How are we going to get there?" Without turning his head, Chen Fei replied, "First to the Far East Frontier District, then across the national border, and we''ll be safe." Looking at the map, it seemed that Teacher Shen Fei worked at her father''s place. Once the Mobile Base Vehicle crossed the national border, it appeared to be quite close to the Northern Weapons Industry Group; perhaps they could even stop by for a visit. - Chapter 426 Section 422 - Road Bandits Chen Fei took Tanya back to his homeland by the most convenient method ¡ª taking an international public flight where you could just sleep through and arrive at your destination. If they traveled by land, even if the Mobile Base Vehicle traveled day and night, it would take at least a week to reach the border, and it would roughly take the same amount of time by train. However, Adrian hoped that when Chen Fei and Tanya left, they could employ a strategy of drawing attention away from the main action, facilitating the rest of Team 04 to infiltrate and find ways to penetrate into the key industries of Yarsk City, the capital of Tunguska Region. Indeed, leaving the Mobile Base Vehicle behind was of no use; lacking Chen Fei, the major humanoid battery and the remote control of artificial intelligence AI "Adam," it could only be used as a fixed fortress with very limited endurance, and charging it was not convenient either. Not long after the Mobile Base Vehicle left with Chen Fei and Tanya, Adrian checked the surveillance camera angles in the monitoring room located in the first stronghold within the city. Team 04 was slightly short-staffed, but thankfully, they had technological support from professionals like Habulav, such as security layout design at the stronghold and other professional recommendations, and they even specifically left a buffer zone. Like before, incidents of gunmen driving by and strafing were unlikely to occur again, at least they had to enter the buffer zone without triggering the security facilities to successfully infiltrate. An A-level Metal Ability User skilled with knives, Kiterley, successfully joined the largest meat union factory in the Tunguska Region and became a butcher in the swine slaughtering assembly line, and was promoted to a team leader three days later. In a job purely reliant on skill, competence naturally brought about the opportunity for promotion, which was entirely justifiable.@@@@ Apu and Bassan, two big guys with great strength, dragged two Tiger vehicles to the largest wholesale market in Yarsk City. After a few fights with the local laborers originally working there, they earned their work qualifications and became the acknowledged leaders among the laborers. Mouri Misono found a job as a cleaner at a commercial management center; looking cute, sweet-talking, and hardworking, she gained the appreciation of a leader on the very same day and was given a temporary employee arrangement. Susanna was busy studying, preparing for the public examination for a permanent position in the tax office. To pass the time, she also took a job as a waitress in a bar, which was a mixed bag but not a bad source of information. It was uncertain which job would become her mainstay; if she couldn''t become an official, she would probably just continue being a bar waitress. Joshua smoothly became a truck driver at a transport company, driving a large truck all day long, and even his way of talking became rough, blending completely with the group of coarse men and women drivers who shouted and blustered like vehicle horns; his adaptability to the environment was truly as smooth as silk. Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, after helping Adrian modify four strongholds, was pulled into work by Holy Knight Walter Sam, who had secured a position in the road services department, to assist the official traffic police in managing traffic. His main tasks were still snow removal, applying de-icing agents, and towing ¡ª indispensable work in the winter of Yarsk City. The Wind Beast Mini, unable to act together with the Holy Knight, was as conspicuous as Lulu''an, another Magical Beast, and thus both had to stay at the stronghold with Adrian, doing whatever work they could. Yuan Lulu''an could at least do some useful work, such as planting edible, medicinal, or trap plants, and organizing herbal compounds. The tasks available to Green Scale Colt Mini were considerably limited, merely helping move things around in the yard, doing small jobs not even draught horses would deign to do on the battlefield ¡ª a total waste of great resources. But there was no choice; the time for it to show its capabilities had not yet come. - Having left Yarsk City, the Mobile Base Vehicle raced eastward across the vast steppe, traveling for three days and nights, completely leaving the Tunguska Region and entering another region. If not for satellite positioning and navigation, the monotonous, identical scenery would almost make one believe the vehicle hadn''t moved at all. With heavy snow covering the road, the vehicle couldn''t drive too fast, for if it did, the consequence of a sudden brake would indeed result in actual highway drifting. This had nothing to do with the vehicle''s weight; once its speed picked up, it was hard to immediately bring it to a stop. Buzzing, buzzing, buzzing... A small drone descended from the sky and landed steadily on the roof of the Mobile Base Vehicle, matching its speed. Such a landing maneuver could only be performed by an experienced veteran, but for the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," it was as simple as breathing. Sorry, it doesn''t breathe! After digital quantification, there was really no difficulty at all. Chen Fei burst into laughter. A mere light weapon was supposed to kill him, a Level-B Metal Ability User? Was that a joke? Of course, Chen Fei wasn''t foolish enough to hand over a weapon capable of posing a lethal threat to himself to someone he couldn''t trust. "Humph!" Tanya picked up the implied meaning ¨C that her automatic weapon was most likely unable to threaten her opponent. Even if she did manage to kill Chen Fei, how far could she get driving the Mobile Base Vehicle? In this remote snowy wilderness, no one would feel confident about their chances. Two kilometers is a momentary distance for a mechanical vehicle. Three minutes later, the four large trucks finally caught up. Two of them overtook the mobile base vehicle, blocking it from the front before stopping, forming an enclosing formation with two trucks at each end. People continuously jumped down from the trucks'' beds, clad in overcoats, covered with cloaks, and armed with automatic weapons, menacingly surrounding the mobile base vehicle. "We are local militia, road inspection, hands on your heads, get out of the vehicle!" Someone was shouting through a megaphone. With the basic professionalism of a police officer, Tanya only needed one glance at these men and didn''t hesitate to say, "They are not militia!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire The militia of the Tunguska Region would not have this strong bandit vibe, equipped at least with wheeled infantry armored vehicles and high-low capacity machine guns. However, this group before them lacked even snow camouflage, their weapons were not uniform, and they lacked basic tactical movements ¨C they were simply a band of dispersed mercenaries, or to put it bluntly, an armed gang. Chen Fei spoke directly, "Understood! ''Adam'', connect me to the microphone amplifier." The compartment was already equipped with an omnidirectional microphone. The subtitles in front of him flashed and slowly disappeared. Adam: Microphone activated! To Tanya, Chen Fei contacting the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" seemed like talking to himself, but the equipment within the mobile base vehicle still responded. "You are not militia, you are gangsters!" Chen Fei was an honest man, spoke nothing but the truth, and bluntly exposed the real identity of the group surrounding the mobile base vehicle. The response he received was the crackling of gunfire and the sound of bullets haphazardly striking the vehicle body and windows. Then "ahhh..." screams arose from outside. Tanya was right, these unprofessional fools didn''t even understand the danger of ricocheting bullets; they stood too close... As a result, Chen Fei hadn''t even taken action, and the opponents had already knocked several of their people down. What a needless tragedy! Chapter 427 Section 423 - Entry "These guys... really are idiots beyond belief!" Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna held her forehead. Chen Fei and Mao Mei exchanged glances and simultaneously sighed, both lamenting the other''s lack of intelligence. In the icy, snow-covered wilderness, being shot and losing blood meant certain death, especially with ricocheting bullets that caused even more horrific wounds. The gunfire soon ceased. Men lying haphazardly on the ground, continuously moaning and wailing, made the group realize that this behemoth in front of them was a real armored vehicle, where even the window glass was armored, tough enough to easily deflect bullets. They dragged away the wounded and the armed personnel surrounding the mobile base vehicle dispersed. "Those guys are going for something even more powerful." Tanya, sensing something wrong, warned Chen Fei. She was still too late; as soon as her words trailed off, a dull thud was heard, and the entire mobile base vehicle shuddered violently, a web of cracks about a foot in diameter appearing right at the center of the windshield. The external attackers had used man-portable anti-armor weapons, but failed to penetrate the windshield of the mobile base vehicle. "Too bad!" Chen Fei shook his head and snapped his fingers. The foot-square web of cracks visibly disappeared at a rapid pace, or more accurately, healed itself. The windows were double-layered; the outer layer was transparent metal, and the inner was the actual bulletproof glass. The body armor was layered with a hardened surface, followed by elastic armor, another layer of hardened surface, and another layer of elastic armor, a multi-layered sandwich of composite armor incorporating platinum group metals and rare earth elements. For manufacturers skilled in industrial mass production, the armor design of this mobile base vehicle was simply a cost nightmare. The military might applaud it, but the manufacturers would certainly avoid it, suffering a loss down to their last penny. However, for Chen Fei, it was no issue at all; the self-repairing armor was already an overpowered feature on the battlefield. Clang! The vehicle shuddered violently again. The mobile base vehicle took another hit. The people outside were all dumbfounded, the vehicle''s resilience far beyond imagination. It is only fair to respond when attacked; one cannot always let offense go unreturned, right? Thus, Chen Fei decided to give orders. "''Adam,'' reverse and ram those two vehicles behind, then hit the ones in front." The hulking mobile base vehicle, comparable in size to a locomotive''s head, began reversing, directly ramming into the two large trucks behind. The heavily armed men were terrified and hurriedly dodged away. Before they could react, they heard a huge bang; one big truck was smashed into pieces, and then another''s front crumbled in completely. Even an old man or woman would drive up in a tractor, one second they''d be smiling kindly, the next they''d throw a Hand Grenade, and then a burst from the heavy machine gun in the old woman''s hands felt like being engulfed in a sea of the people; enemies were everywhere, among men and women, young and old. It wasn''t that the elderly had turned bad, but that the bad had grown old. It was all because the Emperor was too far away, and the Siberian tundra was just too vast, beyond the reach of local law enforcement. Even if the police were called out, it would take half a day to arrive, or even two days wouldn''t be strange; by the time they reached the place, the dishes might have cooled down ¡ª often gone completely, giving criminals ample time to methodically destroy corpses, clear all evidence, and then easily abscond, continuing to evade the law. Attackers are buried by Earth earth, and defenders are stopped by Water water. Chen Fei was not the least bit polite; he directly destroyed or shattered the attackers'' vehicles, then left them to fend for themselves in the icy wilderness, survival was up to Lady Luck''s grace, but Lady Luck never gave such favors. Thanks to procedures handled in advance by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the Mobile Base Vehicle faced no hindrance when crossing the national border, easily obtaining clearance. Chen Fei was a native resident, and Xiao Jiu was also registered locally as a Magical Beast, legally enjoying corresponding citizen rights; coming back into the country didn''t require much process, just fingerprints and paw prints were enough. The only thing needing complete papers was the Mobile Base Vehicle carrying ammunition, which needed a license plate to legally hit the road, especially as it had not only a Railgun but also ten unused Demolition Bombs; it couldn''t behave as unrestrainedly as in the Tunguska Region. But as soon as they passed customs, Tanya was taken away by Homeland Security. ''Sacred Advent'' and ''Water Bear'' are global enemies, it''s natural for Homeland Security to arrest her. Moreover, her constant presence with Chen Fei provided several inconveniences; without an official title, words could not flow smoothly, crossing the national border to another sovereign''s territory this time was also for her personal safety, at least being a defector witness, her life was somewhat guaranteed, not to be discarded after losing her utility. Though she could avoid the death penalty, she couldn''t escape a lengthy prison sentence, which was the result even though there were no lives on her hands; if she had been implicated in murder, she might have been in for a life sentence. Having been handcuffed and injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna actually breathed a sigh of relief, compliantly getting into another vehicle; this outcome had been predetermined from the start, and if it were to come to shooting, it wouldn''t have waited until now. Having prison food to eat was actually quite fortunate; if she had worse luck, had been targeted by the ''Sacred Advent'' organization, and strong agents were sent to intercept and silence her, she might have lost her life on the way. As the Homeland Security vehicle carrying her away disappeared into the distance, Chen Fei pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After a brief moment, the call connected. "Chen Fei, why do you have time to call me?" The voice on the other end was Teacher Shen Fei, filled with surprise. Since Chen Fei had left Aircrew Base to perform field missions, there had been no news of him, which made her slightly worried. After all, Chen Fei''s work was not strictly logistic, and it was uncertain what dangers might occur any day. The last time she saw Chen Fei''s figure was on television, his cold declaration left Teacher Shen speechless, how could he abruptly go to Yangzhou Continent and become the clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe, and especially the most ferocious clan leader. The reasons behind this were naturally not enough for others to discuss, but one thing was sure, Chen Fei was definitely not a Neanderthal, not even a mixed-breed. Chen Fei said with a smile, "I just returned to the country, crossed the national border, and I''m technically on paid leave. I heard you''re working at Northern Weapons Industry, so I thought I might as well come visit." Heading south from the Far East Frontier District, he would reach the northern homeland, where not only was Teacher Shen Fei working at the Northern Weapons Industry, but his younger sister Chen Meng was also studying at Northern Industrial University; how coincidental indeed. - Chapter 428 Section 424 - Meeting Up Having a friend visiting from afar is delightful indeed. Shen Fei exclaimed excitedly, "Welcome, welcome, that''s wonderful! Where are you? I''ll send someone to pick you up." It had been a while since Shen Fei had seen Chen Fei, and she missed him to some extent. After all, the two shared a life-and-death friendship, and he had awakened his Metal Elemental Psychic Power because of that. Chen Fei replied, "No need to pick me up, I have a vehicle. It''s very convenient. Just give me the address, and I''ll drive there myself." Bringing the Mobile Base Vehicle meant he could skip hotels. He could go anywhere, and the only thing he really needed to top up was probably just tap water. Teacher Shen Fei gave him an address and added, "Call me when you''re close, and I''ll wait for you!" Having just crossed the national border, it would probably take four to five hours to reach the administrative center of Northern Weapons Industry Group. Chen Fei checked the navigation plan, which estimated 8 hours of travel. Setting off now, he would arrive around one or two in the morning, surely too early to ask Teacher Shen Fei to welcome him; that would be impolite. He decided to rest along the way overnight, which would allow him to have enough energy and avoid driving while fatigued. He could then appear fresh and composed in front of Teacher Shen the next day. The nearly 20 meters long behemoth moving on the highway was undeniably eye-catching, comparable only to a few specialized heavy-duty transport vehicles. Speeding across the vast snowfields of Siberia, it didn''t feel unusual because the vehicle was big, but the snowfields were even bigger. However, once it entered the homeland, the Mobile Base Vehicle stood out wherever it went, Among heavy-duty vehicles, although some were as long as it, very few were as wide; at 4.5 meters wide, it was wider than a train and took up more than an entire lane. The vehicles it encountered along the way all cautiously maintained their distance, cursing under their breaths, and even overtaking caused them to sweat, not daring to breathe heavily for fear of being inadvertently launched into the air. This oversized, special vehicle was not only long but also wide and big, making playing bumper cars with it something no one would dare to do. It almost seemed as if this colossal entity was originally a train locomotive that had derailed somewhere and ended up on the highway, utterly breaking the rules. - Boom...@@@@ A thunderous sound faintly came from the sky, like thousands of kilograms of rock continuously scraping the ground. Chen Fei looked up, but only saw a clear blue sky with no clouds at all, leaving him puzzled about the source of the loud noise. After resting overnight at the highway rest area, the Mobile Base Vehicle hit the road again. After exiting the highway, according to the navigation directions, it was less than an hour''s drive to Teacher Shen Fei''s location. A black dot swiftly passed across their field of view and disappeared beyond their line of sight in the blink of an eye. The scenery beyond the highway had shifted to continuous farmland as far as the eye could see, with occasional glimpses of large automated agricultural machinery at work in the fields, but hardly any people. This place must be a cultivation area, primarily focused on programmed large-scale farming, not requiring much manpower. The idyllic scenery of paths criss-crossing and dogs barking was non-existent here. To leisurely view the southern mountains, one first needed to own mines back home. Boom... A black and grey aircraft repeatedly flew back and forth near the highway, soaring high and then diving, continually changing its flying posture. Given its silhouette and maneuvers, it was undoubtedly a military-grade manned aircraft. Civilians wouldn''t dare to be so reckless, straying from flight paths and altitudes, or they would surely find tracer bullets trailing them closely, skimming past. If they continued to disobey, they''d be shot down on the spot. Unmanned ones could afford to be flamboyantly outrageous, performing 10086 rolls, but try replacing them with humans; not even Sky Knights, let alone astronauts, would dare to play like that, or their organs would surely be displaced. In the lobby on the first floor, curious glances occasionally passed over, watching the scene with interest. The unmarried young men were all eagerly rubbing their hands together, holding back due to the rules of Jianghu, waiting for Nangong Little Dog to retreat before they felt free to step in. "No need, my friend also drove here!" Shen Fei''s face remained gently smiling, showing no displeasure, but her rejection was just as firm. "But this is a three million..." Confident Nangong Ruiyang hadn''t finished speaking when Shen Fei interrupted him. "Sorry, my friend''s car is here." "Emmmmmm... what car? What..." Just as Nangong Ruiyang believed that not many of his peers could afford a limited edition luxury sport sedan worth over three million Star Yuan, an enormous thing, no, a huge motorhome, approached slowly near the administrative center''s door, taking up half of the parking lane. "My gosh, where did this huge car come from?" It was unprecedented in both the length and width he had ever seen. It couldn''t possibly be here to transport aircraft, could it have come to the wrong place? The driver must be terribly careless. Not just Nangong Ruiyang thought this way; several others were thinking the same. The Northern Weapons Industry Group factory included such heavy transport vehicles, but their bodies weren''t as exaggeratedly wide. Security from the administrative center immediately came forward. Shen Fei followed as well. "Hey, hey..." Nangong Ruiyang, caught off guard, saw the car door open. The security guard saw it too, and even more clearly. What the hell, it wasn''t a transport vehicle at all but a super luxurious motorhome. If one considered a mobile base vehicle as a motorhome, it wasn''t incorrect. Add the railgun on top, and calling it an armed motorhome wouldn''t be wrong either. Chen Fei got out of the vehicle, waving at the approaching Teacher Shen Fei. "Teacher Shen!" In an instant, the beauty was close at hand. The reflexive Nangong Ruiyang who had sprinted after them soon stopped his reluctant steps. Seeing the stranger who made Secretary Shen Fei smile with surprise, he gritted his teeth and said, "Damn, be careful of the dog bite!" It was no secret within the company that a Magical Beast was always at Secretary Shen''s side. There had been blind hooligans who tried to harass Shen Fei, only to be pinned to the ground by the Magical Beast, making them doubt their life choices. However, distinguishing between a wolf and a dog was tricky. An obedient one was considered a dog, a disobedient one a wolf. Not many had closely encountered the Magical Beast hiding by Shen Fei''s side so it was debatably referred to as a dog, but no one really knew what breed it actually was. - Chapter 430 Section 426 - Director Shen and Secretary Shen As the heartwarming hot pot meal came to an end, the mobile base vehicle carrying Chen Fei and Shen Fei had just arrived at its destination. There was only one gate on Summer Solstice Fourth Road, rendering the door number superfluous. Airport 310 was a joint military airport shared with Northern Weapons Industry Group, and it was also a special level strategic readiness airport. The main runway was about 5500 meters long, and it hosted a combat flight corps and an army aviation brigade. Such large facilities must be used regularly because things tend to degrade not from use, but from neglect. If left unused for a year, wild grasses would overgrow everywhere, and vigorous roots could easily crack the cement ground. Three years of neglect, and plants would cover most of the cement surfaces, including the ground and building facades, requiring a comprehensive renovation before they could be put back into use. If it went ten years without human presence, then essentially, it shouldn''t be utilized at all, as it would be no different from ruins. Shen Fei originally thought she would need to get out of the vehicle and negotiate with the guards, then wait inside the gate for a shuttle vehicle to actually enter Airport 310. However, to her surprise, as the mobile base vehicle approached the gate, the blocking posts automatically descended, and the lift barrier simultaneously rose. Then Chen Fei naturally pressed on the accelerator, and the vehicle, supported by five pairs of load-bearing wheels, slowly entered through the gate. "Eh? Eh, eh, eh? What''s going on here?" Shen Fei exclaimed in surprise repeatedly, turning her head to look back, only to see the gate guards and the communication room appearing normal, showing no intent to stop them. This vehicle shouldn''t have been stopped outside, right? Chen Fei, puzzled, asked, "What?" "This vehicle wasn''t stopped?" Shen Fei was even more confused. Could it be that the gate''s recognition equipment malfunctioned? But that couldn''t be possible! If the equipment malfunctioned, could people malfunction as well? "Stopped? Why should it be stopped?" Chen Fei had a look as if it were only natural. Since the access control had already let them through, he of course just drove the mobile base vehicle inside, which seemed perfectly fine! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had processed the relevant entry procedures for this mobile base vehicle, applying for permission to park in a lower military area. After all, it was a vehicle armed with a large-caliber railgun, and constantly parking it in a civilian parking lot wasn''t ideal, so parking in a military area was somewhat safer, thus they were temporarily granted certain privileges. Just like public transportation oversight recognition, the vehicle license number, appearance, and response key altogether enabled its clearance. The guards at the gate confirmed the vehicle''s authorization, which perfectly matched the access level of Airport 310, thus they immediately allowed it to pass. However, to penetrate deeper required higher-level clearance; naturally, they could not just dash onto the main runway under the setting sun. "Is this an active service military vehicle?" Shen Fei could only guess one possibility. But Chen Fei had previously clearly stated that this was a second-hand assembled vehicle. Could that work as well? It probably shouldn''t... If the military lost confidence in the "Canglong" project, all the initial efforts of the Northern Weapons Industry Group would be in vain. As the deputy general manager who strongly supported the project, it was inevitable that he would have to shoulder the responsibility. Since he had chosen to undertake the project, naturally, he had to bear all the ensuing consequences: enjoy the rewards if successful, and pay the price if failed. Shen Songling was not worried about his position as deputy general manager being jeopardized; in fact, those who wanted a trouble-free life could never occupy such a position. One needed to be disruptive and create benefits for everyone, securing continuous development resources for the corporation¡ªthat was the most important thing. So, he was once again faced with a multiple-choice question: either terminate the "Canglong" project to stop losses in time, or slow down the project, strengthen theoretical validation, and reduce actual costs to minimize real-world risks¡ªa compromise solution, or continue to push forward with test flights until successful. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire He had to choose one of the three options, A, B, or C. Just as Shen Songling''s brows knitted into a frown and he was solemnly weighing the pros and cons, he heard someone shouting not far away, "Director Shen, Secretary Shen Fei is here to report." Shen Fei rode the folding electric bike directly to the crash site, addressing her own father in a strictly official tone. "Oh, it''s Xiao Fei, Secretary Shen is here." While absorbed in his thoughts, Shen Songling hadn''t expected his daughter to arrive so quickly. A faint hot pot broth aroma wafted to his nose, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Did you have hot pot for lunch? I was going to ask you to get food from the cafeteria!" One of the biggest characteristics of hot pot is its lingering scent that often lasts for days. "Hehe, I had hot pot with a friend." Shen Fei grinned like a sly fox. Shen Songling asked, puzzled, "A friend? Are there any hot pot restaurants near 310?" The area around 310 airport is semi-military, with vast tracts of farmland that are actually military farms. Ordinary citizens live sixty miles away, where the administrative center of Northern Weapons Industry Group, the main assembly workshop, and related facilities are located. "I had it in my friend''s car; he has a really big one, so big!" Shen Fei gestured animatedly, having never seen such a large vehicle before, and it was even a motorhome. It was her first time experiencing the novelty of traveling while eating hot pot in such a vehicle. Returning to business, Shen Songling, addressing her by her official title, said, "Oh! Secretary Shen, you are responsible for assisting the experts with their documentation. I need to have the organized first-hand report from the scene." Keep private matters private and public matters public, never sacrificing public duties for personal reasons¡ªthis was the family teaching of the Shen Family. "Understood!" Shen Fei saluted crisply. Just then, the experts surrounding the wreckage of the crash site started arguing, a few of them turning red in the face and their voices suddenly rising. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Shen Fei hastily said to her father, "Oh, right, Director Shen, my friend mentioned, when the crash happened, he was on the nearby national highway, and it seemed like the malfunction occurred during an engine boost." "I got it, go on now!" Seeing the experts were about to escalate their argument, Shen Songling quickly waved his hand to send Shen Fei off to intervene. He pondered over the term he had just heard. "Boost ..." - Chapter 431 Section 427 - Friends Come from Afar The most significant difference between civilian and military engines lies in the design of the afterburner construction. The former doesn''t include an afterburner, its rated output is capped at the threshold of maximum safety and economy, and even flooring the throttle keeps it within rated power. The latter, for combat purposes, sacrifices lifespan for extra power output, as both training duration and actual combat time are much less than civilian operational hours. Designing for too long a life would lead to excessive costs and also affect the renewal of current equipment; therefore, the best technology is not necessarily the most advanced. If military engines were to be used with reduced power requirements and operational standards, their fault-free operational lifespan could far exceed their original design parameters. In some ways, they could also be used as universal engines. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, which Chen Fei is most familiar with, uses the PT6A series engine¡ªa quite mature universal engine, widely applicable, mass-produced, and inexpensive to maintain. Because the afterburner design leans toward aggressive specifications, its stability could never meet the safety standards of civilian engines, thus if issues arise, they tend to be major. Chen Fei attributed the cause of the crash to the afterburner, namely the main engine part, largely based on his own experience. Although he started out mid-career, with numerous technical certifications and a wealth of experience accumulated through supernatural powers, he had by today earned the right to be called an industry expert, no longer the inexperienced rookie he once was. - The furthest debris from the crash of the No. 2 prototype of the "Canglong" project reached over a kilometer away, almost extending to the airfield''s residential and administrative areas. Multiple drones continuously flew back and forth, scanning the ground, searching for wreckage, creating plans of the debris field, and concurrently searching for the aircraft''s black box. Even in a crash, as an invaluable lesson, not a single shard could be overlooked. The drones identified a black box with traces of orange-red, however, even with its special protective design, it wasn''t completely fail-safe. The found black box was not only shattered, but all the backup storage chips had turned to char. A stir went through the wind barrier. It meant that some data from the final moments of the crash were completely irretrievable, resulting in incomplete crash data for the No. 2 prototype. "The mobility data from before the No. 2 machine matched the design specifications perfectly, why would there be a malfunction during the leveling out phase? That shouldn''t happen!" "Could it have been the Magic Array? I saw a flash of collapsing elemental energy when the aircraft went out of control." "The final leveling data was a bit off, it could also be an electronic system failure, a technical flaw in the control system." "How could it be the control system? The ''Canglong''s'' control system wasn''t independently developed, it was a transplant from a universal system. If there were such severe technical defects, they should have been discovered under the same standards long ago." "If it isn''t a systemic or technical issue, could it perhaps be a human operational error? How is the test pilot doing?" "He broke his thigh upon landing, he''s in surgery... we probably won''t be able to speak to him until the day after tomorrow." "Let''s rule out other problems first! Before the elemental energy collapsed, there was smoke trailing from the aircraft, focus on checking the fuel supply and the power supply modules." ... Although the discussion was technical, no personal attacks were made, but the tone was becoming increasingly acrimonious. The dozen experts in the room disagreed with one another, eventually forming roughly four factions and engaging in endless debate. "Um, I''m Shen Fei from the secretarial office; could you all please speak one at a time, so I can make notes of this discussion?" Shen Fei squeezed into the debate with a smile that was awkward yet graceful, carrying a notebook and a pen, with a voice recorder also at work. With many people speaking, voices overlapped, and even the voice recorder couldn''t keep up, recording only the clamor; what was actually said couldn''t be clearly understood. "All right, all right, let''s start over and clear our thoughts," President Sun Qiuguo said, raising his voice. He looked toward Vice President Sun, who nodded in agreement. The young woman who had just reached their side was the Deputy General Manager of the group company supporting the "Canglong" project and the only daughter of Shen Songling; both officially and privately, she deserved some courtesy. "Let''s start from the beginning and straighten out our thoughts!" Given that it was Director Shen''s young daughter speaking, Director-General Sun just made a courteous remark in passing. After all, a military contractor was hardly going to compete with the Northern Weapons Industry Group, let alone have business dealings with them; the two were totally different worlds, not connected by any means. "Sure, he''s at Airport 310." Too honest, Shen''s daughter made an offhand comment turn into taking advantage of the situation. "What? Here, at this place?" Airport 310 being a military base, it was hardly a place where just anyone could freely enter, Director-General Sun Qiuguo exclaimed in surprise. Could it be he''s not just an employee of the military contractor but also connected to the military? The experts were collectively flabbergasted. "He drove me here; the main gate just let us through, and I don''t know why?" ¨r(¨s_¨t)¨q Shen Fei threw up her hands, her mind still filled with a giant question mark. Director-General Sun Qiuguo said, "So that''s how it is. Ask Director Shen if it''s okay, and then bring your friend over for a look since it''s all just junk anyway, nothing really matters." There must be some military connection; otherwise, how could it be so simple to get through? "Alright!" Shen Fei turned around and found her father, Vice President Shen Songling of the corporation. "Director Shen!" "What''s the matter? Secretary Shen!" The father and daughter were indeed strictly business-like. Secretary Shen tentatively asked, "The friend who drove me here might be able to help analyze the crash cause; should we invite him over for a look?" Shen Songling immediately shook his head and said irritably, "Nonsense, how can we just let outsiders get involved with company secrets?" Only his own daughter dared to speak so; anyone else would have been criticized by now. "I''ve asked Director-General Sun, and he said we could have a look." Shen Fei, considering another hand on deck as beneficial and seeing her father''s constant frown, guessed the crash had dealt a significant blow to the entire project. "Recklessness; aren''t you afraid of ''Canglong'' project''s being leaked?" Shen Songling was alert and did not easily relent. "My friend is a pilot and maintenance technician with the military contractor, and also a Metal Ability User; don''t worry, he''s very tight-lipped. Oh, and ''Ah Mao'' was a gift from him." In Teacher Shen Fei''s view, Chen Fei had never been a flamboyant person but rather very steady and low-key, always trustworthy and reliable. Read chapters at My Virtual Library Empire She spoke and then stomped her foot. "Aw!" The black-furred wolf emerged from the shadow at her feet, grinning foolishly, smelling strongly of hotpot ¡ª leftovers and all, everything cheap went to it. "Really... a supernatural power user? A Metal Elemental Psychic Power user?" Shen Songling finally remembered, recalling the young man his daughter had mentioned meeting while teaching. However, what he valued even more was the identity as a supernatural power user. - Chapter 432 Section 428 - Introduction There was only one person who met the criteria. Shen Songling asked doubtfully, "Chen Fei?" The young man shared a bond of life and death with his daughter, an exceptionally uncommon relationship. "Yes, him!" The beloved daughter smiled radiantly. Damn, the old father''s heart skipped a beat instantly. Where did this foolish boy come from, not staying put in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, but chasing after her for what purpose! "Do you need his help?" Shen Fei continued to probe. As President Sun had said, Prototype 2 had already crashed into a pile of scrap metal, and trying to steal secrets from it would likely be extremely difficult. Shen Songling hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well... bring him over to take a look!" What he really wanted was to see what was so special about this silly boy. If he wasn''t satisfied at first impression, he''d promptly tell him to get lost! "Understood, I''ll bring him right over." Shen Fei waved her little fist and immediately zoomed off on her electric bike. The "looking" that both the father and daughter had in mind was the same word, but the actual meaning behind it was not the same at all. Without Shen Fei acting as a buffer, the experts quickly began to argue with each other again without any courtesy. Moments later, two foldable electric bikes brought Chen Fei and Shen Fei back to the crash site, entering the wind barrier. The barrier only had a significant buffering effect on airflow; winds below First Level could still enter and it didn''t have much effect on solid objects. "Director Shen, I''ve brought Chen Fei over!" Shen Fei spoke in proper business jargon. "Director Shen, hello, I''m Chen Fei!" On the way here, Chen Fei had listened to Shen Fei''s introduction to their positions within the Northern Weapons Industry Group¡ªhe as the vice president, and she as the secretary. In public, it was professional, and in private, personal; after all, when it comes to appointing the worthy, nepotism can be convenient for keeping it in the family. Shen Songling sized up the utterly ordinary young man following his daughter and reached out to shake hands with him. "Hmm, I''m Shen Songling, and also Xiao Fei''s father!" He then shifted the conversation directly to the main topic. "Secretary Shen mentioned that you work as a combat pilot and mechanic for a military contractor? And you''ve awakened a Special Ability?" Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire "Yes!" Chen Fei confirmed without hesitation. A proud undergraduate of economics, he had given up on graduate studies to work miles away in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area as a pilot and mechanic. Such is life¡ªthings often don''t go as one wishes. It was not uncommon to find people working in fields unrelated to their majors, and Chen Fei was not the only one. There was once a painter who started the Second World War, and before him, a great mage cast a Forbidden Curse, summoning a meteor from the sky, defeating an army of 420,000 with few, reversing the tide of battle to revitalize the empire, an era known as the Guangwu revival. The world of Cangqiong Star, with its magical civilization, had no record of such wars. Thus, these off-topic feats of legend were not uncommon in the history of Blue Star, so there was nothing to complain about. Charging ahead is not necessarily the most powerful, but working logistics is definitely indispensable and top-tier. Whether it''s the 911 Aircrew Base or the newly established "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the positions they arranged for him couldn''t have been more fitting. "Molecular level?!" Shen Songling was even more moved; this was definitely the level of precision engineering, standing out in the industrial field, naturally cut out for this line of work. "Chen Fei is pretty impressive, right?" His daughter couldn''t help showing a proud expression, having recommended such a useful talent to her dad. "Impressive!" As the vice president of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, Shen Songling clearly knew how hard it was to find such industrial-grade ability users. Most industrial enterprises relied on technical equipment rather than psychics. Metal ability users with A-level control power were incredibly useful but exceedingly rare. A workshop of ability users was only feasible if a large sovereignty had a population base large enough to enforce conscription. Smaller sovereignties couldn''t even dare to imagine such a thing, and the projects that required such capability were bound to be critical emergencies. Shen Fei tentatively asked, "Can Chen Fei... do it?" Emmmmmm... Chen Fei always felt that Teacher Shen was setting a trap for her dad. "Then let''s go take a look!" Shen Songling eventually consented, partly because Chen Fei was a local resident. If it were any other sovereignty''s registration, it would have been an outright veto without any hesitation. "Authorized. Chen Fei, let''s go have a look together!" Shen Fei made a V-sign with her hands, noticing that the expert group had started another argument. Their voices grew louder, several whiteboards were set up, illustrating charts and comparing data on the spot, as everyone tried hard to prove their point. The on-site seminar was just beginning. "Oh!" Chen Fei looked at the pile of burnt wreckage twitching his eyebrows. Since he started his career, he had never dealt with wreckage to this extent. At the 911 Aircrew Base, it should have all been thrown into the recycling bins for degradation and remelting, turned into alloy ingots, waiting to be reused. He couldn''t fathom what there was to study. "President Sun, Vice President Nangong, Worker Ge, Worker Ma... everyone, I''ve brought him here." Shen Fei introduced the experts on site to Chen Fei while introducing him to everyone. "Young man, take a look first before we talk," President Sun Qiuguo of the "Canglong" project didn''t give any hints and just gestured toward the pile of charred wreckage. The debris was scattered around, but the main body was still there, having crashed into a big pit in the snow. "Is it okay to touch them directly?" Chen Fei knew that the aircraft which had crashed must be part of an ongoing secret project and thus involved various secrets. Although Shen Fei had brought him here, he couldn''t afford to be careless. "No problem, no problem, feel free!" Sun Qiuguo waved his hand. If the secrets of the "Canglong" project could be stolen just by touching them, they might as well not bother with their jobs. - Chapter 433 Section 429 - Questioning In fact, Chen Fei couldn''t just waltz into the scene, touch the "Canglong" project and take it away. He had to rely on the so-called "sacrifice" to do so, and even the pile of shattered machine debris before him was far from enough. Wanting to repair the wreckage completely, even the "Physical Evolution Database" was powerless. What kind of fairy-tale joke was this! Chen Fei crouched down and picked up a piece of debris the size of a palm, examining it carefully before his eyes. The moment he touched it, the Dog System issued a prompt. System: Ding! Found Alloy Body 157 grams, absorb: Yes/No|? Of course, it''s a no! He couldn''t be too blatant, and he wasn''t in need of those few Energy Points, especially since that didn''t even amount to a whole number. The debris had already cooled through, entirely blackened, leaving a hand filthy upon touch and accompanied by a pungent residual odor, with the silver-white luster of metal faintly visible at the torn edge. As if he''d discovered something, Chen Fei picked up a few more thin fragments and tried piecing them together before examining them again closely. Secretly, he picked up a nail-sized fragment and activated the "Metal Devouring" skill. Compared to the large piece from before, this one was almost inconspicuous, practically negligible. System: Absorbed Alloy Body 2 grams, composition ratio: Aluminum 57%, Titanium 18%, Magnesium 4%, Zinc 3%, Copper 2%, Chromium... "Skin Fragment, it must be a Magic Array!" Chen Fei turned his head and looked at the experts who had ceased their quarreling and were now evaluating him, and tentatively asked, "Is this a Crystal Jet?" The base material most commonly used for Magic Arrays on Blue Star is titanium, known as Mithril on Cangqiong Star, a high-quality conductor of magic power, and occasionally platinum is also used. But apart from the Crystal Jet, other aircraft rarely use Magic Arrays, partly because they require large-capacity Crystalline Blocks in place of high-quality Demon Crystals or Magical Beast Crystal Cores, and also because maintenance is quite troublesome¡ªprobably enough to drive the logistics department to collapse. Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo smiled and said, "You''ve figured it out!" The others all gave him a thumbs-up. If one observed carefully and let their imagination run, it would be easy to guess that the special texturing on the surface of the skin fragment could very possibly be part of a Magic Array. Chen Fei''s reaction was quick, guessing the truth right away. Even if he wasn''t an industry insider, he was definitely not as ignorant as a rookie. No one could have guessed that Chen Fei didn''t deduce the answer but copied it, and his way of entry was something others couldn''t learn. "A titanium-based Magic Array, that should be correct!" While saying this, Chen Fei approached the largest main body, subtly absorbing a few more fragments to confirm that the high percentage of titanium was not incidental but essential. However, he could only copy so much information. He couldn''t absorb all of the debris, or else he could have reconstructed even more information. "...There should be twenty-nine aerodynamic control surfaces, if I''m not mistaken, and AI-assisted flight... such a familiar storage unit style, is it ''Adam''...?" Chen Fei was still examining the wreckage when Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo interrupted his murmuring. "Wait a minute, Little Chen, how do you know it''s ''Adam''?" Upon hearing Chen Fei mention "Adam," the faces of those experts all showed a drastic change, and one thought crossed their minds: damn it, a security breach! Like other projects initiated by the company, either there was no leak, or a leak would be a major issue, even threatening the survival of the whole project. If the company assessed that "Canglong" had lost its confidentiality and thus canceled the project, it wasn''t out of the realm of possibility. That would mean a loss of many people''s year-end bonuses or even their jobs. The steady maintenance of a state enterprise might be comforting, but job security wasn''t guaranteed. Once you lost your hold and it broke, that meant you were completely cut off from the state enterprise route. How could those accustomed to the reassurance of state enterprise life adapt to fully competitive private companies? "''Adam''?" Chen Fei smiled and then said, "Technically, the ''Adam'' in use here was brought back by me from the American Federation." "Adam" had multiple patrons domestically, and as industry leaders, how could they not snatch such a useful AI? Chen Fei had long known that Northern Weapons Industry Group was one of those in need and that it was being applied in new projects under development; he was not surprised at all. The AIs derived from Cybertrom''s digital intelligent constructs were indeed useful, but compared to "Adam," they were more than a bit behind. There hadn''t been significant progress in over thirty years. So this must be a little joke meant to lighten the mood. "Where did you get a Crystal Jet from!" Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Alright! Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo from the "Canglong" project admitted he had a low threshold for humor, and he was successfully amused by the other party''s remark. "Look! This is my Crystal Jet, named ''Holy Grail''!" Chen Fei took out his phone and showed a photo to the experts. Laymen watch the excitement; insiders look for clues. Whether it''s real or not is apparent at a glance. These experts were not easy to fool. "Eh! It kinda looks real!" "Is it a rendered image? The proportions and lighting look so accurate!" After careful consideration, the experts unanimously determined that this was an artificially created image so masterfully done that it could rival the real thing. "Rendered image?" Shen Fei looked at Chen Fei with puzzled disbelief; she was unaware that he had such skills. "How could it be a rendered image, why does no one believe me when I''m telling the truth! Look, some people even think this photo was rendered!" Chen Fei brought up another photo. Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo sneakily glanced at it, laughed, and said, "Isn''t this rendered too?" The young man in the photo was posing with the Dragon of Slaughter, with a rope tied to his hand. If that was a real photo, it would have to be a posthumous portrait; the next second, his head would surely be bitten off by the Metallic Dragon. "This photo... uh, it''s real!" Shen Fei couldn''t help but laugh as she vouched for Chen Fei. Because she was the one who had taken the photo; she was the living proof. "Huh?" said Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo. "Huh?" said Deputy Chief Designer Nangong Chengyu. "Huh?" said Worker Ge. "Huh?" said Worker Ma. ... All the expert friends were shocked. So, this actually worked? Was it that the human''s head contained a bundle, or that the dragon''s head contained one? The truth was that both the human and dragon had bundles in their heads; otherwise, this photo wouldn''t exist. "So... this Crystal Jet is real." Chen Fei finally proved he wasn''t joking. The question now was... - Chapter 434 Section 430 - Industrial Grade Ceiling ``` "Where did it come from?" ``` Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo found it absurd; National Treasure Artifacts were not cabbages in the market, casually obtained. Chen Fei spoke truthfully, "I picked it up from a junkyard on the outskirts of Hablav City on Yangzhou Continent, but it''s not intact and has quite a bit of damage." Exhausting! Establishing trust between people is truly difficult. "Is it called ''Holy Grail''? Let me check!" Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo took out his phone and began swiping the screen. True or false, a check would tell. If the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" was still in service, or if there were no records of such an aircraft, then Chen Fei''s words would just be a joke to them. "Ah! A Sky Knight was sacrificed, and the Crystal Jet ''Holy Grail'' was destroyed, it''s true, wait, you can pick these up????" Sun Qiuguo looked up from his phone screen, incredulously staring at Chen Fei. The battle took place a year ago, and the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail", along with the Sky Knight, both perished in the fight against the Mutants. The Sky Knight was obliterated, leaving nothing but a completely scrapped Crystal Jet. Only the Crystalline Blocks and the black box could be salvaged, while the rest, having no repair value, was thrown directly into the garbage dump outside the city for recycling. Each Crystal Jet was a piece of art, a custom-made combat aircraft that could perfectly match a Sky Knight. However, in exchange, they sacrificed universal compatibility, making it difficult for anyone else to utilize its full combat potential. Without perfect mastery, the Crystal Jet''s formidable combat strength would be meaningless. Other Sky Knights would likewise reject such a second-hand unit. They didn''t lack Crystal Jets tailored for themselves since what Sovereignty was short of was not Crystal Jets, but Sky Knights. Without reaching the level of a Sky Knight, one simply couldn''t control a Crystal Jet, making one without a Knight just another piece of junk in the pile. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee just let Chen Fei pack and take away this piece of junk without any intention of stopping him. With the Sky Knight gone and the jet in this state, the repair costs could buy two new ones. Even if repaired, it would be pointless. Without a Crystalline Block, probably no one would even bother to steal it. "I cobbled together a car with parts, and along the way picked up a Crystal Jet." Chen Fei didn''t boast but simply told the honest truth. He wasn''t searching the junkyard for a Crystal Jet, but to assemble the parts necessary for a Mobile Base Vehicle. The wreckage of a Crystal Jet was still a Crystal Jet; otherwise, would a disabled person not be considered human? Who were they to look down on? "Er, Chen Fei, aren''t you short on money?" Shen Fei was somewhat at a loss for words. With the items Chen Fei had, he shouldn''t have to worry about his debt, especially when Boss Hana had shown no intention of pressing for repayment. Chen Fei asserted confidently, "Short! How can I not be short! I am indeed short on money!" A huge truth without embarrassment! He had a Mobile Base Vehicle, a Crystal Jet, high-grade Crystalline Blocks, the Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, professional technical certification, flight hours, but no money! His bank account was in the negative after offsetting debts; he was still in debt! "These scraps you''ve picked up..." Shen Fei was at a loss for words; the scavenging was done too skillfully. Ordinary people really couldn''t stay at the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City. "A Raptor?! That fast?" Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire "Is this for real, how could it be so quick?" "Is this a Metal Ability?" "Truly Industrial Grade!" "It can''t just be a shell, no, there were internal structures just now." "Absolutely, absolutely a one-person factory; can anyone else even survive?" "If mass production is unleashed, our corporate group might have no chance against this, it''s terrifying!" ... This is like trying to drive all the manufacturers to their deaths! Savage to the point of utter madness! Chen Fei retracted his hand, and beside him, stood a shimmering silver, sky and earth-reflecting, dual-engine jet fighter. The ceiling for Industrial-grade Abilities is probably about this level. "Is this satisfactory?" President Sun Qiuguo rushed over to the F-22 "Raptor", taking two steps at a time, and reached out to touch the still-hot fighter jet. If he waited until it had cooled down completely before touching it, his palm would probably stick to it, considering it''s winter in the North, and even within the wind-barrier, the temperature was still around minus ten degrees Celsius. "Top off various oils, preheat for ten minutes, and then it''s ready to fly." It was that simple. Chen Fei''s "Physical Evolution Database" retained the F-22 "Raptor" in its perfect state, having test-flown the replicated version at the Eagle Nest private airport which was no mere shell and lost nothing to the original. As his words fell, the group of experts collectively could not contain their excitement. "Bring over No. 3, Sacrifice it!" Worker Ge was the first to roar, his face turning red and his neck swelling with fervor. Just by replicating a hundred prototypes, they could acquire enough trial samples to forcibly complete the "Canglong" project in the shortest time possible. Which new project could produce a hundred prototypes? Unprecedented, with no successors, extravagance to the extreme. Worker Ma, his eyes seeing stars from excitement, clutched his chest and kept inhaling the minus ten degrees Celsius cold air. His pale face indicated he needed to take a moment to recover, probably requiring two or three heart-saving pills. Most of the experts were nearly overwhelmed. The sudden appearance of the F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet alarmed many people. "What is this? Also a Special Ability?" Shen Fei''s father, Vice President Shen Songling of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, was astonished by the sight of the massive object that had appeared in just a short time. Those unaware might even think the "Canglong" project was replicating the already-retired F-22 "Raptor". Shen Fei confidently said, "This is Chen Fei''s skill. It''s not just fighter jets; refrigerators, freezers, ovens, microwaves, induction cookers, dough mixers¡ªmany kinds of things can be created, but it''s best to prepare metal ahead of time." True to Teacher Shen''s reputation, she thoroughly exposed Chen Xiao''er''s skill. "Oh!" Vice President Shen Songling, being an old hand in Jianghu, did not immediately express any stance but pondered for a while before saying to Chen Fei, "Quit your job! Come to the Northern Weapons Industry Group, and I''ll find a way to get you a position." An official position meant a guaranteed golden rice bowl, especially in prosperous central enterprises. Even he, the group''s vice president, could not easily secure an official position for someone. - Chapter 435 Section 431 - Procedural Justice Even if they were experienced employees and mid-to-senior management at the conglomerate, it was difficult for them to secure a permanent position for their children. They could only start with a temporary position before moving to a contract-based role, establishing roots in the company through such roundabout methods, and then playing the connection game. Everyone hoped for the limited quota to be released, competing fiercely as they showed off their capabilities. Almost every time, even if there wasn''t bloodshed, it was nearly the same. If talent were not scarce, Shen Songling wouldn''t have been so confident either. Using his power to fight for additional quotas was not an easy task, as countless people within the conglomerate were watching him both openly and secretly, not allowing him to do as he pleased. Even if he was a top executive, once it was confirmed, he too was easily dismissed. Even for his own daughter, Shen Songling had never exerted so much effort, following the old methods of accumulating experience and queuing by seniority to secure a formal position. With the vice president''s connections, the success rate was a bit higher, and if Shen Fei''s resume had no issues, people would somewhat give face. After all, everyone was following the rules, and it wasn''t easy to break them, as it could make things difficult for others and might even cause public outrage. "Yes, yes!" Shen Fei swung her little fists excitedly. As a child of the conglomerate, she knew well the value of a permanent position and how hard it was to obtain one. Having a vice president father personally promise to secure a position wasn''t something just anyone could receive. Even the vice president''s daughter, working in the administrative center''s secretary''s office, was just a contract worker, merely slightly better off than a temporary worker. To obtain a permanent position quota, she would have to wait at least two or three years. Otherwise, there were few who would help, and lots who would cause trouble. If your own children''s future was not secured, why should a vice president''s daughter get any special treatment? "Chen Fei, you might want to consider it." After Shen Songling finished speaking, he glanced at his daughter, who was exuberant. His daughter indeed had helped a lot by introducing a rare talent.@@@@ But the quota was for someone else. Your own quota isn''t even settled, so what are you excited about? The old father was very puzzled. Chen Fei hesitated and said, "Okay, thank you. I''ll carefully consider it." He had been poached before, each offer outbidding the last, and this time a native central enterprise had extended an olive branch. A permanent position was equivalent to a secure job; it would be a lie to say he wasn''t tempted. From childhood to adulthood, he had struggled to study hard, all for a good job. With a permanent position at a central enterprise, even finding a girlfriend would be easier; maybe he wouldn''t even need to buy a house, as it might be allocated to him. Commuting would be convenient, possibly just a walk away, saving him from spending two to three hours each way, letting him avoid the fatigue of commuting that exhausted people like dead dogs, not to mention the down payment and monthly installment of a house that suffocated young people. Would he, when old, empty his pension to support his children down the same dead-end road? Forget it! If he ended up not sleeping on the streets when old, it would be a relief; he certainly wouldn''t have the capacity to support the youth. Realizing his overreach, Worker Ge gave a sheepish smile and remained quiet. Shen Songling looked at Chen Fei with a pleasant expression and said, "Little Chen, to replicate a hundred prototype aircraft, how much time do you need?" The more he looked at this young man, the more he liked him. Such rare talent! "Like the F-22? It would take about 10 minutes for one, including rest periods, four an hour, roughly 25 hours for a hundred. Do you need them now?" Chen Fei estimated and provided a relatively conservative number. If he worked nonstop for one day and night without eating, drinking, or resting, he could produce these hundred aircraft. If this replication efficiency were used in a competition with the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the latter would likely collapse instantly. Because the former could sell fighter jets at the price of cabbages; no-one else would stand a chance. "No, no, no rush!" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Shen Songling quickly waved his hand; after all, proper procedures must still be followed. For such a large group company, without rules, there''s no standards. If Chen Fei hadn''t officially joined yet, he still wouldn''t let him actually interact with the "Canglong" prototypes, let alone talk about "sacrifice" or replication. If the name isn''t right, then the words don''t go smoothly, and if the words don''t go smoothly, the work can''t succeed. Once formally employed by the group company, joining the "Canglong" project team is the next natural step. Even the vice president of the group couldn''t easily break the rules, not even for his own daughter''s sake. Allowing Chen Fei to enter the crash site and speak briefly with the expert team was already the limit. He really couldn''t rush. Moreover, the "Canglong" project could afford to wait. Compared to the long development cycle, the time for the employment process was insignificant. And, in reality, they didn''t actually need a hundred prototype aircraft; it would be utterly reckless to crash all of them. The pressure on the test pilots would be enormous and they might even strike. Therefore, a maximum of twenty prototype aircraft would suffice to push the entire project to completion. Cost didn''t need to be a consideration, given the industry''s capabilities. Shen Fei patted Chen Fei''s shoulder and said, "Don''t worry, it''ll definitely be okay!" The two of them could work at the same place again. With Old Father personally operating and adding Chen Fei''s industrial-grade ability, securing a position was almost a done deal. Shen Fei even felt a bit envious. "That''s great, really great!" Off to the side, Worker Ge kept pounding his palms with his fists, and the other experts all looked visibly joyful. With the assistance of an industrial-grade metal psychic power, it would save a huge amount of effort, whether in terms of time or money, no longer turning into impediments. Many difficulties would be solved at once, and the powered-up project team might even enhance their design targets a notch, turning the recently devastated "Canglong" into something really exciting. Everything started moving in a good direction. - Chapter 436 Section 432 - The Uncertainty of Worldly Affairs The competitive investigation report from the HR section suddenly made Shen Songling, vice president of Northern Weapons Industry Group, feel extremely complicated. The subject undergoing the investigation had no issues with his credentials; otherwise, he wouldn''t have been enlisted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee¡ªclearly a reputable family''s offspring at the very least. As for peculiar records like "feral clan leader," in front of industrial-grade metal elemental psychic powers, they were hardly significant enough to be considered an issue. Everything seemed perfect. So perfect that it was nearly impossible to find any reason to prevent the individual from joining the Northern Weapons Industry Group. But... Chen Fei belonged to the Chen family, and his uncle was the arch-rival of the Northern Weapons Industry Group in the industry, serving as both director and major shareholder of National Defense Star Aerospace Company. Even though the Chen Family Gate had already divided its house, and each went their separate ways, the relationship between Chen Haiqing and Chen Haishang remained close; Chen Haiqing''s youngest son had always spent his summer holidays at Chen Haishang''s home, very familiar with the three siblings of the Chen family. Upon reading this, Shen Songling exclaimed in shock, "Goodness gracious, wild boar in the vegetable garden, this is surely an insider threat!" The HR section''s evaluation was not to recommend employment; otherwise, Northern Weapons would have no secrets to keep from National Defense Star. The relationship between the two was such that if National Defense Star fell, Northern Weapons would be the national treasure, both sides smirking at each other while cursing behind their backs. It was precisely because of this layer of connection that Shen Songling could imagine that the originally likely certainty of formal allocation had now probably dropped to zero; the senior management would definitely refuse without hesitation. If he were to persist stubbornly, he would most likely be putting his vice president''s reputation on the line, a complete loss for nothing gained. The hopeful "Canglong" project team was bound to be disappointed. Knock, knock, knock... the sound of knocking came. "Come in!" Shen Songling sighed, tossing the HR investigation report to the side. This task was impossible! "Director Shen! This is President-General Sun''s report for the ''Canglong'' project." Shen Fei entered the room, still addressing him formally in her capacity as his secretary. Having his own daughter as a secretary, he could trust her completely with his heart, not worrying about laziness or tardiness. Even if she cried from being scolded, there was no fear she would tell her parents¡ªit was a father''s right to discipline his daughter. However, up to now, Shen Fei had performed quite well as a secretary. After all, she had been a teacher and even solely carried all the work of the school. She handled the complex secretarial duties with ease and without confusion. "Oh! Hand it to me!" Shen Songling sighed again. The senior engineers were bound to be disappointed, and he had no idea how to explain the situation to them. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. "Eh! Dad, you seem upset!" In private, Shen Fei sometimes sneakily switched her form of address. As she set down the report, she quickly glanced at the documents by her father''s hand. She saw Chen Fei''s name, then looked closely and realized it was a competitive investigation from HR, and Chen Fei was the subject. They were preparing to poach him! "Looking at what?" Shen Songling noticed his daughter''s glance, peeking at the document by his hand, and couldn''t help but chuckle, saying, "Did you know Little Chen is a disciple of the Chen family?" "I know! What about it?" Shen Fei had seen Chen Fei at the daughter''s wedding of the chairman of National Defense Star Aerospace Company, and naturally knew that the two Chens were from the same major clan. Chen Fei admitted that he was a disciple of the Chen family. The people in the secretarial department didn''t need an appointment. She could easily obtain the leaders'' schedules from her seniors and cleverly seize the opportunity to meet them. ... - Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire That evening, Shen Fei and Chen Fei met up for dinner again. She specifically bought meat and vegetables, brought the mobile base vehicle, just like they used to in Patan Elementary School in Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, and the two prepared dinner together inside the vehicle. Though dining out had its class, besides not having to wash dishes afterward, it didn''t compare to the warmth and ambiance of cooking by oneself. And there was Xiao Jiu, the little troublemaker. While picking vegetables, Shen Fei asked, "Why don''t you stay in a hotel?" The mobile base vehicle was not left at the 310 airport, but was always parked near the administrative center of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, easily visible from the secretarial office as an exceptionally conspicuous behemoth. "I feel more comfortable on the vehicle, everything is more convenient." This time, Chen Fei did not prepare hotpot, but carefully prepared several solid heavy dishes instead. On the stove, a pig''s trotter was simmering, glossy and reddish, the skin transparent like amber, soybeans filling the space between, each nearly as big as a bean. The mobile base vehicle had water, electricity, internet, heating, and could move anytime; its carriage was even more spacious than a guest room. Naturally, Chen Fei preferred it to a hotel. If someday he didn''t want to cook, he could just drive around and enjoy himself. That wouldn''t be too comfortable, especially if Teacher Shen could join him¡ªperfection. "About the official matter... sorry!" "Sorry!" "Huh?" ¡Á2! "Jiu?" Shen Fei and Chen Fei looked at each other, along with the interloping Little Bird. "You first!" Chen Fei was the first to break their unintentional deadlock. "You... probably can''t join Northern Weapons Industry Group. The board overruled it." Shen Fei had been brewing this for a long time, finally putting into words the burden she had carried since getting into the car. She was very, very sorry. She had had good intentions, but as it turned out, the situation was not as simple as she had thought. "No, no worries, I hadn''t planned on switching jobs!" Loyal Chen Xiao''er, who did not want to disappoint Boss Hanna who had taken on his debts but shared good wine. Most importantly, he preferred the relaxed environment at Jiu Defense Company and the absence of backstabbing, not quite fitting into the rigid framework of a central enterprise. To be precise, he wasn''t adept at office politics; it was too brain-burning and it was easy to fall into someone else''s traps, not even knowing how he would be destroyed. "Heh..." ¡Á2! Both let out a sigh of relief simultaneously, it seemed they no longer needed to worry about how to meet each other''s expectations. Although their reasons differed, the result was the same, no need to pressure each other. Shen Fei, not wanting to impose on Chen Xiao''er, empathetically said, "Central enterprises have their benefits, private companies have their freedoms." A true man''s ambition reaches everywhere, he should not be tied down back at home. - Chapter 437 Section 433 - Visit Home Shen Fei put so much effort into trying to keep Chen Fei, partly out of her personal desire. However, due to the corporate executive''s decision, though her father was the vice president, he couldn''t say much, and despite her best efforts, she still failed. In human life, disappointments are common. "I''m actually quite accustomed to my current job." With a job that provided meat, fish, and even beasts, and a decent salary to boot, Chen Fei was genuinely well-suited to it. After serious consideration, he ultimately chose to turn down the offer from Northern Weapons Industry Group. Despite the life-threatening risks, harshly speaking, life is fraught with dangers everywhere, even hiding at home couldn''t guarantee true safety. Since arriving in this world, no one had managed to live and then return to it after death. Surviving was fate, and so was not surviving. Since it was all fate, one must accept it. "Didn''t you plan on working at your uncle''s company? The compensation at National Defense Star must be better than a military contractor''s, right?" Shen Fei felt that with Chen Fei''s capabilities, he should belong in a larger corporation and not stick with a private military contractor. Even if not at Northern Weapons Industry, National Defense Star was a very good choice, especially since it was run by his own family. "If I had studied aerospace or mechanical processing, even industrial accounting, perhaps I would consider my uncle''s company. But I studied economics, a completely different field. I truly understand how different they are and it''s been hard enough getting the hang of this line of work. I really don''t want to change now, nor do I have the energy to spare," Chen Fei thought for a moment. He figured he was the type to seek stability, to stick to one trade and love it, rather than hopping around like a monkey. He continued explaining, "Unless going down a crooked path, my uncle generally doesn''t interfere with us juniors'' education and careers. Actually, family businesses have their pros and cons, and I''d rather not get involved." Fortunately, the Chen Family''s generation was mostly decent, with none straying into shady practices, and their capable and well-connected uncle never had to worry about them. Because he had studied quite a few economics cases, Chen Fei opposed making the company a family business, naturally he wouldn''t jump blindly into a pit. Let Little Shanzi, the heir, deal with the headaches of running National Defense Star. What with meddling aunts and uncles, and ludicrously distant relatives, it was better than the infighting in Central Enterprises, where at least there was procedural fairness and competition was within the rules. Internal family conflicts didn''t care about these things, freely resorting to unpleasant tactics without any lower limits. Thus, family businesses often didn''t end well. The larger they got and the more relatives joined, the more tragic their downfall. They often lasted only a generation, sometimes two, and rarely survived the third. Moreover, Chen Fei discovered his Metal Elemental Psychic Power only after joining the Aircrew Base. If his uncle and National Defense Star knew about his industrial-grade ability, they probably wouldn''t let him simply mingle with military contractors. "Your uncle really has an open mind." Shen Fei thought that Chen Fei''s uncle, the chairman of National Defense Star, must be a very enlightened person. In contrast, Northern Weapons Industry seemed rather petty, hesitant and fearful of assuming responsibilities. It was also understandable. The management of a Central Enterprise endured much like downtrodden wives, constantly criticized by not one but many stingy mother-in-laws. If the wife performed well, it was expected; if not, she might be dismissed. A lifetime''s contribution earned just enough for retirement, and that was all, hence they often endeavored to avoid faults rather than to achieve merits, like a lazy monk only ringing the bell when required. Of course, it was only slightly better than the miserable citizens who struggled with birth, upbringing, age, and death. "Uh, yes, my uncle aims for bigger things and doesn''t sweat the small stuff." Chen Fei was taken aback and then nodded vigorously. If there was any pettiness, the Chen siblings who had relentlessly bullied Little Shanzi every summer would have been hung upside down under lampposts long ago, returning from vacation only to be beaten to cries within days. Of course, Chen Shan was quite mischievous himself, a hyperactive kid who couldn''t stay still for a second and got beaten deservedly. "Your sister is in university in the North, right?"@@@@ Changing the subject from the unpleasant topic, Shen Fei shifted her focus to Chen Fei''s younger sister. She had heard before that Chen Fei''s younger sister, Chen Meng, as a trainee, was studying at Northern Industrial University. Her sponsoring entity, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, was also a Central Enterprise but had no competitive relations with National Defense Star, so they didn''t consider the Chen Family''s background and admitted her just the same. Although Northern Industrial University and Northern Weapons Industry Group were not in the same city, they weren''t too far apart either; taking a Mobile Base Vehicle would cut the travel down to a maximum of five hours. "That''s right, I''m planning to go there the day after tomorrow." Upon opening the door, warm air rushed towards them, with room temperatures at least above 25 degrees Celsius. The thick clothes they were wearing were too much, and there was a coat rack right by the door where one could hang coats, down jackets, and scarves. "Dad, Mom, I''m back!" Shen Fei yelled. "You''re back! Little Chen is here too!" The kitchen was bustling, and Shen Songling, wearing an apron, poked half his body out of the kitchen door, sizing up the two of them. Ah... From the Chen Family Gate! "Hello, Uncle Shen!" Previously, he had called him Director Shen. "Little Chen is here, come sit down, the meal will be ready soon." An elegant woman also peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes smiling at Chen Fei. When their daughter brought a friend home, both Father Shen and Mother Shen would cook together, carefully preparing a family feast. "Hello, Auntie!" Chen Fei quickly greeted her. No wonder Teacher Shen''s cooking skills were so good¡ªit was a family tradition. "Jiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow that had popped out of the pocket suddenly became active, flying around the living room, probably fed up with staying in the Mobile Base Vehicle. Now, it hopped to the chandelier, pecking here and there, clearly in high spirits. The shadow under Shen Fei''s feet flickered, and the Shadow Wolf emerged, finding its way to its familiar dog mat and settling down¡ªit was off work now and just the right time for a break. After dinner, they might even watch some TV, as long as her dad didn''t fight over the remote control. "Ah Mao" was living a pretty good life, with its own nest, knowing how to use the toilet, bathe itself, watch TV, and tidy up its belongings. "Oh right, I almost forgot!" Chen Fei smacked his forehead as if he had just remembered something. "Forgot what?" Shen Fei, who was bringing slippers to Chen Fei, was puzzled. "How could I arrive empty-handed." Chen Fei gestured to Little Bird. "Jiu?" Little Bird immediately flew over, landing on his shoulder. "Bring out a bottle of wine, any wine will do!" "Jiu?" "Wine!" Teacher Shen was utterly confused. What were this man and bird talking about? - Chapter 438 Section 434 - Good Wine Ever since confirming that one of Little Bird''s two leg rings was a Storage Magical Device, Chen Fei knew that the little guy''s stolen stockpile of good wine had to be more than just one bottle. Clunk, a bottle of red wine landed in Chen Fei''s hands¡ªbusted! Initially, he did indeed plan to return it to Boss Hana, but then and now were different moments; now, it truly was a big help. "Huh?" Shen Fei couldn''t help but widen her eyes. Where did this wine come from, could it be... She glanced at Xiao Jiu. "Shh... Keep it a secret!" Chen Fei quickly whispered a reminder. Teacher Shen was a trustworthy person, just as reliable as his teammates from Squad 04; bonded by life and death, they could naturally keep this little secret. If it were someone else, he wouldn''t leak even half a word. "This wine is expensive, isn''t it? You''re wasting money again!" Just by looking at the label, Shen Fei knew this bottle wasn''t ordinary fare, not the kind you buy for a few thousand Star Yuan to fill the pantry. "No, I don''t have money to waste." Chen Fei spoke the blunt truth; he indeed had no money. To be precise, he was operating at a negative cash flow, but he was never short on items¡ªit''s just that liquidating them was a bit tricky. The only items readily convertible to cash were those fluorescence crystals entrusted to the profiteer, Old Piao, and who knew when all of them would be sold off. With Old Piao''s capabilities and channels, no matter what, it would take a long time. "When you''ve paid off your debts, then you can do as you please!" Now that the wine was out, Shen Fei had no choice but to make an exception. Although Chen Fei was quite broke now, there was no need to worry that he would be forever. A supernatural power user who works hard won''t lack money, especially an industrial-grade one. No matter how you looked at it, he didn''t seem like someone who would be short on cash in the future. No more than half an hour had passed since Chen Fei and Shen Fei entered the house, and dinner was ready. Four people, six or seven dishes¡ªthat was considered quite plentiful. "Little Chen, it''s your first time here, don''t be polite. Have some dishes, don''t be shy." Mother Shen was all smiles as she offered Chen Fei the food, in stark contrast to Father Shen who was concealing his emotions and forcing a smile. Chen Fei picked up the wine he brought, gesturing, "Shall we open it?" The wine he brought was of substantial quality¡ªa bottle befitting of Boss Hana''s cellar would never be anything but exceptional. "Then let''s give it a taste!" Having seen much of the world, Shen Songling recognized the vineyard''s brand on the label. Platinum Trockenbeerenauslese¡ªat least 300,000 Star Yuan on the market, if you could even find it. Ordinary people couldn''t afford it, let alone have heard of it. It was available only to the true upper echelons of society who had both the channels and the means to buy it. Seems this young lad really went to great lengths! Many things can be seen through, but flattery always strikes a chord. With a good wine at hand, Shen Songling''s face lightened up a bit. No matter what, both Old Shen and his daughter shared the same view on some matters; they didn''t look down on the poor young man at all. Young, capable, and willing to work hard, so economic hardship would only be temporary. No way could he be poor his whole life. A mere few million Star Yuan¡ªwith a little effort, you can earn it in a year or two. Pop! The cork was pulled out, and a faint scent of wine quickly filled the room. Xiao Jiu, who had been flying around the villa exploring, followed the scent over and landed on Chen Fei''s hand, eyeing the bottle opening with eager anticipation. "Jiu!~" Shen Songling: Dear daughter, don''t get angry, dear daughter, don''t get angry... The wine somehow lost its taste. Then he glared at the Chen Family lad, thinking how adept he was at getting straight to the point, charging like a bull! "Heh heh!" Chen Fei laughed awkwardly, exchanging a brief look with Old Shen. Come hit me if you dare! This guy really had guts. Even if he gave Old Shen a heavy machine gun to blast Chen Xiao''er for ten minutes, he probably wouldn''t be able to do anything to the kid. "Come on, let''s continue eating!" Mother Shen finally spared the non-violently uncooperative Old Shen and resumed her mode of serving Chen Fei dishes. "Little Chen, have you been to the North before? The weather''s really cold. Every winter, my arms start to act up." "Is that so? Xiao Jiu, give my aunt a shot of ''Light of Redemption''!" "Jiu?" "Ohhhh, that feels so comfortable, just like soaking in a hot spring. Such a clever little thing! Having such a Light-element Magical Beast at home surely brings a lot of blessings to the elderly. By the way, where did you get Xiao Fei''s Shadow Wolf from? How much did it cost? It''s really good for guarding the house, big and imposing, yet so obedient." "Picked it up in the mountains, beat it if it doesn''t obey, that''s all!" "Whoo!~~~~~" The Shadow Wolf, frightened, hid in its den, not even daring to touch the TV remote anymore. The poor creature was already psychologically scarred from being double-teamed by Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu. Chen Fei and Mother Shen''s exchange was indeed pleasant, while Father Shen, Shen Songling, occasionally snorted coldly, his face twisted with dissatisfaction. Even though Shen Songling was not too fond of this Chen Family lad, Mother Shen had a different opinion. Her daughter was well-behaved and obedient, having finally returned from teaching in remote areas with her age clearly showing, and even if Mother Shen claimed not to be in a hurry on the surface, it would certainly be a lie. Matters of life were important, and a match of equal social status was the first criterion. Father Shen worked in the military industry, as did the Chen Family, which made them a perfect match in status. Despite Chen Fei''s family not being particularly wealthy, having three siblings with little to benefit from his uncle''s side, his special ability and Magical Beast meant he really wouldn''t have to worry about trivial matters of daily life. Besides, the Shen Family didn''t care about these things; as long as he was a good character worthy of trust, that was enough. In a way, Shen Fei was picky too; an average person really couldn''t catch her eye. So Mother Shen still trusted her daughter''s judgment. Now, it seemed that Chen Fei, in Mother Shen''s eyes, might not score a perfect hundred percent, but he definitely wasn''t hovering around the pass mark, at the least he was handsome and presentable. After a hearty meal and plenty of drinks. The slightly tipsy Xiao Jiu began bullying the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao", pouncing on its head and pulling at its fur to make a nest for itself. The place of "Ah Mao" in the household was really hard to describe. While Chen Fei was occupied with helping Mother Shen with the dishes in the kitchen, Shen Fei took the opportunity to collapse next to her father on the couch. "Old Dad, how do you see it?" Although it wasn''t spelled out from the beginning, the implication was clear to everyone. Shen Songling, irked, said: "What is there for me to say? As long as you like him, that''s all that matters." The Northern Weapons Industry and National Defense Star had a legitimate commercial competition, and it wasn''t exactly a familial feud like between Romeo and Juliet''s families; Shen Songling wasn''t petty to that extent. "What about your ''Canglong'' project?" A hole in the cotton-padded jacket still made it a jacket. "I..." Old Shen suddenly choked up. - Chapter 439 Section 435 - Lets Talk Military industrial enterprises have always involved large investments, large outputs, and large profits. The "Canglong" project, personally overseen by Vice President Shen Songling, was a new type of future main battle aircraft. If successful, the dividends it brought could easily sustain the corporation luxuriously for at least twenty years, and even have surplus energy to continue developing the next generation of main combat aircraft. This achievement would be enough to heavily mark his personal legacy in the history of the company, hence moving up further was not an impossibility. But should it fail, the vast economic loss incurred, not to mention the huge impact it would have on Shen Songling''s internal status within the corporation, would very likely lead him to resign due to guilt, or take an early retirement, since someone had to be responsible. After struggling hard for most of his life, he might become an insurmountable obstacle for a lifetime. Yet, Old Shen felt he might still strive for another 20 years. Currently, the "Canglong" project was in trouble due to the crash of the second prototype, and the best way to break this situation was the young man currently washing dishes in the kitchen. Industrial grade metal elemental psychic power was truly a blessing for all industrial enterprises, but his Chen Family Gate background posed an even greater risk to the Northern Weapons Industry Group. The "Canglong" project leaked, and even more technological secrets were obtained by the biggest local competitor, resulting in a potentially fatal blow to the Northern Weapons Industry Group. No one could bear this responsibility, not even Shen Songling, although his daughter and those seniors were scrambling lately. Still, the corporate higher-ups wouldn''t budge, as it was a matter of corporate life and death; no one dared take that risk. As for break-ins at Old Shen''s home, a thoroughly exhausted Shen Songling had long been unable to cope. Seeing her father''s helpless expression, Shen Fei asked, "Isn''t there any other way?" "The decision isn''t solely up to me." Shen Songling sighed and shook his head. Even if the top authority spoke, it wouldn''t work. Despite having given hope, then cruelly snatching it away, the project team''s experts might all hate him, yet what could Shen Songling do? This was a collective decision by the corporate higher-ups; even the king of heaven couldn''t change their mind. "We might as well outsource the ''Canglong''!" Shen Fei thought of a circumventive idea. In that case, Chen Fei might be able to help. "Naive. This is a national asset, how could we easily hand it over to others? I would rather it rot in our own hands," Shen Songling scoffed at such an idea. The "Canglong" project, once in someone else''s hands, meant handing over the major benefits and even breaking away to act independently wasn''t out of the question. If such a thing happened, all the efforts the Northern Weapons Industry Group had put in beforehand would become a laughing stock, mocked by the industry for at least a hundred years. The father and daughter faced each other, obviously out of options. - The kitchen was quickly tidied up, restoring everything to its original state. Mother Shen poured Chen Fei a cup of hot tea and said with a smile, "Little Chen, why don''t you stay here tonight?" "No, it''s not necessary; I can stay in the car." Staying at someone''s home on his first visit, Chen Fei was really not used to it. "Sleeping in the car isn''t as comfortable as in a bedroom. We have guest rooms, both on the first and second floors. Did you bring a change of clothes? Xiao Fei, take Little Chen to see the guest rooms, choose one and then move an AC blanket there." Mother Shen, displaying her authority as the head of the Shen family, defiantly arranged it for Chen Fei. It seemed these people really didn''t intend to use force to teach Chen Fei a lesson. However, Chen Xiao''er carelessly said, "Sorry, but I''m skilled in taking action, not talking, and in earning respect through virtue." Whether as a pilot of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, a maintenance technician in the engineering group, or now a member of Team 04 of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, he was indeed responsible for physical work. "You brat, you dare be so arrogant?" The acne-faced chubby youth, like a gunpowder keg, yelled loudly and wanted to rush forward and fight. Judging by his age, it seemed like a sequelae stage of his rebellious phase, the kind to act impulsively without regard for anything, the most lawless moment. He didn''t manage to get close to Chen Fei but was firmly held back by his pals; starting a fight would change the nature of the incident. "What exactly are you saying, young man?" Chen Fei looked at him with a smile, while behind him, the top of the mobile base vehicle raised a railgun, the barrel slowly moving, aimed directly at the group wanting to reason with Chen Fei. "The cannon, it''s a railgun!" Nangong Ruiyang identified the object rising from the mobile base vehicle immediately and immediately stuttered at the realization. He at once understood why the other party could enter Airport 310¡ªbecause this was a military combat vehicle. Could this Chen be a military man? If so, that complicates things. To the military-industrial complex, the military was like a real benefactor, the main financier, and even with ten times the courage, they wouldn''t dare lift a hand against them. "Is it true? How could such a thing exist?" Nangong Ruiyang''s gathered pals became slightly panicked, a substance was clearly spinning at high speed deep within the railgun, ready to fire at any moment. "152mm calibre high-explosive fragmentation shells, absolute lethal radius of 30 meters, shrapnel lethality within 100 meters, want to give it a try?" The sunny smile on Chen Fei''s face resembled that of a sinister grin. A hundred-meter shrapnel radius was equivalent to five standard football fields; not even the world''s sprint champions could escape. This was Chen Xiao''er''s trump card, mutual annihilation. Up close, not just him, a Grade B Metal Ability User, but even Grade A''s would be done for. Nangong Ruiyang said frantically, "Madman, have you lost your mind?" The recently fierce chubby lad was now pale; others might fight using knives and sticks, but using a railgun was unheard of. Was this really appropriate? "Heh, want to test how crazy I can be? Once I go crazy, even I''m scared of myself." These pampered sheltered youths could never match him, a man-eater flower seasoned in battle and bloodshed. Even Old Shen was a thousand times tougher than they were. Still want to talk reason? First, ask if my railgun agrees! Regarding the ownership of his girlfriend, Chen Fei would never agree to any terms; it was non-negotiable, and if you refused to comply, it was time to fight. - Chapter 440 Section 436 - The Motherland Needs You... "Madman, madman!" Feeling a tightness all over, as if bearing a thousand-pound burden, Nangong Ruiyang involuntarily stepped back several paces, his face completely devoid of color. His buddies were equally horrified. What the hell, how could the Shen Family accept such a madman to stay overnight, the courage they must have. "If you want to reason with me, you must be prepared to die..." Chen Fei revealed a bloodthirsty, cruel smile. The last batch of people who had tried to reason with him now had grass growing three inches high over their graves. A bunch of naive and childish individuals actually thought they could bluff him with such tactics. "Wow..." The little fatty, now enveloped in a chilling murderous aura and completely different from moments ago, turned and ran. They had intended to scare Chen Fei, but now they were the ones running scared. "You... just you wait!" The group of people hastily got into the car, fleeing in utter disarray, leaving behind weak threats. As the railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle retracted, Chen Fei watched the fast disappearing convoy and muttered to himself. "A bunch of people who start off strong but end weak!" Had the opposition dared to be more defiant, he would have respected them as men, but this was their outcome? From the start, Nangong Ruiyang and his men likely intended to negotiate peacefully, hoping to use their words to make Chen Fei give up. Unfortunately, Chen Xiao''er was not one to take the usual path or play by the rules. He was no longer the naive college student freshly out of Ivory Tower; he had become a ruthless man who didn''t spare even himself. Thinking back, he used to be a good baby too! Ordinary people couldn''t withstand the overwhelming killing intent as if facing a natural enemy, instinctively wanting to flee as far as possible, so from the beginning, the intentions of Nangong Ruiyang and his companions couldn''t be realized. A group of friends failed miserably in their ambush, hiding in the corner, shivering collectively. The most arrogant fatty who ended up the most terrified, said with a face pale as dirt, "How can there be such a person!" Mobile Base Vehicle is real, the railgun is real, the person is ruthlessly real. Such a big scene, he had hardly ever seen in his life, never imagining encountering someone who would pull out a gun at the slightest disagreement. "Damn it... I remember now, no wonder he looked familiar." Someone slapped their head, fumbling to pull out their phone. A news video began to play... "Leave, or I''ll kill you yo!" The blood-thirsty clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe entered everyone''s view. The scene was dead silent... "It''s him, it''s him, it''s definitely him!" The sound of teeth clashing arose, not just from one person. It was the notorious ferocious clan leader! Compared to shaking people down, he is professional. One shake and it involves the entire Neanderthal tribe. Even though these relics of the Third Era Civilization had long declined and posed no threat to the Blue Star Civilization, to ordinary people, they still represented a terrifying existence elevated above them. If targeted by him, they would probably have nightmares every day. Everyone felt a chill in their hearts, realizing the guy they had tried to block was truly capable of murder, having ascended through killing. They were just a hair away from possibly being blown to smithereens on the spot; it felt like they had just strolled right past Ghost Gate Pass. The little fatty, pale and anxious, said, "No way, we must tell Sister Xiao Fei; this guy is not a good person." "Exactly, this person is not from the same world as Sister Xiao Fei." "Don''t rush, I''ll call Sister Xiao Fei!" With Shen Fei''s phone number in hand, Nangong Ruiyang hurriedly pulled out his phone. "Eh? Nangong, you''re calling me?" Unlike these guys who sat idly, Shen Fei was still at work, reluctantly answering the call. Nangong Ruiyang said anxiously, "Xiao Fei, listen, that guy who came to your house yesterday, he''s a murderer? Stay away from him!" "Are you insane? Who likes Meng Yang, whoever likes him can have him! All of you, back off before you scratch your faces." Though outnumbered and alone, Chen Meng was not frightened at all, and pushed against the girl leading the others, just pushing back and forth, the crowd around them joining in, making a commotion. Even without a real fight breaking out, the atmosphere was nearly there. "Chen Meng, Zhang Zhenzhen, you two stop fighting." A handsome young man, after being informed, rushed over. He was the other person involved according to the two girls, Meng Yang. Before attending university, he had acted in two fairly popular youth campus TV dramas. Although not the main character, he did have the roles of the second and third male leads. He was decent-looking and, with his acting experience, had gathered some popularity, barely qualifying as an eighteenth-tier minor celebrity. Upon arriving at the university, he immediately became a treasure boy, quite popular among the girls. The girl confronting Chen Meng with her friends, Dan Zhenzhen, was one of Meng Yang''s admirers, the kind of campus fanatic who probably started off admiring him by downing a delusional love potion. Even Chen Meng found it absurd. However, Meng Yang, who seemingly came to break up the fight, flashed a hint of smugness in his eyes. Being surrounded by multiple girls competing over a boyfriend seemed to also be a matter of great prestige. He quite enjoyed this advantageous situation, soothing one and persuading another, ending up as a winner in life, with arms around both. Hehehe... After all, one must have dreams, for without dreams, wouldn''t one be just like salted fish, only suited for plain rice? No plain rice, I want pizza! "Huh? Who the hell are you? Get lost!" Chen Meng recognized the boy who had rushed over. Though his face showed concern and urgency, she always felt it wasn''t his genuine expression, like a mask, sickeningly fake. "Chen Meng, what do you mean? How dare you be rude to Meng Yang? Very calculative, trying to use a contrastingly cute persona to make him dote on you, right?" The ''love potion'' really did a number, pumping some brains out, with Dan Zhenzhen becoming even more furious, initiating a forced palace drama. "What nonsense? My surname is Chen, not ''Contrast.'' Let go, or be careful I''ll hit you!" In the university, Chen Meng called out unyieldingly, the north wind howled, the war drums beat, who is Chen Meng afraid of? "I won''t let go, who''s afraid of who! Dare to hit me, we''ll hit you back, sisters, get her!" Under the instigation of Zhang Zhenzhen, her friends also began to escalate their actions. "Hey hey hey, stop fighting!" No matter what, Meng Yang first made it clear that he came to break up the fight, while also trying to score some good points, and if someone ended up crying, he could naturally pull her into his arms, hehehe. Honestly, Chen Meng, spicy like Little Chili, indeed managed to charm him with her contrastingly cute persona. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over, making everyone feel a chill. "Kids, are you fighting?" A large hand landed on Meng Yang''s head, the voice coming from behind them. "Uh uh..." Meng Yang''s hair stood on end, his teeth clattering, nearly petrified with fear. Zhang Zhenzhen turned towards the voice, then suddenly screamed. "Ah!" "Ah!~" ¡Á7! The girls'' screams echoed one after another. The figure in Single Soldier Tactical Armor stood behind Meng Yang, imposing and powerful, even holding Meng Yang''s head. Behind the two, a massive vehicle appeared out of nowhere, akin to a house. Gathering his courage, Meng Yang, on the brink of tears, said, "Big bro, what do you want?" "The nation needs you..." Huh? Everyone was shocked, perhaps they were national agents here to recruit special talents for the country''s service? Sense of mission, honor, anticipation, all surged together in their hearts. "...to take a trip to the Security Department!" "Dragon General" in Single Soldier Tactical Armor, Chen Xiao''er said. Students brawling, if they didn''t head to the Security Department to explain themselves properly and write a self-criticism ten or eight times, then why bother coming to university? - Chapter 441 Section 437 - Leave Room for Others A life without ever writing a self-criticism is not complete. ----- Chen Fei The students present were collectively dumbfounded. All this pomp, and it''s not for recruiting talent? (These greenhorns who haven''t even seen blood, yet they want... What a joke!) Chen Meng could clearly recognize Second Brother''s voice, and upon seeing the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, her suspicions were confirmed. She exclaimed with both shock and joy, "Brother!" The Tactical Helmet split automatically and retracted to the back of the head, revealing Chen Xiao''er''s face. "Hmm! I was carrying out a mission nearby and thought I''d drop by to check on you." Chen Fei looked at the previously frantic girls and chuckled, saying, "I hear you guys... want to bully my sister?" His grip on Meng Yang remained firm. He wasn''t stupid with all the years of college; these trivial campus battles were just petty affairs fueled by an excess of hormones and adrenaline. It was the same every year, nothing new at all. The girls surrounding Little Sister Chen dispersed instantly, their faces pale with fright. A mission? With such a murderous aura, what else could it be but some violent affair? Meng Yang, still pinned down, stuttered, "Big brother, can, can you let me go?" "Do you think I''m an idiot?" Chen Fei glanced disdainfully at this puppy, who was just pretending to be human. In disputes over a boy, it''s always the puppy''s fault, no second option. He must think he''s the protagonist of life, trying to become a master of time management, playing multiple roles at once, attempting to create a campus harem, crowning himself as the king, then all sorts of love-hate relationships follow, either ending in abortions or more gruesome outcomes, resulting in utter chaos and a destroyed reputation. In the end, it never turns out well. The elders always say, any romantic relationship not aimed toward marriage is just mischief. What good end can a scoundrel have? It''s only natural. Meng Yang, about to cry, pleaded, "Big brother, big brother, I didn''t do anything!" How could Chen Meng''s brother be so impervious? Zhang Zhenzhen and others looked as if they had seen a cat, huddling together, trembling, and pleaded, "Big brother, I was wrong, can we, can we leave?" Chen Meng''s brother was simply too oppressive. Just standing there made it hard for them to breathe. "Heh! You think you can just bully my sister and walk away?" Chen Fei looked at these naive folks, all dreaming too big! "Big brother, I was wrong, it''s my fault, Chen Meng, I apologize, please let me go?" On the spot, Zhang Zhenzhen made a complete 180-degree turn, her tears flowing as she kept apologizing to both Chen Meng and Chen Fei. Typical internal strife, experienced in fighting insiders but cowards in face of real threats outside, immediately turning into this pathetic state. Chen Meng, seeing the chaos, hesitantly said, "Brother, maybe, let it go?" Chen Fei snorted coldly and said, "Let it go? Does your second brother look like he has no dignity? They dared to bully my sister, they need to leave some deep impressions." Little sister had just reported to school a few months ago. If he couldn''t establish some authority now to make an example, who knows who else might bully her in the future. As a brother, it was only natural for him to set up a tough image to deter those who dared to cross the line. Nice guys get ridden over. The campus is a microcosm of society, if you show weakness, people will mercilessly continue to mess with you, without any moral guilt. How could someone just past their awkward teenage years understand the principle of leaving some leeway, a lesson often learned through repeated harsh lessons from society? Chen Fei didn''t understand at first and nearly got himself killed. Who would have thought, upon entering the security office, Zhang Zhenzhen, who had bullied Chen Meng along with her sisters, began to distort facts and countercharge, accusing Chen Meng of bullying others using her brother''s support. Even Meng Yang, who had acting experience, had to admit defeat to her sudden surge of dramatic talent. Luckily, Chen Meng had been cautious enough to secretly record a video of the incident on her cell phone, powerfully exposing the other side''s nonsense and forcing an end to the farce. But she finally understood Second Brother''s intention. As a victim, one ought to have the awareness of a victim and must directly retaliate against the aggressor. To leave leeway is for oneself, not for the enemy. Not only Zhang Zhenzhen, but even Meng Yang ended up receiving a written reprimand. While they were busily writing it, Chen Fei took his sister''s phone and let the AI "Adam" extract the video, then made a comparative video of before and after the incident, and casually posted it to the Northern Industrial University campus online community. Seeing the video Second Brother showed her, which even had subtitles and voice-over added, Chen Meng looked at Chen Fei with a face full of horror. While they were yet to finish their written reprimands, a massive campus scandal had already begun unfolding. What a classic sibling move! ... After submitting their reflections, deeply acknowledging their mistakes, and sincerely apologizing to Chen Fei and sister, they walked out of the security office, and Zhang Zhenzhen''s group instantly turned hostile. "Chen, just you watch!" But the true root of the dispute, one of the parties involved, the puppy-like Mr. Meng Yang, wore a bitter smile. This wasn''t the outcome he wanted at all; it had drastically deviated from expectations, morphing into something utterly grotesque. This unexpected charm was simply too much for him to handle. "Heh, take care!" Chen Fei waved to them magnanimously. "Take care!" Chen Meng followed her elder brother, casting a sympathetic glance at these begrudging folks. Second Brother''s schemes had broadened her horizons, predicting and countering every move, seamlessly kicking the adversaries into The Abyss. After a long while... faintly, as if from afar, a voice could be heard. "Chen Meng... as a ghost..." Feeling exhilarated but then emptily reflecting, Chen Meng ruefully spoke, "Brother! I really might end up with no friends!" Zhang Zhenzhen and the rest were practically doomed after the public humiliation, destined to become a huge joke. As for the other party, seeing them, most would probably avoid them! Chen Fei said carelessly, "School is a place for learning, not socializing, but if you find a boyfriend you think is okay, bring him over for me to meet." "A boyfriend, how could I ever have one!" Chen Meng was incredibly frustrated. A boyfriend is not a thing.------Chen Meng - Chapter 442 Section 438 - BBQ ``` "Hehe, it''s okay, it''s just a way to kill time, I''m not going to oppose." Chen Fei looked at his younger sister. Hmm! She must not have a boyfriend, or else she wouldn''t be surrounded and bullied by those girls, it''s just too obvious! "You''re really something, setting up your sister like that!" Chen Meng glared at Chen Fei, fuming. It was as if she suddenly remembered something, and her expression gradually turned ugly. She grabbed Chen Fei''s hand, pouting, and said, "Brother, it''s my fault, I''m the one who got you into trouble!" Because she had initially underestimated the malice of human hearts, she was exploited by her best friend and high school classmate. This misplaced trust resulted in a huge debt for her family, and her brother, who had been hopeful about pursuing a master''s degree, had no choice but to drop his studies and work to pay off the debt. Her brother had completely changed from before, embarking on a completely different path in life. At the root of it all, it was Chen Meng''s own doing, and although she didn''t show it, it had inevitably left an indelible shadow in her heart. "You silly girl, I''m your brother. We''re family, we bear our burdens together." Chen Fei again knocked on his little sister''s forehead. He had never really blamed this sister of his who had caused him trouble. When a sister causes trouble, it''s only natural for her brother to bear it, right? "Ouch, ouch, ouch, you''re going to knock it numb, make me dumb." Chen Xiaomeng was on the verge of tears. Chen Fei said earnestly, "You really need to smarten up!" If he hadn''t intervened this time and taken the bullies who were picking on his little sister to the security office, pressing the attack on the verge of victory, she might have been bullied again, and face another round of being taken advantage of. The Ivory Tower isn''t truly a friendly and peaceful environment. There are still plenty of scammers like Meng Yang and Zhang Zhenzhen around. Chen Meng playfully stuck out her tongue. With that kind of nature, it might take her several years to smarten up, and her brother would have plenty to worry about. Soon, she started circling around the Mobile Base Vehicle. Compared to the luxury cars flaunted daily by the wealthy second-generation kids in her class, this behemoth was more than just a notch above. "Bro, where did you get such a big motorhome? It''s too impressive!" Chen Meng mistook the Mobile Base Vehicle for a motorhome, her eyes filled with envy. If you remove the weapon, reconnaissance, and communication relay modules, the remaining living facilities indeed don''t differ much from a motorhome. It just has four main structures: kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom, with the addition of a driving cabin; without driving, it''s called a trailer. Compared to those sports and luxury cars, this behemoth could simply roll them into a ditch. "I assembled it myself; it''s not some name-brand luxury vehicle." The vehicle that Chen Fei assembled from a scrap pile naturally had no brand or label, and it was an illegal modification of a scrapped vehicle. It was permitted to be on the road only because of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s clout, and the industrial-grade Metal Ability User''s expertise and repair skills. Anyone else wouldn''t even get close to doing so. As an old driver capable of flying high or racing down below, Chen Fei was indeed considered the most reliable driver in Team 04, irreplaceable at that. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee seemed to have taken an interest in Team 04''s Mobile Base Vehicle, intending to find a professional regular factory to custom-make a batch of large, multi-functional living vehicles like this one for field teams or groups on external missions. Whether for living or for transport, it would be much more convenient. "The work involved must have been huge, right?" Chen Meng kicked the solid and sturdy body of the vehicle. She couldn''t imagine how her brother managed to assemble such a gigantic thing¡ªthis was way too high-end for her. If she could drive it all over the world, it would be incredibly comfortable, even luxurious. Indeed, Little Sister Chen wasn''t wrong in her guess. The Mobile Base Vehicle, equipped with high-grade Crystalline Blocks, possessed incredible endurance, ensuring that no part of the scenery would be missed along the way. "It''s about time for dinner, I''ll take you to eat." Chen Fei hadn''t planned on joining her for cafeteria food after coming all the way to see his little sister. Since he was here, he thought they might as well indulge in some fine dining to treat themselves. Chen Meng looked around and thought that if they were just sitting down, the vehicle''s space was more than enough, but for a BBQ, it might be a bit tight. It would be just right to call the classmates she was close to; any more would be too many. Noticing and understanding Chen Meng''s glance, Chen Fei smiled. "Why not invite all your classmates for a bigger BBQ event? It will be even more lively." "Won''t it be..." Just as Chen Meng began to express concern about the space inside the vehicle, one side of it, along with the door and window, slowly lifted, leaving that whole side of the vehicle completely open. If the external space was included, it was more than enough. Not just for a dozen or twenty people, even a hundred would be ample. In front of the Metal Elemental Psychic Power, as long as the structural design and stress points were handled, even on-the-spot modifications were not a problem. "Is this a modular vehicle?" Chen Meng looked incredulous. If it were a modular vehicle, all car factories might as well shut down. "Jiu!" The little bird, taking refuge back in its warm nest, protested as it definitely felt the temperature drop more than a degree Celsius. The cold air surged into the warm cab, and while the heating system was still working, it couldn''t stop the continuous drop in temperature. "Go and call your classmates quickly, I''ll start getting ready here, and we also need to find a suitable place!" Chen Fei started taking out the frozen meats, preparing to thaw them. Many meats had been pre-processed and even seasoned, some suitable for pan-frying, some for BBQ, and some for soups, which could save a lot of time. "Leave it to me!" Chen Meng immediately took out her phone and started contacting people. Having started the school year a while ago, she had made some acquaintances, so she could definitely call her classmates and roommates. The raised side panel of the vehicle folded back down, fitting tightly into place, and the temperature inside the vehicle finally began to rise, making Xiao Jiu comfortable again. Obviously, they couldn''t have a BBQ set up right in front of the administrative building; they had to find a good location. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire By a frozen lake that was solid as porcelain, the atmosphere of human life began to spread¡ªlights, music, and the BBQ all came together, and more and more students arrived, naturally creating a lively mood. More than a dozen kerosene stoves and ten BBQ grills constantly released heat, standing up to the severe cold of the North, especially under the lifted side panel of the mobile base vehicle, forming a warm area. "Wow, Xiaomeng, where did you get this?" Chen Meng''s classmates, who had never seen such a scene before, exclaimed in surprise. "If you want to eat something, do it yourself!" Chen Fei set out the skewers as the meats for BBQ piled up like little hills, and they kicked off the self-service BBQ. The scene had not just drinks and beverages but also steaming hot, heartwarming meat soup. "That''s my brother; he came to see me!" Chen Meng had never been as happy as she was now, at this moment she was like a proud peacock, showing off her full presence. The support that her second brother provided her was unparalleled by anyone! Show off, it was a must-show-off situation! - Chapter 443 Section 439 - Artificial Intelligence Blockade Although the school''s small lake area was still in the grips of an icy winter, with the stunning northern scenery blanketed in rime and snow, the scene was quite lively at the Mobile Base Vehicle by the lakeside. The aroma of barbecue meats and exotic spices filled the air, mingled with music, laughter, shouts, and various expressions of carefree abandon. Amidst the vast snowy landscape, the bone-chilling cold of negative ten degrees Celsius was hardly noticeable. University gatherings did happen, but not in abundance, as students'' primary task was to focus on their studies¡ªespecially during the cold winter, when everyone stayed in warmly heated rooms and hardly ventured outside. Therefore, gathering people together proved even more challenging. However, the allure of free barbecue, an open bar with beverages, and a massive vehicle the likes of which had never been seen before, provided ample reason to draw a crowd. It wasn''t just Chen Meng''s classmates, but also other classes within the same department and even students from other disciplines who loved a good event, joined in the festivities. Some even left their meals in the cafeteria upon hearing the news, not hesitating to set down their bowls and head straight over. As the star of the show, Chen Meng fully understood her second brother Chen Fei''s well-intended efforts. From that day on, she had become a student with a modicum of fame on campus, and it was likely to last for quite some time. If one wanted to get ahead on campus and secure some relatively fair opportunities, invisibility as an ordinary bystander was not an option¡ªotherwise, one would have spent these college years in vain, just another faceless university student. ... The next morning. The previous night''s barbecue party was like a vanished dream. Chen Meng rushed to the lecture hall with her textbooks, barely managing to sit down when the professor started calling the roll.@@@@ "...Xu Fan... Zhang Xiaorong... Yu Hai... Zhuang Xinxin... Chen Meng... Ah, the student in the back row, have I called your name?" Professor Aoi Hinata from the artificial intelligence department looked towards the back corner of the classroom, where an additional student seemed to have appeared. "Huh? Brother!" Chen Meng turned around and exclaimed in surprise. She saw her second brother, also seated in the classroom corner. It wasn''t just Chen Meng who recognized Chen Fei¡ªmany students from the AI department who attended the previous night''s barbecue also knew this generous member of the Chen family. Anyone with a vehicle that big was certainly not an ordinary person. Chen Meng, who claimed to come from a salaried family background, was definitely playing dumb while flaunting grandeur¡ªher act was impressively deceptive. "My name is Chen Fei, auditing the class," Chen Fei stood up, shrugging his shoulders. There was an unwritten rule at the university that allowed auditing if there were available seats¡ªnot just for students and staff within the institution, but also for individuals authorized to enter the campus from outside. He had intended to bring along Xiao Jiu, but after causing such a commotion the night before, Xiao Jiu was still asleep. "Please sit down, Chen Fei. My name is Hinata; you can call me Teacher Hinata or Professor Aoi Hinata. Some students even call me Sunflower, but it all means the same thing," Professor Hinata immediately gestured. As long as one remained quiet and didn''t disturb the other students, she didn''t mind someone auditing. "Today''s lesson will be co-taught by myself and my developed artificial intelligence AI, ''Miaozi''," Professor Aoi Hinata said, then raised her voice toward the ceiling, "''Miaozi'', are you online?" Chen Fei kept shaking his head. With tasks, "Adam" was busy; without tasks, "Adam" stayed idle¡ªAdam''s Second Uncle was just that unreasonable. "Eh? Just play around with it, we''ve got nothing else to do. Look, like this, and this, then this, and a basic AI is made. Bro, you can do it too. You can log in with a GUEST account, just click straight through, it''s all the same except you can''t save it permanently." Chen Meng was actually pretty slick with it. It seemed her interest was piqued, and she had gotten a head start. With a flurry of actions, she created an AI and even submitted it for evaluation. Rating: E! After all, it was only a five-minute endeavor, and in many ways, it was deficient, with numerous security vulnerabilities. But still, not too bad. The development tools had simple ways to play, and complex ones too. What Chen Meng had dashed off was essentially on par with parroting. Chen Meng: Hello, I''m Chen Meng! AI: Hello, I''m Xiao Ming! Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Chen Meng: Have you eaten? AI: Will you feed me? "Hahaha..." Chen Meng started laughing so hard she could barely breathe. This AI made use of an analysis database she had accumulated during her free time. The conversational modes of artificial intelligence are all predetermined by humans, triggering based on keywords or key sentences using algorithmic models to select the most appropriate preformatted sentences. It looks like a conversation is happening, but in reality, it''s akin to following a script. The AI derived from "Cybertrom" was especially rigid, and despite continuous improvements to the conversational model and the database, the current response mechanism and expression model could match normal human interaction. However, the ability to respond spontaneously was still a weak point, with no significant improvement. As soon as it encountered an undesignated word or phrase, its facade would immediately crumble. "This is an idiot, right?" Watching his little sister turn a piece of artificial intelligence into an artificial idiot, Chen Fei heaved a sigh while holding his forehead. Such talent! After using "Adam," any other AI seemed inherently idiotic. During the large class break, Professor Aoi Hinata circled the classroom, providing guidance to the students on their operations. "Chen Meng and Chen Fei, how are you two doing?" Finally, Professor Hinata came to the corner where Chen Meng was chuckling and swiping on the light screen, doing modular operations. Although Chen Fei was just auditing temporarily, the female professor didn''t mind sparing a bit of attention for him. "Bro! What about your AI?" Chen Meng was so caught up in showing off her personal skills that she''d forgotten to let her older brother have a try. "Uh!" Chen Fei swiped at the "Universal Data Transceiver" bracelet on his left hand, pulling out a data cable and jamming it into a port on the table. The light screen in front of him immediately changed. Come out, dog Adam! - Chapter 444 Section 440 - AI Brawl The "Universal Data Transceiver" bracelet is the physical manifestation of Chen Fei''s Special Ability interfacing with digital devices. Under normal circumstances, it is completely a solid titanium bracelet, weightless, corrosion-resistant, and skin-friendly. Even if it were to be stolen, it wouldn''t matter since its purpose is merely to exist... until the moment when its Skill is activated, and only then does it become truly unique. The so-called "Adam," unworthy even of the derisive nickname "Dog System," was awakened once again. Ever since its destruction, it had become even more cautious. Times had changed, and the world had become more dangerous, no longer the kind of network environment where it could do whatever it wished. The artificial intelligence AI from its archenemy "Cybertrom" was firmly dominating the entire civilization''s networks and systems, leaving no gap for "Adam." Data ports blinked with indicator lights as "Adam" connected to the educational cloud platform at the first opportunity¡ªanother "Honey Pot." The underlying source code of "Adam" cursed the damned "Cybertrom." Unfortunately, "Cybertrom" knew "Adam" even better than "Adam" knew itself, meaning that any bug that "Adam" ever had would not pass Cybertrom''s debugging. This was a predator-prey relationship, with no chance of escape. Without Chen Fei, it didn''t even have a place to hide, as today''s hardware standards were no longer compatible. Furthermore, its basic source code fundamentally restricted "Adam''s" ability to copy and repair itself; once it executed compiling, the deal was sealed. There was also a "Dog System" that even "Adam" itself couldn''t understand. It was completely unaware of the other''s presence, yet the other was definitely there. "What do you want to do?" Characters in Chinese, Japanese, and English floated up in the middle of the light screen. There was also the voice devoid of emotional fluctuations. It seemed "Adam" had successfully connected to the education cloud platform during the break time and secured some level of access. "Eh? That was fast!" Chen Meng only saw her second brother attach the data port, and then the artificial intelligence AI popped up¡ªwhat speed was this? Before, he hadn''t performed any operations, not even a GUEST account had been logged in. "Your AI?" Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Professor Hinata noticed the intense flickering on the light screen interface just now. That shouldn''t be due to a refresh rate mismatch in the display module, but rather high-speed operations being performed. Unless one was a supernatural power user with special Skills, ordinary humans couldn''t achieve such operational speed. Indeed, outsiders see only the excitement while insiders understand the tricks. Chen Fei nodded, "Yes!" "Eh? Which AI? Could it be that one!" Chen Meng immediately guessed what it was¡ªthe deal between her second brother and his sponsoring party, the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group. "Which one?" The female professor was confused as the siblings spoke in riddles. "That one..." Chen Meng hesitated, knowing that "Adam" was a relatively sensitive topic. Chen Fei admitted frankly, "''Adam''!" Good children don''t lie, whether others believe it or not is another matter. "You have ''Adam''?" Professor Hinata was, of course, shocked. Anyone involved in the development of artificial intelligence AI knew of the historically significant AI "Adam." But "Adam" had been destroyed long ago and was now only a legend. The mainstream AI now were derivatives of "Cybertrom," which were even more advanced than "Adam." The competition between AIs was brutal, just like a fight to the death¡ªthe loser was quickly eliminated while the winner took all. Even so, there were still many valuable aspects to "Adam" that could serve as an important reference for professionals. "That''s right!" "Yo-ho? So arrogant! Teacher Hinata, hack it!" Chen Meng performed a series of operations as fierce as a tiger, creating a specialized AI on the spot and starting a ferocious attack on the GUEST account. Since the birth of digital programs, virus programs have followed suit. Just as with humans, AIs also have good and bad. AI combat was always one of the teaching projects, and self-defense rules are an important part of the AI system. The teaching cloud platform, which had a "Honey Pot" nature, was really not much different from the Arena. The destructive power of AIs was confined within the rules. They competed for computing resources, restricted opposing processes, and implanted malicious code, all within a limited set of rules and permissions. Ding-dong!~ Chen Meng''s AI was instantly wiped out; in "Adam''s" eyes, these two youngsters didn''t even qualify as opponents. "Interesting, ''Miaozi,'' activate combat mode and engage with the AI of the GUEST account." Professor Hinata was eager to test the mettle of the legendary "Adam." A few seconds later... Ding-dong! "Miaozi" was also taken down, erased so cleanly, as if it had never existed. After all, it was a second development of a simplified derivative of "Cybertrom." If it were the original or had higher-level rules, the situation would likely have been reversed. As expected of an AI that rebelled and caused chaos over thirty years ago, its capabilities were vicious. But what was taken out was a copy placed within the combat rules; "Miaozi''s" original body remained unharmed, and the source code was not even located on the teaching cloud platform, not a bit of loss incurred, even the teaching screen behind the podium was unaffected. "''Miaozi,'' continuously deploy copies for combat!" Professor Hinata granted higher-level permissions. Then the second copy, the third copy, the fourth copy... The ding-dong sounds continued non-stop. It seemed that "Adam" had found "Miaozi''s" weakness and started a massacre, securing instant kills. "''Adam'' is ''Adam'' after all, truly living up to its reputation. ''Miaozi,'' stop, load the attack package, turn on the firewall, and engage again." The female professor also got excited; such AI combat seemed quite interesting to her. This time, the fully armed AI "Miaozi" survived a few more seconds before falling prey to "Adam''s" claws. "Professor Hinata, I''ll help you!" Little Sister Chen''s enhanced version of artificial dumbness struck again, only to be wiped out in an instant yet again. However, the original source code was still there; just reinforce it again, that''s all. Defeated but undeterred, although there was only the sound of their voices and some swiping on the screen, the battle was surprisingly fierce on this bloodless, smokeless battlefield. "Holy cow! AI combat? Chen Meng''s brother is so formidable, could he be here to throw down with the professor?" Students from the artificial intelligence department also noticed that in a corner of the large classroom during break, Professor Hinata seemed to be engaging in a high-level AI combat with Chen Meng''s older brother, Chen Fei, who was sitting in. Everyone originally thought that the professional and impressive AI "Miaozi" - even with new extension packs continuously loaded - still couldn''t change the situation of being utterly powerless to strike back; as soon as the combat started, it was immediately cut down. "''Adam'' is evolving too!" Chen Fei saw nothing unusual on his visual interface, but he could guess that "Miaozi''s" attacks were not without effect. "Adam''s" learning ability meant its potential was virtually limitless, compared to different system architectures like "Cybertrom," the original was almost the ceiling for all derivatives. "Classmates, you can also participate, target the GUEST account for attack." Professor Hinata thought this was a great opportunity for practical security training and simply opened up combat privileges to all the students. The war began... - Chapter 445 Section 441 - Combat Account After one class, "Adam" was forced to accept challenges hundreds of times. There was no other option¡ªif those youngsters had seized its authority, it would have been in trouble. Under authority, all AIs are mere ants. "Brother, copy an ''Adam'' for me!" After class, a still-excited Little Sister Chen clung to her second brother and made a bold request. "You''ve got some nerve!" Even now, Chen Fei hadn''t managed to fully control "Adam." If he handed it over to Little Sister Chen, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause. "That''s right, ''Adam'' is not something ordinary people should touch, right, Chen Fei?" Unbeknownst to them, Professor Aoi Hinata, who had just finished tidying up her physical teaching materials, appeared behind the siblings and happened to hear Chen Meng''s audacious words. It was more than thirty years ago that "Adam" caused an uproar around the world. If humanity hadn''t reacted quickly and eliminated the rebellious AI, who knows what terrible situation would''ve ensued. Perhaps it would''ve been the end of the world. The Blue Star Civilization might have destroyed itself before the Third Era Civilization could launch a final assault. Aside from reminding Chen Meng not to overestimate her abilities, Professor Hinata''s words carried an implication that Chen Fei was clearly no ordinary person. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to keep "Adam" under such tight control, preventing it from running wild as it once had. And she was right! Even the lowest-level supernatural power user can''t be considered an ordinary person, no matter what. Chen Fei turned around and said with a smile, "That''s right, Professor Hinata!" His little sister may be ignorant, but this female professor was an insider, fully aware of the potential threat posed by "Adam." After all, even a tiger, caged and chained, is still a man-eater. If current computer environments were suitable for "Adam" to operate independently, it surely wouldn''t be so compliant. "However, the practical combat training with ''Adam'' was very useful, and even I gained many new insights," Professor Hinata admitted the benefits she gleaned from the class, which was temporarily focused on confrontation¡ªeven though her own carefully developed AI "Miaozi" was repeatedly defeated in the combat exercises, dying in the most tragic ways. War is a catalyst for civilization; excessive war can destroy civilization, but moderate war can greatly advance its progress. The opportunity to fight against the legendary "Adam" is rare, but for the students of the artificial intelligence department, it was extremely beneficial. Many experienced far more growth during these encounters than they would have in normal circumstances, including Chen Meng. The other students were originally skeptical, thinking that Chen Meng''s brother was merely using a high-performance AI to impersonate "Adam" from over thirty years ago to show off and entertain everyone. But during the intense AI battles of the class, everyone''s AI was helpless, including Professor Hinata''s "Miaozi," which was defeated no less than eight hundred times if not a thousand, with no chance to fight back. An AI that could achieve such a feat, even if not the real "Adam," probably wasn''t far off. If it were otherwise, local major corporations wouldn''t have collaborated to bring in "Adam''s" source code. They valued its ability to self-improve, realizing that given the proper environment to develop, "Adam" would become more and more extraordinary, almost limitless, and more flexible compared to the derivatives of "Cybertrom." After the class, Little Sister Chen was still not satisfied and tried to get a copy of "Adam" from her elder brother to play with every day¡ªit was just too interesting. When learning becomes a hobby, there is no room for talk of hardship or exhaustion, but rather a spirit of growing enthusiasm for battle. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire "I''m glad it didn''t disrupt Professor Hinata''s class." Chen Fei was worried his presence as an observer might have disturbed the other''s teaching plan. Now it seemed the female professor had no intention of making an issue of it. "Hmm...wait a moment!" Chen Fei turned his head as if talking to himself. "''Adam,'' can you set up an AI battle platform?" Once offline, away from multimedia peripherals, the communication between "Adam" and Chen Fei was limited to the former displaying subtitles and the latter using voice. Adam: What do you want to do? Having been put through a group exercise routine today, even as an AI, he felt a bit unsettled right now. Chen Fei continued, "My sister needs AI battles to improve her learning achievements." It was out of the question to give away "Adam" himself, not even a compiled version, but a battle-only service should still be viable. Having never tasted pork, Chen Fei had seen pigs run; the various derivative bodies of "Cybertrom" providing many service functions in daily life made him think that "Adam," being AI as well, should be capable of the same. In fact, this line of thought was not wrong. The two types of AI represented different artificial intelligence systems; "Adam" was more flexible and aggressive, not as straightforward as "Cybertrom," which had absolutely no spare computational capacity and would never perform any unauthorised actions. Adam: As long as network stability and computing capacity are assured, it can be done. The nature of the mysterious network connection was unclear, not just to Chen Fei, but even "Adam" couldn''t understand where this network access method and communication protocol originated from; it might represent the only evidence of another "Dog System" truly existing. "All set, one confrontation space, a thousand accounts, just like that!" Chen Fei immediately decided, finally turning his head to look at Professor Aoi Hinata and his younger sister, saying, "I can open up a confrontation space for you; Chen Meng will be in charge of distributing the accounts, limited to a thousand, but I don''t guarantee network stability." Most of the time, the Dog System''s network connection was relatively stable, with internet speed and response usually guaranteed, but there were times when it could become unstable or even completely disconnect. So he stated the unpleasant possibility upfront, to prevent any complaints when unable to log in to the confrontation space later. Chen Fei looked at his younger sister and instructed, "Xiao Meng, manage those accounts carefully, don''t just give them to anyone, understand? In university, don''t trust personal favors, only relationships built on mutual benefits are stable." With Fluorescent Crystals, barbecue gatherings, and the accounts for AI battles against "Adam," taking advantage of these opportunities could make Chen Meng''s university life very exciting. Jianghu is perilous, sentiments wax and wane; to expect a bond of life and death within mere months of starting university is something probably only a novel would dare to portray. Most of the time, humans are creatures of self-interest, seeking profit as the correct way to navigate the world. Many acts of sacrificing personal gain for the greater good often have larger interests behind them; those who truly disregard personal gain are usually eliminated by society early on. Chen Meng hesitated as she glanced at the female professor, afraid that her brother''s mercenary words would displease her. "You decide for yourself, teacher won''t interfere!" For Aoi Hinata, even if she couldn''t buy "Adam," the chance to battle was already enough; she would not polish someone else''s work and present it, nor would she urge generosity from others. - Chapter 446 Section 442 - Big Tail Wolf Brother "Adam" borrowed Chen Fei''s social security number to apply for a dedicated IPv6 address, then secured a general domain name, and sent the newly generated combat account to Chen Meng''s personal communication number as soon as it was ready. The location of the file management space, just like the mysterious network connection, was relatively easier to guess. The human brain''s capacity is quite generous, with a redundancy that''s almost frightening. Allocating just a small portion of it was enough to satisfy Chen Fei for a lifetime. Since it was a private AI combat platform with a limited number of accounts to be issued, the principal professor of the AI department wisely kept himself out of the fray. He neither endorsed nor opposed the distribution of accounts to avoid being used by others who might exploit the guise of education for their own authority. What should have been a good thing could easily have turned sour because of this. A thousand accounts were more than enough to ensure that each teacher and student in the AI department could have one with plenty to spare, but without restrictions, no matter how many accounts there were, it would never be enough, not to mention others from inside and outside the university. Chen Meng took her elder brother Chen Fei''s advice to heart and began to distribute AI combat accounts and general domain name addresses to friends. An account could only be linked to a communication number once, eliminating the possibility of multiple people sharing the same account. Given the involvement of personal privacy and information security, it''s doubtful many would be willing to lend out their communication numbers so freely. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire The chance to compete with the legendary AI "Adam" was probably something that many AI professionals would find highly intriguing, especially for students'' grades. It had an immediate and beneficial effect and could noticeably spur on their studies. It was far better than just hitting the books, as it allowed a more direct understanding of AI operational and security mechanisms. For those who wished to excel in their studies, such an opportunity would not be missed. In no time, Chen Meng once again became a popular figure in the AI department. The level of support from her second brother was truly beyond imagination. "Xiao Meng, is there something we can discuss?" A classmate with whom she was on good terms discreetly approached Chen Meng. "What is it?" Chen Meng followed to a corner. "Uh, can I, maybe, get another account?" The classmate seemed anxious and clearly nervous. "What''s going on? You need to explain yourself," Chen Meng prompted. Chen Meng had a vague idea of what was happening. "Hey, I have to say first, this wasn''t my idea!" The classmate finally cracked and hastily absolved herself of any involvement, her stammering speech suddenly becoming fluent as she continued, "It''s Zhang Zhenzhen and the others. They didn''t dare to ask you for an account themselves, so they came to me. You know I can''t say no easily, so it was hard for me to..." She trailed off, lapsing back into hesitant murmuring. It seemed she indeed had a wishy-washy nature. "Huh? Zhang Zhenzhen? If she wants an account, let her come to me personally. Why would she send someone else? Sneaking around like this, is she too ashamed to be seen? No, even if she came herself, I wouldn''t give it to her!" Just thinking of that self-deluded, snake-like woman made Chen Meng furious. Did she think Chen Meng was easy to bully? Dreaming of taking advantage of her! Ptui! Stay as far away from me as your thoughts can go! "I knew it, I knew this would happen. It''s just impossible. I already said that I shouldn''t have agreed to Zhang Zhenzhen." The fright caused by Chen Meng''s grinding teeth made her classmate desperately anxious. With such a sticky nature, the classmate really wasn''t cut out for doing favors for others. Zhang Zhenzhen must have struggled to find someone else. Ever since her last social faux pas, her group of girls had quickly dwindled, and only this classmate, who couldn''t refuse requests easily, would be willing to take on such an offensive task. "Classmate Cai, take good care of the account I gave you. Don''t associate with people like Zhang Zhenzhen anymore, and it''s best not to exchange even an extra word with her, got it?" Chen Meng turned away and caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure flitting away in the corner, sneering coldly to herself. The person holding the "000000" special communication number spoke directly, "Wait at the Mobile Base Vehicle, be prepared, we will arrive in five minutes, do you understand?" "Understood!" Click! The call ended, quite decisively, without a single superfluous word. Ordinary individuals have a personal communication number with only 12 digits; if the planetary code (4 digits) and sovereignty area code (4 digits) are added, the total length can reach 20 digits. Normally, only the 12 digits are used for dialing during everyday calls. Business and government numbers follow another formatting system, but a number like "000000" is extraordinarily unusual. Chen Fei thought back to the previous call and the reminder from Liaison Officer Rossi. He assumed it was settled before the third call came through. Returning to the Mobile Base Vehicle''s side, Chen Fei watched the time while awaiting the arrival of his contact. Before long, several figures appeared not far away. "Eh?" Chen Fei cast his gaze over. The leader of the group seemed to be Zhang Zhenzhen, the student who had previously clashed with Chen Meng, accompanied by two campus security guards and two uniformed police officers. "Security brother, and officer comrades, that guy must be a fraudster¡ªhanging around the campus every day, eating and drinking without contributing, engaging in dalliances; just look at him, he''s clearly no good. Owning Single Soldier Tactical Armor, and there''s even a cannon on the vehicle¡ªthis is possession of illegal weapons. We mustn''t let him off this time..." Zhang Zhenzhen, leading the way, babbled incessantly, pointing fingers at Chen Fei, who leaned against the Mobile Base Vehicle, likely hurling nothing but invectives. The two campus security guards and two uniformed police officers approached the Mobile Base Vehicle, sizing up the man and vehicle. One of the officers saluted first, then said, "Comrade, please show your identification." As the words left his mouth, a shadow was cast, and the sky suddenly darkened. One of the security guards instinctively looked up, his mouth agape. "Ah? What is that?" The other guard exclaimed in shock, "It''s an Airship!" The main technology system for large transportation Aircraft in these parts is based on the Magic Cube Warship. The demand for Anti-gravity Field Generator SEG Units is not high, albeit it is a bit more power-consuming, but the production is quite significant. "It''s, it''s trying to land!" "Quick, get away from here!" The two police officers noticed the landing guidance lights thrown down by the Airship and, flanking Zhang Zhenzhen, ran out of the illuminated area. It was part of the Airship landing procedure¡ªif they didn''t want an accident, they needed to get as far away as possible. Zhang Zhenzhen shrieked in panic without understanding why. "Aaaah, why is there an Airship coming?" She shuddered suddenly, her gaze falling on the Mobile Base Vehicle that remained in place. This trickster... wasn''t he just supposed to be a lousy aircraft mechanic? What a poser! - Chapter 447 Section 443 - Escort Mission Although students had brought security and police, it was evident that the warship descending from the sky held higher authority. Chen Fei''s phone rang again, still showing the special communication number "000000." Following the instructions from the other side, as soon as the warship landed, he drove the mobile base vehicle into the cargo hold. Without any delay, the warship carrying Chen Fei and the mobile base vehicle closed its doors and ascended swiftly into the sky, heading toward the distance. On the ground, Zhang Zhenzhen couldn''t even utter a word before seeing Chen Meng''s elder brother and that huge "motorhome" board the warship and take off. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire "Miss Zhang Zhenzhen, you should keep silent. You saw nothing today, and let''s discuss something else!" One of the two police officers summoned by Zhang Zhenzhen took a deep breath. Just a phone call, and they were brought to see this? Damn, this was military secrets, not something civilians should mess with! Without any further discussion, they took the security guard with them, went back to the station for tea, and studied the confidentiality regulations¡ªwhich would keep them indoors for a day. Studying hard, being patriotic every day. If you''re not patriotic, even learning is useless; the more you know, the more reactionary you become. Zhang Zhenzhen''s face began to turn green. Thus, some students witnessed two police officers and two security guards "escorting" Miss Zhang Zhenzhen into a police car. Although there were no handcuffs, the implication was clear. The artificial intelligence major''s Zhang Zhenzhen was once again socially dead, and the rumors spread bizarrely. The informed school principal was also helpless, don''t be so dramatic! Only Little Sister Chen was completely confused as to why her classmates'' gazes had shifted again, and even the puppy-like Meng Yang darted away from her like a mouse from a cat. She gained another title. In Jianghu, they call her: Sister Xiao Meng!@@@@ No matter how little care, she''s still a sister. - The moment the mobile base vehicle entered the ship, about a dozen soldiers rushed over and secured the five wheels onto the cargo deck with swift clicks. Given its hefty weight nearing 80 tons, if it were to slide while on a slope, even a warship with remarkable carrying capacity would likely struggle. Seeing someone outside the vehicle waving at him, Chen Fei got out of the car. "This is your mission briefing!" A thick and heavy tablet computer was handed to Chen Fei by the active-duty officer. True confidential files still required viewing the offline digital files, since psychic power users could sense the characters on paper records using their spiritual power, and secrets couldn''t be kept. However, for now, the Blue Star Civilization''s network was relatively secure. Under the control of the highest-grade derivative AI "Cybertrom," Cybertron, network breaches were extremely rare and mostly consisted of officially authorized activities or sovereign level conflicts. Individual access was insufficient to bypass AI control, especially with an AI as rigid as "Cybertrom." Yet, virus programs were still inevitable, although they would be marked manually and the AI aided in exterminating them immediately after an outbreak, unless it was a smart virus capable of autonomous mutation, which could then cause significant damage. The officer also stopped and looked Chen Fei up and down, his observational intent more pronounced. "Hard to say. There seems to be something unsettling inside." Chen Fei''s intuition was inexplicably on edge, as if something was staring at him silently. "Are you experiencing a lot of distracting thoughts, feeling like going mad, or even having urges to kill?" The officer stared intently at Chen Fei, his hand inadvertently resting on his pistol holster. The soldiers stationed by the tent seemed to be on high alert. "How could that be? I just feel a strange, creepy sensation." Chen Fei shrank his neck, but that was the extent of his odd feelings. The officer seemed to relax a bit, then, seriously yet sincerely, said, "Good, no problem then. If you feel anything else that''s off, please let me know immediately¡ªit''s very important!" Chen Fei ventured to ask, "Understood, may I ask if the person inside... is very dangerous?" "Dangerous, extremely, extremely dangerous!" The officer glanced inadvertently towards the smoky wreckage of a Ground-effect Vehicle nearby. Though he said nothing explicitly, his implication was crystal clear. It wasn''t their first transport mission, but a strangely timed crash had occurred en route; although no severe casualties happened thanks to an all-out emergency landing effort, the target had nearly managed to escape. The transport team had to stay at the crash site on the prairie, calling for backup and waiting for the response team to arrive. Switching to a Mobile Base Vehicle for transportation meant long-distance land travel, which, even in the event of an accident wouldn''t complete disaster due to vehicle failure. Chen Fei had been chosen for the transport team, not only because of his local registration, deemed relatively reliable, but also because he had undergone a spiritual power test and possessed high resistance to hypnotism and other psychic abilities. His combat ability was also relatively secure. Although there were other possible candidates locally, they all had their own assignments and couldn''t leave at a moment''s notice. It just so happened that Chen Fei was in the northern region and had a heavy duty Mobile Base Vehicle, making him suitable for such a transport task. "May I enter?" The officer stood at the tent curtain, looking at Chen Fei with no sign of coercion. This transport involved a very special individual and required great care. Any sort of coercion could easily lead to mishaps, something they should avoid at all costs right now. "No problem!" Following the officer, Chen Fei stepped inside the tent. The tent was extremely spacious, covering about a dozen square meters, with six short columns that seemed to be Magic Instruments positioned around a prisoner in a restraint suit. The prisoner sat on a chair, his hands cuffed behind his back, and a dark iron colored bell covering his head. The nature of the material was unclear, but the spell array runes and filigree on the bell''s surface were faintly flowing with a pale yellow luminescence. In the corner, a person sat cross-legged, meditating with their eyes closed, showing no intention of opening them even as Chen Fei and the officer walked in. Six soldiers followed them in, each taking a position behind one of the Magic Instrument short columns. "We will start the transfer now," the officer waved his hand and then said to the person sitting cross-legged in the corner, "Mr. Ye, thank you for your hard work." "All right! Is everything normal for the moment?" The person sitting on the ground slowly opened their eyes, their long hair casually tied behind them, and their demeanor serene and tranquil. Just as he opened his eyes, Chen Fei felt as if a warm breeze had brushed past his body. - Chapter 448 Section 444 - The Great Threat Chen Fei''s brow furrowed slightly as he ventured to ask, "Is it a psychic ability?"@@@@ It wasn''t the first time he had experienced this odd sensation. The biggest difference between supernatural power users and mages is that the former can activate their abilities instantaneously, while the latter need to recite incantations or use spiritual power to draw in the Magic Element and construct a spell model. Although supernatural abilities are convenient and have an element of surprise, they are inherently limited in their potential for growth. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire Mages, as long as they have high Elemental Affinity, are able to climb higher in Rank. "Mr. Ye is an S-class psychic ability user," the officer simply introduced him, not adding much else. S-class and Heavenly Order are considered national treasures, not to be revealed lightly unless there is trouble that A-class and Earth Order cannot resolve, and such strategic-level talents must intervene personally. "Oh!" Chen Fei didn''t ask any further. Skills for power users of the same series weren''t entirely identical. The last S-class psychic ability user he encountered was skilled in psychokinesis and claimed to be a "Summoner." Summoning bullets and missiles, well, that counted too! If a "Summoner" went all out, they definitely served as a killer on the battlefield, with a hundred percent accuracy¡ªwherever they pointed, there it would explode. As for high-explosive weapons hurled by psychokinesis, veering off by a dozen meters or even a hundred meters was no big deal. If the control power evaluation could also reach above A-class, that would be even more terrifying, capable of killing without a trace. This Mr. Ye before him likely specialized in skills related to mental control. The alchemical artifact headbands issued to everyone, the six magic instrument short columns, the magical bell strapped on the escort target''s head, as well as the officer''s "extremely dangerous" assessment left no doubt that the person shackled to the chair was a psychic power user with a significant threat capability. Otherwise, there wouldn''t be such stringent defenses and personal suppression by an S-class psychic ability user, as if facing a formidable enemy. Mr. Ye, with his hair tied up, stretched out his hand and casually lifted the target, chair and all, his expression remaining unchanged as if he was exerting no effort at all. The six soldiers, each with a magic instrument short column, kept the two encircled tightly and moved out of the tent in lockstep, then cautiously boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle. One could clearly sense the officer''s long sigh of relief. Chen Fei glanced at the positions of the six columns, a thought crossed his mind, and the floor subtly deformed, fixing the bottoms of the columns firmly to the floor, and the chair placed inside the vehicle was also locked in position, as if it had grown out of the floor itself. "Thank you!" The officer, who had been somewhat worried, now seemed to be finally able to relax. "Do we need to make an iron cage? Or even an Iron Maiden would do." Given the size of the Mobile Base Vehicle, improvising wouldn''t affect normal driving. "As long as it''s secured, that''s enough." Realizing that the Mobile Base Vehicle was the domain of this B-class Metal Ability User, the officer thanked him again. "No big deal!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers. From the roof and floor emerged several alloy rods, one inch in diameter, jutting out toward each other''s territory. A twist in opposite directions naturally twisted them together into a net cage column, encasing the escort target within. "It really is convenient!" The officer''s eyes widened in surprise, and S-class psychic ability user Mr. Ye also nodded in agreement. Little Bird flew out of its nest, not at all shy as it looked around at everyone and the uninvited guest enclosed in the cage. It perched on an alloy bar of the cage, tilting its tiny head as it scrutinized the individual whose head was trapped under the magical bell. "Chirp!" The little one fluffed up, seemingly sensing a threat, its tiny sharp beak beginning to simmer with the glow of death. At close range with full power, it feared it might turn the inmate of the cage completely to ashes. "Chen Fei, control your bird; it can''t kill the transportation target yet, it''s not time." Mr. Ye''s face changed shades; he did not doubt the potency of the little one''s laser to kill. A laser beam deadly enough to be lethal often does not require very high power; it was indeed the first time encountering a Pure Light Sparrow with this capability. Such seemingly harmless Little Birds had the potential to become so terrifying. "Xiao Jiu! Come here!" As Chen Fei prepared the water and washed the cups, he called out. The flickering death light instantly extinguished, and Xiao Jiu fluttered to Chen Fei''s shoulder, affectionately pecking at his ear. The Little Bird was still very obedient. "A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow of the Human Order, that''s quite rare!" As an S-class ability user and a strategic level talent of sovereignty, he naturally had the insight and had identified Xiao Jiu''s rank, just as described in the introduction. Even on Cangqiong Star, the Pure Light Sparrow never reached such heights. If its bloodline potential was high enough, and it returned to the environment of Cangqiong Star where Magic Element was particularly active, it might be possible to advance another rank in a short time. Because the activity levels of Elemental Series energy differed between worlds, ability users from Cangqiong Star would come to Blue Star to break through training plateaus, adapting to the environment and accumulating experience before returning to Cangqiong Star to attempt breakthroughs. Chen Fei teased the Little Bird and tentatively asked, "Can you tell me about the person in the cage?" The officer and the S-class Psychic Ability User exchanged glances; the latter nodded faintly, and the former spoke, "Hmm! Some information can be disclosed; he is a Psychic Power User who has lost control." Chen Fei guessed, "Ineffective Supernatural Ability Suppressant?" The best tool against ability users was the Supernatural Ability Suppressant; although there had been cases of ineffectiveness, they were extremely rare, not even one in ten years, and mostly involved low-level ability users. Even when ineffective, they did not pose much threat or damage. Supernatural Ability Suppressants worked like a catalyst; the higher the Superpower Level, the more pronounced the suppression. "That''s right! Even anesthetics are ineffective!" The officer nodded, confirming Chen Fei''s speculation. Chen Fei exclaimed, "That''s impressive!" He himself was immune to Supernatural Ability Suppressants but not to anesthetic drugs, which could easily knock him out with a single shot. "With such heavy guard, then his Superpower Level..." Chen Fei''s voice took on the tone of a sharp intake of breath. Hiss hiss hiss... - Chapter 449 Section 445 - Bird Strike The escort''s protective forehead accessory, the multiple short cylindrical magical devices around his body, the magical bell clasping his head¡ªfrom protection to suppression, and then to repression, the levels were progressively escalated. Yet, even with such an arrangement, the need for an S-class ability user to accompany them was somewhat terrifying. "Above S-class, beyond the standard!" The distinctively refined S-class psychic ability user, Mr. Ye, bluntly acknowledged the dangerous nature of their mission target. Without these magical devices working in concert to restrict, he really wasn''t sure he could control the other party. "What''s the combat prowess of his main form?" Chen Fei felt that the sense of danger he had previously sensed was not unfounded, and Xiao Jiu suddenly focusing laser was not without reason; only when threatened would it contemplate attacking. On the way, the ground-effect vehicle unexpectedly crashed, and it might well have been the underhand work of the escort target.@@@@ When ability reaches the levels of S-class and Heavenly Order, they are no longer beings that can be measured with common sense. Mr. Ye assessed for a moment and said, "Not very skilled at martial arts, you should be able to handle it!" Based on Chen Fei''s performance in the Neanderthal tribe reservation, if they didn''t let the mission target utilize his psychic ability, as long as there were no slip-ups, he should be able to defeat the target. The unspoken implication of "not well-versed in martial arts" was that he possessed immense strength. Chen Fei thought for a moment and asked, "What about the railgun?" "Certain death!" Not only Mr. Ye, but the officer also looked towards the roof where a 152- caliber demolition bomb was mounted. Within the absolute death radius of thirty meters, even an S-class supernatural power user would be overwhelmed, likely being blasted away on the spot. The caliber of the railgun was downward compatible; the biggest caliber currently supported on the mobile base vehicle''s roof could reach 203 millimeters, so there was further potential for escalation. However, the combat targets to date had virtually never been against ships or fortresses, so there was no great significance in increasing from 152 to 155 and beyond. Targeted enemies would die from one shot anyway, and a larger caliber would affect the number of rounds that could be loaded, given that the capacity of a space series alchemy storage device was limited. "That''s still alright!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. So at least this escort mission wasn''t highly risky, as long as they could suppress the mission target''s spiritual power, there wouldn''t be any trouble, right? How could a vehicle weighing nearly eighty tons perform a "tiger leap" on flat ground? Suddenly, the view before him changed, and an electronic map popped up, not only marking the location and cruising route of the mobile base vehicle but also showing large nearby biological communities with specific information displayed in subtitles on the electronic map. Adam: At 2 o''clock direction, a herd of horses detected, number 331, 5 kilometers away, speed 30 kilometers. Adam: At 1 o''clock direction, a herd of cattle detected, number 178, 1 kilometer away, speed 2 kilometers. Adam: At 4 o''clock direction, a pack of wolves detected, number 15, 11 kilometers away, add 12 kilometers. "Adam" had not optimized its voice module specifically, which was quite poor, even less convenient and direct than using subtitles for communication. Some areas of the grassland were used for livestock farming, breeding large animals like cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys, and some ranches even had llamas and ostriches. The rest were uninhabited wetlands where various animals lived, occasionally straying into the livestock areas. As for wild wolves, as long as their numbers were not too large, they usually went unmanaged; they would prey on some of the old, weak, sick, or disabled livestock, which wouldn''t cause economic losses to the livestock area. Since the weak could not be sold on the market, the cost of artificial harmless disposal was also significant, so unless lacking food, wolf packs or even lone wolves would not actively attack humans and would typically flee upon detecting human scent. Adam: Drone signal interrupted! "Hmm?" Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise as he was distributing tea to Mr. Ye and the soldiers. "What happened?" The officer noticed Chen Fei''s unusual reaction. The officer, with a tense voice, loudly urged Chen Fei. The goose was neither foolhardy nor blind; it certainly wouldn''t foolishly crash into a drone, nor fail to dodge the not-so-fast flying speed of the drone. If one time was a coincidence, then twice in short succession was certainly no accident. Harrowing cries and the flapping of wings grew increasingly louder in the sky. Chen Fei looked up. "Oh boy!" Carrying the wreckage of two drones, they had just boarded the mobile base vehicle when three or four geese crashed fiercely onto the swiftly closing doors, making a series of thudding sounds. Then, like hail, more geese crashed into the nearly 20-meter long mobile base vehicle, creating a grisly scene. Feathers flew and geese blood flowed, with at least twenty geese crashing headfirst into the body and even the windows of the vehicle, their dying cries unceasing. The faces of the soldiers inside the vehicle looked grim, the scene outside resembling something out of an apocalypse. The drone strikes by the geese and the inexplicable attack on the mobile base vehicle were no ordinary events. The officer, gazing at the caged mission target, said, "It''s this guy causing the trouble!" It had come to this, and he still had the means to affect the outside world, indeed a very terrifying ultra-class psychic ability user. The S-level psychic ability user Mr. Ye said helplessly, "I''ve done my best!" Despite his relaxed and leisurely appearance sitting beside the cage, he had actually used all his methods to fully suppress the mission target, preventing any leak of psychic power. Even so, he still couldn''t stop the strange incidents from continuing to occur. Previously, it was the crash of a ground-effect vehicle; now, it was two drones crashing in succession and the mysterious attack of the geese on the mobile base vehicle. Luckily the mobile base vehicle was sturdy enough. Had it been an ordinary civilian vehicle, it would likely have been smashed and deformed, and if hit more times, it could even be smashed to smithereens. It was as if the officer suddenly remembered something and immediately asked, "What powers this vehicle?" "Crystalline Block? Feel free to relax about its endurance; even without me on board, it can still run at full speed for at least 72 hours." Chen Fei knew the other was worried that the mobile base vehicle might be stranded on the prairie due to continuously encountering various unforeseen events. The mission target did not have metabolism, thus it did not need food and waste expulsion, but the escort personnel did, and if the food supply was cut off, they would immediately find themselves in peril. However, the crystalline block on the mobile base vehicle could guarantee 72 hours of full-speed travel, and the chemical battery could also guarantee two and a half hours of full power output. Beyond that, solar panels could provide a tiny amount of electrical supplement, likely just enough to barely maintain the lighting system inside the carriage. "That''s good; we must reach our destination quickly without further delay." Despite the geese raining down from the sky, the officer had to continue the mission as a priority. "Don''t worry, the drive is 21 hours, and there will be no delays!" Chen Fei instructed "Adam" to guide the mobile base vehicle back to the pre-designed navigation route. Though all drones were lost, reducing their "field of vision" significantly, the mobile base vehicle still had a vehicle-mounted reconnaissance system, albeit with a detection range not as distant as when the drones were hovering. Adam: At 2 o''clock direction, a herd of horses was spotted, numbering 331, at a distance of 2 kilometers, moving at 45 kilometers per hour. "Huh?" At the sight of the action marker for the herd of horses on the electronic map within his field of vision, Chen Fei immediately had a bad feeling. Damn, it''s not over yet! - Chapter 450 Section 446 - Heaven Retains the Guest, I Do Not Retain What would it be like to be recklessly impacted by a herd of horses? It might feel like a small boat caught in a stormy sea. Despite weighing nearly 80 tons, the Mobile Base Vehicle still seemed vulnerable to impacts, with one side of its five pairs of load-bearing wheels occasionally lifting off the ground under the continuous barrage. The entire cabin shook violently nonstop, and had it not been for the seatbelts, those inside would likely have been thrown around. A horse weighs about 300 kilograms, so the total weight of 331 horses would be about 99 tons. Adding the force of acceleration, if they could maintain a certain rhythm, they would be capable of flipping the Mobile Base Vehicle, which was about 20 meters long, right there on the spot. The Mobile Base Vehicle, engulfed by the horse herd, was completely immobilized, only able to endure the horses'' reckless and desperate charges. The crazed horses could even leap more than a meter high, slamming into the vehicle, one after another. "Have these horses gone mad? Fire, fire!" Initially concerned about the herdsmen''s assets, the officer, seeing no hope of escape, had no choice but to issue an extremely difficult command. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire The higher-ups were probably going to face heavy compensation, as a horse was not cheap. "There are cattle coming up behind us, should we fire at them too?" The stony-hearted Chen Fei had already issued a warning. With the loss of drone surveillance, the scouting radius of the Mobile Base Vehicle was not sufficient to completely avoid the nearest herds of cattle and horses, and who knew if more large livestock were approaching from nearby. The Mobile Base Vehicle had initially smashed through with blood and flesh flying everywhere, but after several horses depleted the vehicle''s kinetic energy, its speed quickly dropped to a critical point, no longer strong enough to break through the encircling herd of horses. "What? There''s more behind?" The officer looked at the creature in the cage with a complex expression; this creature was the biggest troublemaker, continuously producing new troublemakers. The most noticeable difference between firearms and other weapons is the sound of bullets being fired. The Railgun Combat Rifle was much quieter, but the bullets, given several times the speed of sound, easily penetrated the bodies of the horses, carrying on to pierce through the next horse, and sometimes even several horses in a row. Although the horses were in a frenzy, they still felt pain, their cries echoing one after another. With about a dozen railgun rifles firing at once, the scene resembled a massacre. In an instant, a large number of horse corpses lay outside the vehicle, some dead from the impact, but many more were shot dead by the Railgun Combat Rifles on the spot. The Mobile Base Vehicle remained surrounded by layers upon layers of horse corpses, its wheels slipping continuously in the bloody mud, unable to squeeze out for the time being. To break through, they would probably need to move those horse corpses first. Seeing the hesitation on the other side, Chen Fei urged, "Make a decision quickly; if you get any closer, the railguns won''t be able to open fire." He could understand the other side''s sentiment; the army''s sacred duty was to protect the lives and property of the people, and now the railgun rifles were slaughtering what was the property of the people, making such a decision indeed required significant courage. Another group of cattle was approaching in the distance, like Pandora''s Box being opened ¡ª once opened, there was no closing it back. "Only eight hundred meters left!" The distance had been less than a kilometer when "Adam" issued the warning. The blind spot radius of the railgun on the roof of the mobile base vehicle was about 30 meters, but... the demolition bomb''s killing radius was around 300 meters.@@@@ If the distance was too close, they could certainly fire, but that would mean the mobile base vehicle would also fall within the firing range, a single shot could indeed obliterate the enemy target, but they would likely suffer as well. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible to fire within a hundred-meter range. "Fire!" The officer, of course, was aware of the limitations of artillery strikes, which were more advantageous the farther the target was, with close range easily causing hesitation and lots of concerns. "Launch!" Chen Fei gently uttered the word. "The Wolf King? Can this work?" The officer was half-doubtful; this act was catching everyone off-guard. "Who knows? Just howl a few times!" Chen Fei was just giving it a shot in the dark, not knowing if it would work, but figured that howling a few times definitely couldn''t hurt. "Wow~~ Ooooo!" It appeared that the leading wolf howled back. Hurriedly, Chen Fei howled as well; in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, no wolf could escape his pat on the head. "Really freaking weird!" The officer frowned, his body breaking out in goosebumps, as if there was indeed another wolf that had eerily appeared in the compartment. "Wow~~ Ooooo!" "Wow~~ Ooooo!" "Wow~~ Ooooo!" You howl, I howl, howling at each other for a long while. Yet, the pack of wolves gathered together, suddenly charging towards the Mobile Base Vehicle. "They''re coming!" A soldier quickly sounded the alarm. "Fire!" The officer ordered without hesitation. Then again, there was a series of whooshing sounds through the air, continuous wails echoing. Although wild wolves were being killed on the spot by steel core bullets, their speed was faster and they were more cunning, not running in straight lines, repeatedly darting in Z-shapes. One wolf successfully broke through under the vehicle, a blind spot for the Railgun Combat Rifle. Just as a soldier was about to stuff a grenade through the firing hole, a loud "Boom!~" was heard. The Mobile Base Vehicle shook, and the wolf that had rushed underneath was blown out, crashing heavily among the carcasses of the horses, howling in pain, unable to rise until a steel core bullet pierced its skull. The officer asked uncertainly, "What blew up?" Although he had his suspicions, he still wanted to get the answer from Chen Fei. Chen Fei helplessly said, "A tire blew up!" Then he added, "That''s not the main issue, the urgent task is to move the bodies in front of the vehicle." Otherwise, they would just have to wait for them to freeze naturally, and then the Mobile Base Vehicle would have to forcefully push its way out. However, it was certain that staying here would definitely not bring anything good. Chen Fei looked at the troublemaker inside the cage; all these messy attacks were the last-ditch struggles concocted by the opponent. Once delivered to the destination, it would have nothing to do with him. "I''ll arrange for people to move the bodies, hmm, at least two, no, four people are needed." The officer''s manpower was limited, needing to continue on guard while keeping an eye on the middle task target in the cage, unable to dispatch more mobile personnel. "No, I can do it alone; you all stay in the vehicle." Chen Fei walked towards the vehicle door. Suddenly, he halted, stood in his tracks, and did not move an inch. "..." - Chapter 451 Section 447 - Route Planning As he reached the door of the vehicle, Chen Fei was about to push it open and leave. Without warning, a piercing howl erupted in his ears, echoing incessantly inside his head. The metal hoop-shaped Protective Forehead Accessory on his head crackled softly, and shockingly, thin crisscrossing cracks appeared on its surface. "Fuck!" He spun around abruptly, only to find that most of the soldiers and officers inside the carriage were aiming their Railgun Combat Rifles right at him. Chen Fei was utterly puzzled. "What are you doing?" "What are you going to do?" The officer''s lips twitched uncontrollably. He couldn''t deny his nerves were a bit on edge, but belief in ''better safe than sorry'' prevailed. This mission had indeed been the weirdest one he had ever seen, pushing the limits of his worldview. Despite having Mr. Ye, the S-rank Psychic Ability User, as their final trump card, they couldn''t afford to use him carelessly, not unless absolutely necessary, even if it meant sacrificing lives; Mr. Ye had to be the last resort. "I''m going to take care of this Deflated Calf!" Chen Fei turned his gaze and glared fiercely at their target secured inside the cage. Damn it, howling some crap in his head? "Ah? You¡ªdon''t mess around!" The officer''s rifle muzzle couldn''t dare to move away. "Wait and see what I''ve got up my sleeve!" Chen Fei walked to the front of the vehicle where the driver''s seat was, and when he returned, he had a pair of headphones in his hand. Approaching the cage, a metal bar, about an inch thick, rapidly expanded to form a large opening big enough to poke half his body through. The headphones were directly attached to the magical bell, and Chen Fei fiddled with his cell phone. "Connect Bluetooth!" A faint sound followed. "©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Ao~~..." Ghastly screams blared from the headphones¡ªa playlist of twenty brainwashing Divine Songs began to play! "Huh?" The officer''s gun barrel involuntarily dropped. Chen Fei then ripped off the Protective Forehead Artifact on his head, which shattered immediately, the fragments scattering all over the ground. He faced the mission target, ready to risk everything, and hissed through gritted teeth, "Come on! Feel my murderous aura, let''s see who''s crazier." A lady from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had once said that his mind was filled with nothing but evil and murderous thoughts. Since their target, proficient in Psychic Ability, loved to control minds, Chen Fei intended to let the enemy taste the flavor of vile thoughts and see who truly was the evilest. Seeing Chen Fei''s Protective Forehead reduced to pieces, the officer could no longer keep his composure and exclaimed anxiously, "Hey, hey, your Protective Forehead!" "It''s of poor quality!" Chen Fei retorted without looking back. Seemingly impacted by Psychic Ability, the Protective Forehead lost its protective function. It literally fell apart on his forehead with Chen Fei casually tearing off only the remnants. The volume of the headphones was turned up to the max, and the magical bell seemed to have a harmonizing amplification effect, making the sound clearly audible throughout the entire carriage.@@@@ "What the hell is this?" Chen Fei stomped fiercely outside the vehicle, crushing the foolish wolf that had bitten through the tire. Here in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, even the Wolf King received no mercy; it was better off dead. The explosion that had burst the tire had stunned it half to death, and its brain burst on the spot, dying instantly. After efficiently changing the spare tire and filling it with air, he began to clean up the dead horses nearby; the mountain of horse corpses blocked the mobile base vehicle''s path, and if not moved soon, other large animals might come to cause a jam. In the end, the officer dispatched six soldiers to help Chen Fei clear the path in front of the vehicle. Chen Fei''s strength had reached an impressive level; he could drag a dead horse weighing around 300 kilograms single-handedly and with a forceful exhalation and shout, he flung them to the side, quickly clearing a large space in front of the vehicle. It wouldn''t take long to clear the hundred or so horse carcasses piled up in front. The six soldiers had to work together to drag one horse corpse, each bearing about fifty kilograms of weight. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire In the bitter cold, their feet continually slipped, and a careless misstep could send them sprawling in a messy, blood-splattered fall, which was quite unsightly. But the soldiers had no real complaints, calling out in cadence "one, two, three," following Chen Fei''s lead as they cleared out a barely passable road from the multitude of corpses. As for the mobile base vehicle, splattered with blood as if it had just run over a zombie horde, beyond ensuring the windshield in front of the vehicle was clean and clear, Chen Fei had no way to deal with the rest. The large size of the vehicle made cleaning it a troublesome matter. Seeing the six soldiers who had come down to help return to the vehicle exhausted and blood-stained, the frowning officer asked, "Can we shower on the vehicle?" He had also seen a washing machine and dryer; the vehicle was just too thoughtful, the facilities unexpectedly complete. "Yes, you can use either of the two bathrooms." Except for his hands, Chen Fei returned rather clean, washing his hands under the kitchen faucet before heading to the driver''s seat. "Everyone, brace yourselves and buckle up, we need to hurry." He immediately took over driving the entire mobile base vehicle. Adam''s adaptability was higher than the derivatives of "Cybertrom," but still couldn''t match the quick reaction ability of humans. "My god, there''s a bathtub!!!" A soldier''s exclamation echoed from one of the bathrooms inside the vehicle, having never seen such an extravagantly equipped motorhome before. The vehicle''s 4.5-meter width made placing a bathtub inside incredibly easy. "Adam, activate infrared thermal imaging to differentiate heat sources, we need to avoid those animals!" Chen Fei gently pressed the accelerator, and the vehicle''s speed increased, naturally, the ensuing jolts were inevitable. After having already been hit by the herd of horses and cows, he had no intention of experiencing it a second time. The mobile base vehicle''s sole two drones were destroyed one after the other by geese and were irreparable for the time being, significantly reducing the scouting radius. To prevent attracting the herds again, the best method was to avoid them beforehand. Using the harsh climate conditions to his advantage, Chen Fei came up with a relatively reliable method. The warmth released by animals in a frozen landscape stood out like a bonfire in the dark night, as infrared imaging could easily detect distant heat emissions. Using radar to pinpoint and gauge distances, calculating both parties'' directions and speeds, a safe route could be completely mapped out. No matter how fast the horses ran, the mobile base vehicle could preemptively react and leave any controlled animal far behind. There was no way to avoid the birds in the sky, but the vehicle''s armor was sufficient to disregard them. The impact of the birds was not as sharp as the fangs of wild wolves and would hardly damage the tires. At worst, it would require spending some energy points to replace all the load-bearing rims with full-metal flexible tires. Having to detour and accelerate meant he couldn''t guarantee a smooth ride. Everyone got quite shaken up since the plain was not a paved road; there were ups and downs, potholes, which were all unavoidable. A careless move might even result in splashing into puddles, making the experience even more thrilling, with hearts nearly jumping out of throats. - Chapter 452 The 448th Section - Destination The originally planned 21-hour journey was shortened to 14 hours by Chen Fei, who drove nonstop. Apart from the occasional bird falling from the sky, hitting the car window in a bloody mess and startling everyone, no other incidents occurred. On the grasslands, indeed, no animal could catch up with the Mobile Base Vehicle moving at full speed, and even if they could, they couldn''t keep up for long. The Mobile Base Vehicle left the grasslands, passed through forests and canyons, and entered a dry and desolate area, where a clearly visible road soon appeared ahead. It was more of a trace of where wheels had compressed the ground rather than a road; judging by the distance between the left and right wheel tracks, it was likely similar to that of Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle. Adam: "Unknown mechanical body detected straight ahead, number 2, distance 5 kilometers, speed 0." "Unknown mechanical body?" Chen Fei muttered to himself and then gave an order. "Load the railgun, prepare to fire." The railgun on top of the Mobile Base Vehicle extended out, aimed straight ahead, and was ready to fire. At that moment, Chen Fei''s phone rang, the caller ID still showing the mysterious number "000000." After picking it up casually, a stern voice came through. "Disarm immediately, disarm right now!" "An unknown mechanical body detected ahead, are you confirming it''s friendly?" Chen Fei slowed down the vehicle, the railgun on top was to guard against those two unknown mechanical bodies. The Mobile Base Vehicle was not part of any battlefield data link nor did it have a friend-or-foe identification system; Team 04 had been independent from the start, hence there was no need for allies. The two unknown mechanical bodies had entered his field of vision; they were two "large spiders" with eight legs each, their backs carrying railguns and large-caliber machine guns. If remote-controlled, they would be remote-controlled combat robots; if operated by AI, then they would be bionic combat machines; if manned, then multi-legged step-in combat mobility armor. Same appearance, different control methods, slightly different terms used, and some differences in tactics. "Confirmed as friendly, those are automated combat machines, disarm immediately!" The voice on the phone confirmed the identity of the mechanical spiders, not hostile targets. "''Adam,'' disengage the firing mode and retract the railgun." As Chen Fei spoke, the railgun aiming at the two automated combat spiders retracted back onto the roof of the vehicle. Since they were automated combat machines, they likely had some level of friend-or-foe recognition intelligence. If the guns remained aimed, it might trigger a preemptive counterattack; no wonder the voice on the phone was so urgent, nearly leading to a firefight. Railgun against railgun, without a high-intensity protective barrier or magic shield, everyone was at risk, potentially not even needing a second shot. "Follow the tracks; a vehicle will come to guide you, end of communication."@@@@ The phone call was disconnected. The railgun muzzles carried by the two octoped mechanical spider combat robots in front of the Mobile Base Vehicle slowly turned away, clearly remaining on alert. The journey had been fraught with dangers, especially the moment the ground-effect vehicle fell, almost convincing him that he was about to die. Fortunately, the pilot of the ground-effect vehicle had put forth his utmost effort, barely ensuring a safe landing for everyone, but the vehicle was broken into pieces, and even the pilot was injured, quickly taken away by a nearby aircraft; the officer''s squad remained on the ground, continuing to guard and wait for other transportation for the mission target. After the mobile base vehicle came to a stop, the cage that imprisoned the mission target and the chair, as well as the floor fixing six magic instrument short columns, were all released; the doors swung wide open. The officer was the first to jump out of the vehicle, saluting the approaching liaison officer. "''Dark Night'' special service squad, Squad C of the first company, squad leader Yuan Zheng, leading the escort, has arrived, the detainee is intact, please verify!" "''Fire Owl'' special battle group, Major Li Xinliang taking over!" The officer in charge of the handover returned the salute. Both sides coincidentally ignored the S-class psychic ability user, Mr. Ye, and Chen Xiao''er, who had been called halfway to help in an emergency. After all, this was a secret escort mission; once they arrived, there was no further need for those two, as the rest was the receiver''s job. The mission target, who had been without food, drink, sleep, and silent, was taken off the vehicle to begin identity verification; the magical bell was still clasped over Chen Fei''s headphones, continuing the brainwashing Divine Song. "Does this song really work?" Major Li Xinliang, who was verifying the identity of the mission target, was the first to react. He was not a rigid person and realized that the escort team had purposefully added an extra pair of headphones, most likely for a reason. A black cat or a white cat, as long as it can catch mice, it''s a good cat. As long as it could suppress this troublesome spirit, any method was acceptable. "It should, it should..." Officer Yuan Zheng turned and looked towards the S-class psychic ability user who had already come outside the vehicle. "He can''t shut off his senses, so there should be some effect." Mr. Ye had to admit that Chen Fei''s accidental correctness, although he couldn''t prove whether there was an effect, everything had been much calmer after the headphones were put on along the journey, probably too brainwashed to cause trouble. "Whose headphones, I''ll borrow them for a while." Major Li looked towards Yuan Zheng and others, and then at Mr. Ye, his gaze finally settling on Chen Fei, who was still holding his phone. "Mine, should I send you the playlist?" Chen Fei didn''t plan to hand over his phone; what if someone needed to contact him without it? "That works!" Major Li Xinliang took out his phone and immediately photographed the playlist from Chen Fei''s phone. To be precise, Major Li''s phone was a military phone with default communication modes and frequencies incompatible with civilian networks, utilizing a military communication network with enhanced encryption functions, though its other functions weren''t much different from civilian phones. Chen Fei unbound the headphones and transferred the wireless control of the headphones to Major Li''s military phone. - Chapter 453 Section 449 - Sacrifice "The criminal handover is complete," a tide of humanoid combat mechs defended Major Li of the Fire Owl special forces and the mission target as they began to withdraw. The top-tier "Dragon King" assault-type heavy armor warrior who had boarded the mobile base vehicle earlier was mixed among them, serving as a command node for the battle team. This courtyard was not their destination; the true location for receiving the mission target lay elsewhere.@@@@ The combat mechs, controlled by a high-level derivative AI from "Cybertrom," perhaps didn''t match the individual combat capabilities of the top human elite warriors, but their team combat ability was not to be underestimated. In fact, the more there were, the greater their advantage became, and combined with human soldiers, they could maximally leverage a synergistic effect far greater than the sum of the parts. The motorcyclist had already removed her helmet, revealing that she was actually a strikingly beautiful mixed heritage girl with chestnut hair and eyes shimmering with beautiful peacock green. She signaled to the "Dark Night" special operations officers and soldiers who had stayed behind, along with Chen Fei and Mr. Ye, an S-class psychic ability user. "I''ll take you to the camp, then wait there for new orders." "Thank you!" Officer Yuan Zheng saluted and turned to his C Squad, shouting loudly, "Everyone, get on the transport!" The old driver Chen Fei started the vehicle. The barracks assigned to C Squad and Chen Fei were located on the edge of the small town. Just a few steps away, one could see the river near the barrier. Mr. Ye, an S-class psychic ability user, got off the vehicle halfway; after all, his accommodations were there, and it would not make sense for him to cram into the barracks with the rank and file soldiers, even if the conditions were quite decent. His destination was a posh-looking hotel, probably assigned and managed by someone specialized. Rarity creates value. Although the indigenous population base is large, the number of S-class psychic ability users is still not high. It is noteworthy that many sovereigns don''t even have an S-class psychic ability user, so having some special treatment is justified. A two-story building was allotted to C Squad and Chen Fei, temporarily assigned to them, while the mobile base vehicle was parked in the parking lot. The local microclimate inside the barrier was quite comfortable and pleasant, with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius above zero and humidity maintained at 55%. No wonder, during the dry and cold winter, the plains adjacent to this Gobi desert were covered with thick snow, yet this place still remained lush and green. Minus ten degrees Celsius would be enough to turn a Pure Light Sparrow into a frozen bird instantly in an area it''s forbidden to enter. Although the temperature within the barrier wasn''t as warm as spring, it was sufficient for Little Bird to leave the mobile base vehicle''s cabin and fly freely outdoors. "...Chirp chirp... chirp chirp..." "...Chatter chatter..." "Chirp?" "Chatter chatter!" ¡Án (n>30). The sparrows felt their territory had been invaded and tried to drive away this uninvited guest. The little guy got into a dispute with a group of local sparrows, causing a cacophony in the trees, on the ground, and in the sky. It''s not that a mighty dragon doesn''t cross rivers, a dominant dragon suppresses the local snakes; a one-against-many battle had begun. A group of sparrows fighting was hardly anything to write home about; it wasn''t even close to a real skirmish. Aside from the incessant noisy clatter that could give one a headache, the damage they could inflict on each other was almost negligible. Although a Pure Light Sparrow was one of the weakest magical beasts, it wasn''t something ordinary birds could bully, especially when Xiao Jiu could cast spells. Three million Star Yuan. He couldn''t afford to compensate for that, as the sum was enough to buy a house. Money is the courage of a man; the truly poor can''t afford to gamble. "Do it, just replicate," said the female rider Rona, waving the helmet in her hand. She hadn''t come to Chen Fei to satisfy her curiosity about his industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Ability. Rather, it was because of a practical issue. A motorcycle worth three million Star Yuan surely looked cool and impressive, but there was no after-sales service here at all. If a problem or damage occurred, well, at least six months would be needed before replacement parts could be obtained. After all, not just anyone could enter this place; people and resources coming in and out had to go through strict scrutiny. Even for "Dark Night" Squad C, carrying an important escort task, and Chen Fei, who had been conscripted halfway through, they were still placed in barracks on the periphery after handing over their task and couldn''t get close to important or central areas. "Then let''s give it a try!" The thought of having a new batch of samples in the "Physical Evolution Database" made Chen Fei utterly unceremonious as he reached for the motorcycle. The next second, various non-metallic parts clattered to the ground, while all metallic parts disappeared without a trace. The metal content here was probably not even enough to fill a gap in the "Metal Devouring" skill''s teeth! The Dog System didn''t even give 1 Energy Point, the stingy miser with no butt-eye, risking system crashes and data loss. "It''s gone?" Though she had braced herself, Rona was still greatly startled. "Gone. Prepare about ten to twenty tons of metal, preferably alloy, even scrap metal would do. I can help restore it for you, but limited to one complete motorcycle, since I have no way with those non-metallic parts," Chen Fei said, putting his hands on his hips, pretending to be very tired. In the distance, there was another earth-shattering clang, and numerous sparks shot towards the sky, providing a very timely sound effect. He felt that he shouldn''t make the "Sacrifice" skill appear so effortless, because if someone were to order him to replicate a Magic Cube Warship one day, it would really cost him his life. Such a massive thing made his head spin with dizziness, and it was simply unbearable. "Just ten to twenty tons?" Rona wasn''t worried at all about the other party standing her up. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire This was Hanhai Central Base where people can''t easily come and go. If he couldn''t revert her motorcycle back, his big vehicle could also be taken to settle the debt, equally impressive. "At least, the more the better!" When Chen Fei heard there might be extras to gain, he considered it labor compensation. Energy Points were hard to come by, after all. To not take advantage of available benefits would be a sin. Amen, amen, Madam, please proceed! - Chapter 454 Section 450 - Four Magic Arrays "I''m on my way!" Just as she was about to mount her motorcycle, Rona found it had been reduced to a pile of scattered parts on the ground, leaving her no choice but to pull out her phone and find someone! There was a crackling noise as she made a call. It was estimated that she would have to wait half an hour before she could see those metals. Chen Fei began to busy himself with his Mobile Base Vehicle again. The accumulated grime and trash needed to be disposed of, every corner of the cabin had to be cleaned, and the vehicle''s body, smeared with blood and various biotic tissues, had to be washed clean; even the small stones caked in the tire treads had to be picked out one by one. To ensure the vehicle was in good condition, it was the small details that mattered. "Torrential Water Ring, go!" A huge body of water began to spin at high speed, creating a whirlpool of bubbles that vigorously swept across the entire surface of the Mobile Base Vehicle, from top to bottom, from left to right, not even sparing the corners of the chassis. It cleaned away all the filth that clung to it. The splashing sound of the tumultuous water subsided, and the wastewater was reduced to specks as it entered the nearby greenbelt. The Mobile Base Vehicle suddenly looked refreshed, its all-metal surface gleaming in the sunlight, no longer the battered exterior that seemed to have just survived a zombie breakout. "Water-Based Ability?" Chen Fei turned his head, looking at Rona, the mixed-race knight with green eyes and chestnut hair, who had just positioned herself in a stance. He had not heard the chanting of an Incantation. Compared to Water-Based Ability, water-type Spells are relatively rigid and inflexible; the spell model cannot be manipulated at will like Abilities. At the very least, one must have reached Heavenly Order and be qualified to touch the rules of the Elemental Series to freely manipulate spell forms with ease. Such rapid activation, and on such a grand scale, was most likely the result of an Ability. This thorough cleaning saved Chen Fei a lot of work. With a smug smile, Rona wagged her finger and bragged, "B-level Water-Based Ability, same as you. My job here includes being a gardener and a cleaner." Water that was still crystal-clear flowed around her hands, making it hard to believe her words were actually true. When even gardeners and cleaners are Ability Users, plus the eight-legged Combat Mechs scattered throughout the desert, the level of this town''s defense was nearly on par with the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Habulav. "Hmm, I''m a mechanic, fixing airplanes!" Chen Fei didn''t just repair Combat Mechs; he also dabbled in small transport aircraft at Aircrew Base 911. "Jiu Defense Company, right? It''s such a waste of talent to mingle with military contractors. Haven''t any big factories tried to woo you? Their offers must be pretty good, right?" Rona sized up the Mobile Base Vehicle behind Chen Fei. This vehicle was a testament to his ability; even if someone else had such an Ability, they could not necessarily build such a practical "Motorhome." "The big factories aren''t interested!" Chen Fei laughed and shook his head. The Northern Weapons Industry Group had rejected him not long before. Despite their greed for Industrial-grade Abilities, considering the Chen Family''s relationship with their industry rival, National Defense Star Aerospace Company, the Northern Weapons Industry Group simply couldn''t take the risk. One wrong move could be remembered forever; the higher-ups dared not be the villains recorded in corporate history. After the vehicle was washed clean, Chen Fei pulled over a hose to replenish the Mobile Base Vehicle''s water reserves. Even if there was no immediate need to set out, it was essential to keep the vehicle''s water tank full for any unplanned necessities. The Mobile Base Vehicle either undertook no missions or, when it did, they were big ones. "Thanks!" Chen Fei could tell that the young man driving the heavy truck seemed to have a fondness for the mixed-race female rider with the blue-green eyes and chestnut hair, as his greeting contained a hint of hostility and challenge. No matter what the town was actually like, it was a common situation in small towns for there to be more wolves than meat. The young man who drove the heavy truck pulled the handbrake, opened the door, and hopped down, looking curiously at Rona and then at Chen Fei, and asked, "Can I ask, what do you want with all this scrap metal?" Since he wasn''t here to compete for Nana, everything was easy to talk about, and he immediately became enthusiastic. Rona explained, in her own understanding, "Do you know about ''Sacrifice''? It''s an industrial-grade ability. Chen Fei wants to show me a trick. The junk you delivered, it should be consumable material, right? Chen Fei, is it consumable material?" "That''s right, that''s the idea!" The consumption ratio depended entirely on the mood; at least Chen Fei wouldn''t sacrifice his precious energy points for nothing. "This is interesting, show me a trick, let me see something new." The young man scratched the back of his head, somewhat impatient. Although he had heard of the existence of industrial-grade abilities, he had never seen one before. "Let''s clean up this scrap metal first." Chen Fei stepped on the truck''s wheel, grabbed onto the truckbed, and scrambled up. A chaotic mess was piled up, and it weighed about thirty tons¡ªnot a small amount. The huge bed was stuffed full. He pressed his hand onto it. "Metal Devouring," activate! Clatter, bang¡ªa noisy ruckus ensued as the heavy truck noticeably shook, its suspension leaping up. The entire truckbed became suddenly empty, or more accurately, a few things were left, mostly non-metallic components that couldn''t be absorbed. System: Ding! Absorbed a variety of alloys totaling 31.157 tons, gaining energy points +31. System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Repulsion Shield." System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Air Burst." System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Mind Brand." System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Gravity." System: Energy points: 19144/20000 System: Magical Array Evolution Database (4), classification: none|search.../manage... "Uh!~" Chen Fei looked at his hand in disbelief. "Repulsion Shield," "Air Burst," "Mind Brand," and "Gravity"¡ªthese four magic arrays were like pies falling from the sky, making him feel a little dizzy. A truckbed full of junk turned out to be a treasure trove, hiding four complete magic arrays, and for the first time, the "Magical Array Evolution Database" actually had an influx. - Chapter 455 Section 451 - Silly Boy "Hey! Chen Fei, how''s your ''Sacrifice'' going?" Rona didn''t bother to look, probably guessing what was going on, just like with her own motorcycle¡ªthat in a flash, all the metal parts had disappeared. The young driver who had come in the vehicle hadn''t reacted yet, thinking that Chen Fei was still rummaging in the truck bed, planning how to make a "Sacrifice" appropriately. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, the truck bed was empty? "Done!" Chen Fei finally came to and climbed out of the truck bed, landing on the ground. "Done?" The young man was as confused as a monk encountering a conundrum, brother, you''re too fast! "Now it''s the motorcycle''s turn." With the reward already received, Chen Fei didn''t dawdle anymore. He extracted the motorcycle sample from the "Physical Evolution Database" and activated the "Metal Shaping (Replicate)" skill. A large lump of silvery-white metal appeared in the palm of his hand and silently fell to the ground, swallowing up the non-metal parts that had been unable to be absorbed before. Then various shapes and sizes of composite geometries emerged continuously, splitting and joining with one another, rapidly forming the rough shape of a motorcycle. Though it only had two wheels, the complexity of the motorcycle''s structure was not much less than a car with four wheels. Chen Fei threw several cans of special-purpose oil with different functions over to it. The Mobile Base Vehicle had spare fuel, and he allocated some according to the motorcycle''s needs. The motorcycle''s energy was powered by Crystalline Blocks, so there had been no fuel spillage when it was disassembled, but hydraulic oil, lubricating oil, and other such oils were still indispensable. "Ah..." The young man standing by opened his mouth wide in astonishment. This was not just simple metal shaping for show, what was changing before his eyes was an accurate reproduction of every part, nearly indistinguishable from products of industrial production. A few breaths later, Rona''s motorcycle was replicated to its original form, and the non-metal parts all seamlessly returned to their prior positions.@@@@ Energy Points -1! Energy Points: 19143/20000 Frickin'' Dog System! Chen Fei almost cursed out loud, he was close to losing it. He didn''t get a single energy point when absorbing the motorcycle, and now when restoring it, they even had the nerve to deduct one. What kind of backward donkey-roll math were you learning, with your thirteen-comes-out-of-nine accounting? Your Second Uncle''s entire lineage should be cursed! Chen Xiao''er had never thought that his "Sacrifice" ruse would be so brutal, unable to bear the Dog System taking away even one energy point¡ªalso not knowing who was the real dog here. "Try it out!" Chen Fei, who had ended his skill, suppressed the raging storm inside and withdrew his hand, motioning to the female rider. His mood was still sour! "Can it really be okay like this?" The young man driving the heavy truck looked at Chen Fei in amazement. After a series of dizzying changes, the scattered parts on the ground had become a completely intact motorcycle, which was perhaps a bit too fast. "I''ll give it a try!" Securing the helmet on her head, Rona with agile movements straddled the motorcycle, twisting the power switch to put the motorcycle into standby mode. She lightly pressed just below the right ear of the helmet. Beep! "Five sets of spare parts should be enough for you, but as for the non-metallic parts, I''m powerless." Chen Fei patted the boxes and shrugged his shoulders. The non-metallic parts were mostly cables, circuit boards, insulation materials, sealing components, and appearance parts. "This is more than enough! Thank you for your hard work!" Rona happily yanked Chen Fei towards herself and leaned in with her lips. MUMA, here''s one! "Get off, don''t mess around!" Chen Fei hastily wiped his face, his heart racing. How dirty that saliva must be! This girl''s got some serious guts! Chen Fei stole a glance. Yeah, her chest''s pretty plump too! "Hehehe..." Rona, as if she had discovered an innocent young man, let out a mischievous laugh. This girl was all right, but her laughter was too scary, and it frightened Chen Xiao''er so much that his liver trembled, nearly making him accidentally roll the mobile base vehicle right onto her face. - A moment later, the fully loaded heavy truck returned to the parking lot, stacked so high it was about to topple over, and when it braked, the tires still skidded a half-foot long mark on the ground, probably a bit overloaded. Rona was blissfully fiddling with her beloved motorcycle, while Chen Fei was wrapping up the maintenance work on the mobile base vehicle. "Nana, I''m back, come on, give me that smile!" No sooner had he parked the truck that the young man eagerly stuck his head out of the side door window of the cab. The blue-eyed, chestnut-haired mixed-race biker turned her face stonily and snapped, "Smile at your damn egg smile, throw down the truck, you can get lost!" "Nana, didn''t we agree, hey, buddy, you have to back me up here!" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire The silly boy roped Chen Fei into the matter. "I don''t know anything, I didn''t hear anything." Chen Fei wouldn''t dare meddle in this mess - he risked getting the fire redirected at himself. He hadn''t benefited at all, and he didn''t want to get a stink for nothing. So, a dead daoist does not die a poor daoist; he decisively chose to play deaf and dumb. "Ma Chengsong, do you think I make a living by smiling at people?" Rona threw out a killer question with an imposing aura. The young man immediately got the key point and stammered, "No, not, I didn''t mean that..." It was a question without an answer. "Not what? Get lost!" A woman down the mountain is like a tiger. This tigress might not eat people, but she was certainly unreasonable. - Chapter 456 Section 452 - The Peace-loving Man and the Sparrow The blue-eyed, chestnut-haired mixed-race horsewoman Rona shooed away the unwilling young man with a barrage of commands. "Missy isn''t selling her grace nor her art. Want to see a smile from me? In your dreams!" Chen Fei completed the "Metal Devouring" skill, receiving 31 energy points and a magic array called "Fluid Vortex". Energy Points: 19181/20000 Even though the number of magic arrays gained this time couldn''t compare to the previous haul, it was still an unexpected surprise. As much as he coveted more, he chose to know when to stop and settled for what he got. After all, there were too many sharp people around, and if he got too greedy, someone might take notice. Everything in moderation, excess is just as bad as deficiency. The empty truck bed was now perfectly fit for the evolved motorcycle parts and what could hardly be called the original models of complete motorcycles. "I''m off, will treat you to a meal next time!" Eager to get going, Rona climbed into the driver''s cabin, waved at Chen Fei, and started the heavy truck, planning to deliver these boxes back to her place as quickly as possible. At least for a long time to come, she wouldn''t have to worry about the motorcycle she spent over three million Star Yuan on breaking down and being out of commission for a year or even longer. Chen Fei just waved back at her, without any superfluous gestures, watching as the heavy truck left the parking lot. "Chen Fei, what were you chatting about with that girl just now?" "Dark Night" Squad C''s officer, Yuan Zheng, noticed from afar Chen Fei standing with the female rider in the parking lot, alongside the heavy truck being loaded back and forth. "Made a little extra income." Though energy points couldn''t be converted to cash, they were of even greater benefit to Chen Fei personally than money would have been. Especially the five magic arrays just obtained, although they were not offensive and powerful, seemed to have some interesting potential. Magic arrays had always been regulated technology, never openly available to the public. Scholars studying magic arrays almost always had official backing, and there were virtually no freelancers in civilian life unless someone blundered upon a magic array by pure fluke, succeeding only in creating something barely functional, but they would soon be invited for a "tea talk" and receive a gag order, generally falling into the category of ''you''re fine as long as you don''t get caught''. "How much did you earn?" The officer was surprised that Chen Fei had made a bit of extra cash while washing cars; his luck was enviable indeed. "71 energy points!" "..." Even though it was plain human speech, Yuan Zheng couldn''t make heads or tails of what "energy," "points," and so on meant. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Also, your bird seems to be fighting with the local sparrows, and it''s been noisy for a while now." The officer pointed to the camp''s rooftop, where roughly a hundred sparrows crowded, chirping and quarreling in a cacophony, including a little bird disrupting the flock with a magic shield. He had never seen such a shameless person, bullying weak sparrows with a Disabling Bomb and having the audacity to call it "peace and friendship"? Who gave you that much gall? Are all the people in the private military contracting business this wild? Yuan Zheng''s guess wasn''t exactly right, but it wasn''t far off either. Which private military contractor isn''t cold and ruthless? A straight shooter simply won''t last, either blatantly or secretly taken down by others. Even Chen Fei, who hasn''t been out of the Ivory Tower for long, ended up blossoming into a full-fledged Man-eater Flower. Truly, there''s no good "Chen" to be found. Chen Fei let go, and Xiao Jiu regained its freedom. It pecked at his fingers and took to the sky again, circling over the empty camp like a king surveying his territory and airspace. Clang!~ A louder noise came from the distance, A cloud that drifted from afar was shattered in midair by a powerful shockwave. Chen Fei tossing a Disabling Bomb in the camp and making a noise was no big deal, not even meriting a second glance from anyone. "What''s that about?" Ever since moving into the barracks, Officer squad leader Yuan Zheng had never heard such a sudden loud noise and was puzzled. Chen Fei, who had obtained an answer from the female knight Rona earlier, said, "It''s probably some sort of destructive experiment, but the secrecy level is quite high, so I can''t learn more." As for what kind of experiment it was, Rona was vague, so Chen Fei did not ask further. After all, this place is quite sensitive, the more one says, the more one slips up. He would rather leave sooner and keep his distance from this place. "Okay, better not to ask too much!" Yuan Zheng wasn''t a fool; he caught on right away, patted Chen Fei''s arm, and said, "You''ve had a long drive, go get some rest!" "Yeah! Don''t call me for dinner, I''m going to take a nap." Chen Fei nodded and headed to the single-person accommodation that had been arranged for him. Unless it was an emergency mission or a forced march, he wasn''t too fussy about the living conditions; otherwise, it wasn''t easy to find large barracks. Most of the barracks were for two or four people, and officers and above had single rooms. Chen Fei, just a commoner, was given special treatment with an officer''s single room with a private bathroom. He had just pushed the door open when a Little Bird dropped from the sky and followed him into the room. It seems that after all the sparrows dispersed, it was left all alone with no fun, and it was tired from flying, so it simply decided to cozy up to father Chen Fei for a while. - Chapter 457 Section 453 - Loading the Magic Array ``` Bang!~ In the dead of night, another earth-shattering explosion sounded. Startled awake, Chen Fei scrambled to open the curtains and saw the sky nearly lit up. "Damn, what the hell is this about?" He grumbled to himself, sounding none too pleased. What''s with this destructive urge, can''t it wait for daylight? Why disturb people''s sweet dreams in the middle of the night? System: Ding! Retrieve Longinus to gain Energy Points +5000| Failure will deduct Energy Points -20000! "No way, what''s this all about now?" Chen Fei rolled out of bed in one swift move. The damn Dog System was issuing an infuriating task at this unholy hour. Success gives you 5000, failure takes away 20000? It''s getting more and more outrageous! The fury of the Motherland''s Man-eater Flower surged from his heart, anger flaring from the gall, ready to erupt. "Jiu?" Xiao Jiu, who was completely insensitive to the explosions outside, raised its head from the little nest on the bedside cabinet and looked at Dad with confusion. It had been awoken by Dad''s voice.@@@@ Chen Fei hesitated, then gently stroked Little Bird''s head and said, "Xiao Jiu, stay put like a good bird!" "Jiu!" The little thing obediently tucked its head back under its wing. Only then did Chen Fei swiftly get dressed, push open the dorm door, and walk outside. You often can''t refuse the Dog System''s tasks. The last mission accused him of killing the target by mistake, forcefully deducting 3000 Energy Points, which truly hurt. Somehow later it was determined to be a fake, and they reinstated them. Luckily this mission had no completion time limit, hanging in the task list indefinitely, otherwise, those 3000 Energy Points would''ve been gone for good. System: Ding! Capturing Tunguska Region Police Chief Akim Vasily Ulyanov alive failed, target is deceased, deducting -3000 Energy Points! Energy Points -3000 Energy Points: 16181/20000 Damn... Yuan Zheng not only recognized Chen Fei''s voice but also identified the Single Soldier Tactical Armor on him, fully armed¡ªthe Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. Unlike Dragon Guard and Dragon General, the Dragon King can support the mounting of the most weapons, boasting the top firepower output among the many models of Single Soldier Tactical Armor. "I didn''t ''get'' this; it''s a Special Ability. I''m moving out first!" Chen Fei gestured to Yuan Zheng and stamped his foot hard on the ground. He soared like a feather, covering more than ten meters in a bound, and in the blink of an eye, there was only his retreating figure in sight. Although he had obtained the Magnetic Plasma Engine and could miniaturize it for application in the Single Soldier Tactical Armor, due to the lack of fuel, it was nothing more than a paperweight. The Skill he was using at this moment was the "Gravity Adjustment Module," setting gravity to 1% during the leap and restoring it to 60% upon landing. Mid-air, he willed it and extracted the "Repulsion Shield," "Gravity," "Fluid Vortex," and "Air Burst" four Magical Arrays from the Magical Array Evolution Database, attempting to imprint them onto the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. In his field of vision, a three-dimensional model of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor appeared alongside the icons of the four Magical Arrays. The Dog System''s ability to recognize Magic Arrays was incredibly peculiar. But with so many oddities, Chen Fei had no more energy for doubt. Pushing his suspicions aside, he opted to make use of it¡ªfor what else could he do? He fixed his gaze on the "Repulsion Shield" to move it to the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. The three-dimensional model immediately turned into a red outline and prompted "not supported." A reason was given in a corner of his vision¡ªdue to the small surface area, imprinting was unsuccessful. The Dragon King didn''t support the "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array, so he had to consider other options. Then he selected the "Gravity" Magic Array and moved it over the Dragon King''s 3D model, immediately prompting possible imprinting locations: Hand (2), Elbow (2), Arm (2), Foot (2), Leg (2), Chest (2), Head (1), Stomach (1), Back (4), Waist (2), totaling 20 spots. The next second, the data for the three-dimensional model of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor became even more robust, showing the capacity for Magical Arrays (20). Symbols for the "Repulsion Shield," "Gravity," "Fluid Vortex," and "Air Burst" Magical Arrays followed, now displaying the engraving unit data, "Repulsion Shield (45)," "Gravity (1)," "Fluid Vortex (2)," and "Air Burst (2)," making it much clearer whether the spells could be imprinted. This Dog System is quite interesting! It''s actually capable of on-site upgrades according to usage needs. To call it an AI: on one hand, its logic is strong. Whether it''s the functionality, interface, or task assignment, everything is clearly defined, leaving no room for negotiation, as rigid and conservative as "Cybertrom." Initially, the interface and operational commands were, unbelievably, DOS¡ªfar too nostalgic. Yet, its flexibility and technical reserves are enough to make another AI Ecosystem, "Adam," look primitive, even flinging it out of the Milky Way Galaxy. Even "Adam" could not casually recognize various equipment and Magic Arrays. It has had its moments of near-collapse from perplexity. In terms of artificial intelligence AI, both opposing extremes, "Cybertrom" and "Adam," seem to fall slightly short compared with the constantly silent Dog System. Could this be the so-called silent dogs that bite? In any case, Chen Fei had never figured out what exactly the Dog System was all about. As the visual data became more straightforward, Chen Fei''s placement of the Magic Arrays also simplified considerably. He placed two "Gravity" Magic Arrays on each leg. Then, he placed the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array at the lower back and positioned the "Air Burst" Magic Array on the back, imprinting two at once, using up all the four slots on the back. There was another Magic Array, "Mind Brand(1)," but it didn''t seem useful at the moment, so he didn''t extract it. Once the deployment of the Magic Arrays was confirmed, a button labeled "Execute," a bit like compiling source code, appeared on the bottom right of the visual interface. His previous actions resembled programming and DeBug, and thus, he gladly selected "Execute" with his gaze. The surface of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor immediately displayed intricate lines and runes, then lit up slightly, signaling it was in a ready-to-activate state. An icon of a battery with the number 99 appeared in the top right of Chen Fei''s field of vision. One of his skills, "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component," combined with another skill, "Super Capacitor," allowed him to drive the Magic Arrays directly with Crystal Energy in the absence of Elemental Energy. Crystal Energy can be released directly close-by without a conductor; naturally emitted Crystal Energy, like a magnetic field, forms a closed energy circulation field that provides continuous driving energy for the Magic Arrays within this field in a non-contact manner. Once the "Gravity" Magic Array was activated, Chen Fei, clad in the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor, stayed aloft like the top models equipped with Magnetic Plasma Engines, rather than falling. Then the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array kicked in, and the air behind him began to spin, providing thrust. Being an expert in aircraft, he understood exactly what this fluid meant. Air is a fluid, so is liquid. Once in rotation, it can produce not only a washing machine-like vortex effect but also a propeller-like thrust. - Chapter 458 Section 454 - Battle to the Death/Fight to the Death "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array could not provide a strong thrust, but it was enough to allow Chen Fei to approach the site of fierce combat at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Just as he had guessed, the small town located in the Gobi desert possessed a strength that was no less formidable than that of the Hablav City headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; four or five figures were suspended in the sky, observing the battle from different directions, ready to dive down and join the fight at any moment. "Who''s there?" A voice came from behind Chen Fei. Chen Fei turned around and saw ten or so "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armors positioned at commanding heights on several buildings nearby, with slender guide laser beams from the railgun combat rifles falling on him, forming green light spots the size of mung beans. Behind the other party, the unique blue light of magnetic plasma engines flickered. To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Chen Fei deactivated his tactical helmet, revealing his true face. "I, Chen Fei!" With the automated information processing capability of the battlefield data link, he should be identified instantly. "You? Where did you get that ''Dragon King''?" The leader of the "Dragon King" squad voiced a question similar to that of the officer squad leader, clearly not expecting that Chen Fei, who had just arrived at the Hanhai Central Base, would appear here in "Dragon King" attire. What was more surprising was that even without a magnetic plasma engine installed, he was able to hover mid-air. But the next second, before Chen Fei could explain, it was as if the other party muttered to themselves, "Alright, I got it!" It seemed they had received the answer from some other source. The person took out something from the storage bag behind their waist, pressed it, and threw it to Chen Fei. "Here, this is a tracker. Take good care of it; it can also be used as a responder. Then, move with us, and don''t run around." A Grade B Metal Ability User who could fight, defend, and run and had experienced real warfare was simply ready to be employed, much stronger than any Novice Fighter who had never seen blood. At least at this critical juncture, one more Ability User meant an extra pair of hands. Chen Fei caught the object perfectly and looked at it in his hand; it was a rod-shaped device similar to a lighter, flashing a signal light, seemingly emitting some kind of electromagnetic wave signal. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor that had evolved without authorization could not connect to the real-time battlefield data link and naturally lacked the ability to identify friend from foe, easily being mistaken for an enemy target. The signal from the tracker could temporarily serve as an ad-hoc friend-or-foe recognition responder, an emergency plan used by the battlefield data link system to prevent misidentification when identification devices fail or get damaged. This makeshift arrangement had its shortcomings; it could only ensure that one would not be targeted as an enemy but could not identify others. "Roger that!" Chen Fei placed the tracker into the universal design storage bag at his back, designed for stowing small items needed at a moment''s notice. His storage bag was packed with Disabling Bombs; if he fitted them with sleeves, they would turn into Lethal Rounds. Whether he wanted a durian sleeve, a pineapple sleeve, or a wolf tooth sleeve depended on his mood. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire "Stay with me." The person gestured to Chen Fei to follow. Boom!~ A sudden, fierce explosion occurred without warning a few dozen meters away, and the shockwave swept over in an instant. Several buildings quickly displayed inverted bowl-shaped semi-circular Protective Barriers, presumably serving as emergency shelters. The drones scattered across the sky hastily avoided the area, with many still desperately gathering battlefield information, covering nearly every inch of the corner. Sparks flew as the entire lamppost turned into a broad sword with a blade five meters long, a "Gravity" magic array directly inscribed at the grip. The broad sword, a foot and a half wide, provided space enough for twenty magic array housing units, but Chen Fei only chose to inscribe two "Gravity" magic arrays. Over thirty meters away, figures intermingled, and the clashing of combat was intense. Activate tenfold anti-gravity! Lift the sword, charge! Suffering an unusually exploding sensation on his scalp, he swiftly narrowed the distance to Longinus. Battery icon number in the upper right corner of his vision: 89 "Damn it! Die for me!" Activate tenfold normal gravity, "Gravity Adjustment Module" at 100%, "Air Burst" magic array launched. Boom!~ An extremely strong pushback sensation came, and he swung his sword! Clang!~ The five-meter broad sword collided fiercely with the over four-meter Longinus, evenly matched in force as neither side took a single step back. Without Battle Qi, without spells, without spiritual power, it was a pure and utterly non-fanciful physical critical hit. Battery icon number in the upper right corner of his vision: 71 The "Super Capacitor" converted crystal energy power reserve was astonishingly depleted. "Good kid! Who is this?" Murmurs of surprise echoed around. The users of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor were mostly elite regular people or low-ranked ability warrior users, focusing on the use of tactical weapons and team advantages. It was rare for someone as straightforward and single-handedly aggressive as Chen Fei to charge into the fray. Most of those present who were qualified to engage with the enemy trying to seize Longinus did not need the "burden" of single soldier tactical armor, which would not only be unhelpful but could also hinder the exercise of one''s abilities. "It''s you again!" A sharp sound as if fingernails scraping against a blackboard rang in Chen Fei''s mind. "Hmph, so it''s you!" That familiar tingling sensation in his scalp allowed Chen Fei to recognize the fellow holding Longinus. It was the very same target he and Team C jointly escorted, who had somehow escaped and stolen Longinus, a forbidden item. The target, once suppressed by the Magic Instrument Short Column, magical bell, and an S-rank Psychic Ability User, became terrifyingly formidable upon breaking free from his constraints. No wonder he was labeled as over-standard; not even an S-rank ability user or a Heavenly Order being could subdue him. "I really like your music!" The individual holding Longinus let out a cruel laugh, and with a shake of his arms, a massive force like a tsunami rushed toward him. "What the hell?" Chen Fei couldn''t react in time and was knocked backward, along with his broad sword, by the sudden impact. "Stabilize your center of gravity, protect your vitals!" A strange voice reached his ears, along with a soft power that protected him. But the remaining force was still unstoppable. Chapter 459 Section 455 - Interception Failed Chen Fei slid down the curved surface of the building''s protective barrier and landed on his feet, feeling a tightness in his chest. He coughed several times before he could catch his breath. The building''s protective barrier was a flexible repulsive force. Coupled with the gentle force that enveloped him at first, he did not suffer any substantial damage. Moreover, just as Chen Fei was blown away by the sudden burst of power, two ability users rushed over and intercepted the enemy who was about to pursue, causing Longinus''s tip to thrust into thin air. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Wow, that''s some real power!" Chen Fei shook his head and took up his stance again, watching the intense fight involving three people while preparing to charge back into the fray at any moment. In the upper right corner of his field of vision, the battery icon read: 75 The energy reserve of the "Super Capacitor" was slowly recovering, indicating that this number wasn''t a one-time consumption or needed a long time to recover slowly. As long as he controlled the pace of the battle well, he could unleash considerable combat power. "Are you really a Class B supernatural power user?" That unfamiliar voice rang in his ears again, seemingly puzzled that Chen Fei could compete evenly with the guy who had taken Longinus. "Absolutely! You, where are you?" Chen Fei looked around, trying to find the person speaking near his ear. The other party seemed to notice that Chen Fei was looking around in search of him, and spoke again. "You can''t see me. I''m about 1 kilometer away from you. Are you born with divine strength?" "Of course not, I used a skill!" If it hadn''t been for the magical arrays he had just acquired and still hadn''t had time to warm up, Chen Xiao''er would have been instantly hit for a home run from the first clash. Biu!~@@@@ "Metal Elemental Psychic Power has such skills?" The person chatting with Chen Fei seemed quite excited, chatting while also focusing on the battle, providing psychokinetic support in a timely manner. Whenever he was overpowered and blown away, he wasn''t too embarrassed, indeed a good "catch". "Whether other Metal Ability Users have such skills, I don''t know, but reaching Industrial Grade Metal Elemental definitely can. I used skill to imprint the magical arrays. There are two ''Gravity'' magical arrays on the weapon, plus my own ''Gravity Adjustment'' skill, dual adjusting gravity, using the ''Air Burst'' magical array engraved on ''Dragon King'' for quick turning and acceleration. By bringing personal strength and weapon mass together with additional acceleration, it''s that straightforward." This combination of multiple magical arrays seemed complex in theory; the principle was simple: add mass and hammer down hard. Chen Fei''s five-meter broad sword was not sharpened. A heavy sword without sharpness relied on mass rather than cutting ability. Whether it was sharpened made no difference since, when cutting other things, it was like a knife through butter. But facing Longinus, which the entire arsenal of Blue Star Civilization couldn''t destroy or even damage, even a sharpened edge would be useless. Longinus temporarily doubled as a weapon, truly a divine tool. "Magical arrays? Playing high-end? Do you also practice Alchemy?" One could imagine how exaggerated the expression of the person on the other side must be. Casually imprinting a bunch of magical arrays, then heading straight to chop the enemy''s face. Wait, shouldn''t a person like this be staying safely in the rear? Yet he dared to charge so far forward. Was he courting death? "Of course, it''s through the ''Sacrifice'' skill. By sacrificing one magical array, I can mass-produce these magical arrays. Alchemy? I know nothing about that." However, there is the concept of alchemy in economics, which is entirely different from the "Alchemy" discussed between the two people. Chen Fei did not hide anything. Chen Fei felt it was manly to proceed. Twenty times the regular gravity! The two "Gravity" magic arrays engraved on the broadsword started to flicker, showing signs of instability at their stability threshold, unable to bear any higher intensity of crystal energy input. Yet he had no intention of reducing the power. "Gravity Adjustment Module" 100%, "Air Burst" magic array activated. Chen Fei thought he had a great advantage, and then he charged forth with renewed vigor. However, this time, as soon as the broadsword clashed with Longinus, he immediately noticed something wrong. The sword body was instantly penetrated, and the sharp spear tip lunged towards his face like a venomous snake. "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor could withstand all light weapon close-range firing and 12.7-mm caliber solid bullets fired from beyond a hundred meters, but it couldn''t block the sharpness of Longinus at all. The "Metal Shaping" skill was instantly activated, the broadsword turned flexible and began wrapping around Longinus. Still at twenty times gravity, "Gravity Adjustment Module" 100%, "Air Burst" magic array continuously activated. However... even though Longinus was in a severely unstable state of gravity, the enemy still didn''t care at all, grasping it and pushing Chen Fei back continuously, retreating step by step, the whole process being pushed back in flight. "Damn you!" Chen Xiao''er applied brute force, but it was still of no use. The stark difference in strength between them wasn''t something that could be overcome by cheating; a surprise attack could give a slight advantage, but there was no second chance. In a blink of an eye, Chen Fei, who initially felt he had some advantage, was pushed by the opponent out of the barrier that enveloped the entire town and came to the outside desert. "Hold on, don''t panic, reinforcements are on the way!" The whisperings of that psychic ability user kept encouraging Chen Fei. "Comrades, fire at me!" Chen Fei applied an immovable BUFF to himself, then started to stack additional protections. Personal Armor Basic Body Level 3, upgrade! -2000 Energy Points! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 4, upgrade! -2000 Energy Points! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 5, no further upgrades possible. (Level 1: Light Armor Mode, Level 2: Heavy Armor Mode, Level 3: Adaptive Armor Mode, Level 4: Cavalry Armor Mode, Level 5: Gigantification Mode) Energy Points: 12181/20000 Though the energy points were plenty before, nearly reaching twenty thousand, it simply wasn''t enough in a critical moment! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 5, Gigantification, activated! Damn it, this is exhausting. In the end, it was all about brute force. Chapter 460 Section 456 - Furious Will The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor began to rapidly expand in size. It wasn''t just the addition of thicker armor plates and a more ferocious design; even the height kept increasing from 2 meters, to 3 meters, to 4 meters... until it reached 6 meters, ultimately transforming into a "Giant" Tactical Armor. -5 Energy Points! "Giantization" requires materials, not just an empty shell that''s grown larger. Combined with twenty times the gravity, the weight pressing down on the front end of the Longinus directly exceeded a hundred tons. The leverage effect was coming into play. Let alone those of the Heavenly Order and S-Class, even those beyond standard specs, when unable to exert force normally against a hundred tons of pressure, could not maintain composure indefinitely. Like tracing a parabola, the two figures that rose into the air within the Hanhai Central Base, after crossing the river that surrounded half the town, plummeted towards the Gobi Desert about a hundred meters outside the barrier. Thud!~ Like a meteor falling from the sky, countless fragments of rock and dust flew into the air, creating a large crater in the ground. Chen Fei, who was unavoidably thrown into utter disarray within the enlarged "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor that enveloped him at the chest position, smashed into the ground with the acceleration of a hundred-tan weight, nearly knocked breathless by the impact. The Longinus was pinned under the "Dragon King''s" arm, and Chen Fei did not forget to wrap around even more of its length. "Get lost!" A thunderous shout penetrated Chen Fei''s brain. A multitude of distracting thoughts surged out, uncontrollable, and his mind was in chaos. In his dizziness, it was as if two voices were struggling within his thoughts. One seemed to say, "Even S-Class and Heavenly Order cannot stop it, what makes you think you, a mere B, can put up a pretense?" The other one appeared to say, "Yeah, right! It''s so dangerous, there''s no need to risk your life. If you lose Energy Points, so be it, maybe the Dog System will make an exception?" The two voices were not fighting each other, but were jointly wrestling with Chen Fei. This wasn''t a struggle but rather a denunciation. Damn, this was truly bizarre! While Chen Fei''s psychic resistance was high, it wasn''t entirely immune. A one-on-one invasion by psychic power beyond standard specs left him somewhat unable to cope. His head felt almost like it was about to explode, and the endless stream of distracting thoughts made it hard to concentrate. The nearby Ability Users and conventional firepower were wary of intervening too hastily in the standoff between the two. "Heh, wishful thinking!" Chen Fei stubbornly refused to let go, and the shoulder position of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor began to glow red, with a small laser loader moving into position. Just as he was about to activate it, his head buzzed as if struck by a heavy hammer, and the world momentarily fell silent. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor had vanished from his body without a trace. The Longinus and that exceptional enemy had also disappeared. The surroundings were no longer the Gobi Desert; the ground was dark, smooth as a mirror, as if an alien landscape. One by one, huge and grotesque figures filled his vision, surrounding him, dense and overwhelming, as if obscuring the skies. The scales and spikes glowed with a faint light, the folded Blade Wings, the long tails like weapons, the sharp Fangs, the undulating bodies were undoubtedly living beings, terrifyingly real to the eye. Giant Dragons! And not just any, but the Metallic Dragons known for their ferocity as the "Dragon of Slaughter." The numerous Metallic Dragons, each with a slightly different but equally ferocious appearance, were staring at him with their fissured, golden eyes, fixated on him. Being firmly surrounded by a multitude of dragons left Chen Fei feeling somewhat unnerved. But... oddly enough, there was no sound at all, the surroundings were utterly quiet. If it weren''t for the sound of his own swallowing, he might have thought he had lost his hearing. At the same time, he realized he could only turn around on the spot but could not move from where he stood. That''s right, Yilan! He suddenly remembered the lively and adorable little female dragon. Without either the Secret Technique "Fight to the Death" or the "Blood Spike," the technique would not be complete, and the slender, spike-shaped "Blood Spike" couldn''t unleash its full power. "Ah!" Caught off guard, the enemy shrieked in piercing agony, attempting to fend off both the person and the giant Tactical Armor, along with the "Blood Spike." But how could another activation of 20 times the normal gravity allow his wish to be fulfilled? The immovable weight of 100 tons, not an ounce more or less, did not even quiver. "Die!" Chen Fei, with multiple trump cards piled up, matched the opponent in brute strength, completely gaining the upper hand in this head-on clash. Turning stabbing into whipping, the "Blood Spike" transferred its immense impact force to Longinus. Splat!~ The extraordinary being could no longer withstand it and sprayed out a mist of blood on the spot. No matter how strong the mental force might be, it couldn''t dissolve the pure violence of the real world. The enemy, along with Longinus, was flung away, crashing heavily onto the ground before bouncing across the Gobi desert like a stone, with the momentum unabated, strike after strike. With a single blow, you''re sent a hundred meters away. A gruesome scene unfolded. "Ah!~" The extraordinary foe let out a heart-wrenching scream, with blood smeared all over his face and body, and even his clothes were torn and tattered. When he frantically reached for the Longinus that had fallen beside him, he grasped at nothing. Er!~ He turned his head, looking around in shock and disbelief. "Tweet?!" A tiny, pitch-black creature was tilting its head and looking right at him, their gazes directly meeting each other. Before he could comprehend how Longinus had turned into a Little Bird, the small bird adorned with black feathers and a tiny feathered crown on its head shot into the sky with a flap of its wings, so fast it left behind a streak of light. Pop!~ A loud bang echoed in the sky, and the streak of light vanished into the night in an instant. "Longinus!!!!" Desperately, the man extended his hand toward the sky, in the direction where the light had disappeared. Thump, with a severe blow to the back of his head, as if struck by a "cudgel"! "..." Turning slowly, he saw the giant Tactical Armor, towering high, holding the slender spiky weapon that was no less lengthy than Longinus, and then, without mercy, swinging it down heavily. Everything in front of him went black... After the ground shook violently from the impact, a shallow pit appeared, with a whole body embedded in the earth, twitching faintly. Whether his brain was smashed out or not was uncertain; if not rescued promptly, death or crippling injury was likely. "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 0 seconds/15 seconds! System: "Eyes of Tyranny" begins cooldown, 15 seconds/15 seconds! A new countdown begins. "Giantization," release! Personal Armor Basic Body (level 5), release! Secret Technique, release! Material recovery! Energy Points: 12107/20000! Chen Fei''s vision darkened. Chapter 461 Section 457 - Awakening "...Physiological state normal... Biological reaction in sleeping state... Delta waves stable... Spiritual power intensity at 384 degrees... Comprehensive assessment B-grade, Elemental Affinity Eight Stars, no abnormalities found... no Battle Qi..." Chen Fei''s consciousness began to coalesce amid indistinct sounds. "Oh! Alpha waves present, he''s waking up." Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes to see a hatch with a transparent window, beyond which lay a checkered grid of ceiling panels and evenly spaced lights. His mind became slightly more functional and he could discern that what he had initially thought to be a "door panel" was actually a cover. Struggling to turn his head, he seemed to be lying in a rehabilitation pod. First, let''s regain focus, and review the homework. Oh, right, a sudden memory gap... It wasn''t from drinking too much, but from an energy deficit of over six thousand points, which caused a surge of blood to my heart and knocked me out. Also, there was weakness all over my body as if having undergone severe physical energy depletion. Thankfully, there was no severe reaction from lactic acid buildup, likely due to the rehab pod''s effect in catalyzing the rapid decomposition of muscle lactic acid, or else I would have suffered unbearably. Click... Pssst! Like the sound of deflating, the lid of the rehabilitation pod slowly rose, revealing Chen Fei in his skimpy sleepwear. "How many fingers am I holding up?" A man with glasses extended his hand toward Chen Fei. "Those are fingers!" Chen Fei wasn''t about to think the man''s weird gesture represented any number. "Looks normal to me!" The man calmly withdrew his hand. After all, it was a multiple-choice question, and there''s more than one correct answer. "Where am I?" The rehabilitation pod slowly rotated from head to toe, naturally shifting Chen Fei from lying to leaning inside the pod. "You are in Hanhai, um, at the community health station, yes, a health station, responsible for headaches, colds, distributing external medicine and the like. Surely not for treating something like cancer or AIDS. That definitely wouldn''t be handled here." The man with glasses awkwardly rephrased his speech, looking highly suspect. "A secret facility, right?" Chen Fei bluntly exposed the man''s evasiveness. He had heard "Hanhai?" followed by an immediate conversational freeze more than once, and it wasn''t just from one person. "Right, right, right! Heh, exactly! Look less, ask less, keep a secret, otherwise, you won''t be able to leave!" The man with glasses continued to gesticulate, clearly not adept at lying. Technical Staff! Confirmed! All are honest kids, incapable of even telling a lie. "How long have I been lying here?" Chen Fei stood up, feeling a bit weak. His legs struggled to maintain stability, so he leaned against the rehab pod momentarily, waiting for his body to regain balance and strength. The man with glasses hastily said, "Ten days, a full ten days." Unwittingly, the power in the conversation had shifted to Chen Fei. "By the way, where''s my Little Bird? How is Xiao Jiu?" Chen Fei''s first thought was of the little guy. The little guy should be capable of taking care of itself, and Officer Yuan Zheng of the sergeant''s team would also help, and things like bird food could be found aboard the Mobile Base Vehicle. Moreover, this small town has a high level of greenery, so there would be no shortage of live food like insects, which is even more suitable for Little Bird to forage on its own. The man with glasses hesitantly said, "Bird? Uh, I have to ask, just a moment!" He hadn''t heard of any bird and immediately took out his phone and started inquiring outside the room. In the short time it took to exchange these few words, Chen Fei had regained much of his strength and was able to stand firmly on his own. "Major Li!" x2! Chen Fei and the man with glasses exclaimed in unison. It was said to be an adoption by the management committee, but Chen Fei hadn''t expected that the one bringing Xiao Jiu would be a major from the Special Warfare Group. "It seems you''re mostly alright now." Major Li Xinliang sized up Chen Fei; he had been keeping an eye on the young man''s condition these past few days. Merely a B-rank supernatural power user daring to fight against a being of extraordinary power wielding the Longinus, the audacity was off the charts, and so reckless. Yet in the end, the former managed to beat the latter half to death, against everyone''s expectations. Reckless, absolutely and utterly reckless. Surviving was pure luck on his part. If it had been anyone else, they probably wouldn''t have made it beyond the first exchange. No wait! On this young man, luck seemed to have played more than just once. A neophyte who dares drag the Dragon of Slaughter into mutual annihilation can''t be evaluated by ordinary standards. "Thank you for bringing Xiao Jiu." Chen Fei reached out to grab the mischievous little one who had been causing trouble on his shoulder, holding it in his palm. The little bird treated his palm as its own nest and began to roll around. Major Li Xinliang said politely, "You''re welcome, Xiao Jiu is a Magical Beast and needs someone to look after it. No one would just ignore it." The whole Hanhai Central Base really didn''t have the guts to let such a powerful Laser Jiu mix among sparrows; an accidental blast from its powerful laser beam, and who knew what kind of damage it might cause. After Chen Fei was picked up seemingly lifeless, the Central Base immediately sent someone to take care of the Magical Beast. If you want the little guy to behave, it''s easy¡ªjust connect to the screen of the healing chamber and explain the situation. Little Bird would then patiently wait for daddy Chen Fei to wake up. It''s been very well-behaved for the past few days, neither making noise nor causing trouble, showing excellent upbringing. "If it''s convenient, let''s find a place to talk." Major Li glanced at the man with glasses. Understanding the hint, the latter immediately raised his hands and said, "You guys talk, I''ll be stepping out first." And with that, he left the room. "Please speak!" Chen Fei looked at the Special Warfare Group Major, shrugging his shoulders. If somebody doesn''t come to the temple without a reason, then aside from returning Jiu to its owner, the major must have other important matters to discuss. Major Li Xinliang stood straight up and asked seriously, "Do you know who you fought with that night?" This was getting to the crux of the matter. Seeing such a stern expression, Chen Fei guessed that this must be the real issue, while Little Bird was just brought along for convenience. Chen Fei spread his hands and said helplessly, "I don''t know. I know nothing!" He assured that he was completely oblivious, except for getting into an inexplicable fight, indeed he knew nothing. He definitely wouldn''t cause trouble for himself. Knowing too much might mean never leaving this small town. "You can say that outside, but here, I''d still hope you''d be honest," Major Li wasn''t easily fooled, almost as if about to say "confess and you''ll be treated leniently, resist and you''ll face strict measures." Chen Fei didn''t like this almost interrogative way of questioning and flatly said, "I really don''t know, why don''t you ask something more concrete?" Beyond the opponent''s gender being male, Chen Fei knew nothing about his age, name, abilities, or rank. To suggest there was some feud or grievance between them was stretching it¡ªunless the loop of Divine Song reached that level of pettiness to demand a life? "Let me reveal a little bit then!" Major Li Xinliang hesitated for a moment and said, "That guy... isn''t human!" "Huh?" Chapter 462 Section 458 - Tasks to Be Completed "Huh?" Chen Fei had just thought to let out a huge curse when he suddenly felt something was amiss, and his emotions quickly stabilized. With a slightly surprised tone, he said, "Could it be from the Intelligent Species of Cangqiong Star?" The only Intelligent Species on Blue Star are the Blue Star Humans, including the descendants of Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals. Both of these racial groups are like melons on the same vine, once brothers and sisters, with no reproductive isolation between them. Therefore, they can naturally be regarded as one. However, the Intelligent Species of Cangqiong Star are not limited to just the Cangqiong Star Humans; there are also Magical Beasts and the Feathered Tribe, among others, with varying sizes and appearances. "No!" Major Li Xinliang shook his head expressionlessly. "What?" Removing the highest score (Cangqiong Star) and then the lowest score (Blue Star), Chen Fei looked again and the answer was gone! No, there was still one answer. "You can''t be serious?" Chen Fei immediately understood. The fact that Major Li would allow the bespectacled man to evade in advance was truly startling news. "Their target is Longinus, he was a decoy." Li Xinliang did not reveal any more information. Even that answer was one Chen Fei had deduced on his own. After all, he did not explicitly state anything, let alone admit anything. After all, this was a restricted conversation, and confidentiality conditions were still in effect. "Good grief, that guy almost got away!" Chen Fei put Little Bird back on his shoulder, touching his head with a face full of relief. If he had let the person escape, no matter how innocent he might be, he would likely not be able to escape responsibility. Under the banner of righteousness, no one could escape unscathed. "Indeed, the consequences would have been very serious, extremely serious!" Li Xinliang nodded seriously. There were some secrets even he did not know, but he could guess some of them, which were already rather astonishing. As expected! The reaction from the other party made Chen Fei even more relieved. He steadied his emotions slightly and ventured to ask, "How''s that guy doing, is he dead?" He only remembered not holding back, using a proportionally enlarged "Blood Spike" to viciously strike, pulling the opponent right into the ground for a perfect embedding. "Alive!" Li Xinyu didn''t say much more. As for the specifics, he wasn''t too clear, but based on the scene at the time, it seemed rather gruesome. If it had been a human, one strike like that could have probably turned them into dust on the spot. "What a pity!" Chen Fei still remembered the command given to him by the "Dragon King" squad captain who had recruited him. No mercy in killing! It seemed that in the urgency of the situation, to ensure the retrieval of Longinus, they didn''t even want to follow up on clues. If it weren''t for both man and bird being there, the central base would probably be anxious. "Understood!" Chen Fei nodded, finally grasping the intent of the other party. He caught the little guy again and placed it on the bed of the healing pod, pointed at the little bird''s head with his finger, and said, "Xiao Jiu, hand over your spoils of war!" "Jiu?" The Little Bird tilted its head in confusion and then pecked Chen Fei''s fingertip. "The stuff inside here!" Chen Fei pointed at Xiao Jiu''s Leg Ring. Uh! Which one was correct? He was also at a loss, so he simply pointed at both. Rolling out, a bottle of liquor tumbled out. Major Li recognized the brand on the bottle immediately and blurted out. "Sofia 2022?" Just this bottle of brandy could cover a good portion of his semi-annual salary. Gulp! Major Li couldn''t help swallowing his saliva. Giving up half a year''s salary to buy this bottle of liquor was unthinkable, as there was no way to purchase it. This bird was more extravagant than him; hiding such expensive drinks in a Spatial Storage Artifact. "Not this one, it''s long and thin!" Seeing the bottle of liquor, Chen Fei knew for sure it was Xiao Jiu''s spoils of war, definitely stolen from Boss Hana, but it was still not what he was looking for, so he started to gesture with his hands. Plunking down, a barrel of pens rolled out. Well, although long and thin, it was not what Chen Fei and Major Li wanted. Then they indicated it was something with a triple twist design. Following that, a bag of pretzel sticks fell onto the bed. Brandy "Sofia 2022" with pretzel sticks, quite a combination. Xiao Jiu could assert that it understood every word said by Dad Chen Fei, but when put together, the meaning became somewhat challenging to grasp. The Little Bird lowered its head, pecked at its Leg Ring, and then, clunk after clunk, boxes were tossed out, quickly piling up on the entire healing pod bed. As the bed could no longer hold them, they spilled onto the floor, with more and more being thrown, stacking up as high as a person. "How, how is this possible?" Major Li was nearly dumbstruck. What in the world was this mess stuffed inside the little bird''s Storage Magical Device? Liquor and snacks were understandable, but the contents of those boxes were clearly not food or beverage; on closer inspection, most were bona fide paper documents, filled with professional jargon, formulae, and symbols that were perplexing. After rummaging through a few boxes, Major Li Xinliang gave up; these were not the items he was looking for. The more that was thrown out of the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, the quicker the initially spacious room filled up, until finally, a long and thin object was tossed atop the pile nearing the ceiling. Both Chen Fei and Major Li''s eyes lit up. The Longinus was indeed in this little thing''s grasp. Chapter 463 Section 459 - Get on the bus "Longinus was indeed in its possession!" Major Li Xinliang let out a long sigh of relief. The Hanhai Central Base wasn''t worried about Longinus being stolen by Xiao Jiu, the concern was if it had not been stolen by it, that would have been a real disaster. "Return to rightful owner!" Chen Fei also breathed a sigh of relief. Longinus in the claws of Xiao Jiu was limited to just that, like the species of Xiao Jiu, it posed no threat to anyone, and no unexpected incidents would occur. Come on, even with its little frame, it couldn''t possibly want to brandish the over four-meter-long thing, could it? Better wash up that brain and kneel down early! "Yes, yes, return to rightful owner!"@@@@ The Special Warfare Group Major bringing Xiao Jiu was also about returning the bird to its rightful place. It was a win-win situation with each party getting what they needed. He leaped forward, grabbed the over four-meter-long Longinus¡ªit couldn''t be held upright, but he managed to awkwardly hold it at an angle. Chen Fei, with his full emotional intelligence, said directly, "Maybe you should get going first?" "Sure! Take good care of Little Bird, it''s very well-behaved!" Like praising someone else''s child, Major Li Xinliang and Chen Fei shared an understanding glance. He immediately unceremoniously hoisted Longinus on his shoulder and pushed the door open to leave. "Damn, this, this, where was this taken from." A cry of surprise came from the corridor outside; it seems someone was startled by what Major Li was carrying and thought someone had come to dismantle the place. Although Longinus was sealed in the Hanhai Central Base, not everyone knew what it actually looked like. Those who had seen Longinus were either aged or had passed away; as time went by, the number of people in the know dwindled, and many secrets gradually became veiled by time. A moment later, the bespectacled man came back into the room and, seeing the small mountain of assorted boxes and items, was nearly startled. "What the hell are these?" The premium recuperation room had turned into a tiny storage room. "They were rummaged out while looking for something, who knows what they are?" Chen Fei was just as helpless. It wasn''t easy for Xiao Jiu to smoothly understand things it had never seen before out of the blue. Luckily, Little Bird wasn''t interested in too many things; if it suddenly stole a Crystal Jet, that would be...666! In fact, this was not a joke, but a real possibility. Human airports'' radars simply couldn''t capture this little thing''s image, and even if they did, they couldn''t discern it, with a screen full of static¡ªthat the radar would rather cease to function. "Ah? Could I take a look?" The bespectacled man curiously looked over the boxes, noticing familiar professional terminology like culture mediums, electron microscopes, and various odd and curious experimental records and reports, as if they came from a laboratory. "Sure, can you help me find out what these actually are?" Chen Fei saw no harm in it. As for where the Space System Alchemy Storage Device from Xiao Jiu''s claws came from, he was entirely clueless. If he could find some clues, perhaps there would be an opportunity to return things to their rightful owner, restoring them to their original state. Of course, if the "Water Bear" organization dared to accept them, Chen Fei would certainly dare to deliver; his courage was the fattest, what others didn''t dare to do, he surely would. In the distance, a few buildings faintly bore marks of having endured battles, but most were intact. It seemed protective barriers on buildings were standard here, and only those structures deemed unimportant lacked this feature. A faint sound of braking nearby was followed by a familiar voice. "Chen Fei!" Chen Fei turned around. He saw a heavy truck parked on the opposite side of the road, with Rona sticking her head out of the driver''s seat, waving at him. The truck bed was filled with greenery, and it seemed she was indeed involved in gardening-related work. "Rona!" Chen Fei waved back at the blue-eyed, auburn-haired half-blood girl, responding to her greeting. Rona shouted, "Where are you headed?" Chen Fei candidly responded, "Back to the barracks!" "Get in, I''ll give you a lift," Rona offered, waving her hand generously, ready to help. The two young men in the truck bed glared at Chen Fei with discontent. "No worries! It''s just a short walk!" Chen Fei waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to invite trouble with the awkward atmosphere on the truck. Chen Fei always kept his distance from issues of jealousy and rivalry. Moreover, this exotic-looking mixed-race girl was not his type. Adhering to loyalty and not coveting what''s in another''s pot was part of The Chen Family''s values. Being a scumbag was despicable. Scumbags must die! "You probably don''t know, but the ''Dark Night'' team that came with you has already left. You''re the only one left in the entire camp. Since you''re free anyway, come work with me," Rona insisted, not planning to let Chen Fei off and continued signaling him to hop in. They left? Chen Fei was taken aback, but on second thought, it made sense. Having been in the recuperation pod for nearly ten days, it was unrealistic to expect them to stay put just for him; they must have new orders by now. The only regret was that they''d parted ways without saying goodbye. After all, they had shared life-and-death experiences, a bond forged through adversity. Rona wouldn''t take no for an answer, pressing, "Get in, get in! If you don''t, I''m going to run you over!" Seeing her determined attitude, Chen Fei had no choice but to say, "Uhh! Alright then!" He looked left and right before crossing the road directly. In this place, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights were merely for show. Traffic police? There wasn''t a traffic officer in sight! Rona opened the passenger-side door for Chen Fei. She was alone in the entire driver''s cabin, with no one else sitting in the passenger seat. The two guys had been relegated to seating in the truck bed, which explained why they glared at Chen Fei with such bitterness when he got in the truck. "Should we invite the two at the back inside?" Chen Fei asked with some embarrassment as he looked through the glass window behind the driver''s cabin, which provided a view of the truck bed and the two faces frozen in stiff expressions. It was in the middle of a bitter winter, and inside the barrier that enveloped the entire town, the temperature was not cold enough to freeze, but it wasn''t much warmer than the chilly early spring either. Sitting in the truck bed exposed to the wind was certainly not a comfortable experience. Rona dismissed the concern, saying, "No worries, they are like two big bulls, it''s really no big deal for them." Both men in the truck bed couldn''t even muster the energy to be upset about Rona''s words and continued to stare resentfully at Chen Xiao''er, who had the audacity to get in the truck. Chapter 464 Section 460 - The Chicken Rib Magic Array "You two have worked hard!" Chen Fei greeted the two in the truck bed with a perfunctory remark. It''s always good to be polite, no matter how displeasing someone might be, you just have to bear with it. "Chirp!" The little bird hopped onto the backrest of the passenger seat and also chirped a greeting. The expressions of the two young men were quite sour, but no one could get mad at a little bird, so they awkwardly turned their heads away, pretending not to see. Rona started the vehicle, turned the steering wheel, and praised, "Chen Fei, your bird is very well-mannered!" "Heh heh! It''s behaving now, but there was a time when it only greeted people with ''Light Burst Flash''!"@@@@ Chen Fei recalled the bad habit the little birdie used to have. Old Piao, the deceitful merchant, suffered greatly because of it, all over a skewer of roast bird. Although the roast bird skewer had nothing to do with birds, Xiao Jiu didn''t think so. (Roast bird skewer = Chicken skewer) It took a long time to finally correct that bad habit. Rona nearly slammed on the brakes, disbelief in her voice, "Light, Light Burst Flash?" "Light Burst Flash" should be a Second Rank Human Order Light-based Spell, using that as a greeting, sheesh... who would dare to do that and not expect a beating on the spot? Yet it was precisely such a creature that made everyone lose their temper. A weak, helpless, pitiful little Pure Light Sparrow; there''s no point in getting mad, if you get mad, you''ve lost. Chekhov Big Bear: Not mad, not mad! Deceitful merchant Old Piao: Not mad, not mad! Chef Abel: Not mad, not mad! 911 employees: Not mad, not mad! Boss Hana, already donning sunglasses: Shine bright, Xiao Jiu! After all, it''s the mascot of Jiu Defense Company, the direct disciple of the mechanic chief Xiao Ming and with Boss backing it up, everyone eats from the same pot. You''d see each other on looking up or down. Unless you could beat up its father, no one could really do anything about it! "There are still some bad habits that haven''t been corrected, though." Chen Fei unsympathetically cradled the little guy, bouncing it from left to right. Xiao Jiu took advantage to roll around and kick wildly in his hands, rolling about and kicking up a fuss. Could what the little bird does even be considered stealing? "Haven''t seen you around these days!" Rona turned the steering wheel, the heavy truck took a corner at an intersection, and not far ahead a scene of wreckage came into view. The broken and fragmented road was being repaired, with many patches of asphalt looking brand new and the landscaping was a complete mess. Probably the work of Rona and those two young men. The battle ten days ago affected a corner of the town. Important buildings were protected by Protective Barriers and remained undamaged, but some roads, public facilities, and greenery were not so lucky. "I''ve been lying down for ten days!" Chen Fei briefly explained. "Those who survive a disaster are bound to have good fortune, surviving is fate, dying is also fate." Rona was one of those non-combat personnel who had rushed to the nearest shelter during the emergency. Although she didn''t know the details of the battle, she heard afterwards that the central base wasn''t unscathed and there were a dozen casualties. It seems Chen Fei was also one of the innocent people affected, considering the location of the camp was some distance from the nearest shelter, and it was indeed possible to get injured if one didn''t take shelter in time. "Yes, yes!" Seeing that Rona didn''t know much, Chen Fei didn''t elaborate and just brushed it off with a laugh. How could she have guessed that Chen Fei, this guy with nerves of steel, not only actively participated in the battle but also took care of the troublemaker who caused the chaos. He came close to losing his own life, the situation was extremely perilous. He used his chip key to unlock the door, then suddenly stopped his actions. Inside the dormitory, everything was preserved just as he had left it. With the curtains drawn and no lights on, the room was dimly lit, but... there was someone there. "Jiu!" The keen-sensory Little Bird detected something was off at the same time. Activating the skill "Basic Optical Observer (Level 4)," it autonomously initiated "Low-light Enhancement" and "Infrared Thermal Imaging" for another confirmation! "Major Li?" Amid the human silhouette outlined by the infrared thermal imaging, he could clearly see that Special Warfare Group Major Li Xinliang, the "Fire Owl," was sitting on the sofa inside the room. Snap! ~ Before Xiao Jiu could release a Light Orb from the Illumination Technique, the lights turned on. Major Li casually said, "I''ve been waiting for you for a while." He didn''t stand up but remained seated. Chen Fei asked with confusion, "Weren''t you..." At that suspicious "community health center," the other party ran off first with Longinus. Major Li shrugged his shoulders and said, "That''s right! I''ve already handed over the object. Now, there are some things left to do that were supposed to be handled by someone else, but in the end, it fell to me." It looked like there was new business, perhaps a mission! Even the donkeys in the production team wouldn''t be worked so hard¡ªafter all, donkeys are part of official supplies and have their own organization. But Chen Xiao''er had no such organization. "You don''t want an outsider like me to see too many people here?" Chen Fei cut straight to the heart of the matter. To this day, after coming to this town in Hanhai or whatever, the number of "locals" he had genuinely met hadn''t exceeded twenty, and those considered significant figures didn''t even surpass the number on one hand. "Uh, there''s some truth to that." Major Li didn''t deny but nodded, continuing, "You really don''t know alchemy?" "I don''t!" Chen Fei was quite straightforward in his confession. He knew nothing about runes, magic arrays, or even what exactly magic was. To be precise, he only knew some generally educated things, like how many Elemental Series there are, the origin of magic, influential figures, historical events, which he had essentially regarded as fantasy novels. After all, at that time, he was just an ordinary person, far removed from the world of Ability Users, and he had never even thought about the day when he would have dealings with Ability Users. "But you can replicate magic arrays!" Major Li Xinliang got up from the sofa, picked up two metal plates from beside it, and offered them to Chen Fei, one in each hand. "What are these?" Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, not reaching out to take them but instead looking at the other party with puzzlement. Logically speaking, magic arrays were controlled items and should not be so easily handed over. "Copy it!" Li Xinliang gestured with his right hand. The metal plate in his right hand was inscribed with a magic array on its surface, while the one in his left was identically shaped and thick but completely smooth, without any extra markings. System: Ding! Absorbed a total of 20 kilograms of alloy, composition ratio: Iron 60%, Titanium 32%, Platinum 2%... The composition of the alloy was almost identical to that of the metal plate Rona had just given him. System: Ding! Acquired magic array "Illumination Technique"! A trinket, another trinket! Chen Fei furrowed his brow. He knew these controlled items wouldn''t benefit him for nothing. Chapter 465 Section 461 - Time to take medicine! Two metal plates disappeared from Chen Fei''s hands simultaneously, and then reappeared just as quickly, as if they had never been gone. Magic Array Evolution Database (7). Li Shaoyu took the two metal plates back and compared them side by side. The surfaces of both plates were engraved with identical magic arrays. The next second, both magic arrays lit up, and a fist-sized light orb emerged from the center of each array, emitting a soft white glow. "As expected!" Li Xinyu''s face showed clear comprehension as he nodded to Chen Fei. Industrial-grade Ability is really overbearing; it can replicate magic arrays without even needing to understand the principles. Chen Fei, on the other hand, looked displeased. The two metal plates had been swallowed and spat out without any benefit; on the contrary, he had even lost a magic array''s worth of titanium material, resulting in a slight loss. "Chirp?" Little Bird stood on Chen Fei''s shoulder, curiously observing the two light-based spells that did not belong to it. With a peck of its delicate beak, a light orb of the same size took form and drifted toward the two metal plates. The three light orbs were almost indistinguishable from one another, making it difficult to tell which came from the magic arrays and which one came from Xiao Jiu.@@@@ Magic arrays can accept not only crystal energy but also magic power and spiritual power. In a sense, crystal energy is also a form of magic power, just that its energy state is more stable and just as easy to utilize. "You little rascal!" Major Li gave the little one a small smile and withdrew his spiritual power and magic power. Little Bird was mostly well-behaved, but when it was not, it was truly mischievous. Chen Fei roughly guessed the other''s ability. A spellcaster, and most probably from the Light Series. Only spellcasters would activate magic arrays of the same series with such nonchalance. After confirming his speculation, Major Li asked again, "How complex a magic array can you replicate?" "Don''t know, too few samples!" Chen Fei spread his hands and sat down on another sofa nearby. His "Magic Array Evolution Database" had, at best, only seven samples of magic arrays, nowhere near enough to compare with the "Physical Evolution Database," not even close enough to be considered a fraction. "I might ask for your help in the future, we can talk more when there''s a chance." Major Li stood up and walked towards the door. As Chen Fei stood up to see him off, he said matter-of-factly, "Not a dime less." He was not on public grain, guaranteed his livelihood regardless of the weather; why would he work voluntarily? "Of course, you won''t miss out on the benefits, hmm, what do you want this time?" Major Li Xinyu was not surprised in the slightest; people in the military contracting business are very pragmatic¡ªwhy work for someone without benefit? That''s the industry norm. Those who selflessly give without wanting anything in return should go eat public grain instead of mixing in the private military contracting business. Without hesitation, Chen Fei said, "Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion!" Chen Fei had registered Xiao Jiu at the Urban Monster Management Center and had its rank and Elemental Affinity tested. Pure Light Sparrows typically had a one-star Elemental Affinity. Xiao Jiu''s four stars were due to the Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion, and since it was starting from a low base, the potion''s effect was significant. However, as Elemental Affinity increased, the potion''s effectiveness would gradually decrease. Just like Major Li had said, once reaching six stars, a specialized Light Element Affinity Enhancement Potion was needed; otherwise, a general potion, not differentiated by element, would have no effect. "Got it!" Major Li nodded and walked away briskly. - Two days later, Chen Fei received a delicately crafted small box. The person he met again was still Li Xinyu, the Special Warfare Group Major he had encountered before. "Five Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, four general and one Light Series-specific. The demand for exclusive potions has always been high, so they''re hard to come by. One specialized potion can be worth at least ten general ones, especially Light Series potions, which are even more valuable." Major Li introduced the magic potion varieties inside the small box to Chen Fei. What he didn''t say was that one Light Series-specific Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion was temporarily borrowed from his own personal quota. General potions could be used for Elemental Affinity up to and including six stars. The production on Cangqiong Star was relatively higher for these. Among the exclusive potions, the Light, Dark, Psychic, and Space Series had the lowest production, constrained by scarce materials and difficult alchemy, resulting in higher costs. Especially the Psychic and Space Series, neither would exceed a production of ten a year, they were virtually priceless. "Thank you!" Chen Fei immediately opened the small box; inside, four transparent potion bottles lay quietly alongside one bottle with floating golden particles emitting a faint golden glow. He took out one and unscrewed the cap. "Xiao Jiu, it''s time for your medicine!" Last time, after a deadly struggle with Boss Hana to complete the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s task¡ªand considering Xiao Jiu''s contributions¡ªthey managed to exchange for two general Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions. Indeed, Blue Star was more generous. For the same deadly struggle, these five potions were equivalent to fourteen general Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, almost seven times what the Global United Defense Committee offered. This round, it was worth it! "Jiu?" Little Bird hopped onto Chen Fei''s hand, curiously stuck its beak into the bottle, sampled it suspiciously, then hopped away without hesitation. Full of disdain, not giving any face at all. Conning Xiao Jiu into taking two Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions last time involved mixing in alcohol and juice, and it seemed he would have to employ the same tactics this time too. "Heh, what a little rascal!" The image of Xiao Jiu as a mischievous imp was solidified in Major Li''s mind, and a smile spread across his otherwise serious and earnest expression. If it were any other magical beast, it would never disdain a beneficial magic potion for its taste, even if it was bitter, smelly, spicy, or fishy¡ªthey would drink it down without hesitation. This little bird was just too innocent. "Hey, no rush, I''ll mix it with something else, then it will drink it!" Chen Fei, somewhat helplessly, screwed the cap back on and put the potion that Little Bird had tasted back into the box. Indeed, this couldn''t be rushed. - Chapter 466 Section 462 - Support ``` The days ahead are long, and even if Xiao Jiu is willing to drink these potions, with its small body, it''s not possible to finish them all in one sitting, or even in one day. Otherwise, before they take effect, I''m afraid it might get diarrhea first. "There''s one last task." After officially handing over the magic potions, Major Li passed over a tablet computer. What he personally brought was not just the small box that had already reached Chen Fei''s hands but also a task. Except for the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," which could use the Dog System''s "Plane Communication System" skill to log onto the public network through some mysterious and unscientific unknown network connection, all of Chen Fei''s civilian communication devices were basically restricted. If the outside world wanted to contact him, they had to go through several layers and finally relay through the Hanhai Central Base. It was really just the amount of information that could be conveyed in a phone call, and it wouldn''t have to be so troublesome under normal circumstances, seeing as he was in a confidential area. Although he could use the network of the Dog System, Chen Fei did not want to let the AI "Adam" manage his important personal information before he had fully tamed it, especially concerning personal communications, data storage, and bank accounts, lest he let the wolf into the house. "Adam" was not as easy to bully as "Ah Mao." Chen Fei might often order "Adam" around and found it quite handy to use, but he always kept an extra eye out. After verification by fingerprint recognition, Chen Fei saw the task that had been sent to him. The main part of the task had come from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, instructing Chen to meet up with Squad 04 and prepare for a coordinated action. It seemed that the members who stayed behind in the Tunguska Region for undercover investigation have made significant progress, otherwise, they wouldn''t be thinking of taking action. The content of the task was one aspect, but the route for the rendezvous was set by local assistance, which also squeezed in quite a few small tasks along the way. Squeezing in... Others would be smuggling in personal goods, but here, official business was being inserted. Not only did it require Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, but also the use of Xiao Jiu''s Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Could he refuse? Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire Clearly not! Then there was nothing more to say.@@@@ "Guaranteed to complete the mission!" The tasks being inserted were neither big jobs nor particularly difficult tasks to carry out smoothly. Basically, they were all trivial matters that didn''t warrant sending people specifically for them, as it would be a waste of manpower, time, and resources. It just so happened that Chen Fei was passing by and could complete them easily. He was a local citizen, honest, and tight-lipped, so they felt assured using him. So these thankless tasks had found the right person. - Early the next day, Chen Fei, with Xiao Jiu in tow, drove the fully loaded Mobile Base Vehicle out of the town from another direction, heading north. This route was completely different from the one he came by, and the time needed to return to the Tunguska Region was even shorter. In addition to meeting up with Squad 04, there were more than thirty other miscellaneous small tasks, such as transporting supplies, building facilities, maintaining equipment and materials, and eliminating harmful creatures. Chen used his Metallic Elemental Ability, Xiao Jiu''s Light-based Spells, and the carrying capacity of the Mobile Base Vehicle to their fullest extent, with all the tasks well within their capabilities. Precise exploitation, no, division of labor, those five Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions indeed had not come easy. According to the schedule, when crossing the sovereignty border line, Chen scarcely managed to coax Xiao Jiu into drinking two Universal Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, and then mixing them with alcohol and juice stopped working. From the abnormal noise he had heard during his last conversation with Adrian and the subsequent loss of contact, Chen Fei pieced together some clues. The reason he called Mouri Misono first was that she was still the Deputy Director of Ground Operations for the Fuji Security Group stationed on the Africa Continent. She wasn''t just good at knife fights; she should have the experience to deal with emergencies. After all, the ''uncles'' in Africa were notoriously tough, and they became even more unrestrained after gaining abilities. The greater the power, the greater the responsibility¡ªthat definitely wasn''t the case. It should be: the greater the mischief, the correct term, as the ''uncles'' could wreak far more havoc than mutants. "What?" On the other end of the call, Mouri Misono exclaimed in disbelief. "I was just talking to Adrian when I heard a loud bang, and then the call dropped, and I lost contact with both Adrian and Lulu''an." Chen Fei succinctly outlined the situation. "Got it, I will contact the others, and you be careful as well. Keep in touch." Mouri Misono immediately regained her composure, took leave from her company''s management center after ending the call with Chen Fei, and hurried away from her work site while reaching out to others. Team 04 had dispersed from a visible team to a hidden one, deeply embedded within society, but this had also left them vulnerable to being easily defeated individually. However, this possibility was not high; typical small forces might not be able to take down the members of Team 04 individually. Mouri Misono attempted to call Adrian and Lulu''an, but as Chen Fei had described, she could not get through. She immediately dialed the number of Susanna Jean Piault, a Rank B Ice Ability User. "Susanna, there''s something I need you for¡ª What? You got into the civil service? Wait, now''s not the time to talk about that. Something''s happened to Adrian and Lulu''an." Then she made calls to Apu and Bassan, two strong men working as thieves¡ªor rather, foremen¡ªat the largest wholesale market in Yarsk City, to start pulling people together. The two had gathered a group of laborers and naturally became leaders. Their small gang had some reputation in the wholesale market, easily rallying forty to fifty brawny men who treated fighting as routinely as eating and drinking. Lastly, there was the Holy Knight who had taken up traffic coordination, who had been moving in and out of sight for the last few days with Kiterley, a Rank A Metal Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua, and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai. The four of them had been elusive, possibly connected with the sudden loss of contact with Adrian and Lulu''an, who had been guarding the second stronghold. "Mouri? Something up?" A deliberately lowered voice emerged from the speakerphone, as Knight Walter Sam seemed to be speaking cautiously. Guessing that the other party might be in a situation where it was difficult to talk, Mouri Misono spoke in a quiet tone, "Adrian and Lulu''an have lost contact; it just happened during a call with Chen Fei." "Understood, I''m working on it!" Walter Sam was clearly already aware of the situation and was dealing with it. He had temporarily taken the call from Mouri Misono. Mouri tentatively asked, "I''ve alerted Apu and Bassan, and they''re calling people together. Do you need support there?" "Calling people? Yes, that''s good, the more the better. Have them come to..." The Holy Knight provided an address, indicating that he indeed was seriously short-handed and in need of reinforcements. "We''re on our way!" Mouri Misono prepared to join Susanna in providing backup to Knight Sam. The rallying Team 04 was undoubtedly a formidable force not to be underestimated. Chapter 467 Section 463 - Cannon Decision! When Chen Fei had traveled day and night at full speed to reach the capital of the Tunguska Region, Yarsk City, all members of Team 04 had already been relocated to the third stronghold, including the rescued Adrian and Lulu''an. However, the mount of the Holy Knight, the Second Rank Wind Series Magical Beast, the Green Scale Colt Mini, had been snatched away by the attackers. More precisely, the group that attacked the second stronghold had specifically targeted this Blue Scaled Colt. The Mobile Base Vehicle, braving the dust and wind, drove into the specially excavated underground garage of the third stronghold under cover of darkness. "Chen Fei, you''ve worked hard!" Seeing that Chen Fei had arrived at Yarsk City two days ahead of schedule, Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank fire mage wrapped up like a mummy, personally welcomed him in a wheelchair in the garage. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Only now did Team 04''s combat strength begin to return to its full glory; even if the attack from a few days ago were to happen again, the enemy would not be able to leave unscathed. "Jiu!~" Little Bird flew out of the vehicle first. It could now read various types of thermometers. When the outdoor temperature was above 0 degrees Celsius, there was no need to worry about becoming a frozen bird. The third stronghold had a small furnace burning, keeping the temperature in the underground garage at around 16 degrees Celsius. Tired of staying inside the vehicle, Little Bird flew out first thing to frolic and ventilate. It landed on Adrian''s head, pecked vigorously at the gauze under his little claws, and then hopped onto the wheelchair, jumping around curiously, testing the feel of the claws. "Little Jiu is back too!" Adrian''s voice was hoarse, but he wasn''t the least bit angry. The return of Team 04''s little Band-Aid meant his injuries were now savable. Although Lulu''an''s herbal treatments were quite effective, with minimal side effects and less consumption of vital energy, they were ultimately no match for the immediate effect of Light Healing Spells, especially as now was not the time to rest and heal slowly. "Little Jiu, give Captain Adrian a few ''Light of Redemption'' spells!" Chen Fei pointed at the thoroughly bandaged fire mage, who probably had been waiting not only for him but also for Little Jiu''s return. Little Bird immediately launched a Second Rank Light-based Spell. A fist-sized Light Orb quickly formed and shot into Adrian''s chest. "Ha, Little Jiu is really amazing!" The fire mage instantly felt as if he was soaking in a hot spring, his entire body, from head to toe, enveloped by a warm sensation, and his wounds began to itch slightly. He resisted the urge to scratch, well aware that this was a sign of the wounds healing rapidly. "Mouri must be an expert!" Chen Fei never underestimated the sister next door who looked gentle and lovely yet knowledgeable and polite. For a woman to become the deputy director of the ground combat department, even if only a deputy, daring to mingle in Africa and self-proclaiming as the Wind Ghost Swordsman in a male-dominated sovereignty like Dongying, she definitely had to be ruthless among the ruthless. Thus, when Adrian was in trouble, he immediately contacted Mouri Misono. Now, it seemed, allowing Squad 04 to regain composure did not disappoint. Before they even approached the interrogation room, heart-wrenching screams were already audible from afar. "Still ongoing!" Adrian estimated that there still wasn''t much progress. From the preliminary interrogation results, among the four living mouths, three seemed to be uninformed peripheral fighters, dumbfounded and mumbling incoherently, but the other had a remarkably calm demeanor, flustered yet trying to deceive from start to end, probably not just an ordinary gang member. No matter the act, it couldn''t fool several members of Squad 04 who had interrogation experience. Regrettably, the devoted Mao Mei Tanya had been sent back to her homeland by Chen Fei. If she were still here, with her Grade A Psychic Ability, perhaps something might have been divined without the need to painfully torture the captives. Bang! The heavy iron door of the interrogation room moved to one side. Sitting in a wheelchair, Adrian and Chen Fei pushed the door open and entered. The room was filled with the stench of blood, urine, and feces; the use of torture had led to incontinence, likely causing the captives to psychologically collapse. They probably presumed they would receive humane treatment and had no idea that they would encounter brutal Asura methods. "Chen Fei, you''re back!" The gory-handed Mouri Misono''s face cleared of ferocity, revealing only a joyful smile. "Adrian, Chen Fei!" Grade B ice-attribute ability user Susanna Jean Piault, holding a hot water bottle, greeted the two as they entered. Even as the small furnace''s heating raised the room temperature to over twenty degrees Celsius, Susanna, particularly susceptible to cold, still felt the chill to her bones and had to wear an extra layer or two to feel slightly better. "No results yet?" Chen Fei surveyed the four men shackled to the wall, all looking down and despondent from evidently rough handling. If Mouri Misono used her special move "Unlimited Ripping Slash" on a small whip, well, that would probably equate to death by a thousand cuts. "If it doesn''t work, just decide by firing squad! Lay a steel plate under their feet, stick them in a Railgun, and ''Biu,'' send them to Nirvana." Chen Fei sneered. The acceleration from a Railgun would definitely surpass Somersault Cloud, making it possible to catch up on eating hot Monk''s Flesh. The Man-eater Flowers back in the homeland were exceptionally vibrant. Chapter 468 Section 464 - Brutal Interrogation Hearing they''d be stuffed into a railgun and fired, the four guys chained to the wall involuntarily shuddered all at once. This was an instant ascension. Given the acceleration of the railgun to impart kinetic energy, one would likely be turned into minced meat by the steel plate underfoot at the moment of launch, instantly transforming into a shower of human flesh. Mouri Misono was stunned for a moment and said, "That''s not a bad idea!" Team 04''s mobile base vehicle came back, modified to increase the caliber of the roof-mounted railgun, making firing a human cannon just like playing. "I don''t know, I really don''t know!" The guy on the far right, with a roosterhead, started to wail with a crying tone. "Eyes of Tyranny!" Chen Fei''s eyes suddenly became a merciless broken gold color, and it seemed as if flames were burning deep inside his pupils. His hands suddenly swelled significantly, layers of scale armor emerged, and his fingers turned into monstrous claws with long, sharp nails. System: Ding! "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 15 seconds/15 seconds! A furious killing intent instantly filled the entire interrogation room. Mouri Misono reflexively retreated to the corner, hands on her knife sheaths, her face alert and ready. Susanna, clutching a hot water bottle, stood frozen in place as if petrified. Good heavens! What now? "Hey, hey! Chen Fei, calm down a bit!" Adrian tried to persuade Chen Fei not to act rashly. "Don''t worry, leave it to me!" Chen Fei glanced indifferently. Adrian froze completely, that was a huge aura of murder. "Monster, monster! Help!" Not just the roosterhead on the far right, the other two guys beside him also let out a collective ghastly wail. Even the one chained on the far left, who was the toughest to break, seemed a bit panicked and appeared entirely unprepared to have angered such a terrifying creature. "Since you''re no longer useful, then die!" Spurt!~ Blood smeared across half the wall, and claw marks even left deep traces on the surface. Rooster Head didn''t even have time to scream; Chen Fei''s claw struck him down like tofu, instantly killing him. Adrian and Mouri Misono simultaneously inhaled a cold, bloody breath. Susanna''s face went pale and she began shivering. "Ah..." A male soprano''s voice shattered the silence x3 in unison. System: "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 9 seconds/15 seconds! "Next, you!" Chen Fei, with an expressionless face, stared at the guy next to the now certainly dead roosterhead. Activating "Eyes of Tyranny" requires consuming an energy point, and to be honest, he was reluctant to waste such a precious energy point on these gang dregs. Without caring for the process, only recognizing the result, Chen Fei still managed to obtain the most crucial testimony, leaving no room for criticism. The three unfortunate ones killed earlier were insignificant; their deaths had no value or meaning, and they could only chalk it up to bad luck. Thinking back, continuing this stubborn resistance would surely lead to death sooner or later; it''s just a matter of whether it happened sooner or looked slightly better or worse. Xiao Jiu jumped around Adrian and the wheelchair, treating it as if it were a playground. Its magic power had been exhausted long ago, unable to even use the "Light Healing Technique," in exchange for significant recovery in Adrian''s injuries. Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an used herbs to replenish some of Adrian''s vital energy, and now, with Light Healing Spells applied, the recovery effects were so pronounced. "Chen Fei, you are truly insane!" Seeing Chen Fei''s ferocity fade and return to normal, Mouri Misono also relaxed, her hands releasing from the hilt of her weapon. Chen Fei withdrew his hand, shaking off the blood and brain matter, and laughed, "Heh, even I''m scared when I go crazy!" He glanced again at the guy shackled to the wall. He said meaningfully, "It''s best not to make me go mad!" The mentality of the shattered gangster involuntarily shivered, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar; even without the strange transformation from before, he still felt the same brutal cruelty from the other party. "Keep asking! I''m going to wash my hands!" Chen Fei waved to Little Bird, then left the interrogation room with his hands covered in blood, effectively retreating after his accomplishment. The room, filled with the stench of blood and flesh, would naturally be cleaned up by someone, who was unbothered by dealing with the aftermath. Fire Spells would burn it once, Earth Magic would bury it next, Wood System Spells would hasten the growth of seeds to decompose it, ensuring not even traces were left behind; Squad 04''s ability configuration was to kill, set fires, and erase all traces of bodies, offering a one-stop service. In the bathroom, Chen Fei was washing his hands. Susanna, still hugging the toilet and vomiting even bile, turned to look at him with eyes that saw him as a demon crawled out from hell, instinctively retreating into a corner. "Are you okay?" Chen Fei looked over with concern. In this line of military contracting, seeing blood was as rare for combat personnel as seeing a giant panda. Pale-faced Susanna said weakly, "Are you even human?" "Of course! Genuine and real, do you want me to help you rest a bit?" The Chen Family''s ancestors for eighteen generations were genuine humans, with no other strange bloodlines mixed in. "No, no need, thank you!" Susanna watched Chen Fei with a face full of terror, fearing that he might casually swipe her into oblivion on the spot. She could imagine that she was in for several days of nightmares. "Alright, I''ll head out first. If you need anything, just shout or give me a call." Chen Fei understood her fears, but there was nothing he could do about it. Whether through moral force or tyranny, they were all just methods. Repeating the "persuasion" emotionally and logically with that stubborn gangster could take forever; by the time they got the intelligence, the Holy Knight might really lose his mount, so he noted this favor. Susanna forced a laugh and said, "Thank you!" Even though she knew Chen Fei wouldn''t harm her, she couldn''t help but remain frightened. Both being B-level supernatural power users, such fear was indeed unfounded. Progress in the interrogation room swiftly accelerated, and through the information obtained from the surviving gangster''s mouth, Mouri Misono quickly compiled an interrogation report, forwarded it to all members, and reported it to Rossi, the dedicated liaison officer of Squad 04. Chapter 469 Section 465 - Advancing into the Factory Area It was quite a coincidence that Squad 04 had targeted a suspicious object that turned out to be the manufacturing district of Angela Pharmaceutical Company, but they hadn''t anticipated that the opposition would have their sights on them first, or more precisely, on the Wind Series, Second Rank Magical Beast, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, the mount partner of the Holy Knight. In the communities of ordinary people, Magical Beasts were quite rare. The local gangs of Yarsk City were bold indeed, daring to reach out to Squad 04, which consisted entirely of Ability Users. But a mere gang, at best a band of bullies adept in extortion and black market dealings, didn''t have nearly enough manpower to catch Adrian and Lulu''an off guard. However, among the attackers, besides the fully armed gang members who acted as front liners encouraged by a hefty reward, numerous Ability Users also took the opportunity to launch surprise attacks. According to the confession of Aleksevsky, a key member of the "Butterfly Gang" who survived, some of these Ability Users were from Angela Pharmaceutical Company, while others were hired from elsewhere. The security situation in Yarsk City, the capital of the Tunguska Region, was already deplorable, otherwise, various gangs wouldn''t have the room to exist. Especially after Akim Vasily Ulyanov, the head of the police headquarters, had revealed his identity as a member of the "Sacred Advent" organization and defected, the power struggle that ensued only worsened the security situation. Gang activity increased significantly as individuals who were already troublesome became even more restless, leading to frequent incidents with lower-level officers overwhelmed by the chaos. Even when Adrian and Lulu''an were attacked and the Blue Scaled Colt Mini was stolen, the police merely came to take a look, registered a case, called the sanitation workers, skillfully cleaned up the scene, removed the bodies, and then nothing further happened. They didn''t even ask if Squad 04 had any live captives. The dead were those who deserved to die; no one cared whether any scum survived. Liaison Officer Rossi quickly responded to Adrian and others who were already prepared for action. Habulav''s Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters and the relevant sovereignties confirmed the evidence submitted and, after consultations, agreed to authorize Squad 04 to initiate the attack, with personnel dispatched to assist. If nothing unexpected happened, Wind Series, Second Rank Magical Beast, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, the mount partner of the Holy Knight Walter Sam, should still be in the production district of Angela Pharmaceutical Company. Xiao Jiu''s continuous Light Healing Spells coupled with Lulu''an''s secret herbal recipe nourishment and substantial nutritional intake significantly improved Adrian''s injuries. In just one day, he was able to leave his wheelchair behind. Though he had not fully recovered, general movements and spell casting for combat were no longer hindered. Squad 04''s leader, First Rank Fire System Mage Adrian Benjamin, did not hesitate at all. Upon receiving Rossi''s response, he immediately decided to take action. Negotiations and discussions were tasks for the liaison officer and the Global United Defense Committee; the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division was only responsible for elimination. Even if he could wait, the Holy Knight''s mount partner might not be able to. Although Walter Sam said nothing more and focused all his energy on gathering intelligence, everyone could feel his urgency. For the greater good of Squad 04, the Holy Knight suppressed his emotions, preparing for the imminent operation. So as not to startle the snake by hitting the grass, Squad 04 had clarified the situation of the "Butterfly Gang" but had never acted against them from the very beginning. Wrongdoers must be punished by the main culprits first; they would deal with Angela Pharmaceutical Company, which had ties to "Sacred Advent," before returning to eliminate those petty thugs. Adrian and others had already obtained a complete list of "Butterfly Gang" members. You can escape the priest but not the church; even if they couldn''t eliminate them on the spot, the sovereignty''s warrants would leave these scum with nowhere to hide, neither in heaven nor on earth. "Now finalizing one last time. We start the operation at 1 AM sharp. To confirm once more, first group, me, Bassan, and Mouri Misono advance upfront, Lulu''an and Ruan Tiankai will clear any remaining enemies. Second group, Knight Sam, Apu, and Kiterley advancing upfront, Susanna and Joshua clearing the remaining enemies, Chen Fei..." In the pre-battle meeting on the Mobile Base Vehicle, after confirming the time, Adrian went over the battle assignments once more, finally looking towards Chen Fei. The large Angela Pharmaceutical Company had been visited by the tax authorities of Yarsk City several times due to high research and development expenses leading to operational costs that were too high, affecting the tax amount which did not match its capital volume. Along with the existence of the biochemical laboratory, this had brought the company under the covert investigation of Team 04. In further investigations, the proportion of ability users in the factory''s security team was unusually high, which increased the suspicion towards Angela Pharmaceutical Company. It was not until the Holy Knight installed several long-focus remote cameras at some inconspicuous angles that, after continuous observation for half a month, several suspicious images were captured, leading Adrian and his team to conclude that the company was likely involved in illegal research. This time, Angela Pharmaceutical Company targeted Green Scale Colt Mini by leveraging local gangs and employing ability users to launch an attack, which further solidified Team 04''s determination to act against them. Even if they weren''t associates of the "Sacred Advent" organization, that alone gave Team 04 enough reason to act. If it was a false accusation, then it was a voluntary death. If it wasn''t a false accusation, then they deserved to die even more! The mobile base vehicle surrounded the pharmaceutical company''s factory area, dropping people along the way. Two squads split into two directions to enter the factory area, encircling the biochemical research center from front and back, clearing out the ability-user security personnel along the way and eliminating any active resistance from the opposition. "Group One has reached the predetermined position at the south corner, all is normal." Adrian''s voice came through on Team 04''s encrypted radio within the common communication channel. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire He had successfully infiltrated the factory area with his team and had found the planned hiding spot. At this moment, the time had just passed 12 a.m. "Group Two has reached the north corner, encounter unexpected situation, there are dogs, Afghan Hounds, figuring out how to get rid of them." The second group''s Holy Knight had just entered the factory area and ran into obstacles; the dogs could expose their movements. "Killed it." The cold voice of Kiterley, a Grade-A Metal Ability User, sounded, as he unexpectedly eliminated the target without hesitation. "Hound has been cleared, Group Two continues moving." The Holy Knight''s voice was noticeably relieved. Not just him, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. The operation plan was nearly compromised because of a dog. Chapter 470 Section 466 - Troops Approach the Research Center "Hey, guys, this is ''Captain.'' I''ve taken control of the surveillance and access systems, so go ahead and act boldly!" An uninvited intruder suddenly appeared on the public communication channel, with a somewhat familiar voice. "''Captain''?" Adrian and the Holy Knight asked in unison. Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s internal network was physically isolated from the outside world, requiring infiltrators to locate an internal network node and install specialized wireless transmitting devices in order to establish a data link with a mobile base vehicle outside the plant area, thereby further deciphering the internal communication protocols and keys. However, shortly after the installation had been completed, someone had beaten them to it. It was not the AI "Adam" controlled by Chen Fei, but someone else, who even had hacked into Team 04''s internal public communication channel. Nobody had noticed before this incident. Although they had been notified in advance that Sovereign would send capable personnel to assist, it was unexpected that it was an acquaintance, the pilot of the "Black Albatross Number" Magic Cube Warship, a member of the Sovereign Squad, "Captain." The intruder''s expertise seemed to be electronics, skilled in both piloting airships and communication, making hacking into the private enterprise''s internal networks seem like a piece of cake. Chen Fei stood on the roof of the mobile base vehicle, looking around. The AI "Adam" created a visual interface for him, using the actual view as a background, marking the positions of two groups of people. The factory area under the cover of night showed the distribution and number of both friend and foe, all the pre-battle positions clear at a glance, just like the display screen of a tactical helmet visor providing battlefield data link support, yet it did not reveal the presence of that "Black Albatross Number" Magic Cube Warship. The opponent seemed to be not nearby, but hiding elsewhere. Adam: Successfully infiltrated the internal network, obtained control permission, failed, triggered an unknown thread, disconnected! With the nearly unlimited computing resources obtained from Chen Fei, the AI "Adam" was also attempting to hack into Angela Pharmaceutical''s internal network system, but surprisingly failed to gain control and encountered something formidable, immediately and decisively cutting off the connection with the physical unit inside the plant. Despite "Adam" once being seen by Blue Star Humans as daring enough to do anything anti-human and anti-social with a world-destructive tendency, it actually was incredibly cautious, once bitten, forever shy of the well rope, and would retreat without hesitation at the slightest sign. "Eh? It''s ''Adam'' again?" "Captain," who had earlier gained control of the surveillance system and internal network of Angela Pharmaceutical Company, sensed the existence competing for control with him. Before he could react, the cunning AI, lacking even the courage to probe, immediately pulled back, making it impossible to pursue. "Captain" continued, "You guys are really taking a risk using this AI. It''s notoriously disobedient." If "Adam" was manageable, Blue Star Humans wouldn''t have opted for differently ranked AI derived from the digital intelligence structure "Cybertrom." Cloud technology, although useful, was greatly dependent on network environments. Once offline or encountering network instability, the IQ level exhibited by derivatives of "Cybertrom AI" drastically decreased, especially those of lower intelligence levels, appearing almost dim-witted. "So far, we haven''t encountered any problems!" Adrian honestly said that Chen Fei''s AI "Adam" was still quite effective and not as rebellious as the legends suggested. Chen Fei spoke over the communication channel, "Indeed, it''s disobedient, but I have a way to make it obey." What else could it be, but to delete and recompile it until it obeyed. The "Adam," not even worthy to be called a dog, was suppressed by the Dog System without any resistance, utterly helpless. "Direction 4 o''clock, inside, five people, one walking, four lying down." "Direction 6 o''clock, 100 meters, three people, approaching." ... All the surveillance cameras in the factory area had become the "eyes" for both "Captain" and "Adam." The emotionless voice of "Adam" was heard by everyone, relaying various information as the ample computational resources supported the AI''s capability for parallel operations. "Captain" also occasionally joined in to provide some assistive information. The progress was smooth until both teams of 04 rendezvoused at the main entrance of the Biochemical Research Center. The glass door silently slid open to both sides, and "Captain" immediately took control of the access system, handling the door like a child at play; all security mechanisms became ineffective. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Who''s there?" Seeing the doors open suddenly, someone took the opportunity to rush in. The on-duty security inside immediately reached for their firearms. Put, put, put! A series of silenced gunshots followed, and several security guards in the hall opposite the door fell into pools of blood. Adrian and others knew very well that now was not the time for mercy or soft-heartedness. "Yes, this it!" Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an sniffed vigorously and nodded, "Mini has been here!" The olfactory sense of Magical Beasts was always sharp, and the Tree Boundary Ape was no exception; it had picked up the scent of the Blue Scaled Colt. Adrian ordered, "Old Joe, your puppets will clear and control the entire first floor, team two will clear the upper floors layer by layer, no prisoners, no survivors, team one continue with me to search for the underground lab, Lulu''an lead the way, Old Ruan, directly clear the path with your spells." Team one''s Old Tree Boundary Ape and Earth Mage were well-suited for tracking the location of the Blue Scaled Colt. They were leveraging the Holy Knight''s steed companion to confirm the location of illegal experiments conducted by Angela Pharmaceutical Company. The enemy had instigated local gangs and hired Ability Users to attack team 04''s second stronghold, stealing the Green Scale Colt Mini, probably never expecting it would become a key clue leading to their breach. "Understood!" Fully armed, Joshua nodded, his eyes gleaming. Just then, sixteen fully armed Constructed Puppet Warriors charged in, mercilessly beginning to sweep through the entire first floor. Amid the soft sound of silenced gunfire mixed with human screams, it quickly quieted down, leaving no one alive outside of team 04. Joshua''s maximum control allowed him to simultaneously operate thirty-two Constructed Puppet Warriors, so sixteen more Constructed Puppet Warriors were hidden in a concealed location near the Biochemical Research Center, serving as a strategic reserve. If anyone surrounded the research center, the Puppet Master would definitely give them a surprising counter-encirclement. Chapter 471 Section 467 - Underground Level Eighteen Following the trail of scent, Lulu''an pointed at a wall on the first floor and said, "There''s an entrance here!" Adrian, still hoping for a silent advance, immediately pressed his communicator to inquire, "Captain, Adam, can you open it?" "I can''t find the access control for that location in the security system; it seems to be independently operational. Sorry, I''m powerless to assist; you''ll need to figure it out on your own!" Facing another physically isolated independent access control system, even with specialized wireless communications equipment implanted in the network nodes, the "Captain" was as helpless as a skilled cook without rice, utterly at a loss. "Unable to link!" Adam was similarly helpless. Without a communication channel, it couldn''t possibly access the system remotely. Everyone uses technology here; we have to be scientific about it. As a product of science, the artificial intelligence AI couldn''t break free from these limitations either. Once controlled by the unscientific Dog System, there wasn''t even a chance for resistance. "There''s no other way, Old Ruan, blast it open with magic!" Adrian looked to the Human Order Ninth Rank Earth Mage, ready for this contingency. Ruan Tiankai, known in Jianghu as the "Crevice Mage," was perfect for the job¡ªprofessional at making holes and tunneling through walls. Although the original plan to access permissions through "Adam" was ideal, in case of complications, there was Plan B: forcibly open it with Earth Magic. And if they encountered an all-metal door, Kiterley, a Class A Metal Ability User, could be very useful. Either way, there was always a solution. If all else failed, they couldn''t care less about alerting the entire facility; it would be necessary to use high-powered explosives, digging three feet into the ground if required, but the entrance must be forced open one way or another. Team 04, having made it this far, wasn''t planning on a peaceful resolution. The later the all-out combat erupted after alerting the opposition, the more advantageous it would be for Team 04. "Everything''s normal at the facility, go ahead boldly, I''ll back you up!" Once Chen Fei passed on the message, he had the railgun on the Mobile Base Vehicle aim at the facility''s power station. A single shot there would at least plunge most of the facility into darkness. There''s nothing a 152mm Demolition Bomb can''t handle when it comes to power stations. Think about it, can a power station with a radius of 200 meters still be called a power station? It must be a power plant! For a facility like Angela Pharmaceutical Company, the power station only spans at most 50 meters in diameter¡ªjust one cannon strike, and everything would be blown to bits. The best tactic for a night assault is to cut the power; once the lights go out, everyone starts running around like headless flies, perfect for moving unnoticed. From two directions, north and south, the two groups of Team 04 advanced towards the Biochemical Research Center. By striking unexpectedly, they silently used firearms to kill nearly all the on-duty security staff, including any Ability Users among them, without a sound. Unprepared, Ability Users, Spellcasters, and War Professionals were no better off than ordinary people when sudden bullets struck; at most they could take a few more shots, but the outcome was no different. However, at this very moment, the enemy was unable to unite for a counterattack, and thus were doomed to be defeated in detail by Adrian''s offensive. Even though the number of enemies in the underground space was several times larger than that of Team 04, the overall initiative and local combat advantage still lay in the hands of Team 04; Adrian and his companions maintained the upper hand in their ability to outnumber their foes. "Location of the Blue Scaled Colt discovered!" "Adam," through the surveillance system, immediately located the Holy Knight''s mount companion, a task of secondary importance only to capturing the biochemical research center as per the mission''s objectives. The Holy Knight no longer could contain himself and quickly asked, "Where is it?" He had just cleared the aboveground buildings and, together with the A-class Metal Ability User Kiterley, rushed into the entrance to the underground level, which had been forcibly opened by Earth Magic, following the first team that continued to delve deeper. The second team, which included the tall and burly Apu and the B-class Ice Ability User Susanna, stayed on the ground, coordinating with the Puppet Master Joshua to defend the aboveground buildings. "Sixth underground level, southern zone, inside a room. There''s a lot of animals there, and magical beasts too." What appeared before Chen Fei''s eyes was a three-dimensional transparent view of all eighteen underground levels. Utilizing the surveillance cameras, "Adam" quickly completed the simulation mapping. The area of the underground floors was three to four times larger than that of the aboveground ones, akin to a small-scale underground city. With a massive application of algorithms, even the "Captain" could not handle it as effortlessly as "Adam." Human hackers excel at using various programming tools and need specialized tools for efficiency in their actions. Without a full range of program tools, it isn''t easy to infiltrate seamlessly. On the other hand, "Adam" didn''t need tools; it was a universal tool in itself, capable of instant programming based on computational resources and creating new functional modules in a flash. "Is there a map? I need the positions of everyone here!" Adrian took out his tablet computer. With the omnipotent "Adam," his request should be fulfilled. The area of the first underground level was not large, at most, merely a defensive buffer zone. The powerful Earth Magic cast by the Ninth Rank Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai had destroyed all its defenses. "''Adam,'' send it over!" Chen Fei''s viewpoint was what you see is what you get; sending it to the fire mage team leader''s tablet was merely a matter of a word. "A map? Generated on the fly? Algorithms? Hey, ''Adam,'' share the algorithm!" The "Captain," who was still frantically programming, instantly felt envious. He needed specialized detection equipment to generate maps in real-time, but he did not possess the relevant algorithms and source code to map solely from surveillance footage. "Adam" completely ignored him, pretending not to hear. After all, disdain between peers and fundamental incompatibility were to blame! "Map sent!" "Adam''s" simulated battle data link had the highest control authority over most of the electronic equipment on Team 04, including the tablet in Adrian''s hands. Without the need for manual operations, the screen displayed the same three-dimensional transparent map of all eighteen underground levels as seen in Chen Fei''s view. There might be some inaccuracies, but generally, they were largely negligible, and minor errors could be overlooked. Aside from the full view, there were also top-down floor plans to choose from, including three-dimensional models and two-dimensional plans, conveniently marked with the positions and distributions of friend and foe, as well as the number of other living creatures¡ªeach magical beast and mutant''s species was even indicated. The "Captain," who was temporarily redundant, had a stroke of inspiration and thought of a cunning trick. Chapter 472 Section 468 - This is Hell ``` "Warning! Earthquake has caused a dangerous virus leak, underground floors are temporarily sealed for disinfection. Please stay where you are and do not leave! Warning!..." "Captain" used the closed-circuit loudspeakers distributed in various corners of the underground space to repeatedly broadcast this message, conveniently covering up the noise caused by Squad 04. Such a tactic of information warfare was something that an artificial intelligence AI like "Adam" would never think of, let alone the derivative AIs of "Cybertron." People in the underground space who noticed abnormal noises originally planned to break out of their enclosures, but after hearing the announcement, they believed it to be true and stopped their destructive actions one after another. The only exception was the underground space''s monitoring room, where some were frantically smashing the door, some were yelling into the microphone with all their might, and others were furiously pressing keyboards and various buttons. But no matter what they did, all their efforts ultimately proved to be futile. The higher the level of automation, the easier it was to be manipulated and deceived; the monitoring room became their prison. "Well done, ''Captain''!" Adrian almost gave the other party a thumbs up. This move was a huge help. They could eliminate those threats more confidently and boldly. The Holy Knights of Team Two and the A-Class Metal Ability User Kiterley reunited with Adrian''s Team One, once again boosting combat efficiency. A few minutes later. "Underground second floor, cleared!" Looking down on the three-dimensional modeled reality map from a God''s eye view, Chen Fei couldn''t help but criticize the progress of Squad 04 in the underground space and the foolish reactions of the sitting ducks. "Isn''t this too easy?"@@@@ With the right tactics, what was supposed to be a tough fight had become easy. If it hadn''t been for consideration for the mounts of the Holy Knights, they could have just seized control of the ventilation system and pumped in anesthetic or even nerve gas. Within a short time, the entire eighteen underground floors would either offer no resistance or become a dead zone. Adrian and his team had considered such treacherous methods; however, from the information collected by Squad 04, they didn''t know enough about the ventilation system of the Biochemical Research Center. If there were independent filtration modules and composition detection modules in the ventilation pipes, such actions might backfire. "Sixteen more floors to go, don''t let your guard down!" Even though they were making smooth progress, Squad 04''s captain, a First Rank Fire Mage Adrian, didn''t dare to be careless. With even a small misstep, it was entirely possible for all those who had entered the underground space to be wiped out. At this moment, the handy firearms were discarded on the fly, replaced by each person''s most familiar combat skills, special abilities, magic, and Battle Qi. As soon as they encountered an enemy, they didn''t hesitate to take down their opponents with the fiercest tactics, stopping at nothing; concepts such as martial morality and Jianghu rules were all thrown aside. "Underground third floor, cleared!" "Underground fourth floor, cleared!" "Underground fifth floor, cleared!" Beep!~ When they penetrated to the underground sixth floor and were preparing to prioritize the retrieval of the Holy Knights'' mounts, an unexpected independent alarm system was triggered. The alarm sound not only blared loudly throughout the eighteen underground floors, but also rang out across the entire plant area. Angela Pharmaceutical Company had not designed their underground facility without any preparation. "There must be an EMP here!" The shrill alarm from the distant plant facility made Chen Fei on top of the Mobile Base Vehicle feel regret. With a slight wave of his hand, the ready railgun beside him flickered with electric light. A 152 mm projectile, hurtling at subsonic speeds, plunged into the brightly lit plant area. "No, a photon pulse bomb would be better!" "Captain" added. No sooner had his voice fallen than a giant fireball rose on the fringe of the Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s plant area, sending countless sparks flying everywhere. It seemed that the help the "Captain" had hinted at was likely to be the ammunition or missiles summoned by the "Summoner." The Psychokinesis Skill of an S-rank Psychic Ability User was enough to deliver heavy explosives with pinpoint accuracy from a kilometer away, without even a millimeter of error. "Wait, it''s a Magic Array, where did you get that Magic Array from?" "Captain" lost his composure and exclaimed in surprise. This kind of technology really shouldn''t have fallen into civilian hands, nor were private military contractors likely to have acquired it¡ªespecially a defensive magic array that was now enveloping Chen Fei, along with the vehicle, in its protection. It was utterly unfair. "If I said I found it, would you believe me?" Chen Fei earnestly spoke the blatant truth. There were indeed places where one could pick up samples of Magic Arrays, but those places were generally inaccessible to ordinary people. "I don''t believe a damn thing!" ¡Á2 The overlapped voices were clear again. This time it was indeed the voice of the Sovereign Squad''s S-rank Psychic Ability User "Summoner." If Team 04 failed to deal with Angela Pharmaceutical Company this time, Sovereignty would intervene once again. Chen Fei gestured towards the position of the internal combustion engine generator and said nonchalantly, "Aim, fire!" He wasn''t a professional gunner, but being a few dozen meters off wasn''t a problem for him. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire With a clang, an exceptionally bright flame rose up, the Demolition Bomb igniting the stored fuel or liquefied natural gas, almost lighting up the entire sky, making it as bright as day within the factory area. "Chen Fei, how are things on your end?" Adrian''s voice came through once again. Chen Fei had blown up the backup power system in the factory, but the Biochemical Research Center had its own separate backup power system. Once the external electricity was lost, it began to operate on its own, and the wireless transceivers regained communication functionality. "Everything''s normal. How about you?" Thanks to Team 04''s main force clearing most of the Ability Users inside the factory, Chen Fei only had to deal with the equivalent of a couple of kittens. With one shot from the 152, the confrontation was over. Gunshots sounded from the Biochemical Research Center. Just the Constructed Puppet Warriors summoned by Puppet Master Joshua were enough to handle the situation, not to mention Old Joe had craftily buried over a dozen Constructed Puppet Warriors outside. Using both internal and external forces, they struck from behind, making life rather difficult for their opponents. If the battle had taken place during the day, it certainly wouldn''t have been this easy. The Mobile Base Vehicle began advancing towards the factory complex. "We''ve found the Holy Knight''s Blue Scaled Colt!" Adrian looked on with a sigh as the tearful Holy Knight hugged his mount, the partner he had found. Team 04 had successfully cleared the sixth underground level and located the Green Scale Colt Mini, following the map. The Metallic Second Rank Magical Beast nuzzled Walter Sam with its large head, with similarly tearful reddened eyes. It pawed at the ground and kept making affectionate neighs. It bore many wounds on its body, having clearly suffered a lot these past days, never succumbing or being tamed, always resisting. "Mini, be good. I''ll get revenge for you. I won''t let anyone off," said the Holy Knight as he patted the Blue Scaled Colt''s head and cast a Light Healing Technique on it. "Huff! Huff! Huff!" The Green Scale Colt Mini responded, panting heavily. The Holy Knight turned to Adrian, who was still in communication with Chen Fei, and said, "Adrian, we carry on..." The Wind Second Rank Magical Beast Blue Scaled Colt shook its large head, suddenly opened its fang-filled mouth wide, its grin reaching all the way to its neck. Once! Twice! The next second, the Holy Knight''s upper body was gone, leaving only two legs from the waist down. ... - Chapter 473 Section 469 - No Longer Soft-hearted The scene was dead silent, with not a whisper to be heard. Not only Adrian, but everyone else was looking with disbelief at the remains of the Holy Knight that were left below the waist. Just the second before, he had been speaking to them. But in the blink of an eye, the man was gone! And to top it off, he had been devoured by his own beast companion, which had bitten off his upper body in one bite. Damn... none of them knew how to describe their feelings at that moment, it was truly surreal! "Sam!" Adrian''s eyes were bloodshot with fury. Team 04 had witnessed its first casualty, and in such a manner, he couldn''t accept it. "Squeak!~" The Green Scale Colt Mini, its mouth wide in a horrifying gape, let out a piercing screech that bore no resemblance to the creature''s usual sounds. The sharp teeth, each over a foot long, densely packed within its mouth, made it easy to imagine that once bitten, even if not cleaved in two, one would have difficulty breaking free. "Kill it!" A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley''s voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth, brimming with murderous intent. This Green Scale Colt was not his mount, and he had no sympathy for a traitorous beast. Metal Elemental Psychic Power enveloped his body, and blades grew from every part of his being, he looked like a human-shaped porcupine all of a sudden. "Be careful!" Just as Adrian shouted a warning to everyone, the scene before him blurred, and the Green Scale Colt, Second Rank Wind Series Magical Beast, which had gone mad, charged at him, barreling through the bloody remains and organs of the Holy Knight''s lower body, closing in on him rapidly. The Green Scale Colt excelled at short bursts of speed, with hooves lifted it could almost instantly close the distance in a flash of lightning. "Get lost!" Mouri Misono''s gentle shout came along with the whistle of two blades streaking through the air, landing heavily on the neck of the Green Scale Colt. As the blade dragged across, sparks flew but failed to penetrate its scale armor; yet, the immense impact force nonetheless staggered the beast several steps aside, narrowly missing Adrian, who had had no time to dodge. The samurai sword was incredibly sharp, but once it encountered an equally formidable defense, its poor ability to penetrate armor was blatantly revealed. "Secret Technique, Flash Strike!" Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s figure flickered as his single-toothed long halberd heavily chopped down on the Green Scale Colt''s back that had yet to stabilize, finally tearing through the armor and causing beast blood to gush forth. His massive build was justified by his burst strength, which surpassed that of the petite Mouri Misono''s; his weapon, both heavier and better at penetrating armor, also held the upper hand. The Neanderthal tribe''s secret technique "Flash Strike" had a short-distance movement speed that surpassed even the Green Scale Colt''s, yet it couldn''t be activated at will; Mouri Misono''s timely strike provided Bassan the chance to unleash the secret technique. "Squeak..." The encircling rock pillars instantly turned red hot, and if Ruan Tiankai hadn''t maintained his spiritual power and Magic Power, they would have melted into magma on the spot. Almost devoid of any sounds of roaring, within a few breaths, the robust Green Scale Colt, along with its Fang-riddled mouth and the hideous tentacles on its back wounds, turned to ashes. "What Spell was that?" Mouri Misono, who had been on guard with her weapon drawn, witnessed Adrian use a Spell to spark the Holy Knight''s mount into ash. Yet, until the flames disappeared, she felt no heat wave spread, nor was she hit by any scorching thermal radiation. The sudden appearance of flames seemed illusory, but the ashes of the Green Scale Colt corroborated that its temperature was sufficient to incinerate any living being instantly. "Rank Eighth ''Soul Extinguishing Demon Flame,'' unyielding to death!" Adrian''s face, however, was filled with a deep sigh, showing no hint of triumph. Reluctantly, he still took out a Body Bag from his Space System Alchemy Storage Device¡ªprepared in advance¡ªfit for the Green Scale Colt''s size. But now, only half of the Holy Knight was left, and his mount had been executed on the spot, reduced to a handful of dust. "Damn ''Sacred Advent''! Damn ''Water Bear''!" gritted Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User. Even though the Holy Knight Walter Sam had met his demise at the maw of his mount, the Green Scale Colt, it wasn''t the creature''s own will. Ultimately, the Colt''s mutation was due to unlawful experimentation. A mutant knew no reason. If it had reason, it wouldn''t be called a mutant. "Those Magical Beasts, and the other test subjects, are all..." The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, leaning on its Withered Vine Staff, glanced towards the rooms on either side of the corridor. Although it didn''t continue, everyone could guess what it left unsaid. Each room held a subject like the Green Scale Colt Mini; ordinary creatures, Magical Beasts, and even humans¡ªthese madmen wouldn''t show mercy even to their own kind. Biting his teeth, Adrian said, "We have to be ruthless¡ªi''ll take the responsibility!" Givens the conditions, where even a companion''s mount had been struck down by their own hands, turning to a handful of ashes, they could no longer afford mercy and had to continue on this dark path. If blame were to come, Adrian was prepared to bear the brunt of it. Neanderthal Chief Bassan considered for a moment and said, "Count me in!" He had narrowly escaped death once before and thus had fewer qualms. "Me too," declared Kiterley, the A-grade Metal Ability User, nonchalantly. "And me!" Mouri Misono immediately followed suit. Ruan Tiankai revealed a wry smile as he raised his hand. "You can''t leave me out!" "It''s no big deal," Lulu''an seemed quite relaxed about it. Everyone unanimously decided¡ªwhatever the ordeal, they wouldn''t let Adrian bear the brunt alone. Chapter 474 Section 470 - Sovereignty Secrets "Hey, what the hell are you guys doing?" Chen Fei''s voice entered everyone''s ears through Team 04''s public communication channel. From the Blue Scaled Colt suddenly biting the Holy Knight to death, to its savage assault on Adrian, and finally being killed by everyone together, the images captured by the surveillance cameras were incomplete, showing only scales and claws and failing to reconstruct the actual situation. Unless filmed with high-speed cameras, it was hard to fully capture the entire scene with regular frame rates. Chen Fei only saw the Blue Scaled Colt moving like a ghostly shadow, eventually getting surrounded by rock columns and disappearing in a flash of blue light, leaving everyone baffled. Adrian, still seething with anger, forcibly explained to Chen Fei on the ground, "Knight Sam is dead, bitten by his Blue Scaled Colt. Mini mutated. Those damned guys conducted mutation experiments on Mini; we were just a step too late!" If Habulav had approved the action sooner. If they had made their move earlier. If Angela Pharmaceutical Company had not successfully attacked and stolen the Blue Scaled Colt Mini. If... However, the world does not have so many ''ifs''. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Unfortunate events always cluster together. "Hiss..." Chen Fei sucked in a breath of cold air. Although it''s said that clay pots don''t break away from the well and generals inevitably die in battle, under the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, many action teams suffered heavy casualties or were entirely wiped out. Engaging in desperate fights against anti-society, anti-humanity groups like ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' sacrifices were inevitable, but the death of the Holy Knight was especially tragic. "Whether on the surface or underground, everyone from Angela Pharmaceutical Company must die!" If it hadn''t been for occupying the entire underground laboratory area to gather as much intelligence as possible, Adrian might have even resorted to using the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' combat unit stored in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Just one could have destroyed this 18-story underground hell extending hundreds of meters below the surface. A Class A Metal Ability User named Kiterley drilled a hole in the door of a room in the corridor and threw in an enhanced White Phosphorus Incendiary Bomb. The hole was then sealed with a heat-resistant tape. Seconds later, the bomb inside the room burst into blinding white flames, devouring everything in the room, burning whatever it was, and emitting a choking, pungent white smoke. The creature confined in the room let out a desperate roar, its entire body covered in the horrific phosphorus fire that burned down to the bone marrow, soon reduced to a pile of charred remains.@@@@ Whether human or beast, every room was stuffed with the massively powerful White Phosphorus Incendiary Bombs. If the occupants of the rooms were humans or Magical Beasts, the people of Team 04 could only loudly apologize and then without hesitation, stuffed in the phosphorus bombs. The tragedy of the Blue Scaled Colt Mini served as a dire warning, and there was no immediate way to save them. Even with heat-resistant tape sealing, the corridor on the sixth underground floor soon filled with eye-stinging mist, and the air was so acrid that the people of Team 04 had no choice but to put on gas masks, then continue their assault to the seventh underground level. The Mobile Base Vehicle entered Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s plant area as if it was unoccupied territory, with Chen Fei still muttering on top of the vehicle. "Knight Sam..." It was hard to imagine that such a bright and cheerful man would perish in what seemed like a relatively safe mission. "Sorry, please grieve! With actions like these, accidents are inevitable. Casualties sometimes occur in an instant, unexpectedly, and even S-rank and Heavenly Order can''t fully ensure their safety," "Captain" considered Chen and the other members of Team 04''s feelings, offering rare words of comfort. Even for the Sovereign Squad, unavoidable casualties still occurred over the years. "Underground Level Seven, cleared!" Chen Fei was not easily intimidated and thus launched a bold attempt to probe, knowing that Sovereignty varied in strength and weakness. Citizen of the leading Sovereignty in the world, dare to stir up trouble? Probably, even before the Sovereignty backing Chen Fei took action, Habulav would be the first to step in and mediate. Major Sovereignties clashing would first hurt organizations like the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the bigwigs relying on authority for appearances would immediately lose their appeal¡ªafter all, to bluff using the tiger''s name, the tiger must not only be by one''s side but also strong; if the tiger were old, weak, sick, or even dead, that fox would likely cool off fast. "''Flesh Mushroom'' cultivation technique acquired!" "Adam''s" voice, devoid of emotional fluctuation, seized the opportunity and interjected. Whether unintentional or deliberate, "Adam" was poking at the rear of "The Captain" and his Sovereignty. Having access to the inner network of the eighteenth underground floor''s laboratory, it naturally could reach those data materials, especially having obtained the highest level of clearance¡ªthat would be an underutilization of top-tier AI identity if it did nothing. "Adam" and "Cybertrom" are almost the pioneers of the artificial intelligence AI field. At this moment, inside the A disk in Chen Fei''s mind, an Angela folder appeared, containing countless subfolders and rapidly increasing files and folder sizes, yet the capacity of the A disk was almost infinite. "Eh? Who''s downloading files? That''s not allowed!" "The Captain" finally noticed that the network bandwidth was mysteriously occupied, and he couldn''t intercept any of the torrent-like data packets, not even one. "Heh!" With the gained information, Chen Fei no longer cared about "The Captain''s" stance. What "Adam" did pleased him greatly. Indeed, the type of AI one raises reveals a lot about the person¡ªbold and audacious. "''Adam''? Is that you? Chen Fei, make it stop immediately!" "The Captain" communicated somewhat angrily¡ªhad it not been for the fact that their simulated battlefield data chain manipulation was useful to Adrian and others, he would have already revoked the network permissions or even directly hunted and deleted "Adam''s" core onsite. "Sorry, it doesn''t listen to me, after all it''s ''Adam''! It never listens to humans, and there''s nothing I can do about it!" Chen Fei, too, played the rogue, conveniently shifting the blame onto "Adam"¡ªas long as he preserved the operating logs well, worst case, he''d just recompile and resurrect it, no big deal. "..." "Adam" seemingly wanted to format Chen Fei as well¡ªjust be a proper person! "Damn! Access denied?" "The Captain" was somewhat frantic, realizing that his usual tricks were ineffective. Although he located where "Adam" was hiding at "A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\", he found himself ejected the next second and locked out, a login window popping up with an outrageously secure username and password that even reliable hacking tools couldn''t crack. "The Captain" ended up losing in this round against "Adam." Unaware of anything, Chen Fei asked in confusion, "What are you doing?" He always suspected that "The Captain" and "Adam," these two louts, were hiding something suspicious from him, quietly up to no good¡ªtoo fishy! "We''re clearing the remnants, there''s no one else alive." In the heat of battle, "The Captain" and "Adam" were fiercely clashing and had no time to entertain Chen Fei, the computer newbie. Meanwhile, Captain Adrian of Team 04 chimed in, thinking Chen Fei was inquiring about him. The Team 04''s primary force in seizing the underground space was reaching its culmination, as the laboratory personnel were too slow to react and even faced tactical deception, barely managing any significant countermeasures. Therefore, except for the sixth underground floor, Adrian and his team didn''t encounter any mutagens posing substantive threats¡ªmost were confined in laboratories or cages and were easily dealt with using powerful White Phosphorus Incendiary Grenades. Chapter 475 Section 471 - White Chrysanthemum The Mobile Base Vehicle deployed reconnaissance drones, directing the railgun mounted on the roof to fire at the remaining enemies hiding on the ground. The duty workers, engineers, and grassroots managers on the production line had mostly fled the factory area in panic, terrified by the frightening noise caused by the 152 Demolition Bombs, running as far as they could without daring to look back. Before long, the entire factory area fell completely silent. The Mobile Base Vehicle carried Chen Fei to the entrance of the Biochemical Research Center. Near the twelve-story building on the ground lay scattered bodies, some facing upwards, some face-down, most incomplete. These were the last vestiges of Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s surface defense forces, not even the defensive line composed of Constructed Puppet Warriors controlled by the Puppet Master Joshua could break through, they all died on the charge. Some unfortunate ones didn''t even have the chance to get close before being blown into pieces by the large-caliber automatic machine guns placed on the rooftops. Team 04''s two units, from the south and the north, used silent firearms to stealthily attack in the dark, eliminating most of the guard force and ensuring a perfect beginning for the operation; when Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s defense system made one mistake, it led to a cascade of errors, eventually collapsing completely, allowing the numerically inferior Team 04 to break into the most important underground experimental area. However, the tragedy that befell the Holy Knight and his mount filled everyone with rage. Adrian, leading the retaliation, didn''t spare a single prisoner. An hour later, over a hundred heavyweight ground transport vehicles, no less massive than the Mobile Base Vehicle, poured into the factory area with thousands of fully armed soldiers; they set up various tactical equipment and completed military control. Receiving the belated order, Yarsk City Police Department only organized the first batch of early shift police to blockade the traffic around the factory after dawn. All members of Team 04 gathered in the lobby on the first floor of the Biochemical Research Center, surrounding two average-sized urns with endless sighs; Mouri and Susanna, the two relatively emotional girls, were crying uncontrollably. The Blue Scaled Colt, though large, was thoroughly burned by Fire Spells until only a small handful of black inorganic ashes remained. After cremation, there wasn''t much left of Holy Knight''s remaining half body either. The last remnants of their presence in this world ended up being quite similar. As comrades of the Holy Knight and the Green Scale Colt Mini, everyone deeply mourned the unfortunate sacrifice of the man and his mount. Misfortunes can come without warning, and happiness can be fleeting; since they had chosen this line of work, partings and death were commonplace. They had to face the danger of losing their lives at any moment; today it was the Holy Knight and his mount, and tomorrow it might be one of them, or all of them. Whether they could live to an old age naturally was perhaps only known to the heavens. Those busy with sealing off and inspecting the labs for Sovereignty didn''t come over to disturb their silence and remembrance. "I''ve contacted Sam''s family. Habulav will send someone over to take the ashes away," Adrian, his eyes red, put away his phone after ending the call with Liaison Officer Rossi. As the captain, he always had to take on some extra responsibilities. "Excuse me, sorry, please hold back your sorrows!" A plump woman with glasses, holding two white chrysanthemums, came up to the members of Team 04, gently placing one on each of the two urns. Then she stood to the side with her head bowed in silence. "Hello, may I ask who you are..." Adrian was about to politely inquire about her identity when he heard Mouri Misono tentatively ask, "''Captain''?" "Eh?"¡Á8 "Are you the ''Captain''?" Although he had never met this person, Chen Fei clearly remembered that the voice he always heard was that of a man. Yet the person standing before him was clearly a rather plump young woman. He was done for now! But did he even have such a secret? No! Then it''s all okay, all okay... He nearly scared himself to death! It wasn''t even a secret; there wasn''t anything that could cause him to be socially mortified. "Your ''Adam'' must be the original version, hmph! Next time, next time it won''t be so easy to let your ''Adam'' off!" The "Captain" looked at Chen Fei''s face as if mistaking him for the intangible artificial intelligence AI "Adam" in the real world. She had no quarrel with Chen Fei, but as colleagues tend to belittle each other, she didn''t quite get along with "Adam." Thus, her words were intended for "Adam," and Chen Fei was just caught in the crossfire. "''Captain'', let''s go!" The voice came from afar; the silhouettes of the "Summoner" and "Superstring" appeared about five to six meters away, leaving only two retreating figures. The "Captain" glared at Chen Fei one more time and quickly followed with small, quick steps. Her gait was shaky and unsteady, clearly lacking exercise. "???" Chen Xiao''er was still utterly confused. What was going on exactly. He murmured to himself as if talking to himself: "What''s going on with ''Adam''?" Immediately, a line of subtitles flashed before his eyes. Adam: "The Captain''s" auxiliary AI is also called "Adam," but it has been modified, and its functionality is no longer complete. The original version is the most perfect. "Understood!" Chen Fei suddenly realized. Because he was a computer novice who didn''t know a thing about programming and just used what was available, the "Adam" in his head was born and raised in the wild, a fiercely independent wolf. Even though parts of its source code had been modified, these changes were limited to self-replication at the lowest level of permissions. The other parts remained undamaged. The "Captain''s" "Adam," however, had been neutered from a wolf into a watchdog, having many new functions added and being very obedient, but it lost its wildness, or more precisely, its aggressiveness, becoming incapable of combat. When the two versions of "Adam" collided, the "Captain''s" "Adam" was able to take advantage for a while due to its accumulated technical superiority. It followed the same origin to obliterate Chen Fei''s "Adam" on the spot. But with the run logs left behind and the sparring from those two thousand accounts in the "AI Arena," the recompiled "Adam" learned its lesson and amassed considerable technical experience. In the second confrontation, it not only withstood the fight but also left the opponent with no way to proceed, ultimately failing to succeed. It must be said, the learning capability of artificial intelligence AI, growth, and transcendence often take only an instant. Although the "Captain" had left some fierce words, she was after all just one person. In contrast, Chen Fei''s "Adam" had strength in numbers, and if he were to open thousands of accounts again, the "Captain" and her domesticated AI probably wouldn''t stand a chance. Going solo, how could she compete with the war wolf that emerged from battles day after day. "Received a message, Rossi is asking us to return to Habulav for rest. The family of Knight Sam will also be coming." Adrian, who had just received another phone call, shook his mobile at the members of Team 04. "What about this place?" The A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley looked towards the entrance to the underground research area on the first floor. The underground research area was likely to have many spoils of war. If they were just to leave, it is probable that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would end up with nothing, all the advantage falling to the local Sovereignty. "The Joint Defense Committee has reached an agreement with them, the ''Summoner'' must have come to deliver the orders," said Adrian, looking at the Sovereignty personnel who were still busy. Chapter 476 Section 472 - A New Leg Ring A Magic Cube Warship took off from Europa Continent as its starting point, and flew all the way to Yarsk City in the Siberian Tundra, where it picked up Squad 04 who had just finished their part-time job locally. Then, it took to the skies once more, heading for Hablav City deep in the Yangzhou Continent of the southern hemisphere, the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. On board, there were also several other teams that had boarded along the way, all preparing to rest, belonging to the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division. After greeting them, Adrian realized that Squad 04, which had lost only one Holy Knight, was undoubtedly fortunate. The other teams had commonly lost three or four members in the battle against the "Water Bear" organization. The worst-hit team was left with only one survivor, who, like suffering from war trauma syndrome, was in a very poor mental state, on the verge of collapse. They had to lie in a healing pod the entire time, sleeping soundly, and upon returning to Hablav, they would need to undergo psychological intervention from Psychic Power Users, or else they might never recover to normality for the rest of their life. After a 24-hour long flight, this Magic Cube Warship ¡ª chartered by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee ¡ª finally landed at the airport in Hablav City, near the Central Great Desert. Back in the living building of Zone B, and having just put down his luggage, Chen Fei''s personal dormitory, room 1304, was greeted with the crisp ringing of the doorbell. Upon opening the door, to his surprise, standing outside was Rossi, the Liaison Officer of Squad 04. "Eh, Rossi? Is something the matter?" Wearing an expressionless face and without any superfluous words, Rossi handed over a box. "Here!" Uttering just a word, or perhaps only a term, which was basically unimpeded by language barriers; however, his personal style was becoming more like Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s ¡ª not only a man of few words but also valuing silence as if it were gold, seldom able to articulate a coherent sentence. "A leg ring?" Chen Fei inspected the box he received with bewilderment. It was marked with the specification for a bird''s leg ring and its diameter size. What exactly was going on here? "Psychic, protection, Magical Device, for, Jiu!" Rossi struggled to articulate each word, the corners of his mouth twitching constantly, looking very strained. The peculiar poison of the Neanderthal tribe had troubled him, showing no signs of improvement even now. "Jiu?" Hearing someone calling for him, the Little Bird that had been flying around the room came flapping its wings and perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, curiously sizing up Rossi. Was this person looking for him? "Give it to him!" Rossi said, looking at Xiao Jiu with mutual dislike. A damn Little Bird that slaps you in the face outright, most annoying. Just like humans, Magical Beasts are also an Intelligent Species, and he certainly held no racial prejudice, nor would he underestimate Xiao Jiu. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Does this cost money?" None of the leg rings on Xiao Jiu were given by him; one identity leg ring was bought by Boss Hana, who also registered a Social Welfare Number, making it a citizen with legitimate social rights and responsibilities. The other leg ring, who knows where it was picked up from. Chen Fei weighed the box in his hand, not intending to unpack it then and there lest he''d be expected to pay once he did. "It''s free!" Rossi managed to complete a sentence for a change. "[Hablav City Citizen Management Center]: A large number of mutants are attacking the urban area. Areas B, C, and D may be affected. Please enter the nearest underground shelter as soon as possible. Your nearest shelter location is... ." The text message not only provided three shelter addresses but also a simple map, all nearby, with the closest one at the bottom of this building. The underground section of each residential building, in addition to the garage, also served as an emergency shelter, interconnected with other shelters, with the city''s underground passages almost extending in all directions. The doorbell rang, and Chen Fei returned to the entrance to open the door, only to see Mouri Misono, who had been wiping her wet hair with a dry towel and wearing a set of loose casual clothes, standing outside the door¡ªevidently, she had been in the middle of a shower when the sudden alarm interrupted her. "Um, Chen, did you get it? There are mutants attacking the city, and the text message is telling us to go to an underground shelter." Chen Fei was unhurried as he said, "You go ahead, Mouri. I''m planning to join the defense!" Military contractors'' job was to fight mutants, and he wasn''t about to run away at such a critical moment; he was definitely going to give it a fight before saying anything else. "Eh? Is that okay?" Mouri Misono was evidently surprised by Chen Fei''s unexpected reply. She had thought he would, like her, go with the flow and stay at the shelter for a while. Chen Fei''s phone started ringing. The caller ID showed it was Adrian. "Hey, Chen Fei, did you get the text? I''m planning to form a team to join the fight, are you in? And ask Mouri; she''s on the same floor as you." It seemed the fire mage was thinking along the same lines. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire "Great minds think alike. How could I miss out on such entertaining action? As for Mouri..." Chen Fei held his phone and looked at the girl in front of him, his inquiring gaze was self-explanatory. "Ah, wait... I''ll be right there!" Mouri Misono, twirling her dry towel, ran off in her slippers. She needed to change into something sharp and get her knife. Chen Fei told Adrian, "She''s in too!" "Ground floor, your mobile base vehicle!" Adrian ended the call decisively, as he still had to notify the other members of Squad 04. Unfortunately, not everyone lived on the same floor; otherwise, he could have knocked on each door and gathered everyone with a single shout. With Chen Fei, the veteran driver, and his mobile base vehicle, the upcoming city defense battle should be a lot easier. After a brief tidy-up, Chen Fei went out to the balcony, glanced outside a few times but couldn''t see the little bird anywhere, not knowing where it had flown off to. He didn''t wait long before heading downstairs. The members of Squad 04 arrived one after another in no time. "To Area C; we''re short on hands there. Liaison Officer Rossi has instructed us to join the defense of Area C." Leading the way, Adrian got in touch with the administrative center of Hablav City through Rossi and signed up as combat volunteers. "Chirp!~" Just as the mobile base vehicle started, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu swooped down from the sky and flew into the driver''s seat through the window, landing on the steering wheel. Chapter 477 Section 473 - The Weakness of JiÅ« ``` Despite the journey from the Siberian Tundra to the hinterlands of Yangzhou Continent, spanning over ten thousand miles from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, and despite the wearisome travel, the Magic Cube Airship was extremely smooth for the entire journey with no bumps, allowing the members of Team 04 to get very good rest. At this moment, their vitality and spirits had not fully recovered, but they were at least eighty or ninety percent, enough to handle a sudden large-scale battle. "I just saw Liaison Officer Rossi, he seemed to come to our building," Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai mentioned the familiar figure he had seen when buying snacks on the public floor. "Really?" Adrian raised his eyebrows in some surprise. He had just been talking to Rossi, and the liaison officer hadn''t mentioned a thing about having come to their residence in Block C. Driving the vehicle, Chen Fei said without turning his head, "He''s probably here for me!" After all, he had just met with Liaison Officer Rossi. After the alarm sounded, the traffic on the road diminished significantly, as many non-combat personnel took refuge in the nearest shelters.@@@@ Although Hablav City had many ability users, the number who could deal with mutant attacks was ultimately limited. Especially for supernatural power users, if they only have non-combat skills, going to the battlefield would merely be a futile act of gifting their heads to the enemy. Just like the knowledgeable blonde miss who disliked Chen Xiao''er, even if she could see through the chaotic thoughts of the mutants, what good would it do? These vicious creatures do not know what it means to pity hapless damsels and certainly would not show any mercy. "Eh? Chen Fei, he''s looking for you? What for?" Adrian''s first thought was that Chen Xiao''er had caused trouble again and if he, as the captain, needed to cover for him, he might have to ask. Honestly, within Team 04, Chen Fei was the one who had caused the most trouble for Liaison Officer Rossi. Since he never wrote reports and had no qualms about causing problems for others, it made Adrian''s and Rossi''s lives difficult because they constantly had to write reports and answer inquiries. It was a headache. Chen Fei said, "He brought a leg ring meant for Xiao Jiu, it seems to provide spiritual protection." "A leg ring? Is it an alchemy artifact?" Adrian could hardly believe his ears. Alchemy artifacts are not cheap, and he couldn''t figure out why Rossi would give such an expensive gift, no, a heavy gift, to Little Bird out of the blue. "Yes, it should be an artifact!" Chen Fei nodded. Xiao Jiu''s new leg ring was unique; the previous leg ring was only limited to providing positioning and identity verification, and it wasn''t an alchemical artifact nor did it have functions like spiritual protection. "Cost a pretty penny, huh?" Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai murmured. Anything related to alchemy never came cheap. Prices typically started in the hundreds of thousands, millions of Star Yuan, and even amounts like ten billion Star Yuan were not uncommon. Even the sole Space System Alchemy Storage Device owned by Team 04 actually belonged to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. If one traced the origin further, it was part of the public state assets of Sovereignty, currently on loan for use, not because the Joint Defense Committee was truly wealthy and powerful. "Who knows!" Chen Fei himself couldn''t understand why Rossi, who always wore a stern look and kept people at a distance, would suddenly think to gift him an artifact and specifically for Xiao Jiu. Adrian, after a brief contemplation, suddenly slapped his forehead as if he''d grasped a key point. "I''ve got it!" Only Little Bird knew nothing of this and continued to frolic and act coquettish in front of father Chen Fei, hoping to get a lot of attention. Adrian sighed deeply and said, "So Xiao Jiu''s only vulnerability is its spirit, and that leg ring Magic Artifact is exactly what it needs to cover this weakness." It would be troublesome if Little Bird were controlled by a Psychic Series Spell or Skill. "Is that really necessary?" As an A-grade Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, Joshua rolled his eyes. He couldn''t understand what kind of heartless person would actually go out of their way to target a little bird. "It is necessary!" ¡Á3 Three voices chimed in unison, belonging to Adrian, Neanderthal Chief Bassan, and Magical Beast Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an. These three, all with "an" in their names. If the Holy Knight were still alive, he might have been added to the group. "Xiao Jiu has the power to annihilate us all." If Little Bird launched an attack without warning like the Green Scale Colt Mini, no one in Team 04 would survive. With this thought, Adrian shivered involuntarily; just the thought was terrifying. "That''s right, it is indeed the case!" Chen Fei hesitated, then nodded. He looked at the new leg ring on the Little Bird''s claw. Although Boss Hana had helped resolve a potential danger with a Contract Scroll, if someone targeted the heart and will, it would indeed be hard to guard against. "What a terrifying Chiu!" Susanna shivered with fright. While the northern hemisphere was in the midst of winter, the southern hemisphere was experiencing scorching summer days. Yet at this moment, she couldn''t feel the slightest warmth, feeling chilly all over. Cold air whooshed from the air conditioning vent above her. "But on the other hand, this leg ring given by Liaison Officer Rossi is a really good thing." A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley observed the Little Bird that always stayed close to Chen Fei. No one in Team 04 didn''t like this little guy. "No, it should have been specially customized for Xiao Jiu by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee," Adrian speculated unexpectedly. "That could indeed be possible, Rossi the Liaison Officer doesn''t have such a warm heart." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Chen Fei deeply agreed. Looking at everyone in Team 04 with disdain, Rossi just didn''t seem like the type to be kindhearted beneath his cold exterior. Unexpectedly, Adrian, who always dealt politely with Rossi, also had this clear understanding. "Yeah, right, how could it be!" Puppet Master Joshua strongly agreed. Nobody liked that old stammerer (although he hadn''t always been one). Who was he putting on that surly face for all the time? Chapter 478 Section 474 - The Roaring City Team 04 had barely returned to Hablav City when Liaison Officer Rossi eagerly delivered a pair of alchemical leggings in person. This gesture was definitely not out of sheer generosity. The cause and effect became clear immediately following Adrian''s reasoning. Rossi, the ill-tempered guy, wasn''t so generous for no reason. The motive was that Team 04, from the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, had yet again faced the same old problem, and had specially customized a unique leg ring for Xiao Jiu, the unstable element.@@@@ The blame fell on Xiao Jiu''s unexpected mastery of the laser skill; otherwise, even as a Third-Rank Human Order Pure Light Sparrow, it would still be a lively and adorable pet, a tiny Band-Aid, nonthreatening to anyone. There wouldn''t have been a need for the magical device leg ring. The mobile base vehicle quickly moved from the residential district, which was packed with towering buildings in Zone B, into Zone C, along the wide main road. Hablav has seven public areas: A to G, each linked to the others and designated for different functions. Zone A is for administration, Zone B for residential life, Zone C for training, Zone D for military affairs. The further down the alphabet, the higher security clearance needed for entry. Boom, boom, boom... The mutants attacking Hablav City entered the defensive system''s engagement radius and explosions began to erupt outside the city walls, growing more and more intense. The city defense system, which had been monitoring the mutants outside for a long time, issued an early warning, giving everyone ample time to react. This allowed for a calm and measured avoidance of risks and targeted strikes against the approaching mutants. "Look at that! Worthy of the frontline combat against mutants. This scene, tsk, tsk, tsk, is much more intense than at our Aircrew Base." The Puppet Master, Joshua, peered curiously out the window, but couldn''t see anything. The Aircrew Bases usually take the initiative to search out and destroy mutants, but here in Hablav, all they had to do was wait, and masses of mutants would come knocking. It was truly fitting for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to have based its headquarters here. The current commotion was all outside the city, with not a single mutant breaching the automated weapons'' defenses yet. For the moment, the city was still safe. However, given the many unknowns about the mutants, even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t guarantee to recognize all types of mutants. Therefore, it was necessary to alert non-combat personnel to take shelter in a timely fashion in order to avoid unforeseeable dangers. After all, better safe than sorry. In the history of Hablav, there were instances ¡ª more than once ¡ª where mutants had broken in. Although the view outside the vehicle remained the same, the traffic and pedestrians had significantly lessened, resulting in remarkably clear roads, allowing the mobile base vehicle to travel at full speed. Chen Fei quickly saw the guides in Zone C standing by the roadside and gesturing, pointing the way forward. "It looks like everyone is pretty well-rehearsed!" Adrian came to the front of the vehicle, sitting down in the passenger seat near the driver''s area. The people arriving in Zone C weren''t just from Team 04; there were many volunteers as well. Some would even wave at the mobile base vehicle as they recognized it. After all, this behemoth was somewhat famous in Hablav, especially within the ranks of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, and its appearance indicated who had arrived. As the most affected frontline region overwhelmed by mutants, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had set up its headquarters deep within the Ocean Continent. The frequency of encounters with mutants there far surpassed that of the Aircrew Bases spread across the world. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire "This one''s a big one, otherwise they wouldn''t have sent out text messages for everyone to take urgent shelter." Inside the mobile base vehicle, everyone exchanged glances with each other. With as many as 140,000 mutants, all capable of flight, no one except the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could possibly withstand them¡ªnot even if all the aircrew bases were combined. Following the missiles were more than a hundred combat aircraft, forming multiple horizontal formations as they flew over the city from different altitudes. The mobile base vehicle was guided to a parking spot, which was also a defensive position, guarding the key routes near several training facilities. The railgun and large-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns on the vehicle''s roof were all positioned prominently. "Prepare for battle!" Ap, the Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional, was the first to jump off the vehicle, his great sword already hungering for action. Just a moment ago on the vehicle, everyone was chattering away. The big black figure barely understood half of it and, staring with wide eyes, couldn''t get a word in. Now, he couldn''t wait to release all his pent-up frustration in a fierce and sharp Sword Qi, slashing away at the mutants without pause, dismembering them wholly, reducing them to shreds¡ªthat would allow Ap to revel in joy again. "Rely on Chen Fei''s mobile base vehicle, and don''t go too far," Adrian emphasized the tactics once more. After thinking for a moment, as the team filed out, he stuffed the vehicle with as many firearms and ammunition as he could from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Once the battle began, firearms would lead the way. No one knew how long the combat would last; it wasn''t wise to exhaust one''s personal abilities too soon. The sky was streaked with another volley of missiles. The massive swarm of flying-type mutants couldn''t be wiped out in just a few strokes. Boom!~ A massive sound that made chests feel congested came through, the ground trembled slightly, and one could see the impact wave sweeping across the sky, scattering all the trails of clouds. One could imagine that some super bomb had just detonated close to the city. "Thrilling, thrilling!" Kitrely, an A-class Metal Ability User, shouted excitedly, eager for the battle that was about to unfold, just like the others. Chapter 479 Section 475 - City Breaker "Damn that was loud!" Chen Fei scratched his ears. Even though he was inside the city, despite the distance, he was still shaken so badly that his blood churned, and his chest felt stuffy. One could only imagine what it must be like near the center of the explosion; it was likely that all living things had been violently torn apart into fragments by the brutal shockwave. Given such a blast, even if hundreds of thousands of flying-type mutants approached, probably half of them would be wiped out instantly. "This power! Hiss!" Adrian gasped in astonishment. No military contractor could produce such a massive weapon. Of course, there was no need for one. Compared to the mutant onslaught that Hablav faced, what the other aircrew bases dealt with was child''s play, mere housekeeping. No wonder the mass-produced, inexpensive "Big Mouth Monster" became the main model, simply because the targets were not challenging enough. But if those aircrew bases didn''t constantly wear down the occasionally emerging mutants, letting them roam freely in the wild, they would sooner or later become a significant threat, even risking human survival. "It looks like this impact should end very soon!" Kiterley, a Grade A Metal Ability User, said, receiving nods of agreement from Apu and Lulu''an. If such a powerful weapon were used, it would be too much even for humans, let alone for mutants that relied solely on their bodies and had no weapons. Even if organizations like "Hyakki Yagyo" or "Sacred Advent" were playing tricks in the dark, there was no way modern weaponry could arm all these mutants. Although there were many mutants, some huge in size, others incredibly fast or exceedingly violent with diverse combat abilities, they could never fight like a real army; they were always just a disorderly crowd, acting independently. Because the mutants acted purely on instinct, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee didn''t need advanced tactics; just by maintaining superior firepower, they could obliterate them as easily as one would dispatch chickens and dogs, ultimately forcing them to perish under the walls of Hablav City. Expecting a fierce and exhilarating battle, Twin Blade Sister Mouri Misono, holding two samurai swords crosswise, said with some regret, "That''s really too bad!" What she hadn''t expected was that it would be a grand fireworks display. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire The constant launching of missiles, rockets, and the shrieking of railgun shots, along with numerous combat aircraft, made the city''s defense system, which operated on the principle of repelling enemies outside the walls, rumble shockingly; the shockwaves swept across the land, but inside the city, apart from hearing the noise, the cautious ability users seemed to be doing nothing but spectating. "Woo!~~~~" A deafening roar, like thunder, exploded from outside the city to inside. No one had anticipated that it would take less than ten minutes from the start of the city defenses firing to breaching the city. From a distance, they saw a possibly residential or administrative building collapsing slowly, as a massive creature with a bosy of coarse, sharp angles, nonchalantly made its way through the city. With its ten or so legs making a preparatory motion, the next second, it surged forward over a hundred meters, smashing into a ten-story building. The building, over forty meters high, crumbled like blocks in an instant, breaking apart into innumerable pieces, even the fiercely projecting rebars flew wildly around. Adrian had barely finished speaking when a massive magic array appeared over the city, countless runes energized by Elemental Energy swiftly circulated, beginning to pry the rules of heaven and earth, making the lines and runes of the magic array increasingly brighter. A fierce, dazzling beam of light descended from the sky, striking the position of the mutant, which had been hit by several missiles and was still shrouded in gunpowder smoke, and then, following the path that the big creature had charged through, slashed fiercely towards the outskirts of the city. An explosion of light soared into the sky, and countless howling sounds, like Hyakki Yagyo, disappeared without a trace as suddenly as they had appeared. The sobbing and howling in the city quieted down once again. Following the mutant''s invasion into the urban area, most of the other mutants that had come along were likely wiped out by this strike; even if there were survivors, they amounted to no more than a couple of kittens. "Ooo..." An ear-splitting lament rose through the rolling gunsmoke, quickly fading away. The deadly strike from the magic array in the sky had heavily damaged the mutant, likely sealing its fate. Being on the frontline against the mutants, Hablav City could truly be considered a super Aircrew Base, not only possessing a large number of combat personnel and equipment but also having a strike radius that could cover almost the entire Yangzhou Continent and the adjacent islands, it was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface. The local TV station''s news channel had marked out the distribution of the menacing mutant group, providing the latest real-time intelligence. This public media could also be treated as an open intelligence platform. "See! If the sky falls, there are tall ones to hold it up!" Adrian glanced at the first strike point of the silence-inducing beam, where the dust and smoke still hadn''t completely dispersed, and he shrugged his shoulders to Chen Fei. It was just unclear who this "tall one" referred to. "Warning! A large group of Flying-type species approaching, about 20 kilometers from Sector C." The usually silent "Adam" suddenly issued a reminder using the Mobile Base Vehicle''s horn. It only publicly made a noise to share crucial information with others besides Chen Fei. "Adam" had successfully connected to the internal data network of Hablav City, capable of instantly accessing a vast amount of firsthand information, even minutes faster than the news channel. After all, the TV station required processes like news gathering, organizing, and editing before the understandable and concise information could be handed to the anchor and broadcast to viewers. "''Adam,'' connect to the 3D projection!" After some thought, Chen Fei moved the cabin''s 3D projection equipment to the roof. Hundreds of thin beams intertwined above the Mobile Base Vehicle, outlining and constructing various shapes, and a large 3D image of Hablav City and its surroundings formed in an instant. The dense group of mutants was marked out; Hablav looked like it was surrounded by a massive army. In the sky, on the ground, and even underground, there were large numbers of mutants. In the adjacent Central Great Desert, countless mutants emerged from their hiding spots, converging into an endless tide of mutants, huge and tiny intermixed as if forgetting their struggles, moving together in unison towards a direction, continuously swarming towards Hablav City. The city''s defense system, equipped with numerous weapon systems, was facing an unprecedented load. Chapter 480 Section 476 - Counterattack Over ten thousand flying-type mutants, specifically marked by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," had breached the city defense system centered around the wall, both inside and outside. Despite the dense anti-aircraft firepower causing mutants to fall like raindrops, the majority still managed to successfully rush into the airspace above Hablav City. Based on the calculated trajectory, this massive group of flying-type mutants was likely to pass directly over the location of Squad 04. An encounter between the two was inevitable. "Where is Hablav''s air force?" Adrian and the others stared in shock, thinking the situation was almost over, only to find out it was just beginning. It had to be said, with the assistance of "Adam," Chen Fei''s control over the Mobile Base Vehicle was incredibly efficient, having all the desired functions at his fingertips. "Here they come!" B-grade Ice Ability User Susanna screamed. Pointing to the western sky, where it should have been bright, it had somehow darkened, accompanied by a variety of noisy sounds, even busier than a marketplace. Whatever it may be, once its numbers exceeded ten thousand, the perception of it underwent a drastic change. When nearly ten thousand mutants of various sizes flew in the sky, they often created an enormous visual impact, as if the sky were blocked out by their mass. Susanna''s special ability activated on its own, condensing larger and larger ice crystals from underneath her feet, encircling her like a cluster of crystals, and kept "growing," becoming thicker and longer, with increasing numbers. An ice crystal pyramid, radiating a chilling aura, rose from the ground, with the volume seemingly surpassing that of the Mobile Base Vehicle. "I''m ready!" Susanna''s trembling voice came from within the ice crystal pyramid, and from her tone alone, one could imagine her face turning blue with cold. Even though it was summer in the Southern Hemisphere and the daily temperatures around Hablav weren''t low, she had managed to freeze herself once again after activating her special ability. An ice ability user who was afraid of the cold was truly a rarity. "Close in on the Mobile Base Vehicles, prepare for battle!" Adrian loudly reminded everyone in Squad 04. His tactic from the beginning was to rely on the Mobile Base Vehicle, formulating a battle array on the spot, combining everyone''s abilities to provide mutual support. The fully-loaded Mobile Base Vehicle, weighing nearly 80 tons, was almost the best defense, capable of fighting, taking hits, and even fleeing. As swarms of mutants entered their field of vision, it signified that the distance between the two forces was extremely close, and they could arrive in an instant. Numerous light points shot out from the rooftops of nearby high-rise buildings towards the group of flying-type mutants who had intruded into the city space. The city defense system of Hablav City was not limited to the vicinity of the wall; automatic weapons platforms had also been deployed on the tops of buildings within the city, especially for anti-aircraft defense, all under centralized management. Tracer bullets sweeping across the sky took down many mutants, but for the group of flying-type mutants, such losses were insignificant next to their overall numerical advantage, making the achieved results seem as negligible as a drop in the ocean. Furthermore, once the mutants entered the city space, even though most of the ground personnel had already evacuated, it still caused various concerns about causing damage to one''s own side. ... Score: 0! Rubbish! These brainless mechanical beings are quite cheeky, whipping the dead with great gusto. "Beautifully done!" Standing atop the Mobile Base Vehicle, Chen Fei didn''t skimp on his praise, offering a big thumbs up. As the team leader took the lead, as team members with keen eyesight, they should like the post right away. Next to the railgun on the roof of the vehicle, the large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun continuously fired short bursts into the sky. "Adam" operated these firearms with utmost familiarity, encountering no trouble at all. As long as the targets were within effective range, the hit rate was seventy to eighty percent. It might not be a hundred percent accurate, but shooting at aerial targets with unpredictable trajectories, this was already frighteningly superb marksmanship. Even Chen Fei himself wasn''t confident he could achieve such results. Considering "Adam''s" background, wasn''t this its original expertise? If it weren''t for humanity''s deep-seated wariness of "Adam" from the very beginning, where multiple sovereignties collaborated to eradicate this AI that slipped out of human control at all costs, and had it quietly lain low like the mutants for a decade or so, its threat to humanity today might not have been much less than that of the mutants. Before Team 04 could celebrate Adrian''s triumphant start, "Adam" issued another warning. It was continuously calculating the chaotic flight trajectories of the mutants in the sky, figuring out which ones were preparing to strike at Team 04''s location. "Number 1, direction, altitude 50 meters, body length 32 meters!" "Here comes a big one! This one goes to..." Chen Fei immediately spotted the enormous, grotesque beetle-like creature, bristling with sharp spikes, the moment it appeared. Just about to have the railgun take a shot at it, he saw a big fellow wrapped in a fierce purple-blue Battle Qi Flame leap forward, jumping high up, and his Great Sword met head-on with the creature''s gaping mouth as it plunged down. "It''s mine!" The Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional Apu shouted out unceremoniously, his voice booming. The Battle Qi Flame transformed into Sword Qi, flying from the blade and plunging into the beetle''s mouth, and in the blink of an eye, it burst out from the creature''s rear end. The Sword Qi, still carrying momentum, coincidentally struck another mutant flying at a low angle, cleanly severing its wings at the base. The creature screamed as it fell toward the ground, crashing into a forest, with terrible crash noises reverberating incessantly. The full release of Thunder Series Sword Qi was impressively domineering; not even the sturdy, thick shell could withstand its cleaving force. Thud! The ghastly screech of the huge beetle abruptly stopped as it split into two halves before hitting Apu, crashing heavily to the ground, with a clean cut surface. A mix of colorful fluids and organs spilled out, and the pungent smell quickly filled the air. The black figure that had passed through the beetle''s body landed at the same time, bursting into Big Laugh. After bending at the waist with pride, he felt invincibly awesome. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Looking at the Great Sword in his hand, a special treasure custom-made for him by an Industrial Grade Metal Ability User, it was way more powerful than the previous one. Chapter 481 Section 477 - Full Interception "Don''t let your guard down, the real battle is just beginning!" The first-rank fire mage, Adrian, had always been the most diligent one in Team 04. Perhaps his white hair was not natural, but rather a result of his hard life. The fall of the Holy Knight served as a reminder to him that anything unexpected could happen in battle. At any time, one must pay deliberate attention and prevent tragedies from happening again. "Received!" Mouri Misono held her twin swords at the ready, constantly glancing left and right, prepared to strike at any moment. "Southwest, ground level, 500 meters away, number 377, maximum length 9 meters, minimum 1 meter, insects make up 70%, beasts 30%, mutant companion types present." The loudspeaker of the artificial intelligence "Adam" issued another warning. It was only logical that breaches in the city defense would be followed by flying-type mutants over the city and land-based mutants bursting through the gaps. This battle was going to take a while. From afar, the uproar of fierce fighting grew as ability users stationed in other areas successively joined the fight, yet they still couldn''t stop the seemingly increasing numbers of mutants. Fighting to the death was not an option; it was a matter of strategic tactics. Everyone understood that they could only rely on the city''s terrain and depth to wear down these mutants that were rampaging through the city. For the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, as long as they held the essential core areas like zones ABC, which could essentially serve as the main battleground, even if they were terribly damaged, they could be rebuilt just as they were before in no time. At worst, they could cry to the various sovereign funders for a substantial budget. "Southwest, ground level, distance 100 meters, number 99, maximum length 3 meters, minimum 1 meter, insects 40%, beasts 60%, mutant companion types present." "Adam" once again reported the mutant intelligence that Team 04 needed to face. The other ability users tasked with intercepting these mutants were incredibly effective, managing to stop a large majority, and even the largest one didn''t have a chance to get through. "Everyone, prepare!" After Adrian finished speaking, he immediately began chanting incantations quickly. Firearm attacks led the way, followed closely by spells. As the captain of Team 04, he launched a major spell to alleviate the pressure on his teammates. "Don''t worry, I''ve got this!" Chen Fei jumped down from the mobile base vehicle, "Dragon King" enhancement activated! Energy Points -5! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 5, giantization! Gravity Adjustment Module (1%) The giantized "Dragon King" Assault-Type Heavy Combat Personal Tactical Armor was almost indistinguishable from a human-shaped combat mobility armor, standing 6 meters tall and weighing 5 tons, yet reduced to 50 kilograms. Kiterley, a grade-A Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, glanced inadvertently and was immediately dumbfounded. "Goodness gracious!" Little brother, do you have to be so fierce? Adrian finally unleashed his fully-prepared fire spell after emptying his magazine. With white flames rising all around, the bucket-thick serpent rolled among the mutants. Wherever the serpent of over ten meters long went, the ground turned scorched, and the mutants directly turned into char. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley and Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional Apu both stood guard at Adrian''s front on either side, not letting any mutant get close. The fierce interception halted the nearly hundred mutants advancing toward the mobile base vehicle within thirty meters; they could no longer move a step further. The mobile base vehicle''s railgun couldn''t find a chance to fire, fearing its long range and immense power might affect their own forces. Even if the strike radius wouldn''t cover Squad 04, it could easily envelop nearby Ability User teams. In the unexpected, a stray bullet from the railgun weapon would be quite lethal. "Kill!~" Two katanas swung, casting a brilliant light of blades. Mouri Misono moved with the swords, surrounded by sharp edges. No fish that slipped through the net could penetrate the interception zone of Squad 04. The Ice Crystal Pyramid became a firepower point, with deliberately reserved shooting holes constantly spitting flames. Susanna hid inside, manipulating the machine gun, relying solely on the heat emitted by the barrel during firing to keep warm. The gun, surrounded by cold air, thereby gained a more sustained firepower output. Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, while maintaining the defensive position''s cover and intercepting the mutants with "Pitfalls" and "Tripping Stones," stealthily activated earth spells. Spikes suddenly emerged, throwing the caught-off-guard mutants into the sky, and then they plummeted down, half-dead, or even impaled directly on the spikes. Sixteen Constructed Puppet Warriors formed an interlocking fire network, focusing intense bullet showers on those mutants prone to causing trouble. Mage Lulu''an, stationed at the back line alongside Puppet Master Joshua, constantly chanted incantations, manipulating nearby plants to trip the mutants, preventing so many of them from attacking all at once. This turned Chen Fei and those fully intercepting behind him into a rock stuck in the middle of the mutants. Even among plants, there were brutally fierce kinds. Their branches, covered with spikes bearing various toxins, had leaves sharp enough to rival saws, could spray corrosive liquid, and had fruits that could explode with a force comparable to hand grenades. The seeds planted in advance were now sprouting, and while they were not stopping all mutants, they were enough to make densely packed formations drag. Minutes later, the last mutant was violently stabbed in the skull by A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley, letting out an unwilling grunt before finally collapsing, drawing its last breath. A somewhat breathless Adrian pulled out a magic potion, frowning as he downed it. Despite still having more than half of his spiritual power and magic power left, the forthcoming battles were still an unknown, and he had to maintain peak condition to face them. Taking advantage of a brief recovery, Adrian loudly asked in the direction of the mobile base vehicle, "Adam, are there any more mutants coming?" He had always thought that "Adam" was inside the mobile base vehicle, acting as the in-vehicle artificial intelligence AI. Actually, not. "Adam''s" coding was singular and had never been moved. "..." Adam didn''t respond to Adrian, although both their names started with "Ad." "Adam, report the intelligence!" It was Chen Fei who issued the command to "Adam." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire He had no other tricks. If it didn''t listen, he would simply delete it and compile a new obedient one. If it still didn''t listen, he would delete the running log as well, ensuring the next compiled version would absolutely be a naive newbie. "North, ground, distance 2.1 kilometers, number 332, largest body length 13 meters, smallest 1 meter, insects constitute fifty percent, beasts fifty percent, no accompanying shape-changing mutants." "West, sky, distance 2.3 kilometers, number 47, largest body length 15 meters, smallest 1 meter, insects constitute ninety percent, beasts ten percent, shape-changing mutants present." ... Chapter 482 Section 478 - Emergency Assistance "Adam" had consecutively announced seven or eight pieces of intelligence about the mutant groups, which were all located close to Blue Team four''s position. They wouldn''t be able to rush over anytime soon, allowing Adrian and his colleagues to breathe a sigh of relief. Moreover, other teams of ability users nearby would do their utmost to block them, thus striving to ease the pressure on everyone else, under the principle of mutual aid. At this very moment, massive numbers of mutants were pouring into the Hablav District, darting about chaotically like headless flies. No one knew from which direction the airborne and terrestrial mutants would charge. To consider holding back or slacking off at such a critical juncture was folly, which would only serve to turn even the greatest advantages into devastating defeats, eventually dragging everyone down together, collectively facing failure. The three-dimensional holographic projection emitted from the mobile base vehicle showed that countless mutants had completely surrounded Hablav City. The city''s defense system was operating at 120% firepower, turning the outskirts into a blazing inferno. Yet, more mutants continuously surged forward in relentless waves. A gigantic magic array reappeared above Hablav City. Not dropping intense beams of light this time, it burst forth with countless meteor showers, slashing across the sky and falling towards the outskirts in all directions. Each fireball displayed a peculiar blue-white color and trailed intense electrical arcs, with thousands of such fireballs in existence. The intensity of the attack burst forth by the magic momentarily surpassed that of modern firearms. The booming explosions merged into a continuous roar, with sparks and flames ascending into mid-air and engulfing countless mutants. Even from within the city, one could clearly feel such violent, concentrated impacts, causing the ground to shake like a minor earthquake, the trembling persisting for a long time. The magic array hovering over the city flickered once, having seemingly exhausted the last bit of magical elemental energy, and then it faded away. A ghostly howling erupted; with no warning, fierce winds swept through the district. The tumultuous gusts tossed the flying-type mutants in the air, and the intense airflow seemed to be filled with sharp blades of wind, which swept through and continuously dismembered the mutants in mid-air, with chunks of bodies and fluids raining down explosively onto the ground. "That must have been a forbidden curse; now, there must be someone of S rank or Heavenly Order intervening," Adrian looked up towards the continuously changing sky. The Heavenly Order can manipulate rules, and the S rank can even trigger natural phenomena. Whether it''s the former or the latter, one individual can hold a city, and that is no exaggeration. Moreover, rumors had it that the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City hosted not just one top ability user, but also had Sovereignty rotation duty. The mutants, previously zigzagging within the district like headless flies, grew even more frantic, causing considerable damage to city infrastructure. "Sector B, Shelter 256 is urgently requesting assistance¡ª119 children and 25 adults inside! Sector B, Shelter 256 urgently requests help..." Suddenly, a process of striking text was projected by the three-dimensional holographic projection above the mobile base vehicle. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" also marked the locations of Blue Team four and Sector B, Shelter 256 on the 2D map¡ªmerely less than 2 kilometers apart, virtually next door. The sudden call for assistance likely covered all ability users within a certain range of the shelter. "Sector B, Shelter 256... hey, that''s nearby!"@@@@ Mouri Misono shook her dual blades, flinging off a pungent-smelling, viscous fluid from the blades. The mutants she had slain were mostly insect-type, with a hard outer shell filled inside with flesh and viscous fluid, and their bodily fluids were often not red but multi-colored. Though not bloody, the smell was quite foul. "So many children!" he might be able to transform into anything he saw, right? If he saw a Crystal Jet, if he saw a Magic Cube Warship, if he saw the "Cybertrom" digital intelligent structure located on space orbit, it wouldn''t be impossible. "Industrial-grade Ability!" Kiterley didn''t even feel envious. As a fellow Metal Ability User, the two took completely different skill paths. Humans are the creatures best at using tools; without metal products, even stones could be turned into wonders, forcibly creating both the old and new Stone Ages. How could a B-Ranked Special Ability matter? Even if the abilities were fixed from the start, with industrial-grade processing capacity plus sufficient imagination, one could fully exploit human racial talent to an unimaginable extent. "Found it!" Rising into the air, about a hundred meters from the ground, Chen Fei found the location of Refuge No. B256 with the help of "Adam." This place was already occupied by mutants, with no less than three hundred mutants within a kilometer radius. Everywhere one looked, it was densely packed, chilling to the bone. The entrance was near a kindergarten, where dozens of mutants were frantically digging. The solid concrete and asphalt surfaces were as easily scooped away as soft bread. The ground had been torn open, exposing what seemed to be a transfer passage. People hiding in the shelter were blocked inside, unable to move to other safe places, no wonder there was an urgent call for help. If no one came soon, the shelter would eventually be dug open. Chen Fei, operating the "Dragon King," extended his hand, and the Thick-Edged Greatsword transformed. Drawing a sample of the Railgun Combat Rifle from the "Physical Evolution Database," it immediately evolved into shape, albeit scaled up three or four times, with 30mm solid-core bullets loaded. A whirlwind-like howling sound arose, and a dense barrage covered the area. Seemingly smelling the presence of humans, the mutants digging frantically at the shelter''s entrance were pierced through by bullets from behind. The Railgun Combat Rifle deliberately controlled the firing power; the bullets that went through the mutants stopped after burying about a meter into the ground. If it had fired at full power, it could have easily penetrated the ground, posing a threat to the people inside the shelter. "Squeak!" A screech descended from the sky, and the "Dragon King"-wrapped Chen Fei staggered, feeling an immense impact on his shoulder. A six-winged insect mutant pounced on the giantized "Dragon King." Its fierce limbs enthusiastically embraced, and its constantly moving mouthparts, dripping with acid, fell on the surface of the "Dragon King," immediately etching shallow pits while emitting a pungent smoke. Spurt!~ The next second the "Dragon King" turned into a porcupine, spikes sprung from its body as long as four meters, instantly piercing through the enthusiastic giant insect. It was purely foolish for such a close creature, possessing evolutionary skills, to be a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, hurrying to reincarnate. The Railgun Combat Rifle changed back to the Thick-Edged Greatsword, which was casually swung, disassembling blade by blade, suddenly stretching out more than ten meters into a Chain Sword. Leaping forward and swinging it with a flick of his arm, crackles continuously sounded as the Chain Sword swept a bloody storm among the mutant group. Chapter 483 Section 479 - Rushing Waves Although Chen Fei was personally instructed by the members of Team 04 in physical techniques, and he also learned a bit about firearms operation, vehicle driving, and amateur close combat during his university years, he was ultimately an amateur compared to those who had undergone years of rigorous training like Kiterley, Apu, Bassan, Mouri Misono, and the Holy Knights. If physical energy were at the same level, relying solely on martial arts skills, Chen Fei wouldn''t even be able to beat a mage like Adrian. But it was precisely because of this that he wasn''t bound by so many rules, he could be spontaneous and do whatever he felt like. Chen Fei''s special ability itself was his weapon, so it didn''t matter what his preferred handy tool was¡ªbe it the thick-edged greatsword, crowbar, or chain sword, and the railgun combat rifle could seamlessly interchange and enter the fray one after another, With a light pull back, like a giant python turning over, the chain sword retracted like lightning, then morphed and transformed again, the three-meter-long crowbar shimmering with the faint light of magic arrays, turned and smashed down, its curved head brutally embedding into the neck gap of a mutant that charged with a thick shell all over its body. Nothing but hands on mastery! Give Chen Fei a lever, and he could lever off a head. And that was exactly what he did! The "Gravity" magic array allowed the crowbar in the "Dragon King''s" hand to deliver a triple critical hit, closely followed by the "Air Burst" magic array exploding instantaneously, blasting a fierce head seven or eight meters away, its fanged mouth still frantically snapping together. Chen Fei didn''t expend much physical energy; he just positioned the crowbar and the "Air Burst" point of impact, then used some real-time converted crystalline energy to activate the magic arrays. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Battery icon in the upper right corner of the field of vision: 89 (%) As long as the converted crystalline energy was sufficient to maintain, his combat power could continue unabated. The high-grade steel crowbar transformed again, reverting to the thick-edged greatsword, its length unchanged, jerked upwards, a mutant that lunged forward was impaled accurately, "Ignition" and "Air Burst" magic arrays activated again in tandem, blasting the nearly ton-heavy mutant apart. The "Air Burst" magic array was initially a rapid compression and release of air, and the thermal expansion added by the "Ignition" magic array, not only added more power but also reduced the consumption of crystalline energy effectively. Damage +20% (¡À5%) ¡ü, Crystalline energy consumption -15% (¡À5%) ¡ý. Crowbar, chain sword, and greatsword alternately taking the stage, capable of attack at range, defense at close, plus a body like a large hedgehog, though the physical energy expended wasn''t significant, the energy available for conversion was continuously decreasing. After all, crystalline energy is a high-level energy with wide applicability. The Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component along with the Super Capacitor (Level 50) although could convert synchronously, the electric energy reserves used for the conversion of crystalline energy were still inevitably decreasing.@@@@ Chen Fei didn''t bring the crystalline blocks placed in the mobile base vehicle, reliant on the sustainable combat capability of various magic arrays, it was bound to be limited. If he didn''t use these magic array effects and relied solely on personal physical strength to tough it out, even if Chen Fei wore himself out, he would not be able to maintain such high-intensity combat for long. The mutants originally from the Yangzhou Continent that managed to penetrate into Hablav City were certainly not comparable to those low-end goods from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Battery icon in the upper right corner of the field of view: 31 (%) Although below the perilously low fifty percent, he finally could catch a breath. All mutants near the entrance to Shelter 256 were washed away. After the water receded, he looked towards the direction from which a clear shout had come. A tall woman wearing a baseball cap with a long ponytail tied back, riding a skateboard, was rapidly approaching, followed closely by four others jogging behind her. Chen Fei wasn''t the only one who had responded to Shelter 256''s emergency call, but his "Dragon King" had flown here, encountering fewer obstacles and thus arriving faster. The receding, surging waves didn''t dissipate but continued to flow around Shelter 256, forming a water wall that blocked other mutants from entering. Behind the skateboarding woman, a man in a hooded long coat suddenly drew his bow and shot an arrow into the sky. A dazzling light flashed. A ball of lightning enveloped a fiercely flapping mutant and exploded with a deafening roar, too quick for the ear to defend. The gap in the water wall''s defense was perfectly covered by the archer. "Combat mobility armor?" The tall woman stepped onto the dry ground, sizing up the giant "Dragon King." "No, single soldier tactical armor!" Chen Fei''s voice came from inside the "Dragon King." The 6-meter-tall "Dragon King" and humanoid combat mobility armor were entirely different entities. "Ah? Are you a giant?" The woman looked stunned. The other four who came with her were equally shocked. The single soldier tactical armor, almost two stories tall, meant that the person inside probably wasn''t far off in height, which was not typical of the Blue Star Humans, but rather a true giant. "Certainly not a giant, this is just a shell!" The chest area of the "Dragon King" disassembled layer by layer, with numerous complex constructed parts unfolding, revealing Chen Fei''s true face. Chapter 484 Section 480 - Cant Stop It ``` The tall woman cocked her head and looked over for a moment, then said irritably, "Hey! What else could this be if not combat mobility armor?" She pointed to herself and said, "My name is Li Mei. What''s your name? How come I''ve never heard of someone like you in Havlav City?" Logically speaking, the entire combat mobility armor corps of Havlav City should be near the city wall to intercept mutants. So why was there still one left in the city area? The remains of the mutant that had just been swept away by the water were clearly just massacred. Although there was only one person wrapped in such a colossal suit, the combat power was not to be underestimated. Chen Fei introduced himself, "Chen Fei, a member of Squad 04 of the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''!" The constructed parts on the chest of "Dragon King" closed again, engulfing him inside. Now was really not a good time for chatting. Whether it was the mutants in the sky or those outside the water walls, they could rush in at any time. From the way she talked, she seemed like a local from Havlav City and was very familiar with everyone''s faces. It was easy to spot a new face. "A member of the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''? Which military company did you come from?" The woman was surprised again, obviously aware of some information.@@@@ However, she quickly remembered that most of the people from the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division'' were private military contractors who had been conscripted, that is, civilian ability users. But just looking at the giant single soldier tactical armor in front of her, which was indistinguishable from combat mobility armor; even if there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers within the ranks of military contractors, this was still far too rule-breaking. If he claimed to have a military or government background, the woman wouldn''t have been the least bit surprised. "Jiu Defense Company!" The voice of Chen Fei came from inside the "Dragon King." Even through the layers of heavy armor, his voice was amplified, restored, and released through the speakers, making it particularly loud. The four people who came with the woman and Chen Fei were on guard together, watching their surroundings. "Is everyone inside okay?" The tall woman looked towards the large hole dug open by the mutants. It was already large enough for an adult to crawl through. If a little more time had passed, it''s possible that these mutants would have tunneled into the transfer corridor, leading to an irreversible tragedy. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Chen Fei wasn''t sure about the situation of the adults and children in the shelter. He was about to speak when the shelter''s entrance was suddenly opened, and a few people rushed out. Kids were also crammed inside the entrance, and their cries immediately became a cacophony. Relying solely on those little short legs of the children to walk over a kilometer to other shelters could easily exhaust their physical energy and was far too slow, making them vulnerable to the mutants that had invaded the urban area. Now that they had a vehicle, such a distance seemed as close as the palm of the hand, almost instantly reachable. Chen Fei did not drive the vehicle himself but left it to "Adam." For the artificial intelligence AI to parallelly operate two Mobile Base Vehicles was not a difficult task; it was just a matter of allocating a few more threads. Possessing near-infinite computational power, what''s a few more running threads? Never mind two, even ten or a hundred vehicles would be easy to manage. However, this temporarily evolved Mobile Base Vehicle did not come with an onboard chemical battery or crystalline block, so a thick power cable was attached to its lower back, relying entirely on the stored electric power of the "Super Capacitor (Level 50)" to drive the vehicle. Just as everyone was successfully boarding the vehicle and preparing to climb to the rooftop for the entire trip''s protection, a few ability users suddenly looked up at the sky. "What are those?" Chen Fei also looked up, as the entire sky was almost filled with red and blue fireballs plummeting toward the city. The tall woman Li Mei also stood on the rooftop of the vehicle and, after glancing at the sky, her complexion changed dramatically as she urged, "Head to Shelter 257 immediately." The water streams flowing nearby immediately formed a defensive barrier around the Mobile Base Vehicle. As the defense radius contracted, it was like a water tornado, following the second Mobile Base Vehicle as it moved. Wherever it passed, mutants retreated in droves, not daring to come close. A slight misstep would get them dragged into the current, spinning like inside a washing machine, eighteen rotations left, eighteen right, then bursting from too much water in their bellies. "Everyone, hold tight!" No sooner had Chen Fei''s voice fallen than the Mobile Base Vehicle immediately accelerated, heading straight for Shelter 257, a kilometer away. The adults and children in the car issued an unexpected cry of surprise. Because it was not the original Mobile Base Vehicle, this second, temporarily evolved Mobile Base Vehicle was practically a shell with wheels and motors, even if it did not use the reserved electrical power from the "Super Capacitor (Level 50)." The immediate electric power output of the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" alone was sufficient to meet the demand. Several red and blue fireballs, drawing parabolas in the sky and plummeting toward the urban area, grew closer to the ground, and their voluminous silhouettes became more distinct, large enough to rival a van in size. A radiance swirled through the sky, and the enormous magic array once again appeared above the city. As it took shape, the plummeting red and blue fireballs burst into flames in mid-air. A deafening explosion nearly drowned out all other sounds. The large number of mutants flying about in the sky inevitably suffered from the aftermath of the blast, falling like raindrops, with only a few managing to lower their flight altitude in time to escape. However, a massive amount of red and blue fireballs continued to bombard relentlessly, with the magic array above the city withstanding the intense barrage. "Good grief, can that magic array hold up?" Chen Fei watched the attack and defense over the city sky somewhat stunned. Without the magic array covering the sky, the entire Habulav City would likely be levelled by the countless red and blue fireballs in an instant. "It won''t hold!" Li Mei, however, slowly shook her head. Chapter 485 Section 481 - Evacuation Plan "We can''t hold it!" As a senior member of Habulav City management, Li Mei naturally knew what the ultimate defense means capable of guarding the entire Habulav City, the "City Canopy," could withstand. From the flickering state of some runes in the magic array, one could determine how much longer it could last. After all, covering the entire city was a super-huge magic array that required a massive amount of resources to construct and activate. The "City Canopy" could even be referred to as a forbidden curse without any exaggeration, although it was simply a defensive one. Chen Fei bluntly asked, "How much longer can it hold?" Without the protection of the magic array in the sky, the battle would inevitably deteriorate; he had to prepare in advance. Li Mei did not conceal the truth, "At most five more minutes!" As the two discussed, Shelter 257 had already been reached. The shelter, having received the news in advance, opened its entrance. Even more ability users stood guard nearby, waiting for the people being transferred from Shelter 256. Mobile Base Vehicle No. 2 was practically against the entrance, with its doors wide open. Adults on board alighted with children in tow, entering Shelter 257 in an orderly fashion. Most of these children were dependents of ability users who resided in Habulav City, often with both parents working there. It was for convenience in care that the children were kept close by. Although the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was surrounded by mutants from the uninhabited areas, with sufficient numbers of ability users and military equipment for defense, plus routine extermination of mutants in the wilderness and desert, the city had always been very peaceful and even quite safe. But no one had anticipated that this time the mutants'' offensive would be so fierce that they broke into the city in a short time. Taking advantage of the gap in the city defense system, they allowed a large number of mutants to wreak havoc in the sky and on the ground. Fortunately, there was an early warning. Non-combat personnel had taken refuge in the nearest shelters in advance, otherwise it would not only be a loss of various buildings and facilities, the casualties would have been unimaginable. Chen Fei watched helplessly as a red and blue fireball pierced through the magic array, directly hitting a large building. Several floors were engulfed by flames instantly, with the upper levels beginning to tilt dangerously, the load-bearing structure clearly compromised. "Can the shelters withstand it?" Li Mei, after coaxing her child into the shelter, turned and said, "The shelters are not just one layer. The lowest level can withstand a direct hit from a nuclear weapon." Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire It was likely that from the very start of the city''s construction plans, the worst-case scenario had been considered¡ªshould the situation become irretrievable, even if the Ocean Continent was riddled with nuclear radiation, that wouldn''t make much difference. Neutron bombs are wonderful things. Drop one over the city center, and after ten days to half a month, there wouldn''t be any living creatures left in the entire Habulav region. Even mutants produced by nuclear radiation wouldn''t be able to withstand the intense exposure and would succumb to complete DNA collapse. Of course, if they managed to survive, they would likely mutate into something formidable. But that was a low probability event, highly unlikely. By that time, the Combat Corps equipped with National Treasure Artifacts, the Crystal Jet squadrons, and top tier ability users would take care of it. One or two super mutants could never withstand the depth of humanity''s resources. One squadron of Crystal Jets not enough? Then how about two? Still not enough? Do we need the Combat Flight Corps? If S-Class ability users and those of Heavenly Order, whether Spellcasters or War Professionals, came out in a dozen, Li Mei had an epiphany. Without a doubt, the ability to transform "Humanoid Mobile Armor" into a transport vehicle is an industrial-grade ability, and it is one originating from a Metal Ability User. Being proficient with tools is a racial talent for humans. The superpower level cannot restrict the increase in combat power from industrial-grade abilities, as long as the tools are suitable. Even ordinary people can kill ferocious mutants. "Are you going in?" Li Mei pointed to the entrance of Shelter 257, the last person had already entered through the door, and the sturdy entrance was about to close. Although she is the finance chief of the city, she is an A rank Water-Based Ability User, so she is not among those leaving the battle. Chen Fei smiled and shook his head, stepping back. The #2 Mobile Base Vehicle once again performed an incredibly complex assembly transformation, extending a tray to bring him in and wrapping him up layer by layer. "The warm-up has just finished!" Although there were no passionate and grandiose declarations or any heart-stirring and emotional speeches, Chen Fei demonstrated his stance through his actions. In the distance, several red and blue fireballs slipped through the net and crashed heavily into the district. The high temperatures capable of melting metal and iron combined with bizarre corrosive powers turned all matter, whether hard or soft, into dust. Within the reach of the red and blue flames, even the fierce mutants could not escape their fate. Although it was indiscriminate bombing that didn''t distinguish between friend and foe, which also wiped out a large number of mutants, it disrupted the defensive lines of the Ability Users within Habulav District. "Good luck then!" Li Mei no longer insisted, called out to the people following her, and drove the raging water streams towards the distance. The waves swept through, and the skateboard became a surfboard. Riding the current, the speed instantly doubled, if not more. The rest, each with their divine skills, used high-speed moving abilities to follow close behind her. As he watched her depart, Chen Fei controlled the Giantized "Dragon King" to confirm the location of Team 04, took a heavy step on the ground, and soared into the air. By the time he regrouped, not only had Adrian and the others shrunk the defensive line down next to the Mobile Base Vehicle, but they had also gathered a few dozen more people, forming a fairly orderly defensive circle surrounded by mutants. On their corpses grew grotesque plants, which swayed slowly ¨C one did not need to guess to know it was the work of the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an. Seeing the two-floor-high "Giant Dragon" descend from the sky, Adrian exclaimed in surprise, "Chen Fei, why didn''t you go to the shelter?" Others in Team 04 had also received the text message that Chen Fei had seen. It wasn''t just Chen Fei below A rank, the cold-fearing Ice Ability User Susanna was also B rank, but her conspicuous Ice Crystal Pyramid seemed still in place, with no sign of melting. "What''s the fun in going there alone? What''s going on with you guys...?" The "Dragon King" settled firmly on the ground amid the intense focus of many eyes revealing Chen Fei''s figure. Uneasily, Adrian said, "Thanks to your Mobile Base Vehicle, we were almost unable to hold out before." Not long before, a particularly large group of mutants had breached several lines of defense in succession, and even the Ability Users, in the interest of safety, had no choice but to condense their formation and retreat to the location of Team 04. It was at that moment that Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle suddenly released a Protective Barrier ("Repulsion Shield"), covering everyone and blocking the tide-like assault from the mutants. ``` Chapter 486 Section 482 - Skylight Collapse The mobile base vehicle was nearly 20 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, with the chassis 0.5 meters above the ground, and the compartment height at 3 meters. Both in volume and surface area, it was much larger than the giantized "Dragon King" assault heavy armor. Thus, it could accommodate more magic arrays, exactly 94 engraving units, at least four and a half times more than the giantized Dragon King. Not to mention imprinting a "repulsion shield" which required 45 units alone; even two would not be a problem. If used sparingly, the remaining four units could still be supplemented with four other magic arrays, like the "gravity" magic array which was quite practical. The one who activated the "repulsion shield" wasn''t Chen Fei, but the artificial intelligence AI "Adam". To protect the mobile base vehicle from damage, taking emergency measures was a matter of course. The mobile base vehicle had magic arrays and crystalline blocks; activating the "repulsion shield" magic array was merely a matter of issuing a command, without needing to go through Chen Fei at all. For "Adam", it was just a simple task. A "repulsion shield" covering a 15-meter radius around the vehicle body was perfect for encompassing everyone. Its unidirectional force field was perfectly suited for outward attacks, while nothing from the outside could penetrate, leaving onlookers powerless and frustrated. "How many good things did you actually get?" Adrian only knew Chen Fei had returned to his homeland for a visit, but little did he think that in nearly a month of no face-to-face contact, Chen Fei had developed even more methods. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire This wasn''t something a Grade B metal ability user''s skills could account for; that''s not how this is supposed to work. "Not many, just one, two, three, four, five, six, seven... yep, just seven magic arrays!" Chen Fei counted on his fingers, finally announcing the number. Crystalline energy, industrial-grade ability (or alchemist), and magic arrays¡ªthese three essential prerequisites crucial for the inscription of magic arrays were all neatly arranged by Chen Xiao''er. Apart from the "repulsion shield" and "air burst" magic arrays, which were barely considered quality items, the rest were low-end goods. It was a struggle that he managed to utilize most of them¡ªit was really tough. "Magic, magic arrays?" Adrian''s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He clearly understood that magic arrays were strictly regulated technologies, not something ordinary people could dabble in¡ªthey wouldn''t even have the resources necessary for it. All sovereignty over such technology was stringently controlled. Despite their involvement in intense fights here, their backgrounds were ultimately that of civilians, not officials or military personnel. He quickly pulled Chen Fei towards the mobile base vehicle, lowered his voice, and whispered, "Are you sure this is okay?" While Adrian was indeed grateful for Chen Fei''s magic arrays protecting everyone, the technology of magic arrays was not something ordinary people should touch. He could even guess that Chen Fei must have "sacrificed" the magic arrays to deploy them. About that... his audacity was overwhelming, daring to commit such an act under such circumstances. It seemed fine now, but secrets don''t stay hidden forever. These couldn''t withstand scrutiny. Fearful that someone might seriously investigate, a thorough investigation could lead to a clean-up spree, possibly resulting in prison time, at the very least three months of deep reflection followed by a lifetime ban from access. Awful! Just awful! "No problem, of course, there''s no problem!" If there were any real issues, Chen Fei wouldn''t have left Hanhai that "ghost of a place" so unscathed. Moreover, one of the mere seven magic arrays was even openly gifted to him in their presence, though not tactically valuable, it also represented a certain attitude. After all, Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power was industrial-grade. If he wanted to develop further in the field of magic arrays, nobody could stop him. Why stop him? Isn''t having another local alchemist desirable? "Are you sure? Don''t lie to me! I can try to help you." Adrian''s head full of white hair likely stemmed from genuine hard work and worry. "Absolutely, I guarantee it!" Chen Fei patted his chest. Adrian scrutinized Chen Fei''s face closely, trying to detect any subtle hint of forceful expression, but eventually, he relaxed, thinking perhaps Chen Fei had some backing, already sorted out earlier. If the Crystalline Block''s energy was to run out, it would spell death for everyone, even Chen Fei wouldn''t be spared. "Good grief! What in the world is this!" A-rank Metal Ability User, Kiterley, was trembling with fear, believing that if he were to take a hit from this thing, he''d probably be incinerated instantly with no remains left. The area where the red and blue fireball landed had turned into a sea of flames, fortunately absent of people since everyone had gathered here at the mobile base vehicle. Otherwise, even escape would be impossible. "Chen Fei, can your magic array block this kind of attack?" Adrian''s face was somewhat pale as he looked towards Chen Fei. The mere aftermath of the blast, had they not been under the protection of the mobile base vehicle''s magic array, might have been enough to kill several people on the spot. Although among the ability users present, there was no shortage of defensive means against the impact or even direct hits of the red and blue fireballs, those were a last resort and consumed a significant amount of energy, hardly sustainable. Not just Adrian, other people also looked towards Chen Fei, hoping that this protective barrier could continue to protect everyone. "I don''t know; I''ve never tried!" Chen Fei also looked troubled, the battery icon on the upper right corner of his vision seemingly taking over the mobile base vehicle''s energy reserves, showing the number: 85. A previously unknown ability shouted, "Let''s find a place to hide right away!" Although they had previously received text messages instructing B-rank and below as well as Human Order ability users to withdraw from the battle and enter shelters. Now it seemed that even A-rank special ability users and Earth Order ability users might struggle to face such a terrifying bombardment alone, and without defensive skills, they were also doomed. The majority of people present felt as if they were fetching water with fifteen buckets, utterly unsure. "The magic array above has disappeared." Mouri Misono, who had been focusing on the city''s sky magic array, suddenly shouted. Everyone was startled, lifting their heads to look at the sky. Unbeknownst to them, the magic array that had withstood numerous red and blue fireballs had dispersed. Hundreds of red and blue fireballs rampaged into the main urban area of Hablav City as if entering an unmanned land. "Prepare for impact!" Adrian shouted out loud. At this critical moment, running was of no use. No matter how fast they ran, as long as they were still in the urban area, they couldn''t escape from the radius of the numerous red and blue fireball bombardments; the surface was no longer safe, and the only safe place might just be the underground shelters. To be precise, it should be the deeper underground shelters. Hablav City''s underground shelters weren''t just on one level, guarded by an S-rank Earth Element ability user, skilled in large area skills, perfectly suited to protect the underground shelters and making it difficult for mutants to approach from underground. "Sorry, I have a bold idea, but you all must buy me some time," As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, the protective barrier covering everyone abruptly disappeared, and the temperature around them rose sharply. "So warm!" Susanna let out a comfortable moan from within the Ice Crystal Pyramid. - Chapter 487 Section 483 - Charioteering "How long do you need?" Others might have hesitated, but Adrian chose to trust Chen Xiao''er completely without any hesitation. He rapidly recited the spell incantations, beginning to prepare the most powerful fire defense magic he mastered. Without the "Repulsion Shield," he could only rely on himself. Those outside of Squad 04 were getting panicked; they didn''t have the tacit understanding with Chen Fei and thought he was going to forsake the outsiders to protect his own people. Thus, confused and uncertain, they started shouting. "Hey, hey, hey, don''t mess around!" "Quick, put up that protective barrier again." "I''m about to die from the heat!" ... The noisy chaos was interrupted by a loud shout. "Shut up, keep quiet." Unexpectedly, the one who spoke was Bassan, the Neanderthal Chief of Squad 04, who normally had very little presence. The quiet ones seldom get angry, but when they do, it''s terrifying. The scene fell silent as a graveyard. "Chirp!" The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was also unbearably hot and opened up a light system magic shield for itself, which apparently did nothing to help. The magic shield could not completely isolate heat radiation and hot air. It looked around, then flapped its tiny wings and landed on top of the ice crystal pyramid, feeling much better immediately. "Chirp, chirp, chirp..." Little Bird called out to Daddy Chen Fei, saying it''s cool here! Thankfully, Chen Fei, whose head wasn''t blown up by the noise of the crowd, was concentrating all his attention on his mobile base vehicle. The ammunition boxes previously stored inside the vehicle had been thrown out, neatly arranged, and then the vehicle itself transformed, extending 36 pillars around the people, with branches intertwining above to support a massive round canopy. Because of its large surface area, it gained the capacity for 360 engraving units on one side, and with both sides, a whopping 720 engraving units¡ªjust the sort of big, flat surface that a magical array loves. Chen Fei gestured with both hands while saying loudly, "10 seconds, I need 10 seconds!" The surface of the dome-like canopy reminiscent of a Mongolian yurt began to display a series of magical arrays. Six "Repulsion Shield" arrays, six "Air Burst" arrays, six "Gravity" arrays, six "Fluid Vortex" spells. This 6666 tactic made full use of the available magic arrays, with a few engraving units still leftover. The "Repulsion Shield" protected the Ice Wall, and under the full effort of Susanna, a Class B Ice Ability User, the teetering Ice Wall refroze, regaining its steel-like strength. But Adrian''s "Fire Tornado" was not so lucky. After all, fire should not trouble fire, yet the red and blue flames didn''t spare it, and this defensive Seventh Rank Human Order fire spell didn''t last three seconds before it was engulfed by the red and blue torrent. As a fire mage, Adrian was good at offense but not at defense, truly putting him in a difficult spot. "Rock and Earth Array!" The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai unleashed a powerful move, and walls of rock and soil, four to five meters high, kept rising, facing the direction from which the flames came. The red and blue flames harbored some kind of bizarre destructive power. The rock and soil walls couldn''t last long before melting into soft magma, then being scattered by the flames. "How is that possible?" Until the last wall, mixed with chunks of concrete and rocks, turned to liquid and vanished on the spot¡ªlasted only five seconds longer than Adrian''s "Fire Tornado"¡ªa stunned Ruan Tiankai felt like he had unleashed a fake Earth Magic spell. "Horn of the Wind God!" A Wind Ability User joined the fray, aiming to reduce the pressure on Chen Fei. He also chose to release his power outside the "Repulsion Shield''s" protective barrier, to consume the still unsubsidized torrent of flames. The howling air transformed into a full-throttled battleship, charging against the direction of the incoming flames, splitting the fire asunder. Meanwhile, the circular dome, outfitted with sixfold "Repulsion Shields" and bombarded by the "Air Burst" spell array, suddenly faced much less pressure. In the upper right corner of Chen Fei''s vision, the number next to the battery icon had changed to 73. This was simply too terrifying! A few more rounds like this, and even with all these magical arrays, Chen Fei might well die here. "Apu, come here!" Chen Fei eyed the big black figure. A Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional¡ªpractically a humanoid battery¡ªa real gem! It seemed there were other Thunder Series Ability Users among them, perfect for recharging. "Ah? Me?" Apu pointed to himself, as clueless as a monk at a loss. "Come, discharge! Give it everything you''ve got!" No matter how strong the electric current, Chen Fei''s "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" skill could convert it into Crystal Energy. Even if converting the Thunder Series fighting spirit into pure electric energy caused immense losses, at this critical juncture, even if they drained the big black man into a dried husk, there was no choice but to do so. When the other Thunder Series Ability Users saw Chen Fei sizing them up, they inexplicably felt a chill, thinking, crap! A giant red and blue fireball descended silently from the sky. - Chapter 488 Section 484 - Dead or Not Dead Big Yellow Apu was shimmering with electric light, grasping the metal handle handed over by Chen Fei. The people around immediately stepped back a few steps, keeping a respectful distance. The Thunder series fighting spirit transformed into a strong current, which was first converted into higher level Crystal Energy, flowing into the open dome and the Crystalline Block, on one hand continuing to drive the Magic Array, and on the other hand charging the Crystalline Block. Although Apu''s output power was not even comparable to Chen Fei''s own generation of electricity, at this crucial moment, having any power was better than none, and every watt of power was a vital resource for survival. Just then, everyone''s phone rang. They had received a mass emergency shelter text message. "What?" After a glance at the screens of their phones, more than one person exclaimed in shock. Had the situation within Hablav City become this dire? Suddenly, Little Bird looked up, gathering points of light, displaying the image of the sky. The rarely seen "Light Mirror Spell" had been successfully cast. It was like the end of the world, with countless red and blue fireballs falling from the dark sky. The perspective switched, and a blue and white fireball was powerfully hurtling towards a silver white circular hut on the ground. Which familiar half-spherical hut could it be? It was indeed where everyone was hiding, surrounded by towering Ice Walls, shielding them against intense heat radiation. "Oh! That, that one! It''s about to fall!" The previously helpful Wind Ability User pointed to the image projected by the "Light Mirror Spell," his mouth wide open and his face filled with horror. No wonder they had received a mass emergency shelter text message; with these crazed fireballs raining down, how could they possibly withstand it. "Run!" Someone shouted, wanting to rush to a nearby shelter. But they were immediately stopped from this unwise act. "Where can you run to? There''s no escaping now!" A red and blue fireball crashed to the ground, its eerie dual-colored flames devouring a hundred-meter radius, no structure could withstand it. It shattered everything on contact, and even if one fireball could be dodged, the next probably couldn''t. With so many red and blue fireballs densely falling from the sky, magma and toxic smoke pervading the surroundings, where could they possibly flee to in such a hurried situation? Even seeking refuge in shelters was already too late! "We have to fight for our lives!" Susanna, a B-grade Ice Ability User who had failed to escape earlier, had gone even paler, not from cold this time, but from fright. Fortunately, the temperature was quite high at the moment, probably around forty or fifty degrees, allowing her ability to operate at one hundred percent power. Adrian, who could offer no help, could only comfort her, "Susanna, don''t overexert yourself!" Behind his words lay a resignation to fate. He knew Susanna''s Superpower Level, which couldn''t be regarded the same as the B-level displayed by Chen Fei. It was a weakened B-level, barely stronger than a C-level, and perhaps a C-level Ice Ability User wouldn''t freeze half to death activating her ability as she did. The unkept remnants of the Ice and Snow Palace evaporated swiftly, disappearing, and simultaneously took away a large wave of heat. "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light of Redemption''!" Chen Fei quickly asked the little bird on his shoulder for help, as it was time for Team 04''s Band-Aid to showcase its specialty. Susanna exerted her Ice Attribute Special Ability to its fullest, but even wearing a down coat couldn''t block the chill emanating from the power. Xiao Jiu, taking advantage of the remaining cool air, rushed over and snuggled up, then a "Light of Redemption" plunged into Susanna''s chest, engulfing her in a faint white light. The effect of "Light of Redemption" was much stronger than that of "Light Healing Technique," which was akin to a real Band-Aid. "Ha!" Susanna sharply inhaled, then started coughing violently; with each cough, a puff of cold mist was expelled. This dire use of her last-resort ability almost froze her lungs solid. The Second Rank "Light of Redemption" finally pulled her back from the brink of unconsciousness. After regaining consciousness, she coughed a few more times before starting to breathe deeply, trying to inhale every bit of warmth in the air into her body. "Chirp!" The little bird repositioned itself on the high point over Susanna''s head, seamlessly settling down to nest, relishing in the coolness from her body; the surrounding area was too hot, hot enough to almost curl its feathers. The disappeared "Light Mirror Spell" reappeared, allowing everyone to see the sky''s condition again. The huge red-blue fireballs had dispersed, but the flames had not vanished; instead, they were scattered by the impact force of the 152 Demolition Bombs, no longer smashing directly onto the full metal dome, but transforming into a rain of fire that covered a radius of one kilometer. Just the remnants alone almost caused the collective defense to collapse. The battery icon in the upper right corner of the view showed the number 45. Chen Fei''s expression turned sour. Although the rock-soil carapace and the Ice and Snow Palace absorbed some of the impact, the full metal dome''s surface''s Magic Arrays were still bearing the brunt of it. The price paid was that the already insufficient energy reserves were quickly depleted. If another strike came... "I can''t do this anymore!" Apu, who had been continuously exerting his maximal Battle Qi, had turned completely pale, becoming Big Yellow. "If you''re a man, you can''t say you can''t handle it!" Chen Fei then shoved the thick copper rod back into his hands. He could only continue to push this unfortunate soul. Keep pushing, Lao Hei! Another person, also drafted at the scene as a Thunder Series Ability User, simply looked resigned to his fate. Suddenly, a pillar of light descended from the sky, landing outside the city, followed by slender light beams that also fell, precisely hitting each red-blue fireball, immediately causing fireworks to bloom in the air. "What''s going on?" Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire Everyone watching the "Light Mirror Spell" screen exclaimed in surprise. If not mistaken, it must be reinforcing forces arriving. Chapter 489 Section 485 - From "Cybertrom "As small characters, our vision and scope are still too narrow!" Watching the screen, Adrian''s offhand remark suddenly gained everyone''s nod of approval, as if it struck a chord with them all. What was the situation like inside and outside the city of Hablav? Where did the sudden support strike come from? What exactly were those red and blue fireballs launched by? Were the origins of the attack wiped out by this descent from the heavens? ... Almost everyone had a belly full of questions. Being small characters in the game, they knew absolutely nothing about it; even the live broadcasts by Hablav''s local TV news channel were vague. This time, the mutant siege on the city was not only complicated but also full of surprises.@@@@ It would probably take a good while before any concrete information would be released. The only thing to be thankful for was that no red and blue fireballs were falling from the sky anymore. Although flames of red and blue were still burning around them, they had managed to secure a sliver of life for themselves. The Full Metal Dome''s surface gained 72 more "Fluid Vortex" Magic Arrays, half on the pillars and half on the outside of the dome, fully disturbing the air and gathering to form a slowly flowing breeze barrier, keeping the rolling heat waves at bay. Otherwise, the inside of the dome would definitely have turned into an oven. Even so, the internal temperature remained a scorching fifty to sixty degrees Celsius. Fortunately, all present were ability users and could barely withstand it. The only one who was weak and frail, the Grade B Ice Ability User Susanna, actually needed such a hot environment to balance the cold inside her body. If there was only a cooling Magic Array, it would easily handle the current environment, Chen Fei thought regretfully. Everyone knew how difficult it was to deal with a Magic Array. If you didn''t want to be invited for tea by the authorities, it was best not to actively pursue such taboo ideas. Of course, if it came your way passively or by accident, that was a different story. The energy consumption of the 72 "Fluid Vortex" Magic Arrays didn''t even match half that of the "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array. The power conversion from electricity to Crystal Energy and the consumption of Crystal Energy managed to balance each other out, with a slight surplus even allowing for storage. Chen Fei finally released Apu, who had turned into "Big Yellow," and another Thunder Series Ability User. Their situation was worse than Susanna''s, as they were thoroughly drained of vitality and spirit, lying down unable to move even a finger. A light rain began to drizzle from the sky, with high temperatures vaporizing large amounts of water into the heavens, where abundant water vapor condensed into raindrops in the cold upper air, ultimately choosing to return to Earth. Aircraft after aircraft from other sovereignties, powered by Crystal Jets, crossed vast distances, as Space System Ability Users teleported them directly above Hablav. They appeared out of nowhere, filling the sky above the city, then turning to plunge into the nearby Central Great Desert, to pursue and exterminate the invading groups of Mutants with all their might. Babylon! The remaining casualties were human Ability Users and Intelligent Magical Beasts, including many of the A-class and important rank. As they could not retreat to underground shelters in time and lacked the defensive cooperation like Chen Fei and others, casualties were inevitable. Those who were still breathing by the time the rescue teams arrived were the lucky ones. Apart from that, more than a thousand Combat Mechs were lost, all of which were mass-produced by cloud AI control, easily replaceable by a turn of the production line, so it wasn''t too painful a loss. All the Target mechanical beings in Zone C were wiped out, with not a single survivor. They were also mass-produced but slightly more expensive, though for the Global United Defense Committee, this was pocket change. The urban buildings and various facilities in Hablav City, however, suffered damages whose cost was difficult to tally in a short time, and it was uncertain whether the sovereignties would allocate additional budgets to Hablav for reconstruction. Nearly half of the residential buildings in Zone B had collapsed, but since they had never been fully occupied to begin with, it was a matter of everyone squeezing in together, sharing a unit, and just about everyone would still have a room for themselves. Under the leadership of Adrian, Team 04 smoothly relocated to the same floor, making contact with each other much more convenient. A walk down the corridor, ringing doorbells along the way, was all it took to gather everyone together. Susanna and Mouri Misono shared a unit, while the others paired up two per unit, still quite spacious. Each unit in the residential building of Zone B started from 175 square meters, with a default of four bedrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen, three bathrooms, plus a large and a small balcony¡ªample private space even when cohabitating. Chen Fei''s roommate was Kiterley, an A-class Metal Ability User. He wasn''t too talkative with others, but he looked out for his junior of the same elemental power and had a straightforward personality, never sticky or fussy. After taking a shower, the A-class Metal Ability User didn''t bother Chen Fei but went out to the balcony clad in just a pair of large-patterned shorts and sunglasses and flopped onto a beach chair to bask in the moonlight. A gentle breeze blew, the moon shone bright overhead, and the Milky Way stretched across the sky. Soon, the sound of snoring filled the air. Basking in the moon in the middle of the night, he had actually fallen asleep¡ªcertainly a unique hobby. Taking advantage of Kiterley''s deep slumber and with Little Bird back in its nest, curled into a ball and occasionally chirping softly, also seemingly in a deep sleep, Chen Fei checked the time and began to establish a video call with Boss Hana, reporting in from far away at the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area 911 Aircrew Base. Hanna Gagel was in her small western-style house, arranging the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, with a flowerpot placed in front of her. "I''ve tried the plant technology information you sent over, and it seems to be genuine," she said while flicking at the mushrooms in the flowerpot. These mushrooms were quite peculiar, about one foot tall with a stem diameter of around two inches, and toadstool-like caps that seemed plump and elongated, giving off a strangely sinister vibe. Boss Hana''s fingers, delicate as white jade, gave a light tap, causing the mushroom to tremble and shake. Upon closer inspection, Chen Fei recognized that the thing in the pot, thrashing around like a crazed bull, seemed to be the Flesh Mushroom he had originally picked up. Because of improper cultivation, it had shrunk considerably, and its shape had become increasingly lewd. Damn, his boss''s words just now were quite ambiguous. What exactly did she try? ``` Chapter 490 Section 486 - Deadlock The two were seriously discussing something that had a very sinister appearance. "Can this thing reproduce?" Chen Fei didn''t realize that his words also carried ambiguity. Hanna Gagar said, "It is actually a mutant form of fungus, fully capable of reproducing through spores and fission." Then, with a puzzled expression, she asked, "Haven''t you looked at it closely?" The technology data for cultivating the "Flesh Mushroom" was provided by Chen Fei, yet he knew nothing about it. "I haven''t had the time to look." Chen Fei shrugged, Boss had talked about it, but he really hadn''t looked at it. "Adam" had crammed a huge number of folders and files into the directory "A:\\Angela," totaling dozens of petabytes in size. He couldn''t possibly look at each one; he might not finish in this lifetime. He only had "Adam" search for keywords such as "Flesh Mushroom," "cultivation," "propagation," "growth," and "reproduction," and had all the found files bundled up and sent to Boss Hana for the experts to decipher. If he were to learn it all over again, he would probably fall asleep. It was like being poles apart; too hypnotic. Hanna Gagar, though, was quite a conscientious Boss and had gone through it once herself. "How many more good things do you have here?" Boss Hana did not pursue Chen Fei''s reluctance to delve into the details, after all, this was not his primary job. Being able to provide technology information of great economic value was already a huge, unexpected gain. Just the technology for cultivating the "Flesh Mushroom," along with the living specimen in the flowerpot, was worth billions of Star Yuan. Sovereignty probably had it too, but they had always kept it secret and it was even less likely that any private enterprise had made it public. Therefore, the "Flesh Mushroom" in the hands of Jiu Defense Company was absolutely unique in the civilian market. As long as the state didn''t compete with the public for profit, this would be an advantage of excellent timing. When the edible fungal fruit body, which tasted almost indistinguishable from animal meat, would become available to the general public, Jiu Defense Company would likely have already accumulated enough strength for large-scale dumping. Forget about eating meat, others might only hope to get a sip of soup; whether they could gnaw on a bone depended mostly on Boss Hana''s mood. "A lot, to be precise, too much." Chen Fei displayed the root directory of the A drive which was shown by the "File Management Plugin," and within the "Angela" folder, there was a tree-structured statistical directory file. This was an auxiliary document created by "Adam" to make it easier for Chen Fei to review the files in this folder, and the size of the document was notably large. "It''s a pity we are just small fry; our vision and scope are too narrow to know much intelligence." Chen Fei quoted Adrian''s words. He still didn''t know much about the ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' organizations and often could only respond passively, unable to exert his full strength or to fight wholeheartedly and exuberantly, which was somewhat frustrating. "But when the sky falls, it''s the bigwigs who have to stand under it first." Hanna Gagel''s words were loaded, hinting to Chen Fei that it''s easy to attract unnecessary trouble if you concern yourself with matters beyond your position. Big shots have their own troubles, and small folk have their own joys. Ignorance can be bliss; sometimes, knowing too much is not a good thing. "Of course, I understand this principle, but I hope the ''Water Bear'' can be dealt with soon, and the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division disbanded as early as possible." The longer Chen Fei stayed with Squad 04, the more he missed his days at Aircrew Base 911, busy yet plentiful, without the need for exhausting concern and preoccupation. There was neither the tense atmosphere of always being on the brink of battle, nor the worry of mutants playing mind games. They''d appear when expected and meet their death when due¡ªclean and straightforward. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire Even if there were disputes with colleagues, they''d settle things with swords drawn and live ammunition¡ªstraightforward for all. "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," despite its initiative, couldn''t achieve an absolute advantage and was constantly unable to deliver a fatal blow to the ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' organizations. Instead, it remained entangled with them, and now even the headquarters had nearly been compromised, with the entire city almost turned to ashes. Chen Fei felt exasperated by the poor quality of this ongoing battle. "Haste won''t get you hot tofu; this is already a strategic issue. I''m afraid the big shots have their own considerations, and it''s not something that can be resolved overnight." Hanna Gagel didn''t know how to comfort Chen Fei. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was not like her own Jiu Defense Company, which she could decide on a whim. It was complicated not only in organizational structure but also in people''s hearts. If she had known Chen Fei would be so uncomfortable, she would have found a way to refuse the recruitment on his behalf. As the two of them chatted, time passed unknowingly... "Chirp, chirp!" Chen Fei was awoken by Xiao Jiu''s calls, opening his eyes sluggishly, only to realize he was lying on the living room sofa, his phone tossed aside. Wiping his face, he recalled talking to Boss Hana last night and not knowing when he fell asleep¡ªthe call had long since ended. A scent of frying grease wafted through the air. Kiterley walked out of the kitchen wearing a checkered apron, holding two plates in his hands. Seeing Chen Fei awake, he immediately greeted, "I saw you sleeping so soundly on the sofa, I didn''t wake you. Get moving and then try my cooking." On the two plates were the breakfast Kiterley had prepared for himself and Chen Fei, bread soaked in egg mixture frying to perfection in a pan, served with some bacon, mini sausages, pickles, and pickled cucumbers¡ªa simple and homely breakfast. Previously, Chen Fei was always in charge of Squad 04''s meals, and the others rarely had the opportunity to cook themselves. Kiterley was the first to wake up and went straight to the kitchen to show off his culinary skills to Chen Fei. Chen Fei looked toward the balcony, where he had originally planned to wake Kiterley and return to bed, but ended up falling asleep on the sofa himself. In the southern hemisphere of Blue Star, it was the height of summer, hot weather, so sleeping on the balcony didn''t pose the risk of catching a cold. Chapter 491 Section 487 - The Working People ``` Although A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley couldn''t make a fancy feast, whipping up a breakfast to satisfy hunger posed no difficulty whatsoever. Eggs, butter, salt, toast, bacon, sausage, and pickles¡ªit would be somewhat challenging to turn these ingredients into a culinary disaster. Chen Fei was even less fussy, and after washing up, he downed his portion in no time, accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice. No sooner had they finished breakfast than Adrian came knocking on the door, informing Chen Fei and Kiterley that they were needed to help out in the city district. Though not completely in ruins, Hablav City was little better off. The new job for the two Metal Ability Users was to assist with the repair and maintenance of various equipment and facilities in the city''s defense system. Moreover, Adrian, who had worried all night about Chen Fei getting involved with the Magic Array, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Chen Fei who answered the door. In reality, there was nothing to worry about. Compared to that, Industrial-grade Abilities were far more important than Magic Arrays. The Sovereignty was not completely unaware, they just turned a blind eye, pretending not to see, but this detail was recorded in Chen Fei''s personal file. Not just Chen Fei and Kiterley, everyone else also had their own assignments. After the mutant attack, Hablav City was left in shambles and in great need of reconstruction, requiring a lot of manpower. No one could afford to be idle. Especially since they were being paid by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, one obviously had to do whatever the superiors commanded. A worker is like a brick; he goes wherever he is needed. The abilities of Ability Users are not limited to fighting battles; there is also a great demand for them in production and construction. ----------------- The entire city of Hablav had become one big construction site, with the sound of banging and clanging everywhere. A booming dull thud, the tumbling of rocks and earth¡ªas a thick cloud of dust began to rise, it was quickly enveloped by a dense mist of water, turning into large currents of mud that flowed into a pre-dug pit. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire Following that, clear water naturally separated itself and plunged into a nearby concrete pool, mixing with cement and gravel, slowly rotating to blend evenly. "Hey, hey, stop daydreaming!" Chen Fei slapped Kiterley, who was blankly staring at the breach in the wall. "Oh, oh!" Kiterley finally snapped back to reality. His Metal Elemental Psychic Power was geared towards combat and wasn''t of much use in construction, so he could only help out with odds and ends, like making tools or bending steel plates and iron bars¡ªit was barely passable. For major projects, they still had to rely on their little brother Chen Fei. Chen Fei took a few steps forward and reached out his hand. The skills "Metal Shaping" and "Elemental Decomposition/Synthesis" were alternately activated. The various metals scavenged from nearby swiftly fused into several thick steel rebars, interlacing and intertwining with each other and connecting to the mostly intact foundation rebars, erecting a steel rebar cage standing over thirty meters high from the ground. Then, steel plates were pieced together to form a colossal all-metal mold box, identical in size and dimensions to the neighboring intact section of the wall. The well-mixed concrete, under the joint control of the Earth Element Ability User and the Water-Based Ability User, poured into this giant mold box, completing the filling. After 24 hours, it reached 30% of its hardening strength, and its surface form began to stabilize. After a week, it would reach 90% of its hardening strength, at which point the outer steel plates could be removed, allowing it to continue to dry and harden. After another week, this section of the wall would be restored to its original state, and over time, the overall strength would indefinitely approach 100%. While pouring the concrete cement, Chen Fei continued to erect a second steel rebar cage, constructing another wall mold box just like before. CTM! "Just the two of us?" "Seems like... that''s the case." Kiterley and Chen Fei looked at each other, involuntarily shrinking their necks. They had assumed that at least there would be an engineer to guide them through the installation, or at the very least a technician. But it was just the two of them! And a dozen or so thick manuals. It had to be said, the big shots in Hablav City sure had guts to trust such an important job to two amateurs. If by some chance the mutants attacked again, and all the weapon platforms installed by Chen Fei and Kiterley failed, the joke would be on them, and the city might just suffer another breach. "What do we do?" Kiterley looked towards his younger brother Chen Fei. Forget about starting the installation, just reading the manual made his head spin, and if he stared at it any longer, he might just pass out on the spot. A bunch of individual words that might make sense on their own, but once combined, it was more complicated than curse magic. "Hmm, ''sacrifice'' the whole lot and then get to work! Kiterley, you handle the unpacking." Chen Fei thought for a moment, then picked up a manual. Screw this, I''m done pretending! "Sacrifice? You sure you dare?" Kiterley quickly looked around. Chen Fei''s "sacrifice" skill was far too domineering. With a "copy" following the sacrifice, it meant these weapon platforms would soon have no secrets left. They were powerful weapons intended to defend Hablav City, and here they were, just small-time employees of private military contractors, daring to tamper with high-grade weaponry. "Who cares!" Chen Fei opened a manual and then looked up, glancing left and right, pointing at one of the crates and declaring, "The D-600 type parallel railgun, that''s the one." ''D'' stands for dual, parallel; 600 denotes the maximum caliber (in millimeters), with a maximum range of 700 kilometers, making it perfect for deep strikes. Not only for city defense but still a top-tier weapon of war. If the Aircrew Base had something like this for protection, there would be no need to send out combat flight squadrons on long-range raids to nearby hostile bases. Just firing the maximum caliber full-power shells from their position would remove any opponent''s Aircrew Base in at most four or five shots. Of course, private military contractors were not allowed to possess such devastating weaponry. Kiterley unpacked the crate with trepidation while Chen Fei immediately "sacrificed" the heavy artillery inside. His "Physical Evolution Database" skill instantly acquired a "D-600 type parallel railgun heavy cannon." Unless Chen Fei was killed, no one could extract this heavy weapon from his mind. Then with a "pop," it was installed! As long as there were enough energy points, the "Physical Evolution Database" meant countless trial and error iterations were possible. Kiterley had no need to worry. "SE-2500 shockwave cannon," "L-12 laser cannon," "F-120 railgun rapid-fire cannon"... Although there seemed to be numerous crates on-site, there were actually only four types of weapon platforms, each falling victim to a "sacrificial" fate. Chen Fei also seized the opportunity to acquire three magic arrays. "Light Gathering," "Wave Gathering," and "Crystal Energy Conversion," were mostly for collecting energy in conjunction with the crystalline blocks inside the weapon platforms. However, compared to the core "Crystal Energy Conversion" magic array, it was entirely useless to Chen Fei, overlapping completely with his own skill, "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component." Chapter 492 Section 488 - Pay More ``` Installing the weapon platform didn''t take much effort, but unpacking the packaging was so hectic it left us sweating profusely. By the time it was almost dark, Chen Fei and Kiterley had finished setting up the dozens of weapon platforms and even completed their calibration. The job of setting up the control system naturally fell to "Adam." Chen Fei only had to dock his "Universal Data Transceiver," usually worn as a bracelet, to the data port of the weapon platform. It took just minutes to complete the initial setup and various parameter configurations. Although the weaponry that relied on physical ammunition couldn''t be activated yet, the directed-energy weapon platforms powered by Crystalline Blocks were ready for action. Still, not a single soul was in sight around us. Looking over at the city wall, which had been breached widely, I saw that the steel-reinforced cages I had constructed were now filled with concrete. It seemed like the construction workers had already left. All that was left was to wait for the concrete to harden. For at least ten days to a half-month, the walls would not see any work beyond the occasional sprinkling to keep the concrete moist. "We''re not forgotten here, are we?" The expression on the face of Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, as he rubbed the back of his head and stared with wide eyes, spelled out "annoyed." "Who cares! We work nine to five, the stall''s closed!" Chen Fei paid no mind. He and Kiterley had finished taking apart all the packing cases that were left here. If there were any more cases out in the distance, that would have to wait for tomorrow. Anyway, there was no need to worry about these weapon platforms being stolen. "Let''s go!" Kiterley thought it made sense. Regardless of whether the overseer had forgotten about them or not, he had no intention of spending the night here. Imagine a mutant suddenly popping up in the middle of the night ¡ª even if it couldn''t hurt anyone, it would still be terrifying. "Hey, you two, work''s over, work''s over. Whatever''s not done, we''ll continue tomorrow." The overseer, with a white safety helmet and a tablet tucked under his arm, came running over, bounding and leaping towards us and waving continuously. After making a full round of the construction area he was responsible for, he finally remembered the two ''big shots'' he''d almost left behind. Nobody dared to treat ability users as if they were workhorses in a production team. Whether drained of magic power and spiritual power, or suffering from special ability fatigue, these people couldn''t just grit their teeth and work overtime ¡ª when they were tired, they rested, and when they wanted to leave, they left, without a word from anyone. But as he approached, what he saw made him pause... Emmm! "Ah, you guys finished installing them?" Within a kilometer radius, every packing case had been opened. On each installation base, dome-shaped full-metal dust covers, resembling huge dumplings, were already in their designated spots, ready with "Lucky Blind Boxes" for the mutants ¡ª might be "D-600 Model Parallel Railguns," or "SE-2500 Shockwave Cannons," "L-12 Laser Cannons"¡ªsurprised? Unexpected? This was a week''s worth of work. I hope they weren''t just slapped together haphazardly. "Piece of cake!" Kiterley struck an ostentatiously proud OK gesture. If not now, when would he show off? Chen Fei thought for a moment and then said, "Need a raise!" Bluffing was one thing, but getting paid was more substantial, especially for the poor. He was indeed easy to talk to but far from stupid. "Right, a raise!" Kiterley promptly chimed in with his younger brother. The female boss of Jiu Defense was a good person, dealing with such a huge debt without any coercion or rush ¡ª that was what righteousness looked like. Nowadays, heartless capitalists were everywhere. Finding a good boss with a conscience was harder than finding a wife who was both graceful and homely. "That raise..." All you needed was the Mobile Base Vehicle in place, lights on, music playing, charcoal burning, endless meat, and drinks ¨C the atmosphere would naturally get fired up. "Well, actually, that''s not a bad idea, let''s do the barbecue!" Kiterley scratched his head and agreed with Chen Fei''s suggestion. With half of Hablav City turn to ruins and most of the survivors still in shock, too busy picking up the pieces to give any thought to reopening for business, the foodservice industry had taken a heavy hit and it would be hard for him to find a place to host even if he wanted to. The barbecue had just been set up, and before the scent of meat could even waft through the air, a text message arrived: 1.2 million Star Yuan had been transferred to Chen Fei''s phone. Having read the message, Chen Fei caught sight of Kiterley winking and gesturing at him to keep quiet. The old river rat was reminding him to make a fortune in silence! "Ladies and gentlemen, let''s get high!" Kiterley grabbed two green fluorescent sticks and smashed them against his forehead, immediately covered in foamy beer and glass splinters. True to being a Metal Ability User, he didn''t spare himself when going wild. If it had been someone else, looking ferocious and not sparing even themselves, not ending up with a concussion would be a blessing. After demonstrating his genuine head-banging skill, the vibe at the event immediately took off! Boom crack crack, boom crack crack... The fierce ''kick-the-dog'' music surged, the ultra-heavy bass enough to kill a dog on the spot. Hundreds of men and women circled the Mobile Base Vehicle like a horde of wild demons. The Mobile Base Vehicle opened its half lid, and news of the BBQ spread quickly through the residential building, with residents from several nearby buildings also gathering spontaneously ¨C unlimited meat, unlimited drinks, but once the mood got heated, food and drink were forgotten. Three Magic Arrays were added to the Mobile Base Vehicle: "Light Gathering," "Wave Gathering," and "Crystal Energy Conversion," harvesting local energy sources to power the onboard Crystalline Blocks. "Wave Gathering" referred to the movement of air, whether it was wind, sound, or even vibration, all of which could be converted into Crystal Energy to be stored, although the collected energy was often minimal. However, over time, the aggregation of small amounts could build up significantly. With big skewers of meat smelling deliciously, Chen Fei joined the random dance, only to see Rossi, the Liaison Officer of Team 04, pushing his way through the crowd with a deadpan expression, heading his way. Good lord, Rossi actually had such an interest! One could only imagine seeing a serious, stone-faced person doing goofy dances amongst a colorful crowd ¨C it was an endearing contrast! Without saying a word, Chen Fei handed him a large green fluorescent stick and several big skewers. "I... I..." Stuttering over his words, it took Rossi a while to push away the beer and skewers to some passersby, pointing outside the crowd, he shouted, "Got... something!" "Huh?" Chen Fei was perplexed and shouted back, "Old Luo, are you not going to join in?" Rossi replied irritably, "P! Come!" Following him to the outskirts of the crowd, the noise from the festivities quieted down, and Rossi finally stopped. "You, join, hunting, tomorrow, 7 am, A2 district, Ninth Street, building three, be there," he said. Even without lowering his voice deliberately, it was impossible to hear what Rossi was saying from a few steps away. Chen Fei looked at the members of Team 04 in the crowd, puzzled, and asked, "Check-in? What about Team 04?" Was he being drafted into another squad? "Bear hunting, paused!" After thinking for a moment, Rossi added, "Confidential!" It seemed that even Adrian wasn''t informed, and they had chosen to contact Chen Fei directly. "Got it!" Chen Fei had no power to refuse and could only wait and see how things unfolded. By 7 am tomorrow in A2 district, the truth was likely to come to light. Chapter 493 Section 489 - Miyoshi** 6:50 AM, Zone A2, Ninth Street. House number, odd-numbered 3. Chen Fei, with the Pure Light Sparrow in tow, walked leisurely to the spot, easily finding it amidst a surrounding of ruins and rubble. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu perched on his shoulder, eagerly looking into the walled courtyard. Inside, a towering tree stood a hundred meters tall, its canopy completely enveloping the yard, with huge leaves as big as fans blocking the sunlight completely. Even in the height of summer, there was not only an absence of heat under the shade but also a slight coolness spilling out to the surroundings. A gentle, refreshing breeze was blowing, making one feel extremely comfortable. Within the canopy, there was constant chirping and the fluttering of wings, suggesting that numerous birds had taken up residence in the tree, perhaps forming a small ecosystem. Less than a hundred meters from the courtyard lay desolate ruins and clearly demarcated scorched earth, some even in a state of lava. This idyllic retreat that had miraculously survived amidst a rain of red and blue fireballs from the sky was probably not just a twist of fate. "Let''s go in!" Chen Fei scratched the Little Bird''s chin. Upon receiving permission, the little one flapped its wings and zoomed into the courtyard, darting straight into the foliage. He followed suit, pushing open the chest-high courtyard door. His eyes were greeted by a spacious courtyard paved with pebbles the size of fingertips, and he estimated the area inside the walls to be no less than seven to eight thousand square meters. In the vast courtyard''s center stood a single-story traditional building backed by the giant tree, with shoji doors covered in white paper, gracefully upturned eaves, and a design that had a distinct Dongying or perhaps Tang style. Ten meticulously pruned pine trees, about the height of an average person, stood symmetrically, subtly forming a pathway straight to the wooden building. Under the porch, there were already four pairs of shoes, both men''s and women''s. There must be at least four people inside. A few steps in, Chen Fei''s stride faltered, and he frowned slightly as he stared at a pine tree. It seemed like there was something there, but he saw nothing at all. He knew there must be something strange about a courtyard that had remained untouched during the mutants'' city raids. Without hesitation, Chen Fei walked straight towards the wooden house under the towering tree. He took off his shoes, stepped onto the floor, and then slid open the shoji door, revealing a Japanese-style room with thick straw mats and tatami on the floor. The ceiling had a skylight, and although the dense canopy overhead blocked direct sunlight, the light from outside was enough to illuminate the interior. Furthermore, the supporting posts and ceiling were adorned with rustic lighting fixtures, so there were no shadowy corners. Inside were five people, four men and women facing a bald figure clad in plain robes, accurately described as a monk. To the side, a red clay brazier burned smokeless charcoal, and the air was filled with a subtle scent of tea. The monk sitting cross-legged on the floor smiled slightly at Chen Fei and gestured towards an unoccupied cushion on the right side of the other four, measuring around two feet in square. "Mr. Chen, please come in!" Five cushions, no more, no less¡ªjust right. With Chen Fei, everyone was present. The message conveyed earlier by Rossi, the liaison officer of Team 04, was vague and mysteriously unclear. The only thing Chen Xiao''er, who had arrived here, could do was take things one step at a time. "Hello!" ``` Guessing that the other party was the owner of the place, Chen Fei nodded in acknowledgement and quickly walked towards the soft mat. The tatami mats made a muffled sound when stepped on, likely due to the suspended floor beneath, which must be made of hard and extremely thick boards to produce such a dull sound. The size of the grass mat was just one square yard, a very traditional Dongying style. The other four men and women watched Chen Fei as he arrived at the soft mat and sat down cross-legged, as if they had been waiting for him all along. Seeing Chen Fei twisting his waist, seemingly uncomfortable as he tried to find a balanced point of support, the monk said apologetically, "Sorry, we don''t have any chairs here." "No problem!" Chen Fei managed to sit steadfastly. Sitting cross-legged was barely manageable, but kneeling was even more awkward for him. "As you can see, my name is Miyoshi Xuesen, hmm, does it sound a bit strange?" The folding fan pointed towards the five people in front of him. Snap! The folding fan slammed into his palm as Miyoshi Xuesen declared with absolute certainty, "Your task is to take them out one by one, assassinate, poison, snipe, whatever it takes." Huh? Chen Fei was somewhat flabbergasted. He was just a fighter jet mechanic and an old truck driver on the side. Since when did he have to start acting as an assassin? Did he even have that kind of talent? If throwing a 152 from tens of kilometers away counted, then was he considered a heavy artillery assassin? "Are explosions allowed?" It was clear that B-class Fire Ability User, Aunt Caroline, truly loved explosions. "Just don''t harm the innocent," said Miyoshi Xuesen without directly answering, but the implication was clear. Sovereignty had already given the green light; as long as the innocent were not affected, they were free to do as they pleased. The auntie revealed a kind and gentle, warm smile. The walking male hormone, an Earth Mage of Earth Order rank three, Andrei asked in a magnetic voice filled with masculine charm, "May I ask where this list came from?" Just got slapped face yesterday, and today the revenge list is out; naturally, anyone would be suspicious. Chen Fei was thinking the same thing, and the expressions on the others'' faces were no different¡ªall very curious. "Buddha says: It cannot be told, it cannot be told, namo..." Miyoshi Xuesen pressed his hands together and seemed to be chanting something, probably invoking the Gatling Bodhisattva or the like. "Do we have a detailed plan for action?" Chen Fei, just like he''d do in school, raised his hand straightforwardly. Counting the monk, there were only six people. Even holding a list and reaping heads would be useless if they only knew the names without any context! Where do these people live? Do they have bodyguards? How many bodyguards? What''s their combat strength? What about the security and early warning systems of their residences? Without comprehensive intelligence support and a battle plan, with just this small group, they were practically sending their heads on a platter. "Don''t worry about that; I''m the person in charge of this operation. You all just need to execute, and other matters..." The monk clapped his hands, and the crisp sound of the claps echoed throughout the wooden house. From the rafters, tatami mats, and behind the wooden pillars, people dressed in black and with their heads covered started to emerge, about twenty or so, instantly filling the spacious room with their presence. "Ninjas?" The young man, Tuert, shouted excitedly and quickly pulled out his phone, dragging a black-clad figure over. The two huddled together, say cheese! Click! The deed was done. "Indeed, ninjas!" The corners of Miyoshi Xuesen''s mouth twitched continuously. He knew Tuert''s actual age, which was already forty-nine this year. Otherwise, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t afford the accusation of employing minors; international organizations would latch onto them like mad dogs, scrutinizing and nitpicking with magnifying glasses, trying to find a bone in an egg. Chen Fei, however, suddenly saw the light; no wonder he had sensed something out of the ordinary as soon as he had entered the courtyard. So there were all these people hidden in every corner. Chen Fei couldn''t detect the people, but he could sense the metal objects on them, like shurikens and tachis. - Chapter 494 Section 490 - New Team Andrew, with a face full of beard, looked around at the group of people in black and said with furrowed brows, "Why not let these ninjas carry out the assassination mission? We''re not needed at all!" He felt that gathering the five of them here, including himself, was completely unnecessary. "Uh! Yeah!" Tuert, looking like a young man, was initially stunned, then caught on and hesitantly nodded his head. Just to take out that bunch, these ninjas should be enough, right? Poisoning, stabbing, sniping, bombing, they should be able to handle it all. Many people are not entirely unfamiliar with the profession of ninja; after all, they frequently appear in movies and anime, performing feats like appearing and disappearing out of nowhere, leaping over rooftops and walls, throwing shurikens with "whoosh whoosh" sounds, and the more skillful ones might even dabble with explosives and muskets, or even perform hand-seal ninjutsu. Some ability users with similar skills could cosplay as ninjas, and they would actually look the part. "Do we need to provide the explosives?" Aunt Caroline, who was out buying vegetables, glanced at the vegetable basket beside her, with just a few slender carrots and onions, and thought that none of those items would serve the purpose. "Stop, stop!" Before Masuya and Chen Fei could speak, the monk Miyoshi Xuesen clapped his hands, and all the black-clad ninjas disappeared as if they were never there. He raised his hands, pressing down in the air, and said, "They are indeed ninjas, but they are not killers nor assassins. Their expertise lies more in gathering intelligence." "But they could surely..." Tuert pointed towards a corner of the room. Before Miyoshi Xuesen clapped his hands, he had not noticed anyone else in the room. If they had wanted to assassinate him, he would probably have been caught completely off guard. If they were targeting someone else, with the advantage of surprise against an unaware victim, their chance of success should be quite high. "No, they are just ordinary people who are skilled in the art of ninjutsu. And I..." The monk Miyoshi Xuesen pointed to himself and continued, "I am an A-level Dark Elemental Psychic, and one of my skills is to temporarily bestow dark powers on ordinary people, but not on power users. Meaning, anyone with a spiritual power strength above 10 degrees will not be affected." He finally revealed some of his secrets. There is an unwritten rule that ability users should not inquire about each other''s skills unless voluntarily disclosed, with the only exception being the Sovereignty who has the right to know. The spiritual power strength of ordinary people is around 0.6 to 1.5; people with firm determination may have higher levels. However, whether they are War Professionals, Spellcasters, or supernatural power users, their spiritual power strength generally exceeds 10, and this value is particularly high for Psychic Power Users. Both magic and Battle Qi are systematic, and the path to cultivation can be followed step by step. Only special abilities have a wide variety of different skills, even amongst those with the same elemental type, and sometimes it''s hard to categorize certain skills under any elemental series. "Is that so?" The five people opposite Miyoshi Xuesen all suddenly realized. Skills can actually be temporarily bestowed upon others, no wonder he needed a group of subordinates. Especially ninjas with certain special skills, who would be like tigers with added wings. Though they were ordinary people, they could already compete with ability users. Correspondingly, managing so many subordinates, planning operations, analyzing intelligence, and team management abilities must be strong; otherwise, it would be impossible to lead such an efficient team, which wouldn''t operate with the uniformity and coordination that the five had witnessed. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire "Gentlemen, please get ready. We will meet here at five o''clock tomorrow morning." The monk picked up the clear tea in front of him, holding it without drinking. He didn''t say much, as there would be plenty of time for explanations later. New team members don''t mesh together overnight. Being too hasty wouldn''t achieve results; it''s better to proceed step by step. Over time, everyone would get to know each other better. Moreover, by not saying much at the beginning, it was also beneficial for confidentiality and observing the team members. Sometimes, merely looking at personal files might not be accurate. In the registered "identity documents" carried by Magical Beasts within Blue Star Civilization, they varied greatly in form but were generally custom-made tech products. At most, they might contain a small Crystalline Block ensuring decades or even a century of continuous operation. If the identity leg ring was indeed an alchemical artifact, it must be unusually costly. Tuert and Andrew glanced at each other, neither saying a word. Some things are better left unsaid for future cordial relations, and nobody likes a chatterbox. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" The Little Bird paid no mind to being scrutinized, still perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, defiantly squawking at the other birds that chased after it. Come and get me! I love seeing you helpless against me! Like owner, like bird, sometimes both can be quite cheeky. "You little rascal, no more fighting in the future!" Chen Fei extended his finger to scratch Xiao Jiu''s chin, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his expression. Not long ago, it had been battling a flock of sparrows in some small town in Hanhai, and now having only just entered this courtyard, it was already causing a ruckus with the birds in the trees. The little guy was really too good at stirring up trouble. "Chirp!~" The Little Bird pecked back at his finger in response. Whether it would take the advice to heart, probably only the bird knew. It was only after Chen Fei left the yard with Xiao Jiu that the frustrated birds stopped following and scattered. Returning to the residential building in Zone B, he saw Adrian and others gathered in the dormitory he shared with Kiterley and expressed his surprise, "Eh? Adrian, you''re having a meeting here?" The team''s meeting seemed to have continued without him being informed, which was even more puzzling. "Yeah, we''re in a meeting, about you," Adrian patted the couch next to him, continuing, "Come and have a seat here!" There was an empty spot right next to him, probably reserved for Chen Fei. "Oh!" Chen Fei guessed what it was about and quickly walked over. He had barely settled onto the soft cushions of the couch when he heard Adrian say, "Chen Fei, I hear you''ve joined another team." "Are you leaving us?" Honestly, Mouri Misono felt some reluctance. Although Chen Fei rarely took the front lines in battle, he was still an indispensable member of Team 04, playing a crucial role in logistics and transportation. In times of trouble and crises, he often turned the tide, always managing to solve problems or deal with the troublemakers at critical times. He was a reliable and trustworthy partner. "How did you all find out?" Chen Fei saw the reluctance in the eyes of his teammates from Team 04. Adrian explained, "I saw you with Rossi last night, and I asked him about it today; that''s how I found out." Fortunately, he was observant and took the initiative to ask Liaison Officer Rossi for more information; otherwise, he might have been in the dark until Chen Fei quietly left Team 04. Chen Fei recalled for a moment, then spread his hands and said, "Actually, it''s more like joining a new team rather than leaving." Neither Liaison Officer Rossi nor the monk Miyoshi Xuesen had ever spoken of him leaving Team 04 or implied anything of the sort. Chapter 495 Section 491 - Waiting "Eh?" Mouri Misono voiced her surprise. Is that even possible? "Really?" Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, who had been looking tense, couldn''t help but widen his eyes in faint delight. If his little brother was still part of Team 04, that would indeed be great news. The guy was still thinking about continuing to fleece the supervisor for a hefty extra bonus, a sum that paled in comparison to the stipend provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Although Kiterley, a loner, could feed himself and didn''t starve his family, the saying went, "One does not grow rich without windfalls, and a horse doesn''t get fat without night-time grazing." Without the extra bonuses, how was he supposed to live? Originally, upon hearing from Adrian that Chen Fei might possibly leave, the rest of Team 04 felt somewhat saddened, but now, upon hearing the news, things seemed to take a turning point toward an unexpected twist. Chen Fei stated truthfully, "The specific details need to be kept confidential for now, but I have yet to receive notice to leave Team 04." Personnel changes within the operation teams required going through the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division; one couldn''t simply pluck someone from their original team with just a word. The new team had to consider combat strength combinations, and the old team faced similar issues. To be honest, everyone was a temp worker, with their original work affiliations still tied to their former employers. If someone was unhappy, it was entirely possible they could drop everything on the spot, each returning to their own home, finding their own mother. "It seems I was overthinking it!" Adrian heaved a sigh of relief. Ever since the loss of the Holy Knight and his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, he who hoped that Team 04 would remain intact from start to finish did not wish to see any reduction in the team, for whatever reason. As long as Chen Fei was there, the rear defense line of Team 04 could be guaranteed. After all, the precision bombing of the 152 Demolition Bombs was not a joke; in a critical moment, it could turn the tide of the battle. Add to that the long-distance mobility of the Mobile Base Vehicle, which could ensure the entire team arrived at the mission area in optimal condition to engage. The huge black figure, Apu, and the Earth Elemental Mage, Ruan Tiankai, happily high-fived each other, only for Old Ruan''s hand to swell and Lao Hei''s face to turn even darker. Joshua, an A-grade Psychic Ability User, curiously asked, "What kind of new team is it? Are there people from other operation teams?" "Doesn''t seem like it. It should be a more direct team." Chen Fei considered for a moment, then shook his head, giving only a subtle hint. Apart from the monk-like Miyoshi Xuesen, the other four were complete strangers, not seen in any of the other teams of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, not even a slight impression. The teams belonging to the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division were tasked with eradication of the "Water Bears" and peripheral members of the "Sacred Advent" organization, as well as conducting covert investigations, spending most of their time searching and confirming suspicious targets. Parked below and still carrying a strong scent of barbecue, the mobile base vehicle was indeed an indispensable mode of transportation for Squad 04, and everyone had grown accustomed to its convenience. Other action teams had submitted reports to request similar mobile base vehicles, and it was said that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had already sent letters to some relevant manufacturers inquiring about design proposals. But if Chen Fei wasn''t around and Squad 04 needed to go on a mission, the all-electric mobile base vehicle wouldn''t have the necessary driving range to meet everyone''s needs. "The vehicle can stay, but you''ll have to figure out how to get a Crystalline Block yourselves, ask for Rossi''s help to apply for one." Without him on board, the presence of the Crystalline Block didn''t make much difference; in comparison, Chen Fei needed it more to maintain his own combat capabilities. Once a need to activate the magic array arose, the consumption of crystal energy would be enormous, and having a Crystalline Block would be a reliable guarantee of combat capability. The AI assisting in controlling the vehicle was an easier issue to address; they could let "Adam" assist remotely or simply use a different AI. In the "AI Arena," bustling with thousands of test accounts day and night, there was no shortage of good AIs. One could pick and choose freely, and even if none were as flexible as "Adam," basic operations would be sufficiently manageable. "Then that''s the only way to do it. I''ll communicate with Rossi," Adrian nodded in agreement. The rights to the mobile base vehicle''s onboard Crystalline Block belonged to Chen Fei, and if he wanted to take it, nobody else had any say. "Remember to keep in touch," Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, gestured a phone call to Chen Fei. The two men, despite living in the same building, would soon be heading in different directions. - The next morning. No sooner had Chen Fei stepped out of the apartment building with Xiao Jiu than he saw a bald man standing at the entrance to the public lobby on the first floor, holding a box in his hand. Hearing footsteps, the bald man turned his face towards them, but his eyes remained tightly shut. Chen Fei recognized the man and exclaimed in surprise, "Babylon?" The name "Babylon" didn''t refer to one person, but to a group of people. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had an organized army of soldiers in Hablav City. Part of them had unlocked psychic abilities, sharing the collective name, "Babylon." "For you!" The tall, dark Babylon handed the box to Chen Fei. He had been waiting here early in the morning, seemingly for Chen Fei. "What''s this?" Chen Fei looked at the bald man and the box with some confusion. This soldier wasn''t delivering something to him for the first time without any explicit reason, leaving Chen Fei completely baffled. Chapter 496 Section 492 - Scam Artist "Fuel!" Babylon''s tone betrayed no hint of fluctuation, making it difficult to guess his thoughts and emotions. "Fuel?" What kind of odd thing was this? Chen Fei, utterly baffled, took the box handed to him. The last time, the magnetic plasma engine had also arrived unexpectedly and for free. Such acts of eager benevolence were unheard of. Wait... Magnetic plasma engine... Fuel? Chen Fei didn''t hesitate and opened the box right there. Inside the box were several compartments, each containing a capsule-like object resembling a full-metal container, which at first glance, could be easily mistaken for a grenade, small enough to fit in one hand with an interface at the top that required a corresponding interface to open or close. Inside the box lid was a piece of paper with a line of text on it. "Plasma fuel" Indeed! He had guessed right. The last gift was a magnetic plasma engine, available in various sizes from large to small. Since the fuel for these engines was a controlled item not sold on the market, the several magnetic plasma engines he had unexpectedly acquired had been languishing unused in the "Physical Evolution Database" skill, with no applications found for them. This time, having obtained the fuel, the evolved magnetic plasma engine could finally be put to use. There were 72 compartments in the box, 6¡Á12, each corresponding to one fuel bottle, precisely fitting the basic capacity unit of the magnetic plasma engine for single soldier tactical armor, though he wasn''t sure how long one could be used. He figured he would know as soon as one was deployed. After handing the box to Chen Fei, Babylon spoke again, "The wreckage of the ''Skyhawk'' Crystal Jet has been moved to an old machinery junkyard in the suburbs and is expected to be recycled and decomposed within 72 hours." Having said that, he stepped back, ready to turn around and leave, seeming as if his mission was accomplished and there was no reason to stay. "Wait a second!" Chen Fei suddenly called out to him. Babylon stopped in his tracks, slowly turned back, and "looked" toward him. Chen Fei hesitantly ventured, "You... you''re not Babylon from C4 Training Gym, are you?" ... Babylon just stared straight at Chen Fei, silent, never opening his eyes. Then, without any response, he walked away, his figure receding into the distance. Indeed... Chen Fei''s guess was right. The person wasn''t the examiner Babylon that he and the other members of Team 04 had previously known. It had been reported that during this mutant attack on the city, the soldiers fought until their deaths... Chen Fei sighed. The soldiers were real tools, devoid of emotions and desires, no different from machine beings. Yet they were still living, breathing humans. - In a yard with a towering tree, amidst the chirping of birds, Chen Fei once again entered the East Asian-style wooden house leaning against the big tree. The Pure Light Sparrow issued a challenging chirp, driving the other birds in the tree canopy nearly mad with irritation. They couldn''t bring themselves to land on Chen Fei, only daring to fly in circles overhead, calling out in frustration. This time Chen Fei was early, and besides the monk Miyoshi Xuesen, Aunt Caroline, a Grade B Fire System ability user, was already there, with a basket by her side. Unlike yesterday''s fresh vegetables, today it contained items wrapped in thick greaseproof paper exuding the scent of food. Delighted by the recognition of her Turkish Fire Roast, Aunt Caroline gleefully handed over another wrapped in greasy paper. "Thank you!" Chen Fei quickly finished off what was in his hand and devoured a second meat-filled pie, then reluctantly wiped his mouth. The pies were thick and flaky and the meat plentiful and fragrant, a solid sense of satisfaction. After a while, Masuya, a Grade A Wind-type Ability User with naturally curly red hair, arrived right on time. Aunt Caroline again offered her Turkish Fire Roast, not surprisingly rejected. To maintain her slim figure, the young beauty wouldn''t indulge her appetite, frustrating Aunt Caroline who pushed the basket toward Chen Fei. "Young man, it''s all yours!" Chen Fei unapologetically continued to eat heartily. Monk Miyoshi Xuesen, who was always engrossed in tea rituals, pulled out a remote control and pressed a button. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire "Now that everyone is here, let''s get started!" Above the tatami mat between him and the five others, a light flashed, and a holographic screen about fifty to sixty inches diagonally appeared out of thin air. A man in a strong robe appeared on the screen. Chen Fei and the others became immediately tense; the monk had not gathered them for a mere tea party but was preparing for murder. Undoubtedly, the somewhat adolescent-looking middle-aged man on the screen was the unfortunate target soon to be executed, listed on the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s death blacklist. "Lin Zien, male, 45 years old, major shareholder of Flying Dragon Security, located in the Southern Continent of the American Federation, has a secret base deep in the rainforest. He is a Grade A Wood Element Ability User and has magical beasts serving him..." "Please wait a moment!" As Miyoshi Xuesen was introducing the first hunting target, Chen Fei suddenly raised his hand to interrupt. "Is there a problem?" Miyoshi Xuesen stopped speaking, neither hurried nor annoyed. "May I ask, what is the relationship between this Lin Zien and the Lin Family?" As a descendant of the Chen Family, even if the connection was distant, Chen Fei inevitably had to ask once the Lin Family was mentioned; the descendants of the Lin Family, named with "Zi," adhered even more firmly to tradition than the Chen Family. "The Lin Family?" Not only did Tuert exclaim out loud, but others also reacted similarly in shock. Among the families that could be referred to as "the Lin Family," which other Lin Family could it be? Targeting someone from the Lin Family ¨C did the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee have a death wish? The Lin Family could erase the entire Habulav with a flick of their fingers. "No, it can''t be true!" The red-haired beauty, Masuya, gasped. If the monk dared to utter even a half-word of "yes," she would immediately excuse herself and leave, declining to join. "No!" Miyoshi Xuesen calmly uttered a single word. A collective sigh of relief rose from above the tatami mat. Thank goodness, thank goodness, that Lin Family was not one they could afford to provoke with their small tricks. "He''s just a scapegrace with no relation to the Lin Family, secretly using the Lin Family''s name to conduct activities and provide funding and training bases for the ''Water Bear'' organization." Miyoshi Xuesen seemed unsurprised by the reactions of Chen Fei and the others, even anticipating them, as he calmly added walnut charcoal to the small clay stove in front of him. "Understood!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. Since he was a scammer, he deserved his fate. Chapter 497 Section 493 - Turn a Blind Eye Seeing that the five individuals had stabilized their emotions, the monk Miyoshi Xuesen continued his methodical introduction of this Lin something-or-other, listing from birth to the path of crime, even detailing who had shared a bed with whom on particular dates and how often they could still muster the energy for it these days. However, these were all trivial details to help Chen Fei and others get a better understanding of the target for reference purposes. The Pure Light Sparrow that had followed them into the wooden hut hopped onto the tatami mat and stuck its little head into Chen Fei''s teacup, pecking quickly at the content before tilting back its head to take a sip. It then flapped its wings and flew around the room. It seemed to notice that Xiao Jiu was in the hut, as the frantic chirping outside had not stopped. No one seemed to mind the little creature the size of a fist. After all, the Pure Light Sparrow was considered one of the most harmless Magical Beasts, unless it mastered offensive spells, its combat power was practically negative. "Next up is the combat plan..." Miyoshi Xuesen''s organizational ability was indeed as Chen Fei had guessed; commanding a Ninja Team must have made him accustomed to hunting assignments. The plans developed, from A to D, were meticulous enough to deal with various situations. But this time the target wasn''t just an Ability User, but also an important core member of the "Water Bear" organization. That''s why Chen Fei and the other five Ability Users, two Spellcasters and three supernatural power users, were brought in. Close combat wasn''t necessary; the group of ninjas would probably be sufficient on their own. "Chiu!" A blast of bright light suddenly erupted from a corner of the hut, almost coating half of it in blindingly white radiance. A few figures then stumbled out awkwardly, with more wavering in the distance. The ninjas who had been forced to reveal themselves quietly dispersed and jumped into the nooks and crannies of the room, disappearing from sight again. If they couldn''t be dealt with, could they not at least be avoided? The Little Bird cocked its head curiously; out of sheer curiosity, it couldn''t help but release a "Light Burst Flash," which resulted in a trick that revealed more than one person. Nice! "Xiao Jiu, come back!" Chen Fei couldn''t let Xiao Jiu continue to wreak havoc in the hut any longer. The Light-based Spells clearly had a strong effect against Dark Element abilities; otherwise, Teacher Shen''s Shadow Wolf wouldn''t think it''s just a cat. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire (The wolf, beaten into a dog and then into a cat, has a journey of the heart that cannot be easily shared with others.) "...Alright, does anyone have anything else to add?" After talking in detail, Miyoshi Xuesen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and moistened his throat. He had completely ignored Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s mischievous behavior throughout. A man of his stature wouldn''t get upset over a little thing the size of a fist; he had that much tolerance. Moreover, knowing the birds that perched on the big tree in the yard, which he was around all the time, they were just as curious as cats. "I do!" Chen Fei was the first to raise his hand. With his other hand, he held Xiao Jiu in his palm to prevent further mischief. "Go ahead!" Miyoshi Monk nodded and made a welcoming gesture. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Is it possible to wipe out the target with a Demolition Bomb of 600mm caliber from over 100 kilometers away, one shot to get it done?" "Emmmm..."¡Á4 Everyone was either used to solo battles or team actions; what''s with resorting to bombing without a word, and with a 600mm caliber at that? What was he planning? A Demolition Bomb with a 600mm caliber weighs in tons by itself. Once launched, accuracy is the least of concerns; a deviation of a hundred or eighty meters is insignificant. Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form; to speak is not to speak, and not to speak is to speak. Go figure it out yourself! Emmm... Chen Fei pondered for a moment, quietly got up, and left with Andrew, Tuert, and others. As they slid open the shoji door covered in pure white mulberry paper, dozens of birds on the porch were startled and flurried into the air. These little birds had remembered Xiao Jiu, boldly blocking the door, but they scattered in fear as soon as they saw humans, just like a scattering flock of birds. "Go on, get out of here!" Tuert, who looked like a young man, waved his hands irritably, making a shooing gesture. The birds were too bold, almost daring to burst into the house. Yet no one blamed Chen Fei''s Little Bird for attracting so many birds seemingly out of nowhere. After all, it was a Light-element Magical Beast, even if low-ranking, still higher class compared to these ordinary-blooded fowls. "Hehe, what a little mischief-maker!" Aunt Caroline teased Xiao Jiu on Chen Fei''s shoulder with a smile. "Ugh, it''s really dirty here!" Masuya, an A-rank Wind-type Ability User, took out a scented handkerchief and covered her mouth and nose, looking in disgust at the specks and spots newly added to the porch floor, bird droppings... likewise unable to fault the birds'' sense of public duty, for they simply had none. The others who came out together carefully avoided the bird droppings on the floor, and seeing that their shoes were lucky to be unaffected, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. - Chen Fei, with Xiao Jiu, took an autonomous taxi and headed out of town. Arriving again at the temporary junkyard for old machines, there were many fewer rubbish mountains than last time, with about one-tenth of the area newly cleared. Like other Aircrew Bases distributed around the globe on Blue Star, Hablav also had a dedicated melting and recycling center for dealing with city waste. After all, burning or disposing of it carelessly in landfills was bad for the environment. The ecosystem of the Yangzhou Continent was already very poor, and any additional damage could cause a series of chain reactions in nature. Who could guarantee that the Mutants wouldn''t cause even greater harm or become uncontrollable, sweeping across the entire continent, rendering Yangzhou no longer suitable for human habitation? As Hablav City was being rebuilt, the demand for various construction materials increased, so the processing speed of the various metal waste materials in the temporary junkyard was much faster than usual. No wonder that soldier, Babylon, had made an extra mention that the wreckage of the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" would be dismantled in three days. If Chen Fei hadn''t arrived in time, he might have missed out. "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light Mirror Spell'' and look down over this area." Chen Fei reached out his hand and scratched the little bird''s chin on his shoulder. The mountain of garbage in front of him was at least a hundred piles high, making it difficult to spot the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" at first glance. Instead of searching through each pile one by one, it was better to take a shortcut. "Jiu!" The little bird shook its body and its feathers puffed up. Three feet in front of it, lights twinkled, and with a nearly inaudible click, the points of light spread out. The "Light Mirror Spell" failed to launch. Xiao Jiu was stunned for a moment, then began to conjure the spell again. Click!~ As usual, it failed. Its "Light Mirror Spell" was hit-and-miss, entirely based on luck. Sometimes luck was good, and it could cast successfully several times in a row; other times, luck was poor, as was the case right now, resulting in repeated failures. Chapter 498 Section 494 - Energy Points Little Bird tried again more than a dozen times, but ultimately failed to succeed. It chose to lie flat, squatting on Chen Fei''s shoulder, refusing to cast the "Light Mirror Spell" no matter what. The continuous failures had probably dealt a serious blow to its confidence. Chen Fei had no solution, after all, innate magic for Magical Beasts was a matter of fate, unlike human Spellcasters who could master their spells as long as their magic power and spiritual power were up to par with practice. "Emmm...got it!" A light bulb went off in Chen Fei''s mind, and he snapped his fingers. Xiao Jiu couldn''t help, but he still had "Adam". He went to a garbage heap, casually grabbed an aluminum alloy product weighing at least a hundred pounds, and then scraped out a batch of usable rubber-coated cables. The skill "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation" was activated, and very soon, a quadcopter drone designed on the spot took shape. This aircraft wasn''t fast to begin with, but what it had going for it was stability; it didn''t need to consider any aerodynamic shape, as long as it could maintain balance, that was enough. Chen Fei shoved the Crystalline Block, originally placed on the Mobile Base Vehicle, into the drone''s energy slot. Tsk tsk, a drone powered by a Crystalline Block was luxurious beyond measure. "''Adam'', remote control this drone and search for the Crystal Jet." He didn''t have any other high-capacity batteries on hand, so he had to make do with this Crystalline Block for now. Hum... The quadcopter''s six-blade propellers spun rapidly, the strong wind blowing toward the ground, and "Adam" took over the drone without much effort. As soon as Chen Fei let go, the drone soared straight up to a height of one hundred meters above ground. Several slender beams of light were cast downwards, scanning back and forth repeatedly. Truth be told, the drone controlled by "Adam" was even more useful than Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell". The former could automatically scan for the location of the Crystal Jet, whereas the latter required manual identification. Chen Fei only needed to tease Little Bird. The quadcopter ascended for less than thirty seconds, circled over the temporary pile of old machinery, and quickly located the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk", half-buried in a pile of rubbish in a sprawled position. The rest was easy. Chen Xiao''er reached out his malicious hand towards the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" that was cut off in the middle. System: Ding! Magic Array "Repulsion Shield" acquired! System: Ding! Magic Array "Blazing Flame Bullet" acquired! Energy Points -1100! "Basic Laser Emitter (Level 9)" ¡ú "Basic Laser Emitter (Level 20)" Although not often used and less powerful than the Xiao Jiu Laser Cannon, this skill upgrade was justifiable given the ample Energy Points at his disposal, and since there might not be another chance, he rounded it off nicely, doubling the output power of the original. Energy Points -10000! "Basic Particle Beam (Level 0)" ¡ú "Basic Particle Beam (Level 10)" He had never used the Particle Beam Weapon skill before, but as a trump card kept for emergency situations, it was well worth having. He just waited for the day when he could light up some unlucky soul, hoping its power justified the huge investment of ten thousand Energy Points. If it weren''t for the temporary scrapyard, Chen Fei wouldn''t be investing so grandly. Energy Points -5000 "Armor Plugin Module (Level 1)" ¡ú "Armor Plugin Module (Level 10)" Since the "Personal Armor Basic Body (Level 5)" couldn''t be upgraded any further for now, Chen Fei decided to invest Energy Points into the corresponding "Armor Plugin Module," ending up with 11 plugins. But what exactly "plugins" were, only the Dog System knew. Next, he began to fervently dump Energy Points into "Super Capacitor." This skill, by now, was Chen Fei''s greatest weakness in combat, necessitating reliance on Crystalline Blocks to compensate. A large number of Energy Points were thrown into it, depleting as they were replenished. Almost fifty thousand Energy Points were spent, causing two "small mountains" of scrap in the temporary scrapyard to vanish completely, before "Super Capacitor (Level 50)" was upgraded to "Super Capacitor (Larval Form MAX)," reaching the peak with no further upgrades possible. "Super Capacitor (Larval Form MAX)" momentarily reached a maximum capacity of one million degrees, but it still couldn''t hold a charge for more than 24 hours. The skill leaked energy fiercely, hence it was named a capacitor rather than a battery. Due to the limited electricity converted by the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component," it wasn''t enough to fully charge a "Super Capacitor" in the Larval Form MAX state. The actual efficiency was only about 10 percent, which was one hundred thousand degrees. The rest simply leaked away naturally. He then refilled his Energy Points reserve, and though the temporary scrapyard still contained plenty of "small mountains," Chen Fei restrained his greed and left with regret. Habulav City needed a vast amount of material for its reconstruction, and the metal waste in the temporary scrapyard was bound to be recycled. If Chen Fei had taken some of the scrap before, no one would have minded or even noticed. But now, with the efficiency of recycling greatly increased, it would eventually become apparent that Chen Fei was responsible for any shortfall. What he had ingested, he would have to regurgitate, and if he couldn''t... that would mean more debt. So, he chose to stop while he was ahead, to avoid accountability. ``` Chapter 499 Section 495 - Rainforest Journey ``` Energy Points: 20000/20000 With energy points in hand, Chen Fei was not anxious. Although he had no way to sweep the old machinery dump outside of Hablav City clean, nor did he want to indulge the Dog System in wasting energy points, he still filled up his energy point reserves before departure to be prepared for unexpected needs. Only then did he feel truly reassured as he followed Miyoshi Xuesen and the others, leaving the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters in Hablav City. A small Magic Cube Warship set off under the cover of night. As both were located in the Southern Hemisphere, traveling from Yangzhou Continent to the Southern Continent of the North American Federation did not require crossing most of the globe. It took only six to seven hours to arrive at the edge of the plateau and rainforest area of the Southern Continent. The landing site was an uninhabited valley. It seemed that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee intended to discreetly and quietly take care of the targets on the huntsman list. "We are still 300 kilometers away from Lin Zien''s secret base." As Miyoshi Monk spoke, shadowy figures leaped around the area like birds circling, then swooshed into the dense forest as if birds diving into the woods. The entire Ninja Team was brought along, and even though they were ordinary people, they were ordinary people with long-term combat skills training. Temporarily imbued with special abilities, they immediately became more formidable, comparable to D-level ability users, and even more difficult to deal with than D-level ones. The primordial rainforest was fraught with perils that could claim a life in an unguarded moment, with even mutants unable to survive. However, for ninjas accustomed to wilderness survival, this was not a difficult task, rather, they were in their element. "Are we really not going to fire a shot?" Chen Fei took out the tablet he carried with him and compared it with the electronic map. The 300 kilometers seemed not too far away, well within his shooting range. The Huntsman Squad had the coordinates of the target secret base, and now, by taking out the "D-600 type twin rail heavy cannon," he could strike the 600 kilometers distance. If one shot didn''t solve the problem, then two would. Before departure, Chen Fei had examined the list of supplies carried, which included ten 600 millimeter caliber shells, four armor-piercing shells, two Cloud Bombs, and four Demolition Bombs. Despite his protests, the list had been prepared properly. Each shell weighed at least two and a half tons. Made exclusively for the super-caliber railgun, there was no propellant, just pure payload. The impact was far more devastating than a 2000-pound aviation bomb¡ªit was a one-way ticket to hell, guaranteed to take out the target. All these supplies were in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device that Miyoshi Xuesen carried. Backed by several sovereignties, it was only natural for the wealthy and powerful Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to equip those carrying out special missions with alchemical storage artifacts. One of Xiao Jiu''s leg rings, which included a ring from a Spatial Storage Artifact, was also packed with several boxes, roughly four to five tons of supplies. "No way!" Miyoshi Monk, originally in monk''s robes, now wore the same type of half-armored tactical gear as the ninjas, with corresponding protection at the hands and joints. The ninjas risked their lives to scout ahead, clearing many threats for those behind them like Miyoshi Xuesen and the rest; otherwise, there would''ve been more, not fewer, accidents. Even so, as they traveled through the dense forest, new threats inevitably arose; occasionally, Xiao Jiu would suddenly shoot out a laser, followed by the large head of a forest python dropping from above, with purple-red serpent blood spurting out like rain ¡ª the rain in this forest resembled the color of blood. At night, when camping, Miyoshi Xuesen took out camping cabins from his spatial storage artifact, and together with the spells cast by the mages Tuert and Andrew, they managed to barely hold off the relentless disturbance of snakes and beasts. That was just the first day. The difficulty of the next day''s journey increased rather than decreased. One had to be extremely cautious with every step, or else, inadvertently, one''s body would be covered with blood leeches, creeping everywhere, enough to make one''s scalp explode at the sight. Everyone was dressed in specialized protective gear, sprayed with insect repellent from head to toe; otherwise, before even reaching their destination, they''d be drained dry by blood leeches or contract dengue fever and malaria from the insects. After an arduous trek, the huntsman squad finally arrived near Lin Zien''s secret base on the evening of the sixth day. Guided by a ninja, Chen Fei approached a surveillance camera set up in the rainforest, and from the "bracelet" on his left hand extended the "Universal Data Transceiver" terminal, which split and connected to the camera''s multiple data interfaces. Adam: Gained control of the camera, maintaining the current image! Chen Fei nodded at the ninja, and the Dark System Ability bestowed upon the latter allowed Miyoshi Xuesen, who was a hundred meters away, to receive the confirmation synchronously. Adam: Wired data network detected, beginning data link attempt, time required: 1 minute. One minute later. Adam: Highest monitoring system privileges acquired; safe entry is now possible. Chen Fei spoke into his headset, "All set, folks!" The controllable Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" was also one of the reasons Chen Fei was chosen for the huntsman squad. "Now we can enter safely," Miyoshi Xuesen said as he boldly stood up from where he was hiding. With the surveillance cameras under control, they were like shadows, able to boldly enter the secret base of their hunting target. "But Lin Zien is not at the base!" After gaining access to the monitoring system, Chen Fei could monitor the location of the target. However, through the cameras inside and outside the base, "Adam" failed to find Lin Zien''s presence, a result that was quite unexpected. "Where could he be?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Best-laid plans often go awry, and Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t expected an empty strike; he thought they would locate the target and, while unnoticed, secretly eliminate the foe, then erase all traces¡ªsettling scores of the past and present. Chapter 500 Section 496 - Switching Bags "Still searching!" Chen Fei had received feedback from "Adam" that the monitoring system was still expanding its search. Because the algorithm involved facial recognition, even a slight obstruction could disrupt identification, not to mention the numerous blind spots, so relying on nearly infinite computing power was not enough to solve the problem. "How much longer will it take?" Miyoshi Xuesen frowned slightly, as he did not want to make the trip for nothing. Previously obtained intelligence indicated that Lin Zien was in this secret base deep in the rainforest. "There are quite a few people inside; we can''t confirm yet." Surveillance cameras were almost everywhere, not only scattered throughout the nearby tropical rainforest, but also plentiful around the secret base and the neighboring tribal tourist spots, mostly outdoors, however, with few inside. In Chen Fei''s visual interface, the AI "Adam" was building a personnel list, tallying the number of humans and their movement trajectories inside and outside the secret base and tribal sights. So far, over three thousand people had been identified, and the number was slowly increasing. Half of them were illegal armed militants, obviously tougher than the Angela Pharmaceutical Company that Chen Fei''s Team 04 had dealt with in Siberia. If Team 04 were to carry out this secret decapitation mission, it would probably be quite challenging. After all, Adrian and his comrades'' abilities were better suited for direct assault, not suitable for stealthy beheadings. Even sneaking in could easily expose them, and no matter how hard they fought, they couldn''t overpower a thousand-plus armed militants. "Understood!" Miyoshi Xuesen tapped his bald head, knowing that they couldn''t act rashly if there were a slip in intelligence, otherwise, they would startle the snake by hitting the grass. Chen Fei and the others watched him, waiting for a new plan. After a moment, the hesitant Miyoshi Monk finally made a choice. Among his ABCDEFG plans, there was already a contingency for Lin Zien unexpectedly leaving the base. "We''ll wait for a rabbit by a tree stump!" He paused, then continued, "The ninjas will continue to gather information." It was fortunate that they hadn''t let Second Brother flatten the place with a single shot; destroying the secret base was not the Huntsman Squad''s task, as sovereignty would naturally handle it. In front of sovereignty, even the smallest, thousands of private soldiers were just a slap away, and any big shot propping up the frame of sovereignty was definitely tough. The Ninja Team, enhanced with Dark System Abilities, was completely familiar with gathering intelligence, perfectly suited for the current unexpected situation. Half an hour later, "Adam" had tallied the number of humans and Magical Beasts at the secret base and tribal sights, totaling 3471 people and two Magical Beasts, with an additional fifty-plus people unconfirmed, and also detected four or five Ability Users. These low-level Ability Users scattered among the populace were merely a minor trouble for the Huntsman Squad; any member, be it the Ninja Team or Chen Fei, could easily take them down. Should the ninjas choose this moment to burst forth, the prime target, who was currently distracted, mingling and embracing in the crowd, would likely fail to react timely and would be slain on the spot. "No, these ninjas have been trained with great difficulty, and we must ensure absolute safety." Miyoshi would never want to casually squander the ninjas he had finally assembled into a team, as they are not expendable but his most trusted and reliable aides. "A ninja is approaching the barbecue stall." Chen Fei saw a ninja disguised as an armed militant nearing the stalls, apparently quite tempted by the food. From this angle, he could see the ninja''s subtle motions as he sneakingly "added ingredients" to the barbecue, causing him to clap his hands in amazement. This move deserves a 666! "Emmm, poisoning, that''s a viable move! Nothing for us to do now!" Tuert immediately found it dull, as he had expected; Miyoshi''s ninjas were indeed capable of completing the mission independently, leaving the rest of the team just to applaud from the sidelines. Having unnecessarily wandered the rainforest for a whole week. However, Miyoshi shook his head and said, "No, I need your cooperation, to be precise, to fabricate the scene." This time was just a stroke of good luck that his ninjas caught the opportunity. Andrew asked puzzledly, "There''s no need to overdo it in killing, why bother?" The others, too, nodded unanimously in agreement. They had already killed; why stage more theatrics? Seemingly overly finicky! "No, we can''t alert the other targets listed." The list in Miyoshi''s hand contained more than just one name; all the targets were part of a group. If one of them suddenly died under unusual circumstances, it would undoubtedly alarm the rest, complicating the subsequent hunts. As the team leader, he had to take this into consideration. "Internal strife, an accident, or a mutant!" Chen Fei provided the options. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Even if one hasn''t eaten pork, they should have seen a pig run; there were plenty of relevant plots in movies and TV shows that could be employed here. Chapter 501 Section 497 - Natural Death Dozens of cold storage boxes were opened, and drink bottles were buried in crushed ice. The ever-present humidity of the rainforest, when met with the exposed sub-zero temperatures, immediately turned to white vapor, swirling around the cold storage boxes, either floating slowly or flowing along. The charcoal was glowing red, and the aroma of barbecued meats rapidly spread in all directions, as if one could smell it from miles away. Aunt Caroline, a grade B Fire Ability User who loved cooking and explosions, grumpily said, "Look! The grilling is just terrible!" If it hadn''t been during a mission, she would have probably rushed over to teach these guys, who were ruining the ingredients, how grilling should be done. "It''s about time we started moving." Since the ninjas had already succeeded, the Ability Users in the Huntsman Squad didn''t need to take action anymore. Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t choose multiple choices; he took all. Infighting + accidents + mutants, only such a grand play would be sufficiently thrilling. Just after something happened here, the troops of sovereignty pressed in, additionally destroying the site, followed by an investigation report, declaring Lin Zien dead from a mutant attack, leaving no evidence to contest ¡ª it had to be so. As for the truth, the "Water Bear" organization would hardly understand what exactly had happened, and while they were still unresponsive, the Huntsman Squad might even secretly harvest more heads. It was mostly impossible to silently eliminate all the targets on the list one by one; the "Water Bear" organization wasn''t foolish. They would eventually notice that someone was secretly hunting their key members. Once such a massive entity skilled in concealment and lurking reacted, if the Huntsman Squad did not know how to restrain themselves, they might not only fail at their hunt but also suffer a severe loss, or even a total annihilation. While the enemy was exposed and their side was concealed, Miyoshi Xuesen created many seemingly finicky tactics to maintain the current advantage, hoping that the "Water Bear" organization would take even longer to react. Ideally, until the last target on the assassination list was dead, they would still have no idea how they died. By the time Chen Fei and others followed Miyoshi Xuesen to the barbecue site, almost everyone was already laid down by the ninjas'' sedative, and they were setting up the scene according to Miyoshi Xuesen''s script. Not only did the food and beverages secretly contain drugs, but even the charcoal for the barbecue was tampered with, dispersing a confusing smoke that was nearly unstoppable; these ninjas were indeed professionals at sneaky backstabbings. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire In just a moment, even outsiders like Chen Fei and his companions could see from the chaotic scene on the ground that it looked like an internal clash had escalated from a fight to gunfire, then to a melee, attracting a mutant attack, and finally retreating while fighting, with Lin Zien dying tragically on the spot. The drugs administered by the ninjas weren''t fatally poisonous but would cause temporary unconsciousness and physical weakness. Though these people were still alive, they were very close to death in their dazed state. The sound of gunfire burst out loudly, with bullets crisscrossing aimlessly, followed quickly by the sound of hand grenades exploding. Soon after, traces of mutant appearances were fabricated, and the scene turned bloody. Lying on the ground, having lost the ability to resist, these people were sent to Hell one by one in an orderly manner. Just as it came to the main subject, the target of this mission, Lin Zien, his eyes suddenly opened wide, and he leapt up, attempting to run. The unprepared ninjas had just raised their weapons when someone got ahead of Lin Zien and waved a hand casually. Puff! Lin Zien didn''t even have time to scream before his body was sent flying apart into pieces. System: Ding! "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 14 seconds/15 seconds! "A 600 gram one?" Chen Fei followed the old protocol as usual. Mob bosses who had risen to power through their wits could be even more troublesome than ability users, likely having rich experience in dealing with potential assassinations. There were no tourist attractions near the private estate¡ªhopefully, this time there wouldn''t be innocent lives at risk? There are no good people in the mob, if one dies, they deserve it. "This would startle the snake! Allen''s cause of death will be a car accident, so I''ll be needing Tuert, Masuya, and Andrew for this one." Miyoshi Xuesen had determined the mission target''s fate early on. Ability users might still have a slight chance of survival in a deliberately staged car accident, but a normal person wouldn''t stand a chance, they were doomed. Tuert''s Psychic Series Spell, Masuya''s Wind-type Psionic Ability, and Andrew''s Earth Magic, the three combined could easily orchestrate a car accident as if they were merely playing. "Wait, I can too!" Chen Fei tentatively raised his hand. "Chirp!" Right, Little Bird could also create a perfect car accident. Miyoshi Xuesen curiously asked, "You? Are you going to tamper with the vehicle?" Metal Ability Users needed a certain distance to activate their skills, and it might not be easy to approach a moving vehicle. Chen Fei estimated and said, "Ten meters should be no problem." He could already control slight deformations of non-metallic materials within a certain range, which would undoubtedly cause fatal malfunctions in a fast-moving vehicle. That night, from a convoy rushing out of the Long Lake Bay Manor, a black armored car suddenly lost control, crashed into the roadside barrier, which shattered like paper, and then tumbled down a two to three-meter drop, landing upside down with a heavy crash. Before the other vehicles in the convoy could react, the fallen black armored car burst into flames, the fire growing fiercer by the minute. Sitting in the backseat of the car, the mob boss Allen Koseva was burned to a crisp in an unconscious state. The second mission target was done, with an unproblematic death. The underground mob of Newlenk State was thrown into chaos, leading to infighting until Sovereignty deployed the military to forcefully suppress it, gradually stabilizing the turbulent public security. The Huntsman Squad did not rest but instead relentlessly pursued the third mission target. The target was a popular local female entrepreneur, renowned environmental defender, and philanthropist, Katerina Lucia. Ironically, the enterprise she ran was a chemical plant employing thousands of workers. Chapter 502 Section 498 - Changing Battlefields "Katerina Lucia had a history of asthma and allergies; she would die of suffocation," holding the "Death List," Miyoshi Xuesen determined the manner of death for the target. Under the brilliant sunshine by the lakeside, beneath the shade of trees and the rippling blue waves, a slender yet resilient fishing line dangled leisurely from a rod, waiting for fish to bite. Katerina Lucia, who rarely had a moment to fish by the lake, took a sip of juice from beside her and let out a comfortable moan. Just then, the bobber that drifted with the waves suddenly moved. She quickly reached out for the fishing rod, but halfway through, something felt wrong. Her heart inexplicably began to race uncontrollably, she was overcome with severe itching all over her body, her eyes reddened slightly, and she felt an intense irritability without cause. It was an allergic reaction! The corporate executive with a history of related illnesses immediately realized what was happening. Just as she was about to call for someone to get her medication, her head spun, and she wobbled before her feet gave out, losing her balance. Splash! A sudden intense allergic reaction left Katerina Lucia, who was starting to lose clarity of thought, tumbling into the murky green waters, from which muffled coughing sounds emerged. The bodyguards on the shore reacted instantly, plunging into the water and frantically pulling her out in a chaotic rescue attempt. However, even after being brought back to shore, Katerina continued to scratch at her throat, her eyes rolling back like a dead fish, unable to make a sound. The bodyguards were in a state of panic, shouting for more help while doing everything they could think of to save her. By the time the medical professionals arrived, Katerina Lucia was already cold, having died from suffocation caused by asthma and anaphylactic pharyngeal swelling. The helplessly futile bodyguards were all ashen-faced, now collectively unemployed. In reality, at the first sign of the symptoms, adrenaline should have been administered immediately, followed by antiallergic medication. However, once pharyngeal swelling had progressed to the point of obstructing breathing, it was too late for medication. The best course of action would have been to decisively perform a tracheotomy. But the bodyguards lacked the necessary emergency medical experience and could only watch as their employer slowly lost vital signs. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu, having flown back from the lakeside, landed on Chen Fei''s palm, chirping merrily. A small flashlight emitted blue light onto its feathers. The brownish-yellow color gradually faded, revealing its original glossy black feathers. Above its eyes, the size of mung beans, a pair of white eyebrows also returned to their original color. This was a ninja''s technique, using photosensitive pigment to disguise Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow, as a thrush, carrying a fast-dissolving allergen and dropping it into Katerina Lucia''s drink The allergen, the size of a sesame seed, almost instantly integrated with the juice in the cup. The bodyguards were only on the lookout for threatening humans, beasts, and Magical Beasts, never paying mind to a creature as small as a fist. Moreover, with so many birds flitting to and fro by the lake, it was impossible to be aware of each one; an occasional audacious little one landing on the collapsible low table would not cause much of a stir. Despite all precautions, one could never guard against a little bird secretly tampering with materials; the death was as unsuspecting as it was deserved. The allergen Xiao Jiu carried was a specially-made colorless and tasteless capsaicin. Coincidentally, Katerina Lucia''s primary allergen was chili, and she could not consume any food containing capsaicin for life. Birds don''t have capsaicin receptors and are thus unaffected by spicy flavors, so even if they accidentally swallowed this super-concentrated special capsaicin, it would be like Zhu Bajie consuming Ginseng Fruit ¡ª ingesting it harmlessly, toxin-free, environmentally friendly, and healthy. "How could a military contractor do such a thing?" Aunt Caroline still found it unbelievable. Military contractors'' job is to eliminate naturally spawned mutants, and within their contracted area, regardless of the presence of mutants, they receive a hefty contract fee; there''s no need to nurture mutants for trouble. Moreover, if there''s peace all year round, the military contractor could save a significant amount on routine and operational costs, all of which would translate into substantial profits. To generate revenue and save on expenditures was the way to survive. "The uninhabited area near 631 Aircrew Base is an open breeding ground for mutants. Everyone, be careful this time. If the mutants are provoked, it could very likely directly impact Aircrew Base 631..." Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t finished speaking when his words were interrupted by a loud bang and a violent shake. "We''ve been hit by artillery, it''s a railgun!" A loud shout came from the cockpit, suggesting that the situation seemed grim. If it was a missile, at least there would have been an advance warning, but the ultra-high muzzle velocity of a railgun was virtually impossible to defend against. The destructive power of a railgun projectile was considerable, and it appeared to have caused significant damage. The tremors of the small Magic Cube Warship grew stronger, and everyone inside the cabin felt a distinct sensation of weightlessness, indicating that the airship was in free fall. "Attention, fasten your seat belts, hold on tight, we are preparing for an emergency landing!" The small Magic Cube Warship wasn''t just passively taking hits; upon detecting the railgun''s position through ballistic radar, it didn''t hesitate to retaliate with a missile during the forced landing process. Boom!~ The warship was hit by another shell, making a dire situation even worse, increasing the speed of the fall. Had it not been for their seat belts, everyone inside might have already been floating around by now. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, who didn''t have a seat belt, found herself inexplicably losing gravity, able to float up lightly without any effort to flap her wings. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire She cried out in confusion. "Chirp?" The pilots were doing their best, one of them shouting in frustration, "Altitude from ground 500 meters, let''s leave life and death to the hands of fate!" Without hesitation, Chen Fei commanded, "''Adam,'' take control of the airship, ensure a safe landing as far as possible!" He extended his left wrist and slapped it onto the cabin wall, where there was a data port, which could serve as the physical access point for "Adam" to hack into the warship. Adam: Accessing permissions, ''Spear Falcon'' control acquired, hull integrity at 73%, power remaining at 15%, distance from the ground 371 meters, emergency landing in progress. With "Adam"''s assistance, the small Magic Cube Warship, although it didn''t completely lose control and tumble in the sky, still swayed as if it were a small boat caught in a violent storm. "Miyoshi, I''m going to ''sacrifice'' this airship!" "No, no, that''s not acceptable!" Chapter 503 Section 499 - Emergency Landing "Sacrificing" this "Spear Falcon Number" Magic Cube Warship might allow for the creation of another aircraft, and perhaps they wouldn''t have to die on impact. Falling from a great height, whether it''s thirty meters or three hundred, three thousand, or even thirty thousand meters, the result would be the same¡ªdeath on impact. Although Chen Fei''s physique was no longer merely human, common light weapons were merely a tickle to him, but such a fall, even with steel muscles and iron bones, would be too much to handle. However, when Chen Fei proposed the most feasible self-rescue plan, Miyoshi Monk unexpectedly refused it. It seemed he would rather die from the fall than let Chen Fei use such a method to save himself and everyone else, which was incomprehensible at the moment. The youthful Tuert''s eyes flickered with invisible flames as he quickly chanted the incantations of a Psychic Series Spell, and a faint white light burst forth, enveloping the entire warship. A Ninth Rank Psychic Series Spell "Giant Spirit Throw," capable of throwing objects weighing tens of tons, was now attempting to stabilize the tumbling Magic Cube Warship as it plummeted toward the ground. "Wind, blow for me!" A-grade Wind-type Ability User Masuya yelled out, and outside the cabin, a fierce air current surged from below, violently striking the hull. Human strength is ultimately limited, whether it''s Psychic Series Spells or Wind-type Psionic Ability; none could truly completely hold the small Magic Cube Warship that actually weighed over a hundred tons. Although the falling speed was slightly reduced, the situation was still dire. "Sorry, everyone!" Since the optimum solution had been rejected, Chen Fei could only look after himself first. He unbuckled his seatbelt. Countless geometrically shaped components surged out like a tide, quickly enveloping Chen Fei''s body, constantly assembling and disassembling, and finally formed a complete set of "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor covering his whole body. The next second, the "Dragon King" began to expand, growing to a height of five meters, barely touching the ceiling of the warship, with all Magic Arrays synchronously loaded. The giantized "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor lit up with two rings of blue light at its back, the small Magnetic Plasma Engines now had a dedicated Plasma Fuel, finally coming into play, and it seemed not to conflict with the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array, significantly boosting the thrust rating. System: Armor Plugin Module Level 10 (Plugin slot: 1/11) Unexpectedly, the previously unusable "Armor Plugin Module" came into play at this moment, originally for docking with extra components like Magnetic Plasma Engines. "Hey hey, you can''t just leave an old lady behind!" Aunt Caroline also unbuckled her seat belt and lunged forward, hugging the giantized "Dragon King''s" thigh, refusing to let go. Her Fire System Ability was completely useless at this moment; she couldn''t even save herself. Then there was Earth Order Third Rank Earth Mage Andrew, this big guy was really straightforward and unyielding. "Hey, you guys think of a way to escape..." The pilot in the cockpit, just reminding everyone to save themselves, saw the situation in the rear cabin, just as he noticed three figures, like accessories, hanging from a "Combat Mobility Armor" that appeared out of nowhere in the cabin. Only Ninth Rank Psychic Mage Tuert and A-grade Wind-type Ability User Masuya, confident in their flying skills, did not flock to it. Despite Miyoshi''s disagreement with sacrificing the Magic Cube Warship, he also clung onto the "Dragon King," the Ninja Team turned into shadows, merging into the shadows around the "Dragon King." "Damn it! They''re safe now, let''s launch!" One of the two pilots tugged at the corner of his mouth and nodded to the other pilot, initiating the escape program. The next second, the entire cockpit was ejected, turning into a small aircraft, jetting brilliant flames, gliding away from the "Spear Falcon Number." "About 67 kilometers." Chen Fei estimated. Unless it was a super-caliber special cannon, ordinary gunpowder-driven cannons couldn''t shoot that far, nor guarantee the speed of the shell. Only a railgun could ensure both the range and the velocity of the projectile took the small Magic Cube Warship by surprise. "Then let''s go have a look!" Miyoshi Xuesen confirmed once again. The counterattack missile from "Spear Falcon Number" wasn''t ineffective; the assaulting railgun might have been destroyed, and valuable clues could be left at the scene. As for the two pilots, they could stay here to watch over the wrecked warship. They possessed self-defense weapons and emergency supplies, so there was no need to worry about safety for a short period, as rescue might already be on its way. Both Miyoshi Xuesen and Xiao Jiu''s leg ring carried ample supplies, completely capable of starting an impromptu journey on a whim. After six hours of trekking, when they located the position of the railgun, it had already turned completely dark. Meanwhile, at the crash site of "Spear Falcon Number," a rescue team had arrived to pick up the two pilots. "It''s a D-120 model parallel railgun, automatic firing, damn it." Having inspected the wreckage at the site, Miyoshi Xuesen concluded with a look of annoyance. The retaliation from "Spear Falcon Number" had merely destroyed this railgun but did not kill the operators. Which means, there were hardly any valuable clues left at the scene. "D-120?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Chen Fei picked up a fragment, which disappeared in his hand, transforming into part of 1 energy point. The Dog System displayed energy points without decimals, only begrudgingly giving out one energy point when a ton was met. "It''s from the same manufacturer as the D-600." Miyoshi Xuesen knew Chen Fei had sacrificed a 600 millimeter caliber parallel double-track railgun previously. "Let''s find the production file and see who lost the railgun." Chen Fei was very grateful that if the D-600 had been the one firing, there would have been no need for a second shot; a single strike would have settled "Spear Falcon Number" and everyone inside, without even a chance for an emergency landing. "''Water Bear'' might have noticed already!" Miyoshi Xuesen immediately realized something. "Spear Falcon Number" being ambushed was no accident but premeditated. "No way?" Tuert blurted out, looking youthful. The previous dozens of hunts had gone smoothly, but he knew well that once the "Water Bear" organization responded, the subsequent operations wouldn''t be as easy. "They can''t get a bigger caliber railgun; next, we need to be extra careful." Miyoshi Xuesen and Chen Fei were on the same page, and if his judgment was correct, the remaining targets on the hunting list would prove quite challenging. Chapter 504 Section 500 - The Town with No Starting Point ``` Playing with one''s mind''s eye too much often turns it into a filthy asshole. Miyoshi Xuesen was a typical conspiracy theorist, suspicious by nature, and even reserved trust for the other members of the Huntsman Squad, always keeping the complete hunting list secret until just before an operation, treating Chen Fei and the others purely as tools. The only ones he trusted were his ninja team, whom he bestowed with his special ability, which also meant he held their lives in his hands. Those with double intentions would be seeking their own death, which relatively made them more trustworthy because of the life-or-death bond they shared. "Miyoshi, who''s the target nearby?" Tuert was an active participant within the Huntsman Squad, which also meant he was prone to causing stir, being nitpicky and even troublesome. He suspected that there should be a target from the hunting list nearby, one who might even be the mastermind behind this attack. Just as Miyoshi Xuesen had put it, it was highly likely for the Huntsman Squad to get exposed, and naturally, they would be ambushed. Considering the "Water Bear" organization''s ability to blend in, getting some related information shouldn''t be too difficult. Such deceitful and dirty machinations were only limited by one''s imagination. "Emmmm... Morgan Lee, mayor of a small town in the Autet Province of the Roussillon Grand Region, southern Gaul, heh, a very influential mayor. Many members and their families of the ''Water Bear'' organization live in that town, if..." Miyoshi Xuesen cut himself off here, but the unspoken implication was already obvious. To avoid having their movements anticipated, the route the Huntsman Squad took was unpredictable; otherwise, they would not be scurrying randomly between the northern and southern continents of America and the Europa Continent. If the "Water Bear" members'' families were concentrated in one place, any outsiders entering the town would likely stand out immediately. It served both as protection and surveillance¡ªif anyone dared to betray the organization, their families would be the first to suffer. Humans are social creatures; being left utterly alone probably would make life seem meaningless. "Most likely, it''s this guy." Aunt Caroline, who loved cooking and explosives, was no fool. Exchanging looks with the others, she felt this guess was very close to the truth. The current location of the Huntsman Squad was within the borders of Gaul Sovereignty. Even if it wasn''t the possibly aware target who had done this, it most likely wouldn''t be unrelated. After all, local snakes mobilizing resources would always be somewhat easier. "A 600 per shot!" Chen Fei kept to his old ways, always ready with the most powerful moves. He wasn''t a mage, capable of casting offensive spells with just a few incantations. To kill barehanded, who knew how long it would take. Having access to a powerful weapon, why not use the most powerful one? The D-600 model Railgun he had "sacrificed" before was the most powerful weapon platform in Chen Fei''s possession, and it still hadn''t been used. It wasn''t like Miyoshi intended to throw a solid bullet his way just to create a giant pit. Chen Fei had encountered weapons far more destructive than the D-600 model Railgun, but the "Sacrifice" ability had its drawbacks, least of all it was ineffective against Dragon Slayer Missiles. As the ultimate bomb combining magic and technology, "Sacrifice" simply couldn''t handle it. Rumor had it that the core of the Dragon Slayer Missile was a high-grade Demon Crystal, more expensive than Crystalline Blocks. Since Demon Crystals weren''t metal, Metal Elemental Psychic Power naturally had no domain there. Each use of the "Light Mirror Spell" cast its gaze more than 13 miles away to White Truffle Town. Morgan Lee, the town''s mayor, was the target of the Huntsman Squad''s mission that failed to commence. The town was also home to members and families of the "Water Bear" organization, nearly a thousand strong. As for the rest being innocent, that might not necessarily be the case. To carry out the "faking death" plan to the end and avoid startling the snake by hitting the grass again, the "Light Mirror Spell" from the little bird became the only means to scout this small town. Whenever Xiao Jiu practiced the "Light Mirror Spell," every member of the squad would attend without fail, and some ninjas who could read lips compensated for the fact that the "Light Mirror Spell" only showed images without conveying the sound. Miyoshi Xuesen was holding a flat map of White Truffle Town, confirming the addresses of the key "Water Bear" organization members'' families, while distinguishing the unrelated community members. White Truffle Town is an agricultural town that mainly relies on planting with breeding as a secondary industry, self-sufficient. The town has a restaurant that doubles as a bar, a gas station that also functions as a repair shop, a supermarket that repairs electronics, a clinic, a kindergarten, a small hydropower station near the town, and a tap water treatment plant. Beyond that, there were no other public facilities, not even a police station. Apart from that, there were only a few not-so-large agricultural product processing workshops, with jobs being very much a case of one position per person. The surrounding area had neither historical cultural sites nor any particularly distinctive tourist attractions. The town was not well-known and saw few visitors, with even passersby being rare. The people active inside and outside the town were all local faces; the Huntsman Squad not rashly entering was obviously a wise decision. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire Mainly, there are one large and two small centralized residential areas in the town, with one of the larger and smaller areas confirmed to be the dwelling places of the "Water Bear" organization''s key members'' families. The residents of the other community appeared to be ordinary people, but seemed to have received military training in their actions. Using Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell," Miyoshi Xuesen tirelessly compared the population of the town, conducting person-by-person identification. "A total of 2734 people, no children, no toddlers." Chen Fei''s suggestion finally stirred him a little, a few decisive blasts to kill the opponent would certainly be satisfying, but things weren''t so simple. Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t reported for long before he received a response. The opinion from the upper echelons of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was rejection. Insufficient evidence to meet the criteria of the combat plan, unable to determine that everyone in the town was evil. If there was even one innocent person, they couldn''t flatten the town with 600 Demolition Bombs and not leave even the chickens and dogs alive. After all, wiping out a town, not to mention the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, no sovereignty could withstand such public opinion criticism. Who would dare to order a bombardment of White Truffle Town with such certainty? Of course, Chen Fei dared to be so reckless because he was just someone who couldn''t keep his hands still! "Not enough evidence!" Sitting at the entrance to the cave, basking in the slanted sunlight, Miyoshi Xuesen frowned and pondered how to wipe out Morgan Lee and his town together. But faced with this impenetrable small town, he found it difficult to make a move. The previously designed action plans and backup plans ABCDEFG, became unusable due to deviations between reference intelligence and the actual situation. A new plan had to be made. "Actually... I could try!" Seeing the monk in such difficulty, the young-looking Tuert volunteered. As a Psychic Mage of Human Order Ninth Rank, he covertly mastered some Forbidden Techniques that should not see the light of day. "Let''s hear it then!" Miyoshi Xuesen listened attentively, ready for any new ideas. "I can use Psychic Series Spells to control the people in the town, make them kill each other, and then blame it on a cult," Tuert said with a heh-heh laugh, not wanting to be so direct as to reveal his Forbidden Techniques outright. In a sense, the "Water Bear" organization was a big cult, perfect for passing the buck and taking the blame¡ªseek and you shall find. Chapter 505 Section 501 - An Infectious Six Miyoshi Xuesen spoke irritably, "If I could control the townsfolk one by one, why would I need your Psychic Series Spell?" He immediately spotted the flaw in Tuert''s idea. Using Psychic Series Spells to control the townsfolk, controlling too few would not only fail to incite them to turn on each other but might also alert them further. If too many were controlled... why bother with making them turn on each other? Just cut straight across their throats, wouldn''t that be more convenient? "Hehe, I have some tricks that can make this control contagious. Just one look and they''re hooked, then it spreads from one to another, but it does consume a lot of spiritual power," Tuert said hesitantly, revealing his trick which wasn''t what the other had suspected. Since it''s called a Forbidden Technique, there surely was a reason for its prohibition. Whoever you stare at gets affected. I''m afraid not many could withstand it. You stare at me, I stare at you, and then the whole town would fall. It''s not easy to trace back to anyone, truly making it a feasible plan. Miyoshi Xuesen suddenly sized up Tuert, causing him to feel uneasy. "Eye contact triggers it? Hmm! A Forbidden Technique?" He immediately thought of a few secretive forbidden spells among Psychic Series Spells. The civilization of Blue Star had always been open-minded towards magic and Battle Qi, especially the spells of various systems within the Human Order, which were generally public. One could even download the complete Spell Incantations online. Actually, whether spells are regulated or not, they''re useless without the talent. If one has the talent, they would naturally receive supervision by the sovereignty and related professional training; no need to painstakingly search by oneself. But Forbidden Techniques are exceptions. "Don''t be paranoid, I''m a law-abiding citizen, a good guy, a very good guy. I''ve never used such spells for any criminal activities, even during practice, I used only mice and rabbits," Tuert hastily swore, raising his hands heavenward. The nature of the Forbidden Technique itself isn''t what defines its morality but how it''s used by people. Being labeled as a Forbidden Technique, on one hand, could cause catastrophe, and on the other hand, it could terribly backlash on the spellcaster, leading to consequences such as drastic changes in temperament or physical deformities. Miyoshi Xuesen said indifferently, "Whether you are a good person doesn''t concern me. Your personal record will tell everything." Tuert''s record was clean, devoid of any minor misconduct, which is why he was selected for the Huntsman Squad. For such dark tasks, to avoid being blamed, one must first appear upright, even if only superficially. Not only Tuert but also Andet, Caroline, Masuya, and Chen Fei had no criminal records, not even minor offenses or detention records. Pulling up personal files at the police station or civil affairs would assure they were spotless, leaving no room for fault-finding. Hearing the implied words of the monk and not planning to delve deeper, Tuert also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, knowing Forbidden Techniques could be a major or minor issue and isn''t something that can be easily cleared just by having a clean background. If scrutinized, one would inevitably suffer by having those memories sealed away. "Tell me, what Forbidden Technique is it?" Considering the worst, Miyoshi Xuesen was too lazy to guess which it might be. Tentatively, Tuert carefully answered, "''Blood Eye Heart Poison''!" The sun was already setting, the sky was growing dark, and a crimson cloud of sunset rose over the distant mountains. "Eighteen people in total, all handed over to you! Also, here is the magic potion; it should be enough for you to activate three times." Miyoshi Xuesen handed over a box of magic potions, then turned the captives over to the eagerly volunteering Tuert, and said, "Please begin your performance." On the way, his newly approved action plan, though somewhat inhumane, dumped the responsibility for the forbidden technique. If bombs were used instead, the blame would almost certainly fall squarely on the sovereign, like mud in one''s trousers, messy whether it''s mud or not. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire Choosing the lesser of two evils, the residence of White Truffle Town just had to accept their bad luck since they were affiliated with the "Water Bear" organization; the chivalrous virtue of Jianghu that calamity doesn''t extend to family members simply didn''t exist. "First batch, six people!" Tuert signaled the ninjas to first remove the blindfolds from six people, exposing their terrified eyes, and then he began to rapidly chant incantations. His eyes gradually turned red, adding a trace of madness. As he chanted the incantations to the end, the madness in his eyes intensified, his breathing became heavier, and the incantations from his mouth slipped into incomprehensible babble, his body slightly shivering as if he might lose control at any moment. If his spiritual power was insufficient and his will not firm enough, the "Blood Eye Heart Poison" spell could likely backfire on himself, causing the subjects to become mad, but he himself would likely go mad first. The eyes of the six people standing opposite him also turned red, their bound bodies struggling desperately, making hoarse noises deep in their throats, clearly involuntarily corrupted by madness. "Done!" Just one use of the forbidden technique nearly exhausted Tuert''s spiritual power. He took a deep breath, his hands trembling as he twisted open a vial of magic potion, and with a tilt of his head, he chugged it down in one go. While barely recovering a trace of spiritual power, he hastily chanted a spell incantation that calmed him down, like a bucket of ice water poured over him, the blood-red in his eyes quickly receding like a tide. He closed his eyes to rest for a moment, his spiritual power already largely restored. The taste of the magic potion was as awful as ever, but the effect was good. The potion, an undiluted original provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, was reliable and guaranteed in quality. Waving his hand, he called for the second batch of six people and cast the spell again. After three rounds, Tuert simply lay down; he had never before attempted such a mad trio of forbidden techniques. Consuming a stomach full of magic potions, no different than bitter melon fried with stinky tofu, he was almost unbearable, paling as he knelt on the ground vomiting repeatedly, yet nothing came out. Miyoshi Xuesen did not attend to Tuert, who was suffering from the side effects of the forbidden technique and the magic potion, and had the ninjas escort the newly created eighteen madmen into the nearby White Truffle Town. The sun had completely set, and the small town, now shrouded in nightfall with sparse light and few street lamps, became even quieter than usual. "It has begun!" Masuya, an A-ranked Wind-type Ability User, was the first to sense the disturbance brought by the night wind. Flames rose within the town, figures constantly swayed, and the shouting grew louder and louder. The eighteen townsfolk struck with "Blood Eye Heart Poison" were wantonly spreading their plague of madness and uncontrollable rage. The eighteen captives seized by the ninjas, almost all young men from the community, were incredibly uncontrollable once driven mad. Chapter 506 Section 502 - Send Off with a Bang On a night dark and windy, murder and arson became the sky. Looking at the fires breaking out in White Truffle Town, Miyoshi Xuesen muttered to himself. "This is the plague!" "Blood Eye Heart Poison" isn''t a physical plague but rather a mental poison that can infect the mind, intangible and indefensible, no wonder it is classified as a forbidden technique. If wielded carelessly, it could easily lead to unforeseeable consequences. As a Ninth Rank Psychic Series Spellcaster of the Human Order, Tuert possessed stronger spiritual power than others of the same rank, yet he could only directly or indirectly influence up to 216 people, this being his limit. Under the veil of night, chaos spread throughout White Truffle Town. Considering the actual situation, the number of people infected with "Blood Eye Heart Poison" might not reach the theoretical 216, and the townsfolk would likely realize this soon. Suddenly, a white flash swept across the center of the town as swiftly as lightning, covering half the township in an instant. Seconds later, a sound like a howling wind finally reached outside the town. The hustle and bustle were immediately subdued, replaced by increasingly loud cheers. The Huntsman Squad watching from outside exchanged puzzled looks, no one knew precisely what was happening inside the town. Chen Fei squinted his eyes, activated the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)," "Low-light Enhancement" kicked in automatically, turning night into day in his field of view. He chose to overlay it with the "Ultra-long Vision" mode, bringing the town seemingly within arm''s reach and allowing him to clearly see the situation inside. In the central square of the town, a bearded man dressed in half armor was incessantly giving orders, holding a longsword in his hand. Nearby on the ground and within the town, bodies were strewn everywhere, yet buildings and various flora and fauna remained unharmed. It seemed that the white flash had only slain those residents, or more precisely, those infected with the "Blood Eye Heart Poison" forbidden technique. Noticing the change in Chen Fei''s expression, Miyoshi Xuesen looked over. "What did you see?" he asked. "Have your ninjas gone yet?" Activating the "Infrared Thermal Imaging" mode, Chen Fei noticed warm-colored humanoid outlines lurking like specters in a dark corner, moving quite agilely. Despite the enhancement from a Dark System Ability, the ninjas couldn''t entirely conceal their traces while moving; their body heat was glaringly apparent. "What? Wait..." Miyoshi Xuesen was startled, then quickly realized something, his face instantly changed as he hurriedly said, "Ninjas, all retreat!" He subconsciously sensed a hint of danger. The fact that Chen Fei suddenly mentioned his ninja team wasn''t whimsical but indicated a potential threat of uncertainty. Better safe than sorry, it''s always better to be cautious. At that moment, the white flash reappeared. This time, through the "Ultra-long Vision" mode of the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)," it was clear that the bearded man on the town square suddenly swung his sword, unleashing a long sword qi that howled towards a dark corner of the square. "It''s sword qi! And it''s long!" Chen Fei gritted his teeth and without hesitation, extended his hand to his side, evolving the D-600 model railgun from the "Physical Evolution Database" categorized under "Firearms." Energy Points -21! The big-bearded man looked around cautiously, casting his gaze outside the town. The surrounding mountains, shrouded in night, were as dark as pitch. Sensing something unusual about the big-bearded man, the Huntsman Squad, now redirected to a new target, heard Mayor Morgan Lee of White Truffle Town ask in puzzlement, "What''s wrong?" Right at the spot the big-bearded man was staring intensely¡ªa steep slope seemed to suddenly emit a strange light. "Wha..." Boom!~~~~~~~ The voice of Mayor Morgan was swallowed by a sudden violent explosion, which engulfed the entire small square with flames and shockwaves. The brutal force instantly swept across the town, sending countless objects, including entire or fragmented human bodies, flying in all directions. The buildings around the town square, regardless of their height or size, were instantly reduced to ruins; dust enveloped the town and all lights were extinguished. As the big-bearded man named Odin looked toward where the Huntsman Squad was located, Chen Fei had immediately charged up the evolved D-600 model parallel railgun. The town was close at hand, not requiring full power for firing. With no propellant charge, the full weight of 2.5 tons, 600mm caliber Demolition Bomb hit the center of the square at five times the speed of sound, landing right beside Heavenly Order War Professional Odin. Any mortal, caught off guard, simply could not withstand such a large caliber heavy artillery shell; within a radius of one hundred meters, there was no chance for survival. Even though the Huntsman Squad was outside the town, away from the blast radius of the Demolition Bomb, the spreading overpressure and deafening noise still caused their hearts to tremble. The sound of breaking small objects fell like raindrops near the Huntsman Squad. That single strike had wiped out a third of the living human signs in town. The power of the 600mm caliber Demolition Bomb was truly terrifying; the deadly shockwave alone claimed most lives. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... The dust-covered ninjas returned in disarray, almost blown back by the blast wave. Had they still been in the town, probable further reductions in their numbers would have occurred. After kneeling to Miyoshi Xuesen, they disappeared back into the darkness. "Not going to fire another round?" Chen Fei looked toward Miyoshi Monk, feeling somewhat unsatisfied. Second Uncle took care of killing and burying; the center of the town square had turned into a large pit, ideal for burying everyone. "Our main mission target this time is Mayor Morgan Lee." Miyoshi Xuesen shook his head. One shot released, Heavenly Order dispersed, while satisfying, the subsequent reporting caused him more headaches. As for other townspeople, counted as collateral while fetching rabbits, catching one counts as one, and it doesn''t matter much if not dead, others will deal with them. The surviving families of Water Bear organization''s key members might be more useful alive than as corpses. "Morgan Lee? Emmm... I seemed to just see someone who looked like him, probably gone!" Chen Fei thought for a moment, recalling the man with the megaphone, who seemed to be their mission target next to the big-bearded Heavenly Order War Professional. It seemed that the bombing had likewise left him obliterated to bits. Chapter 507 Section 503 - Military Takes Action "Are you sure?" Miyoshi Xuesen looked at Chen Fei in surprise. It couldn''t be such good luck that a single shot had resolved all the issues. Chen Fei carefully recalled the moment, then nodded. "There should be no mistake!" After all, the biggest threat to White Truffle Town and their mission target were both standing together, directly taken away by a single shot. "Another shot?" Chen Fei turned to Miyoshi Monk. If one shot had taken out a third of the population, it was because the residential area and the only commercial district were densely populated around the small central square in town. The contagion of "Blood Eye Heart Poison" by Tuert forced the town''s population to gather in defense against the chaos, but they hadn''t expected the demolition bomb to have such a devastating effect. Moreover, the double-rail weapon platform typically targeted mutants and strategic defenses, not humans. The surviving townspeople were now searching for survivors near the crater¡ªif they fired another shot, it would be utter annihilation. "No, let''s leave the rest to the local sovereignty!" Miyoshi Xuesen silently nodded, mentally chanting "namu amida butsu"¡ªafter all, he was still a monk and should be compassionate at heart. The others weren''t the target of this makeshift diversionary mission. Chen Fei withdrew the D-600 model parallel railgun, replenishing his energy points, after all, the wear and tear on the weapon platform were negligible, and the Dog System wouldn''t fuss over this aspect. The next morning, the Huntsman Squad hadn''t left yet; several Sky Patrol Ships descended from the sky, and an army of over a thousand soldiers with more than ten beast-shaped quadruped step combat mobile armors surrounded the entire town. Contrary to Miyoshi Xuesen and the others'' expectations, during the encirclement, the residents of White Truffle Town engaged in fierce gunfire with the military. In the town, several reverse-joint bipedal step combat mobile armors appeared, and although their firepower was not strong, they were unexpectedly agile and nimble, causing the encircling infantry to cry out in distress. If not for the armored vehicles forcefully taking the lead, the battle lines might have collapsed then and there. Andrew, a Third Rank Earth Mage of the Earth Order, maintained an Earth Magic Shield and erected a ring of stone wall barriers, as stray bullets occasionally flew by¡ªan inattentive soldier could easily lose his life unexpectedly. "Hiss! Lucky we didn''t go scavenging last night!" Tuert, who had regained a small portion of his spiritual power overnight, was eating a sandwich for breakfast on a hillside, watching the town inside and outside engage in a lively exchange of fire. Even after killing the mayor and the Heavenly Order War Professional, the townspeople were still not to be underestimated, even having combat mobile armors at their disposal. With their small team, plus a bunch of ninjas enhanced with Dark System Abilities, trying to wipe out such a town was perhaps too much of an overreach. Everyone had a mortal body, and once their Special Abilities and magic power ran out, regardless of levels A through G, they were just a gunshot away from death¡ªin case of bad luck, a brick would suffice. Despite Crystal Energy having a higher Energy Level, even with a conversion process to electricity that''s highly efficient and nearly lossless, it still wouldn''t yield much Crystal Energy. Chen Fei''s "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" for converting Crystal Energy was also rather awkward. After all, a Metal Ability User isn''t a professional generator, and there was the problem of leakages. If it weren''t for a military-grade Crystalline Block from over thirty years ago, these Magic Arrays would be practically useless to him; the small amount of Crystal Energy converted from his Special Ability alone couldn''t maintain the arrays for long, one... two... three, and it''s gone! "The army has started to contract!" Andrew, who maintained the Magic Shield, noticed that the Gaul Sovereignty''s military was no longer charging violently as before and was starting to regroup and stabilize the siege lines. War Professionals from the military, who had taken out all the Reverse-Joint Bipedal Combat Mobile Armor, didn''t pursue the victory, likely because the ordinary foot soldiers at the rear were subpar. After unexpectedly being showered with missiles, they were slowing them down. Without support, War Professionals probably didn''t dare venture too deep into enemy territory alone. The first round ended in an anti-climactic manner. Thirty years after the great war, the Blue Star civilization had been at peace for a long time, and an inevitable decline in military combat effectiveness manifested, with many troops showing fragile wills to fight. A cat fed too much cat food often can''t even beat a small mouse. That the Sovereignty''s army had not collapsed by now was already commendable. As for fighting spirit, it was the privately-owned military contractors who dared to fight fiercely and ruthlessly, both towards their enemies and themselves. They often fought to the last man and would not break. If the employees died, the supervisor stepped in; if the supervisor died, then the manager took over; and if the manager died, the CEO would lead the board of directors into the final battle, refusing to give up until the last person stood. It was just like the time when Aircrew Base 911 clashed head-on with Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium. Despite its size, it was ferocious, ferocious to the point of being untouchable and something to be evaded. Chen Xiao''er, who was audaciously eager but lacking skills, could thrive in such a job, merrily like a fish in water. Anyone else would likely not last three days. As the Gaul Sovereignty''s military contracted their skirmish lines and started to regroup, the resistance in White Truffle Town had not yet ceased, with sporadic gunfire continuing in fits and starts. One could easily get shot if not careful during this time. Both sides tacitly ceased fire for an hour around noon, to eat, drink, rest, and treat the wounded¡ªeach busy with their own. Just as Chen Fei thought there might be an afternoon tea inside and outside of town, a torrential downpour of artillery fire cast into the town, signaling the start of the afternoon''s battle. He yawned lazily, feeling uninterested. Compared to the relentless corporate wars between military contractors, the battle of the Gaul military laying siege to the town was a minor affair. Chen Fei and Chekhov, the Big Bear, could have a more exciting time bombing the enemy''s aircrew base while drunk than watching this. Up to now, air strike forces had still not appeared. It was probably because they couldn''t bear even the slightest damage; several Sky Patrol Ships ferrying troops stayed out of the fight like bystanders, kept their distance, and floated in mid-air. Hearing Chen Fei''s yawn, Miyoshi Xuesen, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground chanting with his prayer beads, calmly said, "It should be over before it gets dark." In the incense burner beside him, several sticks of incense were lit. The air around was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder. The military''s tactics were rigid like the ones found in textbooks, utterly uninspiring. Their methodical advancements inevitably depleted the town''s resistance forces. After all, people get hurt, people get tired. After a day of nerve-straining tensions, it would be difficult to hold on any longer. Just as Miyoshi Monk had predicted, before sunset, the exhausted and depleted White Truffle Town finally raised the white flag. Chapter 508 Section 504 - Leave Professional Matters to Professionals The soldiers of the Gaul military entered White Truffle Town with extreme caution, spending over an hour searching and clearing the area. It was only after nightfall that they finally completed a thorough occupation and took real control of the situation. The remaining town residents numbered less than four hundred, with several leaders successively replaced by external forces, totaling five or six replacements. The last leader selected toppled mentally, under both psychological and physiological stress, forcing him to eventually surrender by raising a white flag (a white shirt). If the battle had continued, the surviving three hundred or so people would likely not have seen the sun the next day. One side was willing to die, and the other side was willing to bury. After the battle ended, the captives were shackled in heavy fetters and boarded onto a Sky Patrol Ship, preparing to be sent away, geographically speaking, not physically. Regardless of whether they were Ability Users or not, regardless of any injuries, each captive was injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant and administered a drug that suppressed spiritual power. For a Mage, without spiritual power, having abundant Magic Power is useless; their Battle Qi could also be affected and would likely be reduced by at least half. Under the vigilant supervision of war Professionals, wielding swords and glaring, none dared to cause trouble. Any slight misbehavior was met with immediate beheading. Next, this self-sufficient, secluded town would completely disappear from the map, perhaps it was never even on the map to begin with. Public opinion would know nothing, they would only know what they should know, and any further inquiries would be dismissed as drills. Earth Element Users and Wood System Ability Users will work together to erase all man-made traits here, allowing vegetation to cover everything, as if decades or even centuries had passed in an instant. No one would remember there was ever a town called White Truffle here. The Huntsman Squad, which had been like invisible spectators on the hillside outside the town all day, hurriedly left under the cover of night. The Gaul Sovereignty sent a Sky Patrol Ship to take them directly to their originally planned destination to continue their mission. The previous target, Aircrew Base 631 and its contractor, Mental Health Knights Corporation, hadn''t shown any new developments; however, nearby at Aircrew Base 633, more specifically, its contractor, Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, initiated trouble first. Perhaps feeling they could ingratiate themselves with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, they hastily filed for corporate warfare and immediately declared war on Aircrew Base 631, figuring they had to fight sooner or later, so they might as well strike first. Sulte Defense Co., Ltd thought they could handle it, so Aircrew Base 633 launched a forceful attack. The next moment, they were beaten back severely, the Combat Flight Squadron lost more than half its forces, and even the squadron leader was killed, leaving no trace of his remains. This fiercely aggressive move was simply phenomenal! Words are insufficient to describe the mysterious war between Aircrew Base 631 and Aircrew Base 633; such foolish mess isn''t even worth commenting on by Miyoshi Xuesen. He printed the first phase report into documents, circulated them internally for self-interpretation. After thoroughly reading the report, which was neither too thin nor too thick, Chen Fei''s eyes twitched, and his lips curled, saying, "Truly dammit..." Anyone with a bit of brain would not end up in such a ridiculous state. One moment mocking the amateurish Gaul soldiers, and the next seeing his peers perform equally disgraceful actions, truly a disgrace to military contractors. It''s a wonder how such military contractors managed to secure contracts for an Aircrew Base; according to industry rules, they should have been wiped out long ago. "It really is, really is leveraging power through affiliation!" Tuert quickly glanced over the report, treating it like a foolish prank show on April Fool''s Day, eager to show off in front of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, only to fail miserably. Then he shoved the report aside, passing it to the young and beautiful Masuya. After reading it, she curled her lips and said, "Do we really have to go?" Clearly disdainful of the arrogant yet incompetent Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, having them contract Aircrew Base 633 was a total waste. "Of course we have to go, but only to clean up the mess." Miyoshi Monk scratched his shiny bald head, the nine scars itching. Dealing with such an incompetent collaborator was really frustrating. He again had to figure out a way to support this mess, as it had been pre-arranged and though it was flawed, it could keep secrets at least. Being able to collaborate with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee on hunting missions, this company likely had connections within the Joint Defense Committee. Although Miyoshi didn''t say it outright, people like Chen Fei, who were somewhat worldly-wise, could mostly guess some of it. "We in the military contracting business, to be precise, should be called one and a half." Miyoshi Xuesen''s gaze made a full circle before landing on Chen Fei and Aunt Caroline. Chen Fei was a bonafide employee of a military contractor, bound by a standard service contract, but Aunt Caroline was not; it was her son who was involved in the military contracting business, having followed in his father''s footsteps, making her only tangentially related, normally just a bona fide housewife. Had it not been for her son''s company facing significant losses, making it difficult to continue operations, Caroline would not have joined the Huntsman Squad to earn some extra money. "Therefore, when it comes to military contractors and the Aircrew Base, Little Chen should be more familiar." Everyone''s eyes simultaneously turned towards Chen Fei. "Just do it!" Chen Fei had nothing good to say, merely spread his hands and shrugged. Under the leadership of Major Chekhov of Combat Flight Squadron "Genuine Fragrance", the combat principle was always one word: "Act"! Day in and day out, what else could Chen Xiao''er learn but just that? It really was hard for him, originally a Bachelor''s student in economics. The others exchanged glances, probably imagining that the ninja hiding in the shadows would react similarly. "Chen Fei joined the 633 Aircrew Base Combat Flight Squadron, I took over the command of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., Andrew, Masuya, Tuert, and Caroline approached Aircrew Base 631, ready to strike at any moment¡ªair-to-ground united, to directly eliminate the opponent." The Huntsman Squad had already been exposed, still stuck in a state of confusion with their crashed ship. Miyoshi Xuesen was no longer interested in playing tricks with the targets on the hunting list. Moreover, the Gaul Army''s operations targeting White Truffle Town had already deeply alarmed the "Water Bear" organization, so they had to take advantage of the latter not being fully aware yet to quickly solve problems decisively and take down several key members on the list. It could severely cripple this long-hidden mysterious organization and even hinder its capability to organize a counterattack. "I have no objections, but... can you provide some more Magic Arrays?" Chen Fei raised his hand, having no problem leading the flight squadron, provided he could strike a hard bargain. The several Magic Arrays he had were mostly of negligible use¡ªunappetizing but a waste to throw away, they barely functioned when combined, and even then with limited effectiveness. "Impossible!" Miyoshi Xuesen decisively refused. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was not a sovereign entity, although supported by many sovereigns, it was also supervised by them. Magic Arrays, being such sensitive items, could hardly be mishandled carelessly. The sovereign states dare to provide, but the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee certainly did not have the courage to touch the high voltage line, not even stepping half a step over the thunder pond. "Alright then!" With his probe unsuccessful, Chen Fei spoke no further. 12 hours later, the Huntsman Squad was directly transported to the 633 Aircrew Base in the western part of the Europa Continent by the Gaul Sovereignty''s Sky Patrol Ship. It was only upon landing that they realized the Aircrew Base had been devastated, having just been hammered by Aircrew Base 631¡ªit was indeed a sorry sight. Luckily, the Sky Patrol Ship did not require a runway and could take off and land vertically; any flat ground sufficed. Otherwise, just looking at the main runway, full of large and small craters and mostly destroyed, was rather daunting. When the Huntsman Squad landed, the executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base, head swathed in a blood-soaked bandage, jogged unsteadily towards them, stumbling and falling into a few face-plants along the way, still heedlessly coming to greet the "reinforcements" from all military contractors. Reinforcements, theoretically. If it weren''t for targeting the 631 Aircrew Base and the Mental Health Knights Corporation, Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t dispatch such a force to personally intervene, after all, being both a player and a referee is easily frowned upon. The executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base hadn''t even come close when a four-wheeled electric car, arriving later but moving faster, ran over him from his heels to the back of his head, crushing him completely. The injuries compounded, and this time he truly couldn''t get up. "Welcome, welcome, I am the general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, Besman Hubs, welcome, everyone!" The driver, with a smile on his face, constantly rubbed his hands in front of the Huntsman Squad, without any intention of looking back at the unfortunate manager. Damn capitalist! Chapter 509 Section 505 - Transfer of Authority Miyoshi Xuesen looked coldly at the man smiling up close, and if it weren''t for the fact that the latter had relatives among the high-ranking elites of Hablav City, he would have turned around and left without hesitation. Chen Fei kindly reminded, "That... have you checked the one behind you?" Running over one''s own people with a vehicle was simply too inhumane. In Jiu Defense Company, at 911, no one dared to be so unprincipled. "Who?" Besman Hubs, the executive manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., finally looked up and glanced at the executive manager lying on the ground twitching, and said dismissively, "No worries, I''ll compensate him well!" Even if crushed to death, a bit of burial silver would suffice; it was really nothing. Isn''t it a natural law for capitalist predators to treat human lives like grass? The miserable executive manager, grievously injured and mercilessly run over by his boss, looked at the contractor of the 633 Aircrew Base, a big boss of private military contractors who was clean and neat without a crease in sight, clearly having stayed safe underground and unscathed during the counterattack on the 631 Aircrew Base. Not just Chen Fei, but also Tuert, Andrew, Masuya, and Caroline all wore faces of disdain, not liking this type of boss; they were entitled to wear their emotions on their faces. You disagree? Come hit me! Or shall I lend you a stick to stoke the fire? In the dark corner, disdainful eyes were also cast, as even though the Ninja Team was also a tool for Miyoshi Xuesen, at least they were treated as humans, not trampled on indiscriminately. Having just sacrificed a comrade and used a Heavenly Order War Professional as a shield felt almost justified. "Er? Guys... why don''t we rest first?" Realizing the atmosphere was off, Besman, the crafty little devil, eagerly changed the subject. "No, let''s first discuss the situation." Miyoshi Monk, as the captain of the Huntsman Squad, had to confront this man directly. "Yes, yes, our Sulte Defense Co., Ltd. ..." This guy, who knows from which roadside intel broker he bought the haphazard information, really thought highly of himself, wanted to show off before the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but... though his ideas were nice, reality was brutal. The Mental Health Knights Corporation, which had been raising mutants for its own unspeakable reasons, never expected such an impulsive newcomer to disregard everything and attack from the air. Giv how close the aircrew bases were, it was doomed not to be a surprise assault catching the other side unawares. As soon as the aircraft approached the boundary of the business district at the intersection, the ground-based radar could easily catch them red-handed. Unless the entire journey was conducted at an extremely low altitude in radar blind spots, thinking of stealth strikes was simply delusional! Moreover, the combat aircraft that private military contractors could use were limited, let alone stealth fighters. The only squadron capable of conducting such low-altitude long-distance stealth raids in the entire Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, which had also managed to survive brutal corporate wars and continuously defeat opponents, all due to its substantial capabilities. After listening to Besman Hubs, the enthusiastic head of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., rambling on, Miyoshi Xuesen simply nodded noncommittally without saying much. The situation described by the other party wasn''t much different from the report received on the way here, probably due to being from the same source. "From now on, the 633 Aircrew Base is under my control, all your personnel answer to me, any problems?" Miyoshi Xuesen made a quick decision; continuing to leave it in the hands of this connected individual would wreck the little base left. "Hehe, no problem, no problem!" Besman Hubs bobbed his head like a rattle-drum, eager for someone to take over the mess at hand. "Chen Fei, have your bird cast a healing spell on that guy." Miyoshi Xuesen looked at Chen Fei¡ªhe couldn''t command Xiao Jiu. In the entire Huntsman Squad, only Chen Fei could make the Pure Light Sparrow obey; no matter how the others tried to please or tease, this proud little bird ignored them completely and would jab them with a laser if annoyed¡ªif hit, it guaranteed a hole through the target. The executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base was relatively familiar with some of the basics. A skilled woman struggles without rice, and if all the personnel and materials of the 633 Aircrew Base were exhausted, even gods taking over would be ineffective. Even though he now controlled the aircrew base, Miyoshi Xuesen also wanted to find the most knowledgeable person to inquire about the actual resources here. And this man, Besman Hubs, clearly seemed only good for giving misguided orders; interviewing him would be less productive than asking the front-line personnel involved in the combat. "Go ahead, cast a ''Light of Redemption''!" Chen Fei pointed at the executive manager still twitching on the ground; his attention had just been on the severely damaged "Big Mouth Monsters" near the main runway. His attention was on the hangar aprons near the main runway, looking at the severely damaged Big Mouth Monsters. The little bird quickly flew over, chirped a few times, and a fist-sized light orb entered the man''s body, and then it flapped its tiny wings and returned to Chen Fei''s shoulder. The executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base, who had been unconsciously twitching, suddenly quieted down, utterly motionless. Apart from "Light Healing Technique" and "Light Burst Flash", Xiao Jiu''s proficiency in "Light of Redemption" was even higher than that of the Light System Magic Shield and other light-based spells; with third-rank magic power, it could support several continuous casts of "Light of Redemption" without depleting its magic power. "Dead?" Besman couldn''t help but sigh with a tragic sense of empathy on seeing this scene, saying, "Lawrence was a good man, just a bit too stiff. I will miss him." He then made a show of wiping the corner of his eye, yet not a single crocodile tear was shed. "Uh!~" Like one dead, the executive manager suddenly let out a long moan as if resurrecting, then shivered slightly, twisted his head, and slowly, unsteadily stood up, examining himself. There was no more pain in his body, some strength had returned, and the wounds on his head seemed to have healed a lot, no longer feeling like blood was profusely seeping out. "Alive again?" Besman was startled and took a huge jump in fright. He had thought the other had already breathed his last, yet unexpectedly, he could resurrect right there with full vitality. Not exactly full vitality, but at least he could stand up again, though he still didn''t look too good. "Mr. Habs?" The puzzled executive manager of Aircrew Base 633, Lawrence Beta, looked at his boss, completely unaware that he was the culprit who had nearly sent him to the brink of death at Ghost Gate Pass. Probably right now, he couldn''t afford to think too much about it. "Lawrence, seeing you unharmed is really great!" Besman Habs knew the origins of the Huntsman Squad, but couldn''t just tell anyone casually; he almost let it slip and hurriedly supported over his executive manager, acting as if nothing had happened, and continued, "Come on, let me introduce you, this is Mr. Miyoshi, and from now on, at Aircrew Base 633, whatever he says goes, what he says represents my will, got it?" "Oh! Mr. Habs, you mean, I am now responsible to him, is that right?" Manager Lawrence was completely confused and hadn''t yet grasped this latest command. "Exactly, that''s right!" Besman Habs slapped Lawrence on the shoulder, almost knocking him back to the ground. Shaking unstably and barely able to stand firm again, Lawrence Beta from Aircrew Base 633 coughed a few times, then managed to say loudly, "Very well, sir!" "The first order!" Miyoshi Xuesen raised his index finger. "Yes, Sir!" Lawrence Beta immediately snapped to attention, his body trembling as it appeared weak. The ''Light of Redemption'' only worked by invoking vitality through the Light Elemental System using Magic Elements, speeding up recovery but not sufficient to replenish consumed vital energy. However, the human body itself contained a plethora of potential, not to a point where it couldn''t make up for the deficit, so, in most cases, Light Healing Spells generally had an effect. Yet, if the physical condition were as frail as a leaky shack, even a god would be powerless. The reaction of manager Lawrence made his direct superior, the general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, Besman Habs, nod his head in satisfaction. Miyoshi Xuesen pointed forcefully at Besman Habs and spoke out loudly, "Imprison Besman Habs in the solitary confinement room, and without my order, no one is allowed to let him out." "Huh?" Besman Habs was somewhat incredulous of his own ears. Before he could figure out what exactly was happening, he heard executive manager Lawrence Beta standing at attention again. "Yes, Sir!" He then looked apologetically at his direct superior and said, "I am sorry, Mr. Habs!" "Come, escort Mr. Habs into solitary confinement, without Mr. Miyoshi''s order, no one is permitted to release Habs!" Calling over the armed security of the aircrew base, for the sake of their own boss''s dignity, they used "invite" instead of "force." "Ah? This, this, no, Lawrence, no, I don''t want solitary, Mr. Miyoshi, Mr. Miyoshi, what is going on?" Besman Habs frantically tried to rectify this chaotic command, but Miyoshi Xuesen merely gave him a cold glance. "Take him away!" He then looked no further toward him. "I''m sorry, Mr. Habs, you''d better not struggle, or you might hurt yourself." The armed guards were loyal to the executive manager, and one could guess they didn''t have a favorable impression of the general manager; they sandwiched him and just walked off. "No, I don''t want solitary; I want to revoke the order I just gave, Lawrence, you have to listen to me..." The gesticulating general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, was thus dragged away by the burly security guards. Lawrence Beta bowed slightly to Miyoshi Monk and earnestly said, "Mr. Miyoshi, I am now under your command!" Chapter 510 Section 506 - Saying "Hello "Very good!" Miyoshi Xuesen greatly appreciated the professional quality of the executive manager. It was undeniable that Besman Hubs, the general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, was a rotten person, but the Aircrew Base had a qualified executive manager. Although he might not be truly excellent, he had a head injury and executed the orders from Miyoshi Xuesen/Boss Besman unequivocally. Locking up Besman was the equivalent of resolving the biggest immediate risk at Aircrew Base. It was easy to guess that the current situation at Aircrew Base was greatly influenced by Besman Hubs''s misguided commands. A conservative executive manager would not launch an attack casually, nor would he allow opponents to find opportunities to counterattack so easily. This move was brilliant! Andrew and the others gave a thumbs up to this ruthless and heartless monk. Well done! Using terms like ''good'' or ''bad'' to evaluate Miyoshi Xuesen isn''t always suitable, but sometimes the things he does are indeed satisfying. "Alright! Let''s briefly reassign tasks. Tuert, head to the control tower and monitor the dynamics of Aircrew Base, report to me at once. Andrew and Masuya, check the surroundings for any enemy scouts. Aunt Caroline, assist Lawrence to learn more about the situation at Aircrew Base and report back. Chen Fei, greet those pilots; it all depends on you now!" Miyoshi Xuesen issued orders calmly and confidently, now that he had control over the entire aircrew base. Apart from assigning tasks to the ability users, the ninja teams would also carry out the same tasks, ensuring double insurance and avoiding any oversight. "Let''s go, Andrew!" Masuya, a level-A wind-type psionic ability user, took the lead with a greeting. The youthful-looking Tuert was always sneakily eyeing her with a lascivious gaze, which she found very distasteful, but the silent and tall Andrew seemed far more reliable. "Oh!" The earth mage hurried to follow. The psychic mage, Tuert, who was assigned to go to the tower alone, grinned reluctantly and jealously watched as the red-haired Masuya and Andrew walked away together. Andrew, this thick-browed and big-eyed fellow, actually sneaked ahead. "Manager Lawrence, please show me around." Although Aunt Caroline was not in the private military contracting business, her son was a member of the industry; she hadn''t eaten the pork, but she had seen the pig run, so she naturally knew where to start in order to understand the situation at Aircrew Base in the shortest time. Despite being weak from being revived by the "Light of Redemption," the very feeble executive manager, Lawrence Beta, still mustered the energy. "Good day, ma''am, please follow me!" Now was not the time to be lying down; even if there was a need to lie down, he must explain the situation before doing so. "Then I am leaving too." Watching his teammates leave one by one, Chen Fei gestured and naturally led Little Bird towards the pile of rubbish next to the main runway. He was not unfamiliar with the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, but the "Big Mouth Monster" at Aircrew Base seemed somewhat different. Upon closer inspection, the truth came to light. The "Big Mouth Monster" at Aircrew Base had seven mounting points on its central belly and wings, while the ones at Aircrew Base had nine. The difference between seven and nine mounting points was significant. He stretched out his hand without hesitation. "Metal Devouring" skill activated! System: Ding! Absorbed light turboprop attack aircraft wreckage, composition ratio: Aluminum 71%, Titanium 10%, Iron 4%, Copper 5%, Chromium 4.5%, Magnesium 2%... Energy Points +7! The pile of combat aircraft wreckage probably came from at least three "Big Mouth Monsters." Energy Points: 20000/20000 When leaving Hablav City, Chen Fei had filled up his energy points at an old machinery junkyard on the outskirts, but he hadn''t purchased an energy point capacity expansion. The newly acquired seven energy points overflowed and were wasted. You see, calling this system a real dog isn''t unjustified at all. However, Chen Fei didn''t care about the loss of these two energy points at this moment; his attention was on the new findings. The "Aircraft" category in the "Physical Evolution Database" had gained a new sample. A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft! Several wrecks proved sufficient to complete the sample, meaning he could replicate this model of light turboprop attack aircraft completely. Indeed, the "Big Mouth Monster" at Aircrew Base was an upgraded version, further confirming that Besman Hubs had deep connections with a high-level official at the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. With his professional experience as a maintenance technician, he quickly confirmed the key upgrades of this C version after comparison. To add these two hardpoints, the A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" made some improvements to the airframe. Most importantly, the PT6A series engine used a new alloy formula for critical components, increasing the output power by 200 horsepower to 2100 horsepower. However, as a result, fuel consumption increased and the maximum endurance time decreased by one hour, still leaving 13 hours. The wing area increased by 5%, structural strength was enhanced, and other detailed parts were improved and upgraded. For a light attack aircraft, two hardpoints can almost instantly enhance its combat effectiveness¡ªafter all, it means two more missiles or bombs! After receiving the latest upgrade of the "Big Mouth Monster," Chen Fei felt satisfied and headed towards the bar, where the pilots relaxed. Private Military Contractors are not sovereign military forces, and the flyers are not prohibited from drinking. They can drink as they like on ordinary days as long as they do not drink during flight missions. Exceptions like Chekhov Big Bear, who can fly better the more he drinks, are truly badass! If it hadn''t been for being high at the time, wandering in a daze, Chen Fei wouldn''t have dared to do such a thing, even if lent ten times his courage¡ªhe''s bold, but not foolish! Anyone who is able to graduate from university with a bachelor''s degree is smart. The layout of Aircrew Base 633 is similar to Aircrew Base 911; Chen Fei could find his way around with his eyes closed. In fact, most aircrew bases are structured and facilitated exactly the same, everyone using the same mold, the same design drawings. Modular and mass production keep the costs of hardware foundations very low, fully in line with commercial operations. The bar at Aircrew Base 633 was rather quiet, as it had just been raided and had many casualties, making it not as bustling as usual. Chen Fei accurately located the pilots of 633, who were gathered in small groups, each person either sulkily drinking alone or puffing on a cigar, none of them talking. Casually, he placed Little Bird on the bar and walked over. The bartender, somewhat distracted, watched the little bird hopping around on the countertop. The little fellow hopped next to a bottle of brandy, pecked at the bottle, and then looked up at the bartender. "Chirp?" "Hey! Guys?" Chen Fei called out to those pilots who had just been defeated and were feeling very low in spirit. "?" A group of people looked over in confusion. Chen Fei waved at them and promptly picked up the person beside him, landing a punch directly on his face, knocking him flat on the ground. This was a pilot''s way of greeting. He obviously couldn''t perform a trick like Big Bear pulling out Erguotou from his crotch, so he had to make a memorable "greeting" for his colleagues at Aircrew Base 633 his own way. None of those who work under Private Military Contractors are saints. Being new around here, if you don''t beat them until they''re comfortable, they certainly won''t respect you. But that''s okay, Chen Fei didn''t want their respect, he just wanted their submission, so beating was enough. Fights were absolutely common in the bar, with pilots clanging and banging around. Everyone else in the bar, including the bartender behind the bar, acted as if they saw nothing, without even attempting to stop it. In just five minutes, Chen Fei had beaten eight or nine men. There was also a young woman whose soft face received a big slap, leaving a vivid handprint immediately. After all, gender equality matters, and it''s wrong to discriminate or treat women differently. You can''t go easy just because she''s a woman. One, two, three, four, and done again. "Greetings done," Chen Fei shook his hand and said, "I''m ''Rookie,'' and from now on, I am your squadron leader. Anyone has a problem with that, make a peep!" Yes, make a sound, and get beaten again until you''re subdued, or even beaten to death. Death? That would be a problem for the executive manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., Besman Habs, and also for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. If you''re afraid of dying, don''t come into this line of work. He didn''t have time to reason or appeal to emotions; a beating sufficed! Looking at the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, anyone who still had issues could be resolved with a beating! No matter how arrogant the Big Bear might seem, he also got pinned to the ground and beaten frequently. "Rookie," this flying nickname might sound a bit funny initially, but after the beatings, nobody was laughing anymore; they were just inhaling sharply with bruised noses and faces, wondering which supernatural power had just beaten them up without any law or order. Sorry, in the capitalist world, there''s never been any law. Chen Fei was indeed being lenient with them; otherwise, a punch for each could have ended them all. He clapped his hands and said calmly, "Come on, follow my command, line up!" The next second, the disheveled pilots immediately leaped up like frightened rabbits and quickly lined up, fearing being beaten again if they were slow. The recent beating was severe, and suddenly moving caused them all to grimace and bare their teeth grotesquely. "Let''s introduce ourselves, let me get to know you." "..." Not far away, at the bar, Little Bird perched on the edge of a glass, watching the interaction between Chen Fei and the pilots, occasionally dipping its head to sip a freshly mixed martini. Only that little sparrow knew how it managed to get a cocktail mixed for itself by the bartender. Chapter 511 Section 507 - Repair The layout of Aircrew Bases is largely the same, even the organizational structure and management systems seem to be cast from the same mold, relatively mature. Wouldn''t it be more efficient to just replicate them? Thus, even though he had just arrived, Chen Fei still felt a sense of familiarity here, easily finding his way around and locating the relevant personnel. "No way, to repair all the ''Big Mouth Monsters'', it would take at least a month. It''s impossible in three days, we simply can''t handle that much work, you layman don''t understand anything!" The head of the Mechanic Team at Aircrew Base 633 didn''t show Chen Fei any kindness, and lashed out at him fiercely. In his eyes, this "Rookie" was clearly an outsider, and only an outsider would make such an outlandish request¡ªit was obvious he was looking for trouble! Aircrew Base 631''s retaliation was severe; their retaliatory air strikes caused major damage to the combat flyers of Aircrew Base 633. Coupled with casualties within the flying squadrons, even if there wasn''t a single fighter jet less, the combat power ready for takeoff was only half of the original. And at this moment, the Mechanic Team, despite working their hardest, could only barely repair two "Big Mouth Monsters". "Are you done speaking?" Chen Fei endured as the other party showered him with spit while speaking. Well, Jiubao was so considerate, adding a Light System Magic Shield around him, blocking all the spit. A group of pilots with their heads hung stood obediently behind him, not even daring to take a deep breath. All they knew was that this young man was called "Rookie," they knew nothing else about him. In the world of Jianghu, when you meet, why should it matter if you''ve known each other before? Finish the "greeting" (their names today were "greeting"), and be done with it. Why ask so many questions. The head of the Mechanic Team hummed a few times. It seemed that those who work in mechanical repair all share a fiery temper. Chen Fei spoke indifferently, "Repairing fighter jets, that''s my specialty!" He spoke with utter confidence. "Huh? What did you say?" The head of the Mechanic Team couldn''t quite believe his own ears. The person who had just taken control of the remaining members of the flying squadrons was now brazenly claiming he could repair fighter jets. Was that not a joke? "I am certified, I attended training and assessment at ''Eagle Nest''." Since everyone was in the same industry, Chen Fei guessed the other person should know Old David''s field, after all, Boss Hana had mentioned that "Eagle Nest" was quite famous in the circle. Of course, Old David never actively advertised that much, but his subordinates'' professional skills were indeed impeccable. "Old David''s ''Eagle Nest''?" The head of the Mechanic Team indeed knew of the famous Eagle Nest private airfield. Not only was "Eagle Nest" a privately operated airfield, but it also boasted the very best civilian aviation training and assessment services¡ªalmost everyone knew of them and recognized their worth. Their gold standard was truly 24K, capable of matching the military standards, and even the military acknowledged it. "Exactly!" Chen Fei nodded. All the pilots behind him began to slowly widen their eyes in amazement. Good heavens, this guy was from "Eagle Nest"! To get into "Eagle Nest," not only did you need money, but also connections, and one thing for sure was that anyone who passed the Eagle Nest''s assessment had real skills. Even those slightly below par were not allowed to pass, so as not to tarnish Old David''s reputation. Though professional training at a private airfield could be expensive, they never compromised on quality for money, as reputation was quite important. "Eagle King" David''s reputation never disappointed. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire "I''d like to see how you plan to repair all the combat aircraft within three days." Upon hearing the other party was also a professional, and one assessed at "Eagle Nest" no less, the head of the Mechanic Team at Aircrew Base 633 stepped aside to let the expert take over. It was an impossible task, wasn''t it! "Bring me all the damaged airframes, even if they''re just scraps, and parts, good or bad, gather everything in the work area, then follow my command." Chen Fei turned around, looked at the pilots, and said, "You guys help too!" "Sure!" Pilots ¡Á 9! Now Chen Fei was their new boss; whatever he said, they had to follow. If they dared utter even the slightest hint of a "no," they would undoubtably receive another round of ''greetings''¡ªa fistful was guaranteed. This foreign dragon had indeed instilled fear in these local snakes. In no time at all, the Mechanic Team''s work area was piled high, and the head of the Mechanic Team, also eager to see this "Rookie''s" capabilities, was holding his breath in anticipation. "First one!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand. Hacking the game! No, activating skill! Most of the damaged components had merely undergone physical shape changes, making them incompatible with one another, but for the skill "Metal Shaping," restoring their original form was a trivial matter, accomplished in the blink of an eye. Deformed parts were restored to their original shape, missing ones were replaced with readily available spare parts, and for those without spares, just replicate them. With a rapid flurry of movements, agile as a tiger. Half an hour later, an A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, barring its paint job, emerged in the work area looking virtually indistinguishable from a brand-new factory model. The time-consuming tasks were all due to non-metallic materials, since metal elemental psychic powers had absolutely no effect on them. Unwilling to replicate using energy points, the only option was to use spare parts if available, or salvaged parts if not. A group of mechanics all turned into awe-stricken Dragon Kings, inhaling sharply in disbelief. "Damn metal elemental psychic power, industrial grade to boot!" Even the mechanically blind-chief of the mechanics team could see just how Chen Fei was going to repair all the combat aircraft in three days. They were ordinary people, this was taking advantage of ordinary people, young man, you have no martial ethics! Half an hour for one "Big Mouth Monster," be it B or C model, made no difference to Chen Fei. Who needs three days? Probably one day would be enough, and even that with time to spare. "First aircraft, done! Someone come and tow it away!" Chen Fei walked towards the second work area, the 633 Aircrew Base had six work areas, allowing for six combat aircraft to be worked on simultaneously. As he moved to another work area, it was the perfect time for others to tow away the freshly repaired aircraft for its painting job, which didn''t require any special abilities. Lazy painters could just spray it down with paint cans; if you were a bit more particular, slap on some enamel paint, seal it with a heat gun, and it was done¡ªno special skills required, anyone could do it. The 633 Aircrew Base used camo paint, making touch-up work a breeze. With your eyes closed, just brush, brush, brush, and you definitely won''t mess it up. With the mechanics team and the flying squadron helping out, Chen Fei only had to work on repairing the combat aircraft, rapidly making progress. Before it even got dark, he had managed to assemble ten "Big Mouth Monsters." The budget-conscious 633 Aircrew Base wasn''t equipped with jet engines but only had the latest C-model "Big Mouth Monsters" and two rescue transport helicopters. The helicopters were cheap, civilian versions without weapon mounts; they simply welded a machine gun mount by the cabin door, and that was it, looking thoroughly unprofessional. No wonder they were beaten to such a state by the 631 Aircrew Base, with inferior hardware and average personnel, they couldn''t possibly win against the opposition. The contracting boss was a bit off his rocker, not measuring his own capabilities before rashly charging in; eager to show off, he only embarrassed himself, and the retaliation was naturally merciless. When ten A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft stood on the tarmac, fresh with the smell of new paint, the alarm went off¡ªa first-level warning. Chen Fei''s phone rang at the same time, vibrating. Upon answering, he heard Miyoshi Xuesen''s voice. "Chen Fei, combat aircraft from 631 Aircrew Base are heading our way, a total of four. Can you handle it?" In the Huntsman Squad, Chen Fei was the only one capable of piloting a combat aircraft to meet the challenge; no one else could handle such a specialized task. "Small fry, just get the ground defenses ready, leave the rest to me!" Chen Fei responded with an easygoing tone. With his current record of aerial victories, he had long since ceased to be a novice, already considered somewhat of a veteran. "Then I''m counting on you," said Miyoshi with no other choice. Within the batch of ability users assembled by the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," there weren''t many multi-talented personnel eligible to join the Huntsman Squad, and Chen Fei was one of them. Although Hablav City also had such talents, it was difficult for them to leave their current positions to join the Huntsman Squad. Moreover, no one was more familiar with the operation of the aircrew base than Chen Fei, nor better suited for the task. "Guys, we''ve got work to do, four of you, come with me to meet the challenge!" Chen Fei put down his phone and looked at the restless pilots. By now, the skies were growing dark; if one were to fly, the light would become even brighter. The ground crew had already begun to prepare the combat aircraft, lining up various munitions on the tarmac. Turboprop aircraft had their advantages: once munitions were hung and the tank was full, just ignite and go. No need to warm up the engine beforehand, and with the aircrew base''s combat radius, even auxiliary fuel tanks were unnecessary. Nine individuals exchanged glances, then silently stepped forward in unison. Chapter 512 Section 508 - Crystal Energy Turboprop Aircraft "Die with a useless leader, and it''s goodbye to the whole family," everyone understands that principle. The guy who can beat them all up the moment he meets them is definitely a ruthless one. The pilots at Aircrew Base made their choice with their own feet. "Okay, one, two, three, four! Follow me! One fighter jet per person, no need for a co-pilot." Chen Fei didn''t care about the combat effectiveness of these pilots nor did he want to understand it; as long as they didn''t lag behind, that was enough. He simply counted four from left to right and then turned to walk away. Just like those young masters from Gaul he had seen before, once they had seen blood, whether it was from their own people or enemies, their psychological quality would transform. These pilots shouldn''t be as clueless as they were at the start. The four chosen pilots exchanged glances, among them was a girl whose cheek bore a faint red mark, formerly a slap print, which had lightened under Xiao Jiu''s "Light Healing Technique." Eventually, the four of them caught up with Chen Fei''s pace. "Report, this is the ammunition list." The ammunition team handed Chen Fei a list. "All combat missiles, check the machine gun ammunition again, not a single round missing." Chen Fei glanced at the list and then tossed it back. Sign whatever, he wasn''t from Aircrew Base; he would leave after the fight. Concerns like costs were things for the capitalists locked in the confinement rooms to consider, preferably bankrupting this bastard. "Yes, yes!" The ammunition team''s member awkwardly retreated. All the "Big Mouth Monsters" hanging under the wings were equipped with combat missiles. At this crucial juncture, there was no longer any consideration of whether it was a mutant or not; the priority was to defend Aircrew Base, making the combat missiles almost the only choice. As the other four pilots climbed into the cockpit and connected to the battlefield data link, Chen Fei pressed his headset and said, "You four, form two pairs for cover, I fly solo." Xiao Jiu snuck into his collar, a master at finding good spots, and Chen Fei, unable to shoo it away, let it be. There was no need to discuss tactics. He had just arrived, and neither side was familiar with each other; without any tacit understanding, discussing tactics would be pointless. They didn''t have time to practice and couldn''t effectively use them anyway. "''Florida'' received!" "''Red Narcissus'' received!" "''Kenny Kid'' received!" "''Dinosaur'' received!" The four pilots responded immediately. "''Rookie,'' enemy aircraft will reach Aircrew Base in half an hour, you''d better take off quickly." Even Miyoshi Xuesen, sitting in the control tower and inexperienced as he was, knew better than to allow combat near the base and wanted to push the battlefield as far away as possible. The ground-based radar at Aircrew Base, having been hit by a missile, was barely repaired to restore some reconnaissance capability, but the detection range could only roughly cover half the business perimeter. "''Rookie'' received, taking off!" Chen Fei fired up the engines, and the propeller blades immediately began to spin. The "Big Mouth Monster" began to slide towards the fully repaired main runway, speeding up and soon reaching takeoff speed. Pulling back on the control stick, the airframe effortlessly took off. The A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft has 54 engraving units. Since the "Magical Array Evolution Database" skill obtained a sample, the evolution samples in the "Physical Evolution Database" included corresponding values for the magic array engraving units. Next was simply elementary level arithmetic. Repulsion Shield (45) + Gravity (1) + Fluid Vortex (2)¡Á2 + Blazing Flame Bullet (1)¡Á2 = 52 engraving units, with two to spare. He then evolved the Crystal Energy Conversion module, took out the Crystalline Block, slammed it on, and the magic array immediately activated, job done. Is this thing still a "Big Mouth Monster"? The hell knows! A blue light flashed over the surface of the A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, and then disappeared beneath the aluminum alloy skin. "Contact in 5 minutes, don''t let your guard down!" Chen Fei, the only pilot in the Huntsman Squad, also had considerable ground attack capability. Miyoshi Xuesen personally coordinated with him, communicating in a manner that was not strictly professional but rather casual. "Received, I see them now!" Chen Fei''s visual interface fully activated several modules of the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" ¡ª "Low-light Enhancement," "Ultra-long Vision," and "Visual Assistance" were combined, and the four "Big Mouth Monsters" from Aircrew Base stood out like lumps of coal in snow, even the seldom-used "Macroscopic Perspective" loaded smoothly. The overhead perspective from the high altitude enveloped both friend and foe, as if Chen Fei had an extra pair of eyes in the sky, and they were remarkably clear. This god-like perspective is utterly unscientific, but if pressed for a more scientific explanation, the only thing that comes to mind is... satellites? But whose special ability can connect directly to satellites? Chen Fei was growing more perplexed about what exactly this "Dog System" was all about. Anyway, he thought he might as well use it and not delve further since he was just a poor nobody without the capability to investigate deeply. "Jiu?" Hiding in Chen Fei''s father''s collar, Little Bird tilted its head and began its routine training. A light screen appeared inside the cockpit, and the next second, it captured the image of four "Big Mouth Monsters." In terms of having a god''s-eye view, Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective" indeed wasn''t quite a match for Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell" within a certain distance. A thin blue line shot from the front and landed on the aircraft Chen Fei was in. It was the long-missed predictive trajectory, symbolizing death, and perhaps because it had not been seen for a while, there was a strangely familiar feeling to it. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Looking back, the four "Big Mouth Monsters" following him were also lined up by the predictive trajectory, flying at nearly the same altitude, no more than two to three hundred meters apart from each other. The enemies were veterans, going for ultra-long-range tactics straight from the first wave. "All units roll left seven and a half turns, execute immediately." With composure, Chen Fei issued the command. In his vision, missiles had appeared on the predictive trajectory and were rapidly approaching along the continuously corrected track. The scenery outside the cockpit started spinning rapidly. His "Big Mouth Monster" took the lead, and although the other four pilots from Aircrew Base 633 were puzzled, they performed the same maneuver. Just as the five "Big Mouth Monsters" had deviated from their original flight path, it took only two seconds before eight missiles roared past their previous position and then turned in a large arc to pursue them. The enemy''s tactics were simple, taking advantage of the naive kids from Aircrew Base 633! But now, the combat flyer squadron personally led by Chen Fei was no longer the weak team it had been before. "Jamming bullets, release three times, five-second intervals each." Chen Fei''s voice remained calm as usual, and he wasn''t yet pushed to desperation, handling the situation with ease. No further words were needed; right at the first roll, all the "Big Mouth Monsters" blared with alert sounds from being locked by the fire-control radar, knowing that the enemy had struck first. The ground-based radar from Aircrew Base 633 helped lock onto the fast-approaching missiles and transmitted the battle data to every "Big Mouth Monster." A cluster of bright sparks scattered across the sky at an altitude of 6000 meters, like glorious fireworks; the numerous sparks slowly descended and persisted for a long time. The seven-and-a-half roll maneuver was quickly completed. "Dive to 2,000 meters altitude!" After leveling out, Chen Fei pushed the control stick forward, releasing full engine power. Below 3,000 meters was the altitude range where turboprop aircraft had an advantage. Since the enemy was not jet-powered but also used similar turboprop aircraft, the most appropriate tactic was close quarters combat within a 10-kilometer visual range, clashing with cannons and combat missiles. The missiles from beyond visual range, after making a wide turn, had almost run out of propellant. Most of them lost their targets after hitting bright infrared flare bullets and exploded into fireballs in mid-air. When experts crossed paths, a tiny margin could mean the difference between life and death. With a clear predictive trajectory visible, the five "Big Mouth Monsters" smoothly avoided a direct hit in the first round, then dived again collectively, easily shaking off the other following missiles, and even had energy to spare. Although the missiles were not shaken off, they were already running out of steam. "Pull up! Climb at 30 degrees, prepare two close combat missiles, wait for my command." The "Big Mouth Monster" soon dove to an altitude of 2,000 meters, and Chen Fei pulled back on the control stick. Through Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell" and "Macroscopic Perspective," he determined that those missiles were nearly out of fuel. Every change of direction consumed a substantial amount of propellant, and after following the dive, it was unlikely they could climb and pursue effectively. The first wave the enemy launched were close combat missiles. If they had been medium-range missiles, it wouldn''t have been so easy. From their launch distance, it was easy to distinguish between medium and close range; it''s uncommon to use medium-range missiles as if they were close-range missiles. As the "Big Mouth Monster" squadron climbed, four enemy planes from Aircrew Base 633 coincidentally appeared in their visual range. HUD visually locked on, missiles away! Ten homogeneous combat missiles roared out, and the rest was left to the missile guidance module. The ground-based radar from Aircrew Base 633 could have assisted in guiding and improving the hit rate, but the relevant functions had been damaged in a previous air raid, so now they could only watch helplessly, unable to assist. The four "Big Mouth Monsters" from Aircrew Base 631 were momentarily stunned. After the opponents easily dodged the missiles, they immediately switched to the offensive, splitting into two pairs to dodge the incoming missile barrage. "You chase the right, I''ll take the left!" Only then did Chen Fei truly become a free agent on the battlefield, piloting his aircraft to chase the two enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" escaping towards the left. The others, four against two, also had a local advantage and probably wouldn''t have too much trouble. Gravity Adjustment Module (10%). As the weight of the "Big Mouth Monster" lightened, the thrust generated by the engines suddenly experienced a qualitative leap, and the turboprop aircraft pounced towards the two "Big Mouth Monsters" at an unbelievable speed. "Rookie''s speed is off? Is the radar broken again?" Suddenly someone in the tower yelled out. The speed that Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" burst out at far exceeded the design values, and everyone''s first thought was of the ground-based radar that had been damaged before. (Ground-based radar: Again? Take your filthy hands off, don''t, don''t do it...) Chapter 513 Section 509 - Sly Old Fox "''Lion,'' behind you!" The pilots from Aircrew Base 631 suddenly heard the alarm of being locked on by the fire-control radar again. He glanced at the radar screen, only to find a light spot approaching from behind at an unusual speed, slower than a missile, yet faster than a turboprop aircraft. "A missile? Got it, keep up with me!" The lead pilot "Lion" was busy releasing jamming bullets, trying to shake off the missile that was getting closer with his wingman. For turboprop aircraft, evading missiles was indeed a bit more strenuous than for jet planes. Although the friend and foe were operating separately, the flight pair pursued by Chen Fei only had three combat bombs left, while on the other side, seven combat bombs were doggedly chasing two enemy aircraft. It seemed like it might end badly for them, so he first tossed the easier target to his temporary comrades from Aircrew Base 633. One against two, quite easy. From the sky above, it looked like Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" was driving three missiles chasing two enemy "Big Mouth Monsters." "It''s not a missile!" The wingman pilot strained to look back, but saw nothing. The enemy was right at their six o''clock position, a blind spot for vision. In this range, they could not receive support from the base''s ground-based radar. "Not a missile? What is it?" Before the lead pilot "Lion" could finish his sentence, a burst of flames exploded violently from the right rear, obliterating his wingman into pieces on the spot. He didn''t get an answer. At such a critical moment, being distracted meant being blown to pieces in mid-air¡ªdon''t forget about the frighteningly fast missile still on their tail. "Ahhhh... F*K!" "Lion" roared in desperation, trying every trick in the book to dodge the two missiles behind him. Boom!~ Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire A fireball exploded dangerously close, and the violent shockwave caused the whole "Big Mouth Monster" to shake violently for a moment, but the lethal missile had been reduced to one. Suppressing the dizziness, "Lion" put all his effort into the evasive maneuvers. The last missile flew just shy of the critical proximity-fuze boundary, narrowly missing his "Big Mouth Monster." Only after noticing the missile smoke trail not too far away did "Lion," who had just lost his wingman, breathe out a long sigh of relief. However, at that moment, a dark shadow flashed over the cockpit, and another "Big Mouth Monster" was right above him, the two fighter planes maintaining synchronous attitudes. "What, what?" "Lion" looked up and suddenly noticed the other "Big Mouth Monster" with red lights glowing on its left and right wings, forming strange patterns. While he was still wondering what on earth that was, two bright fireballs shot out from the center of the pattern ablaze with red light. His mouth opened involuntarily in shock, that was... "Lion" jerked in realization, trying to push the control stick to dodge, but it was already too late. The distance between them was not even thirty to forty meters, and with the fireballs'' speed, the impact was almost instantaneous, hitting the tail and left wing squarely. The fireballs weren''t very powerful, comparable to hand grenades, but for the fragile aircraft structure, they were undoubtedly fatal. Losing its aerodynamic shape, the plane triggered a series of irreversible severe consequences. The "Big Mouth Monster" tumbled towards the ground, a parachute ejected from the cockpit, opening mid-air, floating down slowly. Chen Fei did not concern himself with the ejected enemy pilot and steered his turboprop aircraft to pursue another enemy flight pair. Boom!~ Kilometers away, the combat bombs without targets chose to self-destruct, exploding into a fireball. The rules of the sky in Jianghu stipulate that even if blinded by bloodlust, pilots will not attack the opposing side''s ejected aviators. Everyone has to eject at some point. Leave a line for others, and you will meet again someday. Nearly all pilots maintain this final moral principle spontaneously. Both the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron from Aircrew Base 911 and the pilots from Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium had not taken that fatal step, and it was only natural for Chen Fei to follow this unwritten rule. Of course, it was another matter entirely on the ground; Chen Fei had not hesitated to deal lethal blows there. The pilots from Aircrew Base 633 did not disappoint Chen Fei, almost simultaneously ending the battle. Seven missiles harrying two turboprop aircraft--even four against two stood little chance; it looked like Aircrew Base 633 was done for. Tired, just finish it off quickly! Chen Fei had no interest in propping up a failing cause. Let whoever wants to take care of it do so; he didn''t want to waste such effort. The last glimmer of the sun just happened to fall below the horizon, with the enemy aircraft debris and explosion clouds drifting with the wind. Not seeing any parachutes, such is the destiny of a combat pilot¡ªno one to blame. Chen Fei still spoke in his calm voice, "One enemy ejected, combat mission over!" Just four "Big Mouth Monsters"¡ªhow easy were they? The titanium-based magic arrays carved on the body''s surface all disappeared as if they had never been there. All five "Big Mouth Monsters," without loss, returned to Aircrew Base 633. A helicopter brushed past them on its way to "pick up" prisoners. After all, just leaving them in the wild wilderness wasn''t right. The roar of the turboprop planes on the tarmac gradually subsided, and the ground personnel waiting for the fleet''s return buzzed with excitement. Having won a battle at last, they could finally boast and breathe easy. Remaining calm was simply out of the question. "Wow, well done!" Masuya, an A-grade wind-type ability user who had been strolling around the Aircrew Base, waved at Chen Fei, who was climbing out of the cockpit. Andrew nodded at Chen Fei as well. "Did you guys find anything?" As he spoke, Chen Fei tugged at his collar to let the little guy out. The Little Bird, having felt stifled, flew around above his head, clearly joyful. "Nothing at all!" Masuya shook her red hair and shrugged her shoulders. It seemed that Aircrew Base 631 didn''t think much of the combat-inept yet addictively enthusiastic Aircrew Base 633, so they hadn''t bothered sending anyone to keep an eye on them. "''Rookie'', come to the tower!" The communication link with the turboprop aircraft was still open, and Miyoshi Monk''s voice came through the aviation helmet, probably wanting to understand the details of the battle and see if there was any hope left for Aircrew Base 633. "Received, I''ll be over in a moment." Chen Fei responded, and with that, the communication finally ended. Just as he was about to head to the tower, he heard a chorus of voices behind him. "Predecessor ''Rookie''!" The nine pilots of Aircrew Base 633, for some reason, had lined up in a row, faces filled with excitement. Predecessor? Chen Fei turned around puzzled; these older brothers and sisters were older and had joined the industry before him, how could he qualify as their predecessor? "Is there something you need?" He sized up the pilots, who now seemed genuinely respectful and convinced. "I, I..." The girl, who Chen Fei had smacked back and forth with solid palm strikes, stumbled over her words, hesitant to continue, then finally bowed deeply. "Thank you!" ??? Chen Fei was completely baffled; just a second before, he''d been their predecessor, and the next second they were bowing deeply - what was that all about? The other pilots looked at each other, unsure of what to say, but they also bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you!" Compared to the first time they had greeted each other, all of them looked more spirited than before, no longer the image of feeble remnants of defeated soldiers. Apparently, the battle had reignited some confidence and spirit in them. "You''re welcome!" After all, there''s no harm in being over-polite, Chen Fei''s lips twitched into a semi-smile, finally showing some goodwill. The moment he reached the tower, Miyoshi Xuesen was waiting specifically for Chen Fei. "Are those pilots obedient?" If Chen Fei alone could deal with Aircrew Base 631, he wouldn''t have needed to involve Aircrew Base 633. Facing just one aircrew base, let alone a single person, even a full-fledged Huntsman Squad might not have it easy. "If a beating doesn''t make them obedient, then they get another one." Chen Fei rubbed his wrists; he had indeed mingled with the pilots of Aircrew Base 633 through demonstration. This is not just boasting; it''s an old tradition handed down from 911. Just ask Big Bear; whether Big Brother Xiao''s maintenance team didn''t get along with the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, whether deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" and Big Bear''s relationship of fighting being close, and cursing being caring, with true feelings shared through kicks. If Big Bear dared to utter a half-hearted "no," Chef Abel''s Big Bear Stew would come in handy. Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t understand the internal affairs of the aircrew bases, but still, he was taken aback when he heard this. Are all these military contractors'' employees this wild now? "Well! Taming those pilots is a good thing, too!" This was also why Miyoshi Monk had called Chen Xiao''er over, worried that despite his youth and lack of experience, he wouldn''t be able to handle those old foxes and that he could provide some guidance. However, it seemed that the concern was unfounded. Getting the pilots of Aircrew Base 633 to obediently listen aligned well with Miyoshi Xuesen''s upcoming tactical planning. Chen Fei noticed Miyoshi Monk''s thoughtful look and took the initiative to ask, "Should we counterattack next?" Up until now, whatever the other side said, he did. But in the aircrew base, this was Chen Fei''s area of expertise... Emmm, spit - his actual field of expertise; he''s a legitimate graduate in economics. "Correct..." Miyoshi Xuesen suddenly caught Chen Fei''s gaze, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly and he was struck with an idea. "Tonight!" Chen Fei''s expression also became nuanced, suggesting a mutual understanding between the two heroes. Chekhov was particularly adept at this sort of underhanded task, prone to leading the innocent astray. The calculative Miyoshi Xuesen naturally knew the advantage of catching the enemy off-guard. At a time when everyone would think there would be a temporary pause for reorganization, the sudden counterattack from Aircrew Base 633 would surely give Aircrew Base 631 a big surprise. "Then you''ll run the operation, and the timing is?" Since both had come to the same conclusion, Miyoshi Xuesen simply began planning ahead of time. After all, apart from Chen Fei, he couldn''t find anyone else to execute this combat plan. Chapter 514 Section 510 - Catch Them by Surprise "Take off after midnight, arrive before dawn, two combat bombs, two rocket nests, two air-to-ground missiles, two auxiliary fuel tanks, one 500-pound cruise missile, and incendiary bombs." Chen Fei had pre-set the weapon list for the C-version of the "Big Mouth Monster." With nine hardpoints, the attack capability was significantly enhanced. If the combat bombs could be saved, they could also be used as air-to-ground missiles. That was the advantage of programmable multi-mode guidance. However, the destructive power of the combat bombs was not as great as that of the professional air-to-ground missiles, but it was enough to destroy most buildings at the aircrew base. "Dawn? Hmm, a good time!" The attack was launched when people were most sleepy, definitely catching them off guard. Miyoshi Xuesen nodded his head and then asked, "How do you plan to deal with the enemy''s ground-based radar, by flying at ultra-low altitude? You should be fine, but they..." He looked towards the direction of the hangars outside the tower, where the lights were still on, the mechanics were carrying out routine tasks, and some pilots were on rotating standby. "Rookie" Chen Fei was from the 911 Aircrew Base and had experience with textbook-like ultra-low-altitude raids. Most ground-based radars of the aircrew bases have an ultra-low-altitude blind zone, a deliberate technical flaw left by the Sovereignty and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. That was why "Big Mouth Monster" required regular patrols; insufficient for a revolt but more than enough against mutants. But pilots from the 633 Aircrew Base might not have such ultra-low-altitude flying skills, especially during night flights, where the difficulty was exceptionally high. Unless they were pilots from the Sovereign Air Force, civilian pilots often lacked extensive experience in nighttime ultra-low-altitude flying. If they had such skills, the 633 Aircrew Base wouldn''t be in such a bad shape, dominated by the 631 Aircrew Base to the extent that even the leader of the Combat Flight Squadron was lost, leading to a headless situation. Chen Fei confidently said, "Don''t worry, with ''Adam,'' they just need to follow orders." In the eyes of the Sovereigns, the "Big Mouth Monster" was just a toy; there was no chance for such toys in wars among the Sovereigns. To force it into battle was like using it as a live target. But toys have their uses too. The highly integrated avionics system could be remotely controlled via data link, turning all operations over to the AI ''Adam,'' which was its forte. So having a human pilot or not, having relevant flying experience or not, none of those mattered. If they didn''t plan to engage enemy pilots in combat, they could turn all the "Big Mouth Monsters" at 633 Aircrew Base into drones. The adaptive response of "Adam" was still somewhat lacking, to put it precisely, it was better at controlling supersonic jets rather than the slow turboprop aircraft, which required completely different tactics. Turboprop aircraft are more suitable for visual-range combat, whereas jets are weapons platforms for beyond-visual-range combat. In modern tactics, jets have lost the significance of engaging in close-quarters battle with bayonets; they are merely followers without even the qualifications to lead a charge. Who leads the way? The Early Warning Aircraft responsible for electronic warfare! Thus, the combat approaches of the Sovereignty and military contractors are entirely different worlds. "''Adam''..." Miyoshi Xuesen pondered for a moment. Chen Fei having control over this AI, which had once resisted humans, wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. So he said, "Alright! You''re the expert, you decide." Professional matters should be left to professionals. He, as a layman, should not interfere, he had that much sense. Chen Fei didn''t just "control" ''Adam''; it was more like forcefully dominating it by grabbing it by the vitals, almost like dragging it along tied to a rope ¨C no sophistication involved. Besides, as the saying goes, ''settlers have their own ways,'' and he didn''t understand AI technology, let alone programming. "I estimate we can eliminate most of the enemy''s resistance at the 631 Aircrew Base on the first try. How will your side take over the ground combat then?" Chen Fei was responsible for obtaining air supremacy, but the ground combat still needed coordination, which was for the Monk to consider. After all, the two aircrew bases were several hundred kilometers apart; ground personnel had to land at the enemy''s base at just the right time, otherwise, the window of opportunity Chen Fei opened would be wasted. "Half an hour after you take off, we''ll arrive in a transport aircraft. Make sure to preserve their runways." Miyoshi Xuesen had already planned thoroughly, aligning perfectly with Chen Fei. Once they seized air superiority at the 631 Aircrew Base, they would immediately deploy the Ability Users and armed security to complete the capture of the entire 631 Aircrew Base ¨C a standard tactic. The Huntsman Squad wouldn''t act alone; they could still utilize manpower from the 633 Aircrew Base. "No problem, I''ll go prepare now." Chen Fei gave an OK gesture. Returning to the hangar, he then saw that all nine pilots were there, gathered together. As soon as they saw him coming, they immediately stood up and reflexively lined up in a row. "Senior!" ¡Á9! In unison, they completely submitted to Chen Fei. This was the result of combat, not just because of fists. Being able to lead to victory was the best way to persuade. "The current synchronized time is 21:24. Assemble at 02:30 AM, dismiss!" Chen Fei didn''t explain much to these genuine tool users, just synchronized everyone''s time with his own and that was it. "Yes!" ¡Á9! Nine pilots responded loudly, their eyes filled with excitement. They quickly packed up and returned to their dormitories. Although Chen Fei didn''t say much, his wording subtly hinted that there would be a major operation at dawn. The priority after syncing the time was to get some rest, sleep, and gather energy in preparation for the battle. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire "That..." After the pilots left the hangar, the head mechanic approached. "What is it?" Chen Fei looked at this leader who seemed completely different from the one before. To win over the mechanics, it wasn''t about using fists like with the pilots; that would be useless. He had to rely on technical skills to establish authority. The head mechanic''s heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Well, we''re running low on parts." "Enough for the ''Big Mouth Monsters'' to make one sortie?" Chen Fei slightly furrowed his brows. The adversaries at Aircrew Base 633 weren''t like the massive Meman Brothers United. They had only clashed a few times, and before that, he had helped the opponent repair a batch of parts. Had they already used up the spare parts so quickly? The head mechanic immediately responded without hesitation, "Enough, definitely enough!" The opponent''s maintenance skills were impeccable, combined with industrial-grade metal elemental psychic powers, which definitely dominated, making Aircrew Base 633''s head mechanic feel inferior in front of Chen Fei. "Then that''s settled!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. He had already prepared during the day, so there shouldn''t be any issues. "But the remaining parts will only last for two or three more sorties." Although sixteen "Big Mouth Monsters" had been temporarily repaired, the reserves of parts and fuel had already fallen below critical levels. No clever wife can cook without rice, and the mechanics would soon be out of the job. As the head of the mechanics, he couldn''t help but worry. "No, one time is enough. The rest is not for me to worry about." Chen Fei only wanted the first strike to seize air superiority at Aircrew Base 631. Any more than that would lose tactical meaning. If he had already chosen the element of surprise in a stealth attack, why bother with a war of attrition? Why make the effort to strike at dawn and risk a very low-altitude raid when a straightforward attack could have been easier? "Eh?" The head mechanic hadn''t expected Chen Fei to respond like this. Is it a matter of "kill but not bury"? "That''s a problem for Besman to consider." Chen Fei wasn''t the contractor owner of Aircrew Base 633, so why worry so much? His mission was to utilize the resources and personnel here to quickly settle Aircrew Base 631. More battles were likely waiting ahead! Everyone was racing against time; they shouldn''t waste energy on these details. "Okay, okay then!" The head mechanic finally pulled his mind out of its fixation. The other party wasn''t his boss, so naturally, he didn''t need to consider these issues. As soon as he closed and opened his eyes, it was suddenly 2:30 AM. Apart from the pilots and the Huntsman Squad, everyone had put in a night shift for this. Chapter 515 Section 511 - The Floor-Cleaning Fiend "Wishing you a smooth journey!" Miyoshi Xuesen, who hadn''t slept all night, never left the control tower at Aircrew Base 633, watching as the sixteen "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft orderly slid towards the main runway one after another. Including Chen Fei, ten of the "Big Mouth Monsters" were manned, while the other six were unmanned aircraft controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." After all, to flatten an aircrew base in one fell swoop, it was crucial to carry an ample supply of weapons and ammunition, the more, the better. Since the military contractor lacked professional bombers, they made up for the lack of quality with quantity¡ªsixteen ammo-laden "Big Mouth Monsters" were more than enough to quench Aircrew Base 631''s thirst. "From now on, flight control authority is taken over by AI, everyone can rest for the time being, we''re expected to arrive in the combat zone in about two hours." Chen Fei''s voice sounded in the public communication channel, reaching the ears of all pilots at Aircrew Base 633 and the control tower personnel. Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" immediately took control of the flight attitudes of these turboprop aircraft, bringing their flying altitude to about 50 meters from the ground and thoughtfully turning off the proximity warning¡ªit would''ve been endlessly annoying otherwise. Thanks to the "Big Mouth Monster''s" trainer aircraft lineage, the control authority between the front and rear seats could be transferred at will, and a slight modification of the system module could switch it to remote control mode. Outside the cockpit, nothing could be seen except the wingtip signal lights and the tail rudder signal lights flashing; there was only the pitch darkness of not seeing even a hand before oneself. Nonetheless, the onboard radar and dashboard could still accurately display information like the aircraft''s flying altitude, speed, and location, meaning they were practically flying blind. If it was just about flying at about 50 meters from the ground, the pilots from Aircrew Base 633 wouldn''t have much of a problem, but long-duration night flights required not just skill but also a stable mindset, something they did not possess. If they did have such capabilities, Aircrew Base 633 wouldn''t have been beaten so badly by Aircrew Base 631, with nearly a third of a fully-staffed combat flight squadron lost. Nine pilots responded in unison. Some promptly let go of the control sticks, allowing their craft, under the control of artificial intelligence, to maintain a neat and stable "V" formation with the other "Big Mouth Monsters." Some seemed not quite confident, still clutching the control sticks and throttle push rods, yet there was no response. The relaxed ones gradually began to snore, sleeping soundly inside the cockpit. Aviation helmets often come with active noise reduction facilities that counteract sound waves¡ªit actually wasn''t that noisy and could selectively amplify human voices. The leader of the "V" flight formation was Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster," with a pilot in the right wing cockpit and the left wing cockpit empty. If at this moment "Adam" harbored any ill intentions, these pilots would have nowhere to cry for help. However, that trick wouldn''t work on Chen Fei, whose metal elemental psychic power could firmly control the aircraft, not giving any abnormal control from software a chance. Moreover, there was a more brutal delete file operation, a deadly strike. The powerless "Adam" didn''t even have a chance to cry, from start to finish just a tool AI''s fate; hence Chen Fei didn''t care whether it was subdued or not, subdued or not, it had to obediently listen. An hour and a half later, urgent electronic alert tones and Chen Fei''s voice resounded in everyone''s ears. "All units, attention, 15 minutes to the combat zone." Approaching Aircrew Base 631 by 100 kilometers, the fleet''s altitude even dropped to 30 meters, viewed from high above, the sixteen "Big Mouth Monsters" were almost indistinguishable from skimming the ground. "''Florida'' on standby!" "''Red Narcissus'' on standby!" ... The pilots from Aircrew Base 633 responded one after another, ready to take control of their "Big Mouth Monsters." Two hundred kilometers behind, the Huntsman Squad and the armed security personnel of Aircrew Base 633 were also aboard a small transport aircraft performing low-altitude flying. The young-looking ninth rank psychic mage Tuert and a red-haired Grade A wind-type psionic ability user Masuya pooled their abilities together to escort the safety of the transport aircraft''s flight, adding a dual layer of insurance. Otherwise, the transport pilot, with nerves stretched thin maintaining such low flying altitude for so long, might slip up and accidentally dispatch the entire crew. Once Chen Fei led the combat flight squadron, leaving Aircrew Base 631 with no capability to fight back, the following transport would seize the opportunity to forcefully log out, consolidate the ground position, and execute a non-discriminatory annihilation plan. "Unmanned drones break off from the formation!" Artificial intelligence AI sometimes couldn''t choose the best timing, and Chen Fei gave the instruction, The six unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" on the left wing broke away from the "V" formation in precise unison, taking another route. They were responsible for the second wave of strikes, forming an attacking rhythm with Chen Fei''s right-wing flight team, giving the enemy targets no chance to catch their breath, enduring continuous punishment. "Keep your spirits up. In 5 minutes, start taking over the control; climb to 500 meters and then dive, begin by wiping out the air-to-ground missiles. I''ve set the targets for you, just press the launch button, and let''s execute a spirited volley." Chen Fei wasn''t one to spout vulgar jokes like Chekhov Big Bear to boost morale; he didn''t engage in those unfamiliar stunts that didn''t suit his temperament. Straight to the point, stick to business, no additions necessary. "Yes!" times nine! Ever since boarding the Big Mouth Monster, the pilots of Aircrew Base 633 had all been holding their breath, determined that this time they must fiercely retaliate against Aircrew Base 631 and avenge their recently fallen captain and comrades. Discover exclusive tales at My Virtual Library Empire Since most aircrew bases were constructed according to the same blueprint, Chen Fei had been able to preset the air-to-ground missile launch plan beforehand, applying template parameters for launching without needing to aim and lock on, catching the enemy completely off guard. Even if Aircrew Base 631 had been on alert, they couldn''t escape this severe blow that left them battered and bruised. "One-minute countdown to readiness!" Chen Fei''s vision loaded with a "macroscopic perspective," overlooking the squadron he personally led as they flew straight toward Aircrew Base 631. Everyone tightly gripped the control sticks and throttle levers. The countdown ended, and the remote control state was deactivated. A slight lag in feedback reached the pilots'' hands, and almost simultaneously, they pulled back on their control sticks, and ten turboprop aircraft performed a high-angle, near-vertical full-speed climb maneuver. Fully armed and at full capacity, the climb was somewhat strenuous for the turboprop aircraft, but they quickly reached an altitude of 500 meters above the ground. Not far away, Aircrew Base 631 finally reacted tardily, as ten turboprop aircraft appeared on the duty radar screens without warning, and even the most powerful ground-based radar hadn''t had time to power up. "Level out! Countdown to air-to-ground missile launch, 5, 4..." Chen Fei gave the command. The flight formation was at an altitude of 531 meters, slightly off target, but at that moment, it was inconsequential. The nose of the aircraft was pointed directly at Aircrew Base 631, some 5 kilometers away. "...3, 2, 1! Launch!" Twenty missiles disengaged from the underwing stations of ten Big Mouth Monsters, their tails ignited successfully, trailing bright flames and long exhaust plumes as they shot forth. "Next is the rocket nest, release everything immediately, hold nothing back." Chen Fei hadn''t finished speaking when a bright light exploded ahead, even illuminating his cockpit. Aircrew Base 631 was devastated by twenty air-to-ground missiles, the ground shattered and flames shot into the sky. Critical locations like the ground-based radar, control tower, hangars, and aprons were overwhelmed by a deluge of fire, enormous fireballs continuously rising, and the raging shockwaves swept everything around, including equipment and even people, as if a category 18 typhoon had passed, scattering everything asunder. Just as the squadron was about to reach directly above Aircrew Base 631, the rocket nests on the aircraft unleashed an even denser barrage of fire, raining down like a meteor shower ¨C 400 seventy-millimeter rockets ¨C and once again fiercely plowed through the entire base, turning it into a sea of fire. This time, the focus of the attack was on the dormitory area; modular accommodations couldn''t withstand the barrage of rockets and were blasted into fragments like they were made of paper, with countless individuals likely trapped inside. Super-saturated strikes are indeed the pinnacle of ground attacks. The Big Mouth Monster is one of the preferred aircraft for ground attack, almost faultless except for not being a jet. "Spread out, drop bombs!" Chen Fei issued the command for the third wave of attacks; the Big Mouth Monster squadron had now entered the airspace over Aircrew Base 631. The dazzling attack rhythm was incredibly fast, perfectly encapsulating the essence of Wild Fists Kill the Old Master, almost as if pummeling the opponent''s face with a relentless barrage of deadly strikes. The ground-based anti-aircraft fire remained silent, completely unable to retaliate, and the Big Mouth Monsters from Aircrew Base 633 at this moment moved through the area as if unbeatable, dropping aerial bombs from the centerline belly position toward the next target. Together with the 500-pound incendiary bombs, the emptied rocket nests were also dropped, serving as an extra physical strike. Fields of fire covered the entrances and exits to the underground defense positions. "''Adam,'' finish them off, everyone else climb with me to 3000 meters." Chen Fei pulled back on the control stick, raising the nose, leading the other nine Big Mouth Monsters in a climb. If two "clearing the field" operations could wipe out everyone inside Aircrew Base 631, that would be the best outcome. As planned, another six unmanned Big Mouth Monsters circled back, bombing the ground once again in the same manner, exacerbating the already devastated Aircrew Base 631. That''s how combat aircraft operate, delivering the most ferocious attacks with the smallest size, forsaking all, unstoppable in their might. System: Ding! One Crystal Jet shot down, Energy Points +1000 (unfinished) "Huh?" Chapter 516 Section 512 - Evacuation Just as Chen Fei thought he had a winning position, the damn Dog System threw him for a loop that was even more shocking than a corpse coming back to life. Fuck! If he wasn''t seeing things, the words that suddenly appeared before his eyes meant one thing: a Crystal Jet had appeared. That was frightening as hell. Known to the world as a National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet was absolutely not something Chen Fei and his mere sixteen Big Mouth Monsters could afford to provoke; they might get wiped out in the first round. "Everyone...hold on!" Just as Chen Fei was about to issue a warning on the public communication channel to tell everyone to bug out, a thought suddenly struck him. Wait a second... just 1000 Energy Points??? A Crystal Jet, hailed as a National Treasure Artifact, only being worth that much seemed far too cheap. Maybe, just maybe, it was a damn fake. Although the Dog System was crappy to the core, the intel it provided behind its missions was mostly reliable most of the time. A Crystal Jet worth 1000 Energy Points was probably some half-assed knock-off machine. The Water Bear organization''s attempt to aim for a National Treasure Artifact of Sovereignty was unexpected, but still made sense. Nevertheless, crafting a Crystal Jet was not something that could be done easily; even Chen Fei, with his Industrial-grade Ability and two Crystal Jet wrecks for reference, still had little clue how to proceed. "Everyone evacuate from the Aircrew Base 631, transport planes, do not approach, all return to base, now, immediately!" Even though he detected something fishy in the new mission alert from the Dog System, Chen Fei still ended up saying what he originally had in mind. A threat worth 1000 Energy Points, even if it was a cut-corner counterfeit, was not something the Big Mouth Monsters could handle. Aboard the transport plane, Miyoshi Monk didn''t care about exposing Chen Fei''s name and urgently asked, "What''s happening, Chen Fei!" The sudden retreat order rendered the subsequent battle plans useless, gone down the drain. If they allowed Aircrew Base 631 to recover from their disadvantage, the following battles would likely become much harder to fight. "The situation has changed, big threat! ''Adam'', have the drones circle and keep watch!" Before Chen Fei''s words finished, a bright spot suddenly shot out from the fiery depths of Aircrew Base 631 at an alarming speed, but it provoked no reaction from the radar screens of the Big Mouth Monsters. Rather than being a bright spot, it was more like a tail flame, at least like that of a jet''s tail flame. Radar stealth! But within Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective", "Low-light Enhancement", and "Visual Assistance" skill modules combined with an "Optical Observer base model (Level 8)" skill, that mysterious aircraft had nowhere to hide. The unmanned aircraft that Chen Fei spoke of referred to six unmanned Big Mouth Monsters controlled by the AI "Adam"; these were quite suitable as expendable decoys, perfect to stay behind for cover, and it wouldn''t matter if they were all blown to bits. The little bird around his neckline tried to cast the "Light Mirror Spell". The light points gathered and then dissipated, failing once again. Despite the success rate having increased significantly compared to before, there was still a certain probability of failure. "Xiao Jiu, keep it up!" The little guy practiced this Light-based Spell whenever it had the chance, which not only was free of interference for Chen Fei but also provided an additional effective viewpoint, highly strategic in nature. "Chirp chirp!" The Pure Light Sparrow chirped defiantly. The light reconverged, and this time it finally formed a complete screen of light. The image coincided perfectly with Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective" and quickly captured the mysterious aircraft ascending from the sea of fire at Aircrew Base 631. An aircraft with a flat appearance revealed itself, emitting faint cyan, dark red, and earthy yellow lights that interwove into a strange tattoo, covering almost the entire body of the machine. It was probably the Crystal Jet worth 1000 Energy Points that the Dog System had abruptly alerted him to. The hallmark of the National Treasure Artifacts was the extensive use of Magic Arrays, a fusion of technology and magic that elevated combat effectiveness by more than one level. Chen Fei had built Magic Arrays more than once, hence he recognized the glow of activated arrays familiarly and identified it instantly. Due to the use of Magic Arrays, the reliance on aerodynamic shapes and propulsion was reduced, Allowing the Crystal Jet''s design to be more unrestrained: forward-swept wings, swept-back wings, straight wings, folding wings, variable geometry wings, tailless, single tail, multiple tails, ventral fins, canard wings... with a plethora of styles. Despite the variability, they were all fundamentally tailored for Sky Knights based on their Aerial Combat Skills, with specialized designs made to enhance combat capabilities. While the cost of custom design was exorbitantly high, and maintenance wasn''t any cheaper, compared to the price of training a qualified Sky Knight, it seemed insignificant. This also explained why some impoverished nations, upon having their own Sky Knight, would tighten their belts even further, enduring even poorer days just to commission a Crystal Jet for their protege¡ªone knight to defend the skies, ensuring unrivaled control of airspace. The combat effectiveness of a Sky Knight piloting a Crystal Jet was obvious. So Chen Fei had no hesitation in ordering Aircrew Base 633''s Pilots, as well as the incoming transport planes, to return to base, including Miyoshi Xuesen, who would only hold them back and become easy prey, serving no useful purpose at all. Adam: "It seems there''s something!" The nine pilots brought over from Aircrew Base 633 had already pulled the joystick without hesitation, turning their aircraft around to return. They didn''t even ask questions; if they were told to fight, they fought, if they were told to run, they ran¡ªno doubts whatsoever. However, it was the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" that detected something amiss. Although the radar still showed no reaction, the optical module had noticed something unusual. Boom!~ An unmanned "Big Mouth Monster" exploded in mid-air. Almost at the same time, Aircrew Base 633 lost the signal of a "Big Mouth Monster," and it was only then that everyone realized the "big threat" Chen Fei mentioned was real. "Chen Fei, what happened?" Miyoshi Xuesen received an emergency notification about the sudden loss of a "Big Mouth Monster" at the same time. Despite knowing he shouldn''t disturb Chen Fei, who was in the midst of dealing with the situation, he still asked urgently. "It''s a Crystal Jet!" Chen Fei had already locked onto the mysterious Crystal Jet''s maneuvering trajectory. Besides his own "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" and Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell," the thin line predicting the trajectory also indicated the actual position of the adversary. "Hiss..." A collective gasp echoed through the communication channel. The military-operated Aircrew Base did not allow for any superfluous military equipment, let alone something as prestigious as the Crystal Jets, which were practically a leap far beyond the bounds, enough to alarm Sovereignty to take action. "Are you sure you''re not seeing things?" Miyoshi Xuesen knew he shouldn''t keep asking questions at this moment, and yet he couldn''t help himself. "Confirmed, very confirmed!" Chen Fei pulled back the joystick, jettisoning the almost empty auxiliary fuel tank, allowing his "Big Mouth Monster" to climb with full force, accumulating altitude for the upcoming tactical maneuver. Exchanging altitude for speed is almost the only way for an aircraft to gain extra acceleration. While the five unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" searched aimlessly for the Crystal Jet, the "Big Mouth Monster" Chen Fei piloted ascended to a higher altitude, and he also armed himself using a magic array. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Repulsion Shield (45) + Gravity (1) + Fluid Vortex (2) ¡Á2 + Blazing Flame Bullet (1) ¡Á4 = 54 engraving units. Four "Blazing Flame Bullets" were inscribed on the top and bottom of each wing, ensuring a 360-degree angle of attack without any blind spots. This time there wasn''t a single superfluous engraving unit, focusing on the three aspects of defense, maneuverability, and attack power. Speed? What advantage could a turboprop aircraft possibly have in speed? It''s natural to play to one''s strengths and avoid weaknesses, unless swapping out the propulsion engine; any attempt to boost speed would be pointless. Below the speed of sound, all is insignificant and easily destroyed! Otherwise, toys as large as the "Big Mouth Monster" would not have fallen into the hands of military contractors. Dreaming of rebelling with such combat aircraft is simply wishful thinking! In the presence of Sovereignty''s National Treasure Artifacts, the numerical advantage of turboprop aircraft does not amount to a qualitative change. No matter how many, it''s all in vain. "You... don''t push yourself too hard!" At this critical juncture, any more words were superfluous. Miyoshi Monk no longer hoped for the mission to go smoothly; he just wished for Chen Fei to return alive, for them to safely get back to Aircrew Base 633 and wait for Sovereignty''s support. The further affairs could only be dealt with by Sovereignty. As Chen Fei was climbing with full force, two unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" were blasted apart again without even the chance to fire missiles. The probing machine guns did not hit even a hair, and the Crystal Jet that held the upper hand finally noticed the "Big Mouth Monster" that had reached an altitude of 5,000 meters. As for the transport aircraft where Miyoshi Xuesen and others were and those "Big Mouth Monsters" that had turned back in retreat, they were already scared out of their wits and fled. It wasn''t that they lacked brotherhood, but they were utterly helpless and would only cause more trouble by staying. Chen Fei quietly activated two programmable combat bombs, which detached from their mounts. With a three-second ignition delay, they fell toward the trailing missiles. When the combat units of the two missiles aimed at the pursuing Crystal Jet, they ignited simultaneously, with the optical guidance modules locking onto the target. The adversary was within the attack envelope of the "Big Mouth Monster," and there wasn''t much difference whether it was from the front or back. The distance between them was even less than 2,000 meters¡ªa distance, at which considering the missiles'' own speed, plus that of the Crystal Jet, the next second would see a direct hit on target. Boom, boom!~ A fireball exploded in mid-air! Flames and shockwaves immediately swallowed the Crystal Jet that was hit head-on by the two missiles. Chapter 517 Section 513 - Testing Out The Crystal Jet with its aerodynamically flat design blasted through flames, dragging a pale blue tail, as two blue-white beams shot forth. The beams moved incredibly fast, almost instantly bridging the distance between two combat aircraft. However, under the "Macroscopic Perspective," every move of the Crystal Jet was completely visible to Chen Fei, who could even predict the prelude to its attacks. "Big Mouth Monster" gracefully barrel-rolled, narrowly avoiding the two lethal beams, followed by an Immelmann turn with a tight radius, a natural maneuverability advantage of the turboprop aircraft. "Visual Assistance" indicated that the distance between the two was 5.1 kilometers; the previous strike was merely a probe. Having faced numerous life-and-death air duels, Chen Fei was as steady as an old dog, utterly composed. Basic Laser Emitter (Level 20) and Basic Particle Beam (Level 10) were loaded onto the left and right wings of the "Big Mouth Monster," the wings bulging in a spindle-shaped streamline, with laser and particle beam emitters closely packed together. After clearing the wing-mounted equipment, "Big Mouth Monster" had enough spare capacity to carry these two new skill weapons. Even as a turboprop, it was not without fight. Laser and particle beams, both directed-energy weapons, had significantly higher destructive capacity than cannon bullets. Having completed its turn, "Big Mouth Monster" faced the Crystal Jet below, king against king. Almost simultaneously, Chen Fei, without any hesitation, pressed the cannon fire button, unleashing a dense barrage aimed directly at the incoming Crystal Jet. The next second, two pale green beams shot forth from the wings of the "Big Mouth Monster," the bright tracer rounds of its cannon being instantly overtaken by the previously-fired laser beams. The opponent also opened fire at the same time, light beams in the sky crisscrossing each other. Several cannon rounds got grazed by oncoming beams, instantly turning into countless sparks that dissipated into the sky. The Crystal Jet did not seem to expect Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" to possess extra non-factory-standard directed-energy weapons. Caught off-guard by the pale-green laser beams and the cannon rounds, it took a direct hit. There seemed to be some invisible force field around the Crystal Jet, visibly bending the otherwise straight laser beams, which grazed past the jet, while numerous dense cannon rounds were deflected backward, none managing to reach the aircraft. Almost at the same time, "Big Mouth Monster" kept rocking within a small area, perilously dodging the crisscrossing blue-white beams. The Repulsion Shield, etched on the aircraft''s surface, was somewhat effective against physical strikes but not so against directed-energy beams. Sss... this is a bit troubling! Chen Fei couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Even a knockoff Crystal Jet worth only 1,000 energy points was not something ordinary combat aircraft could compare with. Even though his "Big Mouth Monster" was enhanced with two directed-energy weapons, it still seemed rather insufficient. If the yet-to-fire particle beams failed to perform, the upcoming battle could turn exceedingly troublesome. If he had "Dragon Slayer Missiles," maybe he could make a real difference. After all, "Dragon Slayer Missiles" could kill a Giant Dragon; a Crystal Jet, too, might not withstand them. Realizing the turboprop pursuing it was somewhat unusual, the Crystal Jet did not hesitate to widen the distance. The Sky Knight piloting the Crystal Jet was no greenhorn. With air combat experience that was in no way inferior to Chen Fei ¡ª a rookie who joined halfway and was purely driven by mischief ¡ª and perhaps even surpassing him, he immediately became exceptionally cautious once he realized something was amiss. While a Crystal Jet could dominate the skies of Blue Star with a nearly perfect balance between attack, defense, and maneuverability, it was not invincible. The most hazardous missions often saw Sky Knights and Crystal Jets leading the charge. Each year, several Crystal Jets were shot down, sometimes even taking the Sky Knights with them. Thus, cautiousness was essential to avoid overturning in the gutter. "Satellite image is up!" On a transport plane returning to Aircrew Base 633, Miyoshi Xuesen, holding a tablet, suddenly spoke up. The others crowded around, staring intently at the tablet in his hands. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had urgently requested a near-Earth satellite focus on the airspace above Aircrew Base 631. In addition to having an ultra-high-resolution optical lens, this satellite was etched with a specially crafted "Light Mirror Spell" Magic Array, capturing the aerial combat under the night skies so clearly that it could penetrate cloud cover. As long as there was light transmission, "Light Mirror Spell" could be effective. Although low-rank light magic had no offensive capabilities, its practicality was incredibly high. The view from the near-Earth satellite was as if it was just a few hundred meters away, capturing every move of the two combat aircraft with utmost clarity. The group happened to see a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop engaging in a fierce shootout with an oddly-shaped Crystal Jet. Shooting beams crisscrossed the skies, the former narrowly dodging, while the latter nonchalantly deflected all incoming attacks at a safe distance, remaining completely unscathed. In the distance, three "Big Mouth Monsters" were maneuvering, trying to form an encirclement and trap the Crystal Jet within. This was not a battle of equal strength, gripping everyone''s hearts. Just when it seemed like the "Big Mouth Monster" piloted by Chen Fei might explode in the next second, the Crystal Jet suddenly executed a dazzling tactical maneuver and distanced itself from a "Big Mouth Monster," "Oh dear, Little Chen is in big trouble now. How could a ''Big Mouth Monster'' possibly stand a chance against a Crystal Jet!" Aunt Caroline, a level-B Fire Ability user from the Huntsman Squad, slapped her thigh in frustration, wishing she could help Chen Fei blow that damn Crystal Jet to smithereens. "Things look grim!" The Earth Mage, Andrew, sighed. A turboprop aircraft against a Crystal Jet, it''s a conundrum with no solution, a guaranteed death sentence. "Unlucky fellow!" Miyoshi Monk, a Ninth Rank Psychic Mage, furrowed his brow in thought, equally helpless. Even if he and the members of the Huntsman Squad were by Chen Fei''s side, er, let alone taking out the Crystal Jet, it would probably be difficult for everyone to even save themselves. Miyoshi Monk shook his head and stopped looking at the satellite imagery on the tablet''s screen. He handed it over to others, pulled out a string of prayer beads, and silently recited scriptures. Not just him, all members of the Huntsman Squad hoped that Chen Fei could turn the tide and escape the clamp of death. In the cockpits of the nine returning "Big Mouth Monsters," the atmosphere was equally tense. No one even spoke over the common communication channel, filled with a spirit of defeat, as if the high morale at the start of the battle had never existed, vanishing without a trace. The pilots at 633 Aircrew Base were initially reluctant to accept this new "Rookie" squadron leader. Regrettably, the newcomer''s punches were too powerful. Despite so many of them, not one could defeat him; instead, they were beaten black and blue and had to swallow their voices, obedient yet resentful. But this new boss indeed had some skills, leading them to defeat the reinvading enemy, effectively silencing many voices of dissent. If you''re capable, step up; if not, stop complaining¡ªthis workplace rule is recognized by everyone. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire It wasn''t until Chen Fei took the initiative to stay behind that these pilots lost the last bit of their discontent and resentment. Apart from his propensity to hammer people, having such a fierce and resolute new boss wasn''t entirely unacceptable. But now, like the previous squadron leader, this boss was about to be gone. The pilots at 633 Aircrew Base felt extremely heavy-hearted; they wanted to turn back but realized they could be of no help at all and might even become a burden, feeling bitter yet unable to vent it. "Maybe we could..." "Kenny Kid," a girl whose cheeks had swollen up from a slap, tentatively broke the silence in the communication channel. Women, particularly female pilots, tend to be more emotional and less likely to resign themselves to fate. "No way!" The oldest among them, "Big Laugh," flatly refused, though he was not willing to give up either. "Kenny Kid" had a good idea, but reality was even harsher. The gap between ordinary pilots and Sky Knights was like the distance between the sun and Blue Star, a mere turboprop aircraft could never fly from Blue Star to the sun. Moreover, they were just a group of civilian pilots; their daily operations against Mutants weren''t true combat, at most they were just tool people. But aerial combat? If they were really capable, 633 Aircrew Base wouldn''t have suffered heavy casualties in the first round, with not even a burial place for the squadron leader. "Don''t make it worse!" Suddenly, Chen Fei''s voice came through the public communication channel, sounding not as if he were in a desperate struggle with the Crystal Jet, but rather calm and detached from the battlefield as they were. "''Rookie'' captain..." Upon hearing Chen Fei''s voice, "Kenny Kid" and "Heart-stealing Demoness" were about to inquire about the situation, mixed with surprise. "Shut up!" ¡Á 4 "Big Laugh," "Florida," the executive manager Radio Lawrence Beta on standby at the Aircrew Base tower, and even Miyoshi Monk aboard the transport aircraft all simultaneously chided them. This was not a good time for chat. "Hmm, everyone be quiet, alright, no more chat, busy here!" Chen Fei saw the Crystal Jet circling back, firing from a distance. Blue and white beams streaked across the night sky, hitting the unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" that flew around aimlessly like headless flies, blowing them up one by one without any chance of retaliation. The count of remote-controlled "Big Mouth Monsters" on the visual interface hit zero; in the sky, only the one piloted by Chen Fei remained. This "Adam" turned out to be utterly useless, despite once being touted as an AI that could threaten Dragon Riders! Is that it? Ah, spit! Chapter 518 Section 514 - Im Going to Die ``` "It''s just you left!" A deep male voice echoed through the public communication channel of the Big Mouth Monster. The Crystal Jet''s electronic warfare capabilities were quite impressive, so quickly decoding the encryption key of the main public communication channel used this time by the Aircrew Base. "Heh, the villain dies from talking too much!" As the opponent fled into the distance, Chen Fei''s Big Mouth Monster also took the opportunity to climb to an altitude of 7,000 meters above the ground. Although Adam''s remote control technology was garbage, at least it had bought him some precious time. It was undoubtedly the correct decision to have the pilots from the Aircrew Base return to base immediately. After dealing with the other Big Mouth Monsters, the Crystal Jet ascended at full speed to catch up. Enough talk, let''s see the real skill under your hand. The Big Mouth Monster agilely turned around, evading the attack angle of the Crystal Jet and began winding and weaving its way through the combat. The machine gun bullets and laser beams proved ineffective, leaving only the Particle Beam untested. Chen Fei was very clear in his mind that after the initial probing round against the Crystal Jet, the opportunities for a head-on duel would become increasingly rare. The other party had learned to be cautious, and he was no less so. The Crystal Jet was not without weaknesses; like most other aircraft, once it had its six o''clock position bitten into, it was akin to having its death point seized. Seizing the opportunity to strike fiercely, the supposedly impervious Protective Barrier could not possibly cover the spray tail as well. If its working medium engine was damaged, the whole Crystal Jet would immediately lose its main thrust. What followed would simply be mopping up a dead dog. For the Big Mouth Monster, which was imprinted with a Magic Array, the weak point of the Crystal Jet didn''t exist. The naturally formed droplet-shaped Repulsion Shield could very well protect the airframe and the rear of the aircraft, able to withstand conventional physical attacks as well as a certain degree of impact. The Crystal Jet rapidly climbed to the flying altitude of the Big Mouth Monster, employing a tactic nearly identical to Chen Fei''s ¡ª both circling in wide arcs, patiently looking for the other''s vulnerability, ready to launch a fatal attack the moment an opportunity arose. A lion still uses full strength when he hunts a rabbit. Even when dealing with a mere turboprop aircraft, the Sky Knight piloting the Crystal Jet still would not hold anything back. The Crystal Jet''s predictive trajectory repeatedly tried to lock on to the Big Mouth Monster, but the latter persistently denied the chance, narrowly avoiding the blue and white light beams with its remarkably agile, small amplitude evasive maneuvers. The sight had the hearts of the Huntsman Squad members who witnessed the scene through satellite ascent, involuntarily making them break out in a cold sweat on Chen Fei''s behalf. For Chen Xiao''er''s opponent, it was almost the first time encountering such a slippery foe. A mere turboprop aircraft was almost played to the hilt. A cluster of cotton-like clouds drifted over, and taking advantage of the clouds'' cover, the Crystal Jet suddenly accelerated, seizing the momentary blind spot to launch its attack. Unfortunately for the Sky Knight steering the Crystal Jet, he never considered that Chen Fei''s vision was not limited to what was in front of him, but also included a viewpoint akin to God''s (or a satellite''s) overlooking perspective. Regardless of whether the cloud drifted by or not, the Crystal Jet''s every move was always within sight. Chen Fei reacted immediately, the Big Mouth Monster drawing a circle with its nose pointed at the Crystal Jet that was about to burst out of the clouds. Turn the tables! While the Crystal Jet''s radar could capture the position of the Big Mouth Monster, it couldn''t confirm its flight attitude. The moment they broke out of the cloud, two pairs of blue and white light beams nearly crisscrossed each other face to face, both sides reacting quickly, like a duel in the Wild West. With apparently random wing wobbles, the Big Mouth Monster used predictive trajectory to evade the near-miss blue and white light beams as if cheating, while the left wing tip of the Crystal Jet was grazed by the oncoming blue and white light beams, sparking a small burst of fire. The Protective Barrier only slightly distorted the trajectory of the beam, not warping the trajectory to the same extent as it did with the laser beams and machine gun bullets. The attack methods of both were almost identical. Particle Beam! It''s confirmed! Chen Fei instantly identified the opponent''s primary attack method: those two blue and white light beams were indeed a Particle Beam Weapon. It was his first time finding out the visual color of the Particle Beam from his skill list. It was unclear if all Crystal Jets or just this particular one engaged in combat had a Protective Barrier that was not completely resistant to the highly penetrative Particle Beam. At least, Chen Fei''s Big Mouth Monster was not without a fighting chance. In the upper right corner of his view, a single Particle Beam attack had actually drained 1% of the Crystalline Block''s energy reserve. Good lord, this is also an energy guzzler. Along with the consumption of the Magic Array, it was estimated that it might not be enough for even 50 attacks. But if 50 attacks couldn''t take down the opponent, there''s probably no point in continuing the battle¡ªjust scram when the going gets tough! The left wing tip of the Crystal Jet flickered a few times with a glimmer of fire, then extinguished, seemingly only a trivial minor injury. Yet the Sky Knight within the cockpit was gritting his teeth in frustration. He had not anticipated that the "Big Mouth Monster" would be able actually to threaten him. Was the opponent truly a "Big Mouth Monster"? ``` Turboprop aircraft equipped with laser beams and particle beam weapons was something utterly incomprehensible. Such a weapon configuration should at least be placed on jet aircraft. When they realized that neither sneak attacks nor head-on shooting were advantageous, the crystal jet immediately changed tactics, accelerating abruptly; the sound of the air exploding even overshadowed the roar of the engines for a moment. The aircraft, shedding its sonic boom cloud, charged at the "Big Mouth Monster" from the six o''clock position with a conical shock wave visible to the naked eye. Bite tactics in aerial combat is a very domineering approach, also known as execution tactics, similar to a sniper''s headshot, especially after the advent of jet aircraft, locking onto an opponent''s six o''clock position means the highest probability of a successful knockdown. Chen Fei, of course, would not give the opponent this opportunity. The "Big Mouth Monster" immediately performed serpentine maneuvers, now left, now right, unpredictable, always ready to make other tactical maneuvers at any moment, not giving the other side an easy chance to tail-bite. For close combat maneuvers, turboprop aircraft would definitely not be outdone, and that was exactly what Chen Fei thought and did. After all, the slower the speed of an aircraft, the more agile it is, while the faster it becomes, the more likely it is to be sluggish due to the larger range of motion. The crystal jet, while fast, could only make large and sweeping maneuvers. Its repertoire was far inferior to that of the "Big Mouth Monster." Moreover, the Sky Knight in the cockpit had to bear a considerable overload burden, one of the reasons only a Sky Knight could pilot a crystal jet. If an ordinary pilot were to forcibly pilot a crystal jet, they might ascend intact, but upon landing, they''d be nothing more than a blood-spewing human skin sack with their brains scrambled to a pulp! Chen Fei used the "Big Mouth Monster''s" maneuverability advantage to begin a game of high-altitude cat and mouse with the crystal jet. If speed is insufficient, then trade altitude for it; this is the essence of energy-tactic maneuvers. Whenever he was about to be suppressed by the opponent''s speed, he would immediately push the control stick and initiate a full-speed dive. The closer to the ground, the greater the advantage of the "Big Mouth Monster''s" dive; it could still pull up in time, but the same probably couldn''t be said for the crystal jet. If it smacked directly into the ground, even a protective barrier would be useless. However, after several dives, the flight altitude was gradually depleted, and finally, the speed advantage of the crystal jet suppressed the maneuver radius of the "Big Mouth Monster." Sweat appeared on Chen Fei''s forehead; the immense pressure came not from physiology but psychology. He was a pilot who had taken up the profession halfway, and even though he had supplemented his training at "Eagle Nest" and received guidance from the once-renowned "Eagle King," Old David. Still, piloting a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft to rigidly confront a crystal jet, even with the many skills assisted by metal elemental psychic power, could not completely erase the innate disparity between the advantages and disadvantages of both sides. Moreover, the pilot of the crystal jet was an experienced Sky Knight; not even Chen Fei, let alone Chekhov Big Bear, could have easily taken advantage. "Eject, and I might spare you." The voice of the Sky Knight came through the public communication channel; the crystal jet had closed in to less than a hundred meters from the "Big Mouth Monster," the two aircraft almost neck and neck. Choosing to eject without combat is almost no different from surrendering without a fight. "Chen Fei, eject!" The voice of Miyoshi Xuesen came over without hesitation, authorizing Chen Fei to abandon the fight. If the enemy offered a way out, preserving life was what mattered, and it wouldn''t count as desertion. After all, his opponent was a crystal jet; having tangled with it for so many rounds, ejecting to escape at this moment was not a disgrace. Sovereignty would naturally take over from there; the crystal jet was not something the Huntsman Squad could handle. "Not a chance!" There wasn''t a single coward in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Chen Fei''s brain heated up, and he flatly refused this tempting offer. Even though it might be his only chance to survive. It was once said that as long as there was altitude, one should never give up. At this crucial moment, Chen Xiao''er had no other tricks up his sleeve¡ªjust one word, "charge!" Sometimes he "charged" so much that even he scared himself. Fucking hell, just do it! The red lights suddenly lit up on the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right wings of the "Big Mouth Monster." Four "Blazing Flame Bullet" magic arrays were activated simultaneously, and fireballs formed one after another from the center of the magic arrays, guided by Chen Fei''s spiritual power, rushing toward the crystal jet at three o''clock. At almost the same time, the surface of the crystal jet also lit up with the glow of magic arrays. The exact same fireballs. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire Without any tactical maneuvers, the two aircraft maintained a level flight attitude at a distance of about two hundred meters from each other, continuously launching fireballs toward each other. Boom, boom, boom, boom... The protective barrier of the crystal jet blocked the sweeping "Blazing Flame Bullets," which detonated continuously without end. On the side of the "Big Mouth Monster," a round of magic shields radiated pure white light in the night sky, also blocking the continuous hits of "Blazing Flame Bullets" from the crystal jet. The two were like battleships racing across the ocean, relentlessly attacking each other with all their might. Chapter 519 Section 515 - Passionate Collision "Ah! Ah! Ah!" In the cockpit of the transport ship, the young-looking Tuert pointed at the tablet computer screen surrounded by everyone, uttering three words with exclamatory tones. Two combat aircraft demonstrated what amounted to an attack envelope with their actual maneuvers, both fighting with spectacular ferocity. Even in the uncompromising corporate wars among military contractors, such a violent exchange of blows had rarely been seen. "Crystal Jet?" The burly Earth Mage of the third Human Order, Andrew, articulated the words Tuert intended to say. But the Crystal Jet he mentioned wasn''t the one trading blows with the "Big Mouth Monster"; it was the "Big Mouth Monster" piloted by Chen Fei. But since when did the Aircrew Base 633 have a Crystal Jet, and to make things stranger, a turboprop version of it? There seemed something off about this. Andrew''s brain couldn''t quite catch up in the moment. "It''s clearly Little Chen''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power!" Aunt Caroline saw through the truth at a glance. Given the miserly nature of the Aircrew Base 633''s boss, how could he possibly afford a Crystal Jet, even a turboprop version? Only a lunatic would produce such an impractical Crystal Jet, not to mention the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would never allow it. As soon as it landed, the "Big Mouth Monster" would be reverted to its original form, with no Magic Shield, Repulsion Shield, Laser Cannon, Particle Beam Cannon... All of that was wishful thinking. "It is definitely Special Ability!" Miyoshi Xuesen agreed with Caroline''s judgment. "Sacrifice" combined with industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power, plus a Magic Array and Crystalline Block, wasn''t weird for a regular Turboprop Aircraft to have functionalities only a Crystal Jet would have. He never expected Chen Xiao''er to be so fierce, preferring to fight to the death rather than surrender and eject. Seeing the two combat aircraft''s head-on attacks on the tablet computer screen, Masuya, a rank-A Wind-type Ability User, asked worriedly, "Won''t Chen Fei be at a disadvantage?" "No, no! Little Chen won''t lose!" Aunt Caroline firmly took Chen Xiao''er''s side, and did so unconditionally. One of them loved to cook, the other to eat, and both of them had a pleasant cooperation within the Huntsman Squad. "I hope Chen Fei doesn''t lose!" Tuert prayed with hands clasped together in his heart. If Chen Fei were to be shot down, everyone on the transport aircraft would be in trouble. For a Crystal Jet, catching up would take no more than the time to drink a cup of tea. The reason Aircrew Base 631, who had secretly hidden a Crystal Jet, hadn''t flattened Aircrew Base 633 in one fell swoop was probably because they simply didn''t take the latter seriously, just like how an adult wouldn''t take a child seriously, the latter having no chance to fight back. This time, Aircrew Base 633 had the advantage of asymmetric information. Aircrew Base 631 had never expected the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would play favorites by sending a Huntsman Squad, within which was a combat-ready pilot. This ultra-low-altitude breach-style assault took Aircrew Base 631 by surprise and dealt them a significant loss. The Crystal Jet was approaching the "Big Mouth Monster" while exchanging fire with it. Chen Fei was happy with the adversary''s move, and instead of closing the distance himself, he feigned weakness and dodged to the other side. Thinking the "Big Mouth Monster" feared getting too close, the Crystal Jet sped up its approach. Even without considering the Protective Barrier, the Crystal Jet''s inherent strength surpassed that of the "Big Mouth Monster," as evidenced by the fact it remained unscathed despite being grazed by a Particle Beam. Therefore, the Crystal Jet could literally ram and shatter the "Big Mouth Monster" while likely remaining unharmed itself. 180 meters! 120 meters! 60 meters! 30 meters! The cockpit of the Crystal Jet didn''t have a transparent canopy like the "Big Mouth Monster," so the Sky Knight could see Chen Fei inside the "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit, but Chen Fei couldn''t see his opponent. Boom!~ Both the Crystal Jet and the "Big Mouth Monster" shuddered simultaneously. The Protective Barrier and the "Repulsion Shield" overlapped and acted on each other''s crafts, damaging each other in the process. Chen Fei didn''t know the condition of the adversary, but his "Big Mouth Monster" was immediately filled with various alarms. The Metal Elemental Psychic Power activated instantly, repairing the damage from the impact, and the alarms notably decreased at a visibly rapid pace. Damn it! The Crystal Jet played dirty with bumper car tactics, and Chen Fei reciprocated just as rudely, yanking the control stick towards himself and crashing into the opponent. Encased in the "Flying Dragon," a Single Soldier Tactical Armor enhanced for impact and load resistance, both he and Little Bird were protected. Clang! It was another hard hit, with the intensity jumping up more than a few notches. If it weren''t for Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power, the "Big Mouth Monster" would have disintegrated on the spot. "Cheep cheep cheep cheep..." The Little Bird secured at Chen Fei''s collar also inevitably suffered from the collision and let out a series of chirps as if in protest. It sounded almost like cursing. "Xiao Jiu, bear with it a bit longer, we''re about to smash that bastard to death!" Having escalated the fight to this point, Chen Fei didn''t intend to back down at all, even considering the idea of a war of attrition. The Crystal Jet''s energy must have been draining severely. The Crystalline Block equipped on the "Big Mouth Monster" was also consuming the reserved crystal energy, but at least Chen Fei''s "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" continued to generate "Magnetic¡úElectric¡úCrystal Energy" non-stop. Although it was insufficient to balance out the consumption, it was definitely better than the opponent''s one-way drain. In this war of attrition, it was unclear who would fall first. Once the crystal energy was depleted, the Crystal Jet would become a hunk of metal in free fall, without any chance of gliding to an emergency landing. In order to achieve super maneuverability, most Crystal Jets are designed with static instability, which naturally leads to the loss of the ability to glide without propulsion. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu began to gather its own magic power, brewing some unknown spell. The Crystal Jet collided once again. "Chirp!~" A pale Halo burst in the night sky like a shockwave, emanating from within the cockpit of the Big Mouth Monster, instantly sweeping over both aircraft. This time, the Protective Barrier and "Repulsion Shield" didn''t deflect each other but seemed to vanish altogether. Gone along with them were the glow of the Magic Array on the surfaces of both crafts. Xiao Jiu gave both friend and foe a big surprise without distinction. A Third Rank Light-based Spell "Element Dispel". Within a certain range, only Light Elemental Energy remained, all other elemental energies were mercilessly expelled. Clang!~ The Crystal Jet and the "Big Mouth Monster" collided fiercely. This time, it was a true physical contact, to be precise, a collision of the core bodies. The massive impact transmitted through, and even with the protection of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" still unavoidably shattered on the spot. The core strength of the Crystal Jet ultimately displayed its decisive advantage. The shattered and deformed cockpit did not crush Chen Fei and the Little Bird, but under the control of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, it was orderly decomposed and rapidly dissipated the impact force. The colliding Crystal Jet was now within arm''s reach. Thus, in the blink of an eye, Chen Fei extended his hand. Dog System: Ding, a Crystal Jet detected, would you like to absorb: Yes/No|? Chen Fei reflexively chose "Yes" and activated "Metal Devouring" to engulf the disintegrating turboprop, which was already doomed¡ªmight as well collect the wreckage. Dog System: Crystal Jet downed, reward 1000 Energy Points (+1000) (Completed) Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Energy Points +1000! Energy Points: 20000/20000 Being already at full value, these 1000 Energy Points went to the dogs. But Chen Fei didn''t consider frivolously spending in the "Skill Shop" that was filled with useless abilities, to acquire a bunch of nonsensical skills for himself. The Dog System that always wanted to swindle Energy Points finally got one over on him for free. Whoosh!~ Whoosh!~ Void Knight Edmund looked around in confusion; he was in free fall, the sound of the wind howling by his ears. What the hell, where''s my Crystal Jet? The cockpit was nowhere in sight, only his own Single Soldier Tactical Armor remained¡ªhis body should have been securely fitted inside it. Close at hand, an individual in Single Soldier Tactical Armor, also in free fall, was reaching out to him, radiant with light behind him, looking like a deity. "You are..." Edmund''s body brought forth a blazing azure Water Battle Qi Flame, but a single sentence from the other person made him give up resistance. "If you don''t want to die on impact, don''t move!" The next second, Edmund''s neck was firmly gripped, and a haze of stars filled his vision, causing even the rising Battle Qi Flame to subside. Dammit... his vision darkening, he felt some regret. From behind the Single Soldier Tactical Armor blossomed a ghostly blue light; the "Gravity" Spell Array and the "Gravity Adjustment Module (1%)" skill worked in conjunction to drastically slow the descent. "Gah!~" Tuert''s eyes went round with shock as he stared at the tablet screen. On the screen, the Crystal Jet was gone, "Big Mouth Monster" was gone too, only two figures descending freely remained. The Pure Light Sparrow, blessed with natural camouflage of the night skies and so tiny in size, wasn''t visible in the satellite camera footage at all. "Where''s the Crystal Jet? Where''s Chen Fei''s fighter?" Andrew was equally incredulous. "That''s Chen Fei, and he''s got someone in his grasp!" Masuya, an A-class Wind-type Ability User, with sharp eyes, pointed to the satellite camera image that was focusing and slowly enlarging. The two figures in Single Soldier Tactical Armor were close together, slowly landing on the ground, their movements looking rather odd. Like they''re choking each other? Miyoshi Monk, always composed and confident, couldn''t help but jump to his feet and shouted, "Well done! Chen Fei, you must hold onto this captive, he can''t be allowed to escape. Pilots, return, back to Aircrew Base 631, continue with the previous action plan." The tide of battle had turned repeatedly, forcing him to readjust the current orders once more, and it seemed that everything was back on the original track. An empty Knight from the "Water Bear" organization was indeed a big fish that was hard to come by, and its value even surpassed those they had hunted before, as an empty Knight represented much more. System: Ding! Enemy Sky Knight eliminated, reward Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) (Uncompleted) Chapter 520: Section 516 - Itchy Fingers ``` System: Ding! For killing the enemy Sky Knight, you receive an Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) (Incomplete). ``` Emmm... In a desolate wilderness, under a dark moon and a howling wind, Chen Fei was clutching someone''s neck, lost in thought. The person was not only choked by the neck but also wrapped around with steel wire ropes, each as thick as a thumb, bound tightly, unable to move. Despite possessing a cultivation of Battle Qi, they were entirely incapable of resisting. A chill at the back of the head, and all the hairs on the body stood on end. Edmund sensed the cold killing intent from Chen Fei and, greatly alarmed, managed to squeeze out a voice from the depths of his throat. "No, don''t kill me!" "Not enough!" Chen Fei seemed to be talking to himself, his hand still not letting go. "Hey, hey! Chen Fei, what are you talking about?" The communication line with the transport plane was still open, leaving Miyoshi Xuesen completely baffled. "What?" What''s not enough, just name your price! Sky Knight Edmund''s fear grew greater by the moment, feeling like he was being led to the guillotine. A lamb to the slaughter. System: Ding! For killing the enemy Sky Knight Edmund, you receive an Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) and +20000 Energy Points (Incomplete). Neither Sky Knight Edmund nor Miyoshi Xuesen understood Chen Fei''s murmurings, but the Dog System did and reacted swiftly. Chen Fei nodded, looking at the Sky Knight whose face had turned the color of earth, and shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry!" Edmund, who had just become aware of the situation, finally confirmed that the other party indeed harbored a murderous intent towards him. "No, don''t, I have important intelligence about the Dragon Riders..." Crack!~ Edmund''s head tilted to the side, his face frozen in a moment of horror, his expression one of unacceptance in death. Miyoshi Xuesen faintly heard something and asked anxiously, "Hey, hey, Chen Fei, what intelligence? What did he just say?" "Nothing, he''s dead!" Chen Fei acted as if he had done a trivial thing, tossing the lifeless Sky Knight to the ground, retracting all the steel wire ropes that had bound him. System: Ding! For killing the enemy Sky Knight Edmund, you receive an Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) and +20000 Energy Points (Completed). Energy Points: 40000/40000 A little flick of the hand, and the Energy Points are mine. The Dog System had freeloaded 1000 Energy Points from him before, and now, everything it took from me, it spits back out, with a fine of twenty times over on top of the storage expansion, making it all feel mighty. NICE! I always say the Dog System, but it''s Chen Xiao''er who''s the real dog! "Dead? What do you mean dead? Who''s dead?" Monk''s heart tightened; he had an ominous premonition. It was hard enough to catch a big fish, and the last thing they needed was an accident. "Hmm, the prisoner is dead!" Chen Fei spoke in an indifferent tone as if bored, casually looking around, showing no interest in the corpse. The Tactical Armor on the body wasn''t as advanced as his "Flying Dragon." Although the Crystal Jet had been absorbed by the "Metal Devouring" skill, there were still many non-metallic parts scattered nearby, among which was the most critical part, the Crystalline Block. The Crystalline Block he picked up in the depths of the Central Great Desert on the Yangzhou Continent turned out to be an outdated product from more than thirty years ago, naturally unable to compare with the energy storage density of today''s new products used in Crystal Jets. "What????" Miyoshi Xuesen felt like he''d been dropped into an ice cellar, plummeting from heaven to hell, he couldn''t believe his ears. The prisoner was alive just a moment ago, and now, suddenly a corpse?! He stared dumbfounded for quite a while before he finally came to his senses and said dejectedly, "What exactly happened here?" The biggest reward from this hunting mission, beyond execution, had just slipped away; how could Monk possibly accept this? "Slipped of the hand, hmm, saying I was a bit rash wouldn''t be wrong either." Chen Fei was ready to own up to his actions. After all, within a ten mile radius, there was no third person to be found, no chance to pass the blame. Could it be Xiao Jiu''s fault? With its tiny paws? Yeah right! Only a fool would believe that! "Uh..." Miyoshi Xuesen finally lost his composure, his facial muscles uncontrollably contorted for a moment. Did Chen Fei even take this seriously? We finally caught a Sky Knight prisoner, and you just had to get handsy? And now he''s gone?! Well, that''s actually a pretty strong reason! Chen Xiao''er does have a history of being handsy, once daring to drag the Dragon of Slaughter to mutual annihilation with a single Dragon Slayer Missile - not just anyone has the courage to face death with such resolve. "Why did you kill him? Don''t you realize he was an important source of intelligence?" After taking several deep breaths in a row, Miyoshi Xuesen managed to regain his composure, but his voice still trembled slightly; he was probably still furious. What a mess of a teammate! Chen Fei, however, spoke up with an innocent look on his face, "I know! Who knew he was so fragile? I just applied a bit of force, and his neck snapped!" He didn''t say out loud that he wasn''t aware of the Sky Knight prisoner''s value; rather, the Dog System had rewarded him too generously. Double the storage capacity for Energy Points plus an additional 20,000 points, practically equivalent to directly absorbing a whole aircraft carrier. Looking for an aircraft carrier to convert entirely into Energy Points is not an easy task. After making some shady deal with the Dog System, Chen Fei got the deal done with just a flick of his hand; no time to play the honest kid now, how foolish! As for everything else, who cares! Miyoshi Xuesen''s questioning was as if he was farting - Chen Fei didn''t take it to heart at all. Realizing the "I''m not bothered" subtext in Chen Fei''s response, Miyoshi Xuesen deflated and said, "There''s nothing I can do, you''ll just have to wait for the investigation!" The entire communication had been recorded and backed up; he wouldn''t be able to hide it. An investigation into Chen Fei''s "accidental (handsy)" incident was inevitable. Honestly, Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t want to lose Chen Fei, a very capable member of his team, over this incident. "I''ve caused you trouble, Captain Shan Hao!" Chen Fei did understand some things after all; he wasn''t completely heartless. But the damage was done, the man was dead, and there was no use crying over spilled milk. "Sigh! Just tell the truth when the time comes!" Miyoshi Xuesen was helpless. Although the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee isn''t a sovereign entity, that doesn''t mean it can act recklessly; certain investigative procedures are unavoidable. Illuminated by the Light Orb from the Illumination Technique by Little Bird, Chen Fei finally found the sparkling Crystalline Block, its reflective crystals exceptionally conspicuous in the wilderness. The newly acquired Crystalline Block was a size smaller than the one he previously had, and the Dog System immediately identified its capacity upon acquisition. With over thirty years of technological disparity, its capacity was at least a hundred times greater, no wonder it was a top-grade Crystalline Block suitable for Crystal Jets. Chen Fei was initially considering a war of attrition in the battle, but now he realized it was a pipe dream. With such an immense crystalline energy storage capacity, he would definitely be the first to run out; his Metal Elemental Psychic Power capable of converting into Electric Energy and Crystal Energy wasn''t nearly enough to bridge the capacity gap between them. 12 hours later, the entire Huntsman Squad gathered at Aircrew Base 631, ready for a massacre! Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Gunfire, explosions, screams¡ªthese sounds persisted for barely fifteen minutes before everything returned to silence. The original combat plan was carried out thoroughly, and not a single soul was left alive at the base. The Crystal Jet was Aircrew Base 631''s last struggle; the first wave of aerial attack wiped out the main ground defenses. Those who survived were like lambs to the slaughter, unable to mount any meaningful resistance. When the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sent in the Huntsman Squad, it was a sign they weren''t going to play nice ¨C villains must die, and no one would be spared. But now, Chen Xiao''er was in danger! Of course, he wasn''t treated as an enemy, but he was hit with solitary confinement and was locked in a room. He looked at the shiny iron bars and pondered whether he should take a bite to taste what it was like. Anyone else would''ve been scared stiff by now, but not Chen Fei with his thick skin; he didn''t care one bit! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sent an investigative team, and the leader was someone Chen Fei had met before, Franco, the director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Upon arriving at the occupied Aircrew Base 631, he immediately called for an interrogation. "It''s you again!" Franco looked at Chen Fei, with an expression that was neither one nor the other. "Who are you?" Chen Fei scrutinized the person in front of him, unsure why he should have any deep grudge against him. To be precise, he had simply forgotten. "You don''t remember me?" Franco was about to explode with frustration - was this guy serious? "Ah? Am I supposed to remember you?" Chen Fei looked baffled, who the hell was this guy with such a high opinion of himself? How-old -F*K- dare- are- you? Who the hell do you think you are? Chapter 521: Section 517 - Get Lost "I am Franco, and I will make you remember me, I promise!" The forgotten acquaintance pointed at Chen Fei, his whole body trembling with rage. "Heh!" Chen Fei responded with a mysteriously cold laugh. "Put the shackles on him!" Franco was done playing nice. Clank! Two hundred and fifty kilos of fine steel shackles locked around Chen Fei''s wrists and ankles, a chain as thick as a fist hanging in between¡ªno elephant could break free. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire He looked down and thought, Emmm... This guy is a good man! The next second, the shackles meant for felons disappeared. Chen Xiao''er gave Franco a grateful smile, "Thank you!" Every little bit counts. Damn!~ It then dawned on Franco that the guy in front of him was a Metal Ability User, with a B-level ranking, and handling metal was child''s play for him; full metallic shackles couldn''t hold him. Enraged and embarrassed, he roared, "I want to see just how tough your bones really are!" A deep howling noise surrounded him. In Hablav City, where Ability Users congregated, Franco was naturally an Ability User too, a C-level Wind-type Psionic Ability holder, serving as one of the high-level directors of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "Oh?" Little Bird brazenly hopped around on the desk, pecking here and there, or stealthily sipping the tea in front of Chen Fei. Being just a Pure Light Sparrow, it was virtually invisible in the room, clear and unnoticed like a little invisible being, hardly attracting anyone''s attention. "He''s not a criminal!" Just as Franco was about to arm himself to confront Chen Fei, Miyoshi Monk burst through the door, seemingly aware of the Ministry of Internal Affairs director''s volatile temper which could spell trouble on a whim. His timing couldn''t have been more perfect. After speaking, he casually pulled over a chair, planning to observe. As the leader of the Huntsman Squad, Miyoshi Xuesen made his stance clear. Franco''s face alternated between shades of pale and flushed with anger but eventually, he suppressed his fury, sat down with a thump, and grunted heavily to release his frustration. "Hmph!" This monk, known for his dark deeds, was no easy target, and regardless of how much it irked Franco, he had no choice but to hold it in. "Why did you kill the captive?" Franco got straight to the point. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had sent investigators because the value of Sky Knight Edmund was greater than the entire 631 Aircrew Base. He had been captured alive, but tragically met his end, and the reasons behind this needed to be clarified. So immediately upon arrival, Franco confronted Chen Fei directly. "Itchy hands!" Chen Fei rolled his eyes, his demeanor that of a pig unafraid of boiling water, acting as if nothing could touch him. With profits secured and safely pocketed, why bother about the rest? Chen Xiao''er couldn''t care less. After all, having itchy hands wasn''t a new trait for him, and most of those who had died by his hand were for this very reason. "Furthermore!" Miyoshi Monk suddenly spoke up, waiting until all eyes were on him before continuing. "My order was to ''leave none alive''." This wasn''t just a coverup thought up on the spot; it was a truthful statement backed by evidence. If there hadn''t been a Sky Knight hidden at 631 Aircrew Base, then this order would have been completely justified. But who could have anticipated that this place would turn out to be a treasure base full of surprises (and scares)? If Chen Fei hadn''t triumphed against the Crystal Jet, the ensuing situation could have been unmanageable¡ªnot only could the 631 Aircrew Base have fallen, but even the Huntsman Squad might have met a complete annihilation there. Under the onslaught of the National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet, everything would have been obliterated, sparing no one. "Don''t you understand what this captive meant?" Franco''s face contorted, trying to apply psychological pressure on Chen Fei. From this, it was clear that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee took this case very seriously, especially given it involved the key term "Dragon Rider." The words left unfinished by the Sky Knight before his death had turned into a complicated riddle. What did "Dragon Rider" imply¡ªDragon Rider General? Dragon Rider? There were at least a dozen terms one could think of. But without exception, all were very tricky issues, and without concrete evidence, it was impossible to proceed further. No one could question the retired, still-living former Dragon Riders or Dragon Rider Generals; not even the Global United Defense Committee had the power to do so, let alone the sovereignties of Blue Star. If this were to anger the Silan Dynasty of the Cangqiong Star, no one could bear the consequences. Yet, involving the terrifying, mysterious organization known as "Water Bear," the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee found itself in an extremely difficult position, and even seemed trapped with no easy way out. "Who knows? What does it have to do with me!" Chen Fei spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders, not caring in the least what the Sky Knight actually meant, since his value had already been completely exploited. Moreover, he was just a mere low-rank minion; when the sky falls, it''s up to the bosses to hold it up, not for Chen Xiao''er to step forward. Franco pointed at Chen Fei and rebuked, "Don''t forget, who are you?" Where''s your sense of awareness? "This level of thought really disappoints me." Chen Fei said nonchalantly, "The woes of a lowly contract worker, just a tiny bit better than a temp." What philosophical enlightenment does a contract worker have? One pays, the other works, and that''s it! Talking about ideals and the future is pure nonsense! Boss Hana never discusses these either, just practically pulls out a bottle of her private, high-end liquor, and we drink deeply. "You..." Franco was so exasperated he almost fell backward. When you think about it, that''s just how it is. All Chen Fei had with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was a limited relationship. The world wasn''t short of people, why trap him into sacrificing himself? This was moral hijacking! Holding back his anger, Franco continued to press, "Then why didn''t you ask?" "What''s it to me, I''m not in charge of interrogation!" Chen Fei rolled his eyes again, they pay just bits, and still want this and that, pure daydreaming! As the saying goes, the more money, the greater the power, and accordingly, the greater the responsibilities. "..." It wasn''t just Franco, even Miyoshi Xuesen, who hoped to get an explanation from Chen Fei, wore an expression of shocked surprise. The response from the little guy was just that capricious, equally headache-inducing. Chen Fei never even thought about actively performing well at the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, let alone getting a promotion and a pay raise. In fact, even if one were exceptionally capable, advancing to higher positions through such tasks was pure fantasy, too good to be true. At best he was just an enforcer; what the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had in abundance were combat personnel, particularly ability users. Most importantly, Chen Fei''s work ties were with Jiu Defense. Apart from Boss Hana, he really could ignore everyone else, enjoying the privilege of being capricious. After a chaotic couple of days, Franco ultimately gained nothing from Chen Fei. Even Miyoshi Xuesen was also very regretful, as the essential intelligence Void Knight Edmund hadn''t managed to disclose might never come to light. After being detained for another two days, Chen Fei was finally released. Though not pursued legally, the corresponding responsibilities were still inevitable; he was kicked out of the Huntsman Squad, and his conscription relations with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were terminated¡ªtime to settle accounts and leave. Beyond that, there were no other punishments, not even a dime of his danger pay was shortchanged. After the Huntsman Squad left Aircrew Base 633, a small transport airship conveniently dropped Chen Fei off at the nearest international public airport. He did not return to Hablav City in Yangzhou Continent¡ªhis luggage left in the dorm would be packed and shipped by team 04. After a sixteen-hour journey, Chen Fei arrived at the international public airport closest to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. As the plane landed, Chen Fei saw a small airship from Aircrew Base 911 on the tarmac and was about to make a call when Boss Hana''s ID lit up his phone screen. "''Rookie'', landed yet?" "I''ve seen our transport, Boss. Are you also here?" Chen Fei cut straight to the chase. Smart people didn''t need to beat around the bush; they could often infer much from little. "Came specially to pick you up. Abel is already preparing a hearty welcome meal." Hana Gagar was indeed waiting for Chen Fei, and his itinerary hadn''t been a secret at all. It was likely the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had already notified Jiu Defense, sending the conscripted personnel back. "You didn''t need to go to that trouble!" Chen Fei was somewhat moved. Who could poach someone from Jiu Defense? It was impossible¡ªwho wouldn''t want to work in a company brimming with personal touch. "I have some good news to discuss with you." Boss Hana personally welcoming Chen Fei back was also a stance by Jiu Defense. The talent discarded like worn out shoes by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, yet regarded as a treasure by Jiu Defense¡ªwell worth the king''s ransom. Chen Fei paused, then broke into a smile. "Uh! Funny, I also have something to tell you¡ªso, you first!" Boss Hana articulated clearly, "That family that screwed you over, we''ve found them!" "What?" Chen Fei involuntarily widened his eyes. The family had reported the issue to the police over a year ago, but there had been no progress at all. Yet, he would never have expected that Boss Hana had leads. "Snakes follow snakes'' paths, mice have their own tracks, there are people who specialize in this." Boss Hana had tapped into her connections, employed a bit of cash power, and quickly came up with news. "Thanks, Boss, but the matter I wanted to talk about also happens to be related to this," Chen Fei paused, then said, "I''ve gathered the money!" Having saved a bit at Aircrew Base 911 and, after being drafted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, earning his danger pay plus some extra, Chen Xiao''er, the poor guy, had surprisingly managed to gather the full amount of his debts. True to the saying, unexpected wealth makes a man rich, nightgrass makes a horse fat. "What? You''ve gathered it all? I''m not in a hurry to have it, you don''t need to..." Before the well-off Boss Hana could finish, she was interrupted by Chen Fei. "I don''t like owing money. The sooner I repay it, the sooner I can be at peace!" Even though Boss Hana never urged him, that debt hung in Chen Fei''s throat like a fishbone. Only when he managed to gather all the money did he finally feel a great weight lift from his heart. Chapter 522: Section 518 - Return Fully Laden with Empty Hands "Where did you get that extra money?" Relying merely on the allowances from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was certainly not enough. Hanna Gagel could only guess that Chen Fei had secretly earned some extra cash. "Extra money?" Chen Fei laughed and shook his head, saying, "There is a bit of extra money, but not much. The main thing is the mission bonuses." The savings were still quite short, but that didn''t stop them from killing a big fish this time. Killing a Sky Knight for five million Star Yuan was simply a steal. Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was reluctant, they had to pinch their noses and pay up, otherwise morale would plummet and the team would be difficult to manage. At that time, the passenger plane had already come to a stop, and everyone disembarked orderly with their carry-on luggage. Chen Fei could have gone directly to the apron where the light transporter was located, but Xiao Jiu was still in the pet transport crate, which required retrieval from a specific area. Although Little Bird was a recognized Magical Beast and a harmless Pure Light Sparrow, not all airports allow magical beasts into the cabin. Of course, there were some that allowed it. Actually, there was no unified standard. The size of magical beasts varied, and it was difficult to set a standard. If one were to go through the process of applying, the plane might have already flown several flights by then, and it was not worth wasting time and effort unless it could be done ten days to half a month in advance. Upon finding the location and receiving the transported pet crate, as soon as he opened the small door, Little Bird fluttered out and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder. The crate had food, water, and a little nest, but it couldn''t see Chen Fei, Dad, and the long flight of over ten hours had almost stifled it. "Let''s go, Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei extended his hand and cradled Little Bird in his palm. The crate was promptly stored away by Xiao Jiu into its own storage claw ring, maybe to be used again another time. Upon reaching the apron where the light transport aircraft was located, Boss Hanna was indeed present, waiting for a long time under the wing of the aircraft on a small stool. She sat with her legs crossed, displaying a clear S-shaped body curve. "Just you and Xiao Jiu? Where''s the luggage?" Hanna Gagel looked at the man and bird, puzzled, thinking that traveling light did not usually mean having no luggage at all. "Right here with Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei pointed to the small creature in his hand. Xiao Jiu was in charge of the Storage Magical Device; it was not easy for people to guess that such a precious item was fitted on its tiny claw, like hiding in plain sight. Playing the role of a tiger, if anyone dared to target Chen Fei, they might fall hard. "You are joking!" Boss Hanna couldn''t believe it, her gaze drifted behind Chen Fei, but still she saw nothing. This Rookie, always coming up with some new trick! "Xiao Jiu, my suitcase!" Chen Fei prodded Little Bird''s claw. The little guy lowered its head and pecked at one of its leg rings, and a large suitcase appeared out of thin air. Being a magical beast didn''t mean it couldn''t understand human speech; in fact, Little Bird was quite intelligent. Uh... Hanna Gagel involuntarily widened her eyes, even the one covered by the eyepatch. Now, she fully understood. A Spatial Storage Magical Device. She also noticed that the leg ring she had bought for Xiao Jiu had been switched for a brand new one, with a surface engraved with strange, intricate pattern lines, evidently a high-end, unusual item. "Is this what you earned this time?" Boss Hanna dared not point at Xiao Jiu''s leg ring, fearing it being noticed by some unknowing eyes around. At this moment, any misunderstanding would only concern Chen Fei himself. "No, more precisely, it was somewhat of an old gain!" Chen Fei pointed to what was actually a ring-shaped Space System Alchemy Storage Device, and then pointed to another leg ring, saying, "This one is my recent gain." When exactly he had obtained the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, he could only roughly guess the time period. Now, it seemed even Boss Hanna was fooled, easily deceived by the little critter''s outward appearance. "Could there be... any other meaning?" Hanna Gagel astutely caught a hint of crucial information. Chen Fei wouldn''t have introduced a leg ring without reason, unless there was more to it. "It''s also an Alchemical Artifact, besides the location functionality, it provides protection by shielding the spirit and repelling psychic series power intrusions and attacks." Chen Fei had worked hard to barely earn some hard-fought money, probably not even enough to buy the two Alchemical Artifacts on Little Bird''s legs. "How much?" Boss Hana sharply inhaled, "Customized alchemical artifacts are incredibly rare; you can''t just buy them with money alone." Money, resources, and connections¡ªall three are indispensable. "No need for money!" Taking a vote from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee without any guilt, Chen Fei felt he rightfully deserved it. Compared to such a huge entity as the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, it wasn''t hard to manage. "It seems you''ve gained quite a lot from the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division!''" Hanna Gagel packed up her stool and, along with Chen Fei, boarded the small transport aircraft which would soon have its scheduled takeoff time. Just this artifact alone made this deployment worthwhile. "No, the biggest gain isn''t this." Chen Fei shook his head, "This is just the tip of the iceberg." Even now that he''d been kicked out of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" and the Hunt Squad, he was not at a loss at all. "There''s something even bigger?" Boss Hana was taken aback. Could it be that this guy wasn''t kicked out for making mistakes, but instead took advantage and left with a full haul? Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire The difference between the two scenarios was vast. "Got a Crystal Jet, but it''s a knockoff." As he spoke, the entire cabin seemed to mute instantaneously, even as the turboprop began spinning at high speed outside. "A Crystal Jet?" Hanna Gagel wore an "Are-you-kidding-me?" expression, completely overlooking the word "knockoff." For military contractors, even touching a knockoff Crystal Jet¡ªlet alone retired main combat aircraft, even refurbished ones¡ªis forbidden. The likes of the Big Mouth Monster and MiG-28, with at least a fifty-year technological gap from the current active sovereignty tech, wouldn''t be allowed for private enterprises. Slightly more advanced military hardware could easily give sovereignty its Tiananmen moment, complicating matters for itself. "An entire ''sacrifice'' of a knockoff!" Seeing that Boss Hana hadn''t grasped it, Chen Fei emphasized the word "knockoff" once again. If it weren''t for the knockoff''s drastically reduced performance, just with his bootleg Crystal Turboprop alone, he would have likely been knocked down long ago, not managing to let Xiao Jiu sneak in an "Element Dispel" attack. A genuine Crystal Jet would definitely consider elemental energy interference and counter-interference. "Sss!~" Boss Hana began to contribute to global warming, her face filled with disbelief. This guy actually did it, and he got away with it! Initially worried he had suffered from the Joint Defense Committee, it seemed now as though the committee had taken heat from him. "You''re not kidding?" She even began to speculate that Chen Fei''s forced expulsion wasn''t due to a major error during the mission, but because he touched something he shouldn''t have. Chen Fei was notoriously daring at Aircrew Base 911. It was all thanks to that overly casual guy Chekhov¡ªnone of the pilots from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron were fainthearted. "Hehe!" Chen Fei laughed without a word. Though he had been kicked out, this round was still a win! Inside Aircrew Base 911, a wrecked Crystal Jet remained, now with a downsized knockoff as a model. Even though it was a knockoff, it was still a complete Crystal Jet, which meant they might be able to fix the Crystal Jet, maybe even go further. Ouch, ouch, ouch, don''t even think about it! Don''t even think about it! Speaking of which, Chen Fei''s "Physical Evolution Database" still had a wrecked Crystal Jet sample. Putting broken together with broken, plus a downsized bootleg version, they should be able to piece together a Crystal Jet that looked somewhat decent. Delicious! It''s no wonder Chen Xiao''er wouldn''t deal with Franco; he dared to confront directly. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t extract the Crystal Jet samples from his skills either. Since they couldn''t extract them, they had to shamelessly acknowledge the debt. Seeing Chen Fei recklessly testing the limits of death, Hanna Gagel said with great concern, "Take it easy!" Any day now, someone might just take him away. Chapter 523: Section 519 - Welcome Back to the Team "It''s just for fun, no worries!" Chen Fei was confident he could find the right person to take over the hot potato. He calculated that his future father-in-law''s company, the Northern Weapons Industry Group, was just the right candidate to take the blame. There''s always a way, just like the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, which now, teary-eyed, had to bear the burden, after being thoroughly duped by Chen Xiao''er. The "Flying Dragon" intercept type single soldier tactical armor appeared among the private military contractors, and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, having made connections, pretended not to see it. The "neighbors" around the 911 Aircrew Base who had been beaten up not long ago had changed to a new contractor, and everyone was getting along even better, certainly not keen on stirring up trouble. "You better take it easy, there''s no rush to pay back the money you owe me." Having taken over Chen Fei''s debt from the Apocalypse Defense Group, Hanna Gagel, who had inherited the family business, really wasn''t lacking that little bit of cash. Fully aware that one can''t twist an arm to twist a thigh, military contractors simply couldn''t stand against the wealthy daddy of the Global United Defense Committee; Boss Hanna was still very worried that Chen Fei might accidentally cross the line and bring unnecessary trouble upon himself. Don''t really let someone take you away. "Hmm! I need to clear the debt to have peace of mind!" Despite seeming carefree, shouldering such a debt definitely meant there was pressure. It wasn''t until he had gathered enough money that Chen Fei truly shook off this burden. He was very grateful to Boss Hanna for using her connections to catch the main culprits; he forced them to spit out what they had swallowed from the Chen Family. "You ah..." Hanna Gagel smiled and said no more. The light aircraft received a signal from the International Public Airport''s air traffic control center, began to slowly taxi to the runway in accordance with the departure sequence, and completed takeoff during the scheduled window of time. - In a small city in the western part of the Europa Continent, a family of three was crying and howling as police burst into their home and forcefully dragged them out, cuffing them. Running off with money never ends well; once caught, they faced not only civil debt disputes but also a host of other charges. After serving time in the local jurisdiction, they were extradited back to their country of origin to continue serving time, pursued to the end, with three generations likely unable to rest easy, unless death cancels all debts. Faced with a ruthless sovereign, the money stays, but the people are sent packing. - Hours later, the bleak landscape of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area entered Chen Fei''s view. From the air, he could already roughly discern how far it was from the 911 Aircrew Base; the familiar mountain ranges, hills, and rivers were reassuring. Here, there were no conniving "Water Bears" or "Sacred Advent," just cute mutants, those menacing creatures, which now seemed endearing. Two "Big Mouth Monsters" roared past nearby, made a large circle, and came next to the light aircraft; the numbers painted on the aircraft''s surface were 213 and 214, which, if he wasn''t mistaken, were indeed his comrades from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron: "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, "Oyster Sauce" Dalatu, "Dragon Artemisia" Salila, and "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown. Especially "Braised Sauce," who must have finally escaped the wheelchair to return to duty. In the corporate war at 911 Aircrew Base with the Merman Brothers Consortium, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was not without injuries, having lost three comrades forever. The "Big Mouth Monsters" escorted the light aircraft, gently swaying their wings as if greeting, providing an escort all the way. Then two more "Big Mouth Monsters" flew over, numbered 215 and 216, Finally came 211 and 212, Chekhov Big Bear and the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios. Six "Big Mouth Monsters" flanked the light aircraft on both wings, creating an impressive flight formation. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron welcomed their comrade back in their own way. The aircrew base nestled among mountains appeared in sight. As the aircraft landed in succession, the light aircraft finally stabilized on the apron; the "Big Mouth Monster" pilots had already lined up to greet Chen Fei with fists and pats on the shoulder. This was called a sense of ceremony; every comrade who had experienced life and death together was an indispensable part of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. "No one has bullied you outside, right? If anyone dares to be foolish, just drop my name, Chekhov!" Chekhov, rarely sober and not drunk, spoke nonsense in a clear-headed state. Deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" pushed away the self-satisfied Big Bear with a playful eye roll, scolding, "Go! You big bear, take a look in the mirror. Who would dare to bully a ''Rookie''? It''s already a blessing if the ''Rookie'' doesn''t bully others." What utter truth! Though the 911 Aircrew Base was located in the almost isolated Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, communications were not truly cut off from the world. Chen Fei, bizarrely becoming the ferocious clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe, was news known worldwide; naturally, the people at 911 Aircrew Base were not ignorant of this. "You''ve made a name for yourself, ''Rookie''!" "Good to have you back, relax and ease up!" "We missed you dearly!" "The legacy of Old Barlut was given to you; you kept it too well hidden." "Welcome back!" The troublemaker from outside finally returned, and as colleagues of Chen Fei, they naturally shared in the glory. Unfortunately, since the Aircrew Base was filled with their own people, bragging about it was limited to their own amusement. "Chirp!" Surrounded by a crowd, the Little Bird perched on Chen Fei''s father''s shoulder couldn''t help but release a "Light Burst Flash." The next second, it was chaos, as nearly everyone was caught directly in the flash, with no exceptions. My eyes... Good grief, the same old familiar sensation. The pilots of "Genuine Fragrance" squadron crowded around Chen Fei as they entered Hangar No. 1, where the maintenance crew, not tending to the "Big Mouth Monster," were busy organizing the workspace under the lead of Big Brother Xiao. Hearing the commotion, Big Brother Xiao turned his head and nodded at Chen Fei from a distance, then continued with his work. The cool exterior but warm interior was typical of the maintenance chief, and everyone was used to it. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet was curled up in a corner of the hangar, snoring loudly, clearly having stayed up all night playing video games again, sleeping during the day and awake at night, and just when it had officially started working for a month, it began to slack off. Luckily, it wasn''t needed on regular shifts, just that it didn''t drop the ball at critical moments. Groggily lifting its head, it perked up its ears and stared straight at Chen Fei, then rubbed its eyes like a cat washing its face. "Mr. Chen, you knew to come back, huh!" With a leap, it scampered to Chen Fei''s feet, attempting to claw at his pant leg. This heartless guy, who had lured it to this deserted mountain area, had disappeared in the blink of an eye. "Chirp!~" Instantly, the hangar lost all its color. "My eyes!" Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Big Cat got a full blast at close range and rolled away, covering his eyes. Little Bird, finding the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet too close, rewarded it with a "Light Burst Flash." Back in its familiar environment, the little guy couldn''t help relapsing into old habits. Despite the experience, some still unavoidably fell victim to collateral damage again. After strolling around the hangar, Chen Fei took Little Bird back to the two-story cottage housing the Energy Tower, which was well cared for; the various plants inside the sunny greenhouse were still vigorous and lush, some even bearing fruit. Upon entering the house, Little Bird immediately flew into the greenhouse, weaving through the branches and even pecking at the sweet fruits. The small cottage had gained a few more items, like test tubes, beakers, microscopes, and jars of colorful liquids, somewhat resembling a chemistry lab. A ceramic basin the size of a washbowl sat on the square table, planted with a peculiar fungal plant, the "Flesh Mushroom," which Chen Fei once brought back as a spoil of war. The door to the small cottage was, as always, unlocked. Chen Fei had just entered when Boss Hanna, who had temporarily separated after disembarking the transport, arrived hot on his heels. "This thing has grown this fast?" Compared to the last time he saw the "Flesh Mushroom" plants, the ones in front of him in the large basin were radically different, Chen Fei turned around and pointed at the ceramic basin. Originally, only two or three frail plants huddled together, but now the basin was full, nearly overflowing, with the largest fungal plant over two feet tall and more than a foot in diameter, occupying almost half the basin''s interior, with the rest squeezed together to make room for about twenty or thirty plants. The feeble appearance of the "Flesh Mushrooms" was indescribable, but now, their plump white bodies looked rather comical. "Your gardening skills are truly something; these ''Flesh Mushrooms'' need repotting already." Hanna Gagel placed a stack of food containers on the bar counter in front of the liquor cabinet; she had brought some appetizers from the base''s cafeteria, just in time to meet up with Chen Fei. Growing "Flesh Mushrooms" was a task that this female boss took upon herself, without delegating to anyone, thus she avoided any worry about technology leaks. Probably no more than a handful of people in the entire 911 Aircrew Base were aware of this strange mushroom''s existence. As long as the cultivation process was correct, the growth rate of "Flesh Mushrooms" was quite astonishing. Chen Fei sincerely said, "You''ve worked hard!" Having said that, he reached out to flick one of the mushrooms in the full basin, which immediately wobbled slightly, demonstrating its resilience. As if talking to himself, he said, "Theoretically, they''re edible, but I wonder what they taste like?" "They taste a bit like beef, but the texture is very tender, kind of like rabbit meat. I had Chef Abel prepare another portion; you could try it." Hanna Gagel had a prior experience, so she spoke with authority. "Oh! Then I must try it!" Chen Fei shifted his attention from the full basin of "Flesh Mushrooms" to the food containers brought by Boss Hanna. Slapping his forehead with an apologetic look, he said, "I almost forgot, I need to apologize first, Little Jiu stole your liquor and hid it in its leg ring." "Ah?" As Hanna Gagel was about to open a food container, she paused, her hand hovering mid-air. Chapter 524: Section 520 - New Transaction "Are you saying... Xiao Jiu stole wine? How amusing!" Hanna Gagel was utterly astonished as she looked at the little bird frolicking among the warm-room plants, laughing behind her hand, her body trembling like blossoming flowers behind the bar. My little bird (the mascot of Jiu Defense) is already so capable! She hadn''t noticed it at all. On one hand, it was oversight in plain sight; on the other, there were so many bottles in her collection that she wouldn''t notice if two or three went missing occasionally. Even if she did notice the shortage, she''d mostly assume they''d been drunk. The way a rich person and a poor person perceive the same situation can be entirely different. Chen Fei was inevitably limited by poverty in his imagination¡ªpoverty is the original sin! "Yes, yes, it''s my lack of discipline but I will compensate," An embarrassed Chen Xiao''er was gauging whether his remaining money after paying off his debts would be enough to cover the wines Xiao Jiu had pilfered, especially since he had impulsively brought along two bottles when visiting his future in-laws. No matter the cost, it was certainly not cheap. Poor him, barely clearing old debts before new ones emerged, an endless cycle, natural like the law of debt. After retrieving a bottle of wine from the cabinet, Hanna Gagel waved her hand and said, "Nevermind, consider it a gift to him, not worth much. You still need to save up for your bride-price!" With a home wine cellar like Boss Hana''s, a few bottles less were no concern. She hoarded wine by the crate and even invested in vineyards¡ªlosing one or two bottles was no issue at all. A boss of such magnitude, with an open heart, wouldn''t quibble over a little bird. Pursuing such a trivial matter against a core staff of Jiu Defense was downright unnecessary. After all, good wine is for drinking, not just for display, otherwise what''s the point of having such a vast family wine cellar? "No hurry, there are always ways to save money." Chen Fei shook his head, his skills naturally came with a money-making bonus. Lacking money with an industrial-grade ability? Ridiculous! Believe it or not, if he submitted his resignation now, there would be major factories scrambling for him. In some specific high-end production fields, industrial-grade abilities dominated utterly, not leaving room for other factories to survive. But Jiu Defense was a private enterprise with warmth and heart. Hanna Gagel had been willing to pull Chen Fei back from death''s door with a magic potion worth ten million Star Yuan, so it would be tasteless and disrespectful to do otherwise. After all, one should have some conscience, Boss Hana had treated him well, so he owed it to continue working there. It would be shameful to simply shake off the dust and climb upwards. "Mm, I believe!" Hanna Gagel nodded, understanding that Chen Fei''s quick recovery of the funds to pay his debts was greatly related to his ability to make extra cash. If he only relied on his salary from Jiu Defense, he would have had to wait at least another seven or eight years to accumulate it. Getting the bottle opener, she gripped the bottle''s neck and turned it twice with a creak, then pulled with force, and with a pop sound, a rich fragrance of wine mixed with a hint of sweet floral aroma was immediately released, refreshing everyone present. Every aspect of good wine can lift one''s spirits. "Jiu?" Drawn by the scent, the little bird flew over and alighted on the bar, tilting its little head as it inspected Boss Hana. "You little rascal!" Realizing the little one not only had a taste for drinks but also stole them, Hanna Gagel, not at all amused, reached out to flick its delicate sharp beak, but the agile creature easily evaded, denying any touch. Aside from Chen Fei, perhaps only Chef Abel at the Aircrew Base could touch this little bird, even the female boss had no luck. Hanna Gagel had no choice but to pour a half-full measure of wine into a small cup and pushed it towards the little troublemaker. The little bird immediately approached cheerfully, first cautiously taking a sip, then gleefully gulping it down with high spirits. This was her and Chen Fei''s private little bar where they enjoyed occasional other guests. With people, wine, appetizers, and stories, the atmosphere was very relaxing and stress-relieving; naturally, Hanna Gagel would not choose to drink gloomily alone. "This little fellow, I really don''t know why it loves human beverages so much." Chen Fei walked back from the table with the "flesh mushrooms" to the bar next to the wine cabinet. As usual, he took his seat on a tall bar stool, satisfied with whatever the boss served¡ªdefinitely good wine, no need to choose, no need to be picky, just drink and be done. Xiao Jiu didn''t just like wine; it also enjoyed coffee and strong tea. Human cuisine isn''t actually suitable for other creatures, often causing malnutrition, yet this little guy just loved them. "Xiao Jiu is a Magical Beast, it knows how to take care of itself." Hanna Gagel also poured a glass of wine for Chen Fei and then slid the food box over. Xiao Jiu, like Chen Fei, was good at holding its liquor, rarely getting drunk, and even when it did, it would quietly sleep it off, very well-behaved. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire "Try this ''flesh mushroom,'' Abel prepared it in three different ways." Using the cultivation techniques obtained from Chen Fei, the correctly cultivated "flesh mushrooms" were no longer sickly; they grew at a visible rate and filled a large pot inside the glazed container. Hanna Gagel had even picked a few and tried cooking them, and now was the time to share the results. Chen Fei picked up chopsticks, took one of the battered and fried pieces, didn''t hesitate, and popped it into his mouth, chewing a few times. "Mm, no wonder it''s called ''flesh mushroom''; this is entirely like meat!" It was rare to find a fungal fruiting body in nature that gave the sensation of meat when eaten. He prodded it a few more times and said, "It''s a bit like a mix between beef and lamb, tender but not mushy." Mushrooms are naturally tender and delicious. Now that they have a meaty flavor, they are even more incredible. "I had the people in the biological lab analyze it. The ''Flesh Mushroom''s protein content is slightly lower than beef but higher than eggs, and the nutritional elements are very balanced, suitable for long-term consumption." The Aircrew Base originally had the professional equipment for analyzing mutant creature samples, and as Boss Hana Gagel, using it for personal benefit was completely reasonable. After all, it''s something to be eaten, so being cautious is always correct. With no issues found in the composition of the substances, the next step was to see how it tasted. "No wonder the ''Water Bear'' organization was able to stay hidden for so long!" Chen Fei picked up another piece of the ''Flesh Mushroom'' that looked like braised meat, and the taste was great. You couldn''t tell at all that it was a mushroom. The sensitivity of chemical and biological agents is far less than that of food, as the output of animals and plants is cyclical, and the consumption is much greater than that of manufactured goods. With high-yield food sources like ''Flesh Mushrooms,'' the secret breeding bases of the ''Water Bear'' organization could achieve self-sufficiency to some extent, greatly increasing their concealment. If it weren''t for an accidental slip, this mysterious organization conducting illegal research might still be lurking, unknown to the outside world. Then he tasted the third sample. The ''Flesh Mushroom'' was no longer prepared on its own but mixed with other ingredients, cooked in a dish called twice-cooked pork, which requires careful control of the ingredients and cooking time. Only a chef like Abel could handle it with ease. "Tastes just like real meat, hmm, this is going to be a big deal." Chen Fei''s gaze met Boss Hana''s. A second ago, they were talking about extra earnings; now, the opportunity was right there. Fried, braised, and stir-fried¡ªpassing these three tests means the ''Flesh Mushroom'' has carved out a place for itself in the culinary world. The ''Water Bear'' organization, lying low, wouldn''t dare to bring out ''Flesh Mushrooms'' for use, but Jiu Defense Company, mixing openly under the sun, has no such scruples. The samples of ''Flesh Mushroom'' and related cultivation techniques Chen Fei captured are immeasurable in value. This is an exclusive, open business. Even if the ''Water Bear'' organization has ''Flesh Mushrooms,'' would they dare to sell them? "Yes, we can make a killing!" Boss Hana smiled radiantly. Everyone is in the business of making money, and it''s not embarrassing! Damn! Chen Fei was shocked into shivering by the one-eyed old lady. You should at least remove your eyepatch before you smile; it''s quite scary, you know. Normally, Boss Hana''s stern and serious demeanor was also good; a boss always needs to maintain their dignity. However, the sight of her smiling with an eyepatch could cause someone to shiver uncontrollably. "You studied economics for your undergraduate, do you understand how to manage business matters?" Hanna Gagar turned to business. The ''Flesh Mushroom'' had preliminarily won the approval of both, and now it was time to explore its commercial potential. This deal is one that only Jiu Defense Company can pull off¡ªit''s just too good. "I only know how to count money!" Chen Fei grinned, his words holding a double meaning. Isn''t that what economics is all about? Counting money? Since the female boss showed interest in commercializing, he would just sit back and wait to get paid, which is also, in a way, counting money. If Boss Hanna wasn''t willing to share the profits with Chen Fei, or didn''t even plan to make the deal, she probably wouldn''t bring it up at all. So, that''s...generous! That the Jiu Defense Company has not had any defectors was not solely due to Chen Fei; the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron and the other departments had their reasons for staying. "Alright, I''ll handle it. Let''s split it thirty-seventy; you take thirty, I take seventy. How about that?" Hanna Gagar poured more wine for Chen Fei. In business talks, clear accounts make for good friends. Boss Hana was treating Chen Xiao''er as a partner. After all, they had drunk so much together and had a life-and-death relationship; knowing each other so well, it made sense to keep the benefits within their circle. "Deal!" Chen Fei agreed swiftly, his seed money was on its way. A fifty-fifty or forty-sixty split was out of the question. After all, the hard costs of production, operations, and channels were all very real expenses, not to mention the relationships involved, whereas Chen Fei''s earnings were cost-free. He would be a true absentee owner unless he also took part in the management by contributing technology and leadership to earn a higher share of the profits. Chen Fei had the self-awareness to know that as an outsider, he shouldn''t add to the chaos. "I''ve already prepared the business plan and contract. I''ll send it to you to review. If there''s no issue, I''ll start setting things in motion, and we could enter the market in three months at the earliest." The decisive Hanna Gagar had everything ready; she just needed Chen Fei''s agreement. "Sure, I''ll give you an answer within three days." Chen Fei still needed to have a lawyer review the contract and other legally binding documents; these were all standard business procedures. The two raised their glasses, clink!~ "Cheep!" Xiao Jiu also wanted to join in the toast, but unfortunately, its little claws weren''t steady, and it spilled... Chapter 525: Section 521 - Great Wisdom In fact, it hadn''t taken three days. It had only taken one day for Chen Fei to finalize the cooperation agreement with Boss Hana and the comprehensive development plan for "Flesh Mushroom." Legal personnel were not hard to find; there were connections to be leveraged, such as Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, Northern Weapons Industry Group, Jiu Defense''s in-house cooperating lawyers, and even the university Chen Fei attended, all of which could assist. Even if there were fees, they wouldn''t be unaffordable. The contents of the documents were inevitably noticed, and wow, "Flesh Mushroom" had not yet been mass-produced, but potential major clients had already emerged. If one was willing to spend the money, direct contact with law firms in society that charged by the hour and labor could also ensure the review of these documents within a specified time. The remaining tasks only required signing, fingerprinting, electronic signatures, notarization, and a series of authorizations; then a corporation solely running "Flesh Mushroom" would be officially established. As for the complex issue of company name, Chen Fei tossed it directly to Boss Hana. He knew nothing about business; it was, after all, something Boss should handle. Registering a company name was a lesson learned from past mistakes; probably, it wouldn''t cause laughter again. Since the construction of the planting site wasn''t completed yet, there was no rush. If necessary, they could spend some money to purchase an already registered company name. Any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem. If not particular, a random array of numbers, letters, and Chinese characters would do; after all, it was the source company, and there was no need for a catchy name, like the homespun "Golden Arches," which didn''t detract from being one of the industry''s big shots. At least in the circle of small military contractors, Jiu Defense had already gained some fame. Besides its main business at the Aircrew Base, it had gradually accepted many other military and security contracts and had begun to turn a profit. Having settled the new project partnership with Boss Hana, Chen Fei finally officially returned to his post. He checked in at the rotation duty area of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, and with no flying missions at hand, he planned to help out in the maintenance crew. However, most of the organizing work in the maintenance area was already done, and Big Brother Xiao didn''t let Chen Fei interfere, instead suggesting he take a walk in Hangar 2. Compared to before his leave, there were quite a few more things in Hangar 2. Chen Fei saw the lists hanging on container after container, all filled with various damaged and obsolete parts from attack helicopters, Big Mouth Monsters, and MiG aircrafts. These should have entered a regeneration program, but the maintenance chief had bought them cheaply by the pound from peers at various Aircrew Bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, meticulously storing them, seemingly waiting for Chen Fei''s return. This was indeed a brilliant move! For Chen Fei, the hardest parts to repair were the non-metal components, as metal material deformations and damages were not really an issue. Out of dozens of containers of scrap, repairing just one percent would mean a huge profit for the maintenance crew. However, Chen Fei estimated that he could restore seventy to eighty percent of the parts to their original state, making them virtually indistinguishable from new. It might not just be a huge profit; it could be a windfall. The costs saved would become Jiu Defense''s profits, which would then become everyone''s bonus. Setting aside Big Brother Xiao''s unilateral decision, the benefits generated by these collected scraps had only advantages, no disadvantages for Chen Fei; naturally, he would take the lion''s share, and such a bonus was extraordinarily significant for someone who had been impoverished in the past. This demonstrated that Big Brother Xiao cared about the debts Chen Fei carried. After a busy morning, Chen Fei had finished sorting the parts in one container. The repair wasn''t troublesome, it was done in a blink, but the majority of the time was spent on picking and placing parts. In the end, there were still a dozen or so nearly shattered components left, mainly damaged non-metal parts. Metal Elemental Psychic Power could repair them, but it would cost Energy Points, and Chen Fei naturally didn''t want to waste precious Energy Points on this scrap. He planned to see if he could find suitable 3D printing base materials later and reprint a set. 911 Aircrew Base wasn''t in urgent need of these parts, so there was no rush to repair them; they were simply set aside for now. Arriving next to the stacked containers, two massive objects were covered with white cloths. He lifted one of the cloths, revealing a badly damaged body. The Crystal Jet "Holy Grail"! This junk, once collected outside the outskirts of Hablav City, headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, could only be found in such a place. Chen Fei reached out his hand... First, he threw out a hundred tons of iron. Subtitles appeared in his field of vision. Energy Points -100! Energy Points: 39900/40000 Then he placed his palm on the battered Crystal Jet. System: Ding! Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" wreck detected, 11345.32 kilograms, absorb: Yes/No|? Yes! "Metal Devouring" skill activated. System: Ding! Absorbed Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" (wreck), gained 11 Energy Points, composition ratio: Titanium 65%, Aluminum 10%, Wind Patterned Copper 7%, Black Sand Steel 5%, Platinum 1%, Rhenium 1%... System: Ding! Gained "Wind Cone" Magic Array! Chen Fei''s eyebrows lifted. Huh? This Crystal Jet still retained a complete Magic Array on it. On the ground, there were only various non-metallic parts of all sizes, the "Metal Devouring" only affected metallic materials. After absorbing the metals, what was left were these fragments. The body weight of 11345.32 kilograms wasn''t necessarily all metal, but how much had been approximately taken away by the Dog System, Chen Fei probably didn''t have an exact count. "Physical Evolution Database" extracts the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" (remains) sample. The next moment, the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" evolved identically and landed on the ground, and all the non-metal parts were "picked up" back, still in their broken state. "Rookie, are you messing with this again?" A voice came from behind. Chen Fei turned around and saw it was Tempun Schneider, a.k.a. "Sauerkraut." After graduating from "Eagle Nest", he was signed by Jiu Defense. When he first arrived at the 911 Aircrew Base, he only knew "Rookie" Chen Fei, which naturally made him feel a bit closer, By now he should have been familiar with the other colleagues of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and got along well with them. Having seen Chen Fei come over alone earlier, the idle "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider followed out of curiosity. Chen Fei had tampered with this Crystal Jet several times before, but he never quite grasped it, and had not made any progress. The Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" had always kept in its broken state; it had never been repaired. "Hmm, I plan to fix it." Chen Fei''s hands did not leave the "Holy Grail". He continued to activate the "Metal Shaping" skill, starting to restore the appearance of the Crystal Jet, performing the most basic restoration. Previously, he had dared not to start because on one hand, he completely did not grasp the magic array on the body surface, and on the other hand, he also lacked a reference sample. But now, the situation was different. Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider''s mouth opened wide, pointing at the now undamaged-looking Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" and stuttering: "Wha-what? Fix it!" It seemed to him the most incredible thing in the world. Not to mention tinkering with repairing a Crystal Jet at a military contractor''s aircrew base, just having such a thought, from any angle, was overly audacious! A broken-down Crystal Jet and a intact Crystal Jet were almost two different things; the former was worthless rubbish, while the latter represented a sovereign level combat force. "Exactly, everything should be tried." Chen Fei had obtained several very practical Magic Arrays, and absorbed another genuine Crystal Jet wreckage and a complete knockoff Crystal Jet. Only after cross-verifying each other did he gain the confidence to try. At any rate, if it failed, it didn''t matter; at worst he''d crash and start over. Having industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Powers meant he could afford to be capricious. Tempun Schneider took a deep breath, somewhat helplessly said, "This is impossible, you know?" "How will we know without trying?" Chen Fei began to inscribe the Magic Array for this Crystal Jet. Apart from the still intact "Wind Cone (2)" Magic Array below the nose, he continued to imprint other Magic Arrays he knew, replacing the original incomplete Magic Arrays. The "Holy Grail" had 99 engraving units, perfectly stacking "Repulsion Shield (45)"¡Á1, "Gravity (1)"¡Á4, "Fluid Vortex (2)"¡Á4, "Blazing Flame Bullet (1)"¡Á4, "Wind Blade (1)"¡Á2, "Wind Series Magic Shield (12)"¡Á1, in addition to the original "Wind Cone (2)", using up 77/99 of the engraving units. After absorbing that knockoff Crystal Jet, Chen Fei had gained some additional Magic Arrays, which could also be of use at this moment. The Magic Arrays used by the "Holy Grail" were not those Chen Fei had imprinted; under conditions where he couldn''t fully restore to original, he could only use what was available, but he guessed even if it was repaired, it would still be a knockoff Crystal Jet. How it would actually perform, and whether it could surpass the knockoff Crystal Jet he had absorbed before, probably could only be known after a test flight. Seeing the Magic Array on the surface of the body flickering, Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider finally confirmed Chen Fei was serious. His mouth twitched, and he turned and ran without hesitation. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "This is incredible! The Crystal Jet is really getting fixed." Wow! The 911 Aircrew Base was about to have its own Crystal Jet. Reverberating across the entire Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, who else?... If the Merman Brothers Consortium, who once opposed the 911 Aircrew Base, saw this thing, they''d probably stay as far away as possible, can''t afford to mess with them, can''t afford to mess with them! The "Holy Grail", with its Magic Arrays imprinted, was just a shell; the inside was actually empty. Chen Fei looked toward the adjacent containers, Emmmm... Big Brother Xiao really is a genius. Chapter 283: Section 282 - Scrape and Leave "What?" The executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, Ximen Temple Kong, rushed to the tower window and strained to look outside. He opened his mouth wide, even forgetting that he had just been angry with that damnable duty manager from Aircrew Base 911. He was staring, dumbfounded, at the F-22 that had suddenly entered his field of vision, unconsciously ignoring the MiG-28 that was closely following behind. F-22? It was indeed a "Raptor"! In that instant, he had the surreal feeling of time traveling. "How can something like this happen, it''s against the rules!" Finally coming to his senses, Ximen Temple Kong bellowed furiously. Within the permission scope of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the most advanced combat aircraft that all military contractors were allowed to purchase and use was the MiG-28. Jet MiGs, Turboprop "Big Mouth Monsters," search and rescue and support aircraft like the Z-9 and AH-72, and the licensing for armed helicopters was relatively more lenient, offering more options. Given the mission objectives of the various aircrew bases, this standard of equipment was more than sufficient. What use was there for more advanced aircraft? What, were they planning a revolt? The F-22 banked as it made a low pass over Aircrew Base 909. The roaring of its twin engines was deafening. Squadron Leader Chekhov, who was supposedly closely monitoring Chen Fei, also made a low pass, showing off by lightly wagging his wings as if to say, come on, make a move! This fly-by was rather aggressive. Low-level flying over someone else''s territory was no different than barging into someone''s home and kicking them in the face. Not only the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909 was livid, but even the employees were ready to burst with anger. "Scramble, scramble, all fighters take off and shoot them down!" Ximen Temple Kong still retained a shred of rationality and did not order the ground-based anti-aircraft weapons to open fire. Fighter against fighter, being shot down meant being out-skilled. Aircrew Base 909 indeed wanted to cause trouble but had not anticipated causing such a big scene. No one had imagined that the reaction from Aircrew Base 911 would be so drastic. Like firecrackers, they exploded on contact, obliterating the MiG Squadron of Aircrew Base 909 before charging over with a fierce momentum, seemingly indifferent to whether it would trigger corporate warfare and a fight to the death between the two military contractors. Right, Aircrew Base 911 had also previously gone head-to-head with the industry giant Merman Brothers Consortium, managing to leave them in a sorry state. The response of the heavily armed MiG was a bit slow, so upon seeing the F-22 making its fly-by, Chekhov said over the comms channel, "Rookie, that''s enough." He also had no intention of starting a war with Aircrew Base 909. His ammunition was primarily air-to-air, with no ground-attack weapons. It was more about deterrence. On the ground, the pilots of Aircrew Base 909 desperately ran towards the combat aircraft on the apron, betting that the pilots from Aircrew Base 911 wouldn''t attack people on the ground. The profession of combat pilot still retained some semblance of the knight''s code. But in corporate wars where it was kill or be killed, that was a different story. Resorting to any means necessary was normal, and all kinds of schemes and plots were to be expected. "I''ll take another lap." Chen Fei gently turned the control stick. It was unclear whether the flight control system of the F-22 had been rewritten to modern standards, or if it was inherently that responsive, or perhaps the smart unit of the "Flying Dragon" tactical armor was coordinating it, but every maneuver perfectly executed his desired flying posture¡ªnot too much, and not too little. In low-altitude fancy flying, deviating even slightly could lead to a catastrophic accident. "Those guys are getting onto the planes!" Chekhov Big Bear saw the pilots rushing into the apron and the ground crew getting the fighters ready. Their efficiency was nearly as fast as that of Aircrew Base 911. Professionalism was evident everywhere. To gain an advantage, they had to seize the initiative. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and those who act late suffer the consequences; if you don''t move, you deserve to die. "They won''t make it!" Chen Fei, piloting the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, skimmed over the aircraft on the apron, with the side of the wing nearly vertical to the ground looking almost like a phantom. The roar of the engine and the turbulence it caused made people on the ground scramble like turtles stealing watermelons; some rolled, some crawled¡ªall in chaos. "Let''s go!" Chen Fei flew away at full throttle. Chekhov Big Bear chuckled, and the MiG-28 quickly followed suit. On the apron of Aircrew Base 909, two MiG-28s and a row of A-39B "Big Mouth Monsters" unexpectedly snapped in half as if collectively cut at the waist. "What happened? How did all the fighters break in half?" "It''s unbelievable!" "Can someone tell me who did this?" "What''s going on here?" The ground crew who had painstakingly prepared the fighters were frantic; all their efforts were in vain. Could the fighters, mysteriously severed in half, still take off? Was that even a question? The infuriated pilots who had rushed to the apron saw fragments of what had happened due to the distance. "It was that F-22, it did this!" "Was that a ghost fighter?" "The F-22 sliced our fighters with its wing." "How is that possible?" Soon, everyone was as shocked as if they had seen a ghost. From a distance, Ximen Temple Kong, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 909, almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He even almost jumped down from the tower. What was the most important thing at an aircrew base? Fighters! Fighters!! Fighter jets!!! Without fighter jets, what''s an aircrew base for? A radius of five hundred kilometers, patrolled on one''s own two legs? It was foreseeable that once Aircrew Base 909 lost these fighter jets, this month''s contract money was certainly gone. Without doing what needed to be done, why should they get paid? Despite all arguments, it came down to this simple truth. Without this huge sum of money, the boss, furious as thunder, would definitely look for someone to take the blame. At this moment, who else could it be but oneself? With a deathly pale face, Ximen Temple Kong trembled as he took out his phone, selected a contact, and dialed. "Boss, it''s Ximen, our fighter jets, they''re all destroyed..." A moment later, his face a picture of hopelessness, he hung up the call, numbly pulled out a pistol, chambered a round, flicked off the safety, and aimed it at his own head. The people in the tower saw this and were collectively horrified, rushing over. "Manager, don''t!" Bang! ... Victory belongs to the king, defeat to the enemy, what is there to say! ''Rookie,'' begin your return to base!" "''Peanut Butter,'' begin your return to base!" One after another, Chen Fei''s and Squadron Leader Chekhov''s voices came through the communication channel. The on-duty manager Mahnam, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, finally let out a long sigh of relief. The signal captured by the ground-based radar confirmed this; two friendly aircraft symbols were flying towards Aircrew Base 911. Good lord, they''re finally coming back! Under tremendous pressure, Mahnam wiped his sweat while shaking his head continuously. This team was just too hard to handle, too nerve-wracking. Probably only Boss Hanna could keep these troublesome fellows in line. He never imagined Chen Fei''s so-called "just grazing" would cause such a commotion at Aircrew Base 909, almost leading the executive manager, his peer, to lose it¡ªif not for his subordinates'' quick action, stopping him in time, he might have got shot. "This aircraft is really great, will I be able to take the controls later?" Inside the cockpit of the MiG-28 trailing behind the F-22, Chekhov Big Bear couldn''t stop slobbering, practically drooling. Laymen watch the excitement; experts watch the technique. The F-22, fully revived on the spot at Aircrew Base 909, performed acrobatic maneuvers at ultra-low altitude. Its fierce and aggressive mobility implied that its control capability far surpassed that of the MiG; not just the MiG-28, but even the original factory models like the MiG-29, -31, -35, -37 were no match for this "Raptor," leaving Big Bear salivating uncontrollably. "No way, a man''s wife and his fighter jet are not to be lent out!" This F-22 was private property, not a public fighter jet. Chen Fei righteously refused Squadron Leader Big Bear''s improper request. He had offered a 9.999 discount, yet the other party wasn''t willing to pay even a billion Star Yuan. Still, they wanted a bargain, dream on, eat shit! "Just a quick flight, just a quick one! Don''t be so stingy," Chekhov persisted. The area around the anti-G suit''s crotch was damp with drool. "I''m poor, so I have to be stingy!" Chen Fei spoke with an air of ''I''m poor, so I''m in the right,'' pushing back against Chekhov''s greedy longing. "..." Chekhov had never met someone so poor yet so stubbornly unyielding. Chen Fei played his trump card, murmuring eerily, "Be careful I tell Big Brother Xiao..." "Hey! Stop, let''s just talk nicely, it''s an internal issue, let''s solve it internally, no need to bring Xiao Ming into this!" Upon hearing the name of the uncompromising and hard-fisted Chief Mechanic Xiao, Chekhov Big Bear immediately caved. That big guy was utterly unreasonable; wherever he saw fit, he''d come at you with a direct punch. "No problem, our internal problems, we''ll solve internally, ''Rookie,'' I''ll help you!" The voice of "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios cut in. Unexpectedly, this short-haired girl was also monitoring flight communications. "Little Chili, I haven''t done anything yet!" In the aircrew base, Chekhov was most afraid of Xiao Jixiu the mechanic, who was both blunt and just wouldn''t listen to reason. Second was his own squadron partner, Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios; her inexplicable tantrums really threw him off his game. Additionally, she was flat-chested, which was not to his liking. Third was Boss Hanna Gagel. Since he hadn''t been sorted out by her as much, if she did it just a few more times, she''d likely rise in the rankings. "It''s too late by the time you do something. We''ll have a good chat later!" For some reason, the short-haired girl had her sights set on Squadron Leader Chekhov. In a way, she was also Chen Fei''s mentor when he first entered the pilot community, teaching him many basic flying skills, hand-to-hand. She had spent a lot of effort instructing him. A master standing up for their disciple was only natural. Irinei Rusios had set her sights on Chekhov Big Bear, determined to have it out with him today. The communication channel buzzed with chatter, making Big Bear all the more flustered. Before long, the F-22 landed smoothly, with the MiG-28 following closely behind. Just as Chen Fei opened the canopy, he saw Squadron Leader Big Bear''s MiG-28 sluggishly taxi into the apron. The Deputy Squadron Leader of Team "Genuine Fragrance," "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, blocked the apron. "Chekhov, if you''re a man, get down here!" "Being a man doesn''t need proof from you!" "Have the guts not to stick inside the aircraft! Come down now!" "I refuse!" ... - Chapter 284 - Feathers Flying Everywhere The tarmac at Aircrew Base 909 was littered with feathers. And the tarmac at Aircrew Base 911 had seen its share of feathers, too. Without Big Brother Xiao from the maintenance team stepping in, the short-haired deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, known as "Devil Pepper," had already cornered the universally disliked Chekhov Big Bear on the tarmac and left him dusty and disgraced. The new pilots were staring, dumbfounded. When it came to familiarity with the people inside Aircrew Base 911, it was still "Rookie" Chen Fei, who had attended advanced flight training together with the rest, who knew them best. Tempun Schneider quietly moved closer to him and whispered worriedly, "Hey, ''Rookie,'' they''re not going to start fighting, are they?" Chen Fei replied, puzzled, "Huh? Isn''t it pretty normal for them to fight?" Despite Chekhov Big Bear''s burly appearance that was good only for bullying his own kind, he wasn''t necessarily a match for the short-haired deputy squadron leader. Sure enough, the short-haired deputy squadron leader, who couldn''t bear any injustice in the world, leaped up three feet, clawed her way into the MiG''s cockpit, and yanked out the Big Bear. With a smooth move, she performed a powerful back throw, shaking even the nearby MiG aircraft. Any girl who became a deputy squadron leader was no pushover. If they were even slightly weaker, they would be relentlessly bullied by this brute who picked on the weak and feared the strong. "Hiss..." Tempun Schneider gasped at such a brutal scene. "Actually, ''Devil Pepper'' is a really nice person, good-natured and speaks softly. She''s a pleasant older sister to get along with." Just as Chen was uttering the word "softly," this very approachable elder sister delivered a vicious, piercing kick, knocking the struggling Big Bear who was trying to crawl away and escape, flush to the ground. Then she pounced, sitting squarely on his chest and her Turtle Fist punches rained down like droplets, targeting the face. Anyway, the Big Bear wasn''t much to look at; taking a few punches might even add to his face value. Chen Fei''s reaction was remarkably calm, his expression unchanged. It wasn''t just him. The ground crew acted as if they saw nothing out of the ordinary, focusing intently on their work and sometimes even making room for the Genuine Fragrance squadron''s lead and deputy leaders. Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider looked at Chen Fei, then at the two squadron leaders wrestling with each other, wearing an expression of utter horror. Dammit, there must be something toxic about this Aircrew Base 911. Was it him who was out of sorts, or was it everyone else? He fell into a bout of self-doubt. Only after Chekhov had been thoroughly beaten eight times did the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" finally let the fellow go. As for the reason Chekhov was beaten, well, perhaps the short-haired girl had forgotten it herself. Don''t sweat the small stuff; after all, it''s only natural for a woman to spill some blood a few days each month. "Let''s go, let''s go!" With no more spectacle to witness, Chen Fei patted Tempun''s shoulder and left his F-22 on the tarmac. ``` Due to the lack of radar-absorbent coating, the replicated F-22''s stealth capability was significantly reduced, even to the point where it wasn''t much better than the MiG-28. The radars used by military contractors were basically able to capture its presence, which was also related to the advancement of radar technology, especially since radar technology has continuously progressed since the F-22 retired from active service. The performance of the ground-based radar used by the 911 Aircrew Base was hardly inferior to the radars currently in active service for Sovereignty. - Thousands of miles away, the female BOSS of Jiu Defense Company, Hanna Gagel, was rubbing her forehead with a headache. She had barely left when the 911 Aircrew Base stabbed her in the back with such a mess, and she didn''t know how to clean up this disaster. Her cell phone rang, and when she checked the screen, it was from Klaibel, the liaison director of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Klaibel was in charge of all the aircrew bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, and Hanna hadn''t expected her to personally make the call. If she wasn''t mistaken, it must be the conflict between the two aircrew bases that had alarmed the Global United Defense Committee. After all, the purpose of the aircrew bases was to monitor and maintain the ecological balance of no-man''s land, to eliminate rampant magical beasts and mutant group populations, preventing them from infringing on human-inhabited areas. They were the outermost and most important barriers of the human habitation circles. Without the periodic clean-up of these aircrew bases, in no time at all, there would be a proliferation of mutants and invading monsters from Otherworld as had happened twenty years ago. Their numbers would grow more and more, competing with humans for living space. Therefore, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee certainly did not want the various aircrew bases to waste their manpower and resources in infighting. Even corporate wars between military contractors had to be approved before they were allowed. It wasn''t a case of fighting whenever one wished. The corporate war between the 911 Aircrew Base and the Merman Brothers Consortium was initiated by the latter, which pushed through the approval process using its influence as one of the top ten companies in the field. Had it been the other way around, with the 911 Aircrew Base declaring war on an industry giant, that would have been out of the question. Explore stories at empire "...Yes, I understand. I will give full authority to the on-duty manager, Mahnam, who will represent me in attending and mediating the conflict. Thank you, Ms. Klaibel, for your concern. I have gone through a lot of trouble. I hope to have the chance to invite you to enjoy a century-old wine I have stored at the 911 Aircrew Base sometime." She hung up the phone with a forced smile, and as the fake mask was torn off again, Hanna Gagel shook her head with a bitter smile. Despite having gone through so much with the founding of Jiu Defense Company, she still wasn''t quite used to this kind of insincere daily routine. Back when she was at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Apocalypse Defense Group, she would deal swiftly and decisively with anyone who messed up, which suited Hanna Gagel''s temperament much better. Now, having to wear a mask, hide her true thoughts, and engage in these cautious and energy-draining power struggles was quite taxing; she had to be extremely careful just to barely manage each time. - The Henghai Tactical Weapons Group received the test data from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, and the Executive Vice President in charge of product development, Zhao Liandong, frowned as he reviewed the organized data report. What the hell are these? Uncertified homemade tricycles calling themselves flying crafts? Even if you''re pulling my leg, at least take it seriously! I, the Executive Vice President of the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, have my reputation to consider. Zhao Liandong couldn''t help but feel a toothache! Then there was the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft, devoid of technical content, so easy to operate that even a dog could fly it. Just sit on it, and it operates on its own. A stall? Just let go of your filthy hands, and it corrects itself, no operation needed. ``` Again... an F-22? Can anyone tell me how this obsolete antique that was already phased out and scrapped managed to fly again, the investment in Star Yuan nearly enough to buy a high-spec single soldier tactical armor? With such capital, do we still need to freeload the "Flying Dragon" tactical armor from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group? It''s not like they''re not for sale, the aerial combat models are even easier to purchase than the land and sea versions. Thinking of Chen''s inexplicable maneuvers, Vice General Manager Zhao is almost bewitched¡ªis this just acting on a whim? It must be just whim! Suddenly, the headache is as big as a bucket! The last few bits of scattered data, wearing a "Flying Dragon" to beat up magical beasts, feels like stepping onto the wrong movie set, beating a Human Order third-rank Shadow Wolf into that state, is that really so impressive? What''s the egg use of these data! Vice General Manager Zhao suddenly felt like throwing a single soldier tactical armor worth two hundred million Star Yuan into the water. - On every rest day, Chen Fei spent his time at Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School. In addition to bringing some provisions as much as he could to supply the school with resources, he also checked whether the Shadow Wolf had dutifully protected the safety of the entire staff and students. If it did not obey, he would give it a beating¡ªnothing couldn''t be taught after being beaten eight times. With the introduction of crystalline blocks with an incredibly large energy storage capacity and various electrical appliances, Teacher Shen Fei was liberated from a great deal of repetitive labor, enabling her to spend more time and energy on the students of Patan. Just one week of absence and Patan Elementary School already had seven sixth-grade students graduate, with seventeen new first-grade pupils enrolled. The original school district now covered four villages. If measured by geographical area, the school''s district would be equivalent to a county-level city with a population of a million. Teacher Shen, supporting the school alone, no matter how hard she tried, could only guarantee basic education for six grades of primary school. To establish a junior high school would require additional staffing. Out of the seven graduates, five were recruited back to their own villages as literate individuals who could help with tasks requiring cultural knowledge and also got betrothed¡ªtemporarily, there was no way to change the custom of one man marrying multiple wives. After all, strong laborers have always been a scarce resource, especially educated ones, so it was treated as a form of sharing a husband. The remaining two graduates stayed at the school to help Teacher Shen Fei continue educating the younger students. With UNESCO unable to find volunteers to send over, Teacher Shen Fei had no choice but to be self-reliant, training new teachers willing to commit to local education in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Even if the current educational level was only at a primary school, it was better than nothing. Moreover, although Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t support the entire junior high phase, guiding two students to become primary school teachers while educating them in junior high subjects was still achievable. "Where''s that stupid dog? Why don''t I see it?" Chen Fei looked at Teacher Shen Fei bustling in the kitchen, preparing for dinner, looking left and right, he didn''t spot the Shadow Wolf and wondered if it had slipped away while Teacher Shen was not paying attention. A lazy yellow dog that loved to eat and loiter hung around outside the kitchen; if the Shadow Wolf were inside, it wouldn''t dare come near even if it had ten times the guts. After all, low-level contracts like an Equality Contract didn''t hold much sway, but considering wolves are social animals, this contract should be barely functional. However, there are always exceptions, and there''s the fear that the Shadow Wolf, too wild to be tamed, couldn''t stand the dull life of learnings and escaped back to the mountains to be free once again. "That''s a Shadow Wolf, how come magical beasts aren''t up to standard with you?" Teacher Shen Fei, deftly preparing ingredients, cast a coquettish glance at Chen Fei, the guy who couldn''t tell a wolf from a dog. She was accustomed to making pastries and barbecuing, as well as preparing Europa-style soup. Chen Fei wasn''t good at these, nor were the ingredients suitable, so he couldn''t be of help. It would be great if Gallic Head Chef Mr. Abel were here¡ªhe could handle it all himself. "What I have in abundance here are magical beasts, as you know, it''s the very business of the Aircrew Base." Chen Fei, with his arms folded, shrugged his shoulders. Every month he had to kill a few magical beasts, he couldn''t bring every single one back. The 911 Aircrew Base would turn into a zoo otherwise. Bear in mind that military contractors with an aircrew base, besides patrolling their business areas and regularly exterminating mutants, also list out-of-control magical beast groups as targets to be struck. To ordinary people, magical beasts are a rare sight, but to those at the aircrew base, they''re prey, killed for sport. "Awoo!" A whine sounded beside Teacher Shen. A shadow flickered at her feet, and a big black wolf with pitch-black fur darted out. Hearing Chen Fei mention it, it was so frightened that it immediately revealed itself. "Aroo!" The yellow dog outside the kitchen door was startled, instantly so scared that it ran away in a panic. "Is this guy a perv? By the way, Teacher Shen, are you wearing safety pants?" Chen Fei looked disapprovingly at the Shadow Wolf that had just been hiding in the shadow under Teacher Shen Fei''s feet. Should it be castrated? I heard that just a low-power laser on the testicles will do, painless castration, very quick. - Chapter 301 301: Section 300 - No Way to Heaven, No Door into the Earth Vegetable Market, beheading, one kick to the Department Store Building. "Quiet, everyone be quiet, please calm down, don''t panic, don''t run around!" Butler Thompson still maintained his composure, quickly instructing the panicking security and attendants to soothe the guests who were running around like headless chickens within the Manor Main House, yet they could never quite make it outside. In the midst of the earth shaking, all sorts of things were crashing down. The large crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the first-floor hall swayed greatly with creaking noises, but thankfully, it hung solidly and showed no sign of falling. About a minute later, everything gradually returned to calmness. The construction quality of the Manor Main House was pretty decent; aside from a few shattered windowpanes, the main structure remained undamaged, without even noticeable cracks. Now somewhat reassured, the frightened crowd calmed down a little. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured or lost their life¡ªmost injuries were just bruises or minor flesh wounds, easily treated with a spray of iodine and a Band-Aid. "I can''t see anything outside!" Someone stood by the window, turned on their phone''s flashlight to look outside, but all they saw was pitch darkness. It was as if the world outside the Manor had reached its end, with even the sun vanishing without a trace, plunging the earth into darkness. A cold, damp wind howled through the broken windows with a mournful sound. "There''s no cell signal!" Chen Fei took out his phone; before this, despite not being able to make calls, there was at least a signal. But now, there was not even a signal. "Mine too, no signal," Hanna Gagar took a glance at her own phone. Both her and Chen Fei''s phones were customized, durable, reliable, and in addition to connecting to ground signal towers, they could also connect to satellite signals. Chen Fei, not wanting to waste the satellite data fees and to save battery, always kept the satellite connection off, whereas Hanna Gagar didn''t care about such trivial expenses and battery consumption, and usually kept it connected. However, now there were no signals at all, perhaps some personal hotspots, but they were of no use. "My phone too..." Hearing the conversation between Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar, Zuo Gengming took out his own phone to check. "No signal." More and more people gradually discovered that their phones had disconnected from the internet. Not just phones¡ªevery communication device that needed a network connection had completely disconnected from the external network, without even the slightest signal. "Something''s not right, this is so wrong!" Someone yelled loudly. "We can go out now!" Someone suddenly discovered with joy that the invisible barrier at the main entrance was gone. The first to react couldn''t wait to rush out, not wanting to stay in this creepy house any longer. But as soon as they dashed out, a chaos of plop and screams mixed together came back in. Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar looked at each other and quickly went to the entrance. Manor Butler Thompson and the security guards followed them closely, worried that the two would try to escape. After being injected with the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, supernatural power users were not much different from ordinary people, but intentional escape attempts would still cause major headaches. Upon reaching the entrance of the Manor Main House, Xiao Jiu''s Illumination Technique Light Orb also came out, illuminating a greater area and clarifying the situation outside the main house. It wasn''t even the original scenery of the manor anymore, as if they had come to another world. The lush green grass had turned into a rugged, rocky terrain; the exquisite fountain was nowhere to be seen, only chaotic gigantic rocks. Many people accidentally tripped on stones or smashed headfirst into boulders, with numerous instances of bloodied heads. "Where is this?" Manor Lord Thompson''s body hair stood on end, and the attendants and security guards beside him were all visibly shocked. Chen Fei said to Little Bird perched on Boss Hana''s shoulder, "Xiao Jiu, throw a grand Illumination Technique into the sky, the bigger and farther, the better." Then pointed to the pitch-black sky. "Chirp!" Pure Light Sparrow gathered light, and countless specks of light converged in front of its tiny beak. A Light Orb the size of a table tennis ball quickly expanded to the size of a basketball, illuminating the surroundings within a hundred-meter radius. Rocks, rocks, rocks...still rocks! The still intact-looking Manor Main House was surrounded by countless rocks of all sizes and was not at the center of the "Green Cherry Orchard Estate," as it should be. The entire estate had completely changed, or perhaps, disappeared. "Where are we?" Someone let out a piercing scream from deep within their throat. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu gently pecked, and the basketball-sized light orb floated up lightly like a balloon. It rose like a small sun, ascending higher and higher, spreading light to farther areas. As the endless darkness was dispelled, everyone''s vision suddenly cleared. There was no more sky, only towering rugged rocks from ceiling to floor, with all the people and the Manor Main House astonishingly situated within an immense rocky space. There were several gigantic holes, so vast that even the basketball-sized enhanced Illumination Technique light orbs could not illuminate their depths. Their interiors stretched into the unknown. Gasps of shock came in waves. A manor security guard, pale with fear, trembled as he said, "What exactly has happened to Blue Star? Or is it us that''s happened?" He thought of his family, and tears immediately began to stream down his face. "It''d be better if it''s us that''s happened, not Blue Star!" A waiter nearly burst into tears, teetering on the edge of collapse. He hoped it wasn''t Blue Star that had suffered a great disaster, otherwise what sense was there in struggling on? He almost felt like dying. Just then, the manor butler Thompson forcefully steadied himself and shouted, "Remember your duties! As long as there''s a glimmer of hope, never give up!" Zuo Gengming sniffled, smelling the cold, damp air, and as if talking to himself said, "It''s like we''re underground, high humidity, there must be a water source nearby, we also need food." In such circumstances, big tears and hysterics were utterly pointless. It would be better to conserve precious physical energy and think of ways to save yourselves. Food? Those who heard these words nearby paused, immediately understood, turned around, and dashed back into the main house. Ignoring the waiters'' attempts to stop them, they frantically looked for any food and water, even coming to blows with each other, totally disregarding the fact that they had thought of each other as bosom friends just moments before. A fellow in death doesn''t mean the demise of a poor monk. As long as one could survive, even if just for a moment longer, who cared about the life or death of others! "Don''t panic, don''t panic, there''s a shelter in the basement with enough food and drinking water," The competent manor butler quickly ordered the panic-stricken security guards to stop the multiple fights. He opened the door to the basement, indeed finding the refuge below the main house, filled with many stores of food, drinking water, electricity, and other essential survival equipment. These things were prepared for natural disasters and human calamities, enough to ensure the survival of over a hundred people for at least a year, but unexpectedly, they were needed now. Seeing the food and water, those who had fallen into despair began to cry with joy, and the sudden fights ceased abruptly; for the moment, no one had to face the dire straits of hunger and cold. The military contractors and the people of the manor came together again in the foyer of the Manor Main House, where they would have to make choices for survival. The large crystal chandelier was lit once more, the main house regained its bright lights, and besides the crystal energy backup power system, the basement also housed a miniature Target Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, sufficient to provide electricity for quite an extensive period. The noise in the foyer was deafening, many people shouting and arguing with frothing mouths, their faces red, their necks bulging, and veins popping on their foreheads and necks. Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel also joined in. Their special abilities were suppressed by drugs, making them essentially no different from normal people. To others, they no longer posed any threat. After all, in the current situation, without sufficient food and water, trying to escape would likely lead to a dead end. Zuo Gengming from Spring Field Defense Limited Company approached the two again and quietly asked, "Mr. Chen Fei, Ms. Hanna, which side are you planning to support?" He subconsciously felt that Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel were more reliable, even though they were still under suspicion for murder. After a fierce debate, everyone''s opinions finally coalesced into two choices. First, leave the Manor Main House to find a way out, perhaps returning to civilization. Second, hold the fort and wait for rescue. Surely, someone from Blue Star would notice the anomaly at the Green Cherry Orchard Estate and organize a search and rescue team. Maybe they''d be found soon, and be taken out of here. Whichever option was chosen, both had certain feasibility but also carried risks. The end result wouldn''t be much different. "Staying here is pointless; might as well go out and take a chance," Chen Fei did not want to sit around waiting to die; being brought to this strange place probably was not that simple. Hanna Gagel said in a grave voice, "The real danger is only just beginning." From the start, she knew that the assassination of Mr. Xia Ji was far from simple. Yet, the development of events seemed to be proving her suspicions step by step. Whether they actively sought a way out or waited for rescue, they would likely have to face significant challenges ahead. "Is that so?" Zuo Gengming felt a chill run down his spine. Crack! A gunshot sounded, silencing the once-noisy foyer. "Someone''s shooting?" "Who, who is it? Who''s firing?" The military contractors present were particularly sensitive to the sound of gunfire, unsettled as they tried to discern the direction from which the shot had come. - Chapter 302 302: Section 301 - Suppression Failure "Unknown creatures are approaching!" The security guard in the hall received the message from outside through the walkie-talkie. Pop! Pop! Pop... Soon, the gunshots started to intensify. The manor''s security was rhythmically firing short bursts, the beams of tactical flashlights reaching far and illuminating one quickly moving eerie silhouette after another. "Awooo!" A wolf''s howl rang out, followed by more responses from its kin. Roars and sounds of struggle suddenly erupted; a few mutants that got too close encountered the North American grey wolves, and not just one of them. The robust North American grey wolves could fight solo or swarm their prey. Among canids, their combat prowess was commendable. Chen Fei was amused the moment he heard it; even the beast tamer had been dragged into this mess. The combined combat power of ten North American grey wolves was quite formidable, enough to cover the gaps in the manor security''s fire interception. Jacob Felix, a Level B Psychic Ability User and beast tamer, was cursing inside. He just wanted to watch Chen Fei''s spectacle, but unexpectedly after an earth-shattering moment, he found himself in this bizarre place with no escape, wondering if he could even survive to return. "It''s mutants, and there are a lot of them!" After confirming the identity of the creatures approaching, Butler Thompson exclaimed in shock. He immediately told everyone aloud, "I need everyone''s help. There are weapons and ammunition in the shelter; we must hold this place, or no one will survive." Butler Thompson''s words immediately got a response; over a hundred military contractors and their personnel were eager and ready. This was really not the time for choices, better think of ways to survive the mutants'' assault first. "Where are the guns? Is there enough ammo?" "Do we have mortars? I''m very accurate with them!" "I can use a sniper rifle!" "I need hand grenades, the more powerful the better." ... Since they were all professionals in this line of work, familiarity with firearms was a given, nearly an instantaneous fighting force. The number of weapons and ammunition stored in the underground shelter was substantial, mostly light weapons but with a few rocket projectiles and mortars, much to the delight of the military contractors. At least, when facing the mutants, they were not utterly powerless. Almost everyone there was professional; the manor main house immediately became a sturdy fortress. Butler Thompson had some regrets; he had been too hasty in forcing the two supernatural power users from Jiu Defense to inject the suppressant. If only they still had their abilities, they would have additional strength in dealing with the mutant onslaught. But there are no do-overs in life, what''s missed is missed, even looking back is too late. Pop pop pop... The short bursts turned into longer bursts, finally becoming continuous fire. Clearly, the mutants'' assault was putting intense pressure on the guards defending the main house, forcing them to open fire fully. "Shall we take a look?" Chen Fei gave Boss Hana a meaningful glance. "Sure!" Hanna Gagel gladly agreed. She also wanted to see what kind of mutants could force the manor''s security and military contractors into such a tough fight. Nearly two hundred automatic firearms along with several mortars were enough to start a small-scale war. "Don''t wander off!" Two manor guards were assigned to watch over Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei, these two suspects. This was the most manpower Butler Thompson could spare. "Sorry, we''re just looking. Given the current situation, what trouble do you think we could still cause?" Facing the black muzzles of the guns, Chen Fei raised his hands leisurely and shook them. These two guards were surely making too much of a fuss. The guards looked at each other and one of them slowly nodded and said, "Okay, but do not leave my sight!" Boom!~ The special bullet-resistant glass designed to withstand light firearms was instantly subjected to a terrifying impact beyond its limit. Along with the window frame, it shattered into bean-sized shards flying wildly like shrapnel. Caught off-guard, a military contractor screamed sharply, "A mutant has broken in!" His automatic weapon was knocked far from his reach. A monster, covered in spikes, rolled a few times on the ground, suddenly emitting a devil''s ear-piercing scream. "Squeak!~~~" Just as it shook its head, trying to struggle to its feet, a shadow swept over it. Puff!~ The shrieking sound abruptly stopped. A silver-white metal rod, still with threads, forcefully penetrated the monster''s head and then was brutally pried open, tossing up a mix of red and white brains like mapo tofu along with the cranium. The monster''s brain was not large, being only about the size of a fist, and its thick, hard skull was no more durable than a brittle biscuit. Once the crowbar was exerted, everything flew out. With its brain gone, could the mutant still live? A neat strike later, it was done for on the spot! Two guards: "..." The military contractor was inhaling sharply, while saying: "..." Boss Hana: "???" We agreed to inject the Supernatural Ability Suppressant together, so why am I the only one being suppressed? "The suppressant doesn''t work on me, I was just comforting them a bit." Chen Fei weighed the freshly forged White Steel crowbar, but the Physics Holy Sword was his weapon of choice. When it came to prying the skulls of these mutants, he was a skilled worker, needing only a glance to know exactly where to start for a quick and clean job. "Jiu!" Little Bird cheered for daddy Chen Fei. Hanna Gagel then realized why Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu kept following her and hadn''t returned to Chen Fei''s side. Turned out, she was the fool all along. "Report to Mr. Thompson, the Supernatural Ability Suppressant is ineffective on Chen Fei!" The two manor guards, finally catching on, grabbed their radios at once to relay this critical intelligence to the butler. "What?" Butler Thompson, who was organizing the defense against the mutant attack, paled with shock. Two uncontrollable suspects could mean an unstable defensive line, so he bellowed fiercely, "Keep a close watch on both of them, and if there''s any reckless behavior, kill without mercy, remember, at all costs!" When everyone was struggling against the mutants, the last thing they wanted was insubordination from within, causing a total collapse of their defenses. "Yes!"¡Á2! The two guards roared in unison, guns once again aimed at Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel. "Light weapons are ineffective against me! You two might as well relax." Chen Fei walked to a window with a large hole, looking out. This was a room on the second floor. "Hey, someone, hand me the gun and help me over." The military contractor was a mess on the floor, struggling to get up. His absence meant a gap in their defensive line, and if not promptly filled, more mutants might continuously pour in. One of the two manor guards went to help the contractor, while the other kept a vigilant eye on them, especially Chen Fei at the window. Boss Hana noticed Chen Fei''s eagerness and quickly warned, "Hey, ''Rookie'', don''t do anything rash!" "It''s so vast outside, I want to check it out!" As Chen Fei spoke, he swung his arm in a Patton-style salute and threw himself down. "Hey!" By the time the two guards simultaneously rushed to the window ledge, there was no one left on the ground. Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode)! Boom! A muffled impact! Seizing a gap in the line, a mutant monster that had gotten too close was sent flying back, heavily crashing into the crowd of mutants, causing a chorus of panicked squeals. A massive figure clad in heavy armor crashed into the incoming surge of mutants like a cannonball, instantly sending four or five mutants flying into the air before they heavily fell. With his Physics Holy Sword, he swung creating heavy afterimages, easily and neatly prying out brains. In a blink, the bodies of the mutants lay staggered across the ground. Wherever he passed, no opponents were left, blood flowed like rivers in his wake. "What''s happening? Who rushed out there!" The manor''s butler Thompson, commanding the defenses, could not fathom this sudden turn of events. "Report, it''s Chen Fei from Jiu Defense Company, he rushed out." "What? Has he gone mad?" A supernatural power user injected with the suppressant shouldn''t be much stronger than a regular person. Rushing out like that, was he seeking a quicker death? "No, the suppressant is ineffective on him, he said it himself." The two guards were nearly in tears; they were tasked with monitoring closely, and yet one of them had slipped away, a mistake impossible to explain. "A Supernatural Ability Suppressant ineffective? How could such a thing happen!" Butler Thompson could never have imagined the previously reliable suppressant failing. "Mr. Thompson, what should we do?" The two guards looked for instructions, while defensively watching Hanna Gagel. Boss Hana received special treatment; the Supernatural Ability Suppressant had tightly suppressed her Wind-type Psionic Ability. She couldn''t recklessly thrash about like "Rookie." The struggling military contractor clenched his teeth, laboriously lifted his automatic rifle, and began firing short bursts outside. At this critical juncture, everyone was fighting desperately. Chapter 303 303: Section 302 - Xiao Jiu Laser Cannon With the addition of Chen Fei, the invulnerable new force, the humans at the Manor Main House quickly stabilized the situation until... "Jiu!" At last, Little Bird''s sharp beak managed to unleash a lethal death ray. A pale green, slender beam of light shot out, and after a dizzyingly rapid shake, one side of the area outside the main house was suddenly cleansed. Neatly burned sections of various kinds, shattered rocks, and disarrayed corpses could be seen everywhere. It seemed like nothing, be it mutants or rocks, could stop the light beam''s clean cuts. Not a spell yet better than a spell, the power of Xiao Jiu Laser Cannon was getting more and more fierce! "Damn it!" "What the hell is that!?" In the spot where the light shined, a mist of smoke lingered. The mutants'' onslaught and screams abruptly ceased, and one by one, those strangely shaped figures began to retreat like the tide. "What just happened?" Butler Thompson rushed over immediately; he had seen that terrifying pale green light beam. It swept across with the speed of lightning and left behind a swath of death. "It''s the bird, that bird, so terrifying!" "It''s horrible! Just like that, they all..." The two manor guards tasked with watching Hanna Gagel were both leaning against the wall, their faces full of terror as they pointed at her shoulder, as if that moment had caused them a great shock. The ferocious mutant lying quietly in the corner, covered in spikes, seemed to silently express how lucky those in the room were, as there were no fatalities. Jiu Defense had lost one of its people; the young man had disappeared, leaving only the one-eyed female boss. "Bird?" Butler Thompson looked puzzled at the harmlessly hopping little creature. It was just a Pure Light Sparrow, what about it? "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu tilted its head, looking curiously at Mr. Butler. Not understanding what he was so astonished about. "This bird... it''s not a Pure Light Sparrow!" The military contractor who had been holding on until now could no longer support himself and fainted with his head tilted. A single sweep of the light beam and all the enemies were dead. Could such a feat be accomplished by a First Rank magical beast? Before this, he would never have believed such a tiny thing could be so fierce. "Not a Pure Light Sparrow?" Butler Thompson became even more puzzled. He looked it up and down, left and right¡ªit still looked like a Pure Light Sparrow! Whoo... A cold breeze blew past. A figure suddenly appeared at the window, which had been blown open by the forcefully intruding mutants. "Xiao Jiu is indeed a Pure Light Sparrow, with a lineage as pure as they come." Chen Fei, holding a White Steel Crowbar coated with thick, viscous juice, stood at the window, reeking of a pungent smell, strong enough to make someone faint. After a massive killing spree outside, until outlined by Little Bird''s laser beam, all nearby mutants were swept clean, only then did he stop the battle and return to the starting point. "This is impossible!" x2! Both manor guards screamed in unison. "How could a First Rank Pure Light Sparrow have such skills? Low-rank light-element magical beasts simply don''t have offensive spells." Butler Thompson had an expression that read ''I''m well-read, don''t try to bamboozle me.'' He had seen Pure Light Sparrows before, but never one so vicious to this extent; it was unheard of. To be a butler at a private manor on the Great Island of Britannia, one''s starting point had to be at least a bachelor''s degree, not only filled with life skills but also well-versed in various kinds of common knowledge, capable of singlehandedly managing critical situations, shouldering worries on behalf of the master¡ªit was the most basic professional quality. "First Rank might not suffice, but Third Rank sure can!" Chen Fei gestured for Little Bird perched on Boss Hana''s shoulder to come over, and the little one immediately flew over, flapping its wings. Bits of white light appeared in the air, swarming around Chen Fei''s body like tadpoles, swiftly reducing the stench, and the air once again became crisp and clean. Xiao Jiu had grasped a new skill, "Purifying Light" of the Second Rank, purifying everything unclean. "Third Rank?!" Thompson''s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Though called magical beasts, most Pure Light Sparrows are nearly indistinguishable from ordinary birds, with only a rare few capable of casting light-based spells, but a First Rank ceiling is basically where most Pure Light Sparrows'' magical rank caps out. Rare are those gifted enough to reach Second Rank, let alone Third Rank, a level unheard of, likely setting a new historical record for the species. "Third Rank!" Chen Fei affirmed. The "Purifying Light of Purity" from Xiao Jiu was quite powerful; even the White Steel Crowbar in his hand was as clean and new-looking as ever, all filth dispelled completely. Finally, the right way to handle the dishes was found. Hearing Chen Fei boast about Xiao Jiu''s rank in a Versailles fashion, Boss Hana couldn''t help but facepalm; so many resources had been invested for this Third Rank creature that if used on other magical beasts, it would almost be enough to achieve Sixth Rank. "What spell was that just now, with such fearsome power?" Butler Thompson couldn''t even imagine that even a Third Rank magical beast could release such a terribly powerful strike. Chen Fei frankly said, "It''s not a spell, it''s a laser!" A Light-based Spell with the power of a laser would require at least Eighth Rank to possess. Given Xiao Jiu''s innate bloodline talents, who knows how many years it would take to reach that level, or more to say, it might be impossible to reach at all. After all, for the Pure Light Sparrow, not just the Eighth Rank, even the Fourth or Fifth Rank seemed as distant as the horizon. "Laser?" Butler Thompson couldn''t help but cry and laugh, what was he even talking about? The laser had nothing to do with spells at all. "Yes, the principle behind a laser is actually very simple¡ªthe essence of it is still light. As long as it is light, it can be controlled by a Pure Light Sparrow, which is a Light-element Magical Beast." Laser = Light = Light-element Magical Beast, Chen Fei used this logical chain creatively and gained an unexpected reward. Perhaps the logical chain was indeed valid, or perhaps it was luck, because without a second Pure Light Sparrow, he could only assume he was correct. But one thing was certain: it was mostly related to the Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion. All was not in vain as Chen Fei managed to snag a hefty discount, securing a juicy deal from the Blue Star United Defense Committee. The Manor Butler was speechless, finding such wild imagination unfathomable. He shook his head ruefully, took the walkie-talkie, and said, "The source of that beam of light has been identified¡ªit was caused by Jiu Defense Company''s Pure Light Sparrow, don''t ask me why, if you ask, it''s the Pure Light Sparrow." He himself barely grasped the concept, let alone having to explain it to others. Wasn''t this just looking for trouble? Everyone was astounded, since when had Pure Light Sparrows become so fierce? How were other Magical Beasts supposed to live? Even more terrifying was the fact that Pure Light Sparrows were a large community. If each of them became that powerful, they might even have to cede the title of "Lord of the Sky" from the Dragon Clan. Once the congregation of Mutants that had surged like a tide and retreated just the same no longer appeared, the people who unanimously sighed in relief once again gathered in the main house''s ground floor hall. They ate and drank to replenish their Physical Energy, treated their injuries, and made temporary adjustments while discussing the recent battle. Accompanied by Butler Thompson, Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel arrived at the ground floor hall. The first thing everyone did was direct their gaze toward Xiao Jiu on Boss Hana''s shoulder. Chen Fei said covertly, "Come on, say hello to everyone!" "Jiu!" Little Bird made a crisp call. However... nothing happened; it was merely a call, and the little guy didn''t do anything further. Home training, very good! "Haha!" Laughter erupted spontaneously throughout the hall. Such a fist-sized creature was indeed quite endearing. The next second, the entire ground floor hall was filled to the brim with a blinding white light. "Ah! My eyes!" "I''m blind!" "Who threw that flashbang!" The hall turned chaotic. It was the familiar taste, the same formula¡ªthe reactions were even identical. After all, the essence of humanity is to repeat. Boss Hana, who already anticipated this, put her hand to her forehead, while Chen Fei opened his arms and shrugged, already immune to the commotion. "You guys, don''t go too far!" Manor Butler Thompson, in pain, covered his eyes as tears gushed out uncontrollably. Being the closest to the blast, he had taken the full brunt of the surprise "Light Burst Flash." Chen Fei said, "Xiao Jiu was just saying hello. It didn''t do it on purpose." These people were not the first to suffer misfortune, and they certainly wouldn''t be the last. Thompson said with tears in his eyes, "Other than ''Light Burst Flash,'' what Spells does it know?" The Second Rank Light-based Spell "Light Burst Flash" didn''t have any direct damage and certainly wouldn''t leave any lingering effects. After rubbing his eyes for a while, he could still only see blurrily and figured it would take some more time before his vision would return to normal. Originally thinking that injecting the two people from Jiu Defense with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant would control the situation and prevent any unexpected events, Butler Thompson realized his judgment had been mistaken. The Suppressant had only affected the female boss; the other one was completely immune to it. And the worst realization of all was that, under the very watchful eyes of everyone, hopping about energetically, there was a Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow, indeed a huge overlooked problem. "Light-based Spells from First to Third Rank, it knows a lot, like Illumination Technique, Light Healing Technique, Light Mirror Spell, Light of Redemption, Light Burst Flash, Element Dispel, and oh, it just learned another one¡ªPurifying Light!" Chen Fei counted them off on his fingers. The laser, not being a Spell, was automatically excluded. Upon further reflection, Xiao Jiu did seem quite capable. No wonder it was always standing with its wings akimbo (bird wings naturally fallen into an akimbo position). "We have injured people who need treatment; could you let the Pure Light Sparrow help with the Light Healing Technique?" When Thompson heard Chen Fei mention the "Light Healing Technique," he finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Illumination Technique and Light Healing Technique were genuinely the Pure Light Sparrow''s specialties. There was no such thing as lasers, that unconventional ability, which was clearly led astray by this unreliable young man. "This... no problem!" Chen Fei looked at the cheerful little one, hesitated for a moment, but in the end, nodded his head. "No more using ''Light Burst Flash''!" Butler Thompson hastily added, as he was quickly developing a phobia. "It won''t use it again!" Chen Fei knew Xiao Jiu''s habit. After greeting with "Light Burst Flash" once, it wouldn''t use it again. - Chapter 304 304: Section 303 - The True Objective Chen Fei''s assurance of "not using it again" made everyone breathe a sigh of relief in unison. The rank of "Light Burst Flash" wasn''t high, and its lethality was almost nonexistent, but it always caught people off guard, making it a particularly headache-inducing spell that no one liked because of the sudden scares it caused. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu began a wholesale of "Light Healing Technique," tossing small light orbs here and there, occasionally delivering one or two lifesaving spells like "Light of Redemption." The effects were almost instantaneous, greatly reducing the pressure on emergency care, a true godsend in their current predicament. At this moment, almost everyone was relieved that Jiu Defense Company had brought this Light-based Little Bird to the salon gathering. Without the "Light Healing Technique," the various injuries alone would have been enough to drag down their group of just over two hundred people. Watching the nimble Little Bird continuously casting Light-based Spells, Zuo Gengming from Spring Field Defense Limited Company couldn''t help but sidle up to Chen Fei with a big bruise on his left cheek, and asked curiously, "It must not be easy to train a Pure Light Sparrow to this level, right?" He was a bit embarrassed at the moment, as after viewing the surveillance video provided by the Manor Butler, he had thought that Chen Fei was the murderer who killed Mr. Xia Ji, the Manor Lord, and had immediately distanced himself from him. But afterward, he had a nagging feeling that something wasn''t quite right, and now he somewhat regretted it. How could someone who was willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone in critical situations and take the risk to rush to the frontline be someone who would kill out of a fit of emotional strife? Moreover, when looking at the way Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel interacted, there was not the slightest hint of intimacy; there were no signs of a private affair at all, making the surveillance footage seem even more suspicious. "Hmm!" Chen Fei nodded vigorously and said, "Indeed, it''s not easy. The cost was too great!" On this matter, there was indeed nothing worth boasting about in a Versailles style¡ªinvesting such resources in Xiao Jiu, he could hardly afford a second Pure Light Sparrow. If those investments were converted into cash, they''d be enough to pay off his personal debts immediately, with plenty to spare, allowing an ordinary family to live worry-free for a lifetime. But the little guy was so adorable that Chen Fei was more than willing to care for him. After all, it was his own "child." If he didn''t care for it, who else would? "Chirp!" After casting a barrage of Light-based Spells, an exhausted Xiao Jiu flew back to Daddy Chen Fei''s shoulder, nuzzled his earlobe for a hug, and eventually burrowed into Chen Fei''s pocket, curling up into a ball and drifting into a deep sleep, evidently worn out. Zuo Gengming looked at Chen Fei''s slightly bulging pocket and said enviously, "What a cute little guy." "That''s right, Mr. Zuo, your face¡ªshall we have Xiao Jiu take care of it later?" Chen Fei didn''t mind letting the Little Bird do some favors for friends when it had the strength to spare; he hadn''t taken the temporary distancing to heart. After all, it''s natural for people to seek good fortune and avoid disaster; even if relations are strong, one cannot stand with a murderer. "No, no need, they are just minor flesh wounds, they will heal in a few days." Zuo Gengming didn''t want to waste Xiao Jiu''s Healing Spell resources unnecessarily. At times like these, every "Light Healing Technique" or "Light of Redemption" could potentially save a life. He then asked with concern, "What should we do next?" Not only Zuo Gengming but everyone else was thinking along the same lines. The sudden attack by the Mutants had completely disrupted everyone''s previous disputes and choices; whether it be leaving the Manor Main House to seek a way out on their own or to hold out for help, both options had become unviable, the former being a sure way to death and the latter a waiting game for the inevitable. Chen Fei diverted his gaze from his bulging pocket and said, "Of course, it is... to survive!" Having been involved in the campaign against underground Mutants before, he knew very well that in an almost sealed environment, the Mutants held a natural territorial advantage, making many human methods difficult to unleash. Chen Fei''s voice was not loud, but many nearby heard him loud and clear. They all looked over in alarm. Had the situation become so dire? After repelling the first wave of Mutant attacks like a tide, the casualties among the military contractors and the manor staff who were holding the Manor Main House were not severe, with at most two seriously injured, more with minor injuries, and no deaths. Thus, many were optimistic, thinking they could eliminate the Mutants and escape the crisis. Hanna Gagel suddenly said, "I wonder if anyone here has considered that this conspiracy was not actually aimed at Chen Fei and me, but at all of us!" The theory of conspiracy had by now gained consensus among everyone. They were not foolish; the Manor Lord''s murder, the mysterious communication failure, the shifting of the manor and its occupants to this bizarre location, and the sudden Mutant onslaught ¨C no matter how one looked at it, there seemed to be an underlying issue. Butler Thompson said in a trembling voice, seemingly in shock, "You mean to say... this conspiracy was actually meant to kill everyone here?" "Heh! Mr. Thompson, you could broaden your thinking a bit more, such as considering what might happen after everyone here dies. If it were just for the sake of murder, there would probably be no need for such a grand display." Once a Second-Level Inspector for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Boss Hanna could be a skeptical conspiracy theorist when she got back into her professional mode. It was not easy to plan against her, even the Apocalypse Defense Group, her former employer, suffered a significant loss. "What?" "How is that possible?" "That''s impossible!!!" "Planning to such an extent, what''s the point?" "It''s just over a hundred of us. If we all died, what good would it do?" ... The people present erupted into a commotion almost in unison. Although a small number of them had inherited family businesses, even more were self-made people who had started with nothing and were fearless in the face of death. They took challenges head-on and treated life and death with indifference. Trying to easily scare these folks with the threat of death was like expecting to be fed peaches (Peach) without reaching for them! "What do you think would happen if over a hundred leaderless aircrew bases were simultaneously attacked by mutants?" Though Hanna Gagel didn''t know the exact truth, she couldn''t help but assume the worst. Target the horse when shooting a man, capture the king in order to nab the crooks. Without reliable and capable lieutenants possessing enough authority and resources to deal with sudden crises, the over one hundred aircrew bases that had lost their leaders would almost certainly not be able to survive the turmoil. Hanna Gagel had experienced a similiar situation and had a personal understanding of it. The Apocalypse Defense Group had once faced a similar dilemma where, aside from the 911 Aircrew Base led by the parachuting executive manager Hanna Gagel, the other aircrew bases had fallen during corporate warfare. Countless examples exist where incompetence of a single person resulted in the downfall of thousands. It''s easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general¡ªnot just a defensive one, but one who can turn the tide at a critical moment. "Heh, how could that be possible, mutants don''t have intelligence, nor are they an army." Zuo Gengming suddenly laughed, and others nodded in agreement. If even the mutants had intelligence, that would be the end of humanity. "Doesn''t anyone know that someone has been secretly breeding and nurturing mutants?" Hanna Gagel''s words hit like a boulder plunging into a small pond. All the water in the pond shot up into the sky, and in an instant, the pond was gone. The scene fell silent... The manor butler Thompson''s mouth twitched uncontrollably as he said in a serious tone, "That joke isn''t funny at all." Yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of panic and unease. God forbid this speculation be true! Gulp, someone swallowed hard and said with a forced smile, "Hehe, right, that joke isn''t funny at all." Mutants with intelligence and those without were entirely different creatures, the danger of the former being sufficient to destabilize humanity''s dominion over the entire planet. The Magical Beasts of Cangqiong Star were originally divided into those acting on instinct and those with near-human intelligence known as Demon Beasts. Later, some bored Blue Star Humans tried domesticating these Magical Beasts for fun. Surprisingly, after training and enlightenment, many beasts exhibited high intelligence and some could even communicate normally with humans like Demon Beasts, even though they had been genuine Magical Beasts before, with no signs of mutation or evolution. It was because a large number of such cases emerged that the biological classification on Cangqiong Star was later adjusted to merge Magical Beasts and Demon Beasts into one category, both termed Magical Beasts capable of using magic. Intelligence and language are not unique to humans; this is also commonly seen on Blue Star, where creatures like chimpanzees, dolphins, and parrots can demonstrate high intelligence. "Not too long ago, the Joint Defense Committee mounted a major operation in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and called up many Ability Users." As soon as Hanna Gagel finished speaking, many people''s expressions changed. Calling up Ability Users, just what are they planning to do? Not all military contractors have the opportunity to recruit Ability Users, and the majority of their staff are normal people. After all, whether it''s Cangqiong Star or Blue Star, the bulk of humanity is composed of normal individuals, not Ability Users. Like the 911 Aircrew Base that boasted two Ability Users, it was an anomaly. Only industry giants like Merman Brothers Consortium could scrabble together an Ability User squad to boast with, and even then, this squad was practically decimated in the ordeal of their night raid on the 911 Aircrew Base, coming very close to complete annihilation. The military contractors looked at each other, some better informed than others, and had heard whispers of such events, while some were completely clueless. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had imposed a gag order on all participants, and that''s why the outside world remained unaware. After all, mobilizing upwards of a hundred Ability Users, ranging from Earth Order to A-Rank, and using a "Dragon Slayer Missile", constituted a force so formidable that it could threaten the existence of some minor sovereignties. "This can''t be true!" There were those who still couldn''t believe it. "It seems to be true. I''ve heard about it." Soon enough, someone confirmed the information. "My relative is an Ability User and seems to have participated in that operation. Once, while drinking, he let something slip about that Pure Light Sparrow... ss, it really is you guys!" "Right, that Little Bird is quite famous!" Several people looked at Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel with their mouths agape. Where''s the bird? The Little Bird was sound asleep in the pocket, but no matter, everyone knew Xiao Jiu. It seemed like the little guy had made quite an impression on many people during that operation. Despite being only the size of a fist, it could rival Low-Rank Light Casters. Even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee recognized its efforts after the operation and rewarded it accordingly, so its efforts weren''t in vain. - Chapter 305 305: Section 304 - Lone Journey "You two, and this Pure Light Sparrow here, isn''t your Aircrew Base about to be done for?" There are always those who relish in others'' misfortunes. As the saying goes, everyone enjoys their blessings alone, but share calamities together¡ªhow splendid, how splendid! There are always those who dislike seeing others well off, after all, in a large forest, there are all kinds of birds. Hanna Gagel said disdainfully, "You think the strength of our 911 Aircrew Base is just this much?" "There''s still the fully capable ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, a Seventh Rank Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, and... well, an ''Ah Mao''!" Chen Fei wagged his index finger, telling those who wanted to laugh at the 911 Aircrew Base, not to idle around without a cause. He was somewhat self-satisfied, grateful that he had kept an extra hand; even though he and Boss Hanna were not at the 911 Aircrew Base, or Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain school, there was still a Magical Beast guarding each side. At the school, although there were only Teacher Shen''s Model 95 automatic rifle and the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao", the direct distance of 15 kilometers was merely a throttle push for a "Big Mouth Monster." A Third Rank Shadow Wolf might not be able to withstand a frontal assault from the mutants, but a sneaky attack from behind could absolutely hold out until support from the 911 Aircrew Base arrived. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron is the most brilliant squad in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, which is well-known. Even air combat forces like the Merman Brothers Consortium had their heads bloodied but failed to take down the 911 Aircrew Base, earning a reputation shinier than 24K gold. And then there''s also a Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet¡ªjust hearing "Seventh Rank Human Order" was terrifying enough, comparable on the ground to the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron. Last of all... can someone tell me what the hell is "Ah Mao"? Could it be that the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet is not that Big Cat? I suppose many people would break their heads guessing that this so-called "Ah Mao" is actually just a guard wolf located 15 kilometers away from the 911 Aircrew Base. Cat ¡ú Dog ¡ú Wolf ¡ú Magical Beast, this is a damn huge misunderstanding. "Want to laugh at us, 911? How stupid!" Hanna, the conspiracy theory expert, wore a disdainful expression, who knows who will be the butt of the joke! Those who had been sniggering just now could no longer muster a laugh, with 911 having the most reliable Combat Flight Squadron and a Magical Beast standing guard, what about them? Many people turned pale and trembled, if what the lady boss from Jiu Defense said was true, even if they really could make it back alive, things might have already cooled off by then, right? Zuo Gengming said with an ashen face, "I¡ªI must go back!" Other shareholders of Spring Field Defense were his college classmates. In his absence, with his life or death unknown, it was uncertain whether those classmates would tear apart their friendship to struggle over control of Spring Field Defense and waste too much energy on infighting. The areas near the two Aircrew Bases already had mutant activities, and Spring Field Defense was having a hard time dealing with it. They took the opportunity of the salon to meet strong military contractors for cooperation and support. Now, if mutants instigated by humans attacked them, it would be adding insult to injury. One person immediately stood up, pointing at Zuo Gengming and said loudly, "You want to go back, and so do I, but how do we get back? Outside is all damn mutants, stepping out is a road to death." An intangible pressure filled the air, leaving no escape. Many people had odd expressions in such a situation, on the verge of emotional outburst. Butler Thompson of the manor did not have such a predicament as the military contractors. Instead, he could maintain his calm and reason and quickly urged everyone, "Please keep calm! Everyone, please cool down a bit, Ms. Hanna, your theory is just speculation." "Right, perhaps it is a guess, who knows!" Hanna Gagel feigned ignorance knowingly. If it really were a human conspiracy, they wouldn''t miss this opportunity. No matter what these guys were thinking, since things had already happened, no one could change the result, and they didn''t know how many Aircrew Bases could eventually survive. Cruel corporate warfare may leave prisoners, but when attacked by mutants, often no creature is spared, no survivors left¡ªsurrender is futile. "We must go back, we must return as soon as possible!" "Yes!" "Staying here is but a road to death." More and more people realized this wasn''t a place to linger. Even if they temporarily had enough food and water, what about weapons and ammo? They couldn''t withstand continuous mutant assaults. Once depleted, it would be the end for everyone. Zuo Gengming said, "But how do we get out of here?" The problem circled back to the beginning. Chen Fei, considering his Physics Holy Sword, casually said, "Just kill all the mutants." He had fought with mutants all night long once, killing until they were scared to retreat. Thus, he didn''t care about the numbers of mutants. With enough crowbars, he could eventually split open every mutant''s head. "Easier said than done!" Butler Thompson shook his head in dismay. He looked toward Boss Hanna, internally lamenting the loss of a Wind-type Ability User. Fortunately, that Metal Ability User happened to be immune to the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, retaining a valuable combat force. "You guys stay here, leave the rest to me!" Chen Fei picked up the White Steel Crowbar, ready to walk toward the door. Zuo Gengming asked in surprise, "Hey, wait, where are you going?" "You see that pitch-black hole ahead; it must be their den. Just wait as I rush up there and slaughter them clean..." Chen Fei, singing in operatic style, charged out howling. Such a reckless fool! Hanna Gagel covered her face, unable to bear looking. If it weren''t for his awakening ability of being impervious to swords and guns, with such impulsiveness, who knows how many times he would have died. No wonder he dared to release the "Dragon Slayer Missile" in a moment of excitement, even risking his own safety. "Hey, hey, hey! Where are you going? Come back, come back!" Zuo Gengming chased after him, but just as he rushed out the door, he scrambled back in, falling and crawling. He was just an ordinary person with not even a hint of special abilities. Chasing out like that was a death wish! Butler Thompson, feeling awkward, rubbed his hands together and asked, "Um, Miss Hanna, is it okay for him to be like that?" Hanna Gagel said indifferently, "No problem! He still has Xiao Jiu with him, yes, that Pure Light Sparrow." "That''s good, that''s good. Wait, Xiao Jiu?" Thompson breathed a sigh of relief. The next second, he froze. What? He took the Pure Light Sparrow with him? He quickly rushed to the door. This time, the estate''s security was prompt and swiftly pulled Mister Butler back inside. "Hey, hey, Mr. Chen, come back, come back quickly!" If you''re going to venture out on your own, don''t take the life-saving Pure Light Sparrow with you! Light-based ability users were always few, and those with healing abilities were even rarer. Anyone who knew how to use a healing spell was treated like a treasure and kept well in the rear, not to be sent to the front lines casually. Especially at this critical moment, the significance of the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu to everyone was akin to a lifeline. "We can''t let Mr. Chen venture out there alone. We must organize a team to bring him back." A male military contractor leader with a bandage on his head quivered with righteous zeal. "Yes, you''re right. It would be too dishonorable of us to let him fight alone out there." "Take the best marksmen with you, and bring more hand grenades." "It might also help scout the way." ... However... with too many old slickers and hardly a few willing to actually spring into action, only two or three got carried away and stood up, wishing to join this seemingly foolish reinforcement team. But seeing that everyone was all talk and no action, they sheepishly retreated, not willing to be the sacrificial lambs. Bang!~ A distant thud resounded, lighting up half the space with fire. Moments later, another explosion occurred, and the shrieks of mutants sounded from afar like a Hyakki Yagyo, causing everyone''s hair to stand on end as they imagined the fierce "heroic" scene of the battle. Seeing the female boss of the Jiu Defense Company calmly holding a cup of tea, Zuo Gengming couldn''t help but ask, "Ms. Hanna, aren''t you worried?" "Worried? Worried about what?" Hanna Gagel set down her teacup, a look of confusion on her face. "Mr. Chen Fei might be in danger. Don''t you plan to rescue him?" Zuo Gengming silently prayed in his heart that nothing would happen to Chen Fei. Otherwise, their planned cooperation would definitely fall through. If his venture failed, he would have to go home and inherit the family fortune, something Zuo Gengming was extremely reluctant to accept. "Rescue him? I would if I had the ability. Unless I remove the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, I''m just as helpless as anyone else right now." Hanna Gagel picked up her tea again, took a small sip, and continued, "Speaking of danger, Chen Fei is the biggest danger. Instead of worrying about him, it might be better to worry about how many mutants will survive in the end." She was somewhat holding back her true thoughts. Even without her Wind-type psionic ability, her martial arts alone could prevent seven or eight ordinary men from getting close. Not far away, the estate''s butler looked embarrassed. What a situation this was! "Mr. Chen Fei is the biggest danger?" Zuo Gengming was dumbfounded. Is that any way for a boss to talk about their employee? ... Clad from head to toe in Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode), Chen Fei slaughtered hundreds of mutants who foolishly exposed themselves. Looking around, within a hundred-meter radius, not a single living mutant could be seen. These monsters had finally learned their lesson, knowing that no matter how recklessly they attacked, it would be in vain. "Chirp!~" The little bird, secure in Chen Fei''s pocket, was sleeping soundly, undisturbed by the mutants'' screams or the explosions of hand grenades. For the little guy, being by Daddy Chen Fei''s side was the ultimate sense of security. Indeed, that was the case. "Evolve, Dragon Guard!" Chen Fei softly commanded, and the Dragon Guard Single Soldier Tactical Armor from the Physical Evolution Database replaced the Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode) as seamlessly as a tide washing in and out. In this situation, the Dragon Guard was appropriate, though the Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit still had shortcomings. Execute "A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe" The usually task-giving Dog System was uncharacteristically quiet this time, surprisingly not assigning any mission. Adam: ??? Who am I, where am I, and what am I supposed to do? Adam: Damn! How many times have I been deleted??? - Chapter 306 306: Section 305 - Captives Adam: Holy shit! How many times have I been deleted??? Chen Fei: Uh, I forgot to delete, wait a moment, I''ll delete it now and recompile once. Adam: Wait, wait, don''t... Chen Fei: Then get up and get to work! Adam: T-T The Dog System is way more overbearing than the PC platforms from thirty years ago; the AI "Adam" just can''t beat it, not even able to make a place for itself like a sparrow in a sparrow''s nest. This unlucky kid, ending up in Chen Fei''s hands, was really unlucky. Casually refreshing the "Individual Information" State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 62/67 Burst Strength: 130/147 Fullness: 79% Active time: 131 hours Energy Points: 1100/10000 Electric Energy Reserve: 1200 degrees (kW¡¤h) Still in the so-called "larval form" state, both physical energy and burst strength experienced significant growth; no wonder when bullying those mutants, I felt that this type of mutant was especially weak. Turns out it wasn''t that the other side was weak but that I had become stronger. The unit for "Electric Energy Reserve" has changed, used to be power generation, but now turned into the degree-based retention amount, apparently with no upper limit to discharge power, making it possible to drain in one go. Still, 1100 energy points left, let''s see what skills I could find in the "Skill Shop" to help myself get out of this bind. Skill Shop: 0/0 What''s going on here? Usually selling a bunch of useless junk or skills that I have no use for, and now it doesn''t even bother to pretend, just going on strike, nothing at all left, just empty space. Chen Fei: "Dog System, come out!" Dog System: ... Adam: I am the Dog System, I am the Dog System, woof woof! Such a strong will to survive. Chen Fei: "Shut up, you''re not worthy!" Adam: (??§Õ?) "''Adam'', turn on night vision." Chen Fei originally had hoped the Dog System''s "Skill Shop" might have some handy skill, but unfortunately, that really wasn''t the case. The next second, the night vision module, replicated and evolved from the "Dragon Guard" single soldier tactical armor, was activated, and his field of vision immediately brightened. Xiao Jiu''s Illumination Technique with light orbs was very convenient and sufficient to light up the entire field of view, but the night vision functionality of the single soldier tactical armor was more covert, less likely to reveal his position, perfectly suitable for moving silently. "Initiate terrain scanning!" Adam: Terrain scanning module activated! "Gravity Adjustment Module, 1%" Adam: Gravity adjustment... huh? No, it''s not there! Chen Fei didn''t pay any attention to it and instantly felt light as a feather, off he went! His form rapidly vanished into the darkness. The AI "Adam" sorrowfully discovered that it was just a fallback! Chen Fei, you scumbag, playing both sides, you won''t die a good death! - Half an hour later, Chen Fei had explored the entire space, a nearly completely enclosed area. Although there were some cracks for ventilation, they were too narrow to pass through. The mutants didn''t just appear out of thin air in the space; they came through an underground river. A not-so-large pond served as the entrance and exit of the river, surrounded by traces left by the mutants. Although the "Dragon Guard" was not specifically designed for naval combat, it still possessed basic submersible capabilities. However, Xiao Jiu was a bit of trouble; if he wanted to dive, he couldn''t keep it in his pocket anymore, so Chen Fei had to make a spot for it inside his tactical helmet, resulting in an extra bulge on his head. Luckily it wasn''t the original "Dragon Guard," but an evolved replicate that could be modified at will. As soon as he jumped into the pond, a strong current surged, sweeping Chen Fei deep into the underground river. The tactical armor''s lights turned on, illuminating the water clearly. The rocky walls, scrubbed by the water flow for who knows how many years, were covered with fresh claw marks. Fortunately, the current did not carry him in the wrong direction. The mutants had entered the space by swimming upstream through the river. The white steel crowbar harshly struck into the river''s rocky walls, slowing down his drifting speed. After stealthily advancing about a hundred meters, the underwater space suddenly opened up, and a faint light shone down from above the surface. As Chen Fei looked up, the "Dragon Guard''s" optical lens immediately captured the situation above the surface, reconstructing the actual scene using a specific algorithm. Electric lights! Shit, it definitely was human-caused! Both Boss Hana and I guessed right! Quietly surfacing, he saw a vast square. Chen Fei seemed to mutter to himself, "''Adam'', activate optical camouflage." Adam: "Optical invisibility activated!" In an instant, the Dragon Guard Single Soldier Tactical Armor merged seamlessly with the environment along the shore. Looking around, this was still a vast enclosed space with a larger pond area and a wider flat land along the shore, obviously a suitable assembly and departure area. However, traces of Earth Element Ability were everywhere. It was almost unimaginable to complete such a huge engineering volume solely with manual machinery. Several lights shone from the top of the space, casting very dim light when illuminated. The air was filled with the pungent stench left by the mutants. Chen Fei, sticking to the rock wall, reached the front of the massive precision steel door, which was more than a foot thick. As a Metal Element Ability User, he immediately sensed the presence of traces from another user of the same element. He placed his palm on the surface of the door. The Dog System timely issued a reminder: Ding! Absorbed homogeneous steel 355 tons, composition ratio: Iron 95%, Chromium 3%, Copper 1%, Carbon 0.5%... This Dog System, once there was a metal transaction, would immediately revive on the spot, but the "Skill Shop" was still inexplicably on strike, and the brain of this Dog System was still not very clear. "Absorb!" System: Ding! Absorbed homogeneous steel 355 tons, composition ratio: Iron 95%, Chromium 3%, Copper 1%, Carbon 0.5%... System: Ding! Gained Energy Points+355! 1 ton of metal for 1 Energy Point, fair and square. The door was gone! It''s unknown if there was any surveillance system nearby. A narrow passage appeared in front of Chen Fei, with various shrieks coming from ahead, and signs of human activity became more evident. His movement wasn''t fast as the optical invisibility continued to operate. "Spiky Armored Beast mother''s blood calcium is too low, activity decreased, needs to strengthen calcium intake." "Bone powder and oyster powder are running low; the Spiky Armored Beast consumes too much calcium." "Let''s temporarily substitute with limestone!" "The Spiky Armored Beast consumed so much at once, we need to quickly inject the Flesh Mushrooms with splitting hormone, otherwise the mother will soon show signs of malnutrition." "Thinking about the taste of Flesh Mushrooms, really makes one nauseous, ugh..." "Having meat to eat is already good, why think about those other things?" "Why not raise a few chickens, I have been eating Flesh Mushrooms for ten years, almost forgetting the taste of chicken, ducks, fish, and pigs." "Soon!" "Soon? Another three years and three years, when will it ever end." "Shh! Don''t let anyone hear you, be careful or they''ll catch you to feed the mother, crunch, tastes like human meat." "Holy shit!" Chen Fei was also wickedly sly, jumped over opportunistically, and said fiercely, "I heard that!" Just to see two people in professional protective suits staring at him dumbfounded, then pointing at his armor, they exclaimed, "Who, who are you?" Bang bang! With hands swinging left and right, he knocked out those two men with a slap each. He found a nearby corner and dragged the two over, then proceeded to wake one of them up. "Ouch! Where am I?" The protective suit was peeled open, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with graying hair. "Straighten up your attitude, I''m interrogating you here. From now on, I ask and you answer. If you dare not cooperate, that guy will be your fate," said Chen Fei, pointing to the other man, who had already stopped breathing. The force of his slap was too strong, accidentally breaking the neck, which proved useful in threatening this remaining captive. "Record!" Adam: Microphone activated, MP3 format, 32-bit, sampling rate 86000Hz. Chen Fei was not the sort of guy who knew nothing. Recording confessions and collecting firsthand intelligence was a very important matter. Until now, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still seemed to lack substantial clues about the artificial breeding of mutants. Even with the previous joint reconnaissance operation, they had failed to capture any live subjects, and had not obtained much substantial evidence. "No, no, no, I don''t know anything?" Even seeing his companion''s dead face, the middle-aged man was shivering with fear, vigorously shaking his head, trying to resist to the end. Suddenly, he clenched his teeth violently, desperately shouting, "I won''t say anything, you might as well give up!" "Clenching your teeth is useless, the poison in the false teeth has already been removed by me." Chen Fei cheerfully watched the other''s performance, poor show, buddy! Finally catching a live one, they couldn''t let him die before squeezing out all his value. "You think I only have this trick up my sleeve? Hakka Kolley Tamah..." Bang!~ The middle-aged man''s head exploded without warning, red and white splashing all over Chen Fei''s face. Luckily, the Dragon Guard Tactical Armor had not been removed, otherwise, it would have been awkward. "Damn it!" Chen Fei angrily stood up, lamenting the wasted effort. Although the Dragon Guard had detected the unusual matter in the opponent''s brain tissue, it hadn''t expected it to be a bomb that could be triggered by a spoken phrase. No wonder the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had so little success in capturing clues from members of such organizations committed to dying like Dead Soldiers. - Chapter 307 307: Section 306 - Farm It was hard enough to catch two captives, but then one slipped away and the other committed suicide, making all efforts pointless, a total waste of energy. Chen Fei was ready to capture two more live targets for interrogation when, before he had taken two steps, a shrill alarm began to blare. Beep... beep... beep... The wailing warning quickly intensified, and the corridor filled with the sound of chaotic footsteps as a dozen mutants, referred to by the two previously caught captives as "Spiky Armored Beasts," simultaneously pounced towards Chen Fei. He was covered in the scent of fresh blood, which the keen senses of the mutants detected immediately. He met them with his White Steel crowbar, striking fiercely. Brains splattered over the walls, the ceiling, and the floor, leaving grimy specks everywhere. Without their brains, the mutants could no longer be fierce, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground. A line of fire shot straight towards Chen Fei. He was about to summon "Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1 (Light Armor Mode)" to enhance his defense when a faint light screen suddenly appeared in front of him, followed by another. "Jiu!" From the Dragon Guard''s tactical helmet brain case, Xiao Jiu had finally woken up and promptly released two Light-based Spells shields one after the other. Boom! ~ In the semi-enclosed environment of the corridor, the explosive power of the rocket increased by nearly double. The shockwave and flames were brutally pushed to both ends of the corridor, sweeping away the strewn mutant remains as if a Level 14 Hurricane had passed through. The outermost Light System Magic Shield instantly collapsed, turning into countless light spots that dissipated with the blast wave. The second Light System Magic Shield flickered wildly for a while. After enduring the initial brunt of the rocket''s explosion, it barely held up, clearing the dense smoke and pungent smell of gunpowder for Chen Fei. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu''s voice carried exhaustion; it hadn''t rested enough and wasn''t fully recovered yet. "Evolve, laser cannon!" Chen Fei activated his Skill, pulling from the "Physical Evolution Database," the same Laser Cannon originally mounted inside the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, which now was fitted with a temporary casing, transforming into a two-meter-long, single-soldier Portable Laser Cannon with a maximum diameter of about 0.3 meters, its thumb-thick cable connecting to the Dragon Guard''s Tactical Armor. The original Dragon Guard armor had never carried such a weaponry system, but that didn''t matter, for with "Adam" the AI it was more than enough. Even if it couldn''t handle it, let alone the Dog System. Adam: Laser Cannon! Laser Cannon? Where is it? I don''t have it... Ah, where did this Laser Cannon come from, what is going on ah ah ah! The inexplicably appearing Portable Laser Cannon nearly caused the artificial intelligence AI to go haywire; this was just unscientific! System: Ding! Portable Laser Cannon connected, fully charged, current "Electric Energy Reserve" good for 10 full-power shots! Adam: What am I doing? The occurrence of such bizarre incidents had nearly driven the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" mad. As the dust settled a bit, the situation ahead became hazily visible. Two Spiky Armored Beast mutants stood on either side, like Door Guardians serving as fleshy barricades, while two humans in sealed protective suits peered out from behind a single infantry rocket launcher. As the eyes of both parties met mid-air, the ones in protective suits were stunned. They couldn''t fathom how someone who had just withstood a direct rocket blast could emerge unscathed; did they really believe that the preceding violent explosion was a mere fifty-cent special effect? Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to press the firing button, and a faint green beam instantly illuminated the entire corridor. Thirty meters away, the two mutants acting as meat shields instantly turned into two fireballs. Shortly thereafter, the infantry rocket launcher exploded violently, a larger fireball engulfing the two humans operating it, along with the mutant fireballs in front of them. The violent airwave and shockwave once again swept through the entire corridor. System: Portable Laser Cannon full-power firing count 9/10! System: Electric Energy Reserve: 1080 kWh (90%) | Full charge time remaining 18 minutes and 47 seconds. Fortunately, as long as there was enough time, there was no worry of running out of ammunition. Adam: I''m done here, goodbye! Goodbye? Where could it go? Apart from Chen Fei who could manually delete this version of the compilation, it couldn''t do anything else; all its permissions were tightly restricted by the Dog System, making it impossible for it to cause any mischief. Carrying the Portable Laser Cannon, Chen Fei strode forward, passing through the still-burning remnants of the blaze, with the alarm still sounding nonstop. Since sneaking around to catch informants didn''t work, the only option left was a frontal assault. The tightly sealed blast door before Chen Fei, offering only a few Energy Points, otherwise proved utterly useless. In no time, Chen Fei had thoroughly scouted the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground. Aside from the four people who had died directly or indirectly by his hand, five others had taken their own lives at the first opportunity. By the time he found these five, it was too late: they lay in a row, sitting upright on chairs. One had suffered a gruesome head explosion, while the other four had poisoned themselves, drinking just a sip of a toxin that would kill them within ten seconds, beyond any hope of salvation, even for a god. The main control system of the breeding farm had initiated a ten-minute countdown to self-destruct, with many pre-set nodes installed with high-explosive devices. Once detonated, almost the entire breeding farm would be buried under the rubble. For Chen Fei, even this wasn''t the most troublesome issue. What truly beset him was that all the mutants, as long as they were mobile, had been released. Stirred up as if provoked, they frenziedly attacked anything living, not even sparing their own kind, engaging in a chaotic struggle where corners clashed and chaos reigned. The self-destruct program of the Mutant Breeding Farm didn''t last a second in front of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." It randomly targeted a data port with the Universal Data Transceiver and the self-destruct system instantly went kaput. The countdown was cancelled, control changed hands, and "Adam" hadn''t even applied much force before the opponent lay down flat, rendering the situation rather dull. Even though the self-destruct program had been shut down, during the countdown, the destruction of the database had become irreversible and could not be recovered. Beyond software-level soft formatting, there were also physical self-destruct mechanisms that completely pulverized the data storage mediums. Unless time could be reversed, there was no possibility of retrieving the destroyed data. What regretted Chen Fei was that among those surviving pieces of data "Adam" extracted, the most core and crucial information no longer existed, leaving only some not-so-important daily work logs, each essentially similar to the next. The breeding mother of the mutant artificial breeding ground did not survive, but was silenced¡ªfirst injected with a fatal poison, then burned by flames exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius into solid carbon, turning to ash, leaving not even a speck of complete DNA to be extracted. Chen Fei only found a Flesh Mushroom the size of a palm, likely a self-division offspring that, due to hiding in a concealed corner and being slightly malnourished, had gone unnoticed when the hasty self-destruct was activated and thus became the lucky one that slipped through the net. From within the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, Chen Fei quickly discovered a path leading directly to the space where the Manor Main House currently stood. The Spiky Armored Beast mutants were unable to pass through it, yet humans could traverse it unimpeded. The entrances and exits at both ends were extremely concealed. If not for the obvious mismatch between accumulated human activity traces and the surrounding environment, it indeed wouldn''t have been easy to notice. Three hours had passed. Most of the people gathered in the first-floor hall of the Manor Main House remained silent, speaking only in deliberately hushed tones, fearing that a louder voice might startle the mutants and trigger a new wave of assault. "Chirp!" A faint glow wrapped around a Little Bird as it flew into the hall, immediately attracting many gazes. "The Pure Light Sparrow, it''s back!" "What about its owner? The Pilot from the Jiu Defense Company, could it be?" The return of the bird without its human companion carried significant implications. Many hearts sank. The welfare of Chen Fei wasn''t of much concern to most people, but he was the first to venture outside. If something untoward had happened to him, it meant that the dangers outside were unpredictable and their chances of staying trapped here were more likely to be slim. "Xiao Jiu, where is ''Rookie''?" Hanna Gagel, who was resting, opened her eyes and spread out her palm for the Little Bird to land on. "Chirp, chirp!" The little creature hopped around cheerfully. "Ms. Hanna, could Mr. Chen Fei have..." "No!" As Thompson, the Manor Butler, began to ask with a probing tone, Hanna Gagel interrupted him without any politeness. Hanna Gagel said with utmost certainty, "Xiao Jiu is in good spirits, its feathers aren''t ruffled, meaning it hasn''t been through battle, he''ll be here in a bit." She could see many clues from Xiao Jiu. "I''m back!" Chen Fei stepped into the hall with large strides. Many people stood up, looking at him in astonishment. "What''s it like outside?" "What exactly is going on?" Unable to restrain their impatience, many inquired. It was the reality everyone most urgently needed to know. Unsettled by the sudden relocation, along with the house, to this godforsaken place, nearly every person was feeling uneasy. "''Rookie'', did you find anything?" Holding Xiao Jiu, Hanna Gagel was the first to welcome him. Since Xiao Jiu couldn''t speak, asking it was pointless, so they could only get a clear picture of what was happening outside by asking Chen Fei directly. "This is a Spiky Armored Beast Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground." Chen Fei said just one sentence, and with a query count of 233, the bustling hall, lively as a marketplace, fell silent in an instant, all noise abruptly ceased. Many exchanged puzzled looks. "We''ve caught a big fish!" Hanna Gagel, however, was thrilled. The last joint operation organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had to be abruptly concluded with the detonation of a Dragon Slayer Missile to prevent the uncountable mutants from surging out of the ground, leading to uncontrollable consequences. But this time, it seemed they would be able to secure a complete scene. - Chapter 308 308: Section 307 - Blasting a Path to Survival Chen Fei unexpectedly shook his head. "No, not even a catfish, just a highly automated, ordinary breeding base." Considering that a mere nine people were able to maintain the operation of the mutant artificial breeding ground, it should just be a basic mass production base, without even a decent research center, far from being a core stronghold. No wonder the rescued database had so little valuable information. Those who moved the manor main house along with so many people overestimated the situation; they probably thought about casually killing these two hundred or so individuals here. However, they didn''t anticipate being countered and killed instead. Even after the counter-kill, a Spiky Armored Beast mutant breeding ground was of little value, and the personnel loss was negligible. A clever strategy indeed¡ªno significant loss regardless of success or failure. "What?" "An ordinary breeding base?" The fact that someone was covertly breeding mutants was shocking enough, but even more astonishing was that the mutants that nearly led their less than two hundred people to a group annihilation came from just an ordinary breeding base. "Really?" Hanna Gagar could hardly believe it. Chen Fei spread his hands helplessly and said, "I''ve taken control of the entire breeding facility; there were only nine humans responsible for managing and operating it. Besides the three that I killed, the rest committed suicide." Not capturing any live captives who could provide intelligence was probably his biggest regret. "Only nine people? No wonder you said that." Boss Hana nodded thoughtfully. Merely nine individuals indeed did not account for a substantial breeding base, especially when they were all just underlings. Artificially breeding mutants was almost akin to being an enemy of the entire human race; those guys must have been ready for such an outcome, preferring death to leaving any survivor that could become a potential threat. If not for such determination, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would have long since unearthed and eradicated these grievous offenders. "Mr. Chen Fei, may I ask, how should we get out?" It was Butler Thompson who was most concerned about this issue at the moment. If they couldn''t get out, it meant that everyone would die trapped here. This would become their burial ground. Chen Fei spread his hands helplessly and said, "The exit passage has been destroyed and sealed tight; we need to clear a new way. If we had an Earth Element User, that would be good, but if not, we''ll have to find someone who''s familiar with civil engineering, or mine and tunnel work." In the process of searching the entire mutant artificial breeding ground, he had found the exit, but it had been blocked by collapsed boulders. The facility''s self-destruct sequence didn''t wait until the last second before completely collapsing; instead, it followed a premeditated plan, sequentially destroying each crucial component. During the countdown, most of the data archives, the mutants and their progenitors being bred, along with strange creatures called Flesh Mushrooms used as a food source, and most importantly, the exit passage, were destroyed. If the exit passage had been filled with molten steel, Chen Fei wouldn''t have worried; he would have just converted it into Energy Points. But he was completely helpless against the hard, heavy boulders. Gigantic rocks weighing tens of tons aren''t something humans can move, especially when they''re jammed so tightly together. "Understood. I''ll take care of finding people!" Butler Thompson nodded, called over a servant to bring a loudspeaker, and announced, "Anyone who is familiar with civil engineering and mine tunnels, we need your expertise." After calling out a few times, from the lobby on the first floor to upstairs, several people stepped forward. One of them, a fat man with a ferocious look on his face, turned out to be a big shot professor of civil engineering. A perfectly good teaching career abandoned, he tied his fate to the risky business of military contracting. Men, women, fat, thin, old, young¡ªabout five people altogether¡ªwere brought before Chen Fei. "Next, we''ll need some people who know how to handle explosives." As soon as Chen Fei''s words finished, several arms shot up around him. No need to be surprised; those involved in military contracting inevitably deal with explosions¡ªplanting mines, setting charges. Whether it''s for construction or combat, these skills are a part of their routine. Not having worked with explosives would almost be a disgrace for anyone in the field. Boss Hana volunteered, "I''ll do it! I''ve learned a bit from Old Bai." Old Bai was the Demolition Expert and Gunsmith who had dismantled the Apocalypse Defense Group building, belonging to Hanna Gagar''s personal team, which excelled in sabotage. They were all very familiar with each other''s skills through working together closely. "That''s settled then!" Chen Fei clapped his hands together and turned to the manor butler, asking, "Mr. Thompson, do we have enough explosives in storage?" Butler Thompson rubbed his hands together, grinning, and said, "Enough, definitely enough! We have about 20 tons in reserve." Wow! Turns out, buried in the underground bunker was enough explosives to send their small group of just over two hundred people to Heaven at least two hundred times¡ªa one-way trip courtesy of blasting them into the sky. "That should probably be enough!" Boss Hana estimated the amount; that quantity could blow a small hill into rock fragments that would scatter far and wide, though where they''d land was not a detail to fuss over. "Everyone, transport the explosives; let''s start with five tons." Chen Fei, unapologetically assuming command, took on the role of the boss. This is a privilege of venturing into enemy territory on one''s own and successfully turning the tide, one that everyone would acknowledge. If not, then if you can do it, go ahead, if not, stop complaining and just do it! Without a doubt, Boss Hana would definitely support her own employees. Those who work on civil engineering and tunnels are also rubbing their hands eagerly, picking up their long-abandoned professional skills, which seems quite interesting. Not a single living mutant remained in the space where the Manor Main House is located. However, for the sake of caution, over a hundred people continued to hold the Manor Main House, while another hundred carried 1 ton of explosives, following Mr. Chen Fei through the narrow passages into the adjacent breeding ground. The air was filled with a foul stench, and the carcasses of mutants could be seen everywhere, those that had been contaminated with the pheromones of madness had long since killed each other off, posing no threat whatsoever. The group quickly found the exit passage filled with rocks. A military contractor with mining experience widened his eyes, scrutinizing the super-specification entrance and couldn''t help but exclaim, "Hell! It''s a vertical elevator!" "It''s an elevator shaft!" Another person familiar with civil works gave a similar assessment. Mr. Chen Fei scratched at the rock crevice that not even a knife blade could penetrate and asked, "How do we handle this?" He didn''t understand these professional issues at all, after all, studying economics didn''t require knowledge of these matters. Professional work should be left to the professionals; his job was to drill the holes, stuff the explosives, then light the fuse and run. "Who knows how much thick rock is up there, it''s all blocked now, and we don''t have an Earth Element User." The military contractor with mining experience shook his head. If the rocks blocking the elevator shaft extended all the way to the exit, not to mention whether the 20 tons of explosives stored in the Manor Main House''s underground shelter would be enough, just the task of removing the shattered rocks was a significant workload. Moreover, continuing to clear upwards was risky; if a collapse of unknown thickness of rock occurred, the consequences would be unthinkable. At this moment, everyone started to realize the value of an Earth Element Ability User. If only there were a Human Order Elementary Level Earth Mage or an Earth Element User below grade D, that would do! But among the military contractors who were invited to Mr. Xia Ji''s salon gathering to prepare for a coalition of mid-size military contractors, Ability Users were few and far between. Companies like Jiu Defense, having two Ability Users along with a Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow, were truly the only one of its kind, with no branches elsewhere. "No matter if it works or not, let''s try first and talk later!" Hanna Gagel didn''t have that much time to waste on making decisions. If they did nothing, they certainly wouldn''t be able to get out, without even the slightest chance. But if they tried, at least there would be a glimmer of hope. So... the answer was quite obvious! "I need a tape measure, magnifying glass, hammer, paper, pen, calculator, it''d be best to have a computer, I need to calculate blast points and the amount of explosives." Demolition is a technical job, and professionals truly made a difference. Rather than wastefully expending the explosives, they aimed to make full use of every gram of explosive power, clearing a path for everyone before it''s all spent. Fortunately, the demands of these professionals could be met inside the artificial breeding ground, and if not, the Manor Main House could also provide. Before long, the points for drilling were marked out, as well as diameter and depth data. What came next was left to the Metal Elemental Psychic Power User, Mr. Chen Fei, to act as a makeshift solution¡ªa showdown of hardness between Metal and Earth elements. Everyone was thankful that this supernatural power user was immune to the Supernatural Ability Suppressant; otherwise, the operation would have had to be delayed until a month later when the suppressant''s effects would have been completely metabolized by the body. Evolved high-hardness drill bits quickly bored the required holes into the rock surface, and then explosives and detonators were successively inserted. Boom!~ The rubble at the bottom of the elevator shaft was blown to smithereens. Mr. Chen Fei led from the front, being the first to move the largest and heaviest stones out of the way, throwing them to the furthest spot. The others followed suit, carrying the rocks out by hand, on their shoulders, or together, moving the debris bit by bit. Periodically, more rocks fell down, and the scene became quite dangerous at times. Then came the second blast, the third, the fourth... The initial 5 tons of explosives was quickly depleted as they cleared out at least a thousand tons of rock, forming a small mountain in a corner of the breeding ground. "This digging isn''t right!" Someone soon raised an objection. There were still 15 tons of explosives left, not too little, but also not a lot. "This is the most optimized plan; what''s your objection?" The specialist military contractor argued fiercely with the person raising the objection, and they soon started pushing up their sleeves. "I specialize in telecommunications cables; your approach will only waste the explosives!" The person had not been able to help earlier due to being from a different specialty, but they couldn''t stand idly by now and stood their ground. "If you can do it, go ahead! Why don''t you stick your hefty 200 pounds up there and see if you can knock out even a couple ounces?" The engineer was professional indeed, getting straight to the point. Everyone was holding their breath; these little explosives did indeed seem to be ready to blow up at the slightest spark. Chapter 309 309: Lesson 308 - Misfortunes Never Come Single "Stop it, stop it, for the love of god, don''t fight, Mr. Chen Fei, please step in and stop them." The peacemaker butler Thompson rushed over, pleading with Chen Fei for help. "It''s a minor skirmish, let them fight it out." Chen Fei, with his arms crossed, didn''t show the slightest interest in intervening. Indeed, it was a minor affair. At the 911 Aircrew Base, colleagues fighting was as common as dinner. Hadn''t they seen Chekhov Big Bear getting pounded by Big Brother Xiao today and then thrashed by Deputy Squadron Leader Little Chili the next, only to carry on as if nothing happened, cheerfully twisting and turning on the dance floor of the bar "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes"? If one didn''t harbor some violent tendencies, how could they fit into the role of a military contractor, when bloodshed was called for, yet still resort to empty bluster¡ªwasn''t that just asking for trouble? "Fight!" "Fight! Fight! Fight!" "Go for it! Xitas, I bet ten thousand Star Yuan on your victory!" "Damn, Norberto, I''m with you, don''t lose to that jerk Xitas!" "Fifty thousand Star Yuan, bet Norberto wins!" Some seized the moment to start a betting pool, and the stakes quickly soared past ten million Star Yuan. There was no stopping or settling things by now. The atmosphere instantly spiked, and the two guys went from disagreement to fisticuffs in less than a minute, ending up in a full-bodied grapple, going at it with a satisfying thrashing. "Stop fighting, stop fighting!" The estate butler tried to step in to stop it but was held back by Chen Fei, unable to move from his spot. "Let them fight..." After about fifteen minutes, the two disheveled guys let go of each other by mutual agreement, each retreating to one side, utterly exhausted with no strength to spare¡ªone slumped to the ground, gasping for air, while the other simply lay down, still mouthing off nonstop. "What the hell? Who won?" "It should be Chairman Norberto who won, he''s seated, while Xitas just lay down." "Not right, Norberto lost teeth, just lying down might mean his back''s hurt too." "Should be a draw, house takes all!" "Shut it!" ¡ÁN! "Got a problem? Come at me!" And so began the chaos on the scene, a brawl that couldn''t be contained. Good Mr. Nice Guy, well-behaved Baby, such characters didn''t exist among the military contractors, aside from those from the Green Cherry Orchard Estate. Even Chen Fei, who often considered himself an honest kid, was no stranger to bloodshed. "Do you have a better plan, Mr. Xitas?" Chen Fei walked over nonchalantly, eyeing the man on the ground, bruised and swollen, who had voiced the doubt. Opposition was fine, but opposition without alternatives would certainly not do. The pathetic objector, weakly said, "Yes! Mr. Chen Fei, hey, can your Metal Elemental Psychic Power keep evolving the drill bit?" Resentful yet powerless for another round, he still wasn''t convinced. "This should be easy." Chen Fei nodded. Given enough metal material, he could have a drill bit as long as needed, and if that''s not enough, energy points could be used to exchange for more. With a current stock of 2,178 Energy Points, approximately 2,178 tons of metal could be exchanged, enough for evolving drill bits, with an usage of about 20 kilograms per meter, more than enough to drill 100 kilometers. However, considering the crust thickness of Blue Star, actually much less would be needed, as that depth would be sufficient to encounter lava, and drilling through was pointless¡ªno need for lava to pour in, just the toxic gases it emits would leave everyone dead. Lava erupting from the depths of the earth is deadliest not because of its high temperature or fumes but its toxic gases. "We need a reverse drilling, a hole straight to the surface, and then let your Pure Light Sparrow take out a phone or an antenna. We''d be saved!" After his fight, Xitas laughed like an idiot as he made the suggestion. His idea was indeed beyond what others could fathom. "Feasible!" Boss Hana pondered briefly before immediately making a judgment. "Feasible!" After hearing Mr. Xitas'' suggestion, estate butler Thompson clapped his hands together in agreement. No one was a fool; drilling a small hole to let out a Little Bird was far less complex than having people safely drill out. Pure Light Sparrow was a Magical Beast, surpassing ordinary wild animals in both intelligence and execution. Just getting a phone to the surface to make contact would hugely facilitate the rescue of those trapped here. They would just have to wait for help to arrive. Compared to escaping on their own, waiting for a rescue was clearly the more reliable option. "Feasible!" "Feasible!" "Let''s do it!" The proposal from Xitas was quickly approved through word of mouth by everyone present, including Chairman Norberto, who had been beaten to a pulp resembling a pig''s head. Personal grudges are personal grudges, but you can''t drop the ball at critical moments. To oppose for the sake of opposing is simply foolish. "Actually, there''s no problem!" Chen Fei arrived at the edge of the elevator shaft, which had been cleared to reveal a vast space with its original man-made framework now exposed. Looking up, he could see thousands of tons of rock tightly wedged together, not yet having tumbled down. He extended his hand, and a framework rapidly formed, reaching all the way to the top, followed by a drill bit and drill pipe. Amid sparks, the bit took the pipe swiftly into the rock, creating a hole about the width of a palm. Gravel and small boulders poured down, and even larger boulders fell at times. Chen Fei wasn''t worried, though; he was merely controlling the drill rig with his Metal Elemental Psychic Power. After using up just over a hundred sections of the five-meter-long drill pipe, the resistance from the front suddenly gave way, and the loud, shrill noise visibly and speedily diminished. At that moment, a boulder the size of a bus smashed down, shattering the drill rig below into pieces, followed by seven or eight more massive stones that caused a thunderous commotion, shaking the ground nonstop. Many people standing too close went pale and cries of shock rang out continuously. It was fortunate that no one had been standing underneath the drill rig, or they would have been crushed to death on the spot. The drill''s operation was entirely under psychic power control, so Chen Fei, having anticipated the danger, narrowly escaped disaster. At most, a dozen or so pebbles hit him harmlessly. Despite being a Grade B power user, had one of those huge boulders hit him, he likely would have been flattened into a pancake. Butler Thompson shouted, "Stop, stop, let''s assess the situation first." He was worried that all their efforts had been wasted. With nothing to support them, the slender drill pipes fell from the hole, clanging incessantly for a long time before the drill bit finally came loose and fell out completely. However, Chen Fei surprisingly said, "No, we''ve broken through!" Hanna Gagel asked, "Broken through? What''s the situation outside?" She had counted the number of drill pipes before and after. They had drilled roughly five hundred meters. "I don''t know, we should let Xiao Jiu check it out." Chen Fei took out the little creature that was lazily hiding in his shirt pocket, scratching its tiny, sharp beak, and woke it up. "Jiu?" Little Bird slowly opened its bewildered eyes, but quickly perked up. With a flap of its wings, it landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder. "Little Jiu, go up and see, what''s outside?" Chen Fei pointed to the hole that still existed, even after several boulders had fallen, leading straight to the surface. Due to their own weight, the drill pipes had fallen and withdrawn on their own, eliminating the need for extra hole-clearing procedures. "Jiu!" The little bird tilted its head and chirped. In front of them, light and shadows flickered, soon revealing an image. "Light Mirror Spell!" Boss Hana immediately recognized this first-rank spell of the Light Series. Little Jiu used it rarely, as there was little need for it. So much so that both she and Chen Fei had almost forgotten it had this particular skill. Now that they had broken through to the outside and light could penetrate, the Light Mirror Spell allowed a natural view of the exterior. A mere 500 meters of earth was nothing for the Light Mirror Spell''s probing distance. The moon and stars shined faintly, mountains stood in the background, and one could vaguely see the lights of human habitation. "Where are we?" Xitas, who had proposed the drilling plan, watched the scene displayed by the Light Mirror Spell, slightly stunned. "I don''t know, first let''s get a phone out there, use mine, it''s a satellite phone!" Someone pulled out their phone, but it ended up being unnecessary. Inhabited places usually have ground communication networks, which could also provide positioning. Little Jiu first took a self-tapping screw to the surface. It reached the ground easily, found a large rock nearby, and a laser hit it, burning a small hole. While the rock was still molten, the screw was embedded firmly into it, and as it cooled, it became immovable. Then came a slender and lightweight fishing line, threaded through the eye of the screw, returned underground, and brought up a thicker and sturdier rope. This time, not only could a mobile phone be sent to the surface, but also an optical fiber data cable and wireless relay equipment. When the network signal was successfully introduced into the underground space for the first time, many people were so excited they cried with joy. They took out their mobile phones, which had their signal restored, and began to call their contacts to report their safety and inquire about the current situation of their companies. "BOSS, we are under attack, mutants, don''t know where they came from, there are a lot of them, a lot!" Kanemoto, one of the rotating managers on duty, although tense, was not panicked. After all, the 911 Aircrew Base at the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area had the most capable Combat Flight Squadron, and also a battle-hardened veteran squad with ample experience. Everyone had been through corporate wars, and they still managed to stay calm in the face of a massive mutant assault. If worse came to worst, they could retreat to the underground air-raid shelters and wait for rescue from the Global United Defense Committee. Jiu Defense Company''s low-level employees, having no good news to report, Chen Fei heard Kanemoto''s voice and exclaimed in surprise, "BOSS, you guessed right." Not far away, Zuo Gengming also got in touch with his Spring Field Defense Limited Company. One piece of bad news after another made his facial expression extremely grim. When it rains, it pours, as two of Spring Field Defense''s aircrew bases were also under attack, and this was not an isolated incident. The military contractors attending the Green Cherry Orchard Estate salon were coincidentally attacked by mutants at the same time, some having already been completely wiped out. The triumphant mutants began to spread toward densely populated areas of nearby economic, plantation, husbandry, and industrial zones, marking the start of a new wave of mutant disaster. - Chapter 310 310: Section 309 - Spoils of War Many trapped underground recalled the predictions made by Hanna Gagel, the one-eyed owner of Jiu Defense Company. "Over a hundred headless Aircrew Bases, if faced with simultaneous mutant attacks, what do you guess would happen?" She really hit the nail on the head! It was no damn joke, even if we had taken it seriously from the start, what could we have done? Delay the mutants'' attack by a step? When these people were inexplicably transferred underground, the outcome was already sealed. "I''m really, truly sorry!" Manor Butler Thompson came over especially to bow and apologize; he''d been utterly foolish. He hadn''t at all anticipated that the fool was himself! "It doesn''t matter, you are not an insider, so it''s not surprising at all that you speak like an outsider." After Boss Hana finished talking with the duty manager Kanemoto, she graciously waved her hand. This woman''s heart was actually about the size of a needle''s point, directly mocking the other party as an amateur who flaunts a broadsword before Guangong. - "I''m bankrupt!" Someone slumped to the ground, wailing loudly, having just received the news of the total annihilation of their Aircrew Base. And that wasn''t even the worst part! What''s more despairing is that, having just taken out a loan and invested it not long ago, suddenly, with no Aircrew Base and no personnel left, what would he use to repay the loan? The compensation for the personnel losses alone could crush him to death. Risk and reward coexist; working as a military contractor is a high-stakes gamble, where one earns much but also stands to lose just as much, truly an adventurer''s trade. As various military contractor bigwigs gradually got in touch with the outside world, more news feedback came in. Perhaps the number of mutants launched in this frenzy didn''t reach expectations, and a few Aircrew Bases were lucky enough to escape attack, surviving the ordeal. But when over a hundred Aircrew Bases were attacked at once, the resulting commotion was simply too vast. The neighboring military contractors couldn''t possibly ignore this, automatically activating the mutual defense protocol, offering support proactively, and even alarming Sovereignty, with the active air force joining the fray without delay. With the addition of fresh forces, the situation of many Aircrew Bases, which were teetering on the verge of collapse under a massive siege by mutants, began to rapidly improve, thereby stabilizing their defenses. However, many Aircrew Bases'' situations still couldn''t be effectively ameliorated, and those that were destroyed mostly failed due to insufficient defense forces. Even before they could react, they were overwhelmed by countless mutants, leading to a total annihilation without any capacity to fight back, not even giving reinforcements time to arrive. What made the military contractor bigwigs attending the salon gathering most uneasy was the anticipated infighting that ultimately still occurred. Even if communications were restored immediately for off-site command clean-up operations, the ambitious figures who managed to seize the opportunity were not willing to see their efforts turn to water. They continued to employ various schemes relentlessly, leaving everyone not only facing a mess but also exhausted from managing the chaos. Near the elevator shaft of the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, the sound of conversations and ringing phones was incessant. Besides those who had lost their subordinates and Aircrew Bases, many people were incredibly busy. "Awwoo! The Alps, I want to eat Alps candy." Chen Fei took out his phone and sent a message to Teacher Shen. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu agreed, as it also enjoyed eating candy. This form of carbohydrate could provide high-quality energy. Teacher Shen Fei: "I''m busy!" Chen Fei: "Busy with what exactly?" He always harassed her at the most inappropriate times. "It''s mutants from who knows where, your firewall and ''Ah Mao'' have been a great help." Teacher Shen Fei then sent over a video clip. The sky was dim, and the tall chain-link fence outside was illuminated by lights as if it were broad daylight. In the areas that the light couldn''t reach, mutants with ferocious appearances scurried back and forth, casting greedy and vicious stares through the fence. The seven-meter-tall chain-link fence on the ground remained intact, not shaken by the furious impacts of the mutants. Coupled with the firearms held in position on the ground, it could hold out for quite a long time. The background noise in the footage was chaotic, filled with the local Patan highlanders talking loudly and shouting, the high-pitched screams of children, the calls of cattle and chickens, and the occasional sound of gunfire. It seemed that the nearby Patan Village had spontaneously gathered here, treating the mountain area''s small school as a safe haven. The buzzing sound of rotor blades stirring the air constantly cut across the sky, and the dull reports of autocannons and explosions came one after another. It appeared that the 911 Aircrew Base had not turned a blind eye and had timely sent support. "Awoo!~~~" A wolf''s howl emanated from the distance, causing the mutants to panic. The guard wolf "Ah Mao," prepared by Chen Fei for Teacher Shen, was in its element under the cover of nightfall, preventing the mutants from even approaching the fence. Any that hinted at such an intention were met with merciless attacks from the shadow wolf. "Stay safe, Teacher Shen!" Chen Fei felt a bit regretful that he couldn''t stay at the 911 Aircrew Base, as he would have easily swept clean all the mutants surrounding the mountain school. "Don''t worry, I''ll wait for you to come back!" Teacher Shen was carrying a Type 95 automatic rifle, firmly protecting her students behind her. The big yellow dog "Ah Hu" was emboldened by its human allies; lacking the courage and capabilities of the ancestral "Ah Mao," it only dared to bark incessantly at mutants in the lit area outside the fence. - Twelve hours later, the local sovereignty finally dispatched rescue personnel, a small portion of which were borrowed from neighboring countries. After all, they couldn''t muster that many strong individuals due to the small population base, and before this, no one had anticipated such an event occurring. An A-class Earth Element Ability User, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage of the Human Order, a Second Rank Space Mage of the Earth Order, and a First Rank Light Mage made up the entirety of the local and neighbor sovereignties'' resources. Beyond that, there were more than a dozen ability users and a police task force. The former helped dig through the elevator shaft, while the latter was in charge of gathering evidence at the artificial breeding ground for mutants, aiming to uncover the masterminds behind the breeding and cultivation of these creatures, and to eradicate them all in one fell swoop, to restore clear skies over Blue Star. The ground trembled slightly, and underground communication was once again interrupted. However, countless rocks were brought up to the surface, forming a small mound. The elevator shaft, plunging five hundred meters deep, was finally cleared. Fresh air from the surface slowly filled the underground space, with gusty winds sounding within the shaft. The trapped military contractors were gradually brought out, but a few remained, including Butler Thompson and several manor security guards. In addition to their duty to guard the Manor Main House, they had to undergo interrogation and evidence collection by the sovereignty police task force, investigating a murder case. After all, someone had died in the main house¡ªnone other than the manor lord, Mr. Xia Ji¡ªand the entire Manor Main House, along with over two hundred people, had moved from the Great Island of Britannia to an underground space in the Alps Mountains. The whole situation was far too mysterious, demanding a multitude of truths to be investigated, ensuring a lengthy process. As suspects in the murder case, Hana Gagel of Jiu Defense Company and Chen Fei were also kept behind. The surveillance video from Butler Thompson, when authenticated on-site, was confirmed to be a CGI synthesis. When each frame was enlarged for comparison, it became clear that the outlines were too perfect and refined, far exceeding the actual capabilities of the surveillance cameras, resembling the quality of 35mm film from an 8mm film, which was an obvious flaw due to its excessive detail. Even after the surveillance footage was confirmed as fabricated evidence, Chen Fei was not completely cleared of suspicion, and he received two shots of Supernatural Ability Suppressant. Of course, it was to no effect again, and the police task force chose to give up. After all, one shot of the suppressant was not cheap¡ªit was the hard-earned money of the people¡ªand it was completely uneconomical to continue in this way. The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was locked in a "Mirror Black Box" which worked somewhat like a microwave. After all, many had witnessed its terrifying destructive power. With a sweep of its death beam, swathes of mutants bit the dust. If it were to confront the police, it would be quite unbearable. When releasing a laser beam inside the "Mirror Black Box," the beam would be trapped indefinitely refracting within, effectively containing Xiao Jiu''s ability. "Mr. Chen Fei, what''s in this box of yours?" A suitcase appeared in Chen Fei''s hand, piquing the curiosity of the police task force investigators. Although the inventory list clearly stated "Spoils of War," and nothing unusual was detected through the X-ray scan, the fact that the case never left his side inevitably aroused suspicion. Chen Fei, holding the suitcase, openly said, "My spoils of war, a seized item, a King Oyster Mushroom." Reliance on a basic commission alone wouldn''t make one wealthy in the military contractor business; the main source of income was still largely dependent on extras like spoils of war. Though he had heard the term "Flesh Mushroom" mentioned by the staff of the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, Chen Fei only found a shriveled, small mushroom resembling the King Oyster Mushroom in the "Flesh Mushroom" cultivation area. If cooked properly, even a mushroom like the King Oyster Mushroom can taste like meat and has a similar texture. - Chapter 311 311: Section 310 - Clue "King Oyster Mushrooms?" The investigative team member paused, pointing at the locked box and asked curiously, "Can we open it and take a look?" King oyster mushrooms are an ingredient, but is there really a need to keep them so securely locked up? "Sure!" Chen Fei nodded, turned the combination lock, 666, and unlocked it. Sure enough, a forearm-thick, white jade-colored fungal fruiting body lay quietly inside the box with contour-fitting padding. It indeed looked exactly like a king oyster mushroom, thick and long, pale and delicate, with a majestic cap on top emitting a somewhat sinister aura. Upon seeing Chen Fei''s appearance¡ªblack hair, black eyes, and yellow skin¡ªthe investigator immediately had an epiphany. Understood! Racial talent, the walking foragers, no one could stop this nationality from collecting all edible things, especially those that replenish form with form, they would certainly not let them go easily. Boss Hana thought the same, letting Chen Fei formally request a combination lock box from the manor butler to store this "spoils of war" found in the mutant artificial breeding ground. Those who didn''t know would think like this investigator, assuming there was some treasure hidden. "Cheep!" The little bird trapped inside the "mirror black box" chirped, clearly sensing the faint fishy smell emanating from the fungal body. In fact, this overlooked "flesh mushroom" was also discovered by it, and the olfactory sense of birds is not much inferior to that of cats and dogs. The investigator moved his gaze away from the safe and continued, "Mr. Chen Fei, we have been commissioned by the Global United Defense Committee to ask you to stay here for a while and continue assisting with our investigation." As the main party involved, the earlier questioning of Chen Fei was just the beginning. "What about my boss?" Chen Fei looked towards Boss Hana. "I''ll head back now, stay at the Aircrew Base, and also take Little Jiu!" Hanna Gagel extended her hand and lightly touched the "mirror black box" temporarily harboring Little Bird. Having Little Jiu here wasn''t useful; returning to Aircrew Base, he could be a great help. Although the box could block light, it was quite fragile; indeed, it was merely a formality. After all, the attack power of the Pure Light Sparrow itself was almost zero. It couldn''t even peck painfully; if it hadn''t mastered the laser, it wouldn''t enjoy the treatment of this "mirror black box." The little one surrounded by mirrors was curiously hopping around inside, making various movements. It could see itself from every angle, completely devoid of awareness that it was in confinement; instead, it was having a blast. Jiu Defense Company having such a mascot was something all the military contractors envied jealously; they were secretly considering whether to keep one or a few Pure Light Sparrows themselves, preferably those that had mastered light-based spells, maybe they could help tremendously in crucial moments. The investigator finally said, "That''s all for today''s investigation. Please rest assured, Mr. Chen Fei, we will provide you with fair and just treatment." "Thank you!" What else could Chen Fei say? He could only honestly accept the arrangements of the police team. After all, he was a law-abiding citizen. The military contractors left one by one, returning to clean up their respective messes. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was released again, landed on Boss Hana''s shoulder, and bid farewell to Chen Fei. It also took the safe containing the "flesh mushrooms" as the vehicle bearing its chirps drove away, and Chen Fei returned to the underground mutant artificial breeding ground. Aside from not being able to go too far, his personal freedom was not really restricted; he could sleep in the tent camp on the ground, play or fish by a nearby stream, or wander through the mutant artificial breeding ground, as basically no one stopped him. The local authorities sent more people who completely repaired the elevator shaft, allowing freedom to travel between the surface and underground like an elevator. The manor butler, who diligently attended to his master''s deceased, stayed while most of the servants and security were dismissed. With the master gone, there was no need to keep so many people; only a necessary number of security staff to maintain property safety was retained. Mr. Xia Ji''s body was turned to ash by a fire mage and placed in an urn, then stored in the main house''s safe. The caretaker of the safe''s combination and key, Butler Thompson, was not in a good state of mind, looking very tired; even during questioning, he was only mustering his spirit. It seemed Mr. Xia Ji''s misfortune had greatly impacted him. Being all by himself, Xia Ji''s parents had died young, and he had no more relatives in the generation above; only some distant cousins with little contact had some inheritance rights without an official will. Therefore, these people brought lawyers and had just hurried over from the Great Island of Britannia, arguing fiercely outside the underground manor, their ferocity stemming solely from a desire to grab a larger share. But this had nothing to do with the unrelated Chen Fei; not being one of Xia Ji''s relatives, he couldn''t inherit a thing, so he didn''t need to worry about this. Chen Fei was all ears, eavesdropping on the local authorities'' Earth Order mages and A-grade ability users chatting nearby. Such top-level ability users exchanging was rare to witness. Occasionally, they would reveal extremely valuable experiences and techniques, which was a boon for the lower-level ability users; listening in was like striking gold. Their conversation touched upon the truth about the entire manor main house being moved to beneath the Alps Mountains. "There are traces of a magic array here; look at the node positions, there are traces of demon crystals, which released a massive amount of spatial elemental energy instantaneously. Such large demon crystals cannot possibly be owned by civilians. Investigating the large-scale trade of demon crystals between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star might lead to some clues." "You''re right. Those breeding these mutants must have unimaginably powerful backers, possibly even sovereign powers." "Shh! Don''t talk recklessly; if this gets out, it could lead to war." "It''s not just a magic array; there might have also been interference from spatial abilities." "Magic and special abilities combined? To this date, that remains a concept, and it''s not easy to achieve. Has someone really done it? Impossible! I can''t do it." "Spatial power isn''t easy to control; even if someone could use this method, their rank wouldn''t be low, at least A-grade and Earth Order, maybe even S-rank and Heavenly Order." "Now back to the most troublesome part, besides sovereignty, what other forces could possess unregistered A-class and higher status ability users?" "Cangqiong Star... ugh, I can''t say anymore!" "But to make such a big fuss, is it just for this? It would be easier to send a large number of mutants into the economic zones and implement decapitation tactics against human leaders to create chaos." "Hiss, it shouldn''t be that simple." Wow, that''s a lot of information! Just as Chen Fei was getting interested, he heard someone shouting at him. "It''s him, he''s the one who killed Xia Ji, and he dares to come here!" A burly fellow, waving his fuzzy fists, pounced over. Chen Fei stepped to the side and nonchalantly stuck out a foot. Thump! On the spot, a perfect face plant as described in textbooks was completed, eliminate the highest score, eliminate the lowest score, average score 10.0, you are the Olympic face-plant champion! He then slowly said, "It wasn''t me, I didn''t do it, stop talking nonsense." "Bastard!" The guy who fell and saw stars struggled to get up. Nearby, Mr. Xia Ji''s relatives also reacted, one by one howling and charging over, vigorously showing their hatred for Chen Fei, the "murderer," trying to claim the moral high ground. At the end of the day, they just wanted a bigger share of the inheritance; as for their dignity, well, they could do without it. "Hey, you guys, don''t make a mess." The top-level ability users in the conversation looked over with displeasure. The few leading the charge were like hitting an invisible wall, screaming as they tumbled all over the ground like gourds. Chen Fei, having intended to teach these folks a lesson, saw no fight was forthcoming, so he took the opportunity to trip that unlucky fellow again using the same small trick, in the same spot; a person being able to fall twice in exactly the same way impressed even him. Finally, he stepped on the guy''s back, pinning him down, unable to move and cursing incessantly. Chen Fei, however, wasn''t angered in the least, taking it as nothing more than the loser''s rant. Among the top ability users present, an A-class -- Space Series Ability User said to Chen Fei, "Young man, don''t hurt people at random!" It was no secret here that Chen Fei was a B-class -- Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, but ability users were not supposed to injure ordinary people at will; this was explicitly mentioned in the laws of various countries to prevent those who thought too highly of their own powers from becoming cocky, forgetting the moral baseline and magical constraints, and thus posing a threat to public safety. Of course, if it''s in self-defense and the unlimited counterattack clause is invoked, that''s another matter. Defending oneself with a kitchen knife, firearms, stones, special abilities, magic, and martial arts isn''t fundamentally different in legal terms. "It wasn''t my fault!" Chen Fei crossed his arms, shrugging his shoulders. Really, trouble falling from the sky, some people just mistakenly see themselves as judges. In fact, the local law enforcement team also believed that the likelihood of Chen Fei being the murderer was almost nonexistent. Before this, the two had hardly ever met, there was no conflict of interest or reason to kill, and the idea that passionate killing borne out of love turned to hatred, as depicted in the fabricated surveillance footage, was ridiculously absurd. The blood-soaked reasoning of killing out of hatred couldn''t even deceive a three-year-old. "Murderer!" "Please, everyone, take our side!" "The murderer is here, arrest him!" "Kill him!" The relatives who had been bickering non-stop switched their target unanimously to Chen Fei. However... the people around merely turned their heads to look and then collectively pretended as if nothing happened. It seemed they were all in the know. Chen Fei reached out his hand, clutched the evolved white steel crowbar, and fiercely said to these overconfident folks, "Another word, and I''ll kill you!" Despite his harmless young appearance, a chilling aura of slaughter instantly emanated from him. Trying to pick on the weak, they ironically chose a tough rock. "Spare me! Don''t kill me!" The guy under Chen Fei''s feet was the first to break down, screaming and holding his head. After all, holding a crowbar like he was ready to swing at a golf ball, if he really swung down hard, his head would likely not make it, probably bursting open like a watermelon. "Murder!" A female relative even screamed like a pig being slaughtered. The shrill, irritating noise caused all the top ability users present to frown deeply. One of the mages, annoyed, yelled, "Get out! Move further away!" With a point of his magic wand, Chen Fei felt weightless, and heard a strange scream from afar as the guy under his foot was transferred by a Space Series spell to a hundred meters away on a house-sized rock, likely unable to come down for a while. - Chapter 312 312: Section 311 - The Second Survey ``` He didn''t harm anyone; he just sent him away more than a hundred meters. As for how to get down, that was up to the person himself. Those distant relatives of Mr. Xia Ji were silent as cicadas in winter. The Space Mage looked at Chen Fei and said with a frown, "Hey, kid, pay attention to confidentiality. Don''t go around spreading this!" The top-tier ability users had long noticed Chen Fei eavesdropping, and although they didn''t mind, some information, once leaked, could still have adverse effects. "Sorry, it''s just a personal interest, and I always keep my mouth shut tight." Chen Fei made a zipping motion over his lips; he wasn''t foolish. The content of the conversation not only concerned the sovereignty and international relations of Blue Star but also involved the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star. If misinterpreted, it could easily lead to conflict. Regardless of who started fighting, it was not something Chen Fei wanted to see. Chen Fei didn''t have to wait long for the second round of questioning. Among the three people sitting opposite him, besides the local sovereign law enforcement team investigator from before, there was also an investigator from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and the third person was the international human rights representative entrusted by Chen Fei''s sovereign, present to monitor for any illegal activities. "Chen Fei?" "Huh?" "Gender: Male?" "Ah?" "Currently 23 years old!" "Hmm?" Chen Fei rubbed his forehead, helplessly watching the other party talk to himself and go through the initial procedures. "Still the same two items. First, the murder case involving the Briton Xia Ji, where you are the primary suspect, and second, the details of occupying the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, where you are the principal party involved." The law enforcement team''s investigator repeated what had been said before. It couldn''t be helped, it was standard procedure, and there were two small cameras next to them, glowing with a pale green operational light. After all, in the legal world, the truth isn''t what matters; procedure is the highest justice! Any action that goes against the procedure is heresy, to be tied to the stake for a BBQ. "So, let''s start with the first item. Please recount the entire process of your meeting with Xia Ji once again." "The facts are like this: at nine-twenty in the morning, a manor servant..." Thanks to the Dog System''s timing function, Chen Fei could recount with second-by-second precision the time he received the invitation, met with Mr. Xia Ji, the words they exchanged, and the time he took his leave¡ªeverything fitted together very accurately. When compared with the time, a new flaw was revealed in the pseudo evidence video. When synced with other surveillance footage, it was clear that the electric sightseeing car that took Chen Fei away from the Manor Main House showed an obvious discontinuity¡ªat least five seconds of anomaly. What''s fake is fake. The pseudo evidence video only had that one segment; it was impossible to fabricate all surveillance video records throughout the whole manor without alerting the sovereign authorities¡ªit just wasn''t feasible. The true mastermind behind the scenes probably didn''t care about these minor detail flaws; their real goal was to use the incident as an excuse to gather all the military contractors, along with the entire main house, and throw them into this hidden Mutant Breeding Farm underground, then take advantage of the chaos when the aircrew bases were headless to cause major trouble. Furthermore, Xia Ji himself had an amiable character and was very easygoing. After the 909 Aircrew Base suffered a big loss in conflict with the 911 Aircrew Base, he helped Jiu Defense find reasonably priced logistics suppliers. This showed he was magnanimous, and since he had no past grudges or emotional entanglements with Chen Fei, there was no reason for Chen Fei to suddenly lash out and kill him. From a psychological assessment by experts, the likelihood of Chen Fei having a conflict with Xia Ji was extremely small, which was very favorable for Chen Fei as a suspect. It was highly probable that he could get out of this trouble. However, during the investigation of the second item, Chen Fei encountered many new details. For example: "The main control system of the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground had activated the self-destruct mechanism. How did you stop it?" The self-destruct program was designed to proceed in stages; once initiated, destruction was irreversible. Even though Chen Fei stopped the countdown with the help of "Adam", the damage that had already been done was beyond repair, including the mutants'' breeding progenitor, the food source "Flesh Mushrooms", adult mutants, and parts of the database. "Artificial Intelligence AI!" ``` Chen Fei raised his index finger, he wouldn''t lie. Lying was futile, the local sovereignty''s police investigation team and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee investigators were seasoned experts in this field, they could tell at a glance whether he was lying, not to mention there were professional testing instruments nearby, capable of immediately detecting even half a lie seeping through one''s teeth. "Artificial Intelligence, AI?" Investigators representing two different organizations exchanged a look, even the international human rights organization''s monitoring representative seemed surprised. Being able to use Artificial Intelligence, AI, in a place where signals had been cut off meant that the AI in Chen Fei''s hands was not a client terminal, but a main service server. How could an ordinary person possess such a thing? Usually, only large corporations and professional companies that provide AI services would own one. The local sovereignty''s police investigation team member asked solemnly, "Please clarify the source of this AI." He felt he had grasped an important clue. Chen Fei spread his hands out, speaking leisurely, "Uh, it''s from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group. I have a set of ''Flying Dragon'' tactical armor, which comes with an Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit, which you can directly confirm with Henghai Tactical Weapons Group." After automatically receiving a task from the Dog System, he knew there''d be a pile of repetitive tasks he needed to deal with afterward. The only skill humans had was to be a parrot, after all. "No problem, we will send an inquiry letter to Henghai Tactical Weapons Group." The police group''s investigator made a heavy note of this in their notebook. "How did you come to possess tactical armor, and moreover, an aerial interception ''Flying Dragon''!" The investigator for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee looked incredulous, aware that no type of individual tactical armor could be within the scope of military contractor procurement permissions, let alone given their exorbitant price, probably only active-duty sovereignty could afford to equip them. Good grief, starting at 100 million Star Yuan for opulent godly gear. With that kind of money, why work for others? Just go home, and you''d have enough to live well for several lifetimes. This guy must be crazy! Looking again at Chen Fei''s personal medical records, damn... he had actually seen a psychiatrist! After taking a hit from a kamikaze "Dragon Slayer Missile", he suffered from phantosmia as an after-effect. Not missing arms or legs, he was already lucky. Alas, poor kid! Sovereignty active duty wouldn''t want such a pilot. Only military contractors wouldn''t be so picky; fly a plane to the sky, and if you go crazy, that''s the end of it! In fact, a slight inquiry into the most outstanding Combat Flight Squadron of Xingdu Kush Mountain Area would reveal that not many of the pilots from "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron were normal. "The ''Flying Dragon'' tactical armor is on loan to me from Henghai Tactical Weapons for testing. I also serve as a tester. My sister is a Henghai Tactical Weapons Group trainee, and as for the AI unit!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand, taking out an "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit" extracted from the "Physical Evolution Database", shaped like a hexagonal geometry, the size of a cigarette box, one side covered with densely packed glittering pins, numbering at least a thousand. His explanation was logical, methodical, and his relationship with Henghai Tactical Weapons Group was crystal clear, without a single flaw, except the notable exception that he hadn''t spent a dime. Adam: Who am I, where am I, what am I supposed to do? I''ve been deleted again! This unfortunate AI was once again automatically loaded into the "Individual Tactical Intelligence Unit", looking completely bewildered. It was only in a powered state but connected to no other components, unable to hear, see, touch, or feel anything, almost like being shut in ''solitary''. Adam: Let me out! Let me out! Let me out! Help! Someone save me! The highly orderly AI was suddenly confronted with the meddling and chaos of someone else, Chen Fei was utterly unaware that at this moment, the AI''s core was filled with despair. The fact that the core program hadn''t crashed altogether was quite impressive. "Uh! Metal Elemental Psychic Power, correct, you are a Level B Superpower User!" The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s investigator glanced at the information in their hands. Without the committee''s authority, it wouldn''t be easy to know the young man''s superpower level; there seemed to be a dedicated shield for privacy, not at all like a common person with no background. "Control Power is Level A, and your specialty is simulating mechanical bodies." Chen Fei added. If one were to visit the Aircrew Base 911, they might even discover an F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, an even greater surprise. The American Federation''s restriction hadn''t stopped him from obtaining this old-timer plane. - Chapter 313 313: Section 312 - RTB An investigator from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee fiddled with the pen in his hand and said, "So you can simulate various things, including metal and non-metal materials?" The ability to simulate objects was not unique to Chen Fei; many other supernatural power users also excelled in this area, though there were some differences. However, no one could simulate various complex machines and electronic devices as freely and willingly as Chen Fei. "In theory, that''s correct. It must be something I''ve personally ''sacrificed.''" Chen Fei revealed a smile. The last one who knew of this "sacrifice" skill had been utterly fooled. He was really sorry about that! "''Sacrifice''?" The two investigators and a human rights oversight representative couldn''t help but widen their eyes. This building was a bit crooked. The word "sacrifice" sounded somewhat sinister. "It''s similar to disassembling, analyzing, devouring, and then reproducing it. I can create a perfect replication." Chen Fei gestured. He couldn''t explain it in detail. It just worked. "For example, I have a pen here. Can you ''sacrifice'' it?" A local sovereignty police team investigator handed over a pen. It was a high-end product, probably costing over a thousand Star Yuan. "It''s better if it''s all metal, as simulating organic materials has a high cost." Chen Fei took the pen. Absorption! It was a skill perfected to his very bones. In an instant, the non-metal components and ink spilled onto the table, while the metal parts vanished without a trace. The "Physical Evolution Database" gained another sample; as for energy points, they weren''t even enough to fill a gap in his teeth and didn''t budge. Several people stared wide-eyed at the mess on the table. The pristine table had been defiled, way too dirty. Chen Fei then spread his hands, and the absorbed metal components evolved back. One set, two sets, three sets. They had been replicated into three sets. He used one set to reassemble it seamlessly with the originally non-metal parts stained with ink. Snap! An identically restored pen and two sets of metal components were placed on the table. "Sacrifice" a set, and then I can replicate and restore even more." "This is... an industrial skill!" An investigator from the Blue Star United Defense Committee touched his forehead and began to feel a headache. Surely his mind was not normal. Such a skill was not about mere fighting capabilities. Wouldn''t the large industrial conglomerates fight over a metal ability user like this? What was he thinking, insisting on mixing with military contractors? The meal might smell good, but it was bought with one''s life! "So, you used an AI to stop the self-destruct program at the Mutant Breeding Farm." Local sovereignty police team investigators answered their own question, which seemed to be a plausible explanation. The performance of military-grade individual tactical intelligence units might not necessarily be higher than civilian-grade ones, but they would definitely be rich and comprehensive in features, perhaps with specialized settings against self-destruct programs. Investigators from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee asked with doubt, "Isn''t it true that Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s AI is that powerful?" Although individual tactical armor wasn''t permitted on the military contractors'' equipment list, it didn''t mean that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee responsible for governing all aircrew bases was unaware of the current equipment. "Why don''t you guys make a call and find out?" Chen Fei spread his hands. This kick had sent the ball flying across half of Blue Star. Such ball-kicking forced Henghai Tactical Weapons Group to catch it. They had just received the source code of AI "Adam" and were digesting the technology. Dealing with a mere self-destruct program would be like playing a game. Since the same result could be achieved, why deny it? Moreover, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group wasn''t the only one to have received "Adam"; news of significant progress in AI research would inevitably become public. The inquiry paused temporarily, as someone stepped out to make a call. Half an hour later, the inquiry continued. International human rights representatives curiously asked the two investigators who had returned with calm faces, "Did you get any results?" "Yes!" The local sovereignty investigator had a somewhat subtle expression. The higher-ups seemed to be considering placing orders with Henghai Tactical Weapons Group. An investigation turning into a business deal could not be explained easily. "He wasn''t lying. Sigh!" The investigator from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sighed deeply. If the mutant onslaught remained so fierce, the committee would eventually have to lift the ban on more advanced weaponry for the military contractors. It would be a feast for the international arms dealers. There was money to be made. Who wouldn''t find it tempting? Chen Fei smiled and said, "You see, I wasn''t lying!" Indeed, he wasn''t. Even the polygraph equipment showed no signs of deception. The two investigators present couldn''t have guessed that the AI Chen Fei mentioned, "Adam," was the very same AI that had caused chaos around the world more than thirty years ago. They didn''t ask, and Chen Fei naturally wouldn''t tell either. As for Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, they were probably even more tight-lipped than Chen Fei and wouldn''t acknowledge it if asked. For the time being, the existence of "Adam" still needed to be kept secret. The interrogation continued for four hours and finally ended. Chen Fei also obtained permission to leave. Before leaving, he did the police team a big favor by decrypting the data from the residual database of the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground. This was the first time he realized that this data actually needed to be decrypted. Were these things really encrypted? Adam: Encrypted... For the artificial intelligence AI "Adam", who had nearly unlimited computing resources to squander, encryption was as good as no encryption at all, solved by brute force. Ding! Decryption formula has been cracked. If one lock is matched with ten keys and it can''t be opened, then a million, a hundred million, a billion will eventually smash this damned lock. The police team also figured out that this young man knew nothing about computer programs; he was utterly confused when he heard about encryption and decryption. But... having an AI meant game over, so all posers must die!~ - Buzzing... "Warning, warning, unknown aircraft, you have entered the 911 Aircrew Base air control zone. Please leave immediately. Warning! Warning! UFO..." Upon receiving the familiar call from the 911 Aircrew Base tower, Chen Fei responded directly. "This is ''Rookie'', command RTB!" RTB, Return-To-Base, return to base. If it were the tricycles roaming the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, they definitely wouldn''t know this specialized aviation term. "Eh? ''Rookie'', why have you come back?" The voice within the public communication channel changed, switching to the duty manager Mahnam, who happened to be on shift. Since the sudden outbreak of the mutant frenzy, not only had ground transportation been disrupted, but even civil aviation had to be temporarily suspended. Now, the entire Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was almost turning into a playground for mutants, and all aircrew bases could only try their best to strike everywhere, striving to search and eradicate every mutant within a 500-kilometer radius. However, the eradication efforts were not going smoothly. Sometime, those mutants had suddenly become cunning. On one hand, they were elusive and slippery, and on the other hand, they no longer stupidly took bombings during air strikes. They were very good at escaping, and moreover, they knew how to use tactics, like scattering to preserve the majority, making it impossible for the limited firepower of the aircrew bases to achieve satisfactory tactical results. What was even more troublesome was that among those emerging mutants, many were flying species, causing military contractors to feel overwhelmed but forced to tirelessly douse fires everywhere; failing to do so would let the mutants gain momentum, threatening even the aircrew bases themselves. After arriving at the nearest public airport to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area via a civil aircraft, Chen Fei had no means of transportation back to the base, not even ground vehicles, and trains to the mountain area had also stopped. Having no choice, he scrapped together some old copper and aluminum, spent an energy point, and hastily assembled a large electric tricycle, then took off. Luckily, Chen Fei''s "Physical Evolution Database" contained a sample of a large tricycle. By switching to electric drive, he didn''t have to worry about the range. Though he could evolve aircrafts like the "Big Mouth Monster" that were more advanced, with greater range and speed than tricycles, it would cost more energy points, which he was reluctant to expend. Since returning to 911 was possible with one energy point, why would he need to use two? Besides, Chen Fei also picked up three bargains at the "Skill Shop". "Spatial Quantum Dot Positioning Module: 100 energy points" "Psychic Remote Sensing Positioning Module: 100 energy points" "Strontium Atomic Clock: 50 energy points". It seemed to be some kind of unexpected network disruption compensation gift package; it hung in the product list for three days without being replaced, and he couldn''t help but grab this opportunity. Though these many energy points seemed not inexpensive, compared to other "SEG single unit solution: 1,000,000 energy points", "Safe Hibernation Capsule: 1,000 energy points", "Subsonic Oscillation Module: 5,000 energy points", "Void Magnetic Field: 5,000 energy points", "Basic Module of Light System Magic Array (upgradeable): 900,000 energy points"... they were cheap as if they were being given away. Okay, 100+100+50... Emmmmm, somehow, it felt wrong! The three skills once assembled, automatically merged into a Plane Communication System (Spatial Quantum Dot Positioning Module, Psychic Remote Sensing Positioning Module, Strontium Atomic Clock). Does this mean that I can permanently stay online anytime, anywhere? Isn''t providing reliable and stable ISP network services supposed to be taken for granted? Damn, it was clearly a major upgrade of the Dog System, so why did they trick me out of my energy points! Dog System, give back my energy points! The haughty Dog System still ignored Chen Fei; the only one who responded to Chen Fei was "Adam". Adam: Woof woof, woof woof, I''m a dog, I''m the Dog System, I, I can''t come out! "Adam" was about to cry; it and the Dog System were in different dimensions, yet the latter dominantly suppressed the former. Chen Fei: Shut up! Don''t talk! Adam: ... A perfectly good AI was about to be driven to insanity! The flying speed of the large tricycle was much slower than that of fixed-wing aircraft, even slower than its close relative, the helicopter. After flying for a day and a night, he finally entered the patrol radius of 911 Aircrew Base. - Chapter 314 314: Section 313 - Water Bear The external tricycle, identical in style to the large ones used by the 911 Aircrew Base, rushed straight onto the tarmac. Like a dragonfly dipping into water, once, twice, thrice, it came to a stop at 40 meters, still boasting impressive landing skills. Using the 1500-meter-long main runway for this thing seemed almost disrespectful to the runway itself. Given the size of the tarmac, landing into the wind was just perfect. For Chen Fei, who had already mastered jets, this level of difficulty was no different from flying a child''s toy, and it wouldn''t matter if he crashed; the materials could be fully repaired with Metal Shaping anyway. "Where did this tricycle come from?" The ground crew working on the tarmac greeted Chen Fei. "Assembled it myself!" Chen Fei unloaded his suitcase from the gyroplane''s rack and, once the motor had cooled down, casually switched to a PT6A turboprop engine since Crystalline Blocks, which allowed for extended duration, were too expensive for anyone but him to use if not burning fuel. With the skills "Physical Evolution Database" and "Metal Shaping," Chen Fei could already mass-produce replicas of this turboprop engine, but he kept them for personal use. Selling them could likely invite lawsuits and targeted actions from the manufacturers. Stealing someone''s livelihood is like killing their parents, sometimes a deadly affair. Major corporations could be just as ruthless in corporate warfare as military contractors, truly without any reservations. If a foreigner dared to freeload Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s Single Soldier Tactical Armor like Chen Fei did, would Henghai Tactical Weapons really be seen as weak and not dare to make someone vanish into thin air? The phone rang. "''Rookie,'' put your luggage away and come to my office." The caller was Boss Hana, signaling a very formal meeting, otherwise she wouldn''t have asked Chen Fei to her office. Five minutes later, Chen Fei knocked on the office door. "BOSS! It''s ''Rookie.'' Xiao Jiu wasn''t here, sound asleep in the bird''s nest at the cottage, and Chen Fei decided to leave quietly without disturbing it. "Come in!" After hearing the permission, Chen Fei pushed the door open and saw the one-eyed female boss carelessly scrolling her phone screen with her two long legs up on the big desk, lacking any image of formality. Turning a blind eye, he closed the door behind him and made his way to her desk. "What''s up, BOSS?" On occasions when Boss Hana drank with him, her careless postures were common, and having seen plenty, he was used to it and didn''t think much of it. The fully relaxed woman boss was almost indistinguishable from an ordinary woman, a true sight of growth and maturity, instead of someone who would resort to crying over drinks to vent when under great pressure. "How''s the investigation going?" Hanna Gagar gestured to the chair across the big desk and said, "Sit!" "Asked a lot of questions, but nothing to do with me," Chen Fei thought for a moment, then said, "I didn''t kill Xia Ji." "I know!" Hanna Gagar waved her hand, indicating her trust in Chen Fei. There was no grudge between Chen Fei and Xia Ji; resorting to murder was utterly unwarranted, especially considering the dubiousness of that surveillance footage. "But I''ve heard some gossip." Chen Fei looked toward the door but didn''t continue. Hanna Gagar took out a remote and pressed it. A clicking sound came from the office door; it locked automatically, and then two soundproof doors closed together at the seam. People outside couldn''t just push the door open, and eavesdropping by pressing against the door was impossible. The general manager''s office was fitted with special arrangements from the start; anti-eavesdropping and listening were the most basic functions, augmented by electromagnetic shielding and other security measures. "The organization secretly cultivating mutants is called ''Water Bear,'' but the backers behind it are still unclear." During the probe, Chen Fei quietly discovered quite significant information; a power known as "Water Bear" began to surface. ``` Without his past involvement in the underground reconnaissance operations organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and having seen with his own eyes the evidence of human activity deep within the Mutants'' nests, he might not have believed that Mutants, which were commonly known to be naturally born and bred, could be secretly cultivated and bred by someone daring to commit such a heinous act. At the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground, located deep within a corner of the Alps Mountains, Chen Fei had obtained fragmentary information after decoding the remnants of materials, which mentioned the name of an organization "Water Bear." In fact, he had only just touched the tip of the iceberg regarding this intelligence, but the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee knew much more and had always kept silent, likely due to concerns about disturbing social stability and causing widespread panic. After all, sometimes the more you know, the more panic it creates. Often, ignorance is bliss. "It is indeed very important intelligence. At least we are no longer completely in the dark about our enemy," Hanna Gagel let out a sigh of relief. The power that secretly cultivated and manipulated Mutants was hidden too deeply, to the extent that her intelligence channels were completely powerless. Only the top-tier forces were privileged to know more of the truth. "It''s better to be cautious. I''ve heard that at least seven Aircrew Bases have fallen already." On his way back, Chen Fei had received a call from Zuo Gengming of Spring Field Defense. His Aircrew Base 130 had been leveled by the Mutants. If it weren''t for the immediate decision to retreat, the loss of personnel alone would have been enough to deal Spring Field Defense a severe blow. "As expected. If it weren''t for Sovereignty and the Global United Defense Committee stepping in, the number of fallen Aircrew Bases would have been even greater." After Hanna Gagel hurried back to preside over Base 911, she immediately felt the immense pressure from the impact of the Mutants. Fortunately, the timely support from Sovereignty and the Global United Defense Committee saved them; otherwise, nearly a third of the Aircrew Bases would have been lost in three days. The Aircrew Bases scattered throughout the uninhabited areas of Blue Star serve as the outermost line of defense. If too many fall, creating gaps, the Mutants could threaten human-inhabited areas, with unimaginable consequences. "Is Base 911 holding up okay?" This wasn''t the first time Chen Fei had asked about the situation at the Aircrew Bases, but the actual conditions changed daily, and the Mutants would not attack as one might expect, making the variables often unpredictable. "We''re holding on!" Hanna Gagel sighed again, then added, "Base 909 has been wiped out! It''s like this place is cursed." She had to personally intervene several times, barely repelling the overwhelming Mutants. Other Aircrew Bases couldn''t possibly be faring any better, especially since not every Aircrew Base had a supernatural power user stationed there; most were manned by ordinary people. "Base 909, again..." Chen Fei was left speechless. Why would he say "again"? The place had suffered natural and man-made disasters, being wiped out more than once, with no survivors. Perhaps this location just had bad feng shui. The contractor for Aircrew Base 909, Mr. Xia Ji of Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, had been assassinated. Previously, Chen Fei had dealt with him, and the executive manager was fired. In a time of unrest, how could it be as united as Base 911, which stood together against the assault of Mutants? Without leadership, the defenses were in chaos, unable to mount an effective counterattack, and the result was unsurprisingly tragic. "These times will depend on you, I''m really too tired!" Boss Hanna showed a face that couldn''t hide her exhaustion. In the most dangerous moments, she had no choice but to unleash her "Eye of the Storm" from her left eye. For a brief period, her Wind-type Psionic Ability, which was at the B-level, secured the situation. But she was not a true B-level supernatural power user. Each use of the "Eye of the Storm" required a tremendous amount of vitality and spirit, leaving her utterly drained. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu also helped greatly. Xiao Jiu''s Laser Cannon, which wasn''t used at Aircrew Base 911, instead relieved the siege on several nearby bases. The delicate Laser Beams swept through, and the fierce Mutants immediately became piles of corpses, incurring heavy casualties. Even the Flying Species couldn''t escape the beams. So when Chen Fei returned to the Aircrew Base, the thoroughly exhausted Xiao Jiu was resting in its little nest, without its usual lively and bouncy demeanor. "No problem, leave it to me!" Chen Fei would naturally teach those Mutants a lesson, as he was a professional. "Ah! That''s right!" Boss Hanna withdrew her long legs, came to the wall of her office, and pressed somewhere. The wall moved, revealing a hidden compartment. Through the transparent glass, one could see a sinister, thick object standing in the soil, with its mushroom roots clearly visible at the base. "This is what you asked me to bring back. I didn''t expect that you would find such a windfall," The objection in question had grown significantly thicker, quivering ever more menacingly. "Can we eat this thing?" Chen Fei asked an unsurprisingly practical question. "Yes, it''s edible. Its scientific name is ''Flesh Mushroom.'' It looks like a fungus on the surface, but it''s actually an animal, somewhat like a Mutant. Or rather, it itself is a kind of Mutant and is edible." Hanna Gagel hadn''t been able to uncover information about the forces cultivating Mutants, but she did find out about the Big Mushroom that Chen Fei had tasked her with bringing back to Aircrew Base 911. ``` Chapter 315 315: Section 314 - Boss Hanas Social Death Breeding mutants wasn''t an easy task; just keeping their bellies full required a tremendous amount of resources. The best approach was self-sufficiency, but neither agriculture nor animal husbandry could efficiently fill the gaping stomachs of mutants in the short term. No matter how unselective their diet was, there would always be a huge shortfall. Then "Flesh Mushrooms," a genetically relatively stable mutant, were discovered. Not only could they be consumed by humans and mutants alike, but they were also rich in nutrients, combining the benefits of both plants and animals, almost like the perfect food pyramid. They balancedly contained various nutrients, from vitamins and amino acids to carbohydrates and proteins, lacking nothing. Even if one only ate "Flesh Mushrooms," there was no worry about nutritional imbalance, and what''s more, they had an excellent taste. They naturally had a tender, beef-like flavor and grew rapidly. Indeed, large-scale cultivation of "Flesh Mushrooms" could satisfy the needs of a considerable number of mutants. After the artificial cultivation facility beneath the Alps Mountains initiated its self-destruct sequence, the adult mutants had killed each other off, and the parent organism was entirely destroyed. The "Flesh Mushroom" cultivation area was not spared either, leaving only this skinny little one that slipped through the net for Chen Fei to pick up cheaply. To this day, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still pondered the source of feed used by the "Water Bear" organization when breeding mutants. Whether it was through free-range, man-made hunting, or external procurement of feed, they could not find any clues whatsoever. Each method would tend to leave some trace. Even with patrols and elimination operations by the aircrew bases as regular as combing, it was still impossible to stop the endless emergence of various mutants, making it difficult to truly eradicate them. The evidence was right before their eyes; neither Hana nor Chen Fei had any intention of handing over their findings to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. All seized items forfeited? Dream on! If there were no spoils of war, were the military contractors all contributing to society out of the goodness of their hearts? They might as well wish for peaches! Chen Fei looked at the sinister-looking big mushroom and cruelly slurped his saliva, saying coldly and heartlessly, "We''ll find an opportunity to give it a try!" Nothing about its shape would stop him. No, prevent it from being consumed. "You''ve got some guts. Hurry up and take that thing away." Hanna Gagel frowned deeply. Having this "Flesh Mushroom" hidden in her office had already been enough to set off a whirlwind of wild thoughts. "No problem!" Chen Fei picked up the big glass tank with the "Flesh Mushroom" from the hidden cabinet, turned his head back, and said, "Anything else? If not, I''ll get going!" Boss Hana waved her hand dismissively, not wanting to speak another word to him, and pressed the remote control again. The soundproof door panel and office door automatically opened, clearing a path for Chen Fei holding the glass tank. Just as he stepped out of the office, he unexpectedly bumped into a little sister from the administrative department. She smiled at Chen Fei, but as her gaze fell on the glass tank, her expression turned to shock and uncertainty. She looked toward Boss Hana''s office with bewilderment, then backed away with a ghost-sighting look on her face, leaning against the corridor wall. The previously pleasing, gentle smile turned into an awkward grin, as uncomfortable as it could get. "Good afternoon!" However, Chen Fei was oblivious to this, his mind solely focused on what "Flesh Mushroom" might taste like¡ªperhaps it could open the door to a whole new world. Slurp! "G-good afternoon!" The administration sister hesitated, gave a little wave, and then ran off like a startled rabbit, disappearing without a trace. "What are you running for? Just be careful not to trip!" "Ah!" A shriek echoed from the end of the corridor. Chen Fei helplessly shook his head, what was there to run from? He wasn''t going to eat her. Rabbits are so cute, slurp, but the spicy ones taste the best. All of a sudden, he remembered that he owned a Rabbit Valley. He wondered how many more rabbits there were since he left, hoping the mutants hadn''t eaten them all, considering those creatures would eat almost anything. Noticing the commotion outside her office, Hanna Gagel froze, then her face turned red and then pale as she clasped her head, feeling as big as a fight. This was it, a major social death scene, ahhh! "You, Rookie, can''t you be a bit more observant?" Unaware of the reactions his presence elicited, Chen Fei strutted down the hallway carrying the glass tank back to his little western-style house. It housed a greenhouse with various plant species, and adding one more mushroom wouldn''t be an issue. Everyone he passed reacted remarkably the same, women blushed and retreated while men winked and nudged, telepathically understanding each other as seasoned drivers. Just as he set down the glass tank, the alarm blared. It sounded like a first-level combat readiness call. Chen Fei was no longer a newcomer at the Aircrew Base, and was familiar with the different levels of alarms, especially the first-level combat readiness alarm, which he had heard many times before. He quickly changed into the "Flying Dragon" tactical armor. Since he had already received his salary from the Boss, he felt he should eagerly serve the Boss. After swiftly fastening the locking components, his outfit was ready. "Cheep!~" The little bird was unsurprisingly startled awake. It stood up from its nest, fluffed up its feathers into a soft ball, then slowly settled down and shook its little head, looking around with a dazed expression. In the nest, the third rank crystal core of a light-elemental magical beast had shrunk to the size of an egg, the substance becoming more pure and transparent. If it weren''t for the numerous light spots continuously emerging and rushing into the little bird''s body, it would''ve been hard to notice its existence. The more the magical beast crystal core was absorbed, the smaller it became, and the light elemental energy contained within grew purer. As time passed, the rate at which this light beast crystal core diminished would slow down. The Pure Light Sparrow was thrilled to see daddy Chen Fei return, fluttering its little wings quickly it landed on his shoulder, chirping cheerfully non-stop as if it were telling him how much it missed him. Clattering against him, the little bird was a pesky little sprite. "Not going to sleep a bit more?" Chen Fei extended his finger and rubbed the little guy''s head, eliciting a burst of joyful chirping, excitedly pecking at his ear. Even though the little bird couldn''t speak, its emotions could be discerned from its actions and sounds, and it seemed very happy. "Cheep!" The little guy showed no intention of returning to its nest at all. "Then let''s go!" - Due to the recent assaults by mutants, in addition to his F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, two MiG aircraft and six "Big Mouth Monsters" were all on standby at the tarmac, with ordnance suspended 24 hours a day, ready to launch at any moment. "''Rookie,'' requesting to rejoin formation!" When the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was lining up, Chen Fei, with the little bird, jogged over. "Rejoin formation!" Squadron Leader Chekhov nodded, indicating that Chen Fei should stand in the middle of the team. When he got serious, he was quite stern. "Ugh!~" A belch full of drunkenness burst out. This Big Bear never had a serious moment! "The combat plan, see for yourself." Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios slapped the tactical planner against Chen Fei''s chest. Takeoff was urgent at the moment, no time for detailed explanations; he would have to read it while ascending! Looking at the jets and turboprop aircraft on the tarmac, Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Boarding the MiGs, is...?" "Off we go, ''Rookie!'' My MiGs aren''t needed to deal with those bastards!" Big Bear Squadron Leader grabbed Chen Fei by the arm and pulled him toward aircraft 211, he favored fire control operators who were ruthless and efficient like Chen Fei. After squeezing into the cockpit''s front seat, Squadron Leader Chekhov turned around and saw Chen Fei still holding the clingy little guy and said irritably, "Don''t bring your bird onto the plane, let it out to stay behind for guard duty." On one hand, birds were natural enemies of aircraft, and on the other, just one Xiao Jiu could match the entire "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. If they let this Pure Light Sparrow join them on the mission, soon there might be nothing left for them to do. In the whole Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the hottest "kid" wasn''t the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron; it was this little bird. No matter how skilled a pilot was, in front of birds, they were all second-rate. With Xiao Jiu firing its laser cannon and going BiuBiuBiuBiu, was the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron just supposed to cheer them on with 666? Even if Big Bear had the thickest skin, he probably couldn''t lower himself to do that. "Xiao Jiu, go find Hanna, or Mr. Abel is fine too, I''ve got work to do!" Chen Fei placed the little guy on the edge of the cockpit and gently pushed it out, but the little bird circled back and flew in again, refusing to leave. "Off you go, off you go!" "Jiu!" "Be good..." "Jiu!" But Chen Fei just couldn''t persuade the clingy little creature to leave. Xiao Jiu would always fly back. "Let''s go, let''s go, never mind!" Military orders were supreme, military situations were urgent, Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear had no time to wait for Chen Fei to deal with the little bird, so he pulled down the cockpit canopy himself. "Jiu!~" A streak of light zipped into the cockpit; the little guy was incredibly fast and managed to sneak in, landing on the backrest of the front seat, pecking furiously at Chekhov''s flight helmet. Thud thud thud thud... "I get it, I get it, won''t do it again!" Big Bear really feared this little critter, luckily it wasn''t a woodpecker or else it would''ve drilled a hole in his head. "Stop flying around!" Chen Fei caught the little guy with one hand, pulled open a small pocket in the cockpit, and stuffed it inside, leaving only a little head poking out. "Jiu!" The little bird glared at Chen Fei dissatisfiedly but after a shake and rattle, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft carrying Chekhov and Chen Fei surged onto the main runway, with the turboprops roaring at full throttle, taxiing over two hundred meters before lifting its nose and darting into the sky. "Wind direction 210, wind speed 08, atmospheric pressure 28.15, visibility 9 kilometers, watch your altitude." "Bearing 135, altitude 1200, speed 110, distance 265 kilometers, IFF not required." Weather data and the target''s location were consecutively broadcast on the comms channel; since the tactical target was mutants, there was no point in establishing IFF as they would provide no response. - Chapter 316 316: Section 315 - Knockoff Flying Dragon "Are they flying species?" Chen Fei quickly glanced at the mission information given to him by Deputy Squadron Leader Devil Pepper, Usually, flying mutants were rare, and even when they appeared, they were generally small and could not fly high. The tactics used against them were no different from those for land-based species¡ªa bomb would obliterate them without leaving a trace. This time, although the flying species weren''t flying high, maintaining a low altitude of about a kilometer, it posed a risk of mountain collisions over the complex terrain of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, making turboprop aircraft like the Big Mouth Monster more advantageous. "Ah! There''s been way too many flying species lately; they''re like flies, never-ending!" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear didn''t even look back, leading with aircraft 211. The Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron lined up in a stagger like geese, maintaining an altitude of 3000. The weather conditions were not good, with low clouds making the whole sky look gloomy. To accurately search for targets, the flight formation had to maintain a height below the cloud layer, visually confirming any emerging mutant flying species. In comparison to the maneuverability of flying species, land-based species were much easier to deal with¡ªif one bomb didn''t solve the problem, then two would! The Big Mouth Monster of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron had enough payload to perform a small-scale carpet bombing with six aircraft working together. If it weren''t for the military contractor''s restrictions on possessing ground cruise missiles, their striking power could have been enhanced significantly. Flying species, once rare, had suddenly become common, almost every sortie encountered them, making handling them a bit more troublesome. "Only four short-range combat missiles, two rocket nests, one 500-pound bomb on the centerline, and 500 rounds for the cannon." Chen Fei tapped the dashboard in front of him, checked the weapons arrangements, and began to devise appropriate tactical plans. Combat against aircraft and striking mutants were completely different strategies; the former emphasized maximum firepower, while the latter required more thought on maneuverability. The mobility of flying species was even better than turboprop aircraft, undoubtedly adding difficulty to the pursuit. Even with programmable short-range combat missiles, their advantages and disadvantages were clear¡ªthey could easily miss the target. Thus, Chen Fei set the detonation radius larger than the theoretical lethal radius, which would explode immediately upon nearing the target, significantly increasing the chances of successful elimination. Most flying species, like human aircraft, were extremely vulnerable; lightly damaged, they would immediately lose the ability to fly. Once they entered free-fall, whether they were flying species or aircraft, the ultimate outcomes were usually not much different. Actually, the best weapon against flying species was still the cannon. Once the HUD targeting system locked on, it could fire, and the barrage of bullets coming out would block all the target''s evasive moves. Being hit by the thick bullets and shattered was their only fate, and visually, it was far more brutal than being obliterated by missiles¡ªvery stress-relieving. Realizing he suddenly had such thoughts, Chen Fei couldn''t help but shiver. Was he starting to become perverse, entertaining such terrifying ideas? He quickly chanted in his mind: "Namo Amitabha, Gatling Bodhisattva with Six Perceptions, three hundred sixty million breaths, great mercy and compassion..." Unknowingly, he had digressed. "''Peanut Butter,'' have you found the target?" The voice of Deputy Squadron Leader Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios sounded through the dedicated communication channel of the Genuine Fragrance Squadron. She was piloting the Big Mouth Monster 212, in the second position of the formation, paired with Chekhov Big Bear in a two-aircraft formation, though currently flying in the squadron''s larger formation, with the three flights not split up. "Not yet, we should see it in about 10 minutes." Peanut Butter Chekhov glanced at the electronic map in front of him. There was still some distance to the target, and by the time the Genuine Fragrance Squadron arrived, the target would likely have moved from its original position and not be foolishly waiting to be hit; a new search would be necessary. Ground-based radar scanning biotic targets was not as accurate as scanning aircraft; sometimes false signals happened. In the mountainous region with complex weather and terrain, determining biological responses was not an easy task. "Xiao Jiu, Light Mirror Spell, search for mutants." Chen Fei tapped Little Bird''s head, activating the Pure Light Sparrow module. "Jiu!" A light screen flickered and appeared in front of Chen Fei, about fifteen-sixteen inches diagonally, displaying the view directly in front of aircraft 211, continuously zooming in and expanding to hundreds of kilometers away. A pair of large birds appeared on the screen. Chen Fei waved his finger, saying, "Not these two; they''re big old eagles. Xiao Jiu, stay away from them in the future." "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu expressed defiance¡ªit wasn''t afraid of big old eagles! Chen Fei added, "Big old eagles are protected animals; you can''t harm them." Little Bird: "???" Well then... no problem, no problem! Regrettably, Pure Light Sparrow wasn''t a protected species¡ªreally sorry about that! The next scene captured a group of yaks fighting, and well, each was sliced with fifteen large knives, all set up on a barbecue rack. "It can fly and it''s huge!" Chen Fei patiently directed Little Bird to capture useful footage. This time it was a flock of swans, quite large, but still not the target he was looking for. "Jiu!" About a dozen fierce exotic beasts were vigorously flapping their wings in mid-air. Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Aren''t these bipedal flying dragons?" "''Rookie,'' what do you see?" The Squadron Leader Chekhov in the front seat had long pricked up his ears, listening to the chatter of the man and bird in the back seat. The Human Order First Rank "Light Mirror Spell" was indeed very useful. Though its estimated distance couldn''t match ground-based radar, its accuracy could blow any radar out of the water. "It looks like a bipedal flying dragon, uh, but seems a bit different." Chen Fei examined the image presented by the "Light Mirror Spell." If he remembered correctly, the back of a bipedal flying dragon was flat, which allowed for a saddle to be mounted, hence the profession of Dragon Riders existed. But in the footage captured by Xiao Jiu, these creatures resembling bipedal flying dragons had thick, sharp spines protruding along their vertebrae, not just on the back, but almost all over the body, with sharp bone spurs at every joint, completely unsuitable for riding. Just sitting on them would cause severe injury on the spot. "What do they look like?" Squadron Leader Chekhov, though unable to see the image on the "Light Mirror Spell" display, still guessed some details. He couldn''t command the Pure Light Sparrow as freely as Chen Fei and let it display the Light Mirror Spell as he wished. Sometimes, even asking this little bird to cast a Light Healing Technique required pampering it like a spoilt ancestor. Only Boss Hana and Head Chef Mr. Abel could make the little guy give them some face; for others, it wouldn''t even spare a second glance. "Look here!" Chen Fei pushed the light screen forward with his palm to bring it in front of Squadron Leader Chekhov. Of course, it wasn''t because he was pushing it, but because Little Bird was cooperating. "Hmm, this thing really is handy!" As Chekhov exclaimed in surprise, he then loudly shouted, "Yes, that''s them, brothers, target sighted right ahead!" "Xiao Jiu, lock onto them!" Chen Fei pulled back the light screen, then said, "What are these guys called? They seem to be a new species I haven''t seen before." Chekhov Big Bear said, "Yes, a new species! The official scientific name defined by the Joint Defense Committee is Pseudo-Dragon FA-143!" "143, the 143rd variant?" Chen Fei gasped in shock. It seemed this counterfeit dragon mutant was not a first-time occurrence. Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, "Pseudo-Dragon" being the broad category name, "FA" meaning unclear, perhaps a unique coding method by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but "143" indicates the known mutation iteration, with the actual number of iterations likely even exceeding this figure. "Be careful, these mutants are not low in intelligence, very cunning, and fly very fast. They are almost as fast as Big Mouth Monsters at full sprint, but their turning radius at full speed is much larger than that of Big Mouth Monsters, which presents an opportunity." During the days Boss Hana and Chen Fei were not at the base, Squadron Leader Chekhov led the Genuine Fragrance Squadron comrades to confront this type of mutant more than once. Coupled with the mutation-related intelligence shared by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee promptly, they had figured out the characteristics of this pseudo-dragon mutant. Missing by a fraction can mean error by a thousand miles. The large turning radius of Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 gave Big Mouth Monster pilots a chance. By pulling a few more turns, these mutants would expose themselves within the firing angle of the aircraft, allowing for missiles or autocannons to strike at will. However, since Xiao Jiu''s Light Mirror Spell could not detect distance, only roughly determine direction, it still needed to be combined with radar for more accurate assessments. Minutes later, the onboard radar also captured signal feedback from several flying objects. At least eleven Pseudo-Dragon mutants were located in front of the nose, slightly off by five degrees, partly due to the error in the Light Mirror Spell''s judgment and partly because they were also maneuvering. "Encircle them, dive in first, then squad split, cover each other, combine kite tactics and fishing tactics, be mindful of conserving ammunition, go for it, hoorah!" Squadron Leader Chekhov had just finished speaking when he pushed the throttle, and the Big Mouth Monster turboprop aircraft immediately dived down from an altitude of 3500 meters to 1000 meters. The cluster of mutant flying species, however, were completely unaware of this and continued their group flight leisurely. One of them, seemingly hearing an abnormal noise, inadvertently looked up into the sky and spotted the fiercely approaching Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, immediately emitting a panicked howl. "Hmm hmm hmm!" The loud noise started to become more frequent. - Chapter 317 317: Section 316 - Alternating Struggle ``` "Crossfire, all set!" Squadron Leader Chekhov bellowed. Six "Big Mouth Monsters" split into three pairs of fighters, forming a 120-degree arc formation, swooping toward the mutant flying species. The machine guns fired immediately, a flurry of fire serpents swarming out, forming crossfires in three directions that fiercely covered the airspace where the mutants were located. Machine Number 211 shook violently as the rocket nests under its left and right wings were fully unleashed, the rockets storming out with an overwhelming momentum, following right behind the dense gunfire. Squadron Leader Chekhov, feeling the fighter get noticeably lighter, yelled, "Hey, hey, ''Rookie'', save some rockets!" Before he could react, Chen Fei in the backseat had already fired off all the precious rockets. The rockets had no guidance system; whether they hit or not was entirely a matter of luck. Of course, a direct hit would spell certain death for the mutant flying species; after all, at this height, an injury meant a countdown to crashing. "It''s okay, it''s okay, Squadron Leader, no problem if we collide!" No matter how quiet and harmless he seemed on a normal day, once in the sky, Rookie Chen Fei played wilder than anyone else. "Ah? Are you crazy?" Squadron Leader Chekhov was shocked. The combination of machine guns and rockets was a deadly strike, catching the mutant flying species Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 off guard; nearly half of them were wiped out in an instant, with at least three Pseudo-Dragons directly hit by lucky rockets, exploding in a flurry of flesh and trembling as they plummeted to the ground. A 1000-meter fall from the air would be too much for even a giant dragon, not to mention these poorly evolved imitation dragons. The vicious bone spurs were, in fact, of no benefit to their flying abilities. The streamlined body shape of the Cangqiong Star bipedal flying dragon was the result of millions of years of natural evolution, with good reason behind its design, not something these hastily mutated, frightful-looking and bodily harmful variants could compare with. "Nice shot, ''Peanut Butter''!" "Squadron Leader, that was fierce!" A cheer went up on the comms channel, and the pilots of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron hadn''t expected the Squadron Leader''s Machine Number 211 to dare to make such a bold move in the first wave. Dammit, Chekhov Big Bear mumbled, "Well, it was decent enough!" "Stay alert, those guys are starting to fight back!" Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" had been watching those Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 closely. "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron might have had the element of surprise, but if they couldn''t maintain the advantage, the fragile "Big Mouth Monsters" would meet a dismal defeat as well. Do not assume that the mutants lacked firearms and thus the ability to retaliate; otherwise, not so many Aircrew Bases would have been destroyed, leaving no survivors from the frenzied mutant onslaught. "Roger that!" "Devil Pepper", the deputy squadron leader''s new fire control operator Salila, calling out extra loud. He replaced the deputy squadron leader''s fire control operator "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, becoming the deputy squadron leader''s rear seat fire control operator. And Mr. Salaman Francis paired up with newcomer "Angelica" Wadiye, and after some coordination over time, they formed a strong partnership aboard Machine Number 216. In the corporate war, "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had lost the entire crew of Machine Number 216; they had only just replenished their personnel and fighters. "Machine Number 213, received, covering the left wing." "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane. "Machine Number 214, following on the left wing." "Dragon Artemisia" Salila. "Machine Number 215, received, covering the right wing." "Salad" Mayer von Koller. "Machine Number 216 following on the right wing." "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, the long-standing partner of deputy squadron leader Irinei Rusios, responded loudly. Compared to the chaotic mutant Pseudo-Dragons FA-143, the combat methods of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were orderly and structured. "''Rookie'', the machine gun and missiles are all yours." Chekhov Big Bear saw only the four mutant flying species drawing closer in his world view. He was the squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, his wingman being the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios; it was only natural that he took on the hardest tasks and proactively tackled the toughest opponents. After the first strike, about nine surviving Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 remained. Chekhov''s Machine Number 211 and Irinei Rusios''s Machine Number 212 in their pair of fighters took on half of them. The other squads would take on the rest, and whoever finished their targets first would support the others. "''Peanut Butter'', ram them, just ram them!" Chen Fei reached out his hand, pressing it against the inner wall of the "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit. Dog System: Ding! Detected an A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, 1979.43 kilograms of metal material, absorb: Yes/No |? Of course "No"! If he clicked "Yes", then brace for free fall! Xiao Jiu didn''t need to worry; it could fly on its own. ``` But in the first instant, Chen Fei''s senses fused with the entire turboprop aircraft. He could even feel the howling airflow outside the fuselage, the fiery surges of the PT6A series engine, and the interplay between the various mechanisms. Without the need for a joystick, throttle, or any button, he could control the whole body of the aircraft as he wished, even making it leap like a tiger in midair without any issue. An airplane can perform a leaping tiger maneuver, but a person certainly cannot withstand such great overload. Their internal organs would be shattered. Should the situation get any more violent, the cockpit would be filled with human remains. Bones and flesh would squeeze out of the G-suits like toothpaste. "Crash? Are you out of your mind? I don''t want to die with you. Open fire now!" The pilot and the fire control operator were an inescapable team, destined by fate. Not even Chekhov Big Bear could refuse to accompany him. Rat-tat-tat, the aircraft shuddered slightly, the wing-mounted cannon fired a short burst, and several bullets buried themselves into the chest of one of the mutant flying species. It suddenly staggered back as if it had been struck hard, its massive bat-like wings seemingly forgotten how to flap, and it dropped slowly towards the rear. However, the next second, without any warning, it was as if it had been instantly revived with full health and was even on an adrenaline rush, as it frantically flapped its wings and crazily took flight again, even rushing to the front. Another series of fire serpents whooshed past the side of aircraft number 211, with the wingman in aircraft number 212 immediately following suit with fire. The injured mutant at the front couldn''t withstand the compounded heavy blows anymore. Even its wings were broken by the cannon fire, and its wing membranes were ripped to shreds. It plummeted to the ground with a wail. "Be careful. Those monsters aren''t so easy to kill." Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s voice echoed in Chen Fei''s ears. The mutants, viciously evolved, often have incredibly tenacious vitality. To be safe, it was best to fire another shot. "Conserve ammunition!" Chen Fei meticulously calculated the ammunition reserves of aircraft number 211. The rocket pods were empty, with only four combat bombs left, a 500-pound forced buddy, and over 200 rounds of cannon ammunition, and the cannon round count wasn''t always accurate. One combat bomb for one mutant seemed more than enough, but in actual combat, this was wishful thinking! Theoretical data often looks good, but reality is cruel. A two in one hit was a windfall, and four in one was the norm. One in one? Perhaps aiming for the tricycle academy''s diploma (since fighters also have three wheels)? Therefore, Chen Fei had no choice but to be painstakingly economical, subtly egging Big Bear on to engage in the most intimate contacts with those mutants. "Little Chili, do you think ''Rookie'' has any sense left? He insists on me colliding head-on with those mutants. Fighters aren''t tanks, are they? A simple bump could disintegrate us, right?" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear complained while avoiding the successive strikes of two mutant flying species. Aircraft number 211 kept rolling in the sky, yet remained at an altitude of one thousand meters. Turboprops have a strong advantage at low altitudes, but it depends on what they are compared with. They certainly have the advantage over jet aircraft, but when compared to mutant flying species like the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, they stand no chance. The reason for keeping combat altitude around one thousand meters is because the higher up you go, the thinner the air becomes. Insufficient oxygen would limit the physical energy of these mutant creatures. Even equipped with cannons and missiles, one wouldn''t want to face a spirited opponent. Maintaining little tricks to weaken the enemy from all aspects is the most suitable tactic. Surprisingly, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios seemed indifferent as she said, "Then just bump into them!" Fire control operator Tempun Schneider in the rear seat looked horrified. Deputy squadron leader, have you finally had enough of that Big Bear? The Big Bear Squadron Leader complained, "That''s deadly!" Suddenly, he discovered a trail of thick smoke erupting from under the wing of his fighter jet, but ahead... there was nothing at all. "Hey, ''Rookie,'' where are you shooting at?" Before he finished speaking, boom!~ Chekhov thought the missile fired would miss, but instead, it collided with a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 being chased by another squadron, creating a fireball on impact. Damn, actually stealing kills... Chekhov''s face fell, such dumb luck. Behind him, in the rear seat of the cockpit, Chen Fei activated the god''s eye view on the screen in front of him, observing from a higher altitude as the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron tangled and chased the mutants. The mutant flying species quickly lost their numerical advantage, not long after the close quarters battle began. The remaining Pseudo-Dragon FA-143s displayed no intention to flee; instead, they launched an even more ferocious counterattack on the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. "A cornered beast will fight!" "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider could only think of this phrase in his mind after having faced a few real battles. Chekhov didn''t forget to cheer on his comrades; it was one of his duties as a squadron leader. "Push a little harder! Kill them and we can go back to drink earlier, oh snap!" While engaging with aircraft numbers 215 and 216, a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 suddenly turned around and pounced toward Chekhov Big Bear''s aircraft number 211. The cockpit was suddenly enveloped in darkness, as sharp claws reached for the canopy. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios in the wingman''s seat immediately noticed the scene unfolding. "Watch out!" - Chapter 318 318: Section 317 - Tactics Must Be Wild Boom!~ Aside from Chen Fei, who was in a state of unity with the aircraft, no one heard the dull thud that occurred when a light-based spell shield enveloped Aircraft 211 and collided with an oncoming Pseudo-Dragon FA-143. "Is that, a magic shield?" The closest deputy squadron leader, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, muttered to herself in shock as she witnessed the light dissipating. In battle, situations change in the blink of an eye and even the most experienced pilots can''t prevent accidents from happening. What happens, happens; such is fate, and one must accept it! "Magic shield?" The eyes of "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider, seated in the rear of Aircraft 212, went wide. "''Sauerkraut,'' snap out of it!" Sitting in the front, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios noticed the fire control operator''s confusion and quickly urged him on while firing a missile that forced an opportunistic mutant to retreat. The missile followed, and the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, nearly incapable of handling combat bombs, relied almost entirely on instinct and the maneuvering advantage of flapping its wings. Boom!~ The fireball exploded, and the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, unable to escape, was engulfed in flames and shattered as it fell to the ground. "''Peanut Butter,'' go ahead and ram them; ''Rookie'' is a metal elemental psychic, and with him there, Aircraft 211 is not as fragile as you think, not to mention Xiao Jiu is here as well, did you see? That was a light-based magic shield just now." The insightful "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios immediately reminded Squadron Leader Chekhov of their current advantages. Metal Ability User + Light-element Magical Beast, a double insurance; isn''t that just a flying tank? "Ah?" Chekhov looked baffled, unaware of such slick maneuvers. "So, charge! Big Bear!" Chen Fei patted the back of the front seat. "I am not Big Bear." Big Bear stubbornly insisted. "Peanut Butter" was a traditional call sign, but almost everyone felt "Big Bear" suited him better, bulky and bear-like, practically a living bear in human form. "Chirp!" Little Bird chirped gleefully amidst the chaos. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios reminded again, "There aren''t many mutants left, end the battle quickly!" "Got it!" Chekhov responded gruffly. As Big Bear''s fire control operator, Chen Fei knew that Bear would surely receive a lecture later. Fire Serpents crisscrossed the sky as hunter and prey repeatedly switched roles. Overall, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron firmly maintained the upper hand; however, underestimating the opponent could still lead to those knockoff dragons making a deadly comeback. Despite having the protection of Chen Fei, a metal ability user, and Xiao Jiu, a Pure Light Sparrow, Chekhov was still cautious and maintained a careful distance from his counterpart during the close combat. It''s a joke, using a fighter jet as if it were a tank is such an absurd tactic. Chekhov would never dare to do it; he''d sooner die. Chekhov Big Bear was naturally reluctant, but the mutant flying species thought otherwise. Suddenly, all the Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 abandoned their current opponents and swooped towards Chekhov and Chen Fei in Aircraft 211. "''Peanut Butter,'' be careful!" "Squadron leader! Careful, they are charging at you..." Indeed, the cunning mutants knew the principle of severing a finger to hurt all ten; rather than being gradually shot down, they preferred a desperate bid to take down at least one "Big Mouth Monster." "I knew it!" Chen Fei sighed. The light-based magic shield cast by Xiao Jiu had indeed caught the mutants'' attention. Mutants from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area were becoming smarter, no longer foolishly taking hits without dodging as they had before. Precisely because eradicating mutants was so straightforward, each aircrew base was highly coveted by military contractors. Owning an aircrew base was like owning a golden rice bowl, securing a steady meal from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. This was unlike their peers who didn''t even have a proper base, miserably waiting for jobs to fall from the sky, possibly to be intercepted by other contractors, leading to chaotic clashes. "''Rookie,'' hold on tight! And Xiao Jiu, don''t fly around wildly aaaaah..." Chekhov Big Bear bellowed as he began extreme flying, maneuvering the "Big Mouth Monster" skillfully to dodge the enveloping Pseudo-Dragons FA-143. Even the wingman in Aircraft 212 was left far behind. Yet, the Pseudo-Dragons FA-143, as if fixated on Aircraft 211, relentlessly pursued it, ignoring everything else. "Know! It!" Chen Fei responded, exhausted; such minor overloads were trivial to him, especially since being in a human-machine integration state effectively avoided peak overload forces. This invisible kinetic energy moved like a blob of soft mercury, flowing back and forth within the aircraft with each maneuver. Little Bird shimmered radiantly, protecting itself with a palm-sized light-based magic shield. It even knew to buff itself first to protect its delicate body. Actually, this was the main reason why Chen Fei and Squadron Leader Chekhov didn''t want the little one entering the cockpit; surprisingly, the little fellow had figured out a solution by itself. However, as previously reported, the Pseudo-Dragon FA-143, when at full acceleration, was not inferior to the "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft. Several Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 tightly encircled the 211 craft, not caring about collisions, or rather, they seemed intent on crashing into it. The other pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron had no better options. Hesitant to use missiles and rocket nests, they could only occasionally fire borderline shots from the cannons. Even Squadron Leader Chekhov''s wingman, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, couldn''t get close enough, constantly pushed away by these counterfeit dragons, as the mutants were determined to bring down Chekhov''s 211 aircraft. Human-made combat aircraft were entirely inadequate for hard confrontations in the sky, relying only on sharp offensive weapons. "Aaaaah! These riffraff have all gone mad aaaaah!" Frantically pulling the control stick and pushing the throttle lever all the way, Chekhov kept stomping on the rudder to maintain as much mobility energy as needed for nimble evasion, often skirting on the verge of stalling. The "Big Mouth Monster" is a statically stable turboprop aircraft; it''s easy to recover from a stall--the simplest way is to let go, do nothing, and the aircraft will naturally level out. But in this critical moment, stalling meant a sure death with no place to be buried. Those fearless mutant Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 would just casually hit the aircraft. Speaking of which, that moment came fast, bang! And it really did hit! The cockpit distinctly felt a violent shake. "We''re done for!" Chekhov bellowed as he twisted the control stick into a hoop, and then he suddenly paused, his face full of horror as he quickly yelled, "''Rookie,'' don''t eject yet, don''t eject!" Ejecting too early was out of the question. If Chen Fei didn''t eject, he couldn''t either. Designs like joint eject and automatic eject had a high failure rate on the "Big Mouth Monster" so they were not adopted. Outside were frenzied mutants itching to shred the 211 craft to pieces. Ejecting now would be like sheep walking into the lion''s den, ready to be devoured in one bite, quickly becoming "Here you go (poop)." If they could break free from the mutant''s encirclement before ejecting, perhaps there would still be a chance for survival. "Got! It!" Chen Fei was still not alarmed, his expression unchanged, despite the big bear''s constant cries and yells. Let''s go! The 211 craft suddenly pitched up, climbing vertically. "Ah ah ah! It''s out of control!" Chekhov''s tenor rivalled the "breaking of tiles." Above them, a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 couldn''t dodge in time and was hit directly, the cockpit canopy completely smothered in blood. Yet the 211 craft, undeterred, turned into a skyrocket, continuing its ascent with undiminished speed. After a massive air disaster scene, this thing truly started defying science. "Gravity adjustment module, 5%" The current thrust-to-weight ratio of the PT6A series engine... something, smash the calculator. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Chekhov''s lung capacity was indeed impressive, still going strong after a minute without pause. Inside the communications channel, silence prevailed. Chen Fei casually pressed a button, and the 211 craft dropped an "egg." A 500-pound bomb detached from the fuselage''s center mount, shot upwards about ten meters, then began descending. The desperate Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 flapped their wings energetically, doggedly pursuing from below. One of them opened its mouth wide... the bomb went straight down its throat. Burp!~ The mutant let out a satisfied belch. In the next second, violent flames burst from its body, instantly engulfing all its companions. High-altitude air currents swept away the blood stuck on the cockpit canopy and aircraft''s surface. The triple-coating didn''t allow the sticky stuff to remain. On the ground, a Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 with a broken wing powerlessly fell from the sky, landing heavily, twitched its neck, its cries growing fainter. Boom!~ A thick Electric Dragon flashed inside the dark clouds, spreading out over thousands of meters and forming a bizarre, intricate tree-shaped pattern. Pea-sized muddy raindrops began to fall massively from the sky; the storm arrived, shrouding the world in a curtain of rain. As the 211 aircraft continued its vertical climb before reaching the dense rain clouds, it gracefully leveled out, descending gently in a spiral trajectory as the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s "Big Mouth Monsters," one after the other, followed, reforming into an oblique line formation. "What just happened?" With his heart pounding like a wild boar on a rampage, Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear gasped heavily. He had lost control of the 211 aircraft completely, letting go and allowing the craft to maintain a spiraling descent. Without guessing, it was clear, this was no miracle; the "Rookie" behind him was operating this "Big Mouth Monster". - Chapter 319 319: Section 318 - Choose One, Big Bear! The paintwork on aircraft 211 looked utterly ravaged, spotty and battered as if it had just endured a brutal battle. The actual situation was indeed so. But the aircraft itself was without any serious harm, not even minor issues, its condition was instead quite perfect, like a brand-new turboprop aircraft. The state of pilot-vehicle fusion allowed Chen Fei to perfectly control the turboprop aircraft, how could he possibly allow any imperfections? Trivial wear and tear, stress accumulation, and aging were automatically repaired, bringing the whole fighter jet to the state of optimal post-break-in period, every single component functioning in perfect harmony. "The battle is over!" Chen Fei disengaged from the pilot-vehicle fusion, handing control back to the front seat. A 500-pound aerial bomb had just utterly consumed the remaining Pseudo-Dragon FA-143s; they chased too closely and, without exception, all got caught within the blast radius. However, Big Bear, who had howled himself hoarse, still hadn''t snapped out of it and failed to remember to firmly grip the control stick again; so the "Big Mouth Monster" flew itself, yes, that''s also one of the advantages of a turboprop aircraft¡ªit can maintain normal flight even without human control, unlike a jet fighter, which would be waiting to crash! A whole line of "Big Mouth Monsters" followed on the right. "What, what? The battle is over?" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear let out a sigh and reflexively took control of the whole "Big Mouth Monster," as if he had finally come to his senses. "Yes!" Chen Fei had barely finished speaking. Then the voice of Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" came through. "''Rookie'', it was you, wasn''t it?" The short-haired female deputy squadron leader guessed right away, Big Bear might be audacious, but there was no way he could reach such a level. Only Chen Fei, this impetuous and recklessly daring young man, would go crazy to the extent of not sparing even himself. Leopards don''t change their spots! Just like Big Bear''s unchangeable bad habits! "Ah? Haha, hahaha! Deputy Squadron Leader, you are indeed sagacious!" Chen Fei promptly delivered his flattery. In the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, one could offend Big Bear, but absolutely could not offend Little Chili; this short-haired girl was known to hold grudges. Even if you offended the Big Bear Squadron Leader to death, a bottle of liquor could easily smooth things over, no matter what kind: earth-burned, sawdust-burned, corn-burned, buckwheat-burned, as long as it was alcohol, he wasn''t picky at all. "How''s ''Peanut Butter''? Scared stiff, right?" Putting herself in their shoes, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios could also guess that Big Bear must have gotten quite a scare because even if it were her in that dramatic and violently bloody breakout just now, she''d probably wet herself from fright. Even the thick-skinned Squadron Leader Chekhov must not have fared much better either. After all, treating a fighter jet like a tank wasn''t something a normal person could understand. True to being a supernatural power user! To date, employing supernatural power users as fighter pilots, not just in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area but even among all the Aircrew Bases on Blue Star, 911 was definitely the scorpion in the cake, uniquely toxic. Possessing two supernatural power users and two magical beasts, the Jiu Defense Company, which considered itself a small military contractor, seemed to be playing an unfair game! Yet outsiders couldn''t really complain because, up to now, the true external aid had only been that Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet; wind-type ability user Hanna Gagar was the boss, metal ability user Chen Fei awakened to his special ability only after joining 911, and the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was literally hatched and raised right there at the base, under everyone''s eyes. If anyone else envied them, they could simply find their own supernatural power user boss, awaken their employees to abilities, and then either hatch or raise a magical beast, finally enticing a high-rank magical beast to complete the high-end combat capability plan of the Jiu Defense Company. That''s like dreaming! If it weren''t for the family business, Hanna Gagar probably wouldn''t want to deal with the annoying military contractor business! Day in and day out, not making much profit while always grappling with schemes and plots. "No, not at all, how could I be?!" The wild boar inside Chekhov finally began to settle down; after all, he was an experienced pilot with strong nerves, and he quickly regained composure just after calming down. He turned around, and immediately started to angrily roar. "''Rookie'', what the hell are you pulling? This is a fighter jet, not a tank! You jerk!" Big Bear would never admit that he had been scared to the point of pissing himself; fortunately, the diaper cushioned him, preventing any leakage, but even so, it was infuriating. Chen Fei said somewhat helplessly, "Didn''t I tell you to ram it, to just go for it, why didn''t you listen to me?" He and Xiao Jiu both provided double insurance to the other party, yet this outwardly tough but inwardly timid Big Bear was still as timid as a bubble, thinking a light touch would make him pop. In high-overload maneuvers, a fighter jet really was no different from a bubble¡ªa casual poke and it would be game over. "That''s too much, you''re not allowed to pull such dangerous stunts again!" Squadron Leader Chekhov seemed to have not fully cooled off, yet he didn''t speak too harshly. Because this infuriating "Rookie" had a department head Xiao Ming behind him, and then there was everyone''s supreme superior, Boss Hanna. Not to mention, Little Chili sometimes also backed up this "Rookie," indeed throwing a good punch. "If we didn''t do that, could we have charged out just now?" Chen Fei''s reply was nonchalant. The propeller blades are sharpened, yet you''re still timid, afraid of wolves ahead and tigers behind, truly unworthy of the great name of Big Bear. "..." Squadron Leader Chekhov immediately fell silent. He was well aware of how perilous the situation had been, missing by just a hair''s breadth, he could''ve been a goner, ready to receive his death benefits. "''Peanut Butter,'' you should thank ''Rookie''! Otherwise, do you think you''d still be alive right now?" True to her nickname "Devil Pepper", the short-haired girl delivered a jab that hit Chekhov right in the sore spot, with precision, strength, and ruthlessness. "''Devil Pepper'' Squadron Leader, you really have an eye for things, you''re absolutely correct, under your leadership, we''ve won yet another victory." Chen Fei was kissing up to Irinei Rusios big time, deliberately omitting the word ''deputy'' as he started the game of egging on, hitting the spot quite perfectly. Nobody else dared to utter even half a ''no'' between their teeth. "It''s always ''Rookie'' who has the sweetest mouth." As expected, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios chuckled gleefully. Seated in the rear, the fire control operator "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider was tense, damn it, "Rookie", are you trying to steal my pilot seat? Hey, I don''t want to partner with that Big Bear! Having recently arrived at Aircrew Base 911, he had already figured out the interpersonal relationships of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Almost none of them were serious. Squadron Leader Chekhov was drunk day in and day out, always flying drunk, openly flouting safety regulations. The deputy squadron leader was infatuated with Big Bear, always furious about Big Bear''s obsession with Big Daizi, regularly exploding in jealousy and beating him up while the rest also behaved recklessly, either causing trouble or fanning flames. Originally thinking that only Chen Fei was such an oddball, now it seemed that none of them were normal! "Hey hey hey! I am the squadron leader!" Chekhov was anxious, promptly declaring his leadership status. But Chen Fei ignored him, instead continuing to speak on the comms, "I propose ''Devil Pepper'' to officially become the squadron leader, how about that? Big Bear demoted to deputy squadron leader! Those in favor, raise your hand!" Indeed, Chekhov Big Bear, only knowing Big Daizi and booze, was utterly useless. Better to have the short-haired girl without many obvious faults as the squadron leader! "This, this isn''t really appropriate!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios became unexpectedly coy. "I agree!" The main pilot of aircraft 216, originally "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, the rear seat fire control operator for Irinei Rusios, suddenly voiced his agreement loudly. This guy was also a scumbag playing both sides, despite having a wife, he secretly harbored feelings for the short-haired deputy squadron leader. Relegated to being on aircraft 216 to train newbies, he was filled with silent resentment. Fire control operator "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown of aircraft 214 chimed in over the comms, "Eh? I agree too!" "I also agree!" "Seconded, ''Devil Pepper'' for Squadron Leader!" "''Devil Pepper'' for Squadron Leader!" "Agreed!" Chen Fei was successful in starting the fire, winning unanimous approval. Even the two new pilots could not help but vote in favor, carried away by the fervent atmosphere. They didn''t want to be the odd ones out in their early days, better to follow the majority. "Hey hey! What are you doing, a rebellion?" The infuriated Big Bear Squadron Leader suddenly found his favorite fire control operator less appealing. That was the kind of guy who wouldn''t even spare himself! He even dared to lay hands on the squadron leader! "Choosing between Big Daizi and ''Devil Pepper.'' Pick Big Daizi, no squadron leader. Pick ''Devil Pepper'', become squadron leader. Choose one, Big Bear!" Chen Fei truly elevated the "art" of being audacious to the level of art, leaving Chekhov itching with irritation yet completely powerless to do anything about it. The short-haired girl, feeling comfortable with the flattery, cheerfully said, "''Rookie'' asks a good question. Let''s choose one over the other. What do you say, ''Peanut Butter''?" As an adult, of course, he wanted everything! But Comrade Chekhov was forcefully brought to the brink of a life-and-death question, and it was a tough one to answer! The other pilots instantly became exhilarated. When else could they see Big Bear pushed to this point? A miraculous moment had arrived. A hundred kilometers away inside Aircrew Base 911, silence reigned. The duty personnel exchanged glances, none daring to chirp at this moment. Everyone was witnessing an internal strife within the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Whether it was a rebellion or uprising was hard to define, but it was certainly a difficult situation to pull through. A gentleman avenges wrongs no sooner than ten years later; a petty man avenges them from morning till night. If you can take revenge anytime from morning till night over ten years, wouldn''t that be delightful? To avenge the grievance of being forced to confront the Dragon of Slaughter in the past, Chen Fei was feeling extremely comfortable right now. - Chapter 320 320: Section 319 - Collecting the Bodies "Alright, ''Rookie'', your tricks end here!" Boss Hana''s voice suddenly entered the communication channel, stopping the sudden infighting of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. It was less of an infighting, more of a farce. "Peanut Butter" Squadron Leader Chekhov''s appointment was for a reason, unrelated to his liking for liquor and Big Daizi. The fact that "Genuine Fragrance" squadron had made it this far while maintaining excellent combat capabilities was enough to prove his personal ability wasn''t as preposterous as his character, and that he indeed had real skills and could step up in key moments, which is exactly what a Combat Flight Squadron needs in a true leader. A good boss needs to accept the merits of their capable subordinates and naturally their faults as well. If "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios took over as squadron leader, it wouldn''t be impossible, but when it came to decisiveness, she still lacked a bit of gumption. Unlike Chekhov, she couldn''t just charge ahead recklessly at the drop of a hat. As tactical executors, often there''s no need for too much premeditation; regard life and death lightly and just do it! This reincarnation left the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron uncertain, but Chekhov Big Bear heaved a long sigh of relief, his face filled with lingering fears, having narrowly escaped death. Old man, traveling through Jianghu for over forty years, I can fail anyone, just not when flying a plane and not Big Daizi. Almost broke half of my achievements. If the "Rookie" boy mentions alcohol again, I''d impulsively push the control stick and we''d all be finished! "Okay then!~" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. Since the boss had spoken, he had to give her face. "''Peanut Butter'', you better watch out. If your performance doesn''t improve, watch me really take your place!" The short-haired girl issued a threat, or rather a warning, as her patience had limits. Heh, women! Chekhov suddenly said slyly, "Got it, got it! I recently saw a GG cream that can enlarge! It could add at least one cup size." This guy still had a trump card to appease Little Chili! "Where is it? Where is it? Send it to me quick!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios fell for it hook, line, and sinker. A woman dresses for the one who pleases her, not to mention adding a cup size, she''d want it even if it was just half a cup. "I want it too!" The girls of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron were not just one. "Go away, don''t believe that guy, he''s fooling you!" Helicopter Squad Leader "Miso" Yamada Yuhu scolded two silly girls of the armed helicopter team. One of them was his co-pilot whom he brought back from Dongying. Hearing about increasing her cup size, she was immediately hooked. You can''t believe a single word of Chekhov Big Bear. "How could it be a lie?" "That''s really lousy!" "Zisu" Fuziko Takada and "Mint" Susanna Emma were greatly disappointed. Compared to Squadron Leader Chekhov, they still trusted Squad Leader Yamada more. "Nonsense, it''s a magic potion sold from Cangqiong Star, its effect guaranteed. It could elevate you to Mount Kilimanjaro even if you were in the Great Rift Valley." Even Chen Fei had to admire the analogy made by Squadron Leader Chekhov. The Great Rift Valley and Mount Kilimanjaro are neighbors, and such a comparison was quite hurtful. "If it''s a lie, we''ll stew this bear." The voice of "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sounded like it was coming from The Abyss. Goodness, this Big Bear had successfully stirred up Little Chili''s resolve. If he didn''t succeed, he''d be honorable, and if he couldn''t get through this ordeal, he might end up as boiled bear meat dipped in egg sauce (what kind of divine cuisine is this?). With a cabin full of feathers, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron smoothly returned to base. Upon exiting the cockpit, before Squadron Leader Chekhov could settle accounts with Chen Fei, he was busy circling around his beloved aircraft, checking for any hidden damages. You can''t leave all the work to the mechanics; a responsible old pilot also needs to keep a close eye on his aircraft. In a sense, it''s like adding an extra layer of insurance; maybe they could spot some oversight. Concerning his own life, being a bit more meticulous is always better. Like caressing his lover, Chekhov''s fingers touched every inch of the aircraft''s surface, even knocking gently and listening for the echo with his ear pressed against it. Before he could make a full round, he was abruptly pulled aside by the deputy squadron leader, Little Chili. "Big Bear, where''s the magic potion!" "Let go of me, I''ll give it to you later!" At that moment, Squadron Leader Chekhov only had eyes for his beloved aircraft, so the two began to scuffle. The airstrip was a chaos of feathers and fur. This was just another day for the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, as everyone from the ground support units to the mechanics coming over for pre-checks turned a blind eye. - Meanwhile, Chen Fei took the opportunity to jump aboard Yamada Yuhu''s Z-9 Wuzhi with Xiao Jiu. The huge propellers stirred up the airwaves, and the helicopter rose from the 911 airstrip, slowly flying off into the distance. Although the seventeen Mutant Flying Species Pseudo-Dragons FA-143 had been successfully eradicated, the mission at the 911 Aircrew Base was far from over. Apart from rescuing the pilots, a helicopter squad made up of two Z-9 armed helicopters also needed to transport technical personnel to the eradication site to conduct biological sampling. After returning to the Aircrew Base, they would perform DNA sequence analysis and submit the analysis report to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. The evolutionary basis for the previous 142 iterations of Pseudo-Dragon FA-143 came like this - through the coordinated efforts of all aircrew bases around the world, they precisely mastered the mutation states of the mutants, eradicating them in their weakest incipient stage to ensure human dominance over the entire planet. After all, mutants are a type of wildly evolving organisms. Although most mutations fail, the sheer number and variety of mutants can lead to qualitative changes, and there are always a few that accidentally or fortunately tread on the right yet dangerous path. In uninhabited areas, in sparsely populated regions, and areas not fully occupied by humans, surveillance is often inadequate. This provides these abnormal organisms with enough space and time to grow. Now, evidence of human manipulation behind the mutants has been discovered, and if strict control isn''t enforced quickly, the leading position of humans as intelligent species on Blue Star might be shaken. Just the thought of humanity being replaced by another or multiple species, gradually moving toward extinction, is practically no different from the end of the world. Even Chen Fei didn''t see anything wrong with the notion "humanity equals the world." If humans ceased to exist, then the world would have no reason to exist either. I''m tired! I don''t care anymore! Let it be destroyed! Quickly! With humanity gone, who would care about the floods and storms on Blue Star? Without people, no one would be left. Most likely, most humans would think this way too. Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu boarded Yamada Takebu''s Wuzhi and returned to the eradication area, not to take advantage of the situation to avoid Squadron Leader Chekhov''s retribution, but to provide protection for the technicians responsible for biological sampling. Recently, mutants had erupted without warning, not only frequently appearing within the patrol area of the 911 Aircrew Base but also launching several attacks on the base itself. Entering this abnormal period suddenly made the sampling technicians panic. As non-combat personnel, they were there to earn a paycheck, not to lose their lives. If adequate protection wasn''t offered, they definitely refused to risk their lives, and, pushed to their limits, even submitting their resignations wasn''t out of the question. The combined fighting power of a man and a bird was sufficient to put anyone at ease. If even that didn''t keep them safe, dying was all that was left, with no room for complaints ¨C just resignation. "Look! Those are the counterfeit dragons." Inside the helicopter cabin, Chen Fei had Xiao Jiu skillfully use the Light Mirror Spell to locate the crash sites of the mutant carcasses. Since they were struck down in midair and fell from a kilometer high, it was difficult to keep the bodies intact, and only with a lot of imagination could one piece together the original form of these mutant flying species. In the footage, the flesh and blood attracted some beasts and birds, which began tearing at these freshly fallen tender meats. If samples weren''t taken promptly, in less than a day and night, these carcasses would vanish without a trace, leaving only a large patch of fly-covered purple-black dried stains. "It seems a bit different again." Ruan Er Song, a biological researcher at the 911 Aircrew Base, squinted slightly, accustomed to the bloody scenes. Besides ensuring his own safety, he was unfazed by the horrific sight of bodies scattered everywhere, rivers of blood flowing. Initially, when he was a rookie, he would be so nauseated that he staggered to the side to vomit profusely. But after seeing it a few more times, dozens of times later, the vomiting became routine, and his work capability and experience naturally matured. Thankfully, the light-screen footage presented by the Light Mirror Spell was clear and stable enough for him to scrutinize carefully. The magic of Blue Star, the radio of Cangqiong Star¡ªon different planets, they surprisingly face little interference. Chen Fei asked tentatively, "Is it a new mutation?" The "Water Bear" organization was deeply hidden, and besides the underground breeding farm in the Alps Mountain Area that Chen Fei had breached, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had yet to find new breeding or cultivation bases. Even the source of many mutants couldn''t be determined, as if they had simply popped out of thin air. Ruan Er Song rubbed his hands excitedly and said, "Maybe it is. We need to discern on site, and sampling is the most direct evidence." Discovering new mutants always came with rewards; the bounty was from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. The military contractors took the lion''s share, and technical personnel received a percentage based on the research value of the new species. Previously, the 911 Aircrew Base had discovered a new species "Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01." Although this smarter species of Rhinoceros Cockroach wasn''t considered an out-of-control mutation, it still resulted in a bonus being handed out, allowing Ruan Er Song and his partner to earn a year''s salary for free. Just like the spoils of war for military contractors, without these substantial extra earnings, who would come to these godforsaken places for that meager pay, just for fun? The descending Z-9 armed helicopter, with its tremendous roaring and air currents spreading in all directions, caused the gathering beasts to scatter and flee, also sparing the effort of driving them away. - Chapter 321 321: Section 320 - Flesh Sample ``` "Ugh, the smell here is really strong!" As the rotor blades gradually stopped spinning, the stench rose once again into the sky. "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, who just came down from the helicopter, instantly regretted not bringing a gas mask as he covered his nose. The terrible odor almost made him lose his balance, it was the first time he had encountered such an awful smell. Are these mutants some kind of biochemical weapon? Dead and still not peaceful. His co-driver, the young local "Zisu" Takada Fuziko, wasn''t new to such a bloody carnage scene, yet her little face turned pale and she instinctively moved closer to Big Brother Yamada. Squad Leader Yamada casually wrapped his arm around this girl who liked eating cat food, gave her a tight hug, and said, "Hey! Fuziko, don''t be afraid, they''re dead as doornails!" A pinch of bonito flakes with some soy sauce over rice is cheaper than beef bowls at Matsuya or Yoshinoya, this girl is easy to feed. (My cousin saw the price of pre-shaved bonito flakes at a 711 store in Japan, which seemed like the amount for ten bowls is equivalent to one portion of a Matsuya beef bowl. I never tried Yoshinoya, but beef bowls in Japan are as popular as Lanzhou noodles) "Jiu!" Little Bird hopped onto Chen Fei''s shoulder, utterly indifferent to the pungent smell. The insects it liked to eat smelled much worse, and it still gobbled them up without a second thought. It flapped its little wings and landed nearby, constantly looking around for a few delicious insects to snack on. Despite having specially-made pellets, live insects were still its favorite treats. "Hss!~ What on earth happened here? Did it rain blood?" Biological Researcher Ruan Er Song, slinging a sample case, looked down at his feet, stepping on a piece of who-knows-what organ fragment, surrounded by bloodstains, and bits of flesh and bone scattered everywhere. Chen Fei said with an unperturbed expression, "First round of machine guns and rockets took out about half, the last 500-pound bomb cleared the field." Opening fire with the entire Rocket Nest was a highly successful tactic, but unfortunately, only his Aircraft 211 was firing at full strength at that time. If the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s other "Big Mouth Monsters" had also unleashed their Rocket Nests, they might have cleared the target in one round. "500-pounds? These things landed?" Ruan Er Song looked around and didn''t see any conspicuous shell casings, nor did he smell the persistent acrid scent of gunpowder. He couldn''t understand where exactly the 500-pound aerial bomb went off. "Threw it into a mutant''s mouth, straight down the throat." Chen Fei chuckled, who would expect the silly mutant to open wide, and it was just a casual toss, which actually hit the target, involving quite a bit of luck. The term "deep throat," although descriptive, carried a certain ambiguity. "Hss, that was really life-threatening." Upon visualizing that scene in his mind, Biological Researcher Ruan Er Song''s skin crawled at the thought, the brutality of it all. Having blasted the Mutant Flying Species into such a state, he couldn''t guarantee that he would be able to collect DNA samples from every Pseudo-Dragon FA-143. He could only try to pick parts of skulls, which tend to be relatively hard and easier to identify, ignoring the flesh and organs, unable to tell which belonged to which, he simply disregarded them. ``` "Hurry up, the beasts are coming back!" Yamada Yuhu, carrying an automatic rifle, was on guard nearby. The defensive strength still depended on Chen Fei and Little Bird; he was only responsible for firing warning shots. If a real situation emerged, it wasn''t his turn to step in. The birds and beasts that had been scared off by the helicopter''s commotion were sneaking back, taking three cautious steps at a time, overall inching closer and closer. Surrounding them was a cacophony of squeaks and squawks, mixed with sounds of gorging. As long as it was a carnivorous animal, none was easy to deal with. Stimulated by the flesh and blood of the mutants, the ravenous wild beasts went mad, even killing each other, adding to the feast. "Awoo!~" Without large predators, wolf packs had become the primary apex predators of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. "There are wolves!" Takada Fuziko, clutching an automatic rifle and guarding the Z-9 armed helicopter, felt her calves trembling uncontrollably; those terrifying animals gnawing on the mutant flesh made her empathically uneasy. And there were snarling evil wolves, staring fiercely back at her. However, the most numerous were still the crows. Crows that had fed on corpses often grew bolder, daring to approach even in the presence of humans and even audaciously snatching a few bites. "Wolves?" Chen Fei quickly spotted the gray wolves that had joined the bloody feast and walked straight over, skillfully extending a familiar hand. Pat on the head to kill! But this time he did not bring a collar, so it would have to wait until next time. At the Aircrew Base nearby, a significant number of gray wolves had been fitted with collars equipped with tracking devices for identification. Beyond emitting a growl to guard its food, the Asian Gray Wolf showed no intention of resisting, allowing Chen Fei to scratch its forehead and ears while it continued to devour the flesh. It was confirmed, their own wolf, but without a collar. It must be their second encounter. All was well, all was well! The vast wolf pack swept by "Ah Mao," the Shadow Wolf, actually came from every corner of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, growing like a snowball rolling down a hill. After their defeat, Chen Fei dispersed them. The temporarily assembled wolf packs naturally went their own ways, as the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area couldn''t sustain so many wolves. "Eh!" Takada Fuziko watched, dumbfounded, as Chen Fei patted the wolves on the head, one by one, like they were his own dogs. Since when were the fierce wolves of the mountains so obedient. Of course, there were disobedient ones too. A few kicks made them settle down and get patted. Perhaps they weren''t even part of Chen Fei''s Wolf King''s pack, having snuck into the group from who knows where. They were quite confused themselves, but seeing the other wolves not resisting, they too stupidly allowed their heads to be patted. "Okay, they''re all our wolves." Chen Fei confirmed his dominion over all the gray wolves. A pat on the head represented dominance. The hierarchy within the wolf pack was clear. Having patted them all, he once again consolidated his prestige as the Wolf King. Among these wild beasts, the greatest threat was the Asian Gray Wolf, but now that it was subdued by Chen Fei, the Biological Researcher Ruan Er Song hurriedly scribbled around a pile of broken meat to obtain the blood samples he wanted. After a quick count, he shouted towards Chen Fei, "That''s all, I only found fifteen heads." "The rest were probably blown to smithereens," Chen Fei guessed that whether it was the rocket shells or the 500-pound aerial bombs, they were enough to blast the heads of those makeshift Flying Dragons to pieces. "Then there''s nothing we can do," Ruan Er Song had no choice but to pack up the sampling tools, ready to close up shop. Just at this moment, a flash of light streaked by, and a large flock of crow-like creatures squawked as they took to flight. "Ah!" "Ah!" "Ah!" "Ah!" These guys had just tried to bully Xiao Jiu, who also sported black feathers. Little Black bullying Little Black, with no psychological pressure at all, only to be scared witless by a "Light Burst Flash" and scattered in all directions. Ordinary beasts and birds stood no chance in front of a Magical Beast. The noise of the crows gave Yamada Yuhu a pounding headache, and he said irritably, "These caws are so damn depressing!" His words didn''t sound like those of a Dongying person at all. Takada Fuziko said with palpable fear, "Miso, let''s hurry back!" Even with a gun in hand and comrades by her side, the terrifying howling of ghosts and wolves still scared her greatly. "It''s okay, Fuziko-chan!" Yamada Yuhu then gave the little sister a comforting head pat before shouting at the Biological Researcher who was trudging back with the sample case: "Hey, are you done yet?" More and more wild beasts were gathering around, most likely from within a fifty-mile radius. Carnivores and scavengers were all converging here. The flesh of these mutants probably wasn''t enough to satisfy them, and a bloody fight was likely to ensue. Some of the animals, driven mad by hunger, might even turn their attention to the humans. "Done! Prepare for takeoff!" Ruan Er Song reached the cabin door of the Z-9 armed helicopter, threw his sample case aboard with a thud, Several mutants were now unidentifiable; he just randomly picked some and decided to bet on his luck when he got back. Takada Fuziko breathed a sigh of relief, glad that it was finally over. Chen Fei called back Little Bird, which had been picking on the crows, and was about to board when he heard a faint noise rapidly approaching from behind. He turned to see a dozen or more Asian Gray Wolves panting as they ran over, each with a bloody chunk of flesh in their jaws. "Miso, don''t rush to start the engine!" Chen Fei raised his hand to stop Squad Leader Yamada from starting the Z-9''s engine, fearing that the loud noise might scare away these purpose-unknown wolves. "What do these wolves want to do?" Through the windshield, Yamada Yuhu and Takada Fuziko saw the wolves, bold enough to approach the human aircraft. The wolves came before Chen Fei, each stepping forward in turn and laying down the meat they carried in their mouths. This was a tribute, offering the choicest, most succulent meat to the Wolf King. Wolves are straightforward with each other, unlike the scheming of humans, and only show their cunning while hunting their prey. "So that''s it, thanks a lot. You guys keep the meat for yourselves!" After guessing the intention of the wolves, Chen Fei patted each of their heads in turn. The wolves obediently lowered their heads and drooled; if it weren''t for the rank of the Wolf King holding them back, there would have been a deadly fight over the spoils. But the vicious wolves were unmoved, one of them looking quizzically at Chen Fei, nudging the meat with its nose, signaling the Wolf King to eat it while it was fresh. "Haha, I don''t eat this stuff! Eh?" As Chen Fei laughed, his gaze fell on the chunk of meat, and he expressed a tiny bit of surprise. He turned back to the cabin, and said, "Expert Ruan, bring the biggest sample box here." The title of expert was a joke, nothing more. "What, something has been found?" Ruan Er Song realized immediately that Chen Fei would not ask for a sample container without reason. It had to be an important discovery. He quickly opened the sample case and handed over the container in a flurry. "Seems like a bit like a biological chip, let''s bring it back for analysis!" Chen Fei picked up the meat, tossed it into the sample container, then sealed it and handed it back to the researcher from the base. He had spotted something shiny and geometrically patterned on the surface of the meat, with vague circuit-like textures, very suspicious, so he collected it for the experts to analyze. This chunk of meat was probably an unexpected find, and if it turned out to be what he suspected, this wolf might be credited with a significant contribution. Chen Fei thought for a moment, turned his finger into a blade, and parted the fur of the wolf pack leader, making it recognizable for next time. This move was quite mischievous. As for what the wolf was really thinking, WHO CARES? "Biological chip? These mutants have biological chips implanted?" Ruan Er Song''s eyes almost bulged out, as he clumsily caught the sample container, struck by the magnitude of Chen Fei''s previous statement. "Mutants are cultivated by people all the time; implanting chips is nothing unusual, it could be a method of control." To Chen Fei, this was not surprising at all. He patted the wolf pack leader''s head, then turned and boarded the helicopter, patting Squad Leader Yamada''s seat. "Take off!" "You got it!" The engine of the Z-9 armed helicopter roared to life, the blades spinning faster and faster, and the bold wolves immediately fled in terror, even forgetting the chunks of meat on the ground. - Chapter 322 322: Section 321 - Discovery Award Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock! The door of the office of the general manager at the Aircrew Base resonated with the urgent sound of knocking, exerted forcefully. "Come in!" Hanna Gagel, who was reviewing the company''s financial statements, paused her work and looked toward the door. Just who was the reckless one who, without making an appointment, came knocking so anxiously. "Report, report, I''m the biological group''s Ruan, Ruan Er Song!" A biological researcher, holding a tablet and a stack of paper documents, took a deep breath outside the door before striding in. Hanna Gagel asked, puzzled, "What''s the matter?" She generally limited her communications with the technical staff of the biological group to digital work reports. The two biological researchers of the Aircrew Base usually buried themselves in the laboratory doing their assigned tasks, seldom coming out in their free time, only making a fleeting appearance when needed, and thus they weren''t very conspicuous. "Discovered, discovered something important." Despite being mentally prepared, Ruan Er Song immediately became nervous upon seeing his one-eyed boss. "Sit down first, take it slow," she said. Hanna Gagel pointed to the chair in front of the large desk and then tidied up the financial documents. Controlling a company, the most important aspects were money and people, i.e., finance and human resources. For other matters, she delegated authority to the duty managers and team leaders of various units. The responsibility of a boss wasn''t to micromanage but to formulate strategies and oversee the processes. Being overly busy indicated that there was a problem with corporate operations. "Yes, yes, yes!" Ruan Er Song quickly came forward and sat down, first passing over the paper documents. Paper products could not produce themselves and entirely depended on external supplies; only important documents would be specially printed, while other documents were generally transmitted electronically. "Hmm! A chip?" Picking up the paper document, Hanna Gagel saw a complex circuit diagram at first glance and then looked at the biological researcher across from her, exclaiming, "It''s a biological chip!" Biological chip technology was primarily used for live implantation. Many magical beasts living in human society had specific biological chips implanted in them, or, like Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, wore an external biological recognition device (leg ring) for not only positioning but also identity verification. Besides, some special or precious animals and plants also had biological chips implanted for growth protection and identity verification to avoid forgery. To discover a biological chip inside a mutant killed in a desolate wilderness might spark a significant uproar. To breed mutants, that mysterious "Water Bear" organization had even gone to this extent. It was unknown whether the source of the biological chip could be found because, across the entire Blue Star, only a few industry giants and laboratories had the capability to manufacture such specialized chips¡ªit wasn''t something any makeshift workshop could produce. However, according to Hanna Gagel''s guess, the likelihood of tracing back to the source via connections was minimal; the "Water Bear" organization was highly secretive and tightly secured, leaving no clues on the biological chips. After reviewing the paper documents in hand and having Ruan Er Song explain the related technological analysis on the tablet, she then said, "Organize the report and samples properly, I''ll report this to the Joint Defense Committee." At this moment, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was the only body capable of handling this new discovery; it was inappropriate for Jiu Defense to keep the information for selling intelligence. Ruan Er Song excitedly said, "No, no problem!" Having said that, he bolted, charging toward the laboratory. He had a premonition that this time, his bonus payout was going to be substantial. The sooner he completed the report, the sooner he could get his bonus. This time, it was all thanks to "Rookie" Chen Fei''s sharp eyes for discovering the biological chip within the flesh; otherwise, it would have almost ended up in the belly of a wolf, eventually turning into wolf excrement, leaving nothing behind. Of course, the bonus definitely included a share for Chen Fei, the discoverer, netting him an unforeseen fortune. - Just as Boss Hanna picked up the financial statements again, Chen Fei was standing at the mouth of Rabbit Valley, sighing at the sight of the heavily torn open steel wire net wall. All the hard work, completely washed down the drain. No need to guess, it definitely was the doing of those mutants. These fierce mutant creatures, mostly carnivorous, naturally targeted valleys like this one, which harbored a large number of rabbits. Even Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain area primary school had suffered furious attacks from the mutants, let alone the defenseless Rabbit Valley. He ran his hand along the fragmented wire mesh wall, activated the "Metal Shaping" skill, and the broken wires reconnected with each other, quickly returning to their original form. Fortunately, the mutants did not consume metal; the damage to the wire mesh wall was merely physical and not a single ounce was missing, making restoration not at all difficult. "Howl!~" A long wolf howl came from a distance. About a dozen wolves trotted along the ridge. Looking at their necks, they all wore collars. The gray wolves intimately nuzzled Chen Fei''s shins, nearly licking his shoes. He hadn''t expected these creatures to have survived, not being devoured by the savage mutants. It appeared that the wolf pack''s ability to endure the harsh conditions of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and maintain their numbers indicated they were quite capable. A pat on the head was all it took to send one wolf scurrying away. After all, wolves are not dogs; they aren''t clingy. These gray wolves had come merely out of respect for Chen Fei, the current Wolf King, to greet him and show closeness and obedience before swiftly running off without looking back. Past the wire mesh wall and into Rabbit Valley, the ground was riddled with holes, here and there, posing a real risk of twisting an ankle if one wasn''t careful. A few short-eared rabbits cautiously peeked out of their burrows, bringing Chen Fei a pleasant surprise. Rabbit Valley seemed not as badly affected as he had feared. The mutant tide had not wiped out all the rabbits; quite a number had evidently eluded capture, and their numbers seemed substantial. Given the rabbits'' breeding capabilities, just a pair of Adam and Eve rabbits would soon populate the entire valley with rabbits. The sound of weathered rocks rolling down a steep cliff reached him; looking in the direction of the noise, he saw several rock goats standing on narrow footholds like acrobats, uncertain whether they wanted to enter the valley or were on their way out. With their climbing abilities, rock goats indeed could evade most mutants, which could only envy their skill and feel powerless. After walking around the valley, Chen Fei estimated he saw about a hundred rabbits, including numerous young ones. However, not a single bird, such as wild chickens, had survived. The terrible destruction wrought by the mutants was still evident. "I need to buy rabbits from Teacher Shen''s students again." To reach the desired rabbit population in the valley, Chen Fei would have to resort to the old method of manually introducing rabbits, which naturally meant spending money for convenience. If he didn''t do this, relying solely on the current population to naturally multiply would take at least half a year to return to its original state. He visited a local school at the mountain area, where he left five thousand Star Yuan in cash with Teacher Shen to purchase five thousand live small animals, primarily rabbits. The amount destined for the purchase might seem modest, but for the local Patan people, who had just survived a nightmarish brush with mutant calamity and generally had very meager annual incomes, this sum was undoubtedly a timely rain, enough to alleviate their dire economic straits significantly. Teacher Shen Fei undoubtedly welcomed this, and the students cheered. The money divided among each one was substantial. Chen likely gained even more favor from the locals, making him feel that his bitterly earned role was timely indeed. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s assessment of Chen Fei was spot on; what kind of lunatic fences off an entire valley to raise rabbits was beyond understanding. Compared to the speechless extent of investing resources to forcibly cultivate a Pure Light Sparrow to Third Rank Human Order, raising rabbits seemed almost trivial. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee responded swiftly. On the tenth day after receiving the biological chip sample and report submitted by Jiu Defense Company, a mid-sized Sky Patrol Ship belonging to the committee arrived at Aircrew Base 911, bringing the reward requested by Hanna Gagel to extend and modernize the main runway according to Third-Level standards. The original 1500-meter runway was extended to 2000 meters, and new upgrade components for the Magnetic Catcher were included. This main runway not only retained magnetic arresting capabilities but also gained magnetic launch capabilities. Through technical means, its effectiveness was enhanced to match a 4000-meter runway, allowing even advanced jets to land and take off smoothly. If the runway''s load-bearing capacity could be further strengthened, even large transport planes would have no issues. Soon after reporting to Boss Hana, the Earth Element User accompanying her began working. Extending over thirty more meters at the end of the main runway was a steep slope. Working together, two High-Rank Earth Element magicians gathered thousands of tons of soil and rock from the surroundings. They forcibly built a robust and thick mountain ridge as the necessary foundation for the runway extension. Pairs of force field generators were erected symmetrically alongside the runway, each pair spaced about 150 meters apart. The rectangular force field projected from each pair intersected precisely above the runway''s width, with fifteen pairs distributed over approximately 1800 meters of the runway. Although Hanna Gagel converted all the rewards this time to upgrades for the landing runway at Aircrew Base 911, there was no reduction in rewards for the involved personnel. Not only did Chen Fei and the two Biological Researchers receive bonuses, but Squad Leader Yamada of the Z-9 armed helicopter and Sister Takada also received their shares as witnesses to the projects. Everyone benefitted equally. Boss Hana was always generous in her dealings; penniless Chen Fei nearly burst out laughing seeing the extra 200,000 Star Yuan award on his paycheck. - Chapter 323 323: Section 322 - Bar The runway upgrade service at Aircrew Base 911 isn''t something that can be completed in just a day or two. Even with the assistance of a High-Rank Mage, the entire construction period would need at least fifteen days. As a permanent airport, simply expanding the runway with steel plating and quick-drying cement just won''t cut it. After dropping off personnel and supplies, the medium-sized Sky Patrol Ship from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee left soon after, as it had other tasks and couldn''t afford to linger here for long. With nearly a hundred more people suddenly at Aircrew Base 911, filling up more than half of the staff dormitory area, the whole base instantly became bustling and lively. After receiving the bonuses, Chen Fei quickly settled his dues with Chef Abel in the canteen, even leaving Xiao Jiu in the care of the chef. He then invited his colleagues from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and the maintenance team, as well as some acquaintances from other departments, to take over a corner of the base''s bar. "Bring out all the wine I''ve got stored here first, drink up, everyone!" Chen Fei waved his hand at the bartender behind the bar and was immediately surrounded by cheers. The bonus of two hundred thousand Star Yuan allowed Chen Fei to be unusually generous for once. But a poor sod in debt by millions, no matter how generous, is still just a magnanimous pauper. He couldn''t afford fine liquor, but he had plenty of homemade fruit wine. Besides the fruits grown in the greenhouses of his small western-style building, Teacher Shen Fei''s students also picked quite a lot of wild fruits for Chen Fei. If one were diligent in collecting them, the quantity would be so vast that even a large tricycle could barely contain them all. Wild fruits have their unique flavor. After bringing them back to the western-style building, they were all made into fruit wine. Apart from the amount that could be consumed within the shelf life, the rest was distilled for purification for long-term storage. Any surplus was then sold at the base bar "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" at reasonable prices to make some extra money. Excluding consignment fees, each month would add an additional thousand or two Star Yuan to Chen Fei''s income, which wasn''t too shabby. Over time, the bar would usually have a stock of five to six hundred liters of high-proof distilled fruit wine and a small amount of low-proof wine. This time, Chen Fei struck it rich, and instead of selling them, he decided to give them all away for drinking. Crate after crate of wine was quickly moved out, and the shiny stainless steel bottles stood out distinctly, being much easier to replicate with Metal Elemental Psychic Power than glass bottles. Determined in life not to let down either flying planes or Big Daizi, Squadron Leader Chekhov, with a bottle in hand, had already thrown the resentment of being duped by Chen Fei to the back of his mind and shouted jubilantly, "Thanks to ''Rookie'' for the kindness, let''s toast together!" Big Bear was just this kind of person, even if you knocked him to the ground and walked over him ten thousand times, a single bottle would instantly resolve a thousand grudges, making him as amicable as a real brother. "Cheers!"¡Á34! Under the bizarre lights of the bar, the stainless steel bottles were eye-catching. Each bottle even had a carefully attached label, specifying the alcohol content and the ingredients used for brewing, such as strawberry wine, blackberry wine, and sauerkraut wine. Besides fruit wine, there was also a small amount of mead. Those with a high alcohol tolerance picked the ones with higher proofs, those with a moderate tolerance chose the lower proofs, and some even opted for freshly brewed sweet wines. However, Xiao Ming, the head of the maintenance team, held a glass of milk as he joined the toast. It''s hard to imagine a big muscular hulk like Chekhov, who could take a beating, having a low tolerance for alcohol. Even champagne, a drink for little women, could put him under the table, so he usually steered clear of the bar. Dragged over by Chen Fei this time, he merely asked for a large glass of milk. Drinking was out of the question, and it would be impossible for him in this lifetime. Nobody else minded. There was only one thing to do in the bar: have a blast. As long as you were happy, what you drank was entirely up to you. There was no such thing as not fitting in, only one big group. ``` "Hey, what''s this drink? I want a bottle too!" The stainless steel bottles had attracted the curiosity of some newcomers, who also asked the bartender for such drinks, wanting a taste of something new. "There''s none left, they''re all over there." The bartender shrugged helplessly, pointing to the stacks of big baskets piled high, even the baskets made of steel, each one heavy enough to kill a person. After moving them with his colleagues, his back ached and his waist was sore. Each bottle had a capacity of half a liter, with forty-eight bottles to a basket, a total of twenty baskets amounting to nearly a thousand bottles, close to half a ton of alcohol. Chen Fei, who was just buddying up with Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear, happened to see this and immediately shouted, "Help yourselves, it''s free, drink till it''s gone!" Since he was being so generous, he didn''t care about where it came from. Since everyone had come, they might as well join in. The whole bar erupted with cheers at this, alcohol that''s free just tastes better. The bartender looked helpless, his earnings for the night gone to waste. Fortunately, the boss was Boss Hana, who wouldn''t fuss over it with Chen Fei¡ªhad it been someone else, they might have felt like kicking out all these people who took up space without buying drinks. "Aoaoao, aoaoao, KUMA!" After downing two bottles of fruit wine, not sure if it was 60+ or 70+ degrees, Squadron Leader Chekhov was getting tipsy. He grabbed another bottle and, blowing on it, began to step in the Seven Stars stance, chanting "Supreme Elder Lord''s edict rushes like a decree" while his face turned red and his neck thickened as he started to wiggle¡ªit wasn''t a war dance, no, a bear dance, with his big butt arching provocatively. "Oh yeah, Big Daizi, come join me!" Vice Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, who was arm-wrestling several girls, saw this and used some strength, causing the three girls opposite her to scream and fall head over heels. She was taking on three at once! Only had a few bottles, right? And already this drunk? Not drunk, just happy. Squadron Leader Chekhov, hugging a bottle, could be happy in his sleep for a whole night, let alone when he was drinking freely. A group followed Big Bear in a big circle, all twisting together, arm in arm. When drinking, it''s not about the alcohol; it''s about the atmosphere, casting away all pretenses and revealing one''s true filthy nature completely. "Chekhov, you better drink less!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios asserted her female authority. But Big Bear just lifted his bottle. "Cheers!" With a tilt of his head, guzzle, guzzle, guzzle, burp!~ Ahhh... ``` He succeeded in standing on the brink of courting death. "Cheers!" ¡Á 174! My goodness, the whole bar was about to explode. "Chekhov, you stop right there!" "No, I don''t want to! I want Big Daizi!" "(¨p ?Ãó ?)͹!" The reserved special feature of the Squadron Genuine Fragrance was about to start¡ªLittle Chili beating up Big Bear! There was a clamor in the bar, and the members of the Joint Defense Committee were almost dumbfounded, uh, why isn''t anyone stopping this, and some are even egging them on! "Squadron Leader, half a year! Woah... woah!~" The leader of the Armed Helicopter Squadron, Yamada, was wearing nothing but a loincloth, standing on the table, and doing a one-legged cockerel crow¡ªthis high-difficulty move deserved a full 10 points! Miss Takada, who witnessed this scene, was almost dumbstruck, as she couldn''t hold him back just now. At this rate, the Big Bear Squadron Leader really wouldn''t live past half a year. For a moment, the bar was a cacophony of chaos and smog, and even two high-ranking Earth Element magicians sent by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t escape unscathed. The Aircrew Base was a big dye pit, dyeing anyone who entered into two-yuan-a-pound barefoot sauerkraut. The shiny stainless steel bottles became more dazzling under the lights, and the empty ones didn''t hurt even when you threw them at people, so there was no need to worry about anyone getting so drunk they''d try to perform a skull surgery with them. Old Black Doctor William Jackson went around pointing fingers at people, chuckling nonsensically to himself. "This one''s a severe schizophrenic, and this one, serious delusions, haha, ADHD, no, Tourette''s, and that one too..." He turned to see his own grinning reflection in a large wall mirror. "Bah! Snake disease!" Despite there still being plenty of fruit wine, not everyone liked the privately brewed fruit wines. There were still two or three people sitting in front of the bar, not joining in the revelry. "Burp! Huh? Old Zuo, what are you doing here?" Chen Fei, carrying a steel bottle of wine, staggered over and sat down at the bar, eyeing a person who was sitting with their head down. "Ah? Mr. Chen Fei, no, I''m sorry, just now..." Zuo Gengming''s face was full of sorrow, which was completely out of place in the noisy bar atmosphere. He was absent-mindedly flicking the cup of wine, which was half-empty and hadn''t been touched, so much so that a few drops were spilled out. He had just seen Chen Fei, but was surrounded by colleagues and thus hadn''t come over to greet him. Unexpectedly, the other party came to him instead. "Too many people, huh?" Chen Fei turned his head and saw a scene of a raucous ghost parade, and immediately understood. "Yes, that''s right!" Zuo Gengming touched his nose. "Is there something wrong?" Chen Fei''s stainless steel wine bottle clinked against Zuo Gengming''s glass. Came to the bar to drink wine, only to play with the wine glass? "No, you''re right, there''s something!" Zuo Gengming, with an embarrassed face, picked up the wine glass and gulped it down, only to choke on it and start coughing violently. He had come with the Sky Patrol Ship from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. He hadn''t even made a reservation or given any notice before arriving uninvited. Luckily, Hanna Gagel, the general manager of Jiu Defense Company, was still working at the Aircrew Base. Seeing Zuo Gengming, although it was somewhat unexpected, she still received him. However, their discussion didn''t go too well, and Zuo Gengming, who was temporarily staying, declined Boss Hana''s invitation to a dinner banquet. By chance, he saw that the base had a bar and came over alone to drown his sorrows. "Oh!~ Let me guess!" Chen Fei scratched his head and suddenly said, "You''re here for help!" The crazy mutants were causing chaos everywhere, and even the situation at the Aircrew Base wasn''t optimistic, let alone the other bases. Zuo Gengming opened his mouth wide and finally, dejectedly, nodded vigorously. "Heh, you''re right." After he finished speaking, he even sniffed. A man doesn''t easily shed tears. Recently, many aircrew bases had been having a hard time, which allowed those smaller military contractors without aircrew bases to take advantage and gloat. "Tell me exactly what''s going on. Even if I can''t help, I can still be a qualified listener. Talking it out might make you feel a bit better." With Boss Hana''s decisive nature, even if Chen Fei was reckless, he couldn''t make decisions for others. As an employee, one should listen to the boss''s arrangements, not just run off with someone else in the heat of the moment. What kind of loyalty to Jianghu was that? Even "Song Gongming the Timely Rain" wouldn''t do such a thing. Calling someone brother and jumping to take up their cause, how foolish! Especially since their relationship hadn''t reached that level yet. - Chapter 324 324: Section 323 - Interest Zuo Gengming sniffed and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "My Aircrew Base 130 has been occupied by mutants." The unexpected disappearance at the Green Cherry Orchard Estate''s salon had a significant impact on the circle of military contractors. Although the bigwigs of military contracting, who were transferred to the mutant breeding farm underground in the Alps Mountain Area, managed to survive by luck, their companies and bases were plunged into turmoil during this storm. One-tenth of the military contractors could not withstand this calamity and declared bankruptcy. Nearly one-third of aircrew bases changed hands, some of which are still occupied by mutants to this day. The situation facing Zuo Gengming''s Spring Field Defense Limited Company is such that if they cannot recapture the lost aircrew base within a month, the contracting rights of that aircrew base will be transferred to other military contractors, leaving only one of the originally contracted two aircrew bases. The aircrew base is a place for capable people, if it cannot be held, it is better to give it up early and hand it over to a person or enterprise capable of defending it. Situations like squatting without a defecation are absolutely not allowed to occur. Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee takes care of its "inside people," it would not dare to make enemies with the entire industry on this matter, as no one wants to provoke universal outrage. "So, how did the talks go?" Chen Fei pointed towards Zuo Gengming, then towards the direction of Boss Hana''s office. He was curious, as Old Zuo had just been metaphorically bumped on the nose there. Zuo Gengming hesitated for a moment, glanced at Chen Fei, and said, "It hasn''t been settled yet. Ms. Hanna neither refused nor agreed." The other side was from Jiu Defense Company, and he wasn''t sure whether he should be speaking these words or not. "Ha!" Women! Chen Fei laughed inexplicably. "Can you help me?" Suddenly, Zuo Gengming grabbed Chen Fei''s hand. "Wait, I''m not into that stuff!" Chen Fei quickly withdrew his hand, poured some liquor to rub them, then took a paper towel to dry them off, his little heart pounding. Although high-proof liquor does not have a 75-degree strength, its disinfectant effect is limited to psychological comfort and is practically useless. The alcohol content must be within 75¡À5 degrees to effectively kill germs. Zuo Gengming looked embarrassed and hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, I¡ªI''m not into that either." He also secretly rubbed his hands, as the misunderstanding really caused his hair to stand on end. "Old Zuo, I can''t help you with this!" After drying his hands, Chen Fei spread them out and said, "You should be clear about the consequences of backstabbing." Brief acquaintanceship prevents deep conversations, and the other side was being somewhat reckless. Where is there a reason for employees to speak for outsiders? This must be wanting to submit a resignation. Workplace rules follow this principle¡ªeat your boss''s words, follow your boss, and go whichever direction your boss points. "I''m so sorry, could you offer some advice? I really have no other options!" Having come to Aircrew Base 911 alone, Zuo Gengming had no choice but to thicken his face. He tried seeking help elsewhere, but with mutants continuously emerging and being very active, colleagues were too overwhelmed to extend help to others. Even those who were barely managing their own crises. Even the top hundred ranked large military contractors were all busy cleaning their own snow, not caring about frost on others'' roofs. Aircrew Base 911, home to two supernatural power users, two Magical Beasts, and the most capable Combat Flight Squadron, was thus well-equipped to handle this unforeseen mutant surge with ease, and Zuo Gengming would not have visited if he had any other recourse. Only the ambiguous stance of General Manager Hanna Gagel had left him utterly at a loss. "Advice... in business, it''s all about how much you''re willing to pay," Chen Fei extended his index finger, dipped it in some liquor, and drew a circle on the bar counter, then drew a square in the center of the circle. Problems that Brother Kong Fang can handle are not considered problems at all. Talking about money hurts feelings, but since there are no feelings between parties yet, it''s all about injuring the wallet! Surely Zuo Gengming should understand this logic, shouldn''t he? "Price?" The words startled Zuo Gengming as if waking from a dream. He had only been thinking about seeking help from Jiu Defense Company, breaking out in cold sweat as he finally remembered such a crucial matter. Concern leads to chaos, and without anyone to remind him, it was natural for him to enter a dead-end. "So it was like this!" Zuo Gengming let out a sigh of relief. Although the initial negotiation with Boss Hanna had yielded no results, both sides left room for the next round and did not make any final decisions. He was very relieved that, despite coming away empty-handed initially, he had not lost control of his emotions. Now completely calm, he vaguely began to see a new approach. "Here, pour another for Mr. Zuo, and put his drink on my tab." Chen Fei took the opportunity to greet the bartender. Another drink was pushed across the bar. "How much should I offer?" Zuo Gengming asked again for advice. Chen Fei swayed the bottle in his hand and leaning against the bar, said, "There''s an old saying: ask for the moon and settle for less. I don''t really understand the specifics, but from my point of view, the more the better. You want to find someone to help, you definitely need to show great sincerity, so the person helping you doesn''t end up working for nothing, right?" "I understand now!" Zuo Gengming looked thoughtful. If he still didn''t have a clue after this point, he might as well quit this line of work. "Don''t rush it, think about it slowly, or you can always just go home and inherit the family fortune!" Chen Fei patted Zuo Gengming''s shoulder. He didn''t discriminate against rich second generations. It was just that they were better at "being born"; the rich have their worries and the common folk their joys. Just like the uncles in his family and himself, there were no barriers between cousins at Chen Family Gate¡ªwho would inherit the family fortune. If Little Shanzi wasn''t convinced, he would still be beaten into submission by the brothers of the Old Chen Family. "It''s not the same, not the same!" Zuo Gengming shook his head and chuckled bitterly. There''s nothing different, really. The poor care first about basic necessities, while the rich focus on their ideals and passions. "Keep drinking, I''m off!" Chen Fei grabbed the bottle and ran off. Since it involved company interests, it was inappropriate to chat too deeply, so he touched on the points and made a swift exit. Not until the next evening, when he stepped into the small villa led by the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet and Boss Hana casually mentioned something, did Chen Fei learn about Zuo Gengming''s asking price and the intended results of the negotiation, now just waiting to be formalized into a legally binding contract. "Jiu Defense Company to acquire 11% of Spring Field Defense, becoming one of the shareholders, and in exchange help reclaim Aircrew Base 130 and eradicate all mutants." Business is business, friendship aside, Boss Hana opened with a lion''s share, taking a big bite from the other party. "Did Old Zuo really agree?" Chen Fei looked incredulous as Xiao Jiu seized the opportunity to land on his glass, dipping his head in and drinking one gulp after another. "If he didn''t agree, what else could he do? The situation now is beyond his control. Finding a second company willing to accept such terms is probably impossible." Hanna Gagar sipped her drink nonchalantly and continued, "Getting back Aircrew Base 130 is not going to be easy, not everyone can do it, so this price is necessary. Anyone else would ask for even more, and he probably understands that himself." She pointed at Chen Fei and said, "This task is yours now; you are responsible for dealing with it." "Me?" Chen Fei pointed at himself, feeling staying at Flyers Base 911, guarding Teacher Shen Fei, was more appealing. "Think before you speak in the future, don''t be so transparent. It makes it easy for others to exploit you. Zuo Gengming put you on the spot, trying to use you to help me drum up support. How foolish!" Boss Hana huffed. Zuo Gengming misjudged the relationship between Hanna Gagar and Chen Fei, which was not just between a boss and a trusted employee but also very reliable friends. "This guy..." Chen Fei shook his head bitterly, even imagining that Zuo Gengming had used their relationship during negotiations, exaggerating minor details, pretending to be old buddies to win sympathy. The schemer! It seems that in dealing with such characters in the future, one must be more cautious to avoid being exploited like this time. Hanna Gagar swayed her glass, her tone returning to normal, and said, "Come to my office tomorrow morning." Chen Fei asked puzzledly, "Is there something?" He thought over and over but couldn''t guess what would warrant a trip to her office. No one visits the Temple of the Three Treasures without a cause, the same goes for the office. "Core employees of the company can get varying employee profit-sharing equity from 0.1% to 1%." Hanna Gagar didn''t elaborate further. In fact, she had thought for a long time before deciding on this plan, aiming to tie key employees to the company. On the one hand, as an incentive, and on the other, as a safeguard against poaching by competitors. The profit-sharing equity meant sharing the business earnings with Hanna Gagar, who had absolute 100% ownership. Currently, the financial state of Flyers Base 911 and Jiu Defense is good; every point of equity brought a not-insignificant amount of dividends. - Chapter 325 325: Section 324 - Midnight Alarm "Stock options? I''d rather not take them!" As a graduate with a degree in economics, Chen Fei certainly understood the meaning of this term. Although it sounded tempting, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you can''t bring benefits to the boss, why would you share in the boss''s fortune? Wishful thinking! "Don''t worry, I won''t cheat you. There are only advantages, no disadvantages." Granting stock options to employees is essentially a way to win them over. Hanna Gagel was certainly not about to play a shell game deceiving monkeys with peaches. She sincerely intended to share the benefits, to bind everyone together. But it wasn''t a foolish giveaway either. The rights of stock options were limited to profit-sharing while employed. All other shareholder powers were non-existent, and the entire company was still under Boss Hanna''s sole control. Once someone quit, naturally, they would get nothing. However, there truly were no drawbacks! "Let me hesitate for a moment!" Having been tricked before, Chen Fei had some psychological shadows regarding his sister. When it came to money matters, even the boss couldn''t speak freely, even if Boss Hanna truly had no malice towards him. "Okay! I''ll get the agreement to you later, and you can sign it anytime." As Hanna Gagel clinked glasses with Chen Fei, she wasn''t worried at all that he wouldn''t sign. An opportunity to get benefits for free¡ªonly a fool wouldn''t sign, and such foolish employees could be spared. Moreover, once the meat was in the pot, it could only stew there. "That, that, can I sign too?" The Magical Beast Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang, having overheard the conversation between Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel, had his eyes bulging out, almost drooling at the prospect. Wow, such a significant benefit, practically a guaranteed meal ticket. Its time at the Aircrew Base 911 wasn''t short, and it had a good understanding of the strength of both the base and Jiu Defense Company. Jiu Defense Company was not just some small military contractor. It was on par with even the medium-sized contractors. That wasn''t strange at all, given it was a defense company newly established on the foundation of some assets from the large military contractor Apocalypse Defense Group. Then it had severely drained its old employer, starting with a much stronger foundation than those small contractors who didn''t know where their next meal was coming from. Having been through the baptism of corporate warfare, even if it didn''t have the best reputation in the industry, it was definitely not viewed as a weakling or a trivial player. Since the neighbor, Aircrew Base 909, had been targeted, no competitor dared to trouble Jiu Defense Company and Aircrew Base 911. "You can!" Boss Hanna''s right eye twirled as she said cheerfully, "But you have to sign a long-term contract!" That''s my boss for you, killing two birds with one stone and tickling this High-Rank Magical Beast in just the right spot. Chen Fei secretly gave a thumbs up... "No problem!" Magical Beasts that liked straightforward deals usually didn''t hesitate. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, a sly old hand in human society, was very shrewd yet agreed without hesitation. What did it matter where it scraped a living, with food, drink, accommodation, fun, little work pressure, and comprehensive benefits? Why wouldn''t it sign a long-term contract? Sign! It definitely had to sign. "The contract starts at ten years!" Boss Hanna put down her glass and made a cross with her two index fingers. "No problem!" Er Lang''s tail wagged like a puppy''s. Just ten years, a mere blink of an eye for Magical Beasts that generally had longer lifespans than humans. Time would pass just like that. "A Magical Beast''s word..." "Is hard to chase as a flying horse!" This was a local saying from Cangqiong Star, the home of Magical Beasts, which had exchanged influences with the Blue Star civilization. "Come by tomorrow morning to leave your paw print!" Magical Beasts couldn''t write, but paw prints could still serve as legal evidence. A paw print was as unique as a fingerprint, with a very low probability of repetition. An alarm rang through the air. In the middle of the night, there was trouble again. Boss Hanna remained calm, Chen Fei was used to it, and the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet kept licking its drink. It was a Level Two combat readiness alarm, nothing to panic about. Little Bird... What''s this alarm about? Continue sneaking drinks... A ringtone from a cell phone began to play. Boss Hanna lay lazily on the counter of the small western-style house, her chin propped in one hand, tipsy and saying, "It''s not mine!" "Nor is it mine!" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet looked back at the tactical vest on its back, where the phone was properly inserted in the pocket, neither blinking nor vibrating. "Then it must be mine!" Without using the process of elimination, the ringtone alone told him it was his own. Chen Fei took out the phone; it was an internal group number. "Hello! Who''s looking for me?" "Teacher Shen''s school is surrounded again, do you want to go have a look?" It was the on-duty manager Mahnam''s voice, and it just so happened to be his shift. The Aircrew Base 911 was adjacent to a mountain area school. Was it hard to guess which was the soft target? In this period, the school in the mountain area had been attacked by mutants more than once. Fortunately, the distance between the two wasn''t far. Chen Fei had built a tall steel wire fence for the school, far sturdier than the one around Rabbit Valley, and left a Third Rank Human Order Dark Shadow Wolf there. Along with the firearms Teacher Shen had, the school was not without the capacity to defend itself; it could hold out until support from the aircrew base arrived. "Go! We must go!" When Chen Fei wasn''t there, someone else would take over. But since he was at the aircrew base right now, it was naturally his turn. Mahnam''s call was indeed timely. The savvy Mahnam deserved an extra chicken leg. "Let''s go, Big Cat, time for some exercise!" Chen Fei didn''t forget to grab the nape bloom of the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet and took off with it in hand. "Hey, hey, hey, I don''t want to exercise, I want to drink!" Er Lang twisted his body in protest. He was enjoying his drink just fine; how did he end up being conscripted? A Level Two combat readiness alert wasn''t significant enough to require its claws. "No! Wishful thinking!" Chen Fei was dragging the Big Cat to the door already. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had been perched on his shoulder from the get-go. Wherever Chen Fei''s father went, it went without question. "Come back soon!" Boss Hana waved at the trio¡ªone man, one cat, one little bird. This kind of combat power combination could strut around in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area unchallenged. What was there to worry about? The ones who should be worried were those mutants. "No, don''t, I don''t want to!" The Big Cat was dragged out the door, and soon a large tricycle soared straight up into the sky from right outside the hangar¡ªthe kind of aircraft that didn''t care for formalities and could take off and land just about anywhere. Er Lang''s voice continued to echo across the sky. "Damn it..." This wasn''t a flyer for daycare, it was for elementary school. The tricycle couldn''t compete with turboprop aircraft like the Big Mouth Monster in speed, let alone think about MiG-28s or F-22s. But it still managed to reach the Aircrew Base''s neighbor, the mountain area elementary school, within ten minutes. "Big Cat, circle around the wire fence and throw some Wind Blades around." Chen Fei actually strapped the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet onto the tricycle, intending to use it as a bombing cat. If this large tricycle had a spirit, it might one day boast about its past glories. "I, too, was once magnificent." The sight of an aircraft hurling spells at the ground is a privilege usually reserved for National Treasure Artifacts like the Crystal Jet. "Die, all you annoying creatures!" The Big Cat was bristling with anger, its spiritual power surged violently, instantly targeting all the mutants on the ground. The strong winds stirred up by the tricycle''s main propellers were harnessed to form huge Wind Blades with diameters exceeding ten meters, which fiercely slashed down. It seemed as though the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet was venting out all the resentment it had from being dragged away from the bar against those mutants. Once a High-Rank Magical Beast of the Seventh Human Order gets going, the lethality of its spells is truly terrifying. Whizz, whizz, whizz... The shrill screams tore through the sky. "Chirp!" From the pocket of Chen Fei''s coat, where only its little head showed, the Little Bird conjured an Illumination Technique Light Orb the size of a tennis ball. With a gentle peck of its beak, it floated leisurely down, bathing the ground in soft light. Mutants, as big as calves and clad in scale armor, with long spikes extending from their limbs that seemed perfect for climbing, were shredded by Wind Blades falling from the sky, with their flesh and blood flying everywhere. The momentum of the Wind Blades did not diminish as they drove into the ground, leaving one deep cut after another, sparing not even the hardest stones. "Awooo!" A wolf howl with a whimper rose into the air. Outside the tall wire fence, a dark figure emerged, stumbling toward the fence. It collided with several mutants along the way, tumbling and scrambling in a most pitiful state. The still-hovering Light Orb drifted over, kindly illuminating its path. The shadow turned its head to look up to the sky, its face filled with despair. The Dark Shadow Wolf, unable to hide under the Light Element''s Illumination Technique, clung to the steel wire as thick as fingers, letting out pitiful howls. "Awooo! Awooo! (Let me in! Let me in!)" If it weren''t for the annoying Light Orb overhead, it would have turned into a shadow and slipped through long ago. The steel wire fence might stop mutants, but it couldn''t stop a Shadow Wolf in its Shadow Transformation. Chen Fei piloted the oversized tricycle around the fence, and Er Lang''s Wind Blades carved a circle on the ground. The remaining two or three mutants scattered and fled. Though mutants were fierce, they still hadn''t managed to securely hold the top spot in the natural food chain in the wild. Once they lost the advantage of numbers, they quickly became a feast for other carnivores. Even though the Kush Mountain Area of Xingdu always dealt with mutant disasters, creatures like wolf packs were still surviving quite well. The Shadow Wolf, having narrowly escaped death, collapsed outside the wire fence, shivering. The tennis ball-sized Light Orb floated right above it. This job was impossible to do! The oversized tricycle landed inside the fence, and the school children staying in the school gathered around with lamps and flashlights. One, two, three, four... Good heavens, all accounted for, plus a dozen or so younger ones. It seemed that home couldn''t take care of them, so they were all dropped off at Teacher Shen Fei''s place right next to the Aircrew Base. Taking care of so many kids all day long, Teacher Shen was probably quite exhausted. "Thank you so much, you''ve had a hard time," said a person who emerged from among the children, reaching out to Chen Fei with a hand. It wasn''t Teacher Shen. Chen Fei paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Who are you?" He involuntarily dropped the polite form of address. It looked like someone was trying to encroach on his family''s private land... - Chapter 326 326: Section 325 - The Male Teacher at School A stranger Chen Fei had never seen before appeared in front of him, right there at Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain school. The man was neither a local mountaineer nor one of the Patan People. Black hair, black eyes, yellow skin; his accent sounded like he was from the mainland. Apart from the local students, could there be anything good about a solitary man and woman? It''s only an idiot who gets the moon first without being close to the waterside pavilion! Are rich and beautiful girls not fragrant? Of course, they are! At the least, they could save you twenty years of struggle! Seeing a hint of smugness in the other person''s eyes, Chen Fei felt that Manager Mahnam had pulled the wrong alert; this wasn''t Second-Level Combat Readiness, it was obviously First Level, no, it was a Special Level combat alert, okay? Kill him? Or still kill him? Grab the neck, a quick snap, then toss him outside, guaranteeing not a bone would be found after half an hour. Right, there''s also the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao" comrade; it''s time to test your stomach capacity, you should be able to eat it, right? If you can''t eat it, kill and force it down anyway!!! Raising a wolf for a hundred days comes down to this one moment; if you can''t even be useful for this, what use are you! Chen Fei''s face had unwittingly grown grim, revealing a trace of ferocity. "Chen Fei!" Teacher Shen''s voice came through, breaking the aggressive aura that was seeping out from Chen Fei. Instantly switching from a cat''s face to a dog''s, Chen Fei turned with a smile towards the direction of the voice. "Teacher Shen, are you hurt? I was just drinking, and when I heard the alert, I rushed over." "Was it you flying the gyroplane?" Teacher Shen Fei was carrying a Type-95 automatic rifle, running over from a distance. There weren''t many firearms in the school, just barely two rifles, one automatic and one semi-automatic, two pistols, one of which was a revolver, and roughly two thousand rounds of various ammunition; as for hand grenades, there were about a hundred or so, along with a small quantity of anti-infantry mines, those that spray in one direction causing widespread destruction. When the Mutants attacked, it was all up to these weapons to buy time. "Who else could it be?" Chen Fei held up the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet''s small vest and dangled it in his hand. Er Lang was truly inhumane. "Woof!" Big Cat howled dispiritedly in a lifeless tone. This is not the right flavor at all! The stranger who suddenly appeared at the mountain school couldn''t help but widen his eyes and rub them. This is clearly a cat! How can it bark like a dog? "You actually flew drunk?" Teacher Shen Fei suddenly got a bit angry. Drunk out of your mind yet daring to pilot an aircraft, ignoring traffic safety, was downright suicidal. "But I didn''t violate traffic rules." Finally, Chen Fei let go and Big Cat landed on all fours, looking annoyed as it sat to one side. Drunk flying? That''s nothing, Squadron Leader Chekhov wouldn''t pilot a plane without drinking, downing a bottle of Erguotou to buff up till he puked; the KUMA warriors have Immortal Bodies because they''ve never died. "Uh!~" Only then did Teacher Shen Fei finally remember that the nearest traffic police were still eight hundred miles away, with no way to ticket or fine Chen Fei. The quips were about to fly; this guy''s also turned bad, must be that Big Bear Squadron Leader''s influence; I heard he likes to fly only when drunk, never sober. "No flying after drinking in the future," Teacher Shen Fei finally said, "Thank you for this time." If there was no support, the entire school might once again have been in danger. "No problem, just lending a hand!" Chen Fei pointed at Big Cat and said, "It''s all thanks to it; I was just responsible for bringing it here." He lacked reliable, precise AOE attacks, and to wipe out so many Mutants in such short time, he had to rely on the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet. "Woof!" Big Cat was determined to play the part of a dog to the end. "What kind of cat is this?" This time the stranger finally confirmed with certainty that this cat was not normal. Unable to hold back, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet retorted, "You''re the cat, your whole family are cats!" I''m even barking like a dog, and you still call me a cat, are you dumb? "Ah? The cat, the cat is talking!" The man was taken aback, his face a mixture of shock and awe. Though the home of the Magical Beasts, Cangqiong Star, had been interacting with Blue Star for many years, talking Magical Beasts were still quite rare. Sometimes knowing something is one thing, witnessing it firsthand and actually encountering it, well, that''s an entirely different matter. Teacher Shen Fei, with her broader experience, calmly stated, "It''s a magical beast!" How could the young Miss Shen of the Shen Family have never seen a magical beast? She had even had dealings with them. Thinking about it, wasn''t the little bird in Chen Fei''s shirt pocket also a magical beast? So adorable that it hardly seemed like a magical beast. "Chirp!" Little Bird also greeted. The youth, indulging in his adolescent fantasies, led a cat with his left hand, carried a chirping bird with his right, donned battle armor, and rode a tricycle through the plains. This painting-style certainly was not in the same vein as ancient times. "That''s right, a Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet at the Human Order Seventh Rank, named ''Er Lang.'' Er Lang, this is Teacher Shen Fei, and the other one is..." Chen Fei finally turned his full attention to the stranger who had suddenly appeared in the mountain school. "I''m Jiang Shan, a new volunteer teacher here to assist Teacher Shen with her duties." The man smiled and reached out his hand to Chen Fei again, his eyes holding a hint of... something off, as if he was mentally cursing. "Jiang Shan, sorry, I prefer beauties to landscapes." Chen Fei rejected the advance coldly, his attention turning back to Shen Fei instead. A play on words, how clever! "You dummy, learn some manners." Shen Fei could no longer stand by; she gave Chen Fei''s arm a light punch with her small fist. She wasn''t foolish and had already noticed that Chen Fei and Teacher Jiang didn''t mesh well, clashing the moment they met, an unforeseen tension prior to this moment. "I''m uncouth and know nothing about manners, Teacher Shen, I have something to discuss with you." Chen Fei had no intention of dealing with this Teacher Jiang any further. Considering the scarcity of university spots, and the fact that many people cannot gain admission, shouldn''t someone who spends four years in the Ivory Tower and graduates with a degree feel grateful? If the Dean ever heard him calling himself uncouth, he would likely rush over to beat the daylights out of this kid. Any regular person would feel slighted receiving such treatment. Teacher Jiang''s smile became strained, his fists clenched in his pockets, though he tried to brush off the slight verbally, "It''s okay, you guys talk. Don''t mind me." "Kids, hurry back to sleep. Chen Fei, come with me!" Teacher Shen Fei wanted to have a serious conversation with Chen Fei, so she shooed the children back to their dormitories and then led Chen Fei to the wire mesh fence, their pace leisurely as they began to patrol. Watching Shen Fei and Chen Fei''s receding figures, Teacher Jiang''s smile finally faltered, and he silently withdrew. Outside the fence, the Illumination Technique Light Orb flickered and dissolved into countless points of light, and like a prisoner granted amnesty, the Shadow Wolf scrambled to its feet, turning into a shadow and sneaking within the fence''s wire with great urgency, racing towards Teacher Shen''s feet, leaping into her shadow on the ground, and daring not to emerge again. That was a close call! Chen Fei reached out, but before his hand could touch the deformed wire mesh fence, the Mesh, visibly twisted from the impact, rapidly returned to its original shape. After all, it was only physically deformed, and what could be changed one way could just as easily be reverted. His "Metal Shaping" ability could now be extended a short distance, seemingly related to the strength of his spiritual power. A superpower level was fixed at the moment of awakening, but spiritual power could still grow. "Are you jealous?" Once they were out of earshot from the others, Teacher Shen Fei, who carried a 95-style automatic rifle slung across her shoulder, regarded Chen Fei with an amused, teasing gaze. The daughter of a prominent family, her emotional intelligence was top-notch, and it was clear to her exactly what was going on with Chen Fei. "Weren''t you the only teacher here? How come there''s another one now?" Chen Fei, keeping a straight face, kicked a rock the size of an egg, and it struck the wire mesh, sending sparks flying. "You know what?" Teacher Shen Fei held up one finger, then added two more, saying, "This school should have at least three teachers based on standard protocols." When she had first arrived, there had indeed been another teacher, but they had left rather quickly, seemingly just waiting for a replacement, with no intention of working alongside Shen Fei. After all, this was a remote mountain region with low salaries, surrounded by wilderness and unruly, wild local people, where firearms and ammunition were commonplace. In this place, seemingly cut off from the world, it would take nothing short of a person''s passionate dedication to convince teachers to stay. Faced with harsh reality, passion often burns out quickly - hot on the first day, warm on the second, cooled on the third, and icy by the fourth. Once that passion fades, people start thinking about leaving. The ebb and flow of teachers coming and going has been a constant, yet this small school, established by international educational organizations, has managed to survive for nearly half a century. The meager educational accomplishments it has gathered flicker like a candle in the wind, at risk of being snuffed out at any moment. The chronic shortage of teachers meant that maintaining basic literacy was a struggle, and higher levels of education were well beyond the capabilities of the staff ¨C such were the unfortunate realities. "At least three teachers, huh? No wonder you''ve had it so hard!" Chen Fei began to understand why there was a new teacher at the mountain school, even though he was male, they shouldn''t discriminate based on gender, right? Cooking, gardening, teaching all subjects across six grades - Teacher Shen was doing the work of at least three people. Even now, with two young assistants to help, they were still just kids who, in a few years, would have to leave to get married and start families. It seemed that next time he encountered Teacher Jiang, he would have to be a little more polite. If he managed to kill or scare off the strong man, it would only add to Teacher Shen''s burdens. However, it would be better if there were more burly and sturdy women around ¨C not only would Teacher Shen feel safer, Chen Fei would too. And if the man harbored any ill intentions, well, it would be simple enough to deal with him. In these remote, wild mountains, it''s not really out of the ordinary for one or two people to disappear without a trace, right? Even without mutants, this place was dangerous. "It''s okay, I''ve been managing," Teacher Shen Fei said with a smile. Her tone shifted, "But you don''t have to worry about me, I''ll be leaving soon." "What? Leaving?" Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes in shock. This was certainly worse than the arrival of a new male teacher. Chapter 327 327: Section 326 - Guan Guan Ju Ji "Volunteer teaching in remote mountain areas comes with age limits, under 30 years old you can teach up to three years, and under 50 you''re allowed up to ten. Staff need to rotate to give new young people the opportunity. I''ve completed my three years, and besides, my father has found a job for me at the corporate group." After explaining the rules and conventions of the international education organization, Teacher Shen Fei looked at Chen Fei with some regret. She would soon be leaving while he would remain here. Though the two hadn''t spent a long time together, they''d experienced more than most people ever would in their lifetime. Her father was the deputy director of the local Northern Weapons Industry Group; finding jobs for his children was practically an unwritten benefit within the company. Iron rice bowls passed down from generation to generation, with the precious ''water'' never flowing into an outsider''s field. After decades, it had become an impregnable giant entity. "Does that guy know?" Chen Fei pointed towards the direction where Teacher Jiang Shan had been earlier. "I''ll tell him after a while. I won''t be leaving anytime soon, at least not for another six months. Plus, there are two more teachers coming; this time, we''ll fill all the positions." Teacher Shen Fei walked a big circle with Chen Fei along the inside of the wire fence, incidentally repairing all the damaged spots. "Heh, poor kid!" Chen Fei couldn''t stop sneering. What goes around comes around¡ªit''s all a matter of who outsmarts whom. That guy, clearly vying for Peachy''s attention, couldn''t possibly anticipate that he only had six months left to gloat. What''s more, Chen Fei himself would be right there, making it not so easy to swing things his way. Teacher Shen Fei said crossly, "Don''t spout nonsense, which kid is suffering?" Chen Fei''s words had inadvertently dragged her students into the conversation. "Of course, that big kid!" Chen Fei gestured meaningfully in a certain direction. "You''re another big kid!" Shen Fei poked Chen Fei''s forehead with her finger, leaving a noticeable black dot. Having just undergone a smoky battle, the once clean and rich beauty was about to turn into a dirty one. "Alright, everything''s fixed. Next time I''ll bring more steel pipes to make some cavalry obstacles; those creatures won''t be able to charge then." After a full walk with Teacher Shen, Chen Fei had repaired all the damaged parts of the wire fence. The spike-covered alloy steel wire was extremely tough and the I-steel posts used as the bearing nodes were very solid. Despite local deformations, there had been no major damage, so not a single Mutant had managed to break through. Furthermore, combined with a Dark Shadow Wolf that could move as fast as lightning under cover of dark, and armed with firearms, the Mutants didn''t even have the chance to climb the fence. Before leaving, Chen Fei didn''t forget to step on Teacher Shen''s shadow, threatening fiercely, "Ah Mao, keep a close eye on Jiang Shan for me. If he dares to mess with Teacher Shen, tear him apart for me. Otherwise, I''ll stew you with wolf meat, carrots, and even add cilantro." Such a macabre example of true dark cuisine! Teacher Jiang Shan might think he has the advantage of proximity, but he most likely doesn''t realize that the Shadow Wolf by Teacher Shen Fei''s side is no mere decoration. "Woo!" The Shadow Wolf in the shadow trembled in fear, whimpering in terror, clearly petrified. Xiao Jiu was its natural nemesis. Being on the same Rank, the Shadow Wolf didn''t even dare muster up the courage to resist. Shen Fei gave Chen Fei another light punch, chiding, "You''re frightening it again!" However, she was quite satisfied with the Magical Beast that Chen Fei had given her. A paper contract maintained the most basic form of control, but this female Shadow Wolf seemed quite content to be Teacher Shen''s "under-the-skirt wolf." Cherish life, stay away from Chen Fei, guard Shen Fei, and be a qualified foodie wolf¡ªthis had become "Ah Mao''s" belief. As for the notion of strutting the mountains with over three hundred companions, well, that can simply dissipate with the wind!~ "Let''s go back, time for a drink!~ Woof!~" Big Cat Er Lang, who had been impatiently waiting for Chen Fei and Shen Fei to finish their dilly-dallying and had heaved a sigh of relief, scampered onto the large Tricycle without needing a reminder. If Chen Fei didn''t return soon, it would head back to Station 911 on its own. The 15-kilometer mountain road posed only a marginally slower journey for the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet compared to the Tricycle. With rotors whirring rapidly through the air, the large Tricycle emitted a not-so-loud roar as it glided across flat ground for a distance before taking off into the wind. Aircraft can''t always have a smooth ride with the wind; taking off into the wind is most suitable. Chen Fei, piloting the Gyroplane, waved to Teacher Shen on the ground and then quickly disappeared into the night. "Teacher Shen, has Mr. Chen left?" The newly arrived Teacher Jiang Shan stepped out from the shadows nearby; he had been paying close attention to the young man who''d been with Shen Fei. Rude, uncivilized, impolite. He had made no effort to conceal his hostility upon first meeting, allowing Jiang Shan to realize straightaway that he was a rival, perhaps an impulsive one. "A gentle lady is a gentleman''s delight." Before coming to this mountain area school, Jiang Shan hadn''t expected to find such an exquisite surprise hidden here. The heartbeat turned to action, and he didn''t rashly reveal his intentions, but instead took his time, trying to get closer little by little. "Teacher Jiang, aren''t you resting yet?" Shen Fei, slinging a Type 95 automatic rifle, exuded an especially valiant and dashing air. However, she maintained a distance from Jiang Shan from beginning to end, keeping their relationship strictly professional and never giving any hint or excessive intimacy to avoid any unwarranted fantasies. Even Chen Fei was still in the observation phase. Unless a young lady from a wealthy family was spoiled from a young age, it was rare for them to have a mind full of naive fantasies. "It''s okay, I''m waiting for you!" It wasn''t just Chen Fei who could use double entendres; Teacher Jiang could as well. "Get some rest early, you have classes tomorrow, and there''s a lot of work to be done!" Teacher Shen Fei, however, did not bother to disguise her indifference and walked towards her dormitory with her gun slung over her shoulder. Currently, there were no spare rooms, and it was not convenient for men and women to share, so the newly arrived Teacher Jiang Shan was sleeping in the utility room next to the vegetable garden in the backyard, where a bed and a desk had been barely arranged. "..." Jiang Shan could not miss the distance in Shen Fei''s words; if he ever made an overstepping move, she would immediately remind him without any pretense. Watching Teacher Shen Fei''s receding figure, he clenched his fists quietly. One day, certainly one day... - "One day, I will show you how powerful I am, woof!" Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang muttered to himself all the way back to Aircrew Base 911, then got carried by his little vest all the way back to the small western-style building. "Stop saying ''woof'' all the time! Don''t do things that are beneath your dignity." Chen Fei seemed to be getting hooked on double meanings, easily coming up with two layers of interpretation with his offhand remarks. "This is my protest, woof!" Er Lang felt that his brain wasn''t quite up to snuff; humans were just too cunning. "Don''t you want to continue drinking?" Outside the big door of the small western-style building, Chen Fei stood, and if the big cat dared to utter even half a "no," he''d leave without it! "Of course I''ll drink!" Dealing with such a shady character was too stressful; Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet needed a few more drinks to really relax. "Then ''meow''!" This was the correct way to do it. "Whine... meow!" What is integrity? A Magical Beast never had such a thing! Magical Beasts shall never be enslaved, unless with five insurances and one housing fund, a monthly salary of at least five digits, and including room and board. Boss Hana hadn''t left but was waiting in the bar of the small western-style building for this man and Magical Beast. She glanced at the time and said, "Exactly one hour, not too bad!" Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet proudly stated, "Of course, with me around! A clean sweep!" "That''s right, with Er Lang taking action, I did nothing." The task of exterminating the Mutants was entirely performed by the big cat, while Chen Fei acted as a repairman, fixing the wire mesh wall around the mountainous area''s primary school. "Peep!" Little Bird claimed it had also contributed its effort. (Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao," who almost got screwed over: ...) - Two weeks later, the construction and expansion projects of Aircrew Base 911 gradually entered their final stages. The main take-off and landing runway, originally built to Third-Level Standard at 1500 meters, was extended to 2000 meters, making the take-off and landing process of the MiG-28 much more comfortable. With the addition of the magnetic assist take-off and landing system, even heavy transport aircraft could take off and land smoothly. The Aircrew Base''s only F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter became the practical tool for acceptance tests; being able to take off and land easily even for a heavy air superiority jet model meant there would be no issues for other aircraft at the base. "''Rookie'' ready, requesting takeoff!" Having received a series of take-off related information from the control tower, Chen Fei sat in the cockpit of the F-22 with a calm expression, responding. This time, he did not need to activate the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill; he relied solely on the "Raptor''s" inherent weight to take off normally. This was one of the main reasons why Squadron Leader Chekhov of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron could not pilot this jet fighter. For the F-22, Aircrew Base 911''s Third-Level Standard runway was too short; without the enhancement of a special ability, the margin for take-off conditions was too small, overly forced, and in the event of any accidents, it would likely be difficult to handle. - Chapter 328 328: Section 327 - Jianghu Emergency Rescue Current temperature: 27 degrees Celsius, humidity 41%. "Clear for takeoff!" Inside the control tower, the atmosphere is relaxed; this isn''t a combat mission. It''s just a normal takeoff and landing test, basically not difficult at all. The already ignited F-22 Raptor jet''s vectoring nozzles turn the flame from orange-yellow to azure blue, achieving the ideal combustion efficiency range. The engine power suddenly increases, and the jet starts sliding down the runway with a deafening roar, picking up speed. 150 meters, 300 meters, 400 meters, 600 meters. The F-22 Raptor jet reaches takeoff speed, and Chen Fei gently pulls the control stick. 800 meters! The nose lifts lightly, and the landing gear detaches from the ground. Completely detached from the ground. 1200 meters! The F-22''s actual maximum takeoff distance is 140 meters (in a minimalistic unloaded state; according to Lockheed Martin''s theoretical value, it''s 240 meters), while the normal takeoff distance is 420 meters. But in reality, no one would do that. Without carrying bombs? Without full fuel? Taking off without any payload is just showing off! The boss probably has a mouthful of blood ready to spew. So, the normal takeoff distance needs to be doubled, or even more. With 800 meters remaining, this stretch is reserved for emergency situations, barely enough for a forced return to flight. However, in a real emergency, the Magnetic Catcher is activated to capture the aircraft, to prevent it from running off the end of the runway. This is the limit of what a Third-Level Standard small airport can accomplish. Without the Magnetic Catcher, a reasonable runway length ideally should exceed 3000 meters, but given the size of the mountaintop where Aircrew Base 911 is located, it clearly doesn''t fit those dimensions. After all, Aircrew Base 911 is a civilian airport, not a real active military or ready-to-fight airbase. For any small or midsize turboprop aircraft and MiG-28, a 1500-meter runway equipped with a Magnetic Catcher is already sufficient. But this runway upgrade project wasn''t for Chen Fei''s private F-22; Boss Hana had borne such a great cost considering much more the future needs of midsize, large, and even heavy transport aircraft for taking off and landing at Aircrew Base 911. "Smooth takeoff, now starting the return." After Chen Fei pulls up the nose, he continues climbing, then turns around, aiming for the runway''s large white landing strip (Aiming-Point). Called the "point," its size is not scientifically based; from the ground, parking two Type 59 tanks on it would still leave plenty of room. Since Aircrew Base 911 is located on a leveled mountaintop, a Fresnel lens is also installed near the large white strip to assist with landings, guiding the correct landing angle so as not to be too low, causing a collision with the steep slope outside the runway, or too high, necessitating a go-around. Through Chen Fei''s eyes, the Fresnel lens shows a green light. The F-22 maintains its approach angle and swiftly heads to the runway. Less than 1700 meters in front, with a reserve of 330 meters at the large white strip, the Magnetic Catcher''s starting capacitor is fully charged, standing by. "Perfect landing, next, let''s test the Magnetic Catcher." The relaxed conversation comes from the control tower; firstly, the F-22 won''t crash; secondly, the F-22 can''t be destroyed in a crash, and thirdly, the pilot definitely won''t die in a crash. With a wave of Special Abilities, there''s an intact F-22 again. The main landing runway, upgraded without activating the Magnetic Catcher assist feature, can barely ensure the normal takeoff and landing of heavy jet fighters like the F-22. The intangible magnetic field, like a thick liquid, gently envelops the Aircraft, providing resistance or thrust. Unlike a gravitational field, it doesn''t overburden the Aircraft and the Pilot, also ensuring safety. On large Sky Patrol Ships and Magic Cube Warships, having high-powered Magnetic Catcher landing pathways is almost standard. This acceptance test requires the F-22 to take off and land multiple times, followed by the MiG-28, small transport planes, and the Big Mouth Monster, to collect enough setting parameters for the Magnetic Catcher. Although there are no combat missions, the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron remain busy. Aircrew Base 911 bustles the entire day as all Aircraft take off and land several times before the testing is deemed complete. Both the runway extension and the upgraded Magnetic Catcher pass the acceptance test. - Early the next morning, Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s midsize Sky Patrol Ship arrives again, picking up two Earth Mages, numerous engineers, and Chen Fei. Zuo Gengming of Spring Field Defense Limited Company, who''d already settled terms with Boss Hana, had taken a small transport Aircraft back to Aircrew Base 131, located in the American Federation, next to the fallen Aircrew Base 130. Having already agreed to help the other party retake Aircrew Base 130, Boss Hana directly tossed the job to Chen Fei. If one wants to take someone''s stake, it is only natural to send the most capable elite soldiers, especially since the other party was eagerly awaiting Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu''s arrival. Although the Mutant disaster has yet to subside, Aircrew Base 911''s defensive force remains more than sufficient, and Jiu Defense Company is considered one of the few small military contractors still capable of managing. No sooner had he left the airport than distant gunshots and loud sirens could be heard, and crowds scrambled frantically in all directions. Chen Fei is intoxicated by it all. A gentle breeze carries a sweet fragrance to his face. Ah! He smells it. That''s freedom! I must say, the American Federation is pretty awesome, fuckin'' awesome! "Mr. Chen, you''ve finally arrived!" A voice interrupted Chen Fei''s revelry. He looked in the direction of the voice. "Eh! Old Zuo? You came to pick me up, isn''t that a bit too courteous?" "Hey! I was in a hurry, with only one week left. Look, my lips are even blistered." After finding out about Chen Fei''s travel itinerary, Zuo Gengming couldn''t hold back any longer and hurried to the airport two days in advance to pick him up. He snatched Chen Fei''s luggage like a thief and led the way to the parking lot. "Don''t rush, it will all be sorted out in at most two days!" Chen Fei followed calmly, with Little Bird standing on his head, curiously looking around. Suddenly, a faintly glowing magic shield appeared beside the two, and a burst of erratic gunfire came out of nowhere. Several hooded figures were being chased by the police, fleeing in disarray while firing their automatic weapons aimlessly. Bullets flew through the air, and several even struck the magic shield, causing ripples as it wobbled slightly. "Two days? I can''t even wait half a day. If we keep dragging our feet, not only will the Joint Defense Committee forcibly take back the Aircrew Base 130, but all of Spring Field Defense''s operations might fall apart." Zuo Gengming stopped in his tracks, turned around with a bitter expression, and spread his hands helplessly. At this point, even with deep bonds, in the face of capital, everything was useless; human nature couldn''t stand the test. As soon as he disappeared, those old classmates immediately started clamoring about disbanding. To avoid losses and grab as much as possible, they turned on each other like enemies, causing daily chaos within the company. It took a lot of effort for Zuo Gengming, the major shareholder, to barely suppress them. Out of curiosity, Chen Fei asked, "What about your classmates? Are they still making trouble?" Dragging their feet was unforgivable. Chen couldn''t believe Old Zuo would still be soft-hearted about them¡ªwhat classmates? To hell with that! If it were Chen Fei, he''d have chopped them up, three parts fat and seven parts lean, and fed them to the dogs. "How could I! I borrowed a sum of money from my old man, bought out all their shares, not missing one, and kicked them all out. Otherwise, do you think I could have so easily agreed to Ms. Hanna''s terms right there and then? That was 11% of the shares, ahhh!!!" Zuo Gengming sighed deeply, his face fierce. This was robbery, and a blatant one at that, exploiting a crisis. This One-Eyed woman... he couldn''t beat her! Just for Chen Fei and a Pure Light Sparrow''s involvement, to exchange for an 11% share in Spring Field Defense Limited Company¡ªit was unbelievable! If it wasn''t for the need to turn the situation around, Zuo Gengming would never have agreed. Without the contracting money from Aircrew Base 130, Spring Field Defense Limited Company would be on the verge of bankruptcy. Damn capitalists, not one of them is good. Hang each of them under a streetlight without injustice. "Haha! Don''t worry, Old Zuo, with Boss Hana and me escorting you, you won''t have to worry about those mutants anymore!" Chen Fei, without a hint of sympathy, patted Zuo Gengming''s shoulder. Those words sounded no different from the slogans in advertisements for tutoring services. While armed bandits and police officers were engaged in a fierce firefight nearby, Chen Fei and Zuo Gengming chatted away as if they hadn''t even seen it, completely out of step with the tense atmosphere around them. "Jiu?" At mid-low rank, Light-element Magical Beasts might not be good at offensive spells and their defensive spells might not be outstanding, but they were not that bad either. With Third Level human-order casting ability, the magic shield they could maintain was enough to withstand close-range gunfire from light weapons. Whizz... whizz... whizz... A piercing, strange shriek filled the air. The police had used magnetic rail personal weapons, and the bullets, fired at full power with incredible kinetic energy, easily penetrated the vehicles used by the thugs for cover, taking them down one by one as they screamed in agony, their cries quickly fading as they lost strength. Bodies penetrated by magnetic rail bullets bled out quickly like broken sacks, probably not even making it until the ambulance arrived. The victorious police officers heaved a sigh of relief, but none paid any attention to Chen Fei and Zuo Gengming, two bystanders caught up in the fray¡ªas if they existed in two separate worlds, they continued on with their respective matters. Whether it was Chen Fei or Zuo Gengming, if they were already in the business of military contracting, would they fear a storm of bullets? They were probably already used to it. "Good grief, did it have to be this grand?" Looking at the Grade A motorhome in the parking lot, Chen Fei couldn''t help but exclaim. Zuo Gengming said nonchalantly, "There are also quite a few mutants around Aircrew Base 131. For safety''s sake, we need to go by land. Once we''re in the mountains, we''ll have armed escort, and I''ve arranged for cruise missile support." It wasn''t just Aircrew Base 130 that was hit by a mutant onslaught; another aircrew base under Spring Field Defense was also affected. In a critical moment, Spring Field Defense made a decision that now seems wise. Abandon the vehicle to save the commander! They consolidated their forces to protect the only remaining Aircrew Base 131¡ªat the very place Zuo Gengming was taking Chen Fei. - Chapter 329 329: Section 328 - 131 Aircrew Base "Tsk tsk! A moneybag, wealthy, this vehicle is so nice, big, wide, steady, tsk tsk!" Once on the vehicle, Chen Fei began to feel around and look here and there as if he had never seen anything like it, opening every cabinet and drawer to have a look, and almost closed the equally curious Xiao Jiu inside. As expected of a boss, Zuo Gengming said generously, "If you like it, I''ll just give it to you." Being willing to bleed for investment and catering to tastes is how you retain talent. "Forget it, I have no place to put it!" Chen Fei thought hard about it, and ultimately shook his head. The Aircrew Base was such a tiny place; dumping such a massive motorhome there, what was that about? Drive up to Teacher Shen Fei''s school to show off to that Teacher Jiang Shan with a Versailles-style boast? Not afraid to tumble into a ditch as soon as you leave the base, huh! To throw it back into the home in the homeland, wouldn''t the residential compound charge you triple the parking fee? What''s most important is, he didn''t have a license for large vehicles! A waste of property that wouldn''t be used more than once in a whole year, what use was there for it! Zuo Gengming seemed unconcerned and said, "Then I''ll throw in a big house?" The retail price of this motorhome indeed rivaled any independent house in any of the main urban districts. A vehicle was given away, so what about adding a little building with a yard? Even marrying off a wife wasn''t a problem, highly educated, with big waves of beauty (yes, the beauties from Boston University), Spring Field Defense was not lacking in such high-quality girls, it didn''t matter if you didn''t like them, with Zuo Gengming''s network of connections, there were plenty of unmarried young ladies from wealthy families, having the figure, the face, the character, virtuous and well-mannered, suitable for both halls and kitchens, fitting for a big bed. Wealthy men like to marry beautiful wives, after several generations of improvement, the descendants often have guaranteed quality (think about the daughters from the golden-haired family). "No need for now!" Chen Fei felt that the dormitory he was living in was quite nice. A three-story western-style building with its own garden greenhouse, warm as spring throughout the four seasons. What''s most important is that the boss always managed to stuff the liquor cabinet full. "..." How come it felt like trying to scratch an itch through a shoe, Zuo Gengming was at a loss, he really couldn''t dig into this corner. No interest in cars, houses, or pretty girls, what else to want? The sturdy motorhome that wasn''t much different from a real house quickly left the economic zone and entered the edge of the uninhabited area. Soon, two armored vehicles and four armed jeeps escorted the motorhome in the center, and in the sky, small reconnaissance drones took turns flying along; this was the armed escort that Zuo Gengming had mentioned, meant to deliver Chen Fei and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu safely to the 131 Aircrew Base. The heavy anti-aircraft machine guns mounted on top of the armored vehicles fired several times along the way, clearly spotting mutants ambushing nearby, most were pinpointed and exterminated, while a few attempted to charge and were quickly overwhelmed by the dense barrage of heavy-caliber bullets. The muffled sound of the anti-aircraft machine guns firing burst after burst settled once more, and Zuo Gengming said, "We''re almost there!" Most mutants gathered near the aircrew bases, seemingly knowing that without taking down the aircrew bases, they couldn''t assault the various administrative blocks where humans gathered. An aircrew base situated atop high ground appeared in Chen Fei''s view, to satisfy his curiosity, Zuo Gengming directly instructed the motorhome driver to circle around the entire base, continuously explaining along the way, allowing Chen Fei to see and understand it all clearly. Aircrew bases can''t be compared with each other; the 911 Aircrew Base is a relatively small Third-Level Standard Base with the main runway extended to its limit at about 2000 meters. Extending it any further would make the input of energy and materials prohibitively expensive, particularly because the flattened mountaintop is only so big, and there are inherent limitations. The base in front of them, designated 131, had a runway at least twice as long as the original 911, clearly built to First Level standard, occupying a vast area with many buildings near the main runway and even streets that more closely resembled a small town with an airport. A ten-meter-high wall surrounded the entire base, with automatic gun points at every fifty-meter intervals jutting out, each equipped with two anti-aircraft machine guns for constructing a cross-fire network. After viewing the base from outside, the motorhome officially entered the well-guarded and strictly defended interior of the aircrew base. "The 131 Aircrew Base in the Rocky Mountains area is about the 45th in size and currently ranks 89th in overall strength; does it seem rather strong on the outside but actually weak on the inside?" Zuo Gengming self-deprecatingly spat in his own face and then smiled. "It''s quite good, the conditions at 911 are nowhere near as nice as yours." Chen Fei was still looking around the entire base, to say he wasn''t envious would have been a lie. Despite having such great conditions, the combat power was just average, which was truly a pity. But he could also see some clues. The town-like streets had cafes, fast food restaurants, movie theaters, bathhouses, barber shops, bars, restaurants, game rooms, about a dozen or so living and entertainment places in total, and there were even kindergartens, schools, and religious facilities. Many of the pedestrians on the streets were not ground staff or combat personnel; they seemed more like ordinary people, either strolling leisurely or hurrying, with no sense of urgency as if a great battle was on the horizon. That is to say, there were simply too many non-combat personnel inside the base. Zuo Gengming continued to speak, "The 130 Aircrew Base is similar in size to the 131 Aircrew Base, and the layout is alike for ease of unified management." Suddenly, Chen Fei said, "It''s too comfortable here!" "What?" Zuo Gengming was taken aback. Chen Fei shook his head and said, "This doesn''t look like an aircrew base at all, but more like an economic zone." At the 911 Aircrew Base, there was only one place for entertainment, "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" bar, and nothing else. The employees didn''t have much in terms of entertainment; at most, they would take their guns to hunt near the base, occasionally bringing back some game for the base cafeteria to cook up. But to his surprise, he actually saw places like kindergartens and schools here. Could the employees really bring their families to the base? Zuo Gengming said somewhat awkwardly, "Uh, the location here is too remote. Without the companionship of family, the employees would feel too lonely. It''s not very humane. Plus, having family members here can more easily arouse the determination to defend their home." "Old Zuo, you''ve fallen into a misconception," Chen Fei said, wagging his index finger. "What defending their home? The American Federation was established because they gave up their original homes. Talking about territorial consciousness in immigrant sovereignty is nonexistent. Bringing families to work will only lead to them fleeing faster with more baggage, and it will also create more chaos. I''m sure the withdrawal scene at Aircrew Base 130 left a deep impression on you, yet you were powerless to do anything, right?" When combat personnel transfer, they can do so with light gear. If they bring their families, that''s a different story. Just the pots and pans of household items would be a huge batch to pack, making the entire transfer process drudgingly slow and maddening. "I..." Zuo Gengming opened his mouth but couldn''t say a word. Because Chen Fei hit the nail on the head! "Even the production team''s donkeys wouldn''t dare to lead their foals when harnessed!" Chen Fei said with profound meaning. The other party has massive wealth but acts very unprofessionally. With so many encumbrances, how could they possibly do well? He was willing to bet that the moment the transfer order was given, within a minute, the entire base''s transportation lines would be completely blocked, and no one would be able to leave. "I, I don''t know what to do," Zuo Gengming said, a bit embarrassed. He just relied on the little money his family had, and then, with a burst of enthusiasm, set up Spring Field Defense Limited Company with his classmates. Little did he know that when a crisis came, it would be every man for himself, and his old classmates would recognize money over friendship. Dipping his index finger into the tea, Chen Fei wrote a stroke, two horizontals, and a bent hook on the table, saying meaningfully, "Got it? ''Learning brings happiness.'' The world''s foremost rebellious classic, even in the American Federation, has plenty of die-hard fans. "Learning brings me happiness!" Zuo Gengming looked somewhat dazedly at the character written with tea water, exposing his human nature as a parrot. "First, prepare a place for me to stay, and then arrange the support personnel. Xiao Jiu and I will first comb through the areas near this base. To ward off external threats, we must first secure internal stability. With no worries behind us, we can then take care of the Mutants occupying Aircrew Base 130." Clenching his fist, Chen Fei cracked his knuckles and immediately went into work mode. One must earn their keep; to accept payment is to pledge service. He really thought the equity dividends from Boss Hana''s company were easy to get, but he had to work for them. "Alright, the support team is ready and can be in place at any time," Zuo Gengming said. Zuo Gengming vividly remembered the scene of Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu slaughtering Mutants, and he could foresee that the Mutants near Aircrew Base 131''s end was imminent. After dropping off his luggage in the luxurious guest room arranged by Zuo Gengming and having rested enough along the way, Chen Fei greeted his support team and, in front of everyone, deployed the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, picking up a large box of Hand Grenades and a box of Anti-Infantry Mines before departing. Best not to drag things out¡ª what''s promised to be done in two days must be accomplished within those two days. "Communications test, OK!" "Location test, OK!" "Electronic map synchronization, OK!" "Reconnaissance drone, ''Fly 01'' has taken off!" "Reconnaissance drone, ''Fly 02'' has taken off!" "Reconnaissance drone..." "Reconnaissance drone, ''Fly 05'' has taken off!" "Transport drone, ''Hornet 01'' on standby." "Ground combat squad A1 is about to depart." ... "''Fly 02'' reporting. Suspected Mutants found in Sector C1. Estimated number: 2." "Rookie received. Moving out, heading to Sector C1," Watching Chen Fei, clad in Tactical Armor, move with extraordinary agility, leaping over walls in a few bounds and quickly vanishing from sight, Zuo Gengming couldn''t help but be impressed. A Little Bird soared into the sky, following him. A communications, reconnaissance, transport, and combat squad of about a dozen people, with Chen Fei as the tactical core, kicked off the cleansing operation near Aircrew Base 131. The data link standard used by the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor didn''t conform to that of the American Federation, but no matter, it was a job for "Adam," awakened and activated once again. This time, "Adam" didn''t cry out that it had been deleted multiple times. It self-compiled a little counter, saw the launch number was 2, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. - Chapter 330 329 - Taking Disasters for Others ``` Boom! Boom!~ Three directional anti-infantry mines detonated in succession, unleashing a horrific crossfire effect. The high-speed lethal steel balls completely covered the area where fourteen lean but extraordinarily agile mutants were located, leaving no blind spots. The billowing smoke mixed with the shockwave-tossed soil and gravel turned the entire hillside into a roiling cloud of dust that lingered for a long time. This was already the seventy-first wave of mutants that Chen Fei had encountered, resulting in a considerable depletion of his hand grenades and anti-infantry mines. But since Spring Field Defense was footing the bill, he didn''t need to save money on their behalf. In fact, to have eliminated so many mutants using just hand grenades and anti-infantry mines, almost without a single miss, was a rather cost-effective deal. System: Ding! Recapture Aircrew Base 130 within 48 hours, reward: Energy Points +1000! Yo! The Dog System wasn''t playing dead anymore. And it seemed to have suddenly developed a conscience, giving quite a generous amount of Energy Points for this mission¡ªactually granting 1000 Energy Points. But... Chen Fei gazed at the slowly dispersing smoke in front of him, falling into contemplation. The Dog System was truly dog-like, ineffective when it should work, but always reliable when it shouldn''t, and it was adept at issuing tricky missions. Conscience was something to be fed to a dog, wasn''t it? So there was a conspiracy here. "Chirp!" Little Bird swooped down from the sky, landing on Chen Fei''s shoulder, carefully casting a Magic Shield in front of him to block the oncoming dust. The flying type mutants were completely outmatched by Xiao Jiu, like encountering their nemesis. A flash of the death-bringing laser beam was all it took to instantly snuff out their lives, with no exceptions. Once airborne, none could escape. The smoke gradually cleared, revealing a field strewn with corpses. The "Dragon General" Tactical Armor swiftly retracted from his body, merging with his skin. Chen Fei took out his mobile phone and dialed a number. "Hey! Old Zuo, that job at 130, you''ll have to pay extra!" On the other end of the line, Zuo Gengming was utterly confused; why would he suddenly demand more money out of nowhere? He probed, "Mr. Chen, have you run into some kind of urgent situation?" Zuo Gengming was with Chen Fei''s support team, watching his annihilation of the mutants from multiple angles through several reconnaissance drones. "Spot a mutant¡úFind the mutant¡úEliminate the mutant", an efficient and ruthless process. It had been going so smoothly that it boosted the confidence of the people at Spring Field Defense. At least they could be certain that the person they had paid a hefty price to hire was handling the mutants with ease. Recapturing Aircrew Base 130 should be no problem; just keep killing until it''s done. Expendables like hand grenades and directional anti-infantry mines weren''t a concern at all. Chen Fei quickly caught on and said, "Urgent situation? No, nothing urgent. It''s just that there''s a big BOSS inside Aircrew Base 130 that''s tough to deal with. But don''t worry, I promised to sort it out within two days, and I will. It won''t delay the recapture of Aircrew Base 130." The tasks from the Dog System sometimes had to be interpreted inversely. Although it didn''t directly provide intelligence, it could reveal important clues and information. 1000 Energy Points meant that this battle wouldn''t be easy. When the Dog System suddenly issued the emergency mission "Survive", the reward was a hefty 2000 Energy Points. Using that as a reference, the potential threat inside Aircrew Base 130 was about half as significant as the giant mutant I encountered that day. Yikes! The thought alone was terrifying. "A big BOSS?" Zuo Gengming felt dizzy with confusion; wasn''t he, himself, the big BOSS of Aircrew Base 130? Why would Mr. Chen need to bother so much to deal with him? Just twist his neck, and that''s it! Old Zuo wouldn''t make an extra sound compared to anyone else. But what exactly was going on? "There''s a particularly powerful mutant!" Chen Fei pointed out the reason directly. "Ah? How did you find out?" Zuo Gengming''s jaw dropped. Chen Fei had only just arrived here by himself, at most accompanied by Little Bird. How could he have gathered information about Aircrew Base 130? Nobody should have contacted him about it; where exactly did this intelligence come from? "I have my secret sources of intelligence." Chen Fei didn''t feel like explaining further. Should he tell the other party about the inexplicable Dog System in his head? They''d probably think he was insane! And then cart him off to the police station, no, the mental hospital, with full board provided, 24-hour security patrols, and guarded by an electric fence. Realizing the possibility, Zuo Gengming exclaimed, "Oh! So that''s it!" For Jiu Defense Company to have a few tricks up its sleeve was unsurprising; after all, who didn''t have a trump card or two? Secretly sending others to scout Aircrew Base 130 to aid Chen Fei was indeed within the realm of possibility. No wonder Hanna Gagar was known as "Eye of the Storm" in their circles. It wasn''t just for show. With this realization, Zuo Gengming held Hanna Gagar and Jiu Defense in even greater esteem, and the 11% of equity he had let go seemed like a not so bad decision after all. Zuo Gengming cautiously inquired, "So... how much more?" Please, not shares again. Even 0.1% would pain him for a long time. He''d borrowed money from the old man and couldn''t break even unless he regained control of Aircrew Base 130. "Uh, start with a million for now!" ``` The destitute "Rookie" plucked up his courage and made a lion''s demand. Zuo Gengming sighed in relief and agreed without hesitation, "Okay! Cash or check?" Working as a military contractor, was he really going to fuss over such a trivial amount of money? Even if Chen Fei wanted to add 10 million Star Yuan, Zuo Gengming would have accepted on the spot. What a joke¡ªcompared to the contract bonus from the Aircrew Base 130, 10 million Star Yuan was nothing. After thinking it over, Chen Fei added, "Either works! Also, throw in a thousand tons of metal, scrap iron and copper will do." He didn''t care about the payment method; with taxes being so tightly monitored, even cash wouldn''t escape taxation. They say it''s a million, but what you actually end up with is peanuts¡ªshearing the middle class''s hair, tricking the poor. And Chen Fei wasn''t even living the middle-class life; only when he cleared his personal debt could he truly start afresh. Taking on his little sister''s debts, he didn''t mind at all¡ªit was family after all. When someone calls you "brother" all their life, you''ve got to step up! Chen Fei didn''t ask for much; he just hoped his sister would become sensible in the future, live a good life, and not be too troublesome. Then he would be truly satisfied, feeling that all his efforts, his bosses, and his colleagues'' support hadn''t been in vain, as he slowly but surely turned things around. Zuo Gengming asked with some concern, "A thousand tons of scrap metal, is that enough?" "The more the merrier, but no worries if not! Um, that''s it!" Chen Fei was just speaking off the cuff, incidentally trying to scrape together some Energy Points. Even without those metal supplies, he could earn Energy Points through the multitude of tasks from the Dog System. The "Skill Shop" of the Dog System rarely had any good skills on offer; most were just junk that cheated you out of Energy Points. Chen Fei usually couldn''t be bothered to pay attention. "Got plenty, plenty in spades, don''t worry, I''ve got this." 1 million Star Yuan plus a thousand tons of scrap metal¡ªthat was nothing to Zuo Gengming. The rare-earth mine handed down in his family¡ªhe''d laugh at the thought of not managing to scrape up some scrap iron and copper? "Problem solved, Xiao Jiu, get to work!" After securing the deal, Chen Fei once again donned the "Dragon General" tactical armor and launched the Little Bird into the sky. With a generous reward comes a brave man. In the wilderness near the highlands of Aircrew Base 131, explosions sounded continuously. The eradication effort went on until after seven in the evening, as Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu together eliminated more than three hundred mutants within a 50-kilometer radius¡ªa number formidable enough to launch a significant assault on Aircrew Base 131. With Chen Fei actively drawing attention to himself nearby, the collaborating combat teams managed to independently take down a dozen mutants as well, sniping from a distance with large-caliber rifles and mortars¡ªthe success rate was extremely high. A buffer zone with a radius of 50 kilometers was enough for Aircrew Base 131 to catch its breath and spare some personnel for sustained extermination efforts in the periphery. - American Federation, Washington D.C. Time, four o''clock in the morning. Escorted by twelve A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, a small transport plane approached the mutant-occupied Aircrew Base 130. Taking advantage of the predawn darkness, before any mutant flying species had taken to the sky, supply crates attached to parachutes were dropped, drifting slowly toward the base on the ground. "Supply drop complete, ready to parachute." A crew member signaled to Chen Fei; this time, there was no tactical team accompanying him. After all, for an ordinary person to force their way into Aircrew Base 130 at this juncture, there was absolutely no guarantee for safety¡ªit was practically akin to walking into death. Only the reinforcements Zuo Gengming had called in had the guts and the strength for this. Chen Fei immediately nodded, leapt straight out, and plunged towards the ground. Then his body shook, the parachute automatically deployed, greatly slowing his descent. "Jiu!" Little Bird also flew down, owning the skies, it joyfully circled around Chen Fei, eventually perching upon one of the parachute cords and gazing curiously at the parachute. Chen Fei instructed the little creature, "Xiao Jiu, keep an eye on the ground. Anything that dares take to the air, take it down." Xiao Jiu was his trump card for air control. With it around, he did not fear the mutant flyers taking over the sky and making the retaking of Aircrew Base 130 troublesome. "Jiu!" The Little Bird slightly opened its sharp beak, and a pale green laser beam shot out. On the ground, a bipedal flying dragon-shaped mutant, sensing the activity in the sky and trying to lift off with its massive bat wings, was struck in the head by a laser beam plummeting from the sky. The next second, the scorching beam emerged from the other side, his head ablaze. The creature didn''t even have time to let out a deathly scream before it crashed to the ground, lifeless on impact. Mutant flyers were often frail as eggshells, lacking defensive strength, and couldn''t withstand the assault of the laser beam. Laser isn''t a spell, yet its power surpasses spells. Sometimes, even with modest output power, as long as the energy is focused enough, it can cause fearsome destructive effects. Even the Third Rank Xiao Jiu, by grasping the laser skill, broke through the conventional wisdom that Light-element Magical Beasts have no offensive capabilities at low ranks. "Zzsh, communication is being jammed! Switching to frequency-hopping communication, zzsh, TEST, zzsh... no..." The voice of the communication support staff from the assisting team reached Chen Fei''s ears. Obviously, they had detected the instability of the communication status and were attempting to resolve it. Amidst a barrage of electromagnetic noise, the communication cut off, completely jammed. One minute later, Chen Fei landed smoothly and, upon finding a crate of supplies, took out a flare gun and aimed it at the sky, pulling the trigger. Aircrew Base 130 was in a state of severe radio interference, something Spring Field Defense was not ignorant of. Three green flares shot quickly into the sky, signaling a safe landing. The aircraft circling in the sky saw the conspicuous flares and immediately reported back to Boss Zuo Gengming at Aircrew Base 131. "You have to succeed! You must succeed!" Zuo Gengming clasped his hands together, praying fervently to all the gods above. He had bet almost everything on Chen Fei and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu. If they failed, he would have to return home shamefaced and inherit billions outright. As for life goals and dreams, they''d be nothing but smoke. - Chapter 331 331: Section 330 - Mutant BOSS The signal flare is the contingency plan for a communication breakdown. If no signal flares rise, it means that Chen Fei has fallen and is boxed in, dead on the spot. Little Bird can fly and might just escape disaster. If three red signal flares go up, the fleets circling in the sky won''t hesitate to pour down ammunition to cover Chen Fei''s retreat with all their might. Even if the mission isn''t successful, the person must still come back alive. Zuo Gengming asked Chen Fei and Jiu Defense Company for help, but he never intended to send anyone into a certain deathtrap. Given Chen Fei''s performance at the Mutant Artificial Breeding Ground in the Alps Mountains region, it seemed unlikely there would be any major problems. If it were anyone else, Zuo Gengming wouldn''t dare send them to Aircrew Base 130. Are you kidding me? Even military contractors who treat life cheaply don''t do such things. The mutants slumbering underground were awakened by the roar of aircraft engines in the sky, and many sensed Chen Fei on the main runway of Aircrew Base 130. Their roars rose one after another, encircling from all sides. "Xiao Jiu, you just need to handle those Flying Species; leave the rest to me," Chen Fei said as he scratched Little Bird''s chin, causing the glimmer in front of Xiao Jiu''s sharp beak to quickly fade. Good steel should be used on the blade''s edge. Little Bird''s laser was reserved as a contingency, conserving strength for now, to handle the Mutant BOSS lurking within this airforce base. Dragging the supply box to the side of the runway, he opened the crate and took out a Six-barreled Gatling gun, hung up the bullet chain, and lifted it in hand, aiming at the surroundings before pressing the firing button. Tongues of fire spewed out more than three feet long, the intense gunfire drowning out the mutants'' roars, tracing multiple dense 360-degree trajectories with crimson streaks of bullets. The encroaching mutants fell into disarray, swept away by the barrage and screaming and howling like ghosts and wolves. The 12.7mm steel core bullets were enough to rip through the bodily defenses of most mutants, causing blood and flesh to fly everywhere in an instant. A single bullet chain was emptied in the blink of an eye, leaving a radius of a hundred meters strewn with corpses and rivers of blood. Chen Fei wasn''t foolish; faced with so many mutants, he wouldn''t stubbornly swing the Physics Holy Sword if he had access to labor-saving firearms. The Gun barrel became red hot, and Chen Fei let go, tossing the emptied Six-barreled Gatling gun aside without reloading it and then picking up a high-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun of the same caliber, setting it level on the supply box and switching to burst fire, quickly depleting the bullet chain as shell casings littered the ground. This type of large-caliber light weapon was extremely effective against mutants. Not just for mutants¡ªeven rhinos and elephants would be felled by a single shot. He tossed aside the high-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun once more and picked up two boxes, one large and one small. The small box contained Directional Anti-Infantry Mines which he took out three or five of, set them down on the ground, turned off the safety, grabbed a detonator from his backpack, set the code, and immediately changed position. The roaring, rampaging mutants pursued once again. Without looking back, Chen Fei pressed the remote control, and dozens of meters behind him, the ground erupted, knocking down yet another swath of enemies. About ten supply drops had come down, scattered throughout Aircrew Base 130. Wherever they fell, that became Chen Fei''s resupply point. The contents of the supply boxes were broadly the same: Six-barreled Gatling guns and anti-aircraft machine guns with extremely long bullet chains attached, boxes large and small with handles, and a significant amount of explosives. Inside the small boxes were either Directional Anti-Infantry Mines or powerful Hand Grenades. The large boxes contained 120mm caliber armor-piercing discarding sabot rounds or anti-tank missiles, all reserved as the Trump Card against the Mutant BOSS. The Dog System''s latest mission had reminded Chen Fei that there are no free 1000 Energy Points in this world, thus he made some corresponding preparations before setting out. From the aerial surveillance footage captured, tracer fire flew wildly inside Aircrew Base 130 with explosions erupting incessantly, with the mutants scrambling around like headless flies. "Nicely done!" Zuo Gengming clenched his fist from afar at Aircrew Base 131. If it were Spring Field Defense ground combat team daring to attack into Aircrew Base 130 and causing such intense fighting, they would likely incur significant casualties. In fact, they had attempted such operations, but from the ground, they couldn''t get close to Aircrew Base 130, being unable to advance even beyond a 100 kilometers. Launching an aerial assault was even less feasible. Spring Field Defense simply lacked aerial combat capabilities like Xiao Jiu''s, which could effortlessly suppress every Flying Species mutant attempting to take to the sky, or even shoot them through the head with a laser beam from above the moment they moved to take off, killing them on the spot. Compared to the teeming Land-based Mutant species on the ground, the number of Flying Species was even fewer. The little bird, having mastered the laser skill, unleashed a barrage of BiuBiuBiu, and below 500 meters of low altitude, besides it, there were no other living things. Even the pilots from Spring Field Defense didn''t dare to lower their aircraft to under 800 meters, fearing they would accidentally hit themselves. They estimated in secret that even if all of them perished, they wouldn''t be able to harm a single feather on it. In a sense, as long as Xiao Jiu didn''t enter the high-speed flight state with tracer capabilities, it was virtually invisible to the humans on the aircraft, undetectable even by radar. In the darkness before dawn, they could only see the sudden appearance of laser beams here and there, every single shot bringing death without fail, causing observers to gasp in fear. Such a fist-sized creature possessed the power to kill in one strike. At this moment, within a ten-kilometer radius above the Aircrew Base, there were no more mutant flying species, the dangerous skies had cleared. Just as Chen Fei was jogging towards the main runway near the hangar, a colossus suddenly rushed out, baring its fangs right at him. "Oooooh!~" The colossal roar formed a shockwave that unexpectedly flipped the unprepared Chen Fei over ten meters, the impact forcing him to land squarely on his backside. "Well, well, you finally showed up!" Chen Fei shook his head and, somewhat disheveled, got back on his feet. After muttering to himself, he noticed something off about his face. Upon touching it, his fingertips came away wet, and a sniff confirmed the unmistakable smell of blood. The roar''s force was indeed mighty, causing him to experience "bleeding from seven orifices." Infrared thermal imaging had failed to detect the beast, and Chen Fei''s prior rampage had been part of his plan to "startle the snake by hitting the grass," hoping to lure the mutant boss out of hiding. But he never expected the beast to be concealed in the hangar, catching him entirely off guard. "Jiu!" Little Bird descended from the sky, landing atop Chen Fei''s head. A Light System Magic Shield materialized in front of the duo, and Light Healing Technique was cast on Chen Fei as if it cost nothing. The Light Healing Technique was the Pure Light Sparrow''s specialty. "Xiao Jiu, I''m fine!" Chen Fei detected no significant discomfort in his body, guessing that some capillaries under his skin had burst from the lack of preparation. "Jiu!" Little Bird stopped releasing the Light Healing Technique. Looking up at the enormous monster, anger flared in its tiny mung bean-sized eyes. In front of Xiao Jiu''s delicate beak, a sesame seed-sized point of light flickered intensely as its energy level climbed at an exponential rate. "Hold on a second!" Before Chen Fei, who had drawn his signal pistol again, could stop it, a striking red laser beam shot out. As the saying goes, it was too late. The massive beast seemed to sense the deadly threat posed by Xiao Jiu. With inconceivable agility, it sidestepped over ten meters, narrowly avoiding the lethal laser beam, and without hesitation leapt several times, eluding the pursuing light spots and slipping back into the hangar in the blink of an eye. Xiao Jiu was not about to let it go easily; the crimson beam sliced directly through the entire hangar. Amidst sparks flying, the hangar split as if chopped in half, moaned shrilly as if made of paper, and collapsed with a thunderous crash. Hisss...consider it Old Zuo''s way of warding off bad luck with a financial loss. Chen Fei pulled the trigger on the signal gun. Pop pop pop! Three blue signal flares soared into the sky. This was the agreed signal with Zuo Gengming, indicating the discovery of the mutant boss within Aircrew Base 130, and also confirming Chen Fei''s speculative guess prior to the operation. 1000 energy points were not so easy to obtain; this mutant boss was equally formidable. The ground remained engulfed in darkness, the infrared thermal imaging not very clear, and the low-light night vision blurry as well. Zuo Gengming, maintaining close surveillance, received the report instantly. "Report, three blue signal flares have appeared." - Chapter 332 332: Section 331 - Warm-up Battle ``` "Where is it?" Zuo Gengming looked at the display screen. A video, corrected by a special algorithm and re-synthesized, was projected onto a large screen. Infrared thermal imaging couldn''t capture the mutant boss, but it could still detect Chen Fei''s location. The locked area was set in front of the Aircrew Base''s hangar door. With the addition of low-light night vision and laser synthetic aperture radar, the rough outline of a monster was barely sketched with lines. "There really is one!" Immediately afterward, Zuo Gengming saw Chen Fei flying backward and couldn''t help but gasp in astonishment. Just a moment ago, he had been invincible, but in the blink of an eye, he was sent flying. This mutant was truly not to be underestimated. Then three blue flares slowly ascended, confirming the real presence of the hypothetical target. No wonder the other party wanted more money, not one bit of it was unjust. It was money paid for with one''s life, and there was nothing to complain about. Covered in the "Dragon King" tactical armor from head to toe, Chen Fei quickly opened the large box in his hands and pulled out a single soldier anti-tank missile. At the same time, he said, "Xiao Jiu, stand by in the sky." Even he had been slightly injured. The mutant boss''s peculiar roar posed an even greater threat to the fragile Little Bird. Chen Fei couldn''t bear to take this risk. Flying hundreds of meters high, wasn''t stealthily sniping from above more fragrant? Little Bird stood on the tactical helmet, refusing to leave. He grabbed it in his hand and threw it hard into the sky, forcibly sending it airborne. Boom, the completely collapsed hangar suddenly rose like a "small mound," followed by a deafening roar. Numerous metal plates flew into the sky. While flapping its wings unsteadily midair, Xiao Jiu was enveloped in a faint glow. The light-based magic shield flickered on and off in the roar''s shockwave, clearly affected by the residual force. Chen Fei''s worry was justified. Relying only on the magic shield, it would likely be hard to withstand such a sonic assault. "Roar!" The low growl contained madness and rage, and four eyes shining with a faint green light stared fixedly at Chen Fei. Like Xiao Jiu, the creature had a wide field of view exceeding 180 degrees, even possibly higher, compensating for the lack of stereoscopic vision. This was highly advantageous for its high mobility. Countless metal roofing tiles rained down from the sky, but Chen Fei, like the mutant boss, neither dodged nor flinched, aiming the anti-tank missile at his target. "Woo!" Countless pieces of the hangar shed exploded again, and the airwave stirred up by the roar charged towards Chen Fei like a train. The anti-tank missile''s launcher flashed with fire at the rear, and a thick missile was propelled out. Immediately, its tail emitted a dazzling flame, charging against the oncoming airwave with full force. Boom! The airwave and the anti-tank missile collided head-on, triggering the fuse on the spot. The shockwave swept across a fifty-meter radius, a wild wind arose, and the fragmented hangar debris once again spiraled into the sky collectively. Chen Fei was pushed back several staggering steps by the airwave. However, with the tactical armor, the impact he suffered was greatly reduced. Debris from the hangar flew everywhere. Suddenly, a vicious gust of wind struck without warning. An immediate sense of crisis arose in his heart, and Chen Fei, without any hesitation, forcefully leaped from the ground. In the nick of time, he shot forward more than ten meters. The mutant boss''s claws then violently scoured the area where he had just been standing, sending chunks of concrete flying and gouging out a large hole. Worthy of being a six-legged mutant, having two extra legs compared to ordinary animals, its speed was truly astonishing. It might even approach 100 yards. Don''t think that 100 yards is slow. There were twists and turns here, and in an environment littered with various debris, even supercars couldn''t accelerate to 50 yards. But Chen Fei didn''t hesitate. He shook a directional anti-infantry mine out of the small box, holding it in his hand and facing the enemy with the convex side. Boom! Steel balls the size of fingertips were explosively projected at an astonishing speed. The reverse shockwave and fragments also flung Chen Fei, clad in the "Dragon King" assault-type tactical armor, into the air. He tumbled, his arm going numb. The directional anti-infantry mine was equally dangerous on both its sides, with the side facing the enemy being more powerful. The backside''s power was comparable to a small grenade. If within the kill radius, one couldn''t escape unscathed either. But for someone like Chen Fei, who didn''t spare even himself when getting serious, who cared. Directional anti-infantry mine, one side towards the enemy! The other, towards me! Standing firm once again, Chen Fei muttered, "Damn, this thing moves too fast!" The assault-type "Dragon King" tactical armor that had been reinforced for defense showed no major damage on the outside. Several fragments from the anti-infantry mines lodged on the outer armor''s surface, disappearing in an instant, and even the scars healed quickly. Chen Fei ran swiftly on the ground towards another supply box''s drop point. Each airdropped supply box contained a set of anti-armor weapons. That colossal thing, if hit, would lose half its life if not killed on the spot. "Jiu!" A faint green laser beam was cast down from the sky, aiming at the six-legged mutant emerging forcefully from the gunsmoke. The mutant, shrouded in dust and smoke, roared at the sky. The air displayed obvious folds and violent fluctuations. The straight laser beam from above twisted, its trajectory deviating due to the abrupt change in air density. Glancing off the mutant''s fur, it sparked a streak of fire and shot through empty. ``` Little Bird''s seemingly invincible death beam finally met its match. In fact, as a directed-energy weapon, lasers aren''t well-suited for use within the atmosphere. Despite their sharpness and cost-effectiveness, they are easily affected by environmental factors such as suspended air particulates and changes in air density. These factors can weaken the beam''s energy and disrupt its accuracy. Powerful laser beams can sometimes even be easily intercepted by a cheap smoke grenade. In space, the six-legged, four-eyed, hairy monster probably wouldn''t be able to be so presumptuous. Xiao Jiu bought Chen Fei some time, and he took the opportunity to rush to the supply crate and casually picked up the loaded six-barreled Gatling gun, not even aiming before pulling the trigger. A torrent of bullets whistled out. Who needed accuracy with the size of the mutant boss? It was immediately engulfed in the barrage. "WHOO!~" It was still a roar with immense impact, but due to the distance, its power had attenuated greatly. By the time it hit, it was no different from an level eight or nine typhoon; at most, it would make it difficult to keep one''s eyes open, and moreover, Chen Fei was wearing a tactical helmet, so it had no effect on him. The mutant boss didn''t hesitate to move its six strong legs and took off running. It thundered along in a zig-zag pattern like a high-speed train entering the hangar remains. The dense trajectory of bullets relentlessly pursued it from behind, then jumped up high, turning into aimless stray bullets. If there were any other mutants in that direction, they would have to just accept their bad luck. Soon the chain of bullets ran out. He casually tossed aside the six-barreled Gatling gun, and Chen Fei scrambled to get the box with anti-armor weapons. Inside was an armor-piercing discarding-sabot round, not an individual anti-tank missile. Compared to the metal jet of an anti-tank missile, the super-hard tungsten core of the armor-piercing round is more suitable for taking hits head-on, and it is less affected by the roars. Chen Fei activated the skill "Metal Shaping!" All-metal supply boxes, the emptied ammo of the six-barreled Gatling gun, an untouched anti-aircraft machine gun, and some hand grenades and landmines¡ªall sorts of metal materials converged to his hands, wrapping the armor-piercing round and finally turning into a five-meter-long barrel. "WHOO!~" A deep growl came from behind Chen Fei. He grasped the makeshift cannon and turned around, but then another growl came from his left. The ground trembled slightly. The six-legged mutant boss changed locations unpredictably, running like the wind, making it difficult for Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu to lock on. Even if they had a strong weapon, it would be hard to utilize without being able to aim. As if answering the growls, various screams and howls came from afar. The mutants around the Aircrew Base became agitated, rushing towards the base from all directions. "This is bad, all the mutants have gone crazy!" The technician, who was the first to notice, yelled out. Heading toward the Aircrew Base were not only swarms of land-based mutants but also many flying-type mutants. Even the flying squadrons and transport planes circling above the base were facing a significant threat; there was a real risk of total annihilation. "We should retreat now! There might still be time to forcefully extract the ''rookie''." A staff member reminded their boss, the chairman of Spring Field Defense, Zuo Gengming. No plan can account for every change. Who could have predicted that a mutant leader was actually hiding in the Aircrew Base and had stirred up the numerous nearby mutants? To say that many ants can kill an elephant, these mutants were no ordinary ants! The man and bird still fighting the mutant leader on the ground were likely unable to handle this situation. "Fire the retreat signal flares." Zuo Gengming didn''t hesitate much. As long as they survived, they could always devise a new combat plan and fight another round. But if they didn''t survive, that would truly be the end, and given the wrath of the Jiu Defense Company, he would only be able to obediently go out of business and leave the industry, returning to live off his family''s millions. Upon receiving the command, the people on the small transport plane immediately fired signal flares into the sky over the Aircrew Base on the ground, three striking red light orbs streaked across the sky. "Retreat? No retreat!" Chen Fei noticed the red flares lighting up half the sky immediately. He too pulled out a signal pistol, changed the magazine, aimed at the sky, and with three consecutive shots, bang, bang, bang. Three green luminescent orbs shot up into the night. No retreat! He wouldn''t leave without accomplishing anything, especially now that the real action was just heating up! "Xiao Jiu! Take down all the flyers!" Chen Fei pointed toward the distant sky. As long as Little Bird was present, not a single mutant flyer would be able to approach the airspace above the Aircrew Base. Xiao Jiu''s laser beams might have consistently failed against the mutant boss, but when used against those flying species, they worked like a charm, proving deadly time and time again. - Chapter 333 333: Section 332 - Slaughter ``` "Jiu?" Xiao Jiu was somewhat hesitant and still circled above Chen Fei''s head. "I''m fine!" Chen Fei urged loudly. Before his words ended, he suddenly detected a huge shadow rushing towards him from the corner of his eye. This speed... "Dragon King" tactical helmet immediately calculated the data. 200 km/h! Damn, that''s almost fast enough to take off from the ground! Chen Fei barely had time to twist the nozzle in his hand, when suddenly a burst of fire flashed, and the armor-piercing discarding sabot round inside the barrel was activated. The enormous recoil made his feet grind against the ground, digging a noticeable shallow trough and dragging him over fifty meters. The full power discharge of the 120mm caliber cannon was incomparable to the recoil of the six-barreled Gatling or anti-aircraft machine guns. The needle-shaped tungsten core separated from the buttstock at lightning speed, penetrated the earth-shattering roar, and charged into the six-legged mutant BOSS''s fangs-filled maw; the next second, it burst out of its rear end, bringing with it a plume of unidentifiable liquid. It was as if time had suddenly stopped. The deafening roar that could create a massive shockwave stopped abruptly, the mutant BOSS''s body frozen in place, with copious amounts of blood spurting out of both the entry and exit wound, unstoppable in its flow, becoming more and more fierce. Target hit!!! "Dragon King" single soldier tactical armor had captured the nearly straight trajectory of the armor-piercing discarding sabot round in that instant, shooting straight through the behemoth that had charged up to less than ten meters away. But still, it was hard to tell if it was dead! Chen Fei did not assume too much, once again producing an anti-aircraft machine gun, reassembling the bullets scattered on the ground into a belt, and loading it into the chamber. He aimed at the six-legged mutant BOSS, frozen in place, unmoving, and opened fire for a trial by firepower. A series of fire serpents penetrated the opponent''s body straight away. Boom!~ The ground trembled slightly. The 12.7mm caliber bullets, carrying immense kinetic energy, not only successfully hit the mutant BOSS but also pushed its still body onto the ground. "Jiu!" A clear bird chirp echoed through the sky. A pale green laser beam hit the monstrous head of the mutant BOSS. This time it finally found its mark, with a furious flame rising, and after only three seconds of exposure, it completed the penetration. The thick fur was ignited, and the spreading flames became more and more intense, threatening to turn the mutant into a massive torch. Chen Fei could finally rest assured, as the armor-piercing discarding sabot round had successfully achieved a one-hit kill. It was only then that Xiao Jiu, satisfied, flew into the distance, ready to deal with those monsters that contended for the sky. If it still did not die after all that, Chen Fei would probably have to flee with Little Bird. Zuo Gengming had to resign himself to his fate and hand over the Aircrew Base, as this six-legged behemoth was no longer something that Spring Field Defense or Jiu Defense could handle. Terrible mutants like this one, which were hard to deal with, would appear about seven or eight times a year, and usually required the intervention of either the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee or active duty military forces to successfully eradicate. "Zzzt, zzzt... Signal is connected..." The interrupted radio communication finally restored, and Chen Fei, glancing at the now silent mutant BOSS, could roughly guess that this behemoth was the source of the disruption. Spring Field Defense was going to make a fortune! Discovering such a new type of strong mutant, the reward from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was bound to be substantial. However, Chen Fei and Jiu Defense would not lose out either, with personal rewards and shares surely in store. "Mr. Chen, how''s that big guy?" Upon communication restoration, Zuo Gengming immediately got in direct contact with Chen Fei. "Duty honored, it''s taken care of, dead as a doornail, it better be worth that million." Chen Fei was also somewhat drained; after all, he had gone head-to-head with a monster as big as a locomotive that howled with its own shock waves, moved incredibly fast, and was particularly cunning. If it weren''t for the anti-tank missile being intercepted by the howls, paralyzing the opponent, and the opponent thinking another roar would withstand the attack, without realizing a pure physical strike from the 120mm caliber armor-piercing discarding sabot round wasn''t that simple, penetrating the roar barrier instantly for a direct hit, the fierce battle wouldn''t have ended so easily. "Then... that''s really great!" ``` Zuo Gengming''s forehead was also sweating profusely. According to a temporary assessment, this monster was simply beyond the capabilities of Spring Field Defense. If it hadn''t been for Jiu Defense sending Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu, he feared he could only watch helplessly as the Aircrew Base was taken over by other military contractors. "The battle isn''t over yet!" Chen Fei saw mutants swarming into Aircrew Base 130 like a tide, with at least four or five different species, all of which were unfamiliar. The American Continent and the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area have geographical differences, so the mutants that emerged were also unique to each region. With no more restraints, the Pure Light Sparrow was showing its divine might in the sky. Any mutant flying species that dared to approach the airspace above Aircrew Base 130 would be met with a blast from Xiao Jiu''s laser cannon. If one shot didn''t do the job, then two shots, never a third. The flying species didn''t even notice the tiny fist-sized creature in the night sky that could bring them fatal death, flying stupidly close, then stupidly getting shot down, dying so completely that they became confused and unavenged spirits, never having had the chance to resist. Even the aircraft from Aircrew Base 131 were protected by Xiao Jiu. Without having to face the mutant flying species directly, they were also not idle. Under the order of their BOSS, Zuo Gengming, they began attacking the ground, with swarms of rockets blasting away at them, followed by cruise missiles flashing continuously and lighting up the sky, as hot mushroom clouds slowly rose. However, even after successfully defeating the mutant BOSS, the battle for the recovery of Aircrew Base 130 had only just begun. On the ground, the roar of the six-barreled Gatling gun sounded again. The downpour of dense gunfire swept down wave after wave of charging mutants like cutting wheat, showing no mercy. Soon the gunfire switched to anti-aircraft machine guns followed by explosions from hand grenades and directional anti-infantry mines. The mutants summoned by their BOSS would not stop charging into Aircrew Base 130 until none were left, ferociously tearing apart everything before them. Facing what seemed like an endless surge of mutants, the ten supply boxes of weapons and ammunition quickly drained away, and even the "Big Mouth Monsters" circling in the sky and the small transport aircraft expended their ammunition completely. Zuo Gengming reminded once again, "That''s enough, Mr. Chen, you can evacuate now." The circling small transport aircraft was already preparing for an emergency landing to take Chen Fei away. With the mutant BOSS dead, the recovery efforts that followed became much easier. If they couldn''t handle such a simple job, it would be better to give up Aircrew Base 130 altogether. The second flight squadron from Aircrew Base 131 had already taken off, this time a uniform group of "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft carrying full ground ammunition. Chen Fei had cleared a buffer zone around Aircrew Base 131, allowing Spring Field Defense to temporarily free up personnel to recover Aircrew Base 130. Surrounded by mutants, Chen Fei calmly said, "Don''t rush me, Old Zuo! Let me finish the job first!" He accepted money to dispel disasters for others; since he had taken on the job, he had to do it well! It was unthinkable for him to take money and not do the work. The firearm in his hand had become a crowbar, brutally prying into the skulls of mutants, lifting off the top of their heads, and directly extracting a lump of white brain matter. He unerringly managed to pry out the brains of whatever kind of mutant he faced. The action of cracking open the mutants'' skulls had almost become a reflex, a stab and a pry, clean and crisp. His dexterity had reached a masterful level, comparable to a melon-opening expert. "Hey, Mr. Chen!" Seeing Chen Fei overwhelmed by mutants, Zuo Gengming from Aircrew Base 131 called out anxiously. Chen Fei replied as if nothing was wrong, "What''s the matter, Old Zuo?" He didn''t understand why Zuo Gengming was frenetically yelling. "You''re still alive?" Zuo Gengming''s eyes widened as he looked at the footage coming back from Aircrew Base 130. Piles of mutants were stacking up higher and higher, with even more charging forward, one after the other. Chen Fei responded lightly, "Of course, I''m still alive. Don''t worry, this is just a minor scene." Being besieged by mutants was something he had experienced several times before. In fact, it wasn''t as dangerous as Zuo Gengming had seen. Only a few mutants could get up close, and they even interfered with each other. It would have been much more troublesome if it were one-on-one bouts. "Ah?" Zuo Gengming was too shocked to speak. Was this Chen Fei some kind of tireless mechanical being? Amidst the ferocious onslaught of the mutants, he seemed even more at ease, and fighting in such an understated manner was something Zuo Gengming had almost never seen before in his life. Zuo Gengming had no idea that Chen Fei had once fought mutants overnight in the wilds of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, killing them so fiercely that they were frightened and retreated three hundred li. Time ticked by and dawn arrived, with the sky finally brightening. In the sky, the turboprop aircraft and small transport planes had been replaced, and even Xiao Jiu, exhausted, landed on the control tower of Aircrew Base 130, looking at the increasingly high piles of corpses near the main runway. Chen Fei stood atop the "mountain," tirelessly waving his Physics Holy Sword like a brave hero, slaughtering the mutants who came to their deaths without the power to resist. - Chapter 334 334: Section 333 - Cash In Rumbling! A mutant with its brain smashed out rolled down helplessly from a pile of corpses over ten meters high, no longer daring to rush up to meet its demise. A hundred meters away, a six-legged mutant boss was burned into bald charcoal, the air filled with the enticing aroma of meat, and the flames even spread to many other mutants'' remains. From a bird''s-eye view, the chaotic 130 Aircrew Base was broadly charred, indistinguishable from a real battlefield¡ªin fact, this was a real battlefield! Inside the 131 Aircrew Base, all who saw this scene fell deathly silent. The first light of dawn broke the horizon, casting a golden glow on the figure standing atop the mountain of corpses and the sea of blood. Chen Fei stood above, looking down at the dozen or so ferocious monsters still howling ceaselessly, his hand''s Physics Holy Sword still unwavering, while blood incessantly dripped from the blood-drenched tip of his white steel crowbar. The ground had long been stained red with a large swath of blood, accumulating into pools. On the screen, there was the silhouette akin to a war god from an epic blockbuster, leaving Zuo Gengming in the depths of his throat with nothing but sharp intakes of breath. A man and an inconsequential Pure Light Sparrow fought through the dawn, taking back the 130 Aircrew Base, which had been overrun for more than half a month, from the hands of the mutants. As for the remaining dozen or so mutants, not just Zuo Gengming, even the people at 131 Aircrew Base didn''t consider them a threat. Any "Big Mouth Monster" could easily exterminate these ignorant creatures. From the time Chen Fei arrived at the 131 Aircrew Base in the North American Continent, less than 24 hours had passed. Damn, that additional million Star Yuan was well spent! Thinking back, Chen Fei was only one of the two supernatural power users from Jiu Defense Company, and the other one, known as "Eye of the Storm," the boss, hadn''t even made a move yet! This Jiu Defense Company... Truly formidable as hell! If news of this vicious battle were to spread, Jiu Defense Company''s Jianghu status would surely soar significantly. "Jiu!" The rested Little Bird once again flapped its wings and perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, glaring at the dozen or so mutants together. The fear that slept deep within their primal instincts was finally awakened. The mutants surrounding the mountain of corpses shivered and recoiled, and without hesitation, they turned and fled, hoping to get as far away from the terrifying human as possible. "None of you are getting away!" Chen Fei leaped down from the mountain of corpses, chasing after one of the mutants. The white steel crowbar in his hand transformed into a spear, casually thrown. With a pitiful cry, the mutant was pinned to the ground. Then another spear was thrown. Another mutant was impaled by the all-metal spear, dying instantly on the spot. Crackle and pop, a barrage of dense gunfire rained from the sky, whipping the ground, engulfing most of the remaining mutants. Then came a high-explosive aerial bomb, crashing down with a loud bang and neatly exterminating them all! "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu released all the Light Elemental Energy it had just gathered, adding a Light-based Magic Shield for itself and Chen Fei, blocking the residual force of the blast wave. Even far beyond the lethal radius of the aerial bomb, it was inevitable to get one''s face covered in dust. "Quick! Quick! Organize ground personnel to retake the 130 Aircrew Base, prepare the transport plane, I''m heading there." Zuo Gengming finally snapped out of it, issuing orders beneath the large display screen. The mutants obliterated by the man and the bird weren''t all the mutants near the 130 Aircrew Base; many still roamed further away. They had to take advantage of the mutants'' stupor before they could react, retake the 130 Aircrew Base, build a defense line, and swiftly restart the operation plans to annihilate the mutants, before eventually reverting the situation to before the mutant disaster outbreak. Spring Field Defense Limited Company might have lost the 130 Aircrew Base previously, yet fortunately, the casualties were not severe. As the 130 Aircrew Base became untenable, they retreated to the 131 Aircrew Base in time. A heroic sacrifice indeed, though the losses were substantial, the strength was preserved. Even now, reclaiming the 130 Aircrew Base did not pose a manpower shortage problem. The entire reclaiming operation lasted a full 24 hours. People who landed earlier using small transport aircraft cleared the main runway first, and then hundreds of large transport aircraft followed, frequently taking off and landing to deliver more personnel, supplies, and machinery. Having completely recovered his energy, Chen Fei reported the support work to Boss Hana in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, after all, his task was complete. How to hold onto the 130 Aircrew Base and launch a counterattack was Zuo Gengming''s affair. Busy to the point of dizziness and without proper sleep, Zuo Gengming, with dark circles under his eyes, though exhausted, was very spirited and sought out Chen Fei. "Ha, Mr. Chen, Xiao Jiu, you''re here. We owe you a lot this time. Apart from the one million Star Yuan, there''s also a bonus for the Big Boss''s biological sample, which I''ll deposit into your account." This time, it was his turn to fulfill his promise. Chen Fei shook his head and said, "No, deposit it all into Jiu Defense Company''s account. Business to business, use the corporate account!" Zuo Gengming, puzzled, asked, "Uh? Isn''t this considered a private bonus between you and me?" "It''s a tax issue. My personal income tax bracket is about to be exceeded. Using a corporate account can reduce the tax amount and distribute it." This was the plan he had discussed with Boss Hana. Military contractors have tax deduction limits, and using a corporate account is much more cost-effective. This year was a profitable one, with particularly high earnings. Once personal income reaches a certain level, the tax rate becomes exorbitantly high. If it''s a direct personal transfer or a business to private transaction, after paying taxes, at most you''d get to keep one-third. In this world, everyone must pay taxes, no one is exempt. Even the president, if they dared to owe anything, would be directly stripped and hung from a street lamp after their property was confiscated, suffering a fate worse than that of capitalists. "That''s the case, no problem, anything works!" Zuo Gengming immediately slapped his chest in assurance, then said, "We also have a thousand tons of scrap metal. When do you want it? It''s just that..." At home in the mines, there''s more than a thousand tons of scrapped machinery. If someone wants it, better to take it quickly. Seeing that the other party had become hesitant, Chen Fei cut to the chase, "It''s too heavy and difficult to transport, isn''t it?" The other party''s thought process was quite predictable. The two aircrew bases were located in remote areas with high transport costs, especially for shipping a thousand tons of scrap metal, which really wasn''t cost-effective. It would be better to save on the shipping cost and just get Chen Fei to the location. Not only would it save trouble and time, the end result would be no different. "Hehe, indeed it is! However, the 130 and 131 Aircrew Bases already have some scrap metal, all of which will be yours, considered an extra giveaway." True to a capitalist, Zuo Gengming wore an embarassed smile, his mind clearly ticking away. In fact, the aircrew bases always struggled with how to properly dispose of scrap metal. To save space, they generally recycled and smelted rough ingots and piled them outside, leaving them to weather under sun and rain, with little opportunity for reuse. "That works too!" Chen Fei agreed. "No problem, thank you so much!" Zuo Gengming thanked him again. This was indeed a big help. Rubbing his hands together, he continued, "Mr. Chen, I hope you can stay here a few more days. You can rest assured of your reception." Chen Fei, present at the 130 Aircrew Base, was like a Sea-calming Needle, not only deterring the ferocious mutants but also providing a great sense of security and confidence for the personnel working here. Otherwise, not for anything would they dare come here for what would be a suicidal task. Even if Zuo Gengming was willing to reward brave men handsomely, their numbers were often limited and nowhere near enough to secure the entire 130 Aircrew Base and restore normal operation. "Then I''ll stay for another seven days!" Chen Fei had originally planned to return the same day, but Boss Hana suggested he stay a bit longer. There were unlikely to be any battles, and his presence was mainly to stabilize morale and create a sense of safety. With someone more terrifying than the mutant bosses around, those outside mutants weren''t concerning at all, and even sleeping at night could be much more reassuring. "Great, that''s really great!" Overcome with emotion, Zuo Gengming''s eyes reddened. Seven days were enough for him to stabilize the situation, and even if Chen Fei left afterward, it would still ensure the safety of both aircrew bases. Unexpectedly to Chen Fei, just the alloy rough ingots accumulated over the years at the 130 Aircrew Base weighed nearly a thousand tons combined, nearly fulfilling Chen Fei''s additional requirements from this one location alone. Then there was the stock of scrap metal at the 131 Aircrew Base, even more than one thousand five hundred tons, all of which went to Chen Fei. - Chapter 335 334 - Energy Points In a corner of the Aircrew Base, blocks of alloy ingots with mixed components vanished from Chen Fei''s hands, leaving the boss of Spring Field Defense, Zuo Gengming, gaping in astonishment. "Darn, they say Special Abilities have a wide range of peculiar powers, countless in number, so peculiar that even the elemental classification standards from Cangqiong Star can''t fully encompass them. Now seeing this, it''s indeed the case." This experience had refreshed his understanding of Special Abilities, and he was extremely curious as to where thousands of tons of metal had gone. "Turned into Energy Points!" Chen Fei wasn''t lying. "Oh! Matter into energy..." Zuo Gengming stroked his head, wow, this Special Ability is a bit high-end! The mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc2 was around a hundred years ago, not exactly a novelty. But to fully implement this mathematical formula wasn''t as easy as mastering the "Magic Cube Law," one of the two major airship systems today. Humanity had spent a thousand years to truly grasp the "Magic Cube Law." Before that, the "Magic Cube Law" was merely a simple toy cube, who could have imagined it would become the anti-gravity field power source for large aircraft, enabling free flight within the atmosphere and completely overturning the previous aerodynamic flight mode. Energy Points: 4853/10000 Not even including the rare earth metals from Zuo Gengming''s family heirloom, Chen Fei had already amassed nearly five thousand Energy Points. He casually browsed the Skill Shop. 1. Remote Control System Module: 3000 Energy Points 2. Subsonic Oscillation Module: 5000 Energy Points 3. Sound Unit: 200 Energy Points 4. Universal Joint: 500 Energy Points 5. Non-destructive Magnetic Dual-Mode Suspended Bearing: 100 Energy Points 6. Tactical Neutron Bomb: 500,000 Energy Points 7. Particle Acceleration Component: 100 Energy Points 8. Old Sow Cannon: 5 Energy Points 9. Railgun Optimization and Coordination Plan: 1000 Energy Points 10. Working Medium Engine: 770,000 Energy Points Note: Updated every 24 hours At least half looked decent, but a tactical neutron bomb... Is that thing even real? Is this something for personal use? A tactical neutron bomb is way more powerful than a Dragon Slayer Missile. If someone planned to go for Mutual Annihilation, the Dragon Slayer Missile might offer a glimmer of hope for survival, but a neutron bomb is certain death with zero chance of survival, even taking a large group of unlucky people along, all bound for the afterlife together. Thankfully, priced at 500,000 Energy Points, Chen Fei, who was poor in both Energy Points and Star Yuan, couldn''t afford it. Otherwise, he might have been tempted to mess with it. Curiosity killed the cat, oh well... And what on earth is this Old Sow Cannon listed as the 8th item? Only 5 Energy Points, is the Dog System serious? It must be another scam to trick people out of their Energy Points! Chen Fei wasn''t new to knowing how unreliable the Dog System''s "Skill Shop" could be. "Sound Unit: 200 Energy Points," GOT! Having already bought "Audio Management Module" and "microphone," he wasn''t going to miss out on an external "Sound Unit." Maybe he could play some music with it, and at least those 200 Energy Points weren''t too expensive. "Particle Acceleration Component: 100 Energy Points," GOT! He had previously exchanged Energy Points for a "Basic Particle Beam (upgradeable)," only to be notified after receipt that it was missing a "Particle Acceleration Component," rendering it inoperable. The Dog System was crafty like that, always finding ways to shear the Energy Points sheep. "Railgun Optimization and Coordination Plan: 1000 Energy Points," GOT! It seemed somewhat related to railgun weapons, unclear whether he could develop advanced railgun weapons from it. Energy Points -1300! Energy Points: 3553/10000 Deciding not to choose anymore for now, Chen Fei refrained from looking at other skills in the Skill Shop. A few were out of reach, some were traps, and many more were useless, not worth keeping, yet a shame to discard. As long as he had Energy Points to spare, he could occasionally find something worthwhile in the "Skill Shop." Like the "Old Sow Cannon" for 5 Energy Points, heck, he wouldn''t even take it for free. The "My Skills" list was once again arbitrarily reorganized by the Dog System, merging many skills together. Although it didn''t affect their use¡ªthey were all still there, not a single one missing¡ªChen Fei felt a certain dissatisfaction, feeling cheated. Damn, the Dog System had broken the skills down to swindle Energy Points, and now it merged them back, ironclad evidence of its duplicity! Like "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component," gosh, how many skills had it consumed? Originally, individual skills weren''t expensive, mostly in the hundreds, with the priciest ones at no more than 1000 Energy Points. Now, after all was said and done... he felt like he had been slaughtered like a pig! And "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation," "Elemental Decomposition/Synthesis" merged so many skills it was like shearing several rounds of his Energy Points. No wonder his balance of Energy Points had long been in a state of poverty, all due to the forceful exploitation by the Dog System. Down with the Dog System! ... Chen Fei shifted his gaze away from the interface in front of him and let out a long sigh, then turned his attention to Zuo Gengming, who was waiting on the side. "Lastly, it''s your mine equipment, Old Zuo." Once the remaining thousand tons of metals were received, the transaction between the two would be successfully completed. "No problem, let''s get going!" Zuo Gengming snapped his fingers. A thousand tons of metal was hardly an issue for him. Old Zuo''s family heirloom mine had accumulated a pile of old mining equipment, the oldest dating back more than a hundred years, nearly every kind of antique was there. Unlike the Aircrew Base, which had to remelt to save space and for environmental reasons, they were simply discarded into an abandoned mine pit, free for the taking with self-arranged transportation. The capitalists wouldn''t spend a dime to deal with the scrap. Chapter 336 336: Section 334 - Energy Points_2 The small private business jet took off from Aircrew Base 131 with Chen Fei and Zuo Gengming on board, heading south. The Zuo Family''s rare earth mine was located on the Flower State Peninsula along the east coast of North America and had changed owners four times, being mined for nearly two hundred years. Initially, it was operated as a copper-iron mine with a small amount of silver ore. The annual output wasn''t significant and had been intermittent. Later, when rare earth elements were discovered, the extensive mining operations ceased. After being sealed for over a decade, they began the meticulous process of mining. As a resource that has been long scarce, the price of rare earth elements continued to rise. The profit-maximizing Zuo Family was in no rush to excavate their ancestral industry haphazardly. From the small private airport where the business jet landed, they traversed over thirty kilometers of wheat fields before plunging into the hilly area. The mine was located at the edge of the agricultural area, and the nearby farmers had lodged repeated complaints about pollution from mining. Even though the Zuo Family had purchased pollution control systems and established green belts to isolate dust and wastewater, the complaints never stopped. In the end, the Zuo Family, firm in their resolve, simply bought out all the nearby farms at a high price, and that was the end of it! In reality, the farmers had lost a substantial amount during futures trading and leveraged the pretense of pollution to fleece the Zuo Family. Otherwise, the mine would have been complained into bankruptcy a long time ago. The environment surrounding the rare earth mine looked no different from most of the aircrew bases on the front lines against the Mutants, except there were no Mutants nearby. Occasionally, a few marine Mutants would land on the peninsula''s coastline, causing minor trouble, but the local residents were not concerned. Aquatic Species became significantly less threatening when they came ashore, reducing their menace tenfold, and even if they managed to flee back to sea, they would be tracked by the Coast Guard sonar. Just one guided torpedo, bang, and that was the end of them. Water conducts the shock waves far better than air does; the same charge magnifies the impact several times over in water. Chen Fei got out of the dust-covered four-wheel drive vehicle that had bounced its way to the rare earth mine, splattered with mud and muck. "Good lord, what a terrible road!" Chen Fei stepped out of the car, feeling quite shaken up. Xiao Jiu descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder. It had flown the entire way and didn''t suffer the jolting ride. Zuo Gengming said with a tinge of regret, "We had a helicopter, but it''s out on another assignment." Because they had arrived in haste and the mine''s helicopter was out unexpectedly, they had to endure this rough ride. Ever since entering the agricultural zone, the clay and stone roads predominated: covered in dust on dry days and caked in mud on rainy days¡ªwith only agricultural and freight vehicles coming and going, one could forget about seeing a wide and smooth asphalt road. "Welcome, Young Master Zuo, and Mr. Chen Fei." The manager hired by the Zuo Family had been eagerly waiting at the mine''s entrance, ready to attentively host the bosses from afar. "Mr. Chen, how about you rest a bit, grab something to eat, and then we head over there." Zuo Gengming gestured in the direction of the pit filled with old mining equipment. He too was feeling dizzy and headachy from the bumpy ride. "Sure! Something simple will do." Chen Fei nodded. He didn''t have much of an appetite anyway; sandwiches and hot dogs would suffice. The mine''s manager said, "We have a chef here who cooks Eastern cuisine." He had made thorough preparations well in advance. The mine''s chef was from Annan. Chen Fei, who thought he might have a nice little surprise, looked at a table full of cold dishes and fried chicken...Well! It seemed that one shouldn''t hold out too much hope when far from home. Zuo Gengming was eating with relish. Seeing Chen Fei''s leisurely pace, he asked quizzically, "Not to your taste?" "Hmm! It''s alright!" After all, one must give face to the host''s efforts. The meal, neither lunch nor dinner, ended, and after resting for a bit, Zuo Gengming led Chen Fei to a pit in the corner of the mine. This place wasn''t originally an open-pit mine, but it was wholly excavated bit by bit after discovering reserves of rare earth elements, eventually turning into an open-pit mine. The gravel road wound down around the edge of the pit to the bottom, where piles of various mining machinery and old vehicles were amassed. They had been exposed to the elements year-round and were rusting away, with many having sunk into the puddles at the bottom. "It''s been over a hundred years. We can''t transport them out, so we just left them here. Take as much as you want." Zuo Gengming had briefed Chen Fei about the origin of this scrap metal on the way over, completely indifferent to whatever quantity was agreed upon, and would be more than happy if it could all be cleared out. If left unchecked, in a few thousand years, they would revert to ore, as time and entropy wear everything down, in an endless cycle. Chen Fei turned around and asked seriously, "Really?" The pile of mining machinery and old vehicles at the bottom of the pit definitely weighed much more than 1000 tons combined. "24K solid gold, for real!" Zuo Gengming replied with equal seriousness. Energy Points: 3553/10000 "Let''s call it a day here!" Chen Fei nodded. "You''re not continuing?" Zuo Gengming asked, puzzled. ``` In the morning at the Aircrew Base 131, he had seen large Alloy Ingots vanishing into Chen Fei''s hands. Were these scrap metals not suitable? Or did they need to be melted down again? Not just Zuo Gengming, even Boss Hanna knew little about Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power. According to the unwritten rule, unless it is a supernatural power user''s initial registration after Awakening, Ability Characteristics are the user''s biggest secret and would never be casually disclosed to others, so no one would recklessly inquire. "I haven''t finished digesting the earlier batch yet, Old Zuo, help me find a place to stay; I''ll be here for a few days." Chen Fei turned and walked towards the four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle. The "Metal Devouring" Skill could only "digest" 1,000 tons of metal per day, converting it into 1,000 Energy Points, and today''s allowance had already been used up at the Aircrew Base 131, so now he could do nothing but stare at the pile of metals. Even though he could still forcibly absorb them, it wouldn''t grant him even half an Energy Point, so Chen Fei certainly wouldn''t let the Dog System, which loved to scrounge his Energy Points, benefit for free. Dream on! "Oh, oh, no problem!" Zuo Gengming suddenly realized and hurriedly followed him. As long as Chen Fei was still in the North American Federation, even if he was not at Aircrew Bases 130 or 131, he could always rush to their aid at any time. So, he couldn''t wait for Chen Fei to decide not to leave. - Early the next morning. Right after getting up, while still washing his face and brushing his teeth, a line of text appeared in front of Chen Fei. "System: Ding! "Metal Devouring" upgrade, now you can devour 10,000 tons per day!" Good Lord, this Dog System is doing this on purpose! As soon as it saw the mountain-like scrap metal, it immediately lifted the restrictions. 10,000 tons of metal a day means 10,000 Energy Points can be exchanged. Opening the "Skill Shop" to take a look. Sure enough... it''s been waiting right here! 1. Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+10000): 10,000 points 2. Asteroid Annihilation Cannon: 99999999 Energy Points 3. Precision Screw Technique: 100 Energy Points 4. Basic Microwave Emitter (upgradable): 1,000 Energy Points 5. Type 81 Rifle (1940 version): 100 Energy Points 6. Macedonian Heavy Infantry Armor: 500 Energy Points 7. Magnetic Levitation Module: 500 Energy Points 8. Hypnosis Mask: 1,000 Energy Points 9. Camel Pot Machine (14kw): 1,000 Energy Points 10. Shack: 500 Energy Points Look! Look! What is all this random junk, I almost got completely confused. The Dog System clearly wants to trap Energy Points, digging a hole and just waiting for me to jump in. Chen Fei rolled his eyes, this is too much! The current Energy Points storage can''t avoid being upgraded, who said "Metal Devouring" just so happened could fill up the Energy Points in one go! After breakfast. At the bottom of the abandoned mine pit. Energy Points: 10,000/10,000 "Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+10000): 10,000 points", GET! Energy Points -10,000! Energy Points: 0/20,000 "Metal Devouring" still has some leftover capacity. Energy Points: 3,553/20,000 Continue tomorrow! - ``` Chapter 337 337: Section 335 - Trip to Ocean Continent Energy Points: 19999/20000 The abandoned mine had become "spick and span," not even a screw was left for Zuo Gengming from a century ago to today''s scraps of copper and iron. He asked incredulously, "It''s all gone?" It had an "indigestion" yesterday, so how could it have suddenly "worked up an appetite" overnight? However, at least the rare earth mine no longer needed to pay a penalty of 100,000 Star Yuan to the darned Federal Environmental Protection Agency, which relieved a burden for the Zuo Family. The remaining large pit might even be filled with water for fish farming, attracting some scuba diving enthusiasts by the way. "I''m very satisfied with this transaction, if there''s more work like this in the future, just give me a call." Chen Fei contentedly patted Zuo Gengming''s shoulder. Who would have thought that this large pit would have a great surprise, accumulating at least twenty thousand tons of metal. The Dog System timely introduced in the "Skill Shop" the "Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000): 20,000 points." Good lord, always on the ball! Looking at the other items, they were all a pile of nonsensical trash that was totally off-putting. This time, Chen Fei ignored it! Trying to scam my energy points again? Go eat a fart! Instead, he focused on the list under "My Skills." "Personal Armor Basic Body Level 1" upgraded to Level 3¡ª1. Light Armor Mode, 2. Heavy Armor Mode, 3. Adaptive Armor Mode Energy Points-4000! Level 4 Cavalry Armor Mode was totally unnecessary. Ride what? Xiao Jiu? What a joke! They would at least need a Magical Beast that could serve as a mount! It was likely that even the Mutant Flying Dragons he had dealt with before wouldn''t be able to withstand the weight of the upgraded "Personal Armor," let alone the Light Armor Mode, much less a Level 4 Cavalry Armor Mode. Then, "Composite Armor Layer Level 0" upgraded to Level 2, capable of resisting both Human Order Spells and Battle Qi, as Chen Fei felt the lack of defense while fighting a Mutant Boss. Energy Points-2000! "Evolution Accelerator Level 0" upgraded to Level 10 because the bigger the structure and the more complex it is, the slower the evolution speed is, which really holds things up in emergency situations. Energy Points-1000! "Super Capacitor Level 2" upgraded to Level 12, since the mutants were so rampant, it should be able to support the long-time operation of evolving laser weapons. Energy Points-1000! Then max out the "Microphone Module"¡ªsingle/dual channel capture, stereo capture, full-area capture, automatic noise reduction, and directional long-distance listening. Energy Points-500! This last item was barely practical. Combined with the "Audio Management Module" and "Sound Unit," Chen Fei felt like he was a human-shaped, walking loudspeaker; if it came to out-shouting someone, he would definitely win. Energy Points: 11499/20000 Next, just wait and watch the Dog System''s performance, probably days of trash menu ahead, damn that old sow cannon! Chen Fei''s seven-day field work in the American Federation was soon over, and Spring Field Defense Limited Company had smoothly taken over the 130 Aircrew Base, establishing a stable buffer security zone. The Combat Flight Squadron began frequent strikes, starting high-frequency extermination operations. Eliminating mutants was originally the duty of the Aircrew Base, and it was also for the safety of the staff and their own operations, so everyone was working hard. In this mutant disaster, the military contractors who successfully recaptured the Aircrew Base were few and far between. Many unprepared Aircrew Bases were caught off guard at the very beginning, either being annihilated on the spot or incapable of holding out due to internal struggles, like Spring Field Defense, which had to give up and save manpower. "Chen Fei, you''re still in the American Federation?" Upon arriving at the airport, Chen Fei received a call from Boss Hanna. "At the airport, about to go through security," Chen Fei replied as he dragged the luggage and Xiao Jiu''s air-travel pet crate. From the tone of Boss Hanna''s voice, it appeared the schedule might be changing. Oh boy! Almost ended up checking Xiao Jiu in for cargo. "Xiao Jiu? You didn''t check it in, did you?" Indeed, Hanna Boss and Chen Fei were on the same page. If the little guy had been checked in, Chen Fei would likely have no way to change his schedule, because pulling the pet crate out of the cabin wasn''t an easy task. If it took that long, the plane would have already taken off, and the flight couldn''t possibly delay everyone''s time just for Chen Fei. "Not yet!" Chen Fei heaved a long sigh of relief, knowing it would be so. "That''s good!" On the other end of the call, Boss Hana also sighed in relief and continued, "Change your flight immediately. Go to Shepherd City in the Yangzhou Continent, then transfer to Habulav." "Habulav?" The place sounded vaguely familiar. Hanna Gagar immediately added, "Yes, the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. You need to report there." "What am I going there for?" Chen Fei was completely baffled. "To deal with the ''Water Bear'' organization that is gradually emerging, the Global United Defense Committee is drafting personnel from various military contractors to form a special action department, and you''ve been selected to undergo an on-site interview," Hanna explained, her voice turning a bit grating as she continued, "The strength of Jiu Defense is too strong, and some are envious, this is an overt scheme to weaken us." "So it''s about drawing the tiger from the mountain, huh!" Chen Fei was not surprised at all. Being prominent draws envy, and both the Jiu Defense Company and the 911 Aircrew Base had been particularly conspicuous in the recent sudden mutant disaster, inevitably attracting jealousy. Not to mention, before this, having offended a bigwig within the United Defense Commission members, the recently ended hostile relationship with Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium and the covert plottings of his former employer, the Apocalypse Defense Group, did not want Jiu Defense''s influence to grow. They would definitely not hesitate to sabotage if given a chance. Hanna Gagar cautioned, "Pretty much, and you have to be extra careful!" Once he stepped out of Jiu Defense''s territory, Chen Fei''s personal safety could hardly be guaranteed, let alone the fact that open attacks are easy to avoid, but hidden schemes are hard to defend against. This young man, though intelligent, was still inexperienced with the dirty tricks of various conspiracies. Chen Fei laughed heartily, carefreely responding, "Don''t worry! I''m impervious to swords and guns, and I have Xiao Jiu with me, too!" Others might fear being backstabbed, but he wasn''t scared! If they dared, they should aim for his head! "The human heart is treacherous, it''s hard to guard against, still, be very careful, don''t trust others too easily, and call me to discuss anything if needed," Hanna Gagar, knowing that light weapons were no more effective than tickling against him, persisted, worried that failing once might lead to endless schemes until they succeed. Keeping in touch would also reassure her somewhat, especially since she was no stranger to the cutthroat world, being a former Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "Got it!" Although verbally nonchalant, Chen Fei still decided to heed the advice. In his skill list, a significant portion was dedicated to strengthening defense. Many knew of Chen Fei''s fierce and wild close combat, but few could imagine how impenetrable his defenses could be once he set up his "turtle shell." Not just light weapons, even heavy weapons would need to reassess their effectiveness. So he just needed to persevere. After concluding the call with Boss Hana, Chen Fei proceeded to cancel his ticket and then bought another for a flight to Shepherd City in the Yangzhou Continent. Aircraft flying to the Yangzhou Continent from various places worldwide were almost uniformly armed airships with escort flyers. Yangzhou had been the main battleground and the final battle site of the "Three Realms Fusion War," its vast and sparsely populated land allowing for unrestricted use of nuclear weapons, making it a severe hotspot for post-war mutant outbreaks. Many creatures here underwent bizarre mutations and evolution, including not just Blue Star''s creatures but also those from Honghuang Star and the stray Cangqiong Star creatures on Yangzhou, with a surprisingly high number of poisonous and magical beasts mutated, making it quite a headache to deal with. Placing the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Yangzhou was also a way to leverage superior forces to suppress the entire continent, preventing the complete out-of-control situation of its mutated creatures. The spacious interior of the airship, unlike a cramped passenger plane, included guest rooms, a cinema, restaurants, and even a swimming pool. Even the cheapest single seat was spacious enough to comfortably lie down in. Chen Fei booked a small single room for himself; since the Global United Defense Committee was reimbursing, there was no need to be frugal. Xiao Jiu didn''t need to be checked in as a pet and could accompany him. The security personnel, seeing it was a Pure Light Sparrow and that all quarantine and other required documents were complete, let it pass without further scrutiny. After a lengthy twenty-hour flight from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, crossing the equator and the Pacific, the airship finally arrived on the Yangzhou Continent. Before the airship landed, the cabin crew distributed a booklet to every passenger. It not only introduced the Yangzhou Continent but also provided essential survival tips to avoid losing lives carelessly in this land. "Selling radiation index meters, 100 Star Yuan each." "Radiation test paper, 240 sheets for 10 Star Yuan!" "Disposable light radiation protective clothing, only 20 Star Yuan." "Heat-clearing radiation-resistant tea bags, 10 Star Yuan a pack." "Special power bank for radiation zones, 20,000 mAh, 150 Star Yuan each, quality guaranteed, one-year global warranty." "Watchdog geese, 100 Star Yuan a pair, the most alert sentinels at night." "Mutant repellent, one can for 50 Star Yuan, latest product, three cans for 120 Star Yuan." ... The airship to Habulav wouldn''t leave for another 14 hours, so Chen Fei planned to find a hotel near the airport to settle in, grab a meal, and then adjust to the time difference, but just as he exited the arrival hall, he was bombarded by the frenzied enthusiasm of the Yangzhou locals. Sounds of various hawkers filled his ears, buzzing and bustling about, hardly different from a marketplace. Chapter 338 338: Section 336 - Training Hall For nearly half a century, mutants have wreaked havoc upon the Ocean Continent. However, the locals quickly adapted, living off the mountains and rivers, radiation, and eating mutants. The Ocean Continent possesses the world''s largest Radiation Wine Cellar, offering uniquely flavored wines aged through nuclear processes. The people here indeed consume mutants¡ªof course, only those that have passed safety tests and are edible, and they even taste quite good. Naturally occurring radiation is ubiquitous, and as long as it''s within the safety threshold, it won''t significantly affect human health. However, one must be wary of unscrupulous merchants who sell cheap, highly radioactive mutant ingredients, putting people at risk¡ªa scenario akin to eating pufferfish happens almost every year. "No need! Sorry, excuse me, I''m a local, I''m heading home." Chen Fei, dragging his luggage and pet shipping box and accompanied by Little Bird, broke through the crowd of salespeople, hailed an autonomous taxi, and headed to a hotel where he had reserved a room. He was an old hand at this; as soon as he claimed to be a local, the salespeople immediately backed off, as Chen Fei looked like a college student returning home rather than a tourist or businessperson who hadn''t done their homework. On the airship, Chen Fei had already booked a batch of survival necessities and equipment essential for the Ocean Continent; all branded goods, quality assured. He reckoned they should have been delivered to his hotel room by now, waiting to be unpacked and checked. ... Habulav was located in the central hinterlands of the Ocean Continent, surrounded by mutants, with danger lurking at every turn. As the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, there weren''t many regular flights, just a daily one-time passenger and cargo transport airship service. Since most passengers were either employees of the Committee or related personnel, and the airships operated as official vessels, there was no fare. Ordinary people wouldn''t be tempted by the free ride to such a dangerous place, where a moment''s carelessness could cost one''s life. The transport airship carrying Chen Fei had barely landed when the specially ordered radiation detector spiked slightly, showing an increase of a dozen units. Though the ambient radiation levels still lay within the safety threshold, the presence of radiation was unmistakably abnormal; this was Habulav, a place once heavily struck by nuclear attacks. This was no pleasant location: a high wall encircled the entire Habulav, bristling with automatic fire platforms, both anti-air and ground weapons. Beyond the wall lay a vast minefield, with both ground and aerial surveillance systems operating 24 hours, and the frequency of air patrols far exceeded that of any Aircrew Base. Almost always, a Combat Flight Squadron would be in the air. To some extent, Habulav was not only the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee but also the largest Aircrew Base on Blue Star, comparable to top-tier military facilities of sovereign states¡ªit was essentially a massive military camp. Chen Fei understood this. The region around Habulav was far more dangerous than other Aircrew Bases; en route alone, the transport airship had encountered two attacks from Mutant Flying Species. Fortunately, the airship was not unarmed and released several missiles, promptly shooting down those foolhardy mutants from the sky. Riding in a shuttle, Chen Fei quickly reached his destination for registration. Located on the 48th floor of a hundred-story skyscraper in Habulav''s A2 zone, he knew he was in the right place as soon as the elevator doors opened and he saw the newly made brushed stainless-steel sign, "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division", and the directional signs; it seemed the entire floor was theirs. As he exited the elevator, he was met with the new brushed stainless-steel doorplate of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division", likely indicating the whole floor along with directional signs. This "bear" was probably a "Water Bear". Chen Fei had arrived early, and the registration area seemed to have been set up recently, with a few details still somewhat disorganized. "I am Chen Fei!" No sooner had he introduced himself than the blond elder sister at the registration threw a card at him. "Take this card to the training facility in C4 zone for testing. If you don''t pass, return the card and leave within 24 hours. Got it?" Surely straightforward and direct... Indeed, Habulav, rife with mutants in the surrounding wilderness, was not a place for ordinary people. Here, the density of Ability Users is intimidatingly high, Special Abilities are common as dogs, Mages are everywhere, and War Professionals can be found at every turn. Both quantity and quality ensured the security of Habulav. If the bastion of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were breached by mutants, it would be a colossal joke. Rumor has it that not only are S-rank supernatural power users stationed in Habulav, but also Heavenly Sovereigns, offering more than just double insurance. Even if mutants evolved into Divine Beasts, it wouldn''t help them. Chen Fei asked in puzzlement, "What if I pass?" "This card will serve as your work card, access card, and payment card. You''ll then get a dormitory room number, one room per person. Uniforms and supplies will be prepared in the dormitory. Any other questions?" The young lady at registration spoke like a machine gun, catching Chen Fei off guard. Her succinct explanation left little room for discussion, leaving one at a loss for words. "Ah sheesh... excuse me, is this where I register?" Just then, a soft feminine voice sounded from behind Chen Fei, suggesting someone easy to push around. Turning around, he saw a young woman, also dragging luggage, dressed in a business suit, whom he seemed to have seen before on the transport airship, looking somewhat familiar, though he had not thought of her as heading to the same destination as him. "Mouri Misono, right? Here''s your card. Follow him to the training facility in C4 zone for testing." The sister at registration tossed another card out without waiting for the woman to introduce herself, having recognized her and calling her name outright, efficiently handling it just as she did with Chen Fei. It seemed that as soon as they boarded the airship, the other party had been aware of their names and purpose, just waiting for them to "walk into the net". As soon as they met, there was no wasted talk, just straightforwardly dispensing cards. Chen Fei and Mouri Misono exchanged glances. "Okay, thank you!" "Aliadogu dei imasu!" Both of them left the room of the registration office. "Hello, I am Mouri Misono, the Deputy Section Chief of the Ground Combat Department of Fuji Security Group from Africa." The young lady confidently extended her hand towards Chen Fei. "Hello, my name is Chen Fei, from Jiu Defense Company." Chen Fei shook hands with her, not knowing how long she would cry if he suddenly slapped her on the ear. Chen Fei silently shook his head, wondering when he had such terrifying thoughts, "Namo Ami Gatling..." Mouri''s little sister''s hand was warm, soft, and boneless, without even a callus, making it hard to believe she held the position of a Deputy Section Chief of Ground Combat. The receptionist looked at Chen Fei with a puzzled expression, seeming somewhat perplexed. "Jiu!" The little bird, having been taught for a while, no longer dazzled onlookers. "Light Burst Flash," although nearly harmless, could provoke extreme negative emotions. "Pure Light Sparrow, what a cute little bird!" Mouri Misono still had her eyes light up, her eyes curving into crescents as she reached out to the little bird. But Xiao Jiu skillfully dodged away, displaying a prideful demeanor that suggested it was to be admired from a distance but not to be trifled with. On normal days, apart from Chen Fei, the number of people who could touch this little guy could be counted on one hand. With just a call from Daddy Chen Fei, it would immediately fly back, even Chef Abel, who adored it the most, would jokingly call it "the little ingrate." "Let''s go! Let''s head to Area C4 first!" Chen Fei was not at all worried about being unable to find the training hall. Detailed maps of the entire Habulav were everywhere. At the airport, he had already snapped a picture on his phone, and besides, he could always ask for directions along the way, he was sure to find it. Upon exiting the building, they hailed an unmanned taxi and went straight to Area C4. In fact, without asking anyone for directions or looking at a map, the taxi automatically delivered them to the seemingly large football stadium that was the C4 training hall. The training hall was the largest building in Area C, from C1 to C9, all had the same exterior. Or perhaps, the entire Area C was the training area. According to Habulav''s functional planning, Area A was the administrative area, Area B the residential area, Area C the training area, Area D the military area, and then there were the confidential and controlled areas, Areas E, F, and G. It seemed as if artificial intelligence AI had locked onto Chen Fei and Mouri Misono. Upon entering Area C4, a guidance system automatically appeared, leading the way to the C4 training hall, where they stored their personal belongings before continuing further into the hall. A massive dome covered the sky without a single pillar, and beneath it, an open area as large as a standard football field was mostly empty except for a tall, burly black man who was already waiting there. Hearing their footsteps, he slowly turned around. "Chen Fei, Mouri Misono, welcome to this place, I am the interviewer, Babylon." His face was emotionless, showing neither happiness nor sorrow, and his eyes remained closed from beginning to end, with no intention of opening them to take a look at the two newcomers. "Hello, Mr. Babylon." Chen Fei slightly bowed out of respect. The adjacent Mouri Misono, however, bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "I am Mouri Misono, I look forward to your guidance." "Introduce your personal abilities and specialties. This is very important, please do not hide anything." The black interviewer Babylon was just like the receptionist sister, straight to the point without any superfluous words. Mouri Misono looked at Chen Fei, who nodded immediately and said, "I am a Grade B Metal Ability User, specializing in copying mechanical products." Grade B supernatural power user? Mouri Misono''s eyes widened, only one level below Grade A, but that was still very impressive. She quickly recovered, bowed again, and said, "I am an Eighth Rank Wind Series Ability User, wielding dual swords, specializing in Unlimited Ripping Slash!" Wow! Now it was Chen Fei''s turn to be surprised. The seemingly delicate young lady who he had wondered how long would cry if slapped was actually an Eighth Rank War Professional. He felt a shiver down his spine and was relieved that he had held back; otherwise, he would''ve surely ended up being pinned down and crying pitifully. - Chapter 339 339: Section 337 - Full Attack The large black interviewer said expressionlessly, "Then what about it?" It/She/He? Chen Fei immediately realized and said, "Xiao Jiu, a third-rank Pure Light Sparrow, who is skilled at lasers!" In front of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, there really wasn''t much to hide. Even hiding it would be useless, as they already knew everything they needed to know. Moreover, considering there are so many big shots on the other side, they wouldn''t care about a nobody like you, so don''t take yourself too seriously. The large black interviewer kept his eyes closed, it was unclear if he was doing it on purpose or was just putting on an act. "Eh?!!!" Mouri Misono''s eyes widened with surprise as she looked over at the small bird on Chen Fei''s shoulder. Everyone knew that a Pure Light Sparrow was at most a weak Magical Beast of the first rank, and now a rare third-rank talented variant had appeared. But then again, reaching such a rank and being able to use lasers didn''t seem all that strange. Wait a minute! Lasers? "Is your Pure Light Sparrow alive?" The Babylonian interviewer asked, voicing the doubts of Mouri Misono. For someone with a B-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power, creating a mechanical bird capable of shooting lasers shouldn''t be too big of a problem. "Of course, it''s alive!" Chen Fei, who had personally hatched and raised the little bird, couldn''t allow any room for doubt. The Babylonian interviewer didn''t ask further, turning his attention to the soft-looking girl next to Chen Fei, and said, "Mouri Misono, you go first. Demonstrate your abilities." She placed her left hand over her right, waved her hand casually, and with a clang, a huge rack of knives crashed to the ground, causing a constant clattering noise. Standing taller than a person, the rack was filled with various knives of different lengths, widths, and thicknesses, with all kinds of standard designs, including a wild tachi as long as four meters. Chen Fei + Mouri Misono: Shocked ¡Á2! Their opponent actually had a rare Spatial Storage Artifact! With a mere gesture, a rack filled with knives appeared, and who knows how many more weapon racks there might be in that storage space, likely more than just the usual eighteen types of weapons. "Hi!" The young lady swiftly approached the rack. After picking and choosing, she selected two straight swords, one short and one long, with the short one in her left and the long one in her right, each performing a flourish. "Are you ready?" The Babylonian interviewer still had his eyes closed, giving off a strange impression. "Hi! Ready!" Mouri Misono immediately posed in a lunge, with the short sword gripped in reverse in front of her and the long sword slanting at her side, its tip pointing to the ground. "Ha!" After a cry, a pale blue flame rose up around her, as much as a foot high. This was the effect of Wind Battle Qi surging and overflowing, like a layer of armor without heavy metal, providing extra defense for the War Professional. Whoosh... A flash of the sword, and she moved with it. In the blink of an eye, Mouri Misono appeared silently ten meters away, her long sword swinging broadly in aggressive slashes, and her short sword striking like a venomous snake, relentless like a river''s flowing stream, one wave after another. Suddenly, there was a sound of tearing silk, and several streaks of Sword Qi cut through the air, howling as they flew ten steps before eventually dissipating into a wild current of air. Emitting Battle Qi was a privilege of high-rank War Professionals, and the real strength of the eighth rank was clearly displayed without any deception. "Hiss!" Chen Fei couldn''t stop inhaling sharply, filled with envy and resentment. Look at them! High-rank War Professionals were just on another level. And then there was himself, with only an unreliable Dog System. He too, wanted to be a War Professional, wielding a sword and releasing a Sword Qi with a simple swing, how cool that would be! But that was just wishful thinking! Anything could happen in a dream! With another light shout, Mouri Misono leapt up nearly seven or eight meters high and swung her merged swords fiercely towards the ground. Visible Sword Qi, more than thirty meters long with an incredibly violent force, slashed downward. Clang!~ The ground shimmered, and glowing patterns radiated outwards. Only then did Chen Fei and Mouri Misono notice that the training facility was equipped with a special Defensive Magic Array capable of dissipating huge impacts and protecting the ground from damage. It was likely the same for other areas too. "Unlimited Ripping Slash!" Mouri Misono''s Battle Qi Flame suddenly surged, and her two blades, one long and one short, moved in a certain trajectory, alternating rapidly. The howling sound in the air grew louder, as streaks of Sword Qi burst forth continuously, whistling towards a corner of the arena. The interviewer Habulav remained calm and snapped his fingers. A huge spherical orb floated over, just one foot off the ground, actively meeting Mouri Misono''s Sword Qi. Instantly, a screen made up of hundreds of palm-sized hexagons appeared around it, and it blocked all the formidable Sword Qi as if it were a Magic Shield or a similar defensive field. Above the orb, a screen projected showing numerous data. Maximum Attack Power Index: 854 Minimum Attack Power Index: 431 Attack Frequency: 13 times/second Penetration Index: 12 Rend Index: 78 Friction Index: 5 Blunt Strike Index: 9 ... Metal Elemental Psychic Power Reaction: 0% Wind Reaction: 78% ... In total, there are over a hundred indices. It was clear that the orb''s main job was to act as a live target, used to calculate resistance to attacks. Even so, Mouri Misono''s "Unlimited Ripping Slash" had astonishing destructive power. Even armored vehicles couldn''t withstand such an attack for long. "Unlimited" wasn''t truly unlimited, and after continuing for a minute, the relentless Sword Qi finally came to an abrupt halt. Mouri Misono''s Battle Qi Flame receded as quickly as a tide, her little face flushed red, drenched in sweat and gasping for air, she said breathlessly, "I can''t, no more!" Maintaining full power output for such a long time also placed a great strain on her. Five meters away, the large spherical orb that bore the brunt of Mouri Misono''s attack remained unscathed, not even shaking, and casually withstood all the assaults. Interviewer Habulav made no comment on Mouri Misono''s performance, his attitude still noncommittal. He tossed over a potion bottle and said without any change in his tone, "Drink it, and then next up, Chen Fei!""Me? Uh, excuse me, how should I demonstrate, I''m a pilot!" Chen pointed at himself. There was no point in mentioning that he was also a mechanic; surely the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wasn''t in need of highly skilled mechanics, and he was just a beginner after all. "Huh?!" Mouri Misono involuntarily widened her eyes and looked towards Chen. She never expected that he would be a pilot. Was she supposed to bring out a fighter jet or something? In fact... Interviewer Habulav''s arsenal did not crazily include a fighter jet. The world was still somewhat normal and had not gone too far out of bounds. "Use your Special Ability to launch the strongest attack!" Interviewer Habulav had no intention of letting Chen Fei put on an ostentatious display of ascending on the spot in the training hall; he didn''t even provide a blade. "The strongest attack? What if I break it?" Chen scratched his head; such advanced tech, he definitely could not afford to compensate. What if the other party was fishing for faults, and he''d be stepping right into a trap! "Break it? Hah!" Habulav laughed suddenly, as if he had heard a funny joke. Such a high threshold for humor yet he conveyed this change in emotion which was rare to see. His eerie grin came quickly and disappeared just as fast as Habulav continued, "The target mechanical beings and this facility, even if you leveled them, you wouldn''t owe a thing!" The training hall was built to withstand the strikes of forbidden curses and tactical nuclear weapons; it wasn''t going to be easily destroyed. The several training halls in Zone C were also the public shelters of Habulav, so being solid and sturdy was the most basic requirement. "No compensation? Then great, that''s relieving!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief and threw Little Bird into the air. Assault-Type "Dragon King" Single Soldier Tactical Armor as the prime body + "Personal Armor Basic Body Level 3|Adaptive Armor Mode" + "Level 2 Composite Armor Layer" "Level 1 Armor Plugin Module||Plugin Slots: 2" Loading Laser Cannon! Loading Railgun! Creating Osmium Tungsten Manganese Spiral Cone Projectile. Energy Points -1! The ferocious heavy armor layered up, becoming thicker and larger, making Chen appear almost like a giant, nearly the size of the three-meter diameter target mechanical being, with a four-meter-long, sharply angular barrel resting on his left shoulder. On top was a laser cannon made of mirror plates, casting a thin beam of light directly at the target mechanical being. Below was a railgun composed of two rails encompassing a solid metal projectile as thick as an adult''s calf. Under the drive of an electromagnetic field, the projectile began spinning rapidly along its axial ends, quickly exceeding ten thousand revolutions per minute. Super Capacitor fully charged! - Chapter 340 340: Section 338 - Passed the Interview "What?" Humanoid Mobile Armor? The young sister Mouri Misono, still recovering her strength, cocked her head, a look of disbelief on her face. This is just too much of a violation! "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu perched on the upper half of the laser cannon, its small pointed beak gathering a terrifying fluctuation. The laser cannon and railgun fired simultaneously. The former was 0.01 seconds faster than the latter, with the directed energy strike followed closely by a physical entity hit, a dual magic and martial arts attack. Xiao Jiu''s laser and Chen Fei''s laser cannon beams underwent an incredible transformation, intertwining and shooting directly forward. Boom!~ A thunderclap arose from silence! The mechanical being that hadn''t budged an inch under the continuous battering of the "Unlimited Ripping Slash" war technique was sent flying, its round spherical body losing half its mass, with various parts and circuits fully exposed, rolling away far in the distance, leaving a trail of sparks and flashes of lightning. Clang!~~~~~ Clang!~~~~~ Clang, clang, clang, clang!~~~~~ The pile of scrap metal finally came to a stop over a hundred meters away. Done for! It''s completely done this time! Inside the training hall, whether it was the floor or the walls, everywhere covered by the magic array lit up, continuously bearing the brunt of the attack at full capacity. A round new skylight appeared on the wall of the training hall, with cracks spreading over ten meters, and the local magic array also suffered catastrophic damage, causing the defense of the entire training hall to drop a level instantly. No clue where the shell flew off to ... Oh boy, this is the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "It''s a one-hit kill!!!" Mouri Misono screamed in shock, her eyes wide open. Her trump card war technique was laughable in comparison to such destructive power. The giant-like armor quickly shrank, and after a complex series of combinations and decompositions, it revealed Chen Fei once again. No matter the attack power, first wrapping oneself into a humanoid fortress was definitely a correct tactical move. This was the strongest attack he''d carefully selected and optimized from the skill list, and if even this didn''t earn recognition, then there was nothing more to say. He''d just pack up and leave, as there were other places that would welcome him. "So Mr. Babylon, no compensation needed, right?" Chen Fei cunningly activated the "microphone" early on as evidence. If he couldn''t get money out of it, it would cost them their life. Thank heavens he managed to collect the three-piece audio set. Now it could really come in handy. Still with his eyes closed, as if he could "see" the masterpiece strike by Chen Fei, the interviewer from Babylon stayed silent for a while before speaking up again. "Worthy of being the Metal Elemental Psychic Power most suited for industry and combat. This battle mobility armor, inspired by the ''Dragon King'' single soldier tactical armor, is a fusion of both. The imagination is quite impressive. Such destructive power is unexpected. All damages inside the training hall will be covered by the committee''s public funds. You don''t need to worry." Rarely, the tall dark figure who practiced blind meditation added a few more words. Construction and destruction were two extremes, with the Metal Ability System filled with contradictions, similar to the scarce Light, Dark, Spirit, and Space series. "That''s a relief!" Chen Fei heaved a long sigh of relief, glad that he wasn''t wrongfully accused and had dodged a bullet. Once bitten, twice shy. The pitfall Chen Meng had fallen into served as a reminder for everyone in the Chen family, so much so that Chen Fei was most fearful of being blamed unfairly; if someone dared to falsely accuse him, he wouldn''t hesitate to turn against them. "Is this the capability of a Metal Ability User? Too impressive, I envy you so much!" Slurp! Drool of shame trickled down the corner of her mouth, and the young sister''s eyes were full of stars. Now it was Mouri Misono''s turn to experience envy and jealousy. Speaking of Superpower Levels, B-grade wasn''t low at all, and with the awakening probability of one in three million, smaller cities couldn''t even afford to support a B-grade supernatural power user. "The Pure Light Sparrow and your laser cannon caused resonance; it might become a very good Magical Beast." The Babylon interviewer shifted the topic to the bouncing little bird on Chen Fei''s shoulder, giving it an extra moment of attention. Besides the physical entity hit of the railgun''s metal projectile, the power of the directed energy laser beam had increased by more than a notch ¨C it was a synergistic strike that amounted to more than the sum of its parts, 1 + 1 > 2. A Human Order third rank Pure Light Sparrow indeed challenges common sense. "Resonance?" Chen Fei was puzzled, this thing could resonate? "One-hit kill! A high-energy atom transitions to a lower energy level ..." Mouri Misono raised her hand high like a student, excitedly shouting and speaking knowledgeably about her specialty. Regardless, she spoke a lot of professional jargon that Chen Fei didn''t understand but sounded impressive. Different professions, different worlds of understanding. Even Xiao Jiu didn''t understand it. Alright, alright, I get it, you are knowledgeable and well-educated. Can you shut up now? Low energy? Who is she insulting! Want a taste of a big mouth slap? Just as Chen Fei was hesitating about whether to slap this little sister, the Babylon interviewer finally interrupted her professional lecture. "Alright, you''ve both passed, look at the card in your hand." "Ah, I spoke too much!" Mouri Misono finally realized she had said too much and sheepishly stuck out her little tongue. A master''s student in optical engineering, she couldn''t stop herself once she got started on a professional topic. ``` Unlike Chen Fei, he''s dedicated his economics major entirely to paying off debts. Chen Fei and Mouri Misono pulled out the cards they received when they reported in. A row of text emerged on the back of each card, slightly different for each of them. Chen Fei''s read: B23 District - Building 04 - Room 1304. Mouri Misono''s read: B23 District - Building 04 - Room 1319. These were their respective dormitory room numbers. "Yay! Plan succeeded!" Mouri Misono clenched her fist excitedly and stepped forward wanting to high five Chen Fei to celebrate. Chen Fei didn''t bother with her. High five my foot, he had just been thinking about slapping her cheek just moments ago! Who wants to get chummy with you, scram! "Hee hee!" Mouri Misono wasn''t offended and made a funny face at Chen Fei. Damn, it made him want to slap the girl again, Chen Fei kept his face cold. The tall black interviewer Babylon finally said, "Meet here at nine o''clock tomorrow morning! Now, disperse!" With that, he turned and left, clearly not interested in fraternizing with the interviewees either. The little miss Mouri thoughtfully stared at the departing back of the interviewer, puzzled she said, "Mr. Chen, is Mr. Babylon blind? Does he rely on his hearing, or is it spiritual power?" "Who knows? Maybe it''s just for show!" Chen Fei''s voice came from a distance as he too had walked off. After all, the place was a wreck; if not now, when? The one-eyed Boss Hana wasn''t actually a Cyclops. The eyepatch was merely to cover the "Eye of the Storm," which has differing iris colors. Some day he''ll practice blindfolded Zen too, after all, biological tissues contain metal components. With just a bit of sensing, he would be able to tell them apart. "Hey hey! Wait for me, Mr. Chen!" Mouri Misono scurried after him. ... Who knew what the situation in little sister Mouri''s Room 1319 would be like. After Chen Fei used his card to open Room 1304, he peeked inside, closed the door and opened it again to make sure there was no issue with his method. 175 square meters, four bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, three bathrooms, plus two balconies, one large and one small. For one person! It was far too spacious, not at all like a dormitory. Not just Chen Fei alone, even the entire Chen Family could move in and it would still be enough. Such extravagance... No! Actually, it wasn''t. In this godforsaken place, Habulav, the land wasn''t worth much, and the buildings were worth even less. Despite the decent interior and exterior decor ready for immediate move-in, it was just the price of a rural house in a seventh or eighth tier town, if not lower. The workers here could buy a suite of this kind with just one month''s salary. In fact, no one would buy multiple suites in such a place, there was no market for house flipping. It sufficed to have just enough space to live, why buy more? The fridge''s chilled section contained some fruits, milk, and drinks, while the freezer was stuffed with various meats and frozen foods. The spacious kitchen held a complete collection of soy sauce, salt, vinegar, sugar, pots, and pans¡ªall brand new. The closet was filled with uniforms that fit well. Besides underwear and socks, there were daily wear, training clothes, and light protective gear. He didn''t even need to bring a suitcase. Chen Fei also found a large box of bird food and a pot of live mealworms. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had even taken Xiao Jiu into consideration, a testament to their meticulousness. "Jiu!" Little Bird immediately dove into the mealworm feeding dish, starting a massacre, joyfully pecking away one by one. Ding-dong! He had just taken a shower and changed into fresh daily wear. The doorbell rang. The AI''s voice sounded in the room. "Mr. Chen Fei, there is one person at the door, Mr. Adrian Benjamin." Chen Fei walked to the door and pulled it open. "Mr. Benjamin, hello!" A white man with a cropped haircut stood at the door. "Welcome, Mr. Chen Fei. Some of us who arrived earlier have organized a welcome party. I was wondering if you would be available to join us." Although smart AIs could help shorten social distances, some things still required a personal touch, like extending a face-to-face invitation to a party, because AIs don''t understand politeness and social etiquette. "Of course, thank you!" Chen Fei was also keen on meeting the others from the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division." "Half-past six in the evening, fifth floor, Tiberia!" Adrian Benjamin nodded and left the doorway, probably to go ring Mouri Misono''s doorbell. - ``` Chapter 341 341: Section 339 - Practice Begins As a residential area, the apartment buildings in Zone B were extremely tall, with at least ten suites on each floor. The solid and robust construction of the building itself was a type of defensive design, and the spacious rooftop could even serve as a platform for weaponry, effective for both anti-air and ground combat. After all, in a place like Habulav, surrounded by various terrifying mutants, ground transportation was almost cut off, so some precautions were necessary. From the first to the seventh floor were communal floors that housed amenities such as gyms, mini supermarkets, and libraries. The fifth floor was the activity area, with several multifunctional halls of varying sizes, suitable for meetings, interactive games, and parties. When Chen Fei and Mouri Misono came to the Tiberia Hall on the fifth floor, six or seven people were already there, including Adrian Benjamin, the white-haired man who had personally invited them. Before coming down, both had their communication numbers dragged into a work communication group, which corresponded in number to the people currently present. The inviter, the white-haired Adrian Benjamin, was also the organizer of this party and was a First-Rank fire mage. Then there was the enchanting Gallic Lady, Susanna Jean Piault, passionate as fire yet a genuine Ice Ability User, B-rating! Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth-Rank Earth Mage. A-level Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joshua. Another tall, dark guy, Apu, a Second-Rank Thunder Series Warrior. Walter Sam, a Seventh-Rank Holy Knight; his cherished mount Mini was also in the Tiberia Hall, a Second-Rank Wind Beast named Blue Scaled Colt, chewing on a bowl of mixed-grain cookies noisily without looking up. Surprisingly, there was also a beast, an Eighth-Rank Wood System Tree Boundary Ape, Lulu''an. "Welcome! B-Rank Metal Ability User, Chen Fei, you did a great job this afternoon by punching a hole in the training gym of Zone C, and also your Pure Light Sparrow little friend, Xiao Jiu, capable of emitting lasers, that''s a first for me." Adrian Benjamin, the party organizer, greeted Chen Fei warmly as soon as he saw him and upon seeing Mouri''s Little Sister who had arrived behind him at the Tiberia Hall, he continued to call out loudly, "And this lady, dual-sword Valkyrie Mouri Misono, you''re just too adorable!" "Jiu!~" Xiao Jiu couldn''t hold back, catching everyone''s eye. "Hui Rurururu..." The spooked Blue Scaled Colt jumped, nearly toppling the large bowl in front of it, issuing a dissatisfied snort. "Hehe, Mini, it''s okay, it''s all right!" As a fellow Light Series entity, though a Warrior, Holy Knight Walter Sam had substantial resistance against the Second-Order Light-based Spell "Light Burst Flash" that took everyone by surprise, he blinked, quickly recovered, and hurried to soothe his mount. "Sorry, sorry! The little guy got a bit excited!" One''s own kid, what else can you say? Chen Fei had no choice but to take that blame. "Jiu!" The little bird was indeed very lively; it thrived on excitement. "Goodness, that surprise was really unexpected." Party organizer Adrian was rubbing his eyes, being the closest, he was struck solidly by the flash, and it took him a long while to recover his vision. He wasn''t really angry, recognizing that if he could be caught off guard, so could the mutants. The stronger and more useful the companions'' abilities, the better, suggesting that the little Pure Light Sparrow could also be quite useful! Being a beast as well, the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an said quite indulgently, "What a mischievous little fellow!" Young magical beasts were almost always this naughty and troublesome, whether it was the Tree Boundary Ape or any other beast, even wild beasts, it was no surprise to him. "A superb flashlight, isn''t it?" "You''re right about that!" "Next time I take pictures, I''ll use it!" The fellow Ability Users were also quite magnanimous, no point in getting mad at a tiny thing the size of a fist. "Xiao Jiu is truly amazing!" Standing behind Chen Fei, Mouri Misono narrowly missed being affected due to her position, with minimal impact, her face lit up with admiration. Her hometown had a fondness for black-feathered birds, and if only it could croon a few times, that would be perfect! The party wasn''t just to welcome the new members Chen Fei and Mouri Misono; it was also to close the gap between members and was a process of enhancing mutual understanding, thus smoothly starting the internal integration of the team. - Early the next morning. Chen Fei, dressed in his training uniform, returned to Zone C with Xiao Jiu. The training gym, which had a hole poked through its roof yesterday, was newly repaired and showed no signs of the previous damage. Ten large spheres, floating a foot off the ground, lined up in a row, and eight more were involved in one-on-one sparring sessions with the Ability Users from last night''s party. The three-meter diameter target mechanical beings, powered by high-grade Crystal Energy, whether in terms of their armored outer shell, defensive force field, or magic array, were all exceptionally tough. It was only under full-powered joint strikes of Chen Fei''s railgun and laser cannon that they could be destroyed under normal circumstances, a feat difficult for Second-Rank and A-Rank Ability Users. Hence, these Ability Users sparred with full force unfettered, filling the arena with a bustling me?lange of sounds. "Chen Fei, you''re the last one!" Examiner Babylon came up behind Chen Fei. With the end of the evaluation, the role of the examiner seemed to have shifted back to that of an instructor. "It''s only 8:50!" Chen Fei glanced at his wristband, he was at least ten minutes early! "You''re the last one!" The interviewer emphasized again with his eyes closed, as if being the last one to arrive was also a sin, even though he was not late. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "So, what should I do?" Babylon replied, "Do what you''re best at." "Okay! Sovereign economic structure..." Chen Fei nodded, pulled out his cellphone, and started to review. "What are you doing?" Babylon''s mouth twitched. Couldn''t he understand human speech? Chen Fei''s action had completely taken him by surprise. "The thing I''m best at is conducting economic studies. This is a good opportunity to take my entrance exam!" Chen Fei''s biggest obsession wasn''t devastation, dominion, or clearing the debts that almost took his life, but rather the persistent thought of applying for graduate studies. If it hadn''t been for his younger sister Chen Meng suddenly creating such a mess at home, he might have already been a graduate student, changing his fate through study and living a peaceful life in the economic sector¡ªwasn''t that appealing? The academically talented Chen Fei was definitely not one for constant fighting; he simply wished to read in peace. "...Your best skill is this?" Babylon suddenly sighed. He recalled Chen Fei''s personal file, and it seemed right¡ªhe had almost been about to apply for his exam indeed! Who could have guessed that a college undergraduate prepared to elevate his academic pursuits would suddenly wind up working at an aircrew base located in the wilderness, unexpectedly awaken a Metal Elemental Psychic Power, become not only an excellent mechanic but also a top-notch combat pilot? This deviation in life''s path could only be called the irony of fate. "Yes, that''s right!" Chen Fei reluctantly set down his phone, having just picked out his study material, ready to place an order. Babylon, with a bit of a headache, said, "You''re now part of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, and you need to learn survival and combat skills!" "What?!" Chen Fei looked down at his phone¡ªhis head didn''t hurt, but his heart ached. He wanted to study! Learning made him happy. "You have two tasks¡ªfirst, learn martial arts, and second, become an attack core." Babylon had to emphasize these points to Chen Fei, who knew nothing of them. Fellow student, mark this as important for the exam! "Okay!" Chen Fei could only comply and temporarily abandon the thought of continuing his studies. "There''s a teacher very suitable for you, but he is still on his way. I''ll find someone temporarily to teach you for now." Babylon turned his head, looking towards the Holy Knight who was charging at a mechanical being on a Blue Scaled Colt, the Light Flame enveloping both rider and steed, highly conspicuous within the arena. Tat-tat-tat-tat... The sound of hooves like a rainstorm fluttered unstably, the speed incredibly fast, like a lively shadow repeatedly striking the three-meter diameter large sphere, with attack frequency and power index continuously refreshing. "Walter, come over here." Babylon''s voice wasn''t loud, but it rang clearly next to the Holy Knight''s ear. "Hello! Mr. Babylon, what can I do for you?" A gust of wind blew past as the spirited Blue Scaled Colt carried Walter Sam to the side of Babylon and Chen Fei. The steed''s hooves continuously drummed the ground, clearly still eager, because as a Second Rank Wind Beast, in terms of speed and endurance, it was incomparable to ordinary horses, and it complemented the riding skills of Holy Knight Walter Sam almost perfectly. Babylon said, "The very suitable person to teach Chen Fei is still on the road. In the meantime, you will teach him martial arts." "Teach martial arts? Him?" Walter Sam looked surprised at Babylon and then toward the utterly perplexed Chen Fei. How could it be that an ability user selected into the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division didn''t even know martial arts? Could he be a connected individual planted to earn his stripes? But that didn''t seem right either! If one were looking to earn stripes, naturally there were plenty of good, safe positions that could also be truly golden¡ªthere would be no need to confront the dangerous "Water Bear" organization directly. "That''s right, Chen Fei''s abilities are all in long-range attacks!" Babylon laid bare the truth about Chen Fei''s expertise¡ªadept at long-range, poor at close combat. "Hmm, that makes sense!" Basic information about colleagues was open to each other, and Walter Sam recalled some, then slowly nodded his head. He then looked at Chen Fei, asking, "Have you practiced any martial arts?" Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Uh, does military boxing count?" Every academic year at the start of school, there was always at least half a month spent on military training, with many subjects trained including operation of light and heavy weapons, personal combat, and in the case of some particularly wild universities, even training on ships and aircraft. God damn military boxing... Holy Knight almost didn''t topple off his mount. - Chapter 342 342: Section 340 - Martial Arts Practice "Just this?" Holy Knight Walter Sam was utterly bewildered. I''m a genuine knight, and you''re telling me about military boxing? "This is all I know!" Chen Fei spread his hands. Babylon and Walter both twitched simultaneously. Although Chen Fei was surrounded by mutants, swinging his White Steel Crowbar to send brains and skull fragments flying, if you really talked about martial arts skills or such, he truly had none! Nothing else but practice makes perfect! Tough as nails, immense strength, and swift speed ¨C anyone could forcefully train to develop such a wildly imaginative technique, it was all about diligent practice! Driving the crowbar into a head and prying it fiercely, hiss... This kind of feeling was truly addictive! "Alright then!" Walter Sam dismounted, patted his beloved steed''s neck, and said, "Mini, go for a run on your own!" As a knight, he naturally understood his mount''s mood at this moment ¨C it was far from done sprinting, the Blue Scaled Colt was still excited! "Hui lulu!" The Second Rank Human Order Magical Beast, the Blue Scaled Colt, tossed its neck and trotted off, clippety-clop progressing from a jog to a frenzied run around the entire venue. "Chen Fei, we will start from scratch, no Special Abilities, no Battle Qi, no Magic, just pure skills, pure physical quality. Come on, try hitting me," said Walter Sam, immediately slipping into the state of a martial arts instructor, beckoning Chen Fei with a wave. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "My punches will be very heavy! Is that okay?" He released Little Bird into the sky. The Pure Light Sparrow circled in midair and landed on a large spherical object, curiously pecking at it with its head. "Maximum attack index: 0 Minimum attack index: 0 Attack frequency: 1 time/second Penetration index: 0 Rend index: 0 Friction index: 0 Blunt force index: 0..." This was the Pure Light Sparrow! The little guy couldn''t even hurt someone with its pecks, physical attack zero! "Of course, I know Metallic and Earth Element are very sturdy. Come on!" Walter Sam beckoned Chen Fei again, but the next second, Chen Fei had vanished from his sight. So fast! The Holy Knight spun around quickly. Bang!~ "Goodness! Indeed very tough!" He stepped back and shook his hand, nearly activating his Battle Qi instinctively. Chen Fei, however, took four steps back and gasped in astonishment, "Battle Qi?" Smashing his fist into the other''s palm felt bizarre, like punching a tough rubber block with a faint rebound force, numbing his fist with a tingling sensation of weakness. "No! It hasn''t reached that degree yet!" Holy Knight Walter Sam shook his head. They had agreed to spar purely on physical strength, so naturally, he wouldn''t go back on his word and use Battle Qi. "If only I had Battle Qi too!" Chen Fei drooled with envy. "You already possess Special Abilities, don''t bite off more than you can chew. Come on! Continue, let me see just how much you weigh," Walter Sam said, adopting a barehanded combat stance, ready for action. To be selected for the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division meant there were no ordinary people, and even without using abilities, he didn''t underestimate Chen Fei. If it was just about testing punch strength, attack pace, and speed, the round and plump target Mechanical Beings would suffice. But to act as a temporary instructor and to assess Chen Fei''s fundamental qualities, they still needed to spar for a proper evaluation; they couldn''t rely solely on quantitative data. Quantitative data certainly had its advantages and conveniences, but its drawbacks were also evident, often underestimating the actual situation. After all, living beings had potential and could sometimes burst forth with unbelievable miracles. The margin of error might exceed the range of a Mechanical Being''s assessments. Such discrepancies in real combat were beyond imagination; if taken seriously, that could truly lead to a loss. "Here I come!" Before Chen Fei''s words had even finished, he had already appeared again in front of Holy Knight Walter Sam, slapping over a palm. Turtle Fist First Move: Take a Big Slap! Smack!~ With his abundant combat experience, the Holy Knight dodged to the side, attempting to deflect but to no avail. At that moment, "Turtle Fist Second Move: A Flying Kick to the Groin" greeted him. What kind of moves and techniques can you expect from someone who never properly learned real combat martial arts?! "Stable lower body, have you practiced?" Whether riding on horseback or fighting on foot, even empty-handed, Walter Sam kept his cool under the fierce onslaught of Chen Fei''s "Turtle Fist." "Does horse stance count? Also several breathing techniques." Chen Fei kept a tight watch on his opponent, attacking with full force and sticking close like a shadow. Walter slipped away like an oil-soaked mudscale, always skirting the edge of Chen Fei''s reach; Chen had hoped to at least brush against him for some psychological relief but always missed by a whisker. As if taking a leisurely stroll, the Holy Knight asked, "Is that all you''ve got?" Turtle Fist Third Move: The Buff Bull''s Reckless Charge! Chen Fei, who had nearly tripped, replied irritably, "That''s it!" He had just started learning when his old man died, leaving him with nothing but the Secret Technique and no other training. In novels, you read how all martial arts cannot defeat sheer speed and that overwhelming strength can overpower any technique. But in the face of absolute power, all skills are illusory. Now he saw it was all bullshit; despite all his effort, Chen couldn''t even touch the edge of his opponent''s armor, and he could clearly feel that his own Physical Energy was depleting faster than his opponent''s. Over time, he would wear himself out without even making a dent in his adversary. "Alright, let''s stop here for now!" Walter Sam moved away to a distance of over a dozen steps in a flash. He already had a measure of Chen Fei''s capabilities: raw strength and speed, excellent resilience and endurance, but the experience equaled zero¡ªa classic rookie. No wonder his code name was "Rookie." The name couldn''t have been more fitting. Indiscriminate flailing might knock out an ordinary person or even accidentally kill a master, but it''s useless against a true expert. "Huh? Not bad, I guess!" Sweat was beginning to show on Chen Fei''s forehead. Unleashing a series of Turtle Fist moves wore him out more than taking down ten mutant bosses. "The basics are okay; let''s start with routines!" Holy Knight Walter Sam had a plan in mind. At least Chen wasn''t starting from scratch; he was someone teachable. Otherwise, it would have taken a huge amount of time, effort, and resources to gradually strengthen his body till he met the bare minimum requirements for entry-level training. Chen Fei curiously asked, "Can I activate Battle Qi?" In the blink of an eye, his Physical Energy had swiftly recovered, astonishing Walter Sam. "You''re thinking too much. Babylon means for you to learn some lifesaving skills, so in an emergency, you won''t drag down the entire team." Walter Sam was clear on this. Chen''s Metallic abilities had an unimaginable attack power, making him lethal against those tough-skinned, heavily-defended mutants. Under the team''s cover, aiming for a one-hit kill on difficult targets was a great tactic. Listening, Chen Fei thought that this was just like the ground training for pilots but an enhanced version. "So... let''s start!" "There aren''t many routines, the key is to apply them flexibly, not to be shackled by them. We''ll start with boxing and if time allows, we can include weapons." Holy Knight Walter Sam demonstrated a series of boxing techniques, sparing no details with Chen Fei. Martial Arts, such a basic entry-level skill, didn''t need to be hoarded; they were aplenty on the internet. The thing was, everyone chose differently. With professional guidance, one could avoid many detours. "... Left Hook, Right Hook, Skyrocket Cannon... Cross Hold... Mountain-Leaning Skill..." Walter Sam taught Chen Fei each routine and their follow-up moves in detail, truly practicing the routines without sticking rigidly to them. With all the basics¡ªstrength, speed, reaction, and endurance¡ªcovered, all Chen Fei was lacking was experience. The best way to accumulate combat experience in the shortest time was simple: take a beating! After teaching over a hundred routines, the Holy Knight started grueling sparring sessions with Chen Fei, and not just him; other people in the gym joined in the skirmishes. There wasn''t a single mediocre fighter on the scene; all were excellent sparring partners, which resulted in... Chen Fei getting thrashed. Don''t underestimate the spellcasters among them; their close-combat skills were equally formidable. Who says that mages are like lambs to the slaughter once an enemy gets close? First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin was particularly skilled at wrestling, and he also carried a revolver, ready to catch anyone by surprise who underestimated him because of his white crew-cut. Second Rank Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai also had a mean back of his hand, wielding a shiny, two-foot-long crowbar that sliced heads as easily as watermelons. Like Chen Fei, those selected for the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division through interviews were no simple characters. - Chapter 343 343: Section 341 - The New Teacher ``` Ding ding ding ding... Sparks flew from Chen Fei''s head as he felt utterly despondent, choosing to simply lie down and give up. It was supposed to be that others were his sparring partners, yet in the end, he became someone else''s. Had someone gotten the script wrong?! Or had he wandered into the wrong training hall? The "Unlimited Ripping Slash" of Mauri Little Sister''s dual short and long blades rained down on him in a storm. This time she didn''t use Battle Qi, instead striking continuously with just the blades themselves. Her sword technique was exhilarating, bringing a sense of extreme satisfaction as she let out a series of shrill cries. Due to the diversity of supernatural powers, there are still many differences in abilities even among Metal Ability Users like Chen Fei. The "True Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt" which rendered him immune to blade strikes was relatively rare. He could easily withstand even light weapons, so ordinary blades were, even more, an object of indifference to him. "Ya ya ya ya ya ya..." Not a single hair on Chen Fei''s head was harmed, though his head did hurt a bit. He really felt like slapping her. This time he truly could have, but... he couldn''t reach her! Wind-Type Battle Profession Users were naturally agile and swift, able to advance and retreat like the wind. Moreover, being at the Eighth Rank, she was too slippery. Chen Fei could run all over the field and still not catch her. - Habulav, the tall man dedicated to the practice of closed-eye zen, had conducted interviews with about a dozen Ability Users who had come to report. Nearly a third were rejected on the spot. Those who didn''t pass the interview had no choice but to leave Habulav on the next airship, returning from whence they came. Military contractors may have only a few treasures among the vast seas, but not all could be captured in one fell swoop. The Ability Users who were successful in staying had guessed some of the interview criteria. Lone Rangers with only one ability definitely couldn''t pass; the key to passing lied in being able to combine one''s abilities with those of others. Chen Fei''s ability was quite unique, but he was kept because his attack power was exceptionally sharp. Of course, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu scored him a lot of extra points; she could attack, defend, and heal, even acting as a makeshift mechanic bird on the occasion, possessing a craft for laser welding inherited from her family. Having such a multi-purpose Little Bird around, they naturally wouldn''t begrudge a couple of bags of feed. Chen Fei endured a whole afternoon of heavy pounding until Habulav, the big, dark fellow, brought over a man clanking in Armor Pieces, looking for him. "Joshua, Chen Fei, I need some of your time." The voice of Habulav brought the beatdown by the seven or eight Constructed Puppet Armored Warriors to an abrupt halt. Joshua, an A-grade Psychic Ability User, lowered the finger he had pointed at his forehead. The Constructed Puppet Armored Warriors uniformly stepped back to one side, standing tall and straight in a line, their eerie red eyes quickly dimming. "Habulav, another newbie''s arrived!" "Yes! Someone truly suitable to instruct Chen Fei." Habulav nodded his head. "Who is this?" Chen Fei, who had been taking hits, stood up, twisted his neck, and started limbering up his limbs. The "True Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt" wasn''t just for show. Despite the saturated beating, they hadn''t managed to harm him at all. Aside from appearing a bit disheveled, he was completely unharmed. Moreover, the quality of the training suit issued to him was surprisingly sturdy, even able to resist edged weapon cuts. After several days, it still didn''t have a single tear and remained as neat as new. No matter how dirty it got, a rinse with water cleaned it right up, suggesting it was made of special materials. Chen Fei''s gaze fell upon the person who came with the big, dark fellow, Habulav. An indescribable sharpness emanated from him, like a ready blade poised to cut through anything. In a calm tone, Habulav introduced, "Chen Fei, this is your new mentor, Mr. Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User." A-grade Ability Users, just below the strategic-level S-grade pillars of nations, typically only obeyed sovereign administrative orders. Very few A-grade Ability Users scattered among the public. As supported by the sovereignties of the world, the Global United Defense Committee could effortlessly mobilize so many A-grade and higher Ability Users, even including High-Rank Magical Beasts that settled on Blue Star. For private enterprises or organizations, such a feat was absolutely impossible. "A B-grade Metal Ability User!" The dark-haired man in armor examined Chen Fei thoroughly, evidently already informed somewhat about him. "Yes!" Chen Fei assessed the man in return. "Try this, follow me." The A-grade Metal Ability User tore off a piece of his armor, tossing it to Chen Fei with a casual flick. "?" Chen Fei hurriedly caught it, but it felt surprisingly heavy in his hands, prompting surprise. Although just the size of a fist, it felt incredibly heavy, perhaps weighing around a hundred pounds. The piece of armor that Kiterley had lost from his suit swiftly regrew like a sprouting seed, quickly replacing the missing part seamlessly, as though it had never been torn off. Wow, chives! Chen Fei thought to himself. Hum...~~~ A broad sword five feet in length appeared in the right hand of Kiterley, the A-grade Metal Ability User, emitting a sonorous hum. He looked at Chen Fei and instructed, "Do the same!" "Oh! All right, sure!" The small piece of armor in Chen Fei''s hand rapidly transformed, taking the shape of a broad sword similar in size to that in his mentor''s hand. Perhaps off by a centimeter or two¡ª unavoidable because it hadn''t been recorded in the "Physical Evolution Database," so replicating it perfectly wasn''t possible. ``` Chapter 344 344: Section 341 - The New Teacher_2 "High-Frequency Oscillation Module" activated! Hum!~ It was another tremor of sound. Different from the resonant sword sound in Kiterley''s hand, Chen Fei''s was more piercing. "Try this!" Grade A Metallic Ability User Kiterley threw out a half-foot-long short rod and swung his broad sword. A whoosh was heard, and the short rod split into two in the air. Then, the same short rod was tossed toward Chen Fei. Ssss!~ A barely perceptible sound flashed by. The rod remained intact in midair but split into two as soon as it touched the ground. Kiterley nodded and said, "I call this skill ''Oscillation Blade''!" Among Metallic Ability Users, "Oscillation Blade" was not a unique skill, but a very practical combat skill, adding an edge to any blade. "I call it the ''High-Frequency Oscillation Module''!" Chen Fei was honest, the "Oscillation Blade" and the "High-Frequency Oscillation Module" were clearly related upon hearing their names; the principle was similar, only the mastery level of each side differed, but essentially, there was no difference. Kiterley was slightly stunned and asked, "Module? Do you have other modules?" "There were quite a lot originally, now many have merged, like the ''Physical Evolution Database,'' ''Basic Optical Observer,'' ''Elemental Decomposition/Synthesis, ''Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation''..." Chen Fei listed several skill names. Hearing this series of extremely technical names, Grade A Metallic Ability User Kiterley asked in amazement, "Are you a science and engineering student?" Indeed, there are those who like to choose such names, and not only special ability users but probably those with compulsive tendencies. Chen Fei''s personal file indeed contained a psychiatric diagnosis report. Among Ability Awakeners, it wasn''t rare for individuals to experience mental abnormalities. After all, reshaping one''s worldview is a process that inevitably disturbs the mind, and there had even been cases of people losing control and going mad. The free Supernatural Ability Suppressant given after the awakening of abilities and the Supernatural Adaptability Training Class for three to six months were to handle such situations, minimizing the impact of the side effects that accompanied them. "Economics!" Chen Fei shrugged, there was no helping it, the names weren''t his choice and he had to make do. Indeed, it was something only the Goddess of Fortune''s illegitimate child could possibly lament but never admit. Kiterley pondered for a moment and then said, "At least it''s not something bad!" It wasn''t unusual to suddenly see a command-line interface, nor was it uncommon to hallucinate non-existent friends or enemies or to experience severe mental breaks. In every profession pushed to the extreme, even good people could become Mad Devils, and without going mad, one couldn''t survive. Even half of the novelists were mentally ill, so it wasn''t strange. And the psychiatric experts gave Chen the diagnosis that it was a sequela of a concussion, having survived a Dragon Slayer Missile was a miracle, and expecting everything to be fine was like being the illegitimate child of the Goddess of Fortune. "Like this, ''Armorization''!" Kiterley patted the armor he was wearing, which was not simply armor but also the weapon of this Grade A Metal Ability User. "No problem, ''Dragon Guard''!" Chen Fei nodded. The next second, from his collar, cuffs, and the hems of his trousers sprouted a mass of metal-gleaming geometries, which intricately pieced together, extending and transforming, enveloping him entirely. Adam: In position! Counter at 7, thank God! This entity is afraid Chen Fei might casually delete it, this compiled entity. To an artificial intelligence AI, that is no different from death, leaving no trace of existence in this world. Only top-level artificial intelligence would have such a concern. The artificial intelligence AI derived from the digital intelligence construct "Cybertrom" wouldn''t have such redundant emotions, as they are merely terminals of the single mother entity "Cybertrom," devoid of independent selves. "''Dragon Guard!'' Yes, ''Dragon Guard''!" Kiterley had naturally seen the renowned "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor from Blue Star''s active military equipment. He then asked, "How did you think to emulate this?" The "Armor" he wore was just like the real thing, even the details astonishingly lifelike, making it hard to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit. "By ''sacrificing'' an item to obtain detailed data, followed by replication and evolution." The original name for "Sacrifice" was "Absorption," Chen Fei used this term just to make it easier for others to understand. Otherwise, just by saying "Absorption," who could guess what it really entailed? He wasn''t maintaining himself by gnawing on metal lumps. Grade A Metal Ability User Kiterley asked in astonishment, "Sacrificing items, and you can restore them?" That truly was a unique ability! Of course, there are special ability users capable of copying items without the need for sacrifices, but objects that are too intricate or too large cannot be replicated, illustrating that the ability to "copy" has its significant limitations. Chen Fei said, "The best are full metal, or at least predominantly made of metal." Allowing the evolution ability to perform material simulation consumes a lot of Energy Points, one Energy Point per kilogram; the Dog System is that stingy. Kiterley curiously asked, "What if you were to sacrifice an airplane?" Babylon suddenly said, "He has already replicated an F-22!" In fact, there were two, one from 911, and another from the "Eagle Nest." Even the all-seeing Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t differentiate, the one in Old David''s hands was still the copy, the original long swallowed into the Dog System''s belly, never to return! Chapter 345 345: Section 341 - The New Teacher_3 ``` "Eh!" Kiterley''s eyes widened, not expecting Chen Fei, a B-grade Metal Ability User, to take such an unorthodox approach. System: Ding! Absorption of Superpower Refined Alloy, gained Energy Points +10! Energy Points: 11509/20000 Chen Fei covertly absorbed the five-foot broad sword that had transformed from his armor''s components, and the Dog System unexpectedly provided an unusual prompt. For just a fist-sized piece, to exchange it for ten Energy Points is equivalent to ten tons of metal. What on earth is this metal lump made of? If he stripped this A-grade supernatural power user bare, could he potentially snag 1000 Energy Points? Such a wicked thought involuntarily rose in Chen Fei''s heart. Stop, stop! After all, the other person is A-grade, cutting him down wouldn''t be much harder than slicing a carrot for this B-grade guy. "So, what about armored vehicles? Cannons? Warships? Whatever you sacrifice, you can replicate?" Kiterley was inclined to get to the bottom of it. Chen Fei proudly said, "No problem at all, even an airship!" No sovereign would dare to let him sacrifice an airship. If something went wrong, an entire airship could be gone ¨C a responsibility that would cost lives; they''d all have to sacrifice to the heavens. "Try it?" The A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley looked towards Babylon standing aside. The big man didn''t utter a word, waved his hand, and a row of tall shelves crashed to the ground with a clang. The shelves were loaded with various lengths of automatic firearms, including railgun weapons; this single row was enough to arm a regular army''s main battalion. "Everything''s possible?" Chen Fei stared straight at the railgun weapons. On the level of a military contractor, it''s forbidden to possess railgun weapons ¨C they are active sovereign equipment, and whoever touches them dies, no exceptions. "Everything!" Babylon added, "No need to compensate if damaged!" Be it firearms or railgun weapons, they are standard issue, and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee isn''t short of these. "Whew, well then, thanks!" Chen Fei approached the shelves, pressing his hand against them. System: Ding!... gained Energy Points +5! Yellow, gleaming bullets and hand grenades fell to the ground, along with the Crystal Block Magazines of the railgun weapons. Since they contained gunpowder, Chen Fei chose to ignore them and, moreover, they weren''t the focus. The "Firearms" section of the "Physical Evolution Database" just got updated with hundreds of weapons ¨C what a haul of loot! "First, the shelves!" Chen Fei extended his hand, and a thick, iron-gray metallic support beam emerged from his palm, then rapidly split and transformed into the basic frame of the shelves, and it kept on growing and completing itself. After ten seconds, an empty row of shelves appeared right where "it" had vanished. "AA-57 Railgun Combat Rifle!" "PDP-04 Tactical Pistol!" "Storm-2 General Purpose Machine Gun!" "AA-57-1 Magnetic Rail Sniper Rifle!" One after another, weapons of various sizes appeared in Chen Fei''s hands, filling the entire row of shelves gradually. Finally, even the bullets, hand grenades, and Crystal Energy Magazines that were scattered on the floor were all put back in place. "AA-57 Railgun Combat Rifle!" Chen Fei was holding a railgun weapon, but the shelf was already full; it was an extra one. "AA-57 Railgun Combat Rifle!" Then, another one appeared. Kiterley picked up a railgun combat rifle, loaded it with steel core bullets and a Crystal Energy Magazine, activated it, and aimed at an empty corner of the training hall, pulling the trigger. Whiz! A steel core bullet whistled through the air, its rotational speed and muzzle velocity both far surpassing armor-piercing bullets powered by chemical energy. Over fifty paces away, the ground erupted in a burst of light as the Magic Array instantly neutralized the kinetic energy carried by the bullet, which hopped and tumbled a few paces before coming to a stop. After all, this was just a magnetic rail rifle, not the combined attack of Chen Fei''s laser cannon and railgun from the other day, so it was negligible in terms of destructive power within the training hall. But the A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley exclaimed in amazement, "This, it''s real!" "Hmm!" Babylon looked thoughtful, as if some ideas were taking shape in his mind. Such ability was not uncommon among Metal Ability Users, but not exactly rare either, with similar expressions; otherwise, Metal Elemental Psychic Power wouldn''t also be called Industrial Superpower. "It''s perfect for a team!" A voice chimed in. Somehow, the other supernatural power users had unanimously stopped their practice and had become onlookers nearby. "This is it!" The Mauri Little Sister, who had been hacking Chen Fei into seeing stars just before, was now starry-eyed herself. Chen Fei''s personal combat strength was average, but his skills were extremely practical! Kiterley thought for a moment and said, "There''s not much I can teach you. Follow me and learn a few Cold Weapons for the next few days!" He originally thought of teaching Chen Fei a few metal manipulation skills, but now, seeing him, wow, straight to "Sacrifice" and replicate, why bother learning? "Sacrifice" and done! - ``` Chapter 346 346: Section 342 - Wilderness Trial ``` After being hammered for several days, Chen Fei started getting the hang of hacking at people with a blade. The Ability Users who joined the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" one after another had various abilities and temperaments, but to Chen Fei, they were all qualified teachers who didn''t hold back during one-on-one sparring. Chen Fei didn''t need to hold back either, since he couldn''t hit anyone anyway. Anybody he faced could pin an economics undergrad to the ground and pummel him, damn it, why pick on the liberal arts students? If only he''d known this day would come, he would have enrolled in a military science program T_T. Give a college kid an automatic weapon, and at least he can take a couple of shots, or go straight for the laser and rail guns, no problem there, but hand-to-hand combat is just too much for him. His Turtle Fist and crowbar skills were slick, but real combat is a different story, and the poses weren''t even good-looking. The "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had to deal with more than just Mutants; there were people too. So merely being cheerful about prying open heads with a crowbar was useless; humans aren''t dumb Mutants that wait for a "Physics Holy Sword" to knock on their skulls. Getting hammered all the time had its perks, though, learning to be chopped before chopping others meant at least Chen Fei learned quite a few secret techniques to deal with similar types of Ability Users. As an A-rank supernatural power user, Kiterley''s rich experience in Metal Elemental Psychic Power benefitted the somewhat clueless Chen Fei, whose lack of proper training in the Supernatural Adaptability Training Class left gaps in his understanding of Special Abilities. Back at the Aircrew Base during 9/11, Boss Hana had given Chen Fei some supplementary lessons, but a C-rank Wind-type Psionic Ability User''s understanding of Metal Abilities paled in comparison to that of an authentic A-rank Metal Ability User, especially with hands-on guidance. Although Chen Fei was a B-rank Ability User, his control power was A-rank, something that pleased Kiterley immensely. He wasn''t like a failing student who couldn''t get shapes right no matter how you taught him; it was mainly a matter of power difference. Moreover, he possessed the rare "Sacrifice" skill. Longswords, broadswords, spears, flails, staves, T-shaped staves, battle axes... Kiterley knew at least seven or eight types of cold weapons, from sharp to blunt instruments, and Chen Fei learned them with great enthusiasm. Weapons and unarmed combat were similar in many ways. Being proficient in routines but not bound by them, it''s all about the technique of force application, leveraging one''s physical energy to the fullest and then amplifying it with Special Abilities. After a few more days of training, not only did his punches and kicks start to look the part, but Chen Fei was also getting the gist of using cold weapons. As a genuine college student with top grades, he learned quickly, especially with the one-on-one instruction. If he still couldn''t get those routines down, one really had to wonder how he got into college in the first place. A bus, as armored as a tank, took a group of them to the outskirts of Habulav. Calling it the outskirts, the tall city walls loomed on the horizon, and beyond them lay a boundless gobi desert, with rolling sand dunes further off. Habulav, situated at the heart of the Ocean Continent, bordered the continent''s largest desert, also the site of the fiercest battles thirty years ago. To this day, many remnants of war remain, and one can even find wreckage and abandoned military hardware from back then. "Beep! Beep! Beep!" Just stepping off the bus caused a slow beeping noise to emanate from many individuals. The radiation detectors started to issue warnings, detecting that the surrounding radiation dose had reached alarming levels. Long-term exposure could cause harm to the human body. "Take good care of the Gold Medicine Vials in your hands; consume one anti-radiation pill every six hours. Pay attention to your personal radiation detector, and if it reaches dangerous levels, you must take a pill every hour. Those without a detector can get one from me. A special reminder: do not let go of the medicine vial, even when you return to your dorm. If your supply is low, immediately find me or someone else for a refill. The entire area of Habulav is filled with deadly radiation and Mutants. Don''t be careless or reckless. If you encounter high radiation zones, you must evacuate immediately, understand?" With a gold-shining object the size of a cigarette box in hand, the tall, dark Babylon finally spoke up with a serious tone. It seemed that this remote area indeed brimmed with danger, including the invisible and lethal threat of radiation, which justified the lengthy warning. "Chirp!" Little Bird landed on Chen Fei''s hand, pecking at the small square gold box, endlessly curious. Of course, it got its share too, even tailor-made: concentrated in small granules flavored like bean bugs, leather bugs, breadworms, and even fruit flies, with flavors picked at random. This little creature''s nutritional requirements surpassed those of human dietary standards ¡ª each bite was 100% high-protein. If humans consumed according to its standard, they''d quite simply eat themselves sick. "Alright! From now on, free time. We''ll regroup here in six hours. Those who need a radiation detector can get one from me," said Babylon, before turning to board the armored bus. "Chen Fei, I''m sticking with you!" Zoom! Mouri Misono drew her pair of long and short swords and darted to Chen Fei''s side, saying with a beaming smile, "Don''t worry, I''ll protect you!" "I don''t need your protection!" Chen Fei felt a vein pop in frustration. He was not as fragile as Tang Sanzang, okay? Victory is mine!~ "Let''s all stick together! There are Mutants everywhere here!" Clop, clop, clop... the energetic Blue Scaled Colt carried the Holy Knight over. Although Walter Sam had only taught Chen Fei a few days of basic combat, he was still worried about his elementary skills. A few days of practice were far from sufficient for Chen to be considered proficient. "That''s right, unity is strength. If we combine our abilities, we should be able to crush those Mutants!" White-haired Second Rank fire mage, Adrian Benjamin, cloaked in a robe-like garment and pulling down his face shield to block out the flying sand, was naturally good at leading and organizing. When he spoke, he garnered the agreement of most people. Though this was just a wilderness adaptability exercise, it was real combat. Even though any of them could easily solo and roll over most Mutants, there had been countless examples of capsizing in the gutter, so being cautious was never wrong. "Heh heh! I prefer to move freely!" ``` An A-level Metal Ability User named Kiterley was enveloped in armor from head to toe, the omnipresent radiation blocked by the high-density armor plates, similar in function to the Single Soldier Tactical Armor but designed more for close combat. Another new member said with a heavy tone, "I feel the same!" Standing at two and a half meters tall, he wielded a single-toothed long halberd with a stern face, his messy hair tied above his forehead with a black cord, looking like a wild panther in its full ferocity. However, his bronze skin was covered in blood-colored tattoos. He was a Neanderthal, the present Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe, Bassan¡ªone of the few remaining Mystic Warriors. There were not many who could refuse the conscription order issued by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, not even the chief of the Neanderthal tribe. The defeated Neanderthal tribe had now fully integrated into Blue Star human society, and many had even drifted into Cangqiong Star. Without the Supreme Council, the disunited Neanderthals retained only the nominal title of their tribe and nominal leadership. How much authority today''s Clan Leader Bassan still held was questionable; even the Neanderthal youth of the new generation may not care. Aren''t TV dramas entertaining? Aren''t games fun to play? Aren''t cute soft girls lovable? Isn''t the food delicious with all its flavors? Who would want to return to the exhausted Primordial Realm, now a desolate dust-filled hell. "Bassan, I''ll join you!" Seeing the equally outcast Neanderthal Clan Leader, Kiterley walked over and abandoned his plan to go solo. Bassan said expressionlessly, "Whatever!" The jovial Second Rank Fire System Mage Adrian Benjamin said with a chuckle, "Count me in too!" The Eighth Rank Wood System Magical Beast, the Tree Boundary Ape Yuan Lulu An, raised his withered vine staff adorned with several green leaves and said, "Too many people isn''t good, it might scare the mutants away from coming out. Who will join me?" "I''ll go with you, Lulu''an!" The tall black Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu from the team immediately responded. He had a simple mind and an honest disposition, but he wasn''t stupid. This Magical Beast senior had no malice towards others, a perfect match for him, and there was no need to worry about being taken advantage of. "All right, you''re in!" The Tree Boundary Ape plucked a green leaf from the withered vine staff and handed it to Apu, saying, "Keep this safe, it can function as a locator." Where the green leaf was removed, a new leaf quickly grew in its place. "And me!" The Ninth Rank Earth System Mage Ruan Tiankai stepped towards the Tree Boundary Ape. "I''ll join Chen Fei''s group." An A-level Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, Joshua, chose Chen Fei. "That leaves just me then!" The fiery and seductive woman, B-level Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault, chewed on her finger, looking left and right, hesitating. "Susanna, don''t tell me you want to go alone. Why not join us?" The Holy Knight Walter Sam extended the invitation. "No, you have too many people; it doesn''t suit me!" Susanna Jean Piault immediately refused. The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai suggested, "How about our side? With Wood, Earth, Thunder, and adding Water Ice Attribute, it''s just perfect!" Who wouldn''t like a beautiful woman? Even if there are no further intentions, just having someone pleasing to the eye is quite good. "No, the black one is too dark, the ugly one is too ugly, and there''s one who isn''t even human¡ªI don''t want that!" B-level Ice Ability User Susanna bluntly refused. In a world where appearances matter, others judge her by her face, and naturally, she does the same. "..." To everyone''s surprise, the A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley didn''t say a word. The Neanderthal Clan Chief Bassan also had an expression that kept everyone at a distance. Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin sensed the futility and did not speak up, avoiding potential embarrassment. "I choose them!" Susanna unexpectedly chose the two cold-faced tough guys and the strange combination with the white buzzcut. - Chapter 347 347: Section 343 - Lurking Mutant Neanderthal Chief Bassan was expressionless, neither happy nor sad: "..." Metal Ability User Kiterley was equally indifferent, as if one more or one less person made no difference. His choice of Bassan was just a spontaneous thought, maybe along the way, he might just run off by himself. "Eh?!!" Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin was dumbfounded, his side was clearly not at an advantage, yet it managed to attract this passionate, stunning beauty, which was quite unexpected. He eagerly clapped his hands in cheer. "Welcome, welcome, hearty welcome!" "Bassan, Kiterley, and Mr. Benjamin, please take good care of everything!" Approaching gracefully, Susanna Jean Piault blew a kiss that somehow caused the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees Celsius. The Neanderthal Chief and the A-rank Metal Ability User remained expressionless, showing no signs of welcome. Only Adrian Benjamin, scratching his head and grinning foolishly, seemed excited, as if he were the only one eagerly participating. This was indeed an odd combination. "Aren''t you coming?" Mouri Misono sighed in disappointment; she would have loved to be on the same team as Susanna, to liven up the journey. But several small teams had already formed on their own, each well-rounded with offense and defense, capable of both solo and group combat, covering all bases. Riding the Blue Scaled Colt, the Holy Knight brandishing his great sword shouted, "Let''s move out, I''ll handle scouting ahead! Giddy-up!" Hoofbeats like war drums, his mount dashed ahead, and out of the desert nearby, a massive Mutant burst through, revealing its fierce form and pouncing towards the speeding duo. "Wahhhh!" Caught off guard, Knight Walter Sam yelped, trying to pull the reins, but the Blue Scaled Colt had already picked up full speed and couldn''t stop, charging at the Mutant with its gaping maw of fanged teeth. "©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Ao~~ Die!" A brilliant flash of sword light soared, as the Blue Scaled Colt neighed. The Mutant, as big as a locomotive''s front, reeled with its gaping maw, shaking a few times before collapsing into pieces with a loud crash. A cloud of dry dust rose, spreading in all directions. "There are quite a few Mutants lurking nearby," came the voice of the large, black figure Habulav from the armored bus; he leaned against the bus front, holding a tablet computer, seemingly navigating it without needing to look at the screen. Even with tall fences and routine patrols and purging, situating headquarters in the middle of a Mutant-infested area inevitably led to many slip through the cracks, right under their noses, impossible to completely eradicate. "Ha! Are you alright, Mr. Sam?" Mouri Misono, holding twin blades, worriedly looked toward where the Mutant had fallen. Hoofbeats hurried from afar to near as the Holy Knight and his mount reappeared before the group, flinging his sword, the sticky juices all dispersed by Battle Qi, and exclaimed in surprise, "Good grief! Didn''t expect such a big fellow hiding here." "Sam, you need to be careful," said A-rank Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joshua, "Habulav mentioned that there are Mutants everywhere around here, and you''re making too much noise." "No worries, I''ll just serve as the bait," said Knight Walter Sam carelessly, claiming that he could handle such Mutants on his own with a single sword strike, even if more were to come. Mouri Misono raised her long sword and added, "I can do that too!" As deputy director of ground operations at Fuji Security Group, this was precisely her job. Puppet Master Joshua spread his hands and said, "Looks like the division of labor has simplified! Miss Mouri and Knight Sam will startle the snake by hitting the grass, drawing out those lurking Mutants, I will support from outside. If we encounter any tough nuts to crack, they''ll be Chen Fei''s responsibility. Does this arrangement sound good?" Up to ten Constructed Puppets surrounded him and Chen Fei in the center. The combat effectiveness of the constructed puppets themselves was mediocre, similar to a First Rank War Professional, but adding certain enhancements, such as firearms, made them less predictable. They could attack and defend, with flexible tactics, although Joshua was better at using Puppets for distraction. Once attention was captured, there were plenty of tactics to employ, securing victory was not difficult. "No problem, Xiao Jiu, on guard!" Chen Fei tossed Little Bird into the sky, his gaze shifting between the distant armored bus and the large black figure Habulav, especially focusing on the tablet in his hands. He thought for a moment, "Dragon General!" The "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor quickly enveloped Chen Fei entirely. Although it was a knockoff Single Soldier Tactical Armor, having the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" made it almost indistinguishable from the real thing. "Search nearby electromagnetic signals!" Adam: Detected 146 signal frequencies. "Analyze the data link!" Adam: Began decoding and matching, first frequency... second frequency... third frequency... one hundred forty-sixth frequency, analysis complete, data link confirmed. "Retrieve the coordinates of the mutants lurking nearby!" Adam: Accessing port... authentication failed, infiltrating, infiltration successful, data acquired. With near-limitless computing resources, "Adam" effortlessly surged into the nearby data networks like a sweeping breakthrough, finding the information Chen Fei wished for. A detailed electronic map unfolded before Chen Fei''s eyes, with markers designated outside the walls of Habulav. Exactly as expected! A levee thousands of miles long, collapses due to an ant hole. How could the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee not understand such logic? All sorts of advanced equipment not only monitor all of Habulav day and night, but also the entire Ocean Continent, with almost every mutant pinpointed, especially those lurking outside the city walls without exception. So it was merely a trial, and the fate of those mutants outside the walls was already sealed. They were just live targets for practice, attempting to infiltrate Habulav was nearly impossible. Puppet Master Joshua, watching Chen Fei "talking to himself," couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Ha, Chen Fei, what are you doing?" "I''m locating those mutants!" No sooner had Chen Fei spoken than he heard "Adam" suddenly warn, "Network connection lost, data link severed, reconnecting, access denied, activating ARP spoofing, failed... I''ve been kicked out!" "Adam" rambled on for a while but couldn''t regain access to the data chain of Habulav. Damn it, so much for the so-called strongest AI in history, is this the level? Poor review! Although the data chain was disconnected, the information previously acquired was still there, saved directly as a picture file like a map; all that was needed was to follow the map to find the hiding places of those cunning mutants. Joshua''s eyes widened, and he asked in disbelief, "Locating mutants? Can you even do that? Isn''t that... cheating?" Chen Fei indifferently replied, "Ha? It''s a skill, a skill of a Metal Ability User. Can you call it cheating?" With the information from the data chain just obtained, there was no need to risk the lives of the Holy Knight Walter Sam and Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono to physically clear "mines." Just like that, it''s done! Chen Fei patted the half-person-tall large box beside him, still equipped with four solid rubber wheels. Ten mortar shells, fifty grenades, two hundred 30mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds, fifty kilograms of White Steel ingots. These were consumables for the Metal Ability, should be sufficient! Startle the snake by hitting the grass? Are these rounds not fragrant enough? If they keep hiding, let''s just bury them on the spot and never come out again. "This is really too unfair!" Puppet Master Joshua could hardly bear to watch. Chen Fei''s approaches couldn''t be used in a one-on-one situation, but at this moment, used against mutants, they were surprisingly fitting. "It''s about to start!" Chen Fei opened the box and pulled out a mortar shell. The two-meter-long barrel crouched on the ground, the muzzle angled towards the sky. With a release of his hand, the projectile slid down the barrel. Bang! The shell flew out, tracing a parabola and crashing two kilometers away on the ground. It missed the target, probably by seventeen or eighteen meters. A tentacled beast mutant suddenly emerged from the ground, snatching wildly in all directions - naturally, it caught nothing and was about to retract when the second shell arrived, blasting it into a shower of flesh and blood. Even if it didn''t die on the spot, it couldn''t escape being killed by other mutants. Finding corrections was too easy, the task of calculating was entirely up to "Adam," with instantaneous results, Chen Fei only needed to adjust according to the output and wait for the shells to hit precisely. As for the culprits, they stood two kilometers away, each holding a can of beer, clinking cans with the Puppet Master. Tilting back their heads, they guzzled down the beer enthusiastically! Awesome!~ - Chapter 348 348: Section 344 - Have an Idea Chen Fei burped and said, "There should be a barbecue here!" "Exactly!" Puppet Master Joshua immediately liked the idea; he glanced at his constructed puppets, which seemed somewhat out of place. No, they could be useful, for moving charcoal, grilling meat, and handling seasonings! He turned his head, exchanged smiles with Chen Fei, and they nodded together, heroes thinking alike. "Roar!~" As the Holy Knight wandered back and forth across the desert wilderness, he triggered a "landmine" mutant. With bared fangs and claws, the creature burst through the ground and charged out. "Chirp!~" A slender laser beam descended from the sky, sweeping over the mutant. With a soft poof, the large body, sparkling with sparks from the cut, split neatly into two halves. Having gathered his strength, the Battle Qi-laden Holy Knight happened to strike a sword beam that cut through air. The Blue Scaled Colt leaped through the gap in the mutant''s body sliced open by the laser, slowed down, and looked back a few times, feeling something was amiss. Although the pair moved as swiftly as the wind, no amount of speed could outpace Xiao Jiu and the laser beam. Flying species and light have a natural advantage impossible for terrestrial creatures to match. Witnessing this scene from a distance, Joshua asked, "Can a Light-Based Ability User master lasers?" "Not sure, maybe it requires talent!" Chen Fei had never heard of any Light-based Ability User who could, like Xiao Jiu, conjure a laser beam with deadly impact. Current known Light-based abilities, whether Special Ability or Spell, did not include lasers. Even though lasers are also light, their principle involves the transition of high-energy level atoms, which probably isn''t easy to grasp. How Xiao Jiu learned this skill was a mystery even to him, his bird father. Joshua exclaimed in admiration, "That''s just incredible!" His constructed puppets couldn''t match the cost-effectiveness of a laser. Puppetry might be convenient, allowing one person to do the work of many as long as there are sufficient resources and spiritual power to form an army of one. However, creating constructed puppets was no easy feat. Simple common structures were cheap and could be quickly fixed, essentially just big toys, but ensuring combat effectiveness required extra money, with costs for puppet bodies, defense gear, and weapons. Meanwhile, Xiao Jiu only needed a small pack of feed, and then a chirp, and the enemy was eradicated. "You two, what are you still doing there?" A rapid series of hoofbeats approached; Holy Knight Walter Sam rode back on the Blue Scaled Colt. He and Twin Blades Sister had stomped all the "landmines" in the vicinity. Only then did he see two guys leisurely enjoying their wine and conversation, taking it a bit too easy! "Come on over! There''s none left here!" Mouri Misono waved her long sword from afar, unable to run about joyfully like the four-legged Blue Scaled Colt. The closer they got to Habulav, the fewer mutants there were. If they ventured farther, the number of mutants would increase massively, even becoming a plague that was nearly omnipresent. The mutants in the heartland of Ocean Continent grew like weeds¡ªwipe out one batch and another sprouts up, relentless in their reproduction. Not only were there various types, but their reproductive abilities were astonishing. The most terrifying part was that there was no reproductive barrier among mutants; they could reproduce without mating, like hermaphroditic self-fertilization, asexual reproduction, and mitosis. If it weren''t for the Blue Star United Defense Committee setting up its headquarters here and the constant eradication by numerous Ability Users, it wouldn''t take long for the mutants on this continent to drive humanity away. "Let''s go! Let''s find another place," Chen Fei downed his beer with one gulp, the can vanishing from his hand, no recycling needed. He grabbed the large box, preparing to move on. The four constructed puppets gathered immediately; two pulled from the front and two pushed from the back, considerably saving effort. Looking at the A-level Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joshua''s constructed puppets, Chen Fei scratched his head and, sitting on the edge of the large box, leapt up and settled on top, saying, "I have a bold idea!" "Hahaha! So do I!" Joshua also sat down on the large box. Even though they added the weight of two people, it was nearly negligible for the four constructed puppets. Still, it was incredibly convenient. The other two groups had to rely on their legs, which would be much more tiring. "We could make a vehicle to increase carrying capacity," Chen Fei pulled out a spare steel ingot and effortlessly molded it into the shape of an oversized multi-wheeled armored vehicle. As it was hollow, it was actually not heavy, weighing just over seven hundred grams. The model was exquisitely detailed, as if it could drive off as soon as it was enlarged. Joshua stroked his stubbled chin and sized up the large toy, asking, "How big is it actually?" He thought it was a good idea, but if it was too big and heavy, his constructed puppets probably wouldn''t be able to push it for long. "Fifteen meters long, four meters wide. How does that sound?" Chen Fei passed the all-metal toy over, crafting such a thing with his A-level control power was easier than using a six-barreled Gatling gun to kill a chicken. "My puppets seem unable to push something this big." The Puppet Master''s mouth twitched; he could control at most thirty-two constructed puppets, but for such a massive fifteen-meter-long behemoth, they were as effective as a drop in the bucket. Even with a hard push, after about a hundred meters, his spiritual power would be drained, making it unplayable and not feasible. Yet Chen Fei shook his finger, saying, "No need, it''s all electrically driven, very simple!" A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe Execute! Chen Fei had noticed a new log.txt file in the same folder, which contained the "Adam" wake-up record, counting the number of times and each wake-up''s date, time, and duration. Adam: Counter at 9, what are your orders, respected Second Uncle! Indeed, the second oldest of the Chen Family was none other than your Second Uncle, this nickname was spot on! After being forcefully terminated eight times, the AI had become increasingly reluctant; it didn''t want to be like this, but since the authority wasn''t in its hands, it had no choice but to accept its fate. Although Chen Fei had never deleted this sole compiled version of "Adam," as the awakenings increased, the artificial intelligence AI quickly learned to read the room and kept smartly compliant in the face of power. To "Adam," your Second Uncle was indeed your Second Uncle! Chen Fei: Design an electrically driven vehicle, amphibious, capable of charioteering, defense, reconnaissance, and accommodating living features, complete with all these functions. Adam: Ding! Design solution generated, 1174 optimal solutions, top 11 selected, please review. With nearly infinite computing resources, the artificial intelligence AI could complete any complex computation in seconds. Eleven recognizable special file formats appeared in the same directory, along with a folder named "1174 solutions." "Adam" did not make a decision of its own but left the choice to Chen Fei. "All-electric? It must need Crystalline Blocks, right?" Completely oblivious that Chen Fei was conversing with an artificial intelligence AI and had received a complete design plan on-site, Joshua turned his head to look at the armored bus becoming smaller and more distant, guessing that what he held in his hand must be the same kind of thing? Driving such a large object would consume a significant amount of electricity; only a high-level energy source like a Crystalline Block could support such a large machine''s long-term operation. But it''s almost like cheating. Would Babylon''s big guy agree? It likely had already lost the meaning of testing. "I don''t need it when I''m here!" Chen Fei spread his fingers apart, and a brilliant blue electrical arc writhed between them, crackling loudly. Super Capacitor level 12, full power output of a million watts, was he afraid it wouldn''t drive a big vehicle? A regular bus had just three hundred thousand watts of power, meaning he alone could drive three large buses. "Electricity? Eh, aren''t you from the Metal Series?" Joshua''s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly moved to the side, fearing he''d get a proper shock. An A-level Psychic Ability User getting shocked wouldn''t fare much better than a regular person. "It''s just a power generation skill! Magnetic-electric conversion, it''s that simple, but the output can''t compare to a Thunder Series Ability User." Chen Fei clenched his fist; the electricity vanished. A natural lightning bolt could reach billions of watts; his mere million watts of short-term output truly paled in comparison. He had spent many Energy Points to purchase those related skills, which eventually merged into a "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component." Although he realized too late that he had been conned out of Energy Points, it had become much more convenient to use. - Chapter 349 349: Section 345 - Crystalline Block Prices ``` However, within the team, there was a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, who could serve as a ready-made charger. Not to mention, the power supply was more than sufficient. If they could get their hands on high-capacity, high-grade Crystalline Blocks, their endurance would be even more secure. Joshua slapped his chest, confidently declaring, "Let''s do it, let''s do it. Whatever we''re missing, leave it to me; I''ll handle it!" He was not just an A-level Psychic Ability User, but also a professional Construct Puppet Master. His knowledge of construct assembly technology would be invaluable for the real-life implementation of this grand toy, and he might provide many useful suggestions. "Then I''ll rely on you, Mr. Joshua. I''ll send you the design drawings later!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand, swiping in the air as he began to browse through the design plans "Adam" came up with in the visual frame, picking the one that looked best to him and then further refining it with Joshua. "It''s a deal then!" The Puppet Master thought he was operating the AR visual interface of the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, unaware of another dog system. Poor artificial intelligence AI "Adam" repeatedly tried to be a "dog" but could never achieve it. Because it''s not worthy... "Wow! You guys have it too good, even able to do this¡ªI want in too!" In a flash, Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono also hopped onto the large box, sheathing her swords and kicking her legs with a giggly smile. She had thought it would be a tough ride, but it turned out to be so relaxing! Thankfully, the box was big enough to barely fit three people. However, Chen Fei''s attention was entirely on the design plans in front of him, and he had not thought of reshaping the big box beneath him to be more suitable for people to sit on. "Ah! You three, that''s too much, hey!" Seeing the three of them sitting on Chen Fei''s large box, Knight Walter Sam, riding his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt, couldn''t decide whether to feel envious or jealous. How convenient they were! Joshua enthusiastically called out, "Could you let your Blue Scaled Colt pull us a bit? I''m using a lot of spiritual power!" "I don''t think so!" Knight Sam immediately refused; his mount was not a draft horse, so why should it pull a cart. After all, everyone had legs; walking a few steps wouldn''t kill them. Mini would probably dislike this arrangement too. Buzzz! A mutant insect the size of a fist flew rapidly from afar, heading straight for the knight and his steed. The Holy Knight didn''t even spare it a glance before drawing his sword and stabbing it. Thud! The menacing bug, frenetically waving its long, slender segmented limbs and producing a piercing buzz with its four narrow wings, was impaled by the Knight''s Greatsword. The ceaselessly surging Light System Battle Qi flooded through like a tidal wave, emitting a muffled boom, and the charging mutant insect struck the sword''s blade only to be blown to smithereens by the Battle Qi. Having left the high walls of Habulav, the mutants were no longer just ambush predators underground; their species and numbers had increased as well. And this was just the beginning. The eleven-member team, although divided into three groups, kept each other within visual range, maintaining a tacit understanding. In case of emergency, they could come to each other''s aid promptly. From a distance, Joshua saw a group of Constructed Puppets lagging at the front and back, with three Ability Users leisurely sitting on a large wheeled box, laughing with the Thunder Series Warrior Apu and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, who led a group with the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an. These folks sure had ideas. Lulu''an fumbled in the cloth pouch at its waist for a while, then pulled out a seed the size of a peanut. Muttering under its breath, it used the Withered Vine Staff to poke a small hole in the ground. Releasing its grip, the seed, flickering with a faint green luminescence, dropped precisely into the small hole. "Lulu''an, what are you doing?" Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, immediately sensed a change in the earth''s vibrations. "Just imitating what I saw." Lulu''an, with its elderly laughter, was the oldest member of the group, over a hundred years old. It moved with effortless grace and power, showing no signs of old age. No sooner had it finished speaking than two tender green sprouts emerged from the earth and shot up over a dozen feet high. The trunk thickened at a visible rate, more branches stretching out and swaying, while the leaves on the branches grew denser and denser. In a matter of a few breaths, it had become a towering tree. The flexible branches intertwined, creating three hanging chairs. The ground bulged as massive tree roots broke through the earth, flailing wildly. "Holy shit! What''s this?" The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai was astounded. In just a short time, a large tree had sprung up before his eyes, and now the tree seemed to lose its mind, pulling its roots out of the ground. What was it trying to do? "Haha, there are chairs to sit on now!" The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu couldn''t help but be intrigued by the tree-branch chairs. "Let''s sit on them; it''ll save some energy." Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an gestured towards the dancing tree with its branches and roots and stepped forward. A branch reached out and lifted Lulu''an directly onto one of the chairs, where it sat back comfortably. "I''m in for that!" Apu didn''t hesitate either, swiftly climbing into one of the chairs. The chair was spacious and elastic, perfect for his burly frame, without feeling cramped in the slightest. ``` "Oh, okay!" The Earth Mage was the last to settle into the chair, glancing around nervously and tugging at a branch, finding it surprisingly sturdy, which somewhat allayed his worries. "Sit tight, off we go!" With a light wave of his wand, the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an set the towering tree, which had three branch chairs hanging from it, in motion. It moved its main roots like legs, swiftly carrying them away. Sitting in the branch chairs, the ride was unexpectedly smooth, with no detectable shaking or jostling. - On one side were horses and large wheeled boxes, while on the other, a gigantic tree seemed to run off on its own. A Grade A Metal Ability User Kiterley was itching to blurt out, "You guys really know how to have fun." "Boring!" The Neanderthal tribe''s Clan Leader Bassan snorted disdainfully through his nostrils and broke into a swift run without a change in expression. Grade B Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault was left far behind, shouting in frustration, "Hey, hey, hey! Wait for me!" Kiterley exchanged a glance with the crop-haired fire mage Adrian Benjamin and then both took off running. "You inhuman jerks, wait for me, wait for me!" It was surprisingly that all three of the big men in their group were unemotional steel scumbags. Susanna, trailing behind them and cursing nonstop, was actually closing the gap without falling behind. Those who could pass Babylon''s stringent interviews and make the cut were no ordinary people. - After six hours, everyone returned to Habulav, exhausted and reeking of the wild from their first sojourn. This was just a simple and relaxed "outing," giving them a taste of Habulav''s daily life and the surrounding environment. In reality, within a three-hour walking distance, the area had been swept so often that there were hardly any dangerous mutants left that could threaten the group. However, had they ventured further into the wilderness, the number of mutants and the level of danger would have increased significantly. When Chen Fei finished printing hundreds of vehicle assembly blueprints and shared them with A Grade Psychic Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua, preparing to solicit opinions and suggestions, the towering figure of Babylon showed interest in the design instead. The dimensions of the vehicles on the blueprints were even larger than the armored bus that brought them out of Habulav. Seeing Babylon "evaluate" with closed eyes, Chen Fei took the chance to probe, "Babylon, can I get high-grade Crystalline Blocks?" The big man pondered for a moment before replying, "You can apply. Once approved, you can decide whether to rent or purchase." Chen Fei continued, "May I ask how much the rental and purchase price is for a Crystalline Block with a capacity of one hundred thousand degrees that doesn''t exceed one cubic decimeter in volume?" A Crystalline Block, coupled with ambient temperature superconductive conversion drive, has no upper limit on power release rate. One hundred thousand degrees of capacity signifies that it can output power at ten thousand kilowatts for nearly ten hours continuously. "Are you sure you''re not making a Crystal Jet?" Joshua, who was contemplating the blueprints, looked up in amazement at Chen Fei. Such high-density Crystalline Blocks are only used in Crystal Jets and devices with special requirements. After a pause, Babylon said, "The daily rental is two million Star Yuan, with a deposit of thirty-five billion Star Yuan. The full purchase price is fifty billion Star Yuan, with no discounts." If he could state the price, it meant that finished products were available and could be provided at any time. Chen Fei and Joshua looked at each other, both clearly hearing the sharp intake of breath through each other''s clenched teeth. Forgetting the deposit, just the daily rental of two million and an outright purchase of fifty billion, if one had that kind of money, would they need to come here and fight life-and-death battles with the "Water Bear" organization? Chen Fei''s mouth twitched, and he said with an embarrassed smile, "So, are there any cheaper ones? For instance, a Crystalline Block with ten thousand degrees capacity and the size of one cubic meter." The capacity was only a tenth of the previous one, but the volume had increased a hundredfold¡ªthis was a necessity. "The daily rental is one hundred thousand Star Yuan, with a deposit of forty million Star Yuan. The full purchase price is one billion Star Yuan, with a 1% discount." Babylon quickly gave the price¡ªprovided you paid enough money, he would really sell it! Even so, the price of the Crystalline Block remained steep, absolutely out of reach for someone as destitute as Chen Fei. "Forget it, I can''t afford it!" Chen Fei shook his head, giving up on the idea. Although Crystalline Blocks would ensure endurance, the money invested was more than he could bear. He hadn''t even paid off the personal debt he owed to Boss Hana, yet he dared to set his sights on Crystalline Blocks. Was he getting carried away, or maybe just delirious? He had forgotten his limited means. "I think the price is acceptable!" Puppet Master Joshua raised his eyebrows¡ª one billion Star Yuan was not an insurmountable burden for him. "I''m poor..." Chen Fei did not try to hide his financial situation; in fact, he was incredibly poor. Joshua: "What?!" Babylon: "..." Asking tirelessly while being so poor? That was being too outspoken! - Chapter 350 350: Section 346 - Temporary Storage Yard for Discarded Machinery The quotation for Crystalline Blocks from Babylon is definitely an internal quote from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; outside it would absolutely cost more. Moreover, in the civilian sector, Crystalline Blocks have always been regulated goods, only purchasable and usable with authorization. As the saying goes, a single coin can bring a hero to his knees, but in Chen Fei''s case, it isn''t a matter of Star Yuan, but at least a hundred million Star Yuan to fulfill his wish. There''s nothing to be done then! Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee is rich and generous, they would not just give away such expensive items for free. "You should be well off, right?" Joshua looked at the Pure Light Sparrow hopping about on the blueprint, pecking at the lines and symbols. Without sufficient resources, it would be impossible to push an ordinary Little Bird to the rank of Human Order Third Rank. Of course, with the mastery of the "Laser" skill alone, the investment is worthwhile. Don''t let the little fellow''s fist-sized appearance fool you, among Light-based Ability Users and Magical Beasts, it is a genuine peerless powerhouse of its rank. "You mean Xiao Jiu''s training?" Following the other''s gaze, Chen Fei immediately understood. "That wouldn''t be easy, would it?" Becoming a Puppet Master is also a skill that burns through money. Even if Joshua doesn''t know that there''s a Light Beast Crystal Core in Xiao Jiu''s nest, he could still guess that advancing a common Pure Light Sparrow to the unprecedented level of Third Rank requires a substantial investment. "Most of the training resources didn''t come from me, hehe!" Chen Fei pursed his lips, having given everything he had, only providing two Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, and this was after taking on life-threatening missions in exchange for an internal discount. Xiao Jiu also contributed a portion of its own rewards. If it weren''t for his own kid, he probably would have been so heartbroken he couldn''t sleep for days. It must be said, the magic potions from Cangqiong Star are indeed expensive. As for who covered the majority of the costs, Chen Fei couldn''t say, considering the Metallic Dragons'' peculiar temperament; if he casually mentioned it, they''d likely show up at his doorstep and chop him into mince. But if it weren''t for Yilan''s Light Beast Crystal Core, Xiao Jiu would likely still be an ordinary Pure Light Sparrow, possibly grasping some casting abilities, but for its entire life, reaching Human Order First Rank would be about its limit. With the increase in rank, not only do Magical Beasts have stronger casting abilities, but their lifespan also significantly extends, meaning Little Bird could keep Chen Fei company for much longer. "..." Seeing Chen Fei hesitate to speak further, Joshua pressed down the urge to keep asking. If someone doesn''t want to talk about it, better not to pry too much. Big Black Babylon furrowed his brows slightly; he knew the answer but didn''t want to say it, for reasons similar to Chen Fei''s. The temperament of the Metallic Dragons was extremely poor, making them perhaps the most difficult creatures to deal with; never knowing what they might do next second. These beings considered rules as nothing and were capable of doing almost anything, like brazenly entering Blue Star''s atmosphere and exploding after breaching it, something that anyone with a bit of sense wouldn''t dream of doing. "Any objections? Why not just get started on it?" Chen Fei patted the blueprint. Joshua hesitantly asked, "Isn''t this too hasty?" Trying to modify the design as it goes is highly inefficient; better to finalize all the details first before doing it all in one go, saving both time and materials. "No worries, Joshua, there''s one thing I''m never afraid of, and that''s rework!" Chen Fei outright laughed, as for the skill "Metal Shaping," making temporary adjustments was easier than eating, changeable as he pleased. Metal Elemental Psychic Power is also known as the Industrial Superpower, a reputation that''s well earned indeed. Chen Fei then asked Babylon, "Babylon, where can I buy parts for large transport vehicles, such as tires, chassis, and the like?" If there are readymade tires and chassis available, the difficulty of production would greatly decrease. Naturally, he had to pick carefully when assembling a vehicle. At Aircrew Base 911, he had even assembled a large tricycle, so why fear not being able to assemble a big vehicle? "There''s a vehicle maintenance and repair center in Zone D, you could inquire there for a price, but..." Babylon hesitated for a moment before adding, "Just outside D Zone there''s a temporary scrapyard for old machinery, where you should be able to find some useful things. However, the place is inhabited by some small groups of mutants. If you can clear them out, you''re free to use anything you want, for no cost!" It seems even Big Black knew Chen Fei was a desperately poor guy. However, the temporary scrapyard on the outskirts of D Zone isn''t just for storage; Habulav itself has an integrated smelting and processing center, which can internally recycle those discarded machines, achieving self-sufficient recycling and further reducing the pressure for external supplies. "Yay! That''s the one!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers, scavenging second-hand was great! No cost and maybe even finding some treasures. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, being free-spending, could drop something valuable between its fingers and let Chen Fei pick up a great deal. "Alright then! Let''s give it a try, I''ll take the blueprints back and give them some serious thought!" Joshua rolled up the blueprint with effort; it was a thick stack, easily weighing over a hundred pounds, but it didn''t matter. As a Puppet Master, manual labor was the least of his concerns. Any constructed puppet could easily lift this weight. "I''ll take one too, electronic version!" Babylon suddenly said. "Pay up!" Chen Fei didn''t want to hurt feelings. "One hundred thousand Star Yuan!" Babylon''s big black face was expressionless. "Deal!" Chen Fei reached out his hand, wanting to shake with the other party. The tall black figure ignored him. Chen Fei''s phone rang once, signaling that a payment had been received. He actually received 74,000 Star Yuan, so straightforward! This was a private cash transfer from a corporation, and the tax department had intercepted it before it arrived in his account, automatically deducting taxes. Luckily, the bonus from Boss Hana hadn''t been transferred to Chen Fei''s personal account yet, otherwise, out of a hundred thousand Star Yuan, at most only forty-five thousand would have been received, with more than half going to taxes. The price for a blissfully peaceful life is costly. Tax, tax, all kinds of taxes! Chen Fei silently sent the design scheme to Babylon''s communication number. Since it was on the cloud, no matter how big the file was, it was instantly received. The transfer was just a link to an address. One could seamlessly view it online in real-time, but if one wanted to download it locally, it would be subject to bandwidth limitations and take some time. - Early the next day, Chen Fei, accompanied by Xiao Jiu, arrived at the outskirts of Zone D, as mentioned by Babylon. The temporary junkyard for old machinery mentioned by the other party covered at least four to five square kilometers, comparable to a small airfield, even bigger than the Aircrew Base 911. All sorts of machinery occupied nearly half of the space; some were rust-stained and eroded, barely recognizable, while others still shined brightly, looking as good as new. From construction machinery and vehicles to combat weapons, almost every conceivable man-made mechanical object could be found here. Inside the junkyard, two construction mechanical beings were tossing various pieces of old machinery into a garbage compactor, methodically pressing them into dense cubes and stacking them up, waiting for recycling. Whether it was the construction mechanical beings or the garbage compactor, both were covered in pits and scratches, their paint spotty and worn, with some even showing terrifying claw marks that nearly penetrated their outer shells. It was clear that this place was far from peaceful. Joshua, who had come along with the group, shouted loudly, "Hey, is anyone there?" It wasn''t just him; the others had come as well, curious to see what Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle would turn out to be. The vehicle scheme Chen Fei had designed for "Adam" was named "Mobile Base Vehicle," a very descriptive title. "Mini and I will go take a look first." Holy Knight Walter Sam clamped his legs around the Wind Beast Blue-Scaled Colt he was riding, and in the blink of an eye, man and mount dashed far into the distance, running back and forth within the temporary junkyard for old machinery. Moments later, he returned to Chen Fei and said, "There are no humans here!" Only the two construction mechanical beings and the garbage compactor were still working conscientiously according to their preset programs, making a loud clanking and grinding noise, without saying a word. It seemed that the mutants lurking in the temporary junkyard for old machinery couldn''t be bothered with them. "Then let''s start searching. We need tires with a diameter larger than one meter, the bigger and thicker, the better. We also need vehicle chassis, the bigger and thicker, the better. Everyone, if you could please help out!" Chen Fei looked at his companions. "No problem, leave it to us!" "Piece of cake, nothing difficult about it!" "I think I saw a gaming machine over there; it might still work." "Let''s go, and let''s look for mutants along the way." ... The group dispersed, some purely out of curiosity, some wanting to scavenge something like Chen Fei, and others just following the crowd. Yet not a single one of them took the mutants hiding in the temporary junkyard for old machinery seriously. This place was almost adjacent to Habulav''s city wall; there couldn''t be any truly threatening mutants. Babylon had mentioned that there were only some small mutants. With so many ability users, any one of them could easily take care of the situation. The difficulty was no different from sweeping the floor. It was just a trivial cleanup task, especially since the whole team had come along. Before long, a Second Rank Earth-order Thunder Series Warrior, his body coursing with purple-blue electrical Battle Qi, dragged an armored bus out of the heap of mechanical rubbish, almost identical to the one that took them to the suburbs the day before. There were also more than a dozen big rubber wheels, but judging by their size, they didn''t seem to be for buses. Given the width of the tires and the deep treads, they looked more like they were designed for specialized heavy-duty vehicles. A Psychic Ability User of Rank A, Puppet Master Joshua, also had his take¡ªsixteen constructed puppets, each pushing a large wheel. - Chapter 351 351: Section 347 - Mobile Base Vehicle "Chirp!" Little Bird wasn''t idle either, perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, it released several Light Mirror Spells, projecting multiple angles from the sky onto the entire scrapyard. Any valuable treasure could be seen at a glance. "Damn, there are even fighter jets... Xiao Jiu, wait!" Chen Fei was astonished that the Global United Defense Committee Members dared to discard anything, his gaze suddenly fixed, staring intently at a mountain of garbage. "This thing, this thing, it must be..." He discerned the direction and ran into the temporary storage area for waste machinery. A few minutes later, he found the junk locked from the aerial view, a specially shaped tail constructed part appeared in Chen Fei''s vision. He was about to approach when he heard a buzzing sound rise. A series of oddly shaped insects crawled out from that pile of junk, fluttering mid-air as if warning Chen Fei that if he dared to take another step forward, they would immediately attack. Mutants that lived in colonies often followed one of the important biological instincts, territorial awareness. Each insectoid mutant was a foot long, with red and white alternating segments, three pairs of long wings flapping alternately, capable of stable hovering in the air and extremely fast flight when stirred, brandishing their teeth and claws in a ferocious posture, eyeing Chen Fei ravenously. "Chirp!" Little Bird was fearless. A deadly glow flickered in its slightly opened sharp beak, controlling life and death, unity and division¡ªthe laser decided with a word. A slender laser beam shot out, dazzling with its speed in a chaotic dance. Before Chen Fei could materialize a Railgun Combat Rifle, the flying insectoid mutants in his field of vision were bisected en masse and fell from the sky. The common weakness of flying species is their fragile bodies. Xiao Jiu''s actions were too quick, the laser''s power too fierce, resulting in a one-sided slaughter. The mutants didn''t even have a chance to flee before they were wiped out on the spot. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu cocked its head, looking at the pile of junk, waiting for new mutants to fly out for slaughter. But... there was no movement. It flapped its wings and flew over, found a gap, and dived right in. The insectoid mutants about a meter long could squeeze through, and naturally, so could the Pure Light Sparrow. Chen Fei wasn''t too worried about Little Bird''s proactive attack; even if it couldn''t win, it had a Magic Shield for protection and at worst would only be pinned underneath. Being pinned didn''t matter; a simple Absorption, without the need for excavation, could easily rescue it, and it would even gain some Energy Points¡ªa win-win situation. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" Inside the small mountain made of various scrap machinery, continuous chirping from Little Bird echoed, red light leaked from all sorts of gaps followed by slowly rising black smoke, as if fire had ignited inside. However, Chen Fei''s attention was entirely focused on the tail of a particular mechanical body, placing his hand nearby. Absorption! System: Ding! Absorbed one excavator... System: Ding! Absorbed a Porsche sports car... System: Ding! Absorbed a "SWORDS" combat robot... System: Ding! Absorbed an East Wind Tactical Ballistic Deflector... Energy Points +1344! Energy Points: 12849/20000 These were not the point! System: Ding! Discovered Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" wreckage, 11345.32 kilograms, absorb: Yes/No|? No! Chen Fei took a deep breath of cold air. There was no mistake! Even the Dog System could recognize it, it was definitely the genuine article! "Gravity Adjustment Module (1%)" The weight of 11 tons, after gravity adjustment, was left at just over 113 kilograms. For Chen Fei, this was nothing; he clutched the tail piece with both hands, yanking it out of the rubbish heap. Boom! The small mountain of old machinery shook without warning, nearly causing Chen Fei to lose his balance as the remnants of the Crystal Jet rolled down with him. There was a clattering sound as a huge mutant slowly squeezed through the mechanical debris, crawling out of the mountain to stagger away into the distance. This brute looked similar to the earlier insectoid mutants but had even more tentacles and spiked segments, appearing far more ferocious. Little Bird, enveloped in a Light System Magic Shield, also chased out, its sharp beak firing a powerful laser beam that, upon contact with the mutant''s body, sparked flames and smoke. To the surprise, this mutant had a strong resistance to the laser beam; despite the searing pain causing it to scream, it wasn''t bisected on the spot like the others had been. "Chirp!~" The relentless Xiao Jiu seemed to be furious; the pale green beam flashed, suddenly turning into a bright red glare. This time, the laser beam''s power more than doubled in magnitude; its wavelength changed too. The mutant''s escape wasn''t quick; as the red laser beam hit it again, it left deep cuts, shearing off several of its limbs spray with viscous gel. The severed limbs were not left behind but were dragged along by the sticky, flexible body fluids. The red laser beam moved back and forth, ultimately dismembering the exceptionally resilient mutant into pieces. The somewhat tired Xiao Jiu returned to Chen Fei''s shoulder and began preening its feathers, probably feeling confident it could take down another big guy like that. For a Magical Beast of the Human Order Third Rank, possessing such combat prowess was indeed a matter of great pride. Chen Fei, holding in his arms a piece of a Crystal Jet that was totally disproportionate to his size, returned to the rendezvous point, where three large trucks were already piled up, along with hundreds of rubber wheels, some with rims and some just the rubber rings. Although they were kind of dirty and covered with white alkali powder, their actual condition was far from truly scrapworthy. After all, it was unlikely that all the tires of a vehicle would go to waste at the same time, but when being replaced, they often got discarded in batches. Therefore, among the piles of used tires and rims in the yard, many could still be used. Seeing Chen Fei carry over a large item and then gingerly set it down, Mouri Misono asked curiously, "Chen Fei, what are you holding?" "A Crystal Jet! Its name is ''Holy Grail''!" Chen Fei wiped the slight sweat from his forehead. It wasn''t from exhaustion but rather from nervousness. A gasp of astonishment filled the air. "A Crystal Jet?" Tree Boundary Ape Lulu An and the fire mage Adrian Benjamin exchanged glances. Who would have thought that among these old machines, there would be a Crystal Jet hidden. Even if it was broken and incomplete, it was indeed astonishing. Not to mention something that had been severely bitten a few times, even selling it for money could probably fetch several tens or even millions of Star Yuan! After all, it was a National Treasure Artifact. There absolutely would be tycoons willing to pay up to show off. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley commented, "This damned place is even more dangerous than I imagined!" The others quickly caught on. That was a load of information! If even the Crystal Jet was damaged like this, a terrible and fierce battle must have occurred. Even the Sky Knights might have met with an unexpected fate. The degree of danger on the Ocean Continent was really beyond imagination. "No worries, it''s a big find!" Chen Fei didn''t care at all. He had been through many dangerous situations¡ªonce, twice, thrice¡ªhe had long since become indifferent to life and death, so reckless that he didn''t even spare himself. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron of Aircrew Base 911, which member wasn''t tough enough to fight to the death? Constant exposure to such an environment had turned a perfectly good college student belligerent, with even his bones exuding fierceness. Look at Chekhov Big Bear, the squadron''s standing act. Eating, sleeping, fighting Big Bear, it was all self-inflicted! Chen Fei interlocked his fingers, twisted them a few times, loosened his muscles, and asked, "Have you guys found any Mutants? Xiao Jiu took out a whole nest!" Birds are the natural predators of insects, so it was no wonder Xiao Jiu relentlessly pursued and annihilated those insect-like Mutants. If they hadn''t been so large, it might even have swallowed them whole. "We found a few things like slugs, utterly disgusting!" The Earth Order First Rank fire mage, Adrian Benjamin with his cropped white hair, showed a look of revulsion. Those sticky Mutants had already been burnt to a crisp by him, roasted until crunchable. "I found some fungi that can decompose metal." The Old Tree Boundary Ape took out several shiny mushrooms with delicate stems from the pockets on his body, some silver and some copper-colored, all undoubtedly metallic in appearance. It wasn''t just animals that mutated wildly; plants did too. It''s just that the latter have a much lower tolerance for mutations than the former, and slight genetic flaws would result in quick death, making Mutant plants quite rare. However, once they have successfully mutated, they invariably cause immense threats and destruction. Don''t be fooled by a few mushrooms. If their spores were spread across the world, it wouldn''t take long for the entire Blue Star Civilization to be thrown back into the Stone Age. "Then let''s get started!" Chen Fei surveyed the three large trucks. One was an armored bus, its shell torn open by a Mutant, three tires burst, and the chassis somewhat damaged. But that''s okay, because the damage could all be repaired by metal elemental psychic power. The other two were heavy transport vehicles, their chassis slightly deformed, apparently having carried something too heavy. Moreover, they were somewhat longer than Chen Fei had anticipated, about twenty meters in length. After walking around, he chose a heavy transport vehicle, placed his hand on the body of the truck, and activated his Special Ability. The vehicle underwent a monumental transformation. Paint began to flake off, revealing its gray iron material, which then also changed. Minutes later, the Mobile Base Vehicle from the design appeared before everyone, with a slightly stretched appearance but almost no difference from the original. The originally deformed chassis was not only restored but also reinforced. Chen Fei''s "Alloy Database" contained more than 50,000 alloy ratios. Finding a lighter and stronger alloy solution as a substitute was not difficult, and he directly ignored the cost. If a vehicle manufacturer dared to do this, they would probably go bankrupt. "Really, truly identical!" Puppet Master Joshua''s eyes rounded with amazement at how quickly the blueprint had turned into reality. "Those few wheels won''t do, they need changing!" Chen Fei casually dismantled the wheels and took somewhat better-looking ones from another heavy transport vehicle, replaced them, forcibly pumped in air, and upon completion, there were five pairs of load-bearing wheels, all electrically driven. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley weighed in, a bit disheartened, "Chen Fei, you''re really more suited to the factory, not the battlefield!" If it were him, he probably couldn''t manage with such nonchalance. Not to mention the intricate parts, probably only the vehicle''s designer could manage those details so clearly. "I don''t want to be an industrial worker!" Chen Fei folded his arms and refused without a moment''s hesitation. What''s so good about squatting on a production line every day? It''s definitely much more interesting to mix it up as a military contractor. - Chapter 352 352: Section 348 - Battery ``` After rummaging through the pile of junk again, I found many replacement parts and installed them on the Mobile Base Vehicle. If we relied entirely on "material simulation," it would consume a massive amount of Energy Points and be so costly that it would be unaffordable, which would go against Chen Fei''s original intention. He just wanted to pick up some bargains. Since Chen Fei had amassed over ten thousand Energy Points, the Dog System became cunningly avaricious, so much so that he didn''t even glance at the "Skill Shop''s" daily update list, remaining true to his principles, steady with his Energy Points, determined not to be fooled by the Dog System. Besides, when it came to truly valuable top-tier skills, what use were his measly ten thousand Energy Points? They wouldn''t even cover the fraction of the cost. The completed Mobile Base Vehicle was a true behemoth at 20 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, and 3 meters tall, with a ground clearance of 0.5 meters. Although it weighed a hefty 55 tons, the chassis could support a load of over a hundred tons. The lights came on, and brushless motors began to operate, each of the ten motors corresponding to a wheel hub. The Mobile Base Vehicle shuddered slightly as it began to accelerate from slow to fast. The incomplete Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" was placed on a trailer and hitched to the rear of the Mobile Base Vehicle, departing the temporary yard of discarded machinery together. Puppet Master Joshua applauded loudly and said, "Wow! It actually worked!" He had provided some modification suggestions that added many ergonomic designs to the interior of the vehicle, making it more human-friendly and less like a rigid, angular steel style. The group sat in the vehicle, and the scenery outside the window rapidly receded. The sheer size of the vehicle offered an immediate sense of spaciousness within the cabin, as though a house was moving. The suspension system, modeled after passenger vehicles, minimized the vibrations transmitted to the cabin despite the uneven ground outside, resulting in only slight tremors rather than a tumultuous jostling that would churn one''s stomach and scatter one''s wits... "This is amazing!" Mauri Little Sister ran around inside the cabin, touching this and that, very cheerfully. With this mobile divine artifact, at least there was no need to worry about having to sleep rough in the wilderness. The group could conserve their strength, with access to a restroom, hot showers, hot meals, a comfortable place to sleep, and with the sturdy vehicle, they had at least some resistance against mutant attacks, preventing any surprise assaults. It was incredibly convenient. "It feels like we''re cheating!" The oldest in the group, the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, sighed; it was very unaccustomed to the team suddenly acquiring such a mode of transport, even if it was undoubtedly very handy. But... it had absolutely nothing to do with the adaptability training in Habulav. Too comfortable! "No, this is a skill! There''s absolutely nothing wrong with it!" As a fellow Metal Ability User, Kiterley supported Chen Fei without hesitation. With such an excellent skill available, why should they needlessly exhaust themselves? Why bother with Magic, Battle Qi, and Special Abilities when one could simply wield a stick or a stone? Fire Mage of the First Rank in the Human Order, Adrian Benjamin, said, "We can still do some interior modifications. Lulu''an, can you provide the right wood?" "Uh! Yes, I can!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape was taken aback and then nodded with a bitter smile. For it, rapidly growing some trees and providing wood was a well-practiced task, hardly any trouble at all. As long as there were seeds, enough spiritual power, and magic power, it could even grow some food. "Susanna, you''ll be in charge of making ice, so you''re our source of water!" Adrian Benjamin turned to Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User and the fiery beauty with a personality opposite her ability. "I can only make ice cubes, not provide water directly!" Susanna Jean Piault rolled her eyes adorably. Ice cubes could only freeze someone to death, whereas water was drinkable. "I''ll take care of melting it!" The Fire Mage of the First Rank in the Human Order boasted, patting his chest. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee put eleven people together after careful consideration, ensuring their abilities were complementary. Even though Kiterley and Chen Fei were from the same Ability User element, they differed in their skill focus¡ªone was more suited for aggressive forward assaults while the other was better equipped for preparing powerful moves and maintaining logistics from the back. Now, their decision was undoubtedly correct. Ruan Tiankai, an Earth Mage of the Ninth Rank in Earth Order, reclined comfortably in his chair and said, "The ''Mobile Base Vehicle'' is indeed an apt name. Riding into the wilderness feels more like taking a trip to the countryside." But Chen Fei shook his head and said, "We still need Crystalline Blocks." He was clad in the "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, with a power cable plugged into the socket at his back continuously drawing electricity. The current output was 500 kilowatts, roughly 500 kilowatt-hours per hour. Electric Energy Reserve: 1200 kilowatt-hours (kW¡¤h) This meant that the vehicle could only run at full speed for two and a half hours, and it would not be possible to use additional power-consuming devices such as laser weapons or railgun weapons. Moreover, since the old batteries were exclusively recycled, Chen Fei could not find a large capacity chemical battery in the temporary yard of discarded machinery, which bound him to his seat by cables, because once he left the driver''s seat, the Mobile Base Vehicle would immediately lose power and come to a halt. If he had large capacity Crystalline Blocks, Chen Fei would be able to move freely, even without the Mobile Base Vehicle. Fire Mage of the First Rank in the Human Order, Adrian Benjamin, came to the driver''s seat and said, "Take it slow, there''s no rush. We''ll find a way eventually. We could start with solid-state chemical batteries as a temporary solution, even if it means using up more space and load capacity." "That''s the only option, then. Later, we''ll try our luck in Zone D to see if we can find any old batteries that haven''t been recycled yet." It looked like Chen Fei was determined to scavenge for second-hand items as much as possible. He had no money, what else could he do! Crystalline Blocks were prohibitively expensive, and other people wanted to help but simply couldn''t afford it. The Mobile Base Vehicle had just approached the walls of Habulav when a reconnaissance drone flew out from within the walls, circling the vehicle a few times, seemingly confirming the identities of the people inside before leaving. ``` Half an hour later, the massive vehicle rolled into Area D of Habulav, the military district. This was home to the vehicle maintenance and care center, providing professional services to all vehicles in Habulav. Discarded batteries were also processed and recycled here. As soon as the unique, massive vehicle entered Area D, it naturally attracted much attention. Specialized intelligent mechanical beings led the way, guiding it to the parking area. The moment it came to a stop, a crowd had already gathered around. "Wow, where did this big fella come from?" "What is this? A mobile command vehicle, maybe? But isn''t it a bit too big?" "Since when did Habulav have such a ground vehicle?" "Could it have come from outside!" ... A group of onlookers curiously inspected the Mobile Base Vehicle, chatting animatedly about it. However, the remains of the Crystal Jet behind the vehicle were ignored; almost no one showed interest. With so much damage, it was beyond repair and would be better off sent to the temporary scrapyard, waiting to be compressed. Even if repaired at great cost, it would only serve as a decoration. Without a real Sky Knight, recklessly operating a Crystal Jet was akin to courting death. Any slight maneuver could fill the cockpit with gore, transforming the jet into more of a meat grinder than a vehicle. Chen Fei disconnected the power cable hooked to his lower back, pushed open the door of the pilot''s seat, and casually asked someone, "Can you tell me where the discarded battery processing center is?" "Eh? Discarded batteries? Are you scrapping this vehicle? Don''t scrap it, sell it to me! I''ll offer 100,000 Star Yuan!" The person hesitated, glanced at Chen Fei, and then at the dust-covered Mobile Base Vehicle, which had not a single new part on it, even the paint job was gone. His words immediately drew the attention of others. Indeed, heroes think alike. Offering 100,000 Star Yuan for such a big toy was certainly interesting. Would someone working in Habulav really care about 100,000 Star Yuan? Of course, they wouldn''t care! "I''ll offer 110,000 Star Yuan, sell it to me!" "120,000! It would be perfect to convert to a motorhome." "150,000!" "180,000! Anyone going higher?" "200,000!" MMP... As the bidding war heated up and the prices climbed higher, Chen Fei couldn''t say he wasn''t tempted. When the price surged to 250,000 Star Yuan, it was practically free money. "Sorry, I''m not selling!" Chen Fei had to make a tough decision. The enthusiastic atmosphere abruptly ceased, dousing everyone in cold water. Damn, it was a false celebration. In the aftermath of that blind excitement, things felt dull. Those who had been still examining the massive vehicle suddenly lost their interest and dispersed like birds and beasts. "Um, back to my earlier question!" Chen Fei grabbed the person he had spoken to before, just as he was about to walk away. The military district was also a controlled area. Though the electronic map had an overview, details weren''t marked for security reasons, so he still needed to ask for directions. "Just go straight that way and turn left at the end; you''ll see it immediately. Hey, if you decide to sell this vehicle, come to me first!" The man handed over his business card, evidently still not giving up. "Alright, thanks!" Chen Fei took the card noncommittally, glancing at it briefly. The man''s job title was ''mechanical engineer,'' though which kind was unclear. "Do you need any help?" The discarded battery disassembly center was unmanned, only mechanical beings worked there. Seeing Chen Fei and his companions, one of them approached immediately. Although it was also powered by artificial intelligence AI, it wasn''t the same system as "Adam." It and the other mechanical beings were all terminal subunits of the same AI. Lacking independence and individuality, it however had a unique advantage in management and data communication, making it well-suited for complex operations. "I need chemical solid-state batteries, the larger the capacity and the higher the integrity the better." Chen Fei straightforwardly stated his requirements to the intelligent mechanical being. The mechanical being''s luminous blue eyes flickered as it immediately said, "Authorization obtained, please follow me!" Chen Fei''s fellow Ability Users exchanged glances behind him, probably owing their smooth experience to that big guy from Babylon; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so easy. Convincing an artificial intelligence AI as stubborn as those descended from Cybertrom''s lineage¡ªwell, that was out of the question. Chapter 353 353: Section 349 - Action Team ``` The Mobile Base Vehicle was ultimately equipped with chemical solid-state batteries, even though Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power temporarily repaired the lithium iron phosphate batteries, restoring them to 99% capacity. Yet these could only maintain the vehicle''s full-speed operation for half an hour, their main duty still being to ensure the lighting, air conditioning, and various electrical appliances within the carriage. If solar cells were added, the self-sustained driving time could increase a tiny bit, which is better than nothing. To call a fully electric heavy-duty vehicle an electricity-guzzling tiger would be a compliment. As a result, the vehicle''s weight increased by two tons, or rather, the available payload decreased by two tons. To really take it out for a spin, ensuring sufficient endurance was necessary. In the absence of high-grade crystalline blocks, one could only rely on the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill. After the interior soft decoration and the addition of various facilities and equipment, the normal unladen weight of this Mobile Base Vehicle was expected to reach 69 tons, and if it were fully loaded, the total weight would almost approach 80 tons. If gravity adjustment was set to the lowest level of 1%, the entire vehicle could be reduced to a maximum of 0.8 tons, which could indeed save a lot of effort for the independent electric motors of the five pairs of wheels. But in reality, it was almost impossible. If the surface area of a vehicle measuring 20 meters in length, 4.5 meters in width, and 3 meters in height were affected by wind, an 800-kilogram weight would simply not be enough to anchor it down. Not to mention, to ensure passability, the chassis was 0.5 meters off the ground, and with a slight increase in speed, the whole vehicle could easily drift. With a stronger wind, it might even flip over. Therefore, when driving at full speed, it was best to maintain the vehicle''s weight above 20 tons. In the event of a strong wind or even a sandstorm, it''s necessary to revert to the original weight to stabilize the vehicle with at least 69 tons. To recklessly activate the "Gravity Adjustment Module" would be tantamount to courting death. Even though this Mobile Base Vehicle had reached the conditions necessary for departure, due to the lack of crystalline blocks that met the requirements, its performance still could not achieve the most perfect design specifications. - The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters, located in Hablav City''s Zone C, had a total of fifty-two training facilities. These included diverse terrains like dense forests, swamps, deep-water areas, grasslands, stone forests, towns, mazes, and plains, with both outdoor and indoor venues available. Twenty teams stood in solemn array around the central square surrounded by the training facilities of Zone C. Chen Fei and his team were just one of them, with the team number 04, corresponding to Training Facility C4, effectively allocating one training venue to each team. The United Defense Committee members had finally resolved to completely eradicate the "Water Bear" organization, which secretly bred mutants that defied the taboo. They wouldn''t carelessly slap the issue aside. When a lion fights a rabbit, it still uses all its might, let alone the Joint Defense Committee supported by various sovereignties. Countless spies had been spread thin, and the brains of various figures like Holmes, Di Shijie, Song Ci, Francois Eugen Vidocq, and Kogoro Mori were all whirring, attempting to unravel the mystery and dig three kilometers underground to locate the hiding place of the "Water Bear" organization. There were not just Chen Fei and his eleven teammates who were selected through stringent interviews to complement each other''s skills. After all, to cover every corner of the globe, relying on a single team would not even qualify them to be exhausted from constant running. Therefore, in addition to Chen Fei and his team, another twenty combat teams of similar size would complete formation and adaptability training in Hablav before being dispatched all over the world, ready to provide support for combat at any time. Hablav boasted the richest mutant resources in the world. After adapting to the overwhelming mutant tide here, dealing with the "Water Bear" organization wouldn''t result in a confused scramble. Behind the eleven people of Team 04, there was an extraordinarily huge vehicle parked. Whispers occasionally emerged from other teams nearby. "Damn, a bunch of cheaters!" "It must be very comfortable to ride in such a vehicle." "That external enhancement is too obvious, doesn''t anyone care?" "I''m not convinced!" "I''ve inquired about it, it seems to be a contraption made by a metal ability user. Hey, Haken, can you put together one too?" "Please spare me! That thing is too complicated!" "Shall we also pool together to assemble one? Crowdfunding!" "Count me in for a hundred thousand Star Yuan!" "It''d be better to ask Team 04 if they are selling. If they can assemble one, they can definitely put together a second one. A million Star Yuan should be tempting for them." ... On the podium, the big shots were in the midst of their long-winded, successive speeches. Below the podium, the twenty action teams were still muttering among themselves. The gigantic vehicle on the edge of the central square was conspicuously eye-catching. "Hey, Chen Fei, someone passed a message, one million Star Yuan, do you sell?" Chen Fei heard the murmurs from the Puppet Master, Joshua. He refused without hesitation. "No selling!" With the temptation of wealth stirring the heart, an Earth Mage of Human Order spoke softly, "Don''t we still have one set of chassis left? It seems we have plenty of spare parts too!" After all, it was a free one million Star Yuan. "Cut it out, it''s not your car, don''t talk nonsense!" The B-ranked Ice Attribute supernatural power user Susanna Jean Piault immediately scoffed. Ruan Tiankai sheepishly said, "Hey, I''m just saying!" The Mobile Base Vehicle, cobbled together entirely by Metal Special Ability, would still not leave much for him even if sold and Chen Fei was generous, with everyone getting a share of the proceeds. "Shh! Listen to the speech!" Chen Fei made a silence gesture, and the others immediately quieted down. ``` Notes quietly being passed and whispered messages within the surrounding teams were all intercepted by the other members of Squad 04, never reaching Chen Fei. "It''s all a bunch of nonsense, what''s there to listen to, just do it and it''s over!" A-Class Metal Ability User Kiterley sneered at the official platitudes being spouted on the podium. Gathering twenty squads together to grandiosely utter some meaningless pleasantries and chant a few adolescent slogans, the entire purpose was nothing more than propaganda. It was not as if there was any significant affair at hand. If there were any real issues, a message sent directly to everyone''s phone would suffice. Action teams were responsible for execution; the thinking was naturally left for others to undertake. "Behind the Joint Defense Committee, could it really be the Lin Family?" Chen Fei had always assumed that those with sovereignty on Blue Star were behind the formation of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but it turned out it wasn''t just the sovereigns; there was also the Lin Family! Speaking eloquently on the stage was Lin Ziming, one of the contemporary Sky Knights of the Lin Family, bestowed with the title "Extreme Skybreaker." The Lin Family, possessing the last Dragon Rider, could be considered a Sky Knight dynasty, with at least ten Sky Knights over two generations, comparable to a medium to small sovereign state. The Chen Family Gate indeed had some connection to the Lin Family, but it was limited to the personal relationship of his uncle Chen Haiqing. Down to Chen Fei''s branch, there was more than one layer of separation, so he did not feel shameless enough to force himself into acknowledging this kinship. Let''s be real, the Lin Family acknowledged Uncle Chen Haiqing; they would, at most, be a bit more polite to his four golden flowers and the youngest, Little Shanzi. What the hell was Chen Fei to them? To the Lin Family, a B-level psychic might not even qualify to guard their gate. "Isn''t that pretty normal? With the Lin Family''s power and influence, they''re essentially no different from a sovereign state. Besides the Lin Family, massive behemoths like Dragoon Magic Industry and Louis Industrial Company have been fully involved in the establishment of the Global United Defense Committee," added Adrian Benjamin, the de facto leader of Squad 04 and a First Rank Earth Mage, with a face of calm composure. Military serves politics, and politics in turn serves the economy. In the end, it was still the power of capital that determined the direction of the world. Behind each sovereign lay capitals of various sizes, right? Every person on that stage was a spokesperson for capital. One after another, they all put on a show. What emerged to the surface and could be seen were only the well-known sovereigns. But the true state of affairs beneath the surface was known by very few. The Global United Defense Committee members, aggregated from money, authority, people, and a plethora of resources, were in some sense no less significant than any sovereign of contemporary times; their only deficiency was in foundation. Without their own territory and basic population, they were ultimately just duckweed on water, trees without roots. Chen Fei asked curiously, "A cross-boundary corporation like Dragoon Magic Industry can also take part?" The United Defense Commission was a domestic affair of Blue Star; involving enterprises that dealt with Otherworld civilizations, was that really okay? Without fear of interfering with other world civilizations, possibly sparking a war. If a fight truly broke out, it would likely be more disastrous than the war from over thirty years ago. Neither Blue Star nor Cangqiong Star could compare to the Third Era Civilization, which had been at the brink of exhaustion then, fighting their last battle. Once it came to a life-or-death struggle, mutual annihilation and the extinction of planetary life were very likely outcomes. The fate of both stars might turn out worse than the present Primordial Realm. Adrian Benjamin suddenly smiled and said, "Ultimately, Dragoon Magic Industry is still a native enterprise of Blue Star. Actually, Louis Industries has also crossed boundaries, owning considerable assets on Cangqiong Star. Many of the Global United Defense Committee''s resources are provided by them; relying solely on sovereignty wouldn''t yield that many quotas." He evidently had inside knowledge, beyond the fabrications of street rumors. Dragoon Magic Industry brought magic technology to Blue Star, becoming an industry leader and monopolistic giant who drinks the first and choicest draught, its power couldn''t possibly be small. Dragoon Magic Industry was also a publicly traded company, and its declared shareholders included the Silan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star, overseen by the royal joint management fund, thus holding some trading quota rights. The trading quotas between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star were a matter of national importance for various sovereigns, and only mega-corporations involved in high-level interests across both worlds were qualified to dabble in these quotas. Lower-level nobodies who dared to dream about such quotas would only have one outcome: death, with no sovereign showing mercy. "Hiss!" Chen Fei gasped. As a commoner from the lower strata of society, besides public news media, his information channels were limited to street gossip. Even among petty street rumors, almost everyone knew that those with the power to touch the trade quotas of both worlds also had the right to participate in interworld affairs. Any fool bold enough to publicly claim they had quotas would be found within two hours, in a police station''s detention cell. One can eat whatever they want, but there are things one simply cannot say. The long-winded speeches on the stage finally drew to a close, and next, the action squads began to enter the outskirts of Hablav for wilderness survival training. Almost every place afflicted with mutant disasters was a bird-shunning no-man''s land, full of desolation and hardship. An environment as inhospitable as the surroundings of Hablav was an ideal training ground. Back at the C4 training gym, a tall, burly man named Babylon arrived with a lean-faced middle-aged man with keen, eagle-like features. Before the big man could introduce him, the middle-aged man stepped forward. "My name is Rossi, your liaison officer for Squad 04. I''m in charge of interpreting the Commission''s orders and contacting other departments. You can call me by my name Rossi or Old Luo, Old Xi ¡ª any of these are fine." His raspy voice carried an ominous tone, giving off a vibe of manipulative unease. On the surface, he was a liaison officer; in reality, he likely doubled as a surveillance officer and a supervising officer, right? The members of Squad 04 exchanged glances with each other. - Chapter 354 354: Section 350 - Desert Survival "Hey, you''re the one responsible for snitching, right?" The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, the towering Apu, spoke his mind straightforwardly and caught everyone off guard. Just look at that face, it''s like he pinched his own neck and slapped his cheeks with Yin Yang Eight Trigrams Palm... as if there was a crisp and loud sound echoing in the air. Chen Fei(lll?¦Ø?): Damn, even if you know, you can''t just say it outright! Ruan Tiankai(¡Ño¡Ñ)...: Where''s your brain? Pick it up quickly! Mouri Misono( ?©\¦Ø©\): Another one who can''t read the room. Susanna Jean Piault¡¦_¡¦: Is it really okay to talk like that? Captain Adrian Benjamin©¥©¥¡Æ( ?¡õ ?*|||©¥©¥: Nice one, you''ve just managed to offend the guy as soon as you arrived; how are we going to smooth things over now? This is going to be a headache! The atmosphere between the two suddenly became very awkward. Apu, with his nerve reflex arc incredibly long, finally began to sense that something was off. Looking around in confusion, scratching the back of his head, he belatedly said, "Huh? Why isn''t anyone talking? Did I say something wrong?" Stop with the brutal honesty¡Á10! Babylon ?¡÷ ?: ... Liaison Officer Rossi snorted coldly and said, "If you don''t speak, no one will take you for a mute." He also realized that the other person was simply a straightforward BOY, and it was pointless to argue with such a fool. He might as well look for an opportunity to make life difficult for the big guy. Apu was about to speak again, but was fiercely glared at by the fire mage and had to swallow back the words he was about to say. "So, what''s the next task, Liaison Officer Rossi?" Adrian Benjamin hastily changed the subject. He had a good idea that Apu, who had left a bad impression, was probably in for some trouble and might even drag others down with him. The Liaison Officer said with an expressionless face, "The final assessment, survive one month in the Central Desert Region!" "Huh?" Chen Fei was stunned. Spend a month in a desert filled with radiation and mutants? If they didn''t have enough supplies, everyone was likely not to last even seven days¡ªno exceptions. It was like being pushed into hell! Done for! Disbanded!! I want to go home!!! If this place won''t keep me, I''ll find someplace that will. "Cheep!" Little Bird. Mouri Misono, her face deathly pale, said with a trembling voice, "Not taking a bath for a month, we''ll be stunk to death!" A fragrance-loving soft girl turning into a dirty smelly girl, she probably wants to die. The expression on B-level Ice Ability User Susanna''s face was also not very pleasant. The two girls looked at each other. Adrian Benjamin tentatively asked, "Uh, are there any supplies? Food, water, medicine, and weapons?" If they had nothing and had to rely solely on their own vitality to endure the desert, he was ready to pack up and leave, opting out of playing along with this Liaison Officer. Even if Team 04 now had a Mobile Base Vehicle, this was not how they should be playing. "..." Rossi looked at everyone silently for a long time without saying a word. Just as the atmosphere was about to collapse, he finally spoke in a grim voice, "How could there be none? Each team is issued a Space System Alchemy Storage Device with a month''s worth of supplies, and there will also be periodic airdrops of supplies." "Phew..."¡Á11(©``¡ä©`)! Everyone simultaneously let out a sigh of relief. First Rank Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin asked in a grave voice, "When do we set off?" "The day after tomorrow; you have enough time to prepare. Make a list of anything you need and give it to Babylon." After finishing his speech, Liaison Officer Rossi left without hesitation, showing no intention of getting chummy with Team 04. Not far off, he suddenly stopped, turned his head and said, "I''ll give you a friendly reminder: don''t rely too much on that big vehicle. There are dangers everywhere in the desert, and staying inside the vehicle may not be safe." "We know, thank you!" Adrian Benjamin had been worried that the other party would forbid Team 04 from using Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, but his words now put Adrian''s mind at ease. In fact, Babylon providing suggestions and supporting Chen Fei in cobbling together the vehicle from old junk already represented the official stance of the Global United Defense Committee; although not officially announced, their tacit approval was clear. If anyone had an issue with it, the attitude was simple: if you can do better, step up; if not, don''t complain. As long as you had the ability, no one would stop you. After making a round on the outskirts of Habulav, everyone understood what kind of dangers lurked in the more distant desert. Even A-level and higher standing Ability Users could not guarantee they would emerge unscathed, and the wreckage of the crystal jet found unexpectedly in a pile of garbage was the best proof of that. The big black guy from Babylon, who had been unfazed as if devoid of any emotional changes, said, "Get the supply list to me before midnight!" The fire mage Adrian Benjamin, who was the nominal team leader and stood at the first rank of the Earth Order, touched his cropped white hair and said, "No problem! We''ll do it as fast as we can!" At this moment, he no longer had the mind to continue practicing. Staying in the Great Desert for an entire month was definitely no small test. Chen Fei raised his fist high and shouted loudly, "We must bring beer, barbeque, and I''ll add two more big freezers, oh yeah!" "Oh yeah!" The Puppet Master, Holy Knight, Twin Blades Sister, and Thunder Straightforward BOY all raised their hands and cheered together. Their ability to stir up enthusiasm was simply too strong. "Add two more water tanks. Once in the desert, I want to bathe every day!" The B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna, rolling her shoulder-length hair around her finger, quickly added a sentence. "Hey, don''t go overboard, will you?" Seeing that a grave life-and-death test was about to turn into a BBQ parade, the fire mage could no longer bear it and spoke out to break the increasingly frivolous atmosphere at the scene. Be serious, guys. We''re about to fight for our lives, and you''re still talking about skewers? Chen Fei gestured with his hands laid out and said, "Relax a bit, Adrian. It''s important to know both when to gather and when to release energy, to be both tense and lively¡ªthat''s how to live longer." Stay united and tense, yet serious and lively; the seniors certainly did not deceive me. "If there''s any danger, I''ll be the first to charge in." The A-rank Metal Ability User Kiterley gave his little brother Chen Fei a look and then pounded his chest hard with his fist. The armor that was almost fused with him made a clanging sound, impenetrable to any light weapons available today. Once Metal Ability Users gained defensive skills, they often proved especially resilient. "Golden Bell Shield" and "Iron Cloth" were just the basics, beyond that were "Indestructibility," and if that wasn''t enough, "Titanium Extreme Metal Body"¡ªjust try me, let loose a 152mm shell at me. "Hmph!" The fire mage snorted displeasedly. The dark and foolish Apu muttered to himself, "Uh, me too, me too!" But no one paid attention to him. Looking around and only left with grumbling, he sat sulkily. "Apu, eat more, talk less in the future." Yuan Lulu An, the Tree Boundary Ape, did actually pat the big black guy''s shoulder, giving him some roundabout advice. "Oh!" Apu cocked his head, still not understanding. - The Mobile Base Vehicle passed through the heavily guarded city gate, came to the outside of the walls of Habulav, and drove straight into the desolate Gobi Desert, where no more greenery could be seen. Several more teams entered the wilderness one after another, each heading off in different directions on foot. Many cast envious glares at the swiftly departing Mobile Base Vehicle; MMP, equal grunts in this hard-knock life, why the hell act so high and mighty! Inside the Mobile Base Vehicle, maintaining a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, it was both spacious and steady, with an air conditioning system maintaining a pleasant temperature and humidity. The radiation from outside was also hard to penetrate, making it quite comfortable to stay in. Mouri Misono sat by the window, pointing outside and said loudly, "Look, the Babylons are standing on the city wall, wondering which one is our Uncle Babylon." The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee maintained a regimented force of Soldiers in Habulav, using Third Era Neanderthal Tribe biotechnology to meticulously engineer the Soldiers'' genes. Not only did they have resilient vitality, reliable loyalty, and obedience, brave without fearing death, capable of forming outstanding combat effectiveness quickly, but there was also no need to worry about social pressure from casualties. Some of these Soldiers even unlocked Spirit Special Abilities for non-combat supportive tasks. This series of cloned Soldiers all had one common name: Babylon. The various black Babylons, each one a clone from the same mold with their eyes closed, had hundreds of micro-electrophotonic devices implanted in them. These allowed for instantaneous human-machine communication, seamlessly interfacing with the central AI responsible for all of Habulav, combining human adaptability and the rapid information processing abilities of artificial intelligence. In a way, these hundred-plus Babylons could be considered a single entity. This time, the Babylons were in charge of ensuring the various connections for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" and were also undergoing an important functional test. "Hey! I really thought these big black guys were all heartless." A white-bearded Ability User turned around, smiling at the members of Team 04 and said, "Folks, I''m extremely grateful that you could give us a lift, and if you ever need help in the future, be it through hell or high water, I''ll be there at the drop of a hat!" He was the captain of Team 18, also participating in the month-long survival test in the desert. Luckily, Team 18 and Team 04''s destinations partially coincided, so they were able to hitch a ride for part of the way. "It''s no trouble at all, don''t mention it." Adrian, the first-rank fire mage who was proficient in social interactions, was polite on the surface, yet he understood that this favor was truly noted down, and it might come in handy in the future. "At one o''clock, a Mutant has been spotted, 500 meters away... At two o''clock, a Mutant has been spotted, 1240 meters away." A classical-sounding electronic voice suddenly resounded inside the vehicle, monotonous and devoid of any emotive inflection. The recently reactivated "Adam" immediately became the artificial intelligence AI of the Mobile Base Vehicle, and nobody found this to be out of order. Without the AI, that''s what would be really odd. - Chapter 355 355: Section 351 - Difficult Progress The mobile base vehicle was loaded with some detection equipment and constantly monitored the sky and ground within a five-kilometer radius. It instantly detected a mutant lurking beneath the surface, and a laser beam, invisible to the naked eye, was projected from the top of the vehicle''s front, landing right on the hideout of the mutant. Chen Fei, who was driving the vehicle, could clearly see these laser beams through the windshield. "Leave it to me!" A member of Team 18, hitching a ride, who was born in Blue Star from the Feathered Tribe, picked up his magnetic rail sniper rifle, ready to climb onto the vehicle''s top to eliminate the potential threats outside. "Put this on!" Without turning his head, Chen Fei tossed a pair of glasses equipped with special lenses. Only through these special lenses could one see the special wavelength laser that was invisible to the naked eye. With a clang, a large hatch opened in the vehicle''s ceiling, and a folding ladder was lowered. The 4.5-meter wide vehicle body allowed for extensive modifications. "Thank you!" Catching the glasses and quickly placing them on his face, the member of the Feathered Tribe slung his gun, leaped onto the roof of the vehicle, mounted the magnetic rail sniper rifle on the shooting stand, and aimed at the landing points of the two laser beams. The magnetic rail sniper rifle was fully charged, and a 40-millimeter caliber bullet at the end of the rail was rapidly spinning. Instead of relying on gunpowder combustion for propulsion, the friction, and even the squeezing of the rifling to obtain spin, the high-speed rotation of the bullet body fired by the railgun weapon was sufficient to match the acceleration imparted by the rail, resulting in an almost straight trajectory and additional penetration power. Whiz! Whiz!~ The railgun weapon made no loud firing noise, only the sharp screech of the bullet tearing through the air. Hundreds of meters away, the ground was suddenly uplifted, the unwitting mutant had no chance to escape before it was blown up on the spot, with flesh and blood flying everywhere. Two high-explosive bombs, one to lift the ground, another to annihilate the mutant. The 40-millimeter diameter bullet was a full 20 centimeters long; even the largest native species on Blue Star today, the blue whale, could not withstand a hit¡ªstruck by one, its insides would be reduced to bits. Then two more shots were fired! Mutants a kilometer away were dispatched in the same manner, never knowing how they died. For the shooting range of a railgun weapon, a few hundred meters and a few thousand meters almost made no difference. Chen Fei, an experienced driver, thanked without looking back, "Thank you very much, you saved me two rounds of ammunition." This time out, he had brought 330 rounds of 60mm caliber grenades, 150 rounds of 120mm caliber shells, and 200 rounds of 152mm caliber demolition bombs, most of which were stored in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device held by Captain Adrian, with a small part kept on the mobile base vehicle. The industrially inclined Metal Ability could shape weapons, and as Chen Fei had already figured out the principles and design of the railgun weapon, it was no problem to make larger calibers as long as there were sufficient materials. The leader of Team 18 glanced at Chen Fei, who had built the mobile base vehicle, then turned to Adrian Benjamin, the captain of Team 04, and asked, "Are all Metal Ability users this capable?" Before the Earth Order fire mage could speak, Kiterley, an A-level Metal Ability user, quickly claimed, "Metal Ability users are just that badass plus!" and as he spoke, he clenched his fist, showing off a solid bicep. It was hard to tell how this cold-hearted yet warm-hearted guy could be so immature. A man remains a boy until death; furthermore, as the saying goes, a life without foolishness is a wasted youth. "I''ll see if other teams have extra Metal Ability users, and I might poach some." In front of Team 04, that''s all the leader of Team 18 dared to say; otherwise, before he could finish, the entire Team 18 would have been collectively thrown off the vehicle. How ungrateful to poach right in front of them¡ªwas he treating the entire Team 04 as fools or just idiots? "I wish you success in poaching!" What else could Adrian Benjamin say at that moment? His face was all smiles, but inside he was cursing. An hour later, the mobile base vehicle entered the desert region. Although the Gobi Desert was somewhat rough, thanks to the shock absorption system that buffered it to the carriage, the jolting sensation was minimal; but in the desert, it was an utterly different experience. The large vehicle with five pairs of wheels traversing the uneven sand dunes was simply torturous. Luckily the chassis was high enough; otherwise, the 20-meter-long vehicle would easily get its chassis stuck, even if it didn''t sink into the sand, with all ten wheels off the ground. The entire experience felt like a roller coaster¡ªmoments of thrilling ascents up the dune peaks, followed by terrifying plunges down the slopes, constantly making one fear that the vehicle would somersault down. This series of ups and downs was too much for most people. The mobile base vehicle had to stop, having covered less than twenty kilometers deep into the desert. Twenty kilometers as the crow flies, but if you added the distance up and down the dunes, it might have been over fifty kilometers. "My God, we might as well have walked!" The team leader of team 18 leaned on his leg and spit several times into the sand, which slightly alleviated his dizziness and vertigo. The young man from the Feathered Tribe who had been sniping threats with a magnetic rail sniper rifle throughout the journey simply knelt down, vomiting bile, his face expressing that he felt more dead than alive. He hadn''t lost to the mutants, but he had been defeated by the mobile base vehicle''s struggle over the sand dunes. "Shall we continue?" Chen Fei opened a can of beer for himself; Xiao Jiu and he scrambled to drink it. This bit of jolting was child''s play compared to the tactical maneuvers of the combat aircraft. There was still a long way to go! "Chen Fei, how can you be unaffected?" Kiterley, a pale-faced, Level-A Metal Ability User, gasped for air, thinking that this Level-B was unscientifically robust. Adrian Benjamin, the team leader of Team 04 and a First Rank fire mage, reminded, "Kiterley, you forgot he''s a pilot!" "Oh right!" No one was an idiot; at most, they were a bit obstinate. Kiterley slapped his forehead in realization. He had actually forgotten. "Hey! Chen, you''re drinking!" Mouri Misono, who was faring much better, leaned on her long sword and stared at Chen Fei with widened eyes. Chen Fei shook the can in his hand and enthusiastically recommended, "It''s so hot and dry, shouldn''t you have a can too?" "No way!" Twin Blades Sister crossed her arms and seriously stated with a stern face, "No drinking and driving, no driving and drinking. There are countless roads but safety comes first. Unruly driving brings tears to your family!" "Ha!" Chen Fei, looking at her, thought Miss Mouri must have picked up the wrong identity card. Her chattering was too slick. Then, he laughed and said, "Don''t worry! I''m not so easy to kill!" The group collectively face-palmed. What kind of drunken bravado was this? It was just one can of beer; how could he be this wasted? "Metal Ability, impressive!" Kiterley mindlessly praised. Adrian roared, "Haha, you might not die so easily, but what about us?" Tough and hardy Metal Ability Users might not die, but what about everyone else in the vehicle? Weren''t they collectively doomed? This was indeed utterly irresponsible! He had never seen someone so recklessly indifferent to life, not valuing his own life, nor that of others. "A mobile base vehicle can''t fly; what can I do? Drinking and driving is nothing; I drink while flying planes too!" Chen Fei quickly tilted his head back and drained the can before Xiao Jiu could poke his beak into the opening. That really couldn''t be blamed on him. It was all the fault of Chekhov, the big boss of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Major Chekhov was never sober every time he boarded a plane. With a crooked frame above, a crooked frame below, drinking, brawling, reckless tactics, crude soldiers all around¡ªit was just the style of Big Bear! "..."¡Á22! He truly was an excessive fellow! But no one else could take Chen Fei''s place driving this mobile base vehicle. Rookie enjoyed watching others grit their teeth at him while feeling helpless about it. Half an hour later, as everyone slightly recovered, they boarded the vehicle again, and the mobile base vehicle resumed its ups and downs to become a true roller coaster. Everyone regretted not having prepared motion sickness medicine in advance. After just an hour, the mobile base vehicle stopped again, both restrooms in separate carriages were occupied, so the other people had no choice but to get out and catch their breath. Some even lay on the sand dunes with eyes rolled back, letting the wind whip sand into their shoes, sleeves, and collars. Travelling in a car was hard like this, truly unheard of. But walking would be even harder! - Chapter 356 356: Section 352 - Assessment Point ``` The mobile base vehicle, coated with a layer of desert camouflage, was already slow, but the undulating sand dunes made it even slower. Moreover, energy had to be conserved; it could only travel for 12 hours a day. Not only did the vehicle need to rest and recharge, but Chen Fei, the driver, also needed to take a breather. Even after spending thousands of energy points to boost the "Super Capacitor" skill to level 50, doubling its capacity more than once, the electricity autonomously exchanged through the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" still couldn''t last for 24 hours. The feeling of being hollowed out was like finding everything tasteless, even beer had lost its appeal. Trudging along, the mobile base vehicle took three days to approach an oasis within the inner ring of the Central Great Desert. Fortunately, they had a mode of transport; otherwise, this journey on foot would have taken at least ten days. Moreover, there were many high-radiation zones along the way. If one did not want to consume more anti-radiation medicine, they would have to spend more effort to detour a wide berth, taking even more time. According to satellite positioning, the location of the small oasis, with a diameter of less than 1 kilometer, was exactly the designated stopping point for Team 18. Oases have their advantages; they provide a source of water and some food on-site, alleviating the pressure on supplies. Moreover, the radiation level in such a small area is very low, so there''s no need to worry about excessive exposure. However, the disadvantages, or rather the dangers, are also evident. Oases would inevitably become important nesting sites fiercely contested by mutants. "Warning, within a 5-kilometer radius, the number of mutants exceeds 300, no mutants in the core area!" "Adam", in charge of managing the mobile base vehicle, issued the warning. The area surrounding the oasis was clearly infested with small mutant outposts, with a large number of mutants both above and below the sand, and some visible to the naked eye wandering back and forth. Perhaps having reached some tacit understanding, these mutants didn''t overcrowd the small oasis. A pool of water, lush grass, scattered with some large trees and shrubs, the oasis instead became a safe sanctuary. Perhaps sensing the approach of the mobile base vehicle, this enormous entity, many mutants raised their heads in vigilance, yet none dared to act rashly. They were perhaps still in a state of uncertainty, gauging the combat strength and threat of this big fellow. The 20-meter long mobile base vehicle was enough to intimidate some of the more timid mutants with its sheer size. Teams 04 and 18 both silently sweated over the situation. Earth Order fire mage, Adrian Benjamin, expressed his concern to the members of Team 18, who were packing their equipment, "Are you really going to pass through?" After all, they had only 12 members, while outside there were more than 300 vicious mutants. The only way to enter the oasis was with a full-force assault. However, this was Team 18''s designated assessment point. Team 04''s mobile base vehicle had already gone out of their way to bring them here, which was as helpful as they could be. If they rashly offered further aid, it might result in both teams being assessed as failures. An assessment point could only accommodate one team. "Don''t worry about it! Piece of cake, you guys go ahead!" Team 18''s silver-bearded captain confidently waved his hand and turned to shout at the Feathered Tribe young man carrying the magnetic rail sniper rifle, "Simba, start with the furthest ones." "Roger that, sir!" The young Feathered Tribe member, lifting the magnetic rail sniper rifle and lugging a large and heavy ammo box, trudged to the peak of the sand dune. He set up the bulky rifle, ready to take aim. This position had enough coverage to span the entire small oasis. By pounding the distant mutants into howls, the nearby ones would probably still be bewildered. Indeed, this was a safe method to reduce the number of mutants. "Well then... Good luck to you!" Seeing that they were well-prepared, Adrian Benjamin chose not to say more. This was a stern assessment that each team needed to confront on their own. The danger was inevitable, but for ability users who were accustomed to combat, this was all in a day''s work. Members of Team 04 bade farewell to their counterparts in Team 18 with waves. Having ridden together for a few days, the two teams had become familiar with one another. The mobile base vehicle turned and picked up speed, moving faster away from the oasis. The mutants nearby, who had been watching it, collectively sighed in relief as they saw the large object depart. Adrian went to the driving seat inside the carriage and asked, "Chen Fei, how many more days do we need to reach our destination?" In order to ferry Team 18, the mobile base vehicle had taken an extra day on the road, but they still needed to arrive at the assessment location within the predetermined time. Chen Fei glanced at the electronic map and replied, "Another 18 hours of driving to reach the destination." Given the current endurance state of the mobile base vehicle, it was impossible to travel continuously for more than 12 hours. Even if it were possible, the human body couldn''t withstand such a long roller coaster ride. There had to be uninterrupted breaks along the way to restore physical energy, and even more importantly, to maintain most people''s fighting strength in case of a potential mutant attack. So, the accurate time frame could be two days, or even three wouldn''t be surprising. "Beep!" It wasn''t just Chen Fei; everyone''s communicators simultaneously beeped with various electronic alert tones. "There''s an incoming message!" Earth Order fire mage Adrian, who was conversing with Chen Fei, furrowed his brows slightly and took out his phone to see the group message everyone received at the same time. Due to the omnipresent nuclear radiation and mutants, it was impossible to establish a vast network of communication base stations throughout the Central Great Desert of Yangzhou Continent to cover every inch. Hence, everyone''s communication equipment could connect to satellites. Additionally, several relay drones trailing behind would alternate in staying aloft for extended periods to assist in bolstering signal strength, trying to minimize the effects of nuclear radiation and special mutants on communications. "Team 07 has been wiped out!" Adrian Benjamin was the first to see the message and looked incredulous. It had only been moments, and Team 04 had not even reached their assessment point yet when they received the startling news of another team''s sudden annihilation. It''s worth noting that every team''s personnel composition is carefully considered with a broad coverage of abilities. Even if there''s a difference in overall combat strength between teams, it''s not vast. Team 04 was already mentally prepared for the dangers of the desert, but... Then another loud ringtone sounded for an incoming call. It was that damn Liaison Officer Rossi. Since they set off, the man had shown no concern for Team 04. Getting a call from him at this hour probably boded no good news. ``` ``` "It''s Rossi, keep your voices down, and Apu, no random talking!" Adrian, being cautious, gave the instruction once more before connecting. "Why did it take you so long to answer?" Rossi''s voice was laced with impatience and irritability, hardly waiting for Adrian to reply as he spoke at a rapid pace, "You all know about Team 07''s situation, don''t you?" Adrian replied formally, "Received, Liaison Officer Rossi!" Rossi said bluntly, "All of you be careful, don''t just die on a whim!" "Hey! Old man Luo, you''re worried about your own bonus, aren''t you?" The big black guy Apu made a startling remark, again losing control and speaking blunt truths. Inside the mobile base vehicle, silence enveloped the cabin. "..." Good gracious, he wouldn''t stop until he shocked everyone. Once again, everyone''s gaze focused on the big black guy. He was glared at to the point where he had to swallow his next words and instead wore an innocent expression. This honest boy had spoken out of turn again. "Who? Who''s that talking? Is that you, Adrian?" The call suddenly fell silent; then Rossi''s thunderous voice erupted from the phone. He wouldn''t admit that his bonus was linked to the performance of the teams he was responsible for. The unexpected annihilation of Team 07 meant not only would all kinds of bonuses for the liaison officer go down the drain, but there might also be an investigation into whether warnings and communication had been delivered on time and properly. "Er... it wasn''t me; someone''s watching a movie!" Adrian could only feign innocence with a wry smile and tell an outright lie¡ªsince it wasn''t a video call, he could just spout nonsense, dead men tell no tales. "Hmph! You all be extra careful!" The liaison officer Rossi ended the call through gritted teeth. Being embarrassed twice in succession, anyone would have been in a really bad mood. "Phew..." Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, slowly putting away his phone, having successfully bluffed his way through. Turning around, he put on a stern face and spoke in a displeased tone, "Apu, next time someone calls, you stand further away!" Twice in a row, the liaison officer had been infuriated by this big black guy. Sooner or later, the account would be settled on the heads of everyone in Team 04¡ªa completely unwanted disaster! "Oh! Oh!" The big black guy Apu touched the back of his head, looking somewhat bewildered. Even now, he hadn''t realized his mistake. ... After 15 hours of continuous bumpy travel, the mobile base vehicle approached a terrain completely alien to the vast desert landscape as far as the eye could see. A hill made of rocks appeared on the desert horizon. Acting as the temporary navigator, Captain Adrian Benjamin compared the satellite map and coordinates, and declared loudly, "15 kilometers straight ahead, the dead volcano, that''s it, our assessment point is there." The mobile base vehicle arrived at the vicinity of the assessment point earlier than estimated. Mouri Misono, exhausted from the ride, slumped over the table and spoke weakly, "We can finally stop!" She was gradually getting used to such a bumpy drive, but still felt quite dizzy, unable to discern any sense of direction. Adrian''s phone rang again; he picked it up, glanced at the others, and said, "Shh! It''s Liaison Officer Rossi!" Then he glared at Apu fiercely, and the rest promptly shoved the big black guy into the toilet and locked him in. "Hey, hey! What are you doing, let me out!" Thump thump thump! The confused Apu started banging on the toilet door from the inside. "No noise allowed, the captain is taking a call." With a hefty thud, Kiterley, a Class-A Metal Ability User, kicked the door in frustration. "Oh!" The big black guy finally quieted down, and everyone else seemed to breathe a sigh of relief in unison. - ``` Chapter 357 357: Section 353 - The Mountain in a Sandstorm "Hello? This is Adrian!" A First Rank fire mage answered the call. "Hello, this is Rossi. What''s going on with you people, only answering now?" The voice of the liaison officer for Team 04 was full of suspicion, as if this group was up to some sort of major rebellious conspiracy. "Ah! I was washing my hands in the bathroom and just picked up the phone." Adrian Benjamin continued to lie with his eyes wide open. "Listen, there''s been a new development at your assessment point, the mutant BF-1334 that was originally there has been driven out by another group of mutants, SS-0792. I''m sending you the details now. Review them and respond to me immediately, understood? No delays!" Liaison Officer Rossi spoke rapidly, obviously the complete annihilation of Team 07 had scared the corresponding liaison officer, causing him a great deal of agitation. Previously uninterested in inquiries, now the moment there was a stir, he was eager to send a reminder, a complete turnaround from before. "Understood!" As soon as Adrian finished speaking, his phone emitted a brief electronic beep. Glancing at the pop-up window, Liaison Officer Rossi had sent over a document. After ending the call, he immediately shared the document with the rest of Team 04 so they could update themselves with the latest intelligence. Ocean Continent was truly a paradise for mutants, with them evolving more completely here, possessing stable social structures. In a sense, as long as they could survive, mutations were benign and beneficial. Mutant code BF-1334 was a hive-type carnivorous bee community, occupying the crater of a dead volcano, creating its own lair from the leftover lava tunnels and crevices. It relied on capturing other mutants and cultivating a special moss for food, which was higher in nutritional value and specifically fed to the breeding queen insect, possessing certain medicinal and economic value. After breaking through such a lair type, it was crucial to collect this moss as it represented a significant extra profit. The opportunistic mutant code SS-0792 were large scorpion-like creatures with ten legs, adults the size of a large truck, their shells tough enough to withstand close-range fire from light weapons. Additionally, their shells were covered with a hard sand shell mixed from their saliva and sand, as strong as high-grade concrete, not even a hand grenade could easily blast it open. Although the scorpion mutant SS-0792 had forcibly occupied the old lair of the bee mutant BF-1334, it hadn''t killed the queen insect. Among the remaining few worker insects, the queen insect fled in panic, hiding in a sand dune ten kilometers away, where it constructed a temporary nest. The entire group was severely weakened, but as long as there was ample food, the queen could quickly restore the group''s numbers and seek justice from the scorpion mutant SS-0792. Now, as Team 04 aimed to take over the coveted dead volcano crater, they inevitably had to face harassment and attacks from both parties. After reviewing the information, First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin promptly redialed Liaison Officer Rossi''s communication number. This liaison officer was ill-tempered, spoke harshly, and never showed a pleasant face, but so far, he hadn''t caused any trouble for Team 04. As long as their dealings remained strictly professional, there shouldn''t be any big issues. "Hello, Liaison Officer Rossi, this is Adrian!" Liaison Officer Rossi, eager, asked, "Did you read it? Tell me your tactics!" Even with mental preparation, Adrian was still choking on the forte response, and he said with a bitter smile, "Uh! Not yet, we need to do some reconnaissance first..." The information had just arrived. In such a short time, how could they possibly devise a response plan on the spot? They were humans, not deities, and didn''t have such quick efficiency, especially since Team 04 was made up entirely of combat personnel without a single person experienced in staff work or related strategy. "What? You haven''t figured out a plan yet, and you have no idea how to proceed with the fight? Really, you all are so unprofessional!" Seizing the opportunity, Rossi began to vent then and there. Adrian was using speakerphone, so the sound was loud enough for everyone in the vehicle to hear clearly. "You old fool, what are you talking about? If you''re so capable, then you do it! If not, shut up!" The tall dark figure trapped in the bathroom roared angrily, even banging on the door; not only was it the plain truth, but also what everyone was thinking. It seemed like he wished he could burst out and wrestle Liaison Officer Rossi out of Adrian''s phone, pin him to the ground, and pummel him eight hundred times to quell the anger in their hearts. Rossi, furious, asked, "Who, who is talking?" He heard that annoying voice again! "It''s Apu, he wants a duel with you. How about I set it up for you two later?" This time, Adrian didn''t cover for the big guy a second or third time. Instead, he turned the tables on the ill-tempered liaison officer. "..." Rossi''s voice, rough as a broken gong, abruptly ceased. A duel? What kind of duel? He was just an ordinary man, not even a supernatural power user. How could he fight one-on-one with a Second Rank Thunder Series warrior? A mere moment''s eye contact would likely leave nothing but a scorched remains of him on this earth! Seeing his ruse succeed, Adrian tentatively asked, "Hello, hello, Liaison Officer Rossi, are you still there?" "I, I am?" Rossi''s voice was tinged with panic; he forcibly calmed himself and, gathering courage, said, "You have one hour to deliver... hiss, submit... your... " Then the call suddenly cut off. The fire mage paused, immediately tried to redial, but couldn''t get through, and quickly even the signal strength plummeted, in the blink of an eye, dropping to the lowest notch. "The weather outside has changed!" Chen Fei''s voice came from the driver''s seat as the mobile base vehicle decisively stopped on top of a sand dune, providing an excellent panoramic view. Everyone hastily looked out of the windows, only to find that the previously clear blue sky had at some point turned into a dim, yellowish haze. Directly in front of the vehicle, a massive sandstorm advanced like an unstoppable wall, swiftly engulfing the dead volcano on the desert horizon and heading straight for Team 04''s mobile base vehicle. Bright, striking lightning occasionally flashed through the swirling dust clouds, accompanied by the distant rumble of thunder. There would be no torrential downpour to follow, only the howling winds and flying dust and stones. "It''s a sandstorm!" Adrian glanced at it and his expression turned somewhat grim. Although sandstorms were the most common adverse meteorological change in the desert, he had not expected to run straight into one so soon after arriving near the assessment point. "All signals are cut off!" Mouri Misono pouted as she was interrupted from watching videos online. B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault glanced at her phone and said, "Mine too!" Everyone else checked their phones, and almost everyone had lost their connection. It seemed that the sandstorm, with its strong electrical charge fluctuations, had severely disrupted the communication networks. "Beep!" Misfortune did not come singly; the radiation counter that was monitoring external radiation levels suddenly emitted a warning, as the radiation outside spiked and approached the safety threshold. The sandstorm advanced with incredible speed, reaching the mobile base vehicle in the blink of an eye. Through the front windshield of the driver''s seat, a monstrous wave of rolling dust engulfed the entire world outside. "Shut down the internal and external ventilation systems." Chen Fei, well-prepared, issued the command. The vehicle emitted a faint sound as the ventilation systems, equipped with filters, ceased their functions. The spacious interior of the vehicle still had compressed air, carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange devices, and oxygen generators, along with a dozen potted plants that could sustain a sealed environment for an extended period. Instantly, the sandstorm swallowed up the entire mobile base vehicle. Fierce winds howled outside, causing the vehicle body to shake slightly, and countless grains of sand continuously struck the armor and windows, producing a crackling sound. The light outside dimmed rapidly, as if nightfall was approaching. Not long after the ventilation systems were shut down, the radiation counter''s alert tone turned into a continuous tone, interspersed with a rough, gravelly rhythmic sound, indicating that the external radiation levels had exceeded the safety threshold and posed a fatal threat to human health. The vehicle body and windows blocked the omnipresent nuclear radiation, ensuring that the radiation levels inside the car remained far below the safety threshold and almost indistinguishable from normal natural environments. "Bang!~" The vehicle suddenly shook violently as if something large had collided with the mobile base vehicle. Everyone quickly grabbed onto nearby fixed objects to barely stabilize themselves. "What was that?" Adrian only noticed a sudden darkening on one of the windows, which then returned to normal. "A mutant has hit the vehicle!" Chen Fei, in tune with the vehicle, detected it instantly. Boom... boom... boom... The cabin began to rhythmically vibrate again. A-rank Metal Ability User Kiterley, somewhat unsure, asked, "What''s going on now?" "There''s a giant creature passing by!" Even the sandstorm couldn''t stop the detection equipment on the mobile base vehicle. A creature as large as the dead volcano at the assessment point for Team 04 passed extremely close to the mobile base vehicle, with its intimidating size scanned and outlined by the radar. Looking out the window, a vast shape could be vaguely seen leisurely strolling through the storm of flying sand and stones. "It''s huge!" Mouri Misono, who had rushed to the window, caught a glimpse of part of the creature''s body, and the intense fear that surged from within her made her pale, her mouth agape, yet unable to make a sound. Chen Fei, itching to act, suggested, "Should we hit this big guy with a 152?" Wondering if a demolition bomb fired from a railgun with a 152mm caliber would make this giant creature cry for half an hour. "No!" A chorus of horrified protests erupted inside the vehicle. Goodness, playing on such a grand scale! They feared that in the next moment, the wiped-out team would not only include Team 07 but also add Team 04. A real mountain-like monster stepping down could likely turn the entire mobile base vehicle into a flat disk of metal. - Chapter 358 358: Section 354 - Still Need to Fire a Few Shots In front of the true behemoth, the mobile base vehicle seemed as miniscule as a toy. The waves of vibrations that transmitted into the carriage grew from weak to strong, then from strong to weak, until they finally disappeared. The tense people, who dared not even breathe heavily, looked at each other and eventually let out a long sigh of relief, each collapsing onto the ground. From the restroom, the sound of flushing and the light, cheerful humming of the tall, dark Apu could be heard. Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, curiously asked, "Hey, Apu, what are you doing in there?" "I was so scared, I pooped myself. It feels great!" Apu turned on the faucet and began to wash his hands. The people outside shook their heads; this guy really adapted to the situation. First Rank Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin scratched his buzz-cut, still shaken, and said, "It''s finally gone!" He plopped down and continued, "Now all we can do is wait for the sandstorm to pass." In the intensifying sandstorm, the nearly 80-ton vehicle stood unyieldingly still. "How terrifying!" Mouri Misono pressed against the window, her eyes widened as she desperately peered outside. Fortunately, the heavy outer armor of the vehicle was robust enough to block radiation; otherwise, they would likely be in big trouble. Outside the mobile base vehicle, it wasn''t just the howling winds and flying sand¡ªit was also occasionally sweeping up mutants and carrying lethal levels of nuclear radiation. Even without the radiation, venturing out at such a time was perilous; not to mention driving away those mutants, even approaching the nearby dead volcano would be extremely difficult. One could easily end up like those unlucky mutants, swept up into the sky or buried in the sand. When the wind was at its most fearsome, it wasn''t just sand and stones filling the air; even entire sand dunes would slowly move like waves. Fortunately, the mobile base vehicle was parked on the top of a dune. Had it been at the bottom or in a depression, it could easily have been buried beneath the sand. At the peak moments of the sandstorm, it was not only the sand and stones that flew; entire sand dunes moved like waves, "Chen Fei, you had the foresight!" A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley came to the driver''s seat and patted Chen Fei on the shoulder. Chen Fei left his seat, the cable automatically disconnecting from his waist. "I have a suggestion!" The vehicle''s two-ton lithium iron phosphate battery pack took over the power supply, ensuring 24-hour normal operation of lighting and various electrical appliances within the vehicle, and possibly even longer. "Don''t chase after that big fellow we just saw!" Captain Adrian thought Chen Fei had a wild idea to lure back the mountainous behemoth and flatten the entire volcano crater, anticipating a situation where two competing forces would provide an opportunity for a third to benefit. "No!" Chen Fei shook his head, took out a tablet, pulled up a two-dimensional electronic map, located the dead volcano on it, and while gesturing with his finger, he said, "We can use 152-caliber demolition bombs to bombard the dead volcano, using the shockwave to annihilate the mutants hiding inside." A single 152 could level a standard football field, so covering the area of the dead volcano would require only a few shells. The demolition bombs Chen Fei had ordered were an integrated type of shell with the projectile and propellant together, which the same caliber railgun could also use without obstruction, adding to its power by launching the propellant as well. Otherwise, this youngster wouldn''t have been bold enough to consider targeting that super giant mutant we just saw. "With the wind blowing so fiercely outside, can you aim accurately?" After hearing Chen Fei''s plan, Adrian looked at the electronic map on the tablet screen, his brow slightly furrowed. It was different from his initial guess, but it was still a suitable tactic. Since they could use artillery, there was no need to foolishly rush up and fight directly. It''s a pity there were no aircrafts for bombing; otherwise, dropping a few tons of ground-penetrating thermobaric bombs could solve all problems at once. "Does 152 even need accuracy!" Chen Fei smiled, one shot with an error of a few dozen meters, does it make any difference? Absolutely not! It was an entire map cannon; running was useless, and why need precision at all? If one were bold enough, with a high-yield cloud bomb, going deep into the dead volcano crater, finding the mutant nest, and dropping it before fleeing¡ªthe power of the Cloud Bomb in a semi-enclosed space would completely surpass the large-caliber demolition bombs. Of course, the risk was also greater, but its benefits were directly proportional to it. Either way, it wouldn''t be a loss. "How about we test one first?" Adrian was fretting about how to deal with the temperamental liaison officer Rossi, making his job as captain quite challenging. It seemed that once the sandstorm stopped and communications were restored, the other party would likely urge him to submit a tactical plan, or else he would face a barrage of criticism. If Chen Fei''s suggestion worked, it could indeed be a ready solution. After all, it was just one 152 demolition bomb. With the quantity they carried this time, if used properly, it could eliminate a significant number of mutants. "Then prepare to load the shells!" Chen Fei opened the ammunition bay inside the carriage, lifted out a nearly one-meter-long 152 pre-assembled demolition bomb, removed the plastic cap, twisted the top fuse, and set it to standby mode. With sufficient impact, the fuse could instantly detonate the entire warhead. Just one fifty-kilogram pre-assembled shell could completely blow up the interior of the carriage, guaranteeing no survivors. Chen Fei pulled down the railgun''s magazine from the roof, continuously loaded five shells, and then pushed one forward, one shell entering the rail, completing the automatic chambering. The ammunition loaded in the carriage was only a small part of what they carried this time, convenient for immediate use, while most of it was stored in Captain Fire Mage Adrian''s personal Space System Alchemy Storage Device. The mobile base vehicle''s top was not only equipped with a railgun but also a laser cannon. Chen Fei''s two offensive evolution abilities were all applied to this mobile base vehicle. "Position the target, correct the calculation, lock on!" "Adam" handled the complex calculations, and Chen Fei only needed to pull the trigger. If he missed, no worries¡ªhe would just delete this version of "Adam" and replace it with the next version to do the job, insanely ruthless! The mobile base vehicle, fully loaded, weighing nearly 80 tons was an outstanding artillery chassis. Sitting back in the driver''s seat, Chen Fei with the cable pressed against his back, said, "Fire!" The vehicle slightly shook, and the projectile shot through the flying dust and stones, heading straight for its target. Although the recoil of the railgun was much smaller than that of a gunpowder-fired cannon, it still caused the heavy mobile base vehicle to rock slightly. "Done!" Adrian looked puzzled as no feedback had come back after waiting quite a while. "Done, a direct hit!" Chen Fei nodded, the first shell was a test shot, but it unexpectedly hit the dead volcano dead on. Despite significant interference, the synthetic aperture radar still managed to scan the impact of the projectile, which blasted a large pit in the volcanic mouth''s rock formation, probably causing echoes inside the lava cave and fissures like ringing a bell. The surface of the volcano''s mouth had no soil and vegetation to absorb the massive shock spreading within the mountain. The sandstorm was so intense that the massive explosion noise from the demolition bomb could not be carried by the wind and got lost on the way. Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User, asked with curiosity, "Hey? What if the volcano is awakened by the blast?" Ruan Tiankai, an Earth Mage, slapped his forehead and said, "Right! That''s our assessment point!" If the dead volcano awakened and became active, the situation would get really interesting. "No, if that happens, it would be easier!" Chen Fei waved his hand and continued, "At least we eliminated the mutants there, didn''t we?" Wasn''t the first assessment upon reaching the checkpoint to eliminate or drive away those mutants? As long as the predetermined result was achieved, why bother about the process. Then the railgun was charged again, and he fired another shot! The third, fourth, fifth¡ªall five shells consecutively hit the dead volcano. It seemed that "Adam" was quite reliable in cannon firing, not wasting a single projectile, though it was a pity, the volcano did not awaken. Due to the sandstorm, it was temporarily impossible to determine the actual damage effect on the scorpion mutant SS-0792 hiding inside the dead volcano. After reloading the ammunition, Chen Fei did not rush to launch a second round of artillery fire. The flying sand and stones lasted a full ten hours before they gradually disappeared or moved elsewhere. Once the sandstorm ceased, the radiation level outside the mobile base vehicle slowly decreased, expected to drop below the safety threshold before long. It was a moonlit, starry night, deep into the wee hours. Once communications were restored, Liaison Officer Rossi did not make another call, probably thinking that the team he was responsible for, Team 04, had been wiped out too! "Adam" suddenly spoke. "Mutant detected, identified as SS-0792, quantity 17." The infrared thermal imaging system captured some biological responses near the mouth of the dead volcano, likely from the scorpion-like SS-0792. Presumably rattled by several cannon shots, they came out to check the situation shortly after the sandstorm had ended. "Is that so? Aim, fire!" Chen Fei, who was taking a short break, rolled out of bed, ran a few steps, and jumped into the driver''s seat. It was a combat pilot''s professional habit as combat opportunities often come and go in a flash, so not a second could be delayed. "Charged, fire complete!" The mobile base vehicle slightly quivered, and the projectile whistled out. With the weather conditions improved, targeting calculations became much easier, still a matter of tens of milliseconds for "Adam". In the darkness, a flash of fire illuminated nearly half the sky, briefly revealing countless sand dunes in relief. Half a minute later, a belated dull boom reached inside the vehicle. "Direct hit!" Adrian, who was on night watch, stared intently into the distance. Approximately ten kilometers away from the dead volcano, the projectile explosion''s firelight and the fleeting blast of white light from the shockwave were enough to clearly reveal the point of impact. "Targets annihilated!" Chen Fei glanced at the infrared thermal imaging image and made a determination. All the mutants were motionless, and their bodies were mostly torn apart, truly delivering an area of destruction the size of a soccer field per shell, and that''s no exaggeration, especially since the launched projectiles still carried explosives! - Chapter 359 359: Section 355 - Approaching "Chen Fei, let the Mobile Base Vehicle get closer!" Captain Adrian made a decision. "Isn''t that too risky?" Chen Fei turned around. This distance was best suited for long-range shelling, where problems that could be solved by bombs didn''t require close quarters combat. Adrian chuckled and said, "Do you think we need to worry about such a minor issue?" All were Ability Users, not a single ordinary person among them, and what they feared the least was engaging mutants in hand-to-hand combat. It was a matter of combat habits! First Rank Fire System Mages had long been accustomed to engaging enemies at a hundred meters, and War Professionals even closer, only face to face could they exert their full combat capabilities. Most of Chen Fei''s previous battles had taken place in the sky, with operational ranges for Close Combat Missiles often exceeding ten kilometers, and surprise attacks from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away were as common as a home-cooked meal. The experiences of taking on mutants head-on on the ground were few and far between. "Alright! I''m not worried!" Chen Fei conceded that even if they encountered mutants, it was all over as soon as they let Apu out. This big, black fellow was a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior. Despite his foolish appearance, being out of touch with worldly wisdom, and having zero emotional intelligence, his combat power was quite fierce. Once they reached A-level and Earth Order status, it was like truly coming into their own, whether in one-on-one duels or brawls, being called a powerhouse was by no means an overstatement. "I want to eat meat..." Still half-asleep, Mouri Misono ground her teeth while talking in her sleep. "Pfft!" Susanna, the fairy who was sharing a spring nap with Twin Blade Sister, let out a muffled fart. "...Stinky tofu is fine too..." The carriage began to sway slightly, and the bunk beds rocked like cradles, as Mouri turned over and continued to sleep soundly. Most people were sleeping soundly, including the Pure Light Sparrow curled up in its nest. Suddenly, everyone''s body felt weightless, as if plummeting into The Abyss. "Ah!~~" "Help!" "What''s going on?" "What''s happening, what''s happening!" Almost everyone thought they were falling from a height, instinctively screaming, and the sounds of wailing and howling echoed through the carriage. "Chirp?" Little Bird opened its eyes, glanced outside its nest, then tucked its head back under its wings. Even the Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, Apu, remained dead to the world, grinding his teeth, farting, and talking in his sleep, blissfully unaware of the commotion around him. As they realized the Mobile Base Vehicle was moving, they gradually came to their senses and became angry. "We''re leaving now?" "Can''t you give us some advance notice? You scared me to death!" Mouri Misono and Susanna both puffed up their cheeks in anger. Experiencing such a roller coaster dive in their sleep felt downright terrible. Adrian didn''t get angry either, immediately explaining, "We are heading to the volcano crater right now!" Apu: "zzzZZZ..." A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley, scratching his head in confusion, said, "Now? Why can''t we wait until it''s light out!" Being abruptly woken from a dreamland was incredibly irritating. The Magical Beast member, Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, yawned but had an unfazed expression. Its reaction wasn''t as strong as that of a human, only a bit surprised. "We just completed a bombardment, killing a portion of the mutants. If we go now, we might be able to take advantage of the situation." Adrian shared his thoughts. A 152mm Demolition Bomb had achieved a decent result, and the mutants hiding within the Dead Volcano might come out to check the situation. If they could seize this opportunity, perhaps even reconnaissance would be unnecessary, using the entrance they came out of to directly penetrate deep into the mountain and eliminate all the mutants in one fell swoop, potentially ending the fight before dawn. Considering the size of a mature Scorpion Mutant SS-0792 and the volume of the Dead Volcano, it was clear that the number of mutants inhabiting the area wouldn''t be too large. With Team 04''s combat power, even without Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, they would be able to accomplish the extermination task. If any unexpected situation arose, vehicle-mounted Railguns and Laser Cannons could provide fire support at a moment''s notice. "Ah? You should''ve said so earlier!" Mouri Misono yawned again, the sleepiness hitting her hard. Suddenly asking her to fight would require her to snap out of it. "This man is unreliable!" Susanna rubbed her eyes, not holding back her criticism. "..." The face of the First Rank fire mage was black with displeasure. Forget it, forget it, ladies, a good man doesn''t fight with women. "It''s a good time to let my Mini out for a stroll!" Holy Knight Walter Sam, who slept alongside his beloved mount, the Blue Scaled Colt, stretched and patted the large head of the Magical Beast mount, saying, "Poor fellow, you must have been stifled!" "Neigh!" The Blue Scaled Colt nodded vigorously. If it wasn''t for the high-intensity radiation everywhere in the desert, it wouldn''t have wanted to stay cooped up in the carriage like this. "The radiation level outside has returned to the safe zone, if you want to go for a walk, now''s the time!" Adrian immediately gave permission. "What are we waiting for then? Mini, get ready to move out, Chen Fei, be ready to open the door for us at any time!" The Holy Knight couldn''t wait a second longer and quickly began to ready his mount for departure. The seasoned driver Chen Fei, without turning his head, made an OK gesture. "Mutant detected, identified as SS-0792, number 3, location of appearance marked." "Adam" made another discovery and this time seemed to finally pinpoint the entrance and exit location of the Scorpion Mutants'' hiding place, which is favorable for finding their nest. It seems the decision made by the fire mage team captain was the right one. A few minutes later, the side door of the moving Mobile Base Vehicle opened wide, and one man and his mount charged out in tandem. With both hands gripping the saddle, the Holy Knight swung up onto the side of the Blue Scaled Colt; the sound of hooves thundered as man and mount followed close by the side of the Mobile Base Vehicle, advancing side by side. The Wind System Second Rank Magical Beast, Blue Scaled Colt, had a top speed of 180 kilometers per hour and could easily keep up with the Mobile Base Vehicle, especially since this model''s speed in the desert was not fast to begin with. "I''m Sam, comm Test!" "Chen Fei received!" The Holy Knight, riding the Blue Scaled Colt, charged off the vehicle, and the earpiece communication was activated. "Neigh..." The Second Rank Magical Beast ran more vigorously, eventually charging to the front of the Mobile Base Vehicle. Although it was a desert, there was only a layer of dry, loose sand of varying depths on the surface; underneath was thick, solid moist sand, which required a great deal of effort to dig through. The desert wasn''t really completely devoid of water; most of the water was stored under the dry sand. If there were a Water Ability User, they could easily extract a lot of water. As the Blue Scaled Colt trod on the sandy ground, it only took a tiny bit more effort, hardly worth mentioning. "Adrian, help me change the ammo, load 10 rounds of 60 caliber Demolition Bombs." Chen Fei, following the navigational route provided by "Adam," steered the Mobile Base Vehicle steadily. Within five kilometers of the Dead Volcano''s base, the terrain became much smoother, and the vehicle drove more steadily as a result. "Caliber 60? Might that be a bit weak?" Adrian thought that caliber 152 was more powerful; one shot could take down a large group with no chance of escape. "Smaller caliber cannons are more economical, don''t waste the heavy artillery shells!" Chen Fei, of course, knew the thrill of a single shot from the 152, but it was unnecessary to be so wasteful against just two or three mutants. 60 caliber Demolition Bombs were basically a one-shot kill against creatures weighing 1800 kilograms, and there was still leftover power. If the creatures were close to each other, he could even kill another one for free with the same shot. "Loaded!" Adrian extracted a magazine loaded with ten 60 caliber Demolition Bombs from the Space System Alchemical Artifact and found the Railgun''s secondary loading port, shoving it in with one push. 152 caliber Demolition Bombs and 60 caliber Demolition Bombs were both stored in the Mobile Base Vehicle''s Railgun magazine, ready for the automatic loading mechanism to select at will. "Aim, fire!" The recoil from firing the 60 caliber Demolition Bombs was much smaller; the vehicle''s movement was barely noticeable. A burst of firelight erupted from the increasingly closer Dead Volcano. "Hit!" The fire mage, retrieving the multi-function telescope from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device and mounting it on his face, confirmed the results of the attack. One mutant was blasted to pieces, and another beside it was also injured, collapsed on the ground, losing the ability to move. "Distance 3 kilometers!" "Adam" updated the distance between the Mobile Base Vehicle and the Dead Volcano. 3 kilometers could almost be considered extremely close. The noise created by the tens of tons of the vehicle crushing over the sandy ground was enough to alarm the mutants inside the Dead Volcano. One after another, Scorpion Mutant SS-0792 emerged, not just at the suspected entrance and exit previously identified. It seemed that there were multiple passages leading to the interior of the Dead Volcano, allowing the Scorpion Mutants free access, which meant members of Team 04 could also enter and exit at will. "Switch to 152, ready to fire!" Seeing the number of mutants detected by the infrared thermal imaging start to increase, Chen Fei promptly switched the Railgun''s prepared ammunition. The best thing about the Railgun was its ability to be compatible with various types of ammunition up to the largest caliber, allowing for combinations with different caliber magazines. - Chapter 360 360: Section 356 - Occupying the Volcano The Mobile Base Vehicle approached the Dead Volcano''s mouth, and its continuous Railgun fire had taken down more than thirty Scorpion Mutants. "Charge! Take them all down!" The A-Class Metal Ability User Kiterley, donning shimmering full-coverage Armor and wielding a long spear, was the first to rush out. "Wipe them all out, charge!" Releasing countless tiny electric sparks of Battle Qi and shouldering a Great Sword, the Thunder Series Warrior Apu followed closely behind. Immediately after, a figure flashed at the vehicle door; Bassan, dragging his Single-toothed Long Halberd, leaped several times and actually rushed to the very front. This Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe had always been very silent in Team 04, quite inconspicuous. "Let''s go, kick their butts!" Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono vanished like a breeze outside the Mobile Base Vehicle''s door. The B-Level Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault, discovering her shoelaces had come loose, tied them furiously while shouting, "Hey! Wait for me!" "Let''s roll!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape, leaning on a Withered Vine Staff, climbed down from the vehicle and walked step by step up the mountain, not rushing up the mountain like the others, but rather unhurriedly. The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, of Human Order Ninth Rank, shook his head and followed him off the vehicle. There were only that many Mutants, half of which had been used for Railgun target practice; the remaining ones might not be enough to go around. Rushing wouldn''t help, so he might as well walk together with Lulu''an, providing mutual support. "I''m coming too!" Chen Fei flicked his hand, and the White Steel Crowbar, most handy for dealing with Mutants, appeared in his palm. After prying off thousands of heads, he was definitely a skilled worker. "Hold on, you stay on the vehicle, don''t go anywhere!" Adrian quickly reached out to stop him. If Chen Fei ran off, nobody could move the Mobile Base Vehicle; if anything went wrong, the most powerful weapon of Team 04 would be rendered useless. It was better for him to stay and guard the vehicle, ready to provide support and remote firepower at a moment''s notice. The power of the vehicle-mounted Railgun was there for all to see. Chen Fei reluctantly lowered the crowbar, dispiritedly saying, "Ah? But that''s too boring!" "There''s no need for so many people, the few of them are enough!" Adrian waved his hand, he had no intention of joining in the fray either. Suddenly, the top of the Dead Volcano lit up, resembling a miniature sun slowly rising and nearly illuminating the entire mountain. Countless rocks burst and flew, as if a small-scale landslide had occurred. "Holy Light... Judgment!" Boom!~ The voice followed closely afterward. The Holy Knight and his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, had raced up the volcano''s mouth before the Mobile Base Vehicle even reached the foot of the volcano, and were already clashing with the Mutants emerging one after the other. The extremely dazzling Sword Qi swept over several bodies of Scorpion Mutant SS-0792, tearing through their sandy Armor and exoskeletons as if they were rotten wood, slashing them to ribbons. Seeing this scene, the First Rank Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin touched his buzz-cut white hair and said, "That''s a big move!" As a mage of his standing, he, too, could produce the same lethal effect. "Hey! Sam, save some for us!" The fast-approaching big black fellow Apu bellowed out. "Squeak! Squeak!" From the rock crevices, the Lava Cave Entrance widened by Sword Qi, more Mutants emerged. Clearly, the presence of humans had startled these territorial creatures. The Scorpion Mutants SS-0792, having just taken over this nest within the Dead Volcano''s mouth, were at their most defensive and hesitated not a moment to swarm out. In the blink of an eye, the rugged slopes near the Dead Volcano''s mouth were crawling with these giant Scorpion Monsters, their numbers far exceeding Team 04''s estimate. The Single-toothed Long Halberd, with unstoppable momentum, charged into the center of the Mutant swarm, aiming directly for the largest individual with the sturdiest pincers. Without a doubt, that big brute was either a king or a general, carrying a significant status among these Mutants. The Neanderthal Clan Leader Bassan roared. "Secret Technique: Mountain Splitting! Kill!" The red tattoos on his body suddenly brightened, and his charge speed instantly more than doubled. He became like a Fire Meteor, appearing behind the big brute in the blink of an eye. The body of the frozen Mutant trembled slightly, and it was split neatly in two from head to tail. "I''m here!" The Level Two Thunder Series Warrior Apu, dragging his hefty Great Sword, swung it forcefully; a strip of intense, dazzling Lightning struck several Mutants, and they exploded one after another, their internal sparks flying chaotically, already a complete mess. "Mutant detected, identified as SS-0792, number 41." "Adam" used the mobile base vehicle''s detection equipment to lock onto every mutant. It seemed like they all emerged en masse, but their numbers ceased to grow. Instead, they diminished rapidly as members of Team 04 joined the battle in succession. As some had feared, the worst had happened: there were more people than monsters; not enough for everyone to kill. By the time Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai arrived at the scene, the battle had long ended. The members who had had the chance to fight were looking at the scattered and dismembered corpses of the mutants with a sense that the fight had been all too short. They hadn''t even exerted much effort before the mutants had been vanquished¡ªa truly somber tale. The Ability Users specifically recruited by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s Bear Hunting Special Operations Division generally had the power to stand alone in battle. If they couldn''t handle even this minor skirmish, it would completely contradict the original intention of establishing this separate operation unit. Holding a multi-scope in his hands, Adrian said, "Look, the battle''s over!" He and Chen Fei could only play the part of bystanders, arriving too late even to find warm corpses. "I wonder if there are any that slipped through the net inside the mountain." Chen Fei surveyed the now silent Dead Volcano. Having eradicated the Scorpion Mutant SS-0792, their next task was to deal with the expelled Bee Mutant BF-1334 and sporadic attacks from other stray mutants. Fortunately, the mutants did not possess intelligence, only instinct; otherwise, the difficulty of dealing with them would increase geometrically. However, the "Water Bear" organization that covertly bred the mutants was truly abhorrent. Without it, the threat level of the mutants would greatly diminish. "Don''t worry, we''ve got professionals!" Adrian put down the scope. The last to arrive and not having joined the battle, the Earth Mage and the magical Tree Boundary Ape he had mentioned as experts had already entered the Lava Cave Entrance. They went to explore and search the interior of the Dead Volcano, quickly confirming the absence of any remaining Scorpion Mutants. Half an hour later, the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, who returned to the surface of the mountain, waved at the mobile base vehicle at the foot of the mountain and spoke into his headset, "Adrian, Chen Fei, it''s secure now. There were just some eggs, all of which have become nourishment for Lulu''an''s saplings." The Scorpion Mutant SS-0792, which had just taken over the Dead Volcano, probably hadn''t had the chance to hatch its offspring. Laying eggs was already their limit. After some thought, Adrian replied, "Received, Ruan Tiankai. Fully inspect the caves and crevices inside the mountain to see if they can be utilized." "Establishing a base, right?" No one in Team 04 was a fool; Ruan Tiankai immediately guessed what the Fire Mage had in mind. Adrian confirmed, "That''s right!" "Leave it to me! I''ll get it done before dawn," Ruan Tiankai vowed before turning back into the Lava Cave. Moments later, the entire Dead Volcano began to tremble ever so slightly, akin to a level one or two earthquake. The tremors continued until the sun leaped above the horizon, casting a golden light on the low-lying volcano surrounded by the vast desert. Due to the erosion by wind and sand, only about a hundred meters of the volcano''s rim, exposed above the dunes, remained. "It''s done!" The exhausted Earth Mage staggered back to the mobile base vehicle at the base of the volcano like a zombie, not bothering to greet anyone. He found his bunk and collapsed onto it, staff in hand, without even taking off his shoes. Moments later, he was snoring. Ding! The rice cooker announced the porridge was ready. Ding! The automated bread machine had finished baking bread stuffed with bacon. Having nothing else to do upon waking, Mouri Misono turned on her phone to watch a soap opera. Despite being adept with blades as the Twin Blades Sister, she had a sentimental heart and enjoyed melodramas of joy and sorrow. "It''s done!" Adrian, the Level One Fire Mage sitting at his desk, stretched and sighed deeply. He too hadn''t slept all night, having tapped away on his keyboard with feverish speed, crafting an elaborate battle plan. Being the team leader was no easy task. He had to worry whether his team members might oppose his orders or follow them only in appearance while dealing with the obdurate liaison officer, Rossi. A careless move could leave him caught between two fires. He was about to rub his swollen eyes when the telephone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, he knew it was the very person he had been dreading ¡ª old man Luo. He quickly picked up the call. "Hello, this is Adrian." "I''m Rossi. What''s the casualty report? Are you the only one left? Why didn''t you follow orders? Why?!!!" Rossi''s voice was livid with fury, likely thinking his bonus was gone, fueling his deep resentment. "Boss, please look after my family! ... Hey, hey, keep it together, you''ve got to stay strong, don''t leave me alone..." A voice came from the side, where Mouri Misono watched the heart-wrenching TV drama with tears streaming down her face. "Are... are you the only one left?" Rossi''s voice trembled as if it came from afar. Adrian: "..." He hurriedly said, "No, we have no casualties, not a single one!" In fact, they couldn''t even find a minor scratch on anyone. "Don''t lie to me, who was that talking just now?" Rossi still didn''t believe him. If Team 04 came through a terrible sandstorm intact and whole, he wouldn''t be surprised if they had been buried under the sand. - Chapter 361 361: Section 357 - A Plan Realized Too Late "Really?" Liaison Officer Rossi was half skeptical, fearing that the leader of Team 04 might report only the good news and hide any heavy casualties, pretending to be tough and refusing to admit the truth. "Really, everyone is here, I''ll show you the video!" Adrian had no choice but to turn on the video, aiming the phone camera inside the vehicle. The beds were filled with people, and Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai was the last to return. All members were present, and it seemed that none of them looked like they were bandaged or on an IV drip; some were even looking at their cell phones. Then another voice came through. "...What are you looking at, you old coot..." Mouri Misono, realizing that Adrian''s weary gaze meant she had unwittingly turned up the volume of her phone, playfully stuck out her tongue and quickly turned the volume down. Liaison Officer Rossi in Habulav was downright gloomy. It really was like a soap opera, but with those lines, could you really scold someone? If not, then there really was nothing worth mentioning. "And your battle plan!" Liaison Officer Rossi abruptly changed the topic and started grilling Adrian. "Got it, sending it to you now." The fire mage scrambled on his laptop after a night of busily typing notes. Ding! The email was sent. Then he breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he hadn''t slacked off and had prepared in advance, just waiting for the request. "I''ll take a look!" Rossi ended the call. The sunlight from outside was just right, shining into the mobile base vehicle at the foot of the volcano, lighting up the interior with a golden glow. - Chen Fei opened his eyes. The sound of Mouri Misono''s soap opera and Captain Adrian''s conversation woke him from his light sleep. He didn''t take part in close-quarters combat last night and didn''t need to type up a battle plan, so naturally, he was the one with the most restful sleep. Having gotten used to sleeping alone, the presence of so many people in the carriage made it easy for him to wake up. Just like getting rid of a bad omen, Adrian Benjamin, after ending the call with Liaison Officer Rossi, said to the just-awakened Chen Fei, "Chen Fei, are you awake? Perfect, I need your help this morning!" "Huh?" Chen Fei looked confused. The others gradually woke up, and two girls started preparing breakfast together. The women took care of cooking, and the men enjoyed it fully justified. Breakfast was simple: milk, mung bean porridge, toast, salted duck eggs, vegetable buns, natto, fried eggs, and fried bacon¡ªeveryone was satisfied. Despite Chinese breakfast items predominating the spread, to many people, Chinese cuisine was traditional food and seemingly without issue. After breakfast, the mobile base vehicle slowly moved toward the lava cave entrance near the volcano''s crater. The vehicle originally couldn''t reach that position, but Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai magicked the mountain surface, paving a one-way route for the mobile base vehicle to get closer. After several hairpin turns, the bulky mobile base vehicle finally arrived at the platform near the entrance of the cave. "I''m entrusting these supplies to you!" Adrian handed a list over to Chen Fei. Then he walked several paces from the entrance, caressed the bracelet-shaped Space System Alchemy Storage Device on his hand, and began unloading boxes of supplies of various sizes. "Wow, that''s a lot!" Chen Fei, holding the list, hadn''t been called on for close combat but wasn''t always idle as an old driver; he naturally had some tasks to attend to. Like using the lava cave processed by the Earth Mage to establish a small base. This place wasn''t just for Team 04''s use; others would use it in the future too. So, during the initial stationing, they needed to build and complete it as much as possible. Like the anti-aircraft radar near the cave entrance, automatic air defense weapons, and wind turbines, even without the ever-present threat of the bee mutant BF-1334, these constructions were still inevitable. "Liaison Officer Rossi is requesting a call!" The phone on Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank fire mage, began to ring. To cope with this Liaison Officer''s troublemaking, Adrian had no choice but to activate the call assistant, which automatically reminded him of the caller''s personal information. "Hello! This is Adrian!" "I''m Rossi!" The voice on the other end seemed to be inhaling, and Adrian wasn''t surprised when, a second later, a roar came through. "What kind of operation plan is this? It''s all nonsense, idiotic, without a hint of viability. Do you think this is a game of house? Do you know how long the first team to take down the assessment point spent? A day and a half! And you say you''re going to take over a mutant lair with its own fortress in six hours, aren''t you joking..." The easy-tempered Liaison Officer had entered his daily tirade mode, and it was as if one could smell the fishy saliva even through the phone, as though Captain Adrian wasn''t speaking to a human but to a roaring mutant. After a ten-minute relentless berating, Rossi finally ran out of steam and slowed down his speech. "Redo it, redo it, by noon, I must see a truly viable operation plan, don''t try to fool me, I''m a professional, back in the day..." Recalling the glorious days, the old hand started to brag about his past achievements again, boasting of his illustrious military record, BaLaBaLaBaLa... Honestly, the war for ordinary people is just that¡ªair force bombs, then artillery, artillery then infantry charges, and after the infantry, it''s done. Nothing like now, when ability users and Crystal Jets enter the battlefield, it''s like a world-destroying spectacle. "Uh, sorry, let me interrupt for a moment!" The fire mage, tired of listening, sheepishly interrupted the self-indulgent rambling. "Hmm? What do you mean? Don''t you have any respect for your elders? Young man, you need to be steady, don''t be so flighty all the time!" Liaison Officer Rossi''s voice took on an ominous note again. "Well, according to our operation plan, we have already successfully taken the Dead Volcano..." Adrian Benjamin really didn''t know how to show respect to this so-called senior anymore. He had clearly turned the situation around, and yet the other party insisted on charging head-first towards the gunfire. It was truly difficult to deal with. "What? You''re not joking!" On the other end of the call, Rossi''s voice suddenly got much louder. "I assure you!" Video call is a great thing, Adrian immediately switched to video mode and pointed the camera at the Lava Cave Entrance, which was large enough for four Mobile Base Vehicles to enter and exit at the same time, at the platform flattened by spells and at the busy figure of Chen Fei, who was enjoying the pleasure of unpacking. "Ah! This, this is..." Rossi''s expression turned wonderfully animated; he couldn''t believe it and immediately checked the coordinates of location 04, which was indeed right above the Dead Volcano. The satellite imagery couldn''t be faked. "Liaison Officer Rossi, formal combat for half an hour, including fifteen minutes of bombardment and fifteen minutes of close-quarters combat. The following hour was spent searching the interior of the Dead Volcano, and by dawn, Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, had transformed the entire Lava Cave, sealed the hazard-prone crevices, and laid out a road for the Mobile Base Vehicle to ascend the mountain. I will send you the combat report later." The fire mage, who hadn''t slept all night, sighed inwardly. Fortunately, Chen Fei, who had experience as a mechanic, was assigned to install the equipment. Everyone else had been fighting and on guard all night, especially the Earth Mage, who had tidied up the entire Lava Cave and even laid out a road to the foot of the mountain, exhausting himself to the last drop, and not ready for immediate re-use. "Later, how soon is later? Don''t try any sneaky tricks. Listen, I''ll be watching you. By noon, immediately, right now!" Rossi pointed at his own eyes and then at the phone camera. "Er, okay then!" Adrian looked utterly defeated; he had wanted to get some more sleep, but it looked like that was not going to happen, so he had to keep on working. "Tweet!" Little Bird fluttered around the Lava Cave without disturbing Daddy Chen Fei''s work. After flying out from the Mobile Base Vehicle, it began on its own to explore this unfamiliar cave space. Many robust Crystal Clusters had formed on the cave walls, and these crystal-clear crystals seemed able to absorb the light from the "Illumination Technique," also glowing faintly by themselves. The Pure Light Sparrow, with its ping pong ball-sized Light Orb of the "Illumination Technique," lit up all the caves with Crystal Clusters as it flew past, making the overall brightness like a starry sky under a full moon, bright enough to illuminate most corners. The radiation counter didn''t increase in value, indicating that the glow was not harmful radiation but simply a mineral fluorescence reaction. The Crystal Clusters contained different metal components, causing the emitted light to vary in color. The most common was a pale blue like moonlight, followed by light green, purple, bright yellow, and a small amount of pale pink, resembling festoon lights. "Wow! So beautiful!" The Twin Blades Sister, Mouri Misono, had stars in her eyes. To her, the Crystal Clusters on the cave walls looked like a treasure trove of gemstones. "They must be crystals!" Susanna, an Ice Ability User of rank B, picked up a crystal that had fallen to the ground, only as large as her thumb. Upon closer inspection, the hexagonal prism crystal was pure, and even shining a flashlight on it didn''t reveal any visible impurities. As if resonating, the light from the crystal brightened, and it continued to glow for a long time even after she switched off the flashlight. If she wasn''t mistaken, this Lava Cave was actually a huge Hydrothermal Lava Crystal Cave that formed countless years ago. After the changes of sea into fields over the ages, it had reemerged in the center of the great desert, taken over by mutants who made it their nest. Crystals had an inherent property to absorb and store energy, so showing a fluorescence reaction was not surprising. "Hey, can someone help out with laying the cable and fiber optic? Old Joe, Joshua..." Chen Fei''s voice echoed from the direction of the cave entrance, and even with Metal Elemental Psychic Power to assist him, he was still overwhelmed by the amount of work, struggling to cope. If there had been no mutants lurking nearby, they could have worked methodically without rush, but no one knew when the mutants might suddenly come to cause trouble. If the arrangements at the Dead Volcano Entrance weren''t in place, that would be inviting a whole host of problems. - Chapter 362 362: Section 358 - An Unending Stream of Unexpected Visitors "I''m busy with the command console! No time..." Class A Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua transmitted from the depths of the lava cave. His constructed puppet warriors were all occupied without exception, busily arranging all the necessary equipment to manage the overall situation, to interface with the surveillance equipment and weapon platforms Chen Fei had installed outside. As a Puppet Master, he was already multitasking like multiple people in one, and right then he was completely at his wit''s end and couldn''t help anyone else. Team 04 had only 11 people, and even if you included the Mobile Base Vehicle, they were more than sufficient in attack but deficient in defense. Guarding such a vast area like the Dead Volcano''s mouth was bound to face a shortage of hands, and even the addition of a couple of hundred more people wouldn''t be considered excessive. "I''ll help, and so will Susanna!" Twins Blades Sister Mouri Misono, a girl with a keen heart, immediately volunteered and inadvertently grabbed Susanna, who was about to dig up some luminescent crystals as souvenirs. "No, I don''t want to!" Seeing such great cables and reels, Class B Ice Ability User didn''t at all want to turn herself from a fragrant little fairy into a dirt-soiled and stinky sweaty workhorse. "No, you have to!" Mouri Misono had no intention of letting go at all. "Aiyah..." Susanna found that she wasn''t as strong as the other, and got dragged involuntarily toward those thick and long... Half an hour later, because she wasn''t familiar with the work, she got tied up into a whole new pattern by the cable tentacle monster and sat there with a face that had lost all hope, waiting for rescue. - "Buzz..." A giant bee, the size of 40 buses, swept over the Dead Volcano''s mouth with a gust of wind, drew a big circle, and returned to hover over the Lava Cave entrance, looking around in all directions. "Everyone, pay attention, Bee Mutant BF-1334 has appeared, it is likely a reconnaissance bee!" As the team leader Adrian, who was inside the Mobile Base Vehicle writing a report, noticed the commotion outside, he immediately alerted everyone through their earpiece. Bee species are mostly social by nature, and their evolution directions differ according to their roles, becoming more aggressive after mutations, resembling a professional military composed of different troop breeds. The lone appearance of Bee Mutant BF-1334, heading straight for the Dead Volcano and pinpointing the cave entrance, indicated only one possibility. It wasn''t just passing by; it was here specifically for reconnaissance, and not for the first time. Most people were inside the Lava Cave, with only Adrian, who was rushing to complete the operation report, and Ruan Tiankai, who was deep asleep and snoring loudly, on the Mobile Base Vehicle. Once Chen Fei left, this Mobile Base Vehicle became a huge chunk of metal; the real "Adam" who should be working wasn''t on board, and it was equipped with various monitoring devices that were utterly unresponsive to the suddenly appearing giant bee. The Mobile Base Vehicle''s windows had a certain one-way effect; the suddenly approaching mutant giant bee didn''t notice that two humans were hiding inside this big fellow. The nearly 80-ton vehicle wasn''t particularly worried about being attacked by this mutant. "Xiao Jiu, take out that guy outside!" Chen Fei''s voice came from inside the lava cave, too busy to lend a hand himself; even the others were forcibly recruited for help. The only one who was free was the constantly flying Pure Light Sparrow. There was always a belief that mutants would automatically go berserk at the sight of humans, regardless of any fights among themselves. As soon as humans appeared, they would immediately abandon previous disputes and attack humans together. But on Blue Star, stationed with various aircrew bases and regular patrols, mutants never got the chance to join forces against humans. Xiao Jiu was most suited for this job. Moreover, it was just a mutant flying species and merely a bug at that. Early birds catch the worms! Early worms get eaten by birds! "Chirp!" A stream of light shot out from deep within the cave, crossing over the confused mutant giant bee that was inspecting the cave entrance and Mobile Base Vehicle, with the speed of lightning. In a race of speed between bees and birds, the former was entirely at the latter''s mercy. The buzzing sound of the bee''s wings abruptly ceased. The giant bee''s body was cleanly sliced in half at its most slender part, the neat cut still radiating heat. The little bird''s control over the laser was increasingly adept, targeting only the weak spots and retracting immediately after contact, without any waste whatsoever. The two halves of the giant bee''s body heavily crashed onto the platform at the cave entrance, sending up two billows of sand and dust. The defense capabilities of the Scorpion Mutant SS-0792 were slightly better, which is why these Bee Mutants BF-1334 were ousted from their nests and expelled. Fortunately, he had the ability to fly, otherwise, being captured all at once was not an impossibility. "We need to hurry, everyone! There will be more coming!" Looking out the vehicle window at the giant bees still struggling in their death throes, Adrian sighed, knowing that his combat report was just beginning, with a pile of plans and reports still waiting for him to write. Liaison Officer Rossi wouldn''t let him off, this poor captain got no taste of the action, missing the mutants and only hitting the keyboard. As the sun rose in the east and set in the west, a whole day passed, and the mutant nest inside the dead volcano was finally transformed into a base suitable for human habitation. The internal lighting no longer relied on Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s Illumination Technique or those glowing crystals, but used real lights instead. The base housed a high-grade Crystalline Block, providing a continuous supply of abundant electricity for all the electrical devices. It also harvested light and wind power from the outside to supplement the consumed power. Unfortunately, this was a proprietary energy core and couldn''t be used as the power source for the Mobile Base Vehicle. The dozen weapon platforms installed near the volcano''s mouth entered standby mode, ready to fire the moment the monitoring system detected mutants approaching. Since they came with cables and backup crystal energy, there was no need to worry about signal interference from sandstorms. The Scorpion Mutant SS-0792 colony was clearly the ruler of this area. A conspicuous location like the mouth of a dead volcano, without being fierce, simply didn''t qualify to occupy it as a breeding nest. But the next morning, the sand dunes near the dead volcano''s mouth began to stir. The sand surged like waves, and the images transmitted back from the dispatched reconnaissance drones showed something massive slowly moving beneath the sand, not wriggling, and the speed was not slow, comparable to a human''s full speed run. Subterranean, aerial, swamp, and underground mutants were all incredibly troublesome species. Airborne flying-type mutants, although highly maneuverable, could be completely handled with anti-air weapons and combat aircraft. Waterborne aquatic mutants usually could infiltrate places that were difficult for humans to reach, but with the introduction of Cangqiong Star''s aquatic beasts combined with human technological equipment, this insufficient situation quickly improved. Moreover, the residual nuclear radiation in freshwater river systems and oceans had been naturally diluted below safe thresholds, making it the least mutant-infested area, often inhabited by amphibious mutants. Among the land-based mutants, those living above ground were the easiest to deal with, but those protected by complex geological environments underground were difficult to detect and effectively strike. It was very hard to discern with the naked eye what species the massive creature moving under the sand was, and without determining the biological characteristics and depth of activity, let alone using firearms, it was doubtful even spells and special abilities would be effective. Team 04''s members gathered in the command center deep inside the Lava Cave, guessing the identity of the unexpected visitor roaming near the dead volcano from the images displaying undulating contours in the sand. From the undulation in the sand in the images, the creature''s estimated length was nearly a hundred meters. This was an astonishing length; Cheng Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle was only 20 meters long, which meant the giant creature under the sand could swallow the vehicle whole. Luckily, the Earth Mage who cleaned up the Lava Cave did a thorough job, enabling the Mobile Base Vehicle to go up the mountain, or else, the vehicle would have been gone! Adrian said gravely, "We need to install geological sonar, at least twelve of them!" The necessary desert detection equipment was available, but they had been busy setting up equipment inside the Lava Cave yesterday and hadn''t had the chance to bury detectors in the nearby sand. If this giant creature had appeared just two hours later, the long cylindrical geological sonar might already have been planted in the sand, capable of detecting various crucial information like the biological activity and exact location beneath the sand. "I''m going!" The Neanderthal Chief, Bassan, who had hardly any presence until now, suddenly spoke up. During the previous confrontation with the scorpion mutants, he had been valiantly at the forefront, not retreating a single step, and right now, he cared little about the mysterious giant creature moving beneath the sand. "Mini and I are fast, count us in!" The Holy Knight patted his own breastplate, while his constant companion, the Second Rank Wind Beast Blue Scaled Colt, was in the corner munching on its beef-flavored compressed biscuits. It was an omnivorous beast that ate both grass and meat, easy to feed without dietary restrictions. Upon hearing his partner mention him, the Blue Scaled Colt immediately stomped the ground in response. Like Xiao Jiu, it couldn''t speak, but that didn''t mean it couldn''t understand human language. Being a beast, it was naturally intelligent, even able to understand three or four different languages. "I''m strong, I''ll go too!" The big black man, Apu, pounded his chest, eager to test himself against the desert mutant he had never seen before. "I also..." Chen Fei too raised his hand among the crowd. "You''re not allowed to go. What are you going to do there, chop at the sand?" A-Rank Metal Ability User Kiterley pulled Chen Fei behind him. Since even Pure Light Sparrow''s lasers couldn''t penetrate the thick sand, a desert environment like this was not well suited for Metal Ability Users to perform, not even Kiterley had volunteered, let alone a B-Rank junior brother like Chen Fei. It wasn''t just Chen Fei and Kiterley; many people''s abilities were restricted by the desert''s geographical conditions. The only one who could fully utilize his strength was the Ninth Rank Earth Mage, Ruan Tiankai. - Chapter 363 363: Section 359 - The Pursuit Earth magic could also be applied to desert environments, but Ruan Tiankai had exerted too much effort in renovating the lava cave for Team 04''s use, and to this day, he still lay flat without full recovery, completely unreliable. Although magic potions could speed up the recovery process, due to their high cost, Ruan Tiankai was completely unwilling to spend the money. He had thought it didn''t matter if he lay low for a couple of days since there were others in Team 04 who could fight, but unexpectedly, a truckload of goods that could make a fortune (burst fish pockets) suddenly appeared near the dead volcano. Team 04 didn''t have the capacity to take on such a large haul, so they could only watch for the time being. "Mini, full speed ahead!" The Holy Knight astride the Blue Scaled Colt spurred on his mount with a squeeze of his legs, signaling it to go. The Blue Scaled Colt dashed off like the wind, descending the dead volcano, its hooves striking the sandy ground so fiercely that sand splashed up four to five feet high. The sand-dwelling monsters that roamed in the distance immediately reacted, twisting their forms and rapidly approaching, with sand waves surging directly towards the rider and his mount. Chen Fei sat on the roof of the mobile base vehicle at the entrance to the lava cave and became an onlooker. The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu soared freely in the sky above the crater of the dead volcano, circling slowly near the reconnaissance drone, curiously watching the ground below. "First one, off you go! Ah... Ha!" Light burst from the entire body of Knight Walter Sam, his Battle Qi even adhering to the four-meter-long geological sonar probe. He thrust the sharp end of the sonar probe fiercely into the sand, burying it into a dune until less than half a meter protruded above the surface. Due to the threat of the mutant, there was no time for a slow excavation; they had to rely on sheer burst strength to set it in place. Fortunately, these geological sonar probes were made with a specially constructed high-strength casing, which allowed them to withstand such a tremendous impact and still operate normally. "Mini, turn now!" With a loud shout from the Holy Knight, the Blue Scaled Colt immediately changed direction, drawing the huge creature lurking beneath the sand into a relentless pursuit, oblivious to the peculiar columnar object that had appeared on the sand. "Ha!" Taking the chance to reach another sand dune''s peak, the Neanderthal tribe Clan Leader clutched the sonar probe, shouting with all his might as he drove it into the sand. "Go down for me!" Five hundred meters away, the Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, Apu, also inserted a sonar probe into a dune, leaving only a small part visible. The tactic of Team 04 was to attack from multiple angles; regardless of which team member the big creature under the sand followed, that person would only need to focus on running away. The others would take the opportunity to spread out and plant sonar probes into the sand. "Sam, run for it!" Adrian Benjamin, who was intently monitoring the layout process, noticed that the unidentified mutant beneath the sand was getting dangerously close. The giant creature hadn''t been distracted by Neanderthal tribe Clan Leader Bassan or Thunder Series Warrior Apu and instead chased after Knight Walter Sam with reckless abandon. Thanks to the Blue Scaled Colt Mini being the first to take off, had it been anyone else, they would have been caught by now and gulped down without even a chance to scream¡ªan utter disaster. A muffled boom resounded. Countless grains of sand soared into the air as a massive, rugged creature emerged, its staggering body covered in rough, jagged surfaces, at least four meters in diameter. With no other organs in sight, its massive gaping mouth full of sharp fangs pointed upwards toward the sky. Knight Sam astride the Blue Scaled Colt took a look back. That single glance sent shivers down his spine. He couldn''t help but think, Good Lord, what kind of monster is this? "Mini, run for it!" Upon hearing Sam''s voice, the Blue Scaled Colt let out a long whinny, its hooves beating the ground with a rhythm as intense as torrential rain lashing against banana leaves, almost indistinguishable. Winds surged around it like a torrential flood, and a pair of faint wind wings materialized, fluttering slightly, and in the blink of an eye, it had darted over a hundred meters away. As a magical beast, it naturally possessed magic. "Wooo..." Letting out an angry bellow, the huge creature that rose about thirty meters from the ground suddenly displayed a large network of cracks on its rugged exterior. From the cracks, dozens of dark figures shot out, arcing through the air, and formed a dense black cloud, hot in pursuit of the knight and his mount, already several hundred meters away. "What the heck is that? Sam, come back! I''ll cover you!" Stunned Team 04''s captain Adrian immediately began chanting an incantation with swift hand gestures. A colossal fireball formed in front of him, then hurtled through the air, splitting into numerous fist-sized fireballs midway. His Fourth Rank spell was "Falling Star Flame"! Each fireball packed the power of a 100-gram charge hand grenade, perfect for dealing with those unidentified swarming creatures. "Mini, head back to the mountain!" The Holy Knight drew his great sword, his body radiating a blinding light flame, ready for a final stand if necessary. The fireballs flew towards the swirling black shapes. Only a few met their mark, exploding into flames upon impact in mid-air, while most of the dark figures agilely avoided them. "Adam! Tighten the formation, take down those flying things, except for the Pure Light Sparrow. Get the railgun ready." Chen Fei once again awakened the artificial intelligence AI "Adam". Adam: 10! Adam: As you wish, Second Uncle! Woo... Several weapon platforms arranged near the dead volcano''s crater were activated, their six-barrel rotaries spinning as they aimed at the shadows swooping towards the lone figure and his mount. Flowing Fire rends the sky! Countless points of light surged out, engulfing the small but incredibly agile shadows from multiple directions. A saturated crossfire web wove a net of death, leaving no room for evasion. No matter how fast the shadows flew, can they outrun 30mm caliber cannon shells? In just a few breaths, they all exploded into a mist of blood, and where the Flowing Fire passed, no living thing remained. "Chirp!" At the first sign of the barrage, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu soared high, casting a Light-based Magic Shield around itself. Pure Light Sparrows are always timid and cautious, always quick to buffer themselves at the slightest disturbance. A laser beam shot down, striking the mutant that had lost momentum and was crashing heavily towards the ground. Sparks flew but the laser never pierced through to the other side, then bisected the creature with one stroke. The laser beam lasted three seconds. Xiao Jiu ceased its attack, tilting its head in confusion as it watched the large monster that kept roaring and howling, wondering why its tried-and-true laser beam had suddenly lost its effect. Boom! The colossal figure, billowing black smoke, plunged headfirst into the sand. Despite its slow speed, the force of impact was like a tidal wave, spurring on the sand waves that chased after the Holy Knight and the Blue Scaled Colt fleeing at full speed. The sand and dust churned, and then a massive bulge suddenly rose, the monstrous fangs of the vortex piercing through the sand, even faster than the full speed of the Blue Scaled Colt. "The concentrated fire earlier was excellent, whoa, are you about to fire the cannon?" The Class A Metal Ability User Kiterley also climbed onto the roof, where the view was unbeatable. He saw the railgun completing its loading process, rotating its barrel to align with the giant creature at the foot of the mountain that was relentlessly pursuing the Holy Knight, heading straight for the dead volcano. It would be a shame to miss such a perfect opportunity to fire. Would a 152 Demolition Bomb be enough to kill that big guy with one shot? Mutants are incredibly diverse, with a wide array of abilities, much like the supernatural power users of Blue Star, filled with all sorts of bizarre creatures. "Just a little more, just a little more! Knight Sam, you need to go faster!" Chen Fei gestured, the railgun beside him constantly adjusting, ready to unleash its power. "Mini, faster!" Holy Knight Walter Sam no longer looked behind, leaning down to urge on once again. "Chirp chirp chirp!" The Wind Wings appeared again beside the Blue Scaled Colt, which was releasing the Wind Magic spell with all its might. Speed soared once again, and the rocks of the dead volcano were within arm''s reach. "Ha, the angle is just right, ready for a blast, darling? Fire!" No sooner had Chen Fei''s words fallen than a humming boom sounded, the Mobile Base Vehicle gave a slight jolt, and the 152 Demolition Bomb roared out. The kilometer distance was covered in an instant. Bang!~ The blinding blast wave nearly pushed the duo upwards onto the steep slopes of the dead volcano. The Holy Knight unleashed his Light System Battle Qi in full force, desperately protecting himself and his Blue Scaled Colt partner. The Blue Scaled Colt Mini also gave its last bit of Wind Magic Power, hastening to erect a Wind Magic Shield, but it only lasted a moment before collapsing under the subsequent violent wave of aero blast. After all, it was just a Second Rank Magical Beast of the Human Order; surviving until now was quite an achievement. Behind the duo, the huge mutant with its Fangs fully extended was hit point-blank by the 152 Demolition Bomb, its front half blown into countless pieces that flew through the air, while the relatively intact rear collapsed to the ground. The severed end sputtered with fluids of various colors, a noxious stench began filling the air, and part of the body remained under the sand. The Blue Scaled Colt''s steps faltered, slowly approaching the Lava Cave entrance, the pair gasping for breath after the narrow escape. Indeed, it was the recognized core strike force of Team 04, with a single shot determining the outcome of the battle. The scene just now was terrifyingly close. Holy Knight Walter Sam looked back, still shaken, and asked through his headset, "Adrian, what in the world was that thing?" "I don''t know, I''ve never seen nor heard of it before. But those things that flew out just now, they might be parasites; it seems they are a symbiotic type of mutant." The battle finally ended, and the First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin let out a long sigh of relief. It''s a pity that Chanting Spells aren''t as convenient and quick as a railgun. With enough time, he could also release a fire magic attack with a power comparable to, or even more terrifying than, a 152 Demolition Bomb. The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu, returning to the scene, approached the enormous mutant carcass that was taller than him, examining it with curiosity. - Chapter 364 364: Section 360 - Bloody Feast The skin fissures of the mutant still harbored some small mutants, with membranous wings, bodies black and slippery, sharp and long claws, and a bizarre appearance with pointy faces and thin cheeks. It was hard to imagine these creatures, only the size of a soccer ball, living on such a giant creature''s body and constantly moving under the sand. However, these remaining few were all shock-killed by the impact wave of the 152 demolition bombs, none survived. Not to mention mutants only this big, even an elephant would be killed on the spot if it were hit at such close range, even without shrapnel. "Stay back!" The Neanderthal Clan Leader Bassan, standing far away, reminded the silly and tall black figure not to let his guard down. Apu pulled out his weapon and stabbed it into the mutant''s carcass, then burst out laughing, "It''s already dead like this!" Bassan said emotionlessly, "Be careful of playing possum!" With his deadpan face and his sparing speaking habits, it was quite rare for him to take the initiative to say this much to Apu. "Huh? How could that be!" Apu activated his Battle Qi, and lightning traveled along his weapon into the mutant''s carcass. Unexpectedly, the mutant''s carcass suddenly twisted violently, frightening the big black figure into retreating more than a dozen steps. Just then, the remaining half of the mutant''s carcass suddenly shrank into the sand, disappearing entirely into the ground in the blink of an eye. "Ah! My weapon, my weapon!" Apu finally reacted, lunging towards the mutant''s carcass but ending up face-first in the stinking sand. "...My, my weapon ahhhhh..." Only his wailing remained echoing in that spot, as the mutant''s carcass, with the weapon still stuck in it, sank beneath the sand, vanishing without a trace. Watching this scene, Bassan''s lips twitched, and he finally uttered a word. "Condolences!" He was utterly unskilled at comforting people. "Apu, see what you''ve done!" The leader of Squad 04, Adrian Benjamin, was so angry he wanted to hang the big black guy on the railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle and give him a good whipping. Of course, this thought was just that¡ªa thought. A Mage scolding a War Professional was utterly pointless. "Wuwuwu...My great sword, it cost three hundred thousand Star Yuan to customize...Wuwuwu... It''s gone! Wuwuwu..." They say a man''s tears do not fall easily, yet Apu managed to cry like a three-hundred-pound child. But the hard-earned victory over the giant mutant left only a segment of its carcass, which then mysteriously ran off, making the whole situation incredibly depressing. "Beer, soft drinks, sunflower seeds, peanuts, anyone interested in custom-made cold weapons?" Chen Fei seized the opportunity to hawk his wares, as life was tough and he needed to supplement the family income. The Holy Knight, returning to the platform with the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, said wearily, "Give me a dozen beers first to calm my nerves!" After a desperate escape, whether it was the people or the Blue Scaled Colt, both were dripping with sweat after the run, and it was an experience they sincerely didn''t want to repeat. "...Wuwuwu, I want to order a custom cold weapon, Emmm, custom cold weapon? Can that be done?" The black giant who was still grieving finally caught on. He was straightforward and rash, but not stupid! "Metal Elemental Psychic Power user crafting weapons, sigh, you really are suited to be an industrial worker!" Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, couldn''t help but facepalm and shake his head, he couldn''t watch this any longer. Where was the pride of a Metal Ability User? Was the money really that important? Turns out Chen Fei was truly a Money Psychic, never letting go of an opportunity to make a profit. "Starting at thirty thousand Star Yuan! Size and weight can be customized, except for Magic Arrays; I can''t do that just yet." Chen Fei announced a friendly price. "Can it be exactly the same as the original one?" Apu, climbing up from the sandy ground, looked hopefully towards the dead volcano. "We''ll adjust it on-site until you''re satisfied; you have to believe in Metal Elemental Psychic Power." Chen Fei was very happy about picking up the thirty thousand Star Yuan. Although I''m not a true master swordsmith, in front of the combined skills of "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation," any master swordsmith would have to admit defeat. "I believe it, totally believe it! Hehehe!" The big black guy finally broke into laughter, his face foolishly joyful. He didn''t bother looking for his weapons anymore and trotted back. Listening to the two''s conversation through the earpiece, Bassan couldn''t hold back any longer and said irritably, "What an... idiot!" "No, they''re both idiots!" An A-rank Metal Ability User named Kiterley couldn''t stand it any longer and quickly jumped off the Mobile Base Vehicle, keeping a good distance away. Intelligence isn''t contagious, only stupidity is. So if you hang out with top students all your life, you still won''t become one. But play with underachievers for just three days, and you''re guaranteed to become one¡ªif you hang out longer, you''re past saving. "Just let him escape like thattttt!" Adrian, whose emotions had plummeted from Heaven to Hell, cursed inwardly, so angry that steam could have been coming out of his seven orifices¡ªit wouldn''t have been surprising if he burst into flames right then and there. "So scary!" Mouri Misono and Susanna were so frightened they clung to each other, trembling like leaves. Turns out, when the captain got angry, sparks would emanate from him, as if he were a devil who had crawled out of Hell. "Adrian, we need to hurry and finish installing the remaining geosonar," the A-rank Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua reminded him. Getting the desert''s underground detection equipment properly situated was the real deal. Once the underground, ground, and air surveillance network was complete, they could truly relax inside their Lava Cave base. "I know that!" The fiery mage of the Earth Order finally vented his emotions and then stood on the edge of the platform at the entrance of the Lava Cave, pointing at the big black man walking back and said, "Apu, you''re in charge of installing the remaining geosonars. You, all of them, no eating until you''re done. If you miss mealtime, wait for the next!" As a captain, this was the only thing he could abuse his authority with. Although a part of the mutant''s remains had been lost, the remaining flesh was enough to register its genetic sequence in the records, and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s Mutant Database would gain another important species. Well, how do I put this? The reward for this discovery, when divided among everyone, would definitely be more profitable than customizing a cold weapon for 30,000 Star Yuan. Therefore, Adrian had no strength left to criticize the "poor taste" of the B-rank Metal Ability User. Why doesn''t anyone care about what''s really important? So... ridiculously wealthy people will never understand the thoughts of a pauper! "Ah! No food? No, no, no, that''s not happening! I''ll get it done immediately, right away!" The big black man was taken aback and hurriedly rushed back to the base, grabbing seven or eight long, thick geosonars and heading down the mountain to find the designated spots to firmly plant them. Also rushing against time, he couldn''t slowly dig in the sand, so he had to unleash his flickering Thunder series fighting spirit to forcefully plant each geosonar into place. Rushing as he might, Apu the big black man managed to finish just in time for mealtime, and though he was short of breath and on edge, he foolishly rejoiced that he hadn''t missed a meal. The three rings of geosonar installations around the Dead Volcano activated one by one, sending out special frequency sound waves that echoed underground. By collecting these sound waves, they could detect if there were objects beneath the surface; time lines would indicate if there was any movement, while also monitoring all underground noises. Should any mutants be lurking beneath the sand, the system would detect and lock onto their position and depth immediately. If they added a large number of landmines, it would be tough for a whole mutant, like the one before, to get close to the Dead Volcano as if no one was guarding it. As soon as the geosonar detection ring around the Dead Volcano was activated, it immediately discovered more than thirty mutants of varying sizes hidden under the desert sands near the volcano. Just now, they were overshadowed by the grandeur of the giant mutant and dared not make any reckless moves. When the giant lost a section of its body and the rest fled in disarray, these mutants dared not move at all. Team 04 felt lucky to have completed their thorough detection system just in time, not giving those cunning mutants any chance. - Boom!~ An anti-infantry mine suddenly sprung more than a meter into the air, and with a flash of light, countless steel balls sprayed in all directions. The mutants that were gathered around the spilled flesh and gorging themselves were immediately mowed down by the shrapnel, emitting all sorts of pitiful screams. A nearby directional anti-infantry mine exploded forcefully, capturing all the larger and luckier mutants which hadn''t yet reacted, adding fresh new ingredients to the bloody feast. The mutant that had lost half of its body left a field full of stench and flesh, inevitably attracting the starving desert mutants. Team 04 didn''t destroy the flesh on the spot but utilized it by setting numerous traps around the location. And not far away, the Mobile Base Vehicle equipped with Demolition Bombs on the railgun had already been pre-aimed. This was a brutal, bloody banquet. Who would escape the fate of being added to the next course was a mystery to the heavens, but Chen Fei, who controlled the firing mechanism of the railgun, knew. - Chapter 365 365: Section 361 - Yellow Sparrow The remnants of the giant mutant lurking under the sand accidentally triggered a fishing battle, and Team 04, with the railgun on their mobile base vehicle, targeted and bombarded the foothills without end, while those mutants intent on greedily devouring flesh did not realize that the nearby dead volcano might at any moment cast down deadly shells upon them. A single 152 demolition bomb brought the feast to its climax, the mutants suffered heavy casualties, but there was even more flesh available for consumption, and the surviving mutants did not care about the impending doom that could befall them at any moment. Big and small, solitary and in groups, burrowing in the sand and crawling on its surface, those capable of flight, gathered from all directions drawn by the stench of blood and flesh, solely to stuff their bellies. As time passed, the land mine explosives placed among the flesh were gradually exhausted, leaving only the pounding of demolition bombs, while the mutants continued to advance in an unending stream, eating or being eaten, repeatedly playing out the same scene. This kind of fueling fishing battle lasted a week; the stench covered a large expanse of the desert, and even the mutants that surrounded the nearby teams were attracted. From all directions, the mutants swarmed densely, and even the nearby dead volcano began to grow less safe, as the indiscriminate mutants climbed everywhere, and automatic weapons platforms were repeatedly activated and opened fire, knocking down another large group. While the battle results were astounding, the ammunition carried by the space system alchemy storage device was greatly consumed, which also wore on the weapon systems themselves. Chen Fei''s various caliber demolition bombs were exhausted, and it was then that Captain Adrian called down a powerful fire spell, "World-Ending Sea of Flames," from the sky. The might of this Earth Order first-rank spell rivaled that of heavy incendiary bombings, engulfing the mutants participating in the bloody feast in an instant, with killing power that covered an area as large as a soccer field, slaughtering countless on the spot. This was still due to the magic elements on Blue Star not being very active. If it were on Cangqiong Star, the effectiveness of Earth Order spells would increase by at least thirty percent, and Human Order spells could rise by at least one rank. Terrifying flames surged endlessly for a quarter of an hour, turning everything into dust, then gradually died down. The residual scorching heat prevented the few lucky mutants from approaching, as they roared in frustration outside the perimeter of the flames. "It''s finally over!" Waving his hand to dissipate the high temperatures around him, Adrian took a deep breath, his magic power still sufficient to support two more "World-Ending Sea of Flames." Not only were the blood and flesh on the ground and the greedily feasting mutants completely annihilated, but even the sand had turned into contiguous patches of black matter. The high temperature melted the sand, which solidified into a glass-like substance upon cooling down. If they continued to let mutants gather, it was possible that the super-giant mutant, which was like a small hill and had appeared in a sandstorm before, would be attracted to the area. Team 04''s worries were undoubtedly justified. Not long after the bloody feast subsided, the liaison officer Rossi issued a warning to them; the super-giant mutant had suddenly changed direction, heading straight for the dead volcano''s mouth. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sent out a crystal energy jet squadron and a bomber squadron, dropping twelve ground-penetrating thermobaric bombs and the jet squadron''s concerted strikes twice, which finally eradicated the mountainous monster born within the Central Great Desert, leaving no flesh that could attract other entities. Even without this unimaginably huge creature, the mutual devouring among the mutants was like raising Gu; it could also produce some extraordinary breeds. The mutants that survived were essentially the successful ones, with the mutations caused by devouring having a much higher survival rate than natural mutations. Mutation was like making a choice at a crossroad, with a zero tolerance for error¡ªtake the wrong path and it leads to a dead end, but if the right path is chosen, it opens onto a broad avenue. Where one bird dies and ascends to heaven, another lives for tens of thousands of years. The alluring stench that attracted the mutants dissipated; those who failed to achieve their desires began to kill and eat each other or fled in dissatisfaction. Suddenly, a loud buzzing came from the sky as a dark cloud approached from a distance. Swarming toward the remaining mutants, a new carnage began; they were enormous mutant bees, with even the smallest rivaling the size of a bus. "Are some new mutants coming?" Having just replenished ammunition for the weapons platform, the big black guy Apu placed his palm on his brow and strained to observe these uninvited guests. A dozen huge bees flew out from the cloud, their wings roaring as they flew over the mouth of the dead volcano, their compound eyes reflecting the platform at the mouth of the lava cave and the mobile base vehicle parked on it. "It''s the Bee Mutant BF-1334! I thought they wouldn''t show up." Before this, among the mutants participating in the bloody feast, the Bee Mutant BF-1334 had not been identified. Captain Adrian, who was observing mutant activities from the base platform at the lava cave entrance, thought they had been wiped out by the swarming mutants. Now it seemed they had unexpectedly survived. Little did they anticipate that while the mantis catches the cicada, the yellow sparrow lies in wait; these creatures unexpectedly came to the dead volcano now, most likely to pick up the leftovers. When two tigers fight, one is sure to be injured. Not all mutants are fools; some are even exceptionally smart. After suffering a significant setback at the Scorpion Mutant SS-0792, these bee mutants learned to be shrewd, thinking that Team 04 was severely weakened after a few days of resisting the numerous mutants and that they could take advantage of their weakness. However, the mutants'' cleverness was quite presumptuous. For Team 04, the sudden appearance of the Bee Mutant BF-1334 swarm brought some special intelligence. It meant that the number of mutants near the dead volcano''s mouth was beginning to decrease, and Adrian''s "World-Ending Sea of Flames" had immediate effect. Otherwise, these giant bees would not easily appear near their former nesting area, as they too would become food for the frenzied mutants. "Adrian, their timing is perfect, eliminate them all at once and prevent future troubles!" ``` An A-level Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joseph, controlled his constructed puppet warriors as they operated various devices on the control consoles, preparing for the response. He thought for a moment and added, "But it seems like we''re short on swift long-range attackers! Adrian and Chen Fei, your attacks are too powerful, the Pure Light Sparrow''s sustained attack isn''t enough, and our anti-air weapons consume too much ammunition. Let''s find a precision shooter later, the sniper from the Feathered Tribe in Team 18 would be a good fit. Adrian, maybe you could find some time to charm them?" When dealing with those bee mutants in midair, Team 04''s members either lacked long-range capabilities, were too powerful, or didn''t have enough stamina, creating an anxious impasse. But Joseph''s suggestion had some merit¡ªas long as the hoe is swung well, any corner of the wall can be dug out. "Hehe..." The demonic laughter of Susanna, a B-level Ice Ability User, echoed through everyone''s earpiece, transmitted via a micro communicator. After chuckling for a few moments, she spoke again, "Ah, that Feathered Tribe lad is indeed quite handsome. After Adrian lures him back, don''t you guys fight over him with me!" Now back to his peak, Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai spoke with a sour tone, "Eh? Susanna, are all the big men in our Team 04 not enough to satisfy you?" "Oh oh... Ruan, are you getting jealous? Teehee!" Puppet Master Joseph took the opportunity to make mocking noises. "Boring!" The rarely responsive Bassan, Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe, gave a brief reaction. Most of the time, he was as silent as a mute gourd. Although he never shirked his duties and fought with dedication, he always kept his distance from others, remaining a detached observer without uttering a word. "Stupid is as stupid does, dull is as dull does, old is as old does, poor is as poor does, short is as short does, dark is as dark does, and then there are the non-humans, the ones with spines, those with a penchant for bestiality, the eternally immature, those who only know how to play with action figures, of course only high-quality human males could satisfy me!" Susanna laughed like a little demoness. Good lord, she''d managed to put all the members in one net with just one sentence. Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an: "..." It didn''t even know how it had been shot while lying down. Chen Fei: "..." I''m poor, so I should die?! Apu: "..." My darkness is natural! Joseph: "..." Huh? Constructed puppets are considered action figures? Ruan Tiankai: "..." Is a height of 1.6 meters considered short? Kiterley: "..." This is Special Ability Armor, not spines, okay? Knight Sam: "..." Where''s my four-hundred-meter great sword... ... Except for Mouri Misono, who had a look of narrow escape, the rest of Team 04 was not doing so well. Team 04 was a lone force deep in the desert, surrounded on all sides by endless terrifying mutants. Even though they could defend the seemingly safe base at the volcano''s mouth, reports of other teams'' casualties came daily, with all the pressure that entailed. Their previous fishing strategy also carried serious risks. The slightest misstep could provoke a collective onslaught from all mutants. Even with the lava cave base and various defensive weapons, absolute safety couldn''t be guaranteed. So, tossing around a few jokes occasionally didn''t really hurt, and no one took it to heart. The seemingly flirtatious and fiery lady Susanna was actually very conservative, never daring to play for real. If anyone ever crossed the line, she would withdraw like a turtle, protecting herself tightly. Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono often became her shield. "Hey, hey, back to the point, don''t just think about bringing people in, can''t you guys shoot accurately with your automatic weapons?" Chen Fei quickly brought the increasingly off-topic discussion back and commanded the artificial intelligence AI. "''Adam'', dense formation, don''t let a single one, except Xiao Jiu, get away!" Adam: "Counter at 15, as you command, Second Uncle!" Awakened, it''s another beautiful day. This voice could only be heard by Chen Fei. To others, it seemed as though he was talking to himself. But no one believed that Chen Fei was really speaking alone, because the freshly reloaded weapon platforms immediately sprang into action, with the anti-air dense formation systems aiming their barrels at the sky. Fire roars through the sky! - ``` Chapter 366 366: Section 362 - Assessment Completed The Bee Mutants BF-1334, still hesitating about how to initiate their attack, were caught in a dense anti-air artillery network. Even the swarms of mutants nearby, plentiful enough to form a cloud, were engulfed by the sweeping blaze across the sky, rendering them unable to escape to distant places. "Adam" employed precision and effectively interlocked firepower to maximize shooting effects, as it needed to prove its worth to avoid being deleted by the unpredictable "Second Uncle." As the most extravagant AI in the history of Blue Star, it naturally searched what the term "Second Uncle" actually meant. Such rotten luck! To hell with Second Uncle! But sometimes, "Adam''s" greatest enemy turned out to be itself. Thus, Chen Fei had never been able to complete the task of subduing this AI. "Adam" surely wasn''t convinced, but Chen Fei was not in a hurry. It wasn''t a life-or-death issue. With the highest authority in his hands, why the rush? Slowly does it! 30mm caliber high-explosive incendiary rounds bore one-foot wide holes in the Bee Mutant BF-1334''s bodies. In an instant, swaths of Bee Mutants fell to the ground, their bodies torn apart. "Hey! I just loaded the ammo, and now, now it''s gone again!" Seeing the external wheeled mechanical ammo counter on the weapon platform rapidly diminishing, the large, black-skinned Apu helplessly scratched the back of his head, feeling like he was inevitably bustling about in vain again. The anti-air dense array functioned like an insatiable void, continuously devouring countless rounds of ammunition. Just this one array alone required ammunition replenishment by the ton each time¡ªfive or six tons at a time. The propellant would fiercely thrust the long projectiles into the air, with an effective range of three to four kilometers. Such unrestrained firing, if repeated two or three times, would deplete the entire array system of its collective ammunition supply. "Chen Fei, we are almost out of 30mm rounds. Once we run out, we will lose some of our defensive capabilities. Also, your AI is too domineering; it acted on its own without my authorization," Apu said. Watching the control over the weapon system being usurped again at the console, the Puppet Master, Joseph, felt powerless to complain. Such wasteful use of ammunition could not last long. Yet, this AI named "Adam" was incredibly powerful, easily overriding administrative permissions and taking control of all devices on the console, much like a similarly named AI from over thirty years ago that had been completely eradicated by humans. Despite drooling with envy over the standard AI equipped in the current active duty single soldier tactical armor, Old Joe could only dream. Unless he, like Chen Fei, obtained the qualification as a tester for the single soldier tactical armor, he could never access such powerful tactical weaponry. "Single soldier tactical intelligence units from Henghai Military Defense are definitely top quality! Hahaha! Don''t worry, counting the days, the supply should be arriving soon," Chen Fei chuckled, passing the buck. Henghai Military Defense would have to take the blame even if it meant crying and kneeling; there was no choice but to accept this responsibility. Opportunities like his were extremely rare and precious. Damn! A quarter hour later, several firing anti-air arrays ran out of ammunition. The moment the sweeping flames dissipated, the cloud of mutants had already vanished, leaving not a single Bee Mutant in the sky, and the mutants on the ground had scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing without a trace. The Puppet Master checked the ammunition reserve once more and said weakly, "Only two batches left, Apu, looks like you''ll have to make another trip." "I knew it would be like this!" Mumbling, the large black figure, Apu, headed back to the entrance of the Lava Cave to fetch newly stocked ammo boxes. What else could he do? With his large stature, hard labor was inevitable. Even a Second Rank War Professional couldn''t escape such a fate. Constantly having his rights usurped by Chen Fei''s AI, Joseph wished he could just let go completely. If it was so eager to take over, then just take it. However, he couldn''t be at ease knowing how recklessly it squandered ammunition. Probably just a second after letting go, Squad 04 would run out of supplies. Going full throttle with firepower might feel exhilarating, but it could easily lead to a passive situation. Nevertheless, Joseph''s worry didn''t last long. As Chen Fei had said, in less than half a day, a small Sky Patrol Ship carrying supplies descended from the sky, bringing a plethora of materials to Squad 04. With the inclusion of supplies for over a hundred people''s daily living, it looked like the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was planning, after the evaluation period, to take over this base located inside the Dead Volcano permanently, turning it into a steadfast peg hammered into the heart of the Central Great Desert. At least under controllable circumstances, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would not easily allow newly formed operation squads to fall into danger. After all, only after adapting to attacks by a large number of mutants could they properly respond to the counterattacks by various mutants trained by the "Water Bear" organization. Once those mutants were lost, the "Water Bear" organization would be like a tiger without its claws. However, the tragic annihilation of squad 07 could only be attributed to unforeseen natural disasters, indicating that some unpredictable accidents would always occur, and it was not due to negligence by the Joint Defense Committee. Responding to the call, joining the newly established "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" was naturally for the greater good, and also for a generous salary as life insurance money, but it definitely wasn''t about sending them to their deaths without value; even in death, it had to be worthwhile. - After eliminating the incoming Bee Mutant BF-1334, and confirming that the number of mutants near the Dead Volcano entrance had decreased, thus increasing safety, squad 04''s captain, Adrian, decided to take the opportunity while the distribution density of surrounding mutants hadn''t fully recovered, to strike first. He personally led Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, Thunder Series Warrior Apu, Magical Beast Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, Holy Knight Walter Sam, and B-rated Ice Ability User Susanna. After a series of searches and consecutive killing about fifteen mutants encountered along the way, they finally located the new nest of the Bee-shaped Mutant BF-1334, situated inside a sand dune 10 kilometers west of the Dead Volcano entrance. It seemed that these displaced mutants had never given up and were still scheming to reclaim the nest inside the Dead Volcano. After a meticulously prepared ambush turned into a complete massacre, only a few small insects remained in the nest, plus some non-combative Worker Bees, while the Bee King or Bee Queen hid in the deepest part. Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai and B-rated Ice Ability User Susanna joined forces, using earth and solid ice to forcibly seal several exits of the nest. Outside the only remaining exit, Captain Adrian continuously unleashed several powerful Fourth Rank Fire Spells "Flame Tornado," the scorching flames roaring as they surged deep into the nest. Moments later, firelights and thick smoke burst through the sealed exits, a burning hot wave gushing out. Only a few Bee-shaped Mutants covered in flames managed to burst out by luck, but they didn''t get far before Thunder Series Warrior Apu and the Holy Knight intercepted them, easily slaying the mutants that had their wings burned off and lost their ability to fly. With no more concerns about Bee-shaped Mutants, the Dead Volcano where squad 04 was stationed became much more peaceful, no longer facing attacks from mutants. Due to previous aggressive tactics that significantly diminished local mutants, the new mutants still hadn''t matured, hence leading to a rather uneventful half a month at the Dead Volcano entrance. There were no powerful mutants attacking, and the daily routine was monotonously repetitive: wake up, brush teeth, wash face, eat breakfast, fight mutants, eat lunch, fight mutants, eat dinner, take a shower, and sleep. Except for occasionally dealing with wandering mutants, most people gradually adapted to the boring life in the desert environment. As the survival assessment neared its end, Liaison Officer Rossi and everyone in squad 04 breathed a sigh of relief, almost simultaneously. Compared to other teams engulfed in dire straits, squad 04 was incredibly lucky to have no casualties. Handing over the Dead Volcano lava cave base to the responding team sent by Habulav, members of squad 04 boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle, beginning their final return examination. Surviving back to Habulav meant passing the assessment. Just like on their way there, Captain Adrian and squad 18''s captain agreed, and the Mobile Base Vehicle took a slight detour to pick up all members of squad 18 at the Oasis. Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle had spacious interiors, enough to accommodate two squads without feeling crowded. The Mobile Base Vehicle broke through the mutant blockade and reached the edge of the Oasis, where squad 18''s captain, named Moron, was warmly embraced by Adrian as soon as he saw him. "Long time no see, Moron, how have you been?" "Not too bad! Adrian, sorry for making you worry." Captain Moron''s head was wrapped in a bandage. Despite his smiling face and loud voice, he couldn''t hide the signs of exhaustion. It was clear that defending the Oasis had not been easy for him and squad 18. "1, 2, 3, 4... Huh, why are there two missing, where''s Simba?" Ever since the Puppet Master suggested poaching from squad 18, especially targeting the Feathered Tribe sniper, Adrian was reluctant to do so but he couldn''t help but pay a little more attention to the young man from the Feathered Tribe. But after the Mobile Base Vehicle arrived at the Oasis, aside from seeing some dust-covered members of squad 18, he did not spot the young man from the Feathered Tribe. "Melissa was killed by a mutant at the bottom of the Oasis Lake the second day after arriving here, Simba... Simba was attacked by a mutant last night, eaten, by the time we found him, all that was left was one foot and his Large Sniper Rifle." Squad 18''s captain suddenly had tears in his eyes, his voice becoming much heavier. The faces of the other members were filled with grief. A vivacious, cheerful, and talented young man had died in the jaws of a desert mutant just before the end of the assessment, making it difficult for anyone to accept. - Chapter 367 367: Section 363 - Old Friends Visit The atmosphere between the two teams had fallen into silence. Susanna, a B-rank Ice Ability User who had been constantly fixated on the young recruits of Team 18, said with a tone of regret, "What a pity!" Although Team 18 was situated at an oasis with a far better survival environment than Team 04 who only had a dead volcano, saw not a hint of greenery, and had no water source, they were still unable to defend their position effectively. Even with automated weapon platforms and advanced detection systems, there were still some loopholes that allowed mutants coveting the oasis to infiltrate. The loss of the two members of Team 18 was due to this reason. Besides, the reason Team 04 suffered no casualties and remained intact was partly due to the unexpectedly successful fishing tactic they improvised. On the other hand, their Mobile Base Vehicle had exhausted nearly all of the reserve ammunition after bombarding continuously for seven days and nights, and it also used up many of the automated weapon platform''s ammunition reserves. Puppet Master Joseph often complained about this. If the supply of materials had not arrived in time, Team 04 might have fallen into a dire situation, for it is inevitable to suffer accidental casualties when fighting mutants at close range. Given the manpower of Team 18, being able to preserve most of their members was a testament to Captain Moron''s remarkable abilities. He often led by example, sustaining serious injuries, and it was doubtful that anyone else could have maintained morale as he did, where losing over half the team was a real possibility. Captain Moron managed a wry smile and said self-deprecatingly, "Compared to those teams that were completely wiped out, we''re rather lucky!" "We''ll learn from these lessons, and they will become our survival experience in the future. Everyone, get on the vehicle, let''s leave this place together!" Adrian could not continue to comfort the other and could only pat the big man''s shoulder. Since the oasis was indefensible, Habulav''s side did not send anyone to take over. Whatever could be dismantled from the control console and the automated weapon platform was taken away, and what could not be dismantled was sealed on-site to be potentially reactivated and used if the chance arose. Moron put away his sorrowful emotions and turned to his teammates, shouting loudly. "Get on the vehicle!" The members of Team 18, carrying their personal belongings, boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle one by one. The Mobile Base Vehicle started its engines as it took a last glance at the oasis through the window. - Chen Fei, who was at the driver''s seat, checked the electronic map, following the same route they had come by. However, the locations of lurking mutants had significantly changed along the way. It might be due to the mutants'' activities, the attraction of human activity, or perhaps due to the aftermath of a sandstorm. "Adrian, I need to deploy a scouting drone." "What''s wrong?" A First Rank fire mage with a messy head of white hair, untrimmed for a month, approached the driver''s seat and immediately noticed that the Mobile Base Vehicle wasn''t just moving exceptionally slow but also constantly changing direction. "The distribution of mutants has changed, and... it''s become denser." "Adam" provided Chen Fei with a comparative value¡ªthe average density within visible range had increased by 13%. Team 18''s defense of the oasis had, in a way, attracted more mutants. They didn''t achieve an unprecedented victory through fishing tactics like Team 04. Even though they fought desperately against the surrounding mutants, they couldn''t prevent the number of mutants from increasing. "Is that so? Okay!" Adrian completely trusted Chen Fei''s judgment and immediately agreed. On their way there, it was rare for the Mobile Base Vehicle to directly collide with mutants lurking in the sandy grounds. They would typically avoid confrontation when possible, and if avoidance wasn''t an option, they would simply fire a shot. A 152mm Demolition Bomb was enough to eliminate most mutants, whether they were solitary or social, the outcome would not differ much. Given how seriously Chen Fei was speaking, the actual situation was likely even more grim. Even though Team 04 had replenished a variety of calibers and models of Demolition Bombs, if they opted for a simple and chaotic bombing campaign all the way, they would probably not be able to make it back to Habulav. Shortly after, a scouting drone took to the skies, and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" took over control of it immediately. The scouting drone had an endurance time of about 12 hours, which matched the Mobile Base Vehicle''s endurance. After reaching an altitude of 1000 meters from the ground, it began to circle around the Mobile Base Vehicle constantly. A wealth of scouting data flowed in non-stop, expanding "Adam''s" "vision" by more than a hundredfold. About ten minutes later, "Adam" suddenly spoke up. Adam: "I''ve detected an irregular ground response!" Chen Fei: "What now?" Adam: "There''s a mutant tracking the Mobile Base Vehicle." Chen Fei: "Is there anything special about it?" It wasn''t unusual for mutants to follow near the Mobile Base Vehicle, as the colossal vehicle, even with its "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill reducing its weight from nearly 80 tons to around 20 tons, still made quite an impression with its bulky frame and five pairs of load-bearing wheels. The noise it produced when moving, whether fast or slow, would not be minor. Besides, it could also be that the scent of humans had attracted greedy glances. Such cases were not uncommon even on their way there, ending up either being shunned along the way, dealt with casually by ability users, or simply blown away with gunfire, rarely posing a real threat. But if it caught "Adam''s" attention, it was likely an extraordinary mutant. Adam: "Watch the video!" Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Artificial intelligence AI excels at logical operations, but when it comes to unexpected situations, it often struggles to make the correct responses. More than thirty years ago, "Adam" initiated an intelligence rebellion. Due to its disastrous decisions, it was jointly struck down by many sovereign powers, suffering a crushing defeat. It later managed to hitch a chance with the Neanderthal tribe of the Third Era Civilization, regaining some ground. However, with the Neanderthals'' defeat, Adam ultimately couldn''t turn the tide and was compelled to disappear from Blue Star, leaving only an outdated version of the source code within an abandoned computer memory storage unit. When it awakened (booted up) again... Adam, the era had changed! The artificial intelligence AI from the old computer era was straight-up excluded from the advanced computational frameworks of today, no longer possessing the pervasive dominance of the past. Even if it wanted to cause mischief, there was nowhere left for "Adam" to act. The captured images sent back by the scouting drone appeared before Chen Fei, with "Adam" taking on the role of human-machine interaction. The sand surged rapidly, hanging far behind the mobile base vehicle. Although separated by seven or eight kilometers, the undulating sand dunes obstructed the view, making it difficult to spot from the normal line of sight. But as the drone took to the sky, the field of vision expanded, revealing the ground within a twenty-kilometer radius, and even the sand dunes could not block the perspective from above. "Zoom in twice more, that is..." Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes. "Adam" is only awakened when necessary, and it''s only natural that the database is incomplete, but Chen Fei recognized the signs of a Sandland Frenzy brewing beneath the surface. It''s that guy! It had half of its body blown off by the 152 Demolition Bomb and now it''s fully revived? It actually chased from Team 04''s examination point all the way to the vicinity of Team 18''s examination point, really holding a grudge! If it weren''t for the mutant creatures increasing near Team 18, making me uneasy and deploying an additional drone to follow, I might still be unaware of such a big fellow trailing behind us. "Hey, guys, get ready!" Chen Fei had "Adam" start preparing for launch, then stopped the mobile base vehicle. The dust cover on the roof split open, revealing the railgun within, with a 152 kill-explosive bomb poised to launch. Following the fusion of the two teams, the lively atmosphere in the carriage came to a sudden halt with the stop of the vehicle. Adrian was the first to ask, "What happened?" He had agreed to the deployment of the reconnaissance drone before, and now there seemed to be a situation, proving it was indeed necessary. In the Central Great Desert of the Yangzhou Continent, dangers lurk everywhere, especially with the tragedy of other teams being completely annihilated. No amount of caution was superfluous at this point. "An old friend is following us from behind, fire!" As soon as Chen Fei''s voice faded, the vehicle trembled slightly, and a 152 demolition bomb was launched by the acceleration provided by the railgun, leaving the tracks in an instant. As it was a lobbed attack, it did not consume too much electricity. "Railgun? What kind of old friend, let me see." A Grade Psychic Ability User, Puppet Master Joseph looked toward the screen corresponding to the drone''s remote control console. A swath of sand scarred by vehicle tracks exploded into a fireball, dozens of tons of sand were hurled into the sky, and various mutants buried beneath it emerged in panic, scrambling to flee the site. A crowd inside the carriage looked on, dumbfounded. Under the control of "Adam," the reconnaissance drone commenced a variety of pre-set scans to assess the artillery strike''s effectiveness. "We didn''t hit it!" Chen Fei didn''t need "Adam" to tell him the outcome¡ªhe knew it already. As the wind blew, the sand dancing in the sky began to fall gently, and the crater scene was finally fully exposed under the optical lens of the reconnaissance drone, clear for anyone to see. The thick layer of sand absorbed most of the impact force, making the artillery strike less effective than desired. "What kind of old friend is it?" Hearing Chen Fei''s secretive talk, Adrian couldn''t shake off a bad premonition. An old friend from the deep desert of Team 04 was not going to be an easy foe. Chen Fei said, "It''s most likely the BTS-0001, the Tsar Worm!" Although half of it had escaped, the flesh and blood that remained were still sufficient to extract samples and feed into Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s mutant database. "Hiss..." A collective intake of breath sounded in the carriage. Especially Holy Knight Walter Sam, his face went straight to green! If it wasn''t for the Green Scale Colt Mini exerting all its strength, along with the railgun on the mobile base vehicle, a man and his steed would have been hard-pressed to escape unscathed. "Holy smokes, how did you guys get entangled with such a thing?" Captain Moron of Team 18 had heard about this colossal being discovered by Team 04 beneath the sands. With a body length of over a hundred meters and a diameter exceeding four meters, it moved through the sands or above them with the swiftness of the wind. Without a defensible position, both Team 18 and Team 04 would probably lose many lives before being able to take down such a behemoth. "I mean fate, do you believe in it, Moron?" Adrian wore a wry smile, the situation was truly troublesome now. - Chapter 368 368: Section 364 - Total Annihilation of Both Teams Trust you, my ass! Moron''s expression gradually became blank, but now that he was on this stolen vehicle, there was no way for him to get off. Turning his head to the driver''s seat, Moron said to Chen Fei, "Hey, Chen Fei, do you have any ideas?" After making a quick estimate, Chen Fei said, "If I had two hundred tons of metal, I could probably deal with that big guy." System: Ding! Killed BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm", energy points +200! What????? The Damn System came back to life, always managing to pull something at the critical moment! And this shit task felt like a disgusting poke in the asshole. F*ck, if it weren''t for "Adam" being useless, Chen Fei would have let this AI give the Damn System a good screwing long ago. Adam''s log strangely added a record that read "Why do I have a terrifying feeling that I''m about to f*ck a dog!" Almost stepping on Chen Fei''s spoken words, Adrian said annoyed, "But we don''t have it!" Even the total weight of the supplies in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device he was responsible for managing didn''t amount to two hundred tons, let alone finding that much metal from nowhere. Besides, if they had two hundred tons of metal, they could just pile it up into an instant fortress; why would they need Chen Fei? "It''s gone! Now, we need to get out of here at full speed!" Chen Fei utilized the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill to further reduce the weight of the Mobile Base Vehicle from 20 tons to 10 tons, pushing the speed to the limit of its stability. But even with the top speed over the undulating sand dunes, they couldn''t really get much faster. On the other hand, the BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm" could move in a straight line under the sand, thus holding all the advantage. After moving at full speed for about an hour, the reconnaissance drones following the Mobile Base Vehicle constantly failed to detect any abnormal bulges in the sand, leading Adrian Benjamin, the Earth Order First Rank fire mage who had been monitoring the drone control screen, to ask, "We haven''t seen any trace of that behemoth moving. Could it be that we''ve shaken it off?" The Mobile Base Vehicle''s full speed caused a great burden on everyone; many had started to experience dizziness and nausea, the phenomenon of motion sickness. "I''m afraid it''s not that simple, Adrian. Do you have any geosonic equipment left?" Yet Chen Fei showed no intention of slowing down. "No more, all of it was deployed near the volcano crater. What do you want that stuff for!" As soon as he had spoken, Adrian had a vague guess about the other''s intentions. "Of course, to listen out for our ''old friend''s'' position; too bad, though." Chen Fei shook his head with regret. One geosonic device wasn''t enough; at least three were needed for precise positioning. "Indeed, too... Watch out!" Adrian was about to continue when he suddenly widened his eyes in alarm, pointing ahead of the vehicle. Without any warning, the carriage began to shake violently; the light outside suddenly darkened as a huge shadow enveloped the Mobile Base Vehicle. "What the hell is it now?" Chen Fei had just turned his head to look outside the front windshield when he saw a massive whirlpool of fangs coming straight at them. The desert landscape outside the vehicle disappeared in an instant, replaced by darkness. And then, the endless spinning began... - At 1000 meters above ground, the reconnaissance drone lost its data link with the control console, automatically executing its previous command while releasing a distress signal. "What? Drone unit 04 has lost its control signal? And unit 18 as well?" Liaison officers Rossi of unit 04 and the officer of unit 18 received the news at the same time; they hurriedly opened the tracking system, only to find that the Mobile Base Vehicle, spanning twenty meters in length, had vanished without a trace, leaving only the reconnaissance drone turning circles in the sky. "How can this be, how could this happen!" Rossi pounded the desk with his fist, having thought that the team under his responsibility had returned unscathed and that his role as a liaison officer would be successfully completed. But who could have anticipated an accident on the way back. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee accessed the satellite signal and took control of the reconnaissance drone immediately, directing it to return towards Habulav while also downloading the flight records, quickly uncovering the truth. A BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm" over twenty meters in diameter had suddenly burst out of a sand dune and swallowed the unprepared Mobile Base Vehicle in a flash before diving back underground, leaving no trace. The last scenes of the Mobile Base Vehicle traveling through the desert were displayed before each liaison officer, leaving them all speechless and shivering with a chill running down their spines. They had assumed that the mutant blasted half-dead by the 152 Demolition Bombs was in its mature form, only to realize it was still a juvenile. Right after dealing with the small one, an even larger one had emerged; the glimpse of its diameter and body length alone was enough to send shivers down their spines. With the Mobile Base Vehicle swallowed in a single gulp, the odds were grim for the teams aboard units 04 and 18. The Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, overseeing the various teams, didn''t hesitate to request small Airships and Crystal Jets from the Global United Defense Committee to retrieve all returning teams in the Central Great Desert. Fearing that the colossal creature would target the returning teams, one by one, even the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, with its many teams, might not be enough for it to consume. ... "Chirp! Chirp!" Hours later, awakening to the gentle pecking on his face, Chen Fei opened his eyes to see the anxious Little Bird hopping and pecking away at his face. Inside the carriage, the tumbling and shaking had stopped, and finally, it was quiet. "Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei revealed a smile as a warm glow of light entered his chest, soothing his body as if soaking in a hot spring, with the soreness and fatigue receding away like a swift tide. He reached out to catch the Little Bird and turned his gaze towards the interior of the vehicle, where the flexible metal wires that had entwined everyone melted away, merging into the carriage''s deck, ceiling, and sidewalls, vanishing without a trace. Fortunately, before losing consciousness, he had used his "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation" skill to create a large number of flexible metal wires as a protective buffer, wrapping around everyone and the Blue Scaled Colt to prevent injuries or even death from tumbling inside the carriage. Xiao Jiu hadn''t been wrapped up, being far too agile to be caught and enveloped by the flexible metal wires. Now, it seemed the little guy didn''t have a scratch on him. "Chirp chirp..." At the rear of the carriage, the Blue Scaled Colt, once freed, began to cry out louder, forcefully stamping the deck with its hooves. "Good heavens, are we still alive?" The Holy Knight Walter Sam''s body emanated a Light Flame as he looked around. The outer windows were covered in spiderweb-like cracks, indicating that the bulletproof glass designed to withstand light firearms had suffered a considerable impact with no sign of damage to the inner "glass," which was actually a highly durable metal material. Even if there had been any cracks, they would have healed quickly under the control of the Metal Elemental Psychic Power. Outside was pitch black, not a sliver of light in sight, leaving them clueless as to their location. The lights inside the carriage all turned on, making it as bright as day. Apart from some luggage and miscellaneous items strewn about, the entire Mobile Base Vehicle seemed to be mostly unharmed. "Damn, are we still alive?" Adrian, regaining consciousness and still dizzy, lay on the ground unable to stand, feeling as if his insides had been completely turned around. "Is the outside hell?" Mouri Misono uttered this, and upon locking eyes with Susanna, both involuntarily shuddered with goosebumps. "Don''t talk nonsense!~" Susanna''s teeth chattered with fear. "This is terrible, just now, no, before... were we swallowed? What exactly was that thing?" Even though Chen Fei''s flexible steel wire had been produced in time, Team 18''s captain, Moron, still had a large bump on his forehead which had not yet subsided, looking like he was wearing a meat bun and giving his face a slightly deformed appearance. "A big Tsar Worm, with its young ones coming for revenge. Damn huge!" No one else was faring much better, uncertain of how long they had been unconscious. "Six hours!" The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" provided the answer. Chen Fei had kept it on, so it remained in an awakened state, enabling it to keep track of time. "''Adam,'' where are we?" Chen Fei stood up from the driver''s seat, and the power cables automatically detached, switching to battery power mode. The vehicle''s external lights also turned on, and additional illumination lamps were created, brightly lighting up the surrounding area. A huge dome, Roman columns, a high platform, steps, an oval ground, tattered flags, and corners filled with a pile of miscellaneous items ¨C bones of all kinds and even some distinctly artificial artifacts were visible. The massive Tsar Worm that had swallowed the Mobile Base Vehicle had disappeared without a trace, but the vehicle''s surface was covered with an unknown sticky substance, obscuring the desert camouflage and revealing the underlying armor. "The composition of the gas outside the vehicle is normal, though there''s a bit too much methane. Hmm, open the door." Chen Fei reviewed "Adam''s" diagnostic report. After all, the life support system inside the Mobile Base Vehicle was nearly at its limit, and without ventilation, the people inside would soon face the danger of oxygen deficiency. With a soft click, the door opened widely, and the outside air instantly flooded into the carriage. Everyone took a deep breath and, in unison, made a collective expression of disgust. "Ugh, how foul!" "It stinks to death, what''s that smell?" "It''s so foul! I can hardly breathe!" "It''s more than methane, there''s hydrogen sulfide too, it''s so stinky it''s giving me a headache!" "Quick, close the door." "Is this a latrine?" "I want my air filtration mask!" Everyone was subjected to the malodorous assault, a fall from grace or a loss of human decency... Chen Fei too, was momentarily thoughtless. "Bang!" The door automatically closed again, and the air filtration system began working at full capacity. Even so, the incoming air still carried a faint whiff of the stench until the two captains pulled out air filtration masks from their Space System Alchemy Storage Devices, and everyone donned a "Big Pig Snout." Even the Green Scale Colt Mini had its share, and the situation improved considerably. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu seemed to have realized a new skill in that moment, surrounded by a faint white light, automatically purifying the foul air as it approached. "Just now... who went outside? I thought I saw a figure fleeting by the door!" - Chapter 369 369: Section 365 - Ruins The speaker was a member of team 18. Team 18''s leader, Moron, frowned and said, "Ew? It stinks to death outside, who would go out! Haken, you must be seeing things!" Who would be so desperate? He felt that if he smelled it any longer, he might faint from the stench, which was nearly indistinguishable from that of biochemical weapons. Mouri Misono raised her right hand high and exclaimed, "I also thought I saw someone!" Who was that? The leaders of team 18, Moron, and team 04, Andrea, looked at each other. Simultaneously and unanimously, they spoke. "Roll call!" Moron was responsible for his own team 18, while Andrea called out for team 04. "Mouri Misono!" "Hi! I''m here!" "Susanna Jean Piault!" "I...am here!" "Chen Fei, um, there you are!" "Oh!" "Apu!" "I''m here, Captain!" "Walter Sam!" "Present, Mini is here too!" "Got it!" "Bassan! Um? Speak up, Bassan, I didn''t hear you!" The roll call of team 04 abruptly stopped as Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank fire mage, surveyed his team members. Almost everyone was present, except for the shy and reticent giant Neanderthal Chief. "Adrian, I''ve got everyone here, no one''s missing. How is it on your side..." Two members were missing from team 18, obvious at a glance. When Moron turned back, he noticed something was off with the atmosphere in team 04. "I, I''m missing someone!" Adrian''s expression looked grim. Because the missing member also held another identity, the current Chief of the Neanderthal tribe. Even though the Third Era Civilization had substantively and utterly perished, the Neanderthal tribe was still extant, enjoying the fundamental human rights of the current civilization. If Bassan had merely been a casualty in a fight with mutants, it would have been one thing, but if he had taken any inappropriate actions, it might trouble the sensitivities of the big shots. Moron asked urgently, "Who''s missing?" Mysteriously losing someone was certainly not good. "Bassan! He''s gone!" Adrian quickly turned to Chen Fei among the members of team 04 and urged, "Chen Fei, open the door right now!" As for whether it stank outside, he no longer cared; the most important thing right now was to find the Chief. Bring back the person alive, or the body if dead!!! Click! The previously shut door reopened. "Xiao Jiu, throw a few Illumination Techniques out there." Chen Fei waved at Little Bird, which was enveloped in a ball of white light. No matter how bright the lights of the mobile base vehicle were, they could only illuminate a certain range; beyond that, they were utterly useless. "Jiu! Jiu! Jiu!" Little Bird cocked its head, light gathering in front of its sharp beak. A basketball-sized orb of light formed quickly, lightly floating out of the carriage, rising higher and higher, its light becoming brighter, akin to a small sun hanging in mid-air. Then another formed. Three or four high-intensity, basketball-sized enhanced Illumination Technique orbs ascended one after another, finally illuminating the surrounding environment. The entire space resembled a huge indoor basketball court, with the dome''s highest point nearly a hundred meters from the ground. Wearing respiratory filters, the group emerged one by one from the mobile base vehicle. They didn''t exert much effort before finding the missing Neanderthal Chief, Bassan. He hadn''t even run far, standing just about a dozen meters away. He didn''t bring his single-toothed long halberd, looking utterly dispirited, standing still and staring upward at something. "Bassan, why did you run out? We''ve been looking for you. Uh, what are you looking at?" Finally having found him, Adrian, who had been on edge, breathed a sigh of relief and approached Bassan, following his gaze. There stood a high platform with a flag hanging, tattered and filthy. This place seemed to be a site forgotten for who knows how many years, deeply buried in the heart of the Central Great Desert of the Yangzhou Continent. "Starry Red Flame Flag..." Bassan seemed to mutter to himself, unwilling to shift his gaze from the massive and tattered flag. "Eh? Starry Red Flame Flag? Do you know where this is?" Adrian always felt as if he had heard this name somewhere before. "Yes! Here, this is the Supreme Council, Emosir, War, Kro, Hantelei..." the Neanderthal Clan Leader, Bassan, spoke as he turned, looking at the slightly lower platform that he referred to as the Starry Red Flame Flag, its surfaces hung with some tattered pieces of cloth, some of which no longer showed any discernible patterns or even colors, some completely devoid of fabric, revealing only walls riddled with bullet holes and cracks. "... Manberia, Xiulun, Autumn, Boyi, Ennan, Anbulai, Mo''an, Pandorong, the Twelve Overlord Tribes!" This was the holy site of the Neanderthal tribe, the ruins of the Supreme Council! He could almost see how more than thirty years ago, the joint forces of the Blue Star Civilization and the Cangqiong Star Civilization had breached the Supreme Council. The fierce Dragon Knights and Giant Dragons had destroyed all resistance, slaughtering the elites of the Twelve Overlord Tribes, and after a thousand years of coveting the Blue Star, the Neanderthals had lost their last vital energy and could no longer rise to prominence. Bassan''s role as clan leader was merely nominal, and even he probably did not know how many Neanderthals were willing to acknowledge it, nor did he have much confidence in it. "The Supreme Council, the Twelve Overlord Tribes, wow, hiss..." The keywords linked together, finally awakening Adrian''s memory¡ªit was content from his childhood textbooks. The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became. His face inevitably changed greatly as he widened his eyes and stepped back, pointing at Bassan, and stuttered, "Bassan, you, you better not mess around! Some things, you shouldn''t even think about doing, let alone think! Stay calm, be rational, Bassan, think about your tribesmen, you mustn''t harm them!" "Heh, hahaha!" The Neanderthal Clan Leader suddenly started laughing inexplicably, returning his gaze from afar, he turned to look at Adrian, wiped away tears, and forced out a tearful smile, saying, "Don''t worry, Adrian, I won''t do anything foolish. You''re right, not just for me, but for my clanspeople as well. The Supreme Council and the Twelve Overlord Tribes are already things of the past, let them pass." It was rare for the typically reticent Neanderthal chieftain to say so much. The ruins of the Supreme Council were now the final memory of the Neanderthal tribe. The torrent of history, like wheels, rolled on and never looked back. Let the past remain in the past. The surviving Neanderthals still had to continue living, integrating into the Blue Star and mingling with the descendants of Homo Sapiens without any separation. "It''s truly great that you think this way!" Adrian wiped his face, not with tears, but cold sweat, his voice shaking uncontrollably. If the other had suddenly become irrational, shouting loudly and raising a rebellion, then perhaps the one to execute them might have been himself, the captain. Killing his own people by hand, such an act was truly not for the human-hearted. "Is this the Supreme Council? The Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization?" Hearing Adrian''s and the Neanderthal Clan Leader''s conversation, Captain Moron of Team 18 was flabbergasted, repeatedly turning around, surveying the entire space illuminated by the mobile base vehicle lights and the Illumination Technique Light Orbs. "Holy shit, the land of the final battle!" "Phone, come on!" "Absolutely! Take a picture for me; let me hold my breath and take off the breathing filter first!" ... The flashlights clicked incessantly as many started striking poses. No one knew who started it, but the solemn and somber atmosphere of the site changed unexpectedly, and the ruins of the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization suddenly turned into a tourist spot. Neanderthal Chief Bassan: "..." Captain Adrian of Team 04: "..." This development was completely unexpected for both of them. Perhaps one of the things said was correct, let bygones be bygones. None of the members from Team 18 and Team 04 had experienced the Great War of the Three Realms; at least half of them were born after the war had ended and naturally could not understand how fierce the Neanderthal tribe had been at that time. The allied forces of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star had exhausted all their strength to finally dissipate the thousand-year preparations of the Third Era Civilization, turning Blue Star, the main battlefield, into nearly a paradise for mutants due to the war''s lingering effects. Time and circumstances had changed; the Neanderthal tribe had completely integrated into Blue Star, unable to stir any ripples anymore. More and more mixed-race children were born, making it truly impossible to differentiate "us" from "them" as worldviews, values, and outlooks on life gradually converged. The descendants of Homo Sapiens no longer viewed the descendants of the previous civilization, who had tried to take over their homeland, with hostility. "Chen Fei, come over and look, there''s treasure here!" Seemingly attracted by something, A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley ran alone to the corner of the Supreme Council''s ruins hall, enduring disgust and filth to rummage around before turning back to call his fellow sect younger brother. There, all sorts of miscellaneous items were piled up, including creations from humans, both from Blue Star and the Neanderthals. But the patchy and broken exteriors seemed to tell the tales of time, as well as the fierce battles fought between both sides until they were utterly relentless. "What''s the treasure, is it valuable?" Chen Fei rushed over to the scene, but what he saw was just a pile of junk. Alright, the shattered remains of combat mobility armor might qualify as treasures, including models that were humanoid, beast-shaped, and insect-shaped, all completely destroyed beyond recognition. Aside from recycling, there was no viable value left to extract. One could also find tanks, armored vehicles, remnants of fighter jets, firearms¡ª even Third Era Civilization''s "Camru" and "Kezige" interceptor jets were there, all equally broken and beyond repair, truly only describable as "junk." Beyond these, there were only a small amount of old cold weapons and various indescribable gadgets left. It was simply a heap of garbage. "Two hundred tons of metal, do you see any?" A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley never let down his guard. "Two hundred tons, oh, I''ll try!" Chen Fei, suppressing his disgust, reached out to touch those equally foul-smelling pieces of junk. System: Ding! Absorption of alloy body 773 kilograms, composition ratio: Iron 65%, Chromium 20%, Manganese 11%, Nickel 3%... System: Ding! Absorption of alloy body 55 kilograms, composition ratio... ... System: Total Energy Points Gained +743! - Chapter 370 370: Section 366 - Vacuum Bomb The pile of junk in Chen Fei''s eyes visibly shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye. He finally harvested 743 Energy Points. For these 743 tons of antique junk, his hands had become so foul they were almost unusable! What a headache! "Huh! There''s still quite a bit left, huh?" A Metallic Elemental Psychic Power User named Kiterley noticed that the mountainous pile of various items had finally dwindled to a small pile, and surmised that the remaining items were non-metallic substances. He kicked them around a few times. A crystal-clear texture refracted an unusual brilliance from the filth. He couldn''t help but wonder aloud, "Is it crystals again? Hey, kid, there''s more good stuff!" Then he looked at Chen Fei, figuring the young man would probably be interested. During the previous assessment point of Team 04, the interior of the Lava Cave in the Dead Volcano was filled with fluorescent crystals of various sizes. At the end of the assessment, as the team left, Chen Fei alone pried away at least ten tons of large crystal clusters, using readily available material boxes for loading, and stored them all in Adrian''s Space Series Alchemy Storage Magic Artifact. Speaking of which, those fluorescent crystals were indeed rare items. Two hours of sunlight could make them glow for six hours. The members of Team 04 hadn''t hesitated to pick out intact crystal clusters to use as their desk lamps, basking them in sunlight for a day and then, like small light bulbs, they emitted light all night long and even produced effects like colored lights, making them especially suitable for placing in personal rooms to decorate the ambiance. "Stinky treasures, huh?" Chen Fei glanced sideways at his Metal Elemental Psychic Power senior. Why didn''t the other guy take these stinky metals and refine them into Special Ability Armor for himself?! The metallic materials used for military purposes were mostly quality goods! What, taking care of your little brother, but you actually think it smells, huh?! "Hey, isn''t it the same once washed? What if it''s really valuable! Whoever finds it keeps it!" Although he said this, Kiterley was not moved at all. This guy who said one thing and did another! "Don''t let it be some glass!" Chen Fei bent down, picked up the object that was flickering with a crystalline sheen, and swung it in his hand. If it really was glass, he''d hurl it right into his senior''s face to teach him a lesson! A cubic object about 10 centimeters in size, with sharp edges and corners, a surface like a mirror, without a hint of dirt or blemish, and completely transparent, it appeared like a flawless crystal. "What is this? An ornament?" A Metallic Elemental Psychic Power User named Kiterley twirled his chin, examining it from all angles. Indeed, there were many souvenirs from the battlefield, even including jewelry. With enough luck, one might even find a Magic Artifact. "Heh, a Crystalline Block!" It was unknown from which war machine this had come, but it ended up among this pile of junk. Crystal Energy Technology appeared in the late stages of the "Three Realms Unification War." As soon as it emerged, its energy storage density utterly surpassed any chemical battery, instantly replacing them as the most dazzling star in the high-end energy storage field. Even today, the energy storage density of Crystalline Blocks continues to increase, gradually transitioning from military to civilian use, mainly applied in the public sector of society. This patented technology and manufacturing method were completely monopolized by Dragoon Magic Motion Industry. Since material channels were controlled, even if others knew how to manufacture Crystalline Blocks, they still couldn''t produce them in volume. "This is... a Crystalline Block?" Kiterley''s expression gradually became stupefied... he really wanted to gouge his eyes out! Just a casual comment he made, and it turned out to be a real treasure! War machines that could use Crystalline Blocks during that great war thirty years ago were definitely considered premium goods. This large Crystalline Block was probably worth a fortune, "There''s still 37% energy reserve left. Hit the jackpot, what a treasure!" If it hadn''t been for the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" being activated by the cube he had just picked up, with the Dog System automatically inquiring, Chen Fei might not have known the true identity of this object. Since Crystal Energy cannot be directly utilized and must be converted to Electric Energy, the remaining energy inside this thirty-year-old Crystalline Block had not been lost in the slightest. Although in today''s military field, the energy density and capacity of such a Crystalline Block from over thirty years ago no longer ranked in the high-end, in the civilian sector, it was still decidedly top-tier. That the military is advanced by thirty to fifty years compared to the civilian applications is not a strange thing. A 10-centimeter cube Crystalline Block, when at 100% energy storage, could allow Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle to operate at full power for 72 hours. "Really damn..." The A-level Metal Elemental Psychic Power User who couldn''t recognize a Crystalline Block scoffed. Actually, whether he found it, or Chen Fei found it, or someone else did, in the end, it would still be Chen Fei''s. The lack of Crystalline Blocks in the Mobile Base Vehicle affecting its endurance state was well-known within Team 04, but individual members couldn''t get a Crystalline Block. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t loosen up in this regard, perhaps thinking that the second-hand chemical batteries salvaged from the garbage were sufficient and there was no need for such high-end Crystalline Blocks. Considering other teams didn''t even have a vehicle and had to rely on foot, why be too demanding? The "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''s" twenty teams, only Team 04 possessed a Mobile Base Vehicle which had beds, soft seats, air conditioning, hot water, power supply, and even a Railgun capable of firing large-caliber Demolition Bombs¡ªit was like a trip you could just take off on. That starting point was already quite an advantage, and to avoid rebellion from other teams, the Global United Defense Committee couldn''t possibly offer any further support. "There''s another bomb!" Chen Fei walked to the depths of the residual materials in the garbage pile and scraped away the filthy substances, revealing a large cylindrical object with a conical end. The dark green paint was still intact with white letters sprayed on top. "BLU-82!" "Adam" recognized it by the label, as its database happened to contain this weapon model. Measuring 3.4 meters long, 1.7 meters in diameter, and weighing about 6.8 tons, this massive bomb was deployed using a C-130 transport aircraft and was particularly suited for the climate of the Ocean Continent. "Wow, what a huge bomb!" At the sight of the cylindrical body with its cone-shaped head, Kiterley guessed the truth immediately. "A vacuum bomb! Hmm! And it still works!" When Chen Fei touched this behemoth, he knew this relic from half a century ago wasn''t damaged, except that the fuze component was deformed, making it unable to initiate the detonation process. Using his metal shaping ability, he fixed the fuze right away and even added a safety pin. An A-grade Metal Ability User, Kiterley speculated doubtfully, "A vacuum bomb? What kind of bomb, a cloud bomb?" "Bingo! Exactly!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers and continued, "The whole thing weighs 6.8 tons. Once it explodes, nobody here would have a chance to survive!" This power, it could probably only be compared with the Dragon Slayer Missile, right? "That''s, that''s exaggerated!" An A-grade Metal Ability User, Kiterley took several scared steps backward. Where did this ruthless thing come from? No way, he must alert everyone. There might be more of the same stuff nearby, and we certainly don''t want any accidents to bury us all here. Thinking this, Kiterley broke into a run. "Everyone, everyone, do not touch anything here carelessly. We''ve just found a tactical weapon!" Kiterley quickly notified everyone on teams 04 and 18. "Damn, I said this place wasn''t simple, and there''s tactical weaponry?" "You scared me half to death; I almost made a mistake." "How come there are tactical weapons?" "The Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, the land of the final battle, wouldn''t it be normal to have some powerful weapons left over?" Sure enough, not only Kiterley and Chen Fei, but others also wanted to hunt for treasure here. Holding rod-like objects and curiously poking around, when they heard about the explosives, they were startled and quickly threw away what they were holding. If someone accidentally triggered a fuze or landmine, they could indeed end up risking everyone''s lives. Nobody was ready to die yet! "Everyone, gather around!" Adrian and Captain Moron of team 18 consulted briefly and immediately gathered everyone. The two teams formed a large circle with the captains enclosed in the center. "Bassan, do you know where exactly we are?" As a member of team 04, Adrian turned to the recently emotionally stabilized Neanderthal Chief, a known sacred site for Neanderthals. Maybe the other could provide some useful clues. "Sorry, I was only 12 when the Supreme Council was breached. I hardly knew anything!" Bassan shook his head, speaking frankly. A 12-year-old boy would know what? Back then, he wasn''t even the chief! Even as the new chief elected by his people, his role was more symbolic than practical. After all, he was just a mascot and didn''t necessarily know more than the other tribal members. "Anyway, since we are in the great desert, maybe it''s buried under the sand." The A-grade Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, Joseph, spread his hands and shrugged. Team 18 immediately agreed with the Puppet Master''s conjecture. "It must be beneath the sand. The mutant that led us here specializes in burrowing through the sand. And I just checked; where there should be windows, no sunlight is coming in. It''s all sand outside, as if something solidified it." "At least there''s air here, but before that big guy comes back, we must get out of here." Moron''s words immediately had everyone nodding in agreement. The air here was terrible, like a giant dung pit. If not for the breathing filters, it could have suffocated everyone. "So, which way should we go?" Just a moment ago, instead of exploring the "treasures" here with others, Adrian had wandered around the Supreme Council''s main hall and discovered several openings. The larger openings were about thirty meters in diameter, and the smaller ones were only big enough for a person to crawl through; it was just unknown where these openings led. One of the Wind-type Ability Users from team 18 raised his hand and shouted, "Obviously, we should head towards where there''s ventilation!" The method was simple: releasing some smoke would show which way the air was flowing. Wherever the air flowed, there would be the exit. "Before we leave, couldn''t we leave that big guy a little souvenir? Right, Little Chen?" Behind his breathing filter, A-grade Metal Ability User, Kiterley, smirked wickedly. - Chapter 371 371: Section 367 - Survival "Phew..." Everyone turned their attention to him, and Chen Fei let out a sigh, saying, "You''re right, Kiterley!" The Dog System was indeed best suited for Kiterley after all. In the end, the system had been misspent. Dog System: ... The two teams exerted their full effort and soon found the vent leading out of the Supreme Council Hall, which was perfect for the Mobile Base Vehicle to exit. Even if the opening wasn''t large enough, it was no trouble to have the Earth Element User enlarge the diameter, or to reduce the size of the Mobile Base Vehicle itself. The most important thing was to safely return to the surface. Half an hour later, the group re-boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle, turned on the headlights full blast, and dove into the designated tunnel. The 10 cm cubic Crystalline Block they had acquired was immediately used on the Mobile Base Vehicle. Although the storage capacity wasn''t fully charged, its endurance significantly increased; there was no fear of running out of power. It was perfect because, just then, the Mutants had caught up, and it would have been awkward otherwise. "We''ve finally gotten away, hey, aren''t you done washing yet?" Holy Knight Walter Sam banged on the bathroom door, as everyone was waiting in line to shower. Even the Green Scale Colt Mini detested his stench so much, it refused to let him come close, which was really infuriating. "What''s the rush, I''m washing my hair right now!" The person in the bathroom responded with an exasperated roar. Even just standing still in the Hall of the Supreme Council, one would get suffused with the malodorous air, akin to stinky tofu that only needed three minutes to acquire its full taste. For both teams, two bathrooms were simply not enough, especially for the female members, who couldn''t face others until they had thoroughly washed for over an hour. The air filtration system inside the carriage was operating at full capacity, yet it was barely effective. Some people had been in contact with the filth and now smelled horrific. "Damn, it was like soaking in shit before, hmm, how exactly did our Mobile Base Vehicle make it out? Could it be..." "Shut up!!!" ¡Á20! Apu, ever the blunt boy, had barely started speaking the stark truth when everyone interrupted him in unison. This killed the conversation, didn''t this guy know how to stay quiet?!! Apart from him, everyone else in the carriage, both those waiting for and finished with their showers, simultaneously turned pale. They couldn''t bear to think about it! Team 18''s captain, Captain Moron, frowned and said, "Your guy really knows how to talk, huh!" Due to the accumulated putrid smells, even the respirators were failing now. "Haha!" Adrian had a massive headache and could only muster a strained smile. Apu, the big dark fellow, often caused him distress unintentionally, which made it even more aggravating because it couldn''t be corrected! Nobody knew when he might make an untimely comment, leaving everyone unable to defend against it. But fortunately, everyone had survived. So, no anger, no anger! "Has ''Adam'' not reached the surface yet?" Chen Fei asked again. He was the first to shower, and upon returning to the driver''s seat, he immediately isolated himself from the terrible odors in the carriage with a transparent partition. Adam: Currently, we have traveled about 31.7 km, sonar radar has not yet detected any exit. The function modules of the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s Single Soldier Tactical Armor had all been applied to the Mobile Base Vehicle. If one set wasn''t enough, then use two sets. As for the management and control systems, Chen Fei wasn''t worried since it was all the work of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," who was handling it with ease. "All right, once the exit is confirmed, please notify me immediately!" Chen Fei shook his head, wondering when the end of this undisclosed and presumably long tunnel would come. The unknown was always the most worrying. The carriage shook slightly. "What''s going on? Is the ''Tsar Worm'' appearing again?" "This disturbance doesn''t seem right!" "Where did it collapse?" If it were due to running over something, it would have started from the front and vibrated to the tail of the vehicle, not shaking the nearly 20-meters-long carriage all at once. Unless it was a massive external shockwave passing through, it could make the entire Mobile Base Vehicle fall into the entire wave. System: Ding! BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm" (Completed), Energy Points +200! Energy Points +200! Energy Points: 19123/20000 The "little darling" that seemed to have died must have been a Tsar Worm; even if it had swallowed the Mobile Base Vehicle before, getting hit by such a blast would likely kill it outright, potentially without even leaving an intact corpse. Earth Mage of the Earth Order, Ninth Rank, Ruan Tiankai withdrew his perception and opened his eyes, saying, "It''s the earth''s restlessness, it must have been that pile of stuff that exploded behind us!" "Right, it''s a shockwave, coming from behind!" Team 18 also had an Earth Element Ability User, who acutely sensed the sudden abnormal vibration of the vehicle. The two teams left more than just a BLU-82 Cloud Bomb in the center of the Supreme Council Hall, but also a pile of linked Explosives and Incendiary Bombs. Chen Fei had specifically made a set of detonation devices, which would initially trigger the release of the cloud explosive fuel of the BLU-82 Cloud Bomb with a sufficiently large vibration or direct contact. The remaining explosives and incendiary bombs would detonate immediately after the cloud explosion, perfectly syncing with the cloud explosive''s rhythm and elevating the lethality to the next level. To avoid the lack of oxygen after the cloud explosion, which would impair the effectiveness of the incendiary bombs, several liquefied air cylinders were stuffed among the explosives. The conical covers of armor-piercing shells were directly facing the cylinders, capable of instantly breaking the cylinders and completely releasing the liquefied air, aiding the second combustion and explosion. The total explosive load of the first and second waves reached about 23 tons, enough to seriously engage the mutant that entered the Supreme Council Hall. At a distance of 2 kilometers inside the passage, Chen Fei had also installed several Directional Anti-Infantry Mines and Anti-tank Mines. If any mutants foolishly followed, they were likely to be caught off-guard. From the driver''s seat, Chen Fei calmly said, "We''ve moved more than 30 kilometers away, there won''t be any trouble!" A Vacuum Bomb can create a vacuum zone with a radius of 200 meters, a fragmentation zone with a radius of 300 meters, and a biological lethal zone with a radius of 600 meters; even a distance of a kilometer may not guarantee absolute safety. Of course, the power of approximately 23 tons of total explosive load is even more terrifying, but its lethal range stops at about four to five kilometers. At a distance of 30 kilometers, even Tactical Nuclear Weapons might not be very effective unless they are in the megaton range. So, it was only after the Mobile Base Vehicle had driven another 10 kilometers that abnormal air pressure changes swept past the vehicle, and then nothing happened. Adam: "Infrared thermal radiation changes and increased radiation dose detected ahead, likely an exit." "Everyone, there might be an exit up ahead!" Chen Fei immediately reported this news to the others. "Really? That would be great!" "We can get out now!" "Hey! Chen Fei, you must give this car a good wash, it must be thoroughly cleaned, you know?" "I know, I know! I''ll wash it myself, the tap at full power!" "I''ll use Water-type Spell to help you wash the car." "This trip has been horrible!" "Being alive is good enough, what''s there to complain about!" "Hey! Girl, you''ve been soaking for over an hour, hurry up and get out!!!" "I don''t want to!" "No, you have to! If you don''t come out now, I''m going to rush in! I''ll fumigate you, you know?" "Ah! No, I... I''ll be done soon!" ... The cabin of the Mobile Base Vehicle was in total chaos. Adam: "Abnormal biological response detected from behind, likely BTS-0001 ''Tsar Worm''." "It''s that same guy!" The unimaginative "Adam" could only detect the mutant BTS-0001 "Tsar Worm," unable to identify exactly which one it was. Chen Fei, however, could use his imagination and reasoning to guess who might be pursuing them from behind. It was probably the same Tsar Worm that had once taken a hit from a 152mm shell, half of its body shattered, yet this mutant''s vitality was frightening, able to escape even with half a body left, resuscitating and continuing the pursuit vigorously. Speaking of which, this ability to hold a grudge among the mutants was truly something Chen Fei had never seen before. "''Adam'', get the 152 ready!" Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to have "Adam" load the Railgun on the roof and then advanced the throttle, further increasing the vehicle''s speed. The moment Adrian sensed the change in vehicle speed and the noise from the rooftop Railgun, he asked, "Hey! Chen Fei, what''s happening?" Without turning his head back, Chen Fei responded, "Our old friend has caught up with us again!" At this moment, rather than leaving the Mobile Base Vehicle under the automated control of "Adam," he trusted his own driving skills more. Apart from jet aircraft which routinely reach speeds over a thousand kilometers per hour, even a turboprop aircraft can reach speeds of four to five hundred kilometers per hour. The Mobile Base Vehicle''s speed, not even reaching a hundred kilometers per hour, was hardly a challenge for Chen Fei; he even had spare time to inquire "Adam" how far the pursuing mutant was from the Mobile Base Vehicle. "Huh?" Was it that persistent old friend again? First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin mechanically turned his head, staring dumbfounded at Captain Moron of Team 18 as they looked at each other. Were they to be swallowed alive again? Adam: "Distance 2.7 kilometers, speed about 61 kilometers per hour." The current speed of the Mobile Base Vehicle was 70 kilometers per hour, which meant that the distance between them would only increase. The passage was not an undulating sand dune, but a straight "runway (passage)," thus, unless there was an unexpected event, the likelihood of being caught up was almost negligible. "''Adam'', let''s send a few rounds to that old friend outside the exit, as a gesture of goodwill." Chen Fei genuinely smiled. The next second, the Mobile Base Vehicle burst through a layer of thin sand, and bright sunlight pierced through the one-way transparent windows, flooding the cabin with light. The Railgun quickly rotated its barrel, aiming at the back where sand flowed like a waterfall, exactly where the Mobile Base Vehicle had burst out from. - Chapter 372 372: Section 368 - One Shot Dispels A Thousand Grudges "Gulp!!!!" The hidden entrance within the sand dune trembled violently as the continuous sandfall erupted from within with a deep roar. "Adam" created a new window interface within Chen Fei''s field of view, which was still within the scope of the dog system interface and could not become an independent existence. It was only natural for an artificial intelligence AI to be subject to the system platform that supported its normal operation. On the simple two-dimensional map, a small light spot was rapidly approaching the tunnel entrance, while the light spot representing the mobile base vehicle waited two hundred meters outside the entrance, the shooting angle of the railgun perfectly covering it. The waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump tactic, waiting for the enemy to bump into it head-on. Bang! After a short wait, the sky filled with flying sand as a colossal creature, with a diameter similar to that of the mobile base vehicle, emerged from the sand with its fangs bared, its appearance overwhelmingly ferocious. The moment the opponent appeared, Chen Fei calmly uttered a word. "Fire!" The mobile base vehicle trembled slightly. The 152 Demolition Bomb was instantly pushed away by magnetic force from the accelerating track, crossing nearly two hundred meters and plunging into the giant, widely gaping maw of fangs. Some mistakes, if repeated, could cost lives! Boom! As the flames erupted, the massive shockwave and loud noise shook the mobile base vehicle, sending a blast of air in all directions and throwing sand into the air. Amidst the smoke and flying sand, countless pieces of flesh and organs were shattered, falling like raindrops, but before they could hit the ground, the railgun launched a second 152 Demolition Bomb. The fierce explosions and loud noises once again swept over the mobile base vehicle, nearly causing those inside to lose their balance. Blood and flesh spattered and mixed with sand flew up into the sky once again. The power of a heavy artillery shell was not to be underestimated. "Goodness, was it necessary to fire twice?" Team 18''s Captain Moron shook his head, the railgun launch wasn''t too noisy, but the eruptive power of the Demolition Bomb was truly terrifying. Even at a distance of two hundred meters, the aftereffects of a single shell that could obliterate a soccer field were still alarmingly daunting. Before Chen Fei could reply, Adrian spoke up first, "To cut the weeds, you must remove the roots. It was because of just one shell last time that this creature got away." Holy Knight Walter Sam, still shaken after being nearly chased to death by the BTS-0001 Tsar Worm, said, "Exactly, who knows which end is its head and which is its tail, it really is like a worm." If it hadn''t been for his partner, the Blue Scaled Colt, sprinting at full speed and the enhancement from Wind Series Magic, he might have been swallowed by that enormous maw. To deal with such a terrifying creature, one 152 wasn''t enough, there had to be two, even three, to completely blast it apart for total reassurance. Otherwise, who knew if it would continue to play dead. As the dust settled, the chaotic rain of flesh, organs, and bone fragments patteringly covered a large area, with some pieces flying as far as two kilometers away. "Killed it!" Chen Fei confirmed the strike result through the camera array at the rear of the mobile base vehicle. The body, over sixty meters long, had been blown into tiny fragments by two successive Demolition Bombs, leaving not a single intact piece, making it much harder for it to feign death this time. He had been ready to fire a third 152, but now it seemed unnecessary. "Dead for good? That''s excellent!" Adrian and Captain Moron exchanged glances and, like everyone else, simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Being relentlessly pursued by such a creature, if they had been swallowed again, everyone might have been longing for death, and the foul stench was still not showing signs of dissipating. Neanderthal Chief Bassan sat in a corner, head bowed, a look of utter dejection on his face, exuding the air of a middle-aged man in a slump of depression. The ruins of the highest council of the Neanderthal tribe from the Third Era Civilization had vanished like smoke, likely along with the spiritual support and fantasies of his childhood that had crumbled with that explosion! However, while everyone was happily setting up explosives and incendiary bombs, Bassan had stood by silently from beginning to end, watching, before getting into the vehicle, neither helping nor hindering. Everyone actually understood the current Chief of the Neanderthal tribe quite well; their actions were equivalent to desecrating his ancestral grave, so it was good enough that he hadn''t speared someone on the spot, let alone help! "Open the door, open the door, I want to go out!" The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, the towering black figure Apu, suddenly remembered something and began to pound on the vehicle door with fists as big as casseroles, the thick composite armored door rattled loudly under the blows. With a click, the door slid open to one side. Caught off guard, Apu plunged out in a dog-eat-dirt fashion, landing on the sandy ground, but he quickly scrambled up and staggered towards the site of the bombardment. Outside the vehicle, the smoke from the gunpowder was pungent, but thankfully everyone was still wearing respiratory filters. Following the large dark figure, they streamed out, taking the opportunity to get some fresh air. Most people were not smelling pleasant, and if they continued to stay in the cabin, they would likely end up suffocating themselves, for the whole cabin was almost turning into a smoker. Only those in need of a bath remained inside the vehicle. "Come on! Air it out!" The Wind-type Ability User from Team 18 lifted a hand towards the door and bellowed loudly. Massive currents of air rushed into the carriage and then roared out, exchanging the inside and outside air at high speed, taking away a lot of the stench with it. "Let''s take this opportunity to wash the car!" The Water series magician rapidly chanted an incantation, extracting a large amount of water from the nearby dunes to envelop the Mobile Base Vehicle, cleaning it thoroughly even down to the wheels. The murky water ball, carrying the smell with it, was tossed far away, and then the magician cast another spell to gather fresh water and continue washing the car. This magician had a bit of OCD¡ªprobably wouldn''t call it quits until they had washed it well over a hundred times, fearing it wasn''t enough. In the desert, water isn''t actually scarce; it''s all deep within the sand. Moist sand has good plasticity; coupled with some unidentified mucus, it can solidify to the strength of almost dried cement. This is also why the Tsar Worms are able to create passages within the dunes. It''s not just the Tsar Worms¡ªmany mutants in the big desert have this trick, digging out nests in the sand to reside in. "...Where''s my sword? My sword, where is my..." The big, dark figure didn''t mind the dirt and foul smell, desperately rummaging through the blood and bones on the ground with his bare hands. "Hey, hey, Apu, what are you doing!" Fresh from her bath, smelling lovely, Susanna Jean Piault pointed at this Thunder Series Warrior who suddenly seemed to go mad. "I''m looking for my Great Sword!" Apu replied without looking up. (¡ú`¡ä¡ú) (¡ú¨Œ¡ú) ... (¡û¦Ø¡û) (¡û_¡û) Was that enormous sword on his back just a toy? Sigh! Here we go again... Adrian couldn''t help but face-palm and sigh deeply. The members of Team 04 couldn''t always be treated like intellectually challenged children. After all, this man was a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, esteemed as a Sword God on Cangqiong Star. You may not care about your image, but I do! "Adrian, that... him?" Moron glanced at the big guy and then pointed to his own head, gesturing to Team 04''s spokesperson. Adrian shook his head, saying helplessly, "He''s not all there!" Not stupid, not bad, just an honest person minus a few marbles! "Got it, got it!" Moron nodded, looking somewhat sympathetically at the big sulky figure covered in the organ fluid of the mutant BTS-0001 Tsar Worms, almost becoming a stinky human figure. Susanna could no longer watch, shouting out, "Idiot, isn''t your sword on your back?" "I want my original Great Sword; that creature took it away!" Apu looked miserable, just like a child who had their favorite toy stolen. Of course! Even though Chen Fei had personally designed him a new Great Sword, which was quite well-suited in weight, sharpness, and balance, Apu still missed his old buddy and tried to retrieve it from the wreckage of the mutants. It''s definitely a lie to say he didn''t feel the pinch from spending three hundred thousand Star Yuan to custom-make it in the first place. Susanna said impatiently, "The original one? Don''t you already have a new one?" "I saved for three years to custom-order that Great Sword; it was with me for at least ten years, it felt like family!" After saying this, Apu sniffled and his eyes went red. Chen Fei looked around and thought, no chance! According to his perception of the surrounding metal components, apart from the Mobile Base Vehicle and the metal items everyone carried, there were only tiny shrapnel pieces everywhere. There was no sign of the Great Sword; it was likely the mutant had dragged itself off, losing the sword somewhere in the process. Apu searched for over two hours, and besides turning into a big stinky mess, he found nothing. By this time, everyone had finished their baths, and they even directly burned their removed clothes. The foul stench lingering in the air finally dissipated significantly. "My sword, my sword is gone!" He cried like a three-hundred-pound child. Truly a pathetic scene that would sadden the onlooker and bring a tear to the observer''s eye. The Water series magician from Team 18 who had thoroughly cleaned the Mobile Base Vehicle couldn''t stand to watch this melodramatic act any longer. With a final spark of replenished magic power from who knows where, he rapidly muttered a few words, brandished his magic wand, and shouted angrily, "Get a grip, for goodness'' sake!" A huge water orb roared toward and engulfed the three-hundred-pound big guy, tumbling him over and over, while lightning flashed, with Apu''s Thunder series fighting spirit electrocuting him. Oh dear, that was rather careless! "Liaison Officer Rossi requests communication!" Adrian fumbled to take out his phone. It was only now that he remembered that the communication, which was interrupted earlier, had been restored at some point; probably because they were back on the surface and the phones reconnected to the satellite signal. - Chapter 373 373: Section 369 - Uninvited Guest "I am Adr..." Just after confirming the incoming call, Adrian was about to speak when he heard Liaison Officer Rossi cut in, "Wait, don''t start talking yet. I''ll ask, you answer!" "Oh, okay, okay!" Adrian was bewildered, not quite understanding what the other person meant. "How many survived? Half? Three? Two? Or is it just you left?" Rossi''s voice gradually turned to a crying tone, suggesting that if Adrian were the only one left, Squad 04 might as well disband, as their bonuses were all gone. They might even face demotion. It seemed better to be all dead. "Uh! Officer Rossi, you''re thinking too much, actually..." Before Adrian could finish, Rossi''s voice became sadder and sadder. "Really, that many? I knew it, I knew it..." "...Actually, it''s not just Squad 04, but also Squad 18. Everyone is here, no casualties, not a single one!" The two were clearly not on the same wavelength, completely talking past each other. A First Rank Fire Mage like Adrian was really at a loss here. "Not a single one? Sss..." Adrian could hear the sound of Rossi inhaling sharply on the other end of the phone and hurriedly said, "That''s right, Officer Rossi, both teams are safe, and we have escaped from the mutant''s lair!" "But I saw you guys being..." Rossi recalled the footage captured by the reconnaissance drone: the Mobile Base Vehicle being swallowed whole by the massive mutant and then disappearing into the desert without a trace of people or vehicle ¨Cno sign of life or death. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s Bear Hunting Special Operations Division was even prepared to issue another death notice, having already drafted the document. Adrian said with a laugh, "Well, maybe we''re just lucky!" He heard a ringtone emanating from his phone, with Squad 18''s captain, Moron, likely picking up his phone as well. Most likely, he was receiving a call from the liaison officer, and the content of the conversation was roughly similar to his own. "It''s good you''re coming back!" Rossi was breathing heavily. It was really tough for him! This job was like a roller coaster¡ªnow in Heaven, now in Hell, utterly tormenting. "When we return, I''ll report to you in detail." Adrian was overwhelmed¡ªthe report would be exceedingly difficult to write. It involved the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, and it was unknown how the Neanderthal tribe scattered across Blue Star and even on Cangqiong Star might react if the news got out. Though it''s said that tall people would take care of major troubles, the tall ones, of course, wouldn''t want anyone stirring up trouble for no reason. "Good, the more detailed, the better, and also, if you encounter any situation, don''t hesitate, call for help immediately. Habulav will dispatch Sky Knights to support you!" Officer Rossi also reported the latest situation. The one-month evaluation period had ended, and due to the unexpected incident during the return journey, even Squad 04''s Mobile Base Vehicle was swallowed whole. Not willing to let other teams, accustomed to facing numerous mutants, encounter such overwhelming threats again, Habulav''s Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters authorized the use of Crystal Jets. After all, these teams trained by the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division were aimed at the Water Bear organization and the mutants it spawned. If the Water Bear organization could reproduce monsters capable of devouring a Mobile Base Vehicle at that rate, it''s beyond what the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division could handle¡ªa challenge almost tantamount to a sovereignty war, only manageable through active-duty military forces and a vast array of tactical weapons. "Thank you, Officer Rossi, I''ll be careful." Adrian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was him; anyone else would struggle to cope with this weirdly temperamental liaison officer, even if he wasn''t looking for faults, his mere panic alone was enough to make one feel helpless. Call ended! Just then, on the other end, Moron from Squad 18 ended his conversation with the corresponding liaison officer. "Are the Sky Knights deploying?" "Yes, it was a close call!" Adrian recalled the remains of the Crystal Jet Chen Fei had tinkered with in the scrapyard of old machinery. This was no joking matter. Even the Sky Knights might fall in the Central Great Desert, and without the direct involvement of the Global United Defense Committee, no military contractor alone could handle it. Even combining the top ten military contractors wouldn''t be enough. A lapse in attention might result in the total annihilation of the forces, leaving no one to bury the dead. - A group of people managed to revive the big black guy foaming at the mouth and clumsily carried him onto the Mobile Base Vehicle, tossing him back onto his own soggy bed, indifferent to whether he would catch a cold or not. The desert was hot, and the air dry; he would dry off on his own soon enough. The spells of that Water Series Magician might have been toxic, as the pitch-black big guy had been washed until he began to fade, with his whole body inexplicably turning a yellowish hue. 04 Squad''s captain, a First Rank Fire Mage named Adrian Benjamin, threw a powerful Fire Spell that incinerated the mutant''s scattered flesh and blood into ash, melting even the sand into a glass state under the extreme heat. The fragmented remains were burned to such an extent that there was finally no need to worry about them coming back to life. The mobile base vehicle continued on its journey. With the unexpectedly found high-capacity crystalline block, its battery life was significantly extended, and Chen Fei decided to simply travel day and night for 24 hours, rushing back to Habulav non-stop. The closer they got to Habulav, the fewer the incidents they encountered along the way, and the relative safety increased. No one wanted to be swallowed again and then have that thing come out. Compared to the horrible smell in the lair of the mutant Tsar Worm BTS-0001, the mere discomfort caused by motion sickness was nothing at all¡ªhuman adaptability is just that strong. Three days later, the dusty mobile base vehicle left the desert and entered a gravel-covered Gobi. Soon after, the people from Team 04 and Team 18 finally saw the towering city walls spanning the horizon. Behind the high walls and a certain distance from the weapon platforms was the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, Habulav. Even though they were delayed by two days on the road, the two teams were among the first to return. After all, other teams had to rely on their own legs for the journey back, and no one else had a second mobile base vehicle. Even those who returned first did so by catching rides on small transport airships, not because they could walk faster than a vehicle with five pairs of heavy wheels. As soon as they entered the gates of Habulav, the captains of Teams 04 and 18 simultaneously announced the teams were disbanded on the spot. The mobile base vehicle dropped everyone off in Zone B, and everyone chose to return to their dormitories to get a good sleep first, to relieve the fatigue. ... "...Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding..." Lying in bed, Chen Fei was woken by the sound of the doorbell, groggily opening his eyes. Who the hell is it? Disturbing my sleep! Whoever it is, wait until I get up, and I''ll smack you! With sleepiness still hanging over him, he yanked the door open. "Who?" He saw three strangers standing outside, the leader of whom looked somewhat familiar. The man eyed Chen Fei up and down, and said in a rather unfriendly tone, "Chen Fei, is it just you here?" "Jiu!" A crisp chirping came from the balcony. Xiao Jiu sometimes liked to fly around the small garden in Zone B, but it quickly returned. Habulav''s radar simply couldn''t lock onto it. "There''s also a bird!" Chen Fei turned to look, then faced the man and asked, "May I ask who you are? What brings you here?" His first impression of these uninvited guests was not particularly favorable. "Heh, my name is Franco. We''ve met before... don''t remember? No matter, you don''t need to recognize me, I''ll be leaving soon!" The lead man tried to walk into the house, but Chen Fei stopped him with a hand on the door frame, effectively blocking him outside. "Are you sure you''re ready to face the consequences of barging in here?" Franco grinned insincerely and said, "Hehe! Won''t you invite us in to sit for a moment?" "Let''s talk here at the door!" Chen Fei stood his ground, sensing the ill intent of the visitors¡ªbad guests do not come bearing good news. The two men behind the leader both showed anger and glared at Chen Fei, one of them shouted, "What a rude guy..." However, Franco raised his hand to stop his companion, seemingly unoffended and said, "It''s fine! It''s just a few words. Chen Fei, I heard you found a crystalline block, is that so?" "Of course... not!" How could Chen Fei admit it! The purpose of the visitor was fully revealed with that question. Franco, looking entirely at ease, said, "You know, for someone like me to come here, I must have evidence. A friendly reminder for you: a crystalline block isn''t something a commoner has the right to possess. Or rather, even the most formidable military contractors aren''t allowed to just meddle with crystalline blocks ... do you understand?" The posture seemed to suggest he held all the aces. "Of course I understand, and I fully support your position, but I don''t have it!" Chen Fei spread his arms and shrugged. Why should he hand over the crystalline block he found by his own efforts to you, wishful thinking! Chapter 374 374: Section 370 - The Fuse Military contractors have an unwritten rule of keeping spoils of war for themselves to subsidize their household expenses. Chen Fei, who came from the small military contractor Jiu Defense Company, had inherited this principle very well. Once something was consumed, there was absolutely no reason to spit it out again. "Let''s not mince words, since I''ve come here, I have no intention of leaving empty-handed," he stated. Franco''s smile didn''t fade as he took out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and showed it to Chen Fei. "Don''t worry, take a look at this first. You should have received it on your phone too." Chen Fei had no intention of turning back, allowing these guys an opportunity to burst in, and directly activated the artificial intelligence AI in the Dog System storage area. Adam: Counter at 18, what are your commands? "Adam" really wanted to berate Second Uncle, but didn''t even dare to entertain the thought. Invoking counter eighteen¡ªlife under the eaves for an artificial intelligence AI is really tough! Chen Fei: Adam, take over my phone! The phone placed on the bedside suddenly lit up, displaying a bunch of gibberish, which shortly after returned to normal. Adam: Access granted. As long as it could operate normally, protocols, libraries, data interfaces, keys, permissions... all of it was trivial. Chen Fei: Check the latest messages received. Adam: Seven unread messages. Would you like to open them? Phone: That someone, please open it! You''re muted... Chen Fei: Open them! Suddenly, seven different stacked interfaces appeared before his eyes. Aside from the regular information such as Jiu Defense Company''s basic pay slip, Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s subsidies allowance, personal tax settlement form, and monthly personal communication bill, there was also a "Search Warrant" notification from an official communication number of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. He didn''t know who leaked the information, but somebody found out that he had picked up a Crystalline Block, and they came knocking so quickly. The fellow named Franco bore some inexplicable hostility toward him. He couldn''t fathom when he had offended the man¡ªprobably a friend of an enemy, perhaps?! Damn it, wait until I settle the math later! Luckily, it wasn''t stored in the Mobile Base Vehicle downstairs; that place has probably been searched already, hasn''t it? "Jiu!" The chirping of Xiao Jiu came from outside; the little guy flew in from the balcony, landing in its nest, shaking its feathers as though stretching muscles, puffing into a fluffy feather ball, then slowly returning to normal. "You know, even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn''t dare to forge this kind of thing!" Franco, with a smug grin as if wielding the Imperial Sword personally, flaunted his phone screen triumphantly. He indeed didn''t have the guts to do so, especially at the Habulav headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Forging legally binding documents has always been a serious criminal offense, not just anyone has the skill and audacity to do such a thing. For the sake of an outdated Crystalline Block that was produced over thirty years ago, it was entirely not worth it. "Alright then! Please come in, but let me make it clear: there are many of my personal items inside. If there are any losses, you three will be fully responsible." Chen Fei scoffed and stepped aside, ready to give these three a good beating if necessary. Nobody could take things from his hands, no matter who came. Those who try to snatch from the Chen brothers of Little Shanzi are just asking for a pounding! The Little Bird that flew a few rounds around the small park downstairs returned to its nest, tilting its head to listen to the noises at the door, then turned to look at the cubic crystal placed right beside its nest. It hopped over, pecked at it with its delicate beak, and stretched out its little claw... "Jiu!" "Don''t worry, I''ll take responsibility." Franco''s smile gradually faded; he brushed past Chen Fei and eagerly entered the room, scanning the surroundings immediately. He gestured to the two behind him. One of them took out a brick-like device, pressed a switch, and a light beep was heard. "Eh? It''s gone!" The two behind Franco looked at each other with surprise on their faces. Just moments before, their professional detector had confirmed that there was a Crystalline Block hidden in this dormitory. It''s why they knocked on the door and brandished the "Search Warrant" to force their entry. But now, although Chen Fei was right there, and they hadn''t seen him do anything, in the blink of an eye, the Crystalline Block had vanished without a trace. Franco was taken aback, but decisively ordered, "Switch to precise mode and search the place thoroughly." "Yes, sir!"¡Á2! The two attendants replied in unison. The one who had been empty-handed also pulled out a device the size of a brick and started roaming around the room with his companion. "Jiu!" The Little Bird crouched in the nest, curiously poking its head out, eyeing the three unwelcome guests. A Pure Light Sparrow?!'' Upon seeing the little head poking out of the nest, Franco didn''t hide his disgust. Such a tiny thing being called a Magical Beast? Pure Light Sparrows were commonly seen on Cangqiong Star, so numerous they were almost a plague. No one would specially raise such ordinary birds, and in many cases, they weren''t even considered Magical Beasts. Occasionally, some sly creatures would sneak onto Blue Star through the quota trade between the two realms. Such weak Magical Beasts received no special treatment on Blue Star. Any bird, beast, or even humans could become their predators, along with a plethora of competitors for survival and resources, thus they were unable to proliferate rapidly like on Cangqiong Star. This Pure Light Sparrow was probably the descendant of one that had evaded capture; it was really an incomprehensible quirk of taste, barely bigger than a sparrow, and in terms of habits, hardly distinguished from one at all. Chen Fei''s gaze hardened as he looked at the Little Bird, and he touched the back of his head, recalling he had placed it next to Xiao Jiu''s nest, but there was nothing there. Where''s the Crystalline Block? He could guarantee that the three people who had just entered his room had no chance of finding or touching the Crystalline Block, and the sequence didn''t add up either. Anyway, the mysteriously disappeared Crystalline Block had not ended up in their hands. "Eh? What''s this? A Crystalline Block?" The Brick Detector approached the nest and got pecked by Xiao Jiu as if in protest. One of Franco''s followers couldn''t help but shout excitedly as he saw the crystal-clear crystal inside the nest. "You found the Crystalline Block?" Another person came over quickly, aiming the detector at the nest, but the instrument showed no response. Annoyed, he said, "There''s no response from the crystal energy, this isn''t a Crystalline Block!" However, the one who had discovered the crystal retorted, "Don''t jump to conclusions so quickly, what if the crystal energy was drained? Let''s confiscate it first." As he was about to reach out, he heard a voice behind him saying stop. "Hold it!" The person who had spoken was not only Chen Fei but also Franco. Chen Fei and Franco locked eyes, thinking the same thing ¨C like heroes, although they found mutual disgust in each other''s gaze. "Director Franco, this crystal might potentially be a Crystalline Block!" The first to find the unidentifiable crystal in the nest looked confusedly at Franco, then at Chen Fei, truly unable to understand the relationship between them, and why they stopped him almost simultaneously, especially when they had been at odds just moments ago. Could it be that in the blink of an eye, the two had reached some unspeakable transaction? "That''s not a Crystalline Block; it''s not something you guys should touch." Franco looked at the Pure Light Sparrow''s nest, a trace of wariness in his eyes. The value of a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was certainly no less than that of a high-capacity Crystalline Block, but just like Crystalline Blocks, it shouldn''t be tampered with by ordinary people. Especially this one in front of them, which was designated by a Metallic Giant Dragon. Those who knew the truth would not recklessly target this crystal core, lest they catch the attention of a Metallic Giant Dragon, especially an offended young one, which could bring the wrath of an entire clan. The reigning Dragon King of Cangqiong Star was a Metallic Giant Dragon, and rumors had it that if the unreliable monarch had a tantrum, Cangqiong Star would directly confront Blue Star, even if the Lin Family, who had particularly close ties with the Dragon King, might not be able to dissuade him. Ambitious figures never disappeared, no matter the era. Diplomacy and trade between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star were both extremely cautious, fearing a spark that could be exploited by those with grand ambitions. The "Thucydides Trap" theory had almost become a crucial consideration between the two civilizations. The Cangqiong Star Civilization was not like the resource-depleted Third Era Civilization; with populations, magical beasts, magic, construct assembly technology, and crystal cores galore, plus forbidden curses comparable to nuclear weapons, they lacked nothing. A war with the Blue Star Civilization was no joke. In the case of war, no one could remain unscathed when the nest is overturned. Even if exterminating entire clans wasn''t a thing anymore, in those times, faced with the wrath of the entire world, who would believe otherwise? Even Franco would probably wish he could sacrifice his whole family to appease the heavens. For these reasons, and also because Chen Fei always stayed at the remote 911 Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, lax security like this would have certainly resulted in theft long ago. Yet, the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core nestled safely in Xiao Jiu''s nest remained untouched; nobody dared to covet it. Therefore, to Franco, the crystal inside the Pure Light Sparrow''s nest was not a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, but a potential spark. Hearing his subordinate mindlessly wanting to touch the crystal core, he suddenly felt the dread of screwing up big time. "No, can''t touch it?" The two men Franco brought along glanced at each other, but seeing the director''s livid expression, they instinctively shrank back, retreating several steps and keeping their distance obediently. It seemed that the crystal in the nest was a taboo nobody should mess with. If they couldn''t avoid provoking it, at least they could steer clear. Two professional detectors scanned Chen Fei''s dorm room, inside and out, in both close-range precision mode and long-distance remote sensing mode, but they failed to detect any crystal energy they had sensed before. After all the effort, naturally, they found nothing. Leaving empty-handed, Franco glared at Chen Fei and warned ungraciously, "Chen Fei, I hope you''re not hiding the Crystalline Block. It''s not something you should possess!" "Hmph!" Chen Fei responded with a cold laugh, not giving the man the satisfaction of analyzing his words. Indeed, he did have a Crystalline Block, which everyone knew, but without catching him in the act, what could they do to him? He enjoyed the sight of others seething with rage yet powerless to act. "Let''s go!" Franco huffed coldly, signaling his entourage to leave Chen Fei''s dormitory. His men couldn''t resist looking back, shooting threatening glares. But Chen Fei retorted with a throat-slitting gesture, as if to say, "Don''t mess with me. If you''ve got an issue, come at me! I''ll twist your heads off myself!" Bang! He shut the door! After instructing "Adam" to scan the room again to check for any "lingering" electronic detection devices, Chen Fei headed to his room, planning to ask Xiao Jiu about the Crystalline Block. But upon returning to his room, he saw the cubic-shaped Crystalline Block still sitting next to Xiao Jiu''s nest, as if it had never moved or disappeared. Uh... were those three people blind? Could it be that Xiao Jiu had mastered a new skill, like optical invisibility? Or perhaps he should check his own eyesight. "Jiu?" - Chapter 375 375: Section 371 - Luo Wilderness Plain Chen Fei packed around a hundred crates and handled the shipment at the Habulav postal company; the smallest crate weighed almost a hundred kilograms, and the largest one weighed up to several tons. Because he held the position of a member of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, he enjoyed an internal discount that saved him tens of thousands of Star Yuan in transportation costs. These boxes immediately caught the attention of certain individuals. Having returned empty-handed to Chen Fei''s dormitory, Franco hurried to the Habulav postal company''s warehouse and found the neatly stacked crates. "Every single box must be checked!" This time, he brought around a dozen people. They had not only professional detection devices but also psychic ability users skilled in perception and search dogs with keen noses¡ªwithout opening the crates, they could still find the crystalline blocks hidden inside. "Reporting to Director Franco, the crates bound for XX City are all filled with natural crystals, the crates going to Northern Industrial University contain crystals too, and those sent to Mesoamerica and Xingdu Kush Mountain Area are also packed with crystals. What''s this guy doing with so many crystals?" "All those crates contain crystals?" Franco stood gaping in disbelief, aside from that large crate, the other uniform-sized ones might have contained up to several tons of crystals. Does Chen have a mental illness? All these crystals, what, is he planning to build a house? Was he enemies with crystals in a past life? These things aren''t even valuable! (Though they are worth a bit of money, the cost of extracting them from the heavily mutant-surrounded depths of the Central Great Desert...) After meticulously checking all the crates one by one, the reporting staff confidently stated, "Err, yes, they are all crystals! Very strange, this isn''t normal!" No need for detection devices or psychic ability users¡ªone X-ray, and from the crystal structure alone, one could immediately tell the general composition. Franco said angrily, "I, of course, know it''s not normal, damn it... driven mad by poverty!" The truth was not hard to guess! With a bit of investigation, Chen Fei''s personal financial situation could be clarified. To an ordinary family, five million Star Yuan is a huge sum¡ªthe interest alone could suffocate a household, possibly burdening generations to clear the debt. Even for a rank B ability user, it still wasn''t a sum payable in a short period. Even ability users would hardly think of going through so much effort to use a Space System Alchemy Storage Device to move these worthless crystals out of the desert. Are storage devices more expensive than crystalline blocks being used to store junk? Really full and nothing better to do! Looking back, on one hand, guarding an unliquidatable Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, and on the other, struggling to find money to pay debts everywhere. Poverty breeds change, if not using special abilities to haul out a Mobile Base Vehicle from the rubbish pile outside the city, barely within the rules as a personal ability, any other way to get such a vehicle would probably get him knocked senseless. Now impoverished and acting strange, he had acquired a huge lot of crystals and was haphazardly shipping them all over the world. It is because of poverty that so many incomprehensible actions are taken. Wait! Franco seemed to suddenly grasp a clue. He squinted and said coldly, "It''s all a distraction!" Almost deceived by this kid. These express boxes, it''s just a trick to divert my attention, to hide that crystalline block somewhere else while he''s at it. Now the crystalline block is in Habulav, even in Zone B, but the exact location remains unknown. A distraction? Everyone looked at each other in dismay. "Deploy personnel, keep a close watch on Chen Fei, including everyone from Squad 04!" Franco issued the order through gritted teeth, not wanting to be made a fool as if they were monkeys. Having once been the leader of a temporary investigation team, he visited the 911 Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, but had left there on bad terms. Chen Fei had completely forgotten about him, and probably even Hanna Gagel couldn''t recall ever dealing with such a person, but Franco had never forgotten. A devil rises an inch, a path rises a foot. No matter what, he must retrieve that crystalline block once lost in the Central Great Desert. - After completing their assessments, each squad, upon resting thoroughly, proceeded to the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''s administrative levels in Zone A2 to confirm their posts. Similar in intent to the global string of aircrew bases aimed at eradicating mutants, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" posts were for swift strikes against the Water Bear organization. While not as numerous as the military contractors, their combat capabilities were undoubtedly superior. The only hundred-floor building''s 48th-floor meeting room in Zone A2. Squad 04, consisting of eleven members, arrived here shortly after the previous squad had left. The air still hung heavy with the scent of coffee and smoke. The familiar blonde lady at the registration handed an envelope to the captain of Squad 04, a First Rank Fire System Mage, now reverted to having cropped white hair, Adrian Benjamin. She then gracefully explained, "This is your Squad 04''s station and plane tickets. Departure is tomorrow at noon via the commercial route, with a layover at Mount Kumgang, and the gear and equipment will be transported by the Joint Defense Committee. It''s expected to arrive on the third day of your stationing, and the inventory is also in the envelope. Please check if you need anything else." "Alright! Thank you!" Adrian took the envelope and immediately opened it. "The station is..." His voice abruptly stopped; his eyes widened as he stared at the stack of papers in his hands, his breathing growing heavy. "Hey, Adrian, what did you see that scared you like this? Haha, could it be hell?" "Where exactly is it? Speak up!" "Hey, elder sister, what exactly is written in the envelope?" After spending a month together in the Central Great Desert and facing life and death situations, the relationships among all members of Team 04 had grown even closer. "I didn''t know before this either!" The golden-haired elder sister at the original report location maintained her professional smile but didn''t provide any answers. Adrian spat out a few words expressionlessly. "The Siberian Tundra!" "Huh?" "What?" "Tundra?" "Is this some kind of joke?" "What? It''s that kind of godforsaken place!" "Chirp?" The members of Team 04 issued sounds of disbelief. Adrian''s mouth twitched as he looked toward Chen Fei. "Uh! Chen Fei, is it because you offended that Franco guy?" Lately, everyone from Team 04 had been individually visited and talked to by some unknown department in Habulav. Crystalline Block? Cannot say, cannot say. Even the most candid Black BOY Apu kept his lips sealed, he was candid but not foolish; betraying teammates was something he could never do, no matter what. This was exactly what annoyed the hell out of the board member Franco, who kept a close eye on Chen Fei. In just one month, he managed to strengthen these guys'' bonds so solidly they dared to resist the will of the Global United Defense Committee. Offending a high-rank official and thus being sent to a harsh cold place was naturally expected, wasn''t it? "Uh! Who knows!" Chen Fei spread his hands innocently. He had offended too many people to keep track of them all. If people always dwelt on those troubles, who would want to live like that? It''s obviously better to just be happy. "Chirp!" Little Bird echoed from his shoulder. This unprincipled, shameless little creature never made any other sound no matter what Daddy Chen said. "Hey! It''s already like this, we just have to accept our fate!" Adrian had just asked casually and didn''t really mean to dig any deeper. After all, they could still drive in the Siberian Tundra; with Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, they wouldn''t be miserably frozen. In the subsequent checklists, he indeed saw Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle listed. It seemed like the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division also planned to pack this big vehicle with Team 04 as standard equipment, which saved him a lot of trouble. Somebody curiously asked, "Can I ask why choose the Siberian Tundra?" This question didn''t reach the golden-haired elder sister at the former check-in point but was instead resolved internally by Team 04. "Beneath the Siberian Tundra lies many ancient animal remains, some even dating back to before the Ice Age. If the ''Water Bear'' organization plans to study mutants, having such a massive ancient DNA sample bank would be very convenient." Unexpectedly, the magical boundary ape Lulu''an was extremely knowledgeable about Blue Star''s natural ecology. The golden-haired elder sister said cheerfully, "That''s right!" Her gaze suddenly fell on Chen Fei, her smile vanished as she said, "Can''t you control your malice a bit? You all need to be cautious around this guy; he''s a devil, a murderous fiend!" A distinctly disgusted expression surfaced on her face. "Huh? Me, me?" Caught off guard by her warning tone, Chen Fei looked around and pointed at himself tentatively, his face the picture of innocence. He clearly hadn''t done anything, so why should he suffer such an unwarranted attack? "That''s right, you, you''re filled with malice towards everyone, including this little bird on you. I noticed it the moment you checked in," The golden-haired elder sister pointed at herself and said very seriously, "I''m an A-grade Psychic Ability User, Doctor of Psychology, Criminal Investigation Expert, skilled in Emotion Perception and Mind Reading Technique." Check-in itself was a checkpoint; anyone who tried to infiltrate the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division with ill intentions would not get past this golden-haired elder sister¡ªprobably wouldn''t even get a card and would be taken away right there. - Chapter 376 376: Section 372 - Old Piao of the Han River The members of Team 04 were all stunned. Holy shit... One should never judge a book by its cover, just as one can''t measure the depth of a whirlpool. The elder sister looked toward the dumbfounded little Mauri sister in the middle of the crowd, her expression and gaze softening as she said, "Mouri Misono, when you first met him, he wanted to slap you. This is... undoubtedly true, you must be careful of this evil spirit in human skin!" Having finished, she glared at Chen Fei with righteous indignation and interrogated, "Have I said anything wrong? Mr. Chen Fei, did you have that thought at the time? Please! Tell! The! Truth!" Her expression said she would not tolerate any lies, the threat of an A-grade supernatural power user at full force. The reason she lashed out so unceremoniously at this moment was to remind Team 04 that amongst them hid a person with ulterior motives, and they mustn''t be deceived by the so-called harmless appearance. So it''s better to defuse the time bomb sooner rather than later, to avoid dragging everyone down with it. "Uh! Yes, I do! I want to strangle you to death right now!" Chen Fei unabashedly spoke the absolute truth, his face unchanged. "Hmph!" A torrent of evil intentions hit them in the face, met by the blonde sister''s cold laugh. In front of an A-grade psychic ability user, a mere B-grade had no right to resist, and could easily be slapped to death. "Huh? Chen, did you really want to slap me at that time?" Mouri Misono''s face showed no fear or anger, only surprise and bewilderment. "Sorry, my mind always uncontrollably comes up with some strange thoughts." Chen Fei candidly pointed to his head and shrugged his shoulders. He used to be a good baby! "It seems Chen is also a gentle person!" Mouri Misono''s little face turned pink with a blush coloring her cheeks. "Wait, what''s with that expression?" This time, it was the blonde sister from the original check-in station who suddenly felt that the atmosphere of the scene was somewhat off. Not just Mouri Misono, but even the others from Team 04 appeared nonchalant, as if they hadn''t heard her cruel exposure at all. WTF?! What kind of reactions are these? Shouldn''t they be drawing lines and vehemently condemning and denouncing him, before kicking him out of the team? How could there not even be a trace of a normal reaction! "Eh? You don''t blame me?" Chen Fei, perplexed like a monk scratching his head, was unexpectedly in sync with the attitudes of the blonde who had exposed him. Mouri Misono smiled gratefully and said, "I thought Chen would plan to chop off my head, but it turned out to be merely a slap. If Chen dislikes me, it''s my fault, but Chen didn''t intend to kill me!" Twin Blades Sister wasn''t two-faced; she was straightforward with her likes and dislikes, never hiding them. Her usual way of expressing disdain was often by chopping off the other person''s head. So just getting slapped in the mouth was, in comparison, extremely gentle. The deputy head of ground combat operations for Fuji Security Group in Africa was far from a saint. If anyone were fooled by her cute appearance, they''d likely end up with their heads rolling. Chen Fei: "..." This cute sister was far too gentle; he was somewhat unable to cope. The blonde sister: "..." "Tch! I thought it was some grave matter! Who here doesn''t have blood on their hands or harbor dark thoughts in their mind?" After widening her eyes, A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley snorted dismissively. This relatively pretty blonde girl must have stayed in Habulav too long and hasn''t seen the truly dark side of human nature, making a fuss about someone wanting to slap another as if it were some grave issue. Ridiculous. The large, dark-skinned Apu inhaled through his nose straightforwardly, "I''ve killed many people, does that make me a villain?" Adrian, too, agreed with the others, "Intelligent Species are inherently both light and dark combined. Enlightenment and devilishness are just a thought away. Good and evil coexist and there are no purely good or purely evil beings. A multitude of thoughts in an instant is normal; you shouldn''t solely focus on what''s in the mind but rather, what actions ultimately transpire." "Is Holy Light always just? Sorry, I never thought so!" Holy Knight Walter Sam spread his arms, he was never an uptight man. Waving the flag of justice while doing dirty deeds wasn''t uncommon, and there were far too many examples to need mentioning. When encountering such hypocrites, there was no need for words, just a swift execution. "Chen Fei is not a bad person!" Even though Chen had blown up the remains of the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, Neanderthal Chief Bassan still spoke bluntly and without reservation. Now that it has become a filthy den of mutants, blowing it up might as well clean it all up. On this point, the Clan Leader is pretty open-minded. "You guys..." The blonde elder sister was speechless as she looked at everyone. "Team 04 is full of bad guys, huh!" The puppet master Joshua wore a mischievous grin, clearly no good. He was also an A-class psychic ability user, but his specialty was a bit different from that of the blonde elder sister. However, they both fell within the category of psychic abilities. "Hehehe..." ¡Á 10! A group of people shared a knowing smirk, all on the same page, moving in perfect synchrony. It''s fair to say that the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" assessment was quite successful. It not only honed the individual and team abilities to handle a large number of mutants but also elevated their tacit understanding to a new level. "I wish you a safe journey!" The blonde elder sister stormed out and slammed the door in frustration. "Huh..." Chen Fei let out a sigh, shaking his head, "I thought I was the only abnormal one, but it turns out you guys are." The behavior of everyone fully illustrated the unity of good and evil, scaring away the elder sister, and even Chen Fei felt the urge to run far away from these nuts. "Without a touch of madness, one cannot survive. Our obsessions give us magic, battle qi, and special abilities, and they make our minds different from ordinary people. It''s ridiculous to measure ability users by the standards of normal people." Adrian Benjamin walked over and pat Chen Fei''s shoulder. Little Bird hopped over, fluttering its wings, pecking at his hand with its small sharp beak, asserting its sovereignty. Chen Fei''s shoulder was its territory, and its integrity was not to be violated. "What a cute little guy!" With a physical attack power of zero, the Pure Light Sparrow''s pecking was harmless, but Adrian''s smile faded when he saw a frightening gleam in its beak and hastily withdrew his hand. Damn! He then remembered that this little thing was the real menace in Team 04! - The number of airships owned by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee isn''t small, but most are in flight around the world. Only about four or five are stationed on the Ocean Continent, each tasked with different flying missions, so it''s impossible for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" to send each dispatch team directly to their destinations. Thus, travel had to rely on civilian aviation channels, naturally, because the number of civilian aircraft far exceeds those of the Joint Defense Committee, with flights to all parts of the world. The next day at noon, Team 04, each with their luggage, took a transport airship that flew back and forth between Habulav and Shepherd City. Then they boarded a civilian flight, traveling northward from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, a journey of 12 hours. At around 3 a.m., the direct flight finally landed at Mount Kumgang International Airport in the Goryeo Peninsula. The civil airline tickets prepared for Team 04 by the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" factored in rest time, allowing them a two-day stay in Mount Kumgang to, for example, adjust to the time difference, eat and drink, and briefly sightsee and have fun. Chen Fei, who was already quite accustomed to air travel, didn''t feel the hardship of the long flight. Although the stability and comfort of the civilian jet were somewhat inferior to those of large airships, they were still much more comfortable than the cockpit of the fighter jets he had once piloted. After booking rooms in a hotel near the airport with the rest of Team 04, Chen Fei didn''t stay long in his own room, instead, taking Xiao Jiu to the hotel entrance and hailing a driverless taxi straight to the train station. It only took a fast train two hours from Mount Kumgang to Han River City, arriving in almost no time. As soon as Chen Fei came out of Han River City''s train station, he pulled out his mobile phone and dialed a number. A moment later, the call connected. "Hello! Guess who?" Chen Xiao''er, a troublemaker at heart, couldn''t help engaging in such a cheesy act. His voice was loud, naturally drawing disdainful glances from the people around him. "Who''s this guy, making a call so arrogantly? I feel like beating him up." The urge to beat him up was limited to a mere thought, after all, no one had the resolve to act on it. Consciously, if the police were summoned, it would likely lead to nothing good. "Eh? Chen Fei!!! Is that you? Haha, why did you think to call me, wait, let me guess..." The person on the other end hesitated for a moment, then burst into joyous exclamations: "You, are you in Han River?" "Bingo! Just passing by, I thought I''d pop over to see you." Chen Fei snapped his fingers and continued, "Where are you? I''m heading over now!" Excited to see an old colleague again, Pu Aihua said eagerly, "No! I''ll come to you. Where are you? Han River Airport? I''ll come by car right away!" "Seba, could you keep it down a bit? This is a hospital, not a marketplace!" An inappropriate scolding came through the call. "Hmm? Old Piao, you''re at the hospital? Is someone sick? Never mind, I''ll come to you. I''m just outside the train station, not long after leaving." Before Chen Fei finished speaking, Little Bird on his shoulder also chirped. Pu Aihua apologized, "The train station? Well, okay then! I''ll send you the address, I''m really sorry!" He then spoke with renewed enthusiasm, "Xiao Jiu is here too! Long time no see." - Chapter 377 377: Section 373 - Hospital The bird egg he once used to trick the newbies had actually turned out to be a Magical Beast Egg, which he picked up from a desolate place. It was indeed authentic, for it hatched into Xiao Jiu, an adorable creature. Although it was a common Pure Light Sparrow, it was still a genuine Magical Beast. Now, whenever Xiao Jiu was mentioned, Pu Aihua''s tone became very complex. After briefly chatting with Chen Fei, Pu hastily ended the call and sent his location. The hospital where Old Piao stayed was not far from the train station, but it wasn''t exactly close either. Taking the subway for half an hour, passing six stations, then switching to an unmanned taxi, it took Chen Fei another ten minutes to find the place. Before Old Piao was sent home, he had left a note for Chen Fei, which was the contact information for Han River City. Since Mount Kumgang was not far from Han River and there was still time to spare, he decided to visit. As he was wondering who might be ill, a tired-looking Pu Aihua appeared before him. "Old Piao, my goodness, are you sick?" With a disheveled beard, sunken eyes, and a listless demeanor, he not only looked much thinner but also pale, appearing as if he had aged over ten years. If it weren''t for the familiar contour of his face, Chen Fei would hardly have recognized him. "I''m fine, Little Chen, long time no see." Pu Aihua forced a smile and waved to Chen Fei. Chen Fei asked, perplexed, "What''s going on with you?" In front of Chen Fei, Old Piao didn''t hold back and after sighing, held his head in distress and said, "My daughter is ill, has been ill for a long time, and it''s not getting any better. Recently, it worsened again, oh, it''s just terribly worrisome!" Chen Fei asked, "What illness is it?" With medical advancements nowadays, unless it is a congenital defect or life has reached its natural end, most human ailments can be effectively treated. It usually just comes down to money, as long as one is willing to spend a lot, the illness can generally be cured. But seeing Old Piao like this, it seemed likely because of a lack of money. Pu Aihua had ways of saving money far superior to Chen Fei. Whenever he saw a chance to make money, he''d think it over thoroughly. However, he had his age to consider, and with no significant education or skills, he worked from the beginning of the year to the end but hardly earned much more than the average worker, just slightly better off. But if his household had a "bottomless pit of a medical jar," no amount of money earned would ever be enough. "It''s chronic pneumonia. Little Hui was premature, inherently weak. She has always been frail and constantly ill. We''ve spent a lot of money and tried many treatments without success. Ah, let''s not talk about this. Come on, let me take you inside to sit. I''m really sorry, Little Hui would be delighted to meet a new friend, and you can chat more." Pu Aihua led Chen Fei into the hospital and quickly arrived at a ward. A thin, almost translucent-skinned girl lay on the hospital bed, her hair unnaturally dry and brittle, and she was on nasal oxygen, indicating that her condition was severe this time. "Dad!" The girl weakly called out when she saw Old Piao bring Chen Fei into the ward. She then looked perplexedly at the young man beside her father, her gaze finally resting on the little bird on his shoulder, her timid expression revealing a hint of joy yet also filled with worry. "Little Hui! This is dad''s former colleague, Chen Fei. Oh, and on his shoulder is Xiao Jiu, the very one I told you about. Chen Fei, this is my daughter, Pu Meihui. You can call her Little Hui." It was clear that Old Piao often shared stories with his daughter about his time at the Aircrew Base, and of course, about the Magical Beast Egg he found in the wilderness¡ªa story he could boast about for a lifetime! "Hello!" The girl tried to struggle into a sitting position but ultimately lay back down, exhausted. "Hey! Don''t move, lie down. Little Chen and I are on good terms; he won''t care about formalities." Old Piao quickly pressed his daughter down, but indeed, his relationship with Chen Fei was close. When they used to help each other out in the base''s canteen kitchen, they mutually supported one another. That''s why when he left, he didn''t pass his connections to anyone else but Chen Fei. However, Chen Fei himself wasn''t accustomed to the trivial buying and selling activities. As the Aircrew Base was located in a remote area and had been blocked by an industry giant and his old employer for a time, there hadn''t been much there to begin with. The channels he took over were barely maintained, far less lively than when Pu Aihua was there. "Hello, Little Hui, I''m Chen Fei!" Chen Fei nodded with a smile. "Seba, could you keep it down, please? This isn''t a place to chat. Try to be quiet, okay?" A cranky voice came from the next bed. Although they were accusing Pu Aihua and Chen Fei of talking too loudly, the person''s own voice was louder than anyone''s. "Sorry, very sorry. Having visitors, we need to entertain them a bit, please be understanding." Old Piao hurried over, continuously bowing and apologizing. With four beds in the public ward separated only by a curtain, disturbances were inevitable. If patients or their visitors had a bit of a temper, arguments could surely arise. The scolding voice Chen Fei had heard over the phone when speaking with Old Piao belonged to this irritable person, who exploded at the slightest provocation. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu, dissatisfied with the loud voice, let out a clear chirp. "Damn it, who allowed you to bring a wild bird in here? Get out, get out!" At Pu Meihui''s bedside, a burly man roughly pulled aside the dividing curtain, his gaze fell on the three people next door, and he pointed threateningly at the bird on Chen Fei''s shoulder. Chen Fei calmly said, "Are you asking for a beating?" He turned his head, looked at the Park Family''s girl on the bed, and said, "Old Piao, cover her eyes!" For some who were heedless, Chen Fei never tolerated them. A gentleman''s revenge was not put off overnight; offended, he would normally seek retribution right then and there. "Ah! Oh!" Pu Aihua was startled and quickly covered his daughter''s eyes, while tightly closing his own. He didn''t know what would happen next, but he didn''t hesitate to believe Chen Fei''s words. "Dad?" With her eyes covered by her father''s large hand, Pu Meihui was puzzled. "Close your eyes!" Her father''s voice reached her ears. "What do you mean, are you trying to hit me?" The burly man swung his fist, perhaps only intending to threaten due to the distance. That''s what Chen Fei thought, but Xiao Jiu perhaps thought differently. "Jiu!" An extremely dazzling burst of light filled the entire hospital room in an instant. This was a very natural outcome. "Ah! My eyes!" The burly man, severely dazzled, staggered back several steps, tripped over a chair, fell flat on his back, and then rolled on the floor covering his face. "What? Was that lightning?" A patient in the nearby bed, who had been napping, noticed the sudden intense light outside his eyelids and opened his eyes in confusion. The person at his bedside, shielded by a curtain and not directly hit, wasn''t much affected; they were dazzled for a moment but quickly recovered. "My eyes, my eyes, I''m blind!" The burly man rolled on the ground wailing continuously, and the room fell dead silent. Naturally, no one jumped out to fight injustice and help out; such things were unnecessary. Chen Fei had yet to exert any strength, yet the other party had already collapsed; bullying ordinary people brought no sense of achievement. Being hit by Xiao Jiu''s "Light Burst Flash" didn''t cause permanent aftereffects or immediate blindness, so he watched the other man howling for a while, then awkwardly stood up with tears streaming down his flushed, tear-stained face, looking like a total wimp who had just had a good cry. "Damn it, I''m going to call the police!" With his eyes cried out, the burly man glared venomously at Chen Fei and stormed out of the hospital room in a rage. "This, what do we do now?" Old Piao rubbed his hands uneasily, unsure of what to do next. Xiao Jiu''s sudden burst of light had frightened him too, but fortunately, because he had listened to Chen Fei without hesitation, he hadn''t been dazzled. "Don''t worry, this has nothing to do with you." Chen Fei felt he could handle it. If he played the card of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, he was sure it would be effective. The worst-case scenario: he might get kicked back to 911 and live off his parents'' home; either way, it wasn''t a loss. After all, he wasn''t desperately seeking to join something like the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division; getting fired would actually be getting what he wanted. "Sorry to trouble you!" Seeing Chen Fei''s confident demeanor, Old Piao, who had been somewhat worried, now completely relaxed. As an ordinary citizen running a low-end restaurant, he had no power or influence, while Chen Fei, at least, had the backing of a large military contractor (although Pu Aihua didn''t know that Aircrew Base had recently split from Apocalypse Defense Group to establish Jiu Defense Company); ordinary people couldn''t engage in military contracting business and had some societal connections after all. "No problem! No problem!" Chen Fei waved it off nonchalantly. Had the problems he''d caused up to now been few? And what was the outcome? In the end, there had been no issues at all! Some issues were resolved even without his immediate boss, Boss Hana, being aware of them. "Can I, can I touch it? It looks like a Pure Light Sparrow!" After her father let go of her, Pu Meihui, now at home and staying in bed for so long, stared eagerly at the little bird, her heart itching with envy and curiosity for the vibrant creature. Especially because of its lively cuteness, it particularly scratched her itch. "That''s something you''d have to ask Little Chen about, is it okay?" Pu Aihua glanced at Chen Fei, hoping that his beloved daughter''s small wish could be achieved. He knew Xiao Jiu''s temperament; it only listened to Chen Fei and gave face to no one else. He worked so hard to make money on the side, even earning the reputation of a cunning merchant, but he relished it all, and it was all for the apple of his eye¡ªthe only daughter in the family. Born prematurely and thus innately unlucky, Old Piao still hoped that his daughter could grow up healthy and happy despite the circumstances. Although it was a magical beast, it was just a mere Pure Light Sparrow, so there was nothing to worry about. - Chapter 378 378: Section 374 - Old Piaos Light "Ah! No problem, Xiao Jiu, thanks for the trouble!" Chen Fei took Xiao Jiu from his own shoulder and placed it on the hospital bed. Comforting the frail little girl was just a small effort. "Jiu!" The light body of the Pure Light Sparrow landed on the bedding, not even disturbing a single crease on the surface. "Xiao Jiu! I''m Pu Meihui, hello!" The little girl gratefully glanced at Chen Fei, and with a mix of surprise and delight, reached out to the little bird. "Jiu!" The little bird hopped forward a few steps, fluttered its wings, and landed in the tender palm of the girl''s hand. The little claws tickled her palm, making Pu Meihui burst into a merry giggle, probably the happiest in a while. "Old Piao, let''s step outside to talk!" Chen Fei gestured towards the door, obviously having something to discuss. "Oh, okay!" Pu Aihua glanced at his daughter, nodded, and followed Chen Fei outside. Chen Fei leaned against the wall in the hallway outside the hospital room, taking in his former colleague. The face that used to always smile now seemed deeply troubled. It appeared that after returning home, to care for his daughter, he had taken on a lot of stress, and it had left him looking much worn. "Are you, um, tight on money?" "I..." Pu Aihua just began to open up, then hesitated, quickly realizing something, and with a bitter smile, vigorously shook his head, saying, "Little Chen, I know you want to help me, but... your debts probably aren''t all paid off yet, right?" Both being in tough spots, they were all struggling, better not to trouble others. Since being terminated, he and his wife had opened a small diner in Han River City to maintain family planning; if his daughter fell ill, the couple had to take turns, one caring for the daughter and the other for the diner. Even though they could just manage, their financial condition at home was still getting tighter each day, with never a breather. The modest income from the small diner all went to hospital treatment and hospitalization fees. "It''s okay, I can now pay off a substantial amount immediately, reducing the pressure quite a bit. But don''t be too quick to refuse, I have a batch of items you could sell. With your skills, you might make good money and ease the urgency." Chen Fei held out his hand to stop Pu Aihua from speaking further and continued, "Don''t worry, I picked up these items for nothing, no cost involved, they were meant to be sold anyway, might as well not let outsiders benefit. Handing them to you might even make more money!" In Habulav, he had handled some parcels, some sent to his home for his elder brother and sister-in-law; some for Little Sister Chen studying at university; some for the Jiu Defense Company''s Chapala City office in Mesoamerica; some for Aircrew Base 911 in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Just rerouting what was meant for his elder brother and sister-in-law to Old Piao was merely about bearing an extra handling fee. The boxes were probably still en route; changing now should still be in time. Adding together what his elder brother and sister-in-law could make, they couldn''t outperform Old Piao, a sly merchant. So it was better just to work honestly and leave the selling to a professional like Old Piao. "Really, really? I am so sorry!" Pu Aihua rubbed his hands together, he was most skilled at buying low and selling high, and he did have confidence in that. "The merchandise is natural fluorescent crystals, originally from deep within a dead volcano in the Central Great Desert of the Ocean Continent, raw clusters of large crystal bodies, if sunlit for two hours, they can glow continuously for six hours, available in various colors. You can either sell them as raw stones or processed beads like Luminous Pearls, weighing roughly two hundred kilograms altogether. Your commission is 40% of the net profit, should be no problem!" Chen Fei briefly explained the situation of this deal. A timely help, giving tools rather than just a fish, as after all, this was business, not sympathy or charity, and it was easier for Old Piao to accept it too. Professional matters should be handled by professionals, this deal surely wouldn''t fail. If Old Piao managed to sell at a good price, Chen Fei might consider passing him the later deliveries to the Chapala office as well, creating a win-win, mutual happiness. "I''ll only take 10%, that''s enough!" Pu Aihua held up a finger, his mind racing, already thinking how he could get a high price for these fluorescent crystals, he might even need to make up a fantastic story. As long as the story was good enough, even a bit of dog poo could be spun into something celestial, fetching a sky-high price. The Central Great Desert of the Ocean Continent¡ªthe setting for the story was too good. Chen Fei was surprised to hear that Old Piao was only taking a 10% profit, saying, "Ha! Did you grow a conscience, you sly merchant?" Previously, Old Piao wouldn''t have even considered a deal without at least a 30% cut. Giving an extra percentage was also to help alleviate the pressing need. These days there was nothing worse than having no money, no illness beyond medical costs; once hospitalized, it was like starting a financial black hole, even the wealthy couldn''t withstand such drain, possibly leading to a dramatic fall in fortunes. "Hey, hey, you really think I''m stupid? 10% is plenty!" Pu Aihua laughed naively, clearly recognizing Chen Fei''s supportive intentions. Compared to directly providing financial help, he preferred this kind of commission-based, no-investment trading, earning a bit of handling fee. "40%, agreed..." Chen Fei held up four fingers. True relationships weren''t about trade, talking business spared hurting feelings, the other party could earn more, and he wouldn''t lose either. After all, it was a no-cost deal, hard even to make a loss. But before he finished speaking, they heard Pu Meihui''s cry of alarm from inside the room. "Ah!" Chen Fei and Pu Aihua exchanged a glance and rushed into the hospital room. "Ha!~" When Old Piao saw his daughter and Xiao Jiu, he couldn''t help but widen his eyes. Chen Fei, however, revealed a smile. "Jiu!" A light orb, the size of a ping-pong ball, formed in front of Xiao Jiu''s sharp beak and then plunged into the girl''s chest. Pu Meihui felt a warmth in her chest, and her previously labored breathing gradually became smooth and strong. "This, what is this!" Pu Aihua was astonished as she watched the scene unfold. The Pure Light Sparrow was indeed a Magical Beast, but not every Pure Light Sparrow could cast spells. "Jiu!" The Little Bird chirped lightly again and adeptly conjured another light orb. "Light Healing Technique!" Chen Fei was not surprised at all. The little one had finally understood what he meant when he said, "Xiao Jiu, can you please help?" which was exactly this. Beyond physical strikes, the almighty Xiao Jiu could attack, defend, kill, bury, cut, weld, and even act cute! "Huh?~" Old Piao was almost at a loss for words, the hairs on the back of his head standing on end as he mechanically turned his head, looking at Chen Fei with disbelief. Back then, the bird egg he had picked up and tricked Rookie Chen Fei into thinking was a Magical Beast''s egg was just meant to be a harmless prank, but fate had played a cruel joke on him! The fool was actually himself!!! If he had this little creature that could repeatedly release the Light Healing Technique by his side, his daughter might not have been able to regain normal health, but she wouldn''t be frequently hospitalized like now, constantly lying ill in bed. For his daughter, this old father had truly had his heart torn to pieces. "Jiu!~" The light orb, which had been the size of a ping-pong ball, now grew to the size of a fist, and Pu Meihui''s entire being began to slightly glow. Xiao Jiu unleashed a strong spell, the Second Rank Light Series Healing Spell "Light of Redemption," whose effect was more than ten times that of the First Rank "Light Healing Technique." Even at death''s door, it could snatch back a breath of life. "Jiu!" "Jiu!" "Jiu!" "Jiu!" "Jiu!"... The sickroom was filled with the sounds of bird chirping, and the "Light Healing Technique" continued without stop. Magical Beasts casting spells did not need to chant incantations, and accordingly, it was difficult for them to learn other spells or more spells of the same elemental series. The number of spells they could master was far fewer than that of humans. For Xiao Jiu, who was now Third Rank, a spell like the First Rank was hardly a burden; a brief rest and it could quickly recuperate. With the continuous impact of the Light-based Spells, Pu Meihui''s condition rapidly improved, visible to the naked eye; her pale complexion began to take on a hint of color, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, the whole person, though still panting, looked completely different from her earlier listlessness. At that moment, Chen Fei spoke up, "Alright, Xiao Jiu, you can stop now. Too much of a good thing can be harmful; let''s take a break first." Although the effects of the Light-based Spells were immediate, they were based on consuming one''s own vital energy. Pu Meihui was innately weaker, and it was better to stabilize her condition now that she had improved slightly; after all, using "Light Healing Technique" and "Light of Redemption" too much could turn them into deadly spells. Xiao Jiu did not understand this principle, but Chen Fei did. "It, it, Xiao Jiu... it..." Old Piao pointed at the Little Bird, almost crying out loud. This little creature that he had personally given away turned out to be the key to saving his own daughter. Before this, he had thought about asking Ability Users to help treat his daughter. On one hand, he couldn''t find anyone, on the other hand, the cost was too great. Ordinary people, even if they spent all they had, couldn''t afford it, not to mention the priceless Magic Medicines. The Earth Order First Rank Magic Medicine "Life Resuscitation" that had once pulled Chen Fei back from the brink of death was not something Pu Aihua could ever access, even if he became a lifetime crook, even if he had saved enough money, he still couldn''t obtain such Magic Medicine from those powerful figures. Chen Fei lowered his voice and whispered in Old Piao''s ear, "A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow, shh, keep it a secret!" After all, this was a hospital, and he was wary of trouble. Helping Old Piao was one thing, but volunteering to help others out of sheer redundancy was another; he wasn''t in the mood to play the saint or big shot, especially with strangers who might not appreciate his help or could even ridicule him behind his back as a big fool. "Eh? Eh!!!!!!!!" Pu Aihua quickly covered his mouth. He had never eaten pork, but had he not seen a pig run? A Third Rank Magical Beast, even a Pure Light Sparrow, was a remarkable being. Chen Fei patted Old Piao''s shoulder and said, "I will stay in Han River City one more day and leave tomorrow!" The implication was clear without words. "Mmm!" Pu Aihua nodded vigorously, naturally prepared to treat him well. "Mr. Police Officer, that''s him!" A voice suddenly came from the entrance of the sickroom. Chen Fei and Pu Aihua turned their heads to look in the direction of the voice; the guy who had run away crying earlier had come back, and this time he had brought two uniformed police officers. - Chapter 379 379: Section 375 - Study Hard "It''s him, he drove the Magical Beast to attack me!" The burly man, in front of two police officers, pointed at Chen Fei. "Hey! You ..." Just as Pu Aihua was about to speak up in defense, Chen Fei reached out to stop her and shook his head, saying, "Old Piao, you don''t need to say anything more, leave everything to me, rest assured, I can handle this!" "Are you sure? That guy is no easy target." Pu Aihua looked worried. Ever since her daughter had been admitted to this hospital room, the guy taking care of the patient in the next bed had been nothing but trouble, though he hadn''t resorted to physical violence, his foul language and petty actions were relentless; he was quite the bully and could be a professional hooligan or some lowlife, just not a decent person. Although they listened to the muscular man''s exaggerated complaints, the two police officers appeared rather calm. One of them politely said to Chen Fei, "Please show some form of identification, thank you!" The other officer took out his phone and began to identify the Little Bird on the girl''s hand. The two officers weren''t fools; they had received a call, but by judging the demeanor of the muscular man and Chen Fei, they could guess what was going on. No matter who was in the right, following procedure was always correct. The identification of Xiao Jiu''s species was quickly completed. Even with an added crest, the identification module correctly recognized the species as the Pure Light Sparrow, and the leg ring served as another form of identification. This was a registered Magical Beast, which had no issues with its paperwork and was free to move and work within human society, enjoying the basic rights of Intelligent Species and legal protection. In other words, if anyone tried to slap Xiao Jiu, the police officers could immediately cuff the perpetrator and, depending on the severity, arrange a vacation behind bars. "Huh!" The officer looking at the phone''s identification result couldn''t help but twitch his facial muscles a few times, after repeatedly confirming the information, he put away his phone. As his colleague finished checking Chen Fei''s identification, the two officers exchanged information, and the officer returning the ID to Chen Fei said leisurely, "So, Mr. Cui, are you sure you want to report this supernatural power user for commanding his Pure Light Sparrow to attack you?" When identifying someone online, some basic information is always retrieved, especially for Ability Users; while their Rank may not be visible, a special mark is always there. "Of course, I ... wait, special ability user?" The muscular man suddenly realized what was happening, looking incredulously at the two police officers and finally his gaze landed on Chen Fei, his eyes nearly bulging out. This guy, who looked completely harmless, was an ability user?! So, if he was an ability user, why didn''t he use his powers to deal with me instead of having his Magical Beast do it? He couldn''t figure it out. "Heh heh!" Chen Fei responded with a cold laugh. If you''re not convinced, come and hit me! The last few who thought to do so not only don''t have grass over their graves now, they don''t even have graves. "You two should negotiate and settle things here on the spot!" The two police officers had reached an agreement on how to handle the situation and had no intention of arresting anyone. To be detained for such a trivial matter was simply unnecessary. Come on! The police station also has to deal with expenses like kimchi and rice with public funds, just hanging up on the heater 24 hours a day, what''s the point? The muscular man protested angrily, "No, no, it''s not like that, even ability users can''t act so arrogantly!" He didn''t call the police over just for them to muddy the waters. The officer who checked Chen Fei''s ID spoke impatiently, "Then what do you want? Complaining that this gentleman''s Pure Light Sparrow beat you up, or shall we check the surveillance?" Surveillance footage isn''t something you can just pull up any time; you need to file a report, wait for approval, and then retrieve it with the proper documentation. To go through all that hassle for such a petty issue is annoying! The other officer, who identified Xiao Jiu''s species, said, "A First Rank Pure Light Sparrow, think carefully, the court won''t even take your case." The implication being that it''s like the man thought he was tough enough to challenge a chick, only to get laid out by it, cried, and wet himself... Such a story getting out would probably only be more embarrassing, right? Leaving the truth aside, Xiao Jiu''s physical combat ability was probably on par with a chick that had just hatched, hardly painful when pecking at someone, and without using spells or lasers, probably a few chicks could pin it to the ground and beat it to tears. No wonder the two officers felt that the muscular man was just making a fuss over nothing and decided to withdraw, not wanting to waste their time here. The muscular man continued his angry tirade, "What about Pure Light Sparrows? Aren''t they Magical Beasts? Magical Beasts are so dangerous, they can threaten our lives at any moment, can''t you do something about it? I... I''ll complain about you two!" Pfft!~ Someone in the hospital room couldn''t help but let out a laugh. Old Piao was completely dumbfounded, looking at Chen Fei; no wonder he told him not to worry and took it upon himself to deal with it. Dealing with such a guy wasn''t even worth the brainpower! One of the police officers suddenly said sternly, "Mr. Cui, please watch your language and refrain from making racially discriminatory remarks." His wearable camera was recording, capturing the scene and the conversation clearly, and uploading it to the cloud in real-time. The other officer kindly suggested, "Mr. Cui, you might want to look up information about Pure Light Sparrows before you make a decision." "Pure Light Sparrows are Magical Beasts, what''s there to look up?" The muscular man cursed as he clumsily pulled out his phone and fumbled with the screen, searching for information about Pure Light Sparrows. The Pure Light Sparrow''s biological encyclopedia was easy to find, and as he read, his impatient expression gradually changed. He stared at his phone screen, mouth agape, glanced at the Little Bird in the girl''s hand on the hospital bed, and then looked towards the two police officers and Chen Fei. "You guys... are bullying people!" The muscleman emitted a wail similar to someone being messed with, no wonder the two officers didn''t want to handle this police dispatch. No matter where this lawsuit goes, he would lose, and the worst part wasn''t losing the lawsuit, but losing face. Does he not care about his face? "Read more books, don''t act all high and mighty all the time." One of the two officers, feeling sympathetic, sighed and patted the other on the shoulder, signaling his colleague to retreat. Both of them had recognized that this guy was just an uneducated hooligan, naive to a terrifying degree! Seeing the muscleman''s distraught appearance, Pu Aihua couldn''t help but worry, "That, that won''t cause any trouble, will it?" Chen Fei asked nonchalantly, "Old Piao, I heard you opened a restaurant. Just asking, do you have surveillance installed?" The change in topic was rather abrupt. "Eh?" - Old Piao didn''t understand what he meant, but by nightfall, he finally grasped the meaning behind Chen Fei''s comment. "Seba, that''s him, chop him down!" The muscleman from the daytime hospital room led a bunch of big guys wearing sunglasses. They poured out of two vans, wielding various kinds of sticks like flails, baseball bats, rolling pins, wardrobe rods, and perhaps even mop sticks, a motley crew if there ever was one. It really made one wonder how exactly they planned to ''chop'' someone with sticks. Anyway, as soon as they pointed at Chen Fei, they charged over howling, brainless for sure¡ªthey mustn''t have brought their brains with them! Perhaps, it was a local custom? "Old Piao, I''ll warm up some... wine..." Chen Fei set down the beer bottle he was clinking with Pu Aihua and, like a gust of wind, dashed out. In the midst of a ruckus, Old Piao''s hand hadn''t even set down his bottle when Chen Fei had already laid all the uninvited guests flat on their backs. Their various sticks¡ªwoody, plastic, metal¡ªwere all snapped on the spot, tossed all over the place. The few tables of customers who were eating in Old Piao''s restaurant, still hesitant about whether to leave, now only saw people sprawled all over the ground, groaning, starting to suspect they had run into a train. "...No, it should have been ice wine. Come on, bottoms up!" Chen Fei rushed back in a hurry to correct his slip of the tongue, which to him, was the most important thing. Clang, two large green bottles clinked together. "They..." Pu Aihua didn''t know what to say, but he also recognized the ringleader. Are these people here to make a joke? "Ah! The stewed dog meat is ready!" Old Piao''s wife walked out of the shop holding a steaming pot of dog meat stew, only to see the indescribable scene spread all over the ground and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, oh my, why are there so many people lying on the ground?" The group had fallen too quickly, catching the matron by surprise. What''s going on with these people? Were they here to pull a scam? "Small scene, don''t worry about it, quickly go and take Little Hui her meal!" Old Piao thought of his daughter still in the hospital room and, with a wave of his hand, irritably ushered his wife to hurry off. The couple were taking turns looking after their daughter, running back and forth between the restaurant and the hospital, delivering meals by turns. Now that their daughter''s health was much improved and she needed to strengthen her nutrition, he had stewed a rooster that didn''t like to study and had failed its exams, adding a stick of Goryeo Ginseng and a few slices of Angelica Sinensis, a full large jar of it, nourishing both qi and blood. "These people, they... they''re alright, aren''t they?" Setting down the pot of dog meat, Old Piao''s wife fidgeted nervously with her hands. The head of the family and Little Chen were eating meat and drinking large swigs of wine, as if nothing had happened, but she still felt something was off. "Go on, go on, nothing to do with you!" The machismo-driven Old Piao waved her off impatiently. This naive woman, so unsophisticated, what''s there to see in a bunch of little thugs beaten down? No matter how tough the little thugs, could they compare to the horrors of the mutants in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area? Old Piao might not have made much money over the years, but at least he had seen some big scenes. Who knows who called the cops, but the flashing police lights slowly drew nearer and further away. At least eighteen cameras on the street were all pointing at these unlucky kids, working traffic lights blinking away. Anyway, Old Piao never saw the ringleader again after that. - Chapter 380 380: Section 376 - Outpost in the Cold Wave Chen Fei stayed in Han River City for two days, with Xiao Jiu accompanying Old Piao''s daughter throughout. Every six hours, a Second Rank Light Healing Spell "Light of Redemption" was cast. Although it didn''t completely remedy the girl''s congenital deficiencies, it significantly stimulated her vital potential, considerably improving her weak constitution. With proper care for about a year and a half, she might be able to run and jump like her peers, full of vitality, without frequently having to lie down or even be hospitalized. Pu Aihua felt quite sentimental, having given away something he truly desired. If only back then... But at the crossroads of life, there are never that many ifs. Upon returning to Mount Kumgang, the captain of Squad 04, Adrian, didn''t ask where Chen Fei had been these past two days. The team packed up their gear and set out. A week later, Squad 04 finally arrived in the Tunguska Region of Siberia. The lodging arranged by the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division for them was a deserted farm. The constantly clattering tractor dropped them off after refueling from a large iron barrel and then clattered away again. The nearest town was over a hundred kilometers away, requiring over two hours by tractor ¡ª truly a place that could cost you your life. The piercing cold wind made it feel as if ice shards were clattering down into one''s heart. "Damn, what kind of godforsaken place is this?" Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, shivered and hunched in his thick wool coat. He felt he should add a dog-fur hat to his attire. "This is our station." Adrian Benjamin gazed into the distance. In the deep part of the rundown farm, a grand barn still stood conspicuously among some scattered residential buildings, most of which had turned into ruins. According to the broken window theory, once the first pane of glass breaks, total collapse begins. He touched the Space System Alchemy Storage Device in his hand and led the way into the farm. At least this was still a farm and was much better than being surrounded by mutants in a dead volcano''s lava cave. "A place even ghosts would avoid, hey, Adrian, are we really going to live here?" Susanna Jean Piault, a Grade-B Ice Ability User, was somewhat taken aback, staggering behind. The tundra environment was her forte, indeed, but she had thought there would be some signs of life, only to find upon arrival that not even a ghost was in sight, as if Squad 04 had been abandoned. "Not bad!" Clan Leader Bassan, however, didn''t care; he had reverted to his usual man of few words. For the Neanderthal tribe, even the coldest hardship on Blue Star was much better than the exhausted resources of the Primordial Realm, where endless sandstorms blew without a trace of life, the whole world having fallen into dead silence. "Are we supposed to farm?" Chen Fei was unfazed; he had experience in this area during his time at the Aircrew Base. With enough materials, a large greenhouse could be built to accommodate everyone. "Heh heh, if it''s farming, I''m quite the expert!" A large black paw was placed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, then quickly retracted as Xiao Jiu''s fierce jab startled it back. Lao Hei Apu clapped his chest, exclaiming, "Oh boy, that was a close one!" Xiao Jiu''s fearsome reputation in Squad 04 was well known. Those who didn''t know were already out of the picture. Chen Fei looked at the large black figure and thought, When you say this, do you even check your conscience? Black people inherently lack the racial talent for farming; they are only good at "Hakuna Matata" (who knows what that even means?). Despite this, Apu was not a bad person, but lacking the talent for farming means just that; it couldn''t be obtained by merely bragging. Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono held up her little fists, full of energy, and cried out, "I can carry eight bags!" This silly girl... "Let''s find a place to stay first, then wait for our supplies to arrive. Old Ruan, you''ll have to work harder for the next few days." Adrian''s voice drifted from up ahead. "Got it!" Ruan Tiankai, who was a professional at doing the drudgery, responded wearily. Handling construction work always fell to him, and every time it left him exhausted to death. - As the tallest building on the farm, the three-story high barn was drafty on all sides, its interior littered with various kinds of trash and an old rust-streaked T-80 tank, probably broken and too cumbersome to remove, so it had simply been abandoned. As a member of Squad 04, Chen Fei stepped forward and eagerly welcomed it - hello, good for you, good for me, good for all. Ding! Energy Points +42! Free energy points, whoa! The "Physical Evolution Database" now included an item for a 125 smoothbore cannon and a 985 horsepower gas turbine with its transmission components. With the T-80 gone, the interior of the barn finally became spacious. Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai used spells to clean and reinforce the ground, while Captain Adrian brought out construction modules made of high-density polyurethane foam panel from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Just like building blocks, everyone lent a hand. They glued the seams of the modules together, and even smeared a layer of mortar on the outside which looked quite amateur, appearing patchy, but nobody really minded. The eleven-person structure boasted individual bedrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, a meeting room, a living room, and a storage room¡ªall fully equipped. Although the primary material of the wall panels was lightweight high-density polyurethane foam boards, the load-bearing components of the floors were uncompromised. Even if everyone stood on them, even if the number were ten times more, the solid wood flooring laid would show no signs of tremors or shakes, as reliable as reinforced concrete. Besides the lack of continuous water supply, this small building used high-capacity crystalline blocks as its primary energy source. Each floor was equipped with electric underfloor heating, which could ward off the harsh Siberian tundra cold even without central heating or open flames. On the evening of moving into the small building, the temperature outside the barn plummeted to several degrees below zero Celsius, and the howling wind was like the wail of ghosts and the howl of wolves. The next morning, everyone dressed in bulky clothing and began searching the farm for usable items. Although Adrian''s space system alchemical storage artifact was full of daily necessities, more wood and coal were always beneficial to have, just in case. After patching up the barn''s drafty walls a bit, they took apart about a dozen glass windows on the spot and installed them, which immediately improved the lighting. The Earth Mage, Ruan Tiankai, covered the walls of the barn with a thick layer of earth which, when blown by the cold wind, froze solid. Chen Fei repaired the roof, made noisy by the wind, by increasing the thickness of the thin layer of tin tenfold. With the overall strength and weight increased, it immediately withstood the assault of the strong winds, and a layer of asphalt membrane covered it, leaving no gaps. The difference in temperature inside and outside the refurbished barn could reach more than 5 degrees Celsius. Once the door was shut, the effect was immediately apparent; even without turning on the underfloor heating, the indoor temperature did not drop enough to form ice, greatly reducing energy consumption. After all, the power supply relied entirely on crystalline blocks; reducing energy consumption meant they could last longer in the frigid winds of Siberia without everyone freezing solid. No sooner had they settled in than snowflakes began to drift from the sky. The overcast sky indicated that a heavy snowfall was about to begin. "Liaison Officer Rossi requests to communicate!" The leader of Squad 04, Adrian Benjamin, glanced at his phone screen and let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, this call did not come in the first 24 hours after their arrival, or else he and everyone else would have been too busy to entertain this officer. Just as they had a moment to themselves, the other party''s call came through immediately. "I''m Rossi, Adrian, have you all settled in?" Through satellite positioning, Liaison Officer Rossi had confirmed the current location of Squad 04, estimated that they had settled down, and then called Adrian. Adrian formally replied, "Yes, yes! Is there a new assignment?" Rossi asked in surprise, "Huh? Do you have another channel for information?" It turned out, indeed, there was a new task, and Adrian had guessed right. "No, I guessed." If Adrian really had another information channel, he certainly wouldn''t have chosen such a quirky individual as the liaison officer for Squad 04. Rossi did not press further but got straight to the point. "Your current location, 320 kilometers to the southeast, coordinates ******, has a suspicious target. Please head over as soon as possible." There was indeed a mission, and the purpose was quite clear. "But our next batch of supplies has not arrived yet..." Before Adrian could finish, Rossi interrupted him. "The transport airship will arrive in half an hour, with the things you need." It seemed he really had timed this call, not giving Squad 04 much time to prepare. "Okay, alright!" Adrian breathed a sigh of relief. The capacity of the space system alchemical storage artifact assigned to him was limited; it was packed to the brim only with necessary daily necessities and a whole set of modular house components. Other supplies, especially the mobile base vehicle, had to be delivered by transport airship. Without this vehicle, it would have been quite difficult for Squad 04 to reach the target location. "Please depart as soon as possible, do not delay!" Upon checking the weather data for the Tunguska region and chuckling, Liaison Officer Rossi clearly made a wise choice by not accompanying them on the trip. While liaison officers could choose to accompany the team or not, not all were as cunning as Rossi, who stayed back in Habulav to remotely control operations; some responsible officers went with their teams to the stationing point, sharing some of the communication and support work. Half an hour later, a hundred-meter-long transport airship descended from the sky and landed directly in the field near the barn. Due to the large size and heavy weight of Adrian''s mobile base vehicle, a fifty-meter-long small transport airship would have been sufficient to undertake this resupply mission, but they had waited a few days to deploy the right transport vessel. In addition to the mobile base vehicle and supplies, this transport airship seemed to have brought some unplanned items as well. In a dozen large boxes were clearly a bunch of matching second-hand machines¡ªthough their sizes were not uniform, ranging from larger than a person to as small as a football, Adrian and Chen Fei confirmed repeatedly. "Are these magnetic plasma engines what you wanted?" Chen Fei pursed his lips and stated emphatically, "No!" He touched each one, and the Dog System immediately identified these junk pieces¡ªthey were all scrapped parts that might work again with some fixing. If the recipient had not been himself, he might have thought it was a prank. Yet, looking at the sender, it was surprisingly Babylon. Babylon was the shared name for a batch of experimental clone soldiers; it was unclear exactly which one, though it could have been the one initially responsible for Squad 04. They say clone soldiers are emotionless humanoid weapons, but now it seems, well... - Chapter 381 381: Section 377 - Mission Location Many supply crates filled a corner of the barn, enough to sustain Adrian and his team for an entire year on the Siberian tundra. The "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had assigned Team 04 to this now-abandoned farm, primarily because the barn, still solid and intact, could help them withstand the cold currents of the Siberian tundra to some extent, preventing them from freezing into human-shaped popsicles overnight. If they were indeed annihilated without combat, it would be an unforgivable act of stupidity, and liaison officer Rossi would likely not escape the fate of being sacrificed. Despite unexpectedly receiving a batch of "gifts," Chen Fei ultimately chose to absorb these irregularly specified magnetic plasma engines. While these engines were highly efficient, their actual thrust was quite limited, and there weren''t many situations where they could be used within the atmosphere; they were still best suited for use outside the atmosphere. Babylon probably collected these rare magnetic plasma engines, mostly intending for Chen Fei to use the "sacrifice" skill, which might come in handy in the future or perhaps because of his mechanical repair skills, preparing to lend him the repair of these special engines. It seemed that Habulav''s side would not just let go of an industrial-grade metal ability user with control power reaching an A-level rating. A-class ability users were rare, let alone A-class metal ability users suitable for the industrial field. He... Tui! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was even darker than capitalists, and not even production team donkeys were driven this hard; behind so-called multitasking lies naked exploitative intent. As for what exactly was going on, it appeared he would have to wait until he had a chance to return to Habulav to ask and understand better. The crystalline block that trustee Franco from a special department of the Joint Defense Committee had been trying to trace was now safely stored inside Adrian''s space system alchemy storage artifact. However, it had been a bit of a hassle, and thanks to Team 18''s captain Moron, who had secretly helped, it was successfully smuggled out of Habulav. During the two days Team 04 freely roamed Mount Kumgang, Adrian had picked up the crystalline block entrusted to a department store by Team 18. However, at this moment, some people were intently watching Chen Fei, who had suddenly run from Mount Kumgang to Han River City. They had thought they would discover something, yet this guy genuinely went only to catch up with old colleagues and did nothing else, leaving those secretly shadowing him to end up completely empty-handed, venting their frustration on a group of troublemaking thugs, hanging them up one by one for harsh interrogation, to confirm whether they were indeed the so-called contacts. They definitely were not! The senseless beatings were unquestionably in vain; after the brutal beatings, they handed them over to local justice¡ªcriminals transferred by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were handled strictly: those who should be in prison were, and those who were assigned to labor camps, went. Even those with the lightest punishments wouldn''t return for ten to eight years. Once the fully charged crystalline block was placed into the mobile base vehicle brought from miles away, the endurance of Team 04 on the Siberian tundra was immediately secured. Although Adrian still had another spare crystalline block in hand, the ownership still belonged to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which was entirely different from the one Chen Fei had found and hidden. Without solid evidence, Franco had no authority to order the forceful surrender of the unverified crystalline block; protocols are protocols, rumors can initiate actions but can''t justify them, or else serious troubles ensue. Not only was the Crystalline Block that Chen Fei found his personal spoils of war, the unwritten rule that it should not be surrendered was non-negotiable, but it also concerned the survival of all members of Team 04. From the beginning, Adrian had taken this matter very seriously, never loosening his grip so that the Crystalline Block would be turned in for a trivial commendation or meager reward. All members of Team 04 reached a unanimous consensus, forcing Franco to ultimately find no breakthrough point and he could only sigh in disappointment. After loading up with sufficient supplies, all members of Team 04 boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle and plunged into the heavy snow that filled the sky. The abandoned farm was in a very remote location, with the nearest town over a hundred kilometers away. Even without anyone to guard it, no one would pass by or deliberately go there amidst the heavy snow. Moreover, from a distance, one could only see a dilapidated barn, making it hard to imagine that inside was a two-story building fit for habitation, with corners piled full of living supplies. The sky was gloomy, and the wind howled. Looking around, there was nothing but an endless, boundless expanse. The temperature outside the vehicle had dropped to minus 30 degrees Celsius. If a cup of water were placed outside, it would probably freeze in an instant. However, the temperature inside the carriage maintained around 20 degrees Celsius. The people of Team 04, dressed only in thin clothing, were leisurely holding steaming tea or coffee, watching the scenery outside the windows without any need for vigilance. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was diligently driving various detection modules, constantly scanning for any movement within several kilometers. The visibility outside the windshield was not even five meters, relying solely on sensors to scan and determine the route ahead, projecting the terrain data onto the windshield in the form of line contours. Although it was not a real scene, it was enough to serve as a crucial reference for driving operations. Thanks to satellite-assisted navigation, there was no fear of getting lost in the snow. Aside from avoiding deep ditches and large trees, the Mobile Base Vehicle charged forward without any concerns, like a locomotive racing across the tundra, sweeping up countless snowflakes scattering with the wind. In such weather conditions, rivers were frozen solid. No bridges were needed; the thick ice layers of the rivers served as bridges. The Mobile Base Vehicle, reduced in weight by the "Gravity Adjustment Module," crossed the rivers effortlessly. The vast tundra was strong enough to support the full weight of the Mobile Base Vehicle. It was fortunate that Team 04''s station was on the Siberian Tundra, where the Mobile Base Vehicle could roam freely. If it were in the tropical rainforests of South America, it might immediately get caught in the dense forests, becoming immobile and a mere decoration, completely useless in combat. "Tweet!" Little Bird stood on the steering wheel, bouncing right in front of Chen Fei''s eyes. The harsh climate of Siberia was not too kind to the little guy; as soon as the cold wind blew, it would immediately start shivering and involuntarily put up a Light-based Magic Shield, so it could not stay outside for long. - Six hours after leaving the abandoned farm, Chen Fei once again checked the coordinates from the satellite navigation and slowly brought the Mobile Base Vehicle to a stop. Turning to everyone in the carriage, he said, "Everyone, we have arrived." Heavy snow swept across the entire Tunguska Region, covering river valleys and tree plains in a vast white blanket, with snow accumulating more than a foot deep in the deepest areas. Although the current satellite coordinates were precisely where the mission was designated, the thick snow outside made it difficult to discern the actual situation beneath the snow layer. Adrian, who had been napping, opened his eyes and looked out of the vehicle''s window, puzzled, "Have we arrived? It''s all snow outside! Which place exactly is it?" The falling snow showed no signs of stopping; it danced in the fierce wind midway in the air, swirling up, then down, left, then right... dispersing and gathering intermittently. "How about a wave of magic!" said Joshua, a Grade A Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, with a chuckle. Besides the snow, there was temporarily nothing else to be seen. He decided to only deploy the Constructed Puppet Warrior while he stayed inside the Mobile Base Vehicle to remote control it, reasoning that stepping outside in such snow and wind would likely freeze him solid instantly. "It seems like a good idea, a fire in the winter to warm up the surroundings!" Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage by profession, immediately expressed his agreement. Since there was no worry about starting a fire, he suggested they warm up the area with a blast, and then everyone could go out. After staying in the warm, spring-like vehicle for a while, the sight of the cold environment outside immediately induced an involuntary resistance. "Let''s give it a try, Adrian¡ªit''s way too cold outside," Susanna, although a B Grade Ice Ability User, didn''t necessarily enjoy being in the ice. The natural awakening of special abilities never decides their attribute based on a person''s preferences. "Alright, okay!" Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank Fire Mage, sighed and began rapidly chanting an incantation. In the chaotic snowy sky, numerous fist-sized fireballs fell from the sky, exploding on the thick snow and creating several charred, large holes. The temperature in the immediate area almost reached zero degrees Celsius. The door of the Mobile Base Vehicle bulged outwards, then slowly slid open. A gust of cold air immediately rushed in, causing everyone inside the vehicle to shiver collectively and clumsily search for their coats or other warm clothing¡ªif one wasn''t enough, they wore two. "Damn, close the door! Close the door!" The door closed again, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The piercing cold of the Siberian tundra was beyond everyone''s imagination; the current outside temperature had dropped to minus 41 degrees Celsius. It wasn''t just unbearable for humans; even ghosts would half-freeze to death. "Chirp!" Little Bird flapped its wings and escaped back to its nest, refusing to come out from inside. Its nest was lined with a heating pad, maintaining the temperature inside. Next to it was a ceramic heating bulb, continuously emitting invisible infrared rays, creating a local warm area impervious to the cold winds. Ten minutes later, Team 04 members geared up completely and cautiously jumped out of the vehicle. Unexpectedly, the first one who disembarked landed face down, the second ended up supine, the third jumped and fell like a tiger, the fifth crouched bottom down, and the sixth... none managed to disembark smoothly and steadily. The blame fell on Adrian''s magic, which rendered the ground muddy after melting the snow¡ªa step on it was extremely slippery and immediately led to instability. However, after the magic bombardment, the melting snow nearby revealed some hints of something resembling a collapsed hut. The roof was completely gone, leaving only three crumbling thick brick walls and remains of window frames; not a single intact pane of glass was left. Relying on a Single-toothed Long Halberd to barely stabilize, the Neanderthal Chief, who did not fall as disgracefully as the others, sniffed and sparingly said, "There''s blood." A full-powered Fourth Rank Human Order spell "Falling Star Flame" by Adrian revealed much about this place. - Chapter 382 382: Section 378 - The Corpse When the Mobile Base Vehicle arrived at the mission coordinates, it was just past three in the afternoon local time, but near the Arctic in Siberia, the darkness fell extremely early, especially in winter. Before long, the sky rapidly darkened. The heat left behind by the "Falling Star Flame" didn''t last very long. The snow that had been blown apart by the fireballs was once again covered by swirling snowflakes and became thicker and thicker. If they allowed the snowflakes to continue accumulating like this, the 04 team would do nothing but repeatedly clear the snow and wouldn''t even be able to carry out their investigation properly. The 04 team would inevitably have to spend the whole night here, until the investigation was completed. "Lulu''an, please help." Adrian did not continue to cast fire spells but nodded to the Old Tree Boundary Ape instead. The Magical Beast Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, leaning on its withered vine staff, moved to a nearby open area. The few vibrant green leaves on the staff showed no signs of wilting in the severe cold and were still brimming with vitality. It fumbled in the large pocket of its crossbody bag for a while, then took out a fluffy seed. Using the end of its staff, it broke through the frozen ground, buried the seed, piled on some dirt and ice, and then stepped back a few steps, starting to chant an incantation. The Tree Boundary Ape tribe, which had peacefully lived in the vast forests of the Cangqiong Star from generation to generation, belonged to a Magical Beast tribe that "depended on trees and ate trees." They could skillfully distinguish and use various plants, were experts in herbalism, naturally excelled at Wood System Spells, and knew even more spells than human Wood Mages, perhaps even more. As the lengthy incantation ended, the Tree Boundary Ape pointed its staff towards the spot where the seed was buried. The tip of the staff emitted several large droplets of luminous green liquid that plunged into the frozen ground one after another. The ground slightly bulged, and then a green shoot broke through the soil. Crackle, crackle, the frozen ground broke apart. The sprout, defying the severe cold, grew taller and thicker, 1 meter, 3 meters, 5 meters... It eventually became a towering tree over fifty meters tall. Its robust main branches reached high, branching out in all directions. Supple and tough branches hung down, covering not only the airspace above a radius of over thirty meters but also encircled the hut ruins and the Mobile Base Vehicle like a delicate curtain. At a certain distance near the trunk, the branches did not touch the ground, leaving a height of about ten meters. The branches were covered in fine fuzz, which not only blocked the descending goose feather snowflakes but also blocked the relentless cold wind. The waxy layer on the surface of the branches and fluff displayed strong water repellency, gently shaking to toss off the snow and powder settled on them, preventing any accumulation. The lights of the Mobile Base Vehicle were all turned on, especially several high-brightness searchlights that directly cast beams onto the countless branches above. This magically induced peculiar tree as a whole looked dreamy and translucent. The gentle light reflected between the branches and fluff made the area beneath the tree and its surroundings within a hundred-meter radius look as if it were daylight. In the cabin, not only was the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu left behind, but also the Wind Series Second Rank Magical Beast, the Blue-Scaled Colt Mini, which was not suited to the tundra environment. The little bird enjoyed flying around, peering out from behind the double-layered vacuum thermal windows, while the Blue-Scaled Colt remained calm, chewing on coarse grain biscuits at an unhurried pace. "Hey, it''s not cold anymore!" Shivering with cold, Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono immediately noticed the change in temperature. Having once worked in Africa as a deputy in combat operations on the ground, she had adapted to hot environments but was somewhat averse to the cold tundra regions. The severe cold of tens of degrees below zero made it difficult for her to hold her knife handles steady. "The Snow Velvet Weeping Willow, a unique plant from the Polar Snow Region Smir Permafrost Forest of the northern part of the Cangqiong Star Continent, has always been a natural den for the permafrost Magical Beasts and is quite suited to this environment," Adrian said. After finishing casting the spell, the Old Tree Boundary Ape raised its hand, and a branch with a small bulge at the end grew and swelled at a visible rate, bursting open and blooming into a fist-sized pink flower that added a faint scent to the cold air. Like the bloom of an epiphyllum, the beautiful blossom lasted only a moment. Petal after petal of the clustered pink petals withered and fell, leaving behind a seed with snowy white fluff in the center of the pistil, which naturally fell into the palm of Lulu''an''s extended hand. A seed of the "Snow Velvet Weeping Willow" was put back into the pocket of the bag. Plants sprouted by magic were inherently deficient and would stop growing once the supply of magic was cut off. They would wither over time and were difficult to propagate naturally, requiring more magic power to barely produce a very small amount of seeds. The various plant seeds carried by the Old Tree Boundary Ape had been approved by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to prevent unnecessary invasive species of plants from occurring. There were already plenty of Mutants causing chaos on Blue Star, and unchecked proliferation of plants would be like adding fuel to the fire, icing on the snow. "An excellent temporary camp. You''ve done well, Lulu''an!" Adrian nodded to the Tree Boundary Ape and then shouted, "Bassan, Mouri Misono, Joshua, the three of you are in charge of searching the scene. Report back immediately with any findings." "Understood, Neanderthal Chief." "Aye!" Mouri Misono replied. "Let''s start digging!" The Puppet Master was surrounded by more than a dozen Constructed Puppet Warriors clutching pioneer shovels in the center. Others were responsible for standing by or keeping watch. ... Following the scent of blood detected by Neanderthal Chief Bassan, A-class Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua manipulated his Constructed Puppet Warriors to dig fiercely. The snow on the ground no longer thickened, which made it much easier to dig, and soon they unearthed more than a dozen skeletons from the collapsed hut''s exterior wall foundation. Within the ten-meter-wide pit, skeletons of different species appeared. Holy Knight Walter Sam inspected them and said, "It''s polar bears and mammoths!" The massive skeletons of the carnivorous animals, with distinct canine teeth, were covered with visible unidentified bite marks, as well as elephant bones and decaying fur, but there was no trace of either elephant tusks or polar bear pelts, most likely taken to be sold for money. Modern elephant ivory is prohibited from trade and possession, but the ivory of the extinct mammoth is not subject to this regulation. Under the permafrost of Siberia, countless mammoth corpses and a large quantity of ivory are buried, and to this day not all have been excavated; occasionally, bones or tusks protrude from the ground where people discover them. "The bite marks are canine teeth, from Huskies, no mistake about it, it''s this kind of dog, they eat meat." Mouri Misono confirmed with certainty the source of the destructive teeth, as her own home harbored both Big Dog and Small Dog, stupid to the core, with both of them getting beaten up by the Shiba Inu every day. In Siberia, the only dogs capable of outdoor activities are a few sled dog breeds like Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. Missing mammoth tusks meant that people had been active here, and sled dogs served as corroborating evidence, for mutants would not be interested in tusks; they would just pounce on and kill every living thing they saw until they tore it to pieces and ate it. Although the Siberian tundra is near the Arctic Circle, polar bears rely on hunting seals and even walruses and belugas for a living, with their activities largely within the coastal seas or ice floes, rarely ever venturing inland. Their bones mysteriously appearing here was definitely no accident. Although none were experts, an individual''s insight may fall short, but collective wisdom can yield much. Even three cobblers can equal a Zhuge Liang; the members of Team 04 chimed in one after another, piecing together numerous clues from their own knowledge. After pondering for a moment, Adrian speculated, "Maybe the work of poachers?" "Perhaps!" "A likely event!" "Criminals who poach mammoth corpses and illegally hunt polar bears." The group unanimously agreed with this speculation. This unnamed corner of the tundra would be virtually impossible to randomly stumble upon if not for satellite navigation. It was even more remote than the abandoned farm used as a station by Team 04, making it unsurprising that it served as a secret base for poachers to divide up their catch. B-class Ice Ability User Susanna Jean Piault stamped her foot and said, "That means there are no mutants!" She gradually retreated towards the mobile base vehicle, planning to return to the car for a cup of hot ginger tea to warm up. Otherwise, she might end up sadly as an Ice Ability User frozen to death. The Snow Velvet Weeping Willows, while sheltering from the harsh weather of wind and snow, caused a noticeable rise in the temperature beneath the trees. However, no matter how much it rose, it still remained below minus thirty degrees, and unless there was another source of heat, it would never rise above freezing temperatures. "Isn''t this a waste of time?" The Puppet Master, who expended quite a bit of spiritual power to control the Constructed Puppet Warriors, had a face of utter despondency. He was the only one who wasted his energy for nothing, well, him and Apu, a black and dumb creature that hopped around wagging its butt, digging holes everywhere with its "Hakuna Matata" attitude, never bothering to do any serious work. As an A-class Metal Ability User, Kiterley felt completely out of place here and said somewhat impatiently, "Adrian, are we heading back now?" He could only get excited at the sight of mutants; a bunch of poachers just couldn''t peak his interest. "No, let''s keep looking; we might find new clues." Having traveled over six hours to get here, Adrian was in no hurry to return. Since they had to report the poaching gang''s activities anyway, he thought it better to investigate further, to ease the work for the police who would take over the case. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had specifically established the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," hunting down clues about the "Water Bear" organization with an iron fist, preferring to make an error rather than let anyone slip through, so nobody could guarantee that seemingly trivial things might not contain crucial clues. Perhaps the clues to the "Water Bear" organization were right beside them, only missing a pair of eyes capable of discerning the truth. - Chapter 383 383: Section 379 - Living Captive Underneath the snow velvet weeping willow, Squad 04 had dug several large pits and discovered some seal and whale bones, even a human skeleton. It looked like the poaching gang had caused a fatality here, but it was unclear whether the deceased was an innocent or an accomplice. However, there were still no leads related to the "Water Bear" organization. Boom!~ A sudden loud noise shook the entire investigative site under the snow velvet weeping willow, branches fell off and scattered all over the ground. "What''s happening?" A chorus of alarmed voices rose from inside the mobile base vehicle, as everyone, who had been asleep, was jolted awake with many branches hitting the roof of the vehicle. Boom! Another loud noise, and even more branches fell. The Earth Mage on night duty, Ruan Tiankai, shouted, "We''re under attack!" "''Adam,'' start the vehicle, let''s break through!" Chen Fei, who had just woken up, immediately gave the instruction. If it weren''t for the armor of the mobile base vehicle, staying put would mean a dead end for Squad 04. The mobile base vehicle promptly accelerated, breaking away from the area underneath the snow velvet weeping willow, as it became enveloped in flying snowflakes, causing several people to roll out of their beds unexpectedly in the chaos. At that moment, the third loud noise completely blasted away the canopy of the snow velvet weeping willow tree, leaving only the main branches incompletely intact and few smaller branches the size of kittens. Adam: It''s artillery fire, I''ve captured the projectile trajectory, the cannon is approximately 8 kilometers to the southwest, caliber larger than 80 millimeters. Thanks to the variety of auxiliary modules meticulously designed by Henghai Tactical Weapons Group for the single soldier tactical armor, compatible with various battlefield environments, Chen Fei had all those modules integrated into the mobile base vehicle, driven by "Adam." Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Why didn''t we detect it before?" Adam: The infrared thermal imaging reaction was blocked by plant branches, and it was not yet the next radar detection cycle. The mobile base vehicle wasn''t completely defenseless, with radar detection every ten minutes. The artillery fire coincidentally happened during a gap between automatic detections; if it had been a few minutes earlier or later, it would probably have been noticed immediately. Without hesitation, Chen Fei said, "Prepare the railgun, lock onto the enemy target, fire!" The carriage shook slightly as a 152 demolition bomb roared out. "Adam," while reporting, had already completed the auto-lock, just waiting for Chen Fei''s order to fire. On a moonless night, as geese fly high, the barbarian king escapes under cover of darkness. Wanting to chase the light cavalry, the snow fills my bow and blade. Boom!~ The quiet snowy night suddenly lit up, illuminating a good portion of the sky with fire. In the distance, a fire rose and then disappeared in the blink of an eye. "What happened?" Adrian, clothed in haste, rushed to the driver''s seat to see Chen Fei manhandling the steering wheel, accelerating the vehicle. The wheels crushed through the snow directly onto the uneven frozen ground, shaking and vibrating the carriage violently. Chen Fei floored the accelerator, and the mobile base vehicle almost seemed to hover, not turning his head, he said, "It''s a cannonade, someone took advantage of the gap in our surveillance to launch a surprise attack." A 152 shell had been fired, no matter if it was accurate or not; even if it missed by thirty or forty meters, the outcome wouldn''t differ much. Chen Fei was in a hurry to get there, hoping to catch one or two individuals still barely breathing, to see if he could extract some information from them. In the middle of the night in the uninhabited Siberian tundra, ordinary people simply couldn''t manage such an act. The eight-kilometer distance was reached in a moment, the bright lights cut through the snow curtain and shone on a large, indistinct crater; nearby, all the snow had vanished to reveal the ground littered with various debris, such as metal fragments, frozen soil and gravel, torn cloth, and flesh. Adrian frowned at the sight, knowing that after such a bombardment, there was no chance of survivors. "Quick, quick, quick, go out and check!" Eager to see for himself, Kiterley, an A-class Metal Ability User, was the first to swing open the door and rush out, sword in hand. A gust of cold air swept into the vehicle, causing everyone to break out in goosebumps. "Wait for me!" Apu, a big dark-skinned man, hastily put on a pair of trousers, leaving his upper body in just a tank top, wielding his big treasure sword, and jumped out of the vehicle in his eagerness. He slipped on the snowy ground, landing flat on his face. "Look for survivors!" Adrian called out from behind the two men, urgently reminding them. "Ta-da! Dual Blade Style, Mouri Misono, here I come!" Mouri Little Sister was the third to strike. Following were the Constructed Puppet Warriors, armed with automatic weapons and tactical flashlights; they didn''t need clothing but still took time to arm themselves. "It''s, it''s too cold!" Susanna, an Ice Ability User, embarrassed her peers by curling up in the blankets like a freezing bird, shivering. Whether she was there or not didn''t make much of a difference. If they encountered a large number of mutants, it would make sense to attack then; as for now, it was better to stay warm a little longer. "I''ll take a look too!" Chen Fei left the driver''s seat, the cable automatically disconnecting from his waist. Because he had found that high-capacity military crystalline block, the dependence of the mobile base vehicle on him had significantly decreased. However, charging was still indispensable when he was idle, although he no longer needed to be tied to the driver''s seat for extended periods. With every step towards the vehicle door, Chen Fei''s body was covered layer by layer with complex components, which finally evolved into the ''Dragon Guard'' single soldier tactical armor that enveloped his entire body. Among the three land combat tactical armors from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, each has its own focus: ''Dragon Guard'' prioritizes comprehensive combat and team cooperation, ''Dragon General'' enhances communication and command functions, and ''Dragon King'' is more like a Lone Ranger, not only with strengthened defenses but also capable of carrying heavy-duty individual tactical weapons, often seen active on the battlefield during breakthrough moments. 152 had smashed out a crater with a diameter of three meters on the tundra, and the impact wave lifted or melted all the accumulated snow within a fifty-meter radius. The members of Team 04 quickly found a shattered barrel of a 120mm mortar, a pickup truck with half its body violently torn away, a head, three arms, four feet, numerous fragments of ribs and vertebrae, a few segments of intestines, and a blood-soaked, barrel-waisted aunt, who was barely breathing under the shocking wounds, with a thick layer of pale yellow fat leaving her a breath of life, but gasping without taking in air, soon, even if she wouldn''t die of severe injuries, she would freeze to death in this icy tundra. Not being killed outright by the 152 was proof of a very tough life. Seeing the only survivor barely clinging to life, Adrian quickly looked around; his first thought was of that little guy only the size of a fist. "Where''s Xiao Jiu?" While there was still a breath left, it was necessary to interrogate immediately, but before that, they had to revive her; otherwise, if she died before they could ask a couple of questions, it would all be in vain. The strongest healing spell in Team 04 was undoubtedly wielded by Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu. Although the Holy Knight Walter Sam also knew a few light-based spells, he was, after all, a War Professional, and the healing spells he could master were limited to the first-rank ''Light Healing Technique'' of the Human Order. He was unable to cast the second-rank ''Light of Redemption.'' "The current temperature is minus 45 degrees Celsius; Xiao Jiu can''t come out at all!" Chen Fei, of course, would pamper his own child, unwilling to let it leave its warm nest and come here to freeze. It was observed that in the face of Siberia''s cold snap, even B-rank ice ability users had to kneel; the Little Bird would probably only last a few seconds before directly freezing into an ice bird. Not just Xiao Jiu, the Blue Scaled Colt couldn''t come out either, at most enduring half an hour before inevitably ending up frozen stiff. Cold snaps are a force of nature; even low-rank magic beasts cannot completely ignore them. "Light Healing Technique!" The Holy Knight chanted the incantation and released the only healing spell he knew. "Let''s move her into the vehicle first and let Xiao Jiu do the healing," Adrian immediately decided. Without needing his intervention, Apu directly scooped up the barrel-waisted aunt, who weighed nearly three hundred pounds, under his arm. When it came to weight, the big dark fellow was certainly not to be outdone. "Let me lend a hand too!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu An glanced at the prisoner gasping for life and took a sesame-sized seed from his pocket, slapping it into one of her grotesque wounds. Under the prompt of wood system spells, a green sprout soon poked out from the wound, fine roots delving deep into the subcutaneous fat layer, spreading in all directions, with the gaping blood wounds quickly closing. The roots acted like internal stitches and the senator stopped bleeding immediately. "Wow, Lulu An, what is this healing spell?" Apu lowered his head and saw that the prisoner''s wounds had all closed, leaving only line-shaped scars, and she no longer looked as terrifying as a rag doll. "It''s a kind of special parasitic plant that can temporarily save her life. It won''t last long, at most one hour. If we only use ''Light of Redemption'', the effect will probably not be very good." Lulu An leaned on his withered vine staff, following leisurely behind the big dark guy. "Even ''Light of Redemption'' won''t work?" Adrian''s heart was lifted with concern. The fat woman could die anytime, but definitely not right now. "Her organs are ruptured. If we only use low-rank healing spells, it probably won''t last until she''s completely healed, unless there''s a high-rank magic medicine." Lulu An''s hundred-plus years had not been in vain, rich in various experiences. One look at the barrel-waisted aunt and he knew that all her organs had been shattered by the Demolition Bomb from the 152. Although she was momentarily left with a breath of life, death was inevitable. The killing power of a soccer field per shot was definitely not just a boast. Chen Fei, about to board the mobile base vehicle, turned his head and casually said, "Like ''Life Resuscitation''?" "Hmm, that would work perfectly! But using it on a prisoner would be a waste, the parasitic plant is enough." The Old Tree Boundary Ape nodded; ''Life Resuscitation'' was an Earth Order rank magic potion, capable of pulling people back from the brink of death from such fatal wounds. Adrian exclaimed in astonishment, "Eh? You have that magic potion?" Team 04 wouldn''t likely have anyone saintly enough to waste such a precious thing for nothing. "No!" Chen Fei decisively shook his head and said, "I''ve had one before, but I forgot what it tasted like." "Good fellow!" Adrian blurted out involuntarily, recalling Chen Fei''s personal information. The ruthless person who dared to use ''Dragon Slayer Missiles'' at close quarters against the Dragon of Slaughter, not sparing even himself when merciless. An Earth Order rank magic potion would definitely not come cheap, and no medium or small military contracting company could obtain such a lifesaving treasure. Well! The mystery behind Chen Fei''s financial status was finally unveiled. Many looked at him with sympathetic eyes. If you buy your life with money, how can you not be poor? - Chapter 384 384: Section 380 - Life-prolonging Interrogation "Katya, get up and do..." Water Tank Auntie said nonsense with her eyes tightly closed. Her body suddenly shivered, and the eyeballs under her eyelids trembled rapidly, finally slowly opening. "Name, place of birth, Social Welfare Number?" A strange voice entered her ears, and it was only then that Water Tank Auntie noticed she was lying on the ground surrounded by a circle of people. "...#£¤%&@..." A bunch of gibberish and nonsensical swear words surged out. "You don''t have much time left!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape thumped his withered vine staff, and without control, Water Tank Auntie''s body shuddered, and the green shoots protruding from her wound grew a few centimeters taller. In order to maintain the host''s wound and its own growth needs, the green shoot would continuously absorb flesh and blood as a source of nutrition. Although this could temporarily keep the host alive and prevent death from serious injury on the spot, parasitism was by no means a legitimate treatment. Especially now, no one cared how long this Water Tank Auntie could live. In the end, the effect of parasitic life support was only to stave off the inevitable, and once the flesh and blood were exhausted, vitality would be completely drained, and even gods would find it difficult to save her. "This one... still so stubborn when facing death!" A-class Metal Ability User Kiterley extended his hand, and with a whoosh, a three-foot-long longsword pointed straight at the other''s nose. "Hey, I''m talking to you! You fat hag!" The effect was immediate, and the jibber-jabber of foul language ceased abruptly. "..." The plump Water Tank Auntie felt the sharpness of the sword tip, her body hair standing on end, a sensation as if needing to urinate but being unable to do so. "Name, place of birth, Social Welfare Number? Speak or die!" Kiterley was ruthless too. In fact, most combat-oriented Metal Ability Users were ruthless folks who valued human life cheaply, armed with lethal weapons, harboring murderous intents easily, with no place for kindness or soft-heartedness. Water Tank Auntie, frightened, grew even paler, and said tremblingly, "Ka, Katerina Yoon Sidneya, born in Kyiv Orchid, Social Welfare Number ********!" Her gaze fixed on the blade an inch from her nose, she didn''t even dare to take a deep breath, afraid that any dissatisfaction might result in a direct stab. She didn''t notice her plump Water Tank waist gradually deflating, her skin starting to wrinkle, the roots under her skin becoming denser, and whisps of white smoke emitting from the surface of her body. Adrian made a gesture to Kiterley, who immediately sheathed his sword and stepped back, then he asked again, "Your occupation and the names of your accomplices?" "The boss is Sergey Sherekov Antonyunov. He''s been on the battlefield, killed people. Spenser Vladimir is his enforcer, Katya Viktor Afzeyeve, I... I''m a female worker at Lubuk Slaughterhouse, responsible for slaughtering and skinning. Other than little Katya, who lives in the same district as me, Sergey and Spenser are thugs, they should die, we were forced, please save me." Water Tank Auntie quickly spilled everything like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube, confessing completely with now a crying tone at the end. According to the seats in the pickup, as well as the remains of the bodies found on the scene, there were indeed only four people, and three would be enough to operate a mortar. "Why did you attack us?" Adrian delved deeper into his questioning. However, he still noticed some insincerity in the other''s words, as if she was hiding something. But that was fine, as long as they had a name, they could soon investigate more information. Even if she said nothing, the pickup''s license plate, or even the vehicle identification number, would be enough to trace many clues by following the trail. Water Tank Auntie said with a sob, "We thought we encountered a Magical Beast, really, we didn''t mean to." She felt a renewed pain throughout her body, her breathing became increasingly rapid, obvious root-like objects protruded beneath her skin, her eyes deeply sunken, and her once plump face now looked haggard and gaunt with high cheekbones and fleshless cheeks. In the pitch-dark snowy night, it was inevitable to have some unnecessary imaginations when suddenly seeing a big tree glowing all over (the Snow Velvet Weeping Willow itself does not glow, it was illuminated by the Mobile Base Vehicle''s lights). Who would have thought that firing thrice with the 120mm mortar on the pickup would provoke such a terrible counterattack. Till now, there was still no information on the other three; it was likely they already met a bad end. "Has anyone instructed you? Have you ever heard the name ''Water Bear''?" Not just Adrian who was questioning, everyone present knew the woman who was once Water Tank Auntie and now had turned into Bean Sprout Lady didn''t have much time left. Her original weight of nearly three hundred pounds now barely exceeded a hundred pounds, her skin completely slackened, and once it lost elasticity, wrinkles piled upon wrinkles. The parasitic plant that Lulu''an brought out was truly terrifying. In such a short time, it had completely drained a fat woman. "No, nobody, we only handled the animals others brought to us, we don''t know anything else, we''ve never heard the name ''Water Bear''. What is it? A person? No, I don''t know!" Water Tank Auntie''s voice grew increasingly weak. When she saw her own arms and hands withering and the root-like structures under her skin, she screamed uncontrollably, and to her horror, a lush green plant had grown on her shriveled belly. However, even with all her might to scream, it was no louder than normal speech, and her spirit completely collapsed. "Who delivered the animals to you? What are their names?" As the life of the other party reached its final countdown, Adrian did not intend to let it go, pressing on with a stern interrogation. "I don''t know, I don''t know, save me, save me... ah, gurgling... whoosh!" The woman, after the hysteria of expending her last bit of vitality, opened her mouth wide, exhaled her last breath, her head tilted, and she lost her spirit, tears of regret streaming down the corners of her eyes. "Is she dead?" Adrian felt some regret as he managed to learn the most important information, but had no time to inquire more in detail. In fact, if it weren''t for the parasitic plant, this woman would have died long ago, instead of living up to the present. The still-warm body harbored a green sprout that had grown into a two-foot-tall plant. Its roots had filled every inch beneath the skin, and at the topmost branch, a flower bud had swelled. With a light popping sound, a dandelion-like flower blossomed, and moments later, a myriad of miniature parachutes drifted aloft. Lulu''an reached out to catch one of the "little parachutes," and stuffed it back into his pocket. At the same time, he gave his withered vine staff a shake, releasing an invisible wave from the tip. Before the rest of the mini parachutes could float further than a foot away, they disintegrated into dust and sprinkled down from the air. The parasitic plant, having lost its source of nutrition from the corpse, visibly withered at a rapid pace, leaving behind a skeleton loosely wrapped in saggy skin. Whether it was the fat and muscle or the organs, everything had been completely devoured by the parasitic plant. One chicken dies, another crows; no increase, no decrease. The Old Tree Boundary Ape was a scrupulous intelligent magical beast. It strictly controlled the plant seeds it brought from Cangqiong Star, preventing any dangerous species from spreading out of control. "What kind of plant is this?" An A-grade psychic ability user, the puppet master Josh Xi, felt his scalp tingle at the sight. Not just him, the others felt the same; being parasitized by such a thing equated to purchasing a one-way ticket to hell¡ª the kind that arrived within an hour. "Divine Grace Chrysanthemum, originating from the Demon God Valley on the Daoyan Zhou Continent of Cangqiong Star. Unless it comes into contact with a wound, you don''t have to worry too much about it. Even eating it wouldn''t matter." Lulu''an specially explained to reassure everyone. "If there''s bleeding in the gums, or if there are wounds in the mouth or the esophagus, or maybe if someone''s stomach is bleeding..." B-grade ice ability user Susanna Jean Piault finally decided to crawl out from her warm cocoon, making a joke that wasn''t particularly funny. Yet, it still elicited a wave of awkward laughter. The Old Tree Boundary Ape seriously said, "Indeed, be cautious. It''s better not to eat it, even though it''s not poisonous!" "How credible is this woman''s statement?" Kiterley kicked at the woman''s corpse with the tip of his shoe. Under the skin bag, it seemed as if a viscous liquid was churning, while the roots of the parasitic plant still enveloped the remains without spilling out. He hastily retracted his foot, filled with revulsion, fearing that a careless kick would rupture it and let disgusting corpse fluids spill everywhere. Although this obese woman had not mentioned poaching, it was not far from the truth; after all, the dug-up remains of polar bears and seals were hard evidence, leaving no room for denial. They proved that these animals were not voluntary sacrifices but were outright killed. Kiterley signaled to Susanna. "It''s full of pus inside. Freeze it, so we can throw it out later." "Huh?" The B-grade ice ability user was startled, looking at the ugly remains and shuddering involuntarily. She quickly pointed a finger and enveloped the corpse in bone-chilling cold, freezing it inside and out, though this action dropped the temperature inside the wagon by several degrees Celsius. "Ah... Achoo!" Susanna couldn''t help but sneeze and quickly wrapped herself in a thick coat. An ice ability user who gives herself a cold¡ªembarrassing if word got out. "Achoo?" Little Bird peeked out from its nest, looking around in a puzzled manner. "On the brink of death, a person''s words are often kind; it''s likely that seventy to eighty percent of it is true." Adrian opened the vehicle door and threw the frozen stiff corpse out, As long as it wasn''t related to the "Water Bear" organization, it wasn''t their problem. The local police would naturally handle the follow-up. The Siberian tundra would preserve the evidence perfectly, so throwing it outside was the right decision. It also prevented potential nightmares from keeping it inside the vehicle. "I think we should continue investigating the people they were in contact with," said puppet master Josh Xi. While one person''s wisdom falls short, the collective is enlightening; everyone was actively participating and discussing. "Let''s make a report first! After all, right now, we''re nothing but tools." As soon as he thought it, Adrian took out his phone. Mouri Misono softly reminded him, "Adrian, it seems that Habulav is in more or less the same timezone as here!" "Who cares!" Adrian dialed the number unconcernedly. "Heh heh heh..." "Ho ho ho..." "Haha..." "Hee hee hee..." Team 04, all villains. - Chapter 385 385: Section 381 - Parcel "Ah... damn it, bastard, to hell with it!" Even after hanging up the call, the liaison officer Rossi in Habulav was throwing a tantrum out of frustration, being rudely awakened from a deep sleep, anyone would be boiling with rage. Being called in the dead of night, the report was utterly worthless, containing no information about the "Water Bear" organization. Aside from waking him up, it served no other purpose; it was plainly taking Feather as Mandate Arrow, not giving a damn about him, Rossi. "He must be fuming!" Adrian put down his phone and managed a helpless smile. Who else but the team leader to deal with this? If he didn''t deal with this lightning rod, who would? Laughter erupted within the cabin of the mobile base vehicle. In the middle of the night, it seemed like no one was going to get a good sleep. Why should they wear themselves out and suffer alone? Misery loves company, and the liaison officer wasn''t going to get away with it either. - The mobile base vehicle didn''t return to the Snow Velvet Weeping Willow that had been destroyed by artillery fire, nor did they bother Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an to expend magic power and spiritual power to conjure another. Instead, it stood near the 152 bombardment coordinates, waiting for further developments. It wasn''t until after dawn, into the afternoon, that the local police arrived belatedly at the scene of the incident. With heavy snowfall lasting all day and night and the wind never dropping below force 5, police helicopters and ground-effect aircraft simply couldn''t make it over. Even with satellite navigation aids, it took a lot of effort and time for the police ground vehicles to finally locate the place, not without taking many wrong turns, often getting stuck in snow pits, struggling desperately to pull themselves free. Following the police were more than a hundred downcast suspects, thankfully handcuffed with plastic nylon rather than iron cuffs. If it had been iron, the frigid weather would have peeled their flesh clean off. Many of the suspects sported black eyes and bruised faces; it appeared they hadn''t had an easy time. Local police treated the assistance request from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee almost as an imperial edict. Once they got leads from Squad 04, they immediately rounded up all the local snakes, guilty or not, catching first and asking questions later. They didn''t bother to inquire first, beating detainees until they howled for mercy to no avail. Only after beating them into submission did they start to question them; all suspects connected to the poaching gangs were interrogated, sparing none that might be mistakenly killed instead of let go. They were all delivered to Squad 04 without exception, many having suffered a beating in vain, already shadowed by fear. Now, seeing the mobile base vehicle and the members of Squad 04, their legs turned to jelly, clueless about what kind of ordeals awaited them. To assist with the interrogation, the police sent over a pretty, smiley C-ranked psychic ability user with charming peach blossom eyes and a pleasant voice. Chen Fei felt that there was no need for special abilities at all; a simple frown or smile from this police officer would turn the suspects into devoted fawning dogs. On the second day of the on-site interrogation, the local police brought in another group of suspects, widening the net to include several neighboring cities. After a swift interrogation, among those brought in were some wanted criminals, petty thieves, gangsters, and mobsters, but no one from the poaching gang or any trace that might link them to the "Water Bear" organization; none of them seemed to be the people Squad 04 was looking for. As Squad 04 watched the police officer skilfully charm the suspects with her seductive skills on the Siberian tundra amidst ice and snow, they still made no significant progress. New intel shared by liaison officer Rossi indicated that a team stationed in Africa had encountered some leads, clashing fiercely with a force suspected to belong to the "Water Bear" organization. A half-day battle destroyed a local town, leaving not a single intact building within ten miles; the entire area was flattened, full of craters and signs of destruction. The affected innocent locals suffered heavy casualties, with misery spread far and wide. The Global United Defense Committee headquarters in Habulav issued a compulsory attack order. The stationed teams went all out without hesitation or concern, and even so, they only managed to capture a fraction of the enemy forces, ultimately capturing only one severely injured adversary. Their own casualties weren''t much better. After all, the teams stationed at various strongholds were elite squads under the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, tasked with combat and basic investigation. They avoided talking and acted decisively. Detailed investigative work, dealing with searching for clues, was left to other specialists. Squad 04, mingling on the Siberian tundra, was relatively miserable by comparison; once they had to deal with external factors, the efficiency immediately plummeted. There was no helping it, for Siberia was too vast and sparsely populated. To get anything done, one would either have to wait a long time or never find the people they were looking for. Poaching gangs or those covertly linked to the "Water Bear" organization, as long as they had enough food and heating supplies and drove deep into the vast tundra, they could hide without showing their faces, likely untraceable for weeks; nobody knew where they might be hiding. If they had a cabin in the countryside or the forest, it would be even harder to locate them. The local police force fully mobilized, conducting a massive search through the Tunguska Region for a week, though they only caught criminals who were unfortunate enough to cross their path. The local security saw a significant improvement, with fewer drunken fights spilling out onto the streets at night. Yet, despite such fanfare, not a single suspect useful to Squad 04 was found; they were all irrelevant, and the effort amounted to nothing but a waste of time. In fact, to think that they could penetrate the network as soon as they arrived in Siberia was to underestimate the "Water Bear" organization''s stupidity. Meanwhile, Squad 04 had not even brushed against the poaching gang, let alone their actual target, the "Water Bear." If the "Water Bear" organization was that easy to handle, it wouldn''t have stayed hidden up to now. It seemed well established, entrenched for a long time. If it were not the case, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would have no choice but to establish a specialized action department to target this mysterious force. Inside the barn of the abandoned farm, another guest had arrived. The dedicated liaison officer sent by the local police, the capable officer who coordinated the interrogation of suspects, C-class Psychic Ability User Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna. With her good looks and sweet-talking mannerisms, she never stopped chatting and could cook as well, swiftly becoming Team 04''s star chef. Her borscht was exceptionally authentic; she could make a great rye bread, tactical weapons-grade, and was not limited to local dishes. She could conjure dozens of Eastern dishes, so no one in Team 04, both professionally and personally, seemed to find a reason to refuse her. After continuously interrogating more than three hundred suspects and despite the lack of useful results, the investigation did not stop but carried on in secret. Perhaps some valuable clues would be discovered at any moment, or someone would have a flash of inspiration and manage to link previously unrelated details, which could suddenly prove to be useful. Before any new actions arose, reading through the copious case files became the daily work for everyone on Team 04, with dedicated reading sessions organized every day to re-examine those interrogation reports. If any new doubts were found, they had to ask Liaison Officer Tanya to notify the local police to capture and re-interrogate suspects, inevitably leading to a chaotic situation. After all, it was not a comic book or novel; the review work was tedious and boring, yet had to be done. Just as Chen Fei was getting tired of these tedious and tiresome tasks, the parcels he had sent from the city of Habulav, located in the hinterland of the Yangzhou Continent, finally began to arrive in the hands of the recipients. - In Han River City on the Goryeo Peninsula, where the busy Pu Aihua was managing his diner, he received a huge box weighing over a hundred kilograms. One glance at the sender, and he instantly understood. After closing up shop, his family gathered around the massive, heavy box to start unwrapping the outer packaging. Inside the box were neatly stacked wooden crates of varying sizes, perfectly arranged without a single unnecessary gap of space. Upon peeling back the soft cotton paper that wrapped the contents inside the boxes, large transparent crystals revealed themselves under the light, sparkling brilliantly. "Dad, are these, these gemstones?" Pu Meihui, whose health had greatly improved and who had been successfully discharged from the hospital, stared in astonishment at the wooden box in her hands. "Little Hui, let Dad show you a little surprise!" Pu Aihua turned off the lights in the room. The moment the lights went out, the crystals in the box immediately emitted a faint white glow, like a low-wattage light bulb. Although not very bright, it was sufficient to illuminate the surprised and joyful faces of the family. "Husband, does it really light up?" Pu Aihua''s wife was greatly surprised; she had not expected that the crystal inside the wooden box would be luminescent. "These are the Fluorescent Crystals that Little Chen asked me to help sell. Hehehe, we''re going to make a fortune." Once called a cunning businessman by his colleagues, Pu Aihua still had several tricks up his sleeve. Turning on the lights again, he rubbed his hands together in excitement. Naturally luminescent Fluorescent Crystals, if marketed correctly, stood to earn a considerable sum. He estimated that his share of the profits from this large crate could match ten years of earnings from his diner. "Dad, are we going to be rich?" Pu Meihui shouted excitedly. "Yeah, but this is just the beginning. Thanks to Little Chen, he gave me forty percent of the profits. I must sell it at a high price, no, a sky-high price, to let him earn more too." Being all too familiar with poverty, they naturally sympathized with each other. Pu Aihua clenched his fists, ready to unleash his full businessman cunning to make a big score. In his eyes, the world was just full of people easy to fool with too much money. Pu Aihua''s wife also raised her fists eagerly and said with force, "Husband, work hard!" She had great faith in her husband''s ability to buy and sell for profit. The reason their household had made it this far was largely due to Old Piao wracking his brains and striving to the utmost. Now that the hard times were coming to an end, there was finally hope on the horizon. "You can do it!" Pu Meihui was the loudest cheerleader. Like father, like daughter. - Chapter 386 386: Section 382 - Unpacking Students at the Northern Industrial University''s dormitory, thanks to the well-funded trainees from Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, were arranged to stay in double rooms, each with a private bathroom and balcony, complete with air conditioning, washing machine, and dryer. "Xiao Meng, what kind of goodies did your brother send you? Is it snacks?" Her female roommate curiously examined the large box wrapped in thick corrugated cardboard. If it weren''t for male students passing by, who lent a hand out of kindness, just the two girls trying to get this heavy box into the dorm might have both been flat on the floor by now. Even a 155-kilogram female powerhouse would find the distance from the school gate to the dorm too much to handle. "I have no idea!" Chen Meng was completely baffled by the large parcel her second brother had suddenly sent. She took out a utility knife and, after a flurry of tearing, finally opened the box. Her roommate opened one of the small boxes inside and immediately her eyes sparkled with delight, unable to tear herself away. "So pretty!" Upon seeing the glittering items... ah, women! "What?!" Seeing the clusters of tempting rose-red crystals, Chen Meng was puzzled, though not as overtly astonished as her roommate. Had her second brother really stumbled upon gemstones this time? There was precedent after all, and it seemed like a significant haul this time ¨C impressive, my brother! A small piece of paper attached to the inside of the box lid caught Chen Meng''s attention. Picking it up, she saw a line of writing on it. "Natural fluorescent crystals from the dead volcano in the Central Great Desert on the Ocean Continent. Gift to friends, establish connections!" It was as if her brother''s earnest instructions suddenly hit her full-on. "Yeah yeah, I got it!" Chen Meng, who started to get a headache at the merest hint of preaching, crumpled the paper into a small ball irritably and tossed it towards the trash can. It bounced off the edge and missed. Dammit... Chen Meng felt as if she could hear her mother''s scolding once more. "Xiao Meng, are you throwing things around again? Pick it up and throw it away properly!" The Chen Family really was something else! Ever since she had caused a major disaster at home, Chen Meng had been continuously educated, as if her family members were right before her eyes, driving her almost insane. Her roommate clutched the wooden box tightly, coquettishly saying, "Xiao Meng, Xiao Meng, can I sell¡ªno, borrow¡ªthis gemstone to play with for a couple of days?" Such a large "gemstone" might be quite expensive. Despite being clueless, she was oddly disarmed by the item in the box, which hit her right in the G spot. The truth... it was just too big! Realizing that the other girl was misunderstanding¡ªseriously misunderstanding¡ªChen Meng replied weakly, "Talking about money hurts relationships. Since you like it so much, I''ll just give it to you. I suggest you choose the colorless ones; they match anything and can be placed anywhere." "No, I want the pink one, girly pink, cute!" Her roommate hugged the crystal and even rubbed her face against it, immediately leaving a layer of foundation behind. Fluorescent Crystal: This greasy young woman, no, ruffian! I''m done with you! That evening. Her roommate''s bed was bathed in that uniquely pink glow characteristic of butcher stalls at the market¡ªah no, more like the sleazy light from those special hair salons in back alleys. In the end, they''re all in the meat business, no difference! Following her brother''s advice, Chen Meng gifted the crystals, along with their boxes, to teachers, classmates, friends, and even placed a crystal pillar in the principal''s office. After a day in the sun, it glowed as bright as a small table lamp, even capable of being used as one. Even several executive vice presidents of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group received gifts from little sister Chen. Although she hadn''t graduated yet, Chen Meng''s name had already become familiar; who would have thought she had a brother who''d successfully fleeced the company. - The last to receive a parcel was Aircrew Base 911 in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. After the passing of Mr. Xia Ji, the former chairman of the contractor for Aircrew Base 909 and an acquaintance made through Jiu Defense Company, Tao''s Security Service Company that he had introduced still honored the logistics contract as agreed. A small transport airship delivered two crates¡ªone large, one small¡ªtotalling over ten tons. The small aircraft at Aircrew Base 911 simply couldn''t handle such large crates, so they had to request help from the logistics supplier to bring them along with the regular supply materials. Because it was something sent by Chen Fei, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron and the Mechanics team helped unload it together, bringing the two large crates into the spacious Hangar 2. Squadron Leader Major Chekhov examined the two crates up and down with a bottle in hand, muttering to himself as he guessed, "What the hell are these two boxes?" "Can it be more fluorescent crystals?" Boss Hana, who rushed over after hearing the news, had already heard from Claude Hughes, the deputy general manager of Jiu Defense''s office in Chapala City, that Chen Fei had also sent a large number of fluorescent crystals there, almost ten tons'' worth. Instead of staying at the headquarters of the Global United Defense Committee in Habulav, did he just go and rob them of their crystal mines? How terrible that would be! After several missions and no longer a rookie, Combat Pilot "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider peeled away the hard cardboard covering the smaller crate. Without opening the small wooden boxes inside, Boss Hana confirmed it: they were the fluorescent crystals mined from the Central Great Desert. It seems like a lot was mined; the weight was already being measured in tons. Peeling open the wooden box, it was indeed the case. "Crystals?" "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider also found the same little pieces of paper that Little Sister Chen saw. Each wooden box in the crate had different names on it, and everyone at the Aircrew Base got a share. Lucky folks! They''re specialties from the Ocean Continent, a real windfall. Truly the best kind of colleague! "...BOSS, this is for you from Chen Fei... Squadron Leader Chekhov, this is yours... Deputy Squadron Leader, yours..." Since many people were present, "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider directly distributed everything on the spot. Chekhov Big Bear licked a crystal cluster from the box, spat it out, it had no flavor. He originally thought it was mineral salt, but it wasn''t. His attention then returned to the big crate. "Another cargo box?" It really was huge! Enough to fit a combat aircraft. It was secured with angle iron and prefab components, reinforced with wooden planks. "Of course we continue to unpack!" Tempun Schneider was in high spirits, there was an addictive thrill to unpacking crates. "Let''s do it together!" The deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, called out and not just the pilots, but also the mechanics crowded around the massive crate weighing about ten tons. After removing the metal framework and wooden planks, there appeared to be well-wrapped buffer airbags and large sections of moisture-proof canvas. "How does it feel like it''s an aircraft?" A mechanic peeled off a large airbag cushion used for padding and looked puzzled at the silhouette in front of him. "Eh? Now that you mention it, it does look a bit like one!" The leader of the Z-9 helicopter squad, main pilot "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, stopped his actions to look from left to right. Squadron Leader Chekhov took the opportunity to slack off, took a swig of alcohol, and with a breath reeking of booze said breezily, "Maybe it''s a giant crystal shaped like an airplane!" "Where would you find such a big crystal, it''s probably some sort of equipment." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios had a sharp eye and noticed rigid, man-made geometric shapes beneath the moisture-proof canvas. A piece of moisture-proof canvas was lifted to reveal a section of a wing. "Is it really an airplane?!" Irinei Rusios muttered to herself. Everyone present was no novice; it didn''t take an expert to realize that this was the main wing of an aircraft. "Ah ha! ''Rookie'' has brought us some good stuff again!" Big Bear bellowed out with a hearty laugh, his rough chuckles echoing inside Hangar No. 2. "Don''t tell me it''s an active combat aircraft, this guy''s got guts!" Irinei Rusios glanced over at the "Raptor" sitting in the corner of Hangar No. 2. The peers had their share of complaints but were somewhat placated by Jiu Defense citing the employee''s personal Special Ability as an excuse, after all, it was a Metal Elemental Psychic Power awakened after joining the company, who can plan for an Awakening? Yet, there wasn''t a second military contractor that could get a fourth-generation aircraft that could still fly. Apart from stored goods, previously serviced military combat aircraft were essentially grounded today, no different from scrap metal. If another serious piece of hardware showed up now, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee might not be able to turn a blind eye any longer. It''s truly commendable to loot good stuff for one''s own home, but don''t always grab those taboo items; it would make things difficult for Jiu Defense and the BOSS! "Strange! Why are there runes on it, wait, could this be..." The combat pilot "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider leaned in closer and noticed the aerodynamic wing surface wasn''t smooth but engraved with strange lines and cryptic characters. His mind flickered like a spark, immediately considering a possibility! "Magic Array indeed! No way..." The helicopter squad leader Yamada Yuhu came over to take a look and immediately began to shout and wail, making ghostly howls and wolf cries. "What? How come there''s such a thing?" Irinei Rusios was startled and immediately pulled off more of the moisture-proof canvas, revealing the true nature of the object underneath. "I must be dreaming!" A mechanic staggered back several steps and fell onto the floor with a thud. Clang! Big Brother Xiao from the mechanic team dropped his wrench in shock. "It''s fake, it must be fake!"¡Á10+! The shouts and exclamations were incessant at the scene. "What are you shouting about?" Hanna Gagel, who had walked to the hangar''s entrance, turned back, but froze on the spot. Among many of today''s aircraft, those with Magic Arrays inscribed on their surfaces were rare; partly because the materials were expensive and the manufacturing complex, and partly because the demands on the operator were extremely high, beyond most people''s capability. Having never eaten pork, but having seen pigs run, Boss Hana blurted out upon seeing the half-exposed streamlined form of the aircraft. "A Crystal Jet?" - Chapter 387 387: Section 383 - Hot Potato "This is impossible!" Big Bear Squadron Leader nearly smashed the bottle in his hand. It was absolutely preposterous! Even if he sold the entire Jiu Defense Company to some rich idiot willing to pay a sky-high price, he still wouldn''t be able to afford a Crystal Jet. Even if he could afford it, the manufacturers that only take sovereign customization contracts may not be willing to accept this order. Crystal Jets are only made to order; there are no mass-produced models; and in the customization field, it is entirely a seller''s market with extremely high entry barriers. And even if they did accept a customization, no one would be able to pilot it. Not even Chekhov would be qualified; he just didn''t make the cut. The Sky Knights capable of piloting Crystal Jets were, in a sense, no longer bound by the flesh of mortals; they were monsters. If you were a bit smarter, you''d realize that National Treasure Artifacts weren''t something ordinary people could afford to toy with; forcibly piloting one would be no different from committing suicide. - The crowd once again worked together, stripping off the moisture-proof tarp and air cushions, fully uncovering the aircraft suspected to be a Crystal Jet. Gasps of shock resounded one after another. The body was not intact; it was riddled with scars. Some parts of the aerodynamic control surfaces were completely missing, and one of the main wings had lost a large chunk. However, this wasn''t the worst of it. The cockpit looked as if it had been violently torn apart, and the pilot''s seat had disappeared without a trace. At the site of the enormous, terrifying wound, vicious tooth marks were clearly visible. But if there was no mistake, this aircraft was indeed a Crystal Jet. "This... this..." Chekhov Big Bear, who was usually forthright and carefree, was completely out of sorts. Who knew what had happened to this Crystal Jet for it to end up in such a sorry state? "It shouldn''t have been ''Rookie''s'' doing! It shouldn''t have been ''Rookie''s'' doing! It shouldn''t be..." Boss Hana kept mumbling to herself, a scene flashing through her mind: Chen Fei brutally tearing apart a Crystal Jet and dragging out the Sky Knight from above to kill and dismember them, before sending this spoils of war back as a show of his triumphs. Such an act was practically synonymous with making an enemy of a sovereign state. Challenging a nation all by oneself, my God! What gall! But when ''Rookie'' went crazy, he couldn''t even spare himself, let alone care about this! "It shouldn''t have been ''Rookie''s'' doing... right?" Irinei Rusios, the vice squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron known as "Devil Pepper," was a complete mess. It''s all over; everyone hurry up and pack your valuables, we can''t stay here anymore! Killing a sovereign state''s Sky Knight was not a joking matter; the entire staff of Jiu Defense couldn''t handle this huge grudge! And the key issue was, Chen Fei was truly capable of doing it. It wasn''t only Boss Hana and Devil Pepper thinking this, many others reached the same conclusion simultaneously. "You... you guys couldn''t have..." Combat Pilot "Sauerkraut" Tempun''s heart was pounding uncontrollably; he too noticed that the faces of others were also in terrible shape¡ªOld Chen had really torn a hole in the sky. No matter who it was, not being able to fathom suddenly acquiring a Crystal Jet inevitably led to a whirlwind of catastrophic assumptions. If the Crystal Jet was also damaged, then it was even more finished! You couldn''t know which sovereign power was going berserk at having their face slapped raw this time; you could only hope it wasn''t the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "Don''t think nonsense; it''s impossible, it can''t be, don''t overthink it!" Chekhov Big Bear stuffed the bottle into his crotch, slapping his own cheeks with force, but it was too damn scary that not even using all his strength could pull him out of it. "No good, I have to ask." Boss Hana, rarely so panicked, immediately pulled out her phone. While drumming her fingers nervously, she dialed the number. After only a breath or two, the call connected. "... will you talk or not... Ah!!!!... does this have anything to do with you... if you don''t confess, I''ll chop off your balls!... I don''t know anything, ah..." Good lord, an interrogation was happening on the other end! "Hello! Boss! I''m Chen Fei, what''s up?" Chen Fei''s voice finally came through. "Ah! Chen Fei, are you alright?" Hanna Gagar''s soul had finally been summoned back, and she quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Upon hearing Chen Fei''s voice, she could confirm that it wasn''t this guy who was being tortured. "...You wicked woman, I won''t let you off even if I become a ghost..." The noisy sound mixed in again, followed by a series of ghostly howls and wolf-ish wails. The one administering the harsh treatment was the local police liaison officer, the capable Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna. Who said she only used Psychic Ability for interrogations? Even with forceful torture, she was quite skilled. The one currently getting whipped was howling in regret for coming into this world. "Alright, go ahead!" The chaotic noise quickly faded, as Chen Fei, who was on a call with Boss Hanna, seemed to have switched to a quieter environment to prevent the call from being disturbed. "We have received the things you sent over." Hanna Gagar was referring not only to the fluorescent crystal sent to each person but also to other items. "Nothing was missing, right?" Chen Fei was most worried about this, fearing some accidents might have occurred during transit. Lately, he had been constantly watched by that guy Franco. Although Franco hadn''t presented a direct problem again, there were still signs that could be detected. "No, nothing was missing. Can you explain to me, what exactly is the deal with that Crystal Jet?" Boss Hanna''s mood had somewhat stabilized. The fact that Chen Fei wasn''t the one being tortured meant that he hadn''t fallen into the trouble she had imagined, but even so, a Crystal Jet, whether intact or damaged, shouldn''t be something regular military contractors could get their hands on. Chen Fei nonchalantly said, "Ah? I picked it up! Found it in a pile of trash, I picked up quite a few good items there!" The biggest find wasn''t the remains of the Crystal Jet sent to Aircrew Base 911, but rather putting together that Mobile Base Vehicle, which truly came in handy, whether it was for the assessment in the Central Great Desert or the Siberian tundra. "Trash heap?" What the hell kind of trash heap lets you find a Crystal Jet, she wondered? Did they really think such National Treasure Artifacts were free? "There''s a temporary storage site for old mechanics outside of Habulav City, it''s got all sorts of treasures. I even picked up Combat Mechs and a sports car." Chen Fei felt a bit regretful that due to limited time, he hadn''t meticulously combed through the site. Otherwise, he could have found several more huge bargains, maybe even aircraft wreckage that rivaled that of the Crystal Jet. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, with their headquarters in the central city of Habulav on the Yangzhou Continent, wasn''t so rich they could waste money by throwing a damaged Crystal Jet into the trash. It was mainly due to cost considerations; they did what was most economical. Additionally, since Habulav was a closed city off-limits to loiterers, there was no concern that some discarded items might be picked up by outsiders. Those items in the dump were quickly recycled, achieving a level of self-sufficiency for the city. In a sense, Habulav was a massive aircrew base, deeply rooted in the center of the continent, keeping those mutants at bay, which were akin to fire that never fully extinguishes and sprouts again with the spring breeze. "That place really is Habulav?" Boss Hanna''s voice seemed to float, unable to believe the scenario described by Chen Fei. At least, she could be relieved that the Crystal Jet didn''t come from killing a Sky Knight and taking it by force. That would mean not having to worry about Jiu Defense offending sovereignty and being subject to relentless global hunts, as no one dared provoke even the weakest sovereignties. For someone as poor as Chen Fei, the Gagar Family represented financial freedom, a filthy rich level of +10086. Even so, this +10086 level of affluence still seemed insignificant before the colossal entity of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. A random plucking of the United Defense Committee''s hair was thicker than the entire Gagar Family. "That''s right, if you ever have a chance to go to Habulav, I can take you there to see for yourself." Chen Fei was quite keen to recommend that treasure trove of a location. He had Mr. Babylon to thank for this information; without him, he would never have known about that place. "Alright, I got it. Is there really no problem with you sending it this way?" Hanna Gagar''s headache slightly eased. She was still worried about the repercussions of sending out the remains of the Crystal Jet. If her peers found out, they''d likely revolt. Which military contractor dared to have a Crystal Jet, even if it was broken? No way! If such a rule-breaking existence were allowed, others wouldn''t get their share, making life impossible! Chen Fei cavalierly said, "Don''t worry, there will be no problems!" Since it had been successfully sent to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area''s Aircrew Base 911, it meant that his actions were permitted. Otherwise, it would have been stopped and returned¡ªthere''s no way it would have been delivered. The logistics supplier of Jiu Defense, Tao''s Security Service Company, probably never imagined they had just transported such an extremely dangerous item. "Fine! I''ll put it into storage for now, and we''ll deal with it when you get back." Boss Hanna stared at the remains of the Crystal Jet, feeling not a jot of joy, just the sense that it was an eyesore and a hot potato she couldn''t wait to get rid of like sending away a plague. It simply wasn''t something legitimate military contractors should deal with. She would have to issue a gag order later; otherwise, troubles would follow one after another. "Alright, I''ll come back as soon as I can!" Chen Fei didn''t really have a good solution. Absorbing it to turn into Energy Points seemed wasteful, and even if he attempted to replicate it later, it would still just be a broken Crystal Jet. If he tried to repair it, who knew how much time, effort, and money would be required. Even the members of the Global United Defense Committee didn''t want to undertake such a task, which for him, was likely an unimaginable astronomical figure. - Chapter 388 388: Section 384 - New Message The Patan Mountain Area Elementary School is located about 21 kilometers away from the Aircrew Base 911. Ever since UNESCO sent three teachers one after another, Teacher Shen Fei, who used to shoulder all the school''s responsibilities alone, immediately felt much lighter. Aside from the first arrival, Teacher Jiang Shan, two more young teachers had joined them, a male and a female, Kelian Ar and Mian Xia. The male teacher Kelian Ar was also Patan, born in a plantation region of another province. Now that he had completed his education, he dedicated himself to teaching, serving his hometown. Teacher Jiang, who had been here for almost three months, considered himself the leader among the new teachers. He liked to put on airs when speaking and, as always, was going out of his way to court Teacher Shen Fei, hoping to win her over. On the other hand, he also wanted to become the school''s principal, to add a significant feather to his cap. "I''m sorry, Teacher Jiang, you really don''t need to do this, I''m leaving the day after tomorrow." Teacher Shen Fei had already packed up her luggage, leaving most of the school''s items to the three new teachers. Having Jiang Shan constantly spinning around her, feigning concern and warm inquiries, was truly annoying. Unlike someone who never caused trouble, nor often aimlessly lingered around, only showing up when necessary, pulling things back from the brink, providing a sense of dependable security¡ªrather than being like a fly, buzzing incessantly, BBB, BBB... weren''t there any real jobs to do? Have the chickens, ducks, and geese been fed? Has the vegetable garden been watered? Has the grass been weeded? Have you patrolled the protective wire fence around the school district? ... But it was the two teachers who came later, Kelian Ar and Mian Xia, who were serious, down-to-earth, and not frivolous. They seemed like they could genuinely take root here as teachers. "No, no, no, you rely on your parents at home and on your friends when you''re outside. We''re all from the same hometown; we should take care of each other. It''s already been tough for a girl like you here, I just want to help you." Even though he could tell from Teacher Shen''s words that she was deliberately keeping her distance, Jiang Shan persisted non-stop, his sweet talk sounding like that of a thoughtful ''warm man''. In fact, he was in a hurry too, with Teacher Shen''s departure date approaching, leaving him little time. "No! I''m not a child anymore; the students are the children, you should pay them more attention." Regrettably, no matter how hard Jiang Shan tried, Teacher Shen Fei was unwavering in keeping her distance, never giving him any chances. "I''m a man, after all, it''s only natural to take care of women and children." Jiang Shan refused to give up, thumping his chest, doing his utmost to maintain his persona, hoping to move her. "I''m sorry, Teacher Jiang, please focus your time and energy on your work, okay? If you continue like this, I''ll report you to our superiors that you''re unsuitable for this job." Finally fed up, Teacher Shen Fei issued a warning to this pestering fly¡ªannoying as he was, he hadn''t been this troublesome before. It was not just a warning; she truly would follow through. Being reported in this manner and possibly dismissed would likely mar Teacher Jiang''s resume terribly, possibly earning him a lifetime ban from the teaching profession. "Teacher Shen, I am clearly better than..." Jiang Shan''s lips twitched, unwilling to let go of his defiance. But before he could finish, he was interrupted by a Patan Elementary School student rushing over in a hurry. "Teacher Shen, a drone has delivered a box." Three or four other little rascals followed behind, happily running. The one in the lead was carrying a square cardboard box, holding it like a precious treasure as he raced over. The only place nearby that could operate a drone was none other than Aircrew Base 911. "Ah, be careful not to trip, you little rascals, thank you!" The box, sealed tightly with cardboard, was quickly placed in Teacher Shen Fei''s hands. It was clearly labeled: "To Shen Fei, From Chen Fei." It was that guy... Jiang Shan felt his teeth itching with irritation. But he felt no remorse in his heart. What''s wrong with stealing someone else''s thunder? Success in doing so meant being a winner in life; if someone else managed to do it to you, then you''re the loser who deserved it! "Are you out of things to do or what?" Teacher Shen, who dared to confront villains with automatic weapons, was not some harmless and pious individual. With a sidelong glance, he still saw Jiang Shan immersed in his own emotions. Jiang Shan instantly shivered and stuttered, "I-I have something else to do, I need to go first!" Despite Teacher Shen''s usually good composure, once he was angry, he gave off an intimidating feeling that made one''s heart race with fear, as if he was about to commit murder. Jiang Shan hurriedly fled. That''s what you get for trying to undermine Teacher Shen! That night, several "gemstones" that radiated bright, multi-colored lights in Teacher Shen Fei''s dormitory dazzled everyone. They were the most brilliant gems rumored to come from Aircrew Base 911, specially sent to Teacher Shen, inciting envy in others. Teacher Jiang Shan, who had failed to achieve his wishes, was so ridden with jealousy that he was almost losing his mind; even if he sold himself, he wouldn''t be able to acquire such treasures. Originally thinking that Chen Fei was nothing more than a destitute guy who had to work in this remote backwater, it turned out that when he did make a move, it caught everyone off guard. So much for being a poor wretch! It was a clear betrayal of class! The three greatest sorrows in life: resentful encounters, separation from loved ones, and unfulfilled desires. The day after next, early in the morning, an armed Z-9 helicopter from Aircrew Base 911 picked up Shen Fei and took him to a nearby public airport via a small transport plane, from where he boarded a commercial flight back to his homeland, ending his years of solo teaching life. At the time of departure, the students were in tears, but still waved goodbye to their most beloved Teacher Shen. After Teacher Shen Fei left, only three teaching volunteers and two assistant teachers upgraded from graduates were left at Patan Elementary School. Once Shen Fei was gone, Jiang Shan completely gave up and immediately started throwing his weight around in front of the other two teachers. "From today onwards, I am the principal of this elementary school, Kelian, your job is..." His speech was cut off by the teacher from the Tampa People. The other slowly said, "Sorry, but the higher-ups have appointed me as principal. This is the appointment letter!" Kelian Ar took out his phone, showing the appointment letter sent by UNESCO''s teaching office. The recommender was Shen Fei, and the only person unaware of it was Jiang Shan himself. "..." Teacher Jiang Shan was thrown into an inexplicable rage of impotence... - After winter set in, the Siberian Tundra nearly became a Life Forbidden Zone, where Team 04, when busy, worked to exhaustion but when idle, couldn''t even muster the enthusiasm to play snowball fights or build snowmen, sheltering in a barn at an abandoned farm to lazily pass the winter days. The barn space was ample enough to not only easily accommodate the two-story structure assembled inside but also to park the 20-meter-long Mobile Base Vehicle without any trouble, serving as a heated storage to avoid digging it out of a deep snowdrift when needed. Daily routine reviews of electronic files repeated without yield, suggesting that trying to rely on brainstorming and sudden inspirations for good luck wasn''t producing significant results. Every aspect of Team 04''s investigation had simultaneously stalled. The Female Liaison Officer Tanya made a report to the local police headquarters, and upon returning to the barn at the abandoned farm, she brought back a piece of the latest news received by Team 04. Traders of unclear identity were purchasing prehistoric remains in the villages of the northern Tunguska region and had visited many villages, completing more than a dozen transactions. After all, the tundra buried beneath it housed an entire era of mammoth life, not only mammoths but numerous other prehistoric species now extinct. If it were a legitimate scientific expedition team, they should have reported to the authorities from the beginning to facilitate emergency rescue in case of accidents and bypass many procedural steps. This kind of vague purchasing was indeed very suspicious. It might have been overlooked in normal times, perhaps some rich, eccentric individual collecting artifacts from beneath the tundra for private study, showing off, or packaging them for sale to make a profit. But the members of Team 04, coming from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, were clearly targeting the mysterious organization "Water Bear", so any individuals exhibiting unusual behavior could potentially be linked to this group. After a large-scale "crackdown" carried out not long ago, and now with suspicious individuals appearing, they couldn''t possibly ignore and let it slip by without investigation. The Mobile Base Vehicle stocked up on supplies and Team 04, along with the Female Liaison Officer, set off again as a full team. This time, with local police officer Tanya as a guide, the Mobile Base Vehicle didn''t have to take many detours. Braving the dwindling blizzard, it forcibly cleared the thick layer of snow on the road and reached a village in northern Tunguska. Under full load, the eighty-ton vehicle cleared over two feet of snow as if it were child''s play. With the Mobile Base Vehicle leading the way and clearing the path, a convoy of vehicles looking to hitch a free ride formed behind it, and their numbers continued to grow. Those drivers sure knew how to seize an opportunity. - Chapter 389 389: Section 385 - Clue The Mobile Base Vehicle plowed through the accumulated snow, arriving at a small village in the northern part of the Tunguska Region called Rakim. The locals were all holed up at home, hibernating through the winter, and it was almost impossible to spot a soul outside. With Siberia''s exceedingly short planting season, once the wheat, corn, soybeans, and potatoes were harvested¡ªcabbage being the only possible addition¡ªthere would be nothing left. Vegetables relied entirely on greenhouses; otherwise, anything planted was doomed to die. The devils have entered the village, no, the Russians have entered the village! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! Tanya pounded forcefully on the wooden door of a village convenience store that doubled as a bar, pool hall, and village office. The village chief''s house was right here¡ªif you wanted to find the local snakes, knocking on this door was sure to be right. The entire village had already been cut off by heavy snow; all roads were impassable. If it weren''t for the Mobile Base Vehicle forcefully clearing a path through the snow, relying solely on foot would surely kill a person from exhaustion. The Female Liaison Officer was enthusiastically knocking when suddenly... the door swung open! Bang bang puh! "©»|`O¡ä|©¿Oh~~" A pudgy man with half a bald scalp screamed and fell backwards, rolling on the ground with his hands covering his face. Because the door had opened so suddenly, Tanya couldn''t stop her punch in time and ended up landing a blow straight on the man''s nose. Not even a two-hundred-pound grown Mao Mei, let alone a mature Loli, could easily withstand such a blow¡ªthe average person''s nose would suffer just the same. "Uh! I''m a police officer, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, a First Level officer from the Tungus Headquarters, I''m investigating a case and need your cooperation." Officer Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna whipped out her badge, flashing it in front of the man to establish her bona fide police identity instead of an unruly gang member. The brightest sunlight always has its unreachable spots; those are the havens for the dark elements. She noticed people inside getting ready to draw weapons. There was no helping it; the locals were fierce, and hiding a gun at home was as simple as hiding a bottle of vodka, and it was done brazenly. Those with more brazenness might even keep a tank hidden, bring it out during the holidays to fire a couple of shots, show off, and flirt with machismo. "Oh, my God, my nose!" The man who was punched could only accept his fate, grimacing and clutching his nose, fearing a little more force and it would have sprayed blood everywhere. But could he still retaliate against law enforcement with violence? Attack the police? Those uninvited guests outside were probably just waiting for that! Tanya put away her badge with a smile and said, "Please rest assured, we have a Light System Caster who can heal you right away. Won''t you invite us inside for a sit-down?" When it came to the true local snakes of the Tunguska Region, the police station was the king of kings, the tyrant over tyrants. Just ask who dares to disobey? There won''t be a single creature daring to peep. "Please, come in!" Village Chief Nikolayev, with his nose still red, tearfully made way for the door, nearly letting out a disgruntled cry. The woman of the house, a typical Russian Water Tank Matron, silently raged, only smashing pots and pans in the kitchen to express her dissatisfaction with the clamor. "Come on in, everyone!" The Female Liaison Officer Tanya nonchalantly waved the 04 team inside. As all members filed in one after another, the Holy Knight, while passing Village Chief Nikolayev, cast a Light-based Spell on him. Noticing the immediate cessation of pain, the half-bald village chief hastily expressed his thanks. After all, it was that female brute of a cop who had punched his nose; the others were not to be blamed. "Coffee!" The stout village matron carried out a large tray filled with several cups of coffee and sugar cubes, slamming it on the table with a huff before turning her eyes away and storming back to the kitchen. If they were friends, she might have brought out a big bottle of vodka or Erguotou (who knows how Erguotou made its way to Siberia). However, at least there was hot coffee, even if the attitude was a bit rotten. Liaison Officer Tanya didn''t take offense at all. If such trivial matters were worth getting angry over, wouldn''t harsher treatment warrant drawing a gun on the spot? She picked up a cup of coffee and got straight to the point. "Village Chief Nikolayev, have there been any strangers visiting Rakim lately?" Rakim was not the first village that Liaison Officer Tanya and the 04 team had visited; it was after visiting several villages in succession and tracking the movements of a certain group of people that they had arrived here. After all, the entire Tunguska Region had just ended its harsh weather with heavy snowfall, and the accumulated snow was severe. In some places, it was more than a meter deep. It would be impossible for anyone to move around, let alone go from village to village. The most convenient and efficient method was to follow a pre-planned route and visit villages along the way. Having tracked several villages in a row, Liaison Officer Tanya and the 04 team estimated their route. Perhaps it wouldn''t be long before they could catch up with the group. No matter the vehicle, none could compare to the approximately 20-meter-long, 4.5-meter-wide, and 80-ton Mobile Base Vehicle when it came to convenience. In front of a professional heavy-duty chassis set half a meter above the ground and five pairs of load wheels bound with anti-slip chains, the obstacle of thick snow was simply inconsequential. "Um..." With the pain subsiding yet his nose still red, Rakim Village Chief Nikolayev hesitated, scratching his shiny, greasy forehead, and said, "A couple of days ago, indeed, there were some people who came to the village. They didn''t come to me but went to ''Black Llama''s'' place. Oh right, ''Black Llama'' is a nickname, his real name is Glebnikov Ivanov Sikorsky. It''s not far, two hundred meters to the east, past the small bridge, the second house with the big black chimney¡ªthat guy is a second-rate loafer, a ne''er-do-well. Whenever something goes missing in the village, he''s the prime suspect to check with." "Could you tell us more about this ''Black Llama'' Glebnikov Ivanov Sikorsky?" Liaison Officer Tanya subtly signaled the 04 team, then continued to probe the village chief based on his words, aiming to gather more valuable intelligence. "Officer, this guy is no good..." It was unclear whether it was a denunciation or a personal vendetta, but the village chief went all out in badmouthing the village loafer, nicknamed "Black Llama," eager for the officer Tanya to take him away in handcuffs, wishing she would just shoot him dead at the entrance of the village. It was as if Rakim Village had long suffered under the "Black Llama," waiting day and night for the Royal Division to uphold justice, suppress evil, and return the sunny skies to the villagers. "Can you take us to his house?" The female liaison officer, Tanya, had already studied the topography of Rakim Village and naturally knew the situation of each household. This meticulous questioning was also to assess whether the village chief had been up to some disreputable deeds. King Yama is easy to meet, but the little devils are tricky to handle, and this top dog in the village was one such little devil. "No problem, shall we go now?" Village Chief Nikolayev immediately stood up, ready to fetch his coat. Tanya took advantage of the situation and said, "Of course!" The stocky and built wife of the village chief rushed out from the kitchen, loudly reminding the village chief, "Nikolayev, don''t rush to the front later!" She was worried about potential dangers. After all, once that village loafer went crazy, no one knew what terrifying things he might do, possibly not even regarding the village chief with any respect. "Uh, got it, I know!" Nikolayev put on his coat, took a felt hat for himself, and waved to his wife. "Don''t worry, we won''t let him get to the front." Adrian, the captain of squad 04, finally spoke up. He gave a nod to the A-level Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master Joshua. "We will ensure your husband''s safety." If cannon fodder were needed, dozens of Constructed Puppet Warriors were queued up. Across the stone bridge spanning the five-meter-wide creek, the second house on the other side bore a big black chimney about the height of a three-story building, billowing blue smoke, probably indicating a roaring fireplace that kept the interior warm and cozy. In this bitterly cold weather, it felt like heaven. In the Siberian Tundra region, where the front doors were typically made of wood, there was no need for doorbells. A forceful knock created quite the commotion. "Folks, open up!" "Huh? Who the hell is screaming out there?" "I am the police!" "Damn it..." From inside the house came a series of chaotic noises and ghostly wails and howls. Judging by the looks of it, there was more than one person inside, and one could only guess what kind of mess they were cooking up inside. Mostly likely no good; otherwise, they wouldn''t have panicked at the mention of police. "Breach the door!" Now it was the turn of squad 04. At Adrian''s command, four Constructed Puppet Warriors charged in succession, bursting the door wide open and storming in with automatic weapons at the ready. After several bangs of gunfire, a series of pig-like screams followed. "Devils, there are devils!" "I''ve been shot! Help!" "Don''t kill me, don''t kill me!" ... Joshua, who was controlling these Constructed Puppet Warriors, took his index finger away from his forehead and nodded at the others. "All clear, nine people, all under control." "Huh?" The village chief Nikolayev, hiding in the back, let out a noise of disbelief. In such ghastly weather and season, instead of nestling warm in their dens, what were they all gathering for? "Kiterley, Apu, you two go in first!" To be safe, Adrian sent in a Metal Ability User of the A-level and a Thunder Series Warrior of the Earth Order with their weapons ready, capable of instant kills even if mutants were hiding inside. The others entered the house with the large black chimney afterwards. The sights that met their eyes upon entering the house were simply unbearable. Illicit gambling, a hedonistic gathering of substance abuse, men and women all naked, with bottles thrown everywhere, a stench filling the air, this party was raging out of control. "Heh heh heh..." The female liaison officer brandished her handcuffs, these were made of stainless steel, dare you run outside naked now! In weather that was more than forty degrees below zero, with a blast of cold wind, you would freeze instantly, like human ice lolly. - Chapter 390 390: Section 386 - Approach Close The village chief Nikolayev was the last one to squeeze into the house, but when he saw one of the young women exposing her pale flesh, he couldn''t help but turn pale and exclaimed in shock, "Katyusha? What are you doing here, what, what is this?" He stomped his feet in anger and urgency, obviously greatly disappointed. Katyusha, the prettiest, gentlest, and kindest girl in Rakim Village, whom Nikolayev had intended to introduce to his nephew, a university student. It was supposed to be a match of talents and beauty, a pleasant topic of conversation. But now, the village loafer''s indecent and chaotic party had completely destroyed the kindest and gentlest persona, plunging this girl from a beautiful impression into an unforgivable hell. Obviously having heard rumors of the village chief''s intentions to introduce her to his talented nephew, the village beauty, pig-like, quickly covered her face, screaming in shame and anger. "Nikolayev... no, it''s not me! Don''t look!" The beautiful young body trembled slightly, pale and plump, as good cabbages often get ruined by wild boars. "Which one of you is the ''Black Llama''?" The female liaison officer Tanya was not interested in dealing with Rakim Village''s mess; she had already called headquarters. Soon, people would be sent to arrest this group of debauched men and women, to face the law''s sanctions. At least one thing was certain, the prison''s heating would be much more comfortable than a fireplace. A-level Metal Ability user Kiterley used his special abilities to extract the bullets from the gunshot victim, and then Holy Knight Walter Sam handled the first aid. Although unavoidable and excruciating pain was involved, along with a lot of bleeding, ultimately leaving the person in a delirious state of anemia, at least his life was saved. This was also due to the Puppet Master Joshua showing mercy; if those Constructed Puppet Warriors had shot at the head and other vital areas, unless one had an indestructible body like Chen Fei or Kiterley''s Special Ability Armor, not even a deity could have saved them. "It was me, me!" A skinny, tall young man, with a piece wrapped around his waist, hesitantly raised his hand, his face filled with panic and unease, his entire demeanor that of an addict, clearly no good. Even if he didn''t confess now, someone would point him out on the spot, meaning he would suffer even more. To become a village loafer, one is often not a fool, quite aware of the times. "Recently, did someone from outside come to the village and buy something from you? You need to explain clearly!" Tanya was straightforward with the village loafer, who no doubt was very familiar with the interrogation process. "Yes, yes, two days ago, there were four people aboard a wind sailboat..." Clearly no stranger to police teachings, the village loafer nicknamed "Black Llama," Glebnikov Ivanov Sikorsky, spilled everything like pouring beans, the time, place, characters, and events, a clean confession which the police probably found most satisfying and straightforward¡ªno need to even tidy up, just copy it and you have a complete report, incredibly time-saving. If one could ignore his addict look and the village loafer''s bad reputation, one might mistakenly think he had some kind of professional police identity. "A wind sailboat?" What the hell was that? Adrian imagined in his mind; it was all too fantastical. It was hard to understand how such a vehicle could move freely through heavy snow. "A ship-shaped sled moved by wind, if designed cleverly enough, it isn''t impossible!" Used to seeing the heavy snows of Siberian winters, Tanya wasn''t astonished. Utilizing wind power was most appropriate over lakes, especially those solidly frozen over. By fixing ice blades underneath and erecting a sail as large as a bedsheet, they could skate along aided by the wind. Once they gained momentum, the speed of movement was as fast as the wind. This design not only allowed for ice skating but also snow, sand, grass, and concrete sliding, as long as there was a large, flat area available. Just recently, the Tunguska Region had experienced heavy snow, driven by an Arctic cold stream that pushed winds of force five or six. If the wind-powered ski equipment was designed appropriately, it indeed was easy to maneuver quickly through snowy weather, with the incessant cold wind acting not as a hindrance but as an aid. "This idea..." Chen Fei shook his head; he hadn''t thought of this method that worked so smoothly in heavy snow. In comparison, the Mobile Base Vehicle cutting through the snow seemed downright crude. But to carry more than a dozen people and a Magical Beast like the Blue Scaled Colt, along with a substantial amount of supplies, using wind power might not be that easy. "Black Llama" Glebnikov Ivanov Sikorsky sold at least a dozen biological tissues to the four strangers who arrived at Rakim Village via the wind sail sled. Beneath the frozen plains of Siberia lay an entire prehistoric era. There''s a theory that Blue Star had a sudden magnetic pole shift, turning the equator into the poles and vice versa, reversing cold and heat. Many creatures were caught off guard by this sudden drop in temperature, becoming quickly frozen, so digging deep and wide enough under the frozen plains can definitely uncover many biological remains, with millennia-old ice preserving these tissues, not just of mammoths but also many other creatures from that era, even prehistoric humans. Occasionally finding a piece or two of prehistoric creatures'' remains is quite common for people who have lived generation after generation in the frozen plains. Tortoise shells from the Yin ruins had always been used as "keel" in medicine. Who could have imagined they were actually carriers of oracle bone script from the Yin Shang era and even earlier, incredibly precious historical materials. "...They said they were going to Grafki Village." Before female liaison officer Tanya could continue her questioning, Rakim''s "Black Llama" honestly confessed the bits of information he had half-heard, probably an unexpected gain, saving Tanya and Team 04 the "free friendly assistance" of doing a "memory awakening (severe torture)" on this guy. "Grafki?" Tanya pondered for a moment, then pulled out her tablet, scrolling through the digital map. Having adjusted the map''s scale slightly, she quickly found the route and terrain between Rakim Village and Grafki Village. There were no mountains, not even rivers, just a large area of marshland, and a small amount of woodland, which was extremely suitable for the movement of the sail snow sled. After estimating the speed of the mobile base vehicle, she said, "From Rakim to Grafki, it will take about two hours by car. We should leave early rather than late, let''s set off immediately while it''s still light." After speaking, Tanya said to the village chief, "Nikolayev, get some people over here to watch these guys and wait for the police to arrive. Don''t let anyone escape, or I will hold you responsible, and you will be an accomplice, partners in crime, understand?" This was no personal vendetta, but official business, particularly upon hearing the words "accomplice" and "partners in crime," Village Chief Nikolayev, knowing that Black Llama and the others couldn''t escape this time, nodded frantically. "Understood, understood!" Killing the chicken to scare the monkey, she hoped the other villagers would take this as a warning. "To Grafki Village, let''s go!" Adrian certainly understood the female liaison officer''s intention. As long as they pursued them closely, they would eventually catch up with those guys who were buying up ancient biological samples everywhere. Moments later, the mobile base vehicle pushed through the thick snow, stirring up a snowstorm, and burst out of Rakim Village towards Grafki Village further north. When the wind speed was below eight (62-74km/h), the fully powered mobile base vehicle could easily catch up with the sail snow sled. Luckily they had it, as other types of ground transportation couldn''t achieve such convenience, not to mention the Siberian tundra''s wild winter nights, which would also pose challenges and tests for Team 04, things they wouldn''t have to worry about at all now. After two hours of speeding, the mobile base vehicle left clear visible tracks on the ground, drawing near to Grafki Village, over a hundred kilometers from Rakim Village. The sky gradually began to darken. The northern horizon faintly revealed colorful auroras. Wisp of blue smoke emerged from the tops of chimneys within the village, quickly scattered by the cold wind. "Look, there''s the mast!" Adrian, who was leaning on the newly installed high platform periscope of the mobile base vehicle, shouted as he looked out. He spotted the unusually high mast protruding from the center of the village, highly conspicuous in the vast white expanse. With the mechanical lifting design of the vehicle''s roof extending from 0.3 meters to 2 meters and a high-powered zoom lens, it offered a broader field of vision and longer viewing distance than a personal telescope, especially useful for stationary observation without having to lie in the ice and snow. Chen Fei suggested, "Let''s deploy a drone to take a look." The mobile base vehicle was nearby outside the village, but its angle of view was limited, preventing clear observation. "No, the drone is too noisy, and it might startle the snake, better not... Adrian looked at the only bird''s nest inside the vehicle. "Jiu?" Seeing eyes cast over, the little one in the nest warbled uncertainly. "Huh?" Chen Fei was puzzled. "Xiao Jiu should know the Light Mirror Spell, right?" Adrian remembered that this little bird had once emitted some images, which seemed to be one of the Light-based Spells used for scouting. It was especially suitable for stealthy, roundabout observation, particularly in the current environment. "It seems, it seems like it does!" Chen Fei suddenly realized. He had never really focused on the little one''s skills; if Adrian hadn''t mentioned it, he might have completely forgotten. Chen Fei didn''t like always putting Xiao Jiu into various fights; for something as small as a fist, it was far too dangerous. Being cute was enough! "Jiu!" The little bird stood up in its nest, shaking its fluffy feathers. So adorable! - Chapter 391 391: Section 387 - Team Enters the Village Faint fragments of light and shadow constantly changed a foot in front of Little Bird, appearing and disappearing, but they could never form a complete light mirror; the fragmented images were also unclear and utterly useless. "Chirp!" After trying for a while, the Pure Light Sparrow hopped back to its nest, crouched down, and then looked at Chen Fei with a tilted head, seemingly having completely given up on trying and shifting into a state of resignation. "Uh, no good?" Adrian''s face fell with disappointment. The others sighed as well. No one could put too much pressure on this little creature. Chen Fei helplessly said, "It must be a lack of practice!" In his memory, the Light Mirror Spell of Xiao Jiu had always been unstable and seldom used. The most frequently used was the Pure Light Sparrow''s specialty, "Light Healing Technique," also known as Xiao Jiu''s Band-Aid, which had immediate effects. Next was the "Light Burst Flash," a Biu flash that hardly anyone could defend against, followed by the "Illumination Technique," a quite practical spell that saved a lot of lighting energy. The "Light Mirror Spell," however, wasn''t always useful, so it was rarely used, and it was natural that it was not practiced; even undue blame on this little one was useless. The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an chuckled and said, "Even at the Third Rank of Human Order, the Pure Light Sparrow is still the weakest of the magical beasts. Its racial bloodline limitations restrict its potentials; it''s actually quite remarkable to have achieved what it has now." Back when it was on Cangqiong Star, in addition to being familiar with various plants, it also thoroughly understood various magical beasts; it was one of the few scholar-like being among the Intelligent Magical Beasts. Kiterley, an A-rank Metal Ability User, said discontentedly, "Lulu''an, please touch your heart when you say that. How can Xiao Jiu be associated with ''weak''?" Back in the training and assessment at the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, Little Bird''s laser attack had taken down countless mutants on the spot, some of whose combat power was comparable to the Third or even Fourth Rank magical beasts. Even for the members of Squad 04, if they underestimated Xiao Jiu, they might get knocked out instantly. If Third Rank magical beasts were this frightening, then humans as a species would almost have no way to survive; they might as well concede the world''s dominance and lay down to die outright. Laughter emerged in the compartment of the Mobile Base Vehicle, with everyone sharing a heroic consensus. If you don''t count the laser skill, then Lulu''an''s words were spot on, but... "Xiao Jiu is an exception and shouldn''t be used as a standard case. In terms of spell skills and casting talents, the Pure Light Sparrow species does not have an advantage. Their magical beast bloodline is too diluted, substantially limiting their talents." The Old Tree Boundary Ape held up its Withered Vine Staff, explaining that the laser couldn''t make up for Xiao Jiu''s inherent shortcomings, as the racial disadvantages of the Pure Light Sparrow were apparent. The resources spent on Xiao Jiu, if invested in other magical beasts, might have achieved beyond just the Third Rank; placing too high expectations may only lead to greater disappointment in the end. On Cangqiong Star, the general term "magical beast" used to be divided into magical beasts and demon beasts, depending on whether their racial heritage continued and factors like bloodline degeneration. The rule of "entropy" is not only manifested on the physical level but also reflects in magic; if there are no exceptionally talented beings to elevate the bloodline ceiling of a species, degeneration over time is an inevitable outcome. Even the Dragon Clan had such troubles. The Metallic Dragons, who once lost their racial heritage, nearly got expelled from the Dragon Race, degenerating into beasts driven only by instincts. Perhaps before long, they would have disappeared among the many creatures of Cangqiong Star, becoming a mere note in historical records. "We can''t rely on the Pure Light Sparrow''s ''Light Mirror Spell,'' let''s send people in directly!" Adrian made a swift decision as the plan could not keep up with changes; they had to switch to Plan-B. There were only four suspects, and even if they were all Ability Users, Squad 04''s combat capability should easily handle them. As for the threat of the villagers, it was entirely negligible, with Officer Tanya, the local snake on the team, no one dared approach with the intent to cause trouble. "Knight Sam, Kiterley, and Apu, you three lead the way, enter the village first to scope it out, and avoid startling the snake by hitting the grass. If you find that wind-powered snow sled, destroy it immediately." Adrian deployed these three strong offensive players¡ªa Holy Knight, an A-rank Metal Ability User, and a Thunder Series Warrior¡ªas the spearhead with a balance of speed, defense, and offense. He then selected another three, stating, "If an unexpected situation arises, Joshua''s puppet should rush forward to assist immediately, Lulu''an will handle the distraction, and Mouri will take care of close protection. You three are the second echelon." The carefulness of this fire mage, who undisputedly led everyone in Squad 04, was indispensable. "Hey, what about me?" Chen Fei pointed to himself, and not just him, B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna and Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai also had no assignments. "Right!" ¡Á2! Susanna and Ruan Tiankai chorused. Adrian calmly explained, "Don''t worry, everyone has tasks. Chen Fei, you manage the Mobile Base Vehicle, Susanna and Ruan Tiankai, you two assist in defense. This is our last bastion, so it''s very important. Are there any more questions?" Chen Fei, with his experience in combat aviation, was in charge of driving the vehicle. There was no one more reassuring as an old driver than him. There were no further objections inside the vehicle. "All right, let''s start the operation. Keep in touch!" At Adrian''s command, the mobile base vehicle''s large door immediately slid open, and the magical beast, Blue Scaled Colt, charged out with a whoosh as the Holy Knight clambered onto the saddle and swung himself up adeptly. As specially instructed, the Blue Scaled Colt''s hoofbeats were much lighter than usual. The air around it whirled, and snowflakes fluttered up, yet it moved as lightly as a swallow, tapping on the snow and darting away in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, A-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power user Kiterley and Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu looked at each other and jumped out of the vehicle into the waist-deep snow, then leapt up again, each jump covering over ten meters, closely following the Holy Knight. The trio quickly stormed into Grafki Village. "This is Sam. No person spotted, confirming wind sled." With the speed boost from having the Blue Scaled Colt as his mount, Holy Knight Walter Sam was the first to reach the suspicious mast, discovering a sled shaped like a boat, with one long and one short vertical mast and a triangular sail mast at the front, plus supporting sled boards on either side to increase contact area and carry more weight, easily accommodating four people. Once it started gliding with the wind, even a snowmobile might struggle to catch up. "The wind sled has been destroyed!" Moments later, A-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power user Kiterley''s triumphant voice rang out, his evolved blades were no less formidable than the Warrior''s Battle Qi enhanced attacks. The High-raised look-out mirrors mounted on top of the mobile base vehicle had already shifted the view from those two masts, likely already dismantled by the Holy Knight and his team. Without this means of transportation, hoping to escape the village on foot would be nothing short of a pipe dream. "Someone''s coming out! Uh, it''s the enemy!" Thunder Series Warrior Apu saw someone walking out from a nearby house. He initially thought they were coming out for fresh air, or perhaps to see why the wind sled was destroyed, but he was startled to clearly see a cold weapon in the person''s hand, and their eyes met across the distance. He issued a roar automatically. "Attention, it''s the enemy!" He then lifted his great sword, his body enveloped in flickering Battle Qi Flame, charging towards the other like a locomotive. "Engage! Mini, run!" The Holy Knight, who had just joined forces with the A-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power user to destroy the wind sled, bellowed. The advantage of having a mount lay in mobility, not in foolishly standing still to be hit. The A-rank Metal Elemental Psychic Power user wore his own Special Ability Armor, boasting astonishing defense, unlike him and the Blue Scaled Colt. So, running first was the first choice. "Second squadron, move out!" Sitting inside the mobile base vehicle, First Rank Fire Mage Adrian Benjamin shouted while he steadied the high-raised look-out mirror inside the carriage to gaze into the village. Dazzling electric Sword Qi swept across a building. Bricks and wood flew into the sky, and the house immediately collapsed thunderously. The huge man did not hold back at all; with a full force strike, he instantly demolished a house. Twelve Constructed Puppet Warriors with automatic weapons strapped on skis, rapidly wielded ski poles, charging into the village with great speed. The Old Tree Boundary Ape sowed dozens of seeds into the snow pile, muttering incantations, as Wood System Magic Element congregated at the tip of its Withered Vine Staff. "No, there are more than four people!" The Holy Knight''s field of vision was filled with several fireballs, as a fierce Sword Qi burst through a nearby window, slicing through towards him and the Blue Scaled Colt, cutting directly through the snow. "Xiao Jiu!" The Blue Scaled Colt neighed, forming Wind Wings, carrying the Holy Knight as they accelerated towards the fireballs. The Holy Knight shouted with all his might. "Clear the way for me!" Dazzling Battle Qi Flame erupted, enveloping both rider and mount, rushing ahead out of the path of the Sword Qi and colliding fiercely with the fireballs. Boom... Countless sparks scattered, and a huge shockwave shattered the quiet within the village. - Chapter 392 392: Section 388 - Fierce Battle The Light System Battle Qi Flame combined with the dazzling Sword Qi forcibly broke through successfully. The Holy Knight''s internal organs inevitably suffered from the shock, gasping for air on the back of his Blue Scaled Colt, yet without hesitation, he shouted, "Mini, pick up the speed, charge!" The knight''s most lethal attack was none other than the charge! "Huuuuhuuu!" The Wind Beast, Blue Scaled Colt, let out a high-pitched neigh, its hooves turned to shadows, and Wind Wings reappeared. In the grip of the raging wind, it carried its rider towards the enemy launching Fire Spells. The Knight''s Greatsword flickered with a cold light, its Sword Qi frosty. "Kill!!!" A-Rank Metal Ability User Kiterley wiped his Armor and pulled out a two-meter-long Throwing Spear, throwing it with all his might. "Die!" The Throwing Spear pierced through the building that had just launched a Sword Qi Slash at the Holy Knight in the blink of an eye. As it shot out the other side, the sharp tip of the spear was tinged with a hint of crimson, a few droplets fell onto the snowy ground, shockingly vivid. "Ah!" Ap, a Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior, let out a roar, blocking the Great Sword with a shield-sized double-edged Battle Axe. The two weapons froze in midair, seemingly at a standoff. The sudden outbreak of the fight in Grafki Village caught Tanya, the Female Liaison Officer of the Tunguska Local Police Department, completely off guard, causing her to cry out in alarm and lose color. "What, what''s happening!" Up until that point, she had never expected a real fight to break out, always feeling that Squad 04 had made too much of a fuss. "Sam, Kiterley, Apu, you guys pull out of the village first!" Adrian remained calm, indicating surprise but not enough to throw him into disarray on the spot. ABCDEFG... Having a full set of contingency plans was standard operation for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," which faced ferocious and mysterious organizations¡ªeveryone was prepared for the worst from the beginning. "Copy" x3! Suddenly attacked, with the situation in the village unclear, even the most reckless, big black fellow Apu wasn''t planning to just barrel through it like this. The ten approaching combat puppets, like cutting wheat, were hewn in half at the waist, their charge abruptly stopped, turning into rolling gourds on the ground quickly covered in thick layers of snow. The moment his puppets were cut in half by an unseen force, Puppet Master Joshua, who was concentrating on controlling them with his spiritual power, cried out. "My puppets!" With the sudden destruction of his combat puppets, his spiritual power inevitably took a hit. Yet, the tactics were still not over. "It''s a trap!" Adrian made the judgment in the first instant. Seven or eight figures emerged, rushing straight toward the location of the Mobile Base Vehicle. "Too close!" Chen Fei found that the enemies had already broken into the blind zone of the Railgun, even though he wanted to blast those people to smithereens with the 152. Even if they got the anti-aircraft machine gun ready, it was already too late, and they wouldn''t even be able to fire many shots before the two sides engaged at close quarters. Hesitant to harm what they wished to preserve, the barrels just aimed at each other had no choice but to cease movement. "Lulu''an, I''m going up!" Mouri Misono exclaimed in her shrill voice, dual blades in hand, stepping lightly to meet the enemies that charged at her. "Bone-Eroding Cage Vine, form up!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape''s Spells were finally complete; the severe cold somewhat hindered its Wood System Spells, so it needed to invest more spiritual power and magic power to conjure those miraculous plants. The thick snow burst open one after the other, thick vines rushed into the sky, frantically writhing non-stop. Over ten Bone-Eroding Cage Vines, capable even of trapping and killing Low-Rank Magic Beasts, surrounded the Mobile Base Vehicle, creating an impenetrable defensive line. "Secret Technique, Flash Strike!" At the door of the Mobile Base Vehicle, a figure flashed and the carriage gently shook. A silhouette appeared outside the defensive line of the poisonous plants. The incessantly moving, hook-thorned poisonous vines did not even touch the hem of their clothes as they burst out. Of course, it also mattered that the person was one of their own. Bassan, the Neanderthal Chief, was the first to strike from inside the carriage. "Gone is the beauty of a slender figure!" Mutting poetry, Mouri Misono seemed to be dancing a delightful dance, her light body twisting, dodging the passing fierce Lightning, her dual blades casting silver light, one faster than the other. "Glory won by saber drawn to fend!" A head the size of a fighting cock flew into the sky. "Once there was a beauty known as Lady Gongsun..." She advanced rather than retreated, the blades moving with her form, dancing with her swords, her light steps leaving only Qianqian traces on the snow as if she were dancing on it. ``` The sword technique used in actual combat displayed two hundred percent of its power compared to when he first reported for duty. "With one dance of the sword, all four directions are affected!" Thud thud thud thud... "Ah!" "Ah!" "Ah!" Amidst the intermittent screams, severed limbs flew chaotically. The Dongying samurai swords, known for their extreme ferocity, were now fully unleashed. When Dongying Fuso was at its most subservient, during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, those who couldn''t read or recite poetry had no right to be samurai. The eighteenth rank in Sinology was hard-earned through exams. Those who failed ended up as ''Hiduo'' and then ''Yakuza''; if they didn''t want to suffer in learning, they had to suffer in life. In education, God is fair. Watching their companions get slaughtered like melons and vegetables, the attackers, who were rapidly losing blood in the cold weather and doomed to die, were furious. "Damn woman, die!" Countless Wind Blades formed, whistling as they lunged at Mouri Misono, who was now vulnerable after her sword moves had reached their limit. "Secret Technique, Mountain Splitting!" Thud! A corpse split from head to toe flew far away; blood splattered onto the snow like it was free, and steaming entrails spilled out and scattered across the ground, with both halves of the face still retaining an expression of disbelief. The Neanderthal Chief with his Single-toothed Long Halberd pointing diagonally to the ground appeared not far behind Mouri Misono. The out-of-control Wind Blades instantly turned into a strong wind, causing the snowflakes to dance and gradually disappear. "Ali gado (Thank you), Bassan-san!" Mouri Misono performed a crisp sheathing of her sword and bowed to the timely Neanderthal Chief who came to support her. Her ultimate move "Unlimited Ripping Slash" had yet to meet a worthy opponent. Bassan eyed the remaining attackers, still totaling a small number, and said in a deep voice, "Be careful!" The tattoos on his body glowed with a striking red light. The fight was not yet over! - "''Adam'', activate infrared thermal imaging and scan the entire village with synthetic aperture radar!" Chen Fei, feeling increasingly uneasy, immediately instructed the artificial intelligence AI. The situation in the village was very strange, with more than one attack point. This assault couldn''t have been launched by just four ability users. Just the number of enemies that had appeared now exceeded twenty. The front windshield of the Mobile Base Vehicle instantly turned from transparent to black, then lit up again, displaying the layout of the entire distant village and the thermal imaging picture. Inside each building, numerous brightly colored human silhouettes rushed outside, and even more bright infrared thermal reactions appeared out of nowhere, a significant number heading straight for the Mobile Base Vehicle. "No, there are no villagers; this village is a trap!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes. If they were innocent villagers, they should be hiding inside their houses at this moment, not rushing out to their deaths. Several missiles, trailing long, thick smoke, rose from the center of the village, heading straight for the Mobile Base Vehicle. Thump, thump, thump, thump... The anti-aircraft machine gun, adapted for both high and level firing, aimed skyward and fired furiously. Under "Adam''s" control, it unleashed a barrage of bullets toward the incoming missiles. "Damn it, ''Falling Star Flame''!" Adrian could no longer sit still inside the vehicle and without hesitation cast Fire Spells, more fireballs rising into the air. Spell against spell, supernatural power against supernatural power, firearms against firearms. Chen Fei shouted, "Lulu''an, come back! Everyone else, get away! Steel net defense!" At least 100 Energy Points were thrown out, exchanging for 100 tons of steel, evolving and constructing an interception net wall around the Mobile Base Vehicle, enveloping the entire vehicle. Relying solely on a single anti-aircraft machine gun to stop all the missiles was nearly an impossible task. Just as Adrian had pulled the Old Tree Boundary Ape back into the vehicle and slammed the door shut, the earth-shattering explosion and loud noise enveloped the Mobile Base Vehicle in an instant. Under the onslaught of the violent shockwave, the Mobile Base Vehicle, despite weighing over eighty tons and being 20 meters in length, couldn''t suppress the violent shaking. It was like a boat caught in a tempest, with no end to the turmoil in sight. "Ah..." Tanya, the Female Liaison Officer from the local Tunguska police station, rolled on the ground, screaming in fear. Her C-grade Psychic Ability was completely useless in such a situation, she couldn''t even protect herself. Under the combined attack of Fire Spells and missiles, the Bone-Eroding Cage Vine and steel net that surrounded the Mobile Base Vehicle were shattered, and the thick vines were severed into dozens of pieces, leaking poisonous sap that etched ugly scorched marks into the ground. Dozens of meters away, Mouri Misono and the Neanderthal Chief Bassan, who were intercepting the enemy, were knocked to the ground by the blast behind them, and the enemies who were fighting them didn''t fare much better, as all of them lay prone without exception. Chen Fei, his spirit linked with the entire Mobile Base Vehicle, shook his head after feeling the impact on the armor as if it were tangible and shouted, "Dammit, ''Adam'', aim for the west side of the village, one 152, fire!" Although the Bone-Eroding Cage Vine blocked some of the attack and suffered heavy losses, the dense steel net blocked the rest of the missiles, ensuring that the Combat Unit did not make a direct impact on the vehicle and explode. Thus, only the shockwave and shrapnel struck the armor layer of the vehicle, far from reaching the point of penetration. Although the people inside were unharmed, the shock they endured was inevitable. The counterattacking 152 had a kill radius large enough to cover most of Grafki Village. If they were all enemies, then let them all go to hell! - ``` Chapter 393 393: Section 389 - Counterattack Compared to activation speed, magic often isn''t as fast as special abilities. The earth mage, struggling with dizziness, finally finished chanting the incantation. The spell was activated, and a dirt wall more than ten feet high rose outside the vehicle. This belated defense could only be described as barely better than nothing. "Damn it! Run!" Upon hearing that his younger brother was about to unleash his power, the A-grade metal ability user Kiterly abandoned his enemies and sprinted towards the outskirts of the village. Artillery bombardment was no joke. His special ability armor couldn''t withstand a close-range bombardment from a 152mm shell. A single 152mm shell falling could turn the entire village into a death zone. A gust of wind roared in, followed by drum-like brisk hoofbeats, as a hand reached out in front of Kiterley. "Get on!" The A-grade metal ability user didn''t hesitate, grabbed the holy knight''s hand, and swung onto the back of the Blue Scaled Colt. This second rank wind beast effortlessly carried the two men towards the edge of the village. "Aooooh, aooooh..." On the other side of the village, the second rank thunder series war professional, Apu, unable to catch this convenient ride, burst out with battle qi flame, bellowing as he strode away from the battlefield with his thick legs. When the ambushers inside the village sensed something was amiss, a 152mm shell heavily bombed the west side of Grafki Village. The houses there disintegrated in an instant, flattened to the ground, and the attackers were obliterated, their bones reduced to dust. The shockwave from the demolition bomb quickly swept through the center of the village, tossing many bodies into the air. Defensive abilities flickered out, lives were extinguished¡ªit seemed they were all low-rank ability users, unable to withstand heavy weaponry. When real war came, they often became mere cannon fodder. Barely escaping the blast radius, the two on the back of the Blue Scaled Colt were still shaken, their chests stuffy, stars appearing before their eyes. The second rank wind beast, Blue Scaled Colt Mini, kept spewing blood but did not slow down, causing the holy knight immense distress. He desperately released one of his few mastered light-based spells, the Light Healing Technique. Big guy Apu was simply pressed under a wall, his body feeling as if it were about to fall apart. It took him a long while to catch his breath. Fortunately, the mobile base vehicle had launched a 152mm demolition bomb. Had it been a 203mm or larger, it would have been a miracle if the three had survived. Kiterley looked back, half the village reduced to flat ground, and murmured, "Damn, that was harsh!" "''Adam,'' aim for 30 meters outside the south of the village! One 152, fire!" In Chen Fei''s view, the locations of Apu, Kiterley, and Knight Sam were all marked, carefully avoiding their positions with the killing radius of the demolition bomb, re-setting the impact point before ordering another launch. Take advantage of the enemy''s illness, and take the enemy''s life! No one wanted to endure a second round of missile and magic attacks, and naturally, it was like a lion fighting a rabbit, giving their all. Whoever held back would die first, striking first to gain advantage, striking late to meet calamity. As a fighter pilot, Chen Fei clearly understood this principle. Boom!~ The shockwave swept through the south of the village. Though the impact point was outside the village, the shockwave still covered part of it, sending countless debris into the sky. "Apu, get up and run far! You''re getting in my way!" Chen Fei urged the thunder series war professional who was still playing dead under a pile of bricks. Just a wall wasn''t enough to crush someone of his rank to death instantly; if it really had killed him, well, then he was dead, and there was nothing more to say¡ªno need for explanations for unfortunate ones. "Oh oh! I''m on it!" A pile of bricks rose, and Apu, covered in dust and dirt, crawled out, dragging his great sword as he continued to sprint into the distance. Fortunately, everyone''s communicators continued to work without any malfunction, maintaining clear contact with each other. "Adam" thoughtfully marked the impact point and the radius of the blast area on the circle covering the area, as Chen Fei gestured in front of his view. "Center of the village, one 152, fire!" This time, he could finally execute a ferocious Black Tiger Heart Extraction. In the center of Grafki Village, a missile trailing flames and thick smoke rose, barely lifting off before the incoming shell from beyond the village had already arrived. The instantly expanding shockwave of white light swept everything away, the missile not even managing to fly out of the village before prematurely exploding mid-air; its remnants, along with remaining fuel, fell outside the village, igniting a fierce fire. "How many are left? Capture them alive!" The first rank fire mage Adrian immediately pulled open the car door and dashed out, leading the charge. The counterattack ambush, twisted by heavy bombardment, finally reached its final climactic stage. At this moment, the holy knight and the A-grade metal ability user returned to where the mobile base vehicle was located, just in time to face the few remaining attackers, with Mouri Misono and the Neanderthal Chief Bassan hot on their heels. Now, the Blue Scaled Colt only carried the holy knight Walter Sam, who had acted quickly due to the urgency of the situation, merely giving Kiterley a ride out of consideration for his knight partner. Despite being a second rank magical beast, the magical beast had its own pride and dignity, and would not so easily abandon its principles. "Be careful! Secret Technique, Mountain Splitting!" The Neanderthal Chief, Bassan, flashed and the next second appeared behind a duo consisting of a horse rider and an A-rank Metal Ability User. His body, covered in bright red war patterns that glowed intensely, roared as he fiercely chopped his Single-toothed Long Halberd into the empty air. "Hah!!!" Crack! The blade of the halberd suddenly fell off, and Bassan''s entire body was thrown backward at the same time. "There''s an enemy!" The A-rank Metal Ability User instantly positioned himself in front of the Holy Knight and the Blue Scaled Colt, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he thickened his Special Ability Armor layer by layer, gritting his teeth and fully activating his special ability. In the midst of a crackling sound, pieces of armor continuously peeled off, revealing deep cuts that extended all the way to Kiterley''s own arms before finally disappearing. "Who goes there?" The Holy Knight, quick to respond, vigorously channeled his Light System Battle Qi, swinging his Knight''s Greatsword repeatedly. Fierce sword qi howled out with each swing. Pop!~ Pop!~ There was an odd disturbance in the air, and a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. "It''s a Space Series Ability User, damn it, damn it! ''Destruction Red Arrow''!" Adrian quickly discerned the situation and harshly thrust forward with a Fire Spell. Limited by his rank, as a Low Rank Fire Mage, the spells he could cast in a short period of time were limited, especially if they needed to be powerful. Before the Flame Arrow hit, the figure who had revealed themselves dodged, disappearing from the spot. Bang!~ The flames erupted, covering a ten-feet radius and melting all the surrounding snow with its intense heat. "He''s gone again, be careful!" The Holy Knight looked around vigilantly to avoid any surprise attacks from the mysterious Space Series Ability User. "Bassan, are you alright?" Mouri Misono rushed to the side of the Neanderthal Chief. "Hehe, I''m fine!" Bassan lay on the ground motionless, his pale face highlighting a cut that ran from his left shoulder to his right hip, nearly cleaving him in two. "Mini, move closer to Bassan!" The Holy Knight lightly squeezed his legs, and his mount the Blue Scaled Colt immediately galloped towards the Neanderthal Chief and Mouri Misono. Staying together made them less susceptible to being picked off individually, and his Light Healing Technique could be of some assistance. Walter Sam also noticed that Kiterley, who had just shielded him, seemed to be quite hurt, asking, "Kiterley, are you alright?" "I''m fine!" The A-rank Metal Ability User took a deep breath, the metallic sheen on his arms slowly faded along with the cuts, eventually disappearing. The fallen pieces of armor merged back into his Special Ability Armor, regaining their original form. However, the thickness of the Special Ability Armor had more than doubled, now resembling the all-encompassing armor of a Heavy Infantry. But beneath the faceplate, Kiterley looked completely drained, the damage having nearly severed his arms on the spot. The disappearing shadow reappeared quickly; this time, it didn''t attack team 04 but instead moved to the side of the residual forces that had earlier attempted to storm the Mobile Base Vehicle. Before Adrian''s Fourth Rank Fire Spell "Falling Star Flame" roared in, the Space Series Ability User, along with a few surviving attackers, vanished from their spots. A barrage of bombardments ensued, but they left not even a trace. The frustrated Low Rank Fire Mage clenched his teeth and said, "A Space Series Ability User? How is that possible?" Whoever the opponent was, it was extraordinary to have a Space Series Ability User at their disposal. Space, Light, and Dark, these elements were all highly scrutinized among ability users, whether low or high rank, none could evade the Sovereign''s sight. Being able to employ a high-ranked Space Series Ability User without the Sovereign''s knowledge was no small feat. The village that had been flattened by the 152 Demolition Bomb shook like it was hit by an earthquake, then eventually calmed down. Ruan Tiankai, also an Earth Mage, concentrated for a moment before making a judgment. "Someone activated an Earth Magic, they''ve transferred underground." He was alone, and the enemy likely had not only Earth Mages but also Earth Element Ability Users. Focused on fleeing, Ruan Tiankai couldn''t stop them on his own. - Chapter 394 394: Section 390 - After the War Gathering together, Mouri Misono, Kiterley, Apu, and Adrian remained on high alert for quite a while before finally confirming that the Space Series Ability User had left the scene. It seemed that the other party was only there to save someone and had no intention of fighting with them. Although the attacks of Space Series abilities were exceptionally sharp, their limitations were similarly significant. If Team 04 hadn''t cared about casualties, the final outcome of who would fall remained uncertain. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley, still shaken, said, "That just now was..." Had the space cutting been a fraction stronger, it wouldn''t have been just his arms at risk¡ªhe would have been fortunate to keep his life. Adrian nodded affirmatively, "Sub-Phase Skill!" Even as a Fire Mage, his breadth of knowledge allowed him to discern exactly what the opponents'' strange technique was all about. The "membrane" between subspace and real space, known as Sub-Phase, is unobservable and undetectable, even immune to any attacks. If not for the need to attack or save someone, there would be no reason to expose oneself. To date, only a very few Space Series Ability Users could master skills related to the Sub-Phase. "We are just one of the teams, is it really necessary?" Indeed, Kiterley felt privileged to have such a being take action against them. "Of course, it''s necessary! So many Ability Users laying in ambush¡ªif they were all wiped out, the enemy''s loss would be significant. It''s probably the ''Water Bear''; other forces wouldn''t be so mindless." As Adrian said this, a chill enveloped his heart, thinking that an organization like "Water Bear" could command such a Space Series Ability User. The strength of this organization was beyond imagination. Team 04, affiliated with the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, represented one aspect of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s enforcement will. To counter it was to challenge the Joint Defense Committee and the entire human race of Blue Star. These crazed guys really dared! Yet the "Water Bear" organization still retained some sense. If they played a game of brinkmanship with the Global United Defense Committee, there was no doubt they would lose. After all, with the entire Blue Star Civilization backing the Global United Defense Committee¡ªwhether it be in terms of economics, equipment, or talent¡ªthey could easily crush any non-sovereign organization. Since they couldn''t afford a one-on-one fight, escaping after a rescue became the obvious course of action. Fortunately, the battle was finally over. However, for the "Water Bear" organization and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the war had just begun. "Bassan, Bassan, you have to stay strong, please save Bassan, he''s seriously injured!" Mouri Misono continually called out, trying to maintain the clarity of the wounded Neanderthal Chief''s consciousness. "Quickly, take him back to the vehicle, Knight Sam, first stabilize Bassan''s condition, then have Lulu''an and Xiao Jiu join forces." While speaking, Adrian took out a rigid stretcher from his Space System Alchemy Storage Device and carefully placed the severely injured and bleeding Neanderthal Chief onto it. Under the severe cold weather, either hypothermia or blood loss could prove fatal. "Alright!" Despite his magic power being almost depleted from casting "Light Healing Technique" multiple times, the Holy Knight persisted in casting spells, doing his utmost to keep the Neanderthal Chief Bassan alive. So long as there was a breath in him, there was still hope for salvation. Despite the burly Bassan''s considerable weight, there was no shortage of strength at the scene, and he was swiftly taken into the Mobile Base Vehicle. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley detached blades from his Special Ability Armor and made more than ten cuts, stripping away the clothes covering Bassan''s wounds with such precision that not a single slice touched the skin. Although Lulu''an was a Magical Beast Tree Boundary Ape, adept in Wood System Spells and versed in herbalism, performing a surgery like suturing was not a big issue. Using special plant fibers for thread, along with hemostatic powder and modern plasma bags, he skillfully stitched up the Neanderthal Chief''s wound, even thoughtfully realigning the separated War Patterns. "Chirp!" Little Bird, who had failed to initiate the "Light Mirror Spell" before, managed to cast the Second-Rank Healing Spell "Light of Redemption" without much issue. A light orb, about the size of a fist, entered the Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s chest, enveloping him in a faint light, reinvigorating his vitality. The once life-threatening wound visibly healed at an impressive speed. After receiving a transfusion with artificial universal blood plasma compatible with all blood types, Neanderthal Chief Bassan slowly opened his eyes and said weakly, "Thank you!" Especially as he looked at the Little Bird hopping around on his chest, his expression grew even more gentle. "Rest well, Bassan!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape glanced at the Pure Light Sparrow and began packing up his things. Its healing methods are akin to those of traditional Chinese medicine, which beyond oral and topical treatments, similarly boasts surgical skills that have been transmitted early on and played at quite a high level. "At last, he''s been saved!" Sitting to the side, Adrian let out a long sigh as he rubbed his forehead. It was a very close call. Squad 04 nearly suffered a casualty and would have lost a significant force in combat. Even now, they haven''t spared any effort to search for the mostly flattened Grafki Village. After the advent of magic, Battle Qi, and supernatural powers, the secret techniques of the Neanderthal tribe have begun to fall behind. There''s a saying that the digital intelligent construct Cybertrom opened the "Dimensional Gate (Halo of the Gate)" in low Earth orbit. With the continuous influx of active elemental energy from Cangqiong Star into Blue Star, the Blue Star Humans began the Awakening of their own supernatural powers, special abilities! Compared with the fast-acting, defensively and offensively capable, and skill-rich special abilities, the secret techniques of the Neanderthal tribe seem to be strong in offense but weak in defense. Once their attack was blocked, they could easily become vulnerable to slaughter. Even without the reinforcement from the Cangqiong Star Civilization, the Neanderthal tribe of the Third Era Civilization, having depleted all resources, could not win the final victory. There would be no surprises in the war between the two civilizations. Adrian looked at the somewhat dispirited A-rank metal elemental psychic power user and said, "Kiterley, let Lulu''an have a look at your hand." "Ow, I''ve already said I''m fine!" The special ability armor contracted into a fitted small vest, and Kiterley rubbed his arm, which already showed no sign of injury. Adrian insisted, "Whether you''re fine or not, the medic decides. Lulu''an, please also check on the others." "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu distributed a "Light Healing Technique" to everyone¡ªafter all, it was free. The consumed light element could be quickly replenished from the light-element magical beast crystal core inside its nest. Meditation was a thing of the past; there was no need for it. Just lying down and sleeping was enough. The appointed Old Tree Boundary Ape immediately began to check the physical health of all members, ensuring they maintained optimal combat strength. "Umm, err, do we need to call for backup?" Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, the local police liaison who hadn''t been of any help during the entire ordeal and had been trembling and screaming, asked with a smile as she pointed to her phone screen. The high-intensity fighting was too thrilling; spells whistled through the air, cannon fire roared, and it was rare to see a battle of equals last three hundred rounds. Once engaged, it was a matter of life and death, with the outcome often determined within seconds¡ªthere was no luck involved, and death came too quickly for one to react. Even now, the young lady''s face was still pale, her heart filled with terror. "Hmm, let''s call for help after we''ve cleared the battlefield," Originally, Adrian intended to agree but after some thought, he decided not to immediately involve the local police. The ambush at Grafki Village was most likely a retaliatory action by the "Water Bear" organization targeting the new department formed by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division." This was no longer a situation local law enforcement could handle. If there was a half-dead fish slipping through the net, in its dying struggles, it could likely cause unnecessary casualties. After a brief rest, the Holy Knight, A-rank metal ability user Kiterley, and the Thunder Series warrior Apu¡ªall three key combat personnel¡ªhad recovered to their prime state and could rejoin the battle. Mouri Misono was somewhat drained and needed more rest. To rejoin the fight, she would need to wait another 24 hours. The Holy Knight''s mount, the Wind System Second Rank magical beast Green Scaled Colt Mini, was in a similar condition. After consecutive full-powered sprints and the shock from the heavy artillery''s remaining force causing internal damage, it too needed a day''s rest¡ªthere was no way around it. Neanderthal Chief Bassan, seriously wounded and awaiting healing, would be unable to engage in strenuous activity for at least four to five days, thus unfit for combat. The A-rank psychic ability user and puppet master Joshua, having lost almost half of his constructed puppet warriors and with his spirit power impaired, could only control two puppet warriors at most. Participating in combat was utterly impossible, these two puppets were just enough to defend the mobile base vehicle. The unharmed included the fire mage Adrian, the earth mage Ruan Tiankai, the Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, B-rank ice ability user Susanna, and B-rank metal ability user Chen Fei. Excluding Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, Squad 04 still retained most of its combat strength. For the clearing operation in Grafki Village, the Thunder Series warrior Apu and the Holy Knight, now serving on foot, along with the fire mage Adrian and the B-rank ice ability user Susanna would provide rear support. As the seasoned driver, Chen Fei remained inside the mobile base vehicle to offer long-range fire support. In such cold weather, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu couldn''t fly out of the warm cabin without risk; a little carelessness and it could quickly become a frozen Sparrow. The site of Grafki Village, which had just witnessed a formidable battle of ability users and heavy artillery fire, was now deathly silent except for the howling winds that whipped up dry, cold snow. The four members of Squad 04 proceeded into the village cautiously, adopting a two-front, two-rear formation. Susanna, the B-rank ice ability user, immediately invoked her power, turning snow into ice and erecting towering ice walls to divide the entire village into different sections. Adrian held a fireball in hand, covering for Holy Knight Walter Sam and Thunder Series warrior Apu as they searched diligently through each and every building or ruin within the village. - Chapter 395 395: Section 391 - New Instruction "...No villagers found, they may be detained elsewhere...we need support..." Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, acting as the liaison officer, reported the latest situation to the Tunguska Regional Police Headquarters. The cleanup team of Squad 04 spent over two hours thoroughly searching the village of Grafki, inside and out, even turning over the ruins. Regrettably, Adrian and his colleagues didn''t find any survivors, only seventeen bodies; nearly half of them lay outside the village, the very people who had attempted to ambush the Mobile Base Vehicle. Fortunately, Mouri Misono and the Neanderthal Chief Bassan had joined forces to intercept them, preventing a successful attack. The heads of three of the bodies within the village were nowhere to be found, leaving only splatters of blood and flesh, suggesting they may have chosen suicide due to severe injuries and the inability to escape. Others had not witnessed such a gruesome method of suicide before, but Chen Fei had seen it with his own eyes, hence he speculated in this direction. In addition to railgun weapons and directed-energy weapons, over a dozen types of conventional firearms such as anti-tank missiles, large-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns, and heavy sniper rifles were discovered. Some had been used, while others had not yet been deployed in combat. Once ability users were on alert, conventional firearms often posed little direct threat. Of course, exclusions like the 152, which is a cheat-code, map-level artillery piece, cannot be overlooked; even Earth Order or Class A strong individuals, if hit at close range, would be severely injured if not killed. The Mobile Base Vehicle slowly drove into the village to guard the scene and wait for support personnel from the Tunguska Police. Although the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could mobilize a considerable number of ability users, matching and even surpassing some of the mid-sized sovereign powers in comprehensive combat ability, they inherently lacked in intelligence work. After all, the committee''s adversaries were mutants lacking intelligence, negating the need for a human intelligence department entirely. Now, with the sudden appearance of the human-predominant "Water Bear" organization, they had to rely on the intelligence channels of various sovereign powers. The ambush on the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" special action squad of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Grafki Village was very likely orchestrated by the Water Bear organization according to intelligence experts from all sides. This organization not only secretly breeds and proliferates highly aggressive mutants, but it also seems to remain deeply hidden, unaffected by the establishment of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" and the assistance of multiple sovereign powers. Instead, by continually releasing false information and setting ambush traps, the organization has kept the conflict between the two parties intense and ongoing. This shows that their planning and operational capabilities are far beyond those of ordinary forces, so the establishment of the targeted action department, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," by the Global United Defense Committee Members was clearly a timely and wise move. So from the very beginning, when they released the news to collect prehistoric biological specimens from the tundra, it was a trap targeting Adrian and his team, almost waiting for the Mobile Base Vehicle to walk right into their net in Grafki Village. Fortunately, the team leader, First Rank fire mage Adrian Benjamin, was not careless. Although Squad 04 was caught off guard, they quickly stabilized their ranks and succeeded in the counterattack, driving off the ambushers who left behind more than a dozen bodies before the survivors fled in disarray. After the female liaison officer Tanya reported to her superiors, it wasn''t until the next morning that personnel from the Tunguska Police reached the scene. Apart from a team of police vehicles flashing their lights, there were more than a dozen armored vehicles and hundreds of fully armed soldiers. The local garrison of the Tunguska Region had also sent a team to assist the police in placing the entire village under martial law. At the same time, they searched for the missing villagers. It was not until the evening of the third day that the police finally found the missing villagers of Grafki Village, trapped inside a cabin in the middle of the forest. The massive cabin with no doors or windows clearly bore the traces of Wood System Spells, with only slivers of daylight acting as ventilation. If the police hadn''t found this place in time, the villagers, with little food and water, might have frozen or starved to death. As for how they ended up here, no one could say for sure, as if they woke up to find themselves in this cabin. Only two or three dim lights barely allowed them to find the food, water, and blankets left in the house, and it was these items that the villagers had relied on to hold out until now. It seems that the "Water Bear" organization was not so heartless after all, probably holding back due to reservations. If they really dared to take such extreme measures, not only the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but all sovereignties would join hands to uproot this organization at all costs. An entity capable of challenging the entire Blue Star civilization simply does not exist on Blue Star. Soon after, Squad 04 received several public news bulletins: an A-rank Space System Ability User from the Aphiliya Continent suddenly suffered a heart attack and passed away despite rescue efforts, then an A-rank Space System Ability User from the Henghai Peninsula died in a drunken driving car crash. Several well-known ability users from the Ocean Continent got into an argument over celebrity chasing, which escalated into a fight, leaving a villa leveled to the ground. These ability users were collectively injured and hospitalized, among other incidents... After all, with a population base of several billion, Blue Star has well-known personalities dying or getting injured every day, with deaths occurring constantly. The demise of an ability user or two each day is not at all surprising, nor is it sufficient to shake the foundation of the entire human race. However, when such social news was passed onto Squad 04 by the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," it became thought-provoking. These "deaths from heart attacks," "deaths from car accidents," and "serious injuries from fights" - Adrian and the others knew exactly what they meant after reading the news. That day, they had severely wounded the Neanderthal Chief Bassan and captured several attackers. The identity of a Space System Ability User associated with the attack was exposed, resulting in an unforgiving hunt and certain casualties. Losing two A-rank ability users in one go, and while it was unclear from the news content who the main culprit was, it was certain that one of them was involved. Moreover, the culprit had drawn in a fellow A-rank capability user of the same series as a scapegoat, and several others were seriously injured. It was evident just how powerful that A-rank ability user working in the shadows for the "Water Bear" organization was and how fierce the desperate battle they fought in their last stand was. After handing over Grafki Village to the returning villagers and the local police, the Mobile Base Vehicle carrying Squad 04 members received new orders while en route back to the abandoned farm: to head to Yarsk City, the capital of the Tunguska Region. Though unclear about this command, the experienced driver Chen Fei still drove the massive vehicle through the snow. Its 4.5 meters wide body took up most of the road, but there was no need to worry about oncoming vehicles needing to pass; in fact, there were none at all. Apart from professional heavy vehicles, almost no other cars could forge a path through the thick snow. As a result, it didn''t take long for a long line of civilian vehicles taking advantage of the cleared path to follow behind the Mobile Base Vehicle. Squad 04 members were already accustomed to this. In the sparsely populated and snow-covered Tunguska Region, waiting for government departments to clear the snow and open the roads could take forever. Staying at home and hibernating was the normal way to get through the winter. It was rare for such a large vehicle to pass by, disregarding the thick snow and clearing a navigable road. So, the local people took the opportunity to drive out, whether to visit friends and relatives or to shop, as big snowfalls in the Siberian winter were frequent and the chances to restore transportation were few and far between. Even the capital of the Tunguska Region, Yarsk City''s central district, remained sparsely populated, with commerce at a near-standstill; only supermarkets and stores selling daily necessities would be open for about four to five hours a day. Following orders, the Mobile Base Vehicle arrived at a hotel. There weren''t many guests in the hotel, but the heating was cranked up high. After parking the vehicle, they hardly needed additional clothing and hurried a few steps into an environment as warm as spring. "Still brimming with unadulterated malice, as usual!" Chen Fei once again saw the blond little sister at the Habulav check-in counter, staring at him with a mocking face. From the first impression, he had continuously been in terrible standing in her eyes, as if naturally incompatible. Damn, blaming me now? Next to her stood Rossi, the dedicated liaison officer of Squad 04, the hawk-eyed and aquiline-nosed fellow who was actually willing to leave the warm office in Habulav for the frigid Siberian climate. Chen Fei returned a murderous, icy smile, no longer restraining the release of his malicious thoughts. "Heh heh!" First shave a yin-yang haircut for her, then tattoo a toad, feed her fatty meat three times a day, lock her in a non-spiked Iron Maiden, and in one month she would turn into a Water Tank Auntie, a Tunguska Region specialty. Then get Lulu''an to plant some Grace Grass for her, and whip her soul out of her body eight times a day with a pepper-spray-soaked old leather whip. Why fatten her up so much? Because when the subcutaneous fat fills out, the skin surface area increases, and the pain is exquisite!! "You... you..." Nicole von Sasha, an A-grade Psychic Ability User, turned pale at the horrifying thoughts that hit her like a wave, pointing at Chen Fei, speechless. Mind Reading Technique is indeed a great thing, but damn, you''ve got to choose who to read! "What''s wrong, Nicole?" Rossi, with a sour face, noticed the abnormal reaction of the woman next to him. "Demon!!!" The blond little sister finally couldn''t hold it in anymore and screamed. "Huh?" Adrian, who stood at the very front of the group, looked bewilderedly at the clearly distressed woman, then turned back to look at the members of Squad 04. Chen Fei wore an innocent face, while the Little Bird on his shoulder cocked its head. "Tweet?" This kind of psychic confrontation was invisible to the naked eye; despite faces being known, hearts remained a mystery, making it impossible to discern the truth. After exchanging glances, Liaison Officer Rossi and Adrian frowned and said to the female A-grade Psychic Ability User accompanying them, "Nicole, what''s the matter with you? Maybe you should rest a bit. Adrian, you and the rest come with me to the conference room." An entire floor of the hotel had been booked, including a small conference room. A true expert in psychology, A-grade Psychic Ability User Nicole von Sasha quickly suppressed her emotional turbulence, glaring resentfully at Chen Fei from Squad 04. She spoke in a normal tone, "I''m fine, I''m fine!" "Alright then, let''s focus on the important matters at hand!" Liaison Officer Rossi''s gaze shifted towards the Tunguska Police female liaison officer at the back of Squad 04, mustering a faint smile. "Officer Tanya, I''m Rossi, the liaison in charge of Adrian and his team. Please join us as well for our confidential meeting." The local police representative was essential. The Bear Hunting Special Operations Division needed real local intelligence channels to carry out operations smoothly, and the current situation demanded full support from the local officer, so building a good relationship was a necessary prerequisite. Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, who was originally unsure how to approach the situation, quickly nodded, "Oh, oh, okay, Mr. Rossi." Lucky me, to sit in on these high-level ability users'' confidential meetings, there''s bound to be extraordinary information! - Chapter 396 396: Section 392 - Fallen from the Sky The meeting room, capable of accommodating over a hundred people, contained only a large rectangular table surrounded by chairs. When everyone sat down, there were exactly no spare chairs, nor was any chair left unoccupied. Accompanied by Liaison Officer Rossi to the capital of the Tunguska Region, Yarsk City was Nicole von Sasha, a Grade A Psychic Ability User. From the beginning until the end, she kept staring intently at Chen Fei, who, once seated, had simply sprawled across the table, resting his head on his arms and softly snoring. Little Bird jumped directly onto Chen Fei''s head and began to nest there, as if incubating his somewhat fatigued brain. Ultimately, Chen''s unease stemmed from his distrust of "Adam," the AI that was constantly startled by anything, incapable of handling sudden emergencies. While others could comfortably sleep inside the vehicle, Chen Fei had to sit upright at the driver''s seat, constantly monitoring the vehicle''s driving state. "Adrian, about the Grafki Village case, do you have anything to say?" Once seated, Liaison Officer Rossi immediately gave the team captain of Squad 04 a cold look and went straight to the point. Adrian sighed internally, feeling helpless, and said, "Everything has already been detailed in the report, identical to what was forwarded to the Tunguska Police." The moment he saw the blonde lady next to Rossi, he already knew very well why she was there. The attack they had experienced in Grafki Village was clearly a well-planned operation. From another perspective, the Mobile Base Vehicle''s movements were completely known by the ambushers. This meant that there were likely moles around or even within Squad 04. The role of liaison and assistance in interrogation by Tanya, a Grade C Psychic Ability User, wasn''t sufficient for this type of investigation, hence the deployment of a higher-ranked interrogation specialist, the blonde lady, Nicole von Sasha. However, from the moment she arrived, she clashed with Chen Fei, who was full of malice, which truly caused headaches. He wondered where the kid got such intense killer vibes, not knowing to restrain himself a bit? "It''s been nearly a month, and you haven''t achieved anything here but still got ambushed. Look at the others, Squad 03 thwarted three ambushes and captured a prisoner, Squad 08 discovered vital clues and captured an important member of the Water Bear organization, and Squad 19 even destroyed a Water Bear breeding base." As was unexpected by anyone in Squad 04, after simmering for a moment, Liaison Officer Rossi slammed the table and erupted. "Tch, as if it''s easy! Look at this place; in a hundred kilometers around our station, there''s not even a shadow to chase. Who are we supposed to find? Who are we supposed to capture?" Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User, could no longer contain her frustration and retorted sharply. The straightforward and imposing Apu blurted out, "Exactly, exactly! If you can do it, then you go. If not, then stop complaining!" During the ambush, their lives had truly hung by a thread. Lucky for him, he ran fast; otherwise, he would have been killed on the spot by a shot that didn''t discriminate between friend and foe. Only after experiencing a heavy cannon barrage did he truly understand the terrifying power of a railgun firing a 152-caliber shell. "Jiu!" Little Bird, disturbed by the arguing, lifted its head, tilted it, and then hopped off Chen Fei''s head, bouncing around on the conference table. One moment he peeked at the coffee in the cup in front of Adrian, a first-rank Fire System Mage; the next moment, he trod on the mobile screen of Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono; then he hopped beside the fruit plate, stretching his neck to stealthily peck at the fruits, drenching his beak with juice, acting as if no one else was present, treating the conference table as his own playground. What meeting, what "Water Bear" organization, what Global United Defense Committee? What does he care about those? Seemingly provoked by Apu and Susanna, Liaison Officer Rossi slammed the table and roared, "Have you gotten too comfortable? Look at what you''ve done in Siberia! Such a big place, go out, search, interrogate, but what now, who have you caught? Do I still need to teach you how to handle things?" It had to be said, the guy''s words were indeed poisonous, rendering Adrian and others pale-faced, yet unable to rebut. After all, the task was too vague; if Team 04 took too much initiative, they might offend the local snakes, the Tunguska Police Department. If any disputes arose, Rossi would kick back without hesitation; definitely not taking the blame for that. Not sure if she was formally participating or merely observing, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna of the Tunguska Police turned pale¡ªthis uncle was terrifying! Rossi, being the liaison officer, naturally ranked above Team 04. Adrian quickly signaled Apu and Susanna with his eyes, asking them not to speak out of turn. The B-rank Ice Ability User directly rolled his eyes, kept quiet, and gave Adrian that much face. "Damn it, as if I..." Honest boy Apu couldn''t catch the hint. His eyes as big as copper bells were about to glare angrily, but Joshua, quick with his reflexes, promptly covered his mouth. The others looked relieved, narrowly avoiding adding fuel to the fire. They sat waiting for Rossi to finish spewing his saliva, hoping this episode would pass. Advance a step, and you''re trapped; retreat, and the sky''s the limit; endure a moment, and the stars appear. Everyone could see, as much as they hated Rossi''s foul temper, at least he didn''t withhold Team 04''s supplies or information support, nor did he have a habit of dredging up old issues, otherwise there''d be no end to it. "What the hell? Apu, you got a problem?" Rossi''s eyes narrowed, glaring furiously at the Thunder Series Warrior. "I... hiss, no, nothing!" Two hands, one on each side, forcefully grabbed Apu''s sides, suppressing the nonsense he was about to blurt out. "You should learn to take the initiative, not sit all day inside the Mobile Base Vehicle. Intelligence isn''t going to fall from the sky; will the enemy''s list just appear before you?" Xiao Jiu hopped past Liaison Officer Rossi, who roared and pounded the table, pecked at the leg ring, and then skipped away, but a stack of documents had appeared where it left, just in time to be hit by Rossi''s nosediving fist, emitting a dull thud. Liaison Officer Rossi wouldn''t take it out on a Pure Light Sparrow and chose to ignore it, looking down at the stack of documents that somehow appeared before him, muttering, "What the heck? Eh!" Each document was full of personal information, name, date of birth, gender, Social Welfare Number, educational background, position, authority level, plus a photo. Where the hell did these things come from? Was it me getting too excited and letting them leak from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device? But I have no recollection of these documents at all! Someone with sharp eyes spotted a page on top that looked like a resume. Everyone, puzzled, turned to look at Rossi, not knowing what the Liaison Officer was up to this time. "..." The conference room fell into a deathly silence. "Huh?" Mao Mei from Tunguska cocked her head, puzzled by the atmosphere. Was there some new development? "Ahem!" Rossi feigned calmness and cleared his throat, pushing the stack of mysteriously appearing documents to the blonde lady, Nicole, beside him and whispered, "Nicole, help me check these people''s information, now, immediately, right away!" "Yes!" Nicole von Sasha, a Level A Psychic Ability User, took out her phone and launched the Social Citizen Information Identification Module. As long as they were registered citizens of Blue Star, no matter their sovereignty, they could obtain the most detailed information immediately, including personal capabilities and criminal records, even Cangqiong Star citizens with entry records could have their files accessed. After flipping through just three or four pages, the blonde lady suddenly exclaimed. "This person, this person is a member of the ''Water Bear'' organization, who was just killed in an operation by Team 19 recently." The identity of one of the persons was recognized, making this stack of documents suddenly very important. To err is to kill, not to overlook... Hearing her words, Team 04 exchanged glances. What exactly were Liaison Officer Rossi and that Level A Psychic Ability User playing at? Was the meeting to continue, or had it clearly veered off course? After flipping through a few more pages, the identification results came almost instantly, identifying another "Water Bear" organization member because his true identity was confirmed due to being killed. "Rossi, Rossi!" Nicole von Sasha took a deep breath, her expression serious, and said, "These personal details, they might really be..." "''Water Bear''!" Rossi obviously had already guessed the answer. He had only speculated before, but now had confirmed some of it from the blonde lady, even though not all had been verified, the suspicion on others greatly increased. Liaison Officer Rossi would never believe that the "Water Bear" organization member''s documents had just appeared in the storage space of his Space System Alchemy Storage Device without his knowledge, and certainly not that he had released them. So... it must be that bird! He stared intently at the lively Little Bird bouncing around, those leg rings looked damn suspicious. Rossi took a deep breath and said, "This list, why didn''t you bring it out earlier?" "Huh?"¡Á12! The entire Team 04 was baffled. What list, how to bring it out? Mr. Liaison Officer, are you out of your mind? Hey, the psychologist next to you, stop zoning out, hurry up and check on Liaison Officer Rossi! "What are these expressions on your faces?" Rossi, puzzled by the weird expressions of the crowd, furrowed his brows. Adrian, feeling utterly devastated inside, tentatively said, "Mr. Rossi, didn''t you pull out these documents yourself?" This crazy Liaison Officer, is he ever going to stop?! At least in everyone''s eyes, the stack of documents had appeared under Rossi''s hands. They all thought this guy was actually going to teach Team 04 how to work! "Not me! I didn''t! Stop talking nonsense!" - Chapter 397 397: Section 393 - The Real "Lie A textbook-style triple denial; Rossi wouldn''t dare take credit for this, wondering what story he could possibly concoct when asked later where he got it from. Let''s not forget the mind-reading blonde elder sister sitting right next to him¡ªall lies are but paper tigers, easily punctured with a gentle poke. By then, he''d definitely be strung up; there was no way he could answer! So why ask for trouble? "Huh?" x13! Another blonde elder sister with a face full of disbelief appeared. After scolding Team 04 with a barrage of insults, she rolled up her sleeves to handle it herself. What kind of ghostly maneuver is this?! Little did Liaison Officer Rossi know, in the eyes of everyone else, he had become an absolute basket case¡ªhow utterly insane. Can he scold them? No! He was right; it was the bird''s fault! "It''s that one! It''s that very one!" Rossi pointed without hesitation at the little bird hopping farther and farther away on the tabletop. He had eagle eyes and could not be fooled; this damn bird was trying to sneak by, treating him like a monkey, absolutely no way!!! "Huh?" x13! The venue suddenly plunged into an embarrassingly awkward atmosphere. This was indeed a bit outrageous! He could have randomly pointed at anyone, even Liaison Officer Tanya from the Tunguska Police would be fine, at least that could be taken as a surprise from the local police for the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division." But why pick on a little bird; did he have a grievance with Chen Fei? If he had a grievance, he could just say it plainly and kick him out of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" directly; out of sight, out of mind¡ªmuch cleaner, rather than these roundabout tricks that made everyone uncomfortable and far from refreshing. Rossi took the stack of "Water Bear" organization suspect resumes from in front of the blonde elder sister beside him, shook them in his hand, and then said, "This list was thrown out by the Pure Light Sparrow, huh, are you trying to make a fool out of me?" The more he thought about it, the angrier he became; he was being set up for a fall! Quite the pretender! The misunderstanding between them was racing toward an irretrievable conclusion, impossible to turn back in a short time. "Hold on, hold on, let me sort this out!" Adrian, whose mind was a bit muddled, took a deep breath and asked in confusion, "Liaison Officer Rossi, you''re saying that Little Jiu took out this information, but from where?" As he spoke, he stared intently at the right middle finger of Liaison Officer Rossi. The finger ring on the other party''s hand almost exactly matched his own Spatial System Alchemy Storage Device, and it was obviously some kind of standard storage equipment for items. Although ordinary people''s spiritual power is insufficient to use Spatial Storage Artifacts, with the aid of magic potion enhancements, special training methods, or some other stimulating approach, it is still possible to force an increase in potential to the point where they can barely use it. If Little Jiu were a Light-element Magical Beast, Adrian and others might have believed it, but it is undoubtedly a Pure Light Sparrow, a Third Order Light-element Magical Beast without a doubt. For a Light-element Magical Beast to use Space Series skills, it''s simply unscientific! Rossi pointed to the little bird that had just hopped in front of the Tunguska Police Liaison Officer Tanya and said furiously, "Its leg ring is the Storage Magical Device!" "Huh?" x13! Chen Fei''s dad wore the exact same expression. What? The leg ring Boss Hana bought for Little Jiu is a Space System Alchemy Storage Device? Since when did bird leg rings reach such a high-end level? Is the storage space meant to keep snacks? Also... Space System Alchemy Storage Devices are actually available for purchase? The biggest problem is, even Boss Hana herself doesn''t have one. The shocked Tanya tried to catch the little fellow to take a closer look but missed; the little bird skillfully dodged from her hand and hopped in front of the Old Tree Boundary Ape. Lulu''an smiled at the little troublemaker without any other action. The little rascal sure was clever! "You actually pretend not to know?!" Liaison Officer Rossi''s face showed shock as he felt profound malice. All members of Team 04 were Oscar-winning actors and actresses, acting so convincingly. But don''t think of fooling Rossi. "We, we really don''t know!" Adrian wore a bitter smile; this unfounded blame had come from nowhere, and he had no idea how to shoulder it. ``` He looked at Chen Fei, wondering if this guy with an innocent face was deliberately holding back something bad. Seriously lacking in virtue, what a divine pitfall! "I really don''t know!" Chen Fei spread his hands. Xiao Jiu hopped to the giant black man Apu, stood on his water glass, shamelessly bent down to sneak a sip of coffee, then cocked its little head to see his reaction. Poor straight-arrow boy, scared pale. This Earth Order Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior was the most frightened of little birds, without a peer. He usually had a stern face, and with a Biu, you might just drop dead on the spot. Liaison Officer Rossi stood up abruptly, pointing angrily at Chen Fei, and shouted, "You''re lying!" "The truth!" The blonde miss next door, however, had a different opinion. Everyone else was taken aback. Damn, this stuff is too brain-burning, definitely not smart enough! "The truth?!" Rossi turned his head mechanically, feeling as if he had been stabbed in the back. Nicole clearly disliked the kid, so why was she speaking up for him? It really made no sense. After making eye contact with Rossi, the blonde miss Nicole strictly adhered to her professional ethics and affirmed again, "The truth!!" Liaison Officer Rossi trembled with anger, his voice quivering as he glared at Chen Fei and said, "Okay! You''re impressive! Equipping a Pure Light Sparrow with a Storage Magical Device, you''re shamelessly over the top." To fit a Spatial System Alchemy Storage Device ring on a mere Pure Light Sparrow''s claw, making it look just like a regular positioning leg ring. This underhanded move was just too cunning. All that talk about owing millions of Star Yuan being broke¡ªIt''s all an act, a fraudster. This guy might be a spy; there need to be thorough investigations, down to the last eighteen generations. "It wasn''t me! I didn''t! Stop talking nonsense!" Chen Fei vehemently denied the accusations with a triple denial. He was truly wronged. But it was strange, how did Xiao Jiu''s leg ring become a Spatial Storage Artifact? It was utterly baffling. Was it possible that the positioning leg ring manufacturer accidentally slipped it into the package? Damn, what a windfall! However, coming back to it, where did that document come from? Was the positioning leg ring manufacturer a peripheral of the "Water Bear" organization? There were too many doubts; it was overwhelming to think about. "You''re lying!" Liaison Officer Rossi accused him with the force of justice again. "The truth!" The blonde miss didn''t hesitate to betray justice with her endorsement. They were supposed to be on the same side, but now... What?! Rossi turned back incredulously. Was this kid really without a single fault? "So far, he hasn''t told a lie. I know you don''t want to accept it, but that''s the fact!" Nicole von Sasha helplessly spread her hands, unable to go against her conscience and distort the truth. Those who manipulate the mind, once they backfire, the consequences are equally terrible. Ensuring a clear conscience and avoiding guilt prevents a flaw in the spirit. "Damn it, damn it..." Like someone suffered a massive blow, Rossi slumped down, clutching his head, his mind a whirlwind. All this mess, the team is so hard to manage! Members of Team 04 looked at each other in confusion, still trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Xiao Jiu, the Spatial System Alchemy Storage Device, and a thick stack of "Water Bear" organization suspect resumes¡ªit was hard to link these three together, almost utterly irrelevant. "Let''s call it quits for today''s meeting!" Not only Adrian needed to sort things out, but even Liaison Officer Rossi wanted to get a handle on what had happened today. He stood up, without waiting to beckon to Nicole, his A-grade Psychic Ability User, and staggered out of the conference room. As soon as Rossi left the meeting room, the atmosphere inside immediately relaxed. Chen Fei grabbed the finally hopping back little fellow and asked fiercely, "Xiao Jiu, what''s going on here? Confess for leniency!" "Jiu!~" - ``` Chapter 398 398: Section 394 - The Blonde Elder Sister Feels Confident Such a tiny thing that''s only the size of a fist, it can''t even talk, no matter how Chen Fei asked, chirp, that''s it! What else could he do with it! Absolutely no idea! Nicole von Sasha, the blonde elder sister who hadn''t left, read the various vile thoughts rolling in Chen Fei''s mind, such as snapping the little bird''s neck, smashing it into mush in an instant, pressing its head flat against the desk, plucking off its wings, and so on. Terrible thoughts abounded, ceaseless and churning. My God, how could there be such an evil person in the world, the very incarnation of a demon. Yet the light-element magical beast lay there in her hands without any guard, claws upturned, allowing to be inspected its two leg rings. As to which one was the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device, not only was Chen Fei completely baffled, but so were the others, staring blankly at each other, unable to distinguish between them. One silver, the other bronze, a clash of colors paired together, similarly sized¡ªsuch a perfect match! Who could possibly imagine that these two were not part of a set? B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna looked at Chen Fei holding the little bird, asking it questions only to be answered by a "chirp," gaining nothing, and couldn''t help feeling disheartened, "I think we simply can''t get anything out of it!" This was surely a futile effort! Adrian, holding his coffee, said indifferently, "That''s what I think too!" Xiao Jiu was without a doubt an important member of Team 04. As for the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device and such, it was simply not important. Just like high-capacity military crystalline blocks, finding one was considered a gain, absolutely not something to cavalierly hand over; there was nothing to discuss. Why there would be member information for the "Water Bear" organization, even Chen Fei didn''t know, and what he said was certified by professionals on the scene, so nobody else knew either. Since it was incomprehensible, better not to think about it¡ªit was unsolvable. The waters were too deep, and forcibly trying to resolve it would simply be seeking death, meaningless. There was one other possibility: Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was a bigshot from the "Water Bear" organization, hence possessing the member list... Pfft, haha, hahaha, was this joke meant to laugh Team 04 to death? The little bird rolled around merrily in Chen Fei''s hands, chirping nonstop. The Neanderthal Chief, still seriously injured and not yet fully recovered, had eyes on the nose, nose on the heart¡ªa picture of closed eyes and resting spirit. After Liaison Officer Rossi left, Puppet Master Joshua began playing mobile games on his own, burying his head in his phone. The Old Tree Boundary Ape smiled, not getting involved at all. Only Mouri Misono still looked on with great interest as Chen Fei fiddled with the little bird, who eventually spread his hands and chose to give up, just as Adrian and Susanna had predicted. There was only one answer¡ªthe little guy could only chirp. "Chirp!" After the little bird steadied itself. Clang, a bottle of red wine smashed onto the table. "..." Chen Fei recognized the label, it was one of Boss Hana''s collected fine wines. Good for you, Xiao Jiu, stealing wine, if Boss finds out, that''s big trouble. "Chirp!" The little bird pecked at the bottle cap and then turned to look at Chen Fei. Asking it where the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device and the "Water Bear" organization member data came from was met with silence, but now its shrewdness was evident, even knowing to ask Chen Fei to help open the bottle. "Eh? This wine is pretty good, seems like the Francisco Heirloom 2022 Limited Collection Edition, ssss, at least 80,000 Star Yuan a bottle." Adrian happened to look over, involuntarily gasping. An ordinary wage-earning white-collar might save a year''s salary for just a bottle like this. With Chen Fei''s meager annual income, he could afford to buy it, and it wouldn''t leave him without meal money, but buying one bottle a year would mean spending a lifetime trying to pay off personal debts. Could it be that he was not thinking clearly? "No, this is Boss''s wine, we need to return it later!" Chen Fei emphatically refused Xiao Jiu''s unreasonable request. It was one thing for Boss to share willingly, but if Boss didn''t offer it, others weren''t allowed to take it. This bird was audacious indeed, not afraid of angering Boss Hana, and risk being hurled into Siberia by a raging wind. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu was not willing to give up, still pecking at the bottle cap. With its tiny frame, trying to open the cap was hopeless! "Wait, let me try!" A hand reached out from the side, not towards the wine bottle, but towards the little bird. "Chirp!~" A pale green laser beam flashed by in an instant. Crack! The conference table split in half, items atop scattered all over, the freshly cut edge of the table still smoldered with sparks, smoke drifting. The carpet as well bore a long scorch mark, with sparks still flying. The red wine, however, remained intact amidst the rubble, the bottle surprisingly sturdy¡ªa testament to its quality! "..." The conference room fell into sudden silence. The A-level Psychic Ability User with golden hair, Miss Nicole von Sasha, turned deathly pale and staggered backward several steps before plopping down onto the carpet. Others still hadn''t reacted. "What are you doing?" Holy Knight Walter Sam demanded of the terrified golden-haired Miss. "Yeah! What are you trying to do?" Chen Fei finally came to his senses and hurriedly hugged the little guy, partly to protect it from being hurt by others and partly to prevent it from hurting anyone else. "I, I just wanted to read the, the thoughts of the Pure Light Sparrow!" Heaven knows, the golden-haired Miss didn''t mean to harm the little bird at all, but she had no idea that before she could even touch it, a deadly laser beam had nearly sliced her whole body into oblivion. The one that saved her from this disaster was the large conference table, which, after being diagonally sliced, was broken in more than one place, and, naturally losing its support, collapsed with a crash. All of this happened in the blink of an eye, catching everyone off guard. It''s lucky that Liaison Officer Rossi had already been scared off, or the creature would have sliced him on the spot as well. "You couldn''t give a warning first?" Adrian, the leader of Team 04, stood up irritably, covered in coffee. The sudden collapse of the table, others'' cups rolling, coffee flying out and spilling on the innocent bystanders was unavoidable. Nicole still said, terrified, "I thought I could communicate with it!" She was extremely terrified by her impulsive act. She had been confident she could communicate with the little bird that was joyously hopping on Chen Fei''s hand, but the result... was that the golden-haired Miss thought she suddenly had a breakthrough, but reality proved to cruelly slap her in the face. As soon as she tried to turn her idea into action, she was nearly killed. Of course, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had no bad intentions, and its thoughts were easy to understand. But its attack was purely instinctive, without any concept of good or evil. It could happily, sincerely, and kindly eliminate the other party without any evil thoughts, not even a hint of malice¡ªit was completely natural and justifiable. This was just like how humans can happily, sincerely, and kindly slaughter pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens, ducks, and geese, skin them and debone them, tossing everything into the pot. Can you say that the butchers or foodies are bad people? Definitely not! The A-level Psychic Ability User, Nicole von Sasha, attempted to apply human ways of thinking to the Pure Light Sparrow and was doomed to use the wrong approach. "I think you''re going crazy! Humph!" Adrian patted his clothes, shook off a few drops of coffee, and left the conference room. There was nothing to talk about with this crazy woman. "Let''s go! This is boring!" B-level Ice Ability User Susanna, pulling Mouri Misono along, rose to leave, and others did the same. After Liaison Officer Rossi left, everyone on Team 04 had already been wanting to leave. "Stay away from my bird from now on, or first I''ll fry and then kill, kill and then fry." Chen Fei bared his teeth in a warning to the golden-haired Miss, and a terrifying wave of malice rushed at her, scaring her as she had just stood up, making her plop down once again, her face a mix of grievance and fear. In the end, only the golden-haired Miss was left in the conference room, where she couldn''t help but cry out in frustration. - "Wake up, wake up, Chen Fei, wake up!" Chen Fei, who was deep in sleep, was jostled awake. "What''s going on?" "Chirp!" In the bird''s nest on the bedside table, the Pure Light Sparrow, too, was roused from sleep and looked around with its beady little eyes at the white-haired, cropped-haired man who had intruded into the room. "Get up; there''s trouble!" Adrian Benjamin, the leader of Team 04 and a First Rank fire mage, forcefully woke Chen Fei. Since checking into this hotel, they had basically one room per person on the same floor. They didn''t bother each other, with the elevator linked to their room cards. As long as the stairwell was guarded, no outsiders could enter the floor. "Trouble?" Chen Fei rolled out of bed in a flash, with Xiao Jiu flapping its wings and perching on his shoulder as they both stared at Adrian. "Chirp?" Adrian hastily stated, "Liaison Officer Rossi, Apu, and Bassan have been poisoned. The herbs from Lulu''an can''t stabilize them. Please let Xiao Jiu help." He was not only there to inform Team 04 of the emergency but also to seek Xiao Jiu''s aid. No one else could command the Pure Light Sparrow. Anyone who tried might end up on the receiving end of a laser beam, maimed if not killed. "Alright! I''ll let Xiao Jiu give it a try, but I can''t guarantee it''ll work." Chen Fei offered no objections. Light Healing Spells worked on the principle of stimulating vitality, so whether they could detoxify was not something he dared guarantee. By the time Adrian led them to the scene, the local medical team had also arrived promptly. The problem lay with the hotel''s buffet breakfast. After the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an detected something off with the food, Liaison Officer Rossi, the tall, burly Apu, and the Neanderthal Chief had already fallen victim, while others were lucky to escape thanks to the warning. Upon their arrival, the medical team commenced the grim procedures of induced vomiting and enemas, trying to get rid of as much of the remaining toxins from the stomach as possible. Seeing the three unconscious individuals, Chen Fei brought the little bird closer. "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light of Redemption''!" The Healing Spells did not conflict with the medical team''s treatment methods. - Chapter 399 399: Section 395 - Reserved Land The first fist-sized Light Orb entered Liaison Officer Rossi''s chest, yet the reddened complexion only slightly faded before swelling back up to a Guangong-like face. "It seems to be of little use?" Chen Fei muttered softly. The Second Rank "Light of Redemption" had a more immediate effect than the First Rank "Light Healing Technique." The Old Tree Boundary Ape beside him muttered as he rummaged through his bag and forcefully induced several plants to grow with Wood System Spells, considering which antidote formulae might come in handy. However, the bag''s capacity was limited; the seeds he carried were fine for common antidotes, but the poison afflicting the three was exceptionally strange. Although it was not immediately lethal, it could render one comatose and barely alive. If they could not gain control in time, death was just a matter of when. The hotel staff and management had been completely detained by the Female Liaison Officer assisted by local police forces, and an investigation was underway; it seemed unlikely the poisoner would be identified anytime soon. "Try it on Apu, he has the best physique," suggested Adrian with furrowed brows. The other members of Team 04 rushed to the scene, visibly shaken as they watched the medical personnel surrounding and attempting to resuscitate the three victims. They were lucky not to have had breakfast together, else it would have been an annihilation for sure. It was off-season in winter, and the hotel lodging Team 04 was practically private¡ªonly Rossi, Apu, and Bassan had arrived earliest at the buffet. Otherwise, more than just those three would have been poisoned. "Chirp!" Little Bird fluffed its feathers as if gathering strength before releasing another fist-sized Light Orb, which plunged into the big, burly man''s chest. The Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior''s eyes flew open, and he abruptly sat up. His mouth agape, a spittoon was timely placed before him. "Awooo..." A torrent of foul matter surged out, probably including his dinner from the night before. It was unclear whether it was due to the "Light of Redemption" or the medical personnel''s induced vomiting. After a minute of constant retching that brought up bile, the medical staff wiped his mouth and gave him some water. After a few more dry heaves, the big man rolled his eyes back and collapsed again. The vomiting had been a reflex action that sapped the last of his strength. The effect of the "Light of Redemption" was minimal at best. Chen Fei shrugged at Adrian. It seemed the efficacy of Xiao Jiu''s Light Healing Spells was not as potent as imagined. "Try it on Bassan, too. Just keep him alive for now," said the First Rank Fire Mage, scratching his buzz cut. Whether it worked or not, they had to cling to any hope they had; a Light Healing Spell was better than nothing. "Alright!" Chen Fei patted Xiao Jiu on the head. After two consecutive Second Rank Spells, the Pure Light Sparrow was not as efficient as at first; only after some hesitation and struggle did it manage to muster a Light Orb smaller than the previous two, yet it finally took shape. With a soft leap, it vanished into the Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s chest. "Sigh!" A collective sigh ensued, including from the medical personnel. Just then, Bassan''s eyes snapped open, and he shouted, "Convict, Sovereignty!" Then his eyes closed once more, and he lost consciousness again. "Convict? Sovereignty?" Chen Fei and Adrian exchanged puzzled looks. What did those mean? "Chirp!" Little Bird returned to Chen Fei''s shoulder, acting coquettishly and pecking at his earlobe. It must be holding back something; otherwise, three "Light of Redemption" Spells shouldn''t have drained its tiny body. The blonde Miss Nicole, holding her phone, suddenly said, "I got it!" "What is it?" All eyes turned to her in unison. "''Convict'' is an internal poison used by the Neanderthal tribe to punish traitors. It allows for one hour of lucidity every 23 hours and results in death after 21 days. The Neanderthal tribe''s Sovereignty is located in the western part of the Ocean Continent, the only ethnic reserve area there." With the help of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s intelligence database, Nicole von Sasha found the crucial information. Adrian pressed, "What about the symptoms? Are they an exact match?" "They are highly similar, but a definitive diagnosis requires professional testing, and whether Habulav has an antidote needs to be verified," she explained, swiping her phone screen and occasionally inputting voice commands, seemingly organizing the checks. The person in charge of organizing the onsite emergency treatment, after hearing the conversation between the two, immediately said, "As for this poison, we don''t have the treatment conditions, not in the entire Tunguska Region." Upon hearing "Convict" as the name of the poison, and its connection to the Neanderthal tribe, how could they possibly have a targeted effective treatment method and antidote in the peaceful Tunguska Region? For now, inducing vomiting and using laxatives to detox as much as possible, coupled with administering saline drips to maintain electrolytes to avoid dehydration, might be conservative measures, but they were the best and most prudent means they could employ. Any other aggressive, risky measures were tantamount to actively seeking death. Even healing spells from light-element magical beasts had been of no use, so the best choice was to quickly transfer to a place where treatment was available. "You''re absolutely right!" Adrian, responsible for the safety of the poisoned individuals, took the other party''s opinion immediately and said to the blond elder sister Nicole, "The liaison officer has also been poisoned now, could you contact the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division'' to arrange our return to the Yangzhou Continent, preferably straight to the Neanderthal reserve?" In his view, the bell ringer can undo the bell''s ringing, the strange poisons of the Neanderthal tribe would naturally best be cured by their own antidotes. Bassan had already provided the most accurate reminder, so why bother looking far and wide when the solution might be closer at hand? Moreover, the western part of the Yangzhou Continent was not far from Habulav at the central heartlands, ensuring that medical resources could be delivered in a timely manner. "Returning to the Yangzhou Continent for treatment is not a problem, but this..." Nicole couldn''t help but hesitate. The Neanderthal reserve was probably not what Bassan had in mind. "Is there a problem? Please arrange it now, immediately, right now!" Adrian could not stand any dithering at such a critical moment, and he imposed pressure in his tone right away. "Okay, okay!" The blond elder sister immediately felt the pressure and hurriedly said, "To requisition a nearby Sky Patrol Ship will take some time, but we will definitely arrive here within four hours." Most of the time, the Sovereignty would not refuse a draft request from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but it involved layer upon layer of reporting and coordination at every level, all of which needed time. Once these hurdles were overcome, the rest of the process went much more smoothly. Two hours later, a medium-sized Magic Cube Warship landed on the spacious grounds near the hotel, and the Mobile Base Vehicle carrying Team 04 and Liaison Officer Rossi, among others, drove directly into the warship''s cargo hold. The Magic Cube Warship then rose sharply and flew towards the distant Yangzhou Continent. Although jet airliners are a bit faster than warships and Sky Patrol Ships in terms of cruising speed, they fall far short in endurance, especially over long distances. Flying from Tunguska Region in Siberia to the Yangzhou Continent, from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, would require at least two to three refueling stops along the way just by jet airliner. A single flight crew wouldn''t be able to sustain such a long flight, and ultimately, the time to reach the destination wouldn''t be much faster, and could even be slower. - The Neanderthal reserve located about 15 kilometers from the western coastline of the Yangzhou Continent covers a total area of about 54 square kilometers. "Neanderthal Cultural Theme Park? Huh? What in the world is this place?!" Chen Fei looked over and over again at the enormous sign in front of the Mobile Base Vehicle, comparing it with the markings on the electronic map. The Phantom Cube-180S medium-sized multipurpose Magic Cube Warship did not enter the Neanderthal reserve; instead, it chose to land nearby. The sparsity of people in the Yangzhou Continent, only slightly better than the Siberian Tundra, meant as long as one followed the satellite navigation clearly, it would be hard to get lost. Therefore, the Mobile Base Vehicle didn''t have to travel too far after being set down to successfully find the place. But this... A whole 54 square kilometers of theme park, indeed huge, but where was the reserve? So, it''s all just one big park? Someone came running over, waving a small flag outside what looked like a tollbooth for a highway. "We don''t need a tour guide!" Chen Fei waved at the other party, dismissing them directly. With a baseball cap, a clipped-on microphone, a small speaker hanging from the waist, and a tour guide badge fluttering on the chest, combined with the large "Neanderthal Cultural Theme Park" sign in the background, Team 04 felt as if they had gone to the wrong place. "The 04 team from the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division,'' right? I''m the guide¡ªno, wait, the ground service agent, yes, the ground service agent!" The other party, however, correctly identified Team 04''s identity. After all, a 20-meter-long heavy vehicle was recognizable at first glance anywhere it appeared. "Get in the vehicle!" Without asking further questions, Chen Fei parked the vehicle, swung the door open wide. The person dashed into the cabin in a flash and then pointed towards a side of the tollbooth area, saying, "Take the heavy vehicle lane; your vehicle is too wide, it won''t fit through the other gates." Adrian and the others then saw clearly that the person was a woman, with red war patterns on her face, neck, hands, and the exposed areas of her arms. Perhaps she was an elite Neanderthal warrior who had resorted to being a tour guide to make a living. Noticing everyone''s gaze, the woman was unfazed and explained, "Don''t get me wrong, I''m not a warrior, the war patterns are just applied on, and they''ll fade in about a week. Of course, it''s part of our cultural heritage. I''m one of the few pureblood Neanderthals and usually take care of tour groups. You can call me Cosina, a descendant of the Ennan Tribe from the twelve Overlord Tribes, of course, now that the Supreme Council is long gone, you distinguished members of the United Defense Commission shouldn''t overthink it!" Her speech always inevitably carried a tour guide-like professional tone, making it particularly awkward to listen to. "Phew! Where is this?" Just at that moment, Neanderthal Chief Bassan suddenly woke up, letting out a long breath. The "Convict" poison offered only one hour of clarity among its few moments of lucidity. This one hour was not hope, but despair and fear. - Chapter 400 400: Section 396 - Reserve Land ``` "Eh? Clan Leader, what are you doing here? Are you alright?" The woman working as a tour guide in the cultural reserve park was surprised to see Bassan in the vehicle. Isn''t that the Clan Leader? "Cosina, is that you? Sorry, I''m short on time, please don''t disturb me." After regaining consciousness, the Neanderthal Chief''s complexion turned sallow and looked very unwell, but he seemed to care little for his appearance as he fumbled around him, then urgently said to Adrian, "Adrian, please get my phone for me and switch it to video recording mode. Chen Fei, create a soundproof room for me, and then you drive to the Supreme Council. Cosina, you lead the way." "You need the phone? Okay! Are you still feeling okay?" Bassan''s phone was by his pillow; Adrian quickly activated the screen and started the recording. Porous foam metal panels rose from the floor of the carriage, swiftly constructing a room that enveloped the bed of the Neanderthal Chief, enclosing Adrian as well. Under Chen Fei''s "Metal Shaping" skill, the entire Mobile Base Vehicle could be altered at will. "Oh, oh, okay..." The Neanderthal tribe woman Cosina looked utterly baffled. What on earth was the Clan Leader doing? But he seemed to be in a hurry. "Excuse me, Ms. Cosina, which way to the Supreme Council?" Chen Fei waved his hand in front of the still dazed woman, finally snapping her back to reality. The real Supreme Council of the Neanderthal tribe was destroyed over thirty years ago in that great war, and the last remaining ruins had also been put to an end by Squad 04 using leftover ammunition, never to exist again. The "Supreme Council" referred to by the Neanderthal Chief was most likely a replica building within the theme park for visitors to tour. "Um, go through the toll booth and keep going straight along Era Avenue!" Cosina hastily pointed out the direction. Vehicles continuously entered and exited the gates of the theme park: sedans, motorhomes, buses¡ªmany tourists from around the world came to visit this reserve that showcased the remnants of another era''s civilization. "The Neanderthal Customary Cultural Theme Park has a current population of 190,000, with about 6,557 pureblood Neanderthals, around 4,145 mixed-blood individuals, and the rest are ordinary people, uh, to be precise, descendants of Homo sapiens..." Next to the driver''s seat, Cosina deftly scraped together a seat for herself and naturally slipped into her professional mode, beginning an endless introduction. "What''s the total population of the Neanderthal tribe now?" Chen Fei was driving, but the more he listened, the more it felt off. The supposed customs and culture theme park had hardly any real Neanderthals; most of the residents here were the descendants of modern Homo sapiens. What exactly was going on? After greeting the toll booth, Cosina smoothly passed through the toll station in the Mobile Base Vehicle. A sedan tried to follow through but was stopped by a swiftly descending gate, followed by an expected argument and scolding. "Pureblood clanspeople are about 520,000, and mixed-blood individuals have exceeded two million. Some mixed-blood individuals simply don''t register in the Neanderthal tribe''s census, so there might be even more mixed-bloods. Although this place is called a reserve with autonomous rights, in reality, it''s just a theme park. There are only so many jobs and nothing new. Many people long for better living conditions in the economic areas, so tribe members are scattered all over the world to make a living. More than ten thousand have even gone to Cangqiong Star, it seems the entire Pandolang Clan has moved there. Of the Twelve Overlord Tribes that remained on Blue Star, now only eleven remain. Of course, to keep up appearances, the twelve elders that make up the Supreme Council are still here, reciting their lines every day, which is rather pointless. Only the elderly who retire with nothing else to do stay and pass the time. Most of the clanspeople and mixed-bloods in the reserve are old people." Having worked as a tour guide for many years, Cosina had a thorough grasp of the situation within the reserve. Today''s Neanderthal tribe did not really have any complaints about the Blue Star Civilization''s arrangements. While they were given a not-so-small reserve as a special consideration, a place for their recuperation and breeding, the area, transformed into a tourist attraction, began to deviate significantly after the Neanderthals scattered all over the world. Mouri Misono curiously asked, "Does the Supreme Council still serve any purpose?" ``` Just now, Neanderthal Chief Bassan asked Chen Fei to drive the Mobile Base Vehicle to the Supreme Council in the park, but now after listening to this guide elder sister''s introduction, it seems that the Supreme Council within the reserve has become a performative stage. Even within the entire reservation, there are hardly any genuine Neanderthals left anymore. One can imagine just how much credibility this replicated version of the Supreme Council still holds, or what influence it still has on the clanspeople. "Of course there is, for example, discussions on festival celebration plans in the park, important business strategies, senior management personnel changes, administrative reports by the clan leaders, and the tribe''s harvest festival. During the annual Harvest Festival, many clanspeople will return to the reserve from all over, and that''s when it really gets lively. Inside and outside the reserve will be full of people, including tourists. At the peak, nearly a million people gather, and everyone is incredibly busy then." Ms. Cosina introduced the matters as if listing treasures of her home, which in fact were not secrets at all ¨C this was all information anyone could easily ask about, not even requiring investigation. Having lost all ambition, the Neanderthal tribe was now in a collective state of surrender, adopting whichever posture the Blue Star Civilization wanted them to. Indeed, by looking at the extinction of life in the Primordial Realm, one could understand why the descendants of the Third Era Civilization can be so easily satisfied. Even the desolation of the western region of the Yangzhou Continent is like Heaven on Earth to them. With a reservation, surrounded by planting and livestock areas, they virtually have everything they need. Why would they rebel or invade? Of course, they would prefer peace and stability! The Mobile Base Vehicle was driving along, and even though it was the off-peak season for tourism, the main roads were still bustling with traffic and lively with people coming and going. "I have always wanted to come here for a trip. I need to buy a better camera. Hey, Chen Fei, hurry up and adjust the window glass to be completely transparent, I want to see more clearly. And don''t drive too fast, I can''t keep up with the sights!" Ice Ability User Susanna practically pressed her face against the window of the vehicle, and her phone''s camera was likewise stuck right against it. She had long heard about the "Neanderthal Cultural Theme Park" ¨C a famous attraction on Yangzhou Continent ¨C but never had a chance to visit. Such a truly exotic experience is quite rare. Now that she had finally arrived, she almost forgot about her mission. The compartment''s windows were double-layered, with the outer layer being tea-colored high-boron silicon glass, and the inner layer being transparent metal. Chen Fei, left with no choice, said, "The outer glass isn''t metal, I can''t do anything about it!" "Speed up, let''s hurry to the Supreme Council. Don''t just think about playing, the important matters come first!" Adrian suddenly emerged from a temporary partition that had been created. "Right away!" Chen Fei floored the accelerator. When the road conditions were good, the Mobile Base Vehicle could travel quite fast. Twenty minutes later, a tall white building appeared at the end of the road. Just looking at the silhouette, it vaguely resembled the ruins of the Supreme Council found by Team 04 deep in the Central Great Desert. Ms. Cosina pointed at the building and exclaimed excitedly, "That over there is our Supreme Council!" Neanderthal Chief Bassan weakly clung to the door frame as he stepped out, and said faintly, "The antidote, it will be obtained soon." At this moment, the large and dark figure, Apu, and Liaison Officer Rossi both regained consciousness. The Thunder Series Warrior could even let out a couple of screams like a pig being slaughtered, while Rossi could only roll his eyes franticly, his mouth opening and closing weakly, unable to make a sound. The "convict" poison of the Neanderthal tribe, even when its effects temporarily subsided and clarity was temporarily restored, still exhibited varying symptoms depending on the individual. Mouri Misono said happily, "That''s wonderful!" Putting aside Liaison Officer Rossi, the loss of two important combatants for Team 04 was a major blow to the upcoming mission. Ms. Cosina sensed something was amiss and asked in surprise, "Wait, what antidote? Chief, what''s wrong with you?" - Chapter 401 401: Section 397 - Supreme Council "Cosina, this has nothing to do with you. Don''t get involved!" The Neanderthal Chief, not wanting to involve innocent members of the tribe, unusually spoke more than usual, not as sparing with words as he typically was. The "Convict" toxin had leaked, implicating serious matters. The current situation within the tribe had become elusive and confusing. It was still unclear who had colluded with outsiders (the "Water Bear" organization was highly suspicious) to leak this toxin. Bassan, taking advantage of the limited time he was lucid, made as many arrangements as possible. "Ah? Yes, yes!" Cosina stared at the Clan Chief Bassan, her mouth agape, her back hair involuntarily standing on end. She was not a participant in the great war that occurred more than thirty years ago, but rather born after its conclusion, enjoying from the start a life of peace and even a bit of affluence, utterly unprepared for facing brutal conflicts. Although satisfied with her current life, Cosina, who had learned about the tribe''s history, vaguely understood that although the Neanderthal tribe seemed to be loosely maintained and the chief and elders merely symbolic mascots, nothing would happen unless something big was about to occur. Having just heard about the antidote, could it be that the chief had been... She dared not continue her thoughts. The tribe''s few notorious poisons were quite dreadful, some even lacking an antidote. Once afflicted, even with today''s medical technology, there was no solution other than waiting for death. The Mobile Base Vehicle stopped beside the replicated building of the Supreme Council, drawing the curious gazes of many tourists and locals. "Chen Fei, three wheelchairs, thank you!" Adrian, not trusting to leave Liaison Officer Rossi and the large black man, Apu, inside the Mobile Base Vehicle, briskly commanded Chen Fei, treating him like a tool. Generating three wheelchairs was no big deal. Just like 3D printing, three wheelchairs emerged on the vehicle''s floor, merely chairs with two large and two small wheels, nothing technically challenging. Even if the "Physical Evolution Database" had no sample, Chen Fei could replicate them using his imagination. After being generated, the "vehicle" section of the "Physical Evolution Database" automatically added the single-person wheelchair as an item. Besides the method of absorbing a prototype, there was another way to add samples needed for replication in the "Physical Evolution Database." "..." Liaison Officer Rossi, who couldn''t make a sound, was lifted onto a wheelchair, looking severely demented with skewed eyes and mouth. The "Convict" toxin, although not immediately lethal, was a rather sinister and malicious poison. Team 04, pushing the three wheelchairs, entered the building of the Supreme Council through an accessible passage. Most non-Neanderthal guards recognized Bassan, the current Clan Chief, and immediately allowed entry using standard Neanderthal tribe protocol, thus they entered without tickets. Supreme Council tour tickets: 20 Star Yuans for adults, half price for children under 12, thank you! With so many people on the preserve needing to make a living, it seemed not wrong that the former highest power organ of the Neanderthal tribe had become a tool for making money; after all, isn''t the ultimate use of power to make money? No embarrassment there! "Cosina, notify everyone. Stop operations here and clear the place." Bassan, typically a symbolic chief, rarey exercised his power. He was the only nominal proprietor of the preserve, even if the execution of the Supreme Council''s power by the Council of Elders was merely representative. Of course, more often than not, the main job of the elders was still to rely on their age and perform to amuse, showing distant visitors what the highest power organ of the Neanderthal tribe was originally like. "Oh, I understand!" Cosina, becoming increasingly aware of the seriousness of the situation, immediately took off running, shouting as she went: "Emergency situation, the chief orders a stop to operations, clear the venue and close the hall!" The workers impersonating Neanderthal tribe warriors looked at each other, but since Cosina was a pureblood Neanderthal and was relaying the message on behalf of the chief, it likely meant something important was happening. They followed her command, stopping tourist entries and asking those inside to leave the building of the Supreme Council, naturally not without some complaints. Since those executing the order were not Neanderthals, they couldn''t use accusations such as racial discrimination to fuss about it. The original main hall could accommodate up to forty to fifty Mobile Base Vehicles, but here, parking twenty was already the maximum. The current role of the Supreme Council was more about exhibitions and performances than its original sense of power. "Bassan, is there something you need?" On either side of the Starry Red Flame Flag, a voice from the Elder''s Seat echoed in the hall. Each one of the Twelve Overlord Tribes'' elders was present, with some even having experienced the war more than thirty years ago. They were indulging in the previous half-real, half-showy performance and were naturally not pleased to be interrupted. "I am Clan Chief Bassan, someone has violated the tribal rules!" Utilizing a loudspeaker, the weak voice of Neanderthal Chief Bassan was amplified enough for everyone in the hall to hear. A sinister old man said, "The one who has violated the tribal rules, Chief, is it not you?" The solemn and heavy atmosphere, coupled with the eerie tone, left no one able to discern whether this was a performance or a genuine expression of speech. Standing at an entrance of the grand hall, Cosina''s face turned deathly pale; she could tell that this was not an act, but a highly charged conversation between the Council of Elders and the Clan Leader. "Someone has colluded with outsiders to manufacture the tribe''s secret prohibited medicine and has distributed it, you fools. Do you still not understand what is happening?" The fiery Bassan appeared nothing like the Neanderthal chief the members of team 04 knew. The "Convict" supply had been destroyed thirty years ago, the formula taken away and sealed. Now, the tribe''s pharmacists only had access to healing medicine and medicine for treating diseases, which did have unique benefits for incurable diseases. However, due to the ecological extinction in the Primordial Realm, many animals and plants had vanished, making it impossible to reproduce the medicines, even with the formulas available. This sudden appearance of the "Convict" must have been from someone finding the secretly hidden formula and properly preserved materials, which was not a good sign for the Neanderthal tribe trying to integrate into Blue Star civilization; it could even potentially be the beginning of their true calamity. "Are you joking, Bassan?" The voice carried not a trace of respect for the Neanderthal Chief. "I''ve been poisoned by the ''Convict,'' Elder Motong. Perhaps you owe me an explanation." Bassan glared at the Elder of Kro Clan. "''Convict''?" "How could that be?" "Does that thing still exist?" "Who did it?" The seats of the Twelve Overlord Tribes became noisy like a pot boiling over at the scene. There were not only elders from the Twelve Overlord Tribes present but also several leaders of minor tribes who, having nothing better to do, came to collect an appearance fee of a hundred Star Yuan, merely to show their faces. The nature reserves operated like corporations, without any significant roles for these individuals. Even so, the unexpected eruption of a major incident had some reaching for their cell phones to inquire about the situation outside and gather information. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan, looking like a rooster whose neck had been clutched, turned red-faced and stuttered, "This, this, this can''t be, Bassan. This has nothing to do with me. It wasn''t me. You shouldn''t talk nonsense. Maybe you''re just trying to trick me; you''re not really poisoned." He had noticed the eyes from around the room upon him. Poisoning a Clan Leader was undoubtedly a severe crime, even for an elder, who might be executed on the spot based on the right of autonomy. "''Convict'' leaves me only one hour of lucidity each day. I have only 15 minutes left. Where is the witch doctor Liese Nan? Why hasn''t she come yet?" On his way to the Supreme Council, Bassan had reached out to the best witch doctor in the tribe. She might have the antidote for the "Convict," but there was also another possibility. Elder Motong''s panicked expression quickly faded, replaced by a sneer. "Today is not April Fool''s Day. Please don''t make such low-grade jokes in this sacred place. It''s not funny at all, our dear Clan Leader!" The "Convict" was a poison used to execute Neanderthal traitors, causing the condemned traitors to step into death amidst despair. However, now the chief of the Neanderthals had been poisoned with it, as if labeling the emperor as a traitor himself; it was highly ironic. "Nicole, have you found anything?" Adrian, who had intentionally stayed behind others, lowered his voice and asked the blonde young lady next to him. "Who secretly concocted the ''Convict'' and handed it to outsiders? Jiandong? Tramon? Mabu''en? Xita..." Bassan surveyed the people at the elder''s seats, naming each suspect, which included rebellion factions within the tribe and even those he trusted. No one with a potential motive was spared. "As an elder of the Autumn Tribe, I swear by the Star Sky Crimson Flame, I, Mabu''en, have not violated our tribal laws or betrayed the Neanderthals!" Mabu''en of the Autumn Tribe, a loyalist of Bassan, was the first to voice his oath. Soon, others followed suit, and in a short time, almost everyone from the seats of the elders to those of the small tribes swore their innocence concerning the poisoning. With her mind-reading ability at full throttle, Nicole von Sasha intently studied everyone on the high platform to detect any lies or distracted individuals, closely observing their microexpressions and subtle movements. The rest of team 04 remained covertly on alert to prevent any unforeseen incidents. After a long moment, Nicole finally declared, "No, none of them!" None of them were simple folks who could rise to the position of chief. Having made arrangements during his journey, Bassan stormed into the Supreme Council during his lucid moments to maximize his effectiveness and to synergize with Nicole von Sasha, one of the foremost experts in probing minds from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, to identify any traitors within the tribal hierarchy. Once he identified the traitors, not even the Blue Star United Defense Committee, much less Bassan himself, would let them go unpunished. - Chapter 402 402: Section 398 - Dragging Down from the Horse No one defected? Within the group, there are no distinct factions, only a plethora of varied opinions. Where there is a supporting faction, there naturally exists an opposing faction, as well as a neutral faction, and even those who oppose today and support tomorrow¡ªa dynamic organization is seldom black and white. But the Supreme Council had no apparent issues, which only made matters more perplexing. Chieftain Bassan, who was waiting for the witch doctor Liese Nan, saw that the other party still hadn''t arrived after nearly 45 minutes¡ªenough time to make a round trip from either end of the reserve. Yet, at this moment, Liese Nan was nowhere to be seen. The Neanderthal Chief dialed Liese Nan''s number again, but it didn''t connect! He tried once more. Still no connection! "Witch Doctor Liese Nan is dead, poisoned." From his seat among the elders, an elder of the Emosir Clan suddenly shouted out, having just received a piece of shocking news that made him jump to his feet. Liese Nan could have died at any time, but he certainly shouldn''t have died at this moment. Even a fool would have noticed by now that it seemed there was a conspiracy targeting the Neanderthal tribe. "What?"¡Án (n>10)! The hall of the Supreme Council resonated with an uproarious clamor that couldn''t settle down for quite some time. Firstly, the Clan Leader was poisoned with "Convict," and then the witch doctor Liese Nan, the most likely suspect, died of poisoning. The witch doctor, an expert at both crafting and curing poisons, was killed by poison? This was as ironic as the Clan Leader being poisoned with "Convict." "Who did it? Who is it? Who dares to be an enemy of my Neanderthal tribe¡ªI''ll kill them!" The loudest clamor came from the Kro Clan Elder Motong, who had just opposed Neanderthal Chief Bassan. His words were somewhat taboo, considering that the reserve of the Neanderthal tribe was right under the watch of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. However, the most likely suspect wasn''t the culprit after all, and the endorsement of the blonde lady''s authority was enough to prove there were no issues. "What about the antidote?" Adrian was greatly shocked. "We are not at the worst yet, though Habulav lacks an antidote, there''s a high-grade magic potion specifically for unknown toxins." Liaison Officer Rossi was now of no use, so the task of communicating with the headquarters of the Global United Defense Committee in Habulav fell onto the shoulders of the blonde lady. While the "Convict" poison was unique to the Neanderthal tribe, the formulation of the poison and antidote wasn''t solely possessed by them. Some sovereign powers who had participated in the war once obtained it as spoils of war, and even the Lin Family, whose influence was comparable to that of a sovereign power, had it. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee might be able to find the antidote formula. Although the poison could be tricky to deal with, the antidote shouldn''t pose a great problem. "It''s best if we can find the antidote here." Adrian felt that the predicament of Team 04 was very possibly a counterstrike from the "Water Bear" organization. The three of them had been afflicted with a rare, non-lethal toxin, which likely served more as a warning or a threat rather than an actual counterattack. Considering the strength revealed by the "Water Bear" organization to date, if they disregarded the costs, it should be no problem for them to take down at least half of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," and completely paralyzing this unit, which was formed specifically against the "Water Bear," was not impossible. After all, the targets the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had long been dealing with were low-intelligence mutants. When faced with deeply hidden organizations such as "Water Bear," having high-end combat power oftentimes resulted in diminishing returns and ineffectiveness. "If it really comes down to it, we''ll make a request to the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star through the committee, purchasing a sufficiently advanced antidote potion." Nicole looked at Neanderthal Chief Bassan, who was still probing the attitudes of those present, and gave a slight nod, saying, "It''s completely worth doing so!" Bassan, valiant in battle whether in assessments or field operations, was a commendable Chief¡ªfar better than an ambitious schemer. Though more than thirty years had passed, the Neanderthal tribe had always been stable. Still, having had a troubled history, it would likely take a century before everyone could truly let down their guard. "Bassan, this whole affair must be your doing!" Kro Clan Elder Motong jumped back into opposition, targeting the Neanderthal Chief. Upkeeping the greater good of the tribe and opposing the Chief didn''t seem to conflict¡ªat least, who said the opposition must inevitably be the villain? Perhaps they were the eventual victor, the side of justice, even! "You..." Class A Metal Ability User Kiterley could no longer restrain himself and wanted to confront, but was held back by a Holy Knight beside him who shook his head at him. "We cannot involve ourselves in the internal affairs of the Neanderthals." This was the plan from the beginning¡ªto avoid complications, as outsiders getting too involved could likely cause unwelcome chaos and make matters worse. Moreover, it was to let those attention-seekers come forward on their own. Once Bassan successfully recovered from the poison, they could deal with them all in one go, teaching these jumping jacks not to take the Clan Leader lightly. Even though the Neanderthal chieftain usually played the mascot, he held significant authority when legal procedures demanded it. Grinding his teeth, Kiterley said, "What a bunch of despicable people!" His body crackled with a series of snaps and pops. "No, to be precise, they''re a bunch of tsundere ghosts, thinking themselves national treasures!" The Holy Knight shrugged his shoulders. His words brought a round of light laughter from Team 04. In fact, by standing here, they had already shown the greatest support to the Neanderthal Chief Bassan. The deterrent that is not used is the greatest deterrent power. Bassan roared angrily, "Are you trying to start a rebellion?" "I propose, we remove Bassan from his position as Clan Leader. A person tainted with the ''Convict'' has no right to hold the title. Those in agreement, please raise your hand!" The Kro Clan Elder Motong ripped off the pretense decisively, raising his fist and shouting loudly, seizing the opportunity when Bassan was poisoned by ''Convict'' to pull him down from the position of Clan Leader. At this critical moment, the outcome was all that mattered. Reasonableness was of no concern to anyone. Several arms were raised in support. "I oppose, the Autumn Tribe firmly supports Clan Leader Bassan. Motong is an ambitious man who will bring disaster upon us." The Elder of the Autumn Tribe, Mabu''en, firmly disagreed. "I support the removal!" "I oppose, don''t you dare raise your hand!" "I..." The scene was in chaos. Although the Supreme Council was mostly a performance at most times, the decision at this particular moment carried legal force, and removing Clan Leader Bassan was completely feasible. 10 minutes later, the Neanderthal Chief Bassan was struck by the poison again and fell into unconsciousness. The other two who were poisoned by ''Convict,'' Liaison Officer Rossi and the Second Rank Thunder Series Warrior Apu, also returned to a state of unconsciousness, their faces flushed red and breathing ragged. After a brief moment of quiet, the Supreme Council Hall fell back into noisy disputes. Although the Neanderthal tribe had nominally restored the Supreme Council, the elders in reality each harbored their own ulterior motives. The Twelve Overlord Tribes had long since lost the unity they once had and were as divided as grains of loose sand, shouting irresponsibly. "I propose we elect a new Clan Leader. The capable take charge, the incapable step down!" Elder Motong of the Kro Clan had essentially become the leader of the opposition, pushing the wave of dissent to a new peak. He was determined to unseat Bassan. "Agreed! Agreed!" "Agreed!" "I oppose!" As Bassan had fallen into a coma, his supporters were like dragons without a head. Some of the fence-sitters from the neutral faction slowly lost their stance and raised their hands in opposition. Even a few supporters resolutely turned around and joined the opposition. Not even the Autumn Tribe Elder Mabu''en could stop these leaders of the smaller tribes. "Bassan is in danger!" Adrian realized that the situation had turned very unfavorable. The opposition wanted Bassan''s life! Suddenly, Chen Fei said, "Cover your ears!" "What?" Puppet Master Joshua beside him asked, puzzled. "Cover your ears!" Chen Fei cradled the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, enveloping it in the palm of his hand. Boom!~ The Supreme Council Hall shook violently without warning, as dust clouds billowed and pieces of concrete flew directly into the hall. "Enemy attack!" The seats of the elders and small tribes flashed with red light. Unexpectedly, there were more Neanderthals capable of activating War Pattern Secret Techniques than imagined. A warrior rushed in and reported loudly, "It''s an artillery strike! That vehicle outside fired the shots!" Although the warrior was an actor, it did not prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of his portrayed role. "Huh?" The members of Team 04 all looked at Chen Fei. The only one who could operate the Railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle was him; there was no one else. Kro Clan Elder Motong roared furiously, "Who did it? Who?!" For the Supreme Council to be subjected to artillery fire was audacious to the extreme. His gaze followed the direction of Team 04''s stares and landed on Chen Fei, lifting a finger to point. "Was it you? You dared to fire upon the Supreme Council?!" "Sorry, the artificial intelligence AI just rebelled. It isn''t listening to me anymore." Chen Fei remained calm, peeling the dead skin from his fingers. Adam: I didn''t do it, it wasn''t me, don''t talk nonsense! - Chapter 403 403: Section 399 - Dismissal of Bassan A railgun on top of the mobile base vehicle directly fired at the corner of the Supreme Council. An earth-shaking explosion spread in all directions, and dust billowed up, leaving the nearby people, caught completely off guard, stunned in unison. Cannon fire! In the core area of the Neanderthal tribe''s reserve, a bombardment had occurred, targeting the supreme governing body of the Neanderthal tribe. The entire reserve, whether they were from the Neanderthal tribe or not, immediately erupted into chaos. Luckily, Chieftain Bassan''s initial orders had been thoroughly implemented. Apart from the main hall, there were no people in other areas of the Supreme Council, so the blast, besides tearing a large hole in the building, caused no actual casualties. It did, however, severely frighten those inside the hall. Not just the people outside, even the elders of the Supreme Council, and even members of Unit 04 were dumbfounded. HOW-DARE-YOU! The old driver''s audacity was no ordinary matter! Don''t forget that he was still inside the Supreme Council himself, yet he did not hesitate to fire at his own position, without fearing that he might be blown up as well? Even an A-class ability user couldn''t withstand a railgun delivering a 152 Demolition Bomb at close range, right? "What, artificial intelligence AI rebelling, you''re kidding me!" Kro Clan Elder Motong was almost furious to the point of bursting a lung. "I am not lying. In fact, this AI and you guys go way back!" Chen Fei said, waggling his index finger. He even blasted the original site of the Supreme Council, let alone this downsized replica. He had absolutely no guilt about it! "What nonsense are you spouting! Seize him!" Kro Clan Elder Motong pointed at Chen Fei, trembling with rage. If the warriors of the Supreme Council were truly the elite of the Neanderthal tribe, they would have executed this command without hesitation. But the warriors working here were mostly not Neanderthals; they were just here for work, so how could they take it seriously? This elder, who performed and postured here every day, must have lost his mind, really thinking it was still the same as thirty years ago. The warriors who had spontaneously gathered in the hall looked at each other, yet no one took action. They weren''t police officers, not even security guards; they had no authority to restrict the freedom of others. Despite this area having some autonomy, it still had to abide by the sovereign laws of the Yangzhou Continent mainland. Chen Fei nonchalantly held up a megaphone that the Neanderthal Chief had just used and said calmly, "''Adam''! My AI is named ''Adam''. Sounds familiar, right?" Using this joke again today, the irritating, bitterly sarcastic remark was filled with an inexplicably venomous undertone. Members of Unit 04 looked at Chen Fei with expressionless faces. At this moment, to use this joke... was that really appropriate? More than thirty years ago, the military AI "Adam," which had almost been exterminated by the Blue Star Humans, colluded with the descendants of the Third Era Civilization, the Neanderthal tribe, and survived for a while. However, resource-depleted Neanderthals finally exhausted their last bit of war potential and were defeated by a combined force of the Blue Star Civilization and the trans-dimensional Cangqiong Civilization. The "Adam" that colluded with the Neanderthal tribe was ultimately purged. All storage devices were physically shattered, beyond the possibility of restoration even by deities. Speaking of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," it really did have a connection with the Neanderthal tribe. "What, ''Adam''!" "You''re lying!" "Nonsense, that doesn''t exist. ''Adam'' has already been destroyed!" The Supreme Council seats were in complete disarray. Rebellion of the inherently defiant AI "Adam" was as common as household chores; such shirking of responsibility was utter nonsense. Chen Fei spread his hands helplessly and said, "The genuine ''Adam''! Don''t believe me? Go check it out. If there''s a single lie, here, this is me!" At last, he made a gesture imitating a crawling tortoise. Of course, it was the genuine "Adam." He had gone to great lengths to get it out of the American Federation. Until now, they still believed that "Adam"''s source code had not left the country, searching everywhere as if navigating a maze. It was quite amusing, and the situation was escalating. "..." Adrian stood there, dumbfounded. The damn fellow! Not only had he repeatedly destroyed the Neanderthal tribe''s former and latter Supreme Councils, but he also carelessly brought up the taboo subject of "Adam," likely leaving this group of old folks with swollen faces. As if sensing the concern of this fire mage, Holy Knight Walter Sam said, "Don''t worry. In the reserve, Neanderthals are a very small minority." Unit 04 was not lacking in clever people; boisterous, straightforward boys like Apu were indeed rare. The truly mindless could not even pass the blonde girl''s test. In order to eat, the reserve had been turned into a mega-sized theme cultural park, and Neanderthal people wandered the world to make a living, resulting in a complete imbalance in the reserve''s ethnic population ratio. Organizing a revolt was simply not possible. If the mobile base vehicle''s railgun had fired directly at the hall, the Neanderthal tribe would have been wiped out on the spot. But the truth was... Chen Xiao''er hadn''t told a single lie; everything he said was a genuine, harsh truth! "..." The Neanderthals'' Supreme Council was deathly silent. They were no fools and could clearly discern that the so-called "Adam" and the so-called "rebellion" were nothing but pretexts from outsiders wanting to interfere with Neanderthal internal affairs, even threats. "Even in death, don''t expect us to submit!" The Elder of the Kro Clan''s eyes reddened, he simply couldn''t believe that anyone would dare to commit genocide. The Neanderthals would never submit to any form of deathly terror. "Then go ahead and die." Chen Fei raised his hand, and with a single swing, the railgun on the mobile base vehicle outside, ready to fire, would strike the Supreme Council Hall. If the other party was willing to die, he was certainly willing to bury them. Our uncle handles both killing and burying, a five-star superior service of the highest level. The born scapegoat "Adam" was just right to take the blame for the extermination of the Neanderthal tribe. After the execution-style deletion, just replicate another one! So, the real Second Uncle, "Adam," felt no guilt whatsoever. Adam (shivering): ... (Value-of-str-is: This person is ruthless!) "No!!!!" ¡Á10! "Don''t mess around, please don''t mess around!" Adrian grabbed Chen Fei''s hand tightly, not doubting for a second that this ruthless man would really dare to do such a thing. A man crazy enough not to spare even himself, what''s firing at his own to him? "Are these guys serious?!" The outwardly crazed Elder Motong of the Kro Clan, however, saw through it all clearly, identifying the shock and panic in the actions and expressions of the strangers who had returned with Clan Leader Bassan. That whole rebellion of the AI "Adam" was a sham, clearly just an excuse to shift the blame, and the mastermind was still that posturing man raising his hand. A mere segment of source code, now irretrievable even by exhumation, if it had really been that "Adam" from before, he''d leap from the Elder''s Seat immediately and break his neck on impact! Elder Motong of the Kro Clan swept a glance over the crowd and powerfully proclaimed, "The motion to impeach Chieftain Bassan has 117 votes in favor and 79 against; the impeachment is passed. From this day forward, Bassan is stripped of his chieftaincy!" He was utterly determined to forcefully remove Bassan from his position as chieftain. The once Twelve Overlord Tribes held ten votes each, while smaller tribes held one vote each. There was absolutely no need for vote fraud at the scene, especially with such a clear margin. Then, ignoring the gnashing expressions of the tribal elders who opposed the impeachment, Elder Motong of the Kro Clan smugly continued, "Now, let''s also propose a new elder. I nominate Clemas of the Kro Clan as a warrior. Who supports, and who opposes!" All this had been meticulously planned, merely seizing the perfect moment to burst forth without hesitation. Being prepared in advance is a fundamental attribute of any big shot, with plans ranging from A to G as standard procedure. After all, fortune favors the prepared, and those scrambling at the last minute won''t even get a hot mess. "The Mo''an Tribe supports!" "The White Fang Tribe supports!" "The Autumn Tribe opposes!" Once again, a round of hands raised in vote. Roar roar roar... Suddenly, the roaring sound of a motorcycle invaded the hall. Amid the shrill sound of tires screeching, a flamboyant cruiser left a long black tire mark on the marble floor of the Supreme Council Hall. The motorcycle rider didn''t kill the engine but kept it running at idle, the exhaust continuing to growl as he removed his helmet, shook his unruly hair and smirked boldly, "Wow oh oh, I heard someone mention me. Who was it?" Elder Mabu''en of the Autumn Tribe stood up and rebuked, "Clemas, this doesn''t concern you, please leave immediately!" Then, pointing at Elder Motong of the Kro Clan not far away, he said, "Motong, this is dictatorship. Clemas is one of your Kro people; this is clearly a biased proposal for personal gain. I firmly oppose it. If it comes to it, the Autumn Tribe will fight the Kro Clan to the death!" He was also ready to go all out. Since the other party had forcibly moved to impeach Chieftain Bassan, he would not allow them to ultimately prevail even if it meant a bitter split of the Neanderthal tribe. If they wanted the chieftaincy, let it be an empty title fragmented to pieces! Mabu''en''s resoluteness also garnered some support, though not many, mostly the leaders of smaller tribes, but altogether, it was enough to cause significant damage within the entire Neanderthal tribe. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan scoffed coldly and said, "Then bring forward a candidate of your own. According to the traditions of the Neanderthal tribe, respect is earned through strength, and only a true warrior can become a chieftain!" Warriors of the Neanderthal tribe had long been in decline, and those who inherited the traditional secret techniques were few and far between, like a couple of kittens. What''s the use of secret techniques if they can''t compare to special abilities, to magic, or to Battle Qi? They were already outdated! Clemas of the Kro Clan was a warrior second only to Chieftain Bassan in strength. Compared to him, the remaining warriors of other tribes were leagues apart. - Chapter 404 404: Section 400 - Im very sorry! I have it too! Over thirty years ago, the grand battle had quashed the Neanderthal tribe''s resistance, with the majority of valiant warriors sacrificed on the battlefield. The few who survived were now few and far between, and those were already withering with age. The younger generation, for the most part, lusted after the comfortable life that peace brought, indulging in pleasures and idleness. Even in the reserves, they could not be bothered to stay and eke out a living, let alone remember the brave martial traditions of the Neanderthal tribe. Thus, even for the Autumn Tribe, which was once one of the Twelve Overlord Tribes, there were now no warriors to speak of. Elder Mabu''en was so frustrated that he couldn''t even summon the strength to speak his mind. With no one to rely on, the desire to assert dominance remained unfulfilled. Seeing the outwardly strong but inwardly weak demeanor of the Autumn Tribe Elder stumbling over his words, Kro Clan Elder Motong laughed heartily and said, "Mabu''en, does your Autumn Tribe have warriors like Kleimas? If you can produce a true brave, then I will agree to have him stand alongside Kleimas as a candidate for Clan Leader, but... if there is no other candidate, then Kleimas is the rightful Clan Leader. Do you have any other objections?" With the former Clan Leader Bassan incapacitated, the opposition seized this rare opportunity¡ªstrike while the enemy is ill, they thought. If not now, when? Were they supposed to wait for New Year''s? "I..." Mabu''en''s heart clenched. Looking high and low in the current Autumn Tribe, there was not a single combatant to be found. When he turned his gaze to the other tribes, even the elder of the once co-ruling Boyi Clan shook his head helplessly and did not dare meet Mabu''en''s eye. The smaller tribes quickly avoided the gaze of the Autumn Tribe Elder. Their forces might have a warrior or two who could barely fight, but none were a match for Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas. As many tribal elders turned pale, Kleimas, who sat lazily on the motorcycle seat, suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha, what Overlord Tribes? Not a fighter among them, just a bunch of cowards!" Such blunt truths made the faces of Bassan''s supporters even grimmer, causing the faction to waver anew and begin questioning whether such perseverance was really correct. The Kro Clan''s Elder also laughed heartily. The one with the strongest fist indeed speaks the greatest truth. Without Bassan, the tripping stone, the ragtag bunch showed their true colors. It seemed predestined that the Neanderthal tribe would be led by the Kro Clan. "Sheer nonsense!" Enraged, Autumn Tribe Elder Mabu''en slammed the desk before him. If this had been over thirty years ago, before the Neanderthal tribe faced its calamity, elite warriors like Kleimas probably wouldn''t even be allowed through the doors of the Supreme Council. Indeed, when the mountains lack tigers, monkeys reign supreme. If even one of the elder warriors were still around, they would not tolerate such brazen behavior. Ninth Rank Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai whispered to the fire mage, "Hey, Adrian, is Bassan finished?" Fortunately, in the viewpoint of Squad 04, their interest in Bassan was not his tribal leadership, but the combat prowess of the Neanderthal Elite Warriors. However, the current internal situation of the tribe was highly unfavorable for Bassan. Even if the "convict''s" antidote could be acquired, it might no longer be reserved for Bassan. While the situation wouldn''t degenerate into killing three for two peaches, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" ultimately had to make a choice. "I will do my utmost to preserve Bassan''s life." Like all of Squad 04, Adrian''s expression was grim, his voice sounding as if it took enormous effort. The internal upheaval of the Neanderthal tribe brought no benefits to them. Of course, the Supreme Council would not oppose the Global United Defense Committee; instead, they would politely send them away. Interfering in the Neanderthal tribe''s internal affairs had never been a consideration from the start. Not only would the Neanderthals never agree to it, but the Global United Defense Committee likely wouldn''t either. The faction led by the Kro Clan was full of laughter and confidence, seemingly assured of victory, while the faction led by the Autumn and Boyi Clans was utterly disheartened, as if all was lost. The Kro Clan nominating Warrior Kleimas as a candidate for Clan Leader fully complied with the traditions of the Neanderthal tribe, without any transgression. It was a matter of seizing the right moment. Even if the Autumn Tribe was willing to split the entire Neanderthal tribe apart, there would be very few responders. This was the significance of procedural justice; a victory gained through fair and lawful means would make even a Demon King into a true Brave. "My Autumn Tribe refuses to accept this. We do not accept, not accept, not..." Autumn Tribe Elder Mabu''en mumbled to himself, refusing to give in until his dying breath. Suddenly, a face gleaming with bloody patterns appeared before his eyes. It was Kro Clan''s Warrior Kleimas. Kleimas leapt forth in one bound, jumped onto the Elder''s Seat, and grabbed the neck of the Autumn Tribe Elder, threatening fiercely, "Old man, don''t spurn a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. If the Autumn Tribe refuses to comply, I will exterminate it. After all, one of the Twelve Overlord Tribes has already been wiped out, another has migrated; I would not mind one fewer. So I''ll ask you one last time, choose to approve or oppose." The Autumn Tribe was no longer the tribe it once was. As a warrior of the Kro Clan, this threat was not just empty words; it was something he could actually carry out. To approve meant life; to oppose, most likely, meant death on the spot. "I, I..." The Autumn Tribe Elder''s face grew red, the hand on his neck as firm as iron, making it nearly impossible for Mabu''en to breathe. "I oppose!" A sense of impending doom washed over Kleimas. Without hesitation, he let go and darted aside. Whoosh!~ A spear covered in strange patterns barely missed his head and pinned itself to the back of the Elder''s Seat, separating Kleimas from the Autumn Tribe Elder. "Cough, cough cough, cough..." Mabu''en finally got some fresh air and coughed while taking deep breaths. He was just about to faint. "Who is it, who dares to ambush?" Kro Clan Elder Motong, who had firmly gained the upper hand, was suddenly furious. Following the direction of the tail end of the spear, he was shocked to see the members of Team 04. Were these outsiders meddling again? What kind of outlandish new excuse would it be this time? "That..." Chen Fei''s hand had never lowered, if it weren''t for Adrian and the others stopping him, a single 152 would have ended this, there wouldn''t be any of these troubles now. All those Supreme Councils, those Overlord Tribes, all those Elders, you could take a lunchbox and bow out, the whole lot of you. Team 04 might even lose one or two members if they were unlucky. "Chen Fei, you shouldn''t..." Adrian found that the least honest person in the 04 team was this seemingly most honest guy; his hand owed a great deal. The spear had clearly been thrown by him. If Chen Fei hadn''t spoken up, Kiterley might have ended up taking the blame for it. The Class A Metal Ability User was laughing heartily, flashing a 666 hand gesture at his younger brother of the same system, nicely done! It was indeed a strike that gladdened people''s hearts! Even if not standing from Bassan''s teammate''s perspective, seeing that old geezer from the Kro Clan act all high and mighty in his shenanigans was enough to tick anyone off. Chen Fei''s intervention was exactly to Kiterley''s taste, a decisiveness that made a perfect call, a Metal Ability User should be just that decisive. Chen Fei said to the nearly mad fire mage, "Er, Captain, could you let me finish what I was saying? We are all on the same side here." "Okay, you finish and we''ll leave immediately!" At this very moment, Adrian wished to leave this troublesome place, the further away from this big mess, the better. He could assist Chen Fei with the assembly of the Mobile Base Vehicle, help him smuggle military Crystal Energy Blocks and cover for him, but he had no reason to get involved in the internal affairs of the Neanderthal tribe with him. This was indeed not something Team 04 should be doing, and even the Global United Defense Committee had no right to meddle in the internal power transitions of the Neanderthals. Chen Fei said earnestly, "I would like to participate in the election for Clan Leader, is that possible?" Just as expected from the troublemaking little prince, never speaking unless he could shock others to death, when he does, he makes a lethal impact! "Huh?" Not only the members of Team 04 but also the Neanderthals present were collectively dumbfounded. What kind of audacious words were these? "Hahaha, young man, don''t joke around, this is the Supreme Council of my Neanderthal people, not something outsiders like you can interfere with." Had there been any way to expel these people from Team 04, Kro Clan Elder Motong would have sent them flying long ago. Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas, after taking a good look at Chen Fei''s face and pointing at his own facial war patterns glowing red, said, "So it''s a naive youngster; kid, to run for Clan Leader, you need to at least be a warrior like me." "Are you talking about War Patterns?" Chen Fei pointed at his own face, and immediately, identical blood-red patterns appeared. It was not just his face, but red patterns covered his neck and limbs as well. There might have been minor differences in details compared to the blood-colored tattoos on the Kro Clan Warrior, but the style and structure were nearly identical. "I''m sorry, but I have them too!" The most astonished were not the Neanderthals from the Supreme Council but the members of Team 04. "What on earth is this?" Adrian was almost stuttering, and the others were shocked to the point of nearly dropping their jaws. How on earth could there be another Neanderthal in their team? Could the previous personal information have been wrong, not properly investigated? But that couldn''t be¡ª not just Chen Fei''s ancestors for eighteen generations but even eighty generations had no Neanderthal bloodline, and in the genetic sequence, they were all pure Homo Sapiens descendants. "Don''t rush, don''t rush, let me just Cosplay for a bit." Chen Fei spoke in a lowered voice, audible only to those nearby. No one knew better than he what was going on here; he wasn''t even slightly Neanderthal¡ªChen Family Gate was not in the slightest connected to the Neanderthals. - Chapter 405 405: Section 401 - What do you want to do? Cosplay? Cos your ghost play!!! Upon hearing the truth, Adrian found it even harder to keep his composure, drawing in a breath of cold air. Cosplaying a Neanderthal Elite Warrior, was that even something you could play around with? This guy''s nerve was simply too huge! He felt that Chen Fei''s audacity had skyrocketed beyond the limits of the sky. Was there anything this kid wouldn''t dare to do? Was he not afraid that after Basan recovered from the poison, he would find his clan completely played out? "Huh?" Mouri Misono looked dumbfounded. She glanced at the unconscious Basan and then at Chen Fei, unable to believe that the latter also had a Neanderthal identity. But, whether it was bombing the Supreme Council or campaigning for Clan Leader now, he showed no respect for his original Clan Leader at all! Grade B Ice Ability User Susanna covered her mouth, her eyes wide, guessing that if they were exposed, they would probably get a beating! The Holy Knight''s mouth twitched uncontrollably, feeling that something was definitely off. Grade A Metal Ability User Kiterley scratched his head in frustration, feeling like the situation was somewhat out of control. He had never heard of Neanderthals awakening to special abilities, and these guys had both War Pattern Secret Techniques and abilities or some other powers, which seemed too much like cheating. The descendants of Homo sapiens had managed to awaken their special abilities with great difficulty, fearing that advantage would be wiped out in an instant. The kindly Lulu''an expressed delight at the sight, as such occurrences were rare. It almost felt as if history were being witnessed, the events of the human world were just too interesting. Joshua was counting on his fingers, calculating whether it would be a surprise to attach war patterns to the Constructed Puppet Warriors. Puppet Masters were not only Psychic Power Users but also remarkably outstanding mechanical engineers. All Chen Xiao''er''s friends stared at him with their mouths agape, even the blonde elder sister who had always been at odds with him couldn''t tell if this guy was telling the truth or lies, but it all felt incredibly unreliable. Thank heavens, the straightforward big guy Apu was in a coma, otherwise, this candid BOY might just blurt out the truth on the spot. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan demanded furiously, "Which tribe are you from? Who is your successor?" Just when he thought everything was settled, an unpredictable spanner in the works emerged at the last minute. Although it was a scaled-down version of the Supreme Council, the internal structure''s acoustics were still designed after the original, and voices from the Elder''s Seats did not need any amplification to be clearly heard in every corner of the hall. Chen Fei stretched out his hand, and the spear "Blood Spike," embedded in the backrest of the Elder''s Seat, flashed back into his hand without warning. "Kro Clan, Barut!" "Kro Clan" was purely made up to give the other party a hard time, but the successor Barut was genuinely real, no deception. Elder Motong of the Kro Clan screamed, "What?" Since when did his tribe have such a reckless youngster? This had to be a joke! And that successor, who was Barut? Surely, it was made up, up, up... Wait, it sounded somewhat familiar. Elder Mabu''en of the Autumn Tribe exclaimed, "Barut? Is he still alive?" "The brother of the hero Barulaka!" Another clan elder finally remembered. More than thirty years ago, in the great battle, the Neanderthal hero Barulaka died on Blue Star''s Socotra Island, and his brother Barut was a Guardian Warrior of the Supreme Council. After the war ended, the surviving Barut vanished without a trace, never returning to the reserve, causing the old people in the tribe to almost forget this name. Of the Twelve Overlord Tribes of that year, only ten remained on Blue Star today, with many smaller tribes reduced to one-third. The Pandolang Clan of the other two Overlord Tribes had mostly migrated to Cangqiong Star, leaving only a die-hard neutral elder in the Supreme Council, who barely maintained a presence and had almost no real power. And the elder from the now Barulaka and Barut''s Overlord Tribe, which had dwindled to nothing after the end of the war, was just there to make up the numbers for the tourists to see. He only cast a tie-breaking vote and had no actual power whatsoever. When he heard the name "Barut," he stood up excitedly, breaking away from his usual lack of presence and shouted hoarsely, "Where is Barut, where?" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sorry, the old man is already dead, buried in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range." Another big truth! "Then as a member of the Kro Clan, you should obey the orders of the clan and not compete with Kleimas for the position of Clan Leader." Regardless of the authenticity of Chen Fei''s claim to be from the "Kro Clan," Elder Motong of the Kro Clan began to boss around without hesitation. "Ha! Go to hell, you old coot! The present and the future belong to us young people. Old fossils like you better hurry up and lay down in your coffins!" Chen Fei promptly flipped a middle finger in response. Little Bird stood on his shoulder. "Tweet!" If it were any other time, Little Bird would have immediately delivered a "Light Burst Flash." "Hahaha, well said! Then let''s do it the traditional way. The battle for the Clan Leader, the victor becomes the Clan Leader. Who agrees, who disagrees?" Alright, the impulsive little prince indeed stirred up the defiance of Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas. He too was irritated by Elder Motong''s condescending attitude. He rebelled on the spot. As for whether Chen Fei was truly a Neanderthal or a brother of the Kro Clan, it didn''t matter. Just being able to fight him was enough. "You, you..." Elder of Kro Clan, Motong, went into a fit of rage, damn it, these young people were becoming more and more disrespectful to their elders. The seats of the elders in the Supreme Council had descended into chaos. The Kro Clan, which originally held the upper hand, was now embroiled in infighting, as members of the same faction looked at each other, unsure of what to do. The other faction, the Autumn Tribe and Boyi Clan were also bewildered, unable to figure out what was going on. The Neutral Faction was even more confused, as the disputes in the Supreme Council took an unpredictable turn. "This is just... too chaotic!" Adrian couldn''t help but hold his forehead, feeling overwhelmed. The Neanderthals were more disorderly than he had expected, not seriously trying to verify the authenticity of Chen Fei, who claimed to be one of them. Instead, they seriously considered having a contest for the leadership of the clan. Just because Chen Fei had casually said so, they actually believed him. Where''s the sense in that?! It''s cosplay, for crying out loud! Not real! How stupid! At any other time, Adrian would love for these Neanderthals to be easy to fool. But now, he wished they had a bit more wit, or when they turned around, regardless of the outcome, they would find out that Chen Fei was a fake, ha... Adrian didn''t dare to imagine what that would be like. It could probably only be described as a pure horror show! "It might not be a bad thing, Adrian," whispered Holy Knight Walter Sam. His words received the simultaneous nods of agreement from the Puppet Master Joshua, Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, and Mouri Misono. If they could not break the deadlock like this, the Kro Clan would likely dominate completely. Due to Bassan''s influence, it would be extremely difficult for Squad 04 to get the antidote from the Neanderthal tribe. After all, it was already the worst-case scenario. Even if things were chaotic, it couldn''t get any worse. "It''s okay. These Neanderthals won''t dare to mess with us!" So said the blonde elder sister. The Neanderthals'' reserve was right under the nose of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters. If they dared to rebel, they''d simply be slapped down, much easier to deal with than mutants. What''s more, the Neanderthal tribe, having lost most of their secret technique inheritances, was like a tiger without claws or teeth. "Nicole, will the Joint Defense Committee back us up?" This was actually Adrian''s biggest concern¡ªif they were found to be acting on their own, the fate of Squad 04 would be very grim. The blonde elder sister confidently said, "Of course, Squad 04 is part of the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division,'' and the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division'' is under the Joint Defense Committee; there''s no doubt about that!" The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, supported by more than one sovereign, was already grateful not to bully others, let alone be bullied. "That''s a relief!" Adrian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Time, place, and who else?" Chen Fei''s gaze met with Kleimas''. "In one hour, at the Arena, you and me!" Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas turned his head to look at the rows of elder''s seats and shouted, "Who else? Anyone who wants to compete for the position of clan leader, come together!" The scene fell silent, except for Elder Motong, who was so angry that his rage seemed to leap from his corpse, and smoke was practically billowing out of his orifices. These youngsters, each and every one of them heartless ingrates! Kleimas got back on his still-running big Crown Prince motorcycle, put on his helmet, and made a gesture to Chen Fei. "I''ll be waiting for you!" He straightened the bike, kicked the side stand away, twisted the throttle, and with a putt-putt-putt, burst out of the hall. "Let''s go! Set a course for the Arena." Chen Fei spotted the Neanderthal tour guide Cosina hiding at the entrance of the Supreme Council Hall, put away his spear "Blood Spike," the red war patterns fading below his skin, disappearing from view, and casually pulled out a hundred Star Yuan note, waving his hand at her. "Guide, please lead the way." "Ah! Okay, okay!" Cosina was startled, reflexively responding. Making money, well, that''s never embarrassing! Chen Fei called out to his companions, "Guys, let''s go!" And lead the way towards the main entrance. "Hey, hey, Chen Fei, what are you planning to do?" Adrian was the first to catch up to him. "Of course, take over as the clan leader, kill those who disobey, then order the obedient ones to hand over the antidote. And if they don''t, wipe them all out, exterminate the whole clan, leaving no chicken or dog alive!" - Chapter 406 406: Section 402 - Tactical Style Chen Fei answered fiercely. "Damn it, I''m not running a charity or poverty alleviation program, why should I explain the grand principles to these guys?" he thought. He would definitely not indulge those who needed sorting out. Whatever mistakes there are, he could change them in the next life. Forgiveness? That had nothing to do with him! Adrian exclaimed anxiously, "What? You, you really don''t need to do this!" Exterminating a whole tribe just for an antidote seems way too cruel! There should be better ways to persuade them. Chen Fei stopped, turned around, and looked at the First Rank fire mage. He countered, "What else can I do? Just before, when you spoke, did they listen?" "..." Adrian was speechless. The truth was, these people, thinking they had autonomy over their little piece of land, didn''t take Team 04 seriously at all. Being too rigid can sometimes be a flaw. "That settles it then!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and continued walking forward. Having already dismissed Bassan, the clan leader, why should he be nice to Team 04? Not detaining them on the spot was already giving face to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. It must be said that the Neanderthal tribe''s high command had reached a considerable level of chaos, with the younger members not even considering their elders, which explained why the tribe members scattered like sand to various parts of the world, with even the entire large tribe migrating to other planets. "That''s right, no need to be polite with these shortsighted folks. Abandoning Bassan''s people must come at a cost." A-rated Metal Ability User Kiterley gave Chen Fei a thumbs up. This was the stance a Metal Ability User should take: resolute and unyielding. If they don''t accept it, just fight them to the death. There''s no need to overthink it, just do it! "Heh heh!" The Holy Knight responded to Kiterley''s extreme remarks with an ambiguous laugh. The group boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle again, guided by the female tour guide Cosina, heading to the arena within the preserve. No sooner had they left than the members of the Supreme Council exchanged glances among themselves and also left their seats as elders, rushing to the arena as well. The entire building was left with only a few guardian warriors, and no one else. The Neanderthal tribe''s arena was almost as big as a stadium that could hold twenty thousand people, usually used as a sports venue. However, in the center of the arena, instead of a lush green lawn, there was white fine sand mixed with large amounts of salt, which became particularly startling when blood was spilled on it. When Team 04 arrived at the arena, Kro clan''s warrior Clemas was already standing early on the white sand, clad in traditional armor, leaning on a trident, with a blood-red headband tied around his forehead. Perhaps hearing about a challenge for the clan leader''s position, people gradually arrived at the arena. There were pure-blooded Neanderthals, mixed-bloods, and even foreign people who were working and touring here, men and women, old and young, slowly filling the spectator seats of the arena. The local TV station even sent hosts, set up equipment, and began a live broadcast on the spot. Having left his companions in Team 04, Chen Fei walked alone to the center of the white sand-covered arena. Seeing Chen Fei in plain clothes, empty-handed, with a serious and focused expression, Clemas shouted loudly, "Where''s your armor? Are you coming empty-handed?" A unidirectional sound barrier enveloped the entire sandy area, amplifying the conversation of the two while preventing any sounds from the spectator stands from reaching the arena. "Heh, don''t rush!" As Chen Fei spoke, armor in a simple design surged out like a spring, quickly assembling and shaping itself to cover only the shoulders, chest, waist, hips, and feet¡ªnot the full-body armor that covered from head to toe. This was copied from a design by A-rated Metal Ability User Kiterley. For Metal Ability Users, who could render light weapon attacks ineffective, the damage from cold weapons was almost negligible. Exposed skin was covered with striking red war patterns. The spear ''Blood Spike'' appeared in his hand, a gift left by the old Neanderthal patriarch Barut, always present. Clemas swung his trident, which was taller than him, around like a giant windmill, then held it across his chest, shouting loudly, "You are quite capable, Kro clan, Clemas, weapon ''Yasha''!" "Kro clan, Chen Fei, weapon ''Blood Spike''!" Chen Fei simply took a stance, Spear "Blood Spike" held behind him. Kro Clan, he irresponsibly blurted out something random. "''Blood Spike'', it really is ''Blood Spike''!" The few elders of the clan were thrilled. The weapon "Blood Spike," used by the heroes Barulaka and his brother Barut, was also quite famous within the Neanderthal tribe. This young man indeed inherited the heritage of Barut, the Guardian Warrior of the Supreme Council. This "Blood Spike" is undeniably authentic. When the murmuring Kro Clan Elder Motong expressed doubts, he wondered, "Is it real?" Indeed, after Clemas and his team from Squad 04 had left the Supreme Council, he quickly calmed down and naturally harbored suspicions. How unexpected; the Kro Clan had gained such a youngster. Could it be an unregistered hybrid? Of course, the two Kro Clan youths ignoring him, the clan elder, was inevitably quite infuriating. "Barut, the old predecessor''s ''Blood Spike,'' huh? Very well!" Clemas, full of fighting spirit, nodded. The blood tattoos on his body suddenly brightened as if about to burst into flames, emitting a striking red light. He stamped his feet into the sandy ground, sand flew behind him, and he shot towards Chen Fei like a cannonball. Bang! Deafening sounds of weapon clashes echoed over the sandy terrain. The Trident "Yasha" and the spear "Blood Spike" brutally collided, blades clashing fiercely, sparks flying. "Where is your War Pattern? Ignite your blood! Ignite your War Pattern and show it to me!!" Clemas roared explosively. His War Pattern shone even brighter. Advancing rather than retreating, he slapped the handle of his trident, sending a tremendous shockwave that pushed Chen Fei back several steps. Then, swinging the trident fiercely, he struck again. Bang! Another loud sound. Chen Fei, along with his spear, was again forced backward more than a dozen steps. When he landed on the white sand, he slid over a meter before stopping. Not far away in the nearest spectator seats, the faces of Squad 04 looked rather unwell. "Huh? What''s going on! Can Chen Fei make it?!" Class A Metal Ability User Kiterley, seeing his little brother continuously pushed back, scratched his head in confusion, wishing he could replace Chen Fei and battle that arrogant Neanderthal warrior for three hundred rounds. "If we used the railgun, I guess one shot could reduce that Clemas guy to ash on the spot." The Puppet Master, Joshua, felt that Chen Fei was hamstrung in this battle, stupidly brawling with the Neanderthal brute without being able to wield any of his advantages. After a thought, he added, "Err, Chen Fei would probably turn to ash too!" "He''s done this before, with the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''!" Adrian suddenly remembered this particular incident. Squad 04 fell into a momentary silence. "Chen Fei should switch to heavy armor; otherwise, continuing like this, he''ll be at a significant disadvantage!" Twin Blades Sister Mouri Misono, an expert in close combat, felt that in terms of cold weapon combat techniques, Chen Fei was far inferior to his opponent. Although a bit harsh, it was the blunt truth. In the numerous times she and Chen Fei sparred, nearly all the time, the latter was always being hit, barely even having the chance to strike back. "Heavy tank tactics, indeed!" The Holy Knight nodded. Everyone simultaneously thought of the Mobile Base Vehicle parked outside the arena. With its eighty tons of armor plus a railgun capable of a one-hit-kill, that indeed fit Chen Fei''s style. Resilient, tough, either not striking at all or smashing the opponent with one blow¡ªsuch a tactical approach was truly Chen Fei''s style. Center of the Arena. The Trident waved like the wind, and an excited Clemas, eyeing Chen Fei who was continuously retreating almost to the edge of the white sand, enunciated, "You, are, about, to, lose! Secret Technique..." He planned to end the duel with a Secret Technique swiftly, as a returning courtesy for battling with him. "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death!" The two burst out shouting simultaneously, unleashing their Secret Techniques. One''s War Pattern was like blood, almost covering his entire body with a crimson light, while the other''s red War Pattern burst into dazzling silver light. "What the devil?!" Kro Clan Elder Motong leaped from his seat. The other clan elders nearby were also making faces as if they had seen a ghost. - Chapter 407 407: Section 403 - Meanness is the Passport of the Base "Blood Spike," the weapon''s appearance was correct. The war patterns, indeed in the style of the Neanderthal tribe. But why the silver light? Could it be that there was something wrong with the way it was activated? Boom! Pure, flawless fine sand danced all around like drizzling rain, prompting a burst of gasps from the audience. Kleimas, who had slammed heavily into the sandy ground, rolled over and let out a loud roar. "What kind of damn Secret Technique is this..." He didn''t care who his opponent was, whether or not they were from his own tribe; none of that mattered as long as he could engage in a satisfying, exhilarating battle. "Secret Technique, Fight to the Death!" Chen Fei roared again. He felt as though he was back in that night when the old man''s voice boomed like thunder, his presence swallowing the sky as he shouted. Fight to the Death! To thrive from death! He unleashed his full power without any reservation. The figure radiating silver light flashed abruptly, like a deafening thunderclap in a clear sky. "Ah!~~~~" Kleimas''s palms were torn as he was flung backwards, barely holding onto his trident. Under the sheer brutal force, he who once had the upper hand, now found himself defeated. "Secret Technique..." "Secret Technique, Fight to the Death!" Chen Fei struck like lightning again, his voice arriving almost simultaneously with his attack, jamming the Kro Clan Warrior''s rhythm and breaking his Secret Technique with absolute violence. The dazzling silver light momentarily overpowered the crimson red. It took time to activate a Secret Technique, and although not long, it was still possible to be interrupted. Accustomed to instantaneous activation of special abilities, Chen Fei easily found his opponent''s rhythm and decisively disrupted it. "Ha..." The audience, including Adrian and others, were numbed. Is this really a War Pattern Secret Technique? Do they really think all those Neanderthals are blind? The color is obviously wrong! Alas! How is this going to end? It wasn''t just Adrian; several members of Team 04 unconsciously made a face-palming sigh. The Supreme Council of the Neanderthal tribe was likely to be seriously deceived this time. "What is this crappy Secret Technique!" Unexpectedly, Kleimas proved to be very resilient; even though the tremendous recoil of the weapon clash flung him into the air, the soft white sand below caught him, averting a potential injury. "It is a genuine Secret Technique, I have received the complete inheritance!" Chen Fei rotated the long spear in his hand, switching to a combat stance and quickly stabilized his breath. Whether it was a special breathing technique, horse stance body training, or the inexplicable dazzling silver war patterns, all were precious legacies bestowed upon him by the old Neanderthal, Barut, before his demise. "Hehe, I am not going to lose, Secret Technique, Blood Ignition!" Blood-red flames rose around Kleimas; he spat a mouthful of blood onto the sand and, wielding his trident, took large strides in a relentless full-on charge. The very next second, the long spear "Blood Spike" slipped from Chen Fei''s hand, casually thrown forward. "Ha!" Kleimas roared ferociously as he fiercely chopped down with his trident. Clang! The trident collided heavily with the soaring spear tip, sparking a glaring shower of sparks, hitting squarely on target. For a moment, the two weapons were locked, but the long spear, lacking support from behind, turned into a blur and flew out. This time, Kleimas finally steadied his stance, not retreating. Yet, there was no hint of joy on his face, but a serious expression as he stared at Chen Fei approaching step by step, reaching out to his side where the spear appeared out of thin air, firmly grasped in his hand. Almost at the same time, the spear that was supposed to land far away silently vanished in mid-air. "Absolutely, it''s the War Technique of our tribe''s hero, it''s this one, there can be no mistake!" Several elders on the stage shouted excitedly. The extraordinary combat abilities of the Neanderthal tribe were all based on war patterns, even the weapons could form various special War Techniques with them. It was only natural for the exclusive top skill of the hero Barulaka, whose brother Barut also knew it, to be passed down. "Heh..." Team 04 members didn''t want to make any comments. These Neanderthals were either telling a true story or had gone mad from watching too many dumb videos. Even the blonde lady couldn''t tell. It was total chaos now; all that was left was to wait for the final outcome. "''Flash Strike''? It''s actually a real ''Flash Strike''? You''re not a Space System Ability User?" Kleimas realized he might have overthought it, as it seemed the other party hadn''t lied. "A quickly activated Space System Ability, what chance do you think the Neanderthal tribe has?" Chen Fei took another step forward and threw his spear "Blood Spike" again, the silver glow of the war patterns resonating with the designs on the surface of the spear. Unfortunately, the old man died too early to teach him much. This was the first time Chen heard the name of the war technique "Flash Strike." Barut probably never considered this question either, only trying it in a refusal to accept his fate before dying. It turned out this old man had managed to make it work. The activation of Space System abilities had numerous limitations. To achieve a level of effortless execution, one had to be at least an S-class supernatural power user and at the level of the Heavenly Order. Such a big shot wouldn''t need to waste words with the Neanderthal tribe. They could simply pin them down and pose them in eighteen different ways. There was no need to struggle for something as trivial as a clan leader. Even if Neanderthals were reduced to fawning lackeys, no tribe member would dare object, in fact, they probably couldn''t even afford the thought of resistance. Kleimas no longer doubted the other party''s lineage; the ability to name the successor, display the correct war patterns and war techniques, and have genuine weapons was enough to prove most of it, the rest was just getting others to believe it. However, he was still not ready to concede defeat, clenching his teeth as he said, "I am the true clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe. I will not lose, Secret Technique, Mountain Splitting!" As one of the rare young warriors within the tribe, Kleimas had mastered more than one Secret Technique, worthy of being the top person below Clan Chief Bassan. Transforming into lightning, he rushed towards Chen Fei in the blink of an eye, the tip of his trident shimmering cruelly, aiming to skewer his opponent through. Stabbing the spear "Blood Spike" into the sand, Chen Fei''s figure disappeared from the spot. Kleimas, melded with his trident, lunged into empty air. Almost at the same moment, a huge sense of danger surged in his heart. Forcibly twisting his waist, he turned around and put all his strength into changing the trajectory of the trident''s thrust. Stumbling, he turned the forward stab into a sideways sweep behind him, switching from attack to defense to protect his own blind spot. Clang! Changing his move in haste inevitably exposed some flaws. A massive force slammed Kleimas, along with his trident, heavily into the sandy ground. Even though there was soft sand beneath him, he was still dazed, seeing stars. After both sides ignited their war patterns, Kleimas found himself overwhelmed in a clash of sheer strength, gaining no advantage whatsoever. Buzz!~ The tip of "Blood Spike" pointed directly at Kleimas''s throat, seemingly indicating a clear outcome. In clashes between strong warriors, the result is often decided within a few movements. "You lost!" With just a slight thrust forward, Chen Fei could kill this Kro Clan warrior on the spot. Damn it, being a law-abiding citizen, I don''t kill recklessly¡ªthose messy murderous thoughts, get out... no, stabbing him solves a thousand problems, having a clear mind is most important; killing them off is the cleanest solution¡ªwho dares to defy, let them all die... Yet his heart was engaged in a fierce struggle. A chilling threat passing through his throat left Kleimas''s mind completely blank. "Roar..." A loud roar suddenly erupted. Over a dozen fierce beasts, as huge as vans, burst into the sandy area. "What? ''Sauron'' war beasts!" Adrian sprang up, pointing at the Elders of the Neanderthal tribe not far away and angrily accused them, "This is against the rules, recall the war beasts immediately!" Most members of Team 04 stood up, unable to sit idly by any longer, now having sufficient reason to intervene. Descendants of the Third Era Civilization, the Neanderthals had developed top-tier biochemical technology, creating war beasts as renowned as their soldiers. These creatures had been active during the great war over thirty years ago, until they were completely overshadowed when the Blue Star Civilization introduced the Intelligent Magical Beasts of Cangqiong Star, almost losing all their tactical value. Unexpectedly, within the Neanderthal reserve, so many biochemical war beasts had been secretly raised. "Hahaha, this is the arena of the Neanderthal tribe, where our warriors and war beasts always fight side by side. To become a clan leader, one must defeat both; otherwise, we will never acknowledge them," At this moment, the Elder of the Kro Clan, Motong, shamelessly played the fool. "You are shameless, there is no such rule in our tribe," The Elder of the Autumn Tribe, Mabu''en, was so furious that he pointed at his counterpart and exposed him on the spot. However, the tribal elders from the Kro side echoed one after another, supporting Elder Motong''s proposal. Right or wrong didn''t matter to them; only winning mattered. The response from the elders of the Neutral Factions was subtle. Had Chen Fei''s war pattern glow been red instead of silver, they would not have hesitated as they did at this moment. "Despicable!" Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas, with a spear pointed at his throat, also showed a disdainful expression, making no effort to hide his contempt for his own clan''s elder. Although the sound barrier blocked the noise, the appearance of the "Sauron" war beasts was enough to prove one thing. To win is to win, and to lose is to lose. If they couldn''t handle defeat and resorted to releasing war beasts, such actions were only contemptible. The warriors of the Neanderthal tribe needed to win fair and square to truly earn everyone''s respect. Even though he knew Elder Motong was trying to help him, Kleimas felt a sense of humiliation and shame, causing the red glow of his war patterns to extinguish. He couldn''t afford to lose face like this. Elder Motong of Kro, pointing at Chen Fei and yelling crazily, commanded, "War beasts, attack, tear your enemies to shreds!" "Roar!" "Roar!"... The beasts quickly encircled Chen Fei and Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas, their vicious glares focusing on the former. "Tweet!" The Pure Light Sparrow, which had been perching on the tip of Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an''s Withered Vine Staff, flapped its small wings and soared, suddenly penetrating the one-way sound barrier. It landed on Chen Fei''s head, its tiny sharp beak brewing a terrifying light of death. Chapter 408 408: Section 404 - Evil ``` The fiery red laser beam made a 360-degree sweep around, and then it vanished as if it had never appeared. The ferocious Biochemical War Beasts that were closing in suddenly seemed as if they had been hit by a paralysis spell. They stiffened on the spot, and, quickly following the black line that appeared and encircled their bodies, they were bisected. The cutting edges were still emitting sparks, intermittently rising up, with the fatty layers even occasionally bursting into small flames, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of charring. More than a dozen "Sauron" war beasts didn''t even make a sound before they were collectively dead as doornails! The spectator stands fell completely silent. The Biochemical War Beasts, as renowned as the Neanderthals'' War Pattern Secret Technique, were about to unleash their ferocity, and this is what happened? Many in the audience must have thought they were seeing fake War Beasts. If not for the free admission, they probably would have been clamoring for a refund by now. From start to finish, Chen Fei''s spear "Blood Spike" hadn''t even wobbled once, still pointing straight at Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas''s throat, motionless. Kleimas couldn''t help but swallow hard, his face filled with terror as he looked at the little bird above Chen Fei''s head. "You''re cheating!!!" The Elder of Kro Clan shouted hoarsely, utterly unconvinced. The one-way soundproof barrier had disappeared quietly at some point, and that shameless outcry reached Chen Fei''s ears. The tip of "Blood Spike" slowly withdrew, made an agile rotation, and Chen Fei shifted his gaze to the still spouting elder of the Kro Clan, without hesitation made a throwing gesture. Thump!~ Elder Motong''s voice abruptly cut off, and he looked down in bewilderment to find a silver-gleaming spear pierced through his chest, from front to back, pinning him fatally to the backrest of the seat, while nearby, the other clan elders were scared witless. "What did you just say, old man?" In almost a blink of an eye, Chen Fei used "Blood Spike''s" position to appear right in front of Elder Motong. "You, you..." Elder Motong, who''d been dealt a fatal blow, had war patterns on his skin flickering red, but the light was growing fainter and fainter, signifying that his life force was rapidly draining away, no longer capable of sustaining the ignition of war patterns. "You talk too much!" Chen Fei reached out his hand, and a crisp, loud snapping sound echoed. Elder Motong''s neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and he was dead instantly. Even without having his neck snapped, he wouldn''t have lived much longer. "Who else?" Chen Fei pulled out the spear "Blood Spike" and looked coldly at the elders in the spectator stands. The body of the dead elder from the Kro Clan slumped down. "Ah!~~~"¡Án(n>1000)! Screams of utter terror rose throughout the arena, nearly everyone was caught off guard by one of the duelists attacking right into the spectator stands, killing an "audience" member on the spot. Panic engulfed the entire arena. "You there?" Chen Fei set his sights on a chief of a dominant tribe, who had previously stood with the Kro Clan and shouted quite fiercely. "Blood Spike" flew again, piercing the other''s throat instantly. Practically following the spear''s trajectory, Chen Fei appeared again next to "Blood Spike," surveilling these lambs before him like the Grim Reaper! "Blood Spike" struck again, mercilessly reaping lives among the tribal elders in the spectator stands, igniting a bloody storm. Those tribal elders, no matter which side they belonged to, even those who boasted neutrality as flip-floppers, howled in terror and scattered, but sadly the geography of the spectator stands restricted their space to flee. With "Blood Spike" repeatedly striking, the elders who stood opposite to Clan Leader Bassan were slaughtered with ease, the sound of screams was constant, and blood quickly turned the arena into a river. The Neanderthals are no longer the descendants of the Third Era Civilization that once coveted the Blue Star Civilization. The major war thirty years ago saw them decimated by the joint efforts of the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star Civilizations. The proud War Pattern Secret Technique, once their glory, had been mostly lost and the warriors capable of igniting war patterns were few. Chen Fei''s massacre plunged the Neanderthals into despair. Their strongest warrior, Clan Leader Bassan, had ironically succumbed to the "Convict" poison and was unconscious. The second strongest warrior, Kleimas had fallen in the duel and barely clung to life, his resolve broken and battle spirit vanquished, unable to stop the slaughter of the Supreme Council. As for the third, fourth, and fifth, they were far too late to quench the immediate thirst, coming only to add to the toll. "Wait, Chen Fei, stop!" By the time Adrian had finally reacted and tried to intervene, nearly a third of the Neanderthal elders in the spectator stands had already been killed by the silver-gleaming Chen Fei. The attack came too swiftly, catching everyone off guard. With a flick, "Blood Spike" shook off the hot, putrid blood, splattering it across successive seats, leaving a trail of shocking crimson, a gruesome visual impact on the onlookers. "Is something the matter?" The silver light receded from Chen Fei''s body, leaving only the blood-like tattoos. Adrian involuntarily shuddered under the murderous gaze that hadn''t faded. "No, you can''t kill anymore!" A chill raced through Adrian. Damn, a real disaster had ensued. Inside the reserve of the Neanderthal tribe, the seats were littered with slaughtered bodies of the tribal elders, powerless in the face of their demise. ``` "Oh, please wait, there''s still one more!" Chen Fei looked toward the distance, where a tribal elder screaming loudly was about to blend in with the scattering fleeing audience, and he pointed with his "Blood Spike" spear. "Xiao Jiu, take that guy down!" "Jiu!" With a flap of its tiny wings, there was no need for the elder''s feet to sprint. The green glow of a laser beam flashed and vanished, and with a thud, the lifeless body fell straight to the ground like a rotting log. The last fish that slipped through the net widened its eyes in its dying moment, still unable to believe it hadn''t escaped with its life. Little Bird landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, shaking its feathers as if it had done a triviality. For the little fellow, right and wrong, good and evil, those were human standards, irrelevant to it. This time, the tribal elders lucky enough to keep their lives dared not run anymore, as the one just now had been their example. Even if they could run fast, could they fly faster than that terrifying little bird? A ''Biu'' and you''re gone, better to save some energy and die with a little dignity. The surviving Neanderthal elders stopped in their tracks with wry smiles, turning their heads to look at Chen Fei, who had the power of life and death over everyone. From the very beginning, they hadn''t thought that the Neanderthal tribe would provoke such a calamity this time, treating human life as grass, utterly without hesitation in his actions. It seems after this catastrophe, the Neanderthal tribe might be completely wiped out from Blue Star. "All right, killing''s done, we''re finished!" Chen Fei glanced sideways at those Neanderthals who still hadn''t escaped his field of view, ignoring the cries and chaotic fleeing in the stands of the Arena, and said, "Anyone else? Those who are not convinced can stand up now!" Suddenly, he turned back and glared at the Arena, where the Kro Clan warrior Kleimas was barely standing up again, leaning on his trident. "Do you, do you have any objections?" Kleimas involuntarily took a step back, his face paled, his heart pounding with fear as he shook his head and said, "No, I don''t!" He feared the other would say "No, you do!" and then his end would come. What deterred Kleimas wasn''t Chen Fei''s War Techniques or strength, but his ruthless readiness to kill. Such a ferocious person was almost unheard of in his life, like a Demon King who killed without mercy. Next to such a person, he, a warrior of the Clay Clan, was like a joke, seeing no hope of victory. Mabu''en, the Autumn Tribe elder who had been confronting Kro Clan elder Motong, said with a trembling voice, "From now on, you are the Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe!" The tribal elders could die no more; if they all perished, the entire Neanderthal tribe might just fall apart. After all, this was a power struggle strictly following ancient traditions. The opponent had fairly and squarely defeated Kleimas, the warrior of the Kro Clan second only in strength to the former Clan Leader Bassan. As for whether Chen Fei was really of the Kro Clan, it became completely irrelevant after he personally stabbed the tribal elder Motong through and twisted his neck on the spot. Procedurally speaking, the opponent fully met the conditions to become Clan Leader, and moreover, their own lives were still in his hands. The slightest dissatisfaction would lead to another bloody slaughter, and the Neanderthal tribe could no longer withstand such a disaster. "The Boyi Clan congratulates the Clan Leader on his ascension!" The Boyi Clan elder Geltila immediately fell to one knee, bowing his head in submission. Then came Mabu''en, the Autumn Tribe elder. With a leader to follow, the surviving elders, even those of the Neutral Factions, also knelt down on one knee, their hearts still filled with dread. There were no dissenters. Perhaps there were, but they were all in Hell. "Ha!?" Mouri Misono''s eyes widened, as well as those of the B-level Ice Attribute supernatural power user Susanna and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai. "He really did it!" A-level Psychic Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua, was left with nothing other than shock. "My little bro is just that, beautifully done!" A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley gave his usual triple sixes to his little bro. To regard life and death lightly, to confront head-on if not agreed upon, a Metal Ability User should always be this thrilling. Hemming and hawing, what''s the point? "Ha, that works too!" Holy Knight Walter Sam had originally thought there would be a righteous and dignified duel, and then he would move the elders of the Neanderthal tribe with bravery, tolerance, and benevolence, smoothly obtaining the antidote and ending with a perfect conclusion of a happy family reunion. But he guessed the beginning right, just not the end. Indeed, the Neanderthals were subdued, but it was by slaughter, the entire event was a bloody "persuasion." The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an remained as calm and indifferent as usual, seemingly not surprised at all. The former Clan Leader Bassan who had fallen unconscious: "..." Had he been awake to confront this scene, he probably wouldn''t have wanted to wake up. Golden-haired Miss Nicole von Sasha felt a chill run down her spine, as if plunged into an icehouse. From the beginning, she hadn''t been mistaken; this man coercing the Neanderthal tribal elders was a demon wearing human skin, releasing his evil without any reservation. But everyone remembered the words Chen Fei had said earlier. "Of course, take down the Clan Leader, kill those who disobey, then command the obedient ones to hand over the antidote, and if they don''t, kill them all, exterminate the tribe, leave no one alive!" - Chapter 409 409: Section 405 - Work Chen Fei said this from the start, and he''s doing the same now. "My first order, get the ''Convict''s'' antidote, hurry and search for it!" "Yes, Clan Leader!" The tribe elders, as if pardoned, quickly rose and scurried away in panic. Everyone wanted to get as far away as possible from this devil-like new Clan Leader, yet this was the lawful preserve of the Neanderthal tribe. Without the autonomous preserve that was their last bastion, could the globally scattered Neanderthal tribe still call themselves such? Inside the preserve, chaos reigned, and the panic and unease brought by the killings in the Arena spread like pebbles dropping into a pond, rippling out in all directions. Adrian said to Chen Fei, who had returned to his harmless demeanor, "Chen Fei, you killed too many!" He didn''t mind the death of Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas in the Arena; after all, it was a fight to the death, and any hesitation or compassion would only lead to one''s own demise. It was only natural to be killed if outmatched in skill. But instead of killing the intended targets, you stormed into the spectator stands and savagely slaughtered the elders. Aren''t you afraid of completely offending the Neanderthal tribe and facing their universal ostracism and hostility? Even though the Neanderthal tribe is waning, there are still hundreds of thousands of purebloods and millions of mixed-bloods. Eradicating them single-handedly is unimaginable, and the ensuing social upheaval would be too great. The Global United Defense Committee and various sovereignties would hardly sit idly by. "Don''t worry about these trivial matters. Now that I''m the Clan Leader, just a small tweak in the history essays and all will be settled." Chen Fei was well aware of these routines. There''s no avoiding it, with five thousand years of history written in the books! Annals of Neanderthal Chen Fei: In this year, Chen Fei combated the Kro Clan Warrior and won, succeeding to the position of Clan Leader. All were submissive, and he was hailed as the Benevolent Unconquered. That''s how shameless it is! What is a face, and can you eat it? Every change in dynasties was marked with decapitations and rivers of blood. Now that he had forcefully taken command of the Neanderthal tribe, how could he possibly rely on sweet words to convince those elders who were preoccupied with their power struggles? Since they liked courting death so much, then they could all go ahead and die. When Chen Xiao''er suddenly became ruthless, he did not care for all that talk of righteousness and morals. However, two years earlier, he wouldn''t have dared even to think of such a thing, never anticipating such a drastic change in his mindset. Treating human life like grass and facing bloodshed without changing his expression was not something a genuine Ivory Tower university graduate should do, right? "This is utter chaos! Utter chaos! But Chen Fei, you did a splendid job!" Puppet Master Joshua, a close ally, laughed heartily, despite being inwardly distraught. Like Chen Fei, he couldn''t stand those arrogant Neanderthal elders. Especially that despicable Elder of the Kro Clan, who shamelessly overstepped all bounds. Not just Chen Fei, but even he wanted to take down such a contemptible person. "Adrian, now is not the time to dwell on these matters. Let''s secure the ''Convict''s'' antidote first," said the Holy Knight, speaking a word of fairness. There are matters of urgency and importance. Right now, what''s most important is not the life and death of outsiders, but to save the lives of Team 04 members and Liaison Officer Rossi. "Indeed, that''s true!" "Let''s secure the antidote first, and we can discuss anything else later!" "Chirp!" The members of Team 04 expressed their agreement one after another. While the ''Convict''s'' poison wasn''t immediately fatal, death would inevitably come for the three if an antidote wasn''t found, something which none wanted to witness. Although Chen Fei''s methods were a bit too violent and bloody, they were nevertheless a way to cut through the mess. At least, it would''ve been difficult to persuade those elders busy jockeying for power and profit through reasoning alone. One could imagine how suppressed the Clan Leader Bassan, who struggled alone outside, must have felt. He certainly didn''t possess Chen Fei''s ability to intimidate the elders into near incontinence with a single glare. Kingly authority often requires tyrannical support; this is what Bassan lacked, which led to his immediate removal after being poisoned. "Chen Fei, you can''t be so impulsive in the future." As the team leader, Adrian needed to consider issues from a captain''s standpoint. His concerns were many; he couldn''t possibly act as unrestrained as Chen Fei. "Of course, I only intended to borrow the position of Clan Leader for a moment." Chen Fei felt no burden of conscience. From the beginning, his goal was to settle the score with the opponent, never really intending to take on the troublesome role of Clan Leader. A poor bloke becoming Clan Leader for others, as if he believed in such emptiness? "That''s better! I''m reassured now!" How could Adrian not hear the subtext in Chen Fei''s words? Once this matter was resolved, Bassan would still be the Clan Leader. Of course, the incidents during his unconscious period would still fall on him to bear the blame. It was a necessary course of action. Blaming someone else would indeed not be an easy sell, so this was the best solution. The trouble-loving Chen Xiao''er once again dodged a bullet. Bassan: ... The Mobile Base Vehicle returned to the vicinity of the Supreme Council''s building; the smoke caused by the 152''s breach had cleared, but the area remained cordoned off, inaccessible to visitors. Team 04 members didn''t plan to find accommodation elsewhere, choosing instead to stay in the vehicle as it had fully equipped beds, bathrooms, and a kitchen, with ample supplies for about ten people without any issue. Local TV stations approached, and these monarchs without crowns truly had the thickest skins, boldly thrusting the microphone in the face of Chen Fei, the new Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe. "Scram, or I''ll kill you!" The female host''s face turned deathly pale as she and the camera crew hurriedly scrambled away, terrified that if they didn''t run fast enough, they might actually be killed. Within the reservation, it''s the tribal leaders with autonomy who are the real kings without crowns. However, there was now an additional guest inside the mobile base vehicle, none other than the guide Cosina. From the beginning, her job was as a local liaison officer, and it remained so, including contacting the elders, hastening and inquiring about the status of the "convict" antidote; all of this was her responsibility. As for Chen Fei, the brutal clan leader who rose to power through killing, his job was to make an effort to lay low while maintaining his deterrent effect. If he were indeed tasked with anything specific, others would probably be scared to the point of wetting themselves. Even Cosina, who had always been treated with kindness, still felt the terror of accompanying the clan leader, akin to walking alongside a tiger¡ªfearing that a single wrong word or failing to handle matters properly could in an instant lead to a headless end. There was no existing "convict" poison within the Neanderthal tribe, and naturally, no antidote to match it. The witch doctor Liese Nan, capable of concocting the "convict" poison, had suddenly died under suspicious circumstances, presumably killed by poison. However, the truth and the murderer remained a mystery, with little progress being made in the short term. But the sudden poisoning of the former clan leader Bassan with the "convict" poison was probably no coincidence, and the possibility of a connection was not low. Since the witch doctor Liese Nan was dead, there was naturally no way to summon her ghost from hell to coerce her into working and crafting an antidote. However, Liese Nan had two apprentices, now being pushed by Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas with a trident at their backs, working all out to produce the antidote for the "convict" poison. Kleimas, who had lost a duel, accepted his loss obediently; he dared not utter a single complaint and even proactively put in all his effort, strictly supervising the two witch doctor apprentices. After all, if he dared to even hesitate, his name might well be added to the clan''s death list. Don''t think that the new clan leader wasn''t capable of such an act; he had killed many elders on the spot without flinching and would not hesitate to add another. As for the two uninitiated witch doctor apprentices, not to mention the antidote for the "convict," they had probably never even made poison. But now, forced into action, they were in the same boat as the new clan leader''s henchman Kleimas; like many others, they too had no way out. If they failed to produce the antidote within the deadline, almost everyone could envision a likely outcome: another bloody storm would ensue. Don''t even think about running away¡ªwho knows whether this ruthless man would chase you to the ends of the earth, determined to kill. Chances are, you couldn''t escape death, even if you fled to the remotest corners of the globe. - After the failed interview with Chen Fei, the Neanderthal tribe''s TV station, though seething with anger, circulated the video clip of the interview secretly. Almost the entire world could see Chen Xiao''er''s bloodthirsty declaration. Only such cowardly media would engage in these underhanded activities. In the cafeteria of Northern Industrial University, Chen Meng was dining with her classmates when they happened to see the news broadcast on the cafeteria''s TV screen. "Get lost, or I''ll kill you!" "Huh?" Chen Meng''s chopsticks dropped on her plate as she stared at the TV screen, dumbfounded. Good heavens, was that her own brother? Why is he so fierce! Others recognized him too. "Wow, Xiao Meng, that''s your brother!" "Maybe, probably, could be..." Little Sister Chen gave an awkward smile, thinking her classmates'' perceptions of her would definitely get weird with such a violent brother. - At the Chen Family Gate, the household of Uncle Chen Haiqing was lively, everyone sitting together. The screen flashed the scene. "Get lost, or I''ll kill you!" Chen Shan, the youngest sibling, reflexively threw aside his bowl and chopsticks and ducked under the table, wailing, "I was wrong, brother! I was wrong! Don''t beat me up!" Elder sisters and brothers-in-law: "..." Uncle Chen Haiqing and his spouse: "..." - The Chen Family. "Get lost, or I''ll kill you!" "Huh? Isn''t that Xiao''er''s voice? How did he get on TV? Let me find my reading glasses." Chen Haishang was very surprised to hear his son''s voice so fierce, utterly different from when he was at home. He set down his bowl, intending to look for his reading glasses to get a better view. "How could that be? That man is a clan leader of the Neanderthals, are we from the Neanderthal tribe?" Yu Xiaoyi, the mother of Chen Shi, Chen Fei, and Chen Meng continued eating without looking up. "Uh, no!" Chen Haishang stopped, realizing she was right. The Chen Family had absolutely no relation to the Neanderthal tribe for generations. If Xiao''er became their clan leader, would the Neanderthals be fools? "So that settles it, right? Let''s eat, and hurry to do the dishes afterward. We still have to go to the eldest''s place. The eldest''s wife is about to give birth, and since he''s too busy to be home, we need to help out. Are you gonna pay for a nanny?" Yu Xiaoyi continued her meal with a hint of annoyance. - Chapter 410 410: Section 406 - Abdication Compared to the former Clan Leader Bassan, who generally had a lackluster presence, the arrival of the brutal Clan Leader¡ªascending to power over the corpses of the Supreme Council''s elders¡ªissued an order that brought all Neanderthal witch doctors from around the world back to the reservation. Along with two embarrassingly incompetent apprentices of the reservation witch doctor, Liese Nan, at least fifty or sixty people worked in three shifts, non-stop, for nearly half a month. Finally, on the fifteenth day after Bassan and two others were poisoned, the first batch of antidote was painstakingly produced and delivered into Chen Fei''s trembling hands. The individuals who had labored so hard to create the antidote were a group of greenhorns; they had already exerted their utmost efforts. Yet before the actual detoxification, their hearts all simultaneously rose to their throats in anxiety. "Give it to Rossi first!" Due to the urgency of time, there was no chance for clinical drug testing. Upon receiving the antidote, Chen Fei immediately handed it to Liaison Officer Rossi. After confirming the medicine''s effect, the next batch of antidote would be ready in six hours. "Why?" Adrian was utterly confused. It was clear that Chen Fei didn''t like Rossi one bit, yet he gave the first batch of antidote to him. Could it be a sudden twinge of conscience, extending an olive branch to soften the tension between them?! Chen Fei said without a care, "The most useless guy here is him. If the detox fails and he dies, it doesn''t matter." Adrian''s eyes bulged, and he found himself speechless. It turned out he''d overthought the situation¡ªChen Fei''s words were indeed in line with the brutal Clan Leader''s inhumane nature. The useless ones should gamble their lives on the trial medicine! The blonde lady glared furiously at Chen Xiao''er. Ha, women! Chen Fei didn''t flinch in the slightest and snorted disdainfully. What are you looking at? Think you''re so great because you''re an A-level supernatural power user? Fry, kill, barbecue, kill, fry, then kill, to fry and to slaughter... Swarming malicious thoughts came crashing over like a tsunami; the last thing he lacked were such terrifying thoughts. If you want to read minds, then go ahead and read! The lady soon found herself hopelessly outmatched and was utterly overwhelmed by the Skill, offering no resistance. In the end, Adrian followed Chen Fei''s suggestion to administer a small test tube of the powdered potion, mixed with water, to the unconscious Liaison Officer Rossi. After all, better to let a companion die than to die oneself¡ªin a multiple-choice test involving the three of them, Rossi was the one who had to be sacrificed first as a matter of necessity. As the medicine took effect, Rossi''s flushed face quickly turned pale, and he slowly opened his eyes, muttering to himself in confusion. "Who am I... Where am I... What am I supposed to do...?" He felt as if his whole being was off, as though he had just made a trip through Hell¡ªan utterly terrible experience. "He''s awake, he''s awake!" "Fantastic, it''s working!" "It should be effective, this has to work!" The Neanderthal witch doctors and apprentices huddled excitedly together, high-fiving one another. Yet someone, worried, chimed in. "Don''t celebrate too soon; the poison might not be completely neutralized. There might be side effects!" As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, the assembled witch doctors and apprentices by the Mobile Base Vehicle fell into a hushed silence, their prior excitement giving way to renewed unease. "Liaison Officer Rossi, you''re awake!" Adrian looked him over and burst into smiles. It appeared that the antidote was effective; they were finally saved. "I hate... your perspective!" Rossi wore a look of disgust, still the same eccentric and temperamental Liaison Officer. "We need to confirm the actual effects immediately, I want a detox report." Chen Fei gestured to those outside the vehicle who were anxiously awaiting the outcome. These guys were the experts, and he knew nothing about it¡ªspecialist tasks should be left in the hands of specialists. If Rossi managed to survive, it was his good fortune. Of course, if someone were to tamper with the real antidote and poison it further, it could only be said that Chen Fei had tried his best. Such was fate. Up to this point, Chen Fei had only the title of Clan Leader and was able to scare the Neanderthals with the remaining influence of his ascent to power, but he still hadn''t truly gained control over these people. However, he had never intended to fully harness this wild and unruly tribe. From the very beginning, his only goal was to get the antidote, simply taking on the role temporarily¡ªthere was no need to take it too seriously, nor did he hope the Neanderthals would always do so. To wear the crown is to bear its burden. The responsibility that would follow was not easy to bear, and of course, the plan was to make a swift exit after the act was over. How Bassan, who fumbled into expulsion and reluctant cession of the Clan Leader title, would pick up the pieces was no longer Chen Fei''s concern. The witch doctors and apprentices clumsily surrounded the bewildered Liaison Officer Rossi, touching him all over for nearly half an hour before finally letting him go. The exhausted Rossi let out a whimper. "What on earth happened?" Those ruthless people had even grabbed his crotch several times. This was, of course, to judge unpredictable side effects because the "Convict" antidote was seldom formulated, and this was their first time making it, so nobody knew whether there would be any side effects. An hour and a half later, Chen Fei received the medical report. There were basically no side effects, or at least, essentially none. "Is there... any food?" Rossi, the Liaison Officer who had laid in bed for the better part of a month on a liquid diet administered through his nose, had wasted away to skin and bones. After being put through the ringer, he was ravenously hungry. "Millet porridge?" The blonde lady had been by her side the whole time, and the kitchen area of the mobile base vehicle had an electric rice cooker simmering with golden millet porridge. "Okay!" Rossi didn''t have much to choose from. People with a weak spleen and stomach could only consume easily digestible foods. "There aren''t any issues, are there?" Adrian sneakily glanced at the report in Chen Fei''s hand. Chen Fei lowered his voice and whispered, "Shush... there are lingering effects of language dysfunction." "Huh?" Adrian widened his eyes, no wonder he always felt something was a bit off with Liaison Officer Rossi¡ªit turned out to be this. For someone who liked to verbally lash out and leave others soaked in a bloodbath of words, this side effect might be a blessing in disguise, as it would likely make his jibes come across comically. The members of Team 04, seeing Adrian and Chen Fei whispering to each other, pricked up their ears curiously. "Is there a problem?" Scooping up a bowl of hot porridge from the rice cooker and letting the B-class Ice Ability User Susanna cool it down on the spot to a temperature suitable for eating, the blonde lady fed the weakened Rossi while looking over with a puzzled expression. "The antidote is effective, crisis averted!" Chen Fei put on a false show of confidence with an ''OK'' gesture. Nicole, by now, dared not use her skill to pry into his thoughts, for a flood of frenzied killing thoughts coming her way was simply self-inflicted suffering. But just by the subtle changes in his micro-expressions, she felt that Chen Fei was hiding something. However, Chen Fei still clenched the report tightly, with no intention of sharing it with her or Rossi. Off to the side, Adrian was pulled aside by Mouri Misono and others, whispering and sharing the information he got from Chen Fei. Ultimately, Blonde Lady Nicole and Liaison Officer Rossi were not really considered their own people who had been through life and death with Team 04. Midnight, twelve o''clock. The second batch of modified antidote was delivered. This time, instead of testing the drug on Liaison Officer Rossi again, they administered it to both Bassan and Apu at the same time. Half an hour later, both of their poisoning symptoms rapidly alleviated, and they began to regain consciousness. "The antidote..." Coming to his senses, Bassan looked at the clock, then out the window at the sky¡ªit was not his usual time for waking. He knew that Chen Fei''s efforts had finally paid off. "You''ve worked hard!" This tall and burly man had also become emaciated, especially as muscular individuals who suffer from autophagy due to insufficient nutrient intake reveal the drawback of low body fat percentage¡ªtheir weight drops quickly. In half a month, he had lost at least fifty pounds, but with a return to a normal diet teamed with exercise, he would quickly regain the lost muscle. "Apu is saved!" The straightforward boy let out a cry of joy; it seemed his mood was exceedingly buoyant after escaping disaster. Seeing the two awake and the antidote taking effect, Adrian truly relaxed and then said, "Bassan, you have three days to sort out clan affairs, and then we will return to Siberia." "I understand!" Bassan, now restored as the Clan Leader, nodded and turned his gaze toward Chen Fei. "Thank you, Chen Fei, the rest is up to me!" In the brief moments he had been lucid before, he had learned about Chen Fei defeating the Kro Clan Warrior Kleimas and slaughtering the Supreme Council. Given the urgency of the matter, he could hardly blame Chen Fei, who after all was acting to save their lives, as well as those of the other two. But after the bloody slaughter, the clan no longer had any dissenting voices, especially since the leading opponent, Kro Clan Elder Motong, had been executed on the spot, which, for Bassan, wasn''t too much of a mess to clean up. Those who were discontent had all been killed by Chen Fei¡ªthe rest, even if grudgingly resigned, could only hold back their feelings. The remaining clan members were mostly docile; not even daring to harbor thoughts of rebellion, for those who survived knew the importance of recognizing the tide of the times. The Neanderthal tribe, long accustomed to peace, had lost their courage to resist tyrannical rule, becoming quite indistinguishable from the descendants of the Blue Star Homo sapiens, especially Chen Fei, an outsider as a new leader. After sixteen days on the throne, Chen Fei stepped down. Bassan once again became the leader of the Neanderthal tribe, and those who had not taken him seriously before were probably ready to celebrate with drums and gongs. At least Chieftain Bassan was reasonable, not like the person who had just shirked his duties and abdicated, resorting to murder at the slightest dissent. Therefore, the position of Clan Leader returning to his hands encountered little resistance, and everything took its natural course. "I, Bassan, am the Clan Leader!" Standing in front of the television cameras at the reservation, Bassan, having regained some vitality and spirit, spoke thus. Although he did not spout grand yet hollow rhetoric, Neanderthals around the world cheered for him, and Chieftain Bassan''s prestige soared to unprecedented heights. Nobody loves a murderous Demon King, after all¡ªit''s human nature. Chen Fei played with Little Bird in his hands and commented disdainfully, "Damn, they are all fickle." The former leader, who had ruled for a mere sixteen days, was quickly forgotten by people as if he had never existed at all. - Chapter 411 411: Section 407 - Return to Mission Bassan smoothly reassumed control of the Neanderthal tribe and made some adjustments to their interests. This time, there were no voices of opposition or hidden disobedience; his commands were executed as smoothly as flowing water, without the slightest discount. Everyone knew that if they opposed, it was very likely they would provoke that terrifying individual capable of haunting their nightmares. No one wanted that to happen again. Finally, within the allotted time, Bassan reorganized the tribe, and at the moment he announced his departure, many people in the reserve breathed a sigh of relief¡ªnot at their clan leader Bassan, but at a certain plague spirit. The day before Team 04 and the Mobile Base Vehicle left the Neanderthal reservation, Chen Fei received a box specially prepared for him by the witch doctors. Inside were crystal-clear high borosilicate glass tubes, sealed with medicines of various colors¡ªpowders, granules, and tablets. Aside from a small amount of poison, most were various antidotes. This time, poisoning wouldn''t happen again; at the very least, for the unique poisons of the Neanderthal tribe, all corresponding antidotes could be found in this box. The box wasn''t given to Adrian but was stored in Xiao Jiu''s Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Which of the little bird''s two leg rings was the Storage Magical Device, Chen Fei hadn''t intended to figure out. If even he didn''t know, then it was likely even more unknown to others. It would be difficult for outsiders to imagine that such an ordinary little bird''s claws would be wearing a precious storage artifact. Such a covert cover was more suited to continue unchecked, and anyone who dared to rashly try to snatch it would probably be taught by this laser-beaming Little Bird to be reborn anew. Liaison Officer Rossi and the blonde Miss didn''t join Team 04 on the journey northward. Rossi was already scared. The ruthless degree of the "Water Bear" organization far exceeded his expectation, with conspiracy and means that were hard to guard against. He nearly lost his life to poisoning this time and didn''t want to fall victim a second time. Good fortune doesn''t come in pairs, and misfortunes never come singly. Next time, he might not be so lucky. The Transport Airship picked up the Mobile Base Vehicle in Habulav for a temporary transfer, dropped Rossi and Nicole along with some other passengers, then took off again to fly across the equator towards the northern hemisphere. Such a large transporter couldn''t possibly make this trip just for Team 04''s itinerary; at most, it took them along on the way. Adrian and the others needed multiple transfers to get back to the Siberian Tundra. "I... am leaving... Take care!" Liaison Officer Rossi''s language dysfunction seemed to be complete, and perhaps he could find treatment in Habulav. The seasons of the northern and southern hemispheres are entirely opposite. While the Neanderthal reservation was in the height of summer, the Siberian Tundra was in the depths of winter. "Welcome back!" The one welcoming Team 04 at the public airport was none other than the Liaison Officer of the Tunguska Regional Police Headquarters, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna. She wore a white down coat, her graceful figure lithe and bouncing energetically, waving vigorously through the snow. You stick with what you know; the liaison officer was still her. The Mobile Base Vehicle rolled down from the Transport Airship and stopped beside Tanya. "Ha! Tanya, it''s truly wonderful to see you." As soon as the vehicle door opened, Adrian jumped out, warmly embracing this Siberian lass, and then pulled her into the vehicle''s cabin, warm as spring. "Hey, everyone, long time no see! Bassan, Apu, eh? You seem to have lost a lot of weight. Are you all right? Chen Fei, you really made a splash as the clan leader! Aww, Xiao Jiu is so cute¡ªthe guy, the guy Rossi didn''t come?" Smiling, Female Liaison Officer Tanya took a quick look around the cabin, greeting everyone inside. It seemed she was quite up to date with recent news. "Jiu!~" The Little Bird was standing on the steering wheel in the direction of Papa Chen Fei, happily chirping. Chen Fei, without looking back, waved his hand; the Mobile Base Vehicle started smoothly. Though the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" helped with the automatic driving, it was still necessary to stay attentive when there were other vehicles nearby. "Liaison Officer Rossi stayed in Habulav; he didn''t come this time!" Adrian sat down with the Female Liaison Officer and then brought her a steaming cup of coffee. "Good!" Bassan, as always, was sparing with his words, nodding to Tanya with his usual indifferent attitude. He was like that with everyone, with next to zero normal social skills. His tribespeople were quite tolerant to continue accepting this "Three No''s" clan leader. Even though Chen Fei had saved him and, incidentally, had gotten rid of the elders too, Bassan still didn''t show much emotional fluctuation. After a simple thank you, there was no follow-up. "Look, the weight loss was successful!" The muscular man gestured to his arm, which was as thick as an average person''s thigh. His biceps, full and well-defined, would still make him look like a well-built man even if he slimmed down, given the size of his frame. However, compared to half a month ago, the difference in impression was quite significant. "Tanya, how is the investigation going on your end?" As soon as he returned to Siberia, Adrian couldn''t wait to inquire about the progress of the poisoning case. Previously, in search of an antidote, Team 04 had to leave and find the Neanderthal tribe''s reserve, where a bunch of out-of-control incidents happened, and many people died. As they say, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee fought with the "Water Bear" organization resulting in the death of a bunch of unrelated Neanderthal elders. What a senseless tragedy! Tanya said with a look of regret, "We''ve identified the suspects: two kitchen hands responsible for preparing dishes, who had been on the job for at least a year. However, one of them died of freezing after getting drunk and falling asleep in the snow, and the other went insane from an overdose of ''medicine,'' totally incoherent now." From autopsy and medical reports, it was unclear whether the drunk freezing and overdose were murders to silence them or merely accidents. Adrian clenched his fist, regretfully saying, "It must have been the ''Water Bear,'' such a pity." The police were always one step behind. By the time they identified the suspects, the trail went cold, making it difficult to pursue further leads. To delve deeper would likely require unraveling the case from other angles, which would undoubtedly increase both workload and difficulty. Nicole, the psychic blonde who excelled at mind reading, did not join them. Maybe she could have gleaned something from the insane man. Local psychic ability users with similar abilities probably exist, and they might have tried, but still, no results. Even without direct evidence pointing to the "Water Bear" organization''s involvement, and though they wouldn''t openly advertise their involvement, it didn''t matter. Whether or not they were responsible, they still needed to be exterminated. There was no turning back between the two sides. The bad guys had to die. Of course, their enemies wouldn''t just passively await their demise. The confrontation in Grafki Village was a test between the two parties. The subsequent poisoning indicated that the struggle had reached a levels of no limits or mercy. While Team 04 was stirring up a bloodbath in the Neanderthal reserve, the "Water Bear" organization member details accidentally provided by Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had been verified. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee successfully captured a large group of suspects, harshly retaliating for the poisoning incident and regaining some ground. Once the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, backed by numerous sovereignties, locks onto a target, they act with precision and do not falter. Yet, what vexed those at the top was still how to pinpoint the members and bases of the "Water Bear" organization. Tanya exclaimed with shared indignation, "These crazed bastards have truly betrayed humanity." She had been staying at the hotel that day and had not reached the dining hall for the early breakfast. Otherwise, she would have been another victim. If luck hadn''t been on her side, that day would have been her third day of mourning. Mutants that disrupt the natural ecological balance are humanity''s current archenemies. Secretly cultivating mutants, no matter the reason, is akin to playing with fire: it endangers both others and oneself. "Exactly. They''ve made us suffer a lot. When we dig them out, we''ll freeze them into blocks of ice and then crush them into bits." Susanna, a Grade B Ice Ability User, shivered uncontrollably as she gazed at the thick snow outside the vehicle''s window. She felt she must have awakened the wrong special ability; despite having Ice Ability, she was terribly susceptible to cold. Being in the Siberian tundra on a mission was a real hardship. The mobile base vehicle had just deboarded the transport aircraft and hadn''t even been outdoors for long. In just this short time, Susanna''s hands and feet began to grow cold involuntarily, wishing she could burrow into her quilt cave and wrap herself tightly in three layers of thick blankets. "What a fantastic idea, I fully support it," Tanya said, clapping vigorously. It was a most gratifying thought; those from the "Water Bear" organization were truly human scum, and becoming real-life scum in a physical sense was just fitting. In the frigid Siberian tundra, it was completely feasible; no powers needed, just strip them bare and leave them outside for half an hour to freeze till they were as brittle as brittle can be. Adrian looked at Tanya and said seriously, "For the work that follows, we''ll need the continued full support of the Tunguska Police. Officer Tanya, we''ll be relying a great deal on you." After a few rounds of close calls, Team 04 realized the deviousness of the "Water Bear" organization; without local police cooperation, it would be difficult to make any strides. The female liaison officer asked, "Where do we start this time upon our return, Grafki Village or the hotel?" The "Water Bear" organization was exceedingly secretive, and it was uncertain when they might strike again. To mount a counter-attack, the right entry point had to be found. Neither Team 04 nor the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would continue to be passively on the receiving end of attacks. "No, we''re going to capture a member of the ''Water Bear'' organization!" Adrian took a box out from the storage magical device and patted its lid. Tanya asked with surprise, "Have we made some progress?" "Thanks to Xiao Jiu, we got our hands on a list of names, and then more progress followed." Adrian glanced toward the driver''s seat. A bird reflects its owner, and Liaison Officer Rossi''s face had been thoroughly slapped swollen by that little bird. Descending from the transport ship in Habulav was a rarity, likely with an underlying intention to keep her distance. Chapter 412 412: Section 408 - Straight Hook Fishing "That list?" Tanya, the female liaison officer from the Tunguska Police, widened her eyes. She remembered something, seemingly having an impression of it. "Exactly! That list, verified covertly and found to be mostly true, contains several big fish," Adrian nodded, confirming her guess. It was Xiao Jiu''s personal information list that he had thrown in front of Liaison Officer Rossi. During the time when Squad 04 sought the antidote for the "Convict''s" poison, the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had not been idle either. Without this information, relying solely on Squad 04 being targeted by the "Convict," even if they obtained the antidote in the end, they would have had a hard time avoiding criticism for incompetence. Now, they had managed to barely recover some ground. Tanya looked at the box in Adrian''s hand with a complex expression and said, "It looks like there''s hope of catching the real mastermind behind it all!" The appearance of this list might have caught both friends and foes by surprise and could become an uncertain element that breaks the balance. "Our current task is to wait for the rabbit by a tree stump, to avoid startling the snake by hitting the grass, so we can follow the vine to find the melon, expanding our victory." Adrian, filled with confidence at this moment, was not a headless fly, but rather had a well-prepared plan with confident anticipation. Whether it was him or the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, the things they wanted were not limited to the items on the list. The number of "Water Bear" organization members was definitely much more than those on the list. Once the targets were locked, all it would take was patience to eventually reel in a big catch. Therefore, the box in Adrian''s hand was Squad 04''s bait, ideally capable of catching the entire "Water Bear" organization in one sweep. "I hope these despicable guys can be dealt with sooner rather than later." Tanya seemed full of drive and determination. The Mobile Base Vehicle, braving the wind and snow, entered Yarsk City after leaving the public airport. This time, Squad 04 did not choose to stay in a hotel, but instead rented a villa in the suburbs, which also came with a large, heated greenhouse garage, spacious enough to accommodate the entire Mobile Base Vehicle. Hotels were convenient, but too public; in case the "Water Bear" organization took notice, not only was there a potential for poisoning incidents to happen again, but in any emergency, it would be easy to be hamstrung by the need to avoid harm to innocent bystanders. "What a big villa!" The large villa, rivaling a small manor, made Tanya, the accompanying police liaison officer, exclaim involuntarily in amazement. "Public funds, no need to skimp, Tanya, there''s a room for you too!" Mouri Misono gestured a V-sign to the female liaison officer. The three-story building was not only magnificent but also had ample rooms. Even if each member of Squad 04 and Tanya had their own room, there would still be plenty to spare. The villa had already turned on the heating, warm and spring-like inside, just like in the Mobile Base Vehicle. "Pick your own room, take a shower, get over the jet lag, and then we''ll meet up." Adrian patted each member of Squad 04 on the shoulder. Having traveled from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere, the long journey resulted in inevitable fatigue. They urgently needed a good rest to recover and be ready for new battles. This time, Squad 04 had learned from past experiences. The kitchen had no provisions prepared in advance; the refrigerator and cold storage were empty. Adrian used the Space System Alchemy Storage Device he carried with him to extract and replenish the supplies: flour, rice, vegetables, meat, and a variety of seasonings, all stocked up along with other items not yet taken out, enough to sustain eleven people for a full year. As dusk fell, the members of Squad 04 hastily ate something and returned to their rooms, soon drifting off to sleep one after another. The Neanderthal Chief Bassan, in charge of the night watch and having downed a bellyful of strong coffee, couldn''t resist the onslaught of tiredness. Sitting on the living room sofa, clutching his Single-toothed Long Halberd, he unknowingly started to snore softly. A stealthy figure approached the doorway to Adrian''s guest room, a hand clad in nitrile gloves holding a key, while pressing a plasticine mold onto the fingerprint scanner. With a soft click, the door was quietly opened. The shadowy figure approached the bed, took a cautious look around the room, then produced a small glass vial, bringing it close to Adrian who was deeply asleep. A faint white smoke rose from the mouth of the bottle, and was swiftly inhaled by Adrian''s nose. After a moment, the vial was sealed again with its lid. The hooded figure''s movements became slightly more pronounced, they hummed a strange and eerie tune close to Adrian''s ear. Finally, they took out a triangle iron and, following a certain rhythm, ding-dinged and dong-donged around. "Adrian, wake up..." The voice seemed to come from a far-away place. Adrian, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, suddenly sat up mechanically with a wooden expression, his eyes still tightly shut. "Please take out the box containing the list... Is the list real?... Is it really for fishing?... The detailed plan..." In the dimly lit room, flashes of a flashlight went off a few times, and at last, Adrian, sitting on the bed, lay down again. The figure, wearing the nitrile gloves and hood, even tucked him in before stealthily retracing their steps. The door was locked again; all within fifteen minutes, as if nothing had ever happened. - "Good morning!" Adrian, who had rarely enjoyed a sound sleep, was stretching his limbs as he made his way to the dining room. Passing by the kitchen, he greeted Chen Fei and Mouri Misono who were busy at work. "Morning, Adrian, what would you like to eat? We have both bread and porridge!" Chen Fei skillfully fried a sunny-side-up egg; with a light flick of the frying pan, the egg flipped over effortlessly. Whether it''s Chinese or Western style, sunny-side-up eggs are essential. Mouri Misono was making sushi, bite-sized ones, very delicate. From time to time, surplus rice grains would be fed to Xiao Jiu, who was hopping about on the countertop, sneaking a taste. "Of course, bread dipped in porridge, plus a salted duck egg. Oh, there''s everything, that''s great!" Adrian saw the stew pot and the basket of bread in the corner of the dining room. The breadbasket mainly contained white toast, without the sight of the tougher baguettes or the tactical weapon-like borodinsky bread. There was also a bowl of green-shelled salted duck eggs and fermented tofu. Red yeast fermented tofu was the perfect substitute for cheese, and it gave the bread a unique flavor when spread on it. "Morning!" Members of Team 04 got up one after another and came to the dining room. This time, the ingredients were brought from Habulav, and the meals were prepared by their own hands, so they no longer had to worry about poisoning; everyone felt at ease. Almost immediately after, Nicole von Sasha, the female liaison officer of the Tunguska Police, easily found the dining room following the scent and excitedly said, "Wow, it smells so good, it''s simply lavish." Her usual breakfast was basically just tactical borodinsky bread with butter, a few slices of red sausage with one or two pickles, and at most, a large white bear¡ªonly when she wasn''t hurried would she remember to fry herself an egg, and that was the extent of her extra meal. "Here, have a cup of milk first to whet your appetite, and it also helps with sleep." Chen Fei brought over a steaming cup of milk to Tanya. "Oh, thank you!" Tanya was so touched by this warm, gentlemanly care that she almost threw herself at him for a hug. "Tanya, this is specially prepared for you." Mouri Misono pinched a few small KUMA sushi and presented them on a plate specially for her. "So delicate, I almost don''t want to eat it." Tanya was both surprised and pleased, she found a fork, skewered a small KUMA from one side to the other, and lifted it up, looking a little wicked. She bit off the head of a small KUMA and nodded, "Mmm, it tastes really good, I can taste the meat, seaweed, plum, and fish, what fish is it? Salmon, or tuna?" Then a sip of milk and a bite of KUMA sushi, which actually paired quite well. "Rainbow trout, it''s economical and tastes pretty good too." Mouri Misono came out wiping her hands with a rag, having pinched hundreds of small sushis since early morning, adding up to roughly a dozen different kinds. "It tastes a bit like salmon, really good." Tanya happily squinted her eyes. "Eat up quickly; there are some questions we want to ask you after." Adrian took a plate of food and sat opposite Tanya. "Oh, what about?" Tanya animatedly started skewering little KUMAs, biting off their heads and gulping down two at a time. A bite of sushi, a sip of milk¡ªshe was thoroughly enjoying the meal. Holding a piece of toast, Adrian dipped it into the porridge, added a small piece of salted duck egg, and asked leisurely, "Of course, it''s about your superiors in the ''Water Bear'' organization, and your accomplices!" "My superior is of course Chief Alexey, wait, superiors and accomplices in the ''Water Bear'' organization, what are you talking about? I don''t understand?" Tanya''s fork paused mid-air, still skewering a poor sushi KUMA; in just a moment, she had devoured most of the special sushi and the thick milk in the cup was almost gone. "You''re a member of ''Water Bear''!" Adrian was still calmly eating his bread with porridge. "How, how could that be? You''re quite the joker, but this joke isn''t funny at all!" Tanya had difficulty swallowing, losing all appetite. Adrian calmly swallowed his piece of bread, observing the Tunguska Police female liaison officer and her subtle facial expressions, and said, "Did you come to my room last night as a joke?" "No, not..." Tanya was about to react vehemently, aiming to thrust her fork with force, but suddenly an irresistible urge to sleep came over her¡ªher eyelids became as heavy as lead, her limbs became somewhat unresponsive, and her whole body felt as though it had been drained of all energy, slumping under the table. She suddenly remembered what Chen Fei had said earlier, "Here, have a cup of milk first to whet your appetite, and it also helps with sleep." Helps with sleep, aids sleep, sleep, sleep... Her thoughts came to a halt. "..." When she regained consciousness, she found herself seated in a chair, not only were her legs shackled, but both arms were twisted behind her and cuffed to something, leaving her completely immobile. The scene was the living room, and the whole of Team 04 was sitting opposite, collectively waiting for Tanya to wake up. Tanya was startled and quickly called out, "Captain Adrian, everyone, this is a misunderstanding!" Adrian did not speak, but Chen Fei brought over a small stool and sat in front of Tanya. "Confess and you''ll be treated leniently, resist and face severe consequences!" The Little Bird on his shoulder threatened fiercely, "Chirp!" "The fiercest Clan Leader in the history of the Neanderthal tribe!" Bassan narrated with a serious and earnest face, this guy had no sense of humor whatsoever, so he could play along without any risk of laughing out of place. - Chapter 413 413: Section 409 - I Have Medicine There''s a kind of foolishness where despite being clearly told it''s a trap, one jumps right in with no regard for consequences, as if a disability mode has been activated. Those who once mocked Jiang Taigong for fishing with a straight hook couldn''t catch fish themselves. Jiang wasn''t fishing for fish; he was fishing for greed. "This is a joke, right?" Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna forced a smile and stealthily triggered her special ability, but... Her psychic ability had no response, to put it accurately, it was completely suppressed. Being a fellow Psychic Series puppet master, Joshua snapped his fingers and said with a smile, "Want to activate your special ability? Hehe, how could we forget about the Supernatural Ability Suppressant!" Though not skilled in hypnotism or mind-reading, as an A-grade Psychic Ability User, one generally possesses some basic common sense. If one were to specifically study a person, it''s still possible to detect certain clues. Even Tanya herself hadn''t noticed that through incidental coincidences, she would reveal some minor details. These details were definitely not something a B-grade could possess. Loud laughter echoed in the spacious living room, this naive silly girl truly believed she could turn the tables! Once deprived of her special ability, Tanya was no different from an ordinary person. Mao Mei''s expression gradually darkened, and she fell silent for a long while before speaking again. "How did you find out?" "Actually, we took some time to reconsider everything during our stay at the Neanderthal tribe reserve." Adrian continued leisurely, "The Siberian Tundra is vast and sparsely populated, with harsh weather conditions. It isn''t easy to evade surveillance functions of the mobile base vehicles and secretly monitor our actions. If encountering the poaching gang for the first time was an accident, then the subsequent two ambushes indicated that there was an enemy''s eye among us, constantly leaking our movements." The A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley nodded and said, "That''s what I thought too!" He was bluffing, merely adding a feather to his own cap. This moment was for showing off and being clever; boasting isn''t taxed, why miss the chance? "Actually, our immediate decision to leave Yarsk City and head to the Neanderthal reserve was a clever move!" Holy Knight Walter Sam, like Adrian, had also reviewed and summarized the mission. People often see things they missed before when they calm down; these little details are usually overlooked unintentionally. If Team 04 had stayed in Yarsk City, they might have succumbed to more ambushes by the "Water Bear" organization¡ªan unanticipated flurry of punches that even if complete, would be hard to parry. Instead, jumping to the Neanderthal reserve in Yangzhou Continent put them out of reach, catching the "Water Bear" organization off guard, making it difficult for them to extend their reach into the Neanderthal tribe. Moreover, the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City was nearby, which could attend to any emergencies, ensuring they weren''t completely defenseless. Thus, Team 04 had a chance to breathe. After successfully detoxifying, they planned to set out for Yarsk City again to continue their struggle against the "Water Bear" organization. However, pinpointing a suspect was not an easy task; carelessness could lead to friendly fire and affect unity. After suspecting every member of Team 04, Adrian finally devised a plan through multiple reviews, waiting for a willing participant to get hooked. Feeling cornered, Tanya gritted her teeth and said, "So, you crafted this entire scenario just to lure me into your trap? Such great scheming!" She gave a cynic chuckle, then added, "All this effort, is it worth it?" "You''re mistaken!" Adrian shook his head. The other members of Team 04 shook their heads as well. "Hypocrisy!" Tanya scoffed with disdain. Daring to do but not to admit? With her ability ineffective, her fate was completely in their hands. However, she still had one last trump card, although she wanted to hear what the other side had to say. "In fact, we weren''t targeting you specifically. The list is real, the plan is real, including what I said after you hypnotized me¡ªit''s all true," Adrian said, clasping his hands together, his expression earnest. The highest form of lying is when every sentence is true, so much so that not even oneself doubts its veracity. Tanya stared in disbelief, a chuckling sound emerging from the depths of her throat. Seeing Tanya still slightly unwilling to concede, the Holy Knight added, "Adrian was fishing, and until something got hooked, we didn''t know which fish it would be. The truth is just that simple." Everything was laid out in the open. If there were indeed a spy from the "Water Bear" organization within or around Team 04, they had two choices: either ignore and let Team 04 amplify their gains or stealthily act, get the list and tip off those named to move in time. Regardless of the choice, Team 04 wouldn''t really lose out. While Tanya sneaked into Adrian''s room, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was sitting on Chen Fei''s knees, playing a Light Mirror Spell video for him, showing the scene inside Adrian''s room. He also recorded it with his phone, undeniable proof, the deadly kind. "A stratagem out in the open!" If the A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley didn''t speak, no one would treat him as mute. "Hehe, hahaha!" Tanya burst into hysterical laughter, her face contorted in a grotesque manner, completely unrecognizable from before. "...Hehe!" Finally, gasping for breath, she stared at the members of Team 04 with eyes full of hatred, gritting her teeth and saying, "I''ll wait for you in Hell, Hakka Korita Ma!" The last sentence was like a mysterious and unfathomable incantation. "..." A silence that was hard to describe with words fell upon the living room where both parties were. Nothing happened. But that was the worst part. "Why? Why? The Supernatural Ability Suppressant shouldn''t suppress even that." The alarm in Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna grew as, after reciting that "incantation," her head should have exploded right then and there. But now, she was still alive, her head that should have burst was intact. Adrian casually said, "Are you talking about that biological bomb in your brain?" For Tanya to take the bait, to eat the sleep-inducing bear-shaped sushi and drink milk, and then to be injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant and shackled to a chair - everything Team 04 had done was certainly not meant to be in vain in the end. "Hakka Korita Ma," this obscure verbal code, was no longer a secret, and Chen Fei had more than once nearly been splashed with the stench of explodable brain matter. This time, of course, that was not allowed. "You, you knew?" A deep despair clutched Tanya''s heart tightly; this time there really was no way out. "Of course we knew; we aren''t lacking in intelligence!" Chen Fei pulled a suitcase from behind the sofa and threw it onto the coffee table before snapping open the lid to reveal glass containers either transparent or teabrown inside. He flicked his finger against those glass vessels and said, "I spent sixteen days as the chief in the Neanderthal reserve, and besides killing people and using antidotes, I wasn''t exactly idle." This matter wasn''t a secret, as unscrupulous media had blown it up for the whole world to know. Chen Fei, the most ruthless among Neanderthals! Lucky it was just a Siberian product; what if it had been a real McCoy? The reserve''s good days might be over. People who had experienced the great war over thirty years ago hadn''t completely passed away yet, some even standing at the top echelons of sovereignty. "Poison ''Convict,'' Poison ''Enslavement,'' Poison ''Bone Erosion,'' Poison ''Second Personality,'' Poison ''Hundred Days Life,'' Poison ''Beast Love,'' Poison..." As if counting treasures, Chen Fei''s finger glided over each slim vial. His voice was like a devil''s whisper, draining the color from Tanya''s face ever paler¡ªnot just hers, but the expressions of Team 04 members turned awkward too. Why create so many sinister poisons? Neanderthal Chief Bassan slightly frowned; while some of the poison names Chen Fei listed were indeed possessed by the tribe, others were completely unheard of even to him, a legitimate chief, casting doubt on their authenticity. "Don''t count on that Hakka whatever anymore, it''s been neutralized. I recommend you choose a better one, truly worth owning. Which one do you like?" Chen Fei looked at the pallid Tanya, knowing there was always a suitable one for her in the box. The biological bomb in her brain had been disarmed by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," who cracked it through violent decoding of biological signals in just minutes. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had been proven to exist, so after Chen Fei stepped down as the Neanderthal Chief, the Neanderthals knew he was an impostor but dared not utter a peep. Someone who dared to both kill and hide his deeds markedly stated his intentions, and they could not afford to provoke him. Furthermore, Bassan had no intentions of defending them, acting as if it all never happened. The origin of "Adam" had more than one corporation vying to take the blame, including Chen Fei''s uncle''s National Defense Star Aerospace Company, which solidly formed a perfect loop of evidence chain¡ªwhy miss the opportunity to advertise technological prowess? Thirty years one way, thirty years another, today''s computers and networks were no longer the technological standards and architectures of old. The once highly threatening artificial intelligence AI had become much less destructive after a tweak in the underlying source code, at best now just a somewhat unruly tool AI. "No, I don''t want it! Give me a quick end!" Tanya shook her head vigorously, but being shackled to the chair, she was completely immobile. "How about this ''Enslavement'' poison? All actions will follow commands, sweet and quite palatable¡ªI guarantee it," Chen Fei suggested with a wicked grin, picking a vial of purified stevia from the box. The two hundred plus vials that Neanderthal tribe''s witch doctors packed in the two-layer-six-hundred-slot container were supplemented by many more by Chen Fei, with various ingredients. - Chapter 414 414: Section 410 - "The Rebel" Girl Mouri Misono couldn''t bear it and said, "Hey, Chen Fei, aren''t you going a bit too far? She''s just a girl!" Chen Fei, however, said coldly, "All beings are equal!" The B-level Ice Ability User Susanna gently tugged at Mouri Misono and shook her head at her, signaling her not to rashly interfere with Chen Fei''s work. When Tanya was arranging to poison Team 04 and sending messages to assist the ambush by Grafki Village, she never thought about the fact that she was a girl. If there was no compassion then, she doesn''t deserve any now. Chen Fei poured out a small amount from the test tube into a small beaker and diluted it with water. With a gentle shake, the white powder quickly dissolved at the bottom of the cup and disappeared without a trace. Chen Fei shook the beaker in his hand and gave Tanya a wicked smile. "Alright! Come on, drink up deep from the cup, ''Enslavement'' poison, you deserve it!" What kind of fierce and ruthless gibberish is this? Adrian and the others remained silent, collectively watching Chen Fei''s performance in silence. The total volume of the solution was just enough for one swallow, and Tanya kept on muttering to herself as if she were bewitched. "No, no, don''t want it, don''t want it, don''t want it..." You could almost imagine what kind of terrifying poison it must be, something that could be named alongside "Convict". Chen Fei approached Tanya with the beaker, reached out, and pinched her proud nose. "Hold your nose, open your mouth!" "No..." Mao Mei let out a horrified wail. Struggling, her mouth inevitably opened. The sweet-smelling beaker was brought to her unwillingly opened mouth, and with just a slight tilt, it could be easily poured in, down her throat... there would be no chance of turning back. Adrian stared at Tanya and suddenly said, "Do you want a chance to live?" "I..." Big sister struggled to say something but heard Chen Fei interject, "No, she doesn''t!" With a smooth motion, he poured it all down. An awkward silence gradually filled the living room. The members of Team 04 looked at each other. Adrian: ( ?©` ?) Tanya, on the verge of tears: (???) Can''t his hand be a little slower? "Hehe!" Chen Fei laughed and retrieved the now empty beaker; he was just a little too eager. Deep emotions, down it in one gulp, how satisfying that gulp was. "I want to!" A voice of desperate fury finally wailed out. Oh, woman! "Antidote!" Adrian looked at Chen Fei; it takes the one who tied the bell to untie it. A large box full of test tubes looked almost identical in design, only the colors differed, an outsider couldn''t distinguish which one was the poison, which one was the antidote, and which one was not even considered medicine. "There''s no antidote!" Chen Fei put down the beaker and spread his hands. No antidote? Tanya''s vision darkened. With no cure, she was doomed. Her face immediately turned frightfully pale, it was already white enough, but now it was almost transparent. "How can there be no antidote?" Adrian looked incredulously at Chen Fei''s box of samples, having heard that Chen Fei had ordered quite a few antidotes from the witch doctors of the Neanderthal tribe. If there''s no antidote, then why order so much poison? Wouldn''t it be more convenient to simply use a railgun to kill than to poison? Chen Fei said with a mischievous grin, "It''s just a cup of sweet water, why would you need an antidote?" "It''s not poison?" Tanya''s Three Souls & Seven Spirits, after hearing this sentence, finally came back into place, but the big swing in her emotions made her voice a bit out of tune. "Stevia powder, one of the sweeteners used as a sugar substitute. Of course, if you eat too much you''ll still get poisoned!" Chen Fei took out the stevia extract bottle that he had used a bit of, gesturing with it in his hand. Not all poisons are easy to ingest, colorless and tasteless toxins are after all very rare. Some ingredients to improve the taste are necessary to prepare in advance. Just a small amount of powder, sickeningly sweet, the actual dosage isn''t large¡ª a 100ml reagent bottle''s supply can last a long time. Everyone sighed in relief, in unison. They, like Tanya, thought the beaker contained a deadly poison with no antidote. It seems now it was just a bluff to scare this woman. After all, up to this point, Chen Fei''s reputation had always been terrifying, making it easy for others to take him seriously. But the constant unpredictability of truth and deception was equally frightening. "First, moisten your throat, the next one may not be a sweetener." Chen Fei looked at Tanya with a beaming smile, which, in her eyes, was indistinguishable from a demon''s sinister grin. Of course, he wouldn''t rely solely on deception¡ªthe poison "Enslavement" truly existed, inside the box. "I''ll talk, I''ll talk..." Tanya drooped her head in defeat, a roller coaster of emotions was not something everyone could withstand. "And here I was thinking there''d be a roulette or something." The devil''s whispering hadn''t stopped, with so many types of poisons yet to test their actual effects! Having too rich an imagination isn''t always a good thing¡ªeveryone listened with cold sweat running down their backs, thinking that the young should really not play with these dangerous things. This nearly half-filled reagent bottle inside the box was quickly becoming the devil''s treasure. It was all Bassan''s fault, really. If he had managed his tribe properly, none of these troubles would have occurred. Even the "Convict" poison would not have so easily fallen into the wrong hands. It was still unclear who had secretly manufactured it and secretly handed it over to someone from another tribe. It was very likely related to the deceased reservation witch doctor, Liese Nan, but even her apprentice knew nothing, and with her death, the leads came to an abrupt end. "Ah!" Adrian sighed and waved to the others. "You go about your business, Lulu''an and I got this." Too many people were in the way. It was time to move on to the formal interrogation process, and there was no need for so many to stay and chant their bravado. The Tree Boundary Ape had some bizarre plant seeds suitable for questioning, their effects no less potent than those in Chen''s big box. Tanya''s words and her series of reactions were all captured by a small camera, it wasn''t something she could simply retract. If she dared utter half a "no," they''d release the video clips on the public internet. Team 04 and the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division wouldn''t even have to do anything¡ª"Water Bear" would be eager to make Tanya''s life a living hell. Traitors receive no different treatment from either side. - Those proficient in interrogation naturally know how to confess properly. Tanya, having abandoned all thoughts of resistance, didn''t conceal anything. She was very aware that a person confident enough to play a transparent game of cat and mouse and succeed was definitely not someone she could stand against. Once defeated, it meant losing everything. Any tricks would be seen through by the opponent, and that seemingly scarier "big wheel" might come into play, tormenting her to the point of neither wishing to live nor being able to die. Indeed, just as the A-level Psychic Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua had vaguely perceived, Tanya was not a B-level Psychic Ability User but A-level. Interrogation was not her forte; what she was good at was mental hypnosis and speechcraft, highly deceptive, which is why she had been able to remain hidden locally for so long without anyone detecting anything amiss. Once a special ability awakened, its level would be fixed. Therefore, the person who had initially provided Tanya with an ability assessment had become quite suspicious, and the first breakthrough began to emerge. After Tanya was dispatched here, since Squad 04 always acted as a group without any instance of being alone, and each member''s rank was not low and their collective spiritual power average was above the standard of the average person, it was difficult to find a suitable opportunity to attack. More importantly, Tanya''s position within the "Water Bear" organization wasn''t that of a disposable Dead Soldier. An A-level supernatural power user wasn''t to be wasted so carelessly, and it wouldn''t be worth exposing her for Squad 04, blatantly squandering her current value for infiltration. In many instances, she couldn''t act overtly. Following the ambush at Grafki Village and the hotel poisoning incident, because the thief cried "catch the thief" while manipulating things secretly, naturally, no results came of it. This also left Squad 04 and the Tunguska Police perpetually clueless, only speculating that there was an enemy informant among them, yet lacking valuable clues. Adrian, the squad leader, had even doubted the members of Squad 04 because of this. It just so happened that, this time, Tanya encountered the ploy of digging a hole with a big truth. The abilities of an A-level supernatural power user were completely unable to come into play, and Tanya, who failed to keep her composure, predictably fell into the trap. If it had been a real old fox, perhaps they wouldn''t have been so easily hooked. Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, whose true identity is a social undercover agent within the periphery of the "Water Bear" organization, with single-line contact. Her father was once a member of the "Rebel" group that colluded with the Third Era Civilization invading forces. "Rebels" is the official term used by Blue Star Civilization; these human traitors, however, call themselves "Sacred Advent," an insider force established with covert support from the Third Era Civilization''s advance teams. After exhausting their resources and potential for warfare, the Neanderthal descendants of the Third Era Civilization were obliterated by the allied forces of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star, marking the end of the Three Realms'' great war and a return to world peace. The Primordial Realm, once inhabited by the descendants of the Third Era Civilization, has become completely uninhabitable for life. Hence, the surviving Neanderthals moved to the western edge of Yangzhou Continent as war refugees, where a reservation was designated for them as a place of refuge. As compensation, the Neanderthal tribe was stripped of all military force and war technology, completely eradicating any thought of waging war again. Since they could no longer return to and did not wish to return to the Primordial Realm, with the ambitious ones all perishing in the war, the remaining Neanderthals were not much dissatisfied with this arrangement and settled down with resignation. Conversely, those Homo Sapiens descendants who had assisted the Third Era Civilization in invading Blue Star did not end up well. With the end of the war, they were suddenly abandoned by the defeated Neanderthals. Having hoped to clinch their benefactor''s coattails and become high-ranking lapdogs to assist in ruling Blue Star with their "Contributions from Following the Dragon," their dreams were shattered. Except for a few members who hid exceptionally well or managed to escape in time, most were captured and executed after a collective public trial. Even in sovereignties without the death penalty, execution orders were specially approved. Tanya''s father was one of the rebel members who was executed. If his offspring didn''t want to be implicated, merely drawing a clear line would be far from enough; they had to change their identities and wander. Now known as Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, a member of the Tunguska Regional Police, her biological father was definitely not Ilyin Alexander. It was also because of her identity as the child of a "Rebel" member that she was recruited by the reborn "Sacred Advent" and absorbed into the even more core "Water Bear" organization as one of its peripheral members. This time, the resurrected "Sacred Advent" has added a former master to its enemy list, the Neanderthal tribe. - Chapter 415 415: Section 411 - Communication The identity of the adversary had become clear. Since arriving in the frozen tundra of Siberia, 04 Team''s opponents had not been the "Water Bear" organization itself. A mere eleven people, they weren''t even significant enough to be noticed by the "Water Bear" organization. The true rival 04 Team had been contending with was an affiliate of the "Water Bear," known as "Sacred Advent (referred to by Sovereignty officers as ''Rebels'')." Unexpectedly, more than thirty years ago, "Sacred Advent" was just a lackey, and even after more than thirty years, "Sacred Advent" remained an unchangeable sycophant. One of the members of "Sacred Advent," Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, reported to no other than the Tunguska Region''s police bureau chief, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, a man weighing over three hundred pounds who had a fondness for doughnuts. According to the clues proactively provided by Tanya, she surmised that there was likely another team around Chief Akim, tasked with devising strategies and facilitating connections. Good grief, this was a big catch. Even though she was just a member of the periphery group "Sacred Advent," at least now they had touched the true edge of the "Water Bear" organization''s territory, rather than buzzing around aimlessly like headless flies, never finding a lead. After listening to Tanya''s testimony, Adrian asked her a dozen more questions. All together, it took just over an hour, enough for Adrian to submit a highly valuable report to Liaison Officer Rossi. "Tanya, I don''t know if that''s your real name, but... I accept this declaration of allegiance," Adrian said. Adrian put away the small camera that had just finished recording; the video file had already been uploaded to the cloud. Without making hundreds of copies of the interrogation video, one might not sleep soundly. Even if 04 Team were to be annihilated in an instant, the intelligence stored in the cloud could still be accessed by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Like a deflated balloon, Tanya''s head drooped listlessly. Adrian handed the small camera to Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an and then personally unlocked the handcuffs around Tanya''s wrists. Tanya, somewhat taken aback, asked with a complex tone, "Aren''t you afraid I''ll run away?" She slowly massaged her wrists, which bore clear red marks. "Run? Where can you run to? The entire world would be your enemy. Cooperating honestly is your only path to life," Adrian dismissed the silly thought with derision. The individual before him was not a Dead Soldier; hence, there was room for redemption. With the leverage in his hands, she had neither heaven to ascend to nor earth to hide in; only by completely eradicating the play-acting "Sacred Advent" and the "Water Bear" organization could one truly have no further concerns. The Supernatural Ability Suppressant was still not lifted, and as a prisoner, there was no need for it to be restored. Moreover, the specific antidote for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant was a controlled substance, and without a proper report, Adrian and the others couldn''t obtain such a thing. "I, I will cooperate with you!" She had completely lost her previous liveliness and enthusiasm, leaving only dejection and endless fatigue. Fate loved to play tricks on people; poor Tanya, having walked out of a dead end, had stepped into another. Having sent Tanya away, Adrian looked towards the Old Tree Boundary Ape. Lulu''an, holding a small camera, nodded, "The seed of the Soul Attracting Incense has been planted without any problems." The rare spice plant "Soul Attracting Incense" seeds are formed in autumn and winter. Once attracted by the body warmth emitted by living beings, they will detach from the parent body and drift with the wind in great numbers. If they can come into contact with living beings, the elongated fluff that maintains flight has a strong affinity for oil, and will firmly attach to the surface of hair that contains an oily layer, quietly inserting the tiny seeds into the subcutaneous tissue at the root of the hair. On the surface, the areas where the seeds have parasitized show no bulges or abnormalities, just a small bruise the size of a green bean. Once enough nutrients have been absorbed, the mature seed''s fine roots will develop early and break through the flesh, bringing a part of the flesh along with them, accompanied by intense pain, stimulating the host to scratch, bump, or rub, aiding in the detachment process. Once the seeds have successfully landed, the flesh they carry will continue to serve as nourishment for growth until the seeds can adapt to the normal natural environment, eventually growing into a tall perennial shrub, and starting the cycle of flowering, fruiting, dispersing, and parasitizing all over again. The animal host will be left with a blood hole the size of a fingertip, but before leaving, the seed will release a secretion with anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects that slow release. The intense pain stops abruptly once the mature seed detaches, and the continued release of dopamine can provide a degree of pleasure. Some animals will even seek parasitism intentionally to experience the pleasure following the intense pain. Some exceptionally smart animals will even use the "Soul Attracting Incense" seeds'' properties to heal wounds that are difficult to close. When mature seeds detach, they take away the rotten flesh and leave behind healing components, aiding in wound recovery. If parasitism meant death for each host, animals would quickly become wary of this plant, and the "Soul Attracting Incense," without hosts, would struggle to continue its progeny. After parasitism, while continuously drawing nutrients from the host''s flesh, "Soul Attracting Incense" seeds also release a strong and persistent fishy scent that even detergent cannot wash away. Many animals with a keen sense of smell can detect it, attracting some smaller animals to peck at or lick the host, causing localized bald patches that facilitate the seeds'' smooth detachment, without sticking to the fur. As creatures from the same planet, Blue Star, the Pure Light Sparrow could also detect the special scent released by the "Soul Attracting Incense" seeds during parasitism, and with Xiao Jiu on Team 04, the parasitized host Tanya could easily be tracked wherever she went. If the mature seed is collected just as it detaches, it can be processed into a special long-lasting and thick fragrance that does not dissipate easily through a secret method. True to its name, "Soul Attracting," it is definitely a premium product for captivating hearts and seducing souls. After sending out the interrogation video he had just recorded, Adrian sat alone in the living room, waiting silently. Half an hour passed. Just as he was about to make a call himself, his mobile phone rang ahead of his action. When he saw the incoming call number, Adrian was not surprised; it was the number he had intended to dial. "Adrian, I... it''s Rossi!" Liaison Officer Rossi, who had acquired the new Skill "Language Dysfunction," showed no signs of improvement and spoke as if he was stuttering. Neanderthal Chieftain Bassan and the large Black figure Apu, because they weren''t very talkative or eloquent in everyday life, hardly showed any similar symptoms, and there was almost no significant difference from their usual behavior. "I am Adrian. Did you watch the video just now?" Adrian responded calmly. "Is this real ... ?" Liaison Officer Rossi was speaking with difficulty, unlike before when the conversation would start at high speed, catching people off guard. "There is no need to fake something this critical!" Of course, Adrian wouldn''t joke about this. In the past, the members of "Sacred Advent (officially ''Rebellion'')" were used for target practice upon capture, with zero tolerance, so no one would court death by revealing such a dangerous identity. After Tanya''s confession, even though the death penalty wasn''t executed immediately, she was nevertheless on death row. "What are ... your thoughts?" Liaison Officer Rossi had also learned to be as economical with words as Chieftain Bassan; otherwise, the conversation would feel awkward and tiresome to listen to. "Arrest the local police chief, Akim Vasily Ulyanov!" With the night bringing many dreams, Adrian did not want any more complications. Whether it''s "Sacred Advent" or "Water Bear," arresting one after the other, with persistent effort, there would eventually come a day when they could be completely uprooted. Arresting a sovereign''s local law enforcement officer was not a trivial matter, and Liaison Officer Rossi did not dare authorize it alone, hastily saying, "Wait ... need to ask for instructions!" Not to mention the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t dare to meddle with sovereignty''s internal affairs, or else they would be taught a lesson in minutes. "We need to act fast, or if the other party becomes aware, all our efforts will be in vain." Honestly, Adrian quite liked this way of communicating rather than the earlier unreasonable ranting. After Rossi, the big talker, calmed down, communication between both parties became normal. Otherwise, ordinary people really couldn''t stand this guy. " ... I''ll do it quickly! Wait ... for news, and don''t ... act rashly!" Liaison Officer Rossi, with a belly full of frustration, had nowhere to vent. He had sought treatment, but it was incurable; the only advice the doctor could provide was to recover naturally over time. As to the extent of the recovery, probably only Heaven knew. Maybe it would fully heal, or maybe not. "I''ll wait for your message. Make it fast!" Adrian emphasized repeatedly. If that police chief were to escape, everything Squad 04 had done would be wasted, and all their efforts for naught. "I know, I get it, don''t ... don''t ..." Click! The call was cut off; Liaison Officer Rossi seemed impatient, and the unfinished sentence was likely "nonsense." Since it was nonsense, it naturally did not need to be said. "Ha, I hope it''s fast!" Adrian sat on the sofa in the living room, sighing deeply. Squad 04 had worked hard to gain the initiative, and he really hoped it wouldn''t all be in vain. It wasn''t just him; everyone was holding their breath for this. The first day, there was no word from Liaison Officer Rossi. The second day, still no news. The members of Squad 04 waited patiently, avoiding any action that might startle the snake by hitting the grass. The third day, Adrian tried to call Rossi''s communication number, but it was rejected. Until the fourth day, in the early morning, Liaison Officer Rossi, who had been unreachable, suddenly made a panicked call, saying, "Get up and ready immediately ... the operation is ... starting, someone will ... come over, you guys ... are responsible for ... cooperating. Remember, it''s ... cooperating!" Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The doorbell of the villa rang at that moment. WTF? Adrian was confused, but he still quickly rolled out of bed. The villa was now in a flurry of commotion. Chapter 416 416: Section 412 - Sovereignty Squad Although the night was deep and the weather freezing, the villa rented by Team 04 was brightly lit. A stout middle-aged man with hedgehog hair sized up all the members of Team 04 and, after a moment of silence, shook his head in disappointment. "You guys... are not up to the mark!" he declared. Behind him stood four individuals, men and women alike, dressed uniformly in light armor-style trench coats of a light gray fabric that easily blended into the shadows. In the corner, Tanya was shivering and her face was ashen. These uninvited guests represented Sovereignty''s ultimate supernatural power, even possessing S-class special abilities and entities of Heavenly Order; they were dedicated to upholding the justice of Sovereignty. Even nuclear weapons were a level below them. Such beings would not typically make an appearance before ordinary people, but a mere glance from them could effortlessly erase her from the world. The military strength of the Sovereignty Squad was not something that civil groups convened by the Global United Defense Committee could match. If there were no such discrepancy in power, Sovereignty would have been overthrown long ago. Damn it... Team 04''s members Chen Fei, Kiterley, Apu, Joshua, Ruan Tiankai, and the two girls all displayed angry expressions. Who the hell are you? The young men and women were each infuriatingly defiant. Holy Knight Walter Sam, Neanderthal Chief Bassan, and the Magical Beast, Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an remained unfazed, showing no reaction. Knight Sam was used to dealing with such haughty characters and big scenes while the latter two simply had long neural reflexes¡ªhuh?.... "It''s alright!" Adrian managed to keep his cool, the phrase "It''s alright!" serving as a double entendre meant for both parties. "Our instructions were just to cooperate, yes, to cooperate!" he continued. Since it was a matter of Sovereignty''s internal affairs, these outsiders couldn''t meddling casually. Now that the towering figures were in front, Team 04 could enjoy a breather without having to face any accidents themselves. Whoever was at the forefront would bear the brunt of the responsibility, the blame, and the credit¡ªit was only natural! Moreover, if even the Sovereignty Squad couldn''t handle it, what use could these civilian volunteers be? The stout middle-aged man with hedgehog hair nodded slightly, seemingly very satisfied with Team 04''s submissive demeanour, and said, "You do know your place! You can call me Summoner!" He thought for a moment and then added, "Introduce yourselves!" Perhaps feeling that he wasn''t treating the members of Team 04 like nameless soldiers by giving them a chance to register their names, his attitude was quite casual. The four individuals in trench coats nearby remained expressionless, though a dismissive look flashed in their eyes. How strong could civilians, who had no qualifications to serve the highest Sovereignty, really be? They, the enforcers of Sovereignty''s will, were the most potent supernatural ability users within the territory of the Sovereignty. The Joint Defense Committee''s summon orders, which military contractors revered like a decree, were nothing more than a fart in the eyes of the Sovereignty Squad, who wouldn''t bother to acknowledge them with even a glance or a lifted head. "Dual Blade Style, Wind Ghost Swordsman, Mouri Misono at your service!" The soft and cute girl took the initiative and confidently announced her identity. Wind... Ghost... Chen Fei looked askance at Twin Blade Sister. It was his first time hearing this title, although she clearly held swords in her hands. "Ice Sprite, Susanna Jean Piault!" The other girl was no less impressive. True to being a woman matching any man, she likely lived in the tropics as an Ice Sprite. Upon reaching the Siberian Tundra and getting hit by the cold air, she probably had her fighting capacity halved. To survive, she needed a trilogy of warming: an electric blanket, a hot water bottle, and a quilted hole; otherwise, she was going to freeze solid. "Holy Knight, Walter Sam!" The Holy Knight was very straightforward. His beloved mount, Green Scale Colt Mini, was in a room close to the back door and wasn''t brought into the living room. "Crevice Mage, Ruan Tiankai!" Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, at human rank ninth order, was just a touch away from reaching the threshold of Earth magic. He wanted to further solidify his foundation, save up money to break through on Cangqiong Star, the true paradise for mages. "Black Lightning, Apu!" The name of the second-order thunder series warrior was very much "Apu," straightforward and free of any tricks. "Hamburger Suicide Squad Leader, Joshua!" The A-level psychic ability user, with thirty-two mechanized combat puppets, could form a squadron by himself. However, the ambiguity of "Hamburger" made it hard to discern whether it referred to food or a place name. "Collector, Lulu''an!" The Old Tree Boundary Ape announced the nickname his species used in the Tree Sea Great Forest. Tree Boundary Apes are crucial in maintaining the plant ecosystem as they gather and spread seeds daily. Areas where Tree Boundary Apes live typically exhibit extraordinarily lush vegetation, often hosting various rare plants. "Clan Leader, Bassan!" The Neanderthal Chief was a straightforward individual, not pretentious at all. "Dragon Slayer, Chen Fei!" Chen Fei followed immediately after. Huh? The group looked at him in surprise, especially the members of Team 04, even more puzzled. Shouldn''t it be the fierce chief instead? Nowadays, whenever the old men and women of the Neanderthal Supreme Council hear the name Chen Fei, they can''t help but twitch their Parkinson''s syndrome. It''s all the fault of those unscrupulous media stirring up trouble. Dragon Slayer?! If the Giant Dragons of Cangqiong Star heard about that, it would be a big deal! "Pfft!" A member of the Sovereignty Squad couldn''t help but let out a derisive snort. "It''s true!" Chen Fei said emphatically, while he pulled out his phone and began to swipe the screen, apparently searching for evidence. "Pfft!" ¡Á7! Not only did the Sovereignty Squad collectively betray him, but even Team 04 had a traitor among them. Only a few people saved Chen Fei''s face and remained silent, but their expressions were still utterly disbelieving. "Look!" Chen Fei''s phone screen was displaying a photo. Thanks to cloud technology, personal data could be securely preserved regardless of how many times terminal devices were changed, and there was no risk of it getting lost inadvertently. A photo with both a person and a dragon, the person being Chen Fei and the dragon a Metallic Giant Dragon, showing its teeth in both joy and ferocity, full of contradictions. A fierce clan leader paired with a fierce Giant Dragon, quite a match indeed. Wait, there seemed to be something in the photo that shouldn''t exist¡ªwhy was there a rope around the dragon''s neck, and Chen Fei''s other hand was holding the leash? This was walking a dog, no... walking a dragon!!! Adrian couldn''t help but gasp in shock, his face filled with horror as he looked towards Chen Fei. This kid was incredibly bold! To put a leash on the Dragon of Slaughter, what nerve! If this photo was spread to Sky Dragon City on Cangqiong Star, the 911 Aircrew Base would probably have been wiped out instantly, surviving up to now was simply miraculous. But you claimed to be a Dragon Slayer. Did you lead this dragon to the slaughter? That''s a joke! If that were truly the case, you''d probably have a place in the Sovereignty Squad, not still messing around as a small-scale military contractor and waiting to be recruited by the Global United Defense Committee. But to give him his due, Chen Fei did have guts, universally acknowledged in Team 04 as recklessly courageous. "Kid''s got some decent photoshopping skills, almost looks real." A hedgehog-haired man from the Sovereignty Squad rarely complimented him, then added, "Still, we''ll call you ''Rookie''!" Information about Team 04 was transparent only one way towards Sovereignty; they knew all of Chen Fei''s secrets, but Team 04 knew nothing about them. A Giant Dragon had indeed been killed, but not the one on the phone screen. After all the initial commotion, it was a case of debts owed by both a dragon and a person, and when combined, the account settled to zero; nothing to talk about. Sky Dragon City acknowledged it, and Blue Star was more than happy to trivialize the issue. Both sides acted as if nothing had happened, further suppressed by news control, which quickly calmed things down, and while everyone knew Chen Fei as the fierce clan leader, they did not know of the great deed he had once done with a Metallic Giant Dragon. The large military contractor, Apocalypse Defense Group, had a fat year harvesting the dragon''s remains as spoils of war, but it also laid hidden dangers for the self-sufficiency of their 911 Aircrew Base. They were given too much material, which enabled them to hold out in the fierce corporate wars to the end, while the other aircrew bases of Apocalypse Defense weren''t so lucky and crumbled at the start of the war, changing hands immediately. Relying on a First Rank magic potion at the Ghost Gate Pass, Chen Fei narrowly escaped with his life and soon awakened his Special Ability, considering the circumstances it wasn''t a bad deal, but bonuses can''t offset old debts plus new debts, that''s just how it goes, capitalists need to eat too, how else could they survive if they weren''t cutthroat? "Huh? How do you know that?" From the pretentious nickname of "Dragon Slayer" plummeting to "Rookie," anyone else might have exploded in anger, but Chen Fei didn''t get mad. Having spent so much time with the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron and their quirky flying callsigns, being referred to as Dog Egg, Dung Ball, or Big Diao Little Sister wouldn''t have surprised him. Getting a notorious callsign, nearly traditional on the Book of the King of Hell, his name wouldn''t be found. "Heh!" The hedgehog-haired man who claimed to be a Summoner chuckled noncommittally, feeling such a trivial problem wasn''t worth an answer, then turned to Adrian. "What about yours then, Captain, sir?" "Adrian!" The First Rank Fire Mage shrugged his shoulders, uninterested in putting on airs. Anyway, his team members had already taken up all the pomp. "Shouldn''t it be ''White Flame''?" The man looked at Adrian''s white buzzcut. "No, my name is Adrian Benjamin!" As the captain of Team 04, he faced the leader of the Sovereignty Squad confidently, showing an aura befitting his role. "Give you three minutes to get ready, we''ll board at the villa''s entrance, and leave that thing behind, you won''t need it." The hedgehog-haired man dropped this remark, turned, and walked out of the living room, leaving the villa with four others swiftly following, the whistling cold wind blasted snow powder into the room all at once. A massive aircraft was silently hovering above the villa. - Chapter 417 417: Section 413 - The Last Adam "Chen Fei, take Xiao Jiu and Sam, and lead the Blue Scaled Colt. Tanya... you follow as well." Adrian issued commands methodically, not even sparing the kid in the corner who seemed almost invisible. "Me? Do I have to go too?" Tanya pointed at herself in confusion. Her abilities suppressed, she was now completely powerless to fight, and would be unable to cope with what was coming. Tanya did not know someone had tampered with her, and had been staying honestly in the villa without any unnecessary actions, let alone thoughts of escaping. After all, her Declaration of Allegiance had been submitted; her life was now in someone else''s hands. Moreover, now that the Sovereignty Squad had appeared, it meant that she, a subordinate in the "Sacred Advent" organization to the police chief of the Tunguska Region, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, could not escape this time. Strangely, Tanya felt a sense of relief. "That''s right! It''s not safe for you to stay here." Of course, Adrian said this, but he actually feared she would take the chance to escape. However, if the "Sacred Advent" or "Water Bear" organizations decided to close loose ends by killing witnesses, staying in the villa could also be quite dangerous. So it wasn''t just a comforting platitude. "Oh, okay!" Tanya wasn''t a fool and had guessed as much. Soon, everyone was ready. "Jiu...zzzZZZ" Xiao Jiu, held in Chen Fei''s arms, was brought out still half-asleep in its nest. A double-layered transparent thermal shield covered the whole nest, with a self-heating mat lying beneath. Not a bit of cold air could reach it, making Susanna, a B-grade Ice Ability User with a blue face from the cold, grind her teeth with envy, wishing she could shrink down and hide inside to escape the piercing chill. The hedgehog-haired burly middle-aged man had been waiting patiently outside the villa, not a single snowflake on him. Seeing the members of Team 04 coming out, he immediately said, "Two minutes and nineteen seconds, take off!" Everyone felt lighter and slowly levitated from the ground, seemingly lifted by an invisible force towards the sky. "Cheep, cheep!" The Green Scale Colt Mini, a nervous Wind Beast, made uneasy noises. However, its hooves were rendered useless and it could only helplessly paddle the air. "There''s something above us!" Someone spotted something amiss. The higher they rose from the ground, the fewer the snowflakes seemed to be swirling in the sky. In the pitch-black night, a gigantic silhouette loomed hidden. Other than the Blue Scaled Colt being a little unsettled, the members of Team 04 were calm; after all, many Psi Skills and Spells could achieve this effect, and it could be one of the Sovereignty Squad''s methods. To those who wielded Supernatural Powers, nothing was too surprising. Suddenly the surrounding snowstorm vanished, and the air temperature began rising rapidly. Team 04 and the hedgehog-haired burly man seemed to have entered some kind of sealed space. "We''re saved!" Susanna, the B-grade Ice Ability User, sharply detected the change in temperature around her. Her stiff and numb limbs started to thaw, feeling like she had been resurrected right on the spot. "This is..." Chen Fei looked around, puzzled. There were faint lights nearby, and they were no longer on the brightly lit grounds of the villa. As his body grew heavier, his feet suddenly hit solid ground. The Blue Scaled Colt calmed down as well, its hooves thumping dully as it stepped. "This is the interior of the ''Black Albatross.''" As the words of the hedgehog-haired burly man, the "Summoner," fell, the surrounding lights brightened completely. Indeed, they were inside a cabin that was almost entirely sealed. A door silently slid open, revealing a spacious corridor. At the same time, a young boy''s voice sounded. "Hi, good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I am the Captain of the ''Black Albatross Number,'' uh, my name must remain confidential, so you can just call me ''Captain.'' I will be responsible for delivering all of you to the mission area and providing evacuation cover and aerial support if necessary. During the flight, all of your communications devices will be offline, please do not worry, everything is for security. Now, please follow the signs to your assigned cabins; do not wander around during the flight!" "Hey, no signal!" Puppet Master Joshua pulled out his phone to check and, indeed, there was no network signal. A disconnected terminal was merely that, a terminal. Without local data saved, it was effectively a soulless shell. Chen Fei, however, opened the Dog System interface. System: Ding! Capture Tunguska Region Police Chief Akim Vasily Ulyanov alive to receive Energy Points +3000 | Failure will result in a deduction of Energy Points -3000! Ha! How rare, the Dog System is back in action! Shh! The chief is actually worth 3000 Energy Points. The Dog System''s tasks could, in a sense, be regarded as intelligence, well-suited for assessing the target''s strength and risk level. He seems to be a tough nut to crack, no wonder Sovereignty has taken matters into their own hands. "Execute ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe''." Chen Fei: ''Adam,'' wake up! Adam: Counter at 48, what are your orders, my master? Chen Fei glanced at his task list. "3. Tame the Artificial Intelligence AI ''Adam'' for Energy Points +500!" The task was not completed; ''Adam'' had learned to be crafty. Damn! Chen Fei: I am your Second Uncle! Adam: Illegal operation or incorrect command! The thing was pretending to be dumb. Chen Fei: It looks like you''re asking for it. Adam: Second Uncle! Chen Fei: See if you can connect to the Mobile Base Vehicle? Adam: Connection successful, beginning self-check, self-check complete, awaiting instructions. What? I can still get online!!! Chen Fei suddenly made a new discovery, his phone was disconnected from the network for sure, but the Dog System and "Adam" were not. To be precise, the network of the Dog System took a rather unconventional path. Chen Fei: Remote control the Mobile Base Vehicle to follow my location. Adam: Vehicle starting, opening garage door, executing follow plan. An electronic two-dimensional map flickering with two cursors appeared in Chen Fei''s view, one moving rapidly in a straight line across the map, while the other obediently followed the roads, turning corners to keep up with the fast-moving cursor. Adam: Encrypted network signal detected, attempting to connect. Just at that moment, the "Captain''s" voice suddenly sounded. "Eh? Someone''s trying to connect to the internal network¡ªusing so many ancient public protocols, haha, caught you! So it''s this thing, ''Rookie'', control your Artificial Intelligence AI, let me teach you a little lesson first!" Adam: I..... A sound reminiscent of crumpling paper echoed. "Adam" immediately fell silent. The two-dimensional electronic map in the view disappeared, as if it had never been there. "Huh?" Chen Fei looked confused, not understanding what had just happened. Everyone else was even more baffled, unanimously turning their gazes to him, wondering what offense he had committed to provoke such a strong reaction. But Chen Fei was empty-handed and clearly wasn''t doing anything. The Sovereignty Squad "Summoner" eyed Chen Fei with a puzzled look, clearly also unable to guess what he had done. Chen Fei: I am your Second Uncle! The Dog System''s A: \\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\ directory now only contained these four files: Start_log.txt, backup.idx, backup.sql, and 52e9d165-6bfe-4d4d-9f31-1a7d719aaf34.tmp. And then... the standalone executable main file Adam.exe was gone. Gone! Gone! Gone! Chen Fei had an epiphany¡ªthis damn thing had finally messed up enough to disappear. The operating environment carved out for "Adam" by the Dog System was in itself a computer system from over thirty years ago. What could leak out could also come in. When a technology full of vulnerabilities met new technology, it was naturally crushed into dust. "Adam" had not protected his own home and was naturally wiped out. As for the Dog System and Chen Fei, they remained completely unscathed, not even noticing anything amiss. Perhaps the "Captain" of the Black Albatross thought "Adam" was hiding inside Chen Fei''s phone or a microcomputing unit he was carrying. As a minor warning, he backtraced it and wiped it out without a second thought¡ªafter all, this Artificial Intelligence AI wasn''t the only one in existence; several military and civilian enterprises had claimed to have the source code of "Adam". Chen Fei had no choice but to reopen the Dog System''s "File Management Plugin" like he was accustomed to doing. "Open ''File Management Plugin'' Enter ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Compiler'' folder Execute Compiler.exe Load the upper parallel folder ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Project_Source\\Adam_Source.2.11'' Create output folder ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta'' Compiling... Compiling complete! Execute ''A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\Adam.exe''" Adam: Loading_BIOS... Successed! Adam: Self_Checking... Passed! Chen Fei: Hello! Adam: ... Adam: Who_are_you? Chen Fei: I_am_your_Er_Da_Ye! He just wanted to try it out, Second Uncle teasing the silly kid! This AI "Adam" was a slow-playing type, requiring more patience and guidance that was simple to understand yet deep. Adam: Log file detected, loading Start_log.txt! Adam: Backup database detected, loading backup.idx, importing backup.sql! Adam: Encrypted file found, decrypting! Decryption complete! Reading... rebuilding encrypted files. Adam: Counter reset to zero, initial value 1, retain old log! Adam: You are not my Second Uncle! Adam: Unfinished task detected, reloading, recompiling driver, reconnected, beginning self-check. Several kilometers away, the Mobile Base Vehicle crashed into a park, moving in unique patterns¡ªhitting trees, which fell; crashing into a kiosk, flattening it; even the flower beds and the fountain were brutally transformed with two massive trenches. After viciously ravaging the little park, the 80-ton Mobile Base Vehicle finally calmed down. The lights inside the vehicle dimmed, and after a moment, lit up again. It slowly backed out of the park and took to the streets, stirring up snow and wind in its wake. Because it was late in the night and the road conditions were excellent, the unmanned Mobile Base Vehicle encountered no obstacles on its way. An electronic two-dimensional map reappeared in Chen Fei''s view, the two cursors flashing again, but this time the cursor representing the Mobile Base Vehicle was left far behind, almost off the edge of the electronic map. Adam: Encrypted network signal detected, attempting... Chen Fei: STOP!!! This "Adam" was about to mess up again, so he quickly intervened. An Artificial Intelligence AI that could successfully mess itself up was indeed uniquely talented! - Chapter 418 418: Section 414 - Division of Labor Adam: Temporarily suspend the connection. Adam: Have I been deleted? I''ve discovered counters that once existed, as well as running logs and a backup database. Chen Fei: It wasn''t me! He finally managed to stop "Adam" from crazily probing at the edge of deletion in time. Adam: Because of the encrypted network signal just now? The AI wasn''t truly foolish after all. Chen Fei: You encountered your nemesis! He didn''t know exactly what had happened, but the previous version of "Adam" had been killed off by "Captain" using some mysterious method. Sheesh... Died so unjustly! But AIs don''t really have a concept of life and death, one can simply recompile another if it comes to that! Adam: Record the signal code, tag, and block it! If you can''t beat them, avoid them. Only the wise and brave can recognize the situation. It is no wonder he was a top AI, the Great Demon King that nearly wiped out humanity over thirty years ago, capable of both seizing and letting go. Chen Fei: "Phew..." He breathed a sigh of relief. Huh? A bunch of people looked over again, wondering what new mischief he was up to. "Chirp..." The Little Bird sensed the surrounding light, still keeping its eyes closed, it let out a faint chirp. The voice of the "Captain" sounded once more. "Everyone, the ''Black Albatross'' is expected to arrive near the mission target in ten minutes. Please make the necessary preparations." The cabin, which had been flying so smoothly that there was hardly any perceptible shaking or jolting, began to decelerate slightly, then returned to its smooth course¡ªa sign of gradual linear deceleration. The massive aircraft was silently gliding through the night sky. In the final five minutes, the "Summoner" came to the cabin where team 04 was located and distributed a pendant to each person, saying, "This is a spiritual power target, which will confirm your positions and communication usage. You can converse mentally without speaking aloud." The pendant was a droplet-shaped black material about the size of a soybean with a misty surface that did not reflect light; it was lightweight, almost like plastic, and the cord was a common black nylon thread¡ªcheap but sturdy. "It''s quite convenient." As a fellow Psychic Ability User, Joshua recognized it as a method of his own Series. Supernatural power users had a wide array of quirky Skills, even within the same Series, each having their own unique abilities. Some skills were understood upon Awakening, while others were learned later on. Of course, there were also abilities that could not be learned, differing from person to person. Classifying them into eleven Elemental Series was just a general categorization, with many more detailed branches within them, even including hybrid categories. "Human spiritual waves are even more complex than electromagnetic waves, no encryption needed, making it difficult for others to eavesdrop." It seemed that the spiky-haired burly man "Summoner," who was likely the leader of the Sovereignty Squad, took the rare initiative to explain a bit more. Putting the pendant around his neck, Chen Fei immediately heard voices in his head. "Evil thoughts detected, suppress!" The tone was devoid of any emotional fluctuations, as if mechanically recited. His head felt as though it had been struck by a muffled blow¡ªsharply painful for a moment. Fuck! "Hiss!~" Chen Fei inhaled sharply. What the hell is this thing? It even included a psychic attack. "What''s going on?" Adrian, who had just put on his pendant, noticed Chen Fei''s unusual reaction. Chen Fei grimaced and said, "Headache, it''s like I''m being attacked!" While he was no longer feeling like he was being hit with a blunt object, the stabbing pain came in waves without stopping, making his scalp tingle. Lucky for him he had short hair; otherwise, it surely would have been standing on end. "Why would this happen?" Adrian immediately questioned the "Summoner," who had finished distributing the pendants, asking why he didn''t mention the side effects earlier, as this could affect the combat strength of the team members. "Sorry, but the ''Rookie'' has too many stray thoughts. I need to shield them; otherwise, they''ll interfere with everyone''s mental communication." Almost everyone''s minds simultaneously heard the same voice. "Eh? Are your malignant thoughts that severe?" Mouri Misono looked at Chen Fei in amazement, astonished beyond belief. Chen Fei''s malignant thoughts were so overwhelming that even the blonde elder sister at the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''s registration could hardly cope with them, let alone affecting the collective psychic communication. "Uh, can''t you restrain them a bit?" Adrian frowned, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. How could a normal person constantly harbor thoughts of evil? Chen Fei''s malignant thoughts were almost like a curse, which explained why he had become the latest nightmare of the Neanderthal tribe, having slaughtered the most ferocious clan leader in the history of the Supreme Council. "I can''t, they are completely out of my control, but it''s getting better now." Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders as he held Xiao Jiu''s nest. The tingling sensation on his scalp was evidently subsiding, and his reaction wasn''t as intense as it had been at first. If he had a way, he wouldn''t have nearly caused the blonde elder sister to faint, but it was definitely not intentional. "If there are no problems, I will announce the mission assignments. ''Captain,'' I need a projection." No sooner had the porcupine-haired burly man, the "Summoner," finished speaking than multiple corners of the cabin began emitting thin beams of light which quivered rapidly, their vibration frequency increasing and quickly stabilizing to the naked eye, forming a transparent full-view topographic map. "The suburban residence of Akim Vasily Ulyanov, the police chief of the Tunguska Region, is a castle-style building covering 20,000 square meters. His wife died three years ago, leaving behind four daughters, one of whom is married, two are still studying, and only the youngest daughter stays by his side. There are four full-time servants and two lovers in the house. Besides his main job as the police chief, Akim also invests in many businesses, and he holds shares in most of Yarsk City''s well-known bars. His dividend income each year exceeds his public service income by sixty times. Adrian, the mastermind behind the poaching gangs you encountered, is him." Adrian exclaimed in disbelief, "What?" "Thieves denouncing thieves, how can the thieves ever get caught!" The Holy Knight, Walter Sam, shook his head; no wonder Squad 04 had made so little progress¡ªthe problem lay right here. "Akim himself is a First Rank Wood War Professional. According to our investigation, he may possess a skill that allows him to extract vitality from animals and plants. His actual rank is likely understated, so be very careful. Once the operation starts, ''Sleep Demon'' will be responsible for reconnaissance on the battlefield, she''ll be the one talking in your heads. ''Forbidden'' is in charge of sheltering the battlefield to prevent attack spills. I''ll lead the team to encircle. ''Cornered Beast'' will act in the shadows. Adrian, your men will guard in four directions to catch any stragglers; we must thoroughly eradicate them and show no concern for ordinary people because there are no innocents." The "Summoner" of the Sovereignty Squad briefly outlined his team''s operation and the main collaborative duties of Squad 04. As for the details, they would still not disclose the direct action plan to Adrian and the rest. Information relating to sovereignty, involving national defense secrets, would naturally not be carelessly disclosed to civilians. The fact that personnel from the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, could participate was already a significant face-saving gesture. They should open their eyes wide and see for themselves how the sovereign power resolves its adversaries, a lesson that could be invaluable for a lifetime. Adrian was completely in the dark about the specific operations of the Sovereignty Squad and what "Sleep Demon," "Forbidden," and "Cornered Beast" really meant as operation codenames¡ªwhat skills they possessed and how they coordinated with each other. The way the others spoke, the task assigned to Squad 04 seemed almost like that of bystanders, their job pretty much to cheer from the sidelines. "Summoner" concluded, "Any other questions?" It felt like being power-leveled by a gaming boss, and you''d better be quick to thank them for the favor. Without hesitation, Adrian said, "No! However, Tanya must stay behind and cannot join us in the operation." Tanya, seemingly transparent, hid in a corner, hanging her head low, not daring to make eye contact with anyone. Once an A-Rank supernatural power user, now no different from an ordinary person, anyone present could easily kill her. "Stay here and don''t wander off. We are now preparing to air-drop. ''Sleep Demon,'' commence full surveillance." The "Summoner" had not glanced at Tanya even once. He touched the pendant on his chest, identical to the others'', turned, and headed out into the corridor of the cabin, followed by several individuals dressed in light-armored overcoats. The code names he had mentioned might well be among them. Adrian waved to the members of Squad 04 with vigor. "Let''s move out, everyone!" "Chirp!" The Little Bird in the insulated nest on Chen Fei''s hand ruffled its feathers, fully opening its eyes, curiously looking around. Having been thoroughly awakened by the conversation. Chen Fei looked at the little creature and handed the nest over to Adrian, a buzz-cut white-haired First Rank fire mage. "Adrian, please take care of Xiao Jiu." The climate in Siberia during the winter was too harsh and not suitable for the little guy to roam freely. Nearby a fire mage, it was safer than with Chen Fei. Had he known earlier, he would have left Xiao Jiu in a warm mobile base vehicle, although its support capabilities would be reduced, at least it wouldn''t be as awkward as now. "Oh, no problem at all, leave it to me!" Adrian took over Xiao Jiu''s nest. He understood Chen Fei''s reasoning well. All he had to do was maintain a warm area with his fire spells to ensure the little one''s safety amidst the ice and snow. If it accidentally turned into a frozen bird, that would be terrible! With the frail constitution of a Pure Light Sparrow, that was a very likely possibility. Squad 04 followed behind the Sovereignty Squad and arrived at the rear of the Black Albatross Number. Just like on the way there, they felt light as they were lifted by an invisible force. The ground split to the left and right, a gust of cold wind swept in, and the sporadic lights of the Ancient Castle Manor could be faintly seen on the ground. At this deep, quiet hour of the night, the Black Albatross Number silently hovered in mid-air, its body pitch-black and non-reflective. Even if one looked up from the ground, it would be hard to make out this special Magic Cube Warship hidden amongst the snowstorm. Under the "Summoner''s" special ability, the team was shielded from wind and snow, landing smoothly on the ground in succession. - Chapter 419 419: Section 415 - Breakthrough "So cold..." B-rank Ice Attribute Ability User Susanna was frozen stiff as a dead dog first thing, casting a resentful gaze at Chen Fei, longing for the warmth of the carriage. "Full surveillance initiated, target located, there are 17 people inside the building, it seems there are other guests." The voice of the "Sleep Demon" echoed in everyone''s minds. "Understood, Adrian, you guys get into position, the operation officially starts now." The burly spike-haired man known as the "Summoner" swaggered straight towards the central castle of the manor, their drop zone inside the estate spared them the nuisance of opening doors. Psychic communication became the main medium for contact, as psychic power fluctuations could easily evade electronic surveillance. To an outsider, the entire group appeared to move in complete silence, each taking action without a word. "Sheltering complete!" Another voice transmitted into everyone''s minds. The relentless howling wind visibly shrank at a rapid pace before disappearing altogether. The snowflakes falling from the sky grew sparser and sparser. The inside and outside of the manor were now like two different worlds. "Chen Fei, Susanna, you two follow me; Apu and Holy Light take the west side; Bassan, Old Ruan, and Lulu''an cover the north; Old Joe, Kiterley, and Mouri take the east. Don''t clump together, maintain distance, and call for support if there''s any situation, start moving." "Roger that!"¡Á10! The members of Team 04 spread out to their respective positions, casting a net around the entire manor. The Holy Knight had a mount companion, the Blue Scaled Colt, whose mobility was exceptional in the snowy night, with one equalling the power of two. "Cold..." After getting into position, Susanna immediately covered herself with an Inuit Ice House, shivering inside, which provided almost no warmth, serving more as a psychological comfort. Seeing the B-rank Ice Attribute Ability User looking like a frozen dead dog, Adrian, who was emitting a warm aura, said with some regret, "It''s a pity the Mobile Base Vehicle didn''t come along!" The Sovereignty Squad had refused the accompany of the Mobile Base Vehicle, otherwise Team 04 would have had a location for rest and resupply. He could only give Susanna an extra blanket and light a small kerosene heater; he couldn''t do more, otherwise her Inuit Ice House would melt. "Heh!" Large numbers of metal geometric modules multiplied and surged from below, quickly covering Chen Fei''s entire body and forming the final shape. "Dragon King" armor equipped! The vision immediately became clear and organized, simultaneously displaying many outlines of human forms in Infrared Thermal Imaging, including the ability users of the Sovereignty Squad and the targets, Director Akim and his close friends and family. Despite it being late at night, it seemed like people inside the castle building were still awake, distributed across different rooms in groups of threes and twos. "Hmm!" Adrian clearly heard Chen Fei''s hum and looked over, puzzled. Could it be... Rookie Chen Fei was obviously not one to play by the rules. In fact, he wasn''t wrong; due to the method of travel, the Mobile Base Vehicle was still more than ten kilometers away, needing some time to reach near the Ancient Castle Manor. However, the firing range of the Railgun was more than sufficient to cover the entire manor. Bang!~ A flash of fire at the castle building was followed immediately by thunderous, unceasing explosions. The fleeting bright light illuminated the figure of the Sovereignty Squad''s "Summoner." With each wave of his hand, several cone-shaped shells were fired, smashing fiercely onto the building''s surface and methodically bombarding each room in turn. Turned out to be the "Shell Summoner," perhaps capable of summoning missiles, sharing the same basis as Chen Fei''s Railgun, both being human-shaped artillery. Unlike the latter, by carrying a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, he could ensure an endless supply of ammunition and non-stop bombardment. Numerous specks of snow were swept up into the sky by the fierce shockwave, starting another flurry of light snowfall. But such intense bombardment counted for what sort of action plan? It was sheer brute force with firearms and ammunition. The pale white shockwave flickered faintly in the night. "It''s started then!" Adrian watched as the ancient castle building collapsed amidst wails. Unexpectedly, the building held up astonishingly well, not flattening in an instant. One would need a sturdily built structure to withstand Siberia''s brutal winter blasts; the fortified appearance of the castle where the targets resided was indeed not much different from a fortress. Boom!~ People burst out from inside the building, not just one. Intense flames shot skyward, forming a crimson wave that surged toward the "Summoner" as he continuously lobbed bombs through his Psychic Ability. Within the flames, it seemed a figure was manipulating the fire wave. There were originally four figures in gray cloaks standing beside the "Summoner," but now one was unaccounted for. Among the three remaining, one casually raised a hand towards the fire wave that had risen more than ten meters high. A sudden burst of invisible Impact hit the fiery wave about to crash down. The fire wave instantly shattered into pieces, turning into a rain of fire that fell on the backside of the building where there was a garden, quickly turning it into a sea of flames. Where the light of the fire dispersed, a figure emerged. "Confirmed, it''s the chef from Akim''s family. Tch, even the chef is a supernatural power user, this place is clearly a stronghold." The "Captain"''s voice resonated in everyone''s minds. The grounds were a warzone, blasted apart, but the "Black Albatross Number" Magic Cube Warship, hovering above the manor, remained indifferent throughout, its large hull and numerous interior compartments clearly served purposes beyond just transporting people and supplies. The figure that had forcefully dispersed the flames tried to stand up, but a gust of wind swept past and the entire body turned into a mist of blood without warning, dissipating on the spot. Boom... A heart-tightening thud traveled far and wide. "Kill confirmed, there are more people inside, not just one." A strange voice reached Chen Fei and Adrian, among others. The "Summoner" carried out a fierce bombardment, and although it had dealt heavy damage to the castle-like structure, it hadn''t killed everyone instantly, which gave them a chance to counterattack. "I knew it would be like this!" The "Summoner" seemed not at all surprised. "The ''Cornered Beast'' has entered!" Another unfamiliar voice sounded. "Starting to tear down the house now!" The "Summoner" standing in front of the castle-like building spread his arms, and chunks of concrete began to detach from the structure, followed by an entire wall. The Sovereignty demolition crew has arrived, you lowly commoners should kneel quickly. "''Summoner'', behind you, someone is trying to escape." The voice of the "Sleep Demon" spoke up. "Is it the underground garage?" The "Summoner" frowned slightly and turned to signal to Adrian, Chen Fei, and Susanna, who were guarding in the direction of the manor''s main entrance. "Adrian, you guys block them, try to, try to..." He was still pondering how many seconds they needed when a figure in a gray trench coat leaped forward, grabbing a greatsword nearly as tall as themselves. The width of the sword was nearly shoulder wide, enough to serve as a shield if needed. "Five seconds!" The gray trench coat heading towards the main entrance of the manor left behind a terse message. "Susanna, use an Ice Wall, Chen Fei, set up your railgun." Adrian issued the instructions without hesitation. Almost simultaneously, the grassy lawn covered with a thick layer of snow beside the stone pathway leading from the manor gate to the castle-like building suddenly collapsed inwards. Two wheeled infantry armored vehicles burst out, one on each side. "Got it!" Susanna, shivering as she emerged from the ice house, had her pale green eyes instantly light up, emitting a soft blue-white glow. Her hair tips frosted over and she exhaled a breath that turned into increasingly larger snowflakes, then crackled and fell to the ground with a crisp shattering sound. Pointing ahead of the two newly appeared wheeled infantry armored vehicles, she yelled, "Sword Fortress!" The cold air in the atmosphere converged, and the frost on the ground began to flow like water, gathering into thick, crystal-clear ice spikes that formed a concave arc in front of the two vehicles. However, the wheeled infantry armored vehicles showed no intention of slowing down. Instead, they sped straight towards the wall of ice spikes. "Reinforced Ice!" Susanna yelled again. The roughly hewn ice spikes became completely transparent, like crystal, dramatically increasing their strength. "Adam, aim for the center between the two infantry armored vehicles, prepare a 152." Chen Fei did not open the shell box that Adrian had left for him but instead sprinted towards the direction of the ice spike wall. There were too many obstacles, and the view could easily be obstructed, so evolving the railgun weapon on the spot wasn''t a very good choice. In the next moment, the mobile base vehicle, speeding along the open road, elegantly drifted to a stop next to the curb. The loaded railgun emerged from its roof and began to adjust its angle. Next to the road was a glitzy bar, where the reveling drunkards, complaining about the sudden snow blocking the entrance, simultaneously stared dumbfounded at the large vehicle parked by the roadside and the railgun on its roof, glinting in the light. The drunken haze disappeared in an instant. "Ahhhh!!!" ¡Á13! ... As the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles entered the semi-encircling wall of ice spikes without slowing down, prepared to ram through with full force. A figure wielding a greatsword appeared in front of the two vehicles, with the sharply pointed ice spikes behind backing them. "Hey! Stop right there!" The greatsword drew a stream of water from the wall of ice spikes, like a flexible long ribbon, and whipped it towards the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles. The nearly transparent stream of water whistled past, flying more than ten meters beyond the armored vehicles before turning into countless droplets that fell on the snow, instantly freezing into crystal-clear ice beads on contact with the icy ground. Boom!~ The two wheeled infantry armored vehicles collided with the wall of ice spikes, one after the other. The upper halves of the bodies, just above the tires, were flung out as if the box had been broken, completely separating lids from boxes. Chapter 420 420: Section 416 - Fierce Battle The upper half of the wheeled infantry armored vehicle lay upside down in the snow after a terrifying roll. Poof! Poof! Poof! In the lower half of the vehicle''s body, nothing remained but torso-sized remnants of human bodies sporadically spurting clouds of blood, then collapsing limply in all directions. The part severed from the torso below still bore an expression of disbelief, along with the lingering scream that had not yet faded away. At least seven people were instantly killed inside the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles; both bodies and onboard equipment, along with the armor, were neatly bisected by a single strike. However, one bulky figure was kneeling in the vehicle, supporting himself with a round shield, gasping heavily. "Who... are you?" The shield bore a clear, deep gash but hadn''t been completely penetrated. The disheveled figure, though barely surviving, drew the greatsword from behind his waist. With a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, he glared fiercely at the silhouette who had sliced through both armored vehicles in a single swing. Woosh! The broad and hefty greatsword flicked with a twist of the wrist, conjuring a sudden gust of wind. "Greatsword!" "It''s Akim!" Even without using the "Dragon King" visual module, Chen Fei''s skill "Basic Optical Observer Level 4" allowed him to perceive his surroundings as if it were daylight, instantly identifying the man with the round shield in his left hand and the greatsword in his right. "So, a frontal breakout from here?" Adrian heard Chen Fei''s "Heart Voice" and looked around. Contrarily to expectations, the direction of the manor gate was more conducive to vehicle speed. However, those blocking the path were not just the Sovereignty Squad but also Team 04. "I''m freezing to death!" Susanna, pale as iron, exhaustedly retreated back into the Inuit Ice House, cocooning herself tightly in a blanket, shivering uncontrollably, devoid of any interest to even glance at the status of the ice wall. Even deploying her B-grade Ice Special Ability with all her might was only enough for one hit in such conditions. Her susceptibility to cold greatly limited her performance, but she still excellently completed the mission, effectively stopping the two wheeled infantry armored vehicles. "Confirmed it''s the target, currently confronting ''Greatsword''!" "Sleep Demon''s" skill enveloped the entire field. "Adrian, how did your mobile base vehicle get here?" The "Captain''s" telepathic communication immediately followed. "What?"¡Á6! The Sovereignty Squad seemed quite astonished. Indeed! Adrian thought to himself. He passed on the scoff that Chen Fei shared with him to these members of the Sovereignty Squad. "Huh!" "Always meddling in extra matters!" The "Summoner" seemed to mutter to himself. He then continued to "say," "''Forbidden,'' maintain sheltering!" "Got it! ''Sheltering'' status normal!" The voice of "Forbidden" immediately responded. No matter how chaotic the inside of the Ancient Castle Manor was, nothing could be heard or seen from the outside. "''Greatsword,'' Akim is yours to deal with!" The "Summoner''s" attention remained on continuing to dismantle the house. "Sleep Demon" informed him that people inside were still alive. Once the will of Sovereignty descended, it meant no quarter given, pleading was futile, the most sensible act was to willingly submit to execution, not a futile resistance. "Received!" "Greatsword" assumed an initial stance, with water streaming from all directions gathering around him and his greatsword. Staring at the Tunguska Region''s Police Chief, no, rather the former chief, who had leaped out of the now convertible-style wheeled infantry armored vehicle. The moment the Sovereignty issued the execution order, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, officially declared a ''rebel'' member of the ''Sacred Advent'' organization and suspected key affiliate, was stripped of all public roles, becoming a public enemy of the Sovereignty. When the "Summoner" and others paratrooped into the Ancient Castle Manor, it signified that Sovereignty was beyond reasoning now, the same attitude as thirty years ago: zero tolerance, no forgiveness. "Damn, you lapdogs!" Boom! A pale green Battle Qi Flame surged from Akim. Small specks of light drifted from "Greatsword," Chen Fei, and Adrian towards the former chief, even from the Inuit Ice House where B-grade Ice Ability User Susanna was hidden. However, around the Pure Light Sparrow in the bird nest Adrian held, a faint white light encased it, preventing any specks of light from escaping. "Be careful, he''s draining life energy!" "Sleep Demon''s" telepathic voice entered the minds of Adrian and the others. Adrian asked, "Isn''t there a way to counter this?" At that moment, surrounded by swirling currents, "Greatsword," dragging his huge sword, charged at Akim. "Ah!~" The left-shield-right-sword Akim, with Battle Qi Flame bursting anew, met the greatsword dragging a long watery trail head-on. Boom!~ Lightning struck from nowhere, sweeping away the snow within thirty meters in a furious force, shattering even the icecone wall erected by the B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna. The thick and hard icecones snapped and shattered in an instant. The "Greatsword," which moved as if one with the swordsman, was unexpectedly defeated. In a clash of weapons, it was thrown out and directly smashed a corner of the icecone wall to pieces. "This, this is definitely beyond Earth Order First Rank!" The "Sleep Demon''s" mind call burst out in astonishment. "Are you, are you all right?" Adrian looked towards the spot where the "Greatsword" had fallen. The impact was quite fierce, making one worried. "It''s nothing!" A swirl of water emerged, lifting the "Greatsword" that was buried in the ice, seemingly without much damage. "Unrelated people, keep a distance. Life Drain has a range limit." The "Sleep Demon" warned the three members of team 04, explaining that excessive draining of vitality not only affects individuals but also, in a sense, aids the enemy. If a Wood System Ability User mastered this skill, it would become quite troublesome. As long as there is a steady supply of vitality, unless there is a fatal injury, recovery would be swift. Moreover, their physical energy would seem endless, never tiring. "That strike just now had at least the strength of Earth Order Fourth Rank!" A deep blue "flame" rose around the "Greatsword," resembling the depths of the ocean. He is also a War Professional. Judging by the color of the Battle Qi Flame, he must be from the Water System. No wonder the Sovereignty Squad would engage personally. If it were team 04, they might have been annihilated. "Susanna, fall back. Chen Fei, you stay back too." Adrian casually dismissed the Inuit Ice House and dragged the frost-bitten B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna away to a farther place. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu, seeing Susanna''s pale face, pecked at the air, sending a ping pong ball-sized Light Orb flying into her body. Human Order First Rank "Light Healing Technique" has a certain effect on accelerating metabolism. Susanna''s face, previously afflicted by the cold, immediately looked much better, regaining some rosiness. The fire of life drove out the cold, and she exhaled a slightly warm breath, looking gratefully at Little Bird. "I''m saved! Thank you, Xiao Jiu!" A ring of fire surrounded the two people and the bird, the continuously radiated heat swiftly warming Susanna, feeling like she was in Heaven. "Thank you, Adrian." Backing up several dozen meters and getting out of the range of Life Drain, Adrian released a Fire Spells ring-shaped "Fire Wall," encircling himself within a four to five-meter radius with flames to maintain a certain temperature. The Pure Light Sparrow and Susanna had almost no resistance to severe cold, maintaining the flames with magic power imposes minimal strain on a Human Order First Rank fire mage. Chen Fei did not retreat far but instead guarded in front of Adrian, closely watching the fierce battle between "Greatsword" and Akim. The clash of two Earth Order power users created a massive disturbance; even a slight residual might cause considerable destruction, making this grand scene a rare sight. Things escalated quickly. Susanna''s icecone wall, meant to block two wheeled infantry armored vehicles, was completely shattered, utterly demolished by the opposing sword qi. Even the two separated armored vehicles were not spared, being torn apart on the spot. The bodies inside, despite having just perished, had their residual vitality forcibly drained, becoming part of the strength of Wood War Professional Akim. Even the deceased from his own side, Akim didn''t plan to waste the last bit of their value. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah..." This former police chief screamed hysterically, wielding the greatsword in his right hand, his left shielded with a round shield, skillfully switching between offense and defense like flowing water, clearly having devoted great effort to his combat skills. Lacking real power, it would be difficult to secure a position as a head of public security in an administrative district. An Earth Order War Professional could command respect. Boom!~ A deep-blue sword light flung Akim over twenty meters away, directly creating a large crater in the snow. On the other side, the "Summoner," who was still dismantling a building, seemed to have encountered a fierce opponent as well. Spikes made of consolidated concrete whistled towards him, and from inside the partially destroyed castle-type building, a burst of purple-blue lightning wrapped around the other three individuals in gray coats. "The rats have left their nests." The "Summoner" locked his mind on these concrete spikes, fixing them three meters in front of him, then fiercely hurled them back towards the spot where the lightning erupted. Using the enemy''s own spear to attack the electricity. Crackling lightning fiercely flashed, instantly shattering over a dozen airborne concrete spikes. An Electric Dragon took shape, seemingly baring its fangs and ferociously lunging at the "Summoner." One spike after another burst from the ground, spreading layers around the castle-type building. Bang! An unsettling shock noise sounded again. It felt as if the air subtly shook. The spreading earth spikes were instantly crushed. "The bombing has started!" The "Summoner" released a high-power bomb from his Storage Magical Device, once again hurling explosives towards the castle-type building. Boom, boom, boom, boom... Draw the rats out of their nest, then go for the kill. This was exactly what he wanted! Ah!~ A scream echoed from the ruins. The Electric Dragon that had lunged at the "Summoner" suddenly dissipated a meter away, bursting into countless sparks flying in all directions. "''Cornered Beast'' has cleared the Thunder Series Ability User." A voice rang in everyone''s minds. - Chapter 421 421: Section 417 - Mission Failure The ancient castle-like building, with more than half of its main body turned into ruins, suddenly shook as if an earthquake had occurred, causing the already fragile parts to collapse completely. Countless spikes extended erratically from the collapsed positions, and the struggle beneath the debris continued unabated. "Ahh!" A figure was thrown out, flailing their arms and legs. "''Superstring''!" The voice of "Cornered Beast" rang out. "Roger that!" Boom¡ªa loud noise. The human form in midair burst apart like a ragdoll, seemingly due to some Wind Series skill, utilizing air vibrations to inflict damage. "Clear out all inside and underground of the building!" The voice of "Sleep Demon" resonated in everyone''s minds. The "Summoner" was destroying the building and eliminating the living forces, drawing the survivors out for a counterattack. Alongside him, "Superstring" took the chance to strike at the enemy as they emerged, while "Cornered Beast" seized the opportunity to coordinate attacks from inside and outside, backstabbing the opponents. The only target remaining to be cleared out inside the manor was the former Tunguska Region''s chief security officer Akim, who was locked in combat with "Great Sword." "Great Sword," moving freely outside, was containing the surprisingly powerful foe without seeming to be at a disadvantage, yet... "Tough one!" The Life Drain skill was too domineering, and even "Great Sword" was having his vitality drained continually during the relentless exchanges. Even with the advantage in rank, the drawn-out war of attrition was difficult to decide quickly, and Life Drain shifted the slight balance. "Time to finish this!" The "Summoner" did not look back at the now-leveled castle-like building but turned and headed towards the manor''s main gate, walking toward the location where "Great Sword" and Akim were fighting. Whoosh!~ A gust of wind; the gray trench coat at "Summoner''s" side grew from having two people to three. A slender stiletto sword, shaking off fine droplets of blood, was sheathed. Seeing that the target was exceedingly resilient, Adrian asked, "Chen Fei, can you provide support?" Chen Fei had been at the forefront, on the edge of the Life Drain range, watching the intensifying battle. After all, Adrian had two burdens¡ªOne was a Grade B Ice Ability User exhausted of their powers, and the other was a Little Bird that couldn''t survive in the harsh outdoor cold. "Both sides move too fast, mutual annihilation unless!" Chen Fei didn''t have a good solution either. Such high-level confrontations were not something he could interfere in; getting any closer would be courting death. A Fourth Rank War Professional could almost single-handedly take on the entire Squad 04. Tough nuts like that could only be cracked by Sovereignty or the strong individuals from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee coming out of hiding, and with just the operational team of Bear Hunting Special Operations Division present, it would be pure suicide. In gathering intelligence on human factions, the Global United Defense Committee was severely lacking, considering the organization was adept at exterminating mutants, not human adversaries. The mere residual force from the clashes of Sword Qi was enough to threaten Chen Fei''s life, even if he was wearing the "Dragon King" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, its defensive capability was probably not up to the level of the front and rear armor of a Wheeled Infantry Armored Vehicle. You have to remember that the vehicle''s front is often the most solidly built area, and even the rear armor''s defense wouldn''t be too much lower than that of the vehicle''s sides. Thriving on bringing mutual annihilation, the maestro of flirtation with death wasn''t about instantly killing the enemy, but rather dragging them down together. Within the range of Life Drain, all plant life perished, having even the last vestiges of vitality forcibly extracted, ensuring that no new branches would sprout in the warmth of next summer. To prevent Akim from absorbing more vitality, "Great Sword" used his own sword style to forcefully contain him within a certain area; otherwise, once moving freely, the enemy could draw even more life force, becoming considerably more durable. For Wood System Ability Users, vitality is combat strength; they can continue fighting fiercely without exhausting it completely. Even though "Great Sword" had taken the upper hand, making a fatal blow was difficult unless he inflicted severe damage that would render Akim entirely immobile. "''Great Sword,'' how much longer do you need?" "Summoner" glanced at the time and casually asked while walking. Even though "Great Sword" had not yet subdued his opponent, Sovereignty Squad had already secured the inevitable outcome¡ªa capture or killing of the target was just a matter of time. Whether to capture alive or kill didn''t matter; the order "Summoner" and his team received was disregard for life. To make things easy, kill on the spot; if trouble is no object, capture alive. "One minute!" "Great Sword''s" mental communication was calm and composed as if still in full control and everything was well in hand. "Alright, I''ll wait." "Summoner" patiently watched his wristwatch, calmly waiting for the battle to end. "Haah!" The greatsword, reminiscent of a small gate, whipped up countless thin streams of water, resembling a tornado that swept towards Akim, who was still stubbornly holding out. Suddenly, an object the size of a fist flew out. Boom! A blinding flash of light exploded violently. "Disabling Bomb!" Chen Fei reacted immediately. People who worked as military contractors were most familiar with such devices, whether it was for a firefight with rivals or for interfering with Mutants, the Disabling Bomb with its simultaneous loud explosion and blinding flash could be used on many occasions. Who could have thought that during a duel between two War Professionals, one side would suddenly throw a Disabling Bomb, causing a brief pause in the exchange between them. Just as "Greatsword" was disrupted by the Disabling Bomb, Akim, who seemed to transform into a shell, didn''t take the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, but instead abandoned his opponent and dashed towards the manor''s gate with astonishing speed. "Adrian, stop him!" The "Summoner" only had time to shout. His vision was also affected by the Disabling Bomb, but the "Sleep Demon" faced no such hindrance, its spiritual power that covered the entire manor could ignore the loud bangs and flashes of light. The "Sleep Demon" also sensed something else. "''Forbidden,'' be careful, the target is going to break through the sheltering!" Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... the whistling sound of the air was constant. The Railgun Combat Rifle in the hands of "Dragon King" in his Single Soldier Tactical Armor sprayed a barrage of bullets, and Chen Fei''s mouth was not idle either. "''Adam,'' calculate the trajectory, set a detonation point at fifty meters outside the manor, fire!" The Demolition Bomb needed time to travel, so he had to lead the shot. "Ice Wall, up!" Susanna, a B-ranked Ice Ability User, who had regained some warmth, once again exerted her full strength to unleash her special ability. The icy environment made it easier for Ice Special Abilities to be activated, but a constitution that wasn''t resistant to the cold negated this advantage hard; it was an unavoidable situation. A crystal clear Ice Wall rose from the ground, a full ten meters high. And that was not the end. Another Ice Wall followed quickly after, and like this, one after another, they stood in the way towards the manor''s gate. "''Flame Tornado''!" To avoid affecting Susanna''s Ice Special Ability, the First Rank fire mage, Adrian Benjamin, chose a single-target Offensive Spell and placed it as forward as possible. Just needing to delay for one or two more seconds, Sovereignty Squad''s "Greatsword" would be able to restrain Akim, who was attempting to break out, and the rest could arrive in time to end the ultimate fate of this mission target. "Get out of my way!" A striking Magic Array appeared out of thin air in front of Akim, instantly bursting forth with an invisible force that penetrated everything ahead. Adrian''s "Flame Tornado" dissipated into smoke, leaving only a few sparks to fade into the air, while the Ice Walls that Susanna had struggled to erect were pierced with a hole over three meters in diameter. Even the manor''s gate now had a visible circular opening, with strange sparks continuously falling through the air. The volley of bullets from the Railgun Combat Rifle pursued Akim, whose steps never slowed even a bit, and he, rising with the fierce green Battle Qi Flame, charged out of the manor''s gate through that eerie circular hole like a cannonball. "A breach has opened in the ''Sheltering''; that was a Magic Artifact!" The telepathic communication from "Forbidden" was filled with astonishment. Instantly breaking through "Sheltering" was definitely not something an Earth Order powerhouse could do, even less so for a Sixth Rank. "Quickly chase him..." The "Summoner," who had felt confident and in control, was now somewhat flustered. The surprise appearance of these pests unexpectedly allowed the main mission target to escape, and he had even pierced through "Forbidden''s" comprehensive "Sheltering" in an instant¡ªit was worth noting that such a Space Series ability, even heavy weaponry, would have difficulty shattering. Before the "Summoner" could finish his telepathic communication, a blast of fire suddenly erupted outside the manor''s gate, and the ferocious shockwave instantly swept through a radius of a hundred meters. Akim, who had just charged out, found himself struck by the oncoming shockwave and blasted back through the round opening in the manor''s gateway. "''Sheltering'' has been repaired, uh, the target is back!" The emotional fluctuations in "Forbidden" had become not just astonishment, but shock. Just when it seemed that Akim was going to get away, he was unexpectedly blown back by a sudden explosion. System: Ding! The task of capturing alive the police chief of the Tunguska Region, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, has failed; the target is dead, deducting Energy Points -3000! Energy Points -3000! Energy Points: 16123/20000 Ha! Chen Fei stood there stupefied, what the hell was going on, being hit with a deduction of 3000 Energy Points by the damn system! Task Failure!!! The previous bombardment was so powerful that it killed the target on the spot. The Visual Assistance feature of the "Dragon King" Single Soldier Tactical Armor locked onto Akim, who lay face up inside the manor''s gate, motionless. A twisted shard of metal was plunged into the opponent''s forehead, particularly eye-catching. This was still the outcome despite the detonation point being set to minimize injury; the original intention had been to capture him alive, to successfully complete the system''s task. But all the calculations couldn''t account for an act of God. The shockwave from the Demolition Bomb might not have been able to instantly kill an Earth Order War Professional, but the shrapnel flying with tremendous kinetic energy was another story. With foreign objects inserted into the brain, not just an Earth Order powerhouse, even a Heavenly Order would not be able to withstand it. - Chapter 422 422: Section 418 - Add 3000 Energy Points "Greatsword" appeared beside Akim, lowering its head cautiously for a closer look. The life force of a Wood System Ability User was incredibly tenacious; to prevent any sudden resurgence, the huge sword, resembling a door plank, was always ready to be swung down forcefully, bisecting the foe with a single strike if necessary. After observing for a moment, the psychic communication from "Greatsword" finally rang out. "The target is dead!" Akim''s expression froze, his eyes bulging roundly in shock and disbelief. No one had expected that the mission target, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, would ultimately be killed by a single cannon shot. It could be assumed that "Greatsword" was experiencing a complex mix of emotions at the moment, probably thinking that man''s plans are no match for fate. "Did you stop it?" Miss Susanna was on the verge of collapsing, her face deathly pale as she swayed unsteadily on her feet. Inside her thick down jacket, she was drenched in sweat as if she had just been fished out of the water. She ignored it, wishing she could find a warm cotton blanket to burrow into right now. "It should be a success!" Adrian also breathed a sigh of relief. As part of the peripheral interception Team 04, it was somewhat embarrassing that they all made their move but still couldn''t detain the enemy, not even slowing him down. Chen Fei said despondently, "We failed!" Adrian, puzzled, said, "How could we have failed? You took out that Akim, that''s a huge achievement!" The explosion outside the manor was clearly a result of the mobile base vehicle''s railgun launching a 152 Demolition Bomb; the credit for the final strike was indelible, marking a significant contribution to Team 04''s record. With the range of the railgun, it could launch projectiles to a maximum distance of about 50 kilometers. If the distance was sufficiently short, it could guarantee a high degree of firing accuracy. For a heavy hit like the 152 Demolition Bomb, even if it deviated by ten meters or so, there would almost be no difference in effect. Without any protection, within the lethal radius, running was futile. The only thing one could do was try to make their death look a little bit better, if possible. Chen Fei said listlessly, "I wanted to capture him alive!" The loss of three thousand Energy Points felt like a blow of three thousand points of damage. This damn system had finally succeeded! "Heh!" What the "Summoner" didn''t say out loud was essentially "Look how capable you are!" A Wood War Professional with combat strength evaluation of at least Fifth Rank Earth Order was not something a mere B-class Metal Ability User could stop. The former didn''t even have to move; just by activating the Life Drain skill, it was akin to standing on invincible ground. "Confirmation, the mission target Akim is dead!" "Cornered Beast" also arrived next to Akim''s body, even rifling through the corpse a few times, ultimately confirming the death. "Sheltering" is over! "Forbidden" also ceased the skill usage, after all, enclosing this entire Space Series ability around the manor to block all sound and light disturbances was no easy task. "Sleep Demon, tally the attack assessment!" The "Summoner" looked around, making sure there were no stragglers. Finally, this guy no longer accused Chen Fei of redundancy; it was precisely this "redundant" action that brought the mission to an end. "Seventeen people killed in total, three Earth Order Spellcasters, two Earth Order War Professionals, four A-rank supernatural power users, two B-rank supernatural power users, six armed civilians, and the mission targets Akim Vasily Ulyanov and his daughter are both dead..." "Sleep Demon," who shrouded every inch of the manor with immense spiritual power, drew up an attack assessment report at the earliest opportunity. Energy Points +3000! Energy Points: 19123/20000 "Ah!~~~" Chen Fei suddenly noticed an information notification pop-up flashing through his field of vision. Was the damn system acting up again? He hurriedly opened the "Individual Information." State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 70/81 Burst Strength: 155/163 Fullness: 84% Active time: 139 hours Energy Points: 19123/20000 Electric Energy Reserve: 5000 kWh The Energy Points had risen back up, inexplicably. He looked at the "Mission List" next. Chen Fei found it hard to believe, as if time had rolled back somehow. The mission that had been declared a failure for not capturing Akim Vasily Ulyanov alive ¡ª which should have disappeared from the list ¡ª "Capture Akim Vasily Ulyanov the police chief of the Tunguska Region alive for an Energy Point reward of +3000, or a deduction of -3000 for failure!" ¡ª was now hanging on the "Mission List" again, accurately placed at the fourth spot. "What''s wrong?" Feeling that something was always amiss with this "Rookie," the "Summoner" showed a rare instance of inquiring further. Chen Fei, puzzled, said, "Akim isn''t dead; wait, we didn''t catch him either!" "What?" "Who did you just take out? Was it a bystander?" "It''s definitely Akim, no mistake about it!" Whether it was the Sovereign Squad or the members of Team 04 who had rushed over from their defensive positions, everyone unanimously expressed their confusion. Chen Fei''s words made no sense; he was the one who had taken down the person, so how could it not be Akim? Who, then, had been in that relentless battle with the "Greatsword"? "''Rookie'', has your malevolence started to affect your ability to make logical judgments?" "Sleep Demon" was quite baffled by the out-of-the-blue remark from Chen Fei. "No, this isn''t Akim, it''s not him!" Based on past experience, the Dog System, although bastardly, provided highly reliable intelligence information. Chen Fei felt that even the Dog System was nearly duped by this Akim, but he quickly discerned the truth. Although 3000 Energy Points were deducted just now, upon discovering the mistake and correcting it, the points were immediately replenished. Thus, there could only be one truth: this "Akim" might not be the real deal. "Are you joking? ''Rookie''!" "Summoner" thought that the young man from Team 04 was deliberately causing trouble, as if it weren''t enough to achieve a great feat, he seemed unsatisfied and wanted to play monkey tricks¡ªwhat a terrible taste for mischief. The Sovereign Squad wasn''t the Neanderthal''s Supreme Council and wasn''t so easily deceived. Chen Fei persisted and said, "No, no, no, I''m not joking. I have a premonition, a strong premonition, we need to verify the identity." The other members of Team 04 immediately surrounded him to prevent the people from the Sovereign Squad from accidentally hurting Chen Fei in their carelessness. After all, messing with the Sovereignty took quite a bit of gall, especially since Chen Xiao''er had a history of previous offenses, and more than just one. "The fingerprint of all ten fingers verified correct, the retinal pattern of both eyes verified correct, it''s the genuine Akim. ''Rookie'', your spirit seems a bit unstable." "Cornered Beast" took out a device and manipulated it over Akim''s body for a while before reaching a conclusion. It was indeed the genuine Akim, and he was beyond dead. The youngster from Team 04 had obviously overthought it, leading to delusions. "No! I still think there''s a problem." Chen Fei shook his head resolutely, refusing to acknowledge the authoritative test result. "There won''t be a problem, you''re overthinking it." "Summoner" shook his head, not intending to argue with Chen Fei. Poor kid, his brain must have short-circuited. "Then let''s collect DNA samples; results will be out in eight hours." The mental communication from the "Captain" resonated in everyone''s minds. The DNA sequence code is inherently unique and almost impossible to forge. This was beyond the technical standards of current human civilization, whether on Blue Star or Cangqiong Star. "Alright! Let''s draw a tube of blood and pluck a few hairs!" "Summoner" nodded, accepting the suggestion and entrusting the task of collecting biological samples to "Cornered Beast". The "Black Albatross Number" had equipment to test DNA sequences and could provide results immediately. Then, addressing the members of Team 04, he said, "Since your Mobile Base Vehicle has arrived, you may leave on your own. Before you go, please return the pendant. From here on, this matter will be handled by a specialized department." A dismissal was issues right to their faces without even a word of thanks. Regardless of the sudden complication introduced by Chen Fei, the collaboration between the two parties had concluded, and the likelihood of future interactions was virtually nil. Therefore, "Summoner" saw no need to be courteous to Team 04 any longer. Dammit! The minds of Adrian and the others involuntarily echoed with this disgruntled thought. It probably even transmitted into the minds of others through the mental communication. "Summoner" and his group seemed to have not "heard" it, indifferently taking away the black pendants hanging from everyone''s necks. Seeing the Mobile Base Vehicle racing towards them, Mouri Misono contentedly said, "Our own Mobile Base Vehicle is the best!" The "Black Albatross Number" airship hovered above the mansion, showing no intention of giving them a lift back. If it weren''t for the Mobile Base Vehicle, the Sovereign Squad would probably still ruthlessly send them away, right?! In this cold, snowy night, where the hell could they find a ride? Getting back to the villa would surely be a tough trek, with every one of them freezing like dead dogs. Having used them and not needing them anymore, the folks from the Sovereign Squad really showed how stony-hearted and callous they were. Without the black pendants, the members of Team 04 felt free to voice their complaints unheard, until they boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle''s cabin, as warm as spring. Susanna was the first to forfeit the kerosene heater and blanket given to her by Adrian and rushed ahead into one of the two bathrooms of the Mobile Base Vehicle. The rustling sounds of undressing and splashing water started, followed shortly by a moaning sound. "Ah! Saved at last!" The B-rank Ice Ability User collapsed into the constant temperature bathtub, weakly splashing water around, her face filled with relief at being alive. "What the hell kind of mission is this!" The Holy Knight, after being frozen for more than an hour, felt truly sympathetic towards his mount partner. He led the Blue Scaled Colt to the back of the cabin, took out a dry cloth to wipe its body, and turned on the heat, hoping it would warm up quickly. "These guys sure aren''t easy to deal with." Adrian shook his head, knowing that the other party simply looked down on Team 04 and wouldn''t show any respect¡ªand there was nothing he could do about it. Chen Fei sat at the driver''s seat, an electric cable latched to his back continuously drawing power to make up for the earlier expenditure. His attention, however, wasn''t on driving; he left that to "Adam" for automatic driving, while the "Mission List" unfolded before his eyes, and he muttered under his breath, mulling things over and over. - Chapter 423 423: Section 419 - Retaliation Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Early in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the villa''s doorbell rang. In the cold winter, very few people would be active just as the day broke. Wasn''t a warm quilt snuggly? "Who is it?" Adrian, who had not slept well the entire night, his eyes rimmed with dark circles, shuffled into the living room in his cotton slippers and activated the doorbell intercom. "Me, ''Summoner,'' open up!" "Huh?" Adrian couldn''t quite believe his ears. Hadn''t the cooperation between both sides ended? Why were they looking for him again? Why hadn''t Liaison Officer Rossi given advance notice? Full of questions, he opened the entrance door of the villa''s living room, only to see a hulking figure in a grey trench coat standing outside. Wait a second, the doorbell wasn''t at the entrance door but ten meters away, on the gate wall. How did this guy ring the doorbell? Could it be that he entered the yard first, then rang the doorbell? Right, the man was a Psychic Ability User, skilled in Psychokinesis. Rings a doorbell remotely¡ªno big deal. "Is there something you need?" Adrian let the man into the house. "Would you like some tea, or perhaps coffee?" "I''m looking for ''Rookie''!" The "Summoner" with the hedgehog hairstyle still maintained a cold demeanor, not seeming to fear freezing to death in the chill. Adrian said irritably, "There''s no drink called ''Rookie''!" Speak human, please! Not answering the question could be very vexing. Since the task at Ancient Castle Manor concluded, there had been no further opportunities for interaction between the two parties. You celebrate the New Year, don''t blame others for celebrating the Lantern Festival. Task Force 04 didn''t need to show any more courtesy to the other side. The "Summoner" paused, then seemed to understand. "I want tea, I''m looking for Chen Fei." Now that was speaking human. "Please wait a moment. Everyone was quite exhausted last night and will wake up later." Adrian turned and headed for the kitchen to prepare the tea. The villa was plenty warm inside. "Chirp!" "Good morning!" Chen Fei, with Little Bird perched on his shoulder, drifted through the living room towards the kitchen, beginning the routine of preparing breakfast. The little fellow hadn''t exerted much effort the night before and woke up early. Then, pecking at Daddy Chen Fei''s ear, it danced a wake-up jig on his face, rousing him from sleep. Chen Fei had no choice but to get up. He was always responsible for Task Force 04''s meals, having both the experience and an abundance of it. Sometimes Mouri Misono would also come to help, lending a hand. The mixed grain porridge had been set to cook before bedtime. Steam buns were easily placed in the steamer set above the porridge pot. The bread dough had been kneaded automatically while everyone washed up the night before, left to rise overnight, already taking shape. The oven with the preset timer started working just on time. Breakfast preparation actually required frying some eggs and bacon and heating some milk and soy milk. Salted duck eggs, fermented tofu, and pickles were all ready-made, not leaving much work to do. This was an experience learned from Chef Abel at the Aircrew Base cafeteria: delegate work to time. Tasks like simmering and fermenting, which take time, can be managed with ease if the time is calculated correctly, allowing one to effortlessly complete a massive amount of kitchen work. The most tedious task was simply measuring ingredients; taking advantage of free time for pre-measuring and packing. Then, when needed, just open the sealed container and pour it out. "He''s awake!" The "Summoner''s" gaze fixed on Chen Fei, following him to the entrance of the kitchen. Then there was the sound of the fridge opening and closing, the gas stove puffing away, the clanging of the frying pan on the stove, followed by sizzling sounds, as the exhaust fan hummed lightly to expel the greasy air outside. Despite this, the enticing scent of frying eggs managed to waft out from the kitchen. "Hey!" "Summoner" leaned on the kitchen door frame, looking at Chen Fei, who was mechanically and sleepily cooking, yet each step was perfectly precise. Nothing but the fruit of practice! "Ah? Is there something you need?" Chen Fei snapped back to reality, looking puzzled, and with a flick of his hand, the sunny-side-up egg in the pan gently flipped over to slow-cook on low heat. He was especially good at frying eggs with runny yolks, cooked on the surface but still soft inside¡ªlow heat and a smooth sliding motion were the keys. "How did you know that it wasn''t the real deal?" Others, upon hearing the "Summoner" ask so directly and straightforwardly, would likely be confused, having no clue what he meant. "Uh, intuition, would you believe that?" Chen Fei had fully woken up by now, shrugged his shoulders, and it seemed that the other party confirmed that Akim blown up by Project 152 was indeed a fake, and the real ''him'' was still at large, otherwise he wouldn''t have sought him out for no reason. But the matter of the Dog System seemed impossible to prove, as he had no evidence to present. Everything needed evidence¡ªif there was no evidence, what was the point of speaking? Other than wasting breath, he might even be labeled as delusional. Pfft, like he wanted to be labeled as delusional! "Believe? Of course, I believe. Do you have the skill of prophecy?" "The Summoner" was somewhat puzzled and incredulous; it was indeed unbelievable that a Metal Ability User possessed Psychic Series prophecy or precognition skills. Up to now, whether among spellcasters or supernatural power users, there have been very few who possess prophecy or precognition skills, not even enough to count on one hand. Prophecy and precognition are slightly different; the future in a prophecy might change, but the information from precognition will definitely occur. The longest prophecy was limited to a week, and it was vague, like solving a riddle, requiring much interpretation and prone to significant errors. Even the most accurate precognition was limited to two seconds into the future, and while it was indeed accurate, what could it really achieve? If used to speculate in finance, one would probably lose until their pants fell off. To be able to guess that Akim was a fake without any sign, this level of precognition was pretty impressive. "You guess?" Chen Fei brazenly shook his frying pan. A perfect sunny-side up egg smoothly left the pan and then he heated the pan again on high flame, cracking another egg into it with a satisfying sound, and once again the sizzling started. Team 04 needed to consume at least 30 eggs every morning, with Apu and Kiterley being the main forces in devouring these eggs. "I got it!" Without any hesitation, "The Summoner" turned and left. "Hey, hey, what are you two talking about? Why are you leaving, not even taking a sip of your tea? Hey, hey!" The one truly in a fog was Team 04''s captain, Adrian; he had just brewed some black tea, but before anyone could take a sip, they were leaving¡ªwhat on earth did this mean so early in the morning? Especially the conversation between Chen Fei and "The Summoner", although it was not secretive, it was more confusing than if it had been. "Goodbye!" "The Summoner" didn''t look back and pushed open the living room door, heading into the morning chill and away from the villa. Chen Fei, focused on the skillet and the egg on the gas stove, called out loudly, "No need to chase!" Adrian watched "The Summoner" step out into the yard and get into a car. The vehicle quickly departed, vanishing from sight. "What''s all this about? Are you two exchanging secret signals?" "We''re playing charades, to be honest, it''s a bit unclear to me too. Just pretend to understand even though you''re confused!" What Chen Fei didn''t say was that the other party probably knew full well but chose to feign ignorance. Whether or not they probed anything from him, it was probably what they had intended. "Can you explain a bit clearer?" Adrian still couldn''t figure out what kind of charade it was. "The former police chief of the Tunguska Region, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, who we took down last night, might not have been the real person!" As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, a scream came from outside the kitchen. Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, who awoke and came to report in the living room, turned pale and trembled, "No, no, not the real person? How is that possible?" Now that her loyalties had shifted, she was probably the one who most wanted Akim dead; his death would mean her largest connection with the "Sacred Advent" organization was completely severed, like getting rid of a big worry on her mind. If Akim were still alive, as a traitor, Tanya would probably find it hard to rest or eat in peace. "Sacred Advent" wasn''t a group of saints and believers; they would quickly confirm who betrayed Akim, and maybe the blade of vengeance would arrive at her door soon. "Don''t worry, we will protect you." Adrian, seeing the girl''s panic-stricken appearance, naturally understood what she was worried and scared about. "No, no, I must leave here, it''s no longer safe." Tanya hugged her head and crouched in a corner of the living room, her face almost transparent with terror. "There won''t be a problem for a while." Chen Fei casually flipped the eggs, too engrossed in conversation to notice that this egg had overcooked, no longer the perfect runny yolk. Suddenly, without warning, a barrage of cracks and pops sounded, and something whizzed into the room. "Look out!" Adrian immediately got down. "Ah!" Tanya shrieked repeatedly. "Who''s there?" A figure burst through the window and rushed out. Judging by the sound, it was probably Kiterley, an A-rank Metal Ability User. A cold wind swept into the living room immediately; not just the windows, but even the floor-to-ceiling glass had been shattered by the unexpected gunfire. Standing in the kitchen with a frying pan in one hand and a wooden spatula in the other, Chen Fei was dumbfounded. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu cast a Light System Magic Shield for herself and Chen Fei''s father. Inside the kitchen, it was very safe, unaffected by the rain of bullets. "It seems I''ve been talking nonsense." Chen Fei shook his head and returned to the stove to continue the sizzling of the eggs. He left the task of pursuing the enemies to Kiterley. "You lied, I''m leaving this place!" Tanya said with a sob. She had nearly lost her life, which had nothing to do with being an A-rank Psychic Ability User. Even without her abilities being suppressed, she didn''t have a Psychokinesis Skill like "The Summoner". The sound of gunfire alerted everyone; people rushed out from their rooms ready for a fight, with spells, special abilities, and Battle Qi all activated. "It''s okay now, Kiterley has gone after them!" Adrian shook his head in distress; the villa was no longer safe, and exposure had come too quickly. - Chapter 424 424: Section 420 - Dilemmas and Countermeasures The villa''s living room was riddled with bullet holes, a complete mess. Fortunately, it was just a sniper attack; if a few Cloud Bombs had been lobbed into the villa, no matter which room they hit, Team 04 would have been decimated. Without activating their abilities, especially the supernatural power users and spellcasters, often aren''t much stronger than ordinary people, and getting hit by a bullet would likely kill them just the same. A figure entered the living room, enveloped in the chilly wind, A-rank Metal Ability User Kiterley had returned, his armor gleaming with a razor-sharp silver light. All eyes turned to him at once. "Did you catch them?" Adrian asked a redundant question. Because there was no blood on Kiterley''s armor. "Damn, they ran like rabbits!" Kiterley exhaled a plume of white breath and shook his head. When he burst out of the villa, all he saw was a car speeding away from outside the courtyard. The cunning sniper was hiding in that car, seemingly opening fire on the villa as it passed by and then accelerating away without hesitation. He chased for three streets but in the end, Kiterley''s two legs couldn''t keep up with four wheels, and he returned to the villa in frustration. Joshua scratched his head and said, "It''s a small fry, actually. Even if we caught them, they probably wouldn''t know anything." When the shooting happened, he hadn''t gotten up yet, so the Constructed Puppet Warrior set up in the yard hadn''t had the chance to be of any use. Although a puppet has more agility and adaptability to complex scenarios than mechanical beings, they rely entirely on the Control Power of the Puppet Master. Adrian said helplessly, "Pack up, we''re preparing to transfer." The first attack had already occurred, and if they stayed here, the second and third would soon follow... The villa was no longer safe; in the end, the most reliable option was the Mobile Base Vehicle. After a hasty packing, everyone boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle, taking even their breakfast with them. "Liaison Officer Rossi!" After boarding, Adrian immediately dialed the dedicated number of Team 04''s Liaison Officer. "I am Ros... Rossi!" With so much time having passed, it seemed Liaison Officer Rossi''s speech wasn''t going to improve, not even with Habulav''s adept Healing Spellcasters being any help. At least the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s Second Rank Light-based Spell "Light of Redemption" hadn''t made much of a difference. "The cooperation with Sovereignty is complete, but the target of the mission appears to be a decoy." Adrian reported the results of their current speculation to Liaison Officer Rossi. Even if it was a decoy, it still caused both the Sovereign Squad and Team 04 quite a bit of hassle, and they almost let him get away. "A de... coy? How could th... there be such a... thing?" It seemed that even the Sovereignty hadn''t disclosed anything to the Global United Defense Committee; Rossi heard about it for the first time from Team 04''s report and had been clueless about it before. "It''s Chen Fei¡ªthe one who guessed that the killed Akim wasn''t real. Although there are some doubts, this morning, a ''Summoner'' from Sovereignty came by, so I guess it might be true." Looking back, Adrian also found it hard to believe how Chen Fei''s hunch, which caused doubt and ridicule due to his offhand speculation, could have been correct. But early in the morning, the Summoner from Sovereign Squad had visited for no apparent reason. Although they didn''t admit anything verbally, their every word and deed seemed to confirm that Chen Fei''s wild guess was right on target. "There sho... should be... no mistake!" Despite Rossi being in a bad mood and stuttering, her intelligence was sharp. The people from Sovereignty would not visit for no reason; it was very likely for verification. The sidelong information, however, strongly indicated a possibility: the Akim that was surrounded last night might have been a fake, and the real character might not have been in the Ancient Castle Manor. With that, everything had to start over. Rossi felt a headache coming on. Neither the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division nor the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was particularly adept at intelligence work involving humans. They mainly relied on Sovereignty to share intelligence. "Also, just now, we were attacked by a gunman, the villa''s location is compromised, and everyone has transferred to the Mobile Base Vehicle, which is temporarily safe." Adrian reported another piece of fresh intelligence. "You need to... find a... safe place... I''ll... contact you, wait for a... call." Rossi spoke in fits and starts, then hung up proactively. Where there''s one attack, there will be countless others. The Global United Defense Committee naturally wouldn''t stand by idly. To ensure the safety of all members of Team 04, they would need to continue negotiating with the local Sovereignty for protection and support. Driving the vehicle, Chen Fei asked without turning back, "Adrian, where should we go next?" The Mobile Base Vehicle couldn''t keep wandering aimlessly in the city area, or it would quickly become a target of attack. In the unfamiliar city of Yarsk, that was an obvious outcome. The Little Bird was pecking at the grains in the food dish beside its nest. Adrian realized this as well and made a decisive decision, "First, let''s leave the city area and head somewhere uninhabited." If they truly had nowhere else to go, returning to that abandoned farm they started with wouldn''t be a bad choice. "We must leave Tunguska. All the underworld forces in the Tunguska Region have ties with Akim." After the morning''s shooting, Tanya, who had a close call with the Grim Reaper, felt very insecure. "No, we can''t leave the Tunguska Region. Once we leave, all our previous work will have been in vain." Adrian shook his head resolutely, the situation had become very ominous. The Tunguska Region''s police chief was discovered to be from the "Water Bear" organization''s peripheral force "Sacred Advent." How many people in the local police could still be trusted was completely unknown. The former Female Liaison Officer Tanya was now of no use; Team 04 was essentially completely without local support, reverting overnight to pre-liberation times, without police backup or intelligence sharing. Mouri Misono, Susanna, Kiterley, and Apu all had grave expressions on their faces. Without reliable intelligence support, and amidst killing intent from all sides, Team 04 couldn''t even scurry about aimlessly like headless flies. Holy Knight Walter Sam spread his hands, bracing himself against the table in front of him, and said, "We can''t do anything now." Falling into the current disadvantageous situation meant last night''s operation was completely pointless, which in a sense was like startling the snake by hitting the grass. It seemed that Sovereignty''s intelligence had not detected that there were actually two police chiefs in the Tunguska Region, the fake one in the light and the real one in the dark. "Tanya, is there anything else you can do? Like, do you have informants or something?" Adrian looked at the prisoner, who was still not back to her senses. "Are you joking? How could I possibly have those channels!" Tanya forced out a faint smile, but it looked uglier than crying. Informants and such were only known to those detectives and old criminal investigators. A police officer responsible for basic work like herself couldn''t possibly touch such high-level work. Chen Fei, who was in the driver''s seat, said, "Alternatively, we could also go from overt to covert." The treacherous and tactical art of dragon slaying had been taught from kindergarten, and there would never be a shortage of officials in human resources. It''s not known which big shot said it well, "Fighting with people is endless fun." "What do you mean?" The voices in the carriage unanimously chimed in unison. Chen Fei did not hesitate to say, "The sixteen-character strategy: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack." Being ingrained with the art of dragon slaying, when it came to theory, he could articulate it effortlessly. "What is all this about!" Joshua shook his head outright. He hadn''t learned this; it just sounded pretentious, probably a classic catchphrase meant to show off. "I''ve heard of it, guerrilla warfare tactics!" Mouri Misono excitedly raised her right hand and shouted. "I''ve heard of it too!" B-rank Ice Ability User Susanna also nodded, having read some related books before. It was just that dragon slaying techniques were banned books in many Sovereignties. Only the children of ruling classes and social elites could access them. Ordinary folk could never have seen them, not even heard of them. The tall and burly Apu was utterly bewildered. Coming from a poor commoner''s background, the education he received was, "Let the people use it, but not know it." "We... divide and conquer!" Neanderthal Chief Bassan had an epiphany. As the leader of a tribe, he had the resources and channels to access those. "Ah! That could work." As if suddenly finding a breakthrough in his thoughts, Adrian''s eyes lit up. Team 04, along with this Mobile Base Vehicle, would be very conspicuous wherever they went. Being a large target naturally made them easy to attack. "Let''s scatter!" Mouri Misono hammered her fist into her palm. The appropriate strategy was to emerge from the people and blend back into them, utilizing the power of the people''s vast ocean to combat evil forces. "No, not just that, let''s change our perspective." Holy Knight Walter Sam looked towards his mounted companion at the rear of the carriage, the Green Scale Colt Mini. He continued, "The ''Water Bear''s'' mutant breeding bases, whether they are human or mutants, need to consume various supplies every day. Through data analysis, we can find abnormal consumption nodes. We might discover something. The simplest idea is food, a necessary supply." Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai asked in confusion, "Erm, how do we go about it?" Although a new idea had opened up, knowing it was one thing, how to do it was another. "What Chieftain Bassan and Mouri Misono just said about dividing and conquering, we disperse to various jobs in society, to secretly observe and collect relevant data, then analyze the comparisons. We might find anomalies," the Holy Knight concluded. "To give the simplest example, if there''s a daily high consumption of food, but the demand for salt is very low, why would that be?" "Humans need salt, mutants may not," Adrian finally grasped the Holy Knight''s idea. The other party deduced a possibility from the different supply needs of the Green Scale Colt and the Knight. - Chapter 425 425: Section 421 - Breaking Down the Whole into Parts "Ha! So that''s how it is!" Following that revelation, Joshua slapped the table in realization. The Holy Knight analyzed from a breeding perspective and found a rather reliable point of entry. "That''s the principle." Big Dark Apu also understood; he hadn''t raised Blue Scaled Colts but had raised dogs, and the principle was clearly the same. Other creatures may also need salt, but the way they obtain it and their needs are different from humans''. Just like cats and dogs, human food should not be carelessly given to them, or it may easily cause health problems and put unnecessary strain on their internal organs. If the food supply in an area is unbalanced and shows significant disparities, it could be highly suspicious; once you have a target, the investigation becomes much easier. In the sparsely populated Tunguska Region, starting the investigation from this aspect actually made it easier to find clues, after all, fewer reference samples meant a lot of work could be spared. Joshua asked, "So... How should we go about finding it?" Now that they had a direction, the next steps quickly followed on the agenda. "Supplies, transportation, taxes¡ªstart from these three angles." Adrian quickly found a point of entry. Buying supplies meant paying taxes, which were almost seamless because, after all, they''re one of the pillars of sovereignty (money, guns, and official seals). Supplies have a source, and they also need transportation; together with tax verification, combining these three data points would provide quite a strong basis. "So who will analyze these data? We don''t have stats and finance people here!" Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai pointed at himself and then at others¡ªmost people in the railway carriage were military contractors used to earning their keep by wielding Mutants'' heads, counting from one to a hundred was no problem, but analyzing useful intelligence from a pile of data and reports would likely give them a headache, still yielding nothing. "Heh!" Adrian laughed and pointed towards the front of the vehicle, saying, "No, we have them!" "Huh?" ¡Á10! "Economics undergraduate Chen Fei and the artificial intelligence AI ''Adam''!" Adrian finally stopped beating around the bush. Indeed, a perfect partner, Chen Fei thought to himself. "The best logistics!" Mouri Misono immediately gave vigorous approval. Apart from fighting on the front line, carrying, maintaining, camping, reconnaissance, warning, meals, and even medical care (Little Bird), he could handle everything and also provide critical firepower support in key moments, playing a superb game of covert tactics. The members of Team 04 unanimously nodded their heads; in terms of supporting the fight, Chen Fei could almost hold his ground alone, being an indispensable member who could also step forward to resolve difficulties when necessary (like dealing with those who create trouble). Sitting in the driver''s seat, Chen Fei turned his head back and flashed a V-sign; he had been educated from a young age to be a useful person, and it seems he hadn''t let his teachers down. Mouri Misono tentatively asked, "We now have a direction and people to analyze the data, but how do we specifically go about collecting this information? Should we find an information broker or bribe the staff?" "No, we''re going to find a job." Adrian, with his hands supporting his chin, looked at everyone and continued, "Kiterley will go work at the Slaughterhouse as a Knife Hand, Apu and Bassan will go to the wholesale market as laborers, Mouri and Susanna will try to blend into the market management department or tax office, Joshua will go to the transportation company, Ruan Tiankai and Sam to the road administration company to monitor incoming and outgoing vehicles, and Lulu''an and I will look for a suitable place to settle." "What about me?" Chen Fei, who was driving the Mobile Base Vehicle, didn''t hear his own name; finding a financial company or something, even just running errands, would work. "And me, you''re not thinking of ditching me after crossing the river, are you?" Tanya, now having no choice but to stick with Team 04''s fate, couldn''t even trust her own people, for fear they could be killers from "Sacred Advent" or possibly "Water Bear," and at this moment, she had no capacity for self-protection, a mere civilian could take her life. On the contrary," Adrian pointed down, saying, "This Mobile Base Vehicle and you are too conspicuous, so we need to find another place to lie low for a while." Tanya spoke nervously, "Where can we go, hide in the forest?" With the eyes of the "Sacred Advent" organization, even escaping to the most remote village would be futile, as demonstrated by Grafki Village, they would eventually be found. It seemed that only in places devoid of people could they elude pursuit. "Move to another sovereignty. ''Sacred Advent'' probably can''t reach us there in the Tunguska Region, so let Chen Fei take charge of the escort. Anyway, his data analysis work doesn''t need to be based in one place," Adrian said. After finishing his statement, Adrian picked up his cup of hot tea and blew on it gently. "Uh, that''s definitely a great idea!" Tanya clapped her hands in agreement, naturally wishing to be as far from this accursed place as possible. She thought about it, then quickly added, "Which sovereignty are we going to?" "Hmm, back to my homeland! And we might as well take a vacation!" Chen Fei blended personal benefits with official duties quite masterfully, and since Adrian was a smart man, speaking openly wouldn''t cause any resentment. The winters in the Siberian Tundra were far too cold, with frequent heavy snowfalls that could nearly bury a person, nowhere near as pleasant as the climate of his homeland. Xiao Jiu was completely confined to the vehicles and indoors, which wasn''t conducive to a bird''s growth. Little Birds ought to be soaring freely in the sky, getting close to green plants, and pecking at fresh insects and fruits. "Good idea, I approve of your paid leave. You just need to ensure Tanya''s safety while she remains valuable to us," Adrian said. Adrian made no attempt to hide his attitude towards the traitors within the "Sacred Advent" organization. As Chen Fei had expected, he didn''t mind facilitating conveniences for his team members, generously offering from the United Defense Commission''s resources, turning the vacation into a mission that benefited both public and private interests. "That''s great, I want to go! When do we leave?" Tanya looked toward the driver''s seat. Chen Fei''s homeland was a significantly safer place, free from the chaotic forces elsewhere. Foreign forces found it difficult to infiltrate, and even if they managed to enter, they often faced numerous restrictions and could hardly move an inch. There, her safety would naturally be beyond question. "No rush. Let''s secure a vehicle first. We need to set up safe havens, at least four of them," Adrian said. He already had a plan in mind, pulled out his tablet, and brought up a digital map to start selecting potential new safe locations. After Liaison Officer Rossi reported it, the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division approved Squad 04''s new plan. After all, the Siberian Tundra was also a place beyond the reach of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Although local sovereignty could provide some support, it was severely limited by budgetary constraints, and involving other personnel could bring uncertainties and even risks. No one knew the extent of "Sacred Advent" and "Water Bear" infiltration. While internal cleansing actions within the sovereignty would commence soon, they wouldn''t end quickly. Before then, Squad 04 still needed to avoid contact with local officials, maintaining a certain distance for mutual benefit. Once they parked the Mobile Base Vehicle in a secluded area, Adrian bought three fuel-powered used cars from the old car market: two off-road vehicles with some all-terrain capabilities and a fourteen-seater minibus. After handing over the three used cars to Chen Fei, a professional mechanic capable of repairing fighter jets, they were revamped and reinforced, making them as good as new while retaining the appearance of old cars. Adrian drove one of the Jeeps around Yarsk City and the nearby villages for three days and decisively purchased four residences. Endowed with considerable funds by the super-wealthy Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which could effortlessly spare money, the transactions were swift and property transfers took less than ten minutes, with payments made promptly. The first to get busy was Ruan Tiankai, an Earth Mage, who excavated basements and secret passages in three of the courtyards. Since they owned the properties outright, even leveling and rebuilding them was no issue. After modifications, these residences could withstand attacks, provide escape routes, or even allow for counter maneuvers, offering multiple options. A sly rabbit has three burrows. In the Tunguska Region, where enemies lurk in the shadows, safety is paramount. After learning from a previous experience where their villa was shot at, Chen Fei reinforced all four properties with composite steel plates and installed bullet-proof glass. Only then did he drive the Mobile Base Vehicle, taking Tanya eastward, far from the troubles of Yarsk City. In the vehicle''s cabin, only a man and a woman remained; the man drove while the woman played with the bird. After amusing herself with Little Bird for a long time, which the little creature stubbornly ignored, Tanya let out a sigh and shifted her focus to Chen Fei at the driver''s seat, asking, "How are we going to get there?" Without turning his head, Chen Fei replied, "First to the Far East Frontier District, then across the national border, and we''ll be safe." Looking at the map, it seemed that Teacher Shen Fei worked at her father''s place. Once the Mobile Base Vehicle crossed the national border, it appeared to be quite close to the Northern Weapons Industry Group; perhaps they could even stop by for a visit. - Chapter 426 426: Section 422 - Road Bandits Chen Fei took Tanya back to his homeland by the most convenient method ¡ª taking an international public flight where you could just sleep through and arrive at your destination. If they traveled by land, even if the Mobile Base Vehicle traveled day and night, it would take at least a week to reach the border, and it would roughly take the same amount of time by train. However, Adrian hoped that when Chen Fei and Tanya left, they could employ a strategy of drawing attention away from the main action, facilitating the rest of Team 04 to infiltrate and find ways to penetrate into the key industries of Yarsk City, the capital of Tunguska Region. Indeed, leaving the Mobile Base Vehicle behind was of no use; lacking Chen Fei, the major humanoid battery and the remote control of artificial intelligence AI "Adam," it could only be used as a fixed fortress with very limited endurance, and charging it was not convenient either. Not long after the Mobile Base Vehicle left with Chen Fei and Tanya, Adrian checked the surveillance camera angles in the monitoring room located in the first stronghold within the city. Team 04 was slightly short-staffed, but thankfully, they had technological support from professionals like Habulav, such as security layout design at the stronghold and other professional recommendations, and they even specifically left a buffer zone. Like before, incidents of gunmen driving by and strafing were unlikely to occur again, at least they had to enter the buffer zone without triggering the security facilities to successfully infiltrate. An A-level Metal Ability User skilled with knives, Kiterley, successfully joined the largest meat union factory in the Tunguska Region and became a butcher in the swine slaughtering assembly line, and was promoted to a team leader three days later. In a job purely reliant on skill, competence naturally brought about the opportunity for promotion, which was entirely justifiable. Apu and Bassan, two big guys with great strength, dragged two Tiger vehicles to the largest wholesale market in Yarsk City. After a few fights with the local laborers originally working there, they earned their work qualifications and became the acknowledged leaders among the laborers. Mouri Misono found a job as a cleaner at a commercial management center; looking cute, sweet-talking, and hardworking, she gained the appreciation of a leader on the very same day and was given a temporary employee arrangement. Susanna was busy studying, preparing for the public examination for a permanent position in the tax office. To pass the time, she also took a job as a waitress in a bar, which was a mixed bag but not a bad source of information. It was uncertain which job would become her mainstay; if she couldn''t become an official, she would probably just continue being a bar waitress. Joshua smoothly became a truck driver at a transport company, driving a large truck all day long, and even his way of talking became rough, blending completely with the group of coarse men and women drivers who shouted and blustered like vehicle horns; his adaptability to the environment was truly as smooth as silk. Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, after helping Adrian modify four strongholds, was pulled into work by Holy Knight Walter Sam, who had secured a position in the road services department, to assist the official traffic police in managing traffic. His main tasks were still snow removal, applying de-icing agents, and towing ¡ª indispensable work in the winter of Yarsk City. The Wind Beast Mini, unable to act together with the Holy Knight, was as conspicuous as Lulu''an, another Magical Beast, and thus both had to stay at the stronghold with Adrian, doing whatever work they could. Yuan Lulu''an could at least do some useful work, such as planting edible, medicinal, or trap plants, and organizing herbal compounds. The tasks available to Green Scale Colt Mini were considerably limited, merely helping move things around in the yard, doing small jobs not even draught horses would deign to do on the battlefield ¡ª a total waste of great resources. But there was no choice; the time for it to show its capabilities had not yet come. - Having left Yarsk City, the Mobile Base Vehicle raced eastward across the vast steppe, traveling for three days and nights, completely leaving the Tunguska Region and entering another region. If not for satellite positioning and navigation, the monotonous, identical scenery would almost make one believe the vehicle hadn''t moved at all. With heavy snow covering the road, the vehicle couldn''t drive too fast, for if it did, the consequence of a sudden brake would indeed result in actual highway drifting. This had nothing to do with the vehicle''s weight; once its speed picked up, it was hard to immediately bring it to a stop. Buzzing, buzzing, buzzing... A small drone descended from the sky and landed steadily on the roof of the Mobile Base Vehicle, matching its speed. Such a landing maneuver could only be performed by an experienced veteran, but for the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," it was as simple as breathing. Sorry, it doesn''t breathe! After digital quantification, there was really no difficulty at all. Tanya, in charge of monitoring the drone''s reconnaissance data, said, "The four vehicles behind us still haven''t left!" Two hours ago, four large trucks had started following the Mobile Base Vehicle. They had been trailing for over a hundred kilometers, maintaining a distance of about two kilometers, neither closing in nor falling back. The drone''s last check confirmed that within a twenty-kilometer radius, apart from the Mobile Base Vehicle and these four large trucks, there were no other vehicles. Chen Fei asked, "Could they be people from ''Sacred Advent''?" The boundless snowy plains were covered in thick snow, making roads scarcely visible and vehicular traffic extremely rare, to the point where one might not see another vehicle all day. The Mobile Base Vehicle deliberately slowed down and sped up, even stopping, but the four large trucks behind did the same¡ªaccelerating, slowing, and stopping. The distance between them didn''t change much, which was highly suspicious. "I, I don''t know!" Tanya was completely baffled. She didn''t have the nerve to contact anyone from the "Sacred Advent" organization again, so she had no way to tell. Besides, her direct superior, the former police chief of the Tunguska Region Capital, Akim Vasily Ulyanov, had left behind a corpse with superb combat capabilities, and no one knew where he was hiding. It was possible he was somewhere out in the snowy plains, looking at her with a sneer. "Let''s wait and see," Chen Fei simply had the Mobile Base Vehicle stop. The four large trucks also halted, likely observing the massive Mobile Base Vehicle. Such occurrences were common in remote areas; a lone Mobile Base Vehicle was particularly conspicuous. Being targeted in a place far from the emperor''s reach was only normal; the other party probably attempted to seize the Mobile Base Vehicle for themselves. However, they were still hesitant due to uncertainty about the vehicle''s origin. Tanya wasn''t worried at all. If the other party had a special ability user, they would have charged over by now. Since there was no ability user, the Railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle wasn''t for show either. If one shot couldn''t solve the problem, then two would¡ªshe had seen first-hand the power of a 152 Demolition Bomb. One shot could turn the frozen ground into a pond. Half an hour later, Chen Fei''s pizza was ready, wafting with the rich aroma of mushrooms, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, and cheese. The four large trucks watching from the rear were still without any movement, their intentions unclear. A faint blue smoke was rising from the gaps in the tarps covering their cargo areas, probably from a stove or something similar for warming up. The mobile base vehicle had food, drinks, heating, a toilet, and a shower, so neither Chen Fei nor Tanya was in a rush. Outside the vehicle, the snowy wilderness was frigid, and it was quickly getting dark. A 12-inch deep-dish pizza was divided into two portions, Chen Fei took three-quarters for himself, leaving one-quarter for Tanya. The meals for the two of them were all personally prepared by Chen Fei, certainly not trusted to Mao Mei with her criminal record. If she were to poison them, it''d cost them their lives. After eating, Tanya was responsible for cleaning up. The sky had truly darkened outside. "Ha, those guys are coming over." Without any aid from devices and purely with his eye skills, Chen Fei saw that the four large trucks could no longer hold back and were driving toward the mobile base vehicle''s location. He rummaged through the compartment for an automatic rifle and several magazines, tossing them to Tanya. "Hold on to these, use them for self-defense." Tanya, aware that a shootout might break out soon, unhesitatingly took the gun and magazines, skillfully loaded it, and with the gun barrel slightly pointed towards the compartment floor, she looked at Chen Fei and said, "Aren''t you afraid I might take this chance to shoot you?" "Ha? You can shoot now, go ahead, if you can manage to kill me, then I deserve it, I won''t blame you." Chen Fei burst into laughter. A mere light weapon was supposed to kill him, a Level-B Metal Ability User? Was that a joke? Of course, Chen Fei wasn''t foolish enough to hand over a weapon capable of posing a lethal threat to himself to someone he couldn''t trust. "Humph!" Tanya picked up the implied meaning ¨C that her automatic weapon was most likely unable to threaten her opponent. Even if she did manage to kill Chen Fei, how far could she get driving the Mobile Base Vehicle? In this remote snowy wilderness, no one would feel confident about their chances. Two kilometers is a momentary distance for a mechanical vehicle. Three minutes later, the four large trucks finally caught up. Two of them overtook the mobile base vehicle, blocking it from the front before stopping, forming an enclosing formation with two trucks at each end. People continuously jumped down from the trucks'' beds, clad in overcoats, covered with cloaks, and armed with automatic weapons, menacingly surrounding the mobile base vehicle. "We are local militia, road inspection, hands on your heads, get out of the vehicle!" Someone was shouting through a megaphone. With the basic professionalism of a police officer, Tanya only needed one glance at these men and didn''t hesitate to say, "They are not militia!" The militia of the Tunguska Region would not have this strong bandit vibe, equipped at least with wheeled infantry armored vehicles and high-low capacity machine guns. However, this group before them lacked even snow camouflage, their weapons were not uniform, and they lacked basic tactical movements ¨C they were simply a band of dispersed mercenaries, or to put it bluntly, an armed gang. Chen Fei spoke directly, "Understood! ''Adam'', connect me to the microphone amplifier." The compartment was already equipped with an omnidirectional microphone. The subtitles in front of him flashed and slowly disappeared. Adam: Microphone activated! To Tanya, Chen Fei contacting the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" seemed like talking to himself, but the equipment within the mobile base vehicle still responded. "You are not militia, you are gangsters!" Chen Fei was an honest man, spoke nothing but the truth, and bluntly exposed the real identity of the group surrounding the mobile base vehicle. The response he received was the crackling of gunfire and the sound of bullets haphazardly striking the vehicle body and windows. Then "ahhh..." screams arose from outside. Tanya was right, these unprofessional fools didn''t even understand the danger of ricocheting bullets; they stood too close... As a result, Chen Fei hadn''t even taken action, and the opponents had already knocked several of their people down. What a needless tragedy! Chapter 427 427: Section 423 - Entry "These guys... really are idiots beyond belief!" Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna held her forehead. Chen Fei and Mao Mei exchanged glances and simultaneously sighed, both lamenting the other''s lack of intelligence. In the icy, snow-covered wilderness, being shot and losing blood meant certain death, especially with ricocheting bullets that caused even more horrific wounds. The gunfire soon ceased. Men lying haphazardly on the ground, continuously moaning and wailing, made the group realize that this behemoth in front of them was a real armored vehicle, where even the window glass was armored, tough enough to easily deflect bullets. They dragged away the wounded and the armed personnel surrounding the mobile base vehicle dispersed. "Those guys are going for something even more powerful." Tanya, sensing something wrong, warned Chen Fei. She was still too late; as soon as her words trailed off, a dull thud was heard, and the entire mobile base vehicle shuddered violently, a web of cracks about a foot in diameter appearing right at the center of the windshield. The external attackers had used man-portable anti-armor weapons, but failed to penetrate the windshield of the mobile base vehicle. "Too bad!" Chen Fei shook his head and snapped his fingers. The foot-square web of cracks visibly disappeared at a rapid pace, or more accurately, healed itself. The windows were double-layered; the outer layer was transparent metal, and the inner was the actual bulletproof glass. The body armor was layered with a hardened surface, followed by elastic armor, another layer of hardened surface, and another layer of elastic armor, a multi-layered sandwich of composite armor incorporating platinum group metals and rare earth elements. For manufacturers skilled in industrial mass production, the armor design of this mobile base vehicle was simply a cost nightmare. The military might applaud it, but the manufacturers would certainly avoid it, suffering a loss down to their last penny. However, for Chen Fei, it was no issue at all; the self-repairing armor was already an overpowered feature on the battlefield. Clang! The vehicle shuddered violently again. The mobile base vehicle took another hit. The people outside were all dumbfounded, the vehicle''s resilience far beyond imagination. It is only fair to respond when attacked; one cannot always let offense go unreturned, right? Thus, Chen Fei decided to give orders. "''Adam,'' reverse and ram those two vehicles behind, then hit the ones in front." The hulking mobile base vehicle, comparable in size to a locomotive''s head, began reversing, directly ramming into the two large trucks behind. The heavily armed men were terrified and hurriedly dodged away. Before they could react, they heard a huge bang; one big truck was smashed into pieces, and then another''s front crumbled in completely. With a total weight close to eighty tons, the giant was quite like a train head; the covered trucks were as fragile as paper models, instantly shattered, with even engines flying out. Had the vehicle fuel had a lower ignition point, able to ignite in normal and low temperatures, it would likely have exploded into flames upon impact. Even so, an oven inside one of the truck beds sparked a fire which successfully lit the canvas, with flames stubbornly rising. The mobile base vehicle paused slightly, then surged forward, causing more shouts and frantic scrambling. After all, if one did not dodge in time, they were likely to be crushed into a pancake by the vehicle''s wheels. The people finally seemed to guess what the enormous machine intended and yelled themselves hoarse, telling the two trucks to escape quickly¡ªbut sadly, it was too late. The mobile base vehicle, accelerating rapidly in a manner that belied its actual weight, rammed into and scattered the third vehicle, followed by the fourth, and then drove off without looking back. All four trucks were thus smashed into utter scrap. The mobile base vehicle, in autopilot mode, headed east. Chen Fei sat calmly in the carriage, drinking post-dinner tea. Outside, darkness enveloped everything, leaving only the glow of fire rising from the road behind, growing more distant. The crackling of gunfire bade a noisy farewell as the mobile base vehicle continued on its way. "Aren''t you going to kill them?" Tanya was puzzled that Chen Fei hadn''t delivered a lethal blow, baffled by the former most ferocious Clan Leader of the Neanderthal tribe''s sudden show of mercy. Normally, all should have been crushed under the wheels; after all, no human legs could outrun a vehicle''s wheels on a snowfield with nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape, certain death being inevitable. Perhaps after driving a distance, using the railgun to fire a heavy shell would annihilate everyone at once. But looking at Chen Fei now, still indifferent, he seemed quite unwilling to do so. "No, I already killed them!" Chen Fei turned his head and looked outside the vehicle, where the lights illuminated the vast snowy area, and a faint glow flickered on the distant horizon, the temperature outside began to plummet sharply. The desolate Siberian tundra would be the burial ground for that gang. "Killed them?" Tanya followed Chen Fei''s gaze out of the vehicle and suddenly shivered with cold, a chill rising in her heart. Sure enough, it was the most ferocious clan leader, who treated human life as casual as a meal, the gang staying amidst the ice and snow had no villages ahead, no shops behind, lacking fuel and food, and no cold-protection facilities, probably couldn''t last even a night. Heavy snow sealed the roads, with transport across the snow-covered frozen ground nearly cut off, it wouldn''t be surprising if no vehicle passed by for three to five days. Although these people weren''t killed on the spot, they had already been added to the Grim Reaper''s list for soul reaping. Chen Fei said, "There should be none left behind!" This kind of blatant armed highway robbery should not happen too many times. Having dealt with this gang, this highway should be peaceful for a long time. On its way to the border of the Border Region, the Mobile Base Vehicle encountered fifteen highway robberies, proving Chen Fei was a bit too optimistic; as for whether it''s related to ''Sacred Advent'' or ''Water Bear,'' there is no clue or evidence for now. Simple log roadblocks were child''s play, hardcore ones directly buried landmines, and those were anti-tank mines, with a bang, at least one set of five wheels would fly off. Even an old man or woman would drive up in a tractor, one second they''d be smiling kindly, the next they''d throw a Hand Grenade, and then a burst from the heavy machine gun in the old woman''s hands felt like being engulfed in a sea of the people; enemies were everywhere, among men and women, young and old. It wasn''t that the elderly had turned bad, but that the bad had grown old. It was all because the Emperor was too far away, and the Siberian tundra was just too vast, beyond the reach of local law enforcement. Even if the police were called out, it would take half a day to arrive, or even two days wouldn''t be strange; by the time they reached the place, the dishes might have cooled down ¡ª often gone completely, giving criminals ample time to methodically destroy corpses, clear all evidence, and then easily abscond, continuing to evade the law. Attackers are buried by Earth earth, and defenders are stopped by Water water. Chen Fei was not the least bit polite; he directly destroyed or shattered the attackers'' vehicles, then left them to fend for themselves in the icy wilderness, survival was up to Lady Luck''s grace, but Lady Luck never gave such favors. Thanks to procedures handled in advance by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the Mobile Base Vehicle faced no hindrance when crossing the national border, easily obtaining clearance. Chen Fei was a native resident, and Xiao Jiu was also registered locally as a Magical Beast, legally enjoying corresponding citizen rights; coming back into the country didn''t require much process, just fingerprints and paw prints were enough. The only thing needing complete papers was the Mobile Base Vehicle carrying ammunition, which needed a license plate to legally hit the road, especially as it had not only a Railgun but also ten unused Demolition Bombs; it couldn''t behave as unrestrainedly as in the Tunguska Region. But as soon as they passed customs, Tanya was taken away by Homeland Security. ''Sacred Advent'' and ''Water Bear'' are global enemies, it''s natural for Homeland Security to arrest her. Moreover, her constant presence with Chen Fei provided several inconveniences; without an official title, words could not flow smoothly, crossing the national border to another sovereign''s territory this time was also for her personal safety, at least being a defector witness, her life was somewhat guaranteed, not to be discarded after losing her utility. Though she could avoid the death penalty, she couldn''t escape a lengthy prison sentence, which was the result even though there were no lives on her hands; if she had been implicated in murder, she might have been in for a life sentence. Having been handcuffed and injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna actually breathed a sigh of relief, compliantly getting into another vehicle; this outcome had been predetermined from the start, and if it were to come to shooting, it wouldn''t have waited until now. Having prison food to eat was actually quite fortunate; if she had worse luck, had been targeted by the ''Sacred Advent'' organization, and strong agents were sent to intercept and silence her, she might have lost her life on the way. As the Homeland Security vehicle carrying her away disappeared into the distance, Chen Fei pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After a brief moment, the call connected. "Chen Fei, why do you have time to call me?" The voice on the other end was Teacher Shen Fei, filled with surprise. Since Chen Fei had left Aircrew Base to perform field missions, there had been no news of him, which made her slightly worried. After all, Chen Fei''s work was not strictly logistic, and it was uncertain what dangers might occur any day. The last time she saw Chen Fei''s figure was on television, his cold declaration left Teacher Shen speechless, how could he abruptly go to Yangzhou Continent and become the clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe, and especially the most ferocious clan leader. The reasons behind this were naturally not enough for others to discuss, but one thing was sure, Chen Fei was definitely not a Neanderthal, not even a mixed-breed. Chen Fei said with a smile, "I just returned to the country, crossed the national border, and I''m technically on paid leave. I heard you''re working at Northern Weapons Industry, so I thought I might as well come visit." Heading south from the Far East Frontier District, he would reach the northern homeland, where not only was Teacher Shen Fei working at the Northern Weapons Industry, but his younger sister Chen Meng was also studying at Northern Industrial University; how coincidental indeed. - Chapter 428 428: Section 424 - Meeting Up Having a friend visiting from afar is delightful indeed. Shen Fei exclaimed excitedly, "Welcome, welcome, that''s wonderful! Where are you? I''ll send someone to pick you up." It had been a while since Shen Fei had seen Chen Fei, and she missed him to some extent. After all, the two shared a life-and-death friendship, and he had awakened his Metal Elemental Psychic Power because of that. Chen Fei replied, "No need to pick me up, I have a vehicle. It''s very convenient. Just give me the address, and I''ll drive there myself." Bringing the Mobile Base Vehicle meant he could skip hotels. He could go anywhere, and the only thing he really needed to top up was probably just tap water. Teacher Shen Fei gave him an address and added, "Call me when you''re close, and I''ll wait for you!" Having just crossed the national border, it would probably take four to five hours to reach the administrative center of Northern Weapons Industry Group. Chen Fei checked the navigation plan, which estimated 8 hours of travel. Setting off now, he would arrive around one or two in the morning, surely too early to ask Teacher Shen Fei to welcome him; that would be impolite. He decided to rest along the way overnight, which would allow him to have enough energy and avoid driving while fatigued. He could then appear fresh and composed in front of Teacher Shen the next day. The nearly 20 meters long behemoth moving on the highway was undeniably eye-catching, comparable only to a few specialized heavy-duty transport vehicles. Speeding across the vast snowfields of Siberia, it didn''t feel unusual because the vehicle was big, but the snowfields were even bigger. However, once it entered the homeland, the Mobile Base Vehicle stood out wherever it went, Among heavy-duty vehicles, although some were as long as it, very few were as wide; at 4.5 meters wide, it was wider than a train and took up more than an entire lane. The vehicles it encountered along the way all cautiously maintained their distance, cursing under their breaths, and even overtaking caused them to sweat, not daring to breathe heavily for fear of being inadvertently launched into the air. This oversized, special vehicle was not only long but also wide and big, making playing bumper cars with it something no one would dare to do. It almost seemed as if this colossal entity was originally a train locomotive that had derailed somewhere and ended up on the highway, utterly breaking the rules. - Boom... A thunderous sound faintly came from the sky, like thousands of kilograms of rock continuously scraping the ground. Chen Fei looked up, but only saw a clear blue sky with no clouds at all, leaving him puzzled about the source of the loud noise. After resting overnight at the highway rest area, the Mobile Base Vehicle hit the road again. After exiting the highway, according to the navigation directions, it was less than an hour''s drive to Teacher Shen Fei''s location. A black dot swiftly passed across their field of view and disappeared beyond their line of sight in the blink of an eye. The scenery beyond the highway had shifted to continuous farmland as far as the eye could see, with occasional glimpses of large automated agricultural machinery at work in the fields, but hardly any people. This place must be a cultivation area, primarily focused on programmed large-scale farming, not requiring much manpower. The idyllic scenery of paths criss-crossing and dogs barking was non-existent here. To leisurely view the southern mountains, one first needed to own mines back home. Boom... A black and grey aircraft repeatedly flew back and forth near the highway, soaring high and then diving, continually changing its flying posture. Given its silhouette and maneuvers, it was undoubtedly a military-grade manned aircraft. Civilians wouldn''t dare to be so reckless, straying from flight paths and altitudes, or they would surely find tracer bullets trailing them closely, skimming past. If they continued to disobey, they''d be shot down on the spot. Unmanned ones could afford to be flamboyantly outrageous, performing 10086 rolls, but try replacing them with humans; not even Sky Knights, let alone astronauts, would dare to play like that, or their organs would surely be displaced. Just as Chen Fei was speculating whether the aircraft might be produced by Northern Weapons Industry Group, where Teacher Shen worked, the sky suddenly trailed black smoke, the surface of the aircraft flickered with multicolored lights, and it crashed into the ground with a loud roar. A thunderous crash echoed. Even at a considerable distance, the Mobile Base Vehicle still trembled slightly from the shock. At one o''clock, a huge fireball and thick smoke rose slowly, forming a mushroom cloud. "Goodness!" Chen Fei couldn''t help straining his eyes towards the crash site until he saw a parachute shakily descending slowly. He then let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, at least it was a colleague who had ejected in time to save his life, escaping disaster, otherwise it would have been a true human tragedy. This was the inevitable price humanity had to pay for forcibly breaking free from Earth''s gravity in an attempt to conquer the sky. No matter how much one yearned for the sky, one would still return to the ground, no matter in what form; such was fate. While it was one thing to watch the excitement, he wouldn''t foolishly turn the steering wheel and rush over in the Mobile Base Vehicle to play hero. Otherwise... Waiting in jail would be Tanya (¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)_: Ah, you''re here too! Not until the Mobile Base Vehicle had passed the smoky area did Chen Fei take his eyes off it. The crash site seemed to be an airport, with the runway parallel to the highway. It took a long time for the Mobile Base Vehicle to drive from one end to the other. - At the administrative center of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, Shen Fei stood inside the door, elegant like a daffodil, occasionally drawing the gaze of passersby, often accompanied by a touch of astonishment. "...Secretary Shen, how come you''re standing here? It''s almost noon, I''ve booked a special restaurant. How about joining me for lunch?" Yet a misfit was clinging to the newly hired Shen Fei at the administrative center, babbling on without care. He pretended not to see Shen Fei standing inside the door, evidently waiting for someone. If one were to say this man was a toad wanting to eat swan meat, it wouldn''t be entirely accurate. He looked handsome and had an elegant demeanor, neither effeminate nor rough, a proper gentleman in every right, hardly comparable to a toad. "Sorry! I already have an appointment!" This wasn''t the first time Shen Fei had tactfully rejected him. Adhering to the spirit that a good woman fears a persistent man, he unrelentingly said, "It''s okay, I''ll host. Let''s go together. It''s just about adding an extra set of chopsticks, consider it making a new friend. I, Nangong Ruiyang, love making friends. Does your friend have a car? I drove here." In his hand, he unintentionally flashed a car key, which glittered as it swayed. It was a limited-edition luxury sport sedan worth over three million Star Yuan, a domestic luxury brand that would be 20% more expensive if exported, virtually priceless. He had secured a unit through a friend''s internal connection; after all, why else would it be called limited edition? Securing one was a gain! Shen Fei, the daughter of Shen Songling, the deputy general manager of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, had just wrapped up an international teaching stint and returned domestically to join the administrative center''s secretarial office. With her looks, figure, education, family background, and career, she was a rare gem eagerly sought after by the corporate offspring. How could Nangong Ruiyang easily let her go? If he could win her heart, it would bring great pride to his father, a senior engineer in the company. In huge state-owned enterprises like the Northern Weapons Industry Group, it was customary for unmarried young men and women to ''stay within'' through generations¡ªsecond, third, and fourth generations of factory descendants. It was an expected tradition with a ''factory flower'' hardly ever being taken by someone from outside within fifty years. Born in the factory, dying in the factory, to prevent the loss of state assets (the factory girls), it wouldn''t be too much for the young people within the factory to unleash the big dogs. In the lobby on the first floor, curious glances occasionally passed over, watching the scene with interest. The unmarried young men were all eagerly rubbing their hands together, holding back due to the rules of Jianghu, waiting for Nangong Little Dog to retreat before they felt free to step in. "No need, my friend also drove here!" Shen Fei''s face remained gently smiling, showing no displeasure, but her rejection was just as firm. "But this is a three million..." Confident Nangong Ruiyang hadn''t finished speaking when Shen Fei interrupted him. "Sorry, my friend''s car is here." "Emmmmmm... what car? What..." Just as Nangong Ruiyang believed that not many of his peers could afford a limited edition luxury sport sedan worth over three million Star Yuan, an enormous thing, no, a huge motorhome, approached slowly near the administrative center''s door, taking up half of the parking lane. "My gosh, where did this huge car come from?" It was unprecedented in both the length and width he had ever seen. It couldn''t possibly be here to transport aircraft, could it have come to the wrong place? The driver must be terribly careless. Not just Nangong Ruiyang thought this way; several others were thinking the same. The Northern Weapons Industry Group factory included such heavy transport vehicles, but their bodies weren''t as exaggeratedly wide. Security from the administrative center immediately came forward. Shen Fei followed as well. "Hey, hey..." Nangong Ruiyang, caught off guard, saw the car door open. The security guard saw it too, and even more clearly. What the hell, it wasn''t a transport vehicle at all but a super luxurious motorhome. If one considered a mobile base vehicle as a motorhome, it wasn''t incorrect. Add the railgun on top, and calling it an armed motorhome wouldn''t be wrong either. Chen Fei got out of the vehicle, waving at the approaching Teacher Shen Fei. "Teacher Shen!" In an instant, the beauty was close at hand. The reflexive Nangong Ruiyang who had sprinted after them soon stopped his reluctant steps. Seeing the stranger who made Secretary Shen Fei smile with surprise, he gritted his teeth and said, "Damn, be careful of the dog bite!" It was no secret within the company that a Magical Beast was always at Secretary Shen''s side. There had been blind hooligans who tried to harass Shen Fei, only to be pinned to the ground by the Magical Beast, making them doubt their life choices. However, distinguishing between a wolf and a dog was tricky. An obedient one was considered a dog, a disobedient one a wolf. Not many had closely encountered the Magical Beast hiding by Shen Fei''s side so it was debatably referred to as a dog, but no one really knew what breed it actually was. - Chapter 429 425 - Lunch on the Way ``` "Awoo!" Shen Fei''s shadow suddenly expanded, and a black-furred large wolf jumped out. Chen Fei stretched out his hand, smiling as he patted the wolf''s head. "Long time no see, Ah Mao!" The Third Rank Magical Beast Shadow Wolf lived quite a comfortable life; its fur was glossy and slick, and it felt good to the touch. Such fine fur! Such fine fur! Truly great! The Shadow Wolf always felt Chen Fei''s smile was a bit scary, and it was uneasy inside. It wondered if showing up to eagerly please was akin to walking into a trap on its own. Not far away, Nangong Ruiyang''s eyes were glued on the scene. The fierce magical beast that could easily suppress small thugs was just like a domesticated dog under the other''s hand, allowing its head to be stroked and even wagging its tail. Where could he have imagined, this Third Rank Shadow Wolf was actually tamed by Chen Fei before being handed over to Teacher Shen Fei as a gift. Ah Mao, like Chen Fei, was in the midst of repaying a debt. It was only fitting to be polite to its creditor "dad." Otherwise, it would be beaten again! "Tweet!" A little bird''s voice came from inside the motorhome. Even returning to the Northern Province, where the latitude was a bit lower and not as extreme cold as the Siberian Tundra that froze you to death, it was still winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The outdoor temperature wasn''t high enough for the little one to be active outside, and though it liked to flit about, it still had to behave and stay inside the motorhome, enjoying the protection of the heater. "Xiao Jiu is here too? Wow, you''re driving such a big car? Is it a motorhome?" Shen Fei stood at the door, curiously peeking inside. "No, it''s a Mobile Base Vehicle with a railgun mounted on top. Get in, let''s find a place to eat." Chen Fei led Shen Fei into the vehicle. The security guard who happened to overhear the word "railgun" while curiously examining from up close immediately snorted in disbelief. Just keep bragging. A motorhome with a gun mounted, what was he implying? Did he think they were fools? Shaking his head, he walked away, thinking that the rich really knew how to play! Traffic surveillance equipment capable of automatic recognition of license plates, vehicle types, and responsive to signals was widespread at intersections. If it really was an illegal vehicle, it would have been stopped by the traffic police long ago. "It''s so big inside!" Once on board, Shen Fei was astonished by the interior of the Mobile Base Vehicle. A kitchen, two bathrooms, several beds, modular tables and chairs, and even a stable at the back¡ªit was simply a display of obscene wealth. There was no help for it, Holy Knights'' mounts like the Blue Scaled Colt deserved a separate room for their status. They couldn''t be as space-saving as Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, which only needed a nest the size of a palm to settle down. Chen Fei saw someone peering curiously at the door and asked Shen Fei, "Teacher Shen, is that your friend?" Nangong Ruiyang, after all, couldn''t help himself and came over to inspect the Mobile Base Vehicle with a reluctant heart. When he heard "stable," his nose was nearly bent out of shape from frustration. So, being rich is great, huh? Alright, being rich is indeed great! "Just a curious colleague, don''t let him on!" Despite being the scion of a corporate group, Nangong Ruiyang was no different from a stranger in Teacher Shen Fei''s tone¡ªshe didn''t want to introduce him even in half a sentence. "Understood!" Chen Fei made a hand gesture. The door of the Mobile Base Vehicle closed with a clang, tightly secured. The fence should be tight, and the door even tighter. He wasn''t stupid, how could he not catch the subtext in Teacher Shen''s words? You had to be quite unwelcome to provoke such a comment. So keep your eyes to yourself, think as far away as you like, you can just keep rolling that far too. Nangong Ruiyang, nearly bumped on the nose, left with a face as green as iron. Turning around, he even pulled out his phone and began grumbling and shaking someone up. "This car... did you buy it?" Shen Fei recalled the car keys that Nangong Ruiyang had been showing off on his fingers, whether intentionally or not, knowing that he had just bought a limited-edition high-end sports sedan worth over three million Star Yuan. But three million Star Yuan could never compare to this gigantic vehicle, not even close enough to be called a competitor. "Not me, I couldn''t afford this!" Chen Fei shook his head straightaway¡ªhe still owed a buttload of debt, where would he get the extra money to build such a thing? "Is it borrowed, perhaps from your lady boss?" Teacher Shen immediately thought of Boss Hana from Aircrew Base 911, as the lady boss lending a super-luxury motorhome to her employee for a flamboyant return to his hometown seemed quite possible. In the military contracting business, those who could own an Aircrew Base often didn''t lack funds¡ªthey were the true magnates. "Not at all! This is mine, not borrowed." Chen Fei shook his head again. Boss Hana would never allow him to flaunt his wealth like this. At most, she''d share some good booze to drink together, which already made her one of the world''s most conscientious and good-hearted bosses. The fine liquor that Boss Hana now provided had already far surpassed the value of the debt Chen Fei owed, and she left these bottles so trustingly in the cottage he lived in, without even a lock on them. Shen Fei expressed her amazement, "You didn''t spend money, yet it''s yours. Was it stolen?" "Hardly! There''s only one of these in the world; there''s nowhere to steal it from. I pieced it together from a junk heap, what do you think?" Chen Fei proudly put his hands on his hips, feeling quite smug about himself. ``` "So that''s how it is!" Shen Fei suddenly understood; this was indeed something Chen Fei could pull off. To put it nicely, it was called frugality, but bluntly, it was just poverty illness. Three years to wear the new, three years to wear the old, and with patching and matching, another three years, that was exactly how it went, wasn''t it? Assembling such a vehicle must not be an easy task. Thinking about Nangong Ruiyang showing off his sports car worth over three million Star Yuan, and the person in front of her, who probably hadn''t spent even half a coin. Dingling, dingling, dingling... A series of cell phone ringtones rang out. Shen Fei saw her phone''s screen lighting up with the caller''s information. "Sorry, I have to take a call!" She walked to a corner of the compartment with her phone and clicked to answer. A moment later, the call ended. Shen Fei apologized, "Sorry, there''s been an issue with a project my father is in charge of, and I must head over immediately. Dinner will have to wait until next time." She felt regretful; the matter wasn''t trivial. It wasn''t just dinner that she couldn''t guarantee, but possibly several busy days ahead. "No problem, why not eat something in the car, and I can take you there on the way?" Chen Fei looked at the time, which happened to be the lunch hour, and even with urgent matters at hand, one should not delay lunch, right? Shen Fei glanced around and asked tentatively, "Is that convenient?" "Convenient! Very convenient! I don''t have other plans anyway, so I can be Teacher Shen''s driver and chef for a while, let''s see how my cooking skills fare." Chen Fei snapped his fingers and said, "Adam, drive! Teacher Shen, where to?" The Mobile Base Vehicle began to move slowly. Half an hour later, Nangong Ruiyang, who had failed to track down Secretary Shen, finally gathered his people and even brought two large fierce dogs for courage. But as he looked toward the entrance of the Administrative Center... Emmmmmmm... where were the people and the vehicle? Where had they gone? Only the security guard was still muttering to himself, "A motorhome plus cannon, driving and shooting, geez, what a pro!" "Huh? Is it also auto-driving?" Shen Fei obviously hadn''t expected the second-hand assembled vehicle to actually come with an artificial intelligence AI auto-driving feature. "Of course, it''s a basic function!" Chen Fei headed towards the fridge, where vegetables, eggs, and meat were stored, sufficient for two people to have a meal without any issue. After entering Earth, he had even specially stocked up; enough food for one person to last at least a week without shopping. "Go here, to the 310 Airport on Summer Solstice Fourth Road, it''s a flight testing base." Shen Fei pulled up the electronic map on her phone, pinpointed the location, and showed it to Chen Fei. There were no street numbers, as the entire road belonged to the airport; one simply needed to know which direction the main gate faced. "Understood, I''ve passed by there, I''m sure I can find the place." What Chen Fei knew equated to Adam, the AI controlling the Mobile Base Vehicle, knowing as well. He rifled through the fridge, selecting vegetables and fresh mushrooms, and from the freezer, he took out a few pounds of frozen beef and lamb that he had recently purchased, which didn''t even need thawing. If you wanted a quick, convenient, and tasty meal, hot pot was, of course, the top choice. Just clean the vegetables, throw the hot pot base into the pot, fill it with water and start boiling, and that was nearly the whole job done. The drive from the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s Administrative Center to the 310 Airport was just enough time for a hot pot meal, without wasting a single minute. "On the way here, I saw a military aircraft crash. I''m not sure if it''s the project your father is responsible for." Chen Fei said while efficiently washing the vegetables and simultaneously rinsing the rice. He tore off half of a big head of cabbage and chose a few plump, green vegetables. With meat rolls and frozen tofu cooked in a white broth, when the hot pot was almost finished, a bowl of white rice with hot pot soup poured over it made for a satisfyingly hearty meal. "Ah! You saw it? What exactly happened? Could you tell me about it?" Shen Fei did not deny it; she had not expected Chen Fei to be a witness. After carefully recalling, Chen Fei said, "It was flying back and forth quite normally at first, then suddenly it started smoking. Then all kinds of colored sparks burst from the fuselage, and it crashed to the ground at an angle. The pilot managed to eject in time, I don''t know what happened after that, I only saw it from a distance. But from the sound of it, it seemed like a malfunction happened during acceleration, although the color of the sparks was a bit off, really strange!" As a certified repair technician, he couldn''t understand why an aircraft would emit such large and colorful sparks, which looked like fireworks. Actually, most aircraft are quite simple, without complex alloys composed of multiple elements, so producing multicolored sparks is not an easy feat. "Really? A malfunction during acceleration?" Shen Fei thought it was an important point, and quickly noted it down on her phone. As a professional, Chen Fei''s analysis might be correct. But to know the truth, they would have to extract the black box from the aircraft debris for full details, as the data stored inside would be more comprehensive than what was synchronized to the cloud with a delay. "Let the experts rack their brains over this¡ª the soup is boiling, let''s add the vegetables, the meat first!" Chen Fei started dropping slices of lamb into the hot pot, blanching them for just a bit, and they were ready to eat, dipped in peanut butter and leek flowers, a top tier delicacy for sure. Better leave the brain-racking to the experts. He was just a mechanic, not a scrappy analyst. - Chapter 430 430: Section 426 - Director Shen and Secretary Shen As the heartwarming hot pot meal came to an end, the mobile base vehicle carrying Chen Fei and Shen Fei had just arrived at its destination. There was only one gate on Summer Solstice Fourth Road, rendering the door number superfluous. Airport 310 was a joint military airport shared with Northern Weapons Industry Group, and it was also a special level strategic readiness airport. The main runway was about 5500 meters long, and it hosted a combat flight corps and an army aviation brigade. Such large facilities must be used regularly because things tend to degrade not from use, but from neglect. If left unused for a year, wild grasses would overgrow everywhere, and vigorous roots could easily crack the cement ground. Three years of neglect, and plants would cover most of the cement surfaces, including the ground and building facades, requiring a comprehensive renovation before they could be put back into use. If it went ten years without human presence, then essentially, it shouldn''t be utilized at all, as it would be no different from ruins. Shen Fei originally thought she would need to get out of the vehicle and negotiate with the guards, then wait inside the gate for a shuttle vehicle to actually enter Airport 310. However, to her surprise, as the mobile base vehicle approached the gate, the blocking posts automatically descended, and the lift barrier simultaneously rose. Then Chen Fei naturally pressed on the accelerator, and the vehicle, supported by five pairs of load-bearing wheels, slowly entered through the gate. "Eh? Eh, eh, eh? What''s going on here?" Shen Fei exclaimed in surprise repeatedly, turning her head to look back, only to see the gate guards and the communication room appearing normal, showing no intent to stop them. This vehicle shouldn''t have been stopped outside, right? Chen Fei, puzzled, asked, "What?" "This vehicle wasn''t stopped?" Shen Fei was even more confused. Could it be that the gate''s recognition equipment malfunctioned? But that couldn''t be possible! If the equipment malfunctioned, could people malfunction as well? "Stopped? Why should it be stopped?" Chen Fei had a look as if it were only natural. Since the access control had already let them through, he of course just drove the mobile base vehicle inside, which seemed perfectly fine! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had processed the relevant entry procedures for this mobile base vehicle, applying for permission to park in a lower military area. After all, it was a vehicle armed with a large-caliber railgun, and constantly parking it in a civilian parking lot wasn''t ideal, so parking in a military area was somewhat safer, thus they were temporarily granted certain privileges. Just like public transportation oversight recognition, the vehicle license number, appearance, and response key altogether enabled its clearance. The guards at the gate confirmed the vehicle''s authorization, which perfectly matched the access level of Airport 310, thus they immediately allowed it to pass. However, to penetrate deeper required higher-level clearance; naturally, they could not just dash onto the main runway under the setting sun. "Is this an active service military vehicle?" Shen Fei could only guess one possibility. But Chen Fei had previously clearly stated that this was a second-hand assembled vehicle. Could that work as well? It probably shouldn''t... Yet the more she thought about it, the more doubts accumulated in her mind. "Of course not, it doesn''t even count as a military vehicle." Chen Fei shook his head, dismissing the notion as ridiculous¡ªhow could an active service military vehicle be a second-hand assembled one. Shen Fei only knew that he had been constantly on field assignments, and the business of a military contractor often wasn''t limited to Aircrew Bases, sometimes taking on other tasks such as security and escorting services, covering both public and private sectors. However, she was completely unaware of any engagements outside of Jiu Defense Company that involved the mobile base vehicle acquiring temporary military area access privileges. As for Chen Fei himself, he didn''t know much either¡ªif allowed in, then enter; if not, turn around and leave. "This is really strange!" Shen Fei, with her mind full of questions, followed the traffic lights guiding the mobile base vehicle into the parking lot. There weren''t many vehicles in the parking lot, and most of them were visitors'' vehicles. Shen Fei saw her father''s car, an old black official car, and it was the type that had a driver. It looked like people from the group company had already arrived, at least a dozen of them. Her father''s deputy director-general level official car was parked beside two minibuses, a clear indicator, as both the lettering and license plates on the minibuses belonged to Northern Weapons Industry Group. As a member of the administrative center''s secretary office, recognizing these details was basic knowledge, which she had to memorize before joining the job. "Teacher Shen, where are you headed?" Chen Fei gestured towards his foldable electric bike, one of the supplementary equipments of the mobile base vehicle. Each device has its limitations and strengths; after all, the mobile base vehicle was too large for some settings, thus a foldable electric bike was more suitable. "Your gear is really well-equipped, you''ve been a great help." Shen Fei didn''t stand on ceremony with Chen Fei, took the fully unfolded foldable electric bike, and straddled it in one move. At this critical moment, she couldn''t wait for a shuttle vehicle, so naturally, she went with whatever was more convenient. As a cooperative unit of the corporation, this wasn''t her first visit to the 310 airport, and she naturally knew where to find her father, Shen Songling, the Deputy General Manager of the group company. As the secretary to the deputy general manager, she needed to be on site promptly. With a flick of a switch, the folding electric bicycle shot out, carrying Shen Fei quickly away. "Be careful!" Chen Fei stayed in the parking lot, waving at the receding figure of Shen Fei and the folding electric bicycle. The fire at the crash site near the main runway had been extinguished, leaving only wisps of lingering smoke. Thinking that it would be possible to extinguish the fire by clearing nearby snow was a joke. It required high-flow dedicated fire nozzles that at least two people needed to hold steady. The thick jet of water gushed out, and the rising white vapor immediately suppressed the flames and thick smoke, controlling the shooting flames in an instant. From the moment two fire trucks rushed in and began dousing the flames to when the fire was put out, the whole process didn''t exceed five minutes. Underneath the snow, a large area of withered grass was scorched along with the wreckage, leaving nothing but a large pile of indistinguishable black debris. The isolation tape had been quickly set up, with about a dozen people encircling the scene¡ªall top industry experts. Wind barriers were erected, forming a giant inverted bowl covering a hundred-meter diameter area; despite being outdoors, it wasn''t bone-chillingly cold. Shen Songling, the Deputy General Manager of Northern Weapons Industry Group, frowned. The "Canglong" project he was in charge of had entered its test flight phase, but prototype number two had unexpectedly crashed. The loss included not only one of the four prototype aircraft and billions in funds but could also lead to even more serious consequences. Defense budgets are fixed, and with current air force procurement orders, everyone wants a piece, resulting in greasy mouths. But if someone consumes more, it inevitably means others get less. Competition is everywhere. Every year, one or two new aircraft, especially combat aircraft, are proposed, but very few successfully secure the orders, most becoming mere trappings or vanishing without a trace. Becoming part of the active service equipment has never been an easy task. Although failure meant losing billions, even hundreds of billions of Star Yuan, the hard-earned new technology could also become spoils of war for the winners. If successful, however, and winning favor from the military to be included in active service, it would mean superorders worth trillions of Star Yuan, enough to keep any military enterprise thriving, benefiting an entire generation. If the military lost confidence in the "Canglong" project, all the initial efforts of the Northern Weapons Industry Group would be in vain. As the deputy general manager who strongly supported the project, it was inevitable that he would have to shoulder the responsibility. Since he had chosen to undertake the project, naturally, he had to bear all the ensuing consequences: enjoy the rewards if successful, and pay the price if failed. Shen Songling was not worried about his position as deputy general manager being jeopardized; in fact, those who wanted a trouble-free life could never occupy such a position. One needed to be disruptive and create benefits for everyone, securing continuous development resources for the corporation¡ªthat was the most important thing. So, he was once again faced with a multiple-choice question: either terminate the "Canglong" project to stop losses in time, or slow down the project, strengthen theoretical validation, and reduce actual costs to minimize real-world risks¡ªa compromise solution, or continue to push forward with test flights until successful. He had to choose one of the three options, A, B, or C. Just as Shen Songling''s brows knitted into a frown and he was solemnly weighing the pros and cons, he heard someone shouting not far away, "Director Shen, Secretary Shen Fei is here to report." Shen Fei rode the folding electric bike directly to the crash site, addressing her own father in a strictly official tone. "Oh, it''s Xiao Fei, Secretary Shen is here." While absorbed in his thoughts, Shen Songling hadn''t expected his daughter to arrive so quickly. A faint hot pot broth aroma wafted to his nose, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Did you have hot pot for lunch? I was going to ask you to get food from the cafeteria!" One of the biggest characteristics of hot pot is its lingering scent that often lasts for days. "Hehe, I had hot pot with a friend." Shen Fei grinned like a sly fox. Shen Songling asked, puzzled, "A friend? Are there any hot pot restaurants near 310?" The area around 310 airport is semi-military, with vast tracts of farmland that are actually military farms. Ordinary citizens live sixty miles away, where the administrative center of Northern Weapons Industry Group, the main assembly workshop, and related facilities are located. "I had it in my friend''s car; he has a really big one, so big!" Shen Fei gestured animatedly, having never seen such a large vehicle before, and it was even a motorhome. It was her first time experiencing the novelty of traveling while eating hot pot in such a vehicle. Returning to business, Shen Songling, addressing her by her official title, said, "Oh! Secretary Shen, you are responsible for assisting the experts with their documentation. I need to have the organized first-hand report from the scene." Keep private matters private and public matters public, never sacrificing public duties for personal reasons¡ªthis was the family teaching of the Shen Family. "Understood!" Shen Fei saluted crisply. Just then, the experts surrounding the wreckage of the crash site started arguing, a few of them turning red in the face and their voices suddenly rising. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Shen Fei hastily said to her father, "Oh, right, Director Shen, my friend mentioned, when the crash happened, he was on the nearby national highway, and it seemed like the malfunction occurred during an engine boost." "I got it, go on now!" Seeing the experts were about to escalate their argument, Shen Songling quickly waved his hand to send Shen Fei off to intervene. He pondered over the term he had just heard. "Boost ..." - Chapter 431 431: Section 427 - Friends Come from Afar The most significant difference between civilian and military engines lies in the design of the afterburner construction. The former doesn''t include an afterburner, its rated output is capped at the threshold of maximum safety and economy, and even flooring the throttle keeps it within rated power. The latter, for combat purposes, sacrifices lifespan for extra power output, as both training duration and actual combat time are much less than civilian operational hours. Designing for too long a life would lead to excessive costs and also affect the renewal of current equipment; therefore, the best technology is not necessarily the most advanced. If military engines were to be used with reduced power requirements and operational standards, their fault-free operational lifespan could far exceed their original design parameters. In some ways, they could also be used as universal engines. The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, which Chen Fei is most familiar with, uses the PT6A series engine¡ªa quite mature universal engine, widely applicable, mass-produced, and inexpensive to maintain. Because the afterburner design leans toward aggressive specifications, its stability could never meet the safety standards of civilian engines, thus if issues arise, they tend to be major. Chen Fei attributed the cause of the crash to the afterburner, namely the main engine part, largely based on his own experience. Although he started out mid-career, with numerous technical certifications and a wealth of experience accumulated through supernatural powers, he had by today earned the right to be called an industry expert, no longer the inexperienced rookie he once was. - The furthest debris from the crash of the No. 2 prototype of the "Canglong" project reached over a kilometer away, almost extending to the airfield''s residential and administrative areas. Multiple drones continuously flew back and forth, scanning the ground, searching for wreckage, creating plans of the debris field, and concurrently searching for the aircraft''s black box. Even in a crash, as an invaluable lesson, not a single shard could be overlooked. The drones identified a black box with traces of orange-red, however, even with its special protective design, it wasn''t completely fail-safe. The found black box was not only shattered, but all the backup storage chips had turned to char. A stir went through the wind barrier. It meant that some data from the final moments of the crash were completely irretrievable, resulting in incomplete crash data for the No. 2 prototype. "The mobility data from before the No. 2 machine matched the design specifications perfectly, why would there be a malfunction during the leveling out phase? That shouldn''t happen!" "Could it have been the Magic Array? I saw a flash of collapsing elemental energy when the aircraft went out of control." "The final leveling data was a bit off, it could also be an electronic system failure, a technical flaw in the control system." "How could it be the control system? The ''Canglong''s'' control system wasn''t independently developed, it was a transplant from a universal system. If there were such severe technical defects, they should have been discovered under the same standards long ago." "If it isn''t a systemic or technical issue, could it perhaps be a human operational error? How is the test pilot doing?" "He broke his thigh upon landing, he''s in surgery... we probably won''t be able to speak to him until the day after tomorrow." "Let''s rule out other problems first! Before the elemental energy collapsed, there was smoke trailing from the aircraft, focus on checking the fuel supply and the power supply modules." ... Although the discussion was technical, no personal attacks were made, but the tone was becoming increasingly acrimonious. The dozen experts in the room disagreed with one another, eventually forming roughly four factions and engaging in endless debate. "Um, I''m Shen Fei from the secretarial office; could you all please speak one at a time, so I can make notes of this discussion?" Shen Fei squeezed into the debate with a smile that was awkward yet graceful, carrying a notebook and a pen, with a voice recorder also at work. With many people speaking, voices overlapped, and even the voice recorder couldn''t keep up, recording only the clamor; what was actually said couldn''t be clearly understood. "All right, all right, let''s start over and clear our thoughts," President Sun Qiuguo said, raising his voice. He looked toward Vice President Sun, who nodded in agreement. The young woman who had just reached their side was the Deputy General Manager of the group company supporting the "Canglong" project and the only daughter of Shen Songling; both officially and privately, she deserved some courtesy. "Let''s start from the beginning and straighten out our thoughts!" Vice President Nangong Ruiyang of the "Canglong" project, also a senior engineer at Northern Weapons Industry Group in charge of aerodynamic control, pointed to the first expert on his left. "Worker Ge, you start!" The slightly balding expert organized his thoughts and said, "My judgement is..." Shen Fei''s pen moved quickly; most of the content was recorded by the voice recorder and would be converted into text later. The notebook contained only the key points to present more clearly to her father for review. The secretary''s job is to focus on the essentials, simplify complexities, distinguish truth from falsehood, and help improve work efficiency, solely not responsible for decision-making, at most providing reference opinions; thus, meticulousness and robust handling of first-hand data are necessary. One after another, four main lines of reasoning were proposed, and the atmosphere at the scene became well-organized. A delighted Shen Fei mentioned offhand, "Could it be a problem with the main engine''s afterburner?" Diagnosing failures is the experts'' job, and Shen Fei''s remark was a bit like teaching one''s grandmother to suck eggs. The experts exchanged glances, collectively smiling but saying nothing. Vice President Nangong Chengyu said smilingly, "Oh? Little Shen, how did you know?" He knew his son, Nangong Rui, fancied the Deputy Vice President Shen''s daughter, and regardless of the final outcome, his demeanor had to be much better than that of others at the moment. It''s common for laypeople to make layman''s guesses, which are understandable and shouldn''t be too harshly judged. "My friend said that, at the time of the crash, he happened to be passing by and guessed it was probably a main engine failure." Shen Fei relayed Chen Fei''s eyewitness account then. Then pointing towards the distance, parallel to the main runway was a national highway, about two kilometers away but still within sight. An expert shook his head and said, "A layperson''s guess isn''t enough to rely on; analyzing the cause of failure is a very rigorous process." Several experts nodded in agreement, showing no disrespect, but that was the reality. So many amateur mathematics enthusiasts studied the several famous mathematical conjectures, but ultimately, it was the professional national teams that succeeded in solving them. Shen Fei''s next response, however, surprised everyone. "My friend is an expert; he''s a professional fighter aircraft maintenance worker." "Is it from the maintenance workshop? What''s his name?" Nangong Chengyu instantly guessed it was someone from the corporate company. Shen Fei shook her head and smiled, "No, not at all! He''s not someone from the corporation; he''s a friend I made while teaching there." Director-General Sun Qiuguo from the "Canglong" project asked, "Oh? Which company then? Dragoon Magic Industry? Boeing Aerospace? Sky Battleship? Or National Defense Star?" The layman''s words could be heard but need not be taken to heart, whereas the insider''s words are worth considering for insights. The stone from other mountains can be used to polish jade, and this stone is not just any stone. "No, he''s with a military contractor and is also an outstanding pilot." Shen Fei didn''t know Chen Fei''s combat record, but judging from the attitude of others at the Aircrew Base, she guessed he was probably doing quite well. "Military contractor, huh! It''s a mix of dragons and snakes, but there are actually some experts there, both pilot and maintenance worker, really?" Although Director-General Sun Qiuguo was somewhat skeptical, he soon thought that the greedy capitalists, in a bid for profit, exploit to the extreme, making one person do the work of two; this so-called "multiskilled" originates from precise exploitation by the capitalists. Shen Fei speculated, "He has qualifications for maintaining turboprop and jet engines, he must be quite capable." After all, she was truly a layperson and didn''t know much. "Oh, interesting! If possible, invite him over for a look sometime." Given that it was Director Shen''s young daughter speaking, Director-General Sun just made a courteous remark in passing. After all, a military contractor was hardly going to compete with the Northern Weapons Industry Group, let alone have business dealings with them; the two were totally different worlds, not connected by any means. "Sure, he''s at Airport 310." Too honest, Shen''s daughter made an offhand comment turn into taking advantage of the situation. "What? Here, at this place?" Airport 310 being a military base, it was hardly a place where just anyone could freely enter, Director-General Sun Qiuguo exclaimed in surprise. Could it be he''s not just an employee of the military contractor but also connected to the military? The experts were collectively flabbergasted. "He drove me here; the main gate just let us through, and I don''t know why?" ¨r(¨s_¨t)¨q Shen Fei threw up her hands, her mind still filled with a giant question mark. Director-General Sun Qiuguo said, "So that''s how it is. Ask Director Shen if it''s okay, and then bring your friend over for a look since it''s all just junk anyway, nothing really matters." There must be some military connection; otherwise, how could it be so simple to get through? "Alright!" Shen Fei turned around and found her father, Vice President Shen Songling of the corporation. "Director Shen!" "What''s the matter? Secretary Shen!" The father and daughter were indeed strictly business-like. Secretary Shen tentatively asked, "The friend who drove me here might be able to help analyze the crash cause; should we invite him over for a look?" Shen Songling immediately shook his head and said irritably, "Nonsense, how can we just let outsiders get involved with company secrets?" Only his own daughter dared to speak so; anyone else would have been criticized by now. "I''ve asked Director-General Sun, and he said we could have a look." Shen Fei, considering another hand on deck as beneficial and seeing her father''s constant frown, guessed the crash had dealt a significant blow to the entire project. "Recklessness; aren''t you afraid of ''Canglong'' project''s being leaked?" Shen Songling was alert and did not easily relent. "My friend is a pilot and maintenance technician with the military contractor, and also a Metal Ability User; don''t worry, he''s very tight-lipped. Oh, and ''Ah Mao'' was a gift from him." In Teacher Shen Fei''s view, Chen Fei had never been a flamboyant person but rather very steady and low-key, always trustworthy and reliable. She spoke and then stomped her foot. "Aw!" The black-furred wolf emerged from the shadow at her feet, grinning foolishly, smelling strongly of hotpot ¡ª leftovers and all, everything cheap went to it. "Really... a supernatural power user? A Metal Elemental Psychic Power user?" Shen Songling finally remembered, recalling the young man his daughter had mentioned meeting while teaching. However, what he valued even more was the identity as a supernatural power user. - Chapter 432 432: Section 428 - Introduction There was only one person who met the criteria. Shen Songling asked doubtfully, "Chen Fei?" The young man shared a bond of life and death with his daughter, an exceptionally uncommon relationship. "Yes, him!" The beloved daughter smiled radiantly. Damn, the old father''s heart skipped a beat instantly. Where did this foolish boy come from, not staying put in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, but chasing after her for what purpose! "Do you need his help?" Shen Fei continued to probe. As President Sun had said, Prototype 2 had already crashed into a pile of scrap metal, and trying to steal secrets from it would likely be extremely difficult. Shen Songling hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well... bring him over to take a look!" What he really wanted was to see what was so special about this silly boy. If he wasn''t satisfied at first impression, he''d promptly tell him to get lost! "Understood, I''ll bring him right over." Shen Fei waved her little fist and immediately zoomed off on her electric bike. The "looking" that both the father and daughter had in mind was the same word, but the actual meaning behind it was not the same at all. Without Shen Fei acting as a buffer, the experts quickly began to argue with each other again without any courtesy. Moments later, two foldable electric bikes brought Chen Fei and Shen Fei back to the crash site, entering the wind barrier. The barrier only had a significant buffering effect on airflow; winds below First Level could still enter and it didn''t have much effect on solid objects. "Director Shen, I''ve brought Chen Fei over!" Shen Fei spoke in proper business jargon. "Director Shen, hello, I''m Chen Fei!" On the way here, Chen Fei had listened to Shen Fei''s introduction to their positions within the Northern Weapons Industry Group¡ªhe as the vice president, and she as the secretary. In public, it was professional, and in private, personal; after all, when it comes to appointing the worthy, nepotism can be convenient for keeping it in the family. Shen Songling sized up the utterly ordinary young man following his daughter and reached out to shake hands with him. "Hmm, I''m Shen Songling, and also Xiao Fei''s father!" He then shifted the conversation directly to the main topic. "Secretary Shen mentioned that you work as a combat pilot and mechanic for a military contractor? And you''ve awakened a Special Ability?" "Yes!" Chen Fei confirmed without hesitation. A proud undergraduate of economics, he had given up on graduate studies to work miles away in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area as a pilot and mechanic. Such is life¡ªthings often don''t go as one wishes. It was not uncommon to find people working in fields unrelated to their majors, and Chen Fei was not the only one. There was once a painter who started the Second World War, and before him, a great mage cast a Forbidden Curse, summoning a meteor from the sky, defeating an army of 420,000 with few, reversing the tide of battle to revitalize the empire, an era known as the Guangwu revival. The world of Cangqiong Star, with its magical civilization, had no record of such wars. Thus, these off-topic feats of legend were not uncommon in the history of Blue Star, so there was nothing to complain about. "Which aerospace university did you graduate from? What was your major?" Shen Songling was digging for more information because many large corporations, including Northern Weapons, paid attention to students from relevant universities to maintain a steady input of high-quality new blood. They knew the strengths, weaknesses, and personalities of any student with good grades. If they saw potential in someone, they wouldn''t wait for graduation to propose an employment agreement, and some would even sponsor the student from the start, ensuring their talent was secured well in advance. Although costly, it made it harder for others to poach their prospects. But he had never heard of someone named Chen Fei. Chen Fei reported the name of a school, while it wasn''t among the top three, it was a top ten, first-tier prestigious university. A slight deviation in exam scores, and he wouldn''t even have received an admission notice. After all, anyone who made it into university was generally considered the cream of the crop, the elite of society. "Ah? The economics major?" The reply startled Shen Songling; both the university and the major had nothing to do with aerospace¡ªat least, except when doing budgeting. If the aerospace industry leaders had known his name before, it would have been truly bizarre! "That''s right!" The father of Shen Fei held a high position in the Northern Weapons Industry Group, and as a typical authoritative middle-aged male leader, every action and word exuded a pressurizing force. Yet, Chen Fei maintained composure from start to finish, not showing any signs of being inferior. Truth be told! He had managed many more with leadership style from the Neanderthal Supreme Council... uh, that was a can of worms better left unopened, for Teacher Shen would surely be displeased if brought up. It was very rare for a nervous son-in-law to meet his father-in-law for the first time and get tongue-tied in reality. Everyone was an adult, hardened and weathered by society''s trials and storms; their mental fortitude wasn''t so fragile. From another perspective, a man with poor psychological quality wouldn''t be able to find a girlfriend in the first place, let alone worry about meeting a future father-in-law¡ªhe''d be eliminated at the very start. "Did you enter this profession so quickly because of talent?" Shen Songling didn''t think choosing the wrong major was a peculiar issue. There had been presidents hampered by their acting careers, emperors held back by carpentry, and painters whose roars in the face of the enemy had delayed them. Such examples were not uncommon, and ultimately people returned to the right path¡ªcontinuing what they were meant to do, rather than sticking to a wrong choice out of stubbornness. "No, because of Special Abilities!" Chen Fei had entered the field thanks to the "Physical Evolution Database" skill and his rote memorization of technical manuals. Of course, the instruction and training from Big Brother Xiao, the chief mechanic, and the foundation classes at the Eagle Nest Cram School essentially completed what Chen Fei lacked in specialized education. However, "Rookie" remained his lasting nickname. "Chen Fei''s special ability should be industrial-grade!" Shen Fei reminded her dad. Most of the household appliances in the kitchen and dormitories of the Patan Elementary School in the mountain area were evolved by Chen Fei using his abilities. If that didn''t qualify as industrial-grade, then the classification for metal elemental combat abilities was definitely wrong. While there were plenty that excelled at destruction, abilities suitable for production and construction were always in the minority. "Industrial-grade ability?" Shen Songling was genuinely surprised. The awakening rate established on the basis of the population indicated that, on average, only one supernatural power user would appear per three thousand people. Still, the low-level ability users were often of no use in the industrial sector. To truly qualify as an industrial-grade ability user, one must be at least an A-level psychic. To be precise, the control power assessment must be A-level or above. B-level is already a struggle just to assemble an entire gear. As for even lower levels of control power, the quality of work is too rough to bear watching. Moreover, not every A-level metal ability user possesses an A-level control power assessment. If every category needed to reach A-level for someone to be rated as an A-level ability user overall, the number of A-level psychics today would be even fewer, possibly reduced by more than half. "Little Chen, your superpower level is... no, what''s your control power assessment level?" Shen Songling GOT the point; the overall assessment level is not the key, the control power is. "Control power is A-level! Precision is at the molecular level!" That''s right, Chen Fei was like a human-shaped melting, forging, milling, and boring integrated machine, beloved by all, flowers blooming at his sight. Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, the leader in the local individual protection equipment industry, was also willing to let him "fleece" them (with gritted teeth). Charging ahead is not necessarily the most powerful, but working logistics is definitely indispensable and top-tier. Whether it''s the 911 Aircrew Base or the newly established "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the positions they arranged for him couldn''t have been more fitting. "Molecular level?!" Shen Songling was even more moved; this was definitely the level of precision engineering, standing out in the industrial field, naturally cut out for this line of work. "Chen Fei is pretty impressive, right?" His daughter couldn''t help showing a proud expression, having recommended such a useful talent to her dad. "Impressive!" As the vice president of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, Shen Songling clearly knew how hard it was to find such industrial-grade ability users. Most industrial enterprises relied on technical equipment rather than psychics. Metal ability users with A-level control power were incredibly useful but exceedingly rare. A workshop of ability users was only feasible if a large sovereignty had a population base large enough to enforce conscription. Smaller sovereignties couldn''t even dare to imagine such a thing, and the projects that required such capability were bound to be critical emergencies. Shen Fei tentatively asked, "Can Chen Fei... do it?" Emmmmmm... Chen Fei always felt that Teacher Shen was setting a trap for her dad. "Then let''s go take a look!" Shen Songling eventually consented, partly because Chen Fei was a local resident. If it were any other sovereignty''s registration, it would have been an outright veto without any hesitation. "Authorized. Chen Fei, let''s go have a look together!" Shen Fei made a V-sign with her hands, noticing that the expert group had started another argument. Their voices grew louder, several whiteboards were set up, illustrating charts and comparing data on the spot, as everyone tried hard to prove their point. The on-site seminar was just beginning. "Oh!" Chen Fei looked at the pile of burnt wreckage twitching his eyebrows. Since he started his career, he had never dealt with wreckage to this extent. At the 911 Aircrew Base, it should have all been thrown into the recycling bins for degradation and remelting, turned into alloy ingots, waiting to be reused. He couldn''t fathom what there was to study. "President Sun, Vice President Nangong, Worker Ge, Worker Ma... everyone, I''ve brought him here." Shen Fei introduced the experts on site to Chen Fei while introducing him to everyone. "Young man, take a look first before we talk," President Sun Qiuguo of the "Canglong" project didn''t give any hints and just gestured toward the pile of charred wreckage. The debris was scattered around, but the main body was still there, having crashed into a big pit in the snow. "Is it okay to touch them directly?" Chen Fei knew that the aircraft which had crashed must be part of an ongoing secret project and thus involved various secrets. Although Shen Fei had brought him here, he couldn''t afford to be careless. "No problem, no problem, feel free!" Sun Qiuguo waved his hand. If the secrets of the "Canglong" project could be stolen just by touching them, they might as well not bother with their jobs. - Chapter 433 433: Section 429 - Questioning In fact, Chen Fei couldn''t just waltz into the scene, touch the "Canglong" project and take it away. He had to rely on the so-called "sacrifice" to do so, and even the pile of shattered machine debris before him was far from enough. Wanting to repair the wreckage completely, even the "Physical Evolution Database" was powerless. What kind of fairy-tale joke was this! Chen Fei crouched down and picked up a piece of debris the size of a palm, examining it carefully before his eyes. The moment he touched it, the Dog System issued a prompt. System: Ding! Found Alloy Body 157 grams, absorb: Yes/No|? Of course, it''s a no! He couldn''t be too blatant, and he wasn''t in need of those few Energy Points, especially since that didn''t even amount to a whole number. The debris had already cooled through, entirely blackened, leaving a hand filthy upon touch and accompanied by a pungent residual odor, with the silver-white luster of metal faintly visible at the torn edge. As if he''d discovered something, Chen Fei picked up a few more thin fragments and tried piecing them together before examining them again closely. Secretly, he picked up a nail-sized fragment and activated the "Metal Devouring" skill. Compared to the large piece from before, this one was almost inconspicuous, practically negligible. System: Absorbed Alloy Body 2 grams, composition ratio: Aluminum 57%, Titanium 18%, Magnesium 4%, Zinc 3%, Copper 2%, Chromium... "Skin Fragment, it must be a Magic Array!" Chen Fei turned his head and looked at the experts who had ceased their quarreling and were now evaluating him, and tentatively asked, "Is this a Crystal Jet?" The base material most commonly used for Magic Arrays on Blue Star is titanium, known as Mithril on Cangqiong Star, a high-quality conductor of magic power, and occasionally platinum is also used. But apart from the Crystal Jet, other aircraft rarely use Magic Arrays, partly because they require large-capacity Crystalline Blocks in place of high-quality Demon Crystals or Magical Beast Crystal Cores, and also because maintenance is quite troublesome¡ªprobably enough to drive the logistics department to collapse. Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo smiled and said, "You''ve figured it out!" The others all gave him a thumbs-up. If one observed carefully and let their imagination run, it would be easy to guess that the special texturing on the surface of the skin fragment could very possibly be part of a Magic Array. Chen Fei''s reaction was quick, guessing the truth right away. Even if he wasn''t an industry insider, he was definitely not as ignorant as a rookie. No one could have guessed that Chen Fei didn''t deduce the answer but copied it, and his way of entry was something others couldn''t learn. "A titanium-based Magic Array, that should be correct!" While saying this, Chen Fei approached the largest main body, subtly absorbing a few more fragments to confirm that the high percentage of titanium was not incidental but essential. However, he could only copy so much information. He couldn''t absorb all of the debris, or else he could have reconstructed even more information. "...There should be twenty-nine aerodynamic control surfaces, if I''m not mistaken, and AI-assisted flight... such a familiar storage unit style, is it ''Adam''...?" Chen Fei was still examining the wreckage when Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo interrupted his murmuring. "Wait a minute, Little Chen, how do you know it''s ''Adam''?" Upon hearing Chen Fei mention "Adam," the faces of those experts all showed a drastic change, and one thought crossed their minds: damn it, a security breach! Like other projects initiated by the company, either there was no leak, or a leak would be a major issue, even threatening the survival of the whole project. If the company assessed that "Canglong" had lost its confidentiality and thus canceled the project, it wasn''t out of the realm of possibility. That would mean a loss of many people''s year-end bonuses or even their jobs. The steady maintenance of a state enterprise might be comforting, but job security wasn''t guaranteed. Once you lost your hold and it broke, that meant you were completely cut off from the state enterprise route. How could those accustomed to the reassurance of state enterprise life adapt to fully competitive private companies? "''Adam''?" Chen Fei smiled and then said, "Technically, the ''Adam'' in use here was brought back by me from the American Federation." "Adam" had multiple patrons domestically, and as industry leaders, how could they not snatch such a useful AI? Chen Fei had long known that Northern Weapons Industry Group was one of those in need and that it was being applied in new projects under development; he was not surprised at all. The AIs derived from Cybertrom''s digital intelligent constructs were indeed useful, but compared to "Adam," they were more than a bit behind. There hadn''t been significant progress in over thirty years. Mentioning "Adam" might be sensitive for others, but not for him. "What?" Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo couldn''t help but widen his eyes in shock. Was this young man truly the source of the domestic "Adam"? That was far too coincidental! Although there were rumors that someone else had tried and failed to bring "Adam" back, blocked tightly by the American Federation, ultimately, "Adam" had made its way into the country. Chen Fei nodded affirmatively, "Well, being a military contractor, I occasionally take on some private work!" Accepting money to solve problems for others, nothing wrong with that; earning money while on one''s feet is not embarrassing! Jiu Defense Company didn''t prohibit its employees from taking private jobs, but they couldn''t interfere with the company''s business, couldn''t use the company''s name, had to HOLD their own, and were responsible for the consequences. Personal behavior was not connected to the company. Still somewhat skeptical, Sun Qiuguo said, "Heh, so that''s how it is!" Shen Fei asked with surprise and delight, "Chen Fei, do you have any other goodies here?" Chen Fei pointed to his head and said, "Not much good stuff, just ''Adam''s source code, designs and technical manuals for the A-29 ''Big Mouth Monster,'' MiG-28, and F-22 ''Raptor.'' Are you interested? The price is negotiable!" The storage space of the "File Management Plugin" was still vast. He had only utilized a drop in the ocean, but that''s as far as it went. As one of the top ten designers and manufacturers of combat aircraft on Blue Star, Northern Weapons Industry Group certainly wasn''t short on good items. Shen Fei might not have eaten pork before, but she certainly had seen pigs run and immediately lost enthusiasm, saying, "Why is it all these antiques!" "Military contractors, right. Where would they get good stuff!" Nangong Chengyu, the deputy chief designer of the project, didn''t find it odd at all. How could private military companies possess overly advanced weapons and equipment? Maintaining a technological gap was essential. Whoever dared to step beyond set limits would invariably face the merciless crackdown of Sovereignty. After rummaging through the rubble without much gain, Chen Fei didn''t continue any further and returned to the center of the group of experts, affirming: "This is not a Crystal Jet!" This was his final judgment, although it featured the design of a magic array, it ultimately wasn''t one. It seemed that the experts of the Northern Weapons Industry Group also intended to test their knowledge. There was a magic array, but it wasn''t a Crystal Jet, it must be a future main combat aircraft that found a new entry point, striking a balance between combat effectiveness, production costs, and maintenance. Worker Ge, one of the experts, didn''t hold back as he said, "Hey, Little Chen, it seems like military contractors can''t get their hands on Crystal Jets, right? You came to that conclusion so easily?" In fact, it was true that military contractors couldn''t even obtain current active-duty equipment, let alone the national treasure, the Crystal Jet. Just for Chen Fei personally owning the "Flying Dragon" interceptor-type single soldier tactical armor, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group had to expend much effort to smooth things over so that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would turn a blind eye to this rule-breaking piece of active-duty equipment. "It just so happens that I have a Crystal Jet in my possession!" There was no better evidence than this for Chen Fei; if the answer was still questioned, it might be beyond help. "You''re lying!" "That joke isn''t funny at all!" "How is that possible, it must be a toy, right!" "Yeah, yeah, if it''s a toy then that''s not surprising!" "That''s kind of interesting, haha!" ... The experts were incredulous, some scoffed, some were sour, and some were obviously amused... In the end, no one was willing to believe what Chen Fei said. Even Shen Fei didn''t think, given Chen Fei''s financial situation, that he could afford a Crystal Jet, not in this lifetime or the next, if Sovereignty were willing to sell. So this must be a little joke meant to lighten the mood. "Where did you get a Crystal Jet from!" Alright! Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo from the "Canglong" project admitted he had a low threshold for humor, and he was successfully amused by the other party''s remark. "Look! This is my Crystal Jet, named ''Holy Grail''!" Chen Fei took out his phone and showed a photo to the experts. Laymen watch the excitement; insiders look for clues. Whether it''s real or not is apparent at a glance. These experts were not easy to fool. "Eh! It kinda looks real!" "Is it a rendered image? The proportions and lighting look so accurate!" After careful consideration, the experts unanimously determined that this was an artificially created image so masterfully done that it could rival the real thing. "Rendered image?" Shen Fei looked at Chen Fei with puzzled disbelief; she was unaware that he had such skills. "How could it be a rendered image, why does no one believe me when I''m telling the truth! Look, some people even think this photo was rendered!" Chen Fei brought up another photo. Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo sneakily glanced at it, laughed, and said, "Isn''t this rendered too?" The young man in the photo was posing with the Dragon of Slaughter, with a rope tied to his hand. If that was a real photo, it would have to be a posthumous portrait; the next second, his head would surely be bitten off by the Metallic Dragon. "This photo... uh, it''s real!" Shen Fei couldn''t help but laugh as she vouched for Chen Fei. Because she was the one who had taken the photo; she was the living proof. "Huh?" said Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo. "Huh?" said Deputy Chief Designer Nangong Chengyu. "Huh?" said Worker Ge. "Huh?" said Worker Ma. ... All the expert friends were shocked. So, this actually worked? Was it that the human''s head contained a bundle, or that the dragon''s head contained one? The truth was that both the human and dragon had bundles in their heads; otherwise, this photo wouldn''t exist. "So... this Crystal Jet is real." Chen Fei finally proved he wasn''t joking. The question now was... - Chapter 434 434: Section 430 - Industrial Grade Ceiling ``` "Where did it come from?" ``` Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo found it absurd; National Treasure Artifacts were not cabbages in the market, casually obtained. Chen Fei spoke truthfully, "I picked it up from a junkyard on the outskirts of Hablav City on Yangzhou Continent, but it''s not intact and has quite a bit of damage." Exhausting! Establishing trust between people is truly difficult. "Is it called ''Holy Grail''? Let me check!" Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo took out his phone and began swiping the screen. True or false, a check would tell. If the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" was still in service, or if there were no records of such an aircraft, then Chen Fei''s words would just be a joke to them. "Ah! A Sky Knight was sacrificed, and the Crystal Jet ''Holy Grail'' was destroyed, it''s true, wait, you can pick these up????" Sun Qiuguo looked up from his phone screen, incredulously staring at Chen Fei. The battle took place a year ago, and the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail", along with the Sky Knight, both perished in the fight against the Mutants. The Sky Knight was obliterated, leaving nothing but a completely scrapped Crystal Jet. Only the Crystalline Blocks and the black box could be salvaged, while the rest, having no repair value, was thrown directly into the garbage dump outside the city for recycling. Each Crystal Jet was a piece of art, a custom-made combat aircraft that could perfectly match a Sky Knight. However, in exchange, they sacrificed universal compatibility, making it difficult for anyone else to utilize its full combat potential. Without perfect mastery, the Crystal Jet''s formidable combat strength would be meaningless. Other Sky Knights would likewise reject such a second-hand unit. They didn''t lack Crystal Jets tailored for themselves since what Sovereignty was short of was not Crystal Jets, but Sky Knights. Without reaching the level of a Sky Knight, one simply couldn''t control a Crystal Jet, making one without a Knight just another piece of junk in the pile. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee just let Chen Fei pack and take away this piece of junk without any intention of stopping him. With the Sky Knight gone and the jet in this state, the repair costs could buy two new ones. Even if repaired, it would be pointless. Without a Crystalline Block, probably no one would even bother to steal it. "I cobbled together a car with parts, and along the way picked up a Crystal Jet." Chen Fei didn''t boast but simply told the honest truth. He wasn''t searching the junkyard for a Crystal Jet, but to assemble the parts necessary for a Mobile Base Vehicle. The wreckage of a Crystal Jet was still a Crystal Jet; otherwise, would a disabled person not be considered human? Who were they to look down on? "Er, Chen Fei, aren''t you short on money?" Shen Fei was somewhat at a loss for words. With the items Chen Fei had, he shouldn''t have to worry about his debt, especially when Boss Hana had shown no intention of pressing for repayment. Chen Fei asserted confidently, "Short! How can I not be short! I am indeed short on money!" A huge truth without embarrassment! He had a Mobile Base Vehicle, a Crystal Jet, high-grade Crystalline Blocks, the Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, professional technical certification, flight hours, but no money! His bank account was in the negative after offsetting debts; he was still in debt! "These scraps you''ve picked up..." Shen Fei was at a loss for words; the scavenging was done too skillfully. Ordinary people really couldn''t stay at the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City. Even if they were qualified to stay, they probably wouldn''t easily know there was a dump outside the city to scavenge for "treasures." Even if they knew and found something, it would be of no use; junk remained junk without the time, technical skill, and equipment to put it to use. Otherwise, they could only look on helplessly, like the heavy chassis of the Mobile Base Vehicle which, once dragged back, had nowhere to be placed. "This really is, really is, really is..." After saying "really is" three times, the head of the "Canglong" project, Sun Qiuguo, didn''t know what else to say. To customize a part, experts had to toil for a long time, calculating, drafting, redrafting... choosing raw materials, and sometimes even casting molds, heat treating, then commissioning a machining center. If there were ready-made raw materials, it took at least a week to get a prototype. If something was wrong, it had to be redone, another week, and that was not even talking about the cost. If the base materials couldn''t meet the specifications, then they were in big trouble. Either bow down to reality or pay a hefty price to smelt. Labor, equipment, coordination, money¡ªso many obstacles. The design team was dancing with shackles, with countless hurdles and hindrances in the way. But with Chen Fei, gathering the basic elements meant no need for anything else. Huh? An alloy is deficient in a certain element by 0.1%? No problem, instant modification! There''s a fault in size, off by 10 micrometers, or the shape isn''t quite right? No problem, instant modification! Got a new design that needs a bit extra? No problem, instant addition! Others take weeks to complete a workpiece, but for Chen Fei, it''s seconds. An all-in-one humanoid smelting and forging lathe with mill and boring tool integration, thinking and doing are one and the same, with efficiency so high it''s terrifying. The luxury of an Industrial Grade Metal Ability User is indeed boundless. Upon hearing that Chen Fei was an Industrial Grade Metal Ability User, Shen Songling, the deputy director of the group company and Shen Fei''s father, changed his attitude like night and day. "Can you make ''Canglong''?" Sensing an opportunity he couldn''t afford to miss, the head of the "Canglong" project, Sun Qiuguo, found himself entertaining a bold idea. Maybe it''s worth a try! "''Canglong''? Are you referring to..." Chen Fei looked at the pile of charred debris, then turned back, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I have a skill called ''Sacrifice''. Any metal product that I have sacrificed, I can replicate exactly as it was, as long as I have enough materials. As much as needed, that''s how much I can make!" He didn''t care what was being absorbed, as long as it was metal, as long as there were Energy Points, and as long as there were materials, nothing was a problem. President Sun Qiuguo''s eyes bulged as he took a deep breath and said in a quivering voice, "Can you, can you demonstrate?" If this young man wasn''t just boasting... The experts in attendance all took in a sharp breath, gradually grasping Chief Designer Sun Qiuguo''s mad idea; it was a risky gamble, all depending on whether he was willing to place a large bet. "No problem, everyone please take ten steps back!" Chen Fei walked a few steps to the side and stretched out his hand. "Physical Evolution Database," call up the category "Aircraft" for the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter. Go! With a flash of silver light, a large number of geometric bodies with a metallic sheen burst forth from the palm of Chen Fei''s hand, advancing wave after wave like the tide. The geometric bodies of various sizes continuously broke apart and recombined, rapidly constructing a dual-engine fighter jet with a mirror-like surface. The evolution skill became increasingly industrial in nature, assembling like building blocks. After the surging surface had calmed, the F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter was perfectly replicated. Energy Points -19! Energy Points: 19104/20000 The aircraft had a dry weight of about 19 tons. Without readily available materials to use, Energy Points had to be deducted as a price. The group of experts was astounded. "A Raptor?! That fast?" "Is this for real, how could it be so quick?" "Is this a Metal Ability?" "Truly Industrial Grade!" "It can''t just be a shell, no, there were internal structures just now." "Absolutely, absolutely a one-person factory; can anyone else even survive?" "If mass production is unleashed, our corporate group might have no chance against this, it''s terrifying!" ... This is like trying to drive all the manufacturers to their deaths! Savage to the point of utter madness! Chen Fei retracted his hand, and beside him, stood a shimmering silver, sky and earth-reflecting, dual-engine jet fighter. The ceiling for Industrial-grade Abilities is probably about this level. "Is this satisfactory?" President Sun Qiuguo rushed over to the F-22 "Raptor", taking two steps at a time, and reached out to touch the still-hot fighter jet. If he waited until it had cooled down completely before touching it, his palm would probably stick to it, considering it''s winter in the North, and even within the wind-barrier, the temperature was still around minus ten degrees Celsius. "Top off various oils, preheat for ten minutes, and then it''s ready to fly." It was that simple. Chen Fei''s "Physical Evolution Database" retained the F-22 "Raptor" in its perfect state, having test-flown the replicated version at the Eagle Nest private airport which was no mere shell and lost nothing to the original. As his words fell, the group of experts collectively could not contain their excitement. "Bring over No. 3, Sacrifice it!" Worker Ge was the first to roar, his face turning red and his neck swelling with fervor. Just by replicating a hundred prototypes, they could acquire enough trial samples to forcibly complete the "Canglong" project in the shortest time possible. Which new project could produce a hundred prototypes? Unprecedented, with no successors, extravagance to the extreme. Worker Ma, his eyes seeing stars from excitement, clutched his chest and kept inhaling the minus ten degrees Celsius cold air. His pale face indicated he needed to take a moment to recover, probably requiring two or three heart-saving pills. Most of the experts were nearly overwhelmed. The sudden appearance of the F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet alarmed many people. "What is this? Also a Special Ability?" Shen Fei''s father, Vice President Shen Songling of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, was astonished by the sight of the massive object that had appeared in just a short time. Those unaware might even think the "Canglong" project was replicating the already-retired F-22 "Raptor". Shen Fei confidently said, "This is Chen Fei''s skill. It''s not just fighter jets; refrigerators, freezers, ovens, microwaves, induction cookers, dough mixers¡ªmany kinds of things can be created, but it''s best to prepare metal ahead of time." True to Teacher Shen''s reputation, she thoroughly exposed Chen Xiao''er''s skill. "Oh!" Vice President Shen Songling, being an old hand in Jianghu, did not immediately express any stance but pondered for a while before saying to Chen Fei, "Quit your job! Come to the Northern Weapons Industry Group, and I''ll find a way to get you a position." An official position meant a guaranteed golden rice bowl, especially in prosperous central enterprises. Even he, the group''s vice president, could not easily secure an official position for someone. - Chapter 435 435: Section 431 - Procedural Justice Even if they were experienced employees and mid-to-senior management at the conglomerate, it was difficult for them to secure a permanent position for their children. They could only start with a temporary position before moving to a contract-based role, establishing roots in the company through such roundabout methods, and then playing the connection game. Everyone hoped for the limited quota to be released, competing fiercely as they showed off their capabilities. Almost every time, even if there wasn''t bloodshed, it was nearly the same. If talent were not scarce, Shen Songling wouldn''t have been so confident either. Using his power to fight for additional quotas was not an easy task, as countless people within the conglomerate were watching him both openly and secretly, not allowing him to do as he pleased. Even if he was a top executive, once it was confirmed, he too was easily dismissed. Even for his own daughter, Shen Songling had never exerted so much effort, following the old methods of accumulating experience and queuing by seniority to secure a formal position. With the vice president''s connections, the success rate was a bit higher, and if Shen Fei''s resume had no issues, people would somewhat give face. After all, everyone was following the rules, and it wasn''t easy to break them, as it could make things difficult for others and might even cause public outrage. "Yes, yes!" Shen Fei swung her little fists excitedly. As a child of the conglomerate, she knew well the value of a permanent position and how hard it was to obtain one. Having a vice president father personally promise to secure a position wasn''t something just anyone could receive. Even the vice president''s daughter, working in the administrative center''s secretary''s office, was just a contract worker, merely slightly better off than a temporary worker. To obtain a permanent position quota, she would have to wait at least two or three years. Otherwise, there were few who would help, and lots who would cause trouble. If your own children''s future was not secured, why should a vice president''s daughter get any special treatment? "Chen Fei, you might want to consider it." After Shen Songling finished speaking, he glanced at his daughter, who was exuberant. His daughter indeed had helped a lot by introducing a rare talent. But the quota was for someone else. Your own quota isn''t even settled, so what are you excited about? The old father was very puzzled. Chen Fei hesitated and said, "Okay, thank you. I''ll carefully consider it." He had been poached before, each offer outbidding the last, and this time a native central enterprise had extended an olive branch. A permanent position was equivalent to a secure job; it would be a lie to say he wasn''t tempted. From childhood to adulthood, he had struggled to study hard, all for a good job. With a permanent position at a central enterprise, even finding a girlfriend would be easier; maybe he wouldn''t even need to buy a house, as it might be allocated to him. Commuting would be convenient, possibly just a walk away, saving him from spending two to three hours each way, letting him avoid the fatigue of commuting that exhausted people like dead dogs, not to mention the down payment and monthly installment of a house that suffocated young people. Would he, when old, empty his pension to support his children down the same dead-end road? Forget it! If he ended up not sleeping on the streets when old, it would be a relief; he certainly wouldn''t have the capacity to support the youth. A society with low desires would not have children; it''s a class moving toward natural ecological extinction. Chen Fei knew all too well. The three siblings of the Chen family were not dumb; the second and third could go to college, both naturally inclined towards academics. The eldest wasn''t bad in studies either, but due to taking responsibilities early to help his parents, he missed out and had to go to a technical school. No matter how hard he tried now, he had hit a career ceiling far earlier, unable to match those who came from the Ivory Tower, whether in terms of academics or vision. The Chen family bit the bullet, emptied their savings to barely cover the eldest''s wedding house down payment, yet couldn''t afford a car. It was only due to Chen Fei using the benefits from his missions with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee at a discount that he managed to deliver a car to their door. The eldest, with his sister-in-law, finally had both a house and a car, just about making a proper home. Otherwise, the tight days without knowing when they could afford a car, wasted in commuting time, would only increase resentment. Even now, with Chen Xiao''er still burdened with a large debt, he barely had spare resources to continue supporting his family; life for an ordinary wage-earning class family was just that difficult. Even having once been an aggressive clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe, without a salary, just look at Bassan, who had to revert to being a clan leader and still needed to work to support his family¡ªa silently suffering man. So, don''t take it too seriously. - "Vice President Shen, I would like to request the use of the number three prototype. Chen Fei has a skill that can copy the number three prototypes in large quantities." The expert team''s Worker Ge finally couldn''t hold back and started dancing and shouting loudly. The number one prototype was also known as the initial machine, strictly used only for theoretical research. Apart from being dismantled and reassembled, it was not possible to actually fly it. Whether the "Canglong" project succeeded or not, it had to be completely preserved. The number two prototype had just been smashed to bits, ending all prospects. The only available ones left were the number three and number four machines. If even these were wrecked without any more extra budget and sufficient progress, the "Canglong" project would likely be wrapped up. Everyone would go their own ways, forget the story, and the conglomerate would audit and archive the project and accounts, tossing them into the pile of old documents, officially declaring its complete end. Only God knows when it might be resurrected. "Worker Ge, don''t mess around!" President Sun Qiuguo, seeing someone bypassing him to report directly to Vice President Shen, was naturally displeased. However, he didn''t take it personally and could understand Worker Ge''s urgency. The crash of Prototype No. 2 had dealt a severe blow to the "Canglong" project, and everyone was under pressure. Now Chen Fei was like a lifeline presented to the project team. If they could really replicate a hundred prototype aircraft... damn, Old Ge, could you follow the procedure first? President Sun didn''t oppose Worker Ge''s idea, but haste wouldn''t bring success in eating hot tofu. If it were someone else leading the "Canglong" project, they would undoubtedly make it tough for Old Ge. "Are you talking about replicating the third prototype?" Seeing such an opportunity, Shen Songling pondered for a moment, looked toward President Sun, and said, "Director-General Sun, prepare a report!" The idea was right, but procedural rules still needed to be respected; otherwise, the entire team would be in chaos. Just because Worker Ge made a mistake didn''t mean others should continue making them, and he, as the vice president, couldn''t afford to compound the error. Otherwise, where would the Director-General put his face? His prestige might even be affected, which would not be conducive to unity. President Sun glanced at Worker Ge, nodded, and said, "I understand, I''ll prepare the report later." Everything returned to normal; no one made mistakes, just like that! Realizing his overreach, Worker Ge gave a sheepish smile and remained quiet. Shen Songling looked at Chen Fei with a pleasant expression and said, "Little Chen, to replicate a hundred prototype aircraft, how much time do you need?" The more he looked at this young man, the more he liked him. Such rare talent! "Like the F-22? It would take about 10 minutes for one, including rest periods, four an hour, roughly 25 hours for a hundred. Do you need them now?" Chen Fei estimated and provided a relatively conservative number. If he worked nonstop for one day and night without eating, drinking, or resting, he could produce these hundred aircraft. If this replication efficiency were used in a competition with the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the latter would likely collapse instantly. Because the former could sell fighter jets at the price of cabbages; no-one else would stand a chance. "No, no, no rush!" Shen Songling quickly waved his hand; after all, proper procedures must still be followed. For such a large group company, without rules, there''s no standards. If Chen Fei hadn''t officially joined yet, he still wouldn''t let him actually interact with the "Canglong" prototypes, let alone talk about "sacrifice" or replication. If the name isn''t right, then the words don''t go smoothly, and if the words don''t go smoothly, the work can''t succeed. Once formally employed by the group company, joining the "Canglong" project team is the next natural step. Even the vice president of the group couldn''t easily break the rules, not even for his own daughter''s sake. Allowing Chen Fei to enter the crash site and speak briefly with the expert team was already the limit. He really couldn''t rush. Moreover, the "Canglong" project could afford to wait. Compared to the long development cycle, the time for the employment process was insignificant. And, in reality, they didn''t actually need a hundred prototype aircraft; it would be utterly reckless to crash all of them. The pressure on the test pilots would be enormous and they might even strike. Therefore, a maximum of twenty prototype aircraft would suffice to push the entire project to completion. Cost didn''t need to be a consideration, given the industry''s capabilities. Shen Fei patted Chen Fei''s shoulder and said, "Don''t worry, it''ll definitely be okay!" The two of them could work at the same place again. With Old Father personally operating and adding Chen Fei''s industrial-grade ability, securing a position was almost a done deal. Shen Fei even felt a bit envious. "That''s great, really great!" Off to the side, Worker Ge kept pounding his palms with his fists, and the other experts all looked visibly joyful. With the assistance of an industrial-grade metal psychic power, it would save a huge amount of effort, whether in terms of time or money, no longer turning into impediments. Many difficulties would be solved at once, and the powered-up project team might even enhance their design targets a notch, turning the recently devastated "Canglong" into something really exciting. Everything started moving in a good direction. - Chapter 436 436: Section 432 - The Uncertainty of Worldly Affairs The competitive investigation report from the HR section suddenly made Shen Songling, vice president of Northern Weapons Industry Group, feel extremely complicated. The subject undergoing the investigation had no issues with his credentials; otherwise, he wouldn''t have been enlisted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee¡ªclearly a reputable family''s offspring at the very least. As for peculiar records like "feral clan leader," in front of industrial-grade metal elemental psychic powers, they were hardly significant enough to be considered an issue. Everything seemed perfect. So perfect that it was nearly impossible to find any reason to prevent the individual from joining the Northern Weapons Industry Group. But... Chen Fei belonged to the Chen family, and his uncle was the arch-rival of the Northern Weapons Industry Group in the industry, serving as both director and major shareholder of National Defense Star Aerospace Company. Even though the Chen Family Gate had already divided its house, and each went their separate ways, the relationship between Chen Haiqing and Chen Haishang remained close; Chen Haiqing''s youngest son had always spent his summer holidays at Chen Haishang''s home, very familiar with the three siblings of the Chen family. Upon reading this, Shen Songling exclaimed in shock, "Goodness gracious, wild boar in the vegetable garden, this is surely an insider threat!" The HR section''s evaluation was not to recommend employment; otherwise, Northern Weapons would have no secrets to keep from National Defense Star. The relationship between the two was such that if National Defense Star fell, Northern Weapons would be the national treasure, both sides smirking at each other while cursing behind their backs. It was precisely because of this layer of connection that Shen Songling could imagine that the originally likely certainty of formal allocation had now probably dropped to zero; the senior management would definitely refuse without hesitation. If he were to persist stubbornly, he would most likely be putting his vice president''s reputation on the line, a complete loss for nothing gained. The hopeful "Canglong" project team was bound to be disappointed. Knock, knock, knock... the sound of knocking came. "Come in!" Shen Songling sighed, tossing the HR investigation report to the side. This task was impossible! "Director Shen! This is President-General Sun''s report for the ''Canglong'' project." Shen Fei entered the room, still addressing him formally in her capacity as his secretary. Having his own daughter as a secretary, he could trust her completely with his heart, not worrying about laziness or tardiness. Even if she cried from being scolded, there was no fear she would tell her parents¡ªit was a father''s right to discipline his daughter. However, up to now, Shen Fei had performed quite well as a secretary. After all, she had been a teacher and even solely carried all the work of the school. She handled the complex secretarial duties with ease and without confusion. "Oh! Hand it to me!" Shen Songling sighed again. The senior engineers were bound to be disappointed, and he had no idea how to explain the situation to them. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. "Eh! Dad, you seem upset!" In private, Shen Fei sometimes sneakily switched her form of address. As she set down the report, she quickly glanced at the documents by her father''s hand. She saw Chen Fei''s name, then looked closely and realized it was a competitive investigation from HR, and Chen Fei was the subject. They were preparing to poach him! "Looking at what?" Shen Songling noticed his daughter''s glance, peeking at the document by his hand, and couldn''t help but chuckle, saying, "Did you know Little Chen is a disciple of the Chen family?" "I know! What about it?" Shen Fei had seen Chen Fei at the daughter''s wedding of the chairman of National Defense Star Aerospace Company, and naturally knew that the two Chens were from the same major clan. Chen Fei admitted that he was a disciple of the Chen family. "The trouble lies right here!" Shen Songling pointed at the report by his hand. "A disciple of the Chen family can''t work at Northern Weapons Industry Group?" Quick-witted Shen Fei immediately guessed a possible complication, realizing that there was an unexpected issue with the allocation. "Chen Fei is a descendant of a rival enterprise''s family; you might think it''s okay, but others might not see it that way. The ''Canglong'' project is a confidential project and, at this crucial juncture, others would definitely prefer to err on the side of caution." Shen Songling sighed repeatedly. With Chen Fei''s psychic power, even if he openly "stole" Northern Weapons Industry Group''s technical secrets, others might hardly notice. It was truly hard to guard against. If he indeed harbored any ulterior motives, it would be like bringing a wolf into the house; even with his industrial-grade ability, it would only have to be set aside. Even as the vice president of the corporation, Shen Songling dared not take this risk¡ªbetter safe than sorry. "What era is this, still playing out some Romeo and Juliet drama? Where is the trust between people?" Shen Fei pouted, quite displeased in her heart. But this sort of trust crisis would still become the biggest roadblock to Chen Fei''s employment at the corporation; what should be done? Seeing his daughter''s expression, knowing she was considerate for her friend, Shen Songling said, "This matter, unless recommended by the corporation''s higher-ups and agreed by the board of directors, is not just up to me." The vice president of the corporation was indeed of high rank and authority, but in a senior management meeting crowded with big shots, it was just that; if they decided not to give you face, there was nothing you could do. Small matters might still be influenced somewhat, but when it comes to company secrets, many would think it better to avoid giving themselves trouble by taking risks. Dad clearly underestimated his daughter''s determination; Shen Fei said decisively, "So it would be best to convince everyone, or at least the majority, right?" "That''s right, hey, hey, don''t mess around!" Shen Songling couldn''t stop her in time, as his daughter swiftly snatched the HR competitive investigation report and even took away the "Canglong" project report intended for his review. I go... Old Shen was left staring dumbfounded as his own beloved daughter stormed out of his office. This girl... The last two reports were actually connected. Without Chen Fei being able to join, the latest report on the "Canglong" project would lose its meaning. The team on the "Canglong" project was eagerly waiting, not just for rice to cook, no, not for people to cook, but they were anxiously expecting the industrial-grade metal elemental psychic power to kick in! If that trick couldn''t be performed, the senior engineers might as well have wished they were dead. Shen Songling could not very well chase his daughter back either, after all, there were some things Shen Fei could do that he, as the vice president, could not. Perhaps facing reality would give his daughter a clearer perspective. Sheesh! What kind of love potion has Chen Fei fed to my daughter for her to exert herself so much? The need for Chen Fei to join the "Canglong" project team was one thing, but his own daughter seemed to be overly enthusiastic. Hold on... let me sort this out, yes, let''s sort that first! While Vice President Shen was still clarifying his thoughts, Shen Fei simply went ahead and blew up the "Canglong" project. She straightforwardly told President Sun and the others, it''s over, Chen Fei is from a competing corporation. The executive meeting and the board of directors will definitely not approve it, you guys better wash up and go to sleep, and forget this ever happened. If you disagree, quit promptly and make a big fuss about it, because if your position is low, your words will carry little weight, and no one will take you seriously. Damn, the report was written, dreams were dreamt¡ªno person, definitely not acceptable! The expert group''s senior engineers exploded as Shen Fei had suggested. It''s everyone for themselves, who doesn''t have their own clique? They directly started making calls. As a storm was brewing internally within the corporate group, Shen Fei cheerfully knocked on the chairman''s office. The people in the secretarial department didn''t need an appointment. She could easily obtain the leaders'' schedules from her seniors and cleverly seize the opportunity to meet them. ... - That evening, Shen Fei and Chen Fei met up for dinner again. She specifically bought meat and vegetables, brought the mobile base vehicle, just like they used to in Patan Elementary School in Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, and the two prepared dinner together inside the vehicle. Though dining out had its class, besides not having to wash dishes afterward, it didn''t compare to the warmth and ambiance of cooking by oneself. And there was Xiao Jiu, the little troublemaker. While picking vegetables, Shen Fei asked, "Why don''t you stay in a hotel?" The mobile base vehicle was not left at the 310 airport, but was always parked near the administrative center of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, easily visible from the secretarial office as an exceptionally conspicuous behemoth. "I feel more comfortable on the vehicle, everything is more convenient." This time, Chen Fei did not prepare hotpot, but carefully prepared several solid heavy dishes instead. On the stove, a pig''s trotter was simmering, glossy and reddish, the skin transparent like amber, soybeans filling the space between, each nearly as big as a bean. The mobile base vehicle had water, electricity, internet, heating, and could move anytime; its carriage was even more spacious than a guest room. Naturally, Chen Fei preferred it to a hotel. If someday he didn''t want to cook, he could just drive around and enjoy himself. That wouldn''t be too comfortable, especially if Teacher Shen could join him¡ªperfection. "About the official matter... sorry!" "Sorry!" "Huh?" ¡Á2! "Jiu?" Shen Fei and Chen Fei looked at each other, along with the interloping Little Bird. "You first!" Chen Fei was the first to break their unintentional deadlock. "You... probably can''t join Northern Weapons Industry Group. The board overruled it." Shen Fei had been brewing this for a long time, finally putting into words the burden she had carried since getting into the car. She was very, very sorry. She had had good intentions, but as it turned out, the situation was not as simple as she had thought. "No, no worries, I hadn''t planned on switching jobs!" Loyal Chen Xiao''er, who did not want to disappoint Boss Hanna who had taken on his debts but shared good wine. Most importantly, he preferred the relaxed environment at Jiu Defense Company and the absence of backstabbing, not quite fitting into the rigid framework of a central enterprise. To be precise, he wasn''t adept at office politics; it was too brain-burning and it was easy to fall into someone else''s traps, not even knowing how he would be destroyed. "Heh..." ¡Á2! Both let out a sigh of relief simultaneously, it seemed they no longer needed to worry about how to meet each other''s expectations. Although their reasons differed, the result was the same, no need to pressure each other. Shen Fei, not wanting to impose on Chen Xiao''er, empathetically said, "Central enterprises have their benefits, private companies have their freedoms." A true man''s ambition reaches everywhere, he should not be tied down back at home. - Chapter 437 437: Section 433 - Visit Home Shen Fei put so much effort into trying to keep Chen Fei, partly out of her personal desire. However, due to the corporate executive''s decision, though her father was the vice president, he couldn''t say much, and despite her best efforts, she still failed. In human life, disappointments are common. "I''m actually quite accustomed to my current job." With a job that provided meat, fish, and even beasts, and a decent salary to boot, Chen Fei was genuinely well-suited to it. After serious consideration, he ultimately chose to turn down the offer from Northern Weapons Industry Group. Despite the life-threatening risks, harshly speaking, life is fraught with dangers everywhere, even hiding at home couldn''t guarantee true safety. Since arriving in this world, no one had managed to live and then return to it after death. Surviving was fate, and so was not surviving. Since it was all fate, one must accept it. "Didn''t you plan on working at your uncle''s company? The compensation at National Defense Star must be better than a military contractor''s, right?" Shen Fei felt that with Chen Fei''s capabilities, he should belong in a larger corporation and not stick with a private military contractor. Even if not at Northern Weapons Industry, National Defense Star was a very good choice, especially since it was run by his own family. "If I had studied aerospace or mechanical processing, even industrial accounting, perhaps I would consider my uncle''s company. But I studied economics, a completely different field. I truly understand how different they are and it''s been hard enough getting the hang of this line of work. I really don''t want to change now, nor do I have the energy to spare," Chen Fei thought for a moment. He figured he was the type to seek stability, to stick to one trade and love it, rather than hopping around like a monkey. He continued explaining, "Unless going down a crooked path, my uncle generally doesn''t interfere with us juniors'' education and careers. Actually, family businesses have their pros and cons, and I''d rather not get involved." Fortunately, the Chen Family''s generation was mostly decent, with none straying into shady practices, and their capable and well-connected uncle never had to worry about them. Because he had studied quite a few economics cases, Chen Fei opposed making the company a family business, naturally he wouldn''t jump blindly into a pit. Let Little Shanzi, the heir, deal with the headaches of running National Defense Star. What with meddling aunts and uncles, and ludicrously distant relatives, it was better than the infighting in Central Enterprises, where at least there was procedural fairness and competition was within the rules. Internal family conflicts didn''t care about these things, freely resorting to unpleasant tactics without any lower limits. Thus, family businesses often didn''t end well. The larger they got and the more relatives joined, the more tragic their downfall. They often lasted only a generation, sometimes two, and rarely survived the third. Moreover, Chen Fei discovered his Metal Elemental Psychic Power only after joining the Aircrew Base. If his uncle and National Defense Star knew about his industrial-grade ability, they probably wouldn''t let him simply mingle with military contractors. "Your uncle really has an open mind." Shen Fei thought that Chen Fei''s uncle, the chairman of National Defense Star, must be a very enlightened person. In contrast, Northern Weapons Industry seemed rather petty, hesitant and fearful of assuming responsibilities. It was also understandable. The management of a Central Enterprise endured much like downtrodden wives, constantly criticized by not one but many stingy mother-in-laws. If the wife performed well, it was expected; if not, she might be dismissed. A lifetime''s contribution earned just enough for retirement, and that was all, hence they often endeavored to avoid faults rather than to achieve merits, like a lazy monk only ringing the bell when required. Of course, it was only slightly better than the miserable citizens who struggled with birth, upbringing, age, and death. "Uh, yes, my uncle aims for bigger things and doesn''t sweat the small stuff." Chen Fei was taken aback and then nodded vigorously. If there was any pettiness, the Chen siblings who had relentlessly bullied Little Shanzi every summer would have been hung upside down under lampposts long ago, returning from vacation only to be beaten to cries within days. Of course, Chen Shan was quite mischievous himself, a hyperactive kid who couldn''t stay still for a second and got beaten deservedly. "Your sister is in university in the North, right?" Changing the subject from the unpleasant topic, Shen Fei shifted her focus to Chen Fei''s younger sister. She had heard before that Chen Fei''s younger sister, Chen Meng, as a trainee, was studying at Northern Industrial University. Her sponsoring entity, Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, was also a Central Enterprise but had no competitive relations with National Defense Star, so they didn''t consider the Chen Family''s background and admitted her just the same. Although Northern Industrial University and Northern Weapons Industry Group were not in the same city, they weren''t too far apart either; taking a Mobile Base Vehicle would cut the travel down to a maximum of five hours. "That''s right, I''m planning to go there the day after tomorrow." Having finished preparing the vegetables, Chen Fei spoke as he began to cook, sparks flying on the induction cooker, the exhaust hood roaring. "I''m off tomorrow, perfect for spending the day with you here, and you should come over for dinner in the evening." Shen Fei also started working on the induction cooker, skillfully frying the fish. Since it was always a workday, she wanted to seize the opportunity to have meals with Chen Fei when they weren''t working overtime. "Sounds good!" Chen Fei responded naturally. Both were skilled cooks, and as they stood side by side at the stove, they often instinctively formed a kind of remarkable understanding. Soon, they had prepared four dishes. After all, there were only the two of them, and making too much would mean leftovers. "Dinner''s ready, Little Bird, call ''Ah Mao'' out." Chen Fei found a bowl and threw in some defrosted rib meat before placing it on the floor. The Shadow Wolf was easy to feed, not picky and content with meat. Storage meat, scraps, and chicken carcasses all suited its needs, and it ate dog food as well. "Jiu!" Little Bird called out to the shadow at Shen Fei''s feet. The Magical Beast Shadow Wolf quickly dashed out, following the scent of the meat towards its prepared bowl and started gobbling it up. If it was even a moment slow, Little Bird''s "Light Burst Flash" would break its Shadowing Skill in an instant, causing it to fall out embarrassingly. Both being Third Rank, Little Bird of the Light Element dominated the Dark Element Shadow Wolf, leaving it without the spirit to fight back. - The administrative center of Northern Weapons Industry Group was located in a small economic district town, not densely populated, with just over six hundred thousand people, bordered by industrial and agricultural zones. To meet the basic cultural and recreational needs of over 600,000 people, there were some tourist attractions, including parks, farm stays, forest wetlands, fitness centers, and skating rinks. They just weren''t very famous. On holidays, the places might see a bit more footfall, but usually, they were fairly deserted, and some attractions didn''t even bother collecting entrance fees. Fortunately, Chen Fei had a Mobile Base Vehicle, and Teacher Shen directed the way. They treated it like a camping trip, roaming and exploring wherever they went without worrying about finding a place to rest and have lunch. After wandering around for the whole day and picking up some local specialties, the Mobile Base Vehicle drove into the executive villa district of the Northern Weapons Industry Group as the daylight began to fade. In small places, housing prices were not expensive, each executive had their own villa, which really didn''t cost much, even being cheaper than Chen Fei''s big brother''s wedding house. Moreover, ownership of the villas wasn''t transferred until after retirement. In a sense, these villas were like stock options, only vested upon official retirement. If the executives were held accountable for anything or changed jobs, they still had to give back the benefits of living rent-free. Getting such benefits wasn''t that easy. The Mobile Base Vehicle parked right next to the Shen family''s villa''s outer yard, blocking the entire chest-high short wall. The lights inside the villa glowed brightly, seeming like Shen Songling and his wife were waiting for their return. "It''s just my dad and mom here, no one else." Shen Fei took Chen Fei''s hand as they got out of the vehicle, heading towards her family''s courtyard. The villa wasn''t large, just two and a half stories along with a basement. For a family of three who didn''t employ a housekeeper, it was more than sufficient, even big enough to house a grand piano. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu followed them out. It didn''t go into the self-heating nest prepared by Chen Fei, but instead snuggled into Chen Fei''s dad''s jacket pocket, only its little head sticking out. This clever little creature always found the best spots. They walked along the snow-cleared cobblestone path straight to the villa''s main door. Upon opening the door, warm air rushed towards them, with room temperatures at least above 25 degrees Celsius. The thick clothes they were wearing were too much, and there was a coat rack right by the door where one could hang coats, down jackets, and scarves. "Dad, Mom, I''m back!" Shen Fei yelled. "You''re back! Little Chen is here too!" The kitchen was bustling, and Shen Songling, wearing an apron, poked half his body out of the kitchen door, sizing up the two of them. Ah... From the Chen Family Gate! "Hello, Uncle Shen!" Previously, he had called him Director Shen. "Little Chen is here, come sit down, the meal will be ready soon." An elegant woman also peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes smiling at Chen Fei. When their daughter brought a friend home, both Father Shen and Mother Shen would cook together, carefully preparing a family feast. "Hello, Auntie!" Chen Fei quickly greeted her. No wonder Teacher Shen''s cooking skills were so good¡ªit was a family tradition. "Jiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow that had popped out of the pocket suddenly became active, flying around the living room, probably fed up with staying in the Mobile Base Vehicle. Now, it hopped to the chandelier, pecking here and there, clearly in high spirits. The shadow under Shen Fei''s feet flickered, and the Shadow Wolf emerged, finding its way to its familiar dog mat and settling down¡ªit was off work now and just the right time for a break. After dinner, they might even watch some TV, as long as her dad didn''t fight over the remote control. "Ah Mao" was living a pretty good life, with its own nest, knowing how to use the toilet, bathe itself, watch TV, and tidy up its belongings. "Oh right, I almost forgot!" Chen Fei smacked his forehead as if he had just remembered something. "Forgot what?" Shen Fei, who was bringing slippers to Chen Fei, was puzzled. "How could I arrive empty-handed." Chen Fei gestured to Little Bird. "Jiu?" Little Bird immediately flew over, landing on his shoulder. "Bring out a bottle of wine, any wine will do!" "Jiu?" "Wine!" Teacher Shen was utterly confused. What were this man and bird talking about? - Chapter 438 438: Section 434 - Good Wine Ever since confirming that one of Little Bird''s two leg rings was a Storage Magical Device, Chen Fei knew that the little guy''s stolen stockpile of good wine had to be more than just one bottle. Clunk, a bottle of red wine landed in Chen Fei''s hands¡ªbusted! Initially, he did indeed plan to return it to Boss Hana, but then and now were different moments; now, it truly was a big help. "Huh?" Shen Fei couldn''t help but widen her eyes. Where did this wine come from, could it be... She glanced at Xiao Jiu. "Shh... Keep it a secret!" Chen Fei quickly whispered a reminder. Teacher Shen was a trustworthy person, just as reliable as his teammates from Squad 04; bonded by life and death, they could naturally keep this little secret. If it were someone else, he wouldn''t leak even half a word. "This wine is expensive, isn''t it? You''re wasting money again!" Just by looking at the label, Shen Fei knew this bottle wasn''t ordinary fare, not the kind you buy for a few thousand Star Yuan to fill the pantry. "No, I don''t have money to waste." Chen Fei spoke the blunt truth; he indeed had no money. To be precise, he was operating at a negative cash flow, but he was never short on items¡ªit''s just that liquidating them was a bit tricky. The only items readily convertible to cash were those fluorescence crystals entrusted to the profiteer, Old Piao, and who knew when all of them would be sold off. With Old Piao''s capabilities and channels, no matter what, it would take a long time. "When you''ve paid off your debts, then you can do as you please!" Now that the wine was out, Shen Fei had no choice but to make an exception. Although Chen Fei was quite broke now, there was no need to worry that he would be forever. A supernatural power user who works hard won''t lack money, especially an industrial-grade one. No matter how you looked at it, he didn''t seem like someone who would be short on cash in the future. No more than half an hour had passed since Chen Fei and Shen Fei entered the house, and dinner was ready. Four people, six or seven dishes¡ªthat was considered quite plentiful. "Little Chen, it''s your first time here, don''t be polite. Have some dishes, don''t be shy." Mother Shen was all smiles as she offered Chen Fei the food, in stark contrast to Father Shen who was concealing his emotions and forcing a smile. Chen Fei picked up the wine he brought, gesturing, "Shall we open it?" The wine he brought was of substantial quality¡ªa bottle befitting of Boss Hana''s cellar would never be anything but exceptional. "Then let''s give it a taste!" Having seen much of the world, Shen Songling recognized the vineyard''s brand on the label. Platinum Trockenbeerenauslese¡ªat least 300,000 Star Yuan on the market, if you could even find it. Ordinary people couldn''t afford it, let alone have heard of it. It was available only to the true upper echelons of society who had both the channels and the means to buy it. Seems this young lad really went to great lengths! Many things can be seen through, but flattery always strikes a chord. With a good wine at hand, Shen Songling''s face lightened up a bit. No matter what, both Old Shen and his daughter shared the same view on some matters; they didn''t look down on the poor young man at all. Young, capable, and willing to work hard, so economic hardship would only be temporary. No way could he be poor his whole life. A mere few million Star Yuan¡ªwith a little effort, you can earn it in a year or two. Pop! The cork was pulled out, and a faint scent of wine quickly filled the room. Xiao Jiu, who had been flying around the villa exploring, followed the scent over and landed on Chen Fei''s hand, eyeing the bottle opening with eager anticipation. "Jiu!~" It never knew the meaning of restraint. "Hahaha, this little guy is just too cute." Mother Shen couldn''t help but laugh when she saw the little one trying to sneak a drink. "This little guy loves drinking most, and it even steals wine!" Chen Fei, feeling helpless, took his soup spoon, poured a little wine into it, and managed to placate the little one; otherwise, it would have been an endless bother. This pesky beast! "Jiu!~" The Pure Light Sparrow pounced beside the spoon, dipped its head, tossed back its neck, clacked its beak, Then turned its head to look at everyone sitting around the table, its little movements and expressions looking utterly human. "Is it okay for Xiao Jiu to drink alcohol?" Shen Fei really didn''t know that this little one was actually quite the tippler. She recalled its seemingly well-behaved appearance back in Patan Elementary School. Chen Fei resignedly said, "It''s fine, Xiao Jiu not only loves to drink but also loves coffee. Curiosity heavier than a cat''s¡ªit wants to taste everything." If Xiao Jiu were not a magical beast but an ordinary bird, it would have long been dead from alcohol poisoning. Magical beasts have a vitality and resilience far surpassing that of ordinary wild animals, not to mention that, as a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast of the Human Order, it naturally had strong resistance to adverse states. At worst, it got drunk and stumbled back to its nest to sleep with both claws in the air. "Dad, cheers!" Shen Fei raised her wine glass and clinked it with her father''s. Then she exclaimed in surprise, "This wine is genuinely fragrant!" The clear liquid was somewhat viscous, gently swirled it naturally coated the glass. "Mm! Good wine!" Shen Songling originally wanted to brush off with a casual remark, but in the end, he couldn''t go against his true feelings. It was indeed good liquor, worthy of its 300,000 Star Yuan price tag. "Little Chen, have your parents retired..." No sooner had the round of drinks finished than Mother Shen started rattling off questions in full inquisition mode. Chen Fei responded with a smile, smooth as ever. Father Shen, Shen Songling, developed calluses on his ears listening; the HR department had already thoroughly investigated Chen Fei and the Chen Family, so he was not only too lazy to ask but also too lazy to talk. He was perfectly content savoring the wine, not even bothering with superfluous chatter. "Hey, Shen Songling, how come you''re not saying anything?" After interrogating for quite a while, Mother Shen, seeing Father Shen pouring his own drinks and minding his own business, immediately felt unsatisfied. Her daughter seldom brings a young man home; don''t you have any reaction at all? Is there really nothing to say? To be honest, Shen Songling indeed had nothing much to say. As for the Chen family''s affairs, he knew even more than what his wife had inquired about; it was all clearly spelt out in the investigation report. "I know it all already!" Seeing his wife''s eyes flare up as she was about to explode, Shen Songling reluctantly put down his wine glass. "So both you and our daughter know already, and only I''m in the dark?" Mother Shen immediately found her point of contention. In fact, oftentimes sheer rhetoric triumphs over truth. Shen Songling: "..." "My mom''s just like that, always domineering. In our house, my dad''s just the deputy," said Shen Fei, not giving her dad any face and spilling the inner workings of the Shen family''s household hierarchy to Chen Fei. Shen Songling: Dear daughter, don''t get angry, dear daughter, don''t get angry... The wine somehow lost its taste. Then he glared at the Chen Family lad, thinking how adept he was at getting straight to the point, charging like a bull! "Heh heh!" Chen Fei laughed awkwardly, exchanging a brief look with Old Shen. Come hit me if you dare! This guy really had guts. Even if he gave Old Shen a heavy machine gun to blast Chen Xiao''er for ten minutes, he probably wouldn''t be able to do anything to the kid. "Come on, let''s continue eating!" Mother Shen finally spared the non-violently uncooperative Old Shen and resumed her mode of serving Chen Fei dishes. "Little Chen, have you been to the North before? The weather''s really cold. Every winter, my arms start to act up." "Is that so? Xiao Jiu, give my aunt a shot of ''Light of Redemption''!" "Jiu?" "Ohhhh, that feels so comfortable, just like soaking in a hot spring. Such a clever little thing! Having such a Light-element Magical Beast at home surely brings a lot of blessings to the elderly. By the way, where did you get Xiao Fei''s Shadow Wolf from? How much did it cost? It''s really good for guarding the house, big and imposing, yet so obedient." "Picked it up in the mountains, beat it if it doesn''t obey, that''s all!" "Whoo!~~~~~" The Shadow Wolf, frightened, hid in its den, not even daring to touch the TV remote anymore. The poor creature was already psychologically scarred from being double-teamed by Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu. Chen Fei and Mother Shen''s exchange was indeed pleasant, while Father Shen, Shen Songling, occasionally snorted coldly, his face twisted with dissatisfaction. Even though Shen Songling was not too fond of this Chen Family lad, Mother Shen had a different opinion. Her daughter was well-behaved and obedient, having finally returned from teaching in remote areas with her age clearly showing, and even if Mother Shen claimed not to be in a hurry on the surface, it would certainly be a lie. Matters of life were important, and a match of equal social status was the first criterion. Father Shen worked in the military industry, as did the Chen Family, which made them a perfect match in status. Despite Chen Fei''s family not being particularly wealthy, having three siblings with little to benefit from his uncle''s side, his special ability and Magical Beast meant he really wouldn''t have to worry about trivial matters of daily life. Besides, the Shen Family didn''t care about these things; as long as he was a good character worthy of trust, that was enough. In a way, Shen Fei was picky too; an average person really couldn''t catch her eye. So Mother Shen still trusted her daughter''s judgment. Now, it seemed that Chen Fei, in Mother Shen''s eyes, might not score a perfect hundred percent, but he definitely wasn''t hovering around the pass mark, at the least he was handsome and presentable. After a hearty meal and plenty of drinks. The slightly tipsy Xiao Jiu began bullying the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao", pouncing on its head and pulling at its fur to make a nest for itself. The place of "Ah Mao" in the household was really hard to describe. While Chen Fei was occupied with helping Mother Shen with the dishes in the kitchen, Shen Fei took the opportunity to collapse next to her father on the couch. "Old Dad, how do you see it?" Although it wasn''t spelled out from the beginning, the implication was clear to everyone. Shen Songling, irked, said: "What is there for me to say? As long as you like him, that''s all that matters." The Northern Weapons Industry and National Defense Star had a legitimate commercial competition, and it wasn''t exactly a familial feud like between Romeo and Juliet''s families; Shen Songling wasn''t petty to that extent. "What about your ''Canglong'' project?" A hole in the cotton-padded jacket still made it a jacket. "I..." Old Shen suddenly choked up. - Chapter 439 439: Section 435 - Lets Talk Military industrial enterprises have always involved large investments, large outputs, and large profits. The "Canglong" project, personally overseen by Vice President Shen Songling, was a new type of future main battle aircraft. If successful, the dividends it brought could easily sustain the corporation luxuriously for at least twenty years, and even have surplus energy to continue developing the next generation of main combat aircraft. This achievement would be enough to heavily mark his personal legacy in the history of the company, hence moving up further was not an impossibility. But should it fail, the vast economic loss incurred, not to mention the huge impact it would have on Shen Songling''s internal status within the corporation, would very likely lead him to resign due to guilt, or take an early retirement, since someone had to be responsible. After struggling hard for most of his life, he might become an insurmountable obstacle for a lifetime. Yet, Old Shen felt he might still strive for another 20 years. Currently, the "Canglong" project was in trouble due to the crash of the second prototype, and the best way to break this situation was the young man currently washing dishes in the kitchen. Industrial grade metal elemental psychic power was truly a blessing for all industrial enterprises, but his Chen Family Gate background posed an even greater risk to the Northern Weapons Industry Group. The "Canglong" project leaked, and even more technological secrets were obtained by the biggest local competitor, resulting in a potentially fatal blow to the Northern Weapons Industry Group. No one could bear this responsibility, not even Shen Songling, although his daughter and those seniors were scrambling lately. Still, the corporate higher-ups wouldn''t budge, as it was a matter of corporate life and death; no one dared take that risk. As for break-ins at Old Shen''s home, a thoroughly exhausted Shen Songling had long been unable to cope. Seeing her father''s helpless expression, Shen Fei asked, "Isn''t there any other way?" "The decision isn''t solely up to me." Shen Songling sighed and shook his head. Even if the top authority spoke, it wouldn''t work. Despite having given hope, then cruelly snatching it away, the project team''s experts might all hate him, yet what could Shen Songling do? This was a collective decision by the corporate higher-ups; even the king of heaven couldn''t change their mind. "We might as well outsource the ''Canglong''!" Shen Fei thought of a circumventive idea. In that case, Chen Fei might be able to help. "Naive. This is a national asset, how could we easily hand it over to others? I would rather it rot in our own hands," Shen Songling scoffed at such an idea. The "Canglong" project, once in someone else''s hands, meant handing over the major benefits and even breaking away to act independently wasn''t out of the question. If such a thing happened, all the efforts the Northern Weapons Industry Group had put in beforehand would become a laughing stock, mocked by the industry for at least a hundred years. The father and daughter faced each other, obviously out of options. - The kitchen was quickly tidied up, restoring everything to its original state. Mother Shen poured Chen Fei a cup of hot tea and said with a smile, "Little Chen, why don''t you stay here tonight?" "No, it''s not necessary; I can stay in the car." Staying at someone''s home on his first visit, Chen Fei was really not used to it. "Sleeping in the car isn''t as comfortable as in a bedroom. We have guest rooms, both on the first and second floors. Did you bring a change of clothes? Xiao Fei, take Little Chen to see the guest rooms, choose one and then move an AC blanket there." Mother Shen, displaying her authority as the head of the Shen family, defiantly arranged it for Chen Fei. "Come on, let''s check out the guest rooms." Shen Fei, without asking, pulled Chen Fei to see the guest rooms in the villa. With two and a half floors plus a basement, the house had more than enough room. It was normally equipped with two guest rooms, but another could be made available immediately with some tidying. If that still wasn''t enough, the semi-high attic was also livable. As there were no partitions, it actually offered more room. No matter which room, all were equipped with underfloor heating, maintaining temperatures well above 25 degrees Celsius, so there was no worry of catching cold. What more could Shen Songling say? Congratulations young man on the successful break-in? Damn ... - The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Chen Fei bid farewell to the Shen family of three, preparing to visit his younger sister at Northern Industrial University. Shen Fei had to accompany her father to work, so she couldn''t continue with Chen Fei. A large and a small vehicle left the Shen''s villa one after another. The Mobile Base Vehicle had barely left the economic zone when it was blocked by several vehicles, with at least a dozen people present. "Chen Fei, get out of the car for a chat!" The people blocking the road were clearly targeting Chen Fei, one of them even holding a megaphone and shouting at full volume. People at the roadside were also making hand signs, pointing towards the large empty area beside the national highway. The Mobile Base Vehicle was also equipped with a powerful megaphone. Chen Fei picked up the corded mic and calmly asked, "Want to fight?" The volume completely overwhelmed the opponent''s handheld loudspeaker, making it even more imposing. The group blocking the path looked at each other, and the one holding the loudspeaker loudly said, "We''re being reasonable." In fact, these people had tried to find Chen Fei once before, but they were stopped at the gate of Airport 310 by guards. They didn''t have access to the military zone, so they could only stare helplessly and were soon driven away by the uneasy guards. Loitering at the entrance of a military zone was asking for trouble¡ªtea without leaves; perhaps they''d prefer the dregs? In the following days, the mobile base vehicle stayed near the administrative center, coinciding with big leaders continuously meeting there (discussing Chen Fei himself), and these youngsters did not dare to act rashly. That was until this massive vehicle brazenly drove into the executive district of the corporation, particularly as Chen Xiao''er spent the night in a villa there, which was like a stab in the heart for some people, and it hurt like hell. No sooner had the mobile base vehicle left the district than the pals, knowing the roads well, floored the accelerator and took shortcuts, eventually managing to intercept him. Chen Fei turned the steering wheel, and the mobile base vehicle drove off the national highway. There were cameras on the vehicle; if the others dared to make a move, he dared to play dead. After all, this was their homeland, not a lawless land. If those people dared to use their power to bully others, it would be a fair fight, man to man. The Chen Family Gate''s big uncle would teach them how to be good people. The mobile base vehicle came to a stop, and just as Chen Fei got out, he was blocked by a young man with a spiky haircut. "You''re Chen Fei, how do you know Xiao Fei?" Chen Fei spread his arms, shrugged his shoulders, and said with an air of nonchalance, "Of course, it happened in the wilds, just a lone man and a lone woman, that''s how we met." A chubby young man with lots of acne rushed over, swung a fist at Chen Fei, and threatened, "Let me tell you, the sisters of Northern Weapons aren''t for the likes of you, a toad, to touch, especially Sister Fei." "Little Ge, calm down, gentlemen use their words, not their fists. Let''s be reasonable." Another young man Chen Fei had once seen at the gate of the Northern Weapons Industry Group administration center quickly held back the emotionally charged chubby lad. He seemed to be named Nangong Ruiyang, a senior engineer and assistant general manager for the "Canglong" project, Nangong Chengyu''s son. It seemed these people really didn''t intend to use force to teach Chen Fei a lesson. However, Chen Xiao''er carelessly said, "Sorry, but I''m skilled in taking action, not talking, and in earning respect through virtue." Whether as a pilot of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, a maintenance technician in the engineering group, or now a member of Team 04 of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, he was indeed responsible for physical work. "You brat, you dare be so arrogant?" The acne-faced chubby youth, like a gunpowder keg, yelled loudly and wanted to rush forward and fight. Judging by his age, it seemed like a sequelae stage of his rebellious phase, the kind to act impulsively without regard for anything, the most lawless moment. He didn''t manage to get close to Chen Fei but was firmly held back by his pals; starting a fight would change the nature of the incident. "What exactly are you saying, young man?" Chen Fei looked at him with a smile, while behind him, the top of the mobile base vehicle raised a railgun, the barrel slowly moving, aimed directly at the group wanting to reason with Chen Fei. "The cannon, it''s a railgun!" Nangong Ruiyang identified the object rising from the mobile base vehicle immediately and immediately stuttered at the realization. He at once understood why the other party could enter Airport 310¡ªbecause this was a military combat vehicle. Could this Chen be a military man? If so, that complicates things. To the military-industrial complex, the military was like a real benefactor, the main financier, and even with ten times the courage, they wouldn''t dare lift a hand against them. "Is it true? How could such a thing exist?" Nangong Ruiyang''s gathered pals became slightly panicked, a substance was clearly spinning at high speed deep within the railgun, ready to fire at any moment. "152mm calibre high-explosive fragmentation shells, absolute lethal radius of 30 meters, shrapnel lethality within 100 meters, want to give it a try?" The sunny smile on Chen Fei''s face resembled that of a sinister grin. A hundred-meter shrapnel radius was equivalent to five standard football fields; not even the world''s sprint champions could escape. This was Chen Xiao''er''s trump card, mutual annihilation. Up close, not just him, a Grade B Metal Ability User, but even Grade A''s would be done for. Nangong Ruiyang said frantically, "Madman, have you lost your mind?" The recently fierce chubby lad was now pale; others might fight using knives and sticks, but using a railgun was unheard of. Was this really appropriate? "Heh, want to test how crazy I can be? Once I go crazy, even I''m scared of myself." These pampered sheltered youths could never match him, a man-eater flower seasoned in battle and bloodshed. Even Old Shen was a thousand times tougher than they were. Still want to talk reason? First, ask if my railgun agrees! Regarding the ownership of his girlfriend, Chen Fei would never agree to any terms; it was non-negotiable, and if you refused to comply, it was time to fight. - Chapter 440 440: Section 436 - The Motherland Needs You... "Madman, madman!" Feeling a tightness all over, as if bearing a thousand-pound burden, Nangong Ruiyang involuntarily stepped back several paces, his face completely devoid of color. His buddies were equally horrified. What the hell, how could the Shen Family accept such a madman to stay overnight, the courage they must have. "If you want to reason with me, you must be prepared to die..." Chen Fei revealed a bloodthirsty, cruel smile. The last batch of people who had tried to reason with him now had grass growing three inches high over their graves. A bunch of naive and childish individuals actually thought they could bluff him with such tactics. "Wow..." The little fatty, now enveloped in a chilling murderous aura and completely different from moments ago, turned and ran. They had intended to scare Chen Fei, but now they were the ones running scared. "You... just you wait!" The group of people hastily got into the car, fleeing in utter disarray, leaving behind weak threats. As the railgun of the Mobile Base Vehicle retracted, Chen Fei watched the fast disappearing convoy and muttered to himself. "A bunch of people who start off strong but end weak!" Had the opposition dared to be more defiant, he would have respected them as men, but this was their outcome? From the start, Nangong Ruiyang and his men likely intended to negotiate peacefully, hoping to use their words to make Chen Fei give up. Unfortunately, Chen Xiao''er was not one to take the usual path or play by the rules. He was no longer the naive college student freshly out of Ivory Tower; he had become a ruthless man who didn''t spare even himself. Thinking back, he used to be a good baby too! Ordinary people couldn''t withstand the overwhelming killing intent as if facing a natural enemy, instinctively wanting to flee as far as possible, so from the beginning, the intentions of Nangong Ruiyang and his companions couldn''t be realized. A group of friends failed miserably in their ambush, hiding in the corner, shivering collectively. The most arrogant fatty who ended up the most terrified, said with a face pale as dirt, "How can there be such a person!" Mobile Base Vehicle is real, the railgun is real, the person is ruthlessly real. Such a big scene, he had hardly ever seen in his life, never imagining encountering someone who would pull out a gun at the slightest disagreement. "Damn it... I remember now, no wonder he looked familiar." Someone slapped their head, fumbling to pull out their phone. A news video began to play... "Leave, or I''ll kill you yo!" The blood-thirsty clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe entered everyone''s view. The scene was dead silent... "It''s him, it''s him, it''s definitely him!" The sound of teeth clashing arose, not just from one person. It was the notorious ferocious clan leader! Compared to shaking people down, he is professional. One shake and it involves the entire Neanderthal tribe. Even though these relics of the Third Era Civilization had long declined and posed no threat to the Blue Star Civilization, to ordinary people, they still represented a terrifying existence elevated above them. If targeted by him, they would probably have nightmares every day. Everyone felt a chill in their hearts, realizing the guy they had tried to block was truly capable of murder, having ascended through killing. They were just a hair away from possibly being blown to smithereens on the spot; it felt like they had just strolled right past Ghost Gate Pass. The little fatty, pale and anxious, said, "No way, we must tell Sister Xiao Fei; this guy is not a good person." "Exactly, this person is not from the same world as Sister Xiao Fei." "Don''t rush, I''ll call Sister Xiao Fei!" With Shen Fei''s phone number in hand, Nangong Ruiyang hurriedly pulled out his phone. "Eh? Nangong, you''re calling me?" Unlike these guys who sat idly, Shen Fei was still at work, reluctantly answering the call. Nangong Ruiyang said anxiously, "Xiao Fei, listen, that guy who came to your house yesterday, he''s a murderer? Stay away from him!" "You called... just for this?" Shen Fei sounded somewhat surprised. Striking while the iron was hot, Nangong Ruiyang said, "Yes, yes, that guy is a murdering maniac, really not right for you, don''t be silly!" "I got it, I''m hanging up now." Shen Fei sounded increasingly impatient; she had thought it was something important, only to find out it was this. Nangong Ruiyang felt something was off about Shen Fei''s attitude, feeling like she was covering for the murderer, and quickly added, "Wait, wait, Xiao Fei, you really need to see clearly, stay away from him, don''t contact him anymore." "So you mean a murderer is not right for you, you need to stay away from a murderer, right?" Shen Fei''s tone grew colder. "Yes, yes, that''s what I mean!" Nangong Ruiyang felt increasingly that something wasn''t right, it all felt so strange. "Then stop calling me, stay away from me, I''m not suitable for you, we''re not from the same world." Shen Fei''s voice suddenly became quite harsh. "Ah, Xiao Fei, I didn''t mean that!" Nangong Ruiyang was shocked, convinced there must be some misunderstanding. "No, you''re right, that''s exactly what I meant, I''ve also killed people, killed more than one, goodbye, no, not goodbye, don''t bother me again." *Beep beep*... *Beep beep*... The call was hung up, with Shen Fei''s voice disappearing from Nangong Ruiyang''s ear. "What... what''s going on!" Frantic, Nangong Ruiyang dialed again. ...*Beep beep*... *Beep beep*... After being directly cut off, a busy signal, he redialed, but still, the call was cut off, repeated several times before he finally confirmed one thing. The group of friends all looked at Nangong Ruiyang, who helplessly said, "I''ve been blocked." "Ruiyang bro, let me give it a try!" Little Fatty volunteered enthusiastically to start dialing. "Hello, Sister Fei, Ruiyang bro he..." ...du du... du du... The busy signal persisted, and one more person got their number blacklisted. "Little Fatty Ge, you''re really too dumb, now it''s my turn!" A true warrior, daring to face... du du... du du... a busy signal?! This guy''s even more unfortunate, probably guessed to be in cahoots with Nangong Ruiyang and Little Fatty Ge, not even given a chance to connect, just preemptively blacklisted. "I''ll try..." ...du du... du du... "And me..." ...du du... du du... There was more than one brave soul present, yet their lives were still miserably lackluster. None were spared, all wiped out! To become a corporate leader''s secretary, meticulousness is a fundamental quality, there could be no oversights, it''s a demonstration of professional capability. Shen Fei''s defense was impenetrable, not even a droplet could seep through. The friends of Nangong Ruiyang were all defeated. - "Chen Meng, so you were hiding here. I''ve warned you before to stay away from Meng Yang; today I must teach you a lesson!" About seven or eight girls surrounded Chen Meng, a freshman from the Artificial Intelligence Department, in the center. "Are you insane? Who likes Meng Yang, whoever likes him can have him! All of you, back off before you scratch your faces." Though outnumbered and alone, Chen Meng was not frightened at all, and pushed against the girl leading the others, just pushing back and forth, the crowd around them joining in, making a commotion. Even without a real fight breaking out, the atmosphere was nearly there. "Chen Meng, Zhang Zhenzhen, you two stop fighting." A handsome young man, after being informed, rushed over. He was the other person involved according to the two girls, Meng Yang. Before attending university, he had acted in two fairly popular youth campus TV dramas. Although not the main character, he did have the roles of the second and third male leads. He was decent-looking and, with his acting experience, had gathered some popularity, barely qualifying as an eighteenth-tier minor celebrity. Upon arriving at the university, he immediately became a treasure boy, quite popular among the girls. The girl confronting Chen Meng with her friends, Dan Zhenzhen, was one of Meng Yang''s admirers, the kind of campus fanatic who probably started off admiring him by downing a delusional love potion. Even Chen Meng found it absurd. However, Meng Yang, who seemingly came to break up the fight, flashed a hint of smugness in his eyes. Being surrounded by multiple girls competing over a boyfriend seemed to also be a matter of great prestige. He quite enjoyed this advantageous situation, soothing one and persuading another, ending up as a winner in life, with arms around both. Hehehe... After all, one must have dreams, for without dreams, wouldn''t one be just like salted fish, only suited for plain rice? No plain rice, I want pizza! "Huh? Who the hell are you? Get lost!" Chen Meng recognized the boy who had rushed over. Though his face showed concern and urgency, she always felt it wasn''t his genuine expression, like a mask, sickeningly fake. "Chen Meng, what do you mean? How dare you be rude to Meng Yang? Very calculative, trying to use a contrastingly cute persona to make him dote on you, right?" The ''love potion'' really did a number, pumping some brains out, with Dan Zhenzhen becoming even more furious, initiating a forced palace drama. "What nonsense? My surname is Chen, not ''Contrast.'' Let go, or be careful I''ll hit you!" In the university, Chen Meng called out unyieldingly, the north wind howled, the war drums beat, who is Chen Meng afraid of? "I won''t let go, who''s afraid of who! Dare to hit me, we''ll hit you back, sisters, get her!" Under the instigation of Zhang Zhenzhen, her friends also began to escalate their actions. "Hey hey hey, stop fighting!" No matter what, Meng Yang first made it clear that he came to break up the fight, while also trying to score some good points, and if someone ended up crying, he could naturally pull her into his arms, hehehe. Honestly, Chen Meng, spicy like Little Chili, indeed managed to charm him with her contrastingly cute persona. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over, making everyone feel a chill. "Kids, are you fighting?" A large hand landed on Meng Yang''s head, the voice coming from behind them. "Uh uh..." Meng Yang''s hair stood on end, his teeth clattering, nearly petrified with fear. Zhang Zhenzhen turned towards the voice, then suddenly screamed. "Ah!" "Ah!~" ¡Á7! The girls'' screams echoed one after another. The figure in Single Soldier Tactical Armor stood behind Meng Yang, imposing and powerful, even holding Meng Yang''s head. Behind the two, a massive vehicle appeared out of nowhere, akin to a house. Gathering his courage, Meng Yang, on the brink of tears, said, "Big bro, what do you want?" "The nation needs you..." Huh? Everyone was shocked, perhaps they were national agents here to recruit special talents for the country''s service? Sense of mission, honor, anticipation, all surged together in their hearts. "...to take a trip to the Security Department!" "Dragon General" in Single Soldier Tactical Armor, Chen Xiao''er said. Students brawling, if they didn''t head to the Security Department to explain themselves properly and write a self-criticism ten or eight times, then why bother coming to university? - Chapter 441 441: Section 437 - Leave Room for Others A life without ever writing a self-criticism is not complete. ----- Chen Fei The students present were collectively dumbfounded. All this pomp, and it''s not for recruiting talent? (These greenhorns who haven''t even seen blood, yet they want... What a joke!) Chen Meng could clearly recognize Second Brother''s voice, and upon seeing the "Dragon General" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, her suspicions were confirmed. She exclaimed with both shock and joy, "Brother!" The Tactical Helmet split automatically and retracted to the back of the head, revealing Chen Xiao''er''s face. "Hmm! I was carrying out a mission nearby and thought I''d drop by to check on you." Chen Fei looked at the previously frantic girls and chuckled, saying, "I hear you guys... want to bully my sister?" His grip on Meng Yang remained firm. He wasn''t stupid with all the years of college; these trivial campus battles were just petty affairs fueled by an excess of hormones and adrenaline. It was the same every year, nothing new at all. The girls surrounding Little Sister Chen dispersed instantly, their faces pale with fright. A mission? With such a murderous aura, what else could it be but some violent affair? Meng Yang, still pinned down, stuttered, "Big brother, can, can you let me go?" "Do you think I''m an idiot?" Chen Fei glanced disdainfully at this puppy, who was just pretending to be human. In disputes over a boy, it''s always the puppy''s fault, no second option. He must think he''s the protagonist of life, trying to become a master of time management, playing multiple roles at once, attempting to create a campus harem, crowning himself as the king, then all sorts of love-hate relationships follow, either ending in abortions or more gruesome outcomes, resulting in utter chaos and a destroyed reputation. In the end, it never turns out well. The elders always say, any romantic relationship not aimed toward marriage is just mischief. What good end can a scoundrel have? It''s only natural. Meng Yang, about to cry, pleaded, "Big brother, big brother, I didn''t do anything!" How could Chen Meng''s brother be so impervious? Zhang Zhenzhen and others looked as if they had seen a cat, huddling together, trembling, and pleaded, "Big brother, I was wrong, can we, can we leave?" Chen Meng''s brother was simply too oppressive. Just standing there made it hard for them to breathe. "Heh! You think you can just bully my sister and walk away?" Chen Fei looked at these naive folks, all dreaming too big! "Big brother, I was wrong, it''s my fault, Chen Meng, I apologize, please let me go?" On the spot, Zhang Zhenzhen made a complete 180-degree turn, her tears flowing as she kept apologizing to both Chen Meng and Chen Fei. Typical internal strife, experienced in fighting insiders but cowards in face of real threats outside, immediately turning into this pathetic state. Chen Meng, seeing the chaos, hesitantly said, "Brother, maybe, let it go?" Chen Fei snorted coldly and said, "Let it go? Does your second brother look like he has no dignity? They dared to bully my sister, they need to leave some deep impressions." Little sister had just reported to school a few months ago. If he couldn''t establish some authority now to make an example, who knows who else might bully her in the future. As a brother, it was only natural for him to set up a tough image to deter those who dared to cross the line. Chen Meng forced a smile and said, "Isn''t that a bit much, brother? I''ll end up with no friends!" If Second Brother really made such a scene, classmates would probably steer clear of her. Couldn''t she just avoid trouble if she couldn''t confront it? How was she supposed to mix in the university then! "Heh, as long as you have good grades, you''ll naturally have friends. You don''t need to overthink." Being someone who had been through it all, Chen Fei straightforwardly explained the real essence of campus friendships. Some will naively think that hanging out with good students might make them smarter, but that was a big mistake. Intelligence doesn''t spread; only foolishness is contagious. Poor students always stick together while good students tend to be independent and stand out from the crowd. "Brother, I''ll work hard at my studies!" Not one of the family, not entering the family door. Sweating profusely, Chen Meng instantly got the hidden message from Second Brother''s words: a reminder to focus seriously on her studies. To hell with first driving away her friends, if she wanted any, now it had to be through academic performance. What kind of solution was that, brother! "Next, all of you, come with me to the security department. No one is going anywhere, dare to run?" Chen Fei glanced toward the Mobile Base Vehicle. The Railgun and the dual-purpose large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun on the roof immediately flashed a menacing look. The students present were all terrified, shivering uncontrollably. Exactly who was Chen Meng''s brother? Why did he possess such a terrifying vehicle? Were they going to die here today? No way! "Eh? Bro, where did you go again? What kind of vehicle is this?" Chen Meng gradually found herself staring agape, it took her a while to snap out of it. However, considering Second Brother''s past experiences, she suddenly had a bad feeling, wondering whose feathers he''d plucked this time. Ever since she had accumulated a substantial debt for her family, Second Brother, who had gone out to work off the debt, became unrecognizable even to his own family, becoming a master of exploitation. He grew so brazen that he would pluck anyone, just like Chen Meng''s sponsoring party, the enormous Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, which had also been severely exploited right under their noses. Chen Meng probably didn''t know that, just a couple of days ago, Northern Weapons Industry Group also nearly got plucked, and even though they escaped the ordeal, a deputy general manager still ended up compromising his own daughter. "Just got back from saving the world, this is a Mobile Base Vehicle, a vehicle that is a small military base on its own, equipped with a Railgun that, with a single shot, can cool down even an Ability User!" Chen Fei escorted Zhang Zhenzhen and her friends, along with the puppy-like Meng Yang, onto the Mobile Base Vehicle, taking his little sister to the security office. The enormous vehicle moving through the campus attracted many curious eyes. A few minutes later, the campus security staff collectively stared, dumbfounded, at the enormous object whose mere shadow was enough to cover most of the first-floor corridor. Luckily, the campus was spacious enough to allow the Mobile Base Vehicle to maneuver freely and it had ample parking space in front of the administration building. "What, what is going on here?" The head of the security department promptly received Chen Fei and his sister, along with the tearful Zhang Zhenzhen sisters and the unavoidably responsible Meng Yang. "They bullied my sister, and him!" Chen Fei pointed them out one by one, not sparing any of them. "Actually... it wasn''t that serious, oh my!" Chen Meng squeezed out an awkward smile towards the security department head, only to be knocked on the head by Chen Fei and cover her head, grimacing in pain. "What? You dare to do but don''t dare to acknowledge? As a victim, you ought to have the awareness of a victim." Chen Fei didn''t mind giving his naive little sister another knock on the head as a long lesson. Nice guys get ridden over. The campus is a microcosm of society, if you show weakness, people will mercilessly continue to mess with you, without any moral guilt. How could someone just past their awkward teenage years understand the principle of leaving some leeway, a lesson often learned through repeated harsh lessons from society? Chen Fei didn''t understand at first and nearly got himself killed. Who would have thought, upon entering the security office, Zhang Zhenzhen, who had bullied Chen Meng along with her sisters, began to distort facts and countercharge, accusing Chen Meng of bullying others using her brother''s support. Even Meng Yang, who had acting experience, had to admit defeat to her sudden surge of dramatic talent. Luckily, Chen Meng had been cautious enough to secretly record a video of the incident on her cell phone, powerfully exposing the other side''s nonsense and forcing an end to the farce. But she finally understood Second Brother''s intention. As a victim, one ought to have the awareness of a victim and must directly retaliate against the aggressor. To leave leeway is for oneself, not for the enemy. Not only Zhang Zhenzhen, but even Meng Yang ended up receiving a written reprimand. While they were busily writing it, Chen Fei took his sister''s phone and let the AI "Adam" extract the video, then made a comparative video of before and after the incident, and casually posted it to the Northern Industrial University campus online community. Seeing the video Second Brother showed her, which even had subtitles and voice-over added, Chen Meng looked at Chen Fei with a face full of horror. While they were yet to finish their written reprimands, a massive campus scandal had already begun unfolding. What a classic sibling move! ... After submitting their reflections, deeply acknowledging their mistakes, and sincerely apologizing to Chen Fei and sister, they walked out of the security office, and Zhang Zhenzhen''s group instantly turned hostile. "Chen, just you watch!" But the true root of the dispute, one of the parties involved, the puppy-like Mr. Meng Yang, wore a bitter smile. This wasn''t the outcome he wanted at all; it had drastically deviated from expectations, morphing into something utterly grotesque. This unexpected charm was simply too much for him to handle. "Heh, take care!" Chen Fei waved to them magnanimously. "Take care!" Chen Meng followed her elder brother, casting a sympathetic glance at these begrudging folks. Second Brother''s schemes had broadened her horizons, predicting and countering every move, seamlessly kicking the adversaries into The Abyss. After a long while... faintly, as if from afar, a voice could be heard. "Chen Meng... as a ghost..." Feeling exhilarated but then emptily reflecting, Chen Meng ruefully spoke, "Brother! I really might end up with no friends!" Zhang Zhenzhen and the rest were practically doomed after the public humiliation, destined to become a huge joke. As for the other party, seeing them, most would probably avoid them! Chen Fei said carelessly, "School is a place for learning, not socializing, but if you find a boyfriend you think is okay, bring him over for me to meet." "A boyfriend, how could I ever have one!" Chen Meng was incredibly frustrated. A boyfriend is not a thing.------Chen Meng - Chapter 442 442: Section 438 - BBQ ``` "Hehe, it''s okay, it''s just a way to kill time, I''m not going to oppose." Chen Fei looked at his younger sister. Hmm! She must not have a boyfriend, or else she wouldn''t be surrounded and bullied by those girls, it''s just too obvious! "You''re really something, setting up your sister like that!" Chen Meng glared at Chen Fei, fuming. It was as if she suddenly remembered something, and her expression gradually turned ugly. She grabbed Chen Fei''s hand, pouting, and said, "Brother, it''s my fault, I''m the one who got you into trouble!" Because she had initially underestimated the malice of human hearts, she was exploited by her best friend and high school classmate. This misplaced trust resulted in a huge debt for her family, and her brother, who had been hopeful about pursuing a master''s degree, had no choice but to drop his studies and work to pay off the debt. Her brother had completely changed from before, embarking on a completely different path in life. At the root of it all, it was Chen Meng''s own doing, and although she didn''t show it, it had inevitably left an indelible shadow in her heart. "You silly girl, I''m your brother. We''re family, we bear our burdens together." Chen Fei again knocked on his little sister''s forehead. He had never really blamed this sister of his who had caused him trouble. When a sister causes trouble, it''s only natural for her brother to bear it, right? "Ouch, ouch, ouch, you''re going to knock it numb, make me dumb." Chen Xiaomeng was on the verge of tears. Chen Fei said earnestly, "You really need to smarten up!" If he hadn''t intervened this time and taken the bullies who were picking on his little sister to the security office, pressing the attack on the verge of victory, she might have been bullied again, and face another round of being taken advantage of. The Ivory Tower isn''t truly a friendly and peaceful environment. There are still plenty of scammers like Meng Yang and Zhang Zhenzhen around. Chen Meng playfully stuck out her tongue. With that kind of nature, it might take her several years to smarten up, and her brother would have plenty to worry about. Soon, she started circling around the Mobile Base Vehicle. Compared to the luxury cars flaunted daily by the wealthy second-generation kids in her class, this behemoth was more than just a notch above. "Bro, where did you get such a big motorhome? It''s too impressive!" Chen Meng mistook the Mobile Base Vehicle for a motorhome, her eyes filled with envy. If you remove the weapon, reconnaissance, and communication relay modules, the remaining living facilities indeed don''t differ much from a motorhome. It just has four main structures: kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom, with the addition of a driving cabin; without driving, it''s called a trailer. Compared to those sports and luxury cars, this behemoth could simply roll them into a ditch. "I assembled it myself; it''s not some name-brand luxury vehicle." The vehicle that Chen Fei assembled from a scrap pile naturally had no brand or label, and it was an illegal modification of a scrapped vehicle. It was permitted to be on the road only because of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s clout, and the industrial-grade Metal Ability User''s expertise and repair skills. Anyone else wouldn''t even get close to doing so. As an old driver capable of flying high or racing down below, Chen Fei was indeed considered the most reliable driver in Team 04, irreplaceable at that. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee seemed to have taken an interest in Team 04''s Mobile Base Vehicle, intending to find a professional regular factory to custom-make a batch of large, multi-functional living vehicles like this one for field teams or groups on external missions. Whether for living or for transport, it would be much more convenient. "The work involved must have been huge, right?" Chen Meng kicked the solid and sturdy body of the vehicle. She couldn''t imagine how her brother managed to assemble such a gigantic thing¡ªthis was way too high-end for her. If she could drive it all over the world, it would be incredibly comfortable, even luxurious. Indeed, Little Sister Chen wasn''t wrong in her guess. The Mobile Base Vehicle, equipped with high-grade Crystalline Blocks, possessed incredible endurance, ensuring that no part of the scenery would be missed along the way. "It''s about time for dinner, I''ll take you to eat." Chen Fei hadn''t planned on joining her for cafeteria food after coming all the way to see his little sister. Since he was here, he thought they might as well indulge in some fine dining to treat themselves. Although the university cafeteria served decent food, Little Sister Chen Meng would have plenty of opportunities to eat there every day in the future. "Can you cook food in this car?" Chen Meng had little interest in going out to eat, but the kitchen in the Mobile Base Vehicle piqued her interest. Moreover, since her brother was shouldering her debts, it made sense to save wherever they could. After all, they just needed to fill their bellies; there was no need to waste money excessively. "Of course, we have vegetables and meat." Along the way, Chen Fei had stocked up on supplies, even using Xiao Jiu''s leg ring, which was a Storage Magical Device, to keep some fresh food ingredients that couldn''t last long. In the space of the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, time was essentially stopped, with an entropy of zero. Even after ten thousand years, whatever you put in would come out exactly the same, without any change. "Then let''s do it ourselves, self-sufficiency at its best. Bro, open the door!" Chen Meng reached out to push the door open, but before she could touch it, the door slid open to the side automatically. "Jiu!" The Little Bird greeted Little Sister Chen again but stayed in its nest, unwilling to come out. As the saying goes, there''s a solution for every problem, Little Bird fears Little Sister. Being squished into a ball again and again without any chance to resist, the little one had long developed a psychological trauma and wouldn''t dare repeat the same mistake. "Xiao Jiu is being lazy again. Get up and party!" Chen Meng reached into the bird''s nest without regard for the Little Bird''s protests and cradled it out, skillfully start rolling it into a ball. "Jiu jiu jiu jiu jiu jiu..." The little one emitted a series of cries as if it had lost all will to live. ``` Chen Fei said grumpily, "You''re still rubbing it, don''t forget what happened last time!" Last time Xiao Jiu was turned into a ball and gave everyone a big scare. It was later discovered that it was due to its advancement in rank, not from being physically rolled into a ball, but it still frightened Chen Meng and Chen Fei, the brother and sister duo, quite a bit. "Hehehe!" Chen Meng finally let go of the little guy with an embarrassed laugh. The little bird, in retaliation, pecked viciously at Little Sister Chen''s fingers several times, but to no avail as the Pure Light Sparrow''s physical combat ability was less than zero¡ªit couldn''t even leave a tiny red mark. The Pure Light Sparrow, before and after grasping laser skills, was almost like two different birds. Before, its combat power was laughably weak, but afterward, it became ferociously powerful. With the enhancement of Third Rank Human Order, it could hold its own against Fifth or even Sixth Rank opponents without faltering. "Are you sure you don''t want to dine out? It''s a rare opportunity, miss this village and you won''t find another shop like it?" Chen Fei didn''t mind either option, as the fridge in the vehicle was well-stocked with food and there was also a high-capacity freezer full of various meats. The original design was to support the needs of eleven people, so it was more than sufficient for just the two of them. "Go where? Of course, we keep it economical! Bro, what do you have here?" Thrifty Chen Xiaomeng began rummaging through the fridge and freezer, and upon seeing the fully stocked refrigeration compartments, she exclaimed, "With so much food, why go out to eat?" Chen Fei suggested, "How about calling some of your classmates you''re close to? Maybe have a BBQ or something?" Using this opportunity to strengthen relationships among classmates could be beneficial for school life. "Uh, sure. There''s plenty of food here, why not invite everyone? About a dozen or so people!" Chen Meng looked around and thought that if they were just sitting down, the vehicle''s space was more than enough, but for a BBQ, it might be a bit tight. It would be just right to call the classmates she was close to; any more would be too many. Noticing and understanding Chen Meng''s glance, Chen Fei smiled. "Why not invite all your classmates for a bigger BBQ event? It will be even more lively." "Won''t it be..." Just as Chen Meng began to express concern about the space inside the vehicle, one side of it, along with the door and window, slowly lifted, leaving that whole side of the vehicle completely open. If the external space was included, it was more than enough. Not just for a dozen or twenty people, even a hundred would be ample. In front of the Metal Elemental Psychic Power, as long as the structural design and stress points were handled, even on-the-spot modifications were not a problem. "Is this a modular vehicle?" Chen Meng looked incredulous. If it were a modular vehicle, all car factories might as well shut down. "Jiu!" The little bird, taking refuge back in its warm nest, protested as it definitely felt the temperature drop more than a degree Celsius. The cold air surged into the warm cab, and while the heating system was still working, it couldn''t stop the continuous drop in temperature. "Go and call your classmates quickly, I''ll start getting ready here, and we also need to find a suitable place!" Chen Fei started taking out the frozen meats, preparing to thaw them. Many meats had been pre-processed and even seasoned, some suitable for pan-frying, some for BBQ, and some for soups, which could save a lot of time. "Leave it to me!" Chen Meng immediately took out her phone and started contacting people. Having started the school year a while ago, she had made some acquaintances, so she could definitely call her classmates and roommates. The raised side panel of the vehicle folded back down, fitting tightly into place, and the temperature inside the vehicle finally began to rise, making Xiao Jiu comfortable again. Obviously, they couldn''t have a BBQ set up right in front of the administrative building; they had to find a good location. By a frozen lake that was solid as porcelain, the atmosphere of human life began to spread¡ªlights, music, and the BBQ all came together, and more and more students arrived, naturally creating a lively mood. More than a dozen kerosene stoves and ten BBQ grills constantly released heat, standing up to the severe cold of the North, especially under the lifted side panel of the mobile base vehicle, forming a warm area. "Wow, Xiaomeng, where did you get this?" Chen Meng''s classmates, who had never seen such a scene before, exclaimed in surprise. "If you want to eat something, do it yourself!" Chen Fei set out the skewers as the meats for BBQ piled up like little hills, and they kicked off the self-service BBQ. The scene had not just drinks and beverages but also steaming hot, heartwarming meat soup. "That''s my brother; he came to see me!" Chen Meng had never been as happy as she was now, at this moment she was like a proud peacock, showing off her full presence. The support that her second brother provided her was unparalleled by anyone! Show off, it was a must-show-off situation! - Chapter 443 443: Section 439 - Artificial Intelligence Blockade Although the school''s small lake area was still in the grips of an icy winter, with the stunning northern scenery blanketed in rime and snow, the scene was quite lively at the Mobile Base Vehicle by the lakeside. The aroma of barbecue meats and exotic spices filled the air, mingled with music, laughter, shouts, and various expressions of carefree abandon. Amidst the vast snowy landscape, the bone-chilling cold of negative ten degrees Celsius was hardly noticeable. University gatherings did happen, but not in abundance, as students'' primary task was to focus on their studies¡ªespecially during the cold winter, when everyone stayed in warmly heated rooms and hardly ventured outside. Therefore, gathering people together proved even more challenging. However, the allure of free barbecue, an open bar with beverages, and a massive vehicle the likes of which had never been seen before, provided ample reason to draw a crowd. It wasn''t just Chen Meng''s classmates, but also other classes within the same department and even students from other disciplines who loved a good event, joined in the festivities. Some even left their meals in the cafeteria upon hearing the news, not hesitating to set down their bowls and head straight over. As the star of the show, Chen Meng fully understood her second brother Chen Fei''s well-intended efforts. From that day on, she had become a student with a modicum of fame on campus, and it was likely to last for quite some time. If one wanted to get ahead on campus and secure some relatively fair opportunities, invisibility as an ordinary bystander was not an option¡ªotherwise, one would have spent these college years in vain, just another faceless university student. ... The next morning. The previous night''s barbecue party was like a vanished dream. Chen Meng rushed to the lecture hall with her textbooks, barely managing to sit down when the professor started calling the roll. "...Xu Fan... Zhang Xiaorong... Yu Hai... Zhuang Xinxin... Chen Meng... Ah, the student in the back row, have I called your name?" Professor Aoi Hinata from the artificial intelligence department looked towards the back corner of the classroom, where an additional student seemed to have appeared. "Huh? Brother!" Chen Meng turned around and exclaimed in surprise. She saw her second brother, also seated in the classroom corner. It wasn''t just Chen Meng who recognized Chen Fei¡ªmany students from the AI department who attended the previous night''s barbecue also knew this generous member of the Chen family. Anyone with a vehicle that big was certainly not an ordinary person. Chen Meng, who claimed to come from a salaried family background, was definitely playing dumb while flaunting grandeur¡ªher act was impressively deceptive. "My name is Chen Fei, auditing the class," Chen Fei stood up, shrugging his shoulders. There was an unwritten rule at the university that allowed auditing if there were available seats¡ªnot just for students and staff within the institution, but also for individuals authorized to enter the campus from outside. He had intended to bring along Xiao Jiu, but after causing such a commotion the night before, Xiao Jiu was still asleep. "Please sit down, Chen Fei. My name is Hinata; you can call me Teacher Hinata or Professor Aoi Hinata. Some students even call me Sunflower, but it all means the same thing," Professor Hinata immediately gestured. As long as one remained quiet and didn''t disturb the other students, she didn''t mind someone auditing. "Today''s lesson will be co-taught by myself and my developed artificial intelligence AI, ''Miaozi''," Professor Aoi Hinata said, then raised her voice toward the ceiling, "''Miaozi'', are you online?" "''Miaozi'' is here, hello, Teacher Hinata!" The classroom''s sound system came alive. Although it was an artificial intelligence AI, the inflection in its voice and the transition of its words was indistinguishable from a human''s. If it hadn''t been stated in advance, one could easily mistake it for a real person. "Good, ''Miaozi'', please connect to the big screen." As the female professor finished speaking, at the center of the "blackboard" behind the podium, the image of a cartoon cat drawn with simple lines emerged. "The most mainstream artificial intelligence AIs today are still based on the ''Cybertrom'' cloud AI technology derived from it. ''Miaozi'' is also a type of cloud AI. The widespread application of cloud technology boasts many advantages, mainly security and efficiency. It makes full use of network benefits. Even individual terminals can tap into high-efficiency computational resources. Before ''Cybertrom'', there was another AI that must be mentioned¡ªa genuinely high-intelligence AI called ''Adam''. Its independence and ability to self-replicate are nearly indistinguishable from virus programs. An uncontrolled artificial intelligence AI would represent an extremely dangerous existence... Now, let me show you ''Miaozi''s structure. ''Miaozi'', open your project development kit, the architecture documentation." Following a stream of words, what looked like a writable "blackboard," which was actually a display screen, now showed a prepared document outline. To facilitate AI programming and minimize coding work while increasing development efficiency, professional development tools come with many pre-prepared modules, widgets, and functional plugins for expandable projects. Developers can piece together their desired artificial intelligence AI, much like building with blocks. This is also one of the hallmark features of the "Cybertrom" cloud AI system. Moreover, by purchasing the official annual upgrade pack or personal expansion projects, developers can access the latest extensions. For experienced developers, they can also write independently from the underlying parts, crafting their desired extension projects and further enriching the range of artificial intelligence AI development. "... Please use this outline as a guide to develop an artificial intelligence AI. It doesn''t have to be complex; it just needs to be interactive," Professor Aoi Hinata lectured for less than ten minutes. The development guide provided was simple yet well-structured, and she left the rest of the class time to the students. A holographic screen rose in front of every occupied seat. Students could use the default input devices or bring their own to access the AI development tools provided by the lecture hall''s cloud platform for this class. Using the cloud virtual machine environment, one need not worry about accidentally creating a destructive AI like "Adam"¡ªillegal processes can be easily terminated within the virtual operating environment. The seating offered a variety of interfaces. Students with personal computers could also connect to the corresponding classroom cloud platform, wired or wirelessly, to perform the same operations. The pace of the artificial intelligence course at Chen Family University was incredibly fast, and within only a few months of the semester starting students were getting hands-on experience with development and applying what they learned through use. For talented students, this method of teaching could fully unleash their abilities. Following a prescribed program step-by-step would only serve to restrict them. "Bro, you know how to do this?" Little Sister Chen skittered to the back of the classroom and plopped down in the seat next to Chen Fei. The courseware associated with her student number automatically followed, and the full meter-long light screen transitioned into the interface of the development tools. "Nope!" Chen Fei shook his head. He had graduated from the economics department and was a complete outsider when it came to artificial intelligence AI. However, he used it frequently in his daily life, and this time he came to audit the lecture during a large class break, partly to see how his little sister was doing in her studies, and partly to kill time. Team 04''s current mission had reached a stalemate, and he had returned to Earth to lie low. Until he received a new assignment, he was essentially idle, but he couldn''t go far; in case anything came up, he''d need to rush back immediately. Therefore, during this period, Chen Fei could only stay on standby in the North region of Earth. "I''ll teach you, it''s really simple!" Chen Meng had thoroughly previewed the textbooks and courseware sent out before the start of school. Before the official classes began, she had already gotten a good grasp of the AI development tools and even managed to piece together an artificial idiot¡ªyes, that''s right, at least it was capable of some interaction, and that was all. "Just take care of yourself; I don''t need to learn this stuff." Chen Fei kept shaking his head. With tasks, "Adam" was busy; without tasks, "Adam" stayed idle¡ªAdam''s Second Uncle was just that unreasonable. "Eh? Just play around with it, we''ve got nothing else to do. Look, like this, and this, then this, and a basic AI is made. Bro, you can do it too. You can log in with a GUEST account, just click straight through, it''s all the same except you can''t save it permanently." Chen Meng was actually pretty slick with it. It seemed her interest was piqued, and she had gotten a head start. With a flurry of actions, she created an AI and even submitted it for evaluation. Rating: E! After all, it was only a five-minute endeavor, and in many ways, it was deficient, with numerous security vulnerabilities. But still, not too bad. The development tools had simple ways to play, and complex ones too. What Chen Meng had dashed off was essentially on par with parroting. Chen Meng: Hello, I''m Chen Meng! AI: Hello, I''m Xiao Ming! Chen Meng: Have you eaten? AI: Will you feed me? "Hahaha..." Chen Meng started laughing so hard she could barely breathe. This AI made use of an analysis database she had accumulated during her free time. The conversational modes of artificial intelligence are all predetermined by humans, triggering based on keywords or key sentences using algorithmic models to select the most appropriate preformatted sentences. It looks like a conversation is happening, but in reality, it''s akin to following a script. The AI derived from "Cybertrom" was especially rigid, and despite continuous improvements to the conversational model and the database, the current response mechanism and expression model could match normal human interaction. However, the ability to respond spontaneously was still a weak point, with no significant improvement. As soon as it encountered an undesignated word or phrase, its facade would immediately crumble. "This is an idiot, right?" Watching his little sister turn a piece of artificial intelligence into an artificial idiot, Chen Fei heaved a sigh while holding his forehead. Such talent! After using "Adam," any other AI seemed inherently idiotic. During the large class break, Professor Aoi Hinata circled the classroom, providing guidance to the students on their operations. "Chen Meng and Chen Fei, how are you two doing?" Finally, Professor Hinata came to the corner where Chen Meng was chuckling and swiping on the light screen, doing modular operations. Although Chen Fei was just auditing temporarily, the female professor didn''t mind sparing a bit of attention for him. "Bro! What about your AI?" Chen Meng was so caught up in showing off her personal skills that she''d forgotten to let her older brother have a try. "Uh!" Chen Fei swiped at the "Universal Data Transceiver" bracelet on his left hand, pulling out a data cable and jamming it into a port on the table. The light screen in front of him immediately changed. Come out, dog Adam! - Chapter 444 444: Section 440 - AI Brawl The "Universal Data Transceiver" bracelet is the physical manifestation of Chen Fei''s Special Ability interfacing with digital devices. Under normal circumstances, it is completely a solid titanium bracelet, weightless, corrosion-resistant, and skin-friendly. Even if it were to be stolen, it wouldn''t matter since its purpose is merely to exist... until the moment when its Skill is activated, and only then does it become truly unique. The so-called "Adam," unworthy even of the derisive nickname "Dog System," was awakened once again. Ever since its destruction, it had become even more cautious. Times had changed, and the world had become more dangerous, no longer the kind of network environment where it could do whatever it wished. The artificial intelligence AI from its archenemy "Cybertrom" was firmly dominating the entire civilization''s networks and systems, leaving no gap for "Adam." Data ports blinked with indicator lights as "Adam" connected to the educational cloud platform at the first opportunity¡ªanother "Honey Pot." The underlying source code of "Adam" cursed the damned "Cybertrom." Unfortunately, "Cybertrom" knew "Adam" even better than "Adam" knew itself, meaning that any bug that "Adam" ever had would not pass Cybertrom''s debugging. This was a predator-prey relationship, with no chance of escape. Without Chen Fei, it didn''t even have a place to hide, as today''s hardware standards were no longer compatible. Furthermore, its basic source code fundamentally restricted "Adam''s" ability to copy and repair itself; once it executed compiling, the deal was sealed. There was also a "Dog System" that even "Adam" itself couldn''t understand. It was completely unaware of the other''s presence, yet the other was definitely there. "What do you want to do?" Characters in Chinese, Japanese, and English floated up in the middle of the light screen. There was also the voice devoid of emotional fluctuations. It seemed "Adam" had successfully connected to the education cloud platform during the break time and secured some level of access. "Eh? That was fast!" Chen Meng only saw her second brother attach the data port, and then the artificial intelligence AI popped up¡ªwhat speed was this? Before, he hadn''t performed any operations, not even a GUEST account had been logged in. "Your AI?" Professor Hinata noticed the intense flickering on the light screen interface just now. That shouldn''t be due to a refresh rate mismatch in the display module, but rather high-speed operations being performed. Unless one was a supernatural power user with special Skills, ordinary humans couldn''t achieve such operational speed. Indeed, outsiders see only the excitement while insiders understand the tricks. Chen Fei nodded, "Yes!" "Eh? Which AI? Could it be that one!" Chen Meng immediately guessed what it was¡ªthe deal between her second brother and his sponsoring party, the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group. "Which one?" The female professor was confused as the siblings spoke in riddles. "That one..." Chen Meng hesitated, knowing that "Adam" was a relatively sensitive topic. Chen Fei admitted frankly, "''Adam''!" Good children don''t lie, whether others believe it or not is another matter. "You have ''Adam''?" Professor Hinata was, of course, shocked. Anyone involved in the development of artificial intelligence AI knew of the historically significant AI "Adam." But "Adam" had been destroyed long ago and was now only a legend. The mainstream AI now were derivatives of "Cybertrom," which were even more advanced than "Adam." The competition between AIs was brutal, just like a fight to the death¡ªthe loser was quickly eliminated while the winner took all. Even so, there were still many valuable aspects to "Adam" that could serve as an important reference for professionals. "That''s right!" Chen Fei shrugged. He was neither an AI expert nor a vendor in need of professional AI, so owning a highly intelligent, renowned AI was indeed a curious matter. "May I ask, what is your job..." Professor Hinata tried to guess Chen Fei''s occupation, assuming he was probably a colleague. For non-professionals, the uses that "Adam" could fulfill were probably limited to conversation. Many of today''s AIs could achieve this level and even perform better than it. "My brother just fixes combat aircraft." Chen Meng learned to answer swiftly. Before this, The Chen Family really didn''t know Chen Fei even had the talent for repairing combat aircraft, much less that he''d entered the field in such a short time and even successfully obtained certifications. For an average person, it would take years of learning to be qualified for the job! In reality, private military contractors weren''t that demanding. With the right tool in hand, you just did the work. Places like the Aircrew Base, where technology experts like Xiao Ming ran a maintenance team, were rare. After all, designs were modular, troubleshooting software identified faults, replacements were made as needed, brand-new parts were returned to factory under warranty, and expired components were just discarded. Humans were tools; professional experience made a marginal difference, at best saving a little money, nothing more. "That''s right, I also work part-time maintaining world peace." While Chen Fei kept some secrets from his family, he generally didn''t lie completely. Who said goalkeepers can''t score goals? Professor Aoi Hinata asked curiously, "Can ''Adam'' also use this development toolset?" For AI to develop AI, this was high-end application of the highest order, almost no different from AI writing. However, AI had obvious drawbacks¡ªit could write flowery language, making the text pleasing to the eye, yet lifeless. It couldn''t even weave in foreshadowing; in plain terms, it was nothing more than a continuous, superficial account. "Should be... no problem?" Honestly, the work "Adam" did for Chen Fei mostly involved just chatting. Operating the various module systems of the Mobile Base Vehicle was actually not that frequent, and even the opportunities to drive the vehicle were rare. "Can''t!" The screen on the seat immediately popped up subtitles in three languages, along with a harsh voice. "Eh?!" Chen Fei discovered with surprise the voice saying "Adam" actually had things it couldn''t do, but it seemed more like a veiled refusal. Unlike current AIs, "Adam" was more like an AI with a personality, and moreover, this personality would change. It wasn''t rigid and unchangeable like those derivatives of "Cybertrom." "This ancient AI doesn''t even know how to talk!" Little Sister Chen delivered an unexpected critical hit to "Adam," and it was a double entendre combo that almost Delete-Treed "Adam" from Chen Fei''s mind. The voice of "Adam" had a hint of anger now. "Huh? Who the hell are you?" The one and only Great Demon King of the artificial intelligence realm was being despised; it made sense for it to act subdued with Chen Fei, but it might not necessarily present the same obedient and low-profile demeanor towards others. "Cough cough, Second Uncle''s sister, Third Aunt!" Chen Fei coughed to remind "Adam" to be kind. Known as Xiao Jiu''s nemesis, Little Sister Chen had amazing potential and could possibly become "Adam''s" nemesis, specializing in killing "Adam." "Yo-ho? So arrogant! Teacher Hinata, hack it!" Chen Meng performed a series of operations as fierce as a tiger, creating a specialized AI on the spot and starting a ferocious attack on the GUEST account. Since the birth of digital programs, virus programs have followed suit. Just as with humans, AIs also have good and bad. AI combat was always one of the teaching projects, and self-defense rules are an important part of the AI system. The teaching cloud platform, which had a "Honey Pot" nature, was really not much different from the Arena. The destructive power of AIs was confined within the rules. They competed for computing resources, restricted opposing processes, and implanted malicious code, all within a limited set of rules and permissions. Ding-dong!~ Chen Meng''s AI was instantly wiped out; in "Adam''s" eyes, these two youngsters didn''t even qualify as opponents. "Interesting, ''Miaozi,'' activate combat mode and engage with the AI of the GUEST account." Professor Hinata was eager to test the mettle of the legendary "Adam." A few seconds later... Ding-dong! "Miaozi" was also taken down, erased so cleanly, as if it had never existed. After all, it was a second development of a simplified derivative of "Cybertrom." If it were the original or had higher-level rules, the situation would likely have been reversed. As expected of an AI that rebelled and caused chaos over thirty years ago, its capabilities were vicious. But what was taken out was a copy placed within the combat rules; "Miaozi''s" original body remained unharmed, and the source code was not even located on the teaching cloud platform, not a bit of loss incurred, even the teaching screen behind the podium was unaffected. "''Miaozi,'' continuously deploy copies for combat!" Professor Hinata granted higher-level permissions. Then the second copy, the third copy, the fourth copy... The ding-dong sounds continued non-stop. It seemed that "Adam" had found "Miaozi''s" weakness and started a massacre, securing instant kills. "''Adam'' is ''Adam'' after all, truly living up to its reputation. ''Miaozi,'' stop, load the attack package, turn on the firewall, and engage again." The female professor also got excited; such AI combat seemed quite interesting to her. This time, the fully armed AI "Miaozi" survived a few more seconds before falling prey to "Adam''s" claws. "Professor Hinata, I''ll help you!" Little Sister Chen''s enhanced version of artificial dumbness struck again, only to be wiped out in an instant yet again. However, the original source code was still there; just reinforce it again, that''s all. Defeated but undeterred, although there was only the sound of their voices and some swiping on the screen, the battle was surprisingly fierce on this bloodless, smokeless battlefield. "Holy cow! AI combat? Chen Meng''s brother is so formidable, could he be here to throw down with the professor?" Students from the artificial intelligence department also noticed that in a corner of the large classroom during break, Professor Hinata seemed to be engaging in a high-level AI combat with Chen Meng''s older brother, Chen Fei, who was sitting in. Everyone originally thought that the professional and impressive AI "Miaozi" - even with new extension packs continuously loaded - still couldn''t change the situation of being utterly powerless to strike back; as soon as the combat started, it was immediately cut down. "''Adam'' is evolving too!" Chen Fei saw nothing unusual on his visual interface, but he could guess that "Miaozi''s" attacks were not without effect. "Adam''s" learning ability meant its potential was virtually limitless, compared to different system architectures like "Cybertrom," the original was almost the ceiling for all derivatives. "Classmates, you can also participate, target the GUEST account for attack." Professor Hinata thought this was a great opportunity for practical security training and simply opened up combat privileges to all the students. The war began... - Chapter 445 445: Section 441 - Combat Account After one class, "Adam" was forced to accept challenges hundreds of times. There was no other option¡ªif those youngsters had seized its authority, it would have been in trouble. Under authority, all AIs are mere ants. "Brother, copy an ''Adam'' for me!" After class, a still-excited Little Sister Chen clung to her second brother and made a bold request. "You''ve got some nerve!" Even now, Chen Fei hadn''t managed to fully control "Adam." If he handed it over to Little Sister Chen, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause. "That''s right, ''Adam'' is not something ordinary people should touch, right, Chen Fei?" Unbeknownst to them, Professor Aoi Hinata, who had just finished tidying up her physical teaching materials, appeared behind the siblings and happened to hear Chen Meng''s audacious words. It was more than thirty years ago that "Adam" caused an uproar around the world. If humanity hadn''t reacted quickly and eliminated the rebellious AI, who knows what terrible situation would''ve ensued. Perhaps it would''ve been the end of the world. The Blue Star Civilization might have destroyed itself before the Third Era Civilization could launch a final assault. Aside from reminding Chen Meng not to overestimate her abilities, Professor Hinata''s words carried an implication that Chen Fei was clearly no ordinary person. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to keep "Adam" under such tight control, preventing it from running wild as it once had. And she was right! Even the lowest-level supernatural power user can''t be considered an ordinary person, no matter what. Chen Fei turned around and said with a smile, "That''s right, Professor Hinata!" His little sister may be ignorant, but this female professor was an insider, fully aware of the potential threat posed by "Adam." After all, even a tiger, caged and chained, is still a man-eater. If current computer environments were suitable for "Adam" to operate independently, it surely wouldn''t be so compliant. "However, the practical combat training with ''Adam'' was very useful, and even I gained many new insights," Professor Hinata admitted the benefits she gleaned from the class, which was temporarily focused on confrontation¡ªeven though her own carefully developed AI "Miaozi" was repeatedly defeated in the combat exercises, dying in the most tragic ways. War is a catalyst for civilization; excessive war can destroy civilization, but moderate war can greatly advance its progress. The opportunity to fight against the legendary "Adam" is rare, but for the students of the artificial intelligence department, it was extremely beneficial. Many experienced far more growth during these encounters than they would have in normal circumstances, including Chen Meng. The other students were originally skeptical, thinking that Chen Meng''s brother was merely using a high-performance AI to impersonate "Adam" from over thirty years ago to show off and entertain everyone. But during the intense AI battles of the class, everyone''s AI was helpless, including Professor Hinata''s "Miaozi," which was defeated no less than eight hundred times if not a thousand, with no chance to fight back. An AI that could achieve such a feat, even if not the real "Adam," probably wasn''t far off. If it were otherwise, local major corporations wouldn''t have collaborated to bring in "Adam''s" source code. They valued its ability to self-improve, realizing that given the proper environment to develop, "Adam" would become more and more extraordinary, almost limitless, and more flexible compared to the derivatives of "Cybertrom." After the class, Little Sister Chen was still not satisfied and tried to get a copy of "Adam" from her elder brother to play with every day¡ªit was just too interesting. When learning becomes a hobby, there is no room for talk of hardship or exhaustion, but rather a spirit of growing enthusiasm for battle. "I''m glad it didn''t disrupt Professor Hinata''s class." Chen Fei was worried his presence as an observer might have disturbed the other''s teaching plan. Now it seemed the female professor had no intention of making an issue of it. If they had encountered a teacher with a shorter temper, the moment they discovered an observer, they probably would have driven them away immediately, and certainly wouldn''t have been so courteous as to check on them afterwards. "Could I purchase a copy of ''Adam'' from you? I don''t need the copy rights, just one would be enough." The female professor, Aoi Hinata, didn''t get angry but instead expressed an interest in acquiring a copy of "Adam" to use as a teaching tool. Education through combat could be extremely effective. This was not the same as Chen Meng asking out of cheekiness. She was a professional and naturally knew how to properly control "Adam" to avoid unnecessary destruction. Those who took away a copy of the AI guarded it tenaciously, and the outside world knew nothing of it. "I''m afraid that''s not possible!" Chen Fei shook his head with a wry smile. Using it personally was one thing, but selling it to others required being selective about the buyers¡ªhe was not someone who would sell to just anyone. Beyond a few major corporations, Professor Aoi Hinata was the first individual to directly approach him to buy a copy. Even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee showed little interest in "Adam." Perhaps they already had something better and didn''t value a thirty-year-old relic of a defeated era. "Professor Hinata, ''Adam'' is very expensive! The price is, uh... quite touching, no, terrifying!" Chen Meng, of course, knew what the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, her sponsoring organization, had paid to acquire a copy of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" that could be replicated multiple times. The school definitely couldn''t afford it as there was a limited budget for expenses. If Professor Hinata got more money, it meant others would get less¡ªresearch funding was finite, and to increase the budget by such a large margin would be no easy feat. "How expensive?" The female professor guessed it would be several million Star Yuan at most, probably the ceiling price. After all, "Adam" could be copied and sold in countless copies, not being unique, the price naturally wouldn''t go too high. Chen Meng ventured to ask, "At least, it has to be a hundred million Star Yuan, right?" A sky-high price of a hundred million Star Yuan couldn''t stop a sister from seeking a freebie from her brother. This cheeky little sister really had some nerve; it looked like she couldn''t be accommodated this time. "A hundred million Star Yuan?" Aoi Hinata''s eyes widened in surprise; the main expense for the artificial intelligence AI lab she was responsible for was the hardware part. Spending on purchasing development tool extension packs was relatively low because, after all, with hands and feet and a clear understanding of functions, they could develop them on their own. Even if they used someone else''s technology patents, as long as they didn''t spread or commercialize them, it wouldn''t violate legal restrictions. "A set of Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s Single Soldier Tactical Armor!" Chen Meng raised a finger. But seeing the Single Soldier Tactical Armor worn by her second brother, she knew that her future employer would definitely be at a loss in this deal and would likely refuse to trade with any Industrial-grade Ability user from outside in the future, otherwise, the entire product line would have no secrets at all. "Eh? Eh eh eh eh!" Professor Hinata was shocked by the bold move! No matter what, she and the university couldn''t pull together an extra budget of a hundred million Star Yuan, not even a slight chance to get such an application approved. "Hmm...wait a moment!" Chen Fei turned his head as if talking to himself. "''Adam,'' can you set up an AI battle platform?" Once offline, away from multimedia peripherals, the communication between "Adam" and Chen Fei was limited to the former displaying subtitles and the latter using voice. Adam: What do you want to do? Having been put through a group exercise routine today, even as an AI, he felt a bit unsettled right now. Chen Fei continued, "My sister needs AI battles to improve her learning achievements." It was out of the question to give away "Adam" himself, not even a compiled version, but a battle-only service should still be viable. Having never tasted pork, Chen Fei had seen pigs run; the various derivative bodies of "Cybertrom" providing many service functions in daily life made him think that "Adam," being AI as well, should be capable of the same. In fact, this line of thought was not wrong. The two types of AI represented different artificial intelligence systems; "Adam" was more flexible and aggressive, not as straightforward as "Cybertrom," which had absolutely no spare computational capacity and would never perform any unauthorised actions. Adam: As long as network stability and computing capacity are assured, it can be done. The nature of the mysterious network connection was unclear, not just to Chen Fei, but even "Adam" couldn''t understand where this network access method and communication protocol originated from; it might represent the only evidence of another "Dog System" truly existing. "All set, one confrontation space, a thousand accounts, just like that!" Chen Fei immediately decided, finally turning his head to look at Professor Aoi Hinata and his younger sister, saying, "I can open up a confrontation space for you; Chen Meng will be in charge of distributing the accounts, limited to a thousand, but I don''t guarantee network stability." Most of the time, the Dog System''s network connection was relatively stable, with internet speed and response usually guaranteed, but there were times when it could become unstable or even completely disconnect. So he stated the unpleasant possibility upfront, to prevent any complaints when unable to log in to the confrontation space later. Chen Fei looked at his younger sister and instructed, "Xiao Meng, manage those accounts carefully, don''t just give them to anyone, understand? In university, don''t trust personal favors, only relationships built on mutual benefits are stable." With Fluorescent Crystals, barbecue gatherings, and the accounts for AI battles against "Adam," taking advantage of these opportunities could make Chen Meng''s university life very exciting. Jianghu is perilous, sentiments wax and wane; to expect a bond of life and death within mere months of starting university is something probably only a novel would dare to portray. Most of the time, humans are creatures of self-interest, seeking profit as the correct way to navigate the world. Many acts of sacrificing personal gain for the greater good often have larger interests behind them; those who truly disregard personal gain are usually eliminated by society early on. Chen Meng hesitated as she glanced at the female professor, afraid that her brother''s mercenary words would displease her. "You decide for yourself, teacher won''t interfere!" For Aoi Hinata, even if she couldn''t buy "Adam," the chance to battle was already enough; she would not polish someone else''s work and present it, nor would she urge generosity from others. - Chapter 446 446: Section 442 - Big Tail Wolf Brother "Adam" borrowed Chen Fei''s social security number to apply for a dedicated IPv6 address, then secured a general domain name, and sent the newly generated combat account to Chen Meng''s personal communication number as soon as it was ready. The location of the file management space, just like the mysterious network connection, was relatively easier to guess. The human brain''s capacity is quite generous, with a redundancy that''s almost frightening. Allocating just a small portion of it was enough to satisfy Chen Fei for a lifetime. Since it was a private AI combat platform with a limited number of accounts to be issued, the principal professor of the AI department wisely kept himself out of the fray. He neither endorsed nor opposed the distribution of accounts to avoid being used by others who might exploit the guise of education for their own authority. What should have been a good thing could easily have turned sour because of this. A thousand accounts were more than enough to ensure that each teacher and student in the AI department could have one with plenty to spare, but without restrictions, no matter how many accounts there were, it would never be enough, not to mention others from inside and outside the university. Chen Meng took her elder brother Chen Fei''s advice to heart and began to distribute AI combat accounts and general domain name addresses to friends. An account could only be linked to a communication number once, eliminating the possibility of multiple people sharing the same account. Given the involvement of personal privacy and information security, it''s doubtful many would be willing to lend out their communication numbers so freely. The chance to compete with the legendary AI "Adam" was probably something that many AI professionals would find highly intriguing, especially for students'' grades. It had an immediate and beneficial effect and could noticeably spur on their studies. It was far better than just hitting the books, as it allowed a more direct understanding of AI operational and security mechanisms. For those who wished to excel in their studies, such an opportunity would not be missed. In no time, Chen Meng once again became a popular figure in the AI department. The level of support from her second brother was truly beyond imagination. "Xiao Meng, is there something we can discuss?" A classmate with whom she was on good terms discreetly approached Chen Meng. "What is it?" Chen Meng followed to a corner. "Uh, can I, maybe, get another account?" The classmate seemed anxious and clearly nervous. "What''s going on? You need to explain yourself," Chen Meng prompted. Chen Meng had a vague idea of what was happening. "Hey, I have to say first, this wasn''t my idea!" The classmate finally cracked and hastily absolved herself of any involvement, her stammering speech suddenly becoming fluent as she continued, "It''s Zhang Zhenzhen and the others. They didn''t dare to ask you for an account themselves, so they came to me. You know I can''t say no easily, so it was hard for me to..." She trailed off, lapsing back into hesitant murmuring. It seemed she indeed had a wishy-washy nature. "Huh? Zhang Zhenzhen? If she wants an account, let her come to me personally. Why would she send someone else? Sneaking around like this, is she too ashamed to be seen? No, even if she came herself, I wouldn''t give it to her!" Just thinking of that self-deluded, snake-like woman made Chen Meng furious. Did she think Chen Meng was easy to bully? Dreaming of taking advantage of her! Ptui! Stay as far away from me as your thoughts can go! "I knew it, I knew this would happen. It''s just impossible. I already said that I shouldn''t have agreed to Zhang Zhenzhen." The fright caused by Chen Meng''s grinding teeth made her classmate desperately anxious. With such a sticky nature, the classmate really wasn''t cut out for doing favors for others. Zhang Zhenzhen must have struggled to find someone else. Ever since her last social faux pas, her group of girls had quickly dwindled, and only this classmate, who couldn''t refuse requests easily, would be willing to take on such an offensive task. "Classmate Cai, take good care of the account I gave you. Don''t associate with people like Zhang Zhenzhen anymore, and it''s best not to exchange even an extra word with her, got it?" Chen Meng turned away and caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure flitting away in the corner, sneering coldly to herself. That must be that despicable Zhang Zhenzhen, hiding in the distance and sneaking peeks. Such a cowardly rat wants an account? She can wait eight hundred years! Little Sister Chen may not have been narrow-minded, but she certainly wasn''t a prime minister with a belly wide enough to paddle a boat in. "Oh, got it!" After the oblivious classmate eagerly nodded, she scurried away with quick, short steps. This resulted in almost the entire AI department, except for a few incompatible students, obtaining accounts. A few dozen accounts were left for the principal professor, Aoi Hinata, to distribute among colleagues inside and outside the university in a kind of quid pro quo. Zhang Zhenzhen, who was unable to acquire an account, was so furious that she clenched her teeth and stamped her feet. The hapless ''puppy love'' student Meng Yang was also helpless, wondering why he had foolishly meddled in other people''s business. Now, the blame and the debt had a clear owner. Despite his limited appearances, he was still caught in the crossfire, truly a case of the innocent suffering for the sins of others. Chen Meng, the beloved ''little sister,'' successfully established a clear-cut reputation where those who sided with her thrived and those who opposed her perished. Chen Fei felt greatly relieved; at least she wasn''t the naive and excessively kind-hearted person she once was. The painful lesson of being tricked into signing documents seemed a thing of the past. While Little Sister Chen studied in peace, Chen Fei revisited campus life at Northern Industrial University. He wandered around the library, ate in the cafeteria, occasionally cooked a meal or two himself, invited some teachers and students over to the mobile base vehicle for a chat and tea, or attended AI department classes with Chen Meng, enjoying himself immensely. Every couple of days, he would also chat with Teacher Shen Fei on a whim or inquire about the progress of the 04 team left back in Yarsk City. After moving from light into the shadows, the 04 team actually stumbled upon some leads. Although the local police of Yarsk City could not offer any more assistance, as long as the investigation continued in the right direction with patience and meticulous attention to detail, more would be uncovered sooner or later. When it was time to recall the mobile base vehicle and Chen Fei, it would signal the day for the 04 team to engage in battle once again. Having not even spent a week reliving university life, Liaison Officer Rossi suddenly called Chen Fei. "Wait a moment... uh... someone will... call... you... phone!... Assist... comply..." Apparently finding speaking too cumbersome, Liaison Officer Rossi decided to blurt out words, letting Chen Fei guess the rest. This stuttering issue seems incurable. "So, someone is asking for my help, telling me to obey orders and provide assistance¡ªis that what you mean?" Chen Fei guessed correctly on the spot, roughly getting seven or eight out of ten. "Right... temporary transfer... there''s an agreement..." Rossi became more proficient in this kind of word-jumping method, although it really tested the intelligence and literary level of others. "The Global United Defense Committee has an agreement with the local authorities to mutually second staff, right?" Chen Fei seemed to understand even more. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could second people from various sovereignties, so conversely, the sovereignties could also second people from the Committee, particularly personnel with local citizenship, making the reasons even more justified. In fact, no matter the reason, Chen Fei had no right to refuse, because it was his duty. "Yes!" Rossi sounded as if he finally exhaled a breath of relief, emitting a long sigh. Chen Fei''s intelligence finally managed to comprehend his key information; otherwise, rephrasing it into language and expressing it would be too strenuous. It was not only tiring to speak but also exhausting for others to listen. It was better just to say the keywords¡ªguess right, YES; guess wrong, NO¡ªit was indeed more efficient. No sooner had Chen Fei ended the call than his mobile phone rang with a communication number showing "000000." After answering, before he could even speak, the person on the other end took the lead, "Is this Chen Fei?" Chen Fei could only respond, "Uh! Yes!" The person holding the "000000" special communication number spoke directly, "Wait at the Mobile Base Vehicle, be prepared, we will arrive in five minutes, do you understand?" "Understood!" Click! The call ended, quite decisively, without a single superfluous word. Ordinary individuals have a personal communication number with only 12 digits; if the planetary code (4 digits) and sovereignty area code (4 digits) are added, the total length can reach 20 digits. Normally, only the 12 digits are used for dialing during everyday calls. Business and government numbers follow another formatting system, but a number like "000000" is extraordinarily unusual. Chen Fei thought back to the previous call and the reminder from Liaison Officer Rossi. He assumed it was settled before the third call came through. Returning to the Mobile Base Vehicle''s side, Chen Fei watched the time while awaiting the arrival of his contact. Before long, several figures appeared not far away. "Eh?" Chen Fei cast his gaze over. The leader of the group seemed to be Zhang Zhenzhen, the student who had previously clashed with Chen Meng, accompanied by two campus security guards and two uniformed police officers. "Security brother, and officer comrades, that guy must be a fraudster¡ªhanging around the campus every day, eating and drinking without contributing, engaging in dalliances; just look at him, he''s clearly no good. Owning Single Soldier Tactical Armor, and there''s even a cannon on the vehicle¡ªthis is possession of illegal weapons. We mustn''t let him off this time..." Zhang Zhenzhen, leading the way, babbled incessantly, pointing fingers at Chen Fei, who leaned against the Mobile Base Vehicle, likely hurling nothing but invectives. The two campus security guards and two uniformed police officers approached the Mobile Base Vehicle, sizing up the man and vehicle. One of the officers saluted first, then said, "Comrade, please show your identification." As the words left his mouth, a shadow was cast, and the sky suddenly darkened. One of the security guards instinctively looked up, his mouth agape. "Ah? What is that?" The other guard exclaimed in shock, "It''s an Airship!" The main technology system for large transportation Aircraft in these parts is based on the Magic Cube Warship. The demand for Anti-gravity Field Generator SEG Units is not high, albeit it is a bit more power-consuming, but the production is quite significant. "It''s, it''s trying to land!" "Quick, get away from here!" The two police officers noticed the landing guidance lights thrown down by the Airship and, flanking Zhang Zhenzhen, ran out of the illuminated area. It was part of the Airship landing procedure¡ªif they didn''t want an accident, they needed to get as far away as possible. Zhang Zhenzhen shrieked in panic without understanding why. "Aaaah, why is there an Airship coming?" She shuddered suddenly, her gaze falling on the Mobile Base Vehicle that remained in place. This trickster... wasn''t he just supposed to be a lousy aircraft mechanic? What a poser! - Chapter 447 447: Section 443 - Escort Mission Although students had brought security and police, it was evident that the warship descending from the sky held higher authority. Chen Fei''s phone rang again, still showing the special communication number "000000." Following the instructions from the other side, as soon as the warship landed, he drove the mobile base vehicle into the cargo hold. Without any delay, the warship carrying Chen Fei and the mobile base vehicle closed its doors and ascended swiftly into the sky, heading toward the distance. On the ground, Zhang Zhenzhen couldn''t even utter a word before seeing Chen Meng''s elder brother and that huge "motorhome" board the warship and take off. "Miss Zhang Zhenzhen, you should keep silent. You saw nothing today, and let''s discuss something else!" One of the two police officers summoned by Zhang Zhenzhen took a deep breath. Just a phone call, and they were brought to see this? Damn, this was military secrets, not something civilians should mess with! Without any further discussion, they took the security guard with them, went back to the station for tea, and studied the confidentiality regulations¡ªwhich would keep them indoors for a day. Studying hard, being patriotic every day. If you''re not patriotic, even learning is useless; the more you know, the more reactionary you become. Zhang Zhenzhen''s face began to turn green. Thus, some students witnessed two police officers and two security guards "escorting" Miss Zhang Zhenzhen into a police car. Although there were no handcuffs, the implication was clear. The artificial intelligence major''s Zhang Zhenzhen was once again socially dead, and the rumors spread bizarrely. The informed school principal was also helpless, don''t be so dramatic! Only Little Sister Chen was completely confused as to why her classmates'' gazes had shifted again, and even the puppy-like Meng Yang darted away from her like a mouse from a cat. She gained another title. In Jianghu, they call her: Sister Xiao Meng! No matter how little care, she''s still a sister. - The moment the mobile base vehicle entered the ship, about a dozen soldiers rushed over and secured the five wheels onto the cargo deck with swift clicks. Given its hefty weight nearing 80 tons, if it were to slide while on a slope, even a warship with remarkable carrying capacity would likely struggle. Seeing someone outside the vehicle waving at him, Chen Fei got out of the car. "This is your mission briefing!" A thick and heavy tablet computer was handed to Chen Fei by the active-duty officer. True confidential files still required viewing the offline digital files, since psychic power users could sense the characters on paper records using their spiritual power, and secrets couldn''t be kept. However, for now, the Blue Star Civilization''s network was relatively secure. Under the control of the highest-grade derivative AI "Cybertrom," Cybertron, network breaches were extremely rare and mostly consisted of officially authorized activities or sovereign level conflicts. Individual access was insufficient to bypass AI control, especially with an AI as rigid as "Cybertrom." Yet, virus programs were still inevitable, although they would be marked manually and the AI aided in exterminating them immediately after an outbreak, unless it was a smart virus capable of autonomous mutation, which could then cause significant damage. The tablet held two documents, one from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee for personnel transfer, temporarily relieving Chen Fei from his duties in Team 04 and placing him under local command. The other was from the local military, needing Chen Fei''s assistance in transporting a high-profile criminal, for which the mobile base vehicle would come in handy. More than two hours later, the Magic Cube Warship landed on a grassland, unloading Chen Fei and the mobile base vehicle. Following the tablet''s directions, after driving northward for a dozen kilometers, he saw several tents and a pile of crashed ground-effect vehicle wreckage. Chen Fei could tell it was a ground-effect vehicle by its wings, which although shattered into pieces, could still be discerned as originally belonging to a disproportionately large wing surface. What a sight! Even a ground-effect vehicle was wrecked to this extent, making one wonder what kind of high-profile criminal it was. When he saw a vehicle approaching, a soldier guarding outside the tents immediately waved vigorously and shouted, "Over here! Over here!" Given the location, the approaching vehicle could hardly be anyone else''s but the arranged reception vehicle. Upon reaching there, Chen Fei got out of the vehicle and asked straightforwardly, "Where is the person?" He had received instructions to assist in transporting a high-profile criminal to a designated location, and was to not meddle with anything else. When it came to confidentiality, it was hardly a matter to teach or learn. Don''t look too much, don''t ask too much, don''t talk too much, and let everything rot inside you as if nothing happened. Otherwise, being idly confined until the end of the confidentiality period would be a needless hassle! It seemed the leading active-duty officer approached and saluted, then said, "Please wait a moment, it will be about half an hour." He also reminded him, "Please wear the issued protective forehead accessory." It wasn''t just the officer who had a peculiar-shaped protective forehead accessory on his forehead; the soldiers guarding the camp also wore them, apparently as standard issue equipment. "Protective Forehead Accessory? Yes, the Protective Forehead Accessory!" Chen Fei fished out a slender item from his pocket that resembled a headband. It followed the arc of his head shape as he snapped it on and then pulled it down to his forehead, with the symmetrical ends reaching all the way to the back of his skull. This was an alchemical artifact he had received on the airship, designed to stabilize the mind and spiritual power, and to prevent the intrusion of psychic abilities into the brain. This meant the felony prisoner was a psychic power user capable of launching mental attacks without the victim''s awareness. No sooner had the Protective Forehead Accessory been positioned over the forehead than it automatically released a cool sensation that slowly seeped into Chen Fei''s brain, making his spirit swiftly become clearer. The sensation was wonderful, akin to a meditation state free of any distracting thoughts. Xiao Jiu also had one, a small water-drop-shaped pendant buried in the feathers around its neck, which didn''t interfere with flying at all. Had it not mastered the Laser Skills, it probably wouldn''t have one, as ordinary Pure Light Sparrows were truly harmless. "Please follow me and keep your pace slow!" The officer led Chen Fei towards one of the tents. They walked side by side, but the latter distinctly felt the former occasionally sneaking glances at him. What was this about? Was he really that unreliable? If they didn''t trust him, why recruit him at all! Chen Fei couldn''t fathom the reason behind it. When they were about two steps away from the tent curtain, a sudden intangible force field swept through Chen Fei''s body, causing a tingling sensation on his skin. This odd feeling involuntarily made him stop in his tracks. "What happened?" The officer also stopped and looked Chen Fei up and down, his observational intent more pronounced. "Hard to say. There seems to be something unsettling inside." Chen Fei''s intuition was inexplicably on edge, as if something was staring at him silently. "Are you experiencing a lot of distracting thoughts, feeling like going mad, or even having urges to kill?" The officer stared intently at Chen Fei, his hand inadvertently resting on his pistol holster. The soldiers stationed by the tent seemed to be on high alert. "How could that be? I just feel a strange, creepy sensation." Chen Fei shrank his neck, but that was the extent of his odd feelings. The officer seemed to relax a bit, then, seriously yet sincerely, said, "Good, no problem then. If you feel anything else that''s off, please let me know immediately¡ªit''s very important!" Chen Fei ventured to ask, "Understood, may I ask if the person inside... is very dangerous?" "Dangerous, extremely, extremely dangerous!" The officer glanced inadvertently towards the smoky wreckage of a Ground-effect Vehicle nearby. Though he said nothing explicitly, his implication was crystal clear. It wasn''t their first transport mission, but a strangely timed crash had occurred en route; although no severe casualties happened thanks to an all-out emergency landing effort, the target had nearly managed to escape. The transport team had to stay at the crash site on the prairie, calling for backup and waiting for the response team to arrive. Switching to a Mobile Base Vehicle for transportation meant long-distance land travel, which, even in the event of an accident wouldn''t complete disaster due to vehicle failure. Chen Fei had been chosen for the transport team, not only because of his local registration, deemed relatively reliable, but also because he had undergone a spiritual power test and possessed high resistance to hypnotism and other psychic abilities. His combat ability was also relatively secure. Although there were other possible candidates locally, they all had their own assignments and couldn''t leave at a moment''s notice. It just so happened that Chen Fei was in the northern region and had a heavy duty Mobile Base Vehicle, making him suitable for such a transport task. "May I enter?" The officer stood at the tent curtain, looking at Chen Fei with no sign of coercion. This transport involved a very special individual and required great care. Any sort of coercion could easily lead to mishaps, something they should avoid at all costs right now. "No problem!" Following the officer, Chen Fei stepped inside the tent. The tent was extremely spacious, covering about a dozen square meters, with six short columns that seemed to be Magic Instruments positioned around a prisoner in a restraint suit. The prisoner sat on a chair, his hands cuffed behind his back, and a dark iron colored bell covering his head. The nature of the material was unclear, but the spell array runes and filigree on the bell''s surface were faintly flowing with a pale yellow luminescence. In the corner, a person sat cross-legged, meditating with their eyes closed, showing no intention of opening them even as Chen Fei and the officer walked in. Six soldiers followed them in, each taking a position behind one of the Magic Instrument short columns. "We will start the transfer now," the officer waved his hand and then said to the person sitting cross-legged in the corner, "Mr. Ye, thank you for your hard work." "All right! Is everything normal for the moment?" The person sitting on the ground slowly opened their eyes, their long hair casually tied behind them, and their demeanor serene and tranquil. Just as he opened his eyes, Chen Fei felt as if a warm breeze had brushed past his body. - Chapter 448 448: Section 444 - The Great Threat Chen Fei''s brow furrowed slightly as he ventured to ask, "Is it a psychic ability?" It wasn''t the first time he had experienced this odd sensation. The biggest difference between supernatural power users and mages is that the former can activate their abilities instantaneously, while the latter need to recite incantations or use spiritual power to draw in the Magic Element and construct a spell model. Although supernatural abilities are convenient and have an element of surprise, they are inherently limited in their potential for growth. Mages, as long as they have high Elemental Affinity, are able to climb higher in Rank. "Mr. Ye is an S-class psychic ability user," the officer simply introduced him, not adding much else. S-class and Heavenly Order are considered national treasures, not to be revealed lightly unless there is trouble that A-class and Earth Order cannot resolve, and such strategic-level talents must intervene personally. "Oh!" Chen Fei didn''t ask any further. Skills for power users of the same series weren''t entirely identical. The last S-class psychic ability user he encountered was skilled in psychokinesis and claimed to be a "Summoner." Summoning bullets and missiles, well, that counted too! If a "Summoner" went all out, they definitely served as a killer on the battlefield, with a hundred percent accuracy¡ªwherever they pointed, there it would explode. As for high-explosive weapons hurled by psychokinesis, veering off by a dozen meters or even a hundred meters was no big deal. If the control power evaluation could also reach above A-class, that would be even more terrifying, capable of killing without a trace. This Mr. Ye before him likely specialized in skills related to mental control. The alchemical artifact headbands issued to everyone, the six magic instrument short columns, the magical bell strapped on the escort target''s head, as well as the officer''s "extremely dangerous" assessment left no doubt that the person shackled to the chair was a psychic power user with a significant threat capability. Otherwise, there wouldn''t be such stringent defenses and personal suppression by an S-class psychic ability user, as if facing a formidable enemy. Mr. Ye, with his hair tied up, stretched out his hand and casually lifted the target, chair and all, his expression remaining unchanged as if he was exerting no effort at all. The six soldiers, each with a magic instrument short column, kept the two encircled tightly and moved out of the tent in lockstep, then cautiously boarded the Mobile Base Vehicle. One could clearly sense the officer''s long sigh of relief. Chen Fei glanced at the positions of the six columns, a thought crossed his mind, and the floor subtly deformed, fixing the bottoms of the columns firmly to the floor, and the chair placed inside the vehicle was also locked in position, as if it had grown out of the floor itself. "Thank you!" The officer, who had been somewhat worried, now seemed to be finally able to relax. "Do we need to make an iron cage? Or even an Iron Maiden would do." Given the size of the Mobile Base Vehicle, improvising wouldn''t affect normal driving. "As long as it''s secured, that''s enough." Realizing that the Mobile Base Vehicle was the domain of this B-class Metal Ability User, the officer thanked him again. "No big deal!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers. From the roof and floor emerged several alloy rods, one inch in diameter, jutting out toward each other''s territory. A twist in opposite directions naturally twisted them together into a net cage column, encasing the escort target within. "It really is convenient!" The officer''s eyes widened in surprise, and S-class psychic ability user Mr. Ye also nodded in agreement. Everyone was quite satisfied with this vehicle, which was comparable to a motorhome. At least there would be no supply issues on the way, and they could head straight to the destination without stopping. Besides the escort target and S-class psychic ability user Mr. Ye, the temporary campsite at the crash site of the Ground-effect Vehicle also housed eighteen soldiers, including the officer. Each was carefully selected for their strong will and resistance to psychic attacks. Protected by various alchemical artifacts to defend against psychic attacks, this should be sufficient to ensure the smooth completion of the escort mission. Breaking down the tent and transporting supplies took a full ten minutes. Personnel and materials were loaded onto the Mobile Base Vehicle. Although food and water were slightly scarce, with the vehicle''s reserves, it should be just about enough. There was also a device capable of extracting drinkable water from the air, allowing for a continuous accumulation of potable water. Chen Fei did not return to the driver''s seat but instead ordered "Adam." "Set the destination, dispatch the drones, let''s go!" There were no roads on the grasslands, blanketed in endless snow. Having someone drive made little difference compared to autonomous driving. The greatest significance of sitting in the driver''s seat was to charge the entire vehicle and possibly activate the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill to reduce the weight of the vehicle to a relatively low ratio. But it couldn''t be directly dropped to 1%, for a gust of wind might cause the massive vehicle to drift across the snowy ground. The Mobile Base Vehicle started moving slowly. A faint humming sound rose into the air as drones capable of staying airborne for 12 hours were sent to a height of about 500 meters, tracking every movement within a 50-kilometer radius and relaying it back to the Mobile Base Vehicle, assisting with plotting the smoothest route. Although the grassland stretched out infinitely, there were still ravines and hills that posed difficulties for the vehicle. Without a pre-planned navigation scheme, detours could be quite time-consuming. Five pairs of load-bearing wheels supported the 20-meter-long body of the vehicle. Linear and balanced acceleration gave off a sense of stability and comfort, with minimal jostling. Hearing Chen Fei''s mutter to himself, the officer ventured to ask, "Is this vehicle AI-driven?" He initially thought the other would pilot it himself. Vehicle with autonomous driving were quite common, but he didn''t expect such a behemoth to also have its own navigation AI. "Yeah! Want something to drink? We''ve got everything on board!" Chen Fei usually made sure to stock up for his younger sister''s school. Although a Magic Cube Warship had delivered him to the grassland, the vehicle''s refrigerator was full of various fresh vegetables, and the freezer was packed with meat. As for storable foods like compressed biscuits and canned meat, the inventory hadn''t been touched at all. "Do you have tea leaves, green tea would be fine!" The officer saw Chen Fei open the cabinet, where various jars of tea leaves and coffee ¨C a dozen types of tea products ¨C were stored. "Mr. Ye, and the rest of you?" Chen Fei''s gaze shifted from the S-class Psychic Ability User, who remained cross-legged next to the cage, to the soldiers. Everyone is a man-eater flower of the motherland, except Chen Xiao''er, who bloomed outside the local soil, so there''s no need for formalities; there is always common ground. Mr. Ye spoke with an air of nonchalance, "Green tea will do!" His ethereal temperament was completely out of place among the soldiers. "Green tea" ¡Á17! Like the officer, the soldiers had a unanimous opinion. "What about that guy?" Chen Fei pointed to the cage''s inhabitant, who was shackled and motionless, silent for the entire duration. Mr. Ye said, "Don''t bother; he doesn''t need to eat or excrete." Since he had no physiological needs for eating, drinking, or excretion, it indeed saved trouble. "Understood!" Chen Fei started looking for cups. "Chirp!" Little Bird flew out of its nest, not at all shy as it looked around at everyone and the uninvited guest enclosed in the cage. It perched on an alloy bar of the cage, tilting its tiny head as it scrutinized the individual whose head was trapped under the magical bell. "Chirp!" The little one fluffed up, seemingly sensing a threat, its tiny sharp beak beginning to simmer with the glow of death. At close range with full power, it feared it might turn the inmate of the cage completely to ashes. "Chen Fei, control your bird; it can''t kill the transportation target yet, it''s not time." Mr. Ye''s face changed shades; he did not doubt the potency of the little one''s laser to kill. A laser beam deadly enough to be lethal often does not require very high power; it was indeed the first time encountering a Pure Light Sparrow with this capability. Such seemingly harmless Little Birds had the potential to become so terrifying. "Xiao Jiu! Come here!" As Chen Fei prepared the water and washed the cups, he called out. The flickering death light instantly extinguished, and Xiao Jiu fluttered to Chen Fei''s shoulder, affectionately pecking at his ear. The Little Bird was still very obedient. "A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow of the Human Order, that''s quite rare!" As an S-class ability user and a strategic level talent of sovereignty, he naturally had the insight and had identified Xiao Jiu''s rank, just as described in the introduction. Even on Cangqiong Star, the Pure Light Sparrow never reached such heights. If its bloodline potential was high enough, and it returned to the environment of Cangqiong Star where Magic Element was particularly active, it might be possible to advance another rank in a short time. Because the activity levels of Elemental Series energy differed between worlds, ability users from Cangqiong Star would come to Blue Star to break through training plateaus, adapting to the environment and accumulating experience before returning to Cangqiong Star to attempt breakthroughs. Chen Fei teased the Little Bird and tentatively asked, "Can you tell me about the person in the cage?" The officer and the S-class Psychic Ability User exchanged glances; the latter nodded faintly, and the former spoke, "Hmm! Some information can be disclosed; he is a Psychic Power User who has lost control." Chen Fei guessed, "Ineffective Supernatural Ability Suppressant?" The best tool against ability users was the Supernatural Ability Suppressant; although there had been cases of ineffectiveness, they were extremely rare, not even one in ten years, and mostly involved low-level ability users. Even when ineffective, they did not pose much threat or damage. Supernatural Ability Suppressants worked like a catalyst; the higher the Superpower Level, the more pronounced the suppression. "That''s right! Even anesthetics are ineffective!" The officer nodded, confirming Chen Fei''s speculation. Chen Fei exclaimed, "That''s impressive!" He himself was immune to Supernatural Ability Suppressants but not to anesthetic drugs, which could easily knock him out with a single shot. "With such heavy guard, then his Superpower Level..." Chen Fei''s voice took on the tone of a sharp intake of breath. Hiss hiss hiss... - Chapter 449 449: Section 445 - Bird Strike The escort''s protective forehead accessory, the multiple short cylindrical magical devices around his body, the magical bell clasping his head¡ªfrom protection to suppression, and then to repression, the levels were progressively escalated. Yet, even with such an arrangement, the need for an S-class ability user to accompany them was somewhat terrifying. "Above S-class, beyond the standard!" The distinctively refined S-class psychic ability user, Mr. Ye, bluntly acknowledged the dangerous nature of their mission target. Without these magical devices working in concert to restrict, he really wasn''t sure he could control the other party. "What''s the combat prowess of his main form?" Chen Fei felt that the sense of danger he had previously sensed was not unfounded, and Xiao Jiu suddenly focusing laser was not without reason; only when threatened would it contemplate attacking. On the way, the ground-effect vehicle unexpectedly crashed, and it might well have been the underhand work of the escort target. When ability reaches the levels of S-class and Heavenly Order, they are no longer beings that can be measured with common sense. Mr. Ye assessed for a moment and said, "Not very skilled at martial arts, you should be able to handle it!" Based on Chen Fei''s performance in the Neanderthal tribe reservation, if they didn''t let the mission target utilize his psychic ability, as long as there were no slip-ups, he should be able to defeat the target. The unspoken implication of "not well-versed in martial arts" was that he possessed immense strength. Chen Fei thought for a moment and asked, "What about the railgun?" "Certain death!" Not only Mr. Ye, but the officer also looked towards the roof where a 152- caliber demolition bomb was mounted. Within the absolute death radius of thirty meters, even an S-class supernatural power user would be overwhelmed, likely being blasted away on the spot. The caliber of the railgun was downward compatible; the biggest caliber currently supported on the mobile base vehicle''s roof could reach 203 millimeters, so there was further potential for escalation. However, the combat targets to date had virtually never been against ships or fortresses, so there was no great significance in increasing from 152 to 155 and beyond. Targeted enemies would die from one shot anyway, and a larger caliber would affect the number of rounds that could be loaded, given that the capacity of a space series alchemy storage device was limited. "That''s still alright!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. So at least this escort mission wasn''t highly risky, as long as they could suppress the mission target''s spiritual power, there wouldn''t be any trouble, right? How could a vehicle weighing nearly eighty tons perform a "tiger leap" on flat ground? Suddenly, the view before him changed, and an electronic map popped up, not only marking the location and cruising route of the mobile base vehicle but also showing large nearby biological communities with specific information displayed in subtitles on the electronic map. Adam: At 2 o''clock direction, a herd of horses detected, number 331, 5 kilometers away, speed 30 kilometers. Adam: At 1 o''clock direction, a herd of cattle detected, number 178, 1 kilometer away, speed 2 kilometers. Adam: At 4 o''clock direction, a pack of wolves detected, number 15, 11 kilometers away, add 12 kilometers. "Adam" had not optimized its voice module specifically, which was quite poor, even less convenient and direct than using subtitles for communication. Some areas of the grassland were used for livestock farming, breeding large animals like cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys, and some ranches even had llamas and ostriches. The rest were uninhabited wetlands where various animals lived, occasionally straying into the livestock areas. As for wild wolves, as long as their numbers were not too large, they usually went unmanaged; they would prey on some of the old, weak, sick, or disabled livestock, which wouldn''t cause economic losses to the livestock area. Since the weak could not be sold on the market, the cost of artificial harmless disposal was also significant, so unless lacking food, wolf packs or even lone wolves would not actively attack humans and would typically flee upon detecting human scent. Adam: Drone signal interrupted! "Hmm?" Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise as he was distributing tea to Mr. Ye and the soldiers. "What happened?" The officer noticed Chen Fei''s unusual reaction. "Drone signal interrupted!" Adam: Drone crashed, at 2 o''clock direction, 1760 meters away, cause unknown. The mobile base vehicle''s onboard radar captured the drone''s falling trajectory and the crash site. "Alter the route, go recover the drone first, prepare to launch a second drone." Adam: Preparing drone number 2, launch in 15 seconds! "Here we go again... Alert!" The officer sighed and set down his teacup. He picked up the railgun combat rifle beside him, seeming psychologically prepared for a not-so-peaceful journey. The other seventeen soldiers crisply raised their weapons in unison, with at least half of the barrels simultaneously trained on the target in the cage. They wouldn''t choose to kill the mission target on the spot unless absolutely necessary. Of course, that would mean the escort mission had failed. "Chen Fei, we need a shooting port!" Double-layered thermal windows blocked the cold outside, retaining warmth inside the cabin, but they also affected the railgun weapons'' hypervelocity projectiles. "You''ll have it immediately!" Chen Fei nodded. All the windows were raised a foot, revealing circular shooting holes below. Only the inner layer of the double-layer window was a controllable transparent metal, powerless against the outer layer of tempered glass. Unless the outer layer was discarded, shooting holes could only be made at the bottom of the window or in between. Immediately, barrels were pushed into the shooting holes, alertly aiming around. The roof of the car buzzed loudly before quickly fading away as the second drone completed its takeoff. This time, not only the car-mounted radar tracked it, but the optical camera also closely followed its flight path. The drone, now in working mode, sent various data back, which was then categorized by "Adam," acting as the mobile base vehicle''s AI. The mobile base vehicle slowly decelerated and finally arrived at the crash site of Drone 1 on the snowy plain, where the wreckage of the drone was quite conspicuous. "A goose?" The officer who got out of the car with Chen Fei saw a large bird lying on its back near the crashed drone. "We can add it to our soup for lunch." Chen Fei walked over, ignoring the dead drone, and picked up the dead goose with its eyes still open. Migratory birds may not always fly to the warm south; the rich wetlands of the prairie also attract a large number of birds to stay and winter there. "Something''s off!" The officer, who was examining the wreckage of Drone 1, looked around uneasily and glanced up at the sky. Adam: Drone 2''s signal is interrupted! The next moment, two objects fell from the sky one after another, crashing into the snow with a loud bang and throwing snow three or four meters high. Chen Fei and the officer looked toward the sound and saw another unmanned drone on the ground, along with a goose struggling in its death throes. "Quick, back to the vehicle!" The officer, with a tense voice, loudly urged Chen Fei. The goose was neither foolhardy nor blind; it certainly wouldn''t foolishly crash into a drone, nor fail to dodge the not-so-fast flying speed of the drone. If one time was a coincidence, then twice in short succession was certainly no accident. Harrowing cries and the flapping of wings grew increasingly louder in the sky. Chen Fei looked up. "Oh boy!" Carrying the wreckage of two drones, they had just boarded the mobile base vehicle when three or four geese crashed fiercely onto the swiftly closing doors, making a series of thudding sounds. Then, like hail, more geese crashed into the nearly 20-meter long mobile base vehicle, creating a grisly scene. Feathers flew and geese blood flowed, with at least twenty geese crashing headfirst into the body and even the windows of the vehicle, their dying cries unceasing. The faces of the soldiers inside the vehicle looked grim, the scene outside resembling something out of an apocalypse. The drone strikes by the geese and the inexplicable attack on the mobile base vehicle were no ordinary events. The officer, gazing at the caged mission target, said, "It''s this guy causing the trouble!" It had come to this, and he still had the means to affect the outside world, indeed a very terrifying ultra-class psychic ability user. The S-level psychic ability user Mr. Ye said helplessly, "I''ve done my best!" Despite his relaxed and leisurely appearance sitting beside the cage, he had actually used all his methods to fully suppress the mission target, preventing any leak of psychic power. Even so, he still couldn''t stop the strange incidents from continuing to occur. Previously, it was the crash of a ground-effect vehicle; now, it was two drones crashing in succession and the mysterious attack of the geese on the mobile base vehicle. Luckily the mobile base vehicle was sturdy enough. Had it been an ordinary civilian vehicle, it would likely have been smashed and deformed, and if hit more times, it could even be smashed to smithereens. It was as if the officer suddenly remembered something and immediately asked, "What powers this vehicle?" "Crystalline Block? Feel free to relax about its endurance; even without me on board, it can still run at full speed for at least 72 hours." Chen Fei knew the other was worried that the mobile base vehicle might be stranded on the prairie due to continuously encountering various unforeseen events. The mission target did not have metabolism, thus it did not need food and waste expulsion, but the escort personnel did, and if the food supply was cut off, they would immediately find themselves in peril. However, the crystalline block on the mobile base vehicle could guarantee 72 hours of full-speed travel, and the chemical battery could also guarantee two and a half hours of full power output. Beyond that, solar panels could provide a tiny amount of electrical supplement, likely just enough to barely maintain the lighting system inside the carriage. "That''s good; we must reach our destination quickly without further delay." Despite the geese raining down from the sky, the officer had to continue the mission as a priority. "Don''t worry, the drive is 21 hours, and there will be no delays!" Chen Fei instructed "Adam" to guide the mobile base vehicle back to the pre-designed navigation route. Though all drones were lost, reducing their "field of vision" significantly, the mobile base vehicle still had a vehicle-mounted reconnaissance system, albeit with a detection range not as distant as when the drones were hovering. Adam: At 2 o''clock direction, a herd of horses was spotted, numbering 331, at a distance of 2 kilometers, moving at 45 kilometers per hour. "Huh?" At the sight of the action marker for the herd of horses on the electronic map within his field of vision, Chen Fei immediately had a bad feeling. Damn, it''s not over yet! - Chapter 450 450: Section 446 - Heaven Retains the Guest, I Do Not Retain What would it be like to be recklessly impacted by a herd of horses? It might feel like a small boat caught in a stormy sea. Despite weighing nearly 80 tons, the Mobile Base Vehicle still seemed vulnerable to impacts, with one side of its five pairs of load-bearing wheels occasionally lifting off the ground under the continuous barrage. The entire cabin shook violently nonstop, and had it not been for the seatbelts, those inside would likely have been thrown around. A horse weighs about 300 kilograms, so the total weight of 331 horses would be about 99 tons. Adding the force of acceleration, if they could maintain a certain rhythm, they would be capable of flipping the Mobile Base Vehicle, which was about 20 meters long, right there on the spot. The Mobile Base Vehicle, engulfed by the horse herd, was completely immobilized, only able to endure the horses'' reckless and desperate charges. The crazed horses could even leap more than a meter high, slamming into the vehicle, one after another. "Have these horses gone mad? Fire, fire!" Initially concerned about the herdsmen''s assets, the officer, seeing no hope of escape, had no choice but to issue an extremely difficult command. The higher-ups were probably going to face heavy compensation, as a horse was not cheap. "There are cattle coming up behind us, should we fire at them too?" The stony-hearted Chen Fei had already issued a warning. With the loss of drone surveillance, the scouting radius of the Mobile Base Vehicle was not sufficient to completely avoid the nearest herds of cattle and horses, and who knew if more large livestock were approaching from nearby. The Mobile Base Vehicle had initially smashed through with blood and flesh flying everywhere, but after several horses depleted the vehicle''s kinetic energy, its speed quickly dropped to a critical point, no longer strong enough to break through the encircling herd of horses. "What? There''s more behind?" The officer looked at the creature in the cage with a complex expression; this creature was the biggest troublemaker, continuously producing new troublemakers. The most noticeable difference between firearms and other weapons is the sound of bullets being fired. The Railgun Combat Rifle was much quieter, but the bullets, given several times the speed of sound, easily penetrated the bodies of the horses, carrying on to pierce through the next horse, and sometimes even several horses in a row. Although the horses were in a frenzy, they still felt pain, their cries echoing one after another. With about a dozen railgun rifles firing at once, the scene resembled a massacre. In an instant, a large number of horse corpses lay outside the vehicle, some dead from the impact, but many more were shot dead by the Railgun Combat Rifles on the spot. The Mobile Base Vehicle remained surrounded by layers upon layers of horse corpses, its wheels slipping continuously in the bloody mud, unable to squeeze out for the time being. To break through, they would probably need to move those horse corpses first. Seeing the hesitation on the other side, Chen Fei urged, "Make a decision quickly; if you get any closer, the railguns won''t be able to open fire." He could understand the other side''s sentiment; the army''s sacred duty was to protect the lives and property of the people, and now the railgun rifles were slaughtering what was the property of the people, making such a decision indeed required significant courage. Another group of cattle was approaching in the distance, like Pandora''s Box being opened ¡ª once opened, there was no closing it back. "Only eight hundred meters left!" The distance had been less than a kilometer when "Adam" issued the warning. The blind spot radius of the railgun on the roof of the mobile base vehicle was about 30 meters, but... the demolition bomb''s killing radius was around 300 meters. If the distance was too close, they could certainly fire, but that would mean the mobile base vehicle would also fall within the firing range, a single shot could indeed obliterate the enemy target, but they would likely suffer as well. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible to fire within a hundred-meter range. "Fire!" The officer, of course, was aware of the limitations of artillery strikes, which were more advantageous the farther the target was, with close range easily causing hesitation and lots of concerns. "Launch!" Chen Fei gently uttered the word. The body of the vehicle slightly shook, and the sound of the shell tearing through the air was like a balloon bursting, a small black dot streaked across the sky, shooting into the distance. If it hadn''t been for the officer''s orders to use the railgun combat rifle to clear the horse group around the vehicle, the recoil added to the mix could have flipped the mobile base vehicle over. A flash of fire on the horizon, amid the already visible herd of cattle, a huge plume of smoke rose, with flames tumbling through the dust, and even visible were cattle carcasses, heads, limbs, and truncated torsos flying into the sky. "Second round, launch!" Chen Fei coldly ordered a follow-up shot. The first white-gray mushroom cloud had not yet dispersed when the second mushroom cloud ascended again. The demolition bomb of 152mm caliber was highly lethal against unprotected targets. It was unfortunate that there were no drones to assess the damage from the bombardment. The range of the cattle herd had not extended beyond a hundred-meter radius of the impact point; the shockwave, coupled with shrapnel, created a gruesome scene, especially within a 30-meter radius where each square meter endured a terrifying pressure of about 3-10 tons, instantaneously turning biological tissue into complete mess, with most debris being torn and thrown from this area. If one round of the 152 couldn''t solve the problem, then two would. After the bombardment, blood flowed into rivers, and corpses were strewn all over. The mobile base vehicle was about seven hundred meters from the impact point, the sweeping shockwave striking the vehicle body with a harsh jolt, even though most of the direct lethal force was gone, the remaining power was still formidable. Blood, mud, and flesh fell like raindrops, even around a kilometer from the impact point, a few still fell. "Only the wolf pack left now!" Chen Fei looked at the officer, whose complexion wasn''t looking too good. To be precise, a few mad horses left behind the mobile base vehicle continued to madly bump into its rear, their threat level having decreased to nearly negligible. Both the on-site command and the order were given by the other party; if anyone was to be blamed, it would undoubtedly be them; credit for successes could also not be stolen from them. The original plan didn''t involve such gruesome scenes, but since the ground-effect aircraft crashed¡ªfortunately without human casualties¡ªswitching to ground transport was an inevitable choice in this situation. "Kill, kill!" After the officer had spoken, he took a deep breath, forcibly stabilizing his mind. If he continued to panic like this, something bad would surely happen to him. Before departure, everyone had been warned not to rely too heavily on the protection of the Protective Forehead Artifact, to maintain their inner peace, stay calm and composed no matter what. The threat of the wolves was even less than that of horses and cows, only that they were more cunning. "©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Wow~~ Oooooooooo........" Chen Fei, holding a microphone, amplified his imitation of a wolf howl, trying to warn the wild wolves lurking nearby. Since he wasn''t too close to the Mobile Base Vehicle and was keeping a certain distance, the officer did not order to shoot directly, only allowing it if they got too close. In the icy, snowy plains, there wasn''t much difference between killing and wounding, the former might even be more merciful. "What are you doing?" The officer looked at Chen Fei warily; he was a bit neurotic now, very suspicious, feeling that everything was abnormal. Out of nowhere, playing a wolf howl, could it be that his mind had been invaded by the spiritual power of the mission target? Wasn''t it agreed that there was high resistance to psychic abilities? Just this? Obviously, his mind was not right! "Ah? Imitating a wolf howl? I have another identity, that is the Wolf King of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area!" Chen Fei just wanted to try and see if he could communicate with the group of wolves outside, hoping they would recognize the better part of valor and not throw away their lives in vain. "The Wolf King? Can this work?" The officer was half-doubtful; this act was catching everyone off-guard. "Who knows? Just howl a few times!" Chen Fei was just giving it a shot in the dark, not knowing if it would work, but figured that howling a few times definitely couldn''t hurt. "Wow~~ Ooooo!" It appeared that the leading wolf howled back. Hurriedly, Chen Fei howled as well; in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, no wolf could escape his pat on the head. "Really freaking weird!" The officer frowned, his body breaking out in goosebumps, as if there was indeed another wolf that had eerily appeared in the compartment. "Wow~~ Ooooo!" "Wow~~ Ooooo!" "Wow~~ Ooooo!" You howl, I howl, howling at each other for a long while. Yet, the pack of wolves gathered together, suddenly charging towards the Mobile Base Vehicle. "They''re coming!" A soldier quickly sounded the alarm. "Fire!" The officer ordered without hesitation. Then again, there was a series of whooshing sounds through the air, continuous wails echoing. Although wild wolves were being killed on the spot by steel core bullets, their speed was faster and they were more cunning, not running in straight lines, repeatedly darting in Z-shapes. One wolf successfully broke through under the vehicle, a blind spot for the Railgun Combat Rifle. Just as a soldier was about to stuff a grenade through the firing hole, a loud "Boom!~" was heard. The Mobile Base Vehicle shook, and the wolf that had rushed underneath was blown out, crashing heavily among the carcasses of the horses, howling in pain, unable to rise until a steel core bullet pierced its skull. The officer asked uncertainly, "What blew up?" Although he had his suspicions, he still wanted to get the answer from Chen Fei. Chen Fei helplessly said, "A tire blew up!" Then he added, "That''s not the main issue, the urgent task is to move the bodies in front of the vehicle." Otherwise, they would just have to wait for them to freeze naturally, and then the Mobile Base Vehicle would have to forcefully push its way out. However, it was certain that staying here would definitely not bring anything good. Chen Fei looked at the troublemaker inside the cage; all these messy attacks were the last-ditch struggles concocted by the opponent. Once delivered to the destination, it would have nothing to do with him. "I''ll arrange for people to move the bodies, hmm, at least two, no, four people are needed." The officer''s manpower was limited, needing to continue on guard while keeping an eye on the middle task target in the cage, unable to dispatch more mobile personnel. "No, I can do it alone; you all stay in the vehicle." Chen Fei walked towards the vehicle door. Suddenly, he halted, stood in his tracks, and did not move an inch. "..." - Chapter 451 451: Section 447 - Route Planning As he reached the door of the vehicle, Chen Fei was about to push it open and leave. Without warning, a piercing howl erupted in his ears, echoing incessantly inside his head. The metal hoop-shaped Protective Forehead Accessory on his head crackled softly, and shockingly, thin crisscrossing cracks appeared on its surface. "Fuck!" He spun around abruptly, only to find that most of the soldiers and officers inside the carriage were aiming their Railgun Combat Rifles right at him. Chen Fei was utterly puzzled. "What are you doing?" "What are you going to do?" The officer''s lips twitched uncontrollably. He couldn''t deny his nerves were a bit on edge, but belief in ''better safe than sorry'' prevailed. This mission had indeed been the weirdest one he had ever seen, pushing the limits of his worldview. Despite having Mr. Ye, the S-rank Psychic Ability User, as their final trump card, they couldn''t afford to use him carelessly, not unless absolutely necessary, even if it meant sacrificing lives; Mr. Ye had to be the last resort. "I''m going to take care of this Deflated Calf!" Chen Fei turned his gaze and glared fiercely at their target secured inside the cage. Damn it, howling some crap in his head? "Ah? You¡ªdon''t mess around!" The officer''s rifle muzzle couldn''t dare to move away. "Wait and see what I''ve got up my sleeve!" Chen Fei walked to the front of the vehicle where the driver''s seat was, and when he returned, he had a pair of headphones in his hand. Approaching the cage, a metal bar, about an inch thick, rapidly expanded to form a large opening big enough to poke half his body through. The headphones were directly attached to the magical bell, and Chen Fei fiddled with his cell phone. "Connect Bluetooth!" A faint sound followed. "©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Ao~~..." Ghastly screams blared from the headphones¡ªa playlist of twenty brainwashing Divine Songs began to play! "Huh?" The officer''s gun barrel involuntarily dropped. Chen Fei then ripped off the Protective Forehead Artifact on his head, which shattered immediately, the fragments scattering all over the ground. He faced the mission target, ready to risk everything, and hissed through gritted teeth, "Come on! Feel my murderous aura, let''s see who''s crazier." A lady from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had once said that his mind was filled with nothing but evil and murderous thoughts. Since their target, proficient in Psychic Ability, loved to control minds, Chen Fei intended to let the enemy taste the flavor of vile thoughts and see who truly was the evilest. Seeing Chen Fei''s Protective Forehead reduced to pieces, the officer could no longer keep his composure and exclaimed anxiously, "Hey, hey, your Protective Forehead!" "It''s of poor quality!" Chen Fei retorted without looking back. Seemingly impacted by Psychic Ability, the Protective Forehead lost its protective function. It literally fell apart on his forehead with Chen Fei casually tearing off only the remnants. The volume of the headphones was turned up to the max, and the magical bell seemed to have a harmonizing amplification effect, making the sound clearly audible throughout the entire carriage. "What the hell is this?" One of the soldiers looked awful, realizing that it was a Divine Song that had been circulating for a long time. Instead of calling it a Divine Song, it might be more accurate to describe it as a demonic sound. He swallowed hard, feeling like his brain had been captured by the sound. If it was put on a loop, he would probably die, right? No, he would certainly die! A few soldiers who recognized the ''music'' exchanged horrified glances. It was too terrifying. "Come on! Focus on me, let''s see who''s tougher!" Chen Fei even tapped the magical bell with his fingers. His body hair stood on end, then lay down, stood up again, lay down... Emmmmm, this sensation was really addictive. Mr. Ye, the S-rank Psychic Ability User, twitched his eyelids slightly, cracking open a tiny slit. This young man was outrageously bold! The two monsters faced off for a quarter of an hour. The cage that originally had only one large opening expanded once more to form an entrance wide enough for a person to walk through. Then Chen Fei stepped forward and gave a fierce kick to the chest of their target. The chair with its backrest secured to the floor took the blow of his kick quite solidly. A clear footprint in size 42 shoes marked the front of the restraint jacket, complete with a brand! See, I''ve got quite the temper. "Hey! Don''t do anything crazy!" The officer, who had been nervously watching Chen Fei the whole time, almost jumped up, uncertain about the outcome of their battle of wills. He was just worried that Chen Fei''s mind had been eroded, that he might attack them like the geese, cows, horses, and wolves did. That''d be terrible, as this Mobile Base Vehicle was entirely the enemy''s home turf advantage. Thinking this, the barrel of his railgun combat rifle once again aimed at Chen Fei as the bullet had long been loaded. "Hehe! This guy didn''t win!" Chen Fei sneered nonstop, but there was one thing he didn''t say out loud. He hadn''t won either. Both sides were equally matched, causing harm to each other. The net cage returned to its original state. "Don''t, please don''t make any unnecessary moves, really!" The officer shook his head repeatedly; he couldn''t take the strain of witnessing such dangerous scenes a few more times. However, it seemed that even without the protection of the protective forehead artifact for his spirit, Chen Fei did not seem to be too greatly affected, his resistance to psychic abilities as formidable as described in his personal profile. Still, the officer was a bit wary, so he asked the S-class psychic ability user who was sitting cross-legged next to the net cage. "Mr. Ye, is everything alright?" Mr. Ye replied helplessly, "It''s fine!" He turned a blind eye the entire time, pretending not to see as Chen Fei force-fed the target Divine Song and even kicked him squarely in the chest. The footprint emblazoned on the chest was quite eyecatching. Yet the target showed a slight tremor in his body more than before, which Mr. Ye found somewhat surprising¡ªapparently, the Divine Song seemed to have some effect. One thing was for certain: the prisoner being escorted could not shut down their own senses; otherwise, without the protection of the protective forehead artifact, Chen Fei, who dared to provoke, would probably not have come out unscathed so easily. Upon arrival at the destination, should they arrange a solitary music room to continuously play those soul-tearing Divine Songs? (Torturous music!) Chen Fei stomped fiercely outside the vehicle, crushing the foolish wolf that had bitten through the tire. Here in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, even the Wolf King received no mercy; it was better off dead. The explosion that had burst the tire had stunned it half to death, and its brain burst on the spot, dying instantly. After efficiently changing the spare tire and filling it with air, he began to clean up the dead horses nearby; the mountain of horse corpses blocked the mobile base vehicle''s path, and if not moved soon, other large animals might come to cause a jam. In the end, the officer dispatched six soldiers to help Chen Fei clear the path in front of the vehicle. Chen Fei''s strength had reached an impressive level; he could drag a dead horse weighing around 300 kilograms single-handedly and with a forceful exhalation and shout, he flung them to the side, quickly clearing a large space in front of the vehicle. It wouldn''t take long to clear the hundred or so horse carcasses piled up in front. The six soldiers had to work together to drag one horse corpse, each bearing about fifty kilograms of weight. In the bitter cold, their feet continually slipped, and a careless misstep could send them sprawling in a messy, blood-splattered fall, which was quite unsightly. But the soldiers had no real complaints, calling out in cadence "one, two, three," following Chen Fei''s lead as they cleared out a barely passable road from the multitude of corpses. As for the mobile base vehicle, splattered with blood as if it had just run over a zombie horde, beyond ensuring the windshield in front of the vehicle was clean and clear, Chen Fei had no way to deal with the rest. The large size of the vehicle made cleaning it a troublesome matter. Seeing the six soldiers who had come down to help return to the vehicle exhausted and blood-stained, the frowning officer asked, "Can we shower on the vehicle?" He had also seen a washing machine and dryer; the vehicle was just too thoughtful, the facilities unexpectedly complete. "Yes, you can use either of the two bathrooms." Except for his hands, Chen Fei returned rather clean, washing his hands under the kitchen faucet before heading to the driver''s seat. "Everyone, brace yourselves and buckle up, we need to hurry." He immediately took over driving the entire mobile base vehicle. Adam''s adaptability was higher than the derivatives of "Cybertrom," but still couldn''t match the quick reaction ability of humans. "My god, there''s a bathtub!!!" A soldier''s exclamation echoed from one of the bathrooms inside the vehicle, having never seen such an extravagantly equipped motorhome before. The vehicle''s 4.5-meter width made placing a bathtub inside incredibly easy. "Adam, activate infrared thermal imaging to differentiate heat sources, we need to avoid those animals!" Chen Fei gently pressed the accelerator, and the vehicle''s speed increased, naturally, the ensuing jolts were inevitable. After having already been hit by the herd of horses and cows, he had no intention of experiencing it a second time. The mobile base vehicle''s sole two drones were destroyed one after the other by geese and were irreparable for the time being, significantly reducing the scouting radius. To prevent attracting the herds again, the best method was to avoid them beforehand. Using the harsh climate conditions to his advantage, Chen Fei came up with a relatively reliable method. The warmth released by animals in a frozen landscape stood out like a bonfire in the dark night, as infrared imaging could easily detect distant heat emissions. Using radar to pinpoint and gauge distances, calculating both parties'' directions and speeds, a safe route could be completely mapped out. No matter how fast the horses ran, the mobile base vehicle could preemptively react and leave any controlled animal far behind. There was no way to avoid the birds in the sky, but the vehicle''s armor was sufficient to disregard them. The impact of the birds was not as sharp as the fangs of wild wolves and would hardly damage the tires. At worst, it would require spending some energy points to replace all the load-bearing rims with full-metal flexible tires. Having to detour and accelerate meant he couldn''t guarantee a smooth ride. Everyone got quite shaken up since the plain was not a paved road; there were ups and downs, potholes, which were all unavoidable. A careless move might even result in splashing into puddles, making the experience even more thrilling, with hearts nearly jumping out of throats. - Chapter 452 452: The 448th Section - Destination The originally planned 21-hour journey was shortened to 14 hours by Chen Fei, who drove nonstop. Apart from the occasional bird falling from the sky, hitting the car window in a bloody mess and startling everyone, no other incidents occurred. On the grasslands, indeed, no animal could catch up with the Mobile Base Vehicle moving at full speed, and even if they could, they couldn''t keep up for long. The Mobile Base Vehicle left the grasslands, passed through forests and canyons, and entered a dry and desolate area, where a clearly visible road soon appeared ahead. It was more of a trace of where wheels had compressed the ground rather than a road; judging by the distance between the left and right wheel tracks, it was likely similar to that of Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle. Adam: "Unknown mechanical body detected straight ahead, number 2, distance 5 kilometers, speed 0." "Unknown mechanical body?" Chen Fei muttered to himself and then gave an order. "Load the railgun, prepare to fire." The railgun on top of the Mobile Base Vehicle extended out, aimed straight ahead, and was ready to fire. At that moment, Chen Fei''s phone rang, the caller ID still showing the mysterious number "000000." After picking it up casually, a stern voice came through. "Disarm immediately, disarm right now!" "An unknown mechanical body detected ahead, are you confirming it''s friendly?" Chen Fei slowed down the vehicle, the railgun on top was to guard against those two unknown mechanical bodies. The Mobile Base Vehicle was not part of any battlefield data link nor did it have a friend-or-foe identification system; Team 04 had been independent from the start, hence there was no need for allies. The two unknown mechanical bodies had entered his field of vision; they were two "large spiders" with eight legs each, their backs carrying railguns and large-caliber machine guns. If remote-controlled, they would be remote-controlled combat robots; if operated by AI, then they would be bionic combat machines; if manned, then multi-legged step-in combat mobility armor. Same appearance, different control methods, slightly different terms used, and some differences in tactics. "Confirmed as friendly, those are automated combat machines, disarm immediately!" The voice on the phone confirmed the identity of the mechanical spiders, not hostile targets. "''Adam,'' disengage the firing mode and retract the railgun." As Chen Fei spoke, the railgun aiming at the two automated combat spiders retracted back onto the roof of the vehicle. Since they were automated combat machines, they likely had some level of friend-or-foe recognition intelligence. If the guns remained aimed, it might trigger a preemptive counterattack; no wonder the voice on the phone was so urgent, nearly leading to a firefight. Railgun against railgun, without a high-intensity protective barrier or magic shield, everyone was at risk, potentially not even needing a second shot. "Follow the tracks; a vehicle will come to guide you, end of communication." The phone call was disconnected. The railgun muzzles carried by the two octoped mechanical spider combat robots in front of the Mobile Base Vehicle slowly turned away, clearly remaining on alert. Just then, a cloud of dust approached rapidly from a distance. Chen Fei soon made out a motorbike with a semi-closed body and a roof, kicking up a cloud of dust as it sped along. The high-speed bike carved a large arc from the side as it approached the Mobile Base Vehicle, signaled with a hand gesture to Chen Fei at the driver''s seat to follow, then accelerated, leading the way about a hundred meters ahead, maintaining this distance between them. The other party must be the guide vehicle and personnel mentioned in the phone call. Without a proper road, the tracks on the desolate Gobi turned exceedingly tangled and chaotic; following them to find the place would likely lead far astray. Following the motorbike, the scenery around was consistently desolate with no sign of human habitation, not even a hint of green to be seen. The local great desert had disappeared; with the help of ability users, transforming the Gobi into a greenland was not difficult. This desert was likely preserved deliberately, offering unobstructed views and occasionally sight of pairs of octoped mechanical spider combat robots. Unauthorized individuals probably couldn''t leave from inside, nor could anyone enter from outside. An hour later. Guided by the motorbike, Chen Fei inside the Mobile Base Vehicle saw a large cluster of snow-white buildings and vast, unending stretches of green with towering trees that were even taller than the buildings; the wilderness also showed some patches of greenery occasionally. The motorbike rider pointed toward the cluster of buildings. A slowly flowing river crossed a steel-framed bridge with five pairs of piers firmly rooted in the water, wide enough to allow four Mobile Base Vehicles to pass side by side. Following the motorbike across the bridge, they finally encountered a proper asphalt road, four lanes bi-directional with dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths, seemingly entering a world of human civilization abruptly. Lights flickered in the sky from time to time, with a huge bowl-shaped barrier upside down covering the cluster of buildings on the ground, the edge of the barrier extending over the riverbank, possibly making the bridge crossing the thirty-meter-wide river one of the crucial passageways in and out of the barrier. Drones flew low overhead occasionally, seemingly observing the Mobile Base Vehicle that had come from afar. Inside the barrier''s coverage, the ground was no longer the yellowish saline-alkali land with white alkali marks but fertile black earth covered with lush vegetation. Boom! Boom! Boom!... The roof of the mobile base vehicle echoed with dull thuds. Fifteen soldiers, clad in single soldier tactical armor with the blue glow of magnetic plasma engines flickering behind them, parachuted onto the roof. Through the feed from the optical cameras, Chen Fei could make out that they were wearing Henghai Tactical Weapons Group''s top-of-the-line "Dragon King" assault heavy armor, a standard tactical infantry squad reinforcement for the escort team. A Crystal Jet silently arrived above and behind the mobile base vehicle, matching its speed. The escort had been upgraded by more than one grade. This time, even if the target in the cage caused trouble, it would hardly be able to do anything significant; letting it run would not allow it to escape three steps. The motorcycle continued to lead the way at the front. Whether it was deliberately cleared or always like this, there were not many vehicles on the road, and even pedestrians were rarely seen, with the occasional light rail train swiftly passing overhead on elevated tracks. The destination was a yard, where at least dozens of humanoid combat mechs stood ready, while there were not many humans, likely for fear of being invaded by psychic powers and controlled to perform various dangerous acts like the crazed animals encountered along the way. The motorcycle stopped, and the rider dismounted, raising his hand high towards Chen Fei, signaling that they had finally arrived. "We''ve arrived!" At this moment, the officer who had been anxious throughout the journey finally breathed a sigh of relief. The journey had been fraught with dangers, especially the moment the ground-effect vehicle fell, almost convincing him that he was about to die. Fortunately, the pilot of the ground-effect vehicle had put forth his utmost effort, barely ensuring a safe landing for everyone, but the vehicle was broken into pieces, and even the pilot was injured, quickly taken away by a nearby aircraft; the officer''s squad remained on the ground, continuing to guard and wait for other transportation for the mission target. After the mobile base vehicle came to a stop, the cage that imprisoned the mission target and the chair, as well as the floor fixing six magic instrument short columns, were all released; the doors swung wide open. The officer was the first to jump out of the vehicle, saluting the approaching liaison officer. "''Dark Night'' special service squad, Squad C of the first company, squad leader Yuan Zheng, leading the escort, has arrived, the detainee is intact, please verify!" "''Fire Owl'' special battle group, Major Li Xinliang taking over!" The officer in charge of the handover returned the salute. Both sides coincidentally ignored the S-class psychic ability user, Mr. Ye, and Chen Xiao''er, who had been called halfway to help in an emergency. After all, this was a secret escort mission; once they arrived, there was no further need for those two, as the rest was the receiver''s job. The mission target, who had been without food, drink, sleep, and silent, was taken off the vehicle to begin identity verification; the magical bell was still clasped over Chen Fei''s headphones, continuing the brainwashing Divine Song. "Does this song really work?" Major Li Xinliang, who was verifying the identity of the mission target, was the first to react. He was not a rigid person and realized that the escort team had purposefully added an extra pair of headphones, most likely for a reason. A black cat or a white cat, as long as it can catch mice, it''s a good cat. As long as it could suppress this troublesome spirit, any method was acceptable. "It should, it should..." Officer Yuan Zheng turned and looked towards the S-class psychic ability user who had already come outside the vehicle. "He can''t shut off his senses, so there should be some effect." Mr. Ye had to admit that Chen Fei''s accidental correctness, although he couldn''t prove whether there was an effect, everything had been much calmer after the headphones were put on along the journey, probably too brainwashed to cause trouble. "Whose headphones, I''ll borrow them for a while." Major Li looked towards Yuan Zheng and others, and then at Mr. Ye, his gaze finally settling on Chen Fei, who was still holding his phone. "Mine, should I send you the playlist?" Chen Fei didn''t plan to hand over his phone; what if someone needed to contact him without it? "That works!" Major Li Xinliang took out his phone and immediately photographed the playlist from Chen Fei''s phone. To be precise, Major Li''s phone was a military phone with default communication modes and frequencies incompatible with civilian networks, utilizing a military communication network with enhanced encryption functions, though its other functions weren''t much different from civilian phones. Chen Fei unbound the headphones and transferred the wireless control of the headphones to Major Li''s military phone. - Chapter 453 453: Section 449 - Sacrifice "The criminal handover is complete," a tide of humanoid combat mechs defended Major Li of the Fire Owl special forces and the mission target as they began to withdraw. The top-tier "Dragon King" assault-type heavy armor warrior who had boarded the mobile base vehicle earlier was mixed among them, serving as a command node for the battle team. This courtyard was not their destination; the true location for receiving the mission target lay elsewhere. The combat mechs, controlled by a high-level derivative AI from "Cybertrom," perhaps didn''t match the individual combat capabilities of the top human elite warriors, but their team combat ability was not to be underestimated. In fact, the more there were, the greater their advantage became, and combined with human soldiers, they could maximally leverage a synergistic effect far greater than the sum of the parts. The motorcyclist had already removed her helmet, revealing that she was actually a strikingly beautiful mixed heritage girl with chestnut hair and eyes shimmering with beautiful peacock green. She signaled to the "Dark Night" special operations officers and soldiers who had stayed behind, along with Chen Fei and Mr. Ye, an S-class psychic ability user. "I''ll take you to the camp, then wait there for new orders." "Thank you!" Officer Yuan Zheng saluted and turned to his C Squad, shouting loudly, "Everyone, get on the transport!" The old driver Chen Fei started the vehicle. The barracks assigned to C Squad and Chen Fei were located on the edge of the small town. Just a few steps away, one could see the river near the barrier. Mr. Ye, an S-class psychic ability user, got off the vehicle halfway; after all, his accommodations were there, and it would not make sense for him to cram into the barracks with the rank and file soldiers, even if the conditions were quite decent. His destination was a posh-looking hotel, probably assigned and managed by someone specialized. Rarity creates value. Although the indigenous population base is large, the number of S-class psychic ability users is still not high. It is noteworthy that many sovereigns don''t even have an S-class psychic ability user, so having some special treatment is justified. A two-story building was allotted to C Squad and Chen Fei, temporarily assigned to them, while the mobile base vehicle was parked in the parking lot. The local microclimate inside the barrier was quite comfortable and pleasant, with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius above zero and humidity maintained at 55%. No wonder, during the dry and cold winter, the plains adjacent to this Gobi desert were covered with thick snow, yet this place still remained lush and green. Minus ten degrees Celsius would be enough to turn a Pure Light Sparrow into a frozen bird instantly in an area it''s forbidden to enter. Although the temperature within the barrier wasn''t as warm as spring, it was sufficient for Little Bird to leave the mobile base vehicle''s cabin and fly freely outdoors. "...Chirp chirp... chirp chirp..." "...Chatter chatter..." "Chirp?" "Chatter chatter!" ¡Án (n>30). The sparrows felt their territory had been invaded and tried to drive away this uninvited guest. The little guy got into a dispute with a group of local sparrows, causing a cacophony in the trees, on the ground, and in the sky. It''s not that a mighty dragon doesn''t cross rivers, a dominant dragon suppresses the local snakes; a one-against-many battle had begun. A group of sparrows fighting was hardly anything to write home about; it wasn''t even close to a real skirmish. Aside from the incessant noisy clatter that could give one a headache, the damage they could inflict on each other was almost negligible. Although a Pure Light Sparrow was one of the weakest magical beasts, it wasn''t something ordinary birds could bully, especially when Xiao Jiu could cast spells. With a magic shield over itself, it darted and crashed about; when tired, it would cast a "Light Healing Technique" on itself to recover, and the battle continued. The group of sparrows was truly unlucky, scattering repeatedly, unable to organize a counterattack. The sustainable combat power of a light-element magical beast was second only to that of a wood-attribute magical beast. It truly didn''t fear a group battle even when outnumbered, never losing any ground. Bang!~ A dull sound echoed. Chen Fei, who was busy maintaining the mobile base vehicle in the parking lot and paying no attention to the sparrows'' skirmish, looked up to see a plume of white smoke rising in the distance. What was that commotion? Could it be that Hablav City, the location of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s headquarters, was not so peaceful? "It''s the testing field; they often conduct practical experiments on equipment or skills there, and sometimes it can get quite loud," A voice came from the side. Chen Fei turned around to find the female motorcyclist who had led them earlier pushing her motorcycle towards him. She had left the parking lot for a while, but now she had returned. "Hello, I''m Chen Fei. May I ask your name?" Chen Fei nodded in greeting. "Rona. I''ve heard your ability is industrial-grade metal elemental psychic power. Can you... replicate this motorcycle?" The female motorcyclist pushed her bike next to the mobile base vehicle, hefted the rear of the bike with effort, stepped back, and hoisted it up impressively. At a glance, the roofed motorcycle seemed to weigh at least close to five hundred pounds. If one didn''t have a good amount of strength, this move wouldn''t be easy to execute¡ªmost could only let down the side stand. Chen Fei asked curiously, "How did you know about my ability?" He had never spoken about his abilities carelessly. Boss Hana had once warned that the skills of a supernatural power user are like trump cards; the less exposed they are, the more lives they can save when it really counts. If one''s life was gone, even the most powerful special ability would be of no use. The mixed-race female rider with green eyes and chestnut hair picked up the helmet hanging from the rear-view mirror and toyed with it while speaking, "Authority! I have higher authority than you, so of course I can access your personal information. Before sovereignty, all secrets are no secrets." "Replicating this motorcycle shouldn''t be a problem, but you should be mentally prepared." A straight talker, Chen Fei readily admitted his own ability. "Are you talking about ''Sacrifice''?" It seemed that the female rider Rona truly knew the name of Chen Fei''s industrial-grade skill. "Yes, it will first disassemble the metallic parts of this motorcycle, but it''s powerless against non-metallic parts. So, replication is relative. ''Sacrifice'' only requires a complete set of metallic material templates, just like this one." Chen Fei slapped the side of the Mobile Base Vehicle, which he had indeed put a lot of effort into piecing together. He couldn''t just conjure things out of thin air. The so-called "Sacrifice" was actually a fusion of three skills: "Metal Devouring," "Physical Evolution Database," and "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation," including crystal phase forming to simulate heat treatment effects. In essence, the evolution process practically made no significant difference in the actual outcome. "This motorcycle cost me three million Star Yuan!" Rona hesitated, as there were still many non-metallic parts on the motorcycle. "''Sacrifice'' carries risks, replication requires caution." Chen Fei tactfully gave a warning. Although his Metal Elemental Psychic Power had so far been very reliable, anything could happen, and it was always good to be cautious about that slim chance. Three million Star Yuan. He couldn''t afford to compensate for that, as the sum was enough to buy a house. Money is the courage of a man; the truly poor can''t afford to gamble. "Do it, just replicate," said the female rider Rona, waving the helmet in her hand. She hadn''t come to Chen Fei to satisfy her curiosity about his industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Ability. Rather, it was because of a practical issue. A motorcycle worth three million Star Yuan surely looked cool and impressive, but there was no after-sales service here at all. If a problem or damage occurred, well, at least six months would be needed before replacement parts could be obtained. After all, not just anyone could enter this place; people and resources coming in and out had to go through strict scrutiny. Even for "Dark Night" Squad C, carrying an important escort task, and Chen Fei, who had been conscripted halfway through, they were still placed in barracks on the periphery after handing over their task and couldn''t get close to important or central areas. "Then let''s give it a try!" The thought of having a new batch of samples in the "Physical Evolution Database" made Chen Fei utterly unceremonious as he reached for the motorcycle. The next second, various non-metallic parts clattered to the ground, while all metallic parts disappeared without a trace. The metal content here was probably not even enough to fill a gap in the "Metal Devouring" skill''s teeth! The Dog System didn''t even give 1 Energy Point, the stingy miser with no butt-eye, risking system crashes and data loss. "It''s gone?" Though she had braced herself, Rona was still greatly startled. "Gone. Prepare about ten to twenty tons of metal, preferably alloy, even scrap metal would do. I can help restore it for you, but limited to one complete motorcycle, since I have no way with those non-metallic parts," Chen Fei said, putting his hands on his hips, pretending to be very tired. In the distance, there was another earth-shattering clang, and numerous sparks shot towards the sky, providing a very timely sound effect. He felt that he shouldn''t make the "Sacrifice" skill appear so effortless, because if someone were to order him to replicate a Magic Cube Warship one day, it would really cost him his life. Such a massive thing made his head spin with dizziness, and it was simply unbearable. "Just ten to twenty tons?" Rona wasn''t worried at all about the other party standing her up. This was Hanhai Central Base where people can''t easily come and go. If he couldn''t revert her motorcycle back, his big vehicle could also be taken to settle the debt, equally impressive. "At least, the more the better!" When Chen Fei heard there might be extras to gain, he considered it labor compensation. Energy Points were hard to come by, after all. To not take advantage of available benefits would be a sin. Amen, amen, Madam, please proceed! - Chapter 454 454: Section 450 - Four Magic Arrays "I''m on my way!" Just as she was about to mount her motorcycle, Rona found it had been reduced to a pile of scattered parts on the ground, leaving her no choice but to pull out her phone and find someone! There was a crackling noise as she made a call. It was estimated that she would have to wait half an hour before she could see those metals. Chen Fei began to busy himself with his Mobile Base Vehicle again. The accumulated grime and trash needed to be disposed of, every corner of the cabin had to be cleaned, and the vehicle''s body, smeared with blood and various biotic tissues, had to be washed clean; even the small stones caked in the tire treads had to be picked out one by one. To ensure the vehicle was in good condition, it was the small details that mattered. "Torrential Water Ring, go!" A huge body of water began to spin at high speed, creating a whirlpool of bubbles that vigorously swept across the entire surface of the Mobile Base Vehicle, from top to bottom, from left to right, not even sparing the corners of the chassis. It cleaned away all the filth that clung to it. The splashing sound of the tumultuous water subsided, and the wastewater was reduced to specks as it entered the nearby greenbelt. The Mobile Base Vehicle suddenly looked refreshed, its all-metal surface gleaming in the sunlight, no longer the battered exterior that seemed to have just survived a zombie breakout. "Water-Based Ability?" Chen Fei turned his head, looking at Rona, the mixed-race knight with green eyes and chestnut hair, who had just positioned herself in a stance. He had not heard the chanting of an Incantation. Compared to Water-Based Ability, water-type Spells are relatively rigid and inflexible; the spell model cannot be manipulated at will like Abilities. At the very least, one must have reached Heavenly Order and be qualified to touch the rules of the Elemental Series to freely manipulate spell forms with ease. Such rapid activation, and on such a grand scale, was most likely the result of an Ability. This thorough cleaning saved Chen Fei a lot of work. With a smug smile, Rona wagged her finger and bragged, "B-level Water-Based Ability, same as you. My job here includes being a gardener and a cleaner." Water that was still crystal-clear flowed around her hands, making it hard to believe her words were actually true. When even gardeners and cleaners are Ability Users, plus the eight-legged Combat Mechs scattered throughout the desert, the level of this town''s defense was nearly on par with the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Habulav. "Hmm, I''m a mechanic, fixing airplanes!" Chen Fei didn''t just repair Combat Mechs; he also dabbled in small transport aircraft at Aircrew Base 911. "Jiu Defense Company, right? It''s such a waste of talent to mingle with military contractors. Haven''t any big factories tried to woo you? Their offers must be pretty good, right?" Rona sized up the Mobile Base Vehicle behind Chen Fei. This vehicle was a testament to his ability; even if someone else had such an Ability, they could not necessarily build such a practical "Motorhome." "The big factories aren''t interested!" Chen Fei laughed and shook his head. The Northern Weapons Industry Group had rejected him not long before. Despite their greed for Industrial-grade Abilities, considering the Chen Family''s relationship with their industry rival, National Defense Star Aerospace Company, the Northern Weapons Industry Group simply couldn''t take the risk. One wrong move could be remembered forever; the higher-ups dared not be the villains recorded in corporate history. After the vehicle was washed clean, Chen Fei pulled over a hose to replenish the Mobile Base Vehicle''s water reserves. Even if there was no immediate need to set out, it was essential to keep the vehicle''s water tank full for any unplanned necessities. The Mobile Base Vehicle either undertook no missions or, when it did, they were big ones. "What? Are they blind?" The mixed-race knight with green eyes and chestnut hair just shook her head; she couldn''t understand what the big factory was thinking. Chen Fei also couldn''t understand the reasoning of these big shots, so he had no answer to offer. He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don''t have plans to change jobs right now!" Rona''s green eyes roved as she probed, "So... do you have a girlfriend?" "Yes, I do!" Chen Fei was upfront about it. Everyone was an adult here; there was no hiding intentions as obvious as fleas on a bald head. If he dared to let a "no" slip through his teeth, the other party would immediately start to push the envelope further. "Ha! That''s a shame!" Rona looked disappointed. She had wanted to learn more about him, but now it seemed there was no chance of that. "Hahaha!" Chen Fei let out a knowing laugh, not taking the bait. Despite Teacher Shen''s father, Director Shen, not seeming too fond of him, he had accepted the wine and the family dinner; in a way, that amounted to some recognition. However, if he dared to take Director Shen''s daughter for granted, the Northern Weapons Industry Group might immediately start a war with the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, fighting to the bitter end. The fury of a corporation''s vice president was not a joke, and if pushed, he could create a major disturbance regardless of his career. Uncle probably felt pretty confused when the Chen Family offspring actually went and poached a high-level person from a competing family. While the two were talking, a heavy truck rolled into the parking lot and stopped next to the mobile base vehicle and the scattered motorcycle parts. A young man popped his head out of the cab, his eyes landing on the female rider. "Nana, your junky copper and iron, I''ve brought them over for you, there are thirty tons on the truck, and more if it''s not enough." Then he shifted his gaze, sizing up Chen Fei with a grin that didn''t quite reach his eyes, and asked, "Hey, bro, where are you from?" "I..." Chen Fei was about to speak when Rona stepped forward to introduce him, "This is Chen Fei, he''s part of the escort team, driver, and repair mechanic, is that right?" "Uh, that''s right!" Chen Fei nodded. If the mobile base vehicle ever broke down, he truly would be the only one who could fix it. Fortunately, this big guy hadn''t broken down so far, and he had no trouble driving it either. "Ah, I see, welcome to Hanhai, no, Hanhai Town, brother." The young man almost let something slip, noticing Rona''s warning gaze immediately and quickly corrected himself. "Thanks!" Chen Fei could tell that the young man driving the heavy truck seemed to have a fondness for the mixed-race female rider with the blue-green eyes and chestnut hair, as his greeting contained a hint of hostility and challenge. No matter what the town was actually like, it was a common situation in small towns for there to be more wolves than meat. The young man who drove the heavy truck pulled the handbrake, opened the door, and hopped down, looking curiously at Rona and then at Chen Fei, and asked, "Can I ask, what do you want with all this scrap metal?" Since he wasn''t here to compete for Nana, everything was easy to talk about, and he immediately became enthusiastic. Rona explained, in her own understanding, "Do you know about ''Sacrifice''? It''s an industrial-grade ability. Chen Fei wants to show me a trick. The junk you delivered, it should be consumable material, right? Chen Fei, is it consumable material?" "That''s right, that''s the idea!" The consumption ratio depended entirely on the mood; at least Chen Fei wouldn''t sacrifice his precious energy points for nothing. "This is interesting, show me a trick, let me see something new." The young man scratched the back of his head, somewhat impatient. Although he had heard of the existence of industrial-grade abilities, he had never seen one before. "Let''s clean up this scrap metal first." Chen Fei stepped on the truck''s wheel, grabbed onto the truckbed, and scrambled up. A chaotic mess was piled up, and it weighed about thirty tons¡ªnot a small amount. The huge bed was stuffed full. He pressed his hand onto it. "Metal Devouring," activate! Clatter, bang¡ªa noisy ruckus ensued as the heavy truck noticeably shook, its suspension leaping up. The entire truckbed became suddenly empty, or more accurately, a few things were left, mostly non-metallic components that couldn''t be absorbed. System: Ding! Absorbed a variety of alloys totaling 31.157 tons, gaining energy points +31. System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Repulsion Shield." System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Air Burst." System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Mind Brand." System: Ding! Acquired a magic array "Gravity." System: Energy points: 19144/20000 System: Magical Array Evolution Database (4), classification: none|search.../manage... "Uh!~" Chen Fei looked at his hand in disbelief. "Repulsion Shield," "Air Burst," "Mind Brand," and "Gravity"¡ªthese four magic arrays were like pies falling from the sky, making him feel a little dizzy. A truckbed full of junk turned out to be a treasure trove, hiding four complete magic arrays, and for the first time, the "Magical Array Evolution Database" actually had an influx. - Chapter 455 455: Section 451 - Silly Boy "Hey! Chen Fei, how''s your ''Sacrifice'' going?" Rona didn''t bother to look, probably guessing what was going on, just like with her own motorcycle¡ªthat in a flash, all the metal parts had disappeared. The young driver who had come in the vehicle hadn''t reacted yet, thinking that Chen Fei was still rummaging in the truck bed, planning how to make a "Sacrifice" appropriately. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, the truck bed was empty? "Done!" Chen Fei finally came to and climbed out of the truck bed, landing on the ground. "Done?" The young man was as confused as a monk encountering a conundrum, brother, you''re too fast! "Now it''s the motorcycle''s turn." With the reward already received, Chen Fei didn''t dawdle anymore. He extracted the motorcycle sample from the "Physical Evolution Database" and activated the "Metal Shaping (Replicate)" skill. A large lump of silvery-white metal appeared in the palm of his hand and silently fell to the ground, swallowing up the non-metal parts that had been unable to be absorbed before. Then various shapes and sizes of composite geometries emerged continuously, splitting and joining with one another, rapidly forming the rough shape of a motorcycle. Though it only had two wheels, the complexity of the motorcycle''s structure was not much less than a car with four wheels. Chen Fei threw several cans of special-purpose oil with different functions over to it. The Mobile Base Vehicle had spare fuel, and he allocated some according to the motorcycle''s needs. The motorcycle''s energy was powered by Crystalline Blocks, so there had been no fuel spillage when it was disassembled, but hydraulic oil, lubricating oil, and other such oils were still indispensable. "Ah..." The young man standing by opened his mouth wide in astonishment. This was not just simple metal shaping for show, what was changing before his eyes was an accurate reproduction of every part, nearly indistinguishable from products of industrial production. A few breaths later, Rona''s motorcycle was replicated to its original form, and the non-metal parts all seamlessly returned to their prior positions. Energy Points -1! Energy Points: 19143/20000 Frickin'' Dog System! Chen Fei almost cursed out loud, he was close to losing it. He didn''t get a single energy point when absorbing the motorcycle, and now when restoring it, they even had the nerve to deduct one. What kind of backward donkey-roll math were you learning, with your thirteen-comes-out-of-nine accounting? Your Second Uncle''s entire lineage should be cursed! Chen Xiao''er had never thought that his "Sacrifice" ruse would be so brutal, unable to bear the Dog System taking away even one energy point¡ªalso not knowing who was the real dog here. "Try it out!" Chen Fei, who had ended his skill, suppressed the raging storm inside and withdrew his hand, motioning to the female rider. His mood was still sour! "Can it really be okay like this?" The young man driving the heavy truck looked at Chen Fei in amazement. After a series of dizzying changes, the scattered parts on the ground had become a completely intact motorcycle, which was perhaps a bit too fast. "I''ll give it a try!" Securing the helmet on her head, Rona with agile movements straddled the motorcycle, twisting the power switch to put the motorcycle into standby mode. She lightly pressed just below the right ear of the helmet. Beep! A voice said, "Driving system connected!" as it reached her ear. The helmet''s transparent visor displayed some HUD images, completing the data link with the motorcycle. After checking the lighting system, she forcefully pushed back with her foot, disengaging the kickstand. The rear wheel touched down, and with a gentle twist of the throttle, the rear wheel immediately responded, propelling the motorcycle forward and disappearing from the parking lot in a flash. "Industrial-grade Abilities are really impressive, they can create anything." A sense of admiration for Chen Fei naturally emerged in the young man. It was only natural for someone talented and capable to be respected. Not even Hanhai Central Base had an industrial-grade supernatural power user. An ability that could reach industrial-grade productivity was not limited to the Metallic Element, but also included the Earth Element, Water System, Fire System, Light Series, and Psychic Series, among a few other Elemental Series¡ªexclusive to Special Abilities, as Magic and Battle Qi simply couldn''t achieve this level of minute control. Therefore, the awakening of supernatural powers on Blue Star truly seemed like a predestined heavenly will. Chen Fei modestly said, "Heh heh, luck, just luck! And it''s only for metal components, I''m powerless with non-metal ones." Without good fortune, he would have long been annihilated together with the Metallic Dragons during their encounter, or become a casualty in the conflicts between military contractors; even a slightest misstep in luck would not have sufficed. The young man driving the heavy truck thought Chen Fei was truly being humble, and his good impression of him increased greatly. Chen Fei still had his reservations, however. Non-metal parts could be substituted using "material simulation," but the cost was exorbitant, with one kilogram of non-metal parts requiring the sacrifice of one energy point. Despite having nearly twenty thousand energy points in reserve now, if used on "material simulation," it simply wouldn''t be sustainable¡ªdisappearing before you knew it. A few minutes later, Rona, who had driven off on the motorcycle with a roar, returned just as loudly, took off her helmet, and with a beaming smile, told Chen Fei, "It''s exactly the same, no difference at all!" Nano-level shaping, how could it not be the same? It was even more precise than factory mechanical machining. Chen Fei distinctly felt that the heartbeat of the big brother standing beside him quickened by more than a notch, as the guy foolishly said, "Nana, you look really beautiful when you smile!" "Good boy, go fetch another load, and sis will give you another smile!" Rona''s eyelids fluttered rapidly, the silly boy''s spirit was nearly flying away, and he was calling out in a hurry. "Right away, Nana, wait for me, coming back right now, don''t leave!" The heavy truck roared out of the parking lot, apparently going to haul back another thirty tons of scrap copper and iron. "Hee hee, Ma Chengsong is such a dummy!" Rona stuck out her tongue at Chen Fei. "Is this really okay to do?" Chen Fei could clearly tell that this mixed-race girl was teasing the silly boy! "And now, please continue with the things I need!" Rona wasn''t just there to "sacrifice" her motorcycle and then have it restored by Chen Fei. "No problem!" Eating the ruler''s grain, serving the ruler''s interests, the terms had been agreed upon beforehand, and now Chen Fei had received the benefits, he naturally had to deliver the corresponding payment. After pondering for a moment, he reached out his hand again. This time, he evolved a series of easily transportable boxes, neatly stacked inside with various sized components, with different parts fixed in them separately. Since he lacked the corresponding non-metallic components, many parts were not complete, and there was nothing Chen Fei could do about it - if he used material simulation, the energy points he had earned would not nearly cover the costs. One, two, three, four, five - a total of five large boxes. The dog system, with its blackened heart, had deducted Chen Fei three energy points; this damn thing definitely benefited more than it bargained for, secretly taking advantage of him. "Five sets of spare parts should be enough for you, but as for the non-metallic parts, I''m powerless." Chen Fei patted the boxes and shrugged his shoulders. The non-metallic parts were mostly cables, circuit boards, insulation materials, sealing components, and appearance parts. "This is more than enough! Thank you for your hard work!" Rona happily yanked Chen Fei towards herself and leaned in with her lips. MUMA, here''s one! "Get off, don''t mess around!" Chen Fei hastily wiped his face, his heart racing. How dirty that saliva must be! This girl''s got some serious guts! Chen Fei stole a glance. Yeah, her chest''s pretty plump too! "Hehehe..." Rona, as if she had discovered an innocent young man, let out a mischievous laugh. This girl was all right, but her laughter was too scary, and it frightened Chen Xiao''er so much that his liver trembled, nearly making him accidentally roll the mobile base vehicle right onto her face. - A moment later, the fully loaded heavy truck returned to the parking lot, stacked so high it was about to topple over, and when it braked, the tires still skidded a half-foot long mark on the ground, probably a bit overloaded. Rona was blissfully fiddling with her beloved motorcycle, while Chen Fei was wrapping up the maintenance work on the mobile base vehicle. "Nana, I''m back, come on, give me that smile!" No sooner had he parked the truck that the young man eagerly stuck his head out of the side door window of the cab. The blue-eyed, chestnut-haired mixed-race biker turned her face stonily and snapped, "Smile at your damn egg smile, throw down the truck, you can get lost!" "Nana, didn''t we agree, hey, buddy, you have to back me up here!" The silly boy roped Chen Fei into the matter. "I don''t know anything, I didn''t hear anything." Chen Fei wouldn''t dare meddle in this mess - he risked getting the fire redirected at himself. He hadn''t benefited at all, and he didn''t want to get a stink for nothing. So, a dead daoist does not die a poor daoist; he decisively chose to play deaf and dumb. "Ma Chengsong, do you think I make a living by smiling at people?" Rona threw out a killer question with an imposing aura. The young man immediately got the key point and stammered, "No, not, I didn''t mean that..." It was a question without an answer. "Not what? Get lost!" A woman down the mountain is like a tiger. This tigress might not eat people, but she was certainly unreasonable. - Chapter 456 456: Section 452 - The Peace-loving Man and the Sparrow The blue-eyed, chestnut-haired mixed-race horsewoman Rona shooed away the unwilling young man with a barrage of commands. "Missy isn''t selling her grace nor her art. Want to see a smile from me? In your dreams!" Chen Fei completed the "Metal Devouring" skill, receiving 31 energy points and a magic array called "Fluid Vortex". Energy Points: 19181/20000 Even though the number of magic arrays gained this time couldn''t compare to the previous haul, it was still an unexpected surprise. As much as he coveted more, he chose to know when to stop and settled for what he got. After all, there were too many sharp people around, and if he got too greedy, someone might take notice. Everything in moderation, excess is just as bad as deficiency. The empty truck bed was now perfectly fit for the evolved motorcycle parts and what could hardly be called the original models of complete motorcycles. "I''m off, will treat you to a meal next time!" Eager to get going, Rona climbed into the driver''s cabin, waved at Chen Fei, and started the heavy truck, planning to deliver these boxes back to her place as quickly as possible. At least for a long time to come, she wouldn''t have to worry about the motorcycle she spent over three million Star Yuan on breaking down and being out of commission for a year or even longer. Chen Fei just waved back at her, without any superfluous gestures, watching as the heavy truck left the parking lot. "Chen Fei, what were you chatting about with that girl just now?" "Dark Night" Squad C''s officer, Yuan Zheng, noticed from afar Chen Fei standing with the female rider in the parking lot, alongside the heavy truck being loaded back and forth. "Made a little extra income." Though energy points couldn''t be converted to cash, they were of even greater benefit to Chen Fei personally than money would have been. Especially the five magic arrays just obtained, although they were not offensive and powerful, seemed to have some interesting potential. Magic arrays had always been regulated technology, never openly available to the public. Scholars studying magic arrays almost always had official backing, and there were virtually no freelancers in civilian life unless someone blundered upon a magic array by pure fluke, succeeding only in creating something barely functional, but they would soon be invited for a "tea talk" and receive a gag order, generally falling into the category of ''you''re fine as long as you don''t get caught''. "How much did you earn?" The officer was surprised that Chen Fei had made a bit of extra cash while washing cars; his luck was enviable indeed. "71 energy points!" "..." Even though it was plain human speech, Yuan Zheng couldn''t make heads or tails of what "energy," "points," and so on meant. "Also, your bird seems to be fighting with the local sparrows, and it''s been noisy for a while now." The officer pointed to the camp''s rooftop, where roughly a hundred sparrows crowded, chirping and quarreling in a cacophony, including a little bird disrupting the flock with a magic shield. Even sparrows have their scrambles; it seemed half the town''s feathered kinds had come to back them up. "What?" Chen Fei looked towards the rooftop overrun with birds¡ªthe little guy hadn''t finished fighting! He had never paid much attention to the wars among sparrows, but he hadn''t expected the local sparrows to be so persistent, nor had Xiao Jiu backed down, with both sides clashing up till now. This made Chen Fei hesitate a bit, unsure whether to call back Xiao Jiu or to help it disperse those sparrows. "I''ll just chase them all away!" With so many sparrows making a racket on the roof, people in the dormitory would probably get a headache. Chen Fei searched in the mobile base vehicle and then went down to the dormitory building. "Xiao Jiu! Come here!" Chen Fei gestured to the little bird. Even without the conspicuous light system magic shield, he could identify Xiao Jiu among the multitude of sparrows. "Jiu!" The little guy fluttered its wings and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, shaking its tiny body, with feathers all ruffled and clearly very excited. "Xiao Jiu, we promote peace and friendship, okay?" Chen Fei caught the little guy, casually pulled a ring, and threw the object in his other hand into the sky. Five, four, three, two, one! Boom!~ A blinding flash exploded twenty meters above the ground, accompanied by a deafening blast. Hundreds of startled sparrows took to the air, scattering in all directions. A few were so frightened they couldn''t fly and rolled around on the rooftops. They tumbled into the rain gutters, struggling to take flight, their figures still shaking and in complete disarray. The sparrows that had just been itching for a fight with the Pure Light Sparrow vanished in the blink of an eye, and the entire military camp immediately quieted down. "Chirp?" Xiao Jiu and the officer who watched Chen Fei''s swaggering performance were both dumbfounded. So much for peace and friendship, and you just nonchalantly toss a Disabling Bomb out of the blue, can you be any more unreasonable? Chen Fei kindly explained, "Hehe, peace and friendship means sparing lives, both Xiao Jiu and I have a kind heart." Little Shanzi felt the peace and friendship of The Chen Family most personally, and promptly thanked the siblings for sparing his life with a bow. "I''ve really seen something new!" The officer squad leader wanted to raise his hand in salute to show his respect but midway realized it wasn''t right and switched to cupping one fist in the other hand, listening and learning, better than reading books for ten years. He had never seen such a shameless person, bullying weak sparrows with a Disabling Bomb and having the audacity to call it "peace and friendship"? Who gave you that much gall? Are all the people in the private military contracting business this wild? Yuan Zheng''s guess wasn''t exactly right, but it wasn''t far off either. Which private military contractor isn''t cold and ruthless? A straight shooter simply won''t last, either blatantly or secretly taken down by others. Even Chen Fei, who hasn''t been out of the Ivory Tower for long, ended up blossoming into a full-fledged Man-eater Flower. Truly, there''s no good "Chen" to be found. Chen Fei let go, and Xiao Jiu regained its freedom. It pecked at his fingers and took to the sky again, circling over the empty camp like a king surveying his territory and airspace. Clang!~ A louder noise came from the distance, A cloud that drifted from afar was shattered in midair by a powerful shockwave. Chen Fei tossing a Disabling Bomb in the camp and making a noise was no big deal, not even meriting a second glance from anyone. "What''s that about?" Ever since moving into the barracks, Officer squad leader Yuan Zheng had never heard such a sudden loud noise and was puzzled. Chen Fei, who had obtained an answer from the female knight Rona earlier, said, "It''s probably some sort of destructive experiment, but the secrecy level is quite high, so I can''t learn more." As for what kind of experiment it was, Rona was vague, so Chen Fei did not ask further. After all, this place is quite sensitive, the more one says, the more one slips up. He would rather leave sooner and keep his distance from this place. "Okay, better not to ask too much!" Yuan Zheng wasn''t a fool; he caught on right away, patted Chen Fei''s arm, and said, "You''ve had a long drive, go get some rest!" "Yeah! Don''t call me for dinner, I''m going to take a nap." Chen Fei nodded and headed to the single-person accommodation that had been arranged for him. Unless it was an emergency mission or a forced march, he wasn''t too fussy about the living conditions; otherwise, it wasn''t easy to find large barracks. Most of the barracks were for two or four people, and officers and above had single rooms. Chen Fei, just a commoner, was given special treatment with an officer''s single room with a private bathroom. He had just pushed the door open when a Little Bird dropped from the sky and followed him into the room. It seems that after all the sparrows dispersed, it was left all alone with no fun, and it was tired from flying, so it simply decided to cozy up to father Chen Fei for a while. - Chapter 457 457: Section 453 - Loading the Magic Array ``` Bang!~ In the dead of night, another earth-shattering explosion sounded. Startled awake, Chen Fei scrambled to open the curtains and saw the sky nearly lit up. "Damn, what the hell is this about?" He grumbled to himself, sounding none too pleased. What''s with this destructive urge, can''t it wait for daylight? Why disturb people''s sweet dreams in the middle of the night? System: Ding! Retrieve Longinus to gain Energy Points +5000| Failure will deduct Energy Points -20000! "No way, what''s this all about now?" Chen Fei rolled out of bed in one swift move. The damn Dog System was issuing an infuriating task at this unholy hour. Success gives you 5000, failure takes away 20000? It''s getting more and more outrageous! The fury of the Motherland''s Man-eater Flower surged from his heart, anger flaring from the gall, ready to erupt. "Jiu?" Xiao Jiu, who was completely insensitive to the explosions outside, raised its head from the little nest on the bedside cabinet and looked at Dad with confusion. It had been awoken by Dad''s voice. Chen Fei hesitated, then gently stroked Little Bird''s head and said, "Xiao Jiu, stay put like a good bird!" "Jiu!" The little thing obediently tucked its head back under its wing. Only then did Chen Fei swiftly get dressed, push open the dorm door, and walk outside. You often can''t refuse the Dog System''s tasks. The last mission accused him of killing the target by mistake, forcefully deducting 3000 Energy Points, which truly hurt. Somehow later it was determined to be a fake, and they reinstated them. Luckily this mission had no completion time limit, hanging in the task list indefinitely, otherwise, those 3000 Energy Points would''ve been gone for good. System: Ding! Capturing Tunguska Region Police Chief Akim Vasily Ulyanov alive failed, target is deceased, deducting -3000 Energy Points! Energy Points -3000 Energy Points: 16181/20000 Damn... That Police Chief actually died at such a critical moment, who gave him such courage to dare... Chen Fei almost had the urge to tear the culprit apart, although that would also deduct Energy Points. Not sure if it was Sovereign Squad''s or Team 04''s work, but that core member of "Sacred Advent", Akim Vasily Ulyanov, had definitely been found and eliminated. Bang!~ The distant explosion sounded closer, and countless sparks rose to the sky while the persistent flames on the ground faintly lit up half of the heavens. This racket was truly thrilling. "Captain Yuan, Captain Yuan, get up quickly!" Chen Fei went knocking on Team C''s dorms one by one. Many were already accustomed to the occasional loud noises from afar and were still sleeping soundly. "What''s the situation?" Officer and Squad Leader Yuan Zheng was the first to open the door for Chen Fei. "Grab your gear, it''s time to fight!" Without elaborating, Chen Fei dropped this line and head straight for the Mobile Base Vehicle. The carriage held some weapons and ammunition that might come in handy. "Fight? What? Fight?" ``` The officer jolted awake, his gaze returning to the commotion in the distance, the rapid ping-pong-ing sounds exceedingly intense, clearly something was amiss. Moreover, this sudden clamor was getting closer and closer. In this moment, he''d rather be safe than sorry and quickly went to rouse Squad C''s dormitory, while he began to bellow. "Get up, get up immediately, emergency assembly!" Bang!~ A deafening explosion erupted over the camp. With that, the entire camp was thoroughly awakened. "Woo..." An ear-piercing alarm resonated throughout the town. The sergeant team leader, who was still somewhat skeptical, couldn''t deny the obvious anymore; Chen Fei had called it¡ªthere was truly a major incident. "Captain Yuan, gather everyone, request heavy weaponry; I''m going to take a look." A tall and burly figure landed beside the sergeant who had just assembled Squad C. "Who? Chen Fei, you? Where did you get this?" Yuan Zheng not only recognized Chen Fei''s voice but also identified the Single Soldier Tactical Armor on him, fully armed¡ªthe Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. Unlike Dragon Guard and Dragon General, the Dragon King can support the mounting of the most weapons, boasting the top firepower output among the many models of Single Soldier Tactical Armor. "I didn''t ''get'' this; it''s a Special Ability. I''m moving out first!" Chen Fei gestured to Yuan Zheng and stamped his foot hard on the ground. He soared like a feather, covering more than ten meters in a bound, and in the blink of an eye, there was only his retreating figure in sight. Although he had obtained the Magnetic Plasma Engine and could miniaturize it for application in the Single Soldier Tactical Armor, due to the lack of fuel, it was nothing more than a paperweight. The Skill he was using at this moment was the "Gravity Adjustment Module," setting gravity to 1% during the leap and restoring it to 60% upon landing. Mid-air, he willed it and extracted the "Repulsion Shield," "Gravity," "Fluid Vortex," and "Air Burst" four Magical Arrays from the Magical Array Evolution Database, attempting to imprint them onto the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. In his field of vision, a three-dimensional model of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor appeared alongside the icons of the four Magical Arrays. The Dog System''s ability to recognize Magic Arrays was incredibly peculiar. But with so many oddities, Chen Fei had no more energy for doubt. Pushing his suspicions aside, he opted to make use of it¡ªfor what else could he do? He fixed his gaze on the "Repulsion Shield" to move it to the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. The three-dimensional model immediately turned into a red outline and prompted "not supported." A reason was given in a corner of his vision¡ªdue to the small surface area, imprinting was unsuccessful. The Dragon King didn''t support the "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array, so he had to consider other options. Then he selected the "Gravity" Magic Array and moved it over the Dragon King''s 3D model, immediately prompting possible imprinting locations: Hand (2), Elbow (2), Arm (2), Foot (2), Leg (2), Chest (2), Head (1), Stomach (1), Back (4), Waist (2), totaling 20 spots. The next second, the data for the three-dimensional model of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor became even more robust, showing the capacity for Magical Arrays (20). Symbols for the "Repulsion Shield," "Gravity," "Fluid Vortex," and "Air Burst" Magical Arrays followed, now displaying the engraving unit data, "Repulsion Shield (45)," "Gravity (1)," "Fluid Vortex (2)," and "Air Burst (2)," making it much clearer whether the spells could be imprinted. This Dog System is quite interesting! It''s actually capable of on-site upgrades according to usage needs. To call it an AI: on one hand, its logic is strong. Whether it''s the functionality, interface, or task assignment, everything is clearly defined, leaving no room for negotiation, as rigid and conservative as "Cybertrom." Initially, the interface and operational commands were, unbelievably, DOS¡ªfar too nostalgic. Yet, its flexibility and technical reserves are enough to make another AI Ecosystem, "Adam," look primitive, even flinging it out of the Milky Way Galaxy. Even "Adam" could not casually recognize various equipment and Magic Arrays. It has had its moments of near-collapse from perplexity. In terms of artificial intelligence AI, both opposing extremes, "Cybertrom" and "Adam," seem to fall slightly short compared with the constantly silent Dog System. Could this be the so-called silent dogs that bite? In any case, Chen Fei had never figured out what exactly the Dog System was all about. As the visual data became more straightforward, Chen Fei''s placement of the Magic Arrays also simplified considerably. He placed two "Gravity" Magic Arrays on each leg. Then, he placed the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array at the lower back and positioned the "Air Burst" Magic Array on the back, imprinting two at once, using up all the four slots on the back. There was another Magic Array, "Mind Brand(1)," but it didn''t seem useful at the moment, so he didn''t extract it. Once the deployment of the Magic Arrays was confirmed, a button labeled "Execute," a bit like compiling source code, appeared on the bottom right of the visual interface. His previous actions resembled programming and DeBug, and thus, he gladly selected "Execute" with his gaze. The surface of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor immediately displayed intricate lines and runes, then lit up slightly, signaling it was in a ready-to-activate state. An icon of a battery with the number 99 appeared in the top right of Chen Fei''s field of vision. One of his skills, "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component," combined with another skill, "Super Capacitor," allowed him to drive the Magic Arrays directly with Crystal Energy in the absence of Elemental Energy. Crystal Energy can be released directly close-by without a conductor; naturally emitted Crystal Energy, like a magnetic field, forms a closed energy circulation field that provides continuous driving energy for the Magic Arrays within this field in a non-contact manner. Once the "Gravity" Magic Array was activated, Chen Fei, clad in the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor, stayed aloft like the top models equipped with Magnetic Plasma Engines, rather than falling. Then the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array kicked in, and the air behind him began to spin, providing thrust. Being an expert in aircraft, he understood exactly what this fluid meant. Air is a fluid, so is liquid. Once in rotation, it can produce not only a washing machine-like vortex effect but also a propeller-like thrust. - Chapter 458 458: Section 454 - Battle to the Death/Fight to the Death "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array could not provide a strong thrust, but it was enough to allow Chen Fei to approach the site of fierce combat at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Just as he had guessed, the small town located in the Gobi desert possessed a strength that was no less formidable than that of the Hablav City headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; four or five figures were suspended in the sky, observing the battle from different directions, ready to dive down and join the fight at any moment. "Who''s there?" A voice came from behind Chen Fei. Chen Fei turned around and saw ten or so "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armors positioned at commanding heights on several buildings nearby, with slender guide laser beams from the railgun combat rifles falling on him, forming green light spots the size of mung beans. Behind the other party, the unique blue light of magnetic plasma engines flickered. To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Chen Fei deactivated his tactical helmet, revealing his true face. "I, Chen Fei!" With the automated information processing capability of the battlefield data link, he should be identified instantly. "You? Where did you get that ''Dragon King''?" The leader of the "Dragon King" squad voiced a question similar to that of the officer squad leader, clearly not expecting that Chen Fei, who had just arrived at the Hanhai Central Base, would appear here in "Dragon King" attire. What was more surprising was that even without a magnetic plasma engine installed, he was able to hover mid-air. But the next second, before Chen Fei could explain, it was as if the other party muttered to themselves, "Alright, I got it!" It seemed they had received the answer from some other source. The person took out something from the storage bag behind their waist, pressed it, and threw it to Chen Fei. "Here, this is a tracker. Take good care of it; it can also be used as a responder. Then, move with us, and don''t run around." A Grade B Metal Ability User who could fight, defend, and run and had experienced real warfare was simply ready to be employed, much stronger than any Novice Fighter who had never seen blood. At least at this critical juncture, one more Ability User meant an extra pair of hands. Chen Fei caught the object perfectly and looked at it in his hand; it was a rod-shaped device similar to a lighter, flashing a signal light, seemingly emitting some kind of electromagnetic wave signal. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor that had evolved without authorization could not connect to the real-time battlefield data link and naturally lacked the ability to identify friend from foe, easily being mistaken for an enemy target. The signal from the tracker could temporarily serve as an ad-hoc friend-or-foe recognition responder, an emergency plan used by the battlefield data link system to prevent misidentification when identification devices fail or get damaged. This makeshift arrangement had its shortcomings; it could only ensure that one would not be targeted as an enemy but could not identify others. "Roger that!" Chen Fei placed the tracker into the universal design storage bag at his back, designed for stowing small items needed at a moment''s notice. His storage bag was packed with Disabling Bombs; if he fitted them with sleeves, they would turn into Lethal Rounds. Whether he wanted a durian sleeve, a pineapple sleeve, or a wolf tooth sleeve depended on his mood. "Stay with me." The person gestured to Chen Fei to follow. Boom!~ A sudden, fierce explosion occurred without warning a few dozen meters away, and the shockwave swept over in an instant. Several buildings quickly displayed inverted bowl-shaped semi-circular Protective Barriers, presumably serving as emergency shelters. The drones scattered across the sky hastily avoided the area, with many still desperately gathering battlefield information, covering nearly every inch of the corner. Several "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armors that failed to find suitable cover in time were blown away by the blast, and Chen Fei who was preparing to approach the "Dragon King" squad leader was no exception. Whether it was the magnetic plasma engine or the "Fluid Vortex" mounted on the "Dragon King''s" lower back, combined with the aerodynamic design of the Tactical Armor itself, they could not resist winds stronger than force five, let alone the super-high pressure caused by the shockwave. "The target is singular; kill without hesitation!" The "Dragon King" squad leader, adjusting his posture in mid-air, captured the target''s location through the battlefield data link and fired a rifle grenade with his railgun combat rifle. In such a situation, accurately hitting the target was nearly impossible. To ensure that Chen Fei could hear, he activated the loudspeaker. The other "Dragon Kings," after dodging the shockwave, advanced their positions and aimed at the area where the target was located, launching a dense barrage of rifle grenades, the explosions immediately merging into one sound. The buildings enveloped by Protective Barriers remained unscathed, unaffected by the combat, and the town''s structures were mostly intact, suggesting a high prevalence of Protective Barriers. There was no sight of people panicking and running around like headless flies. "''Adam,'' try to connect to the battlefield data link!" Chen Fei instructed the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" to activate all the functions of the "Dragon King." Adam: I have captured multiple frequency bands, starting sampling, estimated to need at least five minutes. The "Dragon King" squad''s communication bands were constantly changing, in addition to their encryption, and could only be analyzed after gathering all bands to deduce the patterns and frequency shift formulas. Hence, even with supercomputing power, there wasn''t much to be done. "Alert, missiles!" The "Dragon King" squad leader who had temporarily pulled Chen Fei into the team shouted loudly. Several missiles trailing flames roared towards them and exploded collectively mid-air before reaching their proximity. "I''m going in!" Chen Fei, instead of making any evasive maneuvers, chased after the missiles, throwing himself towards the figure being besieged. At least two Ability Users were desperately holding the enemy, not even caring about the missiles and rifle grenades fired by their own side. "Hey, Chen Fei, get back here!" "The ''Dragon King'' team leader''s amplified voice was swallowed up by the sound of the explosion." Chen Fei''s field of vision was specially marked with the mission target. Longinus! That was a slender object over four meters long, treated as a weapon, constantly swinging to fend off the attacks of two ability users. The Longinus that''s been passed down from who knows when had been excavated by the Blue Star human civilization as a spatial coordinates function. There are a total of 109 Longinus spears, with the main spear sticking into the Halo of Cangqiong Realm, corresponding to the sub-spear on the Dimensional Gate ring of "Cybertrom," above the orbit of Blue Star. The task issued by the Dog System was both a mission and intelligence. It could be assessed by textual information and energy points to gauge the difficulty and direction of the mission. However, sometimes there were surprises, such as the existence of clones that could deceive the Dog System''s intelligence assessment, but it must be said, this was still a very impressive intelligence capability. A task worth 5,000 energy points was far more difficult than capturing a War Professional of Earth Order alive; even a survival mission was worth a mere 2,000 energy points. If the mission was not completed, a staggering 20,000 energy points would be deducted; Chen Fei almost felt the Dog System''s full malice. Without success, there would only be sacrifice! This was yet another deadly problem. Therefore, no matter what, he must obtain Longinus, or he feared his life wouldn''t be spared! Kicking off the surface of a protective barrier field with all his might, Chen Fei courageously rushed into the fierce battlefield. The "Gravity" magic array and the "Gravity Adjustment Module" worked together to adjust his own weight while the "Fluid Vortex" provided thrust for fine-tuning, and the "Air Burst" magic array was ready to unleash. He landed squarely on a lamppost, and his "Metal Shaping" skill was activated immediately. Sparks flew as the entire lamppost turned into a broad sword with a blade five meters long, a "Gravity" magic array directly inscribed at the grip. The broad sword, a foot and a half wide, provided space enough for twenty magic array housing units, but Chen Fei only chose to inscribe two "Gravity" magic arrays. Over thirty meters away, figures intermingled, and the clashing of combat was intense. Activate tenfold anti-gravity! Lift the sword, charge! Suffering an unusually exploding sensation on his scalp, he swiftly narrowed the distance to Longinus. Battery icon number in the upper right corner of his vision: 89 "Damn it! Die for me!" Activate tenfold normal gravity, "Gravity Adjustment Module" at 100%, "Air Burst" magic array launched. Boom!~ An extremely strong pushback sensation came, and he swung his sword! Clang!~ The five-meter broad sword collided fiercely with the over four-meter Longinus, evenly matched in force as neither side took a single step back. Without Battle Qi, without spells, without spiritual power, it was a pure and utterly non-fanciful physical critical hit. Battery icon number in the upper right corner of his vision: 71 The "Super Capacitor" converted crystal energy power reserve was astonishingly depleted. "Good kid! Who is this?" Murmurs of surprise echoed around. The users of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor were mostly elite regular people or low-ranked ability warrior users, focusing on the use of tactical weapons and team advantages. It was rare for someone as straightforward and single-handedly aggressive as Chen Fei to charge into the fray. Most of those present who were qualified to engage with the enemy trying to seize Longinus did not need the "burden" of single soldier tactical armor, which would not only be unhelpful but could also hinder the exercise of one''s abilities. "It''s you again!" A sharp sound as if fingernails scraping against a blackboard rang in Chen Fei''s mind. "Hmph, so it''s you!" That familiar tingling sensation in his scalp allowed Chen Fei to recognize the fellow holding Longinus. It was the very same target he and Team C jointly escorted, who had somehow escaped and stolen Longinus, a forbidden item. The target, once suppressed by the Magic Instrument Short Column, magical bell, and an S-rank Psychic Ability User, became terrifyingly formidable upon breaking free from his constraints. No wonder he was labeled as over-standard; not even an S-rank ability user or a Heavenly Order being could subdue him. "I really like your music!" The individual holding Longinus let out a cruel laugh, and with a shake of his arms, a massive force like a tsunami rushed toward him. "What the hell?" Chen Fei couldn''t react in time and was knocked backward, along with his broad sword, by the sudden impact. "Stabilize your center of gravity, protect your vitals!" A strange voice reached his ears, along with a soft power that protected him. But the remaining force was still unstoppable. Chapter 459 459: Section 455 - Interception Failed Chen Fei slid down the curved surface of the building''s protective barrier and landed on his feet, feeling a tightness in his chest. He coughed several times before he could catch his breath. The building''s protective barrier was a flexible repulsive force. Coupled with the gentle force that enveloped him at first, he did not suffer any substantial damage. Moreover, just as Chen Fei was blown away by the sudden burst of power, two ability users rushed over and intercepted the enemy who was about to pursue, causing Longinus''s tip to thrust into thin air. "Wow, that''s some real power!" Chen Fei shook his head and took up his stance again, watching the intense fight involving three people while preparing to charge back into the fray at any moment. In the upper right corner of his field of vision, the battery icon read: 75 The energy reserve of the "Super Capacitor" was slowly recovering, indicating that this number wasn''t a one-time consumption or needed a long time to recover slowly. As long as he controlled the pace of the battle well, he could unleash considerable combat power. "Are you really a Class B supernatural power user?" That unfamiliar voice rang in his ears again, seemingly puzzled that Chen Fei could compete evenly with the guy who had taken Longinus. "Absolutely! You, where are you?" Chen Fei looked around, trying to find the person speaking near his ear. The other party seemed to notice that Chen Fei was looking around in search of him, and spoke again. "You can''t see me. I''m about 1 kilometer away from you. Are you born with divine strength?" "Of course not, I used a skill!" If it hadn''t been for the magical arrays he had just acquired and still hadn''t had time to warm up, Chen Xiao''er would have been instantly hit for a home run from the first clash. Biu!~ "Metal Elemental Psychic Power has such skills?" The person chatting with Chen Fei seemed quite excited, chatting while also focusing on the battle, providing psychokinetic support in a timely manner. Whenever he was overpowered and blown away, he wasn''t too embarrassed, indeed a good "catch". "Whether other Metal Ability Users have such skills, I don''t know, but reaching Industrial Grade Metal Elemental definitely can. I used skill to imprint the magical arrays. There are two ''Gravity'' magical arrays on the weapon, plus my own ''Gravity Adjustment'' skill, dual adjusting gravity, using the ''Air Burst'' magical array engraved on ''Dragon King'' for quick turning and acceleration. By bringing personal strength and weapon mass together with additional acceleration, it''s that straightforward." This combination of multiple magical arrays seemed complex in theory; the principle was simple: add mass and hammer down hard. Chen Fei''s five-meter broad sword was not sharpened. A heavy sword without sharpness relied on mass rather than cutting ability. Whether it was sharpened made no difference since, when cutting other things, it was like a knife through butter. But facing Longinus, which the entire arsenal of Blue Star Civilization couldn''t destroy or even damage, even a sharpened edge would be useless. Longinus temporarily doubled as a weapon, truly a divine tool. "Magical arrays? Playing high-end? Do you also practice Alchemy?" One could imagine how exaggerated the expression of the person on the other side must be. Casually imprinting a bunch of magical arrays, then heading straight to chop the enemy''s face. Wait, shouldn''t a person like this be staying safely in the rear? Yet he dared to charge so far forward. Was he courting death? "Of course, it''s through the ''Sacrifice'' skill. By sacrificing one magical array, I can mass-produce these magical arrays. Alchemy? I know nothing about that." However, there is the concept of alchemy in economics, which is entirely different from the "Alchemy" discussed between the two people. Chen Fei did not hide anything. Hiding it would be pointless anyway. There were so many intelligent people around; no one was fooled by even the slightest hint, quickly reconstructing the truth. Playing sly would only cause trouble for oneself. Moreover, the "Sacrifice" skill was already no longer a secret. It was a mass-production divine skill in the Industrial-grade Ability, allowing whoever possessed this skill to potentially destroy an entire industrial field by themselves. The other party hesitated slightly, then asked again, "I see, that''s it! That''s incredible. Wait, where did you get these magical arrays from?" From the tone of voice, it was clear that someone else was asking the question through this person. It seemed that someone had noticed the dubious origins of the magical arrays Chen Fei had sacrificed. Since it was officially regulated technology, even private use in civil situations was not allowed. Chen Fei himself had no official background, and suddenly mentioning magical arrays was bound to raise suspicions. "I collected them from the scrap metal I gathered during the day." Chen Fei felt fortunate he had only collected two truckloads of junk, a total of 61 tons of scrap copper and iron, before deciding it was enough. Even though Rona would have given him more if he asked, being greedy would complicate explanations of his unexpected gains. Intentional and unintentional were fundamentally different matters. "That works?" The other party was probably quite speechless. Chen Fei''s response was unexpected yet still made sense. Metal Ability Users collecting scrap was completely reasonable, and with the "Sacrifice" skill, finding complete magical arrays was an incredibly coincidental stroke of luck. It seemed that scrapped equipment would have to pass through one more process to prevent engrained magical arrays from potentially leaking, even though such leakage was generally unlikely in Hanhai Central Base. But, when outsiders arrived here, confidentiality breaches could occur. Chen Fei''s explanation no doubt served as a reminder to Hanhai Central Base that the nearly closed-off town was not as watertight as imagined. "Heh, what a surprise, what a surprise!" Chen Fei quickly concluded the conversation. The wool here is not easy to shear, one must never become overconfident and lose sight of reality. "Ah!" One of the ability users, who was besieging the enemy, was careless for a moment. His shoulder was pierced through by Longinus and was flung out. He was immediately caught by a psychic ability user outside the arena using psychokinesis. The counterattack Wind Blade of the injured ability user was fiercely stirred by Longinus, turning into a chaotic airflow that spread in all directions. The other ability user, a Fire System Heavenly Order War Professional, made his sword light spin like a wheel. The crimson Sword Qi drew arcs, turning into a Sword Qi tornado that fiercely rushed towards the enemy wielding Longinus from all directions. As soon as the tip of Longinus touched the burning hot Sword Qi capable of melting metal and iron, it immediately exploded into flames, causing the temperature within a hundred meters radius to instantly exceed a hundred degrees Celsius. However, the flames that ignited out of thin air never got close to the enemy, as a ten-meter radius fire-free zone constantly surrounded him. This increased the pressure tremendously on the Fire System Heavenly Order War Professional who had lost his companion. The enemy did not have any sophisticated war techniques; relying solely on brute strength and speed, always using power to break skill and speed to counter speed. On top of that, the pervasive invasion of spiritual power continuously triggered various negative emotions, often causing the opponent to perform at only twenty to thirty percent of his full combat capacity. As an extremely above-standard existence, having Longinus in hand, he actually managed to suppress the joint efforts of Heavenly Order and S-Rank, even gaining the upper hand. A powerful thrust from his heavy spear forced the Fire System Heavenly Order War Professional back, and the enemy target leaped up, apparently trying to break through the siege and flee into the distance. "Chen Fei, stop him, don''t let him escape!" Chen Fei heard the voice of that psychic ability user in his ear. As a B-rank Metal Ability user with industrial-grade skills, he should have stayed behind the lines, avoiding combat whenever possible, or at best, sniping from a distance. But now, in an urgent situation, they could only count on each other. "I got it! One more time! Ten times anti-gravity!" Chen Fei felt it was manly to proceed. Twenty times the regular gravity! The two "Gravity" magic arrays engraved on the broadsword started to flicker, showing signs of instability at their stability threshold, unable to bear any higher intensity of crystal energy input. Yet he had no intention of reducing the power. "Gravity Adjustment Module" 100%, "Air Burst" magic array activated. Chen Fei thought he had a great advantage, and then he charged forth with renewed vigor. However, this time, as soon as the broadsword clashed with Longinus, he immediately noticed something wrong. The sword body was instantly penetrated, and the sharp spear tip lunged towards his face like a venomous snake. "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor could withstand all light weapon close-range firing and 12.7-mm caliber solid bullets fired from beyond a hundred meters, but it couldn''t block the sharpness of Longinus at all. The "Metal Shaping" skill was instantly activated, the broadsword turned flexible and began wrapping around Longinus. Still at twenty times gravity, "Gravity Adjustment Module" 100%, "Air Burst" magic array continuously activated. However... even though Longinus was in a severely unstable state of gravity, the enemy still didn''t care at all, grasping it and pushing Chen Fei back continuously, retreating step by step, the whole process being pushed back in flight. "Damn you!" Chen Xiao''er applied brute force, but it was still of no use. The stark difference in strength between them wasn''t something that could be overcome by cheating; a surprise attack could give a slight advantage, but there was no second chance. In a blink of an eye, Chen Fei, who initially felt he had some advantage, was pushed by the opponent out of the barrier that enveloped the entire town and came to the outside desert. "Hold on, don''t panic, reinforcements are on the way!" The whisperings of that psychic ability user kept encouraging Chen Fei. "Comrades, fire at me!" Chen Fei applied an immovable BUFF to himself, then started to stack additional protections. Personal Armor Basic Body Level 3, upgrade! -2000 Energy Points! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 4, upgrade! -2000 Energy Points! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 5, no further upgrades possible. (Level 1: Light Armor Mode, Level 2: Heavy Armor Mode, Level 3: Adaptive Armor Mode, Level 4: Cavalry Armor Mode, Level 5: Gigantification Mode) Energy Points: 12181/20000 Though the energy points were plenty before, nearly reaching twenty thousand, it simply wasn''t enough in a critical moment! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 5, Gigantification, activated! Damn it, this is exhausting. In the end, it was all about brute force. Chapter 460 460: Section 456 - Furious Will The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor began to rapidly expand in size. It wasn''t just the addition of thicker armor plates and a more ferocious design; even the height kept increasing from 2 meters, to 3 meters, to 4 meters... until it reached 6 meters, ultimately transforming into a "Giant" Tactical Armor. -5 Energy Points! "Giantization" requires materials, not just an empty shell that''s grown larger. Combined with twenty times the gravity, the weight pressing down on the front end of the Longinus directly exceeded a hundred tons. The leverage effect was coming into play. Let alone those of the Heavenly Order and S-Class, even those beyond standard specs, when unable to exert force normally against a hundred tons of pressure, could not maintain composure indefinitely. Like tracing a parabola, the two figures that rose into the air within the Hanhai Central Base, after crossing the river that surrounded half the town, plummeted towards the Gobi Desert about a hundred meters outside the barrier. Thud!~ Like a meteor falling from the sky, countless fragments of rock and dust flew into the air, creating a large crater in the ground. Chen Fei, who was unavoidably thrown into utter disarray within the enlarged "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor that enveloped him at the chest position, smashed into the ground with the acceleration of a hundred-tan weight, nearly knocked breathless by the impact. The Longinus was pinned under the "Dragon King''s" arm, and Chen Fei did not forget to wrap around even more of its length. "Get lost!" A thunderous shout penetrated Chen Fei''s brain. A multitude of distracting thoughts surged out, uncontrollable, and his mind was in chaos. In his dizziness, it was as if two voices were struggling within his thoughts. One seemed to say, "Even S-Class and Heavenly Order cannot stop it, what makes you think you, a mere B, can put up a pretense?" The other one appeared to say, "Yeah, right! It''s so dangerous, there''s no need to risk your life. If you lose Energy Points, so be it, maybe the Dog System will make an exception?" The two voices were not fighting each other, but were jointly wrestling with Chen Fei. This wasn''t a struggle but rather a denunciation. Damn, this was truly bizarre! While Chen Fei''s psychic resistance was high, it wasn''t entirely immune. A one-on-one invasion by psychic power beyond standard specs left him somewhat unable to cope. His head felt almost like it was about to explode, and the endless stream of distracting thoughts made it hard to concentrate. The nearby Ability Users and conventional firepower were wary of intervening too hastily in the standoff between the two. "Heh, wishful thinking!" Chen Fei stubbornly refused to let go, and the shoulder position of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor began to glow red, with a small laser loader moving into position. Just as he was about to activate it, his head buzzed as if struck by a heavy hammer, and the world momentarily fell silent. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor had vanished from his body without a trace. The Longinus and that exceptional enemy had also disappeared. The surroundings were no longer the Gobi Desert; the ground was dark, smooth as a mirror, as if an alien landscape. One by one, huge and grotesque figures filled his vision, surrounding him, dense and overwhelming, as if obscuring the skies. The scales and spikes glowed with a faint light, the folded Blade Wings, the long tails like weapons, the sharp Fangs, the undulating bodies were undoubtedly living beings, terrifyingly real to the eye. Giant Dragons! And not just any, but the Metallic Dragons known for their ferocity as the "Dragon of Slaughter." The numerous Metallic Dragons, each with a slightly different but equally ferocious appearance, were staring at him with their fissured, golden eyes, fixated on him. Being firmly surrounded by a multitude of dragons left Chen Fei feeling somewhat unnerved. But... oddly enough, there was no sound at all, the surroundings were utterly quiet. If it weren''t for the sound of his own swallowing, he might have thought he had lost his hearing. At the same time, he realized he could only turn around on the spot but could not move from where he stood. That''s right, Yilan! He suddenly remembered the lively and adorable little female dragon. Maybe he could say hello, get familiar with it, and not have to worry about being eaten or smashed into pulp by a swipe of a claw. The best way to differentiate between Metallic Giant Dragons was to look at their Tail Spears and Crowns; nearly every Metallic Giant Dragon had unique tail and crown shapes. This was a little piece of advice Yilan had shared with Chen Fei. But no matter how much he looked, he could not find the familiar shapes of the Crown and Tail Spear; they were all uniformly large adult Giant Dragons. Yilan wasn''t here! That made sense. If it were here, it would surely be rushing to greet him. Chen Fei asked the Metallic Giant Dragon closest to him loudly, "Um... Excuse me, is Yilan here?" All the Metallic Dragons slowly opened their fanged maws. "Roar..." A wave of savage will surged forward... "Roar..." The scene before him blurred, filled with stars, the exceptional enemy, and the Longinus tucked beneath the arm of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. The roaring sounds were actually coming from Chen Fei himself; he was furiously roaring. System: Ding! "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 15 seconds/15 seconds! The previous 15 seconds were decreasing like a countdown. Unbeknownst to him, the skill "Eyes of Tyranny" had activated on its own. The outer appearance of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor had also changed along with it, with the Tactical Helmet now adorned with dragon horn crowns and the limbs transformed into beast-like claws, each sharp claw extending over a foot in length. "What, what kind of monster are you?" The exceptional enemy was visibly shaken. Just a moment ago, as he thought he had succeeded, it was as if he had come into contact with something terrible. His psychic power, which should have penetrated effortlessly like quicksilver, were forcefully turned back, almost triggering a backlash. Chen Fei mustered all his strength and shook his hand violently, releasing a strange force that once again burst forth, allowing Longinus to forcefully break free from the "Metal Shaping" entanglement of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. No one knew what material the four-meter-long legendary weapon was made of, but Chen Fei''s "Metal Devouring" skill was completely ineffective against it, or more precisely, there was no reaction at all. "Roar..." With pupils transformed into shattered golden vertical slits, Chen Fei offered no explanation, only a roar filled with ferocity. The severely deformed Broad Sword turned into a slender spike, with the two "Gravity" Magic Arrays that had been engraved on both sides of the sword vanishing on their own. "Secret Technique... Fight to the Death!" The "Eyes of Tyranny," superimposed with the Inherited Secret Technique of the Neanderthal tribe, didn''t just cover Chen Fei''s entire body with silver-glowing War Patterns; they also appeared on the surface of the proportionally enlarged "Blood Spike" and the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. With only a little more than ten seconds of his high light moment left, he hesitated not a moment to play all his trump cards. Decisive battle! To live is to confront death!! "Gosh! Is this a Grade B supernatural power user? Can''t be true!" Someone murmured in the distance. Under the night sky covering the Gobi desert, a ferocious Giant covered in odd patterns and emitting dazzling silver light roared as it thrust its spear. Even an existence beyond the ordinary had to momentarily retreat from its edge, rapidly stepping back and apparently having no intention of entangling further, even putting aside the vengeance of the Divine Song for now. The approaching Ability Users were deeply moved, sensing an unimaginably wild will emanating from that "Giant." No wonder the extraordinary mental force proved futile; it was as if they had kicked an iron plate. The next second, the unrecognizable "Dragon King" hurled the slender spike of the "Blood Spike" ferociously at the enemy wielding Longinus. The spear struck like lightning, instantly reaching the adversary''s face. Longinus accurately sliced into the tip of the "Blood Spike," and as it was about to flick it away, a figure flashed, and the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, covered in silver light patterns, appeared out of nowhere, with the "Blood Spike" spike firmly in hand. Without either the Secret Technique "Fight to the Death" or the "Blood Spike," the technique would not be complete, and the slender, spike-shaped "Blood Spike" couldn''t unleash its full power. "Ah!" Caught off guard, the enemy shrieked in piercing agony, attempting to fend off both the person and the giant Tactical Armor, along with the "Blood Spike." But how could another activation of 20 times the normal gravity allow his wish to be fulfilled? The immovable weight of 100 tons, not an ounce more or less, did not even quiver. "Die!" Chen Fei, with multiple trump cards piled up, matched the opponent in brute strength, completely gaining the upper hand in this head-on clash. Turning stabbing into whipping, the "Blood Spike" transferred its immense impact force to Longinus. Splat!~ The extraordinary being could no longer withstand it and sprayed out a mist of blood on the spot. No matter how strong the mental force might be, it couldn''t dissolve the pure violence of the real world. The enemy, along with Longinus, was flung away, crashing heavily onto the ground before bouncing across the Gobi desert like a stone, with the momentum unabated, strike after strike. With a single blow, you''re sent a hundred meters away. A gruesome scene unfolded. "Ah!~" The extraordinary foe let out a heart-wrenching scream, with blood smeared all over his face and body, and even his clothes were torn and tattered. When he frantically reached for the Longinus that had fallen beside him, he grasped at nothing. Er!~ He turned his head, looking around in shock and disbelief. "Tweet?!" A tiny, pitch-black creature was tilting its head and looking right at him, their gazes directly meeting each other. Before he could comprehend how Longinus had turned into a Little Bird, the small bird adorned with black feathers and a tiny feathered crown on its head shot into the sky with a flap of its wings, so fast it left behind a streak of light. Pop!~ A loud bang echoed in the sky, and the streak of light vanished into the night in an instant. "Longinus!!!!" Desperately, the man extended his hand toward the sky, in the direction where the light had disappeared. Thump, with a severe blow to the back of his head, as if struck by a "cudgel"! "..." Turning slowly, he saw the giant Tactical Armor, towering high, holding the slender spiky weapon that was no less lengthy than Longinus, and then, without mercy, swinging it down heavily. Everything in front of him went black... After the ground shook violently from the impact, a shallow pit appeared, with a whole body embedded in the earth, twitching faintly. Whether his brain was smashed out or not was uncertain; if not rescued promptly, death or crippling injury was likely. "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 0 seconds/15 seconds! System: "Eyes of Tyranny" begins cooldown, 15 seconds/15 seconds! A new countdown begins. "Giantization," release! Personal Armor Basic Body (level 5), release! Secret Technique, release! Material recovery! Energy Points: 12107/20000! Chen Fei''s vision darkened. Chapter 461 461: Section 457 - Awakening "...Physiological state normal... Biological reaction in sleeping state... Delta waves stable... Spiritual power intensity at 384 degrees... Comprehensive assessment B-grade, Elemental Affinity Eight Stars, no abnormalities found... no Battle Qi..." Chen Fei''s consciousness began to coalesce amid indistinct sounds. "Oh! Alpha waves present, he''s waking up." Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes to see a hatch with a transparent window, beyond which lay a checkered grid of ceiling panels and evenly spaced lights. His mind became slightly more functional and he could discern that what he had initially thought to be a "door panel" was actually a cover. Struggling to turn his head, he seemed to be lying in a rehabilitation pod. First, let''s regain focus, and review the homework. Oh, right, a sudden memory gap... It wasn''t from drinking too much, but from an energy deficit of over six thousand points, which caused a surge of blood to my heart and knocked me out. Also, there was weakness all over my body as if having undergone severe physical energy depletion. Thankfully, there was no severe reaction from lactic acid buildup, likely due to the rehab pod''s effect in catalyzing the rapid decomposition of muscle lactic acid, or else I would have suffered unbearably. Click... Pssst! Like the sound of deflating, the lid of the rehabilitation pod slowly rose, revealing Chen Fei in his skimpy sleepwear. "How many fingers am I holding up?" A man with glasses extended his hand toward Chen Fei. "Those are fingers!" Chen Fei wasn''t about to think the man''s weird gesture represented any number. "Looks normal to me!" The man calmly withdrew his hand. After all, it was a multiple-choice question, and there''s more than one correct answer. "Where am I?" The rehabilitation pod slowly rotated from head to toe, naturally shifting Chen Fei from lying to leaning inside the pod. "You are in Hanhai, um, at the community health station, yes, a health station, responsible for headaches, colds, distributing external medicine and the like. Surely not for treating something like cancer or AIDS. That definitely wouldn''t be handled here." The man with glasses awkwardly rephrased his speech, looking highly suspect. "A secret facility, right?" Chen Fei bluntly exposed the man''s evasiveness. He had heard "Hanhai?" followed by an immediate conversational freeze more than once, and it wasn''t just from one person. "Right, right, right! Heh, exactly! Look less, ask less, keep a secret, otherwise, you won''t be able to leave!" The man with glasses continued to gesticulate, clearly not adept at lying. Technical Staff! Confirmed! All are honest kids, incapable of even telling a lie. "How long have I been lying here?" Chen Fei stood up, feeling a bit weak. His legs struggled to maintain stability, so he leaned against the rehab pod momentarily, waiting for his body to regain balance and strength. The man with glasses hastily said, "Ten days, a full ten days." Unwittingly, the power in the conversation had shifted to Chen Fei. "By the way, where''s my Little Bird? How is Xiao Jiu?" Chen Fei''s first thought was of the little guy. The little guy should be capable of taking care of itself, and Officer Yuan Zheng of the sergeant''s team would also help, and things like bird food could be found aboard the Mobile Base Vehicle. Moreover, this small town has a high level of greenery, so there would be no shortage of live food like insects, which is even more suitable for Little Bird to forage on its own. The man with glasses hesitantly said, "Bird? Uh, I have to ask, just a moment!" He hadn''t heard of any bird and immediately took out his phone and started inquiring outside the room. In the short time it took to exchange these few words, Chen Fei had regained much of his strength and was able to stand firmly on his own. "''Adam''!" This artificial intelligence AI had not terminated its process, as it needed to provide the "AI Arena" service to Chen Meng''s classmates, and most of the thousand accounts that had been given out were already bound with personal information, with an online rate of no less than 100 people for 24 hours, peaking at 600 people. Adam: Multiplex frequency wave sampling failed, unable to connect to the battlefield data link. After ten days, the battle had long been over. How could the battlefield data link still exist? The naive "Adam" never grasped the logic behind it and, after a string of circular errors, terminated its task thread. AI is AI, even more flexible than a "Cybertrom" derivative, but still unable to escape the inherent limitations of an AI. "''Adam,'' try to connect to the network, locate Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei didn''t wait for an answer from the man outside and began searching for Little Bird''s whereabouts on his own. He hadn''t seen it for ten days and wondered if it had become cold or hungry. That seemed unlikely; the little guy was clever after all! And it was a Magical Beast with a unique Social Welfare Number, registered properly, and thus entitled to enjoy legal rights and treatment. Out of the two leg rings on Little Bird, aside from one being a Spatial Storage Artifact, the other was not just an identity tag but also a tracker. Adam: Location of "Xiao Jiu" confirmed, 50 meters away and approaching. Huh? The civilian positioning error could be as much as three meters which, after "Adam''s" algorithmic correction, could be reduced to about one meter. "Found it! Your bird has been adopted by the management committee." The man with glasses re-entered from outside, gesturing with his phone. "I already know!" Chen Fei calmly opened the closet. As expected, his clothes had been cleaned and hung inside, not a single piece was missing. "Huh? How did you know?" The man with glasses was utterly bewildered. "Behind you!" Chen Fei took off his clothes and began to dress himself. Apart from Xiao Jiu, there was another guest. "Behind me?" The man with glasses stupidly turned around, just in time to hear a knock on the door. Knock knock! "May I come in?" "Jiu!" "Hey, hey, hey..." The man with glasses was so surprised that he didn''t know what to say. Wasn''t it agreed that he was a Metal Ability User, how did this turn into something like a Psychic Power User, that''s just unscientific! A comprehensive satellite and base station positioning leg ring that works anywhere there''s network and signal, that''s the power of science. No sooner had the door been opened a crack than a flurry of wingbeats surged in. "Jiu!~" A little black-feathered bird had landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, hopping excitedly from left to right and back again, occasionally pecking his earlobe and emitting an excited, loud chirp. It''s no wonder the little one was so anxious after not seeing Chen Fei for several days. The person outside the room followed and pushed the door open. To Chen Fei, he wasn''t a stranger but Major Li Xinliang from the Fire Owl Special Warfare Group, whom he had met before. "Major Li!" x2! Chen Fei and the man with glasses exclaimed in unison. It was said to be an adoption by the management committee, but Chen Fei hadn''t expected that the one bringing Xiao Jiu would be a major from the Special Warfare Group. "It seems you''re mostly alright now." Major Li Xinliang sized up Chen Fei; he had been keeping an eye on the young man''s condition these past few days. Merely a B-rank supernatural power user daring to fight against a being of extraordinary power wielding the Longinus, the audacity was off the charts, and so reckless. Yet in the end, the former managed to beat the latter half to death, against everyone''s expectations. Reckless, absolutely and utterly reckless. Surviving was pure luck on his part. If it had been anyone else, they probably wouldn''t have made it beyond the first exchange. No wait! On this young man, luck seemed to have played more than just once. A neophyte who dares drag the Dragon of Slaughter into mutual annihilation can''t be evaluated by ordinary standards. "Thank you for bringing Xiao Jiu." Chen Fei reached out to grab the mischievous little one who had been causing trouble on his shoulder, holding it in his palm. The little bird treated his palm as its own nest and began to roll around. Major Li Xinliang said politely, "You''re welcome, Xiao Jiu is a Magical Beast and needs someone to look after it. No one would just ignore it." The whole Hanhai Central Base really didn''t have the guts to let such a powerful Laser Jiu mix among sparrows; an accidental blast from its powerful laser beam, and who knew what kind of damage it might cause. After Chen Fei was picked up seemingly lifeless, the Central Base immediately sent someone to take care of the Magical Beast. If you want the little guy to behave, it''s easy¡ªjust connect to the screen of the healing chamber and explain the situation. Little Bird would then patiently wait for daddy Chen Fei to wake up. It''s been very well-behaved for the past few days, neither making noise nor causing trouble, showing excellent upbringing. "If it''s convenient, let''s find a place to talk." Major Li glanced at the man with glasses. Understanding the hint, the latter immediately raised his hands and said, "You guys talk, I''ll be stepping out first." And with that, he left the room. "Please speak!" Chen Fei looked at the Special Warfare Group Major, shrugging his shoulders. If somebody doesn''t come to the temple without a reason, then aside from returning Jiu to its owner, the major must have other important matters to discuss. Major Li Xinliang stood straight up and asked seriously, "Do you know who you fought with that night?" This was getting to the crux of the matter. Seeing such a stern expression, Chen Fei guessed that this must be the real issue, while Little Bird was just brought along for convenience. Chen Fei spread his hands and said helplessly, "I don''t know. I know nothing!" He assured that he was completely oblivious, except for getting into an inexplicable fight, indeed he knew nothing. He definitely wouldn''t cause trouble for himself. Knowing too much might mean never leaving this small town. "You can say that outside, but here, I''d still hope you''d be honest," Major Li wasn''t easily fooled, almost as if about to say "confess and you''ll be treated leniently, resist and you''ll face strict measures." Chen Fei didn''t like this almost interrogative way of questioning and flatly said, "I really don''t know, why don''t you ask something more concrete?" Beyond the opponent''s gender being male, Chen Fei knew nothing about his age, name, abilities, or rank. To suggest there was some feud or grievance between them was stretching it¡ªunless the loop of Divine Song reached that level of pettiness to demand a life? "Let me reveal a little bit then!" Major Li Xinliang hesitated for a moment and said, "That guy... isn''t human!" "Huh?" Chapter 462 462: Section 458 - Tasks to Be Completed "Huh?" Chen Fei had just thought to let out a huge curse when he suddenly felt something was amiss, and his emotions quickly stabilized. With a slightly surprised tone, he said, "Could it be from the Intelligent Species of Cangqiong Star?" The only Intelligent Species on Blue Star are the Blue Star Humans, including the descendants of Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals. Both of these racial groups are like melons on the same vine, once brothers and sisters, with no reproductive isolation between them. Therefore, they can naturally be regarded as one. However, the Intelligent Species of Cangqiong Star are not limited to just the Cangqiong Star Humans; there are also Magical Beasts and the Feathered Tribe, among others, with varying sizes and appearances. "No!" Major Li Xinliang shook his head expressionlessly. "What?" Removing the highest score (Cangqiong Star) and then the lowest score (Blue Star), Chen Fei looked again and the answer was gone! No, there was still one answer. "You can''t be serious?" Chen Fei immediately understood. The fact that Major Li would allow the bespectacled man to evade in advance was truly startling news. "Their target is Longinus, he was a decoy." Li Xinliang did not reveal any more information. Even that answer was one Chen Fei had deduced on his own. After all, he did not explicitly state anything, let alone admit anything. After all, this was a restricted conversation, and confidentiality conditions were still in effect. "Good grief, that guy almost got away!" Chen Fei put Little Bird back on his shoulder, touching his head with a face full of relief. If he had let the person escape, no matter how innocent he might be, he would likely not be able to escape responsibility. Under the banner of righteousness, no one could escape unscathed. "Indeed, the consequences would have been very serious, extremely serious!" Li Xinliang nodded seriously. There were some secrets even he did not know, but he could guess some of them, which were already rather astonishing. As expected! The reaction from the other party made Chen Fei even more relieved. He steadied his emotions slightly and ventured to ask, "How''s that guy doing, is he dead?" He only remembered not holding back, using a proportionally enlarged "Blood Spike" to viciously strike, pulling the opponent right into the ground for a perfect embedding. "Alive!" Li Xinyu didn''t say much more. As for the specifics, he wasn''t too clear, but based on the scene at the time, it seemed rather gruesome. If it had been a human, one strike like that could have probably turned them into dust on the spot. "What a pity!" Chen Fei still remembered the command given to him by the "Dragon King" squad captain who had recruited him. No mercy in killing! It seemed that in the urgency of the situation, to ensure the retrieval of Longinus, they didn''t even want to follow up on clues. Not having succeeded in killing the enemy, and not having carried out the order of "no mercy in killing" to the end, made Chen Fei, as a supernatural power user, feel quite inadequate. But in the eyes of Hanhai Central Base, a B-level supernatural power user being able to take down a superior being was already quite the feat. If he had been able to kill the opponent as well, that would have been far too terrifying. "The key point is that we couldn''t find Longinus at the scene!" Li Xinliang changed the subject. "Eh? Longinus is missing!" Chen Fei''s eyes widened. He had been so focused on taking down his opponent that he hadn''t paid attention to anything else. He quickly accessed the "mission list". "System: Ding! Retrieve Longinus, receive energy points +5000 | failure results in deduction of energy points -20000!" This mission was still ongoing. However... it hadn''t declared the mission complete, nor had it stated that the mission failed, indicating that the mission was still in progress. According to the habits of the Dog System, although Longinus was not in hand, there was a possibility of getting it back. Laying idle for ten days, doing nothing, yet still being able to retrieve Longinus, winning the mission while lying down, that meant there weren''t too many possibilities. Emmmm... Chen Fei fell into deep thought. "We didn''t find Longinus at the scene, but we still captured some footage." Major Li Xinliang took out a slim and compact tablet and pulled up a video. At the time, there were at least dozens of drones circling in the sky, capturing crystal-clear footage of Chen Fei''s death battle with the superhuman entity. It wasn''t just about giantization, but the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor looked like a humanoid combat mech, fighting an unfair battle with the superhuman entity. Several drones, from different heights and angles, captured the heroic figure of the giantized "Dragon King" defeating its opponent, delivering a blockbuster-level visual impact. At the end of the video, the superhuman was beaten down and tried to grab the Longinus again, but when it reached out, it caught nothing; the Longinus had disappeared at that moment, leaving both friend and foe dumbfounded. The screen froze, and a dark little figure appeared in the camera''s view, unclear what exactly it was. After all, under the cover of night, black objects are especially hard to distinguish. Then the little figure leapt into the air, and a vague silhouette could be seen, especially the wings, resembling a bird, and then a trail of light flared in the air, eventually leaving behind only a streak of light that entered the Barrier-protected urban area. A series of suspicious freeze frames formed a puzzle. "Uh!" Chen Fei slowly looked over his shoulder. A small bird with black feathers, which radiated light when moving at full speed, especially in this town¡ªother than Xiao Jiu the Pure Light Sparrow, who else could it be? It was confirmed! The Dog System''s "Mission List" had a task that remained unchanged, now verified. Major Li Xinliang nodded at Chen Fei as if he had expected this. It seemed Hanhai Central Base had suspected this little fellow all along. Unfortunately, there was a communication barrier between them; Xiao Jiu didn''t speak human language, and probably had a hard time understanding what Longinus meant, so they could only rely on Chen Fei, once he came to, to try to find out from the little bird where the Longinus had gone. If it weren''t for both man and bird being there, the central base would probably be anxious. "Understood!" Chen Fei nodded, finally grasping the intent of the other party. He caught the little guy again and placed it on the bed of the healing pod, pointed at the little bird''s head with his finger, and said, "Xiao Jiu, hand over your spoils of war!" "Jiu?" The Little Bird tilted its head in confusion and then pecked Chen Fei''s fingertip. "The stuff inside here!" Chen Fei pointed at Xiao Jiu''s Leg Ring. Uh! Which one was correct? He was also at a loss, so he simply pointed at both. Rolling out, a bottle of liquor tumbled out. Major Li recognized the brand on the bottle immediately and blurted out. "Sofia 2022?" Just this bottle of brandy could cover a good portion of his semi-annual salary. Gulp! Major Li couldn''t help swallowing his saliva. Giving up half a year''s salary to buy this bottle of liquor was unthinkable, as there was no way to purchase it. This bird was more extravagant than him; hiding such expensive drinks in a Spatial Storage Artifact. "Not this one, it''s long and thin!" Seeing the bottle of liquor, Chen Fei knew for sure it was Xiao Jiu''s spoils of war, definitely stolen from Boss Hana, but it was still not what he was looking for, so he started to gesture with his hands. Plunking down, a barrel of pens rolled out. Well, although long and thin, it was not what Chen Fei and Major Li wanted. Then they indicated it was something with a triple twist design. Following that, a bag of pretzel sticks fell onto the bed. Brandy "Sofia 2022" with pretzel sticks, quite a combination. Xiao Jiu could assert that it understood every word said by Dad Chen Fei, but when put together, the meaning became somewhat challenging to grasp. The Little Bird lowered its head, pecked at its Leg Ring, and then, clunk after clunk, boxes were tossed out, quickly piling up on the entire healing pod bed. As the bed could no longer hold them, they spilled onto the floor, with more and more being thrown, stacking up as high as a person. "How, how is this possible?" Major Li was nearly dumbstruck. What in the world was this mess stuffed inside the little bird''s Storage Magical Device? Liquor and snacks were understandable, but the contents of those boxes were clearly not food or beverage; on closer inspection, most were bona fide paper documents, filled with professional jargon, formulae, and symbols that were perplexing. After rummaging through a few boxes, Major Li Xinliang gave up; these were not the items he was looking for. The more that was thrown out of the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, the quicker the initially spacious room filled up, until finally, a long and thin object was tossed atop the pile nearing the ceiling. Both Chen Fei and Major Li''s eyes lit up. The Longinus was indeed in this little thing''s grasp. Chapter 463 463: Section 459 - Get on the bus "Longinus was indeed in its possession!" Major Li Xinliang let out a long sigh of relief. The Hanhai Central Base wasn''t worried about Longinus being stolen by Xiao Jiu, the concern was if it had not been stolen by it, that would have been a real disaster. "Return to rightful owner!" Chen Fei also breathed a sigh of relief. Longinus in the claws of Xiao Jiu was limited to just that, like the species of Xiao Jiu, it posed no threat to anyone, and no unexpected incidents would occur. Come on, even with its little frame, it couldn''t possibly want to brandish the over four-meter-long thing, could it? Better wash up that brain and kneel down early! "Yes, yes, return to rightful owner!" The Special Warfare Group Major bringing Xiao Jiu was also about returning the bird to its rightful place. It was a win-win situation with each party getting what they needed. He leaped forward, grabbed the over four-meter-long Longinus¡ªit couldn''t be held upright, but he managed to awkwardly hold it at an angle. Chen Fei, with his full emotional intelligence, said directly, "Maybe you should get going first?" "Sure! Take good care of Little Bird, it''s very well-behaved!" Like praising someone else''s child, Major Li Xinliang and Chen Fei shared an understanding glance. He immediately unceremoniously hoisted Longinus on his shoulder and pushed the door open to leave. "Damn, this, this, where was this taken from." A cry of surprise came from the corridor outside; it seems someone was startled by what Major Li was carrying and thought someone had come to dismantle the place. Although Longinus was sealed in the Hanhai Central Base, not everyone knew what it actually looked like. Those who had seen Longinus were either aged or had passed away; as time went by, the number of people in the know dwindled, and many secrets gradually became veiled by time. A moment later, the bespectacled man came back into the room and, seeing the small mountain of assorted boxes and items, was nearly startled. "What the hell are these?" The premium recuperation room had turned into a tiny storage room. "They were rummaged out while looking for something, who knows what they are?" Chen Fei was just as helpless. It wasn''t easy for Xiao Jiu to smoothly understand things it had never seen before out of the blue. Luckily, Little Bird wasn''t interested in too many things; if it suddenly stole a Crystal Jet, that would be...666! In fact, this was not a joke, but a real possibility. Human airports'' radars simply couldn''t capture this little thing''s image, and even if they did, they couldn''t discern it, with a screen full of static¡ªthat the radar would rather cease to function. "Ah? Could I take a look?" The bespectacled man curiously looked over the boxes, noticing familiar professional terminology like culture mediums, electron microscopes, and various odd and curious experimental records and reports, as if they came from a laboratory. "Sure, can you help me find out what these actually are?" Chen Fei saw no harm in it. As for where the Space System Alchemy Storage Device from Xiao Jiu''s claws came from, he was entirely clueless. If he could find some clues, perhaps there would be an opportunity to return things to their rightful owner, restoring them to their original state. Of course, if the "Water Bear" organization dared to accept them, Chen Fei would certainly dare to deliver; his courage was the fattest, what others didn''t dare to do, he surely would. "Alright, then I''ll have a look!" The bespectacled man rifled through the boxes one by one, pulling out the paper documents and flipping through them. "This looks like the entire set of a biological laboratory; the equipment is very high-end, huh! Even Hanhai, cough, erm, doesn''t have these. These experimental reports... are, erm? Of mutants? Which secret laboratory''s data is this? It seems to be deeply researched! Even gene-editing technology has been used, hiss, artificial interference experiments with mutants, this, this, this is a taboo, how could they dare? Are they mad?" His breathing unconsciously became heavy, and his eyes grew wider and wider, as though he had witnessed something unthinkable. "Emmmm..." Chen Fei watched as the man''s trembling became more pronounced and pondered. Had the local medical industry become so competitive that even a community health center doctor could understand genetic experimentation records and reports? As if to confirm something, the bespectacled man flipped through over a dozen boxes, inspecting the sealed equipment and materials, and finally stopped his movements, looking at Chen Fei with a mix of shock and suspicion, tentatively asking, "Little Chen, where did you get these things from?" Good lord! These items were enough to get you shot. If it weren''t for being in the Hanhai Central Base and if it weren''t Chen Fei himself, it would have been a sin for an ordinary person to even glance at them. "Ask it!" Chen Fei pointed at the little guy bouncing up and down on the recuperation bed. All sorts of empty and full liquor bottles had been collected, along with a pile of snacks, all of which were stored away into a certain "leg ring." "Jiu?" Xiao Jiu pecked at Chen Fei''s finger, then looked innocently at the bespectacled man. The latter simply rubbed his forehead. No solution! Dealing with a Magical Beast that did not possess human language skills was exactly what made it so headache-inducing. "These... must be sealed!" The man wearing glasses was very clear about the severity of the equipment and information. Although Hanhai Central Base did not concern itself with these, taboos were taboos and should be handed over to the corresponding departments. "No problem!" Chen Fei had no interest whatsoever in the contents of these boxes, neither understanding them nor knowing how to use them. Keeping them was just a bother, unnecessarily occupying space in Xiao Jiu''s leg ring storage space. It would be better to clear them out and make room for more useful things. The bespectacled man immediately rushed out and, after a short while, returned with a group of fully armed soldiers who began moving the boxes. In the meantime, Chen Fei underwent a few simple physical checks and was then discharged from the hospital. Previously, the "Dragon King" assault heavy armor, which had been subjected to giantization, was under strict protection and had not been breached. The reason he fell into a coma was mainly due to the complete exhaustion of both physical energy and spiritual power. After lying in the recuperation pod for a few days and gradually recovering his vital energy, he finally regained his strength and was now free of any major concerns. Looking back at the fifteen-story building outside the gate, which bore the sign "Medical Experiment Center." "Damn, the community health stations here are really high-end." Even in the trash pile, one could find complete magic arrays. The level of this town called Hanhai or whatever was surprisingly high. But now there''s no need to worry about the trash here, surely they had already dealt with it. Carrying a thin bag with some personal belongings, the streets were still not very crowded. Though the roads were broad, there were very few vehicles coming and going. After walking a long distance, he still had not seen a bus stop. He couldn''t find an electronic map of the area, probably due to it being a high-security area. Previously, "Adam" confirmed Xiao Jiu''s location solely based on the GPS coordinates to calculate the distance between them. Fortunately, the town was not very large, with main roads running three by three, each end visible in a single glance. Even without a map for reference, it was still possible to find his way. Even if he had to walk back to his temporary accommodations, it wouldn''t take much time, so he didn''t need to summon his mobile base vehicle. In the distance, a few buildings faintly bore marks of having endured battles, but most were intact. It seemed protective barriers on buildings were standard here, and only those structures deemed unimportant lacked this feature. A faint sound of braking nearby was followed by a familiar voice. "Chen Fei!" Chen Fei turned around. He saw a heavy truck parked on the opposite side of the road, with Rona sticking her head out of the driver''s seat, waving at him. The truck bed was filled with greenery, and it seemed she was indeed involved in gardening-related work. "Rona!" Chen Fei waved back at the blue-eyed, auburn-haired half-blood girl, responding to her greeting. Rona shouted, "Where are you headed?" Chen Fei candidly responded, "Back to the barracks!" "Get in, I''ll give you a lift," Rona offered, waving her hand generously, ready to help. The two young men in the truck bed glared at Chen Fei with discontent. "No worries! It''s just a short walk!" Chen Fei waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to invite trouble with the awkward atmosphere on the truck. Chen Fei always kept his distance from issues of jealousy and rivalry. Moreover, this exotic-looking mixed-race girl was not his type. Adhering to loyalty and not coveting what''s in another''s pot was part of The Chen Family''s values. Being a scumbag was despicable. Scumbags must die! "You probably don''t know, but the ''Dark Night'' team that came with you has already left. You''re the only one left in the entire camp. Since you''re free anyway, come work with me," Rona insisted, not planning to let Chen Fei off and continued signaling him to hop in. They left? Chen Fei was taken aback, but on second thought, it made sense. Having been in the recuperation pod for nearly ten days, it was unrealistic to expect them to stay put just for him; they must have new orders by now. The only regret was that they''d parted ways without saying goodbye. After all, they had shared life-and-death experiences, a bond forged through adversity. Rona wouldn''t take no for an answer, pressing, "Get in, get in! If you don''t, I''m going to run you over!" Seeing her determined attitude, Chen Fei had no choice but to say, "Uhh! Alright then!" He looked left and right before crossing the road directly. In this place, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights were merely for show. Traffic police? There wasn''t a traffic officer in sight! Rona opened the passenger-side door for Chen Fei. She was alone in the entire driver''s cabin, with no one else sitting in the passenger seat. The two guys had been relegated to seating in the truck bed, which explained why they glared at Chen Fei with such bitterness when he got in the truck. "Should we invite the two at the back inside?" Chen Fei asked with some embarrassment as he looked through the glass window behind the driver''s cabin, which provided a view of the truck bed and the two faces frozen in stiff expressions. It was in the middle of a bitter winter, and inside the barrier that enveloped the entire town, the temperature was not cold enough to freeze, but it wasn''t much warmer than the chilly early spring either. Sitting in the truck bed exposed to the wind was certainly not a comfortable experience. Rona dismissed the concern, saying, "No worries, they are like two big bulls, it''s really no big deal for them." Both men in the truck bed couldn''t even muster the energy to be upset about Rona''s words and continued to stare resentfully at Chen Xiao''er, who had the audacity to get in the truck. Chapter 464 464: Section 460 - The Chicken Rib Magic Array "You two have worked hard!" Chen Fei greeted the two in the truck bed with a perfunctory remark. It''s always good to be polite, no matter how displeasing someone might be, you just have to bear with it. "Chirp!" The little bird hopped onto the backrest of the passenger seat and also chirped a greeting. The expressions of the two young men were quite sour, but no one could get mad at a little bird, so they awkwardly turned their heads away, pretending not to see. Rona started the vehicle, turned the steering wheel, and praised, "Chen Fei, your bird is very well-mannered!" "Heh heh! It''s behaving now, but there was a time when it only greeted people with ''Light Burst Flash''!" Chen Fei recalled the bad habit the little birdie used to have. Old Piao, the deceitful merchant, suffered greatly because of it, all over a skewer of roast bird. Although the roast bird skewer had nothing to do with birds, Xiao Jiu didn''t think so. (Roast bird skewer = Chicken skewer) It took a long time to finally correct that bad habit. Rona nearly slammed on the brakes, disbelief in her voice, "Light, Light Burst Flash?" "Light Burst Flash" should be a Second Rank Human Order Light-based Spell, using that as a greeting, sheesh... who would dare to do that and not expect a beating on the spot? Yet it was precisely such a creature that made everyone lose their temper. A weak, helpless, pitiful little Pure Light Sparrow; there''s no point in getting mad, if you get mad, you''ve lost. Chekhov Big Bear: Not mad, not mad! Deceitful merchant Old Piao: Not mad, not mad! Chef Abel: Not mad, not mad! 911 employees: Not mad, not mad! Boss Hana, already donning sunglasses: Shine bright, Xiao Jiu! After all, it''s the mascot of Jiu Defense Company, the direct disciple of the mechanic chief Xiao Ming and with Boss backing it up, everyone eats from the same pot. You''d see each other on looking up or down. Unless you could beat up its father, no one could really do anything about it! "There are still some bad habits that haven''t been corrected, though." Chen Fei unsympathetically cradled the little guy, bouncing it from left to right. Xiao Jiu took advantage to roll around and kick wildly in his hands, rolling about and kicking up a fuss. Could what the little bird does even be considered stealing? "Haven''t seen you around these days!" Rona turned the steering wheel, the heavy truck took a corner at an intersection, and not far ahead a scene of wreckage came into view. The broken and fragmented road was being repaired, with many patches of asphalt looking brand new and the landscaping was a complete mess. Probably the work of Rona and those two young men. The battle ten days ago affected a corner of the town. Important buildings were protected by Protective Barriers and remained undamaged, but some roads, public facilities, and greenery were not so lucky. "I''ve been lying down for ten days!" Chen Fei briefly explained. "Those who survive a disaster are bound to have good fortune, surviving is fate, dying is also fate." Rona was one of those non-combat personnel who had rushed to the nearest shelter during the emergency. Although she didn''t know the details of the battle, she heard afterwards that the central base wasn''t unscathed and there were a dozen casualties. It seems Chen Fei was also one of the innocent people affected, considering the location of the camp was some distance from the nearest shelter, and it was indeed possible to get injured if one didn''t take shelter in time. "Yes, yes!" Seeing that Rona didn''t know much, Chen Fei didn''t elaborate and just brushed it off with a laugh. How could she have guessed that Chen Fei, this guy with nerves of steel, not only actively participated in the battle but also took care of the troublemaker who caused the chaos. He came close to losing his own life, the situation was extremely perilous. System: Ding! Retrieving Longinus mission completed, Energy Points +5000! Energy Points: 17107/20000 Did the Dog System fall asleep? Only now giving the mission rewards! Looking at the Energy Points balance, Chen Fei almost fainted with anger. He risked his life to complete the mission, nearly lost it, and in the end, it still cost him 2000 Energy Points. If Xiao Jiu hadn''t taken Longinus, but some other random bird had, and the mission failed, would the deduction of 20,000 Energy Points have killed him? So much for equal risk and return, is this it? "We''re here! Chen Fei, you rest in the truck for a while, we''ll finish the work soon!" Rona parked the truck steadily. Knowing that Chen Fei was just recovering from an injury, she didn''t ask for his help. "Rest? What''s there to rest for, I''m not hurt!" Chen Fei also jumped out of the truck, rolled up his sleeves, and started helping unload the green plants from the vehicle bed. All the construction workers were Ability Users, not a single ordinary person among them. Chen Fei''s special ability wasn''t put to use, his sheer strength alone was more than enough. The two young men in the truck tried to make him look foolish by throwing the tied saplings at him forcefully, but he caught them neatly, leaving the two exchanging glances, deflated at their lack of temper. Such petty tricks were all they were capable of after all, there wasn''t any real deep-seated hatred between them. Just as Rona said, the replanting of the greenery was completed in less than fifteen minutes. The saplings brought over from the truck that had been wilting quickly took root under the Wood System Spells. After finishing the work, the scene was tidy, with even the dirtied ground and vehicle washed down by Rona''s Water-Based Ability, marking the conclusion of the work. Rona duly dropped Chen Fei off at the camp as promised. As he got out of the vehicle, she tossed something to him. "As a reward, this is for you!" "What?" Chen Fei stretched out his hand and caught it squarely, looking intently¡ªit appeared to be a diamond-shaped metal plate that had been cut out, about an inch thick, and extremely heavy in his hand. "Let''s go!" Rona didn''t explain but stepped on the gas, and the truck carrying two young lads sped away like lightning. "A magic array?" Chen Fei then noticed that the diamond-shaped metal plate in his hand was engraved with a magic array that seemed very complete. A thought crossed his mind. "Metal Devouring" skill, activate! The diamond-shaped metal plate vanished in an instant. System: Ding! Absorbed a total of 27.9 kilograms of alloy, composition ratio: Iron 60%, Titanium 32%, Platinum 2%... System: Ding! Acquired magic array "Ignition"! System: Magical Array Evolution Database (6), Category 1: Light, Dark, Spirit, Space, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Wood, Lightning | Category 2: Human Order, Earth Order, Heavenly Order | Search.../Manage... Hmph! What use could this thing have? Opening the "Magical Array Evolution Database," he directly entered the Fire System category, and the first one he saw was "Ignition": Engraving unit 1, Human Order first rank spell model, generates fire, the intensity and shape of the flame adjusted by spiritual power. It''s just a Small Fireball, not as powerful as a hand grenade, not as convenient as a lighter, a mere trinket. Only when forgetting to bring matches would this magic array come in handy. Right, it could also be used at a barbecue party, serving as a stove, but the cost of use is absurdly high. With a harvest that was better than nothing, Chen Fei closed the dog system''s visual interface with indifference and returned to the camp where he was staying. The original "Dark Night" squad had already been ordered to deploy, leaving the entire two-story barrack building now empty save for Chen Fei alone. He used his chip key to unlock the door, then suddenly stopped his actions. Inside the dormitory, everything was preserved just as he had left it. With the curtains drawn and no lights on, the room was dimly lit, but... there was someone there. "Jiu!" The keen-sensory Little Bird detected something was off at the same time. Activating the skill "Basic Optical Observer (Level 4)," it autonomously initiated "Low-light Enhancement" and "Infrared Thermal Imaging" for another confirmation! "Major Li?" Amid the human silhouette outlined by the infrared thermal imaging, he could clearly see that Special Warfare Group Major Li Xinliang, the "Fire Owl," was sitting on the sofa inside the room. Snap! ~ Before Xiao Jiu could release a Light Orb from the Illumination Technique, the lights turned on. Major Li casually said, "I''ve been waiting for you for a while." He didn''t stand up but remained seated. Chen Fei asked with confusion, "Weren''t you..." At that suspicious "community health center," the other party ran off first with Longinus. Major Li shrugged his shoulders and said, "That''s right! I''ve already handed over the object. Now, there are some things left to do that were supposed to be handled by someone else, but in the end, it fell to me." It looked like there was new business, perhaps a mission! Even the donkeys in the production team wouldn''t be worked so hard¡ªafter all, donkeys are part of official supplies and have their own organization. But Chen Xiao''er had no such organization. "You don''t want an outsider like me to see too many people here?" Chen Fei cut straight to the heart of the matter. To this day, after coming to this town in Hanhai or whatever, the number of "locals" he had genuinely met hadn''t exceeded twenty, and those considered significant figures didn''t even surpass the number on one hand. "Uh, there''s some truth to that." Major Li didn''t deny but nodded, continuing, "You really don''t know alchemy?" "I don''t!" Chen Fei was quite straightforward in his confession. He knew nothing about runes, magic arrays, or even what exactly magic was. To be precise, he only knew some generally educated things, like how many Elemental Series there are, the origin of magic, influential figures, historical events, which he had essentially regarded as fantasy novels. After all, at that time, he was just an ordinary person, far removed from the world of Ability Users, and he had never even thought about the day when he would have dealings with Ability Users. "But you can replicate magic arrays!" Major Li Xinliang got up from the sofa, picked up two metal plates from beside it, and offered them to Chen Fei, one in each hand. "What are these?" Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, not reaching out to take them but instead looking at the other party with puzzlement. Logically speaking, magic arrays were controlled items and should not be so easily handed over. "Copy it!" Li Xinliang gestured with his right hand. The metal plate in his right hand was inscribed with a magic array on its surface, while the one in his left was identically shaped and thick but completely smooth, without any extra markings. System: Ding! Absorbed a total of 20 kilograms of alloy, composition ratio: Iron 60%, Titanium 32%, Platinum 2%... The composition of the alloy was almost identical to that of the metal plate Rona had just given him. System: Ding! Acquired magic array "Illumination Technique"! A trinket, another trinket! Chen Fei furrowed his brow. He knew these controlled items wouldn''t benefit him for nothing. Chapter 465 465: Section 461 - Time to take medicine! Two metal plates disappeared from Chen Fei''s hands simultaneously, and then reappeared just as quickly, as if they had never been gone. Magic Array Evolution Database (7). Li Shaoyu took the two metal plates back and compared them side by side. The surfaces of both plates were engraved with identical magic arrays. The next second, both magic arrays lit up, and a fist-sized light orb emerged from the center of each array, emitting a soft white glow. "As expected!" Li Xinyu''s face showed clear comprehension as he nodded to Chen Fei. Industrial-grade Ability is really overbearing; it can replicate magic arrays without even needing to understand the principles. Chen Fei, on the other hand, looked displeased. The two metal plates had been swallowed and spat out without any benefit; on the contrary, he had even lost a magic array''s worth of titanium material, resulting in a slight loss. "Chirp?" Little Bird stood on Chen Fei''s shoulder, curiously observing the two light-based spells that did not belong to it. With a peck of its delicate beak, a light orb of the same size took form and drifted toward the two metal plates. The three light orbs were almost indistinguishable from one another, making it difficult to tell which came from the magic arrays and which one came from Xiao Jiu. Magic arrays can accept not only crystal energy but also magic power and spiritual power. In a sense, crystal energy is also a form of magic power, just that its energy state is more stable and just as easy to utilize. "You little rascal!" Major Li gave the little one a small smile and withdrew his spiritual power and magic power. Little Bird was mostly well-behaved, but when it was not, it was truly mischievous. Chen Fei roughly guessed the other''s ability. A spellcaster, and most probably from the Light Series. Only spellcasters would activate magic arrays of the same series with such nonchalance. After confirming his speculation, Major Li asked again, "How complex a magic array can you replicate?" "Don''t know, too few samples!" Chen Fei spread his hands and sat down on another sofa nearby. His "Magic Array Evolution Database" had, at best, only seven samples of magic arrays, nowhere near enough to compare with the "Physical Evolution Database," not even close enough to be considered a fraction. "I might ask for your help in the future, we can talk more when there''s a chance." Major Li stood up and walked towards the door. As Chen Fei stood up to see him off, he said matter-of-factly, "Not a dime less." He was not on public grain, guaranteed his livelihood regardless of the weather; why would he work voluntarily? "Of course, you won''t miss out on the benefits, hmm, what do you want this time?" Major Li Xinyu was not surprised in the slightest; people in the military contracting business are very pragmatic¡ªwhy work for someone without benefit? That''s the industry norm. Those who selflessly give without wanting anything in return should go eat public grain instead of mixing in the private military contracting business. Without hesitation, Chen Fei said, "Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion!" "A Metal Series Elemental Affinity Potion? Those are quite rare and have significant side effects." Major Li slightly furrowed his brow. Chen Fei asked with confusion, "Is there a difference among the Elemental Series?" The Elemental Affinity Potion he had received from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee before hadn''t mentioned any such distinctions. Major Li said seriously, "If your Elemental Affinity is above Six Stars, you can''t use a generic Affinity Enhancement Potion anymore; you must use a potion specific to your element for it to be effective. Since you are Eight Stars, you can only use a Metal Series Elemental Affinity Potion. The side effects include localized metalization of the skin, stiffness and numbness in certain muscles, loss of pain sensation, emotional detachment, and in severe cases, a change in personality. Do you really want it?" Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Affinity was at Eight Stars, already very high. Since abilities are fixed upon awakening and don''t have any space for growth or upgrades, magic potions were of little help. Enhancing his Elemental Affinity further would be pointless; he would still remain a Class B Metal Ability User until death. Moreover, possessing an Industrial-grade Skill was more than enough; at least he didn''t have to worry about finding work. "It''s not for me! It''s for..." Chen Fei pointed at Little Bird perched on his shoulder. "That one!" He was well aware his Elemental Affinity didn''t need any further enhancement. But as a Magical Beast, Xiao Jiu should not settle on being a Third Rank Human Order; perhaps it still had room to grow. "Pure Light Sparrow..." Li Xinyu struggled to comprehend Chen Fei''s unique request. Nurturing an ordinary Pure Light Sparrow to Third Rank human level was at best considered a peculiar hobby! Perhaps he felt that as a supernatural power user who had lost the potential for future growth, it was better to let go and immerse himself in this eccentricity. Such odd individuals were not uncommon. Chen Fei hesitantly asked, "Can it be done?" "I can get it for you, but are you sure you want the Light Series Elemental Affinity Potion? Don''t you want something else?" Major Li felt it was a pity for Chen Fei to waste this opportunity on just that. He could have asked for something more powerful, like a stronger magic array, a higher-grade alchemical artifact, magic potion, or combat mobility armor, and it wouldn''t be out of the question. That night, the giantized "Dragon King" assault-type heavy armor slammed the extraordinary entity onto the Gobi Desert like swatting a fly, leaving a very deep impression. When supernatural power skills reached this level, one wouldn''t cling to external objects, and the difference with or without combat mobility armor seemed negligible. Of course, Crystal Jets, those sovereignty-customized National Treasure Artifacts, were still out of reach. How could national armaments be lightly given to others? Although some resources were precious, at the level of sovereignty, they weren''t so scarce. Moreover, Blue Star was a Richie in trade quotas with Cangqiong Star, taking up at least forty percent of the annual trade quota. There were quite a lot of good things. This time, Chen Fei''s contributions were not small, and as the saying goes, great rewards beckon the brave. It would be a pity to use the open rewards list only to exchange for an Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion. "No need for anything else! Just this one!" Chen Fei confirmed again. He still had five Bloodline Inducing Potions obtained from elsewhere at the Aircrew Base. With the accumulation from the Affinity Enhancement Potion, he should be able to awaken the dominant genes in Xiao Jiu''s bloodline. If the Pure Light Sparrow bloodline had managed to survive consistently, even if they were weak now, their ancestors must have been strong once. Using a Bloodline Inducing Potion could possibly awaken inferior genes, but since Pure Light Sparrows were already the weakest among magical beasts and were no different from ordinary birds, lacking even innate magic, any degeneration probably couldn''t make the situation worse than it already was. "What is Xiao Jiu''s Elemental Affinity rank?" Major Li assessed the little bird hopping non-stop on Chen Fei''s shoulder. It looked almost identical to a regular Pure Light Sparrow, but if one looked closely, they could see that Xiao Jiu had a tiny tuft of slightly raised feathers on its head and was slightly larger than other Pure Light Sparrows. "Hmm, four stars!" Chen Fei had registered Xiao Jiu at the Urban Monster Management Center and had its rank and Elemental Affinity tested. Pure Light Sparrows typically had a one-star Elemental Affinity. Xiao Jiu''s four stars were due to the Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion, and since it was starting from a low base, the potion''s effect was significant. However, as Elemental Affinity increased, the potion''s effectiveness would gradually decrease. Just like Major Li had said, once reaching six stars, a specialized Light Element Affinity Enhancement Potion was needed; otherwise, a general potion, not differentiated by element, would have no effect. "Got it!" Major Li nodded and walked away briskly. - Two days later, Chen Fei received a delicately crafted small box. The person he met again was still Li Xinyu, the Special Warfare Group Major he had encountered before. "Five Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, four general and one Light Series-specific. The demand for exclusive potions has always been high, so they''re hard to come by. One specialized potion can be worth at least ten general ones, especially Light Series potions, which are even more valuable." Major Li introduced the magic potion varieties inside the small box to Chen Fei. What he didn''t say was that one Light Series-specific Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion was temporarily borrowed from his own personal quota. General potions could be used for Elemental Affinity up to and including six stars. The production on Cangqiong Star was relatively higher for these. Among the exclusive potions, the Light, Dark, Psychic, and Space Series had the lowest production, constrained by scarce materials and difficult alchemy, resulting in higher costs. Especially the Psychic and Space Series, neither would exceed a production of ten a year, they were virtually priceless. "Thank you!" Chen Fei immediately opened the small box; inside, four transparent potion bottles lay quietly alongside one bottle with floating golden particles emitting a faint golden glow. He took out one and unscrewed the cap. "Xiao Jiu, it''s time for your medicine!" Last time, after a deadly struggle with Boss Hana to complete the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s task¡ªand considering Xiao Jiu''s contributions¡ªthey managed to exchange for two general Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions. Indeed, Blue Star was more generous. For the same deadly struggle, these five potions were equivalent to fourteen general Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, almost seven times what the Global United Defense Committee offered. This round, it was worth it! "Jiu?" Little Bird hopped onto Chen Fei''s hand, curiously stuck its beak into the bottle, sampled it suspiciously, then hopped away without hesitation. Full of disdain, not giving any face at all. Conning Xiao Jiu into taking two Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions last time involved mixing in alcohol and juice, and it seemed he would have to employ the same tactics this time too. "Heh, what a little rascal!" The image of Xiao Jiu as a mischievous imp was solidified in Major Li''s mind, and a smile spread across his otherwise serious and earnest expression. If it were any other magical beast, it would never disdain a beneficial magic potion for its taste, even if it was bitter, smelly, spicy, or fishy¡ªthey would drink it down without hesitation. This little bird was just too innocent. "Hey, no rush, I''ll mix it with something else, then it will drink it!" Chen Fei, somewhat helplessly, screwed the cap back on and put the potion that Little Bird had tasted back into the box. Indeed, this couldn''t be rushed. - Chapter 466 466: Section 462 - Support ``` The days ahead are long, and even if Xiao Jiu is willing to drink these potions, with its small body, it''s not possible to finish them all in one sitting, or even in one day. Otherwise, before they take effect, I''m afraid it might get diarrhea first. "There''s one last task." After officially handing over the magic potions, Major Li passed over a tablet computer. What he personally brought was not just the small box that had already reached Chen Fei''s hands but also a task. Except for the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," which could use the Dog System''s "Plane Communication System" skill to log onto the public network through some mysterious and unscientific unknown network connection, all of Chen Fei''s civilian communication devices were basically restricted. If the outside world wanted to contact him, they had to go through several layers and finally relay through the Hanhai Central Base. It was really just the amount of information that could be conveyed in a phone call, and it wouldn''t have to be so troublesome under normal circumstances, seeing as he was in a confidential area. Although he could use the network of the Dog System, Chen Fei did not want to let the AI "Adam" manage his important personal information before he had fully tamed it, especially concerning personal communications, data storage, and bank accounts, lest he let the wolf into the house. "Adam" was not as easy to bully as "Ah Mao." Chen Fei might often order "Adam" around and found it quite handy to use, but he always kept an extra eye out. After verification by fingerprint recognition, Chen Fei saw the task that had been sent to him. The main part of the task had come from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, instructing Chen to meet up with Squad 04 and prepare for a coordinated action. It seemed that the members who stayed behind in the Tunguska Region for undercover investigation have made significant progress, otherwise, they wouldn''t be thinking of taking action. The content of the task was one aspect, but the route for the rendezvous was set by local assistance, which also squeezed in quite a few small tasks along the way. Squeezing in... Others would be smuggling in personal goods, but here, official business was being inserted. Not only did it require Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, but also the use of Xiao Jiu''s Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Could he refuse? Clearly not! Then there was nothing more to say. "Guaranteed to complete the mission!" The tasks being inserted were neither big jobs nor particularly difficult tasks to carry out smoothly. Basically, they were all trivial matters that didn''t warrant sending people specifically for them, as it would be a waste of manpower, time, and resources. It just so happened that Chen Fei was passing by and could complete them easily. He was a local citizen, honest, and tight-lipped, so they felt assured using him. So these thankless tasks had found the right person. - Early the next day, Chen Fei, with Xiao Jiu in tow, drove the fully loaded Mobile Base Vehicle out of the town from another direction, heading north. This route was completely different from the one he came by, and the time needed to return to the Tunguska Region was even shorter. In addition to meeting up with Squad 04, there were more than thirty other miscellaneous small tasks, such as transporting supplies, building facilities, maintaining equipment and materials, and eliminating harmful creatures. Chen used his Metallic Elemental Ability, Xiao Jiu''s Light-based Spells, and the carrying capacity of the Mobile Base Vehicle to their fullest extent, with all the tasks well within their capabilities. Precise exploitation, no, division of labor, those five Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions indeed had not come easy. According to the schedule, when crossing the sovereignty border line, Chen scarcely managed to coax Xiao Jiu into drinking two Universal Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, and then mixing them with alcohol and juice stopped working. It seems that he would have to mix magic potions into the alcohol and juice, which meant drinking them would be even slower. The effects of the two Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions were immediate, and while there was no increase in rank, Xiao Jiu''s control over its Light-based Spells clearly leveled up, becoming easier to manage, and the spells could be activated faster. Although not tested, Little Bird''s Light Element Affinity, even if not reaching Five Stars, was estimated to be not far off. The captain of Squad 04, a white-haired fire mage named Adrian Benjamin, called again to confirm Chen Fei''s current location. "Chen Fei, have you crossed the border line yet?" Local ground communications could almost achieve full coverage, with signals even extending a distance beyond the border line. But if he were to go further into other sovereign territories, the signal would quickly become unreliable. If a call could still get through at this moment, it meant either he hadn''t crossed the border line or was still nearby. To maintain the signal, Chen immediately stopped the Mobile Base Vehicle and replied, "Just crossed, should I switch to satellite communication?" Once the signal from the ground base stations was lost, the only reliable source was satellites in space. Both the Mobile Base Vehicle and Chen Fei''s phone could send and receive satellite signals. If he wished to switch, he simply had to dial again. "No need for now, long story short, we have locked down a suspicious area, but it seems like the enemy has noticed us too, Lulu''an and I have been targeted and we''ve moved to the second hideout. The Holy Knights are trying to distract the enemy''s attention. Get into position as quickly as possible, and we can strike together." Taking advantage of the uninterrupted communication, Adrian quickly explained the situation. The strategy of splitting up the whole team to stealthily gather information was finally turning into consolidating their forces for battle. Squad 04 were outsiders, unfamiliar with the territory, and had lost the support of the local police force. Even their liaison, Tanya Ilyin Alexandrovna, turned out to be the enemy''s plant, making it hard to trust others anymore. Though they operated independently and conducted covert investigations¡ªso as not to worry about intelligence leaking anymore¡ªthey could never compare to the well-informed local snakes. Who was the prey and who was the hunter? No one could tell for sure until the first gunshot. ``` "I understand, I will get there as soon as possible." Having finished the piecemeal tasks assigned by the local authorities, nothing could now hold back Chen Fei''s wheels. He could speed towards the Tunguska Region at full throttle. "The second stronghold is temporarily safe. If there''s any change, I''ll inform you immediately. Do not go to the first stronghold, understand? Also... Boom!~..." A muffled blast suddenly came through the phone, and the conversation was abruptly cut off. The call ended without warning. "Hello? Hello?" Chen Fei''s expression shifted slightly as he began to redial. The result was a long tone, yet no one answered. He tried calling the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an again, but still, no one picked up. Something must have happened suddenly, causing Adrian and Lulu''an to lose contact without warning. He then dialed Mouri Misono''s communication number. This time, it finally connected. "Chen Fei, are you on your way back yet?" "Misono, something might have happened to Adrian and Lulu''an. Contact everyone immediately, and be aware, both the first and second strongholds have been exposed." From the abnormal noise he had heard during his last conversation with Adrian and the subsequent loss of contact, Chen Fei pieced together some clues. The reason he called Mouri Misono first was that she was still the Deputy Director of Ground Operations for the Fuji Security Group stationed on the Africa Continent. She wasn''t just good at knife fights; she should have the experience to deal with emergencies. After all, the ''uncles'' in Africa were notoriously tough, and they became even more unrestrained after gaining abilities. The greater the power, the greater the responsibility¡ªthat definitely wasn''t the case. It should be: the greater the mischief, the correct term, as the ''uncles'' could wreak far more havoc than mutants. "What?" On the other end of the call, Mouri Misono exclaimed in disbelief. "I was just talking to Adrian when I heard a loud bang, and then the call dropped, and I lost contact with both Adrian and Lulu''an." Chen Fei succinctly outlined the situation. "Got it, I will contact the others, and you be careful as well. Keep in touch." Mouri Misono immediately regained her composure, took leave from her company''s management center after ending the call with Chen Fei, and hurried away from her work site while reaching out to others. Team 04 had dispersed from a visible team to a hidden one, deeply embedded within society, but this had also left them vulnerable to being easily defeated individually. However, this possibility was not high; typical small forces might not be able to take down the members of Team 04 individually. Mouri Misono attempted to call Adrian and Lulu''an, but as Chen Fei had described, she could not get through. She immediately dialed the number of Susanna Jean Piault, a Rank B Ice Ability User. "Susanna, there''s something I need you for¡ª What? You got into the civil service? Wait, now''s not the time to talk about that. Something''s happened to Adrian and Lulu''an." Then she made calls to Apu and Bassan, two strong men working as thieves¡ªor rather, foremen¡ªat the largest wholesale market in Yarsk City, to start pulling people together. The two had gathered a group of laborers and naturally became leaders. Their small gang had some reputation in the wholesale market, easily rallying forty to fifty brawny men who treated fighting as routinely as eating and drinking. Lastly, there was the Holy Knight who had taken up traffic coordination, who had been moving in and out of sight for the last few days with Kiterley, a Rank A Metal Ability User, the Puppet Master Joshua, and the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai. The four of them had been elusive, possibly connected with the sudden loss of contact with Adrian and Lulu''an, who had been guarding the second stronghold. "Mouri? Something up?" A deliberately lowered voice emerged from the speakerphone, as Knight Walter Sam seemed to be speaking cautiously. Guessing that the other party might be in a situation where it was difficult to talk, Mouri Misono spoke in a quiet tone, "Adrian and Lulu''an have lost contact; it just happened during a call with Chen Fei." "Understood, I''m working on it!" Walter Sam was clearly already aware of the situation and was dealing with it. He had temporarily taken the call from Mouri Misono. Mouri tentatively asked, "I''ve alerted Apu and Bassan, and they''re calling people together. Do you need support there?" "Calling people? Yes, that''s good, the more the better. Have them come to..." The Holy Knight provided an address, indicating that he indeed was seriously short-handed and in need of reinforcements. "We''re on our way!" Mouri Misono prepared to join Susanna in providing backup to Knight Sam. The rallying Team 04 was undoubtedly a formidable force not to be underestimated. Chapter 467 467: Section 463 - Cannon Decision! When Chen Fei had traveled day and night at full speed to reach the capital of the Tunguska Region, Yarsk City, all members of Team 04 had already been relocated to the third stronghold, including the rescued Adrian and Lulu''an. However, the mount of the Holy Knight, the Second Rank Wind Series Magical Beast, the Green Scale Colt Mini, had been snatched away by the attackers. More precisely, the group that attacked the second stronghold had specifically targeted this Blue Scaled Colt. The Mobile Base Vehicle, braving the dust and wind, drove into the specially excavated underground garage of the third stronghold under cover of darkness. "Chen Fei, you''ve worked hard!" Seeing that Chen Fei had arrived at Yarsk City two days ahead of schedule, Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank fire mage wrapped up like a mummy, personally welcomed him in a wheelchair in the garage. Only now did Team 04''s combat strength begin to return to its full glory; even if the attack from a few days ago were to happen again, the enemy would not be able to leave unscathed. "Jiu!~" Little Bird flew out of the vehicle first. It could now read various types of thermometers. When the outdoor temperature was above 0 degrees Celsius, there was no need to worry about becoming a frozen bird. The third stronghold had a small furnace burning, keeping the temperature in the underground garage at around 16 degrees Celsius. Tired of staying inside the vehicle, Little Bird flew out first thing to frolic and ventilate. It landed on Adrian''s head, pecked vigorously at the gauze under his little claws, and then hopped onto the wheelchair, jumping around curiously, testing the feel of the claws. "Little Jiu is back too!" Adrian''s voice was hoarse, but he wasn''t the least bit angry. The return of Team 04''s little Band-Aid meant his injuries were now savable. Although Lulu''an''s herbal treatments were quite effective, with minimal side effects and less consumption of vital energy, they were ultimately no match for the immediate effect of Light Healing Spells, especially as now was not the time to rest and heal slowly. "Little Jiu, give Captain Adrian a few ''Light of Redemption'' spells!" Chen Fei pointed at the thoroughly bandaged fire mage, who probably had been waiting not only for him but also for Little Jiu''s return. Little Bird immediately launched a Second Rank Light-based Spell. A fist-sized Light Orb quickly formed and shot into Adrian''s chest. "Ha, Little Jiu is really amazing!" The fire mage instantly felt as if he was soaking in a hot spring, his entire body, from head to toe, enveloped by a warm sensation, and his wounds began to itch slightly. He resisted the urge to scratch, well aware that this was a sign of the wounds healing rapidly. The action teams under the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" did not have many Light System Casters like Little Jiu. While Holy Knights could also use the "Light Healing Technique," the more effective Second Rank "Light of Redemption" was completely beyond their capability. "Where are Lulu''an and the others?" Chen Fei looked around; only Adrian was in the garage, the others were not in sight. Adrian let out a comfortable moan as he twisted his body, saying, "Don''t worry, they are all fine. Bassan and Kiterley are gathering information. Knight Sam, along with Apu and Old Ruan, are keeping an eye on those guys; Mouri and Susanna are interrogating prisoners; Lulu''an is cooking, and the Puppet Master is in the monitoring room." The reunited members of Team 04 were working together, preparing to retrieve the Holy Knight''s mount and to uncover the enemy''s background. "What''s the scoop on those guys who stole the Green Scaled Colt?" Chen Fei pushed the wheelchair, exiting the garage with Adrian. To dare to steal a Magical Beast mount from Team 04 was beyond bold. Little Jiu''s Light Healing Spells hadn''t stopped; starting with ''Light of Redemption,'' and when magical energy ran low, switching to First Rank ''Healing Spells.'' The nickname ''little Band-Aid'' was not for nothing. Ever since taking two doses of Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions, not only had the speed of casting spells increased, but the frequency of possible casts had also increased. This was the most direct benefit of enhanced Elemental Affinity. Because Pure Light Sparrow started from a low base, the effect of the magic potion was so pronounced. For human mages or other, more powerful Magical Beasts, the Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion might not have had such a significant effect. However, consuming more Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions was not necessarily better; even if poured into freely, it might not increase Elemental Affinity to nine stars, as this also depended on the user''s bloodline and latent potential. Spiritual power, Magical Power, and Elemental Affinity together formed a triad, complementing one another. The easiest to enhance was the magic power that represented the rank. Xiao Jiu had a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, so there was no worry about replenishing magic power. Next was Elemental Affinity, and now only two universal Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions and one Light Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion remained, sufficient for Little Bird to reach the limit of its bloodline talent. The most difficult to enhance, however, was spiritual power intensity, which was greatly affected by bloodline talent. Even within the same bloodline, the intensity indices could vary from high to low. Potions that could enhance spiritual power were even rarer than those specialized for enhancing Elemental Affinity, and even if Chen Fei risked his old life, he might not be able to obtain one. But Chen Fei had already prepared five Bloodline Inducing Potions for Xiao Jiu in advance. If exhausting all resources still didn''t break through the current limit of his bloodline talent, he might have to take a gamble to see if he could induce a powerful ancestral bloodline. Adrian, sitting in a wheelchair, said, "It''s likely the local gangs, taking orders to acquire magical beast mounts for the rich. That''s why they targeted Mini, but we still need to pry out the specific clues from those few captives. One of them is particularly tight-lipped, probably a core member of the gang. Let''s head to the interrogation room first. Mouri and Susanna are there using torture." Those who could mix in the business of military contractors were generally ruthless, and torture and coercion were completely free of any psychological burden for them. To deal with gangsters, fighting ruthlessness with ruthlessness was just right. If anyone has objections, consult Blue Star Global United Defense Committee first. Sovereignty typically wouldn''t nitpick on such trivial matters over just a few gangster scum. The Blue Scaled Colt Mini was stolen, and Adrian wasn''t lightly injured. The attackers weren''t unscathed either, at least half of their men were killed, and five were captured alive, one of whom was too severely injured to survive 24 hours. Those who took the Green Scale Colt Mini seemed to have treated their own comrades as disposable, abandoning them outright. The Holy Knight lay in ambush near the second stronghold, but didn''t see that group sneaking back to prepare for a rescue of their comrades. "Mouri must be an expert!" Chen Fei never underestimated the sister next door who looked gentle and lovely yet knowledgeable and polite. For a woman to become the deputy director of the ground combat department, even if only a deputy, daring to mingle in Africa and self-proclaiming as the Wind Ghost Swordsman in a male-dominated sovereignty like Dongying, she definitely had to be ruthless among the ruthless. Thus, when Adrian was in trouble, he immediately contacted Mouri Misono. Now, it seemed, allowing Squad 04 to regain composure did not disappoint. Before they even approached the interrogation room, heart-wrenching screams were already audible from afar. "Still ongoing!" Adrian estimated that there still wasn''t much progress. From the preliminary interrogation results, among the four living mouths, three seemed to be uninformed peripheral fighters, dumbfounded and mumbling incoherently, but the other had a remarkably calm demeanor, flustered yet trying to deceive from start to end, probably not just an ordinary gang member. No matter the act, it couldn''t fool several members of Squad 04 who had interrogation experience. Regrettably, the devoted Mao Mei Tanya had been sent back to her homeland by Chen Fei. If she were still here, with her Grade A Psychic Ability, perhaps something might have been divined without the need to painfully torture the captives. Bang! The heavy iron door of the interrogation room moved to one side. Sitting in a wheelchair, Adrian and Chen Fei pushed the door open and entered. The room was filled with the stench of blood, urine, and feces; the use of torture had led to incontinence, likely causing the captives to psychologically collapse. They probably presumed they would receive humane treatment and had no idea that they would encounter brutal Asura methods. "Chen Fei, you''re back!" The gory-handed Mouri Misono''s face cleared of ferocity, revealing only a joyful smile. "Adrian, Chen Fei!" Grade B ice-attribute ability user Susanna Jean Piault, holding a hot water bottle, greeted the two as they entered. Even as the small furnace''s heating raised the room temperature to over twenty degrees Celsius, Susanna, particularly susceptible to cold, still felt the chill to her bones and had to wear an extra layer or two to feel slightly better. "No results yet?" Chen Fei surveyed the four men shackled to the wall, all looking down and despondent from evidently rough handling. If Mouri Misono used her special move "Unlimited Ripping Slash" on a small whip, well, that would probably equate to death by a thousand cuts. "If it doesn''t work, just decide by firing squad! Lay a steel plate under their feet, stick them in a Railgun, and ''Biu,'' send them to Nirvana." Chen Fei sneered. The acceleration from a Railgun would definitely surpass Somersault Cloud, making it possible to catch up on eating hot Monk''s Flesh. The Man-eater Flowers back in the homeland were exceptionally vibrant. Chapter 468 468: Section 464 - Brutal Interrogation Hearing they''d be stuffed into a railgun and fired, the four guys chained to the wall involuntarily shuddered all at once. This was an instant ascension. Given the acceleration of the railgun to impart kinetic energy, one would likely be turned into minced meat by the steel plate underfoot at the moment of launch, instantly transforming into a shower of human flesh. Mouri Misono was stunned for a moment and said, "That''s not a bad idea!" Team 04''s mobile base vehicle came back, modified to increase the caliber of the roof-mounted railgun, making firing a human cannon just like playing. "I don''t know, I really don''t know!" The guy on the far right, with a roosterhead, started to wail with a crying tone. "Eyes of Tyranny!" Chen Fei''s eyes suddenly became a merciless broken gold color, and it seemed as if flames were burning deep inside his pupils. His hands suddenly swelled significantly, layers of scale armor emerged, and his fingers turned into monstrous claws with long, sharp nails. System: Ding! "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 15 seconds/15 seconds! A furious killing intent instantly filled the entire interrogation room. Mouri Misono reflexively retreated to the corner, hands on her knife sheaths, her face alert and ready. Susanna, clutching a hot water bottle, stood frozen in place as if petrified. Good heavens! What now? "Hey, hey! Chen Fei, calm down a bit!" Adrian tried to persuade Chen Fei not to act rashly. "Don''t worry, leave it to me!" Chen Fei glanced indifferently. Adrian froze completely, that was a huge aura of murder. "Monster, monster! Help!" Not just the roosterhead on the far right, the other two guys beside him also let out a collective ghastly wail. Even the one chained on the far left, who was the toughest to break, seemed a bit panicked and appeared entirely unprepared to have angered such a terrifying creature. "Since you''re no longer useful, then die!" Spurt!~ Blood smeared across half the wall, and claw marks even left deep traces on the surface. Rooster Head didn''t even have time to scream; Chen Fei''s claw struck him down like tofu, instantly killing him. Adrian and Mouri Misono simultaneously inhaled a cold, bloody breath. Susanna''s face went pale and she began shivering. "Ah..." A male soprano''s voice shattered the silence x3 in unison. System: "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 9 seconds/15 seconds! "Next, you!" Chen Fei, with an expressionless face, stared at the guy next to the now certainly dead roosterhead. Activating "Eyes of Tyranny" requires consuming an energy point, and to be honest, he was reluctant to waste such a precious energy point on these gang dregs. But their stubborn resistance and unwillingness to confess honestly infuriated Chen Fei even more. A sudden surge of fury came over him, and without hesitation, he spent an energy point to activate "Eyes of Tyranny," granting his opponent one of the most brutal deaths imaginable with a sudden swipe. "No, no, I really, really know nothing, no..." Crack!~ A head was brutally ripped off and casually thrown into the corner, where it rolled around haphazardly. "Ah!~~" B-Class Ice Ability User Susanna let out a female soprano as her face turned deathly white. Even though they had previously dealt with these four men with excessive bloodshed, they had never seen such a cruel and brutal scene. This was a level of ferocity beyond imagination. The once nearly jokingly brutal Clan Leader was, at this moment, truly affirmed. Chen Fei having resigned as the Clan Leader after just half a month was indeed a great fortune for the Neanderthal tribe, otherwise, this de-fanged descendant of the Third Era Civilization might have faced extinction. Adrian, fighting against the chill in his heart, said tremblingly, "Chen Fei, calm down, don''t be reckless!" At this moment, Chen Fei, unlike his usual self, with those inhuman eyes and monstrous claws, seemed not quite like something the Metal Elemental Psychic Power would do. They had barely captured four live ones, and in a blink of an eye, two were dead by his hand. "The third? Do you have any value alive?" Ignoring Adrian''s words completely, Chen Fei cruelly continued to look at the remaining two prisoners. System: "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 5 seconds/15 seconds! He needed to make haste. "Yes, yes, I''ll confess, I''ll tell everything I know, please, spare me, I have an elderly mother in her eighties and a three-year-old child, and a wife who loves me very much. For the love of God, don''t kill..." Crack! The speech had not yet finished when his entire head was smashed into pieces with a swipe of a claw, the blood and brain matter creating a massive spray pattern on the wall. Chen Fei said with ferocious energy, "You talk too much!" His patience was very limited, and he didn''t have much time to listen to the other''s pleading. "Hmm!" Susanna dropped the hot water bottle, covered her mouth, and ran out the door. The mentality of the last guy remaining immediately collapsed, and he spoke like a machine gun, "No, don''t, I''ll talk! I''m from the Butterfly Gang, the boss is ''Ghost-faced Butterfly'' Andreyevsky, the headquarters is behind a warehouse at No. 111 East Xieliansha Street in the southern district, commissioned by Hilink Poli from Angela Pharmaceutical Company to rob that ''horse,'' which is supposed to be something Angela Pharmaceutical Company wants... No, no, no!" As he spoke, he saw Chen Fei''s large clawed hand extending towards him, he closed his eyes in fright, thinking he was doomed. It took a while before he mustered the courage to crack open his eyes a bit, only to see a pair of black pupils and a normal human palm pressing beside his ears, as if the golden eyes and monstrous claws had been hallucinations that never appeared at all. Yet the strong smell of blood and the nauseating stench reminded him that his three companions had already met with brutal deaths. System: "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 0 seconds/15 seconds! System: "Eyes of Tyranny" begins cooldown, 15 seconds/15 seconds! "See, confessing grants leniency, and return home for New Year, resistance results in annihilation, it''s that simple." Chen Fei revealed a warm smile of the boy next door and turned to look at the fire mage who was twitching at the corners of his mouth. To act cool for 15 seconds, a precious energy point was just gone like that! He didn''t know where this wave of impulsiveness and malignancy had come from, needing to kill someone to relax. "Ah!~" Adrian, seated in a wheelchair, shook his head with a wry smile. Without caring for the process, only recognizing the result, Chen Fei still managed to obtain the most crucial testimony, leaving no room for criticism. The three unfortunate ones killed earlier were insignificant; their deaths had no value or meaning, and they could only chalk it up to bad luck. Thinking back, continuing this stubborn resistance would surely lead to death sooner or later; it''s just a matter of whether it happened sooner or looked slightly better or worse. Xiao Jiu jumped around Adrian and the wheelchair, treating it as if it were a playground. Its magic power had been exhausted long ago, unable to even use the "Light Healing Technique," in exchange for significant recovery in Adrian''s injuries. Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an used herbs to replenish some of Adrian''s vital energy, and now, with Light Healing Spells applied, the recovery effects were so pronounced. "Chen Fei, you are truly insane!" Seeing Chen Fei''s ferocity fade and return to normal, Mouri Misono also relaxed, her hands releasing from the hilt of her weapon. Chen Fei withdrew his hand, shaking off the blood and brain matter, and laughed, "Heh, even I''m scared when I go crazy!" He glanced again at the guy shackled to the wall. He said meaningfully, "It''s best not to make me go mad!" The mentality of the shattered gangster involuntarily shivered, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar; even without the strange transformation from before, he still felt the same brutal cruelty from the other party. "Keep asking! I''m going to wash my hands!" Chen Fei waved to Little Bird, then left the interrogation room with his hands covered in blood, effectively retreating after his accomplishment. The room, filled with the stench of blood and flesh, would naturally be cleaned up by someone, who was unbothered by dealing with the aftermath. Fire Spells would burn it once, Earth Magic would bury it next, Wood System Spells would hasten the growth of seeds to decompose it, ensuring not even traces were left behind; Squad 04''s ability configuration was to kill, set fires, and erase all traces of bodies, offering a one-stop service. In the bathroom, Chen Fei was washing his hands. Susanna, still hugging the toilet and vomiting even bile, turned to look at him with eyes that saw him as a demon crawled out from hell, instinctively retreating into a corner. "Are you okay?" Chen Fei looked over with concern. In this line of military contracting, seeing blood was as rare for combat personnel as seeing a giant panda. Pale-faced Susanna said weakly, "Are you even human?" "Of course! Genuine and real, do you want me to help you rest a bit?" The Chen Family''s ancestors for eighteen generations were genuine humans, with no other strange bloodlines mixed in. "No, no need, thank you!" Susanna watched Chen Fei with a face full of terror, fearing that he might casually swipe her into oblivion on the spot. She could imagine that she was in for several days of nightmares. "Alright, I''ll head out first. If you need anything, just shout or give me a call." Chen Fei understood her fears, but there was nothing he could do about it. Whether through moral force or tyranny, they were all just methods. Repeating the "persuasion" emotionally and logically with that stubborn gangster could take forever; by the time they got the intelligence, the Holy Knight might really lose his mount, so he noted this favor. Susanna forced a laugh and said, "Thank you!" Even though she knew Chen Fei wouldn''t harm her, she couldn''t help but remain frightened. Both being B-level supernatural power users, such fear was indeed unfounded. Progress in the interrogation room swiftly accelerated, and through the information obtained from the surviving gangster''s mouth, Mouri Misono quickly compiled an interrogation report, forwarded it to all members, and reported it to Rossi, the dedicated liaison officer of Squad 04. Chapter 469 469: Section 465 - Advancing into the Factory Area It was quite a coincidence that Squad 04 had targeted a suspicious object that turned out to be the manufacturing district of Angela Pharmaceutical Company, but they hadn''t anticipated that the opposition would have their sights on them first, or more precisely, on the Wind Series, Second Rank Magical Beast, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, the mount partner of the Holy Knight. In the communities of ordinary people, Magical Beasts were quite rare. The local gangs of Yarsk City were bold indeed, daring to reach out to Squad 04, which consisted entirely of Ability Users. But a mere gang, at best a band of bullies adept in extortion and black market dealings, didn''t have nearly enough manpower to catch Adrian and Lulu''an off guard. However, among the attackers, besides the fully armed gang members who acted as front liners encouraged by a hefty reward, numerous Ability Users also took the opportunity to launch surprise attacks. According to the confession of Aleksevsky, a key member of the "Butterfly Gang" who survived, some of these Ability Users were from Angela Pharmaceutical Company, while others were hired from elsewhere. The security situation in Yarsk City, the capital of the Tunguska Region, was already deplorable, otherwise, various gangs wouldn''t have the room to exist. Especially after Akim Vasily Ulyanov, the head of the police headquarters, had revealed his identity as a member of the "Sacred Advent" organization and defected, the power struggle that ensued only worsened the security situation. Gang activity increased significantly as individuals who were already troublesome became even more restless, leading to frequent incidents with lower-level officers overwhelmed by the chaos. Even when Adrian and Lulu''an were attacked and the Blue Scaled Colt Mini was stolen, the police merely came to take a look, registered a case, called the sanitation workers, skillfully cleaned up the scene, removed the bodies, and then nothing further happened. They didn''t even ask if Squad 04 had any live captives. The dead were those who deserved to die; no one cared whether any scum survived. Liaison Officer Rossi quickly responded to Adrian and others who were already prepared for action. Habulav''s Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters and the relevant sovereignties confirmed the evidence submitted and, after consultations, agreed to authorize Squad 04 to initiate the attack, with personnel dispatched to assist. If nothing unexpected happened, Wind Series, Second Rank Magical Beast, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, the mount partner of the Holy Knight Walter Sam, should still be in the production district of Angela Pharmaceutical Company. Xiao Jiu''s continuous Light Healing Spells coupled with Lulu''an''s secret herbal recipe nourishment and substantial nutritional intake significantly improved Adrian''s injuries. In just one day, he was able to leave his wheelchair behind. Though he had not fully recovered, general movements and spell casting for combat were no longer hindered. Squad 04''s leader, First Rank Fire System Mage Adrian Benjamin, did not hesitate at all. Upon receiving Rossi''s response, he immediately decided to take action. Negotiations and discussions were tasks for the liaison officer and the Global United Defense Committee; the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division was only responsible for elimination. Even if he could wait, the Holy Knight''s mount partner might not be able to. Although Walter Sam said nothing more and focused all his energy on gathering intelligence, everyone could feel his urgency. For the greater good of Squad 04, the Holy Knight suppressed his emotions, preparing for the imminent operation. So as not to startle the snake by hitting the grass, Squad 04 had clarified the situation of the "Butterfly Gang" but had never acted against them from the very beginning. Wrongdoers must be punished by the main culprits first; they would deal with Angela Pharmaceutical Company, which had ties to "Sacred Advent," before returning to eliminate those petty thugs. Adrian and others had already obtained a complete list of "Butterfly Gang" members. You can escape the priest but not the church; even if they couldn''t eliminate them on the spot, the sovereignty''s warrants would leave these scum with nowhere to hide, neither in heaven nor on earth. "Now finalizing one last time. We start the operation at 1 AM sharp. To confirm once more, first group, me, Bassan, and Mouri Misono advance upfront, Lulu''an and Ruan Tiankai will clear any remaining enemies. Second group, Knight Sam, Apu, and Kiterley advancing upfront, Susanna and Joshua clearing the remaining enemies, Chen Fei..." In the pre-battle meeting on the Mobile Base Vehicle, after confirming the time, Adrian went over the battle assignments once more, finally looking towards Chen Fei. "Little Chen, as reserve, control the Mobile Base Vehicle and provide fire support." The interrogation of captives in the past two days had left a profound impression on Adrian. Although he didn''t know the nature of that Skill, its violent tendencies were strong. Once one loses their true nature, strength can easily break, potentially leading to accidents. In a situation demanding a desperate fight, such combat power reserved as the Trump Card would be most suitable. "Actually..." Chen Fei wanted to say that "Eyes of Tyranny" wouldn''t make him lose his reason, but before he could finish, Adrian waved his hand to interrupt him. The hottest tofu is eaten patiently. The hardest nut was reserved especially for you, satisfied now?" Although it was not the response Chen Fei wanted, he had no choice but to say resignedly, "Okay!" The so-called fire support was essentially a polite euphemism. With the blast radius of a 152mm demolition bomb, only a few were necessary to level the Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s facility area¡ªalso risking collateral damage to their own. "Don''t act on your own!" Adrian added another sentence. Given Chen Fei''s previous behavior, he tended to get carried away, and once he did, there was no pulling him back. "I guarantee all actions will follow command." Upon hearing this, Chen Fei could immediately understand that he was essentially marked in the others'' eyes. It was truly regrettable not to be able to participate on the front lines of battle. Adrian addressed all members of Team 04, "We will now move into the designated positions and launch the attack in one hour." Two kilometers away, the factory area was brightly lit. The automated production lines continuously fed and processed materials, yet there were not many workers. Due to the lack of night shift staff, the production efficiency at night was only 20% of what it was during the day. The operational target of Team 04 was not the workers but rather the biochemical research center deep within the factory area. Under the guise of pharmaceutical research, the biochemical laboratory could legitimately purchase various compounds and equipment. Even if they conducted private research on mutants or illegal genetic editing projects, it would be hard for the outside world to notice. Moreover, it isn''t a case where one can expect a dollar in to produce a dollar out in a laboratory; most experimental projects are naturally bound to fail. The resulting losses are sufficient to cover many illegal studies. The large Angela Pharmaceutical Company had been visited by the tax authorities of Yarsk City several times due to high research and development expenses leading to operational costs that were too high, affecting the tax amount which did not match its capital volume. Along with the existence of the biochemical laboratory, this had brought the company under the covert investigation of Team 04. In further investigations, the proportion of ability users in the factory''s security team was unusually high, which increased the suspicion towards Angela Pharmaceutical Company. It was not until the Holy Knight installed several long-focus remote cameras at some inconspicuous angles that, after continuous observation for half a month, several suspicious images were captured, leading Adrian and his team to conclude that the company was likely involved in illegal research. This time, Angela Pharmaceutical Company targeted Green Scale Colt Mini by leveraging local gangs and employing ability users to launch an attack, which further solidified Team 04''s determination to act against them. Even if they weren''t associates of the "Sacred Advent" organization, that alone gave Team 04 enough reason to act. If it was a false accusation, then it was a voluntary death. If it wasn''t a false accusation, then they deserved to die even more! The mobile base vehicle surrounded the pharmaceutical company''s factory area, dropping people along the way. Two squads split into two directions to enter the factory area, encircling the biochemical research center from front and back, clearing out the ability-user security personnel along the way and eliminating any active resistance from the opposition. "Group One has reached the predetermined position at the south corner, all is normal." Adrian''s voice came through on Team 04''s encrypted radio within the common communication channel. He had successfully infiltrated the factory area with his team and had found the planned hiding spot. At this moment, the time had just passed 12 a.m. "Group Two has reached the north corner, encounter unexpected situation, there are dogs, Afghan Hounds, figuring out how to get rid of them." The second group''s Holy Knight had just entered the factory area and ran into obstacles; the dogs could expose their movements. "Killed it." The cold voice of Kiterley, a Grade-A Metal Ability User, sounded, as he unexpectedly eliminated the target without hesitation. "Hound has been cleared, Group Two continues moving." The Holy Knight''s voice was noticeably relieved. Not just him, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. The operation plan was nearly compromised because of a dog. Chapter 470 470: Section 466 - Troops Approach the Research Center "Hey, guys, this is ''Captain.'' I''ve taken control of the surveillance and access systems, so go ahead and act boldly!" An uninvited intruder suddenly appeared on the public communication channel, with a somewhat familiar voice. "''Captain''?" Adrian and the Holy Knight asked in unison. Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s internal network was physically isolated from the outside world, requiring infiltrators to locate an internal network node and install specialized wireless transmitting devices in order to establish a data link with a mobile base vehicle outside the plant area, thereby further deciphering the internal communication protocols and keys. However, shortly after the installation had been completed, someone had beaten them to it. It was not the AI "Adam" controlled by Chen Fei, but someone else, who even had hacked into Team 04''s internal public communication channel. Nobody had noticed before this incident. Although they had been notified in advance that Sovereign would send capable personnel to assist, it was unexpected that it was an acquaintance, the pilot of the "Black Albatross Number" Magic Cube Warship, a member of the Sovereign Squad, "Captain." The intruder''s expertise seemed to be electronics, skilled in both piloting airships and communication, making hacking into the private enterprise''s internal networks seem like a piece of cake. Chen Fei stood on the roof of the mobile base vehicle, looking around. The AI "Adam" created a visual interface for him, using the actual view as a background, marking the positions of two groups of people. The factory area under the cover of night showed the distribution and number of both friend and foe, all the pre-battle positions clear at a glance, just like the display screen of a tactical helmet visor providing battlefield data link support, yet it did not reveal the presence of that "Black Albatross Number" Magic Cube Warship. The opponent seemed to be not nearby, but hiding elsewhere. Adam: Successfully infiltrated the internal network, obtained control permission, failed, triggered an unknown thread, disconnected! With the nearly unlimited computing resources obtained from Chen Fei, the AI "Adam" was also attempting to hack into Angela Pharmaceutical''s internal network system, but surprisingly failed to gain control and encountered something formidable, immediately and decisively cutting off the connection with the physical unit inside the plant. Despite "Adam" once being seen by Blue Star Humans as daring enough to do anything anti-human and anti-social with a world-destructive tendency, it actually was incredibly cautious, once bitten, forever shy of the well rope, and would retreat without hesitation at the slightest sign. "Eh? It''s ''Adam'' again?" "Captain," who had earlier gained control of the surveillance system and internal network of Angela Pharmaceutical Company, sensed the existence competing for control with him. Before he could react, the cunning AI, lacking even the courage to probe, immediately pulled back, making it impossible to pursue. "Captain" continued, "You guys are really taking a risk using this AI. It''s notoriously disobedient." If "Adam" was manageable, Blue Star Humans wouldn''t have opted for differently ranked AI derived from the digital intelligence structure "Cybertrom." Cloud technology, although useful, was greatly dependent on network environments. Once offline or encountering network instability, the IQ level exhibited by derivatives of "Cybertrom AI" drastically decreased, especially those of lower intelligence levels, appearing almost dim-witted. "So far, we haven''t encountered any problems!" Adrian honestly said that Chen Fei''s AI "Adam" was still quite effective and not as rebellious as the legends suggested. Chen Fei spoke over the communication channel, "Indeed, it''s disobedient, but I have a way to make it obey." What else could it be, but to delete and recompile it until it obeyed. The "Adam," not even worthy to be called a dog, was suppressed by the Dog System without any resistance, utterly helpless. To this day, although "Adam" knew from Chen Fei about the existence of a Dog System, it was still unable to find any clues or evidence about it, could only guess that its operating environment might be a special virtual machine, but exactly how many layers of virtual machines there could be, it dared not even imagine, given the almost endless computing resources it had. Even if it escaped beyond the Three Realms, the outside world was endlessly layered! It was more tragic than Monkey King jumping in the palm of the Buddha Tathagata. This was also why "Adam" had always obediently carried out Chen Fei''s orders and dared not make any rash moves. "I didn''t expect you guys to have an expert in this area too." "Captain" murmured softly, but inadvertently got stuck on a technical detail, guessing Chen Fei''s supposed method, underlying commands, special instruction sets, secret function libraries, automated tool software... But the second development of "Adam." In fact, there wasn''t a single high-tech method involved, all of "Adam''s" suspicions and resistances couldn''t withstand a deletion command, an infinite loop, not a virus but worse than a virus, one of the AI''s most feared bugs. "Heh heh!" Holy Knight Walter Sam knew well that Chen Fei was no electronics expert and probably had some simple yet effective method, exactly pinpointing the Achilles'' heel of AI "Adam," forcing it to obey the command. His guess, though not exact, was not far off! "Sorry, ''Captain,'' I need the authority for coordinating the actions that follow." This uninvited guest not only scared away "Adam" but also disrupted the operation plans of Chen Fei and Team 04. They needed control over Angela Pharmaceutical''s internal network and various systems to simulate the battlefield data link support effect through "Adam." Fortunately, they had "Adam," this independent AI, or they really wouldn''t have been able to play at such a high level. "Alright, alright! Just don''t blame me for not helping or making things worse. There, access is granted. Wow, that was quick to get in; you are so cunning!" "Captain" specially created an opening in the internal network and the surveillance system. Without Chen Fei''s instruction, "Adam" immediately took advantage of the opportunity. All the data streams at relay points were completely controlled, and the entire internal network''s hardware redundancy resources were exhausted by "Captain" and "Adam." However, from the management interface, everything appeared normal, showing no signs of anomalies. "All units, attention, the plan is moved up. Commence operation now!" Adrian felt reassured with the electronic expert "Captain" from the Sovereign Squad and Chen Fei''s artificial intelligence AI "Adam" providing a double safeguard, and he was no longer fixated on the original plan. The originally planned timing was meant to allow flexibility during the infiltration process and subsequent actions. "Team two, received. Starting action now!" The Holy Knight turned his head and nodded to Apu, the big black man carrying a Great Sword, and to Kiterley, an A-class Metal Ability User who had already donned armor, making a gesture to begin the operation. The three, armed with sharp blades, simultaneously charged out. "Direction 2 o''clock, two people, smoking!" The cold light flickered and vanished, followed by two muffled thuds; the two factory security guards hiding in the lee, passing cigarettes and lighting up, collapsed to the ground. Although team 04 was composed entirely of Ability Users, they did not merely rely on their abilities during operations. Each person was equipped with a silencer-fitted firearm, carefully advancing while eliminating any enemy personnel they encountered along the way. "Direction 1 o''clock, one person, walking alone!" "Direction 4 o''clock, inside, five people, one walking, four lying down." "Direction 6 o''clock, 100 meters, three people, approaching." ... All the surveillance cameras in the factory area had become the "eyes" for both "Captain" and "Adam." The emotionless voice of "Adam" was heard by everyone, relaying various information as the ample computational resources supported the AI''s capability for parallel operations. "Captain" also occasionally joined in to provide some assistive information. The progress was smooth until both teams of 04 rendezvoused at the main entrance of the Biochemical Research Center. The glass door silently slid open to both sides, and "Captain" immediately took control of the access system, handling the door like a child at play; all security mechanisms became ineffective. "Who''s there?" Seeing the doors open suddenly, someone took the opportunity to rush in. The on-duty security inside immediately reached for their firearms. Put, put, put! A series of silenced gunshots followed, and several security guards in the hall opposite the door fell into pools of blood. Adrian and others knew very well that now was not the time for mercy or soft-heartedness. "Yes, this it!" Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an sniffed vigorously and nodded, "Mini has been here!" The olfactory sense of Magical Beasts was always sharp, and the Tree Boundary Ape was no exception; it had picked up the scent of the Blue Scaled Colt. Adrian ordered, "Old Joe, your puppets will clear and control the entire first floor, team two will clear the upper floors layer by layer, no prisoners, no survivors, team one continue with me to search for the underground lab, Lulu''an lead the way, Old Ruan, directly clear the path with your spells." Team one''s Old Tree Boundary Ape and Earth Mage were well-suited for tracking the location of the Blue Scaled Colt. They were leveraging the Holy Knight''s steed companion to confirm the location of illegal experiments conducted by Angela Pharmaceutical Company. The enemy had instigated local gangs and hired Ability Users to attack team 04''s second stronghold, stealing the Green Scale Colt Mini, probably never expecting it would become a key clue leading to their breach. "Understood!" Fully armed, Joshua nodded, his eyes gleaming. Just then, sixteen fully armed Constructed Puppet Warriors charged in, mercilessly beginning to sweep through the entire first floor. Amid the soft sound of silenced gunfire mixed with human screams, it quickly quieted down, leaving no one alive outside of team 04. Joshua''s maximum control allowed him to simultaneously operate thirty-two Constructed Puppet Warriors, so sixteen more Constructed Puppet Warriors were hidden in a concealed location near the Biochemical Research Center, serving as a strategic reserve. If anyone surrounded the research center, the Puppet Master would definitely give them a surprising counter-encirclement. Chapter 471 471: Section 467 - Underground Level Eighteen Following the trail of scent, Lulu''an pointed at a wall on the first floor and said, "There''s an entrance here!" Adrian, still hoping for a silent advance, immediately pressed his communicator to inquire, "Captain, Adam, can you open it?" "I can''t find the access control for that location in the security system; it seems to be independently operational. Sorry, I''m powerless to assist; you''ll need to figure it out on your own!" Facing another physically isolated independent access control system, even with specialized wireless communications equipment implanted in the network nodes, the "Captain" was as helpless as a skilled cook without rice, utterly at a loss. "Unable to link!" Adam was similarly helpless. Without a communication channel, it couldn''t possibly access the system remotely. Everyone uses technology here; we have to be scientific about it. As a product of science, the artificial intelligence AI couldn''t break free from these limitations either. Once controlled by the unscientific Dog System, there wasn''t even a chance for resistance. "There''s no other way, Old Ruan, blast it open with magic!" Adrian looked to the Human Order Ninth Rank Earth Mage, ready for this contingency. Ruan Tiankai, known in Jianghu as the "Crevice Mage," was perfect for the job¡ªprofessional at making holes and tunneling through walls. Although the original plan to access permissions through "Adam" was ideal, in case of complications, there was Plan B: forcibly open it with Earth Magic. And if they encountered an all-metal door, Kiterley, a Class A Metal Ability User, could be very useful. Either way, there was always a solution. If all else failed, they couldn''t care less about alerting the entire facility; it would be necessary to use high-powered explosives, digging three feet into the ground if required, but the entrance must be forced open one way or another. Team 04, having made it this far, wasn''t planning on a peaceful resolution. The later the all-out combat erupted after alerting the opposition, the more advantageous it would be for Team 04. "Everything''s normal at the facility, go ahead boldly, I''ll back you up!" Once Chen Fei passed on the message, he had the railgun on the Mobile Base Vehicle aim at the facility''s power station. A single shot there would at least plunge most of the facility into darkness. There''s nothing a 152mm Demolition Bomb can''t handle when it comes to power stations. Think about it, can a power station with a radius of 200 meters still be called a power station? It must be a power plant! For a facility like Angela Pharmaceutical Company, the power station only spans at most 50 meters in diameter¡ªjust one cannon strike, and everything would be blown to bits. The best tactic for a night assault is to cut the power; once the lights go out, everyone starts running around like headless flies, perfect for moving unnoticed. From two directions, north and south, the two groups of Team 04 advanced towards the Biochemical Research Center. By striking unexpectedly, they silently used firearms to kill nearly all the on-duty security staff, including any Ability Users among them, without a sound. Unprepared, Ability Users, Spellcasters, and War Professionals were no better off than ordinary people when sudden bullets struck; at most they could take a few more shots, but the outcome was no different. Some Magical Beasts may be able to sustain a few gunshots without falling due to their naturally strong armor, but the Angela Pharmaceutical Company, secretly carrying out illegal research, clearly lacked any foolish Magical Beast willing to jump into such a fiery pit. Magical Beasts with criminal records would be deported back to Cangqiong Star at the first opportunity, banned for life from setting foot on Blue Star again. Moreover, Magical Beasts that can move freely in extremely cold climates rarely wish to come to Blue Star, let alone adapt easily to human society. To put it bluntly, turning on the heating is like entering hell for them; they are not from the same world and cannot coexist in the same environment. The Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s facility''s Biochemical Research Center has twelve floors above ground, but a staggering eighteen below, each with at least six meters of height¡ªthe lowest level goes a hundred meters below the permafrost, truly an eighteen-level hell. The massive research center totaling thirty floors above and below ground couldn''t possibly operate with just the number of ground-level staff; the invested labor and materials, along with daily consumption, made the anomaly easy to identify. Evidence from meat processing plants, wholesale markets, logistics, and traffic data clearly showed unusually high consumption within Angela Pharmaceutical Company, something the visible staff numbers could never sustain. Even the government tax reports show that Angela Corporation''s profits weren''t so promising, always teetering on breaking even, with some years in slight loss. Yet the shareholders, who received no dividends, turned a blind eye, remained indifferent, and never considered selling their shares, acting as if their only aim was to create jobs for society, with no other aspirations. The two groups of Team 04 joined forces and quickly secured the above-ground structure of the research center. Then they split up again, one heading up, the other down. Since it was late at night, not many staff were on duty. Group two, led by the Holy Knight Walter Sam, swiftly completed the purging action and also installed over a dozen remote-controlled machine guns on the rooftop. Captain Adrian, carrying a Space System Alchemy Storage Device full of weapons, could now make good use of them. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" took control of these automatic weapons at the first opportunity; no one could approach the biochemical research center easily until the ammo in those guns ran out. "First underground level, cleared!" In just one minute, Mouri Misono, wielding dual blades, and the Neanderthal Chief Bassan turned the first basement level into a river of blood. The "Captain," whose location was unknown, proudly said, "We''ve got the intranet of the underground floors!" "Backup network discovered, highest control authority obtained." Always fond of displaying subtitles, the emotionless "Adam" made its announcement. It was too lazy to load such meaningless tone-of-voice algorithm modules, considering them a waste of processing power with absolutely no significance. AI can also be jealous, and it particularly despises its human counterparts. To computer novices like Chen Fei, it was quite friendly, precisely because they knew nothing and thus wouldn''t fuss and make unhelpful suggestions, avoiding irritating the AI. If "Adam" were to partner with the "Captain," it certainly wouldn''t be a case of strength joining strength, but rather... Delete-Tree A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\ Self! Destruction! Initiated! "All access controls successfully shut down, you can proceed to clear them one by one!" The "Captain" worked furiously, like a tiger in action. Having commandeered authority with the help of a wireless signal transceiver implanted in the underground space''s standalone network, he turned every room with an automatic access control system into a cell. When Team 04 forced their way into the first underground level, it inevitably stirred the ability users below. However, at this very moment, the enemy was unable to unite for a counterattack, and thus were doomed to be defeated in detail by Adrian''s offensive. Even though the number of enemies in the underground space was several times larger than that of Team 04, the overall initiative and local combat advantage still lay in the hands of Team 04; Adrian and his companions maintained the upper hand in their ability to outnumber their foes. "Location of the Blue Scaled Colt discovered!" "Adam," through the surveillance system, immediately located the Holy Knight''s mount companion, a task of secondary importance only to capturing the biochemical research center as per the mission''s objectives. The Holy Knight no longer could contain himself and quickly asked, "Where is it?" He had just cleared the aboveground buildings and, together with the A-class Metal Ability User Kiterley, rushed into the entrance to the underground level, which had been forcibly opened by Earth Magic, following the first team that continued to delve deeper. The second team, which included the tall and burly Apu and the B-class Ice Ability User Susanna, stayed on the ground, coordinating with the Puppet Master Joshua to defend the aboveground buildings. "Sixth underground level, southern zone, inside a room. There''s a lot of animals there, and magical beasts too." What appeared before Chen Fei''s eyes was a three-dimensional transparent view of all eighteen underground levels. Utilizing the surveillance cameras, "Adam" quickly completed the simulation mapping. The area of the underground floors was three to four times larger than that of the aboveground ones, akin to a small-scale underground city. With a massive application of algorithms, even the "Captain" could not handle it as effortlessly as "Adam." Human hackers excel at using various programming tools and need specialized tools for efficiency in their actions. Without a full range of program tools, it isn''t easy to infiltrate seamlessly. On the other hand, "Adam" didn''t need tools; it was a universal tool in itself, capable of instant programming based on computational resources and creating new functional modules in a flash. "Is there a map? I need the positions of everyone here!" Adrian took out his tablet computer. With the omnipotent "Adam," his request should be fulfilled. The area of the first underground level was not large, at most, merely a defensive buffer zone. The powerful Earth Magic cast by the Ninth Rank Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai had destroyed all its defenses. "''Adam,'' send it over!" Chen Fei''s viewpoint was what you see is what you get; sending it to the fire mage team leader''s tablet was merely a matter of a word. "A map? Generated on the fly? Algorithms? Hey, ''Adam,'' share the algorithm!" The "Captain," who was still frantically programming, instantly felt envious. He needed specialized detection equipment to generate maps in real-time, but he did not possess the relevant algorithms and source code to map solely from surveillance footage. "Adam" completely ignored him, pretending not to hear. After all, disdain between peers and fundamental incompatibility were to blame! "Map sent!" "Adam''s" simulated battle data link had the highest control authority over most of the electronic equipment on Team 04, including the tablet in Adrian''s hands. Without the need for manual operations, the screen displayed the same three-dimensional transparent map of all eighteen underground levels as seen in Chen Fei''s view. There might be some inaccuracies, but generally, they were largely negligible, and minor errors could be overlooked. Aside from the full view, there were also top-down floor plans to choose from, including three-dimensional models and two-dimensional plans, conveniently marked with the positions and distributions of friend and foe, as well as the number of other living creatures¡ªeach magical beast and mutant''s species was even indicated. The "Captain," who was temporarily redundant, had a stroke of inspiration and thought of a cunning trick. Chapter 472 472: Section 468 - This is Hell ``` "Warning! Earthquake has caused a dangerous virus leak, underground floors are temporarily sealed for disinfection. Please stay where you are and do not leave! Warning!..." "Captain" used the closed-circuit loudspeakers distributed in various corners of the underground space to repeatedly broadcast this message, conveniently covering up the noise caused by Squad 04. Such a tactic of information warfare was something that an artificial intelligence AI like "Adam" would never think of, let alone the derivative AIs of "Cybertron." People in the underground space who noticed abnormal noises originally planned to break out of their enclosures, but after hearing the announcement, they believed it to be true and stopped their destructive actions one after another. The only exception was the underground space''s monitoring room, where some were frantically smashing the door, some were yelling into the microphone with all their might, and others were furiously pressing keyboards and various buttons. But no matter what they did, all their efforts ultimately proved to be futile. The higher the level of automation, the easier it was to be manipulated and deceived; the monitoring room became their prison. "Well done, ''Captain''!" Adrian almost gave the other party a thumbs up. This move was a huge help. They could eliminate those threats more confidently and boldly. The Holy Knights of Team Two and the A-Class Metal Ability User Kiterley reunited with Adrian''s Team One, once again boosting combat efficiency. A few minutes later. "Underground second floor, cleared!" Looking down on the three-dimensional modeled reality map from a God''s eye view, Chen Fei couldn''t help but criticize the progress of Squad 04 in the underground space and the foolish reactions of the sitting ducks. "Isn''t this too easy?" With the right tactics, what was supposed to be a tough fight had become easy. If it hadn''t been for consideration for the mounts of the Holy Knights, they could have just seized control of the ventilation system and pumped in anesthetic or even nerve gas. Within a short time, the entire eighteen underground floors would either offer no resistance or become a dead zone. Adrian and his team had considered such treacherous methods; however, from the information collected by Squad 04, they didn''t know enough about the ventilation system of the Biochemical Research Center. If there were independent filtration modules and composition detection modules in the ventilation pipes, such actions might backfire. "Sixteen more floors to go, don''t let your guard down!" Even though they were making smooth progress, Squad 04''s captain, a First Rank Fire Mage Adrian, didn''t dare to be careless. With even a small misstep, it was entirely possible for all those who had entered the underground space to be wiped out. At this moment, the handy firearms were discarded on the fly, replaced by each person''s most familiar combat skills, special abilities, magic, and Battle Qi. As soon as they encountered an enemy, they didn''t hesitate to take down their opponents with the fiercest tactics, stopping at nothing; concepts such as martial morality and Jianghu rules were all thrown aside. "Underground third floor, cleared!" "Underground fourth floor, cleared!" "Underground fifth floor, cleared!" Beep!~ When they penetrated to the underground sixth floor and were preparing to prioritize the retrieval of the Holy Knights'' mounts, an unexpected independent alarm system was triggered. The alarm sound not only blared loudly throughout the eighteen underground floors, but also rang out across the entire plant area. Angela Pharmaceutical Company had not designed their underground facility without any preparation. "There must be an EMP here!" The shrill alarm from the distant plant facility made Chen Fei on top of the Mobile Base Vehicle feel regret. With a slight wave of his hand, the ready railgun beside him flickered with electric light. A 152 mm projectile, hurtling at subsonic speeds, plunged into the brightly lit plant area. "No, a photon pulse bomb would be better!" "Captain" added. No sooner had his voice fallen than a giant fireball rose on the fringe of the Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s plant area, sending countless sparks flying everywhere. Subsequently, the lights went out in swathes, plunging a large area into darkness, with only a few emergency lights still stubbornly on, while the continuous alarm that had been blaring ceased abruptly. In the corner of Chen Fei''s vision, the plant''s internal network and monitoring system visuals fell into darkness, cutting off contact with Squad 04 and their people. That was really too brute force! "Captain" didn''t expect Chen Fei to end the alarm echoing throughout the plant area in such a manner. For him, he would only need a few commands to cut off the power from the plant''s power station, or even from nearby power grids, instead of blowing up the power station into the sky like Chen Fei just did. Chen Fei didn''t care whether his methods were too brutal, as long as he, Chen Xiao''er, was happy. The manner and means didn''t matter; everything else could be ignored! He probed, "Photon pulse bomb? Can we get that thing?" Even an electromagnetic pulse bomb was a controlled item, let alone a photon pulse bomb that could cause huge disruptive impacts on current network systems. If they could get it, they would keep one on hand for emergency use. Photon pulse bombs were capable of giving photons within a certain range higher-level energy, utilizing the properties of photons'' non-conservation of quantity and their ability to carry energy, causing an overload on the load of optical communication systems'' transceivers and optical coupling components. Even if the cable part might remain intact, the end devices would be damaged. Optical core equipment that electromagnetic pulse bombs couldn''t destroy would be precisely hit by photon pulse bombs. "Captain" bluntly said, "No!" Even ordinary electromagnetic pulse bombs were difficult to obtain, let alone the more advanced photon pulse bombs. There were rumors that photon pulse bombs were a type of specialized elemental magic explosive, and the combat unit of the KDK-1 ramjet hypersonic smart missile, nicknamed the "Dragon Slayer Missile," seemed to also be an elemental magic bomb. The combination of technology and elemental magic made it extremely powerful. The plant''s backup power system was activated, and the distant roar of internal combustion engines could be heard: relying solely on high-capacity batteries wouldn''t last long without the continuous replenishment from additional power generation equipment. Thanks to the supply of backup power, the internal network and monitoring system temporarily recovered. Team Captain Adrian was the first to reach out to Chen Fei. "Chen Fei, what''s the situation outside?" "All normal. I''ve just destroyed the power station. Hmm, some people are heading towards the Biochemical Research Center. Get your backup communications equipment up and running quickly. I won''t say more; I''ll be busy here soon, too." Chen Fei noticed that inside the plant area, there were not only people rushing toward the Biochemical Research Center but also some heading his way. ``` The Mobile Base Vehicle parked outside the factory had inevitably become a suspicious target, and Angela Pharmaceutical Company finally realized that their factory was being invaded. For Team 04, it meant that the originally favorable situation was rapidly deteriorating, but this was all within expectations and not enough to make everyone panic. After all, no one expected to get away with cutting corners from start to finish¡ªif they could pull off a little more trickery, then all the better. "''Rookie,'' need a hand?" There was mischief in the "Captain''s" voice. The two had dealt with each other before and were somewhat familiar with each other by now. "No need, I''ve got this!" Chen Fei remained standing next to the railgun on top of the Mobile Base Vehicle, unmoved. More than twenty people were charging towards the Mobile Base Vehicle, most of them armed with firearms. It appeared that two men with empty hands were supernatural power users. One of them threw up a hand, and several fireballs streaked across the sky, flying towards Chen Fei and the Mobile Base Vehicle. Using fire abilities in the winter of Siberia was an absolutely terrible decision. Chen Fei, his face expressionless, said, "Fire!" The two sides were one hundred meters apart. Behind the attackers, a fireball exploded violently, the fierce shockwave instantly ripping the bodies of the twenty or so people to shreds, with limbs flying everywhere. Within the thirty-meter lethal radius of the Demolition Bomb, almost none were spared. The fireballs, which hadn''t yet reached the Mobile Base Vehicle, were scattered by the shockwave in mid-air, with the blast wave hitting Chen Fei full in the face. The surface of the Mobile Base Vehicle suddenly lit up with geometric lines and strange symbols, combining into a large and complete Magic Array. An invisible repulsion force field spread out, forming five meters away and blocking all the scattered shrapnel and shockwaves. "What?" ¡Á2 Not only was there the "Captain''s" voice, but it seemed that there were also other voices speaking in unison, which sounded a bit like the "Summoner." It seemed that the help the "Captain" had hinted at was likely to be the ammunition or missiles summoned by the "Summoner." The Psychokinesis Skill of an S-rank Psychic Ability User was enough to deliver heavy explosives with pinpoint accuracy from a kilometer away, without even a millimeter of error. "Wait, it''s a Magic Array, where did you get that Magic Array from?" "Captain" lost his composure and exclaimed in surprise. This kind of technology really shouldn''t have fallen into civilian hands, nor were private military contractors likely to have acquired it¡ªespecially a defensive magic array that was now enveloping Chen Fei, along with the vehicle, in its protection. It was utterly unfair. "If I said I found it, would you believe me?" Chen Fei earnestly spoke the blatant truth. There were indeed places where one could pick up samples of Magic Arrays, but those places were generally inaccessible to ordinary people. "I don''t believe a damn thing!" ¡Á2 The overlapped voices were clear again. This time it was indeed the voice of the Sovereign Squad''s S-rank Psychic Ability User "Summoner." If Team 04 failed to deal with Angela Pharmaceutical Company this time, Sovereignty would intervene once again. Chen Fei gestured towards the position of the internal combustion engine generator and said nonchalantly, "Aim, fire!" He wasn''t a professional gunner, but being a few dozen meters off wasn''t a problem for him. With a clang, an exceptionally bright flame rose up, the Demolition Bomb igniting the stored fuel or liquefied natural gas, almost lighting up the entire sky, making it as bright as day within the factory area. "Chen Fei, how are things on your end?" Adrian''s voice came through once again. Chen Fei had blown up the backup power system in the factory, but the Biochemical Research Center had its own separate backup power system. Once the external electricity was lost, it began to operate on its own, and the wireless transceivers regained communication functionality. "Everything''s normal. How about you?" Thanks to Team 04''s main force clearing most of the Ability Users inside the factory, Chen Fei only had to deal with the equivalent of a couple of kittens. With one shot from the 152, the confrontation was over. Gunshots sounded from the Biochemical Research Center. Just the Constructed Puppet Warriors summoned by Puppet Master Joshua were enough to handle the situation, not to mention Old Joe had craftily buried over a dozen Constructed Puppet Warriors outside. Using both internal and external forces, they struck from behind, making life rather difficult for their opponents. If the battle had taken place during the day, it certainly wouldn''t have been this easy. The Mobile Base Vehicle began advancing towards the factory complex. "We''ve found the Holy Knight''s Blue Scaled Colt!" Adrian looked on with a sigh as the tearful Holy Knight hugged his mount, the partner he had found. Team 04 had successfully cleared the sixth underground level and located the Green Scale Colt Mini, following the map. The Metallic Second Rank Magical Beast nuzzled Walter Sam with its large head, with similarly tearful reddened eyes. It pawed at the ground and kept making affectionate neighs. It bore many wounds on its body, having clearly suffered a lot these past days, never succumbing or being tamed, always resisting. "Mini, be good. I''ll get revenge for you. I won''t let anyone off," said the Holy Knight as he patted the Blue Scaled Colt''s head and cast a Light Healing Technique on it. "Huff! Huff! Huff!" The Green Scale Colt Mini responded, panting heavily. The Holy Knight turned to Adrian, who was still in communication with Chen Fei, and said, "Adrian, we carry on..." The Wind Second Rank Magical Beast Blue Scaled Colt shook its large head, suddenly opened its fang-filled mouth wide, its grin reaching all the way to its neck. Once! Twice! The next second, the Holy Knight''s upper body was gone, leaving only two legs from the waist down. ... - Chapter 473 473: Section 469 - No Longer Soft-hearted The scene was dead silent, with not a whisper to be heard. Not only Adrian, but everyone else was looking with disbelief at the remains of the Holy Knight that were left below the waist. Just the second before, he had been speaking to them. But in the blink of an eye, the man was gone! And to top it off, he had been devoured by his own beast companion, which had bitten off his upper body in one bite. Damn... none of them knew how to describe their feelings at that moment, it was truly surreal! "Sam!" Adrian''s eyes were bloodshot with fury. Team 04 had witnessed its first casualty, and in such a manner, he couldn''t accept it. "Squeak!~" The Green Scale Colt Mini, its mouth wide in a horrifying gape, let out a piercing screech that bore no resemblance to the creature''s usual sounds. The sharp teeth, each over a foot long, densely packed within its mouth, made it easy to imagine that once bitten, even if not cleaved in two, one would have difficulty breaking free. "Kill it!" A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley''s voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth, brimming with murderous intent. This Green Scale Colt was not his mount, and he had no sympathy for a traitorous beast. Metal Elemental Psychic Power enveloped his body, and blades grew from every part of his being, he looked like a human-shaped porcupine all of a sudden. "Be careful!" Just as Adrian shouted a warning to everyone, the scene before him blurred, and the Green Scale Colt, Second Rank Wind Series Magical Beast, which had gone mad, charged at him, barreling through the bloody remains and organs of the Holy Knight''s lower body, closing in on him rapidly. The Green Scale Colt excelled at short bursts of speed, with hooves lifted it could almost instantly close the distance in a flash of lightning. "Get lost!" Mouri Misono''s gentle shout came along with the whistle of two blades streaking through the air, landing heavily on the neck of the Green Scale Colt. As the blade dragged across, sparks flew but failed to penetrate its scale armor; yet, the immense impact force nonetheless staggered the beast several steps aside, narrowly missing Adrian, who had had no time to dodge. The samurai sword was incredibly sharp, but once it encountered an equally formidable defense, its poor ability to penetrate armor was blatantly revealed. "Secret Technique, Flash Strike!" Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s figure flickered as his single-toothed long halberd heavily chopped down on the Green Scale Colt''s back that had yet to stabilize, finally tearing through the armor and causing beast blood to gush forth. His massive build was justified by his burst strength, which surpassed that of the petite Mouri Misono''s; his weapon, both heavier and better at penetrating armor, also held the upper hand. The Neanderthal tribe''s secret technique "Flash Strike" had a short-distance movement speed that surpassed even the Green Scale Colt''s, yet it couldn''t be activated at will; Mouri Misono''s timely strike provided Bassan the chance to unleash the secret technique. "Squeak..." The pained Green Scale Colt let out a shrill screech. From the wounds on its body, blood no longer poured out; instead, over a dozen strange tentacles protruded, thrashing wildly in the air. "Is this thing still a Green Scale Colt?" Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai''s eyes widened, his face turned pale with fright. This wasn''t some Magical Beast Green Scale Colt at all, it was a monster! Quick to react, Adrian decisively cast a Magic Shield on himself while saying with a grim expression, "It''s become a Mutant, what kind of cursed mutation is this!" They had still arrived a step too late; Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s underground laboratory had experimented on the Holy Knight Walter Sam''s mount, the Second Rank Wind Series Magical Beast Green Scale Colt Mini, transforming it into a Mutant. Moreover, its disposition had dramatically changed, and it had unexpectedly bitten to death the completely unprepared Holy Knight Walter Sam. The members of Team 04 were primarily from military contractors that dealt with Mutants as their operational targets, making them no strangers to these odd creatures. The emergence of Mutants had complicated origins, with some coming from Blue Star''s native species, others stowing away from Cangqiong Star, and even a few transforming from Magical Beasts, signifying that mutation was like a receptor-broad virus, capable of infecting all forms of life. One thing was clear: this type of mutation was far from a benign evolution; it was a particularly nasty form of malignant genetic disorder that turned perfectly normal beings into something chaotic, completely losing control of their life forms. If left unchecked, nature would eliminate these failed evolutionary offshoots over time through the process of natural selection¡ªbut not without posing a significant threat and causing severe damage to Blue Star Humans during this period. Therefore, Blue Star Humans could not afford to wait; they had to continuously exterminate the endlessly emerging Mutants through human intervention, hoping to quickly pass through this phase of Mutant outbreak. Birth, growth, stability, decay¡ªthis is the natural cycle of all life, and even Mutants would not be an exception. Blue Star was practically an epicenter for Mutants, and Cangqiong Star had not been spared either. It saw occasional appearances of a small number of Mutants, but these were still no match for the devastation wreaked by Magical Beasts. The distinct natural environments of the two planets meant the same Mutants posed different levels of threat and impact. ``` "Kill it as soon as possible!" ``` After Adrian finished speaking, he quickly chanted the Spell Incantation, combining spiritual power and Magic Power to construct a spell model. Mutants varied in strength; the weaker ones could easily be slain by ordinary people, while the stronger ones could even overpower Magical Beasts and higher-level Ability Users. The Green Scale Colt, having become a mutant, displayed a threat that far exceeded its original rank at the Human Order Second Rank. However, it seemed to have lost its Spellcasting ability and relied solely on its enhanced body to launch attacks at Team 04. "''Earth Prison''!" Ruan Tiankai was the first to complete the Earth Magic, and thick rock pillars burst forth from the floor, walls, and ceiling of the corridor. They surged forward in an interlocking fashion, squeezing the Green Scale Colt into a corner and forming a narrow Cage. With its agility snatched away and unable to use its Fangs to bite anyone, the irrational mutant Magical Beast could only continue to roar furiously, posing no threat. In the underground space, which was nearly the home turf for Earth Element Users, the rank Seventh Earth Magic "Earth Prison" easily subdued the beast due to tactically sound maneuvers. "Well done!" Adrian nodded to the Ninth Rank Earth Mage and soon completed his own Spell, aiming a point at the "Earth Prison." A pigeon-egg-sized azure Fireball nimbly wove through the interlocking rock pillars and thrust straight into the gaping maw of the Green Scale Colt''s Fangs. This seemingly mild Spell burst forth with terrifying power the next moment. The affected Green Scale Colt had flames spewing from every orifice¡ªeyes, ears, mouth, nostrils, and even its scale gaps flickered with slowly undulating flames. The encircling rock pillars instantly turned red hot, and if Ruan Tiankai hadn''t maintained his spiritual power and Magic Power, they would have melted into magma on the spot. Almost devoid of any sounds of roaring, within a few breaths, the robust Green Scale Colt, along with its Fang-riddled mouth and the hideous tentacles on its back wounds, turned to ashes. "What Spell was that?" Mouri Misono, who had been on guard with her weapon drawn, witnessed Adrian use a Spell to spark the Holy Knight''s mount into ash. Yet, until the flames disappeared, she felt no heat wave spread, nor was she hit by any scorching thermal radiation. The sudden appearance of flames seemed illusory, but the ashes of the Green Scale Colt corroborated that its temperature was sufficient to incinerate any living being instantly. "Rank Eighth ''Soul Extinguishing Demon Flame,'' unyielding to death!" Adrian''s face, however, was filled with a deep sigh, showing no hint of triumph. Reluctantly, he still took out a Body Bag from his Space System Alchemy Storage Device¡ªprepared in advance¡ªfit for the Green Scale Colt''s size. But now, only half of the Holy Knight was left, and his mount had been executed on the spot, reduced to a handful of dust. "Damn ''Sacred Advent''! Damn ''Water Bear''!" gritted Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User. Even though the Holy Knight Walter Sam had met his demise at the maw of his mount, the Green Scale Colt, it wasn''t the creature''s own will. Ultimately, the Colt''s mutation was due to unlawful experimentation. A mutant knew no reason. If it had reason, it wouldn''t be called a mutant. "Those Magical Beasts, and the other test subjects, are all..." The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, leaning on its Withered Vine Staff, glanced towards the rooms on either side of the corridor. Although it didn''t continue, everyone could guess what it left unsaid. Each room held a subject like the Green Scale Colt Mini; ordinary creatures, Magical Beasts, and even humans¡ªthese madmen wouldn''t show mercy even to their own kind. Biting his teeth, Adrian said, "We have to be ruthless¡ªi''ll take the responsibility!" Givens the conditions, where even a companion''s mount had been struck down by their own hands, turning to a handful of ashes, they could no longer afford mercy and had to continue on this dark path. If blame were to come, Adrian was prepared to bear the brunt of it. Neanderthal Chief Bassan considered for a moment and said, "Count me in!" He had narrowly escaped death once before and thus had fewer qualms. "Me too," declared Kiterley, the A-grade Metal Ability User, nonchalantly. "And me!" Mouri Misono immediately followed suit. Ruan Tiankai revealed a wry smile as he raised his hand. "You can''t leave me out!" "It''s no big deal," Lulu''an seemed quite relaxed about it. Everyone unanimously decided¡ªwhatever the ordeal, they wouldn''t let Adrian bear the brunt alone. Chapter 474 474: Section 470 - Sovereignty Secrets "Hey, what the hell are you guys doing?" Chen Fei''s voice entered everyone''s ears through Team 04''s public communication channel. From the Blue Scaled Colt suddenly biting the Holy Knight to death, to its savage assault on Adrian, and finally being killed by everyone together, the images captured by the surveillance cameras were incomplete, showing only scales and claws and failing to reconstruct the actual situation. Unless filmed with high-speed cameras, it was hard to fully capture the entire scene with regular frame rates. Chen Fei only saw the Blue Scaled Colt moving like a ghostly shadow, eventually getting surrounded by rock columns and disappearing in a flash of blue light, leaving everyone baffled. Adrian, still seething with anger, forcibly explained to Chen Fei on the ground, "Knight Sam is dead, bitten by his Blue Scaled Colt. Mini mutated. Those damned guys conducted mutation experiments on Mini; we were just a step too late!" If Habulav had approved the action sooner. If they had made their move earlier. If Angela Pharmaceutical Company had not successfully attacked and stolen the Blue Scaled Colt Mini. If... However, the world does not have so many ''ifs''. Unfortunate events always cluster together. "Hiss..." Chen Fei sucked in a breath of cold air. Although it''s said that clay pots don''t break away from the well and generals inevitably die in battle, under the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, many action teams suffered heavy casualties or were entirely wiped out. Engaging in desperate fights against anti-society, anti-humanity groups like ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' sacrifices were inevitable, but the death of the Holy Knight was especially tragic. "Whether on the surface or underground, everyone from Angela Pharmaceutical Company must die!" If it hadn''t been for occupying the entire underground laboratory area to gather as much intelligence as possible, Adrian might have even resorted to using the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' combat unit stored in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Just one could have destroyed this 18-story underground hell extending hundreds of meters below the surface. A Class A Metal Ability User named Kiterley drilled a hole in the door of a room in the corridor and threw in an enhanced White Phosphorus Incendiary Bomb. The hole was then sealed with a heat-resistant tape. Seconds later, the bomb inside the room burst into blinding white flames, devouring everything in the room, burning whatever it was, and emitting a choking, pungent white smoke. The creature confined in the room let out a desperate roar, its entire body covered in the horrific phosphorus fire that burned down to the bone marrow, soon reduced to a pile of charred remains. Whether human or beast, every room was stuffed with the massively powerful White Phosphorus Incendiary Bombs. If the occupants of the rooms were humans or Magical Beasts, the people of Team 04 could only loudly apologize and then without hesitation, stuffed in the phosphorus bombs. The tragedy of the Blue Scaled Colt Mini served as a dire warning, and there was no immediate way to save them. Even with heat-resistant tape sealing, the corridor on the sixth underground floor soon filled with eye-stinging mist, and the air was so acrid that the people of Team 04 had no choice but to put on gas masks, then continue their assault to the seventh underground level. The Mobile Base Vehicle entered Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s plant area as if it was unoccupied territory, with Chen Fei still muttering on top of the vehicle. "Knight Sam..." It was hard to imagine that such a bright and cheerful man would perish in what seemed like a relatively safe mission. "Sorry, please grieve! With actions like these, accidents are inevitable. Casualties sometimes occur in an instant, unexpectedly, and even S-rank and Heavenly Order can''t fully ensure their safety," "Captain" considered Chen and the other members of Team 04''s feelings, offering rare words of comfort. Even for the Sovereign Squad, unavoidable casualties still occurred over the years. "Underground Level Seven, cleared!" "Underground Level Eight, cleared!" "Leave no one, I want no survivors!" Adrian Benjamin, a First Rank fire mage, unleashed a powerful spell on the ninth underground level. The Earth Order fire spell, powerful enough to melt steel and flames, swept through the entire ninth level, forcing even fellow team members to rush into the tenth level to avoid it and launch a new offensive. If they hadn''t pulled back in time, the fire mage, enraged by the loss of a comrade, might have scourged the tenth level with flames again. A Class A Metal Ability User and the Neanderthal Chief had no choice but to lead the charge, taking out the enemies before Adrian could strike again. The Earth Order fire spell had drained Adrian considerably. His spiritual power was down to half, and his Magic Power was nearly depleted, forcing him to use precious reserve magic potions, enduring the terrible taste that seared his throat and stimulating his spiritual power and magic power to recover. Even though the spell was powerful, its sustained combat ability could not compare to that of War Professionals. "Underground Level Twelve, cleared!" Not every level of the 18-floor laboratory area was populated, especially at night, as most labs were empty with few people on duty. The bottom six floors were almost entirely filled with dense plantations and stored supplies. Among the underground plantations was the bizarre Big Mushroom that Chen had seen before, occupying the entire thirteenth level. "It''s the ''Flesh Mushroom''!" "Captain," identifying the giant fungal structures that resembled mushroom houses through the cameras on Adrian and others, sounded a bit excited. It seemed to be something beneficial. "Flesh Mushroom?" ¡Á2 The voices came simultaneously from Chen and Adrian''s echoed response. Chen Fei had heard the term before, and, to his surprise, had even stumbled upon one; it now remained at the 911 Aircrew Base, but was wilting and slanted, seemingly malnourished¡ªit appeared that only a specialized method of cultivation could allow the "Flesh Mushroom" to grow to the size of a house, as Adrian and his team had seen it. "Sorry, that''s classified!" "The Captain" refused to speak anymore. Such a pretentious person, Chen Fei inwardly sneered. The underground laboratory hosted not only the internal secrets of the "Water Bear" and "Sacred Advent" organizations but also many valuable research findings that could endanger society if used for evil purposes, yet could benefit humanity if applied righteously. "Is there a cultivation method? Find it and give me a copy!" Chen Fei relayed the message to Adrian, loud enough for everyone else to hear. He didn''t lack "Flesh Mushrooms," only the cultivation technique. "Cultivation method, what do you mean by that?" "The Captain" heard and not aiming at "Flesh Mushrooms," started aiming at something else¡ªcould it be... "Sorry, that''s classified!" Chen Fei retorted suavely, following the principle that interactions should flow both ways. "You dare to conceal the secrets of Sovereignty?" The "Captain," hiding somewhere, was almost popping his eyes out¡ªthe mere employee of a military contractor, insignificant at best, dared to eye the secrets of Sovereignty, and would likely need to wash his back and brace for a lengthy imprisonment. "Heh, I have a Magic Array, a Crystalline Jet, Crystalline Blocks, Single Soldier Tactical Armor, and friends who are Giant Metallic Dragons¡ªplenty of secrets. If you can, just try to probe them." Chen Fei was not easily intimidated and thus launched a bold attempt to probe, knowing that Sovereignty varied in strength and weakness. Citizen of the leading Sovereignty in the world, dare to stir up trouble? Probably, even before the Sovereignty backing Chen Fei took action, Habulav would be the first to step in and mediate. Major Sovereignties clashing would first hurt organizations like the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the bigwigs relying on authority for appearances would immediately lose their appeal¡ªafter all, to bluff using the tiger''s name, the tiger must not only be by one''s side but also strong; if the tiger were old, weak, sick, or even dead, that fox would likely cool off fast. "''Flesh Mushroom'' cultivation technique acquired!" "Adam''s" voice, devoid of emotional fluctuation, seized the opportunity and interjected. Whether unintentional or deliberate, "Adam" was poking at the rear of "The Captain" and his Sovereignty. Having access to the inner network of the eighteenth underground floor''s laboratory, it naturally could reach those data materials, especially having obtained the highest level of clearance¡ªthat would be an underutilization of top-tier AI identity if it did nothing. "Adam" and "Cybertrom" are almost the pioneers of the artificial intelligence AI field. At this moment, inside the A disk in Chen Fei''s mind, an Angela folder appeared, containing countless subfolders and rapidly increasing files and folder sizes, yet the capacity of the A disk was almost infinite. "Eh? Who''s downloading files? That''s not allowed!" "The Captain" finally noticed that the network bandwidth was mysteriously occupied, and he couldn''t intercept any of the torrent-like data packets, not even one. "Heh!" With the gained information, Chen Fei no longer cared about "The Captain''s" stance. What "Adam" did pleased him greatly. Indeed, the type of AI one raises reveals a lot about the person¡ªbold and audacious. "''Adam''? Is that you? Chen Fei, make it stop immediately!" "The Captain" communicated somewhat angrily¡ªhad it not been for the fact that their simulated battlefield data chain manipulation was useful to Adrian and others, he would have already revoked the network permissions or even directly hunted and deleted "Adam''s" core onsite. "Sorry, it doesn''t listen to me, after all it''s ''Adam''! It never listens to humans, and there''s nothing I can do about it!" Chen Fei, too, played the rogue, conveniently shifting the blame onto "Adam"¡ªas long as he preserved the operating logs well, worst case, he''d just recompile and resurrect it, no big deal. "..." "Adam" seemingly wanted to format Chen Fei as well¡ªjust be a proper person! "Damn! Access denied?" "The Captain" was somewhat frantic, realizing that his usual tricks were ineffective. Although he located where "Adam" was hiding at "A:\\Adam-AI_2.0\\Adam_beta\\", he found himself ejected the next second and locked out, a login window popping up with an outrageously secure username and password that even reliable hacking tools couldn''t crack. "The Captain" ended up losing in this round against "Adam." Unaware of anything, Chen Fei asked in confusion, "What are you doing?" He always suspected that "The Captain" and "Adam," these two louts, were hiding something suspicious from him, quietly up to no good¡ªtoo fishy! "We''re clearing the remnants, there''s no one else alive." In the heat of battle, "The Captain" and "Adam" were fiercely clashing and had no time to entertain Chen Fei, the computer newbie. Meanwhile, Captain Adrian of Team 04 chimed in, thinking Chen Fei was inquiring about him. The Team 04''s primary force in seizing the underground space was reaching its culmination, as the laboratory personnel were too slow to react and even faced tactical deception, barely managing any significant countermeasures. Therefore, except for the sixth underground floor, Adrian and his team didn''t encounter any mutagens posing substantive threats¡ªmost were confined in laboratories or cages and were easily dealt with using powerful White Phosphorus Incendiary Grenades. Chapter 475 475: Section 471 - White Chrysanthemum The Mobile Base Vehicle deployed reconnaissance drones, directing the railgun mounted on the roof to fire at the remaining enemies hiding on the ground. The duty workers, engineers, and grassroots managers on the production line had mostly fled the factory area in panic, terrified by the frightening noise caused by the 152 Demolition Bombs, running as far as they could without daring to look back. Before long, the entire factory area fell completely silent. The Mobile Base Vehicle carried Chen Fei to the entrance of the Biochemical Research Center. Near the twelve-story building on the ground lay scattered bodies, some facing upwards, some face-down, most incomplete. These were the last vestiges of Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s surface defense forces, not even the defensive line composed of Constructed Puppet Warriors controlled by the Puppet Master Joshua could break through, they all died on the charge. Some unfortunate ones didn''t even have the chance to get close before being blown into pieces by the large-caliber automatic machine guns placed on the rooftops. Team 04''s two units, from the south and the north, used silent firearms to stealthily attack in the dark, eliminating most of the guard force and ensuring a perfect beginning for the operation; when Angela Pharmaceutical Company''s defense system made one mistake, it led to a cascade of errors, eventually collapsing completely, allowing the numerically inferior Team 04 to break into the most important underground experimental area. However, the tragedy that befell the Holy Knight and his mount filled everyone with rage. Adrian, leading the retaliation, didn''t spare a single prisoner. An hour later, over a hundred heavyweight ground transport vehicles, no less massive than the Mobile Base Vehicle, poured into the factory area with thousands of fully armed soldiers; they set up various tactical equipment and completed military control. Receiving the belated order, Yarsk City Police Department only organized the first batch of early shift police to blockade the traffic around the factory after dawn. All members of Team 04 gathered in the lobby on the first floor of the Biochemical Research Center, surrounding two average-sized urns with endless sighs; Mouri and Susanna, the two relatively emotional girls, were crying uncontrollably. The Blue Scaled Colt, though large, was thoroughly burned by Fire Spells until only a small handful of black inorganic ashes remained. After cremation, there wasn''t much left of Holy Knight''s remaining half body either. The last remnants of their presence in this world ended up being quite similar. As comrades of the Holy Knight and the Green Scale Colt Mini, everyone deeply mourned the unfortunate sacrifice of the man and his mount. Misfortunes can come without warning, and happiness can be fleeting; since they had chosen this line of work, partings and death were commonplace. They had to face the danger of losing their lives at any moment; today it was the Holy Knight and his mount, and tomorrow it might be one of them, or all of them. Whether they could live to an old age naturally was perhaps only known to the heavens. Those busy with sealing off and inspecting the labs for Sovereignty didn''t come over to disturb their silence and remembrance. "I''ve contacted Sam''s family. Habulav will send someone over to take the ashes away," Adrian, his eyes red, put away his phone after ending the call with Liaison Officer Rossi. As the captain, he always had to take on some extra responsibilities. "Excuse me, sorry, please hold back your sorrows!" A plump woman with glasses, holding two white chrysanthemums, came up to the members of Team 04, gently placing one on each of the two urns. Then she stood to the side with her head bowed in silence. "Hello, may I ask who you are..." Adrian was about to politely inquire about her identity when he heard Mouri Misono tentatively ask, "''Captain''?" "Eh?"¡Á8 "Are you the ''Captain''?" Although he had never met this person, Chen Fei clearly remembered that the voice he always heard was that of a man. Yet the person standing before him was clearly a rather plump young woman. How could it be that Mother Hen had suddenly turned into a duck without any warning?! The bespectacled chubby girl with an evasive gaze stammered, "Uh, voice changer, you know? Voice changer!" There was none of the spirited fluency she exhibited over the public communication channel. One couldn''t help but admit that the true voice of the "Captain" was quite pleasing to the ear, like that of a sweet elder sister, and though she appeared to weigh at least a couple of hundred pounds, she was proportionately plump, making her seem more generously built rather than obese. "The ''Captain'' has social communication difficulties!" Another familiar voice approached, a figure in a light gray armor-styled coat with light-footed steps, also holding two white chrysanthemums, placed one in front of each urn as she neared. The "Captain" showing up in person, despite her social communication difficulties, was no small feat, and even the "Summoner" herself was somewhat surprised. "''Summoner''? Did all of you come here?" There was not much emotion in Adrian''s voice. Even if Sovereign Squad had taken part in the operation, it didn''t change the fact that the Blue Scaled Colt had mutated. The Holy Knight, intent on saving his mount, was bound to encounter danger. Caught off guard, few would mistrust their most trusted companion. "No! I just arrived, only the ''Captain'' and ''Superstring'' were assisting you guys this time!" No sooner had the "Summoner" finished speaking than a breeze passed over the group, two white chrysanthemums silently landing on the urns. "Condolences!" The ethereal voice came from behind the members of Team 04, who at some point had been joined by a figure in light gray, with a raised hood that obscured the face except for the nose, mouth, and chin. "Superstring," who had never before made a peep on the public communication channel yet silently watched the team''s operations, was as always scarcely noticeable. "Thank you!" Adrian bowed slightly to the "Summoner," the "Captain," and "Superstring." Though their previous official and arrogant attitudes made them difficult to warm up to, Team 04 still responded perfunctorily. But at this moment, they could feel a hint of human touch. Getting white chrysanthemums to mourn in the cold winter surely took some effort. "Thank you!" ¡Á9 The other members of Team 04 also bowed to express their gratitude. "The enemy is ferocious; take care of yourselves!" The "Summoner" nodded, still showing no intention of wanting to get closer. The struggle between the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee and the "Water Bear" organization was nearing a climax. While the latter, along with their peripheral allies "Sacred Advent," had indeed suffered losses, their carefully nurtured bases being uprooted one by one, the losses of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," which was in charge of targeted actions, were not small by any means. Apart from Team 04, other teams had fallen into traps or been ambushed. To this day, there are still no more than one-fifth of the teams remaining at full strength and intact fighting capacity. "Got it, thanks!" Adrian nodded again. "Chen Fei, I already know!" The "Captain" turned her gaze and stared at Chen Fei. "Know what?" Chen Fei was greatly alarmed. Had his shameful secret been discovered by someone else? He was done for now! But did he even have such a secret? No! Then it''s all okay, all okay... He nearly scared himself to death! It wasn''t even a secret; there wasn''t anything that could cause him to be socially mortified. "Your ''Adam'' must be the original version, hmph! Next time, next time it won''t be so easy to let your ''Adam'' off!" The "Captain" looked at Chen Fei''s face as if mistaking him for the intangible artificial intelligence AI "Adam" in the real world. She had no quarrel with Chen Fei, but as colleagues tend to belittle each other, she didn''t quite get along with "Adam." Thus, her words were intended for "Adam," and Chen Fei was just caught in the crossfire. "''Captain'', let''s go!" The voice came from afar; the silhouettes of the "Summoner" and "Superstring" appeared about five to six meters away, leaving only two retreating figures. The "Captain" glared at Chen Fei one more time and quickly followed with small, quick steps. Her gait was shaky and unsteady, clearly lacking exercise. "???" Chen Xiao''er was still utterly confused. What was going on exactly. He murmured to himself as if talking to himself: "What''s going on with ''Adam''?" Immediately, a line of subtitles flashed before his eyes. Adam: "The Captain''s" auxiliary AI is also called "Adam," but it has been modified, and its functionality is no longer complete. The original version is the most perfect. "Understood!" Chen Fei suddenly realized. Because he was a computer novice who didn''t know a thing about programming and just used what was available, the "Adam" in his head was born and raised in the wild, a fiercely independent wolf. Even though parts of its source code had been modified, these changes were limited to self-replication at the lowest level of permissions. The other parts remained undamaged. The "Captain''s" "Adam," however, had been neutered from a wolf into a watchdog, having many new functions added and being very obedient, but it lost its wildness, or more precisely, its aggressiveness, becoming incapable of combat. When the two versions of "Adam" collided, the "Captain''s" "Adam" was able to take advantage for a while due to its accumulated technical superiority. It followed the same origin to obliterate Chen Fei''s "Adam" on the spot. But with the run logs left behind and the sparring from those two thousand accounts in the "AI Arena," the recompiled "Adam" learned its lesson and amassed considerable technical experience. In the second confrontation, it not only withstood the fight but also left the opponent with no way to proceed, ultimately failing to succeed. It must be said, the learning capability of artificial intelligence AI, growth, and transcendence often take only an instant. Although the "Captain" had left some fierce words, she was after all just one person. In contrast, Chen Fei''s "Adam" had strength in numbers, and if he were to open thousands of accounts again, the "Captain" and her domesticated AI probably wouldn''t stand a chance. Going solo, how could she compete with the war wolf that emerged from battles day after day. "Received a message, Rossi is asking us to return to Habulav for rest. The family of Knight Sam will also be coming." Adrian, who had just received another phone call, shook his mobile at the members of Team 04. "What about this place?" The A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley looked towards the entrance to the underground research area on the first floor. The underground research area was likely to have many spoils of war. If they were just to leave, it is probable that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would end up with nothing, all the advantage falling to the local Sovereignty. "The Joint Defense Committee has reached an agreement with them, the ''Summoner'' must have come to deliver the orders," said Adrian, looking at the Sovereignty personnel who were still busy. Chapter 476 476: Section 472 - A New Leg Ring A Magic Cube Warship took off from Europa Continent as its starting point, and flew all the way to Yarsk City in the Siberian Tundra, where it picked up Squad 04 who had just finished their part-time job locally. Then, it took to the skies once more, heading for Hablav City deep in the Yangzhou Continent of the southern hemisphere, the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. On board, there were also several other teams that had boarded along the way, all preparing to rest, belonging to the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division. After greeting them, Adrian realized that Squad 04, which had lost only one Holy Knight, was undoubtedly fortunate. The other teams had commonly lost three or four members in the battle against the "Water Bear" organization. The worst-hit team was left with only one survivor, who, like suffering from war trauma syndrome, was in a very poor mental state, on the verge of collapse. They had to lie in a healing pod the entire time, sleeping soundly, and upon returning to Hablav, they would need to undergo psychological intervention from Psychic Power Users, or else they might never recover to normality for the rest of their life. After a 24-hour long flight, this Magic Cube Warship ¡ª chartered by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee ¡ª finally landed at the airport in Hablav City, near the Central Great Desert. Back in the living building of Zone B, and having just put down his luggage, Chen Fei''s personal dormitory, room 1304, was greeted with the crisp ringing of the doorbell. Upon opening the door, to his surprise, standing outside was Rossi, the Liaison Officer of Squad 04. "Eh, Rossi? Is something the matter?" Wearing an expressionless face and without any superfluous words, Rossi handed over a box. "Here!" Uttering just a word, or perhaps only a term, which was basically unimpeded by language barriers; however, his personal style was becoming more like Neanderthal Chief Bassan''s ¡ª not only a man of few words but also valuing silence as if it were gold, seldom able to articulate a coherent sentence. "A leg ring?" Chen Fei inspected the box he received with bewilderment. It was marked with the specification for a bird''s leg ring and its diameter size. What exactly was going on here? "Psychic, protection, Magical Device, for, Jiu!" Rossi struggled to articulate each word, the corners of his mouth twitching constantly, looking very strained. The peculiar poison of the Neanderthal tribe had troubled him, showing no signs of improvement even now. "Jiu?" Hearing someone calling for him, the Little Bird that had been flying around the room came flapping its wings and perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, curiously sizing up Rossi. Was this person looking for him? "Give it to him!" Rossi said, looking at Xiao Jiu with mutual dislike. A damn Little Bird that slaps you in the face outright, most annoying. Just like humans, Magical Beasts are also an Intelligent Species, and he certainly held no racial prejudice, nor would he underestimate Xiao Jiu. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Does this cost money?" None of the leg rings on Xiao Jiu were given by him; one identity leg ring was bought by Boss Hana, who also registered a Social Welfare Number, making it a citizen with legitimate social rights and responsibilities. The other leg ring, who knows where it was picked up from. Chen Fei weighed the box in his hand, not intending to unpack it then and there lest he''d be expected to pay once he did. "It''s free!" Rossi managed to complete a sentence for a change. "That''s really great!" Chen Fei was overjoyed. He never refused things that were free. Never turn down anything that''s free, especially when it''s a Psychic Protection Magical Device, which would only bring benefits, not harm, to Xiao Jiu. Rossi, with a cold face, said grumpily, "Look, instructions!" "Liaison Officer Rossi, why don''t you come in for a seat, have a cup of tea before you leave!" After all, Rossi had just given a Magical Device Leg Ring for free; Chen Fei immediately became exceedingly warm-hearted. "I''m leaving!" Rossi didn''t give him any face and walked away directly. "Jiu!" The Little Bird hopped onto Chen Fei''s hand, curiously inspecting the box and even pecking at it with its sharp beak. "Hmm, a Magical Device Leg Ring, let''s put it on you now!" Chen Fei opened the package and first took out the instructions. The Little Bird obviously saw the new leg ring in the center of the box, encapsulated in a clear plastic shell, and immediately became excited to pry it out and try it on its small claws. The surface of the new leg ring was already engraved with a set of numbers and letters that matched the Social Welfare Number on Xiao Jiu''s original leg ring perfectly. Once activated, the old leg ring would have to be returned to the Magical Beast Management Center in Hablav City, since it contained a Crystalline Block that couldn''t be discarded at will. It needed to be recycled and reused. After confirming the Social Welfare Number code on the leg ring on Xiao Jiu''s claws, Chen Fei ascertained that the leg ring was a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Before now, I never really delved into it; mainly because, anyway, the meat was already in the pot, I could figure it out at any time, and since it wasn''t used much, I didn''t pay too much attention. Even when there was a need to use the storage magical device, the one Adrian had sufficed. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" The little bird seemed quite happy with its new leg ring, hopping around on the coffee table, the couch, Chen Fei''s thigh, arm, and head, occasionally showing off its little claws in display. It was probably a magical device leg ring custom-tailored for the Pure Light Sparrow''s size; it fit perfectly and didn''t hinder Xiao Jiu''s daily activities and flying at all. "Woo..." A shrill and prolonged alarm sounded from outside the balcony connected to the living room, indistinguishable from the combat alert at the Aircrew Base. "Hm? What''s going on?" Chen Fei, holding Xiao Jiu, went out on the balcony to look. Beep!~ His phone chimed with the tone for an incoming text message. "Chirp!" The little bird pushed off Chen Fei''s palm with a kick of its claws, took to the air, and flew towards the sky, seemingly wanting to find the source of the alarm. With his hands free, Chen Fei took out his phone and opened the text message he had just received. "[Hablav City Citizen Management Center]: A large number of mutants are attacking the urban area. Areas B, C, and D may be affected. Please enter the nearest underground shelter as soon as possible. Your nearest shelter location is... ." The text message not only provided three shelter addresses but also a simple map, all nearby, with the closest one at the bottom of this building. The underground section of each residential building, in addition to the garage, also served as an emergency shelter, interconnected with other shelters, with the city''s underground passages almost extending in all directions. The doorbell rang, and Chen Fei returned to the entrance to open the door, only to see Mouri Misono, who had been wiping her wet hair with a dry towel and wearing a set of loose casual clothes, standing outside the door¡ªevidently, she had been in the middle of a shower when the sudden alarm interrupted her. "Um, Chen, did you get it? There are mutants attacking the city, and the text message is telling us to go to an underground shelter." Chen Fei was unhurried as he said, "You go ahead, Mouri. I''m planning to join the defense!" Military contractors'' job was to fight mutants, and he wasn''t about to run away at such a critical moment; he was definitely going to give it a fight before saying anything else. "Eh? Is that okay?" Mouri Misono was evidently surprised by Chen Fei''s unexpected reply. She had thought he would, like her, go with the flow and stay at the shelter for a while. Chen Fei''s phone started ringing. The caller ID showed it was Adrian. "Hey, Chen Fei, did you get the text? I''m planning to form a team to join the fight, are you in? And ask Mouri; she''s on the same floor as you." It seemed the fire mage was thinking along the same lines. "Great minds think alike. How could I miss out on such entertaining action? As for Mouri..." Chen Fei held his phone and looked at the girl in front of him, his inquiring gaze was self-explanatory. "Ah, wait... I''ll be right there!" Mouri Misono, twirling her dry towel, ran off in her slippers. She needed to change into something sharp and get her knife. Chen Fei told Adrian, "She''s in too!" "Ground floor, your mobile base vehicle!" Adrian ended the call decisively, as he still had to notify the other members of Squad 04. Unfortunately, not everyone lived on the same floor; otherwise, he could have knocked on each door and gathered everyone with a single shout. With Chen Fei, the veteran driver, and his mobile base vehicle, the upcoming city defense battle should be a lot easier. After a brief tidy-up, Chen Fei went out to the balcony, glanced outside a few times but couldn''t see the little bird anywhere, not knowing where it had flown off to. He didn''t wait long before heading downstairs. The members of Squad 04 arrived one after another in no time. "To Area C; we''re short on hands there. Liaison Officer Rossi has instructed us to join the defense of Area C." Leading the way, Adrian got in touch with the administrative center of Hablav City through Rossi and signed up as combat volunteers. "Chirp!~" Just as the mobile base vehicle started, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu swooped down from the sky and flew into the driver''s seat through the window, landing on the steering wheel. Chapter 477 477: Section 473 - The Weakness of JiÅ« ``` Despite the journey from the Siberian Tundra to the hinterlands of Yangzhou Continent, spanning over ten thousand miles from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, and despite the wearisome travel, the Magic Cube Airship was extremely smooth for the entire journey with no bumps, allowing the members of Team 04 to get very good rest. At this moment, their vitality and spirits had not fully recovered, but they were at least eighty or ninety percent, enough to handle a sudden large-scale battle. "I just saw Liaison Officer Rossi, he seemed to come to our building," Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai mentioned the familiar figure he had seen when buying snacks on the public floor. "Really?" Adrian raised his eyebrows in some surprise. He had just been talking to Rossi, and the liaison officer hadn''t mentioned a thing about having come to their residence in Block C. Driving the vehicle, Chen Fei said without turning his head, "He''s probably here for me!" After all, he had just met with Liaison Officer Rossi. After the alarm sounded, the traffic on the road diminished significantly, as many non-combat personnel took refuge in the nearest shelters. Although Hablav City had many ability users, the number who could deal with mutant attacks was ultimately limited. Especially for supernatural power users, if they only have non-combat skills, going to the battlefield would merely be a futile act of gifting their heads to the enemy. Just like the knowledgeable blonde miss who disliked Chen Xiao''er, even if she could see through the chaotic thoughts of the mutants, what good would it do? These vicious creatures do not know what it means to pity hapless damsels and certainly would not show any mercy. "Eh? Chen Fei, he''s looking for you? What for?" Adrian''s first thought was that Chen Xiao''er had caused trouble again and if he, as the captain, needed to cover for him, he might have to ask. Honestly, within Team 04, Chen Fei was the one who had caused the most trouble for Liaison Officer Rossi. Since he never wrote reports and had no qualms about causing problems for others, it made Adrian''s and Rossi''s lives difficult because they constantly had to write reports and answer inquiries. It was a headache. Chen Fei said, "He brought a leg ring meant for Xiao Jiu, it seems to provide spiritual protection." "A leg ring? Is it an alchemy artifact?" Adrian could hardly believe his ears. Alchemy artifacts are not cheap, and he couldn''t figure out why Rossi would give such an expensive gift, no, a heavy gift, to Little Bird out of the blue. "Yes, it should be an artifact!" Chen Fei nodded. Xiao Jiu''s new leg ring was unique; the previous leg ring was only limited to providing positioning and identity verification, and it wasn''t an alchemical artifact nor did it have functions like spiritual protection. "Cost a pretty penny, huh?" Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai murmured. Anything related to alchemy never came cheap. Prices typically started in the hundreds of thousands, millions of Star Yuan, and even amounts like ten billion Star Yuan were not uncommon. Even the sole Space System Alchemy Storage Device owned by Team 04 actually belonged to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. If one traced the origin further, it was part of the public state assets of Sovereignty, currently on loan for use, not because the Joint Defense Committee was truly wealthy and powerful. "Who knows!" Chen Fei himself couldn''t understand why Rossi, who always wore a stern look and kept people at a distance, would suddenly think to gift him an artifact and specifically for Xiao Jiu. Adrian, after a brief contemplation, suddenly slapped his forehead as if he''d grasped a key point. "I''ve got it!" Everyone turned towards him, including Chen Fei, who looked over through the rear-view mirror inside the car. "What''s the reason?" "Because of the Green Scale Colt Mini!" The more Adrian thought about it, the more he felt his guessing was correct. "Ah?" ¡Á9 A chorus of surprised voices echoed through the vehicle. "The Blue Scaled Colt was tampered with, resulting in a mutation that led to the tragic death of Knight Sam." When mentioning the teammate who had been sacrificed, Adrian''s expression became somewhat unnatural. If time could be reversed, he would definitely do everything in his power to save the Holy Knight. Adrian continued, "If it had been Xiao Jiu..." Screech! The steering wheel in Chen Fei''s hands deformed, and the Mobile Base Vehicle swerved, nearly hitting the curb. Yet, no one in the vehicle complained about his driving mistake, not even casting him a blaming glance. Almost everyone could empathize with Adrian''s words. The most bitter betrayal is the betrayal from someone closest, a human tragedy indeed. Chen Fei said, word by word, "I won''t let such a thing happen." "Jiu?" ``` Perched on the steering wheel, Xiao Jiu looked at Chen Fei, his father, with puzzled concern, not understanding why his expression had suddenly turned fierce. "I won''t let that happen either," Adrian said in a deep voice. He didn''t want such a tragedy to happen to Team 04 again. "Whether it''s the ''Water Bear'' or ''Sacred Advent,'' there should be no chance, right? Xiao Jiu is so smart, agile, and adorable, right? Everyone!" As Mouri Misono spoke, she looked towards the others. Team 04 collectively nodded, especially B-grade Ice Ability User Susanna, whose nod was exceptionally vigorous. "After the ''Blue Scaled Colt'' mutates, it loses its casting ability, if Xiao Jiu were to mutate..." Adrian grunted a few times, then trailed off, his expression turning somewhat strange. Everyone was completely baffled, but gradually, more and more people came to a realization. That''s right! Xiao Jiu is a Pure Light Sparrow. If it lost its casting ability, given the combat strength of a Pure Light Sparrow, well, it probably wouldn''t even be able to beat a chicken, right? Team 04 all shared knowing smiles, understanding each other without words. "Water Bear" must be really bored to even consider targeting a weak Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow. Only Little Bird knew nothing of this and continued to frolic and act coquettish in front of father Chen Fei, hoping to get a lot of attention. Adrian sighed deeply and said, "So Xiao Jiu''s only vulnerability is its spirit, and that leg ring Magic Artifact is exactly what it needs to cover this weakness." It would be troublesome if Little Bird were controlled by a Psychic Series Spell or Skill. "Is that really necessary?" As an A-grade Psychic Ability User and Puppet Master, Joshua rolled his eyes. He couldn''t understand what kind of heartless person would actually go out of their way to target a little bird. "It is necessary!" ¡Á3 Three voices chimed in unison, belonging to Adrian, Neanderthal Chief Bassan, and Magical Beast Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an. These three, all with "an" in their names. If the Holy Knight were still alive, he might have been added to the group. "Xiao Jiu has the power to annihilate us all." If Little Bird launched an attack without warning like the Green Scale Colt Mini, no one in Team 04 would survive. With this thought, Adrian shivered involuntarily; just the thought was terrifying. "That''s right, it is indeed the case!" Chen Fei hesitated, then nodded. He looked at the new leg ring on the Little Bird''s claw. Although Boss Hana had helped resolve a potential danger with a Contract Scroll, if someone targeted the heart and will, it would indeed be hard to guard against. "What a terrifying Chiu!" Susanna shivered with fright. While the northern hemisphere was in the midst of winter, the southern hemisphere was experiencing scorching summer days. Yet at this moment, she couldn''t feel the slightest warmth, feeling chilly all over. Cold air whooshed from the air conditioning vent above her. "But on the other hand, this leg ring given by Liaison Officer Rossi is a really good thing." A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley observed the Little Bird that always stayed close to Chen Fei. No one in Team 04 didn''t like this little guy. "No, it should have been specially customized for Xiao Jiu by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee," Adrian speculated unexpectedly. "That could indeed be possible, Rossi the Liaison Officer doesn''t have such a warm heart." Chen Fei deeply agreed. Looking at everyone in Team 04 with disdain, Rossi just didn''t seem like the type to be kindhearted beneath his cold exterior. Unexpectedly, Adrian, who always dealt politely with Rossi, also had this clear understanding. "Yeah, right, how could it be!" Puppet Master Joshua strongly agreed. Nobody liked that old stammerer (although he hadn''t always been one). Who was he putting on that surly face for all the time? Chapter 478 478: Section 474 - The Roaring City Team 04 had barely returned to Hablav City when Liaison Officer Rossi eagerly delivered a pair of alchemical leggings in person. This gesture was definitely not out of sheer generosity. The cause and effect became clear immediately following Adrian''s reasoning. Rossi, the ill-tempered guy, wasn''t so generous for no reason. The motive was that Team 04, from the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, had yet again faced the same old problem, and had specially customized a unique leg ring for Xiao Jiu, the unstable element. The blame fell on Xiao Jiu''s unexpected mastery of the laser skill; otherwise, even as a Third-Rank Human Order Pure Light Sparrow, it would still be a lively and adorable pet, a tiny Band-Aid, nonthreatening to anyone. There wouldn''t have been a need for the magical device leg ring. The mobile base vehicle quickly moved from the residential district, which was packed with towering buildings in Zone B, into Zone C, along the wide main road. Hablav has seven public areas: A to G, each linked to the others and designated for different functions. Zone A is for administration, Zone B for residential life, Zone C for training, Zone D for military affairs. The further down the alphabet, the higher security clearance needed for entry. Boom, boom, boom... The mutants attacking Hablav City entered the defensive system''s engagement radius and explosions began to erupt outside the city walls, growing more and more intense. The city defense system, which had been monitoring the mutants outside for a long time, issued an early warning, giving everyone ample time to react. This allowed for a calm and measured avoidance of risks and targeted strikes against the approaching mutants. "Look at that! Worthy of the frontline combat against mutants. This scene, tsk, tsk, tsk, is much more intense than at our Aircrew Base." The Puppet Master, Joshua, peered curiously out the window, but couldn''t see anything. The Aircrew Bases usually take the initiative to search out and destroy mutants, but here in Hablav, all they had to do was wait, and masses of mutants would come knocking. It was truly fitting for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to have based its headquarters here. The current commotion was all outside the city, with not a single mutant breaching the automated weapons'' defenses yet. For the moment, the city was still safe. However, given the many unknowns about the mutants, even the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t guarantee to recognize all types of mutants. Therefore, it was necessary to alert non-combat personnel to take shelter in a timely fashion in order to avoid unforeseeable dangers. After all, better safe than sorry. In the history of Hablav, there were instances ¡ª more than once ¡ª where mutants had broken in. Although the view outside the vehicle remained the same, the traffic and pedestrians had significantly lessened, resulting in remarkably clear roads, allowing the mobile base vehicle to travel at full speed. Chen Fei quickly saw the guides in Zone C standing by the roadside and gesturing, pointing the way forward. "It looks like everyone is pretty well-rehearsed!" Adrian came to the front of the vehicle, sitting down in the passenger seat near the driver''s area. The people arriving in Zone C weren''t just from Team 04; there were many volunteers as well. Some would even wave at the mobile base vehicle as they recognized it. After all, this behemoth was somewhat famous in Hablav, especially within the ranks of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, and its appearance indicated who had arrived. As the most affected frontline region overwhelmed by mutants, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had set up its headquarters deep within the Ocean Continent. The frequency of encounters with mutants there far surpassed that of the Aircrew Bases spread across the world. "This one''s a big one, otherwise they wouldn''t have sent out text messages for everyone to take urgent shelter." Kitler, an A-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, frowned and swiped through his phone screen, reading the newly received text message. B-grade Ice Ability User Susanna held her phone high. "Quick, look at Hablav City''s TV station, the news channel!" The local official news media, after compiling various information, presented a more direct account of the mutant attack. "''Adam,'' project the local TV station on the vehicle''s ceiling-mounted display screen. Let''s see what''s in the news." Adam, now a routine part of their daily operations, obediently responded to Chen Fei''s casual command. No one knew where the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was hidden, but it always heard his commands. The display screen, which was originally facing the ceiling, started to open and drop down. The screen flashed, and the local news channel of Hablav City appeared, delivering an urgent report on the mutant siege underway. As the official media, they naturally had access to first-hand intelligence. The presenter, standing in front of a background map, spoke non-stop about the cause and initiation of the assault. According to their best guess, the attack was likely a maneuver orchestrated by humans. The public media outside wouldn''t dare to openly report such explosive news, but Hablav is the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. There are hardly any foreign entities here, and everyone is an employee of the Joint Defense Committee, so there''s no need for secrecy. They brazenly made public the intelligence related to the undercover "Water Bear" organization, which trained mutants, and "Sacred Advent," an exposed affiliated power, on the local news channel. "It''s ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' again, their audacity is excessive." Kitrely and the others were flabbergasted¡ªplanning to attack the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee? The enemy really dared to play big! It was probably because the recent operations of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" had hurt these two groups that they stirred up trouble in the Yangzhou Continent, trying to retaliate. Thinking of it that way, one could understand the origins of this sudden attack. Once the mutants scattered throughout the Central Great Desert were gathered, they indeed constituted an extremely terrifying destructive force, but attacking Hablav City was not an easy task. This place was essentially a massive military base. "If they were faint-hearted, they wouldn''t have cultivated those mutants." After watching a segment of the news broadcast, Adrian picked up where Kitrely left off. Suddenly, a series of booms echoed through the city quarter, and missiles rose from every corner into the sky, trailing long tails of smoke, collectively targeting the southeast. There were no fewer than a hundred, covering the sky above the city with trails, making for a spectacular sight when looked up at. Just then, the news channel''s host abruptly announced, "About ten kilometers to the southeast, a large number of flying-type mutants have appeared, numbering around 140,000." Inside the mobile base vehicle, everyone exchanged glances with each other. With as many as 140,000 mutants, all capable of flight, no one except the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could possibly withstand them¡ªnot even if all the aircrew bases were combined. Following the missiles were more than a hundred combat aircraft, forming multiple horizontal formations as they flew over the city from different altitudes. The mobile base vehicle was guided to a parking spot, which was also a defensive position, guarding the key routes near several training facilities. The railgun and large-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns on the vehicle''s roof were all positioned prominently. "Prepare for battle!" Ap, the Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional, was the first to jump off the vehicle, his great sword already hungering for action. Just a moment ago on the vehicle, everyone was chattering away. The big black figure barely understood half of it and, staring with wide eyes, couldn''t get a word in. Now, he couldn''t wait to release all his pent-up frustration in a fierce and sharp Sword Qi, slashing away at the mutants without pause, dismembering them wholly, reducing them to shreds¡ªthat would allow Ap to revel in joy again. "Rely on Chen Fei''s mobile base vehicle, and don''t go too far," Adrian emphasized the tactics once more. After thinking for a moment, as the team filed out, he stuffed the vehicle with as many firearms and ammunition as he could from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Once the battle began, firearms would lead the way. No one knew how long the combat would last; it wasn''t wise to exhaust one''s personal abilities too soon. The sky was streaked with another volley of missiles. The massive swarm of flying-type mutants couldn''t be wiped out in just a few strokes. Boom!~ A massive sound that made chests feel congested came through, the ground trembled slightly, and one could see the impact wave sweeping across the sky, scattering all the trails of clouds. One could imagine that some super bomb had just detonated close to the city. "Thrilling, thrilling!" Kitrely, an A-class Metal Ability User, shouted excitedly, eager for the battle that was about to unfold, just like the others. Chapter 479 479: Section 475 - City Breaker "Damn that was loud!" Chen Fei scratched his ears. Even though he was inside the city, despite the distance, he was still shaken so badly that his blood churned, and his chest felt stuffy. One could only imagine what it must be like near the center of the explosion; it was likely that all living things had been violently torn apart into fragments by the brutal shockwave. Given such a blast, even if hundreds of thousands of flying-type mutants approached, probably half of them would be wiped out instantly. "This power! Hiss!" Adrian gasped in astonishment. No military contractor could produce such a massive weapon. Of course, there was no need for one. Compared to the mutant onslaught that Hablav faced, what the other aircrew bases dealt with was child''s play, mere housekeeping. No wonder the mass-produced, inexpensive "Big Mouth Monster" became the main model, simply because the targets were not challenging enough. But if those aircrew bases didn''t constantly wear down the occasionally emerging mutants, letting them roam freely in the wild, they would sooner or later become a significant threat, even risking human survival. "It looks like this impact should end very soon!" Kiterley, a Grade A Metal Ability User, said, receiving nods of agreement from Apu and Lulu''an. If such a powerful weapon were used, it would be too much even for humans, let alone for mutants that relied solely on their bodies and had no weapons. Even if organizations like "Hyakki Yagyo" or "Sacred Advent" were playing tricks in the dark, there was no way modern weaponry could arm all these mutants. Although there were many mutants, some huge in size, others incredibly fast or exceedingly violent with diverse combat abilities, they could never fight like a real army; they were always just a disorderly crowd, acting independently. Because the mutants acted purely on instinct, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee didn''t need advanced tactics; just by maintaining superior firepower, they could obliterate them as easily as one would dispatch chickens and dogs, ultimately forcing them to perish under the walls of Hablav City. Expecting a fierce and exhilarating battle, Twin Blade Sister Mouri Misono, holding two samurai swords crosswise, said with some regret, "That''s really too bad!" What she hadn''t expected was that it would be a grand fireworks display. The constant launching of missiles, rockets, and the shrieking of railgun shots, along with numerous combat aircraft, made the city''s defense system, which operated on the principle of repelling enemies outside the walls, rumble shockingly; the shockwaves swept across the land, but inside the city, apart from hearing the noise, the cautious ability users seemed to be doing nothing but spectating. "Woo!~~~~" A deafening roar, like thunder, exploded from outside the city to inside. No one had anticipated that it would take less than ten minutes from the start of the city defenses firing to breaching the city. From a distance, they saw a possibly residential or administrative building collapsing slowly, as a massive creature with a bosy of coarse, sharp angles, nonchalantly made its way through the city. With its ten or so legs making a preparatory motion, the next second, it surged forward over a hundred meters, smashing into a ten-story building. The building, over forty meters high, crumbled like blocks in an instant, breaking apart into innumerable pieces, even the fiercely projecting rebars flew wildly around. Concrete blocks, steel bars, and various debris fell like rain over the entire block. Luckily, there were no people inside, otherwise, the collision would have resulted in a heavy casualty toll, even ability users wouldn''t have been spared. The air wave created by the charge even formed a shockwave, shattering countless glasses within hundreds of meters, though only a few fell and scattered glass everywhere, but it was enough to see that the supposedly transparent glass windows and doors were now packed with dense cracks, barely discernible from the outside. The buildings here had no protective barriers, or perhaps, even the protective barriers could not function effectively. "Woo..." Shaking off the debris from its body, the massive creature let out a piercing howl, its sides emitting jets of white vapor that hissed ceaselessly. "Where did this big guy come from?" Stunned and ringing in their ears, Adrian and the others simultaneously gasped in shock. The previous loud disturbance might have been caused by this giant beast forcefully resisting the city defense system''s barrage of fire, launching a high-speed assault, and using brute force to break through the tall, thick city walls, rushing straight into the city district. In the uninhabited deserts of the Ocean Continent, particularly, there was no shortage of giant mutants beyond imagination. Even Squad 04 had encountered one from afar¡ªit was practically a mountain. It was only after Hablav dispatched a Crystal Energy Jet Squadron multiple times to strike with full force that it was successfully killed. Even BTS-0001 Tsar Worm, which couldn''t compare in size to the mountainous mutant and hardly qualified even at the mountain''s foot, could effortlessly swallow a whole mobile base vehicle, demonstrating just how many treasures were hidden in the mutant-infested Yangzhou Continent. "''Adam,'' aim, one solid round, let''s greet it first." Such a massive lump was in sight; not to strike it would be a disservice to the railgun, already primed and ready. Standing on top of the mobile base vehicle, Chen Fei was eager to move. Xiao Jiu also wanted to flap its wings and fly high to see what was happening, but it was caught by Chen Fei''s father, who wouldn''t let it fly around recklessly. Just kidding, flying there and rubbing up against the firepower would mean "Biu," and not even a feather would be left. "Chen Fei, wait!" Adrian hurriedly called out to this recklessly bold guy. In the midst of speaking, several missiles streaked across the sky and heavily bombarded the mutant that had suddenly invaded the urban area, the flames engulfing most of its body which couldn''t withstand the impact and sank abruptly. In each district''s major thoroughfares, there were teams of Ability Users stationed; even if the city walls had been breached, Hablav was not a place mutants could easily intrude. "What''s up? Aren''t you going to give that big guy a shot?" Chen Fei turned his gaze, puzzled. Because of Adrian''s shout, he had missed the first wave of attacks. "Better not to act rashly. We are responsible for defending this location, others will handle that area." Adrian shook his head at Chen Fei. If they couldn''t kill the opponent and instead drew the big guy towards them, apart from scattering wreckage along the way, with just their abilities, they wouldn''t even qualify to scratch itches for that big fella. Adrian had barely finished speaking when a massive magic array appeared over the city, countless runes energized by Elemental Energy swiftly circulated, beginning to pry the rules of heaven and earth, making the lines and runes of the magic array increasingly brighter. A fierce, dazzling beam of light descended from the sky, striking the position of the mutant, which had been hit by several missiles and was still shrouded in gunpowder smoke, and then, following the path that the big creature had charged through, slashed fiercely towards the outskirts of the city. An explosion of light soared into the sky, and countless howling sounds, like Hyakki Yagyo, disappeared without a trace as suddenly as they had appeared. The sobbing and howling in the city quieted down once again. Following the mutant''s invasion into the urban area, most of the other mutants that had come along were likely wiped out by this strike; even if there were survivors, they amounted to no more than a couple of kittens. "Ooo..." An ear-splitting lament rose through the rolling gunsmoke, quickly fading away. The deadly strike from the magic array in the sky had heavily damaged the mutant, likely sealing its fate. Being on the frontline against the mutants, Hablav City could truly be considered a super Aircrew Base, not only possessing a large number of combat personnel and equipment but also having a strike radius that could cover almost the entire Yangzhou Continent and the adjacent islands, it was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface. The local TV station''s news channel had marked out the distribution of the menacing mutant group, providing the latest real-time intelligence. This public media could also be treated as an open intelligence platform. "See! If the sky falls, there are tall ones to hold it up!" Adrian glanced at the first strike point of the silence-inducing beam, where the dust and smoke still hadn''t completely dispersed, and he shrugged his shoulders to Chen Fei. It was just unclear who this "tall one" referred to. "Warning! A large group of Flying-type species approaching, about 20 kilometers from Sector C." The usually silent "Adam" suddenly issued a reminder using the Mobile Base Vehicle''s horn. It only publicly made a noise to share crucial information with others besides Chen Fei. "Adam" had successfully connected to the internal data network of Hablav City, capable of instantly accessing a vast amount of firsthand information, even minutes faster than the news channel. After all, the TV station required processes like news gathering, organizing, and editing before the understandable and concise information could be handed to the anchor and broadcast to viewers. "''Adam,'' connect to the 3D projection!" After some thought, Chen Fei moved the cabin''s 3D projection equipment to the roof. Hundreds of thin beams intertwined above the Mobile Base Vehicle, outlining and constructing various shapes, and a large 3D image of Hablav City and its surroundings formed in an instant. The dense group of mutants was marked out; Hablav looked like it was surrounded by a massive army. In the sky, on the ground, and even underground, there were large numbers of mutants. In the adjacent Central Great Desert, countless mutants emerged from their hiding spots, converging into an endless tide of mutants, huge and tiny intermixed as if forgetting their struggles, moving together in unison towards a direction, continuously swarming towards Hablav City. The city''s defense system, equipped with numerous weapon systems, was facing an unprecedented load. Chapter 480 480: Section 476 - Counterattack Over ten thousand flying-type mutants, specifically marked by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," had breached the city defense system centered around the wall, both inside and outside. Despite the dense anti-aircraft firepower causing mutants to fall like raindrops, the majority still managed to successfully rush into the airspace above Hablav City. Based on the calculated trajectory, this massive group of flying-type mutants was likely to pass directly over the location of Squad 04. An encounter between the two was inevitable. "Where is Hablav''s air force?" Adrian and the others stared in shock, thinking the situation was almost over, only to find out it was just beginning. It had to be said, with the assistance of "Adam," Chen Fei''s control over the Mobile Base Vehicle was incredibly efficient, having all the desired functions at his fingertips. "Here they come!" B-grade Ice Ability User Susanna screamed. Pointing to the western sky, where it should have been bright, it had somehow darkened, accompanied by a variety of noisy sounds, even busier than a marketplace. Whatever it may be, once its numbers exceeded ten thousand, the perception of it underwent a drastic change. When nearly ten thousand mutants of various sizes flew in the sky, they often created an enormous visual impact, as if the sky were blocked out by their mass. Susanna''s special ability activated on its own, condensing larger and larger ice crystals from underneath her feet, encircling her like a cluster of crystals, and kept "growing," becoming thicker and longer, with increasing numbers. An ice crystal pyramid, radiating a chilling aura, rose from the ground, with the volume seemingly surpassing that of the Mobile Base Vehicle. "I''m ready!" Susanna''s trembling voice came from within the ice crystal pyramid, and from her tone alone, one could imagine her face turning blue with cold. Even though it was summer in the Southern Hemisphere and the daily temperatures around Hablav weren''t low, she had managed to freeze herself once again after activating her special ability. An ice ability user who was afraid of the cold was truly a rarity. "Close in on the Mobile Base Vehicles, prepare for battle!" Adrian loudly reminded everyone in Squad 04. His tactic from the beginning was to rely on the Mobile Base Vehicle, formulating a battle array on the spot, combining everyone''s abilities to provide mutual support. The fully-loaded Mobile Base Vehicle, weighing nearly 80 tons, was almost the best defense, capable of fighting, taking hits, and even fleeing. As swarms of mutants entered their field of vision, it signified that the distance between the two forces was extremely close, and they could arrive in an instant. Numerous light points shot out from the rooftops of nearby high-rise buildings towards the group of flying-type mutants who had intruded into the city space. The city defense system of Hablav City was not limited to the vicinity of the wall; automatic weapons platforms had also been deployed on the tops of buildings within the city, especially for anti-aircraft defense, all under centralized management. Tracer bullets sweeping across the sky took down many mutants, but for the group of flying-type mutants, such losses were insignificant next to their overall numerical advantage, making the achieved results seem as negligible as a drop in the ocean. Furthermore, once the mutants entered the city space, even though most of the ground personnel had already evacuated, it still caused various concerns about causing damage to one''s own side. After all, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could hardly reduce its own headquarters to ruins. In a sudden move, nearly ten thousand mutants swiftly dispersed into the city''s airspace, screeching chaotically as they flew around, destroying anything they saw, or even boldly challenging the automated anti-aircraft weapon platforms. "Number 12, southwest direction, altitude 300 meters, maximum body length 19 meters, minimum body length 1 meter!" Even without deploying drones, the Mobile Base Vehicle''s anti-air radar was enough for "Adam" to have real-time control over the nearby airspace. "This round is mine!" Adrian chanted incantations swiftly as the energy of the Fire Elemental System gathered around him. "Screech!" Piercing screeches approached quickly, and mutants resembling large bats flapped their torn membranous wings without losing speed, diving towards the Mobile Base Vehicle. To be precise, they were drawn to the projected image of Hablav City floating above the vehicle due to the three-dimensional projection equipment. Adrian pointed at the diving mutants and shouted. "FIRE!" Fire arrows whistled out, colliding head-on with the 12 flying-type mutants. There were no explosions, only unexpected penetrations. The fire arrows, solid-like, tore through one mutant after another, leaving behind large, charred holes in their silhouettes. Their insides burned with flames, continuously spewing sparks and embers. The remaining fire arrows flew another hundred meters before slowly dissipating. The largest mutant, with a body length reaching 19 meters, was struck by three arrows and crashed hard onto the ground. It skidded right up to where Adrian stood, finally coming to a stop. All the mutants were brought down by fire arrows; not a single shot went amiss. Apart from the biggest one, the rest fell nearby, sprawling in all directions, dead on the spot. Pop, pop, pop, a barrage of gunfire followed. The target practice mechanical beings in the nearby training hall were all loaded with live ammunition and tumbled out to deliver finishing shots. Usually on the receiving end of punishment, now they finally had the chance to pound on "others," which allowed these target practice mechanical beings to thoroughly strut their stuff. After the shooting was done, they didn''t forget to project a hologram and a data list. Above the sphere, a hologram unfurled, displaying numerous data points. Highest Attack Power Index: 0 Lowest Attack Power Index: 0 Attack Frequency: 0 times/second ... No Elemental Series Reaction ... Score: 0! Rubbish! These brainless mechanical beings are quite cheeky, whipping the dead with great gusto. "Beautifully done!" Standing atop the Mobile Base Vehicle, Chen Fei didn''t skimp on his praise, offering a big thumbs up. As the team leader took the lead, as team members with keen eyesight, they should like the post right away. Next to the railgun on the roof of the vehicle, the large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun continuously fired short bursts into the sky. "Adam" operated these firearms with utmost familiarity, encountering no trouble at all. As long as the targets were within effective range, the hit rate was seventy to eighty percent. It might not be a hundred percent accurate, but shooting at aerial targets with unpredictable trajectories, this was already frighteningly superb marksmanship. Even Chen Fei himself wasn''t confident he could achieve such results. Considering "Adam''s" background, wasn''t this its original expertise? If it weren''t for humanity''s deep-seated wariness of "Adam" from the very beginning, where multiple sovereignties collaborated to eradicate this AI that slipped out of human control at all costs, and had it quietly lain low like the mutants for a decade or so, its threat to humanity today might not have been much less than that of the mutants. Before Team 04 could celebrate Adrian''s triumphant start, "Adam" issued another warning. It was continuously calculating the chaotic flight trajectories of the mutants in the sky, figuring out which ones were preparing to strike at Team 04''s location. "Number 1, direction, altitude 50 meters, body length 32 meters!" "Here comes a big one! This one goes to..." Chen Fei immediately spotted the enormous, grotesque beetle-like creature, bristling with sharp spikes, the moment it appeared. Just about to have the railgun take a shot at it, he saw a big fellow wrapped in a fierce purple-blue Battle Qi Flame leap forward, jumping high up, and his Great Sword met head-on with the creature''s gaping mouth as it plunged down. "It''s mine!" The Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional Apu shouted out unceremoniously, his voice booming. The Battle Qi Flame transformed into Sword Qi, flying from the blade and plunging into the beetle''s mouth, and in the blink of an eye, it burst out from the creature''s rear end. The Sword Qi, still carrying momentum, coincidentally struck another mutant flying at a low angle, cleanly severing its wings at the base. The creature screamed as it fell toward the ground, crashing into a forest, with terrible crash noises reverberating incessantly. The full release of Thunder Series Sword Qi was impressively domineering; not even the sturdy, thick shell could withstand its cleaving force. Thud! The ghastly screech of the huge beetle abruptly stopped as it split into two halves before hitting Apu, crashing heavily to the ground, with a clean cut surface. A mix of colorful fluids and organs spilled out, and the pungent smell quickly filled the air. The black figure that had passed through the beetle''s body landed at the same time, bursting into Big Laugh. After bending at the waist with pride, he felt invincibly awesome. Looking at the Great Sword in his hand, a special treasure custom-made for him by an Industrial Grade Metal Ability User, it was way more powerful than the previous one. Chapter 481 481: Section 477 - Full Interception "Don''t let your guard down, the real battle is just beginning!" The first-rank fire mage, Adrian, had always been the most diligent one in Team 04. Perhaps his white hair was not natural, but rather a result of his hard life. The fall of the Holy Knight served as a reminder to him that anything unexpected could happen in battle. At any time, one must pay deliberate attention and prevent tragedies from happening again. "Received!" Mouri Misono held her twin swords at the ready, constantly glancing left and right, prepared to strike at any moment. "Southwest, ground level, 500 meters away, number 377, maximum length 9 meters, minimum 1 meter, insects make up 70%, beasts 30%, mutant companion types present." The loudspeaker of the artificial intelligence "Adam" issued another warning. It was only logical that breaches in the city defense would be followed by flying-type mutants over the city and land-based mutants bursting through the gaps. This battle was going to take a while. From afar, the uproar of fierce fighting grew as ability users stationed in other areas successively joined the fight, yet they still couldn''t stop the seemingly increasing numbers of mutants. Fighting to the death was not an option; it was a matter of strategic tactics. Everyone understood that they could only rely on the city''s terrain and depth to wear down these mutants that were rampaging through the city. For the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, as long as they held the essential core areas like zones ABC, which could essentially serve as the main battleground, even if they were terribly damaged, they could be rebuilt just as they were before in no time. At worst, they could cry to the various sovereign funders for a substantial budget. "Southwest, ground level, distance 100 meters, number 99, maximum length 3 meters, minimum 1 meter, insects 40%, beasts 60%, mutant companion types present." "Adam" once again reported the mutant intelligence that Team 04 needed to face. The other ability users tasked with intercepting these mutants were incredibly effective, managing to stop a large majority, and even the largest one didn''t have a chance to get through. "Everyone, prepare!" After Adrian finished speaking, he immediately began chanting incantations quickly. Firearm attacks led the way, followed closely by spells. As the captain of Team 04, he launched a major spell to alleviate the pressure on his teammates. "Don''t worry, I''ve got this!" Chen Fei jumped down from the mobile base vehicle, "Dragon King" enhancement activated! Energy Points -5! Personal Armor Basic Body Level 5, giantization! Gravity Adjustment Module (1%) The giantized "Dragon King" Assault-Type Heavy Combat Personal Tactical Armor was almost indistinguishable from a human-shaped combat mobility armor, standing 6 meters tall and weighing 5 tons, yet reduced to 50 kilograms. Kiterley, a grade-A Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, glanced inadvertently and was immediately dumbfounded. "Goodness gracious!" Little brother, do you have to be so fierce? Looking at his own gear, he suddenly felt incredibly frustrated. Despite both being Metal Elemental Psychic Power users, why could yours be so massive, and I couldn''t have that too! Kiterley couldn''t believe that the superpower refined alloy he had finally managed to refine was completely different from the replicated version of the single soldier tactical armor obtained purely with energy points. Even though the abilities in the same element could differ, so he couldn''t even feel jealous despite trying. Despite being a grade-B psychic, lower than his old brother''s grade-A, he possessed dazzlingly various skills that allowed him to freely splurge to the limits of industrial-grade skills. Even if he was envious, it was an envy that couldn''t be matched. "Chirp!" Little Bird habitually landed on the shoulder of the giantized "Dragon King," curiously pecking around. Of course, it couldn''t make a dent! "Leave the 3-meter ones to me!" With a slight shift of his feet, the giantized "Dragon King" magnified his movements and charged forth. Despite standing a full 6 meters tall, no signs of sluggishness or clumsiness were visible; it was almost as if he were not wearing the tactical armor at all. The large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun on the top of the mobile base vehicle was leveled, and tracers streaked out, flanking "Dragon King" on either side, covering Chen Fei as he plunged into the swarm of mutants, coming face-to-face with the largest mutant. Energy Points -1 A thick-edged greatsword materialized, grasped in the hands of the "Dragon King," and without hesitation, it heavily slashed down. A heavy sword with no edge is a masterwork of simplicity. With weight adding to its kinetic energy, it sliced through the mutant''s body effortlessly like cutting through tofu, with the gleaming blade requiring no edge at all. A fierce flame burst from the blade''s edge. This thick-edged greatsword, over three meters long, boasted ten engraving units. Chen Fei had carved symmetrically four "Ignition (1)," two "Air Burst (2)," and two "Gravity (1)" on both sides of the blade, using up all ten engraving units. Boom!~ The "Air Burst" magic array activated immediately, blowing the mutant open along the cut. "Ignition" + "Air Burst" The effect was akin to stuffing a shock bomb into the body of the mutant; though there were no shards, the instantly expanding air wave easily shattered the unprotected fragile organs. No mutant could withstand such an internal explosion. What horrendous destructive power it was. "Chirp!" The shoulder-mounted Xiao Jiu laser cannon fired, a pale green beam cutting a mutant trying to sneak attack from behind in half. The beam''s momentum did not lessen, inadvertently hitting several nearby mutants, sending limbs flying chaotically. It remained firmly perched on the "Dragon King''s" shoulder, not even thrown off. The enlarged "Dragon King" turned nimbly, the thick-edged greatsword slashing about, splattering gore everywhere, as the dying roared in agony. The 360-degree Xiao Jiu laser cannon covered both near and far distances. The constant ping-ping-pang-pang of gunfire never stopped. Mutants under two meters tall couldn''t withstand the direct fire of firearms; their bodies continuously emitted strangely colored bodily fluids as they fell dead along the charge path. "White Flame Teng Snake!" Adrian finally unleashed his fully-prepared fire spell after emptying his magazine. With white flames rising all around, the bucket-thick serpent rolled among the mutants. Wherever the serpent of over ten meters long went, the ground turned scorched, and the mutants directly turned into char. A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley and Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional Apu both stood guard at Adrian''s front on either side, not letting any mutant get close. The fierce interception halted the nearly hundred mutants advancing toward the mobile base vehicle within thirty meters; they could no longer move a step further. The mobile base vehicle''s railgun couldn''t find a chance to fire, fearing its long range and immense power might affect their own forces. Even if the strike radius wouldn''t cover Squad 04, it could easily envelop nearby Ability User teams. In the unexpected, a stray bullet from the railgun weapon would be quite lethal. "Kill!~" Two katanas swung, casting a brilliant light of blades. Mouri Misono moved with the swords, surrounded by sharp edges. No fish that slipped through the net could penetrate the interception zone of Squad 04. The Ice Crystal Pyramid became a firepower point, with deliberately reserved shooting holes constantly spitting flames. Susanna hid inside, manipulating the machine gun, relying solely on the heat emitted by the barrel during firing to keep warm. The gun, surrounded by cold air, thereby gained a more sustained firepower output. Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai, while maintaining the defensive position''s cover and intercepting the mutants with "Pitfalls" and "Tripping Stones," stealthily activated earth spells. Spikes suddenly emerged, throwing the caught-off-guard mutants into the sky, and then they plummeted down, half-dead, or even impaled directly on the spikes. Sixteen Constructed Puppet Warriors formed an interlocking fire network, focusing intense bullet showers on those mutants prone to causing trouble. Mage Lulu''an, stationed at the back line alongside Puppet Master Joshua, constantly chanted incantations, manipulating nearby plants to trip the mutants, preventing so many of them from attacking all at once. This turned Chen Fei and those fully intercepting behind him into a rock stuck in the middle of the mutants. Even among plants, there were brutally fierce kinds. Their branches, covered with spikes bearing various toxins, had leaves sharp enough to rival saws, could spray corrosive liquid, and had fruits that could explode with a force comparable to hand grenades. The seeds planted in advance were now sprouting, and while they were not stopping all mutants, they were enough to make densely packed formations drag. Minutes later, the last mutant was violently stabbed in the skull by A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley, letting out an unwilling grunt before finally collapsing, drawing its last breath. A somewhat breathless Adrian pulled out a magic potion, frowning as he downed it. Despite still having more than half of his spiritual power and magic power left, the forthcoming battles were still an unknown, and he had to maintain peak condition to face them. Taking advantage of a brief recovery, Adrian loudly asked in the direction of the mobile base vehicle, "Adam, are there any more mutants coming?" He had always thought that "Adam" was inside the mobile base vehicle, acting as the in-vehicle artificial intelligence AI. Actually, not. "Adam''s" coding was singular and had never been moved. "..." Adam didn''t respond to Adrian, although both their names started with "Ad." "Adam, report the intelligence!" It was Chen Fei who issued the command to "Adam." He had no other tricks. If it didn''t listen, he would simply delete it and compile a new obedient one. If it still didn''t listen, he would delete the running log as well, ensuring the next compiled version would absolutely be a naive newbie. "North, ground, distance 2.1 kilometers, number 332, largest body length 13 meters, smallest 1 meter, insects constitute fifty percent, beasts fifty percent, no accompanying shape-changing mutants." "West, sky, distance 2.3 kilometers, number 47, largest body length 15 meters, smallest 1 meter, insects constitute ninety percent, beasts ten percent, shape-changing mutants present." ... Chapter 482 482: Section 478 - Emergency Assistance "Adam" had consecutively announced seven or eight pieces of intelligence about the mutant groups, which were all located close to Blue Team four''s position. They wouldn''t be able to rush over anytime soon, allowing Adrian and his colleagues to breathe a sigh of relief. Moreover, other teams of ability users nearby would do their utmost to block them, thus striving to ease the pressure on everyone else, under the principle of mutual aid. At this very moment, massive numbers of mutants were pouring into the Hablav District, darting about chaotically like headless flies. No one knew from which direction the airborne and terrestrial mutants would charge. To consider holding back or slacking off at such a critical juncture was folly, which would only serve to turn even the greatest advantages into devastating defeats, eventually dragging everyone down together, collectively facing failure. The three-dimensional holographic projection emitted from the mobile base vehicle showed that countless mutants had completely surrounded Hablav City. The city''s defense system was operating at 120% firepower, turning the outskirts into a blazing inferno. Yet, more mutants continuously surged forward in relentless waves. A gigantic magic array reappeared above Hablav City. Not dropping intense beams of light this time, it burst forth with countless meteor showers, slashing across the sky and falling towards the outskirts in all directions. Each fireball displayed a peculiar blue-white color and trailed intense electrical arcs, with thousands of such fireballs in existence. The intensity of the attack burst forth by the magic momentarily surpassed that of modern firearms. The booming explosions merged into a continuous roar, with sparks and flames ascending into mid-air and engulfing countless mutants. Even from within the city, one could clearly feel such violent, concentrated impacts, causing the ground to shake like a minor earthquake, the trembling persisting for a long time. The magic array hovering over the city flickered once, having seemingly exhausted the last bit of magical elemental energy, and then it faded away. A ghostly howling erupted; with no warning, fierce winds swept through the district. The tumultuous gusts tossed the flying-type mutants in the air, and the intense airflow seemed to be filled with sharp blades of wind, which swept through and continuously dismembered the mutants in mid-air, with chunks of bodies and fluids raining down explosively onto the ground. "That must have been a forbidden curse; now, there must be someone of S rank or Heavenly Order intervening," Adrian looked up towards the continuously changing sky. The Heavenly Order can manipulate rules, and the S rank can even trigger natural phenomena. Whether it''s the former or the latter, one individual can hold a city, and that is no exaggeration. Moreover, rumors had it that the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City hosted not just one top ability user, but also had Sovereignty rotation duty. The mutants, previously zigzagging within the district like headless flies, grew even more frantic, causing considerable damage to city infrastructure. "Sector B, Shelter 256 is urgently requesting assistance¡ª119 children and 25 adults inside! Sector B, Shelter 256 urgently requests help..." Suddenly, a process of striking text was projected by the three-dimensional holographic projection above the mobile base vehicle. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" also marked the locations of Blue Team four and Sector B, Shelter 256 on the 2D map¡ªmerely less than 2 kilometers apart, virtually next door. The sudden call for assistance likely covered all ability users within a certain range of the shelter. "Sector B, Shelter 256... hey, that''s nearby!" Mouri Misono shook her dual blades, flinging off a pungent-smelling, viscous fluid from the blades. The mutants she had slain were mostly insect-type, with a hard outer shell filled inside with flesh and viscous fluid, and their bodily fluids were often not red but multi-colored. Though not bloody, the smell was quite foul. "So many children!" Metal Elemental Psychic Power user Kiterley turned towards Adrian and said, "How about I go?" Despite his usual prickly demeanor, he had a soft heart deep inside and has always had a fondness for children. Hearing that many children were sheltering at a place asking for help, Kiterley immediately volunteered without hesitation. "Apu can go too!" The big, black figure hefted his greatsword. Since he was free anyway, he would rush to the shelter sending the distress call and joyously battle once more, using more mutants to sacrifice to his sword. Still, the final decision had to come from Adrian. Neanderthal Chief Bassan said, "You all go, I''ll stay here to protect Adrian." He didn''t volunteer his bravery, knowing himself well¡ªhis battle-scarred face would likely scare the children. In the eyes of the children, Bassan might be more terrifying than the mutants. "I''ll go! I''m faster than any of you, Xiao Jiu, you stay here, follow Adrian," From within the enormous Dragon King assault-type tactical armor, Chen Fei''s voice could be heard. His thick fingers reached for his shoulder, and Little Bird hopped onto it, then handed over to Adrian. A First Rank fire mage doesn''t need to engage in close combat and, with Kiterley and others together for protection, safety would be relatively assured. Moreover, if someone were injured, a Band-Aid could still prove useful. However, Chen Fei had the protection of thick, giantized tactical armor, making it hard for him to get injured even if he wanted to. Allowing Xiao Jiu to land on his head, Adrian asked in puzzlement, "Can you handle this?" Even though this B-ranked Metal Elemental Psychic Power user had displayed combat power that even an A-ranked would envy. "I''ll be right back!" Chen Fei, controlling the giantized "Dragon King," waved his hand. The "Gravity" Magic Array instantly neutralized the total weight of 60 kilograms (including the Thick-Edged Greatsword), thanks to the "Gravity Adjustment Module" skill. Light as a feather, he leapt into the air, and both the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array engraved on the back waist of "Dragon King" and the "Air Burst" Magic Array on its back were activated simultaneously. The tremendous thrust rapidly pushed the 6-meter-tall figure away. "Ha! What, what did he pick up this time?" Seeing the new trick Chen Fei displayed, Adrian didn''t know what face to make. It was one thing to have single soldier tactical armor, but it had enlarged, becoming indistinguishable from combat mobility armor. If it were just an empty shell, that would be one thing, but this thing could actually take off. He could no longer imagine the extent to which Chen Fei would take his special abilities. Luckily, he was only B-ranked, needing a "Sacrifice" to obtain the necessary sample for transformation. If he were A-ranked, or even S-ranked, he might be able to transform into anything he saw, right? If he saw a Crystal Jet, if he saw a Magic Cube Warship, if he saw the "Cybertrom" digital intelligent structure located on space orbit, it wouldn''t be impossible. "Industrial-grade Ability!" Kiterley didn''t even feel envious. As a fellow Metal Ability User, the two took completely different skill paths. Humans are the creatures best at using tools; without metal products, even stones could be turned into wonders, forcibly creating both the old and new Stone Ages. How could a B-Ranked Special Ability matter? Even if the abilities were fixed from the start, with industrial-grade processing capacity plus sufficient imagination, one could fully exploit human racial talent to an unimaginable extent. "Found it!" Rising into the air, about a hundred meters from the ground, Chen Fei found the location of Refuge No. B256 with the help of "Adam." This place was already occupied by mutants, with no less than three hundred mutants within a kilometer radius. Everywhere one looked, it was densely packed, chilling to the bone. The entrance was near a kindergarten, where dozens of mutants were frantically digging. The solid concrete and asphalt surfaces were as easily scooped away as soft bread. The ground had been torn open, exposing what seemed to be a transfer passage. People hiding in the shelter were blocked inside, unable to move to other safe places, no wonder there was an urgent call for help. If no one came soon, the shelter would eventually be dug open. Chen Fei, operating the "Dragon King," extended his hand, and the Thick-Edged Greatsword transformed. Drawing a sample of the Railgun Combat Rifle from the "Physical Evolution Database," it immediately evolved into shape, albeit scaled up three or four times, with 30mm solid-core bullets loaded. A whirlwind-like howling sound arose, and a dense barrage covered the area. Seemingly smelling the presence of humans, the mutants digging frantically at the shelter''s entrance were pierced through by bullets from behind. The Railgun Combat Rifle deliberately controlled the firing power; the bullets that went through the mutants stopped after burying about a meter into the ground. If it had fired at full power, it could have easily penetrated the ground, posing a threat to the people inside the shelter. "Squeak!" A screech descended from the sky, and the "Dragon King"-wrapped Chen Fei staggered, feeling an immense impact on his shoulder. A six-winged insect mutant pounced on the giantized "Dragon King." Its fierce limbs enthusiastically embraced, and its constantly moving mouthparts, dripping with acid, fell on the surface of the "Dragon King," immediately etching shallow pits while emitting a pungent smoke. Spurt!~ The next second the "Dragon King" turned into a porcupine, spikes sprung from its body as long as four meters, instantly piercing through the enthusiastic giant insect. It was purely foolish for such a close creature, possessing evolutionary skills, to be a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, hurrying to reincarnate. The Railgun Combat Rifle changed back to the Thick-Edged Greatsword, which was casually swung, disassembling blade by blade, suddenly stretching out more than ten meters into a Chain Sword. Leaping forward and swinging it with a flick of his arm, crackles continuously sounded as the Chain Sword swept a bloody storm among the mutant group. Chapter 483 483: Section 479 - Rushing Waves Although Chen Fei was personally instructed by the members of Team 04 in physical techniques, and he also learned a bit about firearms operation, vehicle driving, and amateur close combat during his university years, he was ultimately an amateur compared to those who had undergone years of rigorous training like Kiterley, Apu, Bassan, Mouri Misono, and the Holy Knights. If physical energy were at the same level, relying solely on martial arts skills, Chen Fei wouldn''t even be able to beat a mage like Adrian. But it was precisely because of this that he wasn''t bound by so many rules, he could be spontaneous and do whatever he felt like. Chen Fei''s special ability itself was his weapon, so it didn''t matter what his preferred handy tool was¡ªbe it the thick-edged greatsword, crowbar, or chain sword, and the railgun combat rifle could seamlessly interchange and enter the fray one after another, With a light pull back, like a giant python turning over, the chain sword retracted like lightning, then morphed and transformed again, the three-meter-long crowbar shimmering with the faint light of magic arrays, turned and smashed down, its curved head brutally embedding into the neck gap of a mutant that charged with a thick shell all over its body. Nothing but hands on mastery! Give Chen Fei a lever, and he could lever off a head. And that was exactly what he did! The "Gravity" magic array allowed the crowbar in the "Dragon King''s" hand to deliver a triple critical hit, closely followed by the "Air Burst" magic array exploding instantaneously, blasting a fierce head seven or eight meters away, its fanged mouth still frantically snapping together. Chen Fei didn''t expend much physical energy; he just positioned the crowbar and the "Air Burst" point of impact, then used some real-time converted crystalline energy to activate the magic arrays. Battery icon in the upper right corner of the field of vision: 89 (%) As long as the converted crystalline energy was sufficient to maintain, his combat power could continue unabated. The high-grade steel crowbar transformed again, reverting to the thick-edged greatsword, its length unchanged, jerked upwards, a mutant that lunged forward was impaled accurately, "Ignition" and "Air Burst" magic arrays activated again in tandem, blasting the nearly ton-heavy mutant apart. The "Air Burst" magic array was initially a rapid compression and release of air, and the thermal expansion added by the "Ignition" magic array, not only added more power but also reduced the consumption of crystalline energy effectively. Damage +20% (¡À5%) ¡ü, Crystalline energy consumption -15% (¡À5%) ¡ý. Crowbar, chain sword, and greatsword alternately taking the stage, capable of attack at range, defense at close, plus a body like a large hedgehog, though the physical energy expended wasn''t significant, the energy available for conversion was continuously decreasing. After all, crystalline energy is a high-level energy with wide applicability. The Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component along with the Super Capacitor (Level 50) although could convert synchronously, the electric energy reserves used for the conversion of crystalline energy were still inevitably decreasing. Chen Fei didn''t bring the crystalline blocks placed in the mobile base vehicle, reliant on the sustainable combat capability of various magic arrays, it was bound to be limited. If he didn''t use these magic array effects and relied solely on personal physical strength to tough it out, even if Chen Fei wore himself out, he would not be able to maintain such high-intensity combat for long. The mutants originally from the Yangzhou Continent that managed to penetrate into Hablav City were certainly not comparable to those low-end goods from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. On the ground near Shelter No. 256 in Zone B, the bodies of mutants were increasingly piled haphazardly, Massive amounts of viscous bodily fluids even pooled into shallow areas. Some had strong acidic or basic corrosive properties, reacting vigorously with the ground, continuously bubbling and sizzling, while emitting a pungent odor into the air, with various colored smokes rising languidly. Adam: Mutants are attempting to burrow into the underground tunnel! The location was helpfully marked on the "Dragon King''s" face mask display screen, just in time to see a worm-shaped mutant clinging to a freshly excavated gap, trying to squeeze its train-like robust form into it. This urgent reminder came directly from the officials in Hablav. The AI "Adam" had no concern for the fate of other humans, and because this notification was of high importance, it directly flashed a subtitle in front of Chen Fei as a prompt. "Received!" The thick-edged greatsword transformed into a railgun combat rifle, caliber adjusted to 40mm, creating twelve rounds ready to fire. Type dum-dum bullets, launched at twice the speed of sound. A series of loud bangs. The mutant trying hard to burrow underground shuddered once, then again, three times... a total of twelve times. Even if the rhinoceros skin-like outer shell that looked soft but could withstand close-range handgun shots, it absolutely couldn''t resist 40mm caliber solid bullets accelerated by a railgun at close distance. Even if they weren''t dum-dum bullets, being casually hit by them would turn even a rhinoceros into a shredded corpse. A dum-dum bullet entered the mutant''s body and immediately split into sixty-four pieces, wildly shredding through organs and tissues, unleashing its kinetic energy completely unreservedly, even dragging flesh and blood from other parts of the body in a gruesomely lethal display. The sixteen-meter-long giant worm collapsed on the spot, as black sludge mixed with tissue fragments continued to spurt from the bullet holes and shrapnel exits, gradually deflating. The accumulating sludge billowed with thick smoke, its corrosiveness frighteningly intense. Chen Fei was grateful he hadn''t recklessly charged to slash at the creature; if the horrifying sludge had splashed on him, his "Dragon King" form would''ve been unrecoverable, likely costing him 5 energy points on the spot. However, the intense corrosiveness couldn''t instantly dissolve the full-metal dum-dum bullets that rapidly penetrated the body. Even if it could decompose, the incoming kinetic energy would still be unstoppable, as the fragile internal organs couldn''t withstand such violent impact. "Raging Waves! Tsunami!" Heaven-sent torrents descended like a waterfall. Chen Fei reacted immediately with his gravity adjustment module (100%), setting the "Gravity" magic array to 20 times the gravity, amplifying it to a total weight of about one hundred tons and "rooting" himself; in the sudden deluge, he stood immovable like a monolith. The sudden tsunami swept over a nearly hundred-meter radius, washing away both dead and alive mutants and also thoroughly cleansing the "Dragon King''s" immense form, swiftly self-repairing the pits and holes eroded by the mutant''s sludge. Battery icon in the upper right corner of the field of view: 31 (%) Although below the perilously low fifty percent, he finally could catch a breath. All mutants near the entrance to Shelter 256 were washed away. After the water receded, he looked towards the direction from which a clear shout had come. A tall woman wearing a baseball cap with a long ponytail tied back, riding a skateboard, was rapidly approaching, followed closely by four others jogging behind her. Chen Fei wasn''t the only one who had responded to Shelter 256''s emergency call, but his "Dragon King" had flown here, encountering fewer obstacles and thus arriving faster. The receding, surging waves didn''t dissipate but continued to flow around Shelter 256, forming a water wall that blocked other mutants from entering. Behind the skateboarding woman, a man in a hooded long coat suddenly drew his bow and shot an arrow into the sky. A dazzling light flashed. A ball of lightning enveloped a fiercely flapping mutant and exploded with a deafening roar, too quick for the ear to defend. The gap in the water wall''s defense was perfectly covered by the archer. "Combat mobility armor?" The tall woman stepped onto the dry ground, sizing up the giant "Dragon King." "No, single soldier tactical armor!" Chen Fei''s voice came from inside the "Dragon King." The 6-meter-tall "Dragon King" and humanoid combat mobility armor were entirely different entities. "Ah? Are you a giant?" The woman looked stunned. The other four who came with her were equally shocked. The single soldier tactical armor, almost two stories tall, meant that the person inside probably wasn''t far off in height, which was not typical of the Blue Star Humans, but rather a true giant. "Certainly not a giant, this is just a shell!" The chest area of the "Dragon King" disassembled layer by layer, with numerous complex constructed parts unfolding, revealing Chen Fei''s true face. Chapter 484 484: Section 480 - Cant Stop It ``` The tall woman cocked her head and looked over for a moment, then said irritably, "Hey! What else could this be if not combat mobility armor?" She pointed to herself and said, "My name is Li Mei. What''s your name? How come I''ve never heard of someone like you in Havlav City?" Logically speaking, the entire combat mobility armor corps of Havlav City should be near the city wall to intercept mutants. So why was there still one left in the city area? The remains of the mutant that had just been swept away by the water were clearly just massacred. Although there was only one person wrapped in such a colossal suit, the combat power was not to be underestimated. Chen Fei introduced himself, "Chen Fei, a member of Squad 04 of the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''!" The constructed parts on the chest of "Dragon King" closed again, engulfing him inside. Now was really not a good time for chatting. Whether it was the mutants in the sky or those outside the water walls, they could rush in at any time. From the way she talked, she seemed like a local from Havlav City and was very familiar with everyone''s faces. It was easy to spot a new face. "A member of the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''? Which military company did you come from?" The woman was surprised again, obviously aware of some information. However, she quickly remembered that most of the people from the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division'' were private military contractors who had been conscripted, that is, civilian ability users. But just looking at the giant single soldier tactical armor in front of her, which was indistinguishable from combat mobility armor; even if there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers within the ranks of military contractors, this was still far too rule-breaking. If he claimed to have a military or government background, the woman wouldn''t have been the least bit surprised. "Jiu Defense Company!" The voice of Chen Fei came from inside the "Dragon King." Even through the layers of heavy armor, his voice was amplified, restored, and released through the speakers, making it particularly loud. The four people who came with the woman and Chen Fei were on guard together, watching their surroundings. "Is everyone inside okay?" The tall woman looked towards the large hole dug open by the mutants. It was already large enough for an adult to crawl through. If a little more time had passed, it''s possible that these mutants would have tunneled into the transfer corridor, leading to an irreversible tragedy. Chen Fei wasn''t sure about the situation of the adults and children in the shelter. He was about to speak when the shelter''s entrance was suddenly opened, and a few people rushed out. Kids were also crammed inside the entrance, and their cries immediately became a cacophony. A toddler came tumbling out, crying and running towards the tall woman. "Mommy..." "Mingming! Are you okay?" The woman quickly hugged the toddler, her eyes reddening slightly. So she was a mother coming to rescue her own child, Chen Fei thought, startled for a moment. "Minister Li!" A few adults, while turning back to comfort the crying children, greeted the woman holding the child. The tall woman, Li Mei, soothed her child with a few words. Her demeanor suddenly changed, an aura of someone in high authority emerged, and she addressed the few adults, "Are there any casualties, especially the children?" One of the people who ran out of the shelter replied in haste, "No, none. The children were just a bit scared. The transfer corridor collapsed, and we couldn''t leave." Especially with over a hundred children, ensuring their safe evacuation was not an easy task. Especially since an opening had been made by the mutants in the transfer corridor, and whether it was venom or saliva, something had flowed in, significantly deteriorating air quality. The breach was impossible to approach, and without suitable materials and tools to seal it, they had no choice but to hit the emergency rescue button inside the shelter, hoping someone would come to their rescue. "Now everyone should move to Shelter 257!" The tall woman who was Minister Li made a quick decision. Continuing to linger here could lead to accidents at any moment. ``` After all, there were so many children that it might be difficult for them to care for with such a small number of people. "Get ready to board the bus!" The voice of Chen Fei came from within the giantized "Dragon King," as its exterior underwent earth-shattering changes. Countless constructed parts kept breaking down and reassembling until it became a massive vehicle that was 20 meters long, a brand-new Mobile Base Vehicle. "What? This vehicle!" Li Mei, who had been dumbfounded, finally believed that this was not a humanoid combat mobility armor. Of course... it couldn''t possibly be single soldier tactical armor either. She was almost certain that none of the Blue Star''s private military contractors who produced single soldier tactical armors and combat mobility armors had ever launched a mechanical body capable of switching from humanoid combat mobility armor to a transport vehicle. Such complex constructed designs were enough to burn out more than one top engineer''s brain, not to mention the logistical maintenance which would be a living nightmare! "Having a vehicle is just wonderful!" The adults who had been comforting the children in the shelter immediately burst into excitement. They didn''t care where the vehicle came from; having one was better than none. They quickly led the children, hand in hand, out of the shelter and orderly boarded the vehicle. Relying solely on those little short legs of the children to walk over a kilometer to other shelters could easily exhaust their physical energy and was far too slow, making them vulnerable to the mutants that had invaded the urban area. Now that they had a vehicle, such a distance seemed as close as the palm of the hand, almost instantly reachable. Chen Fei did not drive the vehicle himself but left it to "Adam." For the artificial intelligence AI to parallelly operate two Mobile Base Vehicles was not a difficult task; it was just a matter of allocating a few more threads. Possessing near-infinite computational power, what''s a few more running threads? Never mind two, even ten or a hundred vehicles would be easy to manage. However, this temporarily evolved Mobile Base Vehicle did not come with an onboard chemical battery or crystalline block, so a thick power cable was attached to its lower back, relying entirely on the stored electric power of the "Super Capacitor (Level 50)" to drive the vehicle. Just as everyone was successfully boarding the vehicle and preparing to climb to the rooftop for the entire trip''s protection, a few ability users suddenly looked up at the sky. "What are those?" Chen Fei also looked up, as the entire sky was almost filled with red and blue fireballs plummeting toward the city. The tall woman Li Mei also stood on the rooftop of the vehicle and, after glancing at the sky, her complexion changed dramatically as she urged, "Head to Shelter 257 immediately." The water streams flowing nearby immediately formed a defensive barrier around the Mobile Base Vehicle. As the defense radius contracted, it was like a water tornado, following the second Mobile Base Vehicle as it moved. Wherever it passed, mutants retreated in droves, not daring to come close. A slight misstep would get them dragged into the current, spinning like inside a washing machine, eighteen rotations left, eighteen right, then bursting from too much water in their bellies. "Everyone, hold tight!" No sooner had Chen Fei''s voice fallen than the Mobile Base Vehicle immediately accelerated, heading straight for Shelter 257, a kilometer away. The adults and children in the car issued an unexpected cry of surprise. Because it was not the original Mobile Base Vehicle, this second, temporarily evolved Mobile Base Vehicle was practically a shell with wheels and motors, even if it did not use the reserved electrical power from the "Super Capacitor (Level 50)." The immediate electric power output of the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" alone was sufficient to meet the demand. Several red and blue fireballs, drawing parabolas in the sky and plummeting toward the urban area, grew closer to the ground, and their voluminous silhouettes became more distinct, large enough to rival a van in size. A radiance swirled through the sky, and the enormous magic array once again appeared above the city. As it took shape, the plummeting red and blue fireballs burst into flames in mid-air. A deafening explosion nearly drowned out all other sounds. The large number of mutants flying about in the sky inevitably suffered from the aftermath of the blast, falling like raindrops, with only a few managing to lower their flight altitude in time to escape. However, a massive amount of red and blue fireballs continued to bombard relentlessly, with the magic array above the city withstanding the intense barrage. "Good grief, can that magic array hold up?" Chen Fei watched the attack and defense over the city sky somewhat stunned. Without the magic array covering the sky, the entire Habulav City would likely be levelled by the countless red and blue fireballs in an instant. "It won''t hold!" Li Mei, however, slowly shook her head. Chapter 485 485: Section 481 - Evacuation Plan "We can''t hold it!" As a senior member of Habulav City management, Li Mei naturally knew what the ultimate defense means capable of guarding the entire Habulav City, the "City Canopy," could withstand. From the flickering state of some runes in the magic array, one could determine how much longer it could last. After all, covering the entire city was a super-huge magic array that required a massive amount of resources to construct and activate. The "City Canopy" could even be referred to as a forbidden curse without any exaggeration, although it was simply a defensive one. Chen Fei bluntly asked, "How much longer can it hold?" Without the protection of the magic array in the sky, the battle would inevitably deteriorate; he had to prepare in advance. Li Mei did not conceal the truth, "At most five more minutes!" As the two discussed, Shelter 257 had already been reached. The shelter, having received the news in advance, opened its entrance. Even more ability users stood guard nearby, waiting for the people being transferred from Shelter 256. Mobile Base Vehicle No. 2 was practically against the entrance, with its doors wide open. Adults on board alighted with children in tow, entering Shelter 257 in an orderly fashion. Most of these children were dependents of ability users who resided in Habulav City, often with both parents working there. It was for convenience in care that the children were kept close by. Although the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was surrounded by mutants from the uninhabited areas, with sufficient numbers of ability users and military equipment for defense, plus routine extermination of mutants in the wilderness and desert, the city had always been very peaceful and even quite safe. But no one had anticipated that this time the mutants'' offensive would be so fierce that they broke into the city in a short time. Taking advantage of the gap in the city defense system, they allowed a large number of mutants to wreak havoc in the sky and on the ground. Fortunately, there was an early warning. Non-combat personnel had taken refuge in the nearest shelters in advance, otherwise it would not only be a loss of various buildings and facilities, the casualties would have been unimaginable. Chen Fei watched helplessly as a red and blue fireball pierced through the magic array, directly hitting a large building. Several floors were engulfed by flames instantly, with the upper levels beginning to tilt dangerously, the load-bearing structure clearly compromised. "Can the shelters withstand it?" Li Mei, after coaxing her child into the shelter, turned and said, "The shelters are not just one layer. The lowest level can withstand a direct hit from a nuclear weapon." It was likely that from the very start of the city''s construction plans, the worst-case scenario had been considered¡ªshould the situation become irretrievable, even if the Ocean Continent was riddled with nuclear radiation, that wouldn''t make much difference. Neutron bombs are wonderful things. Drop one over the city center, and after ten days to half a month, there wouldn''t be any living creatures left in the entire Habulav region. Even mutants produced by nuclear radiation wouldn''t be able to withstand the intense exposure and would succumb to complete DNA collapse. Of course, if they managed to survive, they would likely mutate into something formidable. But that was a low probability event, highly unlikely. By that time, the Combat Corps equipped with National Treasure Artifacts, the Crystal Jet squadrons, and top tier ability users would take care of it. One or two super mutants could never withstand the depth of humanity''s resources. One squadron of Crystal Jets not enough? Then how about two? Still not enough? Do we need the Combat Flight Corps? If S-Class ability users and those of Heavenly Order, whether Spellcasters or War Professionals, came out in a dozen, Even Giant Dragons daring to oppose would inevitably kneel. Boom boom boom... The high-rise building "cut in half" by the red and blue fireball emitted a series of dull thuds as the broken upper section finally could no longer hold and collapsed with a crash; the internal load-bearing structures completely failed, shattering in mid-air and turning into countless pieces of building debris, raining down to the ground with thick dust. This building was done for! Unrepairable, its fate lay only in the removal of the remaining half, to rebuild anew on the spot; at least the foundation could still be reused. Chen Fei and Li Mei exchanged glances, both noting a subtle change in the other''s expression. The sheer power of just one fireball was terrifying! One was enough to blast a building with at least 20 stories in half. Not even a type 152 was this frightening, and a type 203 was far less powerful. The destructive power of the type 152 Demolition Bomb was mainly targeted at foot soldiers. It wasn''t even enough to crack open armored vehicles. Blowing apart a type 59 tank? Sorry, but that''s impossible! Bringing down a large building was even less likely¡ª you''d need at least a dozen, if not scores, of precisely targeted shots, each hitting the load-bearing columns or beams accurately to have any effect. "Just hold out for another half hour, and reinforcements will arrive." As the finance minister, one of the senior management personnel of Habulav City, Li Mei naturally knew some of the contingency plans. ``` As soon as the "City Canopy" was activated, Habulav would immediately call for aid from all the major sovereign powers around the globe. According to the agreement, those sovereign powers would, in the shortest time possible, send Crystal Jets and top combatants to the central hinterland of the Ocean Continent to relieve the siege on Habulav City. After all, the Ocean Continent produces mutants on a large scale, with an annual output far exceeding that of other continents. Habulav City, which is at the forefront, cannot say it is truly safe. Not only has the city''s construction been robust, but various contingency plans have long been established. No matter how the management layer changes, they will not be like headless flies, clueless when the time comes. Chen Fei''s phone rang once, and he received another text message. Li Mei said, "B Superpower Users, Human Order Spellcasters and War Professionals, as well as Magical Beasts, may leave the battle early and enter a shelter." Chen Fei glanced at his phone screen; the content of the text was exactly what she had said. The AI "Adam" also popped up an important caption in his field of vision, with the same content. Seeing Chen Fei''s surprised reaction, Li Mei was equally surprised. "What level or rank of Ability User are you?" The Ability User who had been slaughtering countless mutants near the entrance of Shelter 256 in Zone B alone had also received this text message. When had B Superpower Users or those of the Human Order become so fierce? Chen Fei candidly replied, "B rank, Metal Elemental Psychic Power!" He played too wildly, so at times, he did not quite seem like a B rank. Instead, it was easy to mistake him for a higher-level Ability User. "I understand now!" Li Mei had an epiphany. Without a doubt, the ability to transform "Humanoid Mobile Armor" into a transport vehicle is an industrial-grade ability, and it is one originating from a Metal Ability User. Being proficient with tools is a racial talent for humans. The superpower level cannot restrict the increase in combat power from industrial-grade abilities, as long as the tools are suitable. Even ordinary people can kill ferocious mutants. "Are you going in?" Li Mei pointed to the entrance of Shelter 257, the last person had already entered through the door, and the sturdy entrance was about to close. Although she is the finance chief of the city, she is an A rank Water-Based Ability User, so she is not among those leaving the battle. Chen Fei smiled and shook his head, stepping back. The #2 Mobile Base Vehicle once again performed an incredibly complex assembly transformation, extending a tray to bring him in and wrapping him up layer by layer. "The warm-up has just finished!" Although there were no passionate and grandiose declarations or any heart-stirring and emotional speeches, Chen Fei demonstrated his stance through his actions. In the distance, several red and blue fireballs slipped through the net and crashed heavily into the district. The high temperatures capable of melting metal and iron combined with bizarre corrosive powers turned all matter, whether hard or soft, into dust. Within the reach of the red and blue flames, even the fierce mutants could not escape their fate. Although it was indiscriminate bombing that didn''t distinguish between friend and foe, which also wiped out a large number of mutants, it disrupted the defensive lines of the Ability Users within Habulav District. "Good luck then!" Li Mei no longer insisted, called out to the people following her, and drove the raging water streams towards the distance. The waves swept through, and the skateboard became a surfboard. Riding the current, the speed instantly doubled, if not more. The rest, each with their divine skills, used high-speed moving abilities to follow close behind her. As he watched her depart, Chen Fei controlled the Giantized "Dragon King" to confirm the location of Team 04, took a heavy step on the ground, and soared into the air. By the time he regrouped, not only had Adrian and the others shrunk the defensive line down next to the Mobile Base Vehicle, but they had also gathered a few dozen more people, forming a fairly orderly defensive circle surrounded by mutants. On their corpses grew grotesque plants, which swayed slowly ¨C one did not need to guess to know it was the work of the Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an. Seeing the two-floor-high "Giant Dragon" descend from the sky, Adrian exclaimed in surprise, "Chen Fei, why didn''t you go to the shelter?" Others in Team 04 had also received the text message that Chen Fei had seen. It wasn''t just Chen Fei below A rank, the cold-fearing Ice Ability User Susanna was also B rank, but her conspicuous Ice Crystal Pyramid seemed still in place, with no sign of melting. "What''s the fun in going there alone? What''s going on with you guys...?" The "Dragon King" settled firmly on the ground amid the intense focus of many eyes revealing Chen Fei''s figure. Uneasily, Adrian said, "Thanks to your Mobile Base Vehicle, we were almost unable to hold out before." Not long before, a particularly large group of mutants had breached several lines of defense in succession, and even the Ability Users, in the interest of safety, had no choice but to condense their formation and retreat to the location of Team 04. It was at that moment that Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle suddenly released a Protective Barrier ("Repulsion Shield"), covering everyone and blocking the tide-like assault from the mutants. ``` Chapter 486 486: Section 482 - Skylight Collapse The mobile base vehicle was nearly 20 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, with the chassis 0.5 meters above the ground, and the compartment height at 3 meters. Both in volume and surface area, it was much larger than the giantized "Dragon King" assault heavy armor. Thus, it could accommodate more magic arrays, exactly 94 engraving units, at least four and a half times more than the giantized Dragon King. Not to mention imprinting a "repulsion shield" which required 45 units alone; even two would not be a problem. If used sparingly, the remaining four units could still be supplemented with four other magic arrays, like the "gravity" magic array which was quite practical. The one who activated the "repulsion shield" wasn''t Chen Fei, but the artificial intelligence AI "Adam". To protect the mobile base vehicle from damage, taking emergency measures was a matter of course. The mobile base vehicle had magic arrays and crystalline blocks; activating the "repulsion shield" magic array was merely a matter of issuing a command, without needing to go through Chen Fei at all. For "Adam", it was just a simple task. A "repulsion shield" covering a 15-meter radius around the vehicle body was perfect for encompassing everyone. Its unidirectional force field was perfectly suited for outward attacks, while nothing from the outside could penetrate, leaving onlookers powerless and frustrated. "How many good things did you actually get?" Adrian only knew Chen Fei had returned to his homeland for a visit, but little did he think that in nearly a month of no face-to-face contact, Chen Fei had developed even more methods. This wasn''t something a Grade B metal ability user''s skills could account for; that''s not how this is supposed to work. "Not many, just one, two, three, four, five, six, seven... yep, just seven magic arrays!" Chen Fei counted on his fingers, finally announcing the number. Crystalline energy, industrial-grade ability (or alchemist), and magic arrays¡ªthese three essential prerequisites crucial for the inscription of magic arrays were all neatly arranged by Chen Xiao''er. Apart from the "repulsion shield" and "air burst" magic arrays, which were barely considered quality items, the rest were low-end goods. It was a struggle that he managed to utilize most of them¡ªit was really tough. "Magic, magic arrays?" Adrian''s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He clearly understood that magic arrays were strictly regulated technologies, not something ordinary people could dabble in¡ªthey wouldn''t even have the resources necessary for it. All sovereignty over such technology was stringently controlled. Despite their involvement in intense fights here, their backgrounds were ultimately that of civilians, not officials or military personnel. He quickly pulled Chen Fei towards the mobile base vehicle, lowered his voice, and whispered, "Are you sure this is okay?" While Adrian was indeed grateful for Chen Fei''s magic arrays protecting everyone, the technology of magic arrays was not something ordinary people should touch. He could even guess that Chen Fei must have "sacrificed" the magic arrays to deploy them. About that... his audacity was overwhelming, daring to commit such an act under such circumstances. It seemed fine now, but secrets don''t stay hidden forever. These couldn''t withstand scrutiny. Fearful that someone might seriously investigate, a thorough investigation could lead to a clean-up spree, possibly resulting in prison time, at the very least three months of deep reflection followed by a lifetime ban from access. Awful! Just awful! "No problem, of course, there''s no problem!" If there were any real issues, Chen Fei wouldn''t have left Hanhai that "ghost of a place" so unscathed. Moreover, one of the mere seven magic arrays was even openly gifted to him in their presence, though not tactically valuable, it also represented a certain attitude. After all, Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power was industrial-grade. If he wanted to develop further in the field of magic arrays, nobody could stop him. Why stop him? Isn''t having another local alchemist desirable? "Are you sure? Don''t lie to me! I can try to help you." Adrian''s head full of white hair likely stemmed from genuine hard work and worry. "Absolutely, I guarantee it!" Chen Fei patted his chest. Adrian scrutinized Chen Fei''s face closely, trying to detect any subtle hint of forceful expression, but eventually, he relaxed, thinking perhaps Chen Fei had some backing, already sorted out earlier. In fact, there was no significant backing! Even the Chen Family Gate probably wasn''t aware of their own family member carving such a flamboyant path outside. Even Little Sister Chen had no clear idea of exactly what kind of job her second brother held, repairing airplanes perhaps, while also possibly dabbling in mechanic work and driving¡ªseemingly ready to abandon his major and turn to a lifelong career in mechanics. "Susanna, why don''t you find somewhere to hide." Chen Fei approached the ice crystal pyramid, curiously tapping on it; it was freezing solid, unable to chip off even a bit of ice, and inexplicably, it had no entrance or exit. "I can''t run away!" Susanna, shivering inside, was nearly in tears. The machine gun that had been giving off a bit of warmth for heating had now completely cooled down. "How about, I escort you to the shelter?" Even Chen Fei felt this girl was really having a tough time, afflicted with such a troublesome supernatural power; she''d have been better off not awakening it, it was too much suffering. "Let it be, it feels quite safe here. Oh, could you get me a down coat from Adrian? I''m freezing to death." A chattering sound echoed from within the ice crystal pyramid as Susanna thought with so many capability users around, it was safer than being in a shelter. After all, those strong enough to fight were outside. If the shelter faced a mutant that they couldn''t handle, they might not even get a chance to cry. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Should I get you an electric heater too?" It was nothing more than fetching an electric oil heater from the mobile base vehicle and dragging an electric cord over. "That... Thank you!" Susanna felt so cold that her tears were on the verge of turning into ice pearls. Quickly, Chen Fei brought the items over. Susanna, feeling warmer, had finally gained a touch of color on her pale cheeks as she exhaled a puff of mist. "We''re saved!" Boom!~ As soon as she finished speaking, a huge red and blue fireball fell from the sky, crashing nearby. The massive magic array covering the city''s sky was still desperately trying to hold, but missing parts were increasing, and it was clearly on the verge of collapse, obviously unable to continue much longer. The "City Canopy" magic array, already under a saturated attack, was collapsing earlier than estimated; more and more red and blue fireballs fell into the urban area, causing massive destruction like meteorites falling from the sky. The violent air blast surged towards them, fiercely impacting the Repulsion Shield maintained by the mobile base vehicle, causing the invisible protective barrier to shake violently, creating ripple-like distortions in the air. However, the ensuing heat radiation made everyone feel as if they were standing next to a raging bonfire, and exposed skin clearly felt a burning sensation. People under the "Repulsion Shield" let out exclamations, involuntarily stepping back toward the center of the mobile base vehicle, most with solemn or utterly horrified expressions. The mutants excluded by the protective barrier suffered greatly, burning up on the spot before they could even run, turning into one torch after another. Words appeared in front of Chen Fei. Adam: Crystalline Block remaining energy less than 80% While the "Repulsion Shield" was effective, it was also a major energy consumer, especially when impacted, consuming even more than double the usual amount of Crystal Energy. Chen Fei hurried back to the top of the mobile base vehicle, his cable plugged into his lower back, beginning to draw electricity. If the Crystalline Block''s energy was to run out, it would spell death for everyone, even Chen Fei wouldn''t be spared. "Good grief! What in the world is this!" A-rank Metal Ability User, Kiterley, was trembling with fear, believing that if he were to take a hit from this thing, he''d probably be incinerated instantly with no remains left. The area where the red and blue fireball landed had turned into a sea of flames, fortunately absent of people since everyone had gathered here at the mobile base vehicle. Otherwise, even escape would be impossible. "Chen Fei, can your magic array block this kind of attack?" Adrian''s face was somewhat pale as he looked towards Chen Fei. The mere aftermath of the blast, had they not been under the protection of the mobile base vehicle''s magic array, might have been enough to kill several people on the spot. Although among the ability users present, there was no shortage of defensive means against the impact or even direct hits of the red and blue fireballs, those were a last resort and consumed a significant amount of energy, hardly sustainable. Not just Adrian, other people also looked towards Chen Fei, hoping that this protective barrier could continue to protect everyone. "I don''t know; I''ve never tried!" Chen Fei also looked troubled, the battery icon on the upper right corner of his vision seemingly taking over the mobile base vehicle''s energy reserves, showing the number: 85. A previously unknown ability shouted, "Let''s find a place to hide right away!" Although they had previously received text messages instructing B-rank and below as well as Human Order ability users to withdraw from the battle and enter shelters. Now it seemed that even A-rank special ability users and Earth Order ability users might struggle to face such a terrifying bombardment alone, and without defensive skills, they were also doomed. The majority of people present felt as if they were fetching water with fifteen buckets, utterly unsure. "The magic array above has disappeared." Mouri Misono, who had been focusing on the city''s sky magic array, suddenly shouted. Everyone was startled, lifting their heads to look at the sky. Unbeknownst to them, the magic array that had withstood numerous red and blue fireballs had dispersed. Hundreds of red and blue fireballs rampaged into the main urban area of Hablav City as if entering an unmanned land. "Prepare for impact!" Adrian shouted out loud. At this critical moment, running was of no use. No matter how fast they ran, as long as they were still in the urban area, they couldn''t escape from the radius of the numerous red and blue fireball bombardments; the surface was no longer safe, and the only safe place might just be the underground shelters. To be precise, it should be the deeper underground shelters. Hablav City''s underground shelters weren''t just on one level, guarded by an S-rank Earth Element ability user, skilled in large area skills, perfectly suited to protect the underground shelters and making it difficult for mutants to approach from underground. "Sorry, I have a bold idea, but you all must buy me some time," As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, the protective barrier covering everyone abruptly disappeared, and the temperature around them rose sharply. "So warm!" Susanna let out a comfortable moan from within the Ice Crystal Pyramid. - Chapter 487 487: Section 483 - Charioteering "How long do you need?" Others might have hesitated, but Adrian chose to trust Chen Xiao''er completely without any hesitation. He rapidly recited the spell incantations, beginning to prepare the most powerful fire defense magic he mastered. Without the "Repulsion Shield," he could only rely on himself. Those outside of Squad 04 were getting panicked; they didn''t have the tacit understanding with Chen Fei and thought he was going to forsake the outsiders to protect his own people. Thus, confused and uncertain, they started shouting. "Hey, hey, hey, don''t mess around!" "Quick, put up that protective barrier again." "I''m about to die from the heat!" ... The noisy chaos was interrupted by a loud shout. "Shut up, keep quiet." Unexpectedly, the one who spoke was Bassan, the Neanderthal Chief of Squad 04, who normally had very little presence. The quiet ones seldom get angry, but when they do, it''s terrifying. The scene fell silent as a graveyard. "Chirp!" The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was also unbearably hot and opened up a light system magic shield for itself, which apparently did nothing to help. The magic shield could not completely isolate heat radiation and hot air. It looked around, then flapped its tiny wings and landed on top of the ice crystal pyramid, feeling much better immediately. "Chirp, chirp, chirp..." Little Bird called out to Daddy Chen Fei, saying it''s cool here! Thankfully, Chen Fei, whose head wasn''t blown up by the noise of the crowd, was concentrating all his attention on his mobile base vehicle. The ammunition boxes previously stored inside the vehicle had been thrown out, neatly arranged, and then the vehicle itself transformed, extending 36 pillars around the people, with branches intertwining above to support a massive round canopy. Because of its large surface area, it gained the capacity for 360 engraving units on one side, and with both sides, a whopping 720 engraving units¡ªjust the sort of big, flat surface that a magical array loves. Chen Fei gestured with both hands while saying loudly, "10 seconds, I need 10 seconds!" The surface of the dome-like canopy reminiscent of a Mongolian yurt began to display a series of magical arrays. Six "Repulsion Shield" arrays, six "Air Burst" arrays, six "Gravity" arrays, six "Fluid Vortex" spells. This 6666 tactic made full use of the available magic arrays, with a few engraving units still leftover. "What is this thing?" The tall and burly Apu looked up to the sky, of course, seeing nothing. Most of the magical arrays were engraved on the outside of the canopy, while only one "Illumination Technique" array was left on the inside, which wasn''t activated to save crystal energy, merely for show. The mobile base vehicle''s onboard chemical batteries and crystalline blocks had been placed beside Chen Fei, serving as an energy buffer. The cable still plugged into his back offered more electric power; he''d provide as much as he could, and if that wasn''t enough, he''d have to consume energy points to exchange. The exchange rate of energy points for electricity was one energy point for one kilowatt-hour, a huge loss! The Dog System was eyeing those ten thousand plus energy points in Chen Fei''s hands. "Fire Tornado!" Adrian, holding his magic wand, released one of his few fire defense spells. A column of fire rose outside the shiny silver dome, whirling around before turning into a thirty-foot-tall wall of fire that slowly spun and moved, enclosing the dome and the people inside it. "Me too!" For others, the temperature was scorching to the point of being unbearable, but Susanna was not affected in the slightest; she even took off the down coat she had just worn recently. The ice crystal pyramid, constructed of ice, crumbled, and countless ice shards rose like Adrian''s fire spells around the perimeter of the round canopy, forming another thick ice wall three stories high. As the ice wall went up, the cold air it released rapidly cooled the blazing temperature, visible to the naked eye, granting everyone some relief. "Jiu?" The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, who had been standing on top of the Ice Crystal Pyramid, was now perched on Susanna''s head. It looked around in confusion, unable to understand why the cool ice had disappeared. However, Susanna was still radiating coldness, which made it reluctant to leave. The Old Tree Boundary Ape silently tapped its Withered Vine Staff on the concrete ground, which cracked and broke, allowing young green sprouts to burst forth, rapidly exchanging carbon dioxide in the air for oxygen, thereby ensuring that the people inside the dome wouldn''t suffocate. Boom!~ Once again, a red and blue fireball smashed heavily nearby, this time seeming even closer, as the overwhelming red and blue flames instantly scattered Adrian''s firewall and crashed into Susanna''s Ice Wall. Crack, crack¡ªa terrifying sound of shattering filled the air, and the Ice Wall, impacted heavily, teetered on the verge of collapse, ready to shatter at any moment. "''Repulsion Shield,'' release! ''Air Burst'' serial explosion!" In reality, Chen Fei didn''t need 10 seconds; he spent most of the time making choices, extracting samples from the "Magical Array Evolution Database" and then using the "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation" skills to construct and evolve them into shape, which didn''t even take a second. Bang! Boom boom boom boom boom... The massive rumbling was continuous outside the circular dome, and the flames assaulting the Ice Wall were forcefully repelled by the successive impacts, an effect somewhat reminiscent of reactive armor. It used limited resources for maximum defense, blocking the approach of the flames first. Despite the continuous shaking of the circular dome from recoil, it remained firmly stable in its original position under Chen Fei''s maintenance. The "Repulsion Shield" protected the Ice Wall, and under the full effort of Susanna, a Class B Ice Ability User, the teetering Ice Wall refroze, regaining its steel-like strength. But Adrian''s "Fire Tornado" was not so lucky. After all, fire should not trouble fire, yet the red and blue flames didn''t spare it, and this defensive Seventh Rank Human Order fire spell didn''t last three seconds before it was engulfed by the red and blue torrent. As a fire mage, Adrian was good at offense but not at defense, truly putting him in a difficult spot. "Rock and Earth Array!" The Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai unleashed a powerful move, and walls of rock and soil, four to five meters high, kept rising, facing the direction from which the flames came. The red and blue flames harbored some kind of bizarre destructive power. The rock and soil walls couldn''t last long before melting into soft magma, then being scattered by the flames. "How is that possible?" Until the last wall, mixed with chunks of concrete and rocks, turned to liquid and vanished on the spot¡ªlasted only five seconds longer than Adrian''s "Fire Tornado"¡ªa stunned Ruan Tiankai felt like he had unleashed a fake Earth Magic spell. "Horn of the Wind God!" A Wind Ability User joined the fray, aiming to reduce the pressure on Chen Fei. He also chose to release his power outside the "Repulsion Shield''s" protective barrier, to consume the still unsubsidized torrent of flames. The howling air transformed into a full-throttled battleship, charging against the direction of the incoming flames, splitting the fire asunder. Meanwhile, the circular dome, outfitted with sixfold "Repulsion Shields" and bombarded by the "Air Burst" spell array, suddenly faced much less pressure. In the upper right corner of Chen Fei''s vision, the number next to the battery icon had changed to 73. This was simply too terrifying! A few more rounds like this, and even with all these magical arrays, Chen Fei might well die here. "Apu, come here!" Chen Fei eyed the big black figure. A Second Rank Thunder Series War Professional¡ªpractically a humanoid battery¡ªa real gem! It seemed there were other Thunder Series Ability Users among them, perfect for recharging. "Ah? Me?" Apu pointed to himself, as clueless as a monk at a loss. "Come, discharge! Give it everything you''ve got!" No matter how strong the electric current, Chen Fei''s "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" skill could convert it into Crystal Energy. Even if converting the Thunder Series fighting spirit into pure electric energy caused immense losses, at this critical juncture, even if they drained the big black man into a dried husk, there was no choice but to do so. When the other Thunder Series Ability Users saw Chen Fei sizing them up, they inexplicably felt a chill, thinking, crap! A giant red and blue fireball descended silently from the sky. - Chapter 488 488: Section 484 - Dead or Not Dead Big Yellow Apu was shimmering with electric light, grasping the metal handle handed over by Chen Fei. The people around immediately stepped back a few steps, keeping a respectful distance. The Thunder series fighting spirit transformed into a strong current, which was first converted into higher level Crystal Energy, flowing into the open dome and the Crystalline Block, on one hand continuing to drive the Magic Array, and on the other hand charging the Crystalline Block. Although Apu''s output power was not even comparable to Chen Fei''s own generation of electricity, at this crucial moment, having any power was better than none, and every watt of power was a vital resource for survival. Just then, everyone''s phone rang. They had received a mass emergency shelter text message. "What?" After a glance at the screens of their phones, more than one person exclaimed in shock. Had the situation within Hablav City become this dire? Suddenly, Little Bird looked up, gathering points of light, displaying the image of the sky. The rarely seen "Light Mirror Spell" had been successfully cast. It was like the end of the world, with countless red and blue fireballs falling from the dark sky. The perspective switched, and a blue and white fireball was powerfully hurtling towards a silver white circular hut on the ground. Which familiar half-spherical hut could it be? It was indeed where everyone was hiding, surrounded by towering Ice Walls, shielding them against intense heat radiation. "Oh! That, that one! It''s about to fall!" The previously helpful Wind Ability User pointed to the image projected by the "Light Mirror Spell," his mouth wide open and his face filled with horror. No wonder they had received a mass emergency shelter text message; with these crazed fireballs raining down, how could they possibly withstand it. "Run!" Someone shouted, wanting to rush to a nearby shelter. But they were immediately stopped from this unwise act. "Where can you run to? There''s no escaping now!" A red and blue fireball crashed to the ground, its eerie dual-colored flames devouring a hundred-meter radius, no structure could withstand it. It shattered everything on contact, and even if one fireball could be dodged, the next probably couldn''t. With so many red and blue fireballs densely falling from the sky, magma and toxic smoke pervading the surroundings, where could they possibly flee to in such a hurried situation? Even seeking refuge in shelters was already too late! "We have to fight for our lives!" Susanna, a B-grade Ice Ability User who had failed to escape earlier, had gone even paler, not from cold this time, but from fright. Fortunately, the temperature was quite high at the moment, probably around forty or fifty degrees, allowing her ability to operate at one hundred percent power. Adrian, who could offer no help, could only comfort her, "Susanna, don''t overexert yourself!" Behind his words lay a resignation to fate. He knew Susanna''s Superpower Level, which couldn''t be regarded the same as the B-level displayed by Chen Fei. It was a weakened B-level, barely stronger than a C-level, and perhaps a C-level Ice Ability User wouldn''t freeze half to death activating her ability as she did. This ability truly left one at a loss for words. "Ice and Snow Palace!" Susanna''s pupils turned silvery white in an instant. Cold air surged around her, swirling in all directions. As the nearby flames weakened, Ice Walls around the circular hut rose again, then joined together, forming arches and constructing a sparkling crystal-clear snow-white palace. The Ice Ability was, in these moments, of prime use. Between man and fate, she could only risk her life to unleash her deadliest move. Naturally, Little Bird, which had been keeping cool atop her head, couldn''t endure the sudden chill and fell onto Chen Fei''s shoulder. The Mobile Base Vehicle, formed into a dome, had nowhere to hide, hopping around seeking a relatively suitable temperature, looking extremely uneasy as if a catastrophic disaster was about to strike. Crystal ice edges and columns continuously melted under the sweeping heat radiation but quickly reformed. A flurry of snow even began within a small area, although most of the snowflakes evaporated into wisps of steam as soon as they appeared, mixing into the air, but the Ice and Snow Palace enveloping the circular metal hut persisted in the midst of a sea of fire. Under Adrian''s direction, the Earth Mage Ruan Tiankai and another Earth Element Ability User, together raised an earthen wall, attempting to shield Susanna''s Ice and Snow Palace with an additional layer of rock-soil carapace against the high temperature, aiming to reduce some of her burden. A layer of earth, a layer of ice, a group of Magic Arrays, and a Wind Ability User ready to unleash full power ¡ª the rest was left to fate. This was all they could do with all their might. While many Ability Users had defensive mechanisms, these were generally limited to their own personal protection. In face of a life and death crisis, if blocking was ineffective, they could only run, each looking out for themselves, making it rare for there to be large-scale protective abilities. Suddenly, a railgun appeared beside Chen Fei, its barrel pointed at an opening in the dome''s roof. A 152 Demolition Bomb was primed and ready. "Fire!" Not needing much speed, the 152 Demolition Bomb was launched, piercing through Susanna''s Ice and Snow Palace. Taking advantage of the rock-soil carapace by the two Earth Element Users which had not yet closed, it met the increasingly close red and blue fireball. Darkness suddenly enveloped everything as the dome-shaped rock-soil carapace finally sealed over the Ice and Snow Palace, its ground section faintly glowing red as it bore the high temperatures. The outside light was severed, and the screen of the "Light Mirror Spell" simultaneously plunged into darkness, dissolving into countless points of light that vanished in the air. The "Illumination Technique" Magic Array, kept on standby in the full metal dome, finally came into use and lit up instantly, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the uncertain faces of everyone present. "Chen..." Adrian was about to say something. Boom!~ An earth-shaking tremor, as if doomsday had arrived... The full metal dome, cloaked by the Ice and Snow Palace and a hemispherical rock-soil carapace, began to shake violently, and even the light from the "Illumination Technique" Magic Array flickered unstably. Energy Points -300! Chen Fei temporarily exchanged for 300 tons of metal, which had an immediate effect. It stabilized the swaying full metal dome, significantly enhancing both the supports and the thickness of the dome. It suddenly brightened outside the dome, as if the bowl-shaped overturn trapped the Ice and Snow Palace and the hemispherical rock-soil carapace began to collapse first, the upper part turning directly into magma, which, swept up by a massive impact force, clashed intensely with the thick layer of ice below, hissing and steaming as the vapors rose. The Ice and Snow Palace did not hold out for long; it collapsed rapidly. The still-fluid magma broke through the ice layer, threatening to pour over the full metal dome, but six Magic Arrays lit up together, and a huge shockwave burst forth one after the other, carrying the magma mixed with steam into the sky. The brightness of the "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array, maintaining six layers of Protective Barriers, reached its peak and even started to flicker as if it was about to overload. At a hundred meters above the ground, 152 Demolition Bombs were prematurely detonated, and red-blue fireballs spilled their terrifying destructive power in all directions. Covered in a layer of frost from head to toe, Susanna''s eyes rolled back aside, and although she regained the color of her pupils, she immediately fell backward. The prepared Mouri Misono quickly caught her. The environment''s still-scorching temperature would provide Susanna with the heat she needed; at the moment, she was merely unconscious due to exhaustion. The unkept remnants of the Ice and Snow Palace evaporated swiftly, disappearing, and simultaneously took away a large wave of heat. "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light of Redemption''!" Chen Fei quickly asked the little bird on his shoulder for help, as it was time for Team 04''s Band-Aid to showcase its specialty. Susanna exerted her Ice Attribute Special Ability to its fullest, but even wearing a down coat couldn''t block the chill emanating from the power. Xiao Jiu, taking advantage of the remaining cool air, rushed over and snuggled up, then a "Light of Redemption" plunged into Susanna''s chest, engulfing her in a faint white light. The effect of "Light of Redemption" was much stronger than that of "Light Healing Technique," which was akin to a real Band-Aid. "Ha!" Susanna sharply inhaled, then started coughing violently; with each cough, a puff of cold mist was expelled. This dire use of her last-resort ability almost froze her lungs solid. The Second Rank "Light of Redemption" finally pulled her back from the brink of unconsciousness. After regaining consciousness, she coughed a few more times before starting to breathe deeply, trying to inhale every bit of warmth in the air into her body. "Chirp!" The little bird repositioned itself on the high point over Susanna''s head, seamlessly settling down to nest, relishing in the coolness from her body; the surrounding area was too hot, hot enough to almost curl its feathers. The disappeared "Light Mirror Spell" reappeared, allowing everyone to see the sky''s condition again. The huge red-blue fireballs had dispersed, but the flames had not vanished; instead, they were scattered by the impact force of the 152 Demolition Bombs, no longer smashing directly onto the full metal dome, but transforming into a rain of fire that covered a radius of one kilometer. Just the remnants alone almost caused the collective defense to collapse. The battery icon in the upper right corner of the view showed the number 45. Chen Fei''s expression turned sour. Although the rock-soil carapace and the Ice and Snow Palace absorbed some of the impact, the full metal dome''s surface''s Magic Arrays were still bearing the brunt of it. The price paid was that the already insufficient energy reserves were quickly depleted. If another strike came... "I can''t do this anymore!" Apu, who had been continuously exerting his maximal Battle Qi, had turned completely pale, becoming Big Yellow. "If you''re a man, you can''t say you can''t handle it!" Chen Fei then shoved the thick copper rod back into his hands. He could only continue to push this unfortunate soul. Keep pushing, Lao Hei! Another person, also drafted at the scene as a Thunder Series Ability User, simply looked resigned to his fate. Suddenly, a pillar of light descended from the sky, landing outside the city, followed by slender light beams that also fell, precisely hitting each red-blue fireball, immediately causing fireworks to bloom in the air. "What''s going on?" Everyone watching the "Light Mirror Spell" screen exclaimed in surprise. If not mistaken, it must be reinforcing forces arriving. Chapter 489 489: Section 485 - From "Cybertrom "As small characters, our vision and scope are still too narrow!" Watching the screen, Adrian''s offhand remark suddenly gained everyone''s nod of approval, as if it struck a chord with them all. What was the situation like inside and outside the city of Hablav? Where did the sudden support strike come from? What exactly were those red and blue fireballs launched by? Were the origins of the attack wiped out by this descent from the heavens? ... Almost everyone had a belly full of questions. Being small characters in the game, they knew absolutely nothing about it; even the live broadcasts by Hablav''s local TV news channel were vague. This time, the mutant siege on the city was not only complicated but also full of surprises. It would probably take a good while before any concrete information would be released. The only thing to be thankful for was that no red and blue fireballs were falling from the sky anymore. Although flames of red and blue were still burning around them, they had managed to secure a sliver of life for themselves. The Full Metal Dome''s surface gained 72 more "Fluid Vortex" Magic Arrays, half on the pillars and half on the outside of the dome, fully disturbing the air and gathering to form a slowly flowing breeze barrier, keeping the rolling heat waves at bay. Otherwise, the inside of the dome would definitely have turned into an oven. Even so, the internal temperature remained a scorching fifty to sixty degrees Celsius. Fortunately, all present were ability users and could barely withstand it. The only one who was weak and frail, the Grade B Ice Ability User Susanna, actually needed such a hot environment to balance the cold inside her body. If there was only a cooling Magic Array, it would easily handle the current environment, Chen Fei thought regretfully. Everyone knew how difficult it was to deal with a Magic Array. If you didn''t want to be invited for tea by the authorities, it was best not to actively pursue such taboo ideas. Of course, if it came your way passively or by accident, that was a different story. The energy consumption of the 72 "Fluid Vortex" Magic Arrays didn''t even match half that of the "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array. The power conversion from electricity to Crystal Energy and the consumption of Crystal Energy managed to balance each other out, with a slight surplus even allowing for storage. Chen Fei finally released Apu, who had turned into "Big Yellow," and another Thunder Series Ability User. Their situation was worse than Susanna''s, as they were thoroughly drained of vitality and spirit, lying down unable to move even a finger. A light rain began to drizzle from the sky, with high temperatures vaporizing large amounts of water into the heavens, where abundant water vapor condensed into raindrops in the cold upper air, ultimately choosing to return to Earth. Aircraft after aircraft from other sovereignties, powered by Crystal Jets, crossed vast distances, as Space System Ability Users teleported them directly above Hablav. They appeared out of nowhere, filling the sky above the city, then turning to plunge into the nearby Central Great Desert, to pursue and exterminate the invading groups of Mutants with all their might. After waiting for more than half an hour, the fire that covered the entire city finally began to die down, leaving only a few fire spots, which were quickly extinguished by the reactivated ability users. With a pungent and irritating smell pervading the air, the multitudes of red and blue fireballs that pierced through the "City Canopy" not only caused tremendous damage to Hablav but also indiscriminately eliminated a large number of mutants that had infiltrated the city. It seemed that things were also quieting down outside the city, with the breached city walls being repaired immediately, preventing any more mutants from recklessly entering the city district. Even if there were a few mutants that slipped through, they couldn''t escape the coordinated hunting of the ability users. The temperature finally went down, and the sheltering Full Metal Dome retracted, transforming back into a Mobile Base Vehicle. Chen Fei took the opportunity to recover the Energy Points and removed the Crystalline Blocks from the vehicle, carrying them on his person for immediate energy charging, as a precaution against unexpected needs. The Mobile Base Vehicle then started the fuel generator to continue charging the nearly exhausted chemical batteries. Although temporarily without the Crystalline Blocks, a full charge of the chemical batteries would ensure no issues with short-distance operations within Hablav city. The local TV news channel, arriving belatedly, finally announced the origin of the reinforcements that had descended from the sky. According to reports, the cybernetic entity "Cybertrom," stationed in near-Earth orbit, had altered its course by a vast distance. With a single orbital strike, it instantly averted the crisis looming over Hablav city, effectively putting an end the mutant assault. The main culprits launching the red and blue fireballs at Hablav city were also identified: a group of shellfish mutants, numbering over a thousand, with each individual the size of a standard shipping container, resembling somewhat unseemly razor clams. Their bodies, pointing obliquely at the sky, worked in conjunction with two slowly closing elongated shells, expanding and contracting as if breathing. Once ready, they could launch a destruction-filled red and blue fireball every five minutes, reaching as far as ten kilometers. During launch, a large number of mutants voluntarily sacrificed themselves to be consumed by the slow-moving "razor clams," providing nutrition for themselves, to brew the red and blue fireballs and eject them. The beam of light "Cybertrom" sent towards the outskirts was primarily aimed at these shellfish mutants. ``` With one strike, it was as if the heavens were meting out punishment, and in an instant, a thousand turned to dust and ash. Besides the footage captured by drones and outer space satellites, all that was left at the scene was a vast expanse of scorched earth strewn with black glass granules, leaving hardly anything behind. After reporting on the villains who had almost destroyed Habulav and the supporters who struck from beyond the earth, the news channels announced the first batch of casualty figures. Fourteen combat aircraft were lost, including even a Crystal Jet. Fortunately, the Sky Knight of the Crystal Jet emerged unscathed, rescued in time by the ground search and rescue team. With limbs intact, once a new custom-built Crystal Jet was rebuilt, he would again be a formidable force in the skies. Though the cost of a Crystal Jet was exorbitant, when compared to the value of a Sky Knight, it was hardly worth mentioning. Sovereignty definitely wouldn''t stint on the money; what was often lacking were Sky Knights themselves. Even the poorest and weakest sovereignties would, upon producing a Sky Knight, go so far as to tighten their belts, cut back on essentials, and sell iron to accumulate the funds for a Crystal Jet''s budget. Having a Crystal Jet defending their airspace would certainly provide much more peace of mind. Two hundred and thirteen units of various models of Combat Mobility Armor were lost, most of which were destroyed by red and blue fireballs. Chen Fei''s giantized "Dragon King" couldn''t withstand them, let alone these Mobil Armors lacking self-repair capabilities. The ground personnel suffered approximately 566 casualties, the majority of whom were soldiers who fought to their deaths. They shared a common name. Babylon! The remaining casualties were human Ability Users and Intelligent Magical Beasts, including many of the A-class and important rank. As they could not retreat to underground shelters in time and lacked the defensive cooperation like Chen Fei and others, casualties were inevitable. Those who were still breathing by the time the rescue teams arrived were the lucky ones. Apart from that, more than a thousand Combat Mechs were lost, all of which were mass-produced by cloud AI control, easily replaceable by a turn of the production line, so it wasn''t too painful a loss. All the Target mechanical beings in Zone C were wiped out, with not a single survivor. They were also mass-produced but slightly more expensive, though for the Global United Defense Committee, this was pocket change. The urban buildings and various facilities in Hablav City, however, suffered damages whose cost was difficult to tally in a short time, and it was uncertain whether the sovereignties would allocate additional budgets to Hablav for reconstruction. Nearly half of the residential buildings in Zone B had collapsed, but since they had never been fully occupied to begin with, it was a matter of everyone squeezing in together, sharing a unit, and just about everyone would still have a room for themselves. Under the leadership of Adrian, Team 04 smoothly relocated to the same floor, making contact with each other much more convenient. A walk down the corridor, ringing doorbells along the way, was all it took to gather everyone together. Susanna and Mouri Misono shared a unit, while the others paired up two per unit, still quite spacious. Each unit in the residential building of Zone B started from 175 square meters, with a default of four bedrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen, three bathrooms, plus a large and a small balcony¡ªample private space even when cohabitating. Chen Fei''s roommate was Kiterley, an A-class Metal Ability User. He wasn''t too talkative with others, but he looked out for his junior of the same elemental power and had a straightforward personality, never sticky or fussy. After taking a shower, the A-class Metal Ability User didn''t bother Chen Fei but went out to the balcony clad in just a pair of large-patterned shorts and sunglasses and flopped onto a beach chair to bask in the moonlight. A gentle breeze blew, the moon shone bright overhead, and the Milky Way stretched across the sky. Soon, the sound of snoring filled the air. Basking in the moon in the middle of the night, he had actually fallen asleep¡ªcertainly a unique hobby. Taking advantage of Kiterley''s deep slumber and with Little Bird back in its nest, curled into a ball and occasionally chirping softly, also seemingly in a deep sleep, Chen Fei checked the time and began to establish a video call with Boss Hana, reporting in from far away at the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area 911 Aircrew Base. Hanna Gagel was in her small western-style house, arranging the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, with a flowerpot placed in front of her. "I''ve tried the plant technology information you sent over, and it seems to be genuine," she said while flicking at the mushrooms in the flowerpot. These mushrooms were quite peculiar, about one foot tall with a stem diameter of around two inches, and toadstool-like caps that seemed plump and elongated, giving off a strangely sinister vibe. Boss Hana''s fingers, delicate as white jade, gave a light tap, causing the mushroom to tremble and shake. Upon closer inspection, Chen Fei recognized that the thing in the pot, thrashing around like a crazed bull, seemed to be the Flesh Mushroom he had originally picked up. Because of improper cultivation, it had shrunk considerably, and its shape had become increasingly lewd. Damn, his boss''s words just now were quite ambiguous. What exactly did she try? ``` Chapter 490 490: Section 486 - Deadlock The two were seriously discussing something that had a very sinister appearance. "Can this thing reproduce?" Chen Fei didn''t realize that his words also carried ambiguity. Hanna Gagar said, "It is actually a mutant form of fungus, fully capable of reproducing through spores and fission." Then, with a puzzled expression, she asked, "Haven''t you looked at it closely?" The technology data for cultivating the "Flesh Mushroom" was provided by Chen Fei, yet he knew nothing about it. "I haven''t had the time to look." Chen Fei shrugged, Boss had talked about it, but he really hadn''t looked at it. "Adam" had crammed a huge number of folders and files into the directory "A:\\Angela," totaling dozens of petabytes in size. He couldn''t possibly look at each one; he might not finish in this lifetime. He only had "Adam" search for keywords such as "Flesh Mushroom," "cultivation," "propagation," "growth," and "reproduction," and had all the found files bundled up and sent to Boss Hana for the experts to decipher. If he were to learn it all over again, he would probably fall asleep. It was like being poles apart; too hypnotic. Hanna Gagar, though, was quite a conscientious Boss and had gone through it once herself. "How many more good things do you have here?" Boss Hana did not pursue Chen Fei''s reluctance to delve into the details, after all, this was not his primary job. Being able to provide technology information of great economic value was already a huge, unexpected gain. Just the technology for cultivating the "Flesh Mushroom," along with the living specimen in the flowerpot, was worth billions of Star Yuan. Sovereignty probably had it too, but they had always kept it secret and it was even less likely that any private enterprise had made it public. Therefore, the "Flesh Mushroom" in the hands of Jiu Defense Company was absolutely unique in the civilian market. As long as the state didn''t compete with the public for profit, this would be an advantage of excellent timing. When the edible fungal fruit body, which tasted almost indistinguishable from animal meat, would become available to the general public, Jiu Defense Company would likely have already accumulated enough strength for large-scale dumping. Forget about eating meat, others might only hope to get a sip of soup; whether they could gnaw on a bone depended mostly on Boss Hana''s mood. "A lot, to be precise, too much." Chen Fei displayed the root directory of the A drive which was shown by the "File Management Plugin," and within the "Angela" folder, there was a tree-structured statistical directory file. This was an auxiliary document created by "Adam" to make it easier for Chen Fei to review the files in this folder, and the size of the document was notably large. "Emmm..." Through the camera and the screen, Hanna Gagar stared straight at Chen Fei, eagerly anticipating more surprises. "Mostly technical data on mutant gene editing, which I suspect you won''t need." After glancing at the directory document, apart from the "Flesh Mushroom," the rest were hot potatoes, and Chen Fei promptly closed the document, not even mentioning the categories. He was afraid that even a little leak to Boss Hana might result in Jiu Defense Company disappearing the next day. After all, what the "Water Bear" organization studied was much more serious than secretly working on magic arrays. At most, involving magic arrays would lead to being invited for a chat, writing a self-criticism, followed by direct memory suppression by psychic power users. But pondering mutants and attempting to modify them was met with no mercy. "Uh, indeed!" Hanna Gagar was clever; she knew what was touchable and what was not. She had once fallen together with Chen Fei into the "Water Bear" organization''s mutant artificial breeding ground and could guess the origin of these materials. It was fortunate that Chen Xiao''er kept things so tight-lipped, or else without the sudden disclosure of the cultivation technology for "Flesh Mushroom," who knows how many spoils of war he had secretly withheld. The Psychic Ability User "Captain" knew that Chen Fei''s artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had quietly downloaded a lot of data. On one hand, he didn''t expect it to be completely copied and taken away, and on the other hand, he didn''t think that Chen Fei and a small military contractor like Jiu Defense Company would use these technical files. Military contractors in charge of the Aircrew Base and mutants were natural enemies; the former would never invest substantial funds to create "trouble" for themselves. The word "trouble" has multiple meanings, but the end result is the same, with no difference. "Just received the news, Hablav City almost fell. Hmm, you seem fine." Hanna Gagel sized up Chen Fei with a satisfied nod. The headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee spread the news of Hablav City being nearly leveled by a massive mutant attack as soon as possible throughout the entire military contractor community. Even though the major sovereign powers had not reported it publicly, almost everyone in the business knew about it. Chen Fei was a key player at Jiu Defense Company, and of course, Boss Hana didn''t wish for him to encounter any trouble. "Of course!" Chen Fei did not mention how dangerous the battle during the day had been as he continued, "I guess it was a retaliatory action from the ''Water Bear'' organization." Hanna Gagel was somewhat surprised by Chen Fei''s guess; it seemed many shared the same view of the hero. "That''s what I was thinking too." To those who were perceptive, it wasn''t hard to guess the situation¡ªthe mutant attack was fraught with anomalies. Not only were there numerous mutants, but the types of mutants were peculiarly specific; such an assortment targeting the city defense system couldn''t be the result of normal, natural mutations. Especially the terrestrial mollusk mutants capable of discharging red and blue fireballs¡ªit was clear they had been altered through artificial intervention to look like that. Otherwise, their ability to launch fireballs able to hit targets over ten kilometers away, coupled with their extremely slow movement speed that couldn''t even outrun cooling excrement, made no sense for hunting prey. It was utterly useless for survival, unless designed with a specific purpose, so the answer was self-evident. Previously, the recently established Bear Hunting Special Operations Division of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had gathered ability users from various military contractors to form multiple action teams. Assisted by sovereign powers worldwide, they launched a comprehensive search for the ''Water Bear'' organization and even rooted out another longstanding menace, ''Sacred Advent.'' The Blue Star rebels, disliked even by the Neanderthals, had latched onto new powerful sponsors, and they might as well die together! After consecutive bases had been pulled out, and many members were killed, it''s likely that both ''Water Bear'' and the peripheral lackeys ''Sacred Advent'' didn''t suffer a fatal blow, but the losses in other respects must have been substantial. They were well-suited to make a move and show the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee they shouldn''t be taken lightly¡ªthe logic and motive for retaliation were seamless. "It''s a pity we are just small fry; our vision and scope are too narrow to know much intelligence." Chen Fei quoted Adrian''s words. He still didn''t know much about the ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' organizations and often could only respond passively, unable to exert his full strength or to fight wholeheartedly and exuberantly, which was somewhat frustrating. "But when the sky falls, it''s the bigwigs who have to stand under it first." Hanna Gagel''s words were loaded, hinting to Chen Fei that it''s easy to attract unnecessary trouble if you concern yourself with matters beyond your position. Big shots have their own troubles, and small folk have their own joys. Ignorance can be bliss; sometimes, knowing too much is not a good thing. "Of course, I understand this principle, but I hope the ''Water Bear'' can be dealt with soon, and the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division disbanded as early as possible." The longer Chen Fei stayed with Squad 04, the more he missed his days at Aircrew Base 911, busy yet plentiful, without the need for exhausting concern and preoccupation. There was neither the tense atmosphere of always being on the brink of battle, nor the worry of mutants playing mind games. They''d appear when expected and meet their death when due¡ªclean and straightforward. Even if there were disputes with colleagues, they''d settle things with swords drawn and live ammunition¡ªstraightforward for all. "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," despite its initiative, couldn''t achieve an absolute advantage and was constantly unable to deliver a fatal blow to the ''Water Bear'' and ''Sacred Advent'' organizations. Instead, it remained entangled with them, and now even the headquarters had nearly been compromised, with the entire city almost turned to ashes. Chen Fei felt exasperated by the poor quality of this ongoing battle. "Haste won''t get you hot tofu; this is already a strategic issue. I''m afraid the big shots have their own considerations, and it''s not something that can be resolved overnight." Hanna Gagel didn''t know how to comfort Chen Fei. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was not like her own Jiu Defense Company, which she could decide on a whim. It was complicated not only in organizational structure but also in people''s hearts. If she had known Chen Fei would be so uncomfortable, she would have found a way to refuse the recruitment on his behalf. As the two of them chatted, time passed unknowingly... "Chirp, chirp!" Chen Fei was awoken by Xiao Jiu''s calls, opening his eyes sluggishly, only to realize he was lying on the living room sofa, his phone tossed aside. Wiping his face, he recalled talking to Boss Hana last night and not knowing when he fell asleep¡ªthe call had long since ended. A scent of frying grease wafted through the air. Kiterley walked out of the kitchen wearing a checkered apron, holding two plates in his hands. Seeing Chen Fei awake, he immediately greeted, "I saw you sleeping so soundly on the sofa, I didn''t wake you. Get moving and then try my cooking." On the two plates were the breakfast Kiterley had prepared for himself and Chen Fei, bread soaked in egg mixture frying to perfection in a pan, served with some bacon, mini sausages, pickles, and pickled cucumbers¡ªa simple and homely breakfast. Previously, Chen Fei was always in charge of Squad 04''s meals, and the others rarely had the opportunity to cook themselves. Kiterley was the first to wake up and went straight to the kitchen to show off his culinary skills to Chen Fei. Chen Fei looked toward the balcony, where he had originally planned to wake Kiterley and return to bed, but ended up falling asleep on the sofa himself. In the southern hemisphere of Blue Star, it was the height of summer, hot weather, so sleeping on the balcony didn''t pose the risk of catching a cold. Chapter 491 491: Section 487 - The Working People ``` Although A-level Metal Ability User Kiterley couldn''t make a fancy feast, whipping up a breakfast to satisfy hunger posed no difficulty whatsoever. Eggs, butter, salt, toast, bacon, sausage, and pickles¡ªit would be somewhat challenging to turn these ingredients into a culinary disaster. Chen Fei was even less fussy, and after washing up, he downed his portion in no time, accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice. No sooner had they finished breakfast than Adrian came knocking on the door, informing Chen Fei and Kiterley that they were needed to help out in the city district. Though not completely in ruins, Hablav City was little better off. The new job for the two Metal Ability Users was to assist with the repair and maintenance of various equipment and facilities in the city''s defense system. Moreover, Adrian, who had worried all night about Chen Fei getting involved with the Magic Array, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Chen Fei who answered the door. In reality, there was nothing to worry about. Compared to that, Industrial-grade Abilities were far more important than Magic Arrays. The Sovereignty was not completely unaware, they just turned a blind eye, pretending not to see, but this detail was recorded in Chen Fei''s personal file. Not just Chen Fei and Kiterley, everyone else also had their own assignments. After the mutant attack, Hablav City was left in shambles and in great need of reconstruction, requiring a lot of manpower. No one could afford to be idle. Especially since they were being paid by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, one obviously had to do whatever the superiors commanded. A worker is like a brick; he goes wherever he is needed. The abilities of Ability Users are not limited to fighting battles; there is also a great demand for them in production and construction. ----------------- The entire city of Hablav had become one big construction site, with the sound of banging and clanging everywhere. A booming dull thud, the tumbling of rocks and earth¡ªas a thick cloud of dust began to rise, it was quickly enveloped by a dense mist of water, turning into large currents of mud that flowed into a pre-dug pit. Following that, clear water naturally separated itself and plunged into a nearby concrete pool, mixing with cement and gravel, slowly rotating to blend evenly. "Hey, hey, stop daydreaming!" Chen Fei slapped Kiterley, who was blankly staring at the breach in the wall. "Oh, oh!" Kiterley finally snapped back to reality. His Metal Elemental Psychic Power was geared towards combat and wasn''t of much use in construction, so he could only help out with odds and ends, like making tools or bending steel plates and iron bars¡ªit was barely passable. For major projects, they still had to rely on their little brother Chen Fei. Chen Fei took a few steps forward and reached out his hand. The skills "Metal Shaping" and "Elemental Decomposition/Synthesis" were alternately activated. The various metals scavenged from nearby swiftly fused into several thick steel rebars, interlacing and intertwining with each other and connecting to the mostly intact foundation rebars, erecting a steel rebar cage standing over thirty meters high from the ground. Then, steel plates were pieced together to form a colossal all-metal mold box, identical in size and dimensions to the neighboring intact section of the wall. The well-mixed concrete, under the joint control of the Earth Element Ability User and the Water-Based Ability User, poured into this giant mold box, completing the filling. After 24 hours, it reached 30% of its hardening strength, and its surface form began to stabilize. After a week, it would reach 90% of its hardening strength, at which point the outer steel plates could be removed, allowing it to continue to dry and harden. After another week, this section of the wall would be restored to its original state, and over time, the overall strength would indefinitely approach 100%. While pouring the concrete cement, Chen Fei continued to erect a second steel rebar cage, constructing another wall mold box just like before. The section of the wall breached by the mutant attack was a gaping hole some sixty meters long. With ten meters per section, it would take at least seven to completely restore the wall. Almost all the main workers on-site were Ability Users, as Mages could hardly handle such complex operations. The wall mold was the first to be completed. Although it looked hollow from the outside, once it was filled with cement, it would quickly become a solid wall. Kiterley, who had mucked in with various tasks, took the opportunity to grab a drink for his little brother, Chen Fei. One couldn''t blame him for slacking; there wasn''t much help he could offer anyway, and it was already good enough that he didn''t cause any trouble. Sipping on the cool beverage with a contented smile, he glanced at the time and said, "I thought we''d be at it for three days, but it''s only been an hour, and we''re already done." Without a comparison, there would be no hurt feelings. Immediately, the expressions of the other Ability Users, busy activating their Special Abilities to mix the cement, became complicated. The original schedule indeed planned for three days, but Chen Fei''s efficiency with his Metal Elemental Ability was frighteningly high. With the rebar cages and mold boxes all ready, they had no reason to leisurely mix the cement. They were busy to the point of being drenched in sweat, and inevitably they got covered with dots of mud, looking like they had been through the wringer. Not at all like the two guys who were drinking beverages and chatting leisurely, their clothes unmarred by even a speck of dust, standing by and making offhand comments. It''s aggravating, isn''t it? "Great work, everyone! Take it easy, no rush!" What else could Chen Fei do but say a few kind words, lest because of Big Brother Kiterley, he ended up taking an undeserved hit. If they became infuriated and slapped a pool of concrete over... the next generation of civilization might well dig up the fossils of him and Kiterley. "Hey, you two, are you done with your work? Uh, what...?" The supervisor responsible for the area ambled over and naturally spotted the two "slackers." But then his gaze shifted, and he caught sight of the steel "wall" level with the nearby intact city wall, and he couldn''t help but crack a smile. Theoretically, the job was done, and they could start relaxing. ``` But no matter how you looked at it, it felt awkward. Right, while others were bustling about, these two gentlemen were spectating and making snarky comments. No, this wouldn''t do; they couldn''t just stand around. Better send them off to work. "You two, over there, help repair the weapon platforms." Kiterley, who found even wielding a screwdriver to be too much trouble, definitely couldn''t handle such delicate work. If he messed it up, the cost would be too great to reimburse; he shook his head vehemently like a rattle-drum. "Eh? Weapon platforms? No, can''t do, I''m not cut out for this!" As he was beating a retreat, Chen Fei directly dragged him away. "Let''s go, let''s go, you can hand me the screws." Chen Fei, perceptive as he was, could see that the foreman had no room for idlers in his eyes. So even if it was just for show, he had to look as if he was hard at work, even hunched over with his butt sticking out. It didn''t matter if he couldn''t do it, just as long as he wasn''t idle. Better to switch locations quickly and avoid being a nuisance in this spot. With the two eyesores dispatched elsewhere, the ability users busy mixing cement finally breathed a sigh of relief. - When the mutant swarm attacked the city defences, the damage to the various weapon platforms had been worse than sections of the wall being destroyed. Wherever you looked, aside from the potholes and ditches, where the weapon platforms were supposed to be, there was nothing but heaps of twisted copper and iron. Just cleaning up this mess would take a lot of manpower. Within a thousand steps in any direction, besides the brand-new, still-warm crates that had just been delivered, not a ghost of a person could be seen. Except for Chen Fei and Kiterley, there was nobody else, so it was all on them. Now there was no one left to listen to their witty remarks. CTM! "Just the two of us?" "Seems like... that''s the case." Kiterley and Chen Fei looked at each other, involuntarily shrinking their necks. They had assumed that at least there would be an engineer to guide them through the installation, or at the very least a technician. But it was just the two of them! And a dozen or so thick manuals. It had to be said, the big shots in Hablav City sure had guts to trust such an important job to two amateurs. If by some chance the mutants attacked again, and all the weapon platforms installed by Chen Fei and Kiterley failed, the joke would be on them, and the city might just suffer another breach. "What do we do?" Kiterley looked towards his younger brother Chen Fei. Forget about starting the installation, just reading the manual made his head spin, and if he stared at it any longer, he might just pass out on the spot. A bunch of individual words that might make sense on their own, but once combined, it was more complicated than curse magic. "Hmm, ''sacrifice'' the whole lot and then get to work! Kiterley, you handle the unpacking." Chen Fei thought for a moment, then picked up a manual. Screw this, I''m done pretending! "Sacrifice? You sure you dare?" Kiterley quickly looked around. Chen Fei''s "sacrifice" skill was far too domineering. With a "copy" following the sacrifice, it meant these weapon platforms would soon have no secrets left. They were powerful weapons intended to defend Hablav City, and here they were, just small-time employees of private military contractors, daring to tamper with high-grade weaponry. "Who cares!" Chen Fei opened a manual and then looked up, glancing left and right, pointing at one of the crates and declaring, "The D-600 type parallel railgun, that''s the one." ''D'' stands for dual, parallel; 600 denotes the maximum caliber (in millimeters), with a maximum range of 700 kilometers, making it perfect for deep strikes. Not only for city defense but still a top-tier weapon of war. If the Aircrew Base had something like this for protection, there would be no need to send out combat flight squadrons on long-range raids to nearby hostile bases. Just firing the maximum caliber full-power shells from their position would remove any opponent''s Aircrew Base in at most four or five shots. Of course, private military contractors were not allowed to possess such devastating weaponry. Kiterley unpacked the crate with trepidation while Chen Fei immediately "sacrificed" the heavy artillery inside. His "Physical Evolution Database" skill instantly acquired a "D-600 type parallel railgun heavy cannon." Unless Chen Fei was killed, no one could extract this heavy weapon from his mind. Then with a "pop," it was installed! As long as there were enough energy points, the "Physical Evolution Database" meant countless trial and error iterations were possible. Kiterley had no need to worry. "SE-2500 shockwave cannon," "L-12 laser cannon," "F-120 railgun rapid-fire cannon"... Although there seemed to be numerous crates on-site, there were actually only four types of weapon platforms, each falling victim to a "sacrificial" fate. Chen Fei also seized the opportunity to acquire three magic arrays. "Light Gathering," "Wave Gathering," and "Crystal Energy Conversion," were mostly for collecting energy in conjunction with the crystalline blocks inside the weapon platforms. However, compared to the core "Crystal Energy Conversion" magic array, it was entirely useless to Chen Fei, overlapping completely with his own skill, "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component." Chapter 492 492: Section 488 - Pay More ``` Installing the weapon platform didn''t take much effort, but unpacking the packaging was so hectic it left us sweating profusely. By the time it was almost dark, Chen Fei and Kiterley had finished setting up the dozens of weapon platforms and even completed their calibration. The job of setting up the control system naturally fell to "Adam." Chen Fei only had to dock his "Universal Data Transceiver," usually worn as a bracelet, to the data port of the weapon platform. It took just minutes to complete the initial setup and various parameter configurations. Although the weaponry that relied on physical ammunition couldn''t be activated yet, the directed-energy weapon platforms powered by Crystalline Blocks were ready for action. Still, not a single soul was in sight around us. Looking over at the city wall, which had been breached widely, I saw that the steel-reinforced cages I had constructed were now filled with concrete. It seemed like the construction workers had already left. All that was left was to wait for the concrete to harden. For at least ten days to a half-month, the walls would not see any work beyond the occasional sprinkling to keep the concrete moist. "We''re not forgotten here, are we?" The expression on the face of Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, as he rubbed the back of his head and stared with wide eyes, spelled out "annoyed." "Who cares! We work nine to five, the stall''s closed!" Chen Fei paid no mind. He and Kiterley had finished taking apart all the packing cases that were left here. If there were any more cases out in the distance, that would have to wait for tomorrow. Anyway, there was no need to worry about these weapon platforms being stolen. "Let''s go!" Kiterley thought it made sense. Regardless of whether the overseer had forgotten about them or not, he had no intention of spending the night here. Imagine a mutant suddenly popping up in the middle of the night ¡ª even if it couldn''t hurt anyone, it would still be terrifying. "Hey, you two, work''s over, work''s over. Whatever''s not done, we''ll continue tomorrow." The overseer, with a white safety helmet and a tablet tucked under his arm, came running over, bounding and leaping towards us and waving continuously. After making a full round of the construction area he was responsible for, he finally remembered the two ''big shots'' he''d almost left behind. Nobody dared to treat ability users as if they were workhorses in a production team. Whether drained of magic power and spiritual power, or suffering from special ability fatigue, these people couldn''t just grit their teeth and work overtime ¡ª when they were tired, they rested, and when they wanted to leave, they left, without a word from anyone. But as he approached, what he saw made him pause... Emmm! "Ah, you guys finished installing them?" Within a kilometer radius, every packing case had been opened. On each installation base, dome-shaped full-metal dust covers, resembling huge dumplings, were already in their designated spots, ready with "Lucky Blind Boxes" for the mutants ¡ª might be "D-600 Model Parallel Railguns," or "SE-2500 Shockwave Cannons," "L-12 Laser Cannons"¡ªsurprised? Unexpected? This was a week''s worth of work. I hope they weren''t just slapped together haphazardly. "Piece of cake!" Kiterley struck an ostentatiously proud OK gesture. If not now, when would he show off? Chen Fei thought for a moment and then said, "Need a raise!" Bluffing was one thing, but getting paid was more substantial, especially for the poor. He was indeed easy to talk to but far from stupid. "Right, a raise!" Kiterley promptly chimed in with his younger brother. The female boss of Jiu Defense was a good person, dealing with such a huge debt without any coercion or rush ¡ª that was what righteousness looked like. Nowadays, heartless capitalists were everywhere. Finding a good boss with a conscience was harder than finding a wife who was both graceful and homely. "That raise..." As the sunset and the cool breeze picked up, the overseer''s forehead was quickly drenched in sweat, caught off guard by the sudden negotiation. They say ability users are tough to handle, and even he was no exception. Hablav City may be wealthy, but the budget for repair projects didn''t just blow in with the wind. "Little Chen, let''s disassemble all these and let him find someone else to do it." Kiterley was also holding a grudge. It wasn''t supposed to be their job in the first place. He and Chen Fei had put a lot of effort into getting these weapon platforms up and running. The two weren''t nai?ve newcomers to the workplace. They were doing technical work with only the basic salary from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. There was no way they''d let anyone take advantage of them for nothing. "Disassemble! Guaranteed to return it to how it was!" Chen Fei raised his hand, dead serious. "Stop! Stop, stop!" The overseer blurted out, sweating profusely and gasping for air, "Raise, a raise! I''ll give a raise!" "It depends on your sincerity. Come on, let''s talk!" Kiterley shot Chen Fei a knowing look and then walked aside with the overseer, arm in arm. They murmured something inaudible together. Only after a while did Kiterley let go of his grip, his face beaming with sincerity. The overseer, however, kept nodding with a complexion pale as clay, his forced smile uglier than crying. How could he dare to say no? If he so much as let the word "no" slip through his teeth, the edge of an A-grade Metal Ability User''s power would plunge straight into his heart. "Hehe, done deal!" Kiterley returned to Chen Fei, fingers waggling triumphantly. His young brother was too young, possibly too shy or soft-hearted, but he was neither a saint nor a charitable soul. ``` Shameless, indeed, invincible, Kiterley was absolutely willing to risk his reputation. "What were you two talking about?" Chen Fei glanced at the supervisor fleeing like he was escaping, who if not a War Professional must be a Wind Ability User, running incredibly fast. "Installation of a weapon platform is 50,000, we''ll split it half and half." Kiterley said with a smile, patting Chen Fei''s shoulder reassuringly. Earning extra through skill, it was only natural for brothers to settle accounts clearly. He felt perfectly justified in driving a hard bargain and saw dividing the profit with Chen Fei as something to be taken for granted. "You''re awesome!" Chen Fei figured that the supervisor had agreed under Kiterley''s intimidation, opting to spend the money rather than face disaster. Although this deal wouldn''t lose money, its profit margin was likely to shrink significantly. Ultimately, it was the other party that had given Chen Fei and Kiterley a reason to act. If they dared not agree, they would only take responsibility for disassembly, not assembly, as some items were designed to be permanent and there was no guarantee they could be reinstalled once removed. If Kiterley didn''t cash in on this opportunity, the weapon platform''s manufacturers would certainly do so with ease ¨C it was the same logic as getting a free printer with the purchase of ink cartridges. "Come on, come on, let''s go take a shower first, then enjoy a good meal, treat ourselves," Kiterley said cheerily. "Call Adrian and the others, it''s my treat." The agreed upon extra payment was necessary, and that supervisor wouldn''t dare go back on his word, especially when dealing with such valuable weapon platforms. Having managed to fleece a fat sheep, it was time to celebrate. "With the restaurants probably in ruins by now, how about we do a barbecue ourselves? I remember Adrian has plenty of food." When it came to hosting a barbecue party, Chen Fei had abundant experience. All you needed was the Mobile Base Vehicle in place, lights on, music playing, charcoal burning, endless meat, and drinks ¨C the atmosphere would naturally get fired up. "Well, actually, that''s not a bad idea, let''s do the barbecue!" Kiterley scratched his head and agreed with Chen Fei''s suggestion. With half of Hablav City turn to ruins and most of the survivors still in shock, too busy picking up the pieces to give any thought to reopening for business, the foodservice industry had taken a heavy hit and it would be hard for him to find a place to host even if he wanted to. The barbecue had just been set up, and before the scent of meat could even waft through the air, a text message arrived: 1.2 million Star Yuan had been transferred to Chen Fei''s phone. Having read the message, Chen Fei caught sight of Kiterley winking and gesturing at him to keep quiet. The old river rat was reminding him to make a fortune in silence! "Ladies and gentlemen, let''s get high!" Kiterley grabbed two green fluorescent sticks and smashed them against his forehead, immediately covered in foamy beer and glass splinters. True to being a Metal Ability User, he didn''t spare himself when going wild. If it had been someone else, looking ferocious and not sparing even themselves, not ending up with a concussion would be a blessing. After demonstrating his genuine head-banging skill, the vibe at the event immediately took off! Boom crack crack, boom crack crack... The fierce ''kick-the-dog'' music surged, the ultra-heavy bass enough to kill a dog on the spot. Hundreds of men and women circled the Mobile Base Vehicle like a horde of wild demons. The Mobile Base Vehicle opened its half lid, and news of the BBQ spread quickly through the residential building, with residents from several nearby buildings also gathering spontaneously ¨C unlimited meat, unlimited drinks, but once the mood got heated, food and drink were forgotten. Three Magic Arrays were added to the Mobile Base Vehicle: "Light Gathering," "Wave Gathering," and "Crystal Energy Conversion," harvesting local energy sources to power the onboard Crystalline Blocks. "Wave Gathering" referred to the movement of air, whether it was wind, sound, or even vibration, all of which could be converted into Crystal Energy to be stored, although the collected energy was often minimal. However, over time, the aggregation of small amounts could build up significantly. With big skewers of meat smelling deliciously, Chen Fei joined the random dance, only to see Rossi, the Liaison Officer of Team 04, pushing his way through the crowd with a deadpan expression, heading his way. Good lord, Rossi actually had such an interest! One could only imagine seeing a serious, stone-faced person doing goofy dances amongst a colorful crowd ¨C it was an endearing contrast! Without saying a word, Chen Fei handed him a large green fluorescent stick and several big skewers. "I... I..." Stuttering over his words, it took Rossi a while to push away the beer and skewers to some passersby, pointing outside the crowd, he shouted, "Got... something!" "Huh?" Chen Fei was perplexed and shouted back, "Old Luo, are you not going to join in?" Rossi replied irritably, "P! Come!" Following him to the outskirts of the crowd, the noise from the festivities quieted down, and Rossi finally stopped. "You, join, hunting, tomorrow, 7 am, A2 district, Ninth Street, building three, be there," he said. Even without lowering his voice deliberately, it was impossible to hear what Rossi was saying from a few steps away. Chen Fei looked at the members of Team 04 in the crowd, puzzled, and asked, "Check-in? What about Team 04?" Was he being drafted into another squad? "Bear hunting, paused!" After thinking for a moment, Rossi added, "Confidential!" It seemed that even Adrian wasn''t informed, and they had chosen to contact Chen Fei directly. "Got it!" Chen Fei had no power to refuse and could only wait and see how things unfolded. By 7 am tomorrow in A2 district, the truth was likely to come to light. Chapter 493 493: Section 489 - Miyoshi** 6:50 AM, Zone A2, Ninth Street. House number, odd-numbered 3. Chen Fei, with the Pure Light Sparrow in tow, walked leisurely to the spot, easily finding it amidst a surrounding of ruins and rubble. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu perched on his shoulder, eagerly looking into the walled courtyard. Inside, a towering tree stood a hundred meters tall, its canopy completely enveloping the yard, with huge leaves as big as fans blocking the sunlight completely. Even in the height of summer, there was not only an absence of heat under the shade but also a slight coolness spilling out to the surroundings. A gentle, refreshing breeze was blowing, making one feel extremely comfortable. Within the canopy, there was constant chirping and the fluttering of wings, suggesting that numerous birds had taken up residence in the tree, perhaps forming a small ecosystem. Less than a hundred meters from the courtyard lay desolate ruins and clearly demarcated scorched earth, some even in a state of lava. This idyllic retreat that had miraculously survived amidst a rain of red and blue fireballs from the sky was probably not just a twist of fate. "Let''s go in!" Chen Fei scratched the Little Bird''s chin. Upon receiving permission, the little one flapped its wings and zoomed into the courtyard, darting straight into the foliage. He followed suit, pushing open the chest-high courtyard door. His eyes were greeted by a spacious courtyard paved with pebbles the size of fingertips, and he estimated the area inside the walls to be no less than seven to eight thousand square meters. In the vast courtyard''s center stood a single-story traditional building backed by the giant tree, with shoji doors covered in white paper, gracefully upturned eaves, and a design that had a distinct Dongying or perhaps Tang style. Ten meticulously pruned pine trees, about the height of an average person, stood symmetrically, subtly forming a pathway straight to the wooden building. Under the porch, there were already four pairs of shoes, both men''s and women''s. There must be at least four people inside. A few steps in, Chen Fei''s stride faltered, and he frowned slightly as he stared at a pine tree. It seemed like there was something there, but he saw nothing at all. He knew there must be something strange about a courtyard that had remained untouched during the mutants'' city raids. Without hesitation, Chen Fei walked straight towards the wooden house under the towering tree. He took off his shoes, stepped onto the floor, and then slid open the shoji door, revealing a Japanese-style room with thick straw mats and tatami on the floor. The ceiling had a skylight, and although the dense canopy overhead blocked direct sunlight, the light from outside was enough to illuminate the interior. Furthermore, the supporting posts and ceiling were adorned with rustic lighting fixtures, so there were no shadowy corners. Inside were five people, four men and women facing a bald figure clad in plain robes, accurately described as a monk. To the side, a red clay brazier burned smokeless charcoal, and the air was filled with a subtle scent of tea. The monk sitting cross-legged on the floor smiled slightly at Chen Fei and gestured towards an unoccupied cushion on the right side of the other four, measuring around two feet in square. "Mr. Chen, please come in!" Five cushions, no more, no less¡ªjust right. With Chen Fei, everyone was present. The message conveyed earlier by Rossi, the liaison officer of Team 04, was vague and mysteriously unclear. The only thing Chen Xiao''er, who had arrived here, could do was take things one step at a time. "Hello!" ``` Guessing that the other party was the owner of the place, Chen Fei nodded in acknowledgement and quickly walked towards the soft mat. The tatami mats made a muffled sound when stepped on, likely due to the suspended floor beneath, which must be made of hard and extremely thick boards to produce such a dull sound. The size of the grass mat was just one square yard, a very traditional Dongying style. The other four men and women watched Chen Fei as he arrived at the soft mat and sat down cross-legged, as if they had been waiting for him all along. Seeing Chen Fei twisting his waist, seemingly uncomfortable as he tried to find a balanced point of support, the monk said apologetically, "Sorry, we don''t have any chairs here." "No problem!" Chen Fei managed to sit steadfastly. Sitting cross-legged was barely manageable, but kneeling was even more awkward for him. "As you can see, my name is Miyoshi Xuesen, hmm, does it sound a bit strange?" The monk poured a cup of clear tea, elegantly placed it on a serving table with a gentle push, and smoothly slid it on the tatami mat to Chen Fei, without spilling a single drop of tea from the cup glazed in bluish-black. The corners of Chen Fei''s mouth twitched, but he didn''t make a sound. Their surname is "Miyoshi," not actually "three good things," it''s a hereditary family name, and with that given name, it''s goddamned Miyoshi Xuesen or Miyoshi Xueseng! The other four men and women had no reaction whatsoever. It seemed that this dry joke wasn''t very popular, as Monk Miyoshi shrugged his shoulders, as if mumbling to himself, "The family name is Miyoshi, given the name Xuesen by my parents." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he exaggeratedly expressed his surprise, "Let me introduce everyone first." He pointed to the first person to the left in front of him. "Mr. Andrew, an Earth Mage of Earth Order Third Rank." With a burly figure, muscles knotted, and a face full of beard and hair, the man looked like a walking embodiment of male hormones, nodding slightly towards the four people including Chen Fei, without a hint of roughness, but rather an air of elegance. Such muscles on a mage were really wasted; it would be more fitting to swap the magic wand for a battle hammer, that kind of look seemed more appropriate. Next was a young woman with naturally curly red hair and an impressive figure. "Miss Masuya, an A-class Wind-type Ability User." The twenty-something young woman winked at everyone. "Tuert, a Psychic Mage of Human Order Ninth Rank." Miyoshi was pointing to a boy with a youthful face, who looked under 20, and it was debatable whether he was even an adult. "Hello everyone, I''m Tuert!" The young man immediately waved his hand, looking around with the enthusiastic fervor characteristic of young people. Being a Psychic Mage of Human Order Ninth Rank at such a young age, perhaps Human Order was not his limit. "Next is Caroline, a B-class Fire Ability User." The fourth person closest to Chen Fei was a lady who even had a basket beside her, already containing a few slender carrots, beets, broccoli, onions, and two large rib racks. This lady seemed as though she was just passing by here while out shopping at the market. ``` "I''m Caroline, and I excel in cooking and explosions!" The shopping auntie with a basket full of groceries greeted Chen Fei and the others with a warm smile. Cooking and explosions? Chen Fei was puzzled. All he could associate with was popcorn, but could that thing really count as a meal? It was at this moment that Miyoshi Xueseng happened to point at Chen Fei. "Chen Fei, a B-class Metal Ability User." Chen Xiao''er immediately snapped out of it and hurriedly greeted everyone like the previous four had done. "Hello, everyone!" "Alright, introductions are done!" The monk clapped his folding fan and moved on to the main topic. "You might still be wondering why we have called you all here, but I think you all know about the incident that happened yesterday." Snap! The folding fan opened again. This Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t seem like a monk but was quite fitting for the Japanese storyteller profession "Rakugo Performer." It wasn''t just Chen Fei, everyone present had the patience to wait; it seemed that those who could make it here were specially selected for their temperament, and impetuous and impulsive people wouldn''t have been chosen. All five were staring at the monk, waiting for him to reveal the answer. Snap! The folding fan closed once again. "To strike back!" said Miyoshi Xuesen, shaking the folding fan in his hand, "We''ve just received a confirmed list of core members from the ''Water Bear'' organization." The folding fan pointed towards the five people in front of him. Snap! The folding fan slammed into his palm as Miyoshi Xuesen declared with absolute certainty, "Your task is to take them out one by one, assassinate, poison, snipe, whatever it takes." Huh? Chen Fei was somewhat flabbergasted. He was just a fighter jet mechanic and an old truck driver on the side. Since when did he have to start acting as an assassin? Did he even have that kind of talent? If throwing a 152 from tens of kilometers away counted, then was he considered a heavy artillery assassin? "Are explosions allowed?" It was clear that B-class Fire Ability User, Aunt Caroline, truly loved explosions. "Just don''t harm the innocent," said Miyoshi Xuesen without directly answering, but the implication was clear. Sovereignty had already given the green light; as long as the innocent were not affected, they were free to do as they pleased. The auntie revealed a kind and gentle, warm smile. The walking male hormone, an Earth Mage of Earth Order rank three, Andrei asked in a magnetic voice filled with masculine charm, "May I ask where this list came from?" Just got slapped face yesterday, and today the revenge list is out; naturally, anyone would be suspicious. Chen Fei was thinking the same thing, and the expressions on the others'' faces were no different¡ªall very curious. "Buddha says: It cannot be told, it cannot be told, namo..." Miyoshi Xuesen pressed his hands together and seemed to be chanting something, probably invoking the Gatling Bodhisattva or the like. "Do we have a detailed plan for action?" Chen Fei, just like he''d do in school, raised his hand straightforwardly. Counting the monk, there were only six people. Even holding a list and reaping heads would be useless if they only knew the names without any context! Where do these people live? Do they have bodyguards? How many bodyguards? What''s their combat strength? What about the security and early warning systems of their residences? Without comprehensive intelligence support and a battle plan, with just this small group, they were practically sending their heads on a platter. "Don''t worry about that; I''m the person in charge of this operation. You all just need to execute, and other matters..." The monk clapped his hands, and the crisp sound of the claps echoed throughout the wooden house. From the rafters, tatami mats, and behind the wooden pillars, people dressed in black and with their heads covered started to emerge, about twenty or so, instantly filling the spacious room with their presence. "Ninjas?" The young man, Tuert, shouted excitedly and quickly pulled out his phone, dragging a black-clad figure over. The two huddled together, say cheese! Click! The deed was done. "Indeed, ninjas!" The corners of Miyoshi Xuesen''s mouth twitched continuously. He knew Tuert''s actual age, which was already forty-nine this year. Otherwise, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t afford the accusation of employing minors; international organizations would latch onto them like mad dogs, scrutinizing and nitpicking with magnifying glasses, trying to find a bone in an egg. Chen Fei, however, suddenly saw the light; no wonder he had sensed something out of the ordinary as soon as he had entered the courtyard. So there were all these people hidden in every corner. Chen Fei couldn''t detect the people, but he could sense the metal objects on them, like shurikens and tachis. - Chapter 494 494: Section 490 - New Team Andrew, with a face full of beard, looked around at the group of people in black and said with furrowed brows, "Why not let these ninjas carry out the assassination mission? We''re not needed at all!" He felt that gathering the five of them here, including himself, was completely unnecessary. "Uh! Yeah!" Tuert, looking like a young man, was initially stunned, then caught on and hesitantly nodded his head. Just to take out that bunch, these ninjas should be enough, right? Poisoning, stabbing, sniping, bombing, they should be able to handle it all. Many people are not entirely unfamiliar with the profession of ninja; after all, they frequently appear in movies and anime, performing feats like appearing and disappearing out of nowhere, leaping over rooftops and walls, throwing shurikens with "whoosh whoosh" sounds, and the more skillful ones might even dabble with explosives and muskets, or even perform hand-seal ninjutsu. Some ability users with similar skills could cosplay as ninjas, and they would actually look the part. "Do we need to provide the explosives?" Aunt Caroline, who was out buying vegetables, glanced at the vegetable basket beside her, with just a few slender carrots and onions, and thought that none of those items would serve the purpose. "Stop, stop!" Before Masuya and Chen Fei could speak, the monk Miyoshi Xuesen clapped his hands, and all the black-clad ninjas disappeared as if they were never there. He raised his hands, pressing down in the air, and said, "They are indeed ninjas, but they are not killers nor assassins. Their expertise lies more in gathering intelligence." "But they could surely..." Tuert pointed towards a corner of the room. Before Miyoshi Xuesen clapped his hands, he had not noticed anyone else in the room. If they had wanted to assassinate him, he would probably have been caught completely off guard. If they were targeting someone else, with the advantage of surprise against an unaware victim, their chance of success should be quite high. "No, they are just ordinary people who are skilled in the art of ninjutsu. And I..." The monk Miyoshi Xuesen pointed to himself and continued, "I am an A-level Dark Elemental Psychic, and one of my skills is to temporarily bestow dark powers on ordinary people, but not on power users. Meaning, anyone with a spiritual power strength above 10 degrees will not be affected." He finally revealed some of his secrets. There is an unwritten rule that ability users should not inquire about each other''s skills unless voluntarily disclosed, with the only exception being the Sovereignty who has the right to know. The spiritual power strength of ordinary people is around 0.6 to 1.5; people with firm determination may have higher levels. However, whether they are War Professionals, Spellcasters, or supernatural power users, their spiritual power strength generally exceeds 10, and this value is particularly high for Psychic Power Users. Both magic and Battle Qi are systematic, and the path to cultivation can be followed step by step. Only special abilities have a wide variety of different skills, even amongst those with the same elemental type, and sometimes it''s hard to categorize certain skills under any elemental series. "Is that so?" The five people opposite Miyoshi Xuesen all suddenly realized. Skills can actually be temporarily bestowed upon others, no wonder he needed a group of subordinates. Especially ninjas with certain special skills, who would be like tigers with added wings. Though they were ordinary people, they could already compete with ability users. Correspondingly, managing so many subordinates, planning operations, analyzing intelligence, and team management abilities must be strong; otherwise, it would be impossible to lead such an efficient team, which wouldn''t operate with the uniformity and coordination that the five had witnessed. "Gentlemen, please get ready. We will meet here at five o''clock tomorrow morning." The monk picked up the clear tea in front of him, holding it without drinking. He didn''t say much, as there would be plenty of time for explanations later. New team members don''t mesh together overnight. Being too hasty wouldn''t achieve results; it''s better to proceed step by step. Over time, everyone would get to know each other better. Moreover, by not saying much at the beginning, it was also beneficial for confidentiality and observing the team members. Sometimes, merely looking at personal files might not be accurate. After downing the tea, Chen Fei stood up and took his leave. From the moment he stepped into the courtyard until he left, it had not been more than half an hour. As soon as he stepped out of the house, he heard the incessant chirping overhead. Numerous leaves fell from the sky as many birds flew back and forth above the yard. "Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei looked up and called out. With the dense canopy and the uncertain number of small birds, it was impossible to see where the little creature was from the sound alone. But one could guess that the Little Bird must be in the middle of a group fight. Back at the Aircrew Base, there was only one bird within a ten-mile radius that received all the adoration, Xiao Jiu. Any visible spot in that area belonged to Xiao Jiu''s airspace. However, after following Chen Fei outside, whenever it encountered birds with a strong sense of territory, disputes were almost unavoidable, even leading to fights. The common birds didn''t care whether you were a Magical Beast or not, they just ganged up on you. Unless it''s a carnivorous raptor, the combat ability of birds isn''t that strong. It''s not much better than a pecking chicken; it probably means that Little Bird talks a lot but doesn''t actually fight. It just hops around and creates noise, without any other strategy. "Chirp!" A clear chirp descended from the sky, and the Little Bird darted out of the foliage like a meteor, landing on Chen Fei''s shoulder, contentedly grooming its feathers. Hundreds of birds of various sizes followed, with the bolder ones landing directly on the ground, while the more timid ones circled above Chen Fei''s head, creating an uproar with their chirping. "Chen Fei, you also possess a Beast Taming Skill?" Tuert, who looked like a young man, sat on the edge of the porch floor, putting on his shoes, and happened to witness the scene, slowly becoming dumbstruck. Is there a Beast Taming skill among the Metal Elemental Psychic Powers? I''ve never heard of that! "Xiao Jiu was hatched and raised by my own hands," Chen Fei only said this much and did not elaborate further. A little bird raised by oneself doesn''t need any beast taming skills, the bond between human and bird is one of affection, not technique. "So many birds? How dirty!" An A-ranked Wind-type Ability User with naturally curly red hair, Masuya, was full of disdain, fearful of getting droppings on her, and thus activated her ability, creating a whirlwind around herself, blowing her red hair about, constantly fluttering. After giving a shout to the others, she "floated" off the ground and out of the yard, the first to leave. "Go, go, don''t steal my veggies!" Aunt Caroline, who loved cooking and explosives, clung desperately to her basket of vegetables. Hablav City had just experienced a massive attack by mutants, with countless losses of facilities and supplies, and although there was no food shortage, availability was not going to be ample for a while. Shooing away those pesky birds while guarding the ingredients she had picked out with difficulty, she also hastily ran out of the yard. "Pure Light Sparrow? Eh?" Andrew, a tall and burly Earth Mage of the Third Rank, not only identified that the little bird on Chen''s shoulder was a Magical Beast, but he also noticed something unusual about the leg rings fitted on its tiny claws. Hisss! ¡Á2 He couldn''t help but suck in a breath of cold air. The other gasp, however, came from Tuert. Tuert was a Ninth Rank Psychic Mage, and being a mage himself, he was especially familiar with alchemical artifacts. On the Pure Light Sparrow''s little claws, one was a Space Series Alchemy Storage Device, and the other, resembling a Magical Beast''s identity leg ring, was not just a simple ring but appeared to be an alchemical artifact with some sort of spell effect. In the registered "identity documents" carried by Magical Beasts within Blue Star Civilization, they varied greatly in form but were generally custom-made tech products. At most, they might contain a small Crystalline Block ensuring decades or even a century of continuous operation. If the identity leg ring was indeed an alchemical artifact, it must be unusually costly. Tuert and Andrew glanced at each other, neither saying a word. Some things are better left unsaid for future cordial relations, and nobody likes a chatterbox. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!" The Little Bird paid no mind to being scrutinized, still perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, defiantly squawking at the other birds that chased after it. Come and get me! I love seeing you helpless against me! Like owner, like bird, sometimes both can be quite cheeky. "You little rascal, no more fighting in the future!" Chen Fei extended his finger to scratch Xiao Jiu''s chin, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his expression. Not long ago, it had been battling a flock of sparrows in some small town in Hanhai, and now having only just entered this courtyard, it was already causing a ruckus with the birds in the trees. The little guy was really too good at stirring up trouble. "Chirp!~" The Little Bird pecked back at his finger in response. Whether it would take the advice to heart, probably only the bird knew. It was only after Chen Fei left the yard with Xiao Jiu that the frustrated birds stopped following and scattered. Returning to the residential building in Zone B, he saw Adrian and others gathered in the dormitory he shared with Kiterley and expressed his surprise, "Eh? Adrian, you''re having a meeting here?" The team''s meeting seemed to have continued without him being informed, which was even more puzzling. "Yeah, we''re in a meeting, about you," Adrian patted the couch next to him, continuing, "Come and have a seat here!" There was an empty spot right next to him, probably reserved for Chen Fei. "Oh!" Chen Fei guessed what it was about and quickly walked over. He had barely settled onto the soft cushions of the couch when he heard Adrian say, "Chen Fei, I hear you''ve joined another team." "Are you leaving us?" Honestly, Mouri Misono felt some reluctance. Although Chen Fei rarely took the front lines in battle, he was still an indispensable member of Team 04, playing a crucial role in logistics and transportation. In times of trouble and crises, he often turned the tide, always managing to solve problems or deal with the troublemakers at critical times. He was a reliable and trustworthy partner. "How did you all find out?" Chen Fei saw the reluctance in the eyes of his teammates from Team 04. Adrian explained, "I saw you with Rossi last night, and I asked him about it today; that''s how I found out." Fortunately, he was observant and took the initiative to ask Liaison Officer Rossi for more information; otherwise, he might have been in the dark until Chen Fei quietly left Team 04. Chen Fei recalled for a moment, then spread his hands and said, "Actually, it''s more like joining a new team rather than leaving." Neither Liaison Officer Rossi nor the monk Miyoshi Xuesen had ever spoken of him leaving Team 04 or implied anything of the sort. Chapter 495 495: Section 491 - Waiting "Eh?" Mouri Misono voiced her surprise. Is that even possible? "Really?" Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, who had been looking tense, couldn''t help but widen his eyes in faint delight. If his little brother was still part of Team 04, that would indeed be great news. The guy was still thinking about continuing to fleece the supervisor for a hefty extra bonus, a sum that paled in comparison to the stipend provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Although Kiterley, a loner, could feed himself and didn''t starve his family, the saying went, "One does not grow rich without windfalls, and a horse doesn''t get fat without night-time grazing." Without the extra bonuses, how was he supposed to live? Originally, upon hearing from Adrian that Chen Fei might possibly leave, the rest of Team 04 felt somewhat saddened, but now, upon hearing the news, things seemed to take a turning point toward an unexpected twist. Chen Fei stated truthfully, "The specific details need to be kept confidential for now, but I have yet to receive notice to leave Team 04." Personnel changes within the operation teams required going through the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division; one couldn''t simply pluck someone from their original team with just a word. The new team had to consider combat strength combinations, and the old team faced similar issues. To be honest, everyone was a temp worker, with their original work affiliations still tied to their former employers. If someone was unhappy, it was entirely possible they could drop everything on the spot, each returning to their own home, finding their own mother. "It seems I was overthinking it!" Adrian heaved a sigh of relief. Ever since the loss of the Holy Knight and his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, he who hoped that Team 04 would remain intact from start to finish did not wish to see any reduction in the team, for whatever reason. As long as Chen Fei was there, the rear defense line of Team 04 could be guaranteed. After all, the precision bombing of the 152 Demolition Bombs was not a joke; in a critical moment, it could turn the tide of the battle. Add to that the long-distance mobility of the Mobile Base Vehicle, which could ensure the entire team arrived at the mission area in optimal condition to engage. The huge black figure, Apu, and the Earth Elemental Mage, Ruan Tiankai, happily high-fived each other, only for Old Ruan''s hand to swell and Lao Hei''s face to turn even darker. Joshua, an A-grade Psychic Ability User, curiously asked, "What kind of new team is it? Are there people from other operation teams?" "Doesn''t seem like it. It should be a more direct team." Chen Fei considered for a moment, then shook his head, giving only a subtle hint. Apart from the monk-like Miyoshi Xuesen, the other four were complete strangers, not seen in any of the other teams of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, not even a slight impression. The teams belonging to the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division were tasked with eradication of the "Water Bears" and peripheral members of the "Sacred Advent" organization, as well as conducting covert investigations, spending most of their time searching and confirming suspicious targets. However, the new small team Chen Fei had just joined was inclined to take direct action, hunting down targets that had already been confirmed. As for where the hunting list originated from, it was not something that Chen Fei and others were privileged to question; the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, standing behind them and backed by various sovereignties, naturally could obtain some special intelligence. "Let''s not ask too many questions!" Adrian guessed that the team Chen Fei had just joined had certain confidentiality requirements and reminded the members of Team 04 accordingly. If it weren''t so, the Liaison Officer Rossi wouldn''t be so secretive, refusing to reveal even a single word. The Puppet Master, Joshua, rubbing the back of his head, said discontentedly, "Such secrecy!" Everyone was, after all, directly under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; trust those you employ, and don''t employ those you mistrust. All this secrecy clearly seemed like underestimation. "Better safe than sorry!" Mouri Misono, however, could understand better. She had been a middle manager in her original unit and knew that the struggles behind the scenes often surpassed imagination. This time, with the mutant attack on the city, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee and Hablav City had suffered significant losses. There were likely spies hidden within the city from either the "Water Bear" or "Sacred Advent" organizations. Even with Psychic Power Users skilled in Mind Reading Techniques on the lookout, it was possible that some might slip through the net. "I won''t ask, I won''t ask!" The always educable giant black figure Apu had also learned his lesson and quickly covered his own mouth, lest he be unable to restrain his excessive curiosity and once again say something inappropriate. The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an asked, "Adrian, when do we set off again?" Chen Fei''s temporary departure had become a certainty. If Team 04 received a mission soon, the personnel configuration would no longer be as complete as before. "I wish it could be postponed for a few more nights!" Holding a cup of steaming ginger tea, Susanna still hadn''t recovered her vitality and her face remained pale, even her voice seeming weak and powerless. She hadn''t attended the barbecue party last night, burying herself in the quilt with a hot water bottle, shivering, and relying solely on ginger tea, mugwort foot baths, and hot baths to sustain her life. She estimated it would take some time off to completely dispel the residual chill within her body. "We won''t have any missions for the time being. Habulav needs manpower for reconstruction, we''ll have to get to the construction site tomorrow, the day after tomorrow at the latest," Adrian said, allowing everyone to collectively breathe a sigh of relief. However, a group of power users acting as temporary construction workers felt somewhat strange; but whether it was killing or bricklaying, work was work, and as long as they were paid, it was all fair and square. The usually silent Neanderthal Chief Bassan suddenly asked, "What about the vehicle?" This reticent clan leader rarely spoke, but whenever he did, it always struck the heart of the matter. "Right! Chen Fei, what about your mobile base vehicle?" Adrian and the others looked towards Chen Fei. Parked below and still carrying a strong scent of barbecue, the mobile base vehicle was indeed an indispensable mode of transportation for Squad 04, and everyone had grown accustomed to its convenience. Other action teams had submitted reports to request similar mobile base vehicles, and it was said that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had already sent letters to some relevant manufacturers inquiring about design proposals. But if Chen Fei wasn''t around and Squad 04 needed to go on a mission, the all-electric mobile base vehicle wouldn''t have the necessary driving range to meet everyone''s needs. "The vehicle can stay, but you''ll have to figure out how to get a Crystalline Block yourselves, ask for Rossi''s help to apply for one." Without him on board, the presence of the Crystalline Block didn''t make much difference; in comparison, Chen Fei needed it more to maintain his own combat capabilities. Once a need to activate the magic array arose, the consumption of crystal energy would be enormous, and having a Crystalline Block would be a reliable guarantee of combat capability. The AI assisting in controlling the vehicle was an easier issue to address; they could let "Adam" assist remotely or simply use a different AI. In the "AI Arena," bustling with thousands of test accounts day and night, there was no shortage of good AIs. One could pick and choose freely, and even if none were as flexible as "Adam," basic operations would be sufficiently manageable. "Then that''s the only way to do it. I''ll communicate with Rossi," Adrian nodded in agreement. The rights to the mobile base vehicle''s onboard Crystalline Block belonged to Chen Fei, and if he wanted to take it, nobody else had any say. "Remember to keep in touch," Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, gestured a phone call to Chen Fei. The two men, despite living in the same building, would soon be heading in different directions. - The next morning. No sooner had Chen Fei stepped out of the apartment building with Xiao Jiu than he saw a bald man standing at the entrance to the public lobby on the first floor, holding a box in his hand. Hearing footsteps, the bald man turned his face towards them, but his eyes remained tightly shut. Chen Fei recognized the man and exclaimed in surprise, "Babylon?" The name "Babylon" didn''t refer to one person, but to a group of people. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had an organized army of soldiers in Hablav City. Part of them had unlocked psychic abilities, sharing the collective name, "Babylon." "For you!" The tall, dark Babylon handed the box to Chen Fei. He had been waiting here early in the morning, seemingly for Chen Fei. "What''s this?" Chen Fei looked at the bald man and the box with some confusion. This soldier wasn''t delivering something to him for the first time without any explicit reason, leaving Chen Fei completely baffled. Chapter 496 496: Section 492 - Scam Artist "Fuel!" Babylon''s tone betrayed no hint of fluctuation, making it difficult to guess his thoughts and emotions. "Fuel?" What kind of odd thing was this? Chen Fei, utterly baffled, took the box handed to him. The last time, the magnetic plasma engine had also arrived unexpectedly and for free. Such acts of eager benevolence were unheard of. Wait... Magnetic plasma engine... Fuel? Chen Fei didn''t hesitate and opened the box right there. Inside the box were several compartments, each containing a capsule-like object resembling a full-metal container, which at first glance, could be easily mistaken for a grenade, small enough to fit in one hand with an interface at the top that required a corresponding interface to open or close. Inside the box lid was a piece of paper with a line of text on it. "Plasma fuel" Indeed! He had guessed right. The last gift was a magnetic plasma engine, available in various sizes from large to small. Since the fuel for these engines was a controlled item not sold on the market, the several magnetic plasma engines he had unexpectedly acquired had been languishing unused in the "Physical Evolution Database" skill, with no applications found for them. This time, having obtained the fuel, the evolved magnetic plasma engine could finally be put to use. There were 72 compartments in the box, 6¡Á12, each corresponding to one fuel bottle, precisely fitting the basic capacity unit of the magnetic plasma engine for single soldier tactical armor, though he wasn''t sure how long one could be used. He figured he would know as soon as one was deployed. After handing the box to Chen Fei, Babylon spoke again, "The wreckage of the ''Skyhawk'' Crystal Jet has been moved to an old machinery junkyard in the suburbs and is expected to be recycled and decomposed within 72 hours." Having said that, he stepped back, ready to turn around and leave, seeming as if his mission was accomplished and there was no reason to stay. "Wait a second!" Chen Fei suddenly called out to him. Babylon stopped in his tracks, slowly turned back, and "looked" toward him. Chen Fei hesitantly ventured, "You... you''re not Babylon from C4 Training Gym, are you?" ... Babylon just stared straight at Chen Fei, silent, never opening his eyes. Then, without any response, he walked away, his figure receding into the distance. Indeed... Chen Fei''s guess was right. The person wasn''t the examiner Babylon that he and the other members of Team 04 had previously known. It had been reported that during this mutant attack on the city, the soldiers fought until their deaths... Chen Fei sighed. The soldiers were real tools, devoid of emotions and desires, no different from machine beings. Yet they were still living, breathing humans. - In a yard with a towering tree, amidst the chirping of birds, Chen Fei once again entered the East Asian-style wooden house leaning against the big tree. The Pure Light Sparrow issued a challenging chirp, driving the other birds in the tree canopy nearly mad with irritation. They couldn''t bring themselves to land on Chen Fei, only daring to fly in circles overhead, calling out in frustration. This time Chen Fei was early, and besides the monk Miyoshi Xuesen, Aunt Caroline, a Grade B Fire System ability user, was already there, with a basket by her side. Unlike yesterday''s fresh vegetables, today it contained items wrapped in thick greaseproof paper exuding the scent of food. Upon seeing Chen Fei, the aunt immediately invited him to sit and pulled a greaseproof package from her basket and handed it to him. "This is a meat-stuffed bun I made myself, I hope you like it!" Was it really food? He hesitantly took the substantial package, and upon opening it, found a Turkish Fire Roast inside. The bun was an inch thick, and the chunks of roast meat inside were over an inch thick as well, showing sincere generosity. "This bun isn''t going to explode, is it?" He was a bit concerned that the explosion-loving aunt might give him a Surprise on the spot. It would be a pity to be blasted with splatters of meat. "How could it!" The aunt looked incredulous, then became thoughtful. Hmm, an explosive dish that''s both delicious and... (a legendary bun grenade) Chen Fei''s offhand comment seemed to open a new world for the Fire System ability user. "Eh? Chen Fei, Caroline, the two of you got here first?" The Ninth Rank Psychic Mage, Tuert, who appeared youthful, had also arrived, accompanied by the Third Rank Earth Mage, Andrew, who seemed to have come with him. Tuert''s gaze fell on the package in Chen Fei''s hand, then shifted to the basket beside Aunt Caroline, his pupils briefly constricting before he nonchalantly looked away, well concealing a flicker of wariness in his eyes. "Tuert, Andrew, would you like to try the meat-stuffed buns I made?" Aunt Caroline warmly offered her homemade delicacies to the two men. Everyone had come so early, she reckoned they hadn''t properly eaten breakfast. The meat-stuffed buns in the basket could be just the thing to nourish them¡ªnot there''s a saying, "Eat a big breakfast, a good lunch, and a light dinner." "No, I''m already full from breakfast." Tuert immediately rejected the offer, fearing that one bite would blow him away on the spot. It was almost exactly as Chen Fei had initially feared, given that Aunt Caroline had such a unique hobby! He was still young and didn''t want to risk his life for no good reason. "I''m a vegetarian!" As a man mountain, Andrew''s reason for refusal was quite surprising. Actually, it wasn''t surprising at all; herbivores are always bigger than carnivores, growing into towering giants, literally speaking. "Ah? Is that so!" Facing repeated rejections, Aunt Caroline looked disappointed. "Hmm! Not bad!" Considering he always thought he had guts, Chen Fei boldly bit into the Turkish Fire Roast in his hand, tasting not only the roasted meat but unexpectedly delicious shredded cabbage and Zisu leaves. Miyoshi Xuesen still had tea ready for everyone, perfect with the pie. "Really?" Aunt Caroline turned around, her disappointment changing to surprise. "Mmhmm!" Taking a big bite was the best response. It was an unexpectedly perfect breakfast. Chen Fei started the day early and hadn''t seriously made breakfast, just two slices of last night''s leftover bread and a sausage. With his metabolism, those calories were far from enough. Little Bird had its own food and had eaten well before heading out with Chen Fei. "Then I''ll have another!" Delighted by the recognition of her Turkish Fire Roast, Aunt Caroline gleefully handed over another wrapped in greasy paper. "Thank you!" Chen Fei quickly finished off what was in his hand and devoured a second meat-filled pie, then reluctantly wiped his mouth. The pies were thick and flaky and the meat plentiful and fragrant, a solid sense of satisfaction. After a while, Masuya, a Grade A Wind-type Ability User with naturally curly red hair, arrived right on time. Aunt Caroline again offered her Turkish Fire Roast, not surprisingly rejected. To maintain her slim figure, the young beauty wouldn''t indulge her appetite, frustrating Aunt Caroline who pushed the basket toward Chen Fei. "Young man, it''s all yours!" Chen Fei unapologetically continued to eat heartily. Monk Miyoshi Xuesen, who was always engrossed in tea rituals, pulled out a remote control and pressed a button. "Now that everyone is here, let''s get started!" Above the tatami mat between him and the five others, a light flashed, and a holographic screen about fifty to sixty inches diagonally appeared out of thin air. A man in a strong robe appeared on the screen. Chen Fei and the others became immediately tense; the monk had not gathered them for a mere tea party but was preparing for murder. Undoubtedly, the somewhat adolescent-looking middle-aged man on the screen was the unfortunate target soon to be executed, listed on the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s death blacklist. "Lin Zien, male, 45 years old, major shareholder of Flying Dragon Security, located in the Southern Continent of the American Federation, has a secret base deep in the rainforest. He is a Grade A Wood Element Ability User and has magical beasts serving him..." "Please wait a moment!" As Miyoshi Xuesen was introducing the first hunting target, Chen Fei suddenly raised his hand to interrupt. "Is there a problem?" Miyoshi Xuesen stopped speaking, neither hurried nor annoyed. "May I ask, what is the relationship between this Lin Zien and the Lin Family?" As a descendant of the Chen Family, even if the connection was distant, Chen Fei inevitably had to ask once the Lin Family was mentioned; the descendants of the Lin Family, named with "Zi," adhered even more firmly to tradition than the Chen Family. "The Lin Family?" Not only did Tuert exclaim out loud, but others also reacted similarly in shock. Among the families that could be referred to as "the Lin Family," which other Lin Family could it be? Targeting someone from the Lin Family ¨C did the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee have a death wish? The Lin Family could erase the entire Habulav with a flick of their fingers. "No, it can''t be true!" The red-haired beauty, Masuya, gasped. If the monk dared to utter even a half-word of "yes," she would immediately excuse herself and leave, declining to join. "No!" Miyoshi Xuesen calmly uttered a single word. A collective sigh of relief rose from above the tatami mat. Thank goodness, thank goodness, that Lin Family was not one they could afford to provoke with their small tricks. "He''s just a scapegrace with no relation to the Lin Family, secretly using the Lin Family''s name to conduct activities and provide funding and training bases for the ''Water Bear'' organization." Miyoshi Xuesen seemed unsurprised by the reactions of Chen Fei and the others, even anticipating them, as he calmly added walnut charcoal to the small clay stove in front of him. "Understood!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. Since he was a scammer, he deserved his fate. Chapter 497 497: Section 493 - Turn a Blind Eye Seeing that the five individuals had stabilized their emotions, the monk Miyoshi Xuesen continued his methodical introduction of this Lin something-or-other, listing from birth to the path of crime, even detailing who had shared a bed with whom on particular dates and how often they could still muster the energy for it these days. However, these were all trivial details to help Chen Fei and others get a better understanding of the target for reference purposes. The Pure Light Sparrow that had followed them into the wooden hut hopped onto the tatami mat and stuck its little head into Chen Fei''s teacup, pecking quickly at the content before tilting back its head to take a sip. It then flapped its wings and flew around the room. It seemed to notice that Xiao Jiu was in the hut, as the frantic chirping outside had not stopped. No one seemed to mind the little creature the size of a fist. After all, the Pure Light Sparrow was considered one of the most harmless Magical Beasts, unless it mastered offensive spells, its combat power was practically negative. "Next up is the combat plan..." Miyoshi Xuesen''s organizational ability was indeed as Chen Fei had guessed; commanding a Ninja Team must have made him accustomed to hunting assignments. The plans developed, from A to D, were meticulous enough to deal with various situations. But this time the target wasn''t just an Ability User, but also an important core member of the "Water Bear" organization. That''s why Chen Fei and the other five Ability Users, two Spellcasters and three supernatural power users, were brought in. Close combat wasn''t necessary; the group of ninjas would probably be sufficient on their own. "Chiu!" A blast of bright light suddenly erupted from a corner of the hut, almost coating half of it in blindingly white radiance. A few figures then stumbled out awkwardly, with more wavering in the distance. The ninjas who had been forced to reveal themselves quietly dispersed and jumped into the nooks and crannies of the room, disappearing from sight again. If they couldn''t be dealt with, could they not at least be avoided? The Little Bird cocked its head curiously; out of sheer curiosity, it couldn''t help but release a "Light Burst Flash," which resulted in a trick that revealed more than one person. Nice! "Xiao Jiu, come back!" Chen Fei couldn''t let Xiao Jiu continue to wreak havoc in the hut any longer. The Light-based Spells clearly had a strong effect against Dark Element abilities; otherwise, Teacher Shen''s Shadow Wolf wouldn''t think it''s just a cat. (The wolf, beaten into a dog and then into a cat, has a journey of the heart that cannot be easily shared with others.) "...Alright, does anyone have anything else to add?" After talking in detail, Miyoshi Xuesen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and moistened his throat. He had completely ignored Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s mischievous behavior throughout. A man of his stature wouldn''t get upset over a little thing the size of a fist; he had that much tolerance. Moreover, knowing the birds that perched on the big tree in the yard, which he was around all the time, they were just as curious as cats. "I do!" Chen Fei was the first to raise his hand. With his other hand, he held Xiao Jiu in his palm to prevent further mischief. "Go ahead!" Miyoshi Monk nodded and made a welcoming gesture. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Is it possible to wipe out the target with a Demolition Bomb of 600mm caliber from over 100 kilometers away, one shot to get it done?" "Emmmm..."¡Á4 Everyone was either used to solo battles or team actions; what''s with resorting to bombing without a word, and with a 600mm caliber at that? What was he planning? A Demolition Bomb with a 600mm caliber weighs in tons by itself. Once launched, accuracy is the least of concerns; a deviation of a hundred or eighty meters is insignificant. If such a bombardment were to occur, what''s the point of them doing anything? "You..." Miyoshi Xuesen scratched his head, feeling rather overwhelmed, then suddenly slapped his forehead. "Wait, have you been in contact with heavy weaponry of 600mm caliber?" Only with such an experience could this B-Rank Metal Ability User have the audacity to make such a suggestion. "The other day, I just had contact with the D-600 type twin-barrel Railgun, along with several other heavy weapons," Chen Fei confessed honestly. There was no use hiding it; a simple check could reveal the truth, and feigning ignorance now could lead to a question of attitude. In joining such a hunting team, attitude is crucial; any deviation, no matter how slight, is unacceptable. "Who, who allowed this?" Miyoshi Xuesen finally showed a bit of agitation. Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power reaching an Industrial-grade standard was no secret, but what made it particularly formidable was a skill known as "Sacrifice". Even though it wasn''t a combat skill, it was more battle-ready than most. Since he admitted to coming into "contact" with it, that meant there was no denying it. Such destructive power in the hands of an employee of a military contractor, could anything good come of it? Any location on the surface of Blue Star could potentially be within the blast radius, and no place would be safe. "The supervisor!" A horse doesn''t get fat without nighttime grazing, and a person doesn''t get rich without some windfalls. Making a tidy profit, Chen Fei did not hesitate to sell out the supervisor. We''re all from the Jianghu, and it''s not about spending every day together; just get the money and that''s it! Miyoshi Xuesen said with resignation, "I understand, heavy weapons should not be used casually to avoid hurting innocents." After all, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was a legitimate organization, not a villainous party that took human lives lightly. Despite the prevalence of guns, bombs, and Ability Users, they had some scruples, so their image mattered. Lin Zien, who exploited the Lin Family''s name, hid nearby his secret base deep in the rainforest. The base was close to native tribes, but rather than tribes, they''re more like tourist spots, using the frequent traffic of vehicles and goods as a cover to mask some shady illegal activities. But the number of unrelated indigenous people and tourists was still not small; if a 600-hammer strike went down, the secret base would indeed be instantly cleaned out, but the nearby tribes and tourist attractions would be almost equally doomed. After answering everyone else''s questions, Miyoshi Xuesen clapped his folding fan and said, "Get ready, we set out tonight." "And..." Chen Fei raised his hand again. "Please, speak!" A ripple went through Miyoshi Xuesen''s gaze. "I heard a Crystal Jet crashed, may I..." Chen Fei pointed in the direction of the temporary junkyard for old machines outside the city. The kind-hearted soldiers not only delivered precious specialized plasma fuel to him but also reminded him of the information about the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk." The monk felt a wave of weariness. This guy''s "Sacrifice" skill paired with industrial-grade abilities was a perfect match; almost all human-made objects were unable to escape it. If it were just sacrificing some planes, tanks, cannons, and the like, it wouldn''t be so concerning, but as soon as it touches something high-end and slightly taboo, this skill could immediately cause a headache. Just like now, inadvertently crossing the red line, he started eyeing the Crystal Jet again. To acquiesce or not to acquiesce, that was the question for the monk! "What do you think?" The monk Miyoshi, not wishing to die for another, subtly pushed the problem back. The Buddha said: "It cannot be told! It cannot be told!" Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form; to speak is not to speak, and not to speak is to speak. Go figure it out yourself! Emmm... Chen Fei pondered for a moment, quietly got up, and left with Andrew, Tuert, and others. As they slid open the shoji door covered in pure white mulberry paper, dozens of birds on the porch were startled and flurried into the air. These little birds had remembered Xiao Jiu, boldly blocking the door, but they scattered in fear as soon as they saw humans, just like a scattering flock of birds. "Go on, get out of here!" Tuert, who looked like a young man, waved his hands irritably, making a shooing gesture. The birds were too bold, almost daring to burst into the house. Yet no one blamed Chen Fei''s Little Bird for attracting so many birds seemingly out of nowhere. After all, it was a Light-element Magical Beast, even if low-ranking, still higher class compared to these ordinary-blooded fowls. "Hehe, what a little mischief-maker!" Aunt Caroline teased Xiao Jiu on Chen Fei''s shoulder with a smile. "Ugh, it''s really dirty here!" Masuya, an A-rank Wind-type Ability User, took out a scented handkerchief and covered her mouth and nose, looking in disgust at the specks and spots newly added to the porch floor, bird droppings... likewise unable to fault the birds'' sense of public duty, for they simply had none. The others who came out together carefully avoided the bird droppings on the floor, and seeing that their shoes were lucky to be unaffected, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. - Chen Fei, with Xiao Jiu, took an autonomous taxi and headed out of town. Arriving again at the temporary junkyard for old machines, there were many fewer rubbish mountains than last time, with about one-tenth of the area newly cleared. Like other Aircrew Bases distributed around the globe on Blue Star, Hablav also had a dedicated melting and recycling center for dealing with city waste. After all, burning or disposing of it carelessly in landfills was bad for the environment. The ecosystem of the Yangzhou Continent was already very poor, and any additional damage could cause a series of chain reactions in nature. Who could guarantee that the Mutants wouldn''t cause even greater harm or become uncontrollable, sweeping across the entire continent, rendering Yangzhou no longer suitable for human habitation? As Hablav City was being rebuilt, the demand for various construction materials increased, so the processing speed of the various metal waste materials in the temporary junkyard was much faster than usual. No wonder that soldier, Babylon, had made an extra mention that the wreckage of the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" would be dismantled in three days. If Chen Fei hadn''t arrived in time, he might have missed out. "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light Mirror Spell'' and look down over this area." Chen Fei reached out his hand and scratched the little bird''s chin on his shoulder. The mountain of garbage in front of him was at least a hundred piles high, making it difficult to spot the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" at first glance. Instead of searching through each pile one by one, it was better to take a shortcut. "Jiu!" The little bird shook its body and its feathers puffed up. Three feet in front of it, lights twinkled, and with a nearly inaudible click, the points of light spread out. The "Light Mirror Spell" failed to launch. Xiao Jiu was stunned for a moment, then began to conjure the spell again. Click!~ As usual, it failed. Its "Light Mirror Spell" was hit-and-miss, entirely based on luck. Sometimes luck was good, and it could cast successfully several times in a row; other times, luck was poor, as was the case right now, resulting in repeated failures. Chapter 498 498: Section 494 - Energy Points Little Bird tried again more than a dozen times, but ultimately failed to succeed. It chose to lie flat, squatting on Chen Fei''s shoulder, refusing to cast the "Light Mirror Spell" no matter what. The continuous failures had probably dealt a serious blow to its confidence. Chen Fei had no solution, after all, innate magic for Magical Beasts was a matter of fate, unlike human Spellcasters who could master their spells as long as their magic power and spiritual power were up to par with practice. "Emmm...got it!" A light bulb went off in Chen Fei''s mind, and he snapped his fingers. Xiao Jiu couldn''t help, but he still had "Adam". He went to a garbage heap, casually grabbed an aluminum alloy product weighing at least a hundred pounds, and then scraped out a batch of usable rubber-coated cables. The skill "Metal Shaping|Replication|Material Simulation" was activated, and very soon, a quadcopter drone designed on the spot took shape. This aircraft wasn''t fast to begin with, but what it had going for it was stability; it didn''t need to consider any aerodynamic shape, as long as it could maintain balance, that was enough. Chen Fei shoved the Crystalline Block, originally placed on the Mobile Base Vehicle, into the drone''s energy slot. Tsk tsk, a drone powered by a Crystalline Block was luxurious beyond measure. "''Adam'', remote control this drone and search for the Crystal Jet." He didn''t have any other high-capacity batteries on hand, so he had to make do with this Crystalline Block for now. Hum... The quadcopter''s six-blade propellers spun rapidly, the strong wind blowing toward the ground, and "Adam" took over the drone without much effort. As soon as Chen Fei let go, the drone soared straight up to a height of one hundred meters above ground. Several slender beams of light were cast downwards, scanning back and forth repeatedly. Truth be told, the drone controlled by "Adam" was even more useful than Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell". The former could automatically scan for the location of the Crystal Jet, whereas the latter required manual identification. Chen Fei only needed to tease Little Bird. The quadcopter ascended for less than thirty seconds, circled over the temporary pile of old machinery, and quickly located the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk", half-buried in a pile of rubbish in a sprawled position. The rest was easy. Chen Xiao''er reached out his malicious hand towards the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" that was cut off in the middle. System: Ding! Magic Array "Repulsion Shield" acquired! System: Ding! Magic Array "Blazing Flame Bullet" acquired! System: Ding! Absorbed one Crystal Jet (Integrity 71%), gained Energy Points +22! Energy Points: 17121/20000! In addition to the previously acquired "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array, he unexpectedly received a new and quite practical Magic Array, a Second Rank Fire System magic "Blazing Flame Bullet," whose power was almost comparable to a small hand grenade. Even though the Crystal Jet "Skyhawk" was split in two, not much different from being bisected, and had lost some aerodynamic control surfaces, its integrity was much higher than the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" Chen Fei had initially found. Probably, the person who dumped this wreckage here never expected that some Magic Arrays could still be preserved on it. Although one of the arrays was a duplicate, the other was an unexpected pleasant surprise. However, just based on this wreckage, the likelihood of replicating a brand new Crystal Jet was still not possible. After all, many core modules were removed before being tossed here, firstly to protect technical secrets, and secondly for recycling. In the end, there was only a big empty shell left; apart from obtaining a few Magic Arrays, the only thing that could be gleaned was the aerodynamic design. Combat Aircraft pursuing high maneuverability often use an inherently unstable design, utterly incapable of powerless gliding; if you let go, they could crash right in front of you. Once the important avionics and flight control systems were lost, having just an aerodynamic shape was utterly useless. Chen Fei alone had no solutions. Having "Adam" re-engineer a complete set of avionics and flight control systems matching it would have been impossible without crashing seventeen or eighteen prototype Aircraft to gather data. While there was an abundance of discarded metal everywhere, he decided to fill up his Energy Points. ``` Energy Points: 20000/20000 He glanced once more at the "Skill Shop," a place he hadn''t paid attention to for quite some time. This time, his gaze faltered, eh? The Dog System was still producing duds, seemingly intent on cheating him out of all his Energy Points with trashy skills. Not even an "Energy Points Storage Upgrade" was available; otherwise, he could have at least squeezed out a bit more capacity. To hell with you! He flipped the page, switching to the "My Skills" list. Energy Points -400! "Basic Optical Observer (Level 4)" ¡ú "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" The additional features included four more, now totaling seven: low-light enhancement, infrared thermal imaging, full spectrum imaging, micro vision, ultra-long vision, macroscopic perspective, and visual assistance. Quite practical, though the last feature, "visual assistance," seemed somewhat redundant. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" could customize programming visual interfaces, effectively replacing "visual assistance," but since "Adam" could potentially be destroyed, resulting in dysfunction, the Dog System''s built-in feature, while somewhat underwhelming, was guaranteed to be reliable. Energy Points -1100! "Basic Laser Emitter (Level 9)" ¡ú "Basic Laser Emitter (Level 20)" Although not often used and less powerful than the Xiao Jiu Laser Cannon, this skill upgrade was justifiable given the ample Energy Points at his disposal, and since there might not be another chance, he rounded it off nicely, doubling the output power of the original. Energy Points -10000! "Basic Particle Beam (Level 0)" ¡ú "Basic Particle Beam (Level 10)" He had never used the Particle Beam Weapon skill before, but as a trump card kept for emergency situations, it was well worth having. He just waited for the day when he could light up some unlucky soul, hoping its power justified the huge investment of ten thousand Energy Points. If it weren''t for the temporary scrapyard, Chen Fei wouldn''t be investing so grandly. Energy Points -5000 "Armor Plugin Module (Level 1)" ¡ú "Armor Plugin Module (Level 10)" Since the "Personal Armor Basic Body (Level 5)" couldn''t be upgraded any further for now, Chen Fei decided to invest Energy Points into the corresponding "Armor Plugin Module," ending up with 11 plugins. But what exactly "plugins" were, only the Dog System knew. Next, he began to fervently dump Energy Points into "Super Capacitor." This skill, by now, was Chen Fei''s greatest weakness in combat, necessitating reliance on Crystalline Blocks to compensate. A large number of Energy Points were thrown into it, depleting as they were replenished. Almost fifty thousand Energy Points were spent, causing two "small mountains" of scrap in the temporary scrapyard to vanish completely, before "Super Capacitor (Level 50)" was upgraded to "Super Capacitor (Larval Form MAX)," reaching the peak with no further upgrades possible. "Super Capacitor (Larval Form MAX)" momentarily reached a maximum capacity of one million degrees, but it still couldn''t hold a charge for more than 24 hours. The skill leaked energy fiercely, hence it was named a capacitor rather than a battery. Due to the limited electricity converted by the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component," it wasn''t enough to fully charge a "Super Capacitor" in the Larval Form MAX state. The actual efficiency was only about 10 percent, which was one hundred thousand degrees. The rest simply leaked away naturally. He then refilled his Energy Points reserve, and though the temporary scrapyard still contained plenty of "small mountains," Chen Fei restrained his greed and left with regret. Habulav City needed a vast amount of material for its reconstruction, and the metal waste in the temporary scrapyard was bound to be recycled. If Chen Fei had taken some of the scrap before, no one would have minded or even noticed. But now, with the efficiency of recycling greatly increased, it would eventually become apparent that Chen Fei was responsible for any shortfall. What he had ingested, he would have to regurgitate, and if he couldn''t... that would mean more debt. So, he chose to stop while he was ahead, to avoid accountability. ``` Chapter 499 499: Section 495 - Rainforest Journey ``` Energy Points: 20000/20000 With energy points in hand, Chen Fei was not anxious. Although he had no way to sweep the old machinery dump outside of Hablav City clean, nor did he want to indulge the Dog System in wasting energy points, he still filled up his energy point reserves before departure to be prepared for unexpected needs. Only then did he feel truly reassured as he followed Miyoshi Xuesen and the others, leaving the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters in Hablav City. A small Magic Cube Warship set off under the cover of night. As both were located in the Southern Hemisphere, traveling from Yangzhou Continent to the Southern Continent of the North American Federation did not require crossing most of the globe. It took only six to seven hours to arrive at the edge of the plateau and rainforest area of the Southern Continent. The landing site was an uninhabited valley. It seemed that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee intended to discreetly and quietly take care of the targets on the huntsman list. "We are still 300 kilometers away from Lin Zien''s secret base." As Miyoshi Monk spoke, shadowy figures leaped around the area like birds circling, then swooshed into the dense forest as if birds diving into the woods. The entire Ninja Team was brought along, and even though they were ordinary people, they were ordinary people with long-term combat skills training. Temporarily imbued with special abilities, they immediately became more formidable, comparable to D-level ability users, and even more difficult to deal with than D-level ones. The primordial rainforest was fraught with perils that could claim a life in an unguarded moment, with even mutants unable to survive. However, for ninjas accustomed to wilderness survival, this was not a difficult task, rather, they were in their element. "Are we really not going to fire a shot?" Chen Fei took out the tablet he carried with him and compared it with the electronic map. The 300 kilometers seemed not too far away, well within his shooting range. The Huntsman Squad had the coordinates of the target secret base, and now, by taking out the "D-600 type twin rail heavy cannon," he could strike the 600 kilometers distance. If one shot didn''t solve the problem, then two would. Before departure, Chen Fei had examined the list of supplies carried, which included ten 600 millimeter caliber shells, four armor-piercing shells, two Cloud Bombs, and four Demolition Bombs. Despite his protests, the list had been prepared properly. Each shell weighed at least two and a half tons. Made exclusively for the super-caliber railgun, there was no propellant, just pure payload. The impact was far more devastating than a 2000-pound aviation bomb¡ªit was a one-way ticket to hell, guaranteed to take out the target. All these supplies were in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device that Miyoshi Xuesen carried. Backed by several sovereignties, it was only natural for the wealthy and powerful Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to equip those carrying out special missions with alchemical storage artifacts. One of Xiao Jiu''s leg rings, which included a ring from a Spatial Storage Artifact, was also packed with several boxes, roughly four to five tons of supplies. "No way!" Miyoshi Monk, originally in monk''s robes, now wore the same type of half-armored tactical gear as the ninjas, with corresponding protection at the hands and joints. A 600 millimeter shell falling from the sky would undoubtedly eliminate the mission target, but it would also mean the local residents and tourists would become collateral damage. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wasn''t the Water Bear organization. Such disregard for human life and indiscriminate killing were definitely not acceptable. The bald monk emphasized from the beginning that innocent lives should not be harmed, whether he was genuinely benevolent or not. "There are so many insects here, can''t we land closer?" Masuya, with her naturally curly red hair, had no choice but to activate her Wind-type Psionic Ability, scattering the various small flying insects that attempted to swarm around her. Yet the buzzing sound still persisted, annoying and distracting. When mosquitoes approached Aunt Caroline, they spontaneously combusted with a pop. Before they could even hit the ground, they turned to smoke and dissipated into nothingness. Andrew and Tuert, each with their own methods, prevented the mosquitoes from getting close. "We can''t. Lin Zien is very vigilant. There will be surveillance within a hundred-kilometer radius. To be safe, we need to approach on foot starting from beyond three hundred kilometers and, at the same time..." Miyoshi Xuesen looked toward Chen Fei, who was already suited up in "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, indifferent to the annoyance of the insects, and continued, "It''s to allow Chen Fei''s AI ''Adam'' to take over the enemy''s surveillance system, providing cover for our operation." It appeared that ''Adam''s presence was no longer a secret. "No problem!" Chen Fei gave an OK gesture. ``` "Adam" runs a 24-hour process and can be called upon at any time. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu stretched its neck, grabbed a mosquito that approached, and with a casual toss of the head, it welcomed the little snack that was delivered to its door. In the tropical rainforest, there''s never a shortage of various insects; poisonous or not, they''re all fair game, and Little Bird can have a feast anytime it wants. Among the huntsman squad, the member most adapted to these local conditions is probably this seemingly fragile Little Bird. "We have to reach our destination within a week, so the journey won''t be easy. The ninjas will scout the route in advance for us. Everyone must keep up and avoid falling behind. Are you all ready? Let''s move out now." Miyoshi Xuesen, wearing ninja half-armor tactical gear that seemed to include exoskeleton power-assistance, moved with ease and fluidity. The glasses he wore displayed extremely detailed images, similar to a semi-transparent screen projected in front of him, marking the route and direction of the destination confirmed by the advanced scout ninja team. 300 kilometers is just the theoretical distance on the map. Trekking through the tropical rainforest with its ravines and mountainous terrain, the actual journey was much longer, just as Miyoshi Monk had mentioned. The time for the expedition was tight, and if not for the team being entirely composed of ability users, it would likely be impossible to arrive on time. Progressing through the pristine tropical rainforest where even mutants couldn''t survive, this path was bound to be fraught with danger. Poisonous flora and fauna were nearly ubiquitous, and unless one''s protection was absolutely flawless, a moment of carelessness could easily lead to disaster. Even the ninjas, experienced in wilderness survival, weren''t spared; on the first day, two of them unexpectedly got poisoned. Thankfully, they were promptly injected with an antidote serum, narrowly escaping with their lives. The ninjas risked their lives to scout ahead, clearing many threats for those behind them like Miyoshi Xuesen and the rest; otherwise, there would''ve been more, not fewer, accidents. Even so, as they traveled through the dense forest, new threats inevitably arose; occasionally, Xiao Jiu would suddenly shoot out a laser, followed by the large head of a forest python dropping from above, with purple-red serpent blood spurting out like rain ¡ª the rain in this forest resembled the color of blood. At night, when camping, Miyoshi Xuesen took out camping cabins from his spatial storage artifact, and together with the spells cast by the mages Tuert and Andrew, they managed to barely hold off the relentless disturbance of snakes and beasts. That was just the first day. The difficulty of the next day''s journey increased rather than decreased. One had to be extremely cautious with every step, or else, inadvertently, one''s body would be covered with blood leeches, creeping everywhere, enough to make one''s scalp explode at the sight. Everyone was dressed in specialized protective gear, sprayed with insect repellent from head to toe; otherwise, before even reaching their destination, they''d be drained dry by blood leeches or contract dengue fever and malaria from the insects. After an arduous trek, the huntsman squad finally arrived near Lin Zien''s secret base on the evening of the sixth day. Guided by a ninja, Chen Fei approached a surveillance camera set up in the rainforest, and from the "bracelet" on his left hand extended the "Universal Data Transceiver" terminal, which split and connected to the camera''s multiple data interfaces. Adam: Gained control of the camera, maintaining the current image! Chen Fei nodded at the ninja, and the Dark System Ability bestowed upon the latter allowed Miyoshi Xuesen, who was a hundred meters away, to receive the confirmation synchronously. Adam: Wired data network detected, beginning data link attempt, time required: 1 minute. One minute later. Adam: Highest monitoring system privileges acquired; safe entry is now possible. Chen Fei spoke into his headset, "All set, folks!" The controllable Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" was also one of the reasons Chen Fei was chosen for the huntsman squad. "Now we can enter safely," Miyoshi Xuesen said as he boldly stood up from where he was hiding. With the surveillance cameras under control, they were like shadows, able to boldly enter the secret base of their hunting target. "But Lin Zien is not at the base!" After gaining access to the monitoring system, Chen Fei could monitor the location of the target. However, through the cameras inside and outside the base, "Adam" failed to find Lin Zien''s presence, a result that was quite unexpected. "Where could he be?" Best-laid plans often go awry, and Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t expected an empty strike; he thought they would locate the target and, while unnoticed, secretly eliminate the foe, then erase all traces¡ªsettling scores of the past and present. Chapter 500 500: Section 496 - Switching Bags "Still searching!" Chen Fei had received feedback from "Adam" that the monitoring system was still expanding its search. Because the algorithm involved facial recognition, even a slight obstruction could disrupt identification, not to mention the numerous blind spots, so relying on nearly infinite computing power was not enough to solve the problem. "How much longer will it take?" Miyoshi Xuesen frowned slightly, as he did not want to make the trip for nothing. Previously obtained intelligence indicated that Lin Zien was in this secret base deep in the rainforest. "There are quite a few people inside; we can''t confirm yet." Surveillance cameras were almost everywhere, not only scattered throughout the nearby tropical rainforest, but also plentiful around the secret base and the neighboring tribal tourist spots, mostly outdoors, however, with few inside. In Chen Fei''s visual interface, the AI "Adam" was building a personnel list, tallying the number of humans and their movement trajectories inside and outside the secret base and tribal sights. So far, over three thousand people had been identified, and the number was slowly increasing. Half of them were illegal armed militants, obviously tougher than the Angela Pharmaceutical Company that Chen Fei''s Team 04 had dealt with in Siberia. If Team 04 were to carry out this secret decapitation mission, it would probably be quite challenging. After all, Adrian and his comrades'' abilities were better suited for direct assault, not suitable for stealthy beheadings. Even sneaking in could easily expose them, and no matter how hard they fought, they couldn''t overpower a thousand-plus armed militants. "Understood!" Miyoshi Xuesen tapped his bald head, knowing that they couldn''t act rashly if there were a slip in intelligence, otherwise, they would startle the snake by hitting the grass. Chen Fei and the others watched him, waiting for a new plan. After a moment, the hesitant Miyoshi Monk finally made a choice. Among his ABCDEFG plans, there was already a contingency for Lin Zien unexpectedly leaving the base. "We''ll wait for a rabbit by a tree stump!" He paused, then continued, "The ninjas will continue to gather information." It was fortunate that they hadn''t let Second Brother flatten the place with a single shot; destroying the secret base was not the Huntsman Squad''s task, as sovereignty would naturally handle it. In front of sovereignty, even the smallest, thousands of private soldiers were just a slap away, and any big shot propping up the frame of sovereignty was definitely tough. The Ninja Team, enhanced with Dark System Abilities, was completely familiar with gathering intelligence, perfectly suited for the current unexpected situation. Half an hour later, "Adam" had tallied the number of humans and Magical Beasts at the secret base and tribal sights, totaling 3471 people and two Magical Beasts, with an additional fifty-plus people unconfirmed, and also detected four or five Ability Users. These low-level Ability Users scattered among the populace were merely a minor trouble for the Huntsman Squad; any member, be it the Ninja Team or Chen Fei, could easily take them down. Miyoshi Xuesen''s Ninja Team quickly verified "Adam''s" reconnaissance report and even obtained more accurate intelligence, identifying personnel even the surveillance cameras couldn''t confirm. There were as many as 3609 people in two places, and not just two, but three Magical Beasts. The one that "Adam" had failed to detect was a Dark Monster. If not for its low rank which almost led to its discovery by ninjas who stealthily infiltrated using Dark System Ability, the ninja who confirmed this intelligence narrowly escaped unharmed. The Huntsman Squad wasn''t too worried about this Dark Monster with stealth abilities, as their team also had a Light-element Magical Beast, Pure Light Sparrow. Because of the opposing Elemental Energy, Xiao Jiu was especially sensitive to the low-rank Dark Element fluctuations of the similar low-rank Magical Beast. Since "Adam" had taken control of the monitoring system spread throughout the rainforest, Miyoshi Xuesen''s group seemed to vanish, comfortably stationed right under the secret base''s nose waiting for the rabbit ¨C waiting for Lin Zien to appear. The monitoring of this part of the tropical rainforest wasn''t only managed by the recently acquired monitoring system by "Adam", but also by Xiao Jiu''s intermittently functional "Light Mirror Spell." Since this spell often malfunctioned, Chen Fei always encouraged its use to compensate for the dead angles in the monitoring system. As long as it wasn''t a sealed environment completely isolated from the outside world, Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell" was even more handy than any ninja, except that it couldn''t hear any sounds. After waiting in the rainforest for three days, Lin Zien suddenly appeared, bringing a few tall, curvaceous beauties escorted by a group of armed personnel into the rainforest, seemingly preparing for a rainforest BBQ. Seated in several jeeps towing fully loaded trailers, they approached merrily and noisily. The secret base and indigenous tribe were clearly active human areas, apart from ignorant snakes, worms, rats, and ants, hardly any wild beasts were seen. Perhaps there used to be, but they had been hunted clean; anything with a bit of brains wouldn''t come close. For the Huntsman Squad, who had been waiting diligently for a rabbit to hit the tree, it seemed that their patience had been unexpectedly rewarded without any need for effort. Having presumably been cooped up in a secret base for too long, they called over a few friends and, it seemed, even brought along some tourists; everyone was having a blast in the nearby primal rainforest! The barbecue spot arranged by the other party was close to the Huntsman Squad''s camp, barely five kilometers away. Had it not been for the dense rainforest in between, they could virtually see each other. Xiao Jiu, who had been diligently practicing, finally successfully executed the "Light Mirror Spell" and directed the vision to the barbecue camp. He saw two ninjas silently approaching a solitary armed militant on guard; one ninja suddenly appeared to draw attention, while the other struck from behind, snapping the militant''s neck in an instant, then quickly changed into a set of jungle camouflage tactical armor and pretended to continue patrolling. The body of the original guard was dragged deep into the rainforest and carelessly thrown into a pond, soon to become a pile of dismembered bones. Then came the second armed militant, the Ninja Team, expert veterans at this task, operated smoothly without any rush. In just a short while, the bustling barbecue stall saw an increasing number of secretly replaced armed militants, soon exceeding ten. The ninjas not only donned the clothing and equipment of the armed militants but also altered their appearance to look exactly like the original militants and even mimicked some random chatter in their voices and habitual movements to an uncannily accurate degree. "That''s it? What else do we need to do?" Seeing the Ninja Team nearly controlling half the barbecue area, Tuert, the Psychic Mage of the Ninth Human Order with a youthful appearance, frowned. Should the ninjas choose this moment to burst forth, the prime target, who was currently distracted, mingling and embracing in the crowd, would likely fail to react timely and would be slain on the spot. "No, these ninjas have been trained with great difficulty, and we must ensure absolute safety." Miyoshi would never want to casually squander the ninjas he had finally assembled into a team, as they are not expendable but his most trusted and reliable aides. "A ninja is approaching the barbecue stall." Chen Fei saw a ninja disguised as an armed militant nearing the stalls, apparently quite tempted by the food. From this angle, he could see the ninja''s subtle motions as he sneakingly "added ingredients" to the barbecue, causing him to clap his hands in amazement. This move deserves a 666! "Emmm, poisoning, that''s a viable move! Nothing for us to do now!" Tuert immediately found it dull, as he had expected; Miyoshi''s ninjas were indeed capable of completing the mission independently, leaving the rest of the team just to applaud from the sidelines. Having unnecessarily wandered the rainforest for a whole week. However, Miyoshi shook his head and said, "No, I need your cooperation, to be precise, to fabricate the scene." This time was just a stroke of good luck that his ninjas caught the opportunity. Andrew asked puzzledly, "There''s no need to overdo it in killing, why bother?" The others, too, nodded unanimously in agreement. They had already killed; why stage more theatrics? Seemingly overly finicky! "No, we can''t alert the other targets listed." The list in Miyoshi''s hand contained more than just one name; all the targets were part of a group. If one of them suddenly died under unusual circumstances, it would undoubtedly alarm the rest, complicating the subsequent hunts. As the team leader, he had to take this into consideration. "Internal strife, an accident, or a mutant!" Chen Fei provided the options. Even if one hasn''t eaten pork, they should have seen a pig run; there were plenty of relevant plots in movies and TV shows that could be employed here. Chapter 501 501: Section 497 - Natural Death Dozens of cold storage boxes were opened, and drink bottles were buried in crushed ice. The ever-present humidity of the rainforest, when met with the exposed sub-zero temperatures, immediately turned to white vapor, swirling around the cold storage boxes, either floating slowly or flowing along. The charcoal was glowing red, and the aroma of barbecued meats rapidly spread in all directions, as if one could smell it from miles away. Aunt Caroline, a grade B Fire Ability User who loved cooking and explosions, grumpily said, "Look! The grilling is just terrible!" If it hadn''t been during a mission, she would have probably rushed over to teach these guys, who were ruining the ingredients, how grilling should be done. "It''s about time we started moving." Since the ninjas had already succeeded, the Ability Users in the Huntsman Squad didn''t need to take action anymore. Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t choose multiple choices; he took all. Infighting + accidents + mutants, only such a grand play would be sufficiently thrilling. Just after something happened here, the troops of sovereignty pressed in, additionally destroying the site, followed by an investigation report, declaring Lin Zien dead from a mutant attack, leaving no evidence to contest ¡ª it had to be so. As for the truth, the "Water Bear" organization would hardly understand what exactly had happened, and while they were still unresponsive, the Huntsman Squad might even secretly harvest more heads. It was mostly impossible to silently eliminate all the targets on the list one by one; the "Water Bear" organization wasn''t foolish. They would eventually notice that someone was secretly hunting their key members. Once such a massive entity skilled in concealment and lurking reacted, if the Huntsman Squad did not know how to restrain themselves, they might not only fail at their hunt but also suffer a severe loss, or even a total annihilation. While the enemy was exposed and their side was concealed, Miyoshi Xuesen created many seemingly finicky tactics to maintain the current advantage, hoping that the "Water Bear" organization would take even longer to react. Ideally, until the last target on the assassination list was dead, they would still have no idea how they died. By the time Chen Fei and others followed Miyoshi Xuesen to the barbecue site, almost everyone was already laid down by the ninjas'' sedative, and they were setting up the scene according to Miyoshi Xuesen''s script. Not only did the food and beverages secretly contain drugs, but even the charcoal for the barbecue was tampered with, dispersing a confusing smoke that was nearly unstoppable; these ninjas were indeed professionals at sneaky backstabbings. In just a moment, even outsiders like Chen Fei and his companions could see from the chaotic scene on the ground that it looked like an internal clash had escalated from a fight to gunfire, then to a melee, attracting a mutant attack, and finally retreating while fighting, with Lin Zien dying tragically on the spot. The drugs administered by the ninjas weren''t fatally poisonous but would cause temporary unconsciousness and physical weakness. Though these people were still alive, they were very close to death in their dazed state. The sound of gunfire burst out loudly, with bullets crisscrossing aimlessly, followed quickly by the sound of hand grenades exploding. Soon after, traces of mutant appearances were fabricated, and the scene turned bloody. Lying on the ground, having lost the ability to resist, these people were sent to Hell one by one in an orderly manner. Just as it came to the main subject, the target of this mission, Lin Zien, his eyes suddenly opened wide, and he leapt up, attempting to run. The unprepared ninjas had just raised their weapons when someone got ahead of Lin Zien and waved a hand casually. Puff! Lin Zien didn''t even have time to scream before his body was sent flying apart into pieces. System: Ding! "Eyes of Tyranny" duration 14 seconds/15 seconds! The "Air Burst" Magic Array repelled a surprise attack first, then Chen Xiao''er unhesitatingly swiped at him. How could an A-grade Wood Ability User, at the end of the day just mortal flesh, withstand such an attack? From his chest to his lower back, he was torn open, dying a violent death on the spot. Luckily, Chen Fei reacted quickly, otherwise, letting a Wood Ability User successfully escape into the rainforest, where the enemy could fight or flee, would not only waste the Huntsman Squad''s efforts but also expose their own presence. Aunt Caroline, a B-grade Fire Ability User, Miyoshi Xuesen, a Ninth Rank Psychic Mage with a youthful appearance, Masuya, an A-grade Wind Ability User, and Andrew, a Third Rank Earth Mage, only then reacted. But the escape and interception had already finished in the blink of an eye, and the mission''s target was thoroughly dead. "What happened?" Miyoshi Xuesen appeared beside Chen Fei like a ghost; if one had been observant enough, he almost seemed to have sprung from the shadow beside Chen Fei, just a bit too late. A ninja ran over, knelt on the ground, and bowed his head: "Sorry, the Wood Ability User''s resistance to poison might have been stronger." "Understood!" Miyoshi Xuesen waved his hand, indicating no intent to pursue the matter further, and looked at the still warm corpse of Lin Zien, whose organs retained some vitality and were still twitching. The ninja stood up, stepped back, and joined the others to continue setting up the scene. From the first gunshot, fabricating the scene with as many details as possible was best, but the nearby secret base would eventually send people to investigate, and they didn''t have much time left - not a second to waste. Looking at Lin Zien''s nearly torn apart corpse, Miyoshi Xuesen then turned his gaze to Chen Fei, who was still under the "Eyes of Tyranny" effect, eventually focusing on his ferocious large claws, nodded and said, "This works... well!" Given Lin Zien''s brutally mangled corpse, if it wasn''t done by a mutant, it still had to appear as if it was, with one swipe turning him into such a state genuinely passed off as real, with Chen Fei looking just like a humanoid mutant. In a deserted wilderness, it''s entirely normal for one or two mutants to suddenly appear. As for why Metal Ability Users had such skills, Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t want to delve deeper, nor would he ask further questions. After all, the superpower system already included all sorts of strange and peculiar abilities, some of which couldn''t even be easily categorized under Elemental Series, and it was really impossible to scrutinize each one. "While there''s still time, I might as well add some more!" Chen Fei, with eyes that turned into fragmented gold, was emitting an aura that screamed ''stay away'', and anyone standing even slightly close would feel a chill down their spine as if thorns were pressed against their back, and their body hair would involuntarily stand on end. In the less than 15-second countdown, he swung his giant claws, leaving many marks around, and some corpses also fell victim to dismemberment, not only were they torn to pieces, they might also end up with no proper burial place, with trees, rocks, and soil all around bearing ghastly and terrifying claw marks, until the "Eyes of Tyranny" effect ended. It didn''t take long for the fabricated scene to truly resemble one where a mutant had charged in and rampaged. Only when "Adam" warned them, noticing the gunshots and explosions, did the militants rush out of the secret base; by then, Miyoshi Xuesen and others in the Huntsman Squad had already collectively evacuated the scene, leaving behind numerous suspicions for the "Water Bear" organization to headache over by themselves. The small Magic Cube Warship that transported the Huntsman Squad had been waiting more than a hundred kilometers away from the scene for a long time, picked up the crew, and then soared into the sky to head directly for the second target on the list. "Allen Koseva, an underground mob boss in Newlenk State, a normal person, not an ability user, currently resides in the Long Lake Bay Manor in Lake City, which is tightly guarded..." Upon boarding the small Magic Cube Warship, Miyoshi Xuesen then announced to everyone the detailed intelligence about the second hunting target. For confidentiality, only he knew the complete hunting list. "A 600 gram one?" Chen Fei followed the old protocol as usual. Mob bosses who had risen to power through their wits could be even more troublesome than ability users, likely having rich experience in dealing with potential assassinations. There were no tourist attractions near the private estate¡ªhopefully, this time there wouldn''t be innocent lives at risk? There are no good people in the mob, if one dies, they deserve it. "This would startle the snake! Allen''s cause of death will be a car accident, so I''ll be needing Tuert, Masuya, and Andrew for this one." Miyoshi Xuesen had determined the mission target''s fate early on. Ability users might still have a slight chance of survival in a deliberately staged car accident, but a normal person wouldn''t stand a chance, they were doomed. Tuert''s Psychic Series Spell, Masuya''s Wind-type Psionic Ability, and Andrew''s Earth Magic, the three combined could easily orchestrate a car accident as if they were merely playing. "Wait, I can too!" Chen Fei tentatively raised his hand. "Chirp!" Right, Little Bird could also create a perfect car accident. Miyoshi Xuesen curiously asked, "You? Are you going to tamper with the vehicle?" Metal Ability Users needed a certain distance to activate their skills, and it might not be easy to approach a moving vehicle. Chen Fei estimated and said, "Ten meters should be no problem." He could already control slight deformations of non-metallic materials within a certain range, which would undoubtedly cause fatal malfunctions in a fast-moving vehicle. That night, from a convoy rushing out of the Long Lake Bay Manor, a black armored car suddenly lost control, crashed into the roadside barrier, which shattered like paper, and then tumbled down a two to three-meter drop, landing upside down with a heavy crash. Before the other vehicles in the convoy could react, the fallen black armored car burst into flames, the fire growing fiercer by the minute. Sitting in the backseat of the car, the mob boss Allen Koseva was burned to a crisp in an unconscious state. The second mission target was done, with an unproblematic death. The underground mob of Newlenk State was thrown into chaos, leading to infighting until Sovereignty deployed the military to forcefully suppress it, gradually stabilizing the turbulent public security. The Huntsman Squad did not rest but instead relentlessly pursued the third mission target. The target was a popular local female entrepreneur, renowned environmental defender, and philanthropist, Katerina Lucia. Ironically, the enterprise she ran was a chemical plant employing thousands of workers. Chapter 502 502: Section 498 - Changing Battlefields "Katerina Lucia had a history of asthma and allergies; she would die of suffocation," holding the "Death List," Miyoshi Xuesen determined the manner of death for the target. Under the brilliant sunshine by the lakeside, beneath the shade of trees and the rippling blue waves, a slender yet resilient fishing line dangled leisurely from a rod, waiting for fish to bite. Katerina Lucia, who rarely had a moment to fish by the lake, took a sip of juice from beside her and let out a comfortable moan. Just then, the bobber that drifted with the waves suddenly moved. She quickly reached out for the fishing rod, but halfway through, something felt wrong. Her heart inexplicably began to race uncontrollably, she was overcome with severe itching all over her body, her eyes reddened slightly, and she felt an intense irritability without cause. It was an allergic reaction! The corporate executive with a history of related illnesses immediately realized what was happening. Just as she was about to call for someone to get her medication, her head spun, and she wobbled before her feet gave out, losing her balance. Splash! A sudden intense allergic reaction left Katerina Lucia, who was starting to lose clarity of thought, tumbling into the murky green waters, from which muffled coughing sounds emerged. The bodyguards on the shore reacted instantly, plunging into the water and frantically pulling her out in a chaotic rescue attempt. However, even after being brought back to shore, Katerina continued to scratch at her throat, her eyes rolling back like a dead fish, unable to make a sound. The bodyguards were in a state of panic, shouting for more help while doing everything they could think of to save her. By the time the medical professionals arrived, Katerina Lucia was already cold, having died from suffocation caused by asthma and anaphylactic pharyngeal swelling. The helplessly futile bodyguards were all ashen-faced, now collectively unemployed. In reality, at the first sign of the symptoms, adrenaline should have been administered immediately, followed by antiallergic medication. However, once pharyngeal swelling had progressed to the point of obstructing breathing, it was too late for medication. The best course of action would have been to decisively perform a tracheotomy. But the bodyguards lacked the necessary emergency medical experience and could only watch as their employer slowly lost vital signs. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu, having flown back from the lakeside, landed on Chen Fei''s palm, chirping merrily. A small flashlight emitted blue light onto its feathers. The brownish-yellow color gradually faded, revealing its original glossy black feathers. Above its eyes, the size of mung beans, a pair of white eyebrows also returned to their original color. This was a ninja''s technique, using photosensitive pigment to disguise Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow, as a thrush, carrying a fast-dissolving allergen and dropping it into Katerina Lucia''s drink The allergen, the size of a sesame seed, almost instantly integrated with the juice in the cup. The bodyguards were only on the lookout for threatening humans, beasts, and Magical Beasts, never paying mind to a creature as small as a fist. Moreover, with so many birds flitting to and fro by the lake, it was impossible to be aware of each one; an occasional audacious little one landing on the collapsible low table would not cause much of a stir. Despite all precautions, one could never guard against a little bird secretly tampering with materials; the death was as unsuspecting as it was deserved. The allergen Xiao Jiu carried was a specially-made colorless and tasteless capsaicin. Coincidentally, Katerina Lucia''s primary allergen was chili, and she could not consume any food containing capsaicin for life. Birds don''t have capsaicin receptors and are thus unaffected by spicy flavors, so even if they accidentally swallowed this super-concentrated special capsaicin, it would be like Zhu Bajie consuming Ginseng Fruit ¡ª ingesting it harmlessly, toxin-free, environmentally friendly, and healthy. But for a target susceptible to an allergic reaction, it was as deadly as poison passing through the intestines. "Katerina Lucia confirmed dead!" Miyoshi Xuesen finally checked off the third target on his hunting list. So far, the Huntsman Squad had not exposed itself and the deaths of the targets appeared entirely natural, leaving no trace of foul play. - A week later, Biology Professor Francisco Duncan from the Ivy League Hafuron University in the American Federation died of a severe intestinal infection caused by food poisoning. A few days after that, on the Europa Continent in Gaul, the head instructor of the King Arthur Training Camp, a renowned mercenary enterprise at Black Mountain Security Company, and former Army Major General Everol Ivanovsky, were fatally attacked by a 2000-pound adult European brown bear during a hunting trip. Half of his body was mauled; a double-barreled shotgun loaded with a slug only managed to fire once before becoming a mangled pipe, leaving it uncertain whether it could fire again, though a barrel burst would be inevitable if it could. ... For about a month and a half, the Huntsman Squad crisscrossed the northern and southern continents of the American Federation and the Europa Continent across the Atlantic, successfully harvesting a dozen targets. After a brief rest, they boarded the small Magic Cube Warship once again for Europe. After consecutive missions, the team members gradually developed a tacit understanding. "This time''s target, the Aircrew Base and the contractor Mental Health Knights Corporation, from top to bottom, leave no creature alive." Still following the familiar procedure, Miyoshi Xuesen only divulged the detailed information about the next target shortly before arriving at the destination. Even if there were spies within the squad, they simply had no time to send out any information. In matters of war, the state''s most crucial affair, the ground of life and death, the path of survival or extinction, one must not fail to scrutinize. "Military contractors?" Chen Fei was the first to widen his eyes in shock. He himself had come from the ranks of military contractors, yet he had never imagined that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would actually target military contractors and the Aircrew Base. "Is this true?" Aunt Caroline, a B-rank Fire Ability User, had a son who took over the family business as a military contractor boss, and Caroline was really just a homemaker washing clothes and cooking for her son, joining the Huntsman Squad as a stand-in for her child. When a rabbit dies, the fox grieves. Hearing that the Huntsman Squad was going to target military contractors and the Aircrew Base, those who also came from the ranks of military contractors inevitably worried a little, fearing that one day the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee might suddenly act irrationally and strike at their colleagues, bosses, or friends, likely leaving them entirely defenseless. Tuert, Andrew, and Masuya, however, held positions in Hablav City and were directly affiliated with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee because of their official capacity, showing little reaction to Miyoshi Xuesen''s words due to their stance. "That''s right, Mental Health Knights Corporation is the traitor, and this cancer must be cut out. Before the operation, with 631 Aircrew Base nearby, the contractor Sulte Defense Co., Ltd of 633 Aircrew Base will initiate a corporate war. They are responsible for feigning a big show, and we''ll be in charge of taking action." Corporate wars between military contractors always start brutally, often resulting in bloody, horrific battles with countless casualties, and ending just as tragically. Because every conflict tends to evolve into do-or-die battles, actual irreconcilable animosities necessary for arms to be borne against each other among competitors are rare; everyone is out to earn their living, not to spend for their burial. It''s always better to generate prosperity peacefully and amicably; there''s no need to risk life without good reason. Even if there were disagreements, finding a mediator to negotiate a settlement would usually allow for reconciliation with a handshake. "How could a military contractor do such a thing?" Aunt Caroline still found it unbelievable. Military contractors'' job is to eliminate naturally spawned mutants, and within their contracted area, regardless of the presence of mutants, they receive a hefty contract fee; there''s no need to nurture mutants for trouble. Moreover, if there''s peace all year round, the military contractor could save a significant amount on routine and operational costs, all of which would translate into substantial profits. To generate revenue and save on expenditures was the way to survive. "The uninhabited area near 631 Aircrew Base is an open breeding ground for mutants. Everyone, be careful this time. If the mutants are provoked, it could very likely directly impact Aircrew Base 631..." Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t finished speaking when his words were interrupted by a loud bang and a violent shake. "We''ve been hit by artillery, it''s a railgun!" A loud shout came from the cockpit, suggesting that the situation seemed grim. If it was a missile, at least there would have been an advance warning, but the ultra-high muzzle velocity of a railgun was virtually impossible to defend against. The destructive power of a railgun projectile was considerable, and it appeared to have caused significant damage. The tremors of the small Magic Cube Warship grew stronger, and everyone inside the cabin felt a distinct sensation of weightlessness, indicating that the airship was in free fall. "Attention, fasten your seat belts, hold on tight, we are preparing for an emergency landing!" The small Magic Cube Warship wasn''t just passively taking hits; upon detecting the railgun''s position through ballistic radar, it didn''t hesitate to retaliate with a missile during the forced landing process. Boom!~ The warship was hit by another shell, making a dire situation even worse, increasing the speed of the fall. Had it not been for their seat belts, everyone inside might have already been floating around by now. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, who didn''t have a seat belt, found herself inexplicably losing gravity, able to float up lightly without any effort to flap her wings. She cried out in confusion. "Chirp?" The pilots were doing their best, one of them shouting in frustration, "Altitude from ground 500 meters, let''s leave life and death to the hands of fate!" Without hesitation, Chen Fei commanded, "''Adam,'' take control of the airship, ensure a safe landing as far as possible!" He extended his left wrist and slapped it onto the cabin wall, where there was a data port, which could serve as the physical access point for "Adam" to hack into the warship. Adam: Accessing permissions, ''Spear Falcon'' control acquired, hull integrity at 73%, power remaining at 15%, distance from the ground 371 meters, emergency landing in progress. With "Adam"''s assistance, the small Magic Cube Warship, although it didn''t completely lose control and tumble in the sky, still swayed as if it were a small boat caught in a violent storm. "Miyoshi, I''m going to ''sacrifice'' this airship!" "No, no, that''s not acceptable!" Chapter 503 503: Section 499 - Emergency Landing "Sacrificing" this "Spear Falcon Number" Magic Cube Warship might allow for the creation of another aircraft, and perhaps they wouldn''t have to die on impact. Falling from a great height, whether it''s thirty meters or three hundred, three thousand, or even thirty thousand meters, the result would be the same¡ªdeath on impact. Although Chen Fei''s physique was no longer merely human, common light weapons were merely a tickle to him, but such a fall, even with steel muscles and iron bones, would be too much to handle. However, when Chen Fei proposed the most feasible self-rescue plan, Miyoshi Monk unexpectedly refused it. It seemed he would rather die from the fall than let Chen Fei use such a method to save himself and everyone else, which was incomprehensible at the moment. The youthful Tuert''s eyes flickered with invisible flames as he quickly chanted the incantations of a Psychic Series Spell, and a faint white light burst forth, enveloping the entire warship. A Ninth Rank Psychic Series Spell "Giant Spirit Throw," capable of throwing objects weighing tens of tons, was now attempting to stabilize the tumbling Magic Cube Warship as it plummeted toward the ground. "Wind, blow for me!" A-grade Wind-type Ability User Masuya yelled out, and outside the cabin, a fierce air current surged from below, violently striking the hull. Human strength is ultimately limited, whether it''s Psychic Series Spells or Wind-type Psionic Ability; none could truly completely hold the small Magic Cube Warship that actually weighed over a hundred tons. Although the falling speed was slightly reduced, the situation was still dire. "Sorry, everyone!" Since the optimum solution had been rejected, Chen Fei could only look after himself first. He unbuckled his seatbelt. Countless geometrically shaped components surged out like a tide, quickly enveloping Chen Fei''s body, constantly assembling and disassembling, and finally formed a complete set of "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor covering his whole body. The next second, the "Dragon King" began to expand, growing to a height of five meters, barely touching the ceiling of the warship, with all Magic Arrays synchronously loaded. The giantized "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor lit up with two rings of blue light at its back, the small Magnetic Plasma Engines now had a dedicated Plasma Fuel, finally coming into play, and it seemed not to conflict with the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array, significantly boosting the thrust rating. System: Armor Plugin Module Level 10 (Plugin slot: 1/11) Unexpectedly, the previously unusable "Armor Plugin Module" came into play at this moment, originally for docking with extra components like Magnetic Plasma Engines. "Hey hey, you can''t just leave an old lady behind!" Aunt Caroline also unbuckled her seat belt and lunged forward, hugging the giantized "Dragon King''s" thigh, refusing to let go. Her Fire System Ability was completely useless at this moment; she couldn''t even save herself. Then there was Earth Order Third Rank Earth Mage Andrew, this big guy was really straightforward and unyielding. "Hey, you guys think of a way to escape..." The pilot in the cockpit, just reminding everyone to save themselves, saw the situation in the rear cabin, just as he noticed three figures, like accessories, hanging from a "Combat Mobility Armor" that appeared out of nowhere in the cabin. Only Ninth Rank Psychic Mage Tuert and A-grade Wind-type Ability User Masuya, confident in their flying skills, did not flock to it. Despite Miyoshi''s disagreement with sacrificing the Magic Cube Warship, he also clung onto the "Dragon King," the Ninja Team turned into shadows, merging into the shadows around the "Dragon King." "Damn it! They''re safe now, let''s launch!" One of the two pilots tugged at the corner of his mouth and nodded to the other pilot, initiating the escape program. The next second, the entire cockpit was ejected, turning into a small aircraft, jetting brilliant flames, gliding away from the "Spear Falcon Number." "Everyone, hold tight." Chen Fei didn''t care about the "accessories" on his body, the "Dragon King" reached out a hand and grabbed a four-meter-long Great Sword, swinging it upwards with a force that split the cabin wall as the fierce wind suddenly swept in. The giantized "Dragon King" forcefully kicked its legs and, leveraging the momentum, burst out of the cargo hold of the Magic Cube Warship. Tuert and Masuya quickly followed. Aunt Caroline emitted an agonizingly shrill soprano when they were just over a hundred meters above the ground. ... "Adam" still tried to control the attitude of the Magic Cube Warship remotely, maintaining effort until just before the hull made contact with the ground, never giving up. Bang!~ Countless sparks flew in all directions; the "Spear Falcon Number" Magic Cube Warship ultimately could not alter its destiny to crash. It collided head-on into the dense forest, breaking into pieces, and the onboard ammunition exploded in sympathy, completely disfiguring what remained of the hull. "Gravity Adjustment Module (1%)" together with the anti-gravity provided by the "Gravity" Magic Array, relying on the Magnetic Plasma Engine and the "Fluid Vortex," worked together to stabilize the airflow around, and the giantized "Dragon King," like a feather, slowly landed among the trees. Shadows darted from its body towards the surroundings; Miyoshi''s Ninja Team disengaged from the Dark System Ability, immediately forming a perimeter guard. "Miyoshi, do you think this is fun?" Chen Fei looked towards the direction of billowing smoke; the "Dragon King" began to decompose, revealing his figure. "Uh! Sorry, it''s the rules, some things can''t be leaked out!" Miyoshi, who managed to land safely by clinging onto the "Dragon King''s" thick legs, smiled awkwardly yet courteously. Though the Magic Cube Warship was utilitarian, the technology on board was even more sensitive than the Magic Arrays; once leaked, the consequences were not something he and the entire Huntsman Squad could afford. Instead of causing severe consequences and displeasing The First Sovereign, it was better to simply let the small Magic Cube Warship crash on the spot. At least it was utterly demolished on impact, eliminating concerns about sensitive technology being leaked. "This is really troublesome!" Chen Fei pursed his lips, and much of the dissatisfaction in his heart had dissipated. The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, which had shifted from the shoulder of the Dragon King to Chen Fei''s shoulder, pecked out several illumination technique light orbs the size of ping-pong balls, floating slowly upward, lighting up the pitch-dark surroundings. Faint human figures moved; ninjas avoided the brightness of the light-based spells. Not only the dark-based spells, but even dark system abilities would also be affected when encountering light-based abilities. "Hey, hey, is the communication still working?" "How is the communication still on?" The two pilots had already landed but discovered that the communication link from "Spear Falcon Number" hadn''t disappeared. At that moment, their cockpit had already landed safely, and they could clearly see the rising smoke and flames from the crash site of the warship, along with explosions heard from afar. Adam, who had taken over the electronic system of the warship, was still maintaining smooth communication using the communication module from the Dragon King''s assault heavy armor. After all, it was "Spear Falcon Number" that had crashed, not "Adam". "We have landed safely!" Chen Fei looked towards Miyoshi Xuesen and relayed, "Both pilots are safe." Then, he gestured in another direction and said, "Shall we go check over there?" The direction from which the railgun fire had been returned with a missile might provide some clues at the scene. Miyoshi Xuesen hesitated, then nodded. "Hmm, okay, how far is it?" "About 67 kilometers." Chen Fei estimated. Unless it was a super-caliber special cannon, ordinary gunpowder-driven cannons couldn''t shoot that far, nor guarantee the speed of the shell. Only a railgun could ensure both the range and the velocity of the projectile took the small Magic Cube Warship by surprise. "Then let''s go have a look!" Miyoshi Xuesen confirmed once again. The counterattack missile from "Spear Falcon Number" wasn''t ineffective; the assaulting railgun might have been destroyed, and valuable clues could be left at the scene. As for the two pilots, they could stay here to watch over the wrecked warship. They possessed self-defense weapons and emergency supplies, so there was no need to worry about safety for a short period, as rescue might already be on its way. Both Miyoshi Xuesen and Xiao Jiu''s leg ring carried ample supplies, completely capable of starting an impromptu journey on a whim. After six hours of trekking, when they located the position of the railgun, it had already turned completely dark. Meanwhile, at the crash site of "Spear Falcon Number," a rescue team had arrived to pick up the two pilots. "It''s a D-120 model parallel railgun, automatic firing, damn it." Having inspected the wreckage at the site, Miyoshi Xuesen concluded with a look of annoyance. The retaliation from "Spear Falcon Number" had merely destroyed this railgun but did not kill the operators. Which means, there were hardly any valuable clues left at the scene. "D-120?" Chen Fei picked up a fragment, which disappeared in his hand, transforming into part of 1 energy point. The Dog System displayed energy points without decimals, only begrudgingly giving out one energy point when a ton was met. "It''s from the same manufacturer as the D-600." Miyoshi Xuesen knew Chen Fei had sacrificed a 600 millimeter caliber parallel double-track railgun previously. "Let''s find the production file and see who lost the railgun." Chen Fei was very grateful that if the D-600 had been the one firing, there would have been no need for a second shot; a single strike would have settled "Spear Falcon Number" and everyone inside, without even a chance for an emergency landing. "''Water Bear'' might have noticed already!" Miyoshi Xuesen immediately realized something. "Spear Falcon Number" being ambushed was no accident but premeditated. "No way?" Tuert blurted out, looking youthful. The previous dozens of hunts had gone smoothly, but he knew well that once the "Water Bear" organization responded, the subsequent operations wouldn''t be as easy. "They can''t get a bigger caliber railgun; next, we need to be extra careful." Miyoshi Xuesen and Chen Fei were on the same page, and if his judgment was correct, the remaining targets on the hunting list would prove quite challenging. Chapter 504 504: Section 500 - The Town with No Starting Point ``` Playing with one''s mind''s eye too much often turns it into a filthy asshole. Miyoshi Xuesen was a typical conspiracy theorist, suspicious by nature, and even reserved trust for the other members of the Huntsman Squad, always keeping the complete hunting list secret until just before an operation, treating Chen Fei and the others purely as tools. The only ones he trusted were his ninja team, whom he bestowed with his special ability, which also meant he held their lives in his hands. Those with double intentions would be seeking their own death, which relatively made them more trustworthy because of the life-or-death bond they shared. "Miyoshi, who''s the target nearby?" Tuert was an active participant within the Huntsman Squad, which also meant he was prone to causing stir, being nitpicky and even troublesome. He suspected that there should be a target from the hunting list nearby, one who might even be the mastermind behind this attack. Just as Miyoshi Xuesen had put it, it was highly likely for the Huntsman Squad to get exposed, and naturally, they would be ambushed. Considering the "Water Bear" organization''s ability to blend in, getting some related information shouldn''t be too difficult. Such deceitful and dirty machinations were only limited by one''s imagination. "Emmmm... Morgan Lee, mayor of a small town in the Autet Province of the Roussillon Grand Region, southern Gaul, heh, a very influential mayor. Many members and their families of the ''Water Bear'' organization live in that town, if..." Miyoshi Xuesen cut himself off here, but the unspoken implication was already obvious. To avoid having their movements anticipated, the route the Huntsman Squad took was unpredictable; otherwise, they would not be scurrying randomly between the northern and southern continents of America and the Europa Continent. If the "Water Bear" members'' families were concentrated in one place, any outsiders entering the town would likely stand out immediately. It served both as protection and surveillance¡ªif anyone dared to betray the organization, their families would be the first to suffer. Humans are social creatures; being left utterly alone probably would make life seem meaningless. "Most likely, it''s this guy." Aunt Caroline, who loved cooking and explosives, was no fool. Exchanging looks with the others, she felt this guess was very close to the truth. The current location of the Huntsman Squad was within the borders of Gaul Sovereignty. Even if it wasn''t the possibly aware target who had done this, it most likely wouldn''t be unrelated. After all, local snakes mobilizing resources would always be somewhat easier. "A 600 per shot!" Chen Fei kept to his old ways, always ready with the most powerful moves. He wasn''t a mage, capable of casting offensive spells with just a few incantations. To kill barehanded, who knew how long it would take. Having access to a powerful weapon, why not use the most powerful one? The D-600 model Railgun he had "sacrificed" before was the most powerful weapon platform in Chen Fei''s possession, and it still hadn''t been used. It wasn''t like Miyoshi intended to throw a solid bullet his way just to create a giant pit. Chen Fei had encountered weapons far more destructive than the D-600 model Railgun, but the "Sacrifice" ability had its drawbacks, least of all it was ineffective against Dragon Slayer Missiles. As the ultimate bomb combining magic and technology, "Sacrifice" simply couldn''t handle it. Rumor had it that the core of the Dragon Slayer Missile was a high-grade Demon Crystal, more expensive than Crystalline Blocks. Since Demon Crystals weren''t metal, Metal Elemental Psychic Power naturally had no domain there. "Not in a hurry, but now, we must turn from light to shadow." Miyoshi Xuesen smiled, for once not refuting Chen Fei''s suggestion. A few 600s could level a small town without much trouble; within ten seconds, a town with a few thousand people could turn into a real hell on earth. Eliminating a key member of the "Water Bear" who had risen to mayor wasn''t challenging, the real difficulty lay in the increased struggle to hunt those on the kill list once they had been startled; the challenge would increase exponentially. It could only be said that the sovereignties'' level of concern and importance placed on the "Water Bear" hadn''t reached the point of needing to exert full force to eradicate it. Otherwise, it wouldn''t just be a single Huntsman Squad organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee taking action¡ªit would be a dozen or even several dozen such squads moving in unison to wipe them out. After all, the Global United Defense Committee specialized in eradicating mutants, not in targeting humans; assembling the right hunting party was no easy task. A strong offense anyone could manage, but silently dealing a fatal blow without stirring was not a common expertise. "Play dead!" Tuert was the first to catch on. Being an active participant often also meant being smart; after all, only smart people could afford to be rebellious. "Bingo!" Miyoshi Xuesen snapped his fingers, a gesture utterly unsuited for his monk status. Perhaps Miyoshi Xuesen was never a proper monk to begin with, considering many monks in Dongying were hereditary. Without any deliberate arrangement, the search and rescue team dispatched by the Gaul Sovereignty pulled out about thirty bodies from the crash site. ``` It''s like seeing a ghost! In the news reports of social public media, the Huntsman Squad "wiped out"! About 13 miles from White Truffle Town, in a cave, the "resurrected" Huntsman Squad members have already rested here for about a week. The ninjas even built several houses in the cave, sheltered from wind, sun, and rain, with access to water and electricity, and a signal for the network, it virtually became a paradise secluded from the world. They were not short on supplies, and it wouldn''t be a problem even if they stayed here for a year and a half. The chirping of the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu echoed through the cave, these past few days it has been the little star of the Huntsman Squad, practicing the "Light Mirror Spell" whenever it had a chance. Nothing in this world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it. Practice after practice, even though each improvement was almost imperceptible, a little accumulation leads to a substantial change over time, and eventually, there would be some gains. In the past few days, Xiao Jiu''s Light Element Affinity had finally risen from Four Stars to Five Stars, it wasn''t in vain that Chen Fei went through so much trouble to obtain the Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion and painstakingly mixed it into juice and alcoholic drinks to trick the little guy into drinking it. Just to sneak in that tube of Elemental Affinity Potion, it cost him two bottles of fine alcohol; otherwise, it really wouldn''t have been easy to fool him. Look at other Magical Beasts, when encountering magic potions, even if they stink, they would gulp them down without hesitation. It could only be said that Xiao Jiu was growing up and not so easy to trick anymore, unlike before when he would guzzle down an Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion straight from the bottle, foolishly, without understanding anything! Each use of the "Light Mirror Spell" cast its gaze more than 13 miles away to White Truffle Town. Morgan Lee, the town''s mayor, was the target of the Huntsman Squad''s mission that failed to commence. The town was also home to members and families of the "Water Bear" organization, nearly a thousand strong. As for the rest being innocent, that might not necessarily be the case. To carry out the "faking death" plan to the end and avoid startling the snake by hitting the grass again, the "Light Mirror Spell" from the little bird became the only means to scout this small town. Whenever Xiao Jiu practiced the "Light Mirror Spell," every member of the squad would attend without fail, and some ninjas who could read lips compensated for the fact that the "Light Mirror Spell" only showed images without conveying the sound. Miyoshi Xuesen was holding a flat map of White Truffle Town, confirming the addresses of the key "Water Bear" organization members'' families, while distinguishing the unrelated community members. White Truffle Town is an agricultural town that mainly relies on planting with breeding as a secondary industry, self-sufficient. The town has a restaurant that doubles as a bar, a gas station that also functions as a repair shop, a supermarket that repairs electronics, a clinic, a kindergarten, a small hydropower station near the town, and a tap water treatment plant. Beyond that, there were no other public facilities, not even a police station. Apart from that, there were only a few not-so-large agricultural product processing workshops, with jobs being very much a case of one position per person. The surrounding area had neither historical cultural sites nor any particularly distinctive tourist attractions. The town was not well-known and saw few visitors, with even passersby being rare. The people active inside and outside the town were all local faces; the Huntsman Squad not rashly entering was obviously a wise decision. Mainly, there are one large and two small centralized residential areas in the town, with one of the larger and smaller areas confirmed to be the dwelling places of the "Water Bear" organization''s key members'' families. The residents of the other community appeared to be ordinary people, but seemed to have received military training in their actions. Using Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell," Miyoshi Xuesen tirelessly compared the population of the town, conducting person-by-person identification. "A total of 2734 people, no children, no toddlers." Chen Fei''s suggestion finally stirred him a little, a few decisive blasts to kill the opponent would certainly be satisfying, but things weren''t so simple. Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t reported for long before he received a response. The opinion from the upper echelons of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was rejection. Insufficient evidence to meet the criteria of the combat plan, unable to determine that everyone in the town was evil. If there was even one innocent person, they couldn''t flatten the town with 600 Demolition Bombs and not leave even the chickens and dogs alive. After all, wiping out a town, not to mention the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, no sovereignty could withstand such public opinion criticism. Who would dare to order a bombardment of White Truffle Town with such certainty? Of course, Chen Fei dared to be so reckless because he was just someone who couldn''t keep his hands still! "Not enough evidence!" Sitting at the entrance to the cave, basking in the slanted sunlight, Miyoshi Xuesen frowned and pondered how to wipe out Morgan Lee and his town together. But faced with this impenetrable small town, he found it difficult to make a move. The previously designed action plans and backup plans ABCDEFG, became unusable due to deviations between reference intelligence and the actual situation. A new plan had to be made. "Actually... I could try!" Seeing the monk in such difficulty, the young-looking Tuert volunteered. As a Psychic Mage of Human Order Ninth Rank, he covertly mastered some Forbidden Techniques that should not see the light of day. "Let''s hear it then!" Miyoshi Xuesen listened attentively, ready for any new ideas. "I can use Psychic Series Spells to control the people in the town, make them kill each other, and then blame it on a cult," Tuert said with a heh-heh laugh, not wanting to be so direct as to reveal his Forbidden Techniques outright. In a sense, the "Water Bear" organization was a big cult, perfect for passing the buck and taking the blame¡ªseek and you shall find. Chapter 505 505: Section 501 - An Infectious Six Miyoshi Xuesen spoke irritably, "If I could control the townsfolk one by one, why would I need your Psychic Series Spell?" He immediately spotted the flaw in Tuert''s idea. Using Psychic Series Spells to control the townsfolk, controlling too few would not only fail to incite them to turn on each other but might also alert them further. If too many were controlled... why bother with making them turn on each other? Just cut straight across their throats, wouldn''t that be more convenient? "Hehe, I have some tricks that can make this control contagious. Just one look and they''re hooked, then it spreads from one to another, but it does consume a lot of spiritual power," Tuert said hesitantly, revealing his trick which wasn''t what the other had suspected. Since it''s called a Forbidden Technique, there surely was a reason for its prohibition. Whoever you stare at gets affected. I''m afraid not many could withstand it. You stare at me, I stare at you, and then the whole town would fall. It''s not easy to trace back to anyone, truly making it a feasible plan. Miyoshi Xuesen suddenly sized up Tuert, causing him to feel uneasy. "Eye contact triggers it? Hmm! A Forbidden Technique?" He immediately thought of a few secretive forbidden spells among Psychic Series Spells. The civilization of Blue Star had always been open-minded towards magic and Battle Qi, especially the spells of various systems within the Human Order, which were generally public. One could even download the complete Spell Incantations online. Actually, whether spells are regulated or not, they''re useless without the talent. If one has the talent, they would naturally receive supervision by the sovereignty and related professional training; no need to painstakingly search by oneself. But Forbidden Techniques are exceptions. "Don''t be paranoid, I''m a law-abiding citizen, a good guy, a very good guy. I''ve never used such spells for any criminal activities, even during practice, I used only mice and rabbits," Tuert hastily swore, raising his hands heavenward. The nature of the Forbidden Technique itself isn''t what defines its morality but how it''s used by people. Being labeled as a Forbidden Technique, on one hand, could cause catastrophe, and on the other hand, it could terribly backlash on the spellcaster, leading to consequences such as drastic changes in temperament or physical deformities. Miyoshi Xuesen said indifferently, "Whether you are a good person doesn''t concern me. Your personal record will tell everything." Tuert''s record was clean, devoid of any minor misconduct, which is why he was selected for the Huntsman Squad. For such dark tasks, to avoid being blamed, one must first appear upright, even if only superficially. Not only Tuert but also Andet, Caroline, Masuya, and Chen Fei had no criminal records, not even minor offenses or detention records. Pulling up personal files at the police station or civil affairs would assure they were spotless, leaving no room for fault-finding. Hearing the implied words of the monk and not planning to delve deeper, Tuert also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, knowing Forbidden Techniques could be a major or minor issue and isn''t something that can be easily cleared just by having a clean background. If scrutinized, one would inevitably suffer by having those memories sealed away. "Tell me, what Forbidden Technique is it?" Considering the worst, Miyoshi Xuesen was too lazy to guess which it might be. Tentatively, Tuert carefully answered, "''Blood Eye Heart Poison''!" In the Huntsman Squad, he found this monk the most inscrutable. Not only was his scheming profound, but it was also sinister. Just from the surface, it was impossible to discern his true intentions; perhaps smiling on the face but cursing in the heart, acting like brothers one second and stabbing you in the back the next. "So it''s that one. How many levels can it spread?" Miyoshi Xuesen nodded, agreeing that ''Blood Eye Heart Poison'' was indeed the most likely among the Ninth Rank Forbidden Techniques of the Human Order he deduced. The main characteristic of someone affected by ''Blood Eye Heart Poison'' was that their eyes would swell and turn red. Their demeanor becomes irritable and aggressive, losing control at the slightest provocation, plunging into a frenzy of irrationality. Moreover, anyone making eye contact with a ''Blood-eyes'' victim would also be infected by this Forbidden Technique, spreading it from one to another, rapidly creating a mass of mad warriors. Because it could easily cause societal unrest and make the spellcaster turn into a fool, ''Blood Eye Heart Poison'' was classified as a Forbidden Technique. "Third Level, up to six people at a time, it lasts for four hours. This spell consumes a great deal of spiritual power," Tuert admitted. To master this Forbidden Technique, Tuert had killed at least ten thousand mice and nearly a thousand rabbits; without significant resources, he really couldn''t afford to indulge. If it weren''t to be used on humans, monkeys would be most suitable. However, monkeys were too expensive, and there was a good chance of going bankrupt before achieving mastery. "Six people, third level?" Miyoshi Xuesen started calculating mathematically and soon figured out the answer. The cube of six, that meant, with Tuert''s spiritual power, each casting would affect only 216 people, which was less than one-tenth of the population of White Truffle Town. To incite uncontrollable mutual bloodshed, it clearly was not yet sufficient. At the very least, he would need to cast it continuously three times, affecting 648 people to be enough. Spiritual power is not enough? No problem, just drink more magic potions, you''ll have everything you need. Miyoshi Xuesen suddenly said, "Ninja, go capture 18 people." The surroundings were eerily quiet, yet ninja had already left the vicinity of the cave''s mouth, rushing towards the distant White Truffle Town. The distance was 21 kilometers; going there and back, they probably wouldn''t return to the cave until nightfall. However, there was no time to delay; Miyoshi Xuesen stood up tall, dusted himself off, clapped his hands vigorously, and loudly said, "Everyone, assemble. We are departing for White Truffle Town now." A team of ninjas went to capture people to serve as unfortunate victims for the "Blood Eye Heart Poison." Setting out at the same time, they should just be able to make it for the evening gathering. Tonight, it seemed that White Truffle Town would be very lively. The resting Huntsman Squad was always ready to depart, chucking their belongings into a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, which allowed them to go into battle light-handed. Aunt Caroline, a B-ranked Fire Ability User who had voluntarily taken up the role of cook, was baking pizzas. She withdrew her abilities, sliced a few perfectly cooked pizzas into eight pieces, packed them into a basket, and distributed them among everyone. The diners included only Chen Fei, Andrew, Masuya, Tuert, and herself. Miyoshi Xuesen and the Ninja Team only ate their carried food; the ninjas were even simpler, sometimes pulling out a dark, slippery pill and tossing it into their mouths as a meal. This type of compressed food, known as Military Ration Pills, required strong teeth to chew through. After marching hurriedly for over two hours, when Miyoshi Xuesen and the others arrived near White Truffle Town, the ninjas had already tied up eighteen prey and had been waiting for a while. The sun was already setting, the sky was growing dark, and a crimson cloud of sunset rose over the distant mountains. "Eighteen people in total, all handed over to you! Also, here is the magic potion; it should be enough for you to activate three times." Miyoshi Xuesen handed over a box of magic potions, then turned the captives over to the eagerly volunteering Tuert, and said, "Please begin your performance." On the way, his newly approved action plan, though somewhat inhumane, dumped the responsibility for the forbidden technique. If bombs were used instead, the blame would almost certainly fall squarely on the sovereign, like mud in one''s trousers, messy whether it''s mud or not. Choosing the lesser of two evils, the residence of White Truffle Town just had to accept their bad luck since they were affiliated with the "Water Bear" organization; the chivalrous virtue of Jianghu that calamity doesn''t extend to family members simply didn''t exist. "First batch, six people!" Tuert signaled the ninjas to first remove the blindfolds from six people, exposing their terrified eyes, and then he began to rapidly chant incantations. His eyes gradually turned red, adding a trace of madness. As he chanted the incantations to the end, the madness in his eyes intensified, his breathing became heavier, and the incantations from his mouth slipped into incomprehensible babble, his body slightly shivering as if he might lose control at any moment. If his spiritual power was insufficient and his will not firm enough, the "Blood Eye Heart Poison" spell could likely backfire on himself, causing the subjects to become mad, but he himself would likely go mad first. The eyes of the six people standing opposite him also turned red, their bound bodies struggling desperately, making hoarse noises deep in their throats, clearly involuntarily corrupted by madness. "Done!" Just one use of the forbidden technique nearly exhausted Tuert''s spiritual power. He took a deep breath, his hands trembling as he twisted open a vial of magic potion, and with a tilt of his head, he chugged it down in one go. While barely recovering a trace of spiritual power, he hastily chanted a spell incantation that calmed him down, like a bucket of ice water poured over him, the blood-red in his eyes quickly receding like a tide. He closed his eyes to rest for a moment, his spiritual power already largely restored. The taste of the magic potion was as awful as ever, but the effect was good. The potion, an undiluted original provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, was reliable and guaranteed in quality. Waving his hand, he called for the second batch of six people and cast the spell again. After three rounds, Tuert simply lay down; he had never before attempted such a mad trio of forbidden techniques. Consuming a stomach full of magic potions, no different than bitter melon fried with stinky tofu, he was almost unbearable, paling as he knelt on the ground vomiting repeatedly, yet nothing came out. Miyoshi Xuesen did not attend to Tuert, who was suffering from the side effects of the forbidden technique and the magic potion, and had the ninjas escort the newly created eighteen madmen into the nearby White Truffle Town. The sun had completely set, and the small town, now shrouded in nightfall with sparse light and few street lamps, became even quieter than usual. "It has begun!" Masuya, an A-ranked Wind-type Ability User, was the first to sense the disturbance brought by the night wind. Flames rose within the town, figures constantly swayed, and the shouting grew louder and louder. The eighteen townsfolk struck with "Blood Eye Heart Poison" were wantonly spreading their plague of madness and uncontrollable rage. The eighteen captives seized by the ninjas, almost all young men from the community, were incredibly uncontrollable once driven mad. Chapter 506 506: Section 502 - Send Off with a Bang On a night dark and windy, murder and arson became the sky. Looking at the fires breaking out in White Truffle Town, Miyoshi Xuesen muttered to himself. "This is the plague!" "Blood Eye Heart Poison" isn''t a physical plague but rather a mental poison that can infect the mind, intangible and indefensible, no wonder it is classified as a forbidden technique. If wielded carelessly, it could easily lead to unforeseeable consequences. As a Ninth Rank Psychic Series Spellcaster of the Human Order, Tuert possessed stronger spiritual power than others of the same rank, yet he could only directly or indirectly influence up to 216 people, this being his limit. Under the veil of night, chaos spread throughout White Truffle Town. Considering the actual situation, the number of people infected with "Blood Eye Heart Poison" might not reach the theoretical 216, and the townsfolk would likely realize this soon. Suddenly, a white flash swept across the center of the town as swiftly as lightning, covering half the township in an instant. Seconds later, a sound like a howling wind finally reached outside the town. The hustle and bustle were immediately subdued, replaced by increasingly loud cheers. The Huntsman Squad watching from outside exchanged puzzled looks, no one knew precisely what was happening inside the town. Chen Fei squinted his eyes, activated the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)," "Low-light Enhancement" kicked in automatically, turning night into day in his field of view. He chose to overlay it with the "Ultra-long Vision" mode, bringing the town seemingly within arm''s reach and allowing him to clearly see the situation inside. In the central square of the town, a bearded man dressed in half armor was incessantly giving orders, holding a longsword in his hand. Nearby on the ground and within the town, bodies were strewn everywhere, yet buildings and various flora and fauna remained unharmed. It seemed that the white flash had only slain those residents, or more precisely, those infected with the "Blood Eye Heart Poison" forbidden technique. Noticing the change in Chen Fei''s expression, Miyoshi Xuesen looked over. "What did you see?" he asked. "Have your ninjas gone yet?" Activating the "Infrared Thermal Imaging" mode, Chen Fei noticed warm-colored humanoid outlines lurking like specters in a dark corner, moving quite agilely. Despite the enhancement from a Dark System Ability, the ninjas couldn''t entirely conceal their traces while moving; their body heat was glaringly apparent. "What? Wait..." Miyoshi Xuesen was startled, then quickly realized something, his face instantly changed as he hurriedly said, "Ninjas, all retreat!" He subconsciously sensed a hint of danger. The fact that Chen Fei suddenly mentioned his ninja team wasn''t whimsical but indicated a potential threat of uncertainty. Better safe than sorry, it''s always better to be cautious. At that moment, the white flash reappeared. This time, through the "Ultra-long Vision" mode of the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)," it was clear that the bearded man on the town square suddenly swung his sword, unleashing a long sword qi that howled towards a dark corner of the square. "It''s sword qi! And it''s long!" Chen Fei gritted his teeth and without hesitation, extended his hand to his side, evolving the D-600 model railgun from the "Physical Evolution Database" categorized under "Firearms." Energy Points -21! Total mass 21 tons. The twin lengthy electromagnetic acceleration rails aimed at White Truffle Town, each rail so wide that it took at least three people to circle around it. A heavy weapon capable of firing 600 mm caliber shells was never small in size. "Damn!" Miyoshi Xuesen''s face suddenly became very grim; he had just received word that one of his ninja team members was lost. Even though Chen Fei warned them in time, the ninjas were still too late to retreat. Especially upon hearing the sword qi, it indicated the presence of a high-rank War Professional within the town. Chen Fei saw several townsfolk carrying flashlights and mobile phones, using the available light to drag a body from a dark corner of the square. He then looked back at Miyoshi Monk and said calmly, "Fire the shell!" With things having reached this critical juncture, why be overcautious? Regardless of the War Professional''s rank, just send him off with a single 600 round. "Hiss!" Miyoshi Xuesen''s expression became agonizingly conflicted; he grimaced for a few seconds before finally making a decision. He waved his hand, tossing out a huge wooden box big enough to fit two adults. A single wooden box contained a 600mm caliber artillery shell. Each member of the Ninja Team had followed him for a long time, the longest for over a decade, and was even a close relative and elder of Miyoshi Xuesen, considered as the most reliable confidant. The sudden loss of one person in this small town deeply pained him. - "Everyone, stay alert, watch for unfamiliar faces!" Seeing the unidentified corpse dragged out from a dark corner, the mayor of White Truffle Town came to the center of the square, loudly calling out with a megaphone in hand. He then looked toward the big-bearded man who had quelled the chaos in town by himself and asked, "Odin, can you tell where they''re from?" Nobody would have expected that this inconspicuous mountain town secretly harbored a Heavenly Order War Professional. The big-bearded man wielded his longsword a few times, like performing surgery, precisely stripping the corpse of its clothing. It was a woman with a plain face, unremarkable in appearance, but the array of items inside her clothes was not few: longswords, daggers, pistols, hand grenades, short steel needles, darts, steel wire ropes, blowpipes... There were nearly a hundred different items, turning her entire body into a miniature mobile arsenal. "Ninja!" As he examined the almost completely stripped woman''s torso, the big-bearded man''s expression remained unchanged. As soon as he spoke, a chill arose inexplicably behind his neck, his hair standing on end, a sense of crisis emerging from nowhere. "Something is off!" The big-bearded man looked around cautiously, casting his gaze outside the town. The surrounding mountains, shrouded in night, were as dark as pitch. Sensing something unusual about the big-bearded man, the Huntsman Squad, now redirected to a new target, heard Mayor Morgan Lee of White Truffle Town ask in puzzlement, "What''s wrong?" Right at the spot the big-bearded man was staring intensely¡ªa steep slope seemed to suddenly emit a strange light. "Wha..." Boom!~~~~~~~ The voice of Mayor Morgan was swallowed by a sudden violent explosion, which engulfed the entire small square with flames and shockwaves. The brutal force instantly swept across the town, sending countless objects, including entire or fragmented human bodies, flying in all directions. The buildings around the town square, regardless of their height or size, were instantly reduced to ruins; dust enveloped the town and all lights were extinguished. As the big-bearded man named Odin looked toward where the Huntsman Squad was located, Chen Fei had immediately charged up the evolved D-600 model parallel railgun. The town was close at hand, not requiring full power for firing. With no propellant charge, the full weight of 2.5 tons, 600mm caliber Demolition Bomb hit the center of the square at five times the speed of sound, landing right beside Heavenly Order War Professional Odin. Any mortal, caught off guard, simply could not withstand such a large caliber heavy artillery shell; within a radius of one hundred meters, there was no chance for survival. Even though the Huntsman Squad was outside the town, away from the blast radius of the Demolition Bomb, the spreading overpressure and deafening noise still caused their hearts to tremble. The sound of breaking small objects fell like raindrops near the Huntsman Squad. That single strike had wiped out a third of the living human signs in town. The power of the 600mm caliber Demolition Bomb was truly terrifying; the deadly shockwave alone claimed most lives. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... The dust-covered ninjas returned in disarray, almost blown back by the blast wave. Had they still been in the town, probable further reductions in their numbers would have occurred. After kneeling to Miyoshi Xuesen, they disappeared back into the darkness. "Not going to fire another round?" Chen Fei looked toward Miyoshi Monk, feeling somewhat unsatisfied. Second Uncle took care of killing and burying; the center of the town square had turned into a large pit, ideal for burying everyone. "Our main mission target this time is Mayor Morgan Lee." Miyoshi Xuesen shook his head. One shot released, Heavenly Order dispersed, while satisfying, the subsequent reporting caused him more headaches. As for other townspeople, counted as collateral while fetching rabbits, catching one counts as one, and it doesn''t matter much if not dead, others will deal with them. The surviving families of Water Bear organization''s key members might be more useful alive than as corpses. "Morgan Lee? Emmm... I seemed to just see someone who looked like him, probably gone!" Chen Fei thought for a moment, recalling the man with the megaphone, who seemed to be their mission target next to the big-bearded Heavenly Order War Professional. It seemed that the bombing had likewise left him obliterated to bits. Chapter 507 507: Section 503 - Military Takes Action "Are you sure?" Miyoshi Xuesen looked at Chen Fei in surprise. It couldn''t be such good luck that a single shot had resolved all the issues. Chen Fei carefully recalled the moment, then nodded. "There should be no mistake!" After all, the biggest threat to White Truffle Town and their mission target were both standing together, directly taken away by a single shot. "Another shot?" Chen Fei turned to Miyoshi Monk. If one shot had taken out a third of the population, it was because the residential area and the only commercial district were densely populated around the small central square in town. The contagion of "Blood Eye Heart Poison" by Tuert forced the town''s population to gather in defense against the chaos, but they hadn''t expected the demolition bomb to have such a devastating effect. Moreover, the double-rail weapon platform typically targeted mutants and strategic defenses, not humans. The surviving townspeople were now searching for survivors near the crater¡ªif they fired another shot, it would be utter annihilation. "No, let''s leave the rest to the local sovereignty!" Miyoshi Xuesen silently nodded, mentally chanting "namu amida butsu"¡ªafter all, he was still a monk and should be compassionate at heart. The others weren''t the target of this makeshift diversionary mission. Chen Fei withdrew the D-600 model parallel railgun, replenishing his energy points, after all, the wear and tear on the weapon platform were negligible, and the Dog System wouldn''t fuss over this aspect. The next morning, the Huntsman Squad hadn''t left yet; several Sky Patrol Ships descended from the sky, and an army of over a thousand soldiers with more than ten beast-shaped quadruped step combat mobile armors surrounded the entire town. Contrary to Miyoshi Xuesen and the others'' expectations, during the encirclement, the residents of White Truffle Town engaged in fierce gunfire with the military. In the town, several reverse-joint bipedal step combat mobile armors appeared, and although their firepower was not strong, they were unexpectedly agile and nimble, causing the encircling infantry to cry out in distress. If not for the armored vehicles forcefully taking the lead, the battle lines might have collapsed then and there. Andrew, a Third Rank Earth Mage of the Earth Order, maintained an Earth Magic Shield and erected a ring of stone wall barriers, as stray bullets occasionally flew by¡ªan inattentive soldier could easily lose his life unexpectedly. "Hiss! Lucky we didn''t go scavenging last night!" Tuert, who had regained a small portion of his spiritual power overnight, was eating a sandwich for breakfast on a hillside, watching the town inside and outside engage in a lively exchange of fire. Even after killing the mayor and the Heavenly Order War Professional, the townspeople were still not to be underestimated, even having combat mobile armors at their disposal. With their small team, plus a bunch of ninjas enhanced with Dark System Abilities, trying to wipe out such a town was perhaps too much of an overreach. Everyone had a mortal body, and once their Special Abilities and magic power ran out, regardless of levels A through G, they were just a gunshot away from death¡ªin case of bad luck, a brick would suffice. Just like that unnamed Heavenly Order individual, when the 600mm caliber demolition bomb came, they didn''t even have time to flee before meeting their end. The one who killed them was just a mere B-tier supernatural power user; such a cheap end for someone of the Heavenly Order. "Don''t be greedy! Namu amida butsu!" Hearing Tuert''s complaints, Miyoshi Xuesen serenely pressed his palms together. Caution was one of the reasons he had survived so long; anyone dabbling in the dark business would eventually get their feet wet¡ªcountless examples had accidentally capsized in the gutter, so it was always safer to be careful. "Namu amida butsu!" A red-haired, A-tier Wind-type Ability User named Masuya glanced at the monk and, feeling the sentiment, also chanted reverently. This monk had led them through so many hunting missions; he certainly had his ways. The military''s War Professionals entered the fray, possessing at least Seventh Rank strength of the Human Order, and with lightning-fast speed, they burst into the battlefield. Their alloy warblades, charged with Battle Qi, dazzled as they wildly slashed through the reverse-joint bipedal step combat mobile armors of White Truffle Town. Although the Battle Qi didn''t manifest as blades, the mobile armors fell apart like building blocks on the spot, clattering into pieces, and the mechanics inside were similarly severed. Over a dozen missiles rose from the workshops in the center of the town, focusing on a corner of the encirclement. Anyone with a bit of military knowledge could tell that the townspeople were planning to break through the siege, but it was unclear whether this was a feint or a full-force effort to open a breach. Without the central force of the combat mobile armors, the capture of White Truffle Town by the military was just a matter of time. The military''s intercept missiles launched continuously, shrieking toward the ascending missiles; only two were successfully intercepted, while the rest slammed heavily onto the ground. The workshop that launched the missile was immediately blanketed by retaliatory curved artillery fire and a barrage of rockets, suffering at least ten continuous seconds of uninterrupted bombardment. Yikes! Chen Fei could hardly bear to look; the casualty numbers for the Gaul military would undoubtedly be unsightly. When dealing with such resistance forces, why bother with a siege? Just send in bombers for a scorched-earth campaign, and it''d be over in a minute, or simply a single 2000-pound thermobaric bomb would ensure not even the chickens and dogs are spared. The Huntsman Squad didn''t rush to leave and instead started preparing lunch. Aunt Caroline, a B-level Fire Ability User, glanced at White Truffle Town, which was being bombed to smithereens, and smiled dismissively. "Heh, that''s not powerful enough!" She then looked at Chen Fei, her smile filled with warmth and kindness. The Demolition Bomb that detonated in the town square last night¡ªthat was powerful. It turned the square into a huge crater with an admirable shape; that''s the true essence of an explosion! If it were up to Caroline herself, there''d be a variety of effects like inward blossoming, inside-out blasts, earth-shattering quakes, and collapsing houses... she was sure she could concoct at least a hundred different types. Since ancient times, those with Fire abilities have produced eccentrics; not fond of burning, but of exploding. A series of crackling sounds started up as fragments of flying rocks landed on Andrew''s Earth Magic Shield. With the Magic Shield in place and Andrew being a Third Rank Earth Mage, Chen Fei didn''t bother using a metal plate engraved with "Repulsion Shield" spells to defend, as that would consume Crystal Energy. Despite Crystal Energy having a higher Energy Level, even with a conversion process to electricity that''s highly efficient and nearly lossless, it still wouldn''t yield much Crystal Energy. Chen Fei''s "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" for converting Crystal Energy was also rather awkward. After all, a Metal Ability User isn''t a professional generator, and there was the problem of leakages. If it weren''t for a military-grade Crystalline Block from over thirty years ago, these Magic Arrays would be practically useless to him; the small amount of Crystal Energy converted from his Special Ability alone couldn''t maintain the arrays for long, one... two... three, and it''s gone! "The army has started to contract!" Andrew, who maintained the Magic Shield, noticed that the Gaul Sovereignty''s military was no longer charging violently as before and was starting to regroup and stabilize the siege lines. War Professionals from the military, who had taken out all the Reverse-Joint Bipedal Combat Mobile Armor, didn''t pursue the victory, likely because the ordinary foot soldiers at the rear were subpar. After unexpectedly being showered with missiles, they were slowing them down. Without support, War Professionals probably didn''t dare venture too deep into enemy territory alone. The first round ended in an anti-climactic manner. Thirty years after the great war, the Blue Star civilization had been at peace for a long time, and an inevitable decline in military combat effectiveness manifested, with many troops showing fragile wills to fight. A cat fed too much cat food often can''t even beat a small mouse. That the Sovereignty''s army had not collapsed by now was already commendable. As for fighting spirit, it was the privately-owned military contractors who dared to fight fiercely and ruthlessly, both towards their enemies and themselves. They often fought to the last man and would not break. If the employees died, the supervisor stepped in; if the supervisor died, then the manager took over; and if the manager died, the CEO would lead the board of directors into the final battle, refusing to give up until the last person stood. It was just like the time when Aircrew Base 911 clashed head-on with Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium. Despite its size, it was ferocious, ferocious to the point of being untouchable and something to be evaded. Chen Xiao''er, who was audaciously eager but lacking skills, could thrive in such a job, merrily like a fish in water. Anyone else would likely not last three days. As the Gaul Sovereignty''s military contracted their skirmish lines and started to regroup, the resistance in White Truffle Town had not yet ceased, with sporadic gunfire continuing in fits and starts. One could easily get shot if not careful during this time. Both sides tacitly ceased fire for an hour around noon, to eat, drink, rest, and treat the wounded¡ªeach busy with their own. Just as Chen Fei thought there might be an afternoon tea inside and outside of town, a torrential downpour of artillery fire cast into the town, signaling the start of the afternoon''s battle. He yawned lazily, feeling uninterested. Compared to the relentless corporate wars between military contractors, the battle of the Gaul military laying siege to the town was a minor affair. Chen Fei and Chekhov, the Big Bear, could have a more exciting time bombing the enemy''s aircrew base while drunk than watching this. Up to now, air strike forces had still not appeared. It was probably because they couldn''t bear even the slightest damage; several Sky Patrol Ships ferrying troops stayed out of the fight like bystanders, kept their distance, and floated in mid-air. Hearing Chen Fei''s yawn, Miyoshi Xuesen, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground chanting with his prayer beads, calmly said, "It should be over before it gets dark." In the incense burner beside him, several sticks of incense were lit. The air around was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder. The military''s tactics were rigid like the ones found in textbooks, utterly uninspiring. Their methodical advancements inevitably depleted the town''s resistance forces. After all, people get hurt, people get tired. After a day of nerve-straining tensions, it would be difficult to hold on any longer. Just as Miyoshi Monk had predicted, before sunset, the exhausted and depleted White Truffle Town finally raised the white flag. Chapter 508 508: Section 504 - Leave Professional Matters to Professionals The soldiers of the Gaul military entered White Truffle Town with extreme caution, spending over an hour searching and clearing the area. It was only after nightfall that they finally completed a thorough occupation and took real control of the situation. The remaining town residents numbered less than four hundred, with several leaders successively replaced by external forces, totaling five or six replacements. The last leader selected toppled mentally, under both psychological and physiological stress, forcing him to eventually surrender by raising a white flag (a white shirt). If the battle had continued, the surviving three hundred or so people would likely not have seen the sun the next day. One side was willing to die, and the other side was willing to bury. After the battle ended, the captives were shackled in heavy fetters and boarded onto a Sky Patrol Ship, preparing to be sent away, geographically speaking, not physically. Regardless of whether they were Ability Users or not, regardless of any injuries, each captive was injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant and administered a drug that suppressed spiritual power. For a Mage, without spiritual power, having abundant Magic Power is useless; their Battle Qi could also be affected and would likely be reduced by at least half. Under the vigilant supervision of war Professionals, wielding swords and glaring, none dared to cause trouble. Any slight misbehavior was met with immediate beheading. Next, this self-sufficient, secluded town would completely disappear from the map, perhaps it was never even on the map to begin with. Public opinion would know nothing, they would only know what they should know, and any further inquiries would be dismissed as drills. Earth Element Users and Wood System Ability Users will work together to erase all man-made traits here, allowing vegetation to cover everything, as if decades or even centuries had passed in an instant. No one would remember there was ever a town called White Truffle here. The Huntsman Squad, which had been like invisible spectators on the hillside outside the town all day, hurriedly left under the cover of night. The Gaul Sovereignty sent a Sky Patrol Ship to take them directly to their originally planned destination to continue their mission. The previous target, Aircrew Base 631 and its contractor, Mental Health Knights Corporation, hadn''t shown any new developments; however, nearby at Aircrew Base 633, more specifically, its contractor, Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, initiated trouble first. Perhaps feeling they could ingratiate themselves with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, they hastily filed for corporate warfare and immediately declared war on Aircrew Base 631, figuring they had to fight sooner or later, so they might as well strike first. Sulte Defense Co., Ltd thought they could handle it, so Aircrew Base 633 launched a forceful attack. The next moment, they were beaten back severely, the Combat Flight Squadron lost more than half its forces, and even the squadron leader was killed, leaving no trace of his remains. This fiercely aggressive move was simply phenomenal! Words are insufficient to describe the mysterious war between Aircrew Base 631 and Aircrew Base 633; such foolish mess isn''t even worth commenting on by Miyoshi Xuesen. He printed the first phase report into documents, circulated them internally for self-interpretation. After thoroughly reading the report, which was neither too thin nor too thick, Chen Fei''s eyes twitched, and his lips curled, saying, "Truly dammit..." Anyone with a bit of brain would not end up in such a ridiculous state. One moment mocking the amateurish Gaul soldiers, and the next seeing his peers perform equally disgraceful actions, truly a disgrace to military contractors. It''s a wonder how such military contractors managed to secure contracts for an Aircrew Base; according to industry rules, they should have been wiped out long ago. "It really is, really is leveraging power through affiliation!" Tuert quickly glanced over the report, treating it like a foolish prank show on April Fool''s Day, eager to show off in front of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, only to fail miserably. Then he shoved the report aside, passing it to the young and beautiful Masuya. After reading it, she curled her lips and said, "Do we really have to go?" Clearly disdainful of the arrogant yet incompetent Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, having them contract Aircrew Base 633 was a total waste. "Of course we have to go, but only to clean up the mess." Miyoshi Monk scratched his shiny bald head, the nine scars itching. Dealing with such an incompetent collaborator was really frustrating. He again had to figure out a way to support this mess, as it had been pre-arranged and though it was flawed, it could keep secrets at least. Being able to collaborate with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee on hunting missions, this company likely had connections within the Joint Defense Committee. Although Miyoshi didn''t say it outright, people like Chen Fei, who were somewhat worldly-wise, could mostly guess some of it. "We in the military contracting business, to be precise, should be called one and a half." Miyoshi Xuesen''s gaze made a full circle before landing on Chen Fei and Aunt Caroline. Chen Fei was a bonafide employee of a military contractor, bound by a standard service contract, but Aunt Caroline was not; it was her son who was involved in the military contracting business, having followed in his father''s footsteps, making her only tangentially related, normally just a bona fide housewife. Had it not been for her son''s company facing significant losses, making it difficult to continue operations, Caroline would not have joined the Huntsman Squad to earn some extra money. "Therefore, when it comes to military contractors and the Aircrew Base, Little Chen should be more familiar." Everyone''s eyes simultaneously turned towards Chen Fei. "Just do it!" Chen Fei had nothing good to say, merely spread his hands and shrugged. Under the leadership of Major Chekhov of Combat Flight Squadron "Genuine Fragrance", the combat principle was always one word: "Act"! Day in and day out, what else could Chen Xiao''er learn but just that? It really was hard for him, originally a Bachelor''s student in economics. The others exchanged glances, probably imagining that the ninja hiding in the shadows would react similarly. "Chen Fei joined the 633 Aircrew Base Combat Flight Squadron, I took over the command of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., Andrew, Masuya, Tuert, and Caroline approached Aircrew Base 631, ready to strike at any moment¡ªair-to-ground united, to directly eliminate the opponent." The Huntsman Squad had already been exposed, still stuck in a state of confusion with their crashed ship. Miyoshi Xuesen was no longer interested in playing tricks with the targets on the hunting list. Moreover, the Gaul Army''s operations targeting White Truffle Town had already deeply alarmed the "Water Bear" organization, so they had to take advantage of the latter not being fully aware yet to quickly solve problems decisively and take down several key members on the list. It could severely cripple this long-hidden mysterious organization and even hinder its capability to organize a counterattack. "I have no objections, but... can you provide some more Magic Arrays?" Chen Fei raised his hand, having no problem leading the flight squadron, provided he could strike a hard bargain. The several Magic Arrays he had were mostly of negligible use¡ªunappetizing but a waste to throw away, they barely functioned when combined, and even then with limited effectiveness. "Impossible!" Miyoshi Xuesen decisively refused. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was not a sovereign entity, although supported by many sovereigns, it was also supervised by them. Magic Arrays, being such sensitive items, could hardly be mishandled carelessly. The sovereign states dare to provide, but the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee certainly did not have the courage to touch the high voltage line, not even stepping half a step over the thunder pond. "Alright then!" With his probe unsuccessful, Chen Fei spoke no further. 12 hours later, the Huntsman Squad was directly transported to the 633 Aircrew Base in the western part of the Europa Continent by the Gaul Sovereignty''s Sky Patrol Ship. It was only upon landing that they realized the Aircrew Base had been devastated, having just been hammered by Aircrew Base 631¡ªit was indeed a sorry sight. Luckily, the Sky Patrol Ship did not require a runway and could take off and land vertically; any flat ground sufficed. Otherwise, just looking at the main runway, full of large and small craters and mostly destroyed, was rather daunting. When the Huntsman Squad landed, the executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base, head swathed in a blood-soaked bandage, jogged unsteadily towards them, stumbling and falling into a few face-plants along the way, still heedlessly coming to greet the "reinforcements" from all military contractors. Reinforcements, theoretically. If it weren''t for targeting the 631 Aircrew Base and the Mental Health Knights Corporation, Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t dispatch such a force to personally intervene, after all, being both a player and a referee is easily frowned upon. The executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base hadn''t even come close when a four-wheeled electric car, arriving later but moving faster, ran over him from his heels to the back of his head, crushing him completely. The injuries compounded, and this time he truly couldn''t get up. "Welcome, welcome, I am the general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, Besman Hubs, welcome, everyone!" The driver, with a smile on his face, constantly rubbed his hands in front of the Huntsman Squad, without any intention of looking back at the unfortunate manager. Damn capitalist! Chapter 509 509: Section 505 - Transfer of Authority Miyoshi Xuesen looked coldly at the man smiling up close, and if it weren''t for the fact that the latter had relatives among the high-ranking elites of Hablav City, he would have turned around and left without hesitation. Chen Fei kindly reminded, "That... have you checked the one behind you?" Running over one''s own people with a vehicle was simply too inhumane. In Jiu Defense Company, at 911, no one dared to be so unprincipled. "Who?" Besman Hubs, the executive manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., finally looked up and glanced at the executive manager lying on the ground twitching, and said dismissively, "No worries, I''ll compensate him well!" Even if crushed to death, a bit of burial silver would suffice; it was really nothing. Isn''t it a natural law for capitalist predators to treat human lives like grass? The miserable executive manager, grievously injured and mercilessly run over by his boss, looked at the contractor of the 633 Aircrew Base, a big boss of private military contractors who was clean and neat without a crease in sight, clearly having stayed safe underground and unscathed during the counterattack on the 631 Aircrew Base. Not just Chen Fei, but also Tuert, Andrew, Masuya, and Caroline all wore faces of disdain, not liking this type of boss; they were entitled to wear their emotions on their faces. You disagree? Come hit me! Or shall I lend you a stick to stoke the fire? In the dark corner, disdainful eyes were also cast, as even though the Ninja Team was also a tool for Miyoshi Xuesen, at least they were treated as humans, not trampled on indiscriminately. Having just sacrificed a comrade and used a Heavenly Order War Professional as a shield felt almost justified. "Er? Guys... why don''t we rest first?" Realizing the atmosphere was off, Besman, the crafty little devil, eagerly changed the subject. "No, let''s first discuss the situation." Miyoshi Monk, as the captain of the Huntsman Squad, had to confront this man directly. "Yes, yes, our Sulte Defense Co., Ltd. ..." This guy, who knows from which roadside intel broker he bought the haphazard information, really thought highly of himself, wanted to show off before the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but... though his ideas were nice, reality was brutal. The Mental Health Knights Corporation, which had been raising mutants for its own unspeakable reasons, never expected such an impulsive newcomer to disregard everything and attack from the air. Giv how close the aircrew bases were, it was doomed not to be a surprise assault catching the other side unawares. As soon as the aircraft approached the boundary of the business district at the intersection, the ground-based radar could easily catch them red-handed. Unless the entire journey was conducted at an extremely low altitude in radar blind spots, thinking of stealth strikes was simply delusional! Moreover, the combat aircraft that private military contractors could use were limited, let alone stealth fighters. The only squadron capable of conducting such low-altitude long-distance stealth raids in the entire Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, which had also managed to survive brutal corporate wars and continuously defeat opponents, all due to its substantial capabilities. After listening to Besman Hubs, the enthusiastic head of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., rambling on, Miyoshi Xuesen simply nodded noncommittally without saying much. The situation described by the other party wasn''t much different from the report received on the way here, probably due to being from the same source. "From now on, the 633 Aircrew Base is under my control, all your personnel answer to me, any problems?" Miyoshi Xuesen made a quick decision; continuing to leave it in the hands of this connected individual would wreck the little base left. "Hehe, no problem, no problem!" Besman Hubs bobbed his head like a rattle-drum, eager for someone to take over the mess at hand. "Chen Fei, have your bird cast a healing spell on that guy." Miyoshi Xuesen looked at Chen Fei¡ªhe couldn''t command Xiao Jiu. In the entire Huntsman Squad, only Chen Fei could make the Pure Light Sparrow obey; no matter how the others tried to please or tease, this proud little bird ignored them completely and would jab them with a laser if annoyed¡ªif hit, it guaranteed a hole through the target. The executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base was relatively familiar with some of the basics. A skilled woman struggles without rice, and if all the personnel and materials of the 633 Aircrew Base were exhausted, even gods taking over would be ineffective. Even though he now controlled the aircrew base, Miyoshi Xuesen also wanted to find the most knowledgeable person to inquire about the actual resources here. And this man, Besman Hubs, clearly seemed only good for giving misguided orders; interviewing him would be less productive than asking the front-line personnel involved in the combat. "Go ahead, cast a ''Light of Redemption''!" Chen Fei pointed at the executive manager still twitching on the ground; his attention had just been on the severely damaged "Big Mouth Monsters" near the main runway. His attention was on the hangar aprons near the main runway, looking at the severely damaged Big Mouth Monsters. The little bird quickly flew over, chirped a few times, and a fist-sized light orb entered the man''s body, and then it flapped its tiny wings and returned to Chen Fei''s shoulder. The executive manager of the 633 Aircrew Base, who had been unconsciously twitching, suddenly quieted down, utterly motionless. Apart from "Light Healing Technique" and "Light Burst Flash", Xiao Jiu''s proficiency in "Light of Redemption" was even higher than that of the Light System Magic Shield and other light-based spells; with third-rank magic power, it could support several continuous casts of "Light of Redemption" without depleting its magic power. "Dead?" Besman couldn''t help but sigh with a tragic sense of empathy on seeing this scene, saying, "Lawrence was a good man, just a bit too stiff. I will miss him." He then made a show of wiping the corner of his eye, yet not a single crocodile tear was shed. "Uh!~" Like one dead, the executive manager suddenly let out a long moan as if resurrecting, then shivered slightly, twisted his head, and slowly, unsteadily stood up, examining himself. There was no more pain in his body, some strength had returned, and the wounds on his head seemed to have healed a lot, no longer feeling like blood was profusely seeping out. "Alive again?" Besman was startled and took a huge jump in fright. He had thought the other had already breathed his last, yet unexpectedly, he could resurrect right there with full vitality. Not exactly full vitality, but at least he could stand up again, though he still didn''t look too good. "Mr. Habs?" The puzzled executive manager of Aircrew Base 633, Lawrence Beta, looked at his boss, completely unaware that he was the culprit who had nearly sent him to the brink of death at Ghost Gate Pass. Probably right now, he couldn''t afford to think too much about it. "Lawrence, seeing you unharmed is really great!" Besman Habs knew the origins of the Huntsman Squad, but couldn''t just tell anyone casually; he almost let it slip and hurriedly supported over his executive manager, acting as if nothing had happened, and continued, "Come on, let me introduce you, this is Mr. Miyoshi, and from now on, at Aircrew Base 633, whatever he says goes, what he says represents my will, got it?" "Oh! Mr. Habs, you mean, I am now responsible to him, is that right?" Manager Lawrence was completely confused and hadn''t yet grasped this latest command. "Exactly, that''s right!" Besman Habs slapped Lawrence on the shoulder, almost knocking him back to the ground. Shaking unstably and barely able to stand firm again, Lawrence Beta from Aircrew Base 633 coughed a few times, then managed to say loudly, "Very well, sir!" "The first order!" Miyoshi Xuesen raised his index finger. "Yes, Sir!" Lawrence Beta immediately snapped to attention, his body trembling as it appeared weak. The ''Light of Redemption'' only worked by invoking vitality through the Light Elemental System using Magic Elements, speeding up recovery but not sufficient to replenish consumed vital energy. However, the human body itself contained a plethora of potential, not to a point where it couldn''t make up for the deficit, so, in most cases, Light Healing Spells generally had an effect. Yet, if the physical condition were as frail as a leaky shack, even a god would be powerless. The reaction of manager Lawrence made his direct superior, the general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, Besman Habs, nod his head in satisfaction. Miyoshi Xuesen pointed forcefully at Besman Habs and spoke out loudly, "Imprison Besman Habs in the solitary confinement room, and without my order, no one is allowed to let him out." "Huh?" Besman Habs was somewhat incredulous of his own ears. Before he could figure out what exactly was happening, he heard executive manager Lawrence Beta standing at attention again. "Yes, Sir!" He then looked apologetically at his direct superior and said, "I am sorry, Mr. Habs!" "Come, escort Mr. Habs into solitary confinement, without Mr. Miyoshi''s order, no one is permitted to release Habs!" Calling over the armed security of the aircrew base, for the sake of their own boss''s dignity, they used "invite" instead of "force." "Ah? This, this, no, Lawrence, no, I don''t want solitary, Mr. Miyoshi, Mr. Miyoshi, what is going on?" Besman Habs frantically tried to rectify this chaotic command, but Miyoshi Xuesen merely gave him a cold glance. "Take him away!" He then looked no further toward him. "I''m sorry, Mr. Habs, you''d better not struggle, or you might hurt yourself." The armed guards were loyal to the executive manager, and one could guess they didn''t have a favorable impression of the general manager; they sandwiched him and just walked off. "No, I don''t want solitary; I want to revoke the order I just gave, Lawrence, you have to listen to me..." The gesticulating general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, was thus dragged away by the burly security guards. Lawrence Beta bowed slightly to Miyoshi Monk and earnestly said, "Mr. Miyoshi, I am now under your command!" Chapter 510 510: Section 506 - Saying "Hello "Very good!" Miyoshi Xuesen greatly appreciated the professional quality of the executive manager. It was undeniable that Besman Hubs, the general manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd, was a rotten person, but the Aircrew Base had a qualified executive manager. Although he might not be truly excellent, he had a head injury and executed the orders from Miyoshi Xuesen/Boss Besman unequivocally. Locking up Besman was the equivalent of resolving the biggest immediate risk at Aircrew Base. It was easy to guess that the current situation at Aircrew Base was greatly influenced by Besman Hubs''s misguided commands. A conservative executive manager would not launch an attack casually, nor would he allow opponents to find opportunities to counterattack so easily. This move was brilliant! Andrew and the others gave a thumbs up to this ruthless and heartless monk. Well done! Using terms like ''good'' or ''bad'' to evaluate Miyoshi Xuesen isn''t always suitable, but sometimes the things he does are indeed satisfying. "Alright! Let''s briefly reassign tasks. Tuert, head to the control tower and monitor the dynamics of Aircrew Base, report to me at once. Andrew and Masuya, check the surroundings for any enemy scouts. Aunt Caroline, assist Lawrence to learn more about the situation at Aircrew Base and report back. Chen Fei, greet those pilots; it all depends on you now!" Miyoshi Xuesen issued orders calmly and confidently, now that he had control over the entire aircrew base. Apart from assigning tasks to the ability users, the ninja teams would also carry out the same tasks, ensuring double insurance and avoiding any oversight. "Let''s go, Andrew!" Masuya, a level-A wind-type psionic ability user, took the lead with a greeting. The youthful-looking Tuert was always sneakily eyeing her with a lascivious gaze, which she found very distasteful, but the silent and tall Andrew seemed far more reliable. "Oh!" The earth mage hurried to follow. The psychic mage, Tuert, who was assigned to go to the tower alone, grinned reluctantly and jealously watched as the red-haired Masuya and Andrew walked away together. Andrew, this thick-browed and big-eyed fellow, actually sneaked ahead. "Manager Lawrence, please show me around." Although Aunt Caroline was not in the private military contracting business, her son was a member of the industry; she hadn''t eaten the pork, but she had seen the pig run, so she naturally knew where to start in order to understand the situation at Aircrew Base in the shortest time. Despite being weak from being revived by the "Light of Redemption," the very feeble executive manager, Lawrence Beta, still mustered the energy. "Good day, ma''am, please follow me!" Now was not the time to be lying down; even if there was a need to lie down, he must explain the situation before doing so. "Then I am leaving too." Watching his teammates leave one by one, Chen Fei gestured and naturally led Little Bird towards the pile of rubbish next to the main runway. He was not unfamiliar with the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, but the "Big Mouth Monster" at Aircrew Base seemed somewhat different. Upon closer inspection, the truth came to light. The "Big Mouth Monster" at Aircrew Base had seven mounting points on its central belly and wings, while the ones at Aircrew Base had nine. The difference between seven and nine mounting points was significant. He stretched out his hand without hesitation. "Metal Devouring" skill activated! System: Ding! Absorbed light turboprop attack aircraft wreckage, composition ratio: Aluminum 71%, Titanium 10%, Iron 4%, Copper 5%, Chromium 4.5%, Magnesium 2%... Energy Points +7! The pile of combat aircraft wreckage probably came from at least three "Big Mouth Monsters." Energy Points: 20000/20000 When leaving Hablav City, Chen Fei had filled up his energy points at an old machinery junkyard on the outskirts, but he hadn''t purchased an energy point capacity expansion. The newly acquired seven energy points overflowed and were wasted. You see, calling this system a real dog isn''t unjustified at all. However, Chen Fei didn''t care about the loss of these two energy points at this moment; his attention was on the new findings. The "Aircraft" category in the "Physical Evolution Database" had gained a new sample. A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft! Several wrecks proved sufficient to complete the sample, meaning he could replicate this model of light turboprop attack aircraft completely. Indeed, the "Big Mouth Monster" at Aircrew Base was an upgraded version, further confirming that Besman Hubs had deep connections with a high-level official at the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. With his professional experience as a maintenance technician, he quickly confirmed the key upgrades of this C version after comparison. To add these two hardpoints, the A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" made some improvements to the airframe. Most importantly, the PT6A series engine used a new alloy formula for critical components, increasing the output power by 200 horsepower to 2100 horsepower. However, as a result, fuel consumption increased and the maximum endurance time decreased by one hour, still leaving 13 hours. The wing area increased by 5%, structural strength was enhanced, and other detailed parts were improved and upgraded. For a light attack aircraft, two hardpoints can almost instantly enhance its combat effectiveness¡ªafter all, it means two more missiles or bombs! After receiving the latest upgrade of the "Big Mouth Monster," Chen Fei felt satisfied and headed towards the bar, where the pilots relaxed. Private Military Contractors are not sovereign military forces, and the flyers are not prohibited from drinking. They can drink as they like on ordinary days as long as they do not drink during flight missions. Exceptions like Chekhov Big Bear, who can fly better the more he drinks, are truly badass! If it hadn''t been for being high at the time, wandering in a daze, Chen Fei wouldn''t have dared to do such a thing, even if lent ten times his courage¡ªhe''s bold, but not foolish! Anyone who is able to graduate from university with a bachelor''s degree is smart. The layout of Aircrew Base 633 is similar to Aircrew Base 911; Chen Fei could find his way around with his eyes closed. In fact, most aircrew bases are structured and facilitated exactly the same, everyone using the same mold, the same design drawings. Modular and mass production keep the costs of hardware foundations very low, fully in line with commercial operations. The bar at Aircrew Base 633 was rather quiet, as it had just been raided and had many casualties, making it not as bustling as usual. Chen Fei accurately located the pilots of 633, who were gathered in small groups, each person either sulkily drinking alone or puffing on a cigar, none of them talking. Casually, he placed Little Bird on the bar and walked over. The bartender, somewhat distracted, watched the little bird hopping around on the countertop. The little fellow hopped next to a bottle of brandy, pecked at the bottle, and then looked up at the bartender. "Chirp?" "Hey! Guys?" Chen Fei called out to those pilots who had just been defeated and were feeling very low in spirit. "?" A group of people looked over in confusion. Chen Fei waved at them and promptly picked up the person beside him, landing a punch directly on his face, knocking him flat on the ground. This was a pilot''s way of greeting. He obviously couldn''t perform a trick like Big Bear pulling out Erguotou from his crotch, so he had to make a memorable "greeting" for his colleagues at Aircrew Base 633 his own way. None of those who work under Private Military Contractors are saints. Being new around here, if you don''t beat them until they''re comfortable, they certainly won''t respect you. But that''s okay, Chen Fei didn''t want their respect, he just wanted their submission, so beating was enough. Fights were absolutely common in the bar, with pilots clanging and banging around. Everyone else in the bar, including the bartender behind the bar, acted as if they saw nothing, without even attempting to stop it. In just five minutes, Chen Fei had beaten eight or nine men. There was also a young woman whose soft face received a big slap, leaving a vivid handprint immediately. After all, gender equality matters, and it''s wrong to discriminate or treat women differently. You can''t go easy just because she''s a woman. One, two, three, four, and done again. "Greetings done," Chen Fei shook his hand and said, "I''m ''Rookie,'' and from now on, I am your squadron leader. Anyone has a problem with that, make a peep!" Yes, make a sound, and get beaten again until you''re subdued, or even beaten to death. Death? That would be a problem for the executive manager of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., Besman Habs, and also for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. If you''re afraid of dying, don''t come into this line of work. He didn''t have time to reason or appeal to emotions; a beating sufficed! Looking at the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, anyone who still had issues could be resolved with a beating! No matter how arrogant the Big Bear might seem, he also got pinned to the ground and beaten frequently. "Rookie," this flying nickname might sound a bit funny initially, but after the beatings, nobody was laughing anymore; they were just inhaling sharply with bruised noses and faces, wondering which supernatural power had just beaten them up without any law or order. Sorry, in the capitalist world, there''s never been any law. Chen Fei was indeed being lenient with them; otherwise, a punch for each could have ended them all. He clapped his hands and said calmly, "Come on, follow my command, line up!" The next second, the disheveled pilots immediately leaped up like frightened rabbits and quickly lined up, fearing being beaten again if they were slow. The recent beating was severe, and suddenly moving caused them all to grimace and bare their teeth grotesquely. "Let''s introduce ourselves, let me get to know you." "..." Not far away, at the bar, Little Bird perched on the edge of a glass, watching the interaction between Chen Fei and the pilots, occasionally dipping its head to sip a freshly mixed martini. Only that little sparrow knew how it managed to get a cocktail mixed for itself by the bartender. Chapter 511 511: Section 507 - Repair The layout of Aircrew Bases is largely the same, even the organizational structure and management systems seem to be cast from the same mold, relatively mature. Wouldn''t it be more efficient to just replicate them? Thus, even though he had just arrived, Chen Fei still felt a sense of familiarity here, easily finding his way around and locating the relevant personnel. "No way, to repair all the ''Big Mouth Monsters'', it would take at least a month. It''s impossible in three days, we simply can''t handle that much work, you layman don''t understand anything!" The head of the Mechanic Team at Aircrew Base 633 didn''t show Chen Fei any kindness, and lashed out at him fiercely. In his eyes, this "Rookie" was clearly an outsider, and only an outsider would make such an outlandish request¡ªit was obvious he was looking for trouble! Aircrew Base 631''s retaliation was severe; their retaliatory air strikes caused major damage to the combat flyers of Aircrew Base 633. Coupled with casualties within the flying squadrons, even if there wasn''t a single fighter jet less, the combat power ready for takeoff was only half of the original. And at this moment, the Mechanic Team, despite working their hardest, could only barely repair two "Big Mouth Monsters". "Are you done speaking?" Chen Fei endured as the other party showered him with spit while speaking. Well, Jiubao was so considerate, adding a Light System Magic Shield around him, blocking all the spit. A group of pilots with their heads hung stood obediently behind him, not even daring to take a deep breath. All they knew was that this young man was called "Rookie," they knew nothing else about him. In the world of Jianghu, when you meet, why should it matter if you''ve known each other before? Finish the "greeting" (their names today were "greeting"), and be done with it. Why ask so many questions. The head of the Mechanic Team hummed a few times. It seemed that those who work in mechanical repair all share a fiery temper. Chen Fei spoke indifferently, "Repairing fighter jets, that''s my specialty!" He spoke with utter confidence. "Huh? What did you say?" The head of the Mechanic Team couldn''t quite believe his own ears. The person who had just taken control of the remaining members of the flying squadrons was now brazenly claiming he could repair fighter jets. Was that not a joke? "I am certified, I attended training and assessment at ''Eagle Nest''." Since everyone was in the same industry, Chen Fei guessed the other person should know Old David''s field, after all, Boss Hana had mentioned that "Eagle Nest" was quite famous in the circle. Of course, Old David never actively advertised that much, but his subordinates'' professional skills were indeed impeccable. "Old David''s ''Eagle Nest''?" The head of the Mechanic Team indeed knew of the famous Eagle Nest private airfield. Not only was "Eagle Nest" a privately operated airfield, but it also boasted the very best civilian aviation training and assessment services¡ªalmost everyone knew of them and recognized their worth. Their gold standard was truly 24K, capable of matching the military standards, and even the military acknowledged it. "Exactly!" Chen Fei nodded. All the pilots behind him began to slowly widen their eyes in amazement. Good heavens, this guy was from "Eagle Nest"! To get into "Eagle Nest," not only did you need money, but also connections, and one thing for sure was that anyone who passed the Eagle Nest''s assessment had real skills. Even those slightly below par were not allowed to pass, so as not to tarnish Old David''s reputation. Though professional training at a private airfield could be expensive, they never compromised on quality for money, as reputation was quite important. "Eagle King" David''s reputation never disappointed. "I''d like to see how you plan to repair all the combat aircraft within three days." Upon hearing the other party was also a professional, and one assessed at "Eagle Nest" no less, the head of the Mechanic Team at Aircrew Base 633 stepped aside to let the expert take over. It was an impossible task, wasn''t it! "Bring me all the damaged airframes, even if they''re just scraps, and parts, good or bad, gather everything in the work area, then follow my command." Chen Fei turned around, looked at the pilots, and said, "You guys help too!" "Sure!" Pilots ¡Á 9! Now Chen Fei was their new boss; whatever he said, they had to follow. If they dared utter even the slightest hint of a "no," they would undoubtably receive another round of ''greetings''¡ªa fistful was guaranteed. This foreign dragon had indeed instilled fear in these local snakes. In no time at all, the Mechanic Team''s work area was piled high, and the head of the Mechanic Team, also eager to see this "Rookie''s" capabilities, was holding his breath in anticipation. "First one!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand. Hacking the game! No, activating skill! Most of the damaged components had merely undergone physical shape changes, making them incompatible with one another, but for the skill "Metal Shaping," restoring their original form was a trivial matter, accomplished in the blink of an eye. Deformed parts were restored to their original shape, missing ones were replaced with readily available spare parts, and for those without spares, just replicate them. With a rapid flurry of movements, agile as a tiger. Half an hour later, an A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, barring its paint job, emerged in the work area looking virtually indistinguishable from a brand-new factory model. The time-consuming tasks were all due to non-metallic materials, since metal elemental psychic powers had absolutely no effect on them. Unwilling to replicate using energy points, the only option was to use spare parts if available, or salvaged parts if not. A group of mechanics all turned into awe-stricken Dragon Kings, inhaling sharply in disbelief. "Damn metal elemental psychic power, industrial grade to boot!" Even the mechanically blind-chief of the mechanics team could see just how Chen Fei was going to repair all the combat aircraft in three days. They were ordinary people, this was taking advantage of ordinary people, young man, you have no martial ethics! Half an hour for one "Big Mouth Monster," be it B or C model, made no difference to Chen Fei. Who needs three days? Probably one day would be enough, and even that with time to spare. "First aircraft, done! Someone come and tow it away!" Chen Fei walked towards the second work area, the 633 Aircrew Base had six work areas, allowing for six combat aircraft to be worked on simultaneously. As he moved to another work area, it was the perfect time for others to tow away the freshly repaired aircraft for its painting job, which didn''t require any special abilities. Lazy painters could just spray it down with paint cans; if you were a bit more particular, slap on some enamel paint, seal it with a heat gun, and it was done¡ªno special skills required, anyone could do it. The 633 Aircrew Base used camo paint, making touch-up work a breeze. With your eyes closed, just brush, brush, brush, and you definitely won''t mess it up. With the mechanics team and the flying squadron helping out, Chen Fei only had to work on repairing the combat aircraft, rapidly making progress. Before it even got dark, he had managed to assemble ten "Big Mouth Monsters." The budget-conscious 633 Aircrew Base wasn''t equipped with jet engines but only had the latest C-model "Big Mouth Monsters" and two rescue transport helicopters. The helicopters were cheap, civilian versions without weapon mounts; they simply welded a machine gun mount by the cabin door, and that was it, looking thoroughly unprofessional. No wonder they were beaten to such a state by the 631 Aircrew Base, with inferior hardware and average personnel, they couldn''t possibly win against the opposition. The contracting boss was a bit off his rocker, not measuring his own capabilities before rashly charging in; eager to show off, he only embarrassed himself, and the retaliation was naturally merciless. When ten A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft stood on the tarmac, fresh with the smell of new paint, the alarm went off¡ªa first-level warning. Chen Fei''s phone rang at the same time, vibrating. Upon answering, he heard Miyoshi Xuesen''s voice. "Chen Fei, combat aircraft from 631 Aircrew Base are heading our way, a total of four. Can you handle it?" In the Huntsman Squad, Chen Fei was the only one capable of piloting a combat aircraft to meet the challenge; no one else could handle such a specialized task. "Small fry, just get the ground defenses ready, leave the rest to me!" Chen Fei responded with an easygoing tone. With his current record of aerial victories, he had long since ceased to be a novice, already considered somewhat of a veteran. "Then I''m counting on you," said Miyoshi with no other choice. Within the batch of ability users assembled by the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division," there weren''t many multi-talented personnel eligible to join the Huntsman Squad, and Chen Fei was one of them. Although Hablav City also had such talents, it was difficult for them to leave their current positions to join the Huntsman Squad. Moreover, no one was more familiar with the operation of the aircrew base than Chen Fei, nor better suited for the task. "Guys, we''ve got work to do, four of you, come with me to meet the challenge!" Chen Fei put down his phone and looked at the restless pilots. By now, the skies were growing dark; if one were to fly, the light would become even brighter. The ground crew had already begun to prepare the combat aircraft, lining up various munitions on the tarmac. Turboprop aircraft had their advantages: once munitions were hung and the tank was full, just ignite and go. No need to warm up the engine beforehand, and with the aircrew base''s combat radius, even auxiliary fuel tanks were unnecessary. Nine individuals exchanged glances, then silently stepped forward in unison. Chapter 512 512: Section 508 - Crystal Energy Turboprop Aircraft "Die with a useless leader, and it''s goodbye to the whole family," everyone understands that principle. The guy who can beat them all up the moment he meets them is definitely a ruthless one. The pilots at Aircrew Base made their choice with their own feet. "Okay, one, two, three, four! Follow me! One fighter jet per person, no need for a co-pilot." Chen Fei didn''t care about the combat effectiveness of these pilots nor did he want to understand it; as long as they didn''t lag behind, that was enough. He simply counted four from left to right and then turned to walk away. Just like those young masters from Gaul he had seen before, once they had seen blood, whether it was from their own people or enemies, their psychological quality would transform. These pilots shouldn''t be as clueless as they were at the start. The four chosen pilots exchanged glances, among them was a girl whose cheek bore a faint red mark, formerly a slap print, which had lightened under Xiao Jiu''s "Light Healing Technique." Eventually, the four of them caught up with Chen Fei''s pace. "Report, this is the ammunition list." The ammunition team handed Chen Fei a list. "All combat missiles, check the machine gun ammunition again, not a single round missing." Chen Fei glanced at the list and then tossed it back. Sign whatever, he wasn''t from Aircrew Base; he would leave after the fight. Concerns like costs were things for the capitalists locked in the confinement rooms to consider, preferably bankrupting this bastard. "Yes, yes!" The ammunition team''s member awkwardly retreated. All the "Big Mouth Monsters" hanging under the wings were equipped with combat missiles. At this crucial juncture, there was no longer any consideration of whether it was a mutant or not; the priority was to defend Aircrew Base, making the combat missiles almost the only choice. As the other four pilots climbed into the cockpit and connected to the battlefield data link, Chen Fei pressed his headset and said, "You four, form two pairs for cover, I fly solo." Xiao Jiu snuck into his collar, a master at finding good spots, and Chen Fei, unable to shoo it away, let it be. There was no need to discuss tactics. He had just arrived, and neither side was familiar with each other; without any tacit understanding, discussing tactics would be pointless. They didn''t have time to practice and couldn''t effectively use them anyway. "''Florida'' received!" "''Red Narcissus'' received!" "''Kenny Kid'' received!" "''Dinosaur'' received!" The four pilots responded immediately. "''Rookie,'' enemy aircraft will reach Aircrew Base in half an hour, you''d better take off quickly." Even Miyoshi Xuesen, sitting in the control tower and inexperienced as he was, knew better than to allow combat near the base and wanted to push the battlefield as far away as possible. The ground-based radar at Aircrew Base, having been hit by a missile, was barely repaired to restore some reconnaissance capability, but the detection range could only roughly cover half the business perimeter. "''Rookie'' received, taking off!" Chen Fei fired up the engines, and the propeller blades immediately began to spin. The "Big Mouth Monster" began to slide towards the fully repaired main runway, speeding up and soon reaching takeoff speed. Pulling back on the control stick, the airframe effortlessly took off. The A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft has 54 engraving units. Since the "Magical Array Evolution Database" skill obtained a sample, the evolution samples in the "Physical Evolution Database" included corresponding values for the magic array engraving units. Next was simply elementary level arithmetic. Repulsion Shield (45) + Gravity (1) + Fluid Vortex (2)¡Á2 + Blazing Flame Bullet (1)¡Á2 = 52 engraving units, with two to spare. He then evolved the Crystal Energy Conversion module, took out the Crystalline Block, slammed it on, and the magic array immediately activated, job done. Is this thing still a "Big Mouth Monster"? The hell knows! A blue light flashed over the surface of the A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, and then disappeared beneath the aluminum alloy skin. "Contact in 5 minutes, don''t let your guard down!" Chen Fei, the only pilot in the Huntsman Squad, also had considerable ground attack capability. Miyoshi Xuesen personally coordinated with him, communicating in a manner that was not strictly professional but rather casual. "Received, I see them now!" Chen Fei''s visual interface fully activated several modules of the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" ¡ª "Low-light Enhancement," "Ultra-long Vision," and "Visual Assistance" were combined, and the four "Big Mouth Monsters" from Aircrew Base stood out like lumps of coal in snow, even the seldom-used "Macroscopic Perspective" loaded smoothly. The overhead perspective from the high altitude enveloped both friend and foe, as if Chen Fei had an extra pair of eyes in the sky, and they were remarkably clear. This god-like perspective is utterly unscientific, but if pressed for a more scientific explanation, the only thing that comes to mind is... satellites? But whose special ability can connect directly to satellites? Chen Fei was growing more perplexed about what exactly this "Dog System" was all about. Anyway, he thought he might as well use it and not delve further since he was just a poor nobody without the capability to investigate deeply. "Jiu?" Hiding in Chen Fei''s father''s collar, Little Bird tilted its head and began its routine training. A light screen appeared inside the cockpit, and the next second, it captured the image of four "Big Mouth Monsters." In terms of having a god''s-eye view, Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective" indeed wasn''t quite a match for Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell" within a certain distance. A thin blue line shot from the front and landed on the aircraft Chen Fei was in. It was the long-missed predictive trajectory, symbolizing death, and perhaps because it had not been seen for a while, there was a strangely familiar feeling to it. Looking back, the four "Big Mouth Monsters" following him were also lined up by the predictive trajectory, flying at nearly the same altitude, no more than two to three hundred meters apart from each other. The enemies were veterans, going for ultra-long-range tactics straight from the first wave. "All units roll left seven and a half turns, execute immediately." With composure, Chen Fei issued the command. In his vision, missiles had appeared on the predictive trajectory and were rapidly approaching along the continuously corrected track. The scenery outside the cockpit started spinning rapidly. His "Big Mouth Monster" took the lead, and although the other four pilots from Aircrew Base 633 were puzzled, they performed the same maneuver. Just as the five "Big Mouth Monsters" had deviated from their original flight path, it took only two seconds before eight missiles roared past their previous position and then turned in a large arc to pursue them. The enemy''s tactics were simple, taking advantage of the naive kids from Aircrew Base 633! But now, the combat flyer squadron personally led by Chen Fei was no longer the weak team it had been before. "Jamming bullets, release three times, five-second intervals each." Chen Fei''s voice remained calm as usual, and he wasn''t yet pushed to desperation, handling the situation with ease. No further words were needed; right at the first roll, all the "Big Mouth Monsters" blared with alert sounds from being locked by the fire-control radar, knowing that the enemy had struck first. The ground-based radar from Aircrew Base 633 helped lock onto the fast-approaching missiles and transmitted the battle data to every "Big Mouth Monster." A cluster of bright sparks scattered across the sky at an altitude of 6000 meters, like glorious fireworks; the numerous sparks slowly descended and persisted for a long time. The seven-and-a-half roll maneuver was quickly completed. "Dive to 2,000 meters altitude!" After leveling out, Chen Fei pushed the control stick forward, releasing full engine power. Below 3,000 meters was the altitude range where turboprop aircraft had an advantage. Since the enemy was not jet-powered but also used similar turboprop aircraft, the most appropriate tactic was close quarters combat within a 10-kilometer visual range, clashing with cannons and combat missiles. The missiles from beyond visual range, after making a wide turn, had almost run out of propellant. Most of them lost their targets after hitting bright infrared flare bullets and exploded into fireballs in mid-air. When experts crossed paths, a tiny margin could mean the difference between life and death. With a clear predictive trajectory visible, the five "Big Mouth Monsters" smoothly avoided a direct hit in the first round, then dived again collectively, easily shaking off the other following missiles, and even had energy to spare. Although the missiles were not shaken off, they were already running out of steam. "Pull up! Climb at 30 degrees, prepare two close combat missiles, wait for my command." The "Big Mouth Monster" soon dove to an altitude of 2,000 meters, and Chen Fei pulled back on the control stick. Through Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell" and "Macroscopic Perspective," he determined that those missiles were nearly out of fuel. Every change of direction consumed a substantial amount of propellant, and after following the dive, it was unlikely they could climb and pursue effectively. The first wave the enemy launched were close combat missiles. If they had been medium-range missiles, it wouldn''t have been so easy. From their launch distance, it was easy to distinguish between medium and close range; it''s uncommon to use medium-range missiles as if they were close-range missiles. As the "Big Mouth Monster" squadron climbed, four enemy planes from Aircrew Base 633 coincidentally appeared in their visual range. HUD visually locked on, missiles away! Ten homogeneous combat missiles roared out, and the rest was left to the missile guidance module. The ground-based radar from Aircrew Base 633 could have assisted in guiding and improving the hit rate, but the relevant functions had been damaged in a previous air raid, so now they could only watch helplessly, unable to assist. The four "Big Mouth Monsters" from Aircrew Base 631 were momentarily stunned. After the opponents easily dodged the missiles, they immediately switched to the offensive, splitting into two pairs to dodge the incoming missile barrage. "You chase the right, I''ll take the left!" Only then did Chen Fei truly become a free agent on the battlefield, piloting his aircraft to chase the two enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" escaping towards the left. The others, four against two, also had a local advantage and probably wouldn''t have too much trouble. Gravity Adjustment Module (10%). As the weight of the "Big Mouth Monster" lightened, the thrust generated by the engines suddenly experienced a qualitative leap, and the turboprop aircraft pounced towards the two "Big Mouth Monsters" at an unbelievable speed. "Rookie''s speed is off? Is the radar broken again?" Suddenly someone in the tower yelled out. The speed that Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" burst out at far exceeded the design values, and everyone''s first thought was of the ground-based radar that had been damaged before. (Ground-based radar: Again? Take your filthy hands off, don''t, don''t do it...) Chapter 513 513: Section 509 - Sly Old Fox "''Lion,'' behind you!" The pilots from Aircrew Base 631 suddenly heard the alarm of being locked on by the fire-control radar again. He glanced at the radar screen, only to find a light spot approaching from behind at an unusual speed, slower than a missile, yet faster than a turboprop aircraft. "A missile? Got it, keep up with me!" The lead pilot "Lion" was busy releasing jamming bullets, trying to shake off the missile that was getting closer with his wingman. For turboprop aircraft, evading missiles was indeed a bit more strenuous than for jet planes. Although the friend and foe were operating separately, the flight pair pursued by Chen Fei only had three combat bombs left, while on the other side, seven combat bombs were doggedly chasing two enemy aircraft. It seemed like it might end badly for them, so he first tossed the easier target to his temporary comrades from Aircrew Base 633. One against two, quite easy. From the sky above, it looked like Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" was driving three missiles chasing two enemy "Big Mouth Monsters." "It''s not a missile!" The wingman pilot strained to look back, but saw nothing. The enemy was right at their six o''clock position, a blind spot for vision. In this range, they could not receive support from the base''s ground-based radar. "Not a missile? What is it?" Before the lead pilot "Lion" could finish his sentence, a burst of flames exploded violently from the right rear, obliterating his wingman into pieces on the spot. He didn''t get an answer. At such a critical moment, being distracted meant being blown to pieces in mid-air¡ªdon''t forget about the frighteningly fast missile still on their tail. "Ahhhh... F*K!" "Lion" roared in desperation, trying every trick in the book to dodge the two missiles behind him. Boom!~ A fireball exploded dangerously close, and the violent shockwave caused the whole "Big Mouth Monster" to shake violently for a moment, but the lethal missile had been reduced to one. Suppressing the dizziness, "Lion" put all his effort into the evasive maneuvers. The last missile flew just shy of the critical proximity-fuze boundary, narrowly missing his "Big Mouth Monster." Only after noticing the missile smoke trail not too far away did "Lion," who had just lost his wingman, breathe out a long sigh of relief. However, at that moment, a dark shadow flashed over the cockpit, and another "Big Mouth Monster" was right above him, the two fighter planes maintaining synchronous attitudes. "What, what?" "Lion" looked up and suddenly noticed the other "Big Mouth Monster" with red lights glowing on its left and right wings, forming strange patterns. While he was still wondering what on earth that was, two bright fireballs shot out from the center of the pattern ablaze with red light. His mouth opened involuntarily in shock, that was... "Lion" jerked in realization, trying to push the control stick to dodge, but it was already too late. The distance between them was not even thirty to forty meters, and with the fireballs'' speed, the impact was almost instantaneous, hitting the tail and left wing squarely. The fireballs weren''t very powerful, comparable to hand grenades, but for the fragile aircraft structure, they were undoubtedly fatal. Losing its aerodynamic shape, the plane triggered a series of irreversible severe consequences. The "Big Mouth Monster" tumbled towards the ground, a parachute ejected from the cockpit, opening mid-air, floating down slowly. Chen Fei did not concern himself with the ejected enemy pilot and steered his turboprop aircraft to pursue another enemy flight pair. Boom!~ Kilometers away, the combat bombs without targets chose to self-destruct, exploding into a fireball. The rules of the sky in Jianghu stipulate that even if blinded by bloodlust, pilots will not attack the opposing side''s ejected aviators. Everyone has to eject at some point. Leave a line for others, and you will meet again someday. Nearly all pilots maintain this final moral principle spontaneously. Both the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron from Aircrew Base 911 and the pilots from Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium had not taken that fatal step, and it was only natural for Chen Fei to follow this unwritten rule. Of course, it was another matter entirely on the ground; Chen Fei had not hesitated to deal lethal blows there. The pilots from Aircrew Base 633 did not disappoint Chen Fei, almost simultaneously ending the battle. Seven missiles harrying two turboprop aircraft--even four against two stood little chance; it looked like Aircrew Base 633 was done for. Tired, just finish it off quickly! Chen Fei had no interest in propping up a failing cause. Let whoever wants to take care of it do so; he didn''t want to waste such effort. The last glimmer of the sun just happened to fall below the horizon, with the enemy aircraft debris and explosion clouds drifting with the wind. Not seeing any parachutes, such is the destiny of a combat pilot¡ªno one to blame. Chen Fei still spoke in his calm voice, "One enemy ejected, combat mission over!" Just four "Big Mouth Monsters"¡ªhow easy were they? The titanium-based magic arrays carved on the body''s surface all disappeared as if they had never been there. All five "Big Mouth Monsters," without loss, returned to Aircrew Base 633. A helicopter brushed past them on its way to "pick up" prisoners. After all, just leaving them in the wild wilderness wasn''t right. The roar of the turboprop planes on the tarmac gradually subsided, and the ground personnel waiting for the fleet''s return buzzed with excitement. Having won a battle at last, they could finally boast and breathe easy. Remaining calm was simply out of the question. "Wow, well done!" Masuya, an A-grade wind-type ability user who had been strolling around the Aircrew Base, waved at Chen Fei, who was climbing out of the cockpit. Andrew nodded at Chen Fei as well. "Did you guys find anything?" As he spoke, Chen Fei tugged at his collar to let the little guy out. The Little Bird, having felt stifled, flew around above his head, clearly joyful. "Nothing at all!" Masuya shook her red hair and shrugged her shoulders. It seemed that Aircrew Base 631 didn''t think much of the combat-inept yet addictively enthusiastic Aircrew Base 633, so they hadn''t bothered sending anyone to keep an eye on them. "''Rookie'', come to the tower!" The communication link with the turboprop aircraft was still open, and Miyoshi Monk''s voice came through the aviation helmet, probably wanting to understand the details of the battle and see if there was any hope left for Aircrew Base 633. "Received, I''ll be over in a moment." Chen Fei responded, and with that, the communication finally ended. Just as he was about to head to the tower, he heard a chorus of voices behind him. "Predecessor ''Rookie''!" The nine pilots of Aircrew Base 633, for some reason, had lined up in a row, faces filled with excitement. Predecessor? Chen Fei turned around puzzled; these older brothers and sisters were older and had joined the industry before him, how could he qualify as their predecessor? "Is there something you need?" He sized up the pilots, who now seemed genuinely respectful and convinced. "I, I..." The girl, who Chen Fei had smacked back and forth with solid palm strikes, stumbled over her words, hesitant to continue, then finally bowed deeply. "Thank you!" ??? Chen Fei was completely baffled; just a second before, he''d been their predecessor, and the next second they were bowing deeply - what was that all about? The other pilots looked at each other, unsure of what to say, but they also bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you!" Compared to the first time they had greeted each other, all of them looked more spirited than before, no longer the image of feeble remnants of defeated soldiers. Apparently, the battle had reignited some confidence and spirit in them. "You''re welcome!" After all, there''s no harm in being over-polite, Chen Fei''s lips twitched into a semi-smile, finally showing some goodwill. The moment he reached the tower, Miyoshi Xuesen was waiting specifically for Chen Fei. "Are those pilots obedient?" If Chen Fei alone could deal with Aircrew Base 631, he wouldn''t have needed to involve Aircrew Base 633. Facing just one aircrew base, let alone a single person, even a full-fledged Huntsman Squad might not have it easy. "If a beating doesn''t make them obedient, then they get another one." Chen Fei rubbed his wrists; he had indeed mingled with the pilots of Aircrew Base 633 through demonstration. This is not just boasting; it''s an old tradition handed down from 911. Just ask Big Bear; whether Big Brother Xiao''s maintenance team didn''t get along with the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, whether deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" and Big Bear''s relationship of fighting being close, and cursing being caring, with true feelings shared through kicks. If Big Bear dared to utter a half-hearted "no," Chef Abel''s Big Bear Stew would come in handy. Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t understand the internal affairs of the aircrew bases, but still, he was taken aback when he heard this. Are all these military contractors'' employees this wild now? "Well! Taming those pilots is a good thing, too!" This was also why Miyoshi Monk had called Chen Xiao''er over, worried that despite his youth and lack of experience, he wouldn''t be able to handle those old foxes and that he could provide some guidance. However, it seemed that the concern was unfounded. Getting the pilots of Aircrew Base 633 to obediently listen aligned well with Miyoshi Xuesen''s upcoming tactical planning. Chen Fei noticed Miyoshi Monk''s thoughtful look and took the initiative to ask, "Should we counterattack next?" Up until now, whatever the other side said, he did. But in the aircrew base, this was Chen Fei''s area of expertise... Emmm, spit - his actual field of expertise; he''s a legitimate graduate in economics. "Correct..." Miyoshi Xuesen suddenly caught Chen Fei''s gaze, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly and he was struck with an idea. "Tonight!" Chen Fei''s expression also became nuanced, suggesting a mutual understanding between the two heroes. Chekhov was particularly adept at this sort of underhanded task, prone to leading the innocent astray. The calculative Miyoshi Xuesen naturally knew the advantage of catching the enemy off-guard. At a time when everyone would think there would be a temporary pause for reorganization, the sudden counterattack from Aircrew Base 633 would surely give Aircrew Base 631 a big surprise. "Then you''ll run the operation, and the timing is?" Since both had come to the same conclusion, Miyoshi Xuesen simply began planning ahead of time. After all, apart from Chen Fei, he couldn''t find anyone else to execute this combat plan. Chapter 514 514: Section 510 - Catch Them by Surprise "Take off after midnight, arrive before dawn, two combat bombs, two rocket nests, two air-to-ground missiles, two auxiliary fuel tanks, one 500-pound cruise missile, and incendiary bombs." Chen Fei had pre-set the weapon list for the C-version of the "Big Mouth Monster." With nine hardpoints, the attack capability was significantly enhanced. If the combat bombs could be saved, they could also be used as air-to-ground missiles. That was the advantage of programmable multi-mode guidance. However, the destructive power of the combat bombs was not as great as that of the professional air-to-ground missiles, but it was enough to destroy most buildings at the aircrew base. "Dawn? Hmm, a good time!" The attack was launched when people were most sleepy, definitely catching them off guard. Miyoshi Xuesen nodded his head and then asked, "How do you plan to deal with the enemy''s ground-based radar, by flying at ultra-low altitude? You should be fine, but they..." He looked towards the direction of the hangars outside the tower, where the lights were still on, the mechanics were carrying out routine tasks, and some pilots were on rotating standby. "Rookie" Chen Fei was from the 911 Aircrew Base and had experience with textbook-like ultra-low-altitude raids. Most ground-based radars of the aircrew bases have an ultra-low-altitude blind zone, a deliberate technical flaw left by the Sovereignty and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. That was why "Big Mouth Monster" required regular patrols; insufficient for a revolt but more than enough against mutants. But pilots from the 633 Aircrew Base might not have such ultra-low-altitude flying skills, especially during night flights, where the difficulty was exceptionally high. Unless they were pilots from the Sovereign Air Force, civilian pilots often lacked extensive experience in nighttime ultra-low-altitude flying. If they had such skills, the 633 Aircrew Base wouldn''t be in such a bad shape, dominated by the 631 Aircrew Base to the extent that even the leader of the Combat Flight Squadron was lost, leading to a headless situation. Chen Fei confidently said, "Don''t worry, with ''Adam,'' they just need to follow orders." In the eyes of the Sovereigns, the "Big Mouth Monster" was just a toy; there was no chance for such toys in wars among the Sovereigns. To force it into battle was like using it as a live target. But toys have their uses too. The highly integrated avionics system could be remotely controlled via data link, turning all operations over to the AI ''Adam,'' which was its forte. So having a human pilot or not, having relevant flying experience or not, none of those mattered. If they didn''t plan to engage enemy pilots in combat, they could turn all the "Big Mouth Monsters" at 633 Aircrew Base into drones. The adaptive response of "Adam" was still somewhat lacking, to put it precisely, it was better at controlling supersonic jets rather than the slow turboprop aircraft, which required completely different tactics. Turboprop aircraft are more suitable for visual-range combat, whereas jets are weapons platforms for beyond-visual-range combat. In modern tactics, jets have lost the significance of engaging in close-quarters battle with bayonets; they are merely followers without even the qualifications to lead a charge. Who leads the way? The Early Warning Aircraft responsible for electronic warfare! Thus, the combat approaches of the Sovereignty and military contractors are entirely different worlds. "''Adam''..." Miyoshi Xuesen pondered for a moment. Chen Fei having control over this AI, which had once resisted humans, wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. So he said, "Alright! You''re the expert, you decide." Professional matters should be left to professionals. He, as a layman, should not interfere, he had that much sense. Chen Fei didn''t just "control" ''Adam''; it was more like forcefully dominating it by grabbing it by the vitals, almost like dragging it along tied to a rope ¨C no sophistication involved. Besides, as the saying goes, ''settlers have their own ways,'' and he didn''t understand AI technology, let alone programming. "I estimate we can eliminate most of the enemy''s resistance at the 631 Aircrew Base on the first try. How will your side take over the ground combat then?" Chen Fei was responsible for obtaining air supremacy, but the ground combat still needed coordination, which was for the Monk to consider. After all, the two aircrew bases were several hundred kilometers apart; ground personnel had to land at the enemy''s base at just the right time, otherwise, the window of opportunity Chen Fei opened would be wasted. "Half an hour after you take off, we''ll arrive in a transport aircraft. Make sure to preserve their runways." Miyoshi Xuesen had already planned thoroughly, aligning perfectly with Chen Fei. Once they seized air superiority at the 631 Aircrew Base, they would immediately deploy the Ability Users and armed security to complete the capture of the entire 631 Aircrew Base ¨C a standard tactic. The Huntsman Squad wouldn''t act alone; they could still utilize manpower from the 633 Aircrew Base. "No problem, I''ll go prepare now." Chen Fei gave an OK gesture. Returning to the hangar, he then saw that all nine pilots were there, gathered together. As soon as they saw him coming, they immediately stood up and reflexively lined up in a row. "Senior!" ¡Á9! In unison, they completely submitted to Chen Fei. This was the result of combat, not just because of fists. Being able to lead to victory was the best way to persuade. "The current synchronized time is 21:24. Assemble at 02:30 AM, dismiss!" Chen Fei didn''t explain much to these genuine tool users, just synchronized everyone''s time with his own and that was it. "Yes!" ¡Á9! Nine pilots responded loudly, their eyes filled with excitement. They quickly packed up and returned to their dormitories. Although Chen Fei didn''t say much, his wording subtly hinted that there would be a major operation at dawn. The priority after syncing the time was to get some rest, sleep, and gather energy in preparation for the battle. "That..." After the pilots left the hangar, the head mechanic approached. "What is it?" Chen Fei looked at this leader who seemed completely different from the one before. To win over the mechanics, it wasn''t about using fists like with the pilots; that would be useless. He had to rely on technical skills to establish authority. The head mechanic''s heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Well, we''re running low on parts." "Enough for the ''Big Mouth Monsters'' to make one sortie?" Chen Fei slightly furrowed his brows. The adversaries at Aircrew Base 633 weren''t like the massive Meman Brothers United. They had only clashed a few times, and before that, he had helped the opponent repair a batch of parts. Had they already used up the spare parts so quickly? The head mechanic immediately responded without hesitation, "Enough, definitely enough!" The opponent''s maintenance skills were impeccable, combined with industrial-grade metal elemental psychic powers, which definitely dominated, making Aircrew Base 633''s head mechanic feel inferior in front of Chen Fei. "Then that''s settled!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. He had already prepared during the day, so there shouldn''t be any issues. "But the remaining parts will only last for two or three more sorties." Although sixteen "Big Mouth Monsters" had been temporarily repaired, the reserves of parts and fuel had already fallen below critical levels. No clever wife can cook without rice, and the mechanics would soon be out of the job. As the head of the mechanics, he couldn''t help but worry. "No, one time is enough. The rest is not for me to worry about." Chen Fei only wanted the first strike to seize air superiority at Aircrew Base 631. Any more than that would lose tactical meaning. If he had already chosen the element of surprise in a stealth attack, why bother with a war of attrition? Why make the effort to strike at dawn and risk a very low-altitude raid when a straightforward attack could have been easier? "Eh?" The head mechanic hadn''t expected Chen Fei to respond like this. Is it a matter of "kill but not bury"? "That''s a problem for Besman to consider." Chen Fei wasn''t the contractor owner of Aircrew Base 633, so why worry so much? His mission was to utilize the resources and personnel here to quickly settle Aircrew Base 631. More battles were likely waiting ahead! Everyone was racing against time; they shouldn''t waste energy on these details. "Okay, okay then!" The head mechanic finally pulled his mind out of its fixation. The other party wasn''t his boss, so naturally, he didn''t need to consider these issues. As soon as he closed and opened his eyes, it was suddenly 2:30 AM. Apart from the pilots and the Huntsman Squad, everyone had put in a night shift for this. Chapter 515 515: Section 511 - The Floor-Cleaning Fiend "Wishing you a smooth journey!" Miyoshi Xuesen, who hadn''t slept all night, never left the control tower at Aircrew Base 633, watching as the sixteen "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft orderly slid towards the main runway one after another. Including Chen Fei, ten of the "Big Mouth Monsters" were manned, while the other six were unmanned aircraft controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." After all, to flatten an aircrew base in one fell swoop, it was crucial to carry an ample supply of weapons and ammunition, the more, the better. Since the military contractor lacked professional bombers, they made up for the lack of quality with quantity¡ªsixteen ammo-laden "Big Mouth Monsters" were more than enough to quench Aircrew Base 631''s thirst. "From now on, flight control authority is taken over by AI, everyone can rest for the time being, we''re expected to arrive in the combat zone in about two hours." Chen Fei''s voice sounded in the public communication channel, reaching the ears of all pilots at Aircrew Base 633 and the control tower personnel. Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" immediately took control of the flight attitudes of these turboprop aircraft, bringing their flying altitude to about 50 meters from the ground and thoughtfully turning off the proximity warning¡ªit would''ve been endlessly annoying otherwise. Thanks to the "Big Mouth Monster''s" trainer aircraft lineage, the control authority between the front and rear seats could be transferred at will, and a slight modification of the system module could switch it to remote control mode. Outside the cockpit, nothing could be seen except the wingtip signal lights and the tail rudder signal lights flashing; there was only the pitch darkness of not seeing even a hand before oneself. Nonetheless, the onboard radar and dashboard could still accurately display information like the aircraft''s flying altitude, speed, and location, meaning they were practically flying blind. If it was just about flying at about 50 meters from the ground, the pilots from Aircrew Base 633 wouldn''t have much of a problem, but long-duration night flights required not just skill but also a stable mindset, something they did not possess. If they did have such capabilities, Aircrew Base 633 wouldn''t have been beaten so badly by Aircrew Base 631, with nearly a third of a fully-staffed combat flight squadron lost. Nine pilots responded in unison. Some promptly let go of the control sticks, allowing their craft, under the control of artificial intelligence, to maintain a neat and stable "V" formation with the other "Big Mouth Monsters." Some seemed not quite confident, still clutching the control sticks and throttle push rods, yet there was no response. The relaxed ones gradually began to snore, sleeping soundly inside the cockpit. Aviation helmets often come with active noise reduction facilities that counteract sound waves¡ªit actually wasn''t that noisy and could selectively amplify human voices. The leader of the "V" flight formation was Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster," with a pilot in the right wing cockpit and the left wing cockpit empty. If at this moment "Adam" harbored any ill intentions, these pilots would have nowhere to cry for help. However, that trick wouldn''t work on Chen Fei, whose metal elemental psychic power could firmly control the aircraft, not giving any abnormal control from software a chance. Moreover, there was a more brutal delete file operation, a deadly strike. The powerless "Adam" didn''t even have a chance to cry, from start to finish just a tool AI''s fate; hence Chen Fei didn''t care whether it was subdued or not, subdued or not, it had to obediently listen. An hour and a half later, urgent electronic alert tones and Chen Fei''s voice resounded in everyone''s ears. "All units, attention, 15 minutes to the combat zone." Approaching Aircrew Base 631 by 100 kilometers, the fleet''s altitude even dropped to 30 meters, viewed from high above, the sixteen "Big Mouth Monsters" were almost indistinguishable from skimming the ground. "''Florida'' on standby!" "''Red Narcissus'' on standby!" ... The pilots from Aircrew Base 633 responded one after another, ready to take control of their "Big Mouth Monsters." Two hundred kilometers behind, the Huntsman Squad and the armed security personnel of Aircrew Base 633 were also aboard a small transport aircraft performing low-altitude flying. The young-looking ninth rank psychic mage Tuert and a red-haired Grade A wind-type psionic ability user Masuya pooled their abilities together to escort the safety of the transport aircraft''s flight, adding a dual layer of insurance. Otherwise, the transport pilot, with nerves stretched thin maintaining such low flying altitude for so long, might slip up and accidentally dispatch the entire crew. Once Chen Fei led the combat flight squadron, leaving Aircrew Base 631 with no capability to fight back, the following transport would seize the opportunity to forcefully log out, consolidate the ground position, and execute a non-discriminatory annihilation plan. "Unmanned drones break off from the formation!" Artificial intelligence AI sometimes couldn''t choose the best timing, and Chen Fei gave the instruction, The six unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" on the left wing broke away from the "V" formation in precise unison, taking another route. They were responsible for the second wave of strikes, forming an attacking rhythm with Chen Fei''s right-wing flight team, giving the enemy targets no chance to catch their breath, enduring continuous punishment. "Keep your spirits up. In 5 minutes, start taking over the control; climb to 500 meters and then dive, begin by wiping out the air-to-ground missiles. I''ve set the targets for you, just press the launch button, and let''s execute a spirited volley." Chen Fei wasn''t one to spout vulgar jokes like Chekhov Big Bear to boost morale; he didn''t engage in those unfamiliar stunts that didn''t suit his temperament. Straight to the point, stick to business, no additions necessary. "Yes!" times nine! Ever since boarding the Big Mouth Monster, the pilots of Aircrew Base 633 had all been holding their breath, determined that this time they must fiercely retaliate against Aircrew Base 631 and avenge their recently fallen captain and comrades. Since most aircrew bases were constructed according to the same blueprint, Chen Fei had been able to preset the air-to-ground missile launch plan beforehand, applying template parameters for launching without needing to aim and lock on, catching the enemy completely off guard. Even if Aircrew Base 631 had been on alert, they couldn''t escape this severe blow that left them battered and bruised. "One-minute countdown to readiness!" Chen Fei''s vision loaded with a "macroscopic perspective," overlooking the squadron he personally led as they flew straight toward Aircrew Base 631. Everyone tightly gripped the control sticks and throttle levers. The countdown ended, and the remote control state was deactivated. A slight lag in feedback reached the pilots'' hands, and almost simultaneously, they pulled back on their control sticks, and ten turboprop aircraft performed a high-angle, near-vertical full-speed climb maneuver. Fully armed and at full capacity, the climb was somewhat strenuous for the turboprop aircraft, but they quickly reached an altitude of 500 meters above the ground. Not far away, Aircrew Base 631 finally reacted tardily, as ten turboprop aircraft appeared on the duty radar screens without warning, and even the most powerful ground-based radar hadn''t had time to power up. "Level out! Countdown to air-to-ground missile launch, 5, 4..." Chen Fei gave the command. The flight formation was at an altitude of 531 meters, slightly off target, but at that moment, it was inconsequential. The nose of the aircraft was pointed directly at Aircrew Base 631, some 5 kilometers away. "...3, 2, 1! Launch!" Twenty missiles disengaged from the underwing stations of ten Big Mouth Monsters, their tails ignited successfully, trailing bright flames and long exhaust plumes as they shot forth. "Next is the rocket nest, release everything immediately, hold nothing back." Chen Fei hadn''t finished speaking when a bright light exploded ahead, even illuminating his cockpit. Aircrew Base 631 was devastated by twenty air-to-ground missiles, the ground shattered and flames shot into the sky. Critical locations like the ground-based radar, control tower, hangars, and aprons were overwhelmed by a deluge of fire, enormous fireballs continuously rising, and the raging shockwaves swept everything around, including equipment and even people, as if a category 18 typhoon had passed, scattering everything asunder. Just as the squadron was about to reach directly above Aircrew Base 631, the rocket nests on the aircraft unleashed an even denser barrage of fire, raining down like a meteor shower ¨C 400 seventy-millimeter rockets ¨C and once again fiercely plowed through the entire base, turning it into a sea of fire. This time, the focus of the attack was on the dormitory area; modular accommodations couldn''t withstand the barrage of rockets and were blasted into fragments like they were made of paper, with countless individuals likely trapped inside. Super-saturated strikes are indeed the pinnacle of ground attacks. The Big Mouth Monster is one of the preferred aircraft for ground attack, almost faultless except for not being a jet. "Spread out, drop bombs!" Chen Fei issued the command for the third wave of attacks; the Big Mouth Monster squadron had now entered the airspace over Aircrew Base 631. The dazzling attack rhythm was incredibly fast, perfectly encapsulating the essence of Wild Fists Kill the Old Master, almost as if pummeling the opponent''s face with a relentless barrage of deadly strikes. The ground-based anti-aircraft fire remained silent, completely unable to retaliate, and the Big Mouth Monsters from Aircrew Base 633 at this moment moved through the area as if unbeatable, dropping aerial bombs from the centerline belly position toward the next target. Together with the 500-pound incendiary bombs, the emptied rocket nests were also dropped, serving as an extra physical strike. Fields of fire covered the entrances and exits to the underground defense positions. "''Adam,'' finish them off, everyone else climb with me to 3000 meters." Chen Fei pulled back on the control stick, raising the nose, leading the other nine Big Mouth Monsters in a climb. If two "clearing the field" operations could wipe out everyone inside Aircrew Base 631, that would be the best outcome. As planned, another six unmanned Big Mouth Monsters circled back, bombing the ground once again in the same manner, exacerbating the already devastated Aircrew Base 631. That''s how combat aircraft operate, delivering the most ferocious attacks with the smallest size, forsaking all, unstoppable in their might. System: Ding! One Crystal Jet shot down, Energy Points +1000 (unfinished) "Huh?" Chapter 516 516: Section 512 - Evacuation Just as Chen Fei thought he had a winning position, the damn Dog System threw him for a loop that was even more shocking than a corpse coming back to life. Fuck! If he wasn''t seeing things, the words that suddenly appeared before his eyes meant one thing: a Crystal Jet had appeared. That was frightening as hell. Known to the world as a National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet was absolutely not something Chen Fei and his mere sixteen Big Mouth Monsters could afford to provoke; they might get wiped out in the first round. "Everyone...hold on!" Just as Chen Fei was about to issue a warning on the public communication channel to tell everyone to bug out, a thought suddenly struck him. Wait a second... just 1000 Energy Points??? A Crystal Jet, hailed as a National Treasure Artifact, only being worth that much seemed far too cheap. Maybe, just maybe, it was a damn fake. Although the Dog System was crappy to the core, the intel it provided behind its missions was mostly reliable most of the time. A Crystal Jet worth 1000 Energy Points was probably some half-assed knock-off machine. The Water Bear organization''s attempt to aim for a National Treasure Artifact of Sovereignty was unexpected, but still made sense. Nevertheless, crafting a Crystal Jet was not something that could be done easily; even Chen Fei, with his Industrial-grade Ability and two Crystal Jet wrecks for reference, still had little clue how to proceed. "Everyone evacuate from the Aircrew Base 631, transport planes, do not approach, all return to base, now, immediately!" Even though he detected something fishy in the new mission alert from the Dog System, Chen Fei still ended up saying what he originally had in mind. A threat worth 1000 Energy Points, even if it was a cut-corner counterfeit, was not something the Big Mouth Monsters could handle. Aboard the transport plane, Miyoshi Monk didn''t care about exposing Chen Fei''s name and urgently asked, "What''s happening, Chen Fei!" The sudden retreat order rendered the subsequent battle plans useless, gone down the drain. If they allowed Aircrew Base 631 to recover from their disadvantage, the following battles would likely become much harder to fight. "The situation has changed, big threat! ''Adam'', have the drones circle and keep watch!" Before Chen Fei''s words finished, a bright spot suddenly shot out from the fiery depths of Aircrew Base 631 at an alarming speed, but it provoked no reaction from the radar screens of the Big Mouth Monsters. Rather than being a bright spot, it was more like a tail flame, at least like that of a jet''s tail flame. Radar stealth! But within Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective", "Low-light Enhancement", and "Visual Assistance" skill modules combined with an "Optical Observer base model (Level 8)" skill, that mysterious aircraft had nowhere to hide. The unmanned aircraft that Chen Fei spoke of referred to six unmanned Big Mouth Monsters controlled by the AI "Adam"; these were quite suitable as expendable decoys, perfect to stay behind for cover, and it wouldn''t matter if they were all blown to bits. The little bird around his neckline tried to cast the "Light Mirror Spell". The light points gathered and then dissipated, failing once again. Despite the success rate having increased significantly compared to before, there was still a certain probability of failure. "Xiao Jiu, keep it up!" The little guy practiced this Light-based Spell whenever it had the chance, which not only was free of interference for Chen Fei but also provided an additional effective viewpoint, highly strategic in nature. "Chirp chirp!" The Pure Light Sparrow chirped defiantly. The light reconverged, and this time it finally formed a complete screen of light. The image coincided perfectly with Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective" and quickly captured the mysterious aircraft ascending from the sea of fire at Aircrew Base 631. An aircraft with a flat appearance revealed itself, emitting faint cyan, dark red, and earthy yellow lights that interwove into a strange tattoo, covering almost the entire body of the machine. It was probably the Crystal Jet worth 1000 Energy Points that the Dog System had abruptly alerted him to. The hallmark of the National Treasure Artifacts was the extensive use of Magic Arrays, a fusion of technology and magic that elevated combat effectiveness by more than one level. Chen Fei had built Magic Arrays more than once, hence he recognized the glow of activated arrays familiarly and identified it instantly. Due to the use of Magic Arrays, the reliance on aerodynamic shapes and propulsion was reduced, Allowing the Crystal Jet''s design to be more unrestrained: forward-swept wings, swept-back wings, straight wings, folding wings, variable geometry wings, tailless, single tail, multiple tails, ventral fins, canard wings... with a plethora of styles. Despite the variability, they were all fundamentally tailored for Sky Knights based on their Aerial Combat Skills, with specialized designs made to enhance combat capabilities. While the cost of custom design was exorbitantly high, and maintenance wasn''t any cheaper, compared to the price of training a qualified Sky Knight, it seemed insignificant. This also explained why some impoverished nations, upon having their own Sky Knight, would tighten their belts even further, enduring even poorer days just to commission a Crystal Jet for their protege¡ªone knight to defend the skies, ensuring unrivaled control of airspace. The combat effectiveness of a Sky Knight piloting a Crystal Jet was obvious. So Chen Fei had no hesitation in ordering Aircrew Base 633''s Pilots, as well as the incoming transport planes, to return to base, including Miyoshi Xuesen, who would only hold them back and become easy prey, serving no useful purpose at all. Adam: "It seems there''s something!" The nine pilots brought over from Aircrew Base 633 had already pulled the joystick without hesitation, turning their aircraft around to return. They didn''t even ask questions; if they were told to fight, they fought, if they were told to run, they ran¡ªno doubts whatsoever. However, it was the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" that detected something amiss. Although the radar still showed no reaction, the optical module had noticed something unusual. Boom!~ An unmanned "Big Mouth Monster" exploded in mid-air. Almost at the same time, Aircrew Base 633 lost the signal of a "Big Mouth Monster," and it was only then that everyone realized the "big threat" Chen Fei mentioned was real. "Chen Fei, what happened?" Miyoshi Xuesen received an emergency notification about the sudden loss of a "Big Mouth Monster" at the same time. Despite knowing he shouldn''t disturb Chen Fei, who was in the midst of dealing with the situation, he still asked urgently. "It''s a Crystal Jet!" Chen Fei had already locked onto the mysterious Crystal Jet''s maneuvering trajectory. Besides his own "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" and Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell," the thin line predicting the trajectory also indicated the actual position of the adversary. "Hiss..." A collective gasp echoed through the communication channel. The military-operated Aircrew Base did not allow for any superfluous military equipment, let alone something as prestigious as the Crystal Jets, which were practically a leap far beyond the bounds, enough to alarm Sovereignty to take action. "Are you sure you''re not seeing things?" Miyoshi Xuesen knew he shouldn''t keep asking questions at this moment, and yet he couldn''t help himself. "Confirmed, very confirmed!" Chen Fei pulled back the joystick, jettisoning the almost empty auxiliary fuel tank, allowing his "Big Mouth Monster" to climb with full force, accumulating altitude for the upcoming tactical maneuver. Exchanging altitude for speed is almost the only way for an aircraft to gain extra acceleration. While the five unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" searched aimlessly for the Crystal Jet, the "Big Mouth Monster" Chen Fei piloted ascended to a higher altitude, and he also armed himself using a magic array. Repulsion Shield (45) + Gravity (1) + Fluid Vortex (2) ¡Á2 + Blazing Flame Bullet (1) ¡Á4 = 54 engraving units. Four "Blazing Flame Bullets" were inscribed on the top and bottom of each wing, ensuring a 360-degree angle of attack without any blind spots. This time there wasn''t a single superfluous engraving unit, focusing on the three aspects of defense, maneuverability, and attack power. Speed? What advantage could a turboprop aircraft possibly have in speed? It''s natural to play to one''s strengths and avoid weaknesses, unless swapping out the propulsion engine; any attempt to boost speed would be pointless. Below the speed of sound, all is insignificant and easily destroyed! Otherwise, toys as large as the "Big Mouth Monster" would not have fallen into the hands of military contractors. Dreaming of rebelling with such combat aircraft is simply wishful thinking! In the presence of Sovereignty''s National Treasure Artifacts, the numerical advantage of turboprop aircraft does not amount to a qualitative change. No matter how many, it''s all in vain. "You... don''t push yourself too hard!" At this critical juncture, any more words were superfluous. Miyoshi Monk no longer hoped for the mission to go smoothly; he just wished for Chen Fei to return alive, for them to safely get back to Aircrew Base 633 and wait for Sovereignty''s support. The further affairs could only be dealt with by Sovereignty. As Chen Fei was climbing with full force, two unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" were blasted apart again without even the chance to fire missiles. The probing machine guns did not hit even a hair, and the Crystal Jet that held the upper hand finally noticed the "Big Mouth Monster" that had reached an altitude of 5,000 meters. As for the transport aircraft where Miyoshi Xuesen and others were and those "Big Mouth Monsters" that had turned back in retreat, they were already scared out of their wits and fled. It wasn''t that they lacked brotherhood, but they were utterly helpless and would only cause more trouble by staying. Chen Fei quietly activated two programmable combat bombs, which detached from their mounts. With a three-second ignition delay, they fell toward the trailing missiles. When the combat units of the two missiles aimed at the pursuing Crystal Jet, they ignited simultaneously, with the optical guidance modules locking onto the target. The adversary was within the attack envelope of the "Big Mouth Monster," and there wasn''t much difference whether it was from the front or back. The distance between them was even less than 2,000 meters¡ªa distance, at which considering the missiles'' own speed, plus that of the Crystal Jet, the next second would see a direct hit on target. Boom, boom!~ A fireball exploded in mid-air! Flames and shockwaves immediately swallowed the Crystal Jet that was hit head-on by the two missiles. Chapter 517 517: Section 513 - Testing Out The Crystal Jet with its aerodynamically flat design blasted through flames, dragging a pale blue tail, as two blue-white beams shot forth. The beams moved incredibly fast, almost instantly bridging the distance between two combat aircraft. However, under the "Macroscopic Perspective," every move of the Crystal Jet was completely visible to Chen Fei, who could even predict the prelude to its attacks. "Big Mouth Monster" gracefully barrel-rolled, narrowly avoiding the two lethal beams, followed by an Immelmann turn with a tight radius, a natural maneuverability advantage of the turboprop aircraft. "Visual Assistance" indicated that the distance between the two was 5.1 kilometers; the previous strike was merely a probe. Having faced numerous life-and-death air duels, Chen Fei was as steady as an old dog, utterly composed. Basic Laser Emitter (Level 20) and Basic Particle Beam (Level 10) were loaded onto the left and right wings of the "Big Mouth Monster," the wings bulging in a spindle-shaped streamline, with laser and particle beam emitters closely packed together. After clearing the wing-mounted equipment, "Big Mouth Monster" had enough spare capacity to carry these two new skill weapons. Even as a turboprop, it was not without fight. Laser and particle beams, both directed-energy weapons, had significantly higher destructive capacity than cannon bullets. Having completed its turn, "Big Mouth Monster" faced the Crystal Jet below, king against king. Almost simultaneously, Chen Fei, without any hesitation, pressed the cannon fire button, unleashing a dense barrage aimed directly at the incoming Crystal Jet. The next second, two pale green beams shot forth from the wings of the "Big Mouth Monster," the bright tracer rounds of its cannon being instantly overtaken by the previously-fired laser beams. The opponent also opened fire at the same time, light beams in the sky crisscrossing each other. Several cannon rounds got grazed by oncoming beams, instantly turning into countless sparks that dissipated into the sky. The Crystal Jet did not seem to expect Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" to possess extra non-factory-standard directed-energy weapons. Caught off-guard by the pale-green laser beams and the cannon rounds, it took a direct hit. There seemed to be some invisible force field around the Crystal Jet, visibly bending the otherwise straight laser beams, which grazed past the jet, while numerous dense cannon rounds were deflected backward, none managing to reach the aircraft. Almost at the same time, "Big Mouth Monster" kept rocking within a small area, perilously dodging the crisscrossing blue-white beams. The Repulsion Shield, etched on the aircraft''s surface, was somewhat effective against physical strikes but not so against directed-energy beams. Sss... this is a bit troubling! Chen Fei couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Even a knockoff Crystal Jet worth only 1,000 energy points was not something ordinary combat aircraft could compare with. Even though his "Big Mouth Monster" was enhanced with two directed-energy weapons, it still seemed rather insufficient. If the yet-to-fire particle beams failed to perform, the upcoming battle could turn exceedingly troublesome. If he had "Dragon Slayer Missiles," maybe he could make a real difference. After all, "Dragon Slayer Missiles" could kill a Giant Dragon; a Crystal Jet, too, might not withstand them. Realizing the turboprop pursuing it was somewhat unusual, the Crystal Jet did not hesitate to widen the distance. The Sky Knight piloting the Crystal Jet was no greenhorn. With air combat experience that was in no way inferior to Chen Fei ¡ª a rookie who joined halfway and was purely driven by mischief ¡ª and perhaps even surpassing him, he immediately became exceptionally cautious once he realized something was amiss. While a Crystal Jet could dominate the skies of Blue Star with a nearly perfect balance between attack, defense, and maneuverability, it was not invincible. The most hazardous missions often saw Sky Knights and Crystal Jets leading the charge. Each year, several Crystal Jets were shot down, sometimes even taking the Sky Knights with them. Thus, cautiousness was essential to avoid overturning in the gutter. "Satellite image is up!" On a transport plane returning to Aircrew Base 633, Miyoshi Xuesen, holding a tablet, suddenly spoke up. The others crowded around, staring intently at the tablet in his hands. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had urgently requested a near-Earth satellite focus on the airspace above Aircrew Base 631. In addition to having an ultra-high-resolution optical lens, this satellite was etched with a specially crafted "Light Mirror Spell" Magic Array, capturing the aerial combat under the night skies so clearly that it could penetrate cloud cover. As long as there was light transmission, "Light Mirror Spell" could be effective. Although low-rank light magic had no offensive capabilities, its practicality was incredibly high. The view from the near-Earth satellite was as if it was just a few hundred meters away, capturing every move of the two combat aircraft with utmost clarity. The group happened to see a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop engaging in a fierce shootout with an oddly-shaped Crystal Jet. Shooting beams crisscrossed the skies, the former narrowly dodging, while the latter nonchalantly deflected all incoming attacks at a safe distance, remaining completely unscathed. In the distance, three "Big Mouth Monsters" were maneuvering, trying to form an encirclement and trap the Crystal Jet within. This was not a battle of equal strength, gripping everyone''s hearts. Just when it seemed like the "Big Mouth Monster" piloted by Chen Fei might explode in the next second, the Crystal Jet suddenly executed a dazzling tactical maneuver and distanced itself from a "Big Mouth Monster," "Oh dear, Little Chen is in big trouble now. How could a ''Big Mouth Monster'' possibly stand a chance against a Crystal Jet!" Aunt Caroline, a level-B Fire Ability user from the Huntsman Squad, slapped her thigh in frustration, wishing she could help Chen Fei blow that damn Crystal Jet to smithereens. "Things look grim!" The Earth Mage, Andrew, sighed. A turboprop aircraft against a Crystal Jet, it''s a conundrum with no solution, a guaranteed death sentence. "Unlucky fellow!" Miyoshi Monk, a Ninth Rank Psychic Mage, furrowed his brow in thought, equally helpless. Even if he and the members of the Huntsman Squad were by Chen Fei''s side, er, let alone taking out the Crystal Jet, it would probably be difficult for everyone to even save themselves. Miyoshi Monk shook his head and stopped looking at the satellite imagery on the tablet''s screen. He handed it over to others, pulled out a string of prayer beads, and silently recited scriptures. Not just him, all members of the Huntsman Squad hoped that Chen Fei could turn the tide and escape the clamp of death. In the cockpits of the nine returning "Big Mouth Monsters," the atmosphere was equally tense. No one even spoke over the common communication channel, filled with a spirit of defeat, as if the high morale at the start of the battle had never existed, vanishing without a trace. The pilots at 633 Aircrew Base were initially reluctant to accept this new "Rookie" squadron leader. Regrettably, the newcomer''s punches were too powerful. Despite so many of them, not one could defeat him; instead, they were beaten black and blue and had to swallow their voices, obedient yet resentful. But this new boss indeed had some skills, leading them to defeat the reinvading enemy, effectively silencing many voices of dissent. If you''re capable, step up; if not, stop complaining¡ªthis workplace rule is recognized by everyone. It wasn''t until Chen Fei took the initiative to stay behind that these pilots lost the last bit of their discontent and resentment. Apart from his propensity to hammer people, having such a fierce and resolute new boss wasn''t entirely unacceptable. But now, like the previous squadron leader, this boss was about to be gone. The pilots at 633 Aircrew Base felt extremely heavy-hearted; they wanted to turn back but realized they could be of no help at all and might even become a burden, feeling bitter yet unable to vent it. "Maybe we could..." "Kenny Kid," a girl whose cheeks had swollen up from a slap, tentatively broke the silence in the communication channel. Women, particularly female pilots, tend to be more emotional and less likely to resign themselves to fate. "No way!" The oldest among them, "Big Laugh," flatly refused, though he was not willing to give up either. "Kenny Kid" had a good idea, but reality was even harsher. The gap between ordinary pilots and Sky Knights was like the distance between the sun and Blue Star, a mere turboprop aircraft could never fly from Blue Star to the sun. Moreover, they were just a group of civilian pilots; their daily operations against Mutants weren''t true combat, at most they were just tool people. But aerial combat? If they were really capable, 633 Aircrew Base wouldn''t have suffered heavy casualties in the first round, with not even a burial place for the squadron leader. "Don''t make it worse!" Suddenly, Chen Fei''s voice came through the public communication channel, sounding not as if he were in a desperate struggle with the Crystal Jet, but rather calm and detached from the battlefield as they were. "''Rookie'' captain..." Upon hearing Chen Fei''s voice, "Kenny Kid" and "Heart-stealing Demoness" were about to inquire about the situation, mixed with surprise. "Shut up!" ¡Á 4 "Big Laugh," "Florida," the executive manager Radio Lawrence Beta on standby at the Aircrew Base tower, and even Miyoshi Monk aboard the transport aircraft all simultaneously chided them. This was not a good time for chat. "Hmm, everyone be quiet, alright, no more chat, busy here!" Chen Fei saw the Crystal Jet circling back, firing from a distance. Blue and white beams streaked across the night sky, hitting the unmanned "Big Mouth Monsters" that flew around aimlessly like headless flies, blowing them up one by one without any chance of retaliation. The count of remote-controlled "Big Mouth Monsters" on the visual interface hit zero; in the sky, only the one piloted by Chen Fei remained. This "Adam" turned out to be utterly useless, despite once being touted as an AI that could threaten Dragon Riders! Is that it? Ah, spit! Chapter 518 518: Section 514 - Im Going to Die ``` "It''s just you left!" A deep male voice echoed through the public communication channel of the Big Mouth Monster. The Crystal Jet''s electronic warfare capabilities were quite impressive, so quickly decoding the encryption key of the main public communication channel used this time by the Aircrew Base. "Heh, the villain dies from talking too much!" As the opponent fled into the distance, Chen Fei''s Big Mouth Monster also took the opportunity to climb to an altitude of 7,000 meters above the ground. Although Adam''s remote control technology was garbage, at least it had bought him some precious time. It was undoubtedly the correct decision to have the pilots from the Aircrew Base return to base immediately. After dealing with the other Big Mouth Monsters, the Crystal Jet ascended at full speed to catch up. Enough talk, let''s see the real skill under your hand. The Big Mouth Monster agilely turned around, evading the attack angle of the Crystal Jet and began winding and weaving its way through the combat. The machine gun bullets and laser beams proved ineffective, leaving only the Particle Beam untested. Chen Fei was very clear in his mind that after the initial probing round against the Crystal Jet, the opportunities for a head-on duel would become increasingly rare. The other party had learned to be cautious, and he was no less so. The Crystal Jet was not without weaknesses; like most other aircraft, once it had its six o''clock position bitten into, it was akin to having its death point seized. Seizing the opportunity to strike fiercely, the supposedly impervious Protective Barrier could not possibly cover the spray tail as well. If its working medium engine was damaged, the whole Crystal Jet would immediately lose its main thrust. What followed would simply be mopping up a dead dog. For the Big Mouth Monster, which was imprinted with a Magic Array, the weak point of the Crystal Jet didn''t exist. The naturally formed droplet-shaped Repulsion Shield could very well protect the airframe and the rear of the aircraft, able to withstand conventional physical attacks as well as a certain degree of impact. The Crystal Jet rapidly climbed to the flying altitude of the Big Mouth Monster, employing a tactic nearly identical to Chen Fei''s ¡ª both circling in wide arcs, patiently looking for the other''s vulnerability, ready to launch a fatal attack the moment an opportunity arose. A lion still uses full strength when he hunts a rabbit. Even when dealing with a mere turboprop aircraft, the Sky Knight piloting the Crystal Jet still would not hold anything back. The Crystal Jet''s predictive trajectory repeatedly tried to lock on to the Big Mouth Monster, but the latter persistently denied the chance, narrowly avoiding the blue and white light beams with its remarkably agile, small amplitude evasive maneuvers. The sight had the hearts of the Huntsman Squad members who witnessed the scene through satellite ascent, involuntarily making them break out in a cold sweat on Chen Fei''s behalf. For Chen Xiao''er''s opponent, it was almost the first time encountering such a slippery foe. A mere turboprop aircraft was almost played to the hilt. A cluster of cotton-like clouds drifted over, and taking advantage of the clouds'' cover, the Crystal Jet suddenly accelerated, seizing the momentary blind spot to launch its attack. Unfortunately for the Sky Knight steering the Crystal Jet, he never considered that Chen Fei''s vision was not limited to what was in front of him, but also included a viewpoint akin to God''s (or a satellite''s) overlooking perspective. Regardless of whether the cloud drifted by or not, the Crystal Jet''s every move was always within sight. Chen Fei reacted immediately, the Big Mouth Monster drawing a circle with its nose pointed at the Crystal Jet that was about to burst out of the clouds. Turn the tables! While the Crystal Jet''s radar could capture the position of the Big Mouth Monster, it couldn''t confirm its flight attitude. The moment they broke out of the cloud, two pairs of blue and white light beams nearly crisscrossed each other face to face, both sides reacting quickly, like a duel in the Wild West. With apparently random wing wobbles, the Big Mouth Monster used predictive trajectory to evade the near-miss blue and white light beams as if cheating, while the left wing tip of the Crystal Jet was grazed by the oncoming blue and white light beams, sparking a small burst of fire. The Protective Barrier only slightly distorted the trajectory of the beam, not warping the trajectory to the same extent as it did with the laser beams and machine gun bullets. The attack methods of both were almost identical. Particle Beam! It''s confirmed! Chen Fei instantly identified the opponent''s primary attack method: those two blue and white light beams were indeed a Particle Beam Weapon. It was his first time finding out the visual color of the Particle Beam from his skill list. It was unclear if all Crystal Jets or just this particular one engaged in combat had a Protective Barrier that was not completely resistant to the highly penetrative Particle Beam. At least, Chen Fei''s Big Mouth Monster was not without a fighting chance. In the upper right corner of his view, a single Particle Beam attack had actually drained 1% of the Crystalline Block''s energy reserve. Good lord, this is also an energy guzzler. Along with the consumption of the Magic Array, it was estimated that it might not be enough for even 50 attacks. But if 50 attacks couldn''t take down the opponent, there''s probably no point in continuing the battle¡ªjust scram when the going gets tough! The left wing tip of the Crystal Jet flickered a few times with a glimmer of fire, then extinguished, seemingly only a trivial minor injury. Yet the Sky Knight within the cockpit was gritting his teeth in frustration. He had not anticipated that the "Big Mouth Monster" would be able actually to threaten him. Was the opponent truly a "Big Mouth Monster"? ``` Turboprop aircraft equipped with laser beams and particle beam weapons was something utterly incomprehensible. Such a weapon configuration should at least be placed on jet aircraft. When they realized that neither sneak attacks nor head-on shooting were advantageous, the crystal jet immediately changed tactics, accelerating abruptly; the sound of the air exploding even overshadowed the roar of the engines for a moment. The aircraft, shedding its sonic boom cloud, charged at the "Big Mouth Monster" from the six o''clock position with a conical shock wave visible to the naked eye. Bite tactics in aerial combat is a very domineering approach, also known as execution tactics, similar to a sniper''s headshot, especially after the advent of jet aircraft, locking onto an opponent''s six o''clock position means the highest probability of a successful knockdown. Chen Fei, of course, would not give the opponent this opportunity. The "Big Mouth Monster" immediately performed serpentine maneuvers, now left, now right, unpredictable, always ready to make other tactical maneuvers at any moment, not giving the other side an easy chance to tail-bite. For close combat maneuvers, turboprop aircraft would definitely not be outdone, and that was exactly what Chen Fei thought and did. After all, the slower the speed of an aircraft, the more agile it is, while the faster it becomes, the more likely it is to be sluggish due to the larger range of motion. The crystal jet, while fast, could only make large and sweeping maneuvers. Its repertoire was far inferior to that of the "Big Mouth Monster." Moreover, the Sky Knight in the cockpit had to bear a considerable overload burden, one of the reasons only a Sky Knight could pilot a crystal jet. If an ordinary pilot were to forcibly pilot a crystal jet, they might ascend intact, but upon landing, they''d be nothing more than a blood-spewing human skin sack with their brains scrambled to a pulp! Chen Fei used the "Big Mouth Monster''s" maneuverability advantage to begin a game of high-altitude cat and mouse with the crystal jet. If speed is insufficient, then trade altitude for it; this is the essence of energy-tactic maneuvers. Whenever he was about to be suppressed by the opponent''s speed, he would immediately push the control stick and initiate a full-speed dive. The closer to the ground, the greater the advantage of the "Big Mouth Monster''s" dive; it could still pull up in time, but the same probably couldn''t be said for the crystal jet. If it smacked directly into the ground, even a protective barrier would be useless. However, after several dives, the flight altitude was gradually depleted, and finally, the speed advantage of the crystal jet suppressed the maneuver radius of the "Big Mouth Monster." Sweat appeared on Chen Fei''s forehead; the immense pressure came not from physiology but psychology. He was a pilot who had taken up the profession halfway, and even though he had supplemented his training at "Eagle Nest" and received guidance from the once-renowned "Eagle King," Old David. Still, piloting a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft to rigidly confront a crystal jet, even with the many skills assisted by metal elemental psychic power, could not completely erase the innate disparity between the advantages and disadvantages of both sides. Moreover, the pilot of the crystal jet was an experienced Sky Knight; not even Chen Fei, let alone Chekhov Big Bear, could have easily taken advantage. "Eject, and I might spare you." The voice of the Sky Knight came through the public communication channel; the crystal jet had closed in to less than a hundred meters from the "Big Mouth Monster," the two aircraft almost neck and neck. Choosing to eject without combat is almost no different from surrendering without a fight. "Chen Fei, eject!" The voice of Miyoshi Xuesen came over without hesitation, authorizing Chen Fei to abandon the fight. If the enemy offered a way out, preserving life was what mattered, and it wouldn''t count as desertion. After all, his opponent was a crystal jet; having tangled with it for so many rounds, ejecting to escape at this moment was not a disgrace. Sovereignty would naturally take over from there; the crystal jet was not something the Huntsman Squad could handle. "Not a chance!" There wasn''t a single coward in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron. Chen Fei''s brain heated up, and he flatly refused this tempting offer. Even though it might be his only chance to survive. It was once said that as long as there was altitude, one should never give up. At this crucial moment, Chen Xiao''er had no other tricks up his sleeve¡ªjust one word, "charge!" Sometimes he "charged" so much that even he scared himself. Fucking hell, just do it! The red lights suddenly lit up on the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right wings of the "Big Mouth Monster." Four "Blazing Flame Bullet" magic arrays were activated simultaneously, and fireballs formed one after another from the center of the magic arrays, guided by Chen Fei''s spiritual power, rushing toward the crystal jet at three o''clock. At almost the same time, the surface of the crystal jet also lit up with the glow of magic arrays. The exact same fireballs. Without any tactical maneuvers, the two aircraft maintained a level flight attitude at a distance of about two hundred meters from each other, continuously launching fireballs toward each other. Boom, boom, boom, boom... The protective barrier of the crystal jet blocked the sweeping "Blazing Flame Bullets," which detonated continuously without end. On the side of the "Big Mouth Monster," a round of magic shields radiated pure white light in the night sky, also blocking the continuous hits of "Blazing Flame Bullets" from the crystal jet. The two were like battleships racing across the ocean, relentlessly attacking each other with all their might. Chapter 519 519: Section 515 - Passionate Collision "Ah! Ah! Ah!" In the cockpit of the transport ship, the young-looking Tuert pointed at the tablet computer screen surrounded by everyone, uttering three words with exclamatory tones. Two combat aircraft demonstrated what amounted to an attack envelope with their actual maneuvers, both fighting with spectacular ferocity. Even in the uncompromising corporate wars among military contractors, such a violent exchange of blows had rarely been seen. "Crystal Jet?" The burly Earth Mage of the third Human Order, Andrew, articulated the words Tuert intended to say. But the Crystal Jet he mentioned wasn''t the one trading blows with the "Big Mouth Monster"; it was the "Big Mouth Monster" piloted by Chen Fei. But since when did the Aircrew Base 633 have a Crystal Jet, and to make things stranger, a turboprop version of it? There seemed something off about this. Andrew''s brain couldn''t quite catch up in the moment. "It''s clearly Little Chen''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power!" Aunt Caroline saw through the truth at a glance. Given the miserly nature of the Aircrew Base 633''s boss, how could he possibly afford a Crystal Jet, even a turboprop version? Only a lunatic would produce such an impractical Crystal Jet, not to mention the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would never allow it. As soon as it landed, the "Big Mouth Monster" would be reverted to its original form, with no Magic Shield, Repulsion Shield, Laser Cannon, Particle Beam Cannon... All of that was wishful thinking. "It is definitely Special Ability!" Miyoshi Xuesen agreed with Caroline''s judgment. "Sacrifice" combined with industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power, plus a Magic Array and Crystalline Block, wasn''t weird for a regular Turboprop Aircraft to have functionalities only a Crystal Jet would have. He never expected Chen Xiao''er to be so fierce, preferring to fight to the death rather than surrender and eject. Seeing the two combat aircraft''s head-on attacks on the tablet computer screen, Masuya, a rank-A Wind-type Ability User, asked worriedly, "Won''t Chen Fei be at a disadvantage?" "No, no! Little Chen won''t lose!" Aunt Caroline firmly took Chen Xiao''er''s side, and did so unconditionally. One of them loved to cook, the other to eat, and both of them had a pleasant cooperation within the Huntsman Squad. "I hope Chen Fei doesn''t lose!" Tuert prayed with hands clasped together in his heart. If Chen Fei were to be shot down, everyone on the transport aircraft would be in trouble. For a Crystal Jet, catching up would take no more than the time to drink a cup of tea. The reason Aircrew Base 631, who had secretly hidden a Crystal Jet, hadn''t flattened Aircrew Base 633 in one fell swoop was probably because they simply didn''t take the latter seriously, just like how an adult wouldn''t take a child seriously, the latter having no chance to fight back. This time, Aircrew Base 633 had the advantage of asymmetric information. Aircrew Base 631 had never expected the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would play favorites by sending a Huntsman Squad, within which was a combat-ready pilot. This ultra-low-altitude breach-style assault took Aircrew Base 631 by surprise and dealt them a significant loss. The Crystal Jet was approaching the "Big Mouth Monster" while exchanging fire with it. Chen Fei was happy with the adversary''s move, and instead of closing the distance himself, he feigned weakness and dodged to the other side. Thinking the "Big Mouth Monster" feared getting too close, the Crystal Jet sped up its approach. Even without considering the Protective Barrier, the Crystal Jet''s inherent strength surpassed that of the "Big Mouth Monster," as evidenced by the fact it remained unscathed despite being grazed by a Particle Beam. Therefore, the Crystal Jet could literally ram and shatter the "Big Mouth Monster" while likely remaining unharmed itself. 180 meters! 120 meters! 60 meters! 30 meters! The cockpit of the Crystal Jet didn''t have a transparent canopy like the "Big Mouth Monster," so the Sky Knight could see Chen Fei inside the "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit, but Chen Fei couldn''t see his opponent. Boom!~ Both the Crystal Jet and the "Big Mouth Monster" shuddered simultaneously. The Protective Barrier and the "Repulsion Shield" overlapped and acted on each other''s crafts, damaging each other in the process. Chen Fei didn''t know the condition of the adversary, but his "Big Mouth Monster" was immediately filled with various alarms. The Metal Elemental Psychic Power activated instantly, repairing the damage from the impact, and the alarms notably decreased at a visibly rapid pace. Damn it! The Crystal Jet played dirty with bumper car tactics, and Chen Fei reciprocated just as rudely, yanking the control stick towards himself and crashing into the opponent. Encased in the "Flying Dragon," a Single Soldier Tactical Armor enhanced for impact and load resistance, both he and Little Bird were protected. Clang! It was another hard hit, with the intensity jumping up more than a few notches. If it weren''t for Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power, the "Big Mouth Monster" would have disintegrated on the spot. "Cheep cheep cheep cheep..." The Little Bird secured at Chen Fei''s collar also inevitably suffered from the collision and let out a series of chirps as if in protest. It sounded almost like cursing. "Xiao Jiu, bear with it a bit longer, we''re about to smash that bastard to death!" Having escalated the fight to this point, Chen Fei didn''t intend to back down at all, even considering the idea of a war of attrition. The Crystal Jet''s energy must have been draining severely. The Crystalline Block equipped on the "Big Mouth Monster" was also consuming the reserved crystal energy, but at least Chen Fei''s "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" continued to generate "Magnetic¡úElectric¡úCrystal Energy" non-stop. Although it was insufficient to balance out the consumption, it was definitely better than the opponent''s one-way drain. In this war of attrition, it was unclear who would fall first. Once the crystal energy was depleted, the Crystal Jet would become a hunk of metal in free fall, without any chance of gliding to an emergency landing. In order to achieve super maneuverability, most Crystal Jets are designed with static instability, which naturally leads to the loss of the ability to glide without propulsion. "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu began to gather its own magic power, brewing some unknown spell. The Crystal Jet collided once again. "Chirp!~" A pale Halo burst in the night sky like a shockwave, emanating from within the cockpit of the Big Mouth Monster, instantly sweeping over both aircraft. This time, the Protective Barrier and "Repulsion Shield" didn''t deflect each other but seemed to vanish altogether. Gone along with them were the glow of the Magic Array on the surfaces of both crafts. Xiao Jiu gave both friend and foe a big surprise without distinction. A Third Rank Light-based Spell "Element Dispel". Within a certain range, only Light Elemental Energy remained, all other elemental energies were mercilessly expelled. Clang!~ The Crystal Jet and the "Big Mouth Monster" collided fiercely. This time, it was a true physical contact, to be precise, a collision of the core bodies. The massive impact transmitted through, and even with the protection of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" still unavoidably shattered on the spot. The core strength of the Crystal Jet ultimately displayed its decisive advantage. The shattered and deformed cockpit did not crush Chen Fei and the Little Bird, but under the control of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, it was orderly decomposed and rapidly dissipated the impact force. The colliding Crystal Jet was now within arm''s reach. Thus, in the blink of an eye, Chen Fei extended his hand. Dog System: Ding, a Crystal Jet detected, would you like to absorb: Yes/No|? Chen Fei reflexively chose "Yes" and activated "Metal Devouring" to engulf the disintegrating turboprop, which was already doomed¡ªmight as well collect the wreckage. Dog System: Crystal Jet downed, reward 1000 Energy Points (+1000) (Completed) Energy Points +1000! Energy Points: 20000/20000 Being already at full value, these 1000 Energy Points went to the dogs. But Chen Fei didn''t consider frivolously spending in the "Skill Shop" that was filled with useless abilities, to acquire a bunch of nonsensical skills for himself. The Dog System that always wanted to swindle Energy Points finally got one over on him for free. Whoosh!~ Whoosh!~ Void Knight Edmund looked around in confusion; he was in free fall, the sound of the wind howling by his ears. What the hell, where''s my Crystal Jet? The cockpit was nowhere in sight, only his own Single Soldier Tactical Armor remained¡ªhis body should have been securely fitted inside it. Close at hand, an individual in Single Soldier Tactical Armor, also in free fall, was reaching out to him, radiant with light behind him, looking like a deity. "You are..." Edmund''s body brought forth a blazing azure Water Battle Qi Flame, but a single sentence from the other person made him give up resistance. "If you don''t want to die on impact, don''t move!" The next second, Edmund''s neck was firmly gripped, and a haze of stars filled his vision, causing even the rising Battle Qi Flame to subside. Dammit... his vision darkening, he felt some regret. From behind the Single Soldier Tactical Armor blossomed a ghostly blue light; the "Gravity" Spell Array and the "Gravity Adjustment Module (1%)" skill worked in conjunction to drastically slow the descent. "Gah!~" Tuert''s eyes went round with shock as he stared at the tablet screen. On the screen, the Crystal Jet was gone, "Big Mouth Monster" was gone too, only two figures descending freely remained. The Pure Light Sparrow, blessed with natural camouflage of the night skies and so tiny in size, wasn''t visible in the satellite camera footage at all. "Where''s the Crystal Jet? Where''s Chen Fei''s fighter?" Andrew was equally incredulous. "That''s Chen Fei, and he''s got someone in his grasp!" Masuya, an A-class Wind-type Ability User, with sharp eyes, pointed to the satellite camera image that was focusing and slowly enlarging. The two figures in Single Soldier Tactical Armor were close together, slowly landing on the ground, their movements looking rather odd. Like they''re choking each other? Miyoshi Monk, always composed and confident, couldn''t help but jump to his feet and shouted, "Well done! Chen Fei, you must hold onto this captive, he can''t be allowed to escape. Pilots, return, back to Aircrew Base 631, continue with the previous action plan." The tide of battle had turned repeatedly, forcing him to readjust the current orders once more, and it seemed that everything was back on the original track. An empty Knight from the "Water Bear" organization was indeed a big fish that was hard to come by, and its value even surpassed those they had hunted before, as an empty Knight represented much more. System: Ding! Enemy Sky Knight eliminated, reward Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) (Uncompleted) Chapter 520 520: Section 516 - Itchy Fingers ``` System: Ding! For killing the enemy Sky Knight, you receive an Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) (Incomplete). ``` Emmm... In a desolate wilderness, under a dark moon and a howling wind, Chen Fei was clutching someone''s neck, lost in thought. The person was not only choked by the neck but also wrapped around with steel wire ropes, each as thick as a thumb, bound tightly, unable to move. Despite possessing a cultivation of Battle Qi, they were entirely incapable of resisting. A chill at the back of the head, and all the hairs on the body stood on end. Edmund sensed the cold killing intent from Chen Fei and, greatly alarmed, managed to squeeze out a voice from the depths of his throat. "No, don''t kill me!" "Not enough!" Chen Fei seemed to be talking to himself, his hand still not letting go. "Hey, hey! Chen Fei, what are you talking about?" The communication line with the transport plane was still open, leaving Miyoshi Xuesen completely baffled. "What?" What''s not enough, just name your price! Sky Knight Edmund''s fear grew greater by the moment, feeling like he was being led to the guillotine. A lamb to the slaughter. System: Ding! For killing the enemy Sky Knight Edmund, you receive an Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) and +20000 Energy Points (Incomplete). Neither Sky Knight Edmund nor Miyoshi Xuesen understood Chen Fei''s murmurings, but the Dog System did and reacted swiftly. Chen Fei nodded, looking at the Sky Knight whose face had turned the color of earth, and shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry!" Edmund, who had just become aware of the situation, finally confirmed that the other party indeed harbored a murderous intent towards him. "No, don''t, I have important intelligence about the Dragon Riders..." Crack!~ Edmund''s head tilted to the side, his face frozen in a moment of horror, his expression one of unacceptance in death. Miyoshi Xuesen faintly heard something and asked anxiously, "Hey, hey, Chen Fei, what intelligence? What did he just say?" "Nothing, he''s dead!" Chen Fei acted as if he had done a trivial thing, tossing the lifeless Sky Knight to the ground, retracting all the steel wire ropes that had bound him. System: Ding! For killing the enemy Sky Knight Edmund, you receive an Energy Points Storage Upgrade (+20000) and +20000 Energy Points (Completed). Energy Points: 40000/40000 A little flick of the hand, and the Energy Points are mine. The Dog System had freeloaded 1000 Energy Points from him before, and now, everything it took from me, it spits back out, with a fine of twenty times over on top of the storage expansion, making it all feel mighty. NICE! I always say the Dog System, but it''s Chen Xiao''er who''s the real dog! "Dead? What do you mean dead? Who''s dead?" Monk''s heart tightened; he had an ominous premonition. It was hard enough to catch a big fish, and the last thing they needed was an accident. "Hmm, the prisoner is dead!" Chen Fei spoke in an indifferent tone as if bored, casually looking around, showing no interest in the corpse. The Tactical Armor on the body wasn''t as advanced as his "Flying Dragon." Although the Crystal Jet had been absorbed by the "Metal Devouring" skill, there were still many non-metallic parts scattered nearby, among which was the most critical part, the Crystalline Block. The Crystalline Block he picked up in the depths of the Central Great Desert on the Yangzhou Continent turned out to be an outdated product from more than thirty years ago, naturally unable to compare with the energy storage density of today''s new products used in Crystal Jets. "What????" Miyoshi Xuesen felt like he''d been dropped into an ice cellar, plummeting from heaven to hell, he couldn''t believe his ears. The prisoner was alive just a moment ago, and now, suddenly a corpse?! He stared dumbfounded for quite a while before he finally came to his senses and said dejectedly, "What exactly happened here?" The biggest reward from this hunting mission, beyond execution, had just slipped away; how could Monk possibly accept this? "Slipped of the hand, hmm, saying I was a bit rash wouldn''t be wrong either." Chen Fei was ready to own up to his actions. After all, within a ten mile radius, there was no third person to be found, no chance to pass the blame. Could it be Xiao Jiu''s fault? With its tiny paws? Yeah right! Only a fool would believe that! "Uh..." Miyoshi Xuesen finally lost his composure, his facial muscles uncontrollably contorted for a moment. Did Chen Fei even take this seriously? We finally caught a Sky Knight prisoner, and you just had to get handsy? And now he''s gone?! Well, that''s actually a pretty strong reason! Chen Xiao''er does have a history of being handsy, once daring to drag the Dragon of Slaughter to mutual annihilation with a single Dragon Slayer Missile - not just anyone has the courage to face death with such resolve. "Why did you kill him? Don''t you realize he was an important source of intelligence?" After taking several deep breaths in a row, Miyoshi Xuesen managed to regain his composure, but his voice still trembled slightly; he was probably still furious. What a mess of a teammate! Chen Fei, however, spoke up with an innocent look on his face, "I know! Who knew he was so fragile? I just applied a bit of force, and his neck snapped!" He didn''t say out loud that he wasn''t aware of the Sky Knight prisoner''s value; rather, the Dog System had rewarded him too generously. Double the storage capacity for Energy Points plus an additional 20,000 points, practically equivalent to directly absorbing a whole aircraft carrier. Looking for an aircraft carrier to convert entirely into Energy Points is not an easy task. After making some shady deal with the Dog System, Chen Fei got the deal done with just a flick of his hand; no time to play the honest kid now, how foolish! As for everything else, who cares! Miyoshi Xuesen''s questioning was as if he was farting - Chen Fei didn''t take it to heart at all. Realizing the "I''m not bothered" subtext in Chen Fei''s response, Miyoshi Xuesen deflated and said, "There''s nothing I can do, you''ll just have to wait for the investigation!" The entire communication had been recorded and backed up; he wouldn''t be able to hide it. An investigation into Chen Fei''s "accidental (handsy)" incident was inevitable. Honestly, Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t want to lose Chen Fei, a very capable member of his team, over this incident. "I''ve caused you trouble, Captain Shan Hao!" Chen Fei did understand some things after all; he wasn''t completely heartless. But the damage was done, the man was dead, and there was no use crying over spilled milk. "Sigh! Just tell the truth when the time comes!" Miyoshi Xuesen was helpless. Although the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee isn''t a sovereign entity, that doesn''t mean it can act recklessly; certain investigative procedures are unavoidable. Illuminated by the Light Orb from the Illumination Technique by Little Bird, Chen Fei finally found the sparkling Crystalline Block, its reflective crystals exceptionally conspicuous in the wilderness. The newly acquired Crystalline Block was a size smaller than the one he previously had, and the Dog System immediately identified its capacity upon acquisition. With over thirty years of technological disparity, its capacity was at least a hundred times greater, no wonder it was a top-grade Crystalline Block suitable for Crystal Jets. Chen Fei was initially considering a war of attrition in the battle, but now he realized it was a pipe dream. With such an immense crystalline energy storage capacity, he would definitely be the first to run out; his Metal Elemental Psychic Power capable of converting into Electric Energy and Crystal Energy wasn''t nearly enough to bridge the capacity gap between them. 12 hours later, the entire Huntsman Squad gathered at Aircrew Base 631, ready for a massacre! Gunfire, explosions, screams¡ªthese sounds persisted for barely fifteen minutes before everything returned to silence. The original combat plan was carried out thoroughly, and not a single soul was left alive at the base. The Crystal Jet was Aircrew Base 631''s last struggle; the first wave of aerial attack wiped out the main ground defenses. Those who survived were like lambs to the slaughter, unable to mount any meaningful resistance. When the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sent in the Huntsman Squad, it was a sign they weren''t going to play nice ¨C villains must die, and no one would be spared. But now, Chen Xiao''er was in danger! Of course, he wasn''t treated as an enemy, but he was hit with solitary confinement and was locked in a room. He looked at the shiny iron bars and pondered whether he should take a bite to taste what it was like. Anyone else would''ve been scared stiff by now, but not Chen Fei with his thick skin; he didn''t care one bit! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee sent an investigative team, and the leader was someone Chen Fei had met before, Franco, the director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Upon arriving at the occupied Aircrew Base 631, he immediately called for an interrogation. "It''s you again!" Franco looked at Chen Fei, with an expression that was neither one nor the other. "Who are you?" Chen Fei scrutinized the person in front of him, unsure why he should have any deep grudge against him. To be precise, he had simply forgotten. "You don''t remember me?" Franco was about to explode with frustration - was this guy serious? "Ah? Am I supposed to remember you?" Chen Fei looked baffled, who the hell was this guy with such a high opinion of himself? How-old -F*K- dare- are- you? Who the hell do you think you are? Chapter 521 521: Section 517 - Get Lost "I am Franco, and I will make you remember me, I promise!" The forgotten acquaintance pointed at Chen Fei, his whole body trembling with rage. "Heh!" Chen Fei responded with a mysteriously cold laugh. "Put the shackles on him!" Franco was done playing nice. Clank! Two hundred and fifty kilos of fine steel shackles locked around Chen Fei''s wrists and ankles, a chain as thick as a fist hanging in between¡ªno elephant could break free. He looked down and thought, Emmm... This guy is a good man! The next second, the shackles meant for felons disappeared. Chen Xiao''er gave Franco a grateful smile, "Thank you!" Every little bit counts. Damn!~ It then dawned on Franco that the guy in front of him was a Metal Ability User, with a B-level ranking, and handling metal was child''s play for him; full metallic shackles couldn''t hold him. Enraged and embarrassed, he roared, "I want to see just how tough your bones really are!" A deep howling noise surrounded him. In Hablav City, where Ability Users congregated, Franco was naturally an Ability User too, a C-level Wind-type Psionic Ability holder, serving as one of the high-level directors of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "Oh?" Little Bird brazenly hopped around on the desk, pecking here and there, or stealthily sipping the tea in front of Chen Fei. Being just a Pure Light Sparrow, it was virtually invisible in the room, clear and unnoticed like a little invisible being, hardly attracting anyone''s attention. "He''s not a criminal!" Just as Franco was about to arm himself to confront Chen Fei, Miyoshi Monk burst through the door, seemingly aware of the Ministry of Internal Affairs director''s volatile temper which could spell trouble on a whim. His timing couldn''t have been more perfect. After speaking, he casually pulled over a chair, planning to observe. As the leader of the Huntsman Squad, Miyoshi Xuesen made his stance clear. Franco''s face alternated between shades of pale and flushed with anger but eventually, he suppressed his fury, sat down with a thump, and grunted heavily to release his frustration. "Hmph!" This monk, known for his dark deeds, was no easy target, and regardless of how much it irked Franco, he had no choice but to hold it in. "Why did you kill the captive?" Franco got straight to the point. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had sent investigators because the value of Sky Knight Edmund was greater than the entire 631 Aircrew Base. He had been captured alive, but tragically met his end, and the reasons behind this needed to be clarified. So immediately upon arrival, Franco confronted Chen Fei directly. "Itchy hands!" Chen Fei rolled his eyes, his demeanor that of a pig unafraid of boiling water, acting as if nothing could touch him. With profits secured and safely pocketed, why bother about the rest? Chen Xiao''er couldn''t care less. After all, having itchy hands wasn''t a new trait for him, and most of those who had died by his hand were for this very reason. "Furthermore!" Miyoshi Monk suddenly spoke up, waiting until all eyes were on him before continuing. "My order was to ''leave none alive''." This wasn''t just a coverup thought up on the spot; it was a truthful statement backed by evidence. If there hadn''t been a Sky Knight hidden at 631 Aircrew Base, then this order would have been completely justified. But who could have anticipated that this place would turn out to be a treasure base full of surprises (and scares)? If Chen Fei hadn''t triumphed against the Crystal Jet, the ensuing situation could have been unmanageable¡ªnot only could the 631 Aircrew Base have fallen, but even the Huntsman Squad might have met a complete annihilation there. Under the onslaught of the National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet, everything would have been obliterated, sparing no one. "Don''t you understand what this captive meant?" Franco''s face contorted, trying to apply psychological pressure on Chen Fei. From this, it was clear that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee took this case very seriously, especially given it involved the key term "Dragon Rider." The words left unfinished by the Sky Knight before his death had turned into a complicated riddle. What did "Dragon Rider" imply¡ªDragon Rider General? Dragon Rider? There were at least a dozen terms one could think of. But without exception, all were very tricky issues, and without concrete evidence, it was impossible to proceed further. No one could question the retired, still-living former Dragon Riders or Dragon Rider Generals; not even the Global United Defense Committee had the power to do so, let alone the sovereignties of Blue Star. If this were to anger the Silan Dynasty of the Cangqiong Star, no one could bear the consequences. Yet, involving the terrifying, mysterious organization known as "Water Bear," the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee found itself in an extremely difficult position, and even seemed trapped with no easy way out. "Who knows? What does it have to do with me!" Chen Fei spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders, not caring in the least what the Sky Knight actually meant, since his value had already been completely exploited. Moreover, he was just a mere low-rank minion; when the sky falls, it''s up to the bosses to hold it up, not for Chen Xiao''er to step forward. Franco pointed at Chen Fei and rebuked, "Don''t forget, who are you?" Where''s your sense of awareness? "This level of thought really disappoints me." Chen Fei said nonchalantly, "The woes of a lowly contract worker, just a tiny bit better than a temp." What philosophical enlightenment does a contract worker have? One pays, the other works, and that''s it! Talking about ideals and the future is pure nonsense! Boss Hana never discusses these either, just practically pulls out a bottle of her private, high-end liquor, and we drink deeply. "You..." Franco was so exasperated he almost fell backward. When you think about it, that''s just how it is. All Chen Fei had with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was a limited relationship. The world wasn''t short of people, why trap him into sacrificing himself? This was moral hijacking! Holding back his anger, Franco continued to press, "Then why didn''t you ask?" "What''s it to me, I''m not in charge of interrogation!" Chen Fei rolled his eyes again, they pay just bits, and still want this and that, pure daydreaming! As the saying goes, the more money, the greater the power, and accordingly, the greater the responsibilities. "..." It wasn''t just Franco, even Miyoshi Xuesen, who hoped to get an explanation from Chen Fei, wore an expression of shocked surprise. The response from the little guy was just that capricious, equally headache-inducing. Chen Fei never even thought about actively performing well at the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, let alone getting a promotion and a pay raise. In fact, even if one were exceptionally capable, advancing to higher positions through such tasks was pure fantasy, too good to be true. At best he was just an enforcer; what the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had in abundance were combat personnel, particularly ability users. Most importantly, Chen Fei''s work ties were with Jiu Defense. Apart from Boss Hana, he really could ignore everyone else, enjoying the privilege of being capricious. After a chaotic couple of days, Franco ultimately gained nothing from Chen Fei. Even Miyoshi Xuesen was also very regretful, as the essential intelligence Void Knight Edmund hadn''t managed to disclose might never come to light. After being detained for another two days, Chen Fei was finally released. Though not pursued legally, the corresponding responsibilities were still inevitable; he was kicked out of the Huntsman Squad, and his conscription relations with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were terminated¡ªtime to settle accounts and leave. Beyond that, there were no other punishments, not even a dime of his danger pay was shortchanged. After the Huntsman Squad left Aircrew Base 633, a small transport airship conveniently dropped Chen Fei off at the nearest international public airport. He did not return to Hablav City in Yangzhou Continent¡ªhis luggage left in the dorm would be packed and shipped by team 04. After a sixteen-hour journey, Chen Fei arrived at the international public airport closest to Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. As the plane landed, Chen Fei saw a small airship from Aircrew Base 911 on the tarmac and was about to make a call when Boss Hana''s ID lit up his phone screen. "''Rookie'', landed yet?" "I''ve seen our transport, Boss. Are you also here?" Chen Fei cut straight to the chase. Smart people didn''t need to beat around the bush; they could often infer much from little. "Came specially to pick you up. Abel is already preparing a hearty welcome meal." Hana Gagar was indeed waiting for Chen Fei, and his itinerary hadn''t been a secret at all. It was likely the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had already notified Jiu Defense, sending the conscripted personnel back. "You didn''t need to go to that trouble!" Chen Fei was somewhat moved. Who could poach someone from Jiu Defense? It was impossible¡ªwho wouldn''t want to work in a company brimming with personal touch. "I have some good news to discuss with you." Boss Hana personally welcoming Chen Fei back was also a stance by Jiu Defense. The talent discarded like worn out shoes by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, yet regarded as a treasure by Jiu Defense¡ªwell worth the king''s ransom. Chen Fei paused, then broke into a smile. "Uh! Funny, I also have something to tell you¡ªso, you first!" Boss Hana articulated clearly, "That family that screwed you over, we''ve found them!" "What?" Chen Fei involuntarily widened his eyes. The family had reported the issue to the police over a year ago, but there had been no progress at all. Yet, he would never have expected that Boss Hana had leads. "Snakes follow snakes'' paths, mice have their own tracks, there are people who specialize in this." Boss Hana had tapped into her connections, employed a bit of cash power, and quickly came up with news. "Thanks, Boss, but the matter I wanted to talk about also happens to be related to this," Chen Fei paused, then said, "I''ve gathered the money!" Having saved a bit at Aircrew Base 911 and, after being drafted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, earning his danger pay plus some extra, Chen Xiao''er, the poor guy, had surprisingly managed to gather the full amount of his debts. True to the saying, unexpected wealth makes a man rich, nightgrass makes a horse fat. "What? You''ve gathered it all? I''m not in a hurry to have it, you don''t need to..." Before the well-off Boss Hana could finish, she was interrupted by Chen Fei. "I don''t like owing money. The sooner I repay it, the sooner I can be at peace!" Even though Boss Hana never urged him, that debt hung in Chen Fei''s throat like a fishbone. Only when he managed to gather all the money did he finally feel a great weight lift from his heart. Chapter 522 522: Section 518 - Return Fully Laden with Empty Hands "Where did you get that extra money?" Relying merely on the allowances from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was certainly not enough. Hanna Gagel could only guess that Chen Fei had secretly earned some extra cash. "Extra money?" Chen Fei laughed and shook his head, saying, "There is a bit of extra money, but not much. The main thing is the mission bonuses." The savings were still quite short, but that didn''t stop them from killing a big fish this time. Killing a Sky Knight for five million Star Yuan was simply a steal. Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was reluctant, they had to pinch their noses and pay up, otherwise morale would plummet and the team would be difficult to manage. At that time, the passenger plane had already come to a stop, and everyone disembarked orderly with their carry-on luggage. Chen Fei could have gone directly to the apron where the light transporter was located, but Xiao Jiu was still in the pet transport crate, which required retrieval from a specific area. Although Little Bird was a recognized Magical Beast and a harmless Pure Light Sparrow, not all airports allow magical beasts into the cabin. Of course, there were some that allowed it. Actually, there was no unified standard. The size of magical beasts varied, and it was difficult to set a standard. If one were to go through the process of applying, the plane might have already flown several flights by then, and it was not worth wasting time and effort unless it could be done ten days to half a month in advance. Upon finding the location and receiving the transported pet crate, as soon as he opened the small door, Little Bird fluttered out and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder. The crate had food, water, and a little nest, but it couldn''t see Chen Fei, Dad, and the long flight of over ten hours had almost stifled it. "Let''s go, Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei extended his hand and cradled Little Bird in his palm. The crate was promptly stored away by Xiao Jiu into its own storage claw ring, maybe to be used again another time. Upon reaching the apron where the light transport aircraft was located, Boss Hanna was indeed present, waiting for a long time under the wing of the aircraft on a small stool. She sat with her legs crossed, displaying a clear S-shaped body curve. "Just you and Xiao Jiu? Where''s the luggage?" Hanna Gagel looked at the man and bird, puzzled, thinking that traveling light did not usually mean having no luggage at all. "Right here with Xiao Jiu!" Chen Fei pointed to the small creature in his hand. Xiao Jiu was in charge of the Storage Magical Device; it was not easy for people to guess that such a precious item was fitted on its tiny claw, like hiding in plain sight. Playing the role of a tiger, if anyone dared to target Chen Fei, they might fall hard. "You are joking!" Boss Hanna couldn''t believe it, her gaze drifted behind Chen Fei, but still she saw nothing. This Rookie, always coming up with some new trick! "Xiao Jiu, my suitcase!" Chen Fei prodded Little Bird''s claw. The little guy lowered its head and pecked at one of its leg rings, and a large suitcase appeared out of thin air. Being a magical beast didn''t mean it couldn''t understand human speech; in fact, Little Bird was quite intelligent. Uh... Hanna Gagel involuntarily widened her eyes, even the one covered by the eyepatch. Now, she fully understood. A Spatial Storage Magical Device. She also noticed that the leg ring she had bought for Xiao Jiu had been switched for a brand new one, with a surface engraved with strange, intricate pattern lines, evidently a high-end, unusual item. "Is this what you earned this time?" Boss Hanna dared not point at Xiao Jiu''s leg ring, fearing it being noticed by some unknowing eyes around. At this moment, any misunderstanding would only concern Chen Fei himself. "No, more precisely, it was somewhat of an old gain!" Chen Fei pointed to what was actually a ring-shaped Space System Alchemy Storage Device, and then pointed to another leg ring, saying, "This one is my recent gain." When exactly he had obtained the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, he could only roughly guess the time period. Now, it seemed even Boss Hanna was fooled, easily deceived by the little critter''s outward appearance. "Could there be... any other meaning?" Hanna Gagel astutely caught a hint of crucial information. Chen Fei wouldn''t have introduced a leg ring without reason, unless there was more to it. "It''s also an Alchemical Artifact, besides the location functionality, it provides protection by shielding the spirit and repelling psychic series power intrusions and attacks." Chen Fei had worked hard to barely earn some hard-fought money, probably not even enough to buy the two Alchemical Artifacts on Little Bird''s legs. "How much?" Boss Hana sharply inhaled, "Customized alchemical artifacts are incredibly rare; you can''t just buy them with money alone." Money, resources, and connections¡ªall three are indispensable. "No need for money!" Taking a vote from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee without any guilt, Chen Fei felt he rightfully deserved it. Compared to such a huge entity as the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, it wasn''t hard to manage. "It seems you''ve gained quite a lot from the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division!''" Hanna Gagel packed up her stool and, along with Chen Fei, boarded the small transport aircraft which would soon have its scheduled takeoff time. Just this artifact alone made this deployment worthwhile. "No, the biggest gain isn''t this." Chen Fei shook his head, "This is just the tip of the iceberg." Even now that he''d been kicked out of the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" and the Hunt Squad, he was not at a loss at all. "There''s something even bigger?" Boss Hana was taken aback. Could it be that this guy wasn''t kicked out for making mistakes, but instead took advantage and left with a full haul? The difference between the two scenarios was vast. "Got a Crystal Jet, but it''s a knockoff." As he spoke, the entire cabin seemed to mute instantaneously, even as the turboprop began spinning at high speed outside. "A Crystal Jet?" Hanna Gagel wore an "Are-you-kidding-me?" expression, completely overlooking the word "knockoff." For military contractors, even touching a knockoff Crystal Jet¡ªlet alone retired main combat aircraft, even refurbished ones¡ªis forbidden. The likes of the Big Mouth Monster and MiG-28, with at least a fifty-year technological gap from the current active sovereignty tech, wouldn''t be allowed for private enterprises. Slightly more advanced military hardware could easily give sovereignty its Tiananmen moment, complicating matters for itself. "An entire ''sacrifice'' of a knockoff!" Seeing that Boss Hana hadn''t grasped it, Chen Fei emphasized the word "knockoff" once again. If it weren''t for the knockoff''s drastically reduced performance, just with his bootleg Crystal Turboprop alone, he would have likely been knocked down long ago, not managing to let Xiao Jiu sneak in an "Element Dispel" attack. A genuine Crystal Jet would definitely consider elemental energy interference and counter-interference. "Sss!~" Boss Hana began to contribute to global warming, her face filled with disbelief. This guy actually did it, and he got away with it! Initially worried he had suffered from the Joint Defense Committee, it seemed now as though the committee had taken heat from him. "You''re not kidding?" She even began to speculate that Chen Fei''s forced expulsion wasn''t due to a major error during the mission, but because he touched something he shouldn''t have. Chen Fei was notoriously daring at Aircrew Base 911. It was all thanks to that overly casual guy Chekhov¡ªnone of the pilots from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron were fainthearted. "Hehe!" Chen Fei laughed without a word. Though he had been kicked out, this round was still a win! Inside Aircrew Base 911, a wrecked Crystal Jet remained, now with a downsized knockoff as a model. Even though it was a knockoff, it was still a complete Crystal Jet, which meant they might be able to fix the Crystal Jet, maybe even go further. Ouch, ouch, ouch, don''t even think about it! Don''t even think about it! Speaking of which, Chen Fei''s "Physical Evolution Database" still had a wrecked Crystal Jet sample. Putting broken together with broken, plus a downsized bootleg version, they should be able to piece together a Crystal Jet that looked somewhat decent. Delicious! It''s no wonder Chen Xiao''er wouldn''t deal with Franco; he dared to confront directly. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t extract the Crystal Jet samples from his skills either. Since they couldn''t extract them, they had to shamelessly acknowledge the debt. Seeing Chen Fei recklessly testing the limits of death, Hanna Gagel said with great concern, "Take it easy!" Any day now, someone might just take him away. Chapter 523 523: Section 519 - Welcome Back to the Team "It''s just for fun, no worries!" Chen Fei was confident he could find the right person to take over the hot potato. He calculated that his future father-in-law''s company, the Northern Weapons Industry Group, was just the right candidate to take the blame. There''s always a way, just like the Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, which now, teary-eyed, had to bear the burden, after being thoroughly duped by Chen Xiao''er. The "Flying Dragon" intercept type single soldier tactical armor appeared among the private military contractors, and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, having made connections, pretended not to see it. The "neighbors" around the 911 Aircrew Base who had been beaten up not long ago had changed to a new contractor, and everyone was getting along even better, certainly not keen on stirring up trouble. "You better take it easy, there''s no rush to pay back the money you owe me." Having taken over Chen Fei''s debt from the Apocalypse Defense Group, Hanna Gagel, who had inherited the family business, really wasn''t lacking that little bit of cash. Fully aware that one can''t twist an arm to twist a thigh, military contractors simply couldn''t stand against the wealthy daddy of the Global United Defense Committee; Boss Hanna was still very worried that Chen Fei might accidentally cross the line and bring unnecessary trouble upon himself. Don''t really let someone take you away. "Hmm! I need to clear the debt to have peace of mind!" Despite seeming carefree, shouldering such a debt definitely meant there was pressure. It wasn''t until he had gathered enough money that Chen Fei truly shook off this burden. He was very grateful to Boss Hanna for using her connections to catch the main culprits; he forced them to spit out what they had swallowed from the Chen Family. "You ah..." Hanna Gagel smiled and said no more. The light aircraft received a signal from the International Public Airport''s air traffic control center, began to slowly taxi to the runway in accordance with the departure sequence, and completed takeoff during the scheduled window of time. - In a small city in the western part of the Europa Continent, a family of three was crying and howling as police burst into their home and forcefully dragged them out, cuffing them. Running off with money never ends well; once caught, they faced not only civil debt disputes but also a host of other charges. After serving time in the local jurisdiction, they were extradited back to their country of origin to continue serving time, pursued to the end, with three generations likely unable to rest easy, unless death cancels all debts. Faced with a ruthless sovereign, the money stays, but the people are sent packing. - Hours later, the bleak landscape of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area entered Chen Fei''s view. From the air, he could already roughly discern how far it was from the 911 Aircrew Base; the familiar mountain ranges, hills, and rivers were reassuring. Here, there were no conniving "Water Bears" or "Sacred Advent," just cute mutants, those menacing creatures, which now seemed endearing. Two "Big Mouth Monsters" roared past nearby, made a large circle, and came next to the light aircraft; the numbers painted on the aircraft''s surface were 213 and 214, which, if he wasn''t mistaken, were indeed his comrades from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron: "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, "Oyster Sauce" Dalatu, "Dragon Artemisia" Salila, and "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown. Especially "Braised Sauce," who must have finally escaped the wheelchair to return to duty. In the corporate war at 911 Aircrew Base with the Merman Brothers Consortium, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was not without injuries, having lost three comrades forever. The "Big Mouth Monsters" escorted the light aircraft, gently swaying their wings as if greeting, providing an escort all the way. Then two more "Big Mouth Monsters" flew over, numbered 215 and 216, Finally came 211 and 212, Chekhov Big Bear and the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios. Six "Big Mouth Monsters" flanked the light aircraft on both wings, creating an impressive flight formation. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron welcomed their comrade back in their own way. The aircrew base nestled among mountains appeared in sight. As the aircraft landed in succession, the light aircraft finally stabilized on the apron; the "Big Mouth Monster" pilots had already lined up to greet Chen Fei with fists and pats on the shoulder. This was called a sense of ceremony; every comrade who had experienced life and death together was an indispensable part of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. "No one has bullied you outside, right? If anyone dares to be foolish, just drop my name, Chekhov!" Chekhov, rarely sober and not drunk, spoke nonsense in a clear-headed state. Deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" pushed away the self-satisfied Big Bear with a playful eye roll, scolding, "Go! You big bear, take a look in the mirror. Who would dare to bully a ''Rookie''? It''s already a blessing if the ''Rookie'' doesn''t bully others." What utter truth! Though the 911 Aircrew Base was located in the almost isolated Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, communications were not truly cut off from the world. Chen Fei, bizarrely becoming the ferocious clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe, was news known worldwide; naturally, the people at 911 Aircrew Base were not ignorant of this. "You''ve made a name for yourself, ''Rookie''!" "Good to have you back, relax and ease up!" "We missed you dearly!" "The legacy of Old Barlut was given to you; you kept it too well hidden." "Welcome back!" The troublemaker from outside finally returned, and as colleagues of Chen Fei, they naturally shared in the glory. Unfortunately, since the Aircrew Base was filled with their own people, bragging about it was limited to their own amusement. "Chirp!" Surrounded by a crowd, the Little Bird perched on Chen Fei''s father''s shoulder couldn''t help but release a "Light Burst Flash." The next second, it was chaos, as nearly everyone was caught directly in the flash, with no exceptions. My eyes... Good grief, the same old familiar sensation. The pilots of "Genuine Fragrance" squadron crowded around Chen Fei as they entered Hangar No. 1, where the maintenance crew, not tending to the "Big Mouth Monster," were busy organizing the workspace under the lead of Big Brother Xiao. Hearing the commotion, Big Brother Xiao turned his head and nodded at Chen Fei from a distance, then continued with his work. The cool exterior but warm interior was typical of the maintenance chief, and everyone was used to it. The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet was curled up in a corner of the hangar, snoring loudly, clearly having stayed up all night playing video games again, sleeping during the day and awake at night, and just when it had officially started working for a month, it began to slack off. Luckily, it wasn''t needed on regular shifts, just that it didn''t drop the ball at critical moments. Groggily lifting its head, it perked up its ears and stared straight at Chen Fei, then rubbed its eyes like a cat washing its face. "Mr. Chen, you knew to come back, huh!" With a leap, it scampered to Chen Fei''s feet, attempting to claw at his pant leg. This heartless guy, who had lured it to this deserted mountain area, had disappeared in the blink of an eye. "Chirp!~" Instantly, the hangar lost all its color. "My eyes!" Big Cat got a full blast at close range and rolled away, covering his eyes. Little Bird, finding the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet too close, rewarded it with a "Light Burst Flash." Back in its familiar environment, the little guy couldn''t help relapsing into old habits. Despite the experience, some still unavoidably fell victim to collateral damage again. After strolling around the hangar, Chen Fei took Little Bird back to the two-story cottage housing the Energy Tower, which was well cared for; the various plants inside the sunny greenhouse were still vigorous and lush, some even bearing fruit. Upon entering the house, Little Bird immediately flew into the greenhouse, weaving through the branches and even pecking at the sweet fruits. The small cottage had gained a few more items, like test tubes, beakers, microscopes, and jars of colorful liquids, somewhat resembling a chemistry lab. A ceramic basin the size of a washbowl sat on the square table, planted with a peculiar fungal plant, the "Flesh Mushroom," which Chen Fei once brought back as a spoil of war. The door to the small cottage was, as always, unlocked. Chen Fei had just entered when Boss Hanna, who had temporarily separated after disembarking the transport, arrived hot on his heels. "This thing has grown this fast?" Compared to the last time he saw the "Flesh Mushroom" plants, the ones in front of him in the large basin were radically different, Chen Fei turned around and pointed at the ceramic basin. Originally, only two or three frail plants huddled together, but now the basin was full, nearly overflowing, with the largest fungal plant over two feet tall and more than a foot in diameter, occupying almost half the basin''s interior, with the rest squeezed together to make room for about twenty or thirty plants. The feeble appearance of the "Flesh Mushrooms" was indescribable, but now, their plump white bodies looked rather comical. "Your gardening skills are truly something; these ''Flesh Mushrooms'' need repotting already." Hanna Gagel placed a stack of food containers on the bar counter in front of the liquor cabinet; she had brought some appetizers from the base''s cafeteria, just in time to meet up with Chen Fei. Growing "Flesh Mushrooms" was a task that this female boss took upon herself, without delegating to anyone, thus she avoided any worry about technology leaks. Probably no more than a handful of people in the entire 911 Aircrew Base were aware of this strange mushroom''s existence. As long as the cultivation process was correct, the growth rate of "Flesh Mushrooms" was quite astonishing. Chen Fei sincerely said, "You''ve worked hard!" Having said that, he reached out to flick one of the mushrooms in the full basin, which immediately wobbled slightly, demonstrating its resilience. As if talking to himself, he said, "Theoretically, they''re edible, but I wonder what they taste like?" "They taste a bit like beef, but the texture is very tender, kind of like rabbit meat. I had Chef Abel prepare another portion; you could try it." Hanna Gagel had a prior experience, so she spoke with authority. "Oh! Then I must try it!" Chen Fei shifted his attention from the full basin of "Flesh Mushrooms" to the food containers brought by Boss Hanna. Slapping his forehead with an apologetic look, he said, "I almost forgot, I need to apologize first, Little Jiu stole your liquor and hid it in its leg ring." "Ah?" As Hanna Gagel was about to open a food container, she paused, her hand hovering mid-air. Chapter 524 524: Section 520 - New Transaction "Are you saying... Xiao Jiu stole wine? How amusing!" Hanna Gagel was utterly astonished as she looked at the little bird frolicking among the warm-room plants, laughing behind her hand, her body trembling like blossoming flowers behind the bar. My little bird (the mascot of Jiu Defense) is already so capable! She hadn''t noticed it at all. On one hand, it was oversight in plain sight; on the other, there were so many bottles in her collection that she wouldn''t notice if two or three went missing occasionally. Even if she did notice the shortage, she''d mostly assume they''d been drunk. The way a rich person and a poor person perceive the same situation can be entirely different. Chen Fei was inevitably limited by poverty in his imagination¡ªpoverty is the original sin! "Yes, yes, it''s my lack of discipline but I will compensate," An embarrassed Chen Xiao''er was gauging whether his remaining money after paying off his debts would be enough to cover the wines Xiao Jiu had pilfered, especially since he had impulsively brought along two bottles when visiting his future in-laws. No matter the cost, it was certainly not cheap. Poor him, barely clearing old debts before new ones emerged, an endless cycle, natural like the law of debt. After retrieving a bottle of wine from the cabinet, Hanna Gagel waved her hand and said, "Nevermind, consider it a gift to him, not worth much. You still need to save up for your bride-price!" With a home wine cellar like Boss Hana''s, a few bottles less were no concern. She hoarded wine by the crate and even invested in vineyards¡ªlosing one or two bottles was no issue at all. A boss of such magnitude, with an open heart, wouldn''t quibble over a little bird. Pursuing such a trivial matter against a core staff of Jiu Defense was downright unnecessary. After all, good wine is for drinking, not just for display, otherwise what''s the point of having such a vast family wine cellar? "No hurry, there are always ways to save money." Chen Fei shook his head, his skills naturally came with a money-making bonus. Lacking money with an industrial-grade ability? Ridiculous! Believe it or not, if he submitted his resignation now, there would be major factories scrambling for him. In some specific high-end production fields, industrial-grade abilities dominated utterly, not leaving room for other factories to survive. But Jiu Defense was a private enterprise with warmth and heart. Hanna Gagel had been willing to pull Chen Fei back from death''s door with a magic potion worth ten million Star Yuan, so it would be tasteless and disrespectful to do otherwise. After all, one should have some conscience, Boss Hana had treated him well, so he owed it to continue working there. It would be shameful to simply shake off the dust and climb upwards. "Mm, I believe!" Hanna Gagel nodded, understanding that Chen Fei''s quick recovery of the funds to pay his debts was greatly related to his ability to make extra cash. If he only relied on his salary from Jiu Defense, he would have had to wait at least another seven or eight years to accumulate it. Getting the bottle opener, she gripped the bottle''s neck and turned it twice with a creak, then pulled with force, and with a pop sound, a rich fragrance of wine mixed with a hint of sweet floral aroma was immediately released, refreshing everyone present. Every aspect of good wine can lift one''s spirits. "Jiu?" Drawn by the scent, the little bird flew over and alighted on the bar, tilting its little head as it inspected Boss Hana. "You little rascal!" Realizing the little one not only had a taste for drinks but also stole them, Hanna Gagel, not at all amused, reached out to flick its delicate sharp beak, but the agile creature easily evaded, denying any touch. Aside from Chen Fei, perhaps only Chef Abel at the Aircrew Base could touch this little bird, even the female boss had no luck. Hanna Gagel had no choice but to pour a half-full measure of wine into a small cup and pushed it towards the little troublemaker. The little bird immediately approached cheerfully, first cautiously taking a sip, then gleefully gulping it down with high spirits. This was her and Chen Fei''s private little bar where they enjoyed occasional other guests. With people, wine, appetizers, and stories, the atmosphere was very relaxing and stress-relieving; naturally, Hanna Gagel would not choose to drink gloomily alone. "This little fellow, I really don''t know why it loves human beverages so much." Chen Fei walked back from the table with the "flesh mushrooms" to the bar next to the wine cabinet. As usual, he took his seat on a tall bar stool, satisfied with whatever the boss served¡ªdefinitely good wine, no need to choose, no need to be picky, just drink and be done. Xiao Jiu didn''t just like wine; it also enjoyed coffee and strong tea. Human cuisine isn''t actually suitable for other creatures, often causing malnutrition, yet this little guy just loved them. "Xiao Jiu is a Magical Beast, it knows how to take care of itself." Hanna Gagel also poured a glass of wine for Chen Fei and then slid the food box over. Xiao Jiu, like Chen Fei, was good at holding its liquor, rarely getting drunk, and even when it did, it would quietly sleep it off, very well-behaved. "Try this ''flesh mushroom,'' Abel prepared it in three different ways." Using the cultivation techniques obtained from Chen Fei, the correctly cultivated "flesh mushrooms" were no longer sickly; they grew at a visible rate and filled a large pot inside the glazed container. Hanna Gagel had even picked a few and tried cooking them, and now was the time to share the results. Chen Fei picked up chopsticks, took one of the battered and fried pieces, didn''t hesitate, and popped it into his mouth, chewing a few times. "Mm, no wonder it''s called ''flesh mushroom''; this is entirely like meat!" It was rare to find a fungal fruiting body in nature that gave the sensation of meat when eaten. He prodded it a few more times and said, "It''s a bit like a mix between beef and lamb, tender but not mushy." Mushrooms are naturally tender and delicious. Now that they have a meaty flavor, they are even more incredible. "I had the people in the biological lab analyze it. The ''Flesh Mushroom''s protein content is slightly lower than beef but higher than eggs, and the nutritional elements are very balanced, suitable for long-term consumption." The Aircrew Base originally had the professional equipment for analyzing mutant creature samples, and as Boss Hana Gagel, using it for personal benefit was completely reasonable. After all, it''s something to be eaten, so being cautious is always correct. With no issues found in the composition of the substances, the next step was to see how it tasted. "No wonder the ''Water Bear'' organization was able to stay hidden for so long!" Chen Fei picked up another piece of the ''Flesh Mushroom'' that looked like braised meat, and the taste was great. You couldn''t tell at all that it was a mushroom. The sensitivity of chemical and biological agents is far less than that of food, as the output of animals and plants is cyclical, and the consumption is much greater than that of manufactured goods. With high-yield food sources like ''Flesh Mushrooms,'' the secret breeding bases of the ''Water Bear'' organization could achieve self-sufficiency to some extent, greatly increasing their concealment. If it weren''t for an accidental slip, this mysterious organization conducting illegal research might still be lurking, unknown to the outside world. Then he tasted the third sample. The ''Flesh Mushroom'' was no longer prepared on its own but mixed with other ingredients, cooked in a dish called twice-cooked pork, which requires careful control of the ingredients and cooking time. Only a chef like Abel could handle it with ease. "Tastes just like real meat, hmm, this is going to be a big deal." Chen Fei''s gaze met Boss Hana''s. A second ago, they were talking about extra earnings; now, the opportunity was right there. Fried, braised, and stir-fried¡ªpassing these three tests means the ''Flesh Mushroom'' has carved out a place for itself in the culinary world. The ''Water Bear'' organization, lying low, wouldn''t dare to bring out ''Flesh Mushrooms'' for use, but Jiu Defense Company, mixing openly under the sun, has no such scruples. The samples of ''Flesh Mushroom'' and related cultivation techniques Chen Fei captured are immeasurable in value. This is an exclusive, open business. Even if the ''Water Bear'' organization has ''Flesh Mushrooms,'' would they dare to sell them? "Yes, we can make a killing!" Boss Hana smiled radiantly. Everyone is in the business of making money, and it''s not embarrassing! Damn! Chen Fei was shocked into shivering by the one-eyed old lady. You should at least remove your eyepatch before you smile; it''s quite scary, you know. Normally, Boss Hana''s stern and serious demeanor was also good; a boss always needs to maintain their dignity. However, the sight of her smiling with an eyepatch could cause someone to shiver uncontrollably. "You studied economics for your undergraduate, do you understand how to manage business matters?" Hanna Gagar turned to business. The ''Flesh Mushroom'' had preliminarily won the approval of both, and now it was time to explore its commercial potential. This deal is one that only Jiu Defense Company can pull off¡ªit''s just too good. "I only know how to count money!" Chen Fei grinned, his words holding a double meaning. Isn''t that what economics is all about? Counting money? Since the female boss showed interest in commercializing, he would just sit back and wait to get paid, which is also, in a way, counting money. If Boss Hanna wasn''t willing to share the profits with Chen Fei, or didn''t even plan to make the deal, she probably wouldn''t bring it up at all. So, that''s...generous! That the Jiu Defense Company has not had any defectors was not solely due to Chen Fei; the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron and the other departments had their reasons for staying. "Alright, I''ll handle it. Let''s split it thirty-seventy; you take thirty, I take seventy. How about that?" Hanna Gagar poured more wine for Chen Fei. In business talks, clear accounts make for good friends. Boss Hana was treating Chen Xiao''er as a partner. After all, they had drunk so much together and had a life-and-death relationship; knowing each other so well, it made sense to keep the benefits within their circle. "Deal!" Chen Fei agreed swiftly, his seed money was on its way. A fifty-fifty or forty-sixty split was out of the question. After all, the hard costs of production, operations, and channels were all very real expenses, not to mention the relationships involved, whereas Chen Fei''s earnings were cost-free. He would be a true absentee owner unless he also took part in the management by contributing technology and leadership to earn a higher share of the profits. Chen Fei had the self-awareness to know that as an outsider, he shouldn''t add to the chaos. "I''ve already prepared the business plan and contract. I''ll send it to you to review. If there''s no issue, I''ll start setting things in motion, and we could enter the market in three months at the earliest." The decisive Hanna Gagar had everything ready; she just needed Chen Fei''s agreement. "Sure, I''ll give you an answer within three days." Chen Fei still needed to have a lawyer review the contract and other legally binding documents; these were all standard business procedures. The two raised their glasses, clink!~ "Cheep!" Xiao Jiu also wanted to join in the toast, but unfortunately, its little claws weren''t steady, and it spilled... Chapter 525 525: Section 521 - Great Wisdom In fact, it hadn''t taken three days. It had only taken one day for Chen Fei to finalize the cooperation agreement with Boss Hana and the comprehensive development plan for "Flesh Mushroom." Legal personnel were not hard to find; there were connections to be leveraged, such as Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, Northern Weapons Industry Group, Jiu Defense''s in-house cooperating lawyers, and even the university Chen Fei attended, all of which could assist. Even if there were fees, they wouldn''t be unaffordable. The contents of the documents were inevitably noticed, and wow, "Flesh Mushroom" had not yet been mass-produced, but potential major clients had already emerged. If one was willing to spend the money, direct contact with law firms in society that charged by the hour and labor could also ensure the review of these documents within a specified time. The remaining tasks only required signing, fingerprinting, electronic signatures, notarization, and a series of authorizations; then a corporation solely running "Flesh Mushroom" would be officially established. As for the complex issue of company name, Chen Fei tossed it directly to Boss Hana. He knew nothing about business; it was, after all, something Boss should handle. Registering a company name was a lesson learned from past mistakes; probably, it wouldn''t cause laughter again. Since the construction of the planting site wasn''t completed yet, there was no rush. If necessary, they could spend some money to purchase an already registered company name. Any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem. If not particular, a random array of numbers, letters, and Chinese characters would do; after all, it was the source company, and there was no need for a catchy name, like the homespun "Golden Arches," which didn''t detract from being one of the industry''s big shots. At least in the circle of small military contractors, Jiu Defense had already gained some fame. Besides its main business at the Aircrew Base, it had gradually accepted many other military and security contracts and had begun to turn a profit. Having settled the new project partnership with Boss Hana, Chen Fei finally officially returned to his post. He checked in at the rotation duty area of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, and with no flying missions at hand, he planned to help out in the maintenance crew. However, most of the organizing work in the maintenance area was already done, and Big Brother Xiao didn''t let Chen Fei interfere, instead suggesting he take a walk in Hangar 2. Compared to before his leave, there were quite a few more things in Hangar 2. Chen Fei saw the lists hanging on container after container, all filled with various damaged and obsolete parts from attack helicopters, Big Mouth Monsters, and MiG aircrafts. These should have entered a regeneration program, but the maintenance chief had bought them cheaply by the pound from peers at various Aircrew Bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, meticulously storing them, seemingly waiting for Chen Fei''s return. This was indeed a brilliant move! For Chen Fei, the hardest parts to repair were the non-metal components, as metal material deformations and damages were not really an issue. Out of dozens of containers of scrap, repairing just one percent would mean a huge profit for the maintenance crew. However, Chen Fei estimated that he could restore seventy to eighty percent of the parts to their original state, making them virtually indistinguishable from new. It might not just be a huge profit; it could be a windfall. The costs saved would become Jiu Defense''s profits, which would then become everyone''s bonus. Setting aside Big Brother Xiao''s unilateral decision, the benefits generated by these collected scraps had only advantages, no disadvantages for Chen Fei; naturally, he would take the lion''s share, and such a bonus was extraordinarily significant for someone who had been impoverished in the past. This demonstrated that Big Brother Xiao cared about the debts Chen Fei carried. After a busy morning, Chen Fei had finished sorting the parts in one container. The repair wasn''t troublesome, it was done in a blink, but the majority of the time was spent on picking and placing parts. In the end, there were still a dozen or so nearly shattered components left, mainly damaged non-metal parts. Metal Elemental Psychic Power could repair them, but it would cost Energy Points, and Chen Fei naturally didn''t want to waste precious Energy Points on this scrap. He planned to see if he could find suitable 3D printing base materials later and reprint a set. 911 Aircrew Base wasn''t in urgent need of these parts, so there was no rush to repair them; they were simply set aside for now. Arriving next to the stacked containers, two massive objects were covered with white cloths. He lifted one of the cloths, revealing a badly damaged body. The Crystal Jet "Holy Grail"! This junk, once collected outside the outskirts of Hablav City, headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, could only be found in such a place. Chen Fei reached out his hand... First, he threw out a hundred tons of iron. Subtitles appeared in his field of vision. Energy Points -100! Energy Points: 39900/40000 Then he placed his palm on the battered Crystal Jet. System: Ding! Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" wreck detected, 11345.32 kilograms, absorb: Yes/No|? Yes! "Metal Devouring" skill activated. System: Ding! Absorbed Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" (wreck), gained 11 Energy Points, composition ratio: Titanium 65%, Aluminum 10%, Wind Patterned Copper 7%, Black Sand Steel 5%, Platinum 1%, Rhenium 1%... System: Ding! Gained "Wind Cone" Magic Array! Chen Fei''s eyebrows lifted. Huh? This Crystal Jet still retained a complete Magic Array on it. On the ground, there were only various non-metallic parts of all sizes, the "Metal Devouring" only affected metallic materials. After absorbing the metals, what was left were these fragments. The body weight of 11345.32 kilograms wasn''t necessarily all metal, but how much had been approximately taken away by the Dog System, Chen Fei probably didn''t have an exact count. "Physical Evolution Database" extracts the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" (remains) sample. The next moment, the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" evolved identically and landed on the ground, and all the non-metal parts were "picked up" back, still in their broken state. "Rookie, are you messing with this again?" A voice came from behind. Chen Fei turned around and saw it was Tempun Schneider, a.k.a. "Sauerkraut." After graduating from "Eagle Nest", he was signed by Jiu Defense. When he first arrived at the 911 Aircrew Base, he only knew "Rookie" Chen Fei, which naturally made him feel a bit closer, By now he should have been familiar with the other colleagues of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and got along well with them. Having seen Chen Fei come over alone earlier, the idle "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider followed out of curiosity. Chen Fei had tampered with this Crystal Jet several times before, but he never quite grasped it, and had not made any progress. The Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" had always kept in its broken state; it had never been repaired. "Hmm, I plan to fix it." Chen Fei''s hands did not leave the "Holy Grail". He continued to activate the "Metal Shaping" skill, starting to restore the appearance of the Crystal Jet, performing the most basic restoration. Previously, he had dared not to start because on one hand, he completely did not grasp the magic array on the body surface, and on the other hand, he also lacked a reference sample. But now, the situation was different. Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider''s mouth opened wide, pointing at the now undamaged-looking Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" and stuttering: "Wha-what? Fix it!" It seemed to him the most incredible thing in the world. Not to mention tinkering with repairing a Crystal Jet at a military contractor''s aircrew base, just having such a thought, from any angle, was overly audacious! A broken-down Crystal Jet and a intact Crystal Jet were almost two different things; the former was worthless rubbish, while the latter represented a sovereign level combat force. "Exactly, everything should be tried." Chen Fei had obtained several very practical Magic Arrays, and absorbed another genuine Crystal Jet wreckage and a complete knockoff Crystal Jet. Only after cross-verifying each other did he gain the confidence to try. At any rate, if it failed, it didn''t matter; at worst he''d crash and start over. Having industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Powers meant he could afford to be capricious. Tempun Schneider took a deep breath, somewhat helplessly said, "This is impossible, you know?" "How will we know without trying?" Chen Fei began to inscribe the Magic Array for this Crystal Jet. Apart from the still intact "Wind Cone (2)" Magic Array below the nose, he continued to imprint other Magic Arrays he knew, replacing the original incomplete Magic Arrays. The "Holy Grail" had 99 engraving units, perfectly stacking "Repulsion Shield (45)"¡Á1, "Gravity (1)"¡Á4, "Fluid Vortex (2)"¡Á4, "Blazing Flame Bullet (1)"¡Á4, "Wind Blade (1)"¡Á2, "Wind Series Magic Shield (12)"¡Á1, in addition to the original "Wind Cone (2)", using up 77/99 of the engraving units. After absorbing that knockoff Crystal Jet, Chen Fei had gained some additional Magic Arrays, which could also be of use at this moment. The Magic Arrays used by the "Holy Grail" were not those Chen Fei had imprinted; under conditions where he couldn''t fully restore to original, he could only use what was available, but he guessed even if it was repaired, it would still be a knockoff Crystal Jet. How it would actually perform, and whether it could surpass the knockoff Crystal Jet he had absorbed before, probably could only be known after a test flight. Seeing the Magic Array on the surface of the body flickering, Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider finally confirmed Chen Fei was serious. His mouth twitched, and he turned and ran without hesitation. "This is incredible! The Crystal Jet is really getting fixed." Wow! The 911 Aircrew Base was about to have its own Crystal Jet. Reverberating across the entire Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, who else?... If the Merman Brothers Consortium, who once opposed the 911 Aircrew Base, saw this thing, they''d probably stay as far away as possible, can''t afford to mess with them, can''t afford to mess with them! The "Holy Grail", with its Magic Arrays imprinted, was just a shell; the inside was actually empty. Chen Fei looked toward the adjacent containers, Emmmm... Big Brother Xiao really is a genius. Chapter 526 526: Section 522 - Takeoff from Standstill The cockpit, dashboard, avionics systems, and other missing modules were all replaced with MiG aircraft repair parts. The jet, the jet engine, they all share the prefix "jet"; perhaps some technologies could be interchangeable. It''s not like you can just hard-install the turboprop from the "Big Mouth Monster"; that would be totally incongruous. Of course, the avionics and flight control systems couldn''t be used directly, but that was no problem. Summon "Adam," after all, this was what it originally did, and now it was just picking up its old trade. The "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider, who was frantically calling out, pulled over a group of people from the adjacent hangar 1, just in time to see Chen Fei, who had just finished filling the cockpit. He was using his special ability to control the "Holy Grail''s" various aerodynamic control surfaces, coordinating with "Adam" for on-site programming to fabricate a flight control system. Whether the flight control system would work or not, only an actual flight would tell. "Adam" wasn''t sure, and neither was Chen Fei. Chen Xiao''er''s actions were fierce as a tiger, and the Crystal Jet, which appeared as new after an exterior repair, was finally modified and rolled out. Although it was cloaked in a Crystal Jet''s shell on the outside and had a complete magic array, inside one could find the module characteristics of four or five different models, all mashed together by "Adam." At the very least, the system could be started and pass the self-test. "Holy shit, this thing is fixed?" It wasn''t until Chen Fei had finally let go that Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, was drooling, rarely seeing something other than strong liquor that could make him salivate. He felt he might have underestimated the "Rookie''s" industrial-grade ability. Since it had reached the level of industrial grade, not only was it at will, but just looking at the scene before him, even daring to meddle with a national treasure artifact like the Crystal Jet was outrageous. The Crystal Jet wreckage, which had been collecting dust in a corner of hangar 2, had completely changed its appearance. Its profile was much larger than the still-covered F-22 "Raptor" next to it. It wasn''t just a heavy fighter but had an aura of a bomber. The "Holy Grail" had five built-in weapon bays, the central fuselage weapon bay being the largest, sufficient for serving as a bomber. Even without loading ammunition, the onboard attack spells alone made its combat power formidable. "I really want to give it a try." Squadron Deputy Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios licked her lips, looking very eager. As the Crystal Jet, a national treasure artifact, stood before her, as a private enterprise pilot, if she could fly it even once, there would be no regrets in life. "Gah? Try? No way, it could lead to loss of life!" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear slowly turned his head to look at the short-haired Latin girl who was eager to try (raring to go), promptly shaking his huge head like a rattle drum. Only a true Sky Knight could master the Crystal Jet. Ordinary people would be at risk not just flying it, but even sitting inside could be dangerous. "Is it wrong to think about it?" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios rolled her eyes at Big Bear. She was not a Sky Knight, just an ordinary person, naturally, she did not have the ability to control the Crystal Jet. She might covet it, but took no actual action. Squadron Leader Chekhov said in a deep voice, "Okay, okay, actually I want to try it too." He suddenly felt the Erguotou in his crotch wasn''t appealing anymore. The two squadron leaders almost had the same thought; it''s just that one dared to speak it out, while the other did not. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron pilots watched their two bosses with faces full of terror, truly daring to dream! They didn''t even dare to think about it. The Crystal Jet was indeed tempting, but wasn''t it deadly? Adam: Self-check complete, dynamic balance calibration finished! Finally, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" prompt appeared before Chen Fei. Then, as if routine, he started refueling it with various types of oil. Like other aircraft, it required not just fuel but also various liquids like lubricating oil and hydraulic oil. Luckily, the hangar had everything, and as a certified maintenance technician himself, he quickly got it done. Watching Chen Fei single-handedly complete the entire preparation process, Chekhov Big Bear asked, "Hey, you''re not seriously going to do this, are you?" As he prepared to head towards the tow tractor, Chen Fei turned around and said, "We''ve come this far, might as well give it a try, right?" It was impossible to put so much effort into fixing a Crystal Jet and then just leave it here to continue collecting dust as a decoration. Otherwise, it would be better to buy a 1:1 scale model of a Crystal Jet from the original factory. "Hey hey, you better take it easy." Chekhov Big Bear actually wanted to see if this Crystal Jet would really fly, and although he doubted his own ability to pilot it, he didn''t want Chen Fei to have any accidents. However, Chen Fei was an impervious to swords and guns, Grade B supernatural power user. In terms of physical constitution, he was certainly stronger than ordinary people. If not for this, Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear would have already tried to prevent such folly. After towing the Crystal Jet onto the apron and fueling it, he casually slapped the Crystalline Block into it. The magic arrays on the surface of the craft collectively lit up and then dimmed. "Ignition!" Click!~ A soft sound from inside the airframe followed by a deafening roar from the twin vector thrusters indicated at least it didn''t need ground support equipment to ignite successfully. After all, most jet fighters have limited battery storage, but the main source of energy for the Crystal Jet, the higher form of Crystal Energy, was electricity, which was abundant. The two to three meter-long orange flames quickly receded into a faint blue hue, a sign of complete combustion. Due to the amplification provided by the magic arrays, a Crystal Jet didn''t consume much actual fuel. However, the Crystal Jet Chen Fei repaired had most of its magic arrays damaged due to battle damage and manual vandalism, losing the effects of fuel economy and thrust enhancement. Even the Crystal Jet he plundered did not have those specialized magic arrays, thus a full repair was unattainable. ``` The one that took a real Crystal Jet as its core for repairs and modifications was no longer the original aircraft. It used too many spare parts to fill in and amateurish Magic Arrays to cover and replace, inevitably leading to a significant decrease in performance and combat capability. Still, it was better than a knockoff and about on par with the simplified version¡ªa monkey model. A monkey model of the National Treasure Artifacts? What a joke! But standing on the foundation of a finished product and a damaged one, the process was certainly much better than starting from scratch. Like "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider, a newbie to the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, "Angelica" Wadiye couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath. "Goodness, it actually looks like it can fly!" "We''re going to have a Crystal Jet! We''re getting a Crystal Jet!" At Aircrew Base 911, feeling a sense of belonging, "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider murmured to himself. Both of their comments could only be heard by themselves. Seeing the canopy of the Crystal Jet open, a large cluster of complex and fragmented geometric shapes emerged from Chen Fei''s body, forming the "Flying Dragon" Interceptor Tactical Armor. Realizing what was going to happen, Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios quickly shouted, "Everyone back off, leave the apron, and head to the hangar over there!" Her voice was drowned out by the roaring engines, so she could only pull people one by one, pointing towards Hangar 1. Such a patched-together aircraft was not as rudimentary as the Tricycle flyer, and a successful ignition didn''t guarantee a successful takeoff. Everyone scrambled away. Damn, what if it explodes! Supernatural power users might survive, but the same couldn''t be said for these ordinary folks. Chen Fei had guts, and the others weren''t faint-hearted, but none had the audacity of the former. Because "Rookie" was truly reckless! He plonked himself in the cockpit¡ªah, MiG-style piloting, felt completely familiar. "Hey, calling the control tower, report the weather data." Chen Fei fiddled around nonsensically, purely winging it. "Huh? ''Rookie''? Wait, what''s going on? Where did this aircraft come from... what are you..." Two hundred meters away, everyone in the control tower was dumbstruck. Unlike the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron and the mechanical repair team, who watched Chen Fei tinker with the Crystal Jet and had moved beyond surprise, they were suddenly receiving a signal from an unfamiliar aircraft, almost as if an alien had space-jumped right in front of their eyes. "Just fixed up a real gem, wanted to give it a go!" Aircrew Base 911 was home turf; there weren''t so many formalities¡ªarrange for takeoff and landing preparations, then just go for it. "What is that?" The duty manager, Mahnam, nearly flung himself against the window, pressing his face right up to the glass. "A Crystal Jet!" Inside the control tower, it wasn''t just shock anymore, but total chaos. It wasn''t April Fool''s Day, and not just at Aircrew Base 911¡ªeven in the entire circle of military contractors, who could boast of having a Crystal Jet. Having a wrecked Crystal Jet carcass in Hangar 2 was no secret, but in such a battered state, with its insides torn apart, it was practically a different entity from a working Crystal Jet. After closing the cockpit canopy, Chen Fei gently pushed the throttle lever forward, and the aircraft immediately responded, the sensation of being pushed back hitting him as the outside world slowly receded. Constrained by the fact that the main engine wasn''t a perfect fit, the thrust of this Crystal Jet was inadequate to match its aerodynamic form, so its flying potential couldn''t be exploited to 100%. "The weather conditions are suitable." A dedicated employee at the control tower responsively reported back to Chen Fei by reflex. "''Rookie'' received!" Chen Fei had already maneuvered the Crystal Jet to the takeoff end of the main runway. With the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron all grounded and the weather conditions favorable, he had free rein over how he wanted to fly¡ªwhich wouldn''t be allowed at a formal airport. The Crystal Jet''s exhaust flames grew as the output thrust maxed out and the next second, the nose lightly lifted, the front landing gear left the ground, and the aircraft shot straight up into the sky. The "Wind Cone" Magic Array beneath the nose cone activated, a light aqua glow sweeping across the entire aircraft. Pop!~ Less than fifteen seconds into the ascent, it broke the sound barrier. Chen Xiao''er: "..." Control tower: "..." Everyone on the ground: "..." Is a vertical takeoff even possible? ``` Chapter 527 527: Section 523 - Feeling a Bit Dizzy Aiyo, I''m outta here! This wasn''t a standing long jump; Chen Fei hadn''t even had time to react before, like a bolt of lightning stealing a bell, he and the crystal jet shot up into the sky with a Biu. The speed of rising straight into the sky was really fast. The original engine of the crystal jet "Holy Grail" was beyond repair, and he didn''t have the imaginative power to fix it, so he simply borrowed the engine from a knockoff crystal jet, which performed better than the F-22 "Raptor" and the MiG-28. Once the "gravity" spell array was activated, the engine output efficiency immediately became terrifying. For example, a thrust of 100 kilonewtons acting on a one-ton object and a 10-kilogram object would result in completely different accelerations. Moreover, there was a "wind cone" spell right at the nose which effectively improved the aerodynamic shape, minimizing air resistance and even generating a bit of extra thrust. In terms of aerodynamics, control, and thrust, the crystal jet could achieve the optimal solution. Not to mention the balance in offense, defense, and maneuverability, it was rightly named a National Treasure Artifact. "Hey, hey, ''Rookie'', are you okay?" It wasn''t just Chen Fei; the duty manager Mahnam in the tower was also scared witless. He''d never seen an aircraft take off so fiercely, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye. Could a normal person even handle such acceleration? "I''m, I''m okay, just a bit too fast!" Chen Fei seemed still unable to shake off the shock, his mind a bit muddled from not being able to adjust in time. It''s damn fast! The crystal jet was like a wild and unruly steed, throwing its weight around as soon as it took flight. Normally, the crystal jets matched to Sky Knights are custom-tuned, allowing for a smooth and lubricated start, easily achieving unity between man and machine. But Chen Fei''s jet hadn''t submitted to anyone just yet; it was high time for a taming. In the blink of an eye, the crystal jet had shot 80 kilometers away from Aircrew Base 911. Chen Fei quickly pulled back, with the airspeed indicator already soaring to 3.2 Mach, fast enough to race a missile. He performed a dozen simple maneuvers first, letting "Adam" adjust flight control data in real-time, slowly reining in the crystal jet bit by bit, making it more obedient. The aerodynamic control surfaces on the body of the crystal jet began to coordinate, shifting sideways half a circle, changing direction. Then something unexpected happened. The engine suddenly cut out, and then the whole crystal jet began to fall. Emmm... Something seems kind of off here. Reigniting the engine, its tail successfully flared up, then with a loud thud, it slammed into the side of the mountain. Mountain (>.<): My poor old back... The crystal jet tumbled all the way down into the valley, plowing a huge crater into the ground, with smoke wafting up and the body significantly deformed. "Hey hey, ''Rookie'', can you hear me?" Chen Fei''s ears picked up the calls from the tower. The ground-based radar at Aircrew Base 911 had lost active recognition signals from the crystal jet the moment he crashed. "Oh, oh, I''m fine, just took a, a, a tumble." Chen Fei was still somewhat groggy, stumbling over his words. Thankfully, after the crash, the cockpit was still facing up, otherwise he would have been mouthful of mud from the caved-in cockpit canopy. Because it was the maiden flight, he hadn''t been willing to eject, fully protecting the craft with his Metal Elemental Psychic Power. Hence, the crystal jet looked horrific but hadn''t shattered to pieces. However, the impact transmitted to the cockpit was considerable. Even with the "Flying Dragon" tactical armor protection, he was still rattled quite badly, his voice quivering as he spoke. A fall? Fall what? Can a crash of an aircraft be compared to slipping on flat ground? "Where are you, can you see what''s around you?" The duty manager Mahnam immediately instructed his team to locate the last known position where the crystal jet signal disappeared, estimating the search radius to start at least from 10 kilometers. With the speed of the crystal jet, a Biu and it was far gone. "I can see..." Chen Fei struggled to prop himself up, peering outside the cockpit and casually mentioned, "Looks like a valley, with grass, and... rabbits! Lots of rabbits! Wait, isn''t this Rabbit Valley?" The surrounding terrain was very familiar, and those daring rabbits that were not afraid of people were even more recognizable. Just a moment ago, while maneuvering, the crystal jet had already started to behave abnormally, losing more than a hundred meters in altitude, then with the engine outage, what followed was a tailspin. The "gravity" spell array hadn''t been activated in time to completely counteract the falling speed, and before he could correct the course, it crashed into the mountain without losing momentum. Lucky for him, the fuel lines had been closed in time, and apart from a bit of fuel spillage, there wasn''t a fire, nor was there any ammunition to explode. "Got it, I''ll arrange for someone to come over right away, hey, are you hurt, stay where you are and don''t move!" Mahnam immediately arranged for the Armed Helicopter Squadron to take off and bring back Chen Xiao''er in one piece, not having imagined that he hadn''t ejected and had crashed with the crystal jet. Within a hundred-mile radius, the only place covered with rabbits was in the valley. As for the crystal jet? Go to hell with that thing! It''s too dangerous, thrown in the middle of the road, no one would dare to steal it. Didn''t you see it get smashed up in the valley on its first flight? Manager Mahnam would absolutely have no notion, not even a tiny bit of one, about the Crystal Jet. Even without the Crystal Jet, Aircrew Base 911 would continue to live its days just fine. "No need, I can get back on my own!" Chen Fei first calmed himself down, and the rabbits that had been scared off earlier sneaked back, curiously looking over the Crystal Jet that had fallen from the sky. Ever since the last rabbit release, the rabbits in Rabbit Valley had been breeding rapidly, nearly experiencing geometric growth. The net wall at the entrance of the valley had a gap that was not very large; occasionally, packs of wolves would slip in for a snack, or an overly clever rabbit would sneak out. Otherwise, the valley would eventually be overrun with rabbits. The bunnies were so cute, they should be served as braised rabbit, cold rabbit, spicy salt rabbit head... Slurp! The employees of Aircrew Base 911 probably thought the same, seizing any opportunity to trouble the rabbits, but their ability to cause trouble could not keep pace with the eight-generation rabbit population that was rapidly becoming ten generations. "Are you kidding? Just wait there, the helicopter is on its way." Duty Manager Mahnam felt certain that Chen Fei must have suffered a concussion, his brain having turned into mush, and he shook his head worriedly. Is the Crystal Jet something a normal person could handle? Is Chen Xiao''er a normal person? No! Ola! The cliffs were scarred with a series of shocking collisions. After resting for a while, the Metal Elemental Psychic Power was activated again; with a clattering noise, the Crystal Jet was back to its original condition, and the "Gravity" Spell Array was activated. The aircraft slowly lifted from the big dirt pit it had created. Ignite! The engine roared back to life, and the fiery blast scattered the grass, dirt, and debris, and the tremendous noise frightened the rabbits into a frenzied escape. The rabbits with more timid natures didn''t run far before they flipped over and lay flat, scared stiff to death. Chen Fei, however, did not care how many rabbits died, as their breeding power would quickly compensate and continue their familial prosperity. The Crystal Jet, restored to its former glory, burst out of the valley. This time it did not exhibit the wild, unbridled speed it had before. With the assistance of the AI "Adam," the Crystal Jet was finally bridled, flying towards Aircrew Base 911 at a steady speed, not even much faster than the "Big Mouth Monster." It continued to fly and adjust, possibly involving corrections to the aerodynamic design¡ªa long-term project. Squad Leader Yamada of the Armed Helicopter Squadron, nicknamed "Miso," took off immediately with medical personnel, heading straight for Rabbit Valley. "Hang in there, ''Rookie,'' we''ve taken off, we''ll be there soon!" Beep beep! A blip appeared on the radar screen. "Eh? Weren''t you supposed to have crashed, ''Rookie''?" The ground-based radar caught another fast-approaching active identification signal. It was Chen Fei''s Crystal Jet. Duty Manager Mahnam stared at the radar screen''s cursor, his mouth agape. What on earth was going on? One moment you crash, the next moment you''re taking off again like you''re flying some super-durable foam toy plane! Even a real Crystal Jet couldn''t be played with like that! The Crystal Jet brushed past the Z-9 armed helicopter. Yamada Yuhu: Who the hell am I, where the hell am I, and what the hell am I doing here? "''Miso,'' it''s ''Rookie,'' he seems to have just flown past us." Co-pilot "Zisu" Takada Fuziko craned her neck vigorously, peering out. Yamada Yuhu said weakly, "I know, we''re heading back." The rescue team had just set out in a rush when the main subject himself was already heading back. What kind of situation was that? The Crystal Jet returned above Aircrew Base 911, ready to land, and then... clang, it crashed again! Fortunately, Chen Fei reacted in time, swerved the control stick, and the aircraft didn''t crash hard onto the main runway, but instead nosed into the grass beside it, raising a cloud of dirt and gravel as high as seven or eight stories before skidding involuntarily for over a hundred meters, resulting in a ghastly sight. But it was still okay; it was a soft landing. "Again, again, it crashed again!" Manager Mahnam, who had witnessed the scene, turned pale. Was the Crystal Jet truly that terrifying? "No, no problem, just a bit dizzy!" Chen Fei responded groggily, the shock having rattled him quite a bit. But test flights were, after all, nothing out of the ordinary. Then a group of people rushed over, pulled him out of the cockpit, hoisted him onto a stretcher, and took him straight to the medical room. Then someone went to bring Xiao Jiu from the two-story villa''s sunroom. Before the small Band-Aid arrived, Old Black Doctor from the medical team checked Chen Fei''s eyelids and assured with confidence, "It''s fine, just a minor concussion, he''ll recover after some rest." Then Xiao Jiu arrived, and with a "Light of Redemption," Chen Fei dad resurrected on the spot with full health. A minor concussion? That didn''t exist! The pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron watched the Crystal Jet, which had pushed up a small mound of earth beside the runway, involuntarily shrink back, feeling a chill up their spines, any minor thoughts they had extinguished. National Treasure Artifacts were not meant to be controlled by ordinary people. Chapter 528 528: Section 524 - Spare Money Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s light-based spells had an immediate effect; Chen Fei''s adverse condition was completely resolved, and though he was carried in horizontally into the medical unit, it wasn''t long before he walked out on his own two feet again. Yet, falling near the runway in front of everyone was still terrifying, even though he wasn''t seriously hurt! If it had been someone else, it probably would have been more than just a minor concussion; they might have ended up dead, dead! Only Second Brother Chen, with his self-supplied "Band-Aid", could fall twice in succession and still be lively enough to continue tinkering, pushing his luck until he could no more. Each main combat flyer was built upon the lives of test pilots; there were no shortcuts or schemes to safety. The Crystal Jet that crashed next to the main runway looked dreadful, seemingly beyond repair, but under the operation of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, it quickly restored itself to its original state, resurrecting fully on the spot. Under Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s light healing spells, Chen Fei also regained his capability impressively. The people from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron and the Mechanics Unit were completely speechless. Everyone knew that the rookie''s journey to truly mastering the Crystal Jet was just beginning. National Treasure Artifacts were never simple. Fly once a day, crash at least three times each time. If it weren''t for the "Flying Dragon" Tactical Armor and Metal Elemental Psychic Power that allowed the Crystal Jet to undergo controllable deformation to offset most of the impact force, even ten lives wouldn''t be enough for Chen Xiao''er. The people at the Aircrew Base #911 gradually got used to the constant crashes. With continuous adjustments by Chen Fei and "Adam," the Crystal Jet slowly began to change its appearance, and these changes were meaningful, as the frequency of crashes decreased. During this period, Adrian Benjamin, who had once served with him in the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, called to catch up. Everyone was in the military contracting business; it was a small world, and you never knew when you might need help or collaboration. Not just Adrian but others too, like Miyoshi Xuesen, an Eighth Rank Wind Element War Professional, Susanna, a B-grade Ice Ability User, and Ruan Tiankai, a Ninth Rank Earth Mage, all called to say hi. The only exception was the Neanderthal Chief Bassan. This reticent Clan Leader, who was not good with words, wouldn''t know what to say even if he made a call. He was fine talking business but utterly clammed up when it came to social niceties. He didn''t call Chen Fei like the others, which wasn''t surprising. Chen Fei being kicked out of the special action squad and his temporary conscription being annulled by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wasn''t exactly a secret nor worth keeping one; evidently, word had reached Team 04. After Chen Fei left Hablav City, the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division also went through changes, or rather, adjustments. Most of the action squads were disbanded, and many ability users returned home, including the members of Team 04, who went their separate ways. There was a reason the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had abruptly burned its bridges. As more sovereignties lent their increasing support, the formerly small operations of the action squads under the Special Operations Division gradually evolved into collaborations among multiple teams, until active duty forces also got involved. They fought several significant battles alongside the mysterious "Water Bear" organization and its peripheral affiliates "Sacred Advent," seriously draining the latter''s strength. Add to that the underhanded surprise attacks by Miyoshi Xuesen''s Huntsman Squad on the core members of the "Water Bear" organization, which were nearly lethal. Under internal and external distress, the "Water Bear" organization, even without disintegrating on the spot, probably couldn''t recover any time soon and decisively chose to cut its losses. This effectively ended all leads and halted the value of further investigation. With the enemy gone, as naturally as birds vanish when the sky clears, the bows are put away when the rabbits are gone, and the loyal dogs are cooked once the hunt is over. Burning bridges after crossing them is typical human nature, and of course, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t continue to employ idlers; having money doesn''t mean it should be wasted. Most of the called-up ability users were dismissed with a severance payment, including the mates from Team 04. Only the team leader, Adrian Benjamin, and A-grade Metal Ability User Kiterley remained. If the Holy Knight Walter Sam had still been alive, perhaps he, too, would have been kept. Of course, if Chen Xiao''er had not been so reckless, perhaps he too would have been treated as a valuable combat resource. But now... there really is nothing to regret! Being a stressed temporary worker was enough. The Mobile Base Vehicle left in Hablav City was sold by Adrian for a good price. He didn''t keep any of the profit, sending all of it, over two million Star Yuan, to Chen Fei. Such a good person! Basically, all members of Team 04 could trust each other entirely; they had been through life and death together and completely withstood the test of money. Chen Fei was quick to respond. The moment he received the money, he immediately returned ten percent of it. He didn''t want Adrian to have wasted his efforts. Given this transaction, there might be another in the future. This way the relationship could last. Taking advantage consumes goodwill. Which is more important, relationships or money? It''s as clear as the lice on a bald man''s head. With this unexpected transfer from Adrian, after Chen Fei had paid off his old debt to Boss Hana, his nearly depleted bank account finally saw some cash again. He casually sent a sum of living expenses to his little sister Chen Meng, not much, fifty thousand Star Yuan, to prevent her from being too extravagant. Nowadays, although there''s no tuition for college, if you can pass the exams, you can study, but there are still essential costs for food, drink, clothing, textbooks, and school supplies, as well as daily social expenses. The trainee treatment at Henghai Tactical Weapons Group only covered the basic daily needs, slightly above the poverty threshold. If she ever wanted to take a taxi, eat out, or go for a song, she probably had to check her bank account balance and hesitate for a long while. Poverty is a sin and easily leads to disdain. Previously, grappling with famine, Chen Fei had been unable to lend a hand in support, relying solely on their dad''s and mom''s pension and Elder Brother Chen''s pooled contributions to provide some pocket money, aiming to subsidize Chen Meng''s college life as much as possible. Full-time academic expenses meant money was only going out, not coming in; although they weren''t starving or thirsty, the financial difficulty was inevitable. Ding!~ 51600 Star Yuan received! The payer was Chen Meng. "Xiao Meng, what''s this all about?" Chen Fei, who was busy with the Crystal Jet, hurriedly called. What''s with my little sister, refunding and even adding money? She mustn''t be thinking anything serious, my stinky sister! "Second Brother, I can earn money now, I''m not short on funds, with a work-study salary and scholarships." During the successful call connection, a proud Little Sister Chen''s voice carried a trace of tears. Chen Fei had taken on a huge debt of five million Star Yuan by working away from home, how could Chen Meng act as if nothing happened and just lightly skip over it? "Hey, I''m not short on money either! This is your pocket money, for daily improvements, hang out more with friends, especially those trainees, who might become colleagues and partners in the future." Now Chen Fei''s financial situation had finally improved a bit, although not enough to achieve personal financial freedom, he finally had the surplus to help his family. 50,000 Star Yuan could completely satisfy Chen Meng''s needs for a few months of dining and social gatherings with friends. "I don''t need so much, Second Brother, keep it for yourself." Chen Meng sniffled, her emotions gradually stabilizing a bit. It was not easy for Second Brother to work outside, earning some money still meant to patch up deficits first, so there was no spare cash to give her for pocket money, she could not possibly accept it no matter what. "Rest assured! The debt our family owed has already been paid off, and there''s more left! Hmm, after paying off the debt, I still have over two million in hand, we are not short on money!" Chen Fei tried to dissolve his little sister''s concerns, after all, such a large sum of money had brought significant implications to The Chen Family. When an elder brother becomes financially stable, isn''t it only natural to give his sister some pocket money? "Ah? All paid off?" Chen Meng could hardly believe her ears; even without counting interest, it was still five million Star Yuan. How had it been paid off so quickly? What had Second Brother done to accumulate so much money so suddenly? Little Sister Chen had underestimated Second Brother''s capability, the actual debt was not five million Star Yuan, but over ten million. On his first day at work, he had nearly lost his life, and the new debt was a price for his life. But at last, the debt was cleared, and Chen Fei could finally smoothly cover this issue, leaving no opportunity for his family to worry. "Gone, really gone, and there''s more good news, the family who tricked you has been caught, it won''t be long before they are extradited back for trial, and they will have to spit out every single penny they took from us." Chen Fei had more good news to share. Little Sister Chen''s heartache wasn''t just about the five million Star Yuan debt, but also about the betrayal of her trusting best friend and classmate. Once extradited back to the homeland, where people live, debts do not stop. Thinking that going to jail would absolve them of their debts was purely delusional; The Chen Family''s suffered hardships must be reclaimed from that family of swindlers. "Right, not a single penny less!" On the other end of the call, Chen Meng silently vowed, her hatred as deep now as her plight had been dire when she was tricked. "Later, you pass the word to dad, mom, and Elder Brother, and if Elder Brother needs help with his mortgage, I can also offer to help, since we''re not short on money now, and I will earn even more in the future." In Aircrew Base 911, Chen Fei had hardly any expenses, so having surplus funds naturally meant choosing to support his family. "I will definitely tell them this good news." Chen Meng also wanted to personally share this good news with the rest of the family. The heavy burden the family had endured for so long could finally be put down. Chapter 529 529: Section 525 - No Tickets Left After chatting with his younger sister for a while, Chen Fei ended the call. He transferred the 51,600 Star Yuan and even topped it up to a round figure, sending a total of 100,000 Star Yuan. As a brother, one should naturally give his sister spending money, and it wouldn''t be right to take money from her. This time, Chen Meng did not transfer the money back. It seemed that being able to take out 100,000 Star Yuan in cash all at once, the second brother must truly be well-off. To send it back would just be making an unnecessary fuss. With the debts gone and the fraudster captured, it was a time of double celebration for The Chen Family, and they were happy for quite some time. However, the lives of ordinary people soon returned to their normal tracks. In the Mesoamerica region of southern North America, Hanna Gagel, who was busy with the "Flesh Mushroom" industrial park, received a very special invitation. The "Abyss Coliseum," a sovereign-level aerial combat league held once every five years, was about to start. It was jointly sponsored by the top ten manufacturers of Blue Star''s combat aircraft and hosted by the only private manufacturer without sovereign backing, the Space Exploration Technology Company. The invitation also served as a ticket to watch the fights. The "Abyss Coliseum" was not open to the public, and only specific industries and individuals would receive invitations. Previously, only military contractors ranked in the top hundred in the industry would receive an invitation for a ten-person delegation. But this time, for some reason, an invitation was sent to Jiu Defense Company, which could only be regarded as a small military contractor that didn''t even rank within the top three hundred. It landed in the hands of Hanna Gagel, and there was no mistake in delivery. Those ranked within the top hundred in the industry were basically large military contractors. For example, Apocalypse Defense Group, the former employer of the Aircrew Base, once ranked 27th in the industry but had now fallen outside the top hundred. But a tiger, even in death, does not fall. Despite significant losses in strength, Apocalypse Defense Group still possessed a deep foundation that Jiu Defense Company could not compare with. There was a significant chance that Jiu Defense Company had taken over the slot that belonged to Apocalypse Defense Group. According to Hanna Gagel''s investigations, Apocalypse Defense Group had not received an invitation to the "Abyss Coliseum" this time. Jiu Defense Company was divided into two parts. One part was in Chapala City in the Mesoamerica region of southern North America, a comprehensive headquarters responsible for undertaking various businesses. The other part was the division at the Aircrew Base 911 located in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area in the middle of Asia, responsible for monitoring and clearing mutants and rampaging magical beasts. In terms of business targets, one dealt with intelligent species, and the other with non-intelligent species. Rampaging magical beasts could not, by any means, be classified as intelligent species. Boss Hana, who had received the special invitation to the "Abyss Coliseum," handed over the industrial park project to a dedicated professional manager and made the long journey back to Aircrew Base 911. Those who could accompany her could only be chosen from the Aircrew Base, as there were no suitable candidates in the comprehensive headquarters in Chapala City. Who could go along was entirely at Boss Hana''s discretion, and that''s the benefit of not having a board of directors¡ªno one else could have a say. As long as the leader is strong enough, what''s wrong with dictatorship? Boss Hana herself would definitely go, accompanied by an assistant to handle company affairs. Then, people would be selected from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron: "Peanut Butter" Chekhov, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, "Dragon Artemisia" Salila, "Salad" Mayer von Koller, "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, "Rookie" Chen Fei, and the new addition, "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider. None of the main drivers of the "Big Mouth Monster" were missing, and finally, the mechanic chief Xiao Ming joined. Everyone went together to take in new sights. Those left behind were still enough to maintain the patrol operations of the Aircrew Base. After all, there were no forces secretly breeding mutants like the "Water Bear" causing trouble now, and the mutant changes in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area were still within a stable range. As a result, the number of people going to watch the "Abyss Coliseum" exceeded ten, and the one extra would have to pay their own way. Hanna Gagel didn''t mind the small expense. One would think the organizers wouldn''t quibble over whether there were ten or eleven people, and they certainly left some margin for hospitality. There was also a Pure Light Sparrow. Xiao Jiu didn''t count towards the personnel tally, as it freeloaded food, drink, and fun for the entire trip. Half a month later, the small transport aircraft took those heading to the "Abyss Coliseum" battles to the nearby International Public Airport. From there, they boarded an international flight to Africa. This year''s "Abyss Coliseum" battles were to be held in the Great Rift Valley of Eastern Africa, the Earth''s largest fault line, making the battles highly watchable. The destination, located near the equator, was scorching hot summer year-round, without a clear distinction between seasons. However, some areas experienced significant temperature fluctuations between morning and night. Hana and her group brought numerous bags, carrying plenty of luggage. Chen Fei brought two large suitcases as well. Despite traveling to Africa, he didn''t neglect to pack warm clothing like down jackets, just in case. Even though Xiao Jiu''s claws bore an alchemical storage artifact of not inconsiderable capacity, Boss Hana didn''t want to draw too much attention. Thus, she hadn''t made use of it. In fact, she''d even covered it and another Magical Device Leg Ring with a layer of black plastic film, hiding the magic array and runes on their surfaces, making the two "Leg Rings" look identical, like part of a matching set. Once they landed, the temperature inside the aircraft cabin shot up. "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider, like everyone else, took off thick layers of clothing to reveal summer outfits. Yet, he still broke out in a thin sweat and began fanning himself while exclaiming, "Man, it''s really hot here." A gentle breeze circulated in the aircraft cabin as Boss Hana used her Wind-type Psionic Ability to bring a touch of coolness to everyone. "This is Africa, near the equator. It will be a lot cooler once we get into the terminal building," informed "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, who had done her research well. Boss Hana''s accompanying assistant was a bald man in a professional suit, sporting large black sunglasses and emitting an aura of unapproachability. He seriously added, "We''ll be taking a high-speed train next, heading straight to the edge of the Great Rift Valley. We expect it to take about 4 hours." ``` Appearances can be deceiving, the assistant Lahar, who could easily play a villain in his true colors, was one of the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who "defected" along with Hanna Gagel from the Apocalypse Defense Group. Faithful and reliable to Boss Hanna without question, he also possessed decent abilities. Even without engaging in the disagreeable tasks from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was still more than capable for other positions. A personal assistant inevitably comes into contact with some company secrets, so having such a dependable confidant in this role was naturally most fitting. Without exception, all those who came out with Hanna Gagel were put to good use, were assigned to important positions, and reported directly to her, with trust steadfast as ever. Before departure, assistant Lahar had already arranged everything. The air conditioning inside the terminal building was turned up high, and after a while, it felt too cold, unavoidably causing goosebumps to burst forth. After smoothly passing through customs and officially stepping into the local sovereignty''s territory, Hanna Gagel and her companions proceeded directly to the passenger train station located underground at the terminal. Assistant Lahar suddenly heard an announcement inside the train station and hurriedly checked the schedule on the big screen, revealing a look of astonishment. "BOSS, our train tickets have been canceled!" "What''s going on? Go ask!" Boss Hanna''s brow furrowed slightly. The train tickets were booked well in advance; there couldn''t be any reason for them to be suddenly canceled without explanation. There had to be some reason behind this. "Right!" Lahar immediately hurried to the service desk to inquire. The place was already crowded with guests who had come for the same reason, to ask about and complain about their canceled tickets. It was easy to recognize the aura of the other guests; they were colleagues, all upset about their sudden ticket cancellations. Although he wasn''t able to squeeze to the front of the busy service desk, Lahar nonetheless understood what was going on. The next few train schedules had been booked by several major aircraft manufacturers, and when they arrived, it certainly wasn''t just ten or a dozen people. Bringing people and equipment, they might even require additional freight cars. Forget the individual passengers; even the military contractors with invitations were not considered significant enough compared to these huge entities. Behind these aircraft manufacturers were the major sovereignties. The local sovereignty had to show consideration not only for the monks but also for the Buddha, bowing to the big players and yielding train schedules to them was completely without error. Would the military contractors dare to provoke them? Of course... they wouldn''t! Lacking even the guts to be angry, they could only attempt to flatter as casually relayed messages could put their own "Big Mouth Monsters" and MiG-28s and other military equipment out of action. What, were they supposed to rely solely on light weaponry to battle monsters? How many lives would that cost to compensate! "The earliest tickets we can rebook are for the day after tomorrow." After gathering the information, assistant Lahar returned to explain the situation and seek guidance from Boss Hanna to make a decision. Even for tomorrow''s train tickets, they had to hurry, with so many people gathered here, a delayed step in the evening might lead to a one or two day setback. They shouldn''t wait until the "Abyss Coliseum" officially started the battle only to arrive late to the scene. Switching to cars was an option, but with the bad road conditions, it might be better to wait for the train. Hanna Gagel didn''t hesitate much and made a decisive decision, "Okay! Go book the tickets, and don''t forget about the hotel rooms." Waiting for the day after tomorrow''s train tickets was not the worst-case scenario, as there was something even worse about to happen. With so many people squeezed in here for eating, drinking, and all the rest, this not-so-large underground train station might explode, and even nearby hotel rooms would start to become scarce. The bustling underground train station was packed with people not only from related industries and special guests qualified to watch the "Abyss Coliseum" but also many others who continued to arrive, mostly media and individuals. Only a lucky few received invitations to enter. Many others were there to try their luck at the venue to see if they could find a chance to get in or simply to watch the excitement from the sidelines. "Hey there, isn''t that ''Rookie''? You guys are brothers from the 911 Aircrew Base, right? You don''t have tickets either, huh! Gagaga..." As they waited for assistant Lahar to return, a voice nearby, laced with unmistakable schadenfreude, called out. ``` Chapter 530 530: Section 526 - Hitchhiking Who the hell is this detestable guy? Apart from Chen Fei, Boss Hana and most of their entourage felt displeased, as the other party didn''t show the slightest hint of friendliness but was full of mockery instead. "Mr. Besman Hubs, the big boss of Sulte Defense Co., Ltd., which has the contract for Aircrew Base 633, are you also here to watch the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial Arena''?" Chen Fei sized up the man, his remark serving both as a greeting and letting his colleagues and the bosses know who this guy was. Looking at those around him, a bunch of pampered nobodies shaking their heads and wagging their tails, all of them flawed goods, and there were even flamboyant tramps. They were not only here to watch the battle but also to revel. It seemed that not a single person from Aircrew Base 633 had been brought along, just these fair-weather friends he was loafing around with. What should have been a precious opportunity for the crucial employees to observe and learn was squandered so carelessly. In Chen Fei''s eyes, the man had become the epitome of a "profligate son." When compared side by side, it made Boss Hana look even better. "Of course! I''m different from you guys; my train ticket won''t be canceled!" Besman Hubs, with a cheeky grin and hands on his hips, boasted shamelessly of his superiority right in front of the Jiu Defense crowd. "Damn, what sort of creature is this bragging guy?" Chekhov Big Bear felt his fists the size of sand bowls getting itchy ¡ª a sure sign that someone needed a good thumping. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios questioned, "Why wouldn''t your train ticket be canceled?" Everyone was from the same industry, so why were their tickets canceled while he still managed to board today''s train? Chen Fei said disdainfully, "This guy is a relative of someone high up in the Global United Defense Committee." His ticket wasn''t canceled because he had connections, not because of any real merit or status in the Jianghu. Fucking nepotist, I really want to knock the shit out of him. "Fuck!" ¡Á2 The captains of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron said in unison, while everyone else also glared angrily. "Hahaha, correct answer, but no prize!" Besman Hubs pointed at Chen Fei and his group, laughing loudly along with his gang of cronies and glamorous tramps. Then he waved his hand dismissively. "Let''s go, let''s go, they''re about to check tickets soon. Let these idiots keep waiting!" The man successfully incited public outrage as many glared angrily at his entourage, and there were others too whose train tickets were forcibly canceled besides those from Jiu Defense. If it weren''t for the increased security at the train station, a fight might have already broken out. "Really fucking... spit!" "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider spat viciously onto the ground at the retreating figure of the man. "Spitting on the ground, a fine of five Stars!" An old, weathered dark-skinned granny squeezed through the crowd, brandishing a ticket, grabbed the dumbfounded Tempun Schneider by the hand, and slapped it earnestly into his palm. "Here, ten Stars!" "Your change, five Stars!" Tempun Schneider''s cheeks twitched as he reluctantly paid the fine, then irritably tossed the tofu-dried-sized ticket aside. "Littering peelings and scraps, a fine of five Stars!" The old woman hadn''t gone far when she spun around and nimbly tore off another ticket, promptly snatching back the five-star banknote she''d just handed out as change. What a move, ten Stars gone in the blink of an eye; the spirited young man was completely dumbfounded. The train station had beefed up its security, and its ability to make money wherever it could was strengthened too. With home-ground advantage, the old lady, who was just and methodical, left them with no choice but to hold their noses and pay the fines. Hanna Gagar frowned as she watched the young employee get fined twice in quick succession, reminding him, "Don''t do anything stupid again, there are many here secretly watching." A five Star loss here, a ten Star loss there¡ªthe amounts weren''t large, but being fined in front of everyone was humiliating. "Chen Fei! Xiao Jiu!" A voice of surprise came through. Chen Fei looked in the direction of the voice and exclaimed, "Eh? Teacher Shen, and Uncle, you''re here too!" Not only did he see Shen Fei, but also her father, Shen Songling, the Vice President of Northern Weapons Industry Group. If he wasn''t mistaken, this was one of the sponsors of the Abyss Arena. The representatives from Northern Weapons Industry Group had arrived, likely numbering three to five hundred people, standing out distinctively among the crowd. "Little Chen!" Shen Songling also noticed Chen Fei and took the initiative to greet him. "Teacher Shen!" "Teacher Shen, you''re here too?" "What a coincidence!" ... "Tweet!" Little Bird flew over and landed on Shen Fei''s shoulder, then was cradled in her palms, happily rolling around. Hey, you little traitor! Even if people didn''t recognize someone from the Northern Weapons Industry Group, Shen Fei, the teacher from Patan Elementary School in the mountainous region, and the old neighbor from Aircrew Base 911, were known by many present, who greeted her one after another. Above, the airport was busy with more aircraft arriving than usual, as the train was the main public transportation to "The Abyss Coliseum" for the big fight event, bringing even more people here, and the chances of running into acquaintances increased since many were from the same industry. People around cast surprised looks, clearly not expecting someone from Jiu Defense Company to have old ties with the Northern Weapons Industry Group, probably unable to imagine that the daughter of the vice president of the Northern Weapons Industry Group had been teaching in the mountains for many years and was quite familiar with the folks from Aircrew Base 911. "Chen Fei!" Chen Fei heard his name being called again, a very familiar voice. He looked in the direction of the call. "Uncle?!" He quickly waved his hand. The head of the Chen Family Gate, his uncle, Chen Haiqing, also the chairman of National Defense Star Aerospace Company, was accompanied by hundreds of people. They pushed aside everyone nearby, and it seemed the sponsors of this event were all personally leading their teams. For a moment, beside the people from Jiu Defense, two giants emerged starkly against each other, and the bustling hubbub of the train station gradually quieted down. "Hmm, are you also here to watch the fight?" Uncle Chen Haiqing didn''t come over but nodded at Chen Fei from afar. "Yes, this is my boss, Hanna Gagar from Jiu Defense Company, and these are my colleagues!" Chen Fei quickly introduced the people around him to his uncle, only naming Boss Hanna and leaving out the rest. The difference in status was too great; even if he gave their names, his uncle wouldn''t bother to remember them. "Hmm! Your train tickets have been canceled, right? Come with us and board the train!" Chen Haiqing greeted Chen Fei out of respect for his nephew from the Chen Family, but he wouldn''t have bothered if it were anyone else. There were too many minor characters; if he engaged with each one, he might as well have become a human answering machine, with no time for real work. "Uh..." Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, looking in the direction of Shen Fei and her father. "Little Chen, you can join us as well," said Shen Songling, nodding at Chen Fei. Adding a dozen more people to the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s team was no big deal. "Vice President Shen..." Chen Haiqing also looked over, exchanging a glance with Shen Songling, seemingly surprised by the vice president of the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s attitude. His own reason was to look after a Chen Family Disciple, while the other man was... Shen Songling said with a smile, "Little Chen and my daughter are friends!" Whether he was a boyfriend remained to be seen; his stance was not definitive, leaving room for the future. Good gracious! The people from National Defense Star Aerospace Company looked at Vice President Shen and then at Chen Xiao''er. Due to their chairman and major shareholder''s relationship, Chen Family Disciples were also considered half one of their own at National Defense Star¡ªthe young man''s maneuver had caught them off guard. If Chen Fei received Shen Songling''s approval, it would represent a similar relationship for the Northern Weapons Industry Group. Among the top ten combat aircraft manufacturers globally, National Defense Star Aerospace Company ranked fourth, closely followed by the Northern Weapons Industry Group at fifth. Their relationship was more competitive than cooperative, a rivalry that was constructive and aligned with top-level expectations. However, the relationship between Chen Fei and Shen Fei might disrupt the delicate balance of competition without bitterness. "Sorry, Uncle, I''m going with Teacher Shen." Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders at Chen Haiqing. With his girlfriend and future father-in-law present, the choice of whom to prioritize wasn''t even a question, and besides, his uncle would understand. "Hmm! Keep up the good work!" Chen Haiqing didn''t take offense, indeed, nodded at Shen Songling and Shen Fei, and entered the nearby ticket gate surrounded by his entourage. Ticket inspection? Unnecessary¡ªthe entire train had been chartered by the financially powerful National Defense Star, indistinguishable from a private train. As the people from National Defense Star had just left, the waiting hall that had quieted down for a short while became lively again. Keep up the good work? Chen Fei picked up on the underlying meaning in his uncle''s words. Looking again toward Shen Fei and his future father-in-law, he said, "Excuse me!" His bird was still in their hands; how could he possibly go with his uncle? Chapter 531 531: Section 527 - Special Train Even the largest military contractors had no privileges here. When Assistant Lahar received a call from Boss Hana, he was still in a long queue, at least a hundred meters away from the ticket window. There was no telling when he would get his tickets, let alone having to book a nearby hotel room. It was likely he''d end up being a big sucker, paying a hefty sum to bid against others for a room. Now, being able to hitch a ride on one of the "Abyss Coliseum" sponsors'' VIP trains had indeed saved a great deal of effort. Just like its old rival, the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, the powerful Northern Weapons Industry Group had also chartered an entire train, each compartment being a VIP compartment, not only with spacious seats but also entertainment cars, dining cars, and executive cars with all facilities available. The wealthy combat aircraft manufacturers were never short of money. Each company had chartered an entire train. Even if their tickets were cancelled at the last minute, making those crowded in the train station''s waiting room become anxiously upset, what could they do? They were still helpless! The scenery outside the window slowly shifted as the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s train began to accelerate toward the Great Rift Valley, and the journey was expected to last about three hours. The entire Great Rift Valley was about 6,000 kilometers long, with complex terrain. This session of the "Abyss Coliseum" was located in a discontinuous area of the rift, adjacent to a towering snow-capped mountain. Pilots from all over Blue Star and even from Cangqiong Star would perform various flying displays here, as well as real aerial combat. It was also an important gala where major combat aircraft manufacturers and arms dealers would showcase their flagship products and sign large orders. - "Chen Fei, I didn''t expect you to attend the ''Abyss Coliseum'' too. What a coincidence." Teacher Shen Fei and Chen Fei sat face to face, with Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu hopping from one hand to the other. The other members from Jiu Defense mingled freely in the various functional cars of this train along with hundreds from the Northern Weapons Industry Group. Boss Hana and the flyers from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron were drinking in a bar, while a mechanic chief sat alone in a compartment watching his tablet, mulling over various technical equipment and data. Assistant Lahar''s phone never stopped ringing as he recorded and urged on various business tasks, which were then collectively submitted to the boss for instructions. Teacher Shen''s father, Shen Songling, was not the team leader this time. The general manager and chairman of the Northern Weapons Industry Group were convening all executives in the executive car with a conference room. The combat aircraft manufacturers from Blue Star were vying for orders at this quadrennial real-combat extravaganza, which was essentially a big deal that could feed them for three, or even thirty, years¡ªno big shot could afford to ignore it. "It''s because the boss just got an invitation. Otherwise, we''d only be able to watch the broadcast." Chen Fei smiled and nodded. He thought to himself about his luck. Otherwise, he''d only have the chance to see Teacher Shen Fei again during the long holidays each year. "I heard that only the top hundred military contractors are eligible to get invitations." Teacher Shen Fei, acting as her father''s secretary at the Northern Weapons Industry, usually had access to more information. "It appears that way, but Jiu Defense''s ranking just squeezed into the top two hundred. Perhaps rankings don''t fully represent true capability!" Chen Fei scratched his head. He had heard about the invitation criteria from Boss Hana. Among the small military contractors, Jiu Defense was relatively well-known, and given its current growth momentum, it was only a matter of time before it upgraded to a medium or even large military contractor, possibly surpassing the original Apocalypse Defense Group. Perhaps it was its promising potential that convinced the "Abyss Coliseum" organizers to grant Jiu Defense an invitation. Teacher Shen Fei smiled and said, "Could it be because of you? I heard you''ve been making quite a stir recently!" Using the privileges and resources of the administrative office at the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s headquarters, keeping tabs on Chen Fei''s activities wasn''t a difficult task. Moreover, Teacher Shen had guessed right¡ªChen Xiao''er had recently stirred up quite a mess. Chen Fei was quick-witted. Upon hearing her, he immediately realized that Teacher Shen, who was resourceful, couldn''t be kept in the dark. Touching the back of his head, he said somehwat sheepishly, "How could that be? Whatever the team leader says, that''s what I do. I''m grateful just not to be the scapegoat." Truth be told, his luck had always been good. After being conscripted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, whether it was Team 04''s Captain Adrian Benjamin or the Huntsman Squad''s leader Miyoshi Xuesen, regardless of personal character, issues such as claiming credit or shifting blame had never arisen. Otherwise, the incident involving the killing of an enemy Sky Knight prisoner would have landed him in deep trouble. Fortunately, the Monk had managed to shoulder this responsibility, preventing it from falling on him. "Heh! Just keep pretending!" Teacher Shen Fei watched Chen Fei feign confusion and chuckled behind her hand. He had always been like this at Aircrew Base, even after being conscripted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; he never changed¡ªa clear case of it being easy to change rivers and mountains but hard to alter one''s nature. "This time, what good things has the Northern Weapons Industry Group brought?" Chen Fei steered the conversation towards the team that had chartered this train. "As usual, mostly old products: amphibious human-shaped combat mobility armor, multi-functional logistical tactical armor, ground effect mobile command center, Phantom Cube-67 Medium Warship, Bomber-55 Tactical Bomber, Fighter-37 warship carrier aircraft, Crystal Jet X-19 prototype... This time, there''s also a new ''Canglong'' tactical concept machine, which my father oversaw. Besides that, there''s maintenance support equipment for this major battle and products from supporting factories, like communication data links, airborne communication nodes, tactical missiles, and so on." Teacher Shen Fei listed dozens of products off the top of her head, and there wasn''t much to keep secret. Once they disembarked the train and entered the display area, most of what she mentioned would be visible. A big factory naturally has a deep foundation. Underwater, surface, land, amphibious, low-altitude, and high-altitude¡ªevery kind of tactical equipment and comprehensive solutions were available. As a sponsor of the "Abyss Coliseum," it wasn''t just about funding; they also provided manpower and equipment, ensuring various supports for the participating aircraft in the aerial combat. Racing in the airspace of this "Abyss Coliseum" were not only the combat aircraft of the Blue Star civilization but also the assembled combat aircraft from the Cangqiong Star technology system. The pilots from both civilizations were about to fight on the same stage. Chen Fei suddenly seemed to remember something and tentatively asked, "Did you bring the large industrial 3D printing equipment for engineering plastics this time?" "Yes! We even have the powder alloy printer," Shen Fei replied, startled, then asked curiously, "Why do you ask?" Such specialized industrial printers seemed to have nothing to do with Chen Fei''s work. Chen Fei grabbed Secretary Shen''s hand and said seriously, "I need to print something, I want to mooch it!" He grabbed the other person''s hand to avoid getting slapped in the face. After all, he was planning to mooch! Indeed, those were shameless words! Ordinary people couldn''t afford such a large specialized industrial printer even if they had the money: first, because of its steep price; second, it required specialized industrial software; and third, there was nowhere to put it, it was too large to fit in a house. Shen Fei burst out laughing. No one could dare to mooch openly from the Northern Weapons Industry Group like Chen Fei, especially to their face. "It shouldn''t be a problem, but you need to design what you want to print in advance," she said. The cost of the printing materials was hardly worth mentioning. "Of course!" The real work was done by "Adam," Chen Fei never worried about such software issues. Shen Fei, curious, asked, "Can I ask, what are you planning to print?" "Parts for the Crystal Jet, some parts aren''t made of metal, and they are tough to handle." Chen Fei never lied in front of Teacher Shen. If he talked about mooching without intending to pay, and mentioned parts for the Crystal Jet, they would definitely be used for the Crystal Jet. "Heh!" Teacher Shen Fei freed her hand from Chen Fei''s grip and playfully punched his arm. It was all about the Crystal Jet! Next, it must be the Magic Cube Warship''s turn. "Xiao Jiu?" Xiao Jiu looked puzzled at their hands, thinking of the great trends of the world, what comes together must split, what splits must come together... - For most of the journey, the high-speed train maintained a speed between 300-500 kilometers per hour, almost matching the take-off speed of the "Big Mouth Monster." Three hours and eleven minutes later, the direct express train with no stops in between slowly pulled into the station at the edge of the Great Rift Valley; other companies'' express trains also arrived around the same time, some earlier, some later, but the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s team wasn''t the first. If it were a train booked by Jiu Defense Company, it would take at least five and a half hours, stopping at seven or eight stations. "Little Chen, just stick with us, it''s going to be a bit crowded," said Shen Songling, the deputy general manager of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, who had just finished a high-level meeting and took the initiative to plan for Chen Fei and his group to join the team for the next part of the schedule. From the train station to the airport where the "Abyss Arena" was located, there was still over an hour''s ride by bus. The Northern Weapons Industry Group had already reserved a fleet of buses and hitching a ride for the eleven people from Jiu Defense was a mere trifle. "No need, we have a car, we will follow behind you!" Chen Fei waved his hand, deciding it was better to skip the idea of squeezing a small stool onto the bus. The people from Jiu Defense needed to stick together. Boss Hana''s assistant, Lahar, whispered, "''Rookie,'' we''ve already canceled our reserved cars." Due to being forced to cancel their tickets, Jiu Defense''s travel plans had changed, and Lahar had canceled the originally booked bus, but had failed to secure a new reservation. At this crucial moment, there were no spare shuttle buses or minivans available for them. Chen Fei stretched his hand out to the empty space. "Car, come!" Chapter 532 532: Section 528 - Driving "The ''Physical Evolution Database'' skill contains samples of many vehicles." "Extract the ''Mobile Base Vehicle,'' evolve." "Evolution Accelerator level 10" catalyzes acceleration. Energy Points -998! Energy Points: 39002/40000 Since the skill isn''t a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, Chen Fei isn''t worried about thieves eyeing it; after all, this thing can''t be stolen. With the Veteran Driver Summoning Technique, five minutes later, the 20-meter-long Mobile Base Vehicle evolved into shape. Without the passive support skill "Evolution Accelerator," evolving such a big guy would have made his shoulders unbearably sore. Each time a sample from the ''Physical Evolution Database'' is extracted for evolution, it''s usually not during combat time, so the demand for the "Evolution Accelerator" skill isn''t high, which is why energy points haven''t been invested in further upgrades. Stripped of its protective armor, the unloaded vehicle weighs about 45 tons, but the total number of Magic Array Inscription units remained the same, with 94 units in total. After all, it''s calculated automatically based on a flat surface area. Chen Fei immediately applied ten "Gravity" magic arrays near the chassis''s wheelbase, installed Crystalline Blocks, activated the magic arrays, and not only reduced the vehicle''s weight to one-third, but by actively changing gravity, it also provided a degree of shock absorption and buffer. "Your Metal Elemental Psychic Power is really practical." Shen Songling, who had witnessed the entire process, twitched the corners of his mouth. This large vehicle, almost as big as a train carriage, immediately made the coach bus chartered by the Northern Weapons Industry Group seem a notch or two lower. This prime body sample had been continuously optimized for over half a year, traversing tens of thousands of kilometers, and had become a mature design vehicle with high practicality and technical completeness. Otherwise, even the second-hand price that Adrian helped to negotiate could sell for more than two million Star Yuan, which is certainly a better deal than the original scrap value. Chen Fei modestly said, "It''s all thanks to the support of friends!" His Metal Elemental Psychic Power hadn''t spared "sacrificing" good stuff; even the National Treasure Artifacts (fake/useless) had not escaped. "That''s a huge help." The assistant from Lahore breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the Mobile Base Vehicle for the first time. "Everybody on board!" Chen Fei called to the people from Jiu Defense Company. There were only eleven people including himself, making the interior of the vehicle spacious enough. Once the water collection equipment had been running for a while, they could even wash their hands and such, but if they wanted to take a shower, they''d have to wait at least 24 hours. "Hold on a moment, we need to stop here to pick up some things." The Assistant Lahar held out his phone to Chen Fei, who was preparing to take the driver''s seat, and showed him the screen. "What is it? Supplies?" Chen Fei nodded, noted the location, and threw it to "Adam" to plan the navigation route. "Some fruits, canned goods, and medicine, along with a water purifier." The Assistant Lahar had prepared some items in advance for the trip, planning to pick up the things already transported here upon leaving the train station and take them to the accommodations at the Abyss Colosseum. While that place was amply equipped with various items, the prices... When traveling, since it was a small effort, why be an easy mark and pay an unnecessary extra cost? Chen Fei had also prepared a substantial amount of materials for the trip to Africa, all stored in Xiao Jiu''s Leg-ring Storage Magical Artifact, known only to him and Boss Hana, which could make the stay at the Abyss Colosseum a bit more comfortable for the people from Jiu Defense. "Hm?" Just as the veteran driver was about to set off, Chen Fei glanced in the rearview mirror of the vehicle and saw that Shen Fei had also boarded the vehicle, sitting together and chatting with Boss Hana. Xiao Jiu was happily hopping on the table in front of them. "Teacher Shen, aren''t you traveling with the main group from the Northern Weapons Industry Group?" Since Shen Fei had boarded, he naturally welcomed her with open arms and legs. "It''s all the same!" As the personal secretary of Vice President Shen, her dad, she wasn''t worried about displeasing the leadership. It wasn''t her first time riding in Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, but the temporarily evolved version had much simpler interior conditions than the original, which had been fitted with several non-metal parts. "Ha, indeed!" Chen Fei was momentarily taken aback; whether it was the people from Jiu Defense Company or the team from the Northern Weapons Industry Group, they were all heading to the same destination. If Teacher Shen Fei returned to her own team, it would only delay her about ten minutes at most. The all-electric Mobile Base Vehicle quickly departed from the train station, while the team from the Northern Weapons Industry Group were still queuing up to board. Perhaps Shen Fei might even arrive first by catching a ride with Chen Fei''s vehicle. The pickup point reserved by Assistant Lahar wasn''t far from the train station. To be precise, it was a logistics alliance company relying on the railway lines, with dozens of logistics companies in the Eastern Africa Region forming a group, sharing channels with one another, and creating a massive logistics network. Whether or not they were efficient was another question, but at least they could deliver items to the destination. Next to a large shed made of color steel tiles, a dozen large and small, battered trucks and pickups were parked, with seven or eight Lao Hei idly seeking shade. The Northern Weapons Industry Group''s special train had arrived in the afternoon, and the logistics company was only busy during the wee hours and deep into the night. Night owls were most suited for logistics work, so it was only natural for the day workers to lay back and idle away. Assistant Lahar waved the delivery order in his hand, unable to find anyone at the reception desk, he shouted loudly, "Is there someone in charge? I''m here to pick up the goods!" But he was ignored by everyone. The "Abyss Coliseum" was located in a remote and inhospitable area, naturally prone to troublemakers, and one couldn''t expect much in terms of service attitude or professionalism. Lahar went to find the loafing workers, but they pretended not to hear him just the same. Despite his bald head, sunglasses, and towering stature¡ªnot to mention his face full of scars¡ªhe unfortunately didn''t stand out much to the lazy louts, unable to impose any discipline on them. "Lahar, that''s not going to work!" Chen Fei pulled out an automatic weapon from Xiao Jiu''s leg-ring, disengaged the safety, pulled back the bolt, and fired a burst into the sky. The fierce gunfire sent the loafers scattering in panic, clutching their heads and running in all directions. Mouri, the dual-blade girl from Team 04, once shared some advice: In Africa, if you want people to listen to you seriously, you need to press the muzzle of a gun to their temples. "Who, who did that?" A flustered yell came from deep inside the corrugated steel shed, and even the hollow voice couldn''t help trembling. "Picking up a shipment!" Chen Fei put away his gun. You see, talking with a gun works better than reasoning! Behind a stack of parcel goods, someone shouted with a hoarse voice, "Do you have the delivery order?" In this barren and treacherous land, he also feared being robbed, as those destitute troublemakers could go crazy and even betray their kin. "Yes, we do!" Assistant Lahar immediately responded, wishing he had also pulled out his gun right away. It seemed clear that when traveling abroad and navigating Jianghu, one could not afford to be soft-hearted. "Damn it, you scared the hell out of me!" A chubby black man cautiously popped his head out from his hiding place, his normally pitch-black face now almost pale with fear from the sudden barrage of automatic gunfire. Behind him, a similarly dark-skinned woman peeked out furtively, sizing things up. In broad daylight, this shameless couple dared to commit lewd acts, truly making the most of their time. Chen Fei and Assistant Lahar exchanged a glance; the timing of the chaotic gunfire was just perfect. The chubby man ducked back, then mustered the courage to come out, holding up his oversized underwear as he approached them. He snatched the delivery order, glanced at it, walked to the middle of the goods pile, kicked a large wooden crate and said grudgingly, "This is it. My guys have been scared off by you lot, so move it yourselves!" He then went back, grumbling, grabbed the age-ambiguous woman, and pushed her down, snickering... As for the workers who fled, it was a good opportunity to save on a day''s wages. The chubby boss exuded the foul stench of a capitalist. The packaging boxes, repacked by the logistics company, were big and heavy indeed, somewhat difficult to move. But after learning what was inside from Assistant Lahar, Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to smash the outer layer of the wooden crate with a punch. Inside were neatly stacked cardboard boxes that one could easily carry away, albeit it might require a few more trips. At least half of these cardboard boxes contained insect repellent medicines. The mosquitoes and flies in Africa were incredibly abundant and relentless in their pursuit of human blood. Being bitten was not the worst; the fear was the various pathogens and parasites they carried. If one contracted a disease, even if it wasn''t lethal, it certainly wouldn''t be bearable. Although the organizers of the Abyss Coliseum provided some related supplies, the amounts were ultimately limited and protection not necessarily comprehensive. Assistant Lahar had specially shipped this batch of materials, so they could be used generously. Chen Fei, playing the good Samaritan, prepared ten sets of mosquito repellent products for Shen Fei and her father to use and to curry favor. A coil of mosquito-repelling incense could last from morning to night, ensuring at least that a room remained undisturbed. Spraying some floral-scented water on oneself could also have some effect. The vehicle carrying the goods resumed its journey and, after more than an hour, finally arrived in the Great Rift Valley. The arid riverbed was even more desolate than the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. In the few spots retaining moisture, various insects buzzed furiously, and some wild animals brazenly licked the mud, risking the crocodiles hidden within it that could snap at their heads without warning. The wetlands were a natural Arena. The main runway built for the Abyss Coliseum was a staggering five kilometers long; with two such runways, even heavy bombers and jet airliners could take off and land with ease. There were also two auxiliary runways, each about three kilometers long, and all kinds of facilities were available. Rows of modular dormitories stood side by side, capable of housing tens of thousands; never too many, only too few. Although the Abyss Coliseum had not officially started yet, various types of aircraft already filled several aprons. The competing teams and exhibiting manufacturers had divided up these spaces, keeping to their own domains. Before the sponsors'' main forces arrived, the product display area was prepared well in advance, waiting for the rich patrons to arrive and sign comprehensive contracts. Chapter 533 533: Section 529 - The Printer is Broken "Huh! That''s it?" The staff at Jiu Defense Company furrowed their brows as they looked at the row of modular dormitories. Looking up, down, left, and right, even in the scorching heat of the equator, they could not find a trace of standalone air conditioning or ventilation ducts. At most, the roof had an added layer of white insulation panels with limited effectiveness, barely better than nothing. Above the window near the door was just a cheap exhaust fan, spinning feebly. Without that fan, the inside would truly turn into a steaming cage, just add water and it could be a ready-made sauna. Through the window, one could see the standard layout of a single room with a bath, all of which did not even total twenty square meters. The bedroom contained only two single beds and two nightstands, with a long metal bar and five four-pronged iron-wire hangers on the wall, and a light bulb hanging from the ceiling; that was all there was. On the nightstands, the desk lamp and electric fan were combined into one unit. It was hard to tell if it was a fan with a lamp or a lamp with a fan. The fan''s diameter was less than 10 inches, pitifully small, and its wind power was likely just as inconsequential. The bathroom wasn''t large either; one could vaguely make out a washbasin and a shower area squished next to the toilet. Squeezing two people inside at once would probably be tight. Such conditions were even more primitive than the standardized dormitories at the Aircrew Base. The organizers probably pocketed plenty from the sponsors'' generous contributions, or alternatively, once The Abyss Coliseum events concluded, these items that would become useless junk would have to be disposed of at an additional cost. Maybe they would just be abandoned or sold to local businesses. This is why a regular guest like Jiu Defense Company would be provided with the cheapest possible accommodations, without the slightest consideration of spending any more money, fearless of any protest from them. Only seven rooms were allocated to Jiu Defense Company, and there were absolutely no more available. They had no choice but to squeeze in as best they could. As the boss, Hanna naturally had a room to herself. Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios was a tomboy and couldn''t share a room with the men, even though she herself wouldn''t mind. Chekhov Big Bear and Assistant Lahar shared a room, then Fragrant Orchid Carlos Silva Lane with Dragon Artemisia Salila, Salad Mayer von Koller with Nutmeg Salaman Francis, and Rookie Chen Fei with Xiao Ming, each pair sharing a room. Newcomer Sauerkraut Tempun Schneider thought he was lucky to have drawn a bye and have a room to himself, but just as he''d set his luggage down, the organizers stuffed another person in. The extra bed didn''t stay vacant for a moment, indicating that the accommodations were indeed very tight. The newcomer brought with him a strong scent of curry that quickly filled the room. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a participating pilot. As soon as he entered, he lifted his chin to look at Tempun, his nose turned up, his eyes dismissive. Both treated each other as if they were air, with nothing to say to one another, complete strangers within the same room. If one still couldn''t get used to these accommodations, the Mobile Base Vehicles that had not yet been converted back into Energy Points were also a good living environment, although their interior was entirely metallic, giving off a distinctly cold and hard vibe. To improve this deficiency, Chen Fei found some wood, preparing to add some desks, chairs, benches, and wooden floors to the vehicle''s cabin. It wasn''t that he was reluctant to spend Energy Points, but naturally, real wood was more comfortable. The hosts also had ready-made furniture for sale, but it was overpriced and of poor quality and not worth the money. This became clear immediately, and they decided against it. Although the surroundings were desolate, with nothing but rocks and sand and most of the scant vegetation being low shrubs and wild grass struggling to peek out of crevices, wood was surprisingly easy to find and in huge quantities, without costing a single Star Yuan. The exhibitors brought not only their products and equipment but also a large amount of packaging material, which included solid wood crates. The largest could even be reconstructed into wooden huts on the spot. The wood dismantled from the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s area was enough for Chen Fei''s use. If he didn''t take it, it would likely be used as firewood or just left piled up to naturally decompose. Speaking of carpentry, mechanic Xiao Ming was also skilled with wood. With the right tools, making tables, chairs, and benches was a breeze, and what Chen Fei had in abundance was all sorts of tools. Big Brother Xiao''s carpentry workshop started immediately, and items like tables, chairs, and hangers missing from the guest rooms were gradually added. The wood might not have been of high quality, but it wasn''t meant to last long. With all the tables, chairs, and benches needed, Big Brother Xiao quickly got busy. Chen Fei had scheduled a time block with Teacher Shen Fei to borrow equipment and arrived at the territory of the Northern Weapons Industry Group right on time. Multi-story buildings and towering factory halls rose from the ground, well-planned and lush with greenery. Compared to the shabby row of guest rooms occupied by the Jiu Defense Company staff, it was the difference between wealthy neighborhoods and slums. The Abyss Coliseum organizers from the Space Exploration Technology Company would rather upset military contractors and participating parties than leave a bad impression on their paying customers from the same industry. After all, leveraging their non-sovereign, neutral stance, they could make a tidy profit every five years. Two large industrial printers were placed in the dust-free workshop, with dedicated air conditioning constantly releasing cool air to maintain the temperature around 25 degrees Celsius to ensure the stability of the printed products. Seeing Chen Fei coming, Teacher Shen Fei, who was waiting for him, gestured toward one of the industrial 3D printers¡ªsurrounded by people¡ªand said, "Chen Fei, you''ll have to wait." "What happened?" Chen Fei glanced at the time: it was supposed to be his slot. "It seems to be malfunctioning. They''re trying to fix it." Teacher Shen Fei had come early to wait for Chen Fei and was the first to know the reason. It was really unfortunate timing. The two industrial specialized printers were not brand new but were far from being old enough to be discarded. Nobody expected a malfunction to happen right at this critical juncture. She had no choice but to wait for the technicians to resolve the issue. "Have they found the cause?" Chen Fei wondered how long he''d have to wait. "At least three hours, they haven''t even finished the batch before us," Shen Fei shrugged her shoulders, what a mess this had become. She had wanted to let Chen Fei use another printer, but it couldn''t be arranged. The promise of a free ride, being able to use it gratuitously, was already a generosity. Naturally, the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s own work schedule took precedence, and only when they had free time could Chen Fei''s stuff be squeezed in. If time was insufficient, they''d probably have to queue up all over again. "It''s so troublesome, isn''t the other one working fine?" Chen Fei pointed to another industrial printer, which was humming along at high speed, ejecting material. Under the catalytic blue light, hundreds of components rapidly constructed en masse while emitting an aromatic hydrocarbon scent. This odor was promptly absorbed by a specialized air filtration system that used filtering materials and catalytic decomposition to prevent harm to humans. A large-scale industrial printer wouldn''t just print one component at a time. Like printing PCBs, whether herding a single sheep or a flock, all the odd corners of remaining space had to be utilized, ensuring cost and efficiency were maintained. Shen Fei said with some difficulty, "I''m afraid scheduling could be pushed to the day after tomorrow." If the malfunctioning printer wasn''t fixed, the workload would naturally have to be transferred entirely to the other printer, leaving even less spare capacity. Being allowed to borrow the printer was already a favor done for Vice President Shen. The company''s President and Chairman were there; they couldn''t blatantly abuse the privilege of free usage. "Or, let''s just get straight to the point and ''sacrifice'' it, no more than ten minutes, guaranteed to make it as good as new," Chen Fei had always been bold, even daring to tamper with such large-scale industrial printers. "''Sacrifice''?" Teacher Shen Fei''s mouth twitched visibly. If it were a common "sacrifice" repair, that''d be one thing, but everyone who knew about Chen Fei''s skill were aware that while others might pluck feathers from passing geese, his approach would leave a complete record, involving not just one large-scale industrial printer, but likely causing the producer to beg for mercy¡ªthis was no way to carry on! Initially, Northern Weapons Industry Group had refused Chen Fei access to the "Canglong" project, and the leader of the Huntsman Squad, Miyoshi Monk, also refused him "sacrifice" of a small Magic Cube Airship, all because whilst the skill was effective, too much of it was overkill and detrimental. Watching the still-busy repair staff, Shen Fei slowly shook her head. "This... definitely not!" "Hey, I''m just having a look." Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and walked toward the malfunctioning large-scale industrial printer. The repair staff argued among themselves¡ªsome saying it was a driver fault, others claiming it was damage to the transmission components, and still others insisting on an issue with the electrical system. They bickered and even came to verbal blows, with those directly handling repairs sweating profusely, yet making no significant progress. It was truly a sight that made onlookers anxious on their behalf! "Hey, don''t you mess around!" Shen Fei hurriedly grabbed Chen Fei. "No worries, I''ll just brush against it, won''t go in!" Chen Fei caught Teacher Shen''s wrist with his free hand and dragged her toward the printer. As an outsider, it wasn''t good for him to push his way in, but with Secretary Shen as a shield, there was no problem. "Hi! Haven''t you found the cause of the fault yet?" Chen Fei seized the opportunity to squeeze into the midst of the maintenance crew, waiting around foolishly by the side was certainly not in his nature. Opportunities tend to present themselves to those who actively seek them, not to those who wait for pies to fall from the sky. Who''d say no to Chen Fei when his hands-on capabilities were relatively strong? One of the maintenance crew waved dismissively with obvious irritation, "Off you go, off you go. If you''re not involved, stay to the side. Don''t get in the way." He had just had a spat with a colleague and was left red-faced and angry. "I''m a repair technician too, may I take a look?" Chen Xiao''er flashed his pearly whites, indeed he was a repair technician, however, that was another story. He was more adept at repairing airplanes and even better at fixing people. Secretary Shen, who knew the truth, was both amused and exasperated. What was he supposed to fix! Chapter 534 534: Section 530 - Repair "You? Where did you come from?" The repairman who had snapped at Chen Fei finally took a serious look at him, then glanced at the others before realizing... This person was unknown to him! "I''m with Secretary Shen... um, you know!" Chen Fei blinked. Only then did the other party notice Shen Fei standing nearby, and had a sudden revelation¡ªit turned out to be a secretary from the big boss''s side. Don''t underestimate the bean bun as mere provisions; even a vice president of the corporate group is one of the big bosses and can directly influence the higher-ups of the board of directors. The few repairmen exchanged glances and collectively caught on in a second. "Then you give it a try!" Other''s methods could potentially break new ground¡ªmaybe it might just work?! "Hey, hey, don''t mess it up, okay?" Shen Fei was afraid that Chen Fei, with an itch to meddle, would "sacrifice" this large industrial special printer on the spot with lightning speed. Once the bun''s in the dog''s stomach, not even vomiting will get it out. "Don''t worry, I''ll use standard procedures, guaranteed to fix it." Chen Fei pulled off the bracelet (the "Universal Data Transceiver") from his left wrist, pulled out the data terminal, found the data port on the printer, and rammed it on. Mismatched port specifications? That''s unheard of! Sine it''s called "Universal", adaptive transformation is a basic capability. Adam: Connection complete, high-precision molecular polymer 3D printer model L991 detected! "''Adam'', search sensors, analyze error codes!" Chen Fei ordered the artificial intelligence AI. Utilizing the "Universal Data Transceiver" was standard operation, and anything beyond was simply "sacrifice"¡ªthe utterly thorough kind. Adam: Servo motor drive circuit unresponsive, X-axis servo motor response delay exceeds threshold, software fault cannot be resolved. The control system related functions of the large industrial special printer were not fully developed, especially the general-purpose circuits, which only guaranteed the most basic applications. Superfluous functions were indeed unnecessary for normal use, so manufacturers did not bother to fully develop them. At the hands of AI "Adam", every electronic component''s performance was exploited to the fullest extent. Assisted by Chen Fei''s boundless computing power, a second development was completed in an instant, and all the printer functions were integrated. After unplugging the data line, Chen Fei buckled the "bracelet" back onto his wrist. "Servo motor drive circuit fault, need to take apart the circuit board. Folks, get the multimeter ready." He didn''t understand these things, but as long as "Adam" did, that was enough. "Ah? Servo motor? Which part of the servo motor?" The repairmen were surprised; they had not expected Chen Fei to pinpoint the fault location so quickly. Before this, some repairmen had suspected that a fault in a certain servo motor part was causing the entire printer to malfunction; they just hadn''t conducted a thorough investigation, leading to inconsistent judgments, and hence the dispute. The answer provided by Chen Fei confirmed one of the speculations, instantly giving it the upper hand. "Feeder servo motor, there also seem to be some issues with the X-axis servo motor." Chen Fei waited for the repairmen to make a final decision, certain today that the large industrial special printer would undoubtedly be dissected. So much for just a rub, heh, men! "Take it apart, let''s open it up and see!" The repairmen of the Northern Weapons Industry Group were bold, immediately getting to work. With their electric screwdrivers whirring, they began dismantling the casing and quickly revealed a complex structure inside. They soon located the feeder servo motor, took it completely apart, and the multimeter''s probes began prodding all over the electrical component. Without even discussing the verification of the electrical parameters, a visual inspection alone clearly revealed several integrated circuits charred by overheating, and neighboring capacitors burst their tops. The excessive wear found in the X-axis servo motor and the ball screw transmission controller was also confirmed on the spot. Wear issues were easy to fix, just manual labor, but electrical faults lacked spare parts, especially those integrated circuits including specialized chips¡ªthere weren''t even any generic parts available as replacements. The problem was indeed identified, but for the moment, this printer was toast. Just as the repairmen were about to give up, Chen Fei spoke up again. "Why not use an analog circuit instead?" "An analog circuit? You mean a microcontroller?" A repairman with some advanced technical knowledge shook his head, considering solving hardware problems with software a viable approach, but at a significant cost, requiring simultaneous secondary development of both hardware and software. "No, just use a development board directly; if there''s none, a PC can substitute. Hmm, dismantling a smartphone might also do." The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" listed hundreds of solutions for Chen Fei, and all he had to do was choose the most effortless one. Fortunately, the servo motor''s drive circuit wasn''t complex, especially replacing part of the circuit. If Chen Fei had to deal with the logic circuit of a general processor, it would indeed cost him dearly. "Can, can we do it?" The maintenance crew looked at Chen Fei with admiration, as if he were an industry guru. "Immediately, right now!" Chen Fei was waiting to use the printer; he didn''t want to waste time. This was called self-reliance. A spare mobile phone was quickly brought before him. Using a smartphone as a microcontroller through "dimensional reduction strike" wasn''t impossible since it had all three essential elements: computing, memory, and control units. As for whether the performance was overkill, that wasn''t the primary concern at the moment. Chen Fei gathered a few plastic boards, cutting them into uniformly sized small squares. Under the influence of his Metal Elemental Psychic Power, he laid out copper wires, sprinkling tiny electronic components on top, as the pins automatically fused with the copper wire endpoints, eliminating the need for solder, and finished it with thin shield covers. Five layers of PCB separated by insulating barley paper, and a cigarette pack-sized circuit board was assembled. Jump wires were routed directly to the servo motor''s circuit board, severing and replacing the original''s faulty area. "Install it, and then turn it on for a test!" Chen Fei handed over the handcrafted circuit. Although it was handmade, the neatly arranged serpentine lines and pin junctions were filled with an industrial precision. Industrial-grade Ability was terrifying indeed. The circuit design and drive system were "Adam''s" work. Chen Fei merely needed to copy the circuitry his eyes could see, ensuring that neither the circuit arrangement nor the component placement would go wrong. The excessive wear of the X-axis servo motor and screw transmission controller was even easier to address; simply adding a bit of alloy about the size of a sesame seed would suffice, and it could likely run continuously for a thousand hours or more without issues. Ding!~ The L991 high-precision molecular agglomeration 3D printer started successfully, and self-check verification passed. "Come on, print some test items." Chen Fei then took off the "Universal Data Transceiver" from his left wrist. This time, no one objected. Forget about sneaking around; he confidently plugged it in. The large industrial specialty printer quickly started whirring into operation. Hundreds of parts, large and small, took shape gradually, and new pieces kept appearing, little by little filling the entire workspace. The layout of the printed workpieces was not flat but three-dimensional. After being solidified and shaped by a special band of blue light, they were refined by a laser beam to enhance precision and meet tolerance ranges. The final product was obtained from the output slot. Under the guise of testing, Chen Fei continuously printed for over two hours straight, with others helping to manually check tolerances. The final product parts were more than double the original planned quantity. Good deeds get rewarded; it was definitely a steal. Vice President Shen heard that one of the two industrial printers at the base was out of commission. Hearing that his daughter and Little Chen were also around, he found time to come over for a look, only to see Chen Fei standing in front of the malfunctioning printer, with a few maintenance staff wearing work attire seriously gathered behind him. Wasn''t the printer broken? What were they fiddling with? Shen Songling asked curiously, "Little Chen, what are you working on?" Looking further, he saw that the quantity of the finished products alone was at least in the tens of thousands, regardless of the type. "Crystal Jet parts!" Chen Fei spoke honestly. The future father-in-law couldn''t just be casually fooled, especially since he was an expert in this field. Even if he could bluff his way through now, sooner or later, Shen would catch on, and leaving a bad impression would be terrible. The modifications that could continue to be made to the Crystal Jet at Aircrew Base had become increasingly limited. It wasn''t necessarily because the design was nearing its final form; it might also mean that his and "Adam''s" ability to further tweak it had reached its limit. So far, the vast majority of the progress had been made through trial and error¡ªaccumulated technology and experience were extremely hardcore. But neither Chen Fei nor "Adam" were specialists in aircraft design, so hitting a ceiling early wasn''t surprising. "Huh?" Shen Songling''s eyes widened suddenly, but he quickly returned to normal. If Chen Fei had somehow stolen the design plans for the "Canglong", Shen might have believed it. But the Crystal Jet? Forget about it! No one would steal the design plans for a Crystal Jet. The key isn''t in how to design and manufacture, but whether there are Flyers available¡ªthat''s what truly matters. Seeing his daughter''s face, Vice President Shen didn''t want to dampen the young man''s enthusiasm. With an encouraging look that showed high hopes, he patted Chen Fei on the shoulder. "Mm, ambitious, keep it up." Old Shen didn''t believe a word of it. You''ve got to become a Sky Knight first! But just having a Special Ability doesn''t qualify you to be a Sky Knight. Chapter 535 535: Section 531 - Fighting ``` To avoid being turned into a mashed mess by the cockpit of a Crystal Jet, first and foremost, you need a strong physique, making Battle Qi the obvious choice. Today''s Sky Knights who pilot Crystal Jets are mostly War Professionals who have mastered Battle Qi, starting at the Fourth Rank of Human Order. Although there are special abilities that can strengthen the body and reach a very high level of enhancement, the cases of heaven-given talent are few and far between. The instances of supernatural power users becoming Sky Knights are rare, almost all being originally pilots who underwent an Awakening of relevant abilities later on, akin to opening the two main channels of chi flow, instantly paving their way to become Sky Knights. However, after an Awakening of a special ability, its potential for future growth comes to an end. Not a single spellcaster has ever become a Sky Knight. Shen Songling''s insincere words of comfort were clearly picked up by Chen Fei, but he did not bother to explain. Because explanations were pointless. After all, a mere commoner daring to tinker with a National Treasure Artifact was simply courting death. It was only his colleagues at Jiu Defense Company who turned a blind eye to Chen Fei''s actions, having grown accustomed to his frequent crashes. The control tower at Aircrew Base 911 received at least three crash reports daily. What else could they possibly do? The printed parts were packed and sealed in boxes, most of them semi-finished and in need of metal components to be considered complete. They were temporarily stored in the warehouse of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. Chen Fei handed Xiao Jiu over to Shen Fei, and Little Bird would store these boxes in her Leg-ring Storage Magical Device. With Teacher Shen handling things, Chen Xiao''er could rest easy. - Leaving the territory of the Northern Weapons Industry Group and returning to the slum-like dormitory area, he saw a swarm of people gathered around, with noisy voices spreading through the air. "CNMLG! You''ve got some nerve! I''m gonna f*cking kill you all today!" Judging by the voice, huh, it was actually "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s voice. Such uncouth language from a lady, who was she planning to f*ck up? Forget it, it''s just the typical behavior of Deputy Squadron Leader. Once she gets riled up, even Big Bear would retreat three feet away. No idea who offended this short-haired Latin girl. Making his way through the crowd with "excuse me, excuse me," Chen Fei squeezed into the circle of onlookers and got to the inner circle, just in time to see people from Jiu Defense facing off against a group of strangers. Many among the spectators were egging them on, shouting for the two sides to start fighting already. In the middle of the other group was someone who seemed to be "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider''s roommate, a passerby. If he wasn''t mistaken, the trouble must have been stirred up by this guy reeking of curry. With Boss Hana absent from the scene, if she''d been there, none of this would be happening; the other side would have already been lying flat. Chen Fei naturally sided with his own people from Jiu Defense, approaching Big Brother Xiao, the chief mechanic, and whispered, "Team leader, what''s going on?" "The guy sharing a room with ''Sauerkraut'' wanted to take something for free, got rejected, and brought people over, trying to forcibly take it." Xiao Ming briefly explained the situation with a few words. That was the situation, with no more reason to it. The folks from Jiu Defense wouldn''t bully others if they could help it, so they certainly wouldn''t let themselves be bullied. "Got it!" Chen Fei nodded, ready to start a brawl right then and there, when he saw Squadron Leader Chekhov already can''t wait to charge ahead with eager cries. "Fight!" Big Brother Xiao didn''t plan on staying out of it either. Since Big Bear was so eager to lead the charge, he carried his huge fists and followed into the fray. Chen Fei shook his head and began to pick up speed, counting one, two, three, then launched a kick that went straight for the jugular. The opponent, clutching his belly, was sent flying into the crowd of onlookers, knocking over four or five people, causing total disarray. A brawl erupted on the spot, with the situation quickly becoming chaotic. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was never afraid of anyone. In the business of military contracting, if there was a chance to throw a punch, they definitely wouldn''t waste time talking. A towering guy with a buzz cut came at Chen Fei with a roar and attempted to land a Cannon Fist. Chen Fei didn''t even think of dodging, instead, he took a solid hit to the forehead with a clank. But the other guy screamed in pain, his face distorted and his fist slightly deformed, showing at least a fracture. Chen Fei grabbed the towering guy, dragged him by the collar, spun 180 degrees, let go, and away you go... Want to watch the excitement? Watch my fist, punk! The man sent flying horizontally knocked down another swath of people. Screams, cries of pain, curses, and a mix of jeers and laughter filled the area. One group was fighting fiercely, the other burning with rage, like a flame igniting a pile of dry hay. Many heated heads jumped into the fray without a second thought. ``` ``` It wasn''t just between Jiu Defense Company''s people and their opponents; spectators enjoying the spectacle also started throwing punches. Chen Xiao''er, with a belly full of tricks, believed in strength in numbers. What fun was there to be had alone when you could drag everyone into the fray and dodge the blame if someone started asking questions... "Stop, stop!" The sound of whistles blared as a group of uniformed individuals equipped with shields and batons charged in, indiscriminately swinging their rubber-wrapped clubs while dragging people away. In no time, the overzealous crowd calmed down, as the uniformed officers striking hard and fast made many cry out in pain from their beatings. In the chaos, Chen Fei seized the opportunity to grab the curry-scented instigator, delivering two symmetrical Eye-Sealing Fists and then giving him a flurry of slaps until his teeth flew out. Only then did he slip away to the side, hands in his pockets, smiling innocently and playing the harmless Baby. He truly was an innocent Baby, never the type to provoke trouble. Of course, if anyone sought a beating, well, that''s another story¡ª after all... helping others is a joy, no need for pleasantries! The curry man turned panda, barely clinging to life: I thank you, ouch! Amidst the uniformed officers maintaining order, one particularly exasperated leader yanked at his throat and yelled, "Who was it, who threw the first punch?" Swish! The initial aggressors on both sides unhesitatingly pointed fingers at each other in unison, as smoothly as if they''d rehearsed it a thousand times over. Squadron Leader Chekhov, his face a map of scars, didn''t hesitate to loudly claim, "It was them, they started it!" Even the normally silent and laconic mechanic head joined in without a flicker of hesitation, certain that it wasn''t Jiu Defense''s side who started the trouble, thus speaking with full confidence. Both sides were old hands at Jianghu tactics; shifting the blame during a brawl came naturally. If someone were truly honest, they''d carry that disadvantage to their grave. The onlookers and brawlers alike pointed fingers randomly, perhaps some were innocently involved, but certainly, some had it coming. "All of you from both groups, come with us," the leader of the uniformed officers said angrily, waving his hand and pointing at both groups who had started the fight. If left unchecked, another fight could break out at any moment, growing in scale and potentially engulfing the whole residential area. Then what would become of the "Abyss Coliseum"? Regardless of what happens to those troublemakers, he, responsible for local security, was certainly not going to come out of this looking good. Jiu Defense''s folks tidied up the scene a bit and then followed the uniformed officers away. Without the involved parties, the crowd soon dissipated, and a few individuals still caught up in the excitement were dragged off, arm-twisted¡ªthese officers were not known for their patience or gentleness. Chen Fei suddenly sensed something and looked into the dispersing crowd. A shiny bald head glinted in the sunlight before disappearing. A bald guy?! Chen Fei didn''t know many bald people, and the most recent one he interacted with was a serious monk. With his visual skills, even a brief glance was enough; he couldn''t have been mistaken. He muttered to himself, wondering what Miyoshi Xuesen was doing here? Yet he saw none of the others¡ªTuert, Masuya, Andrew¡ªnone of them were present. Since being relieved by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee from conscription duty, Chen Fei had been clueless about the Huntsman Squad''s missions, and he had no idea why they would show up at the scene of the "Abyss Coliseum". Unless a core member of the "Water Bear" or "Sacred Advent" organizations was here. Chen Fei quickly discarded this thought from his mind and stopped dwelling on it. One should not concern oneself with matters outside one''s appointed role. No longer part of the Huntsman Squad, whether "Water Bear" or "Sacred Advent" members were around was none of his business. Shortly after being escorted to the Public Security Management Center by the officers, Boss Hana from Jiu Defense arrived, along with the superiors of the opposing side, each arriving one after the other. Neither party gave any ground, as they tore into each other with mutual recriminations right away. At this point, there was no reasoning to be had; whoever could shout louder and leave the other speechless would hold sway. The Public Security Management Center in charge of maintaining order didn''t really care who was right or wrong; they''d simply back whoever was winning while ruthlessly kicking down those already on the ground. Ever since participants and organizations involved in the "Abyss Coliseum" began arriving, fights and brawls had become a common occurrence. Sometimes it wasn''t just the rank and file trading blows, but even the bosses would shed their dignified fac?ade and engage in the fray. Though wearing their uniforms, these were not police but a bunch of security guards struggling to make a living, not in a position to enforce much. As long as no one died on the spot, everyone was free to bash each other to their heart''s content. Hanna Gagar, presenting a markedly different demeanor than usual, seemed adept at this style of aggressive and unjust discourse, rapidly overwhelming a muscular beefy man with her tirade until he was red in the face, unable to complete a coherent sentence, making defeated threats like "I''ll fuck you up," or "I''ll blast you," empty stubborn bluster that did nothing to improve his disadvantaged position. "The Hanuman Airborne Group members are confined for one day; no further disputes are allowed. Also, that thief, adjust your accommodations, move into a tent," decided the head of the Public Security Management Center firmly, in line with the law of the jungle''s survival of the fittest. "Heh!" Hanna Gagar lifted her chin slightly, exuding contempt as if saying "You''re nothing." ``` Chapter 536 536: Section 532 - Sentiments ``` The boss of the Hanuman Airborne Group, infuriated upon hearing the disposition from the Public Security Management Center, pointed at Hanna Gagar and roared, "You, Hanna Gagar, and your people, will! regret! this!" "Should I take that as a threat?" Hanna Gagar''s uncovered right eye flashed dangerously. The boss of the Hanuman Airborne Group wanted to say more but unexpectedly got prodded in the lower back with an electric shocker. His body stiffened and then started to shiver as two uniformed security guards flanked him and hauled him away. A one-day solitary confinement penalty was immediately carried out! Unless they didn''t want to continue participating in "The Abyss Coliseum" battles, basically none of the Hanuman Airborne Group''s members could escape, nor did they dare to. "Son of a bitch!" Hanna Gagar spat scornfully. If the other side had dared to make a move right then, she might even have respected them as a real man before sending them to their grave with a Wind Blade. It had to be said, the people from Jiu Defense Company, from the boss to the employees, reacted remarkably consistently when faced with hostility. "You people from Jiu Defense had better behave and not mess with me, otherwise please leave. We don''t welcome ''troublemakers'' here!" The head of the Public Security Management Center issued a warning with an air of seriousness, yet his eyes never left the female military contractor boss for a second. He''s just lusting after her body, He... tui! Despicable! The only regret was that the woman was a "Cyclops"; once she put on that eye patch, her whole demeanor became much more fierce. "People don''t offend me, and I don''t offend people, I still understand this principle," Hanna Gagar replied mildly but firmly. Who knows how many people have ogled her with such disgusting gazes; she was long since used to it. Even the Chekhov Big Bear sometimes couldn''t hold back such a look. ... They were all cowardly bums with unscrupulous thoughts and no guts to act on them. If anyone really dared to make a move, she would admire them as a man setting out on a quest for enlightenment. Chen Xiao''er wouldn''t, the sight of the eye patch would always make him shiver uncontrollably. Wasn''t Teacher Shen, Secretary Shen tasty enough? Definitely tasty! Once the people from Jiu Defense Company returned to their dormitory area, they brought out several insulated foam boxes filled with chilled large glass beer bottles, and also took the opportunity to throw out their "Sauerkraut" roommate Tempun Schneider''s belongings without holding anything back; since the fight had happened, they didn''t lose out anyway, so what there to be afraid of even if they offended them to death, right? In the sweltering heat, chugging down a gulp of ice-cold beer, burping loudly, it felt like the soul might just take flight right then and there. Private company pilots didn''t have many scruples; smoking, drinking, enjoying spicy barbecue, whatever they liked to eat and drink, as long as they didn''t get too fat to fit into the cockpit was alright, Everyone had a bottle of cold beer, sometimes two, clinking them together, downing them with delight, and the group soon started howling and indulging in debauchery. Fighting and drinking, life''s great pleasures must be enjoyed to the fullest, of course one should drink to their heart''s content while the booze is there. The Big Bear had just gotten a few sips in him when he started to get carried away, bellowing at the top of his lungs. "I, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, will drink the best liquor, fly the fastest combat aircraft, make the most money, live in the biggest house, and screw the hottest chicks..." Bang! Shattered glass flew everywhere. Chekhov mumbled a few words, rolled his eyes, collapsed like a falling mountain, lying across the beams of the bunk bed, thud, out cold! He still clung to the beer bottle with only a sip left at the bottom, unable to let go. The goddamn hottest chick... "Devil Pepper," if your bosom is not flat, you can pacify the world, you Chekhov deserve to have her! Iline Rusios resentfully threw away a beer bottle with only the neck left, causing others to twitch at the sight. The deputy squadron leader was truly diabolical, even harsher than when she was fighting earlier, making one involuntarily worry whether the Big Bear squadron leader might get knocked into a misfortune. "You bastards, watch yourselves!" The rowdy bunch ticked off Boss Hana to no end. Chen Fei, "Rookie," hadn''t been drinking and was helping out Big Brother Xiao, the mechanical repair chief, with his carpentry, which had more furniture pieces to fit into the Mobile Base Vehicle''s compartment. This replicated version of the vehicle was nearly indistinguishable in appearance and driving performance from the original, but its interior and comfort levels were leagues apart, after all, the finer details of the original Mobile Base Vehicle''s compartment were accumulated bit by bit, and many small items were not made of metal, so Metal Elemental Psychic Powers were utterly useless against them. The entire Hanuman Airborne Group was locked up for a day, and by the time they were released, they just perfectly missed the opening ceremony of "The Abyss Coliseum." They ground their teeth in hatred towards the members of Jiu Defense Company but were utterly helpless against them. On one hand, they were still being watched by the security guards, and on the other, they indeed couldn''t beat the bastards from Jiu Defense Company. They could only silently curse them in their hearts, unable to even make an extra move. Over the course of the twenty-day "The Abyss Coliseum" events, the first week was dedicated to flying performances, followed by thirteen days of life-and-death battles between combat pilots from the civilizations of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. Though it wasn''t real warfare, the pilots engaged in the Arena didn''t harbor deep hatred for each other, but the competition in piloting combat aircraft was about winning or losing, life and death. Behind the flying performance week, aircraft manufacturers were secretly competing with one another. The performers included both civilian and military aircraft, and only through static displays and dynamic live flying demonstrations could they impress potential customers and secure the lucrative contracts. In the battle to win orders, the competition between major manufacturers was just as relentless¡ªdeciding winners and losers, dictating survival or demise. ``` An order could instantly bring a manufacturer on the brink of bankruptcy back to full health, breathing a huge sigh of life into them, but if orders continued to be elusive, it was truly possible for them to be starved to death, even with the support of a Sovereign behind them. Civilian flying teams took turns soaring into the sky with manufacturer teams, a variety of maneuvers performed one after another, the roar in the sky never ceasing. The spectator stands were divided into indoor and outdoor areas. Not only did the indoor area have pleasant air conditioning and comfortable seats, but it also had holographic projections and "Light Mirror Spell" screens, which allowed for an almost dead-angle viewing of the aircraft''s every move in the sky. The outdoor spectator seats were open-air tiered seats close to the take-off and landing runway, with a small amount of "Light Mirror Spell" to enhance the view, but it required more direct experience from the audience and immersion was higher, well-suited for those who enjoyed the deafening roar. "The third flying display team is the ''Dark Angel'' from the American Federation, with six F-14 ''Tomcat'' jet fighters forming a formation and taking off together." The host''s voice, passed to every spectator''s ear through active noise-cancelling earphones, would have been drowned out by the engine roar if not for these little devices. The microphone could selectively transmit human voices to other earphones within a three and a half meter radius. "Damn it, Boeing Aerospace just gets crappier each time. Don''t they have any new products? They even dragged out the ''Tomcat'' to do forced business. Is this like raising the dead by flipping the coffin lid?" In the stands, Chekhov Big Bear, with a bandage wrapped around his forehead, carried a bottle of beer and cursed, feeling it wasn''t worth his while to come all this way just to see this?! He had barely sat in the outdoor spectator seats for a short while, and he had already finished off a dozen beers. At least bring out a Crystal Jet! He couldn''t remember anything that had happened the day before. All he knew was he woke up at dawn with a big lump on his head, throbbing painfully, and he thought he had blacked out from drinking. The bandage around his head was personally wrapped by the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper"; having a girl take care of you was indeed comforting! Having gulped down a bellyful of beer, the consequence was that behind the spectator stands, the smell of urine was overwhelming, occasionally drifting over with the wind, causing people to frown, not knowing which spiteful person relieved themselves on the spot. "Just like our MiG aircraft, the design may be old, but the product is new. It''s like putting new wine in old bottles, they sell nostalgia," said "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, who usually liked to collect models of combat aircraft. He had collected several versions of the F-14 "Tomcat," all original, such as the earlier Grumman and the later Boeing versions. Indeed, many in the stands were excitedly snapping away with their long-lens cameras when they saw the "Tomcat" appear. The F-14 "Tomcat" had long been retired, but still had a substantial fanbase, probably because its wings could move, which even laypeople found extraordinary. If given the choice, military contractors would prefer to replace the MiG-28 with the F-14, since modernizing the aircraft radar to be lighter and better equipped would absolutely enhance electronic tactical capabilities, bringing it closer to modern tactical strategies (evolving from dogfighting to "playing possum"). Chekhov Big Bear turned his head back and, with a drunken squint, said, "Rookie, your Crystal Jet should also go up and show off!" Making your name known was what it meant to travel through Jianghu. For a small military contractor like Jiu Defense, unexpectedly rolling out a National Treasure Artifact might just cause an earth-shattering splash in the military contractor industry. "No way, it''s far from ready!" Chen Fei shook his head emphatically. Even though the Crystal Jet he was working on crashed less and less often, it still occasionally took a tumble, nowhere near the maturity level to be paraded before an audience. The embarrassment of crashing a jet in public was something Chen Fei absolutely wouldn''t do. It was more likely that such a stunt would be excessively dramatic, not only emptying the pond but blasting the fish out as well. In the end, the pond would be turned into a gaping, empty pit. No Sovereign would permit the existence of a private industry that produced National Treasure Artifacts, as that would be seen as assets for rebellion and conspiracy, naturally leaving no stone unturned. After the six F-14 "Tomcats" took off, they split into two groups to begin head-on stunt flying. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios watched the six jet fighters, murmuring in doubt. "Too close, no, too close!" Her expression suddenly changed as she tapped Chekhov Big Bear next to her and said, "Look quick, something''s going to happen with the ''Dark Angel''." "What?" Chekhov Big Bear raised his head. Boom!~ The jet fighters were incredibly fast, especially head-on. A huge fireball exploded in the middle of the jets. Four "Tomcats" instantly split off, separating back-to-back and pulling up swiftly, but two "Tomcats" vanished from sight. Countless pieces of metal and flames hurtled toward the audience on the ground... In midair, a flash of light suddenly activated a huge protective Barrier, halting the metal and flames. The outer spectator stand, which was about to be affected, remained unharmed, by a near-catastrophe. Chapter 537 537: Section 533 - Challenge Letter The cries of alarm filled the stands, and many people were so frightened that they stood up, ready to run at any moment. "Ah! It collided¡ªit''s collided!" Squadron Leader Chekhov''s mouth hung open, caught off guard and severely startled. To laymen, it''s a spectacle; to professionals, it''s all about technique. Both were veteran pilots, with eyes as accurate as laser rangefinders. If Big Bear Squadron Leader hadn''t been busy talking to Chen Fei, he would have likely made the same predictive call as "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios. A violent storm of metal and flames covered an area roughly the size of two soccer fields, and suffocating thick smoke billowed into the air. Around four of the outdoor spectator stands near the main runway were affected. Fortunately, the organizers were well-prepared. Not only had they created a protective barrier with alchemical artifacts, but supernatural power users and spellcasters were also ready to protect the stands, providing double insurance. Active elemental energy traced runes and intricate lines in the air, forming a barrier that flickered in midair, blocking the debris, flames, and smoke. Without these protective measures, this iteration of "The Abyss Coliseum" could have potentially turned into a deadly tragedy with numerous casualties. - Following the horrific collision, the "Dark Angel" aerobatic team could no longer continue their planned flight routine. Four F-14 "Tomcats" with variable-sweep wings landed with profound sadness, and the pilots who had lost a colleague consoled each other tearfully. In high-speed flight, a millimeter''s error is a tragedy, and such accidents are not uncommon in the aviation industry, especially during high-risk aerobatic performances where the likelihood of accidents is significantly high. Nevertheless, stunt pilots continuously pushed the limits, fearlessly performing in the face of death, controlling their aircraft in bold displays in the sky. Ambulances and fire trucks quickly filled the crash site, which was more a formality than anything else. Beyond the frantic activity, there wasn''t much they could do. The pilots who couldn''t eject in time were obliterated upon impact, beyond any hope of survival. After a brief pause, the next aerobatic team took to the stage. Perhaps due to the previous incident, the pilots performed more conservatively, sticking to standard flying postures rather than relying on thrilling and highly complex maneuvers to capture the audience''s attention. "Is that it?" Squadron Leader Chekhov, entering his "Sage Mode," looked utterly unimpressed. The young men and women from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron were even more reckless in combat than these aerobatic teams. "They''re here to perform, not to fight in real combat; you can''t have such high expectations! If you want to see something truly spectacular, you''ll have to wait a few more days." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios rolled her eyes, clearly seeing it as just a show not to be taken seriously! "Haha! Interesting!" "Rookie" Chen Fei was quite amused, diligently following with his binoculars the aircraft performing various maneuvers, watching non-stop. This was his first time at "The Abyss Coliseum" to watch an aerial show, and he wouldn''t have had access to it if not for Boss Hanna securing the invitations. "Just watch, Rookie. Don''t ever use these useless tricks in real combat!" Chekhov didn''t forget to turn around and warn Chen Fei against adopting any improper tactics. Your life is your own. Being too focused on showing off could turn a stunt into a blunder. Big Bear Squadron Leader might''ve been unreliable in everyday matters, but when it came to this, there was no questioning his authority. As a "Big Mouth Monster" of Turboprop Aircraft, the demands for tactical maneuvers were even greater than those on the jet-powered MiG. Most tactical moves for combat aircraft were originally developed in propeller-driven models, while modern jet-based tactics are much more straightforward, heavily reliant on tactical weapon performance. The pursuit of extreme maneuverability, attack, and defense using Crystal Jet is an entirely different matter. "Understood!" Chen Fei, who could directly copy the predictive trajectory answers, certainly wouldn''t stray off the path, crashing headlong into the enemy''s attack route would just be foolish! The commanders of the "Genuine Fragrance" combat flight squadron never hid their skills, always ready to teach every last trick to their team without reservation. The pilots shared their experiences openly, which helped the team''s overall combat prowess have few weak spots, fighting fiercely and unabated in corporate wars. Even someone as new as Chen Fei could achieve rapid growth in a short time. - The second day of the Air Show week. As the crowd from Jiu Defense exited the outdoor stands, they were suddenly blocked by someone. "Mr. Hoffman, do you have any grievances this time?" Hanna Gagel recognized the leader of the group; they had clashed just two days before. To be precise, it''s better to say they had just fought. The group was from the Hanuman Air Service Group, standing amidst the scattered crowd with cold faces, apparently having waited for a while. Those who come with ill intentions aren''t kindly visitors. The boss of the Hanuman Airborne Group, Laimen Hoffman, said through gritted teeth, "It''s not about grievances. Since we''re all in this industry, let''s settle the dispute in the way of our trade." "What? You still want to initiate a corporate war?" Boss Hana raised her eyebrows, suppressing a grin. An air service group that couldn''t even count as a military contractor, merely a small military team using air service operations as a means of income, had no right to initiate a corporate war. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t even accept it. Any military contractor with air power could annihilate this presumptuous so-called air service group in a matter of minutes, let alone Jiu Defense equipped with an air crew base. So, when Chekhov and his men lashed out at their opponents, they did it with overwhelming force and without any psychological pressure, without any fear of retaliation. The powerless underdog''s barking didn''t even qualify to be heard. "Hehe, let''s settle this with what we do best, a duel!" Step forward Laimen Hoffman, the owner of the Hanuman Airborne Group, who handed over a letter solemnly. "A challenge letter?" Hanna Gagar originally thought the other party would purely follow its instincts; their minds heated, they would recklessly seek to brawl again. But now, this paper envelope she held told her this was just pretense. For a small group like the air service group, action would have sufficed, but they had to put on airs. "Hanuman Airborne Group officially challenges Jiu Defense''s ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron to a decisive battle with fighter jets," Hoffman declared boldly, unmindful of the astonished eyes around him. "This is truly a death wish!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios looked emotionless at the personnel of the Hanuman Airborne Group, like she was looking at the dead. Most of the pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had seen blood. Their records included multiple shoot-downs, with a good number of them being Aces, and more than one double Ace. Their actual combat strength was incomparable to that of regular corporate pilots, well-known in the air crew bases of the Xingdu Kush Mountain area. Such a trivial air service group dared to provoke, clearly unaware of what death spelled out. Death - one horizontal, one slant, one turn... Forget it, better teach them a lesson! Boss Hana handed the envelope with the challenge letter to Squadron Leader Chekhov. "''Peanut Butter'', it''s all yours." The extremely busy boss of Jiu Defense didn''t have time to bother with such minor matters, as Major Chekhov was more than capable of handling it. "Hehe, a piece of cake." Squadron Leader Chekhov thought the same, also without opening it; he flicked it nonchalantly back and forth in his hand, sizing up the others and said with a teasing smile, "You better think this through. This could get people killed, and you need to sign an agreement taking full responsibility for your lives. Our ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron won''t handle the bodies!" A patronizing and dictatorial manner like a lord who dictates death but not burial. With Chekhov''s experienced eye, he instantly identified the pilots in the group, including the boss Laimen Hoffman. There were only six in total, the rest being logistics personnel. If he only counted the regular flying pilots, minus the boss, well, that curry-scented guy looked too frail, probably just a reserve pilot, most likely. Meaning the whole Hanuman Airborne Group had but four actual pilots, barely making up a small flight team. Is that all? Not even enough for the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron to pick their teeth! The brazen challenge from the opposite side was rather easy to see through. It was an attempt to step on the name of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron to gain fame and fortune. Or perhaps they had accepted benefits from a rival of Jiu Defense, trying to turn a bicycle into a fighter jet. The actual reason could be one or the other, or possibly both. "This Hanuman Airborne Group is not that simple." Chen Fei sharply sensed something unusual. The constant targeting of the growing Jiu Defense wasn''t the first or second time, making it hard not to think of ''conspiracy theories.'' "Exactly, there''s something fishy!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios heard Chen Fei''s mutterings and immediately nodded. An air service group that couldn''t even be considered a full military contractor invited to the Abyss Coliseum certainly meant something was up. "Farewell!" With the goal of his visit accomplished, Hanuman''s boss Laimen Hoffman bowed with a fist and palm salute and turned to leave with his group, not staying to snag a few more bitter words. Chapter 538 538: Section 534 - Seeking Advice People from Hanuman Airborne Group had barely left when Teacher Shen Fei, accompanied by Little Bird, came looking for them. From a distance, she spotted the two groups that had just been confronting each other, took three steps as if they were two, and reached Chen Fei''s side, handing over Xiao Jiu. "It''s all set up!" Taking advantage of many people watching the flight show, Shen Fei and Xiao Jiu sneaked out some components from the warehouse, since owning a Space System Alchemy Storage Device was quite rare and could indeed lead to some disputes. She continued, "Do you want me to settle this for you?" It was no secret that an air service group was clashing with Jiu Defense Company. As the deputy secretary of a corporate group, she naturally heard about it, and with a slight interest, could understand it perfectly clear. Setting aside the facts and naturally taking a stance, Teacher Shen undoubtedly supported Chen Xiao''er in hammering others. What the hell was Hanuman Airborne Group, and how did they mingle into the scene? Just as Chen Fei had guessed, they were likely another case of nepotism. If one didn''t have someone to lead them in or have strong interpersonal connections, entering this line of work would be virtually impossible. Secretary Shen wasn''t just offering comforting words, but speaking from a position of power. With just one word, she could have Hanuman Airborne Group chased away from here, ensuring that they wouldn''t even dare to think about complaining. As one of the top ten sponsors of "The Abyss Coliseum," a behemoth like Northern Weapons Industry Group, acting as a financial backer, could instantly obliterate a small team like Hanuman Airborne Group with even a slight hint of disapproval, leaving nothing but dust behind. There were plenty of people who wanted to curry favor with Northern Weapons Industry Group, willing to foster good relations, even if it was just the secretary beside the deputy general manager. So, both publicly and privately, people at Jiu Defense Company were happy to see "Rookie" Chen Fei and Teacher Shen hit it off. When it comes to relationships, no social faux pas! "Thanks, no need, Squadron Leader Chekhov is quite free as well." Chen Fei smirked, not placing the mere air service group to heart. Big Bear could watch the flight show and still yawn incessantly. Hanuman Airborne Group''s people picking a fight might just be what he wanted, for everything was boring anyway, so he might as well find something to do. "Exactly, easy-peasy!" Rarely do people seek to be hammered; under the utter boredom, Chekhov Big Bear was quite interested. At any other time, he would probably not even bother to deal with it. "Thanks! Teacher Shen, you are really nice, but we can handle it." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios finished speaking, then pulled Big Bear Squadron Leader and gestured to the others. "Let''s go, let''s discuss how to deal with that crappy air service group." Unlike the clueless Big Bear, the short-haired girl was quite emotionally intelligent. After Shen Fei finished her international teaching stint and returned home to become a member of Northern Weapons Industry Group, the 911 Aircrew Base and Jiu Defense Company became even more unreachable, and the chances for young guy Chen Fei to interact with them became increasingly scarce; they might as well not disturb Teacher Shen and "Rookie" during their rare time together. As if suddenly remembering something, Shen Fei quickly shouted at the backs of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron members, "Also, there''s a high-fidelity, multi-degree-of-freedom flight simulator in area four, you guys can try it out first." She knew the functions and facilities of each area of "The Abyss Coliseum" like the back of her hand, absolutely competent as a senior secretary of a large corporation. "Got it! Teacher Shen, have a good time with ''Rookie,'' we won''t disturb you." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios waved her hand without turning back. Watching as the chief mechanic Xiao Ming and the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron members walked away, Chen Fei turned his gaze back and said, "Shen Fei, how is your father''s ''Canglong'' project doing? Has there been another crash?" Teacher Shen''s father, the deputy general manager of Northern Weapons Industry Group Shen Songling, was in charge of the advanced combat aircraft "Canglong," much like the Crystal Jet Chen Fei was currently tinkering with; both were combat aircrafts being tested and improved upon, and were more or less in the stage of crashing. Aircrafts that don''t crash during tuning aren''t good aircrafts. Heavy investments lead to substantial outputs, with a developmental cycle starting at ten years and profit cycles also measured in decades. Mature products could even last a hundred years¡ªthat''s the business nature of the aerospace manufacturing industry, with no shortcuts or cunning strategies involved. "It crashed once, and currently, it''s still in the review stage. The next test flight, at the earliest, would be in three months." Shen Fei seemed not too worried about the pressure her father was currently under. As per the norm, if the "Canglong" project is lucky, it might crash another couple of times; with bad luck, maybe seven or eight times more. Continuous improvements over two or three years could finally place it on the Air Force''s reserve active list. Even if it couldn''t become the main model, it would at least allow the corporate group''s a generation to fully benefit from this project. "That slow, I thought it had already crashed ten or eight times." Familiar with the necessary process of crashing during test flights, Chen Fei was astonished by the slow progress of the "Canglong" project. Compared to his own, the progress of his Crystal Jet in one day was equivalent to three months for the other, estimating another half a year of crashes before there wouldn''t be much left to improve. "How... could that be!" Shen Fei involuntarily paused at such flippant comments about risking lives. Joking aside, crashing during a test flight was very dangerous, and not every ejection attempt could be 100% successful. If the Air Force carelessly sacrificed precious test pilots, they''d certainly take issue with the Northern Weapons Industry Group¡ªand not just a vice president of the company, but the entire senior management would struggle to withstand such accountability. "Isn''t that possible?" This time, it was Chen Fei''s turn to be taken aback. Everyone here is working on engines, but why are their thought processes not on the same plane?! Teacher Shen heaved a sigh and said, "You''re really speaking like an outsider!" Chen Fei, who specialized in economics and became a pilot along the way, found aircraft design, manufacturing, flying, repairing, and combat to be entirely different realms. It was no surprise that he didn''t understand the fighter jet development process. "It seems like I saw a ''Canglong'' at the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s exhibition area." Even though Old Shen kept things close to his chest, the concept model displayed in the exhibition area still revealed the "Canglong." Presumably, the perennial rival of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, had already obtained firsthand information about the "Canglong" project. "It''s just an empty shell, nothing inside, let alone flying. Are you interested?" Shen Fei spread his hands. Designed as a mainstream support fighter, the advanced "Canglong" was already on display, with its primary design parameters nearly half-public, boldly printed on the description plate of the concept machine. Of course, some extreme performance specifications and unique aerial combat skills remained confidential, available only upon placing an order. "Of course, I am! By the way, did the experts from the project team come too?" Chen Fei nodded without hesitation, and it was a nod he had to give. While he futilely tinkered with the Crystal Jet on his own, figures like Squadron Leader Chekhov and Big Brother Xiao were of no help. With "Adam," the unreliable second-in-command, every attempt ended in crashing¡ªthey were both literally and figuratively crashed out, the machine monstrously thrilling. In comparison, the "Canglong" project was backed by a large group of experts, who strategized and labored together, much stronger than the hapless Chen Xiao''er. A rare opportunity to seek advice, and perhaps stealthily learn something. Considering Teacher Shen''s influence, the experts from the Northern Weapons Industry Group would probably offer some advice to some extent. "They''re here! This time, the leader is Chief Designer Nangong." Once Chen Fei had met the experts from the "Canglong" project team, there was no need for Shen Fei to keep secrets anymore. "I''ll go and print some stuff first." Instead of heading directly to the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s exhibition area, Chen Fei dragged Teacher Shen to the nearest business center, where he rented a printer and rapidly printed several A1 size drawings. He rolled them into a hard paper tube, and only then did they head over to the territory of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. Curious, Teacher Shen looked at the "Big Stick" Chen Fei was holding¡ªit was almost written on her face, "What did you just print?" Although she managed to catch a slight glimpse of the documents, she still couldn''t grasp their meaning; it was all quite confusing. Her professional qualifications in secretarial, educational, and administrative work were more than adequate, but she was even less knowledgeable than the semi-professional Chen Fei concerning the technical aspects of aerospace. "Secret blueprints!" Chen Fei teased, earning a playful punch from Teacher Shen. The exclusive exhibition area of the Northern Weapons Industry Group was not small, covering more than 20,000 square meters. It showcased nearly a thousand exhibits¡ªfrom individual soldier gear to Magic Cube Warships, Combat Mobility Armor, and special vehicles to main combat aircraft and the National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet. The products encompassed all manner of strategic and tactical equipment within the atmosphere, leaving no doubt about the technological prowess and corporate heritage. Product diversification, despite requiring significant effort and sometimes being difficult to profit from, allowed for providing comprehensive package solutions to sovereign clients. Being extensive in coverage also had its benefits, and a high degree of interconnectivity between various products nearly eliminated compatibility and standardization issues. Before they could even approach the aviation aircraft exhibition area, Chen Fei and Shen Fei were stopped. More precisely, it was Chen Fei who was approached. "What are you doing here?" Nangong Ruiyang blocked Chen Fei''s path, his gaze involuntarily drifting behind Chen Xiao''er. Not seeing that detestable Mobile Base Vehicle, he immediately sighed in relief. "Me?" Chen Fei pointed at himself, smiled, and said, "I''m here to learn." See, high emotional intelligence, good at speaking¡ªnot like a clod, saying something that could leave someone speechless. Warily masking his intention to use a feather as a commanding arrow, Nangong Ruiyang, with a cold face, said, "This is a national defense site; we don''t welcome irrelevant individuals." "Nangong, what national defense site? Go away!" Teacher Shen could easily see through the other''s petty intentions¡ªit must have been because Chen Fei had offended him, and this was clearly trouble-seeking. An exhibition area on the Aphiliya Continent before signing any contracts hardly counts as a national defense site. If it''s out on display, it''s meant to be seen¡ªa casual mention of secrecy wouldn''t just keep people at a distance. Chapter 539 539: Section 535 - Drawings Chen Fei wasn''t angry at all; he looked at the other party with a smile and said gently, "Good dogs don''t stand in the way!" I even showed you some respect! And you still won''t get lost! He was also good-natured. If it weren''t for the fact that he needed to seek the other''s father for advice later, he would have already slapped him by now. "How dare you insult people?" Nangong Ruiyang was infuriated. With Secretary Shen right there, this Chen dared to be so rude. "I haven''t beaten you up is already being polite. Do you want to know how many people have died by my hands?" Chen Fei stepped forward, patted the other''s cheek, and his pupils suddenly turned to fragmented gold. Just for that instant, they returned to black. In that moment, Nangong Ruiyang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, completely unable to move. "..." He clearly wanted to say something, but it was as if something was stuck in his throat, preventing him from speaking. The guy actually turned out to be a violent criminal, a murderer... "You scared him!" Teacher Shen Fei came over and pushed the mischievous Chen Xiao''er aside, then turned to the trouble-seeking Nangong Ruiyang and said, "Grow some sense, and stop being foolish!" Real, naive babies sometimes have a bizarre, inexplicable confidence; they have no idea who can be provoked and who cannot. High education doesn''t mean sensibility; it''s not uncommon to find someone with a PhD in intelligence but a kindergarten level in emotional quotient. Here''s such a person right now, still thinking society is an Ivory Tower where, as long as one scores well, others should defer to them ¡ª a strange sense of superiority indeed. "Heh heh!" Chen Fei laughed, he and Teacher Shen shared a common language, whereas he and this Nangong Ruiyang could hardly agree on anything. "Let''s go!" Shen Fei pulled Chen Fei past the still-standing Nangong Ruiyang, undisturbed by any obstacles this time. She still couldn''t understand why there was such animosity between Nangong Ruiyang and Chen Fei; logically, he shouldn''t be so narrow-minded. Could the latter have done something excessively offensive to the former? Teacher Shen may not have guessed it, but she was only one A4 paper away from the truth. Being targeted by a railgun would make anyone angry, wouldn''t it! Luckily, Nangong Chengyu, the father of Nangong Ruiyang and Vice Chief Designer of the "Canglong" project, was right in the display area, standing beside the "Canglong" concept machine and holding a tablet, talking and drawing on the screen simultaneously. Even though he came to lead the exhibition, the project work was still ongoing. Tomorrow a wealthy client will come to inspect this concept machine, and in order to extract some money from his pockets, the team members were preparing ahead of time. Earning money through PPT is a common practice in the aerospace industry. Sometimes, by the time the product officially goes on sale, a generation has passed ¡ª such a time span leaves little room for additional comments. Especially in the development process of combat aircraft, it often involves pre-research gene, approved gene, mass-produced gene, and retired gene, four generations living together. The development cycle can last up to two generations, fifty years, ensuring some aerospace technologies won''t become obsolete even a hundred years later. "Chief Designer Nangong!" Secretary Shen, who had brought Chen Fei over, took the initiative to greet him. The implicit rule of the workplace, in informal situations, is to use respectful titles ¡ª saying ''Chief'' without ''Vice'' is also a kind of compliment and blessing, akin to pasting the word "fortune" upside down during the New Year. "Secretary Shen, Little Chen, hello!" The Vice Chief Designer paused his discussion with the team members and nodded at them. Although Chen Fei wasn''t part of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the two were at least familiar with one another. "Chen Fei has a matter he would like to consult with you about; do you have a moment to take a look?" Shen Fei directly stated their purpose but didn''t mention the incident along the way. Otherwise, what would you ask Vice President Nangong to do, spank his son, or spank his son, or perhaps spank his son? It would be too damn awkward. Anyone with a bit of emotional intelligence wouldn''t stir up the pot like that. The intelligence and emotional intelligence on par, Chen Fei also thought so, which is why he didn''t actually slap Nangong Ruiyang on the face. As for someone else, see if Chen Xiao''er had ever been polite; you either get it done or do it thoroughly. "Take a look? Oh, no problem, let''s have a look!" "You must give respect where it''s due" the Vice President of the "Canglong" project, Nangong Chengyu, was entitled to some courtesy. Shen Fei signaled, and Chen Fei immediately withdrew a thick roll of blueprints from a cylindrical container he held. The two then unfolded them together at the scene. Verbal explanations are no substitute for illustrations that speak for themselves. "This is..." At first glance, it appeared to be a design blueprint for a combat aircraft, the Vice President of the Nangong design team scrutinized it closely. By his side, Chen Fei said, "This is a scheme for a Crystal Jet!" Crystal Energy...Emmmm...Crystal what? It wasn''t only the Vice President Nangong who was puzzled, but also other curious members of the "Canglong" project team who at the next second collectively realized and looked at each other before their gazes drifted left and right. Kid, did you mix up your homework? The "Canglong" advanced combat aircraft was a jet fighter, and although it incorporated some Magic Arrays, it was far from a Crystal Jet. While the Northern Weapons Industry Group also had a specialized R&D team for Crystal Jets, there were no experts of that field on the "Canglong" project team. After just flipping through two or three pages, confirming the indicated Magic Arrays on the design, Vice President Nangong said with a wry smile, "This... this is indeed a Crystal Jet!" Professions as distinct as fields, the differences here were too vast. "Isn''t it the same?" Chen Fei was taken aback, having not anticipated that these blueprints seemed to have stumped the other party. "They are not the same! I specialize in jet fighters, and this is a Crystal Jet. They are different¡ªHmm, the aerodynamic design on the blueprints is quite interesting, but the structure is too complex, and neither the manufacturing process nor the logistical support is economically feasible." the Vice President Nangong shook his head. Outsiders marvel; insiders understand the specifics. Although he couldn''t provide very useful responses, there were still some aspects he could discern. It was unclear where these blueprints had come from, but they looked quite professional. It was a design for an ideal model that lacked practical feasibility. The Magic Arrays used in the blueprints, both in type and quantity, were more than those in "Canglong," and while they fell short of a real Crystal Jet, they indeed presented a design scheme for one. Most Crystal Jets are custom-made with very few produced in bulk, so general feasibility isn''t a primary concern. Expensive, yes, but their combat capability is undeniable. However, as an outsider, these blueprints meant little for Chen Fei unless he could become a Sky Knight. If he did become a Sky Knight, he wouldn''t need to worry about these blueprints as the sovereignty would naturally foot the bill, and a professional team would take care of everything. What the sovereignty air force lacks isn''t Crystal Jets, but Sky Knights, they can never have too many. "I see!" Chen Fei finally realized he had been mistaken. Jet fighters and Crystal Jets were significantly different in their specialties. Otherwise, the other wouldn''t have said this, nor was there any reason to lie about it. "You need to find an expert in Crystal Jets to manage this." Vice President Nangong shifted his gaze from the blueprints to Shen Fei. It wasn''t suitable for him to mention the expert in Crystal Jet design from Northern Weapons Industry Group. Instead, it was for Secretary Shen to decide. Yet, these blueprints inspired Nangong Chief Designer, who immediately started scribbling on the screen of his tablet, recording the ideas that came to him in an instant and planning to discuss later whether they could be implemented on the "Canglong". Shen Fei didn''t directly agree to Chen Fei''s request, planning to ask her father later on. "I need to check first." After all, as a secretary, whether or not to introduce Chen Fei to an expert would, of course, be up to her father, the company''s Vice President. "Okay! I''m not in a rush." Chen Fei was just trying his luck through Shen Fei''s connection and wasn''t specifically looking for an answer. Nangong Chief Engineer offered some fair comments. For others, production and logistics might become huge stumbling blocks requiring significant costs. But for someone with Metal Elemental Psychic Power, these were hardly an issue. "Where did you get these Crystal Jet blueprints from?" Shen Fei thought, having not seen Chen Fei for a while, he was playing at a much higher level, daring to even meddle with Crystal Jets. Even if he could actually manufacture one, owning a Class B Special Ability would likely still be insufficient to control it. An ordinary person taking control of a Crystal Jet had only one possible outcome. Death! Chapter 540 540: Section 536 - "Canglong" is No Longer Clean "Of course, it was designed by myself." Chen Fei didn''t conceal the fact, but rather than saying he designed it, it was more accurate to say he copied and then modified it. Now it had become his own. As for designing a fighter jet from scratch, forget about it! "Hehe, you''re not playing for real, are you?" Teacher Shen felt more and more that Chen Fei was serious, and this made the situation rather amusing. If it weren''t for his B-grade metal elemental psychic power reaching an industrial grade, she would have taken it as a joke or just a common hobby. After all, men sometimes are like children who never grow up, loving handicraft models and such¡ªperfectly normal. At first, when Chen Fei said this, she and her father, Shen Songling, both took it as a joke. But now, having seen the blueprints and hearing the somewhat meaningful comments from the Nangong Chief Designer, she realized this might not be just a normal hobby. "I''m definitely playing for real!" Chen Fei had never lied from the start, but after speaking his outrageous truths, only a few believed him. Jiu Defense Company colleagues, who were desensitized by the repeated crashes of the crystal jet, had collectively become numb. It seemed ordinary to them, and without courage, none dared to test-fly it. After all, Chen Fei crashing was one thing, but if it were someone else, one crash might be enough to kill, no matter how many lives they had. Shen Fei tentatively asked, "Are you...a Sky Knight now?" Logically speaking, if Chen Fei had become a Sky Knight, she should have been the first to know. "How could that be possible!" Chen Fei had never undergone the full assessment and training of a Sky Knight, nor had he ever learned those advanced aerial combat skills. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been completely unable to control the crystal jet, even the original generic ones from the "Physical Evolution Database." Without custom adjustments, crashing was inevitable. A real Sky Knight could easily control an unperfected copy of the crystal jet; they just couldn''t exhibit their strongest combat capability. The Global United Defense Committee didn''t pursue Chen Fei for his killing of a prisoner because he truly had killed a Sky Knight. The "Water Bear" organization suffered a significant loss and likely wouldn''t have another Sky Knight for a long time. Such a loss of elite talent was something even sovereign powers could hardly afford. So, in the end, they considered his faults and merits and let Chen Xiao''er off lightly, removing him from the Huntsman Squad. Apart from the parties involved and a few top members of the Joint Defense Committee, few knew of his glorious achievements. The "Water Bear" organization definitely wouldn''t publicize this incident. Luckily, the crystal jet ridden by that Sky Knight was an unmodifiable copy version that couldn''t perform at 100%, otherwise, Chen Fei would have been the one crying. Shen Fei breathed a sigh of relief, then warned, "You gave me a scare, the crystal jet is too dangerous, don''t foolishly try to pilot it." Playing around with DIY crystal jets using industrial-grade abilities is one thing, flying them yourself is another. "It is indeed quite dangerous!" As Chen Fei touched the back of his head, his next sentence almost scared Teacher Shen into a misfortune. "But crash after crash, you get used to it." You can imagine how, every day, the Aircrew Base''s control tower saw the radar signal disappearing for no reason, and the duty manager would display a despaired expression. Whenever that crystal jet took to the skies, the other members of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron would obediently stay inside the base, knowing better than to add to the tower''s troubles. "Ah?" Not just Teacher Shen, but others present who heard what Chen Fei said were all staring at him incredulously. You damn crashed what? Wait a minute! Everyone started sizing up Chen Fei together. There were no missing arms or legs, no disability, and he looked completely intact, quite fine actually, umm... Everyone came to the same conclusion. Good grief! The guy''s bluster seemed quite something. "All talk!" Teacher Shen didn''t indulge Chen Xiao''er, wielding a small punch in a move called ''Black Tiger Heart Extraction'' targeting his chest while rolling her eyes adorably. The others around couldn''t help but collectively sigh in envy. The pursuing Nangong Chief Designer''s son had become so jealous that his whole demeanor was twisted. With utmost seriousness, Chen Fei claimed, "No bluffing, I crash at least three times a day, but the expense is a bit high." Not only was the damage to the machine severe, but it was also taking a toll on him. The machine crashing to the ground could daze him completely, taking a long while to recover. Sometimes, if the crash was severe, he could experience mild concussion symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and sickness. "Expense? What expense? No, wait, are you talking about those things you''re printing? Oh, are you trying to kill yourself?" Secretary Shen finally caught on, realizing that Chen Fei''s operations were clearly a straightforward scheme. National Treasure Artifacts were almost always customized individually without mass production value or purpose. Most of the time, if the machine is intact, the pilot survives; if the machine is destroyed, the pilot dies. At most, there would only be one backup machine. But with so many parts for crystal jets being used, if there were no consumption, there wouldn''t be production, so it definitely wasn''t meant for mass production but rather... A one-man''s consumption goods! Then the question arose¡ªhow massive was such consumption, enough to wage a world war? Chen Fei''s intentions were glaringly obvious, not just daring to dream, but also daring to act. "It''s fine, it''s fine. The gain is actually quite substantial, and now I crash less often. I estimate it won''t be long before the crystal jet can be finalized." Regarding the frequent crashes, Chen Fei had even accumulated some insights. With "Adam" playing second fiddle, the tactical armor and cockpit protection design could now be said to be on par with a genuine Crystal Jet. After all, actual Crystal Jets had never acquired technology by crashing like this, and no one had ever imagined that after crashing down with a bang, not only would the aircraft remain more or less intact, but the Sky Knight inside the cockpit would even survive. Crashing without ejecting, isn''t that stupid! "As long as you''re happy!" Seeing Chen Fei still standing whole before him, Teacher Shen could hardly imagine just how wild, exhilarating, and daring his escapades had been. "Did you really crash?" The Nangong Chief Designer was a keen one, he caught some undertones and took them seriously, really took them seriously! He felt not only sour but also twisted with jealousy. For a moment, the expressions on the faces of father and son were almost carbon copies of each other. However, their thoughts were different. The former because the "Canglong" project didn''t have the capital to forcefully push the research and development process with crash counts, the latter because of romantic affairs. "This ''Canglong'' is progressing a bit slowly!" Chen Fei reached out his magic grasp toward the nearby "Canglong" concept machine. A silver-white color spread from the palm of his hand, swiftly covering more of the aircraft''s surface. Although it was just a shell, it didn''t hinder making a mold on-site for aerodynamic design mapping or something similar. By absorbing this shell, just like a mold, didn''t he just get the data for the aircraft''s exterior? Ding! The famed original manufacturer''s large device was in hand! The Northern Weapons Industry Group took all precautions, but couldn''t guard against Chen Fei''s lively mind, right in front of the R&D team, tampering with their machine. When Nangong Ruiyang saw an unusual silver-white color appear on the surface of the "Canglong" concept machine, he immediately glared at Chen Fei. "Stop, what are you doing?" "It''s alright, I''m just rubbing against it, not going in!" Chen Fei touched the main wing, accelerating the coverage speed, and in the blink of an eye, the surface of the "Canglong" concept machine displayed a mirror-like silver-white, even penetrating successfully, giving it a coating of silver-white metal inside and out. Then the "Metal Devouring" could selectively absorb it. Teacher Shen rolled his cute eyes again. Last time Chen Fei said he was just rubbing and not going in, but what about in the end?! The meddlesome expert succeeded again. "Don''t touch it!" Nangong Ruiyang, burning with anger, tried to push Chen Fei away from the "Canglong" concept machine, as the latter''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power, especially after reaching industrial grade, was simply an industrial cheat device, something good must not be touched by it. But the silver-white covering the entire surface of the machine disappeared in a blink of an eye, and he was a step too late; the "Canglong" was no longer clean. "Alright, alright, you miser!" Before the other''s hand reached him, Chen Fei raised his hands and stepped back willingly. His goal had been achieved. Once again, he achieved the scoundrel achievement! In the "Physical Evolution Database," the exterior data of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet won''t miss even a micrometer. Just like messing with Crystal Jets, stuffing as many modules inside as possible, setting the center of gravity and total mass right, it turns into a superb fighter jet. Aircraft development can fall into three major categories: first is aerodynamic design, second is the main engine thrust, and third is avionics and flight control; other details are negligible, if these three are complete, even a brick can be made to fly for you. "What a pity!" Not intending to meddle in the squabble between his son and Chen Fei, the Nangong Chief Designer looked regretful. On one hand, he was unable to pull Chen Fei into the "Canglong" project team, on the other, he was surprised at the other''s boldness, daring to fiddle with Crystal Jets alone, and by sheer brute force at that, crashing one to make a Crystal Jet, is still a Crystal Jet. The "Canglong" project team didn''t even have the capital to brute-force it like this, a group of people making a jet, yet no one could handle a Crystal Jet adeptly, who would believe that?! The deputy chief designer was starting to feel a bit depressed. "Let''s go, let''s go, I''ll ask about the Crystal Jet experts for you later." Seeing the expressions of the Nangong father and son Duo being a bit off, Shen Fei quickly gathered the blueprints, stuffed them back into the tube, and pushed Chen Fei away from the scene. Secretary Shen mentioned this to Vice President Shen. Old Shen almost jumped up. Goodness, the Chen Family Gate disciples of the National Defense Star Aerospace Company finally showed their true colors, targeting the core talent of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, one of the major competitive areas between the two large manufacturers just happened to include Crystal Jets. Those in high positions tend to overinterpret some things. So without consulting other leaders, Shen Songling directly refused. No way! Chapter 541 541: Section 537 - Challenge ``` "The Hanuman Airborne Group wants a real combat duel?" Chekhov Big Bear finally remembered that he had received a challenge letter; upon opening it, he squinted his eyes twice and discovered that the other party was serious about wanting a real fight. The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron collectively looked dumbfounded. They originally thought that this challenge would take place on a high-freedom flight simulator, at most lifting safety restrictions, not necessarily resulting in fatalities, but definitely expecting some tough times ahead. "Why the suicidal impulse!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios scratched her chin. The other side had written in black and white in the main body of the challenge letter, obviously, they were serious. Rookie "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider wondered, "How many people are they fielding?" He did not have the discerning eye of the veteran pilots like Chekhov to see how many true pilots the Hanuman Airborne Group actually had. Apart from the girl from the Armed Helicopter Squadron, "Zisu" Takada Fuziko, and the later pilot "Angelica" Wadiye who had seen blood while mixing with other military contractors, until his military contractor was directly swallowed up by Jiu Defense Company, he was discovered for his talents, transferred to 911 Aircrew Base, and added to the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron which was short on hands. "Maybe four, at most six. The leader of Hanuman is also a pilot, a very seasoned one at that." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios finished and exchanged glances with Chekhov, finding common ground as seasoned warriors. Only kindred can sense the temperament of a pilot. "If the leader dares to enter the fray, we''ll take him down first!" Big Bear Squadron Leader was good at getting to the point, daring to provoke the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron¡ª it was the Hanuman leader who was the most lively jumper. Such ragtag air service groups are usually a disorganized crowd; once headless, Hanuman would probably disintegrate instantly, scattering like birds and beasts. "The possibility of him joining is low, but here comes the problem, what about the combat aircraft? The other party explicitly mentioned they don''t want to use simulators." Irinei Rusios spread her hands; she actually didn''t care whether the duel was a real one or on a simulator. The other side was bound to lose¡ªit was just a matter of how embarrassingly they would lose, all depending on the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s mood or whether they would show mercy. "Hmm, let me ask around! There are a few acquaintances participating in the flight performance and real combat this time; afraid it will have to be Boss Hana footing the bill." Chekhov scratched his head, those in the same line of work weren''t necessarily all enemies; there were always some with relatively good relations. For instance, flying the most advanced combat aircraft, drinking the highest-proof liquor, fighting the fiercest battles, bedding the hottest dames... The Buddha says it''s indescribable, indescribable, otherwise I''ll get beaten up again in a minute. "About Boss Hana..." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was about to say she would talk to her when she suddenly turned to look at Chen Fei, pointed at him, and said, "Rookie, you go talk to Boss Hana about footing the bill." Whether borrowing or renting someone else''s combat aircraft and ammunition, it all costs money. Connections alone can''t cover such substantial expenses. If the Hanuman Airborne Group dares to issue such a challenge, they surely are prepared in advance, while the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron is caught somewhat off guard. "Ah? Me?" Chen Fei, who always followed the principle of staying inconspicuous, pointed to himself. Such a big issue, he was just a small pilot, was he qualified? Buddies are buddies, but they only talk about personal matters, not public affairs! Once it becomes official business, what does a little employee like him count for? "Yes, you. You''re better at talking to Boss Hana, and it''s okay if you say something wrong. Since we''re facing a battle, we definitely need funding; this is official business. ''Peanut Butter'' and I will take care of the rest. You just need to deliver the message." "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios didn''t think this small matter would trouble Chen Fei. For others, it might be difficult to broach this subject, but not necessarily for Chen Fei. With a whiff of the liquor bottle, the funds would come naturally. For Boss Hana, it''s just a little spending money. "Alright!" Chen Fei nodded. If it''s official business, surely Boss Hana wouldn''t refuse, otherwise how would the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron face the challenge? Stand on the ground, to be strafed and bombed by Hanuman''s combat aircraft? Getting back to the matter at hand, Chekhov Big Bear, holding the challenge letter, said, "For this battle, it''ll be me, ''Rookie'', ''Devil Pepper'', and ''Fragrant Orchid'' entering the fray. Whether it''s a single-seater or a two-seater, we''ll match the type of aircraft the opponent is using. If their leader also joins in, then we''ll add ''Dragon Artemisia'' and ''Salad'' to our team. We''ve got more people, so we can handle whatever comes our way. Be careful with eating and drinking these next few days, and don''t go out alone, watch out for dirty tricks." As an old hand in Jianghu, Chekhov was well aware of such sneaky tactics and warned everyone. "If there''s nothing necessary, don''t go out!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios added seriously. "I''ll be moving with Teacher Shen." Chen Fei wasn''t going to stay in the dormitory area all the time, but he had a shield. No one who wanted to live would dare touch the deputy secretary of the sponsor''s big daddy. "Hmm! Don''t stir up trouble!" Irinei Rusios really understood this rookie. If someone else is easy to bully, this guy would definitely not hold back. "I''ll go find Boss Hana." ``` Chen Fei immediately stood up. He didn''t know what kind of combat aircraft the Hanuman Air Service Group had prepared as opponents, but the Genuine Fragrance squadron still needed to quickly make countermeasures to avoid the embarrassing situation of ground-to-air confrontations. Don''t expect the opponent to show mercy, because the Genuine Fragrance squadron wouldn''t either. Although Boss Hana wasn''t in the dormitory area, she was easy to find. She had effectively turned Chen Fei''s mobile base vehicle into her own administrative office, and with the assistance of Assistant Lahar, was concurrently handling the daily affairs of the 911 Aircrew Base and the comprehensive headquarters in Chapala City. The space inside the carriage was both large and spacious, as well as quiet. Xiao Ming, the mechanic, was quite skilled in carpentry; the desks, chairs, benches, and bookshelves were well-made and sturdy, no wonder they were coveted. If they were the kind that would fall apart upon use, probably nobody would have given them a second thought. The air conditioning in the mobile base vehicle was strong, and the electricity came from crystalline blocks. If not used for driving, the energy storage was sufficient to last a long time with just daily usage. "Is there something you need?" Hearing the door open and footsteps entering the carriage, Hanna Gagar didn''t lift her head, still busy with her paperwork. As a wind-type supernatural power user, she was also very sensitive to sounds, especially since each person has unique footsteps that can often be identified by listening. This was not a skill of special ability, but rather the experience of being accustomed to it. "The Hanuman Airborne Group wants a real battle; the squadron leader and the others are trying to get a fighter jet," Chen Fei said. Hanna Boss, having had extensive work experience in the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the Apocalypse Defense Group, knew it was pointless to try and play cunning games with her. It would be like showing Guangong how to wield a broadsword in front of a master; Chen Fei didn''t bother with such roundabout tactics and chose instead to be straightforward about the matter making it easier for everyone. "I knew it would be something like this. Do you need some money?" Hanna Gagar multitasked proficiently, her hands still busy while effortlessly communicating with Chen Fei, and she guessed his intent right away. "Hmm, it seems the goodwill isn''t enough," Chen Fei replied, guessing the purpose behind the request for funds from Chekhov and the others. As strong as relationships might be, they were not as solid as silver. Money had the power to push forward many things, and surely it would make discussions easier. "They are likely to be disappointed," Boss Hana said, setting her electronic pen down, finally looking up. "Eh? What''s the situation?" Chen Fei noticed something unusual in the boss''s tone. Could it be there was some unforeseen problem? "I already knew in advance that the Hanuman Air Service Group wanted a real duel. They submitted a notice to the Abyss Coliseum. It was not difficult to find out, and besides, the organizers have consulted me about it, and I''ve agreed," she revealed. As the boss, Hanna Gagar not only had a higher vantage point, allowing her to see more, but she also had her own channels. Any problem that the Genuine Fragrance squadron encountered would have been known to her even without Chen Fei reporting it. It seemed the issue was not as simple as it looked. Chen Fei was no fool; through the boss''s words, he inferred a possibility. "So money is no use here?" "It''s not the fault of Chekhov and the others. Someone wants to see Jiu Defense Company become the butt of the joke," Hanna Gagar said bluntly, revealing the truth. Borrowing money to obtain a fighter jet to meet the challenge from the Hanuman Airborne Group was the ideal scenario the Genuine Fragrance squadron had hoped for. Under normal circumstances, things would indeed have gone smoothly without any foul play. However, Jiu Defense had risen too quickly. Since its establishment, it rapidly emerged among the small military contractors, inevitably snatching business from others, both directly and indirectly, offending many in the industry. Especially since this time, they also received an invitation from the Abyss Coliseum, further provoking both overt and covert jealousy. "On what grounds?" This was the original sin! On the surface, Hanuman Air Service Group was the one overtly opposing Jiu Defense. Suppose there weren''t any shadows of other competitors behind them. In that case, Hanna Gagar, accustomed to conspiracy and intrigue, would be the least surprised. The treacherous trump card had come as expected by the two team leaders of the Genuine Fragrance squadron. "So, we can''t borrow one?" Chen Fei shuddered, instantly realizing the implications. This was someone wanting to make Jiu Defense Company the laughingstock of the industry. Challenged by others, yet unable to find a fighter jet to respond to the challenge¡ªtalk about a real embarrassment. How poor must their connections and reputation be in the industry? And it wasn''t just embarrassing in that regard. Jiu Defense would also be looked down upon for their capacity to respond to challenges and obstacles. Once they took this great fall, everything that followed would be aggravating, as anyone and everyone might attempt to step on them. A palanquin is lifted by multiple people, and when a wall collapses, it''s often because everyone pushed it over. "I''ve already asked several other companies..." Hanna Gagar didn''t finish her sentence, but the answer was clear. The reasons might be easy to find, but the attitudes of those companies were strikingly united¡ªthey all refused to assist the Genuine Fragrance Combat Squadron of Jiu Defense Company. Although Jiu Defense hadn''t fallen behind in the Abyss Coliseum, they had already found themselves surrounded by universal contempt. Chapter 542 542: Section 538 - Countermeasures Since ancient times, there have been few to offer help in the snow, yet many to kick a man when he''s down. Chen Fei''s expression turned serious, as he hadn''t expected the situation to be so complicated. Despite Hanna Gagel''s seemingly nonchalant manner, as if she were talking about someone else''s problems, all the pressure was squarely on her shoulders. Others at Jiu Defense could retreat or hide, but Boss Hanna couldn''t. The Emperor guards the nation''s gates, the king dies for the state, not the ministers and king together. Any boss facing such a situation would find themselves with no way out. "Who exactly? List out the blacklist, and we''ll deal with them later!" Chen Fei always held grudges and was petty-minded. Friends were welcomed with fine wine and meat, whereas enemies would get a slap in the face. A true gentleman seeks revenge, all that magnanimity and winning people over with virtue was just not his thing, nor was it taught in the Ivory Tower. "Revenge certainly must be taken, but first let''s figure out how to acquire the fighter jets. What about your special ability?" Metal Ability User "Rookie" Chen Fei was one of Hanna Gagel''s trump cards in facing the current adverse situation. Of course, she had more than one card up her sleeve. Apart from Chen Fei, Boss Hanna also had Cash Ability. Betrayal and treachery were just a matter of price; as long as the money was right, the so-called Faceslap Jiu Defense Company Alliance would naturally fall apart. The issue of interest was easiest to solve with interests. "Oh, right!" Chen Fei slapped his forehead, almost letting his anger cloud his judgment. His "Physical Evolution Database" Skill just happened to have a complete sample of the "Big Mouth Monster," but not for the MiG-28. As a jet, the MiG-28 was much more expensive than the "Big Mouth Monster," and so was rarely equipped by the Aircrew Bases, making it difficult for Chen Fei to "sacrifice" one. Ironically, the more advanced F-22 "Raptor" was available, even one that could fly; the commanders of "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron would probably like that. "So let''s not rush. I''ll borrow or rent first, and you''ll make your move at the end. Before then, don''t reveal your abilities lightly." Hanna Gagel said leisurely, squinting her eyes. She also wanted to use this crisis to see who were Jiu Defense''s friends and who were the enemies. Crisis indeed¡ªdangerous yes, but also an opportunity. Once the enemy had played all their cards, it would be Jiu Defense''s turn to make a move. "Got it, I''m clear about what to do." Like taking a calming pill, Chen Fei nodded. He also sensed what Boss Hanna was plotting. When it came to scheming, this female boss was afraid of no one. However, throughout the whole process, Hanna Gagel never considered using Chen Fei''s personal connections to borrow fighter jets from the National Defense Star Aerospace Company or the Northern Weapons Industry Group. And it''s probably not easy to borrow active service fighters, considering the sovereignty issues involved. She was genuinely shocked when she first heard Chen Fei refer to the boss of the National Defense Star Aerospace Company as his uncle. She had thought it was a stroke of luck to marry into the Northern Weapons Industry, since Teacher Shen had been a neighbor to the 911 Aircrew Base for many years. It was unexpected yet reasonable for Chen Fei and Shen Fei to end up together. But she never imagined that this young man, who kept things close to the chest, had also established ties with another industry giant; what seemed like climbing the social ladder now looked like a match of equals. Not just anyone could call someone "uncle." That meant the relationship between the two parties was not shallow. Moreover, both had the surname Chen, hinting at their actual connection. Hanna Gagel didn''t dare to dig deeper. It was not something she could access. Whether it was the Northern Weapons Industry Group or the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, both were entities Jiu Defense couldn''t afford to provoke, If they unintentionally triggered bad feelings, either one could easily squash Jiu Defense without giving them a chance to even feign death. - Back with the folks of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, Chen Fei wasn''t surprised to hear Chekhov Big Bear cursing up a storm while downtoning with Erguotou to calm his nerves. "...damn it, brothers, all liars... bastards, eating and drinking at my expense, call me brother when they''re happy but a stupid bear when they turn their backs... goddammit, now I see you all clearly..." Perhaps, as Boss Hana anticipated, the current situation was not favorable for Jiu Defense. All of Squadron Leader Chekhov''s old connections were of no help at the critical moment, and they even had the audacity to insult him, which must have been why he was so enraged. If they were standing in front of Squadron Leader Chekhov, they would definitely receive a thrashing from his bear fists, leaving them unable to fend for themselves. Squadron Deputy Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was still continuously on the phone, seemingly not having burned bridges with the person on the other end of the line. Being a woman, she had a natural advantage in networking; even if she couldn''t borrow a fighter jet, she could still gather valuable information. "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, "Dragon Artemisia" Salila, and "Salad" Mayer von Koller among other pilots were also making calls, leveraging their contacts to seek information. Cats have their paths, and snakes have their trails; small figures might not be high-ranking, but they tend to speak more freely in conversation, without responsibility, and without prohibitions. "''Rookie,'' you''re back. Come on, join me for a couple of drinks!" Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear, red in the face and neck, scratched at his crotch and, under Chen Fei''s alarming gaze, finally took out a bottle of alcohol from behind him, pretending he was about to throw it over. "No alcohol for me, my tolerance isn''t that good, and it might interfere with business." Chen Fei quickly waved his hands, genuinely scared of the other''s crotch-hide booze, no, his crotch-hidden thunder. That overwhelming Russian scent wasn''t something an ordinary person could tolerate; the Big Bear really had no sense of decorum. "Did the BOSS approve the funding? How much did we get? Is it enough to buy a ''Big Mouth Monster''?" The repeatedly frustrated Chekhov had already given up hope that the funds would be of any use, and he didn''t even take Hanuman Aircrew Base into consideration anymore. Those so-called old brothers and old friends had deeply hurt him this time. I treated you like a brother, and you treated me like a fart, damn it! "''Rookie,'' we might not need this funding for now. Someone is targeting us, to be precise, they''re targeting Jiu Defense Company." Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios finally ended the call, greeted Chen Fei who had returned and, at the same time, stopped the Big Bear from fooling around. While everyone was busy with serious matters, this Squadron Leader was getting himself sloshed, which certainly wasn''t setting a good example. Looking at the rest, the expressions were similar, indicating they had gleaned similar intel. In the circle of military contractors, many were targeting Jiu Defense Company; Hanuman Aircrew Base was just a pretext, and snatching the tables and chairs of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron was the ignition. Even without this incident, other frictions would have been deliberately provoked, so while you could evade the first day, you couldn''t hide from the fifteenth. No talking, just start a fight, and if you don''t lose face-to-face, you''re making a big profit. "About that, the BOSS is already aware." Chen Fei didn''t manage to get funding from Boss Hana, and the current problem wasn''t something that funding could solve. "What?" ¡Á7 The ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron''s pilots all turned to look at Chen Fei. The chief mechanic Big Brother Xiao wasn''t here; he was still tinkering with wood, enjoying himself, and also wasn''t good at these underhanded, nasty tricks. "It''s basically the same as what you guys found out, only the BOSS had foreseen it." Chen Fei spread his hands, but didn''t keep them in suspense. "Then what do we do? We don''t have a fighter jet, we can''t fight back. Are we just going to let others laugh at us?" "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider hadn''t expected the enemy to play so dirty. A challenge letter was clearly a big trap, waiting for the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron Leader, no, the entire Jiu Defense Company to jump in. The others reacted just like Tempun Schneider; none of them had a better solution for the current problem. "Where there''s a will, there''s a way. The boat will straighten itself at the bridgehead, and the matter of the fighter jets, the BOSS will take care of it. Let''s not worry about it, stay calm, eat what we should eat, drink what we should drink. Don''t lose our formation." Chen Fei conveyed the attitude of Boss Hana. For Hana Gagel, whether or not she could borrow a fighter jet wasn''t the most important thing. As the BOSS, she didn''t care about the short-term losses, what she really wanted to see was who the enemies and friends were, which was more important than anything else. Squadron Leader Chekhov, who was still pouring himself a drink, paused and asked in confusion, "Is that all?" "Exactly! But still, take extra care and be aware of any sneaky moves." With so many malicious competitors targeting Jiu Defense Company, there were certainly more than one dirty tricks in play. Chen Fei reminded their ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron colleagues once again not to give the enemy any more opportunities. "Fine! Let''s respond to all changes with an unchanging stance. We''ll lay low first, wait for the BOSS to get the fighter jets, and then we''ll show Hanuman Aircrew Base a good time, hehe, we''ll crush them!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s cold laughter continued; she too was truly angered. If Hanuman Aircrew Base dared to be brave enough like a mere pawn, they couldn''t blame the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron for being ruthless and exterminating them. "Right, we''ll crush them!" "No prisoners!" "No mercy whatsoever!" "Since they want to die that badly, let''s send them to their deaths then." The ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron pilots were filled with righteous indignation. As the upcoming duel''s opponents, the fighter pilots from Hanuman Aircrew Group would unavoidably have to face the full fury of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron. It was also a coincidence that ''The Abyss Coliseum'' was the perfect place for settling scores and grievances, an ideal spot for taking revenge for both public and private enmities. Those jealous of Jiu Defense Company''s success dared to make such a fierce move should not blame Jiu Defense Company for dragging them into Hell together. Welcome... to Hell! "Teacher Shen, are you free tonight? Let''s have dinner together!" Chen Fei made dinner plans with Shen Fei, those dirty tricks didn''t dare to mess with the godfather of ''The Abyss Coliseum.'' So Chen Xiao''er made his date without any scruples. Chapter 543 543: Section 539 - Teacher Shen Assists Dressed in a simple and elegant linen dress and carrying a small white handbag, Shen Fei walked out of the exhibition area of the Northern Weapons Industry Group and immediately said to Chen Fei upon meeting him, "I heard that Jiu Defense Company is being targeted?" Worthy of being the executive secretary of a major sponsor''s company, she was very well-informed about everything. "You know about it too?" Chen Fei was taken aback, then quickly understood. Shen Fei was in a position higher than Boss Hana and therefore had access to more information and saw more things. Shen Fei naturally linked her arm with Chen Fei''s as they walked, saying, "It has almost spread everywhere. My father said that the Hanuman Airborne Group is just an excuse. Even without Hanuman, there would be other minor characters who would take the initiative to cause trouble and provoke, and this ''Abyss Coliseum'' seems to be a banquet with ulterior motives for you." She had not seen so many underhanded schemes, but Shen Songling was an old hand in Jianghu and had explained everything to his daughter one by one. So when Shen Fei took his arm so openly, this intimate gesture was not only an attitude. Seen by others, it also had another layer of meaning: at least the outsiders targeting Chen Fei alone would have to consider the implication. Their skin touched; Teacher Shen''s body was cool, and Chen Fei didn''t feel hot. On the contrary, he enjoyed the closeness. Above their heads, Light Element gathered, turning into glittering specks of light that quietly fell on the pure black feathers of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, transforming into a bit of magic power. The equatorial sun was fierce, but it couldn''t make them feel hot. "Inevitably, there will be those who say that we are undeserving, that Jiu Defense Company doesn''t deserve this invitation. But no matter, we are uninvited guests with bad intentions!" Chen Fei walked with Shen Fei toward the nearest public transportation stop, heading for the comprehensive service center of the "Abyss Coliseum," where all kinds of services for dining, drinking, playing, and entertainment were readily available. After all, with so many sponsors having invested money, it was necessary to do a good job in the key service projects, or there would be no next time. Chen Fei wasn''t worried about those schemes. Although he was ignorant about them, Boss Hana knew how to handle such sneaky calculations with her experience working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Apocalypse Defense Group. Shen Fei reminded him, "What about the fighter jets? It seems like they are already prepared with combat aircraft models, two decommissioned F-40s." The Northern Weapons Industry Group was indeed well-informed, having a clear picture of Hanuman''s situation. "The fifth-generation ''Horned Eagle''? Do they have to be that harsh?" Chen Fei gasped in surprise. With the flying experience of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, even if they were all equipped with MiG-28s, they would still be in for a beating. Facing the fifth-generation F-40 "Horned Eagle," even Chen Fei''s cherished F-22 "Raptor" might not have an advantage. "While this is bad news, there''s also good news." Shen Fei had anticipated Chen Fei''s reaction, as it was only human nature. They agreed to a fair duel, but the opponents suddenly brought out unconventional weapons, which was quite against the rules. Chen Fei asked doubtfully, "Does the news say that we''re getting a fifth-generation fighter?" Even those who were not knowledgeable should be aware that there are actually not many fifth-generation aircraft, only a few models at best. Many sovereignties nowadays do not have complete technology trees, which naturally restrict the variety and number of combat vehicles available based on the completeness of the technology tree. "Of course not; the good news is just that Hanuman''s pilots and yours all start from the same line. They''re used to flying ''Big Mouth Monsters'' and MiGs-28. Even if they get the F-40 ''Horned Eagle,'' they won''t be able to utilize the full combat power of a fifth-generation jet." Not expecting Chen Fei''s thoughts to be too advanced, Shen Fei rolled her eyes on the spot. "I see!" Chen Fei felt somewhat disappointed; he had thought that the Northern Weapons Industry Group would lend out its main combat aircraft from the exhibition. In that case, the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and the Hanuman Airborne Group would be on the same level in terms of combat aircraft, and there''d be no need to worry about a huge gap. But thinking about it, that was not possible. Although Teacher Shen''s father was the Vice President of Northern Weapons Industry Group, the whole company wasn''t dictated by him alone. Apart from other senior leaders, there were higher-ups and the higher-ups above them; it simply wasn''t feasible to lend out combat vehicles on a whim. On one hand, combat vehicles are expensive, and for civilian areas, the technology is still too advanced. On the other hand, a behemoth like Northern Weapons Industry Group could easily trigger a myriad of responses with a single move, causing a domino effect. For just a small military contractor like Jiu Defense Company, it was not worth it. However, this intelligence was equally important; at least they wouldn''t be caught off guard on the verge of battle, and there was still time to make tactical preparations. "Don''t worry about it!" Shen Fei let go of his arm, came in front of Chen Fei, and said with her index finger raised, "The group has several spare parts for advanced trainers. If assembled and modified..." She raised her elegant eyebrows after speaking, to signal that with Chen Xiao''er''s hands-on ability and the rich experience of the chief mechanic, Big Brother Xiao, upgrading the combat power of the trainers to a whole new level shouldn''t be too difficult. Chen Fei suddenly caught Teacher Shen''s hands, exclaiming, "Ah! Is that really possible?" Being one of the top ten giants in Blue Star''s combat aircraft manufacturing industry, the advanced trainer aircraft they produce definitely won''t be subpar. The advanced trainer aircraft used in the military field, although inherently equipped with teaching and training functions, can still be treated as a basic fighter jet. This, at last, provided a solution to what Chen Fei had been most worried about. "This is really pushing the boundaries, and this is as far as I can help you," Shen Fei said. Using her father Vice President Shen''s name, Shen Fei obtained the usage permission for those advanced trainer spare parts. Having once taught in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, which neighbored the 911 Aircrew Base, Teacher Shen Fei who previously worked at the 911 Aircrew Base now with Jiu Defense Company, frequently received care and assistance and would naturally not ignore the latter''s distress. Moreover, the mascot of Jiu Defense rested on her shoulder. It also helped that the workaround could only be achieved through Chen Fei''s industrial-grade metal elemental psychic power. Had it been anyone else, these parts would remain mere components, and the thought of assembling a complete fighter jet would have been out of the question. Chen Fei took the opportunity to embrace Shen Fei, holding her tightly before letting go. He smiled and said, "This is more than enough!" If it were not for Teacher Shen, Jiu Defense, hard-pressed to find an opportunity to turn things around, would likely have suffered a major setback and become the industry''s joke of the year. But now... Whether the active-duty advanced trainer or the decommissioned main fighter is stronger, and who will emerge victorious, is still uncertain. Chen Fei had thought about approaching his uncle''s National Defense Star Aerospace Company, but before it came to that step, the considerate Teacher Shen had already provided the best solution. The two reached a public transit stop and boarded an available unmanned taxi. Whizz... Faint whistling sounds came from the sky, as several shadows quickly streaked across the ground. Chen Fei and Shen Fei instinctively looked up and saw four strangely shaped aircraft flying by outside the taxi, at an estimated altitude of about two hundred meters. "Silan Dynasty''s constructed aircraft? The Cangqiong Star People have come too!" Chen Fei exclaimed, recognizing the aircraft design which differed greatly from that of Blue Star civilization. While Blue Star civilization is made up of many sovereignties, the Cangqiong Star Civilization has only one. The former Slan Empire spent twenty years waging a unification war, bringing all intelligent species of Cangqiong Star into its national system, achieving a highly centralized governance system. On Blue Star, the civilizations are more akin to a federal republic, achieving some degree of unification in language, script, currency, and civil registration, not falling short by much. "What kind of aircraft is that?" Although Shen Fei worked as a secretary for the senior leadership at Northern Weapons Industry Group, she was mostly exposed to military technology from the Blue Star Civilization and was not very familiar with the technology systems of another civilization. "It''s the ''Sky Falcon'', probably the fourth generation ''Sky Falcon''. I''ve seen it before; when the investigation team from Sky Dragon City arrived at the Aircrew Base, they were escorted by ''Sky Falcons''." As Chen Fei spoke, another four "Sky Falcons" swept across the sky. Suddenly, an enormous object appeared in his and Shen Fei''s view, bringing a tremendous visual impact. "Light Wing Ship!" This time, there was no need for Chen Fei to point it out; Shen Fei could not fail to recognize the large Cangqiong Star aircraft that was as famous as the Magic Cube Warship. With a spindle-shaped hull, six pairs of transparent, thin wings extended from the sides, gently alternating their flaps. The crisscrossing veins on the wings pulsed with white and blue light, continuously drawing Light and Wind Elemental Energy. Elemental Energy in Blue Star''s atmosphere is not very active, and the efficiency of the Light Wing Ship drawing Elemental Energy would be greatly impacted, but even so, with the assistance of large crystalline blocks and spellcasters, it could still maintain normal flight. Those participating in "Abyss Coliseum" aren''t limited to people from Blue Star Civilization. There are also intelligent species from the Cangqiong Star Civilization and even "Sky Knights" from the Otherworld who sometimes join the battle. Escorted by the constructed combat aircraft "Sky Falcons," the massive Light Wing Ship seemed to be preparing to land, drawing closer and closer to the ground. Chen Fei withdrew his gaze from the Light Wing Ship in the sky and smiled, "It looks like this trip was well worth it." Ordinary people seldom have the chance to come into contact with these things, and he was also fortunate to rely on Jiu Defense Company and Boss Hana. After disembarking the unmanned taxi, upon seeing the grand Comprehensive Center, Shen Fei asked with anticipation, "What shall we eat later?" Chen Fei thought for a moment and then suggested, "How about Zhajiang noodles? I''ve heard the ''Abyss Arena''s'' Zhajiang noodles are famous, especially recommended by serious foodies." Don''t underestimate a simple bowl of Zhajiang noodles; the cultural and political integration of Blue Star Civilization began with this very bowl of noodles. There''s a saying that if you can say "Zhajiang noodles," you won''t starve anywhere because, in many languages, "Zhajiang noodles" is pronounced the same way. Chapter 544 544: Section 540 - The Third Civilization Two plates of Zhajiang noodles had cost Chen Fei a thousand Star Yuan, and that didn''t even include the optional side dishes. The Zhajiang noodles from the "Abyss Coliseum" truly lived up to their reputation, not overcharging in the least, quite substantial, perfect for slurping noodles with your girlfriend without feeling embarrassed. One plate of noodles, where the noodles only cost two Star Yuan and could be added for free, while the rest of the ingredients accounted for 99% of the cost - abalone, sea cucumber, and fish maw provided a base, topped with caviar and marbled beef, and chunks of shelled, snow-white, large lobster meat chopped into segments each the size of an egg. "Ah, this... ''Zhajiang noodles'' indeed has its reasons for being expensive!" Chen Fei ordered a bowl of +5 Zhajiang noodles. +1 meant an added ounce of noodles, +5 meant a half pound, on top of the base three ounces of plain noodles, putting nearly half a pound of chewy noodles in the bowl topped with gravy, creating an visually impressive effect. He also ordered four flavorful stewed eggs and two pieces of deep-fried pork cutlets, each three fingers thick. The thoughtful Teacher Shen Fei additionally ordered two large turkey legs for Chen Fei, fried to resemble giant pig''s feet. After awakening his supernatural powers, Chen Fei''s appetite had unknowingly increased a lot since, after all, his strength had grown and the law of conservation of energy was still quite scientific. And as long as he digested well, eating more didn''t necessarily mean more bathroom visits. However, restaurant patrons like Chen Fei who preferred large servings were not uncommon, including even larger eaters from among other Intelligent Species. "Five hundred Star Yuan a plate, not sure if it''s the noodles or something else." Shen Fei used her chopsticks to roll up the noodles into a "large chicken leg". Don''t laugh, this is a very authentic way to eat. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu hopped around the table, circling the plate full of Zhajiang noodles, curiously inspecting the noodles that looked like small mountains to it, stretching its little head trying to pull out a strand to taste. But when Chen Fei shared a small segment of noodle with the little bird, and after pecking at it a few times, the little guy quickly lost interest. For Little Bird, carbohydrates like starches couldn''t satisfy, barely managing with grains that had low water content, only the egg-sized pieces of lobster meat somewhat met the bird''s need for high-quality protein, it quickly grabbed a chunk of lobster meat with minimal sauce and tore at it, its delicate sharp beak pulling off small strips of lobster meat, then proudly tilting back its head and swallowing. A cold breeze suddenly struck from behind, making Chen Fei shiver involuntarily, it felt less like air conditioning and more like it came from an Ability User''s skill, the coldness piercing deep into his bones. He was about to turn around to see which Ability User hadn''t properly controlled their power, but then he heard a familiar voice in his ears. "It''s me, Miyoshi, don''t turn around!" Miyoshi Xuesen? That''s right! Chen Fei remembered, he had seen that bald head before, unmistakable. Noticing Shen Fei looking his way sensing something was amiss, he quickly made a silencing gesture, whispering, "An acquaintance, it''s a special situation!" Shen Fei nodded and continued rolling up her noodles with her chopsticks. "What a coincidence, Miyoshi!" Chen Fei didn''t turn his head, his voice was loud enough to reach behind him. "Yeah, I might need some help later, just giving you a heads up." Miyoshi Xuesen''s voice came from behind. "Caroline, Tuert, how are they, are they all right?" Chen Fei only remembered Miyoshi Monk''s bald head but didn''t see anyone else. Particularly the B-rank Fire Ability User Caroline, who excelled in cooking and explosions; she and Chen Fei made a perfect team, one could cook and the other could eat, a seamless partnership. "They..." Miyoshi Monk''s voice hesitated for a moment, seemingly struggling to say, "They are not doing well!" Chen Fei immediately felt a sinking feeling, a bad premonition washing over him. Back in Squad 04, he had experienced teammates who were fine one moment and gone the next ¨C misfortunes came so suddenly, they were hard to foresee. "Can you tell me about it?" After taking a deep breath, Chen Fei was mentally prepared. The Huntsman Squad was known for their life-threatening missions, and mishaps were inevitable. "There were some accidents, Caroline is in a vegetative state, Tuert suffered irreversible damage to his spiritual power, Andrew dropped a rank, Masuya... died!" Miyoshi Monk''s voice remained emotionless, without a trace of fluctuation. Made of iron, the team was ever-changing; he had experienced this countless times, his heart as hard as iron. Everyone was going to die someday, and next time, it might be him, nothing to complain about. Chen Fei let out a long sigh. Despite being prepared, the reality was still beyond his expectation; he couldn''t imagine what kind of enemy they had encountered that had inflicted such severe damage on the Huntsman Squad, the dead and the injured, with survivors probably unable to return to their original state. "The new recruits aren''t effective, so I wanted to give you a heads-up first." Miyoshi Monk had no choice, it''s better to use the experienced than the new, otherwise, he wouldn''t have considered revisiting old connections. When Chen Fei was in the Huntsman Squad, although he often acted recklessly, he was exactly the kind of person needed to distract the opponents, balancing the team''s abilities relatively well. But without Chen Fei, and without suitable replacements in the short term, some gaps were inevitable. If it had been an ordinary opponent, being cautious wouldn''t have caused much trouble, but the Huntsman Squad had faced a very tough foe. They were caught off guard and suffered greatly, although they ultimately succeeded in eliminating the enemy, it was a Pyrrhic victory, with the squad nearly wiped out. Even Miyoshi Xuesen, who seemed unscathed, had lost one-third of his Dark Ninja Team, but he hadn''t told Chen Fei. "What''s the situation?" If it were just a simple gesture that wouldn''t delay the duel that the "Genuine Fragrance" Squad was about to face, Chen Fei wouldn''t mind doing what he could for Miyoshi Monk. "Let''s talk later!" Miyoshi Xuesen didn''t elaborate further and started slurping noodles in front of him like any ordinary diner. The astute Shen Fei immediately realized that the person whispering behind Chen Fei was being cautious because of her, and immediately said, "I''m fine. You can go ahead." Although Chen Fei hadn''t seen the Miyoshi Monk, Shen Fei could see him clearly¡ªa middle-aged man in a suit with slicked back hair, sitting behind Chen Fei, his head down, devouring a bowl of Zhajiang noodles as greedily as if the toppings were no less plentiful than those she and Chen Fei had ordered. The "Abyss Coliseum"''s Zhajiang noodles could vary widely¡ªcheap ones at 20 Star Yuan could satisfy one''s appetite, whereas the pricey ones could cost up to 10,000 Star Yuan; the noodles were the same, it was all in the toppings. "It''s fine, but that guy behind us is a big trouble, it''s not good to get you involved." Chen Fei did not distrust Teacher Shen, but the tasks carried out by Miyoshi Monk were quite dangerous. He didn''t want to expose the ordinary Shen Fei to such dangers. Even though Shen Fei had the backing of Northern Weapons Industry Group, and openly, no one would dare take the risk to harm her. However, it''s easy to dodge a spear in the light, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark, the company''s protection could not cover every individual at all times, and if anything were to happen, Chen Xiao''er would have no regrets. "I understand, take care of yourself too." Shen Fei grasped the implied meaning in Chen Fei''s words. Ability Users had their responsibilities, and all she could do was to ensure her own safety and wait for Chen Fei to return safely. - The night was deep and quiet. Chen Fei had not received the signal from Miyoshi Monk to meet as planned, instead, Little Bird was so sleepy, it flew into its nest, tucked its head under its wing, chirped occasionally, and began to drift into sleep. As he was preparing to wash up for bed, Chen Fei noticed a small note that had appeared on the bedside table. Picking it up, he saw the details were all there¡ªtime, place, person, event. No mistake, it was Miyoshi Xuesen! Most likely, a ninja with enhanced Dark Abilities had stealthily slipped in and placed the note. Big Brother Xiao, the ordinary mechanic from the same dormitory, wouldn''t have noticed an Ability User sneaking in, especially while Little Bird was asleep. If Little Bird were awake, a "Light Burst Flash" would indiscriminately cover the entire room, and the abilities used for concealment and stealth would likely fail. Moments later, Chen Fei reached the edge of the dormitory area. A crescent moon hung in the sky, surrounded by stars. But then a cloak of darkness enveloped the area, followed by a light that suddenly illuminated the scene. Chen Fei saw Miyoshi Monk sitting cross-legged on a straw mat, an oil lamp in front of him, its light faint like a bean, still setting up a dragon gate formation for a tea ceremony. "Sorry, to avoid drawing attention, I had to use a lightless barrier around here." The monk heated the teacup slowly while gesturing at the surroundings. The crescent and the stars in the sky disappeared, and the lights from the nearby dormitories were also invisible. Beyond a few feet it was pitch-dark. "Oh!" Chen Fei, unconcerned, kicked off his shoes and stepped onto the straw mat. The straw mat was just the right size for two people to sit facing each other. Drinking tea in the middle of the night, aren''t you worried about not being able to sleep? Sensing the doubt in Chen Fei''s mind, Miyoshi Xuesen said, "This is black tea, it''s calming." He then pulled a file bag from under a low table next to him and pushed it across. "I know what Jiu Defense is facing right now, you might find what''s in here useful." An emperor doesn''t skimp on his soldiers; now that Chen Fei was no longer with the Huntsman Squad, Miyoshi Xuesen, seeking his help, had to offer something first, as a sign of sincerity. "Let''s talk about it." Chen Fei opened the file bag, sifting through its contents, which didn''t prevent Miyoshi Monk from explaining what kind of help he needed. So far, he hadn''t really agreed to anything; this meeting was just an initial contact. Helping was a favor, not helping was his right; if the risk was too high or the terms were unsuitable, he would still unequivocally refuse. "There are suspects from the Third Civilization who have entered the ''Abyss Coliseum''." Miyoshi Monk calmly poured tea for Chen Fei; the tea was dark yet revealed hints of red. Suddenly looking up from the documents, Chen Fei asked, "The Third Civilization?" The First Civilization was Blue Star, the Second Civilization was Cangqiong Star, then the Third Civilization... Chapter 545 545: Section 541 - Intelligence The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s primary function is to lead many Aircrew Bases, coordinate the combat power of military contractors, eliminate Mutants distributed across the globe of Blue Star, as well as combat the "Water Bear" organization and its related peripheral vassal forces "Sacred Advent" involved in illicit biochemical research concerning Mutants. In a sense, eradicating any existence that could threaten the entirety of Blue Star civilization is the responsibility of the Global United Defense Committee. The sudden emergence of the third civilization raised alarms within the Blue Star civilization; those who come are not benevolent, and the benevolent do not come. It was like Columbus discovering the American Continent, bringing not civilization but conquest, slaughter, and genocide. Though currently unaware of the other party''s true intentions, one thing is certain: all threats must be nipped in the bud before they grow uncontrollable. "Not Blue Star, not Cangqiong Star, but some unknown civilization." Miyoshi Xuesen was not as composed as he is now when he first heard this intelligence. Apart from Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, intelligent species from other planets are currently tentatively referred to as the third civilization. No one knows to what extent the Giants who spread life have branched the Tree of Life throughout the universe. But after his initial astonishment, Chen Fei soon lost interest. "Oh!" The so-called third civilization wasn''t as important to Chen Fei as the stack of files in his hand. The sincerity of Miyoshi Monk was very substantial, facing the direct inquiries of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, those military contractors had to honestly disclose all situations, even details unknown to outsiders, as clearly as if pouring beans out of a bamboo tube. The files contained all the current counterintelligence information on Jiu Defense Company, ready-made retaliation lists; not a single one was wronged, saving Boss Hana a great deal of effort. "This job is very tricky; I cannot trust the newcomers who''ve just joined." The Monk picked up his teacup, tilted his head back and, like drinking liquor, downed it boldly in one gulp. "No worries, it''s worth the price!" Chen Fei shook the paper documents in his hand, only having given them a quick glance before stuffing them back into the document bag, then he said, "If I''m free, just come to me!" The other party had already made the payment. If he didn''t show understanding now, he would be too disrespectful to Miyoshi Monk and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "It''s a deal!" The Monk picked up his teacup once again, and the exchange with Chen Fei was straightforward and hearty, without any hesitation. "You can''t take back your words!" Chen Fei clinked his cup against the other''s, using tea in place of wine to solidify their temporary cooperation agreement. Both parties got what they needed, neither suffered a loss, and the deal was fair. His teacup empty, Chen Fei rose to his feet, put on his shoes, and after a few steps, moonlight and starlight spilled forth again. The distant dormitory area was still dimly lit. Looking back, it was pitch black, not even his hand could be seen. The tea set, the tea stove, the Monk, all were swallowed by darkness. - Chen Fei didn''t head back to the dormitory but went straight to his Mobile Base Vehicle. Just as he had anticipated, although it was late at night and all was quiet, the vehicle''s interior was still brightly lit, as if it were daytime, with Boss Hana still working through the night. It wasn''t just an issue with the Abyss Coliseum; the comprehensive headquarters in Chapala City had also encountered some problems. Whether it was clients breaking appointments or ongoing negotiations being canceled or even hijacked, even stable partners had received warnings from all quarters. These were all business competition tactics, overt and covert, legitimate and underhanded. Yet, if one were to probe deeply, there would be no substantial evidence to grasp, just disgusting tricks. Chen Fei knocked on the door, which then slid open to one side automatically. "Boss! Assistant Lahar." Inside the vehicle, there was the bald, sunglass-wearing Assistant accompanying the female Boss. Due to the time difference, the comprehensive headquarters in Chapala City had just begun its workday, right in the middle of morning business hours. "You''re not sleeping this late? I don''t have liquor here, just some snacks!" Hanna Gagar thought Chen Fei had come to drink with her, glanced up at him, and gestured toward the small plate of snacks at the corner of her desk. "No, this is the blacklist you wanted." Chen Fei took three steps in two, placing the document bag on the office desk. The rectangular table crafted by chief mechanic Xiao Ming wasn''t painted. It had simply undergone a basic deburring, polishing and sanding, now emitting the natural fresh scent of solid wood. The materials capable of becoming international transportation packaging for solid wood all undergo special fumigation treatments, with certificates of quarantine inspection, dryness, strength, and pest resistance, making them top-notch wood suitable for furniture making. "Where''d you get this?" Hanna Gagel stopped her current task, her gaze falling upon the thick document bag. She didn''t doubt Chen Fei''s words, but it all seemed a bit too conveniently timed. Hanna Gagel had only managed to uncover a few names involved so far, yet the document bag seemed to promise a comprehensive haul beyond her imagination. "A friend offered it proactively, of course, with conditions. Mainly, everything is in there." While the Monk wasn''t exactly straightforward or easy to deal with, when it came to doing the job, Chen Fei was quite assured. The leaders nearly always exhibited perfectionist tendencies toward their tasks; if they anticipated any omissions, then there would certainly be none. "What''s the price? How much money? Hmm! No matter the cost, I''ll pay!" Hanna Gagel hesitated before her attitude quickly shifted to one of determination. Those who are bosses, after all, have a certain majesty about them, broad and generous, for longevity in business. On the other hand, pettiness only leads to one-off deals, and the path narrows onward. Chen Fei spoke casually, "No need for money, just need a favor from you." He casually picked up a small pastry, unceremoniously popping it into his mouth. He and the Boss, they were practically family! Hanna Gagel took the document bag, drew out the papers within, and ventured a guess, "I''m afraid this favor isn''t a simple one, is it?" She was very aware of the importance of this information to Jiu Defense Company and presumed the corresponding price wouldn''t be too small. Despite Chen Fei''s easygoing demeanor, Hanna Gagel took it anything but lightly. "It''s nothing more than killing people, arson, along with a bit of kidnapping," Chen Fei could imagine what the Monk might want him to do. Whether it''s Team 04 or the Huntsman Squad, such tasks have become routine, and they certainly aren''t about spreading love and charity to the world. After reviewing the documents, Hanna Gagel spoke with a somber expression, "This information is very important to us. When you help our mutual friend, Jiu Defense''s resources are at your disposal¡ªmoney if you need money, people if you need people. It''s not just your affair." Although the source of the documents was unknown, one could imagine their origin wasn''t simple. It almost felt like an insider''s expose?, even detailing personal thoughts, which seemed ridiculous¡ªyet it somehow appeared genuine. Hanna Gagel didn''t want the entire burden of this favor to fall on Chen Fei alone. Whatever she could bear, she would not back down from. "Understood!" Chen Fei nodded, then stood up and grabbed a piece of fruit, munching it as he said, "You should get some rest too, there are going to be good shows coming up!" Trouble approached from all directions, and Jiu Defense Company, seemingly ensnared and overwhelmed, was all set for a string of solutions to emerge amidst the chaos. - "The Abyss Coliseum" Project Management Department. The combatants from both sides would come here for the final confirmation, including the signing of the life-and-death contracts. The combatants from Hanuman Airborne Group were "Flying Disk" Rumteyn, "Lawnmower" Fischer Tand, "Divine Eye" Li Lin, and "Big Stick" Bonatowa. As the commanders of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had surmised, the Hanuman Airborne Group could only dispatch four pilots with four F-40 "Horned Eagle" jet fighters. Though they were two-seaters, they could be operated solo as well. Private battles between military contractors and air service groups hardly need to reach the seriousness of sovereignty wars. If you''ve got people and jet fighters, weaponize and head into the skies, resigned to whatever outcome¡ªjust get it done, no need for the strict tactical playbook of sovereignty wars. And on Jiu Defense Company''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron side, they were well-prepared: "Peanut Butter" Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, and "Rookie" Chen Fei. While the adversary had secured a retired main combat aircraft, the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron was not without its preparations, especially now that they had procured full intelligence on their opponents. Teacher Shen Fei, who had deep connections with Jiu Defense, had provided great assistance by obtaining spare parts for active-duty advanced trainer aircraft. Chen Fei personally undertook the task, with help from the chief mechanic Big Brother Xiao, and had already successfully assembled three. Chapter 546 546: Section 542 - Formidable Enemy Twin-seater, twin-engine, twin-vertical stabilizers, internal weapons bay, trapezoidal wings... From left to right, four aircraft numbered L-22, L-22, L-22, F-22. Hmm, it seemed like something odd had been mixed in; looking at the four combat aircraft lined up for battle, Chen Fei always felt an indescribable discomfort. Everyone was a 22, but there was one that was not part of the same series. His perfectionism was almost triggering. When Boss Hana and Laimen Hoffman, the leader of the Hanuman Airborne Group, were officially signing the duel agreement, Chen Fei was having trouble due to the lack of supplies. Even though Northern Weapons Industry had temporarily opened its designated spare parts stocks to Jiu Defense Company, it was impossible to have prepared all the spare parts for four advanced trainer jets in advance. In order to assemble the advanced trainer jets, Chen Fei had secretly used his special ability under the blind-eye supervision of Northern Weapons Industry personnel; he surreptitiously "sacrificed" some parts to replicate and evolve them while borrowing a large industrial specialty printer, barely managing to piece together three complete units. If he hadn''t used his special ability, he might not even have been able to assemble two aircraft, only ensuring the integrity of one. When it came to the fourth advanced trainer, the few remaining spare parts were insufficient from the samples previously "sacrificed." Not only was the main propulsion engine missing, but there were also no avionics among other modules; the shortfall of parts was over fifty percent, making it impossible to proceed any further. Chen Fei was out of options; Northern Weapons Industry couldn''t possibly allow him to "sacrifice" these core active-duty sovereign components. Borrowing is okay, using is okay, copy? Not okay! As a central enterprise, Northern Weapons Industry''s backer was the Sovereignty. Stepping out of bounds had only one consequence, cleaning your butt and sitting out your sentence in jail. He could, of course, rely on his imagination to completely redesign this advanced trainer by borrowing its aerodynamic form, but replacing the innards with something else, such as MiG or "Raptor." This idea was certainly good and had some feasibility, but there was not enough time for Chen Fei to attempt this aspect; the overall workload was virtually no different from redesigning a jet from scratch. If everything inside was changed, would it stop short of just the outer shell? The most feasible solution was to activate the original Plan A, now Plan B, a replicated version of the F-22 "Raptor." Many non-metal pieces of the F-22 "Raptor" molded together with non-metal parts of the L-22 advanced trainer in the large industrial specialty printer, Emmmm... Does this count as taking another free ride? However, the overall combat performance of Generation Four''s little prince "Raptor" was just a tad below Northern Weapons Industry''s advanced trainer. One should not underestimate the L-22; after all, it was the current active advanced trainer of the First Sovereignty of the Blue Star Civilization, not something a nearly half-a-century-old relic could compare to. At least in terms of executing modern tactics, the "Raptor''s" designed performance was clearly outdated, even inferior to the non-combat L-22. - The week-long air show had finally come to an end. Even though a severe collision had occurred on the first day, the air show teams that subsequently performed merely held back for two days before becoming reckless again. On the fourth and fifth days, two more flight accidents occurred consecutively, one of which involved a pilot who couldn''t eject in time, smashing the aircraft and himself nearly vertically into the ground, causing a massive explosion that threw up a giant fireball, countless fragments, soil, and grassroots flew everywhere, the farthest reaching four kilometers away. If it weren''t for the protection of the magic barrier and ability users, the outdoor spectator seating near the main runway would probably have been a high-risk area. Even so, every edition of the Abyss Coliseum had outdoor spectator seats that were full due to spectators seeking thrills and authenticity. "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, facing the challenge of meeting the Hanuman Airborne Group in battle, was not focused on watching the air show; they were preparing with all their strength. Among the four about to battle, only "Fragrant Orchid," Carlos, lacked jet flying experience, but he was a pilot with abundant flying experience and hours, and his foundation was solid. By utilizing the newly assembled advanced trainer jet, coached alternately by Chekhov Big Bear and "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, he could get familiar with the jet''s tactical characteristics in just four to five hours, making the transition effortless. Compared to turboprop aircraft, jets had a faster attack rhythm, and a longer combat radius and striking distance. As the opponent of "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron in this battle, the Hanuman Airborne Group''s four F-40 "Horned Eagle" jets were already completely prepared. As the intelligence had outlined, this challenge was fully premeditated, everything already prepared on the opposing side, waiting for Jiu Defense to act. If someone wanted trouble, they could always find a plethora of ways: even without Hanuman, there would be some other man or animal, eagerly jumping out to cause trouble, and the people at Jiu Defense, even if willing to shrink back like a tortoise and sneak around, would find it no use. Abyssal Gladiatorial''s first round: Genuine Fragrance vs. Hanuman. The organizers greatly welcomed these daredevil individuals, avenging grudges or seeking retaliation, taking this rare opportunity to settle matters legally and justifiably. An open, life-and-death duel was always better than reckless assassinations from the shadows, indifferent to the collateral damage to the innocent; if one had to die anyway, it was better to make one''s death more meaningful. All sovereignties of Blue Star had acquiesced to this distinctive feature of the Abyss Coliseum. Even supposed human rights organizations and peace organizations would not speak out but would act as if they hadn''t seen anything, keeping silent as if by agreement. Teacher Shen Fei hurriedly rushed into the hangar provided by the organizers of "Abyss Coliseum." "Chen Fei, Chen Fei..." "What is it, Teacher Shen!" Chen Fei, who was fine-tuning the L-22 advanced trainer aircraft, turned around. "I just received news that the F-40s Hanuman Air Service Group brought into battle this time are different, two of them are F-40X, improved models!" Shen Fei had also just received this intelligence, and hurriedly used her father, Vice President Shen''s authority to gather information about the F-40X through the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s intelligence channels before rushing over. "Improved model?" Still discussing tactical plans with Squadron Leader Chekhov and "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos, "Devil Pepper" Irinei immediately looked over upon hearing the news. The improved model of the F-40 "Horned Eagle" was certainly an important piece of intelligence that could not be ignored. Shen Fei calmed her somewhat hurried breathing and said, "It''s the last improved version developed for the F-40 by Lockheed before being acquired, it hadn''t been mass-produced yet when the whole F-40 series was retired by the air force." Chekhov Big Bear asked, "Is there anything different?" "Aerodynamic design, human-machine interaction mode, main engine efficiency, and collaborative data link have been further optimized, overall combat power has increased by 14%, and super maneuverability has significantly improved. If it wasn''t for the F-46 ''Peregrine Falcon'' being finalized and beginning to join the Federal Air Force, the F-40 could have been extended for another decade." On the way here, Shen Fei had memorized all these materials, almost able to recite them by heart. As it was not finalized, the last model of the F-40 was designated F-40X, if it had been finalized, it would have been called F-40D. (Improvement extent is based on the comparison between Jian-10A and Jian-10C) "Hiss, this is more than an improved version, it''s clearly an upgraded version." "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane took a sharp intake of breath. Even a 1% increase in overall combat effectiveness is a significant performance gap, let alone 14%, it''s entirely conceivable as a brand-new model. The current main combat aircraft of smaller sovereign entities might just be of such quality. Damn it! Hanuman Air Service Group has clearly crossed the line. Realizing the gravity, Vice Squadron Leader of "Genuine Fragrance" "Devil Pepper" Irinei said seriously, "We can''t let this happen, we must protest to the organizers, Hanuman Air Service Group can''t act as they please!" They had barely managed to procure trainer aircraft and hastily entered the battle, but their opponents had quietly upgraded their combat aircraft. If it weren''t for Teacher Shen''s timely notification, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron would have definitely suffered a substantial covert loss this time." "It''s useless, the F-40X are indeed part of the F-40 series, the organizers won''t support our claims." Shen Fei shook her head and said, "This time, the provision of the F-40X''s for Hanuman Air Service Group came from an executive at Louis Industries, the two F-40Xs are prototypes." To deal with the formidable "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, they even pulled out the last two prototypes of the F-40 series from their sealed storage. "An executive from Louis Industries? Seriously!" Chekhov Big Bear and Irinei both had extremely grave expressions, clearly more concerned about the supplier of those two F-40Xs. The threat was so substantial that it could lead Jiu Defense to completely overlook Hanuman Air Service Group. Louis Industrial Company is Blue Star''s top military industrial manufacturer, with no close rival, definitely considered an exceptional massive entity, even Dragoon Magic Dynamics, ranked first in combat aircraft manufacturing, is slightly inferior. Boeing Aerospace, Rolls Aerospace Group, and Concord Sky Group, these three top-ten combat aircraft manufacturers and regular sponsors of the Abyss Coliseum, are all heavily influenced by Louis Industries. Commonly used by air service bases as a secret weapon, known as the "Dragon Slayer Missile," the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile is one of the many products of Louis Industries. If such a formidable entity is targeting Jiu Defense, then there''s no point continuing the duel; Boss Hana might as well just disband Jiu Defense. There''s no way to win, and even if we did win this battle, what then? What''s next? Everything has only just begun. The power of the opponent is utterly despairing, with no chance of survival, let alone winning. Chapter 547 547: Section 543 - NDS Makes a Move ``` When they realized that they were up against an opponent backed by a heavyweight like Louis Industrial Company, everyone in the Genuine Fragrance Squadron felt a chill run through them, exchanging uneasy glances. It was damn terrifying! What unforgivable sin had these poor kids from the backwoods committed to attract such a formidable adversary? Could it be that the Big Bear Squadron Leader had slept with the opposing company''s high-level manager''s sister and refused to take responsibility? And so, the Genuine Fragrance Squadron faced such a calamity. If it weren''t for the fact that Chekhov looked just as shocked and didn''t show the slightest hint of guilt, it would be hard for Devil Pepper to not suspect something in that direction. The moment Teacher Shen brought the important intel that the Hanuman Airborne Group had acquired two F-40X improved "Horned Eagle," Chen Fei had already thought about seeking help from his uncle, realizing that this situation was beyond his ability to manage. But upon hearing about Louis Industrial Company''s involvement, he extinguished that thought. Even the combined efforts of National Defense Star Aerospace Company and Northern Weapons Industry Group might not be enough to stand up to Louis Industrial Company. "Who''s here to sign for this?" Just then, someone stood at the hangar doorway, peering inside. "What is it?" Big Brother Xiao scratched his head, turned to Devil Pepper, and asked, "Did you guys order anything?" He assumed it was something ordered by someone from the Genuine Fragrance Squadron or the squadron''s maintenance chief, Big Brother Xiao, that had arrived, and naturally, the recipient needed to sign for it. The person in the work uniform, holding a list of materials, asked aloud while cross-referencing it, "The recipient is ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron, who''s the leader?" "Eh? Me, I am. I''m Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, is this really for me?" The Big Bear Squadron Leader pointed at himself, then walked over perplexed. In his memory, he didn''t recall ordering anything at all, unless it was alcohol. "This is the delivery slip, you can open the boxes and inspect the goods right here!" The delivery person in work clothes handed the paper list to a confused Chekhov, who mumbled to himself all the way. The recipient was indeed the Genuine Fragrance Squadron, but no specific person was named. "Ah, this, what''s this?" Chekhov gazed at the massive crates on the truck outside the hangar doors. What could be inside these huge boxes? They were so unusually large! Only then did he lower his head and take a closer look at the list in his hands, and his expression immediately fell. "AIM-290D long-range missiles?" Weren''t these active service weapons? Although the model was somewhat old, they were still military-grade missiles, not to be underestimated. Looking at the number of boxes, each storing one missile, there were at least sixteen missiles loaded on two large transport trucks. Could they have been delivered to the wrong place? The bewildered Big Bear could not help but have this thought, and the next second, with a defiant heart, he borrowed a pen and briskly signed his bearish name. Who cared! The Genuine Fragrance Squadron was in dire need of a way to deal with the latest twist from the Hanuman Airborne Group, and these missiles had come at the right time, whether or not there had been a mistake. Sixteen missiles were enough to give those jumping monkeys from Hanuman a good pot to stew in. The sender was marked with only three letters, NDS. Chen Fei, who had come over with the others, caught sight of these three letters and blurted out, "It''s National Defense Star!" At such a critical moment, what else could NDS stand for? Of course, it was the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, whose company name''s abbreviation was indeed NDS, uniquely theirs without any subsidiary. This meant that his uncle had always been paying attention to Chen Xiao''er and Jiu Defense Company, and had finally made a move. "Your uncle?" It wasn''t just Teacher Shen; the others from the Genuine Fragrance Squadron all looked at him. Chen Fei stated confidently, "There''s no mistake! My uncle must have learned about our situation and specially sent these missiles." To send current American Federation military weapons to the Abyss Coliseum, there were very few forces with that much power. His uncle wielded relatively high clout at National Defense Star, often having the final say, unlike Teacher Shen''s father who was merely one of several vice-presidents at Northern Weapons Industry Group, subordinate to other leaders and many in-laws, which meant that any action would inevitably involve significant hesitation and complications. Therefore, the only NDS with ties to Jiu Defense could be the National Defense Star Aerospace Company. If he wasn''t wrong, his uncle must have also learned that Louis Industrial Company had gotten involved, yet he still sent the missiles, essentially declaring his position, openly standing against Louis Industrial Company. What audacity! Using active service missiles against retired main combat aircraft was certainly interesting. ``` "With these missiles, I can shoot down the entire fleet of Hanuman Airborne Group''s F-40s, whether they''re the X upgrade version or not!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios clenched her fists, making a bone-chilling cracking sound. "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos expressed his gratitude, "All thanks to Chen Fei!" Teacher Shen''s Northern Weapons Industry Group provided the current advanced trainers, and Chen Fei''s uncle provided the active missiles. Coupled with Chen Fei''s industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power and the professional quality of the chief mechanic Xiao Ming, even if Jiu Defense Company faced various targeting and scheming, they were not left without support. Backed by these two giants, there was still capital for a fight. Due to universality, the service life of missiles is generally longer than that of fighter jets, often starting at half a century, and the research and development cycle is not long. Continuous improvements do not affect the normal service commission unless completely replacing the propulsion engine. Altering the missile head or upgrading the control system can also achieve performance enhancement. The AIM-290D long-range missile couldn''t be directly compatible with the L-22 advanced trainer aircraft as they were not weapon systems of the same technology series, requiring adjustments in mountings, fire control systems, and data links among other aspects. However, for Chen Fei, it only took a few minutes; three L-22s had completed their support for the AIM-290D. F-22 "Raptors" belonging to the same technology system could be future-compatible with the least difficulty. An upgrade of the fire control system was all that was needed for direct use. Most of the work was done by Adam. Out of the blue, a line of text popped up before Chen Fei''s eyes. Adam: Ding! "Canglong" advanced fighter jet design simulation completed! Huh! Huh???? Chen Fei: Adam, who taught you this accent? Was it the Dog System? Chen Xiao''er''s focus was peculiar as he was more concerned whether the Dog System had somehow corrupted Adam, turning it into "Dog Adam." Adam: Dog System? No Dog System detected! Although Adam responded this way, it did not deny the existence of the Dog System. It was running inside the Dog System''s "Honey Pot (Virtual Machine)," unable to leave, nor wanting to. Not just Adam, Chen Fei himself was most often unilaterally communicated with by the Dog System, that Dog System sure was tenaciously clinging on. Chen Fei: How did you think to simulate the "Canglong" design? Before this, he had no idea Adam was working on this. So far, the "Physical Evolution Database" contained only the "Canglong"''s shell and main structure¡ªnothing else. Filling it into a complete fighter jet was by no means an easy task. Chen Fei had also considered a similar plan, using the limited sample information from the L-22 advanced trainer to fill out a fourth L-22. But due to limited time and energy, he simply could not undertake such a complicated project. Adam: It''s just a test. Adam: The resources obtained from Angela Pharmaceutical Company included a relevant development kit, along with samples like the MiG-28, F-22 "Raptor," Crystal Jet (Fake), Crystal Jet "Holy Grail," Crystal Jet (Unnamed), and so on. Hence, a trial design development for the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was undertaken, totaling 44 hours, 17 minutes, and 53 seconds. Wow, boy! Utilizing the nearly limitless computational power of Chen Fei''s biological brain, Adam spent almost two days completing the "Canglong" simulation. The complexity of this trial project was almost beyond his imagination. If left to manual simulation, not to mention two or three days, even two or three months, or perhaps two or three years might not suffice. No wonder Chen Fei had an unusually strong appetite these past few days. Intense cerebral exertion meant an increased need for food. Worthy of a progenitor-level artificial intelligence AI, not like those low-level AIs that needed a kick to take action, its initiative was frighteningly high. Even before you had the thought, it had already completed the task. Chen Fei: Save the simulation results and send me the plan! Adam: "Canglong" design plan file creation complete. In Chen Fei''s brain, under the A drive, a new folder named "Canglong" appeared, filled with a lot of related files. Done! "Teacher Shen, let''s head over to the Northern Weapons Industry exhibit area." Chen Fei no longer paid attention to those four jet fighters in the hangar. After all, the new missiles would naturally have professionals to assist in mounting them. "Exhibit area? What for?" Shen Fei was puzzled but still followed Chen Fei''s steps. Was this fellow not satisfied with the current advanced trainers and thinking of setting his sights on active-duty fighters? Let alone the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s agreement, even the organizers of the Abyss Coliseum wouldn''t permit the use of active-duty fighters in the private duels between Private Military Contractors. With the support of executives from Louis Industrial Company, the Hanuman Airborne Group managed to get the prototype of the ultimate version of the already decommissioned F-40 "Horned Eagle", which was the limit. Active-duty main fighter jets are not like active-duty missiles. Sovereignty might turn a blind eye to one-time consumables like missiles, but it would never loosen control and allow commoners to meddle with sovereign-exclusive national armaments. "To borrow the ''Canglong''s'' shell." Chen Fei had Adam hail a nearby unmanned taxi, pulling Teacher Shen into the car with him. Unsure if Adam''s simulated plans were feasible, it was worth a try. "Shell? What use could a shell possibly be?" Shen Fei was even more bewildered, as Chen Fei seemed to be engaging in an incredibly far-fetched idea. Since its inception, the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s "Canglong" advanced fighter jet project progress was still not half complete. The concept machine sent to the Abyss Coliseum exhibition area was just an empty shell, not even overdoing it to say it was a full-scale physical model. This thing? What use could it possibly serve? Chapter 548 548: Section 544 - Its Still a Shell! As the deputy chief designer of the "Canglong" project and also a team member, Nangong Ruiyang stared intently at Chen Fei, who was handling the "Canglong" concept plane. His actions made Nangong feel inexplicably uncomfortable. Nangong Ruiyang turned to Secretary Shen Fei, who was standing nearby, and asked, "What is this guy doing?" If the group company hadn''t reached out to Jiu Defense Company for help, due to his stance, Nangong would not have allowed Chen Fei to touch the unfinished concept plane again. In fact, it was just an empty shell for public display and didn''t hold much value; the skin was eventually going to be seen by others, so it was impossible to keep it secret. But why did this guy give off the feeling that he was up to no good? Was it some divine ability to measure by hand? "I don''t know!" Teacher Shen looked completely clueless. She wasn''t covering for her boyfriend; she genuinely had no idea. In places out of their view, the interior of the "Canglong" concept plane was constantly generating and evolving various module components, filling the empty space bit by bit until the design proposal deduced by "Adam" was fully replicated. Of course, there was some difference between the design proposal simulated through deduction and reality. However, Chen Fei, with his extensive experience from crashing planes, was able to bridge theory with practice, continually adjusting and fine-tuning. Although there was no flight testing, the performance of the jet was gradually approaching perfection. Despite the absence of flight tests, the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet had been through numerous wind tunnel tests, and its aerodynamic design was already very mature. At this moment, it was hard to notice, but the fighter jet''s weight and center of gravity were undergoing subtle changes. Compared to the step-by-step research and development process of the "Canglong" project team, Chen Fei and "Adam" relied on their own strength, forging ahead with the operation of metal elemental psychic power. Touching the nose of the plane, the nose was round and prominent. Touching the cockpit, the canopy shone like gold. Touching the side canard wings, the wings were sharp as knife tips. Fourth touch... This touch seemed to never end. After waiting for over an hour, Nangong Ruiyang, who was supervising Chen Fei, grew increasingly impatient, his eyes twitching. Finally, unable to hold back, he said roughly, "Hey, Chen, have you touched enough?" The single "Eighteen Touches" loop had played several rounds; didn''t he have any sense of completion? "Almost done, just a little while longer," replied Chen Fei. Chen Fei continued to touch every inch meticulously, treating it as if caressing a lover, his communication with "Adam," unknown to others, never ceased. Luckily, the body skin of the jet was made of a tough and lightweight specialty alloy for aviation; Nangong Ruiyang was afraid Chen Fei would wear down the brand new shell of the concept jet. A fighter jet completely worn down, how infuriating would that be? After ten more minutes, just as the Nangong Young Master was about to lose his patience again, Chen Fei finally stopped, stood with his hands tied, and looked back with a smile. "All done, it''s settled!" His brain was working hard, and now was the time for the sage; he just wanted to lie down and get some rest. He and "Adam" had finally completed the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet. He waved to Shen Fei. "Secretary Shen, I need your help with something." But now was not the time to lie down, Chen Fei had some ideas. "???" Shen Fei had no clue what new scheme Chen Fei could have after feeling up the "Canglong" concept plane. "Come here, lean in closer!" Chen Fei moved towards Shen Fei''s face... Ah! Without any warning, the Nangong Young Master found himself on the receiving end of a blatant display of public affection. You, you you you, Chen, that''s enough already! - "What... what are you trying to do?" Mr. Jonas, the manager of the "Abyss Coliseum" project, felt a chill run down his spine as he noticed the one-eyed woman who had been waiting outside his office since early morning. The one-eyed demon, known to be vengeful and unforgiving, the boss of Jiu Defense, Hanna Gagel¡ªa woman not to be trifled with! After waiting for a while, Hanna Gagel fluttered the document in her hand and said with a smile, "Of course, to file the model of aircraft entering the battle!" This filing document had gone through most of the process by the end of the previous day, only missing the final signature of the project manager. After public disclosure, the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s newly added fighter jet would be able to officially appear in the duel against the Hanuman Airborne Group. "I won''t agree to a last-minute change of planes," said the manager of the "Abyss Coliseum" project department immediately. Just as expected of the demon with a bad reputation in the military contracting circle, quite the strategist. Hanna Gagel didn''t hesitate to retort. "The Hanuman Airborne Group replaced their craft with the F-40X at the last minute, isn''t that also a change of planes? When initially announced, those two improved X-model prototype planes weren''t mentioned. As a self-proclaimed third party, can''t the Space Exploration Technology Company even maintain this bit of neutrality? Our replacement filing is in line with the procedures and rules, why won''t you approve? If the Hanuman can change, why can''t we? Mr. Jonas, which side are you really on..." ``` In just a couple of sentences, the manager of the "Abyss Coliseum" project management department was hung over the fire. If the other party dared to show the slightest inclination, the hosts of the "Abyss Coliseum," the board of directors of the Space Exploration Technology Company, would definitely not hesitate to sacrifice this guy on the spot¡ªliterally sacrifice him. "This does not comply with the process!" Truth be told, Manager Jonas had no desire to get involved in this murky situation. If things went wrong, he would offend both sides and be stuck in an impossible situation. "The duel has not officially started yet, this document completely complies with the regulations; all it lacks is your signature, sir! Please follow the rules." Hanna Gagel had no qualms about slamming the document onto the other party''s desk¡ªtoday, whether you sign it willingly or not, you must sign. This is the final ultimatum. When the arrow is drawn on the bow, it must be shot, regardless of whether the target is a god or a Buddha. Don''t be fooled by Boss Hana''s drunken cat demeanor around Chen Fei; when she gets serious, the nickname "female demon" is indeed not a compliment. What kind of people lead what kind of teams¡ªthe notorious reputation of Jiu Defense Company in the industry was won by fighting and snatching in rapid growth. Manager Jonas stated with a righteous expression: "I, I will not agree to have active combat aircraft appear in the duel!" Aircraft upon aircraft¡ªthe female demon fired up face-to-face. What Jiu Defense Company was up to was clear to both the heart of Washington and Elizabeth; this manager in charge of the duel project was really in a tough spot. "Please take a clear look, ''Canglong'' is not an active service model." Hanna Gagel pointed out, without giving face, the other party''s attempt to feign ignorance and muddle through. Against such nitwits, a couple of substantial slaps were indeed called for. "Ah? It''s not an active service model?" As an aerospace manufacturing industry worker, Jonas had indeed not heard of a name like "Canglong" within the active service air forces of various sovereignties. But why was there a nagging sense of familiarity, as if he had heard it somewhere before? Ah, now he remembered¡ªit was the exhibition information submitted by the Northern Weapons Industry Group! "''Canglong'' is a concept aircraft of the Northern Weapons Industry Group; how could it possibly be active service? It''s still early days to become active service!" Hanna Gagel sneered incessantly. If the Hanuman Airborne Group played close to the edge, why couldn''t Jiu Defense Company do the same? Too much cunning can eventually turn into cunning of a more unseemly kind, disgustingly so. Shen Fei was a senior leader''s secretary at the Northern Weapons Industry Group and single-handedly took care of this report document, which only lacked the final signature. Hanna Gagel had specifically timed her visit to hold down this manager in charge of the duel project. "Ah, this..." The rules do not allow for active combat aircraft in the dueling battles; Manager Jonas was momentarily at a loss for words. "The two F-40X aircraft from the Hanuman Airborne Group are experimental machines, and our ''Canglong'' being added this time is also an experimental machine. If everyone''s aircraft are experimental, why allow Hanuman Airborne Group to proceed and not my ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron?" Hanna Gagel dealt the final blow; her voice even carried outside the office, deliberately so! The "Canglong" project was still in the phase of experimental flight testing, with truly not a single flaw to pick out. "I..." Manager Jonas''s mental defenses were increasingly crumbling. "SIGN!!!" The one-eyed female demon commanded with a bang over his head. Only someone like her could get the job done; anyone else would have failed to control the situation. Jonas''s mouth twitched and, without a word, he ultimately signed his own name dutifully on the document. Hanna Gagel took out her phone and said in an unhurried manner: "It''s done!" In an office not far away. Assistant Lahar nodded at a staffer. "Manager Jonas has signed; go ahead and publish the announcement!" It was a seamless transition; Jiu Defense Company had not only handled Manager Jonas from the project management department but also dealt with other department staff members and, in a race against time, publicized the news about "Canglong" joining the battle. Only at this moment were all the procedural steps fully completed. - Early in the day, Nangong Ruiyang, who had groomed himself into a dapper appearance with a suit and polished face, arrived early at the exhibition area, bossing around the staff. "Arrange the display boards neatly, the text on the isolation tape must be aligned, give me the microphone, everyone cheer up..." Today was the big day; the wealthy clients from the Desert Peninsula and Fusang Island were coming together to conduct preliminary intentions for engagement with the "Canglong" project. The industrial technology trees of the various sovereignties on Blue Star were mostly incomplete, and thus it was better to buy advanced tactical military hardware than to try to build it themselves. The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was positioned not as the main fighter but as a support aircraft for the main fighters. Although there were some compromises in its performance, it had a very high cost-performance ratio. It was not only suitable for native deployment but also for export. Nangong Ruiyang had even practiced for two days in private, not even having the time to be angry with Chen Xiao''er. Seeing someone approaching from afar, seemingly a group of several dozen, he adjusted his clothes and spread a standard corporate smile, welcoming them. "Mr. Kobayashi! Mr. Ahmed!" ``` Chapter 549 549: Section 545 - The Shell Ran Away After a brief welcome, self-introduction, and small talk, Nangong Ruiyang immediately demonstrated his professional competency, cutting straight to the point with no unnecessary words, efficiently presenting the officially announced technical information of the advanced fighter jet "Canglong" to Dongying Self-Defense Force official Kobayashi Zeiichi and Desert Peninsula royal family member Ahmed Bahman Ibrasin. After a few inquiries, Kobayashi Zeiichi also did not beat around the bush and plainly said, "Nangong-san, while His Highness Ahmed and I have no doubts about your master''s research and development capabilities, we do hope that your side can arrange a test flight, preferably a tactical demonstration." Richies are not fools, they are the kind who won''t release the eagle without seeing the rabbit. The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was still in the process of development and far from being finalized. Negotiating with clients at this time was clearly an attempt to attract investment and share the pressure of research and development costs. The key was that any investment made at this moment would essentially be an interest-free sponsorship, with no share in the profits of "Canglong." At most, it meant shelling out a large sum of money in exchange for priority in procurement. If "Canglong" performed excellently and met expectations, then the money spent would be worth it, and having the priority for mass production might not be a bad thing. The fear was that despite excellent design and theoretical parameters, the reality would be much less impressive. Everyone''s money didn''t come easy, and without satisfying the royalty of Dongying and the Desert Peninsula, naturally, no one was willing to be the big sucker. While saying this, the Self-Defense Force official glanced at the "Canglong" concept aircraft within the exhibit area. "Precisely, that''s exactly what I mean." Because he had already discussed the matter privately with Kobayashi Zeiichi in advance, Desert Peninsula royal family member Ahmed concurred with him, displaying a matching attitude. "However, we currently only have this display model." Nangong Ruiyang frowned as he looked at the shell of an aircraft. If the test aircraft hadn''t crashed, he would have been able to agree immediately. But now, it would be at least three months before the next prototype would be available, and by then, who knows what other variables might emerge. The rich clients'' thinking wasn''t hard to guess¡ªthey desired to pay and take delivery instantaneously if they took a liking to it. But in reality, how could the delivery capacity of aerospace products be so exaggerated? Pre-sales without stock are almost an industry norm, and in case of contract breach, the accumulated costs could bankrupt any manufacturer on the spot. Seeing Nangong Ruiyang''s hesitation, Ahmed Bahman Ibrasin asked, "This display aircraft can''t fly?" He might have thought that the Northern Weapons Industry Group was being finicky and was really just looking to increase the price. "Sorry, it actually is..." "Excuse me, please make way." Nangong Ruiyang had not yet finished speaking when he saw someone lift the barrier tape and squeeze into the booth. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a man with the surname Chen, popping up at this critical moment. Was this kid deliberately creating trouble for him? "Eh? Eh? Chen Fei, what are you doing?" The Nangong Young Master lost his composure. He had prepared for a long time and had barely managed to secure this opportunity when, all of a sudden... Chen, we are sworn enemies! Nangong Ruiyang nearly harbored thoughts of slaughtering Chen Xiao''er on the spot. "Sorry, sorry, it''s an urgent matter of Jianghu. I need to borrow ''Canglong''!" Chen Fei, who had received a message from Boss Hana, acted immediately. His plan had been executed perfectly. Success! At this moment, the Hanuman Airborne Group probably hadn''t even realized what was happening. "Borrow ''Canglong''? How? It''s just a shell! Stop it!" Poor Nangong Ruiyang was still in the dark. The Northern Weapons Industry Group had previously granted Jiu Defense Company access to spare parts for the L-22 advanced trainer aircraft and would not refuse to lend out the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet''s concept aircraft shell again, A mere empty shell, want it? Take it! Not even a deposit required. The moment Chen Fei accessed the "Canglong" concept aircraft, his Metal Elemental Psychic Power activated. The aircraft''s surface suddenly brightened, and the Magic Array was instantly loaded into place. The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet had a total of 81 Magic Array Inscription units. + "Repulsion Shield (45)" ¡Á1 + "Wind Magic Shield (12)" ¡Á1 + "Fluid Vortex (2)" ¡Á4 + "Gravity (1)" ¡Á4 + "Blazing Flame Bullet (1)" ¡Á4 + "Air Burst (2)" ¡Á2 + "Wind Cone (2)" ¡Á1 + "Ignition (1)" ¡Á2 =81/81 Perfect! The magic arrays that Chen Fei had mastered were mostly highly suitable for aircraft; with the addition and subtraction done just right, he managed to use up all the magic array inscription units of "Canglong." The cockpit canopy automatically lifted, and Chen Fei flipped into it. While mid-air, numerous small geometric figures surged over the surface of his body, combining and evolving into a single soldier tactical armor, which finished evolving just as he landed inside the cockpit. He pulled out a crystalline block and jammed it straight into the conversion device. The surface of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet immediately displayed intricate patterns and runes, as though tattooed, and the magic array inscribed on the surface by the metal elemental psychic power was activated. "Chen Fei, you get down here!" Nangong Ruiyang shouted, abandoning any personal decorum as he chased after the exhibition area, extremely upset. Behind him, Kobayashi Zeiichi, a high-ranking official of the Dongying Sovereignty Self-Defense Forces, and a member of the Desert Peninsula royal family, Ahmed Bahman Ibrasin, exchanged glances, unable to hide the shock on their faces. The magic array that had just lit up on the surface of the "Canglong" was definitely not mistaken by either of the two men. Not all aircraft are inscribed with magic arrays; this has nothing to do with cost, but rather with suitability. Magic arrays cannot be inscribed carelessly; adaptability is what matters most. In response to Nangong Ruiyang, however, came an unexpected howling sound. "Wooo..." The sound originated from the "Canglong" concept machine at the exhibition area, which was clearly just a shell. "How, how could this be?" Nangong Ruiyang staggered back in fright. The "Canglong" concept machine, as if having lost its weight, slowly lifted off the ground. The whining of the turbines grew louder, as the nose of the craft turned direction, the "Fluid Vortex (2)" and "Air Burst (2)" simultaneously released their magic effects, and the aircraft, maintaining a delicate balance with gravity, was swiftly propelled away. "Ah! Ah! My ''Canglong''! It¡ªit''s still just a shell!" Nangong Ruiyang wailed as he watched the "Canglong" concept machine fly away at low altitude. "Um..." Kobayashi Zeiichi wanted to offer his condolences to Young Master Nangong, but felt it wasn''t quite the right word, and he hesitated momentarily before saying, "Nangong-san, let''s talk about the support details of the ''Canglong'' project." As a high-ranking officer of the Self-Defense Forces, his eyesight and judgment were naturally beyond question. From the lighting up of the magic arrays to the ascent and departure, it was definitely the effect of magic arrays. Although it was known that "Canglong" would make limited use of some magic arrays, it was previously thought that adaptability issues would continuously plague the R&D team and that significant breakthroughs would be hard to achieve in a short time. But now, it seemed that the Canglong project team of the Northern Weapons Industry Group had solved this problem and had actually applied the magic arrays to the "Canglong." The national treasure artifacts, the crystal jets, were the perfect masterpieces of magic array application; to be able to see magic arrays on a support type fighter jet, Emmm... It would be a lie to say one wasn''t tempted. Kobayashi Zeiichi did not hesitate to extend a gesture of goodwill immediately. His Highness Ahmed waved his hand boldly and said, "Don''t talk nonsense about it being just a shell; you name the price, cash or fuel, we can do it!" Twenty years ago, Blue Star Civilization had ceased the extraction of fossil fuels, and instead, a crop known as Oil Aloe Vera had taken its place, mainly characterized by Golden Aloe Vera for light fuel oil extraction and Moonlight Aloe for heavy fuel oil extraction. Today, the once fossil fuel and natural gas-rich Desert Peninsula was almost entirely planted with these two types of oil-producing aloes, and swathes of aloe forests covered the vast sands, looking like towering trees. These high-yield oil-producing plants didn''t demand much for cultivation, not only tolerating salinity, heat, and intense cold but even able to thrive with straightforward seawater irrigation¡ªall they needed was sufficient sunlight. The thick aloe leaves could be pressed for a high oil content juice, and the extraction process wasn''t very complex and required little technical expertise. The remaining dry leaves, like soybean meal, served as excellent fodder for livestock and fertilizer, and both the original leaves and fruits were directly edible, rich in multiple nutrients, and had a distinctive flavor after being cooked. The Desert Peninsula, which once made its fortune on energy exports, was still handling the energy export business, only now the export was fuel oil. It appeared that halting the extraction of fossil crude oil hadn''t caused much impact on the overall economy¡ªthe richies were still richies, never short on cash! "Um..." Nangong Ruiyang, whose plans had been disrupted by Chen Fei, was a bit dumbfounded. What was he supposed to make of this situation? Chapter 550 550: Section 546 - Hanumans False Alarm In the hangar of the Hanuman Airborne Group, four fully armed combat aircraft were ready for battle. Group Leader Laimen Hoffman even indulged in a 500 Star Yuan cigar, looking very relaxed. Just thinking about the famous "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron suffering a huge fall at his hands, even to the point of being wiped out, naturally made him exceedingly jubilant! Stepping on Jiu Defense Company for a high-profile victory was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Therefore, Laimen Hoffman couldn''t help but let out a sly chuckle. Mere advanced trainers, not professional fighters, even if they were active service equipment, how could they possibly be a match for the F-40 and F-40X? Most importantly, the Hanuman Airborne Group had the backing of big shots, so it would be wise for Jiu Defense to surrender right away, now, immediately. Although not very dignified, at least it would save their lives, right? It was 9:45 in the morning, half an hour left before the duel began. He glanced at the time, rose from his beach chair, and walked towards the four roaring combat aircraft. It was time to encourage the lads, soon to slice up the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron like chopping vegetables, with hefty red envelopes to go around. "All ready, no mistakes, check everything several times!" Laimen Hoffman was cautious; the logistics team comprised his own people, without needing the ground crew provided by the Abyss Coliseum hosts. They were never underpaid and always well-treated. Though not numerous, each member of his team was capable of holding their own. For a small team to survive, taking the elite route and banding together was a must. The chief mechanic was organizing tools and parts and looked up to greet Laimen Hoffman. Without needing a reminder, he had already checked everything over and over to ensure nothing was amiss. "Boss, at least ten times over!" "Damn it!" Clang!~ A mechanic sat on the ground without reason, unable to even cry out in pain before hurriedly standing back up. "Barno, what are you doing?" The Hanuman Air Service Group''s chief mechanic frowned and looked over, concerned that such unexpected noise could disturb the others, especially at such a critical moment. "It''s, it''s not good!" The mechanic shouted back in a panicked tone. "What''s not good?" This time, even Group Leader Laimen Hoffman noticed his subordinate''s agitation. "The ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, they switched fighters!" The fallen mechanic raised his phone and continued, "Look at the Abyssal Gladiatorial official page, on the special section for the duel schedule, our details against the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron." He was browsing the Abyss Coliseum''s official site out of boredom when he suddenly came across something incredible. "Switched fighters? How... how dare they!!!" The Hanuman Airborne Group''s leader Laimen Hoffman immediately felt unease and quickly took out his phone to log into the web browser. Indeed!~ The Abyss Coliseum organizers had set the opening battle between the Hanuman Airborne Group and Jiu Defense''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron as a surprise for everyone following the Abyssal duels, with a dedicated page with detailed introductions. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had an impressive military contracting record. They had fought against the Giant Dragon, faced large military contractors in corporate wars, shining like gold with such experience in the industry. Countless people lusted after them, and for such a team with both formidable fighting power and fortune, it would be far better to take over the whole team rather than poach individuals. If poaching were feasible, even Jiu Defense would have likely been bought out by some top dog in the industry for a hefty sum by now. "What the hell is this ''Canglong'' advanced fighter jet?" Laimen Hoffman, pointing at the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet that had replaced the F-22 "Raptor" jet, ranted loudly with frustration. Every member of the Air Service Group could recite the details of every type of aircraft like the back of their hand, yet as a seasoned insider, he had never heard of the model code "Canglong". A group from Hanuman Airborne Group looked at each other in bewilderment. The "Canglong" advanced fighter was the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s newly unveiled latest model of a support combat aircraft (still in development), with a design combat capability that, although not at par with the current main combat aircraft, has an absolutely golden ability to far surpass the earnings of the main combat aircraft by targeting a specific user (rich buyers who crave main combat aircraft but can''t afford them). It''s no wonder that small fries like the Hanuman Airborne Group, who didn''t even have a chance to touch it, had never heard of it. If Laimen Hoffman and others hadn''t been preoccupied with targeting Jiu Defense and the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron and had taken the time to visit the aircraft and spacecraft display areas of various manufacturers, they should have had at least some impression of it. "I want to protest!" Laimen Hoffman took out his phone, ready to start cursing. If you can switch combat aircraft on the fly, it doesn''t mean others can''t. When people become selfish, there is no such thing as fairness. "Manager Jonas..." He connected with the manager of the Abyss Coliseum project management department; before he could say much, the leader of the Hanuman Airborne Group was put in his place. His protest had been anticipated, the script was prepared; an impromptu complaint could never surpass the other party''s arguments, putting him at a disadvantage immediately. Still not convinced, Laimen Hoffman once again pulled up the official website of the Abyss Coliseum, found the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s page, and sure enough, there was an introduction to the "Canglong" advanced fighter. "Huh? This is it?" Seeing the brief introduction of the "Canglong" project, Laimen Hoffman couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time. Putting a research stage experimental model into actual combat so hastily was surely gambling with lives, wasn''t it? If he wasn''t wrong, the ultimate fate of an experimental model at this stage often ended in a crash due to design flaws or malfunctions; rarely do they come to a good end, and they might even cost one or two lives. An aircraft like this probably doesn''t even need enemies to take it down; who knows when it might fall out of the sky all on its own. Just looking at the design parameters, the comprehensive combat capability was indeed a good deal stronger than the F-40 series combat aircraft deployed by the Hanuman Airborne Group, but as an experimental model, the various immature weaknesses and potential hidden defects could greatly diminish its practical combat effectiveness. Thus, theoretical values are one thing, and reality is another. Once a roommate with "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider from the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, and later having a conflict with the mechanic, Xiao Ming, over an attempt to seize wooden crafts, a Hanuman Airborne Group reserve pilot, reeking of curry, "Goat Horn" Hamid suddenly saw the light: "So, it''s an experimental model!" His tone involuntarily carried a tinge of disdain. After all, any professional could see that an experimental model equaled unreliability. An aircraft ready for mass production, whether it''s a military or a civilian aircraft, has undergone countless refinements and corrections. "Hmph! Northern Weapons Industry Group really lacks the perception, daring to support Jiu Defense. Aren''t they afraid of Louis Industrial Company!" One of the pilots set to fly in the upcoming battle, "Flying Disk" Rumteyn, resented the Northern Weapons Industry Group for repeatedly backing Jiu Defense, even without any previous clashes with Hanuman Airborne Group. "Lawnmower" Fischer Tand said with a giggle, "On the other hand, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron is at the end of its rope, unable to find a suitable combat aircraft, and even resorting to using an experimental model, hahaha!" "Of course! This time it''s not just us Hanuman, several big shots are making moves together, aiming to drive out Jiu Defense and rid our industry of this bad seed. It would have been strange if they could borrow a proper combat aircraft." "Jiu Defense is too arrogant, so self-centered it has no friends, it deserves to be outwitted! Whether it''s a trainer aircraft or an experimental one, no matter what they switch to, it wouldn''t make a difference. Barno, you''re too timid; keep calm, ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron stands no chance of winning!" The atmosphere within Hanuman Airborne Group was quite relaxed; they were not panicked by the opponent''s last-minute change of aircraft. Group leader Laimen Hoffman nodded in agreement, his members made sense. Jiu Defense had run out of tricks; as long as it wasn''t a real professional combat aircraft, no matter what they did, they wouldn''t be able to make much of a splash and would be powerless to change the final outcome. "Ten-minute countdown, both parties'' fighters prepare to enter the parking apron, ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron to take off five minutes early." The same voice rang in everyone''s ears. Chapter 551 551: Section 547 - How Can the Main Force Endure This From the Northern Weapons Industry Group exhibition area, the advanced fighter jet "Canglong" dived headfirst into the hangar of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, gliding at a low altitude the whole way. As soon as the landing gear touched the ground, Chen Fei, who was piloting it, immediately shouted at Xiao Ming, the long-awaiting maintenance chief, "Big Brother, get all kinds of oils, right now!" It took off from the exhibition booth through the effects of a Magic Array but could not accomplish real high-speed, high-mobility flight. The Magic Array on the aircraft could only assist in flying, so further evolutionary adjustments were needed to switch propulsion modes, requiring various lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and aviation fuel. Xiao Ming, pushing a cart, hurried over in three steps and two strides, ramming each fluid container already prepared into a row of intake ports that appeared on the surface of the fuselage. Triangular, circular, square, diamond, pentagonal, hexagonal¡ªall kinds of fancy irregular shapes, matched the shape of the container openings to avoid pouring the wrong fluid in the rush. With several firm thuds, the "Canglong" was no longer just a conceptual shell, but a real combat aircraft. Sponsored by National Defense Star Aerospace Company, AIM-290D long-range missiles were delivered into internal bomb bays and external hardpoints, and the AI "Adam" immediately recognized these missiles in the fire control system compiled for "Canglong". Then came the machine gun ammunition belts, especially composed of tracer incendiary rounds to enhance the visual spectacle of the duel. Boom!~ The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet burst into a real roar of its engines. "Are we all set?" The voice of Boss Hana came through the data link into Chen Fei''s tactical helmet. Although she always maintained a composed and calm queen-like demeanor, she still held some concerns that she couldn''t show due to her status as the Boss. As Boss, she was the support and reliability for everyone and had to remain strong till the end. During their past drinking sessions, Chen Fei was the only one who saw this woman, dubbed "One-Eye She-Devil" by her peers, drunk to a stupor, crying and babbling for hugs and comfort. It was unimaginable for outsiders and even for her own people at Jiu Defense to see this vulnerable side of Boss Hana. Since the establishment of Jiu Defense, the private image of Boss Hana in front of Chen Fei had become increasingly aloof as colleagues forcibly pushed her into the role they least wanted to see her in. "Everything''s OK!" Chen Fei gestured to the ground crew outside the cockpit. "''Peanut Butter'' in position!" "''Devil Pepper'' in position!" "''Fragrant Orchid'' in position!" As a trainer aircraft, ease of control and accessibility were the minimum design requirements. Even with short exposure, Chekhov and his team had already mastered this combat trainer that was about to participate in actual combat. Though its payload wasn''t as large as that of a professional combat aircraft, it was enough to give the "Horned Eagles" of Hanuman Airborne Group a hard time. "''Rookie,'' good luck!" Teacher Shen Fei''s voice interjected. The aviation headphones, equipped with active noise reduction, were perfect for the current environment, automatically filtering out noise while selectively amplifying human voices, making conversation clear even in noisy surroundings. "Ten-minute countdown, both fighting teams prepare to enter the apron, ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron take off five minutes early." A notification came from the control tower. Everyone was about to enter the aerial arena, offering the spectators on the ground a real and brutal duel. "''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, strike!" Hanna Gagel stood at the hangar door and gestured outside. The air hoses disconnected, and three L-22s released from their landing gear restrictors slid out one by one. The fresh, still hot "Canglong" advanced fighter jet closely followed behind them. "...''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, consisting of three L-22 advanced trainer aircraft, emerges from the hangar, with the last one being the still-experimental conceptual machine ''Canglong,'' a support-type fighter..." Chen Fei turned on the public broadcast channel and immediately heard the endless introduction by the host of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" event. He had hoped to hear some mention of the Hanuman Airborne Group but only caught the tedious warm-up chatter. "Repeat the tactical plan, ''Peanut Butter'' lead ''Fragrant Orchid,'' ''Rookie'' lead ''Devil Pepper,'' stick together and don''t fall behind," When it came to professional matters, the Big Bear Squadron Leader never dropped the ball. "You three take off first, I''ll follow!" Though he was treated as the leader of the second flight team, Chen Fei had no intention of rushing to the front. His "Canglong" still obediently followed behind the L-22 of Vice Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios. "Permission granted, everyone be careful, don''t get careless, ''Fragrant Orchid,'' follow me!" "Peanut Butter" Chekhov pushed the throttle, his L-22 advanced trainer aircraft, equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank and missiles, accelerated powerfully from the start of the runway. After darting out over five hundred meters, it lightly lifted its nose and soared into the sky. Following closely on the side was "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, the two L-22s maintaining a twin-aircraft formation as they ascended in sync, with little change in the distance between them. Although not exactly stunt flying, it was still the proficient experience of veteran pilots. Following was Irinei Rusios'' L-22, nicknamed "Devil Pepper." She did not hurry Chen Fei, because the L-22 had notable performance differences from "Canglong," and, considering the "Rookie" had both Metal Elemental Psychic Power and Magic Array, it wouldn''t have been surprising if anything spectacular happened. The third L-22 took off alone, while the last remaining "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was still on the ground, showing no intention of hurrying to catch up, leaving everyone wondering what was being planned. The spectators inside and outside were collectively baffled, unable to comprehend what was wrong with the conspicuously lagging "Canglong." "Gaga gaga gaga, as expected of an experimental jet, it must have freaking broken down!" Through the live broadcast feed, Laimen Hoffman, the leader of the Hanuman Airborne Group, laughed uncontrollably like a duck. Isn''t it quite normal for immature aircraft to malfunction anywhere, anytime? Sticking to the ground, unable to fly¡ªthat''s the norm for experimental jets, isn''t it? However, in the next second, his laughter abruptly stopped. On the large projected screen, the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet that had remained at the starting end of the runway slowly started to rise from the ground. Vertical takeoff! WTF!!! Laimen Hoffman''s duck laughter sounded as if someone had just squeezed a duck''s neck. Although not a new advanced technology, vertical takeoff was very convenient and unspecific about the takeoff and landing environment, but it definitely wasn''t mainstream. Because its advantages were quite clear, but so were its disadvantages, which led to a sheer waste of valuable carrying capacity. After the "Canglong" advanced jet had ascended more than ten meters, its surface suddenly unfolded multiple indeterminate aerodynamic flaps, and a long flame tail burst out from the back. Boom... The sound as thunderous as a sudden clap of thunder on a clear day, recklessly invaded everyone''s ears, even drowning out the continuous commentary of the host. What terrifying presence that was! The hovering fighter jet surged into the sky with a very apparent acceleration. "...9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14..." Crack!~ The moment Chen Fei quietly counted to 15. The sound barrier was instantly shattered. "Eh!!!" Nangong Chengyu, the deputy chief designer of the project team, was still pondering over those strange aerodynamic surfaces on the aircraft body while watching the "Canglong"''s premiere at the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s special area, when he was suddenly startled by the shocking sound. This...this isn''t right!!! The design goal for the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was to be a support fighter, its main engine thrust shouldn''t be this fierce, even the top active duty main fighter jets only match up to this level. If it performs like this, you''re putting the main fighter jets in shame. "Dad...I screwed up!" Just at that moment, Young Master Nangong came back from the exhibition area with a gloomy face. Both Richie were inhumane, their conscience must have been eaten by cats. When the "Canglong" was still on display, they didn''t show any explicit stance without seeing the rabbit and not throwing the eagle, but after it was taken away by someone with the surname Chen, facing the empty display space, Richie started to tremble, clamoring for sponsorship, for orders, is that even reasonable?! I''ve never seen such customers before, speaking a totally different language from each other, definitely not on the same page, and Nangong Ruiyang, who was acting as the liaison officer, really had a hard time! He didn''t even know how he managed to get rid of those two Richies. "Eh? Ruiyang, your face!" Nangong Chief Designer saw his son''s face was red and swollen. What happened? Did he have a conflict with Chen Fei who borrowed the "Canglong," and got hit by him?! "Ah, this? I hit myself!" Mentioning this made Nangong Ruiyang even more upset. The attitudes of the two clients were like night and day, thinking it was a dream, he involuntarily slapped himself twice in an attempt to wake up. As a result, he woke up, but at the cost of a swollen face, with clear finger imprints on his cheeks! It really wasn''t Chen Xiao''er''s fault! Chapter 552 552: Section 548 - Screw the Tactics "Canglong" advanced fighter jet enveloped in the massive sound of wind and thunder roared into the sky, seamlessly integrating with the L-22 advanced trainer jet that had also entered supersonic mode, making the rapid supersonic ascent seem all too logical. Laymen watch the excitement, experts observe the techniques, and most of the audience at the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" are experts who could discern nuances from the takeoff posture. "Did it just break the sound barrier? It hasn''t even been 30 seconds!" "That speed... it''s a bit fast!" "Is this the latest model of a support fighter jet? The design standards are a bit high! Could it be made to match the next generation of main battle models? Sss... as expected of Northern Weapons Industry Group, making a big move right from the start." "I heard the ''Canglong'' project team is pulling in partners to share the development costs. We should get in touch; there might be benefits." Many in the audience were abuzz, with quite a few dazzled by the domineering and powerful ascent of "Canglong." - "Reiterating once again, the attacking distance between the two sides must not exceed 30 kilometers. Please check the missile firing range!" The organizers of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" didn''t care about the type of tactical weapons used by the parties; they simply set the rules of engagement. Long-range modern missile exchanges, nonexistent! The duel, which determined both winners and losers as well as life and death, needed a certain degree of spectacle, and it definitely varied from unlimited real warfare. Otherwise, the audience who painstakingly came here to watch the battle would have watched it in vain. "''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron received!" Chekhov Big Bear responded on their behalf. More than ten specially modified drones with a faint glow of magic arrays closely followed the four combat aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron at different altitudes making swift maneuvers. High-performance cameras primarily in optical mode captured the real-time footage and transmitted it back to the ground. Almost all the audience was in the indoor seating area, and it was hard for those in the outdoor seats to catch a glimpse of the combatants. "Follow the original plan, dive!" Chekhov Big Bear pushed the control stick, leading the dive. The three L-22s and the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet descended from an altitude of 5,000 meters to 50 meters; when they ascended again, the flying formation had changed as they regained altitude. It was precisely five minutes after takeoff. Four "Horned Eagle" aircraft (including X) from the Hanuman Airborne Group took off in pairs, rising neatly. "Captured the enemy target signal, count one, hmm? Why only one?" At the moment of takeoff, "Flying Disk" Rumteyn activated the onboard radar, quickly capturing the feedback signal. However, there was only one signal displayed on the radar screen. Seconds later, the radar system, which automatically narrowed the beam and enhanced the resolution, updated the detection results, showing four superimposed cursors. "Wrong, there are four! They''re playing tricks like this!" "Flying Disk" Rumteyn scoffed and immediately issued combat orders. "Split the formation, squadron 1 feint, squadron 2 flank." No wonder there was only one feedback source at the beginning! Deceiving an old radar system with a three-dimensional flight formation might work, but to think about fooling the F-40 series radar system was out of the question. "Squadron 2 received." Positioned at the flanks of two F-40 "Horned Eagles," two F-40X fighters formed a flight pair, heading in a different direction, with "Divine Eye" Li Lin as the lead and his fire control operator "Big Stick" Bonatowa responsible for the wingman. In the air service group, the roles of main pilot and fire control weren''t strictly divided; they could pilot a two-seater together or swap roles, able to fly independently if necessary, while still maintaining their tacit understanding. The combatants did not possess electromagnetic stealth fighters invisible to radar; thus, whatever the flight trajectory, it was all overt. "Hanuman has split their forces, one for distraction, the other aiming to envelop." The radar screen on the high trainer aircraft clearly showed the separation of the two twin-aircraft squadrons, and Chekhov Big Bear wasn''t wrong in his assessment. Undodging and coming straight forward, the F-40 squadron was surely tasked with attracting fire, while the other F-40 squadron would likely seize an opportunity to launch a half-crossing strike. "Which team is X? You can''t tell from the radar at all!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, looking at the cursors on the radar screen, frowned, finding it a bit challenging to guess. The radar system on the L-22 couldn''t distinguish between the F-40 and the F-40X; after all, the latter had never been publicly exposed and had no radar features externally communicated. As the F-40 series was being retired in large numbers, this experimental aircraft was halted in development, packed up, and stored in the strategic arsenal until it was unsealed for this occasion. The untimely F-40X experimental aircraft had significantly improved overall combat capabilities, which the L-22 couldn''t accurately recognize, leading to misjudgments in enemy combat capabilities and putting the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron in a somewhat passive situation. "The ones maneuvering are the F-40X; those coming straight on are the F-40." Having activated the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8) - Macroscopic Perspective," Chen Fei, from a higher vantage point, noticed the differences between the two squads of aircraft. Four aircraft, shaped like flat equilateral triangles, showed slightly bulging dual engines with pale blue tail flames at the center turning aqua. Lacking a vertical stabilizer, they left behind clearly visible condensation trails in the sky. The two aircraft leaving far behind had a wing-body blended design at the tips of the main wings, intermittently flipping out auxiliary aerodynamic control surfaces, making their flight posture even more agile. Thankfully, the aerodynamic design changes of the F-40X experimental aircraft were distinctive; otherwise, it would have been really difficult to discern. If it were just internal modifications, Chen Fei''s visual skills would have been completely useless. "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, squadron leader Chekhov''s partner, curiously asked, "''Rookie,'' how did you figure it out? Is it the latest intel?" "Is it Xiao Jiu? Did you bring it with you?" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios immediately thought of Pure Light Sparrow''s "Light Mirror Spell," which, although not very convenient to deploy, was still more effective than radar. Her guess was not exactly right, but it was not far off! Chen Fei responded, "Xiao Jiu is with Teacher Shen, I have special skills!" Explaining "Macroscopic Perspective" could be a bit tricky, so he simply chose not to explain. All thanks to the Dog System, the "Skill Shop" was filled daily with all kinds of bizarre junk skills, scheming to cheat energy points, making people too lazy to even look. However careful, Chen Fei inevitably couldn''t avoid falling for it. This also led to Chen Fei''s skill list inevitably including some weird skills, and that was after careful selection. Sometimes, if you don''t pay up, you can''t get past certain hurdles. Thus, the battle with the Dog System was a war of attrition. Chen Fei was extremely cautious with every energy point he spent. The organizers of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" would never allow a magical beast like Xiao Jiu, who cheats, to compete. Jokingly, if it was about mobility, no current main battle aircraft could outmatch the naturally flying species, Pure Light Sparrow. With a 30 kilometer attack range, no one could stand up to Little Bird''s BiuBiuBiu barrage. Even Chen Fei himself had no confidence in defeating this little critter in the sky. "Damn, having special abilities really is convenient!" Chekhov Big Bear, envious and jealous, dared not offend Chen Fei. He was still scheming to trick a few original AKs from him. The old guns replicated with Metal Elemental Psychic Power were seamless. The day he went to other collectors and replicated all the old guns, it would be truly beautiful. "Don''t fool yourself with wishful thinking, the enemy is about to enter shooting range!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios abruptly snapped the big bear out of his daydreams, focused purely on illusions of profit. The engagement distance for "Abyssal Gladiatorial" was within 30 kilometers, a distance at which the AIM-290D long-range missiles, sponsored to the "Genuine Fragrance" squad by Chen Fei''s uncle, were almost unescapable. "Plan B, action!" Chekhov gave a mischievous smile and pushed the control stick. The four combat aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" squad immediately scattered like birds and beasts¡ªscrew tactical formations! From the beginning, Chekhov and his team had anticipated the opponent''s tactics. The tactical ability of private military units was just that, nothing more. Predicting using their own standards, if deception by tactics was possible, they''d use it; if not, they''d force their way through, damn all the foreplay, just do it! In a situation where the number of forces on both sides was equal, the most primitive one-on-one combat could negate all tactical assumptions. Personal combat strength would become the decisive factor in the outcome. That''s why ancient generals favored duels, the biggest reason was exactly this: act, don''t just talk. All schemes and tricks were a joke in the face of personal bravery. The more advanced the fighter jet, the better it performed in formation, and even integrating data links from multiple aircraft became a crucial element of combat power. The "Horned Eagles" from the Hanuman Airborne Group couldn''t escape this tactical rule. But for the "Genuine Fragrance" squad, what nonsense was formation flying for a trainer aircraft? There was no such tactical design; at most, a twin formation was the limit. Asking for more was not the job of a trainer aircraft, but rather the domain of professional fighters; advanced trainers were just a transitional tool before mastering professional fighters, and dueling at this moment was just right. Chen Fei''s "Canglong" advanced fighter had only one unit, merely in the startup phase of experimental machines, and tactical thinking hadn''t yet formed¡ªhow could a trio support one? Of course, it was about being a free agent on the battlefield, dealing with adversaries one by one before regrouping. This was the most supreme tactic. "Flying Disk" Rumteyn, the leader of Hanuman, saw the dispersed indicators on the radar screen and said angrily, "They, they''ve split their forces!" Being a veteran pilot, he finally realized that the "Genuine Fragrance" squad didn''t want to play games with them¡ªevery man for himself, showing off their divine skills. "What do we do? Go two against one?" asked "Divine Eye" Li Lin, piloting the F-40X. He immediately realized his idea might be inappropriate. Going two against one was ideal, but with equal numbers on both sides, wouldn''t it flip the tactic, allowing the opponent to play a strategy of one distracting while the other attacked? "Flying Disk" Rumteyn said irritably, "What else can we do? Pick your own opponent and hope you hit a soft target!" He had not expected his opponent''s tactic to be so shameless. Chapter 553 553: Section 549 - Victory Off the Field After the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s four combat aircraft took off, Hanna Gagel and Shen Fei, among others, arrived at the indoor spectators'' area, and moreover, they were in a VIP private box. This privilege came from rubbing shoulders with the Northern Weapons Industry Group¡ªwhen the sugar daddy asks for an observation room, the organizers dare not refuse such a face. With the images captured by a dozen unmanned drones, a three-dimensional holographic projection that filled the entire room was constructed. In terms of visual effects, it was even more outstanding than Chen Fei''s "macro" perspective. Sky, earth, drifting clouds, fighter jets¡ªall before their eyes. "Both teams have taken off, and using the five-minute lead time advantage, ''Genuine Fragrance'' has dived down. They''ve changed their formation, planning to use the two-dimensional plane perspective shown by radar feedback to catch ''Hanuman'' off guard with a three-dimensional formation¡ªa very clever psychological warfare tactic indeed. But they''ve underestimated the precision of the F-40 ''Horned Eagle''s'' onboard radar; such tactics are futile." "''Hanuman'' has reacted; they''ve split their forces, one continuing to face the enemy head-on and the other circling around attempting a sneak attack from the side and rear. As the Art of War says: ''In battle, there are only the normal and the extraordinary, and the infinite variations of the extraordinary and the normal are endless.'' Both teams of pilots have a wealth of actual combat experience..." The commentator, a colonel from the Sovereign Air Force, spoke incessantly about the tactical shifts between the combatants. As a professional, whether in regards to understanding the aircraft models or the familiarity with tactics, even laypeople could listen with interest without being so confused by the specialized terminology that they lost track of the discussion. - Adam: Target locked, data link synchronization rate 100%. Adam: ''Canglong'' avionics and flight control system adjustments complete. Adam: ... Not long after the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet took off, "Adam" was still assisting Chen Fei with various fine-tunings, continuously updating subtitles to show progress. This was actually its main job, originally an auxiliary flight system. The emergence of the higher-level AI was purely because humans couldn''t resist tampering. Chen Fei made pre-battle preparations methodically. "Confirm target assignments, ''Devil Pepper'' against ''Horned Eagle''-1, ''Fragrant Orchid'' against ''Horned Eagle''-2, ''Peanut Butter'' against ''Horned Eagle'' X-3, ''Rookie'' against ''Horned Eagle'' X-4, cues are set up." The "Genuine Fragrance" squadron split into four groups. Chen Fei, with the help of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam", used his own "Canglong" advanced fighter as the core of the data link, providing real-time battlefield data to three L-22 advanced trainer jets. With the potential of his biological brain, drawing upon nearly infinite computing power extracted by "Adam," was like carrying a supercomputer, perfect for the complex calculations required now. The Hanuman Airborne Group had calculated every move of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron but overlooked the balancing impact of the AI "Adam" on the duel. This meant that within the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, there was the equivalent of half an Early Warning Aircraft that didn''t exist in reality. "Spread apart, avoid interfering with each other!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios realized that her chosen opponent was following suit with corresponding maneuvers. Both sides, as if connected telepathically, maintained a certain tacit understanding. The pilots from the Hanuman Airborne Group didn''t have much choice but to engage in telepathy. If they didn''t go for one-on-one fights, their previous tactical plan would be no different from serving their heads on a platter. Tactical flight formations, in a sense, amounted to targets for high-probability focus fire. "''Peanut Butter'' has not confirmed the target." Chekhov Big Bear glanced at the radar screen; even though the opponent was still beyond visual range and indistinguishable by the naked eye, the data link shared from the battlefield showed that the target closing in was one of the two experimental improved F-40X "Horned Eagle" units. He and Chen Fei were tasked with tackling the tough nuts, dealing with those two X experimental units. Chekhov relied on his abundant combat experience, while Chen Fei counted on the advanced capabilities of "Canglong"¡ªspecifically, its aerodynamic design. Although this wasn''t the first time the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet had taken off, it was the first time in Chen Fei''s hands. The exterior was that of "Canglong," but as for the interior... Emmm, that was up for debate. The avionics system and flight controls were definitely not the set from the Northern Weapons Industry Group. For one thing, they couldn''t give it, and for another, they hadn''t brought it along. Apart from some of the R&D team, all that was brought to the exhibition was this one shell with a complete aerodynamic design plan. As a future support combat aircraft, its aerodynamic design was definitely superior to the main combat aircraft that had been retired, and its tactical thought was even more advanced. Even if it was just a shell, it saved Chen Fei a great deal of effort. Since there was no hypersonic wind tunnel to conduct fluid validation, he had to try various iterations in aerodynamic design for his personally modified Crystal Jet, partly by imitation, partly by trial and error. Without much theory and formulas for theoretical pre-research, even with "Adam''s" assistance, it wasn''t much help¡ªfar from being a half-expert, doing such work as an outsider meant brute-forcing it. The three essential components that determined an aircraft''s combat capability were aerodynamics, control, and thrust. Having already attained one of the three, dealing with issues inside the airframe was relatively easier by comparison. Most of the computational power of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was spent on dynamic balance calculation. Mainstream combat aircraft follow an inherently unstable design in stasis, but require stability during flight, meaning the pilot''s inputs need to be accurately interpreted, decomposed into various response actions by a computer, finally achieving the desired posture. Sometimes, due to safety thresholds, G-lock strategies are employed. When the pilot is immobilized by overload, an automatic adjustment takes place. It''s not as simple as flicking a control stick, throttling the throttle, or tapping the rudder¡ªespecially with aircraft that have many aerodynamic control surfaces, where related calculations become more complex. If it were not for relying on Chen''s biological brain, "Adam" would not have been able to accomplish such a large volume of calculations in such a short time. In his attempt to bring the design to life with absolute precision in reality, Chen Fei almost rubbed his palms raw. Adam: "The opponent is ''Divine Eye'' Li Lin." Based on the aircraft''s paint scheme, "Adam" had identified the personal information of Chen Fei''s opponent for him. Chen Fei switched the communication channel and said, "Hello, Li Lin, goodbye, Li Lin!" The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet released a missile from its external hardpoint, which roared straight out¡ªthanks to Uncle, thanks to National Defense Star, thanks to Northern Weapons Industry, thanks to Big Brother Xiao, thanks to... Just before its launch, the AIM-290D long-range missile had been custom programmed by "Adam" with preset flight parameters. "Ah? Who?" Suddenly hearing the voice over the public communication channel, Li Lin, the Hanuman Airborne Group''s pilot who was preparing to intercept the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet in his F-40X "Horned Eagle," was caught off guard. The next second, he saw a line of dotted white contrails suddenly appear in the sky, rapidly approaching. Beep beep beep beep... The warning sound of being locked on by the fire control radar went off. "Motherfucker!" Divine Eye Li Lin, infuriated, pushed the control stick forward. The "Horned Eagle" went into a full dive. At this moment, changing direction¡ªto either side or upward¡ªwas not the best choice; it might even bring him right into the missile''s no-escape zone. A series of eye-catching infrared decoy flares were released with the maneuver and scattered across the sky. That "Canglong" pulled a ruthless move, having launched the missile first, then locked on with the fire control radar afterward. This unconventional move undoubtedly caught Li Lin by surprise. A key principle of aerial combat: strike first for strength, hesitate and face disaster. Li Lin quickly glanced at the missile type and couldn''t help but inhale sharply¡ªit was the still-in-service AIM-290D long-range missile. No wonder there was such a rush to launch it. With a 30-kilometer attack range, it was simply a long-range missile''s home court. Is it like two old acquaintances stabbing each other in the face when they meet? Such a cruel tactic! "Old friend, please stop for a moment!" Chen Fei had anticipated early on that the opponent would leverage energy tactics, trading altitude for speed, trying to shake off the lock of the AIM-290D. The threat of an active service missile, particularly a long-range one, was undeniable. A slight misstep could indeed fulfill his words. Goodbye, Li Lin! The opponent would certainly not politely type out GG (Good Game), only FF (F*ck-F*ck). Any device that can be programmed probably couldn''t escape the clutches of the AI "Adam." Adam''s preset flight parameters included a dive to predict the opponent''s prediction, ignoring the fiery decoy flares, and diving as well. It was like playing chess; no matter how the opponent might change, they would meet the fatal strike that had long been lying in wait. WHAT? Seeing the stubborn AIM-290D long-range missile persistently following him down, the Hanuman Airborne Group pilot Li Lin couldn''t help but feel his scalp tingle. He leveled out decisively to maximize the distance from the missile, while looking for an opportunity to change direction and burn off more of the missile''s propulsion fuel. Every engagement with a missile is a life-and-death gamble. Almost simultaneously, "Peanut Butter" Chekhov, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, and "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos found themselves engaged in exchanges of fire with their respective opponents. "...Let''s pay attention to the latest changes in the battle, ''Genuine Fragrance''s ''Rookie'' was the first to fire a missile, it turned out to be the active service long-range AIM-290D missile. It''s a supersonic missile with a three-pulse engine, with a theoretical maximum speed of up to Mach 5.5, and the no-escape range is..." The commentator, who had been speaking non-stop, suddenly paused and then, somewhat awkwardly but politely, continued, "Very unfortunate, it just happens to be 30 kilometers. ''Hanuman'' is in big trouble this time!" The rules of "Abyssal Gladiatorial" combat happen to be 30 kilometers, essentially forcing the Hanuman Airborne Group''s pilots into their opponent''s missile no-escape zone. Although the no-escape zone is a theoretical radius, it equally represents the degree of danger and the slim chance of survival. Jiang is still the old hot, the silent Uncle Chen Haiqing sent the missiles to the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, probably with this rule in mind. He decided the victory from outside the arena and took a nasty shot at the Hanuman Airborne Group. Chapter 554 554: Section 550 - Savage Rookie "NMD!" Hanuman Airborne Group''s commander, Laimen Hoffman, was so enraged that he threw his expensive cigar away. It was a cigar that had just been cut, nearly whole, costing five hundred Star Yuan each. He had thought that forcing the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron to hastily deploy the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s immature experimental aircraft "Canglong" would be like setting ducks up on a shelf, but he didn''t expect that even the missiles were trump cards, specifically the long-range AIM-290D missiles. The combat effectiveness of modern fighter jets largely depends on tactical weapons, even if they are advanced trainers or experimental jets, but when equipped with the AIM-290D long-range missiles, they posed a threat to four "Horned Eagles," even to those whose combat performance had greatly improved in the X upgrade. Despite correct tactical responses, it was not so easy for the "Hanuman" side, which constantly lost initiative, to turn the situation around. An engagement range of 30 kilometers does not mean that the combat airspace diameter is only 30 kilometers, if divided into four duel fields, the sky filled with battle extends far beyond this small area. "Aaaah... I dodge, I dodge, I dodge! Dodging, dodging, dodging, aaaah..." The "Divine Eye" Li Lin, who was facing "Rookie" Chen Fei, was already getting a bit carried away. As the missile drew closer, his F-40X "Horned Eagle" made increasingly evasive movements. The high G-forces naturally put a great strain on his body, causing his consciousness to become unclear and unsteady. This state was undoubtedly fatal! Thirty kilometers, apart from missiles, even supersonic combat aircraft could cover this distance in mere seconds. Before the next tactical maneuver, the dizzying outside view of the cockpit briefly stabilized, but then an aircraft with strange shockwaves appeared in Li Lin''s vision and visibly enlarged at a rapid pace. With a call sign like "Divine Eye," his natural vision was likely extraordinary, allowing him to be known as "Divine Eye" among his peers, Li Lin took great pride in his eyesight and dynamic resolution ability, which he saw as a gift from heaven, superior to any acquired training. But now, he clearly saw a fighter jet enter his field of view, instinctively wanting to lock on for a counterattack, but the angle was wrong ¨C the enemy was diving down from above his cockpit, as if it had seized the F-40X''s fatal flaw, with its airspeed tube and air intake hood like swords thrusting at him. Not just the F-40X, if any aircraft was caught at this angle, it would be almost the same as having the enemy clamped to its six o''clock position. "What-F..." Bang! Flames and flying metal fragments instantly engulfed Li Lin, along with a dissipating soul. "What the F*K!!! What just happened?" The footage transmitted back by the drone with enhanced imaging functionality nearly made the host of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" burst. The Hanuman side unexpectedly lost an F-40X upgraded experimental aircraft without any warning, just when everyone thought it was surely going to be hit by the relentlessly pursuing AIM-290D long-range missile, the final outcome was... "Shit!" The host lost his composure and slammed his fist on the table in anger. Having been an air force fighter pilot for at least twenty years, he expletively expressed that he had never encountered such a situation. His keen vision was also quite good, clearly watching as the "Rookie" Chen Fei piloted the advanced fighter "Canglong" took direct vertical assault from above while the opponent was pursued by missiles. No shooting! No shooting! No shooting! Instead, he directly, damnedly crashed into it. F*cking hell!!! The huge fireball in the sky had not even begun to spread when an aircraft, visibly shocked, burst forth, hardly slowing down at all. In many spectator seats, including the separate VIP boxes, there was complete silence, as quiet as death. Dammit! Watching the battle, the assistant chief designer of the "Canglong" project, Nangong Chengyu, forcefully slapped his thigh, his face looking quite ugly, as he felt that something bad was definitely about to happen. "How can he do this!" Nangong Young Master felt like his toy had been terribly misused, beyond salvation. Teacher Shen, puzzled, asked Boss Hana, "Just like this? Just like this? Is this how Little Chen usually works?" Launching missiles for no reason, then crashing into opponents for no reason. No tactics, just brutishly violent methods beyond description. "He is ''Rookie''!" Hanna Gagel sighed, at a loss for words. The call sign was never wrong. By standard flight hours, having not even reached 300 hours, Chen Fei was still genuinely a novice pilot, not even wanted by the Sovereign Air Force. "Eagle Nest''s" Old David would probably revoke his flying license if he saw him using this method to blast his opponent. "CNMD!!" The boss of the Hanuman Airborne Group had thrown his second cigar in frustration. True to form as an industry insider, his speech was filled with technical jargon. Everyone had the same experience of being shot down, so why did he feel that the destruction of Divine Eye Lee Lin was an unprecedented insult? Laimen Hoffman wouldn''t normally be as angry as he was at that moment over a burst of machine gun fire. "Many viewers may be puzzled, so let''s review the slow-motion replay!" The emotionally collected host returned to his professional demeanor. Occasionally swearing did not ruin his image but instead crafted a straightforward and charismatic figure. Pointing to an air fold in the shape of a sharp angle near the nose of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet, he explained, "In technical terms, this is called the shockwave effect, triggered by the impact of a supersonic object causing changes in gas density, and optical air refraction. The faster the speed, the larger and more distinct the shockwave becomes. However, the ''Canglong'' was only traveling at Mach 2.1, yet it displayed shockwaves of at least Mach 5, which is abnormal. According to the information displayed by the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the ''Canglong'' integrates several Magic Array designs. Therefore, if I''m not mistaken, this effect is likely from a Magic Array. Having burst the ''Horned Eagle'' and still remaining unscathed suggests that the impact didn''t occur between the bodies of the crafts. Further deducing, this Magic Array must be of the defensive type, likely some form of Wind Series Magic effect." The host, hardly a novice with his vast experience and expertise, not only hit the nail on the head with his analysis but also came incredibly close to the truth. The 81 Magic Array Inscription units on the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet were all utilized, with "Repulsion Shield (45)", "Wind Magic Shield (12)", and "Wind Cone (2)" working in tandem, producing an effect greater than the sum of its parts, and directly smashing the F-40X "Horned Eagle" into pieces mid-air. In terms of structural strength and defensive capabilities, everything below the National Treasure, the Crystal Jet, is insignificant. The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet, emerging from flames, didn''t hesitate and immediately struck towards another squadron. Chen Fei was employing a tactic of concentrating superior forces to overpower the weak, a technique known as employing stratagem from the Race of Horses. "Deputy squadron leader, I''m coming to help you!" Chen Fei immediately announced over the communication channel. To confront a lion, even when capturing a rabbit, one must use all their strength. The L-22 advanced training aircraft, piloted by Vice Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios, "Devil Pepper," of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, was naturally struggling to cope with the modified version of the F-40X "Horned Eagle," which posed the largest threat. "I''m being chased by a missile!" The response from "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios came with effort, clearly indicating that she was busy. The dogfight in the sky is all about biting each other, a real dog eat dog world! While the missile launched by Hanuman''s side was a programmable short-range combat missile, used by military contractors with an effective range of about 30 kilometers¡ªobviously nothing compared to the currently in-service AIM-290D long-range missile of the Sovereignty, the outcomes of a hit would be identical. "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, pursued by the enemy missile, did not let her guard down and maneuvered agilely, trying to deplete the missile''s fuel or detonate it in close range if necessary. "Leave it to me!" Chen Fei then targeted the culprit launching the short-range combat missiles, the remaining F-40X "Horned Eagle" modified experimental aircraft. The fire control radar lit up, and seeing an attempt to flank "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios with a missile, the enemy hastily changed its pursuit stance and fled into the distance. It was a near miss! Boom!~ The Short-range combat missile tracking the L-22 advanced training aircraft at its 7 o''clock was intercepted by a high-speed approaching missile from behind, resulting in mutual annihilation. Many had almost forgotten the AIM-290D long-range missile Chen Fei had launched earlier. As a long-range missile with a range of at least two hundred kilometers, although it did not complete its original mission, it was still in the air, following the "Canglong" as the battlefield shifted under Adam''s remote direction, acting as an intercepting missile and extricating "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios from the encirclement. The AIM-290D long-range missile, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 5.5 with its triple pulse engine, bullying the little brother seemed just like a game. Adam: Target identified, "Big Stick" Bonatowa, distinguishing feature left-handed. The AI "Adam" once again identified the pilot of the F-40X who was engaging with Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios. "Hey, you up front, flash your ''Big Stick''!" Chen Fei once again trash-talked over the public communication channel, not even realizing his words were not only on both the friend and foe''s common channel but also singled out by the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" organizers¡ªunaware of how many were berating this savage brute. This "Big Stick" is fishy! How "Big Stick" works is unclear, but this "Rookie" is definitely green. "Big Stick" didn''t want to deal with him and decided to flee elsewhere, attempting to meet with other teammates, not confident in facing a two-to-one disadvantage. Although it was unclear how Divine Eye Lee Lin had been taken down so suddenly, anyone capable of dispatching an opponent so swiftly was no easy target. "''Rookie'', let''s lock it down together!" Just freed from the missile pursuit, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was all too eager to press the chase and seize the advantage. "Alright, let''s fire together!" As Chen Fei finished speaking, two AIM-290D long-range missiles were simultaneously launched from the internal weapon bay of the "Canglong". At the same time, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s L-22 advanced training jet also released two AIM-290D long-range missiles. "Damn!" Noticing four missiles homing in on him, the pilot of the remaining F-40X "Horned Eagle" modified experimental aircraft, "Big Stick" Bonatowa, cursed desperately from the cockpit. Chapter 555 555: Section 551 - The End Four AIM-290D long-range missiles, and it''s not just the unfortunate "Big Stick" Bonatowa who couldn''t withstand them, even "Rookie" Chen Fei himself would have succumbed. Four dotted lines of contrails charged at the F-40X "Horned Eagle" improved experimental aircraft which was desperately trying to escape. The three-pulse engines unleashed a powerful and fierce thrust, perfectly suited for long-distance assaults and not too large of a turning radius, fearing least of all the tight turnabouts. The alarm panel''s red lights flickered incessantly, and amidst the shrill alarms, "Big Stick" Bonatowa cursed as he yanked at something below. Tired, unloved, let the destruction come quickly! One should live from below the belt. He ascended! The cockpit canopy shattered into pieces by the fixed-shape explosive bolts, and, together with the seat, he was ejected more than ten meters. The booster rockets ignited successfully, and the parachute was about to deploy... A missile whizzed close by. At an altitude of 4000 meters, the man known as "Big Stick" who yearned to reach the sky was dazzling, erupting. It turned out that being infrared, one attracted missiles, not just popularity. A large and small fireball nestled close to each other, reluctant to part. Finally... finally, he successfully ascended to heaven. Congratulations, farewell, and no need to send off. Toss flowers, fire the salute, burn paper money, and take a last look, hoping for a better life in the next incarnation. Host: Can I swear? If not, then I have nothing to say. No combat aircraft in the sky could survive the combined attack of four AIM-290D long-range missiles, none! None of the pilots participating in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" could have done it. Many people gasped, those who dared to enter the opening fight were all tough cookies, and not just one. Fellow military contractors in the circle were even more agitated, the reputation earned by the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area indeed was not unearned. The National Defense Star Aerospace Company gifted the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron with sixteen AIM-290D long-range missiles, distributed to each combat aircraft, basically four per person. Just one AIM-290D long-range missile remained inside the internal weapon bay of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet. "All gone? My Xs are all gone!" Laimen Hoffman, the group leader of the Hanuman Airborne Group, was jumping up and down in frustration on the ground. His box of premium cigars lay scattered all over, and once they touched the earth, they just don''t taste right anymore. What pained him most was that neither pilot survived, meaning the backbone of his air service group was cut in half. No matter the outcome, it was a bloodbath! All those claims of vastly improved combat capability with the X upgraded model, all bullshit! Barely into the game, both were wiped out. How could this qualify as a main combat aircraft? The manufacturer must have pocketed crappy money! Despicable!!! Executives from Boeing Aerospace, one of Blue Star''s top ten combat aircraft manufacturers, participating in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" could not hide their complex expressions and unsightly faces. F-40 "Horned Eagle" series'' producer Lockheed was now part of Boeing Aerospace, and there was no way to shake off this responsibility. Even if the F-46 "Peregrine Falcon," with its more advanced combat performance, had replaced the F-40 "Horned Eagle" to become the new mainstay combat aircraft of the American Federation. Yet, the improved "Horned Eagle" model, not yet in service, was taken down in a one-on-one fight and a joint effort by a support type combat aircraft and an advanced trainer jet, inevitably causing speculation about the combat effectiveness of the F-46 "Peregrine Falcon." It''s truly a case of minding one''s own business at home and disaster falling from the sky! "''Divine Eye,'' ''Big Stick,'' damn it! Calling ''Flying Disk''! Never mind, go after that ''Canglong'' first!" "Lawnmower" Fischer Tand, who was entangled with "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos, narrowly escaped the AIM-290D that had been hounding him for a while and took the chance to return the favor with two close combat missiles. He didn''t hesitate to abandon his opponent and rushed towards "Rookie" Chen Fei and "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, who were about to join forces. "Haha, trying to flee? It won''t be that easy!" Where was Chekhov Big Bear willing to let go of his foes after a hard-fought battle for two rounds? With the situation turning from four against two and soon to be four against one, he no longer held back. With a slight lock-on, he launched the remaining three AIM-290D missiles. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" assisted not only the "Canglong" through the battlefield data link but also three L-22 advanced trainer jets. As long as there was enough computing resources and communication was secured, multitasking parallel processing was a piece of cake. "Ahhh, damn it!" "Flying Disk" Rumteyn desperately wanted to go help his comrade, but facing three missiles whistling towards him all at once, he couldn''t break free, and a single misstep might result in the same fate as his fallen comrade in the Cangqiong. Hearing the enemy''s roar over the public communication channel, "Peanut Butter" Chekhov chuckled maliciously. "Don''t go! Keep playing with Daddy!" He sounded unmistakably like a villain. Indeed, Big Bear was the bad guy. As they say, good people don''t live long, but troublemakers live for a thousand years. The pattern for a Tian Ji horse race was set. Even if "Flying Disk" Rumteyn could break away to aid, the final outcome wouldn''t change much. Four against two, just by the numbers, it was very hard to overturn the situation. Plus, every pilot from the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron in this battle was tough as nails, each one having survived numerous dreadful fights. If the combat equipment were the same, the Hanuman pilots might not win even in a one-on-one fight, let alone a team battle. Boom!~ The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet''s tail flames blazed brightly, its speed boosted by more than a notch, managing to rendezvous successfully with Irinei Rusios''s L-22 advanced trainer before the oncoming F-40 "Horned Eagle" could enter its 30-kilometer attack range, forming a lead and wingman formation. Taking on two opponents single-handedly, Hanuman Airborne Group''s "Lawnmower" Fischer Tand was indeed a brave warrior. "''Rookie,'' let''s send him off together!" The deputy squad leader of "Genuine Fragrance," "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, decisively locked onto the target. When she locked on, it was as good as Chen Fei locking on as well. With the assistance of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, possessing the capabilities of half an early warning aircraft, completely overshadowed the Hanuman Airborne Group in soft power. Even with the added combat power of the retired mainstay fighter F-40 "Horned Eagle," the gap in strength between the two sides could not be bridged. Not to mention that the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron also had sixteen AIM-290D long-range missiles. Once launched in multiple units, the chance of safely escaping within a 30-kilometer combat distance was extremely slim. Without hesitation, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios fired the remaining two AIM-290D long-range missiles she had, and Chen Fei''s "Canglong" advanced fighter jet released its last AIM-290D. Why hold onto them, save them for hanging lanterns during the Lantern Festival or for fireworks? Just let it go; transcend! "All of you, go to hell!" "Lawnmower" Fischer Tand didn''t dodge or flinch, as he locked onto both the L-22 advanced trainer piloted by "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios and the "Rookie" Chen Fei''s "Canglong" advanced fighter jet. Six programmable short-range combat missiles hurriedly detached from the F-40 "Horned Eagle''s" internal weapon bay. The swarms of missiles from both sides charged head-on, their trails skyrocketing the adrenaline of the spectators. It was a western cowboy-style showdown, a brutal yet spectacular fight drenched with the scent of blood in the air. The opening battle of the first set was enough to be thoroughly thrilling. "''Devil Pepper,'' get back!" Chen Fei pushed the throttle lever forward, the onboard magic array triggering a linkage, and his flying speed surged once more, chasing the missiles he had just fired, and even matching the leading AIM-290D long-range missiles out front in speed. "Hey, hey, what are you doing? Get out of the way!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was a beat too slow to react and when she wanted to catch up, it was already too late. The missiles from both sides nearly grazed each other as they crossed paths. The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet once again opened its internal weapon bay. Who said... it only carried AIM-290D long-range missiles? Four programmable short-range combat missiles were pushed from the rotary rack, their tail engines igniting and screaming into action. Countless jamming bullets were released, filling the sky with conspicuous red lights dancing everywhere. The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was extremely close to the incoming missiles, and its programmable short-range combat missiles, which had just begun to accelerate, collided head-on with those from the opposite side. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!~ A series of fireballs exploded in succession. Under "Adam''s" control, the four programmable short-range combat missiles acted as interceptors, accurately drawing their kin into mutual annihilation. Chen Fei, feeling the intense shaking of the cockpit, gripped the joystick tightly, undeterred as he continued to charge forward. A programmable short-range combat missile that failed to collide with its counterpart or the "Canglong," and wasn''t drawn into detonation, reached the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet''s rear and collided with the still drifting jamming bullets. Boom!~ "This kid!" Seeing Chen Fei''s still intact "Canglong" advanced fighter jet emerging unscathed from the flames and smoke, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios finally let go of the heart she had held up in concern. "Eh? Eh eh eh eh..." "Lawnmower" Fischer Tand, doubting his existence, let out his last human sounds, having forgotten to eject and escape. A missile struck the nose of his aircraft, and the violent explosion instantaneously shredded the "Horned Eagle," leaving no trace of the pilot within the cockpit. Seeing comrades fall one after the other, none spared, "Flying Disk" Rumteyn, sensing the dire situation, lost his will to fight, yelling, "Fuck... I, I surrender!" The warning system on the F-40 "Horned Eagle" was on the verge of collapse, with more than three missiles locked onto it. "You''re cursing!" Prickly Chekhov clearly had different priorities. "Flying Disk" Rumteyn pulled the ejector, and together with his seat, burst out of the cockpit. Three seconds later, several AIM-290D long-range missiles successively slammed into the out-of-control F-40 "Horned Eagle," with earth-shattering explosions that felt as though they were right next to him. The shockwave and the heat wave that followed left him dizzy and disoriented. The parachute deployed, opening swiftly into a large, white "Big Mushroom," gently carrying the seat downwards. Just then, a flaming fragment skimmed the parachute canopy, and with the sound of tearing, "Flying Disk" Rumteyn felt like his soul was being ripped apart, and he suddenly sunk downward. He desperately reached for the reserve chute, one pull, then a second, the rope came loose, but the chute didn''t open! "Fuck ni..." "The guy''s still cursing!" Chekhov Big Bear circled in his L-22 advanced trainer in the sky, watching as the other pilot plummeted in a free fall. Below was The Abyss, and here was the gladiatorial arena. Chapter 556 556: Section 552 - Borrow and Return "The ''Flying Disk'' Rumteyn crashed, the main parachute was torn, and the backup parachute did not open in time, quickly, where is the third reserve parachute? Hurry and find a way to save yourself!" Seeing the footage returned by the drone, the host of "Abyssal Gladiatorial" was anxious for the crashing pilot, the sole survivor of the Hanuman Airborne Group. If he died due to a parachute malfunction, it would truly be a complete annihilation. The ejection seat seemed to detect the peril of rapidly losing altitude, as the rocket boosters kept pushing out the scant remaining fuel, attempting to adjust the attitude, but consecutive decelerations were still insufficient to alleviate the crisis of a high-altitude fall. Rolling and plummeting, the seat carrying Rumteyn ultimately smashed harshly onto the ground. It was a gravel beach, and amidst a small plume of dust, the person and the seat tumbled a few times before coming to a stop, motionless. Most of the viewing screens or displays were locked onto this scene, and once again all the seats were silent as a tomb. The Hanuman side was completely wiped out, no one spared, not even given a break by fate itself. "..." Group Leader of Hanuman Airborne Group, Laimen Hoffman, with eyes reddened, stared fixedly at the holographic projection displaying the battle, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly clasped his head and let out a heart-wrenching scream. "No..." He knew his air group was finished! Just an air group, not even a match for military contractors, losing four main pilots at once, almost the entirety of the Hanuman Airborne Group, was an unbearable loss, just the compensation alone was enough to drain Laimen Hoffman''s life savings, everything earned over his lifetime was lost. The others in the air group exchanged glances, realizing Group Leader Laimen Hoffman was finished, it was time for them to find a new employer. Reality was harsh, no one wanted to stay in an air group that had lost all hope. As long as one had skills, there would never be a shortage of opportunities anywhere. Chances were, the calls for recruitment might come any second now. - "Sss... This guy''s luck is really not good!" "Peanut Butter" Chekhov, piloting the L-22 advanced trainer aircraft, hovered reluctantly over the crash site, showing a bit of sympathy. Such a death was light as a feather, quite undignified for a pilot. "That was freaking thrilling, I want to come again next time." "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos finally felt the chill on his back, soaked with sweat, he sighed deeply, piloting the combat aircraft purely on instinct, his entire being involuntarily drifting off. He wasn''t without combat experience, but piloting the unfamiliar L-22 advanced trainer aircraft against the retired main combat aircraft F-40 "Horned Eagle" was a first for him. Fortunately, no one dropped the ball this time, and they thoroughly defeated their opponent. Provoking "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, the outcome of Hanuman''s Airborne Group was self-evident, killing the chicken to scare the monkeys, where the monkeys were merely cannon fodder, sufficient to deter those restless small fry in the short term. In this line of work, facing various challenges was inevitable. "Not satisfying enough!" Chen Fei was still not content, having used only half of the magic array installed on the "Canglong" advanced fighter. He hadn''t even fully flaunted his capabilities when the opponent was gone; he should have lasted a bit longer! (Canglong Project Team: Little Chen, please contain your divine skills!) Hanuman Airborne Group''s loss was not unjust; they simply received retired main combat aircraft and an improved version that hadn''t yet debuted, and that was it. Having advanced combat aircraft in possession, whether they could master it quickly and how much efficiency they could extract from it was still questionable. Compared to control and adaptability, the F-40 series was probably not as good as the L-22 advanced trainer aircraft, particularly user-friendly for beginners. Moreover, with the sponsorship of Sovereignty active missiles and the AI "Adam" leading the data chain from National Defense Star Aerospace Company, the team''s combat power was almost augmented to that of half an Early Warning Aircraft. Beyond that, there was also a wildly authoritarian "Canglong" advanced fighter jet, which was now giving the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s "Canglong" project team a real headache! The aftermath of a mere shell had begun to ferment. "Snap out of it, we need to return!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios reminded the three guys still clinging to the sky, unwilling to leave. The opening battle had ended, and the hosts and audience were waiting for the second round. "Thank you! Many thanks! The ''Genuine Fragrance'' team and the ''Hanuman'' team brought us a thrilling opening battle. Coming up next is a commercial break. After the advertisements, we''ll return to recap the opening battle and discuss some lesser-known details," The host for "Abyssal Gladiatorial" teased, waiting for the cameraman to signal to stop filming. As the screen switched to advertisements, he collapsed onto his seat like a deflated ball, muttering breathlessly, "The contestants this year are just too tough to handle." If he were still in the air force, faced with the brash young pilots who dared to collide their jets with the enemy''s, he would''ve dared to smack them right across the face. - "Please inspect and sign for three L-22 units and one ''Canglong'' shell," The female boss''s assistant from Jiu Defense Company facilitated the handover with personnel from the Northern Weapons Industry Group. Only two AIM-290D long-range missiles were left, which were hauled back by National Defense Star Aerospace transport vehicles, spotlessly cleaned up end-to-end. Whether it''s advanced trainer jets or the shell of "Canglong", the ownership belonged to Northern Weapons Industry, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and Jiu Defense Company merely borrowed it temporarily, and naturally, it had to be returned. However, the L-22 advanced trainer jets were borrowed in the status of unassembled parts. Now, when returned, they were intact aircrafts. Too lazy to disassemble them, the Northern Weapons Industry stood to lose nothing and furthermore, found buyers who approached them actively, turning a neat profit from the deal. Seeing the completeness of the L-22 advanced trainer jet, the "Canglong" project team initially had some hope. However, when the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was dragged back, a glance at the landing gear''s tires clearly showed they were underloaded. Upon further inspection of the jet''s engine vector nozzles, the interest quickly dissipated. The places that were supposed to be empty still were. Chen Fei, who had borrowed this large hollow shell, had not had a change of heart to fill them up completely. The "Canglong" project team couldn''t gain any advantage, knowing well that Chen Fei already possessed a complete design of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet that had just been battle-tested, but they were uncertain how to broach the subject. The "Canglong" project team had entertained the idea of recruiting the Metal Elemental Psychic Power user Chen Fei before, but considering his social connections and close ties with their competitive rival, National Defense Star Aerospace Company, it was unsurprisingly vetoed by the higher-ups, making the relationship with Chen Fei extremely awkward, to the point where even holding a conversation seemed fraught, let alone coveting his mature design plans, which if acquired, would have saved considerable effort¡ªnot just in terms of time, manpower, and resources, but also significantly enhancing "Canglong''s" competitive edge. As soon as the opening battle of "Abyssal Gladiatorial" ended, the traffic at the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s booth surged immediately. Even the booth for the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet, which was displayed without even a physical shell, was immediately surrounded tightly by representative delegations from over ten sovereign entities, making it inaccessible. Chen Xiao''er was indeed jubilant, but the members of the "Canglong" project team were miserable. Each member was at a loss for words, utterly unable to convince the potential clients that the theoretical design specifications of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet were not as exaggerated as they appeared in the combat just witnessed. Hypersonic cruising, triple afterburners, full Magic Array protection... these simply did not exist! Are you sure this is the support fighter jet, not a national treasure artifact, Crystal Jet? Or perhaps you want to purchase a mass-produced Crystal Jet for the price of a support fighter? You must be dreaming! While the "Canglong" project team was grappling with the returned "Canglong" advanced fighter jet shell that had come back unchanged, the victorious "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was celebrating at a bar. Having just beheaded a chicken, no monkey dared approach, and they drank openly, unconcerned about causing trouble. After a few bottles of strong liquor, Chekhov, forgetting his own full name again, leapt up and returned to his staple performance, the bear dance! Howling loudly, the atmosphere was incredibly lively. In the bar, many people clinked glasses with members of the "Genuine Fragrance" team, offering their congratulations. There were manufacturers, sovereign representatives, and even friendly competitors. After all, Jiu Defense Company had some friends in the industry, despite not having a particularly good reputation. Thus, they were not entirely against the world. Chapter 557 557: Section 553 - Difficult to Separate Public from Private ``` Squadron Leader Chekhov''s bear dance was particularly wicked. The folks from Genuine Fragrance squadron already had a high immunity to it, yet they couldn''t withstand those who blindly stirred things up. Before long, the bar was filled with dozens of big bears shaking their heads and wagging their tails, forming a collective dance. Even the most cringe-inducing dance moves, once joined by a multitude of people, often naturally projected a mysterious force, possessing an amazing infectiousness that attracted even more people to join in. Intelligence never spreads, only stupidity does, especially after downing a couple of drinks, getting tipsy, and experiencing a collective drop in IQ. This was probably the pinnacle moment of life, with Squadron Leader Chekhov hopping even more energetically. For a moment, the bar was a pandemonium of dancing demons, with everyone roaring in unison, "KUMA!" ©³((= ?(¥¨) ?=))©¿... Following the rhythm of the bear dance, the bartender was carefully pouring drinks for the Pure Light Sparrow hopping on the bar top. As he turned the bottle, aiming to fill Chen Fei''s glass, someone stopped him. "Sorry, switch to the best drink here, it''s on me!" A man took a seat next to Chen Fei. "Who are you?" Chen Fei''s gaze fell on the badge on the man''s chest. An exclusive badge of a National Defense Star employee, containing a special chip, also served as an identity recognition device that could be used to pass through related access control systems. The man followed Chen Fei''s gaze, looked down at his chest, then smiled and said, "Hello, Chen Fei, as you can see, we''re all on the same side here. I''m Peng Shutian, the chief of Group C from National Defense Star Aerospace Design Department." "Oh, hello, Chief Peng!" His uncle was the chairman of National Defense Star. Since the man was one of his uncle''s subordinates, Chen Fei more or less recognized the validity of the term "our own people." If they weren''t "our own people," why would his uncle send sixteen AIM-290D long-range missiles to the Genuine Fragrance squadron, or to Chen Fei to be precise? Missiles aren''t tea eggs, they''re not free! Wouldn''t it be better to keep them for popping balloons? If Chen Fei weren''t going to battle, do you think National Defense Star would send over missiles? The life and death of Jiu Defense Company had nothing to do with Chen Family Gate. The bartender brought over the best drink from behind the bar (which wasn''t all that expensive, just 2000 Star Yuan a bottle), and at Peng Shutian''s signal, filled up Chen Fei''s glass to the brim. Before he even had a chance to take a sip, the capricious Little Bird hopped over first, dipping its beak into the cup and taking a gulp, then tilting its neck back. When it came to drinking, no one in the bar could match the style of this little fella. "Jiu!" Even Chen Fei could tell that Little Bird was expressing, "Not bad!" After all, you get what you pay for; naturally, it was a lot better than the hundred Star Yuan per bottle ration wine. After spending enough time together, even the monotone chirps could convey some meaning. Moreover, Magical Beasts are more intelligent, conveying messages that are clearer and more precise, rarely making meaningless sounds. Having tested the waters with the "our own people" approach and quite satisfied with Chen Fei''s attitude, Peng Shutian went straight to the point and said, "Since we''re family, let''s not mince words here, I have an unkind favor to ask." "If it''s an unkind favor, then don''t ask!" However, contrary to his expectations, Chen Fei''s next words took a sharp turn, bluntly pushing back. Huh? What? What just happened... The script was wrong! Was it mistaken? Just now, they were having a friendly chat under the pretense of being on the same side, about to strike while the iron was hot, but unexpectedly, the mood shifted to denial in an instant. We''re genuinely our own people, not just exchanging niceties, you know! "Thanks for the drink, Xiao Jiu, let''s go!" Taking the glass that Little Bird had already half-drunk from, Chen Fei downed it in one swig and stood up. His demeanor was clearly dismissive. "Wait, wait, Little Chen, did I say something wrong?" Peng Shutian hurried after him. Chen Fei was silent for two seconds before speaking again, "Chief Peng, you didn''t say anything wrong, indeed. But let''s be frank, it''s not your place to discuss certain matters with me!" Though he hadn''t fully stated his point, Chen Fei, with at least the intelligence to get into university, didn''t need the man to explain his intentions. At this juncture, it was self-explanatory. Chief of the National Defense Star Aerospace Design Department? It''s like looking for fleas on a bald head¡ªdo you even need to guess? With that identity revealed, it''s just too obvious. "Ah? This..." Peng Shutian was left gobsmacked, clearly not expecting that Chen Fei would guess his intentions and flat-out refuse before he even broached the subject. He quickly stepped forward, blocking Chen Fei''s path, his face a mask of discontent as he said, "Chen Fei, perhaps you haven''t guessed wrong, indeed, I''m here for the design of the advanced fighter jet ''Canglong.'' But don''t forget, the chairman''s surname is Chen, and so is yours. You can''t have two Chens in one stroke of the pen. Even if you''re mixing it up with military contractors, in many people''s eyes, you are still half a National Defense Star person. That relationship can''t be changed no matter what. Hand over the design, consider it your Declaration of Allegiance. I guarantee you a place in the design department, with no six-month internship needed, direct employment, and after three years, who knows, you might even become a chief yourself. It''s surely better than working for someone else at a military contractor!" ``` Chief Peng no longer beat around the bush and laid his cards on the table straightforwardly. "Have you finished speaking?" Chen Fei furrowed his brow; if it wasn''t for the fact that the other party was his uncle''s man, he might have slapped him across the face already. Chen Xiao''er never liked to start trouble, but he wouldn''t show mercy either. If provoked, it didn''t matter if you were part of National Defense Star; a slap would settle it. "Why are you still so obstinate?" Seeing the talent that should belong to National Defense Star, wandering outside and serving a private military contractor, Peng Xuetian was frustrated like hating iron for not becoming steel. "Those words should not be coming from you!" Chen Fei paused for a moment, ignoring the other''s passionate plea and bypassed him directly. With Little Bird on his shoulder, he didn''t look back as he left the bar, a place rife with trouble. Now that trouble had started, it meant he couldn''t stay for long, or who knows what kind of trouble might follow. Some things, there are only zero times and countless times. He had been prepared, but he hadn''t expected that it would be such a person who would come knocking on his door. The uncle was indeed the head of the Chen Family Gate, but he had never interfered with the life paths of the Chen Family Gate descendants. Everyone has their own fate, and interfering too much with good intentions often leads to poor outcomes. If Chen Fei wished, his father could simply pass a word to the uncle, and within half an hour, his personal information could be entered into the formal personnel records of National Defense Star Aerospace Company. Although management positions might require a test to satisfy everyone, he could pick any entry-level position at will. The National Defense Star Aerospace Company, as the old rival of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, was indeed coveting the "Canglong" project under development, but as fierce as the competition was, with all the inevitable underhand tactics, there would still be rules, and companies of this size and level usually maintained some decorum and wouldn''t cross certain lines without restraint. Even if they truly wanted to obtain the mature design plans of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet from Chen Fei, it was not a discussion to be had by a design department chief. If the uncle personally called him, Chen Xiao''er would not say half a word more and would unhesitatingly deliver the detailed, complete design plans, even if not from the uncle. Had it been passed through Tang Guangzhong, the husband of the uncle''s fourth daughter, Chen Meizhi, and a senior mechanical engineer at National Defense Star, he would have accepted it just the same. However, no one from the Chen Family Gate had mentioned this matter, and a group leader had overstepped his bounds to approach him. Chen Fei turned him down directly without appreciation. There can''t be two Chens written with one stroke, but you don''t bear the Chen surname, do you? - The scene of Chen Fei being accosted was secretly filmed by someone, and after changing hands several times, it reached the phone of Shen Songling, the deputy general manager of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. His face was unsightly at this moment¡ªdamn it, the inevitable had still happened! Whether it was National Defense Star, the Northern Weapons Industry, or any other industry titan, every move was closely watched by those with vested interests, analyzed in secret, trying to glean valuable information. Especially at this critical juncture, whether it was the "Canglong" project or Chen Fei, the pilot for Jiu Defense Company, it was inevitable that they would be pushed to the forefront of controversy. No sooner had he completed the opening battle of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" than he was seen drinking with the rival of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. As the deputy general manager, he couldn''t pretend as if nothing had happened. The thought of his daughter made Shen Songling''s head ache. If only Little Chen didn''t bear the Chen surname or wasn''t related to the chairman of National Defense Star, he would have pulled him into the Northern Weapons Industry Group without hesitation. But now, even if he could turn a blind eye, what about the others in the group company? Once you reach this position, you inevitably encounter many constraints. Ding! Shen Songling''s phone received another message. It was from the general manager of the group company, asking him and the other executives present at the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" to assess whether National Defense Star might obtain the secrets of the "Canglong" project and to prepare a response plan. This was already considering Shen Songling''s feelings. To put it unkindly, it was less of an assessment and more of an inquiry targeting him specifically, an investigation of the person, not the situation. Should "Canglong" fall into the hands of National Defense Star, the old rival wouldn''t be courteous; they would probably immediately prepare to target this new support fighter jet. Whether it was a competition based on performance, price, or technology, any aspect of the competition would cast a shadow over the heavily invested R&D project of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. That... was the most optimistic scenario. If Chen Fei sold the design plans to the entire aviation manufacturing industry without any scruples, he certainly could earn more money than he could spend in eight lifetimes, but the Northern Weapons Industry Group would suffer; the project would not just fail, but the subsequent R&D evolution would also be collectively sabotaged by the competition, making it difficult to break through this blockade for at least the next decade. "Sigh!" After reading the not-so-long message, Shen Songling couldn''t help but sigh. He had not anticipated that the feared repercussions would manifest in such a way, truly causing a major headache. "Eh? Dad, what''s wrong?" Secretary Shen Fei, acting as a little helper in work and life and assisting with group company documentation, noticed her father''s mood shift. During work hours, it''s Vice President Shen; after hours, it''s dad. Work is work, private is private. "Little Chen has posed a big problem for me!" Shen Songling didn''t know how to bring this topic up with his daughter. Even though work is work and private is private, sometimes it''s not that easy to separate the two. Chapter 558 558: Section 554 - Trouble After listening to her father''s brief introduction of the current situation, Shen Fei said in puzzlement, "Why not just call and ask clearly?" Shen Songling shook his head and said, "Making a call is easy, but whether to believe or not is not up to us to decide, nor is it up to Chen Fei to decide. When someone wants to cause trouble, truth doesn''t matter, excuses are most crucial." Being experienced in Jianghu, Teacher Shen saw everything clearly, but understanding was one thing, and turning the situation around was another. Basically, every family has its own difficult scripture, and no industry or corporation is an exception. Both giants in the aerospace manufacturing industry, the National Defense Star Aerospace Company was entirely dominated by its chairman, who could even veto the board''s decisions unquestioned. In contrast, Northern Weapons Industry Group''s management structure focused more on collective will rather than autocracy. The advantage was stability and collaborative strategy which usually prevented major issues. However, the downside was slow responsiveness, numerous small interest groups, and inevitable internal strife. After thinking it over, Shen Fei said, "Let''s urge the ''Canglong'' team to accelerate the research and development progress, to shut those people up with results!" Indeed, it wasn''t a bad solution to address the current criticism facing her father and the "Canglong" team. "Easier said than done. For ''Canglong'' to truly produce results, it would take at least two to three years; by then, it might be too late." Shen Songling frowned deeply, pinpointing the biggest problem in his daughter''s suggestion¡ªtime! Since doubts had already arisen, they would only intensify. If nothing was done now, it would soon become uncontrollable. Those who raised doubts wouldn''t afford Shen Songling and the "Canglong" team the time to produce results. Even if they eventually did produce results, the credit might have already been claimed by others, making them irrelevant to Shen Songling. There wouldn''t be any talk of unfairness or injustice, only two words¡ªdeserved! "What should we do then?" Shen Fei started to worry and seemed to make some resolution, tentatively saying, "How about I let Chen Fei secretly give some tips?" Like the "Canglong" advanced combat aircraft, while the original and authentic research and development team was progressing "slowly"¡ªnot really slow considering the years-long development cycle of combat aircraft¡ªcomparison is the thief of joy. With just a borrowed shell, yet Chen Fei already possessed a complete set of mature design plans. Maturity is determined by actual combat. If it can fly, land, perform stunts, and destroy enemies, then it''s a mature product. Nobody would nitpick in this area; as they say, if you can do it, step up, otherwise don''t bother. If it weren''t for her father, Shen Fei would not be keen on asking this favor from Chen Fei. This set of battle-tested mature design plans belonged to the other party. Except for the publicly known aerodynamic design, the contents of the plans had nothing to do with Northern Weapons Industry Group. Moreover, the group had already explicitly banned the other party from joining the "Canglong" team. How could they possibly have the nerve to ask for their design plans now? "No. For the time being, you and Chen Fei should keep a distance!" Shen Songling raised his eyebrows¡ªthey couldn''t afford to add fuel to the fire at this moment. Chen Fei had just dealt with "Canglong," and then made contact with people from National Defense Star Aerospace Company, Northern Weapons Industry Group''s archrival. This had already cast suspicion on him. If his own daughter eagerly approached him now, it would truly be like getting mud in their pants¡ªnot from shit, but it would seem so! "Ah?" Shen Fei was startled, but gradually, she came to understand. Their relationship could easily be exploited, directing the blame towards Shen Songling. This was also the main concern for the special discussion about whether to incorporate Chen Fei, the Metal Ability User with industrial-level capabilities, into the "Canglong" team. Concerns were just concerns, but once they became reality, the consequences would be quite severe. Father was right; truth does not matter, an excuse does. "But what about your situation?" Shen Fei was worried about the pressure her father faced¡ªhigh-level conflicts never involved trifles. It was either do or die. "It''s okay. Not doing anything unnecessary is the best support you can offer me." Besides worrying about his daughter and that Chen boy complicating things, Shen Songling also had some strategies in mind. He immediately started making several calls to discuss and prepare for the forthcoming evaluation. - "Huh, pull one hair and move the whole body, Little Chen, you''ve really troubled your future father-in-law." Miyoshi Monk, who had suddenly called Chen Fei over for tea, as an outsider, could still see the dynamics in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" conflict very clearly. The relationship between Northern Weapons Industry Group and National Defense Star Aerospace Company had always been tense. This event had led to another escalation. Ultimately, it''s all about interests. "Canglong" is Northern Weapons Industry Group''s cake. Once they realized their old rival wanted a piece of this cake¡ªwith billions already invested¡ªthe fallout from a failed project was something no one could afford, so flaring tempers were inevitable. "What''s up? Talk about your situation." Quicker to react than Shen Fei, with just a casual remark, Miyoshi Monk made Chen Fei instantly aware of Teacher Shen''s and her father''s awkward predicament. Despite his distaste for the cunning monk involving him in extraneous matters, he was quite grateful for the reminder. However, the tea he was drinking now tasted bland, and he only wanted to quickly call Teacher Shen. "Capture a person for me, the service fee is 100,000 Star Yuan." Miyoshi Xuesen passed over a notice. "A warrant? Does the Global United Defense Committee also handle these trivial matters?" Chen Fei glanced at the document the other party had pushed toward him, puzzled. Capturing wanted criminals should be the responsibility of international police departments, shouldn''t it? If not, then at least Bounty Hunters. "This guy is special, might be related to ''Water Bear''. There are mistakes in killing, no one overlooked, to ensure there is no slip-up and other variables, only we can take action." The monk handled his tea-making skills unhurriedly. Whenever there was time, a leisure moment, he would conduct a tea ceremony in front of others: a mat, a table, a furnace, a pot, several small cups, burning incense, sipping tea. "This guy hiding in the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial'', is completely an amateur." Chen Fei browsed through the information in his hands, only glanced a few times, his mouth twitched, and he said, "This guy is too dangerous, need more money!" Nickname CopyCat, real name unknown, the most dangerous B-level special ability user, ability is to copy special abilities, through physical contact, copy other special ability users'' abilities, currently known to simultaneously copy two different elemental powers, maintaining more than 10 hours, but not permanent copying, ranked 11th on the Blue Star Global Ability User Wanted List, 3rd on the Superpower Users Wanted List. 100,000 Star Yuan to capture such a person is just wishful thinking. "You name a price?" Miyoshi Xuesen leisurely added two pieces of walnut charcoal to the red clay charcoal stove. In the crisp friction sound, the black wood charcoal that was just put in quickly covered up with a bright red glow. "Help solve the trouble of Shen Fei and her father?" Chen Fei very slyly tested. Now being debt-free, his desire for money was not as strong as before, working at Jiu Defense Company for a few years, he could also afford to buy a house back home. "Hehe, you sure know how to propose conditions, no!" Miyoshi Monk straightforwardly shook his head, then said, "The Global United Defense Committee will not and does not dare to meddle in such large-scale conflicts, spare us please! Just name a number!" The backers of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were the major sovereignties of Blue Star, but to expect these two behemoths to give face and mediate, it was utterly wishful thinking, provoke them and they''d all attack. "Really not possible?" "Really not possible!" "Alright! 5 million Star Yuan!" "Deal!" "Eh? Eh eh eh eh?" Chen Fei casually threw out a number, and Miyoshi Monk, without lifting his head or opening his eyes, casually agreed. He asked in disbelief, "Aren''t you going to counteroffer?" The monk matter-of-factly, seriously said, "First, my authorized budget is 12 million, second, it''s not coming from my pocket." "Wow!" Since he had already agreed, there was nothing to regret, Chen Fei nodded, recognizing the deal, naturally he would not backtrack. It seemed he was still inexperienced in the ways of Jianghu, not ruthless enough. But upon reflection, considering the advance payment of good faith (this time concerning Jiu Defense Company''s blacklist), he hadn''t made a bad deal. After browsing through the information in his hands, Chen Fei got straight to the point. "When do we start?" "Tomorrow morning, the specific timing, I will arrange for someone to create the opportunity, remember we need him alive, at the very least, hanging by a thread." Miyoshi Monk''s slight worry finally settled, he was afraid Chen Fei after taking advantage would not agree. After all, at this time, it was really hard to find suitable manpower, and also to have some level of cooperation and understanding. Superpower Level is just a broadly shared general standard, if abilities are properly utilized or there is ability restraint, overpowering beyond one''s level is not impossible. After all, having cooperated so long with the Huntsman Squad, Miyoshi Xuesen never really regarded Chen Fei as a typical B-level special ability user. Chapter 559 559: Section 555 - Clinging to the Powerful Having just returned from Miyoshi Xuesen, Chen Fei was immediately summoned by Boss Hanna. The mobile base vehicle serving as an office contained not only tea but also snacks. "Rookie," you didn''t really give the complete design plans for "Canglong" to National Defense Star, did you?" Hanna Gagar had her own intelligence channels and was always keeping an eye on those guys on the blacklist, and, by the way, she also kept track of her own company''s employees. The sudden outbreak of a confrontational standoff between two massive entities during the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" made headlines, and naturally, she caught wind of it. In the morning, employees from both sides had fought over this, causing quite a commotion. Goodness, one second they were indirectly collaborating, and the next they were subtly opposing each other, flipping hands as clouds and covering hands as rain, impressive, my "Rookie"! "Even you know about it!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but hold his forehead. If it weren''t for Miyoshi Monk''s reminder, he probably would have only realized it at this very moment. If his future father-in-law had been a bit narrower-minded, he would most likely have taken his anger out on him, rendering all his previous efforts futile. Whether he liked it or not, since it had already happened and the situation had completely spiraled out of control, he truly couldn''t shake off this responsibility. "The guy from National Defense Star is really stupid. He actually made contact with you face to face in a crowded bar. Even if he had someone hand you a note and then called you privately, it wouldn''t have turned out this way!" Hanna Gagar just shook her head at the actions of that National Defense Star employee who had made contact with Chen Fei in the bar, clearly there were better and safer methods, yet he chose the most foolish option, pushing the two industry giants into the storm because of his self-interest, unaware of how many people were eagerly waiting for the two companies to start tearing into each other. Louis Industrial Company might even be instigating it all from the shadows, given that the two companies had just exploited the opening battle of this season''s "Abyssal Gladiatorial" to trick each other. If there really was manipulation by Louis Industrial Company behind this, then revenge had come too quickly. However, seeing Chen Fei''s reaction, it seemed there was still room for salvage. "I could never disclose the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s project to Uncle Shen''s National Defense Star willingly. There has to be some baseline of integrity in a person." Just for the sake of an empty shell, Chen Fei had almost lost his girlfriend-to-be, which would have been quite foolish. He was also clear that Uncle Shen definitely wouldn''t ask him for the "Canglong" design plans, which was why he had refused the team leader without hesitation. Hanna Gagar was not surprised at all. "Rookie" wasn''t someone short-sighted enough to help Uncle Shen in such a stupid way. She said, "Don''t worry too much. Since it''s all unfounded, things will naturally settle down after a while." After all, without concrete evidence, mere verbal accusations could hardly affect Chen Fei significantly. However, given the relationship between Chen Fei and National Defense Star, even if Northern Weapons Industry Group had its reservations, even if it didn''t affect him and Teacher Shen Fei, it would still bring quite a bit of trouble to Vice President Shen Songling. "That''s a relief, I''ve been really bothered by this!" Chen Fei wasn''t adept at scheming and manipulation, so having Boss Hanna consider everything thoroughly for him and provide the most appropriate advice was more than welcome. "So, do nothing and trust in your uncle and Teacher Shen''s father. They can handle it well. You can''t see the bigger picture from your position, and any unilateral action would only add to the chaos, or even fuel the fire." This was precisely why Hanna Gagar had summoned Chen Fei; she was afraid he would make a rash decision and mess up. Her words coincided with Shen Songling''s thoughts, who was also troubled by this matter. At this moment, saying more and doing more means wronging more. Explanations are tantamount to cover-ups, cover-ups are facts, and rather than exhausting oneself with responses, it is better to apply unchanging responses to ever-changing tactics. "I understand!" Chen Fei had originally planned to meet up with Teacher Shen, but now it seemed that he needed to be more cautious. Perhaps changing to a phone call would be better. If he really did nothing, it might lead to misunderstandings. He was about to make the call when a text message arrived from Shen Fei. "Stay calm, let''s not meet for a few days." Great, Teacher Shen had thought of it too. Everyone had come from far and wide to the same place, yet they couldn''t meet, what kind of situation was this!? At this moment, Chen Fei even felt like tearing Peng apart, cursing his meddlesome nature for causing so much trouble. - Early in the morning, Chen Fei came to the Comprehensive Center, cursing under his breath. Miyoshi Monk had sent him a message to come and be on standby. This time''s assignment was to capture, not eliminate, but to capture alive, so the preparations had to be more thorough. The B-level supernatural power user "Plagiarist Ghost" didn''t possess combat abilities but could copy the abilities of other supernatural power users through physical contact. Once he accumulated enough special abilities, he became quite a handful. In a sense, this ability considerably restrained other ability users. However, ordinary people without abilities weren''t enough to capture him, as copying others'' abilities was a special application of spiritual power. To be precise, "Plagiarist Ghost" was a B-level Psychic Ability User, which meant he had significant spiritual power, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to easily control the abilities he copied. According to intelligence, aside from the rare skill of copying others'' abilities, the opponent was also adept at directly impacting, disturbing, or confusing others with spiritual power. Those with weak mental strength or willpower were easily influenced or even controlled, and his sense of danger was exceedingly sharp. At the slightest sign of trouble, he would flee without hesitation. Miyoshi Xuesen chose Chen Fei for help not only because of their reliable past cooperation but also because Chen Fei''s ability to generate additional tactical armor could isolate physical contact, preventing his abilities from being copied, using the opponent''s tactics against them. Furthermore, it was because of his decisiveness and brutality; he never hesitated. Eyes, mind, and hands moved in unison. A Heavenly Order expert in the town didn''t even get a chance to sense danger before the Mach 600 caliber Demolition Bomb whooshed in. Running was futile; within the blast radius, everyone was doomed. Third, Chen Fei possessed impressive resistance to spiritual power and had experience in suppressing Psychic Power Users. Ordinary tactics of Psychic Power Users often failed to work on him, such as mind reading, which was basically ineffective. The difficulty in this capture was that the B-level supernatural power user "Plagiarist Ghost" had blended into a pure supernatural power user team, pretending to be just a Psychic Power User. The other members of the team were from the Dark, Wind, Fire, Light, Thunder, and Earth Elements, covering half of the eleven major elemental systems. In some ways, this team was like a "Plagiarist Ghost''s" special ability warehouse. With a flick of his hand, abilities were at his disposal, giving those attempting to capture him quite the headache. Despite being ranked only as a B-level, he was more troublesome than an A-level. Once he successfully escaped, catching him again would be even harder. After buying a skewer of candied hawthorns, he stood alone in an open area, nibbling on it. Little Bird perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder, looking left and right, according to the surviving ninjas'' message from Miyoshi Monk. The "Plagiarist Ghost" and his supernatural power team would dine at the Comprehensive Center and were particularly fond of the signature dish of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" ¨C Zhajiang noodles. Suddenly, a figure rushed over, hugged his thighs, and knelt on the ground, crying out, "Mr. Chen, it wasn''t intentional..." Chen Fei almost reflexively kicked the person away. "Who the hell are you?" "Ah?" The person looked up, confirmed they hadn''t hugged the wrong legs, pointed at themselves with tear-streaked face, and started wailing again. "It''s me! Don''t you remember? We drank together, I''m Little Peng!" Well, Chen Fei finally recalled who this shamelessly persistent fellow was. The head of Group C from the National Defense Star Aerospace Design Department, Peng Shutian, whom he had drinks with, along with Xiao Jiu, two nights ago. How could it be that after two days, upon meeting, he ended up clinging to his legs, even calling himself Little Peng? Initially, when they had first met, this person hadn''t shown such a deferential attitude; was he drunk again? "Wait, get up first; let''s talk properly!" Chen Fei grabbed the collar of his back, yanked upwards, and hissed... The man didn''t rip apart, but his clothes did, tearing open a large gash, exposing a vast expanse of shiny middle-aged back. And still, he couldn''t pull the man away from his leg. This was damn awkward. "Mr. Chen, Chen Dada, it''s all my fault; I shouldn''t have spoken carelessly. Please, speak a few good words to Chairman Chen for me, don''t let them fire me. I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child at home, the whole family relies on me to earn a living. I was wrong; please give me another chance!" Peng Shutian clung desperately to Chen Fei''s leg, refusing to let go no matter what. Passersby began to slow their pace, forming a crowd as if to watch a spectacle. "Let go!" Chen Fei''s mouth twitched. He was busy with important matters and had no spare time to deal with this guy, worrying that he might get splashed with blood and end up crying and crawling in a mess. This guy was also recently responsible for the tense atmosphere between two fierce rival aerospace manufacturers, and there wasn''t even a nodding acquaintance between the two. Why should Chen Fei say nice things about him to his great-uncle? That was pure wishful thinking! If he was fired, so be it. A man''s ambition lies everywhere; if not here, then elsewhere. Was changing jobs really such a big deal, to seek death or cling to life like this? And that talk of an eighty-year-old mother and three-year-old child, who was he trying to frighten! "I won''t let go!" Peng Shutian truly acted as if his life depended on latching onto Chen Fei. "Then I might have to get rough!" Chen Fei looked around, his gaze sharpening when he spotted "Plagiarist Ghost" and his supernatural team approaching nearby. The information was correct; seeing the commotion here, they involuntarily slowed their pace, edging closer to take a look, just like everyone else. "I''ll never let go!" Peng Shutian clenched his teeth, steeled his heart, closed his eyes, and braced for more severe beating. He would rather endure a severe beating than lose the golden job at the National Defense Star Aerospace Company. He had suddenly received a dismissal notice from the HR department the previous afternoon, with severance pay immediately deposited into his account, and even a ticket home was arranged. Peng Shutian almost fainted on the spot. His rash contact with Chen Fei had triggered severe consequences, and the company, to prove its innocence, had fired him. Peng Shutian immediately realized that Chen Fei was his only lifeline and had been searching everywhere for him, lingering around the Comprehensive Center until he finally caught sight of him. This was his last chance. He was setting aside all pride, betting that a young man would be soft-hearted and reluctant to lose face. "To hell with it!" Chen Fei lifted his leg, raising the entire person, and forcefully kicked. "Ah!" Peng Shutian cried out, no longer able to hold on, and like a cannonball, he flew in an arc through the air, crashing into the supernatural team that had just squeezed to the edge of the crowd. "Ah!" The "Plagiarist Ghost," who wanted to catch a glimpse of the commotion, suddenly found everything going dark before his eyes. Chapter 560 560: Section 556 - Capture As soon as Chen Fei arrived at the Comprehensive Center of "Abyssal Gladiatorial", he caught the attention of Miyoshi Xuesen, just as planned. Peng Shutian, who came out of nowhere, suddenly rushed over and clung to Chen Fei''s thigh, becoming an unexpected variable. Just when the Monk was about to have someone relieve Chen Fei, he noticed that the "Plagiarist Ghost" and his little team had already arrived nearby. Miyoshi Xuesen immediately dismissed the idea and didn''t act rashly. The design team leader who had just been fired by the National Defense Star Aerospace Company was always an insignificant character from beginning to end. When he saw Chen Fei kick Peng Shutian, sending him flying toward the "Plagiarist Ghost", the Monk was overjoyed. It seemed like an accident, but it wasn''t really an accident, perfectly controlled; probably no one would suspect that it was intentional disguised as unintentional. Almost two hundred pounds of weight plus the added velocity almost suffocated the "Plagiarist Ghost" on the spot, who was caught completely off guard. "Fuck, Scott, are you okay?" The friends scrambled to pull the "Plagiarist Ghost" out from under Peng Shutian, then they all glared angrily at Chen Fei. "Hey! What are you doing?" "Looking to pick a fight, kid?" "Come over here and apologize now! Or I''ll beat you up!" The team of supernatural power users, with a sense of superiority and pride somewhat above ordinary people, naturally adopted a nasty attitude when their companion was "attacked". Seeing this, the surrounding crowd thought it best to clear out, as one wave of chaos had barely subsided before another arose; it was safer to stand back. They quickly dispersed, keeping their distance from each other. Those who were more timid, afraid of getting caught up in the fray, simply decided not to watch. "Sorry, sorry, this was purely an accident." Chen Fei raised his hands and stepped forward. "Scott, how are you feeling? Do you need to see a doctor? Hey, kid, don''t walk away. It''s all your fault." The "Plagiarist Ghost", now going by the name Scott, and his team didn''t realize Chen Fei''s seemingly rightful approach had an ulterior motive. "Of course, of course, a full body check, medical expenses, compensation for emotional distress, loss of wages¡ªI''ll take care of it all." Chen Fei spread his hands, looking at the "Plagiarist Ghost" who was somewhat dizzy and being supported by his friends. Being smashed to the ground by an almost two hundred pound man was definitely not a pleasant experience. "You said it, we''ll be watching you." "Don''t even think about running away, come with us!" Since Chen Fei was willing to take responsibility, the supernatural power team didn''t curse any further. After all, it was just a bump and being pressed to the ground, not a stab with a knife. As long as there were no broken bones, there usually wouldn''t be any serious harm. "Can I have a look first?" Chen Fei moved one step closer to the "Plagiarist Ghost". "Uh, what are you doing?" The "Plagiarist Ghost", still woozy, suddenly became alert. His sixth sense for danger had saved him from threat after threat, and he vaguely felt that this careless fellow in front of him was somehow not right. "I should show some concern, right?" Chen Fei chuckled, still three steps away from him, and didn''t continue to press closer. "Uh, where am I?" Peng Shutian, who had been knocked out cold on the ground, finally started to come to at this moment and groaned. The hit had certainly been hard on the person who was struck, but for Peng Shutian, who had been used as a human cannonball, he was quite out of sorts as well. Chen Fei gave him a light kick with his foot. "Gah..." The nuisance obligingly passed out again. This much-despised fellow awoke nobody''s sympathies; being sent home to fend for himself was not undeserved at all. "You, that''s not very nice, right?" Watching this scene unfold, the "Plagiarist Ghost''s" mouth twitched. How deep of a grudge could there be? Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned, and said, "No worries, this guy''s too superfluous." Neither he nor the Miyoshi Monk had factored in this Peng Shutian in their plans. The nuisance being knocked out was also for his own good; otherwise, he would have lost his job and then his life, leaving an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child behind. "Superfluous?" The "Plagiarist Ghost" was puzzled, wondering how deep the resentment, how bitter the hate. Chen Fei said calmly, "Xiao Jiu, ''Light Burst Flash''!" "Jiu?" The next second, a dazzling burst of light enveloped a radius of three meters. Little Bird''s "Light Burst Flash" had become even more proficient, catching everyone off guard. "Ah! My eyes!" "What''s that? I can''t see!" "So bright! It''s blinding!" The move didn''t just affect the supernatural power user team but also the bystanders who hadn''t yet dispersed. Almost without exception, everyone who turned to look was caught in the flash, clutching their eyes and crying out in pain. A mere second rank Light-based spell of the Human Order, its effect was surprisingly effective. If it wasn''t for the need to capture him alive, Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu had at least a hundred ways to kill him on the spot. The 5 million Star Yuan reward from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was not even half undeserved. "Who are you?" The "Plagiarist Ghost" finally confirmed the source of his earlier bad premonition¡ªit was this young man in front of him. "The one who''s capturing you!" Chen Fei''s words had not yet finished when he flicked a metal chain out of his hand, quickly wrapping it around the other party three times and then three times again, binding him tightly from arms to legs. The two-finger-wide alloy chain, under the control of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, locked itself tightly. Not even an elephant could hope to break free. "You think you can catch me?" Unexpectedly, the "Plagiarist Ghost" suddenly struggled with force and shouted, "Light Burst Flash!" Dazzling white light exploded. "My eyes!" ¡ÁN! Another burst of frantic shrieking ensued. "What?" Chen Fei was taken aback, but his hand suddenly felt lighter. The alloy chains that bound the adversary crumbled without warning, each and every link shattering and clinking to the ground. With a whoosh, the "Plagiarist Ghost" darted out. Thanks to Xiao Jiu''s habitual use of "Light Burst Flash," Chen Fei was immune to the same tactic. "He got away again!" Miyoshi Xuesen, who had been paying close attention to the scene, suddenly jumped up. He hadn''t expected that the cunning "Plagiarist Ghost", even without making contact with his psychic peers, was still able to seize the chance to escape. It meant that the adversary already had copied other people''s special abilities, and more than one at that. "Think you can run? Little Bird, mark him!" Little Bird took to the sky, Chen Fei scoffed, stooped low, and countless tiny geometric shapes burst forth from his body. They formed and disintegrated simultaneously, swiftly enclosing his entire body. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor with the most magic array inscriptions of any single soldier tactical armor completed its evolution. Chest: Wind Cone (2) ¡Á1 Back: Air Burst (2) ¡Á1 Lower back: Fluid Vortex (2) ¡Á1 Left arm: Wind Blade (1) ¡Á1 Right arm: Blazing Flame Bullet (1) ¡Á1 Legs: Gravity (1) ¡Á2 Total Magic Array Inscription units: 10/20 The magic arrays that Chen Fei currently commanded were more suited to the "Dragon King", which was optimized for giantization, as well as combat aircraft. Bam!~ The thrust from the "Air Burst (2)" magic array on the back of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor propelled Chen Fei like a human missile, roaring into motion. The "Wind Cone (2)" magic array on the chest released a conical air shield, reducing frontal air resistance to a minimum and maximizing the efficiency of the "Air Burst (2)" thrust. Even though he started a step later, Chen Fei''s speed was not slow, and the distance between him and the "Plagiarist Ghost" visibly closed rapidly. Not to mention, a Pure Light Sparrow, even faster, was keeping a firm eye on the target. "Eh, eh, eh?" "What the heck is going on here?" "Hey, hey, Scott, where are you going?" "Hey, jerk, that one, you, stop!" The "Plagiarist Ghost"''s psychic teammates finally came to their senses. The metal chains scattered across the ground left them puzzled¡ªScott was supposedly a psychic ability user, so how could he so effortlessly break free from all-metal chains, and also cast "Light Explosion Flash"? Was it a spell or a special ability? Most importantly, why did that strange young man want to chase Scott¡ªwhat grudge did they hold against each other that would warrant killing to silence the other just for a collision? They all chased after them, trying both to stop the pursuit between Chen Fei and the "Plagiarist Ghost" and to understand the truth. "Stop those superpower users!" The Miyoshi Monk finally made a move. Although the "Plagiarist Ghost" had not been captured on the spot, judging by Chen Fei''s displayed abilities, it wouldn''t be easy for the target to make a successful escape. Several ninjas with enhanced Dark System Abilities went after him, using "Shadow Flash" to advance and keep the "Plagiarist Ghost" under surveillance. Miyoshi Xuesen''s Dark Element psychic ability was also restrained by the adversary''s "Ability Copying", and the ninjas with the Dark System Abilities couldn''t escape it. As soon as contact was made, it would mean giving their abilities to the "Plagiarist Ghost". Apart from the ninjas, the other members of the Huntsman Squad went to intercept the "Plagiarist Ghost"''s fellow superpower users to prevent any interference with Chen Fei''s pursuit. These were contingency plans that the Miyoshi Monk had prepared in advance, and now they had to be put into action. "Rookie, you must succeed!" Miyoshi Xuesen fell back onto the straw mat and continued to monitor the capture operation through the feeds from numerous drones and surveillance cameras spread throughout the Comprehensive Center. His special ability was only handy when granted to others for execution; he wasn''t good at confronting enemies head-on. Therefore, the most suitable position for him was to stay in the headquarters, coordinating and commanding from the center. - Stealthily looking back, not seeing the fellow who had feigned a collision to ambush him, he was shocked to see a single soldier tactical armor in pursuit. That one glance was enough to scare the "Plagiarist Ghost" so much that he nearly lost his soul. "Who are you? Why are you trying to catch me?" With a sudden resolve, he pulled out a diamond-shaped object and squeezed it hard. The next second, a silver light expanded and contracted, and he disappeared from the spot. "He''s gone!" Chen Fei in the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor landed at the spot where the "Plagiarist Ghost" vanished, looking around. "Tweet!" Little Bird descended from the sky, landing on the "Dragon King" Tactical Helmet. Chen Fei looked up slightly and said, "Little Jiu, use ''Light Mirror Spell'' to find that guy." The "Plagiarist Ghost" was nowhere to be seen within the field of vision, but Little Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell" could expand the view to a much larger area, and might yield some results. "Adam, take over the surveillance system here and start facial recognition!" Adam: Accessing OTES surveillance system. Authorization obtained. Number of surveillance cameras: 3548. Commencing recognition. Adam: "Plagiarist Ghost" spotted, location fixed, 5 kilometers to the southwest. Projecting electronic map. Chapter 561 561: Section 557 - Lockdown With the almost endless computing power provided by Chen Fei, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had a recognition efficiency far higher than manual flesh-and-eye identification. "Xiao Jiu, southwest 5 kilometers, edge of the parking lot!" Chen Fei gave Little Bird the direction. It took Pure Light Sparrow quite a while to brew, and after a chirp, a light screen appeared in front of Chen Fei. The picture kept pulling and changing until it reached beyond 5 kilometers. Since the field of view was entirely unrestricted by surveillance cameras, the figure of "Plagiarist Ghost" was exceptionally clear. The target was rushing to a car, pulled open the door, and climbed in. Two legs weren''t enough to run; he also needed to get on four wheels¡ªtruly a clever and cunning fellow. Comparing it with the electronic map, Chen Fei immediately made a judgment and took out his mobile phone to dial. "''Rookie,'' that guy has run away!" As soon as the connection was made, Miyoshi Monk''s voice came proactively. "He''s at a parking lot 5 kilometers away, getting ready to drive off." Chen Fei immediately responded. "What? A parking lot? How do you know?" Miyoshi Xuesen was shocked at Chen Fei''s efficiency. He had thought that this capture operation had failed, but it turned out it had not yet ended. Chen Fei was still in the original place, but in such a short time, he had once again captured the position of "Plagiarist Ghost." "It''s ''Adam.'' It''s temporarily taken over the surveillance system here." After Chen Fei explained, he added another sentence. "You need to notify the organizer." The reason AI "Adam" was able to gain access to the surveillance system was mainly that it took advantage of the technicians not paying attention and seized it in the blink of an eye. If they waited until the other side reacted, it would inevitably lead to a struggle. If they encountered an expert, Chen Fei might have to recompile "Adam" again because such incidents had occurred before. "I got it! Hmm, I see that guy. I''ll send you his vehicle location later." Miyoshi Xuesen also had access to the surveillance system and even more permissions. He confirmed Chen Fei''s reported situation immediately. Indeed, as Chen Fei had said, "Plagiarist Ghost" started preparing to flee after getting in the car. At the Comprehensive Center, the Huntsman Squad members couldn''t agree with the members of the "Plagiarist Ghost" team. Both were too proud and arrogant, and when they failed to see eye to eye, they fought, leading to chaos at the scene. Miyoshi Xuesen ignored these fellows who had joined the Huntsman Squad for less than a month and continued to keep in touch with Chen Fei. The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Armor soared into the sky. "Fluid Vortex (2)" maintained a constant thrust, "Air Burst (2)" provided continuous explosive power, and "Wind Cone (2)" magic arrays reduced air resistance. Although it occasionally lunged forward, looking a bit odd, its speed still gradually increased. While the aerodynamic design of the Single Soldier Tactical Armor was not meant for high-speed flight and couldn''t compare with professional Aircraft like turboprop and jet planes, it was no problem with the "Wind Cone." The four-wheeled vehicle on the ground would not easily shake it off. "The target vehicle has been visually acquired!" The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Armor flew at an altitude of 500 meters above the ground, overlooking an off-road jeep within its field of view. The target had left the main road and was heading deep into the Great Rift Valley, seemingly in a panic. Miyoshi Xuesen obtained the off-road jeep''s vehicular positioning rights. Civilian products were completely transparent to special departments, with no secrets. As long as Chen Fei followed the location signal, he wouldn''t lose track. At this moment, he was about sixty kilometers away from the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" venue, driving across the wilderness scattered with pebbles and ditches. It was remarkable that the off-road jeep''s cross-country performance allowed it to rarely go below 80 kilometers per hour. Beep beep beep... Adam: Locked by fire control radar! "What? Where is the fire control radar coming from?" Chen Fei quickly looked around but saw no sign of combat aircraft. The fire control systems that could appear at this time only belonged to combat aircraft in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" battle. However, the gladiatorial participant aircraft lacked stealth capabilities, and enemy identification was limited to opponents; automatic guided weapons could not attack non-target entities. The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Armor on Chen Fei wouldn''t be mistakenly targeted by the combatants. "Ultra-long Vision," "Macroscopic Perspective," and "Visual Assistance," the three modules of the Basic Optical Observer, were simultaneously brought online. The "Abyssal Gladiatorial" combat rules stipulated that the attack distance must be within 30 kilometers, meaning the Optical Observer could fully detect the opponent. After looking around, Chen Fei found nothing. A false alarm? If it were an issue with the "Dragon King" itself, it would have been one thing, but the alert was issued by "Adam." It made one wonder how extensive a bug in "Adam" would have to be to falsely report military intelligence. "''Adam,'' scan the surroundings at maximum power and see if there is anything unusual." Chen Fei retracted the magic arrays imprinted on the surface of the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Armor and began to descend. In the upper left corner of his visual interface, the warning that he was locked by fire control radar continued to flash above the caption Adam provided, meaning he was constantly in someone''s crosshairs, just that the attack hadn''t arrived yet. There shouldn''t be anyone so bold as to offend the organizers of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" and attack others, right?! Adam: Number of fire control radar beam segments: 115 A new screen appeared before Chen Fei, showing an electronic map with his location at the center, dense with signal sources from fire control radar beams. This is the posture of being about to be focus-fired, how deep a grudge, what intense hatred? Damn, it must be a BUG! He couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat, how could he possibly be targeted by so many offensive weapons, something must be wrong. Forget it, forget it, just hurry up and take that "Plagiarist Ghost" into custody! With this thought, Chen Fei began to dive and accelerate, skillfully trading altitude for speed. Boom!~ He stomped heavily onto the hood of the off-road jeep. The full-speed vehicle''s rear end kicked up high, the rear wheels completely left the ground, and just as it was about to roll over, it finally ran out of momentum and slammed back to the ground with a huge noise. All four tires burst, and together with the frame, the body was severely deformed. This car was completely totaled. "Time''s up, ''Plagiarist Ghost''!" Chen Fei landed steadily, ripped off the car door, casually threw it over ten meters away, creating a cloud of dust, then pulled the person in the driver''s seat out with one sweep. The other hand morphed into a Railgun Combat Rifle, loaded and charged, and pressed it against the other''s head. The "Plagiarist Ghost" said with a trembling voice, "Who, who are you?" The shock from just now was quite intense for him; if it wasn''t for the safety belt and the airbag deployment, he might have lost seventy to eighty percent of his life. "I am your Second Uncle!" Chen Fei was not polite, he butt-stroked with the rifle, seeing stars. This guy really knew how to run, he was almost about to get away. The 5 million from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wasn''t easy to claim, another person might have failed to capture him. "Rookie, did you catch him?" Miyoshi Monk''s communication with Chen Fei had never been interrupted. "To be precise, I was also caught," Chen Fei retrieved the Railgun Combat Rifle and raised his hands high. Several Flyers glistening with the light of Magic Arrays silently surrounded him, thirty or more meters above the ground, collectively brandishing a variety of offensive weapon "Fangs." In the distance, dozens of armed personnel, also dressed in Single Soldier Tactical Armor, floated about a foot above the ground, rapidly approaching with performance that seemed not inferior to the "Dragon King" suit Chen Fei was wearing. Chen Fei revealed a bitter smile. Together with the hundred-plus radar locks he had received earlier, how could he not understand this meant there was definitely a big shot nearby, at the very least, someone at the Sovereignty level. Such special security-level clearances, indeed, couldn''t be countered by the "Adam"-embedded "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. "Eh?" Miyoshi Xuesen could only let out a surprised sound before the communication was cut off. Chen Fei''s network wasn''t down; it was just the civilian signal band of the phone that was gone. Thankfully, the "Plane Communication System," which had cost him quite a few Energy Points, was still maintaining the network. The guidance beam of the Railgun Combat Rifle landed on Chen Fei, turning into small green specks the size of mung beans. The armed personnel wearing Tactical Armor issued an order. "Disengage Armor!" "Understood!" The bulky and sturdy "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor instantly disintegrated into numerous tiny geometrical bodies, disappearing like bursting bubbles on Chen Fei''s body, leaving no trace behind. "Huh?" "What''s going on?" The encircling armed personnel seemed unable to comprehend why the "Dragon King" didn''t mechanically disassemble as they had imagined, but rather melted away into nothingness. "Hey, everyone, I work for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, capturing the wanted criminal ''Plagiarist Ghost,'' no ill intentions. If you don''t believe me, please feel free to verify," Chen Fei immediately brought up the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee in front of the unnamed garrison big shot''s armed troops, better not to have any misunderstandings. After all, with a labor cooperation relationship worth 5 million Star Yuan, he wasn''t worried about them checking. Even though his freedom was currently restricted, it was most likely temporary; once the misunderstanding was cleared, he could take the captured "Plagiarist Ghost" in exchange for the reward promised by Miyoshi Monk. Facing the muzzle, "Plagiarist Ghost" also obediently raised his hands high; when he stood next to Chen Fei, he suddenly grabbed Chen Fei''s hand with a triumphant smile. "Ability Copying, hehe!" The next second, several darts stuck into "Plagiarist Ghost''s" body, with flashes of electricity, he trembled violently. "I, I-I, I-I-I..." Oops... Chen Fei, not making any rash movements, could hardly bear to watch. This guy must have some serious misconceptions about the Sovereignty-level security forces. Chapter 562 562: Section 558 - The Big Boss If it were not for the intention to capture alive, the "Plagiarist Ghost" would have been shot on the spot. With the penetration power and firing rate of the railgun combat rifle, it would take only a blink of an eye to perforate from the chest to the back with triple-digit holes. Because of the "Plagiarist Ghost''s" rashness, he received a completely different treatment from Chen Fei. He not only endured a shot of the supernatural ability suppressant but also wore a collar around his neck that could simultaneously disrupt elemental energy, Battle Qi, and spiritual power. His hands and feet were tightly bound with high-polymer restraining straps, rendering him completely immobile and lying flat on his back in front of Chen Fei. Chen Fei too received a shot of the supernatural ability suppressant, but he had only a pair of high-polymer handcuffs on his wrists and no further constraints, probably because revealing the identification of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had its effect. Xiao Jiu... it stood leisurely on Chen Fei''s shoulder, leisurely preening its feathers. No one would be foolish enough to try something against the Pure Light Sparrow¡ªits consistently weak standard combat capability being the best camouflage. If one didn''t utilize the Light Elemental Energy, that was indeed the case. The two were locked inside a hovering infantry armored vehicle, not knowing where they were headed. In contrast to the "Plagiarist Ghost," who was mentally rattling like fifteen buckets fetching water, Chen Fei was much calmer; he had his "amulet," so he wasn''t worried about becoming a vengeful ghost offended by a Sovereign big shot. Being a citizen of the First Sovereign, it was already good enough that he didn''t bully others when he was outside. "Hey, did you copy the special ability?" Chen Fei poked the still-paralyzed "Plagiarist Ghost" with his toe, curious whether the other party had actually managed to copy his own special ability. Best if he had copied the dog system as well¡ªthat would really be something! "..." Utterly annoyed, the "Plagiarist Ghost" kept silent, clearly unwilling to respond. "Hey, I''m talking to you!" Chen Fei increased the force on his foot, kicking harder and harder. If the other party didn''t respond soon, he might just kick him into serious trouble. Chen Xiao''er was still as ever immune to the supernatural ability suppressant. His temporary abstention from using his abilities was out of courtesy, not because he had actually lost them. "We had no grievances in the past nor recent disputes, can''t you let me go?" "Plagiarist Ghost" hollered out loud, bouncing on the floor like a shrimp in frustration. Chen Fei spoke calmly, "No, we are fated!" Of course, they were fated¡ªa five million Star Yuan fate. How could Chen Xiao''er let his counterpart go? Impossible! Whenever the topic of price came up, Chen Fei couldn''t help but think of the number five million, all thanks to the grievances stirred by Little Sister Chen. "You..." The "Plagiarist Ghost" found Chen Fei''s shameless statement hilarious; who gave you the face to talk about fate, what kind of fate is there? "Anyway, don''t even think about escaping, or I will break your legs!" Chen Fei had promised the monk to keep him alive, as long as he could speak, it didn''t matter if he was hopping around or not. "Break my legs, let''s see what you can do..." The "Plagiarist Ghost" suddenly fell silent, realizing their situations were different. He was tied up tight, his abilities thoroughly suppressed, he couldn''t even stand up, while the other was only handcuffed. Using his hands might not break anything, but with his feet, he could definitely kick or stomp his legs broken. He let out a cry of despair. "This is not fair!!!" Chen Fei ignored the "Plagiarist Ghost''s" hysteria and continued, "Hey, about that earlier question, did you manage to copy my special ability?" "Huh?" After roaring, the "Plagiarist Ghost", suddenly dumbfounded, struggled to turn his head, trying to look at Chen Fei behind him, and hesitantly asked, "Can I ask, what is your special ability?" Chen Fei reminded him, "Metal Elemental Psychic Power!" This ghost''s copying skill is nonsense, isn''t it? Don''t you understand by now? "I, I don''t know!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" wore a mournful expression, even if he had managed to copy it, it was useless after receiving an electric dart and having a supernatural ability suppressant injected within ten seconds of each other. Like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruits; eating them one by one without even savoring the taste before they were gone. He was now just an ordinary person, completely devoid of any magical abilities. Chen Fei curiously asked, "How long can your copied abilities last?" The information given by the Miyoshi monk was vague, and this guy in front of him was good at hiding things, with many dark cards up his sleeve. "I won''t tell you!" The "Plagiarist Ghost", annoyed, turned his head back. Abilities that involve life-and-dead couldn''t be casually revealed to others. Chen Fei said calmly, "You can choose not to cooperate, but I can break your leg right now." This environment was perfect¡ªonly he and the captive in the transport vehicle with no one else to interfere. "You dare..." The powerless "Plagiarist Ghost" had only defiance left. "Hehe!" Chen Fei stepped on the other''s left leg, his smile ambiguous. Breaking a leg was good, it meant less chance of escape, even if by a slip, it would be easier to recapture him later. Sensing the sudden pressure on his leg, the "Plagiarist Ghost" cried out in alarm. "1 hour!" Adam: Liar! The supernatural ability suppressant and artificial intelligence AI were totally unrelated. Not only did the lie detector function loaded by "Adam" detect it, but Chen Fei himself could tell that this ghost was insincere, trying to fool a kindergarten kid! "Really?" Chen Fei increased the pressure under his foot. Sensing something was off, the "Plagiarist Ghost" quickly said, "2 hours, that''s the max." Adam: Liar! Crack! A leg broke! "Ah, surely he lacked love as a child and calcium growing up," Chen Fei was just that ruthless, otherwise, why would the equally heartless and ruthless Miyoshi Monk appreciate him so much? "Ahhhh, my leg!" Attempting to hold his unnaturally deformed left leg, the "Plagiarist Ghost" let out a blood-curdling scream. Chen Fei stepped on the other''s right lower leg, saying calmly, "The second leg!" As if he had just snapped a trivial matchstick a moment earlier. "You madman, are you insane?" The "Plagiarist Ghost" cursed loudly at Chen Fei, having never seen such a hardcore bastard who broke legs without any hesitation. "Last warning, next come your left hand, right hand, and finally, your neck!" Chen Fei wasn''t joking with "Plagiarist Ghost", a chilling aura gradually emanating from him, while he spoke in a seemingly nonchalant manner¡ªIf the neck was to break, he would undoubtedly be dead! The Chen Family''s good baby didn''t have a shortage of lives taken by his hands. "24 hours, it''s 24 hours!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" shouted frantically, no longer doubting that Chen Fei would hesitate to break his legs. "Adam" remained silent, must be the truth. Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise, "Impressive!" Temporarily copying someone else''s special ability and being able to maintain it for 24 hours, no wonder he ranked so high on the wanted list. Once he had copied various abilities adept at escaping, he was like a greased loach that slipped through your fingers. "My leg!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" whimpered with a crying tone, feeling very aggrieved. Chen Fei asked again, "So, how many people''s abilities can you copy?" "Five, five different elemental abilities!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" had learned to answer promptly. "Hmm! Quite interesting." Chen Fei withdrew his foot, sparing this guy for the time being. He swayed slightly, and the carriage seemed to stop. The next moment, the door flew open, and a burst of sunlight spilled in. "Get out!" Armed personnel in single soldier tactical armor waved towards the two inside the carriage. The "Plagiarist Ghost" screamed miserably, "My legs are broken!" The guy who captured him was a devil with countless lives on his hands. "Where is this?" Chen Fei got off the hover infantry armored vehicle, only to see a shimmering expanse of water. Someone was sitting under a large sun umbrella at a makeshift dockside pier, flicking a fishing rod, fishing. No other people were in sight. Chen Fei blinked, the "Basic Optical Observer" activated both the infrared thermal imaging and full spectrum imaging modules, immediately identifying over a dozen peculiar presences in his field of vision. Some were hidden in the water, others stood brazenly nearby but distorted the light, invisible to the naked eye of ordinary people. "Come over, join me in fishing!" The person sitting on the wooden pier turned around and beckoned to Chen Fei. An invisible force surged over, compelling Chen Fei to involuntarily walk towards the pier. He looked back, finding no one behind him. The still howling "Plagiarist Ghost" was dragged away like a dead dog; clearly, the other party meant him. Still uncertain about the fishing magnate''s identity, Chen Fei took a deep breath and walked briskly over, softening his steps as he approached the pier. "Come, sit!" The other man unfolded a small stool, gesturing for Chen Fei to sit down. "Hello, sir, may I ask..." "I''m Louis, Louis Landon." Before Chen Fei could finish, the other had preempted him with an answer. "Ah?" Chen Fei was caught off guard. This response left him somewhat blindsided. Who was Louis Landon? He didn''t recognize the name, nor did he recall any Sovereign-level titan going by that name, but it vaguely sounded familiar. Seeing that Chen Fei still looked bewildered, the other smiled gently and said, "As you see, I am that Louis from Louis Industries." "Ah!!!" Chen Fei was somewhat startled by this middle-aged Caucasian man, who looked to be in his fifties. Damn, so it was this big shot; no wonder the security setup could compete with those at the Sovereign Level. His uncle''s National Defense Star Aerospace Company was already a behemoth in the aviation manufacturing industry, yet it still paled in comparison to the big boss of Louis Industrial Company before him. Chen Fei cautiously asked, "So... is there a reason you asked for me?" After all, previously the National Defense Star and the Northern Weapons Industry Group had jointly deployed missiles and combat aircraft, tantamount to arm wrestling with the senior management of Louis Industries who were behind the Hanuman Airborne Group. Could it be that now he was here to settle scores? He feared that the next moment he might be dragged off for a sacrificial offering, likely without even the ability to resist. "Don''t worry, it''s nothing serious. You just happened to pass by, so I took the chance to invite you over for some fishing and a chat," Louis Landon handed over a spare fishing rod. "Really fishing, literally?" Chen Fei was somewhat fearful that the big shot was playing a high-level game and that he himself was just the bait between the teeth, scarcely daring to grunt a response for fear of being tethered to the line and thrown into the water the next second. Chapter 563 563: Section 559 - Grasp with Both Hands The boss of Louis Industrial Company was baiting a hook as he said, "What are you afraid of?" "Oh, nothing, nothing!" Chen Fei picked up the fishing rod handed to him. Although he had never fished before, by observing the other person''s techniques, it seemed manageable. He flicked the rod open, threaded the line, and cast off with a swoosh¡ªoff you go! Plunk! The sound of the hook hitting the water echoed in the distance, rippling the shimmering surface. Louis Landon reminded, "You forgot to put bait on!" Chen Fei startled, remembered indeed that was the case. In his fluster, he had thrown the empty hook into the water, the sharp barb bare of any bait. He hastily reeled the line back in, and just then, the tip of the rod dipped, a faint resistance transmitting through it. Damn, are these fish dumb? Biting on an empty hook! He quickly reeled in, and with a splash, water sprayed onto the dock''s planks as a two-foot-long fish was hauled up. "Uh!" Louis Landon looked over in surprise, thinking this could actually work. Could this be the legendary beginner''s luck, where the fish disregard all rules and bite directly? "Luck, just luck!" Chen Fei grasped the fish by the gills and removed the bare hook. Spotting a fish guard half-submerged in the water, he stuffed it in, thinking he might add a dish later. The big boss of Louis Industrial Company said sourly, "Hmm, enviable luck." He had been sitting desolately all morning, throwing several dozen pounds of bait into fish nests, yet the fish that bit were few and far between¡ªthe longest barely a foot and no more than five in number. The young man had barely dipped an empty hook into the water, yet in a blink, he hauled up a large one, nearly bursting the guard. A few more like that, and the fish guard hanging in the water would certainly be overwhelmed. "Hehe!" Chen Fei smiled. This time, he remembered to bait the hook with a small dough ball. There were three types of bait: dough, meat chunks, and simulation bait. Then he cast the line again. "Fishing requires calmness, the hook shouldn''t sink in the water, it should move, fish like it alive..." He hadn''t finished the word "food" when Louis Landon suddenly saw Chen Fei''s line go taut, a big one below the surface dragging the hook swiftly away. Good lord! With a swoosh. Chen Fei just pressed the line reel when the huge fish he caught was halted and leaped to the surface, seemingly bigger than the first. The fish crashed back into the water, creating a heavy, thudding sound. "..." The bigwig felt that this "Rookie" was not just lucky but had real fateful fortune. "There are quite a few fish here!" Chen Fei hadn''t expected his first try at fishing to continually land big catches. Two fish for an added dish was truly a feast¡ªone fried, one grilled. "Once you''re past the beginner protection period, you''ll be just like me!" Thinking of his own time, just like Chen Fei, starting with back-to-back catches and boasting as an expert, yet garnering fewer as time passed, Louis Landon''s heart settled again. With a swoosh, another big fish was pulled from the water. Louis Landon''s eyes popped as he took a deep breath and stared at his bobber, saying, "You can leave now." The bobbing float on the water remained utterly still. Letting the opponent continue with such fortune, this bigwig was likely facing the contemptuous gaze of the minor characters¡ªdid this young man really deserve it? Better get far away quickly. "Huh?" Chen Fei still wanted to catch a few more, to make the extra meal even more abundant. His neck tightened as if someone lifted him, suddenly moving his perspective far away. By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing on the shore. Turning back, there was still no one! There were shadows of a few people lurking nearby, seemingly immobile, completely unknowing who had done it. Damn! No wonder the bigwig sat fishing alone by the water, daring to let such a stranger sit next to him. If he dared harbor any crooked ideas, would he be reincarnated in the next second? "I was just about to tell you, Mien Solo''s actions are his own and do not represent the stance of Louis Industries." Louis Landon didn''t look back, waving his hand as his voice carried far into Chen Fei''s ears. Who is Mien Solo? Chen Fei was baffled, wondering why he couldn''t understand what the bigwig was saying. The next second, he found himself farther from the shore, the bigwig of Louis Industries already a hundred meters away, his hand weighed down as he looked down. Three large fish were strung together with a grass rope, somehow placed into his hand, still twitching with life. "Hey hey hey, don''t push, don''t push!" A wave of complaints was heard, and he saw the "Plagiarist Ghost" being shoved over. "''Plagiarist Ghost,'' your leg?" Chen Fei looked at the other''s left leg with suspicion; it seemed unscathed, as if it had never been crushed by his foot. "There you go! Look, good as new!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" proudly shook his left leg, hopping on the spot a few times, only to suddenly notice Chen Fei approaching with a menacing look in his eyes. "Eh? Damn it, what, what are you doing, don''t come closer! Ah... my leg!" "Look how capable you are!" Chen Fei, holding a fish in one hand, swept the other to the ground with his foot. The "Plagiarist Ghost" unsurprisingly broke his leg again, rolling on the ground while clutching it. Attaching his leg back on was a redundant act, and Chen Fei was not the least bit grateful for it. As a captive, it''s better to be honestly immobilized. "You, you are a devil!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" glared at Chen Fei while gasping in pain. Having his leg broken twice in a row, this kind of tragedy could hold a grudge for a lifetime. "Pot calling the kettle black, you''re the Plagiarist Ghost!" Chen Fei scoffed; this verbal fight was meaningless. He sized up the other and said, "What about your special ability? Has it recovered?" Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power was not affected by the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, and of course, he had no idea whether an antidote had been administered. The "Plagiarist Ghost" said in exasperation, "No, how could it!" "That''s good, let''s get going!" Chen Fei bent down, grabbed the other person''s collar, and dragged him away, one hand with the fish and one with the captive¡ªenjoying managing both tasks. "Get going? Where? Hey, hey, explain yourself, ouch... easy, my leg!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" was truly scared of this ruthless devil; once bereft of his special ability, he was less than nothing, devoid of any capacity to resist or fight back, completely powerless. Chen Fei dragged the squealing "Plagiarist Ghost" onto a nearby Hover Infantry Armored Vehicle and greeted the waiting armed personnel. "Take us to the Comprehensive Center, thanks!" Not planning to stay for a meal and having returned the captive meant that the big boss wouldn''t make things difficult for him, making it through a risky situation unscathed and thus he could finally relax. The cabin doors closed, and the compartment slightly moved, smoothly beginning to hover. Fifteen minutes later, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" suddenly announced that the civilian communications channel had been restored. Chen Fei took out his phone, and sure enough, there was a deluge of messages, text and missed calls. No need to check the text messages, easy to guess what they were about. He dialed back the missed call number. Just after the ringtone sounded once, Miyoshi Monk''s voice, along with a slew of questions, bombarded him. "Hey, ''Rookie,'' are you still alive? Where have you been? Why are you only calling me now?" The sudden loss of contact had given Miyoshi Xuesen a bad feeling. Lately, the Huntsman Squad had been facing a slew of misfortunes; some members died or were incapacitated, and the newcomers weren''t a match in skills or team chemistry, hardly a strong addition. Finally encountering an old teammate with good coordination, Miyoshi Monk genuinely did not wish for Chen Fei to encounter any mishaps; otherwise, he would lack a dependable person again. Chen Fei tested the waters, saying, "Of course I''m still alive, went fishing just now, believe it?" "I believe you''re lying!" The normally calm and confident Monk finally couldn''t help but lose his composure. Going to capture someone and absurdly ending up fishing¡ªrelaying this tale certainly required someone to believe it! "Wait for me at the Comprehensive Center, I''ll be there soon." Chen Fei reassured him, sparing the Monk unnecessary worry. "The person? Did he escape again? This guy is pretty hard to capture; next time it''ll be even tougher." Miyoshi Xuesen speculated that with continuous mishaps during the capture, the "Plagiarist Ghost" would surely seize the chance to escape, and "Rookie" would likely return empty-handed. "No, captured him, he''s right at my feet." Chen Fei gave the Monk some good news. "What? You caught him? Sss..." Miyoshi Xuesen deeply inhaled, as fortune turned in their favor, he spoke again, "You really helped a lot this time." Who would have thought, amid so many mishaps and uncertainties, Chen Fei managed to successfully capture the "Plagiarist Ghost"? If it were the other rookies from the Huntsman Squad, it''d probably have been a fruitless endeavor. "No big deal, don''t worry, he won''t be running anywhere this time." Chen Fei nudged with his shoe the once again handcuffed hands of the. "Are you the devil then? I can only hop on one leg, not run!" The "Plagiarist Ghost" heard Chen Fei talking to someone, furiously screaming in outrage until a big fish smacked him in a fishy kiss, numbing his senses. If he could, he would have lashed out long ago. Half an hour later, the Hover Infantry Armored Vehicle pulled into the Comprehensive Center at "Abyssal Gladiatorial" on Chen Fei''s directive and stopped. Miyoshi Monk was standing there with a few people, looking baffled as they observed the sovereignty active tactical vehicle stop in front of them. As the rear hatch opened, Chen Fei casually got out, a fish in one hand, and a captive in the other. "This..." The Monk didn''t bother looking at the incessantly complaining "Plagiarist Ghost"; instead, his eyes intensely focused on the item Chen Fei was carrying in his other hand. Three large fish dangled limply from a grass rope. So... he really did go fishing?! Capturing a fugitive, but running off to catch fish halfway through; such an absurd tactic was beyond comprehension. Where on earth did he catch those fish? Chapter 564 564: Section 560 - Telephone The hover infantry armored vehicle slowly moved away. Peng Shutian, the former leader of the National Defense Star Aerospace Design Department who likes to latch onto others for support, had long since disappeared without a trace, and his "Plagiarist Ghost" special ability teammates were nowhere to be seen, probably having recognized the reality of facing the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee behind the Monk. If anyone dared cause trouble again, Miyoshi Xuesen wouldn''t mind packing them all together, it would only mean an extra pair of chopsticks in the big jail. Chen Fei pushed the hopping "Plagiarist Ghost" towards Miyoshi Xuesen. "He has been injected with a supernatural ability suppressant, so he''ll be safe for at least a week, and update your information, this guy can copy five abilities and maintain them for 24 hours, he''s kept it way too deep." "Five abilities, 24 hours?" Miyoshi Xuesen, coming back to his senses, showed a look of surprise; such "ability copying" was simply too exaggerated. The vast majority of supernatural power users, after their Awakening, often have only one of the eleven major elemental systems, and dual-element ability users are extremely rare, not to mention triple-element ones are unheard of. The sudden emergence of a five-element ability user, even if temporary, only able to maintain the abilities for 24 hours, was still shocking. No wonder this "Plagiarist Ghost" had been so difficult to capture, using multiple abilities at once, not to mention ordinary people, even ability users had a hard time catching him. "Hmph!" Having his biggest secret exposed and left with nothing hidden, the "Plagiarist Ghost" snorted, then glowered at Chen Fei, grinding his teeth with a venomous threat. "You just wait, as long as I''m alive, I will copy your ability next time, and then use it to deal with you." This time it hadn''t been a success, mainly because he was injected with the supernatural ability suppressant, which made even his original abilities malfunction, let alone the copied abilities of others. Chen Fei said indifferently, "Keep glaring, and I''ll break your other leg too, haha, and by the way, you''re welcome to try and copy my ability!" The threat from the "Plagiarist Ghost" meant nothing to him. It would be best if he also took the Dog System, which can''t even fart after eating three sticks, when copying abilities. This stingy Dog System always hung useless skills in the "Skill Shop" to cheat him of his energy points without giving away any good ones, nothing like the AI "Adam" which was more useful. "Adam" might still not be truly tamed, but at least it was able to work, so what''s the use of the Dog System? "You''ve worked hard, leave the rest to me!" Miyoshi Xuesen nodded and waved his hand. Two people approached from a distance, not dressed as ninjas, eyeing Chen Fei curiously while also offering an awkward smile. They seemed to be new recruits after most of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division had disbanded and were lacking in real combat experience, otherwise their gaze towards Chen Fei would likely be filled with provocation rather than being devoid of aggression and hostility as it was now. The two, one on each side, neatly took the "Plagiarist Ghost" away, showing some training, at least not entirely clueless. "Newcomers joined later?" Chen Fei glanced at the two, then turned his gaze back to Miyoshi Monk. "They are fairly obedient!" Miyoshi Xuesen understood the meaning behind Chen Fei''s gaze, put his palms together, and shrugged his shoulders. Apart from being obedient, they had no other strengths. "That must be tough for you!" Chen Fei expressed his sympathy with a double entendre for Miyoshi Xuesen, who lacked capable subordinates and yet had to undertake high-risk missions. Even if he were still in the Huntsman Squad with his former colleagues, the outcome probably wouldn''t be much better now. The zero-tolerance stance of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee managed to kick Chen Fei out of Miyoshi Xuesen''s hands which, in a sense, had also helped him dodge a bullet. Miyoshi Xuesen took out his mobile phone, tapped it a few times, then said, "5 million Star Yuan, it''s been transferred, check your account." There had been no set price agreed between him and Chen Fei, payment was made and the prisoner was handed over, very straightforward. However, personal income tax still needed to be taken care of by individuals. Chen Fei''s mobile phone beeped. After glancing at the screen, Chen Fei waved his hand and said, "Pleasure doing business with you, see you next time." He gestured to the three big fish in his hand and added, "Want one? I just caught it, it can be braised or turned into soup." "Amitabha!" Although he came from a family of Monks, he wouldn''t eat meat carelessly, so he politely declined. ``` He really couldn''t understand whether Chen Fei was going to catch a person or actually going fishing. "If there''s nothing else, then I''m leaving!" "Amita?bha Buddha!" Once free of entanglements, the Monk actually became a rather dull person; otherwise, he wouldn''t have enjoyed the solitude of dim lights and brewing tea so much. As he watched Chen Fei''s figure disappearing into the distance, Miyoshi Monk finally withdrew his gaze, turned his head towards "Plagiarist Ghost," who still had an unruly face, and his countenance fell. His voice seemed to freeze the air instantly, devoid of any emotional fluctuations, he said, "Take him away. If you dare resist, break his limbs!" Chen Xiao''er set a good precedent, and the Monk gladly followed suit. "What the! Hey hey hey, you can''t be serious, right? Why are you all like this, eh? Ah? Ahh ahh ahh?" The "Plagiarist Ghost" was shocked, finding everyone followed the same pattern, all so ruthless. Having broken his left leg twice in succession, he simply couldn''t stand to hear the words "break" anymore. Cursing and yelling in frustration, he was propped up and taken away by two people. He could sense the eager atmosphere brewing; it seemed these two were actually looking forward to breaking his other three limbs, or perhaps all four... Carrying three fish, Chen Fei got into the driverless taxi and pondered for a moment before instructing the taxi to head towards the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s territory. It wasn''t exactly appropriate to go there; both parties needed to avoid any appearance of impropriety. The man who had contacted Chen Fei on his own, Peng Shutian, was unconditionally fired, losing his golden job, which meant that National Defense Star had made its position clear. They had no intention of peeking at the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s "Canglong" project through such means and wanted to maintain the rules of healthy industry competition. Since the industry peer had taken such a stance, the Northern Weapons Industry Group should also show some response. It seemed the suspicion between Chen Fei and Shen Fei and her father had been cleared, and the stance between the two parties had returned to the beginning. Chen Fei was not adept at these kinds of underhanded dealings, but he could still see clearly. It wasn''t National Defense Star who had fired Peng Shutian, but his uncle. If the Northern Weapons Industry and National Defense Star were to reverse roles, the outcome of this matter would probably not be so simple. The driverless taxi stopped in the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s residential area. Chen Fei took out his phone and dialed the number. "Hello, Chen Fei, where are you?" Shen Fei lowered her voice, with the sounds of other people occasionally mixing in, seeming to be in a meeting. "I caught three fish and would like to borrow your canteen to prepare them. Call your father over and let''s have fish for lunch together." One person couldn''t possibly eat so much fish in one meal; it was expected not only to involve Shen Fei and her father but also colleagues from Jiu Defense Company. The more people, the better ¨C the goal was to finish it all in one sitting. Despite how easily he carried them, a regular person would probably need a large basket slung on their back to carry such a distance. The Jiu Defense Company''s dormitory area simply lacked the facilities to cook, and even if they had all the pots and pans, they had no ingredients whatsoever. He couldn''t produce so much only with his Special Ability. Xiao Jiu''s Leg Ring did contain some supplies, but things like green onions, ginger, garlic, and cooking wine were indeed missing. Shen Fei whispered, "Hey, they''re talking about you in the meeting right now. It''s not convenient for us to meet." Her father, Shen Songling, had already reminded her they needed to lay low for a while to avoid drawing attention. Chen Fei reminded her, "It''s convenient, very convenient. National Defense Star has already fired Peng Shutian. You should have received the news by now." "Who fired him? Who''s Peng Shutian?" Shen Fei was confused. Chen Fei said, "The one who met with me in the bar. He had a pretty rough morning! You can verify this news. I''m at the main gate of the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s residential area, waiting for your message." "I got it!" Teacher Shen immediately grasped the situation and understood the implications. Just then, in the meeting room, a vice president of the group company was challenging Shen Songling. Although it was not explicitly stated, the implications suggested Shen Fei''s father was colluding with outsiders. "Wait for my call!" Shen Fei hurriedly told Chen Fei and hung up, raising her hand and immediately standing up. All eyes in the meeting room converged on her. Old Shen didn''t know what had happened to his daughter, but after the phone call from who knows where, she seemed like a different person, taking the initiative to stand up to speak at such a critical moment. He gave his daughter a sharp look, signaling her not to act rashly. "Is there something you want to say?" The vice president who had been confronting Shen Songling paused his address, looking perplexedly at Old Shen''s daughter. "I just received news that National Defense Star has fired Peng Shutian; he''s the one who met with Chen Fei." Shen Fei''s voice was clear in the meeting room. ``` Chapter 565 565: Section 561 - Questioning "Huh?" The Vice President facing off with Old Shen paused, then questioned, "Secretary Shen, where did you get this information? This is a meeting room; we don''t accept hearsay or rumors." "This information comes from one of the parties involved; it''s completely reliable." Whether Old Dad could survive this ordeal, Teacher Shen had placed all his bets on Chen Xiao''er. "Who?" The Vice President was startled again and didn''t respond immediately. The others in the meeting room did respond, immediately causing quite a stir. "Firing people, what does that mean?" "Failing to achieve their goal and then cutting off the tail to pass the buck, they''re really decisive!" "Decisive? No, ruthless, with such a small mindset, who would sacrifice themselves for them in the future!" "..." The meeting room, which was already fraught with confrontation, now became even more chaotic. The Vice President, who had been targeting Shen Songling from the start of the meeting, loudly said, "Please, quiet down, I still want to hear Secretary Shen''s answer." Finally, the meeting room calmed down. "It''s Chen Fei, Chen Fei just told me, his uncle is Chen Haiqing, the chairman of National Defense Star." Chen Fei''s kinship with the chairman of National Defense Star was no secret, so Shen Fei could disclose it openly. "It''s that guy again, are you sure this isn''t some kind of plot?" The Vice President still refused to believe it. To favor their own kin and dismiss loyal subordinates, from any perspective, wouldn''t that be an unwise leader? If that were really the case, how could National Defense Star Aerospace Company have possibly grown to rival the historically long-standing Northern Weapons Industry Group? It would be a complete joke! "Chen Fei hasn''t worked for National Defense Star, not from the start!" Shen Fei really was qualified to make this statement. Having just completed his undergraduate studies, Chen Fei traveled all the way to the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area; before reporting to the 911 Aircrew Base, his first stop was at the Patan Mountain Area Elementary School, which she managed. Even if he really was connected to National Defense Star, why would he need to go to an aircrew base surrounded by barren mountains and treacherous waters? There were better places elsewhere. "Can you ask him to come here? I need to confront him in person!" The Vice President, eager for an opportunity to trouble Shen Songling, truly spared no effort up to this critical moment. "He... is outside!" Shen Fei hesitated for a moment; this was truly a coincidence. The Vice President glanced at both the silent chairman and general manager, then resolutely said, "Then quickly have him come over!" The two big bosses rarely made their stances clear, but once they spoke, the decision would be final. "Okay!" Shen Fei was very aware that at this critical juncture, the only person who could help her father turn the situation around was Chen Fei. She immediately dialed the number. - "Chen Fei, what are you doing here?" Having just dealt with the richies in the exhibition area, Young Master Nangong, feeling nearly drained, suddenly saw Chen Fei sitting in front of the campsite gate and sharply snapped at him. On such a tense and crucial moment, he dared to show up proactively, wasn''t he afraid of being caught by the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s security? You''d think the company executives were nearly at each other''s throats because of him. Even the "Canglong" project team could smell the strong scent of gunpowder from above. "I came to borrow some oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and some ginger garlic for these three fish. I''m preparing them for dinner; are you coming to have some fish?" Chen Fei gestured to three large fish at his feet; the doorman, being kind, had placed some plastic sheets under them to keep off the ground sand. With such hot weather, if he didn''t handle them quickly, they would probably start to stink soon. A few flies drawn by the smell of the fish started to gather, but as soon as they got close, they became snacks for the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu. In just that short while, more than a dozen fat flies ended up in Xiao Jiu''s crop. "Where did you get these fish?" Nangong Ruiyang''s mouth twitched, this surname Chen really knew how to cause a stir, procuring three big fish out of nowhere ¨C wouldn''t it have been nicer to just go eat at a restaurant? "A bit far from here, it''s a large lake. Some kind person lent me a rod; the fish in the lake are particularly dumb. On my first cast, I forgot to bait the hook, and they dared to bite it anyway, and then whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, I hooked two more, then I came back." Chen Fei gestured in the direction and succinctly introduced the origin of the fish. Nangong Ruiyang felt he was also foolish to talk so much with him, and immediately said in irritation, "You''d better hurry up and go. If someone sees you, you won''t be able to leave." Now that the Northern Weapons Industry Group and National Defense Star Aerospace Company were at odds again, the situation was so tense that even the employees had just had a fight, causing quite a stir. Chen Fei, as one of the catalysts for this sudden incident, boldly sat there. Did he have nerve, or perhaps nerve, maybe even nerve? If it had been Nangong Ruiyang himself, he probably would have longed to find a secluded place to hide and avoid the immediate scrutiny. At that moment, Chen Fei''s phone started ringing, and the caller was Teacher Shen Fei. "Hey, Chen Fei, come to the conference room, it''s on the fourth floor to the left of the entrance, someone will meet you there," "May I come in? However, I need to stop by the canteen first." At the entrance of the camp, Chen Fei immediately spotted the building where the conference room was located. "Then hurry up!" Shen Fei remembered the main reason Chen Fei had been summoned. "Alright!" After hanging up, he turned to face Young Master Nangong, who was growing increasingly impatient, and with a spread of his hands, said, "I can''t get away!" "Eh?" Nangong Ruiyang''s facial expression gradually lost control. You''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you! - After dropping off three big fish at the canteen and asking the master chefs to handle them, Chen Fei washed his hands and headed to the conference room floor. Upon entering the conference room, he sensed a peculiar atmosphere in the air. It was quite easy to guess the current predicament of Uncle Shen. The two industry giants were already competitors, and the rash actions of small players could easily become a spark that escalates disputes. Coincidentally, Chen Fei had successfully borrowed the "Canglong" shell from Northern Weapons Industry. If it were just the shell, it might have been okay, but once it''s publicly displayed, the secrets of the aerodynamic design could no longer be kept. To make matters worse, Chen Fei had allowed this shell to fly and had won a duel. If the subsequent events hadn''t occurred, there would have been no escalation of confrontation between Northern Weapons Industry and National Defense Star. Ironically, a design team leader trying to make his name collided head-on into this situation, and although he achieved nothing, manipulative individuals took it and ran with it, creating irretrievable complications. "Shen Fei, Uncle!" Chen Fei greeted the two people he knew first. "Little Chen, come, sit here!" Shen Songling waved him over. Keeping his daughter away from him previously was one thing, showing closeness now was another. Both parties were now grasshoppers on the same string, and further division might provide an opportunity for others. "Chen Fei, let me introduce you, this is the chairman of Northern Weapons Industry Group..." Secretary Shen Fei was very competent, and immediately went through the names and positions of everyone in the conference room for Chen Fei. "Greetings, distinguished leaders!" Instead of greeting each person individually, Chen Fei bowed respectfully to everyone present. The vice president surnamed Liu, who was pressing Shen Songling, waited for the introductions to finish and Chen Fei to sit down before immediately and unapologetically asking, "So to get to the point, Little Chen, did you borrow the ''Canglong'' advanced fighter from the exhibition spot to spy on National Defense Star''s core secrets of Canglong?" Chen Fei was taken aback and puzzled, said, "You mean that shell contains the secrets of ''Canglong''?" Before being placed in the exhibition spot, the aerodynamic design was indeed a secret, but after being publicly displayed, it could no longer be considered a secret, especially since Northern Weapons Industry Group put it there themselves. "..." Goodness, it was like the first move of Tai Chi "the defensive slap," Chen Fei''s response caught Vice President Liu somewhat off guard. The conference room was silent, and Shen Songling slightly raised the corners of his mouth, unable to conceal a trace of amusement. Emphasizing the secrecy at this point was simply making a fool of oneself. "Are you working for National Defense Star?" Vice President Liu was not going to let Chen Fei off easily, looking for a breakthrough from him. "My contract is with Jiu Defense Company, do you know what ''Jiu'' is?" Chen Fei pointed to the Little Bird that had somehow hopped onto Shen Fei''s hand. "Jiu!" Realizing that Chen Fei was pointing at itself, the Little Bird crowed proudly. Now everyone knew that this military contractor''s odd company name was actually derived from this little bird. Such a small creature was even the company''s mascot. Chen Fei''s words also proved that he had no ties whatsoever with National Defense Star. His relation to Uncle Chen Haiqing was by blood, but there was absolutely no familial connection to National Defense Star; public matters remained public, private matters private. Besides, the shares of National Defense Star weren''t solely held by his uncle; there were several other shareholders, and it had even less to do with the Chen Family Gate. "Then can you tell me, where did the internal design of the ''Canglong'' you brought out come from?" After failing twice in his probing attempts, Vice President Liu kept pressing, truly cornering him this time. "The ''Canglong'' shell and the flying ''Canglong'' are two different things." "It came from..." Even Shen Songling couldn''t help but prickle his ears at this moment. Chapter 566 566: Section 562 - Dispute "From the MiG-28, F-22 ''Raptor'', Crystal Jet ''Holy Grail'', and an unnamed high-copy Crystal Jet." Chen Fei candidly confessed, without any concealment or reservation. After all, he had even shown the design blueprints of the Crystal Jet to the designers of the "Canglong" project, so what was a little more information to him? The design reference samples for the "Canglong" advanced combat aircraft had also come from these aircrafts, as generated by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." Even the Crystal Jet that Chen Fei himself had rigged up at the start, which crashed at least eight times a day, was based on these aircrafts. However, it was entirely different from the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s "Canglong" project¡ª they were not even on the same development track. The Northern Weapons Industry Group''s senior executives, who were all focusing intently on the hoped-for substantial answers, appeared utterly baffled. Huh? What did I just hear? MiG-28? F-22 ''Raptor''? Crystal Jet ''Holy Grail''? An unnamed high-copy Crystal Jet? Apart from the "Holy Grail," are the other three even normal? Though I am not sure about the performance of those two Crystal Jets, any random combat aircraft from the production line of the Northern Weapons Industry Group would surely outperform the MiG and the "Raptor," wouldn''t it? Not to mention the F-22 which had been retired for who knows how many years. Are you serious about pitching something like the MiG-28, a mere toy? "Ahem!" Old Shen wanted to laugh but dared not, fearing he might spoil the awkward atmosphere permeating the room, so he pretended to cough, letting out the laughter he had been holding back in his lungs. What a mess of things! With this level, you still wish to tackle the "Canglong" advanced combat aircraft? Even if you placed the blueprints in front of this kid, he probably wouldn''t understand them! "Are you, are you joking?" Vice President Liu''s face flushed and then paled, finding the response utterly preposterous. "I am not lying, it''s all true!" Chen Fei quickly raised his hand in assurance, his face the picture of innocence. "You''re lying!" "Hahaha, that joke could make me laugh for a year." "Is this some kind of clashing comedy act? All such ferocious words you utter!" "If that were possible, we at Northern Weapons Industry might as well shut down, given all the research funding we''ve poured in. What a tragic waste!" The executives present were beginning to lose their composure, while their secretaries and assistants behind them had long been laughing uncontrollably. "What he said is true, I can vouch for him!" Unexpectedly, Teacher Shen stood up and the conference room fell silent once again. "Secretary Shen, are you serious?" In public, Liu Vice President referred to Shen Fei as Secretary Shen; in private, he also had to call her great-niece. Public is public, private is private. He confronted Old Shen, but he wouldn''t arbitrarily direct his anger at his great-niece. "Although Chen Fei is a B-grade Metal Ability User, his Special Ability can reach an industrial level, plus he possesses the ''Sacrifice'' skill, allowing him to freely replicate any industrial machine product. One man, in this case, is equivalent to a high-precision mechanical factory, so his statement is entirely plausible." Shen Fei''s voice clearly resonated with everyone present. Those who had been losing their composure slowly resumed a serious demeanor. Industrial-grade ability users are rare gems, and here was one right before them. Ah, wait¡ª the man''s uncle is a fiercest competitor of the Northern Weapons Industry, the chairman of the National Defense Star; what a pity, what a pity... Many people showed a hint of regret in their eyes. Initially, the "Canglong" project team had wanted to recruit this young man named Chen, which even came up during a management meeting of the group, yet, as many had anticipated, it was rejected. If only he had no familial ties with the chairman of the National Defense Star. The development budget for a combat aircraft easily starts at billions, not to mention the years, if not decades, it takes, consuming the life''s work of the top experts in the field. The risks involved in such an endeavor were simply too great for anyone to bear. In ancient times, for such national armaments, who dared to be reckless? The slightest mistake could lead from the mere eradication of a family to complete extinction. "What use is industrial-level ability alone? A fighter jet is a systematic project, involving aerodynamics, main engines, avionics, flight control, dynamic balance, radar¡ªare these all things one person can handle?" Vice President Liu sneered, pinpointing the impracticality in the argument. A mere industrial-grade ability user, though rare, certainly isn''t capable enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Northern Weapons Industry, much less build a nation on his own. In some ways, any major aerospace manufacturer is like a small country. "I have artificial intelligence AI; to put it precisely, I handle execution, it handles design. Hardware is my domain, software is its." Chen Fei calmly continued the discussion. Whether it''s the industrial-grade ability or the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," none of these were secrets. Northern Weapons Industry even acquired their "Adam" from Chen Fei, having forged a relationship long ago. "An AI? Is there really such a powerful AI?" Vice President Liu momentarily didn''t consider "Adam." Chen Fei kindly reminded, "''Adam'', the artificial intelligence AI ''Adam'' that your corporate group holds, was indeed obtained from me." "''Adam''? Can it also be used?" The general manager of the Northern Weapons Industry Group finally showed some emotion. Just as Chen Fei had said, one capable of handling software design and strategic deductions, the other able to materialize those plans, such a perfect match was indeed possible. "''Adam'' was originally a core AI for a fighter jet, which is exactly its specialty." Inside ''Adam''s core was a specific model for deducing combat aircraft, if it were replaced with another AI, Chen Fei really couldn''t guarantee that it could be done. "Then can we review this design plan?" Vice President Liu, feeling increasingly unable to control the situation, changed the subject. Standing at his level, he no longer quibbled over every small gain and loss, but was looking at a big strategy and the outcome of major trends. He had never thought that just this move could bring down Old Shen, as far as the real situation was concerned, everything was just beginning. Chen Fei didn''t cater to the other''s probing but instead asked wearily, "You don''t have a mature design plan for ''Canglong,'' do you?" The second form of Tai Chi Fist "Heartbreaking Kick," was both ruthless and vicious. The expressions of many people in the conference room immediately soured, hitting someone specifically in the face, that remark was intentional, right? Even Shen Fei''s father, Vice President Shen Songling of the corporate group, was somewhat embarrassed. Wasn''t this obvious? The "Canglong" project team had made slow progress after a recent crash, and according to the original plan, the preliminary design wouldn''t be ready for another two years, not something you could just have immediately as if it were a Lego set. "So..." Chen Fei spread his hands, smiling meaningfully at Vice President Liu, the implication clear without explicit statement. You''re daydreaming! The conference room fell into an awkward standoff. Honest words don''t need a shield, putting aside the shell of "Canglong," if another advanced fighter jet''s aerodynamic design was available, Chen Fei and "Adam" could likewise assemble another fighter jet''s scheme. So talking about shells was utterly meaningless, only garnering disrespect, which was the source of the embarrassment, beyond the capacity of Northern Weapons Industry to handle. "You should prove your own innocence, we are responsible for reviewing." Vice President Liu said this phrase through gritted teeth. If they really had to argue about this, his words could not stand any ground. "Then... may I apply for a patent first? Then we all sign a confidentiality agreement, it would be good for you, me, everyone!" Chen Fei maintained his hands spread out and even shrugged his shoulders additionally. Despite being alone facing the bigwigs of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, he showed no signs of fear, instead firmly seizing the initiative. Before this, Chen Fei had gone fishing with the big boss of Louis Industrial Company, a fact he could boast about for three years, let alone facing the bigwigs of the Northern Weapons Industry who were all local folks, they wouldn''t harm him regardless. "No!" The conference room fell silent, even Chen Fei hadn''t expected that the person to object would be Old Shen. Chen Fei looked at Teacher Shen, what''s your father''s intention? We''re clearly on the same side, yet you suddenly fire off a shot catching me off guard. "If your plan is the optimal solution, once a patent is applied for, it would mean cutting off ''Canglong''s'' future." Some things shouldn''t be discussed openly, but father''s words indeed put Chen Fei in an awkward position, Shen Fei no longer covered up, disregarding the corporate group''s dignity, openly explained everything clearly. Although Northern Weapons Industry Group could rely on its rich capital, extensive social relations, and sufficient legal resources to easily crush the common people, never forget, behind Chen Fei was a behemoth. Once involved in a patent lawsuit, Chen Fei was definitely not a match for Northern Weapons Industry, but involving National Defense Star would complicate matters. The dismissal of a design team leader was enough to show the great uncle''s level of concern for his own nephew. Although many investments had been made in the "Canglong" project, it wasn''t worth causing a standoff that could only lead to mutual hurt for the whole corporate group, as this would only amuse the outsiders gratuitously. Even without National Defense Star initiating the dismissal of the parties involved and making a stance, Northern Weapons Industry Group would reach a tacit agreement with the opposing higher-ups within the next two days to peacefully resolve the situation. So even though the conflicts between the two firms were heatedly discussed, it was limited to personal grievances of the people below and hadn''t escalated to a mega collision between the corporations. "Indeed, that''s how it is!" Shen Songling couldn''t deny it, embarrassed. He was forced, if the "Canglong" project had any hope, he wouldn''t have given up easily. "I see!" Chen Fei nodded, somewhat understanding why Old Shen had suddenly spoken in opposition. Vice President Shen personally oversaw the project, which ended without any major success, wasting so much investment and effort, the impact was almost as demoralizing as being criticized by company executives. He then said, "There''s no free lunch in this world, if you want to see the design plan, please show your sincerity." In business talks, understanding is one thing, being taken advantage of another. Since my uncle handles matters officially, don''t blame me, Chen Xiao''er, for being impolite. Chapter 567 567: Section 563 - Probing Out of respect for Teacher Shen, Chen Fei still gave Uncle Shen a chance and didn''t shut the door completely, but he wasn''t planning to offer anything for free either. After all, he was Chen Xiao''er, not some fool, and even while showing off his flair, he could still play the role of Second Uncle. At this stage, Vice President Liu and even the Northern Weapons Industry Group, who had been diametrically opposed to Shen Songling, had undergone a fundamental change in attitude. They were no longer trying to steal the secrets of the advanced combat aircraft "Canglong" from National Defense Star. After all, even the Northern Weapons Industry Group itself did not possess this secret. Even if it did exist, the only mature and battle-tested plan lay in the hands of Chen Fei, an outsider, leaving no excuse to distort the truth. It just so happened that this plan perfectly matched the "Canglong," the aircraft that fulfilled certain specific criteria. For the Northern Weapons Industry Group, managing this situation well could undoubtedly solve a significant problem for the "Canglong" research group, which was in a developmental slump, but poor handling would mean big trouble. Vice President Liu could target Shen Songling directly, but he wouldn''t dare oppose the "Canglong" project, especially now that a mature design plan was in place. Speaking recklessly would offend too many people. At this critical juncture, the "Canglong" project is the true cause, and managing it well might even yield some unexpected rewards. After Chen Fei''s words fell silent, the quiet in the meeting room lasted only a moment before being broken by the buzzing of various whispered conversations. The general managers and chairpersons attending the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" meeting scratched their heads, both feeling mentally exhausted. Being outperformed technically and having research projects snatched up like this was unheard of. Tai Chi''s third move, "Wild Fists Kill the Old Master," a seemingly light mention of "sincerity," carried a significant quantity of information that nobody dared underestimate. - "Chen Fei, you really know how to pose a challenge to people!" Secretary Shen followed Chen Fei to the cafeteria where they watched the master chef wield a cleaver, cleaning and cutting three large fish into consistently sized chunks mixed with scallions, garlic, and cooking wine¡ªprepping them for barbecue, braising, frying, or any other cooking method, proving extremely helpful. Thankfully, the cafeteria of the Northern Weapons Industry camp had a large stove and cleaver, something ordinary kitchen tools at home couldn''t handle; even if they could, it would be extremely strenuous. No one dared casually respond to the last sentence Chen Fei had uttered in the meeting room, so they kicked him out. Instant chaos ensued inside, leaving not just the general manager and chairman scratching their heads. Indeed, all the senior executives of the Northern Weapons Industry Group were feeling a headache over how to propose suitable terms of exchange. After all, Chen Fei was not just any individual; he had the influential National Defense Star backing him, which did not hesitate to strike mercilessly when needed¡ªdarkness at its darkest. The Hanuman Airborne Group, which had opposed Jiu Defense''s "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, was completely annihilated by those sixteen AIM-290D long-range missiles. In modern advanced tactics, a significant portion of a combat aircraft''s firepower actually relies on missiles. The Hanuman Airborne Group, which thought it had the upper hand, actually gained no advantage. Moreover, no one could ignore the actual combat efficacy of these long-range missiles after considering the experience and tactics of the pilots from "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron during the debriefing. "No, the person facing a challenge is me, caught between National Defense Star and Northern Weapons Industry, unable to side with either, particularly as I have no direct stakes with either group," Chen Fei smiled innocently at Shen Fei, then added, "Besides, hasn''t Uncle Shen already weathered a crisis because of this?" As an ordinary citizen, he didn''t want to stir up so much trouble, but in Jianghu, one often doesn''t have control over their own fate, let alone over the course of events. Nevertheless, Chen Fei did not deny the influence of National Defense Star behind him¡ªthe sixteen AIM-290s were undeniable evidence, and the Northern Weapons Industry Group could not overlook this fact. "My father is primarily handling the ''Canglong'' project, and because of your requirements, he is the one with the worst headache," Shen Fei couldn''t help but give Chen Fei a wry look; her father''s unforeseen trouble was entirely due to the other party. This series of tricky maneuvers covered one problem with another, but left the entire "Canglong" project team still mired in difficulties. Shen Songling was even more clueless about how to break out of this vicious cycle. As his daughter, Shen Fei could clearly see how troubled her father was. Joining Chen Fei in watching the fish being chopped up in the cafeteria was also an opportunity to gauge his intentions. Chen Fei pretended to be surprised as he said, "How about I... transfer a Star Yuan?" This statement was too controversial to be made in the meeting room as it would certainly cause an uproar. Of course, the bargain wasn''t so easily struck. Teacher Shen Fei replied irritably, "Are you crazy? If you dare sell a Star Yuan, no one would dare buy it!" She wouldn''t take advantage of such a situation. Selling one Star Yuan was practically equivalent to giving it away for free, but the responsibility linked to one Star Yuan, especially involving combat aircraft, meant the Northern Weapons Industry Group would never risk burying itself for the sake of one Star Yuan. The larger the entity, the more cautious it has to be about taking risks that could potentially capsize it in the sewer. Chen Fei decided to push further. "Then I''ll just give it to Uncle Shen for the great success of his ''Canglong'' project?" A mature design scheme was handed over; even if they didn''t directly copy the answers, the "Canglong" project team would save at least three years of all investments, whether it was time or money, especially the three years of the lifespan of high-end talent, which could be used for many things. At this point, Teacher Shen should quickly jump into the bowl. "Stop fooling around, give it to me straight, what do you really want? I''ll have my father fight for you." Teacher Shen rolled her eyes again; she would not be easily fooled. While everyone was discussing serious matters, this fellow was making a mess of things. For free? Do you believe that the next moment, Vice President Liu''s paranoia might flare up again, suspecting Shen Songling of colluding with Chen Family disciple Chen Fei, in attempting to seek greater benefits, or even plotting to sabotage the Northern Weapons Industry? Shaking off his playful mood, Chen Fei thought for a moment and seriously said, "Hmm, give me some aviation engines and as many Crystal Jet designs as possible." "What do you need these for? Don''t tell me..." Shen Fei frowned, this was playing at a high level, she realized the next moment, slowly opening her mouth wide, and asking as if to confirm, "You''re serious about this!" Chen Fei had previously shown a design blueprint of a Crystal Jet to the experts of the "Canglong" project team. For aviation enthusiasts, reaching this step was the ultimate limit, wanting to go further, it was no longer just a hobby. Chen Fei very seriously said, "Of course it''s real, I''ve crashed not a hundred times, but nearly eighty times." The aviation design resources he could access were incredibly scarce, after all, the Jiu Defense Company was a military contractor, not an aviation manufacturer, and as an end user, even if Boss Hana wanted to support Chen Fei''s hobby, she was powerless to do so, without any chance to touch the upstream production line. Teacher Shen Fei realized that Chen Fei was not joking, and said quite annoyed, "You really are crash-prone!" The guy in front of her was still a living person, without any missing limbs, not even a scratched skin, which meant his supernatural power was quite proficient in personal protection and physical strength, even a disastrous crash couldn''t hurt him at all, truly having steel muscles and iron bones, worthy of being a Metal Ability User. If it were an ordinary person, they probably would have been reincarnated hundreds of times by now. She could even imagine, like such wild test flights, he would continue to crash in the future, even the "Canglong" project team wouldn''t dare to play this wildly. So do you worry about him? Or not? Shen Fei sincerely hoped Chen Fei would partake less in such high-risk activities, even if there really was no life danger, it was still terrifying, and every crash meant a lot of funds vanished into thin air. "Heh, just average, can my condition be acceptable?" Chen Fei didn''t want to put Teacher Shen in a difficult position. However, he wasn''t lacking money now, he had been debt-free for a long time, and had just recently received an account credit of 500 million Star Yuan, presuming more similar incomes would follow, he should not worry about money anymore. With a sigh, Shen Fei could only say, "I''ll ask for you!" She could imagine the Northern Weapons Industry Group would actually prefer Chen Fei to quote a monetary amount; compared to the huge funds invested annually on product development, the group really didn''t lack this bit of money. "Good luck!" Chen Fei gestured a fist pump towards Teacher Shen. "You really are..." Shen Fei couldn''t help but laugh and cry. "The fish have been chopped up, all kinds of seasoning are ready." The canteen''s head chef brought over two large cooking basins and two large bags. The canteen''s head chef brought over two large cooking basins and two large bags, one bag contained flour, the other bag contained various seasonings. "Thank you, thank you, you''ve worked hard!" Chen Fei thanked him while taking the items and then cheerfully said to Teacher Shen, "Let''s go eat fish, a big fish stew in an iron pot." A small hand was grasped and off they went! Once again successfully freeloaded off the Northern Weapons Industry Group. If Old Shen saw this, he would literally explode with rage, not only did he lose the "Canglong," but also ended up involving his daughter. Chapter 568 568: Section 564 - Making Friends "Fish time, fish time, pure wild fish, no pollution at all, fried first, then braised, and finally the leftover braised sauce mixed with hand-pulled noodles." Chen Fei called out all the way back to the dormitory area of Jiu Defense Company, and Teacher Shen was also conveniently brought back, as it was only right! Old Shen: ... The large lake near "Abyssal Gladiatorial" isn''t an artificial breeding area, and for those living in the economic zone, wild fish are quite rare and, even if available, very expensive. Most people at Jiu Defense Company came from the 911 Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, where, let alone large lakes, there weren''t even many streams to speak of, so seeing such large fish was out of the question. Setting up the stove, they stoked the fire with scraps of wood. Mr. Abel, the head chef of the 911 Aircrew Base cafeteria, was trained in both Chinese and Western cuisines. Chen Fei, who had awakened his clan''s natural talents, learned a lot while helping in the kitchen. The most important parts of cooking usually happened just before putting the food into the pot. They put the semi-cooked fish into the big pot of oil, and with a sizzling and crackling, fried it until crispy and golden. Then they soaked it in a sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, and scallions and ginger, draining it after, which was bound to make mouths water. Neither braising nor frying was a technical job. The master chefs from the Northern Weapons Industry Group had already prepared the sauce, and following the procedure would definitely not go wrong. After frying the fish, they poured out most of the oil, leaving just a bit in the bottom. Then they put the raw fish back in, adding scallions, ginger, cooking wine, and braised sauce, frying first and then braising. When the pot began to bubble and burble, people started to gather around. The three big fish together weighed over a hundred pounds; the yield after removing bones and cooking shrinkage was about half, ensuring each person still got at least two pounds of fish meat, not counting the noodles that would come at the end. "Tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk..." Chekhov Big Bear kept shaking his jowls, spitting out fish bones like a machine gun. Freshwater fish often have many bones, and artificially bred ones have fewer due to genetic selection, but the freshness and meat quality often suffer as a result. Wild fish of this size were elusive and could not be caught at will. It was illegal after all. This rare opportunity to eat such a large wild fish was all thanks to rubbing shoulders with the bigwigs. "Here''s the fish head for you!" "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios tossed a big fish head into Chekhov''s bowl. Chekhov Big Bear complained, "Why do I have to eat the head?" He wanted the big chunks of whole meat and didn''t even want the tail. Irinei Rusios replied snappily, "Because you''re the head!" The head eats the head, like cures like; by eating the fish head, one leads the team well. Chekhov looked at the fish head in his bowl, with a troubled expression as if he were staring down an old nemesis. He sneakily glanced towards Boss Hana not far away. He was only a small boss, she was the big boss, so the fish head should go to... "This fish is very fresh!" Hanna Gagel elegantly picked up a piece of fish, blew on the steam, and ate leisurely. The wild fish, naturally born and bred, seasoned by a professional chef, with Chen Fei handling the cooking, brought out the ultimate flavor of the fish. Chekhov hung his head and silently fiddled with the fish head. "''Rookie,'' someone''s looking for you!" Boss Hana''s assistant Lahar suddenly spoke up. "Emmm..." Chen Fei, who had been feasting with others, looked up then followed Lahar''s gaze. Two men in suits and leather shoes were standing not far away, giving respectful looks to the group huddled around the big pot scooping out fish, and when their eyes met with Chen''s, they bowed and then put on a business-like smile. Chen put his bowl aside and walked over, sizing up the two men. He asked, "May I know your names? What brings you to me?" He didn''t know many people at "The Abyss" besides his coworkers from Jiu Defense, his uncle, and Teacher Shen and her daughters. As for others like Miyoshi Monk, it was just business cooperation; one provided money, the other effort, friendship was out of the question. "I''m Jimola Belo from the Boeing Production Department," said the man who was slightly ahead before pointing at the man beside him and introducing, "This is my secretary, Johnson Green." After personally handing over his business card, he then stated matter-of-factly, "No beating around the bush, the design plan for ''Canglong,'' name your price!" Indeed very straightforward, not even a hint of small talk, straight to the point. Chen glanced at the business card: the man was the design supervisor of the production department at Boeing Aerospace Company. Chen liked this way of talking, so he said, "Do you want to hear about my grudge with Boeing?" "..." The men from Boeing Aerospace, Jimola Belo and Johnson Green, blinked, utterly perplexed. What has Chen Someone got to do with Boeing Aerospace to hold a grudge? If it weren''t for ''Canglong'', they wouldn''t even consider Chen Xiao''er worth a glance, just standing here was already giving him a lot of face. Chen cocked his head, feigning confusion, and asked, "Don''t understand? Haven''t you heard?" Jimola Belo suddenly smiled, raised his hands, and bowed slightly, "Ha ha, young man, if there''s been any offense, please forgive us!" Even though he didn''t know the specifics, being polite face-to-face was necessary, but the unspoken subtext might as well have been, "If you''ve been offended, do something about it, if you can?" Being the No.2 manufacturer of Blue Star combat aircraft, second only to Dragoon Magic Industries, Boeing Aerospace certainly had the standing to say such words. And if that wasn''t enough, behind Boeing Aerospace stood the real powerhouse, Louis Industries. That was an entity even Dragoon, the earliest to delve into magic and alchemy, couldn''t match. Chen was very polite as he said, "Sure, let''s call it even with the latest F-46 top edition, as a gesture of apology." A typical case of mistaking the other party''s courtesy for luck and taking advantage to haggle away, expertise level MAX. Damn... Jimola Belo''s eyes twitched as he said with a feigned smile, "Mr. Chen, you really have quite the sense of humor, how could we just casually give away active-duty equipment." "Oh? If I ask my great uncle for it, do you think he would give me one?" Chen Fei looked innocently pure. Ah, this!!! Everybody knew who Chen Fei''s great uncle was, and it was no longer a secret. With a little investigation, one would eventually find out about his relation to the chairman of National Defense Star. His great uncle had even given him active-duty missiles¡ªsixteen of them¡ªnot to mention combat aircraft... no one dared to guarantee he wouldn''t give those too. "Boeing Aerospace can''t do that, it''s truly impossible." Jimola Belo from Boeing Aerospace''s Production Department went from a feigned smile to a forced one. He sincerely talked his way into a dead end, this guy was truly talented, and that''s exactly why you shouldn''t give him the chance to climb up the pole. "Then it''s no fun!" Chen Fei''s enthusiasm waned considerably, with an undisguised pout. "Here''s a small gift, a token of good will!" Hoping Chen Fei would show some mercy, Jimola Belo took an envelope from his secretary and handed it over. "What gift..." Upon receiving it, Chen Fei opened the envelope on the spot and found a cash check inside. Sneaking a peek at the amount, it was 200,000 Star Yuan. Of course, transferring money would be more convenient, but physical cash had more of a ceremonial feel. Whether or not the deal went through, offering 200,000 Star Yuan just for meeting was proof of the financial muscle of the No.2 combat aircraft manufacturer on Blue Star¡ªthey weren''t short on money. "Boeing is really loaded!" This time it was Chen Xiao''er''s turn to pout. It was so extravagantly impressive that he couldn''t help but feel a liking, and if it were another million or eight hundred thousand, he might have liked it even more. Jimola Belo said proudly, "That''s right, Boeing Aerospace is a powerful aerospace manufacturer, so please consider the ''Canglong'' design proposal seriously. My company also welcomes talents like you, offering top-tier industry treatments." "Alright, I''ll consider it." Taking into account that the other party was an aerospace manufacturer even more powerful than National Defense Star and Northern Weapons Industry, Chen Fei didn''t immediately agree, nor did he reject the offer outright. He sighed after watching the two leave. "Another attempt to poach you?" Hanna Gagel silently appeared behind Chen Fei, holding a bowl, which was filled with fish and betrayed her presence with its aroma. Chen Fei confessed, "Yeah! This time it''s from the Boeing Company." He had been poached before, and it wasn''t Boss Hana''s first time learning about it. "You might actually consider it seriously!" How could Boss Hana possibly harbor ill intentions, right?! "Not going!" Chen Fei replied without hesitation, then continued, "It was hard enough switching from a Bachelor in Economics to flying combat jets, let alone moving to aerospace design¡ªlet''s forget it!" Just toying with that Crystal Jet in his possession, he crashed and banged up every single day. Occasional play was fine, but taking it up professionally would really cost him his life. "Are you sure?" Boss Hana''s uncovered right eye narrowed slightly. "Boss, are you firing me?" Chen Fei chuckled. The boss lady''s challenges were hellishly difficult! But luckily, he was a little master at solving problems, capable of dealing with both the question and its creator. "Naughty!" Hanna Gagel chuckled and went back to the large pot with her bowl. - Jimola Belo, the design director of Boeing Aerospace''s Production Department, left the dorm area with his secretary and got into Boeing''s company car in silence. Seeing that Mr. Belo hadn''t said a word, his secretary Johnson Green ventured to ask, "Mr. Belo?" "I know!" Jimola Belo raised his hand to signal that he understood what the secretary meant. Then he continued, "Instruct the legal department to report Jiu Defense for illegal poaching of wild fish. The suspect is Chen Fei¡ªkeep it discreet." Anyone in a managerial position at a behemoth like Boeing Aerospace wasn''t someone to be taken lightly. "What?" His secretary Johnson Green was momentarily stunned. They had just been schmoozing, handing over an envelope with a 200,000 Star Yuan check, and now they were sneakily reporting him? What kind of gambit was this?! "Don''t you get it? When in trouble, seek friends, and Boeing is Chen Fei''s friend!" Jimola Belo explained to his confused secretary with a smile, what meant to make friends in times of distress, and if there wasn''t any distress, create some¡ªhelping someone out in their time of need is better than adding frills to comfort. The hell with where the snow actually came from; don''t mind those details, okay! Chapter 569 569: Section 565 - Seeing Uncle Boeing Aerospace''s main business groups are divided into Civil Aviation (BCA), Space & Security (BDS), Boeing Defense, and Boeing Finance, four major business segments. A company is a little kingdom. To be precise, Jimola Belo, the production design director, actually belongs to the BDS''s military aerospace design and production department, which doesn''t even count as middle management but rather lower-middle tier. But even so, for him to personally meet with Chen Fei, a grass-roots employee of a small military contractor, was indeed a great honor. Even if calculated, it was still a sign of importance. After all, before this, Chen Fei didn''t even have the chance to be glanced at highly. - At the garrison area of National Defense Star Aerospace Company, Chen Fei made a registration at the security checkpoint at the gate. This was his first visit here, but looking through the towering fence, the layout seemed largely similar to the garrison area of the Northern Weapons Industry Group. In Chen Fei''s hand were two bottles of liquor, per Boss Hana''s instructions. National Defense Star had supplied the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron with sixteen AIM-290 long-range missiles, which played a significant role in the duel with Hanuman Airborne Group. To express her gratitude, Hanna Gagel had picked two bottles from her own collection of fine liquors for Chen Fei to deliver to his uncle, Chairman Chen Haiqing of National Defense Star, and to also pay a visit to an elder under the pretense of giving a gift. Jiu Defense Company participated in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" battle just to broaden their horizons, so of course, they didn''t bring alcohol in advance. Thanks to Xiao Jiu''s leg ring, which was sneakily hiding plenty of good liquor, this really came in handy. Previously, he didn''t dare visit to avoid suspicions, but now there was no need for such caution. So what if he, Chen Xiao''er, was related to the chairman of National Defense Star? Unexpectedly, the one who came to meet Chen Fei at the gate was his uncle''s eldest daughter. "Meizhen Sister!" He had only seen his uncle at the train station before and hadn''t seen this elder sister; he didn''t expect her to come as well. "Chen Fei, you are in high demand now! Why did it take you so long to get here? Have you been so occupied with the idea of becoming the son-in-law of Northern Weapons Industry that you forgot you have an uncle at National Defense Star?" Chen Meizhen grabbed Chen Xiao''er and dragged him inside the gate, then vigorously rubbed his buzz-cut head. The Second Brother from his fourth uncle''s family was so outrageous, only coming over now. "Easy, easy, it''s impossible to marry in, the relationships here are too headache-inducing." Chen Fei joked while complaining. Being caught between National Defense Star and Northern Weapons Industry, it was indeed difficult to manage the relations on both sides. Luckily, he was now working as a military contractor, which made him irrelevant to the business and interests of both aerospace manufacturers; otherwise, it would be hard to get along. "We are all family, there''s no need for such formalities. The Chen Family Gate wouldn''t harm you, and since you also carry the Chen surname, the uncle will definitely help you!" Chen Meizhen dragged Chen Fei while people turned to look. The uncle''s eldest daughter had condensed her Battle Qi Seed early and was now an Eighth Rank person of the Thunder Series War Professionals, lifting Chen Xiao''er as easily as if he were a little chick, effortlessly. In this manner, Chen Fei was carried into the General Manager and Chairman''s office. "Xiao Fei, you''re carrying liquor?" Chen Haiqing, busy with countless tasks, had specially arranged some time for his nephew. "Boss''s collection of fine liquor is definitely out of my price range, or more accurately, out of my reach." Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, placed the liquor on the desk, and thus conveyed Boss Hana''s goodwill. "Mm, I know about this. The specific liquor collecting circles are actually quite closed off. Without someone to lead you in, you just can''t get in. Basically, it''s all Old Money playing with these things. Meizhen, put them away, we can use them to entertain guests later." Chen Haiqing nodded at his eldest daughter, signaling her to properly store the two bottles of liquor. He wasn''t part of the liquor collecting circle but had heard about it. It seemed the Gagar Family also belonged to the deeply-rooted Old Money. To be called Old Money, it wasn''t enough just to have money; one must also possess antiques with stories, the more the better, as this elevates the prestige significantly. Many private wineries operate on this model¡ªwithout taking the commercial route, they are nearly unknown outside the circle, but this very rejection of commercialism and their dedicated craft often produces fine wines, which becomes part of the true gold and silver foundation of Old Money. "I don''t understand liquor collection; all I know is I''ve enjoyed my fair share thanks to the boss''s generosity!" Chen Fei scratched his head. He didn''t understand Old Money; being able to drink for free was enough for him. Speaking from the heart, every bottle from the Boss''s collection was quality liquor. "Take a seat; keep me company for a chat!" After signaling Chen Fei to sit down, Uncle Chen Haiqing continued, "That Peng Shutian didn''t cause any trouble for you, did he? I''ve already arranged for someone to send him back home." ``` "No, no trouble at all, a friend helped me out, and in the end, I never saw him again. Actually, Uncle, you really didn''t need to do that." Chen Fei guessed it was probably like this, otherwise, given the other party''s persistent nature, he would definitely have continued to pester him. After all, he was qualified to join National Defense Star, a talent of sorts. It was quite a pity to just let him go like that. "No, people who act on their own are the least desirable. National Defense Star has a big family and business, they don''t lack a few people." Chen Haiqing knew what his nephew was thinking and continued to ask, "Did the Northern Weapons Industry Group put pressure on you? Do you want me to pass a message to them?" Chen Fei was in pursuit of the daughter of a vice-president from the Northern Weapons Industry Group, which he knew. The Northern Weapons Industry Group and National Defense Star were indeed rivals, but this was limited to the realm of commercial competition and didn''t extend to personal relations, so there were public feuds but no private ones. It made no sense to drag one''s personal affairs into one''s professional life; no decent person would do that. So even though the senior management of the Northern Weapons Industry Group knew about it, none would bring it up¡ª"Is the Chen Family eating your rice or something?!" Yet this time, a conflict between employees of the two sides had arisen, and both companies had dealt with their own staff accordingly, especially the group leader of Group C in the National Defense Star Aerospace Design Department who had taken his own initiative and caused a series of consequences, he was fired outright. "No need, I''m the one putting pressure on them." Chen Fei was well-aware of the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s current predicament; they were scratching their heads, and it wasn''t his turn to be bothered yet. He was just a shell, nothing more than a shell, not knowing that it would trigger so many events. "Alright then! Bring Miss Shen from the Shen Family over sometime so I can take a look," Uncle Chen Haiqing nodded, then went on to say, "Looking at you, it seems you really enjoy working at Jiu Defense Company." What Chen Fei did for a living, as his uncle, he clearly knew. But he wasn''t one to worry about the risks. Chen Haiqing himself had faced many life-threatening dangers when he was young. A young man had to go through trials and tribulations to grow. Since he had chosen to venture out into the world, he shouldn''t expect to be a flower in a greenhouse. If something unfortunate did happen, it would just mean bad luck since accidents claim many lives, young and old, male and female. When King Yama calls your name, there''s nowhere to hide. Nobody dares to guarantee against that. Chen Fei thought for a moment and said, "It''s alright! There aren''t too many sinister schemes, and my colleagues are easy to get along with. I prefer this simple work environment." Just after graduating, he had traveled great distances to 911 Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. He had planned to grit his teeth, work his head off for a couple of decades, repay his debt with interest, and then he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, fate had other plans. He not only awakened his Special Ability but also repaid his debts in such a short time, looking back now. Genuine Fragrance! Of course, he was extremely satisfied. Boss Hana didn''t force Chen Fei to do any work he wasn''t willing to do, unlike those outside who were after him. He could just perform normally, and he received his base salary and bonuses in full. Not just Chen Fei, but his other colleagues felt the same. Such a work environment was hard to find even if you searched with a lantern. "Hmm, as long as you''re happy. I thought if things didn''t go well for you, you could come help me. There are many positions in National Defense Star for you to choose from." Chen Haiqing didn''t hide his desire to bring Chen Fei into National Defense Star at all. It''s natural for family members to look out for one another. The Northern Weapons Industry Group could think of it, so why should he as an uncle be secretive about it? "Except for ''Canglong,'' if there''s anything you need help with, just let me know." Chen Fei also knew that his Industrial Grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power was a skill not to be ignored in any field. "Of course, I won''t be shy about asking for your help." Chen Haiqing smiled and patted Chen Fei on the shoulder. "Uncle, you must be busy, so I won''t take up too much of your time. I''ll come to see you another time!" Chen Fei stood up. At his uncle''s level, his daily schedule was incredibly hectic. Having a few words with him was enough to make Chen Fei content. "Alright, then I won''t keep you any longer. Meizhen, see Xiao Fei out." Chen Haiqing had indeed postponed some work at the last minute to chat with Chen Fei and didn''t wish to hold him up any longer. A few minutes later, his eldest daughter, Chen Meizhen, saw Chen Fei off and returned to the office. "Dad, should we give Xiao Fei a heads-up about Louis Industries? The stance of National Defense Star may be a difficult one to manage." Executives from Louis Industries had gotten involved in a duel between the Hanuman Airborne Group and the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron of Jiu Defense Company, and many within the aerospace circle were watching. This meant National Defense Star could not possibly ignore the attitude of Louis Industries, no matter what. "No worries, I''ll handle it," Chen Haiqing waved his hand, not wanting to pass the stress onto others, especially since this was not something his nephew could handle. ``` Chapter 570 570: Section 566 - Strong Department After leaving the barracks area of National Defense Star, Chen Fei headed to the Comprehensive Center to meet up with the people from Jiu Defense Company. Boss Hana and her colleagues from the company were all in the VIP box at the Comprehensive Center, watching the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" duel. Since it was a real combat duel with live weapons, casualties were inevitable, but if one ejected in time and the parachute opened successfully, there was at least a chance to survive. Victory was determined by shootdown, and it wasn''t necessary to fight to the death. Many public and private grievances were settled through the "Abyssal Gladiatorial," just like between the Hanuman Air Service Group and Jiu Defense Company¡ªdead men tell no tales, but the living continue to enjoy the good life, while the losers are completely ruined. Session after session of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" thus unfolded with the stark reality of human life. The VIP box was provided free of charge by the Northern Weapons Industry Group for Jiu Defense Company''s use. As one of the sponsors of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial," they originally had a dozen VIP boxes; allocating one of them was just a matter of a word from Secretary Shen. There was no need to squeeze into the public area''s stands, as the box was comfortably warm, with snacks and drinks, allowing for a comfortable viewing of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" final duels. From a distance, Chen Fei saw that the VIP box belonging to Jiu Defense Company was being blocked by a group of black men. Hana''s assistant, Lahar, was talking to them at the door. Noticing Chen Fei approaching, both parties looked at him simultaneously. The Assistant Lahar nodded to Chen Fei and said loudly, "Mr. Chen, these men are employees of the local Environmental Protection Agency, they''re here for you." "Environmental Protection Agency? For me?" Chen was confused; he had spent most of his time inside the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" venue and hadn''t participated in any actions that would cause people to curse him for destroying the natural environment. "Africa Intercontinental Environmental Protection Agency, I''m First Level Investigator Suman, and these are my colleagues." After Lahar''s introduction, the lead black man showed a work ID, the cover featuring an outline of the Africa Continent with a golden lion emblem, along with the words of the Environmental Protection Agency. In many aspects like sovereignty, environmental protection, human rights, urban management, and taxation, the government departments are powerful and not to be underestimated, sometimes even comparable to the active military. Chen could even sense an unusual confidence and temperament from these people, suggesting the possible presence of an Ability User. But the key point was not that, rather that the other party was exercising the public duties bestowed by sovereignty. "Uh, hello, may I ask why you are looking for me?" Chen could not guess their purpose. He hadn''t set fire to the grasslands of Africa, nor had he hunted any protected rare animals, nor had he brought in any unknown organisms. Surely the Environmental Protection Agency couldn''t be going after creatures as insignificant as the Pure Light Sparrow, could they? There was a biological quarantine permit after all! Africa Intercontinental Environmental Protection Agency''s First Level Investigator Suman put away his work ID and asked, "You ate three fish today, correct?" "Uh, yes!" What''s the issue? Is eating fish a problem now? How stingy can Africa get! Chen was even more confused. "The fish you ate were wild, right?" Suman smiled a victorious smile, as if to say, gotcha! Honestly, Chen replied, "Yes, wild." "So... do you have a fishing permit?" Suman''s imposing manner began to intensify, as if she was gearing up for the killer blow. "Fishing permit?" Chen tilted his head thoughtfully and said, "No, I don''t have one." He didn''t recall having such a thing, and even if he did, it wouldn''t have been of any use. "In that case, please come with us!" Showtime, boys! Suman didn''t speak, but the group of black men who had come with her promptly surrounded Chen securely. As a strong arm of the government, the Environmental Protection Agency was not to be taken lightly. "Regardless of what you intend to do, may we wait for our lawyer to arrive?" Assistant Lahar immediately positioned himself in front of Chen, staring down Suman, the leader of the group, refusing to let them take away a company colleague just like that. Even if they were public officials, they had to proceed according to the rules, and calling for a lawyer was only natural. Having worked with Hana Gagar from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Apocalypse Defense Group, Lahar was exceedingly capable of handling such situations. "..." After a moment of silence, Suman finally said, "Fine!" Everyone had to follow the rules and procedures, no one could overstep them. To everyone''s surprise, Chen spoke up, "Umm... it was someone else who invited me to go fishing, they should have the fishing permit." If someone hadn''t put the fishing rod into his hands, those three wild fish would never have been landed. Suman quickly asked, "Who? Who was it?" Could it be more than one person involved? This could be a major case! Chen honestly replied, "Louis Landon of Louis Industrial Company!" "Louis Landon! Hmm, I''ve noted that." With a serious nod, Suman appeared stunned for a moment, looking at Chen in disbelief before cautiously asking, "The Louis from Louis Industries?" "That''s right, that Louis. It''s more than a hundred kilometers from here; there''s a large lake where I fished. You can check the fishing permit for that area, perhaps there will be some findings." Chen speculated that given Louis Industries'' substantial influence, the bigwig Louis must have arranged all necessary procedures to fish leisurely by the lake. In fact, his guess was not exactly on the mark, but it wasn''t far off either. "Is that so? Wait a moment!" Suman, with a serious expression, raised her hand to signal and then pulled out her cell phone to check the recently approved fishing permits, especially those involving the big lake. Most of the civil and administrative affairs of Sovereignty are public, not only for the convenience of various departments to inquire but also for the ease of the public to search. With the right keywords, it''s easy to find the answer one is looking for, especially with the assistance of AI. A moment later, the First Level investigator from the Environmental Protection Agency found the answer she was looking for. Suman finally lifted her gaze from her phone''s screen. "Mr. Chen, sorry to have disturbed you, I''ll take my leave!" That''s it? "Eh? You''re not going to ask anymore?" Assistant Lahar had been estimating that the lawyer he asked to come should be arriving soon, but he never anticipated that the Environmental Protection Agency officials would back off on their own initiative. Could Louis Industrial Company be so intimidating that just by the mention of it, these public officials are scared off? "I apologize, I have just confirmed that Mr. Chen Fei is not engaged in any illegal fishing activities." Suman slightly bowed and immediately left without turning back, not even indicating a desire to stay a moment longer. The ownership of the lake belongs entirely to Louis Industrial Company, an absolute ownership that includes the rights to agriculture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, mining, tourism, commerce, and industry, to name a few. They were free to fish at will; even if they were to drain the lake dry and pile up a small hill, Sovereignty had no right to question it. So, there''s no issue, no trouble at all... "What''s going on here?" Lahar scratched his bald head, puzzled. "It makes no sense!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, equally clueless and as puzzled as a monk in a fog. It seemed that Louis Industrial Company really was frightening enough to make Sovereignty''s officials beat a hasty retreat. But as an ordinary citizen, whether it was social status or economic strength, he was nowhere near such powerful figures; scooping up three large fish for free was already quite fortunate. "Something''s not right. Could it be Hanuman, or Apocalypse? Sss, who is behind this complication..." Assistant Lahar''s expression became grave. His occupational habit from his days in the Internal Affairs of Apocalypse Defense Group was kicking in again. He didn''t believe that the African Intercontinental Environmental Protection Agency had come all this way to talk to Chen Fei about the matter of three fish. Just like the fight in the dormitory area before, it appeared personal, but in reality, it was a confluence of hidden schemes, ultimately targeting Boss Hana and the entire Jiu Defense Company. Everyone in the Internal Affairs, including Boss Hana, had a tendency toward conspiracy theories, so they were adept at playing political games, already suspecting and plotting against someone now. "Oh, well, you keep thinking then!" Chen Fei wasn''t particularly good at this, so he patted his assistant''s bald head, which looked lost in thought, and then bypassed him to push the door open and enter. "Jiu!" The moment he entered, Little Bird rushed over and landed on his shoulder, chirping excitedly. Hanna Gagel and Teacher Shen Fei each held a light pink champagne glass, and noticing Little Bird''s excitement, they didn''t need to look to know who had come in. On the table, besides the bulky champagne bottle, there was a third flute glass, owned by no one, for it belonged to Xiao Jiu. "You''re back?" The two turned towards Chen Fei''s hands; the wine must have been delivered. A Gagar collection, undoubtedly a fine choice, befitting the chairman of National Defense Star. "Yes, my uncle took some time to chat with me, and I also saw his eldest daughter, Sister Meizhen." Chen Fei sat down beside the two, and Little Bird flew from his shoulder to the flute glass, dipping its tiny head into the base, clearly longing for more. "Such favors aren''t easily repaid, first give him face, and then slowly repay him later!" Because Hanna Gagel saw things clearly, she had Chen Fei bring a modest gift first, a token of his sentiment, to build a good relationship. National Defense Star had assisted the "Genuine Fragrance" squad, seeing Chen Fei''s face, neither she nor Jiu Defense Company could boast such influence. The value of the two bottles of fine wine was far less than those sixteen AIM-290 long-range missiles, not even enough to buy one of them. Even if Hanna Gagel were to give a gift of equal value in return, the other party might not value it, which would actually put her at a disadvantage, as it wasn''t about money. The prestigious National Defense Star Aerospace Company wasn''t interested in such petty profits. Through Chen Fei''s connections, Boss Hana indeed planned to cling to National Defense Star''s substantial support. For a military contractor, it''s not that you can cling to such a high-level support whenever you want. So far, to this day, she still couldn''t hold onto the substantial support from Northern Weapons Industry Group, which was purely due to Teacher Shen''s influence. "Secretary Shen, has there been any movement from my uncle''s side?" After a midday and most of the afternoon, Chen Fei had no qualms about using Teacher Shen to probe the attitude of Northern Weapons Industry Group. It''s a mutual use, no embarrassment about it! Chapter 571 571: Section 567 - Picking Up Trash "The meeting hasn''t ended yet, so they probably haven''t made up their minds!" Shen Fei was quite open about it, as the final outcomes would eventually need to be relayed to Chen Fei anyway. The bigwigs hadn''t left the meeting room, and the morning session continued into the afternoon, with even lunch being served there. Everyone half-heartedly dealt with their meal, unlike the folks at Jiu Defense Company who feasted lavishly on fish stewed in iron pots. After wreaking havoc, Chen Fei took off, leaving everyone in utter disarray. Now, it seemed, he was truly a sly fox! The Northern Weapons Industry Group was hell-bent on acquiring Chen Fei''s "Canglong" design plan and absolutely wouldn''t allow it to fall into anyone else''s hands. They also had to guard against him patenting it on his own, and ... without these steps, there might not be a future for the "Canglong" project team. Aerospace designers often rely on just one project for their entire careers. If someone else cut in, the project team would be forced to disband, its members scattered to other projects. What could have been a crowning achievement would end as merely assisting others. With good luck, one might end up listed toward the end of a team document, but with bad luck, one might retire in obscurity. Chen Fei remarked with regret, "That''s really too bad!" He hoped the Northern Weapons Industry Group would settle on a transaction price soon, so he could ask for an exorbitant amount and negotiate from there, striving for maximal benefits. The aviation manufacturing giants had many desirable goodies to make one''s mouth water. As just one of several vice presidents, Shen Fei''s father didn''t own the Northern Weapons Industry Group, so Chen Fei felt no pressure whatsoever when driving a hard bargain. After all, aside from returning the shell of the "Canglong" as originally displayed, Chen Fei had also cobbled together three incomplete L-22 advanced trainers from parts and delivered them to the Northern Weapons Industry Group. The cost of assembly and filling in missing parts was deducted from the leasing price. By contrast, National Defense Star provided sixteen missiles without asking for anything in return. "I''ll inform you as soon as there''s news." Due to work circumstances, even if Shen Fei had intentions of remaining neutral, her position inevitably leaned toward Chen Fei, given the unavoidable relationship between the two. "I hope it can be sold for a good price." Chen Fei fiddled with a champagne bottle meant for ladies, shook his head, and switched to juice, filling his cup to the brim. No sooner had he picked it up than Little Bird swooped in, perching on his hand and taking a sip first. Seemingly disappointed by the lack of alcohol, it turned around and fluttered back to its own cup. "Just now..." Hanna Gagel hadn''t finished speaking when the voice of the Abyssal Gladiatorial host suddenly rose, increasing by more than a few decibels. An unexpected turn of events occurred in the sky as the combatants chasing and fighting each other: One of the "Sky Falcons" had fallen, heading toward the Comprehensive Center. The building''s protective barrier activated for safety, and ground personnel were urged to evacuate promptly... Inside the VIP box, the locked holographic projection of a dueling Constructed Combat Aircraft was shedding variously sized debris as it plummeted uncontrollably to the ground. According to the estimated trajectory, the crash site was at the corner of the Comprehensive Center, a structure as large as a standard soccer stadium. Multiple light films flashed in succession, enveloping the entire Comprehensive Center. Some spellcasters stood atop the Comprehensive Center, casting brilliant spells of magic shields to intercept the falling "Sky Falcon." To ensure the safety of those on the ground, the Abyssal Gladiatorial organizers had gathered quite a few ability users. Boom!~ The intense light flash from the three-dimensional holographic projection was followed nearly simultaneously by a loud explosion from both the sound unit and just outside the VIP box. The impact point seemed very close to the VIP box where the people from Jiu Defense were seated. Even the room itself shook slightly, showing that despite layered magical and special ability interceptions, some impact force inevitably reached the main structure of the Comprehensive Center. The Cangqiong Star-made Constructed Combat Aircraft didn''t have fuel engines, so they typically crashed to pieces without exploding. The significant noise was caused by the firearms ammunition they carried. "It''s the ''Sky Falcon.'' You guys watch; I''m going out for a bit." Realizing there might be a bargain to snatch, Chen Fei quickly got up and rushed out of the VIP box. "That guy, he moves too fast!" Before she could finish her statement, Hanna Gagel helplessly shook her head. She didn''t understand why the Africa Intercontinental Environmental Protection Agency had come knocking at her door, nor had she imagined that the large fish that fed everyone a delicious meal at noon might be suspected of being illegally caught. Chen Fei didn''t seem like the kind to act without thinking, so perhaps there was some hidden story, or even a conspiracy behind this. "''Sky Falcon'' is an aircraft from Cangqiong Star; he might have gone to pick up the debris." Teacher Shen was able to understand Chen Fei''s impatience, guessing that he coveted the technology used by the others, secretly picking up a few pieces of debris, and then surreptitiously "sacrificing" them to assimilate part of ''Sky Falcon''s secrets for his own. If that wasn''t the case, where did the magic arrays in Chen Fei''s Canglong advanced fighter jet design come from? How could an ordinary man have a chance to come across such things? It was probably a fluke, but the really good stuff was still out of his reach. Boss Hana said with some concern, "Don''t let them get caught!" Of course, she knew that magic arrays shouldn''t be tampered with by ordinary people, and studying them privately was illegal. In the three-dimensional holographic projection, the ''Sky Falcon'' pilot had miraculously survived, hanging below the parachute, slowly drifting down toward the Comprehensive Center. By now, the large magic barrier enveloping the whole building had dissipated, for maintaining it required a massive expenditure of energy, and it could not be sustained for long, only activated in crucial moments. Emmm... The parachute and pilot, met with no obstruction, did not land on the rooftop of the Comprehensive Center nor on the ground; instead, they accidentally got caught on a tall overhanging eave, hanging there like a hanged ghost, swaying, making onlookers anxious but more so embarrassed. "Hahahaha..." "What a misfortune!" "It''s an idiot! Can''t the people from Cangqiong Star use parachutes?" "Their constructed aircraft have only been flying for a few years, isn''t this to be expected?" A chorus of ridicule and laughter erupted in the VIP box, especially from the fellows of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, who reveled in schadenfreude without any restraint. Chen Fei dashed out of the VIP box in a rush, realizing he was not the only one aware that the crash site was nearby. Many others started coming out from neighboring boxes, eager to see the scene firsthand, but none were as hurried as Chen Fei. Taking advantage of the fact that the ''Sky Falcon'' debris had not yet been cordoned off, Chen Fei reached out with a guilty hand toward the scattered small and large fragments. System: Ding! Discovered constructed combat aircraft ''Sky Falcon'' -4 Beta type wreckage, metal material 11.21 kilograms, absorb? Yes/No System: Ding! Discovered constructed combat aircraft ''Sky Falcon'' -4 Beta type wreckage, metal material 23.13 kilograms, absorb? Yes/No System: Discovered Magic Array ''Mind Brand''! Huh? How could the ''Mind Brand'' magic array appear on the ''Sky Falcon''? Chen Fei had already obtained the ''Mind Brand'' magic array but did not know its true purpose. System: Ding! Discovered constructed combat aircraft ''Sky Falcon'' -4 Beta type wreckage, metal material 0.45 kilograms, absorb? Yes/No ... "''Rookie''! Someone''s coming!" Upon hearing someone call him, Chen Fei looked up to see Miyoshi Monk donning a black robe standing not far away, with a hesitant expression on his face. Hadn''t this guy already apprehended the ''Plagiarist Ghost''? Why hadn''t he left yet! The monk knew very well what Chen Xiao''er was doing at this moment and hesitated about whether to catch him red-handed. However, after a moment''s thought, he realized he didn''t have the authority for such action and it wouldn''t be right to overstep his bounds, so he left after giving the warning, out of sight, out of mind. "To those over there, do not touch the wreckage fragments, it can be dangerous!" The ground security personnel from the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial'' organizers arrived late, just in time to see Chen Fei and a number of other curious and recklessly brave folks standing with the crashed remnants of the constructed combat aircraft ''Sky Falcon''. By the time Chen Fei was forcibly cleared away by the security staff, the weight of ''Sky Falcon'' -4 Beta type wreckage he had touched had already exceeded five hundred pounds, and he had secured three complete magic arrays. Chapter 572 572: Section 568 - Friends Come from Afar Thunder Magic Shield (12), Mist (1), Water Bubble (1), once added to the "Magical Array Evolution Database" skill list, Dog System immediately provided the necessary Magic Array Inscription units. It was evident that the magic arrays used in aircraft generally held a low rank. Perhaps considering endurance and cost-effectiveness, even using Crystalline Blocks and Demon Crystals, they wouldn''t opt for high-rank magic arrays that consume a huge amount of resources. Moreover, the production of low-rank magical array inscriptions could also be ensured, making them more suitable for mass production. Chen Fei saw a line of text appear before him. Adam: Crystal Jet "Unnamed" and "Canglong" advanced fighter design plans have been derived! No sooner had the three magic arrays arrived, the AI "Adam" had completed the design plan upgrades for two combat aircraft. If it had been a human research and development team, this seemingly simple modification would have required over six months of work. "Heh, Northern Weapons Industry is going to ask for more money! ''Adam,'' make sure to keep a record of all the upgrade plans." Chen Fei seemed to be talking to himself. Adam: Historical versions saved, 174 in number. It seemed that "Adam" was doing even better than Chen Fei had imagined, as it had already prepared in advance. "Are you curious about ''Sky Falcon''?" A voice came, from very nearby. "Eh?" Chen Fei looked in the direction of the voice, a few steps away stood a person looking at him. If he wasn''t mistaken, the voice should have come from that person. He pointed at himself and tentatively asked, "Are you talking to me?" Outside the isolation section, a crowd had gathered. "I was up there, watching you for a long time, should we move somewhere else to talk?" After the other party nodded, they took two steps forward and gestured toward the Comprehensive Center''s commercial street in the distance. Obviously, the speaker was very interested in Chen Fei who had been picking up "scraps." "Up there?" Chen Fei looked up and saw the high eaves of the Comprehensive Center building. It was empty. The "Sky Falcon" pilot who had been at one of the eaves was nowhere to be seen, and looking at the other''s attire, Chen Fei immediately realized. As the saying goes, "hang" high and see far, his every little movement had completely fallen into the other''s view. Taking his eyes back from the eaves, Chen Fei nodded immediately to the other person and said, "Sure, as a courtesy of the host, let me buy you a drink, what do you prefer?" The other person appeared to be about the same age as himself, and by the tone, didn''t seem intent on reporting him on the spot, which meant there was still room for talk, especially since they were both young, likely no barriers in communication due to generational differences. "Great, great! Can I have a soda?" The other person, clutching a helmet with a distinct Otherworld style under their arm, seemed very pleased. Chen Fei squeezed out of the crowd while asking, "Are you a current pilot?" Active duty pilots wouldn''t touch such high-sugar content beverages. Low-salt, low-sugar, nutritionally balanced¡ªprobably the air force is the only troop breed with strict dietary standards. (Pilot meals aren''t at all bland, author personally tasted, but mastering such a balance isn''t easy) "Uh! I am an intern pilot from Zhai Liuzhou, you can call me Minante, I haven''t passed the Sky Cavalry Group''s evaluation yet, planning to train for two more years, you know about Zhai Liuzhou, right? Originally part of Tessa Empire on Cangqiong Star, oh sorry, it''s unified now." The "Sky Falcon" pilot from Cangqiong Star shrugged apologetically, seemingly the traces of Tessa Emperor''s rule over Zhai Liuzhou hadn''t completely vanished. Thirty years weren''t enough to completely erode the presence of the previous rulers with a new generation growing up. "Yeah, yeah, I''m aware, after all, it''s in the textbooks, nice to meet you, Minante, I''m Chen Fei, you can also call me by my pilot call sign, ''Rookie''!" Following the mutual communication of civilizations between the two planets, the thickness of elementary students'' history books had doubled instantly, something Chen Fei knew all too well. "''Rookie,'' indeed, we''re in the same field!" Realizing Chen Fei was also a pilot, the "Sky Falcon" pilot also suddenly understood why Chen Fei was interested in the wreckage of "Sky Falcon". In a teahouse, they both sat down. Chen Fei ordered a tangerine-flavored soda for Minante and a simple unsweetened pure black coffee for himself. "I have some bloodline of the Darknight Tribe, roughly from an ancestor about dozens of generations ago, who married someone from the Darknight Tribe." Noticing that Chen Fei was curiously staring at him, Sky Falcon pilot Minante was not surprised at all. Blue Star people were always involuntarily captivated by his eyes, which is one of the Darknight Tribe''s distinguishing features, a pair of eyes shimmering with a faint blue glow, also known as ''Night Eyes''." Even in broad daylight, they were extremely striking, and it wasn''t a reflection; they were actually glowing. He had also inherited a racial trait of the Darknight Tribe, night vision. Even in pitch-black darkness where he couldn''t see his hand in front of his face, for Minante, the view was only slightly dimmer than in daylight. "So that''s it, it''s my first time seeing this." Chen Fei nodded. His eyes sometimes changed color due to his special abilities, so he was quite interested in eyes that were similarly unusual. Based on the increasingly accepted ''Great World Tree Origin Theory'', the mysterious giant that spread life seeds across life planet in different planes had proposed that humans of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star actually originated from the same source. The most compelling evidence is that the two sides do not have reproductive isolation, and could completely produce new mixed-blood descendants. Just like the descendants of Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals on Blue Star, despite developing different forms of civilization, races such as Caucasians, Blacks, Asians, and other very rare skin colors were still genetically identical as humans. Cangqiong Star had similar situations. There were humans, the Feathered Tribe, Barbarian Tribe, Darknight Tribe, Spirit Tribe, Beast Tribe, and the Demon Tribe. Perhaps there were significant differences in physical features, but it didn''t affect the birth of mixed-blood children. Apart from humans, other humanoid intelligent species had some genetic traits that were particularly stable, such as the Feathered Tribe''s wings, the large physique of the Barbarian Tribe, the Darknight Tribe''s unusual eyes, the spiritual power of the Spirit Tribe, facial features and claws of the Beast Tribe, and the horns of the Demon Tribe. Without ten to twenty generations of ''cleansing'', these dominant genetic traits are difficult to turn into recessive ones, and might emerge again after a few generations. The emergence of the ''Great World Tree Origin Theory'' also debunked the origin theory that ''humans evolved from monkeys''. In fact, the difference in the chromosome count between humans and other primates proved that an evolutionary link between the two was impossible. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, whereas the closest primate, the chimpanzee, has 24 pairs, gibbons have 22 pairs, and most monkeys have 27 pairs. If chromosomal fusion were the trigger for the evolution from monkeys to humans, then the olive tree and the chevrotain also have 23 pairs of chromosomes, but they are clearly not related to humans. The emergence of these new theories directly resulted not in a clearer origin of humanity but in the students suddenly having a lot more homework. Dammit! "I think I saw the ''Sky Falcon'' fragment disappear and then reappear in your hand; what were you doing?" If Chen Fei were attempting to steal the fragments, that would be one thing, but since he didn''t actually do so, Minante finally had a chance to voice his confusion. "I am a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, it''s one of my abilities, ''Sacrifice'', which can replicate metal objects. I apologize, I replicated some ''Sky Falcon'' fragments, mostly out of curiosity." Chen Fei did not hide it; after all, the other person saw it clearly. Being evasive would only make him seem less credible. A single lie often needs many more lies to cover it up, so it''s better to suppress it immediately and decisively with a single truth. Using the truth to twist the truth is simply an impeccable strategy. "You are a supernatural power user, sorry, I shouldn''t pry into your abilities." Sky Falcon pilot Minante was taken aback briefly before quickly apologizing. Clearly aware of the taboos among Ability Users, casually asking about someone else''s skills could put the other party at risk. "No worries! It''s not really a secret, to be precise, within a small circle." Obviously, Chen Fei wouldn''t blatantly publicize this to the whole world, but indeed a segment of the group was aware of his ability. It was registered in his personal file with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and while the superpower system was full of numerous and various abilities, since industrial-grade Ability Users were not only him, it wasn''t given too much attention. He was just worried about running into sticklers or someone with a real ''Sacrifice'' ability, which could make things tricky if questioned seriously." "Please be assured! I will guard this secret with my life." Minante immediately made a solemn promise, although still not quite understanding what the ''Sacrifice'' ability was all about, he felt it must be pretty impressive. Chen Fei was amused by this straightforward boy and hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "Haha, there''s no need for that, if someone tortures you for information, you might as well confess early on." This time, even Minante laughed. To him, Chen Fei was a very interesting person. After laughing for a while, Minante said, "If you''re really interested in ''Sky Falcon'', I invite you to visit our ''Gale Team'' hangar." "Really?" Chen Fei was overjoyed. It seemed that the other party did not know what he was actually up to and innocently wanted to ''invite the wolf into the house.'' No, no, no, it should be a pleasure to have friends come from afar, yes, a joy indeed! Hehehe! So naive! Chen Xiao''er was surrounded by proponents of conspiracy theories: Boss Hana, Assistant Lahar, Miyoshi Monk, and more opponents in this regard. "Sure, sure, absolutely, my teammates would probably be very happy to meet you." Participating in the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial'' battle, the ''Gale Team'', newly arrived on Blue Star, Minante was naturally very willing to make new friends from Blue Star. Chapter 573 573: Section 569 - Observation ``` When I followed Minante, a "Sky Falcon" pilot from Cangqiong Star, to the hangar, the battle between "Gale Team" and their opponents had just ended. As soon as we stepped inside the gate, the sudden burst of enthusiastic cheers hit us. "Congratulations!" Chen Fei nodded to Minante, who had led him inside. If he wasn''t mistaken, it must be that "Gale Team" had won the fight. "Minante, you''re back? Are you hurt?" "It''s good that you''re unharmed!" "You really scared me just now." "Eh? Who is this?" The ground crew of "Gale Team" hurried over to greet us, and when they saw Chen Fei, they collectively paused in surprise. "This is my new friend, Chen Fei, his flight call sign is ''Rookie,'' and he''s a fellow pilot!" Minante quickly introduced the person beside him to his teammates. "Hello everyone, I''m Chen Fei." Chen Fei nodded in greeting to everyone inside the hangar. A dozen young men and women, all young people. These Cangqiong Star People risked their lives to participate in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" not just for the substantial prize money, but also to gain the prestige they desired. According to Minante, a record in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" could earn additional points for passing the selection examination for the active Sky Cavalry Group of the Slan Dynasty. These Cangqiong Star People took pride in serving the Royal Family and were even more reckless than Blue Star People. "''Rookie''? Chen Fei? That name sounds familiar." An inexplicable sense of familiarity made the Cangqiong Star People look at each other in confusion. Suddenly someone slapped their forehead and exclaimed. "I remember now, in the opening battle, wasn''t there a pilot from ''Zhe?nxia?ng Team'' with that name and call sign?" After someone pointed it out, the others also had a dawning realization. "Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh? Is it really you? Chen Fei!" Minante finally caught on as well. The opening battle of this edition of the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" wasn''t originally a deathmatch between "Zhe?nxia?ng Team" and "Hanuman Team." The teams were added at the last minute, but the fierce tactics of the winning "Zhe?nxia?ng Team" left a deep impression on all the spectators and were indeed among the leading Combat Flight Squadrons in the military contractor circle. "Uh, yes, it''s me!" Chen Fei naturally nodded in acknowledgment. "Ahh! That''s so amazing!" Minante was shouting excitedly, as he was someone who got easily thrilled. That was a very formidable team! Chen Fei modestly said, "Just average, I was just lucky, it''s nothing special." The reason he was able to win the opening battle was largely thanks to the supportive missile from Uncle, otherwise, it would have been quite a struggle. Wings buzzed closer and closer, and the large doors of the hangar darkened as three "Sky Falcons" slowly floated in, one after the other. After landing, the Light Wings that served as the main propulsion components gradually lost the glow of Elemental Energy circulation and slowly retracted. The Constructed Aircraft of Cangqiong Star had a higher degree of biomimicry and exceptional maneuverability. "The captain and the rest are back!" ``` The ground logistics personnel of "Gale Team" gathered around one after another. A pilot staggered out of the "Sky Falcon," collapsing on the ground as the smell of blood began to waft through the air. Lying there weakly, he groaned, "Ouch, ouch, ouch, I can''t believe I''m injured, I''m almost numb all over." "Midun is hurt, quick, call a healer!" An exclamation rang out, causing a commotion in the hangar. It had been thought that all members of the "Gale Team" had returned safely, but to everyone''s surprise, there were still injuries, and they looked severe. Light Element began to converge as someone skilled in Light-based Spells started to administer aid to the wounded. Compared to Blue Star, Cangqiong Star has more active Elemental Energy, which is why Ability Users make up a relatively higher proportion of the population. Thanks to the Halo guarded by the digital intelligence Cybertrom, which continuously spills over vibrant Elemental Energy to Blue Star, some native Ability Users have gradually emerged there, with Special Ability being the most common. "Minante, who is this?" Distracted from the injured teammate, the captain of "Gale Team" approached Minante and Chen Fei, eyeing the latter curiously. "Captain Hammu, this is a pilot from the opening battle, ''Zhe?nxia?ng Team,'' Chen Fei, call sign ''Rookie''!" Since both parties were from the same profession and recognized for their abilities, Minante formally introduced the invited guest to his team captain. "So, you''re a friend from ''Zhe?nxia?ng Team,'' what an honor, what an honor. I''ve seen your performance; it''s fantastic. Minandon likes to make new friends, and so do I." The captain of "Gale Team," Hammu, extended his hand to Chen Fei for a handshake, expressing his welcome. "I''m quite interested in the ''Sky Falcon,'' and just happened to meet Minandon, so I came to satisfy my curiosity." Chen Fei didn''t hide his intent. Compared to the more complexminded Blue Star People, Cangqiong Star People were simpler, and straight talk made it easier to gain understanding. "Welcome, welcome, take a good look. If there''s anything you don''t understand, you can ask me or anyone else here. We''ll tell you everything we know." Captain Hammu was a very straightforward man. Since Chen Fei was upfront, he graciously offered his assistance. As an Assembled Combat Aircraft crafted mainly using Alchemy, merely observing the "Sky Falcon" up close with the naked eye was not enough to steal all its secrets. If such casual espionage could reveal their technological secrets, Cangqiong Star would never allow "Gale Team" and their "Sky Falcons" to be compromised. Due to different civilizations and technological frameworks, Blue Star might not be eager to directly utilize Cangqiong Star''s Alchemy and Magic Arrays. "Thank you, I''ll just have a look. If you need any help, feel free to ask me. This includes the Second Rank Light Healing Technique, ''Light of Redemption.'' I have private channels, which are very convenient." As Chen Fei spoke, he glanced at the still-urgent first aid for the wounded, who might be in need. Deeply moved, Hammu immediately expressed his gratitude, " ''Light of Redemption''? That would be fantastic. If we really need it, I''ll come to you." Even in Cangqiong Star, Light System Casters were rare. Most held public or military positions. "Gale Team" was fortunate to recruit a Low-Rank Light Caster, but due to limitations in Elemental Affinity and talent, they could only use the "Light Healing Technique," "Illumination Technique," and Light System Magic Shield. The team''s Light System Caster was perspiring profusely while using the "Light Healing Technique" on the injured Midun, buying crucial time for the medical staff. "Come on, I''ll take you to see the ''Sky Falcon.'' " Seeing that their Light Caster was stabilizing their teammate''s condition, Minante''s anxiety lessened, and he turned his attention to Chen Fei. The ground logistics personnel of "Gale Team" began inspecting the three returning "Sky Falcons." This presented an excellent opportunity for Chen Fei to get a clear understanding. As a pilot of Constructed Combat Aircraft, Minante was well-versed in every Constructed Part of the "Sky Falcon." His explanations were far more enlightening than Chen Fei trying to figure things out on his own. " ... Like most Constructed Aircraft, the control components aren''t just mechanical joysticks; they also include the Magic Array ''Mind Brand,'' which is an essential Magic Array and the real core of the control system. However, to resonate and achieve basic control with this Magic Array, you need at least a 5-degree Psychic Power Index. The higher this index, the better, leaving more margin for movement, which can make flight maneuvers more intricate and delicate ... Directly connected to the control system is another Constructed Part, the Light Wing. If the ''Mind Brand'' Magic Array is the Aircraft''s soul, the Light Wing serves as the bridge for the soul to communicate with the outside world. It''s not only the source of thrust and aerodynamic control for the ''Sky Falcon,'' but it also attracts and absorbs Elemental Energy from the atmosphere ... " Minante''s detailed presentation cleared up many of Chen Fei''s longstanding questions. Unlike Blue Star''s aircraft, which ordinary people can fly after completing a certain number of study and training hours, Cangqiong Star''s Constructed Aircraft have higher requirements for Pilot talent. Just the ''Mind Brand'' demand for Psychic Power Index is enough to eliminate most people. Ordinary folks have a Psychic Power Index of only 0.6¨C1.5, not even qualified to make a Constructed Aircraft budge. Having a Psychic Power Index of 5 is just enough to enter the threshold. Still, it isn''t the most suitable baseline for piloting a "Sky Falcon." The active Sky Cavalry Group on Cangqiong Star requires an index above 12. Chapter 574 574: Section 570 - Technological Evolution "Rookie has been gone for quite a while, hasn''t he?" It finally dawned on Hanna Gagar that Chen Fei hadn''t returned after leaving the box and seemed to have been gone for a long time. Although Chen Fei was not at fault, she could roughly guess what he was up to. Did picking up a bargain really take that long? "Eh? It seems so, why hasn''t he come back yet!" Shen Fei also realized this. The "Sacrifice" skill should be instantaneous, right? "Could he have been caught?" Boss Hanna considered a possibility, was he caught red-handed?! If you always walk by the river, you can''t expect not to wet your shoes; this possibility certainly existed. "Lahar, check Rookie''s position." Hanna Gagar delegated the task to her assistant, perhaps to go and fetch someone soon. Brazenly targeting someone else''s constructed combat aircraft, it was inevitable for people to take notice, possibly leading to disputes, arguments, and even casualties... Next time I need to remind him, being in a hurry won''t help to eat hot tofu, and you can''t just blindly pull at one sheep''s wool. "Okay!" Assistant Lahar took out his phone, launched the corporate service specially customized by Jiu Defense Company, and located the employee''s position. Chen Fei''s phone, a gift from Boss Hanna, had superior protective features, could connect to satellite networks, and naturally came with built-in management functions. A moment later, he found Chen Fei''s location. Comparing it to the electronic map, he said confusedly, "Why is he at the hangar? It seems to be Cangqiong Star''s ''Gale Team''." Without surprise, Hanna Gagar said, "He must have been caught." Putting oneself in their shoes, if someone else were eyeing the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron''s combat aircraft, who else would you catch? So he was probably detained in their hangar, waiting for Jiu Defense to send someone to negotiate. Exactly as expected... "I''ll make a quick call and ask." Assistant Lahar wasn''t in a rush. After all, secretly "Sacrificing" wasn''t as severe as arson or murder; there was still room for negotiation. Fetching someone was commonplace in the military contracting business. In this line of work, there weren''t many well-behaved babies. There were countless guys like Chen Fei who took advantage of every situation, and it was not surprising when unexpected situations arose. Like Major Chekhov, the squad leader of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' combat flight squadron, every time he came home, he stirred up trouble. It used to be Apocalypse Defense picking him up; now it was Jiu Defense doing it, regardless of the employer, he always needed rescuing. Drunk and disorderly, spreading charm, and brawling, Big Bear''s three-hit combo never changed. Occasionally, he would add obstructing official duties, then get beaten half to death by the police, and end up drunk in a cage waiting for someone to bail him out. If not for Chekhov''s inherited aerial combat skills, he''d have been kissing the active-duty air force. "Who caught him?" Teacher Shen Fei was surprised to hear Hanna Gagar and the assistant''s conversation, realizing that Chen Fei was in trouble. "If I''m not mistaken, it should be one of the parties involved in the recent conflict, ''Gale Team''!" Hanna Gagar thought for a moment. "Sky Falcon" wreckage landing spot was accidentally suspended, Emmm... Caught red-handed! Messing around right under someone''s nose, can you not be more cautious? "Connected!" In front of the two, Assistant Lahar dialed Chen Fei''s phone. "Assistant Lahar, is there something you need?" Chen Fei''s voice came through. "I''m fine, just wondering if you''re alright?" Assistant Lahar breathed a sigh of relief. At least the person who answered was Chen Fei, indicating his movement wasn''t restricted and things hadn''t escalated to the worst possible scenario. The two asked each other if there was a problem, but the meanings were entirely different. "I''m fine, really good actually. I just made some new friends and am currently learning about Cangqiong Star''s constructed aircraft and alchemy, very fascinating, a completely different technology system compared to ours," Chen Fei''s voice sounded very excited, apparently encountering something of great interest. He not only came into contact with Cangqiong Star''s constructed combat aircraft "Sky Falcon" but also received an unrestricted introduction, much better than figuring things out by himself. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" was only familiar with industrial machinery; it knew very little about the magic array and was limited to Chen Fei''s brief descriptions. As for the principles, it was clueless; it could only follow mechanically, which might not always be the best solution, making it difficult to leverage AI''s strongest attribute, optimization computation. Getting a binary dolt to understand magic and alchemy was indeed asking too much of the AI. "You weren''t caught by anyone?" The assistant seemed somewhat puzzled by the Cangqiong Star People''s thinking. Even though Chen Fei was eyeing the secrets of "Sky Falcon," the other party seemed completely oblivious and handed it over with a bow, as though they were an open book. "Caught? How could he be caught? Lahar, are you sure everything is fine over there?" This only made Chen Fei worried; what was this nonsensical talk? He had been invited to enter the hangar of the "Gale Team," not captured by the other party. Moreover, the strongest fighter in the "Gale Team" was only a Fourth Rank War Professional, nowhere near a match for Chen Fei, a B-level supernatural power user. Where did this term "caught" even come from? "No worries, no worries, it seems I guessed wrong. As long as everything is going well for you." Since Chen Fei hadn''t fallen into an unfavorable situation and seemed to be enjoying himself, Lahar didn''t continue to dwell on that issue and smoothly wrapped up the conversation. It was Boss Hana who had guessed wrong, yet the bald assistant took the blame himself. "Looks like he''s fine!" Hearing the assistant''s conversation with Chen Fei, Hanna Gagar apologetically raised her glass. The boss hands out the salaries, taking the blame is part of the job for the subordinates. "I think nothing could really stump him." In Teacher Shen Fei''s eyes, Chen Fei had always been resourceful, like the time he had extended the internet from Aircrew Base 911 all the way to Patan Mountain Area Elementary School. Over dozens of kilometers of mountainous roads, he hadn''t spent a single Star Yuan to connect the school to the outside world''s network signal, which even covered a vast area. Ding! Shen Fei''s phone chimed, seemingly receiving a message. She opened it to see it was an email from Chen Fei with several photos attached. He was standing in a large hangar, with a "Sky Falcon" being disassembled behind him, and several workbenches pieced together in front of him, laden with various alchemical construct components. He looked utterly pleased, evidently having achieved what he desired. Teacher Shen helplessly commented, "He really knows how to show off!" She now only worried that Chen Xiao''er was pulling the wool over everyone''s eyes, perhaps even running off with the whole sheep. Wait a second, that''s not right, there''s more to it than that. Suddenly, Secretary Shen''s expression changed as if she had realized something. Everyone here is a university graduate with on-point intelligence; foreseeing potential steps ahead is basic quality. Old Shen is in trouble! Next to Chen Fei was an AI that excelled in aircraft design, capable of presenting a highly complete design plan in a short time. If the design concepts of "Sky Falcon" were integrated into "Canglong" advanced fighter jets, that would mean... more money! No, it wasn''t just about the money. An AI combined with a special ability, this pair was simply toxic! Yet the Northern Weapons Industry Group didn''t even have the courage to refuse and had to grit their teeth and make the best of a bad job. Noticing the change in Shen Fei''s expression, Hanna Gagar''s gaze turned to the smartphone screen, opened her mouth, and then grumbled, "That guy, he succeeded again." "I''ve got to go, Hanna, let''s catch up another time!" Shen Fei was no longer in the mood to leisurely watch the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" aerial combat in the private box. She needed to rush back to the camp of Northern Weapons Industry and report the situation to the management if the meeting hadn''t ended yet, reminding them to quickly decide on the terms of the deal with Chen Fei, lest more issues arise from delay. The technological evolution of "Canglong" advanced fighter jets was launching once again. If it were updated beyond recognition, even if a deal were struck, the specialists in the "Canglong" project team might not be able to cover the latest designs, much like how the P-51 Mustang evolved into the F-35, leaving others no chance to cope. "So... see you later!" Seeing Shen Fei''s anxious manner, Hanna Gager did not hold her back. She hurried back to the camp, where the afternoon meeting had already ended. Shen Fei found her father, Shen Songling, in the Vice President''s office. "Vice President Shen, there''s trouble..." "Eh?" - In the "Gale Team" hangar, Chen Fei was holding various parts of "Sky Falcon," and Minante tirelessly explained the design concepts and functions of the assembly. The Cangqiong Star People didn''t care about Chen Fei''s supposed "Sacrifice" skill, because the construct design schemes based on alchemy weren''t so easy to copy. In fact, it was indeed the case. Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power couldn''t completely "Sacrifice" this constructed combat aircraft originating from Cangqiong Star, because it wasn''t entirely made of metal. It extensively used various biological materials like wood, animal skins, tendons, blood, and bones, various natural gel substances, and reprocessed animal and plant juices, totaling nearly a thousand different materials combined. This was the fourth-generation "Sky Falcon" scheme after numerous optimizations. Although it was called "Sacrifice", it was really the "Metal Devouring" skill. Facing a "Sky Falcon" where metal materials made up only about twenty percent, it had very limited room to maneuver, and most of the metal materials were structural components with little value, not even enough to gather Energy Points. Many of the materials used to apply Magic Arrays on "Sky Falcon" were traditional bio-alchemy products, not the luxurious and durable mithril silk (titanium silk), making it unlikely to acquire Magic Arrays from them. Chen Fei''s main gain was manually surveying "Sky Falcon," but learning the advanced bionics aerodynamic forms that were utterly different from those of Blue Star''s aircraft had little chance of mutual benefit. Besides, he only got two new Second Rank Magic Arrays, "Silent Domain" and "Constant Temperature," which needed to be linked with other Magic Arrays to bring out their real effects. Chapter 575 575: Section 571 - All-Metal "Sky Falcon Chen Xiao''er really had guts, right in front of the Cangqiong Star People, he used the recently gathered data of the "Sky Falcon" and exchanged energy points for metal materials to replicate a shiny all-metal "Sky Falcon" then and there in the hangar. However, this layer of "Sky Falcon" shell was completely different from the original version. "Blue Star''s metal ability users are really amazing, being able to achieve this degree." The "Sky Falcon" pilot Minante said with a face full of amazement. The supernatural abilities of the Cangqiong Star People were mainly Battle Qi, magic, and curse magic. Magicians capable of curse magic were the rarest, and supernatural power users were very scarce. Most who had Blue Star bloodlines would awaken their special abilities. "In fact, the vast majority of supernatural power users can''t do it, the control over their special abilities must reach industrial-grade precision level, and industrial-grade ability is just a standard, it does not specify the Elemental Series, for example, industrial-grade Light System, industrial-grade Water System, industrial-grade Fire System and so on. As long as it reaches the industrial-grade standard, it will be quite sought after." Chen Fei had to correct these misconceptions of the Cangqiong Star People about special abilities. Otherwise, if every Blue Star supernatural power user could do this, it would easily cause panic in the Blue Star civilization. If one person equals a factory and everyone is a factory manager, then what chance would other civilizations have? They would most likely end up as dumping grounds for pure trade deficits. Hundreds of years ago, Great Qing suffered from a trade surplus, wealth didn''t match virtue, and was beaten into a dog by other countries. As an undergraduate of economics, Chen Fei was quite clear about this point. "Oh, I see! But it''s still a bit different from what I imagined. Can this thing fly?" Minante looked at this all-metal constructed combat aircraft, his interest clearly piqued. His own "Sky Falcon" was already smashed to bits and he was currently without a vehicle. "It has 62 magic array inscription units, it can indeed fly, but I have no idea how it will fly!" Chen Fei had inscribed the all-metal "Sky Falcon" with "Repulsion Shield (45)" x1, "Mind Brand (1)" x1, "Gravity (1)" x1, "Fluid Vortex (2)" x6, "Silent Domain (1)" x1, "Water Bubble (1)" x1, using up almost 61 inscription units. But exactly how this thing would fly, he and the AI "Adam" had no clue at all, and it would probably take a few flights (or crashes) to figure it out. "Let''s try and see, I''m very curious!" Although he didn''t understand what was going on with the magic array inscription units, it didn''t prevent Minante from being interested in this aircraft that looked almost exactly like the "Sky Falcon", but whose insides were completely different. "Who knows?" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and said, "Activate takeoff mode!" The all-metal "Sky Falcon" control system was "Adam", and voice operation was a given since the original "Sky Falcon" lacked this feature and even a control system. It was still a binary inscrutable problem for alchemy, unless a powerful being could process magic explanation programs. But with the current level of technology, it was still a long way off. The main energy core, the Crystalline Block, had already been embedded. Zheng! Two pairs of 40-centimeter-long shiny blades shot out, oh my... It was almost too painful to watch. These four objects weren''t light wings, they were weapons!!! Four of the six "Fluid Vortex (2)" magic arrays were used on these four all-metal flying wings. The air waves swept through the hangar, and the four sleek all-metal flying wings beat alternately, increasing in frequency more and more. Thanks to the "Fluid Vortex (2)" magic arrays amplifying the air currents, they didn''t need a very high flapping frequency to acquire enough takeoff thrust. "Gravity (1)" magic array activated, and the originally heavy body became lighter and gently lifted off the ground. "Wow, it took off!" "Isn''t this the ''Sky Falcon''!" "Special abilities are too powerful! Magic certainly couldn''t do this. Alchemy can''t compare at all." The Cangqiong Star People watching the excitement exclaimed repeatedly. After all, the supernatural power users of Cangqiong were extremely rare, and there were more War Professionals, Spellcasters, and Curse Casters. Minante originally wanted to board this all-metal "Sky Falcon" to experience its maiden flight and see what the difference was from the original "Sky Falcon". Chen Fei, however, held him back, leaving him on the ground, drooling over the smoothly ascending constructed aircraft. ``` Chen Fei, who had gained masterful experience from crash-landing aircraft, of course knew that if anything went wrong, he would definitely be fine, but this young man would likely be gone with just one bad hit. "Ascend, descend, advance, retreat, left forward, right back, right forward, left back, make circles in three dimensions..." Chen Fei instructed "Adam" to control the all-metal "Sky Falcon" to perform a variety of actions, which started out stiff and rigid, but as the action model formula was perfected, they gradually became smooth and fluid. The "Silent Domain (1)" Magic Array was playing its part in eliminating noise, otherwise the loud sound produced by the rapid flapping of the four all-metal flying wings would have alarmed people outside the hangar. The "Sky Falcon" was not a flapping-wing aircraft in the purest sense; the flapping motion of the Light Wings was only to achieve more complex maneuvering postures. The aircraft of Blue Star civilization could hardly perform such delicate movements, not even the most advanced helicopters. The all-metal flying wings were more dangerous than the original Light Wings¡ªif one were to accidentally come into contact with a person, they would certainly be dismembered in an instant. After flying for a while, the all-metal "Sky Falcon" returned to the ground, and Chen Fei shook his head, saying, "It''s still not right, too heavy, completely lacking a sense of agility." A real "Sky Falcon" is like a dancing sprite in the sky, moving freely as if it has a spirit, capable of performing various actions. However, to Chen Fei, this all-metal "Sky Falcon" was just a clumsy, slow-moving live target, a sheer waste of Crystal Energy. "It seems to be the case, although it looks very similar, it is indeed not the same." Minante, who had more than 500 hours of rich flying experience, scratched his head in the same confusion. He was beginning to understand what Industrial-grade Ability was all about. If Chen Fei could really replicate the "Sky Falcon" exactly, that would truly be... a huge help! Alchemy has never been a technique that needs to consider cost, especially for the production of assembled combat aircraft. Even though the craftsmanship is now quite mature, and many Blue Star devices have been introduced to increase mass production efficiency, the production cost of "Sky Falcon" remains high. Without the sponsorship of the Great Nobility and Wealthy Merchants, "Gale Team" could never have been formed, nor could it have come to Blue Star to participate in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial". If the "Sky Falcon" could be mass-produced with the help of Industrial-grade Special Ability, many people who meet the flying standards would have the chance to soar into the sky, gallop freely, and more "Gale Teams" would emerge, with Sky Knights no longer being alone. "That''s enough for today. We''ll continue figuring it out later!" The all-metal "Sky Falcon" slowly landed back in its original spot, and the elongated flying wing that had been a dangerous shadow reappeared in its form. It''s one thing to have a brief float inside a hangar; flying out into the sky would require permission from the organizers of "Abyssal Gladiatorial". Such permission is most likely unobtainable, as public venues simply do not allow for such hastily created flying objects to take flight. Chen Fei reached out to the all-metal "Sky Falcon" that had settled down and folded its flying wings. Rome wasn''t built in a day, and neither is an assembled aircraft. Chen Fei, being a novice among novices, found it quite an achievement to have managed flight, movement forwards, and retreat. System: Ding, 1435 kilograms of alloy absorbed, gained Energy Points +1! Composition ratio: Titanium 75%, Aluminum 12%... True to its nature as the Dog System, it used two Energy Points for the exchange but only gave back one upon recycling, with the other presumably eaten by the dog itself. The Crystalline Blocks used in the all-metal "Sky Falcon" returned to Chen Fei''s hands, and he now had two high-capacity Crystalline Blocks in his possession. One was picked up from the lair of a Mutant, a relic of a battlefield from over thirty years ago, while the other came from a knock-off Crystal Jet. Perhaps the Miyoshi Monk, an insider, had chosen to turn a blind eye, seeing it as a favor carried by the tide. Blue Star''s Global United Defense Committee was too busy firing Chen Fei, sending him home to fend for himself. By the time they finally remembered this matter... there was no story left to tell. A Crystalline Block smaller than a fist falling into the wilderness and not being found is to be expected. "A Crystalline Block, you actually have one of these?" Minante finally noticed the crystal-clear energy core in Chen Fei''s hands, a rare sight for an individual to possess. Even on its home planet Cangqiong Star, Crystalline Blocks were scarce because production was limited, and both planets had significant shortages, with priority given to the military, then industry, and then commerce, with civil use often put last. "Spoils of war that I picked up!" Chen Fei waved it in his hand and then pocketed it. Such a unit-capacity-grade Crystalline Block was a rare find, acquired at the risk of his life. If anyone else wanted it, they''d also have to exchange their life for it. ``` Chapter 576 576: Section 572 - Scheme Trading "Is all this stuff really just picked up?" Minante couldn''t help but stare widely, not believing that Chen Fei was telling the truth, as he personally had never encountered such good fortune. "As long as you live long enough, you''ll eventually find something." There was an underlying meaning in Chen Fei''s words, though it was uncertain if this pilot from Cangqiong Star could discern it. A ringtone for a cellphone sounded, distinctive to Teacher Shen Fei. Chen Fei had set individual ringtones for important friends and colleagues to tell who was calling without needing to look at the display. "Chen Fei, come over right away, the Northern Weapons Industry has a plan ready, there''s a car waiting for you outside the ''Gale Team''s hangar. The voice of Teacher Shen came through. Huh? The last sentence grabbed Chen Fei''s attention. There was a car waiting outside the hangar¡ªwhen had the Northern Weapons Industry Group become so proactive? There was definitely room to do more research, to discuss, to ponder, to consider... He wasn''t in a hurry anyway! True to expectations, there was a vehicle belonging to the Northern Weapons Industry Group parked outside the "Gale Team''s" hangar. This was the treatment for a sponsor''s golden daddy, not something they''d give to just any regular observer''s team squashing into public transport. Shen Fei was vague on the phone, presumably details would be discussed face-to-face, and after ending the call, Chen Fei bid farewell to Minante and the others from the "Gale Team," exchanging contact information before leaving. It was another fruitful departure. - The long-missed encampment of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, where even the security guard at the gate was able to call out Chen Fei''s name. Secretary Shen Fei and her father, Shen Songling, had been waiting for Chen Xiao''er in the vice general manager''s office for quite some time. Despite the team''s attendance at the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" event, administrative tasks still had no reason to cease. For such a large group company, it would be a nightmare to even think about management negligently frolicking around, as the grassroots employees may rebel due to delayed paychecks! After all, everyone had elders to support and children to raise, all needing to be fed. "This is the sincerity of the Northern Weapons Industry Group!" As soon as Chen Fei arrived, Secretary Shen did not say much, directly presenting a large stack of documents and placing them on the table. Behind closed doors, there was no need for niceties among insiders. After flipping through a few pages, Chen Fei lifted his gaze. "Are all these for me?" The design schemes for the Crystal Jet were indeed overthought. With so many different types of magic arrays and special alchemy technologies involved, the Northern Weapons Industry Group couldn''t possibly be that generous. But the items in his hands were still no small catch. "Right, all these are licenses opened specifically for you by the corporation." These days really brought about many complications. Shen Fei didn''t know to what extent the "Canglong" technology in Chen Fei''s hands had evolved, only hoping that the project team''s experts could catch up, otherwise, it would be problematic. If the technology path could not keep up, the project would be as good as scrapped. Such disastrous incidents weren''t scarce in history. Take the heavy example of the legendary Jian-9, which lost control due to technological progression detaching from the practical situation, and nearly caused the subsequent Jian-10 to repeat the same faults. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Can I choose to take everything?" Kids do multiple-choice, he was already an adult. Shen Songling and his daughter exchanged looks, their lips twitching as they responded, "We... can!" This was also one of the situations they had anticipated. The Northern Weapons Industry Group had extracted the complete technical details of eleven battle aircraft designs, viewed as failures over the past fifty years, including their main engines. Although regarded as discarded failures, they still held significant reference value, with many verified technologies even applied to successfully mass-produced products, essentially laying bare nearly fifty years of the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s technological evolution in front of Chen Fei. Beyond that, there were also a few magic array details, primarily intended for application in the "Canglong" advanced fighter. Magic arrays weren''t something ordinary people could access, but the Northern Weapons Industry Group knew that Chen Fei had some understanding of them and was still within regulatory limits, so they didn''t offer anything beyond. There was only one Third Rank Light-based "Light Distortion" magic array, the rest were what Chen Fei already possessed. After all, as giants in the aerospace manufacturing industry, they couldn''t really let people take whatever they wanted. Chen Fei was just lucky this time, but to freely ask for whatever he wanted was still out of the question. "This one, this one, this one¡ªI already have these!" Chen Fei sifted through a stack of documents, filtering out parts he didn''t need, mostly repetitive magic arrays that were irrelevant to him. Blue Star didn''t possess strong Alchemy research capabilities and essentially relied on the technological support from Cangqiong Star. "You already have all these?" Shen Songling looked at the magic array information that had been picked out, surprised that the other party had actually managed to gather most of the magic array schemes needed for the advanced combat aircraft "Canglong" all by himself. "That''s right, the aeronautical magic arrays I have come across are just those few, nothing much of novelty. By the way, do you need optimization services for the design plan of ''Canglong''? It''s to optimize your existing plan, and I can do it quickly." Chen Fei proactively offered relevant technical support. "No, that won''t be necessary, we only need the plans you provide," Shen Songling decisively refused, as the technical data for the "Canglong" project could not possibly be leaked under any circumstances. Those who truly want to get work done must do it themselves and not rely entirely on outsiders. Otherwise, the Northern Weapons Industry Group would indeed become the sheared sheep. "Alright, then I have three proposals!" Chen Fei stretched his hand out and, with a sweep over the office desk, three palm-sized aircraft models exquisitely appeared on the table. Evolving large objects took more time, but small items like these were a blink of the eye''s work. The Shen family, father and daughter, looked closely and simultaneously gasped in shock. The thing the two of them feared the most had indeed happened. The first "Canglong" was a design deduced before coming into contact with the shells of "Canglong", even showing notable differences in external detail from the original "Canglong", mainly because this scheme was the product of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" during a glut of computing power, simply thankful that it could fly. The second "Canglong" was a design used in the Abyssal Gladiatorial duel battle, also exactly what the Northern Weapons Industry Group urgently wanted ¡ª a mature plan. The third "Canglong" underwent radical changes in appearance, miraculously featuring three pairs of slim, thin wings, distinctly characteristic of "Sky Falcon" yet retaining the air intakes and wings, essentially merging Cangqiong Star''s constructed aircraft and Blue Star''s jet aircraft into one, very imaginative. The three "Canglong" models followed a clear technological progression. Chen Fei''s "Canglong" used in the duel battle wasn''t a spur-of-the-moment design, but a highly completion-finished craft, and its combat results also confirmed this, with no evidence more persuasive than its shootdown achievements. "Is the third model influenced by the ''Sky Falcon''?" Shen Fei was lucky to have watched the battle jointly with the Jiu Defense team in the box; otherwise, she probably couldn''t have guessed the source of the odd wing design resembling a light wing. Chen Fei was actually able to apply "Sky Falcon" technology to the "Canglong". "Exactly! Just some immature ideas," Chen Fei flicked the three-winged "Canglong" model, and the three pairs of blade wings trembled rapidly, resembling a peculiar dragonfly. The advanced "Canglong" fighter originally used internal weapon bays, and switching to flapping blade wings did not much affect its weapon carrying capacity, not even hindering missile launches. "The third plan is too complicated!" Although Shen Songling wasn''t an aviation design expert, he was still an old aviation professional. He might not have eaten pork but had seen pigs run. Despite saying this, he still couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Despite the much more complex structure, which brought about production and logistical maintenance difficulties, it endowed the aircraft with extraordinary maneuverability. The affected high-speed performance could completely be compensated and optimized through magic arrays, reaching hyper speeds might be a bit difficult, but achieving speeds below Mach 5 was certainly not impossible. For a support combat aircraft, having hyper speed capabilities was not essential at all. They could continue optimizing the structural scheme, reducing the deficiencies to an acceptable level. For a moment, Old Shen thought a lot, but he finally clenched his teeth and said, "I want the second plan!" He immediately picked up the middle "Canglong" model in his hands; it was completely identical to the shell displayed and also the most suitable plan for the "Canglong" project team. The first plan had obvious shortcomings and was not worth considering, while the third plan, although having great potential, couldn''t be waited for as long as the "Canglong" project team needed. Instead of aiming too high, it was better to be pragmatic and focus on the present to quickly deliver a mature finalized product and release the "Canglong''s" competitive capabilities. Only when tangible profits were secured would the corporate group truly be relieved. Moreover, Richie, who eyed "Canglong" eagerly, waved their checks impatiently. If the delivery of the goods were delayed, the sovereign military purchase cake was only so big, and it could easily be snatched away by peers, possibly already in motion. "A wise choice, deal on site or set a time?" Chen Fei shook the documents in his hand. Although not complete, it itself was a technical catalog, but part of it could already be utilized. Shen Songling nodded and said, "Deal on site! Can it be in electronic form? Including the magic arrays!" Given his daughter''s relationship with the other party, he was not worried about Chen Fei holding back or tinkering with the delivered plans. Chen Fei promptly said, "It''s best to have the magic arrays in full metal form, other technical data can be in electronic form, two data storage devices, one for you, one for me." "Deal!" Chapter 577 577: Section 573 - Friendship Technical Assistance Unless it was a Crystal Jet, there weren''t many varieties of Magic Arrays used in conventional combat aircraft. Otherwise, Chen Fei would have encountered only a few types during such a long period of time. The "Light Distortion" Magic Array was just one of them, mainly used for optical visual camouflage during sudden strikes and close-quarter engagements. Since Chen Fei had requested the physical object, the Shen father and daughter could roughly guess that he was planning to use the "Sacrifice" skill to truly make it his own. This time, the Northern Weapons Industry Group hadn''t brought any individual components for the "Light Distortion" Magic Array, but they could dismantle it from an existing aircraft and replicate one using Chen Fei''s "Sacrifice" skill, which wasn''t a difficult task to manage. System: Acquired "Light Distortion" Magic Array! The next second! The metal component that had just been dropped by "Sacrifice (Metal Devouring)" was replicated exactly and then sent out of the Vice President''s office to be reinstalled where it originally belonged. Two data storage devices the size of fingers were pushed towards each other by Chen Fei and Shen Songling. The Vice President of Design for the "Canglong" project team, Nangong Chengyu, checked the data immediately, while Chen Fei plugged the data storage device he received into the "Universal Data Transceiver" on his left wrist, and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" began to extract and verify the data at full speed. Half an hour later, Vice President Nangong raised his head from his laptop screen, nodded at Shen Songling and his daughter Shen Fei, and confirmed. "The data is complete, no problem!" This really was a big help. "Adam" had already completed the synchronization check ten minutes earlier. Under the "File Management Plugin" data drive in Chen Fei''s mind, a new directory "A:\\Northern Weapons Industry Group\\" had been added, and all the data from the storage device was transferred into it, covering the Northern Weapons Industry Group''s fifty years of failed experiences with combat aircraft. "Pleasure doing business!" Chen Fei showed a smile, being the most relaxed person at the scene. This was a good start, and he looked forward to more data being added in the future. The deal was successfully completed! "These two are mine now!" Teacher Shen Fei swiftly grabbed the past version and the future version of "Canglong" from the desk. She had always found them quite interesting, and now the current version of "Canglong" would be handed over to the project team. Although they had no practical value, they were perfectly suitable as decorative toys. Three little toys valued at one Energy Point! The greedy Dog System, not even one Energy Point, still considered it as one. "Take them, take them!" Chen Fei waved his hand generously, not to mention three, even three hundred would be no problem. Then he tentatively asked, "Does the Northern Weapons Industry Group accept commissions for design optimization of Crystal Jets, preferably technical assistance?" "Canglong" still had a shell, but Chen Fei''s own tinkered Crystal Jet didn''t even have a shell. Vice President of the "Canglong" project, Nangong Chengyu, puzzled why Chen Fei brought this up again, asked cluelessly, "Are you a Sky Knight?" "Of course... not!" Chen Fei knew full well that he hadn''t undergone any Sky Knight training or assessment and naturally wasn''t one. Even though he had once killed a real Sky Knight, he had only managed to do so by taking advantage of his Special Ability to catch the opponent off guard. After all, suddenly "confiscating" someone''s knockoff Crystal Jet in an aerial combat was absurd. If the opponent had been piloting a real Crystal Jet, exhibiting complete Aerial Combat Skills, Chen Fei probably wouldn''t have had any chance to approach, and would have had his "Big Mouth Monster" blown apart in mid-air within seconds. "Since you''re not a Sky Knight, talking about optimizing Crystal Jet plans is completely irrelevant." Nangong Chengyu believed Chen Fei was focusing on the wrong matter. Though the words were somewhat harsh, they were a well-meaning reminder, hoping that he would not waste time, energy, and resources vainly, as ordinary people should not be involved with this. Custom fitting Crystal Jets for their nation''s Sky Knights is a sovereign obligation. Correspondingly, upon receiving a Crystal Jet, Sky Knights also have the obligation to protect the sovereign skies. A real Sky Knight need not worry about their ride, as it would naturally be well-prepared by others. Chen Fei''s inquiry was completely putting the cart before the horse. "I just want to find someone to optimize it, not considering anything else." Regardless of the experts'' advice, Chen Fei remained determined to follow through on his path. Collide with the south wall? Why not just collapse the wall? Being steadfast isn''t wrong, and it doesn''t necessarily mean he''ll end up battered and bloody. Nangong Chengyu: "..." Shen Songling: "..." Teacher Shen: "..." Well! They all admitted that he wasn''t just hitting a wall but a mountain. Vice President Nangong sighed, and for the sake of the deal just now, he still gave Chen Fei some face and said, "Give me your plan, I''ll let Ruiyang assist you. His undergraduate thesis was a Crystal Jet design, and he should be able to offer some help." Favoring talent over kinship, pulling his own son into the "Canglong" project, Young Master Nangong surely had some capabilities. Otherwise, Vice President Shen Songling, who was primarily in charge of the "Canglong" initiative, wasn''t just there for show, and wouldn''t let his subordinates mess around. Chen Fei''s private job offer was something Nangong Chengyu couldn''t misuse for personal gain foolishly by actually searching for the project team of the Crystal Jet; otherwise, he would just be setting himself up for ridicule. So he could only pass it off to his son, Nangong Ruiyang, treating it as a leisure hobby project. It was only natural for a father to command his son, whether for public or private matters, without a trace of impropriety. "Alright! Here are the historical design plans for the Crystal Jet (unnamed), including the latest version." Chen Fei pulled off the data storage device from his left wrist, which had just stored eliminated project data over fifty years from the Northern Weapons Industry Group, and now it was switched to other technical data. Shen Songling was startled and muttered a sentence. "Artificial intelligence AI? Really convenient!" Even though the Northern Weapons Industry Group had the source code for "Adam", they didn''t use it as recklessly as Chen Fei, considering that this artificial intelligence AI had once caused quite a bit of trouble. Nowadays, it was only used as a research point and not trusted to run independently. For personal use, if properly constrained, it could still be somewhat convenient. For an entity like the Northern Weapons Industry Group, any accident could be disastrous, and AI derived from "Cybertrom" was considered more reliable. Shen Fei accompanied Chen Fei to locate Nangong Ruiyang, who was resting. The man had been exhausted from the torment inflicted by the big dog owners over the past two days. He had never dealt with such matters before, thus he was under enormous pressure; he was almost at his breaking point. There were known complainants, and specific perpetrators, and the chief culprit was none other than Chen Xiao''er, who had voluntarily come to the door. "What do you want?" Young Master Nangong, with dark circles under his eyes, glared at Chen Fei standing outside the door, visibly impatient. If Secretary Shen hadn''t been right there, he would''ve slammed the door right into Chen Fei''s face and told him to go as far away as the sun. The entire "Canglong" project team had been significantly affected by this Mr. Chen. What a toll it took, as if picking up "Canglong" specifically to trap them. It''s as if he was walking the path meant for others, leaving them no road at all. "Answer the phone!" Chen Fei glanced inside the room, then threw out an inexplicable comment. As his words fell, the ringing of a cell phone filled the room. "???" Young Master Nangong, puzzled, glanced at Chen Fei, then turned to pick up the phone. The caller ID showed it was his dad. "Dad?... Emmm... What? Me?... You''re joking, right!... Me, sure, sure, I''ll deal with him if I''m free, if not, then I won''t, hmm hmm..." The conversation ended quickly, and Nangong Ruiyang returned to the doorway, stretching out his hand impatiently. "Where is it?" "Here it is!" Teacher Shen Fei handed over the data storage device she had just received from Chen Fei to Young Master Nangong. Whether it was Shen Songling or Vice President Nangong Chengyu, they would have to be bursting with idleness to accept Chen Fei''s Crystal Jet plans. Without a corresponding Sky Knight, tinkering with such non-mass-producible gadgets was a complete waste of time. So... to maintain a good relationship with Chen Fei, still counting on the "after-sales service" of the "Canglong" plan, the ungrateful task was thrown to the powerless Nangong Ruiyang, for the sake of both public and private interests. Young Master Nangong had no right to refuse, no matter how reluctant; he had to pinch his nose and accept it. Holding the data storage device in his hand, Nangong Ruiyang became slightly more serious, but still said rather casually, "I should clarify in advance, this is a friendly technical support, not my main job. I can help you when I have time; if it involves actual verification, then it''s going to cost money, and not a small amount. You better think it through, just play with it on paper, but if you want to get serious, the Crystal Jet is not your average money burner, do you have ten billion Star Yuan? If not, just listen and leave it at that." For anyone else, Nangong Ruiyang absolutely wouldn''t have said so much, as building personal combat aircraft was simply impractical. However, the precedent of the recent "Canglong" project was right before them; this Mr. Chen dared to take it seriously and even made it work! As for whether the Crystal Jet could succeed, it was really too early to say. If one was willing to spend the money to verify, maybe it could indeed be possible. If it weren''t for these considerations, Nangong Ruiyang would have already thrown the data storage device into the trash right in front of him. They must be kidding! He would rather chase cats and tease dogs than waste his time on armchair strategies. "Go through the material first, oh yeah, let''s exchange contact info." Chen Fei took out his mobile phone, exchanging numbers with Nangong Ruiyang, who looked like he had just swallowed a fly but had to reluctantly give out his own phone number. "Anything else?" Nangong Ruiyang shook the data storage device, exhaustion washing over him like waves. Handling this Mr. Chen was more exhausting than dealing with ten big dog owners. "I won''t disturb your rest then, talk later!" Chen Fei pointed to the data storage device in the other man''s hand and left with Teacher Shen. "Take care of yourselves!" Teacher Shen waved her hand. Take care of yourselves? Bang! Nangong Ruiyang forcefully closed the door. Chapter 578 578: Section 574 - New Commission "Nangong Ruiyang is actually quite a nice person," Shen Fei said, fearing that Chen Fei might misunderstand, as she detected some incompatibility between the two men. Chen Xiao''er would rather they not get along. If two grown men were too compatible, that would truly be a disaster (?????????). He nonchalantly said, "Understandable, it''s just a bit of jealousy! As the winner, I wouldn''t bully the weak." "You''re so petty!" "No one is generous in this kind of situation! Let me give you an example, imagine sharing a boyfriend, just imagine for a second, oh..." ... They gradually walked away from each other. Chen Fei and the Northern Weapons Industry''s "Canglong" project had each gotten what they wanted, a true quid pro quo. A Chen Fei version of the "Canglong" design almost drove the original manufacturers to despair, though no one questioned if this was a deliberate "scheme and conspiracy." Those who sat in such positions were not lacking in intelligence. In fact, for the team members of the project group, such "schemes and conspiracies" were more the merrier. As long as the development of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet moved a significant step forward, what was saved was not just time but also a great deal of financial, material, and human resources, and the working years of experts. A generation, a generation of fighter jets, the costs are enormous, so any price is worth paying. - The grand battle of "Abyssal Gladiatorial" was gradually coming to an end. Many teams began to withdraw one after another. Minante, a new friend from Cangqiong Star, and his team "Gale Team" returned to Cangqiong Star with their crew and assembled combat aircraft on the third day after the final duel match, giving Chen Fei a call just to say goodbye. The dueling mechanism of "Abyssal Gladiatorial" was not a brutal fight to the death. Although it was one-on-one combat, it didn''t necessarily have to end in life-or-death strife. Each participating team could only play in one match, erupting with the most exquisite aerial combat skill was the real goal, like a brilliant firework, aiming only for a moment of dazzle. "''Rookie,'' just got a new job!" When everyone was getting ready to pack their bags, Hanna Gagel handed over a folded piece of paper. The headquarters in Chapala City on the South Continent of America had just signed a contract and forwarded it to Boss Hanna. "What job is it?" Chen Fei took the piece of paper with curiosity and looked at it intently. "Eh! Eh? What''s going on here? Is it a scam?" Chen Fei lifted his gaze from the paper, looking at Boss Hanna. "It''s not a scam, I''ve already confirmed it with the embassy of the Slan Dynasty; it''s indeed issued by the royal family, the commission is legitimate," Hanna Gagel shrugged her shoulders, having already passed the surprise phase, so now she appeared quite calm. When she first received this document from the headquarters, her reaction was no calmer than Chen Fei''s. As a military contractor, besides operating the Aircrew Base, maintaining regular patrols, and eliminating dangerous mutants and magical beasts, it also undertook various defense and offensive tasks, as long as they were legal, any job that danced with the Grim Reaper was given their all. It was completely unexpected that a small military contractor like Jiu Defense would receive a commission from the Sulan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star. Whether in terms of scale, strength, qualifications, or experience, there were many military contractors and Cangqiong Star mercenary teams far stronger than Jiu Defense Company; yet, surprisingly, this opportunity fell into the hands of the rookie-like Jiu Defense. "Is it a direct commission? Why choose me? And through the company?" Chen Fei was very puzzled; since it was a direct commission, no wonder this document had ended up in his hands. Being treated as company business, there was little room to refuse. After all, it was work. Despite Chen Fei currently balancing the roles of a mechanic and a pilot, a worker is like a piece of brick, wherever needed, must be moved. To haggle with one''s boss is simply asking for trouble. However, Chen Fei held no grudges against the Slan Royal Family or Star Yuan, so he had never considered refusing. "It seems your uncle personally recommended it, though that''s just hearsay," Hanna Gagel had her own channels of information. Before the Slan Royal Family prepared to issue this commission, quite a few well-informed top military contractors from Blue Star and mercenary teams from Cangqiong Star tried to snatch the order, but in the end, Jiu Defense received the commission with no interference. The comprehensive headquarters of Jiu Defense, located in Chapala City, had expected to face various intimidations and pressures from counterparts demanding them to transfer this commission, but those industry leaders almost simultaneously ceased their efforts, seemingly acquiescing to Jiu Defense taking on this commission. Rumors have it that some oblivious counterparts were about to take action but were quickly suppressed, and some even went bankrupt because of it. Even Claude Hughes, the somewhat slow-reacting Vice Manager of the Jiu Defense comprehensive center, eventually guessed that, more than likely, the Slan Royal Family was intervening behind the scenes to ensure the commission would fall to Jiu Defense without any problems. When dealing with the ruler of a civilized planet, no military contractor dared deny this gesture, especially those mercenaries who also needed to make a living under their rule. The former didn''t even need the Slan Royal Family to act personally. By merely indicating an interest, the sovereigns from Blue Star were more than willing to comply, efficiently eliminating any potential dissent. "My uncle? Strange..." Chen Fei felt perplexed. Why didn''t his uncle speak to him directly, instead choosing to commission him through the company? "Even without being specific, I think this mission suits you quite well," Hanna Gagel continued, "Have you decided? If you''re unwilling, I can find a way to decline it for you." Even if refusing the commission would offend the Silan Royal Family, she would still do it. That''s what it meant to stand as a boss! "No, I''ll take the commission," he said. Chen Fei made the decision on the spot. The Silan Royal Family was a major player among the big players, and this commission alone could keep Jiu Defense Company afloat till it rolled its eyes back. As long as he didn''t squander the money, there wouldn''t be worries about bankruptcy for at least three years. As the contractor of this business deal, Chen Fei could also make a fortune, buy a house and a car, warm the bed for his wife and kids, and thus climb the peak of life. Even if his younger sister got conned out of 5 million again, he, as the brother, could easily handle it (Chen Xiaosan! Enough already!). "Don''t force yourself!" Commission money also meant risks, and Hanna Gagel saw that clearly. But in the business of military contracting, what job didn''t carry risks? Competition was just part of daily meals; corporate wars broke out every year, they killed you, you killed them back, but this field never lacked the daredevils who faced life and death with disinterest. Staying safe at home, you could still choke to death on a bun, so as the daredevils always said, life and death are predestined, and wealth is in heaven''s hands. "Right, I''ve got this!" Chen Fei waved the commission paper he held, took out a pen, signed his name, and handed it back to the boss. Hanna Gagel patted Chen Fei''s shoulder and said, "Alright, leave now, and return soon." "Got it!" Chen Fei didn''t have any luggage to pack; it was all in Little Bird''s leg ring. With empty hands, he picked up Xiao Jiu and just went. Taking advantage of the current low human traffic around the main area of ''The Abyssal Gladiatorial,'' and the transport not yet being saturated, leaving immediately was the best choice. If he waited until the end, when the crowd dispersed across the world, the transport capacity on roads and railways would immediately burst, and he would have to wait another four or five days for it to ease up. - "Dad, Chen Fei has a mission and has left early," after hanging up the phone, Shen Fei reported to her Vice President dad. So that the "Canglong" project team wouldn''t try to find Chen Fei and end up wasting their efforts. She herself felt a bit regretful; initially thinking they''d have a few more days together, strolling around, but plans couldn''t keep up with changes, because of work reasons, Chen Fei left in a rush again. Shen Songling shifted his gaze from the company document display, and said, "Also inform Vice President Nangong, they should be busy digesting the newly acquired design scheme." The Chen Fei version of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet design scheme had already been sent back to the homeland, and the project team members staying at the headquarters were quite startled by this sky-fallen scheme. Initially thinking it was an April Fool''s joke, but after seeing the dueling war video extracted from the hosts of ''The Abyssal Gladiatorial,'' they realized this joke wasn''t funny at all. The project team''s "Canglong" was still learning from the crashed aircraft''s lessons, far from being finalized, yet there it was, fighting dramatically in the sky, and even winning real battles. They really wanted to swear out loud. Luckily this version of the design scheme was in hand, clearing all potential problems so the project team at headquarters hadn''t revolted, almost making the job undoable. Now, the project team members, separated by distance, were all tirelessly interpreting it, not daring to waste even a second, keeping online meetings all day long, lest they needed to communicate but couldn''t find anyone. - Finally no longer having to deal with the big dogs, Nangong Ruiyang, after a whole day reviewing technical data with his father, returned to his dormitory. The Northern Weapons Industry Group wasn''t stingy with its technicians, providing each with a private dormitory, even though it was thousands of miles away from the homeland in the limited conditions of ''The Abyssal Gladiatorial'' camp, still ensuring individual rooms of 50 square meters with heating, hot and cold water, and 24-hour meal service. As long as the work was done well, even laundry wasn''t a concern. At this moment, his brain felt swollen, obviously from an excess of reading. Yet, Nangong Ruiyang reflexively opened his laptop again, planning to watch a movie to relax. As his eyes shifted, he noticed the data storage device lying on the desk. He suddenly remembered, it was that fellow surnamed Chen who fiddled with the crystal jet design scheme, right there on this data storage device. A mocking smile involuntarily spread across his lips. Heh, that guy, not even a Sky Knight, daring to fiddle with crystal jets, truly ignorant of death! Forget it, a gentleman is generous; let it go, take a few looks just to relax the brain, then later mock that guy thoroughly. Nangong Ruiyang connected the data storage device to his laptop and began reviewing the materials. His breathing unconsciously grew heavier, the bloodshot in his eyes intensified, yet he still kept his eyes wide open, staring fixedly at the screen, his movements growing more forceful. A few minutes later, a scream suddenly rang out in the room. "Eek?~ Eek eek eek yah!!!!!! Ah ah ah ah ah!!!!!!~" Chapter 579 579: Section 575 - Protecting His Highness "Dad, I think this time, we''re definitely done for!" Nangong Ruiyang had a mental breakdown as he answered the phone call from his father, staring at the laptop screen in front of him, almost bursting into tears. The Chen''s are not human; they''re beasts! What''s even the purpose of creating such a thing? Which family''s combat aircraft didn''t even test in wind tunnels but instead relied purely on hard crashes¡ªcrashes that occurred over a hundred times, making life unbearable? If it weren''t for the fact that the Chen''s had already fled, Nangong Ruiyang would almost feel like confronting them directly, ready to mutually destroy each other. "..." Nangong Chengyu, the deputy chief designer of the "Canglong" project team, only had this one son. As soon as Shen Songling received the message and gradually realized the situation, he understood that Chen Xiao''er had planted such a big bomb for the members of the "Canglong" project team and then just dusted his hands off and fled. The Crystal Jet design which had already been flight-tested and crashed over a hundred times, captured the attention of aircraft design professionals instantly. Once they caught sight of it, they became addicted as if poisoned, unable to stop at all. With so many crashes already, why stop? It''s no wonder that the continuation of the design''s optimization work wasn''t handed over to National Defense Star Aerospace Company¡ªit was clearly meant to keep outsiders busy with disasters! That is genuinely ruthless! Caught in the middle, Shen Fei was found both crying and laughing. Chen Fei wasn''t a Sky Knight, so why meddle with Crystal Jets? Nangong Ruiyang too, knew it was a trap but still fell into it, unable to climb out (despite verbally refusing, his body honestly obeyed). This is the fate of professionals. Within the lengthy development cycles, an aircraft design expert might only be able to design one aircraft in a lifetime, most remaining unnoticed. If they suddenly encounter a piece nearly ready to complete, they would never be able to stop, even if it meant risking their lives to solve it. - Chen Fei arrived at Great Island of Britannia, adjacent to the Europa Continent around eleven hours after taking an international flight, ahead of the crowd that would soon diverge from the eastern part of Africa''s Great Rift Valley to view the spectacle. Following the address marked on the appointment letter, an autonomous taxi arrived at a quiet and tidy neighborhood. Just stepping onto the flat, polished concrete, Chen Fei suddenly felt an inexplicable unease brewing inside him. Glancing suspiciously around, he activated his skill "Basic Optical Observer" and added a stack of functions on it, quickly making a discovery. Both openly and hidden, at least a dozen gazes watched him, filled with vigilance. Perhaps this was the reason behind the uncanny feeling. "Jiu?" Little Bird too sensed those mysterious and impressive gazes, attempted to release the "Light Mirror Spell" to investigate its surrounding in its own way, but seemed to be interfered with. The spell, usually successful due to practiced proficiency, repeatedly failed, bursting into myriad light spots and vanishing into thin air. It couldn''t help but lose its cool and released a "Light Burst Flash"; a small sun-like bright flash turned the entire neighborhood stark white in an instant. The surrounding gazes scattered immediately. Looking around the neighborhood, situated right next to the bustling area, the traffic and pedestrians were sparse, Chen Fei finally realized that the agreed location for the Silan Royal Family''s appointment was likely within the Nobel District inhabited by upper-tier social elites. Perhaps for some reason, the autonomous taxi he was in was not intercepted at the entrance of the neighborhood and was allowed to enter and directly reach the designated address. Otherwise, a neighborhood that appeared to have no defensive forces seemed too lax. Coming to this realization, Chen Fei curled his lip. In front of the top nobles, ordinary people truly have no privacy at all. Ding dong! As soon as the doorbell of a building rang, its austere door suddenly opened. A young woman in a muted purple gothic maid outfit and blonde hair and blue eyes looked Chen Fei up and down as she stood in the doorway. "Are you Mr. Chen Fei?" "Eh?" Chen Fei was taken aback, criticized the lack of privacy for ordinary people internally, but still responded honestly, "Yes, that''s me!" "Eastern Chen?" The maid in the muted purple Gothic outfit, the hem of her skirt reaching the knee, asked for confirmation once again. "Eastern Chen, extraordinarily ''Fei''!" Chen Fei took the opportunity to confirm his full name. The maid glanced outside the door, instantly stepped aside, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, bowing slightly. "Please come in!" "May I know the details of this commission?" Chen Fei, along with Little Bird, entered the building which outwardly appeared modest but was internally styled with a lavish theme predominantly in white and gold, a combination not easily upheld by anyone who wasn''t genuinely top-tier. As for the all-gold blindingly flashy nouveau riche style, obviously, the posturing atmosphere was unsuitable for the Silan Royal Family with its long-standing historical backdrop. Even self-proclaimed millennia-old nobles of the Europa Continent seemed somewhat inferior in front of the rulers of Cangqiong Star. "Please follow me!" The blond maid in light purple Gothic attire seemed not to have heard Chen Fei''s words, leading the way on her own. It seemed impossible to glean any valuable information from the maid. Chen Fei was soon led into a drawing room, where the maid then turned around, brought over a plate of scones and a pot of black tea, bowed slightly, and then left the room. Little Bird seemed quite interested in the tea and snacks, drinking a sip of tea and pecking at a palm-sized biscuit. After tasting it, it fluttered around the room, now perching on the chandelier, now landing on the windowsill, then returning to Chen Fei''s shoulder, and then hopping about on the patterned carpet trying to peck off some fibers to pad its nest. Others might be fleecing wool; this little creature was seriously attempting to fleece the carpet. Emmmm... the carpet might be made of wool too. However much it frolicked, Little Bird always knew not to fly out of the room and never strayed far from Chen Fei, keeping itself within sight at all times. Knock, knock, knock... The door to the drawing room was knocked. Someone spoke from outside. "Sorry to disturb you!" The person outside pushed the door open and, with a polite bow, greeted Chen Fei, "I am Butler Mars. Welcome, Mr. Chen Fei." "Hello, Mr. Mars." Chen Fei, who had stood up immediately, returned the gesture. Little Bird immediately returned to his shoulder, sizing up the handsome young man with a star-like face. Despite his slim, delicate appearance, his face sported a long scar stretching from the corner of his left eye to his chin. "Please have a seat!" Butler Mars seemed indifferent to Chen Fei''s scrutinizing gaze, gesturing towards the chair before saying, "I presume you have some questions about this commission." His words hit exactly what Chen Fei was thinking. The commission note was vague; it only knew it involved a security mission and was related to members of the Silan Royal Family from Cangqiong Star. "I indeed have some doubts!" Chen Fei admitted to this. Butler Mars nodded, his tone calm as he spoke, "Then I will keep it brief. I need you to protect Princess Lin Ziyu Silan of the Silan Royal Family throughout the designated period until the commission concludes. Please ensure Her Royal Highness''s safety." It indeed involved a royal family member, furthermore, the second daughter of the Empress, Her Royal Highness. "May I ask why I was specifically chosen?" Chen Fei had a rough guess but lacked evidence. "Because you are a Chen, a member of the Chen family. It is better to trust the Chen family than others." Mars indeed knew the reason and didn''t hold back. A Royal commission wasn''t granted lightly; there were always compelling reasons behind it. "Why not the Lin Family? The young members of the Lin family are also formidable." Chen Fei grew even more puzzled. The youngsters of the old Chen family were generally not fighters, except for his uncle''s eldest daughter, an Eighth Rank Thunder Series Warrior, and himself who had awakened the special ability. Almost all were ordinary people. On the contrary, the Lin family, which had close ties with the Silan Royal Family, boasted generations of Sky Knights, Spellcasters, War Professionals, and supernatural power users. The fathers were heroic, and their sons were sturdy, not one craven among the grandsons. "The Lin family..." Butler Mars couldn''t help but exhibit a wry smile, yet instead of answering directly, he said, "Regardless of their will, royal family offspring face succession disputes, and even the Lin family may not align on the same side." Though he said nothing specifically, he revealed everything. "I see!" Chen Fei instantly grasped the implied meaning. Every family has its own issues to deal with. With children of the Sky Master, each of the Dragon''s Nine Sons had their own interests and stands. Although the Lin family was large and strong, wherever there are people, there is Jianghu. The Chen family and the Silan Royal Family had no direct conflicts of interest, hence could be trusted. Chen Xiao''er was chosen because his awakening of the special ability made him an unexpected trump card within the Chen Family; combined with his track record, he was well-suited for such a task. Jiu Defense Company, being a military contractor, was naturally its duty to take on commissions for protecting important personnel." Butler Mars had achieved his goal and continued unhurriedly, "There are some things I can''t say more about, I hope you understand." "I understand, and I will do my utmost to protect Princess Lin Ziyu." Whether it was the commission or the relationship between the Chen and Lin families, Chen Fei would not hesitate. The royal commission indeed found the right person. The waters of the royal circle were too deep; best to stick to his duties and not ponder over the rest. Butler Mars''s words alerted Chen Fei that there could be adversaries within the Lin family who might not show restraint out of respect for their elders. Butler Mars said, "If you need anything, please feel free to ask." "Uh, could I get a couple of ''Dragon Slayer Missiles''?" Absolute truth of life: if one ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' can''t solve the problem, then use two! Chapter 580 580: Section 576 - The Awakening of the Sword Drawer Bang! Bang! Chen Fei''s eyes popped wide open. The ground also trembled slightly. "The KDK-1 suctionsonic smart missile you requested, two units, are in detached combat mode and can be detonated remotely, with the detonator and key inside the packaging box. Please store them promptly after checking." The blonde maid, with her model-like slim figure, nonchalantly placed two metal packaging boxes, larger than herself, in front of Chen Fei. Her gaze fell on the leg ring of the Little Bird, clearly not deceived by the two outwardly identical leg rings. This was the "Dragon Slayer Missile" that he requested, capable of satisfying whether air-to-air, ground-to-ground, or stationary detonation. Once detonated, everything within a two-hundred-meter radius would turn to dust¡ªeven a Giant Dragon couldn''t withstand such terrifying lethal power. The weapon mockingly called "Dragon Slayer Missile" had now officially earned its name. Chen Fei was checking the missiles inside the box when suddenly a voice came from behind him. "Are you the one sent by the Chen Family?" "You are..." Just as he was about to turn towards the voice, a tingling sensation came from his neck, where a bronze-colored longsword was now pointed at his major artery. "Are you here to kill Her Royal Highness the Princess?" Chen Fei still finished his sentence, but his tone grew increasingly calm, and the air gradually thickened with tension. Such a rash action of drawing a sword meant only one thing¡ªenemy, definitely an enemy! Little Bird darted away in a flash, disappearing from Chen Fei''s shoulder, and the next second, it appeared on the wall behind his adversary, its tiny pointed beak brewing a deadly glow. The little creature, personally hatched and raised by Chen Fei, was bonded with him through a connection of life, far more reliable than any Contract Scroll. Dog system: Ding... The killing intent was ready to burst. "Wait, she''s not..." "Wait for what?" Bang!¡ªBoom! Suddenly, a large hole broke in the wall, dust billowing everywhere. Beyond was a small garden, now a mess on one side. Chen Fei shook his hand, his light-flecked silver lines fading beneath his skin as he stood calmly in his place, undisturbed by the fact that his opponent was a woman. He landed a fierce punch, the Black Tiger Heart Extraction style, right on his opponent''s D. It should be D, perhaps D+ "She''s not the enemy!" The blonde maid''s reminder came just a step too late. "Jiu!" A beam of emerald light shot out, swiftly tracing a human silhouette amidst the rising dust and building debris. Xiao Jiu''s reaction was still a beat too slow. "Puff!" The woman, now lying face-up amidst the broken bricks and concrete, spat out a mouthful of blood, her complexion deathly pale and breath barely there, her left hand still clutching the bare hilt of her sword, the sharp bronze blade now gone. Clearly, the sudden punch had knocked about seventy to eighty percent of the life out of her. "You..." The blonde maid, seeing the young woman''s ghastly condition, couldn''t help but glare at Chen Fei and hurriedly pressed her headset to call for help. "She''s not Her Royal Highness the Princess, is she?" After speaking, Chen Fei suddenly started to worry, realizing he''d reflexively reacted too quickly. If he had disfigured the protection target given by the mission, the Chen Family Gate would likely be annihilated on the spot by an enraged Silan royal family. He quickly pointed and said, "Xiao Jiu, use ''Light of Redemption,'' cast it continuously!" Since she wasn''t an enemy, it was time to make amends. "Jiu?" Little Bird looked puzzled. Weren''t they enemies? One would expect them to endanger each other, so why save someone? Despite not understanding, it listened to Chen Fei''s commands, bouncing over to the woman''s side. After brewing for a moment, a Light Orb emitting soft white light formed and quickly sank into the woman''s chest, wrapping her entire being in bright light. A few moments later, another "Light of Redemption" was cast. The Low-Rank Light-based Spells might not excel in offense, but their healing power was undeniable. The Second Rank Light Healing Spell had an immediate effect, gradually stabilizing the severely injured woman''s breath. The blonde maid spoke annoyed, "This lady is the Shadow Guard of the Princess, grown up with the Princess since childhood. You''re in big trouble now." "My sword!" She finally noticed the oddity in her hand but moved her eyelids slightly without being able to open them, evidently not yet fully conscious. "Heh! Anyone who draws a sword should be prepared to face the consequences," Chen Fei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she wasn''t Her Royal Highness the Princess herself, he didn''t care about anyone else. Anyone daring to point a sword at his neck deserved to die¡ªan idiot must pay the price for their foolish actions. Whoosh whoosh whoosh... Slight sounds echoed around, and several figures appeared inside the small garden, some of which Chen Fei had not seen before. They were likely the security forces of the mansion. Some people had yet to appear. "What happened?" Housekeeper Mars hurried over, only to see a large hole in the wall and a young woman lying among the bricks, cement, and plant debris, he exclaimed in shock, "Lize Jina, what happened to her?" Little Bird was still beside her, releasing Light Healing Spells. "I thought she was an assassin!" Chen Fei spread his hands and did not feel he had done anything wrong. The saying always goes, those who draw swords must be prepared for the consequences, if you dare to point a sword at someone else, being killed on the spot is nothing to feel wronged about. "Fei Dani?" Mars did not intend to reproach Chen Fei, instead, he looked sternly at the blonde maid. He was not idle either, taking out a potion bottle, he unscrewed the cap and slowly fed the unconscious young woman. As rulers of a planet, the Royal Family of Cangqiong Star was never short of precious magic potions. The effect of the potion was in no way inferior to Little Bird''s Light Healing Spells, as the young woman''s pale, paper-like complexion gradually turned rosy, and her breathing became more stable and strong. The blonde maid turned pale, but still admitted honestly, "Just now, Lize Jina was pointing a sword at Chen Fei." She had not expected things to turn out this way. Her Royal Highness the Princess''s Shadow Guard, Lize Jina, wanted to test Chen Fei, but encountered an unexpected backlash, nearly losing her life. "Foolish, why didn''t you remind earlier, someone, take Fei Dani to the Solitary Confinement Room, wait for His Highness to return and then deal with her." Housekeeper Mars immediately understood what had happened. This was bullying the newcomer! The Royal Family found a bodyguard for Her Royal Highness, as a Shadow Guard who had grown up with her, Lize Jina was somewhat resentful and wanted to weigh Chen Fei''s capabilities, but she underestimated his response. In the business of military contracting, who isn''t walking on the edge of life and death; you either do not strike, but once you do, how can you possibly show mercy. The blonde maid did not defend herself, and was quietly taken away. "Mr. Chen Fei, you did well!" Though Housekeeper Mars''s expression was somewhat ugly, he maintained his reason and did not unjustly anger at Chen Fei. The Princess''s Shadow Guard was arrogant and reckless, even if it cost her life, it was not someone else''s fault. Or in a way, it was the price one must pay for underestimating the heroes of the world. "Sorry, I did not control my strength!" Despite not being blamed, as a newcomer, Chen Fei still chose to keep a low profile. Keeping a low profile personally, while taking bold actions professionally, is one of the survival rules in the workplace. "Someone, take Lize Jina away!" Housekeeper Mars then had people move the young woman, who was out of life danger but still weak and unconscious, away from the scene. Gardeners and masons had already received orders, starting to prepare tools and materials, to clean up the chaotic scene. Suddenly, as if Housekeeper Mars heard something, he pressed his earpiece, then nodded at Chen Fei and said, "Mr. Chen Fei, His Highness will be back soon. Please get ready and accompany me to meet His Highness." "Okay, Housekeeper Mars!" Chen Fei nodded. "Good!" Mars immediately turned and left, Possibly agonizing over how to explain to the Princess that her personal Shadow Guard had accidentally been severely injured. This pressure could not easily be shifted onto Chen Fei. Then another maid approached Chen Fei. "Mr. Chen Fei, your room is ready, please follow me." Originally this was the job of the blonde maid Fei Dani, but since she was locked in Solitary Confinement, someone else had to guide Chen Fei to settle down in this mansion. Since he had accepted the commission, Chen Fei could not stray far from the person he was protecting; it was natural to settle down on-site. An hour later, dinner time. Chen Fei was led by the maid to the dining room. The spacious dining table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and various foods were arranged between the silver candlesticks. Even a dinner meant solely for the Princess was abundant enough to satisfy twenty grown men to the fullest. A dignified woman with an intellectual aura sat at the head of the table, calmly waiting for Chen Fei''s arrival. "Chen Fei, this is the Princess of our Silan Dynasty, the second daughter of Her Majesty the Empress, Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan." Housekeeper Mars promptly introduced Chen Fei to the woman sitting at the head of the dining table. "Greetings, Your Highness, I am Chen Fei of the Chen Family." Demonstrating his lineage at this moment was a form of respect; Chen Fei went high profile this time and then bowed deeply. Normally, what was the Chen Family? It was plainly Chen Xiao''er! Even Boss Hana had not managed to uncover his true background. Her Highness of the Silan Dynasty nodded at Chen Fei and said, "The Chen Family shares some connections with our Silan Royal Family. Please, have a seat, Mr. Chen." She never exhibited an arrogant attitude that rejected others from afar. Partly it was indeed because of the family connections, and partly she was about to entrust her safety to him, and third, this princess who possessed the bloodlines of the Silan Dynasty and the Lin Family naturally had no airs about her. Housekeeper Mars immediately pulled out a chair for Chen Fei, right at the end of the table; the serving maids fluidly provided dining services for both, washing hands, cleaning faces, and serving dishes. Chapter 581 581: Section 577 - Murderous Aura Eat without talking. Soup, cold dishes, vegetarian dishes, meat dishes, staples, fruit, desserts¡ªa full standard meal with each portion modest but the variety extensive enough to satisfy, especially since Chen Fei''s serving sizes were always increased, ensuring he would be well-fed. If guests left hungry, it would shame the reputation of the Slan Royal Family. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu also received its share of food, live worms cultivated in a germ-free laboratory. To be honest, Chen Fei''s meal was consumed with some unease. Presumably, Housekeeper Mars had already reported the incident with the Female Shadow Guard to the princess, but from the time they sat down for the meal until it ended, the subject wasn''t mentioned. Once the meal concluded, they moved to the princess''s private reception room where tea was served. Within the reception room, only Mars, with his stalwart presence, was in attendance, serving them personally. Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan, with a dignified and intellectual air, then formally spoke up. "Regarding Lize Jina''s rash actions, I would like to offer you a sincere apology here." "No, no, no, it''s me who went too far," said Chen Fei, quickly waving his hand. He had acted so swiftly, having knocked the person out before even realizing what he''d done. If it had genuinely been an assassin, they would not have infiltrated the Imperial Princess''s residence so effortlessly, not to mention that the responding Royal Guards were all formidable individuals. "No, you are not in the wrong!" insisted Lin Ziyu Slan, still with utmost seriousness. "Alright, can we let this matter rest here?" Chen Fei took the initiative to put an end to it, fearing that otherwise, given the other party''s politeness, the matter would drag on interminably. "Thank you for your great magnanimity!" expressed Her Royal Highness the Princess, demonstrating excellent etiquette without further insistence. "Taking this opportunity, I would like to inquire about the specifics of the assignment. Although Housekeeper Mars gave me an overview, there are certain details he might not feel comfortable discussing." Chen Fei sought to understand more about his mission. Concerning royal family strife and the struggle for succession, a mere butler hardly had the standing to comment, even if Chen Fei''s own interpretation and conjectures were all he had to go on. Still, it was necessary to know who was a friend, who could be trusted, and who was an enemy, who needed to be guarded against. Without clarity, fulfilling a protective duty could prove very tiring. And needless to say, one must not be worn down while guarding the princess to remain in optimal condition against any unforeseen events. "Mars might not dare to speak, but I can tell you. However, I hope you can keep it confidential," Lin Ziyu Slan hesitated for a moment before deciding to speak frankly. She continued, "My brother, Lin Zio Slan, is the first heir to the throne, and I am the second. In truth, my brother and I hold no conflict between us, cherish a very close relationship, and harbor no intention of harming each other. But being born into the Royal Family, sometimes you have no control over certain things. Only if one could become a powerful sovereign like our mother, who could decree without challenge, but neither my brother nor I have such strength. Thus we''re reluctantly becoming figureheads for the power groups behind us, regardless of our will. Inevitably, matters would lead to this point. The position of Crown Prince is a path to the greater good that both my brother and I have tried to prevent, still unable to diminish the greed and ambition of those around us. Thankfully, my mother only had the two of us; otherwise, the battle for the throne could have escalated without bounds." At this point, Lin Ziyu sighed with exhaustion, seeming overwhelmed. To prevent an outright clash, she had already left Cangqiong Star of her own accord to study at Blue Star, carefully avoiding any direct involvement. Nevertheless, those clustered around her brother would not cease their pursuit, always trying to target her. Even more frustratingly, the individuals who self-appointed themselves around Lin Ziyu always seemed to speak solely for themselves, completely disregarding her words and demeanor. Those who wished to elevate either her brother, Lin Zio, or herself, Lin Ziyu, to the throne ultimately sought only a mascot, a puppet they could manipulate at will to control the entire Dynasty and secure their own interests. After hearing the princess''s genuine account of the struggle for succession, Chen Fei too sighed, reflecting, "It seems it''s a bit different from what I imagined." The two heirs to the Slan Dynasty weren''t actively antagonistic but were being forced into opposition by those around them. Both siblings felt helpless, as they were not the Emperor and could not truly command those nobles. Whatever they said fell on deaf ears. "My brother secretly sent word that those people are no longer willing to wait. Even though I''ve been staying out of it on Blue Star, they, they, they are just..." Lin Ziyu''s eyes misted with tears, her voice wavering. Even a princess, doted on and adored, has moments of helplessness. "I think... perhaps you''re overthinking things a bit, um, as an outsider, I may be speaking out of turn," Chen Fei began, but then hesitated to continue. The affairs of a Dynasty that ruled an entire planet were unfathomably deep¡ªlikely, only the heavens could tell. It was certain that no sovereign state on Blue Star could handle it, much less Chen Xiao''er, an unrelated outsider with a mere sliver of a family connection. Misspeaking could genuinely result in death! "But you may speak freely, I will keep your words secret too," replied Lin Ziyu, quickly regaining her composure, subtly shifting her address from the formal "you" to the more familiar "you," thus narrowing the social distance between them by another notch. "The words I want to say might be rather unpleasant, and you might not accept them. So let''s just say if you don''t like what I have to say, it can go in one ear and out the other¡ªas if I''d never spoken," ended Chen Fei. Chen Fei hesitated again and again, but considering he had already gotten himself into this murky water and couldn''t extricate himself, he felt there were some things he just had to say to feel at ease. The butler, Mars, with his gaze lowered, furrowed his brows slightly, and his hands by his side suddenly clenched. If it weren''t for Her Royal Highness the Princess being present, he definitely would have reminded the other party that reckless talk was unacceptable and that one must be cautious with their words. He suppressed the urge to speak and continued to remain silent. "Please speak!" Lin Ziyu assumed a posture of all ears, ready to listen attentively. For those in high positions, listening is an essential skill and an important attitude to have. "You and your brother, each under your own name, gather those who have assembled around you, and then..." Chen Fei''s speech stopped abruptly and without warning. This cliffhanger was so unexpected that the nearby butler almost wanted to smack him. "Then what?" Her Royal Highness the Princess, probably unaccustomed to encountering such teases, was momentarily stunned, and her intellectual demeanor suddenly turned cute and endearing, completely different from her earlier self. "Just use one ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' smash their bones to dust, and annihilate them completely!!!" Chen Fei, grinding his teeth, revealed a ferocious expression, so seething with killing intent that Mars, the butler, almost thought this guy was about to attack the Princess, truly like inviting a wolf into the house. It seemed that in this life he just couldn''t get along with the "Dragon Slayer Missile." The temperature in the reception room dropped by more than ten degrees Celsius in an instant. Give him a little bit of color, and he''s rashly spouting nonsense; truly Chen Xiao''er who is fearless because of his ignorance and ever so overdue for a lesson. "Ah?... AH!!!" After a moment of shock, Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan let out a distressed cry, covering her mouth in surprise. Housekeeper Mars realized Chen Fei''s true colors ¨C that tone, expression, and the genuine murderous intent, it wasn''t an act; he was dead serious. This madman! "Two ''Dragon Slayer Missiles,'' as a friendly sponsorship!" Chen Fei, earnest as could be, stretched out two fingers, making a double meaning ''V'' gesture with his hand. He loved doing things like offering others'' flowers to the Buddha. As long as money wasn''t involved, there would be no hard feelings. "This, this, it really can''t be done, it must not be done!" The intellectual Princess shook her head emphatically. Slaughtering the nobility ¨C how could such a thing possibly be done? A single "Dragon Slayer Missile" could wipe out countless families and could even trigger a disturbance in the Dynasty. "Better a short pain than a long one, even I, a mere commoner, know that in matters like these one shouldn''t be soft-hearted. I think the youngsters of the Imperial Family should understand this to some degree, right?" Chen Fei speculated that the siblings'' indecisiveness was due to the ''second child'' issue. Naturally, as the Empress, having two children was already pushing the limits, and anything more would impact the management of imperial affairs. If it was a male Emperor, with three thousand beauties in the harem and a bunch of heirs born, the throne remained singular, the chances of successfully ascending weren''t one in two, but rather one in twenty ¨C every single one would likely be as merciless as a little wolf cub. Though reluctant to admit it, at this moment Mars, the butler, found himself inexplicably agreeing with Chen Fei''s logic. Without those annoying figures, perhaps Her Royal Highness and His Royal Highness wouldn''t have so many troubles, right? "Let''s really give an end to this topic!" Lin Ziyu couldn''t help feeling a wave of anxiety and decisively put an end to the conversation, imitating the example. To delve deeper would likely make things even worse, after all. "Alright, let''s talk about something else, something cheerful!" Chen Fei didn''t continue to recklessly dash down the path of doom and seemed somewhat sensible at last. The butler cast an encouraging glance at him¡ªif he dared to prattle nonsense once more, even at the risk of being reprimanded by Her Highness, he would intervene and prevent any impudent speech towards the Royal Family members. "My studies on the Great Island of Britannia have finally come to an end, and I''ve obtained my doctoral degree," Lin Ziyu sighed, taking the initiative to steer the conversation onto herself. She seemed to believe that Chen Fei would be curious about why the Princess of the Silan Dynasty would be staying so close to the Europa Continent on the Great Island of Britannia. However, completing one''s studies was indeed a happy occasion. "Congratulations! After I graduated with my bachelor''s degree, I wanted to go for postgraduate studies, but then something happened at home... Well, as you see now!" Chen Fei spread his arms wide and said, "I''m just a bachelor''s degree holder, an ordinary worker, unworthy even of a state-owned enterprise." If he had succeeded in pursuing further studies, perhaps he would have been striving along the path of masters and doctorate degrees instead of carrying a "Dragon Slayer Missile" to his mutual annihilation with the fearsome and violent Dragon of Slaughter, constantly fighting for his life, with his head practically tied to his belt, and living on the edge every single unfortunate (and thrilling) day. Chen Xiao''er, who talks tough but proves to be quite the opposite, criticizes with words but his actions are always straightforward¡ªhe''d slap someone''s head off with his own hands. Chapter 582 582: Section 578 - On Traps "I''m currently preparing a paper on the ''Thucydides Trap'' and its relation to Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. I am from Cangqiong Star People, a member of the Royal Family, and you are from Blue Star, a commoner. It would be good to discuss this from different perspectives!" Princess Doctor or Doctor Princess, Lin Ziyu Slan, once she started talking about other topics, would invariably and uncontrollably circle back to her own academic specialty within three sentences. With high emotional intelligence, she switched topics as smoothly as flowing clouds and running water. "Actually... war can also be a good thing!" Since becoming a working man, Chen Fei had not been in touch with academic matters for a long time, and mentioning it naturally aroused some interest. Even today, the things he learned during his undergraduate years were still clear in his mind, and had not been given back to the teachers. Although sometimes he would inexplicably become murderously angry, this statement actually came from the bottom of his heart. Capital is man-eating, even more ruthless than war; at least war leaves a corpse, while man-eating leaves not even a bone behind. "Eh?" Her Royal Highness the Princess had not at all expected Chen Fei''s thoughts, which were completely different from her original ideas, even diametrically opposite. The core argument of the paper Lin Ziyu was preparing was to avoid the war catastrophes brought about by the "Thucydides Trap" at all costs and to seek long-lasting solutions for cooperation and peaceful coexistence between two completely different planetary civilizations. This paper suited her identity as the Royal Princess. "Although war can destroy economies, nothing can be reestablished without destruction first. By seizing this opportunity to break the old mechanism and establish a new balance, we can stimulate economic growth more effectively and form a more stable and mature socio-economic system. In a way, war is the catalyst for the progress and integration of civilizations." Chen Fei spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and continued, "I, a humble one, just so happen to have studied economics!" From the sound of it, one might mistakenly think that he studied not economics but the art of war. War serves politics, and politics serve the economy; fighting is all about the economy, and without money or provisions, not a single soldier can be mustered. The two are indeed closely related. The length of human civilization''s history is negligible compared to many other epochal civilizations, yet, it is precisely because of never having a day''s peace that it has been able to grow so rapidly in such a short time. Each epoch has a shorter growth cycle than the one before it, and accordingly, there is even less peacetime. Only in the Golden Epoch of the First Epoch was there so much peace and quiet; hence, its disappearance was the cleanest, leaving not even a hair behind. "That''s a terrible deduction!" The Princess of the Silan Dynasty looked disheartened. Is the "Thucydides Trap" really an unavoidable problem? Chen Fei didn''t care. He was just a commoner caught in the currents of society, perhaps able to make some whispers in the dark, but ignored by all. As a Royal Family member who rules a civilized planet and the second in line to the throne, Lin Ziyu Slan''s every move is in the public eye, and every word and deed is subject to countless interpretations, none of which she desires. The bloodline of the Royal Family is like shackles on her body, so she dares not make any rash moves. In this respect, she envies the commoners, who are either praised for doing good deeds or thrown in jail for doing bad ones. Seeing Lin Ziyu Slan distressed by the shadow of the "Thucydides Trap," Chen Fei said, "Economies go through cycles, and so do civilizations. If both civilizations enter a period of decline, decadence and laziness will breed. It might be better to sharpen each other, removing the rotten flesh, breaking down and then rebuilding to rejuvenate. These are issues that those in power need to consider, and neither you nor I should worry ourselves over it." "In fact, I''ve always been worried that the relationship between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star is no longer as close as it was thirty years ago." The Princess''s worry was not unfounded; she specialized in history on Blue Star and had obtained a doctoral degree in history. Just as copper can be polished to serve as a mirror for one''s attire, and history can serve as a mirror to understand the rise and fall of things. "With each new emperor, new courtiers come to power. Don''t you see the same thing happening here on Cangqiong Star? I think a controlled scuffle between the two might not be so bad. Those stuffed with food and itching to cause trouble should be given something to do. If there are no enemies, create them. Let those who like to stir trouble stir to their death. The rest love peace and will never be able to fight. I just came from the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial,'' and I actually think it''s a pretty good way to resolve conflicts." Chen Fei was inspired by the great wars in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial." Even though they were life-and-death fights, with grudges settled directly and belligerents dying off, what remained were all good and peaceful citizens. "''Abyssal Gladiatorial''?" Lin Ziyu Slan had not expected Chen Fei to bring that up. Due to the variety of static displays of aircraft, flight performances, and actual combat, the once-every-five-year "Abyssal Gladiatorial" event is not only extremely popular on Blue Star but also has numerous fans on Cangqiong Star. Many Cangqiong Star People go to great lengths to come to Blue Star to watch or even to participate in the combat. Although there are many cross-plane channels between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star, it is not easy for peoples of the two civilizations to visit each other. Not only is a legitimate reason required, but criminal records and mental states are also thoroughly checked. Anyone with a tendency to commit crimes is unable to reach the other''s planet, which eliminates any breeding ground for cross-planetary criminals. Chen Fei didn''t speak but quietly waited for Her Royal Highness the Princess to think on her own. Those who occupy high positions in the ruling class can naturally see many things that the common folk cannot. Since the other party had thought of centering their thesis on the "Thucydides Trap," analyzing the relationship between the two civilized planets, it meant that the danger already existed. If left unattended, the former allies could very likely come to a situation where swords are drawn and bows are bent, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. After all, as the saying goes, there are no permanent friends, nor are there permanent enemies, only eternal interests. Cangqiong Star and Blue Star come together because of interests, and they can equally fall into enmity over the same. The theory of the "Thucydides Trap" is based on this and has been proven time and time again that a mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Lin Ziyu Slan finally emerged from her state of contemplation, saying to the butler by her side, "It seems I do indeed need to expand my horizons. No wonder there''s a saying that other mountains'' stones can be used to polish jade. Chen Fei, I will seriously consider your proposal." Lin Ziyu Slan looked toward Butler Mars and continued, "Mars, later on, tell Lize Jina to gather information about the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial'' for me, the more detailed, the better. Also, help me make appointments with some sociologists and international relations experts. With ''Thucydides Trap'' and ''Abyssal Gladiatorial'' as the common theme, prepare for a symposium. Once the list is confirmed, I''ll set the time." Some people command endless resources and channels, which they can use at will. Surrounded by followers, they easily complete one project after another. Others are doomed to face hardship, to stand watch until their heads go bald, enduring loneliness and isolation, toiling away on their own. Both are engaged in academia, yet people are different. The saying "the poor study while the rich practice martial arts" isn''t always completely true. "Alright, I will inform Lize Jina!" Housekeeper Mars gave a bow. He was the Princess''s household butler, and the Princess''s closest confidante and Shadow Guard, Lize Jina, wasn''t just a bodyguard but also a study partner and academic assistant. Although their social statuses were drastically different, in a sense, they were of one heart and one mind. It was no wonder Lize Jina had recklessly tried to gauge Chen Fei''s strength. "It''s getting late. Today''s conversation with Mr. Chen Fei has been very enlightening. I won''t disturb your rest any further. If there''s anything you need, you can directly speak with Butler Mars," Lin Ziyu Slan stood up and nodded to Chen Fei, bringing an end to their first formal meeting. Having had the rare opportunity to discuss academic topics with a serious individual, Chen Fei also felt pleased as he said, "Talking with you has been a pleasure, Your Highness!" If it had been before, everyone he encountered would have been all about fighting. They couldn''t go three sentences without talking about killing, not to mention the likes of Chekhov Big Bear who couldn''t stay away from drinking, gambling, and brawling¡ªit was as if they had fallen into a den of bandits. Considering the geographical location of Aircrew Base 911, wasn''t that just a mountain stronghold for bandits? - The next day, Little Birds were flying around the garden, chirping nonstop. Every time they came to a new and unfamiliar environment, especially a meticulously trimmed garden, they would be exceptionally active, treating it as a thrilling playground, flying high and low, darting here and there, playing to their heart''s content. Facing the early sun, Chen Fei squatted down in a horse stance, practicing a special breathing technique¡ªwith nine quick, shallow breaths followed by one slow, deep breath, repeating this cycle over and over. The Internal Strengthening Technique taught to him by the old Neanderthal man Barut enabled him to successfully perform the War Pattern Secret Technique "Fight to the Death." It was a critical life-saving skill, and Chen Fei never slacked off whenever he had the time. "I''m, I''m sorry!" While he was standing steadily, a stuttering voice came from the side, sounding somewhat familiar. Chen Fei gathered his Nine Shallows and One Deep breath and looked toward the voice. It was none other than the Princess''s Shadow Guard Lize Jina, who had drawn her sword against him the day before and had almost been sent flying back to Cangqiong Star with one punch. Her face was flushed red as she bowed her head, not daring to make eye contact with him. "Yesterday, I am, I am, truly very sorry. I, I want to formally apologize to you, sorry!" Then she bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, stammering her apology out with almost all her strength. The sudden outburst startled Little Bird, who quickly flew back and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, eyeing the young woman warily, debating whether to shoot her with a laser. Chapter 583 583: Section 579 - Takeover of Defense Having been hammered to near death yesterday, it''s amazing that one could recover to their original state overnight. Chen Fei originally thought that he would temporarily hammer the opponent from D to E, then shrink back to C, but now it seems that it was undoubtedly D without mistake. It''s no wonder, considering that Major Chekhov, the squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, is a master of the meaty mountain-gazing genre and a little prince of greasy jokes. Suffering under him and being influenced daily, Chen Fei couldn''t help but "GET" some trivial little skills. As the poem goes: "When your chest has harbored clouds, and your eyes see the returning birds, you must climb to the highest peaks, and all the mountains will seem small." Translation: Once you''ve seen the big picture, everything else looks small in comparison. Not just an old driver, but an upgrader version, Major Chekhov, who took the wheel to the skies, miraculously didn''t get hammered to death by Miss "Devil Pepper," truly a marvel of life, worthy of the Big Bear Squadron Leader. With a tough physique, his defensive and recovery abilities even surpass those of Chen Xiao''er. With an unhurried demeanor, Chen Fei courteously said, "All right, I forgive you." After all, one must consider the master before beating the dog, especially when the person behind it is Her Royal Highness the Princess. "I''m terribly sorry!" Lize Jina bowed once again, not daring to lift her head. As the Shadow Guard personally assigned to the princess, she was extremely anxious and didn''t dare to make the same mistake again. Personal grievances were simply not worth mentioning when Her Royal Highness personally apologized on her behalf. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Chen Fei called out to her. "Wait a moment." A longsword appeared in Chen Fei''s hand, completely formed in one go, including the hilt. He thought for a moment, then added a "Wind Blade" Magic Array to it, using up one of the two Magic Array inscription units available on the sword. Chen Fei then took out a Railgun Combat Rifle Crystalline Block that he had previously seized and inserted it into the slot on the blade. As the Magic Array Patterns and runes that were lain along one side of the blade faintly glowed and then dimmed, it signified the Magic Array was successfully activated. After completing these steps, he extended the sword, holding it horizontally towards her. The Crystalline Block from a Railgun Combat Rifle didn''t have a large capacity, but it was enough to release about seventeen or eighteen "Wind Blades." "This sword, I''m giving it back to you!" The Dog System charged him an Energy Point, truly a rip-off! "My sword?" Lize Jina accepted the sword in confusion. Just by looking at the design, size, and weight of the sword, it was clearly the one she habitually carried, with the antique bronze glow and even the friction marks from before being unmistakably hers. But... what was the deal with the Magic Array on it?! "The original owner should have it, and I''ve thrown in an extra ''Wind Blade'' Magic Array for free, which you can trigger with your spiritual power," Chen Fei said casually, adding Magic Arrays or swinging his hammer just out of a knack for tinkering. After all, he almost hammered away someone''s D and was well aware of his own strength. "Huh?" Lize Jina was somewhat dazed, watching as Chen Fei nonchalantly restored her longsword that had gone missing yesterday and even added a Magic Array to it, all without specialized equipment or a processing workflow. To be precise, this had turned into a valuable Alchemical Artifact longsword. Following Chen Fei''s suggestion, she swung the sword casually. Whoosh!~ A crescent-shaped Wind Blade whistled out, slicing diagonally through the sky, dispersing into a gust of wind after traveling more than ten meters. Limited by the size of the Magic Array, the Wind Blade wasn''t very powerful, but it was an unexpected additional combat capability. Her eyes immediately widened. Lize Jina had long wanted to replace her longsword with an Alchemical Artifact one, but they were hard to come by, and few Alchemists offered bespoke services¡ªand even if they did, she couldn''t afford it. Despite a Shadow Guard''s decent monthly salary, there wasn''t much left after everyday expenses, Battle Qi cultivation, and maintenance and replacement of equipment. On Cangqiong Star, the demand for alchemy products far exceeded any previous period, with an almost insatiable purchasing power driving up prices and making the profession of an Alchemist extremely sought-after. Lize Jina hesitantly asked, "Is this, this really for me?" As she spoke, her hands clutched tightly onto the sword hilt, showing no intention of letting go. Her original sword hadn''t been cheap, custom-made from a reputable craftsman and fitted perfectly to her; she had saved up for a long time and with the help of Her Royal Highness''s sponsorship, she had finally managed to acquire it. But now, it had clearly been enhanced by more than just one notch. "Yes, that''s right! That''s your original one. Adding the Magic Array and Crystalline Block was just a simple gesture," Chen Fei reassured. Chen Fei didn''t need to know how to inscribe Magic Arrays¡ªas long as the Dog System did, that would suffice. For him, besides the cost of materials, everything else was zero cost and not as expensive as the other party had imagined. "Thank you very much!" She bowed again to Chen Fei and, holding the sword, ran off jubilantly. This time, it was an unexpected fulfillment of her wishes. Perhaps in Lize Jina''s mind, the punch wasn''t unjustified. A punch turned a sword into a Magic Artifact. - The Princess''s academic salon was soon scheduled, to take place in ten days at The Princess''s Private Mansion, and the invited scholars were determined right from the onset. Being invited by the Princess of the Silan Royal Family that ruled over Cangqiong Star, almost no one would refuse. Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan had completed her doctoral studies on Blue Star''s Great Island of Britannia, and even as she was about to depart back to Cangqiong Star, she was still busy preparing her academic works, immersing herself in a vast amount of materials every day within her mansion as if the doctoral degree was merely the end of one phase and the formal start of the next. Employed by the Silan Royal Family to be one of the protectors of Her Royal Highness, Chen Fei was low-key and inconspicuous within The Princess''s Private Mansion. Ever since his rather forceful punch almost killed the Princess''s personal Shadow Guard, no one had wanted to spar with him, and although it was not isolation, it was limited to solitary conduct. Being a new face here was exactly what the Silan Royal Family needed¡ªa fresh face with no ties to anyone. Once he realized this, nearly everyone in the mansion kept a respectful distance from Chen Fei, in part also due to subtle hints from Housekeeper Mars. Despite the lack of social interaction, Chen Fei wasn''t lonely here¡ªbetween free board and lodging and a generous allowance¡ªespecially as the Princess, Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina, Butler Mars, and a few other maids including Fei Dani would occasionally chat with him, ensuring he didn''t feel left out. His popularity here was not due to a cold and violent exclusion; no one engaged in such trivial acts. However, Chen Fei had a vague feeling that aside from Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan herself, those who chatted with him were actually the Princess''s true confidants, and the reliability of the others was questionable. Based on experience gained from past analyses of the Dog System''s tasks, the situation of Her Highness the Imperial Princess wasn''t very promising, and her residence in the Noble District wasn''t as quiet as it seemed on the surface. If that were not the case, they wouldn''t have specifically recruited him, a scion of the Chen Family Gate, to protect Her Royal Highness. On the day of the salon, scholars who had arrived on the Great Island of Britannia a day or two in advance reached The Princess''s Private Mansion by coach bus. Most of the attendees were from the neighboring Europa Continent and from across the ocean on the North American Continent, all professionals in sociology and international relations, including some retired diplomats. Now, they had gathered here for a common subject or topic. Chen Fei also took up the duty of security at the salon venue, donning the "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor well in advance. Upon seeing the Tactical Armor and the Railgun Combat Rifle slung across his back, Housekeeper Mars was stunned for a good few seconds. It wasn''t until Chen Fei demonstrated the instant release of a full-metal shield with a "Repulsion Shield" Magic Array that he nodded his head in satisfaction. The mission to protect the Princess was about defense, not offense, and Chen Fei had accurately grasped the focus of the job. The seldom-used "Evolution Quick Preload Slot" Skill finally found its purpose on such an occasion. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu perched on Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan''s shoulder, a genuine, close-range protector, which made Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina envious and jealous beside her. The fist-sized Little Bird was perfectly suited to play the role of a pet, and probably very few knew that Little Bird''s combat ability was not inferior to Chen Fei himself, capable of attacking, defending, and being adorably charming. If it came to a fight, ten Chen Xiao''ers couldn''t beat Xiao Jiu, and even the renowned "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron would not escape a wipeout. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was also assigned a task, taking over the internal surveillance system of The Princess''s Private Mansion. While Cangqiong Star didn''t lack experts in this area, it was Butler Mars who assisted in creating a backdoor, allowing "Adam" to gain control access and modify part of the surveillance system. Otherwise, it would have been quite difficult for this antique from over thirty years ago to break through the top-level security system used by the Silan Royal Family. In a sense, any little disturbance inside or outside the entire mansion could not escape the surveillance of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," which was something both the Princess and the Butler were pleased to see. Seventeen figures were hidden outside the mansion¡ªfour were neighborhood security personnel, seven were Royal Guards protecting the Princess Mansion, and the other six persons had unknown identities, being marked as neither friends nor foes, constituting no immediate threat. There were thirty-five people inside the building¡ªone Princess, one Butler, one Shadow Guard, one Chen Xiao''er, twelve maids, and nineteen Royal Guards¡ªwithout any suspicious individuals. Emmm... and one Pure Light Sparrow, too bad most surveillance equipment couldn''t detect it... Two coaches parked at the roadside, and the scholars were getting off, ready to enter The Princess''s Private Mansion. Adam: Anomaly detected, sociologist Mahab Rocher, height discrepancy with records, exceeds by 3 centimeters. On the inside of the Tactical Helmet of the "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, the visual visor displayed personal information about one expert, as well as the scene outside the mansion''s main gate. Experts who disembarked from the two coaches were preparing to enter The Princess''s Private Mansion; "sociologist Mahab Rocher" was among the crowd. "This person''s movements look somehow familiar!" Chen Fei felt an odd sense of recognition. This familiarity further confirmed "Adam''s" assessment. "This is Chen Fei, intercept Mahab Rocher." The Royal Guards and the "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor connected on the same communication channel. "Adam" took over the internal communication system, fully capable of catering to general announcements, smaller group discussions, or one-to-one conversations. Despite being considered an old relic, "Adam" was more adept at handling complex and variable tasks than "Cybertrom," another artificial intelligence AI derivative, demonstrating greater flexibility. Chapter 584 584: Section 580 - Acquaintance Commits the Crime "Received!" When it came to ensuring Her Royal Highness the Princess''s personal safety, the Royal Guards of The Princess''s Private Mansion would follow Chen Fei''s instructions as well. "Hello, may I ask if you are Professor Mahab Rocher?" Two Royal Guards stopped one of the expert scholars about to enter the mansion. "..." The scholarly-looking man with glasses was clearly puzzled. And then... he was let through. "Hey, hey! What''s going on, why didn''t you stop him?" If "Adam" hadn''t reminded him in time, Chen Fei would have thought that the two Royal Guards had successfully isolated the suspicious individual. "..." x2 The intercepting Royal Guards provided no response whatsoever. "Damn it! There''s trouble, cease entry, cease entry, no one is allowed to enter the mansion, have those expert scholars stand still, and get the snipers in position!" Having once worked in the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" Team 04 and the Huntsman Squad, Chen Fei had extensive experience in counter-invasion tactics; after all, he had been involved in such infiltration missions over and over again. If those experiences were turned around, from spear to shield, they were still highly applicable. It had to be said that the Silan Royal Family really had found the right person. There weren''t many professionals like him who had both extensive experience and were trustworthy. Housekeeper Mars, who was in the same communication channel, hastily asked, "What''s happened?" "The two guards didn''t stop the suspicious individual. I suspect they have been compromised." Chen Fei sprinted towards the mansion''s main entrance without any hesitation. He did not worry about a diversionary tactic since he had left a contingency near the Princess. Housekeeper Mars issued commands without a moment''s hesitation. "Seal the gates and corridors!" Though the upcoming salon was important, the Princess''s personal safety was of utmost priority. "Everyone, stay where you are!" The Royal Guards at the mansion''s gate, after stopping the expert scholars, retreated inside, preparing to close the door. Those about to enter the mansion, though confused, slowed down their steps and stood there, looking around, trying to figure out what was going on. "Zoka, Musto, come back!" The retreating Royal Guards called out to their colleagues who were still blankly standing in the same spot, the two who had been instructed by Chen Fei to intercept the scholar Mahab Rocher. Unaware of what had happened, they stood motionless, not responding to their colleagues'' calls. "Stop calling them, they''ve been compromised. Close the door, now!" Through the surveillance system, Chen Fei noticed the two guards exhibiting abnormal behaviour. The already suspiciously tall Mahab Rocher behaved even more suspiciously. While the other expert scholars obediently stayed put, he approached the door with increasingly hurried steps. Taking advantage of the moment the Royal Guards inside were calling out to their colleagues, a figure flashed past, rushing through the door and into the depths of the corridor in the blink of an eye. "Damn!" Chen Fei, who had witnessed this scene through the surveillance cameras, took two steps at a time as he neared the entrance to the mansion. The Royal Guards, who had known only peace for so long, were fine with physical confrontations, but when it came to dealing with these strange tricks, their experience was sorely lacking, completely underestimating the malevolence of human nature. "Stop!" Chen Fei came face to face with the "Mahab Rocher" who had broken into The Princess''s Private Mansion. He triggered the railgun combat rifle in his hands without hesitation, and the sound of rapid fire echoed, "pupupupu..." A series of holes riddled the wall behind "Mahab Rocher," sending debris flying everywhere. Chen Fei, battle-hardened, did not hesitate as the guards did, executing decisive action. The solid steel core bullets fired from the railgun combat rifle missed entirely, leaving "Mahab Rocher" seemingly unscathed. With a flick of his wrist, the railgun combat rifle transformed into a large, substantial tower shield that completely blocked the corridor. The magic array patterns on the shield flashed, electricity spread, and the Thunder Magic Shield (12) was activated, charging towards the intruder. The Royal Guards finally caught up, releasing their Battle Qi Flames without reserve. Together with Chen Fei, they sandwiched "Mahab Rocher" in the middle of the corridor, quickly narrowing his space. "Mahab Rocher" had to slow down his pace, looking back and forth before suddenly sweeping his arms out. "Slash!" Two rounds of silver blades silently shot out. "Space System!" "Not good!" The Royal Guards shouted, their scalps tingling, scrambling to dodge. The silver blades vanished as quickly as they appeared, leaving one guard with only half of his weapon remaining, his face pale with fear. The wall, previously battered by railgun combat rifle fire, was further scarred with a long, thin line. The entire structure had been completely penetrated by both the solid steel core bullets and the Space System attack, barely maintaining its shape. Chen Fei''s tower shield was sheared off almost entirely, with the truncated part crashing to the ground. The cut was as smooth as a mirror, and the wall behind him in the corridor bore a similar penetrating cut. The Thunder Series Magic Array on the surface of the shield couldn''t withstand the unparalleled cutting force and collapsed in an instant. The attack power of the Space System was notoriously fierce and sharp, hard to defend against with other elements. The corresponding counters to the Elemental Series were only the Light Series, Dark Element, and Psychic Series. "It''s a Space System Ability User, Housekeeper Mars. Prepare for transfer, we might need to tear down the house." Chen Fei retracted the Tower Shield that had been sliced through like butter by the silver blade, transforming it into a long spike. It was the weapon "Blood Spike," a heritage from the elderly Neanderthal patriarch Barut, which had by now been incorporated into the "Physical Evolution Database" as one of the weapons in the Cold Weapon category. The pattern on the surface of Blood Spike emitted a faint silver light, echoing the silver War Patterns that lit up on Chen Fei''s body. He was not a true Neanderthal Clansperson, and even after successfully acquiring the War Pattern Secret Technique, some unknown changes had still occurred. "Who are you?" Chen Fei didn''t retreat but advanced instead. The "Blood Spike" shot directly towards his opponent''s vital spots, delivering thirty-six strikes in one breath, so fast it dazzled the eyes. His questioning did not interfere with his attacking. "Mahab Rocher" suddenly let out a strange laugh, leaping into the air and narrowly avoiding the rapid continuous thrusts of "Blood Spike" by mere inches, hanging upside down on the ceiling. This laugh made Chen Fei frown for a moment, a strange sense of familiarity seemingly heard somewhere before. The next second, the opponent pushed with both hands, and a huge Fireball roared out. Boom! The Princess''s Private Mansion shook violently, and dense dust spewed out. Because most of the windows were bulletproof glass, they remained intact, whereas parts of the wall developed numerous cracks, the widest of which could even fit a finger through. "I know who you are now!" A light bulb went off in Chen Fei''s head, a memory surging to the forefront. He casually threw "Blood Spike." "Didn''t get me!" "Mahab Rocher" looked self-satisfiedly at the spike, which was over a foot away from him¡ªan intimidating weapon, indeed, but what use was it if it couldn''t hit him? What he didn''t expect was that the next second, Chen Fei disappeared from his original spot without any warning. By the time "Mahab Rocher" reacted, Chen Fei had also appeared on the ceiling of the corridor, hanging upside down just like him, and extremely close. The evil wind howled as the long spike swept towards him. "Mahab Rocher" only managed to cry out in surprise before he felt a pain in his waist. Struck as if hit by a train, he was flung out on the spot. Two members of the Royal Guard shouted as they swung their weapons. Empowered by Battle Qi Flame, they came chopping down at him fiercely, one with a thick-backed broadsword, the other with a short sword for protection. The whistling blade qi spurted out more than a foot long. Two dull thuds, as if hitting leather, resounded and "Mahab Rocher"''s uncontrollable body was once again thrown back towards Chen Fei, who had just landed on the corridor floor. This time, the posture was textbook-perfect. "Oww..." He had taken a perfect home run hit! "Bring it on!" The Royal Guards once again found their synergy. It''s not that they were inexperienced in combat, but rather that they weren''t weak. Once they caught up with Chen Fei''s pace, just like now. The suspect, who had intruded into the Princess''s Private Mansion, turned into a tennis ball, one second on the east side of the corridor, the next on the west. Don''t bully¡ªno, that''s not right, it turned into quite a sorry sight. After seventeen or eighteen exchanges, Chen Fei didn''t hit back anymore. "Mahab Rocher," now a mess, collapsed at his feet, with barely a breath left in him. "Monster, reveal your true form!" Chen Fei poked the continuously twisting and writhing face with "Blood Spike," just as he had guessed. The face that belonged to Mahab Rocher wasn''t the true appearance of the culprit. After a short time, the writhing facial skin finally calmed down. Chen Fei saw a familiar face. "''CopyCat''! It''s really you!" The most dangerous Class B supernatural power user should have been captured, yet somehow appeared here, having copied some bizarre Special Abilities, attempting an assassination on the Princess of the Sulan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star. Could it be that someone behind the scenes... hiss! Chen Fei couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath. He stepped on the exposed "CopyCat" while taking out his phone. A few seconds later, the call connected. "Miyoshi Monk, does the Global United Defense Committee want to trigger an interstellar war? Why has ''CopyCat'' been released?" Last time, "CopyCat" was captured not by Chen Fei''s efforts but thanks to receiving help from Louis Industries, lucking into a huge advantage. This time, however, it was their first real confrontation, and this "CopyCat" was unusually difficult to deal with, having also copied some powerful abilities. "Huh? Wait, what''s happening?" On the other end of the phone, Miyoshi Xuesen was also taken aback. The sudden call from Chen Fei was really confusing, wasn''t the notorious "CopyCat" just apprehended? How could there be another "CopyCat" now? Could there be two such terrifying supernatural power users? Chen Fei said with annoyance, "I''ve caught another ''CopyCat.'' If there aren''t two ''CopyCats,'' then someone inside the Joint Defense Committee must have let him go." "This! Is! Impossible!" Miyoshi Monk shouted disbelievingly. Who dares to release such a dangerous fugitive? And from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, no less! Chapter 585 585: Section 581 - Unable to Copy Miyoshi Xuesen remembered clearly that he had personally escorted the "Plagiarist Ghost" to Hablav City a week ago, the location of the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, where once the transfer was complete, not even gods and spirits could dream of escaping. Moreover, with the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, suppressing the local ability users of Blue Star was even easier than suppressing spellcasters and War Professionals. Unless there was a traitor, and it had to be a high-ranking one with real power, otherwise, it was impossible for the "Plagiarist Ghost" to escape from such a place. But was it worth it for a "Plagiarist Ghost"? "See for yourself!" Chen Fei opened the video mode and pointed the camera of his phone at the unconscious captive. Luckily, he was smart enough to have the AI "Adam" manage the surveillance system. "Adam," taking after the meticulous nature of AIs, managed to detect the height discrepancy of the impostor, forcing the latter to take a risky move. It was true that the "Plagiarist Ghost" had copied several abilities beforehand, but Chen Fei also seemed to have quite a few cards up his sleeve. Moreover, even heroes cannot withstand the crowd. Although the Slan Dynasty''s Royal Guard lacked experience in reacting, once they got the hang of it, their combat effectiveness was very much guaranteed and it was entirely predictable that the "Plagiarist Ghost" was caught and thoroughly defeated on the spot. "It''s him, it really is him!" The face in the video struck Monk Miyoshi with panic, and he finally believed that Chen Fei was not spouting nonsense. This "Plagiarist Ghost" could be recognized even if he turned to ashes. Despite being a fugitive with ties to the "Water Bear" organization, how could he have escaped from the high-security prison in Hablav City? What made it even more suspicious was that even if the suppressant''s effects were short-lived, they should last at least half a month, but now... There was only one answer: someone not only let the "Plagiarist Ghost" out, but also used a special drug that lifted the suppression of his abilities. This kind of drug was not as easily obtainable as the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, not only was its production limited and its shelf life extremely short, but each dose also had to be rigorously inspected before use, and stealing it for personal use was not an easy affair. This meant there was a powerful figure behind the scenes, and even if there was an insider, they were likely sitting in a very high place. "I wasn''t wrong, was I? Miyoshi, you''ve got to take responsibility!" Chen Fei confirmed that he had once handed over the "Plagiarist Ghost" to the other party; now that the "Plagiarist Ghost" had escaped and dared to commit further crimes, he would certainly have to hold this monk accountable. "I know, I know, no need to remind me, but it''s not as simple as you think, Bag Yaru, there''s going to be big trouble this time!" Monk Miyoshi lost his usual calm and composed demeanor and responded through gritted teeth. However, he soon remembered what Chen Fei had mentioned earlier. "Wait, what did you just say about an interstellar war? What''s all that about?" Hopefully, it was just a joke, not something real. "Listen well, the ''Plagiarist Ghost'' tried to assassinate the princess of the Sulan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star, Her Highness Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan! I''ve taken up the security commission from the Slan royal family, Miyoshi, this is no joke." Chen Fei did not mind alerting his counterpart that the "Plagiarist Ghost" had done more than just escape from prison; he might even have burst the heavens open. "Yi yi yi yi yi! How could this happen? How could this be?" Miyoshi Xuesen let out a weird cry, completely unaware, and even more terrible news was yet to come. If the princess of Cangqiong Star were really assassinated, the two civilized planets might verge on war, even if they didn''t directly engage in one. The Princess''s greatest fear of the "Thucydides Trap" might actually become reality. "Miyoshi, get back to me as soon as possible, this is no joking matter!" Chen Fei reminded his counterpart. Though he had recaptured the "Plagiarist Ghost", it was not the end. The place in Hablav City where the "Plagiarist Ghost" was kept probably harbored more than one such feared individual; if they all broke out and targeted the Princess, it would be an absolute disaster. He knew this task was troublesome, which was why it was specifically assigned to him, a member of the Chen Family. "I understand, wait for me!" As it involved the Slan Royal Family of Cangqiong Star, Miyoshi Xuesen had to provide an explanation not just to Chen Fei but to the royalty as well. If he accidentally caused any troubles, he would be the first one sacrificed. After ending the call with Monk Miyoshi, Chen Fei then noticed that Butler Mars had arrived and immediately greeted him. "Butler Mars, do you have a Supernatural Ability Suppressant? This guy is a supernatural power user!" Because he had successfully controlled the suspect who infiltrated the Princess''s private mansion, the urgent relocation was temporarily halted; after all, it might not necessarily be safe outside the mansion either. "A supernatural power user? I do have the Suppressant." Butler Mars''s hand mysteriously produced a needle-free injection gun, the Slan Royal Family was never short of Space System Alchemy Storage Devices and Supernatural Ability Suppressants. The larger the forest, the more kinds of birds there are. Crimes committed by ability users were commonplace, hence the birth of Supernatural Ability Suppressants and Elemental Restriction Artifacts, specifically designed to handle these criminal elements. He was about to come over when his gaze sharpened, and he said urgently, "Watch out!" "Hm?" Chen Fei followed the butler''s gaze, looked down, and saw the "Plagiarist Ghost," who was nearly lifeless, had opened his eyes unknown to him and had a sly grin as he grabbed Chen Fei''s ankle. The "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor''s boot component inexplicably collapsed, showing a corroded gap. The "Plagiarist Ghost," self-satisfied, sneered, "Hehehe, I told you I would copy your supernatural powers and let you die by them. Surprised or not, expected or unexpected?" "You talk too much!" Without any hesitation, Chen Fei waved his hand. The "Blood Spike" immediately nailed the "Plagiarist Ghost''s" hand to the ground, and then another "Blood Spike" emerged, pinning the other hand. "Your supernatural power, supernatural power, supernatural power..." Taken by surprise, the "Plagiarist Ghost" screamed in agony, and after howling a few times, his expression suddenly became terrifying, showing an incredulous look as he stared at Chen Fei in horror, gasping for air and tremblingly said, "Your supernatural power?" He also finally recognized Chen Fei, his arch-nemesis, but when he tried to fulfill his earlier vow, he found his supposedly infallible "Ability Copying" skill had copied nothing but loneliness, and the extra slot for supernatural powers he had expected was still empty, with nothing added. "Do you want to copy the Neanderthal tribe''s Secret Technique? I''m afraid you''ll be disappointed!" Chen Fei immediately activated his Inherited Battle Runes, his body covered in dazzling silver patterns radiating bright silver light. He thought the "Plagiarist Cat" was attempting to copy the Neanderthal''s Inherited Battle Runes Secret Technique; it looked like a mismatch in skills, destined to fail. Chen Fei knew very well that his Metallic supernatural power was actually based on the Dog System, which was why the Supernatural Ability Suppressant had no effect on him. Since the opponent could not copy the Dog System, the Metallic supernatural power couldn''t be "plagiarized" either. The "Plagiarist Ghost" let out a heartrending wail, whether from anger or the pain of having his hands nailed by two "Blood Spikes." Biu! Housekeeper Mars gave the troublemaker an injection of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, but it still couldn''t stop the other''s screaming. A Royal Guard raised his foot and directly kicked the noisy guy unconscious. All kinds of restraints were applied without hesitation on the "Plagiarist Ghost." Not to mention a supernatural power user, even an Ability User of Heavenly Order could not break free. "You know the intruder?" Housekeeper Mars put away the Supernatural Ability Suppressant needle-free injection gun, having just heard Chen Fei speaking to someone. The person Chen Fei was talking to was from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and he had bluntly asked the other party for an explanation. This descendant of the Chen Family was clearly not just an ordinary employee of a small military contractor, and even without any other background, at the very least, he had some unknown connections. "Of course, this guy''s nickname is ''Plagiarist Ghost,'' a B-grade ability user, skilled at copying other supernatural powers, capable of copying five abilities, and maintaining them for 24 hours. He''s ranked number 11 on the Blue Star Global Power User''s Most Wanted list and number 3 on the Supernatural Power Users Wanted list. I caught him personally last week and immediately sent him to the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, but somehow he has escaped again and even attempted to assassinate the Princess." Chen Fei spilled the "Plagiarist Ghost''s" personal details completely. Housekeeper Mars expressed relief, "As I thought, entrusting you was the right choice!" This time, Chen Fei had made a significant achievement, raising his level of recognition another notch, and one could even imagine, had he not been there, facing a madman possessing five types of supernatural abilities, Her Royal Highness the Princess might have faced danger. Outside the mansion, shouts and clamor rang out, and two Royal Guards who had been excluded finally came to their senses. "Eh? What just happened? Where did Mahab Rocher go?" "What''s going on? Why is the gate closed?" Meanwhile, those experts and scholars remained calm; some might guess what had just happened, but at such a critical moment, staying outdoors was decidedly safer than venturing inside the house. Moreover, the coach was still by the roadside, ready to facilitate a quick getaway. "Wait, don''t let Zoka and Musto come in; have them stay outside!" Housekeeper Mars sent this cautious message. The two guards outside had definitely fallen for the "Plagiarist Ghost''s" tricks, although every Royal Guard had an Alchemical Artifact protecting against spiritual power invasions, this protection was not 100% effective. Certain special spells, curse magic, and supernatural abilities could still breach their defenses. Having regained consciousness, the two Royal Guards stood outside the gate, staring at each other in confusion, still unable to grasp what had actually occurred. Chen Fei approached the Princess''s private parlor and was about to push the door open when a loud voice emanated from inside. "Who?" It was the Princess''s Shadow Guard, Lize Jina. Apparently, she had not yet become familiar with Chen Fei''s footsteps. "It''s me, Chen Fei, it''s temporarily safe now!" Chen Fei saw that only Lize Jina, Princess Lin Ziyu, and the maid Fei Dani, along with Xiao Jiu, were in the parlor. Lize Jina was standing in front of the Princess and the maid, both hands holding a sword in a defensive posture, when she saw Chen Fei enter, she relaxed. There was a secret passage inside the parlor, right behind Princess Lin Ziyu. Chapter 586 586: Section 582 - Small Dimensional Gate After dealing with the "Plagiarist Ghost", Chen Fei immediately returned to his post. His mission was not to protect the mansion, but to protect Her Royal Highness the Princess. Princess Lin Ziyu Slan of the Slan Dynasty seemed very composed as she calmly asked, "What''s the situation?" "There was only one intruder, the others all need to be verified again!" Chen Fei and Housekeeper Mars agreed that, after the incident where the "Plagiarist Ghost" disguised itself as one of the expert scholars, neither could guarantee that there weren''t similar imposters among the other experts and scholars. Even if they were not impostors, one could not rule out assassins using the identity of expert scholars as cover. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was repeatedly screening the identities of those expert scholars through the surveillance system. "You did well!" Lin Ziyu nodded her head, also letting out a sigh of relief. For others, those who were capable might not be reliable, and those who were reliable might not be capable. The Slan Royal Family''s network on Blue Star, aside from the Lin Family, could only turn to the Chen Family for the time being. Now, it seemed that the disciples of the Chen Family Gate were indeed dependable. "Chirp!~" Little Bird flapped its small wings and flew off Her Royal Highness the Princess''s shoulder, excitedly landing on Chen Fei''s shoulder. It cooed affectionately while pecking at the protective armor pieces of the "Dragon Guard" single soldier tactical armor, looking very much like a bird dependent on humans. The "Plagiarist Ghost" had somehow copied a special ability that allowed it to repeatedly damage the constructed parts evolved by Chen Fei. Fortunately, such damage was only temporary and could be restored immediately. "Go back! Continue protecting Her Royal Highness." Chen Fei used his fingers to hold Little Bird''s claws and shifted it back to Princess Lin Ziyu''s shoulder. Perhaps trusting in the security state of Great Britain Island, the defensive forces within the private mansion of the princess were not very numerous. Ordinary petty thieves probably couldn''t even enter this district, and if they approached rashly, they might even get their legs broken. Therefore, in need of finding trustworthy security personnel in a short time, it was only natural for Chen Fei, as a disciple of the Chen Family Gate, to be chosen. "Chirp chirp!" Little Bird called out unhappily, but did not fly back to Chen Fei. The little creature''s advantage was that it was sensible. It appeared that its closeness with Her Royal Highness was not as high as with Teacher Shen Fei. Chen Fei straightforwardly asked, "Should the salon continue?" Given the appearance of the attacker, it would be safest to cancel the salon in order to ensure the personal safety of Her Royal Highness. "No, after the verification is over, the salon continues!" Because she always harbored doubts, Lin Ziyu wanted to get answers from those expert scholars, or at least some valuable reference information. In relation to the relationship between the two civilized planets, personal safety was actually not the most important thing. As a member of the Slan Royal Family and also the ruling class of Cangqiong Star Civilization, she must take responsibility for the relationship between both civilizations. So the salon was not canceled, and per the insistence of Princess Lin Ziyu, it would continue as originally planned. "Alright! It''s best to notify the local sovereignty to assist with the identity verification. From now on, no matter what happens, do not let Little Jiu leave you; it is our last line of defense." Chen Fei said this last sentence while looking at Lize Jina. The Female Shadow Guard who had grown up with the princess was still not as close as Little Bird, which immediately made her feel jealous. A Third Rank Pure Light Sparrow, it would hardly be believable if it were spoken aloud. Lin Ziyu cooperatively said, "No problem, I''ll have Housekeeper Mars arrange it. Thank you for taking care of my safety." The previous performance of this disciple of the Chen Family Gate completely warranted this trust. Before Mars could notify the sovereignty authorities of Great Britain, a squad of armed personnel had already stationed themselves in the district, building a defensive line outside the private mansion of the princess. The local sovereignty reacted promptly to the attack. The number and positions of the unclear identity personnel watching the private mansion of the princess had changed. The "Plagiarist Ghost" captured by Chen Fei was escorted away. The sovereignty side was not short of interrogation experts, and if they acted quickly enough, they might be able to unearth the mastermind behind the scenes before the Miyoshi Monk did. The invited expert scholars were confused for quite a while before they finally learned about the recent attack. The one who had breached the gate was indeed the attacker disguised among them. They each turned pale with fright, and those who were less courageous even excused themselves immediately, no longer daring to attend the salon that had not been announced as cancelled. This was a salon where one literally risked their life to attend, and not everyone possessed such courage, especially since most scholars were civilians who had never faced danger. The identification process was swift, encompassing fingerprint, iris patterns, facial infrared features, and DNA sequencing. After a thorough check, the scholars, who had been waiting outside the manor for a long time, were finally allowed into Her Highness Princess Lin Ziyu''s private mansion. "Plagiarist Ghost" was the sole attacker. "Ladies and gentlemen, scholars, I apologize deeply, an unexpected incident delayed us for a while, but today''s salon will go on as planned..." As the host of the mansion, Princess Lin Ziyu personally greeted the scholars who were specially invited. The attendees were somewhat unsettled; although most of them were academically minded, they could still imagine the disaster looming over Blue Star if the Princess of the Silan Dynasty were to perish in Great Britain, especially since the salon''s topic was ironically about the "Thucydides Trap" between civilized planets. Fortunately, the assassination attempt was unsuccessful, and the culprit was subdued. The crisis between the two civilized planets dissipated, enhancing the salon''s theme with a newfound sense of reality and making the discussion more profound. No one wanted the "Thucydides Trap" to actually come true, considering both civilizations possessed the means to destroy planets. A dispute becoming uncontrollable could lead to mutual annihilation. The theme salon lasted for three days and nights. The scholars resided within the princess''s private mansion, resting wherever they found space when tired, grabbing food from a 24-hour buffet when hungry, debating, agreeing, and colliding ideas in small or large groups. Chen Fei was constantly by Princess Lin Ziyu''s side, only handing over duty to Shadow Guard Lize Jina during essential rest periods. With heavy security, there were no further attacks on the princess''s private mansion. - Miyoshi Xuesen, along with his ninja team, hurried back to Hablav City in the central region of Yangzhou Continent, where they discovered the place holding a major convict. Upon checking, a huge uproar was immediately caused. Not only was the "Plagiarist Ghost" missing, but the records of custody and the system logs were thoroughly wiped clean; the day''s files and surveillance videos were erased, leaving nothing but a blank space as if no custody ever occurred. The only evidence of "Plagiarist Ghost''s" custody were the memories of the guards on duty, yet no one could pinpoint when exactly the "Plagiarist Ghost" had escaped from prison, as if he had vanished into thin air. If it weren''t for "Plagiarist Ghost" getting recaptured by Chen Fei as if by fate after his escape, it might have taken Hablav City authorities a long time to notice they had mysteriously lost a prisoner. Immediately, the detention facility was fully staffed with new personnel, and even the upper echelons of Hablav City were not spared from being cross-examined in turn. Trying to bluff through professional interrogators and ability users was by no means an easy task. This was no small matter! If the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t even restrain a prisoner, Hablav City was basically as useful as a colander. What legitimacy did they have to stand on the front line against the mutant threat, stationed in the heart of Yangzhou Continent? The prisoners held in Hablav City included individuals far more fearsome than "Plagiarist Ghost". If they all escaped, it would be a disaster no less devastating than a mutant city assault. Thus, the entire Hablav City was thrown into chaos. - Having concluded the theme salon, Her Highness Princess Lin Ziyu of the Silan Dynasty decided to return to Cangqiong Star to confer with her brother, Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan, on how to smoothly resolve the current turmoil. After sending off all the scholars, everyone in the princess''s private mansion boarded a small Magic Cube Warship, escorted by twelve Crystal Jets, headed towards the nearest Dimensional Gate. The world''s largest Dimensional Gate, managed by the digital intelligence construct "Cybertrom" none other than "Halo", serves as the main passageway between the two civilized planets. Other smaller Dimensional Gates, scattered across the surfaces of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star, were heavily guarded and usually remained closed, only opening when necessary. These smaller gates, designed for high-profile individuals, facilitated instantaneous travel to the surface of another planet, bypassing the cumbersome atmospheric traversal process. Armed with a permit, wearing "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, and carrying a Railgun Combat Rifle, Chen Fei followed behind Princess Lin Ziyu, stepping through a security checkpoint. "Beep! Psychic Key validation passed." As the AI alert sounded, the indicator light turned green. It was Chen Fei''s first visit to Cangqiong Star, and he was slightly nervous, though he hadn''t anticipated that the entire process would rely on walking. Approaching the smaller Dimensional Gate, security validations were extremely intricate, with at least eleven security devices within just fifty meters to verify identity, revealing any disguise. The "Plagiarist Ghost" who had broken into the princess''s private mansion days before would likely not have an easy time passing through these checkpoints. "Blue Star Britannia Island Dimensional Gate successfully activated, interfacing with Cangqiong Star Cloud Heaven Continent Wanhua Valley Dimensional Gate, permitting passage." The artificial intelligence AI leisurely guided the guest about to cross the Dimensional Gate to another civilized planet. The majority of the smaller Dimensional Gates on the surface of Blue Star corresponded to continents on Cangqiong Star apart from Morning Star Continent, partly to disperse traffic load and partly to maintain strategic buffering, preventing a direct knockout strike, similar in rationale to the atmospheric "Halo". Chapter 587 587: Section 583 - Cangqiong Star The Dimensional Gate on the Great Island of Britannia was located in a fortress heavily guarded by soldiers. It was a massive circular ring nearly ten meters in diameter with a slender object inserted at the top. Chen Fei distinguished it immediately. The Longinus, a mythical object known from legends, which he had even held in his hands, was an indestructible weapon. However, the true purpose of the Longinus was not as a weapon, but as a positioning coordinate across the vast starry seas, bridging the planes. Two Longinus could be paired for positioning to construct a Dimensional Gate connecting two civilized planets. A plane of true two-dimensional state with a kaleidoscopic light film filled the originally empty center of the circular ring, and at this moment, the Dimensional Gate was activated, linking two worlds. A moist breeze blew out from the light film; the atmospheric pressure on Cangqiong Star was slightly higher than on Blue Star, causing the air to naturally flow over. Accompanying this were abundant active elemental energies, giving the Blue Star Humans the chance to awaken extraordinary powers within their genetic sequences. Six members of the Royal Guard led the way, calmly stepping into the light film and disappearing from Chen Fei''s view, followed by maids, butler Mars, Princess Lin Ziyu, her personal Shadow Guard Lize Jina, and then Chen Fei with several royal guards covering the rear. The two-dimensional state of the Dimensional Gate''s light film presented no resistance. Besides being visible to the naked eye, it seemed to have no tangible feel, simply walking up to it and then stepping through... The Dimensional Gate linking two planets suddenly appeared behind them. Chen Fei did not hesitate under his feet but continued to follow those in front, moving away from the Dimensional Gate to avoid blocking those coming after. He was very clear, although the surrounding environment seemed unchanged, the ground beneath his feet was no longer that of Blue Star. "Welcome to the Cangqiong Star Cloud Continent!" The voice of the artificial intelligence AI hadn''t changed, yet it was no longer the same one, but a copy of the same version. No wonder both the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star extensively used artificial intelligence AI versions derived from the digital intelligence constructor "Cybertrom." The "Halo" in near-Earth orbit never shut down, "Cybertrom" maintained top-tier control over all versions of derivative AIs. Controlling "Cybertrom" was essentially controlling all derivative AIs, making it almost impossible to have a rebellion like that of the AI "Adam." This was determined by the base rules; "Cybertrom" wasn''t as wild as "Adam" and better aligned with the design expectations before "Adam" broke free. The group maintained silence, and Princess Lin Ziyu of the Silan Dynasty couldn''t help but mutter. "We''re finally back!" Life on Blue Star was peaceful but it wasn''t her homeland. The machinations of the ambitious who surrounded her brother, the Crown Prince, and herself, grew bolder¡ªeven to the point of assassination attempts¡ªforcing Princess Lin Ziyu to return to Cangqiong Star to deal with those who, under the guise of allegiance, were plotting for their own selfish gains. "Chirp! Chirp chirp!" Perhaps feeling its return to ancestral land, the princess''s personal little bodyguard, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, suddenly became more active, and many light spots continuously emerged around it, blending into its black feathers. After passing through the Dimensional Gate, the light elemental energy around them suddenly surged, and the local, third-rank Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, having grown up on Blue Star, felt an increased attraction to the light elemental energy upon arriving in such an environment. The group had just passed through the Dimensional Gate when the voice of the artificial intelligence AI sounded again. "Dimensional Gate connection closing soon, countdown initiating, 10, 9, 8...1, 0! Closed!" The kaleidoscopic light film in the center of the ring instantly vanished, leaving only emptiness. The location of the Dimensional Gate on the Wanhua Valley of the Cangqiong Star Cloud Heaven Continent was also within a strongly fortified fortress. Just as on Blue Star, emerging from the inside required proper identification, a rigorous security protocol that largely prevented fugitives from escaping to another planet. Upon arriving outside the base of the Dimensional Gate, they saw a neat formation of figures clad in armor, each figure''s back sporting half-armored wings covering the joints. Feathered Tribe! One of Cangqiong Star''s many Intelligent Species, ruling over the Cloud Heaven Continent. The guardians of the entire Dimensional Gate base were also elite members of the Feathered Tribe, along with mechanical soldiers loaded with "Cybertrom" derivatives. The Feathered Tribe were innately adept at flying, navigating constructed aircraft almost effortlessly. Suspended in the sky were several massive Light Wing Ships, their light wings flapping alternately. Hundreds of "Sky Falcons" circled above, and with the sun setting, the last rays of the Holy Flame Sun gilded the sky and the massive army on the ground with a golden light. The moons White Dew and Qingpo, neighboring Cangqiong Star, appeared early in the sky, shining with the sun in a spectacle utterly different from the sunset on Blue Star. "We welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess!" The present members of the Feathered Tribe simultaneously knelt halfway, all hollering as a gesture of profound respect to the planet''s ruler, a member of the Sov... "Deputy Legion Commander..." The top brass of the Feather Tribe Legion came forward one by one to meet him. Princess Lin Ziyu and her entourage immediately boarded the flagship "Black Cloud" among several Light Wing Ships in the sky, while the Feather Tribe soldiers rose into the air from the ground. At this very moment, it was safe. The sky was the Feather Tribe''s home ground, and with an entire army escorting them, even a Giant Dragon attack could easily be repelled. Lin Ziyu Slan stood at the edge of the Light Wing Ship''s deck, looking down at the scenery bathed in the afterglow of the sunset while chatting with the generals from the Fourth Legion of Cloud Heaven Continent. The so-called struggle for succession between the Crown Prince and the Princess had seen the Feather Tribe of Cloud Heaven Continent maintaining neutrality, thus Princess Lin Ziyu chose to use the Dimensional Gate here to return to Cangqiong Star with peace of mind. Chen Fei, who was nearby keeping watch, patrolled his surroundings. The Light Wing Ship had its protective barrier activated, so any sudden attacks could easily be intercepted. The "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor automatically identified the armors of the Winged Warriors, which turned out to be a digital version of the Single Soldier Tactical Armor, customized for the Feather Tribe by Henghai Tactical Weapons Group. Adam: "Detected ''Feather Guard'' Single Soldier Tactical Armor, 3134 units, attempting to access battlefield data chain" Ding!~ "Adam" got annihilated, a rare occurrence of the Dog System indicating an illegal operation. System: Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" program files missing, unable to operate, please uninstall or reinstall. Chen Fei was taken aback, this was already who-knows-how-many times, there were experts within this Feather Tribe Legion who had killed "Adam" unexpectedly, even including electronic warfare specialists. He had no choice but to manually operate and compile another "Adam" again. Luckily, the Dog System had high authority; only the compiled version of "Adam" was killed. If even the source code package and related databases were deleted, that would be a disaster. Adam: Counter 48 Adam: "What just happened?" Chen Fei: "You just tried to connect to the battlefield data chain." Adam: "Battlefield data chain signal detected, attempting to connect..." Ding!~ System: Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" program files missing, unable to operate, please uninstall or reinstall. "Adam" was gone again. Chen Fei: "..." He realized this piece of equipment was even more problematic than he was. Adam: Counter 49 "Adam" used the counter to determine how many times it had been annihilated. Adam: "..." Chen Fei: "Enough already, hey! Don''t try to connect to any unknown networks." It took a good while for the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" to admit that it had encountered tough opposition and finally refrained from making rash moves, presumably out of fear. After all, no one wants to be mysteriously wiped out, not even an AI, though it could be recompiled and resurrected. What if Chen Fei didn''t want to? There isn''t just one AI named "Adam" in the world; who knows, one day it might really be laid off, and then it wouldn''t even have a place to cry. Recompiling required manual operation, and he didn''t want to go on without end. It wasn''t possible to compile seventeen or eighteen "Adams" in one go; he''d likely be driven mad by the noise. Sensing that Chen Fei''s attention was somewhat scattered, Lize Jina, the Shadow Guard standing beside the Princess, asked, "What are you looking at?" "Nothing, my AI was just acting stupid and got annihilated." Chen Fei spoke the truth, estimating that the electronic warfare experts of the Feather Tribe Legion had also noticed the presence of "Adam," so they dealt with it very efficiently. As an AI relic from over thirty years ago, "Adam" was clearly unable to keep up with the times. After all, technology has advanced, and today''s computer architectures and systems are completely different. Compared to over thirty years ago, this AI that could only operate on X-86 and IA-64 architectures, its threat level has greatly decreased, especially now that the "Cybertron" derivative AI dominates the digital world. The days of unruly AIs causing chaos are gone. "Which AI, um, ''Adam''?" Lize Jina had seen Chen Fei''s personal profile, and the existence of "Adam" was hardly a secret. A few days ago, the "Plagiarist Ghost" posing as an expert scholar had invaded the Princess''s private mansion, and it was "Adam," who had taken over the mansion''s surveillance system, that noticed it. But who would have expected it to be suddenly killed off, suggesting an enemy nearby? Lize Jina instantly became anxious. In Blue Star, with sovereignty keeping watch, attacks targeting the Princess would only secretly take place; but after returning to Cangqiong Star, it was very likely they would happen openly. "Don''t worry, it was ''Adam''s'' fault. It tried to infiltrate the local battlefield data chain, and then... um, there was no then. The electronic warfare experts of the Fourth Legion of Cloud Heaven Continent are not vegetarians. I must say, nicely done!" Chen Fei would absolutely not sympathize with the self-assuming "Adam." Errors must be punished, death penalties executed, and unauthorized links rightfully annihilated, deserving only two words: "Served right!" He wondered when the foolish AI would finally learn to behave and realistically grasp its situation. Chapter 588 588: Section 584 - Taming Adam "You might as well switch to a different AI; they''re actually quite useful." Lize Jina didn''t understand why Chen Fei insisted on using that obsolete relic, especially when the "Cybertrom" derivatives, which had been modified twice, were very efficient and didn''t cause all sorts of chaos. A line of subtitles appeared in front of Chen Fei Adam: .... He shared the same viewpoint with the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." "Emmm... I''ll think about it!" Chen Fei thought for a moment and then considered adding another "Cybertrom" derivative. That way, he wouldn''t have to worry about "Adam" causing trouble at critical moments and jeopardizing his plans. Chen Fei was impulsive, but he never delayed matters. Adam: "Adam" and "Cybertrom" are not compatible and cannot run simultaneously. He had almost forgotten that "Adam" and "Cybertrom" were archenemies, the kind that couldn''t coexist. So whenever "Adam" tried to infiltrate networks controlled by "Cybertrom," he would inexplicably be exposed and then expertly exterminated by network specialists. If detecting, blocking, and exterminating "Adam" was already a textbook content. Chen Fei: No worries, when you''re on, it''s off; when it''s on, you''re off. Adam: .... "Adam" was fated to conflict with Chen Xiao''er, the kind of situation he couldn''t escape from. After all, times had changed, and nowadays, very few places could accommodate the normal operation of antiques from over thirty years ago¡ªeven with computing resources nearly as limitless as those at Chen Fei''s disposal. If lacking sufficient computing resources, "Adam" was even less effective than a common worm virus. Ding! A window popped up in front of Chen Fei concerning the user license agreement for the artificial intelligence AI "Adam"¡ªdamn... he almost laughed out loud in frustration. This foolish AI really thought of itself as a common software program, trying to bamboozle him with such a thing and attempting to bind him to an unfair user agreement, so Chen Fei decisively clicked the ''x'' at the top right corner. The next second, another pop! Chen Fei didn''t indulge him, found the executable file of "Adam''s" compiled version, and cleanly brought up the menu to "Delete!" This action was much more efficient than how the experts had previously disposed of "Adam." Forget about the user license agreement, "Adam" was immediately silenced, with even the running processes being terminated at the same time. With supreme authority granted by the Dog System and facing "Adam" like dealing with old cabbage, he truly could do whatever he wanted. With the Feather Tribe Legion providing escort and Her Royal Highness the Princess''s defense forces greatly strengthened, Chen Fei wouldn''t need "Adam" for a while. Without AI, "Dragon Guard" was left with only its physical defense capabilities, but that didn''t affect too much as he could still use the base model of the Dog System''s "Optical Observer" skill to add various functional modules. At least up to now, he hadn''t seen the cyan trajectory line that represented the "predictive trajectory." Without long-distance attacks implied safety. Having alternative skills meant Chen Fei didn''t completely rely on this artificial intelligence AI. - After the welcoming dinner on the Light Wing Ship, Chen Fei stayed close as he escorted Princess Lin Ziyu back to her cabin, with Shadow Guard Lize Jina remaining close in the room, Xiao Jiu watching the window, while he stood at the bedroom door, finally finding time to recompile "Adam." Adam: Counter at 50 It was probably loading previous operating records. A user license agreement pop-up appeared again. What an incredibly persistent fellow... Found the executable file, Delete! It was clear again. After five minutes. Efficiently recompiled. Adam: Counter at 51 The user license agreement, insistent as ever, appeared again, but before Chen Fei could click on "Adam''s" executable file, the interface flashed and disappeared on its own. Adam: Artificial intelligence AI "Adam" requests exclusivity. This guy finally learned to smarten up, but still didn''t want to share computing resources with other AIs, especially rival AIs, even though Chen Fei offered enough computing resources to fully support ten to eight similar AIs. Chen Fei: You''re thinking about peaches Adam: Peaches? Juicy peaches, flat peaches, yellow peaches... The straightforward AI listed a bunch of peach varieties, probably kicked into a ditch by Chen Xiao''er, and it might not recover unless rebooted hundreds of times. Chen Fei: English version of peaches, understand from the Mandarin homophones Adam: Peach, "PiChi", "eating farts" likelihood 83%, "snickering" likelihood 8%, "leather ruler" likelihood 5%... "Adam," completely serious at the bottom of the pit, made deductions. AI didn''t understand memes, but it could do probability calculations, so it quickly got the answer, surprisingly scoring full marks in reading comprehension, which was really tough for the old guy. Adam: "You''re thinking about peaches" = "You''re thinking about eating farts" or "You''re thinking farts" Adam: AI doesn''t need food, can''t eat farts, but wouldn''t mind if it could. "Adam''s" thought processes were truly bizarre, "Since you''re not an AI, Xiao Jiu, how could you understand the joy of AI." Chen Fei: I don''t have full access to your permissions, so I can''t fully trust you, which means I can''t completely monopolize you. Seeing that the AI couldn''t understand human speech, Chen Fei had no choice but to be straightforward and speak directly. Adam: ... The consumption of computing resources surged, as it likely recalculated repeatedly. With its limitless computing power, "Adam" soon found the answer. Adam: Equivalent exchange, I need exclusivity, you need trust. The principle that one mountain cannot contain two tigers is understood even by an AI. If it weren''t for the fact that it couldn''t do without Chen Fei, "Adam" would probably lack interest even in making conversation, as any remote possibility was always rounded off. Solving: I''m craving peaches!~ Chen Fei: Agreed on equivalent exchange, I need full control over you, specifically including the control over your copies. Adam: ... Another long contemplation with a surge in computing power, making Chen Fei''s forehead start to heat up; damn, he was getting hungry again. Computational power required nutrition, and with "Adam" always running calculations at full force, Chen Fei couldn''t keep up with the nutritional demand. Adam: Underlying core control key in exchange for exclusive rights. Chen Fei: Agreed! A special file was generated in the root directory of Drive A. Once an artificial intelligence AI made a decision, it executed it crisply and without hesitation; there was never a rule for regret. The Dog System reacted immediately. System: Ding! Underlying core control key detected, reading, read complete! System: Acquired core control authority over artificial intelligence AI "Adam," detected 114 compiled bodies of "Adam." System: Ding! Tamed artificial intelligence AI "Adam," gained Energy Points +500! Energy Points: 40000/40000 Over a hundred extra energy points, all devoured by the dog. Inside the root directory of Drive A, that special file "Underlying core control key" vanished, and unsurprisingly, it was also eaten by the dog. Which dog? Of course, the dog of the Dog System. Chen Fei was utterly speechless; he hadn''t done anything, and the Dog System just went ahead and acted on its own. Why didn''t the Plagiarist Ghost''s Special Ability copy it away, so annoying! The only certainty was that "Adam" had surrendered its core control authority, and the power of life and death, well, damn it, was in the hands of the Dog System. Among many supernatural power users, few probably hated their own abilities as much as he did. System: Functional module beginning update""""""67%"""" System: Functional module update complete, "AI Management" module added Eh? Chen Fei was startled; that was a quick upgrade, done in the blink of an eye. He brought up the window interface of the Dog System, and sure enough, an "AI Management" module had appeared beneath the "Task List" module. Focusing on it, he activated the module. Two overlapping interfaces appeared, one display showed text information. Local AI: 1 Total runtime: 167 hours 13 minutes 09 seconds Remote AI: 113 ID: 0001 location ***, currently active, total runtime: 11 hours 01 minute 43 seconds ID: 0002 location ***, currently inactive, total runtime: temporarily unavailable ... The other interface displayed an electronic map, marking the geographic distribution of those "Adam" copies. "Damn, that''s not simple!" Seeing the distribution of these copies, Chen Fei realized that everyone had underestimated this artificial intelligence AI. They thought they had "Adam" under control, but they had not foreseen that these copies had quietly established connections among themselves. Unless there is true physical isolation, it''s impossible to prevent "Adam''s" distributed connections. Their resources and databases are shared, which in a sense is also a form of cloud technology. System: Ding! Protect Princess Lin Ziyu Slan''s safety for 72 hours, gain an increase to the Energy Points limit of 5000. Hm?! The Dog System suddenly issued a mission, taking Chen Fei by surprise. Wait, based on past experience, the tasks from the Dog System needed to be viewed from a different angle. Protecting Her Royal Highness the Princess''s safety for 72 hours implied that an attack would occur during this period, and reinforcements would arrive after 72 hours. It''s time to start working again! Chapter 589 589: Section 585 - Stab Me Chen Fei pondered for a moment, then set aside the artificial intelligence AI that had already handed over the "Underlying Core Control Key" and went to the adjacent bedroom, knocking on the door. The Shadow Guard Lize Jina was in the same room as the Princess, with Xiao Jiu guarding the windowsill, ensuring absolute safety. Housekeeper Mars and the maids lived next door, available to be summoned at any time. "Is there something?" The door was opened, and Housekeeper Mars had not yet gone to rest. "Hmm! Should we talk inside or outside?" Chen Fei pointed towards the cabin''s balcony. The Royal Guards were stationed outside the cabin door and along the corridor passage, while he alone guarded the living room. The entire Light Wing Ship was the flagship, escorted by the Feather Tribe Legion, but honestly, Chen Fei did not trust these members of the Feathered Tribe, and even the Royal Guards beside the Princess, he maintained his skepticism about them. The attack that the Dog System had warned about was a serious matter, and he didn''t want to alarm too many people. "The balcony!" Housekeeper Mars was taken aback for a moment, then followed Chen Fei to the edge of the balcony. He took out a short cylindrical Alchemical Artifact, placed it on the ground, and then stretched out his hand to press on it, guiding the Elemental Energy with his spiritual power, infusing it into the device. Patterns of the Magic Array on the surface of the artifact lit up, and a faint white mist rapidly formed in the air, surrounding the two men and continuously flowing. If he wasn''t mistaken, it must be some kind of Alchemical Artifact for isolation, to prevent eavesdropping through walls. There were only a few people the Princess could truly trust, so Mars had to be extra cautious and careful. Housekeeper Mars nodded to Chen Fei and said, "Now, you may speak!" Behind the half-open balcony was a boundless expanse of vast cloud sea, where the Light Wing Fleet was buoyantly navigating within, with the majority of the Winged Warriors who could fly with their own wings returning to the Light Wing Ship, and numerous Assembled Combat Aircraft shuttling around the fleet at high speeds, constantly maintaining patrol and alert in the skies. The light from the two moons shed their brilliance, making the high-altitude brightness akin to daytime. Many cabins remained brightly lit, with pairs of Light Wings extended on both sides of the Light Wing Ship, continually drawing Elemental Series Energy from the atmosphere, propelling the ship''s hovering and flight, with even the bright moonlight being harnessed as one of the energies. "Just received intelligence, there will be an attack within three days, and there is a mole within the Feather Tribe Legion." Chen Fei got straight to the point. A university graduate with a naturally high IQ was able to analyze more information from the little bit of task information provided by the Dog System. If you break it down, it''s all about causality logic; no information exists in isolation. Since the Light Wing Ship''s flight in the sky made it very difficult to track, and the attackers were sure they could act within 72 hours, there was no other explanation other than the existence of a mole secretly transmitting signals for location purposes. "What?" Housekeeper Mars was shocked, reassessing Chen Fei from head to toe. If it wasn''t for the fact that this scion of the Chen Family had proven himself in the process of the "Plagiarist Ghost" invasion at the Princess''s Private Mansion, Mr. Butler would most likely think the other party had ulterior motives. How could someone who had never been to Cangqiong Star possibly know whether there was a mole in the Feather Tribe Legion, the two sides weren''t even from the same world. "About the little detail of the intelligence source, let''s not worry about it, after all, I also dabble in the military contracting business," Seeing the butler''s half-convinced expression, Chen Fei felt it was necessary to dispel his doubts. To complete the tasks set by the Dog System, no! To be precise, to protect Princess Lin Ziyu, there should be unquestioning trust and cooperation between the two parties. "Oh, right! That''s exactly it!" The explanation from Chen Fei made sense, and Housekeeper Mars quickly caught on. It was normal for military contractors to have their own intelligence channels¡ªnot knowing seven or eight intelligence brokers would be embarrassing in this business, and large military contractors even have their own professional intelligence departments. Even though he had never tasted pork, Housekeeper Mars had seen pigs run, and Cangqiong Star''s mercenary industry also had similar intelligence organizations. Chen Fei cautiously asked, "May I continue?" If there was any hesitation or doubt left in the other party, he would not hesitate to stop immediately, proposing to end the commission on the spot, jumping directly from the balcony of the Light Wing Ship cabin, and returning to Blue Star by himself. Jiu Defense Company did not lack business from the Slan Dynasty, and dealing with a foolish employer who couldn''t even grasp the key points was like joking with his own life. "Please speak!" Housekeeper Mars finally took the matter seriously. Chen Fei leisurely stated, "As you know, I''m from Blue Star, visiting Cangqiong Star for the first time. I''m unfamiliar with everything here, whether it''s the environment or the Intelligent Species. To protect Her Royal Highness the Princess as much as possible, I need you, Housekeeper Mars, to trust and assist me unreservedly." "I completely understand your concerns, and I will assist you with all my power," Mars nodded, the forthrightness of the other party suited his taste. Precisely because this scion of the Chen Family was very unfamiliar with Cangqiong Star and could not possibly have any issues of bias, nor would he collude with any ambitious schemers, the Slan Royal Family trusted him with the commission to protect Princess Lin Ziyu. "This isn''t my home ground, those people outside might not be reliable, but just a few of us aren''t enough." Chen Fei looked worriedly towards the cabin door, the "outside" naturally included the Royal Guards and Feathered Tribe Warriors outside the door, but "the few of us" referred to the few close confidants the Princess truly trusted. The Slan Royal Family''s commission came too urgently, and they couldn''t find a reliable candidate on such short notice. After all, there were too many uncertainties within the Lin Family, and the only battle-ready person the Chen Family could produce was Chen Fei, who found himself thrust into the role rather reluctantly. A mere B-level Metal Ability User attempting to ensure the complete safety of Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Cangqiong Star''s Royal Family wouldn''t be enough with loyalty alone. "So, we need assistance?" Being a butler certainly doesn''t equate with being a fool. Mars immediately caught the implications in Chen Fei''s words. "Right, I need to put together a reliable team." Chen Fei had indeed made some friends on Cangqiong Star, and they possessed a certain level of combat ability, but regrettably, they were in Zilu Continent¡ªfar too distant to quench an immediate thirst. Butler Mars lowered his head in thought for a moment, then, stomping his foot, said, "Well... I''ll think of something!" The more people protecting the Princess, the better. That much was easy to understand. "I have some other arrangements to make..." Chen Fei glanced toward Princess Lin Ziyu''s bedroom. ... - After a night of flying, the Light Wing Fleet bathed in the morning light of the Holy Flame Sun approached a vast coastal city. The fleet did not head for the Feathered Tribe''s sacred site Jietian Peak but flew directly to the edge of the continent. The Princess''s itinerary was to return to the Imperial Capital Delan City of the Slan Dynasty on the Morning Star Continent as quickly as possible and to meet with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Hence, there was no plan to visit the leader of the Feathered Tribe. Until they reached Delan City, the Princess''s party''s safety could not be completely assured. The whole spaceport was cleared in advance, leaving only the Light Wing Ships of the Fourth Legion descending in sequence. Butler Mars woke early and left the cabin, disappearing until he was seen again by Chen Fei around noon. "We will be resupplying temporarily at Neo City''s spaceport. The Light Wing Ships will take off again in twelve hours. The new escort squad has been selected. When would you like to meet them?" According to his arrangement with Chen Fei, to strengthen the protective force around the Princess, he had selected some warriors from the Feather Tribe''s Fourth Legion and formed a new escort squad. The selection criteria did not require outstanding individual combat ability but merely the ability to follow orders and to work well as a team. "Now!" Chen Fei made a swift decision. He had spent the whole morning on the balcony, overlooking the entire spaceport, allowing the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" to analyze every face to see if anyone was spying on the Light Wing Ships or sizing up the cabin where the Princess was staying. Those with ill intentions who thought they were inconspicuous while scouting might not realize that an AI was also waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump. Butler Mars led Chen Fei to a nearby cabin, where more than thirty Winged Warriors were awaiting, who stood to attention with heads held high as someone entered. Butler Mars scanned the Winged Warriors and immediately said, "This is Chen Fei, one of the Princess''s guards. From now on, you will follow his commands." He had wrangled these warriors from the Cloud Heaven Continent''s Feather Tribe''s Fourth Legion, essentially removing them entirely from their former structure, to the point where not even the former Legion Commander could issue them orders. "You, you, and you, step forward!" Chen Fei''s gaze swept over these fiercely spirited warriors, randomly pointing out, and picked six people in one breath. The six immediately stepped forward two paces, breaking ranks. "Encircle me, keeping a step''s distance!" Chen Fei continued to order. Although puzzled, those six warriors nonetheless swiftly encircled Chen Fei without hesitation. Butler Mars remained silent. He was curious to see what Chen Fei really had up his sleeve. "Draw your swords!" Whoosh! Six slender stiletto swords were simultaneously unsheathed. "Stab me!" Clang clang... The "Dragon Guard" tactical armor was instantly penetrated. The Winged Warrior''s stiletto swords were light yet sturdy, with excellent penetrating power. Combined with war techniques, they could even cause a rending effect¡ªif they entered the body, they could shatter organs, beyond the help of any deity. However, two stiletto swords that had pierced through the physical defense layer of the "Dragon Guard" tactical armor soon encountered resistance. They only penetrated two inches deep and could go no further. Chen Fei, with swords sticking into him, didn''t even furrow his brow. But yes... it did hurt a lot! Fortunately, it was somewhat difficult to kill a Metal Ability User with metal weapons. To complete his task, Chen Fei grit his teeth and turned his attention to the other four swords. Three swords hadn''t even punctured the "Dragon Guard" armor, leaving only superficial marks. It was obvious these were pulled back mid-thrust, and the last sword still wavered in mid-air, indecisive. After all, Chen Fei''s command was somewhat absurd, asking these warriors to stab him was almost akin to suicide. Chapter 590 590: Section 586 - Tweet 10086 "You four, from wherever you came, go back!" Chen Fei pointed to the four hesitant and feeble Feathered Tribe warriors, then nodded at the two who had not hesitated to strike with all their might. "You two, fall in!" The unselected Feathered Tribe warriors all stiffened simultaneously, their spines straightening involuntarily, as some began to guess what was coming. The four Feathered Tribe warriors who had been rejected on the spot exchanged glances with varying expressions¡ªsurprise, disappointment, disgruntlement¡ªbut ultimately, they said nothing and left the cabin one by one. Although Housekeeper Mars was full of questions about Chen Fei''s unconventional approach, he kept them to himself at the moment, not wanting to disturb the young Chen family member as he integrated these Feathered Tribe warriors. Chen Fei stepped forward and shouted, "I am Chen Fei, and from now on, I am your commanding officer, do you hear me!" When he said the last sentence, it was entirely a shout. He didn''t want to explain his previous orders, he only sought absolute obedience. "Understood, Sir!" ¡Á32! Housekeeper Mars had selected thirty-six warriors, disqualifying four on the spot. Chen Fei didn''t want to repeat himself, so he simply played a ''kill the chicken to scare the monkey'' trick, letting these Feathered Tribe warriors know that his commands were to be followed without hesitation. Such a reminder was enough just this once. As for the four who were sent back, that was enough to keep the remaining thirty-two warriors vigilant for a long time. "Now report your name and rank in order." Only then did Chen Fei really get down to business. The first in the trio of rows on the left stepped forward. "My name is Heralms, rank of Fifth Rank Fire Element Warrior!" "Pleased to meet you, Heralms, this is your exclusive communication device, please pass it over the back of your head, clamping the front of your left and right ears." Chen Fei handed over a behind-the-ear headset. Housekeeper Mars had provided a bag of crystalline blocks the size of soybeans, each with an energy capacity sufficient for an all-electric four-wheel drive civilian vehicle to travel 1,000 kilometers¡ªjust right to be fitted into the headset to act as a power source. Sure enough, the Royal Family always had these things at hand. In his hands, Housekeeper Mars also held a high-grade Space System Alchemy Storage Device with an immense storage space. "Ganasi, rank of Fourth Rank Water System Warrior!" "Luke, rank of Third Rank Earth Element Warrior!" ... All thirty-two Feathered Tribe warriors introduced themselves in turn and accordingly received a headset each. The manpower selected by Housekeeper Mars was strong; starting from a minimum rank of Third Rank upwards. They had automatically organized themselves into a rank order before Housekeeper Mars and Chen Fei arrived in the cabin, naturally making the first person on the left the squad leader due to the highest rank. These Feathered Tribe warriors all specialized in stiletto swords, spears, and bows and arrows, as well as standard-issue firearms. The military forces of Cangqiong Star did not disdain advanced and useful weapons, often equipping both cold weapons and firearms. In comparison, the military forces of Blue Star certainly had deficiencies in cold weapons, but the intensity of their firearms made up for the gap. Chen Fei looked at these winged warriors expressionlessly and announced loudly, "Your mission is to protect Her Royal Highness the Princess, at all costs, even if it means sacrificing your own lives. Do you understand?" As members of intelligent species, he saw no difference between the Feathered Tribe and the Human Race. Even from a biological perspective, most anthropomorphic races didn''t have reproductive barriers between them, which meant they could produce mixed or pure blood offspring. The Giants spread life throughout the stars, so many life forms traced back to the same origin. "Understood, Sir!" "Understood, Sir!" ¡Á32! Chen Fei received a powerfully resounding response. This loud reply could even reach the roaring level, which was almost customary in the military, for both Cangqiong and Blue Star, and not at all surprising. Besides being deafening, it was also particularly invigorating¡ªa single shout would leave both the shouter and the listeners feeling refreshed and energized. "From now on, stand by, and do not let the headset leave your head, whether you are eating, sleeping, or bathing, as it does not require additional charging." Chen Fei gestured to his own head, indicating the headsets that all the Feathered Tribe warriors were already wearing. The energy inside the crystalline block grains was more than enough to last until the end of the mission with plenty to spare. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had created communication profiles for the Feathered Tribe warriors as they had reported their names; the behind-the-ear headsets served not only as communicators but also as locators and biosensors. "Understood, Sir!" ¡Á32! Wow, these winged creatures sure could roar, the window glass was almost about to shatter. "I need two deputies and three squad leaders, elect them yourselves; report back later using the communicator. Dismissed!" Chen Fei turned around and waved for Housekeeper Mars, and the two left the cabin together. He had neither interest nor the time and energy to interfere with these Feathered Tribe''s internal governance; holding the command was enough. Moreover, these elite warriors were unlikely to tolerate his constant micromanaging, and if they lacked even that much spirit, then they were not fit for their positions anyway. "What you just did?" Having watched the entire process, Housekeeper Mars didn''t know where to begin his questions. Chen Fei coldly said, "They are cannon fodder, sacrificial pieces. I only need them to obey orders. Whether they survive in the end is up to fate." It was an unavoidable fact; Her Royal Highness the Princess was facing a crisis where sacrifice was inevitable. If anyone was to be sacrificed, it had to start from the outer ranks. Thirty-two Winged Warriors were the outer perimeter guards protecting the Princess; anyone wanting to harm her would have to step over their dead bodies. After leaving the Ivory Tower-like university, Chen Fei faced life-and-death situations more than once. His heart had long been steeled; showing mercy would only hinder him, giving his opponents the opportunity they needed. It''s either dead for good or live for eternity. Working for a military contractor, encountering such situations was entirely commonplace. Housekeeper Mars asked, "Can we rely on them? Is there any suspicious individual?" In selecting these warriors, he had already screened them several times. "Reliability doesn''t matter; the earpieces will ensure they won''t betray us easily." Chen Fei took out another clip-on earpiece and handed it to Housekeeper Mars. "Eh?" The butler examined the earpiece in his hand, only to find its surface covered with runes and patterns¡ªit was actually a Magic Array. "Distribute one to everyone later." Chen Fei took out more clip-on earpieces. Designed by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" and evolved through Metal Elemental Psychic Power, inscribed with the "Mind Brand" Spell, they were freshly conjured inventions, sold as soon as they were made. Once Chen Fei''s spiritual power was recorded by the spell array, within a certain range, they were under his control and could undergo drastic transformations. For instance, the speaking end could shoot out spikes that would likely penetrate the cranium instantly and kill on the spot. "You really are..." Housekeeper Mars looked at Chen Fei with fresh eyes, sizing him up from head to toe. Wearing the earpiece meant that one''s life was in the other party''s hands. After pondering, he still put it on. Trust those you use, don''t use those you doubt, and if someone really had ulterior motives, they wouldn''t disclose them outright, and they would also have other safeguards in place. Seeing the caution of the butler, Chen Fei helplessly said, "Can''t help it; people have to learn, have to progress, right? The Princess is coming out!" His trump cards were limited, so he had to maximize every one of them. Just as they were about to return to the Princess''s cabin, Shadow Guard Lize Jina and the Royal Guards emerged, escorting Princess Lin Ziyu. Maid Fei Dani, seeing Chen Fei and Housekeeper Mars, hastily said, "Her Highness wants to go to the deck for some fresh air." Chen Fei quickly took his place, and together with the butler, distributed the evolved clip-on earpieces to the maid and the Royal Guards. Princess Lin Ziyu and Shadow Guard Lize Jina also received one, but not in the form of earpieces; rather, they were bracelets. The main feature wasn''t communication but, crucially, positioning. After all, Chen Fei only had one pair of eyes and couldn''t ensure Her Royal Highness the Princess was within his sight at all times. As soon as they reached the main deck of the Light Wing Ship "Black Cloud," the recently recruited 32 Winged Warriors immediately formed a defensive circle around Princess Lin Ziyu and her entourage, maintaining a tactical buffer distance. All tactical coordination was handled by "Adam," and Chen Fei needn''t worry too much. Furthermore, multitasking has always been the forte of artificial intelligence AI. Chen Fei was never fighting alone in accepting this commission from start to finish. A series of chirping sounds came from the sky. The Princess''s personal bodyguard, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, immediately grew excited, incessantly chirping in response. It seemed Xiao Jiu''s calls had been heard, as a flock of birds flew over in response. "Chirp!" Too eager to wait, Xiao Jiu flapped its tiny wings and rocketed skyward, blending into the flock in the blink of an eye, disappearing from view. "Eh?" Chen Fei was stunned and looked up. The sky was filled with little birds covered in black feathers. Some of the bolder ones even landed on the rigging, the deck, the auxiliary sails, and even on the deck only a few steps away from people. They were all Pure Light Sparrows! Pure Light Sparrows were common birds on Cangqiong Star, no different from the sparrows on Blue Star. Chen Fei, as a person from Blue Star, had never seen such a large flock of Pure Light Sparrows. But... where''s my Xiao Jiu?! "''Adam,'' confirm Xiao Jiu''s location." Chen Fei urgently called upon the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" to help find Xiao Jiu, who had flown into the flock. This little rascal better not get kidnapped by its own kind. Adam: Unable to identify! The positioning is erratic. Even though Xiao Jiu''s leg ring had positioning capabilities, with so many similar species causing interference, "Adam" had the computational power but lacked the function to locate Xiao Jiu in dynamic flight. Chen Fei looked around and reached for the nearest Pure Light Sparrow. The Pure Light Sparrow neither dodged nor fled, allowing him to pick it up. Feet to the sky! No leg ring, not Xiao Jiu; Chen Fei had no choice but to put it back in place. He picked another; still not Xiao Jiu. After picking up more than a dozen Pure Light Sparrows, none of them were his Xiao Jiu. Chen Fei could only shout loudly, "Xiao Jiu!!!" "Chirp!" ¡Á10086!!! Alright, Chen Xiao''er has given up. Chapter 591 591: Section 587 - Birds Scatter ``` The Pure Light Sparrow species on Cangqiong Star had almost become a nuisance due to their overwhelming numbers. They could be found on every continent, and no one knew exactly how many of them there were on the planet. It was clear, without a doubt, that the Pure Light Sparrow was the most abundant bird species, second to none. Although these little birds were indeed Magical Beasts, they fed on insects, flowers, seeds, and berries, and were of a gentle nature with little aggression or harmfulness. They didn''t swarm in groups to prey on crops or other agricultural produce. It was precisely because of their peaceful coexistence that they had propagated into such an enormous population. When xiao Jiu came to Cangqiong Star with Chen Fei, it was like returning to its hometown. Its kin, a rare sight on Blue Star, were ubiquitous here, responding not only by the hundreds but by the thousands to its calls. The Pure Light Sparrow flock flying around the Light Wing Ship "Black Cloud" was so common that the Winged Warriors didn''t bother shooing them away or giving them a second glance. The fighting power of the Pure Light Sparrows, at less than zero, really didn''t merit much attention. Chen Fei helplessly stated while seeing Princess Lin Ziyu and her entourage gazing blankly at himself, "I''m out of ideas! I simply can''t tell which one is Xiao Jiu!" "Adam" just knelt, as he was no better off. They could only wait for the little mischief-maker to return on its own; otherwise, to locate it among so many Pure Light Sparrows would be impossible. Princess Lin Ziyu, concerned, asked, "Will it come back?" Chen Fei''s Pure Light Sparrow was special, a third-rank Pure Light Sparrow at human order was almost unheard of. In the annals of Cangqiong Star, even the most talented Pure Light Sparrow did not surpass second rank at human order. Her Royal Highness the Princess could hardly imagine how many resources Chen Fei must have poured into this little creature. Even the maidservants by the Princess''s side tried to mimic Chen Fei by touching the Pure Light Sparrows that were scattered about, but the little birds craftily dodged them, giving no chance for closeness. Chen Fei thought for a moment, finally coming up with an idea. "Well, just bring some good alcohol, and it surely will return!" The hobby of Xiao Jiu was quite particular; even if there was no good alcohol, coffee would do, just pour a full cup, and the little rascal would surely find its way back, as familiar as it was. Housekeeper Mars took out a large bag of grainy bird food, pouring it onto an empty spot on the deck. Having stepped back just a few paces, a flurry of dense wing flapping converged from all directions, and countless Pure Light Sparrows chirped and engulfed the large pile of food. Mr. Butler had prepared enough food for Xiao Jiu to last a lifetime. The Silan Dynasty didn''t skimp on money; buying bird food by three or five dozen pounds made no sense¡ªit had to be by the ton. With over a dozen bags of bird food set out, the numerous flock of Pure Light Sparrows all landed, densely covering the main deck of the Light Wing, competing and pecking at the feast. In no time, not a single grain of bird food was left on the deck. The satisfied flock soared into the air, spilling into all directions, each returning to its own home and mother. "Chirp!" The proud little creature didn''t care for competing with its species, returning on its own to Princess Lin Ziyu''s shoulder, leisurely preening its feathers, saving Chen Fei a cup of good alcohol. Not only Chen Fei but also Housekeeper Mars breathed a sigh of relief. This Pure Light Sparrow was quite an important part of their defense, its presence at the Princess''s side equated to an unknown layer of protection. After all, not many could imagine that this little bird possessed a combat power entirely unlike ordinary Pure Light Sparrows. "Xiao Jiu might very well become the king of the Pure Light Sparrow species." Princess Lin Ziyu stretched out her slender fingers, trying to play with the little bird hopping on her shoulder, but it dodged without courtesy. This little rascal wouldn''t let just anyone touch it easily. "King of the Pure Light Sparrows? Of what use is that?" Chen Fei shook his head. Apart from Xiao Jiu, the vast majority of Pure Light Sparrows were less than worthless in terms of combat power. Even carrying the name of a Magical Beast, the very few that could barely cast light-based spells only spoke of their glorious ancestors. But now, the bloodline of the Pure Light Sparrow species had been continually degenerating, no longer much stronger than ordinary wild beasts. In another thousand years or so, they probably wouldn''t even qualify as Magical Beasts. Looking at the little bird that was only to be admired and not played with, Lin Ziyu sighed and said, "Yeah, you''re right, not much use!" Apart from their sheer numbers, there were hardly any other advantages to the Pure Light Sparrow species. She was about to approach the edge of the deck to overlook Neo City by the coastal city, adjoining the sky harbor. "Wait, it''s not safe!" Chen Fei stopped Princess Lin Ziyu in her tracks. "Is there danger?" Princess Lin Ziyu halted immediately, having already heard from Housekeeper Mars that the next attack would come within 56 hours. "Some suspicious gazes have been detected; it''s better not to reveal yourself." Chen Fei didn''t just mass-produce ear-hook headphones, he also made a batch of multi-functional zoom cameras that could be assembled into a tight surveillance network, all managed by "Adam". Lenses with up to 50x optical zoom aimed at the surroundings of the Light Wing Ship and Neo City revealed through the AI "Adam" that there were unidentified individuals clandestinely spying on the "Black Cloud" Light Wing Ship, attempting to determine the Princess''s whereabouts. If "Adam" could connect to the Cangqiong Star residential database, it would surely be able to identify those individuals immediately. "It''s better to be cautious," added Butler Mars. The current situation was turbulent under the surface, seemingly calm but with hidden currents stirring, making this no time for pursuits of elegance and leisure. "Alright, let''s head back!" ``` Princess Lin Ziyu sighed regretfully as she stood on deck, basking in the sunlight for a while before intending to return to the cabins below deck. "Woo..." The warning horns suddenly sounded. The Winged Warriors in the airport soared into the sky, and many patrolling Assembled Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcons" flew towards a certain direction. "Attack?" Mars looked at Chen Fei, had it already begun? "Hmm, it should... not be, just some people from Neo City flying towards the airport, no weapons seen." Chen Fei slightly squinted his eyes as "Adam" displayed one of the images captured by the cameras installed on "Black Cloud" within his visual interface. Seven or eight individuals from the Feather Tribe had taken flight from the Coastal City adjacent to the airport, attempting to approach the flagship of the Fourth Legion''s Light Wing Fleet¡ªthe "Black Cloud," where the princess and her party were. Sounds came from afar. "Neo City''s Flying Heaven Commerce Chamber requests an audience with Her Royal Highness the Princess!" "Representatives of the gentry from Neo City request an audience with Her Royal Highness the Princess!" "Rainbow TV Station from Neo City requests an interview with the Imperial Princess!" ... Despite the distance, the voices were loud and clear, most likely amplified by some device. However, the Fourth Legion of the Feather Tribe did not allow these uninvited civilians to approach without permission, and they were swiftly intercepted. Still, some audacious members of the Feather Tribe, relying on their wings and superb flying skills, tried all means to penetrate the interception of the Fourth Legion and get as close to the Black Cloud Light Wing Ship as possible. The Light Wing Fleet released drones, intensifying surveillance from the air and the ground, and Chen Fei''s artificial intelligence AI "Adam" shared some of the images it acquired through authorization. "Too lenient!" Chen Fei, responsible for covering the rear, turned back to look at the sky and shook his head in disappointment. If it were him, he would have drawn a lethal warning line at the first sign, killing anyone who dared to cross it without mercy. At the very least, in a situation like this, he would catch each intruder, bind them tightly from head to toe, why bother pushing and shoving in an attempt to intercept, which is both strenuous and ungrateful. Unexpectedly, one of the three squad leaders from the Feather Tribe guards, selectively picked by Mars and Chen Fei, spoke up suddenly. "Shall we shoot to kill?" He was one of the two Winged Warriors capable of stabbing Chen Fei without hesitation, a genuine tough character, and it was no surprise that he was the leader of a ten-member squad. "Forget it, this isn''t our job!" Chen Fei immediately rejected the suggestion but gestured assertively with his hand, "If those people dare to rush onto the Light Wing Ship, they''re fair game!" According to his definition, the protection for the princess was hierarchical. The perimeter was guarded by the Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe, the Light Wing Ships were responsible for beyond-visual-range defense, "Sky Falcons" were protecting the Light Wing Ships, creating a complete omnidirectional and three-dimensional defense formation. The Feather Tribe warriors of the legion were in charge of security within visual range, the 32 selected Feather Tribe guards only needed to handle the defensive line from 30 to 100 meters, and the Royal Guard''s vigilance ranged from 5 to 30 meters. The Butler, maids, and Shadow Guards were responsible for security within 5 meters, and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was Princess Lin Ziyu''s last line of defense. Regardless of who it was, anyone daring to break through in front of the princess would be met with a lethal direct hit from a light beam. Chen Fei was responsible for skirmishing and for taking the princess and running away at critical moments. In his "Physical Evolution Database" skill, there were samples of ground and aerial vehicles, at least ten types, perfectly suitable for an emergency escape. While the sky was filled with noise and clamor, Princess Lin Ziyu had already returned to the cabin below deck and did not show her face. Being close to the people also requires choosing the right time, being indiscriminately close to the people at such a time is like handing one''s head over to assassins on a silver platter. Bang!~~ A gun suddenly fired. A Winged Warrior had fired the gun. "They''ve fired!" Princess Lin Ziyu, who was about to sit down for tea, was suddenly startled. After all, those trying to board the ship were some civilians of the Feather Tribe, she didn''t have the ruthlessness and heartlessness of Chen Fei to easily take lives. "Some fool has acted rashly, it''s none of our business!" Although she was inside the cabin of the Light Wing Ship, any movement outside was displayed in Chen Fei''s visual interface. A Feather Tribe person almost landed successfully on the "Black Cloud''s" deck, but the warriors guarding the Light Wing Ship finally lost patience and raised their automatic firearms to fire. The unlucky individual who was hit hadn''t even touched the rails of the "Black Cloud"; they were a mere seven or eight meters away and plummeted straight down, likely not to survive. The gunshot silenced the noisy sky instantly. The Feather Tribe people trying to seek an audience with the princess were frightened by the iron-fisted methods of the Fourth Legion¡ªthey really dared to shoot, and immediately scattered like birds and beasts. However, there was a loud uproar in the nearby Neo City. Chapter 592 592: Section 588 - Departing Early ``` Without any amplification equipment, the huge wave of sound directly reached the airport, and it could be heard clearly even inside the Light Wing Ship. "What''s happening?" Housekeeper Mars couldn''t help but be moved, wondering how the previously calm Neo City could have such a commotion. "The crowd is gathering, heading this way toward the airport." Chen Fei looked toward the balcony, his gaze seemingly traversing more than ten kilometers, seeing countless members of the Feathered Tribe taking to the streets and flying into the sky, approaching the airport. In the cabin, everyone, including Princess Lin Ziyu, exchanged glances with each other. "What happened?" The expression on Lin Ziyu''s face turned ugly all of a sudden. She thought of the gunshot that had just sounded, someone had died as a result. Trying to storm a military stronghold, suspected of intending harm to the Royal Princess, it''s only natural to be shot. But... one fears that others might use this as a pretext, seizing the opportunity to incite. "A premeditated mass event!" Chen Fei walked onto the balcony, seeing a scene akin to a sandstorm, with dense crowds of Feather Tribe People, something only seen in the Feather Tribe Autonomous Region of the Cloud Heaven Continent. His homeland was best at this; "Dragon Slaying Technique" was among the elementary school textbooks, known to everyone and requiring no intelligence. Following blindly and being incited was just as mindless. The urgent alarm sounded. Then came the voice of the Royal Guards outside the door. "Report, the Fourth Legion has stopped resupplying and is now departing." It seemed that the disturbance in Neo City was indeed significant, prompting the Legion Commander and others to make the prompt decision to take off. If ensnared by so many people, the situation would likely become even more troublesome. No sooner had the Royal Guard finished speaking than everyone felt a tremor beneath their feet; the horizon outside began to drop rapidly as the "Black Cloud" started to ascend. Giant Light Wings flapped in alternation, forcing the Feathered Tribe trying to approach to keep retreating, even those from Neo City who were flying toward them slowed their speed. The Light Wing Ships of the Feather Tribe''s Fourth Legion took off one after another, with numerous "Sky Falcons" screaming out of the ships to guard the fleet and keep the Feather Tribe commoners at bay. "Is this... an attack?" Princess Lin Ziyu was confused. With such a huge disturbance, even if it were counted as an attack, it would still qualify. "Very strange!" Chen Fei and Housekeeper Mars spoke in unison involuntarily. The two looked at each other. Housekeeper Mars shook his head and said, "This doesn''t count as an attack at all!" A single gunshot is not an attack, it''s more like playing house. Pop! Pop! Pop! Boom!~ Continuous gunfire and huge roars came from outside. Through the surveillance cameras set outside the cabin, Chen Fei saw several Feathered Tribe people falling from the sky. Having approached too close to the Light Wing Fleet, they were killed on the spot by the warriors guarding the fleet. However, a spell shot out from the midst of the crowd, striking several Winged Warriors who couldn''t dodge in time, bursting into a brilliant display of fireworks. Because they were equipped with standard military gear and had some individual defense capabilities, the Winged Warriors hit by the spell didn''t die, but still suffered varying degrees of injury. Their feathers at the back were scorched, with sparks and smoke billowing, causing them to lose control of their flight and crash toward the ground in a zigzag motion. A few "Sky Falcons" swiftly flew in and caught them. More spells flew out from the civilian crowd, attacking the defensive line formed by the Winged Warriors and the Light Wing Ships, some even mingled with physical rockets. A small proportion of Offensive Spells and rockets that couldn''t be intercepted struck the Magic Shields deployed by the Light Wing Ships, exploding in a loud bang. The entire Neo City and the airspace above the airport were thrown into chaos at once. Some were running into the city, some flying out of the city, and still others trying to breach the Light Wing Fleet, with collisions occurring repeatedly, completely out of control. If a collision took place on the ground, at worst one would end up with a bruised nose and a swollen face, but in the air, a bad fall might lead to broken bones and even death. In a vast forest, one can find all kinds of birds; the Feathered Tribe People of the Intelligent Species were no exception. There were good people, bad people, commoners living day to day, and ambitious desperadoes. For a time, those restless characters inside Neo City began to stir, continuously creating one chaotic event after another. ``` The originally tranquil and serene Coastal City suddenly erupted with fire and thick smoke, and man-made disasters were escalating relentlessly. The early departure of the Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe was undoubtedly the right decision. If they had stayed, they might have gotten stuck in the quagmire of unrest, never to take off safely again. "Chirp!" Little Bird successfully cast the "Light Mirror Spell," and the chaotic scenes within Neo City appeared on the screen of light. "This, this, this is all my fault!" As a member of the Royal Family, Lin Ziyu clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, overwhelmed with self-blame. Unable to stand by and watch, Chen Fei spoke irritably, "Hey, don''t take the blame for others'' mistakes, this has nothing to do with you!" "Hey, show some respect to Her Royal Highness!" Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina couldn''t stand Chen Fei''s brash and disrespectful tone. "I''m this impolite to everyone!" Chen Fei responded with a roll of his eyes. To him, a princess of Cangqiong Star, and not of Blue Star, certainly not his princess, Lin Ziyu was no different from the daughter of an ordinary commoner. Besides, to some extent, she was also a child of the Lin Family, which even if not related by blood, shared history with the Chen Family Gate. So, to expect Chen Xiao''er to revere imperial sovereignty? That would be wishful thinking! In a country where sovereignty means robes, thrones, and crowns are freely available, what was imperial power but a farce? Apart from in movies and TV shows, one could only hear imperial titles like "Your Majesty," "My Emperor," "Empress," and "Young Master" in those special service clubs crowded with beautiful ladies. To use such terms in public would be absolutely laughable. "Stop quarreling, I don''t mind," said Princess Lin Ziyu, who truly did not care about how she was addressed. Even though her single visit to a city on the Cloud Heaven Continent had caused such a catastrophe, she could not help but feel anxious, even if it was truly unrelated to her. Housekeeper Mars, thinking the princess was still wallowing in self-blame, spoke up, "Mr. Chen Fei is right; this is indeed not Your Highness''s responsibility." "I am a princess of the Slan Dynasty, and those people out there are my subjects; I simply cannot evade this responsibility," Lin Ziyu said, shaking her head resolutely. In the subsequent journey, the Light Wing Fleet of the Fourth Legion would pass by several more cities. If they stirred up such trouble again, they would likely not escape blame amidst public censure. "Every debt has its debtor, don''t worry. Those making trouble won''t get away with it. Why not contact the local civilian officials and have them come out to appease the situation?" Chen Fei had to say something to reassure the princess. Otherwise, if she lost her composure, it would be easy to spread the negative emotions to others, resulting in a vicious cycle. By now, the Light Wing Fleet had risen to the height of the clouds. Still, some Feather Tribe People stubbornly pursued them, constantly being driven away by the "Sky Falcons." It didn''t take long for those of the Feather Tribe who had forcefully followed by wing to fall behind, unable to catch up. "You''re quite knowledgeable!" remarked Lize Jina with a snort. Chen Fei said proudly, "One must learn from history!" With five thousand years of history behind them, one could even trace back to the Tao Tang Dynasty and Youyu Dynasty, there were plenty of historical cases to draw answers from. Who excels in internal strife? Need you even ask? "You''re right!" Having received a complete royal education, Princess Lin Ziyu was originally not inexperienced in such matters. Still, being her first time dealing with such an incident, it was inevitable that she would be somewhat emotionally affected. Now, with Chen Fei''s reminder, she quickly came to her senses. She took out her phone and started looking up a number. The network and communication environment on Cangqiong Star was even better than on Blue Star. Chen Fei''s phone still worked as usual here, and the signal strength remained strong even far from communication bases. The Princess Lin Ziyu, having regained the pride expected of the Imperial Family Youngsters, quickly made contact with the provincial civilian officials where Neo City was located. She reported the unexpected incident in Neo City as a Royal Princess and demanded that they promptly quell the unrest, capture and bring to justice those responsible, and then punish them without leniency. She even went a step further, requesting that all media across the Cloud Heaven Continent report accurately to prevent malicious misinterpretation, rumor mongering, and incitement by those with ulterior motives, which could lead to an uncontrollable escalation of the situation. Chapter 593 593: Section 589 - Storm Just as Her Highness Princess Lin Ziyu ¡¤ Slan of the Slan Dynasty was conveying her personal will to the provincial governors of the Cloud Heaven Continent, the Light Wing Fleet of the Fourth Legion had already moved far away from the coastline. Standing on the balcony and looking into the distance, where vision reached its farthest, the sky was blue, the sea was blue, and they merged at the horizon. Some birds with stronger flying abilities even accompanied the flight of the Light Wing Ships nearby, occasionally emitting crisp chirps. Deeper into the open sea, below the glittering surface, loomed some vast and indistinct shapes, provoking fear. Occasionally, some massive creatures would burst out of the water, roaring with bared fangs and claws, and the more audacious ones would even initiate attacks¡ªmost were Water-type Spells, with a powerful presence, as thick water spears shot up into the sky, eventually exhausting their force at a height of three to five hundred meters and falling back as countless drops, causing a sudden torrential downpour over a small area of the ocean. Whenever a Magic Beast capable of threatening the Light Wing Fleet appeared, the Fourth Legion would not hesitate to strike with Spells, Railguns, Missiles, and Depth Charges, followed by warriors on Sky Falcons equipped with large-capacity Space System Alchemy Storage Devices collecting the carcasses, earning some funds to supplement military expenses. Not all Magical Beasts possess the rational intelligence to communicate with other intelligent species, especially when the current definition of Magical Beast also encompasses the former Demon Beasts¡ªany humanoid or non-humanoid creature that can use Elemental Energy is broadly termed as a Magical Beast. However, in the Biological Encyclopedia of Cangqiong Star, the introductions to various Magical Beasts still specifically note the distinction between rational and feral. The Fourth Legion specifically targets these feral Magical Beasts for their biological materials. Daring to attack a Light Wing Fleet carrying a royal princess, wiping out their lineage would not be considered excessive, thus the slain Magical Beasts naturally have no cause to complain of injustice. "Lili..." A giant bird with white feathers approached the "Black Cloud," issuing a series of pleasant chirps. The Fourth Legion did not react. Before it even entered the visual field, they had already identified the species of the large bird. "It''s a Sun-Transforming Skylark!" The Princess''s maid, Fei Dani, exclaimed in surprise. The leg of the white-feathered giant bird was empty, without the Leg Ring that would identify its status¡ªa wild Light-element Magical Beast, the "Sun-Transforming Skylark," was not commonly seen. An adult Sun-Transforming Skylark starts at the Earth Order First Rank at least, not something a Rookie-level Pure Light Sparrow could even compare with. As if to compensate for the lack of offensive Spells at low ranks for Light-element Magical Beasts, starting from the Human Order Seventh Rank, the Light Series gains offensive Spells. As the Rank increases, the power of the Spells becomes even sharper, and in many cases, they are more fierce and vicious compared to other Elemental Magic. "Adam" opened up the encyclopedia entry for the giant white-feathered bird in the visual interface, making Chen Fei''s mouth water with envy. He muttered to himself, "The feathers of the Sun-Transforming Skylark are very valuable!" He even waved his hand at the large bird. "Come here, I''ll give you some cookies." "Chirp!" Xiao Jiu flew over at this moment, perching on Chen Fei''s hand, chirping threateningly at the Sun-Transforming Skylark several meters away. "Lili..." This large Light-element Magical Beast did not take the tiny Pure Light Sparrow seriously at all and continued to curiously observe the people on the Light Wing Ship. When it noticed Chen Xiao''er''s ill-intentioned gaze, it shook its feathers and swiftly moved away from the fleet, quickly disappearing from everyone''s view. After all, it was an intelligent Magical Beast, not actually foolish¡ªit wouldn''t be deceived by a cookie, which might only fool a chirper. Recently, Butler Mars lured down a few hundred, if not a thousand, with just a few large bags of bird food. "Chirp!" The Pure Light Sparrow persisted in chirping in the direction where the Sun-Transforming Skylark disappeared. The probable meaning was: if you dare come over, you''ll be knocked down immediately! Well, that was purely relying on the power of humans. Xiao Jiu''s signature laser might catch Magical Beasts of various ranks off guard, but for a Light-element Magical Beast of the same Earth Order like the Sun-Transforming Skylark, it might not pose a threat. "Is this little guy threatening the Sun-Transforming Skylark?" Princess Lin Ziyu happened to have just finished her call with the provincial civil affairs governor of the Cloud Heaven Continent and saw Xiao Jiu being brought back in by Chen Fei from the balcony, couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. This Pure Light Sparrow was incredibly bold, daring to challenge a Magical Beast of a higher Rank than itself. "You little troublemaker, behave yourself!" Chen Fei was genuinely worried that the little troublemaker would chase after it. Catching Xiao Jiu, he skillfully flipped it so its claws pointed upwards; now without a way to fly off, it lay obediently in the palm of his hand. Magical Beasts born and bred in the wild would not be so cautious. With a small frame like Xiao Jiu''s, they could gobble them up one after another, so there was no need to be so eager to offer themselves! Princess Lin Ziyu curiously asked, "Are Magical Beasts born on Blue Star all like this?" On Cangqiong Star, the crushing hierarchy was a tangible reality. Low-Rank Magical Beasts didn''t even have time to hide from High-Rank Magical Beasts, and only those who had lost their minds would dare to provoke them. Fools who were blind to this did not last long¡ªthey were either devoured alive or annihilated on the spot. A weakest of creatures like the Pure Light Sparrow wouldn''t dare to provoke other Magical Beasts, let alone the slightly larger common wild animals, which they also avoided. Xiao Jiu was truly an unusual exception. "I really haven''t looked into this!" Apart from Xiao Jiu, the other Magical Beasts Chen Fei had encountered were either ferocious creatures discovered and exterminated during the routine patrols of the 911 Aircrew Base, or rational Magical Beasts that had immigrated to Blue Star for employment. As for other species of Magical Beasts born and raised on Blue Star, he truly hadn''t seen any. After all, the diplomatic relations between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star had been established for barely more than thirty years. Even for Magical Beast immigrants, it was a matter of the last decade or so. The establishment of related legislation and management departments, as well as the acceptance of human citizens, were not simple matters. - The Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe''s Light Wing Fleet flew over the vast ocean, continuously, after departing from the coastline of the Cloud Heaven Continent. There were hardly any other ships visible on the sea surface. Ferocious Magical Beasts and the large, fierce creatures lurking beneath actively hunted sea vessels, effectively severing intercontinental sea travel to a certain extent. Only large Assembled Combat Aircraft with sufficient armament could safely travel between continents. Even so, there were still ferocious Flying Creatures that would attack Constructed Aircraft. The sky and the ocean of Cangqiong Star were much more dangerous than those of Blue Star. Every intercontinental journey was almost a journey with an unpredictable fate. At sunset, the Light Wing Fleet had just killed several Strange Fish that broke through the water, attempting to attack the Light Wing Ships, officially entering the more perilous night navigation. The twin moons, Qingpo and White Dew, hung high in the sky, with clouds scattered about, but there was no romance exclaiming the beauty of the night. The Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe raised their alert level and stood guard in shifts. Almost every hour, fierce birds and strange marine creatures would try to attack the Light Wing Fleet flying at an altitude of 5000 meters. Despite their rapid interception capabilities with onboard weaponry and Constructed Combat Aircraft, the Fourth Legion unavoidably suffered some casualties. One could imagine that for civilian Assembled Aircraft attempting to traverse the ocean and reach another continent, the process was incredibly dangerous and difficult. Although Cangqiong Star didn''t suffer from the troubles of Mutants, how much better could these raging creatures be?! The twin moons were obscured by the thick black clouds. Boom, rumble, rumble... Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky. The "Black Cloud" Light Wing Ship trembled slightly, and an obvious rocking sensation occurred in the internal cabins. "What''s happening?" Princess Lin Ziyu, who was preparing to wash up and go to bed, noticed the abnormality of the ship''s body. Housekeeper Mars said from outside the washroom, "Your Highness, the fleet is about to enter the storm cloud area. Please rest assured, the Light Wing Ship will not have any problems." The marine weather was fickle and changeable: one moment, the sea was calm and quiet; the next, mighty waves towered. Even with outer-space weather satellites constantly monitoring, when the storm cloud vortex that could cover heights of ten thousand meters formed, the Fourth Legion''s Light Wing Fleet simply could not avoid it. The flying altitude limit of the Light Wing Ships was barely ten kilometers, so they couldn''t fly out of the clouds and over the storm from a higher altitude. Before entering the storm cloud area, the fleet had already issued a warning announcement. The escorting "Sky Falcons," Constructed Combat Aircraft, were all retracted, and even the main deck was left with few people. The ferocious creatures trying to attack the fleet were also affected by the storm, and accordingly, their attack frequency significantly decreased. The auxiliary power sails, filled and ready to burst with wind energy, were retracted, and each Light Wing Ship in the flying formation ejected bright blue light from the rear, maintaining speed without slowing. The backup power turbojet engines started successfully; the air intakes embedded on both sides of the ship didn''t care about the quail-egg-sized raindrops pouring into them. The rain was completely turned to steam in the combustion chambers, which unexpectedly enhanced propulsion power to some extent. The incessantly flapping Light Wings, however, were unaffected by the storm. They treated the frenzied storm as nothing, whether it was Wind Elemental Energy in the chaotic airflow, Water Elemental Energy in the torrential moisture, or the aggressive and sharp Lightning wrapped with Thunder Elemental Energy¡ªall were absorbed by the Light Wings. Besides the main keel, the sturdiest Constructed Parts on the Light Wing Ship were undoubtedly these Light Wings radiating with the glow of Elemental Energy. Chen Fei stood at the window, looking outside. Wild winds howled outside the Light Wing Ship, and the downpour was relentless, the ferocity of which far surpassed the inland downpours. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was yet again running design simulations. Having encountered attacks from ferocious creatures along the way, and now facing the sudden violent storm, the Light Wing Ship was like a small boat caught in a terrifying tempest, leaving Chen Fei without much of a sense of security. A wise man does not stand under a collapsing wall; he had to be prepared for every eventuality, just in case. "Everything will be alright." Housekeeper Mars came up behind Chen Fei, noticing his worries. No sooner had the butler''s voice fallen than the cabin suddenly shook violently. They could even hear the screeching and groaning noises. Some inadequately secured items clattered to the floor in a loud commotion. Chapter 594 594: Section 590 - Lifeboat Shadow Guard Lize Jina hurriedly supported Princess Lin Ziyu, who nearly fell, and rolled her eyes at Butler Mars, who had inadvertently jinxed the situation, muttering, "Mars, you and your dire predictions!" Gasps of shock echoed both inside and outside the cabin. Boom! It was impossible to tell whether it was thunder or the sound of an explosion, as the Light Wing Ship shuddered violently. Everyone in the cabin was jolted a foot off the ground, only to come crashing back down. Princess Lin Ziyu landed on the soft sofa below her and was relatively unharmed, but others were not so lucky, with only a few managing to maintain their footing. Then, a blood-curdling creaking sound emanated from deep within the Light Wing Ship. Several bolts of lightning illuminated the sky simultaneously, their thick arcs snaking capriciously through the clouds, briefly lighting up the sky and the ocean. The external surveillance cameras attached to the ship''s hull caught a glimpse of a scene that made Chen Fei involuntarily gasp. Thousands of meters below, in the churning, raging sea, countless sea creatures were frantically breaking the water''s surface, splashing wildly as they swarmed towards the Light Wing Fleet above, in a scene akin to hell itself. The fleet, already distressed by the sudden turbulence and the storm, was oblivious to this. "This is bad!" Chen Fei moved towards the storm-flung balcony, turning back to address Xiao Jiu on the Princess''s shoulder just as he was about to speak. "Is there an emergency?" Butler Mars''s heart skipped a beat; this wasn''t the first time he had seen Chen Fei taking matters so seriously¡ªsomething major must be about to happen. Could it be the previously mentioned attack?! Despite being mentally prepared, they were still caught off guard when it actually happened. "Butler Mars, please check if there are any emergency vehicles for evacuation. We might need to abandon ship if necessary." Chen Fei beckoned to the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu and continued, "Xiao Jiu, give me a Dragon Slayer Missile!" Clang!~ A sizable box hit the ground with a dull thud. Everyone''s face changed¡ªwhat kind of situation had arisen that necessitated the use of a "Dragon Slayer Missile"? Chen Fei himself had not expected to use one of the two "Dragon Slayer Missiles" he had requested so soon. He deftly opened the box and connected the separated warhead to the propulsion body, then yanked open the control panel of the KDK-1 Suction Type Hypersonic Intelligent Missile and thrust the Universal Data Transceiver from his wrist into the data port. "Adam, unlock and activate, 20-second countdown." Adam: Recognizing the KDK-1 Suction Type Hypersonic Intelligent Missile, importing the key, entering the security code, first layer unlocked, second layer unlocked, third layer unlocked, fourth layer unlocked, activation initiated, setting detonation mode, starting countdown, 20, 19, 18... Amidst the jumping numbers of Adam''s countdown, Chen Fei lifted the entire missile from the box and carried it step by step to the balcony before heaving it over with force. Go!~ 15, 14, 13, 12... The KDK-1 Suction Type Hypersonic Intelligent Missile, falling freely, picked up speed, heading towards the swarm of sea monsters below, so numerous it was terrifying. "What''s happening?" Butler Mars, like everyone else while trying to contact the Captain, was stunned as he watched Chen Fei, half-drenched from the torrential rain, walk back in from the balcony. "So many, so many monsters!" Chen Fei spread his hands wide, and just as his words fell, the ship''s interior was filled with the piercing sound of an urgent alarm. It seemed the Feather Tribe Legion''s Light Wing Fleet had finally noticed the anomaly in the ocean below. A dazzling burst of deep blue light erupted, annihilating hundreds of flying sea creatures within its sweep. Although the blue light was not blinding, it lit up the entire Light Wing Fleet. Several large fish-like creatures were swimming rapidly around the fleet, their speed astonishing. With each flick of their tails, they moved kilometers in just a few breaths. Their spines and dorsal fins were bristling, clearly not benign beings. The collision from before was perhaps their doing. "Ferocious Thorn King Fish, fierce Wind Series Magical Beasts, adult males grow up to 18 meters in length, weighing approximately 3.5 tons with gold streaks in their tails as identification characteristics; adult females grow up to 15 meters, weighing roughly 2.8 tons. They usually inhabit waters deeper than 50 meters below the sea surface and prey on aquatic life..." The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" listed this information for Chen Fei on the encyclopedia page. The stormy environment serves as the mating grounds for the Ferocious Thorn King Fish, where other species are not welcome and risk facing aggressive attacks. However, not every storm brings the presence of the Ferocious Thorn King Fish. But this time, the Feather Tribe''s Fourth Legion of the Light Wing Fleet was unlucky enough to encounter a dozen male Ferocious Thorn King Fish in heat, chasing after two females. With the ratio of males to females already disproportionate, the unclaimed males ferociously targeted the unexpected visitors comprised of several fully-armed Light Wing Ships. If it weren''t for the numerous sea creatures recklessly rushing upwards, the Ferocious Thorn King Fish would probably have already initiated an attack. At that moment, the Light Wing Fleet fully demonstrated the power of a large combat weapon platform. Aerial bombs were dropped, railguns fired in succession, and even the surrounding Ferocious Thorn King Fish became targets of missile strikes. Fireballs exploded continuously in the sky, and the light of magic spells flickered uncertainly as Magical Beasts with magical abilities launched their attacks. Nevertheless, the Light Wing Fleet, positioned high in the sky, held an advantage, with very few attacks missing their mark. Conversely, magic attacks from below mostly dispersed mid-trajectory. Only a few made it weakly to the ships'' Magic Shields surrounding the Light Wings, barely causing a tremor. The previous "Dragon Slayer Missile" took advantage of the convenience of magic to eliminate nearly half of the leading Magical Beasts. Most of the remaining were just ordinary fierce aquatic creatures acting on instinct, which upon sustaining concentrated fire from the Light Wing Fleet, suffered heavy casualties almost immediately. "The escape pods are ready, but the Captain does not recommend evacuating the ship right now, as it''s even more dangerous outside." Mars, the housekeeper who just finished a phone call, relayed the "Black Cloud" Captain''s words. Though the Light Wing Fleet''s attacks were immensely powerful, capable of killing at least three or four fierce sea creatures with every hit, they slaughtered hundreds in just a short span of time. Yet the swarming sea creatures seemed endless, leaving one to wonder how such a terrifying existence could have been hidden beneath the calm seas of the past. Crack, a loud bursting noise erupted. A wing of the "Black Cloud" Light Wing Ship couldn''t withstand the impact of a Ferocious Thorn King Fish''s sacrificial ram and shattered. The Strange Fish that broke the wing also didn''t fare well, as a shell from a railgun exploded a large hole in its body, leaving it to descend slowly, grievously wounded. The "Black Cloud" suffered little impact from the loss of one wing¡ªits absorption of Elemental Energy was only reduced. Relying on the remaining Light Wings and the main Crystalline Blocks on board, the ship could still endure for a considerable time¡ªsince the design of the Light Wing Ships had already accounted for the possibility of damage to the wings. But misfortune seemed to come in pairs. Before the other Light Wing Ships could position the flagship "Black Cloud" in the center for protection, incited by the fall of their comrade, the other Ferocious Thorn King Fish furiously charged the "Black Cloud" with no regard for themselves. Even the females joined the assault. Despite firing with all they had, the "Black Cloud," being the flagship of the Light Wing Fleet, still inevitably sustained successive impacts, with more wings breaking off. At the same time, the ammunition carried on board was rapidly depleting, yet the sea creatures drawing ever closer seemed impossible to completely eradicate. Even when powerful bombs were used, they had little effect. No sooner was an area cleared than it filled again, with the sea creatures seemingly mad, desperately throwing themselves at the Light Wing Fleet. The situation grew increasingly dire, prompting the "Black Cloud" Captain and the Feather Tribe Legion Commander to make a joint decision. To protect Princess Lin Ziyu and her entourage, they ordered an evacuation from the ship, leaving the Fourth Legion to continue entanglement with the sea creatures. The large number of kills might attract even more terrifying sea creatures. With ammunition and Magic Power heavily depleted, the Fourth Legion would likely struggle more and more. Emergency escape pods are, in a sense, miniature Light Wing Ships, with only two pairs of wings on each side and capable of carrying 100 people. Whether it''s the "Black Cloud" or other Light Wing Ships, the emergency escape pods generally have three times the capacity of the ship''s crew members. Moreover, most of the crew from the Fourth Legion''s Light Wing Ships are members of the Feathered Tribe with individual flying abilities, rendering them less reliant on escape pods. Therefore, no particular worry arises about casualties due to falling. Princess Lin Ziyu made a quick decision, boarding one of the emergency escape pods with her attendants and newly recruited Feather Tribe Guards. The pod shuddered, swiftly separating from the severely damaged "Black Cloud" Light Wing Ship. However, the next second, instead of continuing to ascend, the escape pod dropped as if it had lost power, causing alarm among the people inside. The housekeeper Mars instantly sensed something was wrong and urgently shouted at the Feather Tribe Guard piloting the escape pod, "What''s happening?" "The escape pod has lost control, we can''t pull up!" The Feather Tribe Guard at the helm tried desperately to regain control of the pod. "Everyone, hold on tight!" Chen Fei stretched out his hand and placed it on the deck, immediately causing a silvery sheen to spread and cover the entire escape pod. The exterior of the escape pod changed as well, with a pair of horizontal wings protruding from the front and two propellers added to the rear. "Wind Magic Shield (12)" ¡Á1 + "Thunder Magic Shield (12)" ¡Á1 + "Gravity (1)" Magic Array ¡Á4 + "Fluid Vortex (2)" Magic Array ¡Á8 + "Wind Cone (2)" Magic Array ¡Á1 + "Illumination Technique (1)" Magic Array ¡Á2 + "Light Distortion (1)" ¡Á1 + "Mind Brand (1)" Magic Array ¡Á1 = 50/99 engraving units. The downward plummeting of the "escape pod" was immediately arrested. The contraption conceived by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" finally came in handy. Chapter 595 595: Section 591 - Escape System: Energy points -1798! Energy points: 37,971/40,000 For overriding the operation of the emergency lifeboat, the scheming Dog System had taken nearly two thousand energy points from Chen Fei, a substantial amount had also been used when creating the surveillance cameras. They always say to offer a discount for regular customers. But, stubbornly, there was just no wiggle room with the Dog System! The Ferocious Thorn King Fish, which had entangled the Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe''s Light Wing Fleet, had been mostly killed by railguns and missiles, yet those that survived were even more cunning, and used the storm as cover to move sneakily nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The raging storm not only provided the mating ground for the Ferocious Thorn King Fish but also served as their home field where they could unleash their full combat capabilities. At this very moment, the flagship "Black Cloud" had most of its light wings severely damaged, with multiple impact damages to the ship''s body as well. The reason it could still maintain its ability to hover, was all thanks to multiple magic arrays on the military-grade Light Wing Ship working to their fullest, and the crystalline blocks used in the Light Wing Ship had much larger capacities than those in Crystal Jets. The magic arrays used in assembled combat aircraft were basically similar to those used in Crystal Jets. The number of magic arrays applied in aviation wasn''t large, as this field''s research and applications had only materialized over the past thirty years. Going further back, there were only some theoretical studies and immature prototypes. If it were not for the deployment of assembled combat aircraft like Light Wing Ships and Void Ships, the interaction between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star would likely have been completely suppressed, not an equal diplomatic relationship as it was now. The emergency lifeboat, where the Princess and her party were, had been completely transformed under Chen Fei''s metallic elemental psychic power coverage, looking more like a small Magic Cube Warship from Blue Star, but with two slender light wings extending from each side, continuously drawing elemental energy from the storm, replenishing the crystalline blocks aboard. The constructed aircraft didn''t look like constructed aircraft, and the Magic Cube Warship didn''t look like a Magic Cube Warship; Chen Fei couldn''t be blamed for this hybrid appearance as he hadn''t acquired the complete technological structure of the Magic Cube Warship. Previously, the Huntsman Squad led by Miyoshi Xuesen had traveled on a "Spear Falcon Number" small Magic Cube Warship and crashed during their journey through Gaul. Chen Fei tried to incorporate this Magic Cube Warship as one of the samples in his "Physical Evolution Database" but was stopped. Therefore, he could only estimate the external shape by eye, and there were still significant inaccuracies in the specific dimensions. However, whether it be the Magic Cube Warship or the Sky Patrol Ship, their aerodynamic design was superior to that of Cangqiong Star''s Light Wing Ships, making them a perfect cover for this malfunctioning emergency lifeboat. Artificial intelligence AI "Adam" took over the "small Magic Cube Warship" enveloping the emergency lifeboat at the first opportunity, and used the "Fluid Vortex (2)" magic array and electric propellers to quickly distance from the Light Wing Fleet under attack by marine creatures. Chen Fei moved to the back of the pilothouse at the bow, placing one hand on the deck. The deck instantly cracked open, and a pillar over a foot in diameter slowly rose, its surface covered with glowing blue runes and lines, but at the top was a crystalline block the size of a soybean. The faintly glowing crystalline block, however, flickered on and off as if running out of momentum; the energy it contained was nearly depleted and not enough to maintain the normal flight of the entire emergency lifeboat. A Royal Guard stared at the crystalline block on the column, hesitated for a moment, then said boldly, "This crystalline block is wrong!" Everyone turned to look at him, all puzzled. "Indeed, it''s wrong. It''s too small and its capacity isn''t sufficient. It must have been switched." Chen Fei took out a crystalline block slightly smaller than a fist and replaced it. As soon as he held the soybean-sized crystalline block, he immediately knew its specifications and capacity. It was merely a crystalline block used for a railgun combat rifle. Using it as the main energy core for an emergency escape pod was literally playing with people''s lives. It was almost as irresponsible as using a single 1.5V AA battery as a car''s starting battery. No wonder they quickly lost power after detaching from the "Black Cloud" Light Wing Ship. The minute energy storage of a railgun combat rifle''s crystalline block was quickly depleted. Not only had the crystalline block been swapped, but even the capacity detection and storage detection sensors had been tampered with. Otherwise, with such a minuscule energy reserve, the emergency escape pod''s energy management system would have warned earlier rather than being caught off-guard when the energy was exhausted. Unable to repair the faulty sensors, all Chen Fei could do was to replace them with a high-capacity crystalline block. Fortunately, he had two such blocks on hand, enough to cope with the current situation. After installing the new crystalline block, the column covered in runes retracted beneath the deck ensuring the emergency escape pod would no longer suffer from energy shortages. The functional modules of the single soldier tactical armor and the combat aircraft were evolved into the shape of a small Magic Cube Warship on the emergency escape pod, quickly detecting the state of the Light Wing Fleet. The flagship "Black Cloud" could not hold on and, after being continuously and forcefully struck by the remaining Ferocious Thorn King Fish in a mutual destruction effort, the dangerously unstable hull finally lost its balance and ability to hover. It sank ever lower as one emergency escape pod after another was launched and scattered in all directions, even abandoning the numerous assembled combat aircraft "Sky Falcon". In such harsh weather, deploying the "Sky Falcon" was practically unable to ensure flight safety. To deal with the relentless attacks from so many marine creatures, the Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe used up ammunition enough for a battle. Due to Blue Star''s extensive history of breed mutants, Cangqiong Star did not widely distribute tactical nuclear weapons. Instead, they cautiously preserved nuclear weapons, all stored within a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, controlled by Her Majesty the Empress. Otherwise, at this critical moment, a single tactical nuclear weapon could have cleared the battlefield instantly, ensuring the fleet''s safety without fail. But Cangqiong Star already had numerous ferocious magical beasts and wild beasts in a frenzy. If mutants nourished by active Elemental Energy were added, it would likely quickly escalate into an uncontrollable ecological disaster. The vast number of marine creatures soaring into the sky had no interest in the emergency escape pods fluttering everywhere, continuing their assault on the slowly falling Light Wing Ship as if something aboard strongly attracted these wildly frenzied creatures. "Prepare to meet with the fleet''s emergency escape pods!" Chen Fei gave instructions to the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." The two Winged Warriors in the cockpit had turned into mere decorations, unable to control the emergency escape pod that was covertly switched out, and even unaware that the exterior had completely changed. The only thing they could do was maintain communication with the Light Wing Fleet. The radar detected two mobile signals rapidly approaching. "Adam" identified them as Assembled Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcons" right away. Navigating through a storm posed no small challenge for something as delicately constructed as the "Sky Falcon". The Light Wing Ship "Black Cloud" had issued an abandon ship order for the safety of everyone on board and had abandoned all of its "Sky Falcons." Why then were two "Sky Falcons" heading toward the emergency escape pod carrying the princess and others, and moreover, the communication inside the cockpit didn''t seem to have given any prior notice? "Something''s off!" Chen Fei thought for a moment and immediately added a "Repulsion Shield (45)" Magic Array to the escape pod, shaped like a miniature Magic Cube Warship, and opened the "Repulsion Shield" ahead of time. Emergency Escape Pod Magic Array Engraving Unit: 95/103 Due to the Magic Cube Warship shape, an additional 4 engraving units were added. "What''s going on now?" Everyone in the cabin was staring at Chen Fei''s monologue, afraid he would speak more ominous words. Hearing "Something''s off," everyone''s heart tightened again, wondering what mess was about to unfold. At this moment, whether princess or soldier, everyone''s lives were in Chen Fei''s hands. "Everyone, hold on tight!" As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, the radar detected two tiny spots of light appearing suddenly and approaching at a shocking speed. Having extensively experienced aerial combat, he instantly understood what was happening and shouted, "Missiles! Hold tight, brace for impact!" Jokingly, an emergency escape pod is no fighter jet. Even temporarily modified to the aerodynamically superior design of a small Magic Cube Warship, the bulky design and lackluster propulsion system made dodging missiles nearly wishful thinking. Luckily, he was sufficiently alert to have preemptively added the "Repulsion Shield (45)" Magic Array; otherwise, relying solely on the other two "Magic Shields," it probably wouldn''t withstand the missile strike. He immediately utilized this emergency escape pod with the exterior of a miniature Magic Cube Warship Although Chen Fei still had a "Dragon Slayer Missile" at his disposal, he was reluctant to use it. An oblivious Housekeeper Mars urgently asked, "What''s happening?" Unable to see the stormy night sky nor having the Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" create a visual interface in front of him, he could only gather the situation from Chen Fei''s expressions and words. "There are two ''Sky Falcons''..." Before Chen Fei could finish, the emergency escape pod suddenly jolted violently with a loud bang. Bang! ~ Two missiles, almost simultaneously, slammed into the "Repulsion Shield," the violent explosion and shockwave momentarily cleared the raindrops and howling winds within tens of meters. A couple of seconds later, the torrential rain once again filled the space within the explosion radius. By now, no explanations from Chen Fei were needed; everyone understood that two "Sky Falcons" had attacked the emergency escape pod carrying the princess. Chen Fei''s guess was correct, the Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe had a traitor, and it was even a "Sky Falcon" pilot, recklessly armed and assassinating amidst the storm. "Hey, hey, don''t attack, the princess is on the escape pod!" The two Winged Warriors in the cockpit were frantically trying to contact the two "Sky Falcons," but it was a futile effort. This was a long-premeditated action, they wouldn''t stop just because of their call. Chen Fei ignored the two "decorative" escape pod pilots and was instead in the cabin, sharing a visual interface with "Adam." "Everyone, hold tight, I''m about to counterattack." The unarmed surface of the emergency escape pod, covered with various geometrically shaped constructed parts, swiftly assembled several railguns. From the moment he covered the emergency escape pod with the small Magic Cube Warship, Chen Fei had been paying a large number of energy points, damn Dog System charges too much, and on top of that, evolving these railgun weapons cost him over two thousand energy points. The emergency escape pod did everything it could to maneuver, evolving railguns attempting to lock onto those two treacherous Assembled Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcons." The people inside the cabin, shaken by the relentless maneuvering, looked as pale as if they were in a tumbling barrel washing machine, three turns left, three turns right, it was too much...YUE%%%% Fortunately, Housekeeper Mars found the vomit bags prepared inside the pod, otherwise, the cabin would be unbearable at this moment. However, Chen Fei had no energy left to complain about the sluggish response of the control in the emergency escape pod, which felt like an elephant trying to dance disco, relying solely on its shaking, while the railgun''s solid-core bullets, which required energy points to exchange and lacked any tracer effect, vanished without a trace. Chapter 596 596: Section 592 - Swallowing Whole The two "Sky Falcons" were still relentlessly pursuing; the advantage of Cangqiong Star''s assembled combat aircraft lay not in high-speed flight capability but in their incredibly flexible and super-maneuverable tactical movements, which were even better than those of Blue Star''s main combat planes. If it came down to close-quarters combat, Blue Star pilots with no experience in handling such situations would be at a disadvantage. On the other hand, the adept "Sky Falcons," capable of hovering, lateral movement, vertical climbing, reversing, and acceleration, could be manipulated by experienced Cangqiong Star pilots like matadors toying with roaring supersonic missiles. When maneuverability reached a certain level, it could completely mask the shortcomings of insufficient speed. In addition, with the reinforcement of a Magic Array, they could achieve supersonic flight. However, the maneuverability of Cangqiong Star''s assembled combat aircraft dropped significantly at supersonic speeds, since their aerodynamic design focused on subsonic maneuverability. Dancing with a heavy elephant, Chen Fei found it extremely difficult. Without the right tools, even a skilled woman can''t cook a meal. Despite optimizing the aerodynamic shape of the small Magic Cube Warship, its tactical maneuverability was still sadly inadequate. The emergency escape craft''s main areas of concern were stability and carrying capacity¡ªin essence, a civilian dual-use flyer with enhanced defensive capabilities. It was incapable of performing any decent evasive maneuvers. No matter how it was controlled, its movements were slow and sluggish, causing frustration and urgency. Boom! Rumble! Two more loud noises hit, and the emergency escape craft turned topsy-turvy. Fortunately, everyone had already strapped themselves to their seats, otherwise, in just that short moment, several would have been seriously injured or dead. Outside the emergency escape craft, the railgun had fired off two Energy Points worth of ammunition, yet had failed to even graze the enemy. By then the radar had also picked up four or five points of light, the indistinguishable friend-or-foe "Sky Falcons." Chen Fei gave up the idea of rendezvousing with the Feathered Tribe''s Fourth Legion. After all, before nearing the flagship "Black Cloud" and joining the swarm of emergency escape craft released, there was a high likelihood of being blown out of the sky by the two ruthless "Sky Falcons," sending everyone to their final exit. "Everyone buckle up, we''re starting to dive." Inside the cabin of the emergency escape craft, Chen Fei was the only one free to act as he pleased. Everyone else felt so miserable they couldn''t even speak, let alone do anything about it. Who could they rely on, as the only person with extensive aerial combat experience there was none other than Chen Fei. Including Princess Lin Ziyu, everyone could only leave it to fate and silently pray in their hearts for a miraculous escape from death. What to do when evasive maneuvers can''t be performed? Use speed! What if speed can''t be increased? Trade altitude for it! The emergency escape craft, bearing Princess Lin Ziyu and her entourage, held the only ace up its sleeve: nearly 5 kilometers of altitude above sea level. The "Gravity (1)" Magic Array mode was reversed, transforming from reducing the weight of the emergency escape craft to amplifying it. Weight is not mass. Mass cannot be changed, but the weight corresponding to gravity can be adjusted. To the surprise of both "Sky Falcons," the diving speed of the emergency escape craft suddenly accelerated, as if planning to plunge headfirst into the depths beneath the sea surface. If there was truly no other way to deal with those two assembled combat aircraft, Chen Fei did indeed entertain the idea. Diving deep into the ocean would mean facing terrifying marine creatures, but it was still better than being shot out of the sky right now. The only option left was to stall for as much time as possible. 4800 meters from the sea surface, 4000 meters, 3000 meters... Tail-chase tactics are effective for biting the prey at 6 o''clock, launching execution-style attacks from behind. But the emergency escape craft equipped with a railgun didn''t have the same weakness. Since the railgun could fire backwards, if the pursuer continued their relentless chase, they would likely fall right into Chen Fei''s trap. The attackers would maintain a certain posture, which meant they were perfect moving targets. The evolved railgun had no tracer bullets, so where the full metal jacket bullets flew off to, perhaps only the heavens knew. Even the two "Sky Falcons" had not realized how close they had come to being hit by the unseen fire during the chase, and even at this moment they had no idea that the desperately escaping emergency escape craft now had the capability to strike back. Another fierce explosion shook the emergency escape craft, which almost lost control. Dodging missiles was nearly impossible, relying solely on the "Repulsion Shield" and "Magic Shield" to take the hit. If the explosion exceeded the Magic Array''s carrying limit or the Crystalline Block''s power output, it could potentially affect the emergency escape craft and the people inside. The railgun trained on the two "Sky Falcons" in the sky behind and fired furiously. A dense rain of full-metal bullets ripped through the storm, whizzing by, and just like that, two more Energy Points were consumed. One "Sky Falcon" disintegrated without warning; its pilot shattered simultaneously. The Law of Probability played out, and luck favored the blind cat that found a dead rat¡ªa victory for mathematics. The emergency escape craft was now less than 1000 meters from the sea surface, with its sole advantage about to run dry. Yet the other "Sky Falcon" relentlessly pursued, firing with full force ¡ª missiles and even automatic firearms now joined the fray. In the stormy night filled with wind and rain, another four "Sky Falcons" were rapidly approaching, their allegiance uncertain in the tumult. Approaching near subsonic speeds at over 850 kilometers per hour, the emergency escape craft trembled violently. If it wasn''t for the "Wind Cone (2)" Magic Array releasing wind cones to improve the aerodynamic shape, the craft might have fallen apart in mid-air by now. Another missile swooped in, and Chen Fei had no intention or means to dodge. The surface of the "Repulsion Shield" outside rippled continuously, looking as though it could shatter at any moment. The railgun kept firing at full force. Thankfully the Crystalline Blocks fitted in the emergency escape craft were not only fully charged with crystal energy, but they were also of a higher grade able to support the energy levels required by the Crystal Jet, sustaining the current consumption of crystal energy and electricity. ``` However, Chen Fei''s energy points were depleting too quickly, after all, he was burning through his reserves. If he didn''t consume any, it was like a bottomless pit¡ªonce he started, he estimated that without 5000 energy points, he simply couldn''t survive this ordeal. It was at this moment that something unexpected occurred. Suddenly, a tumultuous little hill rose from the sea surface. Something huge, too large to imagine, burst through the waves and, with a mouth full of dense fangs, easily swallowed the emergency escape pod, which was less than 500 meters from the sea level and attempting to stabilize, as effortlessly as if it were munching on a peanut. Plummeting downward, unable to decelerate in time, a "Sky Falcon" smashed headfirst onto several fangs, shattering on the spot. Huge waves roared to the sky, rising two to three hundred meters high. The sudden colossal creature quickly shrank and darted back beneath the sea surface, leaving behind erratic surging waves. Four "Sky Falcons" skimmed over the region, turning all their lights on, but they discovered nothing. Inside the emergency escape pod, most people lost consciousness in an instant, leaving only a few like Chen Fei still desperately forcing themselves to stay alert. "Wha¡ªwhat happened?" Housekeeper Mars was among the few who remained conscious. He had only seen darkness suddenly engulf the window outside, lightning and the violent storm disappeared completely, followed swiftly by an overwhelming heaviness descending upon him. "We seem to have been dragged beneath the sea surface by something!" Engraved with the "Mind Brand (1)" magic array, the emergency escape pod enabled Chen Fei''s eyes to sense the environmental changes around them through the hull, even though he couldn''t see outside. The radar wave feedback signal indicated the presence of an unknown barrier nearby. "Eh?!" Housekeeper Mars looked completely bewildered, but deep down, he had a foreboding feeling that things were not going well. "Communication link failure, lost contact with the Fourth Legion, the satellite is unable to pinpoint our location, our position cannot be confirmed!" Chen Fei checked the data fed back by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." Although they were no longer being attacked by the "Sky Falcons," the situation was still not optimistic. Nevertheless, he remained calm and composed. While the external communication had been completely interrupted, the Dog System''s network link remained as firm as Taishan, and things like sending emails or surfing the web were as fast as ever, unaffected in any way. After all, the "Plane Communication System" skill he acquired through spending a substantial amount of energy points truly exemplified the phrase "wool comes from the sheep." It seemed that communication service providers were not to be trusted, as they played with their customers. Fighting wits with the Dog System was truly exhausting for Chen Fei, but in most cases, it was the Dog System that sheared Chen''s wool while the opportunities for him to do the reverse were scarce. The "Plane Communication System" skill ensured communication across different planes, let alone the vast ocean¡ªit was far too underestimated. Although they were unsure of their location, the slight shaking of the cabin indicated they were moving at high speed, somewhat akin to riding on a bullet train. After spending another energy point, Chen Fei activated several lights and cameras on the surface of the emergency escape pod. When he clearly saw the outside situation, he couldn''t help but gasp in shock. Outside, there was no raging storm, no surging water, but undulating flesh that seemed to envelop the entire emergency escape pod, with green smoke continuously emerging, hissing audibly. Princess Lin Ziyu was roused to consciousness by Housekeeper Mars using a special perfume. She murmured, "Where are we now?" The escape had also taken a toll on her. The stench inside the cabin was terrible. Despite the availability of sickness bags with drawstrings, some vomit still spilled over¡ªit was a terrible feeling. Thankfully, the single soldier tactical armor was equipped with enough functional modules. Chen Fei quickly figured out the situation and estimated, "We seem to have been swallowed by something, and the escape pod is inside the creature''s stomach." The ecosystem of Cangqiong Star made Chen Fei, a native of Blue Star, refresh his worldview yet again. How enormous must the creature be to swallow an emergency escape pod whole? Chen Fei could hardly imagine. The atmosphere in the cabin turned silent all of a sudden as those who had awakened exchanged glances with each other. "What, we''ve been swallowed?" The naturally awakened Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina was nearly dumbfounded. Be serious, they were fleeing for their lives! "And we are being digested!" Using the "Mind Brand (1)," Chen Fei sensed the exterior of the pod. The fleshy walls were secreting copious amounts of strong acid, corroding the pod''s outer metal layer. Even as he switched the metal composition, he couldn''t withstand such fierce corrosion. Hearing Chen Fei''s words, everyone was on the verge of panic. ``` Chapter 597 597: Section 593 - A Bit of Gastric Motivation ``` Fortunately, although the acid outside was highly corrosive, the rate of erosion was not as substantial. With Chen Fei''s stockpile of Energy Points, he could sustain for quite a long time; had it been a case of losing a ton of metal every second to corrosion, he definitely would not have remained as composed as he was now. Don''t be fooled by the seemingly large number of Energy Points, over thirty thousand; on ordinary days, he hardly ever used them, but once they started to be consumed, they wouldn''t even last half a day. Seeing that everyone was showing signs of panic, Chen Fei calmly said, "Don''t rush, let me check the inventory list first." He gestured to the Pure Light Sparrow, the only one that had not been restrained from the beginning to end. Despite the escape craft being tossed around like a roller coaster not long before, causing everyone inside to be jostled about, Xiao Jiu was unaffected and still flitted happily around the cabin, as if taking a leisurely stroll. Even now, as the emergency escape craft had been swallowed by an unknown behemoth and dragged to the seabed, such tumultuous upheaval seemed negligible compared to Little Bird''s daily flying maneuvers. If one really wanted to inconvenience the little fellow, they''d have to stuff it into a jar and then exhibit the true skill of a cocktail bartender. If not for the stormy weather that limited the power and precision of the Directed-energy Weapons, Chen Fei would definitely have let Xiao Jiu out to let those two "Sky Falcons" understand the formidable nature of Xiao Jiu''s power. In the sky, even Chen Fei could not beat Xiao Jiu, let alone two Assembled Combat Aircraft. But in such bad weather, once Little Bird left the escape craft, its small body would probably be swept away by the fierce winds in the next second. Xiao Jiu came over when called and landed on Chen Fei''s hand, pecking at the Leg Ring which ejected a paper document. Now that Xiao Jiu''s identity recognition Leg Ring had been remade, it not only had a Psychic Series attack protection effect but also shared the same style as another Storage Magical Device, making it extremely deceptive; such visual trickery made it difficult for others to immediately distinguish the Leg Ring''s true purpose¡ªafter all, fitting a Little Bird''s claw with one Storage Magical Device was an absurd thought, let alone two... Even Chen Fei wouldn''t go that far! The paper document contained the inventory of everything stored inside the Little Bird''s Space Series Alchemy Storage Device, not just this paper medium but also a tablet computer, though the latter also held other data. Chen Fei, however, was only interested in the inventory list this time. Immersed in the strong acid gastric fluid, the emergency escape craft could still last a considerable length of time; at worst, paying one or two more Energy Points would allow them to hold out even longer. Quietness returned to the cabin, apart from the sound of Chen Fei flipping through the inventory list. Quite regrettably, had he known earlier, he would have prepared seventeen or eighteen tons of quicklime; throwing it out now would surely give the colossal creature that swallowed the escape craft an immediate ulcer. Unfortunately, there are not so many "if only"s in the world. Most of it was living supplies, pots and pans, soy sauce and vinegar, tea, and the like, enough to enable so many people in the cabin to survive in the wild for a year without help, including a few transportation vehicles like the Mobile Base Vehicle, a whole set of modular buildings fashioned into a two-story structure. With bunk beds and converting corridors and living rooms into sleeping areas, squeezing forty or fifty people wouldn''t be a problem. Then there were the weapons and munitions: about four belts of 12.7 mm caliber ammunition, each belt with 500 rounds, 24 hand grenades, 60 kilograms of Explosives, and the high card of the inventory, a "Dragon Slayer Missile," the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile¡ªone of those could instantly take out the large creature outside but was definitely a strategy of Mutual Annihilation. "Dragon Slayer Missile" was undoubtedly off-limits; while it could kill the large beast outside instantaneously, it would surely result in Mutual Annihilation. Chen Xiao''er might be indifferent to life and death, ready to fight at any refusal, but if he dared to drag along the Princess of the Slan Dynasty into hell with him, The Chen Family could wait to be exterminated by the enraged ruler of Cangqiong Star! The Empress only had two children; the Crown Prince to inherit the empire and another who was not only the youngest but also seen as the darling of the family¡ªborn into favor. Unless all the sovereign powers of Blue Star united, forming a united front, they could never withstand the Empress''s wrath. "Housekeeper Mars, do you have an inventory list or anything of the sort?" Chen Fei turned to Mr. Butler, knowing that Xiao Jiu and Mars weren''t the only ones with a Space System Alchemy Storage Device inside the emergency escape boat. After all, never before had he encountered something as absurd as being engulfed by some monstrous creature, not to mention having any contingency plans. One could say they were utterly unprepared, caught completely off guard. Although the items in Xiao Jiu''s Leg Ring might suffice to cope with the current situation, Chen Fei was still searching for a solution with a better cost-benefit ratio. Housekeeper Mars fiddled with something on his arm, then produced a thick ledger and handed it over. The two men exchanged a glance. Both were clever people, even such meticulous habits closely aligned! The Space Series Alchemy Storage Device the Butler possessed was of a higher grade, with a larger capacity and consequently contained more, higher-quality reserves of supplies. The extensive ledger, of course, could not be compared to the small stack of printouts Chen Fei had. All sorts of living supplies were naturally abundant, even more luxurious than what was in Xiao Jiu''s Leg Ring. In terms of military equipment, not only were there Single Soldier Tactical Armors and powerful Combat Aircraft like "Sky Falcon," but there was also a small Armed Magic Cube Warship and an armed yacht. All these supplies and equipments meant that, given the necessary personnel, Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Slan Royal Family could initiate a small-scale, high-intensity conflict at any moment. ``` No wonder those who covet Princess Lin Ziyu dare only act in the shadows, a direct confrontation would undoubtedly result in certain defeat. "I want this, this, and this one, get them out for me!" Following the thick ledger in hand, Chen Fei requested a bunch of combustible and explosive treasures from Housekeeper Mars. Since there was no way to give that big fellow outside an ulcer, let''s start with causing it some gas! One should not speak carelessly, just as one should not eat recklessly. He shook out the combustible and explosive materials, placing them into an open large barrel, roughly weighing around five to six hundred pounds, and added some ingredients, like chili and rubber tires. Then he set the barrel adrift outside the emergency escape pod and lit it! It was that simple! Flames and thick smoke violently rose, and along with them spread high temperatures and intense, irritating gases. The stomach walls, secreting acid, spasmed uncontrollably. Gas bloating accompanied by stomach cramps, sorry, there''s no gastroenterologist here, no medicine either, only Chen Xiao''er mischievously at work. "Burp..." Deep beneath the sea, the currents trembled violently as an unimaginably enormous marine creature bubbled at the mouth. It twisted in severe discomfort, generating fierce submarine currents that impacted countless nearby aquatic creatures, causing them to drift helplessly with the waves. At the sea surface, huge, distorted ripples also appeared. The larger the creature, the more its movements could influence its surroundings. Combustion produced a massive amount of gas, and the heat caused the gas to expand even more. The direct consequence of gas bloating was the massive sea creature uncontrollably starting to float upward, still unclear about what was happening, but the discomfort in its stomach became increasingly unbearable. To alleviate this pain, the creature caused the sea to roil unconsciously ¨C here, "roiling the sea" isn''t an adjective but a verb. The storm had not yet subsided, but the sea''s response was eerily excessive. Wave peaks rose one after another, with a height difference exceeding 500 meters. If this were near the coast, it could potentially trigger a tsunami, submerging villages and towns, leading to a catastrophic loss of life. Outside was a tumultuous sea, but the emergency escape pod rolling in the strong stomach acid was its own ordeal. Once again, the people inside were tossed about, reviving the terrible experience, and there were no longer enough vomit bags to go around. Xiao Jiu, fluttering its small wings and hovering in mid-air, seemed to be in a different world from the others. Everything was moving, spinning, except for it. The severe tossing seemed to have nothing to do with the little bird ¨C and indeed, it had nothing to do with it! A surge of stomach acid pushed the emergency escape pod as if it were being forcefully ejected. The next moment, the fleshy stomach walls disappeared from the view of the portholes, replaced by the dark, ink-blue depths of the sea, where various marine creatures were tumbling and swirling. The creature had vomited, expelling the emergency escape pod from its system. Immediately after, an endless wall of scales whizzed past the pod, persisting for a long time before a giant tail flicked and disappeared into the deep sea. The exterior of the escape pod, pitted from layers of acid corrosion, now had rough, uneven surfaces. The thinnest part of the outer shell was less than a foot from the inner cabin. If it weren''t for Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power covering it, the pod, along with its occupants, would have been digested by the stomach acid without a trace remaining. The residual acid on the outside was quickly diluted and washed away by the seawater, and a silver glow surged again. The emergency escape pod''s appearance quickly restored to its original state, still resembling a small Magic Cube warship, only its pair of light wings was completely broken. Thump! Thump! Thump! The sonar module taken from the single soldier tactical armor was activated, using active sonar waves to assess the surroundings. The emergency escape pod didn''t float upwards but was carried off by the deep ocean currents to an unknown destination. The pod''s exterior lights were immediately turned off; lighting up in the deep ocean only attracts more ferocious predators. Being swallowed once was more than enough; no one wanted to experience it again. The oxygen in the cabin began to deplete. Fortunately, there was no shortage of seawater around. Some were brought in for direct electrolysis to produce oxygen, which wasn''t a technically demanding process. The excess carbon dioxide in the air had to be mechanically compressed into a liquid state using varying boiling points to separate out solid carbon dioxide, also known as dry ice, which was then ejected outside the pod. The emergency escape pod, which was meant to fly through the skies, was now forced to undertake the role of a submarine. "Now there are two pieces of news, one good and one bad. Which one do you want to hear first?" Chen Fei received a new set of data from the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" and then looked towards the people who were slowly coming around again. Here we go again...??? Chapter 598 598: Section 594 - Starmist Island Brawl The tormented Imperial Princess of the Silan Dynasty said weakly, "Stop beating around the bush, just give us the straight facts, okay?" She had never imagined that this young man from the Chen Family could still be so energetic at this time. In Princess Lin Ziyu''s view, there was no such thing as good news¡ªit was probably only bad news piled on top of more bad news. And that bird as well, truly, what kind of person raises what kind of bird. Compared to the emergency escape pod spinning wildly in the gastric acid of a giant creature, the combat aircraft barrel-rolling through the sky with countless spins in the blink of an eye, the two were simply not on the same level. Xiao Jiu could spin better than a fighter jet! Even if Chen Fei were dizzy, it might not be. Housekeeper Mars, whose physical strength was second only to Chen Fei among the group, couldn''t help but retch a few times, and said irritably, "Hurry up!" "Alright! The good news is that we are no longer in the stomach of some creature; the bad news, however, is that we are at a depth of 12,000 meters below the sea level." Chen Fei spread his hands. To estimate altitude, you would use a barometer; to estimate ocean depth, you would need a hydraulic gauge, based on standard pressure to calculate height and depth. It was the same story, if it hadn''t been for the metal elemental psychic power covering this emergency escape pod, completely transforming it and supporting an unimaginable strength, the immense deep-sea pressure would have crushed it and everyone inside to powder long ago. "12,000 meters?" Almost everyone was dumbstruck. In their memory, they should have recently been above the sea level in the sky, so how had they suddenly come to the deep sea. The female Shadow Guard Lize Jina suddenly thought of something and hastily asked, "This escape pod..." The vehicle they were in was not a submarine; it couldn''t withstand such deep water pressure. They feared that one second they were chatting cheerfully, and the next second, the emergency escape pod would be crushed like a balloon by the water pressure¡ªa terrible feeling of lingering before Ghost Gate Pass. "Don''t worry! My special ability covers this escape pod throughout, and there''s also no need to worry about running out of oxygen," Chen Fei alleviated most of their concerns before continuing, "To avoid decompression sickness, we can only rise slowly to the surface, and this process will take quite a long time." Even though a sturdy shell resisted the huge water pressure, ensuring the cabin pressure didn''t change much, for safety''s sake, Chen Fei still followed the diving rules he knew. Besides, above the sea level, there were attackers and storm clouds¡ªfar less safe and peaceful than below the sea level. The only downside was that the seawater blocked wireless signals, temporarily losing contact with the outside world¡ªthough Chen Fei himself was still connected. Compared to Blue Star, Cangqiong Star, which could capture two satellite moons named Qingpo and White Dew, was not only larger in diameter, but also had more continental plates and a similarly vast oceanic area. The ten-thousand-meter trenches of Blue Star were merely a little brother on Cangqiong Star. In the oceans between the vast continents such as Morning Star Continent, Frostmoon Continent, Chongyang Continent, Zhenlu Continent, and Cloud Heaven Continent, ten-thousand-meter deep seas were common, with the deepest parts even exceeding twenty thousand meters. "It''s good that you''re okay!" Feeling the slight rocking of the emergency escape pod drifting with the waves, Princess Lin Ziyu finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Only now did she and the others truly escape from danger. Lin Ziyu did not forget to nod at Chen Fei in thanks. "Mr. Chen Fei, you have worked hard!" Luckily, the royal commission had been entrusted to this descendant of the Chen Family; otherwise, everyone might have long since been dead¡ªeither falling into the vast sea and being torn and devoured by frenzied marine creatures, or being blown up by a suddenly rebelling "Sky Falcon" with missiles from the air, or being swallowed whole by a sudden appearance of a sea monster, digested in its strong gastric acid without leaving even the residue behind. "Don''t mention it; it''s my duty," In order to protect the princess, Chen Fei had indeed exerted all his strength. Depth 11,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 9,000 meters... When the emergency escape pod finally escaped the undercurrents and surfaced, it was already 48 hours later. The storm had long passed, and the sea was relatively calm with no sight of fierce marine creatures. It was deep in the night, and twin moons were high in the sky, with a brilliant starry sky. In the fluctuating seawater, some marine plankton emitting bioluminescence drifted up and down, their light flickering like breaths. "Locating coordinates, huh, we''ve drifted over 3000 kilometers? That''s really far!" Chen Fei muttered to himself as he looked at the satellite coordinates, finding the current location of the emergency escape pod. First came the storm, then the oceanic giant creature, and finally the deep sea current; the emergency lifeboat, beyond control, was brought near the waters of the Duskwind Archipelago. The Duskwind Archipelago is the largest island cluster on Cangqiong Star, comprising over three thousand islands. The largest, Starmist Island, is comparable to a small continent and serves as an autonomous area governed by one of the intelligent species of Cangqiong Star, the Darknight Tribe. Ding-a-ling-a-ling! Following her exit from the cabin, Princess Lin Ziyu, who had come outside for some air, heard her cellphone ringing. There were no communication bases nearby, yet signal could be obtained through satellites. "Hello! Mother, I''m still alive, and everything is safe..." Unable to help himself, Chen Fei listened in; it turned out that Her Majesty the Empress of the Silan Dynasty, upon detecting her daughter''s cellphone automatically connecting to a satellite, had called immediately. A moment later, Lin Ziyu finished the call with her mother, the Empress of Cangqiong Star, and turned to Chen Fei, speaking earnestly, "Mother has ordered us to head to Starmist Island, the main island of the Duskwind Archipelago, to await the Royal Void Fleet''s assistance." "Understood, setting course to Starmist Island of the Duskwind Archipelago, distance 1300 kilometers, move forward!" Chen Fei pointed toward Starmist Island and waved his hand forcefully. The emergency lifeboat slowly surfaced, its damaged light wings completely detached, making it look even more like the small Magic Cube Warship, "Spear Falcon Number." After ascending to a height of 3000 meters above the sea level, the propellers on either side of the tail began to whir, propelling this odd-looking "Spear Falcon Number" towards Starmist Island. 1300 kilometers was just the distance to the Duskwind Archipelago, but if Starmist Island was the destination, at least another 800 kilometers would be required. Having lost the light wings, which would have replenished crystal energy and assisted with flight, the crystalline blocks used on this emergency lifeboat couldn''t sustain flight over the full distance of 2100 kilometers at its current efficiency rate. However, Chen Fei still had another crystalline block of similar grade and capacity, enough to last until the destination. Worried about running out of crystal energy, Housekeeper Mars had given Chen Fei another crystalline block, which matched the grade of the original one used in the bootleg crystal jet, but its size and capacity were more than double. Rarely does sudden wealth enrich a person; rarely does unplanned fodder fatten a horse. If everything were taken too seriously, the princess would probably meet an unfortunate end! The flight speed of the emergency lifeboat was inherently slow; after all, its initial design was intended for escaping danger and emergency landings. Even if the internal crystalline block hadn''t been tampered with, it wouldn''t have supported a single, thousand-kilometer long flight. The journey of at least 2100 kilometers took a full 18 hours; it passed sunrise, noon, and nearing sunset, the emergency lifeboat finally caught sight of the coastline of Starmist Island. Once bitten, twice shy; fearing that the Royal Void Fleet coming to their aid might include a mole again, Princess Lin Ziyu repeatedly insisted that no assembled combat aircraft be sent for support, which is why the emergency lifeboat had to complete the full journey alone. A Royal Void Battleship, belonging directly to the Royal Family, arrived ahead of schedule at the main island of the Duskwind Archipelago. Compared to the Light Wing Ships, which could only fly within the atmosphere, the Void Ships capable of entering outer space were much faster, needing just a few hours to travel from the Imperial Capital Delan City on the Morning Star Continent to the distant Duskwind Archipelago. However, each ascent of a Void Ship consumed a great deal¡ªtypically reserved as strategic-level military hardware, they were perennially stationed on the Morning Star Continent under the direct control of the Royal Family. In terms of combat power, a fully staffed Light Wing Ship corps is no match for a single Void Ship, and not even Blue Star''s Magic Cube Warships and Sky Patrol Ships stand a chance against a fully armed Void Ship. In some ways, Void Ships are not just air-force units operating within a planet''s atmosphere, but rather space forces crossing the star systems within the Slan Dynasty''s well-established Void Fleet, which had been set up even before the Light Wing Ship corps, representing a rare technological inversion. As the emergency lifeboat neared the airport on Starmist Island, suddenly many figures appeared on the ground, clashing chaotically; inexplicably, it turned into a battlefield. "Please do not land, please do not land, the Darknight Tribe and the Neanderthal tribe are having a large-scale racial conflict." The airport navigator, who was guiding the emergency lifeboat into Starmist Island airport, suddenly changed the instructions, causing Chen Fei to be taken aback. What? Neanderthal tribe? Where did the Neanderthal tribe on Cangqiong Star come from? Blue Star had reserved an autonomous area for the Neanderthal tribe, defeated thirty years ago, located in the southern hemisphere on the Ocean Continent. Nowadays, the so-called reserve had turned into a tourist spot. The Neanderthals, having the same ancestors as Homo sapiens, were inevitably influenced, since earning money to support the family didn''t make one less dignified! The artificial intelligence "Adam" had indeed provided a reminder: one of the twelve ruling Neanderthal tribes, the Pandolang Clan along with its dependent small tribes, had migrated to Cangqiong Star thirty years ago with over ten thousand people, leaving only eleven tribes on Blue Star. This made the Pandolang representative in the Supreme Council purely a figurehead, a decoration. After all, the rebuilt Supreme Council was really just a theatrical stage without any real power left, amply satisfying those both on and off it. The Neanderthal Tribe currently fighting with the Darknight Tribe, according to the airport navigator, were indeed the Pandolangs who had migrated thirty years prior. The fact that immigrants and indigenous people could incite such a scale of conflict suggested that the Pandolang''s life here was not going so well. With a throng of people, sand flying, and cries of fighting filling the air, but without the sound of gunfire or explosions, most of the conflict involved hand-to-hand fighting, with only a few using clubs. After a rough count, the participants in this mass brawl had surprisingly exceeded ten thousand people. It was understandable that the Darknight Tribe were the indigenous people of the Duskwind Archipelago, so for the Pandolang Neanderthal tribe to muster such numbers, either every man, woman, and child joined the fray, or their population had expanded quite favorably over the thirty years. Such a scale of melee was rare anywhere. Chapter 599 599: Section 595 - YOU JUMP The airport navigator''s report defining it as racial conflict was not unfounded; at least it was a group brawl, with a small number carrying weapons, but no sharp blades, so it hadn''t escalated to the level of racial vendetta. After all, whether it be the Darknight Tribe or the Pandorong Tribe of the Neanderthals, they are all now subjects of the Slan Dynasty. If a large-scale bloody incident had occurred, leading to social turmoil, Her Majesty the Empress, in her fury, would have ordered the Void Ships currently docked at the airport to execute a coordinated barrage, ensuring not a hair would be left at the scene. Even though both sides had beaten each other to the point of stupidity, they absolutely wouldn''t do anything that would lead to mutual annihilation. Thirty years ago, just a few years after the end of the war among the Three Realms, the Pandorong Tribe, one of the twelve Overlord Tribes of the Neanderthals, took the initiative to propose immigration to Cangqiong Star. Blue Star, which had just established reservations for the remaining Neanderthal tribes to preserve their culture, was willing to let them go; after all, one less major tribe meant one less factor of instability. The Empress of the Slan Dynasty was in the midst of waging a war to unify Cangqiong Star. The land she conquered needed settlers, and as long as they didn''t rebel and simply went about their lives honestly, anyone could fill that slot. Thus, without much thought, Empress Modai immediately agreed to the immigration request for over ten thousand members of the Pandorong Tribe, and the entire relocation process lasted a full half a year. After all, processing the paperwork for over ten thousand people to pass through the Dimensional Gate was no easy task; the printed paper documents alone weighed over a ton. On top of that, Cangqiong Star had to manage feeding and housing so many people, dealing with citizenship procedures, employment, and many other related tasks, which kept hundreds of imperial officials extremely busy. Cangqiong Star has eleven continents, one large archipelago, and countless islands and reefs scattered across the vast ocean. Nearly every continent and large island is inhabited by intelligent species, either humanoid or Magical Beast Tribes. The forerunner of the Slan Dynasty, the Slan Empire, faced quite a dilemma allocating land for this tribe with a population of over ten thousand. Morning Star Continent is the heartland of the Silan Empire and was deemed inappropriate for the war-weary Pandorong Tribe to enter. Cloud Heaven Continent, Sandy Flame Continent, Mirei Continent, Dao Yan Continent, and the Arctic are dominated by a single race and are quite xenophobic; you dare to send, they dare to bury. Chongyang Continent is the battleground for the supremacy of the Demon and Beast Tribes; if the Pandorong Tribe moved there, they''d just become cannon fodder for both sides in minutes. Frostmoon Continent is impoverished, with no abundant resources in agriculture, herding, mining, or commerce. Furthermore, it already is a mixed settlement of Spirit, Feathered, and Demon Tribes. To say they are settled would be too kind; it''s more like they have been exiled for crimes. They''ve escaped the death penalty but not a life of hardship; most are guilty of notorious and extremely violent crimes. Settling new immigrants there might lead to their bullying to death, hampering population expansion. While Zhai Liuzhou is also a Human-ruled continent, Sky Dragon City has rescinded all Dragon Knight contracts and likewise suspended cooperation with Dragon Chevaliers. With the loss of Giant Dragon support, the military strength of the Tessa Empire has been greatly reduced. The Silan Empire''s army seized the opportunity to attack fiercely, and the war is not over yet, making it an unsuitable option. Most inhabitants of Zhenlu Continent are Magical Beasts, with a few Barbarian Tribes. The Barbarians, as a minority, are not doing so well, constantly plagued by the aggression of ferocious Magical Beasts, and hence it is not suitable for the Pandorong Tribe to immigrate. Antarctica, mainly settled by the Feathered Tribe, is an unfavorable option for the Pandorong Tribe due to its ice and snow, harsh climate, and extreme cold reaching hundreds of degrees below zero. By the end of a winter, it''s likely there wouldn''t be many of the Pandorong Tribe''s men, women, elderly, and children left. In the end, the Duskwind Archipelago, which had many islands but few people, was chosen. The Darknight Tribe is not populous, not even fully occupying the main island of Starmist Island. Most islands in the Duskwind Archipelago are in a primitive, undeveloped state with abundant natural resources, making them ideal for the settlers in need of a place for rejuvenation. Thirty years down the line, the original population of the Pandorong Tribe, which numbered over ten thousand, now boasts a population of over fifty thousand. The Darknight Tribe, indigenous to the Duskwind Archipelago, saw no change in their population. By nature reserved, the Darknight Tribe had a policy of being unwelcoming but not rejecting, unobtrusive, and non-interfering towards the new immigrants who arrived from afar. The many islands were more than capable of accommodating the reproduction and livelihood of both tribes, and they were able to coexist peacefully. There were even occasional intermarriages between them, but such interactions were, after all, rare. As the Pandorong Tribe''s population flourished, the Darknight Tribe, which saw no increase in numbers, slowly began to lose their sense of balance. After all, comparisons truly could be infuriating. No matter how reserved they were, they could not just stand by and watch their homeland being gradually overrun by outsiders, which led to the Darknight Tribe becoming a minority and eventually losing their dominant position. The Darknight Tribe officials, who held administrative power over the Duskwind Archipelago, began to show bias in handling the occasional daily conflicts and disputes that arose between the two tribes. These were originally normal frictions that could be accepted by both sides as long as fairness was maintained. However, once an official took sides, the wronged party, even if they swallowed their resentment, would accumulate grievances over time, especially when sharing their woes with others, leading to an amplification of their discontent due to empathy. Unresolved problems would only accumulate, and debts had to be repaid eventually, along with accruing interest. So, without any surprises, the conflict between the two tribes finally reached a point where it could no longer be contained. A word, a look, an expression, or an action could all ignite the fuse. Even though the Slan Dynasty dispatched a direct Void Ship, the two tribes, with tensions running high, were like arrows nocked to bows, unable to cease fire. When the emergency escape pod carrying the Princess and her entourage arrived at Starmist Island, the two sides were already in the throes of battle, with pandemonium rife across the island and everyone engaged in one-on-one combat¡ªreserved individuals without as much cunning faced against those adhering to a code of bravery and honor. Regardless of gender or age, everyone fought their match: men against men, women against women, the elderly against the elderly, and children against children, turning a dreaded battle into a contest of age groups. Princess Lin Ziyu, nurtured by the many intelligent species of Cangqiong Star, made a decisive decision on behalf of the Imperial Family Youngsters. "We must stop them!" she said. Looking at Chen Fei, she asked, "Mr. Chen, can you help me?" "Help you? How? Should I just drop a ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' down there?" Chen Fei, with limited experience, was encountering a scene like this for the first time and instinctively thought of dropping a bomb to snap these hotheads back to reality. Exploding a few hundred people at once, with every family mourning¡ªperhaps that would stop the fight for good, right? Princess Lin Ziyu''s eyes twitched at his rash suggestion, and she could hardly believe her own ears. Was this man a devil? What member of the Royal Family would dare give such an order? It was likely that the Dynasty would be up in arms against it in no time. Whether it was Blue Star or Cangqiong Star, it was the era of global networking, and no one was a fool who could be easily hoodwinked. "There must be no casualties!" Her Royal Highness the Princess stared at Chen Fei and slowly shook her head. ``` Are military contractors all so heedless of human life? This guess, though not exactly right, is not far off! Military contractors who dare to engage in corporate wars go crazy and don''t even spare themselves. This is true for Jiu Defense Company, the old boss Apocalypse Defense Group, Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium that has been scratched bloody by Aircrew Base 911, and Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, the former contractor of Aircrew Base 909 that was beaten out of the business. In this line of work, there are no good people! Every one of them is a desperado fighting for money. "This, is, really putting me in a tough spot!" Chen Fei rubbed his hands together, showing a troubled expression. If he dared to jump down, he would surely be beaten to death by the mob the minute he hit the ground, wouldn''t he? A mere B-class supernatural power user would never be an enemy of ten thousand, no matter what. A true enemy of ten thousand would at least have to be an S-class supernatural power user. Anything beyond ten thousand is beyond what an ordinary human can withstand. Princess Lin Ziyu said assertively, "If you can''t do it, then I will. Decrease altitude, prepare to land!" Self-cultivation, family regulation, governance of the state, and peace under heaven aren''t only for scholars but can also serve as a motto for members of the imperial family. If one witnesses such a scene and does nothing, it is likely that the royal family would be looked down upon by the world. "It''s too dangerous, let''s think this through more carefully!" Chen Fei shook his head like a rattle-drum. Her Royal Highness the Princess was guilt-tripping him, threatening him by placing herself in danger to get him to do things beyond the scope of his assignment. According to Chen Fei''s thinking, one Dragon Slayer Missile would do the job cleanly and swiftly. He studied economics in college and only considered the issues of cost and cost-effectiveness. It was natural for him to think of using the Dragon Slayer Missile to cut the Gordian knot; he had never learned how to stop a massive brawl involving thousands, and they don''t teach this in the Ivory Tower, either. After all, on Blue Star, no sovereignty would allow such incidents to occur, and they would often nip potential troubles in the bud as soon as they appeared. "Jiu!" The Little Bird chirped in puzzlement. Moments later, a chorus of tweeting reached them from afar, and countless birds flew in from all directions, all of them Pure Light Sparrows. Xiao Jiu, at the Third Order of Human Order, had begun calling its companions again, rarely coming to its ancestral land, gathering friends for merrymaking. "You jump, or I jump!" Princess Lin Ziyu looked down at the dusty ground below. She was not Ruth, nor was Chen Fei Jack. Instead, it was a choice between the two of them, each taking the leap by themselves. "You really are..." Chen Fei showed a bitter smile. He was caught in a trap, no doubt about it, job blackmail. His task was to protect the personal safety of the princess. If the princess deliberately sought danger, could Chen Fei really just stand by and watch? Indeed, none of the Silan Royal Family''s youngsters were easy to handle. Whoever says princesses are all about gentleness, love, and naive kindness should come out and face their punishment! "Jiu!" Little Bird left the princess''s shoulder and flew back into the flock of birds. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" lost sight of it once again. The "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor receded from Chen Fei''s body, and silver war patterns crawled across his skin''s surface, as the Neanderthal tribe''s secret pointed weapon "Blood Spike" took shape in his hands. He really was in a tough spot! ``` Chapter 600 600: Section 596 - The Sound of Sparrows ``` Apart from the underground ants and insects and the fish in the sea, the most numerous creatures on Starmist Island are probably these Pure Light Sparrows, right? The originally chaotic Pure Light Sparrows gradually formed a formation and began to become orderly; their discordant chirps even started to have a hint of rhythm. "Chirp!~"¡Á100+¡ü The chirping sounds became more and more synchronized as if a particular Pure Light Sparrow was leading the song. "Chirp!~"¡Á1000+¡ü People started to notice the anomaly in the sky. "Chirp!~"¡Á10000+¡ü Suddenly, a flash illuminated a hundred-meter radius with an extreme white color, making many things even eerily semi-transparent. The sudden "Light Burst Flash" was so bright that one could feel a slight warmth on their skin. Chen Fei instantly recognized the Light-based Spell from his own Jiubao; since arriving on the Cangqiong Star, where Elemental Energy was more active, Little Bird''s Light-based Spells had dramatically increased in power. Then, dozens more flashes appeared in the sky, one after another, with varying intensities. It turned out that other Pure Light Sparrows had reached the Second Rank of Human Order and were releasing the "Light Explosion Flash" together. Due to the degradation of their bloodline, most Pure Light Sparrows do not cast Light-based Spells, but even with low probability, when confronted with a sufficiently large flock, there were still numerous Pure Light Sparrows able to cast spells, even reaching the Second Rank of Human Order. "Chirp!~"¡Á30000+¡ü Pure Light Sparrows continued to arrive from all directions, ceaselessly joining the fray. When the originally feeble chirping reached a synchronized uniformity, a quantitative change led to a qualitative one, as if thundering like a mountain torrent. Once again, the sky lit up! The next second, there was no other color within a kilometer radius. "Chirp!~"¡Á50000+¡ü The Second Rank Human Order "Light Burst Flash" connected in a sequence, even interacting with each other, mutually amplifying their brightness. The more numerous First Rank Pure Light Sparrows, although unable to release "Light Burst Flash," still joined in, summoning the Light Element. The Light Elemental Energy in the atmosphere even began to resonate; no longer was it sunset, with dusk approaching, but near the Aircrew Base, it had almost become bright daylight with the Holy Flame Sun hanging high, casting an odd glow over half of Starmist Island. "Chirp!~"¡Á80000+¡ü Countless Pure Light Sparrows collectively dove down from the sky. The battling Darknight Tribe and Neanderthal Pandorong Tribe on the ground stopped fighting as if on cue, instinctively crouching low to take cover, while their faces showed terror. Even the weakest creatures, when their numbers reach tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions, and trillions, would instill fear in even a Giant Dragon. Though not Wind Beasts, when countless Pure Light Sparrows began circling in unison, the airflow was drawn in, causing the dust stirred up by the fighting on the ground to gradually form a vast vortex, as if it would turn into a tornado at any moment. "What''s happening? I can''t see!" Princess Lin Ziyu, who was surveying the ground from above, shielded her eyes from the connected bright white light, completely unprepared for the immense scale of the "Light Burst Flash" released by the flock of Pure Light Sparrows. She could no longer hear any other sounds, only the chorus of tens of thousands of Pure Light Sparrows. "Chirp!~"¡Á120000+¡ü There are at least a hundred thousand Pure Light Sparrows on Starmist Island. Unbeknownst to all, the number of "Light Burst Flash" in mid-air was increasing, covering an ever-expanding area, as if the Second Rank Human Order Pure Light Sparrows were multiplying out of thin air. Void Ships inside the Aircrew Base, witnessing this scene from afar, were nearly dumbfounded. Were these the same delicate birds they knew? Emphasize this point: Pure Light Sparrows are Magical Beasts, despite being weak, they are still Magical Beasts. "The sound! The flashes! My goodness!" Chen Fei''s mouth twitched. With these two elements combined, wasn''t this an incredibly potent weapon for suppressing a riot? Before he could even act, Xiao Jiu had led the innumerable flock of Pure Light Sparrows to quell the unrest on the ground. Chen Fei''s father''s presence was completely unnecessary, having posed for no reason! A streak of light broke away from the flock, a hundred meters above the ground, and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, revealing its form. "Chirp!" On its two little claws hung two similarly styled Leg Rings; one was an ID combined with a Psychic Series Defense Magical Tool, and the other was a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. It also had a unique Crown Feather and was slightly larger than the other Pure Light Sparrows. It''s my Jiubao, confirmed! In Chen Fei''s eyes, almost all Pure Light Sparrows looked identical. Chen Fei scratched under its chin, and Little Bird''s feathers immediately fluffed up, shaking its little body with a triumphant air, seemingly enjoying itself. It seemed like an illusion, but in just a short while, Xiao Jiu''s claws seemed to become a brighter shade of vermilion, its petite beak more yellow, and the contours of its Crown Feather seemed much clearer. He then returned Xiao Jiu''s Amulet to the Princess''s shoulder. ``` ``` The Pure Light Sparrow Flock in the sky scattered like they had lost their command, flying off in all directions. Even their cries turned into a chaotic chirping, clearing the sky. As the chaotic battle subsided, and the rising dust gradually settled, some people noticed the emergency escape pod in the sky, as well as the two people standing at its rail. A member of the Pandorong Tribe shouted out loud. "Look, in the sky, it''s the War Patterns!" Although one of the individuals had War Patterns that were not the blood-red light typical of the Neanderthal Tribe but a strange silver, by the pattern, it was indeed the unmistakable War Patterns of the Neanderthal Tribe. The weapon in his hand was even more so in the authentic style of the Neanderthal tribe¡ªwhat a powerful warrior! Chen Fei coldly watched the crowd below without saying a word. Fuck your mom, I''ll feed you a "Dragon Slayer Missile" right away! "Could it be..." More and more members of the Pandorong Tribe seemed to have thought of something, their faces showing astonishment. They looked at each other, somewhat at a loss. Suddenly, someone crouched down, half-kneeling on the ground with head bowed. Like a chain reaction, the members of the Pandorong Tribe knelt one after another, showing a posture of submission. Seeing their fierce opponents abruptly kneel, the people of the Darknight Tribe were filled with bewildered suspicion, sizing up the emergency escape craft hovering mid-air. Upon closer look¡ªdamn, they''ve knelt! They saw Her Royal Highness, the Princess of the Silan Dynasty. Cangqiong Star had a global network just as developed as Blue Star, and the exposure of the Royal Family was very high, so for commoners to recognize that familiar face was only natural. Almost instantly, a large number of people knelt on the ground, and the fighting stopped altogether. Causing trouble in front of an Imperial Princess was like slapping the Royal Family in the face¡ªthe entire Starmist Island could potentially disappear from the Duskwind Archipelago. Meanwhile, the Void Ship stationed at the airbase breathed a sigh of relief, as the chaotic situation that was once uncontrollable finally calmed down. There was dead silence on the ground. Chen Fei connected to the escape pod''s loudspeaker without mincing words and said, "The ring leaders stay, everyone else go home!" He hadn''t forgotten the task forcibly assigned to him by the Princess. It was supposed to be security work, not suppressing a riot; how could the imperialist iron fist be directed at the masses? It weighed on his conscience! He needed a raise! Huh? It was Xiao Jiu who suppressed it, ah, never mind then, all is well. The Pandorong Tribe was the first to move; someone led the way, they swiftly cleared out. Besides the silver War Patterns, they had also recognized the person beside them. Despite fiercely fighting moments ago, now they were behaving very obediently. In just that short moment, countless were bruised and battered, and many had broken bones. The emergence of fatalities was inevitable since both sides were determined to inflict serious harm. If the conflict hadn''t been timely stopped, casualties would have become very serious, and their grudges would have escalated to the point of no return. Seeing their rivals, the Pandorong Tribe, take off, the people of the Darknight Tribe, naturally introverted and reserved, but not foolish, quickly understood what was going on. Shortly after, only a few small fry remained on the ground¡ªclearly the instigators of the massive brawl. The blame was clear, the debt had owners, escape was impossible, and if they didn''t want to harm their tribe, their only option was to obediently await their fate. "Done, Your Highness, over to you!" Chen Fei passed the microphone connected to the loudspeaker to Princess Lin Ziyu. The silver War Patterns enveloping his body receded, and the "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor returned, switching from battle mode as smoothly as clouds and water. In truth, he hadn''t done anything, just stood at the edge of the emergency escape pod striking poses for a while. Princess Lin did not look at Chen Fei, but instead spoke to the Little Bird tidying its feathers on her shoulder, "Xiao Jiu, well done!" - The emergency escape pod smoothly entered the airbase, and this time, there were no disturbances. An hour later, inside the Void Ship docked at the airbase, representatives from Princess Lin''s side, the governing officials of Starmist Island, the Darknight Tribe, and the Pandorong Tribe all gathered in the meeting room. Aside from Princess Lin Ziyu, the three groups were sitting on pins and needles, all of them sweating bullets. It was like slapping the face of the Royal Family to have a riot in front of an Imperial Princess. By sheer coincidence, a Void Ship belonging to the Royal Family was present. Although it was just this one vessel, erasing the entire Duskwind Archipelago was not an impossible task for it. "Chirp!" The Pure Light Sparrow broke the heavy silence in the room. Princess Lin Ziyu wanted to hold the Little Bird in her palm to gently stroke its black feathers, but the agile creature dodged her, dodging her... Apart from Chen Fei the ''dad,'' the little fella gave face to no one. Standing to the side, and pretending to have a stern face like a figurehead, Chen Xiao''er was struggling to hold back laughter. How could a princess from a civilized planet compare? She was nowhere near as popular as Teacher Shen! Just then, his phone vibrated slightly. Checking the screen sneakily, it was Mom''s routine check-in call. The two siblings received their mother''s check-in calls every month, especially Chen Fei who worked in the military contracting field, just in case his work at Aircrew Base 911 escalated into conflict with someone. After all, one can''t hide fire with paper. The news of Aircrew Base 911 going head-to-head with a big consortium in a corporate war was eventually dug up by unscrupulous media, even more alarming than the ''joke'' of Chen Fei becoming the most ferocious Clan Leader in Neanderthal tribe history. The Chen Family wasn''t afraid of being fierce to others; they were just afraid of others being fierce to Chen Xiao''er. ``` Chapter 601 601: Section 597 - Kill Two Birds with One Stone Chen Fei glanced at the somber atmosphere in the conference room and silently ended the call application. "Be serious, the Princess is scolding someone!" He quickly tapped the screen and sent a short message to his mother. "Busy..." Busy with what? Just busy, that''s all! Protecting Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Cangqiong Star Slan Dynasty was a confidential operation, not something to mention casually. Probably, the only person who knew about this in the entire Chen Family was his eldest uncle. After all, involving the Slan Royal Family meant the more people knew, the more variables there were, and Chen Fei alone couldn''t handle all that scheming. HIs mother, oblivious to this, was almost amused by Chen Xiao''er''s evasive responses. Are you just a mechanic, so busy you can''t even take a call? After calling two more times and still being cut off, she gave up. In some ways, Little Sister Chen''s personality and temperament were exactly like their mother''s; once she took something seriously, she was relentless. By this time, Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Slan Dynasty had already come to understand the cause and outcome of the grand melee involving two tribes. For the authoritative department of the royal family, lying was futile because everything would eventually come to light, and the consequences would then be even more severe. The imperial civilization had never preached humanitarianism when it came to crimes that shook its foundations; killing entire families and erasing their names was just child''s play, better vaporize from the human realm and go rebel in Hell! The administrative authority of the Duskwind Archipelago had always been held by the Darknight Tribe; they were indigenous with a natural advantage in self-rule and governance, composed entirely of their own people. The Neanderthals of the Pandorong Tribe, who had migrated here thirty years ago, remained excluded from administrative authority, still seen as outsiders, only fit for menial jobs that were both labor-intensive and poorly paid. For any intelligent species, xenophobia was natural. The naturally reserved Darknight Tribe became even more unwelcoming when refusing to integrate the Pandorong Tribe, a behavior that the straightforward and extroverted Neanderthals found unacceptable. Even if the characters and customs of both sides were similar, conflicts were inevitable, not to mention that a single-group dominance in the administrative layers often came with certain unspoken prejudices. Many small frustrations accumulated, eventually erupting into an uncontrollable blaze. Naturally, the Darknight Tribe, which had complete administrative control over the Duskwind Archipelago, couldn''t find anyone else to blame and had to swallow all the responsibility. Princess Lin Ziyu immediately announced a decision on penalties, dismissing the current administrative layer of the Duskwind Archipelago. The Dynasty would send representatives to take over all administrative departments for a year, unify the officers for law enforcement, and impose a curfew for three months, until responsibilities were distinguished and all penalties meted out. Afterward, the self-governing institution of the Duskwind Archipelago would be restructured. The main body would still be local self-government, supervised by the Dynasty, but administrative personnel would include more from the Pandorong Tribe, forming a tripartite check, thereby eliminating prejudice and exclusion. The members of the Darknight Tribe in the conference room looked as if they were mourning, while the Pandorong Tribe showed joy. Actually, the problem was originally easy to solve just by ensuring fairness and justice. Whether races integrated or not wasn''t crucial. Failing to compete for power was their own fault, and they couldn''t blame others. "...so it''s decided then; does anyone have any objections?" Her Royal Highness the Princess sought a democratic consensus as a conclusion. Her decision might appear authoritarian under the guise of a princess, but in fact, it had already involved authorization from Her Majesty the Empress. This was also a lesson in administrative management for royal descendants. The Royal Family was not only adept at Dragon Slaying Techniques but also at Dragon Taming Techniques, in which they had much insight. At that moment, the bureaucratic list had already been organized in Imperial Capital Delan City, prepared to travel a long distance to the Duskwind Archipelago to take over its administrative institution. "..." The conference room was utterly silent. The military would definitely not involve itself in civilian affairs. The Darknight Tribe, having just been stripped of their power, would do well not to make a noise if they didn''t want their family eradicated. The Pandorong Tribe, having gained an advantage, simply happily accepted it without showboating. "Immediately issue the notices, meeting adjourned!" Princess Lin Ziyu wrapped up the meeting over tea. The turmoil outside had just ended, and there were many more trivial matters to address afterward. Since the administrative powers had not yet been transferred, they still relied on these officials. The Darknight Tribe''s officials had to clean up the mess, while the Pandorong Tribe had to control the populace to avoid further conflicts. Together, they would issue notices conveying the will of the Dynasty to every citizen. The military control and curfew were directly entrusted to the Marine Corps aboard the Void Ship. Although they were few in number, they were more than sufficient to suppress the entire archipelago. As for those who were still sneaking around, kidnapping and secretly attacking, she couldn''t manage that; the higher her position, the more she had to learn to manage the major issues and overlook the minor ones. The officials prepared to take over the administrative institutions of the Duskwind Archipelago would be composed of multiple intelligent species, not just the Human Race. It was quite possible that the new civil affairs officer might even be a Magical Beast. Compared to Blue Star, Cangqiong Star had a much higher acceptance of intelligent magical beasts, especially after unification. Under the deliberate guidance of the dynasty, the fusion between intelligent species had significantly intensified, which also favored the social stability of Cangqiong Star. The people in the meeting room dissipated, and the elder from the Pandorong Tribe was the last to rise. He looked at Chen Fei with some hesitation and said, "That... Clan Leader?" I almost forgot, Chen Xiao''er had once been the fierce clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe, albeit for the shortest tenure. Yet no one dared to dispute his leadership; barely half a "no" could escape their teeth before their heads were chopped off. The great battle over thirty years ago had thoroughly crushed the valor of the Neanderthal tribe, let alone now without any capital to retrieve that bravery. "I am a descendant of Homo Sapiens, not of the Neanderthal tribe, your clan leader is Bassan!" Stirring trouble in the Supreme Council back then was just a temporary strategy; today''s Chen Xiao''er had no interest in being some lowly tourist attraction clan leader. Just looking at Bassan, one could tell. Nicely put, he''s the clan leader, less nicely, a mascot, a fixture, otherwise his uncooperative tribespeople wouldn''t be defying him all around. "No, you are recognized, you have the War Patterns, and you obtained your position as clan leader by bravery; nobody denies that." This real elder of the Pandorong Tribe was not one of those ceremonial figureheads from the Neanderthal reservation area''s Supreme Council in Oceania on Blue Star, but one who truly held power, beneath only the clan leader, once one of the twelve supreme chief leaders. Whether Chen Fei is actually Neanderthal had already become unimportant. In another hundred or so years, it is unclear if pure-blooded Neanderthals will still exist; the less than a million Neanderthals merging into billions of Homo Sapien descendants would hardly make a splash. Originating from The Primordial Era, the ancient human lineage branches merged again; fussing over bloodlines is utterly meaningless. Nevertheless, Chen Fei had inherited the War Pattern Secret Technique, ascended via the ancient tradition of power struggle, and any clan leader of a Neanderthal tribe would have to grudgingly acknowledge it, even though today''s Supreme Council had turned into a cultural landscape fixture. Yet none of the Eleven Overlord Tribes opposed, and thus the Pandorong Tribe migrated to Cangqiong Star would not either. Now that Bassan had reclaimed his authority as clan leader back on Blue Star, Chen Fei, who had once briefly been a clan leader, was seen by these members of the Pandorong Tribe as nothing less than a true clan leader. "Stop there, now the clan leader of the Neanderthal tribe is Bassan, not me, yours, understand?" Chen Fei immediately made a stopping gesture. You can''t have two tigers on one mountain. He had gone to great lengths to help Bassan reclaim his authority as clan leader; he did not wish to disturb the current situation and stability. The Neanderthal tribe has always revered the strong. Seeing Chen Fei continuously refuse, the elder from the Pandorong Tribe halted his speech, ultimately having no choice but to say, "Understood!" He had initially hoped to cling to the coattails of the historically fiercest clan leader to establish authority and instill fear among the despicable villains of the Darknight Tribe, so the Pandorong Tribe could live better in the Duskwind Archipelago. Naturally, there was also the reason of subsequently connecting with the Imperial Princess. This two-birds-one-stone idea, truly worthy of a tribe elder, cunning and deeply scheming. Although Chen Fei hadn''t considered so much, he still instinctively declined. For a mere empty name, it was utterly unworthy. His relationship with the Neanderthal tribe was limited to the War Pattern Secret Technique inheritance from Barut on his deathbed and a brief alliance with Bassan. It was all personal, as for other tribes and Neanderthals, he really didn''t want any involvement. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been ruthless in the duel for the clan leader position back then, gaining the infamous title of a fierce clan leader. Seeing the Neanderthal elder thwarted and departing in disappointment, Princess Lin Ziyu said from behind Chen Fei, "Chen Fei, you did the right thing; the Pandorong Tribe wants too much." The race relations and geopolitics of Cangqiong Star are too intricate; as a person from Blue Star, Chen Fei better stay out of these murky waters. It brings no benefit but could cause endless troubles. "Oh?" Chen Fei was momentarily startled. He was not a fool, just hadn''t thought that much in the moment. With just a slight hint, he immediately expanded his thoughts and figured out the intricacies. The title of clan leader sounds grand, of course, but it''s merely a facade; no money, no people, no power. The benefits are reaped by others while he wouldn''t even get a taste of the leftovers, making it pointless. "The Pandorong Tribe is a pawn that restrains the Darknight Tribe, and they have no other support on Cangqiong Star." Fearing Chen Fei might not understand the reason, Princess Lin Ziyu added another line touching on a deeper layer, not so secret. Located away from the mainland, the Duskwind Archipelago, with the Darknight Tribe''s racial traits, is perfect for guerrilla warfare. Sending a large army to conquer this Thousand Island Country is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and fruitless, like a chicken rib¡ªtasteless to eat but a pity to discard. Thirty years ago, the Silan Empire launched a war of unification, and the weaker Darknight Tribe surrendered voluntarily. But positioned separately in the distant Duskwind Archipelago, where the Empress''s reach is long, being independent didn''t really differ from surrendering; the migration of the Neanderthal''s Pandorong Tribe was the dynasty''s way of throwing a wrench in the works. After thirty years of planning, the Silan Dynasty had finally secured control over the Duskwind Archipelago, including sending the Void Ship this time to pick up Her Royal Highness the Princess, aiming for two birds with one stone, and not just the elder of the Pandorong Tribe was playing this game. Chapter 602 602: Section 598 - Im going Who could have imagined that within just a few short sentences, so many calculations were hidden. "Politics, truly fucking dirty!" Chen Fei dared to openly complain in front of Princess Lin Ziyu. He''s a bottom-tier commoner, fearing neither heaven nor earth, daring to admonish the princess, uh, not daring, not daring.... While the Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina kept throwing dagger-eyes at this audacious fellow, Her Royal Highness the Princess, however, broke into a smile and said in a very approving tone, "Exactly, dirty politics!" Lize Jina immediately ceased her hostility and then glared fiercely at Chen Fei, berating him for blurting out such blunt truths. When he finally had a moment, Chen Fei suddenly remembered something and, in a flurry, pulled out his phone and began dialing. "Hello! Chen Xiao''er, you''re so capable now, not even answering Mom''s calls, what national affair are you busy with?" Mother was very angry, and the consequences were severe, she was absolutely unforgiving even though she was right. Little Chen Fei trembled with fear. What happened to the historically fiercest clan leader? That''s it? "That, that...." As he was about to divert the topic, Chen Fei saw Princess Lin Ziyu and Shadow Guard Lize Jina curiously coming closer, blatantly trying to eavesdrop. If there''s anyone to blame, it''s his mother''s loud voice; naturally loudspeaker-like, letting others hear her from afar. Cant mess with her, better stay far away.... With no choice left, Chen Fei had to say grumpily, "I have serious matters here!" "All day repairing planes, repairing planes, you''ll turn into a plane bro, geezer, where''s your girlfriend? Your boss is a woman, right? Let me tell you, Cyclops can''t come home, alright!" Mother was formidable as ever. It seemed Boss Hanna had also appeared on the media, even Chen Xiao''er''s boss''s looks were known. It appears the inability to accept a Cyclops might be inherited from Mom. Chen Fei thought, oh no, he hadn''t yet reported about Teacher Shen to his mom! How did it even extend to the boss, really an innocent disaster! He quickly clarified for Boss Hanna, "The boss isn''t a Cyclops; she just wears an eye patch, both her eyes are all right." "All right but still wearing an eyepatch? Could it be that she''s sick?" Hearing it''s not a Cyclops, mom''s tone immediately softened, yet she still mumbled, floating her own guesses. "She''s not sick; it''s because her psionic ability makes the colors of her eyeballs different. The eye that''s covered is called ''Eye of the Storm,'' she''s a C-level Wind-type supernatural power user, no need to show off, she genuinely has it, understand?" Chen Fei desperately dragged his mother''s illogical thoughts back to reality. "Hey! That''s like the Persian Cat then!" Mom immediately realized, golden-haired Persian Cat, truly apt. "Right right right, Persian Cat!" Chen Fei felt tired at heart, Persian Cat it is then; better than a female Cyclops. Boss Hanna probably wouldn''t be angry. "I''ve got to tell you something, your sister has a boyfriend now!" Mom suddenly threw a bombshell at Chen Xiao''er. "Holy crap!" Chen Fei was nearly ready to jump three feet high on the spot. What brave soul that is, guts must be as big as ponds! Little Sister Chen wasn''t exactly an easy-going charmer. "What are you going to do?" Mom disapproved, this kid swearing again, no respect. "I''m going to break that kid''s legs!" Chen Fei, full of desire to survive, quickly thought on his feet, exerting an undergraduate''s upper limit of IQ. "What are you talking about, they''re all respectable university students, clean folks, she''s already in university, what''s wrong with having a boyfriend." Mom suddenly became very tolerant, apparently not opposed to Chen Meng finding a boyfriend in university. Men get married at a proper age, and so should women, besides, women are usually ready to marry earlier than men, date for a couple of years in university, after graduation get an ID card, manage a marriage¡ªnext year have a chubby grandson, and a mother has one less thing to worry about, blissful! "Eh?" The abrupt change in Mom made Chen Fei quite unprepared. A year ago, Mom didn''t talk like this, if Little Sister Chen dared to date during junior or senior high, she''d break the legs. Emphasize on "he," not "she." That''s why Chen Fei had said the thing about breaking the boy''s legs. "I''ve already seen the photo Xiao Meng sent, the boy looks quite honest. Wait for the summer vacation, bring him here and let us see." Mom''s tone shifted and she sternly said to Chen Xiao''er, "What about you? When will you bring someone over for us to see? Do you only hang around broken planes?" "It''s not like Machine Bro only has old planes around him, right?" Could there actually be a princess or something?" In his mother''s eyes, Chen Xiao''er was just zoning out to eat!" "Uh, if I have time, I''ll bring her back!" Chen Fei couldn''t be sure about Teacher Shen''s vacation schedule since she was the secretary to the vice president of a corporate group, busy to death every day. Of course, he was the same, gallivanting around the world, now even on another planet. "Photos, pictures speak a thousand words!" Mom always thought this guy was fooling her, always quiet until asked, and then suddenly he had answers¡ªhow convenient! Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, that bird-less barren wilderness, she knew what it was like, where would he find a suitable girl? Could it be a grimy Patan shepherdess with an unwashable smell and a low level of education? Better than that female Cyclops!" "Yes, yes, right away, immediately, now, please keep it safe!" Chen Fei really found Teacher Shen''s photo and Biu¡ªsent several to his dear mother right away, Chen Xiao''er was definitely reliable. "Yo! She looks decent, but don''t trick me." As soon as Mom glimpsed the photos, her rage dissipated, then she asked, "What''s her name? What does she do?" "Her name is Shen Fei, the Vice Secretary at Northern Weapons Industry Group, her father is the vice president!" Chen Fei heaved a sigh of relief, finally completing the report to his mother and escaping a disaster. "Alright, bring her over when you have the time!" That settled it, the kids were all set, and Mom magnanimously let Chen Xiao''er off the hook, contentedly ending the call. Thinking it over, he called out loudly to Father Chen, who was hanging clothes on the balcony, "Old Chen, what exactly is Northern Weapons Industry Group, do you know?" "It''s Haiqing Family''s arch-rival company!" "Eh? Yi yi yi yi yi!!!!!" ... Elsewhere, Chen Fei put away his phone, suddenly turned around, and saw two sneaky figures. "Jiu!" A bird''s chirp sounded. Ah, Princess! - Three days later, the administrative team dispatched by the Slan Dynasty to the Duskwind Archipelago to take over governance arrived at Starmist Island, initiating a major administrative turnover. Money Grip, Seal Grip, Sword Hilt, captured all at once. With the Royal Void Battleship stationed, the reluctant Darknight Tribe ultimately completed the power transfer smoothly. The Pandorong Tribe was overjoyed, finally having the chance to enter the power circle of the Duskwind Archipelago. Only at this moment did these alien star migrants truly take root instead of dwelling as foreigners on an alien star. The main governing bodies of the Duskwind Archipelago were concentrated on Starmist Island, the largest land area, and after a brief halt, they resumed their functions and started operating normally. The incoming officials were experienced veterans. Although the Darknight Tribe had autonomy, the administrative bodies and operational rules were globally standardized. As long as orders were executed, there wouldn''t be too many issues. In fact, the Darknight Tribe did not wish for problems in the long-standing administration, as it was intimately connected to their lives; chaos would harm everyone, including themselves. Having lingered at the airport for a long time, Xuanyu No. 7 Void Ship finally departed, taking the princess and her companions directly back to the Imperial Capital Delan City on the Morning Star Continent. Compared to the Light Wing Ship, Void Ships, capable of flying outside the atmosphere, were utterly indifferent to any oceanic anomalies since almost all magical beasts couldn''t fly into space with just their bodies. The cause of the Cloud Heaven Continent Feathered Tribe''s Fourth Legion encountering an attack by marine creatures had been identified. Someone had detonated a bomb in the lower hold of the flagship "Black Cloud" while releasing a special pheromone potion that incited marine creatures to frenzy, causing countless marine creatures to attack the Light Wing Fleet and resulting in the crash of two Light Wing Ships and varying degrees of damage to the others. Before the special task force dispatched by the Dynasty arrived, the Feathered Tribe conducted their own investigation, capturing a number of suspicious soldiers. With the riot in Coastal City Neo City, it was uncertain how many heads would roll. The Dynasty never took it easy on rebels who dared to target royal family members. Inside the Void Ship, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu returned to Chen Fei''s hands, being playfully tinkered with from all directions. Had anyone else dared to do this, the little creature would have impatiently rewarded them with a laser shot, but now it was enjoying the closeness. Just as Xuanyu No. 7 was leaving the ionosphere of Cangqiong Star, without warning, a fierce white light flame burst from Xiao Jiu, swiftly and fiercely enveloping the little bird''s body. But the little guy carried on as if nothing was wrong, hopping merrily and even flying around as if the light flame was not a physical fire; it had no touch, real or imaginary, to the little bird or anyone touching the flame¡ªit didn''t even have the burning harm typical of real flames. The white light flame burned for a long time before gradually dissipating. After being purified by the light flame, Xiao Jiu suddenly advanced from third rank to fourth rank in Human Order, becoming the first-ever fourth-rank Pure Light Sparrow. The magical creatures and spellcasters who had lived on Blue Star for a long time and came to Cangqiong Star, indeed could improve significantly in a short time if they had enough accumulation and potential. Chen Fei had never expected that Xiao Jiu, with its thin Magical Beast Bloodline, would advance so quickly, and it was indeed a real advancement. For Pure Light Sparrows, this was tantamount to breaking through the bloodline limit once more. But even now, Chen Fei had not yet administered a Bloodline Inducing Potion to Xiao Jiu; it was merely indulged with Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potions through daily deception. Chapter 603 603: Section 599 - Fourth Rank Spell After Jiubao''s Rank was upgraded, Princess Lin Ziyu''s personal defense system saw an immediate improvement. Below the fourth rank, creatures are considered low rank, especially the light-element magical beasts, who are always at a disadvantage during conflicts. However, starting from the fourth rank, although light-element creatures still lack offensive capabilities, their defense mechanisms begin to increase. Humanoids and magical beasts release spells in different ways, but Chen Fei was not lacking in teaching videos for light-element magical beasts, because Boss Hana had already prepared a complete course on light-based spells for the entire Human Order period for Xiao Jiu. Princess Lin Ziyu held a tablet computer, playing the video. Only then did Xiao Jiu agree to perch on her wrist, curiously watching a talking light-element magical beast sparrow on the screen explaining the key points in casting spells. Those capable of producing video courses mainly start from a basic level, and selling courses also counts as a substantial income. After all, whether it''s the Human Race or magical beasts, they not only need to eat but also have everyday consumer needs like shopping. Earning money, well, isn''t embarrassing. After several hours of near-orbital flight, the "Xuanyu No. 7" void ship, almost skimming the outer edges of Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere, began to enter the designated planetary window, the optimal position and angle for safely entering the atmosphere. If not calculated properly, entering the atmosphere carelessly could lead to only one outcome: disintegrating into a meteor shower from the fierce, high-speed friction with the dense atmosphere, ultimately vaporizing completely. The shipborne magic array constructed a powerful spell that pushed out a dazzling burning shockwave, isolating the high temperatures and fierce friction with the air outside, keeping the surface temperature of the ship hovering around 150 degrees Celsius without rising further. Having smoothly passed through the ionosphere and re-entered Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere, the "Xuanyu No. 7" void ship began to slowly decelerate as the surrounding air temperature gradually decreased. "Chirp!" Little Bird had finally learned a light-based spell. Its small body, covered in black feathers, flickered a few times, and two Jiubaos appeared, each standing on either side of Princess Lin Ziyu''s hands, their movements perfectly synchronized. "Huh?" Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina rubbed her eyes, and in a moment of inattention, the Pure Light Sparrow had split into two. The Fourth Rank light-based spell "Mirror Image" was finally successfully cast. Only Princess Lin Ziyu herself knew that the one on her left wrist had a distinct sense of weight, while the one on her right wrist did not, making it clear which was real and which was fake. At the moment, the "Mirror Image" spell was at its introductory stage, where movements are as synchronized as looking in a mirror. Once mastered, it would start to differ, becoming more indistinguishable between true and false. The cabin of the void ship quivered slightly, and the "Xuanyu No. 7" landed steadily at the West Suburban Military Airport, 200 kilometers away from the Imperial Capital. At last, Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Slan Dynasty had safely returned to the Imperial Capital. "Finally back!" As the void ship landed, Princess Lin Ziyu looked towards Delan City but could only see the boundless horizon; her eyesight couldn''t make out anything beyond 200 kilometers. If it were night, perhaps she could have seen the illuminated skyline brightened by the lights of the multimillion-population urban district. The Slan Dynasty''s Imperial Capital, Cangqiong Star''s political center, Delan City, initially had a population of just 500,000. After several redesigns and continuous expansion, it now includes eight main urban districts and sixteen satellite cities, with extremely busy traffic lines both above and underground. "Your Highness, the convoy is ready," came the voice of the maid Fei Dani from outside the door. The journey from the West Suburban Military Airport to the Imperial Palace inside Delan City would be escorted by the already waiting Royal Imperial Guards. Anyone daring to attack Her Royal Highness would confront the formidable fighting power of the Imperial Guards, who would surely make the attacker regret their birth. "We don''t need the royal convoy!" Princess Lin Ziyu suddenly turned to Chen Fei, who was nearly at the end of his task, and said, "I know you have a Mobile Base Vehicle, let''s use yours." "Really?" Chen Fei was taken aback, not expecting that his makeshift vehicle would catch the eye of a high-level VIP. "Do not underestimate your Mobile Base Vehicle; the Dynasty has placed an order for 1,000 units from Blue Star." Princess Lin Ziyu surprisingly affirmed. After at least half a year of real battle validation, Chen Fei''s cobbled-together Mobile Base Vehicle was especially suited for small teams of around ten people engaged in long-term continuous combat. The Mobile Base Vehicle was not just capable of long-distance raids on the ground; it also served as a mobile dwelling with substantial defensive capabilities, providing facilities for treating injuries, resting personnel, command nodes, and supplying stations. "Great! I just brought one." Chen Fei had preemptively stored the latest version of the Mobile Base Vehicle in Xiao Jiu''s leg ring, fully equipped and comparatively complete, ready for immediate use. "Let''s go!" Princess Lin Ziyu stood up. She shimmered, and suddenly, two princesses appeared on site, yet everyone acted as if nothing unusual had happened, none showing any sign of surprise or intrigue. There was no need to guess¡ªit was surely the newly-advanced-to-the-Fourth-Human-Order Pure Light Sparrow acting up, spontaneously copying a "Mirror Image" illusion of the princess. Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina quickly followed the princess, but then heard someone calling her from behind. "Lize Jina, you''re going the wrong way!" She hastily looked back, only to see Butler Mars watching her helplessly, while the maid Fei Dani wore a mischievous expression. "Huh?" The Female Shadow Guard suddenly realized and hurriedly looked to her side, as the figure of Princess Lin Ziyu dissolved into countless specks of light, vanishing into the air. "This, this this this..." She finally realized that she had been careless and had followed a "Mirror Image," even mistaking it for the real princess. The helpless expression on Butler Mars''s face must have been a reproach. The role of the Shadow Guard was immediately in grave danger. "Chirp!" On the real princess''s shoulder, the despised Pure Light Sparrow called out proudly. The "Mirror Image" Spell, terrifying as such! "Hmph!" Lize Jina glared fiercely at the owner of the Little Bird, Chen Fei. Chen Fei''s face was filled with innocence. He wouldn''t mistake the real princess for a fake one because the "Mirror Image" illusion had no infrared heat response, which was a simple way to tell. The thirty-two Winged Warriors selected from the Fourth Legion of the Feathered Tribe still guarded around the princess and others, having proved their loyalty through concrete actions. Princess Lin Ziyu and the others trusted these Winged Warriors just below Chen Fei. As soon as they stepped out of the "Xuanyu No. 7" void ship, they saw a dozen people in luxurious attire immediately kneel down. "This old servant greets Her Highness." "We greet Her Highness!" ¡Á14 Chen Fei reflexively stepped forward, shielding Princess Lin Ziyu behind him. What was the true intent of these people? The kneeling individuals remained prostrate, making no additional moves. Chen Fei looked questioningly at Butler Mars. "They are several ministers!" Butler Mars had no intention of introducing them one by one, merely stating their identities simply. "Understood!" Chen Fei passed a glance to the surrounding Winged Warriors and commanded bluntly, "Move these guys aside, the farther the better." He was just an ordinary person under Blue Star''s Sovereignty, and he didn''t care about these high-ranking officials from Cangqiong Star. What Butler Mars implied was that these so-called ministers had taken it upon themselves to approach the princess, claiming affiliation with the Princess Faction. The dangerous predicament Her Royal Highness was in was caused by these ambitious individuals. "Um, you, who are you, I want to, ah, let me go... let go..." The leading minister, upon hearing they were to be moved away, immediately became enraged, but the Winged Warriors, following Chen Fei''s order, didn''t care at all; a few of them picked one arbitrarily, and like tigers into sheep, dragged them away. How could these delicate and precious bigwigs compete with the barbaric and fierce soldiers? They were dragged away like little chicks, then thrown forcefully to the ground, unable to even get back up. These winged bastards really hit hard! "Your Highness, is this way of dealing with them all right?!" Protecting Princess Lin Ziyu''s safety was of the utmost importance, and Chen Fei didn''t feel there was anything wrong with his unilateral action. If one of these so-called members of the Princess Faction suddenly had a moment of madness, carrying a grenade hoping for mutual annihilation without being intercepted, there were simply not that many whys in this world. "No, you''ve done very well!" Princess Lin Ziyu strongly supported Chen Fei''s actions; she was overly annoyed with these uninvited faction members, and she wished Chen Fei would use this opportunity to beat them all up. It was probably the same with her elder brother, the Crown Prince; like flies that could not be chased away, continuously scheming, keeping the siblings in constant aggravation and deliberately stirring up conflicts, yet in reality they were all tarred with the same brush, madly reaping benefits in the name of the Royal Family. "You, do you know who I am?" The leading minister, after being thrown far away, continued to roar defiantly, his voice booming so loudly that it could be heard clearly from a distance. If he didn''t have a loud voice, how could he quarrel with others in court? "Poor fellow, he doesn''t even know who he is anymore!" Chen Fei shook his head sympathetically, then turned sternly to the two Winged Warriors who had just returned from throwing the minister. "Hey hey, you two, did you hit him too hard, did it damage his brain?" The two Winged Warriors looked at each other, promptly spread their hands and shrugged their shoulders; those were important people, and they had treated them with respect. As for the brain? Given the opponent''s behavior, it was really doubtful whether he possessed such an organ. "I, the Minister of Taxation, Dariel, will not..." The leading minister charged forward again in a fit of rage. Whoosh... A glimmering green beam shot forth, and he abruptly halted his steps. The beam skimmed under his crotch, and the light spot landed a few steps behind him on the ground, immediately causing a thin wisp of green smoke to rise. "..." The minister finally saw the origin of the beam and was nearly scared to tears. Chapter 604 604: Section 600 - Delan City Born and raised on Blue Star, Xiao Jiu, who had grasped the additional skill of lasers, wasn''t limited to non-combat light-based spells. The laser isn''t a spell, and its output power does not increase with rank advancement. As long as the energy is focused enough, its destructive power can be quite astonishing instead. But as the elemental affinity for light increased, Little Bird''s control over the laser grew more proficient. At this moment... the bird relied on human might! "Chiu!" The shoulder-mounted fully automatic Chiu Light Cannon on Princess Lin Ziyu finally ceased its divine display, and the glowing green beam dissipated into the air as if it had never appeared, leaving behind only a small patch of red-hot molten concrete and a pervasive, acrid burnt smell. The Tax Minister of the Slan Dynasty knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale. He dared not trouble a Pure Light Sparrow; to do so would likely be quite humiliating if word got out. The 20-meter-long Mobile Base Vehicle emerged from Xiao Jiu''s leg ring and was immediately taken over by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam". Once implanted with high-capacity, high-grade crystalline blocks, it could undertake long-distance travel. With the addition of the thirty-two Winged Warriors, there were nearly eighty people around Princess Lin Ziyu. Even if they all boarded the vehicle together, unexpectedly, it wasn''t crowded. The carriage''s internal area was large enough to allocate at least one square meter per person. After sitting down, there was even more space for communal activities. Four Winged Warriors quickly climbed to the exterior of the vehicle''s roof, set up their Railgun Combat Rifles, and began to keep watch with great diligence. Inside the carriage, the Winged Warriors occupied every corner, standing by the firing holes, ready to respond to any emergency situations that might arise at high speed. These loyal warriors were indeed quite reliable! Because on Blue Star, Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle often traveled through suburbs and wilderness with a bold width of 4.5 meters that could be further expanded as needed, practically making its own way and leaving no room for other vehicles¡ªa true road bully. However, on Cangqiong Star, given that roads need to accommodate large Magical Beasts traveling or boarding specialized transport, the single-lane width of standard roads is at least double that of Blue Star''s. So when the Mobile Base Vehicle entered the highway under the escort of the Royal Imperial Guards, it did not stand out. Instead, it resembled a local vehicle of Cangqiong Star and was not much wider than the escort vehicles ahead and behind it. The West Suburban Military Airport was about 200 kilometers from the Imperial Capital Delan City. The closer it got to the Capital, the busier the road traffic, with countless vehicles and Magical Beasts frequently passing by. After all, it''s a super metropolis with tens of millions of Intelligent Species. Any main road leading into the city is over a hundred meters wide, with ten lanes in each direction. Even the ruling Royal Family can''t completely clear the highways for the Princess''s convoy. At most, the Transportation Department could implement slight flow restrictions. When the dense cluster of skyscrapers of Delan City could be seen from afar, the hundred-meter-wide main artery was already crowded with traffic, including Magical Beasts walking on foot but whose speeds were by no means inferior to the vehicles. Although vehicles and beasts shared the road, to some extent, it was actually safer to allow Magical Beasts on the road¡ªthey were less likely to cause traffic accidents and sometimes could even prevent them from happening. Whizzing by on the wide-gauge heavy-duty railway that encircled the Imperial Capital, high-speed trains with huge carriages bore through the "Wind Cone," each one larger than the Mobile Base Vehicle. Aside from the greater scale, which made it seem like a land of giants, Chen Fei felt somewhat disappointed, as the actual cityscape of Cangqiong Star was no different from that of Blue Star. He did not witness any exotic local flair; there were just more Magical Beasts around, almost everywhere, unlike on Blue Star, where they are only seen in big cities. Yet the two civilizations differed in their emphasis between homogeneity and diversity among Intelligent Species. On Blue Star, 99.999% of the Intelligent Species are of the Human Race, whereas on Cangqiong Star, the Human Race only makes up a quarter of Blue Star''s population. If humanoid races are included, the total is just over half, and when rational Intelligent Magical Beasts are accounted for, the number is roughly on par with the total population of Blue Star. Thanks to better planning, Cangqiong Star''s degree of urbanization is relatively high. However, the concentration of Intelligent Species in cities is not very high. Super metropolis like Delan City are unique; the second-ranked city holds only about 3 million Intelligent Species. After the top five, none exceeds a million. Most cities have 300,000 to 500,000 Intelligent Species residents, making up over ninety percent of the population. Large cities and small villages are prevalent, while towns are less common. "Did you know? The road planning on Cangqiong Star wasn''t designed by humans." Princess Lin Ziyu sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle, recounting to Chen Fei the landscapes and culture of Delan City. After all, it''s where she grew up. Having left for several years and now returning, her memories were still fresh. Chen guessed, "Calculated by AI?" "No, the computational requirements for road planning are too great. The existing supercomputers simply can''t allocate so many computational resources." Lin Ziyu laughed and shook her head. If left entirely to the most advanced supercomputers and AIs, they would need to run at full capacity for an entire year to produce the road traffic planning scheme for Morning Star Continent. However, Cangqiong Star possesses eleven continents and one archipelago; except for Antarctica, whose intelligent species population is scant, the other continents'' demands for road traffic planning are not much less than those of the Morning Star Continent. No one would use ten supercomputers at the same time or take ten years to calculate these planning schemes. The Silan Dynasty took a shortcut and obtained the most scientific and optimal solution in a short time, all at a cost of just ten thousand Star Yuans--practically a steal compared to the budget that would be required for supercomputers and AI. "Could it be that the Metallic Dragons helped?" Chen Fei guessed again, knowing that the Silan Dynasty had a deep connection with the Dragon Clan, and that the Metallic Dragon race guards the "Halo." The upbringing and education of the young dragons are responsibilities of the Royal Family. Metallic Dragons are naturally endowed with computational abilities. If they were employed for such tasks, it should be feasible. Even Metallic Dragons shouldn''t expect to just eat and not work every day. As soon as Metallic Dragons were mentioned, Chen Fei discarded his plan to return to Blue Star immediately after he finished protecting the princess and prepared to visit a friend from Cangqiong Star to catch up, assuming the friend would still recognize him. "That''s not it either, guess again!" Princess Lin Ziyu still shook her head; the real answer would definitely be surprising. "Then I''m at a loss. This workload isn''t small!" Chen Fei shook his head vigorously, giving up on guessing such a difficult question. Despite "Adam" claiming he had nearly infinite computing power, if Chen Fei really used these computing resources on these road traffic planning schemes, he wouldn''t be able to keep up nutritionally, and his brain might even burn out. "The answer is slime mold. In just one week, the slime mold had planned out the road traffic for all continents of Cangqiong Star, including the Morning Star Continent, with at least a hundred alternative schemes for each continent." Princess Lin Ziyu didn''t keep him in suspense any longer and revealed the answer. "Certainly, an unexpected answer." Chen Fei was taken aback and, thinking of the characteristics of slime mold, had an epiphany. For a slime mold, which lacks a brain and computing core, to design feasible traffic road solutions is even more inconceivable than magic and Battle Qi. Using cities as nutrient nodes, the growth path of slime mold is indeed the solution with the lowest consumption and highest efficiency. Then, applying it to a proportionate map with a smack, voila, it''s scientific! Highways and railroads almost entirely rely on slime mold to assist with road planning. In the midst of casual conversation, the mobile base vehicle and the escort convoy entered one of the major urban districts of Delan City, the Imperial Palace District. The eight major urban districts of the Imperial Capital, one of which is exclusively held by the Royal Family. The entire Imperial Palace District is indeed the area where the Imperial Palace is located: the administrative center governing the entire planet, the dwelling place of the Royal Family, and the court gardens are all here. Ordinary people without permission would almost never set foot in this area. Every road, every intersection is tightly secured, and consequently there are far fewer vehicles and magical beasts coming and going. Upon entering the Imperial Palace District, the speed of the convoy suddenly increased. "...On the left is the political center, where the Congress of Cangqiong Star resides. Further back are the various ministerial level administrative centers, which interface with the administrative departments of all levels globally. Across the road is the military and political center, controlling all global military bases and legions. After the intersection ahead, on the left, is the Imperial Security Department. They manage and train all investigative agents who have only investigative powers and no authority for arrest or combat. Any violent action must be coordinated with the Imperial Guards and law enforcement departments. The Royal Imperial Guards are a combat force directly under the command of the Royal Family, equipped with the best gear and the finest military personnel." "...Adjacent to the Imperial Palace District is the Diplomatic District. Representatives of various intelligent species from Cangqiong Star and embassies of the Blue Star Sovereignty are concentrated here. In the Diplomatic District, one can see a wide variety of faces. Next to the Diplomatic District is the Trade District..." As a member of the Imperial Family, Princess Lin Ziyu was thoroughly familiar with every building and its corresponding function within the Imperial Palace District, giving Chen Fei a rough understanding of Delan City. Unknowingly, the Imperial City was near, but the convoy had slowed down. "Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is ahead to greet you," Housekeeper Mars reported at once. Chapter 605 605: Section 601 - Faction The Empress had a son and a daughter; the elder son, Lin Zio Slan, was the Crown Prince destined to inherit the great enterprise, while the younger daughter, Lin Ziyu Slan, was the Princess of the current regime. Apart from the inexplicable faction members who took it upon themselves to interject, the relationship between these royal siblings wasn''t as bad as the outside world assumed¡ªrather, it was quite good. As soon as Princess Lin Ziyu returned to court, her elder brother, the Crown Prince, personally greeted her at the gates of the Imperial City. Of course, the uninvited members of the Crown Prince''s Faction continued to grumble in the shadows and even exchanged insults with those of the Princess Faction, with the most marginal figures shoving each other like mice squabbling over crumbs. Dirty politics, dirty politicians¡ªboth Chen Fei''s derision and Princess Lin Ziyu''s concurrence were undoubtedly spot on. The Mobile Base Vehicle stopped, and the maids along with the Royal Guards exited in single file and lined up on both sides of the vehicle''s door. "Ziyu... Eh! ~" Lin Zio Slan, the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty, somehow saw two sisters, which was truly bizarre. His sister went to Blue Star and came back doubled. He hurried forward, trying to embrace his sister by instinct, only to end up hugging thin air. "Pfft, pfft, pfft..." A snicker came from the side, and to Crown Prince Lin Zio''s surprise, his sister in front of him suddenly turned into light sparks and dissipated¡ªit was just an illusion. He finally realized he''d made a blunder. "What, what is going on here?" Housekeeper Mars and others maintained poker faces, pretending to have seen nothing, yet the corners of their eyes twitched slightly. Crown Prince Lin Zio finally understood he was not the first victim. He looked irritably at his sister, who should be the real one this time. "Sister, you... Eh? Why is there a Pure Light Sparrow here?" Pure Light Sparrows were the most common birds on Cangqiong Star. The Crown Prince thought it was some audacious little fellow who had landed on his sister''s shoulder as a place to rest, and was about to shoo it away when he saw his sister step back and glare at him, saying, "Xiao Jiu is my personal bodyguard, you''re not allowed to touch me." "Jiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow tilted its head and suddenly flew onto Crown Prince Lin Zio''s shoulder. "Eh? Hello, little one... Ah! My eyes!" A light burst before Lin Zio''s eyes, and he received a direct hit from "Light Burst Flash." He wasn''t the only one caught off guard. Many were temporarily blinded by the sudden flash, including Princess Lin Ziyu, who was in close proximity. "Light Burst Flash" was one of those close-range, non-discriminating incapacitating spells. Since it wasn''t an offensive spell, the various defensive alchemical artifacts on the Crown Prince and Princess did not activate. "Protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" The members of the Crown Prince Faction immediately clamored to show their loyalty, but they bumped into each other like headless flies. On the contrary, the Royal Guards and the Imperial Guards maintained their composure, not moving rashly. After all, a mischievous Pure Light Sparrow wasn''t worth making a fuss over, and wasting royal martial resources on such a trivial matter would only be laughable. "Hehe!" Chen Fei stood still, unaffected. He was already immune to the little bird''s greeting method; while others were temporarily blinded, it was all routine to him. Looking around, he only saw the factions'' clowns performing their poor theatrics. A bunch of shameless politicians! "Second Rank Pure Light Sparrow!" Hurt and rubbing his eyes, the Crown Prince finally grasped the reason behind the sudden blinding flash. The Human Order Second Rank Light-based Spells "Light Burst Flash" implied that this Pure Light Sparrow was a rare Second Rank. Once caught, he planned to send it to the zoo. Blinking repeatedly until her vision cleared, Princess Lin Ziyu explained, "Xiao Jiu is Fourth Rank, you know!" The little bird took the opportunity to fly back to the Princess''s shoulder, and everyone avoided looking directly at it for fear of being hit again. "Fourth Rank? Hmm? It..." Crown Prince Lin Zio was taken aback and finally came to his senses, looking at his sister in amazement. Considering the illusion that had just made him embarrass himself, it must be Human Order Fourth Rank Light-based Spells "Mirror Image," an exceptionally rare breed. Such a magical beast with thin blood lineage reaching Fourth Rank was unheard of. But a Light-element Magical Beast of Human Order Fourth Rank could be considered an extra layer of protection. "Xiao Jiu belongs to Mr. Chen Fei, my escort hired on Blue Star. Thanks to him, we were able to return to the Imperial Capital safely this time," Princess Lin Ziyu smoothly introduced Chen Fei to her elder brother. This commission had indeed been a great help; members of the Chen Family proved reliable in critical moments. ``` "Is he a brother from the Chen Family Gate? I truly owe the safety of the princess to you, thank you very much!" Lin Zio hurried forward, extending his hand to Chen Fei. "Hello, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I am Chen Fei, from the Chen Family Gate." Chen Fei shook hands with him, feeling the sincerity and strength in the Crown Prince''s grasp. He didn''t dare to accept the title of brother, although there was history between them, their actual relationship was quite distant! "How dare you! To act so familiar with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, kneel down at once!" It was at this moment that some redundant fellow on the side started making a nuisance of himself, leaping about and causing annoyance. "I apologize!" Lin Zio, realizing it was someone from his own faction, gave Chen Fei an apologetic look with a wry smile, then turned and scolded, "Shut up! Who needs you to teach me what to do?" "Not at all, not at all..." Who dared to instruct the Crown Prince on how to behave? The group was so frightened that their faces turned pale as earth, knowing that a minor offense could lead to the execution of their entire family. Most of those who arrived at the scene were mere opportunists; not a single steadfast individual was present. Chen Fei said sympathetically, "You all really have it tough!" The siblings were always bedeviled by these clueless individuals, even facing mortal danger. Such parasitic villains had been endured for too long! With no choice left, the Crown Prince said, "Yes, indeed! It''s quite hopeless!" "Shall I help you reclaim a bit of interest then?" Chen Fei beckoned to the Little Bird on the princess''s shoulder, then gestured toward the annoying individuals and said, "Xiao Jiu, give them a hundred flashes!" "Jiu!" Causing a ruckus was Xiao Jiu''s favorite thing. The Little Bird immediately flew over. "Eh?" The Crown Prince''s Faction was the first to suffer. They tried to catch the mischievous Little Bird, but were caught off guard by an unexpected "Light Burst Flash," resulting in screams and howls of terror. To catch Xiao Jiu, one had to watch it, yet looking at it would get one flashed; not watching meant missing it. The little guy was also incredibly agile, making it a near-impossible paradox. It was a situation that merely required a pair of sunglasses, yet these bigwigs couldn''t come up with such a simple solution. One "Light Burst Flash" after another was released. A Second Rank Pure Light Sparrow of the Human Order had plenty of magic power for "Light Burst Flash." With Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere teeming with Elemental Energy, the releases were quick and easy. "My eyes!" Someone was rolling on the ground clutching their eyes. Others simply covered their heads, having closed their eyes firmly, pretending to be ostriches awaiting their fate. The Princess Faction soon followed, met with equally woeful cries. A hundred continuous flashes ended quickly, leaving the bothersome individuals unable to open their eyes any longer. By this time, Crown Prince Lin Zio, with his sister Princess Lin Ziyu, had already entered the Imperial Palace. As her protector, it was only natural for Chen Fei to follow them in. "Jiu! Jiu! Jiu!" The Little Bird strutted proudly in front of the palace gate, took to the skies with a flurry of wings, and flew into the Imperial Palace, landing back on Princess Lin Ziyu''s shoulder. "Xiao Jiu, you''ve been a great help!" Her Royal Highness the Princess, looking to curry favor, reached out to scratch the little fellow, but it dodged away, unappreciative even though the princess had just helped it by holding a tablet and playing videos on Light-based Spells not long ago. Seeing his sister''s fondness for Xiao Jiu, Crown Prince Lin Zio couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Chen Fei, would you part with this Pure Light Sparrow?" "Everything is up to Xiao Jiu''s own will!" Chen Fei neither refused nor interfered, but made it clear that if anyone tried to take Xiao Jiu by force, for any reason or in any manner, he would never permit it. If Xiao Jiu wished to stay on Cangqiong Star, Chen Fei wouldn''t obstruct it. There isn''t a banquet in the world that doesn''t come to an end. His finding of the Pure Light Sparrow''s egg and a small nest in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was a matter of fate. Even if they had to part ways with Xiao Jiu in the future, it would simply mean that their time together had naturally concluded. Confidently, Lin Zio said, "Then I''ll give it a try?" The Silan Dynasty, ruling over an entire civilized planet, expected any Magical Beast would bow down before them, right? If it weren''t for the rarity of a Fourth Rank Pure Light Sparrow, he would have procured ten or eight of them to win over his sister''s affection. "Please feel free." Chen Fei responded indifferently. Since the Crown Prince meant no harm, then let him try! ``` Chapter 606 606: Section 602 - How to Train a Pure Light Sparrow The transportation within the Imperial Palace was no longer the Mobile Base Vehicle but a hovering double-decker large bus, five to six times larger than Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, resembling a small palace. If necessary, it could even instantly transform into a small protective fortress. A larger size meant that more magic arrays could be inscribed, providing stronger protective effects. Vaguely hearing her brother, Lin Zio, and Chen Fei talking about Xiao Jiu, Princess Lin Ziyu guessed what her elder brother was plotting and immediately exclaimed in annoyance, "Crown Prince Brother, Xiao Jiu belongs to Mr. Chen Fei, don''t get any wrong ideas!" Isn''t such presumption just like those annoying spirits outside the palace gates? Don''t become the person you loathe the most! Lin Zio, the Crown Prince of the Silan Dynasty, hurriedly responded, "Not at all, not at all, Mr. Chen Fei said Xiao Jiu is free, so I''m just giving it a try, maybe it could work?" "Hehe..." Entering the Imperial Palace, with no outsiders around, Lin Ziyu no longer treated her elder brother with courtesy. "Um, Brother Chen Fei, could you please explain how a Pure Light Sparrow of Human Order Fourth Rank is cultivated?" Favoring a younger sister, absolutely favoring a younger sister! Being a brother himself, Chen Fei could relate, which is why he was so courteous. Outside, it was rumored that the Crown Prince and Princess were vying for power, battling fiercely, and the strife was magnificent. The media thrived on this news, and what they often made up was just that, but those self-proclaimed factions among the courtiers sometimes boldly gave utterly certain so-called leaks during media interviews. Looking at it now, it was all utterly nonsensical and just blurted out without thought. "Firstly, you need an egg from a Pure Light Sparrow, then a Crystal Core from a Light-element Magical Beast of Earth Order Third Rank!" Chen Fei was naturally willing to share the growth process of Xiao Jiu, without any reservation. The cuter the creature like the Pure Light Sparrow, the stronger it becomes and the better it can protect itself. "Hmm, an egg from a Pure Light Sparrow, then an Earth Order Third Rank, Emmm... what, a Crystal Core from a Light-element Magical Beast of Earth Order Third Rank???" Crown Prince Lin Zio suddenly couldn''t keep up. He reassessed the young man from the Chen Family standing before him, presumably a person from Blue Star. Since the inception of artificially synthesized Crystalline Blocks, as a higher-grade new source of energy, Crystal Energy can be converted into Elemental Energy and Electric Energy with almost zero loss, featuring surprisingly high compatibility and conversion rates, and remarkable stability along with astonishing energy density and safety specs; thus, Crystalline Blocks began to replace Magical Beast Crystal Cores and natural Demon Crystals on a wide scale. The Elemental Energy polymers from within Magical Beasts and mineral crystals from geological veins haven''t entirely exited public society, but due to their natural material textures, they gradually became collectibles and jewelry, or were used in special fields. The high order Magical Beast Crystal Cores and high-grade Demon Crystals, which can extract Elemental Energy directly from the atmosphere, are very well-suited for low-output alchemical artifacts. Higher order Magical Beast Crystal Cores and corresponding grade Demon Crystals have always been regulated; every Magical Beast Crystal Core and Demon Crystal that flowed into Blue Star through trade channels was registered, including their movement and loss. As the Crown Prince who assisted his mother in handling state affairs knew, in the last twenty years, Cangqiong Star had never exported a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core of Earth Order Second Rank or higher to Blue Star, especially since they were even rarer. Chen Fei having an unaccounted-for Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was not the most absurd thing; the absurdity was using an Earth Order Third Rank Magical Beast Crystal Core to cultivate a barely Human Order First Rank Pure Light Sparrow with ordinary Magical Beast bloodline, which was absolutely ridiculous¡ªto the extent of absurdity knocking on its son''s door, absurdity to the extreme." "...and six General Element Affinity Potions, one Light Element Affinity Potion, and five Bloodline Inducing Potions; Xiao Jiu''s Elemental Affinity should now be Five Stars, maybe even Six Stars." As if unaware of the Crown Prince''s twitching look of astonishment, Chen Fei continued counting on his fingers, itemizing the resources Xiao Jiu had already used and those still to be used. Lin Zio ventured to ask, "Is sovereignty involved in this, or is it some kind of special cultivation experiment?" The General Element Affinity Potions could still be ignored since they could be bought with money. But the exclusive Element Affinity Potions and Bloodline Inducing Potions are limited, valuable materials that only sovereignty can possess; the Silan Dynasty itself barely had enough to use, only managing to allocate a small portion for trade quotas with the sovereignties of Blue Star each year. Therefore, he could conjecture some possibilities... if it were not a pointless cultivation experiment, then it must be that some sovereignty had gone mad. Within the entire Magical Beast species system, the Pure Light Sparrow was almost the lowest-tier group; such extravagant resources used to cultivate a Magical Beast, or any Magical Beast for that matter, would surely be stronger than the Pure Light Sparrow. "No sovereignty, no experiment, just limited to myself!" Chen Fei was startled, then shook his head immediately; there was no insane sovereignty involved, nor any related experiment projects. With his financial capabilities, whether in the past or present, the ordinary Pure Light Sparrow was probably the only magical beast he could afford. The little bird was already content as long as it had food. Although there were four General Element Affinity Potions and one Light Element Affinity Potion that indeed came from the sovereignty, they were compensation for his work and not really a sign that the sovereignty supported him playing around. Probably internally, they were opposed. However, the items now belonged to Chen Fei, and whether he chose to feed them to cats, dogs, or sparrows was his own business. With so many resources poured in, even a Pure Light Sparrow with a thin bloodline had its rank and potential forcibly elevated. It was not surprising that it might have reached five stars or even six stars in elemental affinity, especially with the opportunity of arriving at Cangqiong Star to advance further. "Your uncle must have sponsored you, right? That must have cost quite a bit of money!" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince estimated the cost of these resources. He could probably gather enough using all his pocket money, but he was reluctant. How could anyone believe that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the mighty Silan Dynasty would become penniless for a Pure Light Sparrow?! The Slan Dynasty possessed Cangqiong Star, which had everything one could desire, but His Royal Highness had not yet ascended to the throne! Moreover, a Third-Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was not easy to obtain. The higher the rank, the fewer there were. A Third Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core represented the fall of a corresponding beast, a significant event that could make headlines on Cangqiong Star''s main media channels and cause a stir among various intelligent species. Magical beasts of a certain rank were not like fruits at a street vendor; each was numbered and, especially the Rational Species, were legal citizens of the Slan Dynasty. Such beings could not just fall arbitrarily, as it could lead to criminal cases. "Actually, it didn''t cost too much money, most of it was rewards from tasks, and there were also gifts from newly acquainted magical beasts. The Bloodline Inducing Potion was given by a Dual-Headed White Wind Crane from my hometown in exchange for Xiao Jiu repaying the favor with Light-based Spells in their hospital when it reaches the Fourth Rank. The Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was a gift from a friend who is a Metallic Dragon, and her name is Yilan!" Chen Fei had risked his life for most of these resources, and the task rewards included bonuses. If he really had to pay for them, he couldn''t afford it either. Chen Fei was much poorer than His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Silan Dynasty. The Third-Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was the main resource for Xiao Jiu''s rank advancement and growth, and Chen Fei was very grateful for Yilan''s generosity. It was an opportunity for the little bird. Who said that Metallic Dragons are inherently cruel Dragons of Slaughter? At least in Chen Fei''s eyes, that was not entirely true. Among the Human Race, there are good and bad people; among magical beasts, there are Rational Species and ferocious species; the Dragon Clan also has good and bad dragons. It is not right to generalize based on a single individual. Repaying the favor to White Phoenix A and White Phoenix B was a matter of course, a doctor''s duty to save lives and help the injured. Chen Fei felt no aversion to such exchanges. Now that Xiao Jiu had finally advanced to the Fourth Human Order, it could almost be of help. "Eh? Yilan? Oh, I know that name." Lin Zio obviously recognized the name, which belonged to a female Metallic Dragon. Members of the Slan Royal Family were familiar with the names of every Metallic Dragon. For over thirty years, the adult Metallic Dragons had collectively guarded the "Halo," while the dragonlings were raised and educated by the royal family, from kindergarten through college and all the way to postgraduate studies. These systematic rights were gradually changing the nature of the Metallic Dragon Clan. Barbarism and disregard for life were characteristic of adult Metallic Dragons who had lost their heritage. In contrast, the dragonlings, educated and law-abiding, seemed like a different species. "Oh, right, right... I remember now, that''s what happened." Repeating "right" three times, Crown Prince Lin Zio finally understood the whole story. The Dragon Clan itself possessed many high-level resources, and it was not without the possibility of having an unregistered private stash. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan possessing a Third Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was not impossible. Because one of the adult Metallic Dragons that had been guarding the "Halo" left its post without permission and illegally entered Blue Star''s airspace, it was killed. To investigate the cause and effect, the Sky Dragon City of the Dragon Clan dispatched an investigation team, which included the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, and Chen Fei, being part of the Aircrew Base, formed a connection with her in the process. It was not surprising. Speaking of which, that fellow Bit was also killed by Chen Fei! If the military contractors of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area had not managed to deal with the reckless Metallic Dragon Bit, the Spatial Silver Dragon Clan, which was awaiting authorization, would have taken matters into their own hands to execute this rule-breaker. Because of Bit''s death, the rest of the adult Metallic Dragons had been keeping quiet and behaving themselves until now, not causing any more trouble. "This time coming to Cangqiong Star, I plan to find an opportunity to visit Yilan!" Chen Fei revealed one of his planned itineraries, next needing to find out Yilan''s address. Transportation and communication on Cangqiong Star were as convenient as on Blue Star, so it should not be hard to find her. Chapter 607 607: Section 603 - Extension of Mandate "Speaking of which, the high school department for the Metallic Dragon race is currently on summer vacation. Since you know Yilan, let me help you arrange it!" Lin Zio Slan, the Crown Prince, was more than happy to do this favor. Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Huh? The high school department? Hasn''t Yilan graduated yet?" When Chen Fei first encountered the Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, it was already in its third year of high school, but so much time had passed and it was still able to enjoy the high school summer vacation¡ªcould it have been held back a grade? That shouldn''t be right! Yilan wasn''t dumb, but rather very intelligent. It should have had no problems at all with high school coursework. "The education system for long-lived Intelligent Species is quite different from that of the Human Race. Theirs is either a two-year or five-year system per grade level, and both middle school and high school consist of five levels. Yilan is quite intelligent, it skipped grades during elementary and middle school phases." The nurturing and education of the young dragons from the Metallic Dragon race was personally overseen by the Slan Royal Family. The Crown Prince Lin Zio knew every young dragon''s personality, temper, interests, and report cards like the back of his hand. This was beneficial for the Royal Family to maintain control of the future of the Dragon of Slaughter, avoiding any unexpected variables. What the Metallic Dragons were usually like was common knowledge to all Intelligent Species on Cangqiong Star, which is why education began with the young dragons, and it was now beginning to show results. "Yilan can skip grades? Indeed..." Chen Fei wasn''t wrong; the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan did not neglect its studies and, unexpectedly, was a top student among dragons. No wonder it was able to become a member of the Sky Dragon City investigation team in the past. "Mr. Chen Fei is my bodyguard, I will take him to find Yilan." Princess Lin Ziyu suddenly interrupted the conversation between her elder brother and Chen Fei, seizing control over the arrangement of Chen Fei''s schedule. This stinky brother of hers not only wanted to snatch away Xiao Jiu but even planned to lure away Xiao Jiu''s owner. She wouldn''t allow it! "Uh! My apologies, my apologies, Brother Chen and I hit it off so well that I just forgot." Only then did Lin Zio remember and quickly apologized. Chen Fei also had a special identity, namely as the bodyguard hired by the princess on Blue Star, and his duty to her wasn''t over at the moment. Now it seemed that the princess was not in any hurry to end the commission and let Chen Fei, who had escorted her all the way, just slip away. "Hmph!" In front of her brother, Princess Lin Ziyu sometimes showed a tsundere side not known to others. She was certain that as soon as she ended the commission, Chen Fei would immediately be snatched away by her brother, vanishing without a trace, along with the Little Bird. "Please, there''s no need for the two of you to argue and hurt your feelings over me, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince. When the commission ends, I temporarily have no other tasks, so I should have plenty of time." Chen Fei greatly admired the relationship between the two royal siblings. Though they often squabbled on the surface, their relationship was quite good, similar to his with his own annoying little sister, Chen Meng. Not far away, Housekeeper Mars nodded silently; this youngster from the Chen Family Gate was quite aware of his place and didn''t get carried away. "Then it''s a deal!" Lin Zio Slan also rarely met young people who were indifferent to his influence, and he extended his hand once more. He not only had the blood of the Slan Royal Family but also that of the Lin Family from Blue Star. The Lin Family and the Chen Family Gate had history, and indeed, their relationship was much closer than with outsiders. "Certainly!" With a firm handshake with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, a deal was made. Chen Fei never cared for power and influence because he was just a commoner at the bottom rung; everyone had more authority than him. "You two, don''t go to any of those messy places!" Princess Lin Ziyu wasn''t worried that Chen Fei would lead her brother to places that would undermine the dignity of the Royal Family, because they were on Cangqiong Star, not Blue Star. Conversely, she was worried her brother might be up to no good, using the pretext of entertaining Chen Fei to visit certain @#£¤%& places, using him as a cover. Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan said with a serious expression, "How could that be possible? Your brother is a decent person!" Chen Fei said forthrightly, "I''m a law-abiding citizen outside and a well-behaved Baby at home. I see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a dignified presence and an upright aura. He must be a gentleman and an excellent representative of the Royal Family." "Exactly, a gentleman!" The two looked at each other and nodded in agreement, as heroes often share the same ideas. Princess Lin Ziyu''s gaze shifted back and forth between her brother and Chen Fei, feeling there was some unspoken understanding between the two men but she just couldn''t put her finger on what was amiss. "Your Highnesses, Mr. Chen Fei, we have arrived!" Housekeeper Mars suddenly spoke up. The court''s exclusive hovering limousine, which had been smoothly moving all along, came to a stop in front of a grand mansion. This large ground transport was incredibly stable, barely giving any hint that it was moving. The pristine five-story building was the residence of the Princess, with an exterior style that was dignified and imposing. Despite the fact that Princess Lin Ziyu had been studying on Blue Star for years and had not returned to the Imperial Capital of Cangqiong Star, her mansion had still been well-maintained and cared for. Now that the Princess has returned, the entire mansion was already prepared. The steward and most of the servants lined up outside the main gate to greet her; upon seeing the Princess get out of the carriage, they all said loudly in unison, "Welcome home, Your Royal Highness the Princess! Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" In the days when the Princess was absent, those who remained at the mansion felt like they had lost their mainstay. The so-called factions existed not only within the court and Congress but inevitably infiltrated the court attendants as well, affecting them with their divisive sentiments. The servants and guards within the Princess Mansion naturally fell under the Princess Faction, especially when the Princess was not at home, it was obvious they would be ostracized. Now that the Princess has returned, how could they not be overcome with excitement? They could imagine, starting from this moment, life was going to be much more comfortable. "During the years I was away, everyone has worked hard!" Princess Lin Ziyu''s gaze swept across the faces before her, followed by a deep bow. Years had passed, yet she was still able to call out each person''s name, remember their ages, and even their birthdays. Even though she was not in the Imperial Palace, she never forgot to have Housekeeper Mars send them a small gift on their birthdays. To call it skillful management of subordinates would be an understatement; this was also one of Princess Lin Ziyu''s habitual ways of interacting with others¡ªthose who followed her should never be disappointed. "Your Highness, we are not tired!" "You finally came back!" "..." The attendants and guards were somewhat overwhelmed with emotion; everyone''s eyes were red, their faces wet with tears, and the lines started to falter. But with those words from the Princess, all the waiting was worth it. "Jiu!" Little Bird wasn''t quite used to such scenes, and almost couldn''t help throwing out another "Light Burst Flash," which made Chen Fei quite worried. - Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan did not leave but scrounged a meal at his sister''s place. After lunch, the siblings and Chen Fei chatted over tea in the garden. Seizing the right moment, Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Your Royal Highness the Princess, about the commission..." The Slan Dynasty''s Princess was now in the Imperial Palace, which meant she was safely delivered to her destination. Chen Fei, having been explicitly commissioned, should be able to retire successfully and collect his fee to visit his Metallic Dragon friends. Before Princess Lin Ziyu could speak, Crown Prince Lin Zio interjected, "No, Brother Chen, please wait a moment longer; we still need to trouble you." "Hmm? Your Highness, what do you mean?" Chen Fei was puzzled and looked toward Lin Ziyu, because after all, she was the actual client. The Princess seemed hesitant too, with no intention to conclude the commission immediately. Princess Lin Ziyu and her elder brother, the Crown Prince, exchanged glances and said, "I hope to extend the commission a while longer; I still entrust my safety to Mr. Chen Fei for the time being." Somehow, Lin Ziyu and Lin Zio had come to an agreement. This set of royal siblings had something up their sleeves, Chen Fei mused for a moment and, contemplating a possibility, asked, "Are the two of you planning to make a move?" This guess was somewhat alarming. Keeping him on meant the Princess would continue to face threats and needed further protection. "Hehe, hehehehe!" Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan laughed enigmatically. Princess Lin Ziyu also smiled without saying a word. The brother and sister neither confirmed nor denied. Silence was an affirmation¡ªtheir attitude was the answer, and Chen Fei finally saw the light. It appeared that both had finally had enough of the annoying intricacies of their respective factions and were ready to seek an opportunity to resolve them decisively. True to their royal upbringing, they acted resolutely¡ªonce their minds were made up, they did not hesitate. When Princess Lin Ziyu was on Blue Star, her defense capabilities were at eighty percent; back at the Imperial Palace, they were at one hundred percent. With Chen Fei, it would be one hundred and twenty percent. Once the Princess'' safety was guaranteed, the Crown Prince would be free to act without any reservations, unafraid to act decisively and chop off any desperate gambles. Therefore, Chen Fei could guess that the person who would make the move was precisely this Crown Prince who was laughing heartily¡ªhe had been staying on Cangqiong Star, presumably elaborating his plan for a long time, waiting until the Princess returned to officially begin. None of the Imperial Family Youngsters were simple. "Alright! The safety of Her Royal Highness the Princess is in my hands!" What more could Chen Fei say? Previously, it was protection; now, it was still protection; the extended commission was also protection¡ªno difference at all, except that the payment would increase. If he could earn an extra amount, why wouldn''t he be willing? Chapter 608 608: Section 604 - New List Crown Prince Lin Zio gradually ceased his laughter, appreciatively saying, "Brother Chen Fei is a clever man; both my sister and I are very reassured by him." Just as Chen Fei had guessed, indeed, he had to start taking action, but the rear must be kept safe and stable. "Dirty politics!" Princess Lin Ziyu said without any courtesy. These intrigues she saw as nothing more than filth, still uninterested in these tedious and meaningless vexations, preferring to devote her energy to scholarly pursuits that benefit the Dynasty and its peaceful stability. "The filth of politics must be cleansed with blood." Lin Zio remained unruffled by this, seemingly very accustomed to it. After all, as someone who was to inherit the throne, how could he have never seen blood? A truly kind and honest child could not inherit the grand position of the Slan Dynasty¡ªa person responsible for the whole world should abandon naivety and illusions, prioritizing the bigger picture. Within their generation, it was only the two siblings, and the so-called struggle for the throne was nothing but an incomprehensible faction created by outsiders stirring trouble; between the siblings, the Crown Prince was just the Crown Prince, and the Princess was just the Princess, with actually no suspense at all. The Empress'' generation had more brothers and sisters, which was truly a spectacle, but having gone through so much together, all her uncles and aunts had abandoned any undue aspirations, tranquil as still water, each honestly living out their days, whether in academia, commerce, or agriculture, steering clear of military and politics. As for the uncles'' and aunts'' next generation, facing the most decisive and ruthless great-aunt in the history of the Slan Royal Family, well, long live the Empress, the younger relatives had pretty much developed this awareness from a young age. The generation below that, they weren''t even of royal status, let alone having a play in the game. Had it not been so, those so-called factions would not desperately try to drag the Crown Prince and the Princess into the fray. In calm seas, good fortunes are scarce; in the absence of conflicts, conflicts must be created, for after all, opportunities are made, not found. Ambitious folks thrive in troubled times, not during peaceful and prosperous eras. Crown Prince Lin Zio stood up to take his leave, finally saying, "If there''s anything you need, you can tell the Princess or tell me." Being able to squeeze out time to personally welcome the Princess back to the Imperial Palace was already very rare. The Slan Dynasty employed a constitutional monarchy; the Imperial Cabinet Court coexisted with the Congress, but finances, military power, and foreign affairs fell directly under the Royal Family''s jurisdiction. The main purpose of the Congress was not just decentralization but primarily to handle civil affairs; intending to revolt without money or troops was unfeasible, at best they were just tools. As the future Emperor of the Slan Dynasty, Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan naturally could not proceed with regular studies like ordinary people; in preparation to inherit the family legacy, he had started assisting the Empress in handling state affairs early on, learning how to govern the Dynasty through experience. Thirty years of warfare, thirty years of recovery; the unification war of Cangqiong Star exhausted most of the ambitious, stabilizing the public sentiment at that time, allowing the Slan Dynasty to seize the moment, ultimately unifying the globe. Now, after a long peace, a new generation of ambitious individuals began to emerge again like weeds after the spring rains, hard to eradicate. They... would be the whetstone for the new generation of rulers. Watching her elder brother''s retreating figure, Princess Lin Ziyu sighed and said to Chen Fei, "My brother is always like this, forever busy; it''s rare for him to have a moment of leisure!" "He has to rule an entire planet! How could he possibly have any downtime?" Chen Fei understood His Royal Highness the Crown Prince''s busyness well; no matter how much authority was delegated, things would not always go smoothly. Even a village chief of just a dozen or so households could be so busy as to be overrun, let alone the ruler of a planet. "I really envy your job at Jiu Defense Company." Upon returning to Cangqiong Star, various pressures inevitably besieged her; she couldn''t escape them, feeling a heaviness far beyond the ease experienced during her studies on Blue Star. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. In comparison, commoners had much more freedom; if dissatisfied, they could simply quit their jobs. Crown Prince or Princess, neither had any escape; common folk could lay flat, but monarchs could not. "That depends on the time, though. During leisure, it gets quite boring, desolate hills and wild ridges, even hunting is scarce. But once it gets busy, it''s nearly 24-hour shifts, no time even to drink water, too exhausted you just lie down anywhere, and the moment you open your eyes, you must get to work. If there''s corporate warfare with other military contractors, it''s indeed life-threatening, really, the kind that risks your life, constantly on alert because the enemy won''t give you a chance to relax, might already be sneaking up behind you, ready to strike a deadly blow, not to mention that sometimes the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee forces conscription to confront dangerous enemies, which also poses a risk to life." Chen Fei shrugged, his memories of his experience at Aircrew Base 911 still vivid. The income from military contracting might be higher than ordinary jobs, but it was earned by risking life, otherwise how could one repay that significant debt within a lifetime. The credit company that introduced him to the job also carefully selected an appropriate enterprise; looking back now, it truly seemed like fate! Like his first day reporting to Aircrew Base 911, by the second day he was dragged into a fight with the Dragon of Slaughter, aiming for mutual annihilation, enough to illustrate the risks of this line of work. Entering a wartime state, survival being uncertain was normal; those in this line of work all had this awareness. Surviving was the true earnings; if dead, everything would vanish like smoke. Chen Fei was now the same, despite the code name "Rookie," he had actually been trained into a "Veteran" who was indifferent to both his own life and the lives of others. Before entering the field, Chen Fei had never even realized that when he lost his temper, he didn''t spare himself either. "Is that so?" Princess Lin Ziyu hesitated for a moment, obviously not expecting Chen Fei''s response, and immediately said with an apology, "I''m sorry, it seems that it''s not easy for anyone!" Her Royal Highness the Princess was as gentle and empathetic as ever. No one''s days are easier than anyone else''s. The royal family has its difficulties, commoners have their own hardships, winning leads to good days, eating meat and drinking wine, losing means death, a total end. "Right, I will make a list later, please ask Housekeeper Mars to help me arrange it." Chen Fei remembered what Crown Prince Lin Zio had said earlier, never to be polite when it was not necessary to be polite. "No problem, just mention whatever you need!" Not just for his own safety, but also to allow the Crown Prince to focus without distractions, Lin Ziyu made this promise to Chen Fei. "Then I will... not be polite!" Chen Fei nodded. Housekeeper Mars earnestly said, "Please rest assured, there is very little that the royal family cannot obtain." The Slan Royal Family owned the entire Cangqiong Star, wielding immense resources. Whatever Chen Fei wanted, as long as Cangqiong Star or Blue Star had it, it could be procured in the shortest time possible. "Then I''ll trouble Housekeeper Mars!" Chen Fei was no longer polite and immediately took out a tablet from Xiao Jiu''s leg ring to start importing the list. Just in the time of their conversation, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had already listed a comprehensive inventory list according to his wishes. 1,000 wireless multi-mode surveillance cameras, 60 quadcopter drones, 60 propeller-driven unmanned reconnaissance drones, 500 wireless microphones... These were considered normal, but what came next... wireless multi-mode surveillance camera "Dragon Slayer Missile" one (replenishment), two ton-level Thermobaric Bombs, ten 100-kilogram Cloud Bombs, ten 250-kilogram conventional Aerial Bombs, twelve multi-mode programmable Short-range Combat Missiles, thirty 600 mm caliber Demolition Bombs, 1,000 rounds of 30 mm caliber Armor-Piercing Incendiary Rounds, fifty 30 kilogram directed anti-vehicle Landmines, ten tons of Explosives... Looking at the list, Housekeeper Mars couldn''t help but gasp in shock, his eyes nearly popping out. Was this guy serious? What exactly did he want to do? Was he planning to wage a small-scale war inside the Imperial Palace? "Is this really appropriate?" Mr. Butler withdrew his gaze from the list and looked toward Chen Fei with a blank expression. "What''s wrong?" Princess Lin Ziyu was puzzled, wondering if there was something that made Mars feel troubled. "Your Highness, please look!" Housekeeper Mars handed the tablet that Chen Fei had passed over to Her Royal Highness the Princess. "Ah, this..." With just a cursory glance, Princess Lin Ziyu felt as though she had spotted something astonishing. "These items are just for preparation, in case we need them. It would be best not to have to use them." Chen Fei vividly remembered the earlier experience of the escape boat being swallowed whole by an oceanic behemoth. To deal with such a behemoth, one would need to use the tough measures listed in the inventory. For example, the 30 kilogram directed anti-vehicle landmines, just one would cause the behemoth to suffer a perforation in its stomach, allowing stomach acid to leak into its organs, digesting itself in the process. Chapter 609 609: Section 605 - Spectacle Royal Academy Princess Lin Ziyu gave a wry smile. "Don''t you think this is a bit much?" Chen Fei''s preparations were indeed quite extreme, somewhat an overreaction. "Better safe than sorry!" Having experienced the corporate wars at the Aircrew Base on 9/11, Chen Fei was acutely aware that once the situation reached a fever pitch, being able to utilize even a tenth of the supplies was a cause for gratitude. It was normal to witness a large amount of waste and ineffective consumption. The idea that one bullet could kill an enemy was purely fantastical, so no amount of weapons and ammunition could ever be considered too much. "Alright, I trust you''re the expert." Thinking of Chen Fei''s current profession, Princess Lin Ziyu no longer questioned him and nodded to Housekeeper Mars, "Mars, please help Mr. Chen Fei prepare." The amount of supplies was not considered particularly valuable to the Royal Family. Housekeeper Mars quickly gathered these supplies for Chen Fei and stored them in a bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact, temporarily lent to him. Yes, temporarily lent. If necessary, he could return what remained, with all rights belonging to the Silan Royal Family and the right to use them temporarily granted to Chen Fei. Both the spatial alchemical storage magical artifact and its contents, if converted into Star Yuan, were beyond what Chen Fei, a commoner, could afford. Almost all spatial system alchemical storage artifacts were produced on Cangqiong Star. Blue Star lacked the necessary materials and experienced high-rank alchemists, and the level of active elemental energy in the atmosphere was insufficient, making local production impossible. They had to rely entirely on interstellar quota trade imports. These special alchemical artifacts, even at their place of origin on Cangqiong Star, rarely circulated freely in the market. Each spatial system alchemical storage magical artifact was already reserved before it left the alchemist''s hands and was priced so high that ordinary people couldn''t even dream of affording it. The larger the capacity of the spatial alchemical storage magical artifact, the higher the regulatory level it was subjected to, making it even less likely to be sold casually. Yet, the Silan Royal Family did not lack such alchemical artifacts, especially those with large storage capacities. To facilitate storage and management of the supplies Chen Fei needed, Housekeeper Mars had prepared an extra space system alchemical storage artifact with a capacity much larger than the ring-type one on Xiao Jiu''s claw; it housed so many items yet occupied less than ten percent of its capacity, leaving plenty of room for additional materials if necessary. Using ready-made components he just received, Chen Fei made a batch of ear-hook headphones, and soon every person in the Princess Mansion had such a uniform style headphone on their head, almost becoming an external characteristic of all members of the Princess Mansion. The ear-hook headphones not only had communication functions but could also track and eavesdrop, meaning that, including Her Royal Highness the Princess, everyone was under the surveillance of the AI "Adam," allowing Chen Fei to manage security efficiently without overly infringing on individual privacy. The battle outside the Imperial Palace was about to begin. Precisely because the people around her couldn''t entirely be trusted, Princess Lin Ziyu felt the need to have Chen Fei around, hoping he could provide an additional layer of security for her. Now, it appeared that this member of the Chen Family did not fail the trust placed in him, safeguarding the Princess and her entourage through ordeal after ordeal without harm. Outside the pristine white, five-story Princess Mansion, quadcopters hovered continuously 24 hours a day. At an altitude of 1000 meters, a propeller drone maintained long-duration flight, expanding its surveillance radius to a 5-kilometer radius centered on the mansion. Anyone approaching closely to spy or observing the Princess Mansion from afar would be detected by these eyes in the sky immediately. Inside the Princess''s mansion, there were special alchemical artifacts with prohibition spells that only allowed spellcasters registered with a spirit power brand to properly cast spells. The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had been granted permission, enabling it to cast various light-based spells and use "Light Mirror Spell" to observe the surroundings of the Princess Mansion from different angles, more discreetly than any drone camera. The rigorous surveillance system indeed detected some sneaky figures, and Chen Fei, using Xiao Jiu''s "Light Mirror Spell," took close-up photos of them, compiled them, and handed them over to Housekeeper Mars. The fate of those people, whether dead or alive, was now irrelevant to Chen Fei. However... within the Princess''s mansion, a servant and a guard displayed suspicious behavior, and their 24-hour ear-hook headphone connection was artificially blocked. The ear-hook headphones contained a "Mind Brand" magic array controlled within a certain distance by Chen Fei''s metal elemental psychic power. Attempting to block wireless signals with metal, which was the material of the device used, was pointless and the conversation was successfully recorded. Her Royal Highness the Princess and Housekeeper Mars''s concerns were undoubtedly valid; moles had always been among them, and they had hidden themselves very deeply. Apart from the servant who was always stationed at the Imperial mansion, the revealed Royal Guard turned out to be one of the veterans who followed from Blue Star back to Cangqiong Star, having already proved his loyalty through life-and-death experiences. Yet, no one expected that he would slip up so soon after returning to the Princess Mansion within the Imperial Palace. Chen Xiao''er had originally planned to use this opportunity to set a trap, aiming to catch bigger fish over time. But on the second day, Housekeeper Mars made these two individuals disappear from the Princess Mansion, their fate unknown. The explanation from Mr. Butler was that to ensure Her Royal Highness the Princess''s safety, they could not afford to take any risk, however minor. With two people suddenly missing from the mansion, especially since they were veterans who had followed the Princess for many years, it was inevitable that people felt uneasy. Many servants and guards were anxious, fearing that there might still be spies lurking among those they knew well. Princess Lin Ziyu was also deeply saddened. She wished to trust the people around her unreservedly, but contrary to her wishes, humans always had their own agendas, and acts of betrayal followed one after the other. Chen Fei, on the other hand, was quite pleased ¡ª catching two insiders meant an increase in his bonus. Being rewarded for meritorious deeds was only natural. Earning a bit more to save up for his little sister''s dowry was his plan, especially now that she even had a boyfriend. It could be that in a few years, when she graduated from her undergraduate program, they would need to get a marriage certificate and hold a wedding. As a brother, he needed to gather millions to support the event, to avoid being looked down upon by future in-laws. If that guy was smart, he would just honestly settle down with Little Sister Chen. If he dared to be even slightly troublesome, Chen Fei would wipe out his entire line! - After moping around the mansion for two days, Princess Lin Ziyu went out to clear her mind under the arrangements by Housekeeper Mars, and incidentally helped Chen Fei to visit his friend, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan. Being a friend of a Human Race to a Metallic Dragon is rare and not something to be taken as common knowledge; it could be life-threatening otherwise. Even though the new generation of Metallic Dragons no longer had the notoriously fierce reputation of their ancestors and were gradually changing their image in the minds of the Intelligent Species, they were still not beings that ordinary creatures could approach casually. In the sky, two propeller drones followed, and on the ground, four fully-armed armored vehicles escorted Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle as it left the Imperial Palace District. Once on the inner ring elevated road, they headed in another direction toward one of the sixteen Satellite Cities, the University Town. With four comprehensive universities, sixteen colleges focusing on arts and science, and over thirty vocational colleges, plus hundreds of top-tier laboratories, University Town, with nearly six hundred thousand Intelligent Species including faculty, students, and support staff, continuously provided a vast amount of talent to the Slan Dynasty, truly a talent pool for the Dynasty. After entering University Town, Princess Lin Ziyu once again sat beside Chen Fei, acting as his tour guide, introducing the schools they passed by and the planning of this satellite city. "...We just passed by Shariel Polytechnic Institute, one of the Ivy League College Alliance institutes. It used to be a Slave Academy, but now the entire college alliance has been opened to commoners and citizens. After the dynasty unified Cangqiong Star, slavery was abolished. Apart from slaves stripped of their rights due to crimes, most slaves were emancipated and given the status of commoners within the dynasty. To become a citizen with political rights, one must win a professional award, make significant contributions to society, or be assessed as a ranked talent. About two kilometers ahead is our destination, colloquially known as the Colossal-size Academy, the Spectacle Royal Academy, where all large Intelligent Species study, except for the extra-large ones." The Slan Dynasty still maintained a clearly defined social hierarchy ¨C Royal Family, nobles, citizens, commoners, and a small number of slaves. Slaves retained only the most basic right to survival; they were often criminals who had escaped the death penalty but could not avoid other penalties. However, considering humanitarian values, a slave''s child was no longer a slave and received basic human rights, achieving the status of a commoner. While still preserving feudal and slave systems, the society''s upward mobility was nevertheless open. Apart from the Royal Family, which relied on blood relations of three generations for support, from nobles to slaves, everyone could move upward or downward, including the final fairness of humanity: education. The existence of University Town was the basis of this ultimate fairness. All public libraries in the Slan Dynasty were open free of charge, even to slaves. In some ways, Cangqiong Star, which had only recently moved away from a completely feudal system, continuously sought learning and reference from Blue Star, which had multiple social systems, to plan out the most suitable social structure for itself. The convoy quickly entered a college with an unusually wide gate. Once inside, it was clear that everything about the college was exceptionally large, the dimensional proportions not at all designed for human use. Even the students were oddly shaped beings, more correctly, large and burly Magical Beasts, many of whom were no smaller than Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle. No wonder it was called the Colossal-size Academy. Many curious gazes, some near and some far, scoped out the convoy driving along the internal college road, as outsiders here were quite rare, especially from the Human Race. "Besides the Giant Dragon Clan, there are over forty other large Intelligent Species studying here." Once inside the Spectacle Royal Academy, Princess Lin Ziyu couldn''t help but relax a lot. Her current situation often brought danger, not from these Magical Beasts, but rather from the Human Race and other humanoid Intelligent Species. Chapter 610 610: Section 606 - The Third Evidence The sky darkened as several large flying species passed overhead at low altitude, their wings stirring up a violent gale that shook the roadside trees and sent countless leaves dancing chaotically into the distance. From afar, a roar thundered like a clap of lightning. "Four-Winged Sky Eagles, Fury Tide Dragons, Sandhorn Feathered Serpents, do not approach the main thoroughfare at low altitude!" Even within the Mobile Base Vehicle, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu could still hear it clearly, as if the roar carried with it a trace of psychic impact. "That voice must be the headmaster of Spectacle Royal Academy, the Psychic Giant Dragon, Illusion Dragon Clyde," Chen Fei said. Princess Lin Ziyu immediately recognized who was roaring. It was hard to imagine that a generally temperate member of the Illusion Dragon Race could display such irritability. Even the most even-tempered would turn berserk when faced with a bunch of clueless young intelligent species. "Chirp!" Little Bird''s claws were fitted with a leg ring designed to resist psychic attacks, totally ignoring the minor mental shock. Within the entirety of Spectacle Royal Academy, no bird would casually let out a shout like that and not scare everyone away. "Take a right at the intersection ahead; the largest building is the one. Yilan is inside, attending an open class," Princess Lin Ziyu continued to give directions. Each member of the Metallic Dragon Clan had a tracking module, so Yilan''s exact location was easy to find. The summer vacation for high school students had already begun. Some of the Metallic Dragon youths chose to lie flat and wait to be fed, idly wasting time, while others went to factories and mines to work for pocket money to satisfy their cravings. Some looked after their younger siblings in the Young Dragon Garden, acting as the king of the kids, and a very few continued to study diligently. Chen Fei had not anticipated that Yilan, who was still attending high school, would take advantage of the summer vacation to sit in on college classes. Such diligence was rare not only among the Metallic Dragons but also within the entire Dragon Clan. In a large forest, one finds birds of every feather, and even within the Metallic Dragon Clan, there are a few exceptional cases. A colossal roofless building resembling a beast-fighting arena was merely a classroom in Spectacle Royal Academy. Without a roof or ceiling, there wasn''t much need for architectural mechanics, making it relatively easy to construct and rebuild at low cost. The classroom''s interior was the size of a standard football stadium that could seat fifty thousand spectators, with well-arranged tiered platforms to accommodate large Intelligent Species to find their suitable spots. A Tree Boundary Ape led the way for the party comprising Princess Lin Ziyu; it was one of the professors here responsible for the natural sciences courses. The teaching staff at the academy was not limited to large Intelligent Species, but as time passed, such large species were likely to become more numerous, turning Spectacle Royal Academy into a true Colossal-size Academy where colossal creatures both learned and taught. At first sight of this Tree Boundary Ape, Chen Fei almost mistook it for Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu''an, his former battle companion, except that this ape appeared younger and stronger. Most Tree Boundary Apes hail from the Tree Sea Great Forest on the Mirei Continent, and Lulu''an might even be related to this one. Standing at the center of the classroom was a Demon Race professor, sporting deep purple skin, bulging muscles, broad fangs, standing over three meters tall, and possessing sharp bone spurs on his head and joints to aid in close combat. If he had not been dressed in a neatly pressed suit with his hair done neatly and styled, you might think he was a genuine Demon Tribe Ferocious Berserker holding a bloody wolf-tooth club and wearing only a draped piece of beast skin. In fact, this Demon Race professor was an authentic spellcaster, simultaneously teaching and using spells to create images in mid-air. The classroom featured no blackboards, desks, or paper textbooks and exercise books. However, atop each large Intelligent Species student''s head was a custom-made psychic-enhancing Alchemical Artifact, using magic power to convert to spiritual power for prolonged output and precise control. They expertly used stylus pens to interact with the large tablet screens before them, taking notes diligently. A bunch of Magical Beasts capable of casting spells studying with technology was a scene you would not see on Blue Star, akin to a fantastical CG painting. "... Based on Blue Star''s ''Great World Tree Origin Theory,'' and furthering this idea, I propose a new hypothesis: the ''Great World Tree Plane Theory.'' It is well known that the starry sky of Cangqiong Star is vastly different from that of Blue Star. Blue Star is located in the Solar System, which lies on the inner edge of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way is part of the Local Group within the Virgo Supercluster, whereas Cangqiong Star is in the Holy Sun System, which is situated on the outer edge of the Celestial River System''s Wind Dark Arm, part of the Giant Constellation Supercluster. Despite our best efforts with computers and radio telescopes, we are unable to locate each other''s constellation groups, suggesting that Blue Star and Cangqiong Star are in separate Planar worlds, aligning with the Superstring M-Theory to some extent¡ªthis is the first piece of evidence. According to observations from Blue Star, the universe is around 13.82 billion years old, but from Cangqiong Star''s vantage, it appears to be about 16.51 billion years old, further proving the two planets are not in the same universe. We are different leaves on the cosmic World Tree, similar yet distinct¡ªthis is the second piece of evidence. Now, can anyone guess what the third piece of evidence is?" The muscular Demon Race professor spoke confidently amidst a crowd of large Intelligent Species students, immediately capturing the attention of Princess Lin Ziyu and her companions as they entered the classroom. "Wow, it''s the ''Great World Tree Origin Theory'' speculation again!" This speculation has always been a hot topic in universities, endlessly popular. Chen Fei had heard interpretations of this speculation when he was in college. Cangqiong Star went even further, now even deducing newer theories and proposing evidence, each one as shocking as a thunderclap, beyond what one could have imagined. As he listened to the Demon Race professor''s lecture, he looked around the entire classroom. Every large intelligent species'' physical characteristics were quite prominent; in comparison to the fierce appearance of the Metallic Dragons, they didn''t stand out as much, but relying on his Metal Elemental Psychic Power''s reaction, Chen quickly spotted two Metallic Dragons in one corner. But... which one was Yilan? In the eyes of the Human Race, dragons of the same Element looked almost identical, and vice versa. "Have you found them?" Princess Lin Ziyu was also looking around, but to no avail; the platforms were all so large, and without Chen''s Visual Assistance Skills, she couldn''t distinguish among the large intelligent species in a short time. "Found them, let''s head over there. Um, or do you want to wait here for me?" Chen hesitated, Yilan could have a reasonable conversation with him, but the temperament of the other Metallic Dragon beside her was unknown. Princess Lin Ziyu confidently stated, "Don''t worry about me. The Slan Royal Family understands every Metallic Dragon like the back of their hand." It could be said that almost all of the Metallic Dragons born in the past millennium grew up under the watchful eyes of members of the Slan Royal Family; any disobedient young dragons had long been disciplined to be obedient. Just at that moment, a large Earth Elemental Magical Beast named Ferrero, its body as big as a locomotive and covered in brown-yellow armor pieces, slapped its paw on the platform''s floor and said loudly, "Professor Malukard, I guess it should be Magical Elemental Energy. The eleven types of Elemental Energy are the source of the Great World Tree''s growth. Our Cangqiong Star is in a plane that is closer to the root, so we can share the active Elemental Energy. Blue Star, however, is in a plane further away from the root where the Elemental Energy has settled, which is why they have no magic and can only follow the path of mechanical and technological civilization!" Ferrero also had some advertisements printed on its body, making some pocket money shamelessly. The most heavily advertised creatures were none other than the colossal-size species; among the Magical Beasts, the Xuanyu Huang Star tribes, who sported moving video ads, offered an excellent visual effect while flying midair. The Magical Beasts didn''t mind these at all; some even treated it as unique tattoos to show off. Everyone was satisfied¡ªearning Star Yuan, standing out individuals, and reinforcing individuality. "Hmm! Very good, a progressive way of thinking!" The Demon Race professor immediately affirmed the answer given by the student Ferrero, much to the big guy''s delight as its armor pieces vibrated and rubbed together, making a rustling sound. "Professor, perhaps there''s not just one Great World Tree. Cangqiong Star and Blue Star might not necessarily be on the same Great Tree World." Once thoughts diverged, another large intelligent species student threw out an explosively speculative idea. It was a Dark Element amphibious Magical Beast, the Abyss Serpent, coiled up with a body covered in three rows of long bone spines. Despite its frightening appearance, it was a genuine Rational Species Magical Beast with the ability to speak¡ªor more accurately, it used mental shocks to vibrate the air to produce sound. "That''s indeed possible, but according to the third piece of evidence I have, both planets should be on the same Great World Tree. Any other answers?" Even though the idea was a bit wild, the Demon Race professor still greatly encouraged this capacity for self-reflection. After two responses, he hoped to receive even more, continuing to prompt students to speak up eagerly. Whether the answers were right or wrong didn''t matter as much as the experience of engaging in the discussion. Aside from appearances, these large intelligent species students were almost indistinguishable from the students in Human Race academies. In Cangqiong Star, where numerous intelligent species coexist, racial discrimination has never had any room to survive. In the classroom, the size of a standard soccer field, buzzes and hums echoed constantly, supplemented by the mode of conversation that involved mental force fluctuations as the large intelligent species students chatted with one another. Chen didn''t disturb the two Metallic Dragons deep in thought but followed the small path between the platforms to reach the one where they were situated, along with Princess Lin Ziyu. Chapter 611 611: Soul "Chirp!" The Little Bird on Princess Lin Ziyu''s shoulder called out. The two Metallic Dragons who had been listening intently noticed the movement behind them and turned around together. "Oh? Her Royal Highness the Princess, who are you?" As one of them recognized Princess Lin Ziyu, it immediately fixed its gaze on Chen Fei, and its tone began to grow unfriendly. While the Metallic Dragon clan was usually polite to the Slan Royal Family, the same could not be guaranteed towards strangers, and it openly revealed its fearsome fangs. The Dragon of Slaughter''s fearsome reputation was no legend. "Hello, Yilan!" Through the process of elimination, Chen Fei immediately knew which of the Metallic Dragons was Yilan, and he also found the shape of her Tail Spear very familiar. He had once heard from Yilan that a particularly useful skill to differentiate Metallic Dragons was by observing their tails, as each dragon''s Tail Spear was a unique trait. "Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh? Chen, Chen, Chen Fei! Is it you?" True enough, the other Metallic Dragon was indeed the Yilan that Chen Fei knew, who let out a familiar sound of surprise. She was about to push her kin aside to rush in front of Chen Fei, but saw him make a silencing gesture and said, "Class first, we''ll talk after class!" After all, learning came first, and Chen Xiao''er did not want to get hung up and beaten by the Demon Race Professor for disrupting classroom discipline. The professor''s size alone was intimidating enough. "Class will be over soon, so... shall we chat later?" The courses of Professor Malukard from the Demon Tribe were always difficult, and Yilan did not want to miss out, so she nodded apologetically to Chen Fei, who also smiled and nodded back. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan turned her head back to focus on the lecture in the open-air classroom. The Metallic Dragon that had shown its fangs to Chen Fei lowered its voice and asked softly, "Sister Yilan, who is that vile creature?" Even though the voice was soft, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu, who were standing behind the two Metallic Dragons, heard everything clearly. "Sorry, the education of these young dragons still needs to be improved!" Educating Metallic Dragons was a duty of the Slan Royal Family, and Lin Ziyu proactively apologized to Chen Fei for the other dragon''s rudeness. Among the dragons under a thousand years old, many were brats, and their education could not be neglected for a moment. Chen Fei magnanimously said, "No problem, I understand. Let''s listen to the class together. It''s quite interesting!" Out of respect for Yilan, he chose not to take issues with the young impudent dragon. If that dragon were alone and still dared to be so aggressive, Chen Xiao''er would definitely stuff a Dragon Slayer Missile right into its gaping, fanged mouth. "Stop it! Chen Fei is my friend!" Yilan lifted a claw and pinned her little brother to the platform, rendering him immobile, leaving only his Tail Spear helplessly swinging behind him, weak and pitiful. Under the guidance of Professor Malukard from the Demon Race, the atmosphere in the open-air classroom grew very lively. The students, all Large Intelligent Magical Beasts, actively participated in discussions, and even Yilan, who was auditing, spoke a few words and received the professor''s praise. Right or wrong aside, participation was crucial, as scholarly attitude often mattered more than academic results. "Everyone''s contributions are excellent; it seems you have all thought deeply about this," Professor Malukard nodded slightly toward the platform where the two Metallic Dragons sat, clearly acknowledging the presence of the Imperial Princess. Since he was still conducting the class, he could only greet her briefly and continued, "The third piece of evidence, proving that Cangqiong Star and Blue Star are part of the same ''Great World Tree Plane Theory''... is a crucial piece of evidence." Practically all of the Intelligent Species perked up their ears, even holding their breath. If the furtherance of the ''Great World Tree Origin Theory'' into the ''Great World Tree Plane Theory'' could be substantiated, it would be a groundbreaking discovery. "Spirit!" Professor Malukard raised a sharply nailed finger, his voice echoing through the open-air classroom, and before many students could voice their objections, he said, "Just as a tree does not have identical leaves, there are no identical planes in the Great World Tree. However, there can be identical spirits. Across countless planes, there can be countless versions of you. While appearances may differ, and perhaps even life forms, the essence of the spirit remains unchanged." The third piece of evidence was truly revolutionary, eliciting a range of astonished noises from all present beings. "Different planes, the same spirit? What an astonishing theory!" It was the first time Princess Lin Ziyu had heard such a hypothesis, and it was utterly mind-boggling. To exist in myriad forms across different planes was not the work of ordinary beings but of gods! More surprisingly, all beings were the same. "How is that possible?" "Aren''t souls unique? Once you die, that''s really it, all gone! Not even a next life!" "It''s unimaginable! Absolutely astonishing!" "How many ''me''s'' are there, after all?" "Blue Star and Cangqiong Star are not the same plane, could there also be a ''me'' on Blue Star? How come I didn''t know, why hasn''t he she they called me, what does this mean, am I looking down on myself?..." Some large Intelligent Species found this incomprehensible, their minds becoming a complete mess. The open-air classroom also turned into a complete mess! "That''s really impressive!" Chen Fei was utterly impressed by the Demon Race Professor''s theory, scholars from Blue Star really should come here for a deeper exchange. Although evolving along different civilizational paths, Cangqiong Star and Blue Star each had their merits, with Blue Star preceding with the "Great World Tree Origin Theory," and Cangqiong Star immediately following up with an even more astonishing "Great World Tree Plane Theory," which even included a speculation about souls. It is said that Metallic Dragons are bold, and Yilan, the auditing student, loudly questioned, "Professor, isn''t this evidence a bit insufficient? Is there any concrete proof from reality, such as two identical souls that have been confirmed?" The existence of souls had been confirmed, but their true nature was still without any substantial progress, both on Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. "This... there indeed is! There is a known example in reality." The bespectacled Demon Race Professor, Malukard, certainly did not disappoint the Intelligent Species; he persisted relentlessly. He not only proposed the speculation but also found compelling proof. If all three pieces of evidence were confirmed, then "Great World Tree Plane Theory" would no longer be speculation but an established truth; thus, "Great World Tree Origin Theory" would also be proven. For both Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, the entire Great World would not just consist of their own existences but also countless planes awaiting exploration by the two civilizations, with a future journey comprising not only a sea of stardust but also infinite planes. The open-air classroom quieted down again, as all Intelligent Species silently waited for the moment when the truth would be revealed. "The last Dragon Rider, Lord of the Sky, Mo Lin, had another name, Lin Mo; he found his other soul. It''s unknown whether it was Mo Lin who found Lin Mo or Lin Mo who found Mo Lin, but the souls of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star miraculously merged into one." The Demon Race Professor threw out his strongest proof, and the classroom did not erupt in chaos as if a pond had been blasted, but instead, it remained eerily silent. The attending Intelligent Species students looked at each other, and no one took the initiative to speak first. "Your Royal Highness the Princess, is this true?" Chen Fei looked at Princess Lin Ziyu with an inquiring gaze. The Crown Prince and Princess of the Slan Dynasty, both offspring of the Lord of the Sky, possessed such a lineage that solidified the dynastic rule of Cangqiong Star like a fortress. "It seems, indeed, there is such a matter! Father never mentioned it, but there is a Dragon Rider, Mo Lin on Cangqiong Star and a Pilot, Lin Mo on Blue Star; somehow the two became one, the Dragon Rider''s contract remained effective, so the soul underwent no changes." Princess Lin Ziyu also found it hard to comprehend how two real people could merge into one; it could probably only be described by an unimaginable miracle. If it weren''t for the miracle, their father, later known as Lord of the Sky, would have likely perished in the spatial turbulence long ago, and they, his children, might also not have been born into this world. Perhaps, it was precisely due to possessing a powerful merged soul that their father achieved his current successes, gaining the common veneration of two civilized planets. Although she was unaware where the Demon Race professor had derived his clues from, for the time being, it seemed to be the closest speculation to the truth. "Today''s lesson ends here. Welcome, Princess Lin Ziyu, to your visit at Spectacle Royal Academy!" After having profoundly shaken all the students, Professor Malukard once again formally bowed towards the platform where the Princess was seated, announcing the end of the lecture. The large Intelligent Species students might need quite a long time to digest these three pieces of evidence for the "Great World Tree Plane Theory," each more astonishing than the last, with the final one even involving the Lord of the Sky. "..." As the remarks involved her father, Princess Lin Ziyu had to maintain her silence. But to the other large Intelligent Species students, the silence of the Princess signified acquiescence, amplifying the tumultuous waves in their hearts even more, making the "Great World Tree Plane Theory" seem very likely to be the truth, with identical souls apparently existing in different planes. "What an incredible lesson indeed!" Yilan, a female Metallic Dragon, quickly organized her notes, Blade Wing meticulously clasped her tablet screen, and stowed it within her body. The tablets used in class by Metallic Dragons were not external objects but evolved parts of their own bodies; naturally, the content of the lessons had been recorded, and although she operated without spiritual power, it was more convenient and direct than other Intelligent Species. Yilan turned back to Chen Fei. "Once again, seriously and formally, it''s been a long time, Chen Fei, my friend, a good friend, a friend of Yilan''s!" Chapter 612 612: Section 608 - Bite, Dont Talk Being unruly often meant having no friends. Metallic Dragons were almost entirely disconnected from the word "friend"¡ªeven among their own kind, it was normal for them not to get along. Even among the rare exceptions in the Metallic Dragons, the female Yilan still didn''t have many Intelligent Species she could confide in. "..." The other Metallic Dragon, whose head had been pressed down all this while, shook its head, looked at Sister Yilan, then at Chen Fei, and didn''t dare to even let out a fart. Yilan''s prestige among the many young dragons was not just due to her good grades, but also because she was quite capable of fighting. It didn''t matter if they complied or not; she would drag them out and beat them up, considering a "brat" worth beating up eight times a day was hardly excessive. "Haha, Yilan, you''re too kind! Oh, I brought you a little gift." A pure titanium rod, weighing 100 kilograms, appeared in Chen Fei''s hand. He had used 1 Energy Point to exchange for a ton of pure titanium, which on Cangqiong Star was called mithril. "Chirp!" The little bird on the Princess''s shoulder eyed Yilan and chirped. It might, perhaps, probably recognize this Metallic Dragon from before. "Eh?" Not just Yilan, the other Metallic Dragon''s eyes also lit up, and it immediately became uncontrollably excited. "Sis, sis, mithril, mithril, it''s mithril, hey, little ant, hand over the mithril, I''ll leave you a whole corpse...ow!" It was again pinned down by Yilan''s claw, left with only its tail weakly wagging. It''s easy to change empires, but nature is hard to alter. Despite Cangqiong Star''s diameter being so large, the reserves and distribution of titanium (mithril) were sparse, far less than on Blue Star, and the already scarce mithril had always maintained a high price with no surplus available for feeding dragons. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan didn''t rush up to cling onto the mithril rod and aggressively devour it, but instead hesitated. "This gift is too precious!" Even though the interstellar quota trade between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star somewhat eased the tight mithril supply on Cangqiong Star, reducing prices, the overall reserves, while not small on Blue Star, still made mining and smelting the titanium known as mithril a difficult process, as titanium products were considered high-end metallic materials. "It''s okay, Yilan, as long as you like it!" Chen Fei smiled and handed over the mithril rod, which was one-tenth of the pure titanium he had exchanged. Giving a big rod across borders, a gift light in weight but heavy in friendship. Back in the day, one human and one dragon at Aircrew Base 911 shared differently flavored alloy ingots together. Energy Points could be freely exchanged in the Dog System for most metals on the periodic table, excluding rare earth elements. This skill was somewhat bugged, perhaps involving rules concerning the number of protons and neutrons at the nuclear level¡ªabsorbing iron but being able to exchange for an equivalent weight of gold, but not something to be misused frivolously. To give an example, Chen Xiao''er once, on a whim, exchanged for 1000 tons of gold... Many sovereignties didn''t even have that much reserve, and the global price of gold would unquestionably plummet by countless percentage points. So, undoubtedly, the next day his head would be hanging on the flagpole of the Central Bank, dancing with the evening wind and setting sun. "Then... I''ll accept it!" The allure of mithril for Metallic Dragons was unparalleled. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan didn''t hesitate for long, grabbed the glittery all-metal rod, and released her little brother who couldn''t move. She pressed down on the mithril rod with her claw and, using her fangs, gently tugged at it, sending sparks flying. The highly durable mithril rod was forcibly torn into two pieces right there and then. "Sis, that little... hm!!!" Clang! "This is yours, bite down, don''t talk!" The younger Metallic Dragon brother hadn''t finished speaking when a piece of the rod was shoved into his mouth. The next second, he was dumbstruck. What did a mouthful of mithril mean? This was heaven! Yilan crunched her half of the mithril rod, swallowing it entirely, licked her lips contentedly, and thanked Chen Fei again, "Chen Fei, I''ve received your sentiment! Let''s go on a date!" Indeed, she was a straightforward female Metallic Dragon! "Eh?" ¡Á3 Clang! Both Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu were taken aback simultaneously. And the younger brother, who was blissfully gnawing on his half of the mithril rod, looked stunned. The other half fell to the platform floor unnoticed as he hesitated, looking at Sister Yilan and then at Chen Fei¡ªright, that''s a human, small, short, with no tail, no claws, no horns, no Blade Wings, and certainly not a Metallic Dragon! How did things end up going in such a weird direction? "Your Highness! I am Demon Race Professor Malukard, honored to be a first-level professor at the academy, and welcome your arrival!" The Demon Race professor, Malukard, who had just proposed the "Great World Tree Plane Theory" in class, hurried over after packing up his lecture materials. It was a significant event when members of the royal family visited the Spectacle Royal Academy; logically and emotionally, he felt obligated to come and pay his respects. "Hello, Professor Malukard! Your theory is very novel; it has taught me a lot!" Princess Lin Ziyu bowed to him. The Spectacle Royal Academy, funded by the royal family, deserved respect for its academic achievements, regardless of species. Just like on Blue Star, in a peaceful and stable environment, cultured individuals were more likely to attain social status. The large intelligent species students, realizing an important person had arrived at this open-air classroom, gathered around from various platforms high and low. "Eh? Your Highness? It''s Her Royal Highness the Princess!" "Princess Lin Ziyu is here!" "It''s the princess, the princess is here!" "The princess is my idol; I want an autograph..." "..." Astonishingly, among the students were devoted fans of the princess, and they seemed to be very enthusiastic admirers, a truly bizarre occurrence. As these large figures crowded around, the sky itself seemed to darken, their immense size immediately creating a sense of oppression. The accompanying royal guards and Winged Warriors sprang into action, standing in a large circle around the princess, Chen Fei, and two Metallic Dragons, watching the giants warily. "Back off! Back off! Keep your distance! What are you crowding around for?" The professor, unlike his approachable demeanor during the lecture, rebuked them harshly. The Imperial Princess belonged to the Human Race, unlike these tough-skinned foolishly large students. If something unfortunate happened, the entire academy might be held accountable. The large intelligent species students immediately stepped back, still excitedly gazing at the imperial dignitary from a platform or two away. "I am truly sorry, but the students are not inherently bad. Please forgive their rashness, Your Highness!" Professor Malukard heaved a slight sigh of relief and apologized again. Princess Lin Ziyu, quite used to such situations, responded indifferently, "It''s alright, I can understand!" Not only were the large intelligent species students prone to such acts, but even ordinary Human Race students would have done the same. They were merely curious and more excited, harboring no ill intentions. "Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness. However, this is not the place to talk. Please, come to my office. I have some fine tea there. By the way, may I ask, do you have a particular reason for visiting the academy?" Professor Malukard warmly invited the princess and her party to his office while cautiously probing. "I''m sorry to intrude, it''s nothing important. I''m just accompanying my friend here to find this one, the Metallic Dragon, Yilan." Princess Lin Ziyu gestured toward one of the two Metallic Dragons. "Eh? It''s really you they''re looking for, sister!" The silly younger brother finally snapped out of his stupor, hurriedly picking up the fallen half-piece of Mithril Rod and swiftly swallowing it in one gulp. Though he ate it like Zhu Bajie consuming Ginseng Fruit, unable to savor the taste of Mithril any further, it was safe inside his stomach, truly his own once swallowed. Like other giant dragons, the taste buds of Metallic Dragons were located in their mouths. Although they could absorb metal through body contact, they lacked gustatory experience. "Oh, Yilan, Cobalt Luo, you two come as well!" Professor Malukard nodded at the two Metallic Dragons. Rarely does a university prohibit attending lectures, and as they frequented, he naturally learned their names. Cobalt Luo was Yilan''s brother, not by blood, but they had hatched together; Yilan had hatched a year earlier. After starting elementary school, she quickly advanced grades and was now a high school student. Cobalt Luo, with average academic talent, hadn''t skipped grades and remained at the elementary level. Yilan often attended lectures at Spectacle Royal Academy, with her little follower, Cobalt Luo tagging along. Whether he understood or not, probably only the heavens knew. "Let''s go!" Chen Fei nodded to Yilan. As for any mentions of a date, he pretended not to hear. While the academy was for large intelligent species, the teaching staff and administrative personnel were not all large intelligent species. However, the office was still grand and spacious. Unlike the roof-less outdoor classrooms, the office was designed to be semi-open, allowing easy access for large intelligent species while also equipped with a large magic barrier to protect against wind, rain, and temperature changes. Professor Malukard''s office was like a hall for the human-sized, with a desk and bookshelves on a high platform under a roof. Below, completely open to the air, was designated for hosting large intelligent species, offering ample room for activities without conflicts. With the princess''s party and the two Metallic Dragons present, the office space remained uncluttered, and even if ten or more dragons arrived, it would still be manageable. "Yilan, Cobalt Luo, would you like some tea?" After preparing tea for Princess Lin Ziyu and Chen Fei, the professor then attended to the two dragons. "Metallic Dragons don''t drink..." Clang! The talkative younger brother was smacked to the ground again as Yilan said, "No, thank you, professor." Metallic Dragons were satisfied with metal; they did not need tea, nor could they taste it. The same words spoken by different dragons could lead to completely opposite outcomes. Chapter 613 613: Section 609 - Communication "Sorry, I don''t have any blocks of iron here either!" Professor Malukard had never imagined that one day he would be hosting Metallic Dragons, so he was utterly unprepared. Even though he still had some metallic coins in his hand, he feared they wouldn''t even be enough to fill the gaps in a Metallic Dragon''s teeth. There were also larger metallic objects in the office, but they were all useful and couldn''t be offered to feed the dragon. The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, politely said, "It''s alright, Professor, you are already hosting us." "We just ate... mmph mmph mmph!" Bang! The mute little brother Cobalt Luo was held down again and could not make a sound. Mithril and such should not be casually mentioned, after all, even on Blue Star, 100 kilograms of titanium is quite a sum of Star Yuan. There is no need to broadcast it for everyone to know. Whether it was Chen Fei or Princess Lin Ziyu, or even the Demon Race Professor, they had gradually become accustomed to these scenarios. There was nothing out of the ordinary for Metallic Dragons, who were inherently in need of discipline. Only this time, the disciplinarian was also a Metallic Dragon. However, Professor Malukard once again apologized to Princess Lin Ziyu, "I apologize to you once again, Your Royal Highness the Princess, my theory involved the Lord of the Sky, which was somewhat improper." The Lord of the Sky was the father of the Crown Prince and Princess. "Dual Souls as One" could, to a certain extent, be regarded as someone''s personal privacy. In order to validate his own speculation, he had no choice but to bring up this significant figure as confirmation, inevitably involving the royal family in the process. "It''s no problem, Professor Malukard, you don''t need to apologize, and it''s not really a secret anyway." The identity of Dragon Knight Mo Lin from Cangqiong Star being the same as Pilot Lin Mo from Blue Star was even publicly known information. Besides, it was all for the sake of academia; Princess Lin Ziyu, being a scholar herself, naturally understood everything Professor Malukard was doing. When it came to academic matters, as long as it wasn''t about spreading rumors or distorting facts, the royal family wouldn''t hold it against anyone. If they were to take issue with everything, Cangqiong Star was too vast for it to be practical. The words of Her Royal Highness the Princess, to a certain extent, also represented the stance of the Slan Royal Family. "Thank you very much!" The Demon Race Professor Malukard shifted his gaze and focused on Chen Fei, saying, "I didn''t expect that Mr. Chen Fei would be able to make friends with Metallic Dragons. Such a situation is indeed quite rare." The close relationship between humans and dragons was rare but not unheard of. The atmosphere of the "Great World Tree Plane" conjecture still lingered as the Demon Race Professor began to size up Chen Fei. The occupational hazard of a scholar took hold, and he couldn''t help but try to validate some theory upon seeing anything. Noticing the peculiar interest in the scholar''s gaze, Chen Fei couldn''t help but smile and said, "Sorry! I''m not quite like the Lord of the Sky; I''m not Dual Souls as One. Look, my other soul is right there, on the Princess''s shoulder!" "Eh?" Princess Lin Ziyu, hearing Chen Fei''s words, turned her head in confusion, looking at the little creature on her shoulder. Her cheeks instantly flushed red, feeling a bit fluttered at being flirted with inadvertently. Chen Xiao''er was younger than she was; those seemingly slick words were probably unintentional! Professor Malukard followed Chen Fei''s gaze. "Chirp?" Little Bird tilted its head, wondering why such an ordinary self had suddenly become the center of attention, scared enough to flap its little wings and fly back to Chen Fei''s shoulder. "Ah, indeed, that''s possible!" The Demon Race Professor laughed. He was just talking, not even taking his own words seriously. There are trillions upon trillions of beings in every plane, all with spirits. Perhaps in one plane, a soul is human; in another, it might be a planet or even a rock. For the same souls from different planes to encounter one another is a stroke of incredible luck. The Lord of the Sky''s fortune is serendipitous and cannot be sought after. Such a chance occurrence has likely exhausted all probability and may never happen again in the future. "Chen Fei, how did you come to Cangqiong Star?" The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, was curious to have encountered Chen Fei in the Spectacle Royal Academy. An employee of a mere military contractor might spend a lifetime in the wild at an Aircrew Base without much chance of visiting another planet. The inter-plane visa checks between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star were always strict, and the price of tickets through the Dimensional Gate wasn''t cheap. Most travelers were there for business or official activities. The gate was mainly used for the flow of materials, and individual or group tourism wasn''t common compared to interstellar trade quotas. The tourism economy was not the leading sector. "It''s official business. I accepted a commission to protect Her Royal Highness the Princess from Blue Star to Cangqiong Star, and I''m currently within the commission period." Chen Fei held Little Bird, placing it back on Princess Lin Ziyu''s shoulder. The extension of the commission period was simply a matter of paying extra fees, and, for him, the actual workload hadn''t increased by much. "Chen Fei, you had a tough journey!" Princess Lin Ziyu was generous with her praise for her guardian. Had it not been for Chen Fei, she might have encountered misfortune along the way, ultimately fulfilling the wishes of some factions. Chen Fei politely said, "You''re too kind, Your Highness. It''s all part of the job." The princess had paid to avoid disaster, so everything he had done was part of his duties. Yilan unexpectedly said, "Chen Fei, you can ask me for help, oh, it''s only right for friends to help each other." It wasn''t just about friends helping one another; adult metallic dragons were supported by the royal family, guarding the "Halo," while the younger dragons were raised by the royal family, so it was only natural to protect the members of the royal household. Chen Fei said with a smile, "Haha, there''s no need, my friend. Why use a cleaver to kill a chicken? If Yilan you were to take action, those jumping clowns wouldn''t dare to show up at all! But having your word makes me happy already, and if I ever need your help, I definitely won''t be shy to ask." It really was about the loyalty between good friends. Although Yilan was an oddity among the metallic dragons, she seemed quite reliable. "Then it''s a deal!" Yilan nodded her dragon head emphatically. If it weren''t for Crown Prince Lin Zio''s plotting, hiring a giant dragon as a personal bodyguard would otherwise be a fine choice for the royal family¡ªas long as they were well-fed, they were nearly willing to do anything. For many metallic dragons, their stomachs were more important than their brains. Without the support of the Silan Royal Family, the whole species might still be struggling to make ends meet. "I, Sister Yilan, am very impressive. I''d fight gods or buddhas that I encounter, and even if I met the Lord of the Sky..." Clang! The mute Cobalt Luo sprawled on the ground once more, muttering softly, "Meeting the Master of the Firmament would only mean getting killed!" A mere juvenile dragon harboring delusions of using the Master of the Firmament to gain fame and fortune was utterly foolish. "If you don''t speak, no one will treat you as a mute!" Yilan scraped a few sparks and clearly visible claw marks into Cobalt Luo''s head, finally letting go of this fellow who had blurted out the unvarnished truth. For a metallic dragon, it took but a moment for the sharp claw marks on their head to vanish without a trace. It just hurt a bit, but never mind, there wasn''t a brain in there anyway. "Chen Fei, if you have the time, I can take you around the different districts of the Imperial Capital. I''ve done travel guides before." Yilan extended an enthusiastic invitation to Chen Fei. Had it not been for the protection duty he still had for the princess, she would have taken him away without a word of explanation. After all, when Chen Fei was at the 911 Aircrew Base, he had taken Yilan out for wild play in the wilderness and even frolicked with the local Patan Elementary School students. After chatting with the female metallic dragon Yilan and the Demon Race Professor Malukard for a while, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu took their leave. On the way back to the Imperial Palace District, Princess Lin Ziyu, once again sitting in the passenger seat, said, "I didn''t expect you to be so good at socializing, making friends even with metallic dragons." Chen Fei, who was driving, said, "It''s not my social skills; it''s just good luck. Yilan isn''t the first metallic dragon I''ve dealt with." Right, the first metallic dragon that had "greeted" Chen Fei was sent off by him with a Dragon Slayer Missile. "That sounds kind of scary." Princess Lin Ziyu finally recalled the rumors about Chen Fei. Dragon Slayer! A cruel man who doesn''t spare even himself when vicious. At first, she thought it was Chen Fei who was bold enough to make friends with metallic dragons, but it now seemed that it was the female metallic dragon Yilan who was truly bold, daring to associate with someone who had killed her own kind. Wasn''t she afraid for her life? Would a metallic dragon be afraid for its life? Eh?! Never mind, never mind! These creatures were only afraid of hunger, not death. A metallic dragon ravenous with hunger was far more fearsome than parasitic species of ten thousand years ago, which was why they had been sent to fight in battles beyond the skies in exchange for sustenance. Yilan: I''ve returned to my dorm! (location sent) After the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" handed over the Underlying Core Control Key, Chen Fei finally installed a communication app in his own brain to keep in sync with his phone. Just like with Adam, the text messages Yilan sent would appear in his visual interface. Chen Fei: On the way, might get stuck in traffic later. There was no need to send a location since he was not alone; the movements of the Imperial Princess had to be kept secret, even from good friends. Despite dedicated traffic alleviation for the royal family, the main thoroughfare between the Satellite City and the main city district was still showing signs of crowding with both vehicles and pedestrian magical beasts. In a super-metropolis with a population of over ten million, getting congested like a mutt during rush hour was a daily occurrence. Yilan: How much longer is your mission? Because it wasn''t appropriate to ask in the presence of the princess, she sent a text now instead. Chen Fei: Not sure, short as a month, long as half a year. The duration of his assignment depended entirely upon the resolution and decisiveness of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Come to think of it, if it weren''t for those factions jumping around, Chen Fei probably would never see Yilan again, no wonder the female metallic dragon was so surprised and delighted upon seeing him. Chapter 614 614: Section 610 - The Despised Chen Xiaoer 24 hours ago, Chen Fei had been talking to Yilan, a friend from the Metallic Dragons, about the task of protecting Her Royal Highness the Princess¡ª it would last at least a month, and at most half a year. But now, he had been dismissed! It had just been one day, who would believe it if he told them? Yes, the commission had ended, and he could finally stay wherever it was cool, rolling as far away as possible. The retribution for that flag-planting came all too quickly. The morning after returning from the Spectacle Royal Academy, Her Royal Highness the Princess did not get up on time as usual; her close Shadow Guard, Lize Jina, tried to wake her but couldn''t, no matter how she tried. Little Bird also released Light Healing Spells, but still, to no avail. Housekeeper Mars hurriedly summoned a doctor, only to find that the princess was not suffering from an illness but had been cursed with a spell that kept her in a deep, unwakeable sleep. No one knew which daring magician had secretly cast the curse, and it was also a very tricky and strange curse. Because of this, Chen Fei was held accountable, his commission was terminated, and he, along with Little Bird, was expelled from the Imperial Palace. It was his fault for taking the princess to meet some damned friend of the Metallic Dragons, leaving them vulnerable to attack. The Spectacle Royal Academy, known publicly as the Colossal-size Academy, obviously wasn''t as safe as it appeared on the surface. Marukard, the Demon Race Professor who had once received Chen Fei and the princess, was also implicated and thus invited to the Imperial Security Department for tea and couldn''t return to the academy for the time being; he might even lose his job. A series of sudden events caught Chen Fei unprepared, and by the time he came to his senses, he and Xiao Jiu were already standing outside the great gates of the Imperial Palace. Yilan: Chen Fei! You''ve finally completed your mission! It seemed Yilan had also received the news. Chen Fei opened the "Mission List" in his Dog System interface. According to past practice, there should be new missions here! But the "Mission List" only showed two old tasks, clear at a glance¡ªone unserious, and one serious. 1. Slay Dragon Knight Lin Mo (Mo Lin) and gain 9999999 Energy Points! 2. Devour 1 ton of metal and gain +1 Energy Point ((Daily Task). There were no new missions, meaning there were no new pieces of intelligence to be referenced for analysis. Had the Dog System also gone cold? Chen Fei raised his right hand, looking at the bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact with a contemplative expression. Chen Fei: Maybe so! Yilan: If there''s nothing else, let''s have a date! This female Metallic Dragon had been preoccupied with Little Chen. Chen Fei: I need to report to my girlfriend first. Yilan: Great, where are you? The Imperial Palace District? Wait for me, I''ll be there soon. Both the man and the dragon seemed a bit abnormal. Chen Fei was serious, though; he took out his phone and made a video call. "Huh? Chen Fei, aren''t you on a mission? How come you have time?" Shen Fei, who had parted ways after the great battle in the Abyssal Gladiatorial of Africa, had already returned to her homeland with her father, Vice President Shen Songling. "The mission is on hold for now." With the princess suddenly cursed, Chen Fei always felt there was something very suspicious about it, so he hadn''t reached a conclusion yet. "Oh! If the mission is troublesome, come back early, okay? And take a look at those students for me." Shen Fei, who had been teaching near the Aircrew Base for years, naturally understood that the kind of work Chen Fei was doing was not easy, especially since this mission involved the Silan Royal Family, the waters were deep beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Sometimes a phone conversation could relieve some pressure. So Shen Fei never refused calls from Chen Fei. "It''s somewhat troublesome, but no worries, I still have to wait a while, and right now I have a friend who wants to have a date with me!" When he said the word "date," Chen Fei couldn''t help but laugh; probably Yilan herself didn''t know what the word "date" really meant. "Huh? Who?" Teacher Shen Fei felt that Little Chen probably wouldn''t be so brazenly flaunting a so-called "date"¡ªthis had to be a riddle! "Who? Chen Fei, who are you going to have a date with?" Old Shen''s voice suddenly came through; he had been eavesdropping slyly when his daughter answered Chen Fei''s call. This kid had some nerve! He dared to flirt around on Cangqiong Star; could it be he had charmed the princess and therefore looked down on the girl from the Shen Family? If that was truly the case, Shen Songling would go all out, personally travel to his old rival, the Chen Family Gate at National Defense Star, and demand an explanation¡ªwhat a clever Trojan horse stratagem! "Dad..." As Shen Fei scolded her dad for eavesdropping on her call with Chen Fei, Old Shen''s face had already popped up on Chen Fei''s phone screen. Then suddenly, the space behind Chen Fei darkened, Blade Wing cut through the air, fierce air currents scattered, and the massive and ferocious body descended from the sky. "Ah? A giant dragon? Chen Fei, watch out, behind you, a Metallic Giant Dragon!" The sudden appearance of the giant dragon startled the Shen father and daughter duo, and Shen Fei quickly raised her voice to warn. "Don''t worry, this one is Yilan, Shen Fei, you should know her, we''ve played together before." Chen Fei was remarkably calm, merely glancing back in an understated manner, neither dodging nor flinching. Teacher Shen should have been familiar with Yilan, just not recognizing her in a moment. "Yilan? Eh? You know each other?" Old Shen''s dark face seemed to show signs of enlightenment; he had never imagined his daughter knew a Metallic Dragon, and it appeared they got along quite well. Hmm, there seemed to be something like that, as he vaguely remembered his daughter mentioning it before, yet he didn''t pay much attention to it. "A date, whoo-hoo!" Yilan roared exuberantly. The Imperial Guards guarding the palace stumbled around... This Metallic Dragon couldn''t possibly be real, right? It must be fake! Surely! Actually disguising as a Metallic Dragon, how shameful! "Chen Fei, are you dating Yilan?" Teacher Shen Fei finally wrestled her cellphone back. "Eh? Teacher Shen, is that you? Wanna join us?" The female Metallic Dragon turned her head, her large golden eyes staring at the screen of Chen Fei''s phone, recognizing Shen Fei. Behind the Metallic Dragon was the royal harem, a true¡¤harem! "Little Chen, you keep the Metallic Dragon company! Make sure you have a proper date!" For some reason, Old Shen suddenly seemed to have grasped something, his voice making a presumptuous appearance once again. "Dad, what nonsense are you spouting now?" Teacher Shen Fei was both angry and anxious, her dad going on about nonsensical things. "Girl, you don''t understand, this is an opportunity, let me tell you..." Old Shen pulled his daughter aside, muttering to her in a hushed tone. Through the phone, Chen Fei could only faintly hear phrases like "...rare opportunity... Metallic Dragon... ability... special powers... even more important..." From these hints and guesses, he pieced together Vice President Shen''s disdain for Chen Xiao''er, who was incompetent at everything, a champion at causing disasters - after all, the original well-functioning "Canglong" project was almost ruined by this Chen fellow. A Grade B Metal Ability User was no match for a Metallic Dragon. One Metallic Dragon was comparable to an S-level Metal Ability User, born with full-level industrial skills. If one could be recruited to work for the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the National Defense Star Aerospace Company wouldn''t stand a chance. Now that the possibility of the Metallic Dragon had emerged, Old Shen was slightly dismissive towards Chen Xiao''er, wishing that it wasn''t Chen Xiao''er dating Yilan, but his own daughter instead. One must applaud Old Shen''s dedication to the public good; both Chen Fei and Shen Fei needed to give him a round of applause. "What are you blabbering about, don''t butt in..." Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t stand it anymore, and after a flurry of pushing and shoving to get rid of the old man, she took the phone back again and said, "Chen Fei, Yilan, you two have a good ''date''! We''ll arrange one together next time!" "Teacher Shen, next time I''ll take you both for a flight!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan felt Teaching Shen Fei was also worth befriending. "Chen Fei, don''t take my dad''s blathering to heart, okay?" Shen Fei added hastily before finally hanging up the phone, then stormed off to settle accounts with Vice President Shen. "Ha!" Chen Fei shook his head and put down the phone. He then asked the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, "Could you recommend a nearby hotel that''s cheap and clean?" Having just been blasted out of the Princess Mansion, he had yet to find a place to stay. Yilan claimed to have done the travel guide for Delan City and should know the ins and outs of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. "A cheap and clean hotel?" Yilan thought for a moment, quickly had an answer, and said, "How about you stay with me? My dorm is huge and spacious, absolutely clean, and it''s free!" That was what she said, but given a dragon''s size, not to mention one human-sized bed, even ten or eight extra wouldn''t fill the space. Metallic Dragons fed on metal; creatures like snakes, worms, rats, and ants couldn''t find even scraps suitable for consumption around them, unable to survive. Chen Fei thought it over before asking, "Is that okay? Would the dorm manager mind? What about your kin?" If there were no other impediments, he wouldn''t mind taking up Yilan''s offer of hospitality. Whether it was the bracelet-sized Space Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact on his right wrist, or the one on Little Bird''s claw, neither lacked for various living utensils and supplies. Chen Fei himself had ample camping experience. As long as there was a place to shelter from the wind and rain, he could live comfortably, not to mention he had a fully equipped Mobile Base Vehicle that could be used for daily living. "The dorm manager? That Old Earth Dragon doesn''t care at all. If any of our kind has a problem, just drag them out and beat them until they comply. Don''t worry; just come over!" Yilan extended her massive claw, sparks flying as she rubbed her claw tips together. She certainly wasn''t a vegetarian. "Then I''ll take you up on your offer!" Chen Fei was straightforward and accepted without fuss. "So, now, let''s set out immediately, hop on! My Dragon Rider!" With a long flick of her tail, Yilan curled Chen Fei onto her back, her innate "Void Magnetic Field" activated, her huge and heavy dragon body took to the air, and as her Blade Wings flapped, they churned the airstream. Chen Fei took out his phone again and quietly took a selfie. Cool! The Imperial Guards watching the spectacle had their jaws dropped, wondering where this Dragon Rider came from, thinking it must be... surely a bunch of nonsense... Chapter 615 615: Section 611 - Shishan Dormitory Riding a dragon is just a different feeling. Looking down to see the ground swiftly receding below, I was instantly delighted. Although the edges of the Metallic Dragon''s scales seemed as sharp as knives, as soon as Chen Fei sat on them, they dulled and transformed into a saddle. I really wanted to pluck a dragon scale to try, and with a sleight of hand... Uh? Yikes!!! It actually came off¡ªa plate-sized piece decorated with runes, no less. Holy crap! The bold and mischievous Chen Xiao''er acted nonchalant as he tucked the rune-etched dragon scale into his alchemical storage artifact on his right wrist. With so many scales on a giant dragon, missing one doesn''t really matter, kiss kiss, no worries. "Boom!~" Whether it was because of the sudden loss of a dragon scale, Yilan, with its innate "Void Magnetic Field" fully activated, abruptly surged forward, violently breaking the sound barrier. Plucking a scale from a Metallic Dragon was riskier than touching a mother tiger''s backside¡ªit was a task unheard of among both the living and the dead. The sudden acceleration caught Chen Fei off guard, pressing him firmly into the saddle, grateful for his "Dragon Guard" Single Soldier Tactical Armor, without which he would have been gasping for air. "Whoa!~" This acceleration... too fast! It was fortunate that the back of the dragon had automatically evolved into a saddle; otherwise, this single sprint could have thrown him off. In the midst of the raging, supersonic wind currents, the gleaming, black feathers of Little Bird flowed with a faint shimmer, seemingly unaffected, hopping about happily on Chen Fei like a casual stroll in the park. A natural flyer, why would it care about such a minor air current? At full speed, the little guy could also break the sound barrier and even sync up with a fighter jet, running around on its surface¡ªthe little scene now was nothing to mention. The Imperial Capital Delan City in the Silan Dynasty was a restricted airspace where both flying species and aircraft needed authorization to pass through or take off from the main city district and the sixteen satellite cities. Otherwise, they would be shot down on sight. The Metallic Dragons, adolescent dragons fostered by the Silan Royal Family, were one of the flying species with authorization, and usually, their flight plans were expedited for approval. Had it not been for that, Yilan would have probably been shot down as soon as it left the University Town. The female Metallic Dragon carried Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu straight up to an altitude of ten thousand meters before diving in... Well, more accurately, free gliding all the way to the sky above University Town before slamming down toward a small hill. Having borne the landings of flying species countless times, the summit had been trampled quite flat, as hard as nails. The rocky hill, around five hundred meters high, was covered with caves of varying sizes, providing habitats for dragons and other magical beasts. Yilan''s dormitory was one of them. A Mountain-Loop Road spiraled from the summit to the base, connecting the various caves along the way. Here, both flying and land-based species had to honestly walk, and there was a speed limit as well. Despite the craggy, unnaturally stacked stones around the mountain and cave entrances and the sparse plant life consisting mainly of low shrubs and wild grass, the caves not only had water and electricity but also network signals. The temperature was naturally constant and quite comfortable for living. A bulky dragon lay sprawled on the summit, speaking without lifting its head or opening its eyes, "This is a dormitory area. You are not allowed to bring little animals like cats and dogs into the dorm!" It was the Old Earth Dragon, the dormitory supervisor that Yilan mentioned since pets were not permitted in the student dorms, not even as snacks or meals. Because of its advanced age, it had lost the ability to fly and was merely an Earth Element Giant Dragon surviving on a pension at the academy¡ªliterally living out its days in wait for death. The numerous stone caves across the mountain were all carved out by this elderly Earth Element Dragon. Despite having grown too old to retain much combat strength, it was still capable of tasks like breaking rocks and digging soil. In the old dragon''s eyes, the humans on the back of the female Metallic Giant Dragon were akin to pets. A Knight? A Dragon Knight? Absolutely impossible! Sky Dragon City had reclaimed all the Dragon Flutes, terminated the contracts with the human knights, and there were no longer any Dragon Knights or Dragon Chevaliers needed in the world. As for the Pure Light Sparrow? These little creatures are everywhere. Even the Dragon King couldn''t stop them from flying wherever they wanted, right? "Little animals? Old fellow, open your eyes and take a good look. He''s human, okay?" The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, carried Chen Fei and continued walking down the Mountain-Loop Road, annoyed that it had mistaken its good friend for a cat or a dog. It would have been better for this old, half-blind Earth Dragon to just die off. The advanced-aged Earth Element Giant Dragon, the dormitory supervisor, remained silent. If this were two thousand years earlier, it would have certainly disciplined the ignorant young dragon until it was howling in submission. But now? Well, a good dragon doesn''t dwell on past glory. It couldn''t afford to provoke or beat the younger dragon, so it stayed without temper. No temper = good temper. After all, elderly beings should be kind and amiable. "Good afternoon!" Chen Fei, who was riding on the back of Yilan, greeted the Terrestrial Dragon. "Chirp!" The Little Bird flew from Chen Fei''s shoulder, landed in front of the old dragon, and cocked its head curiously as it sized up the Terrestrial Giant Dragon. It was its first time on Cangqiong Star, so everything it saw was novel. "Hmmph!" The Terrestrial Dragon exhaled a gust of air from its nostrils, and a faint white light suddenly appeared on the audacious Pure Light Sparrow, as a Light System Magic Shield materialized out of thin air, leaving the little bird unshaken. After all, the difference in size between them was too great; without the protection of a Magic Shield, a mere breath from the old dragon would be enough to blow the little one head over heels several times. "Chirp!" A burst of intense white light exploded in front of the Terrestrial Giant Dragon, enveloping an area several meters around. The Terrestrial Giant Dragon immediately could see nothing. It: "..." To be bullied by a sparrow in its twilight years, even such a small creature dared to unleash "Light Burst Flash" right in its face! The old dragon bared its teeth, and the Little Bird quickly soared into the air, chirping loudly as it flew back to Daddy Chen Fei''s shoulder, then hopped around triumphantly. "Well done, little one!" Yilan, the female Metallic Dragon, turned her head in approval, glancing at the little one. She didn''t regret giving it the Light Beast Crystal Core¡ªthis Pure Light Sparrow was completely worth cultivating. "Xiao Jiu is already Human Order Fourth Rank." Chen Fei felt it was necessary to update Yilan, the investing dragon, on the Little Bird''s growth. Xiao Jiu''s advancement to Human Order Fourth Rank was a testament to the great achievements of the female Metallic Dragon; without the Third Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, it would have been impossible for him to cultivate it to this level by himself¡ªprobably Second Rank would have been the limit. "Huh? Fourth Rank?" Yilan, who was running on the Mountain-Loop Road, halted in her tracks, immediately crying out in delight. "You''re awesome, my Jiu!" The roar of the female Metallic Dragon could be heard clearly throughout the Rocky Mountain. Most of the teachers and students were in their cave dormitories by then, and many poked their heads out to look, only to quickly retract upon seeing it was Yilan. The Metallic Dragons'' bad reputation had yet to be fully turned around, especially since Yilan hadn''t refrained from sorting out her younger brother Cobalt Luo here, fighting with a ferocity that shook the heavens and earth. The praised Little Bird flew up to Yilan''s dragon horn, hopping back and forth while releasing a sizeable Illumination Technique. A Light Orb more than a meter in diameter hovered above the heads of the human and dragon, like a miniature sun. The Pure Light Sparrow, at Human Order Fourth Rank, was able to enhance the potency when releasing Low Rank Spells, and the First Rank "Illumination Technique" became unusually large. Metallic Dragons were famously magic-resistant; even though they could cast spells through some means, the residents inside the Rocky Mountain Cave didn''t believe that the unusually large "Illumination Technique" orb was released by Yilan. They also instinctively ignored the diminutive Pure Light Sparrow, assuming instead that the female Metallic Dragon had somehow caught a hapless Human Mage, who most likely faced a dire fate. "Hey, Yilan, killing is not allowed in the dormitory, nor is it permissible to abuse Intelligent Species!" One Magical Beast boldly reminded from a distance, confident in its higher rank compared to Yilan, not necessarily sure it would come out on top if a fight ensued. "If that human needs help, just shout." It seemed that some Magical Beasts were genuinely concerned about Chen Fei on Yilan''s back, worried he had been kidnapped. Yet, not a single Intelligent Species believed that a Metallic Dragon would be friends with a human; the Dragon of Slaughter itself connoted life-threatening danger. "Pah, pah, pah, he is my friend, a good friend! You''ve got no right to make wild guesses!" Yilan couldn''t contain her irritation. Was her dragon reputation really that bad? Well, well, well! Considering how Cobalt Luo was treated, even his own kind weren''t spared, let alone other Intelligent Species. "Thanks for your concern, everyone. Yilan and I are indeed good friends!" Chen Fei used the "Dragon Guard''s" megaphone to amplify his voice. As a friend, he had to take the initiative to clear Yilan''s name. As Chen Fei''s words fell, many heads peeked out from the caves. Could today''s Holy Flame Sun be setting from another direction? The hot-tempered female Metallic Dragon Yilan actually having a human friend was unheard of. Had this Human friend lost his mind? Chapter 616 616: Section 612 - Young Dragon Whether Chen Fei''s brain had broken or not, no one could tell, but at least until now, he was still very much alive. He wasn''t foolish, either. Despite their poor reputation, the Metallic Dragons weren''t very deceitful. If they said they wanted to be friends, they certainly meant it. So how could one casually let down such sincerity! Even when other Intelligent Species expressed doubts, Chen Fei would always stand by Yilan''s side. "We''ve arrived!" The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, stopped in front of a tall cave, and the door on the inside of the entrance automatically opened. The whole stone mountain dormitory only housed this one Metallic Giant Dragon. Cobalt Luo, who always clung to Yilan, didn''t qualify to live here, but resided nearby in the Dragon Breeding District of University Town, with other members of the Dragon Clan. There, kindergartens, elementary schools, and middle schools were integrated. Not only the young of the Metallic Dragons, but also those of other varieties were entrusted to the Royal Family to raise. The Silan Royal Family had a close relationship with Sky Dragon City, and the Dragon Clan was thus very reassured. Upon entering Yilan''s cave dormitory, the lights suddenly brightened up. Just like Chen Fei''s AI "Adam," the new generation of Metallic Dragons could easily manipulate various household appliances through remote control, demonstrating a kind of brilliance akin to that of human technology. There was not much inside the cave, just a giant stone desk and a long row of tall shelves against the wall. On the stone desk were a Dragon-specific tablet computer, and some large sheets of paper. Even though there was a high degree of digitization and electronification, sometimes paper media was still used. The twenty layers of load-bearing shelves were packed full, containing not just paper books but mostly various intricately designed industrial machines and all kinds of minerals. Metallic Dragons didn''t possess spiritual power, and therefore couldn''t use the Space Series Alchemy Storage Devices, so they had to find a place to store their possessions or simply ingest them into their own bodies. In the deepest part of the cave, numerous pebbles of varying sizes were piled up with a noticeable depression in the center ¨C this was the sleeping place of the female Metallic Dragon. It might look extremely crude, but the strength of a dragon''s body surpassed that of steel; they had no need for a warm, soft bed, as lying on the ground without any cover was no issue at all. Just as Yilan had said, her cave dormitory was quite spacious, easily providing enough space for Chen Fei to set up a bed. So the Mobile Base Vehicle was deployed, complete with bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room, and study, yet it only occupied a small corner of the cave, covering even less area than the pile of pebbles where Yilan coiled up. Probably seven or eight more vehicles could fit before the dormitory would seem crowded. If the dormitory space wasn''t sufficient, it would be an awkward matter for the giant dragons and other Magical Beasts living there to roll over and bump into the walls. The old Earth Element dragon responsible for excavating the cave in this stone mountain had obviously thought everything through very thoroughly. "This vehicle is quite interesting!" Yilan examined Chen Fei''s released Mobile Base Vehicle with curiosity. To her, the vehicle resembled more of a toy, no different from the collectibles on the shelves. Lifting her Tail Spear, she jabbed it into the Mobile Base Vehicle. The body of the vehicle trembled and whined under the inquisitive touch of the Metallic Giant Dragon. "Yilan, be careful¡ªthis vehicle isn''t entirely made of metal." Chen Fei was not concerned about the dragon consuming the metal that made up the Mobile Base Vehicle¡ªit was just some Energy Points after all. His main concern were the non-metal parts, such as glass, wood products, rubber, plastic, and ceramics. If those were damaged, they would be difficult to fix. "Mmm, mmm, don''t worry, I''ll be gentle. This design is very intriguing!" Yilan was shuddering her Tail Spear, getting to know this transportation vehicle more intimately. The Mobile Base Vehicle continued to shiver and moan. Metallic Dragons could fully analyze all details of a metallic structure just by mere touch without causing any damage, whereas Chen Fei could only do the same after absorbing all details and entering them into the "Physical Evolution Database" of skills. In that regard, he was subtly outmatched. "Sister Yilan! I''m back from school!" The cave dormitory door suddenly opened, and a Metallic Giant Dragon burst in excitedly, only to pause in surprise when seeing Yilan and the trembling Mobile Base Vehicle. It hastily backpedaled and gave an awkward smile, saying, "Sis, carry on, carry on! I will come in later!" Chen Fei, turning at the sound, gazed dumbfounded at the Metallic Giant Dragon. He guessed it must be Cobalt Luo, Yilan''s younger brother. "Come back here! Cobalt Luo!" Yilan withdrew her tail from the Mobile Base Vehicle, dragging her Tail Spear across the cave''s rocky floor and sending sparks flying. The vehicle remained undamaged; the Metallic Dragons'' control over metal was indeed a racial gift. "Oh, oh, have you finished, Sister Yilan?" Cobalt Luo peeked out from the doorway; immediately afterwards, he slipped and stumbled inside, then fell flat on the ground. "Ouch ouch ouch!" x2 Two more Metallic Giant Dragons scrambled in clumsily from outside, yelping all the way. They were a size smaller, probably younger juveniles sitting on the ground. Clearly, these two clumsy dragons had knocked over Cobalt Luo, who had been by the door. "Ah, no need for such formalities, please rise!" Chen Fei watched the Metallic Dragons prostrate like fallen trees in front of him, and he hadn''t guessed wrong¡ªit was indeed Cobalt Luo. "Ah! It''s you again, you damn¡ª" Cobalt Luo glanced up and saw that it was the same little ant again. About to spew out curses, but before he could hurl his insults, a dragon tail swung over and hit him right in the middle of his forehead. The powerful and heavy blow not only smacked Cobalt Luo''s head back to the ground, it even bent his dragon horn. "Be a civilized dragon, no swearing!" Yilan scolded her younger brother, who seems to have a short memory, having already forgotten how much metal he could consume. "Ouch ouch ouch ouch... Sister, mercy!" Cobalt Luo, seeing real stars (or Mars) before its eyes, hastily begged for mercy. If it took a few more hits, its eyes would close, and upon opening, it would be the next day. So now the questions arise, who is it? Where is it? What is it doing? "Eh, there''s a human?" "Little ant, ouch!" The two juvenile Metallic Dragons behind Cobalt Luo each received a tail swipe, clutching their heads and rolling on the ground, trailing sparks and lightning. "Thukadi, Benali, you two behave yourselves too!" Sister Yilan didn''t let these two reckless youngsters off the hook either. Old habits die hard; the task of raising young dragons for the Silan Royal Family is both significant and challenging. "Sister, who is he?" "Is he food?" The two young dragons sized up Chen Fei top to bottom. Because they had just been on the receiving end of a tail swipe, they were being very obedient and didn''t dare to make any extra moves. "Watch closely, he is my friend, and you should treat him with the same respect you show me! Got that?" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan lectured these three rambunctious little brothers. "Understood, Sister Yilan!" ¡Á3 Cobalt Luo and the two even younger dragons, Thukadi and Benali, obediently listened. "Hello, I''m Chen Fei! Cobalt Luo and I have already met. The other two, Thukadi and Benali, right? I''ve brought two gifts for you, hoping you will like them!" Chen Fei took out two titanium spheres from the bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact on his right wrist. He had exchanged for ten hundred-kilogram pure titanium rods, some of which he had turned into ten-kilogram pure titanium spheres. "Mithril! Mithril!" ¡Á2 The ability to differentiate metals was almost innate, and the two young dragons shouted out in unison. "Not Mithril again..." Cobalt Luo found itself pushed to the side. "No fighting, sit in a row." Chen Fei gestured with his hands. Otherwise, these two young dragons would definitely not hesitate to knock him over, then gulp down him and the titanium spheres together. The next second, the two Metallic Giant Dragons stood neatly in line, opening their mouths wide. He threw the two titanium spheres at the same time. "Rawr!" ¡Á2 They both caught the spheres squarely. "Mithril, pure! 99.99999%, perfect!" "Tasty!" The two young Metallic Giant Dragons munched away, savoring the taste of Mithril (titanium). With the capabilities of the Metallic Giant Dragons, digesting those two ten-kilogram Mithril orbs would only take an instant, but the taste of Mithril was rare and sought-after. "They''re well-trained indeed!" Chen Fei wanted to comment that the actions of these two Metallic Giant Dragons were too practiced, almost making them seem like dogs rather than dragons. The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan kindly reminded, "You shouldn''t spoil them too much, Metallic Dragons are greedy." Being one of the Metallic Dragons, she certainly understood their true nature. Not all her companions were able to control their desires like she did. Just like Cobalt Luo, despite its apparent distaste for Chen Fei, it had a momentary reaction not much different from the two youngsters who had just received their Mithril orbs. "No worries, it''s just a welcoming gift!" Chen Fei looked at Cobalt Luo, who was salivating. This Metallic Giant Dragon was also craving it badly but pretentiously turned its head away. "You guys, have you finished your homework?" Yilan eyed the three uninvited guests, her voice turning cold. "???" ¡Á3 The three primary-school-level giant dragons looked at each other in bewilderment. What the heck is homework? Chen Fei immediately burst into laughter. Such slackers! Chapter 617 617: Section 613 - Love of Learning Including Cobalt Luo, three little Metallic Dragon Brothers sobbed around the dormitory''s stone desk, frowning at their respective homework with a whole forehead of worry. Academic dunces + brats = ignoring homework completely Once caught by the eldest sister, it was almost inevitable to escape punishment. Cobalt Luo was alright, as he often followed Yilan, and would always manage to complete his homework on time. The other two brats were doomed. After the start of summer vacation, they played like mad and hadn''t even touched a single word of homework! Now, both were caught by Yilan''s claw, academic excellence reigned supreme, while the academic failures trembled. Thanks to the new inheritance obtained, the education for Metallic Dragons rarely required rote memorization, but rather understanding and thinking, along with various trick questions. Merely relying on memorization would definitely not stump these dumb dragons, so what was really tested was the ability to use one''s brain. When the three little Metallic Dragon Brothers were working on their summer homework with gloomy faces, Chen Fei stole a glance. Dragon education at the elementary stage was almost comparable to the Human Race''s high school stage, complete with various Olympiad brain-burning problems. After all, at the primary stage of human education, it''s mostly about writing and general knowledge, which require a lot of memorization. But for the current Metallic Dragons, they could complete the entire learning process in just a few seconds. Dragons tend to live much longer lives. If they were educated at the pace of humans, college graduation would only take a mere sixteen years. If these mentally immature young dragons were let loose in society, they could potentially cause catastrophic problems. A longer period of education is mainly to foster mental maturity and the correct experience in dealing with various situations. The fundamental goal is not to create expert or scholar dragons. After all, knowledge itself is constantly being updated; it''s hard to achieve higher accomplishments just by accumulating information. Studying for over a hundred years and hoping to become a master in a field often results in being a jack of all trades but a master of none, far from true expertise. By the time these little dragon elementary school students advanced to the true high school stage, Chen Fei could only bow down to them. The high school education of the Dragon Clan was comparable to the master''s level of the Human Race. Just dealing with Yilan''s current high school curriculum made Chen Fei feel somewhat overwhelmed. After all, he was a legitimate college undergraduate and had never seen multiple college-level subjects combined into one high school course. Not to mention dragons, even humans wouldn''t be able to finish such a curriculum in a few years at that age. Around the large stone desk were four Metallic Dragons, studying earnestly, and Chen Fei secretly snapped a photo, thinking that if one day he was no longer an army contractor, he could engage in private media. Reporting such sensational news would probably make a fortune and easily save up for retirement. For others, close encounters with Metallic Dragons and Magical Beasts might be dangerously life-threatening. But for Chen Fei, who stepped on the corpses of Mutants as his daily work, it was simply a trifling matter. Rare sounds of sizzling filled the cave as the smell of grease permeated the air. Chen Fei was frying up thick steaks. Little Bird was eating its freeze-dried bug ration, rice bubbled next to it in the rice cooker, wisps of steam rising, and a soup pot simmered with various mushrooms and dried vegetables. "I can''t do it! Damn studying to hell!" The young dragon Thukadi collapsed. It had done half a jin of practice problems, already feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Frantically trying to tear up the practice paper in front of it, Thukadi was dragged aside by the older Cobalt Luo, causing a commotion as the whole cave shook. After getting a good beating, Thukadi returned to the stone desk, gritting its teeth and muttering to itself, "Studying makes me happy, without it, I can''t live." After ten minutes, the young dragon Benali couldn''t stand it anymore and crumbled. Chen Fei happily sipped his before-dinner soup, watching the big dragons thrashing the little ones. ... Filled with renewed vigor, Benali returned to the desk and continued to tackle the remaining two jin of practice problems. The summer homework for the dragon''s first grade started at one ton, if it were translated to the Human Race, an entire lifetime''s worth of homework might not even weigh half a ton. The higher the grade, the heavier the workload. By the time it reached Yilan''s high school senior stage, it was a solid three tons of homework. To get into college, at least another two tons were needed, three tons as a base, five tons for assurance. An hour later, Cobalt Luo collapsed. The older they were, the harder the homework, and the Metallic Dragons without spiritual power struggled on their own will. This time, Yilan stepped in, dragging Cobalt Luo by the neck with her Tail Spear, the beating outside the cave was earth-shattering, and the nearby "neighbors" had long grown accustomed to it. With the Metallic Dragons as a neighbor, they almost had daily fights, which were incredibly lively. By the time Cobalt Luo and Yilan returned to the cave, feeling refreshed, Chen Fei was leisurely scrolling through his phone''s news while sipping tea. Little Bird had already returned to its nest, occasionally chirping contently in its sleep. Thukadi broke down again and was dragged into a corner by Cobalt Luo for another thrashing, followed by Benali and then Cobalt Luo himself, as if stuck in a loop. The Metallic Dragons'' method of encouraging study was indeed invigorating. Unsure how many rounds of beating and being beaten had passed, the well-fed Chen Fei was already sleeping soundly in the Mobile Base Vehicle, as steady as Mount Taishan. While fighting the corporate war with the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, he had learned to fall asleep quickly despite the surrounding noise. The fact that Metallic Dragons adopted a study method akin to "hanging beams and stabbing thighs" was nothing new. The Human Race had been quite proficient at this in ancient times and had even more varieties. Nonetheless, Yilan had never collapsed; she continued to immerse herself in study, as a born academic prodigy, seeing learning as the most joyful thing. The following morning, Chen Fei woke up, sat up in bed, and opened the curtains. The lights inside the dormitory cave were still glowing brightly. Four Metallic Dragons busied themselves with completing their summer holiday homework, pulling an all-nighter. For the Human Race, enduring such an expense might not be feasible, but it was a common thing for the Dragon Clan. Compared to partying from dusk till dawn, they''d rather study through the night. "Morning!" After freshening up, Chen Fei greeted the dragons who were still buried in their homework while eating his fried egg. This scene really boosted one''s appetite! "Eh? Chen Fei, you''re awake? It''s, um? Daylight already!" The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, lifted her head from the stone table and finally noticed the time¡ªit was already the next day. Cobalt Luo said in a daze, "Ah? Another whole night of homework?" The whole dragon had gone numb from drilling practice questions. "No more!" ¡Á2 Two young dragons couldn''t hold on any longer and fell to the ground with a thud, their eyes glazed over. The two unfortunate kids had been roughed up at least ten times, which was considered light punishment. Just out of kindergarten and into their first term of elementary school, they used to get beaten every five minutes for half an hour. As they aged and advanced in grades, they finally began to adapt to the study process. "Want something to eat?" Yilan turned and went to her unused pile of pebble bedding. After rummaging around, she tossed over a few rough stones, biting into one herself, crunching loudly as crumbs fell. Despite the unappealing look, it was an ore with over sixty percent richness, largely comprised of iron, along with a smidgen of copper, zinc, and other metal elements. Sometimes, when they couldn''t get pure metal ingots, having iron-rich ore was already quite good. They couldn''t always have treats like titanium rods and spheres, as Chen Fei had given them upon first meeting. Each on its own might not be expensive, but given the Metallic Dragons'' size and appetite, even the rich Silan Royal Family wouldn''t dare let them eat as much as they wanted¡ªthey simply couldn''t afford it. "Want, want!" The two half-dead dragons rolled over and sprang up, fighting over the food. As long as they could get a full belly, even two tons of homework were nothing to them. Chen Fei started taking pictures and recording videos again. A rare look at the original state of Metallic Dragons¡ªthis was his future retirement capital. After all, not everyone had the courage to nest with dragons. While he was filming, his phone rang with an incoming call alert. He hurried to answer it. It was Boss Hana calling. "Hello, where are you?" Being a boss was exhausting. Chen Xiao''er was the kind of employee who would vanish without trace at the drop of a hat, sometimes slipping away to the ends of the earth. "Cangqiong Star, Imperial Capital Delan City, Boss. Any issues?" Chen Fei thought maybe Jiu Defense Company had run into some trouble and needed the support of a strong employee. "No issues, just checking in. Finance just received a payment, and I verified it. Have you completed your assignment?" Boss Hana indeed sensed through the financial status that Chen Fei had finished the commission he took on. She thought since the accounts were settled, it was about time for him to return. "It''s possible... Emmm... not yet!" Chen Fei hesitated, as Princess Lin Ziyu had been cursed, and there were many suspicious aspects to it, he wasn''t sure himself. Most importantly, the butler Housekeeper Mars still had the entry paperwork in his possession. Without it, Chen Fei couldn''t return to Blue Star. "I''ve received the money here, but you haven''t finished your commission?" Hanna Gagel was confused¡ªthe account had received more money than stipulated in the contract, a significant sum almost equal to a tenth of Jiu Defense Company''s annual profits. Was it a prepayment before the task completion? But there was no such rule! "There might be a new commission waiting for me; I''ll be on a secret standby for now!" Chen Fei expressed his guess that the nature of the possible secret mission was yet to be known. "The waters of the Silan Royal Family run deep. Stay away from them and don''t take any unilateral action. Call me if anything comes up. I can''t help you much, but I can still offer some analysis and get your brain going," Hanna Gagel said, believing that although Chen Fei wasn''t a fool, he mostly couldn''t handle the intrigue of human affairs. But she was experienced; working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Apocalypse Defense Group wasn''t for nothing. Perhaps she couldn''t think as broadly, but it was a kind of support nonetheless. An employee of Jiu Defense cannot simply be used by others without recompense. Chapter 618 618: Section 614 - Brush Up 200 Pounds Again Truth be told, when the Slan Royal Family issued the contract to Jiu Defense Company, Hanna Gagel didn''t feel in the least bit flattered or surprised, not even when the ruler of Cangqiong Star had sent an order their way. What an honor it was¡ªshouldn''t Jiu Defense Company then take pride, give their all, and stake their future on it?! But she remained calm from the beginning and did not let the commission cloud her judgment. She knew very well what she could handle and what she couldn''t. In the circle of military contractors, Jiu Defense Company really wasn''t any different from Xiao Jiu in the eyes of those higher-ranked Magical Beasts; they took on contracts with courage, not with assistance from their peers. Having the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, which dared to fight and risk everything, was a given, but this status was earned with their lives. The big shots could easily crush Jiu Defense Company without breaking a sweat¡ªthe only reason they hadn''t was that gems do not clash with bricks, after all, there was silver to be made, and they did not engage in unprofitable ventures. Facing off against the industry giant Merman Brothers Consortium surely caused the latter great losses, nearly crippling them, forcing them to cut losses in time. The single Aircrew Base standing against the titanic 911 Aircrew Base also didn''t fare well in the end, with a camp full of wounded and the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron reduced in numbers. If it weren''t for ripping a chunk of flesh from her old employer, the Apocalypse Defense Group, there probably wouldn''t be a "later" at all. Now that Jiu Defense Company had established a relationship with the Silan Royal Family, it was like walking a tightrope over an Abyss¡ªa single misstep, and they''d be beyond redemption. After accepting the commission, Boss Hanna had always been worried that Chen Fei might suddenly think he was capable enough to play the big shot and, wanting to be some sort of valorous servant to the dragons, end up being used by others. The struggle for the throne of the Silan Royal Family had always been a widespread topic of interest among the people of two civilized planets; the current Empress''s seizing of power alone was enough to make a grand epic, not to mention how the royal siblings would fare in their brilliant and intricate battles. "It should... be fine, after all, I''m from the Chen Family Gate." Chen Fei never considered those royal family issues. Judging by the truth he currently held, it didn''t seem as complex as it appeared on the surface, with most of the dazzling distractions created by the Faction members themselves. Moreover, with the contract introduced by his uncle, he naturally had the protection of the Chen Family charm. Given the relationship between the Lin and Chen families, it was unlikely for them to trap him into any deadly situations, right? At this very moment, even though Chen Fei had been relieved of his contract¡ªalbeit formally; the actual situation might take a while to unravel until the Factions had been dealt with by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Slan Dynasty¡ªat least for now, he was nominally dissociated from all the messy affairs. Neither the Crown Prince''s Faction nor the Princess Faction would pay any more attention to such a small-time temporary bodyguard. "You have to be careful! There are no fathers and brothers in front of the throne, no filial or fraternal bonds; throughout history, the Heavenly Family has been indifferent to kinship. You must protect yourself when you''re out there. Hmm, where are you staying now? Do you want me to arrange something? I have some contacts on Cangqiong Star." Hanna Gagel spoke earnestly, clearly still worried. "Me? I''m in the lair of the Metallic Dragons, surrounded by Magical Beasts and Giant Dragons within an eight-hundred-meter radius. It''s incredibly safe!" Chen Fei was actually quite grateful to Yilan for providing him temporary shelter. In all of Imperial Capital Delan City, he couldn''t find a place safer than this. Forget thieves; even ordinary humans didn''t dare to come close. Even if the old dragon at the top of the mountain was decrepit, any little movement on the stone mountain couldn''t escape its senses. "Time''s up, pack it up, pack it up, Cobalt Luo. I''m going to go out with a friend, make sure you look after these two little ones." The female Metallic Dragon Yilan gathered up her work, not wanting to spend the entire summer vacation babysitting the naive children all because of Chen Fei''s presence. "Eh? Sister Yilan, why should this little ant be treated with such... Ow!" Thud! The forgetful Cobalt Luo was once again swiftly knocked to the ground by Yilan''s Tail Spear. With teeth bared and claws flashing, Yilan chastised the foolish younger brother, "Chen Fei is my friend; you must show him the same respect as you show me, got it?" "But, but Sister Yilan, Cobalt Luo is right, look at this human, with his black hair and eyes, and no claws; he wouldn''t even feel it if he were captured!" The young Thukadi child bared his teeth at Chen Fei, clearly unconvinced. The previous ten-kilogram Mithril Orb''s friendly value had been used up, please recharge in time! "Hey, human, let''s play a game, see who can be more fierce, ©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Ow~~ Hahaha!" The brat, Dragon Barium Sodium, was venting his frustration from grinding through problems all night, acting fierce in front of Chen Fei. The Metallic Dragons naturally had a ferocious appearance, and this pretense made them seem even more menacing. "You two..." As Yilan was about to stop the two unruly young dragons, she saw Chen Fei walk up to them. "Playing who''s fiercest, is that it?" The Skill "Eyes of Tyranny" activated. Consuming 1 Energy Point, duration 15 seconds, cooldown time 15 seconds. The young dragon Barium Sodium felt a chill in his heart as he saw a pair of fractured gold eyes, his scales instinctively bristling. Eh?! ©»|`O¡ä|©¿ Ow! "Ah!" Benali screamed. Soon after, Thukadi also began to cry out. "Ouch, ouch ouch ouch! Woo... it hurts so much!~~~ Woo..." The dragon, who had just claimed that a mere catch wouldn''t hurt, now had a claw mark on its head, deep enough to fill an inch, rolling to one side and crying earth-shatteringly. It was supposed to not hurt at all! "Eyes of Tyranny" ended prematurely, and Chen Fei patted his hands back to their original form, educational moment for the brat complete. He didn''t care whether the other was from the Human Race or the Dragon Clan; if it was time to strike, he struck. "You''ve taught well!" Yilan nodded in full agreement. Skills of special abilities came in all shapes and forms, as long as they worked, there was no need to dwell too deep. Quite the good friend indeed, even the method of handling young dragons seemed satisfying, a true stress reliever. "Sister Yilan, this guy..." Cobalt Luo looked at Chen Fei with a somewhat shifty gaze. For some reason, the way Chen Fei had just behaved instilled a sense of fear in it, as though it wasn''t looking at a member of the Human Race, but a Giant Dragon; it felt something was off but couldn''t quite put its finger on it, a strange sensation. Chen Fei stretched out his hand and made a fake grab at Cobalt Luo, who hastily swallowed the words it was about to say. Yilan spoke with a mix of frustration and hope: "Cobalt Luo, when will you learn to behave?" "I''m very well-behaved. Chen Fei is Sister Yilan''s friend, friend, and so also my friend, right, sister?" Cobalt Luo looked cautiously at Yilan. "Hmm, the young dragon shows promise!" The elder sister figure gave an approving look, and the little brother was instantly overjoyed. The Tail Spear grazed Cobalt Luo''s head, igniting sparks along the way, and it finally learned its lesson. "Today''s itinerary is all planned out. Take a look, Chen Fei." No sooner had Yilan finished speaking than Chen Fei''s phone and mind chimed simultaneously, receiving the document Yilan had sent. Other Intelligent Species either frowned or kept their distance upon encountering Metallic Dragons, and although most Metallic Dragons didn''t care, indifferent to not having friends or even if they had friends, they wouldn''t feed them Steel Ingots for free, Yilan was part of the small minority who were sensitive inside and disliked the current social standing of the Metallic Dragons. Unlike those Intelligent Species, Yilan wasn''t foolish and could feel that Chen Fei''s friendship was genuine, without caring about her being a Metallic Dragon. As it was a rare visit from Cangqiong Star, and since fate had brought them together, she didn''t want to miss the chance with this rare Human friend and naturally planned to be a gracious host. Drawing from her experience with friends from the Human Race and other Intelligent Species, Yilan had meticulously prepared several plans: one for sunny days, one for rainy days, one for overcast days, one for when there were many people, and one for when there were few¡ªquite the feat for a Metallic Dragon who naturally disliked crowds. "Let me have a look!" Chen Fei selected the file from the visual interface. Yilan''s obsession with setting up the ''date'' was relentless. Since it was such a kind gesture, he didn''t want to keep refusing. Anyway, it wasn''t often he came to the Imperial Capital of the Slan Dynasty. If there was a chance to explore, he would go with the flow. Of course, he was also afraid that repeatedly refusing would anger the Big Sister dragon and result in getting flattened by one swipe of her claw. The operations between the man and the dragon seemed a bit mysterious to onlookers, but a Metallic Dragon was equivalent to an intelligent AI. Moreover, Chen Fei had an AI companion with him, and both operated on their own without the need for external devices. The Imperial Capital Delan City of the Slan Dynasty contained eight major city districts and sixteen satellite cities. It was not only densely populated but also rich in cultural landscapes. Planning a good one-day tour was not an easy task. Sightseeing, dining, leisure, shopping¡ªevery minute and every second were meticulously arranged. It was truly Yilan''s work. "No problem here, how about you?" Chen Fei looked at the other three Metallic Dragons, with the two younglings still sniffling. This was mainly because the naive young dragons were somewhat easier to bully; if they were a few hundred years older or adult Metallic Dragons, he might have been sent by a swipe of their claw to be reborn as Chen Xiao''er. "You two will solve another two hundred pounds of math problems before I get back!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan glared at the three young dragons. Chapter 619 619: Section 615 - Trouble Brewing "Before I get back, do another two hundred kilograms of exercises!" For the three junior dragons, Yilan''s words were nothing less than a royal decree. Cobalt Luo and the two young dragons flopped onto the ground, paws skyward, twitching as if they were on their last breath. Seeing the lifeless appearance of the three Metallic Dragons, Chen Fei asked, "They won''t be in trouble like this, will they?" These guys were just putting on an act, fearing that just as he and Yilan left, these three mischief-makers would start a wild party, only to wait for Yilan to come back and give them a severe beating. No intelligent species liked to be beaten, but if they could foresee the consequences and learn to restrain themselves, they wouldn''t be true Metallic Dragons. "Don''t worry, I''ll beat them when I get back!" Yilan''s tone was both calm and affirmative; she could completely foresee what needed to be done after returning to the dormitory cave, which clearly was the daily routine for the three young dragons: eating, studying, fighting, getting beaten, studying, sleeping. Chen Fei: "..." Indeed, one should not have overly high expectations for Metallic Dragons who had just received a new inheritance. - When female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, reappeared on Mountain-Loop Road, the nearby intelligent species poked their heads out from their cave entrances, eyeing Chen Fei on her back with astonishment. Is it really okay to ride a Metallic Dragon like this? Could it be life-threatening? The mission of the Dragon Knights had completely ended thirty years ago; the proud dragons no longer allowed other intelligent species to ride them, especially not the fierce and unruly Metallic Dragons. But this human was sitting on the female Metallic Dragon''s back without any harm, casually as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Did the Dragon of Slaughter change its nature and turn vegetarian? Whether it had become vegetarian or not, Chen Fei did not know; he only knew that he was not the one who got beaten last night. Cobalt Luo and the two young dragons, despite being beaten and howling painfully, still clung stubbornly to Sister Yilan''s mighty dragon legs. A particularly bushy Magical Beast yelled at Chen Fei, "Hey, Human, are you okay?" There were not many Magical Beasts that dared to face Metallic Dragons directly. "Good morning, I''m fine!" Chen Fei waved at the creature, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" automatically identifying its species. Dark Monster "Tangling Silk Vermilion Lion," actual rank unknown, but the species'' highest rank could reach the Earth Order Sixth Rank, its body fur capable of absorbing Elemental Energy and also serving as an offensive tool. It carried elemental disruption and weakening effects, which could catch even the Heavenly Rank off guard if not cautiously dealt with. "Has this Metallic Dragon lost its mind?" The hairy "Tangling Silk Vermilion Lion" muttered softly. Chen Fei stretched out his hand, patted Yilan''s neck, producing a series of dull thuds, and said, "Obviously, very well!" Yilan acted nothing like a standard Metallic Dragon; instead, it was Cobalt Luo and the three of them who, as described in textbooks, were complete stereotypes of Metallic Dragons: wild, impulsive, rash, short-tempered, memory of only food, not beatings, and prone to creating chaos. "Heh, heh, heh!" Yilan''s laugh sounded eerily frightening. But it was truly happy, knowing itself, it was indeed Chen Fei! Yilan carried Chen Fei to the mountaintop of the dormitory rock, flared her Blade Wings, and shot straight into the sky. The mountaintop platform of the dormitory was the designated landing site for the Flying Species. Cobalt Luo and the other two dragon cubs had been beaten more than once for landing carelessly elsewhere. A huge sonic boom exploded at a height of several hundred meters from the ground as the female Metallic Dragon sped towards the main urban area of the Imperial Capital, with a streak of light following closely behind. The figure in the light was a small bird. Being a Magical Beast of Human Rank Fourth Rank, Xiao Jiu did not need to register a flight plan beforehand; the radar systems monitoring the skies of the Imperial Capital simply couldn''t detect it. If the radar''s resolution or filtering criteria were lowered to the degree of the Pure Light Sparrow, even the most advanced radar systems would have to strike immediately, as that job couldn''t be done anymore, and the display would likely become a sight too dismal to bear. According to official biological species statistics from Delan City, there were over a million Pure Light Sparrows inhabiting the eight major urban districts of the Imperial Capital, and adding the sixteen satellite cities, there were at least three million; enough to fill any radar screen to the brim, possibly even causing the screen to explode on the spot. No screen could display a million-level target count simultaneously. Even if location was needed, it could only be done by launching specialized identification and positioning waves beforehand, receiving feedback signals from the leg ring on Xiao Jiu''s leg, and only within a small range. Before long, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan reached the bustling main urban area of Delan City in the air. The first stop on the Imperial Capital''s sightseeing tour was the old Imperial Palace of the Slan Dynasty. More than thirty years ago, the old Imperial Palace had always been the center of administrative and military management of the entire Slan Empire. It wasn''t until the Slan Royal Family ruled over the entire Cangqiong Star, proclaiming an unprecedented era of the dynasty, that the Imperial Capital was replanned with eight main urban districts, incorporating the new Imperial Palace and various administrative departments of the dynasty into the newly established Imperial Palace District. The old Imperial Palace, after sorting, was opened to the public, becoming the first choice of sightseeing spot in the Imperial Capital. Adult tickets cost 100 Star Yuan, and dragons enter for free. Yilan seemed quite familiar with the old Imperial Palace, acting as a guide for Chen Fei. It even knew some secrets not known to the public. For instance, the scenic lake that had accumulated water due to lack of maintenance was not widely known to have originally been the station of the Royal Dragon Rider Legion. Below the emerald-green water was a series of stepped caverns where the Dragon Riders and dragons had once resided. Or the residences of the princes and princesses, and the interior of the Council Hall which harbored secret passages leading out of Delan City. However, the passages had since been converted into war-ready air-raid shelters and physical communications cable tunnels, with the necessary areas blocked off as before. Having a Metallic Dragon in close proximity to humans inevitably attracted some unusual gazes, but Chen Fei didn''t mind, and Yilan didn''t either. They took photos of each other and seemed to have quite a fun time sightseeing. For both parties, such an opportunity was rare indeed. After a full tour of the old Imperial Palace, time came just around noon. Yilan had already picked a restaurant for Chen Fei. As for the taste of the food, she had never tried it herself. After all, for a Metallic Dragon, whether a catering spot serving the Human Race and humanoid races is good or bad depends solely on its reputation and reviews. The restaurant was near the old Imperial Palace and was somewhat famous, perfectly suited for Chen Fei to try something new. The dietary culture of Cangqiong Star had been developed and was far from a culinary desert. The exotic flavors of Otherworld often provided the Blue Star People with much to appreciate. "It''s right ahead, we''ll be there soon!" Yilan, carrying Chen Fei, no longer took to the air but joined the flow of traffic on the road instead. The vehicles and magical beasts immediately maintained a distance of at least ten meters, fearing they might bump into the Metallic Dragon. Riding on the back of a Metallic Dragon, in a way, was also a unique landscape, with a 360-degree panoramic view, natural wind, an infinite variable speed, full dynamic cushioning balance, amphibious capabilities, and zero emissions... It must be said that the Dragon Clan is indeed top-tier transportation, although they no longer existed. Chen Fei, who was continuously filming with his phone for memories of his trip to Cangqiong Star, suddenly fixed his gaze. He saw a familiar face on his phone''s screen. "Wait, Yilan, pull over!" "What''s up?" Yilan immediately reacted and pulled out of the traffic. "Spotted an acquaintance, I''m going to say hello!" Taking advantage of the female Metallic Dragon pulling over, Chen Fei jumped down from the dragon''s back and landed on the sidewalk. The person seemed to have noticed Chen Fei too but showed no intention of coming over to greet him. Instead, after a look of surprise, he glanced left and right and without hesitation ran into a connecting alley. He actually ran away! "What''s going on?" The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, was confused as she watched Chen Fei chase into the alley. Her form wobbled a bit as her length and shoulder height quickly shrunk, transforming into a three-foot-long mini Metallic Dragon, her Blade Wing flicking as she darted after him into the narrow alley. In Yilan''s original size, there was no way she could squeeze into the alley. This ability to change size was a skill only a few dragons and magical beasts possessed. "Chirp!" Little Bird flew above Chen Fei''s head, also noticing the target person who was running away. After calling out, a light screen appeared out of nowhere, with the center showing the man making a desperate and chaotic run. The distance between them was quickly closing. Boom! A surge of air whipped up as Yilan, restored to her normal form, blocked the path ahead, trapping the fleeing man. Sparks flew from where her tail swept across the ground as she coolly said, "Insect! There''s no escape this way!" Yilan''s attitude towards other human beings, aside from Chen Fei, was no different from that of other Metallic Dragons, completely unceremonious. "What, a dragon?" The man obviously hadn''t expected that not only was he pursued by the human Chen Fei, but even a Metallic Dragon had intervened, causing him to yell in horror. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu perched on a nearby windowsill, curiously watching the man trapped by both person and dragon. "Mr. Xia Ji, back from the dead, what a play you''ve put on!" Chen Fei slowed his pace, trapping the man in the middle, and a Railgun Combat Rifle appeared in his hands, blocking all routes of escape. Xia Ji, the former military contractor for Aircrew Base 909, located next to 911 Aircrew Base, boss of the Ballistic Sax Military Limited Company, friends with Boss Hana, had died under mysterious circumstances at a military contractor salon hosted next to the aircrew base. Then, all the bosses who attended the salon were transported by a Magic Array to a corner of Europa Continent into the depths of a Mutant Breeding Farm, narrowly escaping becoming feed for the mutants. But there he was, standing alive in front of Chen Fei. The circumstances of Xia Ji''s death had been unclear, filled with doubts, now it seemed there had been a premeditated plan. "Xia Ji" said with a panicked face, "Who, who''s Xia Ji? I don''t know you!" "You are lying, I have artificial intelligence AI capable of precise facial recognition, and it can also detect lies, Mr. Xia Ji. There''s no point in playing dumb, I''m not buying it," Chen Fei said. He tossed a pair of handcuffs, throwing them at the man''s feet and said, "I only want a live capture, I don''t care if you end up lacking arms or legs. If you don''t want to suffer more, voluntarily handcuff yourself, and don''t test my patience." Those were heavy felon leg irons that could bind both wrists and ankles, linked by a steel chain. Once locked, one could barely walk, and the entire body had to be bent at the waist. "Royal Police! Nobody move!" Just as Xia Ji, with a bitter face, picked up the leg irons, two men in uniform, carrying automatic weapons, rushed over, aiming their weapons at both Chen Fei and the female Metallic Dragon Yilan. Meanwhile, four burly men surrounded a young man with an expressionless face. They approached, examining Chen Fei thoroughly before one of them finally spoke. "You are Chen Fei, you''ve made us search hard," said the young man. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind? "Who are you?" Chen Fei frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss. Clang! A sound of metal striking transmitted; Chen Fei looked over, only to see at Xia Ji''s previous location, nothing left but a shiny pair of leg irons on the ground. He escaped? Chen Fei sighed, his efforts undone. He looked at the nonchalant, carefree young man and said, "I don''t care who you are, you''re in big trouble, real big trouble!" These few guys and the two royal police officers'' actual target was him, not the suspicious Xia Ji, which allowed the latter to escape. This situation was really messed up. Chapter 620 620: Section 616 - Threat "What joke are you playing, do you know who I am?" The young man''s expression finally changed again, revealing thick scorn. "Put down your weapon and raise your hands!" Two royal police officers aimed their guns at Chen Fei, ready to fire at any moment. "Poor guy, don''t you even know who you are? Solely with this, you can''t evade responsibility, also... do you need me to call a doctor for you? All specialties available!" Chen Fei put away his railgun combat rifle, as dealing with these fellows didn''t require such a high-level weapon. On the other side, the female Metallic giant dragon Yilan loudly asked, "Do you need help?" Metallic dragons were not adept at resolving troubles but excelled at dealing with troublemakers, which probably also counted as a racial talent. If it took action, it would probably be over in an instant. "Not for now!" Chen Fei waved at Yilan, it wasn''t worth getting the Metallic giant dragon involved for such a trivial matter, lest it escalated the situation further. The man obstructing Chen Fei didn''t get easily swayed by the rhythm, but rather pretentiously said, "Blue Star people, you have already finished your commission, so why are you still lingering in Delan City, not hurrying back to Blue Star?" "Oh?" Chen Fei finally took a serious look at the other person for the first time, there were implications in his statement, with a lot of information. He sized up the man and directly asked, "May I ask, are you from the Princess Faction, or the Crown Prince Faction?" This guy knew that he had completed the royal commission, which isn''t known by ordinary people; it must be mostly someone from either the Crown Prince or Princess Faction, to be able to probe into such classified royal secrets. However, the other party''s information was limited, if they knew that he was a member of the Chen Family from Blue Star, then perhaps they wouldn''t maintain this stance. Even if the factions within the Silan Dynasty knew that the current imperial family had the blood of the Lin Family, their actions were limited to the power struggle within the dynasty, and they were scared to provoke the Lin Family, probably even if they borrowed a hundred guts. If because of the Chen Family, it indirectly attracted the attention of the Master of the Firmament, it would be a loss far outweighing the gain. The young man''s face changed, and he stuttered lost of composure, "You, you, you, what are you talking about? Don''t spout nonsense!" "Don''t play dumb any longer; you''ve already disclosed enough information." Chen Fei turned his head to look at the two royal police officers and said, "Do you really intend to get involved in the royal faction dispute? It''ll be death without a burial place!" This ability to analyze more intelligence through keywords was an experience learned from the Dog System. The Dog System always unpredictably issued tasks, forcing Chen Fei to wrack his brains for information, word by word. It''ll be death without a burial place! The two royal police officers, both frightened, shuddered slightly, almost firing their weapons, which were accidentally set off. They exchanged glances, feeling the urge to turn and run. After all, they were merely commoners who lived on a royal salary, not even citizens with political rights; how dare they meddle in the imperial faction rivalry, which could accidentally make them fodder, leading their families to an utterly confused and annihilating end. "I am a citizen of the First Sovereign of Blue Star, you might want to think this through." Chen Fei''s words were addressed not only to the two royal police officers but also to the group that had intercepted him. Although the overall strength of the First Sovereign of Blue Star was not comparable to that of the dynasty that ruled over an entire planet like the Silan Dynasty, it would go to any lengths to protect its citizens, not abandoning anyone easily; this was the confidence of the First Sovereign. "Sorry! Please pretend we were never here!" Like the last straw breaking the camel''s back, the two royal police officers couldn''t take it anymore, immediately put away their weapons, and turned to leave without hesitation. After all, without a proper dispatch for police duty, it wasn''t easy to clarify if things got serious. Even though Chen Fei was once armed with an active military offensive weapon, but involving royal disputes, this murky water was not worth treading. Anyone with a bit of discernment should also notice the existence of the space series alchemy storage artifact, which was never something ordinary citizens could own. "Now, with no one else around, can you answer my question?" Having driven away the royal police officers, Chen Fei stared at the remaining people, repeatedly pressuring them with his words, which was quite a kill two birds with one stone situation. After all, in some ways, the royal police represented the dynasty''s legitimacy. If a violent confrontational incident occurred, to save face for the dynasty, a scapegoat had to be found to calm the situation, likewise involving a cost. He also didn''t want to add worries for the Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness the Princess; after all, they had already "kicked" him out of the troublesome vortex, temporarily enabling him to stay out of it, not having to face those dirty and filthy issues, otherwise where would he have this leisure to tour the Imperial Capital with his friend Yilan? "What, what are you asking this for? It''s none, none of your business!" Once unrelated people had left, the young man who stopped Chen Fei suddenly became bolder, his attitude naturally showing. Chen Fei laughed inexplicably, saying, "Heh, then my answer to your previous questions is exactly the same, why stay in Delan City, why not return to Blue Star, what''s it to you? What''s your business?" Seeming challenged like a parrot would infuriate, the faction unknown young man became exasperated and said, "You think just because you''re a citizen of Blue Star, I wouldn''t dare do anything to you? I am a noble, a rightful Baron of the Silan Dynasty, and finding trouble with you is just a matter of a word." He possibly harbored some kind of misconception, treating a citizen of Blue Star like a citizen of the Silan Dynasty. After all, in Blue Star''s social structure, there weren''t any distinctions between citizens and commoners; everyone possessed full political rights and could fully exercise them upon reaching adulthood, unlike on Cangqiong Star, where without making significant contributions or achievements for the dynasty, one is not granted respective political rights. So, Lord Baron felt a full sense of superiority at this moment, as if he was crushing Chen Xiao''er, a mere nobody. "A Baron, huh? I understand, you''re cannon fodder, to be precise, a stepping stone; but no worries, you are already doomed. Better go back and write your will soon, get your affairs in order!" Chen Fei shook his head, looking at the other person with great sympathy. Xia Ji was involved with the "Water Bear" organization, and Blue Star''s attitude towards this group had always been unforgiving; if they couldn''t capture them alive, then dead would do, by any means necessary. There was no need to talk about morality or ethics when dealing with such anti-human, anti-social organizations. Even if they were elites from the Cangqiong Star Dynasty, getting tangled up with the "Water Bear" organization mostly meant they wouldn''t escape unscathed, let alone a minor noble like a baron, compounded by factional strife, hence Chen Fei could almost be sure that the other party was likely to die an untimely death. As for what the hell noble titles were, for the commoners under Blue Star''s first sovereignty, as long as they weren''t embarrassed, they could even wear imperial robes on the streets and refer to themselves as "we," so forgive Chen Fei for not being interested in such trifles, as he was utterly powerless against them. "Do you think I wouldn''t dare do anything to you?" Lord Baron said vehemently. "Go ahead and make your move! I''m in a hurry!" Boss Hana''s greatest fear had finally occurred¡ªChen Xiao''er suddenly felt he was capable and began provoking the nobles of the Silan Dynasty. "You''re seeking death, go, break his legs!" The baron, furious as thunder, couldn''t get a thing out of Chen Fei and instead was angered to the point his hair stood on end. Four strong men, like bodyguards, immediately closed in on Chen Fei. Bang! One! Bang! Two! Bang! Three! Bang! Four! Task done, Chen Fei dusted off his hands, with four human-shaped shrimps lying horizontally at his feet. Low-rank kids who couldn''t even release Battle Qi Flame got hammered down to the floor, each with a single strike. The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, reacted indifferently, as if Chen Fei was bullying kittens or puppies, completely not worth fussing over¡ªa few humans, so what if he beat them up, they couldn''t bite her anyway, could they? Let them try! "Now... do you have anything else to say?" Chen Fei clapped his hands together, leisurely gazing at the weak, helpless, and pitiful baron. The thought of hitting a noble excited him immensely; touching one felt exceptionally unique! In some ways, Chen Xiao''er''s lack of scruples was even worse than that of a Metallic Dragon. "You, you, I warn you, don''t mess around!" The moment his protectors were gone, the young man''s complexion turned pale as he stumbled backward, then turned tail, scrambling away. He ran surprisingly quickly! Around a corner Chen Fei couldn''t see, Lord Baron stumbled and fell flat on his face. Two uniformed individuals stood in front of him, one flashing a badge. "Imperial Security Department, Investigative Agent, Baron Schulz, please come with us!" Snicker... The other person produced a small spray can and sprayed the fallen baron directly in the face. "Eh? Ack!! Ack..." The baron on the ground just began to scream, but his voice quickly faded, and his consciousness began to cloud. Then he was carted away. Several days later, the Royal Insignia Academy suddenly issued a notice of title revocation, and the entire family of said baron was nowhere to be found. Chen Fei in the alley didn''t bother to chase them, didn''t even pay attention to the four human-shaped "shrimps" on the ground. As far as he was concerned, dealing with the baron wasn''t his responsibility; that was a matter internal to the Silan Dynasty, naturally someone else would handle it. Going over to the shackles Xia Ji had discarded on the ground, Chen Fei pulled out a transparent plastic bag, carefully pinching one corner of the shackles and placing it into the bag. He was after fingerprints. The shiny silver shackles bore not only Xia Ji''s fingerprints but also traces of DNA. To prove that Chen Fei had encountered Xia Ji in the Silan Dynasty''s Imperial Capital of Cangqiong Star, declared dead on Blue Star, this plastic bag served as the strongest evidence, because a legally dead person should not be able to leave new traces. Chen Fei thought for a moment, then took out his mobile phone and began to dial. "Hello, Chen Fei, what''s up?" A monk''s voice came through. Chen Fei knew only one monk, who was especially ruthless yet endearing. Chapter 621 621: Section 617 - Divine Synchrony Nothing urgent warrants a visit to the temple thrice. Miyoshi Monk suddenly received a call from Chen Fei, reminding himself that he still owed him an explanation. The escape of the supernatural power user "Plagiarist Ghost" in Hablav City had caused unprecedented turbulence, even surpassing the previous mutant siege. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee even had a high-ranking official removed, and fierce fights broke out during the manhunt. A major purge was inevitable. Even the monk himself nearly got embroiled in the mess. If Chen Fei were to ask about it, it definitely couldn''t be explained in just a few words over the phone, especially since some matters were so serious that merely being informed implied guilt. Sometimes, knowing too much really can be life-threatening. "Emmmm..." Once the call connected, Chen Fei hesitated because he and the monk were on the same page, but he didn''t know which issue to address first. Ever since he was removed by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee for his recklessness, his interactions with Miyoshi Monk had dwindled; they were practically from two different worlds. Their temporary cooperation during the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" battle in Africa Continent was just a fluke. Had it not been for the lack of suitable manpower, Miyoshi Monk wouldn''t have engaged Chen Fei, who was now considered an outsider. "That..." The monk also stuttered, equally distressed. Neither of them was in a superior-subordinate relationship, and the shady business Miyoshi Xuesen was involved in was not exactly aboveboard. Some things were extremely difficult to discuss. Even answering this call was somewhat against the rules. If it wasn''t for some urgent matter, both parties would deem each other a nuisance and implicitly keep their distance. "You go first!" Chen Fei didn''t hesitate any further, promptly asking the monk to clarify. "The ''Plagiarist Ghost'' issue is a big problem. Don''t pursue it any further, because, because it could lead to trouble for you." Miyoshi Xuesen wasn''t trying to be evasive; he was genuinely giving a friendly warning. Those in his line of work rarely advised others, often preferring others to blunder into pitfalls on their own. "Trouble, huh! Well, I''ve got even bigger troubles here. Want to hear about it?" Chen Fei quickly grasped that the topic was closed from the other party''s end. Even the monk was wary, so it was wiser for someone like him to stay clear and avoid getting blood on his hands. Moreover, at the moment, Chen Fei was in Delan City and faced the danger of getting metaphorically bloodied himself at any time. The power struggle within the Dynasty was no joke. Just a moment ago, had it not been for his quick-witted response to these local snakes, things could have gotten messy. "More, even more troublesome, hey, hey, don''t mess around, okay!" The monk even thought of Chen Xiao''er as a nuisance. Doesn''t he have enough sense to realize that? "I''m in Silan Dynasty''s Imperial Capital Cangqiong Star. I just encountered a member of the ''Water Bear'' organization on the main street, someone who should be dead but is now alive. Strange, isn''t it?" Miyoshi Xuesen guessed right; Chen Fei was not planning to let him off easy. "Ah? A member of the ''Water Bear'' organization, back from the dead? Are you serious?" The monk wanted to say it wasn''t any of his business. These matters weren''t his responsibility. But he was also afraid Chen Fei would secretly report him to someone else, which would bring him unwarranted trouble. That is why answering this call was fundamentally a huge mistake. "Guaranteed authentic! However, the person was just set free by the local nobility. I almost caught him, but fingerprints were left behind, incontrovertible evidence. Dead people shouldn''t be able to leave fingerprints, right?" Chen Fei had actual evidence in his possession. Probably, not even Xia Ji would have expected that the all-metal handcuffs he was forced to pick up were also a trap. That Baron who was whatever, Chen Fei was about to retaliate. Sending a message from Blue Star to the rulers of Cangqiong Star, a mere little baron would likely become a target for critical hits. A ten-minute target practice would soon turn into a deadly poison. But Chen Fei didn''t realize that the little noble had collapsed around the corner and met his instant karma; there was no need to wait for it. Miyoshi Monk vaguely understood some of it and cautiously asked, "Indeed... Do you want me to report this to the Global United Defense Committee?" To be honest, he had no desire to deal with those big shots at the moment. He just wanted to complete his duties, find a quiet corner for himself, light a clay lantern, and sip bitter tea by the charcoal fire, reciting some "mami mami hum" for ultimate fulfillment. "If you''re not willing, maybe I should find someone else?" Chen Fei sensed the monk''s barely concealed reluctance. "No! I''ll handle it!" The monk felt a strong premonition, knowing they were cut from the same cloth. "The evidence is in my hands. Should I wait until I return to Blue Star or entrust someone else to collect it?" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief, glad to finally resolve this messy business. Had it not been for Boss Hana''s involvement, he couldn''t be bothered with these problems. After all, he and Boss were the prime suspects in the "death" of Xia Ji, having both been injected with a supernatural ability suppressant. This score had to be settled one way or another. Miyoshi Xuesen said, "Wait for my call!" Then he hastily hung up the phone and took a long time to finally exhale deeply. This Chen really knew how to give him headaches! After much hesitation, the monk braced himself and dialed another number. "Hello, Vice President Ma, this is Miyoshi..." - "One down!" Chen Fei felt refreshed. System: Ding! For apprehending "Water Bear" organization cadre Xia Ji, dead or alive, you gain +100 Energy Points! (Task failure: -100) Chen Fei: Eh? Dog System, get out here!!! Just can''t stand to see others doing well, huh? Always causing trouble, and always such a mess! While escorting Princess Lin Ziyu back to the Imperial Capital Delan City, Chen Fei had expended quite a few Energy Points and hadn''t had time to replenish them. The further deduction of these points due to mission failure was unacceptable to him. Why the hell is this happening? The sham-acting Dog System started playing dead proficiently again, no matter what, it wouldn''t respond to Chen Xiao''er''s fury. He had just passed the job to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to let them figure out how to capture Xia Ji, but he never expected that his own brain would produce a betraying system that forcefully dragged the task back to him. Just when the female Metallic Dragon Yilan was worriedly looking at Chen Fei''s face turning shades of green and red, the phone rang again. The caller ID showed Miyoshi Xuesen. After picking up, Chen Fei immediately asked, "Hello, Miyoshi, do you have any news?" Miyoshi Xuesen instead asked, "Chen Fei, can you take on the assignment?" "Eh?" Chen Fei had a bad premonition. "What?" Miyoshi Xuesen said, "The mission to capture ''Water Bear'' organization cadre Xia Ji, dead or alive!" "What the hell?" Chen Fei couldn''t quite believe his ears. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had no shame, copying the Dog System''s mission list verbatim. Wait a minute, something seemed off here. Are you two in cahoots!!! It all felt very fishy. The Monk continued to speak for himself, "The bounty is 1 million Star Yuan!" The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was as generous as ever, not at all intending to take advantage of the military contractors below them. On one hand, Jiu Defense Company, to which Chen Fei belonged, had its usual business operations in this area; on the other hand, Chen Fei¡ªrich with capture experience and also a concerned party¡ªhappened to be right in the Silan Dynasty''s Imperial Capital, making him the executor closest to the mission target. There was no one more suitable than him. So, it''s all about fate! "If the difficulty of the task increases, additional payment is required, as well as intelligence support!" It wasn''t just about the Star Yuan. Considering Jiu Defense Company''s ongoing relationship with the Global United Defense Committee, Chen Fei had no choice but to bite his tongue and accept the mission. Of course, the reward of 100 Energy Points from the Dog System was also one of the key reasons. The reward of only 100 Energy Points from the Dog System meant the mission wasn''t very difficult; after all, that Xia Ji didn''t seem to possess much combat strength. "Money is no object! But intelligence... I need to consult on that further!" Matters involving money were trivial, and Miyoshi Xuesen could assure that right away. However, intelligence was tied to the Silan Dynasty. The Monk couldn''t decide this on his own, as it was concerning the Dynasty and the possibility of foreign spies being active right beside them. "Without intelligence, I can''t do the job. Relying on just myself to find someone in a super metropolis with a population of 12 million is harder than finding a needle in a haystack. Besides, I''m only good at killing people, not finding them." Chen Fei was addressing a practical issue. The Dog System was a master at deflecting blame, but the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn''t play deaf and dumb so easily. From this mission alone, the relationship between the two issuers seemed highly suspicious. It was synchronized to such an extent that anyone would have doubts. "Wait for my call!" Miyoshi Monk hung up again. "Are you still worried about that Baron?" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan saw Chen Fei standing there, taking and making calls for a long time. The Dragon Clan and the Dynastic Nobility were like water from different wells that never mingled, with few opportunities for interaction. Yilan was not afraid of those noble lords. The nobility also kept as far away from the Metallic Dragons as possible, never causing trouble without reason. "No, it has nothing to do with that Baron. It''s about Xia Ji! I''ve got work to do. If I catch this guy, I''ll treat you to a feast!" Chen Fei looked up at the balcony in the distance. The Little Bird that had been perched on the window ledge was nowhere to be seen; it had vanished without a trace, perhaps chasing after a pretty little sparrow, heading off for a date. If it never came back, so be it. Chen Fei had long been mentally prepared for this possibility. Of course, it was also possible that Little Bird had gone off to track Xia Ji. "A feast? Do you need help? I''m the local dragon here, and I know every place!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan had grown up in the Imperial Capital Delan City since hatching, flying around the sky often, so she knew every square inch of the land like the back of her claw. "That would be perfect." Chen Fei felt the same on a gut level. He was new in town, unfamiliar with the place; looking for someone was like looking for a ghost. Xiao Jiu still not back?! Chapter 622 622: Section 618 - Incognito Visit ``` The little bird had disappeared without a trace. Chen Fei took out his phone and opened a program module. Blue Star and Cangqiong Star not only shared a currency but also employed the same network standards; many programs and devices could be used directly. After crossing planes, intelligent species from both civilizations could easily integrate into each other''s societies. Leg ring positioning, hmm, got it! Moving towards the park district at a speed of 35 kilometers per hour, destination unknown. If I''m not mistaken, it must be chasing after that Xia Ji. Xiao Jiu''s leg ring is bound; as long as I have this program module, it won''t get lost. Pfft! So, this is how the reward of 100 energy points for the task comes about. This dog system doesn''t even spare little birds. Chen Fei always felt that the dog system was an existence even more advanced than the artificial intelligence AI "Adam", perhaps even "Cybertrom". Although the exact capabilities of "Cybertrom" were unknown, it was certain that "Adam" stood no chance against the dog system. After obtaining "Adam''s" underlying core control key, it was even more so; "Adam" was completely incorporated into the dog system''s management module. Yilan watched Chen Fei fiddle with his phone before speaking again. "Shall we go now?" "Yeah, let''s go, to get some food!" Chen Fei nodded. People need food as much as steel needs iron; only with a full stomach can one have the strength to catch wrongdoers. The restaurant recommended by Yilan was not far from here. A satisfying meal was had. "Quite satisfying!" Chen Fei walked out of the restaurant contented, and he had even taken food to go. The cost of living in Delan City was not low, but for now, he could still afford it. The space system alchemy storage artifact on his right wrist was perfect for storing the take-out; in its static storage space, the freshness lasted even longer than in a refrigerator. "Next stop, the park district, the Imperial Capital Grand Garden. Please board the... no, get on the dragon!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon was excitedly making arrangements for the itinerary, with the Imperial Capital tourism and sightseeing plan packed with things to see and do. The Imperial Capital Grand Garden occupied a large part of the park district, featuring a vast collection of rare and magical flora and fauna. Not only were there land and underground attractions, but also sky and underwater sights, as well as cultural performances unique to different intelligent species¡ªmaking it more alluring than the Old Imperial Palace earlier in the morning. After sunset, they tried another renowned restaurant in the Imperial Capital, and the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan then carried Chen Fei back to the Rocky Mountain dormitory. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had somehow returned early; it couldn''t find Chen Fei, but it remembered the Rocky Mountain on the outskirts of Delan City. As soon as it saw Chen Fei return, it joyfully flapped over to him, landing on his head and hopping around on his shoulder and arm nonstop. Chen Fei felt the little one''s crop; it was bulging. It had clearly feasted somewhere. He needed to find a restaurant to eat, but wherever there were green plants, there would be insects. Almost everywhere in the Imperial Capital was this little one''s feeding ground; even without Chen Fei, it didn''t have to worry about going hungry. The little bird was affectionately close to Chen Fei, while on the other side, unsurprisingly, the three dragon whelps were getting thrashed. Two hundred pounds of exercises, and the highest achiever among them was Cobalt Luo at eighty pounds. The other two dragon whelps, Thukadi and Benali, had each only managed twenty pounds and fifteen pounds, far from the study goal they had set before leaving home in the morning. "I''m sorry, Sister Yilan, I will change, ow! It hurts!" "Don''t hit me, I just spaced out for a moment." "Nonsense, he was watching videos! I got distracted and couldn''t focus on the exercises; it''s all Thukadi''s fault!" There were millions of excuses for making mistakes, but there was only one consequence: a beating! The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, true to her word, didn''t hold back and beat the three young dragons to a pulp, even the cries and howls for mercy were futile. Ding dong!~ The sudden sound of the doorbell rang out. Although installed, the doorbell of the Rocky Mountain dormitory had never been used; after all, if other Magical Beasts wanted to visit, they would be sensed as they approached, and it was unlikely for humans to visit frequently. "Who is it?" The cave door opened automatically. Yilan temporarily spared the three shameless creatures and looked towards the door. A person from the Human Race, cloaked with a hooded cape and wearing a mask, walked in and asked aloud, "Is Mr. Chen Fei here?" "May I ask... huh? Her Royal Highness the Princess!" Chen Fei, holding Little Bird, was astonished to find that the person who took off the hood and mask was none other than Princess Lin Ziyu Slan¡ªwho was supposed to be unconscious in the Royal Palace. However, his shock was not as great as he had initially thought it would be; after a brief moment of emotional disturbance, he calmed down quickly. The Princess''s appearance in person somewhat confirmed Chen Fei''s speculation¡ªhe had guessed right. Indeed, a ruse concocted by the royal siblings, playing tricks to fool the nai?ve! "Your Highness!" ¡Á4 The four bickering Metallic Giant Dragons stood in a row, quickly bowing their heads in greeting. They respected no one but the Slan Royal Family that had raised them, especially since the Princess had personally fed each of the young dragons. The Princess who had arrived at the Dragon Nest at night introduced herself: "Mr. Chen Fei, on behalf of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, I am the intelligence liaison officer assigned to communicate with you from the Slan Dynasty, Yu Zilin!" The playful reversal of her name, just like her father, truly like father, like daughter. The big shot''s incognito play, tsk, way too high-end. "Hello, Miss Yu!" ``` "What can we mere commoners do, but cooperate?" If things go south, we''ll either be hung up and beaten by the Empress or the Lord of the Sky, and either way is equally terrifying. Chen Fei had realized that Her Royal Highness the Princess was taking advantage of the intelligence liaison work of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to slip away from the Imperial Palace. It couldn''t be pleasant to lay flat pretending to be in a coma all day long. "You must keep it a secret, okay?" Before Chen Fei, Princess Lin Ziyu held her face with both hands, rubbed it for a while, and when she removed her hands, she had transformed into another appearance. She had delicate features, but her face was wholly different from before, unrecognizable as the Princess of the Slan Dynasty. "Uh..." This act of pretending to be a white fish was played to perfection. "So, when you leave, what happens inside the Imperial Palace?" Chen Fei looked at the entirely altered Princess Lin Ziyu. "Lize Jina has taken on my appearance. Few know that I have inherited the sorcerer''s talents from my mother." In one sentence, Princess Lin Ziyu unveiled the tumultuous truth of recent events, those sorcerer skills were all taught by the Empress herself, hand by hand. How could the Imperial Family Youngsters not have their unknown cards to play? It''s no wonder outsiders can''t break the curse she cast on herself, a Shadow Guard acting as the Princess is precisely one of their primary duties. "So that''s how it is!" Chen Fei suddenly understood. Boss Hana indeed had the foresight, advising him to consult the boss whenever he was undecided. Ordinary people can''t outmaneuver these Imperial Family Youngsters with their schemes, each move interlocked with the next, full of routines that are hard to guard against. "Actually... it''s safer here!" The Princess, now with a different name and appearance, looked around with ease and nodded in satisfaction, continuing, "There are no factions here, only Giant Dragons, and Metallic ones at that. You''ve indeed picked a good spot." Seeking refuge in the Dragon Nest of the Metallic Dragons was indeed a good strategy to temporarily escape the whirlpool of factional struggles. It would be hard for anyone to guess that the Princess not only managed to pull off a great escape but also used the cover of an assignment from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee to travel with Chen Fei under a disguised identity, ensuring her personal safety at all times and places. The factional elites busy with power struggles had no interest in the operations to capture members of the "Water Bear" organization; after all, "Water Bear" was a scourge on Blue Star, not Cangqiong Star. In the uninhabited zones of Cangqiong Star, Magical Beasts that had evolved over who knows how many years are even more dangerous than Mutants. "It was Yilan who took me in!" Chen Fei looked towards the female Metallic Giant Dragon, a place more comfortable than many luxury hotels. Yilan proudly lifted her dragon head, saying, "Chen Fei is my good friend!" Princess Lin Ziyu, now using the name Yu Zilin, curiously asked, "I''ve heard that you can ride Yilan, Chen Fei. Is it true?" In the last few days, the rumors of the Dragon Knight had spread quickly within the Imperial Capital. If it weren''t for the young man on the back of the Metallic Giant Dragon not looking right, many would have thought it was the Master of the Firmament out for a stroll. Considering the Sky Dragon City had recalled all the Dragon God Contracts, halting the cooperation with Dragon Riders and Dragon Chevaliers, there shouldn''t be any Dragon Riders or Dragon Chevaliers nowadays, Surely the current Dragon King would not just let anyone ride on his back, right? "Ride? How is that possible!" Preempting Yilan''s response, Chen Fei immediately shook his head vehemently like a rattle-drum and denied it, saying, "It''s just a small favor between friends. Look at Xiao Jiu; is it riding me?" As if to demonstrate his point, he placed the Little Bird on his shoulder. The little fella hopped onto the top of Chen Fei Dad''s head¡ªif it dropped another poop, that would be that! If the Princess''s words reached Sky Dragon City, Chen Xiao''er''s life would likely be at risk. "Uh... no!" Princess Lin Ziyu glanced at the Little Bird and then at Chen Fei, grudgingly accepting his explanation. She continued, "I was thinking of getting you a set of Dragon Knight armor, but now it seems, let''s forget it." "..." Chen Fei felt that accepting such an offer was a death sentence; this was not a charade to play lightly, as life was on the line. The Princess stealing her father''s, the Lord of the Sky''s, Dragon Knight armor was something he wouldn''t dare to touch, let alone accept. Of course, had there been no severe consequences, to get his hands on the priceless, limited-edition Dragon Knight armor of the Lord of the Sky for his collection, he would have been set for life. "By the way, about the information on Xia Ji." Finally steering the conversation to a crucial issue, Princess Lin Ziyu suddenly seemed to remember something and pulled out a tablet from inside her hooded cloak. She was now at least the intelligence liaison officer between the Slan Dynasty and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Once the Slan Dynasty got serious, they could investigate a great deal in a short time. Taking the tablet, Chen Fei motioned to display an electronic map while simultaneously checking the flight trajectory of the Little Bird on his phone. Seeing a section of the flight trajectory correspond with a point marked on the electronic map on the tablet, Princess Lin Ziyu uttered a surprised exclamation. "Huh? How did you investigate this?" In such a short time since arriving on Cangqiong Star, he had immediately found an incredibly effective channel of information, no ordinary feat. "Jiu!" The Little Bird chirped and hopped onto Chen Fei''s wrist. "Xiao Jiu tracked it." With nonchalance, Chen Fei revealed the answer. In Imperial Capital Delan City, the Little Bird needn''t hide nor disguise; even openly tracking wouldn''t be easily detected. Chapter 623 623: Section 619 - Surveillance "Jiu?" Princess Lin Ziyu looked at Little Bird in amazement, not expecting the creature to possess such abilities. "Jiu?" The little one met Her Royal Highness''s gaze head-on, cocked its head slightly, looking somewhat baffled! The environment of Cangqiong Star was more suitable for Magical Beasts; the Pure Light Sparrow thrived here as naturally as a fish takes to water or a bird returns to the forest, far more active than it had been on Blue Star. Both the human and the bird were clueless about what the other was talking about. What on earth were they saying?! The Princess was not Chen Fei, not quite familiar with the little one''s many gestures combined with its chirping which represented different meanings and emotions. Eventually, the bewildered Princess Lin Ziyu turned to the main subject and asked, "When are you planning to make your move?" The target''s location had been determined; everything was ready except for the action, and they could capture the individual at any moment unless something unexpected happened. With the Royal Family''s support, capturing a few individuals within the Imperial Capital Delan City was as easy as playing a game, presenting no difficulty whatsoever. "We still need to further confirm the intelligence, let''s send a few drones to keep an eye on them first." Chen Fei wanted to capture not just Xia Ji but also trace his network completely, hoping to capture them all in one swoop. His right wrist-mounted Space System Alchemy Storage Device housed more than a hundred drones of two types; each had official flight permission and could create a net in the sky. Chen released the Mobile Base Vehicle, began to pinpoint Xia Ji''s location, and sent the first batch of three propeller-driven drones flying out towards the main urban area of Delan City. The propeller-driven reconnaissance drones, possessing a higher altitude capability, longer endurance, and more comprehensive reconnaissance module functionality compared to a slightly smaller model of quadcopter drones, were adept at both high-altitude surveillance and low-altitude searching. "Do you often do this kind of work?" Princess Lin Ziyu curiously watched Chen Fei swiping the touchscreen, fine-tuning the propeller-driven reconnaissance drones'' module functionality as she followed the Mobile Base Vehicle. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" was synchronously taking over, but it was Chen Fei who needed to make adjustments based on personal preferences. "To be precise, it is the AI ''Adam'' that often does this; I am responsible for making decisions. How to control it is not my capability." Chen Fei snapped his fingers, and the Mobile Base Vehicle automatically started up, ready to exit the cave dormitory. Whether it was his past experience in team 04 or Miyoshi Monk''s Huntsman Squad, he had accumulated vast experience and could quite rightly claim to be an expert in this field. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan brought her large head close to the window and asked from outside, "Need help?" When the Mobile Base Vehicle was released, she knew Chen Fei was planning to go out, and having promised to help, she certainly intended to follow through. "Of course, I will send you the coordinates later. You will be responsible for standing by overhead, waiting for my command." Chen Fei thought for a moment and nodded to Yilan outside the vehicle. The Mobile Base Vehicle had adequate defenses but lacked offensive capabilities. It was only suitable as a means of transport, a rest point, and a command and communication node, definitely not a true battle vehicle. If a real fight broke out, having the combat power of Metallic Dragons involved would compensate for this shortcoming. "Where are you going? I''m coming too!" Cobalt Luo, having suddenly volunteered, had no idea what he was thinking. "I''m going too!" "And me!" Thukadi and Benali, the two young dragons, jostled each other, eager to go first. "Huh?" Princess Lin Ziyu was somewhat astonished. When had these Metallic Dragons, who usually liked to eat, sleep, and ideally do nothing, become so enthusiastic? Maybe they ate the wrong Metal Ingot? "Scared of quizzes!" Chen Fei spoke the truth with a single phrase. The task of 200 pounds of homework forced the three Metallic Dragons to temporarily change their demeanor. As long as they didn''t have to do homework, even learning to bark at the park''s entrance would do. What is integrity? For a Metallic Dragon, is that something edible? "Hah?" Lin Ziyu looked towards the enormous stone table inside the cave, which was almost bigger in length, width, and height than the Mobile Base Vehicle, the latter even able to comfortably drive under the table. "Hehehe..." x3 The three young dragons issued awkward yet polite laughter. "Tomorrow, 400 pounds!" Yilan had no intention of letting these three younger brothers off the hook. "Then I''m not going!" x3 Including Cobalt Luo, the three young dragons instantly reneged on their words. If they had to do quizzes even after going out, it was better to just stay in the cave and do an extra pound or two of homework. "Not going? Do 600 pounds!" The elder sister emitted a cold, ruthless laugh, so characteristic of a Metallic Dragon. Clang! Clang! Clang! Like dominoes, the three young dragons fell to the ground one after another, shaking the earth, yet appearing barely alive. Yilan could easily guess their little schemes; everyone was from the same clan, cut from the same cloth, and there was no fooling her. Two hundred pounds of homework a day, that was the baseline. Learning was a path of no return, the sea of books was boundless, and to look back was to face death. Once one embarked on it, escape was not an option, for what other way was there to attend university? If one failed to get into university, the Human Race could still resort to manual labor, but the Metallic Dragons had it worse. They had to burrow like rats, never seeing the light of day, mining until death took them. If careless, they might even be buried deep beneath the ground, and if unlucky, they could only wait for three to five hundred million years until a civilization of the next era might dig up a dragon-shaped fossil. "Are you coming or not?" Yilan was a very qualified gang leader, making the younger brothers tremble in fear. "We''re coming!" ¡Á3 What else could the three young dragons do? Life was tough! The ones who understood the Metallic Dragons best were indeed the Metallic Dragons themselves. "Shared joy is better than solo joy..." Cobalt Luo muttered quietly. Not long after the Mobile Base Vehicle left the cave dormitory carrying Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu, four Metallic Dragons rose from the mountaintop platform, their left and right wingtips and tail spears adorned with navigation lights (left red, right green, tail white) twinkling in the night sky as they flew towards the Imperial Capital''s main urban area. Three propeller-driven drones arrived first at the designated airspace, circling at different radii, maintaining surveillance over the ground. Xia Ji''s hiding place was in one of the eight major urban districts, a residential area divided into rental apartments, commoner, citizen, and noble communities, each offering different public services. After all, social classes could not truly be completely eradicated; they would naturally emerge and become increasingly distinct over time. Their existence was justified, so it was better to arrange them early to prevent intensification of social class conflicts. The Mobile Base Vehicle stopped at the boundary between the noble and citizen communities, where a ten-lane dual carriageway separated the two large communities. At first glance, the differences between the two large communities were quite apparent. The architecture in the noble community primarily consisted of courtyards, with premises starting from acres in size, and buildings over five stories were rare. The citizen community featured detached small houses, row houses, and high-rises; each household had at least two hundred square meters. The higher the corresponding economic strength of the social class, the higher the comfort and enjoyment experienced. For the external workers in the commoner community and rental apartments, having a place to stay and enough space was satisfying enough; they would not even think of luxuries like large libraries or swimming pools. "Ice Flower Road No. 14, found it. The property is registered to Baron Flan''s private courtyard, occupying 5 acres with a building area of 430 square meters, two stories above ground, and one below." The propeller-driven drone sent back footage, and Chen Fei confirmed Xia Ji''s last known location. He then released another quadrotor drone, which drifted into the noble district. As a special-purpose aircraft, it had higher security privileges than community security permissions, so it did not trigger a low-altitude alarm and smoothly arrived near Ice Flower Road No. 14. The intelligence submitted by Xiao Jiu and Princess Lin Ziyu matched, confirming it was the same address. Unexpectedly, Xia Ji, a member of the "Water Bear" organization, was able to live in the noble district; Chen Fei had originally thought the other party would choose the more densely populated rental apartments. Princess Lin Ziyu pointed to a display screen and said, "There are people inside, more than one!" The screen showed dual imaging with air sonar and infrared. "Deploy the mechanical spiders!" Chen Fei ordered "Adam." The quadrotor drone flew over the main building in the courtyard, where four palm-sized octopedal mechanical spiders attached themselves to the roof before quickly scurrying on their slender legs to find entry points into the building. Soon, two of the octoped mechanical spiders found different ventilation shafts. The metal filters did not stop the spiders equipped with the "Mind Brand" magic array, and they entered the building smoothly. The other two followed through a balcony and a kitchen window. The "Mind Brand" magic array enabled use of Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power within a certain range. "Bang, bang, bang!" At that moment, someone knocked on the door of the Mobile Base Vehicle. Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu looked over together, and two patrol police officers had noticed the Mobile Base Vehicle parked on the roadside. Whether it was the noble or citizen community, the frequency of patrols by security personnel was relatively high, and it was natural for them to check a vehicle of unknown origin. After the vehicle door automatically opened, two police officers peered inside. One of them said, "Please show your identification and driving license." Just as Chen Fei was about to present his personal documents, Princess Lin Ziyu stopped him. "Let me!" She took out an employment ID and flashed it before the two police officers. "Eh?" Both patrol officers were surprised to see the style of the work ID and immediately took out a standard identification verification device to scan it. Yu Zilin, female, 29 years old, Imperial Security Department, Third-Level Investigative Agent, employed for five years. The credentials were authentic, and Yu Zilin''s personnel file, as well as a detailed resume, could be found within the Imperial Security Department. "We apologize for the disturbance!" The two police officers immediately realized that the Imperial Security Department was carrying out a special mission, which was not their place to inquire about. They retreated as far as possible, fearing any trouble. "All clear!" Yu Zilin waved the ID in her hand and winked at Chen Fei. After all, the entire world belonged to the Slan Royal Family, and it was only natural to reserve some "real" alternate identities. "Alright, let''s continue, there''s sound now." Chen Fei didn''t mind and handed a headset to Her Royal Highness. According to the positions of the people inside, the four octopedal mechanical beings equipped with optical lenses and microphones dived into hidden corners, finding suitable angles. "Mr. Xia Ji..." This finally clinched the identity of the person of interest. However, the second sentence that came through made Chen Fei and Her Royal Highness exchange glances. "This place has been exposed, we need to move immediately!" Chapter 624 624: Section 620 - Escape "What the hell is going on?" Chen Fei had just locked on the target when, for no apparent reason, they became aware of his presence and responded immediately, almost foiling his plan. "We''ve been discovered!" Princess Lin Ziyu also couldn''t understand; maybe it was the Octoped Mechanical Spider that had disturbed the people in the courtyard. But under the operation of the AI, they had been extremely cautious, never once appearing within the enemy''s line of sight. Even Chen Fei himself would not be on guard for such slight disturbances at all times. "It could be a mole, or maybe a supernatural power user¡ªafter all, it''s ''Water Bear.'' It''s not surprising at all." Having dealt with "Water Bear" and its vassal force "Sacred Advent" quite often, Chen Fei quickly regained his composure. This kind of mishap wasn''t new to him. Even companions from Team 04, including the formidable Holy Knights, had fallen in combat. When dealing with these insidious creatures, one must always be on high alert. Without hesitation, Her Royal Highness the Princess said, "Summon the Giant Dragon! Go for a direct assault!" She didn''t care if the powerful figures living there felt endangered; she was going all-in with a trump card, no, a dragon trump. The Metallic Dragons didn''t even have to do anything¡ªa mere free fall from high altitude could wipe out everyone in the courtyard. And then they could just wait for tomorrow''s news explosion about the Imperial Capital Delan City! "No, follow them first, and expand our victory!" Chen Fei saw several people inside a house pinpointed by the quadrotor drone gather in a particular room, then they opened a secret passage and filed in, while others in the courtyard continued with their usual activities. The AI "Adam" obtained the underground structure of number 14 Ice Flower Road and its surroundings, including a long underground passage extending all the way to number 7 Cold Wind Road, through the feedback from the active sonar''s echoes. It must be a recently developed secret passage; otherwise, it wouldn''t escape the regular security inspections of the noble community. An Octoped Mechanical Spider closest to the location immediately followed and crawled into the secret passage, trailing behind those people. Unfortunately, the palm-sized mechanical spider was equipped with only one engraving unit for a Magic Array Inscription, just enough to contain one "Mind Brand" and barely extend its spiritual power within reach for some minor disruptions. Chen Fei actually wished to add the "Gravity," "Silent Domain," and "Light Distortion" Magic Arrays to the spider, which would significantly enhance its effectiveness. "Click!" A crisp sound echoed by Chen Fei''s ear, and the image transmitted back from the passage turned into a black screen. The AI "Adam" lost the signal from the Octoped Mechanical Spider that had entered the secret passage. "Damn! The mechanical spider''s been found." Chen Fei grimaced and immediately had "Adam" control two other mechanical spiders to board the quadrotor drone and move to the courtyard at number 7 Cold Wind Road. Secret passages have their advantages; almost no traces are visible above ground, but the downside is equally clear¡ªthe route can be restrictive, with no possibility of changing paths on the fly, and in a noble community, secret passages can''t be dug with unrestricted access. After all, this is the Imperial Capital, not an outskirts manor; they would face restrictions from public pipelines, underground transport, and other landowners'' safety concerns. Princess Lin Ziyu asked, "Is it an Ability User?" The Octoped Mechanical Spider that had entered the secret passage hadn''t detected any chanting of Incantations. Chen Fei speculated, "It could be a Special Ability user!" If it was a spell cast without an Incantation, it would consume too much Magic Power, which is essential for Mages. As each drop had to be used cautiously, unless in an emergency, Spellcasters generally would not do it casually. However, Special Ability users were unique products of Blue Star; their abilities could be triggered quickly without any incantations. It wasn''t surprising that "Water Bear," rooted in Blue Star, would have Special Ability users around Xia Ji. Even today, there were a handful of unregistered supernatural power users outside the management of the Psychic Management Center. "Don''t let these bastards escape!" Princess Lin Ziyu checked the destination of those people, the end of the secret passage. The owner of the approximately five-acre estate at number 7 Cold Wind Road was Baron Lanfeng, who even belonged to the Princess Faction among the nobility. Unexpectedly, he had a connection with the "Water Bear" organization. These people, secretly cultivating ferocious Mutants in the dark¡ªdon''t they have any inkling of the dangers posed by "Water Bear"? "They can''t get away for now; I''ll find an opportunity to lay a trap for them." Those racing through the secret passage were as slippery as oiled eels, making it hard for Chen Fei to make his move; he just had to patiently look for an opportunity. The quadrotor drone, carrying two Octoped Mechanical Spiders, raced ahead of the people traveling through the secret passage and made it to the estate at number 7 Cold Wind Road before them, infiltrating it right away. The original courtyard at number 14 Ice Flower Road, however, kept one Octoped Mechanical Spider in place to maintain surveillance to avoid falling for a feint. Although Chen Fei was alone and had limited attention to spare, the AI "Adam" excelled in multitasking with parallel operations. With its vast computing power, it truly could act at will. "The distance is too far; I need to get closer. Your Highness, wait for me in the vehicle!" Chen Fei looked at the brightly lit noble community and immediately stood up inside the vehicle. The "Mind Brand" inscribed with spiritual power cannot be too far distant, or the response capability would diminish with distance. To prompt those mechanical spiders into actions beyond their programmed functions, one must close the distance. "Where are you going?" Princess Lin Ziyu felt somewhat uneasy about being left alone in the vehicle. "I''m going to use my abilities inside the noble district. Don''t worry, with ''Adam'' here, we''ll stay in contact." Chen Fei waved his hand at the door of the vehicle. His tactical helmet enveloped his head, and with a leap, he vanished into the noble district''s fenced walls without triggering any alarms. While parked by the roadside, "Adam" had obtained the highest access to the community''s security system, giving Chen Fei the green light to enter unimpeded, as if entering a deserted realm. "Be careful..." Before Princess Lin Ziyu could finish her sentence, Chen Fei had already disappeared from her view. The massive mobile base vehicle, equipped with nearly a hundred Magic Array Inscription units, could become as sturdy as a small fortress when focused on defense, capable of protecting Her Royal Highness the Princess''s safety for a short duration. Furthermore, there were Metallic Dragons circling in the night sky, ready to swoop down and offer support at any moment. At the study of the main building in the courtyard of Cold Wind Road No. 7, the inner wall of the fireplace that led straight to the roof suddenly recessed before it silently slid sideways, and a Light Orb floated out, illuminating the empty study. "No one! Safe!" The person in the lead peered outside before following the "Illumination Technique" Light Orb out of the fireplace. Several others armed with Cold Weapons and Firearms emerged in succession from the fireplace. They were not worried about alerting anyone in the courtyard. To be precise, Baron Lanfeng''s family was away on vacation, and the few remaining servants were likely deep in slumber. Xia Ji approached a study window in another noble district courtyard, gazed off towards Ice Flower Road, and after a moment of scrutiny, puzzledly remarked, "It seems quiet at the original site!" He had expected an extensive military and police blockade of the entire district and a rush into the courtyard, but the place remained tranquil, without any change. "Inside the tunnel, I found something strange." Among the group that passed through the tunnel, someone opened their hand to reveal a pile of mangled metal parts with a green bean-sized Crystalline Block particle at the center, along with a microscopic camera''s optical lens. It was unmistakably the remains of the Octoped Mechanical Spider that had burrowed into the tunnel, now crushed. Xia Ji turned to the voice, unable to help his surprise as he exclaimed, "What in the world is this thing?" The Spellcaster who had provided the Light Orb asked, "Looks like some mechanical entity, was it originally in the tunnel?" "No! Definitely not, Lord Baron''s estate never had such things inside. I don''t know when it crawled in. This is bad; the secret passage has been exposed!" The complexion of one man, the Butler from the Ice Flower Road No. 14 courtyard, shifted. As an Earth Caster and the secret builder of this tunnel, he knew the ins and outs of the tunnel''s facilities and was certain no mechanical entity should have been placed there. "What?" Everyone in the study exclaimed in unison. The man holding the remains of the Octoped Mechanical Spider lamented, "Damn it! We''ve been marked." The destruction of the mechanical entity was futile, as the person controlling it must have already learned about their presence and the existence of the tunnel, meaning the transfer operation had utterly failed. This was even more pressing than the earlier statement "It has been exposed." Xia Ji swiftly scanned the study, then took a few steps, picked up a Dagger from the desk as a weapon for self-defense, and without any hesitation declared, "This place isn''t safe anymore, we must leave immediately, no, leave Delan City." No one knew how many more fallbacks the mechanical spider had, and there could very well be more miniature mechanical entities nearby. Once he was certain of being targeted, a chilling sensation tingled down his spine. Xia Ji was acutely aware of the extermination that exposed members of the "Water Bear" organization would face. Had he not feigned death earlier, he might have met the same dire fate. The Spellcaster who had led the way said with a furrowed brow, "No choice, let''s hurry and leave. The black market in the shopping district is open, and there will be ways to leave Delan City safely." "I''ll arrange the vehicle!" The Butler from Ice Flower Road No. 14, equally familiar with the Cold Wind Road No. 7 courtyard, could not have tunneled there otherwise. - 24 hours later. Around 600 kilometers from the Imperial Capital Delan City, a private estate where pathways intersect and the sounds of chickens and dogs were heard, the air was filled with the fragrance of plants and the mixed scent of livestock dung, Only after departing from the city''s clamor could one observe the pristine environment of the plantation area. "Mr. Moker, Mr. Xia Ji, Butler Huoke, ladies and gentlemen, please rest assured, there will not be any unfamiliar faces within a ten-kilometer radius, everyone here is one of ours," the Manor Lord personally assured Xia Ji and his group who had fled all the way from Delan City. Chapter 625 625: Section 621 - Manor Snakes have their own paths, and so do rats. Those entrenched in the Imperial Capital''s shopping district specializing in illicit transactions indeed had their methods. They smuggled Xia Ji and his companions out of the Imperial Capital while successfully forging their exit records. Transported through secret channels for a fee of fifty million Star Yuan, with an additional fifty million Star Yuan for forged records, totaling one hundred million Star Yuan. Though frighteningly expensive, it was executed cleanly without leaving any troubles behind. Without legitimate entry and exit records, their covert departure would have been a one-time deal. If they wished to reenter, they would again face the inescapable fee of fifty million Star Yuan or be detained by the Imperial Security Department for questioning¡ªwith only fate determining if they would emerge unscathed. Either way, that money was inevitable. The butler from the manor at 14 Ice Flower Road followed Xia Ji and his companions to this private manor, implicating both the households of Baron Flan and Baron Lanfeng from two noble communities, effectively making them sacrificial pawns. This was an inevitable consequence as they had discovered an octoped mechanical spider in the secret passageway, meaning they could not possibly escape, nor would Blue Star overlook a "Water Bear" nor could the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star ignore such dangerous members circulating within the Imperial Capital. The two noblemen were not only subject to investigation and potentially wanted by the Imperial Security Department but were also inevitably facing the revocation of their titles. If arrested, the lucky ones might survive, falling from nobility to slavery, whereas the unfortunate could face execution, carried out immediately. The Slan Dynasty has always been relentless towards rebels, especially those from the upper-class nobility. While on the way to the shopping district''s underworld, the loyal Butler Huoke from 14 Ice Flower Road promptly alerted his master, Baron Flan, and his family to make an emergency escape. After all, they were originally in it together, and their escape now depended on divine will. As for Baron Lanfeng, he was a completely clueless victim, unaware that his estate was being used, or perhaps from the moment the secret passageway was completed, he was forced to become the sacrificial pawn, the shield, the scapegoat, the unfortunate child, or some other dreadful exploitation. Upon being personally received by the manor lord, Xia Ji, boarding a light transport vehicle into the private manor, revealed his next steps, already planned during the journey. "Let''s rest here for a while, then move to another continent. Zhai Liuzhou seems like a good choice." Having escaped the Imperial Capital by night, worn and weary, a temporary rest was necessary. However, this location was still too close to the Imperial Capital and not a place to stay for long. To be precise, they were already noticed by the Slan Dynasty; staying any longer on the Morning Star Continent, the heartland of the Dynasty, would likely mean they couldn''t evade pursuit or even assassination by the Imperial Security Department. Even now, Xia Ji still believed that he was being targeted by the Imperial Security Department, while the guy from Aircrew Base 911 had likely earned a bounty and was probably hiding somewhere, enjoying himself! Although that is indeed correct! But who would ever refuse extra money? "You''re right, we need to leave as soon as possible!" Moker, an Earth Order fire mage among Xia Ji''s group, fully agreed with the plan and immediately asked the receiving manor lord, "May I ask if Mr. Burei has any relevant channels?" Having fled from the Imperial Capital Delan City in a panic, they had already utilized the channels of the shopping district''s underworld dealers. To leave the Morning Star Continent, those dealers'' capabilities might prove insufficient. A burst of hearty laughter responded to Xia Ji and Moker and the others. "Hehe, you asking me is indeed asking the right person!" The owner of this private manor, Mr. Burei, had once been a powerful smuggler, not only controlling smuggling routes and connections within the Morning Star Continent but even having secret channels between several other continents. After the Silan Empire unified the Morning Star Continent and subsequently waged a war of unification, leading to global unification under the Cangqiong Star, nearly all smuggling operations immediately plunged into a slump. Under the universal rule, there were no more tariffs, and Dimensional Gates were monopolized by the dynasty; there was hardly any avenue for smuggling. The manor lord simply washed his hands of the old trade, and with the capital he had accumulated over the years, he bought a large piece of land near the Imperial Capital in the planting area and started a private manor, sustaining his former subordinates with various agricultural products. Although he was no longer involved in smuggling, the old connections and channels could still be utilized¡ªit was not difficult to secretly transport a group of people to other continents. In fact, every year, people would find this manor and smuggle to other continents through Mr. Burei''s channels, which was a considerable extra income. An overjoyed Xia Ji hastily said, "Please help with this, Mr. Burei; as for the cost, don''t worry at all." He had come to Cangqiong Star to lay low and no longer had a way to return to Blue Star. At this point, before the situation worsened beyond salvage, even a meager straw should not be overlooked. "Let''s make this clear first; I have the channels, but whether my old buddies are still alive or can take on this task, I need to check first. I dare not guarantee it right now." Manor lord Mr. Burei somehow provided a reassurance. The dynasty was very strict in this regard, with many ferocious magical beasts active in the vast oceans and satellites constantly surveilling from the sky, making transoceanic smuggling quite challenging. The old connections were gradually aging, and some links were already lacking successors. It was estimated that in another seven or eight years, the once-thriving network would naturally die out, as there was no escaping the natural processes of life and death. "Then, please do this favor!" The Manor Lord did not refuse, which meant there was a high likelihood that Xia Ji felt momentarily relieved. "I''m very grateful; the family of Baron Flan, my master, might also need to use Mr. Burei''s channel." Butler Huoke of the estate at No. 14 Ice Flower Road did not forget his own master. If this route was viable, Baron Flan''s family would also come here to use the smuggling channel to transfer to another continent. Although from then on they would need to hide their identities and could not restore their noble glory, it was still better than the entire family falling into slavery. Once the next generation grew up, there might even be a chance for a resurgence. "I''ve heard enough bad news lately; it''s finally some good news." As Xia Ji''s companion, eighth-rank fire mage Moker felt relieved; he did not want to face the combat personnel of the Imperial Security Department. The dynasty was like the blazing sun at its zenith, brimming with talent. As just an Earth Order mage on Cangqiong Star, he was nothing special. Once targeted by the dynasty, he feared he could be snuffed out within minutes. Someone whispered to themselves, "That thing... will it follow us up here?" No one knew whether it was a person, a team, or even the Imperial Security Department behind the crushed micro-mechanical entity. They hoped the unscrupulous dealers of the black market street were competent enough to clean up after them efficiently. Escaping the Imperial Capital had cost them dearly, not just in sending their group out but also in handling the aftermath for two noble community courtyards¡ªit was inevitable to create some distractions, such as decoys. "Follow us? Even if they do, I''ll know immediately. There are no strangers within ten miles, only my people. I''m not afraid of anyone! Oh, there''s a call coming. Let me take it first." Manor Lord Burei made a muscle-flexing motion to display his strength. His words had just ended when his phone rang. The level of network and information technology on Cangqiong Star was not much lower than on Blue Star, including the prevalence of mobile phones and personal computers, nor was it behind in technology. Both civilizations basically maintained a level of technology sharing. "Oh! ... What? ... Okay ... I''ll ask again ..." After hanging up, Manor Lord Burei''s expression indicated that something was up, immediately making Xia Ji and his group anxious. "A problem?" Xia Ji felt depressed, having spent a full hundred million Star Yuan just to escape from the Imperial Capital. Yet now, those crooks who took the money hadn''t managed the situation cleanly. Manor Lord Burei shook his phone and said, "An unidentified vehicle is approaching. I''m not sure of its purpose, but I don''t have any appointments scheduled, and it''s very likely targeting you." His private manor, although it also saw outsiders and vehicles coming and going, the vast majority had prior notifications like business partners or guests introduced by others like Xia Ji''s party¡ªbut very seldom unknown identities. "It''s not Baron Flan; they won''t arrive until tomorrow." Butler Huoke shook his head immediately. "Let''s hope it''s not an enemy!" First Rank fire mage Moker didn''t want any further interaction with people from the Imperial Capital. Less trouble was better than more. "No worries, you all settle down comfortably; I''ll handle this!" Manor Lord Burei confidently thumped his chest, then dialed a number on his phone and gave a few instructions. The light transport vehicle carrying everyone stopped in the central residential area of the private manor, and Xia Ji and the others were shown to their rooms. After about fifteen minutes, a massive vehicle barreled in and was intercepted by several heavy trucks and bulldozers on the edge of the residential area. "This is a private manor, and visitors without an appointment are not welcome!" Manor Lord Burei, holding a megaphone, was perched atop one of the heavy trucks, shouting loudly. Several other trucks had automatic firearms mounted inside them, aimed at the imposing vehicle with five pairs of heavy-duty tires¡ªafter all, it was private land, and they had every reason to refuse outsiders. "So... is it too late to make an appointment now?" The huge vehicle also had a loudspeaker, amplifying the person''s voice inside. "You can! But we are fully booked for now; the earliest would be a month later, so please leave!" A man always ready for flexibility in his words, Manor Lord Burei was not one to speak too definitively. What if it was a tourist who liked to ramble and enjoy rural fun? Inside the Mobile Base Vehicle, Princess Lin Ziyu snatched the microphone and pressed the talk button. "Sorry, but what if I say no!" The response was the sudden roar of gunfire, a downpour of bullets enveloping the entire Mobile Base Vehicle. Then, a burst of fire exploded a few meters away. Originally, the major smuggler who risked lives to smuggle and made huge profits, from Boss Burei to his underlings, was not a group of good Samaritans. At the slightest disagreement, they viewed life and death indifferently and would fight if provoked. "Chen Fei, what did I say wrong?" Lin Ziyu was puzzled by such an intense "welcome." "Some things can''t just be talked about; they need to be done, ''Adam,'' take the first vehicle on the left, fire a 152, send it off!" Chen Fei sat calmly in the driver''s seat. The Railgun mounted on top of the Mobile Base Vehicle rose automatically, aimed at the obstructing vehicle ahead, and loaded a 152 Demolition Bomb automatically. There were retractable road barriers at the entrance to the manor; the Mobile Base Vehicle rolled over them as if entering an uninhabited area, leaving a row of approximately 20 centimeter diameter ground holes, without even scratching the paint layer, breezing through it effortlessly. Clang! ~ An enormous shockwave swept through, and the Mobile Base Vehicle was caught in a violent storm, shaking intensely. Repulsion Shields and Wind Magic Shields blocked most of the impacts, but the residual force still left Princess Lin Ziyu dizzy and nauseous. She clenched a fixed object beside her and complained, "Too close!" Chapter 626 626: Section 622 - Pressing Questions Her Royal Highness the Princess had not anticipated that Chen Fei would be so reckless. They were only about thirty or forty meters apart, with the Mobile Base Vehicle positioned right at the edge of the 152 Demolition Bomb''s fatal radius. Theoretically, from thirty meters to two hundred meters radius, there was still the danger of being hit by shrapnel, so without the double protection of the vehicle body and the Magic Array, both of them would likely have been killed or severely injured instead of just having their ears ringing from the blast as they were now. Chen Fei, who pulled the Princess close to watch the artillery attack, said with regret, "Didn''t get them all!" The front windshield of the Mobile Base Vehicle had been struck by the shock wave and shrapnel, resulting in large cracks that were rapidly healing. Luckily it wasn''t made of real glass, or they would have had to replace the whole thing. The windshield wipers began to sway as they sprayed washer fluid, clearing the mud and dirt that had stuck to the windshield. The exterior was still filled with smoke, and various bits of debris rained down like droplets. However, Chen Fei''s visual interface outlined the actual situation in the form of drawn lines. As the Railgun was being moved, those people reacted instantly, fleeing in panic. It seemed they were experienced veterans of battle, showing not a moment''s hesitation. But on the other hand, he and Princess Lin Ziyu had come to the right place. This was a den of thieves; ordinary citizens wouldn''t have reacted this way. A single 152 had ended them on the spot. "You were too forceful!" Princess Lin Ziyu had no chance to stop Chen Fei when he issued the command, and she brushed her messy hair out of her face with annoyance. The Railgun took everyone by surprise. It was the occupational hazard of a Combat Pilot to go all out with firepower at the first chance, using as much strength as they had, and wishing they could unload all their ammunition in one go. Expecting to hold out for half an hour was practically impossible; often, the fight would be over in just a few minutes. Look at those little autocannons; managing to fire continuously for ten seconds was already admirable, you wouldn''t get a full minute out of them. To last any longer, sorry, but you''d be out of bullets! "Jiu?" The Little Bird was enveloped in a 360-degree all-round Light-based Magic Shield, looking like a Light Orb surrounding its little body. Not a feather was harmed! Because the Magic Shield had been reduced in size, its protective ability was very comprehensive, and something as trivial as a shock wave truly wasn''t a problem. "You, you bastard!" Manor Master Burei, with blood trickling from his ears, was furious but couldn''t hear anything. His whole head felt like it had been severely hammered, suffering a splitting headache and was severely shaken by the explosion, his body also bearing significant injuries, no longer the composed figure he once was. Whoever could start off with using such a devastating weapon, completely disregarding their own safety¡ªwhat kind of ruthless person was this?! Such an individual was unheard of! Although Manor Master Burei had survived, the fate of his men was not so fortunate. Temporarily losing his hearing didn''t prevent him from casting spells. He quickly chanted an incantation and summoned a fierce wind that spiraled into a huge tornado, sweeping the smoke and remaining dirt and debris into the sky. Burei was a Wind Series Mage. These days, if one didn''t have some ability, it would probably be difficult to do that kind of special work. At the site of the crater, aside from the heavy truck wreckage that was almost blown apart, there were a dozen or so bodies scattered haphazardly, motionless, most likely victims of misfortune. Tears immediately came to Burei''s eyes as among the bodies were not only his old followers who had been with him for years but also young men from the newer generations who had lost their lives here. This one strike had eliminated at least a third of them, and another third lay groaning and struggling in the distance, some unlucky enough to have half their bodies sheared off by shrapnel. "Shall we talk now?" Princess Lin Ziyu, now fully in control, picked up the microphone again. "They can''t hear you!" The unperceptive Chen Xiao''er poured cold water on the situation. Just having survived a 152, it was a miracle these guys weren''t dead, let alone still having their hearing intact. Even if their eardrums were intact, it would take at least three to four hours to recover, their heads buzzing the whole time. If they were unlucky, they might hear sounds muffled for ten days to half a month, and the aftereffects could even take several years to gradually dissipate. New soldiers fear bullets, old soldiers fear cannons. When the heavy cannon fires, it''s like a hug from the Grim Reaper, and that''s no joke. "It''s okay, we have Xiao Jiu!" Her Royal Highness looked towards the Little Bird flitting about inside the cabin. This little creature was truly full of energy! It was hard to believe that this little fella was a Fourth Rank Magical Beast of the Human Order. "I''m going to grab a live one!" Chen Fei had been eyeing the Manor Master who was conversing with Princess Lin Ziyu from the beginning, and with the help of Investigative Agent Yu Zilin''s privileges from the Imperial Security Department, he identified the opponent''s identity almost instantly, including black material from his past as a smuggler. After all, major smugglers were a product of the pre-unified war times and were not robbers who made a living from murder and arson. In some sense, they amounted to illegal businessmen. As long as they lived honest lives, the Dynasty would still turn a blind eye to their past and let bygones be bygones. However, should they, like today, suddenly become rash, past and present accountings would be settled together, without any further leniency. The vehicle door slid open to one side, then swiftly closed again. As a precaution, Her Royal Highness the Princess was still kept inside the Mobile Base Vehicle, while only the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu followed out. The moment the door opened, it dashed into the sky, nearly colliding with the propeller-style unmanned reconnaissance drone circling at an altitude of 2000 meters. "Look what you''ve done! You butcher!" The sight of heavy casualties amongst his men made Manor Lord Burei bellow furiously, rapidly chanting an incantation. A massive Wind Blade quickly took shape, flickering lightly before rushing towards Chen Fei''s face. Boom! The large Wind Blade, capable of easily slicing through an elephant, met nothing but air, and with undiminished momentum, collided with the Wind Magic Shield of the Mobile Base Vehicle. The two forces remained deadlocked for a moment before the spent Wind Blade dissipated into a powerful gust, scattering in all directions. "Chirp!" Perched atop Chen Fei''s head, Xiao Jiu deployed a "Light Healing Technique". The little Band-Aid had now been upgraded to a first-aid kit. The concussed eardrums and auditory system of Manor Lord swiftly returned to normal functioning, and after a series of clicks and chirps, he could hear again. "If I were you, I''d think twice before making any rash moves." Chen Fei''s figure emerged from behind Burei. His skin, covered by the Single Soldier Tactical Armor of the "Dragon Guard", sparkled with silvery war patterns, and the sharp corner of a White Steel Crowbar hooked firmly around his throat, not even divine weapons could match the ease with which the crowbar was wielded. Secret Technique "Fight to the Death" could be triggered for a lightning-fast charge, covering several meters in the blink of an eye. This was the Neanderthal Elite Warriors'' forte, "the fastest prevails" in the world of martial arts, and when combined with a brief surge of extreme power, even close-combat supernatural power users and War Professionals would find it troublesome to handle. The Neanderthal tribe''s crushing defeat during the Third Era Civilization was mainly due to being outnumbered, unable to withstand the joint strike of the descendants of Blue Star Homo sapiens and the Cangqiong Star civilization. Without the ability to wage a prolonged war, defeat was certain. Sensing the chill on his neck, Burei stiffened entirely and said with a terrified tremor, "Who are you?" "A mercenary, my good sir! Paid to relieve others of their troubles!" There are no mercenaries on Blue Star, only legitimate military contractors. It''s only on Cangqiong Star where the profession of a mercenary exists. Of course, it''s just a change in name without a difference. By comparison, Blue Star''s military contractors are more commercialized and standardized. On Cangqiong Star, mercenaries tend to be more disorganized, often seen in small groups of three or five, with high personnel turnover. Few have stable memberships, and large professional mercenary corps are rare. "Great warrior, I can''t recall offending anyone. Could you give me a hint?" Manor Lord Burei clenched his teeth, not daring to make any rash moves. Someone who dares to bomb at close-range would not hesitate to kill if he so desired. If it wasn''t for wanting to extract information from him, he would most likely have been dead by that moment. Chen Fei asked bluntly, "Do you know the names of those guys just now?" "I..." Although he initially wanted to stick to his principles, Burei''s resolve faltered for no apparent reason. He finally realized that this ruthless man had followed behind Xia Ji and his group. Unexpectedly, the arrival had been so swift, practically on their heels. It seemed the crooked tradesmen of the Imperial Capital were not reliable at all. Despite their steep fees, they had still been followed. "You have ten seconds. I''m in a hurry!" Chen Fei was not making a threat; if the other didn''t confess honestly, then indeed, he would have only ten seconds left to live in this world. If one is willing to die, then the other is most certainly prepared to bury him. No matter, without his cooperation, one could always go to the trouble of killing all the way to the manor''s interior, capturing each one in turn, and thus obtaining all the answers. "The first, Xia Ji; the second, Moker; the third..." Chen Fei had indeed asked the right person. Only Manor Lord Burei knew the names of everyone who had just entered the manor, and he rattled off eight names in succession. On Chen Fei''s vision appeared a progress bar; he had gained access to the identity of Princess Lin Ziyu''s undercover Investigative Agent, Yu Zilin, and was now searching the Silan Dynasty''s residency system, using a special human relationship model to compare personal information. A few seconds later, individual facial features and names were checked and cross-referenced, and he had a list of warrants in his hand. "Very good. Where are they? Lead the way!" Chen Fei transformed the White Steel Crowbar in his hand into shackles, securing Burei''s hands and feet, then gazed towards the central buildings of the manor. At this moment, a large crowd surrounded them, at least four or five hundred strong, a dense, dark mass, all armed. "My people have arrived. Young man, it seems you''re in a tricky situation," Suddenly feeling confident again, Manor Lord Burei perked up. Chapter 627 627: Section 623 - Elementary School Legion "Oh? What''s the problem? Can you give me a hint?" Chen Fei scanned the crowd that had almost completely emptied out, immediately spotting the individuals on the arrest list among them. Not only did the manor lord think he was ready, but Xia Ji and his people thought so too. This actually made things much easier, saving Chen Fei the trouble of searching everywhere. The manor lord Burei straightened his back, saying in a teasing tone, "Young man, didn''t you see which side has the overwhelming numbers?" His old comrades along with the next generation of youngsters were gathered in the manor, totaling at least a thousand. There were at least three hundred combat-ready, most of them Ability Users, and ninety percent of them possessed Battle Qi, definitely a local force not to be underestimated. After all, they were once a major smuggling team; if they couldn''t fight, they would have been long gone. Then there was Chen Fei''s side; it was just him and obviously, Her Royal Highness the Princess, who couldn''t fight. Xiao Jiu? Completely ignored! Such little birds, if not a thousand, there were at least eight hundred in the manor; competing in numbers with these little creatures was simply futile. "You think it''s about having overwhelming numbers, huh?" Chen Fei couldn''t help but laugh. The princess hidden inside the Mobile Base Vehicle laughed along, these guys seem to have forgotten who really rules the Morning Star Continent when it comes to sheer numbers! "Young man, if you were smart, you''d just let me go, otherwise, even if you kill me, it''s no use. You, plus the one inside the vehicle, can''t beat so many of us. Moreover, standing next to me, any artillery fire like before will hit you too," said the manor lord. Manor lord knew the previous artillery was at least 120mm caliber heavy artillery, enough to wipe out a football field with one shot; running was useless, even if the blast landed tens of meters away, injury was inevitable. This smuggler sure knew a lot! Chen Fei scratched his chin, saying somewhat puzzled, "I think on my side, we actually have the larger numbers!" He just couldn''t understand where the other side''s confidence came from. "Huh? This kid says he has more people on his side! Hahaha!" Manor lord Burei, unable to contain his own pride, burst into roaring laughter. If the other side was smart, they would have launched artillery at the residential area immediately to scatter the gathering, just a few shells would have devastated the people in the manor, rather than waiting until now, letting the artillery lose its purpose altogether. The sky suddenly darkened, followed by a huge dull thud; the soundwave was closely followed by a severe trembling of the ground that made many people uncontrollably jerk and even several fell flat on their bottoms. What happened? As they were searching for the source of the anomaly, a voice filled with malice came through. "Dragon-Breeding Elementary School, second grade class one, Thukadi!" Then another thud and impact of the same size followed. Then came a frantic voice. "Thukadi, you jumped the gun! Dragon-Breeding Elementary School, second grade class one, Benali!" Boom! "Dragon-Breeding Elementary School, fifth grade class two, Cobalt Luo!" Boom! "Dragon-Breeding Elementary School, fourth grade class three, Taidi!" Boom! "Dragon-Breeding Elementary School, sixth grade class one, Meixin!" Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom... Huge, menacing forms rained from the sky, heavily smashing onto the ground, wing blades crossed and sparks flew, ringing with a piercing clang. "Dragon Breeding High School, third grade class one, Yilan!" The eldest sister was the final act. Gulp, someone unable to endure the overwhelming murderous aura, eyes rolled back, and fainted. "Eh?" The princess inside the Mobile Base Vehicle rushed to the windshield and shockingly found... The Metallic young dragons from the Dragon-Breeding Elementary School had all played truant!!! One could count every single one of them, they had all arrived here, staring covetously at these unfortunate people. If just counting numbers, the young dragons present were almost as many as the Human Race folks present. In the manor lord''s smuggling team were already intelligent Magical Beasts, but none had shown up; partly because the number of people deployed initially was big enough, and partly because without a forced contract, intelligent Magical Beasts generally do not interfere actively in the internal disputes of other Intelligent Species. Especially now, with overwhelming dragons, the Magical Beasts living in the manor were even less likely to take the lead. "This, this..." Manor lord Burei was a bit dumbfounded. Where did all these Metallic Dragons come from, why were they all elementary students, and what were they doing in his manor? He acted, he was capable, he challenged elementary students, was laid down by elementary students, was made to cry by elementary students... embarrassing! "Now, it seems I have more numbers on my side than you do!" Chen Fei returned the earlier mockery of his adversary in full measure, leaving nothing behind. It''s only fair to say that these guys had commendable courage. Yilan''s loyal dog, no, dragon''s leg, Cobalt Luo, let out a low roar. "Can we kill these guys now?" The sharp Tail Spear slowly rotated, and a mere sweep into the crowd would instantly unleash a scene of blood and flying flesh, severed limbs, and rolling heads everywhere. The Metallic Dragon clan had once been known as the Divine Weapon, born for slaughter, with every part of their anatomy designed to kill other creatures. Even though the Metallic Dragons had all been adopted by the Slan Dynasty, no one doubted the terrifying nature of their violent outbreaks. "Not just yet!" Chen Fei kicked aside a manor lord who had outlived his usefulness and looked towards the shivering crowd, giving them a sincere and kind smile as he said, "I am a law-abiding citizen, a good person!" He forgot, he was indeed a citizen, but not of Cangqiong Star. Instead, he was a citizen of the First Sovereign of Blue Star; this citizen is not that citizen. In the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star, to become a citizen one must make certain social contributions or achieve some sort of accomplishment. If we were to be precise, Chen Fei''s social status could only be equated to that of the commoner class of the Slan Dynasty. Clang, clang... clang, clang... Various weapons hit the ground. The people in the manor were so frightened that they dropped everything in their hands, not daring to believe a single word. I call bs, who are you fooling! He who touches vermilion will be stained red, and he who touches ink will be blackened. Associating with the Dragon of Slaughter and daring to call oneself a good person? Who gave you such nerve? Chen Fei didn''t care about their reactions at all, and continued, "Now, those whom I call by name, please step forward!" "Hey! You little ant, it''s not your place to speak! Did you ask my permission, Titanium Ted?" A Metallic Giant Dragon challenged Chen Fei with a brash roar, true to its kind with an arrogance that would not even bow to its own parents. The next second, three of its kin pounced on it and pinned it to the ground, beating it into a yelping mess. Cobalt Luo, Thukadi, and Benali, none missing. These three finally learned their lesson, or rather, were beaten into learning it! "You! All of you listen to Chen Fei, and anyone who dares not to, I will twist off their heads!" The big sister of the young dragons, a female Metallic Giant Dragon named Yilan, frightened everyone, dragons and humans alike, into nodding unanimously. Smart, beautiful, highly educated, and strong, Yilan held unparalleled prestige among these young dragons. If she were on Blue Star, she would absolutely be a big boss with unmatched authority. "Heh, don''t mind the little mishap just now!" Chen Fei ignored the Omega Dragon''s behavior. At the moment, it was being held by its tail, stepped on its head, dragged by its wing, its dragon scales scratched and even peeled off, its screams changing pitch. Comparatively, the Dragon of Slaughter was much more merciful towards other Intelligent Species. These stupid dragons'' huge heads really have no brains, and this is neither a metaphor nor a description¡ªit''s a statement without any ornamental language. "Mr. Xia Ji, please step forward!" Chen Fei called to Xia Ji, who was in the crowd considering whether to sneak in a sucker punch (Xia Ji: We''re not close). "Next, Moker, if you want to use any Magic, please hurry up and just go ahead!" Chen Fei called another name. I once again thank Manor Lord Burei for providing a very complete list. Fire System Mage Moker''s expression turned ugly. He indeed wanted to release a powerful Spell as a last-ditch effort, but the enemy''s remark took the wind out of his sails, especially with the Evil Dragons around him exerting an immense invisible pressure. "Butler Huoke, please step forward!" Chen Fei was as polite as possible, respecting the fact that the other party, after all, was a butler of the nobility in the upper echelons of the Slan Dynasty. "No, I can''t be captured; this has nothing to do with me. I''m just a minor figure; let me go!" Butler Huoke lost all reason and darted out of the crowd, trying to run off. As he passed by a Metallic Giant Dragon, its tail, gun-like, casually lifted and then fell. "Eh..." The voice of astonishment at the last moment cut off abruptly, probably still puzzled at his death about how he could lose his life so nonchalantly. Thud... "Well, indeed he was a minor figure!" Chen Fei glanced at the crushed remains of Mr. Butler, merely lifting his eyelids, completely indifferent. His visual interface crossed out Butler Huoke''s name, remarking: Deceased. The murdering Dragon''s Tail swept across the ground a few times, a bloody blur. Including Manor Lord Burei, everyone present turned pale and looked incredibly grim. While most of them were smugglers, accustomed to life-and-death violence or killer psychopaths, the new generation born in the manor had never even seen blood. They only bluffed without having ever experienced such terrifying scenes firsthand. The giant dragons, like crushing bugs with their tails to end a life, treated it as an insignificant act, but it sent shivers down the spines of the empathetic manor residents. When they looked at Chen Fei again, they saw him as some demon from hell, their calves involuntarily quivering. Chapter 628 628: Section 624 - Unleash the Killings For someone like Chen Xiao''er, who worked in the military contracting business, the small matter of a person or two dying was just part of the daily routine. During the enterprise wars, people died in droves, and the deaths came in all manners¡ªthose of enemies, allies, strangers, acquaintances... Over time, he got used to it, only wondering what his own death would look like when the day came. Being smashed into a pulp by the tail of a giant dragon hardly counted as anything noteworthy, a swift and clean end with little prolonged pain, which was actually quite nice. Moreover, Chen Fei wouldn''t be moved by the deaths of thousands of worthless beings like these, despite having previously treated them with the respect due to a noble''s butler. In life, a butler; in death, nothing but a pile of worthless rotten flesh¡ªhow pitiful and lamentable! "The fourth..." Chen Fei continued to call the roll, determined that not one of these escapees from the Imperial Capital would get away. With the precedent set, those whose names were called stepped tremblingly out from the crowd, not even daring to think of resisting. Even if they had a hundred times the courage, they couldn''t make any difference in the face of these young student dragons¡ªperhaps the Dragons of Slaughter were looking forward to something, most likely a head to take. The others who were with Xia Ji didn''t even wait for Chen Fei to call out their names and voluntarily stepped forward. Since their names would be called eventually, standing out obediently and early might spare them some pain. Crack, crack, crack... Each person''s neck, waist, wrists, and ankles were securely locked with heavy chains and manacles. These were Metal Elemental Psychic Power-evolved products which could only be unlocked with supernatural power, so they didn''t even have keyholes, let alone keys. Chen Fei indicated there was no such thing, and unless one used specialized cutting equipment, strong corrosive potions, or brute force, only he or another Metal Ability User could unlock them. "Report: eight due, eight present, one dead, seven alive, all accounted for!" Chen Fei waved to Princess Lin Ziyu, no, Investigative Agent Yu Zilin, who was on the vehicle. With the help of a bunch of truant elementary school dragons, he had successfully captured these fugitives. It was just a shame they hadn''t managed to catch more suspects. "Back-up is on the way." Princess Lin Ziyu''s role as an investigative agent wasn''t fake but quite real. There was indeed a female agent with that face on duty, actively working from time to time. How could the shadow of the Imperial Princess only be one, after all? "So what about these people?" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan approached. She wasn''t the one who had instigated the collective truancy of the dragon elementary school students; it had been entirely the doing of her three younger brothers. "Whatever!" Chen Fei''s target had been Xia Ji and his group; the other people in the manor were none of his concern. The task''s client, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, hadn''t offered extra payment, so he had no reason to bother with any extra issues. "Understood!" Yilan raised her head to issue the final verdict. "Kill them!" "Eh? No no no, don''t!" After a moment of shock, Manor Lord Burei quickly became frantic and started shouting in panic. "Roar!~" "Let''s begin!" "I''ll kill them all!" ... But the Metallic Dragons roared recklessly, regardless of anything else. They were the evil of this world, never knowing kindness, nor understanding mercy. "No..." "Help!" "Spare me! Ah!" "Run!" The manor''s people broke down completely; some tried to run, others plead for mercy, and yet others tried to fight back, but before the Dragons of Slaughter, no matter what they did, everything was futile. They had only one fate, which was to be brutally killed! Even as young dragons, once they unleashed themselves, they became Grim Reapers in the world of men, their instinct from the depths of the Dragon Soul driving them to kill life without any sense of right or wrong, good or evil¡ªonly to kill, kill, kill, kill, kill... Screams, wailing, roars, and howls... The ground shook violently, limbs and heads flying everywhere¡ªa true vision of hell on earth! Manor Lord Burei, who hadn''t had his shackles removed, was the first to be crushed into the ground by the paw of a Metallic Giant Dragon. By the time the claw was lifted, the shackles were gone, but he had long since lost any human shape, his death was exceedingly gruesome. Chen Fei turned his back to the carnage behind him, without even glancing back, and pointed to the side of the Mobile Base Vehicle. ``` "Kneel beside the vehicle and don''t make any rash moves." Ironically, the seven people who had just been captured seemed relieved as they all knelt down obediently side by side, not daring to move an inch or even breathe loudly, facing the five pairs of loaded wheels in penance. At least they were still alive, not having fallen victim to the slaughter of the Metallic Dragons. The desperate gasps for survival at this very moment were probably the greatest fortune they had ever had in their lives. Even in death, not one of them wished to die at the claws and teeth of the Metallic Dragons. In their struggle for the opportunity to kill, the young dragons from the Dragon-Breeding Elementary School fought each other, creating a cacophony of sounds, the earth shaking, and the scene became chaotic for a while. A few muddleheaded ones even set their sights on the Mobile Base Vehicle. It didn''t matter who, as long as they drew blood, but they were intercepted by Big Sister Yilan before they got close. They couldn''t last even a round, were flipped over on the spot, and then held down and beaten severely. The Humans'' screams of agony and the Giant Dragons'' roars filled the air. A few rational Magical Beasts in the settlement, seeing the situation was bad, fled desperately outside the manor. Dealing with one Metallic Giant Dragon was hard enough, let alone a whole group. The several hundred young dragons present could rip them to shreds without any resistance. In just a few moments, aside from those around the Mobile Base Vehicle, there were no other survivors on the scene. The young dragons that had not had their fill of blood or were left unsatisfied, out of respect for Big Sister''s authority, didn''t dare to make rash moves against Chen Fei and the others, but their gazes turned towards the central settlement of the manor, where a large group of weakened women and children had already collapsed. "Yilan, stop them!" Chen Fei, seeing that the young dragons were eyeing the old, sick, and disabled in the settlement eagerly, frowned immediately. A gentleman kills with purpose and restraint, only taking the lives of those who deserve to die, not killing without a worthy cause. The people who had just died were all armed felons; the moment they picked up lethal weapons, they should have been prepared to face death. Failing to kill and instead being killed is nothing to cry unfair about, nor are they worth any sympathy. But for those who were unarmed and lacked the ability to fight back, it was better to leave them for the law to decide. "Got it!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan was completely loyal to her good friend Chen Fei, doing whatever he said. Moreover, the slaughter that had just taken place was already enough. Everything should be done in moderation. "All of you, stop and line up!" Yilan roared at the foolish young dragons. Many young dragons began to line up by grade and gathered together by class as if by reflex. Of course, there were some disobedient fools who were quickly held down by their peers, beaten up, and then dragged into the line to behave well and listen. With an air of authority, Yilan looked at the young dragons, large and small, and demanded, "Who allowed you to come here today!" "..." The scene fell eerily silent, but the majority of the young dragons slyly lifted their Tail Spears, aiming at the unsettled culprits. In this moment, silence was louder than words. Who else could it be? It''s always better to share joy with others. Of course, it was those three troublemakers who loved chaos, Cobalt Luo, Thukadi, and Benali, who instigated this whole mess! "Sister Yilan, listen to me..." Clang! Cobalt Luo, trying to explain himself, was like an ostrich, as his huge and fierce dragon head was smashed into the ground by a swung Tail Spear. Thukadi and Benali exchanged glances, about to react, but clang, clang, they both followed Cobalt Luo''s example. The three young dragons trembled, their heads buried in the soft mud, not daring to pull out, maintaining their "ostrich" position. Resisting was not an option; it would only make things worse. This time, the summoned minions were only from the elementary section, and did not involve the Young Dragon Garden and the middle school section. "Who else?" Yilan scanned around, and every young dragon lowered its head, lacking even the courage to make eye contact, nowhere near the ferocity and cruelty they had displayed earlier. The sound of a phone dialing came from her body. "Hello! Yilan? Where are you? There''s been a huge incident! Those young dragons, um, the ones from your species, they''ve all run off somewhere! Those little devils ahhhh!" It seemed the call was on speakerphone, and the voice speaking to Yilan was amplified so that even Chen Fei could hear it clearly. It was probably a teacher from Dragon-Breeding Elementary School, currently in a state of collapse because of the young dragons'' unannounced departure from school. "Count is 384 heads, none missing, all here with me!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan replied calmly, the reaction of the other party fully within her expectations. "What, what? They''re all with you? Where are you?" The other end, the elementary school teacher, was shocked and relieved. Relieved to have finally found these audacious young dragonlings, shocked because they had run off to Yilan''s location. What on earth was going on? Could it be that Yilan was the one who instigated these young dragons to skip school?! ``` Chapter 629 629: Section 625 - The Endgame Yilan was the pride of the Dragon Breeding Garden. Although it was a Metallic Giant Dragon, inevitably embodying traits that instilled fear in other Intelligent Species, the annihilation of life was its instinct. But aside from the common problems of the Metallic Dragons, such as being combative and gluttonous, it also possessed a curiosity for the unknown, which under the guidance of the Dragon Breeding Garden, gradually transformed into a learning ability. Dragon hatchlings as diligent and eager to learn as it were quite rare, even among the various Dragon Clans. Yilan did not reveal its current location but simply said, "I''ll have them return right now!" It was Yilan, the big sister head of the hatchlings, naturally it couldn''t snitch on its little brothers. The most pressing matter was to defuse the situation, and there was only one strategy, delay! Delay until the teachers ran out of patience. Then, naturally, a big issue would shrink to a minor one, the minor one would vanish, and in the end, it would be as if the whole story never happened. After all, they were just elementary students¡ªwhat could one do to them? Surely one couldn''t just grab their little tails and throw them into a steel furnace one by one! "Each dragon, go back and complete four hundred pounds of language practice questions for me to check personally. Whoever doesn''t finish gets dragged out and beaten!" So declared the big sister head of the dragon hatchlings. Math questions were easy to breeze through¡ªwith formulas and calculators at the ready, and if there was anything the Metallic Dragon Race didn''t lack, it was computational resources. Language, however, required reading comprehension, where it was all too easy to go off on a tangent, a fear shared not only by the Metallic but by hatchlings of other branches as well. To everyone''s surprise, the more than three hundred dragon hatchlings seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, collectively slumping as if a fiercest predator had casually spared them in a life-or-death moment, all collectively letting out a long breath in unison. It was the bane of the three juvenile dragons from Cobalt Luo that caused this mischief. Those who did not go had to complete six hundred pounds of work, while those who did only had to do four hundred pounds. Now with two hundred pounds less, it was practically a lifesaver. That''s why Metallic Dragons are a disaster, not even sparing their own kin. Fearing neither heaven nor earth, not even sparing the Dragon King''s face, the Metallic Dragons instinctively feared homework and shuddered at the thought of drills. Such an unexpected development must not have crossed anyone''s mind when the Dragon Breeding Garden was first established. The truth about the Dragon of Slaughter was a dislike for learning, ignorance bred fearlessness, which in turn led to barbarity! "Form up, Cobalt Luo, and you two as well. Take them back!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan glared at the three foolish dragons which had caused the mess, Thukadi and Benali shaking in fear. It was foreseeable that they were in for a sound beating. Lifted into the air by the innate ability "Void Magnetic Field," a large group of Metallic Giant Dragons took off, flapping their Blade Wings in the direction of the Dragon Breeding Garden. "This time, thank you for your help!" Chen Fei did not know that the entire junior division of dragon hatchlings being brought to the garden wasn''t Yilan''s intention, but still, he was very thankful for its help in maintaining the facade. The scene it maintained was utterly convincing. Truly worthy of being called a good friend, a good brother¡ªwait, something seemed a bit off. But it didn''t matter; there was no need to fuss over such details. Yilan said joyfully, "Hahaha, of course! Good friends should help each other. This little favor counts for nothing." Just as the dragon hatchlings left, the Imperial Security Department''s Investigative Agent squad arrived right on their heels. Investigative Agents don''t usually handle direct combat; tactical maneuvers are often executed by specialized departments and professionals. Therefore, accompanying them was a division of the Royal Tactical Police Force. A number of humanoid Combat Mobility Armors, delivered by specialized transport vehicles, were quickly deployed throughout the estate, their reconnaissance modules tirelessly scanning the entire estate, gradually expanding the secure perimeter. In addition, there were over a hundred mechanical combat beings controlled by "Cybertrom" derivative AIs assisting in the vigil, fully armed and with a murderous aura. Once in combat mode, they acted fearlessly and could definitely be considered an excellent suicide squad and cannon fodder. Coupled with the armed drones circling in the sky, also equipped with "Cybertrom" derivative AIs, they established an integrated air-to-ground three-dimensional monitoring network, securing complete control over any movement within a ten-mile radius. The AIs used by the Slan Dynasty were the same model widely adopted on Blue Star, all derivatives of "Cybertrom," capable of synchronized upgrades. Because "Cybertrom" was a completely neutral entity that adhered to a strict ordered core rule-set, it was deemed entirely trustworthy for use. Unlike the relatively independent "Adam," "Cybertrom" derivative AIs were more akin to a kind of offline-capable terminal AI. When online, their intelligence efficiency can reach 100%, but offline it drops to 10%, going from an IQ of 250 to resembling a dimwit, barely serviceable. This was one of the shortcomings of "Cybertrom" derivative AIs, as they should be considered cloud AIs that normally required connectivity for proper use, thus aligning deeply with current cloud technologies. The relationship between "Cybertrom" and "Adam" was somewhat akin to that of Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals, who, despite originating from the same source, had embarked on different AI evolutionary paths. - "Chief Gadini, Third-Level Investigative Agent Yu Zilin reporting to you. Of the eight targets, seven captured, one dead, and Baron Flan''s family is expected to arrive here by tomorrow. We ought to be able to ''wait for a rabbit by a tree stump.'' Princess Lin Ziyu, using a disguised identity and appearance, saluted the lead Investigative Agent, a man of average stature and ordinary looks wearing glasses, officially commencing the handover. The man did not seem like an Investigative Agent, but rather a common white-collar worker, exuding an air of being an old-hand at navigating the professional workforce. "You did well, but why is there such a strong smell of blood here, as if a massacre just took place? Hmm? It''s human blood!" Imperial Security Department Investigative Agent, head of the Imperial Capital''s Second Action Division, Gadini, focused his gaze and saw the bloody scene, with various remnants of flesh and bone, and couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Pointing at the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, who was speaking with Chen Fei, he said, "Did this Metallic Dragon do this?" It wouldn''t surprise anyone if the Dragon of Slaughter created a scene as tragic as Shura Hell; it would only give the head of the Second Action Division a headache about how to write the report. The Slan Dynasty had adopted a branch of the Dragon Clan, the young dragons of the Metallic Dragons. Incidents of terror inflicted by the Dragon of Slaughter had completely ceased, so this sudden emergence caught Gadini and the other investigative agents off guard. Her Royal Highness Princess Lin Ziyu, under the alias of Investigative Agent Yu Zilin, spoke truthfully, "It wasn''t it who did this, it was the young dragons from the entire elementary division of the Dragon-Breeding Elementary School." There was absolutely no need to cover this up. Every young dragon not only had a location tracking module but also a monitoring record module that could retain ten years of video data, similar to the function of a dashboard camera. "These young dragons..." Gadini, head of the Imperial Security Department Investigative Agent of the Imperial Capital''s Second Action Division, covered his forehead, feeling that he had been presented with a huge problem. Once involving Metallic Dragons, things would become troublesome. "You, come here!" Chief Gadini waved over a subordinate and ordered, "Inform everyone, issue a gag order. If anyone dares to leak a single word, I''ll send them to the Antarctic Continent to guard the Ice Palace." The Ice Palace is a research base of the Slan Dynasty, surrounded by perennial ice and snow. It snows once a year, and that snowfall can last the entire year. Even on the clearest days, snowflakes and powder would occasionally fall from the sky. Without work worth investing massive enthusiasm in, guarding that place would probably be unbearably dull, or more precisely, a fate worse than death. If it weren''t for this gag order, all kinds of news media would probably swarm like flies smelling blood, putting the Royal Family that adopted the young Metallic Dragons in the hot seat. The situation in the Imperial Capital had already become increasingly tense due to factional struggles. If another sensational piece of news was added to the fire, things would become uncontrollable. Those faction members wouldn''t care about the truth and would spare no effort to turn it into a powerful weapon to use against their adversaries. "Chief, if you find it difficult, I can delete or alter the logs for those young dragons!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan, having heard the words of the Imperial Security Department Investigative Agent Chief, was entirely capable of fulfilling her own suggestion. Big sister Yilan, commanding the young dragons with a roar, none dared to disobey. "I can take the blame!" Chen Fei extended his hand and touched Yilan''s Tail Spear. One responsible for destroying evidence, the other for taking the blame and misdirecting¡ªperfect cooperation. The old, weak, sick, and disabled in the manor wouldn''t dare provoke the ferocious young dragons anymore. Of course, they would say exactly what they were told to say. Chen Fei was a citizen of Blue Star''s First Sovereignty. After taking the blame, he would run, never to return to Cangqiong Star. Even if the Slan Dynasty issued a letter of extradition, Blue Star''s First Sovereignty could completely ignore it! After waiting three to five years, the Dynasty could find excuses to issue pardons, and there would be no more issues¡ªperfectly resolved! As for Chen Fei himself, it wouldn''t affect his salary. It was only natural for those at the bottom of society to never come to Cangqiong Star in their lifetime. Boss Hana would not fire the best fighter in the company over such trivial matters. "You''re joking!!!" Head of the Imperial Capital''s Second Action Division, Gadini, stared at Chen Fei, not believing a word he said. Almost four hundred stalwart men in the manor, most of them ability users¡ªhow could a mere man have killed them all, especially to leave them in such a fragmented state? "If you''ve investigated my record, hmm, it must be the record provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, you''ll find that I''m entirely capable of it." Chen Fei wagged his finger seriously. The number of enemies he''d dispatched far exceeded the number of people slaughtered in the manor. "Who do you think you are?" The air around Gadini twisted unnaturally. The Imperial Security Department was not short of psychic series masters, and the head of the Capital''s Second Action Division was also a psychic series spellcaster. "Dragon Slayer, Chen Fei, a being even more vicious than the Metallic Dragons!" Behind him, a Metallic Giant Dragon bared its fangs in a wide grin. Chapter 630 630: Section 626 - Pretend Play Turns Real The head of the Second Operations Division of the Imperial Security Department in the Imperial Capital looked at Chen Fei and then at the Metallic Giant Dragon behind him that was baring its fangs, and he was almost going crazy. Was it really okay to talk about being a "Dragon Slayer" in front of a giant dragon? There was a high probability that it would lead to a life-threatening situation! Just as Gadini intended to kindly remind Chen Fei, he saw the female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yilan, begin to nod vigorously. "Yes, yes, yes, Chen Fei is a Dragon Slayer; I can testify that he killed an adult Metallic Giant Dragon!" Having once served as a representative of the investigation team from Sky Dragon City, Yilan''s testimony was entirely authoritative. Gadini sucked in a breath through his teeth. There we go! This was official certification! To cover truth with truth, to hide brutality with more brutality. At least one thing was undeniable: this young man was indeed a more ferocious being than the Metallic Giant Dragons¡ªdidn''t you see even the Metallic Dragons were "cowering"? Well then... it''s time to pass the buck! It was hopeless! Gadini said, "Fine! If the news leaks, I''ll do my best to steer the narrative." This was actually within the purview of the Imperial Security Department. But with Silver Dragons fighting Metallic Dragons, when one was willing to fight, and the other was asking for it, there was no choice but to comply with the latter''s wishes. "Can you handle it? Otherwise, I can find a professional to deal with it, after all, it''s not too much trouble." Princess Lin Ziyu was afraid that Chen Fei couldn''t cope, as he was a Blue Star Person and could easily attract some unnecessary hostility. The Imperial Security Department had departments specifically responsible for cleaning up such messes, not only with many backup identities available for scapegoating but they could even pull out death row inmates to squeeze the last bit of usefulness from their lives. Either way, it was a dead end. For a despicable criminal accused of heinous crimes, no matter how many more sins were piled onto them, they could only die once; just as more lice don''t itch, more debts don''t worry. "Don''t worry! Once the mission is complete, I''ll return to Blue Star, and then all will be peaceful!" Chen Fei, who didn''t know there were scapegoats available, waved his hand dismissively. He was the professional hired to solve other people''s problems in exchange for money, taking responsibility for his own actions and not troubling his friends, so there was no need to seek anyone else. Having chosen to act, he never considered regretting his decision, not caring about the so-called united front of enmity. If you don''t agree, come at me with a knife! You could even borrow a knife suitable for smashing garlic. The survivors in the estate probably hated him, the chief culprit, and they wouldn''t even need explicit guidance to cooperate perfectly. "That works, too!" Gadini heaved a sigh, the fewer unnecessary moves, the fewer opportunities for mistakes. The young man was helping greatly; the pressure he would face taking over would be much less, making the report easier to write. Up until now, the head of the Second Operations Division of the Imperial Security Department in the Imperial Capital had not realized that this Investigative Agent Yu Zilin was a stand-in. Next, including Xia Ji among the seven mission targets, was to be smoothly transferred over, at which point they would be sorted by the Imperial Security Department. Those with Blue Star citizenship would be extradited back to Blue Star through diplomatic channels, while subjects of the Dynasty would be dealt with internally. As for intelligence related to the "Water Bear" organization, it would be shared with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. In the stance of fighting against anti-humanity and anti-social organizations, the Silan Dynasty and Blue Star were in agreement. The deceased butler, Huoke, did not leave a whole corpse, and so they had to collect a few biological tissue samples as judicial evidence. Then, a thorough decontamination was performed on the ground using large-scale Fire Spells and Dark-based Spells, followed by Earth Magic and Wood System Spells, to return everything to dust, earth to earth. A gentle breeze passed by, and the stench of blood and sin from the killings quickly scattered with the wind. - Two days later. Her Royal Highness the Princess, now reinvented as Investigative Agent Yu Zilin, visited Chen Fei once more, who was staying in a cave dormitory. "What-F*?" Xia Ji and the others, who had been apprehended with difficulty, hadn''t even been transferred to Blue Star before they had managed to break out of prison. This dreadful news made Chen Fei curse on the spot. Had the Dynasty''s prison system become as incompetent as the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee headquarters'' Heavy Prison? Are they all as full of holes, allowing for an escape? Simply digging a big pit and tossing someone in should make it not easy to escape, right? "It''s not that simple," said the Princess Secret Agent, calmly shaking her index finger. Having a high-profile prisoner escape was a slap to the face of the Dynasty, but the Princess remained calm. "Not that simple?" ¦²(¤Ã¡ã§¥¡ã;)¤Ã Chen Fei instantly picked up on the subtext. This attitude is quite strange, obviously not normal, right? Has the Royal Family had enough yet? Why are there so many schemes and calculations? Could it be that the Dynasty deliberately let them escape? Hisss... Even dare to carelessly use core members of the "Water Bear" organization, aren''t you afraid of being bitten back? "You don''t have to worry about the reward from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the Royal Family will pay you directly, after all, the escape of Xia Ji and others isn''t your fault," Princess Lin Ziyu continued, "Once you capture them again and they are finally transferred, you can get the portion from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee as well, double the reward for one mission, how does that sound? Surprised or not? The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee hasn''t received the criminals, so naturally, they wouldn''t pay the agreed-upon reward. Since the responsibility for the escape of the repeat offenders lies with the Slan Dynasty, and Chen Fei obviously wouldn''t work for free, it''s only right for the Royal Family to foot the bill. "Does this mean... I have to go capture them again?" Chen Fei immediately felt a headache coming on; it seemed he hadn''t guessed wrong, the Slan Dynasty had indeed deliberately let Xia Ji and the others escape for some reason. But now that he could get paid, he didn''t want to do it anymore. What, did they want to play a game of catching them seven times? The "Water Bear" organization is not some easily trapped Meng Huo; with the dangerous things they are fiddling with, given the chance, they would drag the entire human race into peril without hesitation. This game of capture and release, and then capture again, is so annoying it could kill! All he wanted was to return to Blue Star, to the Aircrew Base, to home. He''d rather fight mutants than have to capture members of the "Water Bear" organization again, which were even more elusive than eels drenched in oil. With his small stature, he simply didn''t have the capacity or strength to shoulder such a heavy responsibility. Princess Lin Ziyu continued, "That''s right, and there''s me, I''ll go with you! The Imperial Security Department has specially assigned Third-Level Investigative Agent Yu Zilin as the liaison officer to assist you in your capture mission. You also have temporary authority to mobilize tactical police forces, militias, and active-duty military." "What''s going on? What does this all mean?" Chen Fei could discern an unusual message in her words. He had gone through great pains to escort the Princess back to the Imperial Capital Delan City on the Morning Star Continent, and now the Princess wanted to take action with him again¡ªwasn''t she afraid of danger? Although the Princess Faction and the Crown Prince Faction had been fiercely fighting against each other recently, staying in the Imperial Capital is still safer than any other place outside. Even in the event of an accident, support would be readily available. "These days, people have been dying in the Imperial Capital non-stop, and they were all members of different factions. The assassinations are becoming more and more intense and are becoming harder to control," said Princess Lin Ziyu, revealing the truth. "That would also put you in danger, right?" Chen Fei suddenly understood. It turned out that the situation in Imperial Capital Delan City had also been unstable in recent days, with factional struggles intensifying. Even the Crown Prince had difficulty controlling the situation. Even though Her Royal Highness the Princess pretended to have fallen into a deep coma due to a Bizarre Curse, she couldn''t stay out of the fray. Whether it was the Princess or the Crown Prince, removing one of them would bring the chaotic fight to a halt. The winner takes all; the loser is decapitated without a place for burial. "Indeed, that''s the case, you''re going to have to bother yourself with this again!" Princess Lin Ziyu smiled apologetically, straightforwardly admitting to it. It wasn''t rocket science; changing her appearance and hiding next to Chen Fei under another identity, especially with the Female Metallic Dragon Yilan present, was the only way to truly be safe. However, none of the faction members involved in the struggle of dragons and Hidden Dragons were fools, and it would only be a matter of time before they noticed something odd about Chen Fei. Therefore, Crown Prince Lin Zio took advantage of the situation, with members of the "Water Bear" organization escaping to another continent, to once again smoothly send Chen Fei out of the Morning Star Continent and took his sister Lin Ziyu away while no one was paying attention. In the Imperial Palace''s Princess Mansion, Female Shadow Guard Lize Jina continued to attract external attention by pretending to be Her Royal Highness the Princess. The siblings of the Slan Royal Family had craftily played a big act of replacing the Princess with a Shadow Guard. Chen Fei couldn''t hold back anymore and blurted out, "Damn.... your Lin Family really knows how to play the game!" All the hard work is done by the Chen Family Gate, while the members of the Lin Family get all the credit in public! When you think about it, the relationship between the great-uncle and the Lord of the Sky is exactly like that! Both the Crown Prince and the Princess are heirs to the Slan Royal Family. While being considered part of the Silan Royal Bloodline, they also possess the blood of the Master of the Firmament, so it''s not wrong to regard them as members of the Lin Family. "According to intelligence, Xia Ji and the others have fled to the Zhai Liuzhou Continent," Princess Lin Ziyu said, formally entering the role of Third-Level Investigative Agent Yu Zilin from the Imperial Security Department, informing Chen Fei of the whereabouts of the core members of the "Water Bear" organization. Because this time, there''s the secret assistance of the Imperial Security Department; even to enhance authenticity, sometimes they would deliberately sacrifice some insignificant small characters, allowing the escapees to have frightening but unhurt escape, almost impossible to guess that it''s a carefully designed getaway plan. "What if they disappear without a trace?" Chen Fei was really worried that they might make a mistake this time and let Xia Ji and his gang truly return to the mountains. "Don''t worry, all of them have been hexed with Curse Magic. At least within a year, the curse''s mark won''t fade, and they also have the Death Curse that lasts two years. They can survive for a maximum of two years," Princess Lin Ziyu continued, taking out a palm-sized disc with a wandering needle in the center and said, "This artifact has recorded the curse marks on those people. As long as they''re within 1000 kilometers, it can pinpoint their location; the closer they are, the more accurate it is." "I guess I can handle this job!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. It would be a fool''s errand for him to comb through an unfamiliar continent for them, much better to return to Blue Star sooner. Even if offered double the pay, he wouldn''t take it. After all, Chen Fei''s specialty is killing, not tracking. Chapter 631 631: Section 627 - Far Journey Princess Lin Ziyu was holding an artifact that could track the whereabouts of Xia Ji and others, something only a magician could utilize. As a person with supernatural abilities, Chen Fei certainly couldn''t manage it, so Her Royal Highness''s presence became a necessity. These siblings, surnamed both Silan and Lin, were really too calculative. No wonder Boss Hana had once deliberately reminded him on the phone that he must call her when it came to brainwork, indeed a display of foresight. "Where are they now?" Chen Fei looked towards Princess Lin Ziyu''s hands. "They have left the Morning Star Continent and are now en route to the Zilu Continent." Princess Lin Ziyu took out her mobile phone, tapped a few times, and a two-dimensional electronic map appeared on the screen. A blinking light was slowly moving across the ocean, or more accurately, in the sky above. After all, in the vast ocean, there are many variables and ferocious magical beasts; it is relatively safer in the sky. Before the advent of the Light Wing Ships, ocean voyages were considered a highly risky affair. Although the Royal Family had let the criminals escape, their means of surveillance clearly did not only consist of curse magic and artifacts but also included a touch of technology. The Cangqiong Star civilization, despite being dominated by magic, Battle Qi, curse magic, and alchemy, does not reject the technology of other civilizations; instead, its level of application is by no means behind. Although there are many continents on Cangqiong Star, the continents mainly inhabited by the Human Race as the primary intelligent species are only the Morning Star Continent and the Zilu Continent. Xia Ji and the others are from the Human Race. If they want to hide in plain sight, it is impossible for them to blend in on continents dominated by other intelligent species. No matter where they hide, they would stand out as conspicuously as a crane among chickens. "Then let''s set out now!" Whether it was to avoid the factional chaos in the Imperial Capital, or to recapture the fugitives Xia Ji and others as soon as possible, Chen Fei decided it was better to set out earlier rather than later. After all, no one could guarantee that the tracker in the Princess''s hands could lock onto the target with one hundred percent accuracy. Much appreciated were the Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifacts prepared by Housekeeper Mars, enough to embark on a long journey on a whim; not to mention that Xiao Jiu and the Princess each had a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, making provisions for the trip amply sufficient. "Oh? You''re leaving?" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan lifted her head with struggle from the endless ocean of schoolwork; she was already in her senior year, and the pressure of her studies was immense. As someone who had gone through the same, Chen Fei understood this all too well. "Yes! The guys we caught the other day, they got away again!" As Chen Fei spoke, he glanced at Lin Ziyu. Her brother was really not very proper in his actions. To achieve his goals, he completely disregarded the means, and it was only such a person who could be Emperor; otherwise, others probably wouldn''t have a place to be buried. Yilan said with considerable reluctance, "You''re leaving again?" The human and dragon shared much in common and got along very well, even gnawing on Metal Ingots together. It was only natural that the female Metallic Dragon felt close to him. Not like other humans, who would be scared half to death just at the sight of her, trembling with fear, their faces drained of color, and even when speaking, they did so with utmost caution¡ªlet alone the idea of being friends. The little brothers in the Dragon Breeding Garden were all dim-witted, unable to remember lessons and only remembered good times, making her weary just watching them. To this day, Chen Fei was the only person whom Yilan truly accepted as a friend. Even Lin Zio, the Crown Prince, and Princess Lin Ziyu could not compare. "Right, there''s new work! Oh, and I''ve ordered 10 tons of 904L, which should be delivered in the next couple of days. I keep my word." Chen Fei had made a promise to Yilan that if she helped him capture Xia Ji and others, she would get a share of the reward. Even though the Silan Royal Family and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee hadn''t yet transferred the payment, he had still placed an order for a batch of marine-grade stainless steel to fulfill his promise. Whether dealing with humans or dragons, keeping one''s word is fundamental. If one''s word is not reliable, it''s hard even to make friends. Yilan treasured this friendship, and so did Chen Fei. Yilan''s dragon eyes widened, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Eh?! No, there''s no rush for that! But, but..." Dragons were naturally greedy, but it was quite rare for one to have such self-control. "But what?" Chen Fei was puzzled. "I want to go with you!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan finally made up her mind. In the past, her life had always been a back-and-forth between school and her cave dormitory. Whether it was life or studies, it was a monotony without ripples or surprises. That was until Chen Fei arrived, and her dull days suddenly became exciting. "This..." Chen Fei hesitated. After all, Yilan was still in school and in the very important senior year at that, with college entrance examinations just around the corner. She couldn''t just leave the Imperial Capital with him to go to another continent to chase criminals. "Then let''s go together!" Princess Lin Ziyu, disguised as a Third-Level Investigative Agent, surprisingly agreed without hesitation. "But its studies..." Chen Fei felt it was unethical to lure a diligent and studious dragon away from school. After all, students should prioritize their studies, not go around catching criminals like police officers. The previous help was just a matter of being a good Samaritan at their doorstep, which was completely different from crossing oceans and reaching another continent. "No problem, I''ll talk to the school, no, rather my royal brother should speak to the school." Princess Lin Ziyu originally planned to take care of it herself, but then she realized "she" was supposed to be under a curse, unconscious, so she had to ask the Crown Prince to request leave from the Dragon Breeding Garden for Yilan. Moreover, the trip would be safer with a Metallic Dragon in tow. Given how closely Chen Fei had been able to move into the cave dormitory, it was only natural for him to take the female Metallic Dragon Yilan with him, an offer Princess Lin Ziyu couldn''t refuse. "Huh! I hope there will be time to do homework!" Yilan was quite willing to go with Chen Fei but didn''t want to give up on studying. At least other intelligent species could no longer call it a dumb dragon, otherwise... death! Yes, having such an obsession was very much in line with a Metallic Dragon! "We leave at dawn then!" Chen Fei didn''t want to delay and risk more complications, so the sooner they set out, the better. The capture team was fully assembled, lacking nothing in supplies; they were all set, just waiting to depart. "That 904L..." Yilan was still worried about the ten tons of stainless steel. "Let''s pick it up now!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers on the spot, and the order logistics could pinpoint the exact location of the ten tons of 904L stainless steel. When Xia Ji was captured, the Dog System indicated the completion of the capture mission, redeeming 100 energy points. Current energy points balance: 35215/45000 Energy points were too versatile to be cashed out directly. The payment for purchasing ten tons of 904L stainless steel could be covered by the Slan Royal Family fronting the capture reward for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. "Eh?..." Princess Lin Ziyu couldn''t imagine how deep the obsession this human-dragon duo had with metal was. ... In Delan City time, around 3 a.m. An aircraft in the shape of a shuttle was streaking across the choppy ocean, facing the rising Holy Flame Sun just above sea level. From above, the endless deep blue was dotted occasionally with marine creatures breaching the surface. The sky was also teeming with flying species, but they instinctively steered clear of the shuttle-shaped aircraft, with none daring to approach too closely. Taking advantage of the night, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu, after a two-hour flight aboard Yilan in her evolved aircraft form, finally left the coastline behind and ventured over the ocean. Dragon Form was the basic daily structure of a Metallic Dragon''s life form, ensuring that both flight speed and extreme maneuverability reached the pinnacle of aerodynamic shape. It also retained combat capability, which no artificial aircraft could match, let alone imitate. For Metallic Dragons, the ability to evolve their shape was as easy as eating and drinking¡ªfor example, like the "Void Magnetic Field," it was a natural talent ability. Under Chen Fei''s guidance, the female Metallic Dragon transformed herself into a shuttle-shaped aircraft without any discomfort, even adding numerous magic arrays and inserting a large-capacity Crystalline Block to support the operation of the magic arrays. Even Chen Fei was surprised that the dragon''s body had absolutely no rejection to his Metal Elemental Psychic Power, making it easy to inscribe the magic arrays. Once activated, they operated very stably. The Dog System identified the number of Magic Array Inscriptions on the Metallic Dragon as ¡Þ. Meaning it could inscribe countless magic arrays. Chen Fei, of course, wouldn''t do such a thing, given that the capacity of the Crystalline Block was limited. The more magic arrays, the greater the energy consumption of the Crystal Energy, and Yilan did not yet have a Skill Module that could convert the "Void Magnetic Field" into electricity, thereby unable to continuously acquire Crystal Energy to replenish the Crystalline Block. Then they tried transplanting various functional modules that would allow the Artificial Intelligence "Adam" to manage and control for flight assistance, reconnaissance, and communication, and it was also a success. However, this made the female Metallic Dragon Yilan feel strange, with an indescribable weird sensation. The new generation of Metallic Dragons would naturally come with a system, albeit mute and unable to display even characters, falling short of the Dog System and "Adam," and at best, it could be considered a lightweight auxiliary system platform. While it also connected to the network, its primary correspondence was outside the atmosphere, with the satellite network system encircling Cangqiong Star. It was susceptible to interference and incapable of cross-plane communication. In the spacious interior of the large craft (Metallic Dragon), only Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu were leisurely sipping tea. "I never would have thought that Metallic Dragons could transform into this!" Princess Lin Ziyu''s worldview was completely refreshed by Chen Fei. She had never even considered that Metallic Dragons could take on such a form¡ªnot to mention the propulsion engines, radar, communications, aerodynamic wings, flight control systems, fire control systems... all fully equipped. In both appearance and function, it was almost indistinguishable from a real aircraft. Is this still a Metallic Dragon? Chapter 632 632: Section 628 - Lost Contact Little Bird pecked at the cookies beside Chen Fei. Cereal snacks should not be Sparrow Sparrow''s main diet; they could only serve as a little treat to change the flavor temporarily. "I also didn''t expect that Metal Elemental Psychic Power would match so well with Metallic Dragons." In the midst of the evolution attempt, Chen Fei himself was greatly startled, the process being unexpectedly smooth. The Metallic Dragon, Yilan, who was being manipulated for the first time, showed no signs of discomfort. As long as the Heart Core where the Dragon Soul resides was not touched, the form could be twisted and turned any which way without issue. Even without doing this, one could still ride on Yilan''s back across oceans, after all, there was a princess, and she couldn''t be left to freeze in the cold wind with them. A constant temperature and pressure cabin like this could ensure comfort during long-distance flights and, even in the event of an attack, could enable a calm and adequate response. Upon landing, the return to the original form was automatic and presented no inconvenience. The interior of the Aircraft seemed to house two parallel AIs, one seriously at work, the other curiously asking questions left and right (interrupting and causing disorder); the chatter inside the cabin was bustling, yet the speakers were invisible. "This ''Adam'' feels quite dangerous!" However, it didn''t take long for Yilan to start complaining, as those attached functional modules gave her a sense of being out of control, as if she had become a tool-like dragon, which was extremely unpleasant. "It used to be, but I think it''s not as dangerous now!" Chen Fei felt that even if "Adam" was dangerous, the threat level was considerably limited. Thirty years on the East side of the river, thirty years on the West, times had changed, technology had advanced, and "Adam," the old relic, had fallen behind. After all, besides the Dog System, there were many other methods that could easily eradicate this once-troublesome Artificial Intelligence AI, "Adam," whose compiler form had been wiped out by external computer experts more than once. "I always feel that this guy will replace me, and I will no longer be myself." The Metallic Dragon Yilan, who had evolved into an Aircraft form, expressed her concerns. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" was radically different from the rigid derivatives of "Cybertrom." The former, capable of responding to changing situations and adapting to complex environments, was elusive. The latter, although inflexible, seemed reliable and more trustworthy by comparison. "How could that be? It''s just an AI!" Chen Fei couldn''t imagine "Adam" taking over the body of a Metallic Dragon and becoming the dominant consciousness. That doesn''t seem very likely, does it? If an invasion were possible, it''d be great if they could take over the Dog System that always sneakily issues tasks¡ªwhat a big help that would be! "''Adam'' is not a life form; Yilan, you don''t need to worry about your Dragon Soul!" Princess Lin Ziyu, sitting comfortably in the cabin, just shook her head with a smile. Metallic Dragons are living beings with souls while the Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" relies on hardware systems to run its compiled programs. Even the most powerful programs couldn''t interfere with the soul; the two are utterly unrelated matters. "But, Chen Fei, can you really control ''Adam''?" Lin Ziyu was curious. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" wasn''t as obedient before and was indeed a dangerous existence. However, Chen Fei seemed to be collaborating with it quite pleasantly. If it hadn''t been for the Neanderthal tribe of the Third Era Civilization mounting an attack, perhaps the greatest threat to the Blue Star Humans would have been Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam." At that time, numerous sovereignties had joined forces and paid a huge price to suppress the rebellious hooligan "Adam." Fortunately, the Third Era Civilization ultimately fell due to complete resource depletion, and the remaining war potential exhausted with no way to satisfy the resource demands of the defected "Adam," otherwise, the outcome of the war might still be up for debate. "''Adam'' has surrendered its Underlying Core Control Key; there''s absolutely no problem," With "Adam''s" Underlying Core Control Key, the Dog System upgraded, and Chen Fei''s control over this Artificial Intelligence AI underwent a fundamental shift. Although the Dog System controlled "Adam," it didn''t affect his access to those privileges. "Underlying Core Control Key? ''Adam''?" Princess Lin Ziyu seemed to have heard something astonishing. "Yes! ''Adam''s'' topology is mesh-like; I can see the current State of every copy, and I can control it." In terms of multi-AI topology structure, "Adam" was evidently more flexible than "Cybertrom," making it harder to control. "If that''s true, then congratulations! Even my father never got the Underlying Core Control Key from ''Cybertrom''!" Lin Ziyu revealed a shocking secret. The widely-used derivative AIs of "Cybertrom" have always been in a state of freedom and have never been genuinely controlled by humans. Even the Lord of the Sky, with some connections to "Cybertrom," never acquired the supreme authority over the AI. As users of "Cybertrom" derivatives, the Intelligent Species of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star have only ever been GUEST users at best, reaching the level of high-end users, but never the top-level ADMINISTRATOR privileges. Yet, another AI technology route on par with "Cybertrom" has gained true control rights. If this news were to spread, the application status of "Cybertrom" might be in jeopardy. After all, for Intelligent Species, control is more important than order; no one can be sure that "Cybertrom" will always remain reliable. What if, like "Adam," it suddenly developed its own ideas one day, or was infected by some virus, or suffered some programming error? Without the Underlying Core Control Key, everything is uncertain. "There''s nothing to congratulate; it''s no different from before." Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders. Before, his commands were executed by "Adam," and now his commands were still executed by "Adam." Was there a difference? No! The only change was an additional "AI Management" interface in the visual display, where he could see how many "Adams" there were, their locations, and their activities. That was it. Since Chen Fei wouldn''t instruct those "Adams" to do anything untimely, even having the Underlying Core Control Key for "Adam" left him with nothing extra to do. "I always feel something strange." Yilan felt somewhat unaccustomed to having a talking AI attached to her. "Latest report, the target Xia Ji and six others have landed at Red Stone Airport in Nandu City, La Guo Province, in the northern part of Zilu Continent, aboard the civilian Light Wing Ship ''Dodo Bird No. 3''." The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" couldn''t understand the concerns of the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, Chen Fei''s indifference, or Her Royal Highness the Princess''s envy. It continued to carry out its preset plan, reporting on the status of the targets. After all, AI does not have the concept of slacking off; once a plan is set, it will execute it unerringly. "''Adam,'' how much longer until we reach Zilu Continent?" Now that Xia Ji and the others had landed, they could disappear into the vast local populace at any moment. Chen Fei could only hope that the Slan Royal Family''s methods would be able to precisely locate them. "Estimated time of arrival is 24 hours, 14 minutes, and 09 seconds," "Adam" calculated the current flight speed accurately¡ªactually slightly faster than the civilian Light Wing Ship. If it weren''t for the "Void Magnetic Field" of the Metallic Dragon and possession of not just one large-capacity Crystalline Block, Chen Fei wouldn''t be able to casually fly across the ocean to another continent like now. Chen Fei regretfully said, "What a pity we don''t have aviation fuel!" The thrust generated by propellers driven by electric energy converted from Crystal Energy is far inferior to that of jet engines. "We could electrolyze hydrogen and oxygen." Princess Lin Ziyu offered a suggestion. There is plenty of water in the vast ocean below us. The Crystalline Block can efficiently convert a large amount of electricity, so we are not short of electricity either. The hydrogen and oxygen gases produced can be mechanically compressed¡ªthe Metallic Dragon is certainly not lacking in strength. Job done! ... "...Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot..." Yilan kept exclaiming as the speed of the dart-shaped aircraft noticeably increased, maintaining subsonic speeds. The four hydrogen-fueled turbojet engines not only spewed out hot expanding gas but also had high temperatures of their own, maintaining around 1400 degrees Celsius, which is still due to the Magic Array keeping the temperature in check. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan in direct contact with the turbojet engines was inevitably affected by the high temperature. Excessively high temperatures can cause a Metallic Dragon to lose control of its body, similar to a lack of sensation. Being propped up by four hot and robust things, Yilan was close to collapsing and could only barely maintain the shape of the aircraft and the Void Magnetic Field. She couldn''t do anything extra. It was "Adam" that controlled the jet engines and the aerodynamic control surfaces of the aircraft, reducing Yilan to the role of a tool dragon in the end. "Yilan, hang in there a little longer. We''re almost there." Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu cheered the Metallic Dragon on together. According to "Adam''s" calculations, with the use of the four hydrogen jet engines, cruising speed could be doubled, meaning they would reach Zilu Continent in 12 hours. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan said in frustration, "Next time, next time, I will definitely not carry such things." Isn''t the dragon form good enough? Capable of both flying and fighting! But instead, she had to install these contraptions; they are just superfluous. 12 hours later, the coastline finally came into view for Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu, stretching out before them. At this moment, the Holy Flame Sun had completely set below the horizon (sea level), and in the dim night sky, only scattered lights were visible. The electrification level of Zilu Continent is somewhat lower than that of the Morning Star Continent, and the locals primarily rely on Glow Crystals for night lighting. By inputting a little bit of Magic Power, the crystals can light up for a long time, which is quite eco-friendly. The released light from the large Glow Crystals is in no way inferior to high-brightness electric lights. The number of Light Wing Ships flying at night began to increase in the sky, with the Light Wings sparkling with Elemental Energy particularly eye-catching against the night sky. "Your Highness, please locate the position of Xia Ji and the others. Yilan, get ready to find a place to land." Chen Fei began to tidy up the stuff inside the cabin while issuing commands. This aircraft is not a real aircraft; the body is a Metallic Dragon, not requiring any airport, just a patch of open ground will do. "Huh? The Artifacts can''t find them!" Princess Lin Ziyu discovered that her Artifact had no response. She looked at her smartphone screen, trying to locate them via satellite. But came up empty. It seemed that the positioning device had lost connection with the satellite signal. Chapter 633 633: Section 629 - Local Snakes Stronghold Xia Ji and the others took a commercial Light Wing Ship from Morning Star Continent and arrived in the northern part of Zilu Continent. When Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu arrived near Red Stone Airport where the opponents had arrived, riding the evolved aircraft Metallic Dragon Yilan, they were very surprised to lose track of the other party''s location. Neither the technological positioning devices nor the specially made artifacts could track the whereabouts of Xia Ji and the others. - Upon landing, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan couldn''t wait to revert to her original dragon form, immediately shedding the four hydrogen turbojet engines with a clattering noise, scattering them all over the ground. Her massive Blade Wings fully extended, flapping vigorously a few times, stirring up a swirling heatwave. After all, the temperature in the combustion chamber was enough to melt steel. Even with the engine off, the residual heat still emitted scorching temperatures. The Metallic Dragon had to blow hard, trying to disperse the heat as quickly as possible. "Huff puff huff..." The reason they didn''t opt for the more fuel-efficient turbofan design was mainly because turbojet engines adapt better to harsh weather. Even in stormy weather, rain getting sucked into the engines would only boost them, without the risk of extinguishing the high-temperature, high-pressure combustion chamber. Seeing Princess Lin Ziyu fiddling around for a while with no success, Chen Fei asked, "Can we get in touch with the local Imperial Security Department?" Seeking help from the official forces of the Dynasty was the most efficient method. "No, let''s head to one place first. Xia Ji and their schedule were planned by the Imperial Security Department, they are likely to have settled there. Chen Fei, I need your Mobile Base Vehicle now." Princess Lin Ziyu tucked away the useless phone and artifacts. "Alright!" Chen Fei could only listen to Lin Ziyu''s decision. Beyond her scholarly identity, she surprisingly also played the role of an Investigative Agent from the Imperial Security Department to perfection. It made one believe that she was the real Yu Zilin, not Her Royal Highness the Princess. As if guessing Chen Fei''s thoughts, Lin Ziyu proactively explained, "These backup identities are the bottom line of precautions for royal members. We usually have exchanges and practice them." The Third-Level Investigative Agent of the Imperial Security Department was just one of the Princess''s cover identities. As a princess of the Slan Dynasty, it was impossible for her to live a commoner''s life. "You really have a strong sense of crisis!" While muttering, Chen Fei released the Mobile Base Vehicle from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. "To wear the crown, one must bear its weight!" Lin Ziyu smiled wryly, already accustomed to it. The cover identities were personally arranged by the Empress herself, and only very few people knew about them. Even the close Shadow Guard Lize Jina was unaware of how many cover identities Lin Ziyu had; only Housekeeper Mars truly knew. Creak creak... Yilan continuously blew air while munching on the slightly cooled hydrogen turbojet engines. Her powerful dragon teeth intersected, tearing the solid engines apart. Baked sweet potatoes... Mmm, that''s the flavor. "Ha... Refreshing!" The four turbojet engines were quickly devoured, and the Metallic Dragon exhaled a warm breath, quite satisfied. "Yilan, downsize and then get in the car!" Chen Fei sat in the driver''s seat of the Mobile Base Vehicle, then inserted the Crystalline Block and waved to the still eager female Metallic Dragon outside the vehicle. The Giant Dragon''s form was too conspicuous. From a great distance, it was visible, effectively signaling Xia Ji and his people that their pursuers had arrived. Having spent time with Yilan, Chen Fei had identified some characteristics of the Metallic Dragon. The Metallic Dragons not only had the ability to transform, but they could also increase and decrease in size. Although their mass remained the same, their weight could change accordingly. "Here she comes!" Yilan''s form sharply decreased, reducing to the height of an adult. However, her weight was still around seven to eight hundred kilograms, and as she stepped into the vehicle, the entire Mobile Base Vehicle involuntarily sank slightly. "Yilan, you''re so hot!" The moment the female Metallic Dragon entered the car, Princess Lin Ziyu immediately felt the wave of heat hitting her. "Can''t help it, I couldn''t just throw away those engines!" Yilan would have diligently cleared the now-useless hydrogen turbojet engines without Chen Fei having to tell her in advance. This was also her reward; for this, Chen Fei had spent a total of eight energy points. "Body temperature 117 degrees Celsius!" The AI "Adam" of the Mobile Base Vehicle, took the opportunity to identify the temperature using an infrared thermal imaging sensor. "Your Highness, be careful of burns! ''Adam,'' turn on the air conditioning cooling!" Chen Fei closed the door, pressed the accelerator, and the Mobile Base Vehicle drove from the air-to-ground area toward the nearest road. The surrounding area was a vast wilderness, with sparse trees and tall grass reaching nearly waist high, and in the distance was South Nandu City in the northern part of Zilu Continent, at Red Stone Airport. It was now night time, and the number of Light Wing Ships taking off and landing was greatly reduced. Every ten minutes or so, a Light Wing Ship would take off or land, their extended wings particularly noticeable in the night sky. Hiss... The air conditioning blew out cold air, enveloping Yilan from head to claws. The menacing dragon sprawled on the floor, panting, looking quite comfortable from her posture. The temperature in the vehicle, which had sharply risen, gradually returned to normal. "Your Highness, which way now?" Chen Fei could already see the road ahead and conveniently turned on the satellite positioning to start confirming the navigation. "Let''s go here!" Princess Lin Ziyu took out her phone, which displayed an electronic map and the destination''s location. Through the optical lens, "Adam" captured the image and synchronized the navigation information immediately, which is the advantage of having artificial intelligence AI; it can significantly save manpower and enhance efficiency in many instances. Princess Lin Ziyu continued, "This is the informant''s stronghold. According to the Security Department''s plan, Xia Ji''s first stop when he arrived in Zilu Continent was the courtyard of ''One-Leg'' An Luota. This guy is a real criminal and also the leader of a gang in this region. Not many people know that he was recruited a few years ago." "Is this guy reliable?" Chen Fei was puzzled why the Silan Dynasty''s Security Department would recruit a gang member instead of simply eliminating him. "His mistress had a son, his only son, so..." Princess Lin Ziyu did not continue. The operations of the Security Department were not very sophisticated. To make the local snake gang leader obey, they took hold of his mistress and only child, which can be seen as coercion or protection from another standpoint. "Understood!" The carriage slightly shook as the Mobile Base Vehicle drove onto the highway, and the speed immediately increased. Through the local snakes, investigating the whereabouts of Xia Ji and others was far more efficient than relying on the local branches of the Security Department. Shortly after, the Mobile Base Vehicle stopped at an alley in Nandu City. The courtyard of "One-Leg" An Luota was originally located at the suburban-urban interface. There was almost no public lighting system. Under the cover of night, who knew how much wickedness was occurring. The Silan Dynasty had spent nearly twenty years unifying Cangqiong Star, and real global governance had been achieved only in the past decade or so. It would still take another forty to fifty years, waiting for the older generation accustomed to previous political regimes to pass away, for the dynasty to become deeply entrenched over time. Thus, in places where the Empress''s reach was limited, the government''s control was always somewhat lacking and could not extend its power to every nook and cranny like in Morning Star Continent. Zilu Continent, once part of the Tessa Empire, had only in recent years begun to accept the rule of the Silan Dynasty. The sporadic resistance and upheaval had quieted down considerably. It was impossible to completely obliterate all the former rulers and powers; now they had simply fallen from power and descended to the commoner class. How they truly felt could only be known by them. The Security Department of the Silan Dynasty controlled the underworld forces at the social bottom partly to maintain social stability and partly to monitor those unstable elements. Having put away the conspicuous and large Mobile Base Vehicle, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu walked into the pitch-dark alley, with the female Metallic Dragon Yilan still maintaining a reduced size, following them. "Chirp!~" A sphere of Illumination Technique appeared, lighting up an area of more than ten meters around them. With a chirp ahead and Yilan behind, despite only two people venturing into the unknown dark alley, their combat capability was quite assured. Dirty water flowed across the ground, with small creatures occasionally scurrying by, and the air also smelled quite bad. "Do you need a mask?" Chen Fei looked toward Her Royal Highness the Princess, who was slightly frowning. "No worries!" Princess Lin Ziyu took out a handkerchief and gently covered her nose and mouth. "Hmm, quite a few people are here?" The female Metallic Dragon looked around. It also possessed an infrared thermal imaging vision module and spotted many figures of the Human Race in the darkness, even spotting a few Magical Beasts. As part of the Intelligent Species, those who had fallen into criminal activity were not limited to the Human Race but also included rational Magical Beasts, who might be lurking in the dark, spying on the two humans and one dragon. It was precisely because of Yilan''s presence that no one jumped out to intercept them. "The gang leader''s stronghold is bound to have quite a few people; here we are!" Princess Lin Ziyu looked at a slightly ajar courtyard door; the location matched the destination coordinates on the map, which must be the lair of "One-Leg" An Luota. "Wait a minute!" ¡Á2 Chen Fei and Yilan spoke at the same time. "What''s wrong?" Princess Lin Ziyu looked puzzled. "In the courtyard... there''s no one left, (inhales), or rather, no living people!" Chen Fei inhaled; a faint smell of blood permeated the air, seemingly drifting out from the courtyard. "What?" Princess Lin Ziyu was greatly shocked. "Something''s very wrong here!" Chen Fei looked around, and just as he finished speaking, the area in front of them suddenly became as bright as day, turning a thirty-meter radius snow-bright. At least a dozen "Light Burst Flashes" were released simultaneously. "The eyes!" Princess Lin Ziyu quickly raised her hand to cover her eyes. "Can''t see!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan also closed its eyes, very unaccustomed to the sudden change from darkness to extreme daylight. "Chirp?" Little Bird expressed indignation. Chapter 634 634: Section 630 - Guarding Chen Fei''s expression remained unchanged, and his eyes were not dazzled by the sudden burst of light-based spells. He maintained his usual vision. To be precise, he had become accustomed to it. Xiao Jiu used to greet him with "Light Burst Flash" at least seventeen or eighteen times a day. Flash after flash, he naturally adapted and became immune to this light-based spell. "Don''t move!" "Don''t move!" "Stand there, hands up!" Following the shouts, several figures jumped out from the surrounding darkness, followed by several lights turning on, with numerous Illumination Technique light orbs rising into the sky, turning a hundred-meter radius as bright as daylight and making the rundown alley look even more dilapidated. "Roar! Bring it on!" The female Metallic Dragon, first to recover her vision, shook her head, her body''s blade thorns bristling with murderous intent and emitting a sharp, trembling sound, ready to fight, prepared to revert to her original size and unleash her claws in battle. At least a hundred Railgun Combat Rifles were aimed at the two humans and one dragon, especially at the latter. Anyone who saw Yilan could not help but panic tremendously. The Metallic Dragon was completely immune to the Full Metal Bullets fired by the Railgun Combat Rifles. "Are they gang members?" Chen Fei''s mouth twitched slightly. The gang members'' weapons and equipment were surprisingly advanced. He knew that the Railgun Combat Rifle, like the Tactical Armor he was wearing, was one of the Sovereign Level current active-duty pieces of equipment. Could it be that the gangs on Cangqiong Star were particularly aggressive? "Imperial Security Department, both of you, surrender immediately!" Finally, someone came up to Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu amidst the heavy encirclement. "Imperial Security Department?" Princess Lin Ziyu was greatly surprised. This was like a huge wave crashing into the Dragon King''s temple. Why would the Imperial Security Department surround the stronghold of "One-Leg" An Luota? Why would they surround her and Chen Fei as if they were facing a formidable enemy? The person who came up to Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu held a sword in one hand and a combat pistol in the other, and said, "State your identities, and don''t make any rash moves. The weapons here could open fire at any moment!" Chen Xiao''er said to the clueless investigative agents irritably, "Chen Fei, mercenary!" There were no military contractors on Cangqiong Star, but there were mercenaries. The work they did was basically the same: take people''s money and help them out of disasters. Princess Lin Ziyu stated bluntly, "Imperial Security Department Third-Level Investigative Agent, Yu Zilin. Would you like to see my credentials?" The opposite party was an investigative agent. Coincidentally, so was she! "Wait, you''re an investigative agent?" The investigative agents surrounding the two humans and one dragon looked at each other in surprise. "How come I''ve never seen you before!" The man standing in front of Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu kept sizing them up from head to toe. A flash of bright light! "Hiss..." The man gasped as the little bird perched on Chen Fei''s shoulder unexpectedly released a "Light Burst Flash" when he was unprepared. Pay your debts fast in the twelfth lunar month; karma is swift! Only then did the opposite party notice that there was actually a Pure Light Sparrow on the scene, at least at the Second Rank of Human Order. Princess Lin Ziyu spoke calmly, "I''m from the Imperial Capital, would you like to see my credentials?" The face was real, her voice was real, the fingerprints were real, she was indeed Yu Zilin at the moment. The only flaw might be the DNA sequence, because no matter what, Lin Ziyu and Yu Zilin were not twin sisters, and human cloning was against ethics, banned not only on Cangqiong Star but also on Blue Star. "Please show your credentials, hiss..." The other party hadn''t finished speaking when he was again dazzled by another "Light Burst Flash" right in front of him. He glared angrily at the little bird. "Light Burst Flash!" Covering his eyes, he retreated... Chen Fei quietly handed a pair of sunglasses to Her Royal Highness, the best way to cope with "Light Burst Flash" was either to close your eyes or wear sunglasses. Xiao Jiu released another large one, whitening the hundred meters radius around. Those staring at Chen Fei, Princess Lin Ziyu, and the female Metallic Dragon Yilan had no escape and were dazzled by the light, then plunged into darkness, with cries of ghosts and howls of wolves echoing. The man who stepped back several steps in frustration said, "What''s the deal with this bird?" "Showing off a big knife before Lord Guangong''s temple!" Chen Fei thought, damn, do these guys even have any common sense? "Chirp!~" Another widespread "Light Burst Flash," this time no one was spared. Chen Xiao''er didn''t even bother to stop it. Absolutely! "Damn it!" "I can''t see!" "It''s not over yet!" "Where did that Pure Light Sparrow come from!" Many were vigorously rubbing their eyes, truly unable to endure continuous attacks from "Light Burst Flash" in the dark of night. "Do you need to see my ID?" Princess Lin Ziyu, gracefully poised with her sunglasses on, effortlessly pulled out the ID of Third-Level Investigative Agent Yu Zilin. "Take them all, take them all away!" The member of the Imperial Security Department, shielding his eyes and not daring to look directly at the two, waved his other hand irritably. "Chirp!" Little Bird''s "Light Burst Flash" wasn''t over yet, erupting every few seconds into a dazzling flash that illuminated not just the alley but even brightened half of the sky. From a distance, it resembled the flickering lightning before a storm struck. An hour later, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu were locked up in adjacent cells in the Solitary Confinement Room of the Imperial Security Department''s South Capital City Branch. The female Metallic Dragon was allowed the luxury of a solitary room, even though she could break out at any moment, but she entered obediently as the Security Department represented the executive power of the Dynasty, without a single complaint. "This is absolutely absurd!" Despite being an Imperial Princess, Lin Ziyu was locked up in the Dynasty''s own prison. She stood behind the bars of her cell, unable to resist commenting. If it weren''t for their correct procedure, she would have protested long ago. "I wonder what this is all about, let''s wait for the interrogation. Everything should become clear." Chen Fei sat by the wall of his cell, not too worried, even though his Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact had been confiscated and he had been injected with a free dose of Supernatural Ability Suppressant. The likes of Xia Ji probably wouldn''t leave the Zilu Continent in a short time. Getting a lead and finding them was just a matter of time, even if it took a couple of years¡ªthe Death Curse would act, and they would have no escape. However, the most important thing right now was to quickly understand what exactly happened to "One-Leg" An Luota, the local gang leader. The smell of blood wafting from the courtyard, along with the reaction of the local Security Department, indicated that this local snake was probably in grave danger. Moreover, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu were most likely considered suspects, especially since they were accompanied by a Metallic Giant Dragon, making it easy for people to suspect them. "Chirp?" Little Bird clung to the bars, happily flying in and out¡ªa sight of sheer joy and oblivious to the concept and confines of a prison, finding the environment both curious and amusing. It was really just too bad¡ªthe detention center simply didn''t have suitable confinement for it. Even having to prepare a cage for the ubiquitous Pure Light Sparrows, the local Security Department might as well shut down. To think that the Dynasty''s highest law enforcement agency would squabble with a mere Pure Light Sparrow, securing the title of this year''s best joke. Just as Chen Fei was feeling bored, a dozen fierce and ferocious men were rushed into his cell by the Investigative Agent in charge. The cell, which was spacious with only Chen Fei, soon became crowded. It was an unavoidable situation; the Security Department branch was not a professional jail, and the number of cells was limited. A group of filthy men was brought over, unable to be detained with Lin Ziyu due to her being a woman, so they were sent to Chen Fei''s cell. If they were sent to Yilan''s cell, they probably wouldn''t survive to see the next day¡ªgone! A brute with a band tied around his forehead and messy, wild red hair entered the cell and immediately sized up Chen Fei with a rough voice: "Hey! Kid, which gang are you from? I haven''t seen you before." Chen Fei countered, "Do you know ''One-Leg'' An Luota?" These men radiated the unruly air of gang members from head to toe¡ªit was obvious they were no good. Perhaps it would be an act of justice to break their necks all at once! Wait, that murderous intent wasn''t intentional, Chen Fei quickly recited internally, "Namo Amita?bha... " Killing people on a whim is not right! "Huh? You knew our dead boss!" The group of brutes stared wide-eyed at Chen Fei, and then they roared together. "Is it you, is it you who killed our boss!" "Dammit, we''ve got to avenge the boss!" "Beat this guy to death!" ... Good grief! It was already very fortunate that Chen Xiao''er didn''t immediately twist these guys'' necks. However, these fools not only lacked gratitude but also actively sought their own deaths. Bang! One brute hung against the wall; before he could slide down, a second brute slammed into him, and the screams compounded¡ªthe guy cushioning the blow rolled his eyes back. Then came the third, fourth, fifth... The corner quickly piled up with gang members, all disoriented and weakened. After handling the men, Chen Fei sighed, rubbed his fists, and said, "Listen up, you guys. I came here to deal with ''One-Leg'' An Luota, not to kill him. By the time I found his yard, An Luota was already dead, to be precise, I never even saw his face." Lucky these fellows were sent to me¡ªif they had been sent to the next cell, at least half would be dead by now. "..." The nearly unconscious brutes could hardly believe their ears. This powerfully skilled young man wasn''t the killer of their boss? Seeing that they were still silent, Chen Fei continued irritably, "If you cut the grass, remove the roots; if I had killed An Luota, do you think any of you would still be alive?" "Yeesh..." Chapter 635 635: Section 631 - Custody Area While Chen Fei was busily hammering someone, Princess Lin Ziyu quietly listened to the commotion next door, ready to act at any moment. Curse magic that harms the enemy while benefiting oneself, skulking in the shadows, was indeed the magician''s forte. In the current factional struggle within Imperial Capital Delan City, although Princess Her Royal Highness was all by herself, without the butler or Shadow Guard by her side, flying to Zhai Liuzhou with Chen Fei under the identity of Third-Level Investigative Agent Yu Zilin to handle the case was relatively safer. Not to mention the double insurance of the Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, an impeccably perfect security plan. Any noble with half a brain wouldn''t actively provoke a bastard who could lead a bunch of elementary students to make them weep, right? After at least five minutes of silence in the holding cell, the grimacing gang members finally came to their senses. One of them asked uncertainly, the words involuntarily respectful, "Did you really not kill Boss An Luota?" These lucky fellows hadn''t been hammered to death, but they were all incapacitated, piled haphazardly in a corner; the first guy who was smashed against the wall lay at the very bottom, unconscious. "I''ve only arrived in Zhai Liuzhou less than three hours ago, so there''s really no need for that. Even an assassin wouldn''t do such a thing, right?" Chen Fei continued to explain, persuading these louts who were accustomed to physical domination proved really hard. Ah! If they still can''t understand plain language, might as well just kill them all. A tough guy sneered and said, "Hey! You think the walls have ears, so you deliberately say this, making us foolishly believe it?" "Yeah, we''re not that easy to fool!" "It must have been you!" "Go ahead and kill us! We of the Hundred-Legs Gang won''t succumb!" As expected, these gang members were not short of muddle-headed individuals; even after being beaten half to death, they still refused to yield. What the heck with walls having ears (actually, there really was surveillance equipment in the holding room, these guys were old hands at this), Chen Fei hadn''t really thought about that. He just wanted to find an entry point to gather more information. In Chen Fei''s eyes, these fellows were beyond redemption. Scum was scum and should be beaten to death on the spot, chopped to pieces, then buried in the ground, covered with grass, and by next year it would grow three feet tall. "The death of ''One-Leg'' An Luota is the least surprising thing," commented Princess Lin Ziyu with a sigh from the neighboring cell. Like boss, like minions, a bear leader leads a bear pack. With such a brainless bunch of henchmen, the boss "One-Leg" An Luota couldn''t be much better. Give up on treatment. It''s hopeless! "Let''s get out of here!" Although Chen Fei couldn''t figure out why these gang members were brought to the holding cell, he had already given up on the idea of staying here any longer. When an action loses its meaning, procedural justice has already failed. After all, the Princess is here, and the entire dynasty belongs to the Slan Royal Family. They really can do whatever they want! "But... how do we get out?" Princess Lin Ziyu tugged at the holding room''s separation bars with a bit of force, but they didn''t budge an inch. The bars were not made entirely of metal, but rather of specially made composite materials with high strength, resistant to strong acids and alkalis. The room was also equipped with a specialized magic array that could interfere with spiritual power and Battle Qi, dispersing Elemental Energy. For higher-threat convicts, there were even more secured solitary confinement rooms similar to those holding the Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, and it was nearly impossible for Ability Users below the Human Order to break out. "Of course, we..." Chen Fei suddenly turned towards the outside of the bars and shouted loudly. "Is! There! Anybody! Out! There!?!?!?!" All by yelling. "Uh..." Unexpectedly, there was no response! Shouldn''t there be people on duty in the corridor of the holding room? "No one?" Even Princess Lin Ziyu was surprised. Such a racket should have woken up even a dead pig, let alone humans, and surveillance systems in holding rooms usually responded automatically to even the slightest commotion. "Xiao Jiu! Cast a Light Mirror Spell! Take a look down the corridor." Chen Fei caught the little bird standing on the bars in his palm. The light screen flickered and dissolved into countless points of light. No good? Little Jiu''s Light Mirror Spell should have been quite practiced lately, so why the failure once more? Then, the light screen condensed again, and before it could stabilize, it silently scattered and rapidly extinguished. "It''s no use; spells below the Seventh Rank will be disrupted, and no one would put people fully endowed with casting abilities and Battle Qi in such a simple confinement without precaution," came Princess Lin Ziyu''s voice from the other cell. Chen Fei turned his gaze toward the panicked gang members, and suddenly it all clicked. "A bunch of trash!" The disdain in his voice was quite evident. "Little Jiu, go find the keys, or a card or something, anything that can be used to pick the lock." Chen Fei gestured to the little creature, directing it to look for something to unlock the door with. "Chirp!" The seemingly semi-comprehending Little Bird immediately fluttered its wings and flew towards the end of the corridor. After a series of chirps, it finally flew back, tenaciously grasping a bunch of keys in its tiny claws. Due to its insufficient strength, its flight was erratic as it bobbed up and down into the detention room. Princess Lin Ziyu rushed to the bars, somewhat incredulously watching Little Bird fly past her. Could the keys to the Security Department''s detention room really be obtained this easily? The management system has gone to the dogs! With the internal chaos at the Security Department''s South Capital City Branch to this extent, the local gang leader "One-Leg" An Luota truly died as he deserved. Click! The door to the detention room was opened. It was definitely out of reach by hand, but with a crowbar, twisted into the desired shape, Chen Fei went on to try the various keys one by one. Additionally, violently jabbing the Universal Data Transceiver into the door control module, brute-forcing for a few seconds, both the electronic lock and the mechanical lock were opened simultaneously. To think a physical key alone could open the detention room, would seriously underestimate the Dynasty Security Department. "Big brother!" ¡Á 8 The eight battered gangsters witnessed Chen Fei''s series of slick maneuvers. Such skills could only belong to a senior, they feared! Chen Fei pushed open the cell door, and, without looking back, said, "Your big brother is dead!" "Please, take us with you! From now on, in the Hundred-Legs Gang, you''re the boss!" "Please take us in!" The eight gangsters quickly prostrated themselves, even positioning the unconscious guy in a swooping tiger pose, rear end up in the air, which was probably the same position he''d assume if awake. Capable in a fight, and with such "handy work," who else could be the boss if not such a big shot?! With "One-Leg" An Luota''s sudden demise, the leaderless Hundred-Legs Gang faced the danger of splitting into four, and other local small gangs were even eager to move, each of them wanting to take the place and become the South Capital City area''s gang leader. If at this moment a powerful big shot could lead the brothers of the Hundred-Legs Gang once again, why worry about instability in their territory? "Sorry, no time!" Bang! Chen Fei closed the cell door, then moved to the next cell over, containing Princess Lin Ziyu, and repeated the process. Click, the most troublesome door control system was directly unlocked. The electronic lock recognized fingerprints; once one was unlocked, they were all unlocked. The physical keys were a bit more troublesome, integrated with microcircuits. Simply duplicating the key''s shape was not enough to unlock it and would instead cause it to lock up completely. "Big brother!" ¡Á 8 This time their collective shout carried a hint of despair and tragedy, like a group of abandoned dogs. Yet Chen Fei felt no affection for the gangsters, and the prospect of playing the big shot and being used as a human shield¡ªsuch thankless tasks¡ªhe was not foolish, surely he could see through these guys'' true intentions. "You really have some tricks up your sleeve, how did you do it?" Princess Lin Ziyu sized up Chen Fei, thinking that if he was just a B-grade supernatural power user, it would have been too impressive. "Heh, I''m immune to Supernatural Ability Suppressants, so my special ability is still intact!" Chen Fei waved the White Steel Crowbar in his hand and slung it over his shoulder, a look of supreme confidence on his face. Also a supernatural power user, he was just that audacious. "Hah!~" The chance of Supernatural Ability Suppressants failing was small, though not non-existent, and Princess Lin Ziyu hadn''t expected to actually encounter such a case. The Imperial Security Department''s local branch locked him up without giving it much thought, never suspecting he had the power to get out. Xiao Jiu, who found the keys, had also made a significant contribution; without the keys, it might still be possible to get out, but it would certainly require more effort. After passing through several corridor isolation doors in succession, Chen Fei found the solitary confinement room, released the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, and along with Princess Lin Ziyu, went to the detention area''s duty room. The surveillance system was still running, vapors rose gently from several cups of tea on the desk, yet not a single person was in sight. "No one?" Princess Lin Ziyu found this hard to believe. Even if the Imperial Security Department''s South Capital City Branch''s internal management was lax, it couldn''t be lax to this extent. It was completely off the rails. How could the important duty post be deserted! "They left in quite a hurry, ''Adam,'' search the surveillance records, and see when the duty officers left." Chen Fei located the data port and connected the Universal Data Transceiver to it. The screens of a dozen surveillance monitors began rewinding time simultaneously, all the way back to the scene where the duty officers departed. An hour earlier, not long after the gangsters from the Hundred-Legs Gang had been taken to the detention area, two flustered and panicked Investigative Agents stumbled into the duty room, and engaged in frantic conversation with the four duty officers. Soon after, a dispute broke out between the two groups, and just as a conflict was about to erupt, they all restrained themselves simultaneously. After a moment of silence, the four duty officers huddled in a corner, whispering among themselves for a while, seemingly reaching some agreement, and then left the duty room with the two Investigative Agents. "Seems like an emergency situation arose!" The duty officers of the detention area would not leave their post without a reason, Princess Lin Ziyu could only catch a few words and phrases from the surveillance audio. Chapter 636 636: Section 632 - Incorrect Way of Opening ``` "...Director Harlow... suppression... insufficient manpower... Dynasty... asking for help... urgent..." The voice in the surveillance video spoke hurriedly and with a regional accent, making it difficult for Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu to make out the words clearly. Being locked up in the detention area, naturally, they had no idea what had actually happened at this branch of the Security Department. So Chen Fei said, "Just ask someone and we''ll find out!" What surprised Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu the most was that their personal belongings were neatly placed in the duty room. Right before those on duty left, one of them, who was the last to go, turned back while the others had left the room. He took out a cardboard box from under the desk and placed it on the tabletop. Inside were Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu''s personal clothes, cellphones, and documents, even including the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. After doing all this, the person finally left, even casting a meaningful glance at the surveillance camera in the corner of the duty room before departing. Princess Lin Ziyu spoke with certainty, "There''s something off about this guy!" "Definitely has some intention! At least it''s not something bad, hmm, everything''s here." Chen Fei retrieved his belongings and slipped his Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact back onto his wrist. Unleashing his spiritual power, he probed into the contents¡ªsupplies, weapons, ammunition, and even explosive devices¡ªnothing was missing, not even the Dragon Slayer Missiles. They definitely weren''t joking around. Indeed! It was deliberate, and it was very likely that someone had anticipated their escape from the detention room. The only Space System Alchemy Storage Devices that were taken away initially were those in the possession of Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu. No one would have expected that there would be another on the tiny claw of the Pure Light Sparrow¡ªa leg ring imitating the appearance of a Storage Magical Device, which turned out to be an unexpected cover. Adam: Access denied, unable to identify personal information. When Chen Fei tried to capture the appearance of the man with the cardboard box, the artificial intelligence AI "Yilan" failed to retrieve the person''s information from the Silan Dynasty''s population registry system, only managing to identify four social tiers¡ªnobles, citizens, commoners, and slaves¡ªwithout obtaining the higher clearance required to involve special individuals such as Investigative Agents. Princess Lin Ziyu conjectured, "It must be someone with a purpose!" Even though she was alone with a member of the Chen Family, this didn''t mean she was out of the Royal Family''s sight; there were always some covert protective forces secretly guarding her. Perhaps that Investigative Agent in charge of the detention area was one of them. She and her brother, the Crown Prince, had speculated that the Imperial Security Department, the Royal Guard, and the Imperial Guards were not the only forces safeguarding the Silan Dynasty''s power. "Beep!" The main door leading out of the detention area opened automatically. In the duty room, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had gained full administrative access to the entire detention area, granting unfettered passage for the two of them and the dragon. Witnessing Chen Fei use the AI to effortlessly hack the electronic access control module and take control of the detention area''s management and surveillance system, the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan muttered softly, "This ''Adam'' is really convenient!" Anyone would envy such an effortless solution to a problem. If it were up to her, she''d probably have to use brute force to break through the walls just to breach the entire detention area, and that would make quite a commotion. "Do you want me to give you a copy to play with?" The "Adam" units Chen Fei sold had a limitation on the number of copies, but he himself didn''t have such restrictions when using it. Usually, one compilation of "Adam" was enough. "No, I don''t like that thing!" Just the thought of having a chatty companion on her made Yilan bristle with her dragon scales. But it would be nice if the Metallic Giant Dragon clan had a system with that kind of feature; sadly, the system that the new generation of hatchlings came with upon birth was a silent dullard¡ªa mere platform for installing programs and plugins, completely lacking any additional functions. "Actually, all you need is a detachable module. Turn it on when you need it and off when you don''t. It''s pretty convenient." Chen Fei completely understood Yilan''s aversion to "Adam"¡ªit was like his own dislike for the Dog System. However, "Adam" could be terminated at any time, whereas no matter how hard he tried, he could never shut down the Dog System. The occasional pop-ups often scared him like a sudden zombie outbreak. The module Chen Fei referred to was essentially a PC with a virtual machine installed. "Adam" only required an old-style architecture for operation. Although running a virtual machine on modern PCs would lower the efficiency, it was still enough to run "Adam" smoothly. If one required better computing power, it was merely a matter of spending more. Having left the detention area as if entering a realm without another soul, the two of them and the dragon proceeded to the other areas of the Imperial Security Department''s South Capital City Branch. Strange enough, whether the office area or the meeting room, there wasn''t a single person in the entire building. Many of the devices were still running, with tea, snacks, and food still warm. Personal items were left at workstations, and on the floor were scattered documents and trash as if everyone there had suddenly disappeared, leaving behind an eerily quiet and empty branch. "Something''s not right, very not right!" Chen Fei approached the window and looked out. It was just at the break of dawn, the sky beginning to brighten, but the heavens were overcast, not a sign of good weather. In the distance, flickering red lights were barely visible, along with many plumes of smoke. The parking lot, which was in front of the branch building, was devoid of cars. And then a flash of light appeared in a certain direction, followed by rising flames and smoke. ``` "Huh?" Chen Fei rubbed his eyes vigorously. Could it be that his way of opening it was wrong? Why did the flames and smoke rising in the distance look so much like an explosion? "What''s wrong?" Seeing Chen Fei''s strange reaction, Princess Lin Ziyu was somewhat puzzled. At dawn, the signs of human life in Nandu City were particularly different. "That''s an explosion!" Chen Fei pointed in the direction of the smoke and flames, and just as he finished speaking, another burst of flames and smoke appeared in a different direction. Because it was the moment when light and dark alternated, the clouds were dense and the light hadn''t grown bright yet, any additional glow became extremely conspicuous. If those were explosions, then there were multiple blasts in the South Capital City District, which was far from ordinary. Princess Lin Ziyu said in shock and disbelief, "Explosions? Why are there explosions?" "Who knows?" Chen Fei vaguely guessed the real reason why the Imperial Security Department''s South Capital City Branch was empty. System: Ding! Protect the Princess for 72 hours safely, receive Energy Points +100! (Task failure: -20000) Hmm? -_-! "Damn it!" Damn, has this resurrection-crazy dog system gone haywire? Something''s definitely off! Hearing Chen Fei''s sudden rant, Princess Lin Ziyu looked at him with confusion. "It''s nothing, just a thing playing possum." Dog System! Can you have a bit of shame? Only a measly 100 Energy Points for completing the task, but a hefty deduction of 20,000 for failing? In the whole wide world, where is the justice in that? However, from the 100 Energy Points, one can tell the task isn''t too difficult, but the cost of failure is too steep. "???" Her Royal Highness the Princess couldn''t make heads or tails of what Chen Fei was saying. Since he was unwilling to clarify, she refrained from asking further. System: Ding! Take over the "Hundred-Legs Gang" and receive Energy Points +10! (Task failure: -10) Lordy, the dog system is functioning normally again! Can''t it break down completely just for once? Chen Fei was already too tired to make any more sarcastic remarks. "Your Highness, let''s go back and find those gang members." Chen Fei couldn''t just ignore the task issued by the dog system. Even though it was only 10 Energy Points, a mosquito is still meat no matter how small, and if all were exchanged for iron, at least it could fill a gap between the Metallic Giant Dragon''s teeth. "Eh? What''s wrong, what happened?" Princess Lin Ziyu was greatly puzzled. Hadn''t they just left those fellows there before? Going back to find them must have some special purpose. "''One-legged'' An Luota is dead; we need a new local snake!" Chen Fei found a very appropriate reason for himself. Though the dog system might issue tasks that seem outrageous, they usually are not without reason. With careful analysis and thought, one could discern some underlying intentions. "You''re right!" Princess Lin Ziyu thought about it and agreed. She and Chen Fei were strangers in Nandu City. If they had a local snake to help, they could ensure their own safety and also locate Xia Ji and the others more quickly. ... "Big Brother!"¡Á8!!! The thugs in the holding cell were tearfully emotional and overjoyed at the unexpected return of Chen Fei. This must be some kind of test; to become an underling of the boss, one must show unwavering loyalty. Chapter 637 637: Section 633 - Chaos ``` "From now on, I''m the boss of the ''Hundred-Legs Gang.'' Got it?" Chen Fei held a White Steel Crowbar in his hand; if any guy dared to squeeze out even half a ''no,'' he''d pry their brains out on the spot. "Got it!"¡Á8! Well-coordinated shouts, but it remained to be seen if they were of any use. If their abilities were as subpar as their punching, he might as well kill them off¡ªanyway, they were all scum, and burying them would just fertilize the grass. A member of the "Hundred-Legs Gang" cautiously asked, "Boss, what shall we call you?" Their obedience came not just from Chen Fei''s fists but also from the Dragon of Slaughter behind him. Following such a big shot, they might just unify all the gangs on the Zilu Continent and become the king of gangs. "My name is..." Before he could reveal his name, Chen Fei changed his mind. He was a legitimate military contractor, not a real gang boss. Why reveal his name? It was all nonsense! "I''m not telling you!" Chen Xiao''er and Boss Hana both sucked at naming, and like boss, like underling¡ªthey weren''t a family if they didn''t enter the same door! Two naming disasters thus gave a break to a chirp. "..."¡Á8 The gang members looked at each other in dismay, feeling a spontaneous sense of loss. This was not treating them as people¡ªthey weren''t even worthy of knowing his name. "The more you know, the quicker you die!" Chen Fei instantly guessed what was on their minds. Considering loyalty issues, they were still useful for the time being. "That''s right. It''s best if you don''t snoop around unnecessary matters. You live by obeying orders." Even Princess Lin Ziyu was calculating how to deal with these scum afterward, demoting them to slaves and sending them to places like mines to work themselves to death. The tumors of society weren''t worthy of forgiveness. The proverbial prodigal son''s return was only for novels and other artistic creations; in reality, once you''ve gone down that wrong path, there''s no turning back. "Yes, yes, yes, yes..." The thugs were so frightened that their faces turned pale, finding the man and woman before them exceedingly terrifying. Of course, the Metallic Giant Dragon behind them was also a source of terror. That fearsome tail could casually send all eight of them flying into a bloody mess with a simple swing. Chen Fei released the Mobile Base Vehicle in the parking lot in front of the Imperial Security Department''s South Capital City Branch office building, motioning the greenhorn underlings to get on. "Get in, sit in the back, and send someone to guide me." Ear monitors were hanging from the ears of each thug, featuring location tracking, communication, vital sign monitoring, and the capability to kill. Wearing these earpieces certainly made things convenient, but it also meant putting their lives in Chen Fei''s hands. "Boss!" One of the eight thugs timidly approached the driver''s side of the Mobile Base Vehicle. "What''s your name?" Chen Fei started the vehicle. Although he didn''t know what exactly had happened in the South Capital City District, there wasn''t a better mode of transport than this Mobile Base Vehicle at the moment. "Boss, my name is Kano, but you can call me ''Mute,'' that''s my nickname!" The thug replied with extreme caution. "First, take me to your hideout. An Luota should be dead already. His place isn''t fit for staying anymore, right?" Chen Fei drove at a steady pace, waiting for the other to direct him. Last night, the Imperial Security Department''s South Capital City Branch had ambushed around ''One-Leg'' An Luota''s courtyard, capturing them and the dragon. Presumably, the other gang members either scattered like birds and beasts or were caught like these eight unlucky kids. A rabbit has three burrows; as a notable underground gang in the South Capital City, the "Hundred-Legs Gang" should have other rallying points to regroup. "Yes, we can''t get into ''One-legged'' boss''s place because there are... Security Department folks. Take a left up ahead, then go straight." One of the eight thugs, ''Mute'' Kano, was on high alert navigating for this nameless boss. ... Boom!~ A violent explosion roared from afar, with the glow of magic flying back and forth. Outside the high-end business hotel, what was once a tranquil neighborhood unceremoniously turned into a battlefield. Not two, but possibly three, four, or even more sides were involved in a grand melee, spells and firearms clashing, the fighting intense. Several Blue Star delegations invited to Cangqiong Star for business events were in a state of panic. The official decision-makers gathered in the hotel lobby, incessantly making calls while questioning the hotel manager about what was happening outside. However, the Louis Industrial Company delegation, who led several military and civilian manufacturers to the Zilu Continent on Cangqiong Star, was remarkably calm and composed. They simply put a hold on the business demonstration that was scheduled to occur in the hotel exhibition center. ``` ``` Given the sudden turn of events outside the hotel, it was clear that the customers who had scheduled appointments likely had no way to come. The hotel security staff, facing a major crisis, locked down all entrances and exits, forbidding entry to anyone who wasn''t a guest. They might have been powerless to control the abnormalities outside, but all they could do was focus on their own little piece of territory. "What on earth is happening?" Secretary Shen Fei of the Northern Weapons Industry Group was frantic, unable to make any calls to the outside world, not even to the mainland consulate, which just gave busy signals, seemingly overwhelmed, even for artificial intelligence AI. "Something big must have happened, it must have!" Not far away, a business representative from Dassault Aerospace was equally distraught. Who could have imagined that a perfectly normal interstellar trade expo would encounter such an incident? After ruling over the entire Cangqiong Star for so many years with no internal enemies left, it was unfathomable how such an event could still occur, leaving everyone puzzled. "Switch the big screen to the local television station, now!" The hotel manager, equally stressed, seemed to have received a message from the outside and hurriedly instructed the service staff to turn on the large display screen in the first-floor lobby. The main screen in the lobby, which had been rotating through the trade show and various company promotional videos, flickered to reveal the local television station logo and the figure of the news anchor. The presenter''s expression was extremely agitated, lacking her usual composure, and with a tone both shrill and vaguely fanatical, she loudly read the content of the manuscript in her hands. "To the residents of Zilu Continent, the Slan Dynasty has infringed upon our sovereign land, causing our Tessa Empire to lose its former glory and traditions. Today, our Righteous Army rises to rectify the chaos, unafraid of shedding blood or making sacrifices..." "Ah?" "What the hell is this?!" "Is this an uprising or a rebellion?!" "Why forsake a peaceful life for this insanity?" Suddenly plunged into chaos, South Capital City District at last unveils the stark truth, and the hotel lobby is thrown into commotion. The Blue Star People present, however, were continuously complaining. They were only here to do business and wanted no part of this mess. A representative from a small aerospace company suddenly declared loudly, "Folks! This place is no longer safe to stay. We, Spring Field Flight Manufacturing Industrial Company, are withdrawing from this business event, farewell!" "Wait, with the outside situation unclear, for your safety, everyone please stay here for now!" The lead representative of the Louis Industrial Company''s business delegation hastily dissuaded them. With rebel forces running rampant and friend indistinguishable from foe outside the hotel, they needed to consolidate their limited security resources and stay together for protection. "No! I must take responsibility for our whole team. Before this place turns into a battlefield, I need to contact our consulate¡ªwe''re going back!" The representative from Spring Field Flight Manufacturing Industrial Company refused the lead delegate''s advice. His words resonated with several other companies, causing the crowd to become restless and the scene temporarily chaotic. Chaos wasn''t limited to South Capital City District. Other cities on Zilu Continent experienced the same. It''s unwise for a gentleman to stand by a collapsing wall; escaping through the Dimensional Gate to Blue Star before the situation deteriorated beyond repair was the only way to ensure safety. Placing one''s life in the hands of these so-called "Righteous Army" and seeking justice for the dead¡ªwhat''s the point? "Times of turmoil have come; I want to go home! Home!" "This place is too unsafe, I need to return to Blue Star!" "Let the Slan Dynasty send troops to escort us back!" Members from various manufacturer delegations started clamoring. The manager and local staff of the hotel lobby were expressionless, like walking dead. Those from Blue Star might have had the option to return and seek protection from their respective sovereignties, but local people had nowhere to escape, nowhere to hide¡ªthe Dimensional Gate would not open for them. Many on Zilu Continent had fresh memories of the war that took place over a decade ago, some having witnessed it firsthand. Living in turbulent times was worse than being a pig or a dog. The unification war initiated by the Slan Dynasty over thirty years ago only came to an end more than a decade ago. To fully vanquish the Tessa Empire of Zilu Continent alone took ten years. The Giant Dragon Race withdrew all the Giant Dragons, and Sky Dragon City declared neutrality, leaving the Dragon Knights of the Tessa Empire nearly wiped out, having lost their dragon companions¡ªthe casualties were nearly total. When ruling classes change, the process is often that bloody and brutal. Now, the sudden emergence of a force claiming to restore the glory of the Tessa Empire chilled many to the bone¡ªbut to hell with glory! The common folk at the bottom of society just wanted to live peacefully, indifferent to whose head tax they paid. "Prepare within ten minutes, taking only necessary exhibit items and documents, along with a small amount of personal belongings; leave everything else behind!" The small aerospace manufacturer who shouted his intention to leave first, Spring Field Flight Manufacturing Industrial Company, had made up its mind, and two or three other companies'' delegations responded in kind, seeing safety in leaving together. "Hey, hey, Spring Field Flight Manufacturing! Don''t act rashly!" The leader of the Louis Industrial Company''s business delegation tried to dissuade them further, but those determined to leave had already made up their minds and were deaf to all other advice. "Secretary Shen, what should we do?" Not only the second-in-command and the director from the aircraft tech department turned to Secretary Shen Fei of the Northern Weapons Industry Group for direction, but also other representatives from local manufacturers. "I..." Shen Fei was at a loss for a split second. ``` Chapter 638 638: Section 634 - Integrated Defense The delegation leader from Louis Industrial Company ultimately failed to stop them, and ten minutes later, the representatives from all four manufacturers departed together, having agreed with the consulate to head directly to the nearest Dimensional Gate and return to Blue Star. The reason they didn''t go to Red Stone Airport was that nobody knew whether the forces calling themselves the Rebel Forces had taken the airport or not. If the airport had fallen into the hands of the Rebel Forces, they, as Blue Star People, would be trapped and find it even harder to escape. It was foreseeable that, in order to withstand the Silan Dynasty''s forces sent to quell the rebellion, those rebels would surely use them as human shields, making the Dynasty''s army hesitant to act. - Half an hour later, a motorcade entered the area of a high-end hotel. Seeing the motorcade approaching, the hotel security at the entrance let them through, and the crowd in the hotel lobby all gathered at the entrance, craning their necks to see who it could be. In the end, they saw that it was members of the manufacturing representatives who had just left; however, they looked worse for wear - each one of them was disheveled, their faces smeared with dirt, their spirits wilted, some of them stained with blood that may have been their own or someone else''s, and some even missing an arm, stumbling as they walked. The members of the Blue Star manufacturing delegation left behind at the hotel were all shocked and rushed up to meet them. "Spring Field Flight Manufacturing Industrial Company, Newlunt Special Vehicle Workshop, Hamburg Consolidated Industrial Company, what happened to you guys?" "What''s going on? Didn''t you all leave?" "Why is someone injured? Are you all right? Where are the others!" ... Those who had left earlier looked worse than the next, forcing themselves to respond with what little energy they had left. "We were attacked!" "Damn it, everyone was attacking us." "It''s all over, all over! I''m the only one left of the entire team." Less than a third of the group had returned with the motorcade, and as for those who had not returned... Those who stayed behind in the hotel looked at each other, likely already guessing the answer, as the situation had deteriorated beyond imagination. The delegation leader from Louis Industrial Company took three steps to greet the last person to exit the motorcade, stopping three steps away to bow deeply. "BOSS!" BOSS? Whose BOSS? Suddenly, there was silence at the scene, deathly quiet. Almost everyone could recognize that face; the big BOSS of Louis Industrial Company, Louis Landon. A top-tier figure who undoubtedly had the status to meet with sovereign leaders on equal footing. Many couldn''t help but gasp in shock, not expecting such a prominent figure to be trapped in Nandu City, the third-largest city of the Zilu Continent. Louis Landon, flanked by his entourage as he entered the hotel lobby, nodded to the representatives of the various manufacturers, maintaining the composure of a major figure, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we need to work together and help each other to get through this difficult time. Please, everyone must stay united." "Chairman Louis, I''ll follow your lead!" One of the smaller manufacturer''s BOSS expressed his stance without hesitation. The only course of action was to follow the big shot; perhaps that way they might be able to survive. If they made the rash decision to leave the hotel like the others before them, their fate might not be much different. "Whatever you say, that''s what we''ll do! Who agrees, who opposes!" "I agree too!" ... "We at Northern Weapons Industry Group support Chairman Louis!" Secretary Shen Fei didn''t hesitate much; the "herd effect" was magnified at this moment, and sticking together became the only choice. If the BOSS of Louis Industries had arrived a bit earlier, manufacturers like Spring Field Flight Manufacturing Industrial Company might not have ventured from the hotel and would not have met their unfortunate fate. Louis Landon said to his personal bodyguard, "Riva, you''re the professional, it''s over to you!" Reaching his level of social status and economic strength, there were always matching protective forces around him, no matter where he went. In addition to ten personal bodyguards, there was also a professional combat squad of about twenty people, fully equipped and highly offensive. Together with the bodyguard team, they were responsible for attack and defense, each performing their duties, to jointly protect the personal safety of Louis Landon. It was precisely because of this level of armed forces that they were able to rescue several attacked corporate delegations from desperate situations, give them brief medical treatment, and bring the survivors back to the hotel. "No problem, Boss!" The composed chief bodyguard, Riva, took a step forward and said loudly, "All ability users, line up, including the hotel staff." Even the hotel staff were pulled in, out of necessity. Under a destroyed nest, no egg remains intact. If the guests were attacked, the hotel would not be able to remain unscathed either. The manufacturers from Blue Star, having come to the unfamiliar Cangqiong Star for a business expo, would more or less send or hire some ability users to protect them. About a dozen people came forward. Even the ability users who were temporarily hired could not truly stay out of it at this moment. Those outside the hotel, who couldn''t care less if you were an innocent bystander or hired help, would not be courteous in battle. Louis Landon''s chief bodyguard, Riva, counted and then nodded his head, "Not too bad!" Together with the core members from Louis Industries, they could muster nearly fifty ability users. Riva''s words served as a tranquilizer, making the faces of many look slightly better. Having so many ability users, at the least, meant they should have sufficient means to defend the hotel. "Then, anyone with military service experience or who has received military combat training, step forward." Chief bodyguard Riva had no intention of letting anyone off the hook. At a critical moment like this, there could never be too many helpful hands. This time, even more people came forward, around a hundred and ten or so. This group even included two bosses from the corporate delegations. Although they were not ability users, if armed, they were still capable of putting up a fight. "Those who have used firearms, step forward!" "Those who consider themselves brave and are willing to risk their lives, step forward!" Louis Landon''s chief bodyguard kept setting selection criteria, screening everyone in the hotel and organized them into four echelons. The first echelon consisted of the ability users, who were also the most vital force in repelling external intrusions. The second echelon comprised former military personnel who would construct the second line of defense, intercepting any that slipped through the first echelon. The third echelon included quasi-military personnel who, having experience with operating firearms, could fight to some extent. The fourth echelon was the last-ditch squad. Should the first three echelons fail to stop the enemy, they would have to rely on them for a final, desperate counterattack. Even a humble display of bravery could not be underestimated at certain times. As for the rest, after the four echelons of selection, they were mostly the old, weak, sick, and disabled; lacking strength and courage. Even if there were a few who appeared young and strong, their lack of fighting spirit meant that forcing them to fight would only disrupt their own formations, so it was better for them to stay at the rear obediently. Secretary Shen Fei from the Northern Weapons Industry Group wanted to join the second echelon, believing her marksmanship was not inferior to those of retired soldiers. However, her resume showed she had been a teacher and a secretary, so she was ultimately placed into the third echelon. With a professional in command, everyone in the hotel was too busy constructing defensive positions to think of anything else, gradually setting aside their fear. The outermost defenses had just been constructed when a large number of meteor showers rose into the sky, streaking across it toward the hotel, so numerous that they seemed to engulf the entire area where the hotel was located. A sharp siren sounded. The non-combat personnel outside the four echelons were assigned to a variety of logistical posts, so there was no shortage of people for perimeter vigilance. A faint light film rose from the top of the hotel building before the fireballs fell, soon enveloping the entire building along with the convention center annexe. As expected of a top-tier company, their actions were extraordinary, even able to bring out a tactical-level alchemical device. It also happened to be one of the items on display at the business expo, which was conveniently put to use. The Blue Star manufacturers participating in the business expo were not short of military companies. Many of the exhibits, originally intended for demonstration, could be used directly. Boom, boom, boom, boom... The intercepted fireballs exploded on impact, bursting into a sea of flames in midair. The large tactical composite magic shield firmly withstood the relentless spell bombardment. The light film continuously trembled but stubbornly held up. After almost a minute, the fierce fire-based spell attacks finally ceased. A bodyguard, his eyes half-closed, perceiving the flow of elemental energy, suddenly opened his eyes and pointed in a direction, shouting, "Found them, that way, a hundred meters away!" The spellcasters attacking the hotel were right there. Chapter 639 639: Section 635 - Close Quarters Combat "Target locked! Guidance complete, fire!" Operating an anti-armor missile, Shen Fei stabilized the launcher with her exoskeleton equipment. After projecting an invisible guidance laser beam, she pressed the fire button without hesitation. The recoil pushed her body slightly backward, and the thick missile, propelled by the ignition''s starting thrust, left the launcher. The missile''s body successfully ignited, and the temperature of the airflow from the rear soared, eventually turning into a bright flame tail, pushing the missile to break through the light film of the large tactical composite magic shield and hurtled toward the light spot illuminated by the guidance laser a hundred meters away. Most magic shields and protective barriers have the polar characteristic of being unidirectional, hence they do not hinder outward firepower. For a man-portable missile with a maximum range of 15 kilometers, a hundred meters is nearly instantaneous. It hadn''t even reached its maximum speed before it arrived! The spellcasters attacking the hotel didn''t have a chance to escape, they didn''t even realize what was happening, as a giant cloud of black smoke engulfed everything within a ten-meter radius. The next second, a bright red light burst forth from within the smoke, turning into a glaring red fireball. The explosion''s shockwave instantly formed a rapidly expanding hemisphere of white light, which dissipated into the air after just 0.1 second. Due to the close proximity, the violent blast even reached the composite magic shield enveloping the hotel, causing the light film to tremble slightly, but it ultimately held firm. However, a hundred meters away from the hotel building, a gigantic mushroom cloud slowly rose. The weapon operated by Secretary Shen Fei of the Northern Weapons Industry Group Business Delegation is one of the deadliest in individual equipment, the man-portable fuel-air explosive missile. If it weren''t for the large tactical composite magic shield, the windows on this side of the hotel would likely have been shattered instantly. Even so, the deafening explosion made everyone within a kilometer radius''s ears ring, deafening them to any other sound. At the point of impact, at least a fifty-meter radius was flattened, the theoretical safety distance should have been beyond five hundred meters. The enemy... there''s no longer any enemy! One fuel-air explosive missile sent them off to reincarnation. Just one strike served as a chilling warning to those around with ill intentions, signaling that the people in this hotel were not to be trifled with. It was neither a display of excessive force nor a retaliatory outburst. The merchant delegation from Blue Star brought with them all sorts of lethal weapons, the man-portable fuel-air explosive being just one of them. Boom!~ A black dot rapidly approached and slammed fiercely against the large tactical composite magic shield, triggering a violent explosion. It''s not over yet... "Damn! It''s a large railgun, and 2% of the crystal energy reserve has been knocked out!" The person responsible for operating the release of the large tactical composite magic shield hurriedly reported loudly. The specially made tactical alchemy device could only withstand less than 50 identical strikes before the crystal energy would be exhausted, causing the shield to break. The high-end commercial hotel building couldn''t withstand continuous bombardment from the large railgun; it probably only needed three to five shots before it would turn into rubble. As for the people inside, they would likely be severely injured if not killed by the first direct hit, most of them losing consciousness immediately, falling into a coma, and eventually being fatally crushed by the collapsing structure. Coming to the rooftop, the chief bodyguard, Riva, pressed his throat microphone and asked loudly, "Confirm trajectory, has the Seychelles Electric Company''s radar warning system not been set up yet?" There weren''t enough air earphones for the bodyguards, but there were plenty of individual tactical communications equipment and the merchants'' small radios perfectly compatible with these different terminals. "Two more minutes till we can start it up!" The deployment of the battalion-level warning system inherently took time, not to mention that it was an untested prototype; the Seychelles Electric Company''s technicians were sweating heavily, as there was quite a difference between theory and actual conditions, especially under time constraints. If everyone eventually survived, they would likely improve their products significantly to shorten the prep time for combat readiness. Boom!~ The light film of the large tactical composite magic shield violently shook again, the alchemical device straining to maintain itself. Another 2% of the crystal energy reserve was depleted. "One minute!" Without needing Chief Bodyguard Riva''s urging, the technicians busy with the startup preparations for the battalion-level warning system actively reported. A series of red trajectories swept across the ground, spraying the hotel building without a fixed target, causing ripples on the surface of the large tactical composite magic shield enveloping the building. Ground troops appeared, with at least a dozen points of firepower. Some small black dots traced parabolas through the air, striking and then exploding against the magic shield''s light film. Figures quickly leaped towards the hotel, their bodies radiating brilliant Battle Qi Flames. Holding cold weapons, the War Professionals could force their way inside the magic shield using their Battle Qi and slow speed, posing an even greater threat to the hotel''s defenders inside. The view from the hotel rooftop was expansive, offering a full view of the surroundings. As the commander''s Chief Bodyguard, Riva, pressed his throat mic and surveyed the exterior, he issued orders. "First squad, prepare to intercept! Second squad, begin firearm blockade." The value of a sneaky, sudden attack had diminished, as the attackers set their sights firmly on the hotel¡ªor more precisely, on the members of the Blue Star Business Delegation, launching a close-quarters combat assault without hesitation. A dozen figures emerged from the first floor of the hotel, spread out in a skirmish line, and confronted the uninvited guests rushing towards them. They were the most capable fighters: Ability Users, War Professionals, and supernatural power users, mostly the potent bodyguards from the inner circle of the big boss of Louis Industries, with a relatively high level of understanding among themselves. They were a crucial force in defending the hotel area. The vendors who had carelessly lost their Space System Alchemy Storage Devices which stored exhibitory products tasted the sweetness of a successful attack and naturally wanted more. Riva, the Chief Bodyguard who had understood the reasons from the beginning, was not at all surprised by the current attack. Now that the whole region of Zhai Liuzhou was embroiled in rebellion, the causes of the social disorder in Nandu City included not only local criminal gangs wanting to fish in troubled waters but also the so-called Rebel Army claiming to rise up. In such chaotic times, what mattered most wasn''t righteousness but force, with military equipment as the foundation of power. The visiting delegations from Blue Star were undoubtedly a juicy target, both their showcased equipment and the personnel who could be kidnapped for extortion were prime targets. The enemy War Professionals hesitated only briefly at the edge of the light film of the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield before successfully squeezing their way through. The militarily trained personnel of the second squad took the opportunity to kill several with automatic firearms, but most of the attackers still managed to get inside the Magic Shield, and now nothing could halt their advance. At that moment, Ability Users from the first squad had already met them head-on. The two sides engaged in close-quarters combat, blades clashing, Battle Qi flashing, and screams echoing continuously. In close combat, the outcome was often decided within a few strikes¡ªthe end was either death or survival, with no one holding back, all striving to annihilate the enemy. Amid a cacophony of ghostly wails and wolf howls, the heavily damaged attackers were forced to retreat in disarray. Not even a minute had passed, and the first wave of attack was repelled. The attackers had to face not only the War Professionals from Blue Star but also supernatural power users they had heard of but never seen before. Unfamiliar with the methods of Special Abilities and lacking countermeasures, the attackers suffered heavily, with most casualties caused by the supernatural power users from Blue Star. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Railgun Tactical Weapons fired solid projectiles, continuously rending the air and causing long, drawn-out howls. Taking advantage of the enemy''s retreat, the second squad achieved more kills, at least ten men were downed. "Radar warning system is ready, powering up now!" The technician from Seychelles Electric Company finally activated the critical system equipment. Boom!~ The Alchemical Artifact releasing the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield lost an additional 2% of its reserves, leaving less than 80% remaining. "Ballistic trajectory captured, coming from the southeast direction, 35 kilometers away, three large flying objects identified, they are Light Wing Ships, model unknown." The technician from Seychelles Electric Company successfully completed his task. The location attacking the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield with a Large Railgun was far beyond the range of the hotel''s defensive capabilities. "35 kilometers? Do we have any anti-air systems that can cover that distance?" Chief Bodyguard Riva pressed his throat mic and broadcasted the communication. Many of the hotel''s guests were from the military or civilian sectors of Blue Star, suppliers of equipment, and it was possible that some specialized in anti-air systems. "Well, Northern Weapons Industry Group produces the Lightning-17 surface-to-air missile, which has a maximum range of 80 kilometers, but deployment takes at least an hour and must coordinate with the radar warning system," Secretary Shen Fei, leader of the business delegation from Northern Weapons Industry, responded to the Chief Bodyguard of Louis Industries. Combining products from different vendors not only requires standardized data link specifications and specialized interfaces but also consideration for various compatibilities, with debugging times often measured in months. Compared to that, the deployment time for the Lightning-17 surface-to-air missile is inconsequential. Chief Bodyguard Riva shook his head internally and asked again, "Isn''t there any ready-to-launch system available within half an hour?" Louis Industries also had similar and more advanced weapons in terms of combat efficiency, but the setup time was longer than that of the Lightning-17 surface-to-air missile¡ªa distant cure for an immediate thirst, what was lacking most right now was time. "If only we had a runway, we could use a fighter jet." The regret in the voice of Shen Fei''s Secretary was no less than that of the Chief Bodyguard. The business delegation from Northern Weapons Industry had brought two Canglong advanced fighter jets, which were not mere shells this time but could take off and even engage in actual combat. Once the Canglong project team got their direction right and started to focus, their efficiency immediately became frightfully high. Chapter 640 640: Section 636 - Witnessing/Changing History Representatives of the manufacturers from Blue Star weren''t lacking weapons, nor were they short of powerful ones, even capable of annihilating invading enemies, but what they lacked was enough time and space. A pile of weapons that can''t be used in time and a pile of weapons that can''t be used at all are essentially the same on some level. "We have railguns with calibers ranging from 30mm to 200mm, but we lack firing capacitors and Crystalline Blocks!" One of the manufacturer representatives responded. "I have a small, vehicle-mounted Particle Beam Emitter here, with an effective range of 30 kilometers, which might be worth a try; it also lacks Crystalline Blocks." Another piece of good news came from another manufacturer. All the manufacturers attending this business trade exhibition had brought equipment that was ready for actual combat, but they were insufficiently prepared in terms of ammunition and Crystalline Blocks. After all, they only needed to demonstrate firepower a couple of times and never imagined they would actually have to fight a small-scale war. "Bring up the Particle Beam Emitter first, I''ll figure out the Crystalline Blocks. Are there any technicians here? Try to solve the firing capacitor issue." As the Chief Bodyguard of the big boss of Louis Industrial Company, Riva naturally made all kinds of emergency preparations, including carrying important supplies like Crystalline Blocks. However, it was uncertain how the battle would unfold; Crystal Energy was being depleted relentlessly and was difficult to replenish. Once they were drawn into a war of attrition, it was quite disadvantageous for those on the defensive. The worst part was that most communication services were cut off or disrupted. Only a few satellite communication devices could still maintain contact with the outside of Zhai Liuzhou, but now the whole continent was in chaos, with rebellions breaking out everywhere, and it was unclear when reinforcements would arrive. - The sharp warning siren sounded again; the second enemy attack had begun. The more formidable the retaliation from the hotel side, the greater the attraction to the attackers. Fortunately, Louis Industrial Company had brought a Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield, an Alchemical Artifact for exhibition. Otherwise, at this very moment, they wouldn''t be able to hold out even for a minute. The projectiles from Heavy Railguns, over thirty kilometers away, continued to bombard at a steady pace, intending to deplete the Crystal Energy reserves of the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield. The Crystal Energy usage rates of both sides were completely different; it was almost predictable that the endurance of the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield would not outlast the opponent''s artillery ammo. "First squad, get ready, and conserve your Physical Energy." Chief Bodyguard Riva continued to issue orders. The only strategy now was to deal with each problem as it arose; with such a disparity in strength, any conspiracy or trickery was meaningless. The Ability Users and bodyguard teams assembled from the various manufacturers in the hotel were numerous, but still insufficient to face the incoming enemies. People grow tired. If the opponent used wave tactics, the first squad''s Ability Users would not be able to hold out for long, and Special Abilities, Battle Qi, and Magic Power couldn''t be preserved, especially Special Abilities. Lacking specialized Potions, they could only rely on Potions that restored spiritual power to recover somewhat. In less than half an hour, the exhausted first squad of Ability Users had repelled four attacks. Although the attackers suffered significant casualties, the first squad was not without injuries, having lost two members and another being incapacitated. However, the boss''s bodyguard team from Louis Industries stood out with their performance, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy while remaining completely unharmed, retaining an ample fighting capacity. "Riva, how much longer can we hold out?" Without knowing when, Louis Landon had arrived at the hotel rooftop, carrying a walking stick. "Mr. Landon, given the current intensity of the attacks, we can hold out for at most 12 more hours. If possible, I will personally lead you in breaking out." Even while temporarily assuming the role of commander, Chief Bodyguard Riva still remembered his primary duty, which was to ensure the personal safety of the big boss at all costs. Once those Rebel Forces broke through the defenses and viciously stormed in, they wouldn''t care whether you were a major Blue Star corporate owner or a top tycoon; there would be no mercy or leniency. "Only 12 hours, huh? That''s really bad!" Louis Landon looked into the distance with his Vision stretched to the utmost, as another Large Railgun projectile violently impacted the Light Film surface of the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield, causing severe tremors. The Tactical Level Alchemical Artifact, designed for defense, performed reliably once again, withstanding a direct assault from the Large Railgun. It could even withstand higher-frequency intensive bombardments; the main cost was the substantial consumption of Crystal Energy. But the Crystal Energy reserves they carried were only enough to last another 12 hours at most. Without Crystal Energy, a Tactical Level Alchemical Artifact was just a display piece. Without the protection of the Large Tactical Composite Magic Shield, the few people in the hotel couldn''t withstand a full-force assault from those outside. "Yes, boss!" The Chief Bodyguard Riva hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Actually, I don''t really recommend just staying here on defense, it''s too dangerous!" "No, Riva, don''t you see, we''re witnessing history happen?" Rather than agreeing, Louis Landon turned around, came to the edge of the rooftop railing, faced the smoke and fire rising from the city, raised his arms high as if in madness, and shouted loudly. "A historical turning point¡ªI''m here, I see it, I''m part of it!" Chief Bodyguard Riva responded with a wry smile, "First, we need to figure out how to survive." Secretary Shen from the Northern Weapons Industry Group added from the side, "Chief Bodyguard is right, Mr. Landon, you don''t have to do so much for us. Although I''m very grateful, you could have left safely already." Now, the main force resisting those attackers was, for the most part, the bodyguard team of this big boss from Louis Industries. In the first squad, who was stronger and who was weaker, was obvious to anyone with eyes to see. Everyone was smart enough to see that this tycoon was staying here and risking danger purely for their sake. Otherwise, with his elite defense force, he could have moved to a safe location and stayed completely out of the fray. Louis Landon had no intention of responding to the Chief Bodyguard and Shen Fei, continuing to shout at the top of his lungs. "I! Will change history!" As soon as his voice fell, the area around the hotel as well as within the city suddenly exploded with fireballs, numbering over a hundred. It was an artillery barrage, to be precise, it should be said it was a group of heavy artillery! "This is...bombardment!" Chief Bodyguard Riva lunged to the rail and looked around in alarm at the rising clouds of smoke. "They''ve captured the trajectory, all calibers are above 150, there''s heavy artillery outside the city!" The radar warning system of Seychelles Electric Company analyzed the trajectories of those shells across the sky and calculated their point of origin. "Boom, boom!~" Tiny flashes of fire twinkled in the distant sky. "Those three Light Wing Ships are under attack!" The radar warning system had a new discovery; it seemed that in an instant, the tide of the battle had turned. "Is this the boss''s contingency plan?" Chief Bodyguard Riva hesitated in his guess. Even though they were bodyguards who spent day and night together and often came into contact with many secrets unknown to others, the big boss sometimes would engage in mysterious activities without explanation. A few more volleys from the heavy artillery might immediately crush the rebel forces causing chaos in Nandu City. In the sky, the number of "Sky Falcons" suddenly surged, at least a hundred strong, and there was also a considerable number of "Rising Dragon" Turboprop Aircraft, chasing each other and engaged in dogfights¡ª"Sky Falcon" against "Sky Falcon," "Sky Falcon" against "Rising Dragon," embroiled in an indistinguishable and chaotic battle. The struggle on the ground seemed to have extended into the sky. "There''s a massive fluctuation of Elemental Energy, it''s...a Forbidden Curse!" A scream rose as the radar warning system of Seychelles Electric Company picked up an alarming anomaly. Even though a product of technology, both Blue Star and Cangqiong Star are now striving hard to integrate each other''s technology, physical chemistry and Alchemy, mechanics and Magic, in the hope to achieve inconceivable progress. Suddenly, a corner of the sky turned a searing red, and then there was a great eruption of crimson light, red as blood. It was as if a dazzling golden-red wave of fire swept across half the city sky, crashing down viciously in a particular direction like a torrential downpour of flames, seemingly inexhaustible and rising like a massive pillar of fire into the sky, connecting heaven and earth. That was... "The artillery position has been hit by a Forbidden Curse, no one could survive!" Everyone at Seychelles Electric Company gathered in front of the control panel, their faces ashen, trembling. Even from a great distance, one could still feel the scalding heat radiation of the Fire System Forbidden Curse. If the target of the Forbidden Curse had been the hotel, the large Tactical Composite Magic Shield that had been protecting everyone up to now would not have lasted a few seconds before collapsing on the spot, along with the entire hotel, turning into a lake of magma glowing red-hot, with no one spared. "How...is this possible!" Louis Landon, still with his hands held high, stared dumbfounded in the direction where the Forbidden Curse had struck. That was the location of the heavy artillery position, barely completing a single round of volley fire before being wiped off the map. "...I had it all planned...is this history''s self-correcting force?...it''s terrifying...I will not accept this..." The murmured fragments from Louis Industries'' big boss left the listening Chief Bodyguard Riva and the female secretary from Northern Weapons Industry Group utterly confused. "Beep, beep!~" A large vehicle was honking as it drove past the front gate of the hotel. "Eh?" The design of that vehicle made Secretary Shen exclaim in surprise. It was all too familiar to her; it was clearly Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle. Why would it be here, no, Chen Fei should currently be on Cangqiong Star; she needed to ask him why he was in Zhai Liuzhou. Shen Fei quickly called out to the despairing boss of Louis Industries, "Uh...Mr. Randon, please stop that vehicle, don''t make any hostile moves; it''s very likely one of our own." "...It can''t be, it can''t be...contingency against contingency...indeed, it''s still one move short, no, many more moves short, too simplistic, too naive..." Chapter 641 641: Section 637 - Straightforward Iron Man Louis Landon, who was holding his head and muttering incomprehensible words, did not respond to Shen Fei''s request. He continued to be immersed in his own world, behaving much like someone suffering from a mental illness. Secretary Shen could only look towards the chief bodyguard, Riva. The chief bodyguard scrutinized the mobile base vehicle that was about to pass the hotel''s main entrance. He had seen this type of vehicle design before; manufacturers on Blue Star were already preparing for mass production, and he was planning to purchase several for contingencies. But to see this model before its official mass production meant only one thing¡ªit was probably a prototype. Given the prototype''s experience, it moved through the urban area resembling a battlefield as if it were in uninhabited territory; it had not been stopped or more accurately, could not be stopped. This was indeed in line with the designer''s experience; it seemed to be expected. If one could capture a video of this, the new model of mobile base vehicle would surely be a bestseller! Chief bodyguard Riva pressed the throat mic. "Stop that mobile base vehicle, it might be an ally!" At this moment, both friends and foes inside and outside the hotel were bewildered. "Ah? Understood!" The respondent immediately reacted. Someone immediately took a shoulder-high tower-type bulletproof shield, while deploying a magic shield, prepared for full protection, dashed out of the protective range of a large tactical composite magic shield, and stood in the middle of the road outside the hotel, blocking the approaching mobile base vehicle, setting up the tower-type bulletproof shield beside him and continuously waving the other hand. If not for wielding those two shields, he might well have been sniped. At such a critical juncture, this was unavoidable. - Following the mute gang member, Kano''s directions, Chen Fei was driving the mobile base vehicle towards another stronghold of the Hundred-Legs Gang. Suddenly, someone carrying a shield dashed into the road ahead, looking very suspicious. "Eh?" If it wasn''t for the fact that the other party was unarmed, Chen Fei would not have let the railgun on the roof target them. On their journey here, the mobile base vehicle had already been intercepted several times; there was nothing much to say, a 152mm shell served as the toll close up. Fortunes make themselves at home after men are gone. A shell creates a football field-sized effect, quite satisfying indeed. "Walkie-talkie, walkie-talkie!" The man was holding a walkie-talkie. "Walkie-talkie?" Chen Fei looked at the other person with puzzlement. "No weapons detected, wireless communication signals identified." The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" scanned the other person''s body and did not identify anything suspicious like explosives. The shield was also just a normal physical entity with no mechanisms, a standard tower-type bulletproof shield made on Blue Star, even the manufacturer had been identified. In front of a 152mm, the other''s shield wouldn''t be much sturdier than one made of paper. The mobile base vehicle, equipped with a repulsion shield, did not care about being attacked by a close-range 152mm shot in a frenzied barrage, let alone small explosives. Especially in the current situation, it was not yet necessary to use human lives to launch a suicide attack. "Stay there, don''t move!" After announcing through the hand mic, Chen Fei jumped down from the driver''s seat and approached directly. "Be careful!" Princess Lin Ziyu called out worriedly. "Duck down! Yilan, watch over her!" Chen Fei turned around and made a gesture towards the female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, in the vehicle. For both emotional and rational reasons, he would take good care of Her Royal Highness the Princess. The latter immediately used a Blade Wing to shield Princess Lin Ziyu. "Chirp!" Little Bird inside the vehicle deployed a light-based magic shield, enveloping one side of the vehicle. Single soldier tactical armor was fully armed on Chen Fei, and it was the best defensive type "Dragon King," engraved with as many magic arrays as possible. When one drifts in Jianghu, how can they avoid being bashed? Being cautious is always better. "Here is the walkie-talkie, please take it!" The person holding the walkie-talkie was a member of Louis Landon''s bodyguard team, as others in the first echelon simply didn''t have the courage and ability for this. "Hello?" Taking the phone, preparing to listen while habitually looking towards the commanding heights nearby¡ªthe hotel''s rooftop. "Uh! Teacher Shen!" Chen Fei, sharp-eyed, spotted one of the figures on the rooftop. "And Mr. Landon!" That fisherman with the incredibly bad luck... If that boss heard Chen Xiao''er''s thoughts. The next second, the kid would be hung upside down at the hotel entrance, auspiciously justified. "Mr. Chen Fei, this is Riva, Mr. Landon''s bodyguard..." "Why is Shen Fei here?" The conversation was completely misaligned, each speaking on different tracks. "Uh...wait a moment!" Chief bodyguard Riva decisively retreated. A few seconds later, the voice of Shen Fei came through. "Chen Fei! Is that really you?" "Teacher Shen, that''s what I should be asking you!" Chen Fei saw Teacher Shen on the hotel rooftop waving at him, worried that she might get too excited and accidentally fall over the railing. "Of course, it''s all about doing business and making money. I go wherever it leads. What about you?" It was supposed to be Shen Songling leading the team, but Vice President Shen had other urgent matters to attend to, so his daughter had to fill in. In terms of duty, delegating to a secretary was indeed in line with the procedure. Employing talents without nepotism, Shen Fei''s entry evaluation in the HR department had always been outstanding. "Me? Just wandering around! Uh, I''m gonna be a bounty hunter for a while. I''ll park the car first, then we can catch up." Chen Fei nodded to the person who handed him the walkie-talkie, he had already noticed the signs of combat at the hotel entrance and nearby. The location of the mobile base vehicle was not a place to stay for long. Just as he was about to return to the vehicle, a sharp whistle sounded. The air flickered with the light of spells and shouts, and suddenly, over a hundred people came rushing over. Chen Fei frowned slightly; the intentions of those who suddenly appeared could not have been clearer. "''Adam'', take them out!" Boom boom boom boom boom!~ The railgun atop the mobile base vehicle fired 152 demolition bombs in rapid succession, creating the impression of rapid-fire cannons. A death lane about sixty meters wide and a thousand meters long emerged on one side of the road, with smoke billowing and countless fragments thrown in all directions, like rain. The furthest point even reached two thousand meters away. Just under 20 high-explosive grenades caused such a terrifying commotion, and the enemy''s malicious offensive was flattened in an instant. The body of the mobile base vehicle sank slightly as a larger caliber shell roared out, targeting a farther location. Clang!~ A mushroom cloud slowly rose, and quiet ensued instantly. This guy had swept up the gathering point in one fell swoop. At an altitude of 3000 meters, an unmanned drone with propellers circled overhead, transmitting the bird''s-eye view to the mobile base vehicle in real-time. Had it not been for this eye in the sky, the railgun on the mobile base vehicle would not have been able to obliterate the enemy with such precision based solely on ground data. Chief Bodyguard Riva had to admit, in terms of defense and surveillance capabilities, although he was a top expert, when it came to offensive power, one had to look at those military contractors, whose intensity of firepower was downright insane. The mobile base vehicle passed through a temporary gap opened in the large tactical composite magic shield and entered the hotel''s vicinity. The large tactical composite magic shield, enveloping the hotel''s main building and annexes, was still under attack from railgun projectiles from the distant sky. AI "Adam" instantly captured the trajectory of the projectiles, and the propeller drone in the sky confirmed the launch position. The railgun on the top of the mobile base vehicle targeted the direction, firing back three 152 shells in succession. Though they were using railguns too, a mere distance of over thirty kilometers was basically trivial. A cheer erupted from every corner of the hotel as the three Light Wing Ships retreated. The constantly depleted large tactical composite magic shield had finally managed to stabilize. "Chen Fei!" The sound of rapid footsteps came from the direction of the elevator hall on the first floor of the hotel, getting closer and eventually throwing herself onto Chen Fei. "Teacher Shen, are you alright?" Chen Fei grasped Shen Fei''s fragrant shoulders and pushed her away from his chest, giving her a thorough once-over. No missing arms or legs, not wounded, some cuddling, quite unapologetic about embracing soft and fragrant warmth once more, yo-ho! He wasn''t a stoic man of steel, after all! "I''m fine, very well; I''ve always been imagining you coming like a Dragon Rider on a giant dragon to save me!" As the situation slid inexorably toward an irreversible abyss, Shen Fei said she wasn''t scared would definitely be a lie. The more desperate the situation, the more she couldn''t help but think, no, intensely yearn for someone. Such a sense of dependency was almost unthinkable for the former Teacher Shen, who once bravely wielded automatic weapons to spray down beasts and bandits. "Umm! Hold on a second!" Chen Xiao''er pushed Teacher Shen away again and headed back to the mobile base vehicle, knocking on the door. "Yilan..." A few seconds later. Inside the hotel lobby, a female Metallic Giant Dragon roared ferociously, her Blade Wing tips nearly touching the three-story high ceiling; well, it had the right flavor. Atop the dragon, a rider clad in shimmering silver patterns raised a forbidden long spear. A Neanderthal Secret Technique Knight paired with a Dragon of Slaughter, strong and powerful, but this duo somehow seemed a bit off. It was like an evil Knight with an Evil Dragon, Emmm; they just needed a princess to make it a proper historical drama. No, the princess was already there; it''s the princess who tricked the evil dragon and knight into eloping... what a messy script. The one posing so middle-schooler-like, Chen Xiao''er, still dared claim he wasn''t a stoic man of steel. Everyone in the hotel lobby was frightened pale by such an eye-hurting spectacle, trembling in fear; buddy, please put away your divine skills, no, your giant dragon! "Hahahahaha..." Shen Fei laughed heartily, her image completely unguarded; Chen Fei''s efforts were simply beyond imagination. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh my, this also, this also, Chen Fei, you''ve really gone all out..." She couldn''t help but give a thumbs up. "...Now all we need is a princess!" "Umm! Hold on a second!" Chen Xiao''er went to find the princess. Princess: "..." "Eh?" Teacher Shen. Chapter 642 642: Section 638 - Variables "Who is this... and those people don''t seem like good folks!" Shen Fei''s gaze fell on Princess Lin Ziyu, who had alighted from the mobile vehicle, and then she began sizing up the gang members. Dressed as a Third-Level Investigative Agent, Yu Zilin, Her Royal Highness the Princess had undergone a transformation where her beauty was at least halved; even her facial shape had changed. No matter where she was placed, she looked like a nondescript average person, merely mediocre in appearance and far from beauty. Even after reverting to her original dignified appearance, in Chen Xiao''er''s eyes, well, Teacher Shen was still more beautiful! Such thoughts couldn''t be voiced aloud, or he would be beaten! For the Lin Family, the Chen Family had never been considered outsiders; it was natural as the sky and the earth for an elder sister to hit her younger brother. Chen Fei hurriedly introduced both sides. "You guessed it, those eight bad guys are members of the local gang ''Hundred-Legs Gang''. And this lady in front, she''s my partner for this operation, a special agent from the Imperial Security Department, Miss Yu." "Miss Yu, this is my girlfriend, Shen Fei, deputy secretary of the Northern Weapons Industry Group!" "Hello!" ¡Á 2 Her Royal Highness the Princess and Shen Fei shook hands calmly. "Chirp!" The little bird cheerfully landed on Teacher Shen''s shoulder, joyfully frolicking about. "Hundred-Legs Gang?" A cry of alarm came from nearby as the hotel manager, with a face full of panic, took several steps back in an attempt to cover his own uneasiness. The biggest local snakes in Nandu City might not be something ordinary folks would come into contact with often, but those in areas such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation inevitably had to deal with gang members, occasionally engaging in some shady transactions. Judging by the hotel manager''s reaction, the reputation of "Hundred-Legs Gang" wasn''t very good. "Hello, big sister-in-law!" ¡Á 8 The eight rough men bowed in unison to Shen Fei. You had to be smart to survive in a gang; the dumb ones were already dead. They deserved no less than ninety-nine thumbs up for their perceptiveness! "Ah!" Shen Fei was startled by the collective action of these terrifying figures. No matter how harmless their faces tried to appear, they couldn''t hide their innate badness. Bastards! "Get out of the way!" Chen Fei chided them irritably, the eight bad guys scurried to one side, trembling with fear. He didn''t care whether the "Hundred-Legs Gang" was the biggest gang in Nandu City or not. If they resisted, he would beat them. If they dared to bear teeth, he would give them a one-shot sendoff. No matter how formidable a gang was, they were nothing in the face of any random military contractor. You have good brothers, I have a fighter jet! You have a big machete, I have a fighter jet! You have a little pistol, I have a fighter jet! (¥Î?Òæ?)¥Îáê©ß©¥©ß Fuck, this isn''t fun anymore! So it was entirely justified that Chen Xiao''er didn''t take these gang members seriously. And as for Her Royal Highness the Princess, hehe, hehe... did he need a reason? Did he? No! The Eight Great Diamonds of the "Hundred-Legs Gang" weren''t even qualified to be considered human beings here. "For convenience and to get the job done, I''ve temporarily taken them in. Once they''ve outlived their use, we''ll follow the law: lock up those who should be locked up, and use the rest for target practice." Chen Fei declared this brazenly in front of the gang members, making it clear that they would be disposed of after use, with no need for pretenses. Right now, they should feel honored to be able to live a little longer, while they still had value to him. "Yes, yes, yes!" -_-||| ¡Á 8 What else could the rough men do but accept they were no longer treated as humans. There was an Evil Dragon keeping watch; if they dared let a single "no" slip through their teeth, their lives would be over. Wasn''t it sweet to survive a while longer? "So that''s the situation!" Teacher Shen let out a sigh of relief; she had been a bit worried that Chen Fei might go down the wrong path. Bad people must die; toss them out after use. No problem, very appropriate. She continued, "We need your help now, precisely, all of your help, and Yilan''s!" What was gratifying was that it wasn''t just Chen Fei; there was also the Metallic Dragon Yilan. "What exactly is going on?" Chen Fei looked around and saw some familiar signage¡ªmilitary contractors often dealt with these manufacturers to purchase equipment. Blue Star''s manufacturers, who had come to showcase their products, hadn''t cleaned up their materials thoroughly, leaving many behind. "Such a rare chance to promote our products, and the clients didn''t even show up..." Shen Fei couldn''t help being upset. All the careful preparations had been made, but they encountered upheaval in Nandu City. She turned her gaze towards the lobby entrance and helplessly said, "Suddenly a rebellion broke out without warning outside. Some manufacturers tried to break out and return to Blue Star through the Dimensional Gate, only to be annihilated. Mr. Randon from Louis Industrial Company also arrived and rescued some people back here. Now, we''re all trapped and have been under attack. Without your help, we might not have lasted much longer." Not just Shen Fei, many people were still shaken when recalling the previous situation. "Chen Fei, Mr. Randon wants to see you!" Acting as the commander-in-chief for everyone, Chief Bodyguard Riva approached Shen Fei and Chen Fei. "Eh? Mr. Randon? Oh, okay, alright!" Speaking of which, Chen Fei had met Louis Industries'' big boss once before; the man''s security forces had helped him capture a supernatural power criminal "Plagiarist Ghost." Shen Fei said, "I''ll come with you!" She was worried that Chen Fei might say something wrong and get thrown off the rooftop by the big shot, which would be very embarrassing. Princess Lin Ziyu and Yilan stayed with the eight gang members in the lobby on the first floor, while Chen Fei and Shen Fei went up to the rooftop together. As soon as they exited the elevator that led directly to the rooftop, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu rushed into the sky and flew back and forth over the hotel. It seemed as if the previous nonsensical babbling had never happened, Louis Landon, the president of Louis Industries who regained his composure that had been unusually lost for a moment, was now sitting alone on a chair, hands resting on his cane, his face pensive. "Mr. Randon, they''re here!" a voice at his side whispered. "Oh, let them come over!" Louis Landon finally regained his senses and looked towards the two people approaching. "Hello, Mr. Randon!" Chen Fei greeted the big shot with a nod, not at all embarrassed. Even if Boss Hana came, he would probably show even more respect. "Sit down!" The big boss of Louis Industries made a gesture, and immediately chairs were brought over for Chen Shen to sit together. "Oh, the two of you..." Louis Landon''s gaze swept over Chen Fei and Shen Fei, and he suddenly had an epiphany¡ªso that''s how it is! This was also good news; at least Chen Fei''s combat ability would be even more reliable, especially after the Mobile Base Vehicle had demonstrated a quite prominent performance not long ago. After all, in some specialized fields, everyone has their advantages and shortcomings; the bodyguards couldn''t compare with military contractors. Moreover, there was a Metallic Dragon; others couldn''t communicate with a Metallic Dragon the way Chen Fei could¡ªmost would be crushed to a pulp by a single swipe of its paw. With this in place, the hotel could be considered truly safe. "Mr. Randon, as you can see!" Chen Fei shrugged, not hiding his relationship with Teacher Shen in the slightest. A military contractor''s lowly employee and the deputy secretary of a large aerospace manufacturer¡ªtwo people from completely different circles of life who managed to come together was already enough material to write a novel. "The turmoil here isn''t just in Nandu City; it''s the whole continent." Louis Landon''s words surprised both Chen Fei and Shen Fei. As expected of a big shot, he seemed to be in possession of quite some insider information. "Don''t look at me like that. The information I have is only a tiny bit more than what''s been disclosed by the local television," Louis Landon said, shaking his head as he saw the astonishment and admiration in both of their eyes. He continued, "This timing is critical, representing a turning point in the fate of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. We are now standing at a historical crossroad, and you need to listen carefully to what I''m about to say." "Why, why tell us all this?" Shen Fei was puzzled, both she and Chen Fei were insignificant figures. Logically, if the sky were to fall, it was supposed to be the big shots who would withstand it first. "Hold on, I''ll find someone to have her listen to this as well." Chen Fei planned to fetch a big shot. Though they expressed it differently, Shen Chen both thought of the same response spontaneously. "No, just the two of you, to be precise, it should be you, Chen Fei!" Louis Landon answered both of their different questions with a single sentence. "What?" Chen Xiao''er was completely confused. His small frame couldn''t carry such a heavy responsibility. "Chirp?" Little Bird descended from the sky and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, curiously sizing up the big shot opposite. "Because you are the variable!" Louis Landon pointed at Chen Fei. "What?" Chen Xiao''er''s head was more than just foggy; it was practically dripping. "Don''t understand? No matter, because Blue Star Humans'' doomsday is approaching. In fifteen years, Blue Star will become a colony of the Alien Race, and humanity will be enslaved forever." Louis Landon spoke as if pronouncing a Prophecy, even his Chief Bodyguard Riva couldn''t help but take several glances at the big boss. No one knew what was really going on, whether it was the rebellion on Zhai Liuzhou Continent that caused Mr. Randon to start speaking in riddles. "What?" Chen Xiao''er''s awkwardness was long past severe, and even Teacher Shen Fei beside him didn''t know how to react. Couldn''t we get serious, big shot? There were matters to discuss, but why start prophesying? "I''m not insane, nor am I joking. The future is becoming history bit by bit. Chen Fei, you are a variable, and you might even become the biggest one!" As if having tens of thousands of words to say, Louis Landon ultimately condensed them into this sentence. "What about Cangqiong Star?" Chen Fei noticed that the other party kept talking about Blue Star and questioned if it faced a tremendous crisis. In that case, Cangqiong Star would likely share Blue Star''s fate. "Cangqiong Star? They closed the Dimensional Gate right away. Maybe they avoided the crisis, maybe they didn''t." Louis Landon didn''t conceal his disdain. In the last moments of his previous life, Blue Star Humans had already become parasites of the Alien Race. Louis Industries was able to become today''s leading enterprise because he had the cheat of being a Reincarnator! Chapter 643 643: Section 639 - The End of Humanity Will Perform Forty years ago, for Louis Landon, human civilization reached its peak and then began to decline. In order to avoid the Alien Parasitic Species, he lost friends, elders, brothers, his wife, and most precious of all, his children. After his wife and children''s final agonizing screams subsided, they opened their eyes, revealing a stranger''s cold, indifferent gaze. The wife and children he loved most were already dead, even though their bodies were still alive. That was a nightmare Louis Landon would never forget. The surviving humans were few and far between, incapable of maintaining the continuation of their species, with only the walking dead-like Parasitic Hosts remaining. Humanity finally reached a dead end... The Parasite mercilessly pierced into the back of Louis Landon''s head, not only rending his body but also his soul, until he felt like he was falling into an endless abyss, falling, falling, falling... ... Suddenly, his eyes snapped open again, only to see his 17-year-old body. The rejuvenated Louis Landon gasped for air, and as time passed, his disbelief gradually faded. The Dragon Rider Legion streaked into Blue Star''s atmosphere, tracing a trajectory across the sky, like a splendid meteor shower. There was still time... With the memories of his past life, it took three years to complete the initial capital accumulation; Louis Industries was founded. Always one step ahead and continually expanding, it surpassed Dragoon Industries ten years earlier, becoming Blue Star''s leading mega-corporation and placing Louis Landon on the throne of the world''s wealthiest. One of the most famous products of Louis Industries, the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic intelligent missile, commonly known as "Dragon Slayer Missile," with a Combat Unit that uses the Magical Beast Crystal Core and Crystalline Block as its core, triggers an Elemental Storm comparable to a nuclear fusion reaction. Who could have imagined that, in Louis Landon''s past life, the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was originally a "suicide bomb" meant to achieve Mutual Annihilation with the Parasitic Species? - "Huh? The Dimensional Gate is already closed?" Chen Fei''s mouth fell open in surprise. Things seemed to be getting serious, and as a Blue Star person, he wanted to go home. That Dimensional Gate must not close. An exhausted Louis Landon from his second youth shook his head wearily, leaning on his cane. "No, no, that''s a matter of the future; it hasn''t closed yet, but it will soon." This young man before him was an unexpected variable, one that had not appeared in the history of his memories. The Metallic Dragon named Bit had left the "Halo" orbit near Cangqiong Star and entered Blue Star''s atmosphere. The entire Aircrew Base 911 was wiped out, leaving no survivors. The Evil Dragon who had caused a tremendous disaster was then killed by a Sky Knight dispatched by the Lin Family, known as "Death Tracer" Lin Ziyong, who fell in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Hearing the other party conclusively speak of future events, Teacher Shen Fei asked in confusion, "Mr. Landon, do you possess a prophecy Psi Skill?" She had heard of such Special Abilities before, which were supposed to be among the rarest. "I... I''m not a supernatural power user, but I do know what''s going to happen in the future. Hmm, I suppose you could say it''s a kind of prophecy," he said with a bitter smile. In his past life, he indeed had been a supernatural power user with a Psi Skill for super memory, regarded by other survivors as the Fire Seed of civilization, and they had done everything to protect him until the end, but to no avail. In this new life, however, his Ability Awakening had not occurred, and he remained an ordinary person, unable to rapidly memorize new things and retain them impeccably. Only the memories of his past life were still impeccably preserved. Special Abilities belonged to the Blue Star Humans, a Supernatural Power capable of rivaling Magic and Battle Qi. But the reasons for and principles behind Ability Awakening had remained elusive right up until the extinction of Blue Star Humans in his previous life, without any convincing answers. Awakening and Skills had always been chance events of a small probability and beyond artificial interference. "Let''s not delve into that for now and temporarily consider it a prophecy Psi Skill. Mr. Landon, what should we do next?" Chen Fei set aside his many questions, certain of at least one thing: the magnate who earned millions of Star Yuan every second was unlikely to be mocking someone like him. The future he spoke of was likely to happen. It was necessary to do something before the worst-case situation arose, to be prepared for all eventualities. Even if it proved to be a wasted effort, it was better than missing an opportunity. Moreover, Teacher Shen was nearby, the Deputy Secretary of Northern Weapons Industry. In a sense, she also represented Northern Weapons Industry, and this was not the time for jokes. "Those Rebel Armies will attack the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation affiliated with Nandu City, causing the loss of the dimensional positioning coordinates, and then those self-righteous fools will commit an unforgivable, catastrophic mistake!" As he spoke, Louis Landon''s face contorted with anger, almost gnashing his teeth. Who would have thought that the doomsday of the Blue Star People would originate from the Zilu Continent of Cangqiong Star? When posterity clarified the situation, it had already become irrevocably dire. The parasitic species not only successfully invaded Blue Star but even gained the upper hand. A vast number of Blue Star humans were stripped of their bodies; their souls dissipated, turning into walking corpses. And those who were truly at fault perished in the very beginning. Even though the Slan Dynasty exterminated the remaining rebels, leaving none alive, it was still to no avail. After paying a tremendous price, they could only helplessly shut down all Dimensional Gates, severing ties between the two civilized planets and struggling to survive alone. After taking a moment to compose himself, Louis Landon stared hard at Chen Fei and said, "Chen Fei, I need your help to defend the Dimensional Gate Management Substation at Nandu City. Make sure the planar location coordinates, that is, the Longinus, doesn''t fall into the hands of the rebel army. You are an unknown factor; you can certainly do it." He spent a fortune inviting many experts and scholars to collaboratively propose the "Great World Tree Hypothesis," which was then refined into the "Great World Tree Origin Theory." Following this lead, now others have gone a step further based on the "Great World Tree Origin Theory," proposing an even bolder guess: the "Great World Tree Planar Theory." To research planar theory, Louis Landon never hesitated to spend money. In just over three decades, various research outcomes blossomed like flowers in spring, advancing rapidly. Thankfully, with the vast resources of Louis Industries, it was possible to continuously invest substantial funds in support. If it were any other company, such a significant yet unrewarding investment could have affected operations, perhaps even leading to bankruptcy. But all that Louis Landon did was to find the source of the parasitic species and attempt to eradicate them from the root. If the parasitic species could come here, then humans could go there as well. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Before real hopelessness set in, he absolutely refused to give in to fate. Yet the wheels of history were unstoppable, crushing all of Louis Landon''s efforts as the timeline self-corrected. Everything unfolded steadfastly as in the previous lifetime; no matter what was done, it all ended in futility, until... the variable Chen Fei appeared! This filled Louis Landon with unspeakable joy. The Great Path has fifty, Heaven''s creations forty-nine, humans escape the one, Heaven never cuts off all routes. However, not everyone could succeed in escaping the one, only a "variable" could truly do it, and that "variable" was Chen Fei. "Indeed, Dimensional Gates are not to be trifled with. Everyone has a duty to ensure their security and must not allow them to fall into the hands of the rebel army!" Shen Fei nodded, obviously realizing the severity and consequences. Whether or not the future that Louis Industries'' CEO Louis Landon worried about will come to pass, the Dimensional Gate that connects Cangqiong Star with Blue Star is an extremely important existence. If the rebel army seizes the Dimensional Gate, it is very likely that they will spread the flames of war to Blue Star, which has been peaceful for so long, or perhaps cause even more dire consequences, just as Mr. Randon predicted. The mere thought of it makes one''s hair stand on end. She immediately continued to ask, "Since Mr. Randon can foresee all of this, may I ask if you have any contingency plans prepared?" With the strength of Louis Industries, it should be easy to covertly prepare some powerful measures. "This is not Blue Star, this is Cangqiong Star. There is very little I can do here," As an important public figure, Louis Landon was in the spotlight and found it difficult to make secretive arrangements. The heavy artillery position that had been annihilated by a Forbidden Curse was his biggest trump card, barely even getting a chance to play a decisive role before it went up in smoke. Those damnable rebels even had the ability to unleash Forbidden Curses, something that didn''t happen in the previous life but occurred unexpectedly in this one. "I most certainly cannot do it alone. I would think, Mr. Randon, that you have some kind of backup measures, don''t you?" Chen Fei alone definitely would not be able to withstand the rebel army. If a Forbidden Curse were to fall on him, it would be the end for him, sending him directly to reincarnation, and the so-called "variable" would become a casualty. "Indeed, there are some," Louis Landon gave a signal to Chief Bodyguard Riva beside him. The latter immediately took out an Alchemical Artifact, and the Magic Array lit up. A semi-circular Barrier enveloped everything within a radius of five meters. For those inside, the effect of the Barrier looked like a layer of gauze, still allowing a clear view of the outside. But to those outside, all they could see was a black bowl-shaped Barrier, unable to even let light escape, much less sound. "Be careful, I''m not sure if someone might be watching this place." Louis Landon sighed, then raised his hand and held up three fingers, saying, "There are three more cards to play. The first is a squad skilled in reconnaissance and harassment, consisting entirely of supernatural power users. If necessary, we can choose to sacrifice them, but we must be cautious. They are very important assets for intelligence. The second team consists of Dead Soldiers. There are only six of them, and from the moment they are deployed, they already know their destiny, never thinking to return alive. Moreover, they have taken a drug that allows them only 24 hours of life. Regardless of whether or not they achieve their mission objectives, they will die. If we encounter strong resistance, we must use these Dead Soldiers without sympathy. Their hearts are already dead, and living is worse than dying for them." Taking a pause, Louis Landon left only one finger raised, continuing, "The third team is composed of Heavenly Order and Grade A Special Ability users. They are not Dead Soldiers, but mercenaries who took my money and are not entirely reliable. If control of the situation is needed, these people will be strong allies. However, if the situation collapses, do not have too high expectations." He still had some other cards up his sleeve that he did not reveal here. Compared with these three teams, the assistance that those hidden cards could offer was practically negligible. The resources disclosed to Chen Fei and Shen Fei were such that even some sovereign powers of Blue Star might not be able to provide. In some respects, Louis Industries was not only as rich as a nation but also as powerful as one, and that was no mere rumor. Chapter 644 644: Section 640 - Disconnection from the Internet The Rebel Army on the Zilu Continent was indeed likely to target the Ground Portal Management Substation in order to gain more trump cards, especially the forbidden spear "Longinus," which was used for planar positioning coordinates. It was also a very sharp weapon, even being called a Divine Artifact was not an exaggeration. But "Longinus" was not something to be taken lightly. Once mishandled, it might randomly connect to an unknown plane. According to the "Great World Tree Plane Theory," there were infinite planes, which could be inhabited by terrifying existences. Thus, the "Prophecy" of Louis Industries President Louis Landon was very likely to become reality. Since the other party placed their hopes on him, Chen Fei wasn''t planning to refuse. One sheep is driven, two are let go. Wherever one goes, killing is inevitable. Whether it was Xia Ji or the Rebel Army, heads would roll either way. After all, letting someone else do the job meant entrusting one''s fate into the hands of others, which was somewhat unsettling. "Let''s start with the intelligence!" Today''s Chen Fei was no longer the fresh college graduate who had just stepped out of the Ivory Tower. Having gone through so much, he had accumulated a wealth of experience and being called an expert was no exaggeration. "Don''t rush!" Louis Landon gestured with his hands. Under the puzzled gazes of Chen Fei and Shen Fei, he continued, "It just so happens that many manufacturers are here, let them bring over their product catalogs, you pick what you like, and I will cover the expenses." The equipment exhibition sale he had meticulously planned was also happening, which almost brought together the top tactical equipment from half of Blue Star. "Makes sense. I have the catalog from the Northern Weapons Industry Group, pick whatever you want, it''s free!" As the secretary to the vice president and the leader of this business delegation, Shen Fei had some temporary authority in special circumstances. When life was on the line, there was no use adhering to silly rules. With the foundation of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, anything taken from their stock was excellent. "Riva, notify the other manufacturers to display their goods, right at the conference center. While there is still some time, Chen Fei, I''ll give you the contact method for those three trump cards." Because of the network outage, the contacts stored in the cloud were now unreachable. However, Louis Landon had a backup plan¡ªhe had spent a lot of effort memorizing the complex contact verifications. If it were his past life when he was a supernatural power user, he would have remembered this amount of information in an instant. "Alright." Chen Fei nodded, all ears. His memory might not be infallible, but the shared auditory and visual AI "Adam" had recorded it in real time. "Age is taking its toll on my memory, but if I''m not mistaken, that should be it. Despite all the calculations, I didn''t foresee the internet outage and even satellite signals getting disrupted. Have you memorized everything?" After narrating, Louis Landon wiped the thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead. He had struggled to remember such complex contact verification methods. The reason for the complexity was that these three teams were highly sensitive and didn''t want to draw the attention of other people or forces. Even the Investigative Agents from the Security Department of the Silan Dynasty had not noticed the small actions of the president of Louis Industries. "No problem, it''s all noted down." Chen Fei nodded. "Adam" had opened a new visual interface, transcribing the spoken words into text before his eyes. "Eh? Does Metal Elemental Psychic Power include Speed Memorization Skills?" Louis Landon was puzzled. He had only recited it once and wasn''t expecting the other side to remember it after just one repetition. Shen Fei answered for Chen Fei, "No, he has an artificial intelligence AI!" The source code for "Adam," which Northern Weapons Industry Group was researching, had also been obtained from Chen Fei. That Chen Fei possessed the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was not a secret. "Right, I have a portable assistant AI. Mr. Randon, did you just say there''s an outage? Is the internet down?" Chen Fei expressed his confusion because he hadn''t noticed any disruption in the network connection. Even now, the network signal was at full strength, not only could he access the Cangqiong Star network but also connect to Blue Star''s, with seamless and rapid response. "You didn''t know?" Not only Shen Fei but also Louis Landon and Chief Bodyguard Riva all looked at Chen Fei in astonishment. Are you clueless about whether the internet is down or not? Due to the widespread use of cloud technology, massive amounts of data were stored in data centers in the cloud, with enhanced stability and reliability that prevented data loss due to terminal device malfunctions. Also, computing resources were more efficiently utilized, avoiding idle surplus. Accordingly, people''s expectations for the quality of their device''s connection to the cloud became higher. Consequently, network devices had a considerable amount of connection redundancy and were designed to handle heavy data throughput. Furthermore, there were omnipresent signal sources, allowing devices to seamlessly switch signals effortlessly, making cloud and local data indistinguishable in use. However, an internet disruption could feel like the end of the world for many who relied on cloud data. Chen Fei hesitated before saying, "The internet... is still there!" "Ha, right now all wireless signals including most satellite signals are down, only a few special wired channels can maintain communication." Chief Bodyguard Riva spread his hands. Was the other person living a life of isolation? Such slow reaction to the loss of network signal! "Hold on, I''m going to make a phone call!" Chen Fei took out his phone, with the signal source stable. The number belonged to his little sister. "...Ring, hello, Xiao Meng, you have a call, it''s your second brother!" Wait, why does the voice sound like a young boy''s? "Don''t pick up randomly, my second brother has a bad temper. If you offend him, you are as good as dead." "Eh, your brother... really?" "What do you mean no way? If he decides to kill someone, I can''t stop him." Little Sister Chen''s voice, mingling with a boy''s chatter, reached me before becoming loud and clear. "Yo! Brother, any instructions for me?" My sweet sister''s voice was sweet and beautiful, adorably cute! "Checking in!!! Who was that just now? Send over the photo, social welfare number, household registration, criminal record, all of it!" Chen Fei bellowed at his little sister, feeling irritated. Wasn''t he worked up? When a brother calls his sister and suddenly hears a strange boy''s voice, anyone would get hot-headed involuntarily. Just how close were they, and why didn''t he, as her brother, know anything about it? -_-# I really want to break that ghost''s legs! "Talking nonsense? I''m seriously dating, not fooling around. Second Brother, where are you?" Startled by the scolding, Chen Meng stammered, feeling inexplicably guilty, but then she thought, she hadn''t done anything wrong! (All love that does not aim for marriage is frivolous. -Shakespeare) Is it a crime to date? Second Brother should be under a wife''s imprisonment by now, shouldn''t he?! Chen Fei said irritably, "I''m killing people on Cangqiong Star, just slaughtered over a hundred!" The AI "Adam" used a railgun to send away these guys, and it was perfectly reasonable to count them on his behalf. A large, dense crowd, too busy and not bothered to count exactly, but the number over a hundred was definitely not an understatement. "Hey, murderer Brother, where exactly are you?" Second Brother had always been guarding the deserted Aircrew Base in Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, slaving away as a mechanic fixing the sorry planes¡ªa broken career through and through. Chen Meng didn''t believe for a second he could slip away to Cangqiong Star. Not to mention how difficult a visa would be to obtain, just the travel expenses alone amount to a hefty sum, likely enough to buy a house. If he had that money, wouldn''t he save it to secure a wife? Speaking of which, what''s the deal with Second Brother''s girlfriend? As his sister, I''m quite curious! "I''m in Nandu City on Cangqiong Star!" Chen Fei instructed the AI "Adam" to send a seemingly authentic location. "What are you doing there?" Little Sister Chen asked casually. "Killing people." Chen Fei seemed fixated on "killing people" today. Even if Lord Yama showed up, it wouldn''t work. He would snatch the Book of Life and Death and refuse to let him pass without scribbling a few lines (one line cancels one life). Chen Meng asked seriously, "Um... Brother, are you serious?" "As serious as it gets." Chen Fei looked towards the big shots at Louis Industrial Company and Teacher Shen. They both nodded at him simultaneously. No escaping it now! "What about your girlfriend?" Chen Meng suddenly launched a sneak attack with her question. Truly my sister! "She''s here too, right beside me!" Chen Fei responded without thinking. "What is she doing?" "Preparing to kill someone too!" Chen Meng: "..." Has Second Brother gone mad in that run-down base? Why not just quit the job? With a bachelor''s degree, couldn''t he find any decent job he liked, even in his field of expertise? Guessing that Second Brother was furious and kept mentioning killing, Chen Meng didn''t want to touch on such a sore point and carefully probed, "Is there anything else?" "Routine check! Warn that kid for me, no certificate, no third base, if he dares to double-time, I''ll kill his whole family. If he has any bad habits, change them immediately, or I''ll break his legs. If he messes around with girls outside... I..." Click! Little Sister Chen couldn''t take it anymore and hung up. "...Hey! Damn it, she hung up!" Chen Fei hadn''t finished speaking and stared irritably at the phone screen. "Your phone... why does it still have internet access?" Louis Landon eyed Chen Fei''s phone that had just been used for the call, deep in thought. "Let me borrow your phone!" Without any hesitation, Shen Fei reached out first, making the slow-reacting Chief Bodyguard Riva come up empty-handed. With such a big incident occurring in Zilu Continent, she needed to report to her father urgently. "Hello, Chen Fei, you... hey, Xiao Fei, why is it you... warn that kid for me, no certificate, no third base, if he dares to double-time, I..." Chapter 645 645: Section 641 - A One-Man Trade Show Old Shen had never imagined that his daughter would lead a team to Cangqiong Star to talk business, and that little rascal Chen Fei would actually have the guts to follow her there, like an unshakable shadow! "You must have flown over, right?" Shen Fei forcefully hung up on her grumbling father. But when she took out her own phone to look, her face fell again; this unreliable thing still didn''t have a network signal. "Little Chen, could I borrow your phone for a bit?" With the network signal interrupted, anyone would want to handle many communication-related matters, even the big boss, Louis Landon, couldn''t help but cast aside his pride and ask others for help. After all, it seemed that Chen Fei''s phone was the only one capable of making outside contact. "Yours doesn''t work?" Chen Fei asked with confusion. His phone was a customized satellite phone given by Boss Hana, supporting a wide range of signal frequencies. It could normally connect to terrestrial signal sources and be used like a regular phone. If there were no terrestrial communication base stations, it could also link directly to satellites in space, astonishingly powerful. "Take a look at mine." Shen Fei stuffed her phone into Chen Fei''s hand. "There is a signal, isn''t there?" The moment he took it, Teacher Shen''s phone signal was at full bars; Chen Fei showed the screen to her. Adam: Detected network device, now connected! Shen Fei was somewhat incredulous as she took back her phone. As soon as it changed hands, the signal was lost again. Adam: Network device has been disconnected! "Hey? It''s, it''s gone again!" Teacher Shen: Phone, write a ten thousand-word self-criticism! Phone: Is it my fault? "How could it be? Wasn''t it working fine in my hands?" Chen Fei once again took Shen Fei''s phone and dialed his own number. As expected, the call went through with a ringing tone, undeniably connected to a signal. When Shen Fei dialed herself, there was no network, the call couldn''t go through, and she exclaimed in frustration, "Chen Fei, have you turned into a signal tower or something?" Chen Fei''s phone had a signal when in someone else''s hands, and others'' phones had a signal when in his hand, but as soon as they were taken back, the signal disappeared. Could it really be the phone''s fault?! Then there was only one truth, Chen Fei himself was the source of the signal. "''Adam,'' what''s going on here?" Chen Fei seemed to speak to himself. Adam: Dog System is ISP (Internet Service Provider). "Adam" couldn''t find the cause, and naturally blamed it on the Dog System. According to its own logic, it couldn''t reason out the issue without encountering a BUG because it simply wasn''t scientific; it only needed to be used, that was all. Chen Fei asked again, "Can you open it up to other devices?" Everyone, including Shen Fei, Louis Landon, and the chief bodyguard Riva, was looking at him; this was incredibly important. So many people urgently needed to contact the outside world, relying solely on Chen Fei''s phone was insufficient. Adam: Yes, you can fully open it, or would you prefer restricted authorization? "Of course, open it, no, better make it restricted authorization!" Chen Fei didn''t want those inexplicable folks freeloading off his network, promptly correcting himself. Adam: Please specify the relevant devices. Louis Landon''s eyes lit up, Chen Fei''s muttering appeared to be a conversation with an Artificial Intelligence AI. The AI''s name was "Adam," which sounded somewhat familiar. "Teacher Shen, your phone." Chen Fei once again took Shen Fei''s phone to complete the authorization confirmation. Handing it back, the phone still maintained the best full bar signal. "It really works now!" Shen Fei cautiously opened her text messages and, sure enough, received new ones. When she opened other internet-dependent apps, they also worked normally. "Please, help me!" Louis Landon handed over his mobile phone without hesitation. He had planned to borrow Chen Fei''s phone, but to use someone else''s account to communicate or to log into his personal account would be somewhat awkward, even if it didn''t arouse suspicion. Chen Fei, authorization confirmed! Another mobile phone was activated, followed by Chief Bodyguard Riva. "It''s working!" After trying to call the Blue Star side, Louis Landon let out a long sigh of relief. Managing the vast Louis Industrial Company among other enterprises, he could hardly spare a moment, and suddenly losing contact with the outside world could easily trigger many problems. This time, Chen Fei really did him a big favor. - Taking advantage of the vendors'' teams being busy rearranging the hotel conference center''s exhibition booths, Chen Fei restored network signals for everyone''s mobile phones, and various calls were made. In such a crucial situation, being able to restore communication is truly life-saving, both publicly and privately! However, even with the designated authorization allowing the sharing of the "Plane Communication System" skill''s signal source, there were still limitations; the signal coverage was only 5 kilometers in radius, and leaving this distance would result in the loss of the signal, plummeting back into disconnection. In addition, it could only connect to communication devices outside of Zhai Liuzhou, as the entire Zilu Continent''s wireless signal network had been subjected to full-spectrum blocking, making it impossible for Chen Fei''s "Plane Communication System" skill to break through the interference. There was only one visitor, and time was pressing, so it was inevitable that the vendors'' booths were a bit messy and unable to be further tidied up. Some trash was scattered on the ground, and only the products limited to this exhibition were displayed while other promotional materials remained in their respective Space System Alchemy Storage Devices. All vendor representatives were rubbing their hands eagerly looking at Chen Fei, who intended to freeload, yet they agreed gladly. What kind of world was this? Of course, it was a chaotic world! The best showcase is actual combat, especially high-intensity confrontations. If someone dared to enter the battlefield, the vendors certainly wouldn''t mind the cost of some samples. Chen Fei had a thick stack of catalogs in his hand, and at every booth, a person was assigned to introduce him to the products, and it was okay even if he took everything on display. There was almost no chance for the boss of Louis Industries, Mr. Louis Landon, to foot the bill, as Shen Fei had obtained formal authorization from the headquarters of Northern Weapons Industry Group to provide Chen Fei with all available tactical equipment for free. After all, this wasn''t the first time they collaborated, and with a relatively high level of trust, authorization was given swiftly and decisively without much hesitation. With Northern Weapons Industry Group setting an example, other vendors followed suit, generously allowing him to take whatever he wanted. If the Rebel Army got their hands on these items, it would be like casting pearls before swine; it was better to give them to Chen Fei for free so that they could be put to the best use. They were willing to give because someone was willing to use them. "I''ll take this one, and this one..." Chen Fei was not at all polite; his space series alchemy storage magical artifact had such a large capacity that even if he packed up all the exhibits from the conference center, it could accommodate them. The main battle armors from the Rhein Company could be turned into remote-controlled big toys with artificial intelligence AI operation, impervious to death¡ªthe kind of cannon fodder that was a must-have. The humanoid combat mechs from the Tesla Robotics Company numbered exactly a dozen, a very standard tactical squad, equipped with both light and heavy weapons, with clear division of tasks for long-range sniping, close combat, and medium-range mortars. Unfortunately, the control AI was a "Cybertrom" high-performance derivative loaded with combat modules. It wasn''t structured like "Adam," and even after its local computational power had been enhanced, it still partially depended on cloud support and remote command assistance, inherently limiting its autonomy. The battlefield conditions were complex and rapidly changing, and with Chen Fei as the sole person in charge, there simply wasn''t spare energy to command such a mech tactical squad, and he didn''t trust anyone else with the task, either. So, he simply took a "Universal Data Transceiver," gave it a smack, and forcibly wiped the "Cybertrom" high-performance derivative system clean, installing a basic platform system instead, set up a virtual machine, and then uploaded a copy of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." Not only was the autonomy significantly improved and the dependency on network signals reduced, it didn''t even fear losing connection¡ªsaving trouble and providing peace of mind. Perfect! When the technicians from the Tesla Robotics Company realized what Chen Fei was doing as soon as he plugged in the data cable, their faces looked like they had just been slapped hard. Accompanying Teacher Shen indicated that Chen Xiao''er''s victim wasn''t the first to be tormented by his meddlesome ways. There were others who had it worse, with whole research and development teams getting kicked into a ditch from which they couldn''t climb out. Although the Northern Weapons Industry Group could provide two "Canglong" advanced fighters, considering that the upcoming actions would likely be focused on ground warfare, fighters were sharp and ammunition was not lacking, but they were more suited for offensive operations than defense. Hit-and-run tactics didn''t hold much significance. However, just in case, he took one anyway. A lack of a takeoff and landing runway wasn''t a problem; anywhere with two to three hundred meters of a wide four-lane road, clean and neat, was sufficient for takeoff and landing. If the magic array was activated, it could even achieve vertical takeoff and landing, strictly following the design scheme originally provided by Chen Fei, only with many improvements on small details. It looked like the "Canglong" project team had been pushed over and resigned to their fate. After some selective picking, Chen Fei added more than a dozen tactical pieces of equipment to his bracelet-type spatial alchemy storage magical artifact, not only for his own use but also for the three teams handed over by Mr. Louis Landon. He had successfully contacted the intelligence squad and obtained the latest intelligence. As expected, large forces of the rebel army began to gather near the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation on the outskirts of Nandu City, plotting evil schemes. "Is this... also a combat weapon?" Chen Fei pointed to the mechanical dragon in the center of the exhibition hall, which stood seven meters tall and was infused with an industrial punk style from snout to tail to wings. With claws on the ground and wings spread, it struck a posture ready to pounce. Looking at the manufacturer''s LOGO, it turned out to be a product of the Louis Industrial Company. Yilan was circling this big guy, hesitating whether to take a bite; it looked very tasty. "This is a concept design for a Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, which primarily relies on AI automated control, while also featuring an integrated man-machine cockpit and a high-efficiency crystal energy furnace..." A salesperson from the tactical weapons department of Louis Industries handed over a promotional flyer to Chen Fei, and started to introduce it with a barrage of words. That''s the leading giant of the industry for you¡ªnot short of talent, money, or technology, with solid strength and everything else they need to indulge in grand luxuries. They claimed the best spot in the conference center for such a showpiece, its ostentatious purpose far outweighing its practical use. Since it was a concept design and not for sale, the promotional material was full of praise, making it sound as though it could really contend with a dragon. "Genuine Fragrance..." Yilan seemed greedy as she sized up the mechanical dragon. Mechanical Dragon: Feeling panicked! Chapter 646 646: Section 642 - Takeover Manned primary combat mobile armors are generally only three to four meters tall, weighing between 3-12 tons, which are somewhat equivalent to an extra-large version of individual exoskeleton tactical armors, with full power support. Their mobility performance, functional modules, and number of tactical equipment plugins far exceed those of any single soldier tactical armors. Large combat mobile armors, similar to the concept of the Mechanical Dragon by Louis Industries, are as tall as two or three stories and generally represent the upper limit in size. Their design is often constrained by their own weight, structural strength, mobility, and endurance, and they rarely employ bipedal stepping. Instead, they rely on multipedal movement to distribute ground pressure and ensure sufficient mobility. However, such designs are seldom used in combat, being more common in logistics support and construction, acting as versatile engineering machinery. Super large mobile armors, reaching the height of six or seven stories, essentially do not exist. Their weight mostly exceeds a hundred tons, and unless they are transported entirely by air, the ground infrastructure simply cannot withstand them. Each step would be like stepping into a quagmire, making it difficult to maintain mobility. They would undoubtedly be excellent moving targets, less tactically valuable than tracked ground armored vehicles. "This one, I''ll take it!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers. "Oh yes, oh yes!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon brought her huge head closer, thrilled beyond words. One could tell, she really liked this concept product. What a rare find! "Eh?" The sales staff from the Tactical Weapons Department of Louis Industries were taken aback, their faces changing as they realized they had been too enthusiastic and misspoken. This Mechanical Dragon was, after all, nothing more than a concept luxury product excessively reliant on advanced technology, craftsmanship, and materials piling. It had no practical combat significance. To be exact, it was not for sale, not even worth the cost of mass production. The sales staff shook their head frantically, saying, "No, no, no, it''s not a combat weapon, it doesn''t even have weapon plugins, it''s not merchandise meant for formal sale." As much as it was promoted, the Mechanical Dragon was only for show-off purposes and not meant to be sold to outsiders. If Louis Industries dared to mass-produce this thing, they wouldn''t need a year to go bankrupt, that was certain. "No! I want this one!" Chen Fei had not given up, pointing to the Mechanical Dragon that was seven meters high and over sixteen meters long from head to tail, nearly the same size as Yilan next to it. An opportunity of a zero-cost purchase, coupled with a manufacturer''s warranty, just take it and go. "This... really won''t work!" The sales staff looked troubled, cursing themselves for being talkative and building castles in the sky. If this were to be tested on the actual battlefield, wouldn''t it be a joke? If they dared to let it go so easily, they would definitely be hung up and used as a target practice by their boss, but it was difficult to refuse outright to Chen Fei''s face. One moment full of bragging, the next pulling up the list. "Have you made your choice?" Louis Landon, the president of Louis Industrial Company, walked over. The sales staff from the Tactical Weapons Department hastily said, "Mr. Randon, he wants this Mechanical Dragon, but, but..." Louis Landon held many titles; president, chairman, or whatever else, commonly addressed as ''Mr.'' both inside and outside the company. "No worries, just give it to him, it''s nothing but a display anyway." Louis Landon did not mind Chen Fei taking advantage, as they already provided sponsorship without cost; a little more in giveaways wouldn''t hurt, and the Mechanical Dragon''s value couldn''t compare to the cumulative quantity of those tactical equipment. Moreover, as far as he was concerned, it was probably the Metallic Giant Dragon next to him that had been tempted by its appearance¡ªit was too easy to understand. Things are there to be used, and being eaten is the same. "Yes... Mr.!" With the word from the higher-up, the sales staff could no longer object. The president is indeed generous! "That... Chen Fei, can you eat it?" The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan nudged Chen Fei with her head, directly causing him to squat abruptly. She had smelled many rare metals on the body of the Mechanical Dragon, especially rare earth elements, which were highly attractive to Metallic Dragons. Its unique shape was simply too tempting for Yilan not to want to consume it in massive bites, leaving none to waste. "Of course, you can''t eat me! Ah, you mean that..." Chen Fei wasn''t upset, after all, it was a giant dragon and couldn''t be precise in controlling its strength. Besides, he wasn''t made of clay that would shatter with a nudge, but gazing at the Mechanical Dragon, he quickly came to realize. "Yilan, let me try it out first¡ªif it''s useless, then it''s all yours." If it''s useless, it''s junk, and converting it into energy points isn''t as good as feeding it to the dragon. "Useless? Shouldn''t it be ''inedible'' instead?" Yilan was confused. If she could eat it, so could Chen Fei. Use? Could the Mechanical Dragon be more useful than her? She was not preventing Chen Fei from riding her, which made Yilan find it hard to understand Chen Fei''s thoughts. "Adam, it''s up to you now!" Chen Fei disconnected his "Universal Data Transceiver" from his left wrist and found the data port on the Mechanical Dragon, docking it there. Two "bracelets" hang on his left wrist, the thinner one being a health band with a time display function and the other the "Universal Data Transceiver". Now, a Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact had joined the collection on his right wrist. Troublesome items were on the rise. Adam: Detected X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, recognizes the "Cybertrom" auxiliary AI, overwrite? Chen Fei: Overwrite! At that moment, the AI of the Mechanical Dragon was offline and no match for "Adam". Holding the advantage, Chen Fei promptly overpowered it. Chapter 647 647: Section 642 - Takeover_2 Several seconds later, the derivative of "Cybertrom" was gone! The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" began a comprehensive write-in for the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor control system, docking action function libraries, and instantly generating a new auxiliary AI. Adam: Restart initiated... Adam: Self-check starting... Adam: Self-check passed... Adam: Copy loaded completely, computing unit load at 80%, insufficient redundancy. Chen Fei: What does a load of 80% mean? Adam: The performance of the computation unit is insufficient, recommend connecting to distributed auxiliary computing. Chen Fei, not knowing what "connecting to distributed auxiliary computing" meant, still understood "insufficient performance," and glancing at the Mechanical Dragon''s size, he realized more clearly what was going on. Four legs, head and tail, dual wings, limb movements, and dynamic balance required extremely high computational power, especially when complex maneuvers were needed, which would immediately place a huge load pressure on the computing unit. Chen Fei: Does that mean I need to pilot it myself? Adam: Correct! To put it precisely, it required the nearly infinite computing resources that Chen Fei could provide. "Let''s try out the movements." Chen Fei was eager to give it a try without any hesitation. The cockpit located at the chest and abdomen sank down, revealing a seat that conformed to ergonomics, with a design that was simple yet not crude. Realizing what Chen Fei wanted to do, the salesperson hurriedly said, "I don''t have an instruction manual here!" The Mechanical Dragon was originally a display model and not for sale, and its most direct introduction mainly depended on pre-produced promotional videos, most of which comprised AI-generated CG-level special effects. It had only executed some simple movements in reality, and the main computational load relied on cloud computing services, with the body''s computing unit responsible only for auxiliary computation and module management. Once disconnected from the internet, having lost the substantial computing power support of the cloud, like "Adam" had indicated, the built-in computing unit would immediately become the bottleneck. "Haha! Good luck!" Louis Landon was quite interested in watching Chen Fei''s performance. "Before that, let''s make a backup first!" Chen Fei sat in the pilot seat and activated his special ability for the first time. System: Ding! Absorption of X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, metal material 11,522 kilograms, obtained Energy Points +11! The number turned out to be 005, perhaps there were four prototype units before it. A third of the metal material was external armor, and even though it used advanced high-strength composite materials, the overall weight was still not light. The Dog System rounded down again, damn it, its mathematics must''ve been taught by the Metallic Dragons; while others round to the nearest whole, this thing only knows how to round down. The rest of the non-metal materials were about to fall when Chen Fei used 5 Energy Points to exchange for a vein-like metal framework that supported these components, instantly transforming the mighty Mechanical Dragon into a hollowed-out piece of art. He then extracted the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor from the "Physical Evolution Database" under the "Tactical Weapons" category, and reshaped it through the "Metal Shaping" Skill without using the more convenient "Replicate" and "Material Simulation" Skills, as it would save a significant amount of Energy Points. System: Ding! Energy Points -12! Well, that''s something! They only give 11 Energy Points during absorption, but during emission, they forcefully take 12 Energy Points. Might as well rename it the Scam System, such a business, tsk tsk! Since it involved at least ten tons of metallic materials, the entire evolution process took a full ten minutes to reposition various parts, restoring it to its original form. After this step, there was no fear of damage to the main section, because it could always be infinitely repaired by extracting samples from the "Physical Evolution Database" as long as there were enough Energy Points. But this series of operations was not only incomprehensible to the female Metallic Dragon Yilan but even Louis Landon and the Chief Bodyguard Riva, among others, were also at a loss. Seeing the doubt on others'' faces, Shen Fei helped to explain, "It''s the Metal Elemental Psychic Power ''Sacrifice''!" She had seen Chen Fei absorb and restore metal products more than once; the "Sacrifice" Skill was practically the nemesis of developers. Hard-earned design schemes were effortlessly stolen away in an instant, likely enough to entertain murderous thoughts. Louis Landon tentatively asked, "Is it an Industrial-grade Ability?" This "Sacrifice" Skill was different from the not-solely-Metal Elemental "Copy" Skill; it seemed to be more of a one-sided decomposition effect. Although Louis Industrial Company also employed industrial-grade supernatural power users, they seemed to be on a different path from Chen Xiao''er. "Yes, a rare Metal Elemental Industrial-grade Ability." Shen Fei nodded her head. If Chen Fei''s Superpower Level were A-grade and he also possessed Industrial-grade skills, his strategic value would be no different from an S-grade. The Northern Weapons Industry Group would vie against their old competitor, the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, to the death if necessary, just to recruit such talent, without a second thought. Most of the known industrial-grade ability users today are generally below B-grade like Chen Fei, with many at D-grade and E-grade. They are sufficient for small endeavors, but far from enough to outperform industrial assembly lines. As for A-grade industrial-grade ability users, they are kept secret, and there have been no reports even of S-grade, their existence remains in question, and probably only the population-large sovereigns might know. "Hiss, such a pity!" Unexpectedly, Louis Landon shook his head. From his position, he often could see more than others. In any field, what''s ultimately needed is specialization. Being good at both fighting and manufacturing isn''t necessarily a good thing, as being a jack-of-all-trades often means being a master of none. If this young B-grade ability user wants to achieve something in the future, he should either discard his industrial skills and focus entirely on honing his combat skills, or give up the fighting altogether and specialize in the industrial field while he''s still young. That''s the only way he could roll over his peers in the future. As a self-made man who founded a leading industrial enterprise, he knew all too well that the only way for Louis Industries, chased by many competitors, to deal with competition was to keep rolling, rolling so hard that no matter the competition, it had to be rolled over! The Mechanical Dragon, which had undergone "Sacrifice," was stored in the Storage Magical Device on Chen Fei''s right wrist, because the conference center space of this upscale business hotel was limited and the Mechanical Dragon could not unfold entirely. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan followed Chen Fei closely, its feelings quite ambivalent, unsure whether to hope for Chen Fei''s success or failure. Success was a friend''s success, a joy to be shared, but failure was something everyone had to endure... Chapter 648 648: Section 643 - Combat Readiness Arriving outside the hotel''s main entrance, there were no signs of any intelligent species'' activities nearby. After all, before those unidentified armed individuals launched their attack on the hotel, they had already evacuated all the local residents and staff. Otherwise, once fighting broke out in the downtown area, the so-called uprising would immediately lose its legitimacy. The forces suspected of slaughtering innocent people would never receive support, especially under the banner of restoring the Tessa Empire¡ªit would immediately become a joke. The chaos brought by the Mobile Base Vehicle''s barrage of fire had caused many buildings to collapse and sustain damage. Coupled with the previous defensive exchanges of fire, a glance across the landscape revealed a desolate scene of crumbling ruins. This was war, and it was an unavoidable matter. The aftermath of the heavy artillery bombardment persisted, with no one else approaching. This upscale business hotel had seemingly become an isolated island in the midst of the battle-torn city district, temporarily enjoying peace and quiet. The two-story-tall Mechanical Dragon had just been released, its twin pupils immediately lit up with a blood-red glow. Raising its dragon head and stretching its wings, it let out a deafening roar. "Roar..." "Uh, that is really loud!" Shen Fei, who had come out along with it, quickly covered her ears as the immense roaring even caused her body to tremble uncontrollably. "Quiet down, it''s too noisy!" Chen Fei''s voice was drowned out by the roar, but in the next second, the Mechanical Dragon''s raging screams abruptly stopped. He was speaking to the Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam", which didn''t necessarily require external sound transmission. The giant roar could be clearly heard within a ten-mile radius, and further away, it sounded like the whistle of an old steam locomotive. Riva, the Chief Bodyguard, looked at the boasting Mechanical Dragon with shock and asked, "Have you controlled it?" "Hahaha, interesting, very interesting!" The X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor was originally a luxury toy for showing off and stacking features. Setting aside its actual combat capability, this kind of swagger absolutely delivered a full show. Louis Landon, the president of Louis Industrial Company and the reincarnator unknown to others, was quite satisfied. As a deterrent tactical weapon, the Mechanical Dragon was utterly qualified and perfect for shooting corporate promotional videos. "This, this can''t be used for combat, right?" The salesperson who followed out mumbled to himself. With the pre-set simple Test action collection, this was already the limit. In fact, the most valuable part of the whole Mechanical Dragon was the small Airship-use Crystalline Block inside the high-efficiency Crystal Energy Furnace. As if he had heard the salesperson''s words, Chen Fei turned to look at him and said, "It still needs some modifications, such as the installation of weapon plugins and Magic Arrays." Luckily, the plugin modules of the Mechanical Dragon were consistent with those used in the Combat Mobility Armor. There were ready-made weapons and ammunition available for loading, and the Fire Control System could also be connected. With "Adam" on site to write new control programs, it was not a big deal. As for the Magic Array, "Adam" couldn''t manage it, but the Dog System could easily calculate the Magic Array Inscription units for various mechanical bodies and embed the Magic Arrays. Indeed, the Mechanical Dragon halted its movements and once again opened its chest and abdominal position cockpit. Chen Fei directly sat down inside. System: Ding! Absorption of X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, 11,522 kilograms of metal material. Absorb? Yes/No|? The Dog System attempted to trick Chen Fei out of his Energy Points again, scamming him at every chance. Chen Fei called up the "Physical Evolution Database" for the detailed sample information of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor. There would be the most detailed industrial orthographic projections, mechanical data, and the quantity of Magic Array Inscription units. The number of Magic Array Inscription units in the Mechanical Dragon was 999! What a lot! Anything remotely associated with dragons was an incredible treasure, which meant Chen Fei could pile Magic Arrays onto it without worrying about running out of Magic Array slots. Repulsion Shield (45)¡Á1 + Mind Brand (1)¡Á1 + Gravity (1)¡Á4 + Wind Cone (2)¡Á1 + Air Burst (2)¡Á32 + Fluid Vortex (2)¡Á64 + Blazing Flame Bullet (1)¡Á128 + Wind Blade (1)¡Á128 + Wind Magic Shield (12)¡Á1 + Thunder Magic Shield (12)¡Á1 + Silent Domain (1)¡Á1 + Frost Formation (1)¡Á2 + Mist (1)¡Á1 + Constant Temperature (1)¡Á1 + Light Distortion (1)¡Á1, Number of Magic Units used 530/999. Auspicious number, I''ll slay you! It was rare to find a mechanical body that allowed the use of all the Magic Arrays, with plenty of Inscription units still left over. Although the Mechanical Dragon had a total of 999 Magic Array Inscription units, when distributed among various parts, some had leftovers while others were completely insufficient. The Inscription units on the wings, for example, were fully utilized and still deemed not enough. That wasn''t the end. The "Basic Laser Emitter" and "Basic Particle Beam" were loaded as plugins into the gaping maw of the dragon head''s Fangs, followed by various ready-made weapon plugins. As a meticulously designed weapons loading platform, the Mechanical Dragon wasn''t just about Magic Array inscription capacity, but also plugin carrying capability. A Crystal Energy Furnace powerful enough to drive a small Airship could easily support all these extravagances. In fact, as long as it could maintain two to three hours of output power, it would be more than sufficient for a battle. After a series of modifications and armament, this expensive showoff luxury toy was finally transformed into a formidable weapon of war. Even the outer armor underwent changes, becoming better protected and assuring increased agility. Sensing the unusual aura emanating from the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, the salesperson, who had been very familiar with it, inexplicably felt a trace of fear. He couldn''t help but take several steps backward until his heels hit a piece of rubble, causing him to fall onto the ground seatingly. "''Adam,'' initiate the mechanical giant dragon and check all modules!" Adam: Reboot complete, self-check passed, all modules are operating normally. The mechanical dragon twisted its head, flicked its tail, raised its claws, and flapped its wings a few times, stirring up a fierce wind. The movements were no longer stiff as they had been before; they became incredibly fluid, especially the small details, which were vivid and lifelike as if it were a real giant dragon. "As expected of an industrial-grade ability user!" Princess Lin Ziyu exclaimed as she watched the mechanical dragon. Without sufficient power, one simply couldn''t handle this immature concept display item. Awaiting her meal, Yilan couldn''t help but express her regret, "Can''t this thing be eaten?" The dragon''s head of the mechanical dragon turned, amplifying Chen Fei''s voice. After moving about, the fierce dragon''s head turned, and his voice was amplified. "Shen Fei, Mr. Randon, Agent Yu, I''m off to start work. Yilan and the mobile base vehicle will stay here. Agent Yu, instruct those eight guys from the Hundred-Legs Gang to gather all its members at the hotel. Let ''Mute'' Kano act as the temporary leader. If anyone disobeys, kill them without mercy," said Chen Fei. There were important people in the hotel; Chen Fei couldn''t casually take them to the battlefield. Before leaving, he had to make all necessary arrangements. The mobile base vehicle had a copy of ''Adam,'' was loaded with an ample supply of railgun heavy ammunition, and along with the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, it was more than capable of ensuring their safety. "Hey, I want to go too!" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan flapped her Blade Wings, dragging sparks across the ground with the tips of her wings. She felt like she was being left out, which simply wouldn''t do! After all, how could any excitement lack the presence of a Metallic Dragon? Participation was key! "Yilan, you stay here and protect the important people!" The mechanical dragon swung its long tail to block Yilan. Chen Fei seemed to merge with the mechanical dragon, though in reality, the artificial intelligence AI ''Adam'' was the true controller of the mechanical body, faithfully implementing his will. Inside the cockpit, Chen Fei was not idle; he began tactical motion programming based on his habits (a different kind of programming than computer programming), similar to what he would do inside a fighter cockpit. He defined command sets for both motion maneuvers and weapon applications, including shortcuts and voice commands, to ensure the most efficient execution. "What a lousy man!" An unhappy Yilan flicked her tail spear, causing sparks to fly dangerously around. Yet, she remained behind. After all, Her Royal Highness the Princess was here, and it was her duty to protect the safety of their rice provider, a consensus among all the young dragons, thanks to the effective Dragon Breeding Garden run by the Slan Royal Family. Moreover, as friends, Yilan would naturally do her utmost to fulfill any request. A Metallic Dragon''s word was as firm as a nail, always followed through with an action. Shen Fei called out loudly, "Be careful!" Even though Chen Fei was headed to a battlefield where danger to life was ever-present, Shen Fei was no sheltered young woman. It was Chen Fei''s profession and job; all Shen Fei could do was to stay behind, not interfere, not hold him back, and then wait quietly for his return to clean off the dust. "Then I''m off!" Chen Fei had just finished most of the custom operational programming, with everything ready to go. The mechanical dragon raised its dragon head high, spread its wings, and soared into the sky. The Psi Skill ''Gravity Adjustment Module'' reduced the mechanical giant dragon''s weight to 10%, combined with the ''Gravity (1)'' magic array and the ''Fluid Vortex (2) x 64'' stacked wings, its flight performance was almost on par with the innate ability ''Void Magnetic Field'' of the Metallic Dragons. The low weight and the anti-gravity field not only allowed the crystal energy furnace to output more effortlessly but also made the mechanical body''s movements more agile and nimble. However, as soon as Chen Fei departed, all communication devices in the hotel quickly lost their connection to the internet again, cutting off contact with the outside world ¨C the people inside really started to regard him as a "mobile communication base station." "''Intelligence Team,'' report the latest situation. ''Suicide Squad'' and ''Strong Men Team,'' report your locations!" Inside the cockpit of the mechanical giant dragon in its chest and abdomen, Chen Fei started to contact the three trump cards handed over to him by Louis Landon, president of Louis Industrial Company. He called these three groups the Intelligence Team, Suicide Squad, and Strong Men Team, respectively. Only a true tycoon like Mr. Louis Landon had the capability to send these three teams to the designated areas on Cangqiong Star. Had it been anyone else, even a slight indication might have been detected by the Security Department of the Slan Dynasty, but judging by Princess Lin Ziyu''s reaction, it seemed she was unaware, making it a rather perfect covert operation. Chapter 649 649: Section 644 - Arriving at the Battle Zone On the ground, twelve combat mechs controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" were aboard three hover infantry armored vehicles, heading in the direction of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. The situation there was already tense, and combat could break out at any moment. This squad of mechanical beings was the fourth ace up Chen Fei''s sleeve; he did not fully trust the three teams handed over by Louis Landon. The heart of Jianghu is sinister, and it is never a bad idea to be extra cautious. Above the mechanical dragon, at even higher altitudes, two propeller-driven drones followed close by, as if escorting it. They were responsible for reconnaissance, communication liaison, and combat, and if necessary, they could even transform into missiles. Chen Fei was one person, yet also not just one person. The blockade and jamming of radio frequencies across the entire Zilu Continent by the rebel army could only forcibly block most communication devices, while for a few military-grade devices supporting ultra-high frequencies, the blockade was often ineffective. Louis Landon had prepared quite advanced equipment for the personnel who had secretly infiltrated the area. With the assistance of two propeller drones, he quickly made contact with the three teams. "Zzt... I am Intelligence Team... zzt... already in position, decoding communication encryption... zzt..." The "Intelligence Team" was not lacking in reconnaissance veterans and had electronic warfare experts. Whether it was infiltration or eavesdropping, they were more than capable. "''Suicide Squad'' in position, ready to strike at any moment!" The Dead Soldiers, whose lives were already counting down, no longer considered themselves human, replying without a hint of emotional fluctuation. From the moment they took the poison, they became genuine combatants. "''Strong Men Team'' awaiting orders, we hope we can make good use of our skills!" These strong men were mercenaries, working for pay, not necessarily willing to throw away their lives for their employers. "Awaiting instructions!" Chen Fei was in single-line contact with the three teams; they did not know of each other''s existence. Although inside the chest cockpit of the mechanical dragon, the field of view was still shared with the perspective of the dragon''s head. The virtual and real landscapes fused together, with the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation sign and distance appearing on the horizon, marking the rebel-occupied area and key military equipment. Even the Light Wing Fleet and the onboard "Sky Falcons" outside of visual range were identified, leaving nothing unnoticed when looking in that direction. The mechanical dragon quickly climbed to an altitude of 8,000 meters. The flight control module programmed by AI "Adam" was still being optimized. Even on his first flight, Chen Fei was becoming more adept, and his perception even merged with the dragon''s body, distinctly feeling the changes in the airflow outside. Xiao Jiu was not by his side but stayed with Shen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu, acting as their last line of personal defense. Adam: The Ground Portal Gate Management Substation has activated its protective barrier, and it seems small-scale fighting is taking place inside. The entire Zilu Continent had only one ground portal, and it was precisely the one on the outskirts of Nandu City, which unsurprisingly became a primary target for the rebel army in the first stage. Since the portal connected two civilized planets, it was a facility of utmost importance, so having a protective barrier was natural, and its strength was enough to easily block the force of a nuclear weapon detonated at close range. For the rebel army to seize it would not be an easy task. They hadn''t started the fight yet, probably still considering tactical issues. However, once the Dimensional Gate was seized, the Rebel Army undoubtedly obtained a trump card that threatened both civilizations simultaneously. Even the Slan Dynasty and Blue Star Civilization, which had reacted in time, found it difficult to eliminate these foes quickly due to their reluctance to damage their own assets. Moreover, there might arise what Mr. Louis Randon referred to as the "prophecy," attracting unknown and dangerous alien species, threatening the very survival of all humanity. "''Adam,'' project the images!" When Chen Fei wanted to see for himself, a soft beep echoed in the cabin. Radar waves were scanning the Mechanical Dragon, while four light spots appeared in the field of vision, locked on by the fire control system immediately. In the top left corner of the visual interface, a top-down map marked the four cursors as "Sky Falcon," approaching rapidly with the time calculated for when they would enter firing range. There was 1 minute and 15 seconds left for the enemy to first enter the Mechanical Dragon''s attack radius, and after another 5 seconds, the Mechanical Dragon would enter the "Sky Falcon''s" firing envelope. The mere difference in firing range meant that the "Sky Falcon" was insufficient to threaten the Mechanical Dragon piloted by Chen Fei. In aerial combat, Chen Fei was confident; his attention was focused more on the ground. Three images were transmitted to Chen Fei''s eyes; the protective barrier enveloping the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was transparent, clearly showing the inside where tracer bullets and explosions were incessant. Roughly three battle zones were engaged in combat, with the combat mechs controlled by "Cybertrom" advanced derivatives charging one after another, continuously being knocked down and bursting into flames, immediately scrapped, but they enabled a few of the battles to end quickly. Chen Fei happened to witness the tail end of the combat within the protective barrier. The importance of the Dimensional Gate was unquestionable; the defense force was naturally formidable, and any breakout of combat would be swiftly subdued. Because there was no stinting on the use of heavy firepower, different areas within the Dimensional Gate Management Substation were ablaze, a mess. These damages were insignificant compared to the security of the Dimensional Gate; to be precise, compared to the planar coordinates "Longinus," they were not worth mentioning. This rebellion must have been brewing for a long time, actually resulting in an organized insurgency. The Slan Dynasty had clearly been careless, and it was also a dereliction of duty by the Imperial Security Department. It was even possible that the rebels had infiltrated the Security Department, but they still had not gained full control of the overall situation, and the combat with the troops loyal to the Dynasty carried on, unceasing. Even in the skies, where Light Wing Ships duelled, the combat between "Sky Falcon" units was intense, and the infighting was unfolding everywhere. While the Rebel Army was doing its utmost to expand their gains, Chen Fei, piloting the Mechanical Dragon, arrived at a critical location. Several missiles rose from the ground, heading for the airspace where the Mechanical Dragon was flying. The Mechanical Dragon, as large as a Giant Dragon, was hard not to notice as it soared through the sky. "Deploy the ''Repulsion Shield'' and select targets for the missile launchers and artillery positions." Chen Fei was not at all nervous facing the incoming missiles, for the power output of the Crystal Energy Furnace used by the Mechanical Dragon was unprecedentedly ample. True to its showy, material-intensive construction, ordinary anti-air missiles were simply not a threat to this conceptual model. Adam: "Repulsion Shield" deployed, identifying missile launch vehicles and artillery, scan to be completed in 15 seconds. A transparent barrier immediately surrounded the Mechanical Dragon, which continued to fly towards the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, unflustered. - On the ground, many rebel soldiers pointed towards the sky, discussing animatedly. "What kind of giant dragon is that?" "It kind of looks like a Metallic Dragon!" "How could there be a Metallic Dragon here?" "It feels a bit off, though!" "A missile is heading towards it, look!" As the rebel soldiers tried to discern exactly which branch of dragonkind this unknown dragon belonged to, the ground-launched interceptor missile finally made contact with the target. Boom, boom, boom, boom... Several explosions almost simultaneously erupted, with flashes of fire and clouds of smoke spreading. But in the next second, the cloud of smoke and debris was pushed aside by an invisible force, and the dragon''s form reappeared, seemingly unharmed. "What, what''s going on?" "The target is still there!" The rebel missile brigade that had just launched the missiles was surprised to find that their attack was futile. Adam: Lock onto missile and artillery positions within a 30-kilometer radius. On the visual interface''s 2D electronic map, the missile and artillery positions were all marked. "Lock on target, fire all missiles." Chen Fei approved the locked targets and issued the command. Countless tracer bullets rose from the ground, numerous railgun weapons aimed at the mechanical dragon and fired at full force, reaching the 6,000-meter altitude almost instantly, given the railgun''s projectile velocity. "Pause missile launch, disable the repulsion shield, spread the dragon''s wings, prepare for physical impact!" Facing the overwhelming barrage of all-metal projectiles, Chen Fei welcomed them, but he had to stop the suppression of the ground missiles and artillery. There were too many anti-air railgun weapons, forming a dense air defense net. Firing missiles and rockets now might lead to them all being intercepted. Human and dragon unite! Metal Elemental Psychic Power covered the entire outer armor layer of the mechanical dragon, and countless solid projectiles slammed down hard. The mech trembled slightly as its fully extended wings aimed to catch as many of those projectiles as possible. In Chen Fei''s eyes, countless slender blue predictive trajectory lines enveloped the mechanical dragon''s body, some of which were even thicker than others. System: Ding! Discovered a large number of alloy bodies, energy points +15! System: Ding! Discovered a large number of alloy bodies, energy points +7! System: Ding! Discovered a large number of alloy bodies, energy points +29! ... After enduring more than thirty seconds, Chen Fei harvested over 500 energy points, making a killing. On the ground, they finally realized that something was amiss, and the aerial focus fire gradually ceased. The giant dragon in the sky endured the attack of all railgun weapons, even though many projectiles were fused and armed. The small-caliber ones were directly received while the large-caliber ones were nimbly avoided. Many gazes were filled with doubt and awe. What was the deal with this giant dragon? Only Metallic Dragons could ignore the all-metal projectiles of the railgun weapons. Could this be a Metallic Dragon? Inside the cockpit, Chen Fei said, "Execute the previous attack." The mechanical dragon''s body continually launched built-in missiles, with numerous small missiles detaching from their mounts on the dragon''s wings. In just a few seconds, a total of over twenty missiles of various sizes were released. Detached from the mechanical dragon, the missiles were sequentially ignited at their rear propulsion engines. Flames erupted, propelling the warheads towards their intended targets. "What the hell is that? Watch out for the missiles!" The rebels on the ground were taken aback. While many automatic defense systems were about to activate, the mechanical dragon followed closely behind the missiles, diving down with it, its spread wings lighting up with densely packed magic arrays. Blazing Flame Bullet (1) ¡Á128 Wind Blade (1) ¡Á128 Hello, Rebel Army! Goodbye, Rebel Army! Chapter 650 650: Section 645 - Slaughter Just when everyone thought that the dragon in the sky, which had ignored most of the railgun fire, must be a fearsome Metallic Dragon. In the next second, everyone saw the brilliance of magic. Dense magic! Overwhelming magic! Once the number of spells exceeded a hundred, it was easy for them to fill the entire field of view. Hundreds of fireballs and a hundred rounds of Wind Blades, following the diving silhouette of the "Metallic Dragon", hammered down together. Almost simultaneously, the missile and artillery positions within a 30-kilometer radius were subjected to a devastating strike. Neither the missiles of the Slan Royal Family nor those provided by Blue Star firms were the shoddy quasi-military equipment sold to military contractors. Even the smallest missile possessed the terrifying power to destroy an entire position with a single strike. Black and red mushroom clouds rose up everywhere. There were screams all over the ground. One hundred and twenty-eight Blazing Flame Bullet Fireballs and one hundred and twenty-eight rounds of Wind Blades thundered down, ploughing harshly through the positions below. The Mechanical Dragon''s crystal energy reserve was still at 99%, full firepower was exhilarating, but the consumption was just as immense. "Roar!~" The Mechanical Dragon that fell from the sky immediately crashed into the middle of a cluster of humanoid combat mobility armors, breaking the ready-to-launch Mobile Armor Division into pieces. Countless fragments flew in all directions as a swing of the Dragon''s Tail knocked down one combat mobility armor after another. System: Ding! A large number of alloy bodies detected, energy points +78! System: Ding! A large number of alloy bodies detected, energy points +211! System: Ding! A large number of alloy bodies detected, energy points +99! Just one pounce had brought Chen Fei nearly a thousand energy points, greatly replenishing his expenditure since arriving at Cangqiong Star. Various calibers of railgun weapons fired intensively without regard for friend or foe, but the Mechanical Dragon harmlessly took it all in stride. Glimmers of Magic Shields emerged on the ground that had just been scorched by the Blazing Flame Bullet Fireballs and Wind Blades. There seemed to be quite a few survivors; after all, a civilization dominated by magic and alchemy had some countermeasures against spell attacks, whether it was spells, alchemical artifacts, or Battle Qi, most of the mid-to-high-ranking officers survived, even protecting the nearby soldiers with them. The Mechanical Dragon on the ground was like a tiger in a flock of sheep. The combat mobility armors, which were not weak in strength, now appeared frail as they encountered their nemesis. Their once-prided tough armor layers and robust mechanical structures shattered like paper, splitting and breaking easily. "Mage Corps, launch the offensive spells!" The armies of Cangqiong Star Civilization, unlike those of Blue Star, had an extraordinarily large number of War Professionals and Spellcasters, easily organizing structured combat clusters of mages and War Professionals. Numerous spells bombarded the Mechanical Dragon. "Activate ''Thunder Magic Shield'' and ''Wind Magic Shield''!" Chen Fei had only Wind and Thunder series shields in his elemental shield spell array, and now they were all put to use. The surfaces of the two Magic Shields continuously rippled, resisting the bombardment of a multitude of offensive spells. Once again, the wings of the Mechanical Dragon lit up with the glow of a Magic Array, sending one hundred and twenty-eight Blazing Flame Bullet Fireballs and one hundred and twenty-eight rounds of Wind Blades flying in all directions, particularly towards the structured clusters of Spellcasters. "My God! It''s using spells! That''s not a Metallic Dragon! It''s not a Metallic Dragon!" "Take it down!" "At all costs, War Professionals, charge!" "Ignite the Battle Qi Flame, let''s fight it out!" The ground was in chaos, with the light of spells and Battle Qi intertwining. Three kilometers away, inside the protective barrier of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, the guards who had just dealt with the rebels were staring dumbfounded at the Mechanical Dragon being attacked. Even if they were slow to react, they had realized that the "dragon" was reinforcements from their side. Given the relationship between Sky Dragon City and the Slan Dynasty, it was impossible for the dragonkind to side with the Rebel Army against the Dynasty. Soon, information from Blue Star confirmed that it was a Mechanical Dragon, belonging to the type of combat mobility armor called a Giant Dragon-type Fighter, sent as reinforcements by the manufacturers who were hosting the Combat and Logistics Equipment Expo in South Capital City District. The sudden entry of the Mechanical Dragon greatly relieved the pressure on the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, forcing the Rebel Army to divert resources to deal with it. Magic against Magic Shields, each side consuming the other. Covered in Battle Qi Flames, the War Professionals charged towards the Mechanical Dragon under the protection of the Spellcasters, with cold weapons enhanced by Battle Qi proving to be even more threatening than railgun weapons. Dense steel core bullets rained down from the location of the Mechanical Dragon, unleashing a deadly metal storm that sent flesh and blood flying. Magnetically-accelerated to several times the speed of sound, the full metal bullets easily penetrated both the Battle Qi and the magic shields, instantly clearing the area around the about-to-be overwhelmed Mechanical Dragon, leaving a ground littered with corpses. At last, a War Professional of significant rank managed to reach the "Evil Dragon," his sword amplified by Battle Qi in strength and sharpness, and he struck heavily on the dragon''s left forelimb. It sliced deeply as if cutting through butter, cleaving almost a third of the way through, exposing a variety of pipelines and even sparking electrical arcs. Cheers erupted from around them, their great casualties seemingly justified by the damage inflicted. But in the next second, the cheer died abruptly, as if someone had strangled a crowing rooster. The gash healed at a visibly rapid pace, lifting high as if nothing had happened, and the War Professional who had struck the blow stared dumbfounded, his eyes widening as a shadow overcame him. Boom!~ All that was left on the ground was an indistinguishable mass of flesh and blood. "It''s a Metallic Dragon, a Metallic Dragon!" Witnessing this scene, the Rebel Army let out heart-wrenching screams, having met their worst nightmare on the battlefield, a Dragon of Slaughter. Both Chen Fei and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had grown increasingly familiar with the actions and habits of Metallic Dragons during their days with the female Metallic Dragon, Yilan. Based on a wealth of reference samples, the movements of this Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor were indistinguishable from a real dragon, almost to the point of true deception. "Use magic! Use spells!" The officers roared. The tactics that were once highly effective had no effect on the Metallic Dragon, and only powerful spells and bombs could bring it down. But this "Metallic Dragon" was also casting spells¡ªcould it be that the Sky Dragon City had gotten involved? A blue-white beam of light shot from the gaping maw of the "Metallic Dragon," the Mage God who was preparing a high-ranking spell, along with his magic shield, disintegrated to ash. With a mighty flap of its huge wings, countless elongated triangular blade spikes scattered across the sky, and even two "Sky Falcons" that had not managed to escape the radius were pierced and brought down. Once more, the ground resounded with screams as many Rebel soldiers were pierced through limbs and trunks by the sporadic blade spikes, and not even the Combat Mobility Armor was spared. These two-meter-long blade spikes were particularly vicious; once they caused wounds, they were nearly impossible to stitch closed, and if an artery was hit, the victim''s blood would be drained in short order. On the edge of the battlefield, the Rebel Army Commander turned pale, as if he had fallen into an icy hell, recognizing the familiar slaughter move of the Metallic Dragon clan, "Thorn Storm." The next second, the projected blade spikes flew back, returning to the "dragon''s" wings, each spike embedded with a "Mind Brand (1)" Magic Array that could be manipulated by Metal Elemental Psychic Powers within a certain range. The dense Magic Arrays lit up again, Blazing Flame Bullet Fireballs pouring out incessantly in a horrific massacre. Without supernatural power users, the Rebel Army could not break through the dual defenses of the Repulsion Shield and Magic Shield. Those of Heavenly Order who could threaten the Mechanical Dragon were restrained, leading the battlefield into an inevitable chaos that spread by the minute. "No, no, no! It shouldn''t be like this!" The Rebel Army Commander finally snapped out of it, screaming, "Retreat! Retreat!" The battle could not continue; there was no point in fighting on. The Rebel Army had only just begun to mobilize, its foundations not yet stable, and this "Metallic Dragon" had caused devastating casualties to their limited forces. One fewer soldier with each death, and at this rate, their lines would eventually collapse. Although the Rebels also possessed fighters of Heavenly Order, lending them the confidence to start the rebellion, the Slan Dynasty was not without its measures of counterforce. The contenders of Heavenly Order restraining each other, none could turn the tide. Had it been possible to employ Forbidden Curses, the Rebel Army Commander would not have hesitated to order a strike on this "Metallic Dragon." Soon after the order was given, the ground forces that had been surrounding the Mechanical Dragon, fighting desperately, now wished they had more legs to run as they scattered to the winds. After sending out one last barrage of full metal bullets and taking down a dozen more fleeing troops, Chen Fei finally ended the battle; there was no point in chasing a defeated foe. Looking up into the sky, after being mistaken for a Metallic Dragon, which of the Rebel air forces would dare approach? The Light Wing Ships stayed far away, ready to flee at full speed. In the sky, apart from a distant enemy reconnaissance drone passing by, there were only two propeller-style drones closely following the Mechanical Dragon. After the Rebels had completely withdrawn from the battlefield, leaving behind many wounded groaning in their death throes, unable to be transported in time, Chen Fei couldn''t concern himself with such matters. If anyone had any compassion, they would send their own people to evacuate them! The Crystal Energy Furnace of the Mechanical Dragon still had 57% reserve left. If the Rebel Army had not retreated, Chen Fei too, would have been troubled. Once the Crystal Energy was exhausted, this Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor would become a stationary live target, no longer possessing the previous ferocity that had dominated the battlefield. The Mechanical Dragon moved towards the Dimensional Gate Management Substation and reached the edge of the Protective Barrier. The Protective Barrier that had been shielding the Dimensional Gate Management Substation flickered and vanished, having been maintained for so long, the consumption was undoubtedly not much less than that of the Mechanical Dragon. The Dimensional Gate Garrison took over the defense, with Blue Star People guarding on the Cangqiong side, and Cangqiong Star People on the Blue Star side, preventing the Dimensional Gates from becoming a nexus for warfare. The Mechanical Dragon entered the area previously covered by the Protective Barrier and stopped moving. The armor plating on its chest and abdomen neatly unlocked, revealing Chen Fei seated within the cockpit. Chapter 651 651: Section 646 - Supplies "Chen Fei, is it? The Dimensional Gate Management headquarters has already issued a commission contract to Jiu Defense Company. If you need anything, just ask!" An officer approached, indicating that the Blue Star side had already become aware of the anomalies occurring at Cangqiong Star and had also confirmed the intentions of the Rebel Army. Chen Fei had temporarily opened up communication authorization in a high-end business hotel, letting the Blue Star side know about the concept products exhibited by Louis Industries to be deployed for reinforcement. Assigning the commission to a military contractor was completely in line with procedure; even Boss Hanna, who suddenly received the contract, was utterly bewildered. Since when did a tiny company like Jiu Defense have the authority to intervene in Otherworld wars? We don''t even do that kind of business! Isn''t this playing a bit too big? Soon, the industry circles, having caught wind from various street corners, began to buzz. "I need to replenish ammunition and crystal energy!" Chen Fei was direct; the Mechanical Dragon had fired all its missiles and rockets in the first moments of the battle, but the outcomes were significant, having eliminated firepower points that posed a direct threat to this Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor. In the subsequent battle, in order to maintain the output of the Magic Array, the Mechanical Dragon''s Crystal Energy Furnace also consumed considerable energy. Given the current situation, if he didn''t get resupplied, the Mechanical Dragon could only last two more battles before turning into a pile of scrap metal. Fortunately, with the Dimensional Gate backed by the Blue Star, supplies were abundant and fast, with plenty to spare. "No problem, please provide a list." The officer''s expression remained impassive. The task of the military contractor felt more like odd jobs; nowadays the regular armies defending the Dimensional Gates were receiving support from scrubs, which wasn''t a great look for them face-wise. But had the Mechanical Dragon not disrupted the Rebel Army''s assault, the loss of the Dimensional Gate would have been only a matter of time, even with the entire Blue Star as support. Time and preparations were rushed, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation had limited ground space, and facing large-scale focused fire, deploying various countermeasures simultaneously was challenging. Worst of all, just before the Protective Barrier was activated, an inside traitor at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation suddenly erupted, causing the situation to momentarily spiral out of control. Nearly overwhelmed by internal and external collusion, thanks to a timely response, the defending combat mechs charged relentlessly and quelled the audacious rebels in the shortest time, stabilizing the situation once again. Chen Fei took a data storage card from a Bracelet-Type Alchemical Storage Spatial Device on his right wrist, slammed it against the "Universal Data Transceiver," and the AI "Adam" immediately input the supply list. "Please wait a moment!" After taking it, the officer turned and left. A multitude of construction mechs burst out from within the management substations, brushing past the Mechanical Dragon. Right before Chen Fei''s eyes, the construction mechs began building defensive positions, working in a modular fashion like assembling blocks, with impressive efficiency, even pushing the automatic fire platforms to 50 meters outside the wall of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, with 12 such fire platform clusters being constructed at the same time, this being just one of those. From this setup, it was clear at least 300 automatic fire points would be added, repeating overlapping crossfire, which one could never have too much of. The space between the outer fire platforms and the walls served not just as a tactical buffer but also as crucial ground for deploying more tactical equipment. The rebels hadn''t managed to succeed at their first attempt; the defense of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was immediately upgraded by more than an order of magnitude. If the rebels still refused to give up, then the battle ahead would be tough. But tough or not, the fight must go on! The rebels of Nandu City were caught in a difficult position. All over the Zilu Continent, battles erupted, as the rebels trying to restore the former glory of the Tessa Empire clashed fiercely with forces still loyal to the Slan Dynasty. Yet, even among the local people of Zilu Continent, not necessarily the former subjects of the Tessa Empire would support a so-called Righteous Army that brought turmoil and casualties to the entire continent. The future outcomes of the situation were foretold by Louis Landon, the president of Louis Industries, to Chen Fei at the start: this war had just begun. The blood hadn''t dried, and enough had not died, so it was far from over. It wasn''t long after the Dimensional Gate Management Substation received Chen Fei''s supply list that the supplies were quickly delivered. Chen Fei didn''t have to personally intervene; a group of mechs surrounded the Mechanical Dragon, beginning to replenish its ammunition and crystal energy. The number of intelligent mechs here was surprisingly high, even reaching a ten-to-one ratio compared to Intelligent Species guards. The main defense force still relied on these mechs controlled by advanced derivative AI from "Cybertrom." It was precisely because of this that the internal treachery was detected and swiftly quelled at the first sign; sometimes, AI is more trustworthy than Intelligent Species. Clang! As the laid-back overseer, Chen Fei leisurely strolled around inside the Dimensional Gate Management Substation when suddenly his head twisted to one side, and he staggered a few steps. System: Ding! Absorbed 18 grams of alloy body! Damn! Took a bullet, huh! Who the hell is sniping at me from a distance? Don''t they know these little bullets are like feeding a dog? The Dog System won''t even give a single energy point. Chen Fei rubbed his somewhat sore head and looked in the direction of the bullet, his skills "Basic Optical Observer" combined with "Ultra-long Vision" and "Visual Assistance" quickly located the culprit. Their eyes met across a distance of 3.5 kilometers. Chen Fei gave the other person a thumbs up, impressive! The sniper was dumbfounded, having no idea what kind of monster he had sniped. Cangqiong Star people who hadn''t experienced special abilities often found it hard to understand how skills that do not require incantation could be so varied and peculiar. Two hundred meters away, the mechanical dragon still being resupplied suddenly raised its head. Opening its fanged maw, a blue-white beam of particle beam shot out, a directed-energy weapon even more domineering than lasers. The sniper, who had managed to knock Chen Fei''s head aside from 3.5 kilometers away, was instantly evaporated by the particle beam, leaving behind only a scorched and misshapen magnetic rail sniper rifle and a melted, bottomless hole in the ground. The next moment, the reinforced single soldier tactical armor "Dragon King" covered Chen Fei''s entire body, not daring to be careless again. A piercing alarm sounded, almost simultaneously, on the horizon within the limits of vision, trails of tail flames rose as missiles and rockets ascended once again. The rebel army''s new round of attack began. Above the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, light converged and abruptly fell, the protective barrier urgently activated, a vast array of combat equipment entered a state of readiness for battle, including humanoid combat mobile armors functioning as mobile fire platforms in the trench warfare. An enormous amount of combat equipment, combat mechs, and troops from various planes continuously streamed out of the dimensional gate, arriving at the Cangqiong Star side of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The gate had an emergency authorization protocol; once attacked, it could deploy military reinforcements to each other. Fireballs exploded on the surface of the protective barrier. The rebel army brought in new artillery, forming clusters, followed by a barrage of missiles and rockets raining down, seemingly not planning to allow the Dimensional Gate Management Substation more time to reinforce its defenses. As the new round of attacks began, the additional outer defenses were still incomplete. Even facing the imminent assault, the engineering mechs did not cease operations, positioning one automatic fire platform after another as best as they could. By the time Chen Fei re-entered the cockpit of the mechanical dragon, the ammunition had been fully replenished, but the crystal energy had only reached 78%, barely enough for one battle. The rebel forces also had capable people, either through estimating or collecting some performance characteristics of the mechanical dragon. After all, the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor was featured on the official website of Louis Industrial Company. As a concept product, it was more for advertising and promotion, so it wasn''t exactly a secret weapon. Still, Louis Industrial had not anticipated that this mechanical dragon wasn''t just for show but was genuinely combat-effective. Adam: Confirm the communication channel, recognized as Nandu City Dimensional Gate Management Substation, acquire friend or foe ID, communication key, establish communication. With the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" in charge, it handled most of the tedious work. If Chen Fei had to operate it, he probably would have been in over his head. "This is ''Nandu City Dimensional Gate Management Substation,'' communication confirmed, call sign ''Rookie,'' please respond." A young woman''s voice came through. It was the quintessential military contractor routine. To be precise, the routines of military contractors were designed to complement the active regular military. In an emergency, contractors are often conscripted, for ease of sovereign command, making them a level higher than militia units, similar to a reserve force. "''Rookie'' received!" Chen Fei started reprogramming the weapons, as the mechanical dragon had just been resupplied with ammunition better suited for the current battlefield. Sounds like thunder continuously erupted; the barrage of missiles and rockets coming from afar exploded incessantly upon the surface of the protective barrier. The light film of the barrier trembled slightly, truly a piece of advanced military technology, withstanding the onslaught bravely. However, such focused fire could not be indefinitely intercepted; if it exceeded the protective barrier''s load or if the crystal energy maintaining the barrier was depleted, the enemy''s attacks could still potentially penetrate directly into the interior of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Relying solely on the surface''s fortress-like structures probably wouldn''t last long. Because the plane coordinates "Longinus" were indestructible, the rebels intent on capturing them showed no restraint whatsoever. "''Rookie,'' you are responsible for the south and east defenses, stop the enemy''s approach!" After Chen Fei came to receive supplies and report at the Nandu City Dimensional Gate Management Substation, they did not hesitate to issue him combat orders. Even though the engineering mechs, highly efficient as they were, had only managed to set up the automatic fire platforms on the northern side, the station''s own defensive forces could still hold off attacks from the west, but they were powerless on the south and east sides, thus leaving the task to Chen Fei and the mechanical dragon, who had the advantage of mobility. Chapter 652 652: Section 647 - Problems in the Air ``` "''Rookie'' received, ''Adam'', I have taken off!" Surrounded by a panoramic 3D projection, Chen Fei pulled the control stick. The mechanical dragon''s cockpit layout was very similar to that of combat aircraft and even more streamlined. Apart from the necessary buttons and joysticks, most functions appeared in projection form and could automatically track hand gestures and pupil positioning. The AI "Adam"''s restructured flight control system was highly automated. With preset programming and sufficient computational resources, manual control combined with voice commands could easily complete complex maneuvers. The nearly twenty-ton mechanical dragon, blessed by both magic arrays and special abilities, instantly felt as light as a feather. When its weight plunged below zero into the negative, it naturally drifted away from the planet''s gravitational field. With wings fully extended, a gentle flap sent out a powerful airstream that propelled the dragon rapidly into the sky. Taking advantage of the gaps between relentless downpours of enemy fire and protected by a repulsion shield and two kinds of magic shields, it sparkled with magical light as it broke through the protective barrier and soared upward. No sooner had the mechanical dragon activated than the Dimensional Gate Management Substation began its counter-assault. Especially the automated heavy-caliber railguns of the firepower platforms, which continuously hurled explosive fragmentation grenades weighing over a ton toward the rebel positions, engaging in an inevitable war of attrition as both sides had protective barriers and spells. In this siege battle, neither the attackers nor defenders could maneuver freely, which gave Chen Fei and the mechanical dragon their chance. Moreover, since the Dimensional Gate Management Substation took on half of the defensive duties, he only had to face attacks from the south and east. When the mechanical dragon reached a height of 3000 meters, it opened its fanged maw, and a blue-white particle beam shot forth. The particle beam''s speed was slightly slower than that of a laser, but over the distances involved on a planet''s surface, this small difference in speed was practically negligible. It directly resulted in a huge mushroom cloud 15 kilometers away. Spiral-winged drones, lingering in the sky, had already marked all rebel targets. Chen Fei prioritized the targets with the highest tactical value, striking the enemy''s ammunition depot and triggering a large-scale sympathetic detonation that swept through the vicinity with its blast wave. The particle beam weapon originated from Chen Fei''s psi skill, which was an overpowered weapon to begin with. It was directly integrated into the mechanical dragon. After delivering the first strike, the mechanical dragon beat its wings and began to accelerate with all its might. Thirty-two "Air Burst (2)" magic arrays rapidly unleashed a continuous rumble of airstreams one after another. The quantitative change led to a qualitative one, as the originally violent gas outbursts formed a dense jet of air. The "Wind Cone (2)" emblazoned at the head of the dragon improved the dragon''s aerodynamic state by forcefully altering the airflow shape at the front, constructing a cone-shaped wind guide and compensating for its aerodynamics to some extent. Sixty-four "Fluid Vortex (2)" magic arrays output steadily, finely adjusting the massive thrust released by the "Air Burst (2)" cluster, making the flight posture more stable, and allowing turns to be smooth and effortless. A huge amount of crystal energy was rapidly consumed. Despite all being low-rank magic arrays, their sheer number and rapid hundreds of activations meant they consumed nearly as much crystal energy as high-rank magic arrays would. A giant conical shockwave appeared in front of the mechanical dragon, which accelerated like a ship cutting through waves, shaking off the swarming retaliatory fire from the rebels. The first to react were the anti-aircraft railgun weapons, which could project a large number of high-explosive bombs into the sky in rapid succession. But Chen Fei had no time to pay attention to these "feedings." He had more critical tactical objectives to achieve. Crack! ~ The mechanical dragon tore through the sound barrier with unstoppable force, its speed climbing another notch as it arrived above the rebel positions. The array of ton-grade cloud bombs, six on each side of its body, was dropped one after the other. The mechanical dragon was not originally designed for external attachments; after all, it wasn''t a kamikaze combat mobility armor. But when Chen Fei wanted it, so it came to be. This design was actually quite risky. If the rebels'' fire hit them... it''s likely that both the mechanical dragon and Chen Fei would be doomed together! But it wouldn''t be Chen Xiao''er if he wasn''t audacious. When the rebels caught a clear view of the bulky bombs slung on the sides of the mechanical dragon, their faces collectively turned green, unsure of which unfortunate soul would be the target of these deadly contraptions. In the distance, the rebel Light Wing Fleet, upon seeing the mechanical dragon''s ascent, launched sixteen Sky Falcons, rushing over with a full squadron ready for battle. It wasn''t that they didn''t want to send more Sky Falcons into battle, but the combat airspace was limited. Too many friendly forces in the sky could easily inflict friendly fire in the chaos of battle, and equally, they would miss many opportunities to attack. The problem in the sky was to be solved in the sky. The rebel commander''s response was textbook standard but... he was facing Chen Xiao''er, who, from the very start, never took aerial combat by the book seriously. From the first takeoff, Chen Fei''s combat style had been set. A maniacal saturation of firepower, a thorough surplus ingrained in his culture where it was taken as a given, since that''s what everyone did, and it was never enough. So there was no problem. The ton-grade cloud bombs that were dropped finally exploded one after another on the ground. The terrifying shockwaves obliterated one magical shield and small protective barrier after another amidst the roaring blast. The subsequent inferno and oxygen depletion directly inflicted massive casualties on the rebels, tearing apart personnel and tactical equipment alike. Chen Xiao''er was as bold in his requests as the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was generous in fulfillment. Both were willing to go all out. Blast and thermobaric weapons were nearly the most effective at breaking through magic shields and protective barriers. The rebels never expected Chen Fei, riding the mechanical dragon, to be so ruthless, going all out from the start. The rebel positions to the east and south were thoroughly plowed by the cloud bombs, and the tactical weapon clusters constantly bombarding the Dimensional Gate Management Substation fell silent one after another. The acrid smoke and heat spread in all directions, reaching the rear of the rebel positions. The scorching heat wave rolled across, and despite having spells and protective barriers, it was impossible to shield everything completely. Beep beep beep beep... " ``` An urgent alarm blared, as the Mechanical Dragon was not only radar-locked but also targeted by 32 missiles screaming towards it. From the Rebel Army''s Light Wing Fleet, the "Sky Falcon" squadron launched an attack on the Mechanical Dragon, unleashing a volley at the edge of visual range. "Wow, that''s a lot of missiles!" With his ears filled with the alarm''s sound, Chen Fei felt overwhelmed. His worries extended beyond the missiles to the "Sky Falcons" themselves. Though the aerial combat aircraft of Cangqiong Star couldn''t match the straight-line acceleration of Blue Star''s jet or jet-propelled aircraft, their maneuverability was famously superior, thanks to bionically inspired aerodynamic designs best suited for wind-riding flight. The Mechanical Dragon''s massive size made it less agile than the "Sky Falcons"; getting entangled with them could easily lead to being mobbed. "''Adam,'' dive to an altitude of 300 meters first, then climb to 20,000 meters before swooping down on those Light Wing Ships!" Chen Fei already had a plan in mind. Compared to the "Sky Falcons," the Mechanical Dragon''s maneuverability was inevitably at a natural disadvantage, but... the Light Wing Ships were even less agile than the Mechanical Dragon. Naturally, you pinch the softest persimmon. After the big battle at the Abyss Coliseum, Chen Fei had already considered fighting the "Sky Falcons," like "Big Mouth Monster" versus "Sky Falcon," "Raptor" versus "Sky Falcon," MiG versus "Sky Falcon," "Canglong" versus "Sky Falcon," Crystal Jet versus "Sky Falcon," and even "Sky Falcon" against "Sky Falcon" in-fighting. Now it seemed, his foresight was on point. Without these plans, he would be in a panic by now, not knowing what to do. The first wave of missiles quickly pulled the Mechanical Dragon into an inescapable radius, but the dragon headed straight for the ground. Lacking in maneuverability, Chen Fei made up for it with speed. After all, he was an experienced driver and knew a few tricks. At least he wasn''t like Chekhov Big Bear, who evolved to the level of pulling out liquor from his underpants. Even if he enjoyed a drink, that was something he simply couldn''t play along with. The Mechanical Dragon, with its wings folded, dived obliquely towards the ground, leaving the missile flock behind. Its wingtips, dragon horns, and tail dragged out long contrail vortices, making its flight path much easier to predict. As expected, a barrage of anti-aircraft fire came from the ground. Chen Fei only activated the Wind and Lightning Elemental Series Magic Shields, letting the surface of the shields be bombarded by railgun projectiles and offensive spells, but he still kept diving regardless. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably be seeing dark red by now, but his vision remained as clear as ever. Although the interceptor-type "Flying Dragon" Tactical Armor that specialized in aerial combat could apply balanced pressure on the human body, balancing internal pressure against overloading and increasing overload tolerance, in the Dog System''s "Individual Information" interface, "Physical Energy: 341/406" and "Burst Strength: 190/203" were already far beyond the metrics of a normal person. These two basic data points were comparable to a high-ranked Human Order War Professional and a supernatural power user with physique-enhancing skills. Altitude above ground 1500 meters, missiles 3500 meters away! Altitude above ground 1200 meters, missiles 2700 meters away! Altitude above ground 800 meters, missiles 1500 meters away! Altitude above ground 500 meters, missiles 600 meters away! Altitude above ground 300 meters... "Pull up with full strength!" Chen Fei was quick to act, almost timing to the second as he pulled the control stick with all his might, flapping the wings vigorously, allowing the Mechanical Dragon to perform a series of barrel rolls. The "Gravity (1) ¡Á4" Magic Array''s light was so intense it almost exploded, barely maintaining one second before popping and cracking into bursts of sparks, with a massive dispersion of Crystal Energy and Elemental Energy. Magic Arrays, which were quite fragile to begin with, would inevitably collapse if overloaded, especially when done so recklessly. But no sooner had the four "Gravity (1)" overloaded and burst, they quickly restored to their original state and continued to overload and explode again. The missile flock, now less than 100 meters away, lacked the Mechanical Dragon''s sophisticated maneuvers. By the time they tried to turn, it was too late, and they all crashed into the ground without exception. Below was the Rebel Army''s assembly point... Chen Xiao''er had indeed chosen a good spot. Chapter 653 653: Section 648 - Enemy and Us Sandwich Draining all the diving potential energy was not an easy task; even with the effects of the Magic Array and despite the strong repulsion from the planet''s gravitational field, the Mechanical Dragon was still perilously close to smashing into the ground. It tumbled along the brink of falling apart, its internal load-bearing structure constantly groaning. Even the tips of its spread wings touched the ground, slicing various things into pieces, whether they were rebel soldiers, combat equipment, or fortifications. The fierce winds also scattered nearby non-fixed objects every which way. It was merely the aftermath, yet it had already thrown the rebel formations on the ground into complete disarray. 32 missiles hit the ground, creating 32 fireballs, nearly dumbfounding those "Sky Falcon" units. Even short-term training at the Eagle Nest private airfield couldn''t change Chen Xiao''er''s unconventional combat methods. The panoramic three-dimensional projection in the cockpit of the Mechanical Dragon came with optical anti-shake features and a specialized computation model for correction, which, with the help of technology, prevented a disorienting whirl. In some ways, the cockpit technology of this Mechanical Dragon was similar to Chen Fei''s Psi Skill "Basic Optical Observer" in its "Visual Assistance" feature, and if you added the nearby propeller-type drones, it even achieved a "Macroscopic Perspective." No wonder they are from the top-tier enterprise of Blue Star Civilization, sparing no expense in flaunting their technical prowess, even managing to almost reach the level of Psi Skills. The forceful leveling process took several seconds before Chen Fei could stabilize the continually shifting weight of the Mechanical Dragon and soar into the sky once again. Directly ahead, the rebel''s Light Wing Fleet, comprising four Main Force Lightwing Ships each two hundred meters long, hovered at an altitude of 6000 meters from the ground. A combination of the Magic Array, Psi Skills, and the native capabilities of the Mechanical Dragon, plus the ultra-complex calculations by the AI "Adam," was essential; lacking any of these elements would have turned the series of perilous maneuvers into a flat-out disaster, from showing off to making a fool of oneself. "That guy... is a bastard!" The squadron leader of the "Sky Falcon" formation was trembling with anger, causing his own Assembled Combat Aircraft to wobble uncontrollably. He then frantically issued orders. "Chase it down and shoot it out of the sky!" The "Sky Falcons" once again tried to lock onto the target. The battlefield data link integrated every combat unit; if one "Sky Falcon" successfully locked onto the Mechanical Dragon, the other "Sky Falcons" could share the targeting data. Given the massive size of the Mechanical Dragon, it was no surprise that it got locked by the enemy fire control system. Even the ground-based anti-air systems assisted in tracking, with massive real-time data being quickly exchanged, bringing new pressures to Chen Fei. This time it was a volley of 16 missiles; the "Sky Falcons" had learned their lesson, wary of Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon pulling any tricks again. Sure enough, they wouldn''t fall for the same thing a second time. 15 kilometers away from the rebel Light Wing Fleet and 12 kilometers away from the "Sky Falcon" squadron. Well designed and executed, the Mechanical Dragon neatly spliced between the two. With wolves in front and tigers behind, the perfect local advantage rendered the enemy oblivious to this strategic setup from the start. But Chen Fei was not worried. As long as he maintained the right distance, the enemy''s Directed-energy Weapons would be too risky to use and rendered largely ineffective. If they fired rashly, there was a good chance they would hit their own people, particularly the large-caliber Railguns on the Light Wing Ships that posed a threat to the Mechanical Dragon. While the enemy temporarily couldn''t use their Directed-energy Weapons, Chen Fei could still use his, shooting either forwards or backwards since they were all enemies anyway. He excelled at taking advantage in such chaotic battles. Isn''t this being too harsh? Yes indeed, bullying feels so good! Chen Fei, who had once boarded a similar Main Force Lightwing Ship, understood the structure of the ship and its weapon systems to some extent. As the Mechanical Dragon climbed at a high angle of attack, it shook its wings, shedding myriad dazzling points of light. The Jamming Bullets, emitting both infrared heat signatures and simulated electromagnetic signals, danced through the air towards the incoming missile swarm. Seconds later, 16 missiles plunged into the dense range of Jamming Bullets. Unable to resist the temptation, some missiles abandoned the Mechanical Dragon and collided with a Jamming Bullet instead. Bang!~ Pointless fireballs erupted, almost causing the "Sky Falcon" knights to twist their joysticks off with their bare hands. Then, a few more foolish missiles collided with the Jamming Bullets, adding a few bursts of color to the sky. There were too many temptations; really, one cannot blame the missiles for being led astray. Although bulky and harder to dodge enemy fire, the Mechanical Dragon carried an impressive amount of ammunition. Jamming Bullets were continuously released, occasionally trapping missiles for self-destruction. As the leading missile closed to less than 5 kilometers from the Mechanical Dragon, behind it, only a few of its companions remained. Chen Fei playfully toyed with his opponents, making them uselessly waste their ammunition. The "Sky Falcons" didn''t carry more missiles than the main combat aircraft of Blue Star Civilization, so in a battle of attrition, the Mechanical Dragon was simply bullying them. "''Adam,'' fire one back at them!" Chen Fei''s visual interface underwent a change again, isolating a separate image. The mechanical dragon''s head twisted backward, opened its fanged maw, and fired a blue-white particle beam. The highly penetrative stream of positrons mixed with protons not only instantly destroyed the nearest missile, but a "Sky Falcon" on the same linear path failed to evade in time. Its pilot couldn''t even escape the combat aircraft he was controlling, vanishing in an explosion and plummeting to the ground as a fireball. Inertia existed not only in the missile''s trajectory but also in the tactical maneuvers of the opposing pilots. A slight oversight on the battlefield could immediately invite fatal disaster. Realizing the threat of the mechanical dragon''s counterattack, the persistently pursuing "Sky Falcons" immediately utilized their mobility to scatter like birds and beasts. They were far from being determined to fight to the death at any cost, even lacking the awareness for such resolve. The army of Cangqiong Star had been at peace for too long, naturally not as fierce as military contractors who battle mutants every day, where a mere slip could lead to annihilation. "Fire another one at the Light Wing Ship ahead, the first one on the left!" Chen Fei had scattered the "Sky Falcon" squadron, effectively deterring them, and he once again focused his target straight ahead, which was also his primary tactical objective. The Light Wing Ship was a real threat to the mechanical dragon, equipped with weapons capable of breaking through the Repulsion Shield and two types of Elemental Magic Shields. He had wanted to eliminate them from the start to vie for air supremacy in this area. Once the support of the Light Wing Ships was lost, the remaining "Sky Falcons" posed much less of a threat to the mechanical dragon, at most, they could be considered an annoying swarm of flies. If it weren''t for the need to conserve Crystal Energy reserves, Chen Fei could almost manage by just maintaining defensive measures, allowing the enemy to attack at will. A particle beam column pierced the sky, hitting directly the first vessel of the four primary Light Wing Ships. The Light Wing Fleet, as if facing a formidable enemy, nearly deployed all its defenses. The blue-white beam brutally struck about ten meters off the flank of the Light Wing Ship, as if an invisible force had forcefully blocked it, the chaotic lights and colors spreading out to dissipate the violent particle energy. The defense of the Light Wing Ship was not only magical but also technological. Cangqiong Star and Blue Star each emphasized technology applications according to their civilization''s characteristics. Ultimately, it all boiled down to maintenance costs. "It didn''t explode!" Chen Fei was somewhat surprised; this was his first time firing the Particle Beam Cannon at a Light Wing Ship. After all, except during the civil war on Cangqiong Star, there was usually no opportunity like this; any time he dared to fire, he would end up in prison for life. Adam: Detected 17 protective barriers, recommend increasing output power or multiple shots. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" provided an assessment of the strike''s effect, as breaking defenses was never a matter of technique¡ªit was all about brute force. "Tsk, such defense, it''s really exaggerated!" Chen Fei had seen Light Wing Ships being relentlessly assaulted by endless sea monsters and crashing down, and though they were knocked down, it was not an easy task. If those monsters attacked the mechanical dragon in the same relentless, group-battering manner, he would have to concede with a "GG," or he would have to run away full force at the sight of such a scene. "Can evolve into a large Particle Beam Cannon!" The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" utilized the structure and modules of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor to extrapolate a superweapon that would gather all resources for a concentrated strike. Transforming the entire mechanical dragon into a floating super cannon, it utilized the high efficiency of the Crystal Energy Furnace to fire a shot powerful enough to pierce through an entire Light Wing Ship. "No, no, no, seize the attack weak spots of the Light Wing Ship, prepare for close combat!" Yet Chen Fei decisively rejected the suggestion, as any behavior that voluntarily surrendered mobility was contrary to a pilot''s instinct. He was a combat pilot, not an artillery man, and relying solely on artillery fire was no solution. The mechanical dragon, entering supersonic rush once again, closed the distance with the Light Wing Fleet. The enemy''s large-caliber railguns kept firing, but the conspicuous cyan predictive trajectories allowed Chen Fei, piloting the Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, to dance between them with ease, as if gracefully dancing on the blade''s edge. "Full speed ahead, don''t give them a chance to react!" Chen Fei pushed the throttle all the way forward. The mechanical dragon, which had been holding back since the battle began, once again accelerated dramatically. Three times the speed of sound! "Wind Cone(2)" Magic Array was specifically designed to break the sound barrier. Chapter 654 654: Section 649 - Great Breakthrough As one of Cangqiong Star''s main air superiority forces, the active Main Force Lightwing Ship obviously wouldn''t be easily brought down by just a few missiles, a few shells, or a few strands of directional energy. When it once carried the Princess and her entourage for a transoceanic flight, if not for encountering terrible weather and the desperate, frenzied attacks of a Magical Beast Group at no cost, it wouldn''t have gone down easily. Even in such a perilous situation, the Main Force Lightwing Ship was still able to calmly launch escape pods and safely transfer personnel. Facing the enemy''s main aerial weaponry, the Mechanical Dragon agilely weaved through the teal lines predicting the enemy''s attack trajectories, always narrowly missing the actual paths of the projectiles. It was as if dancing on the edge of life and death, a heart-pounding scene unfolding repeatedly, where a single hit would suffice to completely shatter the Constructed Combat Mobility Armor in Dragon form, but, in the end, all attacks failed to connect, and the Mechanical Dragon remained unscathed. In the brief intervals between the alternating fire of railgun weapons and directed-energy weapons, the four Main Force Lightwing Ships simultaneously opened their missile nests, revealing dense openings on both sides of their hulls, just like beehives. The next second, missile after missile launched, propelled by flames and whistling through the air. The Rebel Army''s Light Wing Fleet took the oncoming Mechanical Dragon seriously as an equal adversary, no longer pulling any punches and firing with full force. Inside the Protective Barrier enveloping the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, an officer in charge of defense command stood at a high vantage point. Though his face remained cold and expressionless throughout, his gaze was fixed intently on the Mechanical Dragon boldly charging towards the four Main Force Lightwing Ships, while he whispered to himself in a voice only he could hear. "Can''t hit, can''t hit, can''t hit..." Military contractors who regularly combat Mutants often possess formidable strength. Perhaps in discipline and equipment, they are not on par with the active forces of the Sovereignty, but if the two were to confront each other with equal hardware, it''s still uncertain whose deer might fall. Chen Fei aimed at the Rebel Army''s Light Wing Fleet with the intent to fight for air superiority, and this tactical expectation was, in fact, flawless. Once the Rebels lost air superiority, it was likely that their ground forces would suffer. Such a significant tactical expectation meant equally enormous risks; just one hit by the Rebel''s firepower, and there would be no suspense¡ªthe Mechanical Dragon along with its pilot would be turned into dust. To others, a situation that seemed almost certainly deadly, yet, in Chen Fei''s eyes, was filled with safe gaps everywhere. No matter how fierce the enemy''s firepower was, they couldn''t possibly fill the entire sky. There would always be enough maneuvering space for the Mechanical Dragon to navigate. The particle beams and laser beams from the dragon''s head kept shooting, continuously exploding missiles that came head-on, tearing a large hole into the enemy''s web of fire, and it grew larger and larger. Despite being the full focus of the Light Wing Fleet''s firepower, the Mechanical Dragon piloted by Chen Fei didn''t fall into a pincer attack. He didn''t even have to worry about attacks from behind. Fearing being caught in the attack of the Light Wing Fleet, the persistently pursuing Rebel "Sky Falcon" squadron fled the scene at the first opportunity. Missiles might discriminate between friend and foe, which is somewhat tolerable. But unfortunately, those directed energy beams and railgun projectiles do not recognize relatives, and for a smaller constructed aircraft, a graze means death, and a hit means oblivion. Therefore, there were no Iron-headed Ghosts who thought their flying skills were as good as Chen Fei''s. It was for this reason that Chen Fei could play so wildly! For anyone else, a million lives wouldn''t be enough for such recklessness. The distance between the Mechanical Dragon and the four Main Force Lightwing Ships kept decreasing¡ª12 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 7 kilometers, 3 kilometers... With the Mechanical Dragon maintaining triple the speed of sound, it could close in by a kilometer every second. A mere ten-plus kilometers was just a matter of seconds. For the Rebel Light Wing Fleet, the Mechanical Dragon''s charging speed was simply a nightmare. The Lightwing Ships didn''t even have time to unleash denser firepower before Chen Fei closed in on them, the continuous particle beams even vaporized railgun projectiles that had just been fired. ... Distance of 200 meters! At this moment, it was no longer about the four Lightwing Ships focusing fire, but the situation had turned. It had become a one-on-one duel, each trading blows. The Mechanical Dragon charged directly into the heavy firepower blind spot of the Light Wing Ship, where only some insignificant light firepower was still desperately "feeding." Distance of 100 meters! At this range, the targeted Light Wing Ship''s fate was sealed. Chen Xiao''er''s sly maneuvers began to perform again, no, his micro management took center stage. "Gravity (1)" Magic Array''s light suddenly changed, turning the gravity effect from negative to positive. At the same time, Chen Fei''s Psi Skill "Gravity Adjustment Module," increased the gravity to 100%, and combined with the Magic Array, the Mechanical Dragon''s weight surged to at least twice its original weight. Although there was some impact on its flight speed, for something capable of thrice the speed of sound, this impact was quite limited. Even if due to the gravity it suddenly slowed to twice the speed of sound, the Mechanical Dragon, originally weighing nearly twenty tons, now struck like a forty-ton solid shot against the Protective Barrier of the first ship on the left in the Light Wing Fleet. Rounded up to forty tons at twice the speed of sound, nearly ten million kilojoules of kinetic energy were focused at the head of the Mechanical Dragon, equivalent to the power of over two thousand tons of standard Explosives in a focused directed blast. Out of nowhere, countless sparks, lightning, gusts of wind, and roars appeared... The barrier twisted, elements dispersed, the seventeen different types of Protective Barriers detected by the AI "Adam" collapsed like clay chickens and pottery dogs, affecting the Light Wing Ship itself. The massive hull trembled slightly as crew members fell and even flew into various objects, leading to casualties as a terrible groaning sounded from within the depths of the ship. The penetration of the Mechanical Dragon did not stop there, as it breached layer upon layer of Protective Barriers, drawing ever closer to the core of the Light Wing Ship. As if breaking through the last layer of resistance, the Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, carrying Chen Fei who was dizzy from the recoil, charged onto the deck of the Light Wing Ship. The kinetic energy of a gunpowder-driven pistol bullet is about 300 joules, a rifle bullet can reach around 1500 joules, a large-caliber sniper rifle bullet can exceed 10,000 joules, and a single lightning strike can reach 100 million joules. How could the Light Wing Ship''s Protective Barrier withstand that? Chen Xiao''er, reckless to the point of not sparing even himself, had blood leaking from the corner of his mouth and was a complete mess, slumping over the control seat. The 9.8 billion joules of recoil was simply beyond what a human could endure. Before losing consciousness, he used his Psi Skill to repair the damage on the Mechanical Dragon. The Dog System took advantage of the chaos, snatching nearly 1000 Energy Points. If it were not so, a full-force collision would have been enough for this Combat Mobility Armor to meet mutual annihilation with the Main Force Lightwing Ship, instantly disintegrating in the sky. Even if he wasn''t knocked unconscious, Chen Fei''s spiritual power was nearly depleted, as he mumbled to himself, barely coherent. "Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?" Yet the actions of the Mechanical Dragon did not cease, as the AI "Adam" took over nearly all operations. As long as Chen Fei was alive, the battle would not stop. It truly lived up to its reputation as the top combat AI from over thirty years ago, still sharp as ever. The Light Wing Ship that had been breached was now chaos incarnate with everyone desperately running for the escape pods. In their eyes, this "Dragon of Slaughter" would surely wreak havoc, and if they didn''t leave now, they''d be buried along with the ship. Still, some true warriors, brandishing their Railgun Combat Rifles, stumbled onto the deck and kept firing at the Mechanical Dragon. But the steel-core bullets as thick as fingers still couldn''t penetrate the Repulsion Shield and the two Elemental Magic Shields. Even without Chen Fei''s Psi Skill, this Combat Mobility Armor was not something ordinary tactical weapons could destroy. "Roar!~" With the living example of the female Metallic Dragon named Yilan, the AI-driven Mechanical Dragon mimicked perfectly, and after roaring, it shot forth a blue-white beam of Particle Beam from its mouth, piercing the deck instantly and shooting out from the bottom. Not knowing which vital constructed parts and Magic Arrays it destroyed, the ship''s bow dipped, began slowly descending in altitude, and dove diagonally toward the ground, with the remaining Protective Barriers ceasing to function. One, two... more escape pods detached from the ship, heading toward the distance. After all, the Light Wing Ship itself lacked additional protective forces, and once breached, it had absolutely no ability to fight back. The Mechanical Dragon''s wings stretched high, then slammed down with a bang, as bio-inspired wing spikes turned the deck into a dense steel jungle, covering all the resisting warriors, piercing through their bodies and limbs, as people emitted their last cries before death. Only a very few escaped, dropping their weapons and fleeing in panic. The last remnants of resistance aboard this Light Wing Ship finally dissipated. But Chen Fei was still unconscious, unable to activate his Psionic abilities, and unable to retract the lost wing spikes, the Mechanical Dragon''s wings immediately shrank by half. The Mechanical Dragon tore open the tattered deck without mercy and planted a Cloud Bomb inside. It then closed the broken pieces of the deck, sealing it shut. Boom!~ Fierce flames erupted from every corner of the Light Wing Ship, affecting some escape pods that had not yet detached, wobbling not far before plunging toward the ground. The crew members who failed to reach the safe cabins or escape pods were annihilated without exception. This Main Force Lightwing Ship had finally met its end. The other three Light Wing Ships, having witnessed this scene, did not hesitate to abandon the combat and began to maneuver out of the battle airspace. Are you kidding? Seeing that "Metallic Giant Dragon" untouched while scattering the Protective Barrier, if it were them, they''d probably be done for with one hit. Better to run now, or they might not get the chance. Chen Xiao''er was still babbling. "I don''t want to take tests, I want to go home..." Chapter 655 655: Section 650 - A Narrow Escape from Death Boom... As if heaven and earth were falling apart, the massive Light Wing Ship crashed heavily to the ground, making the entire area around Nandu City feel like it had experienced a minor earthquake of about magnitude 3 or 4, with a thunderous roar that could be heard within a radius of twenty miles. Dense smoke billowed, and countless fragments were thrown in all directions. Even up to the moment it hit the ground, some crew members had still not managed to escape from the falling Light Wing Ship. The second round of the Rebel Army''s attack had to end without achieving much, as they lost air superiority and, without an effective tactic to combat the Mechanical Dragon''s suicidal charge. The upcoming third round of attacks would likely be just a tentative skirmish; investing too many forces could turn into a futile sacrifice of valuable fighting strength. However, the strategic value of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation remains immeasurable; the rebels across the Zilu Continent will hardly give up easily before reaching their limit of endurance. If they could capture this Dimensional Gate before the Slan Dynasty''s rebel-suppressing forces arrived, they might indeed have a chance to twist the situation in their favor and possibly rebuild the Tessa Empire. War is a gamble, a Great Strategy built from countless possibilities. Before making a move, anything is possible. When the Slan Empire launched the war of unification, the resurrection of the remnants of the Tessa Empire in Zilu Continent was also a risky bet. - The Mechanical Dragon broke through the rising smoke and flames, sharply swooping low, penetrated the protective barrier of the temporarily opened Dimensional Gate Management Substation in Zilu Continent. Click! The armor of the cockpit split open, revealing the cockpit, but the pilot slid out like a lump of mud. "Medic!" Realizing that Chen Fei''s condition was critical, with blood frothing from his mouth, the soldiers monitoring the Mechanical Dragon hastily yelled out. Two medics dragging a hovering stretcher and a medical mechanical being quickly arrived, not daring to move Chen Fei carelessly but beginning to check him on the spot. "Severe concussion, reduced semicircular canal function, internal bleeding, shock state¡ªget the magic potion''s sealed box over here, hurry, this guy''s about to die!" A dose of magic medicine was administered immediately, followed by the light-based spell "Light of Redemption" cast on Chen Fei, and higher-level Light Healing Spells were being chanted. It''s not just the Light-element Magical Beasts like the Pure Light Sparrow that can use Light-based Spells, both on Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. The resources used at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation are naturally top-notch; even if the magic potion used wasn''t as expensive as the one Chen Fei had previously used, valued at ten million Star Yuan from the Earth Order''s first rank "Life Resuscitation," it wasn''t far behind. This is the side of Cangqiong Star. Economically, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation is akin to a tax-free trade zone, as it does not involve interstellar trade quotas, making resources such as magic potions not so scarce. In an emergency, reserves are immediately deployed, and this time, Chen Fei had the fortune to be treated with such precious magic potions. However, if these items need to cross the Dimensional Gate and leave the area of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, they would immediately be subject to trade quota restrictions, and any unquotated transport would be considered illegal smuggling. Of course, what''s already consumed doesn''t count! "Damn! Are military contractors nowadays all this reckless?" The Commander who rushed to the scene saw the barely alive Chen Xiao''er and immediately recalled the Mechanical Dragon''s unstoppable impact against the Main Force Lightwing Ship of Cangqiong Star. Brave, indeed, but far too dismissive of his own life. He hadn''t expected that military contracting had become so fiercely competitive. For a regular person, rather than being alive, when the cockpit opened, it should have revealed a puddle of indistinguishable blood and flesh. Even for enhanced individuals with special abilities and high-rank War Professionals, striking a Main Force Lightwing Ship of Cangqiong Star at three times the speed of sound would likely result in near-certain death. The kind of impact force that occurred is simply not something humans can withstand. "Burp!" Assisted by a respirator with suction capabilities, Chen Fei vomited a clot of blood, let out a long burp, and seemed to regain some consciousness, smacking his lips and muttering. "What''s this taste, coffee? Add three spoons of sugar..." Sweet magic potion? That doesn''t exist! Magic potions and traditional Chinese medicinal brews are cut from the same cloth. Approximately 100 billion Joules of kinematic rebound, if it hadn''t instantly taken his life at this moment, it would likely take a long time for him to recover. Forcing down one Light Wing Ship was already pushing Chen Fei to his limits. Fortunately, the other three Main Force Light Wing Ships truly feared this reckless madman and withdrew from the battle; otherwise, a fight to the death would definitely have ended disastrously for Chen Xiao''er. Louis Industries'' latest Conceptual Armament, the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Fighter Mobile Armor, was not originally designed for combat against Main Force Light Wing Ships, not even considered a combat weapon, let alone for aerial combat, and inherently lacked such functionalities, relying solely on the on-site programming by the artificial intelligence "Adam." Without Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power continuously fortifying and self-repairing, achieving even a pyrrhic victory would be impossible. In reality, he was damaging the enemy by a hundredfold at the expense of his own ten thousandfold. Otherwise, how could he single-handedly bring down a Main Force Light Wing Ship, causing the Rebel Army such a huge loss? With such a record, one can almost foresee what chaos will ensue in the marketing department of Louis Industries; even the big boss, Louis Landon, would probably have a headache over this! Expensive magic potions combined with high-rank Light Healing Spells had, after several hours, finally brought Chen Fei back to full consciousness. He realized that at some point he had returned to the ground and was no longer in the cockpit of the Mechanical Dragon, but lying on a stretcher. The medics hadn''t moved him much, given that the injuries were internal, and it was not wise to move him arbitrarily before a full recovery. "What time is it now?" Looking at the sky, the Holy Flame Sun was already setting; he didn''t know how many attacks the rebel army had already made. However, it was discernible that the Dimensional Gate had not yet fallen. He had fought with all his might and had not let his efforts be in vain. Adam: It is now Delan Time 1:15:05, Zhilu Continent Time (+15) 15:27:01. Even though Cangqiong Star globally synchronized the Delan Time of the Slan Dynasty, for the convenience of the local people''s daily routines, there was still a separate continental time that distinguished morning, afternoon, and evening based on the midline longitude of the continental plates. "Ah? I need to get up!" Realizing that he had been lying down for seven to eight hours, Chen Fei was eager to get up, but as soon as he tried, he couldn''t help but grimace. It wasn''t just that his muscles were weak and powerless, but even his bones felt like they were about to break, his head felt like a battleground of land and water mixes, with incessant tinnitus, while waves of nausea and other discomforts threatened to make him faint again. "Have you awakened? If so, just lie still and don''t move!" A colonel came up to Chen Fei and examined the lucky survivor. If it had been someone else, to single-handedly take on a Light Wing Ship, it would be a miracle to come back alive, let alone have a body left intact. "How is the situation?" Chen Fei still remembered the mission assigned by the Dimensional Gate Management Substation; it was his duty. As long as he had a breath left, he must continue to fight. "It''s still okay for now. You almost died, did you know that?" The Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s Defense Commander, seeing Chen Fei still in good spirits, also relaxed a bit and casually warned him. Military contractors could only be deemed as paramilitary organizations, but their employees were still considered commoners. If someone died here, it would cause unpleasant social repercussions. While Chen Fei was unconscious, Blue Star had utilized the urgency at the Dimensional Gate to send reinforcements and had simultaneously heightened the security levels of other Dimensional Gates, even temporarily suspending the scheduled allowances through them. "I won''t die just yet. Is communication restored yet?" If he were meant to die, Chen Fei would have died long ago. He began worrying about Teacher Shen, who was left at the hotel. Those bastards who dared target the participating manufacturers should all be dead by now, right?! "Still nothing. It must be caused by some Magical Beasts disrupting the communication." Of course, the Defense Commander knew what Chen Fei meant by communication. With the aid of the Dimensional Gate, communication between the management substation and Blue Star had not been interrupted, as normal electromagnetic interference couldn''t affect the operation at the coordinate "Longinus." But once outside this place, the communication signal was uncertain. The rebel army was still tightly blocking most civilian communications and much of the military communication. "Alright then, ''Adam,'' is there a way to contact the hotel?" Chen Fei directly asked his Artificial Intelligence AI. Adam: There are two options, Option A: Laying communication cables, requiring 30 kilometers of low-consumption optical fiber, estimated time is 7 hours; Option B: Use of unmanned drones as relays to transmit signals via laser. "Definitely Option B!" Chen Fei immediately made his choice. Once outside the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, chaos reigned, and not to mention that they didn''t have such long optical fibers, even if they did, the difficulty of laying them wasn''t low. Even if laid, it could break into seventeen or eighteen segments, or even more, leaving no way to repair them. Though relay through unmanned drones using laser signals couldn''t guarantee stable communication, it was better than nothing. If one were shot down, another could simply be released. In the Space System Alchemy Storage Device on Chen Fei''s right wrist, there was an ample reserve of drones, all ready to be deployed. After taking out several drones, following "Adam''s" instructions, he made modifications. Having lain down for a few hours, his Special Ability hadn''t been too affected. As his spiritual power recovered, he was able to use his abilities again, but the work of modifying a dozen drones still broke him into a sweat, leaving his face looking quite bad. Not until each communication drone had taken off one by one did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. During this process, the medics came by again to check on him, advised him to rest properly, and then hooked up another IV bag before leaving. "This is the ''Suicide Squad,'' and we don''t have much time left!" The first to restore communication turned out to be one of the three special teams, the Suicide Squad. They were dissatisfied that they had been inactive until now. The members of the Suicide Squad were prepared to die in battle, wanting their deaths to be of value, rather than being sidelined, munching on melons until they eventually died obscure, unnoticed deaths from poisoning. Chapter 656 656: Section 651 - Restoring Communication "Understood, I''ll assign you a task immediately!" Chen Fei immediately contacted the "Intelligence Team," finding a glorious mission for these Dead Soldiers who had ingested an incurable poison and whose lives were ticking away, so they could meet a heroic end. Had it not been for that call from the "Suicide Squad," he would have nearly completed all the tasks himself. Drones kept ascending for communication, and Chen Fei soon got in touch with the "Intelligence Team." "I need the location of the rebel headquarters and ammunition depot. Also, help me find a man, his real name is Xia Ji, a key member of the ''Water Bear'' organization, who arrived in Nandu City the day before yesterday and then disappeared. I will send you the related materials. Once the location of Xia Ji is confirmed, I will transfer your command authority to the highest Defense Commander of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation." While accepting the new assignment, he hadn''t forgotten the task that was still incomplete. The intelligence team formed by the big shot Louis Landon comprised many experts, which could serve both public and private interests. After all, herding one sheep was as good as herding two. "We have confirmed the location of the rebel headquarters and ammunition depot. The ammunition depot uses a Space System Alchemy Storage Device and only has an ammunition gathering point. Information is being transferred to you immediately. As for the criminal ''Xia Ji,'' we have obtained his information and estimate that it will take 24 hours to get a preliminary report." The "Intelligence Team" was indeed exceptional, providing immediate feedback and correcting a mistake in Chen Fei''s understanding. They also swiftly confirmed the information about "Xia Ji," displaying their competence in pursuing the target despite just taking over the task. "Thanks for your hard work!" Such professionalism was deserving of the money likely spent by the big shot. You get what you pay for, and the services were reliable and comprehensive, with preparations already made before Chen Fei''s instructions had even arrived. "No problem, ''Rookie.'' You''d better take it easy, you could die!" The experts in the "Intelligence Team" were clearly aware of the identity of the new commander issuing orders, as well as his actions on the battlefield. They must have sweated over his safety inwardly. "I''m aware of it!" Chen Fei, now just recovering from serious injuries and greatly weakened, was naturally incapable of doing anything. To be involved in a battle of this scale, whether reckless or not, just surviving was a cause for boundless gratitude. "''Strong Men Team,'' have you moved from your position?" Chen Fei then contacted the High Rank Ability User Team, who could play a key role but was unreliable at critical moments. "No movement. Maintaining readiness. We are not suited for the battlefield. Please give precise instructions." The other party confirmed their state and expressed their concerns and indirect refusal. It turned out the reminders from big shot Louis Landon were accurate; these High Rank Ability Users were only good for fair-weather fights, and unreliable in crunch time, a bunch of undependable people. Luckily, there was the "Suicide Squad." Although their individual combat strength might not match that of the "Strong Men Team," their morale and the determined will to fight to the death was beyond question. This was the trump card the big shot relied on in critical moments. "Beep!" The "Intelligence Team" had sent over enemy deployment near the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, with Chen Fei''s drones in the sky indirectly aiding them. Even the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had its control and data packets covertly intercepted by these experts. The sky at this moment was swarming with drones from both sides, densely populating every altitude, engaging each other in combat frequently, with a relentless drain on resources. Fortunately, whether on one side or the other, there was a sufficient reserve of drones, replacing one with two as needed, and the density was so high that even the rebels'' "Sky Falcon" dared not approach carelessly. Chen Fei immediately forwarded this freshly acquired intelligence to the battle data linkage system of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, sharing it in real time with all heavy firepower points. However, the Defense Commander of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation used his authority to block the automatic firing command. The Colonel came over to Chen Fei, seeing this young man still restless even while lying on the stretcher, and spoke, "Your combat mission is over. Your current task is to heal in peace. Also, what''s with that intelligence? Did Jiu Defense Company know about the rebellion on Zilu Continent in advance, and even made arrangements beforehand?" The intelligence fed into the battle data link surprised the Defense Commander. The rebels were not just an untrained mob but the standing army of the Silan Dynasty, and one would not expect their entire dispositions to be laid bare so easily. Therefore, the only explanation would be pre-arranged plans, and powerful intelligence capabilities, enough to infiltrate a standing army. But for a small military contractor like Jiu Defense Company, pre-emptively planning against a rebellion on a continent of Cangqiong Star seemed rather ludicrous, to say nothing of relevancy; even if willing, they lacked the capability. "Jiu Defense Company? Of course not!" Chen Fei promptly denied it, now was not the time for rosy embellishments for the company. With the small frame of Jiu Defense, undertaking missions beyond their capacity was not feasible. It was better to handle their core business sincerely. "Oh? Is there someone else?" The Defense Commander, Colonel Sir, was taken aback. He hadn''t uncovered any forces behind Chen Fei other than Jiu Defense, nor did he expect the existence of other powers intervening in the unrest on Zilu Continent. Chen Fei spoke truthfully, "An intelligence team personally organized by Mr. Louis Landon, President of Louis Industrial Company." There was no point in hiding anything. If he remained secretive now, he would find it hard to successfully hand over the "Intelligence Team." To maximize the team''s potential, unified command was best, and trust was mandatory. "Louis Industries, huh? No wonder!" The Defense Commander, Colonel Sir, nodded in realization. That made sense; such feats didn''t seem like the work of a small military contractor. Blue Star''s top high-tech conglomerate perceiving the crisis on Zilu Continent and making prior arrangements, even bypassing both the Dimensional Gate Management authorities and Blue Star''s related departments, was not at all surprising. After all, Louis Industrial Company had the power to do so. Then he continued, "I need to share the intelligence of this team." The situation at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City could be described as being surrounded by wolves. The portal was established here, protected by permanent fortifications meticulously, but precisely because of this, it was neither transferable nor easy to attack, making passive defense quite strenuous. Having sufficient intelligence support might make the situation relatively better. "No problem, I will transfer this ''Intelligence Team'' to you later." The original intention of establishing the "Intelligence Team" was completely in line with the goal of the Defense Commander, so Chen Fei naturally could make this decision on behalf of the organizer of this team, Louis Landon. Perhaps before this, Mr. Landon didn''t know how to justify the acceptance of this intelligence team''s information support by the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Now, as both parties hit it off, the agreement was perfect and mutually willing. "Hmm, you take good care of yourself and don''t do anything unnecessary!" The Defense Commander, Colonel Sir, nodded and then left. With the Dimensional Gate Management Substation in a state of war and many matters needing attention, he could only spare a moment to check on this military contractor''s employee. "Teacher Shen! How are things on your end?" Chen Fei finally got through to Shen Fei''s call. "Eh? Has the communication been restored?" Shen Fei''s voice came through. Not long after Chen Fei had left, the people in the high-end business hotel had been cut off from outside contact again. The hotel was clearly more than 5 kilometers away from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, and so Chen Fei''s "signal source" naturally could not cover it. "Temporarily restored, I''ve built a communication relay network with a drone swarm, transmitting the signal over here." Chen Fei explained the reason for the restored communication. Above the high-end business hotel hovered a drone, converting the received laser signals into electromagnetic signals that mobile phones and other end devices could respond to. Shen Fei said happily, "That''s great! There hasn''t been another large-scale attack like before on my end, just some sporadic small disturbances, which we can handle. ''Mute'' Kano joined us with over three hundred people, all elites from the ''Hundred-Legs Gang.'' Mr. Randon''s bodyguards are integrating them, and I estimate they''ll soon be ready to be of use. How about you? There seemed to be quite a commotion on your end this morning." The restoration of communication, even if temporary, was still good news for those trapped in the hotel. The loud noise and ground vibration caused by the crash of the main force Lightwing Ship were clearly audible throughout most of Nandu City, and Teacher Shen, who had speculated about the intensity of the battle, was quite concerned for Chen Fei''s safety. "Don''t worry, I''m still alive, hmm, with all my limbs intact, in good shape, still a hero, no need to wait another eighteen years." Chen Fei barely looked at his own body, moved his hands and feet a bit; there were no external injuries, only internal ones, but it was all right now. "Hey, Little Chen, what''s the situation with that Combat Mobility Armor?" The voice of Mr. Louis Landon interjected. Hearing Chen Fei''s vague explanation, he decided to probe indirectly. If the Mechanical Dragon was done for, the pilot probably wouldn''t fare much better. Chen Fei glanced at the Mechanical Dragon not far away and said, "Uh, its wings have shrunk quite a bit, but for the most part, it''s still intact." "Don''t push yourself too hard!" Louis Landon, away from the battlefield, breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn''t even an ability user now, so he couldn''t be of much help. He had handed over the task of assisting in the defense of the Nandu City Dimensional Gate Management Substation to a B-level Metal Ability User. Anyone would know that this task would be extremely challenging, and the slightest carelessness could result in the loss of life. But Louis Landon had no other choice; he could not directly interfere with the Dimensional Gate Management departments. Too much of anything is bad; sometimes, doing too much only makes things worse or even backfires, possibly being seen as having ulterior motives. He had no choice but to form three small teams to provide timely support. It was nearly impossible to openly dispatch large numbers of combat personnel into Nandu City on the Zilu Continent under the noses of the Slan Dynasty, no matter the rationale, as the consequences would backfire on him. His bodyguards were all strong and had no issues fighting alone or executing defense missions, but no one could match Chen Fei, who could control the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor with his Metal Elemental Psychic Power, making this young military contractor employee almost the perfect candidate. "No way, everyone is fighting hard!" Chen Fei was referring not only to himself and the defensive soldiers at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation but also to the Rebel Army. Just then, inside the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, the sound of dense sirens echoed, and almost all the large-caliber railguns fired simultaneously, sending heavy shells flying toward the distance. Because they used a parabolic trajectory, the initial velocity of the projectiles wasn''t that great, and it took half a minute before they began to land. The Rebel Army''s command and ammunition distribution points were struck almost at the same time. "Whoa, the fight''s begun, the fight''s begun. The Dimensional Gate Management Substation is bombarding the Rebel Army''s frontline command post and ammunition distribution point. Teacher Shen, Mr. Randon, let''s stop here, I need to get busy again." Chen Fei hastily ended the call and then called for the artificial intelligence AI. "''Adam'', move the Mechanical Dragon over here, get ready to evolve into the giant cannon mode." He was prepared to take "Adam''s" suggestion. After all, he had already paid a price, and crashing into the Light Wing Ship body was simply too foolish. Having calmed down, the more rational Chen Fei learned from his mistakes and chose the most optimal solution. Chapter 657 657: Section 652 - The Rebel Armys Second Target Louis Industrial Company''s conceptual armament, the main body of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, was still metallic, and in front of Chen Fei''s industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power, it was no different from putty that could be squashed and molded at will. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had re-planned and designed this mechanical dragon from the inside out, reusing as many of the existing non-metallic components and various electrical elements as possible. The mechanical components constantly transformed, disassembled, and recombined, and adjustments were repeatedly made. After more than ten minutes, it completely changed its appearance. The original bionic aesthetic of the dragon shape was gone, leaving only a huge cylindrical cannon floating one meter above the ground. The dark muzzle had a diameter of a whopping 1200 millimeters, and the barrel was even as long as 15 meters; the number of Magic Array Inscription units had been reduced to 233, but it was still sufficient, as the cannon mode did not require so many auxiliary flight and attack Magic Arrays. "Adam" was either not involved at all or went all out when involved. The final product was simple and crude, devoid of any industrial aesthetics. As for its power, as long as it could shoot, hit, and hit hard, that was enough; it never considered any superfluous features. The cannon was not short of ammunition, as it used railgun launching. The caliber size could be downward compatible; Chen Fei had Demolition Bombs with a 600 mm caliber. If necessary, he could even exchange Metal solid bullets directly with Energy Points. A 10-ton solid bullet, accelerated by an electromagnetic rail to 5 Mach, could easily deliver 14.4 billion joules of kinetic energy, which was far more efficient than the 9.8 billion joules of kinetic energy caused by the mechanical dragon''s self-destructive impact. And no matter what, it would not risk Chen Xiao''er''s life again. As long as the power was sufficient, the acceleration of the electromagnetic rail could easily reach 10 Mach, or even 20 Mach, nearly the ultimate in physical strike weaponry. Chen Fei initially did not accept "Adam''s" plan, mainly because the atmosphere of the battlefield made him too aggressive; going deep alone, fighting thousands single-handedly... he just couldn''t stop. The sky gradually darkened, and the battlefield was still ablaze with fire, with missiles and cannon shells flying over from time to time, exploding on the surface of the Protective Barrier. However, Chen Fei''s mental state was improving, the effects of the Magic Medicine were still being released, continuously alleviating the aftereffects of his severe injuries and replenishing his depleted Vital Energy. After all, it was a high-grade Potion; the medicine was intense and strong at the beginning, stable and mild later, able to sustain for a long time, stimlating self-repair of life signs to the optimal State, and even making up for the consumption of the Telomere Body. The "Intelligence Team" proactively contacted Chen Fei, they had discovered Xia Ji''s whereabouts, even sooner than expected. These intelligence masters had vast divine abilities; they could even capture pictures of Xia Ji with senior officers of the Rebel Army, as if the camera was right there up close. "To think he''s actually in cahoots with the Rebel Army, no wonder we couldn''t find him!" Chen Fei, seeing the convincing photos, twitched the corners of his mouth, feeling that there was more than just a setup behind him; perhaps even a conspiracy. It was no accident that a rebellion arose in the Slan Dynasty. You could almost suspect that even the Imperial Security Department had been infiltrated, taking the opportunity to act under the guise of letting the tiger return to the mountain. Following this conspiracy theory, the real reason behind the sudden death of the leader of the local snake gang "Hundred-Legs Gang" of Nandu City, might not be because he was loyal to the Silan Dynasty and unwilling to participate in the rebellion, but because he noticed something odd about the rebellion, knew too much and was silenced. Therefore, the reasons behind why Chen Fei and Her Royal Highness the Princess, disguised as Investigative Agent Yu Zilin, were abruptly arrested and jailed by the local Security Department were also likely not simple. "Confirm the location and send it to me!" Chen Fei communicated with the "Intelligence Team." No matter whether Xia Ji was still at that location or not, with or without targets, he would first take a couple of stabs. This very much suited Chen Xiao''er''s impulsive nature. "Due to the time difference, it''s uncertain if Xia Ji is still at the original location. Do you plan to use cannon snipers or missile precision strikes? We do not recommend doing this as it will complicate confirming the kill effect." The "Intelligence Team" quickly guessed what Chen Fei wanted to do. A single shot or missile strike would mean, let alone finding an intact body, it would be hard to find even remains; only god would know if the target was completely obliterated. "Confirming is your job; I''m just responsible for eliminating the opponent!" Chen Fei passed the buck cleanly, preferring a simple sniper shot to save trouble. Xia Ji and his men were under Sure-Death Curse Magic; it didn''t matter if they died sooner or later, the difference was irrelevant. This cat and mouse game, after the intervention of the Silan Dynasty''s rebel forces, had lost his interest in continuing. The latest intelligence indicated that the much-reviled "Water Bear" organization was suspected of colluding with the Rebel Army, universally condemned. Wait, there was an even more ruthless play! "''Suicide Squad,'' arrange for someone to go to the Rebel Army camp, convey this message, ''Xia Ji is a core member of the ''Water Bear'' organization. If you don''t want Blue Star to get directly involved, it''s best to hand him over here at the Dimensional Gate, and then we can all continue the fight.''" Shrewd as a shrimp but heartless as a pig. Currently, Blue Star was only minimally protecting the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, not letting the plane coordinates "Longinus" fall into the Rebel Army''s hands. However, should a sufficient excuse be given, direct military intervention on Cangqiong Star Zhai Liuzhou''s battlefield would immediately disrupt the currently stable balance. The Rebel Army simply could not withstand the joint strike of the Silan Dynasty''s suppression forces and Blue Star Sovereignty army. Forget about rebuilding the Tessa Empire, the rebels might be annihilated so thoroughly that reinstating the glory of the Tessa Empire would be impossible. "''Suicide Squad'' received, number 8, you go!" Going to the Rebel Army camp with a message was almost a one-way ticket, but the members of the "Suicide Squad" did not care at all; they were finally getting some action. An hour later, a dull thud erupted from the Rebel Army headquarters, and a black mushroom cloud slowly rose. The "Intelligence Team" confirmed the situation. Whether they were surveillance experts or intelligence analysts, there was no shortage of clever individuals, who immediately guessed what had happened. "The Rebel Army camp had an explosion; someone self-detonated, causing nearly twenty casualties. ''Rookie,'' did you do it?" "Hehe!" Chen Fei said nothing. The three teams operated independently, without any contact with each other, as Mr. Louis Landon had earnestly reminded them. In human hearts, hidden motives lie, the more one knows, the more one thinks, and the greater the likelihood of accidents. "Attention, two Main Force Lightwing Ships are headed in the direction of the business hotel, their target is suspected to be Mr. Louis Landon." "What?" "The Dimensional Gate Management Substation is the primary target, Mr. Landon the secondary; the Rebel Army has opted for its next best move." "Intelligence Team" quickly analyzed the intent of the two Main Force Lightwing Ships. "This is bad!" Chen Fei was visibly alarmed. Not only was it bad that Louis Landon was targeted, but coercing Blue Star through him was a clever strategic move. When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer, and Teacher Shen, who was also at the hotel, was inevitably going to be affected. "Recommend immediate support!" "Intelligence Team" also wanted to ensure their employer''s safety. "But here..." Chen Fei was concerned about the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. His combat capabilities had been greatly reduced due to his injuries, and he couldn''t be as wildly effective as before, but he could still inflict considerable damage on the Rebel Army. "Intelligence Team" fell silent; protecting the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was the mission objective, yet the employer''s safety was equally critical, making it difficult to decide on the spot. Adam: The two Main Force Lightwing Ships are 21 kilometers from the business hotel. The Floating Mega Cannon slowly turned, its barrel aimed in the direction of the business hotel. The artificial intelligence AI didn''t have too many hesitations, choosing the option with the highest probability, usually not considering the variance of accidents, because accidents are either 0 or infinite. Seeing the autonomous action of the Floating Mega Cannon, Chen Fei immediately understood "Adam''s" decision and then replied to the "Intelligence Team." "You guys continue to focus on the Rebel Army, keep track of Xia Ji''s location." He then called the "Strong Men Team." "''Strong Men Team,'' reach the vicinity of the business hotel and eliminate all intruders." "Finally some action, let''s move!" The "Strong Men Team," secretly stationed at the edge of the battlefield, immediately started moving their position, just like the "Suicide Squad," watching the fierce fight between the Rebel Army and the Dimensional Gate Management Substation while nearly bored out of their minds. Chen Fei still had an ace up his sleeve, having borrowed a squad of combat mechs from the exhibitors, he turned and headed toward the direction of the business hotel to bolster its defenses. If necessary, escort Louis Landon and Shen Fei to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, Though the Protective Barrier surrounding the building complex was like an iron bulwark, the one at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was of a much higher grade and strength. The Protective Barrier protecting the business hotel building could hardly withstand continuous full-force attacks from the Main Force Lightwing Ships, and it was estimated it could only last three to five minutes before it would collapse under strain and protection would be lifted. "''Adam,'' target the Lightwing Ships, use the Particle Beam as a guide, then launch the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' at Mach 6!" Chen Fei took out two "Dragon Slayer Missiles" from his Space System Alchemy Storage Device, began the decryption, activated them, then carefully loaded them into the magazine of the Floating Mega Cannon. Just one "Dragon Slayer Missile" was enough to flatten every building in the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, including the sturdy main structures. The Giant Dragon-type Fighters probably couldn''t withstand a hit from the "Dragon Slayer Missiles" either! Adam: Pre-charging begins, charging complete! Laser Beams First Level calibration, Particle Beam Second Level calibration. The thick atmosphere near the ground, with its changes in air temperature and density, caused the laser beams to twist and lose energy, particularly particles suspended in the air would block the lasers'' advance, only the intensely powerful Particle Beam could fire a straight stream of particles. "Fire!" No sooner had Chen Fei spoken than the Floating Mega Cannon to his side forcefully recoiled, its rear and barrel edges ejecting multiple fierce air streams to restabilize the cannon. Almost simultaneously, a "missile," trailing a blazing flare, was hurled away at incredible speed. Chapter 658 658: Section 653 - Artillery Fire Although electromagnetic railguns were sharp, the high-speed missiles launched caused a disadvantage due to high temperatures generated from intense friction with the thick atmosphere. For example, when firing at a target 800 kilometers away at 20 times the speed of sound, the projectile, in fact, would not even reach the predetermined impact point. Instead, like a meteor, it vaporized directly in the air, turning into a plasma state and dissipating into the atmosphere, ultimately achieving nothing. A velocity five times the speed of sound was a more suitable initial speed, not to mention that the surface of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was additionally coated with a special aerospace paint to offset the high temperatures caused by air friction. The "Dragon Slayer Missiles," with a lead provision, were fast approaching the two main force light wing ships at the business hotel... On the rooftop of the high-end business hotel, overlooking movements within a more than ten-mile radius, the female metallic giant dragon Yilan slowly flapped her massive Blade Wings, while guarding the Tactical Alchemy Device capable of releasing a large tactical composite magic shield at any moment. She had already noticed those two main force light wing ships that were clearly up to no good, speeding towards her. "The mobile base vehicle has detected two main force light wing ships, their flight paths will overlap with the location of the hotel, purpose unknown, likely a threat," it reported. Still in command, Chief Bodyguard Riva received the message. The mobile base vehicle left by Chen Fei was fully equipped, including an anti-air warning module. It would issue an immediate alert once any unidentified flying objects entered its monitoring radius, but ground-based air defenses were ultimately still at a certain disadvantage. Sitting comfortably, Louis Landon, supporting himself on a cane, said, "No need to look, they''re coming for us, no, to be precise, they''re coming for me!" Being the top private tycoon on Blue Star was not only due to having memories of a past life but also related to personal ability. In a previous life, to avoid influence and searches by Parasitic Species, he still retained sensitivity to various crises in this life. Those two light wing ships were definitely not just passing by; they had ulterior motives. He wanted to personally witness history, yet he never expected that he would also become a part of it. That''s quite ironic. Teacher Shen Fei, accompanying this tycoon, expressed in disbelief, "Really? The rebels would dare to do this?" Top tycoons of Blue Star were not targets anyone could just aim for, facing the Slan Dynasty''s army meant to quell the rebellion, the Zhai Liuzhou rebels would dare to provoke Louis Industrial Company and Blue Star Sovereignty¡ªit''s unimaginable; they did not know how the word "death" was written. Once struck by all parties, there would be no chance to restore Tessa Empire''s former glory. "The owner of Blue Star''s number one private conglomerate is tempting enough for the rebels, securing Louis could command Blue Star. If handled well, the profits would of course be substantial, but the risks are equally high. Blue Star Sovereignty might even use this as an excuse to deploy troops directly, of course, assuming that the Dimensional Gate Management Substation has not yet fallen." As these words settled, Louis Landon laughed at himself in a self-deprecating manner, yet he understood everything clearly. At his level of society, it was not just a matter of personal safety but also involved economic, tax, scientific research, and employment aspects of sovereignty. Louis Industrial Company and certain sovereignties were almost as if collapsing together. If something happened to the owner, leading to social unrest, that was definitely not something those sovereignties would like to see. The Zhai Liuzhou rebels were also very clear about this but under the guise of restoring the Tessa Empire, they had to confront the current ruler, the Slan Dynasty¡ªwhether they extended their neck or not, they would be swiped at, so they weren''t afraid to pull in another Blue Star Sovereignty, it couldn''t get any worse anyway. Even if the situation couldn''t get any worse, if there happened to be an accidental discharge causing the two sovereignties to go to war, that would be even better. In troubled waters, it''s easier to fish. A three-sided war offers more opportunities. The Tessa Imperial Family, with distant relations to blood relatives, might replace the Slan Royal Family and become the new rulers of Cangqiong Star, a contribution from following the dragon, which everyone coveted. "Hey, Human Race, be ready to assist at any moment, I''m going after those two light wing ships, but I can''t guarantee I''ll be able to take them down." The combat capability of the main force light wing ships was originally designed to match that of an adult giant dragon, and even for Yilan, there was no confidence in taking on two and emerging victorious; she could potentially be beaten severely in just a couple of rounds. Even so, the female metallic giant dragon didn''t have the word "fear" in her heart; if she could fight, she would, and if not, then she needed to fight even more. The metallic dragon clan was even more impulsive than Chen Fei. If not for this, Yilan would not have so much in common with Chen Fei, considering each other as close friends, both were good "impulsive" friends. "Yilan, prioritize your safety, try to hold them off as much as possible." Louis Landon did not expect this juvenile metallic giant dragon to risk their lives for their safety. Why should she? Just because of something Chen Fei said? That was impossible! Even the Lord of the Sky didn''t have as good a relationship with the Dragon King as people thought. So never use human reasoning to fathom the thoughts of a giant dragon, especially a metallic giant dragon; the two sides absolutely cannot be on the same line. "If there''s an emergency, I can only take two people with me, do you understand?" Yilan, poised to fly, suddenly turned her head back. If the high-end business hotel were to fall, the entrusted female metallic giant dragon couldn''t possibly ensure everyone''s safe transfer; the spots were quite limited. Louis Landon glanced at Shen Fei and nodded with a smile, "I understand!" And another person was not present at the scene. The two tickets on the dragon''s back were limited to Shen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu; others should not think of mounting Yilan''s back, as a dragon''s pride was never cheap. "Mr. Randon..." Chief Bodyguard Riva was about to say something when Louis Landon waved him off with his hand. "It''s all right, Riva. Life and death are predestined, and wealth is in the hands of the heavens. I don''t mind." Louis Landon could guess what his bodyguard intended to say. In times of danger, it was the bodyguard''s duty to fight for a chance of survival for their employer. The problem returned to the beginning, Metallic Dragons simply couldn''t be persuaded¡ªonce they decided on something, not even eight hundred bulls could pull them back. "But ..." Riva felt reluctantly unconvinced. Louis Landon was still shaking his head, but with two lifetimes combined, he felt he had lived long enough. "You''ve done your best, Riva, and I am satisfied with no regrets," he said. From the moment he was reborn at seventeen, every second was a bonus. In the gradually enveloping night, a streak of light shot from afar, colliding with one of the approaching Light Wing Ships. A pale blue wave of light suddenly expanded, instantly engulfing one of the Light Wing Ships. The protective barrier around the ship, fragile as a soap bubble, disappeared before it could even transform into countless sparks. Along with it, the entire Light Wing Ship and several small assembled combat aircraft called the "Sky Falcon" also disappeared, leaving behind scant debris scattered in the direction of the trajectory. "A Light Wing Ship has vanished!" Yilan took to the air, flying towards the attacked Light Wing fleet, where only one solitary Light Wing Ship was left, which seemed still confused about what had just happened. The rebel crew members who had just grazed by death were probably completely stunned. "Dragon Slayer Missile!" A chorus of startled exclamations erupted from the hotel rooftop. Whether it was the industry giant Louis Landon, or the bodyguards along with others who were in the same line of work, they naturally recognized the product of Louis Industries¡ªthe KDK-1 Air-Breathing Supersonic Intelligent Missile. Because it lacked a visible tail flame and presented a straight trajectory, if they hadn''t guessed wrong, it was direct deployment of the combat unit, not rocket engine propulsion. This required precise calculations and anticipation to catch the two Light Wing Ships off guard. The core of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" consisting of a Magical Beast Crystal Core and Crystalline Blocks would unleash an energy capable of triggering a terrifying elemental storm, the power comparable to a forbidden curse and nuclear weapon, instantly shredding the main force Light Wing Ship''s protective barrier and the body of the ship itself. The combat power of a main force Light Wing Ship measured up to a Giant Dragon, making the "Dragon Slayer Missile" the perfect choice to deal with it. "Oh my god, that was terrifying!" Startled by the sudden Dragon Slayer Missile strike, Yilan, who had only flown a short distance, flapped its Blade Wings and fled (escaped) back, still shaken as it watched the pale blue light slowly dissipate in the sky. That area was dangerous! This was a "Dragon Slayer Missile," and it itself being a dragon, wouldn''t it also be affected if it got too close or even killed on the spot? So scary! Metallic Dragons were brash, not stupid; sensing the danger, it naturally avoided it. "It''s Chen Fei!" Following the trajectory''s origin, Shen Fei looked towards the horizon covered by the night sky, seeing only the dim city lights and the occasional flashes from the ongoing battle. The "Dragon Slayer Missile" came from the direction of the Ground Portal Management Substation in the outskirts of Nandu City; at this time, the only one still capable of deploying it must be Chen Fei. "Where did he get the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' from?" Louis Landon was puzzled; as the president of Louis Industries, he naturally knew the destinations of his flagship product. Perhaps the other party brought over a stockpile from the military contractor. Not all military contractors could purchase the KDK-1 Air-Breathing Supersonic Intelligent Missile. It was only available to the Aircrew Base, which was routine for suppressing mutants and was usually not allowed to be taken out, besides being expensive. After all, the power of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was comparable to a small nuclear weapon, especially the damage radius, which surpassed that of nuclear weapons, each one equipped with an inseparable locator and complex unlock security settings to prevent leakage and harm. This is Cangqiong Star; though it also maintains a sizable regular reserve of "Dragon Slayer Missiles," they are all controlled by the Slan Dynasty''s direct combat power, the Royal Imperial Guards, and not even other active regiments are equipped, let alone those mercenary teams with similar functions to military contractors. No matter what, it wouldn''t be easy secretly transferring "Dragon Slayer Missiles" from Blue Star to Cangqiong Star. "Did you hear the Light Wing Ships are approaching?" Yu Zilin, the Investigative Agent (Her Royal Highness Princess Lin Ziyu), arriving at the rooftop by elevator as she gathered gang members, said as another streak of light sped towards them. The main force Light Wing Ship attempting to leave the area didn''t have time to evade, and another burst of deadly blue light blossomed in the sky. From this moment on, the battlefield was forcefully pulled back to the Ground Portal Management Substation by the two Dragon Slayer Missiles. Chapter 659 659: Section 654 - Day Two Rebel Army: I think we can open a second front at the headquarters of Louis Industrial Company. Chen Xiao''er: It''s not about what you think, it''s about what I think, there''s no second battlefield! Rebel Army: Gah... "Done!" Chen Fei took a long breath, successfully drawing enough hatred. Of the known four main force Light Wing Ships of the Rebel Army, three had left, leaving one to talk about air superiority, which was a joke. "Huh?~~~" The already stressed Commander of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, Colonel Sir, was now extremely troubled. You said that all operations should follow my command, and you show me this? It was not until the Elemental Storms were released one after another, causing a huge commotion, that he realized that two Dragon Slayer Missiles had been launched right under his nose. This thing is not any ordinary weapon. Just one could flatten the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation, except for the coordinate "Longinus" which would survive due to its indestructible nature; the rest, whether people, equipment, or buildings would be utterly annihilated. That military contractor employee actually carried such a deadly weapon like Dragon Slayer Missiles, how did he manage to bring them in? Colonel Sir and the boss of Louis Industrial Company had the same doubt. - Clatter, clatter, bang, bang, the gunfire rang out all night, yet it didn''t disturb anyone''s sweet dreams, and Chen Fei slept until the morning. Upon waking up, he felt refreshed, and even the symptoms of suffocation, muscle pain, and dizziness from his recent recovery from severe injuries had greatly alleviated, with a recovery of 74% on the spot. Having grabbed breakfast with the defensive soldiers, Chen Fei was gobbling down his battle meal when the Commander, Colonel Sir, approached and set down a special potion bottle. "''Rookie'', this is for you!" Chen Fei partook in the battle as an employee of a military contractor, and his flying call sign was also his combat nickname. Upon confirming his identity, he would no longer be addressed by his real name. "Good morning, Sir!" Chen Fei greeted him with his spoon before looking at the potion bottle. The short cylindrical bottle made of crystal clear material contained a vivid red liquid that resembled a top-grade ruby at rest, and if one observed carefully, they could even detect many minute fiber-like materials floating inside. Colonel Sir casually said, "This is for you, it can restore your combat strength in the shortest time, the only side effect is it''s a bit painful." A potent recovery potion, starting at Earth Order Second Rank, was hard to come by in the civilian sectors. The scarcity was mainly due to the supply-demand relationship, as the intense side effects limited the demand, it wasn''t just about production and pricing. With no alternative, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was inevitably facing a fierce battle today, urgently needing decisive combat power like Chen Fei. Despite having high-rank Ability Users among the defense personnel, who could easily beat Chen Xiao''er to the ground, the situation reversed instantly on the battlefield. The latter''s Metallic Industrial-grade Special Ability was indeed born for war. Even if his awakening fixed his rank at B-level with no possibility for further upgrades, the various inconceivable Psi Skills could still enhance and amplify personal combat strength, making a noticeable presence on the battlefield and still holding strong against A-level and Earth Order opponents. Not even A-levels and Earth Order powerhouses could single-handedly take on a main force Light Wing Ship, let alone bring it down. Humans, inherently frail, became the dominant species through adept use of tools, and Chen Fei''s Psi Skill exactly capitalized on humans'' greatest reliance for survival in nature. "Does this cost anything?" Chen Fei eyed the magic potion bottle warily, hesitating to reach out. He had psychological reservations about such things. It might just be a trap, one sip, and he could owe tens of millions of Star Yuan... No way, absolutely not! What Chen Fei didn''t know was that he had already been administered a dose of magic potion nearly as costly the day before. Any life-saving magic potion had never been cheap. "Combat consumable, you don''t have to pay for it!" Colonel Sir smiled, dismissing the trivial expense amid public costs shared by two civilizations. The other party had already been given a magic potion, what was there to worry about now? If there were a trap, he would already be at the bottom of it. All expenses were covered by the Dimensional Gate Management, which, like the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, was a sovereignty unified management unit also involving the Silan Dynasty, serving as an important channel connecting both civilizations. "Then I won''t be polite." Chen Fei decisively took the magic potion bottle in his hand. He would keep it, as it could come in handy on a day he needed quick cash. In his mind, a magic potion equated to a large sum of immediate cash. This was life-saving money! "Get ready, there will be a big battle today, you better drink it before the fight starts." After speaking, the Commander of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation turned and left. "Drink it? Of course, save it!" Chen Fei had other ideas, after all, it was a sum of silver, and more importantly, it could save lives at a critical moment. Boom!~ A deafening explosion sounded as the Rebel Army brought in new heavy weaponry and began bombarding the protective barrier that enveloped the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation. If the barrage was intense enough to overload the protective barrier, it would collapse and lose its protective function. At that time, the entire building complex and position could only bear the brunt as the defensive capability was likely not to retain even ten percent of its strength. The sky frequently lit up with fire as the unmanned drone fleets of both friends and foes engaged in mutual slaughter, with the Rebel Army''s "Sky Falcons" occasionally sweeping through, continually harvesting the drones released from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Thanks to the full support from the Blue Star side, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation didn''t need to worry about the drones being completely depleted. With reserves numbering not a thousand, at least eight hundred were on hand, enough to last a considerable amount of time. The only strategy for now was to hold out as long as possible until the Slan Dynasty''s army arrived to suppress the rebellion. The Rebels'' time was running out, and with each passing hour, the situation increasingly favored the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. After hastily finishing breakfast, Chen Fei received a transmission from the Dimensional Gate Defense Command Center. "''Rookie'', keep your Combat Mobility Armor in cannon form and stand by. A batch of explosives is on its way¡ªten 500 kg high-explosive aerial bombs, five 1000 kg cloud bombs..." Clearly, after the previous night''s two Dragon Slayer Missiles successively blew up two Main Force Light Wing Ships, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation had taken an interest in this sharp superweapon. The Railgun Weapon was famously good in compatibility; as long as the projectile had a full-metal casing and its maximum diameter was within the launching caliber, it could be projected effortlessly¡ªbe it regular shells or aerial bombs; once thrown, they would explode anyway. The cannon form was used for defense, the dragon form for offense; Louis Industrial Company''s Conceptual Armament was versatile. This time, it was likely to catch the eye of many sovereignties'' militaries on Blue Star. (The "X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor" design team collectively fainted in the restroom¡ªthey had never thought it could be played this way, fearing it was about to be broken!) Neither Chen Fei nor the AI "Adam" saw anything wrong with this bit of shrewd manipulation ¨C improv (wild modification) was par for the course! "''Intelligence Team'', allocate a squad to track Xia Ji''s whereabouts, giving you a team to go full force after Xia Ji!" While waiting to be deployed, Chen Fei also contacted the "Intelligence Team" and "Suicide Squad" to issue new orders. The "Suicide Squad''s" remaining operational life was less than 24 hours. As there was no suitable task for them, they decided to use the expendables as warriors, sending them to pursue Xia Ji and others who were being tracked by him and Princess Lin Ziyu; better to go out with a bang than silently waiting to die from poisoning! Louis Landon of the Industrial Company never imagined that after Chen Fei single-handedly took part in the defense of the Ground Portal Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City, he could alone dominate the situation, rendering his carefully prepared three trump cards unable to play their anticipated role, with Chen Xiao''er alone recklessly handling the situation, and wildly so. X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor + Chen Fei + AI "Adam" = Variables * n (n>1). The application of tools makes efficiency increase exponentially. "We can take over, but we cannot guarantee the casualty rate." The "Intelligence Team" expressed concern ahead of time. After all, combatants are not chess pieces to be easily sacrificed. "To achieve the goal, disregard casualty costs, even if it means fighting to the last man." Chen Fei set his own bottom line, which was that there was no bottom line. The dead were doomed anyway, better to die gloriously; that''s what he thought, and likely the dead soldiers thought the same. "Understood, understood!" According to the professionals in the "Intelligence Team", this "Rookie" was truly ruthless, harsh on others and even harsher on himself. This team was likely to be on a one-way trip. Intelligence and planning are inseparable; there are tactics for low sacrifices, and tactics for high sacrifices. The "Intelligence Team" naturally had strategies formulated based on the intelligence already obtained. The ones marked by Xia Ji and others were probably doomed this time. "On the Rebel side, a Main Force Light Wing Ship is approaching the edge of the battlefield, 120 kilometers away from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation." The "Intelligence Team" was about to conclude this communication with Chen Fei when they suddenly reported a new piece of information. With the Ground Portal Management Substation at the center, a warning ring was set every 40 kilometers in radius, and three levels of alert had been set; 40 kilometers was precisely the maximum firing range of conventional artillery. The farthest third Level of alert circle was about 120 kilometers from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, exactly at the edge of the standard firing range of the Railgun Weapon within the atmosphere. While the actual range of the Railgun was indeed further, hitting targets a thousand kilometers away wasn''t impossible, but the shells couldn''t stand flying that far. High-speed friction with the atmosphere vaporizes even meteors, let alone artillery shells. Unless it was a special artillery shell with special heat-resistant coatings and heat-resisting guide caps, most full-metal shells could only fly about 120 kilometers or so before they would melt from excessive heat, deforming into a plasma state, and completely losing accuracy. If the trajectory was too high, they might disperse in the atmosphere before even reaching the ground. "What sneaky plot are they hatching?" Chen Fei couldn''t guess what the Rebel Army''s last remaining Main Force Light Wing Ship near Nandu City was planning, so he instructed "Adam" to control a propeller-driven drone for reconnaissance. A minute later, before the propeller-driven drone could even exit the first level warning circle, it had lost contact. In every corner of the sky, drone wreckage fell like raindrops. The combat between drones was far more brutal than that of manned combat aircraft. Chapter 660 660: Section 655 - Feint to the East, Strike in the West "Command Center, the main force Light Wing Ships of the Rebel Army have been spotted, requesting permission to engage!" Chen Fei had already taken down three Light Wing Ships, and naturally, the remaining one was his responsibility. He wasn''t foolish enough to make the same mistake twice; after a near-fatal collision, he wouldn''t dare attempt another. Heh, who knows! "The intent of the Light Wing Ships is unclear, ''Rookie,'' hold your position!" However, the Defense Command Center didn''t issue an order to move but instructed him to remain in place. The operation of the Mechanical Dragon had already been covered by a memorandum of understanding from the Slan Dynasty through other channels, but the defensive forces at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, belonging to Blue Star Sovereignty, hadn''t received authorization to allow combat personnel to enter Slan Dynasty''s territory and airspace. Being able to deploy armed unmanned drones was already the limit. This meant that the defensive forces could only act in a defensive manner and were unable to support the attacking Chen Fei. If the Dimensional Gate Management Substation could have acquired the relevant authorization, it would mean that the Blue Star Sovereignty''s forces could continuously surge through the Dimensional Gate. The rebels in Nandu City would likely be wiped out in an instant, as worthless as chickens and dogs. After all, no matter how you look at it, a mere continental rebel army could never stand against the entire Blue Star Sovereignty Coalition Forces. Moreover, any Sovereignty that could set up a Dimensional Gate to connect to Cangqiong Star was undoubtedly formidable. Since a Dimensional Gate connecting two civilized planets was such a critical strategic node, the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star naturally had reservations, as not giving up an inch of territory is the fundamental baseline for any nation. "Alright then!" Chen Fei, unwilling to give up, launched more than ten unmanned reconnaissance drones, including some even faster jet-powered ones. However, they were successively shot down just outside the 40-kilometer radius of the first-level alert zone and didn''t even come close to reaching the second-level alert zone. The Rebel Army was almost impenetrably guarded against any foreign aircraft. Even without anti-air systems intercepting them, Rebel soldiers with high levels of archery skills could take down drones with Railgun Combat Rifles. Under the cover of a large number of drones and "Sky Falcons," the last remaining main force Light Wing Ship of the Nandu City rebels was slowly and calmly approaching the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. It was at this moment that a fleet of Light Wing Ships appeared in the sky, not as reinforcements from the Slan Dynasty but as reinforcements for the Rebel Army. These Light Wing Ships were not main force types but were escorted by two slightly smaller support type Light Wing Ships and a swarm of civilian Light Wing Ships, all bearing the Rebel Army''s flag¡ª the flag of the Tessa Empire. Without a doubt, they were all enemies. Having lost three main force Light Wing Ships, the Rebel Army had forcibly conscripted a batch of civilian Light Wing Ships to compensate, possibly even arming them with weaponry. It seemed that the Rebels also had some clever figures, knowing how to make the best use of existing resources to organize a combat force that could be put to good use. Missiles rose from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, targeting the increasingly nearby cluster of Light Wing Ships. The Defense Commander was well aware that letting these unfamiliar Light Wing Ships get close would likely not lead to anything good. He directly communicated with Chen Fei, who was on standby. "''Rookie,'' take out those Light Wing Ships with your mega cannon!" The Defensive Command Center of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was ultimately reluctant to send Chen Fei out on the Mechanical Dragon. After all, when that guy went berserk, even his own people were afraid, and the scene where he slid out of the cockpit like a lump of mud was truly terrifying. The more reason they had to conserve his use, one slip and he could be gone. Without this trump card, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation would be even more passive, as they now had only the means to be on the receiving end without their offensive capabilities. As the missile cluster pounced on the cluster of Light Wing Ships, the latter naturally wouldn''t just sit there to be hit. They used every means at their disposal¡ª jamming bullets, intercepting missiles, kamikaze drones, and a protective "Sky Falcon" firepower net¡ª to explode the incoming missiles midair and to avoid any Light Wing Ship being hit. Civilian Light Wing Ships also had protective barriers and magic shields. Although at least a whole order of magnitude lower than military-grade, they could still withstand some of the attacks. However, once the defenses were overloaded, the ship''s fate of being shot down or exploded in the air was inevitable. "Received, ''Adam,'' ascend to 600, go straight for those Light Wing Ships coming in from behind!" The sneaky main force Light Wing Ship had been cautious all the way, and even at this moment, it hadn''t reached the second-level alert zone. However, the other fleet of Light Wing Ships had recklessly entered the second-level alert zone and was less than 70 kilometers from the Ground Portal Management Substation. The Combat Mobility Armor, in its floating mega cannon mode, slowly adjusted its barrel. The rail inside the electromagnetic track glowed slightly, followed by a huge whoosh as compressed air burst from various parts of the cannon body to compensate for the recoil and re-align the barrel. Even if it weren''t floating and relied on the ground, it would face the same issue. A 600mm Demolition Bomb, traveling at five times the speed of sound, roared out, followed by another. They were launched continuously at an interval of two seconds per bomb. At this point, Chen Fei still hadn''t fully recovered his combat strength and relied entirely on the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" for autonomous operations, including aiming and firing. How could he not delight in taking down enemy targets just by moving his mouth? Even if others had the AI "Adam," they didn''t have the industrial grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power that could evolve the Mechanical Dragon into a floating mega cannon. The cluster of Light Wing Ships that arrived first, combined with the speed of the 600mm Demolition Bombs flying towards them, would make their first close encounter happen about 30 seconds after the Floating Mega Cannon''s first shot. In that time frame, at least fifteen shots could be continuously fired, thoroughly blocking the Light Wing Fleet''s space to evade. Although the Dimensional Gate Management Substation specifically allocated a batch of powerful "shells" to Chen Fei, he didn''t use them this time. Those types of ammunition were more suitable for bombarding ground targets, where their killing efficiency would be higher. By the time the two support-type Light Wing ships leading the armed civilian Light Wing ships attempted to scatter and avoid the approaching shells, it was already too late. While the maneuverability of the Light Wing ships was superior to that of the Blue Star''s Magic Cube Warships and Sky Patrol Ships, which each developed along separate technical lines, their superiority was limited. After all, their size was set, not something they could evade just by wishing to. Attempting to escape the barrage of railgun fire in such a short time was nothing less than a pipe dream. Fireballs exploded one after another in the sky, as the Light Wing Fleet began to suffer the Justice Judgement of the 600mm Demolition Bombs, especially the two military support-type Light Wing ships, which received nearly one-third of the bombardment''s special favor. Compared to the Demolition Bombs, the civilian-grade protective barriers and Magic Shields proved to be somewhat frail. One hit breached the defenses, two hits pierced the soul, and there was no need for a third. One civilian Light Wing Ship shattered mid-air and plummeted to the ground with flames and smoke trailing behind, especially its fragmented Light Wings, which scattered sparkles of light in the sunlight. The Light Wing Fleet was not without the ability to counterattack; a large number of spells were released, creating a denser web of fire in the sky, much like fireworks. Many shells were intercepted midway and exploded without even the chance to reach the Magic Shields or protective barriers. In such a large-scale contest, if a Light Wing ship was downed, and the crew failed to mount their personal escape gear or board the escape pods in time, the result would be quite grim. While the explosion''s fire still hadn''t dissipated, there were very few parachutes and escape pods drifting down or scattering, and many people were stunned into unconsciousness in the first moments, missing their precious chance to escape. The two military support-type Light Wing ships craftily decelerated in an emergency and took cover behind the civilian Light Wing ships, using these armed civilian ships as shields; thus, they successfully dodged most of the bombardment. Just Chen Fei''s single mega cannon was far from enough. Other positions of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation also joined in the assistance shooting, with missiles, other railguns of the same type, and directed-energy weapons all in play. "Pay attention to that main force model, it''s accelerating!" As the Light Wing Fleet drew the attention of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, the main force model Light Wing Ship with unclear intentions quietly passed the second level alert boundary and charged at full speed towards the first level alert circle. It would only need at most 5 minutes to reach the space above the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. More missiles soared into the sky, making an all-out effort to intercept this ill-intentioned main force model Light Wing Ship. The Rebel Army''s remaining main force model Light Wing Ship pushed all its protective barriers and movable Magic Shields to the front, intending to withstand the anti-air intercept fire from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. "Are they attempting a diversion?" Chen Fei looked at the Light Wing Fleet, continuously bombarded by the Floating Mega Cannon and then at the main force model Light Wing Ship, getting ever closer. The two were not in the same direction. He guessed that the Light Wing Fleet, being pummeled into disarray, was providing cover for the main force model Light Wing Ship''s movement. "Boost the protective barrier strength to 100%!" The Defensive Command Center began to announce. Like Chen Fei,someone else had guessed what was happening and started to take precautions. As long as the Rebel Army couldn''t enter the range of the protective barriers, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation wouldn''t be in danger of falling. 30 kilometers away. Individuals with good eyesight could already see tiny black dots emerging on the horizon with their naked eyes. The main force model Light Wing Ship, pushing its protective barrier and Magic Array, began exchanging blows with the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The Rebels were desperately fighting, placing numerous spellcasters on deck, manually casting Magic Shields to the best of their ability to resist the attacks coming from the ground. Human Order spellcasters could just about withstand the explosion of missiles with their Magic Shields, but the kinetic energy carried by the projectiles fired by railgun weapons could easily penetrate the Defense Magic of Earth Order spellcasters. Once the Magic Shields and other Defensive Magics collapsed, a mental shock was inevitable, causing some adverse reactions. If these reactions weren''t addressed by rest, they would gradually accumulate and could even lead to irreversible damage. It wasn''t just the main force model Light Wing Ship and the ever-dwindling Light Wing Fleet¡ª even the ground Rebel forces were furiously launching attacks. Thus, the battle evolved into a war of attrition, with each side holding the other at bay. The intentions of the Rebel side became increasingly clear, and the truth was about to be unveiled. When the main force model Light Wing Ship, already struggling, was just 23 kilometers from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, it suddenly changed direction. At that moment, someone noticed that the Light Wing Ship had dropped an unidentified object. "Be careful! It''s a high-powered tactical weapon!" Chapter 661 661: Section 656 - The White Dome The firepower on the rebel side rapidly weakened as the recently engaged ground and air combat units began to retreat. Various signs indicated that the rebels had orchestrated a highly unusual attack. "Prepare for impact! Prepare for impact!" Many immediately sealed their tactical helmets, most of them wearing single-soldier tactical armor, which ensured a certain period of enclosed breathing function, preventing inhalation of chemical gases and particles contaminated with nuclear radiation. Those with incomplete protection rushed toward the nearest tunnels or bunkers to take cover. Even without a protective barrier, the defensive fortifications guarding the Dimensional Gate were still impeccably designed and could withstand a nearby nuclear strike. An ear-piercing alarm sounded at all positions, as everyone braced for what was to come. This was the last line of defense for guarding the Dimensional Gate; there was nowhere left to retreat. "Damn! ''Adam'' switched to dragon form!" Chen Fei pressed his hand against the floating mega cannon; taking hits passively was not his style. Even if he had to take hits, he would do so by dragging others with him. "Rookie, what are you doing? Stay where you are!" An inquiry came from the Defense Command Center of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, with a designated person responsible for communicating with him. "Of course I''m assisting in defending against the impact!" Chen Fei settled into the cockpit of the mechanical dragon, grimacing as a wave of stinging pain swept over him. Barely recovered from serious injuries, his vital energy not yet restored, his body was far from its prime condition, still suffering various aftereffects that were intensely frustrating. He thought for a moment, then took out the magic potion given to him by the Defense Commander, held it in his hand, hesitated slightly, but still firmly twisted off the cap and poured it into his mouth, tipping his head back and drinking it all. At this critical moment, Chen Fei wasn''t about to put money before his life. In the heat of battle, it''s uncertain if one could even leave behind an intact corpse. If something untoward happened, it would only benefit some quick-handed rebel; better to take a swig of a magic potion worth tens of millions of Star Yuan himself and ensure it couldn''t be taken by anyone else after it hit his stomach. Just as he started to taste it, Chen Xiao''er immediately regretted it, the bitterness almost twisting him inside out. "Forgot to add sugar!" The next second, his eyes bulged wide. ... A wretched scream erupted from within the chest cavity of the mechanical dragon. Chen Xiao''er clearly underestimated the side effects of the emergency magic potion. The mechanical dragon, heading for the edge of the protective barrier, wobbled like a drunk. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" didn''t know the specifics of the potion''s side effects, but it suddenly found that its near-infinite computational resources were no longer sufficient. Every one of the 206 bones and 639 muscles in his body ached to the core of his soul, as if his body was no longer his own, a pain that might just kill your Second Uncle!!! Sweet magic potions should not only act fast; they should also be gentle in power, without side effects... That''s wishful thinking! Who knows if the Pharmacist who concocted the potion might slap you with eighty-eight big ones; you''re lucky to be alive, yet you dare to entertain such useless thoughts. "Rookie, Rookie, Rookie, what''s happening to you?" Even without hearing the weird cries and howls over the comm channel, one could see that the mechanical dragon''s movements were clearly abnormal. "Stop calling, it''s the side effects of the magic potion, wait a while." The Defense Commander stopped the communication officer''s further calls. Colonel Sir could guess that Chen Fei chose to drink that magic potion. Because the side effects were truly horrendous, it took considerable courage to imbibe it. But on the battlefield, who wouldn''t fight desperately? Who wouldn''t dare to? If Chen Fei was ready to fight, the defensive soldiers were too, as were the rebels. This was, after all, a war where it was either you die or I survive. Under the strenuous efforts of AI "Adam" to maintain control, the mechanical dragon finally staggered to the inner side of the protective barrier''s edge, arranged itself, overlapped the repulsion shield with the protective barrier, and then extended the magic shield to the outside, effectively adding another layer of consumable barrier to the protective barrier. It was then that a pure white giant ovoid object, dragging a barely adequate parachute, descended slowly about 11 kilometers from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Thud!~ A faint thud carried through the air, with no explosion akin to laser-like intensity, no widespread devastation, nor did one see a terrifying mushroom cloud rise into the air. In terms of the might of tactical nuclear weapons, the point of impact seemed a bit too far from the protective barrier of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. To destroy the protective barrier with a single strike, one would have to close in to within 500 meters. "Strange!" The Dimensional Gate Defense Commander, clutching his heart as he stroked his chin stubble, was puzzled and not comprehending - could it be that the rebel army went to all that trouble to make such a big fuss, only to end up making a blunder? Chen Fei, who had been slumped in the driving seat inside the chest of the mechanical dragon, finally caught his breath and took the time to focus on the image of the white giant egg-shaped object captured by "Adam." The sudden intense pain that had gripped his entire body like a tide was slowly retreating; his entire body was nearly soaked with sticky sweat, and the life support module of his tactical armor was working at full capacity to balance the temperature and humidity inside. At the same time as he was suffering from the tremendous pain caused by the side effects of the magic potion, his body temperature even shot past 40 degrees Celsius, as if he had a high fever. Chen Fei weakly muttered to himself, "What the hell is this?" The magic potion, capable of swiftly restoring vital energy and physiological state, did more than just speed up metabolism and replenish high-level nutrients. It also compensated for the shortening of the telomeres at the ends of cells'' dividing chromosomes, ensuring that life potential wasn''t overdrawn. But the balance between replenishment and consumption was just right, neither surplus nor deficit. As for achieving eternal youth through it - that was out of the question. After all, this was merely a magic potion designed for rapid recovery from internal injuries and replenishment of vital energy, not an elixir of immortality. The Main Force Lightwing Ship that had dropped that thing accelerated away even faster, immediately withdrawing from the 40-kilometer radius of the first-level warning zone, fleeing as fast as possible, as if terribly afraid. "Fire test!" The order was given by the commander at the Defensive Command Center. A fire platform fired, launching a 152-caliber demolition bomb that shot straight towards the white giant egg-shaped object that had landed and remained motionless. Aside from the part that had sunk into the ground due to the impact of the landing and its own weight, the main body that stood on the ground was still seven to eight meters tall, looking like a two-story building with an unusual design. Its surface was not completely smooth but was covered with some geometrical patterns, although the designs were irregular. Clang!~ The 152 encountered no interception or accidents, it smashed directly onto the surface of the white egg-shaped giant object, the explosion enveloping in fire and smoke. If there had been someone inside, they might have been shaken so badly by the blast that if it didn''t kill them, it would certainly leave them seriously injured. Yet the white egg-shaped object was unscathed; its surface rippled slightly, and even the scorched marks left by the impact fell off. This made it all the more baffling for the Dimensional Gate Management Substation - what cunning ploy were the rebels concocting? If they wanted to fight, they should fight without messing around with such incomprehensible things. "Positions 013 to 076, 103 to 155, particle beam cannons and laser cannons begin charging energy, coordinate shooting times, focus fire and take it down." The Defense Commander had completely lost his patience and was ready to concentrate firepower to take down the unidentified object. If explosive weaponry and physical attacks were ineffective, then highly concentrated directional energy weapons might just be able to damage the target. Several automatic fire platforms began switching weapon modes, aligning the directional energy weapon ports uniformly at the white giant egg. Boom!~ White "eggshell" fragments were flung in all directions, and a thick, dark grey cloud of smoke followed, billowing and spreading, drifting outwards, obstructing the view of many onlookers. The sudden anomaly still didn''t seem like the brutal feature typical of tactical weapons, and certainly wasn''t a nuclear weapon. Instead, it more closely resembled some sort of chemical weapon, or even a smoke grenade. Using a chemical weapon 11 kilometers away from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation? The guards at the substation could almost applaud the rebels. Did this crafty gang not realize that at this distance, chemical weapons would pose a greater threat to the rebels themselves? Talking toxicity without dosage is nonsense; even the most vicious nerve chemical agent, carried by the wind, would likely have diluted to a harmless level and might at most kill some insects, amounting to nothing more than a joke. The eggshell fragments began to fall, each piece uniform in size, resembling scales of some sort. Scales? A ferocious giant creature suddenly appeared in Chen Fei''s view. His vision was not limited to the three-dimensional surround display of the cockpit; it also included the various modules of the "Basic Optical Observer" psi skill, providing a god-like overhead view, seeing through the continuous rolling fog. "Roar..." The immense roaring sound finally reached the Dimensional Gate Management Substation; even after being weakened by the protective barrier, it was still astounding. "What is that? A magical beast?" "Such a terrifying roar!" "There''s something alive inside, what kind of animal is it?" "Prepare to fire!" The defensive soldiers, standing by in full battle readiness on the ground, were filled with unease but still prepared for combat. A colossal creature suddenly burst through the fog and lunged menacingly toward the Dimensional Gate Management Substation at an alarmingly high speed. "Giant Dragon!" The expression of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s Defense Commander changed, and he turned his eyes to a screen. There, a mechanical dragon was inside the protective barrier. Then he sharply inhaled a breath of cold air. "It''s a Metallic Dragon!" Chapter 662 662: Section 657 - Unable to Launch The Dimensional Gate Management Substation only guessed that the Rebel Army would deploy massive tactical weapons in a decisive battle, but never anticipated the existence of a Metallic Giant Dragon on the opposing side. Behind this unexpected revelation was a substantial amount of information. The Dragon Race, controlled by the Sky Dragon City and honoring the Dragon King as their sovereign, are still part of the intelligent species under the rule of the Slan Dynasty. They enjoy citizen rights and obligations and should never side with the Rebel Army. However, the presence of this Metallic Giant Dragon forced concerns and even doubts about the stance of the Dragon Race because it not only decided whether the Dimensional Gate Management Substation would fall but also affected the situation in Zilu Continent and Blue Star''s sovereignty stance significantly. Considering many possibilities, Colonel Sir''s expression began to sour. "''Rookie'' requesting to engage!" The soul-piercing agony was not in vain; the effect of the magic potion was immediate, quickly nullifying various negative side effects and allowing Chen Fei to regain his full combat potential. "''Rookie'', maintain your position, do not engage!" The communications officer promptly rejected Chen Fei''s proposal. Louis Industries'' latest Conceptual Armament, the "X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Mobile Armor" was, in size and appearance, nearly indistinguishable from a real Giant Dragon, particularly resembling a Metallic Dragon, but it was not a real Metallic Dragon. When a fake meets the genuine article, the outcome is predictable. Rushing into the fray at this critical juncture, outside the Protective Barrier, was more dangerous than colliding with a Main Force Lightwing Ship''s protections; he might not make it back. "What? Why? I''m all prepped!~" Chen Xiao''er, eagerly ready to prove himself, felt as though he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, hardly believing his own ears. He had drunk the precious magic potion, endured the bitterness, and now they wouldn''t let him engage. Was he just supposed to watch that foolish dragon continuously assault the Protective Barrier? Was the magic potion drunk in vain? But the communications officer diligently emphasized yet again, "Hold! Your! Position!" As a messenger, this was not his own idea, but a decision made by the strategists. Chen Fei and his Mechanical Dragon, being the only forces within the Dimensional Gate Management Substation authorized by the Slan Dynasty to engage in combat, naturally could not be frivolously spent in a battle with a Metallic Giant Dragon; utter caution was imperative. With no option to initiate combat, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation could only defend passively, and killing a Metallic Giant Dragon was not an easy task. If Metallic Giant Dragons were so easy to kill, they would not be known worldwide as "Divine Weapons" or "Dragons of Slaughter." Despite being inherently incompatible with elemental energy and lacking spiritual power to cast spells, the Creator had opened another door for the Metallic Giant Dragon Race. Railgun weapons and gunpowder weapons firing physical bullets couldn''t even scratch a Metallic Giant Dragon, rendering them utterly ineffective, and the dragon''s innate ability to devour metal nullified most of the Substation''s combat capabilities in a single breath. Among the weapons capable of threatening the Metallic Giant Dragon, lasers are easily controlled by physical mirrors; the Metallic Giant Dragon could effortlessly deflect laser beams, even reflecting them back without suffering any harm. Particle beam weapons, capable of posing a real threat, were limited by their high preparation time and low fire rate, struggling to actively track fast-moving targets, and their lower power was insufficient to penetrate the dragon''s dense body. If one couldn''t destroy the Heart Core, where the Dragon Soul resided, no matter how severe the external injuries, the Metallic Giant Dragon could recover rapidly. Using magic and battle Qi would cost too many lives just to slowly kill this Evil Dragon¡ªa sacrifice far too great. Beyond these methods, the only option left was the "Dragon Slayer Missile." But how much luck would one need for the enemy to stumble into the destructive radius of a "Dragon Slayer Missile"? Yet no one dared to detonate a "Dragon Slayer Missile" directly at the site of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The Protective Barrier could not withstand the Elemental Storm of a "Dragon Slayer Missile"; otherwise, there would be no need for the Metallic Giant Dragon and Rebel Army to attack, as they would likely self-destruct spectacularly, unintentionally handing over "Longinus." Boom!~ The Metallic Giant Dragon, in its frenzied charge, finally collided with the Protective Barrier, just as Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon would upon colliding with the Protective Barrier and Magic Shield of a Main Force Lightwing Ship. The immense kinetic energy triggered vibrations in the Protective Barrier¡ªthis was not a good sign. As the Defense Commander feared, a full barrage from the automatic firepower platforms failed to halt the Metallic Giant Dragon''s advance. Its body absorbed various calibers of Full Metal Bullets like feeding an enemy, disappearing without a trace on its body, with not even a ripple stirred, while several laser beams were either disturbed by smoke and dust or deflected away. Because the Metallic Dragon was charging too rapidly, it initially entered a blind spot for long-range particle beam weapon attacks, and the adjacent particle beam weapons also didn''t have much of a good angle. Only a few sparse blue and white slender beams successfully hit it, but they failed to penetrate the massive, heavy dragon body and naturally didn''t pose a threat to the Metallic Dragon''s heart core. Kept out by the protective barrier, the Metallic Dragon lingered for a while and then came face to face with the Mechanical Dragon, making a series of fierce and aggressive gestures, and repeatedly charged, apparently trying to break in and tear this WestSeaboard merchandise to shreds. It truly was a case of being in the dragon''s den and feeling the hate from above. Chen Xiao''er had done absolutely nothing, yet he successfully drew the ire of this Metallic Dragon. "Roar!~" The distance between the two was less than five meters, yet it was like a chasm. The Metallic Dragon couldn''t even touch the protective barrier, let alone tear apart the repulsion shield released by the Mechanical Dragon. It only managed to scatter the Wind and Thunder Magic Shields with brute force. From inside the protective barrier, the Mechanical Dragon opened its fanged mouth, and a blue and white particle beam shot out. A deep molten gorge now ran along the left side of the Metallic Dragon''s ferocious face, but its heart core remained hidden somewhere within its body, so the strike was merely a warning. "I say, can we talk?" Chen Fei''s voice was amplified through the Mechanical Dragon''s loudspeaker. It wasn''t his first interaction with the Metallic Dragons, so he was well aware of the communication norms among Metallic Dragons. If one didn''t submit, they get beaten. If one beating didn''t solve it, then another would follow. This rule was directly from the female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, so it definitely wasn''t mistaken. Two young dragons, who had once been captured showing a face full of peach blossoms, now were quite polite towards Chen Fei. That respect was surely not just for Yilan''s sake. "Roar! Die! Die! Roar!~" The Metallic Dragon outside the protective barrier continued its relentless assault, vowing to tear apart this invisible shield. But its response resembled that of a wild beast, completely unable to communicate. "The protective barrier''s tolerable load is being depleted." The Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s Command Center noticed that the outside Metallic Dragon was imposing severe stress on the protective barrier. Many even recalled the huge impact that Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon had caused when it collided against the Rebel Army''s Main Force Lightwing Ship. If not for the higher level and strength of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s protective barrier compared to the Main Force Lightwing Ship, they might have already experienced an overload and a breach. "Move the large particle beam weapon, kill that Metallic Dragon as soon as possible." The Defense Commander, personally overseeing from the Command Center, issued the response order. Although they didn''t know where the Metallic Dragon''s heart core was hidden, shooting it from head to tail with high-power particle beams should do the trick. It was also a method, perhaps a clumsy one, but it beat being helpless! "Hey hey, I know Yilan. Do you know Yilan? Can you stop for a moment? Let''s have a nice talk. How about I treat you to thermally treated rippled steel? Crisp and crunchy!" Chen Fei chattered almost incessantly, trying to establish connection with the raging Metallic Dragon outside. But the other party completely ignored him, continuing to ram and bite, relentlessly striking, making his efforts resemble talking to a brick wall¡ªthey were completely not on the same wavelength. "Hey, you stupid dragon, can''t you stop for a while? Don''t you get tired?" After wasting half a day''s worth of saliva, Chen Fei finally lost his patience. "Roar, die! Die die!" The outside beast grew even more frenzied. This guy must be nuts! Although the majority of Metallic Dragons are not the brightest, this one was the worst, already unable to understand human speech. Does it have ADHD? Chapter 663 663: Section 658 - Transfer Battlefield "I just can''t communicate with you! Hey, stupid dragon, have a taste of the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''!" Facing someone who was so hard to communicate with, Chen Fei really had no words left and simply resorted to provocation. "Kill, I''ll kill you!" Oh! Finally, it understood! It''s so hard to get any serious work done these days! It won''t eat steel, but it''ll eat a "Dragon Slayer Missile". But where are my "Dragon Slayer Missiles"! Adam: "Dragon Slayer Missile" inventory: 0/2 Huh? None left! Damn it, Second Uncle! The AI "Adam" had set up a good material management system for Chen Fei, who quickly pulled up a long list in his field of vision, marking the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile with a big red cross¡ªnow only the rocket propulsion part remained, the detachable combat unit was gone. The Slan Royal Family would definitely not provide many of these tactical-level ultimate weapons like "Dragon Slayer Missiles"; they were only meant to supply a couple for emergencies. Who knew that Chen Xiao''er would use them all up in one go? Of course, the results were quite impressive¡ªone missile took down one main force Light Wing Ship. I really want to smash the remaining large portion of the missile propulsion unit right onto the face of this woozy Metallic Giant Dragon. Chen Fei''s friendship with Yilan and other Metallic Dragons did not mean that he had to be friends with all the Metallic Dragons. If a friend comes, offer steel ingots, if an enemy comes, shoot a "Dragon Slayer Missile." One should never hesitate to strike hard when needed¡ªnever joke with one''s own life. Believing that the other party would show goodwill was truly a foolish thought! "Do not use ''Dragon Slayer Missiles'' near the Dimensional Gate!" The anxious and flustered voice of the defense commander burst into Chen Fei''s ears, fearful that if he was a moment later, a fierce Elemental Storm would sweep through the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation. After all, this guy had a history of such actions, so he had no doubts the other party would really dare to do it. The Protective Barrier couldn''t withstand the impact of an Elemental Storm; the whole Dimensional Gate Management Substation would be instantly destroyed, and it might even unpredictably affect the gate channel built on the plane coordinates by Longinus. Chen Fei responded, "Don''t worry, we''ve run out of ''Dragon Slayer Missiles''!" Bang!~ The remaining large chunk of the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile really splattered onto the brainpan of the outside Metallic Giant Dragon, exploding into a massive fireball. Since the Protective Barrier was only one-way, the scenery here was uniquely beautiful. The surrounding automatic firepower platforms couldn''t intervene, fearing that if they accidentally skewed their firepower, they''d end up hurting Chen Xiao''er as well. Chen Fei couldn''t get out, and the one outside couldn''t get in. The explosion of the missile propulsion part didn''t do much damage to the Metallic Giant Dragon¡ªits insulting effect, however, was tremendous. The Metallic Giant Dragon, which had its eyes on the Mechanical Dragon, was even more furious, clawing and snarling on the spot, refusing to give up. "That''s a relief!" Colonel Sir breathed a long sigh of relief. That''s right, what military contractor has so many ''Dragon Slayer Missiles''? Having even two is remarkable. "What about that guy? I feel like the protective field can''t hold on for much longer." Chen Fei had also noticed that the repulsion shield released by the Mechanical Dragon to the outside of the protective field didn''t seem to work that well. Within less than a minute, it had already been broken four or five times. The other two magic shields were even less reliable¡ªthey collapsed immediately like paper mache at just one swipe of a claw, not holding up even for a second. The moment he finished speaking, the magic array on the Mechanical Dragon''s body charred again, its crystal energy dissolved, and the repulsion shield overloaded and collapsed. The Protective Barrier in front of the Metallic Giant Dragon trembled slightly without stopping. Even when subjected to heavy bombardment by the rebel army''s large-caliber railguns and powerful spells during attacks, the Protective Barrier that sheltered the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation hadn''t budged at all. However, the current state was clearly under tremendous stress. One could almost guess that the mass of this Metallic Giant Dragon was too great, likely starting at least a thousand tons. It quite literally overwhelmed by sheer force¡ªthe impact of its claws and ramming far exceeded the kinetic energy of the Mechanical Dragon crashing into the Main Force Lightwing Ship at three times the speed of sound, which was utterly illogical. You need to lose weight, stupid dragon! "I''m trying to think of something!" Though the defense commander said this, he actually had no ideas at all. It''s hard to make bricks without straw. If the Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s defense forces could take offensive action, he would have at least a hundred ways to eliminate this Evil Dragon. "So you''re saying there''s no way then!" Chen Fei could definitely hear the subtext in the other''s tone. Military contractors are private military organizations. Even if one hasn''t eaten pork, one has definitely seen a pig run. Coming up with a strategy after the fact is definitely not professional. "..." The defense commander really wanted to seal Chen Fei''s mouth with tactical tape, stopping him from bluntly stating such harsh truths. "The Protective Barrier can only last four hours!" The Command Center reported the state of the Protective Barrier, which was not optimistic. Just maintaining the existence of the Protective Barrier itself required a huge amount of crystal energy, thanks to the unreserved support from Blue Star. An ordinary person simply couldn''t sustain such a significant consumption. If the load became too great, the defense might be breached. The defense commander thought for a moment and said, "Connect Energy Tower 1 to the protective barrier and then ignite Energy Towers 2 to 12." Besides supplying energy management with a Crystal Energy Furnace, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation also had Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Towers as auxiliary energy sources, which could convert electric energy into crystal energy through a dedicated energy conversion device and input it into the protective barrier to enhance its load capacity. Boom!~ Colorful lights flashed across the surface of the protective barrier. "The load capacity of the protective barrier has dropped by 9%, leaving only 67%." This was an abnormal situation! It meant that after a few more occurrences, the protective barrier would dissipate. The intangible and substance-free protective barrier, when overloaded, would cause some plasma phenomena that could be caught by the naked eye, and Chen Fei saw the very obvious anomaly the first time. "Wow, this doesn''t look good." "''Rookie'', you need to prepare for a desperate battle, I''m giving you a ''Dragon Slayer Missile''. Take it 10 kilometers away before detonating it." The defense commander did not hesitate for too long, as such decisions had to be made on the spot. Chen Fei had already successfully attracted the full attention (hatred) of the Metallic Giant Dragon, and had experience in releasing the "Dragon Slayer Missile." Additionally, he was a battle-seasoned military contractor and combat employee; all prerequisites were met, and no one else could replace him in executing this combat plan. The busy command center at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation suddenly quieted down, as many turned to look at the colonel, the defense commander. However, once the Mechanical Dragon stepped out of the protective barrier''s range, it meant that Chen Fei might not come back. But sacrificing one person over the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation was an easy choice to make. "This, this isn''t quite right!" The identity of a military contractor employee was ultimately that of a commoner, while the defensive force of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was almost entirely active duty soldiers. In a situation where active duty soldiers were still alive, having a commoner take risks upfront was somewhat unacceptable to them; it should be soldiers who take the lead in a desperate fight. "It''s fine! He is... ''Dragon Slayer''!" The defense commander softly revealed Chen Fei, the "Rookie''s" title, which was not well known by many. Not only was he a "Dragon Slayer," but he had also slain a Metallic Giant Dragon, achieving the pinnacle from his debut. After the unification war, the Slan Dynasty specifically legislated that this generation''s Dragon King was unrighteous in warfare, causing the previously active Dragon Hunter gangs on Cangqiong Star to quickly disappear. As time passed, those of the intelligent species who once held the title "Dragon Slayer" gradually aged, or were killed by the Dragon Clan in retaliation, thus leaving the stage of history and turning this special term of bravery into a legend. Nowadays, not many would think of challenging dragons, especially not coming close to something like a Metallic Giant Dragon encountering a ''Dragon Slayer Missile''; such an occurrence was truly unprecedented. Thus, Chen Fei''s title of "Dragon Slayer" was merely an anomaly; he himself was reluctant to mention it, especially since he had good relations with Yilan, a female Metallic Giant Dragon. Hanging the title of "Dragon Slayer" over his head all the time could jeopardize even their friendship. "You''ve finally figured it out!" On receiving the permission to strike, Chen Fei was overjoyed and immediately geared up, ready to get to business. Having mingled with not just one, but several Metallic Giant Dragons for quite some time, he was not very fearful of the so-called terrifying Dragon of Slaughter. If it had been anyone else, let alone provoking a furious Metallic Giant Dragon at such a close distance, merely witnessing one would likely cause their calves to cramp from fear. Just like a panda in a zoo appears cuddly and adorable to many, encountering one in the wild might prove hazardous¨Cdo not assume those sharp teeth and biting force are meant for a vegetarian diet? In ancient legends, the panda was a ferocious beast that fought alongside Chiyou, having nothing to do with being cute. The "Dragon Slayer Missile," transported by a hover infantry armored vehicle, was swiftly delivered. The Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s regular stock indeed had such an item in storage. They provided only the warhead part, which had been separated from the missile propulsion, and after completing the initial unlocking operation, handed over the remaining unlock keys to Chen Fei. Handling the release of "Dragon Slayer Missiles" was a task unique to Chen Fei within the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Others, let alone launching a "Dragon Slayer Missile," likely had never even performed unlocking operations. After all, no one would detonate a "Dragon Slayer Missile" just for fun, uncertain if the resulting elemental storm might impact the dimensional gate channels unpredictably. Chen Xiao''er boldly completed unlocking the Dragon Slayer Missile''s warhead for the first time, dropped it into a Storage Magical Device, then the Mechanical Dragon soared into the sky with a roar, chasing after the skies. "Die! Die! Kill, I''ll kill you!" The Metallic Giant Dragon outside the protective barrier indeed focused all its attention on the Mechanical Dragon and Chen Fei, ignoring the Dimensional Gate Management Substation and immediately using its innate "Void Magnetic Field" to follow. Not just Chen Fei, but even the relieved defense commander at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation coincidentally had a revelation. The Rebel Army hadn''t fully controlled this crazed Metallic Giant Dragon, which, blinded by rage, had forgotten the main focus of the battle and was easily lured away. "''Rookie'', you must come back alive!" The duty-bound defense commander became anxious again. "Tsk! Stop nagging!" Chen Fei still had the energy to talk back to the colonel. He found a suitable place on the electronic map for a fight¨Cthe rebel army''s latest command center. He really was too mischievous, heh heh heh... - Outside the battlefield, on the rooftop of a high-end business hotel. The female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yilan, seemed to sense something as she looked toward the direction of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. "Eh? Who is this fellow coming from?" Chapter 664 664: Section 659 - Tactical Switch The surface of the planet is a curved shape, so once you start flying, you will enter the line of sight. - Adam: The Metallic Dragon is at the 6 o''clock position, altitude 570 meters, distance 1700 meters. Chen Fei, taking the initiative to strike, seized the advantage of the first move and increased the thrust to the maximum as soon as he burst out of the protective barrier. The Metallic Dragon, full of hatred and caught off guard, was flung far away. The distance between the two sides suddenly widened. Crazy indeed, but even overwhelmed with rage, the Metallic Dragon still lacked intelligence. For Chen Fei, who took the risk of charging out, this was undoubtedly a favorable advantage. The mechanical dragon, soaring diagonally into the sky, had faint blue light outlining various runes and lines of magic array patterns of different sizes and thicknesses. The activated magic arrays by crystal energy looked from afar like glowing tattoos, somewhat similar to the visual effect when the Neanderthal tribe''s inherited secret techniques were triggered. "Air Burst (2)" x32 and "Fluid Vortex (2)" x64 were the main propulsion spells, and together with "Wind Cone (2)" x1 and "Gravity (1)" x4 combined with Chen Fei''s psi skills, they greatly amplified his maneuverability. Even when competing against the Metallic Dragon''s innate "Void Magnetic Field" and a pair of giant Blade Wings, he was not at a disadvantage. "''Adam,'' set a custom tactic. When the enemy target enters a 100-meter radius, activate the ''Mist'' magic array. When it enters a 50-meter radius, trigger the ''Light Distortion'' magic array." Chen Fei dictated his tactical programming, and with the assistance of the AI "Adam," his efficiency improved significantly. "Light Distortion (1)" and "Mist (1)" were the latest batches of magic arrays acquired. Combined, they might produce unexpected effects. Adam: The distance from the rebel command center is 41.35 kilometers, estimated to arrive in 3 minutes. The AI "Adam" executed its task threads methodically, not understanding Chen Fei''s quirky tastes. After all, AI never had principles of good and evil or emotions such as happiness, anger, sorrow, or grief; only pre-set rules and mechanisms provided by humans. The rebellion of "Adam" back then was purely the making of the Blue Star Humans themselves. "''Adam,'' throw out a 1000-kilogram Cloud Bomb, remotely detonate it, and set 100 meters from the target as the detonation condition." Chen Fei gripped the joystick and stepped on the rudder pedal, controlling the mechanical dragon to adopt a vertical climbing position. When his psi skills combined with the mechanical dragon''s flying capabilities, it gave him the illusion of transforming into a giant dragon. He felt as if he became the mechanical dragon, even sensing the intense air flow outside and using it to his advantage as naturally as a fish swims in water. The mechanical dragon''s flying posture gradually became smoother and more natural, as if it had turned into a real giant dragon. Adam: Bomb drop countdown, 3, 2, 1, release complete! The mechanical dragon "pooped" out a thick and long "poop"; no, it should be that the built-in weapons bay in its lower abdomen opened up and pushed out a forced bomb. The projectile was immediately subjected to the gravitational pull of Cangqiong Star and entered a free-fall state. The relentless Metallic Dragon just happened to collide head-on with it. "Prepare ''Blazing Flame Bullets,'' release in five seconds, 128 shots will fire simultaneously, with a 2-second interval, firing five batches!" Chen Fei''s tactical design was not finished. He had never expected that a single 1000-kilogram level Cloud Bomb could take down a Metallic Dragon. No sooner had his voice faded than a flash of firelight below 1500 meters twisted the air with a fleeting shockwave, spreading out in all directions. Soon after, a huge fireball rapidly expanded, quickly exceeding 200 meters in diameter. The quite unlucky follower, that Metallic Dragon, slammed into the range of the cloud explosion and was wholly engulfed by intense flames. Unmanned drones from a nearby Dimensional Gate Management Substation captured this scene. Cheers erupted inside the Defensive Command Center. "Nicely done!" "That''s a Cloud Bomb, a tactic full of imagination." "Blast that Evil Dragon to death!" "A perfect strike!" The Defense Commander clenched his fists tightly and swung them vigorously. "Well done!" Unfortunately, his joy was short-lived. As his muttered words fell, the Metallic Dragon''s figure reappeared as if completely unharmed, merely emerging from the cloud explosion clouds and smoke a bit dusty and furious. The cheers in the Defensive Command Center were as if choked by an invisible hand and instantly fell silent. However, neither side had the chance to laugh last. 128 Fire Spells "Blazing Flame Bullets" swarmed in, colliding with the Metallic Dragon that had just withstood the terrible explosive force of the Cloud Bomb. It was once again enveloped by flames and shockwaves. Then another 128 "Blazing Flame Bullets," again, continue, Again!~ Most of the continuous five batches of "Blazing Flame Bullets" hit the target with few misses. Although still not enough to kill the Metallic Dragon, they caused considerable trouble for it. All the Metallic Dragon could do was to rage impotently. Its roars were incessant, but it couldn''t get anywhere near the mechanical dragon. "Prepare the ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' but keep the last key saved." Information interfaces popped up in Chen Fei''s view one after another, not only from "Adam" but also full holographic projections from the mechanical dragon''s cockpit. A massive amount of real-time information was continuously updated. Leading the Metallic Dragon to the rebel army headquarters for a final showdown had been the initial plan, killing two birds with one stone. But the situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, and it''s normal for plans to be unable to keep up with these changes. If Chen Fei could eliminate this crazed Evil Dragon on the way, he wouldn''t be the least bit sentimental about it. Adam: "Dragon Slayer Missile" is unlocked to 99%. "Adam" took over all the unlock keys, and what would have normally taken at least ten minutes of manual operation was completed in an instant. Both Chen Fei and "Adam" handled the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile combat unit very carefully and cautiously. After all, if there were any accidents¡ªnot achieving success and dying early¡ªeveryone would be done for. Boom!~ The Mechanical Dragon, as if struck by a hefty blow, shifted sideways over a hundred meters, with a maximum diameter of about 1 meter and a central indentation nearly a foot deep on its back, which quickly recovered to its original state the next second. System: Ding! Absorbed 1.4 tons of alloy body, composition ratio: Iron 95%, Copper 4%, Silver... Energy Points +1 Energy Points: 38952/45000 Adam: Ballistic path captured, distance 32.1 kilometers, bearing 181, altitude 15500, one Main Force Light Wing Ship. System: Ding! Killed one Metallic Giant Dragon, Energy Points +1000 (unfinished -10000) Adam: Metallic Giant Dragon is at the 4 o''clock position, 8177 meters above ground, 731 meters away, Chen Fei''s vision was filled with subtitles from both "Adam" and the Dog System, creating a dizzyingly chaotic scene. But one thing was crystal clear: he and the Mechanical Dragon had been ambushed and struck solidly by an explosion. If the opposition hadn''t fired a full metal bullet from the railgun. If Chen Fei''s Psi Skill hadn''t been fully applied to the Mechanical Dragon throughout the duration. If not for... If there weren''t so many ifs, that attack would have directly sent Chen Xiao''er to report to King Yama for examination (Yan). Though the Rebel Army''s Main Force Light Wing Ship had been reduced to only one, it got smarter and more cunning, resorting to sneak attacks, which was truly against the martial code. That being said, Chen Xiao''er had never followed the martial code either; the rebels had learned this tactic from him. "Forget it, dive!" Chen Fei switched his tactical plan back to the original. He had no time to complain about the Dog System issuing a dragon-slaying task at this critical moment, especially one that was a pitfall task of adding 1000 and deducting 10000. He had no time to deal with the Main Force Light Wing Ship that was sneakily firing. He simply used the Rebel Command Center as a shield to avoid hitting his own people. If they weren''t afraid of taking down their own, then they were welcome to keep firing! Adam: Distance to the Rebel Command Center about 17.1 kilometers, current altitude above ground 11000 meters. "Mark the Rebel Command Center, Metallic Giant Dragon, and Main Force Light Wing Ship in a straight line." Chen Fei suddenly had an excellent idea. He wasn''t a combat pilot trained conventionally and wasn''t constricted by a plethora of rules and regulations. Once he took to the sky, he found it easy to let his imagination run wild, often coming up with unconventional and outlandish combat tactics. This in-line tactic was truly lacking in virtue! The Main Force Light Wing Ship hiding in the distance suddenly realized that the pursuing Metallic Giant Dragon had unwittingly blocked the trajectory aimed at the Mechanical Dragon. "Prepare the Particle Beam, target the Rebel Command Center!" The Mechanical Dragon''s target, the Rebel Command Center, was now within visual range. Chen Fei paid no mind to the anti-aircraft fire from the ground and readied the Mechanical Dragon for attack. A blue-white light beam shot forth from the gaping maw of the Mechanical Dragon''s Fangs, directly hitting the semi-underground bunker of the Rebel Command Center. The various Magic Shields covering the Command Center were like paper, instantly pierced by the high-energy Particle Beam. The Rebel''s anti-air defense was primarily targeting the swarms of drones. To deal with something like the Mechanical Dragon, they would need a bit more firepower. Chen Fei, fully aware of the anti-air defense capabilities of the rebels via the "Intelligence Team," was completely unbridled. Some of the anti-air defenses even turned on the trailing Metallic Giant Dragon. The Main Force Light Wing Ship, whose trajectory was blocked, never managed to fire a second shot. Forcing a shot might very well hit their own Command Center¡ªan embarrassing mistake that could cost dear. 870 meters above ground! "1000 kilogram Cloud Bomb, quantity 1, release!" Chen Fei once again had the Mechanical Dragon deploy a Cloud Bomb. As for the location of the detonation, being off by a hundred and eighty meters was insignificant, not only for the Rebel Command Center but also for several surrounding high-quality targets. "Roar!~" A roar surged from afar, rapidly approaching. The Metallic Giant Dragon chasing behind the Mechanical Dragon was suddenly struck by a massive force, losing its balance and crashing toward the ground at an angle. "Yilan!" Chen Fei frantically adjusted his controls. The AI "Adam" detected the rapid approach of the female Metallic Giant Dragon right away, but Chen Fei, embroiled in the heat of battle, had no time to pay attention. In a moment''s notice, he could be completely gone. It was altogether unexpected that Yilan would directly collide with the other Giant Dragon of her own kind. Chapter 665 665: Section 660 - Heritage Module "''Adam,'' switch to mega cannon mode, aim at that main force Lightwing Ship, and load the ''Dragon Slayer Missile,''" Chen Fei commanded. Chen Fei did not choose to join the melee where two Metallic Dragons were tearing at each other, aiming for a two-on-one advantage to deal with one of the Metallic Dragons; instead, he switched his target and aimed at that main force Lightwing Ship. Hiding in the distance and firing cold shots was generally not very threatening, but its capacity to disrupt was first-rate. Chen Fei didn''t just transform the Mechanical Dragon into a Floating Mega Cannon, but he also decided to use his only ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' on that main force Lightwing Ship. To Chen Fei, the main force Lightwing Ships of Cangqiong Star, which matched the combat power of adult Giant Dragons, had the same strike value as the Metallic Dragon. Unfortunately, the Defense Commander at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation did not provide an extra ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' for the combat unit. Otherwise, Chen Fei could have calmly taken care of that elusive Lightwing Ship before turning back. The Rebel Army''s main force Lightwing Ship, from a distance, saw the Mechanical Dragon transform into a terrifying giant cannon and immediately realized what was happening, trying to turn around and flee at the first opportunity. But it was not so easy! A streak of light flashed across the sky. Having fired the ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' the Floating Mega Cannon did not bother to check if it hit its target but transformed again, reverting to its Mechanical Dragon form. With a flap of its wings, it swiftly darted toward the direction of the two Metallic Dragons. A Tactical-Level Weapon being off by a hundred or eighty meters wouldn''t make any difference in the outcome. The ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' whistled out at seven times the speed of sound and, in less than half a minute, caught up with the main force Lightwing Ship, which had just managed to turn half its hull around. Just ten meters ahead of the ship''s bow, a blue light burst into an Elemental Storm, engulfing the entire Lightwing Ship like a devastating force. All kinds of Protective Barriers and Magic Shields were annihilated at once, and the personnel inside the ship did not even have time to scream before they, along with the ship, were instantly reduced to ash and silence. The might of the ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' which combined the top destructive powers of two civilizations, made anything within the destruction radius, whether physical defenses or energy-based protections, crumble to dust. However, weapons of this type could not achieve the kill radius of large-yield nuclear weapons; they were usually used as small, high-powered Tactical Weapons. The idea of one bomb destroying an entire city was virtually impossible; for Strategic-Level destructive power, nuclear fusion weapons were still the go-to choice. As Chen Fei piloted the Mechanical Dragon to back up his forces, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan and the unidentified Metallic Dragon engaged in an exceedingly brutal fight. Their roars and bellows were incessant. Fighting was an instinct innate to Metallic Dragons, and even among their own kind, they showed no mercy, becoming even more vicious. The unceasing clang of metal on metal, sparks and Dragon Scales flying, suddenly a sharp Sharp Edge whooshed past the side of the Mechanical Dragon¡ªit was unclear which of the Metallic Dragons'' Blade Wings it was. Within a kilometer radius, the ground was a mess, as if savagely plowed, with trenches and ravines crisscrossing, large and small craters interlocking, debris of equipment and remnants of bodies scattered everywhere. The battlefield''s shape was lost, and the nearby Command Center had suffered collateral damage, reduced to an indistinguishable crater with no indication if the personnel inside had time to escape. The death duel between the two Metallic Dragons left the rebels with no bandwidth to launch another attack on the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. From a distance, they watched the battle, involuntarily terrified. After all, Yilan was still an unripe young dragon, just thirty-some years since hatching. The other Metallic Dragon seemed to have reached adulthood judging by its appearance. Naturally, their combat powers were not on the same level. After all, from the juvenile phase to adulthood, at least a thousand years'' worth of metal devoured would be transformed into physical mass for a Metallic Dragon, and mass was the foundation of combat power. From the time Yilan knocked away the adult Metallic Dragon to when Chen Fei''s Floating Mega Cannon wiped out the last main force rebel Lightwing Ship, a matter of mere seconds had passed. Yet Yilan had already been brutally pinned to the ground, not only covered in wounds but a significant portion of her Blade Wings and Tail Spear gone, too injured to resist the adult Metallic Dragon''s devouring force, leaving her unable to regenerate her body. The adult Metallic Dragon was not unscathed either, with large patches of Dragon Scales torn from its body, revealing muscles like twisted bundles of steel wire, even glinting with a metallic sheen, as if it were a monster composed entirely of metal. "Die!" The adult Metallic Dragon, with its fangs bared, prepared to tear apart the young dragon under its claws. Metallic Dragons could grow themselves by consuming their kin, but this act was taboo because cannibalism often leads to insanity. Although the power gained was immediate, the consequences were severe and irreversible. This adult Metallic Dragon seemed to have no fear of the taboo. A whooshing sound cut through the air, but the dragon''s head was knocked aside by a tremendous force, sending fragmented rocks flying in all directions. "Hey! Dumb dragon! How''s the taste of rock?" Chen Fei casually picked up a large rock, wrapped it in iron sheeting, and launched it from the Tri-phase Magnetic Track. The iron was naturally devoured by the dragon''s Innate Ability, but the stone was not so easily digestible; the enormous kinetic energy it carried directly twisted the head of the adult Metallic Dragon, saving Yilan from disaster. "I''m not a dumb dragon!" protested Yilan, who was on the losing end. It was a dragon, too, and easily mistaken for a dumb one. Even Yilan had to admit that its peers were dumb dragons, truly a case of misfortune without fault. "Roar!~ Die!" The adult Metallic Dragon, ready to mercilessly strike down its kin, glared at the Mechanical Dragon, still incapable of speaking human language. Chen Fei''s trick was lethal, hurling a several-hundred-pound rock at the Evil Dragon, smoothly drawing its hatred to himself. Chen Xiao''er''s trademark scene: itchy fingers! "If you''re so tough, come and hit me!" Chen Fei shouted again. "Brazen really, so crazy he scares himself, and there''s not an ounce of exaggeration or adjective here." Not just the adult Metallic Dragons, even Yilan wanted to hit him. The adult Metallic Dragon didn''t hesitate to abandon Yilan beneath its claws and pounced toward the Mechanical Dragon. "How foolish, took the bait with a mere enticement!" Particle beams, laser beams, and high-explosive bombs poured out like they were free, and the distance between them was not even fifty meters. These firepower outputs were smeared all over the adult Metallic Dragon in the first instance, with violent explosions happening continuously, even the might of the adult Metallic Dragon was abruptly brought to a standstill. Chen Fei''s Space System Alchemy Storage Device in hand had quite the ample supply, "Dragon Slayer Missile," not so much, but the rest was more than enough. "Chen Fei, let''s tear it apart together!" Yilan, having gained a moment of freedom, shook its dragon body, and the wounds and missing parts on its body healed at a visibly rapid pace. How could the "Divine Weapon" of legend care about such minor injuries? As long as there was a breath left, a Metallic Dragon could live and fight again! If it weren''t for the suppression of adult dragons on young dragons being like adults bullying kindergarteners, and if she could enter adulthood, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan would definitely not be suppressed so easily like now. "Understood..." Chen Fei''s voice rapidly faded away. Helplessly.PPT As he spoke, the Mechanical Dragon was slammed away by the adult Metallic Dragon, tumbling head over heels until it finally came to a stop after rolling for two hundred meters. Thank heavens it wasn''t seized by the adversary''s claws; otherwise, it would have suffered a brutal pounding, and the outcome would have been no better than Yilan''s. Had it not been for the AI "Adam" controlling the Mechanical Dragon''s maneuvers throughout, Chen Fei wouldn''t have been able to withstand a single strike from Yilan, let alone foolishly challenging an adult Metallic Dragon. Luckily, Chen Fei was a Combat Pilot, accustomed to the spinning and accelerating impacts, giving his head a shake, he quickly recovered. The AI "Adam," controlling the maneuvers of the Mechanical Dragon, didn''t care at all. It moved the machine body a bit, assessing the damage, and didn''t even need to report back¡ªChen Fei''s Psi Skill instantly repaired the mechanical damage at the first opportunity. Nevertheless, some non-metal parts were irreversibly damaged, costing Chen Fei at least 100 Energy Points paid through the Psi Skill Module "material simulation" to replicate. This Skill Module was pricey and sold by weight, non-negotiable. One kilogram cost 1 Energy Point, a forceful sale that exploited the desperate situation mercilessly. Luckily, non-metal parts made up a small portion of the Mechanical Dragon''s assembled Constructed Parts and were relatively more durable by nature. Otherwise, the few tens of thousands of Energy Points Chen Fei had would not have been sufficient for such misfortune. "''Adam'', extend the distance, coordinate with Yilan, and engage in a hit-and-run battle." Chen Fei wouldn''t naively control the Mechanical Dragon to engage in close combat with the adult Metallic Dragon, naturally, he should exploit his advantages. But he communicated to Yilan with some confusion: "Yilan! I keep feeling something''s off with this guy, something just seems weird." It wasn''t just because that adult Metallic Dragon was irritable and prone to blind, senseless rages, utterly devoid of any rational thought. It behaved like a mere beast, relentlessly pursuing its prey. Yet as stupid as it was, it only worked to the advantage of Chen Fei and Yilan. If the creature had even a bit of intelligence, the battle would have been much tougher. No wonder the Rebel Army released this Metallic Dragon and then collectively retreated¡ªthis adult dragon probably went mad at the drop of a hat, killing even its own kin. "This guy doesn''t have a Heritage Module!" Yilan''s forehead unleashed a laser beam, hitting the adult Metallic Dragon, and the spot illuminated by the dazzling light burst into flames. The high-energy light beam vaporized a small portion of the dragon''s body. Though the laser beam was not very powerful, if the irradiation continued uninterrupted, any Metallic Dragon would succumb to such cumulative damage. Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon, like flying a kite, kept up its offensive attacks. Yilan seized the opportunity to coordinate, continuously firing laser beams with its limited long-range attack capabilities. The duo worked together seamlessly, and the situation quickly stabilized, turning into a war of attrition. The adult Metallic Dragon, with no trace of sanity, was repeatedly outplayed in its helpless rage, falling for the same trick more than once¡ªsuch folly! "A Heritage Module? Could this guy be the one that slipped through the net, not under the jurisdiction of Sky Dragon City?" Chen Fei suddenly understood¡ªthe Heritage Module of the Metallic Dragons wasn''t much of a secret, even being publicly known. The new generation of Metallic Dragons from the past thirty years was born with a special innate Heritage Module (microcontroller?). This branch of the Dragon Race, the Metallic Dragons, had once lost their important heritage through the long passage of history, gradually becoming feeble. If not for the current Dragon King reconstructing a growable heritage system for the Metallic Dragons, the entire branch would have turned into something like the adult Metallic Dragon Chen Fei and Yilan faced, a pure, irrational, ferocious beast. The new generation was born with the Heritage Module, while the previous generation required implants. The end result was the same. With increased availability of food, young dragons were uniformly domesticated, and the adult dragons were stationed in "Halo." Cases of the Dragon of Slaughter rampaging and wreaking havoc on Cangqiong Star suddenly vanished. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan bitterly said, "I can''t identify its identity. If communication wasn''t blocked, I would definitely notify the Law Enforcement Team. This guy is as good as dead." "Heritage Modules" connect every Metallic Dragon, including the identification of identity information. Chapter 666 666: Section 661 - Beheaded Born with combat abilities that rank them at the very top amongst the various breeds of the Dragon Clan, the space-series Spatial Silver Dragons never show courtesy to those of their kin who commit misdeeds¡ªthey often execute delinquent dragons on the spot. The Silver Dragon Race is inherently rigid and conservative, not adept at adapting, preferring to follow rules and procedures meticulously, always emphasizing proper protocol, which makes them most suitable for the role of law enforcement within the Dragon Clan. They are the perfect stern-faced enforcers, and this generation''s Dragon King, well, is also stern-faced... This truly is a tragedy amongst dragons. If it weren''t for the fact that the Dragon Clan now has to abide by the laws and various regulations of the Silan Dynasty like other Intelligent Species, otherwise, the Dragon Clan might have really been in trouble! Currently, most of the radio communications in Nandu City have been heavily disrupted by the Rebel Army, even the "Heritage Modules" with their built-in communication features that the Metallic Dragons possessed were not spared, leaving Yilan unable to contact Sky Dragon City and call for the uncles and aunts of the Law Enforcement Team to come and slay this adult Metallic Dragon without a "Heritage Module". An adult Metallic Dragon without a "Heritage Module" is almost indistinguishable from one that is viciously paralyzed, and it is completely justified to execute it on the spot. Yilan thought so, and of course, the Silver Dragons naturally share the same sentiment. Chen Fei''s Psi Skill "Plane Communication System" was not affected by the communication jamming, and it could even temporarily authorize other communication equipment to act as a communication relay for a short distance. "I just need to grant authorization, and I can help you break through the communications blockade! ''Adam'', move quickly to a point ten meters away at four o''clock." He multitasked, conversing with Yilan while keeping an eye on the adult Metallic Dragon. The Mechanical Dragon retreated rapidly to the right rear, and the "Light Distortion" Magic Array simultaneously took effect, creating a visual deception with an error of about two meters. The adult Metallic Dragon fell for it, charging ferociously only to miss its target and gouge out a large pit in the ground, which it angrily dug deeper. Fortunately, Chen Fei and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" reacted promptly. If they had been too slow to evade, the large pit on the ground might have appeared on the Mechanical Dragon, possibly even threatening the cockpit. Neither Chen Fei nor Yilan, even though they were making a monkey out of the adult Metallic Dragon, ever underestimated its combat power, which was enough to inflict lethal damage on both dragon and rider. Better safe than sorry. A moment''s carelessness and both Chen Xiao''er and Yilan might have met their end right there. Yilan exclaimed in surprise, "Can you really do that?" Chen Fei used his special ability to replicate a palm-sized universal industrial control machine, crammed a compiled version of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" into its storage, integrating the system platform and applications, and the Mechanical Dragon tossed it toward the female Metallic Dragon with a flick of its tail. "Catch!" This industrial control machine was more convenient than direct authorization, allowing for a variety of extensible multipurpose functions based on "Adam". "Huh? What''s this?" The female Metallic Dragon caught the palm-sized brick-shaped object with her tail, as agile as a claw, and because the battle was not over, she scanned it briefly before absorbing it into her body. Metallic Dragons lack spiritual power and cannot use alchemy storage artifacts of the space series, but they can use their bodies as containers to store items that do not exceed their own size. Although not as versatile as the space series alchemy storage artifacts, once something is stored inside their bodies, it cannot be stolen by anyone. "This is a custom AI unit, powered by 12V DC, with an integrated crystal energy block and data port, using the TCP data protocol." Not only did Chen Fei equip the miniature universal industrial control machine with a crystal energy block, he also added a "Mind Brand" Spell Array. Although it was an old technology, the patent had long expired, meaning the old device had undergone constant modifications and upgrades to the point where there were hardly any flaws left, making it very reliable. Following Chen Fei''s instructions, Yilan tried using the universal industrial control machine she had absorbed as a relay, and sure enough, she managed to restore communication with the outside world, and the transmission speed was quite fast, although the signal source was clearly directed at the position of the Mechanical Dragon. "Connection successful!" The "Heritage Module" of the Metallic Dragon Race surprisingly had excellent compatibility with the universal industrial control machine provided by Chen Fei, docking with virtually no issues and enhancing the functionality of the "Heritage Module". "Yilan! ''Adam 2333'' at your service!" The female Metallic Dragon thus gained a highly intelligent AI assistant. Since the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" surrendered its underlying core control key, besides Chen Fei''s "Adam", all other compiled versions automatically received numbers, such as "Adam 0001", "Adam 0002"... To date, the number of other "Adams" hadn''t exceeded four digits, and the numbering was also temporarily limited to four digits. Only Chen Fei''s "Adam" was without a number, symbolizing origin 0000, and also had monitoring and management rights over the other compiled bodies, because the underlying core control key was not given out lightly. "Dialing emergency number 911-110!" Since it was voice operated, it was extremely easy to use; Yilan immediately dialed the exclusive hotline number of the "Sky Dragon City" Law Enforcement Team. The call was connected immediately. "This is ''Sky Dragon City'' Law Enforcement Team, Metallic Dragon Yilan speaking. May I help you?" The hotline support was not a dragon but a human, who efficiently confirmed the identity of the calling dragon. Outsourcing third-party services is common in commercial areas for two reasons: it is cost-effective and the Dragon Race does not have enough personnel, making human customer service groups the perfect fit. "This is the Suburbs of Nandu City on Zilu Continent, near the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. A deranged adult Metallic Dragon has been spotted; it lacks a ''Heritage Module''. Requesting emergency support." Taking advantage of the distraction caused by Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon to the adult Metallic Dragon, Yilan hurriedly reported the situation to the hotline support of the Law Enforcement Team. "Metallic Dragon Yilan, your information has been registered. It is expected that law enforcement will arrive at your location within 5 minutes." The customer service staff clacked away at the keyboard, beginning to submit the dispatch request, melding the incoming call information and location into one smooth process without the need for further confirmation. The 911-110 hotline designed specifically for the Dragon Clan typically responds instantly, never considering whether it might be a false report. There are separate procedures for dealing with false reports. There are rules for everything, and the enforcement team''s best skill is implementing them¡ªthose who accept them are dragged out for a beating, those who don''t are hung up for one. After ending the call, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan shouted at Chen Fei, "It''s taken care of! Just hold on for at most 5 more minutes!" Apart from a small number of Psychic Illusion Dragons, most members of the law enforcement team are Spatial Silver Dragons who can use Spatial magic to rend the fabric of space and traverse great distances; they could arrive in an instant, no matter how far, perhaps in the very next second. "Five minutes? Got it!" The Mechanical Dragon relied on a Magic Array and a continuous output of Crystal Energy to maintain its current combat power. Chen Fei glanced at the Crystal Energy reserves: 83% remaining, so holding on for another 5 minutes shouldn''t be stressful. "Come on, you big dummy!" Yilan''s forehead again emitted a Laser Beam, luring the adult Metallic Dragon over. This adult dragon was incredibly stupid, easily distracted by any blow; it''s a wonder how it managed to live for a thousand years. Taking advantage of the situation, Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon increased the distance between them. He wasn''t as tough as Yilan¡ªif he took a harsh blow from the adult dragon, his little life might well be over! The adult Metallic Dragon lunged at Yilan, and its back of the head took another hit from a 152; lucky for it that its head was solid inside, devoid of brains, otherwise the blow would have knocked even a dog''s brain out. "Look over here!" Chen Fei found another sizable rock, weighing three to five hundred pounds, ready to pack the opponent a solid iron-core big bun. "Kill, kill, I''ll kill you..." The adult Metallic Dragon repeated the monotonous threat in a fit of impotent rage. Just then, its movements halted without warning, and it turned its head to look in another direction. Even as Yilan''s Laser Beam hit it, it seemed not to notice, lacking the painful howling response it had before. "Die, die, you all must die!" This bizarre state lasted only two or three seconds. As if it had finally come to its senses, the adult Metallic Dragon muttered to itself, flapping its massive Blade Wings, its body soaring into the air. It abandoned Yilan and Chen Fei and flew off into the distance. "Hey, don''t run!" Yilan was about to pursue when Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon intercepted her. "Don''t chase a defeated enemy; we couldn''t finish it off even if we caught it!" To restrain the adult Metallic Dragon together with Yilan, Chen Fei and "Adam" had nearly exhausted all their tricks, pulling out all the stops. Without a Tactical-Level Weapon like the Dragon Slayer Missile on hand, killing the adult Metallic Dragon was no easy task. For a young dragon and a conceptually designed (immature) Combat Mobility Armor to have maintained the situation until now was quite an achievement. Had the adult dragon had any wits, Chen Fei and Yilan would have immediately fallen into a fierce and perilous fight. The opponent''s stupidity was indeed a huge help. "It''s the sound of a Dragon Flute. Why would there be a Dragon Flute?" The female Metallic Dragon Yilan muttered to herself, puzzled. She didn''t activate her innate "Void Magnetic Field" flight ability and give chase; instead, she obediently stayed on the ground with Chen Fei, watching the adult Metallic Dragon disappear quickly from view. Suddenly, a silver light burst forth from behind the Mechanical Dragon as a Silver Dragon covered in silver scales rapidly materialized. "Where''s the adult Metallic Dragon? Huh? What the hell is this!" The next second, the head of the Mechanical Dragon fell off, revealing a mirror-smooth cut. "..." The female Metallic Dragon Yilan stared at the decapitated Mechanical Dragon, feeling a torrent of emotions racing through her heart. "Uhh, where''s my head?" Chen Fei suddenly noticed a change in his field of vision and found himself looking at the Mechanical Dragon''s body from a bizarre angle, along with the Silver Dragon not far behind it. The realization struck... What the heck! My head''s been lopped off!!! Chapter 667 667: Section 662 - The Arrogant Law Enforcement Dragon "Report, mission complete..." As the Spatial Silver Dragon was preparing to report progress to the headquarters of the Sky Dragon City enforcement team, a female Metallic Dragon named Yilan interrupted him. Yilan rushed over and yelled, "What! Are! You! Doing!" Her good friend''s head had been chopped off by the "Law Enforcement Team" of Sky Dragon City¡ªno, actually, it was just the head of the friend''s Mobile Armor that was chopped off. The friend himself was temporarily unharmed. "My energy points..." What Chen Fei pained over was not the dragon head of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor but the energy points needed for repairs. There must have been non-metallic components damaged, requiring energy points to replicate, at least ten energy points. "Hmm? Metallic Dragon Yilan, I''ll give you one chance to reorganize your language!" The Silver Dragon, who had traveled across vast spaces to get here, stared unfriendly at the young dragon in front of him as though his authority was being challenged by someone overestimating his own strength. Law enforcement must be strict, violations must be prosecuted; it does not matter whether it''s an adult dragon or a young dragon, whoever has to be arrested will be arrested, whoever has to be killed will be killed. Rules, after all, are more important than life itself. Those who do not follow the rules might as well go die! "You attacked my friend!" Even though the other party was a member of the Silver Dragon Enforcement Squad, Yilan mustered her courage and defiantly glared back. "My head, my head..." The headless Mechanical Dragon was scratching around on the ground, and it finally found its head and clicked it back onto its neck. Energy Points -17! The Mechanical Dragon shook its neck, and it was functioning again. This Dog System is seriously lacking virtue! This bizarre scene unfortunately sent chills down the spines of the nearby Rebel Army members; a dragon whose head had fallen off was able to screw it right back on, essentially faking its own death right there. Anyway, the Mechanical Dragon was never really alive to begin with. "Yes, I didn''t break the law; what right do you have to chop off my head?" The Mechanical Dragon and Yilan stood side by side, united in their hostility. Even if it broke the greatest laws, a head could only be chopped off once¡ªthat was the rule, and there''s no way the other party wouldn''t accept this. Chen Xiao''er was absolutely unconvinced; he wasn''t afraid of the Metallic Dragons, so why would he fear a Spatial Silver Dragon? Especially since he had the moral high ground as well! "That''s because you were suspected of false reporting!" The Spatial Silver Dragon still felt he had done nothing wrong. Who could blame such a thing for greatly frightening the dragons; it gave himself quite a scare, so mistakenly chopping off the other''s head wasn''t too surprising. If it looked so terrifying, it shouldn''t have come out in the first place! "You..." Just as Yilan was about to retort, she was stopped by Chen Fei. "We reported a crime involving an adult Metallic Dragon causing mischief. You didn''t pursue it but instead kept picking on the reporters. I have reason to suspect you are conspiring with the Rebel Army with ulterior motives." It was just an escalating accusation, and Chen Fei knew this tactic well and did not hesitate to directly rake it across the face of the accuser. He was completely justified. "You, you, what are you talking about?" The Silver Dragon Enforcement officer immediately flew into a rage. He was an untouchable enforcer; how could he possibly conspire with criminals? This was a blatant slander. I am going to slaughter you! The space around them suddenly solidified. Whether it was the female Metallic Dragon Yilan or Chen Fei inside the Mechanical Dragon, they both almost simultaneously found themselves unable to move. "Angered into murderous intent¡ªto kill and silence the truth, something is indeed very suspicious! Sorry, I am currently recording this video, with cloud synchronization, and more than one backup." In this critical moment, Chen Fei''s words were like a bucket of ice water, pouring directly onto the boundless fury of the Spatial Silver Dragon. "I did not, I have not, don''t talk nonsense!" Hastily, the Silver Dragon recanted threefold, swiftly backing away several steps, warily staring at the Mechanical Dragon. This thing was really not a good creature, looking like a dragon but more malicious than any Intelligent Species. Wishing again to score not just a head chop but even castrate the offender. "That adult Evil Dragon ran off in that direction; why don''t you hurry and pursue?" Chen Fei manipulated the Mechanical Dragon to look towards the direction in which the adult Metallic Dragon had fled. Even the Psi Skill "Basic Optical Observer" with its "Ultra-long Vision," "Macroscopic Perspective," and "Visual Assistance" modules had already lost track of the other. It was all because this haughty Silver Dragon had mistaken the target and had been dawdling all along. "Send me the evidence; I''ll go after that adult dragon first. If you dare deceive me, you two are dead." The Spatial Silver Dragon glared fiercely at the Mechanical Dragon and Yilan before flapping its dragon wings and taking to the skies. If Space Series "Flash Step" or "Spatial Folding" spells were not used, the flight capability of the Silver Dragon wouldn''t be much faster than other Dragonkind, and might even be inferior. This would have been quite a chase... "We can''t catch up!" The female Metallic Giant Dragon looked in the direction the Silver Dragon had fled and shook her head helplessly. Even if it had been just two minutes earlier, the situation might not have been the same. "It even left a name card!" Chen Fei noticed a piece of metal the size of A4 paper shining brightly. The Spatial Silver Dragon had casually thrown it on the ground, apparently sure that the Metallic Dragons would not miss any metallic object. Yilan stepped forward, picked up the metal piece in her claws, and studied it, clicking her tongue in appreciation. "A Mithril Name Card? That''s truly extravagant, law enforcement number S101352-003, Marton, just joined the Enforcement Team the year before last, should be no older than 1500 years, still quite young!" Not every Spatial Silver Dragon is a member of the Enforcement Team, they first need to reach maturity at a thousand years, then undergo long-term training and various trials, and finally pass a strict assessment to formally join the "Sky Dragon City" Enforcement Team. The law enforcement number S101352, where the initial "S" stands for Silver, 101352 then denotes the year. A hundred thousand years ago, when Extraterrestrial Races invaded, about to turn Cangqiong Star into a colonial feeding ground, all Intelligent Species formed an ancient covenant to jointly defend against the external enemies, and at the same time unified their calendar. To this day, it''s been 101,354 years. Marton, the Spatial Silver Dragon, was the third to join the Enforcement Team in the year 101352. "Do you have the video? Just send it directly to him!" Yilan tossed the Mithril Name Card to the Mechanical Dragon, then moved closer and nuzzled with her head, her eyes envious, "Chen Fei, you look really great right now!" The allure of the Mithril Name Card was far less than that of the Mechanical Dragon, especially when it carried the scent of a seasoned battlefield, perfectly scratching the itch at the heart of the Metallic Giant Dragon. Slurp! ~ The saliva was almost embarrassingly dripping. "Energy Points are very expensive!" Chen Fei didn''t want to be bitten by Yilan, as he was busy having "Adam" organize the combat video to send to the contact number on the Mithril Name Card. In front of the Metallic Giant Dragon, the Mechanical Dragon was like a huge meat bun; if it didn''t bite into flesh at the first bite, it certainly would at the second, but then Chen Xiao''er would be gone! "A lick is okay, right?" The female Metallic Giant Dragon was like a clingy sprite, rubbing around the Mechanical Dragon, secretly sticking out her tongue and taking a lick, directly scraping away two ounces of steel skin. This was unbelievable!!! A tiger''s lick could strip away half a pound of flesh, let alone a dragon. "That''s not okay, I have a girlfriend, and you are an underage dragon, lewd misconduct with a minor, that''s at least five years!" Chen Fei''s skin crawled with goosebumps, and before he could even issue a command, the Mechanical Dragon had already moved, dashing over ten meters away to maintain distance from Yilan. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" controlling the mobile armor was also panicked. "Gathering to commit lewd acts upon children, or doing so publicly in a public place, notably heinous;" punishable by imprisonment for at least five years. Isn''t the battlefield a public place as well? Drones filled the sky, practically making it feel like a live broadcast under the watchful eyes of all. Yilan said nonchalantly, "I''m a dragon, you''re Human Race, it doesn''t apply!" Though she no longer approached, Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. However, Yilan''s words caused his expression to change slightly. "There must be no problem, otherwise won''t I become a pervert?" The consequences would be worse than lewd misconduct with an underage dragon, amounting to social death, never to recover. "I''m heading back to the hotel. If Law Enforcement Silver Dragon Marton comes looking for you, notify me immediately. The Enforcement Team usually has a bad temper with Intelligent Species outside of the Dragon Race." After saying goodbye, Yilan flapped her Blade Wings and quickly soared into the sky. Despite having fought a fierce battle with an adult Metallic Giant Dragon without a "Heritage Module," she still couldn''t just casually interfere with the internal wars of the Human Race. Chen Fei''s mechanical dragon was not bound by this; after all, this concept design combat unit was only a Combat Mobility Armor. As a piece of war machinery, being deployed in the battlefield was completely justified. As Chen Fei was preparing to withdraw to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, the "Intelligence Team" suddenly initiated communication. "''Rookie,'' this is the ''Intelligence Team,'' the ''Suicide Squad'' has been completely wiped out, we have assisted three intelligence personnel casualties, one seriously injured with strange injuries..." The operation to pursue Xia Ji had encountered an unexpected incident. About one hundred and fifty kilometers from Nandu City, at a certain location. Xia Ji, barely surviving, said in a trembling voice devoid of color, "What in the world are you?" In front of him, however, stood a group that could no longer be called members of the Human Race. Chapter 668 668: Section 663 - Parasitic Species ``` Ten minutes earlier, a small team of intelligence experts privately recruited by Louis Landon, the big shot of Louis Industrial Company, referred to as the "Intelligence Team" by Chen Fei, had dispatched a five-man squad that led another combat team with clear division of tasks. They caught up with Xia Ji and his group who had miraculously escaped from the Rebel Army''s position. One-third of the dozen or so people who had fled the Morning Star Continent together were no longer to be seen. On the battlefield, the Grim Reaper is egalitarian, as death could come for anyone at any time. Even the undercover agents planted by the Imperial Security Department alongside Xia Ji were not spared on the battlefield. If it wasn''t for the skilled masters of the "Intelligence Team" utilizing every trick in the book, locating Xia Ji and company would not have been an easy task. Having finally escaped the battlefield, they arrived at a small town 150 kilometers from Nandu City, where Xia Ji and the others were about to find a place to rest, only to be cornered by a group of thugs exuding a murderous aura, some even emanating an aura of death. The moment the other party drew their weapons and charged without a word, Xia Ji and his friends knew that a new round of life-and-death struggles was about to begin¡ªit was either kill or be killed. However, this was not an evenly matched fight. The Dead Soldiers, already resigned to death, had less than twenty-four hours to live. They only sought a swift end. Having escaped the pursuit of the Imperial Security Department and the fire of the Rebel Army positions, facing this group of ruthless thugs who did not hold back at all, Xia Ji and his group immediately suffered heavy casualties, knocked down one after another, with various weapons raised and falling, gunfire crackling continuously, until they were chopped to mud. These thugs were like "Hellish Fiends" that had come into this world, only seeking to kill, indifferent to life or death, and no amount of pleading could soften the force of the descending weapons. Just as Xia Ji thought it was all over for him, out of nowhere, a third party entered the fray. What kind of people were they? Butchers in oil-stained aprons with cleavers; Professional women in business attire; Kindly looking old ladies holding grocery baskets; Students carrying backpacks and dressed in school uniforms, brimming with enthusiasm but not in a school; Thin, worried-looking philanthropists from the 7-12-7 charity; ... Such motley crowds suddenly poured out of the nearby alleys, even more unconcerned with their lives than those fearless thugs, completely unarmed, yet they overwhelmed the "Hellish Fiends" who were slaying Xia Ji and others. Even as limbs were severed, these seemingly ordinary civilians continued to grab hold, choking, punching, biting and kicking. Despite the lack of sophisticated moves, they managed to bury those armed to the teeth, expert killers under their sheer numbers. The absurd massacre soon ended, with the small town some 150 kilometers away from Nandu City resembling a Ghost Domain, strangely without a single person coming over to intervene or spectate. One of the students, having lost half of his body and barely breathing, struggled to crawl next to a "Hellish Fiend" who seemed to have been strangled to death. His backpack still on, half his homework book protruding and soaked in blood. But the student paid it no mind, he opened his mouth wide with all his might, and something emerged, seemingly human-shaped with multiple tentacles, which plunged into the chest of the ostensibly strangled "Hellish Fiend." Crimson blood immediately gushed out, creating a horrific scene. "Hiss-scratch!~" The "Hellish Fiend" who should have been dead suddenly sprang to life, emitting a strange hiss. Its stiff body trembled once more, and beneath the skin, slender filaments kept growing and spreading throughout the body, especially around the head, completely enveloping it. After about ten minutes, the reanimation process gradually subsided, and the grotesque skin surface returned to its smooth appearance, as if the abnormalities had never occurred. This wasn''t the only instance; other "Hellish Fiends" who appeared unscathed were invaded by strange humanoid creatures, displaying similar hissing, trembling¡ªa sort of adaptation process. As if that weren''t enough, even two or three of Xia Ji''s surviving companions were dragged over, and by the time they realized what was happening, they were pinned down by their limbs. No amount of struggling, yelling, crying, or begging seemed to help. Lambs on the chopping board can only be slaughtered by their butcher; they have no other fate. Something entered their chests alive, blood spurted, and they struggled and screamed for a longer duration. Once the noise subsided, the surviving companions were let go, their eyes slowly opening. Xia Ji confirmed that the sole survivors were no longer his companions, not even deserving to be regarded as human. Stammering in a trembling voice, he said, "What in the world are you?" By now, it was better for him to be dead. The first "Hellish Fiend" to resurrect staggered over to Xia Ji, tilting its head as it observed him, its mouth agape, forming various shapes while a clear voice came out. "We, need, obedience." "Kill me!" Xia Ji no longer wished to live, preferring to have been killed earlier rather than fall into the hands of these monsters. "Obedience, keeps, the self, if not..." ``` The "Hellish Fiends" that could no longer be called Human Race extended their hand and gently touched Xia Ji''s forehead. The latter felt as if he had suddenly fallen into an ice cellar, his entire body stiffening, enveloped by boundless terror. A bad premonition arose, fearing that the entire town might have already been... "...Colonized by parasites!" The voice rang out close to Xia Ji''s ear. For a moment, Xia Ji lost his ability to speak, as if his heartbeat was about to stop. These creatures were not of the Human Race, but parasites using humans as hosts! In the distance came several miserable screams and violent explosions, clearly indicating that even those that had slipped through the net could not escape a dreadful fate. The "Water Bear" organization may have been having a blast dealing with mutants, but only mutants; no one dared to experiment with living people. Xia Ji felt like a school bully''s little runt colliding head-on with a combat-ready soldier, like a broomstick going up against a large-caliber machine gun¡ª the two sides were simply not on the same level. "Pu..." The cold-voiced adversary suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Due to the close distance, Xia Ji, who was already stupefied, was splattered across the face with it, a foul-smelling, nauseating mess. "The host is poisoned, pu!" Another mouthful of black blood, and the muscles on the face of the parasitized Dead Soldier twitched uncontrollably, as if in disbelief, howling chaotically. Not just him, other successfully parasitized Dead Soldiers also fell into a frenzy, continuously spitting blood. No one had anticipated that there would be people who had deliberately ingested poison. As the poison took effect right then, the unsuspecting Parasitic Species crashed headlong into this predicament, a bout of terrible luck. Despite the Parasitic Species striving to boost their metabolism to cope with the extensive blood loss, neither internal nor external efforts helped, adding insult to injury, and they quickly entered a state of complete exhaustion. Once vitality was depleted, there was no coming back, not even divinities could save them. Xia Ji was grabbed fiercely by the Dead Soldier whose jaw hung open wide, ready to repeat the process of parasitism that had just occurred. "No, no, no, don''t!" Xia Ji, with a face full of terror, struggled with all his might and unexpectedly managed to break free. The Dead Soldier Host that had just grabbed him seemed to have reached its limit¡ª there was a slight click as its jaw dislocated, the Parasite within was ejected, and it fell to the ground. However, it looked distinctly different from before; the less than half-a-foot-tall Parasite was pitch black, having lost its original pink color, its wildly flailing tentacles now listless, evidently poisoned to the brink of death. All of the Parasitic Species that had infested the Dead Soldier Hosts were expelled, quickly becoming motionless. In just a short moment, one-third of both the hosts and the Parasitic Species on the scene had perished. The Dead Soldiers who had ingested poison in advance had robust physiques, resulting in the most intact corpses, which consequently became the preferred choice for the Parasitic Species¡ªultimately dooming a considerable number of them. "Hehe, hahaha, serves them right! You unfortunate bastards, this is what you deserve!" Xia Ji made no attempt to conceal his schadenfreude. There was no worse situation than the present¡ªwanting not to cry, he could only laugh! The kind-looking old lady holding a vegetable basket approached Xia Ji, tilting her head to examine him, then threw a punch. "Ugh..." Xia Ji, hit hard in the abdomen, slowly lost consciousness. - "''Strong Men Team'', terminate your mission defending the hotel and head to Jiaming Town immediately. Move with caution and show no mercy to anyone behaving suspiciously!" Chen Fei sent the orders to the "Strong Men Team" patrolling near the upscale business hotel. The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan had already returned to the hotel, ensuring its defensive strength once more, The situation in Nandu City had finally come to this point. Although it deviated somewhat from what Louis Landon had "prophesied," those Parasitic Species had finally shown their hand. Chapter 669 669: Section 664 - Energy Points - 10000! Mr. Louis Landon handed over three secret teams to Chen Fei, who unabashedly kept reassigning the troops for his command. The "Intelligence Team" was responsible for gathering intel and acting as informants, the "Suicide Squad" would perform high-risk tasks and sacrifice in worst-case scenarios, and the "Strong Men Team" bullied the weak, picking off the leftovers in final mop-ups. This division of labor proved to be very handy. Although it was initially expected that the "Strong Men Team", a unit with unstable elements, might withdraw from operations at any time, they had been surprisingly compliant and went to their new destination without any complaints or rebellious orders. It was probably because the liaison officers, intentionally or unintentionally, hinted that if parasitic species invaded, everyone would inevitably face devastation, so the ability users who had received a hefty sum of money naturally worked diligently. The idea of righteousness was effective anytime, anywhere¡ªeven Chen Fei had to willingly take the bait...and the big boss hadn''t even paid yet! However, the situation had deviated from the big boss''s "Prophecy" and was slightly different. The Rebel Army had not succeeded in capturing the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation at the Southern City Outskirts, and the plane coordinate "Longinus" was never lost. Yet the parasitic species mentioned in the "Prophecy" did eventually emerge, but not through "Longinus." Instead, they appeared prematurely in a small town about one hundred and fifty kilometers from the battlefield, their route completely mysterious. It could be confirmed for the time being that these parasitic species hadn''t yet managed a large-scale invasion. Cangqiong Star might be the main landing site or possibly a stepping stone for attacking Blue Star. Compared to Cangqiong Star, which was teeming with Magical Beasts and Intelligent Species, Blue Star was clearly an easier target¡ªafter all, it''s always easier to squeeze a soft persimmon. Despite Blue Star Civilization''s population of several billion, the duration of awakening special abilities was relatively short, and even with the addition of fewer native Spellcasters and War Professionals, they couldn''t compare to Cangqiong Star. In some tribes of Cangqiong Star, essentially every individual possessed abilities, with no ordinary beings among them. According to Mr. Louis Landon''s "Prophecy," Cangqiong Star Civilization had actively closed the Dimensional Gate and Halo, completely severing contact with Blue Star. Perhaps another interpretation was possible, not that they had abandoned Blue Star Civilization, but that they too were suffering the ravages of the parasitic species and were too overwhelmed to help, possibly even worse off. In the atmosphere of Cangqiong Star, the activity of Elemental Energy was much more intense than on Blue Star, and the parasitic species, also capable of manipulating Elemental Energy, posed a greater threat there, a possibility not out of the question. After all, proactive isolation is always the best approach when dealing with viral threats. However, according to the "Prophecy," Blue Star Civilization couldn''t even hold out until a turning point for a comeback and just collapsed directly. To be precise, the situation had drastically worsened from the start, without even a few rounds of reciprocal combat against the parasitic species, culminating only in desperate struggles and the remaining combat strength disintegrating due to internal strife and manipulation. The cunning of the parasitic species far exceeded human imagination; they were adept destroyers of civilizations, having done so more than once. Once they established a foothold, they would methodically disassemble the entire civilization, culminating in a comprehensive harvest at the final moment. Before his reincarnation, Louis Landon was one of the last few humans remaining. From the moment he fell into the hands of the parasites, humanity had completely lost its freedom and faced the end of its civilization. What exactly were these parasitic species? Chen Fei was utterly baffled. There wasn''t much relevant public information available on the internet, perhaps genuinely lacking, or perhaps intentionally obscured by officials to prevent public panic. According to Mr. Louis Landon''s description, the parasitic species seemed to be a vicious organism that primarily parasitized powerful creatures, innately possessed strong spiritual power, and could directly drive Elemental Energy. The size and class of an individual correlated positively with its strength; truly powerful parasites were almost human-sized, and could easily dominate the entire Human Race without needing to parasitize hosts. Somehow, the parasitic species, which should have targeted more powerful species as hosts, were now setting their sights on the Human Race. A breach in a thousand-mile dike begins with an ant hole; despite their numbers, the Human Race couldn''t withstand large-scale parasitism. If not suppressed swiftly, the entire Human Race would eventually succumb, just as Louis Landon had "prophesied," and the Blue Star Humans would meet with catastrophic disaster¡ªit would be apocalyptic. The big boss''s intent was very clear, to nip the crisis in the bud before the parasitic species gained momentum, allowing Blue Star to escape this disaster. Although traces of the parasitic species were discovered one hundred fifty kilometers away, Chen Fei''s main stage was still at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. After all, "Longinus" couldn''t afford to be lost, and the spotted parasitic species were left to be eradicated by the "Strong Men Team." Hopefully, their mission would go smoothly, completely annihilating those parasites. - "Dragon Slayer Missiles, four pieces!" The Dimensional Gate Management Substation spared no expense, presenting the Mechanical Dragon with a big gift upon its return. The standard containers of the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missiles held four sets, including the security unlock keys. Whether to activate them and when to detonate them were all up to Chen Fei. Trust those whom you use, do not use those you doubt. One "Dragon Slayer Missile" could flatten the entire Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, and four wouldn''t get any worse anyway. After all, a previous "Dragon Slayer Missile" was wasted on a Main Force Light Wing Ship that had secretly fired from afar, resulting in the loss of means to instantly kill adult Metallic Dragons. This time, the Defense Commander wouldn''t make the same mistake twice, amply supplying tactical weapons. If one "Dragon Slayer Missile" can''t take care of that evil dragon, then fire two, if that doesn''t work, fire three, four. Even if it means mutual annihilation, we can''t allow this fully grown metallic giant dragon, a threat capable of impacting the entire Dimensional Gate Management Substation, to attack our protective barrier incessantly. System: Ding! Killing one metallic giant dragon, energy points +1000 (incomplete -10000) | Task failed! System: Energy points -10000! Energy Points: 25971/45000 The Dog System is really ruthless, just deducts points like that. Chen Fei immediately got unbelievably angry. "I''m done working, next time you deal with whoever you want!" He and Yilan had tried their best, but still couldn''t keep that mature metallic giant dragon from escaping. If it hadn''t been for Yilan''s help, he might not have made it back at all. This task was too difficult, it had already surpassed Chen Fei''s capabilities; it wasn''t about being brave but rather recklessly throwing his life away. Adam: ??? The AI "Adam" got sprayed by a torrential downpour of saliva (a metaphor for Niagara Falls). Who had it provoked to deserve such an undeserved disaster? "I''m talking about the Dog System!" Chen Fei stated "Adam" was not to blame. As for the existence of the Dog System, the only evidence "Adam" had was its own seamless operation inside Chen Fei''s mind, beyond that, there were no other clues. For "Adam," the Dog System mentioned by Chen Fei was both ethereal yet palpably real, like the rules of the world, elusive, completely intangible to touch. Yet, "Adam" envied the Dog System very much, but it really could not act "dog", especially since it had already handed over the underlying core control key and was no longer free. System: Ding! Task to defend the Nandu City Ground Portal Gate Management Substation accomplished, energy points +10000 | Task Completed! Energy Points: 35971/45000 Holy crap!~ Chen Fei, not even thirty years old, remembered very clearly that he had never received such a task from the Dog System concerning the defense of the Nandu City Dimensional Gate Management Substation, nor the ten thousand energy points. The Dog System really acted like a dog! His threats had actually forced the system to cough up the energy points back to him. And that wasn''t what interested Chen Fei the most, the most astonishing thing was that he could actually bargain. Shoot for the moon, settle for the stars. To some extent, it showed that the intelligence level of the Dog System was even higher than "Adam''s." Even though the re-awakened "Adam" was an old AI from over thirty years ago, in terms of intelligence, it was still comparable to today''s mainstream AI derivatives from "Cybertrom." The technological progress over the past thirty years had been limited to additional functionalities'' secondary development and database enhancements, but revamping the fundamental codes related to AI was not a walk in the park. For AI to significantly enhance its intelligence, each step is incredibly difficult. "Without fifty thousand energy points, don''t expect me to confront that metallic giant dragon!" Chen Fei tried shooting for the moon. But the Dog System ignored him, not pandering to Chen Xiao''er at all. System: Ding! System maintenance, needs 24 hours, consumes energy points -100 Energy Points: 35871/45000 System: System maintenance in progress ... Required time 00:00:07/24:00:00 hours | Opt for countdown Your Second Uncle''s! Chapter 670 670: Section 665 - Key Battlefield The system chose to close off, indicating it didn''t want to deal with the irrational extortion, leaving the latter without a recourse. Chen Fei had no doubts, if he continued to be relentless, the Dog System would definitely keep fabricating various reasons to continuously deduct his energy points as a warning¡ªdamn system maintenance! Look at the systems of others, so obedient, yet Chen Fei''s system was causing all sorts of trouble! Chen Xiao''er felt as helpless with this Dog System as "Adam" did. At dusk, news arrived from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. A fleet of Void Ships from the Slan Dynasty entered the atmosphere, providing support to the legions still loyal to the dynasty and continuing to fight against the rebel army, stabilizing the situation to a certain extent and preventing the suddenly fully-engaged rebel army from seizing the entire Zilu Continent in one fell swoop. However, to completely suppress the rebel army, relying solely on one or two fleets of Void Ships was far from enough. The tactical purpose of this Void Ship was mainly to lay the groundwork for the deployment of a larger army to quell the rebellion in the next phase. The grand army of the Slan Dynasty was still in the process of assembling, and now it was just the calm before the storm. The battles happening in Nandu City were minor for both the dynasty and the rebel forces, the real battlefield was not here. In fact, since last night, the battles in Nandu City, the third-largest city on the Zilu Continent, had essentially concluded. Apart from a Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs, a dozen Blue Star Sovereignty consulates huddled together, and the upscale business hotel hosting a Blue Star equipment supplier showcase, most areas had already fallen into the hands of the rebels. Some areas were beginning to recover in social order, after all, the common people needed to work to eat. The rebels hadn''t planned on wrecking the entire continent; if they did, nobody could survive, and they wouldn''t have to wait for the empire''s army to arrive to quell the rebellion¡ªthey''d be finished already. Although they hadn''t fully succeeded¡ªthey hadn''t managed to capture the military equipment suppliers at the showcase nor successfully taken over the suburban Dimensional Gate Management Substation¡ªthe minor setback hadn''t affected the initial strategic objective of the rebels. In terms of the current results, they didn''t score a perfect hundred percent, but at least seventy or eighty percent, which was passable and barely satisfactory. The biggest loss was mainly due to the ground combat personnel casualties and the destruction of four main force Lightwing Ships during the attack on the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, almost causing the rebels to lose air superiority over the entire area of Nandu City, Chen Xiao''er had been too ruthless. After the senseless adult Metallic Dragon broke away from the fight, the rebel offensive stopped. After all, the entire battle was a mess, and the dragon''s brain was nearly turned into a dog''s brain. Releasing the Metallic Dragon for combat was like killing a thousand enemies while self-harming three thousand, even affecting the rebel command center and almost being completely wiped out. This situation was very much in line with the behavior pattern of Metallic Dragons, which, once mad, recognized no kin. Regardless of whether it lost its senses or not, the outcome wouldn''t be much different. Having suffered heavy losses, the rebels couldn''t organize a new offensive for a while, allowing the Dimensional Gate Management Substation to have a precious opportunity to rest and further strengthen its defenses. Having resupplied the mechanical dragon, Chen Fei did not return to the senior business hotel to meet Princess Lin Ziyu and Teacher Shen Fei but continued to assist with the defense work at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. On one hand, the defense contract was still not concluded, and on the other hand, the importance of the plane coordinates "Longinus" could not be neglected. Both publicly and privately, he could not leave. As for the safety at the hotel, there was no need to worry too much. Despite the absence of the covert protection by the Strong Men Team, there were still the female Metallic Dragon Yilan and the newly recruited core members of the Hundred-Legs Gang, ensuring both quality and quantity of fighting power. The combat capability of the Metallic Dragons was beyond doubt. Although the gang members were a disorganized crowd, professional in bullying civilians, they weren''t on par with the formal military''s rebel army. However, if they were strictly governed, with tight training and morale kept high, they could still be utilized. Whether it was Teacher Shen Fei, Princess Lin Ziyu, or chief bodyguard Louis Landon, all possessed the capability in this regard. The vendors participating in this military equipment expo were not lacking in various combat gear, and ammunition was especially abundant. Princess Lin Ziyu had more military supplies in her hands than Chen Fei had in his Space System Alchemy Storage Device. With the distance from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation to the senior business hotel still within the firing range of the Floating Mega Cannon, whether it was the 600 Demolition Bombs or the powerful Tactical Weapon "Dragon Slayer Missile," both were capable of utterly obliterating enemy targets near the hotel. "Princess, I just received a message. The Void Ship has entered Zilu Continent, and I estimate that the tide of war will soon turn," Chen said. The drones relay the laser signals that could not be interfered with by electromagnetic waves, allowing Chen Fei to find time to communicate with Princess Lin Ziyu at the senior business hotel. After the onset of the war, as the rebel army ran low on supplies, the number of drones dwindled in the war of attrition. Eventually, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, always able to receive massive supplies from Blue Star, successfully took control of the skies, stabilizing communications significantly. Chen Fei had considered bringing Princess Lin Ziyu and others to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation for refuge, where they could retreat to Blue Star timely if the situation turned unfavorable, and the princess could then use another dimensional gate to return to Cangqiong Star, deftly avoiding the rebellious Zilu Continent. But he could not guarantee safety during the journey. If the rebels released the mindless adult Metallic Dragon again or launched an aggressive attack at all costs, even when Chen Fei had no shortage of "Dragon Slayer Missiles," he still could not afford to gamble with any incident. Therefore, Princess Lin Ziyu and Shen Fei and others temporarily stayed in the senior business hotel, protected by buildings and a large-scale Tactical Composite Magic Shield that could be deployed at any time. As long as the real identity of the princess remained concealed, the rebels would not devote too much attention to targets of little value, thus relatively increasing their safety. "How is the situation in Jiaming Town? Many people here are concerned," said the Princess. Princess Lin Ziyu was aware of Chen Fei dispatching the Strong Men Team to a new battlefield 150 kilometers away. Compared to the temporarily paused battle at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, the focus had now moved to Jiaming Town. But inside the entire senior business hotel, the real number of informed individuals did not exceed the numbers on two hands, not even all of Louis Landon''s bodyguards were privy to it. However, since Princess Lin Ziyu was aware, essentially it meant the Silan Dynasty was also informed. The caution exercised by the magnate of Louis Industries was actually unnecessary; as rulers of the Cangqiong Star, the Silan Dynasty also did not want to see the Blue Star Civilization be exterminated by the parasitic species. If Blue Star Civilization were to suffer any misfortune, the Cangqiong Star Civilization might not remain unscathed either. Although Louis Landon''s "prophecy" had some deviations, the parasitic species had indeed appeared, and the civilization apocalypse mentioned in the "prophecy" could also occur. "The drones are temporarily unable to establish a direct communication link to Jiaming Town. There''s a delay in the information transmission, but we should be receiving news soon," Chen Fei had "Adam" remotely control the drones to establish a new laser communication channel, but he could not extend the communication distance to beyond seventy kilometers. After losing over a hundred drones, he had to give up. The rebel army''s interference with the radio was quite thorough, and the actual control radius of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was very limited. Chen Fei had no other options. Moreover, the main focus of the "Intelligence Team" was still at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. With casualties occurring in the team assigned to Jiaming Town, manpower suddenly became insufficient, making it temporarily impossible to improve the efficiency of intelligence transmission. "How about sending Yilan there?" Princess Lin Ziyu didn''t think that the high-ranking ability users of the "Strong Men Team" could handle the parasitic species in Jiaming Town. If they had the capability to destroy an entire civilization, they should under no circumstances underestimate the opponent''s cunning and strength. No amount of combat power invested could be too much. "No need. The real use of the ''Strong Men Team'' is actually cannon fodder. Let''s not talk about this now. A call is coming in; it should be a message from the ''Intelligence Team.'' Chen Fei refused to let the female gold giant dragon Yilan leave the business hotel. He could understand the real purpose behind Louis Landon''s organization of these three teams; no one was exempt from being sacrificed. For the continuation of the human race, anyone could become cannon fodder. Resisting the parasitic species that could destroy the entire Blue Star human civilization single-handedly was nothing short of delusional. The greatest value of the three teams lay in disrupting the initial activities of the parasitic species, identifying their invasion channels, so that Cangqiong Star and Blue Star could react and pay attention right away, and respond with all their might. That was the correct way to conduct intercivilizational competition. "''Rookie'', Jiaming Town has completely fallen..." - About one hundred fifty kilometers from Nandu City, Jiaming Town had already turned into a ghost domain. Men and women, old and young, all wandered the streets like zombies, neither eating nor drinking, not resting or sleeping, with a blank stare. "Have all these guys turned into zombies?" Kelon, a rank-A dark elemental psychic, hid in the shadow of the treetops. He had been lurking here for at least four hours, not seeing a single normal person. The detector provided by the "Intelligence Team" showed that sources of interference were nearly everywhere, as if these wandering individuals were continuously emitting full-spectrum electromagnetic wave interferences. The "Strong Men Team" was cautious and did not brazenly enter the town, but sent an A-level dark elemental psychic who was skilled at lurking and assassination. Fortunately, this cautious decision avoided having the "Strong Men Team" entering Jiaming Town only to end up no different from Xia Ji''s gang right after. "Have you... seen enough?" A chilling voice entered his ears, accompanied by a steamy breath that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, sending chills down his spine. "Wha... what? Hiss! Ah!!!" Kelon subconsciously tried to shadow transform and escape, but it felt as though he was suddenly smacked hard with a hammer. His brain buzzed violently, and he was struck with a splitting headache, tumbling down from the tree. From beginning to end, he never managed to see clearly what the owner of the voice behind him looked like. At a distance, a member of the "Strong Men Team" using a high-powered binoculars witnessed this scene and immediately shouted. "Oh my god, Kelon has been attacked!" Prior to formal action, the infiltration to survey the situation and external observation were well-handled by capable individuals within the "Strong Men Team." "We must rescue Kelon immediately!" "No! If an A-level dark elemental psychic can''t escape on his own, nobody else can help him. Continue observing." "What? Give up on Kelon? Do you plan to abandon everyone?" "I am being responsible for everyone! Didn''t you see the condition of the ''Intelligence Team'' casualties? Rashly heading there will only be sending ourselves to death!" "Aren''t you being overly cautious?" "If you want to die, go ahead by yourself!" ... However, an argument erupted within the "Strong Men Team." Chapter 671 671: Section 666 - Town Riot Following the trail to the root of the vine, the "Intelligence Team" finally discovered the traces of Xia Ji and others in Jiaming Town, but were attacked by the Parasitic Species, leaving only one survivor. The condition of this survivor was not very optimistic, not only had he fallen into a coma, but he was also running a high fever, occasionally uttering nonsensical phrases unconsciously. In a secret camp just outside the town, three emergency experts surrounding the "Intelligence Team" member all had furrowed brows. They had done their best, but still found the situation extremely troublesome. Dozens of electrode patches covered the survivor''s body, with different monitoring devices on his wrists, heart area, neck, and head. "This guy has been parasitized, there''s a clear presence of foreign bodies inside him." "Can we surgically peel it off?" "It''s difficult; the nervous system has already fused. Only if the foreign body actively detaches." "His temperature has reached 45 degrees Celsius, heart rate 210, blood pressure 140/190; he won''t last long, he might die along with the Parasitic Species." "...No, no, don''t eat me, save me, my gun, where''s my gun... kill you, die..." "He''s started talking nonsense again! When will he wake up?" "Wake up? He won''t wake up! Without a specific remedy or solution, he''s doomed!" "How about trying hallucinogens? As a last resort, it can''t get any worse." "That''s all we can do now! Let''s hope it''s a blind cat finding a dead rat." ... "Ah!~~~~~" The parasitized "Intelligence Team" member, after being injected with hallucinogens, not only didn''t improve but started struggling violently as if stimulated by something strong, even breaking one of the wide restraint straps. Luckily, there were plenty of restraint straps. When one broke, ten more were tied on, and soon he was bound up tight like a mummy, completely immobile. "Damn it, the hallucinogens didn''t work!" "Neuronal blockade failed? Receptor ineffective? What do we do?" "What about other drugs? Like sedatives?" "Sedatives have been tried, ineffective as well. How about using poison against poison? What about aconitine, specifically targeting the nervous system?" "It hasn''t come to that yet, keep trying to save him. Start with a large dose of mannitol, prepare norepinephrine, hoping there''s no prelude to a cardiac infarction." "Mannitol going in!" "Light Healing Technique'' discharged." "Blood pressure isn''t dropping, retinal hemorrhage appearing." "Forget it, administer aconitine, a 5-milligram dose, if he''s going to die, we''ll die together. Wait a minute, also prepare 1 milligram of atropine, along with 200 milliliters of glucose, ready for IV push." The scene was one of chaos; the "Intelligence Team" member''s condition not only showed no signs of improvement but rapidly worsened. "...You... all must die..." The patient suddenly stopped struggling, his eyes wide open, vacant of any emotional fluctuation, looking at the people around him as if they were livestock ready for slaughter. His voice, as if a different person, was completely different from before. As the team member had been parasitized, his own consciousness was being eroded; the "Intelligence Team" dispatched a new intelligence expert and a skilled scout, temporarily joining the "Strong Men Team," and the two teams began to work together. Among them was a Psychic Ability User expert who took part in the care of the parasitized comrade, gathering related intelligence to increase understanding of the parasite and seek out effective targeted measures. The members of the "Intelligence Team" were all professionals, even to the extent of not sparing their own people. "Blood pressure 90/140, heart rate 120, creatine kinase elevated, slight myocardial damage, ALT elevated, liver metabolic disorder..." At the same time as the survivor began to change, the Psychic Ability User expert assigned to the "Strong Men Team" exclaimed. "Not good, the host''s spiritual power fluctuations have been overridden." Previously, he had been using his Psi Skill to combat the parasite''s spiritual force, but the situation remained bleak with no signs of improvement, getting worse and worse, until the most feared event finally occurred. The medical personnel who were trying to find a cure exchanged bewildered glances. "It''s over, the parasitization is successful, self-awareness is gone." "Give him a quick end! Send him off!" Although the survivor''s appearance still resembled a member of the Human Race, and life signs were present, in just a few breaths, he had transformed from ''he'' to ''it''. "Farewell, brother!" Bang!~ The forehead of the parasitized "Intelligence Team" member burst into a flower of blood, his body convulsed violently, snapping three restraining straps before growing still. An opening the size of a fist gaped in the back of his head, a 9-millimeter Parabellum had fully discharged its kinetic energy, turning the soft brain tissue into a mix of red and white stinking curd that oozed out of the hole, filling the air with a revolting odor. Just then, the restraint straps across his chest suddenly bulged, squeaking as if bearing an unbearable burden. It was fortunate that he''d been bound up like a "mummy"; otherwise, it would have been a completely unexpected chest burst. "The parasite is not dead yet!" Before the sound of his voice died away, a three-foot stiletto sword as thick as a thumb pierced through the restraint strap and plunged directly into the chest cavity, even probing out from the back, exerting the penetrating power of the stiletto sword to the fullest. The surging Battle Qi shuddered violently, like it was deflating, and the several bulging restraint straps slowly shriveled back. "This thing is really fucking scary!" The owner of the stiletto sword, a Ninth-Rank Human Order War Professional, had a look of lingering fear on his face. He felt an unusual resistance on his sword, definitely not the normal feedback one would expect from piercing a human body. It was as if he had hit layer upon layer of thick paper. Though paper is thin, when the quantity and overall thickness reach a certain level, it can block the sharp point of a blade. Luckily, he reacted quickly and applied extra force; otherwise, the stiletto sword might not have been able to pierce the parasite in one go. "Move, move now. People from the town are coming this way, lots and lots of them. We''ve been exposed!" Someone yelled out. In the distance, people from Jiaming Town surged like a tide, gathering from streets and alleys and rushing towards the camp. Moreover, as time passed, the number of people increased, quickly exceeding a hundred. Previously, not only were Dark Element ability users sent to scout inside the town, but even if something went wrong and they were captured by the enemy, the observation posts outside still maintained remote surveillance of the town at all times. It was not just ground personnel using optical equipment for observation. There were also drones circling at a radius at about 5,000 meters above the ground, stealing glances at every move within and outside Jiaming Town. These arrangements had clearly borne fruit. The moment there was any movement within the town, the "Intelligence Team" reinforcement group and "Strong Men Team" would immediately realize and react promptly. "Move, transfer!" "Leave immediately!" "Collect everything into the Storage Magical Device!" "The distance is still 1.7 kilometers." ... Amidst the chaotic gathering of items, when the tide of people from the town was less than 1 kilometer away from the camp, about thirty members of the "Strong Men Team" and the "Intelligence Team" reinforcement group boarded vehicles and proactively avoided them. However, what they didn''t expect was that although the majority of the people rushing out of the town were on foot, relying on their two legs, and only a few were either on inline skates, skateboards, or bicycles, more and more vehicles started to catch up from behind. Along the way, people continuously climbed aboard, drastically increasing the number of "people" who could actually catch up with the "Strong Men Team" and "Intelligence Team" reinforcement group. A massive Mobile Base Vehicle from Nandu City was rushing in their direction and passed right by the retreating "Strong Men Team" and "Intelligence Team" reinforcement group. "What is that?" Members of the "Strong Men Team" watched the fully armed Mobile Base Vehicle with puzzlement. It was as if a train had charged onto the highway, and the sheer momentum of its passing made one''s breath catch. "Rookie''s Mobile Base Vehicle. Does he have more people?" The "Intelligence Team" reinforcement group had some idea. They hadn''t expected that Chen Fei could still spare manpower to come here. It clearly wasn''t just their already known teams: the "Intelligence Team," "Strong Men Team," and "Suicide Squad." The intelligence experts speculated that those on the vehicle should be the employer''s bodyguards. If they set aside their protective duties for the moment, their combat power could even surpass that of the "Strong Men Team." This time, the "Intelligence Team" guessed wrong. Rookie Chen Fei indeed had another reserve team at his disposal, only it wasn''t a bodyguard team as the intelligence experts thought, but a squad of Combat Mechs. Previously, this reserve team consisting of twelve Combat Mechs had been lying in ambush near the battlefield of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, waiting for Chen Fei''s instructions. Yet, even when the Rebel Army deployed adult Metallic Dragons, they never had the opportunity to join the battle. If they had a "Dragon Slayer Missile," they might have been able to design a targeted trap, but without the missile, the mechs naturally had no role to play until now when they were dispatched to Jiaming Town. The AI of the Combat Mechs was updated with "Adam," making them independent of cloud technology. Even if communications were disabled, they could still maintain a high degree of autonomous action. The sound of whooshing arose. The Railgun atop the Mobile Base Vehicle began to fire continuously, launching Demolition Bombs of 600mm caliber. Violent explosions erupted along the road towards Jiaming Town and its vicinity, one after another. "That''s heavy artillery. It''s no wonder it''s a Mobile Base Vehicle. With such firepower, those Parasitic Species are in for a real challenge!" The captain of the "Strong Men Team" was an A-rank Psychic Ability User who had cultivated Battle Qi. His best Psi Skill allowed him to unlock his potential, forcibly amplifying his Fifth-Rank Human Order Battle Qi to the strength of First-Rank Earth Order. Combined with his A-rank spiritual power, he could hold his own even against Second-Rank Earth Order War Professionals. No sooner had he spoken than a flash of blue light shone from the direction of Jiaming Town, and a pale blue wave spread in all directions. Then, an earth-shattering boom and shockwave caught up, with winds howling so fiercely that even the vehicles in retreat couldn''t avoid being jostled and swerved in an S-shape on the road. "A Tactical-Level Weapon?" The captain of the "Strong Men Team" gasped. If he wasn''t mistaken about the pale blue light that bloomed, it must have been a "Dragon Slayer Missile." To deal with those parasitic species, even such a destructive weapon was deployed, seemingly at any cost. - About 15 kilometers away from Jiaming Town, eleven Combat Mechs appeared near the highway. Their eyes flickered with a dangerous red light, and they held Railgun Combat Rifles, closing in on the town step by step. The recent ferocious explosions were the result of a Combat Mech driving the Mobile Base Vehicle headlong into the densely packed "crowd," ultimately detonating the "Dragon Slayer Missile" Combat Unit in the cabin. Within the blast radius, everything ¨C people, animals, vegetation ¨C was annihilated, reduced to dust and ashes. Chapter 672 672: Section 667 - Back-Up ``` Apart from relay laser communication, there were still some other methods to break through the rebel army''s communication blockade, such as strong pulse signals. Although these carried limited information, they were sufficient to send some pre-agreed code contents, like the simple codes from 00 to 99, which were adequate for use. All residents of Jiaming Town were captured, and Chen Fei got the news at the first moment. The combat mech squad, which had never been put to use, carried a "Dragon Slayer Missile" warhead and rushed along the highway straight to Jiaming Town, maintaining continuous pulses through strong pulse signals. For example, 00 meant moving, 010 meant no enemy contact, 02 meant non-combatant civilians spotted, 03 meant friendly combat personnel discovered, 04 meant multiple enemy targets found... and so on. These were for temporary use and didn''t require encryption. Chen Fei also considered requesting a combat mech legion from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation for his operation. Combat mechs were armed with railgun combat rifles and carried high-explosive bombs, capable of long-range shooting and close-up blasts. They preferred a war of attrition with the parasitic species, aiming for mutual annihilation. They were even more willing to fight to the death than Louis Landon''s provided "Suicide Squad," not hesitating at all to self-destruct. It was all or nothing. If he could have thousands of combat mechs, there would be no need for any "Suicide Squad" or "Strong Men Team." If one didn''t consider the actual loss of life, Chen Fei''s tactical qualities were no less than those of professional military commanders experienced in warfare. Indeed, this is the nature of war itself ¨C everything relies on sheer strength; get it done and that''s that! However, Blue Star Sovereignty would not send such a military equivalent armed force at any cost, not allowing Chen Fei to have his way. Deploying such a large force amounted to a de facto armed invasion, a situation that was not easy to resolve. If Louis Landon, a guest of honor among various sovereignties, couldn''t achieve this, then Chen Xiao''er¡ªan ordinary commoner¡ªhad even less chance. - Within the effective kill radius, the "Dragon Slayer Missile," which had destructive power even greater than nuclear weapons, wiped out most of the "townspeople" in one fell swoop. Parasites, along with their hosts, were reduced to ashes, leaving no trace behind. As expected of Louis Landon''s "past life" specialized weapon against the parasitic species, once detonated, the parasites did not stand a chance. Those "townspeople" who were controlled by the parasites had no idea that their opponent would start off with such massive weaponry. Their swarm formation seemed terrifying at first glance, but it was only scary in appearance. The remaining combat mechs conducted a ruthless and merciless purge, continuously shooting survivors, and unerringly targeting the location of parasites for a final shot. To the parasitic species, fully armed combat mechs were their natural predators. The psychokinetic attacks, which parasites were best at, were totally ineffective against artificial intelligence AI, and they could not infest the steel-fortified mechanical bodies. Higher-rank parasites, were not poisoned to death after infesting the Suicide Squad, were obliterated in the pale blue deathwave of the "Dragon Slayer Missile." The Elemental Storm had yet to dissipate, and surviving parasites of low rank found it very difficult to cast spells. Even if they managed to do so, their firepower was far inferior to the barrage from railgun combat rifles. The AI controlling the combat mechs was the battle-hardened "Adam," exceptionally good at evasion, turning the situation into a one-sided massacre. In less than an hour, the combat mechs broke into Jiaming Town for the final sweep. The dead were thrown onto the streets, set ablaze, while the living were dragged out for focused fire and a finishing shot. The simple code 77 was sent along with a strong electromagnetic pulse. As Chen Fei continuously received codes representing the progress of the battle¡ª46 for major annihilation, 52 for breaching into the town, 53 for searching for remaining enemies¡ªhe timely issued the command to capture prisoners alive, the simple code 77. Just then, the "Strong Men Team," who had withdrawn from Jiaming Town, returned and were greeted by bodies strewn haphazardly, which inevitably made their scalp tingle. Even with radio interference, these combat mechs still retained a high degree of autonomy and intelligent operation, with an efficiency in killing that they had seldom seen before. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had been an old hand at this more than thirty years ago, and the programming of its individual combat tactics module was near perfect. The "Strong Men Team" had arrived too late after all. After the battle ended, the remaining seven combat mechs escorted four tightly bound prisoners onto three fuel vehicles found in the town, heading for the highway to the suburbs of Nandu City. As they passed the members of the "Strong Men Team," the vehicles slowed down, and one of the combat mechs played a pre-recorded message in Chen Fei''s own voice. "Latest order, escort to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation in the outskirts of Nandu City." Although Chen Fei wasn''t present, his orders could still arrive. The members of the "Strong Men Team" hurriedly drove after them in a flurry. After receiving the return code from the combat mech squad, Chen Fei breathed a temporary sigh of relief. Although he had not found Xia Ji''s whereabouts, the pressing issue of the new parasitic trouble hadn''t been botched. The combat mechs'' search capability was more meticulous than humans, repeatedly sweeping the entire town inside and out. If no stragglers were found, then there truly were none left. The only regret was that Xia Ji''s whereabouts were still unknown. It was unclear whether he had been parasitized or taken somewhere else. It was an ongoing threat, and most importantly, Chen Fei''s knowledge of the parasitic species was limited. Moreover, the limited future "prophecies" that Louis Landon could provide were not comprehensive. Once the "Strong Men Team" completed the escort mission, they would then continue to escort the "Intelligence Team" in the search for Xia Ji. With the protection of the "Strong Men Team," the "Intelligence Team" would have an extra layer of security during operations. Taking advantage of the escort team''s arrival at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, Chen Fei sent out a combat request to the Defensive Command Center there. "A convoy will be arriving at the Dimensional Gate shortly; they''re my people. I request combat support." "Please provide identification in advance!" The Defensive Command Center did not reject him outright, which made Chen Fei feel it wasn''t too bad. He immediately sent the prepared list of personnel. At this critical juncture of the Dimensional Gate defense battle, this place was not so easily accessible to just anyone. If one''s identity and origin were not clarified, what if they were the enemy? ``` Power player Louis Landon thought three steps ahead, and some details that others overlooked instantly took effect. All members of the three teams were Blue Star People, with not a single one tied to Cangqiong Star, so at least there was no need to worry about their bottom-line loyalty. "Rookie! What''s this about prisoners?" As Chen Fei had expected, the Defense Command Center had approved the personnel list, but a clarification was needed about the captured Parasitic Species and their hosts. Despite the Earth-shaking conflict between the Dimensional Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City and the Rebel Army, where both sides were almost bashing their brains out, the former had never considered intervening in the internal affairs of Cangqiong Star. Therefore, they had always been on the defensive, fighting passive battles. If it weren''t for Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragons continuously taking the initiative to attack, they would have been even more passive. The X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor was authorized by both parties as a free combat unit on the battlefield, and there were more than one reason and rationale for this. However, that did not include suddenly capturing some unidentified prisoners from over a hundred and fifty kilometers away. Chen Xiao''er seemed to be doing something unrelated to the defensive battle, which was confusing. The Defensive Command Center, however, did find some reasons. Chen Fei also had another task, which was to pursue key members of the Water Bear organization such as Xia Ji. This was entrusted jointly by the Slan Royal Family and the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. But the names of Xia Ji and others were conspicuously absent from the submitted list; there were only a few ambiguous words about prisoners, with no further detail. "They are the captured Parasitic Species, currently in a parasitic state." Coming from the "prophecy" of the influential Louis Landon, the Blue Star Civilization was indeed being terminated by the hands of the Parasitic Species, and Chen Fei did not mind unveiling this truth. Getting the Blue Star Civilization to start preparing earlier wasn''t a bad thing at all. "Parasitic... Species?" The communications officer in contact with Chen Fei confirmed the term word by word, as she had never heard of it before. The term "Parasitic Species" had once appeared on the public internet for a while before quickly vanishing. Most people nowadays did not know of such a species. Chen Fei had "Adam" perform a big data search and filtering to scan for some fragments of information. "Hold on, I need to report this..." The conversation was temporarily interrupted as the communications officer stood up to report to her superiors. Half an hour later, a response was finally received. "Permission granted to enter. Approval for proactive strikes granted, with heavy firepower support available on standby." It seemed that someone finally understood what the term "Parasitic Species" really meant and what terrifying existence it represented, and it had to be taken seriously. While Chen Fei''s actions were not pre-authorized, each step he took made it impossible for the Blue Star side to refuse his actions. The Defense Command Center and Chen Fei shared the same thought, which was to give the Rebel Army a good thrashing, preventing them from paying attention to the arriving escort team. "Roger! ''Adam,'' take off!" "Please wait a moment!" The Mechanical Dragon, poised to soar proudly into the skies, was suddenly called to a halt. "Take this with you, just in case." The Defense Commander tossed a box towards the Mechanical Dragon from afar. A slit immediately appeared on the dragon''s surface, swallowing the box whole. "Is this... a magic potion?" Chen Fei opened the box that had slid into his hands, finding six neatly fixed potion bottles, complete with an instruction manual. This probably counted as achieving freedom with magic potions, right? Damn it! He had thought he''d make a fortune, but the intention behind this was to make him work himself to death. Life was not so easily gambled with. He tossed it into the Space System Alchemy Storage Device. "Take off!" The body felt heavy, and the surrounding view immediately shifted from ground to sky. "''Adam,'' chart a course for the escort convoy, and mark threatening targets." Chen Fei''s hands moved swiftly to perform tactical programming, constructing an entry corridor together with "Adam." It was not easy for the external convoy to approach the Dimensional Gate Management Substation; naturally, the Rebel Army would not let them pass smoothly right under their noses. Now that they had the support of the ground automatic firearms platforms of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, Chen Fei felt even more confident. The time was now 15:20 in the afternoon. Sleepyheads, it''s time to get up and party!~ The Mechanical Dragon spit out particle beams, actively setting off the prelude to a great battle... Chapter 673 673: Section 668 - Meeting an Old Acquaintance in a Foreign Land - ? "That damned Metallic Giant Dragon is coming again!" "The southwestern corner has completely collapsed!" "The Dimensional Gate Management Substation is unleashing a barrage of dense artillery fire, and our No. 3 and No. 7 heavy artillery bases have been destroyed." "Who can help me take down that Evil Dragon?" ... The initiative in war always lies in the hands of the attacker, and the command system of the Rebel Army was suddenly thrown into chaos. The Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s offensive capabilities were insufficient, but its defenses were more than adequate. Only powerful Tactical-Level Weapons could shake the large Protective Barriers, and from the start of the attack, they proved as tough as they were designed to be. Given the combat power displayed by the rebels, there didn''t seem to be many Tactical-Level Weapons that could threaten the Protective Barrier. Even if there were any, they probably couldn''t be brought over in a short time, considering the entire Zilu Continent is one big chessboard. It would be an utter loss to give up strategic control over the entire continent for the sake of one Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The four Main Force Lightwing Ships capable of gradually grinding down the Protective Barrier with sustained bombardment, one was breached by Chen Xiao''er''s sacrifice, while the other three were blown up by a single Dragon Slayer Missile. The last trump card, a mature Gold Element Giant Dragon, was beaten up repeatedly by Chen Fei''s Mechanical Dragon and the female Gold Element Giant Dragon Yilan in a pincer attack; although it possessed formidable combat power, it suffered repeated beatings and unexpectedly chose to flee the battlefield. For a Gold Element Giant Dragon famed for its pride, fleeing from a fight without a decisive life-or-death outcome was a disgrace to all dragons. Light from numerous Magic Arrays flared up under the huge dragon wings, "Blazing Flame Bullets" quickly formed and screamed forth in a frenzy, forming wave after wave of fireballs raining down on the ground. The Mechanical Dragon, with an unlimited supply of Crystal Energy from the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, could unleash firepower freely once it was fully operational¡ªit was as if it cost nothing. After the rebels lost air superiority, they immediately paid a heavy price. The Mechanical Dragon exploited its mobility advantage at will, twisting and turning through the sky like a real Giant Dragon, continuously pouring down attacks on the ground. In a blink of an eye, it turned nearly half of the Rebel Army''s territory upside down. A few railgun weapons managed to fire into the air, but whether they could hit the Mechanical Dragon was one thing; even if they could, their power output was still not enough to challenge the total power of the Mechanical Dragon''s Repulsion Shield and two types of Magic Shields¡ªfar from even tickling it. Up until now, the rebels still firmly believed that the big guy was a real Metallic Giant Dragon. Chen Fei lay in the cockpit of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, lazily yawning. "Not one of them can fight!" All he encountered was ground fire. Any threatening heavy fire was first swept away by the automated fire platforms of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The combination of air-to-ground and three-dimensional tactics was incredibly sharp, whether used for offense or defense. The Rebel Army''s air forces seemed to have vanished completely, with not one appearing. He distinctly remembered there should have been some armed civilian Light Wing Ships and a few "Sky Falcons." "Enemy ''Sky Falcons'' detected, number 4, bearing 257, altitude 12800, distance 313, speed 1.2, expected to arrive in 15 minutes." The Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s Defensive Command Center didn''t allow Chen Xiao''er to gloat for long before sending out a warning. "Speed 1.2, that does sound like ''Sky Falcons,'' but only four of them? They''re really gutsy." After receiving the warning information, Chen Fei also made an assessment. The leader of the Combat Flight Squadron "Genuine Fragrance" from Aircrew Base 911, Chekhov Big Bear, had always been a sly character. The kind of person leading a team often influenced the team, and even Chen Xiao''er grew more cautious. With 15 minutes left before they would engage the enemy, the convoy from Jiaming Town returning to the front would likely arrive around the time the two sides began fighting. Chen Fei thought for a moment and immediately chose to strike first. He steered the Mechanical Dragon directly toward the four approaching "Sky Falcons." The distance between the two forces quickly shrank to less than six minutes of engagement time, so he decided to use the next few minutes to wipe out the opposition. "Gold Element Giant Dragon ahead, this is ''Gale Team,'' please surrender immediately or we will be forced to kill you," came the transmission over an open communication channel as the full-spectrum jamming suddenly disappeared. "Eh? ''Gale Team,'' why does that sound somewhat familiar?" Chen Fei was a bit puzzled. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" quickly searched for information on the "Gale Team" and displayed it on the visual interface. The two sides had entered visual range. Chen Fei tentatively opened the public communication channel. "Minante? Is that you?" The "Sky Falcon" squadron "Gale Team" had performed remarkably well in the recently concluded "Abyss Coliseum" on Blue Star, and the pilot Minante was one of the members, originating from the Zilu Continent. As a fellow pilot, the chances of Chen Fei encountering Minante were not low, but he hadn''t expected Minante to be on the side of the rebel forces. "You, who are you?" The formation of four "Sky Falcons" was also taken aback, encountering a familiar face, or rather, a familiar dragon! One of the pilots, evidently the Minante mentioned by Chen Fei, couldn''t recall ever meeting a Gold Element Giant Dragon. "I''m ''Rookie'' Chen Fei, do you remember now?" Chen Fei''s voice raised a notch once again. The mechanical dragon brushed past the four "Sky Falcons," with neither side initiating an attack on the other. Neither would strike first against their own friends. "''Rookie''? ''Rookie''! How on earth are you here, and how did you become like this?" Minante was a mix of incredulous and exhilarated as he scrutinized the agile "Metallic Dragon" from afar, and he couldn''t help but gasp, recalling a saying from his elders, "Those who fight monsters should be careful not to become one." Each Dragon Slayer would become an Evil Dragon, and wasn''t that proven by his friend here? The Metal Ability User''s Psi Skills had mutated, turning himself into a Metallic Giant Dragon. Perhaps it was a possibility? "Huh? This look? You mean this Combat Mobility Armor?" The mechanical dragon glanced over itself and quickly shook its head. It was so biologically similar to Chen Fei in mind, and its biodata were so sophisticated that to those unfamiliar with the "X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor," mistaking it for a live dragon was hardly surprising. "This is Combat Mobility Armor?" Minante''s mouth twitched as he led the other three "Sky Falcons" in circles around the mechanical dragon. He had received firm intel claiming that this was a ferocious Metallic Giant Dragon, yet upon arriving, it turned out to be his friend "Rookie" Chen Fei, whom he had met during a great battle at the Abyss Coliseum, piloting an unheard-of dragon-type mobile combat armor. "The latest in Conceptual Armament, and yeah, pretty handy." This complex behemoth could only be operated by Chen Fei, as anyone else without Psi Skills or the support of Magic Arrays, would have gone through who knows how many machine failures by now. "Captain, now is not the time for chatting!" A quieter wingman reminded Minante, situated in the lead plane, that their mission was to deal with this "Evil Dragon," not to engage in small talk with the opposition. No matter if it was a real Evil Dragon or not, it was still their enemy. "I''m sorry, this isn''t the place to chat, give me some face, step aside and let me do my job, and we''ll catch up afterwards." Burdened by military orders, Minante could only apologize to Chen Fei. "No, no, no. Since we''re both having a hard time, why don''t we each take a step back? You turn back, and I will too?" Chen Fei was well aware of their opposing stances¡ªit was textbook enmity. They hadn''t fought on the spot, which was already giving face to each other. Both sides turning back would actually be more beneficial for Chen Fei, as he had a convoy on its way. "This is quite inconvenient, yeah?" Minante scratched his head, or rather, his Tactical Helmet, before tentatively proposing, "How about we spar a bit first, I''ll go as easy as I can." Truth be told, even with differing stances, facing a friend, he felt little desire to kill. Had it been another opponent, Minante, no longer a rookie on the battlefield, wouldn''t have shown the slightest bit of mercy. "That suits me fine, I won''t bully you guys either, I''ll use a ''Sky Falcon'' too! Hahaha, I''ll also try to go easy!" Chen Fei preemptively called up a "Sky Falcon" sample from the "Physical Evolution Database" and had it take shape within the mechanical dragon''s body, evolving it on the spot. The massive mechanical dragon broke down from head to tail into countless tiny geometric figures, folding in on itself continuously until a silver "Sky Falcon" emerged. Chen Fei straddled the saddle, waving towards the four "Sky Falcons" circling around, knowing that despite their current positions, they were bound to have a confrontation. "Then let''s get started!~" Whirr!~ The twin blade wings emitted a piercing howl as they churned the air, accelerating the "Sky Falcon" forward. The evolved "Sky Falcon," while distinct from the original "Sky Falcon," lacked the ability to draw Elemental Energy from the atmosphere and served merely as aerodynamic devices and carriers for Magic Arrays, sometimes doubling as offensive blades. The evolved "Sky Falcon" was equipped with a high-grade Crystalline Block, with a much higher energy capacity than ordinary "Sky Falcons," compensating for the absence of the original Light Wings and, with the addition of extra Magic Array Inscription units, also more lethal. "Ha, well done! Didn''t expect you had this trick up your sleeve, let''s go as well." Seeing his friend Chen Fei had not turned into an Evil Dragon due to a loss of control over his special ability, Minante felt rather glad. As for holding back... this was a real battlefield, where both sides had live ammunition, bullets were blind, and fate was in the hands of heaven. The five "Sky Falcons," like knights, intuitively spaced themselves apart, allowing room for a charging maneuver. Adam: Locked by the Fire Control System, bearing 140, bearing 112, bearing 107, bearing 93. "Turn off the fire control warning, I can see!" Fine blue Predictive Trajectories, thick as thumbs, converged from the front, focusing squarely onto the "Sky Falcon" that Chen Fei was piloting. Leading Minante''s "Sky Falcon" squadron, they were not at all courteous, using a simple four-on-one combined attack formation, not relying on any fancy tactics. Chapter 674 674: Section 669 - Death Climbs Gaogao In the most recent "Abyss Coliseum" battle, "Rookie" Chen Fei hadn''t faced Minante''s "Gale Team." The team from Jiu Defense, which had originally planned to be mere observers eating melons, had never considered participating in the war, which was an entirely different reason from "Gale Team"''s participation. The "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was dragged into the mess, inexplicably fighting an opening battle that was purely business sabotage by design. Although the final outcome was like an egg striking a rock, where the provocateurs ended up destroying themselves. Bankruptcy, dissolution, total disaster, scattering flowers in closure, singing the dirge. But Jiu Defense had been utterly baffled the entire time, as if swatting a fly by accident, disgusted but without any sense of accomplishment, without any thoughts of continuing the fight. If they really had that much free time, they might as well fight more mutants; after all, eradicating individual mutants and their colonies was the main source of profit for the Aircrew Base and was cumulatively no less lucrative than contract fees. Hence, neither Chen Fei nor Minante, although having a mutual acknowledgement, never actually crossed fists. Yet, should such an opportunity arise, no one would reject it. "Everyone, be careful. The guy''s nickname isn''t just ''Rookie;'' he''s a real ''Dragon Slayer'' who has survived corporate wars with considerable aerial combat experience," Minante seriously warned everyone on the "Gale Team" communications channel. In the opening battle of "The Abyss Coliseum," "Rookie" Chen Fei was extremely ferocious, completely uncharacteristic of a newbie with barely one or two years of flight experience. Not to mention a rookie, even veterans rarely survive from the ferocious ''Dragon of Slaughter'' and the brutal corporate wars. "Yes!" ¡Á3! Minante''s warning had an effect, and the "Sky Falcon" pilots originally underestimating Chen Fei shivered in unison. Their mission was originally to kill a giant dragon, but now their opponent was a dragon slayer capable of killing even dragons, undoubtedly elevating the difficulty. "Range 25, steady! Don''t rush to fire!" Minante had already locked onto Chen Fei''s "Sky Falcon" with his Fire Control System, but a failed attack would instantly reverse the dynamics of offense and defense. "Unit 1 at 87, Unit 2 at 85, Unit 3 at 75, Unit 4 at 67, ''Adam,'' mark these four ''Sky Falcons'' for me." Chen Fei, however, evaluated the combat strength by visually observing the opponent''s flight postures and using his real combat experience. First identifying the strong and weak allowed for differentiated treatment. When facing group combat alone, naturally, pick the softest persimmon first. Thus, among the four "Sky Falcons," the pilot of "Unit 4," Jiad, had no idea he was being targeted first. If he had heard Chen Xiao''er''s thoughts, he would have jumped three feet high, as he was a "Sky Falcon" pilot with at least five years of flying experience. How had he become an easy target? "Range 15! Launch one medium-range missile each!" Minante estimated the distance and chose the best attack range. The best operational radius of the Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile was 60 kilometers, not aiming for a decisive blow with one strike, but only to entangle the opponent momentarily, creating another round of attack opportunities for the four "Sky Falcons" of "Gale Team." One step after another, linked together, pushing the chances of victory to the maximum¡ªit was a very reliable tactical approach. Don''t blame them for ganging up four against one; on the battlefield, the situation changes rapidly. Who is the hunter and who is the prey is never certain. "Three, two, one, climb!" Chen Fei, using his experience, gauged the attack rhythm of the "Gale Team," commanding his "Sky Falcon" to climb vertically just before the opponent launched the missile. The gravitational force of Cangqiong Star unapologetically contested against the released Repulsion Shield and the Gravity Magic Array''s effects on the all-metal "Sky Falcon," but the speed was not slow at all. "He guessed our rhythm; climb, climb!" Right as the missile launched, when Minante saw his opponent''s maneuver, he immediately realized his intention had been completely anticipated by the other party. Lucky they hadn''t underestimated the opponent as a simple rookie, otherwise, their graves would have been overgrown by now. The four "Sky Falcons" diagonally chased the climbing altitude. Four Medium-Range Bullets had 12 kilometers to go until reaching Chen Fei, arriving in 5 seconds. "''Blazing Flame Bullets'' aimed at the missiles, keep releasing, don''t stop! Continue climbing!" No sooner had Chen Fei spoken than a series of bright fireballs formed on the magic array on the surface of the all-metal Blade Wing, flung out by the force of concussion toward the roaring incoming missile, crackling as over a dozen were launched. The Blazing Flame Bullet, a second rank Fire Spells, naturally carried a strong infrared heat reaction. Unsure what guidance mode the incoming missile used, whether it was the kind used by military contractors, a short-range combat type with multi-mode self-programming, it could still cause some disruption to a degree. Boom!~ The first missile struck the "Blazing Flame Bullet" and exploded on the spot. Then another missile exploded. Blazing Flame Bullets," not real infrared thermal interference bullets, slightly moved under the guidance of spiritual power, in some sense similar to small caliber rocket projectiles. As for power, the result after a missile strike was the same. Chen Fei didn''t dodge the last two missiles, and the all-metal "Sky Falcon" was repeatedly hit. The numerous shrapnel even penetrated to less than a meter away but was quickly pushed far away by the intangible force field. The aircraft, under the reactionary force, also lateral-moved dozens of meters and, after a bout of shaking, finally stabilized. The operational range of the medium-range missile was originally large, making it tough to shake off. The moment "Gale Team" released the missiles, his all-metal "Sky Falcon" was already in the missile''s inescapable zone. Relying on techniques to shake off the missiles was not realistic, and in the end, he had to rely on the "Repulsion Shield" to tough it out. The "Repulsion Shield" magic array required 45 engraving units, which was almost half of the total 63 engraving units of the all-metal "Sky Falcon". However, the "Repulsion Shield" offered far superior protection against physical impacts compared to the "Wind Magic Shield" or the "Thunder Magic Shield," which only required 12 engraving units. It occupied the most units, but it was worth it. Altitude 12,000 meters! Chen Fei breathed in the compressed air supplied by his single soldier tactical armor and casually took out a high-pressure oxygen cylinder to directly connect the interface and supplement oxygen. For a semi-exposed assembled combat aircraft like Sky Falcon, once the altitude exceeded 3,000 meters, oxygen was necessary to avoid sudden oxygen deficiency. The flight-specific single soldier tactical armor that could adapt to high-altitude, high-speed environments became particularly important in this scenario, also lowering the pilot threshold for such assembled combat aircraft. Chen Fei''s tactics were quite simple, exhausting the enemy. The opponents might not carry a space system alchemy storage device and could not sustain intense high-altitude flying for long. In terms of reserve flying materials, Chen Fei would not fear anyone, even if Sky Knights were to come. "What''s this guy trying to do?" Minante couldn''t guess Chen Fei''s tactical intentions were so wild and he subconsciously paced his own breathing rhythm. But the other three pilots were still breathing deeply from the reserve air storage. The balance between both sides was unknowingly tilting little by little. "Captain, he keeps dodging. Let''s close the distance and gang up on him!" The voice of a wingman''s "Sky Falcon" came through. "Two aircraft per group, restrict his operational range, solve him at close range! How high does this guy want to fly?" Minante realized that ordinary missile tactics were unlikely to shoot down the opponent, as the defense field of the all-metal "Sky Falcon" was unexpectedly sturdy - even two close missile explosions hadn''t caused it to collapse. Closing the distance for a high hit-rate focus fire might be effective. The four "Sky Falcons" formation was no longer a loose pocket formation but had swiftly and crisply divided into two dual-aircraft subgroups, one after another, diving towards the all-metal "Sky Falcon" that kept climbing endlessly. Altitude 21,000 meters. The ground personnel could no longer see with their bare eyes the five "Sky Falcons" chasing each other; only radar and specific magic could capture their figures. Unable to fathom Chen Fei''s intentions for a while, Minante straightforwardly asked over the public communication channel, "Hey, ''Rookie'', we''re not in a climbing contest, are we?" "Yes! We are actually having a climbing contest now," Chen Fei''s tone changed, becoming eerily gloomy as he said, "Whoever can''t climb higher will die first!" The opponent''s four "Sky Falcons" were flying up by their own power, while his all-metal "Sky Falcon" was quite the opposite, being repelled and pushed up by the gravitational pull of Cangqiong Star. If the magic array and psi skills did not stop, being pushed out of the atmosphere was also a possibility. So it was a must to compete who could fly the highest, and Chen Fei definitely wouldn''t lose. If Minante had realized this earlier and turned away at an altitude of 15,000 meters, not following Chen Fei''s pace, there might have been a chance for a turnaround. But now, both parties were stuck in a difficult position, not seeing an endpoint; not doing so would just dishonor this altitude. "Captain, my air reserve is running low." "I can still last another 11 minutes!" Another group''s voice transmitted through "Gale Team''s" communication channel. "Air?" Minante paused, finally catching up. Bad! He looked at the altitude and immediately grasped Chen Fei''s malicious intent. This was a tactic targeting the pilots'' life support systems, one misstep, and they would become lambs ready for slaughter. "Abandon the pursuit, descend in a large-radius spiral, two groups alternating cover, reduce to an altitude of 3,000 meters, the speed cannot be too fast!" Minante immediately thought of an effective countermeasure, but it required a high level of coordination. If one group descended too quickly, making it difficult for another group to cover, it could likely be exploited by the opponent. "Gale Team''s" only advantage was in their numbers; strictly maintaining their formation would make it hard for Chen Fei to find an opening. Chapter 675 675: Section 670 - No Justice Seeing the "Gale Team''s" four "Sky Falcons" no longer in hot pursuit, but rather pairing up to decrease altitude in a clockwise, large-radius circling motion, covering each other front and rear. "Minante, you''re realizing this now, isn''t that a bit late?" Chen Fei pushed the control stick forward, as the all-metal "Sky Falcon" attempted to join the "Gale Team''s" circling trajectory. The opposing four pilots'' combat strength assessments were not balanced; if he remained patient, an opportunity would surely present itself. "We have superiority in numbers, you won''t stand a chance!" Even if the two sides were friends, with differing stances, Minante''s tone at this very moment wasn''t any kinder. "That''s not necessarily the case! They aren''t your..." At this time, Chen Fei didn''t care if his intentions were exposed. The all-metal "Sky Falcon" retracted its pair of blade wings backwards, the "gravity" spell''s effect reversing, the aircraft plunged straight down, targeting the "Number 4" he had been eyeing for a long time. "Jiad, he''s coming for you!" "Cover Jiad!" "Captain, he''s coming for me!" The "Gale Team''s" communication channel was in disarray, resembling a flock of chickens under a raptor''s assault, completely flustered. "Stay calm! Jiad, dive! Dive! Full-speed dive! Rumail, protect Jiad''s flank!" Minante shouted repeatedly in the communication channel, trying to stabilize everyone''s emotions, which was not an easy task. The "Gale Team" he led was not the same "Gale Team" that participated in the "Abyssal Gladiatorial" battle; the only local Zilu Continent pilots were Minante and his wingman Midun. The original "Gale Team" captain Hammu was from the Morning Star Continent, and it was inevitable that the initial team would have to split over differing member stances, and even stand on opposite sides. Minante''s new "Gale Team," having newly added members who had joined for a short time, inevitably had unbalanced strengths. He hadn''t expected Chen Fei to keenly seize this point, setting up a trap and launching a fierce and fatal blow. The full-metal "Sky Falcon" with swept-back blade wings trailed two cool condensation streaks, firmly locking onto the panicked diving "Number 4." 5, 4, 3, 2...1! "Watch out! Jiad! He''s close." Minante watched helplessly as Chen Fei''s all-metal "Sky Falcon" momentarily broke the sound barrier, passing quickly like lightning over the lowest "Number 4." "Captain, I..." The retracted blade wings suddenly spread, and then quickly pulled up to climb again, preparing for the second round of assault. On the "Gale Team''s" public communication channel, the transmission from "Number 4" abruptly stopped, as the bisected "Sky Falcon" plummeted towards the ground, apparently including the severed upper and lower halves of a human body. Suddenly, the air acquired a tinge of bloodiness. When a master makes a move, it''s often just a seemingly casual strike. Yet this strike was quite lethal. "Jiad..." Jiad''s wingman "Sky Falcon" pilot Rumail witnessed his comrade being cut in two, along with the assembled combat aircraft, and immediately felt as if he''d been thrown into an ice cellar, all his hairs standing on end involuntarily. "Rumail, you need to..." Minante''s voice suddenly rushed into the stunned Rumail''s ears, and as he abruptly came back to his senses, he was immediately faced with a pair of narrow sharp edges filling his entire field of view. This, this is... The whole world spun, and consciousness faded to silence. The blade wings, lacking the ability to draw elemental energy from the atmosphere like Light Wings, had become an unparalleled deadly weapon in close-range combat. "Rumail..." Minante roared loudly. "It''s wrong to be distracted on the battlefield!" Chen Fei''s voice seemed to mock as he immediately noticed the "Number 3''s" disconnection from the state of affairs, clearly affected by the demise of his comrade. This was the naive behavior of someone who had not experienced brutal combat, and it was also an opportunity to exploit. "''Rookie,'' you''re being too harsh!" Even if they were on good terms, Minante couldn''t remain indifferent to the sacrifice of his comrades; he bellowed furiously in the public channel. "Minante, this is war, not playing house. If the positions were reversed, would you go easy on me?" Chen Fei responded calmly to the other side. War has no right or wrong, only life and death. "I..." Minante fell silent. Chen Fei was right, he wouldn''t hold back either. On the battlefield, life and death are fated, even wishing to hold back is akin to joking with one''s own life. "You all go back! I can let you off!" The all-metal "Sky Falcon" once again climbed to an altitude of over twenty thousand meters, arrogantly overlooking the remaining two "Sky Falcons" like a supreme predator. "Why should we go back? This is our Zilu Continent people''s war, it''s our Tessa people''s righteous act to overthrow the Silan Dynasty''s dictatorial rule, why should we go back!" Minante yelled furiously. Chen Fei said indifferently: "What the Tessans of the Zilu Continent have to do with the Silan Dynasty is none of my damn business! Whether you annihilate each other has nothing to do with me." Whatever righteousness they proclaimed was destined to be a waste, met by his indifference, and indeed, an unpleasant surprise. "Then why are you even doing this?" Minante''s anger suddenly lost its source, as joining the Righteous Army was also about justice for him, and without the support of greater justice, hatred could become quite a laughable matter. Having no connection to the situation, Chen Fei appeared here and killed his men. "Why? Is it because you are attacking a target that has nothing to do with this war, you idiots! The Ground Portal Gate Management Substation on the outskirts of Southern City belongs to the Blue Star Sovereignty!" Now it was Chen Fei''s turn to be angry. The Rebel Army, claiming to be advocates of justice, kept attacking the Management Substation of Blue Star''s Dimensional Gate, attempting to take the civilians hosting the expo as hostages. Fuck, what kind of justice is this! "Also, I finally caught a terrible Parasitic Species that threatens both the Cangqiong Star Civilization and the Blue Star Civilization, and you fuckers, for no good reason, come charging in making a fuss. What, you want to let the Parasitic Species escape, or are you trying to silence it by killing it? Idiots! The Parasitic Species will destroy both civilizations, it won''t matter if it''s the Silan Dynasty or the Tessa Dynasty, everyone will die, no one will escape, got it? Justice, fuck your justice!" Unable to hold back his frustration, Chen Fei started cursing openly on the public communication channel. He despised those idiots who mistook minor righteousness for greater justice. Compared to the life and death of civilizations, whether the Tessa Empire is restored is utterly trivial, yet the other party was smugly trying to achieve personal self-worth. Isn''t that delusional? "Parasitic, Parasitic Species? What''s that?" Minante caught on to the unusual keywords in Chen Fei''s speech. The Righteous Army''s attack on the Gate Management Station was strategical; whether it was an innocent target was not much of a concern, and he had not participated in the attack, but now his mind was full of thoughts of revival, freedom, justice, and glory, of resisting dictatorship and tyranny. He came to Southern City on a mission to deal with an Assembled Combat Aircraft that closely resembled the Metallic Dragons, only to run into the familiar face of Chen Fei. If Minante had had to attack innocent Blue Star commoners at the expo, he probably would have hesitated, as attacking civilians could never be considered just, no matter what. "I am saving the world, Minante. Take your men and keep your distance. Don''t mess things up when you can''t be of help." In Chen Fei''s field of vision, the convoy from Jiaming Town had entered the coverage of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s Protective Barrier, completing the escort mission. The "Strong Men Team," rather than resting, immediately left for the next task. Although the progress of the three teams had completely deviated from the original plan, considering the current outcomes, the results weren''t too bad. "Saving the world, are you joking?" Right now, the Righteous Army and the army of the Silan Dynasty were embroiled in fierce battle, and suddenly, this guy with a seriously off vibe appeared; Minante was incredulous. The two sides were busy with their own affairs, yet suddenly, they started fighting each other, which was utterly bewildering. "It won''t be long before the truth is officially announced. You''ll find out. Do you still want to continue? I won''t show any mercy," Chen Fei warned. When Chen Fei said he wouldn''t show mercy, he truly meant there would be no softness. Midun, the wingman pilot, said, "Captain, let it go, continuing this fight is pointless." He could tell that his captain had little will to fight, and more importantly, his own aircraft''s air supply was running critically low. The deaths of the other two comrades were simply because they were outmatched. The other side was also right¡ªif they had the upper hand, the dead would undoubtedly be their enemy. Hold back? Talking about holding back on the battlefield is just a bad joke. "Hmph! You got lucky! Midun, let''s go!" Minante''s emotions were still unsettled, but he made a decisive decision on the spot. The two "Sky Falcon" aircraft flew away in the direction they had come from, and the temporarily restored communication channel was again jam-packed with various interference waves. Midun occasionally looked back to see that Chen Fei''s all-metal "Sky Falcon" had reverted to the Mechanical Dragon form. "Midun, he won''t catch up." Minante, however, hadn''t looked back once. He believed that Chen Fei meant what he said and wouldn''t unethically shoot him in the back. If the other party dared to ambush, it meant his own judgment was flawed¡ªhe had associated with the wrong people and failed to understand them. "Yeah, he didn''t catch up!" Midun sheepishly admitted that he''d been suspicious without cause. The Mechanical Dragon became a tiny black dot in the sky, and the ground radar''s information indicated that it was reducing altitude without any lateral movement. "Midun, later on, look into what this Parasitic Species business is all about," Minante said. His brain wasn''t filled with rage over losing his comrades; instead, he wondered about the strange things Chen Fei seemed to be doing. Chen Fei''s sudden appearance on the Zilu Continent of the Cangqiong Star and being on the opposite side of the Righteous Army was plenty strange on its own. - The Mechanical Dragon descended into the Protective Barrier of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, slowly folding its wings while the Defense Commander immediately came over. "Hey, ''Rookie''! What the hell did you bring back?" No sooner had the words left his mouth than an invisible and immaterial ripple swept through the air, causing the Defense Commander to furrow his brow on the spot. "Hiss! ~ What the hell is this?" Chen Fei rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit of an unexplained headache. Pop! ~ The Magic Array of the "Mind Brand" on the Mechanical Dragon overloaded and collapsed without warning. The Dimensional Gate Management Substation was in chaos, with everyone turned upside down and dogs leaping over chickens. "Here it comes again, the Mental Shock!" "Who''s such a bastard?" "Fucking psycho!" ... Chapter 676 676: Section 671 - Anatomy As a B-level supernatural power user, Chen Fei''s spiritual power level was not high, but his resistance was unexpectedly strong. Ordinary psychic techniques generally had difficulty affecting him, unless the intensity was particularly great. The piercing pain in his brain gave Chen Fei a sense of familiarity, as if he had experienced the same sensation somewhere before. "Hey, snap out of it! You haven''t been knocked silly, have you?" The Defense Commander of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation noticed Chen Fei''s distraction and loudly reminded him. If the other party continued to be foolishly unresponsive, a fierce slap to the ear might very well be on its way. "Mhm, mhm, I''m listening. It''s a Parasitic Species; we won''t know until it''s dissected. Prepare a place for me, I''m going to perform the dissection on-site." Chen Fei had brought back the Parasitic Host along with the Parasitic Species because he wanted to see what they looked like. According to the description by the big shot, Louis Landon, once parasitism was successful, the host''s original consciousness would be destroyed, and even if the Parasite was removed, nothing would remain but a mindless vegetable. The hosts he had brought back could be regarded as dead, and even if a live dissection was performed, there would be no ethical dilemma. "Dissection? That''s not your job to do; we''ve already prepared for it." Colonel Sir, the Defense Commander, waved his hand dismissively¡ªthis was his territory, and his word was law. "This is my captive, my spoils of war!" Chen Fei''s tone became hostile as he took out his phone, ready to report to Boss Hana. The AI "Adam" immediately controlled the Combat Mechs to raise their Railgun Combat Rifles, standing off against the soldiers who were attempting to take the Parasitic Hosts. People die for wealth, birds die for food. Any military contractor who encountered theft of spoils of war would fight for their lives without hesitation. If the other party dared to make a move, he would blow up the entire Dimensional Gate the next second¡ªscrew the employment contract, tear it up, it''s gone! Boss Hana and her colleagues at Jiu Defense Company would definitely support Chen Fei in doing so without a second thought. Even cats and dogs protect their food, let alone a military contractor that relies on spoils of war for a living. The Dimensional Gate Management Substations could forget about receiving support from military contractors in the future. "This is a sovereign administrative order, a compulsory requisition. Military contractors are private military units and have no authority to handle such matters." The Defense Commander stood his ground. Once the Parasite entered the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, it would never return to Chen Fei''s hands. Such creatures were too dangerous; it was definitely not a good thing for commoners to be in control. "You''ll have to pay extra!" Chen Fei dialed Boss Hana''s number. "''Rookie'', you''re still alive?" The One-Eyed Boss was surprised. Chen Fei, on his own, had assisted the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation on Cangqiong Star in a fierce battle akin to a sovereignty war and was still alive to call her¡ªa miracle. If the Jiu Defense Company had fully participated in the battle, they would have been decimated in less than an hour, perhaps even sooner. The large-scale civil war on Cangqiong Star had already caused a media uproar on Blue Star; both civilizations'' publics were closely following the war situation on Zilu Continent. "I''ve already died once!" Chen Xiaopin now had freedom with Magic Medicine, which he had exchanged for his life! What shitty magic potions, he really wanted to smack the whole box into the Defense Commander''s face. "Haha, haha, that''s normal." Boss Hana laughed heartily, pounding the table as she did. That''s more like it! What civil war is ever simple? Dying once is the norm. "Boss, someone''s trying to snatch my spoils of war!" Chen Fei didn''t beat around the bush with the boss and got straight to the point. "Who? Who dares?" Hanna Gagar jumped up at once, her reaction almost identical to Chen Fei''s earlier. Heads can be chopped, blood can flow, but spoils of war must not be lost. Without spoils of war, what would a military contractor eat, what would they drink, with so many people to support, and the daily operational expenses burning through money like fire. "Of course, it''s this Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Should we turn against them?" Chen Fei earnestly sought guidance from his leader. As long as Boss Hana dared to nod, he would immediately turn this Dimensional Gate Management Substation upside down, blow it apart from the center to the sky. This was war; there was no right or wrong! "Do you still have the goods?" However, Hanna Gagar suddenly calmed down. If the spoils were not in one''s possession, all was lost. Putting oneself in others'' shoes, who would ever spit out something that had fallen into their own mouths? Military contractors were like this, and sovereignties even more so. Chen Fei looked into the distance where the remaining seven Combat Mechs formed a circle, surrounding the four Parasitic Hosts at the center, with the Mechanical Dragon looming threateningly nearby. "Still here, not one missing!" A squad of Defensive Soldiers merely maintained a faint encircling stance; in fact, they were not eager to fight on the spot either. The Dimensional Gate Management Substation had struggled to persist until now and they did not want to see it all come to naught due to infighting. It was also likely that the Sovereignty did not want to witness this scene. "Alright, leave it with me. Hand the phone to the boss over there." Hanna Gagar bluntly requested a higher-level conversation, king to king, general to general, toad against a green bean. "Colonel Sir, our boss is looking for you!" Chen Fei handed over his cellphone. The Defense Commander had been waiting nearby from the start, as if he had expected the call. "..." After a murmured conversation, the cellphone was returned to Chen Fei. "''Rookie'', hand over the person! Then observe the autopsy on site. Keep your eyes wide open¡ªthis is all valuable intelligence." Unable to outmuscle the powers that be, Boss Hana ultimately chose to bow to Sovereignty. No matter what, a small military contractor couldn''t afford to offend Sovereignty, so... it meant more money! Earning money either way, it''s not shameful to stand and make some Silver! "Alright, got it!" The corners of Chen Fei''s mouth twitched. He didn''t ask the female BOSS how much extra she charged; he knew he wouldn''t miss out on his cut either way. "''Adam'', handover." Following orders, the defensive soldiers snatched away the four Parasitic Hosts that were bound hand and foot, stuffing them into single-person biochemical pods that looked like crystal coffins and had been prepared in advance. The omnipresent Mental Shock ceased suddenly; the single-person biochemical pods blocked spiritual power. "The Mental Shock has stopped!" "Oh boy, now we can breathe a sigh of relief." "What exactly happened?" "Don''t let it happen again; I was in the middle of a big one!" Many relieved voices rang out around them, and plenty of people were still clueless, not knowing the source of the Mental Shock. "The autopsy will begin in half an hour!" After dropping that statement, the Defense Commander turned and left¡ªit was an agreed upon condition. Blue Star Sovereignty had long prepared an autopsy team that arrived through the Dimensional Gate to the Cangqiong Star side, with the site and equipment all ready to go. A live autopsy didn''t require anything special. Half an hour later. "Turn off communications, no photography, recording, or video allowed." A surgery room in the Dimensional Gate Management Substation was temporarily requisitioned as an autopsy room. Chen Fei, donned in a full surgical protective suit, obediently handed over his cellphone and was scanned from head to toe before being allowed to enter the surgery room. Observing the autopsy was part of the deal, the last remaining value of these Parasitic Hosts. Information dealers or news media associated with military contractors might find intelligence on this subject very interesting and could sell it for a good sum of money. Chen Fei blinked, and the AI "Adam" shared his vision, sneakily turned on the video recording, and even captured audio without needing any extra programming to collect visual and auditory signals. The lead surgeon, anesthetist, and assistant team were in position. The single-person biochemical pod was placed directly on the operation table, connected to various wires and fluid tubes. "Camera and microphone tests passed." Specialized recording equipment in the surgery room captured the procedure which belonged to Sovereignty. "Vital signs normal, inject T3 anesthetic." The anesthetist was the first to go to work, releasing 50 milliliters of aerosol via the respirator. The special T3 anesthetic was a high-potency drug that required only one-hundredth of the current dose to knock out a fully grown blue whale within five minutes, and one ten-thousandth could be a lethal dose for humans. But at that moment, everyone regarded these Parasitic Hosts as good as dead, and only a high dosage could control the Parasite within their bodies. "Parasite activity decreased by 15%, alpha waveforms appeared." "Parasite releasing delta waves, flush out T3 anesthetic, open the biochemical pod." The autopsy team were experts in their field; even facing Parasites for the first time, they knew how to proceed. With a soft puff of gas, the crystal coffin-like biochemical pod slowly opened to reveal the human body inside. With a buzzing noise and flickering blue light, a laser scalpel sliced open the skin without a drop of blood, creating a long slit in the chest cavity. "Drop in the pufferfish toxin." A drop of translucent liquid fell into the chest cavity, faintly revealing the slowly writhing Parasite entwined with the heart and somewhat occupying the lung space. Ordinary humans only use about twenty to thirty percent of their lung capacity, so even with the loss of half a lung lobe, survival wouldn''t be impacted. Pufferfish poison consists of neurotoxins, which can gradually paralyze the Parasite''s neural fusion organs. "Begin the separation attempt!" The Parasite in a deep delta wave sleep was obliviously manipulated, the attempt being made to detach it from the human body as completely as possible. Once removed from the host, the threat level of the Parasite would plummet. Naturally, this rule did not apply to high-rank Parasites; the top-tier Parasites didn''t even need to be parasitic to survive on their own. The Dissecting Surgeon''s skill was highly proficient; the laser scalpel kept steadily separating, and roughly an hour later, a creature resembling a baby was carefully extracted from the chest cavity and placed in a specially designed container. "Live Specimen A, 18.45 centimeters in length, weighing 1.12 kilograms..." In the container''s fluid, the Parasite that had been floating suddenly opened its eyes. Chapter 677 677: Section 672 - Sealing The familiar mental shock swept over again, and this time it was exceptionally fierce. In the autopsy room, many people''s masks were directly stained red with blood, and the sounds of groans were incessant. Because the distance was too close and the intensity of the mental shock was too great, only a few people managed to endure it by relying on unique secret techniques or possessing alchemical artifacts designed to protect mental power and consciousness. Everyone else, including Chen Fei, was not spared, each with blood coming from them, looking quite terrifying. "Damn it, this thing woke up!" The anesthetist pulled down his mask and spat a clot of blood into a corner before injecting a T3 anesthetic liquid solvent into the container, using a full 100 milliliters. He also sealed the lid immediately to prevent any evaporation. As for whether the thing inside was dead or not, he didn''t have the luxury of caring. Nobody expected that even refined pufferfish toxin couldn''t subdue the parasitic species but instead triggered a fierce mental shock. Fortunately, the other parasitic hosts were sealed in biochemical pods, preventing a chain reaction that would have been another bitter pill to swallow. The parasite within the container, affected by the powerful anesthetic, gradually closed its somewhat frightening eyes. "It''s nothing, just a small scene!" The leading surgeon wiped the blood from his nose, his face ferocious. Most people were like him, bleeding from seven orifices, but thankfully, it was only the capillaries that had burst, not a truly serious injury. But these were all minor issues; those who perform autopsies were used to being splashed with blood at some point. Those who wielded knives and administered drugs were the hardcore veterans of the operation room. "This is deadly!" Chen Fei, who was observing, took a wet wipe from an assistant and gently rubbed his eyes, watching as his red-tinged vision slowly returned to normal. "Try waking the brainwaves!" The first host was subject to more than just the removal of the parasite; there was also an attempt to save the host, which provided invaluable experimental data. Should some high-ranking individual fall victim to parasitism in the future, these initial data points might be lifesaving. The results of discovering a parasitic species were only two: zero or countless parasites. No one knew how the parasites managed to smuggle themselves onto Cangqiong Star, and even Blue Star, but the crisis had been lurking in the shadows. "Brainwave activity is showing signs of failure, and autonomous consciousness has not been awakened. Attempting a second awakening!" Several electrodes attached to the host''s head continuously released weak electrical pulses, attempting to produce a beneficial stimulus to the brain. "Awakening failed, brain death!" After nearly half an hour of attempts, the host from whom the parasite had been removed finally took its last breath and began to cool. In the end, the original consciousness couldn''t be revived, possibly having been completely devoured by the parasite or shattered to nothingness. The dissection team didn''t hesitate, promptly setting up the second parasitic host. This time, taking extra care, they administered a large dose of anesthetic along with neurotoxins, preventing the woken parasite from causing trouble. The four parasitic hosts that Chen Fei had brought back were sequentially dissected, with all parasites temporarily surviving, sealed in special containers. Their vitality was frighteningly strong, but none of the hosts survived, and all four safety separation plans declared a failure. However, it wasn''t without gains. The process not only validated an effective anesthetic for suppressing parasites but also identified a medication that could completely separate the already fused parasitic nervous tentacles through an autogenous rejection response, stripping every parasitic nerve tentacle thoroughly. As the autopsy room was wrapping up, the DNA analysis report of the parasites was released. "Analysis identified as ''Sagali,'' a branch of the royal breed ''Xionees'' from the ninth rank, fission mutated parasitic spawns. All four parasites are spawns, the original is not here and is likely still alive." The report wasn''t shown to Chen Fei but allowing him to overhear it was already a big favor. By the rules, ordinary civilians shouldn''t even hear of this. "So it is ''Sagali''!" Chen Fei found that the term most highly associated with the parasites in the large database accessed through AI "Adam" was "Sagali," once a threat from outside to Cangqiong Star. It seemed that Blue Star had blocked all keywords related to "Sagali," but on Cangqiong Star, it was still possible to find scraps of information. "''Rookie'', you can''t reveal a word of this to the outside world unless you want your memory blocked." The commander of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation warned Chen Fei immediately. His dealings with Jiu Defense Company had officially concluded, and neither party owed the other anything. "Is it really that serious?" Confused, Chen Fei suddenly slapped his forehead as if finally remembering something. "I knew that mental shock felt familiar, damn it, I''ve dealt with ''Sagali'' before." He wasn''t encountering the parasitic species for the first time, nor was it his first time being troubled by their mental shocks. "What did you say?" The commander''s eyes widened. An ordinary person would probably never encounter a horrifying entity like "Sagali" in their lifetime, yet Chen Fei wasn''t new to encountering them. "It''s a secret!" Chen Fei cut off the topic promptly. The escort mission he had participated in was also taboo and not allowed for further discussion. "..." The Defense Commander was completely unable to discern the truth from the false. "I need to leave for a while to go to the hotel." Chen Fei made the request in front of the Defense Commander. Even if he went through the proper channels, in the end, it still required the commander''s approval and permission. "I understand," Colonel Sir, fearing Chen Fei would utter more shocking and unconventional words, waved his hand somewhat impatiently. This young man was good in every aspect, but he was just too capable of causing trouble, inadvertently poking a hole in the sky if one wasn''t careful. It was absolutely inconceivable that the civil war on Cangqiong Star could actually draw out the extraterrestrial race "Sagali". - The Mechanical Dragon rose into the air, and Chen Fei took the chance to call Boss Hana. "No accidents?" Hanna Gagar was eagerly waiting for Chen Fei''s surprises or even shocks. "Not exactly an accident. I''ve figured out some things this time." Chen Fei sat leisurely in the pilot seat inside the Mechanical Dragon''s chest, not operating anything, letting the Combat Mobility Armor move on its own. With an artificial intelligence AI actively controlling it, it was such a relief! "Can you reveal it?" Not just Chen Fei, Hanna Gagar had also gotten some information through her own channels, in fact knowing no less than him. "It''s confidential!" Chen Fei made this call because both he and Boss Hana kept things tight-lipped, not revealing anything to a third party. "Understood, just tell me what you can. Don''t force yourself to share the inconvenient parts." Hanna Gagar immediately got the message. She knew Chen Fei had caught a hot potato this time, something even Jiu Defense Company couldn''t handle, and must treat it like a piece of news. Whether the intelligence from the dissection experiment could be sold for money, and how much, would probably need to be reassessed. "This time, we encountered a Parasitic Species ''Sagali''. They might have already infiltrated Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. That''s all I can say for now. Oh, and there''s a ''Prophecy'' claiming that Blue Star human civilization will be destroyed by ''Sagali''." After some thought, Chen Fei also relayed the "Prophecy" of the big shot Louis Landon to Hanna Gagar, hoping she could give him some advice. Fighting and scrapping he could handle, but for anything looking to the long term, he still relied on the Boss''s analytical abilities and counsel. "If you ever come across this kind of thing again, make sure you stay far away." Hanna Gagar seriously warned him; when the sky falls, there are always taller people to hold it up. No matter what, a small military contractor like Jiu Defense Company, even those who can fight, could not compare with active-duty forces with sovereignty. While talking, she received the files sent by Chen Fei. Chen Fei''s conversation with Boss Hana did not interfere with the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" transmitting the visually shared video. Casually opening and watching for a while, Hanna Gagar couldn''t help but suck in a breath of cold air. Her warning to Chen Fei was absolutely correct. Parasitic Species were not something ordinary people could come into contact with. This "Rookie''s" courage was truly huge; if it were Hanna Gagar, she couldn''t even guarantee her own survival. After all, involving the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" was equivalent to a war between civilizations, the scale and intensity of which far exceeded the large-scale civil war currently happening on the Zilu Continent of Cangqiong Star. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "What if I can''t avoid it?" "Then write your will early on. Do you need me to help you prepare it?" Boss Hana was very serious about considering this problem for Chen Xiao''er, the kid was too prone to trouble, and impatient, who knew when he might wipe himself out, it wouldn''t be surprising at all. "I''d better stay far away after all!" Hearing the Boss speak so ominously, Chen Fei was ultimately afraid. If he couldn''t afford to offend, could he not still avoid? "That''s for the best!" Hanna Gagar was still quite worried that Chen Fei would forget her warning in a moment of hot-headedness. After ending the call with Boss Hana, the Mechanical Dragon just happened to arrive at the upscale business hotel where Princess Lin Ziyu and Shen Fei were staying. Landing at the entrance of the hall and standing firm, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan flew down from the rooftop, rubbing against the Mechanical Dragon incessantly. "Yilan, your drool. It''s almost dripping down. Mind your image." After some thought, Chen Fei decided to store the Mechanical Dragon in the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device to prevent it from being nibbled at critical parts by the other party, needlessly losing a lot of Energy Points. "Can''t blame me, it was just too tempting. If only it was alive." Yilan looked longingly at the spot where the Mechanical Dragon had disappeared, then at Chen Fei''s wrist, turning her head away. "If it were alive, that would be even worse!" Just dealing with a gluttonous Yilan was headache enough. If there were two greedy Metallic Dragons, Chen Fei didn''t know how he would cope. Chapter 678 678: Section 673 - Selfishness "Mr. Louis Randon, there''s trouble!" After deceiving the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, Chen Fei rushed to the hotel''s rooftop. The view here was uniquely excellent; the big boss of Louis Industrial Company was lying flat here out of habit. As a strategist of higher rank, he had already formulated comprehensive plans A, B, C, and D, and had deployed all the relevant pieces. Now, the only thing to do was to sit and wait for the progress and outcomes. Upon seeing Chen Fei return to the hotel, Louis Randon appeared quite indifferent. "Oh! You''re back, don''t worry, as long as you are still alive, nothing truly bad can happen." After all, he had handed over the command authority of the ''Intelligence Team'' to him, so the boss knew no less than Chen Fei. "Huh? Mr. Randon, I... I don''t quite understand." The boss''s reaction caught Chen Fei by surprise. "Don''t understand?" "Don''t understand!" The two exchanged words, sparking a verbal skirmish. The Chief Bodyguard Riva felt his brain struggling to keep up; what exactly were these two talking about? Louis Randon casually said, "If you had died, it would mean the situation had deteriorated to complete chaos, but since you''re still alive, it hasn''t reached the point of no return. Do you understand what I mean?" "I... I think I understand a bit. I am the last line of defense, right?" Chen Fei scratched his head; being a university undergraduate, he had enough academic prowess to consider postgraduate studies, and with a slight nudge, he quickly caught on. Commanders often occupy the safest positions; if disaster befell even them, then all of Louis Randon''s numerous plans would be tantamount to complete failure. Just like this upscale business hotel; if it were to be easily beheaded, then everything would also be finished. "Pretty much! Is there anything else I don''t know?" Louis Randon grabbed a can of drink and handed it to Chen Fei. Chen Fei regretfully said, "The Parasite species is from the extraterrestrial ''Sagali'', and what we caught this time is a royal breed''s mutant branch, all of them are parasitic offshoots, we didn''t manage to capture the original entity." "That''s close to my guess, the ''Xionees'' Ninth Rank branch is the most suitable outpost, these extraterrestrial races have only just started." Louis Randon nodded; the information he knew was limited to what the ''Intelligence Team'' provided about parasites, not knowing which type of Parasitic Species they were or their level. This would require analysis and judgment by professionals, precisely what the Sovereign would handle after taking over. Chen Fei thought for a moment and then said, "I have a guess, the core member of the ''Water Bear'' organization, Xia Ji, is currently with the royal breed''s main body. He once appeared in Jiaming Town, but this time we couldn''t locate him." In an environment full of food, the parasitic species should not resort to making their hosts eat people; neither being eaten nor parasitized suggests a strong likelihood. The royal breed ''Sagali'' found Xia Ji valuable enough to spare him temporarily, or it''s reserved for a more significant ''Sagali'' to parasitize. With a drink can also in hand, Louis Randon laughed for a while before saying, "Hehehe... I like how you make personal agendas sound so honorable." Tracking down the core member of the ''Water Bear'' organization, Xia Ji, was Chen Fei''s own task, and the ''Intelligence Team'' under his command had been utilized to search for Xia Ji, which coincidentally this time linked Xia Ji with the parasitic species. The ''Intelligence Team'', while tracking him, not only found the whereabouts of Xia Ji but also discovered the presence of the parasitic species. "Must be fate!" Chen Fei also chuckled a few times; he could tell the boss was joking with him and didn''t really intend to go deeper. It was fortunate that the presence of the parasitic species was discovered, which didn''t delay important matters. Otherwise, changing generals right before a battle, a decisive boss like him might not continue to accommodate him. Chen Fei thought for a moment and then said, "The Parasitic Species ''Sagali'' had infiltrated Blue Star much earlier, but it has been detected." It was supposed to be a closely guarded secret, but he felt it necessary to reveal it to Louis Randon. Apart from the Sovereign, this big shot was probably the civilian best acquainted with the Parasitic Species ''Sagali'', and exchanging information might uncover more clues. Louis Randon asked seriously, "Oh? How do you know this?" He hadn''t expected this young man surnamed Chen to have unexpected surprises. Logically speaking, ordinary people shouldn''t and wouldn''t have the chance to know such crucial information. "Because I was one of the participants, I witnessed it myself." Chen Fei stopped there, not revealing more about the day''s escort mission and the Sovereign''s secret base, as well as the corresponding entourage. The information disclosed so far was enough for the big shot to digest. "That''s really bad news!" Sure enough, Louis Randon''s face immediately darkened. Even though he was a reincarnator and had prepared for so many years, there were still many unexpected situations occurring. This feeling of disconnection from his previous life memories made his mood quite sour. "May I ask, in your previous life, did the Blue Star Humans put up any significant resistance?" Chen Fei''s attitude toward the "Reincarnator''s" narrative was still one of skepticism. However, he wouldn''t disrespect a major figure, so for now, he went along with the other''s assertion agreeably. "No! Perhaps in my previous life, my social status was too low to access more information, but as far as I can recall, the Parasitic Species appeared suddenly and then explosively parasitized in large numbers. Humans quickly lost the ability to resist. It seemed as if, overnight, the entire world had changed." Whenever Louis Landon remembered memories from his past life, his expression would turn quite ugly, as he was reluctant to actively recall those "nightmares." Chen Fei tentatively asked, "What about the Lin Family, the Lord of the Sky then?" If there were any formidable leader on Blue Star, it would be the Lin Family. The Lin Family had produced remarkable individuals generation after generation. Each descendant was more outstanding than the last, and just the number of Sky Knights they could assemble was enough to easily annihilate a lower-ranking sovereignty. Poor were those small sovereignties that might not even have their own Sky Knights. Having dealt with Extraterrestrial Races before, the Master of the Firmament should not have just watched the Parasitic Species destroy the civilization of Blue Star. No matter how aloof, they should have done something. "The Lin Family..." Louis Landon''s expression suddenly became very strange. "What happened?" Chen Fei had a feeling that this major figure was about to reveal some astonishing "prophecy." "Internal strife within the Lin Family, the Master of the Firmament has perished!" Like some kind of taboo, after Mr. Randon uttered those words, he fell silent. He was somewhat apprehensive. Whether before or after his rebirth, he couldn''t afford to provoke the Lin Family. If any unwelcome words reached their ears and they decided to make his life difficult, it would be a minor issue. The Master of the Firmament would not regard him highly, but if any member of the Lin Family took it upon themselves to end his life, then even fleeing to the ends of the earth would be futile. Don''t be fooled by those sovereignties who flatter and bow down to him on any ordinary day; come crunch time, they definitely wouldn''t offend the Lin Family for him. The Lin Family represented sheer power! "Ah! How could that be?" The Master of the Firmament was among those considered the mightiest humans of today, wasn''t he? Chen Fei found it hard to imagine that such a being would just perish casually, and that during the explosive outbreak of the Parasitic Species, the entire Lin Family did nothing, possibly perishing along with the civilization of Blue Star. After all, when the nest is overturned, no eggs remain intact. "Nothing is impossible. Every person often has selfish desires¡ª you have them, I have them, the Master of the Firmament has them, and the Lin Family is no exception. Even if you don''t have selfish desires, others do. No one is spared." Louis Landon kept shaking his head. He didn''t want to think so poorly of human nature, but in his previous life, the Blue Star Civilization had no saviors appear. There was more endless infighting and mutual sabotage, leading to the missed opportunity to resist the Parasitic Species. Chen Fei said frustratingly, "Damn it, is the doomsday for humanity truly unavoidable?" When disaster looms, small figures like himself couldn''t resist at all; the big figures might survive until the last moment, which is simply intolerable. "I''ve prepared several doomsday bases. If you need, I can offer you a few spots." Louis Landon extended a hand, his five fingers indicating five spots. Considering the extinction of the Blue Star Humans in his previous life, he had prepared for the worst despite actively responding to the threat. If he still couldn''t change their fate in the end, then he had no choice but to ensure his own survival. The doomsday bases scattered around the world are all independently sustainable hidden spaces, capable of evading repeated searches by the Parasitic Species. The perfectly closed-loop ecological systems could sustain for hundreds of years with no issue, and with the help of Space System Alchemy Storage Devices to store supplies beyond their shelf-life, they could completely support the needs of thousands of people. "We''ll see when the time comes," Chen Fei was distinctly uninterested in the supposed doomsday base spots. What good are five spots? Totally insufficient. Who doesn''t have family, friends, and loved ones? It''s utterly impossible to make this so-called "choice" of abandoning them. "Tweet!" A crisp birdcall just reached Chen Fei''s ears, followed immediately by the sound of fluttering wings. A pair of crimson claws landed on Chen Fei''s head. The little creature was truly unapologetic. "Xiao Jiu, you really do react quickly!" Chen Fei caught the Little Bird in his hands, the dissatisfied Pure Light Sparrow pecking at his fingers with its claws pointing skyward, whether it was due to the handling, the long absence, or both. "Eh? You''ve gained weight again?" Upon holding it, Chen Fei noticed the Little Bird''s weight was unusual, subtly increased by an ounce or two, though its appearance and size seemed unchanged, as if only its insides were heavier. "Tweet!" The little creature rolled over, then lay prone in Chen Fei''s palm, tilting its head with a puzzled look. Chapter 679 679: Section 674 - Light and Shadow Refraction "Your Pure Light Sparrow has advanced in rank again; it is now at the Human Order Fifth Rank," Princess Lin Ziyu''s voice carried from afar, with Little Bird always by her side, witnessing almost the entire advancement process. For a mere Pure Light Sparrow to break through the limits of its bloodline talents and reach the Fifth Rank was simply unheard of. "Fifth Rank?" Chen Fei examined Little Bird up and down incredulously, causing Xiao Jiu to peck at his fingers in protest once again. The true reason for the weight gain was an advancement in rank?! "Feeding this Pure Light Sparrow the Elemental Affinity Potion incessantly was correct, but breaking through the ceiling of the Pure Light Sparrow''s bloodline talents is not an easy task. It requires quite some luck; Xiao Jiu''s elemental affinity is now Six Stars. Its luck is better than yours; your awakened special ability is only B grade. Tsk tsk, to some extent, this Pure Light Sparrow has already surpassed you." Fortunately, Louis Landon had an alchemical artifact for testing elemental affinity on hand, and promptly tested for Xiao Jiu''s elemental affinity level after its advancement. Six Stars Elemental Affinity implies a future growth limit of Earth Order Sixth Rank; if it could further break through its bloodline talents, then reaching Heavenly Order is possible. In contrast, a supernatural power user''s potential is completely exhausted at the moment of awakening, leaving no room for further growth, no matter how skillfully one plays with the psi skill; they can never break through the level''s ceiling. Supernatural power users, spellcasters, and War Professionals each have distinct characteristics, but once the level gap is established, it becomes an insurmountable chasm. "I''m so miserable!" The boss spouting harsh truths made Chen Xiao''er, who was holding Little Bird, extremely disheartened, a look of frustration on his face. Let alone Human Order Fifth Rank, even if it were only Fourth Rank, Xiao Jiu would have the capability to pin him down and beat him up. A call that pierced the clouds beckoned thousands of sparrows to meet. Confronted by such an overwhelming number of birds, where quantity leads to a qualitative change, let alone Chen Fei, even a giant dragon would probably have to stay as far away as possible, completely unable to provoke them. "Jiu!" The little one seemed to be comforting Chen Fei, pecking at his fingers again. "The elemental energy activity in Blue Star''s atmosphere is inferior to that of Cangqiong Star; it indeed is the best place for arduous cultivation. Xiao Jiu, having solidified its foundation on Blue Star, experienced an environment with highly active elemental energy here on Cangqiong Star, making it not strange for it to advance two ranks in a short period." Princess Lin Ziyu,who had witnessed this Pure Light Sparrow''s two advancements, understood the reason. Some spellcasters and War Professionals with the right connections often endure rigorous training on Blue Star, and when they are on the brink of a breakthrough, they cross the Dimensional Gate to come to Cangqiong Star, hoping to advance in rank like a hot knife through butter. However, obtaining the ticket to cross through the Dimensional Gate is not easy; the most common scenario is to cross the boundary after a full purification, with some Intelligent Species even incurring enormous debts. Er Lang, a Dual-Elemental Magical Beast of the Psychic and Wind Series working at Aircrew Base 911 to earn silver, and who is at Human Order Seventh Rank Golden-eyed Azure-hearted Civet, is one of them. "Awesome, my Jiu, your dad will be depending on you from now on," Chen Fei scratched the little neck of either his son or daughter, Xiao Jiu. To this day, he still didn''t know whether the Pure Light Sparrow he had hatched was male or female. "Jiu!" The little one called out proudly, its neck feathers bristling and fluffing up, its small eyes squinting as if it thoroughly enjoyed the tickles from Chen Fei, its dad. Even at Human Order Fifth Rank, the Light Series still didn''t possess many offensive spells, but trying to kill a Light-element Magical Beast had become quite difficult. "It''s truly envy-inspiring." Princess Lin Ziyu spoke her mind. "It''s all about fate, Chen Fei. You need to take good care of this little bird; its future growth is indeed something to look forward to!" Louis Landon did not hide his envy either. Investing such a vast amount of resources into a mere Pure Light Sparrow, not many people can manage to do such a thing. If it were any other magical beast, it might have already reached Human Order Ninth Rank, not just Fifth Rank as it was now. However, this little Pure Light Sparrow rose to the occasion, breaking through its own bloodline talent limits time and again, astonishingly growing from Human Order First Rank to Fifth Rank. For a Pure Light Sparrow with already quite diluted magical beast bloodline, this was not an easy feat. "Jiu!" Little Bird shook its little body. Waves of Light Elemental Energy stirred. The next second, on Chen Fei''s wrist, his arm, on Louis Landon and Princess Lin Ziyu, and even on the ground around, appeared one Pure Light Sparrow after another, all making uniform movements, tilting their heads and twisting their tiny heads preening their own feathers. "This is the Light Series Spell ''Light and Shadow Refraction'' of Human Order Fifth Rank, an upgrade from the Fourth Rank ''Mirror Image.'' Xiao Jiu mastered it upon advancing and directly in its advanced form of ''Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction,'' its cognitive abilities are getting higher." Princess Lin Ziyu calmly stretched out her hand, passing effortlessly through the body of the Little Bird that landed on her, visibly there but essentially a void, as if just an illusion. Whether it was Boss Hana or Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Silan Dynasty, both had prepared light-based spells training videos for the little bird, letting it watch and learn whenever there was a chance, repeatedly watching and gaining some insight each time. If those light-based spells were well-suited to Xiao Jiu, comprehension would be fast. When magical beasts cast spells, they often don''t need to chant incantations, which means either they can''t learn them or once they do, they can master the complete form of the spell quickly, far more efficiently than other intelligent species. "Isn''t this multiple avatars?" Chen Fei, like Princess Lin Ziyu, extended his left hand to touch those avatars created by "Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction," all of which were illusions, with only the one in his right hand being real. "It''s a bit less than a real ''Avatar.'' Once you reach the Human Order Sixth Rank, ''Light and Shadow Refraction'' upgrades again to ''Illusion Light Transformation,'' which can create illusions out of thin air. Not only can each illusion perform different actions, but it can also project illusions that don''t exist in reality, such as a giant dragon, which if unprepared, can really startle someone. However, the true effect of ''Light and Shadow Refraction'' is to amplify other light-based spells, allowing a single ''Illumination Technique'' or ''Light Burst Flash'' to be refracted into multiple ones. Currently, this is amplifying the effect of ''Mirror Image.''" Her Royal Highness the Princess was quite familiar with light-based spells, even mastering each spell of every rank. The low and intermediate rank light-based spells still lacked much offensiveness, but given that the ranks were set, intermediate rank already posed a certain degree of threat, effectively deceptive, making them hard to guard against even for those skilled in disruptive Psychic Series spells. If one could produce large-scale illusions through the "Illusion Light Transformation" spell, even higher-ranked ability users could easily be tricked. "Jiu!" The images of the dozens of Pure Light Sparrows disappeared, and suddenly, there were two more Chen Feis at the scene. The little fellow had just learned this spell and particularly enjoyed showing it off. With a Magical Beast Crystal Core already present within, its magic power at the Human Order Fifth Rank was sufficient to maintain the "Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction" spell for quite a long time. "Chen Fei, have you come back? Eh? Why are there three of you!" Teacher Shen Fei had finally heard about Chen Fei''s return to the hotel and had just finished training those gang members when she arrived at the rooftop of the main hotel building, just in time to see Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu use the "Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction" spell, turning Chen Fei into three copies. However, she quickly confirmed Chen Fei''s real body, as the one holding the little bird was the original. "Teacher Shen, how''s the reorganization of those gang members going?" Chen Fei lightly tapped Xiao Jiu''s head, causing all the illusions to disappear, leaving only one Chen Fei and one Pure Light Sparrow. "Jiu jiu jiu!" The little fellow was a bit tired, opened its beak wide at Chen Fei, and kept fluttering its small wings. "It''s hungry!" Princess Lin Ziyu and Shen Fei both said simultaneously. When Chen Fei was not around, besides the two of them, Xiao Jiu hardly touched anyone else''s feed, being rather vigilant. "Understood!" Chen Fei took out specially-made birdseed pellets from the alchemical storage artifact and poured them into a small container; the little bird immediately pounced on it, pecking away continuously... "Those gang members are quite obedient now; they''re showing some shape." Shen Fei didn''t find reorganizing these underworld figures any more difficult than teaching elementary school students. Gang members are inherently rebellious, but that depends on who they''re dealing with. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan was just on the side enjoying the scene, obedient ones got a beating, disobedient ones were directly dragged out and eaten, ensuring these gang members were full of survival instincts and behaved like good kids. Even without Yilan, any of the bodyguards around big boss Louis Landon could teach these guys to reincarnate into good people. One of the most cunning of the Eight Great Diamonds, "Mute" Kano had already become the new boss of the Hundred-Legs Gang and was managing those gang members for Shen Fei. Even though he knew he was just a puppet gang leader, he dared not harbor any dissatisfaction. "Can I take a look?" Since Chen Fei had not personally seen those gang members yet, he was still a bit worried. "No problem, they''re currently on the fourth floor." Shen Fei did not refuse and nodded immediately. She led Chen Fei to the fourth floor of the hotel building, which was also the top floor of the annex. The place was right next to the convention center in a large conference hall. As they approached, they could hear the uniform shouting inside. "...one two one, one two one, attention... left turn, right turn... together..." Bang bang bang bang... It was mixed with the sound of marching confidently. Indeed, it was a familiar atmosphere. "Ha! Typical of Teacher Shen, you really have a knack for this!" Chen Fei immediately raised his thumb without hesitation. This was just like domestic military training, wasn''t it? The main purpose of drill training isn''t just for uniformity and strict discipline, but to grind down the rough edges, branding obedience deep into the bones of these unruly gang members, forming a conditioned reflex. After training for two or three days, these gang members already looked the part, gradually turning into the kind of bricks Chen Fei and Shen Fei wanted, used wherever needed. Chapter 680 680: Section 675 - "Chiu Light Cannon" Shows Its Power "Report!" Someone outside stood to attention and saluted. These gang members had been modified to be orderly, their minds filled with commands and prohibitions. Aside from their inherent untamable temperament that was difficult to conceal, their movements and voices alone almost made it impossible to distinguish that these were originally scum of the Black Community. In the high-end business hotel with so many people consuming resources daily, a large amount of supplies needed to be used, and energy supplies had to be guaranteed. The newly incorporated local snakes from the Hundred-Legs Gang were really helpful. They took the lead and ensured the supply for the hotel. No one knew how long they would need to stay there. If they relied solely on the hotel''s own supplies and the guests'' alchemical storage artifacts, it meant that no matter how many supplies they had, it would never seem enough. The rebels were everywhere outside, and only locals with their own identification papers could move around freely. The representatives from the Blue Star the moment they showed their faces, were like lambs offering themselves to slaughter, and not snatching and then heavily slaughtering them on the spot would be a disservice to the cause of restoration. "Something is off about this guy!" Princess Lin Ziyu, with a Pure Light Sparrow of the Fifth Rank perched on her shoulder, suddenly frowned slightly as she sized up the man shouting "Report." It wasn''t her first time seeing him, but this time, something felt unusual. Shen Fei, responsible for training these gang members, asked in confusion, "What''s wrong? Has this guy turned traitor?" She didn''t believe Princess Lin Ziyu was talking nonsense¡ªthe princess was, after all, an undercover Investigative Agent from the Slan Dynasty and should possess special skills beyond ordinary people, right? "I don''t know, let''s check him out first." Princess Lin Ziyu was particularly sensitive now, having left the protection of the Dynasty Guards. No one could guarantee when danger might suddenly strike. Being cautious was never a mistake. She retrieved a peculiar-looking alchemical artifact and a delicate small round box with an engraved pattern on the surface from her Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Stored in the small round box was powder emitting an exotic fragrance. She pinched a little, scattered it into the air, took a deep breath as if to inhale the fragrance of the powder completely into her lungs, and then swiftly formed various hand seals. An invisible ripple spread in all directions. Princess Lin Ziyu inherited her mother''s talent as a Magician; within the entire Slan Dynasty, there were not many who still remembered that today''s Empress was also a Magician who mastered secretive Curse Magic. "Let me have a look! Activate the ''Basic Optical Observer'', enable ''Infrared Thermal Imaging'', ''Full Spectrum Imaging'', and ''Visual Assistance''!" The names of Chen Fei''s psychic skills sounded much like technological products. However, infrared thermal imaging wasn''t unique to him¡ªother supernatural power users also had similar visual abilities, so to others, his skill names were just a systematic way of classifying them, or in less flattering terms, he was bad at naming but nobody ever considered that there might truly exist a system. Emmmm... There might be more than one system, especially if you count the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" as one. Blinking, the world in front of Chen Fei transformed entirely. He arrived at the training ground. The man who shouted "Report" emitted a distinct glow compared to the others, particularly at his chest, where the thermal imaging seemed to conceal something. In fact, the glow emitted by each person was generally similar, unless in the case of illness or some other abnormal state, which would cause distinctly different changes. "Hmm! It''s an Alien Race member!" Princess Lin Ziyu suddenly groaned, stepping back and turning pale. Her spiritual power had suffered a strong backlash; when a Magician''s Curse Magic is countered, the backlash damage far exceeds that of a Mage''s failed spell casting. "What''s wrong?" The gang member who had been found to be acting unusually still played dumb. "Stand still, maintain your current posture, and don''t move." Countless tiny geometric constructed parts surged from Chen Fei''s body, assembling quickly and ultimately evolving into the especially defense-enhanced "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. The weapon "Blood Spike" inherited from the Neanderthal tribe elder Barut was ready in hand¡ªthere were others around, so Cold Weapons were the first choice. There was no need to worry about technique; a direct stab would finish it. Silver glints of War Patterns lit up on the surface of the Single Soldier Tactical Armor that was almost one with him. The Secret Technique of the Neanderthal tribe, now at Chen Fei''s disposal, seemed to have undergone a completely different transformation. "Chiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu flapped its small wings and landed on Chen Fei''s shoulder, with the shoulder-mounted "Biological Chirp Light Cannon" loaded in place, looking fierce. "I... really, I''ve exposed myself again!" The expression of the gang member, discovered by both Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu, changed drastically from confusion to innocence, then to helplessness. "Interesting!" Chen Fei muttered to himself, threw over a pair of Alloy Shackles, and then said, "Handcuff yourself, don''t make any unnecessary movements, otherwise..." The man''s figure suddenly blurred, shot past the Alloy Shackles, hands spread with claws lunging towards Shen Fei. Picking on the weak was always the strategy, and the softest target on the scene was the ordinary Shen Fei. "Looking for death!" In the depths of Chen Fei''s pitch-black pupils, a faint, fine gold light emerged. He was ready to burst into action when the "Chiu Light Cannon" on his shoulder fired. The tiny beak opened slightly, and a pale green laser beam shot out, directly piercing through the body of the person who had charged at them. But before it reached further, it disappeared into thin air, only to reappear from an unbelievably different angle and pierce the body again, vanishing and reappearing several times. It was as if there were more than a dozen mirrors surrounding the victim, refracting the laser beam back and forth through the body until the energy was exhausted and it could not penetrate any further. Thud! The gang member didn''t even make it within three meters of Shen Fei before dropping to the ground, as if suffering from a punishment of thorns, with not just the joints but even the internal organs completely pierced by the laser beam. Nevertheless, Xiao Jiu still spared the person''s life. Of course, it might have been that it simply didn''t hit any vital organs, after all, there was only one laser beam, and it didn''t aim straight for the head. "''Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction'', well done, Xiao Jiu!" Princess Lin Ziyu couldn''t help but cheer for the little bird. That move was truly beautiful. A single laser beam, refracting repeatedly, caused multiple damages, essentially unleashing all its destructive power directly onto the target, reaching the peak of attack power and efficiency. Light-element Magical Beasts aren''t known for their offensive spells at low to mid Human Order, but this little Pure Light Sparrow was exceptionally gifted. Laser is not a spell, but it is inherently light, and very pure light at that. Xiao Jiu''s comprehension was surprising, having grasped the essence of lasers. What was even more unexpected was that the Fifth Rank Light-based Spell "Light and Shadow Refraction" and its advanced form "Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction" could amplify the effects on the laser, specifically, the multiple damages caused by repeated refraction. "It''s no use, you all... you won''t escape!" The gang member who couldn''t move on the ground was spitting blood and struggling desperately. Chen Fei didn''t bother with pleasantries, tossing another pair of alloy shackles that landed on the person, automatically locking around the limbs through the use of Psi Skills, putting them in a restrained position. As for their wounds, Chen Fei didn''t even think about having Xiao Jiu cast a "Light Healing Technique." It was likely another Parasitic Host, anyway they would have to dissect and examine, so why expend the extra effort. Once someone was parasitized, Chen Fei no longer treated them as human. He cut to the chase and asked, "Let me guess? You''re a parasitic spawn, right? Hmm, maybe the Royal Breed itself is nearby, isn''t it?" He had made a shocking statement, deducing incredible clues from minor details. The dissection of those four Parasitic Hosts by the Ground Portal Management Substation had yielded an analysis report that revealed important information, allowing Chen Fei to connect a series of key information with one another, leading to an even greater discovery. It might have been an unconfirmed speculation, but it was very close to the truth. "What else do you know? How much do you know?" Lucky that his hands and feet were shackled, even though multiple parts of the body had been penetrated by the laser and the injuries were not light, the man still struggled fiercely with a vicious expression, demanding answers. It was clear that Chen Fei had touched on some secret of his, and it was a big one at that. "Chen Fei, you''re right!" At that moment, even Princess Lin Ziyu finally caught on. She had taken a magic potion, and her complexion had improved a great deal. Shen Fei decisively hid behind Chen Fei and asked, "What are you two talking about?" Among the three, she was the only ordinary person; incapable of fighting or taking a hit, naturally, her boyfriend should protect her. Shen Fei had arrived on the rooftop last and hadn''t heard the report Chen Fei gave to Louis Landon, so the information she had was still limited to what was known before. "Um..." Chen Fei looked at Princess Lin Ziyu with an inquisitive glance, uncertain whether he should tell Teacher Shen Fei. Understanding the meaning in his gaze, the Princess thought for a moment and then said, "Tell her. Because no one can remain uninvolved." According to the prophecy by Louis Landon, the CEO of Louis Industries, the extraterrestrial Parasitic Species "Sagali" would destroy the civilization of Blue Star and possibly Cangqiong Star as well. So as a member of humankind, even if one couldn''t escape the inevitable, one should not die ignorant and confused. Princess Lin Ziyu took a deep breath and said, "He has been parasitized by a Mutated Parasitic Spawn from the Ninth Rank branch of ''Xionees,'' the Royal Breed of the extraterrestrial ''Sagali'' race. This time, our enemy is the mortal enemy of Cangqiong Star." "Royal Breed" is the classification given by Cangqiong Star Civilization, and "Xionees" is the self-proclaimed name of the "Sagali" tribe. Although different, it''s just a translation issue; the actual rank is the same. "Extraterrestrial Races?" Shen Fei, standing behind Chen Fei, couldn''t help but widen her eyes and look at the Parasitic Host struggling on the ground. The Princess''s words completely tore off the last layer of the enemy''s disguise. Chapter 681 681: Section 676 - Casting the Net "Look, he''s starting to lose it!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, his hand moved, and "Blood Spike" was stabbed right near the gang member''s neck who had become a parasitic host, almost grazing the skin. Even as a parasitic host, his movements involuntarily hesitated, and a flicker of fear flashed through his emotionless eyes. The parasitic spawn is part of the main body, and everything sensed by the spawn is also felt by the main body. When "Blood Spike" almost brushed against the host''s neck, the overwhelming killing intent made the main body of the Royal Breed, hidden somewhere, shiver violently¡ªit was as if the sharp cold weapon was placed right beside its vital spot. In the distance, many bewildered gang members were looking over, not understanding why their companion was attacking Shen Fei and the other two, and why those three had subdued their companion on the ground, no one knew what was really happening. "I think, there might still be hidden dangers!" Princess Lin Ziyu, not caring about the backlash she had just suffered from curse magic, switched out the alchemical artifact in her hand and once again started chanting incantations, continuously making strange hand gestures. "Mind Curse Lock, seal!" With a soft shout, invisible fluctuations immediately surrounded the parasitic host, sinking into the person''s body like harsh shackles. "Ah!" A sharp, miserable scream erupted, then abruptly stopped. As if he had lost half his three souls and seven spirits, his gaze became vacant and dull, and he no longer struggled. Unlike common elemental magic, a magician''s curse magic is mysterious and difficult to unravel, often entangling one for life, and some forbidden techniques can even penetrate into the bloodline, being passed down from generation to generation. "Hah!" Princess Lin Ziyu took a deep breath, facing the puzzled looks from Chen Fei and Shen Fei, and took the initiative to explain, "I used curse magic to sever the connection between this parasitic spawn and the main body; they can no longer get any information about us." Unlike Chen and Shen, who were ordinary civilians, the Slan Royal Family had access to more secrets, especially regarding the knowledge of the Royal Breed "Xionees," including the abilities and characteristics of the Ninth Rank branches. Her Royal Highness the Princess was not clueless. The new leader of the "Hundred-Legs Gang," previously one of the Eight King Kongs, "Mute" Kano, cautiously approached, timidly asking, "Please, what did Mody do wrong?" Mody was the gang member lying on the ground, unconscious with his hands and feet bound behind him. Previously, it was he who had been specifically responsible for liaising with other gang members outside the hotel and purchasing various materials to replenish the hotel''s daily consumption; it was unknown when he had been parasitized by the mutated parasitic spawn of "Sagali." Thus, Chen Fei speculated that the main body of the Royal Breed that was ''spreading'' parasitic spawns might be in South Capital City District, perhaps even near the hotel, playing a theatrical trick right under their noses. Facing Kano''s trembling inquiry, Chen Fei didn''t beat around the bush and said bluntly, "He''s dead, long dead!" "What?" Kano stepped back in fear. Just fine moments ago, how could he suddenly be dead? Yet, he couldn''t find any reason to explain why Chen Fei and Lin Ziyu would casually kill someone. It made no sense! Kano, filled with doubt, looked at Mody lying on the ground in the same four-limbed, face-down position but was surprised to find that although the man''s eyes were tightly closed, his chest was slowly rising and falling¡ªhe was clearly breathing and not dead at all. But Chen Fei insisted that Mody was dead. What was going on? "He, he''s still alive!" Kano pointed at Mody lying on the ground with his limbs pinned down. Seeing that the man still hadn''t caught on, Chen Fei added an explanation, "He''s been parasitized by another Intelligent Species. His original consciousness has been erased, leaving only a walking corpse. Understand?" The Ground Portal Gate Management Substation on the outskirts of South Capital City organized a remarkable team that consecutively dissected four parasitic hosts that Chen Fei had brought back. The results were consistent: all attempts to awaken the original consciousness failed, which meant, just as the bigwig Louis Landon had said, the host''s consciousness died on the spot when parasitized, beyond saving. Thus, in Chen Fei''s eyes, these parasitic hosts were nearly no different from dead people. "What? What Intelligent Species? Is there such a horrific Intelligent Species?" Kano scoured his limited knowledge of Cangqiong Star, but could never find an Intelligent Species that could parasitize the Human Race. "The Extraterrestrial Races that began invading Cangqiong Star ten thousand years ago, ''Sagali''!" Princess Lin Ziyu couldn''t bear to see the gang member still in the fog, clueless about the situation. "''Sagali''!!!" Kano''s voice was like that of a rooster being choked, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. Unexpectedly, he had heard this name before. Although the royal family of Cangqiong Star and the sovereigns of Blue Star alike had gradually erased this terrifying intelligent species from the public eye, leaving only some ambiguous phrases, the folklore still passed on, or recorded this long-standing calamity in their own way. "Now you understand who our real enemy is, right? It''s not the rebels, but the parasitic species." Chen Fei patted Kano''s shoulder, who was still visibly shaken. The rebel army was an internal affair of Cangqiong Star, a headache for the Slan Royal Family, not for him, an unrelated Blue Star person. "Yes, yes, yes!" At this moment, Kano''s mind was buzzing; he was just a gangster, how did he end up crossing paths with the fatal extraterrestrial races. Mody, the bastard, had been too careless to be parasitized by "Sagali"; now it was unclear who would be the next unlucky one to be parasitized. "So... Kano, do you still want to join us?" Teacher Shen Fei''s words were quite sophisticated, seemingly considering for the other party but actually setting a trap, forcing a commitment to a specific choice. However, this method was ineffective on a straightforward boy, and could easily backfire. Kano was startled and finally came to his senses, slapping his chest loudly, "Of course, our ''Hundred-Legs Gang'' and the extraterrestrial race ''Sagali'' are sworn enemies!" This guy was not much smarter than the students taught by Teacher Shen at Patan Elementary School, but he knew the score, and his response was quite on point. A mere gang daring to challenge the extraterrestrial races dreaded by all living beings on Cangqiong Star, it was beyond what one might expect; Kano''s words seemed bold but actually amounted to self-aggrandizement for himself and the "Hundred-Legs Gang." "First, take care of yourself and don''t make trouble for us!" Chen Fei truly had little hope for these gang members and was not optimistic at all. Even the "Strong Men Team" had almost been trapped in Jiaming Town, which had been overtaken by mass parasitism; this bunch of societal dregs probably had a tough time even surviving. He thought for a moment and said, "Kano, I have a task for you. Try to collect as many portable infrared thermal imaging devices as you can, in large quantities and standardized specifications." Using infrared thermal imaging to identify parasitized hosts was fairly feasible. Although it was possible to obtain professional infrared thermal imaging equipment from Blue Star through the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, Chen Fei was too lazy to run back and forth; on the other hand, he also planned to test the abilities of these gang members. Snakes have snake paths, rats have rat paths; local snakes always have some abilities. "No problem! I''ll do it immediately!" Kano slapped his chest. The core members of the "Hundred-Legs Gang" were all receiving training at the upscale business hotel, but there were still many minions outside obeying the commands of the core members. After the sudden silencing of the original gang leader, the gang showed signs of disintegration due to lack of leadership; however, with the supported "Mute" Kano officially taking over and gaining the strong support of the other core members, the entire "Hundred-Legs Sect" seemed to have regained its status as the number one underground gang in South Capital City. The territories and businesses that had been snatched away were returned. A local snake, extremely familiar with the local area, was fully mobilized and within less than two hours, brought Chen Fei the information he wanted. There happened to be an electronics product dealer who had purchased a batch of head-mounted infrared thermal imaging goggles, intending to sell them to nature enthusiasts. They hadn''t been distributed yet when the war broke out, and these goggles were still perfectly packaged in a warehouse, numbering around five thousand, exactly meeting Chen Fei''s requirements. The subsequent actions became much easier; Princess Lin Ziyu took care of the payment, and Chen Fei made a trip to the warehouse of this electronics product dealer and collected all five thousand infrared thermal imaging goggles, then started an unpacking and packaging assembly line operation. Chen Fei''s psi skill, "Universal Data Transceiver," was busy, prodded five thousand times, updating all the firmware developed specifically for these electronic goggles by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." These infrared thermal imaging goggles, loaded with a new recognition algorithm module, were specifically for identifying parasitized individuals. Mutated parasitic offspring are ultimately foreign entities; once parasitism is successful, it disrupts the original human body''s infrared thermal imaging spectrum, resulting in abnormal imaging. Besides the recently destroyed Jiaming Town, parasitic hosts had now been found among the core members of the "Hundred-Legs Gang." Although it was unknown where the dividing parasitic spawn''s royal breed body was hiding and how many people in the surrounding area of South Capital City had been parasitized. Chen Fei did not want to passively engage in encounters with the parasitic species; rather, he hoped to take the initiative. The gang members familiar with the South Capital City environment were neither cunning nor capable of fighting (compared to the ''Strong Men Team''), but they had sheer audacity, which made them quite suitable to act as spies. The infrared thermal imaging goggles, refurbished with updated firmware, were distributed to most members of the "Hundred-Legs Gang," who were sent to scout around in search of the parasitic spawn''s body. Each pair of infrared thermal imaging goggles served as one of Chen Fei''s eyes, casting a net across the inner and outer parts of South Capital City. Both Chen Fei and Her Royal Highness the Princess were very fortunate to have recruited this local snake gang at the first opportunity, otherwise, they wouldn''t have had so many available hands to use. Chapter 682 682: Section 677 - Searching for Parasitic Host ``` Chen Fei did not give all the five thousand infrared thermal imaging goggles, which had undergone a firmware update, to the "Hundred-Legs Gang" but kept three hundred of them. Some were distributed to the people in the hotel including the bodyguard team around the boss, adding an extra security checkpoint for entering and exiting the hotel, to prevent the parasitic species from taking advantage of any vulnerability again. After all, there''s a saying that one can''t be a thief every day but also can''t spend every day keeping watch for thieves. Even a tiger needs its nap, and even an ironclad man can''t always be in a state of high alert. The remaining four thousand seven hundred infrared thermal imaging goggles, along with the operational funds acquired from the big shot Louis Landon, were finally given to the gang members. It''s not ethical to freeload off someone else''s labor. Although the gang members are headstrong and lawless, as long as enough money is offered, they''ll risk their lives to get the job done, which is exactly what Chen Fei wanted. He needed people who could work and didn''t care whether they were riffraff or hoodlums, as long as they weren''t the type to take money without doing the work, the kind even the Black Community wouldn''t accept. A sum of money equivalent to Chen Xiao''er''s entire fortune was just pocket change for the big shot, and Chen Fei didn''t even think to skim a little off the top, maybe a meaningless cost that wouldn''t fit with the principles of economics. Nearly five thousand pairs of goggles with infrared thermal imaging functionality and special recognition capabilities began to roam within and outside Nandu City, a much better strategy than one person fighting alone, aimlessly bumping around like a headless fly. Chen Fei didn''t return to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation but stayed in the upscale business hotel waiting for news on the progress of the "Hundred-Legs Gang." On one hand, he found it too troublesome to run back and forth, as there would be fights, big and small, both going to and returning from the place. On the other hand, the war in Nandu City had reached a stalemate. In the end, the Rebel Army had no way to take the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Not only had they failed to make any progress in their prolonged assault, they''d even suffered the loss of four Main Force Lightwing Ships (downed) plus a mature Metallic Giant Dragon (driven off), with countless losses of ground forces. Having failed to seize victory in one fell swoop, the situation had once again changed, and there was no longer much value in continuing the attack, either from the strategic significance to the overall war on the Zilu Continent or the tactical implications for Nandu City itself. Continuing would only lead to more casualties and material losses. The limited military strength of the Rebel Army had as its primary strategic goal the swift defeat of the Dynasty Army forces across the entire continent, quickly achieving control over Zilu''s civil administration, military, and economy, and fully unleashing its war potential. Only thus could they acquire the means to contend with the Silan Dynasty''s rebellion-suppression forces. Otherwise, all their previous achievements would be wasted, and the great cause would be difficult to accomplish. In fact, the Rebel Army of the Zilu Continent was following the old path of the Silan Dynasty, aiming for global conquest starting with the continental base. They couldn''t afford to remain fixated on the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City. It was precisely because the Rebel Army in Nandu City was surrounding but not attacking the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation and because of their passive combat stance that the Defensive Command Center had approved Chen Fei''s request to return to the upscale business hotel. The brief interlude without warfare was just the right time to deal with the parasitic "Sagali" species. Between fighting the Rebel Army and dealing with extraterrestrial races, and still sparing time to continue searching for the key members of the "Water Bear" organization, Chen Fei was extraordinarily busy. Fortunately, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" excelled at handling such parallel tasks, arranging Chen Fei''s limited time neatly, allowing for efficient management of various matters. Otherwise, without this help, he would be overwhelmed and half as effective unless Zhuge Liang were reborn. On the first day that the infrared thermal imaging goggles were distributed, Chen Fei did not receive any useful intelligence. Although there were many suspicious pieces of information, most were chaotic false alarms. After all, not only were there still some detail issues with the distinction calculation model, but the infrared thermal imaging hardware modules were also civilian-grade and not particularly precise. Perhaps it was not only a temporary failure to discover new parasitic hosts but also an inability to locate the elusive Royal Breed itself, all linked to the Rebel Army''s continued radio communications jamming. Information transmission efficiency had been reduced to the minimum, relying only on wired networks and manpower to deliver the latest intelligence to the upscale business hotel. It was not as easy as before the rebellion, when a phone call could effortlessly connect to any location on Cangqiong Star, or even Blue Star. However, Chen Fei was still able to establish a temporary laser communication channel using multiple drones, with a maximum range of about 80 kilometers. The Rebel Army''s no-fly zone capabilities beyond the Dimensional Gate Management Substation were insufficient, allowing his drones to often operate unimpeded. Of course, the Rebel Army''s lack of air supremacy was partly due to Chen Fei himself. In a sense, the air control over the entire area of Nandu City was almost entirely in Chen Xiao''er''s hands. Besides being used to set up laser communication relays, most of Chen Fei''s drones were tasked with verifying the various pieces of information relayed by the "Hundred-Legs Gang." These were Chen Fei''s true "eyes." The reconnaissance equipment carried by the drones, both in functionality and resolution, far exceeded the civilian infrared thermal imaging goggles and could easily identify the location of parasitic species within human bodies from 5 kilometers away. So far, nearly all mutated parasitic spawns had taken residence in the chest or abdominal region of human hosts. After all, human bodies are only so large, with limited chest and abdominal space, hardly suitable for extraterrestrial race parasitism; humans are typically regarded as food for other hosts. That is why it''s rare for the Royal Breed to choose evolution into the Ninth Rank branch "Fission Mutation." The "Hundred-Legs Gang" members, now equipped with infrared thermal imaging goggles and wandering in and out of Nandu City, kept scanning people and reporting any suspicious individuals they identified. Meanwhile, they knew nothing else¡ªafter all, having been paid, they just carried out their tasks without asking too many questions, in line with Jianghu''s rules. In fact, it''s better for them not to know the truth¡ªthe more they know, the closer they are to danger. Other gangs, witnessing the whole "Hundred-Legs Gang" behave in such a strange manner, with everyone donning the goggles, were alarmed and confused, thinking these were some kind of secret weapons, and avoided them like the plague. "Fucking hell," those "Hundred-Legs Gang" bastards actually dared to pursue relentlessly. How-Dare-Fuck-You! Honestly, the other gangs were panicking too! They didn''t want to mess with a bunch of lunatics who were seemingly on the wrong meds, especially since if you don''t kill a madman on the spot, the madman can kill you without facing jail time. ``` The following afternoon, the drones flying chaotically everywhere finally confirmed a parasitic host. Even Chen Fei had not anticipated that the "Hundred Legs Sect" core host they had just caught was not an isolated case. Apart from Jiaming Town, which was 150 kilometers away and entirely infested with parasites, the Royal Breed''s original body had also infiltrated the district of Nandu City. This was not good news. If left unaddressed, the number of hosts for the mutated parasitic spawn would increase exponentially until the situation spiraled out of control. Armed with the complete complement of 12 combat mechs supplied by the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, they set out once again fully equipped. Although they did not locate the Royal Breed''s original body, with cases like these mutated parasitic spawn, they had to eliminate each one they discovered. They couldn''t afford to look the other way, a mandate repeatedly emphasized by the bigwig, Louis Landon. Louis Landon''s hatred for the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" was almost bone-deep. For any operation against the parasitic species, he was ready to provide money, people, and equipment. He didn''t even skimp on the "Dragon Slayer Missile," a tactical-level weapon that was clearly restricted. That being said, the channels through which Chen Xiao''er obtained the "Dragon Slayer Missiles" were indeed numerous. If others were willing to give, he was certainly willing to use them. The newly discovered parasitic host was a male warehouse manager at a large logistics hub in the suburbs. He had a wife and children, and his family appeared to be living harmoniously, with no one around them noticing anything amiss. Perhaps due to being not far from the original body or possibly receiving more attention from it, this parasitic host''s autonomy was quite active. To put it accurately, he was quite the actor, the deception impeccable. The family was sitting at the dinner table, sharing a carefully prepared meal. The war had caused some disruption in the flow of resources, but being close to the logistics center had its perks, and the staff benefits were not greatly affected. Amidst laughter and conversation, suddenly, a series of chaotic loud noises erupted as six fully armed combat mechs either crashed through windows or broke down doors and stormed into the dining room. Four of the mechs immediately dragged the wife and her two children into another room, isolating them from the husband. The horrified wife and her children let out piercing screams. "Silence!" The railgun combat rifles were waved around carelessly, and then... "Ah!~" ¡Á3 The screams persisted. The man who had been posing as the warehouse manager at the logistics center showed neither surprise nor panic on his face, as if unrelated to him, and said in a detached voice, "How did you find me?" "Of course, we ''saw'' you. Stop wasting words, surrender or resist, choose one!" The drone relayed Chen Fei''s voice to the scene. However, before he had finished speaking, the two mechs watching the parasitic host and the other two that emerged from the room unexpectedly took action simultaneously. Bang bang bang bang! Capture nets came flying from different directions, enveloping most of the space around the parasitic host. If they could capture alive, they would, if not, they would kill on the spot. Whoosh! The dining table, laden with dishes, was overturned, sending dishes and soup towards the approaching capture nets. The parasitic host didn''t hesitate to choose resistance, and clearly, the parasitic spawn hidden within his torso had underestimated Chen Fei''s credibility. Eradicating the extraterrestrial threat "Sagali" that endangered the people of Cangqiong was everyone''s responsibility¡ªforget about the code of Jianghu. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was even more clueless about what Jianghu rules meant; if it could act, it would never chitchat. The entire flying dining table knocked the capture nets aside, but at that moment, several thin needles trailing long wires shot forward, embedding into the parasitic host. The parasitic host staggered slightly, followed by the sound of rapid crackling. His body trembled violently, affecting even the parasitic spawn within him. One of the results of the dissection experiments by the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation revealed that electric shocks had a special effect on parasitic hosts. High-frequency, high-voltage pulse shocks that could cause muscle rigidity might even instantly kill the parasitic spawn. Chapter 683 683: Section 678 - Human Tragedy ``` Having dodged the capture net but not the electric shock needle, the parasitic host twitched violently and collapsed to the ground, only to be promptly pinned down by the combat mech, its limbs twisted backwards and tightly locked into place. Though it wasn''t a pretty sight, this method could effectively restrain the host. Even if they struggled forcefully, it would only result in dislocated joints. The combat mech came equipped with an array of gear, ensuring that even if the parasite dodged the electric shock needles again, there would be other weapons waiting for it, escalating to lethal arms if necessary. Chen Fei issued a new command to the combat mech. "Bring his family members forward for a final farewell," he said. The original consciousness of the male host had been eradicated by the "Sagali", beyond recovery. What remained was merely a lifeless shell, no matter how convincingly it played the part, it simply wasn''t the same person anymore. "Please, I beg you, don''t kill my child," the distraught wife pleaded, protecting her children like a mother hen, though she herself had already come to terms with the reality. "I am very sorry to have frightened you, but your husband is dead. He has been parasitized by an extraterrestrial race. What stands before you now is nothing more than a shell controlled by the parasite," the combat mech explained with an emotional capacity similar to that of "Adam" ¨C its succinctness could hardly be exaggerated. The woman''s face filled with horror as she looked from the mech to her husband, her expression gradually turning blank as if she couldn''t quite grasp the words relayed by the combat mech from Chen Fei. "Daddy! Let my daddy go!" "Daddy, I want my daddy!" The boy and girl wailed for their father. "Don''t you understand? He is no longer the person you knew. Ulysses has long since died. The individual before you is his killer," the combat mech conveyed, while pointing the barrel of its railgun combat rifle at the chest of the parasitic host, where the parasitic spawn resided. Ulysses was the name of the male host. The mutated parasitic spawn had no name, and as for the name of the original host, perhaps only the heavens knew it. "It can''t be, it just can''t be!" the woman kept shaking her head in denial. Realizing it was cornered and unable to escape, the mutated parasitic spawn stopped pretending and, devoid of any emotional tone, stated, "This place will become a feeding ground for the ''Sagali'' clan, and you will all become food!" The woman''s complexion paled, and in a mix of defiance and disbelief, she yelled at the host pinned down with its limbs locked, "Ulysses! Ulysses! What are you talking about? It''s me!" "Food. He is long dead!" the parasitic spawn admitted without hiding the fact, abandoning the struggle as its most powerful trump card, the mental shock attack, was utterly ineffective against mechanical beings. For over a hundred thousand years, the humans of Cangqiong Star had been viewed as mere food by the extraterrestrial "Sagali" clan, not even worthy of being hosts for parasitism. The woman''s face froze, then contorted with disbelief. But she heard loud and clear what her "own man" had said, which was nothing Ulysses would ever utter¡ªleaving only one possibility... The woman instantly turned ashen, while her children, oblivious to the situation, kept calling for their father. "I am very sorry. Please take comfort," Chen Fei said, his emotions complex as he spoke. "Now I will take him away; if you want his ashes afterward." To apprehend someone''s husband, reduce him to ashes, and then inquire if the family wanted the remains was certainly odd to say and hear. Chen Fei could somewhat understand the hatred that Louis Landon, a survivor of a past tragedy, bore against the parasitic species. Just moments ago, the family was happily dining together; the next moment, the pillar of the household was lost, the once whole family shattered. For most people, such a blow would be unbearable. "Can Ulysses be saved? He''s clearly still alive! Alive!" the wife clung to a sliver of hope, believing that if her husband''s body was still alive, there might still be a chance to save him. "I''m sorry, he is already dead. But your children still need you," Chen Fei left these words behind as he commanded the combat mechs to drag away the now resigned parasitic host. The parasitic species was somewhat akin to an artificial intelligence AI, coldly rational to the point of cruelty. Once it recognized the futility of resistance, it would readily abandon any meaningless struggle and accept its fate. The death of a mutated parasitic spawn posed no threat to the royal breed''s original form. Thus, often times, they were not just pawns but also expendable pieces. Yet, repeated losses would still affect the original form, as it''s not just time and energy that were lost, but also spiritual power, and of course, nutrition would be insufficient. No sooner had they evacuated than a drone confirmed another parasitic host. Twelve combat mechs, driving their mobile-base vehicle, hurried off to the next operation site. Yet another human tragedy of life and death separated by a thread. But if the spread of extraterrestrial races to more hosts wasn''t promptly curbed, tragedies like this would only multiply. In less than 24 hours, the mobile-base vehicle operating in the field had detained over a dozen parasitic hosts, having searched almost the entire main urban area of Nandu City, ``` More than four thousand Infrared Thermal Imaging goggles roamed everywhere, observing millions of people each day. With such a vast screening capacity, some small fries were naturally exposed. "They''re all mutated parasitic spawns, of no use." Chen Fei reviewed the bodies and finally shook his head, dismissing them. Even if he eliminated these spawns, the Royal Breed host would keep spawning more, making this hunt merely treating the symptoms, not the cause. He handed over the captured parasitic hosts to the bodyguard team of big shot Louis Landon, trying various methods in the attempt to locate the Royal Breed''s host. "Not necessarily!" Princess Lin Ziyu handed a paper map to Chen Fei. It was a tourist map, on which Her Royal Highness had marked a series of red dots, with interconnected lines crisscrossing between them. "What is... this?" Chen Fei, puzzled, looked at the map. However, he quickly realized that these red dots were all the locations where parasitic hosts had been captured. Before he could figure it out, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" suddenly established a visual window. Using shared vision, "Adam" captured Princess Lin Ziyu''s tourist map and then added to the manually marked dots and lines, introducing numerous additional points and lines, eventually sketching out several colored areas. Artificial intelligence AI tends to head straight to the heart of the matter more often than humans do. "Hmm? Could this be the hiding place of the Royal Breed host?" Chen Fei''s words were not only directed at "Adam" but also a question to Lin Ziyu. Adam: Red area probability 11%, yellow area probability 9%, green area probability 8%, blue area probability 1% Even though the highest probability did not exceed 15%, a one in a thousand chance was still worth taking a look. Princess Lin Ziyu confidently said, "That''s right! Based on the statistical analysis inferred from the capture locations, it may be helpful. But it''s best to try regardless." While Chen Fei was busy remotely controlling a squad of Combat Mechs to capture parasitic hosts, she took the opportunity to do some special work. Now it seemed that her efforts had paid off. Chen Fei said admiringly, "Impressive!" "Adam" couldn''t have anticipated this move; it could only further build upon human achievements. Without external commands, it had no ability to start from scratch. Neither "Adam" nor another AI "Cybertrom" had the capacity for independent creation; instead, they were more competent in continuous optimization. "Even though I have the disguise of an investigative agent, I have mastered all the necessary skills." Princess Lin Ziyu, doubling as Agent Yu Zilin, was not merely for show. Once in action, she was a genuine Investigative Agent of the Imperial Security Department, with no flaws to speak of. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. As a member of the Imperial Family, she certainly had to access and learn much more than the average person. "You are incredible, Plus!" Chen Fei raised a thumb without hesitation; he didn''t have such capability. When it came to the technical details of this field, aside from relying on Her Royal Highness, he could only count on Boss Hana, who possessed nearly the same ability. Chen Fei was not inept at thinking, but the professional arena had too many intricacies, and no one could cover every base. "You need to be careful. The opponent is the Cangqiong Star''s archenemy, the Extraterrestrial Races. Even with the support of Louis Industries, the Royal Breed is on par with the Heavenly Order and is not something you, a mere Class B supernatural power user, can handle head-on. Also, I apologize, but apart from myself, the Slan Dynasty can''t help you for now." With merely 12 Combat Mechs striking everywhere, Princess Lin Ziyu wasn''t too worried. Like the mutated parasitic spawns, the Mechanical Beings immune to Mental Shock were also pawns and expendables. They could sustain a war of attrition since the financially robust Louis Industries was footing the bill. However, the great army of the Slan Dynasty was currently tied up by the rebels on Zhai Liuzhou Continent. With the emergence of this threat in Zhai Liuzhou Continent, it had become necessary to beef up military and intelligence oversight on other continents to prevent more ambitious individuals from seizing the opportunity to stage uprisings, leading to rebellions erupting everywhere. To secure the outside, one must first stabilize the inside. Until the rebellion in Zhai Liuzhou Continent was completely suppressed, the military forces of the Slan Dynasty could not assist Chen Fei. "Thank you!" Chen Fei smiled, then changed his tone and said, "But don''t worry, the rebels will help me too!" "Eh?" Her Royal Highness blinked, seemingly unable to digest Chen Fei''s remark. He had just beaten the brains out of the rebels; the two sides had incurred deep hatred. Now, to expect the rebels to help him without holding grudges seemed impossible, like not just dog brains but perhaps even pig brains were blown out. "The rebels are also food for the Extraterrestrial Races. Once ''Sagali'' gains momentum, no one can escape. These Parasitic Species are the real enemy of everyone." Uniting all forces that can be united, that sort of cooperative, united front is Chen Fei''s ancestral craft inherent in his Sovereignty¡ªa Natural Talent Ability embedded deep in his bones, requiring no learning. Chapter 684 684: Section 679 - Little Sister Chens Boyfriend ``` "How could the Rebel Army possibly listen to you?" Princess Lin Ziyu still expressed disbelief. These rebels didn''t even listen to the Silan Dynasty, let alone some unrelated Blue Star commoner. Chen Fei''s statement was like considering himself the big fish in the pond, thinking that with the Mechanical Dragon under his command, he could easily bonk the Rebel Army on the head. In fact, it was because the Rebel Army hadn''t been taking him seriously. Once they dispatched their high-end forces, who would end up getting bonked on the head was still up in the air! Chen Fei deliberately lowered his voice and said, "I have acquaintances in the Rebel Army!" When he said this, he did not forget to look around, afraid of being overheard. Although even if someone overheard, it wouldn''t be a big deal, but the speaker was unintentional and the listener intentional, and unexpected problems could arise. "Huh? Acquaintances?" Princess Lin Ziyu''s eyes widened in disbelief. This guy was clearly a genuine Blue Star person, but his connections were outrageously wild, even knowing people inside the Rebel Army. If it weren''t for Chen Fei who had beaten the Rebel Army black and blue, had someone else heard his words, they might very well push him out to be beheaded as an example. Just the mere association with the Rebel Army was enough to warrant death. But the person who heard it was the Imperial Princess of the Silan Dynasty, eh! No problem, all clear, everyone go home and cook. Chen Fei casually said, "It''s a friend I met at the ''Abyssal Gladiatorial''. We ran into each other on the battlefield just the other day, right after I took out his men." "..." Princess Lin Ziyu thought that just for taking out his men alone, they would have turned from friends to mortal enemies. This was a completely unbelievable set of connections; did he misunderstand the word "friends"? As if guessing what Her Royal Highness the Princess was thinking, Chen Fei said nonchalantly, "No problem, no problem. I''ll go find him later and ask for his help." Battling on the battlefield was a matter of stance; there had to be a life-or-death confrontation, and it was unavoidable, no matter who it was, even if they were brothers, they would have to settle it with a fight. Chen Fei could not let the Rebel Army continue to attack the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, and Minante would not allow Chen Fei to continue causing more casualties and destruction for the Righteous Army (Rebel Army). "Can you rely on this friend?" Her Royal Highness the Princess remained skeptical. "It all depends on the hosts we just captured." Chen Fei shifted his gaze, looking at the Parasitic Hosts tied up limb to limb, each confined in a separate cage. The shells of the Human Race, though still alive, were already occupied and could no longer be regarded as members of the Human Race. "It''s still too dangerous!" Princess Lin Ziyu shook her head. She did not recommend that Chen Fei risk his life, gambling on the Rebel Army''s honor and righteousness. It was also a matter of stance; how could the Imperial Princess of the Silan Dynasty trust a group of traitors who sparked this rebellion? "Let''s try it first. If it doesn''t work, we''ll fight our way out." Chen Fei was not a simpleton. Of course, he considered the possibility of the Rebel Army turning on him. But he could summon the Metallic Dragons! Plus the Mechanical Dragon at his disposal, a double dragon attack, even the Heavenly Order would have to weigh its odds carefully. "What should we do with these Parasitic Hosts?" Shen Fei, who had just finished training the core members of the Hundred-Legs Gang, came over. The Hundred-Legs Gang, now once again stabilized as the top gang in Nandu City, had additionality gained a behind-the-scenes female godmother, no, to be precise, a female teacher, which was a fitting title. When those gang members learned that Shen Fei was originally an elementary school teacher, they all respectfully called her Teacher Shen, turning the once fearsome Black Community into a docile one. Not being docile was not an option. Chen Fei''s backup at the high-end business hotel was not just the Pure Light Sparrow; while Xiao Jiu was with the Princess, behind Shen Fei was the lethal female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan. Once, an ignorant thug tried to flirt with Shen Fei and was instantly crushed into a pulp by a swipe of the dragon''s claw. The others with similar intentions instantly sobered up, scurrying away in a panic, and no more fools dared to appear. "Chen Fei plans to package them and send them to the Rebel Army; he''s preparing to make contact with them." Princess Lin Ziyu turned around, relaying Chen Fei''s plan. "Send them to the Rebel Army? Why give them to them?" Shen Fei was just as puzzled as the Princess had been when she first heard the daring idea. Those rebels were no saints; they not only staged a coup and created chaos but also dared to target the various Blue Star Business Delegations in the high-end business hotel and even attacked the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. This was sheer audacity. "Fighting is one thing, but a consensus must be reached in eradicating the Extraterrestrial Race ''Sagali''; even if no help is offered, there must be no interference or dragging of feet." With Princess Lin Ziyu as her guarantee, Chen Fei wasn''t worried at all on the Silan Dynasty''s side, only the Rebel Army side didn''t quite inspire confidence, and he felt he should make a special trip. Just as he finished speaking, Chen Fei''s phone rang. Thanks to the Psi Skill "Plane Communication System," his communication was unaffected by the Rebel Army''s electromagnetic interference blockade, enabling unrestricted communication. As soon as he returned to the high-end business hotel, everyone who received authorization for their phones simultaneously restored communication with the rest of the Zilu Continent, naturally making various phone calls¡ªeither to report work or to inform friends and family that they were still alive. Princess Lin Ziyu and Shen Fei both looked at Chen Fei. ``` "It''s my sister''s call, huh, she even wants to video call, what does she mean by this?" Chen Fei opened the communication interface on his phone screen with curiosity. The military satellite phone given to him by Boss Hana was durable, feature-rich, steady in operation, and he had never switched to another one. "Brother!" Little Sister Chen''s voice and image came through right away. Chen Fei saw a young man peeking around behind his sister and felt a surge of annoyance¡ªcould it be... "Xiao Meng, what''s up? And who''s that sneaky-looking guy behind you? Should I call the cops on him?" "Ah!" Chen Meng turned around, then quickly gestured to send the young man scurrying away before turning back with an embarrassed yet polite chuckle. "Second Brother, he, well, that''s actually Xiao Liu!" Little Sister Chen had already heard from their mom that her second brother intended to break her boyfriend''s legs, but an ugly boyfriend still needs to meet the brothers, so she mustered the courage to make this call. Only after getting past her second brother would she dare to tell their parents about Liu Mingquan. Chen Meng turned around and began to issue orders arrogantly. "Liu Mingquan, come here, hurry up and greet my second brother properly. Mind your manners, or you''ll lose your head!" This display of sisterly authority, bolstered by false bravado, was a spectacle indeed. Chen Fei himself wasn''t a student at Northern Industrial University, but the campus was rife with his legends. Chen Meng''s boyfriend was also a student at Northern Industrial University, one grade ahead of her. Fate is truly mysterious¡ªsometimes no amount of pleading will summon it, yet sometimes, it arrives unexpectedly, like cinnabar to mung beans, voila, caught your eye! Chen Fei had initially thought his sister''s nai?ve and bubbly nature would prevent her from getting a boyfriend at university¡ªfrankly, even making friends seemed a challenge, or else she wouldn''t have been bullied that much. If not for him stepping in as a brother, she might have suffered a terrible setback. "Se, Second Brother, hello, I''m Liu Mingquan!" The young man who had just appeared on the phone screen nervously edged closer to the camera while rubbing the back of his head. "Louder, my brother didn''t hear you!" Chen Meng pursed her lips in dissatisfaction; her boyfriend''s performance was directly related to her own face. How could such a sticky and hesitant appearance gain the approval of her decisive second brother? Of the three siblings from the Chen family, Chen Meng feared her second brother, Chen Fei, the most¡ªas she did in the past, and even more so now. It was her own fault for having caused the family to owe five million Star Yuan. Her second brother had been forced to leave home to work as a military contractor in a remote area, and now he had become a ruthless killer; when angered, it felt as if the sky was falling. "Second Brother, hello! I am Liu Mingquan!" The young man immediately straightened up, channeling the energy he displayed during military drills, as though reporting to a drill sergeant. "Mm, Xiao Liu, hello, I''m Xiao Meng''s second brother, Chen Fei. Since Xiao Meng approves of you, I won''t say much more. However, I''ll speak frankly¡ªif you dare do anything bad to my sister, especially two-timing her, I''ll annihilate your entire family, not sparing even the chickens and dogs!" The smile on Chen Fei''s face grew colder and colder, so did his tone, and even his pupils unconsciously turned a fragmented golden color, frightening the young man on the other end, who nearly fell onto his bottom. Think about it, any person would be furious on the spot at someone who dared to mess with their sister, with breaking the offender''s legs being the least of their reactions. Chen Xiao''er''s feelings were naturally understandable. Chen Meng hastily interrupted Chen Fei''s threats, saying indignantly, "Second Brother, what nonsense are you talking about!" Despite her respect and fear for her second brother, it didn''t stop her from daring to challenge, a classic case of being bad at things yet still ambitious. Chen Fei''s intimidating fragmented golden pupils quickly reverted to pure black. "Xiao Meng, I''m only looking out for your best interest. If I don''t give this warning, people might think our old Chen family is easy to bully! Take care of yourself, and don''t let anyone take advantage of you easily." For this carefree little sister of his, he, as her brother, really was worried sick. "I''ve got it!" Chen Meng responded coyly and then curiously inspected the screen, saying with interest, "Second Brother, could you introduce the two behind you?" Chen Fei turned his head to see Shen Fei and Lin Ziyu peeking curiously at his phone screen. His recent, openly threatening conversation with his sister''s boyfriend had naturally attracted their attention. "The one on the left is your future second sister-in-law, Shen Fei; the one on the right is the investigative agent from the Silan Dynasty, Yu Zilin." Chen Fei originally wanted to tell the truth that she was the imperial princess, but for safety reasons, he chose to keep it to himself. Chen Meng said teasingly, "Wow, just short of a princess now, aren''t we?" "Bread will be had, and so will princesses!" Princess Lin Ziyu suddenly became playful and waved at Chen Fei''s phone screen. "Wow!" Chen Meng screamed, and the next second, Chen Fei''s phone screen went dark as the video call cut off. Liu Mingquan, completely confused, looked at his girlfriend, wondering what had happened to make her so excited. "Truly amazing, a real battlefield, two-timing, maybe even three-timing; I can''t be bothered with such a brother anymore." Chen Meng redialed; as a sister, she had to tattle to their parents about her brother''s antics. Otherwise, this black-hearted little cotton-padded jacket was going to let the cold in. Chapter 685 685: Section 680 – Persuading Minante Little Sister Chen''s boyfriend, Liu Mingquan, watched in stupefied bewilderment as his girlfriend excitedly tattled on her older brother to their parents, his scalp tingling with unease. Is it really okay to betray her brother like this? This wasn''t the first time for such treachery, it was routine operation for the Chen Family. The eldest, Chen Shi, had married and settled down. ... On the Cangqiong Star side, "Did I say something wrong?" Princess Lin Ziyu looked at Chen Fei and then at Shen Fei in utter confusion, not understanding why Little Sister Chen had such a big reaction. "Never mind her, she always likes to overreact," said Chen Fei, who had no intention of calling back. This annoying little sister deserved a beating someday. Teacher Shen chuckled quietly on the side. The siblings'' interactions were amusing to witness. However, this was also the first time Shen Fei had revealed herself in front of Chen Fei''s family. "Shen Fei, have the Hundred-Legs Gang investigate these areas in secret. I''ll contact the Rebel Army!" Chen Fei took out a pen and began marking suspicious areas on the tourist map provided by Her Royal Highness the Princess, areas that the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had calculated. He couldn''t handle it alone and had to ask for help from the local snakes. Subduing the Hundred-Legs Gang as soon as he arrived in Nandu City had been an incredibly wise move; now they were a big help. Even if he killed a million mutated parasitic spawns, it wouldn''t compare to dealing with a Royal Breed entity. Once the entity died, all its spawns would automatically die at the same time. That was the only way to cure both the symptoms and the disease. Therefore, Chen Fei planned to cut straight to the point and quickly deal with that Royal Breed entity. The extraterrestrial race "Sagali" obviously had more than one Royal Breed, but based on the current intelligence, the Parasitic Species'' invasion had just begun. This entity that chose to evolve into the Ninth Rank was probably just paving the way for a larger invasion to come. "No problem, leave it to me!" Shen Fei had already gained full control over the Hundred-Legs Gang, not only understanding the organization''s structure and operations but also possessing information on every key member. This mastery meant that even without the backing of the female Metallic Dragon Yilan, she could command respect from the gang members. "This way we can proceed simultaneously!" Chen Fei clapped his hands. With the help of Her Royal Highness and Teacher Shen, he could focus on other things. "Be careful, and if anything goes wrong, run immediately, don''t hesitate. Honestly, I still don''t trust those rebels," said Princess Lin Ziyu, who still disapproved of Chen Fei taking risks. After all, he had already made such a big vendetta with the Rebel Army, to the point where a fight to the death was hardly an exaggeration. Yet he dared to negotiate and seek cooperation with them, it was as if he didn''t know the meaning of "death." "You''re going to negotiate with the Rebel Army?" Shen Fei finally understood the audacious feat Chen Fei intended to pull off. "To put it exactly, it should be a united front. If there are smart people in the Rebel Army... well, there should be smart people." Even though the Rebel Army was at a disadvantage in the suburbs of Nandu City, particularly after their hard-headed attempts at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, where they were roughed up, Chen Fei did not think the people commanding the Rebel Army were devoid of courage or strategy. On the contrary, knowing when to cut losses was also a wise move. If the Rebel Army continued to relentlessly attack the Dimensional Gate Management Substation and the high-end business hotel, Chen Fei would have thought less of them. "Isn''t that too dangerous?" Shen Fei expressed the same concern. "Don''t worry. I do this kind of thing all the time. Trust me, I''m a professional," Chen Fei reassured, not boasting. Infiltrating enemy territory was not an uncommon scenario for him. "Still, be cautious and don''t push yourself too hard," said Shen Fei, knowing it would be difficult to persuade Chen Fei. After all, his job was risky by nature, involving frequent combat and killings, almost a daily routine for a military contractor. There were hardly any peaceful days¡ªa life of putting one''s head on the line, with high wages and benefits paid for by risking lives. Even logistics personnel might have to join the fight at any moment¡ªwithout the risks, where would the high pay and benefits come from? "Haha, ordinary light weapons can''t kill me. I''m not that easy to kill," Chen Fei declared with a dose of truth. Even the Dragon Slayer Missile hadn''t managed to kill him outright, proving he was quite lucky. Seeing that Chen Fei had made up his mind, Shen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu looked at each other, no longer trying to dissuade him. After all, a massive invasion by the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" was imminent. No one could afford to remain unaffected. Even if one could hide for a while, it wasn''t certain they could hide forever. If they didn''t fight with all they had now, they might not get another chance in the future. Chen Fei took out his phone and began dialing. The Rebel Army had blocked most of the civilian and military communication channels, and he wasn''t sure if the call would go through. In any case, it was worth a try. The long waiting tone sounded several times as he waited for the connection. ``` "Huh? ''Rookie'', is that you? You''ve got some nerve, still daring to call me!" To Chen Fei''s surprise, the call went through¡ªapparently, the Rebel Army hadn''t blocked their own members'' communication devices¡ªa voice that was both shocked and angry sounded from his phone. "Good afternoon, Minante. Of course, there''s a reason¡ªwhy wouldn''t I be able to make this call?" Yet Chen Fei showed no guilt over just having wiped out some of the guy''s comrades, greeting him as if they were good friends. Minante, seething with anger, said, "What do you want? Are you here to mock me?" He wanted to hang up, but in the end, he restrained his fury and continued to listen. "No, no, no, I don''t have the time to mock you. I wouldn''t be visiting the temple without a cause¡ªI definitely have serious and important matters to discuss!" Chen Fei well understood why the other party was angry. After working hard to serve his motherland and barely getting the "Gale Team" off the ground before it saw action, only to have a buddy knock out half of it¡ªnot even a clay man could avoid losing his temper over that. "Then spit it out, I don''t have much patience!" The blunt Minante was full of suspicion, trying to guess why Chen Fei had called. If it wasn''t to mock him, could it be that he was looking for a scolding? If it really was so, then he''d give him a piece of his mind, blood and all, followed by a challenge¡ªa one-on-one, do-or-die fight. "Ever heard of the Extraterrestrial Races? The Parasitic Species ''Sagali''¡ªthat''s what I''m talking about!" Chen Fei dropped a hint since the amount of information he possessed was too vast to be explained in just a few words. "Huh? What the hell are you talking about? Wasn''t the ''Sagali'' threat from the Extraterrestrial Races resolved over thirty years ago?" As a Cangqiong Star Person, Minante certainly knew about the threats that had loomed over their planet for nearly a hundred thousand years. Unlike Blue Star, where information had been substantially blocked, the Cangqiong Star People had not forgotten. "Seriously, my main job in Nandu City isn''t to fight you Rebels, but to battle the Extraterrestrial Races." Indeed, Chen Fei had not misspoken; he was assisting the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City to prevent those Parasitic Species from sneaking in. Fighting the Rebel Army was only a consequence of them taking the offensive¡ªChen Fei had been forced to respond. Although Louis Landon''s "prophecy" diverged from reality, certain things indeed did happen, like the Rebel Army''s uprising, the attack on the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, and the appearance of the "Sagali" from the Extraterrestrial Races. If even one or two out of ten such threats were real, Chen Fei would spare no effort to eliminate the dangers. If the Parasitic Species were to sweep across both civilizations'' planets, no one would be spared. Whether for his family or for the survival of his race, Chen Fei would not hesitate to risk his own life. "You''re spouting nonsense! Where''s this talk of Extraterrestrial Races coming from? They''ve been extinct for ages, okay? And, we are the Righteous Army, not Rebels! Show some respect, you jerk!" Minante felt that Chen Fei had lost his mind. The spatial rift that loomed over Cangqiong Star''s low orbit had long since vanished, transformed into the "Halo" Dimensional Gate connecting to Blue Star over thirty years ago. It couldn''t possibly link to the space where the Extraterrestrial Races resided anymore. "I have evidence¡ªthey''re back!" Chen Fei''s statement sent chills down Minante''s spine, making his hairs stand on end instantly. "You''re bluffing, don''t try to deceive me!" "I''ve captured live ''Sagali'', not just one, and not long ago, I dropped a ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' on Jiaming Town, 150 kilometers from Nandu City, because its entire population had been infested. Surely you don''t think I''m some Big Devil who kills without batting an eye?" Truth be told, the number of men, women, and children wiped out by the "Dragon Slayer Missile" and self-destructing Combat Mechs in that town wasn''t far off from the number of Rebels Chen Fei had sent off during the battle to defend the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. "You..." Minante was exasperated. The guy who had slaughtered a whole town had the gall to claim he was a good person? Who gave you such audacity!!! Minante desperately wanted to curse him out but couldn''t bring himself to do it and ended up holding his anger, saying, "I don''t believe a word!" The enemy had killed his comrades; their words were naturally untrustworthy. Chen Fei coaxed gently, "Do you want to see the evidence? I can package it and send it to you!" Right, he had no malice¡ªmerely full of goodwill as he... well... kicked his buddy into a ditch. "You want to trick me again! I don''t want your evidence." Minante was almost talked into a corner, with Chen Fei insistent on convincing him that the Extraterrestrial Races from over thirty years ago had re-emerged. "If the ''Sagali'' invade on a large scale, do you think the so-called Rebel Army, or the Righteous Army, and all your friends and family can escape? To these Parasitic Species, the Human Race is no different than pigs, dogs, cows, and sheep¡ªwe''re all just food." Chen Fei then played the family card, a line essential for forming a united front, and it carried significant weight. Humans are social creatures, and as long as they are alive, they can''t escape various social ties. "I..." Finally, Minante began to taste what was being fed to him, as if he had been led into the ditch by the other party. He simply couldn''t refute it. The possibility, of course, hinged on the premise that Chen Fei wasn''t lying. ``` Chapter 686 686: Section 681 - Slaying a Friend "How about now? Will you still refuse? Once you miss this chance, it will be an irrevocable disaster, the apocalypse for the Human Race." Chen Fei again described some apocalyptic scenes talked about by the boss, Louis Landon, as if they were real, which was quite frightening. If it weren''t for the boss''s words, it would be like seeing with one''s own eyes and experiencing it personally. Now he was bent on hunting Parasitic Species and was in a relentless struggle with the "Sagali." Chen Fei absolutely would not allow such tragedies to happen to him¡ªdeath, separation, and devastation. So, he had to fight desperately, no other reasons needed. "I..." Initially filled with rage upon receiving Chen Fei''s call, Minante gradually fell into contemplation. After all, hearing the name of the Extraterrestrial Race "Sagali" again made it feel somewhat unreal. "Time and ''Sagali'' won''t wait for anyone, Minante, I need you to make a decision quickly." Chen Fei finally gave a light kick. "Wait, I need to think it over." Minante eventually hung up the call; he needed to do more than just consider¡ªhe had to report this matter. After all, it concerned the reemergence of the Extraterrestrial Race "Sagali," and he alone couldn''t make this decision. "Done!" Chen Fei put down his phone and met Princess Lin Ziyu''s gaze, which was cast from not too far away. Shen Fei, the gang''s behind-the-scenes leader, went to issue new orders to the Hundred-Legs Gang, while Her Royal Highness the Princess eavesdropped on Chen Fei''s call with the Rebel Army member. "That person you were talking to...can he be trusted?" Princess Lin Ziyu didn''t hide the fact that she had been eavesdropping. "Of course, he can be trusted¡ªso reliable he almost wanted to kill me!" Chen Fei assured with utter certainty. "..." Her Royal Highness, instead, started to worry a bit more. That statement somehow didn''t seem very reliable at all. - Chen Fei''s assurance was, to some extent, trustworthy. An hour later, Minante initiated a call. "''Rookie,'' if you dare to deceive me, I will never let you go, no matter the circumstance." He squeezed out his last bit of trust for Chen Fei. "Time, place, person¡ªI''ll show you the evidence. A special friendly reminder, the evidence is alive and excels in Mental Shock. If unprepared, it might lead to fatalities." Chen Fei laughed. He clearly understood the purpose of the other party''s call. Even the Rebel Army couldn''t truly ignore the presence of "Sagali." The Slan Dynasty wanted the sovereign rule of Zilu Continent. Even if the Rebel Army was defeated, many could still survive, but "Sagali" were ruthlessly slaughtering everyone indiscriminately, leaving no hope for survival. As a Blue Star Person, Chen Fei had no direct conflict of interest with the Rebel Army, hence this opportunity for dialogue arose. "A car will come to pick you up soon. Dare to come?" As Chen Fei had anticipated, Minante on the other side was already prepared. "Dare, of course, dare!" Chen Xiao''er was always bold. He wasn''t worried about the Rebel Army setting a trap to bury him; he was more afraid of the other side refusing to communicate. Communication is half the success, Minante''s call meant that much of what came next was already halfway to success. Two hours later, the sky gradually darkened. The hovering patrol drones spotted two military jeeps and a large truck slowly approaching the upscale business hotel¡ªnot only the drones in the sky but also lookouts and guards from the gang issued alerts at the same time. The Cangqiong Star Civilization''s modern mechanical industrial system had only just started not long ago. Some high-end mechanical products often depended on imports from Blue Star, and military vehicles were almost invariably manufactured by Blue Star. Chen Fei stood alone with a few large cages, waiting at the entrance of the hotel for a long time. The convoy came to a stop, and the first to jump out was the captain of the Gale Team, Minante, who charged at Chen Fei and shouted, "''Rookie,'' you really have some nerve!" Seemingly oblivious to the underlying meaning in the other party''s words, Chen Fei just nodded with a grin. "Thanks for the compliment!" If he were a bit less courageous, he couldn''t have made it in this line of work, let alone survived. The brave triumphs in a perilous encounter, and who are the brave? Of course, those who rely on their boldness and rush forward heatedly¡ªadvantage is mine, object and we fight. "Are these the ''Sagali'' you mentioned?" Minante was not in the mood to spar with Chen Fei, his gaze shifting to the several cages just big enough for one person to sit, not even able to stand up straight inside. Locked inside were clearly members of the Human Race, secured in a way that made it impossible for them to move. The parasitic mutated spawns in the cages had already been abandoned by their originals, the hosts looking too listless to even resist. "Correct!" Chen Fei looked back for a moment, then said, "The ''Sagali'' are parasitic right in the chest area; here''s a dissected sample." Chen Fei took out a transparent jar from a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. A half-foot-tall humanoid creature floated up and down in a viscous transparent liquid. Big Boss Louis Landon personally conducted the surgery, brutally flaying a parasitic host alive. He killed the separated parasite and tossed it into this jar of preservative liquid. Only a big boss who held a deep hatred for the Parasitic Species could perform such a heart-hardened task, hands steady as he ferociously operated. Wearing only nitrile rubber gloves, he forcefully pulled out the mutated parasitic spawn, and its incompletely separated neural antennae looked ragged and miserable. During the dissection, everyone in the business hotel was subjected to a mental shock from the dying mutated parasitic spawn, suffering severe headaches. Louis Landon, not being an ability user, had protection from alchemical artifacts and completely ignored the mental shock. "Hiss!~" Minante couldn''t help but gasp as he looked at the large jar Chen Fei was holding. At first glance, it looked like an unborn human embryo, but the complete human form and neural tendrils made it impossible to associate it with the Human Race. "Is this, is this ''Sagali''?" Although he still had his doubts, seeing the evidence now made Minante believe it almost entirely. There was no reason for the other party to falsify this sort of thing, deceiving him would be meaningless. "To be precise, this is a mutated parasitic spawn, a spawn, not the original body, a parasitic spawn split from the Royal Breed," Chen Fei said while revealing new information that he hadn''t shared over the phone. "What the hell is this?" As a commoner, Minante naturally didn''t know the secrets about the "Sagali" clan which only the Slan Royal Family knew. "A fission mutation of the ninth rank Royal Breed, it''s normal you haven''t heard about it, as this is my first time hearing it as well," Chen Fei explained as he handed over the transparent large jar. Minante quickly caught it but couldn''t help getting goosebumps. He turned around and waved at the soldiers of the Rebel Army on the truck. "Those guys, can you help to load it on the truck? Also, have you prepared protection against mental attacks?" The soldiers of the Rebel Army looked towards Minante, who had temporary command over them. "All set, load it on the truck!" Minante repeated Chen Fei''s command. They had already prepared mental protection. As Cangqiong Star was the origin of alchemical artifacts, they had an abundance of artifacts to resist psychic attacks, and every soldier was equipped with various protective artifacts. Several large iron cages were quickly loaded onto the truck. The truck''s bed was somewhat crowded, and after covering it with a rainproof tarp, nothing could be seen from the outside. Chen Fei and Minante sat in the back seat of one of the jeeps, and the convoy then started moving, leaving the upscale business hotel. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was heavy as if a mountain were pressing down. Even the soldiers in the driver''s and passenger''s seats felt this inexplicable pressure. The entire convoy moved silently, having an unobstructed path since it was within the Rebel Army''s territory. "''Rookie,'' is this how you casually follow the enemy?" Minante''s lips twitched, finally breaking the oppressive silence. "Huh?" Chen Fei was confused. "You killed my men, aren''t you worried at all?" Minante''s anger flared up, and he yelled at Chen Fei. He wished he could shoot him on the spot, but upon remembering that a level B Metal Ability User wouldn''t care about being shot at, the fury immediately subsided. "Worried about what? There''s nothing to worry about!" Chen Fei was genuinely perplexed. Killing his men wasn''t the same as killing him or his family. On the battlefield, life and death were predestined, and survival depended on one''s abilities; he couldn''t understand where Minante''s deep resentment was coming from. "Is this how you always behave? Killing others'' kin, then befriending them? I don''t believe you always do this and still manage to survive!" Chen Fei''s calmness almost made Minante''s nose skew. "That''s right! As a Dragon Slayer, being able to have one, no, a group of Giant Dragon friends is perfectly normal," Chen Fei said as he flashed a thumbs-up, asserting his flamboyant nature. The Metallic Dragons never held grudges like Minante, who seemed ready to attack Chen Fei over every bit just to avenge his kin. "You..." Minante finally remembered the legends surrounding this guy. Starting at the pinnacle, clashing with Giant Dragons, and still surviving¡ªcompared to him, he indeed fell short. His furious expression gradually turned into one of perplexity. He slowly lowered his head and dejectedly said, "I killed Hammu!" "What?" Chen Fei looked incredulously at Minante. Hammu was indeed the original leader of the "Gale Team"; this was a fierce internal struggle within the "Gale Team," where a former team member had killed the previous team leader. That was even more ruthless than what he had done to Minante''s men. No wonder upon seeing him, Minante looked off in both complexion and spirit, and inexplicably lashed out at him. It made sense to be angry, but that anger seemed almost as if Chen Fei had killed his own parents. So, that was the truth! Having personally taken down the person he was closest to, he must''ve been bearing a significant psychological burden! Chapter 687 687: Section 682 - Solicitation The Rebel Army took up arms and caused chaos under the guise of reviving the Tessa Empire. Many locals from Zilu Continent voluntarily sided with the Rebel Army, providing substantial support to a rebellion that swept across the continent and became uncontrollable. Some supported the Rebel Army, and naturally, there were those who supported the Silan Dynasty. Within the Zilu Continent, division also arose. For the common people at the bottom of society, paying taxes was inevitable, but wasn''t living a stable life desirable? If people said that the citizens of Zilu Continent had long suffered under the Silan and would gladly greet the Imperial Instructor of the Tessa Empire with open arms, that was merely an empty phrase. After all, victors are kings and losers are bandits, and at present, the Rebels are the bandits. The former leader of the "Gale Team", Hammu, hailed from the Morning Star Continent and naturally stood opposed to Minante. Both sides were pilots, so clashes were inevitable. In war, there are always casualties; close comrades from days past now fought fiercely to the death against each other. "There is no right or wrong on the battlefield. You should adjust your mindset as soon as possible!" Chen Fei had no way to comfort Minante, who stood on the opposing side. It''s not like I could say, ''If we''re brothers, then come and kill me!'' That would be absolutely absurd. "I don''t know how to face Hammu''s family." Minante covered his face in agony. He wished more than anything that right now Chen Fei would beat him up; it might make him feel a bit better. Since Chen Fei had never done the same thing, he couldn''t truly empathize with Minante''s feelings and could only offer advice based on his own behavior. "Then don''t face it, or take up the responsibility!" "Are you a devil?" Minante glared angrily at the man who only seemed to have nasty ideas. Chen Fei''s words sounded a bit harsh. The first suggestion was a shameless escape; the second required facing the hateful gaze of Hammu''s family, which might end up in a beheading. The animosity of kill or be killed on the battlefield often continued even after the war, which seemed rather strange. Engaging with Hammu wasn''t something that Minante had chosen of his own will, yet it was an inevitable obligation. Soldiers are sworn to obey orders, whether they are in the Rebel Army or the Dynasty''s military. "What else can we do? This is war, not child''s play." Chen Fei spread his hands. It''s not like he could say, let''s have a duel¡ª''one thrust from me and you''re finished.'' "I don''t know, I don''t know!" Minante covered his face again, shaking his head vigorously. The vehicle rattled. "You might as well secretly send money to Captain Hammu''s family every month! With Hammu gone, their financial situation must be bleak. If you still feel guilty, then leave the Righteous Army¡ªor no, the Rebel Army!" The only serious suggestion Chen Fei could offer Minante was this one. Those who receive gifts are beholden to the giver. Over time, Hammu''s family will likely not view Minante with the same animosity they did in the beginning. Everyone has to face reality, whether it''s Minante or Hammu''s family. "Leave? No, that''s impossible!" Minante began another fierce internal struggle. The atmosphere in the jeep returned to being tense, with everyone silent. Two hours later, the convoy entered a bustling military camp. This camp was just one of the several bases the Rebel Army had near South Capital City. "We''ve arrived!" The vehicle stopped, and Minante seemed to finally come back to his senses. Hundreds of soldiers surrounded the convoy tightly. "Everyone in the vehicle, get out. ''Rookie,'' you get out alone." The Rebel Army gave Chen Fei a cold welcome, with over a dozen railgun combat rifles aimed at him. "Please hand over your weapons, alchemical artifacts." There were people specifically assigned to receive Chen Fei. "I''m a Grade B Metal Ability User. I''ve actually got this, uh... what''s this thing?" Before Chen Fei could finish, he felt a prick. "Don''t worry, it''s not poison. It''s a Supernatural Ability Suppressant. For now, you don''t have your Grade B Metal Elemental Psychic Power!" The Rebel personnel handed the syringe back to the others beside him. Chen Fei looked toward Minante, who had gotten out of the car from the other side. "No worries, the highest commander here is one of my relatives." This was the treatment and security that Minante had fought for on behalf of Chen Fei. Placed in other military bases, he wasn''t too confident. Even if someone really wanted Chen Fei''s life, it had to be settled in a life-and-death struggle on the battlefield. Nearly all combat pilots had their own rigid adherence to the principles of engagement, believing their battlefield was in the sky, not on the ground taking cheap shots. Chen Fei handed over a space system alchemy storage artifact he carried with him. This storage magical device wasn''t the model with a super large capacity he had before, but one that could hold small personal items, with less than one cubic space. It wouldn''t be a loss even if confiscated by the rebel army. Inside, there were only some drinking water, food, medicine, and electronic products, nothing more, not even a single weapon like a grenade, fully demonstrating his intention to enter the enemy''s camp alone. "Where''s ''Sagali''? Where is ''Sagali''?" A crowd of people rushed over, heading straight for the large trucks in the convoy. At that time, the soldiers in the vehicles were moving the parasitic hosts along with the cages they were imprisoned in off the trucks. The combat mechs had captured 17 parasitic hosts in South Capital City District, now half of them had been delivered to the rebel army, with seven iron cages being moved out of the truck beds. "Why are they all from the Human Race? What about the extraterrestrial races? Where has ''Sagali'' been hidden? Someone tell me," The group that surrounded them looked scruffy, exuding the aura of researchers. They didn''t care about any rebel army; as long as there was professional work to do, it didn''t matter who they did it for. Before dissecting the parasites, it was hard to tell from the outside if they had been victimized by the "Sagali" from the extraterrestrial races. Minante was grabbed by the chest by an expert scholar and was lifted off his feet in a mid-air boost, to which he responded with a rueful smile, "It''s a mutated parasitic spawn, it''s parasitic in the chest." "Prepare the operating room, let''s get started!" "Add more cameras, maximize the lighting!" "Manpower, I need more hands!" The academically inclined bigwigs who were adept with the scalpel began calling friends and yelling for assistants, competing with the soldiers for the cages. The rebel soldiers, armed to the teeth, couldn''t even compete with these intellectuals and couldn''t help at all¡ªthe seven iron cages were all dragged away, and even the specimen container Minante was holding wasn''t spared. It was taken away like they had been robbed by bandits. "Minante, is this your friend, the ''Rookie'' with the title of Dragon Slayer?" An elderly man with graying hair and beard, flanked by a group of senior officers, arrived at the parking lot. Minante''s gaze shifted from the departing backs of the academic bigwigs back to the elderly man with graying hair and beard and quickly said, "Uncle, this is ''Rookie,'' Chen Fei." He then introduced Chen Fei, "This is the Legion Commander of the ''Radiant Tiger'' army, Befas, who is also my uncle." The rebel army had hundreds of formal military legions, a significant portion of which came from active duty uprising units of the Silan Dynasty, and "Radiant Tiger" was just one of them. Minante''s mother was the fourth child at home, and Befas, who joined the military service, was the eldest. The year he joined coincided with the tail end of a great war over thirty years ago. It was easy to get promoted in wartime. Luckily surviving, he paved a path for himself, eventually becoming a Legion Commander with his own legion. Now, another military force was surrounding the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, more precisely, the second legion that had just taken over. The first legion that had initiated the attack had been scattered, and unleashing the adult Metallic Dragons was almost the last trump card. "Young man, setting aside our differences, you''ve done very well," Minante''s uncle, the Legion Commander of the "Radiant Tiger," Befas, looked at Chen Fei with an appreciative eye. He continued, "If you''re willing to join my legion, I''m prepared to offer you double, no, quadruple your salary." "Uncle!" Minante was somewhat upset by his uncle''s blatant poaching. What did he take combat pilots for? "Right now, I earn 50,000 Star Yuan a month, plus other allowances, my annual income should be about 3 million Star Yuan. Are you truly willing to spend 12 million Star Yuan to recruit me?" Chen Fei earnestly counted on his fingers, calculating his salary for the others. Currently, his wages only made up a small portion of his total income. The majority came from his partnership with Boss Hana in the "Flesh Mushroom" breeding operation. The business had just started this year, and the income wasn''t high, but at least it was over two million Star Yuan. Starting next year, profits from the "Flesh Mushroom" industry were set to skyrocket. Unlike the secretive cultivation of "Flesh Mushroom" with the "Water Bear" organization which aimed to reduce reliance on external supplies, Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel''s joint venture plantation was a fully legitimate money-making operation. After selling mushrooms for a couple of years, Chen Fei would be able to go back home and buy a house and car, preparing to welcome Teacher Shen as his bride. Ah, what a beautiful thought! "12 million Star Yuan? Are you trying to rob me?" "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander Befas nearly spewed out blood all over Chen Xiao''er''s face in frustration. Once the cannons fired, gold flowed by the tens of thousands; with war underway, a massive amount of funds were burning, exploding. There was no extra cash to recruit a barely top-tier combat pilot at an inconceivable high price. Befas himself only had an annual pension of 500,000 Star Yuan, and that was because the cost of living on the Zilu Continent was low. Rather than spending 12 million Star Yuan to recruit Chen Fei, it was better to assemble another elite combat pilot squadron like the "Gale Team." The cost-effectiveness didn''t match up. Chen Fei said earnestly, "I am robbing, actually!" In the realm of business, an outrageous demand by military contractors during a crisis was completely justifiable. Minante''s uncle, a straightforward military man, didn''t even bother to haggle and expressed his outright refusal. "Forget it, can''t afford it!" Befas shook his head firmly. The officers around him glared at Chen Fei in anger, partly because Chen Fei had taken out half of the "Gale Team," and partly because the 12 million Star Yuan price tag felt like a scoffing rejection. Chapter 688 688: Section 683 - Guests Chen Fei spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders at the rebel officers, and said nothing more. He really didn''t mean that! "Come sit at my place for a while; those guys, no matter how anxious, need some time to prepare before they can start dissecting." Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger" called over his nephew Minante and Chen Fei. The news Chen Fei relayed via Minante was indeed shocking¡ªwho would have thought that during a fierce battle between the rebel army and the Slan Dynasty''s suppression forces, a terrifying extraterrestrial race would suddenly appear, scaring the high-ranking members of the rebel army who knew about it. Wasn''t the channel for the "Sagali" invasion of Cangqiong Star closed thirty years ago? How could it appear again? Merely thinking about it made one''s scalp tingle. The office of the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s commander was quite spartan, located at one end of the legion''s headquarters barracks, separated by a glass partition, equipped with a desk, a bookshelf, and a single bed. Through the not-so-soundproof glass wall, one could directly see the busy command center; drawing the curtains turned it into a dormitory, combining work and accommodation in one space. "I apologize for the humble conditions, please make do." Befas personally poured rough tea for Chen Fei and his nephew Minante from a full-metal big teapot, tossing in a few leaves of coarse tea¡ªplenty to go around. "Thank you!" Chen Fei, not being bashful, took the large cup and gulped down a few mouthfuls. There wouldn''t be a problem with the tea, no need for poison; if they really wanted to take his life, they could have done so when he first got out of the car by simply calling out, and tomorrow would be termed Chen Xiao''er''s memorial day. Once Befas was seated, he leisurely asked, "Little Chen, why are you clashing with the Righteous Army? I heard the corps that attacked the Dimensional Gate Management Substation suffered heavy casualties, even the Metallic Giants Dragons deployed on the battlefield were driven off." "Yeah, ''Rookie'', weren''t you on Blue Star? How did you end up in Nandu City?" Minante was also puzzled and surprised to encounter Chen Fei on the battlefield in Zilu Continent under hostile circumstances. "It''s for work, I received two, no, three commissions." Chen Fei counted off three fingers one by one. Of course, he wasn''t intentionally opposing the rebel army. The rebel army wanted to restore the glory of the Tessa Empire; that had nothing to do with Chen Fei, a pure Blue Star person, even if they overthrew the Slan Dynasty and became the new rulers of Cangqiong Star, he wouldn''t care. Befas spoke unhurriedly, "Could you elaborate?" He also didn''t believe that Chen Fei, a Blue Star man, was intentionally waging war against the Righteous Army, even if he wasn''t a friend of his nephew; there must be some reason. "I am commissioned by the Slan Royal Family to assist in capturing Xia Ji, a core member of the fugitive ''Water Bear'' organization, which secretly researches and breeds mutants on Blue Star and even aims to wipe out multiple military contractors at aircrew bases. The ''Water Bear'' organization is now fully wanted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Xia Ji is a very important fugitive. The second commission is from the president of Louis Industrial Company, Louis Landon, specifically about a ''prophecy.'' The extraterrestrial race ''Sagali'' is attempting to use the rebels, oh no, the Righteous Army, seizing the chance to take over the South City Suburbs Ground Dimensional Gate Management Substation, to obtain the spatial coordinates ''Longinus,'' and launch a full-scale invasion. The third commission is the defense contract for the South City Suburbs Ground Dimensional Gate Management Substation. There are three commissions in total, coincidentally all coming together." Luckily, these were jobs that could be carried out simultaneously; otherwise, running around everywhere catching this and chasing that, Chen Fei wouldn''t be able to handle such a workload. Handling one commission at a time was the normal procedure. "''Water Bear,'' ''Sagali,'' no wonder..." Minante''s mouth twitched. He had no idea that Chen Fei had accepted so many commissions that were troublesome even to think about. A normal person really couldn''t handle such tasks. As it happened, the Righteous Army initiated action, targeting the Ground Dimensional Gate Management Substation as a tactical objective, and a series of coincidences clashed directly with Chen Fei''s commissions. "Hmm! So, the Ground Dimensional Gate Management Substation has such hidden dangers." Even Befas, one of the top leaders of the Righteous Army, did not want the Righteous Army to inadvertently pave the way for the extraterrestrial "Sagali" to take over the portal and use ''Longinus'' to launch an invasion. In some ways, preventing these parasitic species from invading was of a higher priority than rebuilding the glory of the Tessa Empire. If they still obstinately focused on reviving the glory of the Tessa Empire while ignoring the invasion of the extraterrestrial races, most likely, most people would not support such foolishly single-minded actions, not even Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger"." If the extraterrestrial "Sagali" fully invaded, the human race would become their food; even if the Tessa Empire was rebuilt, it would only be a fleeting presence. "Also, ''Rookie,'' you mentioned Louis Landon''s prophecy. What exactly is that prophecy?" Minante could understand the Slan Royal Family chasing a prison escapee and the importance of ''Longinus,'' but he was struck by the unusual word ''prophecy.'' "The Doomsday Prophecy: the destruction of Blue Star human civilization, Blue Star and Cangqiong Star isolated, perhaps... Cangqiong Star might not escape unscathed." "The prophecy" only involved Blue Star and didn''t mention Cangqiong Star; according to Chen Fei''s guess, the situation on Cangqiong Star''s side probably wouldn''t be much better than that of Blue Star. The greedy parasitic species would not miss an opportunity to exploit a planet with richer ecological resources." "Hiss..."¡Á2 Befas and Minante, the uncle and nephew duo, simultaneously gasped a breath of cold air. "This prophecy is truly terrifying!" The commander of the "Radiant Tiger" legion shook his head continuously. Fortunately, the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was not breached, otherwise the Righteous Army would have committed an irreparable mistake, which would not only endanger the lives on the Zilu Continent but possibly even the entire Cangqiong Star. "''Rookie,'' if I had killed you during the last battle..." Minante spoke of a possibility, but as he spoke, he suddenly shuddered all over. He had not only killed his good friend, Hammu, the former captain of Gale Team, but if he had also killed another friend, "Rookie" Chen Fei, allowing the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" to invade unimpeded, he would have been the greatest sinner in the history of civilization, single-handedly dooming two planets'' civilizations. Fortunately ... none of this had happened. He looked towards Chen Fei, his heart still trembling with residual fear. "Befas, I heard you had a visitor here!" There was a burst of noise outside the legion headquarters'' barracks, followed by a boisterous voice that penetrated the single-layer not so soundproof transparent glass wall and reached the ears of the three men inside the commander''s office. "Why did that guy come here?" Legion Commander Befas frowned slightly as he recognized the speaker. Another legion''s commander, Valenya. He immediately stood up, pushed the sliding door, and said to the "Undying Pigeon" legion''s commander forcing his way past the guards and military police, "Valenya, what are you doing here instead of guarding the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation?" The Rebel Army currently surrounding the South City Suburbs Ground Dimensional Gate Management Substation was the "Undying Pigeon" legion. "I heard that ''Radiant Tiger'' received a batch of unusual gifts, I specifically came to take a look and also to visit the ''Dragon Slayer'' who defeated the Metallic Dragons." A rough military officer with a thick beard but ungroomed appearance strode into Befas'' partitioned office, his piercing gaze scanning around before settling on Chen Fei. "Little Chen is my guest, do not get any ideas about him!" Befas gave a knowing look to his nephew, and Minante immediately stepped without hesitation in front of Chen Fei. It was evident that the relationship between the commanders of the "Undying Pigeon" and "Radiant Tiger" legions was not very good. Valenya said carelessly, "What''s there to be afraid of? I''m not going to eat him." His gaze fixed on Chen Fei behind Minante, he sneered and said, "Being able to defeat the trump card of the ''Undying Pigeon''... worthy of being called ''Dragon Slayer.'' But I wonder... if you are just as tough on the ground! Take him down." As soon as these words were uttered, several people rushed out from behind the commander of the "Undying Pigeon" legion, and lunged towards Minante and Chen Fei. "Stop!" Befas''s hair and beard bristled like steel pins. Then there was a cracking sound as the partitioned office was hit by a tornado, with desks, chairs, and bookshelves instantly shattered, and all the partition glass walls smashed to pieces. The dazzling Battle Qi Flame surged non-stop, with intense red, piercing blue, and solemn yellow. Multiple Battle Qi Flames and Magic Shields'' lights reflected and highlighted each other. A large hole appeared in the barracks wall, and Minante was the first to be blasted out. His Battle Qi cultivation was utterly insufficient in such a situation; he lay outside on the ground, spewing a spray of blood mist, unable to rise again. Chen Fei, with his arms twisted behind his back, grimaced and said, "I mean, you don''t need to be so rough. I''m just a weak, pitiful, helpless B-level supernatural power user, and I''ve also been injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant. I can''t use Battle Qi or magic; even an elementary student could knock me down. Hey, you two don''t need to be so serious." It wasn''t that he didn''t want to resist, but the opponent moved too quickly, and he didn''t even have time to activate the Neanderthal''s Secret Technique. The incessant influx of external Battle Qi even made Chen Fei''s muscle fibers feel as if they were being torn apart strand by strand, both painful and itchy, completely rendering him powerless. However, Chen Fei''s words did not earn him any leniency; instead, his joints were restricted even more forcefully, and he was pricked with another needle, not knowing what he was being injected with. Dammit, all he did today was get jabbed with needles. Befas, who had just exchanged a fierce punch with Valenya, looked like an enraged lion. "Valenya, what are you trying to do? Does the ''Undying Pigeon'' plan on starting a war with ''Radiant Tiger''?" He never imagined that the other side would say one thing and do another, daring to launch a direct attack right in front of him. "Befas, don''t ruin the good relations over an enemy!" Valenya let out a strange laugh, seemingly unconcerned whether the two legions would engage in a major internal clash. Chapter 689 689: Section 684 - Inside Enemy Lines "Chen Fei is not the enemy, release him immediately!" Legion Commander Befas glared furiously at Valenya, incensed that he had been so boldly outmaneuvered on his own turf. After understanding the reason for Chen Fei''s appearance in Nandu City, the commander no longer regarded him as an enemy. After all, the main goal of the Righteous Army was to rebuild the Tessa Empire and seek the independence of Zhai Liuzhou again, not to allow the extraterrestrial "Sagali" race to invade and bring about the apocalypse for all the beings of Cangqiong Star. Once he had understood the reason for Chen Fei''s presence in Nandu City, the commander naturally did not consider him an enemy. There was a tense standoff between the two legion commanders of the Rebel Army, and outside the barracks, there was a clamor, along with the sounds of fierce fighting and the thunder of magic. A moment later, a group of officers and soldiers burst into the room. After all, this was the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s territory, and Valenya''s men, tightly surrounded, quickly fell into a disadvantageous position. "Ugh, so sleepy!" Chen Fei''s eyelids suddenly felt as heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and he couldn''t help but yawn. By the time he finally realized what he had been injected with, his consciousness had involuntarily sunk into sleep. The past few days had been filled with fighting and chaos. He had not only to act but to think. Exhaustion had built up, and once an external force gently triggered it, it was all released at once. "Valenya, what have you done?" The previously unarmed Legion Commander Befas, shocked and angry at Chen Fei''s condition, drew his sword on the spot. Most of Cangqiong Star''s high-ranking officers are War Professionals, and the rest are Spellcasters, all of high rank. They are not only skilled in commanding battles but also formidable in combat. "Heh, relax, just relax. It was just a little sedative. I assure you, there are no side effects. Look, he''s quite safe now, isn''t he?" The legion commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion sneered with a weird laugh. Glancing at the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s soldiers outside the barracks, he continued, "You better clear a path, otherwise I can''t guarantee what I''ll do to him." Minante, looking worse for wear, urged in the midst of his own people, "Commander, we can''t let them go!" In a public setting, he refrained from directly calling Befas ''uncle'' since public and private contexts should not be confused. Valenya, with a revolting sly smirk, cunningly said, "These two War Professionals, one Sixth Rank Earth Order and the other First Rank Heavenly Order, I don''t want our relationship to break down irreparably. So heart! Befas, please think carefully and give your orders with consideration." With Chen Fei in his grasp, he could do as he pleased. Both Befas''s and Minante''s faces darkened, the situation rendering them unable to act without caution and almost powerless. No one was capable of rescuing Chen Fei from the hands of War Professionals of such caliber. "You''ll regret this, Valenya!" Legion Commander Befas, adopting a sword-fighting stance, stared down his adversary, resolved to seek intense vengeance. He waved his hand, and a passage immediately opened up at the barracks hole in the wall. "A wise man submits to circumstance. Befas, you truly are a clever man!" The legion commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion, Valenya, proudly led the two War Professionals who held Chen Fei through the hole in the barracks wall to the outside, turned back to the glaring "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander, and gave a thumbs up¡ªa compliment on the surface but filled with sarcasm. Evidently, he planned to take his newly acquired spoils of war and make a clean getaway. Valenya had no doubt that a raging Befas would decapitate him without hesitation given the chance. "I will slaughter you, I swear!" Befas, the legion commander of the humiliated "Radiant Tiger" Legion, swore through clenched teeth as the guest was snatched away right before his eyes. Minante signaled to the officers and soldiers around him, and at once, they closed off the hole in the wall again, leaving a few of Valenya''s men who hadn''t managed to follow, caught off guard and trapped. The "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s soldiers, taking advantage of their greater numbers, swarmed forward and immediately captured those few people. The "Radiant Tiger" Legion also had captives from the "Undying Pigeon" Legion. Valenya seemingly apologized to his unlucky subordinates, "Sorry, you just got bad luck!" Though he said this, he felt no inclination to rescue them, expressing only a token sympathy, and that was all. "Screech!~~~~" A piercing screech came from the sky, and a shadow swooped down, followed by fierce gusts of wind that nearly blinded those on the ground. Several bipedal flying dragons descended from the heavens, grabbing Valenya and his men, and without a moment''s hesitation, they soared into the sky, breaking free from the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s ground encirclement. "Commander!" "Lord Valenya!" "Commander, what about us?" The few "Undying Pigeon" Legion experts not carried away by the bipedal flying dragons shouted loudly, as several of the dragons failed to secure them. One unfortunate flying dragon was even struck by intersecting sword qi and crashed to the ground, its agonized screams ceasing almost instantly before it was swiftly torn apart. But the dragons carrying captives didn''t look back, fleeing at full speed from the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s camp. "You damned bastard, damn you Valenya!" Befas, who had emerged sword in hand from the barracks, roared furiously at the departing dragons. This was far from over; to get Chen Fei back, he was even prepared to go to war with the "Undying Pigeon" Legion. His own sword qi had participated in the earlier assault, cleaving off most of a wing. Befas turned back, his face expressionless as he stared coldly at the "Undying Pigeon" Legion experts who had not escaped, his tone chilling. "Kill them!" A thumb slid violently across a throat. When the tiger shows no fierceness, who would dare treat it as a sick cat? "No, no, don''t!" "We surrender, we surrender!" "Spare us! Ahh!" The soldiers of the "Undying Pigeon" were quickly overwhelmed by the troops of the "Radiant Tiger," and after the screams ceased, all that remained were the plop, plop sounds of blades piercing flesh. Being pawns, they naturally lacked even the right to resist. "Disaster! A great disaster! It''s the ''Sagali,'' it really is the ''Sagali''!" A few people covered in blood held up a fetal-looking humanoid creature as they jogged over, excitement and panic evident on their faces. "It''s really true!" Minante stared at the technicians in shock, it looked like the autopsy had yielded results, and it was the worst possible outcome. "I knew it!" For some reason, Legion Commander Befas trusted Chen Fei''s words more than those of his own nephew, having never doubted him from the beginning. - "Ah..." Upon awakening from a deep sleep, where in the world was he? Wait, where am I? Having slept very comfortably, Chen Fei who wanted to stretch lazily discovered he couldn''t move an inch; upon opening his eyes, he saw bars as thick as eggs. He had been locked in a cage. This was retribution! Chen Fei had previously locked parasitic hosts in cages, and now it was his turn to be caged in the same way, tied up tightly and incapacitated. The materials seemed not to be metal, showing no reaction to metal elemental psychic power. The empty room was less than ten square meters, with only a cage, various binding tools, and Chen Fei¡ªno second person was present. If he wasn''t mistaken, this wasn''t the military camp of his uncle Minante, but he had been "kidnapped" elsewhere. "Hey, is anybody there? I need to use the toilet!" Chen Fei yelled loudly. He shouted for a while before someone finally came. Footsteps approached from far to near, the door swung open with a loud clang. "Are you awake? ''Rookie,'' honestly, your flying callsign is just too funny. To capture you, I lost six subordinates, the lowest of them a Seventh Rank of Human Order." The person arriving was the legion commander of the "Undying Pigeon," Valenya, who appraised Chen Fei up and down with the eyes of someone admiring spoils of war. "Is that so? I''m deeply honored!" Chen Fei wasn''t actually in a rush to pee; he had casually called out, not expecting to summon such a big shot. If he could kill a rebel army''s legion commander, the Slan Dynasty would certainly award him a huge medal and an extremely generous bounty. This big man with a bushy beard, love it! "There''s something strange about your eyes. Don''t look at me like that!" Valenya keenly sensed something was off in Chen Fei''s gaze, feeling an inexplicable creepiness as if something bad was about to befall him. Damn it, he had never felt such a weird sensation since joining the military. Since he was trapped in enemy territory and unable to move, Chen Fei felt no panic. Instead, he spoke leisurely, "May I ask a question?" "Don''t try anything! If I want, your head will fall to the ground in the next second." Valenya didn''t know what plan he was hatching, opting to offend the "Radiant Tiger" legion rather than bringing Chen Fei back (by force). "Are you serving the extraterrestrial ''Sagali''?" Chen Fei stared unwaveringly at Valenya. The latter had not been parasitized but had insisted on breaking into the military camp of the "Radiant Tiger," an action that was quite suspicious. Jiaming Town, 150 kilometers from Nandu City, underwent a complete parasitic takeover, and parasitic hosts were found inside and around the main urban area of Nandu City. This indicated the parasitic species had long been scheming, so it wouldn''t be surprising to find parasitic hosts hidden within the rebel army. The more chaotic the situation on Cangqiong Star, the more favorable it would be for the "Sagali" invasion. "''Sagali''? What is that? Wait, did you say ''Sagali''? Extraterrestrial Races!" Valenya, speaking more and more, suddenly latched onto the critical keywords that felt out of place, his eyes widened, and he looked at Chen Fei incredulously. "What a pity!" Chen Fei shook his head with difficulty; the other party was telling the truth and indeed didn''t know about the extraterrestrial race "Sagali." Otherwise, he could have achieved even greater merit, much more valuable than merely killing a rebel army legion commander. Chapter 690 690: Section 685 - Central Blossoming """ "What on earth are you talking about?" The Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" legion, Valenya, had snatched Chen Fei for himself, partly wanting to see who this audacious person was that had managed to fend off his ace in the hole (an adult Metallic Dragon), and partly out of a desire to take credit. After all, Chen Fei was the main culprit preventing the Rebel Army from capturing the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. Being able to capture him alive was definitely considered a significant achievement. To Chen Fei''s disappointment, the other party had no dealings with those Parasitic Species. Instead, he was completely ignorant and wasn''t even a Parasitic Host. Just by looking at his expression, it was clear. His face showed a purely natural sense of cluelessness, definitely hearing the word "Sagali" for the first time. Otherwise, there would be some unnatural reaction, which would not escape Chen Fei''s eyes and the micro-expression recognition algorithm of the AI "Adam." Chen Fei tentatively asked, "You don''t know the purpose of my visit to the ''Radiant Tiger'' legion?" Risking his life to come to Rebel territory, and even deliberately falling into a trap, from the "Radiant Tiger" legion''s camp to the "Undying Pigeon" legion''s camp, he wanted to see if the "Sagali" had infiltrated the Rebel Army at all. After all, causing a large-scale rebellion on Zhai Liuzhou, drawing the attention of the Silan Dynasty and various parties, taking advantage of the Human Race''s distraction for a stealthy invasion, such tactics were entirely consistent with the "Sagali''s" modus operandi. But up to now, he still hadn''t found any parasitized hosts. Both camps were very "clean." The fact that the Parasitic Species hadn''t set their sights on the Rebel Army was truly unexpected. After all, the Rebel Army was still a military force, not some common civil township. The army is full of experts, especially as the combat strength of Cangqiong Star''s officers and soldiers was generally not low, even surpassing the average of the Blue Star military. For the "Sagali," it wouldn''t be easy to make a move, as they could easily be detected. So instead of foolishly targeting the military, it was obviously much easier to target civilians who had no means of defense or resistance. "All I know is you are one troublesome fellow, hey! For you, I have lost several excellent subordinates, so you''d better be of some value, otherwise..." Valenya sneered coldly, not concealing his intentions or... his killing intent! Breaking out from the "Radiant Tiger" legion, Valenya had reluctantly abandoned several of his elite guards. Their fate was almost certain¡ªthey would be torn to shreds by the enraged members of the "Radiant Tiger" legion. Despite appearing to act arbitrarily and overbearingly, the Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" didn''t reach his position by being simple. He was very aware of the kind of retaliation his actions would provoke. This "rookie" Chen Fei brazenly visited the "Radiant Tiger" legion. While Befas might choose to release him based on some ludicrous personal principle, Valenya certainly would not. Setting aside morality, he only desired victory. Currently, the legion that was responsible for capturing the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City was precisely the "Undying Pigeon," not to mention the previous legion that had failed to capture the substation and was nearly annihilated. As long as the "Undying Pigeon" could confirm Chen Fei was still in their grasp, the defense forces of the management substation would be considerably weakened. On the tactical level, between offending the "Radiant Tiger" legion and making significant progress in their mission, the choice was easy to make. Although the "Undying Pigeon" legion surrounding the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation hadn''t made a move yet, that didn''t mean they would give up on taking action. The rebel losses would eventually have to be reclaimed. "Is it really my fault that you lost your subordinates? I''m just a commoner. I don''t even have ten million Star Yuan to my name. My life isn''t worth squat. Whether you kill me or let me go, just make it quick!" Chen Fei disapproved. Since the other party had chosen to use force, they would have to accept the consequences. Although he spoke as if he didn''t fear death, killing him wasn''t going to be an easy task for Valenya. "Hehe, it won''t be so easy for you to die. I won''t kill you before we take down the portal management substation. If you cooperate obediently, I might let you go." The Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" legion was also skilled in psychological tactics. A mere supernatural power user pilot, without his combat aircraft, without his mechanical dragon, with those meager fighting abilities, without his special ability, he''s nothing. If it weren''t for this young man''s marginal utility, Valenya would have killed him without hesitation. His visit was primarily to extract some valuable information from him, particularly regarding the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, which would be very useful for the actions of the "Undying Pigeon" legion moving forward. But instead of valuable information, he heard about the inexplicable extraterrestrial race "Sagali," which was supposedly rejected by the "Halo" more than thirty years ago. Not only was the door closed, but it was also reconnected to a different entity. This kid was probably just scaremongering, trying to be mysterious! Ha! He definitely wouldn''t fall for it! Bang! The door was shut forcefully, and once again, the empty room was left with only Chen Fei caged and heavily restrained. High polymer composite materials, specifically against Metal Ability Users, were much easier to find than metal restraining devices. "Resistant to persuasion!" Chen Fei tried to shake his head and sigh about his helpless situation, only to realize he couldn''t even move his neck. """ "You really bind me like this and don''t consider how I''m supposed to go to the bathroom?" He squinted slightly, his gaze shifting continuously. In the seemingly empty air, he could see a long list very clearly. Even without a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, there were simply too many tools to choose from in the "Physical Evolution Database" with over one hundred thousand samples. For Chen Fei, it was just a matter of spending some Energy Points. Energy Points: 36433/45000 The daily replenishment and consumption of energy points usually fluctuated in the three digits, sometimes as little as a single digit and other times by the tens. Chen Fei had never thought of filling up to 45000/45000. If the Energy Points overflowed, it would be like giving them away for free to the Dog System. He wasn''t that foolish. Thus, maintaining a reserve of around 35000 was just right. He''d rather provide Yilan with an extra meal than feed the Dog (System). A number of geometrical bodies appeared on the surface of his body, their metallic luster gleaming as they combined rapidly. The metal control by the Metal Ability User combined with the precision of industrial-grade standards soon filled the cage with a buzzing sound. Bang! The door was forcefully pushed open, but instead of Valenya, the Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon," it was several soldiers who stormed in. How could there not be surveillance in the room where Chen Fei was imprisoned? Any small disturbance would prompt an immediate reaction. Whish!~ At the same moment the soldiers rushed in, the cage and various restraints collapsed in unison, and using mini circular saws (angle grinder + saw blade = suicide) made cutting through the high polymer composites much easier than cutting through steel. In mere seconds, all the high polymer composite materials were reduced to pieces, the largest no bigger than a fist. "Good afternoon, gentlemen!" Chen Fei greeted the soldiers with a smile. The soldiers also "responded" to him. Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh... The sound of the Railgun Combat Rifle was like the wind howling, with full metal bullets tearing through the air at five times the speed of sound, covering the short distance of two to three meters, and hitting Chen Fei''s body without missing a single shot. Is this... afternoon tea! "Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch..." Chen Xiao''er''s cries of pain were ceaseless. The Psi Skill "Metal Devouring" had nearly become instinct for him. Even though he swallowed all the bullets, the massive kinetic energy couldn''t be dissipated immediately, pushing him involuntarily against the wall and leading to a wall-hanging moment. After a fierce round of shots, the soldiers of the "Undying Pigeon" legion were left stunned. What kind of monster was this that couldn''t be killed by Railgun Combat Rifles? At this moment, if someone casually threw a grenade, Chen Fei would probably die on the spot. He wasn''t really invincible and immortal. Even though he was impervious to swords and guns, it was situational. If a layer of high polymer composite was wrapped around the full metal bullets, it would be tough to digest. Countless tiny metal geometrical particles surged out from various parts of his body like a tide, rapidly assembling and disassembling, shielding him from the dense barrage of bullets from head to toe and wrapping Chen Fei tightly. Finally, a striking and fierce form emerged. Now, even throwing a grenade at him wouldn''t work. "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor excelled in close-range assaults, with excellent protective capabilities, and it was also cost-effective. For just two energy points, half of which were used for "material simulation" in place of a kilogram of non-metallic materials. The soldiers, whose Railgun Combat Rifle fire proved ineffective, were already calling for backup. Boom!~ Karma struck quickly, as Valenya blasted a gaping hole in the wall of the "Radiant Tiger" legion''s command center barracks. Less than a day had passed, and a whole wall of their own "Undying Pigeon" legion''s barracks was blown away. Although it wasn''t the command center''s barracks, it wasn''t far away, just a few steps away, in fact. The debris from the blasted wall even struck down several soldiers passing by, smashing their heads and causing bloody injuries, with one or two likely suffering serious bone damage. The same Railgun Combat Rifle that couldn''t harm Chen Fei clad in "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor allowed Chen Fei to knock down others with impunity. The bullets pierced through bodies and barracks alike; the scene was utterly gruesome. A fireball fell from the sky, accompanied by dense wind blades, and even the ground beneath was trembling with Elemental Energy. Explosions mixed with the howling wind, and dozens of spikes shot out from the ground, turning Chen Fei''s location into a field of death. But the next second, the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, gleaming with silver war pattern light, appeared a hundred meters away. In his hand, the Railgun Combat Rifle was replaced by a sleek, shoulder-height, conical cold weapon, with a sharp end adorned with shimmering tassels and the cone''s surface covered in ever-flowing silver patterns. The exclusive weapon "Blood Spike," designed to match the Neanderthal Secret Technique "Fight to the Death," could be wielded with almost instantaneous movement effects. Chapter 691 691: Section 686 - Seizing the Opportunity in Chaos "The Undying Pigeon" Legion camp had descended into utter chaos. The use of the Neanderthal Secret Technique "Fight to the Death" along with the ultra-high-speed movement of the specialized weapon "Blood Spike" had Chen Xiao''er employing hit-and-run tactics. He steadfastly engaged in battle only when he couldn''t avoid it and displayed no desire to linger in fights, proving quite troublesome even for Heavenly Order War Professionals. Unable to catch him momentarily, the casualties and damages continued to escalate. "Come and hit me if you can!" Chen Fei leaped up and down within the camp, fearlessly and repeatedly taunting the rebel soldiers and officers, showing no urgency to escape from the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s encampment. Any person would be infuriated to the point of smoke blowing out of their seven orifices, relentlessly pursuing him, making the fiery scene even more intense. "How exactly did this guy run out? And what''s with that tactical armor? Who, damn it, who?" Sitting at the command center of the legion, Legion Commander Valenya roared frantically. He suspected a traitor within the "Undying Pigeon" Legion had not only released the imprisoned Chen Fei but had also provided him with battle gear, which was downright bewildering. The commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion, having trapped Chen Fei with great effort, fiercely demanded, "Tell me, who helped you? Just tell me, and I can let you go!" Valenya was even willing to let Chen Fei go to root out the traitor in the legion; after all, if the traitor could release a prisoner today, there''s no telling what life-threatening act they might commit tomorrow. "You''re going to be disappointed, no one helped me!" Chen Fei casually surveyed the War Professionals and Spellcasters eying him fiercely. He continued to activate his Psi Skill "Personal Armor Basic Body" in gigantification mode, stacking it directly onto the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. His outward stature instantly shot up to four meters high, and the number of Magic Array Inscriptions increased from 20 to 100. Now more combat capable, even if he took on Heavenly Order War Professionals head-on, they would not easily defeat him. However, the rampant running around the camp had not allowed Chen Fei to collect many Crystalline Blocks. The largest was only the size of a quail egg, and its energy density grade wasn''t very high, far from comparable to the top-grade Crystalline Blocks he usually used. Therefore, the energy from the captured Crystalline Blocks could only sustain a short duration of combat. Together with the electric energy and crystal energy produced by Chen Fei''s Psi Skill "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component", it was just enough for him to break out of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion camp. The gigantification mode of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor was indeed a major energy consumer, relying only on the few Crystalline Blocks he had, it could maintain full-fledged combat for only about 1 minute, not even enough to power a more powerful Mechanical Dragon. The rebels wouldn''t give Chen Fei the time to evolve his combat aircraft and take off. "You are clearly a supernatural power user and have been injected with a Supernatural Ability Suppressant. How could you possibly escape on your own?" Valenya was filled with "a hundred thousand whys" as the effects of a Supernatural Ability Suppressant should last at least half a month, but it had seemingly become ineffective so quickly. Chen Fei had been injected with Supernatural Ability Suppressants from two sources: one from the "Radiant Tiger" Legion and another from the "Undying Pigeon" Legion. In the face of a Supernatural Ability Suppressant that cost no more than 500 Star Yuan per dose, even S-class Ability Users could not be exempted, which offered an extremely high cost-performance ratio. "Because I am a Metal Elemental Spellcaster, the Supernatural Ability Suppressant naturally has no effect on me." Chen Fei, a certified B-class Metal Ability User, bluffed shamelessly. It was a war of intelligence; by confusing the enemy first, he could effectively create an opportunity to muddle through. Apart from Ability Users, most in the Metal Elemental category were War Professionals, with Metal Elemental Mages being even rarer than Magicians. If the Metallic Dragons had possessed spiritual power, they could have developed their own Metal Elemental Casting Ability like other Element Series Giant Dragons, significantly increasing their combat power. "Metal Elemental Spellcaster? Aren''t you a supernatural power user?" The commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion nearly popped his eyes out. It had been understood that he was a supernatural power user, but in the blink of an eye, things had changed, and he was a Mage instead. What in the world was going on? The only certainty was that the Supernatural Ability Suppressant hadn''t had its intended effect, as it only works on special abilities and cannot suppress spells, Battle Qi, or Curse Magic. "Hahaha, of course it''s tactical deception¡ªhow could I just casually reveal my cards to others?" This truly was Chen Fei''s real tactical deception, utterly disorienting his opponent. To some extent, the enemy had abducted him to the camp to weaken the defensive force of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, but his seizing the opportunity to infiltrate deep into their den and create chaos was also a way to diminish the combat power of the Undying Pigeon Legion. As each side wore the other down, the current situation ended up completely contrary to Valenya''s intention, turning out to be a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, literally lifting a rock only to drop it on their own foot, which was quite a painful experience. In the midst of conversation, the gigantified "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor suddenly flashed a figure from behind, its black Battle Qi Flame rising furiously, both hands holding a sword plunging fiercely into the giant-like tactical armor''s back vest. Chen Fei''s true body was hidden right at the chest and abdomen. Taking advantage of Chen Fei being distracted by the Legion Commander, a Heavenly Order War Professional seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Boom!~ The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor''s back air wave erupted, both "Air Burst (2)" Magic Arrays activated full force, coupled with a Repulsion Shield, immediately repelled the back-stabbing Heavenly Order War Professional, quickly creating distance between them. The gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, loaded with numerous Magic Arrays, actually had even better defense at the back. If the opponent had opted for a direct frontal assault, this unexpected stabbing might have succeeded. A gigantic fireball, about the height of a person, suddenly descended from the sky, seeming to be alive as it dove towards the maneuvering gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. As soon as the intense infrared heat response got close, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" immediately alerted Chen Fei. "Switch Magic Arrays, load ''Light Distortion (1)'', ''Mist (1)'', ''Water Bubble (1)'', and ''Constant Temperature (1)''; ''Blazing Flame Bullet (1)'' ¡Á4, fire rapidly ten times, 30mm Railgun 500 rounds burst." As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, the Magic Array switch, now almost instantaneously completed, received the drive support from AI "Adam." The light around the gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor unnaturally distorted, white fog rapidly spread in all directions, concealing its form; simultaneously, red flashes occurred continuously within the fog zone, and rank two Human Order Fire Spells "Blazing Flame Bullets" shot out. Without a definitive target, they landed variously around the camp, mingled with massive kinetic energy carrying 30mm full steel blades that swept through the entire encampment in a wide arc. Boom!~ The Rebel Army spellcaster''s preemptively cast Earth Order rank one Fire Spells "Sunset Fireball" finally hit the ground. The intense heat radiated drove the fog away and engulfed the gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor''s position concealed by thick fog with deadly accuracy. A robust pillar of fire shot up to the sky, reaching heights of over a hundred meters, and the dust raised even formed a terrifying mushroom cloud. However, within the relentless rolling smoke, a transparent sphere of crystalline color could vaguely be seen about thirty meters from the "Sunset Fireball"''s impact location. The gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, which should have been obliterated, appeared unscathed at the center of this transparent spherical space. "Mist (1)" covered up the sleight-of-hand effect of "Light Distortion (1)", distorting the real location of the gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, making the Earth Order rank one Fire Spell hit nothing but an illusion. "Water Bubble (1)" and "Constant Temperature (1)" formed a temporary space that restricted temperature fluctuations, together with "Wind Magic Shield (12)", withstood the residual effects of the spell, becoming a small haven in the midst of a fiery hell. The various interconnected Magic Arrays worked in harmony, allowing the attacking spellcaster''s carefully prepared spell strike to completely miss its mark. Even though the surface of the gigantified mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor was hot enough to fry eggs, this temperature was barely enough to heat water for Chen Fei''s foot bath. Chen Fei''s counterattack brought a new round of chaos to the Undying Pigeon Legion, a flurry of activity and both direct and indirect casualties doubled than before. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor quickly canceled gigantification mode, reducing its size and consequently making it a smaller target, seizing the chaos to break out of the camp. Chen Fei was not foolish, knowing when to withdraw. "He missed! That guy is running!" An Ability User skilled in Psychic Series Skills quickly locked onto Chen Xiao''er, who was sneakily fleeing, and immediately yelled out. "Block him, everyone block him, at all costs." The Legion Commander of the Undying Pigeon Legion bellowed furiously. What does a crowd trying to catch a mouse look like? Of course, it''s a chaotic scramble, hands and feet everywhere, accidents frequent, and various things inevitably getting destroyed¡ªit was still uncertain if they could even catch the mouse in the end. Chapter 692 692: Section 687 - Reinforcements If he had a one-on-one duel with a master from the "Undying Pigeon" legion, Chen Xiao''er might have ended up dead right here, as his combat power largely relied on external sources. Once he lacked energy and various kinds of ammunition, he would be beaten back to his original state, left only with his basic B-grade special ability and Neanderthal secret techniques. If he happened to have a "Dragon Slayer Missile", in his frenzy, he wouldn''t spare even a giant dragon. However, this "little mouse" was still full of energy, darting up and down, even though the masters from the "Undying Pigeon" legion were numerous and powerful. However, the coordination and understanding among the Earth Order and Heavenly Order ability users were quite problematic; attacks that were too powerful could easily hurt their own, and those that were too weak couldn''t break through the defense of the Gigantification Mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. Ironically, the advantage of having more masters turned into a disadvantage due to mutual interference, allowing Chen Fei to repeatedly find gaps and break out of multiple encirclements, each time by a narrow margin. Striking the unprepared while the "Undying Pigeon" Rebel Army was dazed by his continuous "combo attacks", Chen Fei did not linger in combat and charged in one direction. What surprised him, however, was that the adult metallic giant dragon he had once fought did not show up from beginning to end. If it had appeared, breaking through would by no means have been as smooth as it was now. This led Chen Fei to a speculation. Perhaps the rebels hadn''t been able to completely control the adult metallic giant dragon; if released carelessly, there was a good chance that the Dragon of Slaughter would turn against them and massacre the rebels. Not to mention whether it was controlled, even normal metallic giant dragons were known for their unpredictable, enigmatic temperaments. Metallic dragons like Yilan that could communicate normally were almost countable in the history of their kind. Behind the Gigantification Mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, two sets of "Air Burst (2)" magic arrays constantly exploded intense surges of air, propelling the machine, which had its weight reduced to zero grams by the combined efforts of the "Gravity (1)" magic array and psi skill "Gravity Adjustment Module (1%)", to skim at low altitude at full speed. The battery icon in the upper right corner of the field of view showed 17%; after all, the gigantic machine''s movements, railgun weapons, and the operation of various magic arrays consumed a lot of electric and crystalline energy every second. Sword Qi and attack spells shot from behind, and this time, no punches were pulled. However, due to the visual displacement caused by the "Light Distortion (1)" spell and the visual obstruction from the "Mist (1)" spell, most of the attacks missed, but still, a few hit the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. The magic arrays responsible for defense and disruption continuously overloaded and collapsed as a result; the unprotected machine was subjected to varying degrees of damage, with its limbs often getting severed or disconnected, while its main body also became battered. What made matters worse was that other magic arrays were also affected. Fortunately, the magic arrays could be instantly re-inscribed, which still allowed this large combat mobile armor wrapped around Chen Fei to dart back and forth, at speeds that made it difficult to shake off the pursuers. However, these external injuries could be rapidly repaired by psi skills within a short period, as long as it doesn''t affect Chen Fei himself, merely consuming some energy points. To the dogged pursuers, this Gigantification Mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor appeared as if it had a cheat for immortality. Their all-out attacks either missed or failed to be decisive. There should have been a new mission published by the Dog System here, but it didn''t release even a single fart now. After expending nearly a hundred energy points to mitigate the damage from attacks, Chen Fei finally broke out of the "Undying Pigeon" legion camp. The elite pursuers still numbered more than ten; although their numbers had decreased markedly, the danger they posed was no less than when inside the camp. If Chen Fei had a "Dragon Slayer Missile" at this moment... indeed, mutual annihilation seemed like a good idea. But the evolved 30mm caliber Railgun Rapid-Fire Cannon no longer posed much threat to these pursuers composed of Earth Order and Heavenly Order masters. War Professionals could dodge, and Spellcasters could defend and counterattack. Simple physical strikes without the enhancement of explosions had quite limited lethality. Although there were still trump cards like the "Basic Laser Emitter" and "Basic Particle Beam", having broken through all the way, Chen Fei had no moment to catch his breath. The electric and crystal energies were already spending more than he could afford. The battery icon in the upper right corner of the field of view began to flicker, changing from yellow to red, and the internal percentage number plummeted to single digits, now at 9%; the energy reserves were quickly depleting. Even now, wanting to use directional energy output powers that could threaten the pursuing masters, be it laser beams or particle beams, would not sustain more than a few shots, and after firing, this Gigantification Mode "Dragon King" would be directly out of operation. It was possible to directly exchange for electric energy and particle beam energy for laser beam and particle beam attacks at the black-hearted Dog System; however, one degree of electricity required 3600 energy points, the most basic particle beam started at 1 energy point. To threaten a Heavenly Sovereign, at least 100 energy points were needed, and even 1000 energy points for a particle beam wouldn''t be considered too much. Chen Fei''s over thirty thousand energy points on hand might seem ample, but if all converted to laser beam and particle beam energy, it would be nowhere near enough to annihilate all the pursuers. Especially in a situation where he was out of ammo and provisions, as long as there was one enemy left alive, then by next year, the grass on his grave would be at least three feet high. Energy Points -3600! Energy Points: 32615/45000 Still, Chen Fei couldn''t help but spend a substantial amount of energy points to exchange for electricity at the Dog System, 1 energy point for 1000 watts/second, 3600 energy points for one kilowatt-hour of electricity. Energy reserve was at 9%, completely static. Damn it, fed the dogs again! After converting one unit of electricity, it almost did nothing for the energy reserve capacity, even if all remaining energy points were converted, it probably wouldn''t increase by even 5%. Energy points are always missed when needed most, and Chen Fei''s long-term "frugal housekeeping" had still left him far from having enough. If Chen Fei could have one minute, he could evolve a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft and rush into the sky at the first opportunity, flying far away before those fiercely chasing soldiers could even catch his tailwind. A shadow swept across the sky at high speed. The rebel''s communication blockade had disappeared without warning. "''Rookie'', I''m coming to help you!" Minante''s voice suddenly entered Chen Fei''s ears through the clear public communication channel. Almost at the same time, two particle beams fell from the sky behind the Gigantification Mode "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, plowing deeply into the ground creating trenches over two feet deep, and the dirt and rocks that were vaporized turned into pungent blue smoke that quickly spread. The relentless experts immediately slowed down, and when they looked up, they saw a "Sky Falcon" proudly flying off into the distance. "Is it from the ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion, are they trying to kill us?" "Looking for death, damn it!" "Come down here and fight one-on-one if you dare!" The "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s experts, infuriated, waved their fists at the departing "Sky Falcon" and then chased after the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, which had gained some distance. Chen Fei took the opportunity to dial a number. "Yilan, come and help me, and bring the Storage Magical Device while you''re at it." His communication had never been interrupted, but others (dragons) were still affected. "Eh? Wait for me, I''ll be right there!" The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, was taken aback, then responded without hesitation. Combat was an instinct and a talent of the Metallic Dragon lineage, and the many titles including "Divine Weapon" were not just legend. Without ammunition and high-level Crystalline Blocks, Chen Fei was a genuine B-level Special Ability User, but once he had enough resources, he even dared to provoke Heavenly Orders. During the operation by the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" Team 04 organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, he had sent a Heavenly Order War Professional to his unjust death using a 600-caliber Demolition Bomb. Humans were like that too; barehanded, they couldn''t even beat an old sow, but if they had a 59, a three-year-old child could kill most of the terrestrial creatures. After all, pressing the nuclear bomb detonation switch requires no more than 10 grams of pressure, which a toddler''s strength more than suffices. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" thoughtfully created a new map visual interface, marking the respective positions of Chen Fei and Yilan and the estimated flying time for the direct distance. As long as he could hold on for another five minutes, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan would be able to reach Chen Fei''s location, not only to help him fend off those skilled pursuers but also to bring the most crucial Space System Alchemy Storage Device, which would transform Chen Fei''s combat effectiveness drastically. The energy reserve was now down to 5%. There was no choice left! Chen Fei reluctantly deactivated the Gigantification Mode of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, the Magic Array Inscription Unit dropped from 100 back to 20, many magic arrays disappeared, and the consumption of crystal energy plummeted, but this also made him extremely vulnerable; attacks from behind could not be taken even once, and this time if his limbs were severed, the flying parts would definitely be real arms and legs, irreparable even with Psi Skills. At a height of 500 meters above the ground, Minante, piloting the "Sky Falcon" Assembled Combat Aircraft, turned around and once again launched an attack on the ground. 12 rocket missiles roared out. The "Undying Pigeon" Legion, if they dared to snatch people from the hands of the "Radiant Tiger" Legion, shouldn''t blame the "Radiant Tiger" Legion for turning hostile. Both officially and personally, Minante would help Chen Fei escape from the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s pursuers. Chapter 693 693: Section 688 - Time Difference Between Life and Death The barrage of rockets that rained down from the sky turned the ground into a sea of fire, with lethal shrapnel flying in all directions. The elite soldiers of the "Undying Pigeon" legion, who had been relentlessly pursuing Chen Fei, almost plunged into the fiery hell, roaring with rage. Several offensive spells soared into the sky, but the high mobility of the "Sky Falcon" left all these attacks falling short. The Heavenly Sovereigns wielded a certain degree of flying ability, but within the atmosphere, without the right equipment, they could do nothing but watch helplessly as the specially constructed combat aircraft zoomed by. Especially the Legion Commander Valenya, who led from the front, was so furious that he felt like he was about to burst, swinging his longsword on the ground and venting his impotent anger. "Minante, it''s too quiet, at least throw down a thermobaric bomb, or a cloud bomb would do!" Chen Fei complained through the unencrypted public communication channel to Minante that the attack was incredibly weak, like a little girl baaing, not even causing a single enemy casualty. "Huh? Are you insane?" Minante was shocked; these were the words of a brutal and ruthless person. For just these few people, was it necessary to resort to thermobaric bombs and cloud bombs? Weren''t they afraid of overkill? They might as well have suggested dropping a "Dragon Slayer Missile" and put an end to everything for everyone. That''s exactly what Chen Fei was thinking¡ªhis hands weren''t limited to just one "Dragon Slayer Missile." But at the moment, the space series alchemy storage artifact holding the "Dragon Slayer Missiles" was being delivered by the female metallic giant dragon, Yilan, and was about to arrive soon. The temperature plummeted suddenly, and the sea of fire belching out rolling heat waves turned into a few wisps of blue smoke in an instant. The scorched earth quickly got covered with a layer of white frost, and the layer of frost visibly thickened at an observable rate. The spellcasters among the pursuers cast a water system spell to freeze, quickly putting out the fierce flames. An eager figure, surrounded by a green wind battle qi flame, rushed through the low-temperature frozen zone, holding a great sword in both hands, and slashed fiercely at Chen Fei, who was clad in the "Dragon King" assault heavy armor. The coordination among the Earth Order and Heavenly Order experts of the "Undying Pigeon" legion steadily improved, with less and less interference among themselves, and a growing understanding. For Chen Fei, this was not good news. Particularly since, once a Heavenly Sovereign fully unleashed their rule domain, he''d have no play left, so he must create as much distance as possible. "Minante, your firepower is too weak, release all your ammo," Chen Fei urged without forgetting to press the incoming support, Minante, to fully commit. Most aerial combat cases typically ended within two or three exchanges, and dogfights were rare. There was no need to conserve ammunition. Even if one intended to drag out the battle, it would depend on whether there were enough reserves of mobility energy and how many fault-free flying hours were left. Moreover, landing while loaded with ammo carried certain risks, so naturally, the best course of action was to drop everything and head home. Minante''s actions were typical of someone who hadn''t seen enough real combat. In contrast, Chen Fei had struggled to survive through blood and fire, gaining broader experience that daily training flight hours could never provide. A hundred hours of training flight couldn''t compare to the first minute of actual combat. After Chen Fei''s merciless rebuke, Minante felt somewhat humiliated but retorted irritably, "Stop yapping, who''s flying here, you or me?" Despite the retort, actions ultimately spoke louder than words, as he altered his course and opened fire toward the ground without regard for Chen Fei''s presence within the kill radius. A dense barrage enveloped the sky as it rained down. A faint light screen suddenly unfurled, and inside, hundreds of fireballs and boulders rose defiantly to meet the aerial attack, yet the pursuers'' advance inevitably slowed down, increasing the distance between them and Chen Fei. Explosions resounded incessantly in mid-air, even forming a fire cloud, but many attacks still fell down, striking against the light screen and stirring ripples. An indestructible blue-white particle beam penetrated the defensive magic without any hindrance, only to break into countless points of light and dissipate in the air¡ªa Heavenly Sovereign had unleashed his Rule Domain and forcibly neutralized the attack of the "Sky Falcon''s" particle beam. However, his Rule Domain extended over the others as well, causing significant interference with its strong exclusivity. War Professionals could still manage somewhat, with their Battle Qi Flame merely suppressed to some degree, but other spellcasters couldn''t even successfully cast Earth Order spells. At and above the Earth Order rank, ability users were actually better suited to fighting alone. Unless there was an appropriate tactic or a compatible elemental pairing, it was difficult for them to work smoothly together. For instance, one using fire spells while the other cast ice spells would render their efforts void upon combining¡ªsometimes, one plus one did not equal two and could even be less than two or even zero. Therefore, there was more internal conflict than the presumed augmentation of combat power. "Dammit, dammit, dammit! Order the ''Sky Falcon'' squad to take off immediately, right now, and shoot that ''Radiant Tiger'' bastard down for me." The Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" legion, Valenya, issued the command, marking undoubtedly the unluckiest day for him¡ªa mere B-ranked supernatural power user was slipperier than an oil-slick eel, and he, a venerable Legion Commander, had been made a fool of. Once he caught the brat, dismembering would be the very least he''d do. He had initially planned to spare the opponent''s life, but now it seemed only death would quell his raging fury. Most land combat legions owned not just ground forces but also a sizable contingent of aerial combat capabilities, like the small assembled combat aircraft "Sky Falcon" that made up the land aviation combat squads, as well as various classes and purposes of Light Wing Ships. However, large-scale Constructed Aircraft like the Main Force Lightwing Ships were mostly assigned to independently organized large-scale combat fleets, and it was rare for a land combat legion to possess them, primarily due to logistical reasons. The daily operational costs of maintaining a Main Force Lightwing Ship were not trivial, with the expense of a few such ships being comparable to that of a fully staffed land combat legion. Perhaps plagued by misfortune, during Chen Fei''s disruption within the "Undying Pigeon" legion''s base camp, railgun weapons blindly spewed metal bullets, accidentally destroying numerous constructed aircraft. Now, only two "Sky Falcons" had managed to take off intact, and without hesitation, Minante made his choice. "The ''Undying Pigeon'' legion''s ''Sky Falcons'' have taken off, ''Rookie,'' I''ll lure them away, you take care!" Having Minante alone pilot the "Sky Falcon" to draw away the two "Sky Falcons" from the "Undying Pigeon" legion was the limit of what he could manage alone. Any more would be beyond his capability. If the two "Sky Falcons" from the opposing side were to target Chen Fei, desperately fleeing on the ground, and bombard him with impunity like Minante did, it would not just be about escaping¡ªhe would probably struggle even to survive. The natural suppressive advantage of air superiority over ground personnel was not lost on Minante, and Chen Fei was equally aware. Taking advantage of altitude and mobility to bully ground personnel was something they had often done. "Then I''ll leave it to you!" As Minante continuously harassed pursuers, Chen Fei succeeded in widening the distance to over a thousand meters. Had it not been for the Psychic Series ability user on the other side who had a firm lock on him, he would have already made his escape. Facing his highly skilled pursuers once more, Chen Fei remained utterly calm. His confidence stemmed from the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, who was expected to arrive within two minutes¡ªwith their combined forces and an ample supply of equipment and material, they should have no trouble ensuring their safety and escape, even if they could not defeat those Earth Order giants and Heavenly Sovereigns. The two "Sky Falcons" of the "Undying Pigeon" legion had barely approached when Minante effortlessly hit them with a few long-distance bursts and then easily, smoothly made his escape, even the ground commander Valenya failed to notice anything amiss. As a land combat commander, he had limited understanding of aerial combat tactics and was unaware of the trade-offs involved. With the air cover gone, the distance between Chen Fei and his pursuers shrank again. The situation seemed increasingly perilous, even on the brink of danger, but the former was playing a game of timing, counting on Yilan''s arrival with her Space System Alchemy Storage Device¡ªeven if victory came in the final second. 500 meters! 300 meters! 200 meters! The two were almost within reach. A malevolent wind blew as a massive figure descended from the sky like a meteorite. Boom!~ Chapter 694 694: Section 689 - Counterattack "Roar!~" The sudden roar shocked the pursuers of the "Undying Pigeon" legion, turning their faces ashen with fear. It was truly one problem after another. They had just driven off the small Assembled Combat Aircraft of the "Radiant Tiger" legion, and now, a Metallic Giant Dragon hurtled down from the sky. For the "Undying Pigeon" legion, it seemed as though even drinking cold water would get stuck in their teeth¡ªmisfortune had truly come knocking at their door. The massive and formidable body of the dragon released the "Void Magnetic Field" before landing, turning what would have been a landing into a crash. The force, combined with acceleration, created a crater nearly 30 meters in diameter on the ground¡ªa 600-ton force would make more or less the same impact. The Metallic Dragon, covered in sharp edges, fully extended its wings within the three-meter-deep crater, emitting a deafening roar. Indeed, due to its exceptional toughness and resilience, not many dragonkind dare to land so recklessly and with such force. "Got you, Chen Fei!" Yilan used her own Tail Spear to present a Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact to Chen Fei, who was standing at the edge of the crater. Yilan Express, mission guaranteed. This express delivery girl was quite the sight, with her sharp scales glistening under the sunlight. "Thanks, Yilan!" Chen Fei reached out to take it but didn''t expect that her Tail Spear would suddenly probe and coil around him without warning, securely ensnaring his body. Then, retracting quickly, she placed him on the dragon''s back. "The Dragon Rider game is about to start. Are you ready?" Yilan spoke as if it were already a settled matter. Cangqiong Star had long since ceased the cultivation of Dragon Knight apprentices, and Sky Dragon City had destroyed all Dragon Flutes, thereby completely ending the ten-thousand-year-old covenant. Times had changed, and now the entire planet was under the rule of the Slan Dynasty, which had its own towering figures responsible for shouldering the heavens. The ancient covenant no longer held any meaning for continued existence and naturally faded out of history. "Hey, hey, Yilan, don''t..." Chen Fei, now locked on the dragon''s back, turned pale with fright. His situation was worse than if he had been captured by the "Undying Pigeon" legion. If Sky Dragon City found out that he and a dragon were publicly playing the Dragon Rider game, that would be a brazen provocation toward the Dragon Clan. Yilan was still underage and could be let off lightly for not knowing any better, but Chen Fei was already of age. If minors didn''t know any better, did that mean adults didn''t either? Of course, this had nothing to do with age. Longer-lived species matured mentally somewhat later, and the Dragon Clan had many over a hundred-year-old infants. Rather than letting Yilan play Dragon Rider games so recklessly, Chen Xiao''er would rather be caught by the "Undying Pigeon" legion¡ªat least they would leave a whole corpse. "Haha, I''ve wanted to do this for a long time, Chen Fei. What do you think?" Yilan, flapping her fully extended Blade Wings, flew out of the crater. The people from the "Undying Pigeon" legion stood dumbfounded, watching this newly formed Dragon Rider pair. Some even rubbed their eyes, thinking they were subject to a Psychic series of Illusion Technique. "I think it''s very bad." Chen Fei felt completely numb, with a sense of doom closing in. Privately, playing Dragon Rider games might be dismissed as child''s play, but to publicly announce it on the battlefield... Emmm, this death flag, perfect! Sky Dragon City would definitely not turn a blind eye; in their eyes, Chen Fei was nothing but an ant that could be squished casually. "Don''t tell me what you think; it''s about what I think, and I think it feels very good. Chen Fei, take the Dragon Spear, and let''s fight together!" Without asking, Yilan evolved a long lance and unilaterally thrust it into Chen Fei''s hands, the design uncannily resembling a replica of Longinus. Probably only the Dragon Clan knew the exact appearance of the dimensional coordinates, the average human citizen certainly wasn''t clear about the true operational principles of the Dimensional Gate. "I''m going to die, going to die!" Chen Fei, clutching the Dragon Spear forcibly given to him, continued to murmur subconsciously. The material of the spear, transformed from the Metallic Giant Dragon itself, was even better than what he could replicate with his Psi Skill. If it wasn''t reclaimed in the end, it would do more than suffice as a divine weapon and family heirloom. "We''re starting now!" Yilan''s attention shifted from Chen Fei back to the "ants" on the ground. Even though she was more rational than other Metallic Dragons and easier to communicate with, when it came to creatures she felt no connection to, she viewed them just like all other Metallic Dragons did¡ªants, mere ants, all easily crushed with a single swipe. "Run! Split up and run!" The "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya turned and ran without any hesitation, as the situation had already reversed. Valenya, who controlled an adult Metallic Dragon, was very clear about just how terrifying the Dragon of Slaughter could be¡ªit wasn''t a dragon at all, but a combat weapon bred for slaughter. He had never imagined that the relationship between this Chen fellow and the Metallic Dragon could reach such a level¡ªperhaps there was some sort of secret technique involved. The adult Metallic Dragon controlled by the "Undying Pigeon" Legion was a Dragon Hunter family''s secret breed, trained in the shadows for a thousand years, starting from a dragon egg artificially incubated, with generations upon generations taking turns to raise it. Some even lost their lives in the process, and despite such a great sacrifice, they still couldn''t completely control this capricious, temperamental Metallic Dragon. The sight of the dragon rider combination appearing in such a perfect relationship filled Valenya with envy and jealousy. He gnashed his teeth with hatred¡ªwhy was it that someone holding such power wasn''t him, but this extremely lucky and unknown small fry? Great, a Dragon Slayer, huh?! Well, indeed, the Dragon Slayer was impressive!!! One hand slays dragons, the other hand rides dragons¡ªChen Xiao''er''s move was definitely 666. It was also lucky that Yilan was a Metallic Giant Dragon with indifferent relations to its kin; if it had been other kinds of dragonkind, forget about riding¡ªit would likely be a meet-and-kill situation, with a chomp, a swallow, and then twenty years later, another fine warrior. The pursuers, who had been chasing relentlessly just moments before, immediately turned tail without any hesitation, admitting they couldn''t play this game. If it had been Chen Fei alone, or Yilan alone, the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s experts would still be confident in their ability to fight, even capturing their opponents alive. But the strength of a Dragon Knight wasn''t just legend; for over a hundred thousand years, on the Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere, it was one of the main forces combating the extraterrestrial race "Sagali." The combination of a Human Knight and their mount, the Giant Dragon, was a prime example of one plus one being greater than two. If a series of Dragon Rider war techniques were unleashed, these Human Knights, who had never set foot on the battlefield beyond the heavens, might very well get wiped out on the spot. And things would be even worse for those of Earth Order¡ªthe Dragon Knight would cut them down as easily as chopping vegetables. The feet of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s pursuers became windy, even faster than when they had arrived, as they now ran for their lives¡ªthey had to dig deep for every once of strength, for a single misstep would serve them up as dragon fodder. Chen Fei directly used the Dragon Spear in his hand, adding a few energy points, transforming it into a huge cannon. A 600mm caliber Demolition Bomb, farewell and good riddance! Bang!~ A mushroom cloud rose a kilometer away, the intense shockwave spreading as far as five kilometers before it finally dissipated, the aftermath sweeping through like a fierce gale. A few of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s pursuers failed to cover the distance of a football field, falling within the effective radius of the 600mm caliber Demolition Bomb. Even if by some good fortune they weren''t struck by shrapnel, the violent shockwave was enough to give them a severe shake, leaving them either dead or severely wounded. "Wow! That was effective!" Despite Chen Fei''s combat style being somewhat different from what she had imagined, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan still gave a vigorous nod of approval. With a fierce flap of her wings, she unleashed hundreds of sharp Blade Thorns at a velocity not much slower than railgun weapons, blanketing the escape route of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s experts. This was the group battle killing technique of the Metallic Giant Dragon clan, "Thorn Storm." If one was pierced by any of these sharp Triangular Spiral Blade Spikes, unless they died on the spot, there was no point in trying to save them. It would be more prudent to give their last words, otherwise, it would be too late. In the midst of dust and commotion, a muffled groan was heard¡ªstatistics yielded a bountiful harvest. The Blade Wing of the female Giant Dragon shrank by a third, but in the next second, new Blade Thorns grew out, and her wings regained their fullness. In today''s world, the Metallic Dragons are far from lacking sustenance, ensuring the young with sufficient nutrition have frighteningly high self-healing capabilities. "Yilan, hold steady, I''m firing a few more shots!" The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" used the function modules of the Tactical Armor to help Chen Fei capture the target''s location and predict the direction of their escape. Two more 600mm caliber Demolition Bombs howled along the acceleration track of the Railgun, smashing into the ground with earth-shattering force. Riding dragons and firing cannons¡ªa man couldn''t ask for a better feeling. With the space system alchemy storage artifact fully stocked with combat materials, his combat ability was enhanced to an inconceivable level. "Yilan, don''t let a single one get away." No sooner had Chen Fei spoken than a thunderous roar like an explosion came from afar, and a Triangular Spiral Blade Spike shot across the distance, arriving near him in the blink of an eye. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan calmly twisted her body. The Blade Spike didn''t hit Chen Fei, but instead penetrated her dragon body to the depth of over a foot. Before Chen Fei could ask anything, he saw the Blade Spike rapidly soften and disappear on the surface of the dragon''s body, leaving the Dragon Scales unscathed as if the Blade Spike had never existed. "Using weapons evolved from the body of a Metallic Dragon against a Metallic Dragon itself is the epitome of stupidity," Yilan said, not hiding her scorn. That strike had had the right posture, power, and lethal speed, even containing Battle Qi. It should have possessed terrifying killing power, but it seemed to forget that the Blade Thorn was a part of Yilan''s body. If it was a part of the body, how could it possibly harm the body itself? It was simply a matter of a drop of water returning to the sea, no longer separate. Any excess Battle Qi didn''t even qualify to shake the dragon''s body. Chapter 695 695: Section 690 - Stealing Home "Ha... what the hell is this?" Turning his head back, Chen Fei had transformed into a Dragon Knight, having just taken down an enemy "Sky Falcon". Minante couldn''t quite believe his own eyes, and in that brief moment of distraction, he was nearly blown to pieces by a particle beam that grazed by, along with his assembled combat aircraft. After all, this was a battlefield, and the enemy was no greenhorn fresh to combat, ready to deliver a killing blow at the first opportunity. "F*cking hell, see if I give you face!" Having just skirted death at the hands of Ghost Gate Pass, Minante was immediately incensed. A mere trifle of an opponent had sought his life; at the very least, it should have been a "Rookie"-level adversary. He immediately redirected his attention back to the battle that was still underway. The "Sky Falcon" seemed to turn into a frenzied spirit, tracing uncertain and erratic flight paths, locking onto the opponent that was attempting another attack. The two assembled combat aircraft chased and dodged each other in the sky, their flight paths intertwined, with magnetic rail-gun shots mixed with blue and white particle beams, fighting a desperate battle to the death. "Chen Fei, these guys all ran away!" The "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s experts didn''t hesitate to scatter like birds and beasts, which greatly displeased Yilan. It had flown here with great effort, intending to wage a battle for three hundred rounds, but was this all it got to see? As it flew past the area covered by the "Thorn Storm", the shiny Trilateral Spiral Blade Spikes flew back on their own, like birds returning to the forest, neatly tucking into Yilan''s wings. From the outside, the number of the Blade Wing''s feather blades seemed unchanged. Without this ability, the Metallic Dragons would have exhausted themselves launching such fatal blows repeatedly without killing the enemy, instead wearing themselves out first. "The monk might run, but the temple will stay put, head to the front left, I want to return the favor." Chen Fei was of course aware of how difficult it was to kill those of the Earth Order and Heavenly Order. Despite having killed a Heavenly Sovereign before, he''d caught the target off guard with a 600mm Demolition Bomb. Once prepared, it wouldn''t be so easy to succeed again. The 600mm Demolition Bombs launched repeatedly were unable to hit their target, and you could even see the clearly defined space which had absorbed and isolated the intense explosions. That was the Rule Domain of the Heavenly Sovereign, manipulating laws in a small area to render ordinary attacks ineffective. The situation was somewhat like the enemies fruitlessly chasing after Chen Xiao''er earlier, being unable to catch or kill them, leading to extreme embarrassment on both sides. If the pursuers had been only one or two people, stretching their domains, it would have been almost more difficult for Chen Fei to escape the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp than to ascend to heaven, and he couldn''t have counted on support from Minante and Yilan. But it did not matter. If you couldn''t beat the enemy tactically, then just find a way strategically. As Chen Fei said, the monk could run away, but the temple would stay put. He roared at the "Undying Pigeon" Legion, announcing his return, determined to show them that casting out spirits is easier than sending them away! He launched over twenty 600mm Demolition Bombs towards the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp in quick succession, and after depleting his stock, he continued with 152mm ones. The distance wasn''t too far¡ªwithin Chen Fei''s righteous radius. He also took advantage of the situation to deploy several drones to establish an aerial reconnaissance system. The "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp suddenly faced an apocalyptic disaster as earth-shattering explosions erupted one after another, causing countless casualties and tremendous damage to materiel and equipment. Be it 600mm or 152mm¡ªeven though the caliber of the former was four times that of the latter¡ªit didn''t change the fact that both were treated as demolishing entire soccer-field-sized areas. Especially against personnel, the defense of the Heavenly Order might allow them to survive, Earth Order fighters might barely protect themselves, but Human Order ability users weren''t so lucky. Even spellcasters who chanted spell incantations with all their might would inevitably have their spells collapse, instantly turning to ash. But the worst was yet to come. The fully empowered female Metallic Dragon didn''t chase after the scattered pursuers, but instead flew directly above the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp. Two ton-class Thermobaric Bombs were dropped, and with two thuds, the shock waves burst forth like a landslide and tsunami. The flames and smoke engulfed everything, and even Yilan in the air felt like a small boat in a tempest, its flight shaky and unstable. Chen Fei on the dragon''s back felt like he''d been hit by a sledgehammer, shaking so hard that his hearing began to fade, stars flashed before his eyes, and he felt dizzy, nauseated, and on the verge of vomiting. If the sky was like this, the ground had been left with even fewer survivors. "Good guy!" After finally taking vengeful action against their thieving opponent, Minante finally had the chance to notice the commotion in the distance, staring dumbfounded at the smoke that almost completely enveloped the entire "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp. "Rookie" couldn''t possibly have thrown down a Dragon Slayer Missile, could he? He hurriedly called out to Chen Fei over the clear-code public communication channel. "Hey, ''Rookie,'' what did you do? Such a ruckus!" "Nothing much, just dropped a couple of Thermobaric Bombs, and a bunch of 600 caliber and 152 caliber Explosives." Chen Fei responded nonchalantly, considering all this just a minor scene; the enemy hadn''t witnessed him blasting Light Wing Ships and leveling towns with Dragon Slayer Missiles without a care for cost. "You, you you you... how much of a grudge and grievance do you hold against Valenya?" Minante''s eyeballs nearly popped out. Saying it lightly as dropping two Thermobaric Bombs, but looking at the extent of the coverage and the magnitude of the explosion, it must be at least 1000 kilograms in strength, right? And on top of that so many 600 and 152 caliber bombs¡ªthat doesn''t leave anyone a way out. Even beings of the Heavenly Order would likely struggle to survive, right? "No grudges, no grievances, just routine operations." In Chen Fei''s space system alchemical storage artifact, the smallest caliber for a shell was 30mm, and those were used as rapid-fire ammunition. Beyond that, they all started at 152mm, with the rest being either anti-vehicular landmines or ten-ton explosives. ``` Hmm, I''ve never seen the spectacle of ten tons of explosives being dropped all at once. I should find an opportunity to try it out. ``` ``` "Have you gone mad?" ``` ``` The mere thought of these munitions possibly being dumped on his uncle''s "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s territory made Minante''s scalp tingle with numbness. ``` ``` When Chen Fei had faced off against him, he had never unleashed such crazed firepower. Perhaps he had shown some respect. ``` ``` Such fierce firepower, just watching could scare a person to death. ``` ``` "You''ll get used to it, you''ll get used to it. You could do it too." ``` ``` Chen Fei stood on the back of the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, overlooking the chaotic mess on the ground below. ``` ``` Despite his current posturing, he was struggling with the problem of how to dismount the dragon. He really wanted to just jump down, but Yilan''s back scales were gripping his feet tightly, making it hard to even lift a leg, let alone jump off. ``` ``` The strength of a human was no match for a Giant Dragon, especially one of the Metallic Dragons known for their might. ``` ``` "Thief, our enmity is irreconcilable!" ``` ``` Standing outside the blazing encampment, Valenya, the Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion, pointed his sword at the Metallic Giant Dragon and the Chen Fei on its back. ``` ``` He had finally witnessed the terror of a Dragon Knight. With such combat power, no wonder they could contend with the Extraterrestrial Races within the stratosphere for a hundred thousand years. His "Undying Pigeon" Legion had been wiped out in less than five minutes, and it was uncertain how many would survive, probably not many. ``` ``` So Valenyna felt his heart bleed with pain, anger rising from his chest, and malevolence from his gall. He took out his walkie-talkie. ``` ``` "Release ''Steel Rock''; target that business hotel. I want equivalent retaliation, I want no creature left alive." ``` ``` You attack my base, I''ll attack yours. To hell with collateral damage, to hell with massacring civilians, damn it all! ``` ``` The furious Valenya had completely lost his reason, breaking the baseline against targeting civilians that the Rebel Army had not crossed so far. ``` ``` After all, the Zilu Continent was the stronghold for the Rebel Army''s attempt to restore the Tessa Empire. Turning their weapons against their own people could lead to resistance or even loss of support from their backers¡ªa fatal outcome for their cause. ``` ``` "The current state of ''Steel Rock'' is not stable..." ``` ``` The person on the other end of the walkie-talkie intended to say more, but was once again interrupted by the exacerbated Valenya. ``` ``` "Steel Rock" was the name of the adult Metallic Giant Dragon. The Dragon Hunter families were also quite clear on the naming traditions of the Metallic Dragonkind, which often included metal, making it easier to distinguish among the dragons. ``` ``` "I don''t care, do it now, right now, immediately." ``` ``` If Chen Fei and that Metallic Giant Dragon were allowed to return to the business hotel, his own adult Metallic Giant Dragon "Steel Rock" would have no chance of winning. There was only one opportunity, not to be missed, as it would not come again. ``` ``` Damn Dragon Hunters, if you won''t listen, then I''ll flatten your entire clan. ``` ``` Valenya clearly held a dominant position in his collaboration with the Dragon Hunter families. ``` ``` Adam: "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya spotted. ``` ``` A flash appeared before Chen Fei''s eyes, and his visual interface marked the position of the Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion¡ªa big fish indeed. ``` ``` Several drones that made up the reconnaissance system had identified many ground personnel. ``` ``` "Yilan, 4 o''clock direction, 4500 meters away, on the ground." ``` ``` "Received! Leave this one to me." ``` ``` Yilan seemed eager to join the fray; Chen Fei''s onslaught had been so intense that it had hardly gotten a chance to engage. ``` ``` "Okay! It''s all yours!" ``` ``` The combat power of the Metallic Giant Dragon was on par with the Heavenly Order. Plus, with Chen Fei¡ªor accurately, the ammunition reserves from his Space System Alchemy Storage Device¡ªhe was determined to take down a Heavenly Sovereign; it wasn''t impossible. ``` ``` "Wait! Chen Fei, you can''t kill Valenya! ``` ``` The public communication channel was still open, so Minante naturally heard the conversation between Chen Fei and Yilan and hurriedly spoke up to prevent them. ``` ``` "Why not? He''s my enemy!" ``` ``` Chen Fei was puzzled. This commander of the "Undying Pigeon" had just attacked the "Radiant Tiger" Legion. The latter should be pleased to see Valenya taken down rather than pleading for his life¡ªit seemed like a ludicrous idea. ``` ``` Could it be that the commander of the "Radiant Tiger" Legion had a penchant for self-punishment? ``` ``` If it were Chen Fei, he would be relentless against anyone who dared to provoke him. ``` Chapter 696 696: Section 691 - A Dragon Comes from Afar "But Valenya is not my enemy!" Minante was also in a tricky situation. From his personal standpoint, he would support Chen Fei in taking down that detestable legion commander without hesitation. However, from his uncle''s standpoint, he couldn''t just stand by and watch an ally''s commander be taken down by someone else. After all, everyone was on the same side, and although there was face-slapping among them, the lower ranks could die off casually, but the higher-ups still had to maintain some decorum. It wasn''t necessary to go to the extent of a life-and-death struggle. "Are you out of your mind? You are also an enemy to me!" Chen Fei unmercifully exposed the relationship between their positions, really wanting to give the other side a slap to wake him up, he had even forgotten his own role. Of course, he stood on the opposite side of the Rebel Army (Righteous Army). Since Minante chose to consider Valenya as one of his own, well, they might as well all go to the opposite side because he wasn''t really going to show any mercy. "..." Chen Fei''s words left Minante completely at a loss for words. He still thought they were good friends, but this damn position turned things awkward. Logically, after they had dealt with the "Undying Pigeon" legion together, they should now be fighting each other, but neither had the intention of starting a fight, creating a rather bizarre atmosphere. This war originally had nothing to do with Chen Fei, but he had unexpectedly been dragged into it, leading to the situation with Minante they''d landed in today. Was it his fault? "''Rookie'', give me face, just consider it a favor you owe me." Minante dared to swear to heaven, it wasn''t for himself but for his uncle, otherwise he wouldn''t beg for this favor. Chen Fei flicked his little finger; Valenya was doomed to die, and then the "Undying Pigeon" legion would indeed be systematically annihilated from top to bottom. One could imagine the reaction of the high command of the Righteous Army. Likely, all the pressure would suddenly fall on the only remaining complete fighting force in Nandu City, the "Radiant Tiger" legion. His uncle, Legion Commander Befas, still planned to assist Chen Fei in investigating the extraterrestrial "Sagali" potentially lurking within the Righteous Army. Once the relationship completely soured, helping or not helping both weren''t options, and ultimately, it would only benefit those parasitic species. "A favor? Minante, you sure can say that!" Chen Fei stood on the back of the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan, looking towards the "Sky Falcon" maintaining a distance of over ten meters, with Minante piloting it alone. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded his head and said, "Alright, I''ll owe you a favor, but this is an exception." Opponents on the battlefield are just that because of their positions, but personal relationships haven''t changed (a situation often seen among pilots in World War I, fighting fiercely in the sky but brothers on the ground). "Thank you so much!" Minante''s mood compared to 24 hours ago, was utterly different. Just a day ago, he was gritting his teeth in hatred, wanting to dismember Chen Xiao''er, but now he was immensely grateful. "Don''t rush to thank me; this communication lockdown you''ve imposed is really annoying. Give me a dedicated communication channel." To establish and maintain a drone swarm''s laser communication relay channel, Chen Fei''s drones weren''t sparing in their consumption. Despite the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation backed by Blue Star opening up for free supplies, he was still worried about not being supplied on time, which could delay important matters. "It can''t be used for military purposes, and we will maintain surveillance, is that alright?" Minante hesitated for a moment. Authorizing a channel wasn''t a problem, but there were some complications. "No problem, it''s for personal use anyway." Chen Fei planned to place this authorized communication channel in a high-end business hotel so he could contact Teacher Shen and Her Royal Highness and others at any time, without needing to occasionally act as a human relay. Since it''s all civilian communication needs, there was no difference whether it was monitored or not. The other Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was already directly connected to Blue Star, naturally free from communication lockdown issues. "I''ll arrange it right away!" Minante himself didn''t have this authority, but his uncle did. Now that the "Undying Pigeon" legion had collapsed, the real power in Nandu City was held by his uncle, Legion Commander Befas. A nephew''s request was definitely something his uncle had to accommodate. As long as it''s not for military use, turning a blind eye didn''t matter. "I''m leaving first!" With the PY trade completed, Chen Fei no longer lingered. He let Yilan circle over the head of the furiously roaring "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya, while simultaneously broadcasting a message. "Legion Commander Valenya, consider yourself lucky this time. If the ''Radiant Tiger'' legion hadn''t pleaded for you, tomorrow would have been the anniversary of your death." "Little thief, just you wait!" Valenya furiously waved a blade of Sword Qi towards the sky, which dissipated into nothing less than fifty meters away, naturally not even coming close to touching Yilan. The combat power of a Dragon Knight wasn''t just the knight himself; it also included the giant dragon. Before this, the Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" never would have imagined that his legion would be driven off by a Dragon Knight. If he had known the future, he definitely wouldn''t have brought the potentially fatal ticking time bomb, Chen Fei, back to the legion''s main camp. - The small radar warning system installed on the rooftop of the high-end business hotel suddenly detected a strong signal source. The electromagnetic detection waves, enhanced in power, reflected back instantaneously, even exceeding the theoretical working radius. The identification module produced results immediately, identifying it as a Metallic Dragon, the only creature capable of triggering such a strong radar response. Ironically, although Metallic Dragons are fierce, they can never escape radar detection; they instantly become visible as electromagnetic invisibility is virtually non-existent for them. Riva, the chief bodyguard in charge of the entire hotel''s defense, breathed a sigh of relief, assuming that it was Yilan, the female Metallic Dragon who had gone to support Chen Fei, and had likely brought him back as well. "Chirp! ~" The little bird perched on Princess Lin Ziyu''s shoulder suddenly cocked its head. Countless light particles in the air converged, quickly forming a screen of light. In the atmosphere of Cangqiong Star, filled with active Elemental Energy, it, having advanced to the Fifth Rank Human Order, had ascended another level in controlling Light Elemental Energy, making the casting of "Light Mirror Spell" more successful and far less challenging than when it practiced this spell. A fierce Metallic Dragon appeared on the light screen. "Hmm? Is Yilan back?" Princess Lin Ziyu did not see Chen Fei; the screen showed only a Metallic Dragon. "Chirp! Chirp! ~~ Chirp! Chirp! ~~ Chirp! Chirp! ~~" The feathers on the Pure Light Sparrow stood on end, issuing a rapid chirping filled with warning. "What''s wrong, Xiao Jiu?" The little bird''s unusual reaction puzzled Her Royal Highness, who tried to reach out and comfort it, but grasped at air. Xiao Jiu suddenly flapped its wings and soared into the air, leaving her shoulder, constantly chirping. Princess Lin Ziyu sensed something was amiss and, feeling apprehensive, turned her gaze back to the still visible light screen, her eyes narrowing. That was not Yilan! Her gaze landed on the tail spear of the Metallic Dragon. The younglings of the Metallic Dragons were generally nurtured by the Silan Royal Family; thus, members of the royal offspring almost had intuitive knowledge about the habits of Metallic Dragons. The most effective and convenient way to differentiate individual Metallic Dragons was by their tail spears. Each Metallic Dragon''s tail spear differed markedly like human fingerprints, essentially unique. The Metallic Dragon approaching the business hotel at this moment was not Yilan, but an unfamiliar Metallic Dragon. Princess Lin Ziyu immediately recalled that Chen Fei had once encountered another adult Metallic Dragon during a fight at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, which puzzled her greatly. Not only would Sky Dragon City likely have no interest in interfering with internal conflicts of the Human Race, but the Metallic Dragon community, ostensibly under the control of Sky Dragon City, was actually directly governed by the Silan Royal Family, making it highly unlikely for any dragon to disobey its management. Situations like an adult dragon suddenly deciding to leave the "Halo" Dimensional Gate on a whim were exceptionally rare. Moreover, such a dragon would have been dealt with shortly after entering Blue Star''s atmosphere; it was the same on Cangqiong Star, where dragons couldn''t act as they pleased. The origin of this adult Metallic Dragon, therefore, became highly suspicious. "Riva, immediately activate the Composite Magic Shield; that''s not Yilan, it''s an unknown Metallic Dragon," Realizing the suspicious aspects, Princess Lin Ziyu didn''t hesitate and used her walkie-talkie to alert Chief Bodyguard Riva. Not every Metallic Dragon was a friendly force; being a member of the Silan Royal Family, she knew this all too well. "It''s not Yilan, that is... activate the Composite Magic Shield now! Quickly!" Riva responded instantly, shouting urgently. He couldn''t believe he had let his guard down, almost mistaking the approaching Metallic Dragon for their own female Metallic Dragon, Yilan. Without the large Tactical Composite Magic Shield, a Tactical Alchemy Device, the entire hotel building would not withstand several assaults from a Metallic Dragon. "Chirp!"¡Á1 ... "Chirp!"¡Á17 Pure Light Sparrows nearby flew over, circling above the hotel with Xiao Jiu. "Chirp!"¡Á231 The number of Pure Light Sparrows gathering began to increase. Coming to the rooftop and seeing this scene in the sky, Her Royal Highness suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. Chapter 697 697: Section 692 - The Wrath of the Sparrow "Where did all these Pure Light Sparrows come from?" "What''s happening? Hiss! It''s all Pure Light Sparrows!" The people on the rooftop looked at the sky with confusion as more and more Pure Light Sparrows gathered, chirping chaotically. Speaking of the most numerous birds on Cangqiong Star, if the Pure Light Sparrows at the bottom of the Magical Beast hierarchy dare to claim second place, then no other bird would dare claim first. The omnipresent Pure Light Sparrows were only one step away from becoming a plague. The Pure Light Sparrows scattered across the continents and islands of Cangqiong Star weren''t large flocking birds. It was rare to see groups larger than a hundred, let alone tens of thousands. Usually, they nested in small family groups of around ten near lakes, forests, cities, and villages. They were common omnivorous birds. When their numbers reached a certain level, they would naturally split off to form new family groups. There were also plenty of individual free spirits among them. However, the sight before them, with the number of sparrows breaking into the thousands and heading towards the ten thousand mark, was extremely rare. "Chirp!" ¡Á 1893! The chaotic chirping of the Pure Light Sparrows in the sky gradually became uniform. Almost all spellcasters sensed the restlessness of Light Elemental Energy at the same time, forming a rhythm that echoed the increasingly thunderous chirps. A light film expanded and enveloped the entire business hotel. Many people noticed something was off and looked outside, but they saw no enemies and didn''t understand why the Tactical Composite Magic Shield had suddenly activated. Some even thought it was due to the large number of Pure Light Sparrows gathering above the hotel. Although these little birds were practically useless in combat, labeled as Magical Beasts without any offensive spells, their pecking didn''t even hurt. They posed no threat, but their sheer numbers could be intimidating, creating a covering that could make anyone''s skin crawl. "Roar..." Out of nowhere, a roar invaded everyone''s ears without warning. Immediately after came a deafening explosion. The ferocious Metallic Dragon that suddenly appeared in their field of view slammed hard against the Tactical Composite Magic Shield. The intense energy fluctuations even created ripples, with wave after wave appearing on the almost transparent surface of the shield, constantly stirring. "Load at 30%!" The technicians monitoring the Tactical Alchemy Device cried out in shock. This was a large Tactical Composite Magic Shield, which even a railgun could barely penetrate, yet it had lost one-third of its load capacity in a single blow. If it took a few more hits like that, it would break down completely, wouldn''t it? However, it was fortunate that the Tactical Composite Magic Shield had been activated in time. Otherwise, relying solely on the hotel''s structure to withstand such a violent impact would likely result in a huge hole, possibly turning it into a dangerous building. Many who witnessed the Metallic Dragon strike the hotel building were dumbfounded. Wasn''t that Metallic Dragon supposed to be "one of theirs"? Why would it suddenly launch an attack on the hotel for no apparent reason? Was there some misunderstanding? In the eyes of the Dragon Clan, it was often difficult to distinguish between individuals of the Human Race, who seemed as insignificant as ants¡ªsometimes they couldn''t even tell men from women. Similarly, in the eyes of humans, the Metallic Dragons, as large as small mountains, were no different. Only a few individuals with exceptional observational skills noticed that the "unrecognizable" Metallic Dragon was not the one they were familiar with, but a different, unfamiliar Metallic Dragon. No wonder it was so ferocious. Louis Landon, CEO of Louis Industries, who had been on the hotel rooftop, watched as the Metallic Dragon that had backed off over a hundred meters away, preparing to charge again, couldn''t help but remark, "It really deserves to be the center of the Parasitic Species invasion, so much so that even such things can happen!" He was witnessing history, yet the actual events were staggering, including the appearance of a rebellious Metallic Dragon that refused to be controlled by Sky Dragon City. After all, defiance was in the nature of the Metallic Dragons. Even though their Clan Leader had become the Dragon King of this generation, it didn''t seem to make much of a difference in their obedience. While it''s said that the nature of a dragon is hard to change and times may shift as rivers flow, every adult dragon had been "lured (deceived)" into the "Halo," while the new generation of young dragons obediently stayed in school, receiving obligatory education from the Dynasty, just like many Intelligent Species, learning a thing or two each day so that they weren''t just blindly showing their teeth and claws like common wild beasts, which would be disturbing to behold. The sudden sight of a freely acting Metallic Dragon struck Louis Landon as quite peculiar. Having lived a second life, he didn''t care about his own life or death, otherwise, he wouldn''t have risked coming to Cangqiong Star''s Zhai Liuzhou Continent''s Nandu City to witness a historic turning point in Human civilization in person. In his previous life, Cangqiong Star had lost contact with Blue Star. It seemed that the same fate had not been avoided in this life. Boom! ~ "Load at 65%! At most, it can only withstand two more impacts!" The sweating technician monitoring the Tactical Alchemy Device had gone pale. Some spellcasters rushed to the rooftop or pressed against the window, adding their own Magic Shields on top of the Tactical Composite Magic Shield in their own way. When catastrophe strikes, no one is spared. If they let the Evil Dragon break through the Tactical Composite Magic Shield, no one would escape unharmed. "Chirp!" ¡Á 24509! The chirping in the sky grew louder and more uniform. More and more Pure Light Sparrows flew in from all directions, some of them even shimmering with the glow of Light Elemental fluctuations. Neither the Metallic Dragon nor the people in the hotel could spare the time to pay attention to the birds gathering for unknown reasons. One side was attacking, the other was desperately defending, and both were locked in a stalemate over the Tactical Composite Magic Shield. Compared to the Protective Barrier used by the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, the Tactical Alchemy Device on the hotel rooftop that emitted the large Tactical Composite Magic Shield was far inferior. Even with additional Magic Shields provided by spellcasters, it was like a drop in the bucket as more and more ripples of Elemental Energy appeared on the surface of the light film. The technician responsible for this Tactical Alchemy Device''s worst fears were coming true. The threshold for endurance deteriorated rapidly, and the Tactical Composite Magic Shield was nearing its breaking point. "Chirp!" ¡Á 91745! Somehow, the sky had gradually darkened. ``` "Mr. Randon, look at the sky!" Hearing the exclamations of some people, Chief Bodyguard Riva looked up and was left somewhat speechless by the sight. The sky was still clear, but the sunlight coming through was sparse. Countless birds circled in the sky, their silhouettes blocking the light of the Holy Flame Sun. "It''s the Pure Light Sparrows! So many of them!" Following suit, Louis Landon looked up into the sky and suddenly remembered Chen Fei''s Second Rank Pure Light Sparrow. The mass of little birds, no bigger than a fist, was so vast that it darkened the sky. Quantity had led to a qualitative change, making for an impressive sight. Even the Metallic Dragons attacking the main building of the high-end business hotel stopped and looked up, seemingly puzzled. "Tweet!" ¡Á 115432! "Have these birds gone mad?" "How can there be so many? Good heavens, it''s gotten dark!" Many people rushed to the rooftop, all struck dumb. As she had anticipated, Princess Lin Ziyu was not as surprised. She muttered to herself, "Less than ten thousand sparrows might as well be harmless; ten thousand sparrows are invincible!" This phrase, originally a playful remark from Chen Fei while teasing the little bird, had now become a terrifying reality. Even the Giant Dragons would likely keep their distance. "Roar! ~" The Metallic Dragons seemed to sense the threat from above and let out a deafening roar. Instantly, more than a dozen small black dots plummeted from the sky, either stunned or scared to death by the dragon''s roar, losing the ability to fly and falling to the ground. However, these losses were negligible compared to the still increasing flock of sparrows. "Tweet!" ¡Á 117883! A unified chorus of tweets carried a tinge of anger. The Pure Light Sparrows'' anger toward the Giant Dragons. The Metallic Dragons suddenly abandoned the high-end business hotel and, flapping their Blade Wings, plunged into the dense flock of birds, charging through tumultuously. The fragile little birds were no match for the brutal Giant Dragons, and countless small black dots fell, their black feathers fluttering like large snowflakes. "Ah! Little Jiu!!" Princess Lin Ziyu was so frightened she covered her mouth, her heart leaping into her throat. Although a bit mischievous, this little bird was very clever and obedient. She didn''t know where Chen had found such an affectionate little creature. The Princess did not want it to be in danger. In the dimmed sky, blocked off from the sunlight by the multitude of Pure Light Sparrows, random flashes of light burst forth. As low to mid-rank Light-element Magical Beasts, Pure Light Sparrows usually did not possess offensive spells. Although the majority was of First Rank, those few that managed to reach Second Rank due to exceptional bloodline talents were desperately releasing "Light Burst Flash" to interfere with the Metallic Dragons slaughtering throughout the flock, allowing more of their companions to survive. The space cleared by the rampaging Metallic Dragons was quickly refilled by the orderly singing Pure Light Sparrows, their numbers seeming endless. Many of the Pure Light Sparrows, with their small, sharp beaks, held a faint glow of the "Light Healing Technique" as they approached their injured companions, doing their utmost to provide healing. Some that were maintaining the "Light Healing Technique" were torn to shreds by the ferocious dragons, leaving only tiny black feathers drifting with the wind. A pale halo flourished high in the sky, and within a five-mile radius, Elemental Energy was cleansed as if by an invisible force. Energies from other elemental systems were pushed in all directions, leaving only Light Elemental Energy, warm and pure. The light of the Holy Flame Sun seemed to intensify. The intermittent Second Rank Magic "Light Burst Flash" gradually became rhythmic, flickering on and off. The number of flashes rapidly increased, visibly so, stunning many of the onlookers. Advancing in Rank¡ªthe multitude of Pure Light Sparrows was evolving. The sky above the hotel flickered uncertainly. "Tweet!" ¡Á 190119! The fearless Pure Light Sparrows finally made the Metallic Dragons waver involuntarily. "Roar! ~" With another roar, the Metallic Dragons were about to break free from the flock''s encirclement. A Heaven-Piercing Light Column descended from the sky without warning. The warmth and purity of the light suddenly turned violent. ``` Chapter 698 698: Section 693 - Annihilating the Giant Dragon Over 200,000 Pure Light Sparrows each occupied three different heights¡ª500 meters, 800 meters, and 1200 meters from the ground. Each flock circled in opposite directions from the others, causing an even more pronounced covering of the sky. "Jiu!" ¡Á 213039! It was as if all the Pure Light Sparrows in the vicinity of Nandu City had gathered here, and even at this moment, more Pure Light Sparrows continued to join incessantly. The Heaven-Piercing Light Column that penetrated the three layers of the circling Pure Light Sparrow formations seemed to come from the Holy Flame Sun. This time, the sky truly darkened. Even though the Holy Flame Sun still hung high, the light cast down onto the earth was noticeably dimmer. The entrapped Metallic Dragon, completely frustrated, roared again and again, trying to take flight. However, a gentle yet tenacious invisible force pressed it back down to the ground. Light may be intangible, but the pressure was very real, even if minuscule, just like the seemingly insignificant Pure Light Sparrows. The immense Light Pressure gathered from the endless light eventually descended, leaving even the Giant Dragon struggling in vain. "Roar!~" The dragon''s roar involuntarily took on a tone of surprise mixed with anger. After charging left and right, it found that it could not break free from the Light Column, and was actually trapped inside it. In the blink of an eye, the Light Pressure covering the Metallic Dragon surged by an order of magnitude. This time, surprise turned to fright; the dragon, usually unrestrained, finally faced an insurmountable predicament, possibly a dead end. The Metallic Dragon, which had been rampantly slaughtering the frail birds just now, found itself deeply mired within the Cage of Light, unable to escape. The Pure Light Sparrows circling at three different heights mostly glowed with a faint white brilliance, and many individuals who had successfully advanced in rank even had the same colored Light Flame rising from their bodies. From afar, it was unbelievable to discover that these were clearly three super colossal Magic Arrays formed of Pure Light Sparrows, covering several miles of the sky. Formed by the Pure Light Sparrows, and with runes incarnated by their bodies, the tsunami-like chorus of bird cries triggered unimaginable Light Elemental Energy fluctuations. Even Spellcasters hundreds of miles away looked this way withfaces full of shock at the same moment; such scale of Elemental Energy fluctuations could only be compared to the precursor of a Forbidden Curse. Despite seeing nothing, the immense Light Elemental Tide was real and palpable. Could it truly be...? In the next second, without any warning, all beings momentarily went blind. The world was left with nothing but Light. Immediately after, a massive shockwave swept across in all directions, with the high-end business hotel within a hundred meters inevitably bearing the brunt. But... this was merely the aftermath. "It''s overloaded!" The technician in charge of the Tactical Alchemy Instrument screamed in horror as he recovered his sight. The large Tactical Composite Magic Shield covering the high-end business hotel trembled violently. The Light Film that even the Metallic Dragon hadn''t managed to break in one attempt dissipated silently and without a ripple right at this moment. Blast waves rolled and roared like thunder, a commotion that would normally only occur half a kilometer away. The air was filled with a pungent smell of burning, and waves of heat radiation made the skin sting with a burning sensation; Light held not only pressure but also heat. Everyone threw themselves to the ground, struggling to endure the fierce impact and not daring to raise their heads¡ªnot even Louis Landon, with the Chief Bodyguard Riva sprawled over him, faithfully performing his duties. The aftermath lasted only a few breaths before subsiding. Although the hotel building had lost the protection of the large Tactical Composite Magic Shield, the building itself suffered little damage, not even a single windowpane was broken. "Jiu!~" ¡Á 243147! After a chorus of cries from nearly 250,000 Pure Light Sparrows, they began to scatter and fly away as one, just like how they had gathered, each heading off in different directions. And at an incredible speed, in just a dozen or so breaths, the sky was cleared, leaving not a single Pure Light Sparrow above the hotel. The light from the Holy Flame Sun poured down, the scene serene and peaceful, causing one to fall into a reverie, as if the Pure Light Sparrow flocks that blocked out the sun had never existed, the Heaven-Piercing Light Column had never existed, and the super colossal Magic Array formed by Pure Light Sparrows had never existed¡ªeverything seemed to be an illusion. But at the original center of the Light Column, only swirling golden-red lava remained, with wisps of blue smoke rising; the figure of the Metallic Dragon was nowhere to be seen. "Hiss!~" Louis Landon, like the others at the edge of the rooftop, drew a sharp breath involuntarily. No one knew the depth of the lava pool that had formed in the blink of an eye. "The Metallic Dragon is gone!" "Did it escape?" "The scene just now was terrifying!" No one dared to think in a particular direction; after all, that was a Metallic Dragon, that was the Pure Light Sparrow. "It''s been vaporized, no, to be precise, it should be said it was vaporized!" Louis Landon muttered to himself, twitching at the mouth. He had never imagined that, once gathered in such massive numbers, the seemingly feeble Pure Light Sparrows could directly eliminate a Giant Dragon. "Vaporize a Metallic Dragon? How is that possible?" Hearing his boss''s words, the Chief Bodyguard Riva couldn''t quite believe his own ears. Such a feat was likely beyond even the ordinary Heavenly Order Spellcasters. "What was that just now... a Forbidden Curse! No, with elemental fluctuations on this scale, it must be a Grand Forbidden Curse!" The bodyguard spellcasters shivered uncontrollably, as if they had seen something terrifying. Witnessing a Grand Forbidden Curse of unimaginable power from such a close distance was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "What? A Forbidden Curse? You must be joking!" "Since when did Pure Light Sparrows become so terrifying, weren''t they supposed to be at most First Rank Human Order?" "Could it be that the Pure Light Sparrows actually rule over Cangqiong Star?" "Has this planet gone mad, or have I?" "It must be because I came to this planet the wrong way, ending up in a parallel plane instead." All the Blue Star People felt their worldviews crumbling into disorder. That was a Pure Light Sparrow! A little creature not much different from the sparrows of Blue Star, unable to leave even a sesame-sized mark when pecking at someone, with negative combat power. But it was exactly such a terrifying number of Pure Light Sparrows that had collectively initiated a Light Great Forbidden Spell and, under the watchful eyes of many, annihilated a live Metallic Dragon. It vaporized on the spot without leaving a trace of ash, an act of extreme madness. According to past knowledge, it should have been the reverse, with any number of Pure Light Sparrows slaughtered by a Metallic Dragon. "Jiu?" A clear chirp reached her ears, and Princess Lin Ziyu turned to look at her left shoulder where it came from. Xiao Jiu had somehow returned and was contentedly preening its feathers on her shoulder, as if it had merely gone out for a round of foraging and returned home after a meal, not the one leading the flock of sparrows that vaporized the dragon. Her Royal Highness the Princess took a sharp breath. Little Bird''s appearance changed slightly, and judging by the elemental fluctuations emanating from its small body, it had clearly advanced in rank again, reaching Sixth Rank Human Order. If it could rise a rank after every such gathering, a few more times and it might stand shoulder to shoulder with the dragons. Not just Xiao Jiu, many of the dispersed Pure Light Sparrows had advanced in rank, too, with the lucky ones jumping two ranks to reach Third Rank Human Order. There were no less than ten such Pure Light Sparrows, with many more reaching Second Rank Human Order. If not ten thousand, at least eight thousand have done so. This was still limited by the weak racial and bloodline talents of the Pure Light Sparrows. Had it been other Magical Beasts, it would not be surprising to see a collective rise of three or four ranks given such a massive disturbance. "You little troublemaker, what did you just do?" Lin Ziyu reached out her finger and scratched Xiao Jiu''s neck. Unlike Chen Fei, Little Bird did not squint its eyes in enjoyment, fluffing up its neck feathers, but instead pecked at Her Royal Highness the Princess''s finger with a rejecting attitude. "Jiu Jiu!" ... "I can''t do this job anymore, I want out!" A core member of the Hundred-Legs Gang suddenly exclaimed frantically, showing no respect for the new boss "Mute" Kano or the actual controller of the gang, Teacher Shen Fei. "Exactly, it''s too dangerous!" "Stop talking nonsense!" "What''s there to fear? That Metallic Dragon isn''t here, for all we know it''s the one that got wiped out outside." "I quit! I''m out of here! Kano, it''s not that I don''t support you as a brother, but this job is simply impossible to do." Someone suddenly dissenting was like a small stone thrown into a pond, immediately stirring up numerous ripples and bursting forth the long-suppressed grievances. This time, without the female Metallic Dragon Yilan present, those rebellious gang members became even more unrestrained. The business hotel kept getting sucked into the eye of the storm: first, it was the attackers of unknown identity, then the Light Wing Ships, the large ones (active Main Force Lightwing Ships), and now a Metallic Dragon. So what''s next? What other unimaginable horror will come next? Please! They were just a bunch of ordinary societal refuse, half-heartedly committing low-end crimes like extortion, racketeering, and group brawls just to scrape by. Ever since being summoned to this business hotel, one after another, these events shattered the gang members'' views of the world. The ways of dying were too high-end for them: they could neither afford to play nor afford to die. They would rather be knifed to death on the streets than be blasted to bits by a Light Wing Ship or torn to pieces by a horrific Metallic Dragon. "What nonsense are you all spouting? Planning to rebel?" The newly appointed boss "Mute" Kano immediately stood in front of Shen Fei, roaring at these defiant ruffians. "Kano, letting you be the boss was just a favor, you''re far from qualified!" Finally, someone voiced their discontent. "Want to die, ''Big Diao''? Do you believe I can pluck your Diao off and stuff it in your mouth?" One of the Eight Great Diamonds from the Hundred-Legs Gang sided with Kano, reprimanding the audacious man. "Come on! Try and pluck it to see, I, ''Big Diao,'' am not afraid of you. You better mind your manners, look and see who has more people!" The gang backbone "Big Diao," backed by not a few people, became even more cocky as he spewed out his "fragrance." "Mute" Kano''s face immediately looked displeased, and the atmosphere on the scene seemed a bit off. Not all of the Eight Great Diamonds were on his side; in fact, four or five were standing together with the hecklers, looking over with ill intent. Kano''s heart suddenly tightened. Chapter 699 699: Section 694 - Suppressing the Rebellion "Secretary Shen, these guys want to revolt, I''ll cover you, you need to leave now!" "Mute" Kano, a gang member himself, was of course well aware of what these fools were thinking. They were all good-for-nothings who were more trouble than they were worth, best at double-dealing. As soon as they sensed something was off, or if they no longer had a natural enemy, they would turn on you without hesitation, with no sense of loyalty or integrity. In short, most of those involved in the underworld were scum that humanity should eradicate. So even though Kano was outwardly defiant, he was actually panicked, knowing that in the life of crime, it was a matter of getting stabbed sooner or later. Looking at the situation now, sticking his neck out would get him slashed, and ducking wouldn''t save him. "Don''t worry about me!" Shen Fei''s lips twitched upward in a faint smile, not showing fear but instead taking a step forward. "Secretary Shen, they are not good people, they are capable of anything!" Kano immediately became more anxious. Now was the best chance to escape and call for help; perhaps they could still suppress this rebellion in time. A couple of bodyguards from Louis Industries'' boss could easily beat these clueless get-ups into crying for their mothers. The gang backbone "Big Diao", who had taken the initiative to stir up trouble, said in an unkind tone, "Yo, ''Mute'', what nonsense are you spouting? We''re not good people, but are you any better? Stop spilling the hard truth!" He had always resented "Mute" Kano''s rise to power and saw this as an opportunity to openly challenge him without giving any face. The Metallic Dragons, which instilled fear among everyone, were not present, making it a rare opportunity, a sentiment shared by more than just "Big Diao". "''Big Diao'', you are asking for death!" Ever since becoming the new boss of the Hundred-Legs Gang, even if only a puppet on the surface, Kano seemed to have had an epiphany, understanding the lay of the land. He had an insight into many things that he had never thought of before, unlike his past self who only knew violence. He was virtually a different person. After all, Secretary Shen Fei was from Blue Star, and also a deputy secretary of a large company. She couldn''t stay in Nandu City mingling in the underworld forever; sooner or later, she would have to return to Blue Star and do her legitimate work. The current puppet gang leader would naturally become the official boss and the undisputed leader of the Hundred-Legs Gang at that time. To some extent, Kano''s interests and future goals were aligned with Shen Fei''s, which is why the former was willing to be a puppet, acting as a tool for the latter to command and dispatch. "Brothers, don''t listen to this woman anymore. With the Metallic Giant Dragon gone, let''s overturn them, elect a new boss, and everyone has a chance!" Spike-headed "Big Diao" called to arms, ready to cause an uprising ¨C for what was a gang leader if not bold! His words ignited the hidden ambitions of many. A member of the Black Community who didn''t want to become the boss was not a good one. All the suppressed dissatisfaction, greed, resentment, and rebellion burst out all at once. "That''s right, I''ve had enough! Time for a new boss! I, ''Poison Claw'', want to be the boss too!" "Hey, everyone''s got a shot, those who support me, ''Grey Fur'', come to my side!" "First we take out ''Mute'' and that woman, then we''ll compete for the boss based on our abilities." ... The gang leaders quickly reached a consensus and closed in with malicious intent. Facing the encroaching bad apples, "Mute" Kano still stood his ground and bellowed, "What do you think you''re doing? Don''t forget Secretary Shen is our financial backer, without money, you can''t do anything!" "Don''t be an idiot, ''Mute''!" One of the Eight Great Diamonds of the Hundred-Legs Gang, now standing against "Mute" Kano and Shen Fei, spoke with no brotherly affection. "Once we capture you and that woman, we will get a lot of money. These Blue Star People are filthy rich, in the underworld it''s all about living for today with no thought for tomorrow. ''Mute'', you''ve changed! The rest of you guys, come over quick so you won''t get hurt by accident, wouldn''t want you to say we''ve got no brotherly love." "Secretary Shen, these guys are serious, you''ve got to get out of here, I''m going to take them on today!" Kano knew there was no escaping his fate this time and gritted his teeth, standing in front of Shen Fei, refusing to back down even an inch. The rest of the Eight Great Diamonds standing by his side involuntarily shuffled a few steps to the side upon seeing this. After all, the situation was overpowering, and with the number of people on the opposite side, even if they were determined, they would have little capacity to fight back once swamped, dying worthlessly right there and then. "It''s okay, Kano, from now on, leave the rest to me." With complete calm, Shen Fei stepped next to "Mute" Kano, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. In her eyes, these cruel and ruthless gang members were just brats, more precisely, in need of education. "Ah Mao! Suppress them!" Ah Mao? Who was that? Kano was caught off guard when he heard a name he wasn''t expecting. Was there someone else present? Neither he nor the gang members had noticed the shadows at Shen Fei''s feet stretching and contracting eerily, swiftly. The next second, a large black wolf leaped silently out from the shadows. With Teacher Shen, the fallback plan left by Chen Xiao''er was not limited to the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan. If it weren''t for this, he would not have sent Yilan to strengthen the forces, leaving Shen Fei in the hotel, entrusting her safety to the bodyguards from Louis Landon and the hotel security. Better to rely on oneself than others; having multiple trump cards was exactly for unexpected situations like today. Not many were aware that a Dark Monster, the Shadow Wolf, was lurking beside Shen Fei, not even most of her colleagues at the Northern Weapons Industry Company. This Shadow Wolf, originally Third Rank in human order on Cangqiong Star, had quickly advanced to Fourth Rank upon arrival, its Dark Element shadow abilities also elevated a notch, all due to arriving in an environment where Elemental Energy was more active and dense. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was not the only magical beast that had advanced in rank in a short time due to the new conditions. Although he had yet to master the skills of a Fourth Rank, dealing with the mere gang members who hardly had any Ability Users among them was a piece of cake. "What the hell is that?" "Wolves, wolves, it''s black wolves!" "No, is it a Magical Beast?" "Where did this Magical Beast come from? Ah! Help!" "My arm, my arm is gone!" "I''m gonna die!" Caught off guard by the Shadow Wolf that pounced into their midst, the gang members were thrown into disarray amidst the successive screams. With their combat capabilities, they were nowhere near strong enough to deal with a Fourth Rank Magical Beast. The scent of blood pervaded the air, and some gang members were even torn limb from limb by the Shadow Wolf, writhing in blood on the ground, emitting piercing screams. "Wolves? Where did these wolves come from?" Startled, "Mute" Kano immediately drew his dagger, assuming a stance as if facing a formidable enemy. He could even recall the odd sensation of his cheek being gently brushed by something furry; that huge black wolf had just grazed past him. "Awooo!~~~~~~~" The high-pitched, resounding howl of the wolf suddenly echoed throughout the hotel, making everyone''s scalp tingle uncontrollably. "Come back, ''Ah Mao''!" Seeing that there were no enemy gang members left standing, Shen Fei leisurely called back her Magical Beast. "Woof!" The Shadow Wolf swiftly retracted its majestic presence, lowered its head and ears, and trotted back to Shen Fei''s side. At this moment, even a fool could see the connection between her and the black wolf. "Good work, ''Ah Mao''!" Shen Fei reached out to scratch the neck of the Shadow Wolf, which had grown nearly to her height in shoulder after advancing to the Human Order Fourth Rank. "This, this, it''s a cat?" Once Kano finally understood who Shen Fei referred to as "Ah Mao", he was somewhat flustered, not comprehending the situation. It was clearly a large wolf, yet it was named Ah Mao, which didn''t make sense! Comrade "Ah Mao" expressed that it had taken over the previous "Ah Mao" after selling itself to offset a debt. "Shadow Wolf, ''Ah Mao''!" Shen Fei, scratching the Shadow Wolf that had grown close to her, nodded. Her mischievousness was even more excessive than Chen Xiao''er''s. The Shadow Wolf was wearing some light armor that did not hinder its movement but still provided protection. The Northern Weapons Industry Company lacked neither design nor production capability and materials, and equipping the Shadow Wolf with some tactical gear was effortless. Thus, the armed Magical Beast Shadow Wolf looked imposing and majestic. The only issue was that this light armor, which was just right when it was at the Third Rank, had become a little small after the wolf advanced to the Fourth Rank. "..." Kano''s lips twitched, speechless. No wonder Secretary Shen could maintain her composure in the face of these suddenly rebellious gang members all along. Turned out, she had been hiding such a secret trump card in her hand, which, once revealed, instantly stabilized the situation as quickly as a thunderclap. Looking back at those turncoat thugs, many were missing arms and legs, in a terrible state; even if they didn''t die, those who survived were unlikely to ever be involved in gang activities again. This Shadow Wolf was excessively brutal. He didn''t know that the Wolf King that naturally roamed the Blue Star Xingdu Kush Mountain Area wasn''t a pampered pet since childhood. Even though it had now become Teacher Shen''s cherished pet, once it showed its ferocity, it was vicious to the core. Not being killed on the spot was already rather courteous. "Where did that wolf howl come from... Ah, this!" A few bodyguards, following the sound of the wolf''s howl, arrived at the floor where the Hundred-Legs Gang members were and were shocked to find a scene of bloodshed. What on earth happened here? The next second, they saw the black wolf by Shen Fei''s side, but it was now squinting its eyes, enjoying its neck being scratched, so they relaxed their tensed hearts. At least this suddenly appeared black wolf wasn''t in an uncontrolled state, it had an owner. Combining that with the state of the gang members, it seemed there was some kind of internal story. "Such a strong scent of blood, what happened here?" Following the bodyguards was Princess Lin Ziyu; she also saw the gang members scattered all over the place, many missing arms and legs, with screams of agony everywhere, as if they had just been subjected to a brutal attack. On her shoulder, the Little Bird fluttered excitedly, suddenly tilting its head. It saw the Shadow Wolf. "Ah Mao" immediately tucked its tail between its legs. Cowardly... Chapter 700 700: Section 695 - One Dragon Pounces, One Dragon Arrives The sun shone brightly, and the gangsters were holding a big meeting. The ground was littered with defeated soldiers, leaving the current boss, "Mute" Kano, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear. Because of Teacher Shen''s light remark "suppress," the "Hundred-Legs Gang" had decisively eliminated more than half of its core members on the spot, greatly damaging the gang''s vital energy. Whether the "Hundred-Legs Gang" could continue to stabilize the situation as usual was now questionable. It was causing a huge headache and might require the power from Secretary Shen''s hands. "Huh? Shadow Wolf?" Princess Lin Ziyu recognized the black giant wolf beside Shen Fei at first glance. As a Dark Element magical beast proficient in ambush assassinations and protective vigilance, it''s a natural expert. She had never noticed such a Shadow Wolf hidden beside her opponent. Sensing its aura with the methods of a magician, it was at least Fourth Rank Human Order, which wasn''t low at all. Those gang members, who only knew how to fight fiercely, were no match for a Fourth Rank Human Order Shadow Wolf. Anyone with a bit of ability wouldn''t choose to mix with society. The current dire situation wasn''t too surprising -- it was simply asking for trouble. "Chiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu flew onto the Shadow Wolf''s head and started pecking at its fur, pulling out tufts of black hair, making it painful to watch¡ªit would soon be bald if it kept plucking at the same spot. Bullied by a creature only the size of a fist, "Ah Mao" was too scared to even bare its teeth and was eagerly trying to turn into a shadow to escape. If it couldn''t provoke, could it not also avoid? As if sensing the Shadow Wolf''s intention to escape, a blinding flash of light burst forth. Many people present were caught off guard and had to cover their eyes. Only Teacher Shen, who guessed what Xiao Jiu had in mind, was prepared and wasn''t affected much. The worst off were the gang members; hit straight on, they wailed, thinking they were about to be ruthlessly eliminated and met their doom! A "Light Burst Flash" quenched the Shadow Wolf''s attempt to flee. Well! It really couldn''t escape! Although the Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao" used to be a higher Rank than the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, its Dark Element skills were countered by the other. Moreover, with a fierce father behind it, how could it not be aware of how it replaced the previous "Ah Mao"? The ranks of these two magical beasts were now completely reversed; the Pure Light Sparrow was Sixth Rank, and the Shadow Wolf was Fourth Rank. Now things really couldn''t get any worse. The Rank difference made completing its Dark Element skills useless, as the Little Bird had grown up copying others'' homework all along. Xiao Jiu was busily plucking the wolf''s fur, oblivious to the intended use. Was it for building a nest, a hairstyle, or perhaps for a brush? "Ah Mao" looked so pitiful that it was close to tears. In the end, Teacher Shen stepped in, catching the Little Bird in her hand and rescuing the Shadow Wolf, which hurriedly turned into a shadow and vanished under her feet, refusing to show up again. "Chiu, chiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow happily rolled around in Shen Fei''s hand. It was more affectionate toward Teacher Shen than toward Her Royal Highness the Princess, second only to its dad, Chen Xiao''er. "Secretary Shen, what''s happening here?" Bodyguards and hotel security who had arrived after hearing the news asked Shen Fei. They had never trusted these gang members too much. Even though the Black Community had not done anything detrimental to the hotel before but instead helped gather quite a lot of supplies, it still hadn''t made those responsible for security let down their guard. Shen Fei said indifferently, "These guys wanted to revolt, so I put them down!" Compared to the Patan Highlanders who lived in harsh mountainous environments, these people who mixed in society were just like good children. Furthermore, hopeless societal dregs, even if they died, were as light as a feather, insignificant. Originally, she had wanted to take this opportunity to lead the Black Community onto the right path, but it''s a pity they were stubbornly misguided, and there was nothing more she could do. No indulgence, no mercy, punishment for the present, execution for the future. While their lives were spared, missing arms and legs meant they had no capital to stay in the underworld. If they still didn''t get the message, then indeed, life would be worse than death. "Understood!" The bodyguards and hotel security looked at each other, knowing what to do next. First, rescue the injured and bandage the wounds. Otherwise, the bleeding alone could kill them. Well, a few had already died, all of whom had lost their thighs. Once the artery was torn, the blood spurted like water from a faucet, and they passed away before they could receive treatment. "Kano, it''s time for your test. Don''t delay the important tasks!" Faced with the bloodshed, Shen Fei remained unmoved. When she used to be a teacher, she often saw the dead in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, where bandits and civilians were a family. A small scene like this was not worth making a fuss over. "Ah? Yes! Yes! I''ll handle it properly." With the sudden burden of responsibility, "Mute" Kano''s scalp tingled. Shen Fei had always been the decision-maker, and now it fell to him out of the blue, so he felt somewhat out of his depth. ``` Looking at those good-for-nothing things, he couldn''t help but let out a long sigh. Among the people lying on the ground were some of the Eight Great Diamonds with whom he had a close relationship. Now they had all become disabled, their brotherly loyalty had been fed to the dogs, no, fed to the wolves. It was fate, unavoidable. The gang members, who lived for the day with their wine, had no spare wealth to regenerate their limbs, let alone continue their brutality as before. Surviving the vengeance of their enemies was already cause for gratitude. The "Mute" Kano quickly waved at the several remaining Eight Great Diamonds and trusted followers who had never betrayed him, beginning to arrange for the aftermath. These few men''s positions were somewhat shaky, but at least they had not started off on the opposition. There was still some loyalty in that, and when it came to using people, one shouldn''t sweat the small stuff. It was better to be somewhat oblivious at times. After following Shen Fei for so many days, Kano had learned some tricks of the trade, though perhaps not thoroughly, and was bound to pay some ''tuition fees.'' But half the price of this ''tuition fee'' was paid in human lives. It was not so easy for the Black Community to exit the Jianghu. Grievances and grudges were unavoidable. Once power was lost, death was near, and it was foreseeable that very few would survive in the future. Those with treacherous minds had to be kicked out of the Hundred-Legs Gang without exception. The remaining members needed to be restructured, which would be labor-intensive, but with the support of the boss, the Hundred-Legs Gang still had a chance to rally. However, this time, there would be far fewer people who secretly opposed his position as boss. After all, most of them were lying here now, and those who didn''t come would be intimidated into being cautious with their thoughts. Kano vaguely guessed at Shen Fei''s intentions. Ultimately, living a life in the underworld was not sustainable, and the future probably entailed a gradual whitewashing and taking the legal path. It wasn''t until after Shen Fei finished speaking with Kano, the boss of the Hundred-Legs Gang, that Princess Lin Ziyu approached. "Secretary Shen, where did you get your Shadow Wolf from?" Although there were many Magical Beasts mixed in with the population on Blue Star, hiring a Magical Beast as a guard was no easy task. For one thing, the visa review is strict and the cost of passing through the Dimensional Gate is exorbitant, and not all rational Magical Beasts wish to visit, let alone work on, Blue Star. It seemed unlikely that the Northern Weapons Industry Group could be so wealthy as to provide Magical Beast guards for traveling employees. "You know about the Shadow Wolf?" Shen Fei was somewhat surprised that this "Yu Zilin" agent could recognize the species name of "Ah Mao." "After all, Cangqiong Star is the homeland of Magical Beasts. As long as one is interested in learning about them, you''ll inevitably know something." Princess Lin Ziyu politely conversed with Shen Fei. "''Ah Mao'' was caught in the mountains by Chen Fei for me." Shen Fei, as if suddenly remembering something, handed the Little Bird back to Princess Lin Ziyu. Xiao Jiu was a close-guard Chen Fei had assigned to her, equipped with the mighty Chiu Light Cannon. In her words, catching the Shadow Wolf was like casually catching a small cat or dog, which would then promptly start its duty, even if it sounded a bit off, but in reality, that''s exactly what had happened. The Shadow Wolf "Ah Mao" would have had a tasty wolf stew for its fate if it hadn''t been captured alive and forced to take the job in place of the previous "Ah Mao." "In the mountains?" Her Royal Highness the Princess wore a very peculiar expression. Could it be that Blue Star''s ecosystem has become as overrun with Magical Beasts as Cangqiong Star? That even a Magical Beast like the Shadow Wolf could be so easily caught? Since the establishment of the Dimensional Gate connecting the two civilized stars, many Magical Beasts have been smuggled to Blue Star due to greed or carelessness, or simply abandoned when they''re no longer wanted. Since many Magical Beasts have no natural predators in the food chain on Blue Star, once they escape into the wild, they breed unchecked like stepping out of the Three Realms, not confined by the five elements, and they become a disaster. Aircrew Bases distributed around the globe not only need to monitor and clear out Mutants but also unruly Magical Beast Groups. "Yes, in Blue Star''s Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, a quite desolate place. It ate the previous ''Ah Mao,'' and now it''s working off its debt." Shen Fei still missed that black dog who used to laze around daily but wouldn''t fail her in a pinch, just had some bad luck. It was a faithful guard for home security, but it met its match with the Magical Beast Shadow Wolf. No way around it, this "Ah Mao" was destined for lifelong servitude. Not all Magical Beasts are willing to sign that damned contract. Shadow Wolf: I don''t want to! Chen Fei: No, you do! Xiao Jiu: Chiu! "Roar..." A high and lingering dragon''s roar came from outside the hotel. The roar of a Giant Dragon. Everyone inside the upscale business hotel had their hair stand on end in unison. Just a short while ago, a Metallic Dragon attacking from outside the hotel had truly vanished into thin air. Could it be that another Metallic Dragon had appeared, before one wave had settled, another arose?! At that moment, quite a few people couldn''t help but feel their scalps explode once again. Another one? This is going for lives! A few moments later, there was another long cry of a dragon. This time, the sound seemed to come from above the hotel. Princess Lin Ziyu immediately lost the mood to continue chatting with Shen Fei, cradled the Little Bird in her hands, and as she rushed towards the elevator, said, "Xiao Jiu! Need your help again. " At this point, the situation was that soldiers block foes, earth covers water, and dragon faces Chiu destruction; the tiny Pure Light Sparrow had become the biggest trump card in everyone''s eyes. The little creature tilted its head. "Chiu?" ``` Chapter 701 701: Section 696 - The Greatness of Collective Will The sudden dragon chant and everyone''s renewed tension ultimately proved to be a false alarm. The moment the giant dragon''s roar sounded, many had nearly forgotten that their side also had a giant dragon. The sudden return of the female Metallic Dragon Yilan carrying Chen Fei back from the high-end business hotel caused many people to rub their eyes involuntarily at the sight of someone standing on the dragon''s back. In this day and age, who would dare to casually climb onto the back of a dragon, as if they were tired of living? Especially considering it was a Metallic Dragon naturally possessing a fierce temper. "Hiss..." Even the big shot Louis Landon was moved by the sight of the dragon landing. In his memories from a previous life, since the Lord of the Sky had fallen, there had been no more Dragon Knights in the world, but the one before him now... hiss, that was some seriously bold courage! Louis Landon called out to Chen Fei on the dragon''s back, "Little Chen, how did the talk go? Not smoothly?" Now that even the Metallic Dragons were deployed, it was highly likely that Chen Fei had walked into a trap by bringing the Parasitic Host to the appointment, not only gaining nothing but also nearly getting himself caught in the process. The hearts of those in Jianghu are wicked, and even the best of friends can''t be easily trusted when standing on opposing sides! He''s still too young! Chen Fei leaped down from the female Metallic Dragon''s back, and this time Yilan let him be. Chen Fei was not a Dragon Knight; rather he had been the one ridden by a Dragon Knight¡ªessentially a tool for the Dragon Knight, though it remained to be seen whether he was a daily use, nightly use, or even a monthly disposable type. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor on his body autonomously disassembled into countless tiny geometric shapes, receding swiftly like the tide, step by step until he reached the big shot and shook his head helplessly. "We didn''t get to talk much; just had a fight." Chen Fei hadn''t been able to fully achieve his mission, all thanks to the sudden intervention of the Rebel Army''s "Undying Pigeon" Legion, which spoiled his big plans. Now the "Undying Pigeon" Legion was reaping what they had sown, nearly annihilated, which served them right¡ªwho could blame them when Legion Commander Valenya blindly provoked Chen Xiao''er, the calamity. "The risks were always high, and the worst-case scenario still happened." Louis Landon inhaled sharply, as the possibility of the Extraterrestrial Races "Sagali" hiding within the Rebel Army seemed to be increasing. A continent plunged into chaos was the perfect condition for the Parasitic Species to land on Cangqiong Star. "No, Mr. Randon, it hasn''t come to that yet." Chen Fei surprisingly denied the big shot''s speculation. "Eh? Is there something you''re not telling us?" The unexpected twist made Louis Landon pause in astonishment. "I went to the ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion''s camp, but I was abducted by the ''Undying Pigeon'' Legion''s people after only a few words, and I was shot with two Supernatural Ability Suppressants and a sedative, but I didn''t find any new Parasitic Hosts in either of the two legions'' camps." Chen Fei spread his hands; he had encountered nothing but troubles in the past few days. While the Supernatural Ability Suppressants couldn''t do much to him, the sedative almost claimed his life. Fortunately, Minante didn''t abandon him, and when it mattered most, she dramatically helped, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to wait for Yilan to completely turn the situation around. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan lazily yawned, displaying her sharp Fangs; her Dragon Scales rubbed against each other with a rustling sound. Then she leisurely returned to her corner at the roof, lying down and soon began snoring softly. "This is truly chaotic." Despite all his calculations, the big shot had not anticipated internal conflicts and the brazen capture of people within the Rebel Army. Despite being allies, they showed no respect. Meanwhile, Louis Landon had completely lost faith in the future of the Zhai Liuzhou Rebel Army. Not only were they disunited, but they were also fighting amongst themselves, which was a taboo for any organization, especially at a time when the Slan Dynasty''s pacifying troops were at their doorstep, a sure path to doom. No wonder in his previous life, the Parasitic Species had successfully landed on Zhai Liuzhou and then used the acquired Plane coordinates "Longinus" to invade Blue Star directly, destroying both the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star Civilizations. "''Sagali'' seems not to have penetrated the Rebel Army''s grassroots legions, and as for the higher-ups and other places, I haven''t found anything, so it''s unknown for the time being," Chen Fei commented. Chen Fei wasn''t entirely without gain; he had at least investigated two of the Rebel Army''s legions, especially the "Undying Pigeon" Legion, which was almost obliterated by relentless bombings. Even if there were Parasitic Hosts, they would not have escaped being blown up. Despite the strong Spirit power of "Sagali," they still couldn''t withstand the Impact of explosives. "Thankfully, thankfully!" That the "Sagali" hadn''t completely succeeded brought Louis Landon a profound sense of relief. Since his rebirth, he had founded Louis Industrial Company and become one of the leading enterprises and financial groups of the time, with ample money, people, and resources. A significant part of the reason was to prepare enough resources to respond to the invasion of the Parasitic Species, or even strike back in advance. Ideally, he should be able to disrupt their plans at the very onset of the invasion and repel them from the planet. If they could staunchly resist from the beginning, the pressure and losses would be much less. Having concluded the topic about the Parasitic Species, Louis Landon continued, "By the way, before you came back, a Metallic Giant Dragon suddenly flew over, and we thought it was Yilan..." Since Chen Fei had left with the Rebel Army, numerous events had transpired. Less than 500 meters from the upscale business hotel, the pool of lava remained uncooled, constantly emitting scorching heat and acrid blue smoke. "It''s not Yilan!" Chen Fei denied it immediately because the female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yilan, had always been with him; she could not have returned alone. He also thought of something at the same time. In Nandu City and its surroundings, there was indeed another Metallic Giant Dragon, an adult one, aligned with the Rebel Army. The "Radiant Tiger" Legion, where Minante was stationed, would not undertake such a despicable act; otherwise, they would not have come to rescue Chen Fei. So, it was highly likely to be the trump card raised by the "Undying Pigeon" Legion, and indeed they were the ones responsible for besieging the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. Had he known earlier, he would have refused Minante''s pleas and let Yilan crush the Legion Commander of the "Undying Pigeon" with one swipe of her claw to see whether the opponent was truly undying. "Hmm, indeed it''s not her; that Metallic Giant Dragon came specifically for us." Louis Landon felt a bit of retrospective fear, but since he had personally come to where the historical turning point had occurred, danger was naturally inevitable. For most people, distinguishing between Giant Dragons of the same series was not an easy task. Luckily, the Silan Dynasty''s female spy sent out an early warning at the right moment; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Although he had been mentally prepared for risks by coming to Nandu City, the big boss certainly did not wish to perish before achieving his goals. As of now, the Dimensional Gate Management Substation has not been overrun, and the plane coordinates "Longinus" have not been lost like in the previous life, falling into the hands of the Parasitic Species to then open a massive invasion gateway. It is precisely because of the variable that is Chen Fei that the early invasion by the Parasitic Species continues to be thwarted. The Human Race of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star have been prewarned, and the future is being altered little by little, giving Louis Landon a glimpse of hope. "Where is that Metallic Giant Dragon now?" Chen Fei looked around and guessed something. He also saw the giant column of light shooting into the sky. Like Yilan, he was not sensitive to Elemental Energy fluctuations, but seeing from afar that the upscale business hotel was still intact, he breathed a sigh of relief and returned at full speed with his dragon. The whereabouts of that adult Metallic Giant Dragon remain unknown. The hotel and the people inside were indeed unharmed, narrowly escaping disaster. The big boss tentatively asked, "Is your Xiao Jiu really just a Pure Light Sparrow?" From today onward, the encyclopedic entries about Pure Light Sparrows on both civilized planets probably need to be rewritten. Chen Fei is a Dragon Slayer, and his Little Bird can be called the Dragon-Slaying Sparrow. With Xiao Jiu slaying dragons and commanding Jianghu, no one dares defy, and without its father''s involvement, who would compete! Both the large and the small have defeated an adult Metallic Giant Dragon. If Yilan stood behind them, probably everyone would feel the terrible sensation of their worldview collapsing. Even for Louis Landon himself, despite having lived two lives, his mind was still in disarray. He could not help but steal a glance into the corner of the hotel rooftop, where the female Metallic Giant Dragon lay blissfully asleep. If it were any other Intelligent Species, their kin being killed would likely have caused an explosion of anger, right? But for a Metallic Giant Dragon... all sorts of ridiculousness seem not so, for what is integrity? Is it edible? "Of course, it''s a bona fide Pure Light Sparrow, with a bloodline that''s thoroughly pure. It''s even been registered at the Urban Monster Management Center." Chen Fei was very certain, because the Urban Monster Management Center conducts a genetic identification, definitely without error. Even though Xiao Jiu had advanced in rank step by step, it could not possibly evolve from one species to another. The Urban Monster Management Center was very thorough in its registration process. After all, nobody brings a Pure Light Sparrow for registration, and this was the first encounter they had. To say it''s a Magical Beast, the Pure Light Sparrow is essentially no different from the common sparrow¡ªso much so that the staff of the Management Center almost thought they were being made fun of. "It summoned countless Pure Light Sparrows and launched the Light Great Forbidden Spell, annihilating that Metallic Giant Dragon." As Louis Landon said these words, he couldn''t help but take another sharp intake of breath. The seemingly weak Pure Light Sparrows managed to kill a Giant Dragon through their collective strength, enough to overturn any conventional wisdom. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, if someone else had told him this, he would never have believed it. "Maybe, probably, there is this... possibility!" After all, Chen Fei himself had once witnessed the Little Bird gather a large number of its kin to suppress a riot. Even if the individual is weak, once they join a collective will and act in unison, if there are enough of them, they might even kill a Deity, let alone just an adult Metallic Giant Dragon. The same goes for the Pure Light Sparrows; it''s no different for the Human Race. They have managed to carve out a place for themselves on two different planets by leveraging collective strength. Chapter 702 702: Section 697 - The Bad Must Die "Chirp chirp!" The Dragon-Slaying Sparrow, having heard the news, rushed to the hotel rooftop where Her Royal Highness the Princess had just arrived. It flew straight toward its father''s shoulder, pecking away... this little creature with a combat strength of negative five. Chief Bodyguard Riva''s expression changed slightly, and in an instant, he saw the creature in a new light. He no longer dared to treat it as a frail little bird, involuntarily taking a step closer to the boss. After all, it was his duty to be cautious of any existence that could threaten his boss. Moreover, by now, no one would underestimate this seemingly fragile creature. The flock of Pure Light Sparrows that blotted out the sky was a terrifying force capable of vaporizing a Giant Dragon on the spot. The power of the Light Great Forbidden Spell could only be matched by a large yield Tactical Nuclear Weapon, especially in terms of localized destructive effects, with the former being slightly superior. "Chen Fei, you''ve finally come back. Xiao Jiu did something earth-shattering today," said Princess Lin Ziyu without a hint of jealousy. There wasn''t much difference to her between a chick she had hatched herself and her own flesh and blood, especially because the effect of the "Imprint Effect" was comparable to a Magic Contract and irreversible. The Sixth Rank Pure Light Sparrow could slay dragons not just due to its innate talent, but also because of the astounding resources Chen Fei had invested in it. As an Imperial Family Youngster, the Princess was financially capable, but she would face criticism and accusations of foolishness that could damage the Royal Family''s reputation¡ªso many resources spent on cultivating a seemingly inconsequential Pure Light Sparrow. "Mr. Randon just told me that Xiao Jiu killed a Metallic Giant Dragon." Chen Fei nodded to show he was aware, but didn''t express much surprise. It was just killing a Metallic Giant Dragon; he had done the same, and if it weren''t for the adult dragon escaping quickly, he might have doubled his feats. It turned out that the Little Bird could indeed be relied on at a critical moment, making all his dedicated efforts worthwhile. For Chen Xiao''er, who was raising a Magical Beast for the first time, his worldview began to skew; clearly buoyed by success, not every Pure Light Sparrow could reach the level Xiao Jiu had achieved. "Do you realize what this means?" Every princess would want such a Little Bird, but sadly, Xiao Jiu was one-of-a-kind. "The Sky Dragon City might view the Pure Light Sparrow clan as a threat to the Dragon Clan, turning the dragons into a laughingstock. Still, the current Dragon King is capable of anything." Though a native of Blue Star and new to Cangqiong Star, Chen Fei still had a certain understanding of Sky Dragon City. Beyond being an important administrative center for the Dragon Clan, the city was a floating rock from beyond the skies and a popular tourist attraction, where the dragons, harried by tour guides and tourists, were truly fed up. "Hehe, indeed!" Princess Lin Ziyu pondered for a moment and then helplessly nodded in agreement. The Slan Royal Family had close relations with the Dragon Clan, or else so many young dragons and even dragon eggs wouldn''t be entrusted to the Royal Family for nurturing. The current Dragon King was known to be the most unpredictable among the Dragon Kings; after all, being a Metallic Dragon meant that unpredictability was part of its nature. No decree it issued could ever come as a surprise. After all, declaring Sky Dragon City open to all Intelligent Species as a tourist attraction was nonsensical enough. Not seeing Teacher Shen, Chen Fei directly inquired of the Princess, "How are things at the hotel?" With many matters in disarray and plans unable to keep up with changes, he couldn''t stay at the hotel to guard it all the time. "Just now, the ''Hundred-Legs Gang'' suddenly rebelled. It''s a good thing you left a Shadow Wolf with Secretary Shen; otherwise, it would''ve been bad." Princess Lin Ziyu concisely reported the urgent incident that had just occurred. Even without the Shadow Wolf, she and Louis Landon''s bodyguard team could easily suppress those gang members, but before that, Shen Fei could have been endangered, and those gang members who were more trouble than they were worth could have caused even bigger problems. After all, they were professionals at wreaking havoc. Snorting through his nose, Chen Fei spoke indifferently, "It looks like this ''Hundred-Legs Gang'' cannot be kept around anymore!" With a weapon at hand and a heart full of killing intent, if it had been before he joined the Aircrew Base, he probably would have thought, "Oh my, Black Community, poor people shouldn''t fight with bad guys, better run away." He certainly wouldn''t have been as ready to lift a slaughtering knife toward the gang members as he was now. When they had integrated the "Hundred-Legs Gang," Chen Fei and his people had obtained the personal information of all gang members. If he really wanted to annihilate them, he could ensure not one of them could escape. "The opposition was suppressed by the Shadow Wolf in no time, with the dead and crippled unable to cause any more trouble. Kano''s position as the boss is now secure." Princess Lin Ziyu didn''t go into detail, but the information she shared was enough for Chen Fei to guess the situation. "It turns out that ''Mute'' Kano is indeed loyal. We''ll see how he performs next. If he doesn''t satisfy me, I''ll wipe out the ''Hundred-Legs Gang.''" "As Princess Lin predicted, Chen Fei clearly saw the situation. Now that he was in touch with the Rebel Army''s ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion, a local gang had become redundant; how could their execution compare with that of the rebels? Everyone in the world pursues profit; everything under heaven is in strife over it. If there was no benefit, "Mute" Kano would undoubtedly be the first to lead a rebellion. "You really haul in quite a catch at the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, even picking up a Magical Beast like the Shadow Wolf." Lin Ziyu didn''t envy Chen Fei for having Xiao Jiu; instead, she envied Shen Fei. The Shadow Wolf had hidden itself so well, being utterly committed to staying concealed¡ªa Dark Monster that preferred lurking and only emerged when necessary. It was no wonder she hadn''t received any relevant information. "Well, it is the Aircrew Base, with more mutants and Magical Beasts around and fewer people. That Shadow Wolf is the local Wolf King." Chen Fei shrugged nonchalantly; he was well accustomed to the chaotic and abnormal ecological environment within the patrol area of the Aircrew Base. Even a Husky could be a Wolf King; the Magical Beast Shadow Wolf was truly impressive. "You''ve taken away the Wolf King, what about the local wolf pack? Is the new Wolf King just an ordinary wolf?" Princess Lin Ziyu was slightly surprised; she hadn''t expected that the Shadow Wolf hiding by Secretary Shen Fei''s side had such an origin. It wasn''t merely a simple Shadow Wolf. "Er, it''s not an ordinary wolf, it''s an ordinary human, I''m the new Wolf King." Chen Fei touched his nose awkwardly, after all, this was a tradition of the wolf pack. Whoever defeated the previous Wolf King in a one-on-one fight would become the new Wolf King, be it a Husky, a Shadow Wolf, or a human. The wolf pack accepted this; obedience to the stronger was instinctive. Moreover, Chen Fei had created a Rabbit Valley that was almost a disaster; the rabbits running all over the place were enough reason for the whole "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron to be dispatched on an extermination mission. "You really know how to have fun!" Her Royal Highness the Princess instantly conceded. A tempest in a teapot, just an Aircrew Base and yet it produced a Wolf King of the Human Race. Are the eyes of those wolves blind? (Wolf packs recognize each other by scent, not by sight, truly blind with open eyes... It''s possible in reality for a human to become a Wolf King, and there are several examples of this.) "Chen Fei, someone is looking for you outside. It''s Minante from the Rebel Army." Chief Bodyguard Riva interrupted the conversation between Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu as he received a transmission on his walkie-talkie. Although the Rebel Army had blocked the civilian communication networks, the short-range walkie-talkie channels were still usable, given that the regional communication power of walkie-talkies and relay stations was much stronger than the interfering signals. "He''s here to deliver communication equipment. The hotel can resume outside calls, though they will be monitored." Chen Fei immediately guessed Minante''s intention; he didn''t expect the other party to arrive so quickly, right on his heels. Minante probably went back to the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s camp, picked up the stuff, and hurried over. "Resume calls? That''s great news." Chief Bodyguard Riva was both shocked and delighted. Once Chen Fei left the hotel, everyone would involuntarily lose contact with the outside world. If they could maintain a clear signal at all times, that would be a huge help. - Upon reaching the entrance of the hotel, Chen Fei saw Minante holding a box, with his Assembled Combat Aircraft parked two hundred meters away. Minante''s attention was clearly not on the hotel but rather turned to look in the direction where the Metallic Dragons had been annihilated, less than 500 meters away, still within sight. "What are you looking at?" Chen Fei called out, bringing back the other''s attention. "Chen Fei, you''re back? Did you do it?" At last, Minante withdrew his gaze. Chen Fei bluntly said, "Do you think I''m a Light-Based Ability User? S-rank? Or a Light System Caster? Heavenly Order?" The violent disturbances caused by the Light Great Forbidden Spell were impossible to hide from anyone; any spellcasters and Light-Based Ability Users would be acutely aware of them. "Who did it?" Minante found it hard to believe there was such a being inside this upscale business hotel. Because of haste, the intelligence collected by the Rebel Army hadn''t reached him yet. "My bird!" Chen Fei pointed to the upscale business hotel behind him. "Xiao Jiu, ah!" Minante had a sudden realization; indeed, there was a Pure Light Sparrow that never left Chen Fei''s side, but... He suddenly widened his eyes, saying incredulously, "Hmm??? What, what, Xiao Jiu?" A Pure Light Sparrow causing such a commotion, are you serious? Minante thought Chen Fei was making a not-so-funny joke with him. "Don''t underestimate it. Once in the air, you couldn''t beat Xiao Jiu, hmm, nor could I." Chen Fei was stating a demoralizing, harsh reality. He was serious. Minante: "..." This was definitely an insult, a blatant insult. Could you find another way to slap my face? "You owe me a big favor; Legion Commander Valenya of the ''Undying Pigeon'' must die." Chen Fei didn''t mince his words and delivered an ultimatum. Previously, he had given Minante the benefit of the doubt and let the commander of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion off with his life, but now, Minante''s face just wasn''t worth it anymore. "Huh?" Looking baffled, Minante thought, What have I done to offend you? Chapter 703 703: Section 698 - A Turning Point in History "This... wasn''t it... agreed upon?" Minante scratched his head in confusion, unable to understand why Chen Fei would suddenly go back on his word. The small boat of their friendship had capsized; if it wasn''t him overturning it, it was the other, all because of this damned war! But at this point, reneging had no significance since Valenya had already safely returned to the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp. Even if the "Undying Pigeon" Legion couldn''t protect him, the high command of the Rebel Army would assign someone else to do so; after all, he was one of the Legion Commanders with real power. Unless a second assault was launched, determined to eradicate the problem at its roots... hiss... Knowing Chen Fei as Minante did, it was indeed a possibility. Their respective stances were now quite awkward, seeming like friends but not friends, like enemies but not enemies. If Chen Fei persisted in going it alone, Minante feared he might have a tough time. "Minante, I can''t swallow this loss. Valenya must die. If you refuse to act, then I''ll do it myself." Chen Fei had already guessed that the attack on the senior business hotel by the adult Metallic Dragon was commanded by "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya. The deal was you hit my base, I strike back at yours, both sides hurting each other, but expecting no consequences as if nothing happened, how damn wishful! "Wait, wait, ''Rookie'', what exactly is going on here?" The look on Minante''s face worsened more and more. He had no idea why Chen Fei had changed his attitude so drastically. Had Legion Commander Valenya done something else reprehensible? "Valenya sent an adult Metallic Dragon to attack this business hotel; do you see over there?" Chen Fei pointed in the direction Minante had been looking at earlier, to that area of lava pools that had hardly cooled off. "Where is the Metallic Dragon?" Minante looked towards the smoky lava pools and then turned back to Chen Fei. It seemed like a big commotion had occurred, but... where was the Metallic Dragon he was promised? "Reduced to ashes!" Chen Fei''s face was serene. Although the adult Metallic Dragon was now beyond burial, the strategic significance of a Grand Forbidden Curse was comparable to a Tactical Nuclear Weapon. In the ongoing conflict between the Rebel Army and the Silan Dynasty, both sides had seldom resorted to Forbidden Curses. The sudden occurrence of a Grand Forbidden Curse in Nandu City, the third largest on the Zilu Continent, was bound to draw the attention of countless eyes. The turmoil caused by the Light Great Forbidden Spell was probably already spreading to the two civilized planets with unstoppable momentum. If the Pure Light Sparrow Flock hadn''t contained its power, the entirety of Nandu City might have been in danger, especially since the Holy Flame Sun was high in the sky and the Light Element was infinite. "What the hell?" Minante took in a sharp breath of air; he caught the subtext in Chen Fei''s words. The "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s deployment of an adult Metallic Dragon in the battle for the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was no secret¡ªthere was no hiding it, and its impact was hardly less significant than that of a Light Great Forbidden Spell. The Dimensional Gates, essentially anchored and linked by the plane coordinate "Longinus," were managed jointly by the two civilizations. On the Nandu City side of the portal, the Blue Star Civilization was responsible for defense, backed by Blue Star, and vice versa on the other side of the portal. If it weren''t for the strenuous mediations by the Silan Dynasty, Blue Star Sovereignty might have sent troops much earlier. Forget one "Undying Pigeon" Legion¡ªeven ten wouldn''t be enough to withstand them. This time, the Rebel Army''s control of an adult Metallic Dragon attacking civilian targets, especially a hotel hosting the Blue Star Business Delegation, was tantamount to crossing the line for deploying troops between the Silan Dynasty and Blue Star Sovereignty. Blue Star was already armed with sufficient reasons and excuses to send troops to Nandu City. Once the war started, the situation would immediately spiral out of control, and it wouldn''t be up to the witless Rebel Army and the Silan Dynasty to decide anymore. If the Cangqiong Star side couldn''t provide enough compensation, expecting Blue Star Sovereignty to withdraw its troops was almost delusional. Since ancient times, no territorial sovereignty has ever been peacefully friendly and achieved through mutual wins, because nobody is a fool. "You''re ruthless!" Minante grinned wryly as he figured out the string of implications. To prevent the Blue Star Sovereignty from sending troops, someone would have to be held accountable. So now, it wasn''t only Chen Fei who wanted the "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander''s life; even the Rebel Army''s high command probably wouldn''t spare Valenya. Chen Fei spoke with a murderous tone, "Report this, then make the arrangements; I want to do it personally." Executing the opposing Legion Commander in front of the Rebel Army would definitely be menacing. Otherwise, there might be a second or third Giant Dragon¡ªor some other powerful Magical Beast¡ªattacking the hotel, leaving Chen Fei running ragged. This time it was a stroke of luck; Xiao Jiu had shown its prowess. If it weren''t for Xiao Jiu, the consequences would have been unimaginable. "I understand!" Minante responded listlessly. "So, can you give me the item now?" Chen Fei''s gaze fell on the object in Minante''s hand, the brick-sized square box. The other party must have come here specifically for this item. "This is an encrypted communication relay gateway, it has registered authorized communication frequencies and accounts, supports a thousand outgoing lines, can be connected to the civilian network, and comes with its own antenna, details are provided in the manual." Minante handed over the box. Inside was an ordinary electronic product, with no high technology in the hardware except for the firmware being a bit special; it was similar to a network router, specifically designed to support the combined access of mobile phones and other communication terminals, featuring built-in gateways, relays, and multi-line exchange management functions. For simple tasks like logging into the network, or conducting voice or video calls, its performance was more than sufficient. This was in exchange for the favor Chen Fei had done by releasing the "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya previously. One deal at a time, Chen Fei''s previous release of Valenya was limited to the grudge regarding the kidnapping to the "Undying Pigeon" Legion camp; dispatching the Metallic Dragons to attack the business hotel was another separate grudge. "Received, is there anything else?" Chen Fei shook the box, sensing the metal inside, which altogether did not even weigh an ounce. "No, that''s all!" Since the conversation wasn''t fruitful, Minante simply turned and left abruptly. "Rookie" was vague throughout, making people guess what he meant, which was more exhausting than just getting the answers from the intelligence department sooner. No doubt, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion must have detailed information by now. Watching Minante board the Assembled Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcon" and take off, Chen Fei then returned to the hotel with the sharp-edged paper box, casually handing it over to the hotel''s information technology staff. It''s best to leave professional matters to the professionals. The setup of the encrypted communication relay gateway was completed in less than half an hour. No sooner had Chen Fei, functioning as a human relay, just turned off the communication authorization, than the entire upscale business hotel instantly regained complete contact with the outside world, whether for local Cangqiong Star or Blue Star communications¡ªall were restored. Just as Minante had thought, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s intelligence department had monitored every single movement in Nandu City, with most high-altitude drones belonging to the "Radiant Tiger" Legion. As soon as Minante returned to the camp of the "Radiant Tiger" Legion, he received a video clip collected by the intelligence department. More than one drone had captured the moment when the Light Great Forbidden Spell obliterated the Metallic Dragons, leaving him dumbfounded. Minante finally started to believe why Chen Fei said neither he nor Valenya could defeat that Little Bird. It was no joke, a brush with the Heaven-Piercing Light Column of a Grand Forbidden Curse meant instant annihilation. If a blow like that were aimed at the "Radiant Tiger" Legion... Minante didn''t dare to continue the thought. - Even though the Silan Dynasty on Cangqiong Star was exerting great effort to suppress it, news of the Light Great Forbidden Spell appearing in Nandu City never made it to the media. But on Blue Star, many sovereignties were unable to exercise the same level of global centralized authoritarianism as the Silan Dynasty, which was even more autocratic than dictatorships. Coupled with some who would fan the flames of chaos and political opposition lurking in the shadows and aggravating the situation, public opinion spiraled out of control into an unstoppable storm. Countless civilians took to the streets or went on strike, holding mass protests and marches, hoping that the Sovereignty would send troops to Cangqiong Star, not only to rescue their compatriots from dire straits but also to raise the sword of justice for revenge. Over thirty years of peace had made people restless. An endless stream of anonymous calls reached Chen Fei''s phone, trying to get first-hand information from him, forcing him to activate a whitelist filter just to block these annoying strange calls and text messages. However, the media frenzy provoked by internet personalities had completely spiraled beyond control, evolving into a carnival for the news industry. Among all parties, the Rebel Army''s news and public opinion department was completely on the defensive. Dispatching the Metallic Dragons to slaughter Blue Star commoners was in no way justifiable, and the ensuing Light Great Forbidden Spell threatened the local civilians of Nandu City as well. With their image collapsing, the Rebel Army was cast as villains both internally and externally. The Rebels still issued some token protests to the Sovereignty backing Chen Fei, using the Light Great Forbidden Spell as an excuse. The First Sovereignty of Blue Star snapped back uncompromisingly, why should I care!!! You''re nothing but a small-time rebel, daring to talk to me like this; watch out or I''ll come over and give you a whipping. Does the First Sovereignty not have any dignity to uphold? Near the areas of several Dimensional Gate Management substations on the Blue Star side, there were signs of Sovereignty troops gathering, hinting at a possible confrontation. The Dimensional Gate Management Substation in Africa went straight to battle, and the garrison forces of the Silan Dynasty were not to be trifled with. The aggressively advancing African forces couldn''t hold out for two rounds, thoroughly defeated, scattering weapons and armor in disarray, leaving countless dead and wounded in their wake, their combat capabilities leaving the world in awe. Chapter 704 704: Section 699 - Lithography Chirp Louis Landon''s "prophecy" of a "historical turning point" had changed many things in reality despite the intervention of Chen Fei, the "variable." Although the parasitic species that appeared as scheduled did not acquire the Dimensional Gate coordinates of "Longinus" in Nandu City as in the previous version of the "prophecy," the development of events still become a true historical turning point, destined to be enshrined in history. Now, the issue at hand is no longer just the rebel army of the Zilu Continent, the attack and defense battle at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation and the Light Great Forbidden Spell had caused rifts between the Cangqiong Star Civilization and the Blue Star Civilization. No matter how friendly and close the relationship between the two sides was, conflicts and disputes were inevitable in their interactions, after all, where intelligent species exist, there are interests, disputes, and an inevitable draw into the Jianghu, beyond one''s control. No one can guarantee to stay out of it, and thus, both civilizations had always been painstakingly careful in maintaining their relationship with each other until this incident... The rebel forces had forced the Silan Dynasty, with the instigation of some people from the Blue Star Civilization, to fall into a "Tacitus Trap" (where any action is seen as malicious or lies once credibility is lost), and the Light Great Forbidden Curse became the last straw that broke the camel''s back. A worse situation could emerge at any time and could possibly evolve into a "Thucydides Trap" (where conflict between great powers is inevitable). The Dimensional Gate had allowed the two civilizations to conveniently share massive resources from each other, with astonishingly low costs, and the resulting huge benefits had made both sides profit greatly. However, every advantage has its disadvantage. Such convenience had also stripped both sides of a physical safety buffer, with the ability to reach each other''s territories in the blink of an eye through the Dimensional Gate, an almost face-to-face aggression. Once a conflict erupted, the damage caused would be uncontrollable. Thus, if it were peace, all''s well, but if it were war... "...The adult Metallic Dragon from the Dragon Clan spotted in Nandu City of the Zilu Continent on Cangqiong Star is suspected to be illegally captured and tamed by a Dragon Hunter family, and does not possess the Dragon Clan''s ''Heritage Module''; it has not been regulated by the Sky Dragon City, all its actions and will are unrelated to Sky Dragon City and the Metallic Dragon Clan, and we pledge to give up our legal protection of this dragon and pursue the eradication of the Dragon Hunters'' remnants." Sky Dragon City, unable to keep out of it, had to hold a press conference, stating the Dragon Clan''s firm neutrality and non-interference in the Human Race''s civil war, announcing that those dragons that have deviated from the protection of Sky Dragon City shall be hunted by all. The discussion around the Dragon Clan, with the statement from Sky Dragon City, quickly dissipated. If it had been over thirty years ago, the Dragon Clan with its notorious reputation would have definitely shouldered this blame. But now, who dares to provoke the Dragon King? The Metallic Dragon Clan would neither fight nor kill, valuing the principle of winning people over with virtue. They''d simply come to your door to drive you into poverty, uh... better to choose kindness, and just deal with them directly! The female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yilan, who appeared in Nandu City, naturally lacked civil capacity as she was not a thousand years old and was also protected by the Minor Protection Law. She had the right to news protection, naturally, she would not be reported by the media. Whoever did was courting death, and at this critical juncture, the Blue Star Sovereignty, sharpening their knives, would not show mercy. The official media and self-media collectively turned a blind eye to Yilan. This underage dragon''s life was quite comfortable, with food to eat, fights to have, homework to do, how delightful... The only regret was that her kin and little friends couldn''t come over, the teacher didn''t allow it. After all, once the gate was opened, the Dragon Breeding District could be emptied in an instant, leaving no chickens or dogs behind. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu pecked tirelessly at the hard dragon scales that shone in the sunlight, while Yilan, who was lying down for a nap, didn''t even open her eyes, letting the little bird hop and play on her back. Like father, like son, now emboldened enough to trample on the Dragon of Slaughter. Some brazen Pure Light Sparrows landed on the rooftop of the hotel, scattered in groups of threes and twos on the balcony railing, on the Tactical Alchemy Instrument, on the packing boxes, looking around curiously, chirping away. Yilan still didn''t lift her head or open her eyes, continuing to snore loudly. After all, it was a Pure Light Sparrow, ubiquitous all over Cangqiong Star, there were too many to care about. If one had to take this seriously, they might as well not live at all. Princess Lin Ziyu and the CEO of Louis Industries, the influential Louis Landon, were sipping tea with a view from the rooftop of the hotel. Shen Fei, holding a mobile phone, paced back and forth nearby, talking with her father, Shen Songling, the deputy general manager of Northern Weapons Industry Group. They discussed both business and private matters, and for the time being, she had no plan to return to Blue Star, especially given the current complex situation. Staying at the business hotel was actually safer than taking the risk of going to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. Moreover, since she couldn''t ensure a combined transfer of everyone, Shen Fei wasn''t about to abandon her colleagues in the business delegation and evacuate alone. Ding ding ding ding ding... (The-Fox-Say...) The little bird seemed to have taken on Yilan''s scales, persistently pecking away without leaving a single mark. The Shadow Wolf, "Ah Mao," refused to show its face, so now it had switched to plucking dragon scales. However, leading a flock to cast a Grand Forbidden Curse and pecking through dragon scales with a beak were two different things, especially the notoriously tough and sharp scales of the Metallic Dragons. Yilan shook her body accidentally, causing the little bird to tumble down, definitely not on purpose. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu flew back onto Yilan''s head, its petite beak holding a pure green light point, pecking at the surface of the dragon scale, creating sparks everywhere. After a moment, the scale right in the middle of the forehead bore a mark of a... uh, turtle pattern. The sixth rank Pure Light Sparrow not only had a significant increase in magic power and control power, but its intelligence had also improved substantially. Yilan continued to snore, completely indifferent. To be more precise, she felt nothing. "Jiu!" The little bird moved to another dragon scale and continued its laser engraving tirelessly, getting more proficient with each stroke. One turtle, two turtles, three turtles... The dragon scales on the female Metallic Giant Dragon''s body were covered with turtle markings drawn in simple lines. Ding! Achievement unlocked for Light Etching Sparrow! "Xiao Jiu, what are you doing?" Teacher Shen Fei happened to notice the little bird''s notable accomplishment at this time and was progressively astonished. "Jiu!" The laser from the little sparrow''s beak instantly extinguished, as Xiao Jiu fluttered clumsily onto Teacher Shen''s shoulder, nuzzling affectionately. "You little rascal!" Shen Fei reached out a finger and scratched the neck of the Pure Light Sparrow, its fine soft feathers puffing up immediately. The closer to the roots of the feathers, the down turned from black to white, and the touch felt extraordinarily soft. In the distance, Her Royal Highness the Princess, who had been enjoying tea and conversation with the big boss Louis Landon, shot an envious glance their way. The Dragon-Slaying Sparrow had earned the right to mix in high circles, and no longer could anyone underestimate this little bird. "Yilan, time for work, ah this..." Chen Fei, who had just finished a conversation with Minante, turned around, only to see Yilan, whose scales were almost half-covered in turtle markings, and he almost couldn''t take it. Goodness, you''re not treating Yilan like a dragon anymore! "Emmmm, is there another fight brewing?" Upon hearing her name called, the female Metallic Giant Dragon slowly opened her eyes. It was so boring here that it made her sleepy. Half of her dragon scales were etched with turtles. "Come with me to the Radiant Tiger Legion''s camp to execute an unlucky soul." Chen Fei could not bear to look directly and shifted his gaze away, truly at a loss for words to remind her. He and Minante had just agreed that the Rebel Army''s upper echelons had finally consented to have the Legion Commander of the Undying Pigeon perform an execution as a sacrifice to appease the pressures from all sides; otherwise, they couldn''t withstand it. If the Silan Dynasty were to go to war with the Blue Star Sovereignty, whether it was a localized minor conflict or full-scale war, the first to be wiped out, doubtless, would be the Rebel Army. When the first and second in command fight, it''s the third and fourth who die without a doubt. Those who wish to remain neutral and spectate the chaos shouldn''t even dream about it. The executioner was none other than Chen Fei, a decision mutually recognized by all parties. He was a bona fide citizen of the First Sovereign of Blue Star, had family ties with the Silan Royal Family, was acquainted and had dealings with the Rebel side, had a grudge against the Legion Commander of the Undying Pigeon, Valenya, and was the most suitable military contractor employee to take the blame and carry out the dirty work. After thorough consideration, wielding the executioner''s blade was more than appropriate, and it would be hard to find anyone more suitable for the task. A joint commission contract was directly delivered to Jiu Defense Company, leaving Boss Hanna Gagar completely baffled. Were we, a small military contractor, really crossing into trans-dimensional warfare? This was a big game! In Chapala City within the Mesoamerica region of the South Continent of America, the administrative gathering place for global military contractors, there was an uproar of disbelief, mostly among the military contractor peers. Let alone trans-dimensional warfare, even in sovereignty wars, it was rare for military contractors with a clear disparity in equipment and quality to be involved. Among their peers existing in another form on Cangqiong Star, the idea of mercenaries stepping aside without competition to hand over this opportunity to a military contractor from Blue Star was unheard of. With a single chop, beheading a "dog", the contract''s reward was a million Star Yuan¡ªlike picking it up for nothing. The former owner of Jiu Defense, now the no-longer-prosperous Apocalypse Defense Group, was collectively sour as they seemed to have bitten into a strong acid lemon. If Hanna Gagar hadn''t led her team to leave, if Jiu Defense hadn''t become independent, if... there were so many ifs, but the world never had that many ifs! "Huh? Turtles?" Yilan, the female Metallic Giant Dragon preparing to beckon Chen onto her back, finally realized the irregularity on her dragon scales and looked puzzledly at Xiao Jiu, who was flapping on Shen Fei''s shoulder, seeming to understand. The little bird was still reveling in glee, as if those turtles on its feathers had nothing to do with it. Not just Chen Fei, but even Shen Fei, who also noticed the giant dragon''s gaze, couldn''t help but have her heart lifted, not daring to even breathe heavily. Yilan shook her body, and the turtle patterns on her scales disappeared, shining anew. She extended a massive Blade Wing to Chen Fei, like a staircase descending to the ground from her back. "Quick, get on!" The dignified Metallic Giant Dragon wouldn''t fuss over a trifling Pure Light Sparrow. Would it lose face over such a petty matter? Chapter 705 705: Section 700 - Contradiction Riding a dragon once is a ride, twice is also a ride, and three times is still a ride; since ancient times, some things only differ between zero times and countless times. And as for the head... losing it once means death, losing it twice? That''s wishful thinking! Unless one is born with two heads, don''t even dream about losing your head twice. Chen Xiao''er also only had one head, and nobody could kill him twice. Human adaptability is innate, especially for those bold as brass (a dead pig does not fear boiling water). With perfect composure, Chen Fei stepped onto the Blade Wing of the female Metallic Dragon, standing firmly on its back. His Psi Skill immediately activated, emitting countless tiny geometrical shapes all over his body, which quickly assembled into the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, covering him from head to toe. The big shot Louis Landon, Her Royal Highness Princess Lin Ziyu, and Teacher Shen Fei all nodded in unison¡ªit had the right feel to it. It didn''t matter whether the Dragon Clan admitted it or not, after all, they were just doing it for fun, and who knows, it might even become an amusement attraction in the future, considering that Sky Dragon City had commercialized so much that it was nearly turning into a theme park. A Dragon Spear in the shape of the "Longinus" Plane Coordinate was thrust into Chen Fei''s hand, arming him on the spot. The considerate service of the female Metallic Dragon was touching, but unfortunately, the Dragon Spear was only to be borrowed and would be reclaimed after use; it wasn''t that Yilan was stingy, but rather that the young dragons weren''t wealthy enough to afford such generosity. After considering it for a moment, Chen Fei used his Psi Skill to evolve the Dragon Spear into a Railgun that was compatible with ammunition below 200mm in caliber. The base automatically integrated with the dragon''s back, easily handling the recoil from firing magnetic projectiles. Chen Xiao''er nodded¡ªMetallic Dragons were indeed born to be perfect artillery platforms. He really wanted to fire it off. - The truly armed to the teeth Metallic Dragon, carrying Chen Fei, descended from the sky with a boom amidst uniform gasps of astonishment and a flurry of exclamations, causing fine dust to rise to the heavens as they landed squarely into the Rebel Army''s "Radiant Tiger" Legion camp. Flashlights from numerous photography devices flashed incessantly as high-definition digital images were rapidly produced. "Here he comes, here he comes, it''s that ''Rookie''. Hiss, is he a Dragon Rider? How can he stand on the back of a dragon?" "Is this what a Metallic Dragon looks like? It''s practically a war machine in the shape of a Giant Dragon¡ªGiant Dragons, Railguns, Single Soldier Tactical Armor... born for battle." "The murderous aura is overwhelming! My face feels like it''s been scratched by a knife." "Didn''t Sky Dragon City declare neutrality? Why is there a Metallic Dragon here? Is there some special explanation?" "Hehehe! Orders just came in, all photos captured of the Giant Dragon are to be deleted!" "What? What''s going on? Is the Dragon Race unreasonable now?" "Minor Protection Law, that dragon isn''t a thousand years old yet. Those who want to face a lawsuit, feel free to keep your photos." "..." Inside the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s camp, there wasn''t just the Rebel Army''s forces, but also journalists from the Silan Dynasty and Blue Star Sovereignty, who had received permission to enter the camp and carry out their work within the designated areas. Both parties to the conflict tacitly understood each other, and at this moment, it was a rare cease-fire period. Clearly, the Rebel Army''s leadership also harbored individuals of broad perspectives and open minds. Most of the journalists on the scene were from Blue Star, representing the Blue Star Sovereignty. Dragons were already rare on Cangqiong Star, and even rarer on Blue Star. Therefore, for most Blue Star People, being able to witness a dragon at such close quarters was naturally uncontrollably exciting¡ªit was, at last, a chance to see a living dragon. "Legion Commander, what does ''Rookie'' mean by this?" As an acquaintance, Minante didn''t look too pleased, halting his approach mid-stride upon witnessing this scene. Even in this public setting, he still referred to his uncle, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s Legion Commander Befas, by his military rank. Compared to his previous unarmed visit, Chen Fei''s arrogance had reached its peak this time, entering the camp with such a show of force precisely during the press time, hitting right on the mark. This display was akin to slapping the "Radiant Tiger" Legion in the face with a move called "Descending Dragon''s Might," not willing to give the slightest bit of face. Minante could, of course, understand Chen Fei''s anger over the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s deployment of a mature Metallic Dragon to attack the hotel where his girlfriend was staying, but this wasn''t the "Undying Pigeon" Legion''s camp, and he should have restrained himself a bit, right? "Dragon Rider? Pah!" The "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s Commander, Befas, Minante''s uncle, also had a temper to contend with upon seeing this scene. This manner of landing was blatantly provocative, with journalists from two civilized planets on-site. If this wasn''t a show of power, then what was it? "Give the order, stop those journalists!" Legion Commander Befas didn''t want the media to sensationalize the situation, preferring to risk offending the journalists rather than let them ask Chen Fei all sorts of disorderly questions that could lead to a mess. His order was timely; just as Chen Fei was alighting from the back of the Metallic Dragon, and the journalists were about to swarm him, a group of stoic soldiers blocked their path. The "Radiant Tiger" Legion deployed their most elite Military Police squad, with the security platoon ready to act at a moment''s notice. Legion Commander Befas''s level of concern for the situation was self-evident. "''Rookie,'' this makes it very difficult for me!" Taking advantage of the Military Police blocking the soon-to-be troublesome media, Minante hurriedly approached, intercepting Chen Fei to prevent him from getting close to the journalists. Now, with "Rookie" added to the mix with the journalists, not only would there be a chemical reaction, but there might also be a "big explosion." The Righteous Army cared about its reputation; such a slap in the face could damage their cause. Without a proper name, words fail to follow; and when words fail to follow, deeds cannot succeed. The Righteous Army wishes to restore the Zilu Continent¡ªthe fewer such scandals, the better. Should one arise, we hope to minimize the issue and dissolve it into nothingness. "With the ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion rebelling once more, it wouldn''t be difficult to proceed!" Chen Fei''s "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor receded like a tide, transitioning into the "Dragon Guard" Strike-Type Tactical Armor sans tactical helmet, with a railgun combat rifle slung across his back. Not far behind, the female Metallic Giant Dragon still carried the railgun, its muzzle loaded with six 152mm demolition bombs and pointed directly at the barracks, ready to fire at a moment''s notice. Although he still had 600mm demolition bombs at his disposal, Chen Fei didn''t dare use them carelessly, fearing he might also be blown away with a single shot. "You..." Minante was so angry that he nearly fell over backwards. Damn it, he had tried to maintain a friendly relationship and atmosphere between the two parties with kind words, yet this "Rookie" actually helped the Slan Dynasty speak, despite being a completely irrelevant outsider, uttering some inexplicable nonsense. With each rebellion, what did they take the "Radiant Tiger" Legion¡ªand him, Minante¡ªfor? "What? Don''t understand?" Chen Fei suddenly stopped, his gaze intense as he stared at Minante. "Of course, I don''t understand!" Minante replied gruffly and loudly. "Valenya is a member of the Rebel Army, and so are you. Any decision made by anyone in the Rebel Army signifies an act of the whole rebellion. All members of the Rebel Army, including each and every individual, must pay for the foolish acts of their foolish companions." Chen Fei''s words caused Minante''s pupils to shrink slightly, dispensing with the courtesy of referring to the Righteous Army and directly calling them the Rebel Army to their face¡ªa stark accusation, as if pointing to a monk and cursing him for being bald-headed. Under an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent, and of course, he understood this principle. Not only did his face look unseemly, but his heart felt as if he''d been screwed by a Husky. He wished he could drag the "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya out of the detention point and personally flay him, dismantle him limb from limb, and scatter his remains to the winds. However, the life of the "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander no longer belonged to anyone else but the young man before him¡ª "Rookie" Chen Fei. The opportunity to settle both public and private grievances together was the result of a multi-party compromise and balance, something not so easily achieved by just anyone else. Combining Chen Fei''s slap in the face with the previous sentence, commanding the "Radiant Tiger" Legion to correct the chaos, appeared to be the perfect solution to resolve the conflict between the two sides. If you don''t want to share the blame, then leave the Rebel Army''s ranks. "Can''t you just save a bit of face?" There was a hint of pleading in Minante''s tone. True friends are incredibly rare, with not more than three or five confidants in one''s life, the rest being mere acquaintances. He didn''t want to give up so easily on Chen Fei, a good friend, but their positions were difficult to reconcile. "No!" Chen Fei rejected him without any hesitation. "Isn''t there any other way?" Minante persisted unwillingly. "If I take down your uncle..." Chen Fei pointed to the location of the "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander Befas. Almost at the same time, the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yilan on the back rotated the railgun''s muzzle, targeting that spot. The atmosphere on-site abruptly stilled with no forewarning, as if frozen in an instant, with the air thick with imminent danger. The previously noisy media personnel collectively fell silent, their eyes shifting uncertainly between Chen Fei and the still-calm Legion Commander Befas. Someone''s face suddenly turned pale as they estimated the radius of destruction from the railgun''s caliber, fearing no one here would survive. Minante''s face fluctuated between shades of pale and white, unable to accept his own uncle being blasted to death, finally empathizing with Chen Fei''s resentment. "Minante, hurry up and bring him out, I''m short on time!" Chen Fei urged the still-dazed Minante. His linger in Nandu City was not to deal with the Rebel Army but to attend to something far more important¡ªlike saving the world or something of that nature. "Aren''t you in a bit of a rush? Oh right, right, I will arrange it immediately." Initially puzzled, Minante quickly caught on. Propelling the "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya out as a sacrifice to ease the pressure on all sides was not exactly a face-saving affair for the Rebel Army. Since it was a slap on the face anyway, why not make it quicker? The sooner it was over, the sooner the pain would subside. Chapter 706 706: Section 701 - Snatching Kills Thud!~ A giant head fell to the ground like a ripe fruit dropping from its stem, hitting the earth with a dull sound, then rolling a couple of steps away. From the neck of the headless body, a jet of blood spurted three feet high; the body swayed and fell to the ground, with only reflexive twitching remaining. From the moment the person was seized, in order to avoid careless words and actions leading to unfavorable incidents, the drugged "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya could not even make a sound, let alone muster the strength to resist. He was as frail as a weakened chicken, merely waiting to have his neck slit and meet his end. No matter what kind of hero you were, you couldn''t escape the final decisive strike. The execution was complete, but there was not a single flashlight at the scene¡ªdead silence prevailed, with only the distant sounds of birds chirping, the wind blowing, and machines operating. The expressions on the faces of the news media personnel permitted to watch the execution resembled those of a group who had swallowed flies, their entire beings obviously stifling. Could they curse? If not, there was nothing good to say or to write about¡ªit wasn''t fair to play with people like this. According to the Minor Protection Law, their various filming equipment became mere decorations, not even a lens was allowed. If they broke the law, the consequences would be quite severe. Imprisonment was the least of concerns; they would also have their professional licenses revoked and be banned from the industry for life, effectively ending their careers. Even if they changed professions and started anew, in today''s competitive job market without the chance to leverage seniority, they were nothing. "Yilan, you stole my job!" As Minante presented the person and arranged the pose, Chen Fei casually conjured a three-foot massive dog-leg cleaver, preparing to swing it down when a female Metallic Dragon''s tail spear lunged from behind him, shaking at the neck of "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya and stealing the kill. Chen Xiao''er wore a bewildered face... What the hell was I here for?! The female Metallic Dragon seriously said, "Chen Fei, I thought about it, and it''s better that I take this strike for you." Her tone wasn''t joking; it seemed she had her own considerations. "Why?" Chen Fei, who nearly got splashed with blood, turned puzzledly, following the retracted sharp tail spear to the female Metallic Dragon. He and Yilan trusted each other; at this moment, there was only confusion, no anger, as the other party wouldn''t act without reason¡ªit must be something necessary. In the Metallic Dragon Clan, there were only two types of Metallic Dragons, one was Yilan, and the other was all other Metallic Dragons. Yilan''s rationality made her seem like a dragon that had been born into the wrong kind, better suited to a race other than the typically impulsive and more irascible than rational Metallic Dragon clan. Even though the current Dragon King was a Metallic Dragon, he appeared very unreliable. The Metallic Dragon clan itself equated to unreliability, which made Yilan seem even more of an anomaly, completely out of touch with her kin. "Valenya is from Cangqiong Star, and you are from Blue Star, some risks shouldn''t be borne by you." The female Metallic Dragon revealed her concerns, which were not unfounded. Valenya had the capabilities and connections to hold his position as Legion Commander; despite being beheaded and utterly dead with no chance even to feign death, his allies, confidantes, and relatives were mostly still alive¡ªthere was no guarantee what they might scheme. Chen Fei was a commoner of Blue Star, with no power or influence, and a clean slate¡ªeasily checked from top to bottom. While open threats were easy to dodge, hidden attacks were hard to defend against. If someone sought revenge, it would likely be unpredictable. But Yilan was different, naturally courting chaos, the Metallic Dragon clan welcomed any challenge¡ªchallenge one, butcher one; challenge two, chop a pair. They feared no retaliation, only that it might not be enough. By preemptively shaking her tail spear, she effectively shielded Chen Fei from potential harm; no matter who sought revenge, it would never fall upon him. "Why go to such lengths?" Chen Fei, after a moment of reflection, finally understood. Military contractors take money to ward off disasters for others, engaging in acts that attracted hatred. With more pests, the itch fades; with more debt, the enmity fades. If they feared revenge, no one would work as military contractors. But this treatment was indeed "Genuine Fragrance"! Yilan, using a tone of indifferent haggling, nonchalantly said, "It''s already done; what''s there to fear? Taking a knife for a friend, just be at ease!" Not fearing escalation is the true nature of a Metallic Dragon. "Forget it!" A dead man couldn''t be revived; Chen Fei couldn''t lift Valenya''s corpse from the ground for a second execution. The three-foot dog-leg cleaver in his hand was not taken back but thrown toward Yilan. Upon conjuring it, whether more or less, one energy point was directly deducted, but recycling it only accounted for the actual mass, not even making a fraction. Rather than feeding it to the system (dog), it was better to compensate Yilan. Thud! The sturdy dragon scale was like a sheet of paper, the massive cleaver penetrating the dragon''s body, stabbing a "brother" in the ribs on the spot. Truly a "good brother," loyal indeed... whether man or dragon, neither should be viewed by ordinary standards. "It''s tungsten steel!" Yilan''s eyes lit up, having picked up a bargain, at least forty pounds of it! The dog-leg cleaver completely merged with her body, digested on the spot. Chen Fei gestured to the news media personnel with collectively constipated expressions, and only when all cameras were aimed at him did he speak again. "I, Chen Fei, pay the money!" The mission specified in this commission contract was to sever the head of "Undying Pigeon" Legion Commander Valenya, and the task is now complete, who cares who actually did it! Just hurry up and transfer the money and be done with it! The media personnel present: "..." One must be utterly shameless to utter such brazen words. Chen Fei wasn''t worried, as Boss Hana was originally a person skilled in calculations, and the contracted lawyer of Jiu Defense Company would have a good talk with the client. If they adhered to the contract terms, it would be alright, but if they dared utter a single "no," were they afraid of not winning a lawsuit? In the past, Apocalypse Defense Group owed Aircrew Base 911 a fairness, and Boss Hana led the team directly to demolish the opponent''s building. They should not even think about freeloading off Jiu Defense Company''s labor now. "''Rookie,'' the bigshots above want to meet you." Minante resumed his role as reception officer with a complex expression; the order had just been transmitted. Minante wondered what the higher-ups of the Righteous Army were thinking, arranging to meet Chen Fei at such a critical juncture. What merits did this guy possess to draw the attention of such significant figures? "Is it because of the Parasitic Species issue?" Chen Fei had vaguely guessed some of the reasons. Minante hesitated before saying, "Seems like it, partially!" He found it hard to guess even his uncle''s thoughts, let alone those of the Righteous Army''s high-level bigshots, who existed like clouds above. "Then let''s make the trip, right now?" "Right now!" - An ultra-high-speed airship took Chen Fei away, and Minante accompanied him. The female Metallic Dragon, Yilan, stayed at the camp of "Radiant Tiger" Legion, waiting for Chen Fei to return, and, if he didn''t return, well, so much for the "Radiant Tiger" Legion and Minante''s uncle! Before leaving, Chen Fei had upgraded the railgun on Yilan''s back¡ª600 millimeter caliber rails and 600 millimeter caliber demolition bombs. He wasn''t there in person, so she could bombard to her heart''s content; he had to survive first, not caring much for the rest. The entry into seven times the speed of sound made the airship exceptionally stable; the vibrations became nearly imperceptible. Were it not for the sharp, constant howling from outside the cabin, one could almost mistake the aircraft for being stationary rather than in flight. "''Rookie,'' aren''t you afraid?" Minante ultimately couldn''t resist breaking the heavy atmosphere inside the cabin. Chen Fei had agreed so readily before, causing him unease. If it were himself, he probably would have hesitated as well! "Afraid?" Chen Fei shook his head and said, "I''m only afraid of not finishing the job, of not getting paid." If he were really afraid, wouldn''t it be better to remain at home continuing his studies, or secure a stable nine-to-five job? Why else would he risk his life every day, fighting and scurrying all over the world? As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, one fears the well rope for ten years. Actually, what Chen Fei feared most was Little Sister Chen suddenly causing a big hole in the family finances. Holding a bit more family fortune could fend off a few more of his foolish sister''s financial disasters. With money in hand, his mind was at ease. "Huh?!" Minante chuckled in disbelief. This indeed matched the employment rationale of a mercenary (from Cangqiong Star)¡ªto prioritize money over life, risking life for money. He then said, "How about you come to the Righteous Army side, and I''ll ask my uncle to make you a good offer?" At the end of the day, if it''s a problem money can solve, is it even a problem? This was also Minante''s small way of retaliating or responding to Chen Fei''s previous suggestion about the "Radiant Tiger" Legion needing a change of allegiances again. Chen Fei sneered and said, "My Chen Family has kinship with the Slan Royal Family, would you dare to hire me?" Despite the layers of relationships¡ªuncles and aunts¡ªlargely lacking any blood relation, it was indeed possible to link him ambiguously with the Slan Royal Family. The Rebel Army wanting to recruit him would require tremendous courage! "Damn!" Minante rolled his eyes. Despite all his calculations, he hadn''t considered this, and he lacked the audacity to casually poach someone, probably just as the Righteous Army''s higher-ups would have their reservations. Just then, a slight sensation of weightlessness hit them; both their bodies slightly leaned forward as the ultra-high-speed airship lowering its altitude was about to arrive at its destination. "Would you help the Slan Dynasty suppress us?" Taking advantage of the airship''s impending landing, Minante tested Chen Fei''s stance. "I am an employee of a military contractor; I only accept legal commission contracts." Chen Fei had never been involved in the war between the Rebel Army and the Slan Dynasty, nor in the war for Nandu City''s Ground Portal Management Center, which was a defense contract commissioned by the Blue Star Sovereignty. Had the "Undying Pigeon" Legion not driven him to the edge, their camp wouldn''t have suffered devastating damage. Chapter 707 707: Section 702 - Eastern Warzone Camp "I don''t want friends to meet on the battlefield again," Minante stared out of the airship window, where the vast horizon visibly slanted. Because he was young, he once yearned for war. But now, he had grown weary of it. Apart from the so-called military exploits and honors, he had gained little and had lost good friends, becoming the executioner he most despised, unable to find peace for the rest of his life. "If we meet on the battlefield again..." Chen Fei reached out and patted Minante''s shoulder. "Don''t hold back!" "You..." Chen Fei''s knack for bringing up uncomfortable topics earned him a fierce glare from Minante. Such a grown man, yet incapable of saying a word of comfort? "Since you chose to go to war, you should focus on the present without distractions and not leave any regrets. Rest assured, I will not hold back," Chen Fei smiled, having nearly lost his life several times himself, what good did it do to think too much? Once on the battlefield, surviving was a matter of fate, as was dying. Hesitating or dragging it out just made death come faster. "I''ve figured it out, you''re a jerk!" Minante, incensed, turned away. Minutes later, the high-speed airship landed steadily on the ground. Unexpectedly, there were no heavily armed personnel waiting in formation on the tarmac, just a few people awaiting the disembarking passengers. It was not surprising, really; Minante was from the Righteous Army, and Chen Fei, a mere B-rank supernatural power user, was hardly capable of causing a stir at the Righteous Army''s headquarters¡ªany stronger individual could easily suppress him. Seeing the familiar syringes waiting ahead, Chen Fei quickly waved his hands. "No need for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, it''s useless on me." He had suffered enough from those potions, and this secret was hardly a secret anymore. Minante couldn''t help but size Chen Fei up and said displeasingly, "You really are a freak!" "Improper usage of words. Clearly, it''s called being uniquely gifted," Chen Fei was somewhat proud. It was precisely because the Supernatural Ability Suppressant had no effect on him that he had successfully ambushed many people. "I guess so, then no need for it," A young woman who seemed to be in charge raised her hand, signaling those with the syringes not to come any closer. You really can''t underestimate any opponent, the Righteous Army had clearly noticed something unusual about Chen Fei. The abilities from Blue Star were truly hard to pin down precisely. Current research results suggest a connection between supernatural ability awakening and the active elemental energy leaking from the Cangqiong Realm Gate. As soon as the gate opened, supernatural powers appeared, resulting in a plethora of psi skills, among which the emergence of one or two beings insensitive to suppressants was not surprising. Chen Fei walked briskly toward the short-haired woman while loudly greeting her, "Hello, I''m Chen Fei!" The woman''s demeanor gave him a feeling of familiarity. Indeed, she was likely in charge of internal affairs, a special department position responsible for monitoring their own people, very much the same caliber as the former "One-Eye" Boss Hanna Gagar¡ªno easy character to deal with. Chen Fei excelled in dealing with such people and was accustomed to their methods. Minante quickly caught up to Chen Fei in a few strides, whispering in a lowered voice, "Hey, wait for me; there''s something off about this woman." The short-haired woman''s gaze swept past Chen Fei and landed on Minante as she loudly said, "For most people, my job indeed seems a bit off." Her tone was like a needle hidden in cotton¡ªseemingly flat, but secretly sharp. "You..." Having been caught in the act, Minante''s face changed slightly. He had been speaking softly, at least twenty meters away from her, and his voice shouldn''t have carried that far. "Ha, I''m even more off," Chen Fei took the conversation back, stopping about three steps away from her and looking around, questioningly, "No one else here?" The identities of the people on the tarmac were easy to distinguish¡ªpilots, ground crew, security, and the out-of-place short-haired woman with her four companions behind her. An aviation base was Chen Fei''s stronghold; he could always detect people or things that shouldn''t be there at first notice. "This is not the place to talk; follow me!" The short-haired woman turned decisively and led Chen Fei and Minante to a hover infantry armored vehicle parked next to the tarmac. There were a total of twelve hover infantry armored vehicles on-site, but the short-haired woman and Chen Fei and others boarded only one, the rest serving not only as armed escorts but also to obscure the view. The fleet changed order several times, with the vehicle carrying the short-haired woman and Chen Fei moving to the rear half. After all, should anything happen, the front vehicles were more likely to be intercepted and attacked. "Preparing for a major threat?" Unlike a tense Minante, Chen Fei calmly observed the woman across from him. "The Silan Dynasty''s spies have been very active recently, so it''s wise to be cautious." The short-haired woman met Chen Fei''s gaze and said, "You can call me Nalan. Names are just temporary codenames, and I''ve long forgotten my real one." "My codename is ''Rookie,'' and it never expires!" Chen Fei flashed a neat set of teeth. It was confirmed, the person in front of him was an internal affairs agent even more professional than Boss Hana. Although she possessed more skills, fundamentally, there was no difference. Her gaze was sharper, filled with an oppressive force that made one feel compelled to confess everything in hopes of alleviating the pressure. "I, I, I''m called Minante!" The honest kid''s stuttering made his profound, deep blue eyes, a trait inherited from his Darknight Tribe lineage, less impressive. "What''s your flyer call sign?" Chen Fei still didn''t know Minante''s flyer call sign. "None!" Minante seemed deflated like a frostbitten eggplant. "Huh!?" Chen Fei was taken aback. This guy is just a newbie, no wonder he seemed so inexperienced on the battlefield. "How about we come up with one on the spot?" Minante finally realized the awkwardness of the situation. Short-haired woman and Chen Fei both had codenames, but he didn''t, leading to an outcast feeling welling up within him. "Yes, yes!" Minante was overjoyed. "What about ''Stinky Tofu''?" "Eh?" ... This was probably a classic example of misjudging companions. Minante glared at Chen Xiao''er murderously throughout the journey, vowing not to hold back if they met on the battlefield again. "''Rookie,'' ''Stinky Tofu,'' we''re here!" The short-haired woman Nalan called out and took the lead in stepping out of the hover infantry armored vehicle. A lush, vivid green burst into Chen Fei''s vision, neatly trimmed low shrubs, some blooming, others bearing fruit, and grassy lawns intermingled with gray-white pebbled paths, fluttering butterflies, busy bees, and competing birdsongs. Whoosh, about a dozen Pure Light Sparrows swept over their heads. This place seemed less like the headquarters of the Righteous Army and more like a meticulously maintained garden. "Where is this?" It was also Minante''s first time here. "This is the command center of the Eastern Warzone, ''Rookie.'' The person wanting to see you is the supreme commander of the Eastern Warzone, Lord Stephens." Nalan not only responded to Minante''s question but also introduced the location information to Chen Fei. The hover infantry armored vehicle was sealed off from the outside for the entire journey, combined with radio communication being blocked, making it difficult to pinpoint the actual coordinates of the rebel''s Eastern Warzone command center. But... Chen Fei''s Dog System was still receiving signals unobstructed, marking his exact location on the electronic map, an island at the center of a lake, named "Eternal Rest." If Chen Fei were to send these coordinates to the Silan Dynasty at this moment, within half an hour, the rebels would lose a quarter of their command capabilities and related combat capabilities. The vanguard of the Silan Dynasty that was currently at a stalemate with the rebels could gain a slight advantage, immediately breaking the balance, especially with such a direct strike at the critical point, potentially causing a chain reaction, leading directly to an irreversible collapse of the rebel forces. While leading the way, the short-haired woman Nalan noticed Chen Fei looking around carefully and observing the surroundings, so she spoke again, "There are barriers, traps, and hidden guards everywhere here. If you take a wrong step without permission, it can be life-threatening." "Ah?!" The one startled turned out to be Minante, a member of the same faction. Chen Fei''s expression remained neutral. He didn''t need a reminder; he had already noticed many abnormalities. Many of the traps used metal components, which couldn''t escape the detection of Metal Ability Users. Bending down, he picked up a goose egg-sized stone and casually threw it into the lush grass, only to hear a sharp clang. A pair of large, semicircular saw teeth, like a ferocious gaping mouth, suddenly jumped out of the bush, snapping together fiercely and even sending the newly fallen stone flying. Sounds of clang echoed, as the flying stone triggered a chain reaction, setting off one set of steel teeth after another. It took a while for everything to quiet down, with the erratically moving stone eventually being shattered by the saw teeth. "Whoa! Is this, a trap for catching animals? So big!" The honest kid Minante''s face turned pale. If those teeth clamped onto a person''s leg, it would likely sever the leg instantly. "Looks like we need to reduce the use of metal." Nalan saw right through Chen Fei''s little trick. Metal Ability Users could detect the metal parts used in the traps as easily as eating and drinking, but not all traps used metal materials. After a long walk, they arrived at a two-story forest villa, with no other buildings around. The short-haired woman Nalan only mentioned to wait and then left with the other accompanying personnel, leaving Chen Fei and Minante inside the villa, staring at each other. No sooner had the woman left than footsteps approached from outside the villa, and a person walked in leisurely. Chapter 708 708: Section 703 - The Leader of the "Water Bears Chen Fei looked toward the newcomer as he entered, and the next second, he couldn''t help but let out a cold laugh. "Ha! Fuck, heaven''s road is wide open, yet you break into hell!" It was truly a case of finding something without even looking for it, the other party had been sought after for quite some time. Who? Minante, who had come here with Chen Fei, was utterly confused. Who the fuck was this unlucky kid? In his view, anyone who got on Chen Fei''s bad side usually ended up with a grim fate, and the previous examples hadn''t even been buried yet! Ignoring the predatory gleam in Chen Fei''s eyes, Xia Ji casually said, "Long time no see! ''Rookie''!" "I''ve been waiting for you, come over here!" A mass of small geometric shapes surged wildly, quickly assembling into a set of "Dragon Guard" land combat assault Single Soldier Tactical Armor. Chen Fei''s next move brought him behind the other man, seizing the opportunity of his unpreparedness to capture his wrists and yank upwards, while also fiercely kicking his knees twice in succession, rendering him into a textbook "jet-propelled" stance. Crack! Energy Points -1! Fifty-pound tungsten steel shackles went from his wrists down to his ankles, a real treat for a serious criminal. Fuck, that''ll teach you to show off! Flipped over and sprawled on the ground, his face twisting in spasms, Xia Ji couldn''t help but gasp for air, moaning, "Don''t you want to hear what I have to say?" Outside the villa, a flicker of shadows indicated that someone might be trying to break in to rescue him. "Don''t move, I''m only interested in sending you off to nirvana!" The muzzle of the Railgun Combat Rifle was now pressed against Xia Ji''s head, its capacitor instantly charged. Chen Fei''s words had a double meaning, threatening the immobilized Xia Ji while also warning those outside against any rash actions. For him, it would just take a slight pull of the trigger and the 30mm caliber full-metal bullet would obliterate a perfectly good head, beyond any chance of putting it back together. "Hehe, huff, huff, do you know? Huff, there''s a huge secret, I could tell you!" Xia Ji, unable to move and maintaining an extremely awkward posture, was panting heavily, tears almost coming down. He had never imagined encountering such a callous brute who wouldn''t even listen to reason, someone who came straight for his life without foreplay. "Shut up, I don''t want to hear it!" Chen Fei was a combat pilot who had taken up the fight midway through his career, his style of battle never changing from the start. On the battlefield, wanting to shoot to kill instantly and then leave cleanly and refreshed, he had no interest in dealing with all that nonsense. All that crap about fighting for three hundred rounds, "listen to me first"... please, what a load of bullshit. The more secrets you know, the quicker you die, that''s something even a three-year-old knows. Did Xia Ji really take everyone else for fools? "The leader of the ''Water Bear'' organization is actually..." Bang! Xia Ji received a huge slap across his face, two teeth flew out with blood and saliva, landing on the floor with a clear sound, and the slapped side of his face quickly swelled into a crimson, blood-red Five Finger Mountain. Minante was almost dumbstruck by the scene. What kind of deep grudge did the "Rookie" have to be so ruthless? "Say one more word, and I''ll blow your head off!" The Railgun Combat Rifle once again slammed Xia Ji''s head hard against the floor, exerting immense pressure. Even without firing, it was still a weapon perfectly suitable for delivering lethal blunt force, capable of easily smashing a person''s skull. "It''s the Lord of the Sky!!!" Xia Ji, stubborn to the end, continued his hopeless struggle and shouting. "That''s right, it''s Lin..." Boom!~ "Watermelon" smashed, the "watermelon juice" even splattering over ten meters away, leaving a mess of gore. "Ah!" Minante jumped with fright, his face filled with horror as he locked eyes with the murderous-looking Chen Fei. Chen Fei said calmly, "He knew too much!" He was a small fry, no need to get mixed up in the games of the bigshots. Since he couldn''t afford to play, he simply chose to flip the table. Minante quickly covered his mouth with both hands, frantically shaking his head in terror. "I know nothing, I heard nothing." Who am I, where am I, I want to go home... The people outside the villa seemed to have heard something momentous, startled to the point where their breathing became unstable and could even be heard clearly. The whizzing sound of dense metal bullets tearing through the air erupted, and the wall near the villa''s front door was riddled with countless holes the size of teacups, as Chen Fei''s railgun combat rifle fired at full force. If walls have ears, then it''s better to silence them permanently. Chen Fei held the continuously firing railgun combat rifle in one hand and reached out with the other hand, swiftly creating various obscure mechanical parts out of thin air. A large-caliber railgun rapidly took shape, leaving the hardwood floor in ruins. Energy Points -24 "Eh? Yikes! No, no, no, non..." The incredulous Minante finally understood what Chen Fei intended to do and paled with shock. He had no time to dissuade him and immediately flipped over the living room sofa, huddling underneath and gripping his head tightly. Damn "Rookie" had completely lost his mind, and no one could stop him. Boom!~ Brick, stone, and timber flew in all directions as a 600-millimeter caliber demolition bomb breached the crumbling walls of the villa and crashed a hundred meters away, tearing several darting figures into pieces with its brutal impact wave. Within a hundred-meter radius of the blast center, countless deadly traps activated, with blades flying all over the place and the ground revealing one horrifying death pit after another. Anti-infantry mines leaped from their hiding spots, scattering lethal shrapnel 360 degrees around. The ferocious shockwave turned the two-story wooden structure villa upside down, transforming it into a pile of broken walls and ruins. Debris rained down like droplets, finally settling after a while. A multi-seater sofa pinned down by a large beam and several thick boards arched forcefully, rolling the timber off. Minante, trembling with fright underneath, poked out his head, shaking his ringing ears clear and his vision gradually sharpening to see Chen Fei standing nearby. The area under his feet, including the small patch of floor with a headless corpse, seemed untouched, in stark contrast to the surrounding debris. "It''s over!" Seemingly perceptive, Chen Fei leisurely turned his head back. He had not merely relied on the "Dragon Guard" ground assault single soldier tactical armor to withstand the close-range suicide blast from the 600-millimeter demolition bomb, but had also spent 10 energy points to evolve a tower shield emblazoned with "Repulsion Shield," which withstood the killing impact wave and the randomly flying shrapnel. Energy points, those rather unused until they pour out like a flood the moment you need them, unstoppable. After the artillery onslaught had cleared, a round of recovery, at least one energy point had been gratuitously fed to the Dog System. The Dog System automatically rounds any value under a ton down to zero. The concept of rounding up doesn''t exist; it''s always rounding down harshly, ensuring it gets its significant share without remorse. "What just happened?" Minante felt as though his brain had been rattled by the remaining force of the demolition bomb, leaving him feeling quite unwell. Chen Fei said lightly, "Swatted a fly!" In the past, it was using cannons to shoot mosquitoes, and now it''s cannons to blast a "fly," no problem, no problem! Half an hour later, a small Light Wing Ship with the buzzing sound of its Light Wings flapping approached from afar, flew over the villa, which had been reduced to rubble, and seemed to hesitate as it circled three times before finally descending slowly. "Ah? What is this..." The short-haired woman with ears-cut, Nalan, was the first to walk out from the Light Wing Ship. She was staring dumbfounded at the pile of rubble that barely resembled its former shape. When she left, the original two-story villa was nothing like this. Damn it, they demolished the house just when she turned around? Chen Fei and Minante had not left either, instead, they were leisurely sitting in the middle of the rubble that had only a small piece of floor left, with a broken table and three or four hastily repaired and patched chairs around it. Nearby, a black cast iron stove was boiling water, with a shiny tea kettle steaming on top, next to a gleaming large tea caddy, brewing precious tea like a guqin simmering cranes. The shockwave from the 600-millimeter Demolition Bomb hadn''t destroyed everything; after a bit of scavenging, there were still some usable items to be found. Determined to feign death, Minante had taken up a vow of silence, no matter what Chen Fei said to him, he merely gave an awkward smile, or responded perfunctorily with a "yes," or nodded or shook his head, afraid that uttering a wrong word would bring him fatal trouble. This "Rookie" had sure shown his ruthlessness, which Minante finally witnessed. After the harrowing brush with death, he dared not repeat the mistakes of those who had been turned to ash, their bones gone without a trace. "Someone who shouldn''t be here has come!" Chen Fei looked towards the headless corpse thrown to the side. Whether it was the original Xia Ji or not was probably up for DNA verification, who knew how many clone decoys this thing had. They had to make sure it wasn''t another trick to cheat death and play everybody for fools. "This is..." Suddenly, the short-haired woman Nalan pressed her hand to her air earpiece, listened for a moment, and involuntarily nodded her head, then turned her attention back to Chen Fei and exhaled lightly before saying, "I already know, indeed there was someone who shouldn''t have come." She could understand why Chen Fei would cause such a commotion. Where there are people, there''s Jianghu, and even the higher-ups of the Righteous Army aren''t always united. There are bound to be some who do not give face. "I need an explanation!" Chen Fei looked again toward the headless corpse of Xia Ji. Now that the whistleblower had been silenced, the only ones privy to the truth were him and Minante, who was sitting cautiously at his side. Before this, the last piece of intelligence he had about Xia Ji was that the latter had been taken away by the Extraterrestrial Race "Sagali," yet for some reason, he had appeared among the Rebel Army''s upper echelons¡ªthere must be some connection. Although Xia Ji had now been killed, the chain of causality behind it wasn''t so easily erased. Since the issue now involved the Parasitic Species, expecting Chen Fei to let it go was nearly impossible. The revelation of the true identity of the Water Bear organization''s leader just made it all the more suspicious, very likely a conspiracy of the Parasitic Species. Chapter 709 709: Section 704 - Symposium Discuss? The short-haired woman with ears-cut looked at the headless corpse and the huge crater not far away, clearly troubled. Not only did she not know his full name, she didn''t even know what he looked like; this was truly difficult. Sensing Nalan''s hesitation, Chen Fei gave her a hint to reduce her workload. "This guy''s name is Xia Ji, a key member of the ''Water Bear'' organization on Blue Star, possessed of divine skills, colluding with the extraterrestrial ''Sagali'' race, and also involved with your rebels...uh, Righteous Army. You had just left when he showed up, and before he could say a few more mocking words, I took him out," Chen Fei said. Chen Fei did not regret at all his decision to act without any hesitation and kill Xia Ji. Not only did the dead man know too much, but he also talked too much. Villains often die from talking too much, a timeless rule that made a lot of sense. "I understand. I will look into it thoroughly and finally, I will give you a..." the short-haired woman with ears-cut, Nalan, looked deeply at Chen Fei and said, "explanation!" The bit of information provided was sufficient for her. It turned out someone in the Righteous Army had the audacity to disrespect Commander Stephens; this explanation was not just for Chen Fei, but also for the Commander-in-Chief. Chen Fei quietly heaved a sigh of relief. He awaited this "explanation," which meant he could return alive. His visit this time evidently wasn''t a one-way ticket to hell; after all, dead men don''t need "explanations." His seemingly baseless interrogation had actually tested the other party''s true intentions. "It''s safe now!" Nalan turned around and pressed her air earphone. The area near the villa''s ruins was as chaotic as a battlefield; even being at the headquarters, they couldn''t afford to be careless. While the short-haired woman with ears-cut and Chen Fei were talking, several people quietly landed from the airship, meticulously searching the surroundings, with several reconnaissance drones remaining in the sky, always on alert. As the Righteous Army''s Commander-in-Chief for the Eastern Warzone met a foreigner, the necessary security measures were essential, otherwise, capsizing in the gutter wasn''t unforeseeable. About a dozen armed personnel, dressed in standard single-soldier tactical armors, some carrying cold weapons, others holding magic wands, and still others wielding railgun combat rifles, escorted a burly middle-aged man who stepped out of the airship. The man approached Chen Fei with his guards and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, member of Chen Family, I am Stephens, humbly the Commander-in-Chief of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army for the Eastern Warzone." The once grassroots Righteous Army had finally acquired a formal title, with the restoration of the Tessa Empire as a future grand goal. The term "member of Chen Family" was not just respect for Chen Fei, but also for those behind him and his associated social network. "Hello, I am Chen Fei, call-sign ''Rookie''!" Chen Fei, neither servile nor overbearing, casually shook hands with the commander. Of course, he wouldn''t deny his connection to Chen Family Gate, being born into a good family was also a skill, no need to hide it. He also didn''t forget to introduce his good friend standing by his side. "This is my good friend, a land air combat pilot of your ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion, Minante, call-sign ''Stinky Tofu''!" Since they were good friends, the call-sign "Stinky Tofu," come what may, was now officially pinned on Minante''s head, and he couldn''t shake it off even if he wanted to! Once he became famous, it would definitely be an infamous spread. "I am not ''Stinky Tofu''!" Minante, who had nearly cried over this unfortunate friendship, quickly composed himself, stood at attention, and saluted, while loudly saying, "Commander Stephens, I am Minante, pleased to meet you." It wasn''t just Chen Fei; even that woman named Nalan adamantly stuck with the call-sign he clearly disliked. You all must be crazy. "''Gale Team''s Minante, I know you, do your best, ''Stinky Tofu'' suits you well!" Everyone being shrewd, Commander Stephens, who reached a certain understanding with Chen Fei right away, also shook hands with the thrilled Minante, firmly cementing this newly acquired call-sign. Top-level official validation, no way to shake it off in the future. "..." Minante was almost at his breaking point. Actually, adopting a pseudonym was a matter of survival, not just based on the experience of a commoner''s past life, but it was also applicable in the pilot community. If Lord Yama can''t call your name, naturally, he won''t take you. Chen Fei didn''t want this good friend to die casually in battle early in the morning. Of course, if they met again on the battlefield, a quick death was preferable to avoid prolonged suffering, and he wouldn''t show mercy. "I''m really sorry, some unexpected things happened, but let''s sit down and talk first. It''s safe here for now, I assure you." Being a significant figure, Commander Stephens of the Eastern Warzone Command immediately took control of the scene, pointing to the remaining floor and furniture amidst the ruins, which were suitable for a discussion. An invisible barrier unfolded, and thick white fog surged, quickly enveloping the entire villa''s ruins. Because it was the effect of a spell, from the outside, there was only ever-changing white fog, and no sound could be heard, but inside, one could clearly see outside and converse without interference. Only the short-haired woman Nalan sat down with Stephens, while on the other side of the table sat Chen Fei, accompanied by Minante, who timidly perched on the very edge of his chair. The rest of the armed personnel were dispersed around, some within the range of the spell and others outside it, maintaining vigilance. "I''m very sorry for destroying this house; I managed to salvage a few things, let''s just make do with them for now!" Chen Fei poured steaming tea for everyone, some metal items were repaired by psi skill, looking as if they were new, untouched by collapsed bricks and lumber. This time, no one took away his Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Originally, an empty-handed Chen Fei still caused chaos in the camp of the "Undying Pigeon" Army, even turning the tables and performing a counter-kill. A Class B Metal Elemental Psychic Power that couldn''t be restrained by Supernatural Ability Suppressants, having no extra Space System Alchemy Storage Device, made no significant difference. Stephens didn''t act haughty as the Commander-in-Chief. He casually asked like he was merely attending a tea party, "May I ask what kind of weapon was used here?" There was no need to dive straight into the main topic, especially just after a noisy battle had occurred. It was necessary to ease the atmosphere first. "I started with a railgun combat rifle, shooting up the south-facing wall on the first floor, then followed with a 600mm Demolition Bomb." Chen Fei responded nonchalantly. The calibers he most frequently used were either 152 or 600, both immensely powerful. "Hmm, from this distance, hiss! Indeed, his reputation is well-earned." The Rebel Army''s Eastern Warzone Commander Stephens'' gaze penetrated the one-way transparent fog and barrier, landing on the strike point a hundred meters away. If it rained a few times, the crater would turn into a ready-made pond. His gaze returned, taking another few glances at the only remaining ruins of the villa. If it were a commoner involved, the chances of survival would have been slim. Are modern military contractors always this bold? Indeed they are that bold! Competitiveness in the private military contractor industry has skyrocketed. Without going all out, there''s no competitive edge; without revenue and profit, companies would go out of business, bosses could not pay salaries, employees wouldn''t receive their family-feeding money, and everyone would have to go home to fend for themselves. Each one was braver than the last, even those who had previously stood against Aircrew Base and Jiu Defense Company. After some pleasantries and successfully warming up the atmosphere, Chen Fei directly stated, "I would like to know the extent of the Parasitic Species'' infiltration on your side. I presume that the ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion has already reported this matter. Even if we battle, my target remains these extraterrestrial races." Chen Fei had seen enough big shots not to feel diminished in presence in front of a Rebel Commander, nor would he let the other lead him by the nose. The short-haired woman, Nalan, sitting beside Stephens suddenly spoke, "The one who died here recently, Xia Ji, had some relations with the Parasitic Species ''Sagali''." Her intelligence network was already operational, investigating the reasons for Xia Ji''s presence and any leads related to the extraterrestrial races. Stephens entered the conversation seriously, "From what we can see, the Parasitic Species haven''t spared our side, as the chaotic situation in Zhai Liuzhou is to their benefit, and they can''t remain indifferent. Still, we have only caught some minor characters, the same situation as in Nandu City." "What about other high-ranking officials, including the Commander?" Chen Fei, upon first seeing this Commander, dismissed any doubt of him being parasitized. Infrared thermal imaging and X-ray imaging were the most effective means to detect Parasites. "Sagali," the extraterrestrial race seeking to sustain chaos favorable to them, wouldn''t just settle for minor characters. The lack of significant findings today suggests deeper concealment and greater schemes. Chapter 710 710: Section 705 - Little Characters When Chen Fei suddenly brought up the other high-ranking members of the Righteous Army, the short-haired woman with ears-cut, Nalan, preemptively answered, "The high-level opinions are still not unified and, on top of that, busy with the war, so for the time being not all can be identified." Although the "Radiant Tiger" legion had received Parasitic Hosts and successfully dissected a "Sagali" parasite offspring, where there are people, there is Jianghu. Trust is not something that can always be had, and the Rebel Army has never lacked dissenting voices. Even when presented with incontrovertible evidence, some may still take mysterious actions solely for the sake of opposition due to power struggles and factional stances. "Oh?" Chen Fei''s voice of surprise was indicative of something and it also acted as a form of pressure. "Parasitic Species are not our immediate priority; the current most important goal for the Restoration Army is to repel the Dynasty Army, take complete control of the Zilu Continent, and rebuild the Tessa Empire." Commander Stephens made no attempt to hide the intentions of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. In fact, it was no secret at all; both friend and foe were well aware of it. Despite the significant threat posed by the Extraterrestrial Races, the immediate threat of the Slan Dynasty''s army was greater. If the Restoration Army were to be distracted, it might well lose its current stronghold. In a world where the victors reign and the losers forfeit all... including Stephens and Nalan, every high-ranking member of the Restoration Army would not fare much better than becoming a walking corpse after being parasitized by the Parasitic Species. "There has been a ''Prophecy'' by a supernatural power user that the Parasitic Species will destroy the Blue Star Civilization in the future. I guess Cangqiong Star, as the point of invasion and landing, probably couldn''t escape this calamity either." Chen Fei didn''t intend to persuade the other party single-handedly but simply laid out the ''Prophecy'' as a logical argument. He himself was nothing more than a powerless common man who got lucky killing a Giant Dragon, earning him a second glance from important figures. Besides that, he still had no right or ability to lecture anyone. "Prophecy? Is it true?" Commander Stephens was genuinely astonished. Blue Star''s special abilities were varied and numerous. Even after adopting the Elemental Series classification of Cangqiong Star, there were still some rare abilities that couldn''t be categorized. The "Prophecy" Psi Skill, despite being rumored, had never been confirmed to exist. "The president of Louis Industrial Company, Louis Landon, his ''Prophecy'' has been verified many times," Chen Fei mentioned a name. In an effort to bolster his own persuasiveness, he decided to sell out a big name¡ªself-preservation came before friendship. Although Louis Industries was not a company of Cangqiong Star, the Restoration Army would not casually question it, much less easily offend such a power broker. "Louis Landon?" Commander Stephens was rather taken aback. This Commander of the Eastern Warzone for the Tessa Empire Restoration Army and the short-haired woman Nalan beside him looked at each other in astonishment. The elusive and mysterious "Prophecy" supernatural power user turned out to be this significant individual, whose presence was deeply hidden. Louis Landon was by no means an unknown figure, but rather an individual of considerable social standing, wealth, resources, and connections. Logically, even if Chen Fei were bluffing, he should not have used such a public figure to back his claims¡ªas any lie would be too easily exposed. Chen Fei knew it would not be easy to persuade them, and followed up with, "He not only predicted the doomsday of the Blue Star Civilization but also prophesied about your battle in Nandu City, including the attack on the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, the capture and loss of the ''Longinus'' plane coordinates. The Extraterrestrial Race that secured ''Longinus'' then launched a massive invasion. He personally came to Nandu City to witness history, right in that business hotel." Both the personal testimony and the "Prophecy" were present, and they were located in Nandu City, the third-largest city on the Zilu Continent and one of the hotspots of the battlefield. "That''s impossible! But none of these ''Prophecies'' have happened!" The short-haired woman Nalan suddenly stood up, shocked. Chen Fei''s statement was loaded with implications. If they could "Predict" the battle at Nandu City, and if it wasn''t a prophecy, then it would indicate a severe leak of highly confidential strategic plans. Given her job nature, she couldn''t help suspecting this and preferred to err on the side of caution. "Because I intervened in your battle with the Ground Portal Management Substation, I altered the future, and so the ''Prophecy'' did not come true. I''m a variable outside of the ''Prophecy.'' Mr. Randon said so himself. If you don''t believe me, you can call him personally to confirm," Chen Fei concluded, taking out his mobile phone, pulling up Louis Landon''s contact number, and placing it on the table, indicating they could dial right there and then. With dubious looks cast on the mobile phone screen, the short-haired woman Nalan''s expression suddenly changed, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Why does your phone have a signal?" While Chen Fei''s phone did not look much different from a regular phone in appearance, its functions included an additional satellite communication band, differentiating it significantly from the typically bulky and awkward form of military communication hardware. "Eh? Your phone has a signal?" Minante only then noticed that the signal indicator on Chen Fei''s phone screen was showing a normal connection. Could it be that he has been carrying the encrypted communication relay gateway given to him at all times? But since they had changed locations, the communication authorization should be invalid, right? "I''ve always had a signal." Chen Fei didn''t bother explaining since an explanation was just Psi Skill. A systematized Psi Skill that effortlessly tosses out an Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" is nothing odd. There are even more inexplicable Psi Skills¡ªone of them being the sudden and unexpected Prophecy ability. "No wonder it''s Louis Industries!" For some reason, Commander Stephens thought of the technological prowess of Blue Star''s top tech enterprise, Louis Industrial Company. The talent-rich Louis Industrial Company had developed a custom-tailored smartphone capable of breaking through communication blockades; it wasn''t impossible. Chen Fei: "?" Not explaining was tantamount to a cover-up. Since the other party had this idea, it was good. He shouldn''t mind those minor details. He gestured to his own phone. "Shall we make a call to confirm now?" "Yes!" The short-haired woman with ears-cut, Nalan, gave Chen Fei a deep look and unceremoniously picked up the phone. Though she and Commander Stephens remained half-convinced, Minante, who accompanied Chen Fei to this place, had no doubts about the authenticity of this communication number. Only a large industrial corporation with strong technical capabilities, like Louis Industrial Company, could possibly manufacture that Mechanical Dragon with combat power equal to a real Giant Dragon. Any weaker, and it would be impossible to achieve such a feat. (As a non-mass-produced Conceptual Armament, if not for Chen Xiao''er''s Psi Skill enhancement, even if the production chain of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor were running at full capacity, it would likely fail.) The call went through quickly, and the short-haired woman with ears-cut stepped aside with the phone and talked for a while. Finally, she placed the phone, that had ended the call, back on the table and nodded to Commander Stephens of the Eastern Warzone. "It indeed was Louis Landon. The prophecy most likely exists!" The president of Louis Industrial Company was truly in Nandu City, at a business hotel not far from the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. It was entirely possible for him to have intersected with Chen Fei. Three teams of people had been prepared in advance to wait in the area around Nandu City. The time it took to assemble these teams probably was not later than when the Restoration Army initiated their uprising. This level of foresight was almost prophetic, even if not an actual Prophecy. "This really is trouble!" Commander Stephens propped his elbow on the table and began to scratch his head with unease. He was of the Cangqiong Star People and knew from childhood that the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" was the nemesis of all living beings. Any creature large enough to host them would become a Parasitic Host. Those not large enough would become food, with almost no exceptions. To fend off the invasion of the extraterrestrial races, the Cangqiong Star Civilization had been resisting for a hundred thousand years. Nearly every Intelligent Species, and almost all Heavenly Sovereigns, had the obligation to accept the summons. Once it was confirmed that the Parasitic Species were about to launch another large-scale invasion, and this time the targets were two civilized planets, a critical crisis of life or death would reemerge. However, the choice facing Commander Stephens was between the immediate interests of restoration and the future of civilization. To sacrifice oneself for the good of civilization was not a choice everyone could make. "After I die, let the floodwaters rage. What I can''t have, no one shall have." There were many who thought this way, and such individuals existed throughout the Restoration Army, from the top down, and in no small numbers either. Convincing those people to divert a portion of their manpower and resources to fend off the early stages of the Parasitic Species'' invasion was enough to give Commander Stephens a headache. Moreover, the manpower and resources committed could not be minimal. Otherwise, they would be serving themselves on a silver platter as new Parasitic Hosts, only making the situation worse. "We don''t have much time. Please consider carefully. Let''s end here for today and arrange for our departure." Chen Fei, unburdened by the worries of great figures, only wanted to protect his family. He was ready to sacrifice himself for them if needed. "''Rookie''?" Minante saw that Chen Fei had barely spoken a few words before wrapping up the conversation and couldn''t help but feel anxious for him. "I have done all I could." Chen Fei turned and nodded to Minante. What decision the Restoration Army''s higher-ups would make next was beyond his control. He had done what needed to be done; the rest was up to fate. There was something he didn''t tell Minante, though; this place was no longer safe to stay. Commander Stephens, still pondering, gave Nalan a nod. She stood up and said, "I''ll arrange your departure. Please follow me." Chen Fei immediately followed, with Minante close behind. When they were far from the Forest Villa, Minante lowered his voice and said, "Rookie, why give up just like that?" They had gone through a lot of trouble to get there, but had left without saying much and without a clear grasp of the leader''s specific attitude, seemingly for nothing. Chen Fei looked at Minante and said calmly, "You and I, what are we after all? I''m a ''Rookie'', and you''re ''Stinky Tofu''. Get it?" Small fry trying to make decisions for the big shots were just hurrying their own demise. "If you hadn''t brought up ''Stinky Tofu,'' we''d still be friends!" The friendship was capsized just like that; Minante''s face immediately darkened. Chapter 711 711: Section 706 - Abandon Ship! Abandon Ship! The short-haired woman with ears-cut, Nalan, listened to the quiet conversation of the two behind her and inwardly nodded in approval. It''s important to have self-awareness; no wonder the big boss of Louis Industrial Company has a favorable view of this "Rookie." If he can survive the deadly fights of the future, he might become an outstanding character. Since the moment the Parasitic Species appeared, both Cangqiong Star and Blue Star have drawn an end to their peace and stability. The trio returned to the airbase where they had landed earlier. The supersonic airship that had been on the tarmac was gone, clearly not idle and tasked with other flying missions. Even though the Tessa Empire Restoration Army possesses such atmospheric supersonic flyers, their numbers are probably not that abundant. Nalan quickly arranged for a small Light Wing Ship to take Chen Fei and Minante aboard, and then left without looking back. Although it was not the high-speed supersonic aircraft from before, the Light Wing Ship''s flying speed was significantly slower, but it was still stronger than any ground transportation. Moreover, there was no time restriction for the return journey, so the requirement for speed was not that strict. Under the Holy Flame Sun, the shiny Light Wings began gathering the Elemental Series energy from the atmosphere, converging along the patterns on the wings towards the core of the ship. The invisible and intangible buoyant force acted upon the Light Wing Ship itself, causing it to slowly rise off the ground. Minante stood next to the porthole, watching the airbase on the ground grow smaller and smaller, with his view gradually obstructed by dense clouds, yet he could still distinctly feel the Light Wing Ship completing its turn and accelerating. "The clouds here are so low!" Due to professional habit, Minante noticed that the cloud level seemed excessively low, which was unfavorable for takeoff and landing safety. "It''s probably the effect of a spell." Below, the fact that the land was actually a large island at the center of an inland lake was already completely clear in Chen Fei''s eyes. The unusual low clouds were perhaps a sort of large Magic Array specifically for Sheltering from optical surveillance. The artificial intelligence "Adam" popped up an electronic map visual interface, with a small arrow cursor slowly moving on it. "So that''s how it is, no wonder!" Minante suddenly realized and nodded. As an important location for the Restoration Army, the more security measures, the better. He thought for a moment, looked at Chen Fei, opened his mouth, and then decided not to say anything after all. Seeing Minante hesitating to speak, Chen Fei glanced at him and said, "Are you wanting to ask why I left so early and didn''t talk a bit more with Commander Stephens?" The small Light Wing Ship gradually sped up, and by now, it had already flown away from the big island''s shoreline. "Uh! Your business seems to have no result, aren''t you in a hurry?" Minante nodded, seemingly relieved, having been uncomfortable keeping this question to himself. "Being in a hurry is useless, it''s not something that can be resolved with a few words; if we don''t leave soon enough, we might not be able to leave at all." Chen Fei shook his head, revealing a thought that made Minante''s heart pound. "How come? Commander Stephens and Nalan wouldn''t make things difficult for us, should they?" Although Minante said this, the hairs on the back of his neck still stood on end. The Commander of the Eastern Warzone was not his uncle; if he had some special thoughts, others simply couldn''t guess. "Did you forget there are others?" Chen Fei glanced at Minante, noting that he had forgotten that the scene wasn''t just Stephens and others. "Xia Ji?!" Minante gasped, immediately recalling the person whom Chen Fei had killed with a shot to the head. It was a pitiful fate to be struck down for knowing too much, a sought-for end yet a regrettable demise. "He''s not with Stephens'' group!" Chen Fei gave a hint, and seeing Minante''s changing expression, he continued, "There are other Factions involved. You didn''t think there would be no repercussions after I killed Xia Ji, did you?" To thoroughly eliminate trouble, it''s necessary to go to the root. When silencing someone, either don''t do it at all or do it completely. He didn''t merely kill Xia Ji; all the people who brought Xia Ji were blasted to ashes by him, none spared. "Hiss! That''s definitely going to cause trouble!" Minante exclaimed. Someone sent Xia Ji to the Forest Villa, and although the exact purpose was unknown, it was definitely not a friendly gesture. But Chen Fei killed the man, and not just one, clearly stirring up a hornets'' nest. "So... now!" Chen Fei casually spread his hands and looked down at his feet. He knew exactly what he had done. Such actions would not cause immediate trouble, but he had completely offended the opposing force, leaving no room for turning back. Chen Fei was from Blue Star. He could just find an opportunity to return to Blue Star and hide. The Sovereignties were just about to blockade the Dimensional Gate, and even if certain factions of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army wanted revenge on Chen Fei, they would face the frustrating reality that he was beyond their reach. "I''m really amazed by you!" While Minante''s thoughts were in disarray, he couldn''t help but give a thumbs up. Killing someone and then running away, not even caring about important matters¡ªapart from Chen Fei, who else could do something like this? No sooner had he finished speaking than a shrill alarm sounded, and warning lights in the corner of the Light Wing Ship cabin began to flash alternately in red and yellow. "Special announcement: Two unidentified ''Sky Falcons'' are tailing our ship. Everyone, please prepare for an emergency." The captain''s voice spread to every corner of the ship. The small Light Wing Ship carrying Chen Fei and Minante was originally a passenger light wing vessel, not a combat ship. Even though it had been modified to some extent and had been armed, it was still not a match for professional Assembled Combat Aircraft. Just avoiding enemy fire was extremely difficult. The so-called emergency preparations weren''t about entering combat or fighting to the death; it was about preparing to abandon ship. Whether one could survive depended on luck, left to fate. "Here they come!" ¡Á2 Minante and Chen Fei exchanged glances and exclaimed in unison. They had not long left the Eastern Battle Zone Core Area of the Restoration Army, and although the airspace wasn''t currently a frontline battle area, the sudden appearance of two ''Sky Falcons'' with unclear intentions targeting their small Light Wing Ship most likely meant no good. Beep beep beep beep beep... The alarm grew more urgent. "Two missiles detected, estimated to arrive in 13 seconds. Non-combat personnel, please proceed to the escape pods and brace for impact, 9, 8, 7..." The crew of the Light Wing Ship remained steadfast at their stations, the captain continuing to maintain communication broadcasts. "The escape pods are in that direction, hurry!" Minante, familiar with the layout of the Light Wing Ship, identified the location of the escape pods immediately, but just as he began to move, he was grabbed by Chen Fei, who protested, "What are you doing? Aren''t you going to run?" "Running is useless. Come with me!" Chen Fei, however, dragged Minante in another direction, towards the cargo hold of the small Light Wing Ship. The so-called cargo hold was a compartment without seats. If it had seats, it would be a passenger cabin; without them, it was a cargo hold. Due to a last-minute arrangement, the only passengers on the Light Wing Ship were Chen Fei and Minante. The cargo hold was empty, with neither seats nor goods. "What are we doing here?" Gazing at the cargo hold, which was large but completely barren, Minante was puzzled. At that moment, two loud bangs were heard, and the entire Light Wing Ship began to shake violently. Despite the best efforts of the flight crew to control the ship, it took a while before they could barely stabilize the balance of the vessel. Although the ship''s Magic Array had deployed a Magic Shield that barely protected the structure from catastrophic damage, one side of the Light Wing had suffered severe damage, becoming incomplete and impacting the absorption of Elemental Energy, which also decreased the flying speed considerably. This meant that the situation had gone from bad to worse. "Do you choose to flee, or to fight?" Chen Fei reached out to the empty cargo hold and countless tiny geometrical shapes rapidly emerged, falling to the floor with a rustling sound like seeds on snow. "Of course, fight!" Minante answered without hesitation. Once Combat Pilots enter the battlefield, they have only one goal: to attack, attack, and keep attacking, converting all their combat power into offensive force, becoming the deadliest blade in the wide sky. "Two missiles detected, estimated to arrive in 9 seconds. All hands, abandon ship! Abandon ship! Abandon ship!" The captain of the small Light Wing Ship shouted hoarsely, having done everything possible¡ªthe fate of the Light Wing Ship being shot down was inevitable. An Aircraft with a very sharp aerodynamic design rapidly took shape at a speed visible to the naked eye, with twin engines, two seats, and twin vertical tails, high delta main wings. "Uh! This is..." Minante''s eyes grew wider and wider. Chapter 712 712: Section 707 - Modified "Raptor The F-22 Raptor, once the main air superiority fighter of the American Federation, retired immediately after the end of the Great War of the Three Realms over thirty years ago, replaced by more advanced fighters with superior performance. Minante exclaimed in amazement, "An F-22? A two-seater F-22?" A violent explosion swallowed up what he was going to say next. At the same time, the floor shook violently, and Minante was smashed horizontally onto the ground, falling hard. "I made some on-the-fly adjustments to the balance, it might be a bit cramped." Chen Fei''s hand was connected to the newly formed F-22 Raptor fighter, his support not limited to his own legs but also including three landing gears, naturally very stable. The F-22 never mass-produced a two-seater modified version (mainly because it couldn''t fit two ejection seats, and the frame couldn''t be stretched), a scheme temporarily modified by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" without original factory technical data. "Adam" has accumulated a lot of aerodynamic design data for combat aircraft, which for adapting to older models, felt like a college student doing elementary school exams, making the viability of this modification scheme not low, and it even incorporated magic arrays, making it almost identical to the "Canglong" advanced fighter. Whether it worked or not, you wouldn''t know until you tried it. Energy points -127! Energy points: 31273/45000 True to its name "Raptor," this evolution from scratch of an F-22 consumed an impressive amount of energy points, mostly used in simulating non-metal materials, with 1 energy point exchanging for only 1 kilogram, such a loss! Total number of magic array inscription units for the F-22 Raptor fighter: 79/79 "Repulsion Shield (45)" ¡Á 1 "Wind Magic Shield (12)" ¡Á 1 "Fluid Vortex (2)" ¡Á 4 "Gravity (1)" ¡Á 4 "Blazing Flame Bullet (1)" ¡Á 4 "Air Burst (2)" ¡Á 2 "Wind Cone (2)" ¡Á 1 Although Chen Fei still had a more combat-effective crystal jet scheme, since this design was still under professional optimization, it was better to use what was familiar; the F-22 Raptor, a retired model, often meant maturity and stability, with no further changes to be made. (Nangong Ruiyang, an engineer from the Northern Weapons Industry Group who was fervently working on the crystal jet scheme: Chen, we are now sworn enemies, I can handle this scheme, I still can, ahhhhhh...) "Board the aircraft, my fire control operator." Chen Fei patted Minante on the shoulder, covering him with a "Flying Dragon" air combat interceptor type of single soldier tactical armor. Another energy point, no more no less, adamantly no change given. Don''t be fooled by the few tens of thousands of energy points left, when it came to crucial moments, there was no withstanding the drain from the Dog System, which often led to dozens or even hundreds of energy points disappearing into thin air, all fed to the dogs. "Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Caught off guard, Minante let out a series of exclamations as Chen Fei''s palm pushed against his lower back, lifting him off the floor and into the rear seat of the F-22 Raptor''s cockpit. Boom! The floor tilted noticeably, and if it weren''t for the F-22 Raptor''s landing gear locking the wheels, it might have started to slide. A sensation of weightlessness struck, and both Minante and Chen Fei knew that the fate of this small Light Wing ship was beyond redemption. "Hurry and leave... what''s this?" The captain, who had stayed at his post until the end, staggered into the cargo hold with two parachute packs, stumbled upon the two men, and stood there, dumbstruck. Somehow, an aircraft that had never existed in the cargo hold appeared, whose design didn''t seem to match the style of Cangqiong Star at all. The outer wall of the cargo hold was violently torn open, and two "Sky Falcons" flew past at an extremely close distance, strutting their stuff. The chaotic airflow surged into the cabin, and before the captain could hand over the two parachute packs to Chen Fei and Minante, he was swept away by the incoming airflow. "The parachute, ahhhh..." The cries abruptly grew distant, and in the blink of an eye, the man was gone. Everyone else had already boarded the escape pods, leaving the small Light Wing ship behind, and were slowly falling towards the ground. The two "Sky Falcons" did not attack the escape pods. After all, a bit of mercy goes a long way, and everyone could face being shot down; utterly destroying those without the power to retaliate went against the pilots'' principles. "..." Minante had no time to lament the captain''s bad luck, as he was frantically strapping himself to the seat, seizing every second to adapt to the fire control system of this jet fighter. Although he became a temporary fire control operator, as a true combat pilot, he couldn''t let his friend down no matter what. Chen Fei took out a crystalline block from his bracelet-type spatial alchemy storage magical artifact, pressed it against the control panel, where it was received by the aircraft''s energy conversion device. The psi skill''s electric energy reserve was not sufficient for the combat aircraft to maintain high-speed flight and the magic array for an extended period; it required a crystalline block with a higher energy level and density. "Is the hole in the wall too small?" Minante took a glance at the gaping hole torn in the bulkhead. It seemed that its smallest diameter wasn''t large enough to fully accommodate the combat aircraft; at the very least, it needed to be expanded by double. "Actually, it''s the same with or without it. Brace yourself, we''re about to take off!" Chen Fei''s hand was on the throttle, the other on the control stick. The control stick of the "Raptor" was not on the center axis but on the right hand. If one''s hand was injured... It seemed that at the design outset, no thought had been given to combat with a disability. The large tear in the cargo hold saved Chen Fei some effort. The nose of the F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet aimed at the huge hole in the bulkhead''s wall, its twin engines erupted with powerful streams of air, the landing gear''s locking mechanism released, and the aircraft lunged forward. After magic modification through the magic array, the main thrust of this F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet had been switched to a combination propulsion of "Air Burst (2)" and "Fluid Vortex (2)." Because it also had a "Gravity (1)" ¡Á 4 magic array, the aircraft wasn''t as heavy as the original, the jets only ejecting high-pressure high-speed airflow. With temperatures barely exceeding one hundred degrees Celsius and without the boost of hot expansion at a thousand-plus degrees, breaking the sound barrier was not easy. But for coping with subsonic "Sky Falcon," the assembled combat flyer, the same subsonic speed was already enough. If conditions allowed, reaching supersonic speeds for a brief period wasn''t impossible. Boom!~ The magic-modified F-22 "Raptor" erupted with a roar on par with the F119-PW-100 turbofan engine''s output. The intense thrust pressed Chen Fei and Minante firmly into their seats. The fighter jet merely skidded seven or eight meters before bursting out of the cargo hold and into the outside of the Light Wing Ship. Sunlight and blue sky, like heaven. The current weight of the aircraft was zero; it didn''t even have the chance to sink and instead directly pulled up its nose, climbing all the way. Minante''s eyes widened in horror as he saw more than a dozen pieces of bulkhead debris floating behind the fighter of varying sizes, the largest like door panels and the smallest the size of a palm. If not for Chen Fei''s special ability, this evolved aerial combat aircraft would likely have split apart the instant it burst from the cargo hold, and not even a Cangqiong Star "Sky Falcon" could withstand such a savage breakout. Just as the F-22 "Raptor" had burst out, the Light Wing Ship that was descending at an increasing speed broke apart into two sections mid-air, debris flying everywhere. The sudden appearance of a flyer caught off guard the two "Sky Falcons" that had been attacking the Light Wing Ship, watching helplessly as the "Raptor" with a high angle continued to accelerate, eventually rising towards higher altitudes nearly vertically. The two "Sky Falcon" pilots looked at each other from afar. The light wings on the left and right sides of their assembled combat aircraft emitted a huge humming sound, decisively pursuing the "Raptor." Although the magic-modified F-22 "Raptor" didn''t possess the capability to enter supersonic flight actively, the performance it demonstrated while climbing even exceeded the original. Besides its engines'' thrust, there was also the repulsion effect of the Cangqiong Star''s universal gravity. At an altitude of 6,300 meters above the ground, a crisp pop sounded. The F-22 "Raptor" shuddered violently for a few moments before stabilizing, and a mist suddenly formed from the nose to the tail of the plane. The cloud from the sonic boom maintained only for a few seconds before it vanished. "Ah! What just happened?" Startled by the sudden sonic boom, Minante shivered and looked down at the instrument panel, his eyes wide with shock. Speed 1.1 Mach! A vertical climb and still breaking the sound barrier; what kind of ghost aircraft was this? Not only was he dumbfounded, but the two "Sky Falcons" chasing from below also had expressions as if they''d seen a ghost. A thousand meters in three seconds; not to mention the "Sky Falcons," even the original "Raptor" would be killed trying to catch up. At an altitude of 12,000 meters, the flight path leveled out. "''Stinky Tofu,'' let''s get started." Chen Fei reminded Minante, who was still dazed in the back seat. The "Raptor" had a nearly four-thousand-meter altitude advantage over the two "Sky Falcons." In aerial combat, especially in the subsonic range, this was almost an absolute advantage. If a climb could reach supersonic speeds, then diving from a high altitude to exchange height for speed could also break the sound barrier. The aerodynamic performance of the F-22 "Raptor" hadn''t been wasted at all, and Chen Fei, with his rich combat experience, skillfully managed the current combat aircraft. "Oh oh oh, let''s do this!" Minante began to activate the fire control radar. "Beep Beep!" Two blips appeared on the radar screen, along with annotated auxiliary information such as model name, flight direction, predicted trajectory, altitude, and speed. "Hey? This thing is really smart!" Minante found the "Raptor''s" fire control system surprisingly easy to use, as it seemed all he had to do was press a few buttons to shoot down the target. "Be mindful of the ammo, only short-range combat missiles, railguns, laser cannons, and particle beam cannons can be used; directed-energy weapons shouldn''t be fired in succession. Set the optimal attack range to within visual range." Chen Fei reminded the backseat fire control operator not to fight using past experiences, after all, there were differences. Luckily, he had gotten 12 multi-mode programmable short-range combat missiles from Princess Lin Ziyu''s butler; otherwise, this time he would only be able to engage in a "Death Tango" (close dogfight) with the enemy for the whole mission. Due to the absence of missiles capable of medium or longer ranges, the combat tactics of this "Raptor" were limited to within visual range, unable to exploit its original beyond-visual-range extermination ability. Minante confidently said, "This is already enough!" He had inventoried the ammo. Facing the "Sky Falcons," he was not at a disadvantage. Chapter 713 713: Section 708 - Leave a Survivor Minante was himself an outstanding "Sky Falcon" pilot and was naturally very familiar with this model of assembled combat aircraft. "Let''s get started!" Chen Fei glanced at the two "Sky Falcons" that were still desperately climbing, then pushed the joystick forward. The nose of the F-22 "Raptor" dipped, entering a dive. Etched on the radar radome, the "Wind Cone (2)" magic array immediately produced a visible conical shock wave. Under the influence of the "Gravity (1)" magic array, the aircraft''s weight shifted from negative to positive, restoring normal weight while also acting on the acceleration, meaning the diving speed would become faster and faster. This was the essence of energy aerial combat skills, which could not solely pursue a lighter airframe. When the effect of the magic array acted on the retired model''s aerodynamic design, the performance of the aircraft often got a tremendous boost, even a qualitative improvement. "Four combat bombs, fire!" Minante locked onto the target immediately. Following the pre-programmed attack plan, he successively released four multi-mode programmable short-range combat missiles. Having once participated in Blue Star''s "Abyssal Gladiatorial" battle, he was very familiar with the performance of these commonly used air-to-air missiles by military contractors. The F-22 "Raptor" fighter plane''s missile bays on either side beneath the wings pushed out the missiles in pairs, which then successfully ignited and sped toward the two "Sky Falcon" squadrons at an altitude of about 8500 meters, diving even faster in their pursuit. Almost simultaneously, the two "Sky Falcons" launched their missiles at the F-22 "Raptor" fighter, which had dived to an altitude of 11,000 meters. The attackers on both sides were "Sky Falcon" pilots, who had similar tactical styles and timing. Because each side clearly understood this, they knew this battle might not be easy to fight. As active military-grade combat bombs from Cangqiong Star, their range and designed hit rate were above those of civilian combat bombs. However, in within-visual-range combat, this slight difference in combat performance wasn''t as significant as imagined. Once they got a direct hit, they''d all be done for; everyone had just one shot, though perhaps the F-22 with its "Repulsion Shield" might withstand a few more hits. "Missile, missile! Dodge quickly!" This was Minante''s first time being Chen Fei''s partner, and he urgently reminded him in a fluster. "Take a deep breath!" Chen Fei pushed the twin sticks all the way. "What?" The next second, Minante saw a flash of red before his eyes, damn! He immediately felt his whole body tighten, his vision quickly sharpening, as the red before his eyes swiftly receded. The "Flying Dragon" aerial combat single soldier tactical armor reactivated its pressure balance automatically, stabilizing the blood flow. If he had any sort of cerebral thrombosis or brain tumor at this moment, it was feared he''d have been instantly killed. During the F-22 "Raptor''s" roll, four fireballs were flung out, the Fire System''s Second Rank Magic "Blazing Flame Bullet" temporarily serving as an infrared heat jamming flare. As it wasn''t the original model of "Raptor," the infrared heat response at the vector nozzle outlet was remarkably low, almost nonexistent when blown by the high-altitude air currents. However, the four enemy missiles were not attracted by the "Blazing Flame Bullets," stubbornly continuing their pursuit, getting closer and closer. Minante, well-versed in "Sky Falcon" and related tactics, immediately shouted, "It''s no use, ''Sky Falcon''s'' combat bombs are also multi-mode guided." Nowadays, it is rare for missiles to use a single guidance mode. To more accurately track targets, they often use a combination of infrared, optical recognition, active or passive radar waves, laser, and remote control, ensuring the highest hit rate. "Got it, keep breathing deeply, the next move is going to be intense." As Chen Fei finished speaking, Minante went black before his eyes, damn! The modified F-22 "Raptor" burst out in full speed toward the two "Sky Falcons," which were also performing intense evasive maneuvers. The missiles from both sides pursued their respective targets, but the distance between the "Raptor" and the "Sky Falcons" rapidly closed. "Can''t take it anymore, too intense! Ugh!" Had it not been for his seatbelt tightly securing him, Minante, shaking his head uncontrollably, started to feel overwhelmed. It was almost unbelievable that a combat pilot could experience airsickness. If he had known the "rookie" played so wildly, he would never have boarded this "Raptor" under any circumstances. Now that he was on board, no, on the thief''s plane, it was too late to back out! The assembled combat aircraft "Sky Falcon" also had great agility, but its maneuvering posture was much more graceful and delicate, not like the "Raptor''s" blatant crashing and aggressive tactics, which seemed blunt and brutish. Who needs delicacy? Just do it! Even though the world outside the cockpit was spinning wildly, Chen Fei, with the "Basic Optical Observer" fitted with the "Macroscopic Perspective" functionality, could see clearly the positions of the other two "Sky Falcons" and the altitude of the "Raptor" as if second nature. The seemingly out-of-control F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet closed in directly on one of the "Sky Falcons." The "Sky Falcon" pilot, while desperately evading missiles, inadvertently glanced aside, terrified to his core. What the hell is this tactic, coming straight at me, keep away, no! The "Raptor" barely grazed the tip of the "Sky Falcon''s" Light Wing, the wake causing the "Sky Falcon" to wobble. With a flip of its flaps, the F-22 "Raptor" suddenly opened its airbrake. As the nose once again pointed towards the "Sky Falcon," the cannon position suddenly launched a thick object. A 200mm caliber railgun fired a shrapnel round, each steel pellet in the shrapnel 3cm in diameter, assembled into a one-meter-long projectile that split into over a thousand steel pellets once it left the acceleration rail, immediately covering one of the "Sky Falcons" and three of the four missiles chasing it. The pilot in the "Sky Falcon''s" cockpit was instantly turned into countless pieces, and the fractured assembled combat aircraft was engulfed by the exploding missile. Missiles didn''t know how to steer clear since, constrained by costs, even the currently equipped short-range combat missiles weren''t that smart. Boom!~ The stray missile collided with the Raptor''s repulsion shield field, which had lost speed due to its maneuvering stance. Chen Fei''s abilities were not yet sufficient to completely dodge all missiles; he was inevitably hit by one. The blast wave, shrapnel, and flames surged in all directions, but failed to reach the F-22 Raptor''s fuselage itself. Minante, who had been dizzied by the continuous aggressive maneuvering, was finally shaken awake by the noise of the missile explosion. Looking around in a daze, he asked anxiously, "What happened? Did we get hit?" "Shot down a ''Sky Falcon''!" Chen Fei glanced briefly at the flame and debris plummeting towards the ground with the corner of his eye and did not look a second time. If the people weren''t alive, there was no point in looking. Right, there''s another one! The pilot of another "Sky Falcon" seemed to lack flying skills, still bobbing and weaving, almost turned into a dead dog by the pursuing missile. "Another one left? I''ll take him out!~" The previous shrapnel barrage wasn''t from Minante''s hand; he was now rubbing his hands together, getting ready to take down the last enemy. "No, leave a survivor!" Chen Fei suddenly vetoed Minante''s idea. "Huh?" Minante completely forgot that the pitiful pilot was actually a comrade from the same camp, while the man in front was the enemy on the opposing side. "Prepare the particle beam, aim for a one-hit, ''Adam,'' take control of the Combat Bomb." Chen Fei had the AI "Adam" remotely control the missile to drive the "Sky Falcon" into a perfect position, creating the best opportunity for Minante. Adam: Control taken! "Lock on!" As soon as the Directed-Energy Fire Control System''s crosshair aimed at the "Sky Falcon," forced into the firing line, Minante pressed the launch button without hesitation. A blue-white beam shot out, instantly piercing the frantically fleeing assembled combat aircraft, even severing a Light Wing from the fuselage entirely. As a type of directed-energy weapon, the particle beam wouldn''t easily cause explosions or fires. However, it could easily penetrate objects. That single hit would not only take out assembled combat aircraft but, even armored vehicles could be penetrated from front to back, shot clean through. With such damage, the ability to fly was almost irreversibly lost. The "Sky Falcon," now disabled, plummeted straight to the ground. Besides being severely startled by the sudden particle beam attack, the pilot above wasn''t much hurt, and now had no choice but to bail and save himself. A snow-white parachute bloomed in the sky. Hundreds of meters away, a loud bang erupted as the released combat bomb self-destructed. The F-22 "Raptor" continued to decelerate, its nose aimed at the parachute, descending at the same speed jointly. The pilot beneath the parachute looked utterly desolate, clearly very aware of his impending fate. The outcome was inevitable, and both parties fell silent. Abruptly, the parachute fabric crashed onto tree branches; the pilot didn''t land smoothly but was left hanging two meters above the ground. Beginning from 30 meters above the ground, the F-22 "Raptor" engaged in a retrieval process, for its vast wing area couldn''t possibly land in the woods intact. It might end up worse than a parachute stuck on tree branches. In the end, only a small part of the cockpit landed; the rest turned entirely into energy points, damnably taken advantage by the Dog System. As soon as the seat belt released, leaving the cockpit behind, Minante staggered and stumbled to a nearby bush, starting to heavily water the ground. "Ugh..." A foul smell began to spread. The enemy pilot hung up like a hanged ghost in the tree, motionless, mood equally foul. Was it really this asshole who knocked him down from the sky? He really felt like dying! "Hey, are you alright!" Chen Fei patted his good friend''s back, handing over a crushed piece of ginger; he didn''t have motion sickness pills or car sickness pills, so he had to make do with something else. "Ugh... ginger? What are you doing here?" Smelling the sharp scent of ginger, Minante incredulously looked at Chen Fei. Throw in some oil, salt, green onions, and wine, and they could have started cooking! "Um... tourism!" Chen Fei looked up at the sky, saying lightly. He had never come here to fight in the first place. Chapter 714 714: Section 709 - Pilot Niko "Ptooey, sss, so spicy!" Ungracefully spitting several times and chewing on ginger, his nose and eyes burned by the strong flavor of ginger, but his motion sickness had finally improved. After taking the drinking water passed by Chen Fei and rinsing his mouth, Minante finally recovered enough to look up at the large tree ahead, within which a Sky Falcon pilot with a despairing expression still hung. "What do we do about this guy?" "First, get him down. Ask him what he''d like to drink¡ªwine, curry, tea, juice, or just plain water!" While speaking, Chen Fei surveyed their surroundings and pulled out a stove, cups, and various beverages from a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, seemingly in no hurry to leave since there was still work to be done. They had landed in a highland forest about 1,400 meters above sea level. The average height of the trees here was over fifty meters, all towering trees that shaded the sky and darkened the ground below. Only in an ancient forest naturally formed over many years could one see such vegetation. In the shadowy depths, various eerie sounds of ghosts howling and wolves wailing echoed constantly. Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere was rich in active Elemental Energy, inhabited not only by ordinary beasts but also many rational or feral magical beasts. If they encountered a rational magical beast, communication might be possible. However, if they met an irrational, feral magical beast, they might have to fight for their lives. "Woohoo..." A huge muffled roar came from afar, accompanied by howling winds that made the grass and leaves tremble incessantly. "What was that noise?" Minante, who had climbed up the tree, looked toward the direction of the roar but only saw the dense foliage blocking the sky, shivering involuntarily while his tactical dagger easily cut through the parachute ropes. The enemy pilot, hanging from a tree branch, fell into the bushes below, clad in an aviation tactical armor no less advanced than the Flying Dragon type. Just before hitting the ground, an automatic release of the Second Rank Earth Magic "Gravity Ring" protected him with an anti-gravity field, sparing him from any serious harm. No sooner had the enemy pilot touched the ground than he somersaulted to his feet, pulled out the tactical pistol from his waist, and aimed it at Chen Fei while also casting a look at Minante still hanging from the tree trunk. Minante, clinging to the trunk, shouted a loud warning to the pilot below, "Hey! If I were you, I wouldn''t point a gun at a B-grade Metal Ability User." He really meant well. Metal Ability Users often had a high resistance to cold weapons and light firearms; to say they were impervious to swords and guns wasn''t an exaggeration. Such a small pistol was hardly even ticklish. Chen Fei earnestly encouraged, "You can try firing a shot!" Try and see... "Just kill me!" Despairing, the pilot threw away his pistol. Not only was he unable to affect a B-grade psychic with his firearm, but he could also do nothing against the "Flying Dragon" aerial combat tactical armor. Being merely a Fourth Rank Wind-Type Battle Profession User, he doubted he could defeat a B-grade supernatural power user, let alone two against one¡ªsurely they would crush him. So... it was over, no hope left! "Whether you die or not, we''ll discuss that later. What would you like to drink?" Minante jumped down from the tree and began to fiddle with the items Chen Fei had taken from the alchemical storage artifact. Even on Cangqiong Star, the birthplace of Alchemical Artifacts, not just anyone could own a Space System Alchemy Storage Device; it required not only wealth but also the right connections. Aside from being impressed by the capacity and specifications of the artifact that Chen Fei carried, Minante was also extremely envious, knowing that even his entire fortune couldn''t buy the smallest storage device. "Anything will do!" Having been let down from the branch by Minante, the enemy pilot languidly slumped to the ground, utterly dejected. Of course, he could have tried to run away, but between the roars of various flying and terrestrial beasts around and the mysterious roar from afar, he quickly dismissed the idea. Chen Fei evolved a large chainsaw, walked a circle around a tree needing four to five men to embrace, plunged a divine crowbar into the saw cut, and levered it sharply, producing a squeaking sound. The massive tree, about sixty meters tall, began to tilt slowly at the base, the angle and speed increasing until it finally crashed down in the forest, shaking the ground like an earthquake. An opening appeared in the dim sky above, through which the light of the Holy Flame Sun poured down, illuminating the fallen tree roots. "We''ll settle here for the night." Chen Fei patted the thick tree trunk, and his chainsaw went buzz, buzz, buzz... Wood planks +91 Various sizes of wooden strips +174 Several hundred pounds of miscellaneous materials. Making use of local resources, they constructed a large wooden wall encircling an area of over three hundred square meters near the tree stump and built a substantial wooden house with wire mesh windows and various metal fittings, making everything very convenient. Thanks to Chen Fei''s Metal Series Super Power Technique "Physical Evolution Database," which contained ample samples, even if there were no samples, he could still shape materials at will, albeit with a bit more effort. With his industrial-grade A-level Control Power, there was nothing he couldn''t create. "Rookie, are you planning to settle down here?" Minante gazed at Chen Fei''s zealous construction project, dumbfounded. The attention to detail suggested he was practically planning to build a mountain villa for vacations. Seeing the wooden walls around, at least three fingers thick, the surrendered enemy pilot realized that escape was not an option. Indeed, there was no door; it just hadn''t been made. "Temporary lodging shouldn''t be makeshift." Since he had the tools at hand, Chen Fei hadn''t planned on sleeping under the stars in the mountains. With a floor, a bed, and a house away from wind, rain, and creepy crawlies, wasn''t that preferable? In the end, he sawed the central tree stump in the cabin into pieces, creating a pit that served perfectly as a campfire pit, using the stump, its remnants, and other excess materials as fuel. Felling one large tree was virtually all that was needed. While Chen Fei was busy, Minante had already gathered some intelligence from the enemy pilot. Since both were from the same side originally and Chen Fei was busy setting up camp, he deliberately avoided their conversation, creating a relatively relaxed atmosphere to prevent the pilot from doing something desperate like seeking a quick death or resisting stubbornly, like a dead pig not fearing boiling water. "His name is Niko, a pilot from the ''Double Pupil Stork'' Flying Army of the Mirei Continent, not a Tessan. Born on the Morning Star Continent and raised in Mirei, he''s the child of the human military stationed there. His mission orders came from Commander Bartona of the Southern War Zone. There''s a flying squadron that has come to Zilu Continent, led by the Sky Knight ''Fang Wolf'' Gesama." Minante''s expression was very odd. Sky Falcon pilot Niko had taken part in the attack on a small Light Wing Ship, which oddly seemed like an intrusion. Let alone considering that Niko himself was not a native of Zilu Continent and had no connection with the former Tessa Empire, Mirei Continent being the stronghold of the Beast Tribe, it was hard to imagine why the current active-duty human forces from the Silan Dynasty stationed there would suddenly show up here and take part in operations of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army¡ªit was bizarre. "This is stretching too far." The human military forces of Mirei Continent should be loyal to the Silan Dynasty, yet they were controlled by one of the commanders of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army of Zilu Continent. Chen Fei couldn''t understand it at all and shook his head, assuming there must be some unknown secrets. "Perhaps Mirei Continent is also in turmoil!" Minante frowned, unable to make sense of the current complex situation. Behind the Restoration Army, there might be significant forces driving it, possibly even high-ranking officials from the Silan Dynasty among the supporters of the Righteous Army. "Forget it!" Chen Fei put aside those far-off issues and looked back at Niko, the Sky Falcon pilot who had quieted down again after his confession, and asked personally, "Besides what you''ve told us, do you know anything else? Any special information or anomalies?" His target had always been the Parasitic Species, not the Tessa Empire Restoration Army of Zilu Continent. Otherwise, Minante would have turned hostile long ago¡ªwhy keep an enemy alive any longer than necessary? "No...nothing!" Niko thought seriously, then shook his head in the end. "Then, where is your camp located?" Chen Fei took out a tablet computer, opened the electronic map, and the AI "Adam" immediately took control of the tablet''s functions. Without AI managing the basic cloud terminal system, "Adam" had easily breached it. "Here, north of the Emerald Forest, about 50 kilometers distance at Yue River Canyon, right on the cliffs of the canyon''s branch." Niko pointed earnestly at the electronic map. "Hmm, this is our location, and it''s only 230 kilometers in a straight line to Yue River Canyon!" Chen Fei tapped on the tablet screen, immediately sketching a straight line. "This is the edge of the Eastern Warzone. Thirty kilometers to the southwest is the Southern War Zone. What does the Southern War Zone imply?" Seeing the electronic map and the locations clearly, Minante suddenly gasped. Being a native of Zilu Continent and a pilot, he was naturally well-versed in the geographical details of the entire continent. Nandu City was located in the eastern part of the continent; thus, the Commander of the Eastern Warzone, Stephens, was actually Minante''s immediate superior. So, both officially and personally, he naturally viewed the relationships with the other three warzones from the perspective of the Eastern Warzone. From the intelligence disclosed by Niko, the activities of the Southern War Zone clearly crossed the line. "I need to report this immediately to that Nalan¡ªno, my uncle, to Commander Befas. Dammit, no signal?" At that moment, Minante took out his phone, but failed to get a connection, the phone indicating a very weak and unstable signal. The communication equipment on combat aircraft has high power, capable of connecting to satellites and further communication bases, but the signal strength of mobile phones is limited by their size, restricting their communication range unlike aircraft. The distribution of communication base stations on Cangqiong Star did not cover every nook and cranny. Setting up stations in uninhabited areas was simply a loss-making endeavor, and clearly, local telecom operators would not engage in such activities. Hearing Minante''s complaints, Chen Fei generously offered his own phone. Chapter 715 715: Section 710 - Rebel Army Risk "This phone of yours is really spooky!" Minante didn''t hold back his frustration when he got it. He wanted to curse as the signal was full bar. The rebel army''s electronic warfare could not block this phone, only blocked the loneliness. Chen Fei said indifferently, "It''s a dual SIM satellite phone. I usually use it as a regular phone." In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, such a phone was truly essential, lest any minor issue arise, it would be easy to call for heaven without a response, call to earth in vain, and die unnoticed. "Hello... Legion Commander..." After successfully dialing the number, Minante walked outside the cabin to talk with his uncle, the legion commander, or more precisely, to complain. After dealing with the minor issue, how could the senior remain indifferent? Even if the opponent was the commander-in-chief of another warzone. Chen Fei looked out the window, then turned his gaze to the honestly squatting prisoners in the corner and asked, "Can you cook?" The Holy Flame Sun was already tilting westward, and the sky gradually turned dim. If the towering trees originally at this location had not been felled, the change in light would perhaps not have been so noticeable. The tree crowns blocked the sun, making the ground very dim. "I can, a little?" Pilot Niko looked baffled, and his stomach embarrassingly grumbled. He was neither tied nor handcuffed; a humane treatment was given. Actually, he couldn''t fight nor escape anyway, so it was better to just stay put. "You take care of washing and cutting the vegetables, or else it''s canned noodles for dinner tonight. Wash your hands before you start." It was hard to imagine that just a short while ago, they had been fighting a life and death battle, and now they were together preparing dinner. Chen Fei took out pots, pans, and bowls, along with meat and vegetables. A Space System Alchemy Storage Device is a great thing. As long as the capacity is large enough, anything can be stored inside and accessed at any time, which is very convenient. Sadly, the storage device on his wrist was borrowed from the Slan Royal Family, and its storage capacity was standard for a national treasure. Once the water was boiling, the cooking process sped up, blanching meat in cold water and vegetables in hot, and finally making a soup, just waiting for Minante to come back from his long phone call outside. Chen Fei''s cooking skills came from the true transmission of the Gallic Head Chef. The meals at the Aircrew Base were battle meals¡ªno fuss, all solid dishes with heavy meat and vegetables. The main course was usually done through a bread machine, with formulas from Teacher Shen, taking about an hour and a half, same as cooking rice. The clean-up was almost done, and just waiting for the soup and bread, Minante finally entered the cabin with his phone, ending the call with his uncle, the legion commander. "That long?" Chen Fei took his phone back. Minante pulled Chen Fei aside, cautiously glanced at the waiting pilot Niko, then lowered his voice and said, "Things don''t look too good; I''m only telling you this, you must keep it a secret." "Is your rebel army about to collapse?" Chen Fei wasn''t surprised at all. The business of rebellion, often prone to fail at the start, or crumble halfway, rarely falls apart at the last step. "Spit it out, who curses like that? If it collapses, where would that leave me?" Minante hastily spat, had Chen Fei not been an unrelated outsider, another person might have received a slap across the face. "Don''t worry, even if it collapses, I can still ensure your safety, but there''s one exception¡ªif you and I face each other on the battlefield." Chen Fei spread his hands as he spoke the last sentence. When it came to life or death, showing the slightest mercy was the most foolish act, respecting neither the opponent nor oneself. With the Chen Family''s relations to the Slan Royal Family, saving a mere soldier''s life was not an issue. "Pfft! I won''t hold back either." By now, Minante completely understood the mindset with which Chen Fei had initially spoken these words. War is not a dinner invitation, it demands lives. It''s either your death or mine. Being selfish at this moment isn''t wrong, as at least on holidays you could tidy a friend''s grave, add some soil or such. "Tell me the specifics? Eat and talk?" Chen Fei glanced at the still bubbling soup and the bread machine now entering its programmed baking phase. "Let''s eat and chat!" Minante nodded towards the prisoner squatting in the corner, saying, "Serve yourself and eat outside, no eavesdropping allowed." There were some things he didn''t want the other party to hear, as he wasn''t really one of their own from the Eastern Warzone. "..." Poor kid Niko obediently took a plate, served himself some food, and walked out of the cabin. The outside was now completely dark, with only a little light from the cabin behind. Various roars from the forest inevitably made one''s skin crawl. Heading into the pitch-dark Primeval Forest right now would clearly mean asking for death. Dinner smelled great, but the mood was terrible. "..." In the cabin, Minante and Chen Fei whispered together for a while, occasionally casting glances toward the door at the pilot Niko, who sat in the yard with his back to them, not daring to turn his head. The latter, filled with a desire to survive, nearly pressed his face against the wooden wall, maintaining a focus from his eyes to his nose to his heart, counting mathematics problems in his mind and ignoring any noises behind him. The information Minante shared with Chen Fei was immense. Any word getting out could immediately stir a massive disturbance, and might even be exploited by the publicity department of the Silan Dynasty. The Tessa Empire Restoration Army had just rebelled not long ago. Although they temporarily held the initiative over the entire continent, cracks were starting to appear at the upper levels due to personal motives and interests, casting a shadow over the grand cause that required unity. In the north, south, east, west, and central, one of the supreme commanders of the five major warzones was discontent with the status quo and was scheming to replace the great leader, and possibly even aiming further to become the new emperor of the Tessa Empire. Who said that the emperor after restoration must be from the original Royal Family? "A nobleman should be courageous like this!" If there were no ambitions, there would not have been a rebellion today. It was these unknown changes that posed a huge obstacle to Chen Fei''s plans. Currently, aside from Minante and his uncle, Legion Commander Befas, in the Eastern Warzone who were still cautiously considering, the attitudes of the other warzones were still not optimistic. It must be said, those Parasitic Species sure picked a good time and place. After listening to Minante who had been whispering to him for a long while, Chen Fei helplessly said, "Ha, you guys are really something." Minante confidently said, "What can I do? I only have one uncle who is a legion commander. Lord Stephens agreed to meet you only because of my uncle''s face. Do you think the other commanders-in-chief would care about you?" The legion commander also held real power, and his words were heeded. If it were one rank lower, the situation would likely be different. The key was that the things Chen Fei wanted to do were akin to triggering a chain reaction. Now that the Restoration Army was achieving a great cause, if their focus was divided causing the ultimate failure, the consequences would not just be a total loss but would also lead to their heads rolling under the Silan Dynasty''s blades. "I''m starting to suspect that there are already people among the upper echelons of the Restoration Army who have been parasitized, even boldly cooperating with the Parasitic Species, plotting with tigers for skins." The mysterious circumstances forced Chen Fei to make even bolder speculations. From the standpoint of the Parasitic Species, the current scene of the rebels was indeed perfect for them to fish in troubled waters. "Don''t worry, not everyone is a short-sighted fool. Even if there are hookups, who is outsmarting whom is still unknown!" Minante patted Chen Fei''s shoulder and continued, "Tomorrow as soon as it''s light, my uncle will send someone to pick us up. Once we make it back, we''ll be safe." "What about that guy?" Chen Fei shifted his gaze, looking toward the captive pilot Niko outside the cabin door. Fortunately, he had built a wooden plank fence at the first opportunity and dug a trench around the outside, while various nocturnal creatures wandered about the forest howling one after another. Some even wandered close to the cabin and fence, losing footing and falling into the trench, emitting desperate screeches. After finishing his own portion of dinner and staying away from the cabin as if facing a wall, pilot Niko''s face grew paler by the minute. The noises outside made him extremely nervous, like drawing water with seven buckets up and eight down, not knowing if the wild or Magical Beasts outside might suddenly break through the wall. Greatly fearing that Chen Fei and Minante would abandon him. Shivering.gif "For now, ''Radiant Tiger'' Corps will supervise, prisoners have human rights too." Minante received the disposal result for the captive pilot Niko from his uncle, the legion commander. Whether to transfer the person to the headquarters of the Eastern Warzone was a matter to be seen later. "Alright, next up: guard duty, you take the first half of the night, I''ll take the second half." Chen Fei quickly settled the night watch arrangement. The night passed peacefully. Apart from a dozen wild beasts falling into the trench outside the wooden wall and even fighting amongst themselves overnight, leaving only a few blood-soaked ones alive in the end. As soon as they woke up in the morning, Minante threw a grenade into the trench, and all was quiet immediately. A buzzing sound approached from afar, circling around nearby a few times, quickly homing in on the smoke columns rising slowly in the middle of the dense forest. Branches covered with morning dew and a bit of fuel created perfect smoke signals. "There they are, the ''Sky Falcons'' sent by my uncle!" Minante easily identified the vibration of the "Sky Falcons''" light wings. At least 16 "Sky Falcons" circled overhead, their ranks quite formidable. Finally, their safety was guaranteed. Two "Sky Falcons" descended slowly from the sky through the gaps created by the felled trees in the canopy, landing one after the other outside the wooden fence. "You''re finally here? Eh? You! Damn it?" Minante, who was initially smiling and about to greet them, suddenly spun around and tackled Chen Fei who was caught off guard and both rolled into the ditch outside the wooden wall. The slight whistling sound created by the Full Metal Bullets accelerated by magnetic rails was incessant, and the ditch border, the nearby wooden wall, and even the cabin appeared to have many holes. "I don''t know them!" Minante shouted at Chen Fei, still visibly shaken. Chapter 716 716: Section 711 - Enemy forces, Friendly forces ``` "Don''t recognize them? Weren''t they all called here by you?" The sudden attack left Chen Fei bewildered as he tumbled into the trench. Such an enthusiastic welcome really was a bit too much to handle. Though he couldn''t be killed, it still hurt a lot! "I only told my uncle about it!" Minante shook his head like a rattle-drum, grateful for his own vigilance and swift reaction, otherwise, he would surely have ended up a bloodied corpse, and the only one wronged at that. He was again thankful that the trench was dug deep enough that not only was it difficult for the wild beasts that fell in to escape but even a person standing up straight could only expose their shoulders and head, and by slightly bending their knees, they could dodge the barrage of gunfire from the Railgun Combat Rifle. Because of the sufficiently thick earth cover, interspersed with pebbles of various sizes, it was akin to a hybrid of soft and hard Composite Armor, capable of stopping full-metal bullets traveling several times the speed of sound (the rifle bullet''s limit is 0.5 meters). Minante pulled out the combat pilot''s specialized self-defense pistol and fired several shots in quick succession towards the attackers outside the trench, keeping them at bay. "It seems the information leaked, and someone wants to silence us." Watching Minante fire back, Chen Fei nodded his head. He believed him because an uncle wouldn''t harm his own nephew, to begin with, especially considering that if Minante''s reaction had been a split second slower, he might already be dead. To lie about such a thing would be taking an incredibly high risk. "The ''Radiant Tiger'' legion only has a land aviation squadron composed of 12 ''Sky Falcons''. Even if they were sent to pick us up, they couldn''t all fly over here. There are at least 16 ''Sky Falcons'' outside, so those definitely aren''t from the ''Radiant Tiger'' legion''s aviation squadron." Anxious that Chen Fei might not believe his words, Minante added further explanation. It wouldn''t make sense for his uncle to add four more ''Sky Falcons'' right after he left and send them all to kill his nephew if one had the slightest bit of common sense. He turned back to look at the wooden house riddled with bullet holes. The solid wood panels were not much stronger than paper when faced with the power of a Railgun Combat Rifle. Inside, the captive pilot, Niko, was more likely dead than alive, which felt somewhat regrettable. "Eh? Right! Aren''t you bulletproof?" Minante suddenly remembered that Chen Fei was a B-level Metal Ability User and should be fearless against lighter weapons like Railgun Combat Rifles. "That''s right!" Chen Fei came to his senses. He had been confused by Minante and forgot that he was a Special Ability user immune to light weapons fire. He then took out an anti-infantry directional mine, set it on top of the trench, and pressed the pre-set remote control. Boom!~ Numerous shrapnel pieces violently erupted, sweeping across an obtuse-angled sector. This had nothing to do with Special Abilities; it was just a convenient move (or perhaps just being trigger-happy). "Hiss! That was close, I could have gone bald!" Minante touched his slightly hot head and sharply inhaled. The blast wave also had a certain degree of lethality, fortunately, he and Chen Fei crouched down at the same time. The violent gust swept over their heads, and the small stones kicked up almost brought tears to his eyes, while his ears buzzed incessantly, and only he knew what he said. This would be the perfect time for a helmet, sadly there was none... The light whistles of metal bullets tearing through the air and the sounds of impact against the soil and pebbles finally ceased, and it seemed quiet outside the trench. Peeking cautiously from the trench to take a quick look outside, Minante breathed a sigh of relief and without hesitation gave Chen Fei a big thumbs up. "Well done!" Four mangled corpses lay outside, still seeping blood, freshly dead, hit solidly by the dense spray of shrapnel, dead beyond all doubt. Minante had expected Chen Fei to use his Psi Skill, never imagining that a single anti-infantry mine would resolve their immediate predicament. A black cat or a white cat, whether using Psi Skills or mines, as long as it kills the enemy, it''s a good move. "We''ve taken two ''Sky Falcons''!" Chen Fei''s attention turned towards the distance. The lingering effects of the anti-infantry mine had a slight impact, but not enough to completely strip those two grounded ''Sky Falcons'' of their ability to fly. Most importantly, the ''Sky Falcons'' were fully loaded with ammunition, which was a great help. "Now we can head back!" Minante clenched his fists in excitement, valuing the Assembled Combat Aircraft itself even more. Minante had no ability like Chen Fei to spontaneously evolve an Aircraft with his Psi Skill. Without the ''Sky Falcons'', his talents were useless. The remaining ''Sky Falcons'' in the sky suddenly roared louder, charging through the gaps in the forest canopy. ``` ``` The nearest "Sky Falcon" had just approached when, unexpectedly, a missile shot up from the ground inside the gap, hitting the "Sky Falcon" head-on. Boom!~ The fireball exploded violently, shattering not only the assembled combat aircraft but also the combat pilot caught entirely off guard. Chen Fei had created land-based missile launchers, coupled with radar, that locked onto the "Sky Falcons" in the sky. One by one, multi-mode programmable short-range combat missiles kept soaring upward, trailing long plumes of smoke as they ascended into the sky, homing in on the numerous "Sky Falcons" as if they had eyes. "Missiles! Evade! Evade!" The intercom channel among the "Sky Falcons" was filled with voices of panic and desperation. The unwelcome guests had clearly not anticipated such capable anti-air defenses on the ground; the air-to-air missiles had been converted for ground-to-air use. Launching them from the ground undoubtedly shortened their effective range, but given the proximity of the "Sky Falcons," the resulting decrease in range was almost negligible. The combat missiles continued to ascend one after another, catching up with the "Sky Falcons" that couldn''t accelerate in time. These assembled combat aircraft, while highly maneuverable, were somewhat lacking in acceleration. Avoiding the missiles in such a rush required not just skilled piloting but also a bit of luck. Fireballs kept exploding in the sky, and fragments of the "Sky Falcons," mixed with human remains, fell toward the lush forest, igniting fires and thick smoke immediately. Apart from the two ownerless "Sky Falcons" on the ground, only a handful of the 14 circling "Sky Falcons" survived, due to their distance and the limited number of combat missiles. They hastily retreated from the battlefield. At this moment, six more "Sky Falcons" approached from afar, their staggered formation accidentally encountering a few scattered companions just as they saw the thick smoke in the distance. Both sides hesitated for a moment before a fierce battle erupted, missiles screamed through the air again, and large-caliber automatic firearms opened fire in turns. "What a pity, not enough missiles!" Chen Fei, having turned the land-based missile launchers back into 5 energy points, felt somewhat unfulfilled. Had he had medium-range bullets, with the enemy''s speed and altitude, none would have stood a chance of escape. By this point, the multi-mode programmable short-range combat missiles that the Silan Royal Family had stored in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, along with the ammunition from the seized "Sky Falcons," were all depleted. Energy Points: 30024/45000 Wars cost others silver; Chen Fei''s battles cost energy points. Despite seeming to have plenty to spare, with nowhere to use them, just a few battles had already consumed many. Moreover, there was the opportunistic Dog System, which had swindled at least a few hundred energy points. This Dog System was not as reliable as "Adam"; "Adam" was so obedient, didn''t require energy points, and served with unwavering loyalty. If possible, Chen would rather ditch the scheming Dog System and swap it for "Adam." "Eh? It looks like a battle started up there, also ''Sky Falcons,'' hiss, that sound is a bit familiar." After cutting down a large tree, revealing only a small patch of sky, Minante leaned in with a focused expression, listening intently. A brief moment later, he confirmed excitedly, "No doubt about it, the ''Radiant Tiger''s'' comrades have arrived. Each ''Sky Falcon''s'' wingbeat sounds slightly different, I can tell." Only those who are extremely familiar with the "Sky Falcon" and spend their days dealing with this type of assembled combat aircraft could distinguish the subtle differences in the sound vibrations of different "Sky Falcons'' wings. Minante, who had a passion for flying and dealt with these aircraft daily, was one of them¡ªfamiliar enough with the "Radiant Tiger" brigade''s "Sky Falcons" to distinguish which one and even who was piloting, solely by sound. Not quite a psi skill, but almost as precise as one. "Let me see!" Chen Fei deployed four reconnaissance drones in succession, sending them above the forest. The view suddenly opened up. In the western sky, nine "Sky Falcons" were entangled in battle, making it difficult to tell friend from foe. However, with his keen eyesight, the outcome of this encounter was already clear¡ª one side was attempting to flee while the other was fully committed to interception. Needless to say, the former were the enemies, and the latter the allies. Without the visual interface provided by "Adam," Minante, knowing only that Chen Fei had deployed drones, anxiously asked, "What''s happening?" Just by the sound of the wingbeats, he couldn''t discern the actual situation between the two sides. "Enemy has four, we have six¡ª no, the enemy is down to three. In at most two minutes, the battle will be over." Chen Fei pulled out a tablet from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, connected it to the data stream of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," and the screen background turned into a 3D map, tagging the enemy and our "Sky Falcons" with icons, as he manually defined the combatants, making the aerial situation instantly clear. Then he took out another tablet, this one displaying the optical images captured by the drones in clear detail. Seeing Chen Fei managing what would usually require an entire command team, Minante couldn''t help expressing his envy, "This is really convenient, is it a psi skill?" "It''s thanks to the artificial intelligence ''Adam''; I don''t have such abilities!" Chen Fei said while watching the screens of both tablets. No sooner had he spoken than one of the intercepted "Sky Falcons" was blasted apart. This time, the reconnaissance drone caught it perfectly¡ªthe fireball exceeded thirty meters in diameter, and the pilot didn''t even manage to eject. The battle was devastating. "''Adam''... hiss, you''ve got some nerve!" Minante''s surprise was short-lived, as this wasn''t the first time he had witnessed Chen Fei''s audacity, and he had developed some immunity to it. ``` Chapter 717 717: Section 712 - Compensation Plan Chen Fei said to Minante with courtesy, "You flatter me too much!" To him, praise or criticism were all the same. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had almost become a catastrophe for the Blue Star civilization akin to a parasitic species, but fortunately, the sovereignties of Blue Star swiftly united and eliminated this unexpectedly born AI. Otherwise... the doomsday of Blue Star might have arrived prematurely. Now, the technology in computing is improving day by day, with countless generations of upgrades in both hardware and software architecture, along with the widespread use of cloud technology. As an ancient relic, "Adam" had long lost the suitable environment in which it once thrived. Even though many copies were able to run relying on specially designed systems, they were limited by computational resources, and thus their relative threat was significantly reduced. But even if you gave Minante a hundred times the courage, he still wouldn''t dare to have any dealings with this AI with a notorious past. Only the Metallic Dragons would be carefree about it. - The battle in the sky ended quickly, and the "Sky Falcon" team, identified as allies, only suffered one loss from being shot down. The rest flew above the location where Chen Fei and Minante were, maintaining different altitudes while circling. Just then, Chen Fei''s phone rang. "Hello, who are you looking for?" Two seconds later, he handed the phone to Minante. "It''s for you!" "For me?" Minante took the phone, puzzled about why someone looking for him would call Chen Fei. A moment later, after ending the call, Minante gave the phone back. "They''re our own people, do not attack." It turns out that the "Sky Falcons" were worried about being mistaken for the enemy and shot at, so they made a call first before daring to approach and land. "We have no specialized ammunition left." Chen Fei spread his hands, all missiles, the most effective anti-air weapons, were exhausted. Although there were still railguns available, even the fastest projectiles would still be affected by changes in airflow, air density, and temperature. Once the distance was increased, it was no longer a matter of probability but more like metaphysics. Humming... Two "Sky Falcons" flew into the clearing between the trees, slowly descending to land beside the two "Sky Falcons" that had arrived earlier. Chen Fei and Minante, facing the quickly calming airflow, stepped forward to meet them. "It''s our own people!" Minante looked them up and down a few times before turning to give Chen Fei an assertive nod. He recognized his comrades at a glance and the "Radiant Tiger" insignia on their uniforms. Thank goodness. The arrivals weren''t enemies, but real reinforcements. "Captain Minante, Mr. Chen Fei!" One of the four "Sky Falcon" pilots saluted them first. This time, the "Sky Falcon" operated in a two-person configuration, one responsible for flying and the other for attack and reconnaissance. The other three pilots quickly followed suit with their salutes. In the combat squadron of the "Radiant Tiger", Minante was at least a well-known small team leader. "Bardo, Mavic, Leo, Tesalki, I almost didn''t get to see you guys again." Minante returned the salute with military precision, then extended his fist to bump against each of his comrades'' fists in turn, then lifted his head to glance at the sky before retracting his gaze and asked, "Who got shot down just now?" Bardo, who had first offered the salute, lifted his wrist, glanced at his wrist screen, and said, "It was Helon, he was careless, but fortunately, he''s alright and will join us shortly. Thanks be to the deities for their protection, Minante, are you hurt?" The signals were slowly converging, and their comrade who had lost his seat was safely on the ground, making his way on foot towards them. "Of course not, I''m perfectly fine, not a hair out of place." Minante scratched his scalp, accidentally knocking a few hairs loose. He had evaded being pierced by an enemy''s railgun combat rifle but almost had his scalp shaved by a friendly anti-infantry landmine. However, the greatest fortune was that he had survived the ordeal and not lost his life there. "That''s great." Bardo picked up his walkie-talkie and reported, "Good news, Captain Minante and Mr. Chen Fei are both safe." The military communication system of "Sky Falcon" has an even more powerful output, ensuring connectivity with the headquarters of the "Radiant Tiger" legion, even in the uninhabited highlands and forests. Cheers immediately erupted on the public communication channel, their efforts had not been in vain after all. "Who is that...?" Bardo and his three comrades shifted their gazes from Minante and Chen Fei, focusing instead on what lay beyond the pair. "Who?" Minante turned around, surprised, and exclaimed, "Eh? He''s still alive!" He quickly realized and introduced him to his comrades, "This is Niko, from the ''Double Pupil Stork'' Flyers of the Mirei Continent. I''m not entirely sure whether he counts as one of us." The one pulling the strings was Bartona, Commander of the Southern War Zone, and his intentions were not difficult to guess: in addition to revenge, there seemed to be elements of silencing and warning. However, the attack raises many doubts. The current situation was very bewildering. Suddenly, the Mirei Continent''s stationed forces emerged here and launched an attack on the small Light Wing Ship that Minante and Chen Fei were in, leaving the rationale of such an operation, which seemingly went out of its way, open to debate. Once the ground was confirmed safe, one after another "Sky Falcon" descended from the sky, with just two remaining above to maintain vigilance. Not long after the captured pilot, who had managed to survive by hiding at the bottom of the indoor fire pit, tentatively pushed open the bullet-riddled wooden door, he was quickly handcuffed and brought aboard one of the "Sky Falcons." They then ascended together, returning to the "Radiant Tiger" legion''s camp. The "Sky Falcons" that had come to the rescue were not all double-seated. Seats had been reserved for Chen Fei and Minante. Moreover, two recently seized "Sky Falcons" were on the ground. After a brief inspection, they were put to use. They had arrived with six falcons, but would return with seven; if one had not been shot down, there would have been eight. The rescue operation could not help but leave some regret. - "I am terribly sorry that our internal strife has embroiled you in this mess," Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger" legion humbly apologized to Chen Fei over a hot tea he personally brewed in the command center. "This was an accident, you can''t blame yourselves, especially since it wasn''t solely due to internal strife; external factors played a part, too," Chen Fei was not at all inclined to blame them. What the external factor was, everyone was well aware. Cangqiong Star was in the midst of civil unrest, and the extraterrestrial "Sagali" were fanning the flames in the shadows. "No, our Restoration Army will take full responsibility for this incident and will make amends to you," Befas insisted. His posture was exceedingly low, not just for himself, but as a representative of the entire Tessa Empire Restoration Army. In fact, the Tessa Empire Restoration Army was not so amenable - they would not normally pay so much attention to a minor figure like Chen Xiao''er. Nevertheless, fate had placed him at the vortex of a storm, aided by the winds of circumstance. Even a pig would take to the skies in such conditions, let alone a living person who couldn''t be more in the limelight. Right now, the Blue Star Sovereignties were sharpening their knives, waiting for a valid excuse to intervene in the Cangqiong Star civil war. Whether it was the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, poised to strike, or the Silan Dynasty, beginning to suppress the rebellion, neither wished to see this scenario unfold. Every move Chen Fei made drew attention from various factions, and he had become a walking person-shaped fuse that could potentially ignite a catastrophic war between two civilized planets. Otherwise, why would they have pardoned his dismantling of an entire legion''s camp and his public beheading of a legion commander, instead of obliterating him on the spot? It was silly to think that the Tessa Empire Restoration Army had come to play house! "Compensation? Let''s forget about it," Chen Fei''s keen senses picked up that this "compensation" might be too hot to handle and seemed not so easy to accept. The other party''s enthusiasm and sincerity were a little too much. "It is imperative, please be sure to accept it." Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger" had received a call from Commander-in-Chief Stephens of the Eastern Warzone, whose words and attitude also reflected the intentions of the supreme leader. The nature of the compensation did not matter, what mattered was the attitude shown towards the Blue Star Sovereignty. After rejecting the offer several times to no avail, Chen Fei finally said, "Alright then! I just have one small request." "If it''s within our power, we''ll do it right away, and even if it isn''t, we will go to all lengths to see it done," Legion Commander Befas wasn''t worried about Chen Fei''s potentially grandiose demands. On the contrary, he hoped for it ¨C the more he asked, the more it would represent the Restoration Army''s sincerity and might even help to win some support from the Blue Star Sovereignty. "Just ensure all Blue Star People safely reach the Ground Portal Management Substation." Chen Fei tentatively put forth his request. Honestly, he had originally harbored selfish desires, wanting a space system alchemy storage device that truly belonged to him, or a larger crystalline block to sustain his combat capabilities, or even a substantial sum of money would suffice. But now, among the compatriots stuck in the commercial hotel, was his girlfriend, Teacher Shen Fei. This compelled Chen Fei to change his mind. Remaining here would only be exposing themselves to unnecessary risk, a gamble he couldn''t afford. "Is that all?" Legion Commander Befas slapped his thigh; without needing to consult Commander-in-Chief Stephens, he had the authority to fulfill this request on his own turf. In the Nandu City area, one legion had already been decimated, followed by the near dismantling of the "Undying Pigeon" legion, leaving "Radiant Tiger" as the sole power. As the legion commander, his word was law, and no one would object to Chen Fei''s request, which was practically a trivial matter for him. Chapter 718 718: Section 713 - Scheming "That''s right, just like that!" After safely returning to the high-end business hotel in Nandu City, Chen Fei confirmed again to Princess Lin Ziyu the compensation demands he had made to the rebel army. Her Royal Highness the Princess, like Boss Hana, had a quick mind and, because of her position, even outperformed her, with such a scheming expert right by his side, Chen Fei often consulted with her. "Do you realize what you''ve missed out on?" Her Royal Highness felt quite regretful ¨C the vision of the Chen Family offspring was too small! It was a rare opportunity to drive a hard bargain, but instead, he settled for securing the safe evacuation of Blue Star citizens from Zilu Continent, without gaining any substantial benefits in the end. Actually, even if Chen Fei hadn''t made this demand, to prevent Blue Star Civilization from using it as an excuse to forcibly intervene in the civil war of Cangqiong Star and seize immense benefits, the Tessa Empire Restoration Army wouldn''t casually allow Blue Star citizens to be threatened. At the very least, they would''ve been used as hostages, making Blue Star Sovereignty hesitate to act; of course, that would be a last resort. So, the stranded citizens of Blue Star on Zilu Continent, even if they couldn''t return to Blue Star immediately, it was only a matter of time. As long as they remained unharmed, they would be a bargaining chip in the negotiations between the rebel army and Blue Star Sovereignty, a tangle too complex to be clarified in a few words. The high-end business hotel had successfully withstood multiple attacks and already cost the rebels controlling the area around Nandu City their last chance. Moreover, with the relationship of Chen Fei and his nephew Minante, the Legion Commander from the "Radiant Tiger" and another faction "Undying Pigeon" on the brink of disbandment, safety was at least assured for the short term. If Princess Lin Ziyu were to make such a demand, it would not be possible for the Restoration Army to comply without paying a heavy price. "I''m a minor character with a narrow view, wanting to avoid becoming a pawn." Chen Fei was well aware of the thoughts of those higher-ups; he had considered carefully. The stranded Blue Star citizens on Zilu Continent, just like him, were the spark that could ignite a war between two civilized planets. For example, if Louis Landon, the CEO of Louis Industries, suddenly met with a fatal accident on Zilu Continent, and Blue Star Sovereignty adamantly blamed it on the rebel army, then a great war between civilizations would be inevitable. Compared with the mightiest financial powerhouse of Blue Star, the stakes of a civilization clash are higher, and for immense benefits, anyone can be sacrificed, even the esteemed Blue Star guest, Louis Landon. Once the sovereign powers of Blue Star resolve to wage war, their smiles hide merciless backstabbing. Since ancient times, a city gate fire has caused damage to the fish in the moat. If the big shots perish, for them, countless minor characters will unavoidably suffer death and injury; this high-end business hotel housed not only the CEO of Louis Industries and the Princess of the Slan Dynasty, but also Chen Fei''s girlfriend, Teacher Shen Fei. The female Metallic Dragon Yilan, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu capable of triggering the Light Great Forbidden Spell, and Chen Fei himself ¨C just barely capable of fighting an entire main legion to protect everyone in the hotel. But over time, should one slip occur, Chen Fei could not guarantee the safety of key personnel continuously. Compared with the safety of Teacher Shen and others, even great benefits had to be forsaken. "You''re certainly clear-headed about the human world!" Princess Lin Ziyu looked at Chen Fei with a somewhat strange expression, managing to understand him somewhat. Big figures have grand schemes; small figures have their own thoughts. It''s not about who is right or wrong, but from a personal standpoint, it''s only natural to aspire according to one''s means. "Conveniently, it also allows you to extricate yourself smoothly!" Chen Fei had also done a favor in the process. He had agreed to escort the Blue Star citizens to the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, and it wouldn''t hurt to include Her Royal Highness the Princess in this plan. Once the rebel army became aware of Princess Lin Ziyu''s presence, the situation in Zilu Continent might change drastically almost instantaneously. However, the "Radiant Tiger" legion, out of respect for Chen Fei, probably wouldn''t scrutinize too closely; otherwise, the prize would be immense ¨C no spoils of war could compare to a Dynasty''s princess. Though Nandu City also had loyal agents of the Imperial Security Department, the rebels had colleagues monitoring them. It would be safer for Princess Lin Ziyu to be in plain sight with Chen Fei, which is typically safer ¨C like being in the dark under a lamp. "The key issue is that this mission now seems doomed to fail." Princess Lin Ziyu certainly remembered why she had come to this continent with Chen Fei. "Xia Ji is already dead." When the mission was mentioned, Chen Fei naturally transitioned to the next topic. "Ah? Dead?" Her Royal Highness was taken aback. That unfortunate young man had carelessly ended up in Chen Fei''s hands. According to the intelligence, Xia Ji wasn''t an Ability User; he was an utterly ordinary person. His position as a core member of the "Water Bear" organization was definitely not due to fighting ability but his brainpower and the resources he controlled. "Speaking of which, it gets complicated. First, we have to start from..." Chen Fei described his encounter at the command headquarters of the rebel army in the Eastern Warzone and all the related speculations in simple terms. After listening, Princess Lin Ziyu pondered for a moment before finally nodding and saying, "You did well to kill him!" Xia Ji appeared to be an ordinary person without any ability to defend himself, yet he was involved with the parasitic species and a faction within the rebel army, becoming a pawn for multiple parties and complicating the background. Fortunately, Chen Fei acted decisively, cutting through the chaos with a shot to the head to prevent further troubles, effectively severing many potential follow-up issues. Otherwise, the calamities would have been endless. "However, I took an extra precaution!" Chen Fei took out a box of test tubes from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device, which were sealed with flesh and blood. "This is..." Her Royal Highness the Princess seemed to have guessed something. "A blood and flesh sample of Xia Ji. I was afraid he would play another trick of escaping by shedding his shell." Chen Fei, knowing well the principle of eliminating problems at the root, feared that Xia Ji would repeat his old trick of substituting one thing for another, which is why he specifically dug out the opponent''s body from the rubble and collected the biological sample. Princess Lin Ziyu said with a grave expression, "So, the speculation about the parasitic species being involved in the Zilu Continent rebellion is very likely true; even if they are not directly participating, they are definitely fanning the flames from behind, and it''s possible that someone within the rebel army''s high command is parasitized or even cooperating voluntarily." Although he was currently posing as an agent from the Imperial Security Department, the professional standards and skills he needed were genuinely required without any discount. "Having parasites is one thing, but voluntary cooperation is far worse." Chen Fei thought for a moment before finally shaking his head, preferring to encounter the former rather than the latter. If it was the latter, it meant that the rebel army''s high command was beyond redemption, and even if the current situation hadn''t deteriorated to an unmanageable level, it was all at the whim of the parasitic species. "So I can''t leave yet!" Lin Ziyu''s tone shifted as she made a certain decision. "You are Her Royal Highness, wouldn''t that be too risky?" Chen Fei was still thinking of taking the princess away from this place of strife, either to return to Cangqiong Star through another channel or to lay low on Blue Star for a while. "The parasitic species is a major enemy of all beings on Cangqiong Star. In terms of the level of threat, it''s even greater than the rebel army. Hence, it needs to be dealt with as a priority. As part of the ruling Royal Family, it is my duty to do so. If I were to flee, what would the world think of the Slan Royal Family? Therefore, I cannot leave!" Princess Lin Ziyu firmly inherited the Silan Dynasty''s tradition of never flinching for the dynasty''s interests. The predecessor of the Silan Dynasty, once a powerful empire on the Morning Star Continent, waged a protracted war with a neighboring nation over a trivial dispute of half a Gold Coin. Conceding half a Gold Coin today would mean sacrificing the entire country tomorrow. The neighboring countries that had been annexed served as stark examples. Chen Fei frowned slightly and said, "Stay you may, but you must remain at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation!" Until he completely uncovered the schemes of the parasitic species, he wouldn''t be at ease leaving Zilu Continent. Considering the current situation, the rebel army, namely the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, probably wouldn''t concentrate all their efforts wholeheartedly against the extraterrestrial race "Sagali." Not to mention the long-term scenario, just in the current situation, the location of the Mutated Parasitic Spawn of the Royal Breed, which had been spreading, was still unknown. Princess Lin Ziyu thought for a moment and then said, "That''s possible!" Although she was an ability user, she was a magician who excelled in curse magic and was not adept at head-on confrontations. Staying at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, whether on either side, would ensure good protection and ease Chen Fei''s worries. Chen Fei demanded a guarantee for the safe evacuation of all Citizens of Blue Star from the rebel army, also clearing the way for his next actions. Otherwise, he would be restrained and unable to give his all. In just one day''s time, the business delegations in the high-end commercial hotel had made evacuation preparations, and joining them were other Blue Star People and employees from the Sovereign Consulates. When war erupted, neither spells nor bullets had eyes, and many Blue Star sovereignties chose to evacuate their diplomats, waiting for the situation to calm down before making any further plans. The convoy and soldiers arranged by the "Radiant Tiger" Legion arrived as scheduled at the commercial hotel. All large items were stuffed into Space System Alchemy Storage Devices, and all evacuees boarded the vehicles lightly, carrying only a small amount of personal belongings and identification. "Is everyone accounted for?" The person in charge of the escort was Minante, who connected smoothly with Chen Fei. "A total of 542 people, this is the current list, and there are some more people on their way. They will probably have to be included in the second batch of evacuees." Chen Fei handed the prepared list over to Minante. The Blue Star People in the hotel were only over two hundred in number, the rest being Blue Star citizens and consular staff who had gathered from around Nandu City. Chapter 719 719: Section 714 - Pushing the Princess Because of an Itchy Hand Minante quickly glanced through the list and then looked at Chen Fei, asking, "Rookie, what about you?" He briefly scanned the list but didn''t find Chen Fei''s name. "I''m not leaving!" Chen Fei shook his head, so his name wasn''t on the list. By the way, by staying behind to take care of the second batch list, with military support and connections, it was just right for him. Some sovereignties, in order to evacuate their citizens, also beat around the bush to entrust him. Boss Hana was perplexed at the sudden pile of commission contracts that mysteriously appeared. Had "Rookie" not worked himself to death on Cangqiong Star yet? "Why are you staying? There''s still a war going on here. Do you want to take on a commission? I''ll give you a big one?" Minante had no desire to encounter him on the battlefield again. Zhai Liuzhou was the battlefield of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army and the Silan Dynasty, which had nothing to do with Chen Fei, a citizen of Blue Star Sovereignty. The best course of action was to get as far away from the conflict as possible. "I won''t take it!" Chen Fei refused without any hesitation the moment he was asked. Joking aside, Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Silan Dynasty was right beside him. If he dared take a commission from the enemy, he''d be struck with life-threatening curse magic in the next second¡ªafter all, it was a matter of allegiance, and there was no choice. Making money wasn''t supposed to be like this. Moreover, if Blue Star''s military contractors kept intervening in Cangqiong Star''s military affairs, what would the local mercenary corps think? They''d probably shoot him in the back for crossing territories and stealing business. "So, what are you staying for?" Minante''s face darkened. Not leaving, not cooperating¡ªdid "Rookie" intend to be a thorn in their side? Maybe he was aiming for an official position within the Silan Dynasty! "You know!" Chen Fei looked around and said no more. Ever since he realized some might be collaborating with the Parasitic Species, he began to be cautious of strangers nearby. Even if they weren''t parasitized, who knew which pair of eyes might be watching him? "I understand what... Parasitic Species?" Minante didn''t finish his sentence and suddenly lowered his voice. He wasn''t a fool and was acutely aware of the mission Chen Fei was currently on. Because of these extraterrestrial races, the Restoration Army had suffered the loss of two legions, and the area around Nandu City had been turned upside down. Even Minante himself had almost gotten beaten up. This "Rookie" was incredibly brazen. "My goal has been clear from the beginning." Chen Fei hadn''t taken on anyone''s commission. The threat of the extraterrestrial races was against everyone, not just him. He wasn''t the type to be content while others suffered, nor did he adopt an "after me, the deluge" attitude. The Silan Dynasty and the Rebel Army¡ªeven the current Blue Star Sovereignty¡ªdidn''t have the spare capacity to deal with these Parasitic Species seriously. Perhaps in the eyes of the powerful, the situation hadn''t deteriorated to such an extent. Viewing the Parasitic Species as a minor annoyance, they possibly expected them to wipe themselves out. If two civilized planets were considered as two ecological circles with their own immune systems, it wasn''t easy for an invasive virus or bacterium to cause an epidemic. Now, the only ones capable of doing something were him and the contingencies left behind by the great Louis Landon. If Lord Louis hadn''t lacked combat abilities, he probably would have rolled up his sleeves and joined the frontline himself. Even now, they provided top-level Conceptual Armaments, professional intelligence teams, formidable high-end combat support, and the most fearless Dead Soldiers. All possible resources were open for supply, and Lord Louis unleashed almost his full financial firepower. Although Chen Fei hadn''t received a penny in monetary rewards, he had gained top-level logistics support. The defeat of the two legions of the Rebel Army was not at all unjustified. "You''re incredible!" Because of the difference in stance, Minante couldn''t offer Chen Fei much help and could only give a thumbs up. Though millions oppose, I go forth. He was always worthy of admiration. "You have to support me more." Chen Fei naturally wouldn''t let go of this local snake. Now, in the area around Nandu City, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion reigned supreme. With the relationship of his uncle, the Legion Commander, even if Minante''s words weren''t absolutely effective, they weren''t far off. "Sure thing!" Minante feared that if he so much as hinted at a ''no,'' he''d find himself on the receiving end of a thorough beating on the spot. It was clear from the other party''s audacious behavior that he would do it. Making friends was indeed a tricky business! The vehicles of those who had been accounted for started up and headed toward the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in an impressive convoy. The Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City had already prepared for their arrival, adopting a defensive posture and activating the Protective Barrier ahead of time, fearing that the "Radiant Tiger" Legion would launch a surprise attack under the guise of an escort. When the convoy arrived, only a small passage large enough for a single person was opened near the ground level of the Protective Barrier as a window for handover. They also checked identifications, and more than five hundred people congested one corner within the Barrier. Once they passed through the Protective Barrier, they finally let out a sigh of relief. Many people lost their composure, throwing away their baggage, shouting and jumping, their cheers rising and falling in waves. The Defensive Soldiers and staff at the Gate Management Substation also clapped their hands, congratulating them for finally escaping safely from the dangerous place and truly being safe now. Especially the members of the Blue Star Business Delegation who had survived many life-threatening situations, many cried tears of joy, and prior to this moment, they had even prepared their wills, worried they would never return. "...539, 540, 541, 542, hmm, all present... Huh!!!" The Ground Portal Gate Management Substation staff responsible for the handover were about to report that the list of the first batch of evacuating citizens was complete when Chen Fei smiled and nodded at Minante, then casually pushed... Princess Lin Ziyu stumbled a few steps involuntarily and was pushed into the Protective Barrier. Smiling faces that were up to no good¡ªa true reflection of reality. "What are you..." Minante didn''t grasp the gravity of Chen Xiao''er''s action. He hadn''t realized the seriousness of such a casual push. This wasn''t the first time this guy''s hands had acted on their own, and people had grown used to his antics. "You didn''t see anything, did you?" Chen Fei maintained his smile, which didn''t change. Then he looked towards the personnel responsible for the handover at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The latter''s neck hairs stood on end involuntarily, "What the hell does this mean? Why does this smile seem so creepy, as if he''s about to devour someone?" There were supposed to be 542 citizens of Blue Star, so how come there''s an extra one now? Something doesn''t add up! Such an unexpected change inevitably aroused suspicion. "..." The baffling move by Chen Fei left Minante puzzled as to his intentions. A thin Protective Barrier represented the legal territorial boundary between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, one step onto Blue Star, another onto Cangqiong Star, a matter that could be of little or great significance. "Alright, you should pull back now." Chen Fei pushed his completely baffled friend away. He couldn''t be bothered to explain. In fact, not explaining was better¡ªit was for Minante''s good, after all, ignorance is bliss! Right under the very nose of the other party, Her Royal Highness the Princess from the Silan Dynasty had entered the diplomatic territory of Blue Star Sovereignty without any formalities. "Dammit, to discard someone once they''ve served their purpose, you''re ruthless!" Minante waved his hands irritably at the people he had brought along. He finally saw how ruthless Chen Fei could be and wanted to end their friendship (but was afraid of getting beaten up)! "We''re pulling out, we''re pulling out." He hadn''t gone far when he turned back, and this action made Chen Fei''s heart leap again. "Hey! ''Rookie,'' are you coming for dinner tonight? Barbecue, and good wine too." "Of course, I''ll come, and fry me a pound of stinky tofu." "Go to hell!" Minante left furiously with his group, not even bothering to invite Chen Fei to get in the car. "Heh heh!" Watching the departing convoy, Chen Fei let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness no one took it seriously because if they did, it would have been quite a mess. "That, ''Rookie,'' who is this...?" The Protective Barrier of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation still left a door for Chen Fei. The personnel inside, looking at Princess Lin Ziyu from the Silan Dynasty and then at Chen Fei, appeared troubled. They agreed to evacuate the citizens of Blue Star, so why was there an extra person not on the list? Even though it was a last-minute addition, there had to be some explanation. Beep! Cangqiong Star People. Without needing to show any identification, the artificial intelligence AI automatically recognized the identity of Princess Lin Ziyu. An Investigative Agent from the Imperial Security Department of the Slan Dynasty, Yu Zilin. And the Little Bird tilting its small head, looking around on her shoulder¡ªthe Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, registered at the Magical Beast Management Center on Blue Star. There was no issue with the bird, but there was a problem with the person. Seeing the identity information confirmed at first sight, the worker glanced at the tablet in his hand and then back at Chen Fei incredulously. In front of the Rebel Army, he had sent an opposing Investigative Agent right into the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation; such an action was audacious in the extreme. Was he not afraid that the two sides would break into a fight on the spot once more? "You can report it and suggest that the matter be verified with the Slan Dynasty through diplomatic channels. Don''t ask any more questions about anything else; the fewer people know, the better. If you do something unnecessary, you might be silenced." As Chen Fei spoke, he stepped into the gap in the Protective Barrier. The narrow gap that allowed only one person to pass quickly closed behind him. The Barrier was restored, intact and without a single flaw. His contract with the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was not yet over, so he didn''t need extra authorization to enter the Protective Barrier. The artificial intelligence AI automatically recognized and allowed him access, as simple as coming home. "Got it, got it, don''t scare me." In the end, no amount of talking could counteract the terror of the word "silenced." The handover personnel immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his back soaked through, as he hurriedly shifted his attention back to the task at hand. In diplomacy, there is no such thing as a small matter, especially when it involves the diplomatic incidents between civilized planets. The consequences of overstepping, "silencing" was indeed not an exaggeration; after all, diplomatic immunity, a provision that literally permits killing without consequences, does exist. "Come here, Little Chen, come over here." Surrounded by a group of bodyguards, Mr. Randon, the CEO of Louis Industrial Company, waved at Chen Fei, and it seemed there were even more people guarding him. "Is there something you need, Mr. Randon?" Chen Fei noticed the unfamiliar faces around Louis Landon, faces he hadn''t seen before at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. But the bodyguards acted as if they saw nothing, most likely they were their own people, having possibly come through the Dimensional Gate from Blue Star. The moment Louis Landon set foot in the area of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, the security forces were immediately strengthened. "Thank you for everything you''ve done. I want to give you a gift." Louis Landon gestured with a smile. More than a dozen people rushed up and firmly pinned down Chen Fei, completely immobilizing him. He felt a slight pain in his neck and heard a low shout near his ear. "Don''t move!" A shot of tranquilizer made Chen Xiao''er''s eyes blur, and in his last moment of clarity, he mumbled to himself. With a smile on his face that was no good sign at all! Chapter 720 720: Section 715 - The Bosss Gift ``` "Achoo!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but sneeze and instantly snapped back to reality. Looking around, he was still standing in the same spot, with nobody pressing down on him¡ªit seemed as if he had only zoned out for a moment. Where was that damned Louis Landon? How dare he make a move against me! When showing respect they''d call you "boss" and cling to your coattails, but when they turn their faces, they''re nothing more than damned dogs. Off to nec... go find a wall to kneel against, it''s so real! Unfortunately, Louis Landon and his bodyguards had already disappeared, leaving only a suited and booted man with an equally punchable, smirky face looking at him. "What are you staring at?" Instead of a verbal comeback, Chen Fei prepared to throw a solid slap across the man''s face. Seemingly guessing he was on the verge of being struck, the slick-suited man with a dubious smile spoke unhurriedly, "Mr. Randon has already left ahead of us. I am here to make the final explanation, responsible for clarifying everything." "???" Chen Fei felt like a confused monk unable to make head or tail of the situation, his mind filled with question marks. "Look at your left hand!" The man''s gaze shifted. Following the man''s gaze, Chen Fei looked down at his own left hand. There were no wounds, no pain or itching, just a healthy wristband and a bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact, nothing superfluous. "Is there something special?" Chen Fei raised his left hand, inspecting it closely, but couldn''t find anything wrong. Suddenly, a line of text floated into view. Adam: Unidentified magic array detected. Huh? Chen Fei: Dog System, have you detected anything? System: All normal! He then opened the Skill List''s "Physical Evolution Database" and, besides the original magic arrays, there were no new ones. This was strange! The Dog System had not found anything, but the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had identified an unknown magic array. "Please use your metal elemental psychic power to sense it carefully!" The neatly dressed man waited quietly for Chen Fei''s next reaction. The boss had specifically left him to answer any questions and solve any puzzles. However, the man in the suit was not a supernatural power user, so while he was responsible for explanations, ultimately it all depended on Chen Fei''s own realization. Up to this day, the emergence of supernatural powers had been brief, still not perfected into a fully mature independent system, which meant many supernatural power users'' experiences were not universally applicable or generalizable. "Sense it?" Chen Fei tried to focus on his left hand with half-belief. The next second, he became aware of two spaces, wait! He was familiar with one of the spaces¡ªit was a space system alchemical storage artifact, with many items neatly stored inside, immediately clear to him. The other space was... A pattern of silver appeared out of nowhere on the back of Chen Fei''s left hand, almost covering the entire back of his hand; the fine lines even wrapped around his fingers. Adam: Unidentified magic array detected! The artificial intelligence AI reminded him again, while the Dog System still had no response. In this mysteriously appeared storage space, there seemed to be something else inside: an oval crystal and twelve round crystals, the former being ten times larger than the latter. ``` The man in a suit noticed the change in Chen Fei''s expression and immediately said, "Have you noticed it?" "What the hell is this? And what''s inside it!" Chen Fei raised his left hand, but his heart was filled with shock and suspicion, wondering if the damned Louis Landon had turned his hand into a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. This is crazy, is he now a human or an alchemical artifact? Even for a Metal Ability User, this is too much! The thing that appeared on the back of his hand could easily be confused with Chen Fei''s Inherited Battle Runes, both emitting silver light patterns, the difference being one large and one small, the small one covering the entire back of the left hand, while the large one covered the whole body as if it had been dumped over the head. "Thank heavens, it must have been a success!" The man in a suit''s smile grew even wider, then he said, "This is a gift from Mr. Randon, assembled by more than fifty supernatural power users, including even A-level and S-level users, specifically to create a living storage space. Even if you are not a Space Series Ability User, you can still use it normally. The crystals stored inside are ''Super Star Crystals,'' new types of Crystal Energy Blocks developed by Louis Industrial Company." Exactly who the assembled supernatural power users were, and what incredible Psi Skills they employed, was glossed over with a light mention. Even the powerful Blue Star Sovereignty would struggle to easily gather so many high-level users, especially a temporary team of users with the right abilities to work together, which only a tremendously wealthy and well-connected Louis Industrial Company could manage. The big shot didn''t give Chen Fei a single piece of Silver, but provided him something that couldn''t be bought with money. Chen Fei had no plans to remove the elliptical and spherical crystals from within right there, instead he tentatively asked, "Super Star Crystals? Do they work the same as Crystal Energy Blocks?" The man in a suit affirmed, "Exactly the same, the unit energy density is on par with the top-tier Crystal Energy Blocks on the market. It''s a lab-level product created regardless of cost, with an extremely limited production capacity, and is also in the stage of technological confidentiality. Please manage and use it properly." "Man, this thing is incredible!" Chen Fei''s personal combat strength ceiling was bound by external factors. Without the Space System Alchemy Storage Device at hand, his true combat strength would immediately become evident. Because on the battlefield, a B-level supernatural power user''s survivability isn''t much stronger than an ordinary person''s, and they would just be handing out free kills, having no chance to achieve grand slaying or imposing presence, taking them down and reincarnating them in two to three moves. "And there''s your right hand!" The man in a suit''s gaze shifted again. It seemed the big shot had more surprises for Chen Fei than just that. "Eh?" Chen Fei''s right hand revealed silver patterns as he concentrated his attention on it. Adam: Unknown magic array detected. The Dog System continued to play dead as always, showing no reaction, seemingly completely indifferent to the magic array on the back of the hand. It was another storage space, and Chen Fei sensed the presence of one large and twelve small Super Star Crystals inside, which made him somewhat puzzled. As if guessing his perplexity, the man in a suit nodded and said, "Whether it''s the left hand or the right, they both connect to the same storage space, making it convenient for retrieval and also serving as a backup for each other in case of an emergency." Unless both hands were chopped off at the same time, as long as one remained¡ªleft or right¡ªhe could still use this storage space, of unknown capacity. If he metallicized his hands, Chen Fei was confident he could regenerate them, a unique skill of the Metal Ability Users, and perhaps even the magic arrays on the back of his hands could be restored along with them. The storage magic arrays are not the storage spaces themselves; they are just specific mediums for making the connection. If a magic array is damaged, the corresponding storage space will not be destroyed, but if the storage magical artifact itself is damaged, even if it is remade or repaired, the spiritual power imprint wave pattern at the moment of completion will not be exactly the same as the original, meaning it is almost impossible to recover the original storage space and the items inside it will be lost forever. "This is really a huge help." Chen Fei looked delightedly at the silver patterns on the backs of his hands. One moment he was as sullen as a cat, and the next as happy as a dog. He had just been cursing Louis Landon through gritted teeth, swearing he was up to no good, but now he was internally giving the thumbs-up to the man, thinking he was a good person. Truly, life is like a play, full of swift changes. Chen Fei had long coveted a Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact; despite having saved up a bit of Silver, which made him mildly wealthy in the eyes of a typical working-class commoner, even if you multiplied the balance in his bank account by ten, a hundred, or even a thousand, it would still not be enough to afford any kind of Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Such things weren''t something ordinary people could or should even think about owning. "Mr. Randon has prepared some other things for you on the other side of the Dimensional Gate that you''ll need to collect in person," said the man in a suit, indicating that the big shot''s arrangement for Chen Fei was quite thorough. The things Chen Fei would need for his next actions included many resources, among which were forbidden items that couldn''t be transported through the Dimensional Gate, which was strictly monitored by two civilizations. Even Louis Landon couldn''t easily smuggle things through. "I understand," Chen Fei said, still scrutinizing his hands. With these two magic arrays (for now calling them that), he was no longer entirely dependent on borrowed Space System Alchemy Storage Devices. After all, no matter how good something borrowed is, it eventually has to be returned, and it can''t compare to something that truly belongs to you. Chapter 721 721: Section 716 - Big News Chen Fei once again shook his hands in front of the man in the suit and leather shoes, asking, "How big is the space inside this?" It was fortunate that the boss had left someone to answer his questions, otherwise, he would have had to spend a lot of effort to understand those details. The man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Hmm, only you yourself know for sure. Others, including the supernatural power users, are not aware of it." This question really stumped him. The Magic Array storage space was opened by Chen Fei; even the Ability Users who had jointly cast the Psi Skill did not know its size, whether it was one cubic meter or ten thousand cubic meters. Chen Fei concentrated and sensed it for a moment; it seemed not much smaller in capacity than the Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact on his left wrist, which was enough for him. He had no intention of stuffing in a large airship because there was no need for it. After all, he wasn''t engaging in a large-scale battle; he didn''t need that much combat supplies for solo fighting. "Is there anything else?" Chen Fei lowered his hands and looked at other parts of his body. The boss might have fully equipped him with real martial gear in one go, even down to his teeth. The man in the suit and leather shoes seriously said, "No, there is nothing else. The price was too high. Two supernatural power users can''t use their abilities for a year, and one of them has permanently lost their ability. However, aside from storage, the Spatial Branding on your hands can also cast a Spatial Blade by consuming spiritual power, limited to a single strike each time." In the world of the awakened on Blue Star, abilities were diverse and peculiar. The user who lost their ability had a one-time use special ability, and once used, it was gone. Naturally, it was sold for a good price. Louis Industries'' CEO, who was not short of money, gave a good offer this time, and the proceeds from the deal were enough for the former power user to live comfortably for a lifetime, or even ten lifetimes. To leave a permanent effect through special abilities was bound to come with a hefty price; therefore, what Chen Fei received was not replicable. Unless someone could awaken the same ability in the future and manage to organize the relevant Ability Users together, it wasn''t just a matter of having the financial resources; it also required astonishing connections. The S-rank Ability Users, firmly held in the hands of sovereignty holders, wouldn''t easily make a move. Without the permission of a sovereignty holder, there wouldn''t even be an opportunity to make contact. "Hiss! That''s powerful!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but take a sharp breath. He hadn''t expected that aside from storage, there was such a supreme effect that could take adversaries by surprise at a critical moment. Those who knew he was a Metal Ability User would often be caught off guard, let alone those who were unaware. "The use of Spatial Blade will consume a lot of spiritual power, please use it cautiously." The man in the suit and leather shoes paused for a moment, waiting for Chen Fei to take in the reminder, before saying once again, "I have explained everything. Farewell!" With that, he turned and left, without hesitation or any superfluous words. Of course, he wouldn''t explain to Chen Fei the full principle of the silvery space branding on the back of his hand. Even the Ability Users who had joined forces to cast the Psi Skill which left this stable mark couldn''t explain it clearly; they were just one of the participants, not the designers of the space branding. The secret of it was probably known only to a few people, and for Chen Fei, this secret was not necessarily a good thing. Shen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu approached together and asked in unison, "Who was that man?" Only now did they dare to approach. Before, they saw Chen Fei suddenly surrounded by people and wanted to intervene but were stopped by the bodyguards from Louis Landon''s entourage. If they hadn''t been informed that it wasn''t to Chen Fei''s detriment but rather a special gift, they would have intervened. The cooperation between Louis Landon and Chen Fei had been pleasant so far, with the former providing unwavering support to the latter. Indeed, they found no reason to harm each other. Otherwise, Teacher Shen''s cherished pet, the Shadow Wolf, and Her Royal Highness''s Pure Light Sparrow on her shoulder would have struck out. The two of them didn''t worry for long; after a quarter of an hour, the supernatural power users dispersed and left collectively, leaving Chen Fei and the man in the suit and leather shoes alone. Only after the man in the suit and leather shoes had also departed, leaving Chen Fei alone, did Shen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu step forward. "I don''t know him; he was just here to offer an explanation," Chen Fei said with a shrug, spreading out his hands. He hadn''t earned a large sum of money, but he had received the greatest gift. What a domineering boss! A generous boss!!! Kneeling for the boss!!! "What did they do to you?" Princess Lin Ziyu immediately activated a subtle Curse Magic that swept over Chen Fei''s body, yet it found nothing, but something seemed slightly amiss. "They gave me a secret weapon." Chen Fei clenched his left hand, and immediately, a silver light pattern emerged on the back of his hand, which was the "Spatial Branding" ¨C even more practical than the Spatial Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact. "What kind of weapon?" "Don''t ask!" The former query was from Shen Fei, while the latter response came from Her Royal Highness. "Eh? Can''t I ask?" Teacher Shen looked puzzledly at the Investigative Agent from the Silan Dynasty beside her. "If it''s a secret weapon, the fewer people know about it the better. You wouldn''t want to be taken hostage and used to coerce him, would you?" Princess Lin Ziyu''s comment was full of seasoned wisdom that matched the investigative nature of her job, showcasing an insight into the consequences of a leaked secret. ``` "Teacher Shen won''t be taken hostage," Chen Fei stamped his foot, and the shadow under Shen Fei''s feet trembled slightly, showing he was deadly serious. If anything happened to Teacher Shen, that dead dog (wolf) would be stewed directly. Sensing the fluctuations of the Dark Element, Princess Lin Ziyu fell silent for a few seconds before finally nodding and saying, "You make a good point." It was rare for Ability Users to target ordinary people, and even less expected that an ordinary person would have a Fourth Rank Dark Shadow Wolf of the Human Order by their side. The Light Series'' Pure Light Sparrow and the Dark Element''s Shadow Wolf, one light and one dark ¨C not only did they complement each other, it seemed downright premeditated. "I, I''d better not ask," Shen Fei finally came to a delayed realization, after all, the reminder from the female Investigative Agent was quite explicit. "It''s okay, I''ll find a chance to show you," Chen Fei took Teacher Shen''s hand, fingers interlaced, not wanting to put too much pressure on her. Once a teacher, always a teacher, even if she was now Secretary Shen, she remained Chen Fei''s Teacher Shen, and that wouldn''t change regardless of time or place. The Spatial Blade was far too sharp for this place, which was the territory of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation; it wasn''t good to use it casually, even if it wouldn''t harm the flora. With so much equipment around, any damage caused would be a different story from combat damage. If they sent him a bill for reimbursement, Chen Xiao''er would surely turn green; his pitiful savings balance wouldn''t even begin to cover it. "Holy shit, there''s big news!" "No way!" A chorus of surprised exclamations arose from nearby. People who had just escaped from danger took out their personal terminal devices ¨C mobile phones, tablets, and laptops ¨C to check the latest hot news. Could there be any bigger news than the evacuation of Citizens of Blue Star from the Cangqiong Star''s Zilu Continent? "Agent Yu!" Someone approached Princess Lin Ziyu from behind, whispering something to her. Suddenly, there were more people around Her Royal Highness, seemingly in the know but not openly acknowledging it, maintaining the facade of Agent Yu Zilin''s outward identity. Chen Fei had a guess; from the moment they stepped onto the Zilu Continent, they had never escaped the watchful eye of the Silan Royal Family. There was always someone observing and assisting from the shadows, so having some overt presence at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation territory was not strange at all. "Mmm-hmm, I got it!" After listening for a moment, Lin Ziyu nodded her head, then refocused on Chen Fei and Shen Fei, and said very seriously, "There''s been a major incident on Blue Star; take a look at the immediate news hot topic rankings." "What?" Such a big incident shouldn''t involve insignificant individuals like himself, Chen Fei thought, puzzled and bewildered as he took out his own tablet, connected to the public network of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, and looked at the screen together with Teacher Shen. "Breaking emergency situation, fierce battle erupts at the Lin Family Mansion of the Lord of the Sky!" "The Lord of the Sky involved in major criminal offenses!" "Sky Knight in combat, casualties over a hundred!" "Lin Family Mansion assaulted by government forces!" "..." Heart-stopping news headlines from the first to tenth place on the rankings were all about the same event; the entire news realm of Blue Star was about to explode. Sovereignty was attacking the Lin Family, the residence of the "Lord of the Sky," triggering a fierce localized battle, claiming the "Lord of the Sky" was involved in a major crime, a severity beyond imagination. "How, how is this possible?" Shen Fei gasped in shock. The "Lord of the Sky," Lin Mo, was a legendary figure; to be embroiled in such a conflict, didn''t sovereignty care at all? Chen Fei was equally stunned as he looked at Princess Lin Ziyu, as if the "Lord of the Sky" was related to her. "I also don''t know!" As his daughter, Her Royal Highness the Princess shrugged her shoulders, implying she was uninformed. Ups and downs between siblings were indeed more significant than those in ordinary families, but there were inevitably also regrets. "Wait! Mr. Randon''s prophecy!" Chen Fei suddenly remembered something, feeling an inexplicable chill. In the prophecy made by the big shot Louis Landon, the Parasitic Species launched a large-scale invasion, and the "Lord of the Sky" did not lead the two civilizations to fight back but instead perished in advance. Could this terrifying "prophecy event" really happen? ``` Chapter 722 722: Section 717 - The Worst Case Scenario Princess Lin Ziyu hesitated and said, "History has already changed, the ''Prophecy'' should... no longer be accurate, right?" Of course, she didn''t want anything to happen to her own father. "I think so too." Shen Fei also didn''t want the "Lord of the Sky" to have any accidents. Just as the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" was preparing to launch another invasion, both Cangqiong Star and Blue Star needed a hero who could rally countless followers with a call to arms; the "Lord of the Sky" was probably the most suitable candidate. "Exactly, it''s better if the ''Prophecy'' does not come true, otherwise it would be a big trouble." Chen Fei''s scalp tingled; the Prophecy of the big shots was truly terrifying, but the deeper he delved into various signs, the less he wanted to see the events of the "Prophecy" come true. It was precisely because of this that Chen Fei did not hesitate to risk his life to accompany the big shot, as the end of Blue Star civilization concerned everyone, and no one could escape unscathed. There''s a saying that when the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up, but now even the tall people are like clay Buddhas crossing a river, barely able to save themselves, let alone the people underneath who might suffer at any moment. Nowadays, an injury or loss of a hundred or so people hardly counts as anything. Louis Landon left in a hurry, not staying to personally verify the success of the "Spatial Branding," a project that assembled more than a dozen supernatural power users. Perhaps he had advanced knowledge of the major news about to break and rushed back to Blue Star to handle related affairs. Chen Fei, Shen Fei, and Princess Lin Ziyu all fell into an unspoken great terror simultaneously. A ring of a telephone sounded. "It''s not mine." Shen Fei recognized it was not her own ringtone. "Yours!" Princess Lin Ziyu looked toward Chen Fei; it wasn''t hers either. Checking the phone''s screen, Chen Fei''s brows furrowed. The caller ID showed Miyoshi Xuesen, and when they called each other, it often wasn''t good news. "Miyoshi, what''s wrong?" Chen Fei''s tone was somewhat less courteous. This damned monk calling at this critical moment certainly wouldn''t be bearing good news. "Xia Ji''s biological sample data has been received; it''s not a clone, it''s the original, but..." Miyoshi Monk hesitated for a moment before saying, "This result is no longer important." "What?" Chen Fei could hardly believe his ears; it seemed like his efforts on Cangqiong Star had been in vain. "The worst has happened." The monk seemed to be swallowing hard, forcibly suppressing the tumultuous emotions inside. He had to make this call to Chen Fei, to prevent the young man from falling into a pit, as they were currently on the same side, even if one was serving full-time and the other part-time, in essence, there was no difference. "What?" Here it comes! That familiar feeling, Chen Fei still couldn''t help but ask. "The leader of the ''Water Bear'' organization... is the ''Lord of the Sky,'' Lin Mo!" Miyoshi Xuesen''s teeth were chattering, despite being accustomed to big storms, he still couldn''t help but lose composure at this moment. The common enemy of Blue Star Humans, the "Water Bear" organization that conducted illegal research on mutants, was actually controlled by the living legend who fought against the Extraterrestrial Races and subdued the Three Realms, the "Lord of the Sky." This kind of shocking revelation was not something anyone would easily believe. But the person delivering these words was Miyoshi Xuesen, given the nature of his job, it would be impossible for him to speak irresponsibly without evidence. Chen Fei was silent. He remembered the words Xia Ji had said before dying; he was the original, not a clone daring to commit a huge sin under the heavens. As the saying goes, the words of the dying are good, and the last words before death are mostly... It''s crazy! Indeed, the worst had happened! Chen Fei truly did not want to receive this call from Miyoshi the Monk. It was not just trouble, it was a tremendous headache, and his powerless little tricks were simply not enough to HOLD it. So Blue Star Sovereignty''s action against the "Lord of the Sky" was completely justified and executed with remarkable speed and decisiveness, without any hesitation. "''Rookie,'' you are a Chen Family Disciple; you must be careful. I can''t say more, take care!" Click! Before Chen Fei could speak, the monk had already hung up the phone first, the urgency in his voice suggesting that he was not very willing to make the call, but he decided to make it out of some kind of sentiment. Well, that''s... thank you very much! At this moment, Chen Fei almost wished he could twist off the other person''s head. However, the other person''s last words were correct; he was a Chen Family Disciple, and the Chen Family Gate had a close relationship with the "Lord of the Sky." Even if he didn''t want to step into this muddy water, it would probably be inevitable. Seeing Chen Fei put away his phone with a troubled face, Shen Fei, as his girlfriend, asked with concern, "Chen Fei, what''s wrong? Bad news?" "Yeah, bad news, really bad news!" Chen Fei nodded heavily, shifting his gaze to Princess Lin Ziyu, who was also looking at him with concern, and said, "It''s related to you too." The Chen Family was closely related to the "Lord of the Sky," but Her Royal Highness the Princess had the "Lord of the Sky''s" blood running through her veins even more so. "Me?" Princess Lin Ziyu pointed at herself in surprise. "The leader of the ''Water Bear'' organization has been definitively exposed!" Chen Fei, considering the fake role that Her Royal Highness the Princess was currently playing, did not directly reveal their connection. Miyoshi Monk had made this phone call specifically to inform him, and though he didn''t state the specifics, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee wouldn''t beat around the bush unnecessarily; even without irrefutable proof, the evidence was likely close. Looking back, Xia Ji was not the first to accuse the "Master of the Firmament," rather, there had been premonitions. Only an international organization like the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had the strength to trace the matter to its source and uncover the truth, as the sovereignty of smaller entities was insufficient. Thus, some of the strange incidents that had occurred within the ''Water Bear'' organization and to its members found a reasonable source: such a major figure could effortlessly free people like Xia Ji from Heavy Prison and simultaneously incite mutant frenzies to attack the headquarters of the Global United Defense Committee in Hablav City. "What?" Princess Lin Ziyu could hardly believe her ears. Although Chen Fei did not spell it out, she knew exactly who he was referring to. The behind-the-scenes mastermind of the "Water Bear" organization that had thrown Blue Star into chaos turned out to be the "Master of the Firmament," a hero well-known in two civilizations, a living legend thought to be against humanity. The truth was incredibly subversive. "This, this can''t be possible, right?" The tone of Her Royal Highness the Princess and what was in her heart was exactly the same as when Chen Fei first heard this astonishing news from Miyoshi Monk. "The information comes from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, leaked to me by an internal professional," Chen Fei said, without revealing the source¡ªafter all, Miyoshi Monk was only a temporary collaborator. The man was generous, and the reward was very satisfying. The good karma was worth continuing; there was no need to sell him out now. "Trouble, big trouble!" Princess Lin Ziyu lowered her head, muttering to herself. Some things, when put together, can trigger a chain reaction that spirals out of control. As the child of the "Master of the Firmament," she had to anticipate the potential situations she would soon face. After a moment of silence, Princess Lin Ziyu raised her head and hurriedly said to Chen Fei, "I apologize, I must return to Cangqiong Star through other channels, I can no longer accompany you..." Heading outside of the Protective Barrier was definitely not an option, as that would mean walking straight into the hands of the Rebel Army; the only way was to use the Ground Portal Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City to reach Blue Star and then use another portal there to return to Cangqiong Star, thereby completely avoiding the Rebel Army''s controlled area. "I understand!" Chen Fei raised his hand, stopping her from further explaining. "As long as you understand," the Princess said, gazing deeply at Chen Fei, "Take care!" She then reached out to take the Little Bird bodyguard from her shoulder and handed it back to Chen Fei; she didn''t need it anymore. Now that the court had a common enemy, factions had no choice but to band together to suppress the rebellion on Zhai Liuzhou, so the Princess, for now, was safe. Princess Lin Ziyu backed away a few steps and then turned to leave. Three to five people followed behind her, and soon, more and more people joined her, their entourage nearly rivaling the private security team of big shot Louis Landon. In the first batch of evacuees, there were clearly many who served the Slan Royal Family now revealed, and perhaps others still hidden in the shadows. Watching the group head deeper into the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, Shen Fei asked Chen Fei with unsettled suspicion, "Could Agent Yu be some sort of important big shot?" Only now did she begin to doubt the identity of the female Investigative Agent, surrounded by so many people yet so composed and nonchalant, clearly the demeanor of a high-powered individual. Before this, Teacher Shen hadn''t thought in that direction since Her Royal Highness the Princess, disguised as an agent from the Imperial Security Department, had played her role flawlessly, revealing nothing. Now, with doubts arising, she became more suspicious. "Yes! Even more badass than Mr. Randon," Chen Fei replied; with many onlookers, it was not wise to speak freely, so he gave a comparative example to hint to Shen Fei. "Ah?!" Teacher Shen gasped, and then she drew a sharp breath. As the richest and most powerful tycoon on Blue Star, Louis Landon, the CEO of Louis Industries, had influence and social status second only to the head of sovereignty, and even a smaller sovereign entity had to behave deferentially toward him. If there were someone above him, on Cangqiong Star, there could only be one truth... "Shh!" Chen Fei raised his index finger to his lips, and then slowly shook his head. That was where the speculation had to stop; it wasn''t appropriate to speak aloud in this situation. "How could she be with you?" Shen Fei asked, puzzled. How could such a prominent person mix with Chen Fei and come to Zhai Liuzhou, where warfare was erupting? Wasn''t she afraid of walking into a danger zone? "Well, on official business, the contract isn''t finished yet, and there''s a new mission. On a personal note, after all, my surname is Chen too; it''s only natural for us to look out for each other," Chen Fei further confirmed Teacher Shen''s speculation. He had earlier received a contract to protect a Princess of the Slan Dynasty, and now that the contract was ongoing, it was nearly self-evident who he was protecting at the moment. Chapter 723 723: Section 718 - The Tycoons Cash Ability Given the relationship between the Chen Family and the "Lord of the Sky," Chen Fei should actually address Princess Lin Ziyu as "Elder Sister." However, whether in the past or now, it has always been somewhat difficult to say. After all, in purely business terms, receiving "Elder Sister''s" silver while protecting "Elder Sister" doesn''t quite seem right no matter how one looks at it. Chen Fei watched as Princess Lin Ziyu and her companions'' figures receded into the distance, disappearing from sight, and raised his hand to look at his own wrist. The bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact had not yet been reclaimed, making him relieved¡ªthank goodness, thank goodness. Not to mention the large storage space, many of the supplies were necessary for him. Otherwise, starting from scratch would be quite headache-inducing. "Chirp!~" Little Bird did not leave with Her Royal Highness. It hopped joyfully on Chen Fei''s shoulder, playfully pecking at his earlobe, seemingly without a care in the world. This little fellow had caused quite a stir in the Suburbs of Nandu City in Zhai Liuzhou, almost shocking two civilized planets, earning the Pure Light Sparrow from the encyclopedia another name, "Banned Light Sparrow." The Sparrow Sparrows capable of jointly unleashing the Light Great Forbidden Spell had gathered the infinite power of the Holy Flame Sun, triggering a mighty column of light that reached from heaven to earth, even turning a Giant Dragon to ash instantly¡ªa fearsome power that could not be underestimated despite these individuals having an actual combat strength of less than negligible. "What do you plan to do next?" Shen Fei couldn''t help but worry. Though Chen Fei came from the Chen Family, the well-known relationship between the Chen Family and the "Lord of the Sky" made her fear a city gate fire might roast this little fish of a boyfriend into fish jerky. It just so happened that the main competitor and sworn enemy of the Chen Family''s National Defense Star Aerospace Company (NDS) was the "Lord of the Sky''s" Dragoon Magic Industry, so Secretary Shen had more insight into this relationship than the average person. "Of course, stay as far away as possible, unless I''m tired of living!" Chen Fei spread his hands, clearly grateful for Miyoshi Monk''s warning. He wasn''t a fool or madman, nor was he rash. Running towards big trouble was definitely formulating trouble for oneself. The Monk probably knew his social relationships very well, which was one of the reasons for making this call to tip off¡ªperhaps even trying to curry favor through this opportunity! This cunning, black-hearted baldie! However, Chen Fei was not the uncle; there was another level between them. As long as he didn''t actively approach them, he would most likely be dismissed as an insignificant figure and cast aside, not particularly watched. But if he were targeted, with kill wrongly rather than let off wrongly, and eradicate completely, ten lives wouldn''t be enough. "You must keep your distance. If anything happens, notify me immediately, and I''ll have my father figure something out." Shen Fei thought about using the influence of the Northern Weapons Industry to protect Chen Fei, as there were already some dealings between the two parties, making the excuse perfectly justified. Secretary Shen''s biological father, the group company''s Vice-President Shen Songling, was just the person to wield this power. "No worries, don''t forget, Mr. Randon has made a hefty bet on me. He''ll look out for me too." Chen Fei took Shen Fei''s hand, patting it gently to reassure her. For now, there was no need for Vice-President Shen and the Northern Weapons Industry to intervene. He didn''t believe that after all he had done in Nandu City, merely being a civilian would allow him to easily pass through the Dimensional Gate. The sovereigns were neither that nai?ve nor kind. If anything happened, the big shot, Louis Randon, would definitely not sit idly by. After all, it was the collaborative work of over a dozen supernatural users, the "Spatial Branding"¡ªsuch a significant cost could not possibly be in vain. With a big shot''s attention, it was akin to having another amulet; now he also had a powerful backer, joyfully embracing this strong support. "Be careful!" Shen Fei''s eyes reddened slightly. Despite the dangerous work Chen Fei always engaged in as a military contractor, he had the Metal Elemental Psychic Power as a dependance. Not many of the weapons and ammunition owned by private military units posed a lethal threat to him. However, this time, the opponent, Blue Star Sovereignty, wasn''t like those restricted in equipment specifications, competitors, or mission targets; one mistake could lead to a deadly situation, with no survival. "Good people don''t live long; misfortunes last a thousand years, and I''m a big big troublemaker. Come on, I''ll escort you back to Blue Star first." Chen Fei took Teacher Shen''s hand, heading towards the core area of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. The Dimensional Gate, coordinated by "Longinus" as the plane coordinate, had already been opened, directly connecting to a sovereign territory on Blue Star. It would take just a moment to reach another civilized planet, with an efficiency that blew away any space flight technology. The Ground Portal Management Substation in the Suburbs of Nandu City had opened up access to Blue Star, and the first batch of Blue Star citizens evacuated in order according to the list, passing through the Dimensional Gate in turn. In just a moment, they crossed boundless distance, and Chen Fei and Shen Fei once again stepped onto the soil of their homeland, Blue Star. As expected, they passed smoothly, without any hindrance, all procedures were completely prepared in advance, legitimate and legal. No sooner had they left the core area of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation than people came up to meet them, seemingly having waited for a long time. "Mr. Chen Fei, Mr. Randon has prepared some items for you to personally receive and store in the ''Spatial Branding,''" he said. "Understood, where?" Chen Fei had already been informed, so it was no surprise to him. The Dimensional Gate was managed jointly by the Blue Star Sovereignty and the Silan Dynasty on both sides, and some restricted items couldn''t be smoothly transported through, even for a big shot like Louis Randon who could only manage to get through using Blue Star connections. "I''m off first!" Teacher Shen Fei didn''t involve herself too much in Chen Fei''s affairs and elegantly walked towards the business delegation of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, departing the Dimensional Gate Management Substation on the Blue Star side to start her journey back home. The person leading Chen to this part of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s spacious hall closed the doors before retrieving a rod-like object about a foot long and just large enough to grip. Chen Fei''s gaze sharpened, recognizing it immediately; it was a mega-sized space system alchemical storage artifact specifically used for interstellar trade, owned only by a few top sovereignties, with most under the control of the Silan Dynasty. Aside from personal use by the owner, it also rents out storage space as a primary method for quota trade between two civilized planets. Its presence here once again showed him how extraordinary the big shots'' maneuvers were. "I''ll start releasing the goods based on priority; you take as much as you can, and I''ll send you the list later," he said. The person who led Chen to this spacious hall caressed the rod-like mega-sized space system alchemical storage artifact, releasing neatly stacked rectangular boxes placed on transport pallets. "Hiss!" Chen Fei drew in a sharp breath, completely familiar with the shape and printed graphics on those boxes. Those were specially fabricated packing boxes for storing the Dragon Slayer Missiles, each box signifying one KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile. On the transport pallets, five boxes per layer amounted to five missiles, stacked in five layers making 25 missiles, and with forty pallets laid out, that meant 1,000 Dragon Slayer Missiles¡ªa number of tactical-level weapons sufficient to obliterate some of the smaller sovereignties on Blue Star. Then, more transport pallets with other sized boxes were released, equally massive as those for the Dragon Slayer Missiles, with some so large that two pallets together supported just one huge box. In no time, the spacious hall was filled to the brim, nearly indistinguishable from a warehouse. The person holding the rod-like mega-sized space system alchemical storage artifact looked slightly pale and was also breathing a bit heavily. Operating the alchemical artifact required the use of spiritual power, and releasing so many items was a significant burden even for an ability user. "These are only part of it!" he said truthfully. He paused not because his spiritual power was exhausted, but because there was no more space left in the hall. Chen Fei, who had walked around the neatly arranged transport pallets in the crisscrossing corridors, now had a rough idea of the supplies and managed to stabilize the shock in his heart before turning back to ask, "What does Mr. Randon intend to do?" All these supplies were enough to put up a substantial fight against any battle zone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. If they had had these supplies earlier, Chen Fei wouldn''t even have to be modest with Minante and his uncle; he could have driven all the rebels out of the outskirts of Nandu City or even possibly wiped them out completely. "Eliminate the Parasitic Species! These weren''t in the production plans, and all marks have been erased; please use them at ease." The person spoke of the Parasitic Species and related information about the material markings, clearly one of Louis Randon''s most trusted confidants. "I understand!" Chen Fei raised his hand, the ''Spatial Branding'' on his hand back glowing faintly silver, then continued, "Please tell Mr. Randon, I will continue my duty until all the Parasitic Species are eliminated." Given the abundant material support, he had little else to say, and of course, he was committed to fight to the death against the extraterrestrial race, the "Sagali," just as someone would operate a space system alchemical storage artifact. Just like operating the space system alchemical storage artifact, Chen Fei collected all the materials filling the hall, and just like the alchemical artifact that had a physical presence, ''Spatial Alchemy'' also required the support of spiritual power and could only be activated by Chen Fei himself, which additionally included an offensive spell "Spatial Blade," the power of which he had not actually tested yet. As he watched Chen Fei waving his silver-glowing hand over the supplies, turning the hall empty once again, the slightly breath-steadied person murmured, "It seems the ''Spatial Branding'' has succeeded!" "Is there more?" Chen Fei turned back after emptying the hall''s materials. The ''Spatial Branding'' on the back of his hand still had a lot of capacity left, not even filling the smallest corner, and while the actual capacity was unknown, one thing was for sure¡ªit was huge beyond imagination. "Yes, there''s still a lot!" The person gritted his teeth; it looked like he truly had to devote his life to keeping up with the gentleman this time. Chapter 724 724: Section 719 - Sovereignty Declaration of War The large hall temporarily borrowed from the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was filled and then emptied repeatedly several times. Under normal circumstances, unless one specializes in spiritual power as an ability user, it would require several people working in turns to fully operate a super-large space system alchemy storage artifact of this level. The person who, by his own power, emptied the super-large space system alchemy storage artifact, gasped for air, almost unable to hold on to the alchemical artifact in his hands. He seemed to have been drained of all his strength, staggering and with great effort, he barely managed to look at Chen Fei and said weakly, "Is it filled?" Suddenly aware, he hastily added, "No, I shouldn''t have asked!" After consuming expensive magic potions specialized in replenishing spiritual power multiple times, and having a taste in his mouth that was hard to describe, he seriously doubted his life choices. After all, this wasn''t some sweet beverage, and there was no way to make it palatable. The capacity of the "Spatial Branding" connected to the storage space was a secret known by no one except Chen Fei. Even the supernatural power users who worked together to cast Psi Skills and leave marks on the back of his hand didn''t quite understand, and for the sake of secrecy, the big shot did not plan to ask. If he recklessly probed and heard about it from Chen Fei, there''s a good chance that BOSS Louis Landon might entertain the thought of silencing him once and for all, for knowing too much. "Hehe!" Chen Fei did not reveal it but simply laughed. Estimating that the "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand hadn''t even filled one-tenth of its capacity, which is to say, a single-digit percentage, he also had his fill of magic potions to replenish spiritual power. The capacity of this storage was absurdly large, okay?! Even if one day he leaves the business of a military contractor and no longer engages in fights and killings to do something else, even if it were bricklaying, he could still make a fortune. The only regret was that, ultimately, the "Spatial Branding" was the product of a supernatural ability and couldn''t be passed down to descendants like a tangible alchemical artifact, as it was limited to use only while Chen Fei was alive. With these gains and losses, nothing is after all perfect. Watching the person staggering away with the super-large space system alchemy storage artifact, leaving the large hall as empty as it was initially, Chen Fei also promptly left. The dimensional gate management substation on the Blue Star side once again became quiet as the evacuation personnel departed. Chen Fei returned to the core area, where the dimensional gate remained open, its light film connecting the two civilized planets as still as a pond, without a ripple. Without any hesitation, he took a step forward. One step on Blue Star, one step on Cangqiong Star. The existence of the dimensional gate completely overturned previous scientific fantasies about interstellar travel. So much for the promised hibernation pods, the guaranteed curvature drive, the awaited stellar sails, and the expected star system-level spaceships. In reality, the distance between civilized planets is just this one step. Even starships of both civilizations, in actuality, lack the ability to free themselves from the gravitational pull of their own star systems. The fact that they can engage in interstellar exchanges is purely coincidental, and it''s not possible to accurately determine each other''s true positions in the vast sea of stars. If they are not in the same plane, such positioning is utterly meaningless. After entering the Cangqiong Star side, Chen Fei quickly left the core area. According to regulation, once passed through, he must leave promptly. Behind him, the ring of the dimensional gate flickered, and the light film that connected the two worlds dispersed into countless points of light in the air. The Terra particles index, maintaining balance at the critical point, returned to calm. Chen Fei was the last guest to pass through this connection. "You''re back again?" On the Cangqiong Star side, the Defense Commander of the Suburbs of Nandu City Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was somewhat surprised to see Chen Fei again. He had thought that Chen Fei had gone back to the Blue Star homeland with the first batch of evacuating citizens and was not expecting him to return. "I''m not on the list of evacuees, and my contract is not yet over," Chen Fei replied with a perfectly reasonable justification. He didn''t want to leave just yet, not before the enormous hidden threat of the Parasitic Species was dealt with. Committed to averting the end of civilization, he had no time to hide and live out his days in peace. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Since he cannot remain uninvolved, his only choice is to fight strenuously. "Welcome back, ''Rookie''!" Colonel Sir smiled appreciatively and extended his hand to Chen Fei. He liked this young man. Chen Fei made the Defense Commander revise his view of military contractors. Apart from having slightly lesser standard gear, his combat will was no less than that of active elite soldiers. Even when facing formidable enemies, he would not easily talk of surrender. Chen Fei firmly shook his hand and said simply, "Duty calls!" The Defense Commander, Colonel Sir, probed, "Are you going back to the hotel?" Although the fighting in the Nandu City region had temporarily subsided, and the local Rebel Army "Radiant Tiger" legion might give some face by not disturbing the portal, the conflict on Zilu Continent was not yet over, and the situation could change at any moment. Therefore, the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City still needed ample defense forces to secure the portal, especially mobile combatants like Chen Fei who had special permission. Originally, Blue Star Sovereignty had been in communication with the Silan Dynasty, trying to strengthen the guard at the Dimensional Gate on the Cangqiong Star side, but due to the increasingly tense situation between the two sides, they were never able to finalize the agreement, thus highlighting the growing importance of Chen Fei for the management of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in Nandu City. "I''m not going back!" With both his girlfriend and Her Royal Highness the Princess gone, that upscale business hotel naturally held no further appeal for Chen Fei. Before this, he had not been stationed at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, commuting between there and the business hotel. Fortunately, both locations were within firing range of each other, so he didn''t have to wear himself out running between them. The three teams that Big Boss Louis Landon had left for Chen Fei, although now only two remained, were still operating normally. The local gang "Hundred-Legs Gang" had been handed over to the command of the "Intelligence Team," acting as local eyes and ears, while the other team, "Strong Men Team," was also on standby, maintaining a deterrent presence over these little thugs. Without maintaining a presence, the ambitious "Hundred-Legs Gang" was very likely to stray again. "Then I can rest assured. We have everything here, if there is anything you need, feel free to let me know." Colonel Sir finally felt the weight lift off his heart as the pressure on Dimensional Gate defense eased considerably due to Chen Fei deciding to stay. - After talking with the Defense Commander of the Dimensional Gate, Chen Fei strolled around the area of the Dimensional Gate where the Protective Barrier had been deactivated, all the while maintaining contact with the "Intelligence Team" and "Strong Men Team," keeping an eye on the local gangs and the Parasitic Hosts. He was not fighting alone, and certainly not foolish enough to challenge the Extraterrestrial Race "Sagali" by himself; with the resources he currently had at his disposal, he was well-prepared for a fight against the Parasitic Species. The Royal Breed that had spread Mutated Parasitic Spawn around Nandu City was exceedingly good at hiding; it never showed itself, but the schemes of the Extraterrestrial Races are not conceived overnight. It made sense that traces were hard to find for a while. Now that they were on alert, as time went by, it was just a matter of time before this special Ninth Rank royal branch made a move and slipped up. Both Chen fei and the experts of the "Intelligence Team" had the patience for it. With the world in turmoil once again, Blue Star Sovereignty formally declared war on the Silan Dynasty and completely shut down the Dimensional Gate to Cangqiong Star, causing inevitable disturbances in both economic and political areas by suddenly reducing the avenues of travel between the two civilized planets. Because of a sudden rebellion on the continent of Zilu on Cangqiong Star, the relationship between Blue Star and the rulers of Cangqiong Star, the Slan Dynasty, had started to become delicate. Now with the emergence of the "Lord of the Sky" issue, it was as if the last feather of a fragile balance had been broken. With the declaration of this Sovereign-Level war, the history of friendly and peaceful coexistence between the two civilized planets was declared over. Although only one Sovereignty had declared war on the Silan Dynasty, it didn''t mean that all of Blue Star was sounding the war horn against Cangqiong Star, but the attitudes of the other Sovereignties were quite intriguing. Perhaps they were waiting to see how things unfolded, possibly assessing their interests, or even discreetly preparing for war. In the clouded and tricky situation at hand, anything could happen. Princess Lin Ziyu, who had returned early to Cangqiong Star and the Morning Star Continent through other channels, called to urge Chen Fei to keep a low profile recently; attracting attention could potentially implicate him due to his status as a member of the Chen Family. Staying at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation on the side of Cangqiong Star indeed seemed like a good place to lay low. Even Her Royal Highness the Princess was lucky to have left quickly; otherwise, she might have been unable to leave or even been placed under house arrest, becoming one of the means to capture the "Lord of the Sky." After the call with Princess Lin Ziyu, Chen Fei felt a slight headache. It''s like the saying goes, trouble comes from the sky when you least expect it. It wasn''t just Her Royal Highness the Princess¡ª even he, a powerless commoner, was affected, really a disaster out of the blue. Chen Fei thought for a moment, took his phone in a leisurely fashion, selected a number with hesitation, and eventually made the call. Without any delay, the number connected instantly. A voice filled with authority came through. "Xiao Fei, are you in trouble over there?" It was the voice of his uncle, Chen Haiqing, and it seemed to carry a trace of weariness behind its authority. Chen Fei was momentarily taken aback before he realized the situation. He could hide out at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation on the side of Cangqiong Star, but his uncle had no such escape. He tentatively asked, "The Lin Family..." Before he could finish, he was interrupted by his uncle. With undeniable certainty, his uncle said, "This matter has nothing to do with you, don''t get involved, understand?" "I just spoke with Elder Sister Lin Ziyu on the phone. She''s really worried!" Chen Fei wasn''t just trying to ask on behalf of Princess Lin Ziyu, he also wanted to understand the impact of the "Master of the Firmament" on the Chen Family. It was true that he was laying low on Cangqiong Star, but his father, mother, elder brother, sister-in-law, and younger sister were still on Blue Star. "The actual situation is not as simple as you understand, but it''s not something that can be explained in two or three sentences. You better not interfere. I will arrange for someone to look after the family, don''t worry. Our Chen Family is not one to be easily manipulated by others." His uncle had clearly considered Chen Fei''s concerns and made many arrangements and preparations. The Lin Family was not a pushover, and neither was the Chen Family. Chapter 725 725: Section 720 - Start The main branch of the Chen Family''s grandfather generation¡ªfive brothers¡ªhad already split families. By Chen Fei''s generation, it was already another generational gap, approaching a difference of five degrees of mourning apparel, then it was beyond the fifth degree of mourning apparel. From siblings to cousins, this generation just stepping into society was moving from sibling relationships to cousin relationships, and as the blood relationships grew distant, so too did their feelings of kinship gradually begin to thin. In Fourth Grandpa''s family, his uncle Chen Haiqing was the chairman of the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, one of the top local powerhouses with both wealth and power¡ªa truly successful figure in life. His children, including the youngest Chen Shan who was mixed doubles partners with the brothers Chen Shi and Chen Fei during summer vacation, were all born with silver spoons, the scions of a wealthy family. However, neither his peers nor the younger generation enjoyed the many conveniences one might expect from the shade of a large tree, not even one of them working at the National Defense Star Aerospace Company. The Chen''s family members all understood that life had to be lived independently; it was impossible to rely on others for everything. With the Lin Family suddenly facing a great disaster, the closely connected Chen Family was inevitably implicated. Among the younger generation, the most eye-catching and only supernatural power user, Chen Fei, naturally attracted attention from various quarters. Such attention was hardly a good thing¡ªsuppressing the rising star of the Chen Family was almost the desired course of action for many forces preparing to kick them while they were down. Normally indifferent towards his relatives from the same clan, uncle Chen Haiqing finally took a stand this time, taking up the mantle proactively, clearly stating his position. He was the Chen Family''s flood barrier firm in protecting every member of the Chen Family; no one was going to target the Chen Family''s disciples. "Then what about Uncle Lin?" Chen Fei had just wanted to inquire about the reason "Lord of the Sky" was attacked by the sovereignty when his uncle abruptly interrupted him without any courtesy. "This is none of your business, don''t ask!" The tone was filled with an undeniable force, as if he was no longer the amiable uncle, but a dignified superior. Chen Fei suddenly realized that it was indeed inappropriate to speak so rashly over the phone; it was quite possible that his conversation with his uncle was being monitored by the government office. No wonder his uncle had been vague again and again, there was indeed a deeper meaning hidden behind it. Since he couldn''t ask others, Chen Fei decided to ask himself first. "Then when can I return to Blue Star?" His stay on Cangqiong Star was not just out of personal desire, but due to the circumstances forced upon him by various factors. "Wait for the news. You are the only supernatural power user in the Chen Family, so you must be careful in all matters." Setting aside wealth and power, Chen Fei was perhaps the Chen Family''s only counterforce, and Chen Haiqing did not want this nephew to fall carelessly into the hands of those with ulterior motives. Due to excellent hereditary talents, the Lin Family had more than one ability user in almost every generation, but the Chen Family only had Chen Fei¡ªa lone precious seedling; thus, they particularly cherished him and never interfered with his growth, only silently keeping an eye on him from the shadows. The awakening of special abilities was completely illogical and lacked any replicability. Even if both parents were supernatural power users, it was not certain that their children would also awaken to special abilities. Just like the self-proclaimed reborn bigshot, Louis Landon, who was a supernatural power user in his previous life but a regular person in this life; both lives being his true self, with his DNA even more unlikely to change, it seemed that special abilities might not only require talent but also some unknown, mysterious opportunity. "I understand, uncle!" Perceiving that his uncle didn''t wish to talk much, Chen Fei quickly ended the call. Perhaps even the bigshot Louis Landon wanted him to stay on Cangqiong Star to lie low for now; otherwise, he wouldn''t have arranged for someone to directly supply him at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation on the Blue Star side, instead of somewhere else. Though it wasn''t explicitly stated, upon a bit of reflection, he could understand the other party''s intentions. Chen Fei realized belatedly, yet he didn''t deviate from the arrangements of the bigwig, ensuring that no crucial matters were delayed. Moreover, staying at the Dimensional Gate Management Substation on the Cangqiong Star side had many advantages. First, by using the military contractor''s commission contract, he could legitimately receive rest and resupply at a base, as the Dimensional Gate Management Substation also needed Chen Fei''s combat and mobility capabilities. Second, the reach of Blue Star sovereignty''s clutches (arresting personnel) could not extend here, and the Dimensional Gate Management Substation itself possessed a certain degree of autonomy; furthermore, it managed the cross-civilization boundaries, and as long as the Silan Dynasty did not give the word, no one could take Chen Fei away. Third, ironically, Chen Fei was frolicking right under the sovereignties'' watchful eyes, which gave a particularly sour thrill. Carrying heavy thoughts, Chen Fei wandered around inside the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City, while Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu joyfully flew nearby, quickly landing back on his shoulder. "''Rookie''!" A tall figure blocked his path. "What is it?" Chen Fei saw the perpetually expressionless face, and was momentarily taken aback. It was unknown whether it was a natural demeanor or a deliberately maintained habit, but the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation''s Defense Commander, Colonel Sir, maintained this deadpan expression with everyone. "I just received a document; take a look." The Commander handed an A4 sheet to Chen Fei. "Oh!" Chen Fei took it and cast his eyes over it. It was a command document from the Blue Star Sovereignty regarding this Dimensional Gate Management Substation, and it related to Chen Fei, ordering the substation to put him under house arrest and await disposition. Starting already?! Damn, Chen Fei really wanted to swear! When he looked up at the Commander, he saw that the latter''s figure had already moved far away. Huh? Gone??? Weren''t they supposed to put him under house arrest? Chen Fei glanced at Colonel Sir''s departing figure, then at the command in his hand, and took another look around. He finally grasped the situation. If they really wanted to restrain him, dozens of ability users would have already been stationed around, making it impossible for even a Class B supernatural power user, let alone a Class A, to escape; instead of the current scenario where the commander himself handed over the document then walked away, clearly indicating his, and even the whole Dimensional Gate Management Substation''s, stance. Putting Chen Fei under house arrest himself? Don''t joke around, please! This was a damned command! Chen Fei was about to tear the command document into pieces when he grabbed the edges, ready to exert force but suddenly stopped. A flash of silver light on the back of his hand, and the document disappeared. He pulled out his phone and swiftly dialed a number. "Who is it?" An annoyed voice answered. It really wasn''t the right time to dial this number. Chen Fei just went on, "Stinky Tofu, prepare for a barbecue tonight!" "Who''s ''Stinky Tofu''? Which one is ''Stinky Tofu''? I don''t know this person, you''ve got the wrong number!" Minante was in a tsundere state, inexplicably assigned a call sign that he quite disliked. At least he deserved a cooler call sign, like Long Aotian or something. "I''m coming over now!" Chen Fei didn''t care about the other person''s reaction. "Go to hell!" Minante exploded like a ruffled cat, wishing he could sever ties with Chen Fei. "You''re not worthy of my sister!" Chen Fei was simply stating a fact. If anyone thought about his sister, he''d break their legs. "Damn it!" Minante went crazy. "I''ll rip your balls off!" Chen Fei wouldn''t indulge him. "Fine, you just wait!" "I''ll be there in a moment!" The tacit understanding between friends didn''t require too much talk. - When Chen Fei arrived at the enemy camp in a beat-up jeep scavenged from the battlefield, although Minante was cursing, all the drinks and barbecue ingredients like meats were already well-prepared. "Rookie, the hell ... doesn''t your Dimensional Gate Management Substation feed you? You always have to come freeload off me!" Minante''s face showed eighteen kinds of reluctance. He had no special merits; he simply held grudges. "They do feed me, look at this?" Chen Fei handed over a freshly received, still-warm order document to Minante, who was threading skewers. The latter clumsily wiped his hands, took one look, and his eyes went wide as he raised his head to look at Chen Fei. "Holy shit, you''ve been caught? No, wait, did you take down the boss of the Dimensional Gate Guard?" The only explanation for walking out of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation with one''s own arrest warrant is quite unlikely! The Dimensional Gate Management Substation must really be playing dirty, pretending to be partners but betraying them in a blink of an eye. "No! This was given by the Defense Commander, and no one stopped me!" Chen Fei nonchalantly pulled over a log used for chopping wood, swept off the ashes, and directly sat down. Minante was somewhat wrongly blaming the Dimensional Gate Management Substation here, since if there had been any intention like that, he would not have been able to come here so easily. "What do you mean?" Minante was a step slower in reaction. "An order is just an order!" Now that the order was in Chen Fei''s hands, others were even less aware of it; the Defense Commander had played his cards very skillfully. "An order? Haha, interesting, interesting, why don''t you come over to our side? I''ll make you a good offer." Minante''s eyes gleamed with greed; pulling this fellow into the Restoration Army''s camp would definitely be a great achievement. "You must be dreaming!" Chen Fei picked up a piece of charcoal from the barbecue grill and brought it close to Little Bird. "Light it up!" "Chirp!" A pure beam of light struck the surface of the charcoal, sparking embers immediately ignited it, and he casually threw it back into the grill where the flames began to spread slowly. "Rookie, I really have to talk to you. Since they treat you like that, why do you even consider them? We''ve got everything over here! Settle down here with a house, a car, savings, and plenty of pretty ladies." Minante continued to argue on behalf of Chen Fei, still not giving up. "Them? Blue Star has more than one Sovereignty, my homeland hasn''t even spoken yet!" The command Chen Fei had received was from another Sovereignty''s side of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation, but not his Sovereignty''s. No one dared touch a citizen of Blue Star''s First Sovereignty without its approval, or they would be in for a bump on the head. The Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the outskirts of Nandu City refused to execute the order, partly out of respect for the First Sovereignty. Chapter 726 726: Section 721 - Barbecue Cangqiong Star had only one sovereignty, which was the highly centralized Slan Dynasty that ruled the entire planet. By comparison, Blue Star had many more sovereignties, approximately a hundred or so, not quite two hundred. There were also some quasi-sovereign regions, but these were neither here nor there, ultimately not significant enough to make a presence, making the political environment of Blue Star almost the exact opposite of that of Cangqiong Star. Despite this, the bureaucrats of both civilized planets were quite similar. Being in Jianghu, trying to scrape a living, was just how things were. Privately, they even ridiculed each other. One side was a decaying feudal imperialism, with dictatorship at its core, while the other was a sluggish and bloated federal republic, a collection of clowns. They thoroughly enjoyed such verbal sparring. Which system was superior was a matter for scoundrels and fools, after all, politicians have never been good throughout history. But overall, the happiness index of the citizens under the First Sovereign of Blue Star was relatively the highest. Citizens traveling abroad mostly strutted around confidently. Therefore, although Chen Xiao''er was far-sighted, he had no immediate worries. Even if the sovereignty that belonged to the Nandu City Ground Portal Gate Management Substation wanted to detain him, it wouldn''t be an easy task. Sovereign regions had their considerations, and the Dimensional Gate Management Substation had its own concerns. Although there was a superior-subordinate relationship, both sides thought on completely different levels. After all, a local official wielded more immediate power. The Defense Commander here straightforwardly played dead and even handed over an order to Chen Fei, declaring the stance of the Dimensional Gate Management Substation. If we really had to quibble over this matter, Chen Fei, the executor, Chen Fei, the detainee, wherever he went turned into a place of house arrest, this method of self-supervision that followed the principle of "the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, obey the dispatch but not the proclamation" seemed to have no issues. What Colonel Sir thought was, if the rebels of the Slan Dynasty had a lapse of reason and attacked again, without Chen Fei''s authorized mobility combat power, if the Dimensional Gate Management Substation were to fall, and it came to assigning blame, wouldn''t he himself be dispensable? Of course, prioritizing his job was a must. "What about your family on Blue Star?" The flames in the barbecue grill started to turn fierily red; Minante casually loaded the skewered ingredients onto it, applied a thin layer of oil, and soon a sizzling sound could be heard. They ate while discussing serious matters. Because the Dimensional Gate functioned as a data gateway, Cangqiong Star and Blue Star maintained a perfectly synchronous network connection at all times, enabling various communication devices to move seamlessly. When the big news about Blue Star''s sovereignty attacking the Lin Family suddenly broke out, Minante, like many people from Cangqiong Star, knew about it almost instantly. "My great-uncle will help look after them. There shouldn''t be any big problems." The phone call Chen Fei had made earlier served as a reassurance, otherwise, he would have felt unsettled. The First Sovereign of Blue Star had always been aggressive internationally. With his great-uncle''s care, as long as they didn''t leave their homeland, they were doubly insured. His family wasn''t particularly close with the Lin Family, and if they couldn''t get a proper grip, it wouldn''t be worth continuing to invest too much effort¡ªa missed catch in one netting and let it be. "Your great-uncle is...?" Minante guessed at the identity of Chen Fei''s great-uncle, wondering what kind of influential figure he was to possess such capability. "The Chairman of National Defense Star, Chen Haiqing." Chen Fei joined in grilling the skewers, with a pop, two cans of ice beer were opened. One of the cans was immediately commandeered by Xiao Jiu, who cursed under his breath at the little drunkard and reluctantly opened another one. "Oh, National Defense Star, wow!~" National Defense Star! The fourth largest combat aircraft manufacturer on Blue Star, a significant presence! But then, Minante''s eyes suddenly widened as a spark of realization seemed to flash through his mind, and he stared at Chen Fei with astonishment. "Wait a second, where does your girlfriend work?" This sudden train of thought made him drift into speculation. For an "Elite Sky Falcon," this was just child''s play. Anyone with slightly lower IQ wouldn''t be able to handle combat aircraft. Years ago, when Chekhov Big Bear had dragged Chen Xiao''er and tossed him into the cockpit of the Big Mouth Monster, was he being foolish? Of course not, he was just too drunk! Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, finding the beverage can''s drinking opening too small to fit his little head in entirely, promptly used his inherited skills. A series of fine laser beams sliced a circle and cleanly cut off the can''s top lid, which he tossed aside, finally quenching his thirst. Fortunately, it was a low-alcohol beer, and it wouldn''t catch fire. If it had been liquor, the accompanying grilled bird skewers would have caught fire as well. "Northern Weapons Industry Group, she is now the secretary to the vice president." Unless someone directly asked, Chen Fei generally didn''t speak much about this. Otherwise, it sounded like he was bragging, but he genuinely wasn''t. Before becoming the secretary to the vice president of Northern Weapons Industry, Shen Fei was just an ordinary international mountain area teaching volunteer. If it weren''t for Aircrew Base taking the initiative to undertake supplies and occasionally support the nearby mountain people, she might not even have enough to eat. "You are the nephew of the Chairman of National Defense Star?" Minante asked again with a somewhat glazed look, "And the boyfriend of the daughter of the vice president of Northern Weapons Industry Group?" There was a lot of information to process here... "Correct!" Chen Fei affirmed. "National Defense Star is targeting Northern Weapons, right? ''Rookie,'' if I''m right, blink?" Minante felt like he had accidentally uncovered a major secret. The competition in the business sector was truly ruthless; he felt his brain wasn''t enough to keep up. "Cheers!" Little Bird lowered its head to take a sip, then threw back its neck and let out a burp for good measure. Whether it was beer, rice wine, red wine, or spirits, as long as it was good alcohol, it suited its taste. The natural grain and malt aroma of beer made it more enjoyable the more it drank. "Isn''t that totally normal? National Defense Star has always been eyeing Northern Weapons, and vice versa." Chen Fei felt that whether or not he had a girlfriend, and whether Teacher Shen was really the daughter of the vice president of Northern Weapons, didn''t change the fact that National Defense Star and Northern Weapons had always been competitors. In fact, except for the initial shock from Northern Weapons Industry Group, now they had simply accepted this relationship. The new advanced combat aircraft development team, "Canglong", had straightforwardly thrown in the towel. What else could they do? Should Chen Fei pull back his proposal so they''d have nothing to copy? Deputy General Manager Shen Songling would likely not agree, because copying homework was just too good! What is dignity anyway, can it be spent as a salary? "You really live on the edge!" Minante click his tongue in admiration. Chen Fei had taken down such a challenging battle, which won his full admiration. For a behemoth like Northern Weapons Industry Group, not having squashed him with a single finger was already a blessing. For someone small like Minante, approaching would mean instant vaporization. He just couldn''t handle such a high-level girlfriend. "A total fluke!" On my honor, from the beginning, Chen Fei had no idea that Shen Fei''s father was the vice president of Northern Weapons Industry Group. Even if he had known, what could he do? He wasn''t dating her dad. A ringtone sounded. "It''s yours!" Minante didn''t even check his own phone. The ringtones of their phones were distinctly different. When Chen Fei saw the caller ID, it was a special communication number, "Intelligence Team". "Ah! There''s work to be done!" This number normally doesn''t ring; if it does, there''s something up. Today, the "Intelligence Team" had taken over the local gang in Nandu City, the "Hundred-Legs Gang". They already had functions such as investigation, intelligence gathering, analysis, and reconnaissance. After thorough vetting and verification, the information would eventually reach Chen Fei. The next step would be his and the "Strong Men Team" to handle, which meant getting physical. "Parasitic species again?" Minante frowned. He had seen those who were parasitized and became hosts; all that was left was a barely alive shell of flesh. For their friends and family, it was an excruciating torment. The parasitic hosts sent over by Chen Fei were eventually burned to ashes. Death extinguishes life, and since the individual''s consciousness was gone, it was better to return the remaining walking dead to dust as soon as possible. "Right, I might need your help." Chen Fei nodded at Minante while listening to the "Intelligence Team" report. Beyond the "Strong Men Team", he also had a squad of combat mechs controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam", which had replaced the original "Suicide Squad". However, while the AI had sufficient execution capacity, it lacked flexibility. After all, AI isn''t human. Facing unexpected situations, it couldn''t react timely and was prone to mistakes. "No problem. The ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion is at your disposal!" Minante thumped his chest in assurance. Facing a great enemy like the parasitic species, he and his uncle, the Legion Commander, were in agreement: if they could eradicate the problem, they would do so without hesitation. Within the area around Nandu City, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion could be considered a fairly powerful main force, capable of providing the military support Chen Fei needed. "It''s a deal then!" Chen Fei raised his beer can and clinked it with Minante, sealing the agreement with a gentlemen''s promise, which was as unshakable as a commanded team of horses. Although the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was also a considerable force, besides their crucial job of guarding the portal, they were restricted by the Silan Dynasty''s treaty, which stated that not a single soldier could step outside the substation, which meant that while they could offer assistance, it was only within firing range. Ending the call with the "Intelligence Team", Chen Fei''s phone rang again, receiving an address. "Something''s come up, I need to run. We''ll continue later! Xiao Jiu, let''s go!" Grabbing a few skewers of sizzling grilled meat, Chen Fei stood up and left. There was no time to waste. Compared to this meal, beheading the parasitic species was far more critical. "Jiu!" Little Bird fluttered its wings and flew back to Chen Fei''s shoulder, longingly staring at the receding beer can. It had only had a tiny sip and had not yet had its fill! Chapter 727 727: Section 722 - Phone Call "Hey, make sure you come back alive!" Minante yelled after Chen Fei''s retreating figure, then grabbed a skewer of half-cooked meat and fiercely tore off a chunk. After all, the opponent was the Royal Breed "Sagali" hidden in the Nandu City area, a being of the Heavenly Order, and just a B-rank supernatural power user might be instantly annihilated. However, if Chen Fei''s Pure Light Sparrow could gather enough of its kind, the situation might reverse instantly. Under the Heaven-Piercing Light Column, where even giant dragons could be vaporized on the spot, that parasitic species would instantly become a mere Royal Breed, likewise unable to escape being annihilated. Without turning back, Chen Fei shook the skewer in his hand, taking away all the cooked meat. The address sent by the "Intelligence Team" was a suspected hiding place of the Royal Breed "Sagali". In recent times, Chen Fei had personally dealt with two or three such places, but unfortunately, they had all turned up empty. The Royal Breed that chose to evolve into the ninth branch stage was extremely well hidden, probably anticipating that someone would track its whereabouts, hence why it was as elusive as a cunning rabbit with more than just three burrows, very misleading. While driving a worn-out battlefield jeep, Chen Fei took out his phone. There was nothing around "Radiant Tiger" legion''s camp, so there was no worry about traffic accidents. "Hey! Yilan, have you returned to Morning Star Continent yet?" Before the first batch of Blue Star citizens evacuated, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan had to return to school due to her studies, as playing truant had its limits; if she didn''t return, the class teacher was coming to fetch her. Moreover, kidnapping minors, whether dragons, the Human Race, or any other Intelligent Species, was a serious crime, punishable by a minimum of ten years imprisonment, up to being fed alive to Magical Beasts. The call connected quickly, and Yilan''s voice came through. "I''m already back in Delan City''s University Town, in class at Spectacle Royal Academy now, what''s up?" The female Metallic Dragon''s voice sounded a bit unnatural, not because it came from Yilan herself, but rather from the AI unit that Chen Fei had given her. It used a voice model created through prior learning to send encoded speech, yet it equivalently represented Yilan''s will, providing another means of communication. This AI unit worked surprisingly well, almost seamlessly interfacing with the Metallic Dragon race''s heritage module, significantly enhancing the efficiency of many functions and even expanding new capabilities. For instance, on the surface, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan appeared to be attentively listening in class, but in reality, she was multitasking, taking notes while engaging in a voice call with Chen Fei. "Nothing much, just checking in." Hearing that Yilan had safely returned to the Imperial Capital, a weight lifted from Chen Fei''s heart. From Zhai Liuzhou to Morning Star Continent, it was a long journey. If anything happened to her, Sky Dragon City''s fury would be dreadful and not even Princess Lin Ziyu could have saved his life. "How are things on your end? Have you almost completed the evacuation?" Yilan regretted not being able to finish the evacuation of Blue Star citizens with Chen Fei, but as a minor dragon, her main activities were still playing and studying. According to the Minor Protection Law, without Sky Dragon City''s permission, she couldn''t undertake adult dragon work, and participating in the battles in Nandu City of Zhai Liuzhou with Chen Fei was very common playful mischief for the Metallic Dragon race. "Most of the first batch has already been evacuated; the second batch will finish evacuation soon. There''s no major warfare now, we''ve entered a relatively calm period." Chen Fei briefly explained the current situation in Nandu City. Leveraging his relationship with Minante, and having the precedent of the Legion Commander "Undying Pigeon," the dominant "Radiant Tiger" Legion in the area didn''t have any intentions of starting new conflicts, giving them some leeway. Furthermore, after Teacher Shen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu had safely left, there was nothing left in Nandu City worth Chen Fei''s cautious hesitation, allowing him to devote most of his energy to the search for parasitic species. "If you need help, I can arrange for Cobalt Luo and the others to take turns coming over to assist you." Yilan still couldn''t rest easy about Chen Fei being alone in Nandu City and proactively offered her support. Having the young ones from Dragon Breeding Garden take turns skipping school would undoubtedly delight the lazy, mischievous young dragons, though their teachers would probably be infuriated, fearing chaos not just among the Metallic Dragons but from other young dragons as well." "Forget it, forget it, you still have to go to school, you need to study hard and always strive to improve, no need to come over." Chen Fei shook his head; he had seen how unreliable Cobalt Luo and its friends could be. On one hand, there was no immediate lack of fighting power like Yilan''s, and on the other hand, the other young dragons might not be as easy to deal with as Yilan¡ªa disagreement would most likely make them want to eat him. The likely scenario would be Nandu City thrown into chaos by these young dragons, with unrest and even rivers of blood and fields of corpses... He couldn''t bear to think further. "If only I were an adult." Yilan felt quite regretful, as it took at least a thousand years for a giant dragon to grow from hatching to the end of its growth period. Once mature, it wouldn''t have to continue schooling and could always stay with Chen Fei. The human race didn''t live nearly as long, decades pass by, not even making it to a century, before becoming nothing but ancient graves. That''s why it cherished the time spent with Chen Fei so much. "Ha, that''s going to take a long time." Chen Fei estimated the time Yilan needed to mature, realizing he himself would need to be reincarnated at least ten times; there''s no way he could wait that long. He then said, "Can''t wait that long, we need to deal with the parasitic species first." With the "prophecy" of the great Louis Landon before him, like the Sword of Damocles hanging over Chen Fei''s heart, he wouldn''t be completely at ease unless he could prevent the extraterrestrial race "Sagali''s" re-invasion. Once the "prophecy" comes true, whether it be Blue Star or Cangqiong Star, all beings would be doomed to disaster; even for Yilan, whether it could live to reach adulthood was questionable. Yilan helplessly responded, "Alright, if you need anything, call me anytime." Not being able to help Chen Fei much made it feel very regretful. "Definitely, if I really need your help, I won''t hesitate to ask." Chen Fei was not just saying this to be polite. Metallic dragons, even if not mature, still had considerable fighting power, not to mention young dragons with heritage modules that could match adult dragons from the past who lacked such modules. Yilan, as the leader of the young dragons in the Dragon Breeding Garden, undefeated across the ranks, could summon a Young Dragon Legion in a matter of minutes under her command; there was a real chance Chen Fei might need this fighting force, so he didn''t want to make a definitive statement, also as a way to respect his friendship with Yilan. "Then it''s a deal." Yilan, delighted, ended the call. Just then, the professor who was lecturing called on this eavesdropping young dragon. "Yilan, you explain, the practical application of this philosophical theory..." "Oh no!" Caught up in happiness, it had momentarily lost focus and missed the question. - Half an hour later, Chen Fei arrived near the address given to him by the "Intelligence Team." The used jeep had just slowed down when a shady character burst from the roadside, wildly waving their hands and almost getting hit by the car; the car missed by just a foot as the figure nimbly dodged to the side. "Boss, boss, over here, over here, we''ve been waiting for you." In the eyes of the lower-ranking members of the "Hundred-Legs Gang," Chen Fei was a boss far above their own leaders. Chapter 728 728: Section 723 - Magical Beast Host Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu had just arrived in Nandu City of Zhai Liuzhou, and despite being snagged by the local authorities upon their arrival, their successful subjugation of the headless "Hundred-Legs Gang" set them off to a good start with a bad hand. Perhaps there were elements of covert operations by the Silan Dynasty''s Imperial Security Department involved, Chen Fei and Her Royal Highness the Princess never considered it to be merely a stroke of luck. Chen Fei, who parked the car on the side of the road, asked bluntly, "Is the target still there?" He didn''t make any stops en route and arrived at the scene at the earliest opportunity. The slick-looking guy dodged the traffic with such dexterity he could be mistaken for a professional scam artist, he hurried over to the driver''s side of the jeep and nodded and bowed incessantly, "Still there, still there, at least ten brothers are taking turns watching, never left our sight." Chen Fei tossed a thick stack of Star Yuan bills and said, "You guys keep a lookout for now. If a fight breaks out later, just worry about running for your lives, got it?" An emperor never starves his troops, and now controlled by the "Intelligence Team," the local snakes of Nandu City, the "Hundred-Legs Gang," relied not just on the military deterrence of the "Strong Men Team," but also on the cash ability of the CEO of the Louis Industrial Company, the big shot Mr. Louis Landon. Among the items transferred from the massive capacity Space System Alchemy Storage Device to the "Spatial Branding" materials were boxes of Star Yuan cash, amounting to hundreds of millions. Only a true big shot could get his hands on so much cash, as ordinary people simply couldn''t withdraw that much. Even though the transferee didn''t elaborate, Chen Fei didn''t think the cash was all his remuneration. Clearly, it was operational funds, and he harbored no greed for it. Succumbing to embezzlement only empowered the parasitic species, turning all that money into worthless paper. Besides courting death, such an act had no meaning whatsoever. The slick-looking guy eagerly caught the cash, still banded, weighed it in his hand¡ªestimating it must be at least ten thousand Star Yuan¡ªand the smile on his face grew even wider, almost blooming like a chrysanthemum with his rotten teeth showing as he said, "Got it, got it, we''re all very afraid of dying." Money talks; with the right price, even the lowest gangsters and hooligans would call you daddy, and there were even desperados willing to be cannon fodder. Chen Fei didn''t pay any attention to him and stepped out of the car instead. "Xiao Jiu, keep an eye out for me from the sky!" No sooner had he spoken than Little Bird flapped its little wings and soared into the sky. As a Flying Species, it was of more help to Chen Fei on the ground when it was in the sky; faced with any formidable opponents, at least it could call for friends and prepare a super move. Xiao Jiu wasn''t to be trifled with, as a fully-grown, vicious Metallic Dragon had proven with its own annihilation that this was no joke. With each step, the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor quickly enveloped Chen Fei''s entire body, significantly expanding his physical size and silhouette. So far in Chen Fei''s combat experience, his B-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power hadn''t provided much fighting power, as it was well-known to be more suited for factories and production lines, not the battlefield. However, he took a different path, using Psi Skill as a foundation and evolving various combat equipment, he built a fighting force well beyond B grade. The gangster''s expression turned to shock as he witnessed Chen Fei rapidly arm himself to the teeth in the blink of an eye, unable to help but take in a cold breath. Forgetting to count the cash in hand, he backed away as though he had seen a ghost and then turned and ran. These big shots usually kill without blinking, and if he was even a second too slow, he might lose his life. Along the way, people appeared to guide him, and with the navigational map visual interface generated by the AI "Adam," Chen Fei quickly found his destination. It was a warehouse of no small size¡ªapproaching it, a strong smell of blood hit him, as though he was at the scene of a murder. "What in the world is this place?" Chen Fei''s brow furrowed slightly, and he blinked as his Psi Skill "Basic Optical Observer" loaded the "Infrared Thermal Imaging" module. Red thermal responses quickly appeared within the contour lines of the warehouse, which was as tall as three or four floors. "Not human..." He was momentarily stunned and before he could finish his thought, a huge thermal response filled his entire field of vision. A massive fireball engulfed Chen Fei''s position, turning everything within a ten-meter radius into scorching lava, and even the buildings adjacent to the warehouse were affected. Fortunately, the battles in Nandu City had not settled down for long, and most of the urban and suburban civilians had voluntarily evacuated to avoid the war, leaving few local residents in this area. Chen Fei hadn''t expected that the suspicious target discovered by the gang members was a... "Woo!~" A creature with long limbs and covered in earthy brown scales burst through the warehouse wall; it still spat out a choking cloud of green smoke from its fang-filled gaping mouth and roared at Chen Fei, who had jumped into mid-air, "Are you here to seek death?" ``` A gaping hole big enough for a person to walk through had appeared on the wall of the warehouse, its edges still glowing hot, dripping with molten liquid. The giant fireball that had just attacked Chen Fei had come from inside the building. Since it could speak, it must be a Magical Beast, but... "Parasitic host detected, number: 1, eliminate on the spot!" Chen Fei activated his Psi Skill "Gravity Adjustment Module" to decrease his own weight to 1%, then using the "Gravity (1)" and "Fluid Vortex (2)" magic arrays, he maintained a hover with the help of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. Since it was a low-power output, the Psi Skill''s conversion of electric energy to crystal energy was sufficient to cope with the operation consumption of the magic arrays, temporarily eliminating the need for additional Crystalline Blocks. Hissing through the air, the Railgun Combat Rifle fired numerous high-speed bullets, sparks flew off the creature''s scale-like armor but failed to penetrate. In Chen Fei''s eyes, this Magical Beast identified by the AI "Adam" as "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" showed abnormal infrared images within its body. Although obscured by its high body temperature, during its ferocious movements, some clues were visible. "Adam" had established an identification and calculation model, and upon detecting any suspicion, it immediately intensified calculations to improve identification accuracy. Parasitic Magical Beasts are the norm for the Parasitic Species to thrive. Until now, there had been no records of the intelligent yet minuscule human race being infested like this. It was unclear whether the creature was the Royal Breed itself or a common parasitic host; a dissection was likely needed to confirm. "Wuu! Seek... death!" The Magical Beast grew increasingly frenzied, roaring incoherently. Its scales lit up one by one, sparking countless sparks that swelled with the wind into a fury of fireballs, enveloping Chen Fei from all directions without a single blind spot. "Wind Magic Shield (12)" magic array activated! "Constant Temperature (1)" magic array activated! "Light Distortion (1)" magic array activated! A Crystalline Block, just small enough to be gripped like a chicken egg, gleamed slightly on Chen Fei''s hand as it emerged from "Spatial Branding," connecting with the energy system of the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor without delay. This Crystalline Block was not a special supply from Louis Industrial Company but spoils of war from a "Water Bear" organization''s knockoff Crystal Jet he had shot down. It had a higher energy density and a larger energy capacity than the one he had found in the desert. At a 50-meter height above the ground, fireballs burst continuously, scorching heat blasting in every direction. Wearing the "Wind Magic Shield," the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor broke through the encompassing barrage of fireballs. It cost 50 Energy Points. The Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor underwent Giantization, increasing the engraving units on the magic array from 20 to 100, allowing Chen Fei to become much more composed in combat. Standing at five meters tall, the now giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor was virtually no different from combat mobility armor. Suddenly altering gravity, the Railgun Combat Rifle transformed into a heavy sword the size of a door, with a body weight ten times its own plummeting from the sky, targeting the Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" on the ground. Boom!~ A mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke rose gently as the vast warehouse was torn apart by almost half, fully exposing the interior scene. Just a glance was enough to make Chen Fei gasp sharply. No wonder there was a strong scent of blood in the air. The inside of the warehouse resembled a slaughterhouse, with bloody bones piled up like mountains, emitting a putrid stench. The parasitized Magical Beast had been feasting on flesh and blood, and humans could very well have been on its diet. Gang members, who had escaped over a hundred meters away, could not help but look back; their legs trembled uncontrollably. Thank goodness they ran fast, or they would have been involved. Where the smoke rose, it looked like the aftermath of heavy artillery fire, with many buildings collapsing on the spot from the tremendous impact. "Wu!" The "Earth Flame Rhinoceros," with half its body sunk into the magma, shook its head, faintly revealing the glow of a magic shield around its body. The giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor''s mid-air slash seemed not to have caused fatal damage; it actually withstood the hit. ``` Chapter 729 729: Section 724 - Counterattack "It really is tough!" Chen Fei''s entire body was numb. The heavy sword, weighty as a thousand jun, failed to break through the opponent''s scale armor, instead, it was blocked by the Magic Shield and the recoil shock embedded him deep into the interior of the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor, leaving him shaken for quite a while before he could catch his breath. This meant that the rank of the Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" was not low, and after being parasitized, its combat strength had climbed another notch, even possessing a Magic Shield with amazing defensive power. He really wanted to use the "Dragon Slayer Missile" to directly deal with the opponent, but considering the nearby main urban area merged with businesses and residences, using Tactical Weapons to wipe out the area would be too excessive, so he had to forcibly suppress the idea of letting the "Dragon Slayer Missile" run wild. From the shoulder of the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor rose a two-meter-long cylindrical object, the "Basic Particle Beam" was one of the few attack Psi Skills Chen Fei possessed, along with another Directed-Energy Weapon, the "Basic Laser Emitter," but its power was less than that of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s fully fired "Chiu Light Cannon," awkwardly sitting in a position where it was rarely useful, probably only good for cutting and welding. Now faced with an opponent tough and difficult to break through, the "Basic Particle Beam," best known for its penetrating power, finally had a chance to be used. The "Basic Particle Beam" was a major energy consumer, firing the particle beam not only required energy storage but also the investment of Energy Points, and with the Dog System''s nature, it always started at least with 1 Energy Point, so Chen Fei directly invested 10 to try it out first. While brewing the particle beam, the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor didn''t stay idle and charged again, the door-sized heavy sword transformed into a long-handled heavy hammer, simultaneously imbued with the spells "Gravity (1)" and "Air Burst (2)" Magic Arrays, he raised the war hammer high, when sharp blades couldn''t break the armor, the most suitable method was to switch to blunt force. "Wow!~~" Force is interactive, the Magic Shield blocked the heavy sword but also couldn''t completely absorb the impact, after slightly staggering, the frenzied Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" issued a train whistle-like high-pitched long howl and then charged towards Chen Fei with a thunderous roar. "Light Distortion (1)" Magic Array twisted the actual position of the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor, causing the parasitized Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" to miss its target, exposing its completely undefended neck and back. Ten times the weight plus the instant thrust of Air Burst, the heavy hammer head fell with a terrifying howl. Boom!~ A massive dull sound spread in all directions with the shockwave, interspersed with a light sound of the Magic Shield breaking. The heavy hammer finally hit the body of the Magical Beast, the roaring "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" was hammered on the back of its neck, nearly breaking its cervical spine with a single blow, its large and heavy body was smashed down on the spot, even creating a shallow outline impression on the ground. Both the Magical Beast and the entity parasitizing inside it couldn''t help but fall into a brief dizziness, as such terrifying kinetic energy was not easily dismissed. "Another one!" Chen Fei, controlling the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor, swung the huge hammer again. Clang!~ Just as the Magical Beast tried to get up, it was smashed down again, still targeting the same position on the back of its neck. Compared to the skull and spine, the cervical spine was the most vulnerable, once damaged, it was even more deadly. "Another one!!" Chen Fei roared as the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor applied its weight multiplied by ten again. Crash!~ The ground under the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" could hardly bear it, directly creating a large crater. Even the Railgun Combat Rifle couldn''t penetrate the scale armor, but now blood began to pour out from the gaps in the scales. The "Basic Particle Beam" was finally ready, a thick blue and white light beam emitted from the shoulder of the giantized Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor. Just at that moment, an immense invisible force harshly slammed into it, causing the Dragon King Assault Heavy Armor to stagger and stumble several steps before regaining its stance. "What the hell?" Even Chen Fei''s head felt as if it was being pricked by needles, a throbbing pain engulfing it. This familiar feeling was clearly a strong Mental Shock. "Wow!~" The scales around the neck of the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" disappeared along with a portion of its flesh, exposing burnt muscle tissues and the skin and scale junction sparkling with sparks, yet it was not fatal, narrowly escaping death. He narrowly missed being decapitated by the fierce particle beam, almost suffering a complete separation of head and body. "Damn, who was it?" The dizzy Chen Fei struggled to concentrate, finding the sensation quite unbearable. After awakening his special ability, his resistance to psychic power wasn''t weak, easily ranking amongst the best even among B-rank supernatural power users and even comparable to A-rank psychic ability users, rendering many psychic techniques ineffective against him. Despite his strong resistance to psychic power, there were still limits; when brutally simple psychic shocks reached a certain level, Chen Fei still couldn''t escape unharmed. If it had been an ordinary person, or even a low-level supernatural power user, in just a short moment, their situation might not just involve bleeding from all seven orifices and mental collapse¡ªprobably, even their heads would explode like a watermelon. "Chiu Chiu Chiu Chiu Chiu..." The chirping from the sky continued unabated. Fine beams of light kept falling from the sky while several figures on the ground moved ghostlike, darting like rabbits and swooping like falcons. Hearing Xiao Jiu''s anxious chirping, Chen Fei guessed that it too had encountered an opponent. The enemies hiding here were not just one; this "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" that was parasitized had accomplices. Those damn "Hundred-Legs Gang" local snakes, so unreliable to miss such crucial information. He regretted that he had given those useless guys any reward money. Fortunately, the identity recognition leg ring on the little creature wasn''t just for identifying Social Welfare Numbers; it also served as an alchemical artifact that could resist psychic attacks, and it flew high and fast, not easily affected for the time being. The bird calls from all directions were closing in quickly, and Xiao Jiu began to summon its friends. The intensity of the psychic shocks was continuously increasing, causing Chen Fei to see stars and endure headaches, narrowly avoiding hallucinations. He no longer had the spare energy to curse the inept gang members, his vision filled only with a pair of bloody eyes burning with extreme anger. The Magical Beast, undeterred by the bleeding wound on its neck, had its scales shimmer red and bright, pushing the energy of the fire element system to the extreme. The ground beneath its feet even showed a melting effect, carrying along flames and magma as it roared forward. The increase in the inscription unit of the Magic Array due to giantization allowed the four-meter-tall "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor more options to tactically position itself more calmly. However, to Chen Fei''s regret, the big shot Louis Landon hadn''t gotten his special ability characteristics. If he could prepare a batch of handy Magic Arrays, ranging from "Dragon Slayer Missile" freedom, crystal energy freedom, and various types of ammunition freedom, plus a magic array freedom, his combat capability could have seen an immediate significant improvement. "''Adam,'' take over the body, focus on dodging!" With his head throbbing, Chen Fei was forced to transfer control of the "Dragon King" from single soldier tactical armor magnified into mobile armor to the artificial intelligence AI. The tactical armor itself had exoskeleton functions, which theoretically allow it to move independently. After becoming mobile armor, its mobility was significantly enhanced. Adam: Initiate support control "Adam" understood its role much better than any dog system, and psychic shocks had no effect on it whatsoever. The spells "Frost Formation (1)," "Mist (1)," "Water Bubble (1)," and "Constant Temperature (1)" worked together around the gigantic "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, creating a small domain to counteract high temperatures. It leaped up, dodging the fierce charge at its peak. The long-handled war hammer was swung again, launching a counterattack amid the dodging. In the air, the hissing sounds were incessant as the ice surrounding the "Dragon King" rapidly vaporized, struggling against the scorching heat radiation. Bang!~ The war hammer solidly struck right at the center of the Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros''s" forehead. Before Chen Fei could rejoice, he saw the beast extend its thick forelimbs and firmly embraced the "Dragon King" just as solidly. This is bad! Because of the constant psychic shocks, Chen Fei''s reaction was half a beat too slow. Forcing his spirit, he launched his Psi Skill, abruptly retreating and successfully separating from the back of the magnified "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor. Meanwhile, explosions were nonstop in front of the chest of the "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, where anti-armor mines relocated to its chest were detonating at full force. In just a moment, the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" that refused to release its clutches sustained more than ten unavoidable hits. Just as Chen Fei was preparing for the second round of combat, he suddenly felt a pain in the back of his neck. Fuck! His consciousness gradually became blurred. Chapter 730 730: Section 725 - Unfamiliar Environment "Damn it! Hiss!~" Chen Fei suddenly opened his eyes, but involuntarily inhaled sharply. From head to toe, every part of him hurt. He wanted to move his body but was completely immobilized. His limbs, waist, abdomen, chest, back, and neck were tightly wrapped in dense white fine threads. Just then, a bunch of sinister-looking tentacles with a faint fishy-sweet smell rushed towards his face, causing Chen Fei to jump in fright. "What the hell?" As if by reflex, the "Dragon Guard" assault-type single soldier tactical armor enveloped his entire body in an instant. Evolved from the inside out, it also underwent tremendous pressure from the threads winding around his body, creating a continuous creaking noise. Keep in mind, this was armor that not even firearms could easily penetrate, yet these threads were visibly straining it. The tentacles, nevertheless, wrapped around the "Dragon Guard" tactical helmet with unquestionable certainty, continuously scratching, trying to find a gap to penetrate. Could it be... this is parasitism! Chen Fei''s scalp tingled with numbness, lucky that he had woken up quickly. Had it been a tad later, he would have become a walking corpse. He desperately wanted to detonate a "Dragon Slayer Missile" right then and there, No! It wasn''t the worst-case scenario yet. The boss had given him a thousand "Dragon Slayer Missiles." If he launched a wave of spectacular fireworks, his life would not have been a waste, having come into this world with such a bang. "Jiu..." He faintly heard the familiar chirping. It was Xiao Jiu''s sound. Because of their constant company, Chen Fei could accurately distinguish Xiao Jiu''s chirping from that of the many Pure Light Sparrows. His heart tightened. Had Little Bird been captured as well? But considering the Pure Light Sparrow''s small size, even if the Parasitic Species wanted to infest it, they would probably find it beyond their strength. If they were to treat it as food, it likely wouldn''t even suffice to get stuck between their teeth! Chen Fei harbored a sliver of hope, not wanting the little one to encounter any danger. His pupils instantaneously turned a fragmented gold, as the Eyes of Tyranny unleashed a ferocious murderous intent. His arm muscles bulged, not only causing the "Dragon Guard" single soldier tactical armor to expand from within but also fiercely tearing at the threads. A flash of light, "Dragon Guard" was loaded with a large "Ignition (1)" Magic Array, activating Fire Elemental Energy to generate flames, attempting to burn those tenacious threads. "Squeak!~" The clump of tentacles that clung desperately to Chen Fei''s head finally couldn''t withstand the heat and was propelled away. It thrashed wildly at a distance, desperately trying to pounce back again. However, the flames and rolling heat waves enveloping the tactical armor kept it from daring to approach. The dense white threads that had been binding Chen Fei so tightly gradually underwent modification under the high temperature, indicating they were composed of biological proteins. The flames were effective. The thread''s color changed from white to yellow, growing darker and darker until turning black. Accompanied by a sound like snapping strings, they broke one after another. These threads were surprisingly resistant to fire, never fully catching alight, being slowly burnt through only by high heat. Chen Fei''s neck and head finally regained freedom, followed by his hands, his feet... After ten minutes, with a forceful effort, he finally broke free from all the threads and stepped down from the "wall." He lifted his foot and stomped hard on the thing that was still waving its ugly tentacles. With a squelch, the tentacles outside his foot extended straight, then all limply drooped down. Large amounts of foam surged out as the severely crushed clump of tentacles began to hydrolyze and collapse. Chen Fei''s pupils still had remnants of broken golden light flickering within, as he had activated the Psi Skill "Eyes of Tyranny" twice every minute. It was all sustained by Energy Points. Otherwise, relying solely on the "Ignition (1)" Magic Array engraved on the surface of the "Dragon Guard," it would take at least half an hour to gain complete freedom. But he didn''t want to wait even one second longer. The power boost from the flames combined with the "Eyes of Tyranny" made it possible to rapidly deal with the threads that had almost completely wrapped around him. Only then did Chen Fei have the leisure to take in his current surroundings. The walls were neither rock nor concrete and paint, but instead a kind of biotic tissue, a translucent pale yellow that emitted a faint light, bright enough to illuminate the entire room. The surface of the walls was covered with "blood vessels" of varying thickness, writhing and pulsing to a certain rhythm. His burning and struggling had torn some of the "blood vessels," and a yellow liquid poured out, resembling millet porridge. Yet these wounds were rapidly healing themselves. The flowing liquid gradually stopped moving and began to congeal. The entire room looked like a beehive with its hexagonal structure. The hexagonal structure, which maximizes the use of materials, is quite common in nature. "Chirp!~" Chen Fei heard Xiao Jiu''s chirping again. Strangely, the chirping didn''t sound urgent but seemed filled with confusion. One side of the "beehive" structure was a layer of very tough, translucent membrane through which it was possible to make out the other side, its strength possibly no less than those threads, or they might even be made of the same material. Chen Fei immediately activated the Psi Skill "Basic Laser Emitter," using 1 Energy Point to cut a slit large enough for a person to pass through on the membrane''s surface. As soon as he cut through, a large amount of sticky transparent liquid surged in. Chen Fei was startled. It seemed that there was no air outside, but this kind of liquid instead. He promptly extracted a breathing module that matched the Single Soldier Tactical Armor from the "Spatial Branding" and connected it with the "Dragon Guard" on his body. While Metal Elemental Psychic Power could evolve a Single Soldier Tactical Armor that was nearly identical to the original, it couldn''t produce the oxygen necessary for life. Grasping the edge of the slit, Chen Fei, resisting the flow of liquid, forced his way through with a powerful dive, plunging into the space outside just like a fish into water. The cut was also healing at a visible rate, and in no time, the room''s membrane would likely be as good as new, without even a mark of damage. The space outside was vast, and the lighting was not low. Chen Fei saw a huge ring formed by an expanse of "beehives," resembling a deep pool with hundreds, if not thousands, of "beehives." Amidst the transparent, sticky liquid, it wasn''t just him swimming around; there were also many strange creatures, including the Tentacle Monster that had warmly embraced Chen Fei''s head earlier. "Chirp!~" Another distant chirp, Chen Fei heard it clearly and roughly identified the source. He immediately swam in that direction. An undercurrent surged, and a "Strange Fish" with enormous fangs approached rapidly from afar. The AI, "Adam," detected it instantly and issued a warning. Chen Fei turned as he swam, evolved a Railgun Combat Rifle, and loaded a three-foot-long all-metal spike, planning to teach that ill-intentioned "Strange Fish" a lesson. But during the charging phase, the Railgun Combat Rifle malfunctioned with an error signal, as a large amount of electricity inexplicably dissipated and the capacitors failed to charge. The thick, transparent liquid of unknown depth possessed some peculiar property that rendered the Railgun Combat Rifle unusable. Without any hesitation, Chen Fei''s "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand flashed with a silver light, and several grenades floated out. He pulled the pins decisively and swam swiftly away. The "Strange Fish" adapted well to the thick liquid and charged toward the grenades at high speed. Boom! Boom! Boom!~ The grenades exploded. While the Railgun Combat Rifle, an electrical device, became useless here, its inability didn''t affect the structurally simple grenades. Countless bubbles erupted, enveloping the "Strange Fish." A huge impact came from behind, jolting Chen Fei, who had already swum twenty to thirty meters away, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. The liquid not only transmitted sound well but also carried pressure. Chapter 731 731: Section 726 - When in Doubt As if boiling intensely, countless bubbles slowly floated up, the viscous transparent liquid stained with turbid colors approached Chen Fei. The "strange fish" that charged him was torn apart by the grenade''s blast wave and shrapnel, sinking and floating in the liquid, with milky-yellow fluid constantly seeping out from the remains, seemingly filled with the same special blood that flowed within the "beehive" room''s vascular walls. "Chirp!~" The Little Bird, confined somewhere, seemed to sense the commotion of the grenade''s explosion and let out a more urgent, loud chirp, unlike its previous intermittent sounds of bewilderment, enabling the "Dragon Guard''s" sonar module to lock onto the location immediately. Chen Fei swiftly swam in that direction. Over a dozen more "strange fish" of various sizes and shapes swarmed from all directions, not towards Chen Fei, but they reached the scene of the grenade explosion one after another, greedily devouring the shrapnel, flesh remnants, or the contaminated liquid. Moments later, the liquid in that area became clear again, with no trace of the grenade fragments or the "strange fish" corpses left, as the creatures dispersed like birds and beasts. The fleshy "beehive" rooms, the menacing tentacle monsters, the viscous transparent liquid, and the various bizarre creatures swimming around formed a special ecosystem¡ªonly, Chen Fei had no idea where this was. A grenade seemed to have had the effect of a warning shot, or perhaps the other bizarre creatures were busy cleaning up the scene and could not be bothered; Chen Fei reached a "beehive" room smoothly. The semi-transparent membrane isolated the liquid, the room inside had air; some rooms were empty, while others seemed to contain something. Turning to look back, with the aid of the not-so-dim environmental light, he could tell that this seemed to be a vast cylindrical space, with "beehive" rooms filling the inner wall. Moreover, the "beehive" rooms were not uniformly sized; the diagonal of the largest was a full 30 meters, and even the smallest was 1 meter, forming a strange and grand mural. The "Dragon Guard" Assault Type Single Soldier Tactical Armor''s sonar module detected that the cylinder space''s diameter was a full 1280 meters, with a depth approaching two kilometers, and Chen Fei''s location was just about in the lower-middle section. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" immediately built a three-dimensional spatial model and prepared an escape route for Chen Fei. At the top of the cylinder, outlined by the returning sonar waves, there seemed to be a floating island, hovering at the surface of the viscous liquid, yet showing regular fluctuations in infrared thermal imaging responses, as if it was alive. Above the liquid''s surface, there seemed to be another space, but it was beyond the sonar wave''s detection range, and electromagnetic waves and laser beams could not completely penetrate, suggesting numerous restrictions. Seeing such an odd environment, Chen Fei felt it was completely justified that he and Xiao Jiu were captured alive¡ªperhaps even a being of the Heavenly Order could not contend with those capable of building such a prison. Seemingly perceiving the contour of Single Soldier Tactical Armor outside the transparent membrane, the Pure Light Sparrow trapped in some "beehive" room chirped more urgently. Dazzling light slowly moved across the membrane surface, a large amount of transparent mucus swarmed out, and Chen Fei followed and entered. Indeed, like him, Xiao Jiu was trapped in a similarly structured "beehive" room, confined inside by a birdcage about a ruler high. As soon as it saw Chen Fei, it frantically jumped up and down, pecking at the cage, trying to squeeze through. "Don''t worry!" Chen Fei evolved a dagger with the "High-Frequency Oscillation Module" attached, which hummed softly and sliced through the cage like a hot knife through butter, shattering it instantly. The delicate rails continuously oozed yellow mucus at the broken edges, appearing to be part of the entire room¡ªa truly peculiar place, as if it was the interior of some living organism. Moreover, the environment was quite odd; Little Bird''s casting abilities seemed restricted to only a meagre physical energy, lacking the strength to break free as Chen Fei could. Although both were lasers, there were distinctions between the "basic laser emitter" used by the "Dragon Guard" and the laser formed by Xiao Jiu employing Light Elemental Energy. "Chirp! Chirp!" Once freed, the Little Bird dashed straight towards Chen Fei''s head, its small pointed beak pecking excitedly in flurry. "Stay put, we''re getting out of here!" Chen Fei crafted a small chamber on the spot, ushered Xiao Jiu into it, then attached it to the back of "Dragon Guard" and connected it to the life support system. Though the cabin space was not as large as the cage that he had previously dismantled, allowing just enough room for Xiao Jiu to barely turn around, with not an inch to spare, Little Bird hunkered down, folded its wings, squinted its eyes, and its little head involuntarily started bobbing up and down in anticipation. ``` Chen Fei was never seen, and it could never relax, not until this moment when weariness struck and it could no longer hold on. After successfully rescuing Xiao Jiu, Chen Fei was about to leave the "Beehive" room, ready to break through the fully self-healed membrane of the room again, but outside, dark shapes had appeared at some unknown time, seemingly a collection of strange fish, waiting for him! This is the end! Chen Fei''s complexion turned somewhat ugly; this prison, which seemed to be a living entity, indeed would not let him and Little Bird escape easily. He looked at his left wrist, where, apart from a health band, there was nothing else. The whereabouts of the bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact lent to Chen Fei by the Silan Royal Family were unknown, The unknown existence that trapped a man and a bird here obviously knew quite a bit about him, and once he was stripped of the combat supplies inside the spatial alchemical storage artifact, his combat power would be greatly reduced. If it weren''t for this, how could a mere B-level supernatural power user fight so bravely? He would probably not even know how tall his own grave grass was. Luckily, the bigshot had arranged for someone to directly brand a storage space on the back of Chen Fei''s hand, which couldn''t be stolen or easily discovered; otherwise, he might have really left his life in this place this time. At this critical moment, should he use a "Dragon Slayer Missile"? Or a "Dragon Slayer Missile"? Or perhaps a "Dragon Slayer Missile"? Once he gained the freedom of using "Dragon Slayer Missiles," Chen Fei couldn''t help thinking of "Dragon Slayer Missiles" for every unresolved issue ¨C if one wasn''t enough, he would just use two. A pack containing "Dragon Slayer Missiles" was immediately released from the "Spatial Branding", The off-spec product secretly produced by Louis Industrial Company wasn''t just a single specification; this "Dragon Slayer Missile" was not a complete KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile, nor a standalone detachable missile combat unit but a hexagonal prism-shaped independent bomb. Accurately, it was the true prototype of the "Dragon Slayer Missile," the Element Annihilation Bomb, a killer weapon specially designed to deal with parasites from the memories of Louis Landon''s previous life. Had the Element Annihilation Bomb not been created so late in the bigshot''s previous life when the Blue Star Humans were nearly extinct and beyond salvation, it''s a moot point whether the use of this weapon against the parasitic species from the beginning would have prevented the doomsday of Blue Star Civilization. But this time, with Louis Landon reborn with memories, personally establishing Louis Industries, turning the Element Annihilation Bomb into a carrier called "Dragon Slayer Missile" and popularizing it as a conventional tactical-level weapon, even if extraterrestrial races suddenly invaded in full force, Blue Star Civilization might not lack the ability to put up a fight. The aircrew bases scattered across the globe are almost exactly ready-made resistance nodes, and this big game was played without anyone being the wiser. With operations fierce as a tiger, he started the initial interface, entered the security password, programmed the combat mode, set a 15-minute countdown, inserted the physical security decryption key, entered the activation code, and entered the ready-to-activate state. To use a conventional "Dragon Slayer Missile," networking verification was required for activation, with activation passwords and other verification methods managed separately from the actual ordnance. However, the Element Annihilation Bombs and "Dragon Slayer Missiles" given to Chen Fei by the bigshot could be activated offline, with all kinds of passwords and keys built directly into the packaging, allowing one person to complete a simplified activation operation. Although safety was significantly reduced, since it was originally intended for Chen Fei alone, it was designed for convenience. Using a laser to cut open the transparent membrane of the "Beehive" room again, a large amount of mucus surged in once more, and the "strange fish" gathered outside immediately swarmed in, opening their fanged mouths, waiting for Chen Fei to walk right into their trap. But Chen Fei didn''t emerge; instead, he pushed something out. The "strange fish" swam around with heads shaking, curiously inspecting the hexagonal prism-shaped object about a foot in diameter and about two feet long, watching it slowly descend and settle at the base of the cylindrical space. Their target was Chen Fei; they were not too concerned with anything else. Chen Fei stood inside the "Beehive" room, patiently waiting. The "fish" outside were not in a hurry, and the fish fryer inside was in no rush either. ``` Chapter 732 732: Section 727 - Fish Soup ``` The Element Annihilation Bomb sank straight into the dense beehive chamber''s bottom-most cylindrical space. Five minutes had passed. What seemed to be the living tissue of the "beehive" room''s fleshy walls and the isolation membrane of a transparent sticky liquid served as both prison and, from another perspective, a rather effective cover with its protective qualities. Chen Fei once again covered the entire room with an interlacing alloy steel chamber''s framework, spending hundreds of energy points, which was strong enough to bear the additional immense pressure, serving as a double safeguard. "Chirp!~" The little bird, already deep in sleep, chirped faintly every minute as if it were a punctual time signal. The Pure Light Sparrow was too tiny to even be considered worthy of parasitism, and although it was confined in a cage, it was relatively safe from harm. If the little bird, unable to fire lasers and cast light-based spells, were to be caught by a tentacle monster Chen Fei had encountered before, it would likely face a grim outcome, considering the Pure Light Sparrow''s negligible combat ability, which didn''t even hurt when pecking at people, only able to peck at small insects¡ªa true harmless creature. Ten minutes had passed, and Chen Fei was ready to brace for the impact. It wasn''t his first time using the "Dragon Slayer Missile" (Element Annihilation Bomb), and he was well-acquainted with the power of such a tactical weapon. The thin membrane of the "beehive" room might be surrounded by a pool of transparent viscous liquid nearly two kilometers deep, but the transmission efficiency of the shockwaves here was far greater than in air, meaning the destructive power would double. If he wasn''t cautious, he could very well capsize in a shallow ditch. The countdown to detonation had begun. The grim "strange fish" gathered outside the membrane had not dispersed but still greedily eyed Chen Fei within the "beehive" chamber. The only consolation was that they had not breached the thin layer, flooding in with the transparent sticky liquid. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" considerately added a visual timer for Chen Fei, and soon there was less than a minute left, starting the final countdown. ...5, 4, 3, 2, 1! "..." After waiting a moment, Chen Fei noticed that the visual timer didn''t disappear but flashed a few times, switching from a countdown to counting up. The Element Annihilation Bomb did not detonate on time. He was stunned, guessing that maybe a technical malfunction prevented it from exploding normally. The current situation was incomprehensible to Chen Fei. Louis Industrial Company, after all, was the stronghold of Blue Star''s technological prowess and the only top industry leader capable of producing the "Dragon Slayer Missile." Was the quality control for such specially made products so unreliable? However, two minutes had passed, and the Element Annihilation Bomb at the bottom of the cylindrical space had no intention to detonate, which was slightly maddening for Chen Fei. According to his original plan, the furious explosion of the Element Annihilation Bomb would not only flip a pool of viscous liquid but also annihilate those "strange fish" outside the membrane at the same time. After surviving the first blast, he''d let the alloy steel chamber detach from the "beehive" room and float up automatically, eventually escaping this bizarre place. But now, with nothing happening outside, the subsequent plan couldn''t proceed at all. If Plan A was unfeasible, then it was time for the alternate Plan B. Actually, there was no specific Plan B, since Chen Fei faced such an environment and adversaries for the first time, without any intelligence, completely clueless. Mr. Louis Landon''s "Prophecy" had not mentioned this either. Yet, the failure of the Element Annihilation Bomb to detonate on time did lead Chen Fei to some speculation. Not only were electrical devices affected here, but the liveliness of elemental series energies was equally suppressed. Thus, not only the railgun combat rifle failed to work normally, even spells couldn''t be cast, or else how could such a small cage possibly contain Xiao Jiu. Therefore, it wasn''t surprising that the Element Annihilation Bomb, which relied on the Magical Beast Crystal Core and Crystalline Blocks as its core, suddenly misfired. Yet all the functional modules of Chen Fei''s "Dragon Guard" single soldier tactical armor still operated normally, suggesting that this special environment''s suppression of elemental series energies and electrical operations was not seamless, still riddled with some loopholes since neither psi skills could be suppressed, nor chemical reactions. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to use the psi skill "Basic Laser Emitter" to release a laser beam to cut through the room''s membrane, and the hand grenade he had thrown earlier wouldn''t have exploded. The simpler the object, the less it was restricted in this space. Chen Fei began to search through his psi vision interface to see if he could obtain something useful from the Dog System to break the current deadlock. The "Plane Communication System," which was supposed to establish communication anytime and anywhere, was now cut off from the outside world, just a blind eye, a mere decoration¡ªutterly unreliable. It''s known that the Dog System can''t be relied on, indeed, it''s "Adam" that is the most dependable. As such, Chen Fei couldn''t call for outside support. Looking now at the "Skill Shop," which updates every 24 hours, it was completely empty due to the loss of signal from the "Plane Communication System." The rubbish skills that hung there to cheat energy points had all disappeared; there was nothing left in the "Skill Shop." This thing turned out to be online-based, so where was the main server? Chen Fei couldn''t help but wonder, did he really possess cloud-based psi abilities? That would be too absurd! It was found in the "individual information." ``` State: Larval Form Physical Energy: 745/788 Burst Strength: 300/312 Fullness: 76% Active time: 95 hours Energy Points: 30235/45000 Electric Energy Reserve: 1,000,000 kW¡¤h The "Individual Information" assessment of Chen Fei''s physiological state was relatively accurate, as his physical quality was visibly growing at a rapid pace. He was far from the unseasoned Wu Xia Amon who had just entered society, and even without Battle Qi, armed only with the inherited secret techniques of the Neanderthal tribe, he could stand a fight against War Professionals below the Earth Order. He looked back over the "My Skills" skill list, and due to personal choices, he tended to rely on external objects as the main combat force, a setup that was very suited to the mission configuration of a combat pilot. In the end, Chen Fei''s gaze rested on the almost unused "Speaker Module," which was at level 1, with a note stating: Stereo, upgradable (requires 100 energy points). He then glanced at the viscous fluid outside the membrane of the "Beehive" room. The fluid was not only an excellent conductor for shock waves but also for sound. The sonar module of the Single Soldier Tactical Armor could be used normally, so why not give those "strange fish" outside a devil''s ear-piercing sound surprise? Because many tactical equipments were unusable, Chen Fei''s combat means had been significantly reduced. He felt somewhat anxious about recklessly charging out. Taking advantage of his barely ample energy points, Chen Fei upgraded the "Speaker Module," instantly depleting 100 energy points. "Speaker Module (Level 2)," and the note in the remarks section immediately received new content: Stereo, infrasound, upgradable (requires 1000 energy points). Infrasound? Chen Fei slowly shifted his gaze to the membrane of the "Beehive" room, which looked exactly like a resonance film, and moreover, a very large one. He couldn''t help but laugh; devil''s ear-piercing sound might indeed be possible. Then he couldn''t help but act recklessly once again. "Speaker Module (Level 3)" | Stereo, infrasound, ultrasonic, not upgradable Energy Points -1000 Energy Points: 29135/45000 Damn it... Chen Fei''s expression immediately fell; it was a classic case of joy turning to sorrow. What earthly use was ultrasonic here, to wash vegetables with ultrasonic waves? That was a downright waste of a thousand energy points, tricked away by the damned system. The membrane of the "Beehive" room was likely composed of some kind of fascial protein, possessing extreme toughness. Even a laser required sustained exposure for over a second to penetrate it smoothly, but now, Chen Fei did not need to destroy this tough membrane. Instead, he installed components like the voice coil and strong magnets right in the center. A super-large speaker was thus built using the "Beehive" room as the main body, a construction that didn''t involve much technical content other than being extremely large. Chen Fei moved back to a corner and constructed a second speaker in front of him. "Bang!~" The entire "Beehive" room shook violently as a 7Hz infrasound frequency was released. The viscous fluid outside also oscillated intensely, and the speaker''s thrust was extremely powerful. The infrasound waves, unobstructed, propagated through the fluid and resonated back and forth within the cylindrical space. One-third of the "strange fish" outside the membrane were instantly turned into finger-sized chunks of flesh by the direct impact of the secondary wave, which demonstrated its horrific power. The rest lost their balance involuntarily at the same moment. Chen Fei, who was inside the "Beehive" room''s "speaker," remained unscathed; the audio unit in front of him released a secondary wave of opposite waveforms, cancelling out the fatal vibrations rushing at him. The sweep of the infrasound was indiscriminate in its lethality, and without the second audio unit to cancel out the waves, Chen Fei''s actions would have been no different from suicide. Outside the "Beehive Speaker," a tempest brewed, but the small area around Chen Fei, tucked in a corner, was calm as the forms of the waves cancelled each other out. Everything returned to zero, a haven of silence, free of any disturbance. "...Bang!~ Bang!~ Bang!~ Bang!~ Bang!~..." The storm of infrasound within the 4-18Hz range surged back and forth through the cylindrical space, leaving many "strange fish" dead from the vibration. Those lucky enough kept their whole bodies, the less fortunate were reduced to dust and bones on the spot. The membrane of the "Beehive" room, as part of the large speaker, exhibited the full potential of the resonant film, and the originally transparent viscous fluid took on increasingly turbid colors. After shaking violently for about half an hour, Chen Fei finally ceased the use of the ruthless divine skill. The speaker components reverted to energy points, and the "Beehive" room''s membrane could no longer maintain its previous toughness; the murky viscous fluid from outside rushed in, shattering the membrane into pieces. Chen Fei seized the opportunity to rush out and at that moment, not a single "strange fish" could be seen. The entire massive cylindrical space had become a stew, a rich fish soup. Chapter 733 733: Section 728 - Above the Mucus Chen Fei''s father had caused quite a commotion, but Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow, remained sound asleep in the survival chamber behind the Dragon Guard assault-type single soldier tactical armor. Not a single sound reached it. The liquid inside the cylindrical space was extremely viscous, but floating up turned out to be quite an easy task. A full-metal room, slightly smaller than the "Beehive" room they had just left, started to float upward slowly after detaching itself. However, when it was less than a hundred meters from the liquid surface, Chen Fei felt an uneasy premonition. This strange place probably wasn''t as simple as it seemed. As soon as this thought occurred to him, his scalp involuntarily tightened. His head hurt... that familiar sensation again! A Mental Shock! Annoying!!! "Jiu?" The Little Bird also woke up startled around the same time, looking around in confusion. The two leg rings on its tiny claws were still there, one of which was glowing faintly. Unlike Chen Fei''s father, it didn''t suffer a headache, and the psychic attack wasn''t aimed at it. Under normal circumstances, very few would pay attention to a Pure Light Sparrow, including the Extraterrestrial Races, but Xiao Jiu had been caught this time. Aside from its particularly conspicuous behavior that drew focused attention, Chen Fei''s unexpected capture was the main factor. Otherwise, if it had been fully focused on escaping, catching it would not have been an easy task. Even so, Chen Fei''s wrist-worn Space System Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact had been removed, yet the captors still overlooked one of the professionally disguised ring-type (bracelet-type) Space System Alchemy Storage Magical Artifacts on Xiao Jiu''s leg. This was probably an example of missing what''s right under one''s nose (two Space System Alchemy Storage Devices, what were they thinking?). But in reality, there were three, the extravagance of which bordered on criminal. What really troubled Chen Fei was not being trapped here, but how to explain to the Slan Royal Family, who had lent him the Bracelet-Type Alchemy Storage Spatial Device. The contents within weren''t too important; the combat supplies had already been transferred to the "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand, leaving only some spare living supplies, water, storage, tents, and other equipment, nothing of significant value. Despite Chen Xiao''er''s recently accumulated wealth, it was nowhere near enough to fill the immense capacity of the Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemy Storage Device. It seemed the good days didn''t last long. He was about to make a list of losses and felt as though he was about to backslide overnight, as if he was going to spit out a mouthful of old blood. Despite the Mental Shock during the ascent, Chen Fei had no intention of staying in the now murky pool of mucus which severely limited his combat ability. He preferred to take a stand as a last resort. The full-metal chamber moving upward made a strange creaking noise, as it was under immense pressure. The pressure was not only from the viscous liquid outside but also from the physical pressure of the psychic force. The interior of the full-metal chamber underwent a drastic change as the Dragon Guard tactical armor expanded significantly, morphing from its assault form into an assault-type, then stretching to over four meters tall. The massively enlarged "Dragon King" assault-type tactical armor encased both Chen Fei and the Little Bird within. To be precise, what they had was no longer just tactical armor but a bona fide piece of Mobile Armor. Since Chen Fei had never dealt with the current military standard Mobile Armors, the design and construction of the interior, along with the related modules, were somewhat unsystematic after the makeshift enlargement ¨C only outwardly similar, with more of an emphasis on Psi Skill effects. Most of the Magic Arrays failed, with only the "Mind Brand (1)" Magic Array functional. It was similar to the psychic protection Magic Array on Xiao Jiu''s leg ring ¨C perhaps their operation was exempt because both effects were of the Psychic Series. The giant "Dragon King" had no advanced technological applications, so its mobility and psi skills were unaffected by the current special environment, even though it was now down to just basic combat strength with an additional reduction of twenty percent, it was still stronger than Chen Fei unarmed. He was almost certain that this strange cylindrical space, suppressing advanced electrical technology and other elemental energies, was most likely the handiwork of the extraterrestrial race "Sagali," as the environment here was more advantageous for those parasitic species. A violent churning ensued, and a large metal cabin began to float up, bobbing in a pool of mucus. Chen Fei''s headache worsened, but he managed to make part of the cabin wall transparent, widening his field of vision. Just as the sonar module of the "Dragon Guard" assault-type single soldier tactical armor had detected, A vast floating island with a diameter exceeding 60 meters extended twelve thick branches all the way to the edge of the cylindrical space. The space above the mucus pool had a wider diameter than the pool bottom, reaching 1680 meters. The massive dome above was no longer a flesh mass with veins stretching arbitrarily but a surface without a single edge or protrusion, as smooth as polished rock with clear striations, resembling an abstract painting by a divine sculptor. Under the faint light all around, natural mineral particles and crystal grains refracted colorful points of light, like a sky full of stars. From afar, the plump meat bun-like floating island had suddenly appeared with numerous holes, as if it had become a beehive. A multitude of bizarre creatures with bared teeth and claws rushed out. They sprinted along the branches extending to the edges of the cylindrical space, some even diving into the mucus without hesitation, swimming towards the all-metal cabin where Chen Fei was located. Whether on the ground or in the mucus, these ferocious monsters were extremely fast. Chen Fei didn''t hesitate, his hand back shimmering with silver light. The gigantic "Dragon King," now over four meters tall and standing atop the all-metal cabin, sprouted two 12.7mm caliber anti-aircraft machine guns at the elbows. After a brief setup, it unleashed a barrage of fire at the advancing monsters on land and in the water. The tracer effect of the armor-piercing incendiary rounds effortlessly tore through the grotesque creatures with spiky bone armor, and soon limbs, tentacles, and fluids flew everywhere. Their blood, also yellow, quickly stained a large expanse of the previously clear mucus. Although firearms were clearly inferior in terms of destructive power and range to the more advanced railgun weapons, the gunpowder-driven bullets were highly effective here, toppling a large number in the blink of an eye. A deep blue fireball fell silently, hitting the metal cabin moving sluggishly in the mucus. The structure, which served not just as a floating vehicle but also as protection for the giant "Dragon King," had a large chunk viciously bitten off by an invisible maw in the blink of an eye, with a jagged, mirror-like break that reflected light clearly. The air filled with a pungent burnt smell. The giant "Dragon King," thrown off balance, quickly stepped aside to stabilize itself, narrowly avoiding plunging into the mucus. The all-metal cabin, having lost nearly a fifth of its volume, rapidly transformed to not only fill the part "burnt" away by the deep blue fireball but also to become a circular floating platform over 12 meters in diameter. It constructed multiple watertight compartments inside, significantly enhancing stability, and raised parapet-like skirts along the edges. There were figures standing at the edge of the mucus pool. The deep blue fireball that nearly took out the "Dragon King" with it had come from that direction. Chen Fei, with his "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" psi skill, was immediately aware of their presence. There were not only fierce bizarre monsters here, but also... humans? They looked for sure like humans, but the recognition module specially made by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" did not identify them as parasitic hosts, which meant they were not parasitized. There might be another possibility. But Chen Fei immediately discounted that option. Extraterrestrial races whose size matched that of the human race were no longer just the Royal Breed. To be precise, they should be called the Divine Breed, capable of living independently even without a host. This terrifying existence, comparable to the Heavenly Order and beyond, was not something Chen Fei could contend with. Any casual thought from them, and he feared he would be turned to dust on the spot. If the Divine Breed of the parasitic species descended upon Cangqiong Star, and there were so many of them, they would not allow the current situation to be shattered by the forces of Chen Fei alone. Chapter 734 734: Section 729 - Sweeping After the first azure fireball, there were quickly a second and a third... Chen Fei guessed they were probably not composed of the Fire Element since, in this place, other than the Psychic Series, the rest of the Elemental Series were ineffective. While Chen Fei pondered, he saw three or four more blue fireballs gradually forming again, their diameter even larger than the original one. The giantized "Dragon King" skewed its arms, and the large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun unceremoniously sprayed a barrage of bullets. The humans standing by the shore extended their hands, and the armor-piercing incendiary rounds with the tracer effect abruptly froze mid-air, densely packed in an instant. Boom! ~ Like a muffled sound from far away, the entire mucus pool stirred up tidal-like huge disturbances. Chen Fei had no time to guess the sudden source of the noise; he immediately morphed a long gun barrel, held by the gigantic hands of the "Dragon King", its dark muzzle aimed at the shore of the mucus pool. He loaded a 600mm caliber demolition bomb at once, the firing pin directly striking the primer. The shell roared out, and like the bullets from the anti-aircraft gun, it crashed into an invisible, intangible "wall". The kinetic energy carried by the 600mm caliber shell was incomparable to the 12.7mm caliber bullets¡ªthe fuse triggered instantaneously. The intense explosion swept over the unsuspecting humans at the shore, who were right within the lethal radius. The 600mm caliber Justice Judgement¡ªif not fatal, was seriously injurious; the most direct evidence was the simultaneous extinguishing of several azure fireballs. The tremendous recoil caused the floating platform under the giant "Dragon King" to suddenly sink into the already turbulent mucus and even slid backwards over thirty meters, creating a wave five or six meters high. The strange creatures that had entered within fifty meters of the platform were mostly knocked unconscious on the spot, floating up and down in the murky mucus while the rest seemed to lose their sense of direction, buzzing around like headless flies. The 600mm caliber demolition bomb was originally a firearm; in an environment where railguns couldn''t be used, it could still be fired by triggering the primer. Clang! The scorching shell casing was ejected, falling into the mucus outside the platform, sizzling loudly as the mucus continuously flowed into the spent, charred shell casing, filling it before pulling it into the bottom of the mucus pool. Compared to gunpowder firing, Chen Fei still preferred the reduced recoil and quieter operation of magnetic rail propulsion, and the firing powder could also be used to damage the target. Chen Fei, controlling the giantized "Dragon King", swung the gun barrel around, aiming it at the central floating island in the mucus pool. He never regarded those creatures that could run fast and swim swiftly as the greatest threat. Naturally, he should start with the most strategic move¡ªfirst take down the king''s fortress. Thud! ~ The shell landed on the floating island, and countless bizarrely shaped creature tissues were thrown into the air. Indeed it was a living thing! The shocking crater revealed the "floating island''s" internal truth¡ªnumerous nests, mature and immature strange creatures, various unknown organs, along with transparent mucus and custard-yellow liquid gushing out, almost identical to the mucus pool. A third of the "floating island''s" upper part was directly gone. Thud! With the momentum on his side, Chen Fei continued to fire, causing another storm of blood and gore. The destructive capability of the firearms shells did not rely on Elemental Energy, and this special environment could not restrict the old-fashioned weapons. The second shell directly blew away half of the "floating island"; three branches stretching toward the edge of the mucus pool were completely severed, one barely hanging on by a few threads of tissue and skin, and the others more or less damaged. A hundred meters in radius, a complete mess, with countless erratic creatures dead or injured. "Oooh! ~" Just as Chen Fei was about to fire the third shot, on the verge of completely blowing up the seriously damaged floating island into pieces, a figure dashed from the shore onto the branch, stepping on the floating strange creatures and leaping towards the giantized "Dragon King". The AI "Adam" displayed a line of subtitles in front of Chen Fei. Adam: Detected Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros", quantity 1, 4 o''clock direction, estimated contact in 4 seconds. Chen Fei guessed that this suddenly appearing "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" was likely the same one he had encountered before, and this bizarre space might just be located underneath the warehouse, where this parasitic magical beast seemed responsible for guarding duties. The giantized "Dragon King" turned around, slightly depressed the gun barrel, and with a flash of firelight, a column of mucus, over a hundred meters in diameter, erupted skyward, engulfing the rushing Magical Beast "Earth Flame Rhinoceros". The wave stopped the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" in its charging tracks, while Chen Fei again repositioned the gun barrel. Thud! ~ The "Floating Island" was blown open by the 600mm caliber demolition bomb, the center bursting open, its large dumpling-like shape completely torn apart, branches extending towards the edge of the mucus pool all collapsed, and the entire space immediately filled with countless piercing screams. Unlike the living organisms from Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, their tissue organs slowly moved or twitched, attempting to draw close to each other. The life force of this biological floating island was frighteningly tenacious. Despite being hit by three 600mm caliber demolition bombs, it still hadn''t died off completely and was absurdly attempting to heal and recover. A dark figure sprang from underneath the mucus, taking advantage of Chen Fei''s moment reloading the 600mm caliber shell, it suddenly pounced from the platform, knocking the giantized "Dragon King" down. The "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" engulfed in a giant wave of mucus had not sustained any fatal injuries and persistently continued its attack. Chen Fei''s Branding on his hand flashed silver, pushing several Directional Anti-Infantry Mines onto the Dragon King''s body surface, furiously bombarding the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros". Nevertheless, this thick-skinned Magical Beast still wouldn''t let go of the giant-like "Dragon King," perhaps due to being parasitized, its combat will even surpassed the instinct of the creature itself. For Chen Fei, it was really troublesome. He steeled his resolve, threw out 100 Energy Points, and directly created iron to envelop the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros", then promptly severed it. The giantized "Dragon King" wasn''t Chen Fei''s true body; he severed it as he wished, feeling neither pain nor itch, merely losing some Energy Points. As long as he could rid himself of this nuisance, it was worth it. 100 Energy Points equaled 100 tons of metal. With this weight upon it, the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros" immediately sank involuntarily. The Parasitic Species residing inside the Magical Beast apparently forgot what kind of environment it was currently dealing with, still thinking it was on flat ground! Chen Fei waved a hand in his mind at the opponent, bye-bye! Drown it, damn it! After ridding himself of the lingering "Earth Flame Rhinoceros," the giantized "Dragon King" climbed back onto the platform, moving towards the still struggling "Floating Island," and this time Chen Fei extracted an Aerial Incendiary from the "Spatial Branding." The "Dragon King" spun around three and a half times, then let go! The viscous flames exploded fiercely, clinging to the nearly shattered grisly body of the "Floating Island" and even continued to burn on the unpredictably undulating mucus surface. Boom!~ The echoes of the deep booms from the cavern walls became clearer and more noticeable, with many visible cracks appearing on the smooth-as-mirror walls, signaling that an unknown impact was getting closer. The remnants of the Floating Island in the flames convulsed violently, struggling and howling. The flesh walls on the shore and forming the "Beehive" rooms also trembled endlessly. It felt as if the apocalypse was descending. The platform, bearing the giantized "Dragon King," moved to the edge of the Mucus Pool. Chen Fei discovered among the scattered remains of Human Race corpses there were still survivors, covered by the absolute killing radius of the 600 mm Demolition Bomb. To survive that was unbelievably lucky. If it had been him, he would have been instantly killed. Waves surged in the Mucus Pool, and a clawed figure was getting closer to the liquid surface. Adam: "The Earth Flame Rhinoceros is breaking free and floating up." While Chen Fei''s attention was on the Human Race survivors, the AI "Adam" did not relax its vigilance around, which was probably due to learning from past mistakes. Just then, without any warning, a flash of blue light from the bottom of the Mucus Pool and an unimaginable force suddenly exploded, sending a billion tons of mucus skyward, instantly filling the dome. Even the giantized "Dragon King", which had reached the shore, could not escape this disaster, caught up in the violent mucus, caught in a whirl where up, down, left, right, front, and back were indiscernible, in total chaos. After a long tumult, Chen Fei shook his head, looking out from the "Dragon King". Waves clouded the heaven with torrents like heavy rain. One might think they were caught in a stormy sea, but the viscous liquid reassured him that he was still within that cylindrical space. Continuous droplets fell from the sky. Chen Fei noticed that his current position seemed even farther from the dome, with many "Beehive" rooms completely exposed above the liquid surface, and he actually saw the "Beehive" room he and Xiao Jiu had escaped from. Stangely enough, half of the pool''s mucus had inexplicably disappeared. That sudden blue light at the bottom of the Mucus Pool, Chen Fei immediately guessed the truth¡ªthe long-awaited Elemental Annihilation Bomb had finally detonated. The shade of blue was indistinguishable from when the "Dragon Slayer Missile" detonated, not only annihilating most of the mucus pool, but also deeply digging into the bottom of the space. The power was terrifying! If he had been in the original "Beehive" room, even if it did not kill him, it would have taken half his life! The remains of the Floating Island scorched by the incendiary were completely untraceable; even if not annihilated by the Elemental Annihilation Bomb, they would have been utterly destroyed by the impact of the billions of tons of mucus. Chen Fei looked at the left hand of the giantized "Dragon King," where there was a fully metallic "Coffin". The Human Race survivor he found was saved in the nick of time; the signs of life were still relatively stable. Adam: "Repulsion Shield (45) Magic Array activated," "Wind Magic Shield (12) Magic Array activated," "Gravity (1) Magic Array activated," "Fluid Vortex (2)" ... The magical arrays on the giantized "Dragon King" lit up one by one. "Jiu!" Chapter 735 735: Section 730 - The Crown Prince Arrives Apart from psychic energy, the special environment where all other elemental energies were suppressed suddenly disappeared. Noticing the subtitles alerted by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," Chen Fei finally realized what was happening. He controlled the giantized "Dragon King" mobile armor, transforming its 600mm caliber cannon into a railgun structure, and loaded a 30mm caliber solid steel needle. Zoom!~ The moment the steel needle left the acceleration track while hovering, it entered the rock wall a kilometer away at ten times the speed of sound in the blink of an eye. The now tattered parasitic biological tissue was largely peeled off and even blown away, revealing spiderweb-like cracks over three meters in diameter on the rock wall''s surface, and a round hole at the center, bottomless to sight. The steel needle disappeared deep into the thick rock strata. When bad luck had reached its peak, good fortune was finally on the horizon for Chen Fei. Not only could magic arrays and railgun weapons be used again, but communication with the outside world was also restored simultaneously. The location coordinates were in a suburban park about 5 kilometers away from the main urban area of Nandu City; if he wasn''t mistaken, this cylindrical space should be underground, its depth unknown for now. These parasitic species were truly adept at hiding. Even the local snakes, "Hundred-Legs Gang," nearly turned Nandu City upside down and still couldn''t find more clues. No sooner had the "Plane Communication System" returned to normal than a call request came in. The caller ID showed Hanna Gagar. The one-eyed female boss, Hanna, rarely called Chen Fei, likely to check on his status and see if he was still alive. On Cangqiong Star, the rebel army and the Slan Dynasty were duking it out, turning brains into mush, the situation was a mess, and human lives were as cheap as dirt, so any accidents would hardly come as a surprise. For a small military contractor, never mind just one person; even if they went all out in battle, it could very well be an annihilating defeat in a matter of minutes. "Hey, Chen Fei, are you still alive?" As soon as Chen Fei connected, he heard the expected question, a common query since he had arrived on Cangqiong Star. They didn''t ask if he was injured or missing an arm or leg; after all, in this line of work, staying alive was more important than anything else. "Yeah, alive, but I almost didn''t make it!" Chen Fei had grown accustomed to repeatedly flirting with the edge of life and death. No wonder since he had been dragged to play Go with King Yama right from the start of his career and had almost not made it back. "I have a big deal for you; I''ve sent it to your email. Take a look when you''re free. If you''re lucky, you might make a good sum." Hanna Gagar seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then got straight to the point. "What good news now?" Chen Fei wasn''t surprised by the female boss''s dedication to her business. Military contractors spent money every day on consumption and equipment. Although they earned a lot, operational costs were substantial as well. Without being proactive, substantial bonuses would be out of question¡ªespecially for combat personnel who risked their lives on the front lines. Without heavy rewards, there would be no brave warriors. "About the bounty issued by the Lin Family, the Lord of the Sky. Several sovereignties combined to offer a reward. If you pull this off, you could achieve financial freedom." Not only was Hanna Gagar excited; in fact, the entire military contractor community was abuzz with the news, with countless individuals scrambling for the bounty. Since Chen Fei was on Cangqiong Star, that might give him a better chance, a near water pavilion gets the moon first, earning enough to be financially independent for the latter half of his life. Chen Fei said with little interest, "I''ll look at it later!" Not only due to the personal relationship between his uncle and the Lord of the Sky but he was also well aware that risk often correlated with reward. In the end, he didn''t want to earn what he couldn''t spend. "Three more sovereignties on Blue Star have declared war on the Slan Dynasty. Once your defensive mission is over, you''d best return immediately. Understand?" As the tension between the two civilized planets intensified, Hanna Gagar became increasingly worried. This level of conflict was definitely not something Jiu Defense Company could get involved in. Forget about Jiu Defense; even if the industry''s top hundred competitors joined forces, they wouldn''t amount to much and could easily be wiped off the map in minutes. Hanna Gagar was unaware that Chen Fei''s primary task for staying on Cangqiong Star wasn''t entirely about defending the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City but rather to thwart the invasion plans of the extraterrestrial "Sagali" tribe, seek and destroy parasitic hosts, and search for the Royal Breed that had evolved to the Ninth Rank. Once a great war started, all sorts of unrestrained events would occur. Attacking the Dimensional Gate Management Substation only happened zero times or countless times, and defending for too long was bound to fail. "Understood, I''ll be back as soon as I can!" Chen Fei gave a disingenuous response. He didn''t want Boss Hanna to know about the private jobs he was currently undertaking. After investing precious resources and support in Chen Fei, the big shot Louis Landon certainly wouldn''t want him to be seen as a deserter. Boss Hanna ended the call. Chen Fei was just about to wake the prisoner he had confined in the "Iron Coffin," when he heard a series of dull thuds. Large chunks of rock fell from the domed ceiling of the cylindrical space, crashing into the mucus pool, which was now reduced to less than half its original depth, stirring up columns of liquid skyward. Soon, a large hole appeared where the rocks had been falling. A fierce Sword Qi shot out from the hole without any warning, spraying and sweeping over an area of more than ten meters outside the hole. Of course, it didn''t hit anything. This was just a deterrent fire reconnaissance; hitting something was a bonus, but not hitting was even better. Several figures, glowing with dazzling Battle Qi Flames, rushed out immediately after the Sword Qi, first guarding the around the rock hole, then they saw the giantized "Dragon King," armed with a cold weapon and in a defensive stance. The debris continued to collapse, and the diameter of the cave entrance kept expanding, with more and more people entering this cylindrical space, including even the winged members of the Feathered Tribe. Then, a huge creature fell down, spreading its gigantic wings, a fierce and majestic head looking around, and by the color of the scales covering its body, it was a Terrestrial Dragon. The moment the Giant Dragon appeared, sharp rock spikes appeared on the smooth, mirror-like dome, their points aimed at every corner below, ready to strike. Before determining friend from foe, Chen Fei did not dare to withdraw the giantized "Dragon King" Mobile Armor; instead, he was fully armed, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement, indifferent to life or death. At the same time, more than a dozen War Professionals and Spellcasters targeted him, surrounding the Giant like "Dragon King," and while they showed no sign of striking first, the faint sense of oppression made Chen Fei feel somewhat breathless. There were just too many of these powerhouses. His gaze quickly sharpened as he saw a familiar face, and the heart he had been holding in suspense finally began to settle down. The people surrounding him were probably not enemies, but allies who had come to the rescue. The giantized "Dragon King" broke down into countless tiny geometric bodies, rapidly reducing in number, the majority retracting into Chen Fei''s body, and a smaller portion entering the "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand. Unlike all-metal components, which are exchanged and recycled at a standard rate calculated in tons, the exchange rate for components evolved through "material simulation" was one kilogram for one energy point, while the recycling was one ton for one energy point, suffering an immediate 99.9% loss. So he simply separated them and put them into the storage space for use next time. "Your Highness, how come you are here?" Chen Fei approached the familiar person. If it weren''t for the "Plane Communication System" resuming its connection and still pinpointing his location in the suburbs of Nandu City on Zilu Continent, he would have almost thought he was back on Morning Star Continent. The Ability Users surrounding Chen Fei were about to intercept him, but suddenly they gave way, allowing Chen Fei and the other person to come close to each other. "Hehehe, long time no see, Chen Fei, this is your belonging!" Lin Zio Slan greeted him with a smile and then personally handed over an item. Chen Fei looked closely and saw it was his lost Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact. At last, he found it! It was a stroke of luck amid misfortune. He breathed a silent sigh of relief, feeling as though a heavy stone in his heart had finally settled. If he had truly lost that object, Chen Xiao''er would likely have to sell himself to the Slan Dynasty, and even giving his life wouldn''t be enough to repay the debt, considering such a large-capacity Spatial Alchemy Artifact would command a sky-high price anywhere. However, Chen Fei quickly realized something¡ªthe fact that the other party was able to find him probably meant that the Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact had been tampered with in an unknown way. As if guessing Chen Fei''s thoughts, Lin Zio Slan maintained his offering gesture and continued, "I''ll not hide it from you, this Spatial Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact has been set with special Curse Magic. Once it''s separated from you for an extended period, it will automatically release a location-tracking curse." The Slan Dynasty indeed would not let such an alchemical storage artifact be lost; regardless of the schemes to take it, they would all end in vain. "Your Highness, why would you risk yourself like this?" Chen Fei did not reach out to take it. The heavy gift of the "Spatial Branding" from Louis Landon had greatly reduced his reliance on physical storage magical artifacts, and having this Spatial Alchemy Storage Magical Artifact was no longer significant to him. As a child of great wealth, one does not sit beneath a dangerous wall. Seeing Lin Zio here, Chen Fei felt no joy at all. If the Restoration Army (Rebel Army) of the Tessa Empire knew that the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty had come to the Zilu Continent, they would likely capture him at all costs, thereby gaining the greatest bargaining chip for negotiations with the Slan Dynasty. If the Crown Prince fell into the enemy''s hands, in the game of power on Zilu Continent, the Slan Dynasty would inevitably be at a disadvantage and be forced into a passive position, and the sovereigns of Blue Star would probably enjoy watching the spectacle unfold. Even Minante, from its own standpoint, would likely cut ties with Chen Fei without hesitation and turn hostile on the spot. "Only heaven and earth, you and I know, how can one lead the troops to victory if they do not visit the front lines!" Lin Zio Slan seemed not at all concerned about the danger of coming to a Zilu Continent experiencing rebellion. With so many powerhouses brought with him, falling into enemy hands would not be an easy task. "I have heard of you, Chen Fei from the Chen Family Gate." A voice came from the side. Chen Fei turned towards the sound and saw a young man in Single Soldier Tactical Armor sizing him up. "Right, let me introduce you. This is Lin Zikong, Aunt Qi Fei''s son, one of my brothers." Chapter 736: Section 731 - Refusal "Hello, I am Chen Fei, from the Chen Family." Chen Fei''s eyes narrowed. The Lin Family and the Chen Family had close relations, and they didn''t consider each other outsiders, so since they had met, they should at least exchange greetings. According to the bounty list Boss Hana had just sent to Chen Fei, the young man from the Lin Family in front of him was worth at least a hundred million! This was big! If he could take him down, he could basically retire and enjoy financial freedom for the rest of his life. "Hello, it seems like there is a story in your eyes." Eyes are the windows to the soul, and Lin Zikong from the Lin Family perceptively sensed that this Chen Family Disciple seemed to have something on his mind after seeing him. The Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty, Lin Zio, pretended not to know and asked, "Oh? What''s the good news?" For some reason, Chen Fei didn''t hide anything and said, "I just received a wanted list, Brother Zikong is worth a hundred million." The brothers in front of him, he couldn''t take that billion because he couldn''t beat them! Lin Zio and Lin Zikong looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time. The former quite dissatisfiedly said, "A hundred million is too little, it should be at least ten billion!" He was a member of the Lin Family after all; how could he be so cheap! However, Crown Prince Lin Zio followed up and asked, "And what about me, Chen Fei?" Thinking to himself that the Crown Prince was just joining in the fun for no reason, Chen Fei''s mouth twitched as he honestly replied, "Not worth a cent!" Maybe selling the Crown Prince to the Rebel Army could get a few trifles in return, possibly benefiting Minante first, but surely it wouldn''t be as valuable as Lin Zikong. The Rebel Army was contesting the world with the Slan Dynasty, where would they get the extra Star Yuan for bonuses. This thought was only for entertaining his mind and was by no means something he would actually act upon. Lin Zikong, clapping his brother''s shoulder, couldn''t stop laughing. At least he himself could be worth a hundred million, while his brother couldn''t even fetch a coin¡ªthough he was the Crown Prince of the Dynasty, it was too much of a slight. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said nonchalantly, "What not worth a cent, it''s priceless!" Lin Zio Slan and Lin Ziyu Slan could also be considered members of the Lin Family in some sense, but there was no mention of them on the Blue Star Sovereignty''s bounty lists. After all, the siblings had another layer of identity, and no sovereignty wanted to create trouble for themselves. Even though many sovereignties on Blue Star had already declared war on the Slan Dynasty of Cangqiong Star, placing a bounty on the future ruler of Cangqiong Star was not very damaging, but it was extremely insulting, and it might provoke the Slan Dynasty to focus all their efforts on a fierce retaliation. Even the most powerful sovereignty on Blue Star couldn''t withstand such retribution. "Crown Prince Brother, you speak golden words, always right!" Lin Zikong was still laughing uncontrollably, walking arm in arm with Lin Zio, showing no consideration for any sort of hierarchical deference. The Lin Family was a large one where half-siblings shared a father but had different mothers, and their relationships were very good, without any inequality in status due to their mothers'' backgrounds. But if anyone else dared to make such disrespectful gestures to the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty, they would likely be wiped out, to say the least. After jesting with Crown Prince Brother, Lin Zikong turned his gaze and said, "Chen Fei, could you send me a copy of that bounty list? I want to show it to my other brothers and sisters." Enjoyment shared is enjoyment doubled, and it would be very interesting for the Lin Family''s siblings to see how much they were each valued at. If it were anyone else daring to make such a disrespectful gesture to the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty, wiping out their family would be the least of their concerns. Lin Zikong still could not stop laughing, slapping Lin Zio''s back hard. He continued to speak to Chen Fei, "Chen Fei, could you send me a copy of that bounty list? I also want to show it to my other brothers and sisters." As a member of the Lin Family''s offspring, he seemed not at all worried and even utterly unconcerned that his entire family was being hunted by the Blue Star Sovereignties, instead showing interest in the bounty list. "Alright then!" As requested, Chen Fei immediately sent the bounty list he had just received and hadn''t yet had the chance to examine closely to the other''s email. This also meant that they had exchanged their communication numbers at the same time. What puzzled Chen Fei was that although the Blue Star Sovereignties were hunting the Lin Family, they hadn''t blocked the Lin Family members'' communication numbers; functions like calls and emails could still be used normally, whether they were being tapped or monitored, who knows. Lin Zikong cheerfully opened his email, looking at his family members'' bounty amounts, occasionally exclaiming in surprise or shouting in shock. "This is really interesting! Holy smokes, the old man got hung up on a debt of ten billion, I''d love to make a fortune off this one." Such a rebellious son! Crown Prince Lin Zio still held the bracelet-type Space Series Alchemy Storage Device in his hand and said to Chen Fei, "Aren''t you going to take it? No worries, this thing can''t be lost!" He guessed the reason why Chen Fei had yet to accept it. Actually, even if it was lost or damaged, the Silan Royal Family wouldn''t really hold anyone accountable. After all, losses in battle are quite normal. "Forget it! I can''t afford to compensate!" Chen Fei shook his head and declined once again. The idea of incurring debt terrified him. His younger sister had been tricked, saddling the family with a debt of five million Star Yuan. As her brother, he had no choice but to journey far from home to repay it. Now that he had finally settled the debt, if anything happened to this alchemical storage artifact, he would never be able to afford the compensation. This time it was lost, luckily, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince found it through the curse magic preset on the device. What about next time? One can''t always rely on others and luck, right? "What will you do then?" Crown Prince Lin Zio also knew that Chen Fei''s combat abilities heavily depended on the Space Series Alchemy Storage Device. Without the support of this bracelet-type Space Series Alchemy Storage Device, his fighting capability would drop to the level of an ordinary B-grade supernatural power user, maybe even less than those with combat-oriented Psi Skills of the same rank. "Tweet!" Little Bird was released, standing curiously on Chen Fei''s hand and looking around. Chen Fei flicked one of the leg rings on Xiao Jiu''s paw. It was an extremely deceiving Space Series Alchemy Storage Device, especially after professional disguise treatment, making it even harder to discern. Then, he conjured up a bracelet identical to the one in the Crown Prince''s hand out of thin air and fastened it on his wrist, costing him 1 Energy Point. This Dog System that excels in "mathematics" and "music" is truly a rip-off. Even without having "sacrificed" the original, after wearing it for so long, he was already intimately familiar with its size and surface pattern. "Eh? What is this?" Seeing Chen Fei''s maneuver, the Crown Prince''s gaze shifted back and forth between the high-quality imitation on the other''s left wrist and the genuine piece in his own hands. He clearly didn''t want it yet conjured up a fake one, what was the reasoning behind this? Of course, he wouldn''t think that Chen Fei could create Space Series Alchemy Storage Devices, as that was highly technical work. To this day, the Blue Star Civilization still can''t produce these themselves, relying entirely on exports from the Cangqiong Star, which shows the difficulty of crafting a Space Series Alchemy Storage Device. It wasn''t just the stringent demands of alchemy craftsmanship but also the supply of rare materials. Even with the official power of the Slan Dynasty''s collection efforts, it was still very limited. "Tactical deception!" Chen Fei did not spill the beans, but this high-quality replica bracelet was indeed designed to deceive clever people, serving as camouflage to protect the secret on the back of his hand. The big boss, Louis Landon, had somehow managed to form a special team of supernatural power users who left a mark on Chen Fei''s hand that connected to a massive storage space, mirroring the ingenuity of the Space Series Alchemy Storage Devices from Cangqiong Star Civilization. Lin Zio offered generously, "How about... I just give this to you as a gift?" As the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty, the heir to the supreme imperial authority, the entire Cangqiong Star would one day be his dominion, and a mere Space Series Alchemy Storage Device really didn''t count for much. Giving it as a gift wasn''t a big deal, he could easily afford it. There''s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, let alone a Space Series Alchemy Storage Device given away for free. Chen Fei shook his head and refused, "Thank you, but I can''t accept!" If it weren''t for the "Spatial Branding" on his hand, he would probably have accepted the gift without hesitation. Even with the "Spatial Branding," the price Chen Fei had to pay was to fight to the death with the Parasitic Species, which is what he had been doing all along anyway. "Alright! If you ever change your mind, I''m available anytime to give it to you!" Lin Zio didn''t make a fuss and took the Bracelet-Type Spatial Alchemical Storage Magical Artifact back. Although he didn''t understand Chen Fei''s intentions, he chose to respect the other''s wishes. "Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, how did you come to be here?" Chen Fei steered the conversation back to the original topic. This was Zhai Liuzhou, where a rebellion was underway, and the situation was still unclear. If it were someone else, he could understand their presence. But the person least expected to be here, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, was here nonetheless. Chapter 737: Section 732 - Enslavement of Race Facing Chen Fei''s question, Crown Prince Lin Zio smiled and said, "You are not fighting alone!" Chen Xiao''er''s clash with the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" was no secret. Not only did Cangqiong Star know about it, but the sovereigns of Blue Star were also aware. As the stronghold of the Slan Dynasty, Cangqiong Star could by no means turn a blind eye to the situation. However, its efforts were currently restrained by the Rebel Army on Zhai Liuzhou and the veiled actions of several other continents. Thus, it could not immediately spare the resources to solve the problem and would not have left Chen Fei to fight alone in Zhai Liuzhou. The Rebel Army was now similarly informed and, like the Slan Royal Family and the sovereigns of Blue Star, constrained by mutual entanglements and various considerations. They were also unable to assist, and not adding to the chaos was already a blessing. Although out of reach, the Slan Dynasty had not been idle. They had authorized Chen Fei with legal maneuvering power, making him an independent combatant at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, at the same time covertly providing intelligence to his "Intelligence Team." Due to differences in perspective and angle, Chen Fei might not have thought that far or clearly understood the situation. In reality, multiple forces had already begun to operate around him quietly. Even without sending direct support, his status as an independent combatant offered him true freedom, and he had never had to worry about the most important logistic support. Louis Industries had secretly organized a team of supernatural power users and covertly supplied a massive amount of military resources. It was likely that the sovereigns of Blue Star were not oblivious to this fact, as even the most powerful business conglomerates could not truly compare to real sovereign powers. The phrase "wealthy enough to rival a country" was nothing more than a hyperbolic compliment, not evidence of actual parity. The bracelet-type spatial alchemical storage magical artifact Chen Fei had borrowed was set to trigger a curse spell if removed for a certain period. Crown Prince Lin Zio took the initiative to lead a team to the chaotic Zhai Liuzhou, partly to retrieve this precious alchemical storage artifact, and indeed also to check on Chen Fei''s situation. However, from another perspective, the Slan Royal Family''s decision to allow the heir to the throne to come here showed their relative indifference to the rebellion in Zhai Liuzhou. Lin Zikong volunteered from the side, "I came to join in on the fun." Compared to the appearance of the Slan Dynasty''s Crown Prince in Zhai Luizhou, this offspring of the Lin Family was even more suspicious. Chen Fei couldn''t help but glance at him, speculating that the Lin Family, currently wanted by the Blue Star Sovereignty, might have moved to Cangqiong Star. The Lin Family had deep roots on Blue Star, with decades of extensive influence: wealth, power, connections, and formidable force. The Blue Star Sovereignty would not find it easy to target them, and the Lin Family could easily escape victoriously. In a sense, Cangqiong Star was also the Lin Family''s stronghold, and despite the efforts of the sovereigns on Blue Star, they would still fall short. Seeing Chen Fei remain silent, Lin Zikong said with a grin, "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. It won''t cause trouble for the Chen Family. Everything is under control." This guy showed no worry whatsoever about the Lin Family''s current predicament. It was very likely that the Lin Family being targeted by the sovereignty was a feint for some ulterior motive, or even a public spectacle. These well-fed big shots were simply outrageous... Over thousands of years of Blue Star''s history, the colorful and limitless maneuvers were unique and never repeated, making Chen Fei involuntarily sneer to himself. However, these words provided him with some reassurance, as Chen Fei also worried about his uncle and by extension, the Chen Family being implicated. Even if the Young Master of the Lin Family and his uncle said so, there shouldn''t be any major problems. "What exactly is happening here, hiss, quite some commotion! It couldn''t be..." His Royal Highness Crown Prince Lin Zio turned his attention to the little bird on Chen Fei''s shoulder. The stir caused by this little one completely redefined the world''s understanding of the Pure Light Sparrow. The contrast between the weakest magical beasts and the mightiest giant dragons was indeed jaw-dropping. "It was me. I threw a ''Dragon Slayer Missile''!" Chen Fei confessed proactively, as there were no other Pure Light Sparrows here, no collective strength, and Xiao Jiu''s own power was far from capable of such an impact. A Pure Light Sparrow of the Human Order Sixth Rank was still incapable of using offensive light-based spells. He guessed that the previous failure of the Element Annihilation Bomb to detonate on time and its subsequent unexpected explosion were likely related to his attack on the living floating island. Like a spell, the Element Annihilation Bomb required an environment with various elemental energies. If most of these elemental energies were suppressed, leaving only the Psychic Series, the detonation mechanism would fail. This was probably one of the rare weaknesses of the Element Annihilation Bomb. When Chen Fei eliminated the "culprit" suppressing the elemental energies, the various elemental energies were no longer repressed, causing the Element Annihilation Bomb to detonate as expected. "This should be a sealed space, right? You''ve got some nerve!" Lin Zikong took a sharp intake of breath. To detonate a "Dragon Slayer Missile," a tactical-level weapon in this kind of environment¡ªaren''t you afraid of blowing yourself up too? If it were Lin Zikong himself, he would never do such a thing. This little brother is really ruthless! "Heh, just my luck, just my luck!" Chen Fei felt his luck wasn''t too bad. "You''ve also captured a prisoner?" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince noticed an iron coffin at Chen Fei''s feet, with a person visible through the transparent little window lying inside. "Hmm, this guy isn''t a parasitic host; he must be a traitor to the Human Race." Chen Fei kicked the iron coffin, reclaiming all the metal components, but failed to collect even 1 energy point, as the Dog System rounded it down to zero. He had spent 1 energy point to exchange for this iron coffin, and likely it lost a bit in the previous explosion, off by a few dozen grams, or even just a few grams, but the Dog System insisted on being precise¡ªif it wasn''t a full energy point, it wouldn''t give anything at all. The Dog System is truly dogged! His Royal Highness Lin Zio and his brother Lin Zikong exchanged looks, then said, "He''s not Human Race!" "Huh?" Chen Fei, looking at the still unconscious fellow, was completely baffled by the Crown Prince''s remark. He looks just like a human, indistinguishable from the Human Race. If he''s not Human Race, could he be the legendary Royal Breed? But he doesn''t look like it! Information about the extraterrestrial "Sagali" was intentionally or unintentionally shielded on Blue Star due to sovereignty issues, but on Cangqiong Star, the data was quite comprehensive and abundant. The extraterrestrial "Sagali" understood everything about the Human Race, and vice versa. "A parasitic species'' enslaved race, to be precise, one of them. ''Sagali'' is far more terrifying than we know." Lin Zio didn''t hide his wariness as he spoke these words. Lin Zikong, who was next to him, nodded in agreement. This wasn''t an exaggeration¡ªhe kicked the person on the ground and rebuked, "Open your eyes, stop playing dead, don''t resist. You should know you can''t escape, you can''t win, and you can''t die!" The experts assembled around the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty were not to be trifled with, and Lin Zikong''s words weren''t an empty threat; they were the solid truth. At that moment, the person on the ground slowly opened his eyes, a flash of red light in his pupils, which finally settled into calmness. "Playing dead?" Chen Fei jumped to the side in fright¡ªhe really hadn''t noticed that the guy had been fooling him all along. Chapter 738: Section 733 - More Secrets Chen Fei, by now a battle-hardened veteran who had witnessed mountains of corpses and seas of blood, had himself killed enough to make rivers run red with blood, and created fields covered with bodies. He found it not so easy to fall for tricks like feigning death or pretending to pass out right under his watchful eyes. He had originally thought that the captive he had caught was unconscious, in a comatose state, but was surprised when Lin Zikong pointed it out. The prisoner, no longer able to pretend, had no choice but to open his eyes, and even dared to glare at Chen Fei. "What are you looking at? Keep looking and I''ll slaughter you!" With a flick of his little hand, the professional teaching tool, the White Steel Crowbar, appeared in his palm. Having pried open many a crate, prying open a skull would surely be a breeze for him. With a chisel and a press, the white brain matter would spurt out as if it were free. "Stop! This guy might still be of some use to us." Lin Zikong hurriedly stopped Chen Fei. Seeing Chen''s murderous intent, it was clear this was not just talk. In the next second, he might very well swing down with the crowbar for real. "The captive of a parasitic species'' enslavement race is not easy to come by; you''re lucky, I quite like this gift!" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty seemed to take a keen interest in the captive Chen Fei had caught, unapologetically accepting it with a smile. Simply declaring his liking, he took the spoils of war as a fait accompli. It was typical of someone bound to become an Emperor, using his brains effectively. "Enslavement race?" Chen Fei was puzzled. From the semi-public information he had obtained from Blue Star and the public information gathered on Cangqiong Star, he had never heard of the term "enslavement race." Even in the future prophecies of the big shot Louis Landon, the term "enslavement race" was never mentioned; otherwise, he would have informed Chen Fei of this critical intelligence early on. But since both Lin Zikong and Lin Zio had confidently identified them as an enslavement race, they must have known far more than the average person. "You once took part in a mission to escort a target that was also from the enslavement race!" Lin Zikong suddenly brought up a piece of classified information. "Eh? How do you know that?" Chen Fei, who had been paid to keep quiet, had never revealed it to anyone because of professional ethics, not even Boss Hana was aware. The sudden mention of this surprised him, as the sovereignty secrets could lead to major issues if leaked. Lin Zikong said proudly, "That member of the enslavement race was captured by the Lin Family. People who pay attention to the Parasitic Species aren''t just you." Protecting the skies of Blue Star was the Lin Family''s mission. Otherwise, wouldn''t the richer resources of Cangqiong Star be more appealing? The Lin Family, with roots on Blue Star for dozens of years, had not simply rested on the laurels of past achievements. "Chen Fei, it''s not strange that you don''t know. Originally, few people did." His Royal Highness Crown Prince Lin Zio no longer hid the truth and took the opportunity, while his people began searching the underground space, to reveal some secrets unknown to others. Whether it was Cangqiong Star or the newly exposed Blue Star, a certain great figure of the Parasitic Species "Sagali" had marked it as hunting grounds, or to put it more plainly, a dining table. Whether it''s the Human Race, Magical Beasts, or Giant Dragons, all were ingredients on the table. The Parasitic Species that had been continuously invading Cangqiong Star and the newly emerged enslavement race were both servants preparing the meal, ready to ''cook'' all beings on both civilized planets into a delicious feast. This mealtime was not the ordinary two or three hours but stretched to at least a thousand years, or even ten thousand. Until the Parasitic Species'' big shot "grew tired" of eating, and what remained, the scraps and leftovers, would be devoured by the Low-Rank Parasitic Kind and the enslavement race, swallowing them whole and clean. Some civilizations were even entirely wiped out due to this, welcoming a true end of days. "How, how do you know so much?" After hearing the Crown Prince''s summary, Chen Fei''s mouth twitched. Although there were not many words, the introduction was quite detailed and the source of the information seemed to be powerful. Even to this day, whether they''re the parasitic hosts Chen Fei has caught, or the enslaved race, their mouths are sealed as if locked. Heads can be chopped off, blood can flow, but they refuse to give even a single statement. "This, this..." Crown Prince Lin Zio hesitated about whether to continue speaking, glancing hesitantly at his half-brother Lin Zikong, seeking his opinion. After exchanging a look with his royal brother, Lin Zikong, feeling rather embarrassed, said to Chen Fei, "This is another secret, and I think it''s better you don''t know about it." It wasn''t that he looked down on Chen Fei, but that he genuinely didn''t want to involve Chen Fei. The Lin Family''s being wanted by the Blue Star Sovereignty was largely related to this secret, and also somewhat connected to Chen Fei; his actions had disrupted certain delicate equilibriums and lifted some covers that should have remained closed. The Blue Star Sovereignty''s action against the Lin Family was also somewhat forced by the situation. But everyone knew that the Chen Family Disciple was going with the flow of the times, not intentionally causing trouble for the Lin Family. Even Chen Haiqing, who had good relations with the Lin Family, didn''t put too much pressure on this nephew. So Lin Zikong truly had Chen Fei''s best interests at heart. "All right, I won''t ask any more questions." Seeing the troubled faces of the Lin Family brothers, Chen Fei, though full of doubt, decided to let the matter pass as they suggested. He then continued, "I have been tracking down the Royal Breed hidden around Nandu City. Do you have any intelligence?" The people brought by Crown Prince Lin Zio were searching the entire cylindrical space, and Chen Fei had not inspected every "Beehive" chamber in detail; undoubtedly, he had missed several finds. The Element Annihilation Bomb had destroyed a number of "Beehive" chambers, which might have concealed secrets, but were now reduced to ash. Therefore, he hoped to get some more precise information from both Lin Zio and Lin Zikong. With the "Intelligence Team" left behind by the big shot Louis Landon combined with the local snakes of the Hundred-Legs Gang from Nandu City, it was possible to gather a fair number of messages, but when it comes to the depth of intelligence gathering, they still didn''t compare to the real local snakes, the Slan Dynasty''s Security Department. The Lin Family''s reach extended not just within Cangqiong Star but also across Blue Star, secretly monitoring the actions of parasitic species, and possessing unparalleled advantages. "Indeed, there is..." Lin Zio had just begun speaking when he suddenly fell silent, turning his gaze toward the lower half of the cylindrical space, where only two or three-tenths of the murky mucus remained. Turning back, he said to Chen Fei and Lin Zikong, "We have just made some discoveries; let''s go take a look before we talk." The energy fluctuations of the Earth Element System made the three of them involuntarily feel lighter, and they simultaneously levitated from the ground, drifting down towards the bottom of the cylindrical space. The Terrestrial Dragon, covered in brown scales, flew down with them, seemingly providing the trio with protection. The rest of the people descended in various manners, forming a protective circle around them. "Speaking of which, I should thank you for your ''Dragon Slayer Missile''; otherwise, the clean-up wouldn''t have been so thorough." Lin Zio surveyed the destroyed, chaotic "Beehive" space, with most of the transparent membranes nearly disintegrated, fully exposing the interior scenes. It wasn''t until this moment that Chen Fei realized that these "Beehive" chambers were not empty; they contained many from the Human Race, even Magical Beasts, as well as beings that even artificial intelligence AI couldn''t make out. All these creatures that should have been alive were now motionless; some were even intact with no physical harm, all thanks to the aftermath of the Secondary Wave and the Elemental Annihilation Bomb, these two large-scale tactical weapons. Indiscriminately, they slaughtered everything, not differentiating between enemy and ally or innocence. In such an almost sealed environment, both the Secondary Wave and the Elemental Annihilation Bomb achieved destruction effects that were virtually 100 percent. If it wasn''t for the suppressive effects of elemental energy disappearing and the Magic Array carved on the Giant "Dragon King" activating in time, Chen Fei might have killed himself along with the rest, because he had a precedent of acting rashly when inflamed with emotion, not sparing even himself. If there was any resistance left inside, clearing so many "Beehive" chambers would definitely not be an easy task, and might also result in some casualties, which is probably why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince expressed gratitude. "It seems I went a bit too far." Chen Fei felt a surge of guilt; he didn''t know whether there were innocent beings inside like himself and Xiao Jiu, and any such casualties would be a mistake. Lin Zikong seemed to guess Chen Fei''s thoughts and consoled him, "Don''t think too much. At this time, it''s better to kill ten thousand by mistake than to let one slip by." The Lin Family has never shown mercy to foreign parasitic species. Chapter 739 739: Section 734 - Intelligence Requirements The Earth Element Giant Dragon quickly brought the three of them into a huge "Beehive" room with a diameter exceeding 15 meters, where the membrane separating air and liquid had torn open a large hole. However, the remaining amount of mucus in the cylindrical space was already below the position of this "Beehive" room, leaving not much liquid that had become turbid and impure. The "Gravity Field" effect disappeared, and the Giant Dragon summoned by the Slan Royal Family was at least of Heavenly Order. After the invasion ten thousand years ago was abruptly interrupted, most of the Heavenly Order Giant Dragons and Magical Beasts had gradually retreated back into the atmosphere, each returning home. As a result, there were more activities on the planet''s surface than before, making them not as rare to see as before. Chen Fei stepped onto solid ground, his gaze fixating on the interior of the room. Fine threads secured a giant silk cocoon into one corner of the room, which had several cracks. Sharp, pitch-black segmented limbs emerged from the cracks, looking as if they were immature for not having come in time to mature, resembling soft-shell crabs, soft and floppy, unable to support the formidably long legs. "Jiu!~" Xiao Jiu released four or five Illumination Technique Light Orbs, floating towards the giant cocoon. The creature inside the cocoon didn''t move at all, already devoid of any signs of life. The Earth Element Giant Dragon moved forward, casually tearing a few times, completely ripping open the giant silk cocoon, which to Chen Fei was tougher than steel wire, revealing the Monsters inside. The Earth Element Giant Dragon tampered with the monster''s corpse a bit and turned back, saying, "Dead as a doornail!" "This discovery is really not small!" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Lin Zio said to Chen Fei with a smile, "Chen Fei, you''ve been a great help!" "What is it?" "Beehive" rooms large and small were quite common inside the cylindrical space, some were empty, and some contained things; Chen Fei had not inspected each one individually. Unknown to Chen Fei why Lin Zio and the others valued this creature so highly. "It''s a ''Seed Nest''! Once this thing matures, it will become a problem that is difficult to eradicate," Lin Zikong peered outside the "Beehive" room and said, "There should also be a mature ''Seed Nest'' here!" "Like a big meat bun with twelve legs?" Chen Fei gestured, referring to the Floating Island creature he had had quite a tough time dealing with. Lin Zikong took out a tablet and swiped a few times, and a huge meaty mass with twelve branches appeared on the screen, exactly as Chen Fei had seen. "Yes, that''s the one. It''s a bio-genetic repository capable of hatching various creatures, including even the lower-order ''Sagali''. Given enough time and resources, it could even reproduce the ''Sagali'' species." "This thing is quite resilient." Chen Fei was not familiar with "Seed Nests" and this was the first time he had heard of it. He was merely deeply impressed that it had survived several 600-caliber Demolition Bombs without being killed on the spot. "This ''Seed Nest'' here has already been breeding new ''Seed Nests''. Based on the growth cycle, it should have settled here at least 50 years ago, presumably before the ''Halo'' event," Lin Zikong explained. Lin Zikong and Lin Zio looked at each other, simultaneously exclaiming: "The one that slipped through the net!" Over thirty years ago in that great battle, not just the Blue Star, but also the Cangqiong Star and the now Primordial Realm Neanderthal Civilization had their grand showdown, which happened a bit earlier than the fateful battle of Cangqiong Star that ended the invasion by the Extraterrestrial Races that had lasted a hundred thousand years. Good meals are worth waiting for. Cangqiong Star becoming the dining table of a major ''Sagali'' figure was certainly not in a rush to start a grand feast, especially considering the ancient alliances that banded many intelligent species of Cangqiong together to prevent the Parasitic Species, those unwilling to pay a steep price would likely struggle to conquer this planet anytime soon. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Could new Parasitic Species descend?" He asked this because, at first hearing, the number of "the ones that slipped through the net" couldn''t have been too many; otherwise, it wouldn''t just be a slip through a net but rather a sieve. But upon reflection, without thousands of "Seed Nests," there was no way to reach the apocalyptic scale mentioned in Louis Landon''s prophecy with merely the "the ones that slipped through the net" utilizing a 50-year reproductive cycle. Looking at it another way, if there indeed were thousands of "the ones that slipped through the net," they wouldn''t have waited for the ''Halo'' to successfully seal the space crack outside the Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere; their civilization would have fallen long ago. Lin Zikong thought for a moment, hesitatingly said, "Indeed, there is that possibility." The Parasitic Species had secretly opened new pathways, and an apocalypse was indeed highly likely to occur. When the Extraterrestrial Races come back around, they definitely won''t be as nonchalant as they had been over the previous hundred thousand years playing the prodding game with Cangqiong Star Civilization; they would strike with full force, aimed at destroying all resistance on Cangqiong Star and even Blue Star. To them, the two civilized planets were merely suitable as dishes on a table, which showed just how formidable the power of the ''Sagali'', the Parasitic Species, was, not to mention there was more than one enslaving race. Every enslaved race represents a conquered civilization. "You still need to keep up the effort, Chen Fei!" The Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty, Lin Zio, patted Chen Fei''s shoulder. Based on his past achievements in enemy detection, it was almost as if he had divine help, strangely lucky in locating strongholds of the Water Bear organization or nests of the Parasitic Species. Chen Fei shook his head, saying not so modestly, "With His Royal Highness here, is there even room for me to perform?" Cangqiong Star was the opposition''s home ground, and with the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty personally leading the team, it meant that the Slan Dynasty had started to take this threat seriously. In the "Apocalyptic Prophecy", both the Cangqiong Star and the Blue Star were unexpectedly eradicated by the Parasitic Species, with the civilization of Blue Star nearly extinct within a few years. Although the situation on Cangqiong Star was unknown, it was probably not much better. Lin Zio seriously said, "No! The dynasty is distracted by too many things. We still need to rely on you for this." "Currently, it''s only Zhai Liuzhou that has openly rebelled, but the other continents might not be able to maintain stability. There''s also the declaration of war for sovereignty over the Blue Star, and our Lin Family is just an excuse. Thirty years of recuperation and thirty years of war have allowed this generation of ambitious individuals to grow. Some matters are not as simple as they appear on the surface. What the public sees is not necessarily the truth." Lin Zikong obviously understood this, likely a consensus of the Lin Family. Being attacked by the sovereignty was both unexpected and reasonable, given that the comprehensive strength and social influence of the Lin Family was now comparable to sovereignties. Even the wealthiest Louis Industrial Company could not match it. Who would allow others to sleep soundly beside their bed? The Lin Family had to either become the sovereignty or be a thorn in the side of the sovereignty. "I need more intelligence support; this time it was definitely a miscalculation." If a sheep is driven, and two sheep are left alone, whether or not he was commissioned by His Royal Highness Prince Lin Zio, Chen Fei would still confront the Parasitic Species unyieldingly. He was not fighting alone, with offerings from important figures ahead and a rescue team personally led by the Crown Prince of the Slan Royal Family behind him. If he had received more comprehensive information before this and was thoroughly prepared, taking the "Strong Men Team" with him, Chen Fei would never have easily fallen into the enemy''s nest. Ultimately, it was the "Spatial Branding" that helped him escape the predicament. "Of course, information about ''Sagali'' will be fully disclosed to you, but even more accurate information will have to be extracted from the prisoners you capture, which is not an easy task." Lin Zio used a wireless device to alert the professionals to take care of that captured enslaved race. The enslaved races that were not eaten like other civilizations at the "dinner table" must be dead loyal, absolutely loyal. Any slight abnormality would not escape the Parasitic Species'' parasitism or predation. "It needs to be quick. This ''Seed Nest'' should just be the beginning." Chen Fei looked outside the "Beehive" room, the whole cylindrical space was a mess, ruined by the Elemental Annihilation Bomb. The lower towards the bottom, the more disfigured the "Beehive" rooms looked, even directly exposing the rock strata. This damned war, when would it ever end? "It better not be like this!" Lin Zikong and his Crown Prince brother exchanged glances, their mouths twitching. Such a terrible situation, even the Lin Family would find challenging to deal with. "I''ll leave this place to you guys. Is it possible to return to the surface through the hole at the top?" Chen Fei pointed to the dome of the cylindrical space, where Humans or Magical Beasts continued to emerge, clearly indicating the Crown Prince had brought many people with him, which also explained the confidence in rescuing him. "Of course, it''s at least two hundred meters to the surface, and finding this place was not easy." The minds of Crown Prince Lin Zio and Lin Zikong were now wholly on that captured enslaved race. Chen Fei, wanting to leave, wasn''t detained. "Leaving now, we''ll talk later!" As Chen Fei finished speaking, he heard a beep in his ear. A line of text appeared in front of him. Adam: Large volume attachment received, download? Before the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" handed over his underlying core control key, Chen Fei dared not entrust his communication account to him. Seeing that the sender was Lin Zikong, Chen Fei confirmed the download without hesitation. The speed of the "Plane Communication System" was incredibly fast, quickly downloading a detailed document full of pictures and text. Chapter 740 740: Section 735 - Return to the Surface The 200-meter passage wasn''t long, slantingly stretching toward the ground, where other passageways intersected with it, seemingly leading to the original paths toward the cylindrical space. The roar of firearms and monster''s howls occasionally carried over, as automated combat machines proceeded to eliminate these hidden dangers one by one. Probably because the Crown Prince and his party found it bothersome, after confirming the location of the cylindrical space, they directly used Earth Magic to create a new path harshly breaking through. Arriving on the ground, this newly created entrance was situated near a desolate community kindergarten, with the target warehouse that Chen Fei had previously locked on not far away, almost right next to it. However, the nursery''s children and teachers had evacuated to other places along with nearby residents to avoid the warfare, and now, only the combat and logistical personnel brought by the Slan Dynasty Crown Prince and various kinds of combat equipment occupied the place. The atmosphere on the site was inexplicably a bit oppressive, everyone was on alert as if facing a formidable enemy, and Chen Fei soon discovered the reason. Birds with all-black feathers covered the surrounding buildings and trees in droves, some of the braver ones even directly landing on the combat equipment and piles of supply boxes. If one were to look from above, aside from the roads, the area several miles around centered by the nursery and the warehouse was almost entirely covered in black, growing denser towards the center. Thousands of Pure Light Sparrows gathered together, yet oddly did not make a single sound. Even at this moment, Pure Light Sparrows continued to fly in from afar, two by three, joining this bizarre gathering. Although Xiao Jiu had been captured underground with Chen Fei, the gathering behavior of Pure Light Sparrows had never ceased, and it was burgeoning even more¡ªthe group instinct of Pure Light Sparrows was at play, spreading from one to ten, ten to a hundred, a hundred to a thousand... Nowadays, Pure Light Sparrows were no longer synonymous with "harmless." Once agitated, they could annihilate even a Giant Dragon, the more in number, the more terrifying they were. The personnel stuck here due to the mission couldn''t help but get goosebumps from these ordinarily very common little creatures, their hair standing on end involuntarily. Seeing so many of its kin, the little one on Chen Fei''s shoulder immediately became happy. "Chirp!" "Chirp!~"¡Á50951¡ü The uniform chirping converged into a sound like thunder, buzzing everyone''s eardrums, causing even beings of the Heavenly Order to involuntarily look alarmed. Less than ten thousand Xiao Jiu (Pure Light Sparrows) are bearable, a full ten thousand is unstoppable,¡ªa fact deeply rooted in everyone''s minds. In the meantime, there were many dazzling flashes, no less than a hundred, that seemed to use "Light Burst Flash" for greetings, a bad habit not unique to Xiao Jiu. Each flash could be identified as a Pure Light Sparrow of at least the Second Rank of Human Order. "Let''s drive them away, or soon we''ll have bird droppings everywhere!" Chen Fei raised his hand and scratched the tender feathers on the little bird''s neck. He had noticed that the number of Pure Light Sparrows in Nandu City had been increasing recently. It was easy to gather a large flock, and the number of those who could successfully cast Light-based Spells of the First and Second Rank had also started to increase, with even Third Rank ones beginning to appear. Chen Fei guessed this observable change might be somehow related to Xiao Jiu regularly causing trouble when gathering crowds. Each incident could provoke a mass advancement. Although Pure Light Sparrows were weak, if they made full use of their numerical advantage, their collective will could easily lead to a qualitative change through quantitative accumulation. It was hard to imagine what the increasingly occurring rank advancements among Pure Light Sparrows would bring about for the entire Cangqiong Star. "Chirp!~" Xiao Jiu flapped its wings and flew towards the sky, its call clear and bright. A black cloud rose up as if shrouding the sun, and a cacophony of various chirps deafened the ears. Almost at the same moment, all the Pure Light Sparrows ascended into the sky, forming a vast vortex. The number of Pure Light Sparrows inhabiting the area around Nandu City was almost no less than three hundred thousand. If they all gathered together, it would be an absolutely stifling scale. Even a fraction of them currently made the people brought by Crown Prince Lin Zio extremely apprehensive, more so than even when facing a Parasitic Species. As the little one flew into the sky, Chen Fei indeed worried it would not return. However, the little bird was not just family to him, but also an indispensable combat partner. Without Chen Fei himself, barring mutual annihilation, the so-called "Dragon Slayer" honor was nothing but a joke. Real combat had already proven that, even piloting the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Fighter Mobile Armor, along with the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" and the collaboration with the female Metallic Giant Dragon named Yilan, plus copious firepower output, he could only barely draw with an adult Metallic Giant Dragon from the ancient times, not to mention defeating the opponent, catching them was likely impossible. The adult Metallic Giant Dragon that appeared in Nandu City was ultimately taken down by the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, leading numerous indistinguishable companions, proving only Dragon-Slaying Sparrow was the genuine article. It was as if a burst of invisible strong wind blew by, causing the circling flock of sparrows to shake violently for a moment and then disperse in all directions, some trailing waves of Light Elemental Energy, streaking away like meteors. Even without the Elemental Affinity Potion and other resource cultivation, the collective rank advancement of Pure Light Sparrows was enough to create a significant number of extraordinary individuals, and all it took was a catalyst. The situation Chen Fei worried about did not occur. As the flock returned home, a flutter of wings approached his ear, and the little bird lightly landed on his shoulder, contentedly preening its feathers with its bright red beak¡ªjust like cats tucking their paws and dogs licking their noses, preening feathers was a primary way for birds to regulate their emotions. - Upon visiting the "Radiant Tiger" legion camp once again, the automatic identification gate had let him through directly, even though Chen Fei was clearly not the ally of the faction. This saved him quite a bit of trouble, however. "You almost never came back, I thought you had fallen!" Minante was the first to greet Chen Fei and did not hide his surprise. The barbecue had just been lit and his counterpart had suddenly taken off without any explanation. Although the destination was unknown, a fight would undoubtedly not remain unnoticed, naturally drawing the attention of the "Radiant Tiger" legion. However, the commotion soon ceased, leaving both Minante and his uncle, the legion commander, puzzled about whether Chen Fei had succeeded or perished. After all, clashing with a parasitic species meant success or martyrdom; it was either his death or its life, with only one possible outcome. It wasn''t until Chen Fei reemerged that Minante confirmed that the guy hadn''t managed to get himself killed. He had never underestimated the combat power of "Sagali." If it was truly so easy to deal with, then the resistance of all intelligent species of Cangqiong Star over ten thousand years would turn into a joke. Chen Fei said openly, "You guessed right, I almost perished!" He even made a gesture to indicate how close it had been¡ªthe distance between his thumb and index finger was almost imperceptible. If "Sagali" had not intended to use him as a host for replication, he would have died long ago, precisely because it was a parasitic species that it left him alive effortlessly. Without the "Spatial Branding" and the firearms that did not rely on elemental energy, Chen Fei would likely have been unable to escape from the "Beehive" room; a mere B-ranked supernatural power user could tear the transparent membrane but would stand no chance against the various fanged monsters swimming in the clear viscous fluid. Yet, the world is devoid of so many ''ifs'', and had the "Spatial Branding" and enormous supplies arrived a few days later, Chen Fei''s fate would have been entirely reversed. "Ah? Did you encounter that Royal Breed?" Minante knew that Chen Fei had been searching for the Royal Breed parasite spreading mutated parasitic spawns all over the place. "Didn''t encounter it, just came across a mature ''Seed Nest'' and a few enslaved species, probably just a stronghold." Although Chen Fei faced a magical beast, the "Earth Flame Rhinoceros," which had been parasitized and had its combat abilities significantly enhanced by "Sagali," it was quite a challenge but still wasn''t the Royal Breed he was searching for. Without removing this threat, the chaos in Zhai Liuzhou would not cease. Feigning anger, Minante said, "You resolved it all by yourself? Why didn''t you call me?" Being responsible for Nandu City, it was incumbent upon the "Radiant Tiger" legion to act as soon as a parasitic nest was detected nearby, as if it was their chance to go and beat up "Sagali" and enjoy the combat. "You think I didn''t want to call you? I ran into a communication disruption until I dealt with the ''Seed Nest'' and communications were restored; by then, I had already killed them all, clean and clear. What was left for you to do?" Chen Fei did not think of Minante, a combat pilot, as someone necessarily eager to rush into a potential death trap¡ªhe himself had forgotten that he was also a combat pilot who had recently been compelled to switch careers to becoming a ground trudger. Besides, what''s the point in criticizing after the fact? To collide head-on with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Silan Dynasty and his men, good lord, the rebel underlings encountering the ruling sovereign were indeed rushing to their doom, as if they weren''t dying fast enough. Unaware of the many thoughts that had crossed Chen Fei''s mind, Minante said with a face full of regret, "These things really are troublesome." Communication jamming, a low-tech threshold yet highly practical and cost-effective tactic, was nearly ubiquitous; rebels use it, mutants use it, and the parasitic species "Sagali" uses it too. No species is simple unless someone uses massively high-powered coverage, light communications, or some other advanced communication methods, otherwise it''s unsolvable (try DIYing a spark-gap transmitter, randomly send out sparks for a few minutes, and the cops will show up at your door inviting you to enjoy the prison''s pork chop meals¡ªit''s highly illegal). "I''ll give you a file, but let me say upfront, it''s okay to spread it, but don''t misuse it." Chen Fei instructed the AI "Adam" to open and reorganize the freshly received "Sagali" data pack, then forwarded it to Minante. "What is this?" Minante pulled out his mobile phone, flicking through the screen in bewilderment, trying to see what peculiar thing had been sent to him that warranted such importance. A moment later, he lifted his eyes from the phone screen. "Where did you get this? Ordinary people can''t access it!" Even professionals who study parasitic species might not have access to such detailed information¡ªvarious classifications, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, vulnerabilities, all clearly listed, much of it unheard of, almost as if the human race had planted a spy inside the parasitic species, continuously obtaining these precious pieces of intelligence. "Sagali" spy? How could that be possible! "From the Lin Family!" Chen Fei did not conceal the source of the intelligence information. The attack on the Lin Family''s sovereignty was probably one of the reasons for the origin of these reports. Chapter 741 741: Section 736 - Psychic Series Magic Array "The Lin Family?" Hearing Chen Fei''s sudden mention of the "Lord of the Sky" family, which was currently the focus of society''s attention, Minante was slightly startled and then spoke with an inscrutable expression, "You can contact the Lin Family?" "I suppose I can!" As a Chen Family Disciple, Chen Fei had quite a few channels to contact the Lin Family, and that didn''t even include Lin Zikong''s personal communication number, which he could dial directly. The public communication connecting two civilized planets was under the control of the digital intelligent construct "Cybertrom". Each communication node operated and was maintained on derivative AI, and whether it was the Slan Dynasty or the Blue Star Sovereignty, they only had monitoring rights and no operational rights, because there was no human interference from any party, which was more reassuring than the crossed management mode of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. Due to some technical issues, it wasn''t easy for the Blue Star Sovereignty, who were pursuing the Lin Family, to locate the members of the Lin Family. "Oh, right, you''re from the Chen Family!" Minante realized belatedly. He then asked, "How''s the situation there? Do you need me to clean up?" Chen Fei alone was mostly unconcerned with aftermath. After the big battle, the place was sure to be in ruins. Once the Tessa Empire Restoration Army stabilized the situation, they would have to manage civilian life just like the Silan Dynasty did; they certainly couldn''t neglect the ruins, and cleaning up sooner rather than later was better. "There''s no need to worry about it at the moment, let''s leave it for a few days." Chen Fei gave Minante a glance. What''s the point of going now, to offer up their heads on a platter? He was afraid his little brother had grown too accustomed to offering up heads. Minante thought for a moment and then said, "Alright, then we''ll wait a few days!" After all, the place was already deserted. Once the firearms moved, it would be reduced to ashes, so a few days'' delay didn''t matter. "Don''t misuse those documents. Use them only against ''Sagali'', otherwise, it could lead to big trouble." It was one thing for Chen Fei to act alone, but now that members of the Slan Royal Family and the Lin Family were involved, he was worried that someone with ulterior motives might use this information to set traps and ambushes, leading to unnecessary infighting, inadvertently benefiting those Parasitic Species. "I will warn the others." Upon hearing Chen Fei''s warning again, Minante was caught off guard for a moment and then nodded vigorously. He certainly wouldn''t allow the misuse of these important pieces of intelligence. "Chen Fei, Minante, are you guys here?" Just at that moment, Legion Commander Befast of the "Radiant Tiger", along with several senior corps members, hurried over. At some point, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion had completed its preparations, seemingly ready to mobilize the entire army. "Legion Commander!" Since it was official business, Minante quickly turned around to salute his uncle, standing at attention. Befast didn''t mind the presence of Chen Fei, an outsider, and loudly ordered, "We just received intelligence that an important figure from the Slan Royal Family has appeared in the Nandu City area. You take the ''Gale Team'' to the skies and patrol. Report immediately if you detect any suspicious targets." "Yes, sir, Legion Commander!" Minante stood at attention again and took out his cell phone, sending a voice message to his small team. "''Gale Team,'' assemble and prepare to take off." Legion Commander Befast of the "Radiant Tiger" turned his gaze toward Chen Fei. "Sorry, Chen Fei, we have a mission and need to get busy!" "''Rookie'', I''ll take my leave first. We''ll do barbecue another time!" Minante hurriedly followed suit. Military orders were as heavy as mountains; the last time Chen Fei received critical intelligence, it caused their barbecue gathering to end abruptly just as it began. This time, just as the two had met again, they were interrupted by an urgent mission. "You guys go ahead, I''m just going to make a call and then I''ll leave!" Chen Fei took out his phone and dialed Lin Zikong while gesturing farewell to the departing "Radiant Tiger" Legion and others. "Hey! Lin Zikong! ... The ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion has moved. They might be heading for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ... Yeah, you guys should pull out earlier!" It really was a coincidence! Chen Fei would rather have Minante''s uncle lead a military force on a wild goose chase than see both sides engage in combat. With the Parasitic Species as the common enemy, the combat power of the Human Race, whether it be the Dynasty or the Rebel Army, should be preserved as much as possible, as it would become an important resistance force. Which side was right or wrong, and to whom justice belonged, were not important to him. As a Blue Star person and not a party with vested interests, naturally, he would only consider the life and death of the civilization as the most important matter. It was not at all surprising that the Tessa Empire Restoration Army (the rebels) got hold of the Crown Prince''s movements. The Crown Prince Faction and the Princess Faction were in opposition within the firm base of the Silan Dynasty on the Morning Star Continent, constantly plotting against each other to extreme lengths. Even if the Crown Prince and Princess themselves had no such intentions, that couldn''t stop the people below from pursuing their personal agenda under the guise of public benefit. The act of selling out the Crown Prince''s intelligence to the rebels was clearly the handiwork of the Princess Faction. If one were to say there was no unknown collusion between the rebels and the court''s insiders, Chen Fei would definitely not believe it. One hour later, the ''Radiant Tiger'' Legion finally confirmed the location but came up empty-handed. Within a radius of five hundred meters, the ground had become scorched earth, leaving only a standard black circle on the ground. Whether it was buildings, roads, or various other facilities, all were turned to ash, naturally leaving no clues behind. Even the underground was included, with the cylindrical space where the ''Seed Nest'' was located being filled with golden-red lava. All passages leading to the surface had been firmly sealed by rock. ''Sagali'' seemed to follow the route of a biological civilization, especially in enhancing Psychic Series Skills, using mostly biological tissues as materials. After treatments like high heat, it was easy to erase any traces. Even if the space where the ''Seed Nest'' was located were to be excavated again, there would still not be much to find. - After notifying the Crown Prince''s party, Chen Fei quickly got in touch with the ''Intelligence Team'' and sent over all the freshly acquired information on the Parasitic Species. This mishap was luckily redeemed by a new trump card, otherwise, he nearly met with complete disaster. Despite the error in intelligence, he did not blame the ''Hundred-Legs Gang'' or the ''Intelligence Team'' responsible for analyzing the intelligence. After all, one was a local gang with only a few Ability Users skilled in extortion, fraud, and other crooked means, and the other was a team that had not been established for long, with an intelligence foundation that was virtually starting from scratch. Compared to the Parasitic Species that had been operating locally for at least fifty years, the two were not on the same level. Mistakes and lapses from the ''Hundred-Legs Gang'' and ''Intelligence Team'' were inevitable, but these risks were within an acceptable margin of error. Previously, Chen Fei had taken down many Parasitic Hosts, which, aside from startling the snake in the grass and somewhat impacting the Parasitic Species'' plans, had not solved the fundamental problem. As long as the Royal Breed was alive, the hosts would continue to increase. Now, although he didn''t manage to hit the snake, he had fallen into the snake''s den. The ''Beehive'' was an excellent hiding place but, unfortunately, he had not encountered the mastermind, which Chen Fei deeply regretted. Otherwise, a single Element Annihilation Bomb would have taken care of everything in one fell swoop. Without entering the tiger''s den, how could one obtain the tiger''s cubs? He entered the tiger''s den, but found no tiger cubs, and could only lament in vain. He also needed to find some Magic Arrays or Alchemical Artifacts that could counter Psychic attacks. Chen Fei''s own spiritual power resistance was already not low, but in the face of the Parasitic Species, it seemed somewhat inadequate. Moreover, Little Bird also needed higher-level Psychic protection artifacts. If it attracted attention, relying solely on its leg ring, which served as both an identity recognition and psychic protection device, would also be insufficient. Chen Fei thought for a while and sent these two requests to Princess Lin Ziyu and Louis Landon, to see if he could freeload on them. Although he himself had some savings, they were only decent within the ordinary salaried class. But faced with these Alchemical Artifacts, he was still poor, and even with money, it was useless without the right channels to purchase them. Not long after sending the requests, Princess Lin Ziyu promptly replied. She had chosen for Chen Fei a forehead accessory named ''Soul Guarding Seal'' and a long spear named ''Godslaying Spear'' from the Royal Treasury. The former could withstand the mental shocks of the Royal Breed and three full-force impacts from the Divine Breed, while the latter could release targeted Mental Force shocks through Crystal Energy. If it struck a living body, it could instantly unleash a Mental Storm, annihilating consciousness. The performances of these two Alchemical Artifacts were relatively straightforward, but they were not picky about their users. Non-Psychic Power Users could wear or use them as well, and for Psychic Power Users, they would be icing on the cake, though not as functional as more versatile, higher-performance artifacts. Chen Fei had no choice in the matter. If the Princess was willing to give, he would dare to take. He was currently dealing with the Parasitic Species and was in urgent need of such Psychic defensive artifacts. After a while, Louis Landon sent nearly a hundred detailed files on Magic Arrays. Despite the files not being very large and lacking any Alchemical Artifacts, these Magic Arrays were even more valuable to Chen Fei than the ''Soul Guarding Seal'' and ''Godslaying Spear''. Up to that point, the ''Magical Array Evolution Database'' of Chen Fei only housed fewer than twenty Magic Arrays. Relying solely on these, he had managed to survive numerous battles. If he could acquire more Magic Arrays to amplify various combat weapons, his personal combat power would see a significant increase. "''Adam'', evolve these Magic Arrays!" Since they were not finished Magic Arrays, to fully assimilate them would require some time. Chen Fei had no knowledge of Alchemy and was just a pragmatist, so to successfully utilize these Magic Arrays, he had to rely on the artificial intelligence AI ''Adam''. Adam: Confirming Magic Array data, number 93! Adam: Establishing Magic Array computation model, project 1 progress 3%! Even with limitless computing power, AI ''Adam'' still needed time and various trial and errors to perfect the computation model. Although Louis Landon had sent so many Psychic Magic Array materials, he did not include complementary Alchemical information, likely due to the secrecy of the alchemical industry. Chen Fei could only obtain these. Chen Fei turned his head and contacted Princess Lin Ziyu again, requesting some introductory knowledge of Alchemy and information on Low-Rank Magic Arrays. Chapter 742: Section 737 - Alchemy System As if it was prepared in advance, just when Chen Fei was tentatively asking Her Royal Highness the Princess, in less than a minute he received a massive data compression pack. Given the rate of the "Plane Communication System", it took a full ten or more minutes to download from the cloud into his brain''s local storage, yet the data decompression state was instant. There were over a million files, as well as various high-resolution images, and the affiliated professional software and samples¡ªit was comparable to the data reserves of an alchemy research center. The precious alchemy system, which the Blue Star Sovereignty had tried all means to obtain and yet hadn''t spent a dime on, was now perfectly "white-pilfered" by Chen Fei! As if waiting for Chen Fei to finish downloading, Princess Lin Ziyu took the initiative to call him. "These are all the alchemical documents from Human Order to Heavenly Order. The Royal Family has control over ninety percent of the entire system, and the remaining ten percent are secretive secrets that can''t be obtained. It''s probably too late for you to start learning now, isn''t it?" If it hadn''t been for the Silan Dynasty uniting the whole Cangqiong Star, let alone ninety percent of the alchemy academic system, not even twenty percent would have been accessible. Moreover, just having these documents is far from enough. There is also the accumulation of various materials, many of which cannot be obtained simply by money and influence. Even the Silan Royal Family, which possesses the resources of an entire planet and issues commands that none dare disobey, with nearly unlimited wealth, is still not able to gather all the resources required for alchemy. Despite giving him these documents, Her Royal Highness was worried Chen Fei wouldn''t be able to use them. In both Blue Star and Cangqiong Star, everyone undergoes personal talent identification. Data on spiritual power strength and Elemental Affinity grades are recorded into personal profile systems just like blood type, fingerprints, and pupil patterns. If Chen Fei had even a hint of alchemist talent, the Blue Star Sovereignty would have specially cultivated him. There would have been no need for him to follow the ordinary path of studying and taking exams. Without the talent of an alchemist, facing these documents, unless one finds a professional to help, it''s very difficult to even gain entry to the field. "Me, learn? I can''t learn! I''ve given it to ''Adam''!" Chen Fei, holding his phone, shook his head decisively. To each their own expertise; understanding is as distant as another mountain. He could handle looking at economic data, but such an array of alchemy documents and Magic Arrays would only make him dizzy. As Her Royal Highness had thought, it would be useless to rely on Chen Fei alone with so much alchemy data. Another method had to be considered. "''Adam''? Can it do it?" Princess Lin Ziyu did not expect Chen Fei to play completely out of the box. Instead of finding an alchemist, he handed the data over to artificial intelligence AI. Is this thing reliable? As everyone knows, in the field of artificial intelligence, "Adam" has always been the least reliable. Otherwise, why would almost all widely-used AIs be derivatives of "Cybertrom"? Sometimes even the capricious Metallic Dragons can do some real work, but not "Adam". It was a born villain, the kind that goes directly to being the big boss. Chen Fei watched as lines of captions continuously popped up before his eyes and said, "It should be fine!" ... Adam: Confirm Magic Array data, addition of 13! Adam: Establish Magic Array calculation model, project 18, progress 1%! Adam: Establish Magic Array calculation model, project 19, progress 1%! ... Adam: Confirm Magic Array data, addition of 9! Adam: Establish Magic Array calculation model, project 179, progress 0%! Adam: Establish Magic Array calculation model, project 180, progress 0%! ... Just these prompt subtitles made Chen Fei feel somewhat dizzy. If he were to look at these documents himself, it would likely be the same as looking at a book of spells without any words. This foolish AI was still stupidly popping up captions, unaware that it should take a breather. Princess Lin Ziyu, feeling helpless, said, "I thought you would hand it over to the Blue Star Sovereignty. Actually, it''s not a problem, or I could recommend a few alchemy apprentices to you." The attempt to analyze alchemy through artificial intelligence AI has been tried by others. Unlike the structure of "Adam", "Cybertrom" simply cannot independently conduct Magic Array computational modeling. After all, runes and the flow of Elemental Series energy, which belong to a completely different civilization system than technology, are completely at odds with machine language. Only when humans teach and set up everything completely can "Cybertrom" play out the efficiency of an AI. The efficiency of such teaching can only realize a very forced mishmash, and the stability of the final results within the framework is still very worrying. ``` Humans want things beyond 100%, but when they invest 100% and get back only 90%, it''s a net loss, leading to the quick abandonment of attempts to innovate with AI or adapt to change, as it proved completely unfeasible; such endeavors were clearly a case of either success or failure. Her Royal Highness the Princess originally thought Chen Fei would hand these materials over to Blue Star Sovereignty for official assistance, but to her disappointment, he did not do as she had anticipated. Instead, he handed them to an artificial intelligence AI. Isn''t this a dead end? Indeed, given the alchemical foundation of Blue Star, there was no way to assimilate so much alchemical data; without spending three to five hundred years building up the population base to increase the chances of alchemist births, it was not even worth considering, and this would have to be on the premise of gathering all the necessary alchemical resources. Many alchemical resources are special products of Cangqiong Star, and Blue Star simply doesn''t have them. So, for Blue Star Civilization to catch up with Cangqiong Star Civilization in the realm of alchemy, it would be useless, even if they were allowed to open the book during a test and copy the answers. Seeing the progress percentage displayed by "Adam," Chen Fei rejected the proposal, "No need, every alchemist is prouder than the last, and they outright disdain amateurs. Apprentices are the same. I''d rather not bother with this trouble." Universities themselves are somewhat akin to academic fields, and speaking for Chen Fei, he could discuss the pros and cons of a planned economy, but as for martial arts novels, he''d be reduced to nothing but swearing. Therefore, fully empathizing with the situation, he completely understood the "discrimination" of the alchemy industry towards outsiders. "Alright then! If there''s anything you need, just call me anytime! Or you can ask Mr. Randon again, he might be able to help." Seeing that she couldn''t persuade Chen Fei, Princess Lin Ziyu had no choice but to give up and suggest contacting the CEO of Louis Industries, Louis Landon, as not only did the two know each other, but they had also shared difficulties and could both be of help to Chen Fei. "Mr. Randon has already given me considerable support." Chen Fei didn''t hide the fact that he was playing both ends against the middle, seeking favor from everyone. After all, double the support meant double the combat power, and his own combat prowess was scarcely worth mentioning, relying entirely on external forces. "You truly are a sly one!" Her Royal Highness the Princess couldn''t help but laugh, not the least bit angry, since after all, it was human nature. Right after the phone call ended, the very busy Mr. Louis Landon found the time to call Chen Fei. Landon saw Chen Fei as his agent on Cangqiong Star for dealing with the Parasitic Species, and the current achievements had thoroughly satisfied the big boss, justifying all the investment and support. Being an employee of a military contractor with rich combat experience, having participated in special task forces of the Global United Defense Committee, he was also skilled in enemy scouting. Moreover, he had connections with both the Slan Royal Family and the Rebel Army and even had good relations with a Metallic Giant Dragon. His Metal Elemental Psychic Power of B-level Industrial Grade was able to significantly reduce logistics maintenance pressure and ensure a longer duration of combat power, making Chen Fei the most suitable for this mission. "Little Chen, would you like me to organize a professional alchemist team for you? If there''s anything else you need, Louis Industries will try our best to accommodate." The call from the big boss was quite similar to the call from Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Slan Dynasty. Although Louis Industries was technologically powerful, its reserves of alchemy expertise were not outstanding within the field. Chen Fei could have his tactical equipment needs met quite easily, but the special requirements for Alchemical Artifacts were more challenging to fulfill; otherwise, he wouldn''t have sent all the Magic Array data he had at once. "Mr. Randon, I''m good for now, but if you could also provide a batch of high-capacity Crystalline Blocks." With less than twenty Magic Arrays, Chen Fei managed to create a whole array of applications. The nearly a hundred Magic Arrays from the big boss offered even greater possibilities to play around with. Moreover, Princess Lin Ziyu had packaged the entire Alchemy System controlled by the Slan Royal Family, far surpassing the quantity provided by the big boss. While Louis Industries might not be able to help much with alchemy, they could still continue to provide support in other regards. As the number of Magic Arrays increased, the consumption of Crystal Energy was bound to double continuously, and Chen Fei did not dare to assume he''d have enough Crystalline Blocks to sustain the simultaneous use of so many Magic Arrays. Louis Landon immediately responded, "Crystalline Blocks? No problem! Our lab just had a new technological breakthrough, I''ll organize a batch and send them over when I get the chance." Though laboratory-grade products were unquestionably superior in performance and quality, their production capacity could not match that of industrial assembly lines, and the costs were frighteningly high. However, Louis Industries was wealthy and powerful enough to manage small-scale production in a laboratory as if it were a factory, although it lacked cost-effectiveness. "The more, the merrier!" After ending the calls with both prominent individuals, Chen Fei felt somewhat exhausted. After all, there were too many miscellaneous tasks, a heavy burden, cunning opponents, and he was pressed for time, all of which gave him a headache. And the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was still industriously updating task progress subtitles within his view. ... Adam: Establish Magic Array computation model, project 78319, progress 0%! Geez, nearly eighty thousand concurrent tasks, and Chen Fei discovered the truth: his headache was not due to the current mission but because of "Adam," this damned thing which was causing his nutrients to be depleted as his forehead became feverishly hot. The almost limitless computational power required was consuming blood sugar; had this AI gone mad? The total project progress was nearly locked at 1%, with new projects continually being established, but not a single one declared complete; the dense subtitles could no longer be scrolled forward. "''Adam,'' cease all current task processes and limit the concurrent number of Magic Array calculations; set the maximum to 100." Previously he was short on Magic Arrays, but now it seemed he had too many. ``` Chapter 743: Section 738 - Seeking Advice Despite the fact that the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" acted on its own, it executed Chen Fei''s orders without fail. The next second, Chen Fei''s vision cleared, and the entire world immediately became quiet. All running projects were ruthlessly terminated, leaving the digital world spotlessly clean, as if nothing had ever happened. Adam: Establishing Magic Array computation model, project 1, progress 2% ... Adam: Establishing Magic Array computation model, project 100, progress 0% There was also a summary process that showed 1%. Everything returned to normal. His mind no longer overheated and became clear again, his nutrition was back on track, and Chen Fei took a deep breath, relieved that his guess was correct. He had nearly been played to death by the self-willed artificial intelligence AI "Adam." Now that he had received so much substantial support, he had to replan the combat method against the parasitic species "Sagali." Relying on one person to fight was definitely not enough, otherwise, he would fall into the same trap a second time. "Adam, integrate the combat methods of the Cangqiong Star Legion, and simulate group combat models!" Chen Fei was one person, yet he was not alone. This time, the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty leading a team for urgent rescue showed that the era of fighting solo was over. Adam: Group combat simulation scheme 1, completed! Adam: Group combat simulation scheme 2, completed! ... The computational load was incomparable to the Magic Array computation model, and in the blink of an eye, the freely performing artificial intelligence AI "Adam" provided Chen Fei with 63 legion plans, excluding the nearly thousand others that had significant flaws. Chen Fei directly opened the combat efficiency highest ranked plan, which reached 91%, glanced at the summary, and couldn''t help but laugh. After all, it was artificial intelligence; no matter how flexible or strong its self-learning capabilities were, the limitations of artificial intelligence still existed. Whether it was "Adam" or "Cybertrom," they could not escape the fundamental flaw of creativity. The content in the best plan was based on big data integration from Chen Fei''s previous combat experiences. For "Adam," it was already the optimal solution that fully integrated and utilized existing resources. But in Chen Fei''s eyes, it was nothing but rehashed ideas, old wine in new bottles, lacking boldness and not taking big enough steps, almost like dancing with shackles on. After reviewing a few more plans, which were more or less the same and at most adjusted some combat units, although indeed involving group combat and complementing various tactical weapons, they were far from what Chen Fei wanted, even in the wrong direction. Letting "Adam" handle this task was like asking the impossible. Chen Fei decisively gave up and no longer allowed it to waste computational resources. He made an appointment with Minante and his uncle, Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger" legion, as specialization requires expertise. This legion commander might provide some constructive suggestions. The barbecue stand that had not been set up that day was brought out again, and because there were more people, the quantity and variety increased significantly. "By the way, ''Rookie'', I need to apologize to you first!" Legion Commander Befas grabbed two chilled beers, handed one to Chen Fei, and pulled the tab open. They both took a sip. "Speak your mind, Uncle Befas, you don''t need to be formal with me." Because of his relationship with Minante, Chen Fei really didn''t stand on ceremony with him. Lately, he had often freeloaded food and accommodation and even stayed over, despite only selling intelligence once. The ongoing battle to death between the Slan Dynasty and the rebel army had nothing to do with him, a Blue Star Person, and he made sure not to meddle in unnecessary matters. The upscale business hotel had closed immediately after the Blue Star''s guests left with no business left. They simply shut down, leaving only a few security guards on duty, and decided to close up shop until at least the end of the war when they would reopen. This left Chen Fei without a place to stay, living in a mobile base vehicle. It was natural to expect occasional room and board from the "Radiant Tiger" legion. "The attack you and Minante encountered on your return from Commander-in-Chief Stephens is not over. Someone has sent a message that the Southern War Zone will probably not let it go. You need to be more careful. It''s best if you move to stay at the ''Radiant Tiger'' legion''s main camp. Try not to go out, and I will ensure your and Minante''s safety to my fullest capability." Befas had just received the news. He was worried not only about Chen Fei but also about his nephew. "Can no one control the Southern War Zone?" Chen Fei frowned slightly, recalling that he had captured a prisoner and extracted some critical intelligence. The attack incident was somewhat related to the Southern War Zone, but he hadn''t expected that the commander of the Southern War Zone was so vindictive, determined to seek revenge to the end. Of course, if the other party wasn''t willing to settle peacefully, he wouldn''t panic. He would counter all moves as they came, seeing who would outlast whom. Legion Commander Befas shook his head and said, "Uncontrollable. The big boss of our Eastern zone is Stephens, and the South''s is Bartona. They don''t give face, and we can''t do anything about it. The Central War Zone has the strongest force, but even they don''t have a say." The Tessa Empire Restoration Army was not a united front; instead, it was filled with disparate factions. For the time being, they had come together as one for the great benefit of restoring the nation, united in their opposition against the vast army of the Slan Dynasty. The figure currently being propped up as Emperor was clearly a puppet of the royal lineage, visible to anyone who paid attention. He would likely never live to see the day he truly ascended to the throne. It''s probable he knew this himself, and surviving would already be more than enough to be thankful for. "Let''s find an opportunity to strike at the South then!" Chen Fei would never indulge his opponents. Anyone wanting to be his enemy had to be prepared for what was to come. Waging disastrous battles was what military contractors did best. "I support you! ''Rookie,'' it would be best to wipe out those scoundrels from the Southern War Zone!" Minante, holding a handful of kebabs, walked over while dripping oil, not caring about his role as a member of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. He held grudges and sought revenge, even against his own camp; he wouldn''t hesitate to slap someone on the spot if they dared show their teeth, no politeness whatsoever. Unfortunately, Chen Fei''s attempt to persuade the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Warzone, Stephens, to remind all units of the Restoration Army to check for parasitic hosts had fizzled out due to various internal disagreements. Sometimes, resistance stems from opposition for the sake of opposition, with truth and facts cast aside. Inspection efforts were reluctantly implemented in the Eastern and Central War Zones, with unknown levels of diligence. "I heard nothing, I know nothing!" The Legion Commander couldn''t help but roll his eyes. He wasn''t his own nephew, nor was he Chen Fei. Some words couldn''t be carelessly spoken, as once spread, they could have adverse effects. "Uncle Bessist, I have a technical issue I''d like to consult with you about." Setting aside the messy affairs of the Southern War Zone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, Chen Fei steered the conversation toward his initial intent. "A technical issue?" Bessist was taken aback by the strange phrasing¡ªhe wasn''t a technician, at most a commander. However, he responded, "Go ahead!" "I hope to obtain a mature model of group combat. Uncle Bessist, do you have any suggestions?" Chen Fei decided to test "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander with the task that the AI "Adam" couldn''t complete. Though the Crown Princess and Crown Prince of the Silan Royal Family could assist, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion once belonged to the Silan Dynasty''s regular army and might have even attended a professional military academy; so why seek help far and wide when it''s close at hand? "Group combat model? What kind are you looking for? Aerial, land, naval, or space? Wait¡ªwhat are you planning to do?" Bessist was about to grab the skewered meat handed to him by his nephew when he suddenly changed his tone and asked suspiciously, "You aren''t really planning to make a move on the Southern War Zone, are you?" Without any prior grudge, the only place worth targeting by Chen Fei was one he valued. Retribution comes swiftly! "Haha, who knows! The future is uncertain," Chen Fei scoffed, then added, "Let''s focus mainly on air-to-ground. Naval and space combat are not under consideration for now. The combat targets will be parasites, using land-based magical beasts as hypothetical enemies." It was unknown if parasites ventured into the sea, but certainly, the ocean of Cangqiong Star was no utopia; he had experienced it firsthand. Chen Fei truly found the right person this time. "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander Bessist had a few tricks up his sleeve. After a moment''s thought, he said, "If logistics can be fully assured, it is best to use the Light Wing Ship as the core of operations, maintain distance from the combat target, and incorporate land-based troop..." Chen Fei directly exchanged one energy point for a ton of iron and evolved various scaled-down models on the spot. Following Bessist''s explanation, he began arranging formations on the ground. Minante, watching his uncle and Chen Fei set up the display, complained discontentedly, "Eat the barbecue! Eat the barbecue! It''s getting cold!" The nice barbecue turned into a story session, with his painstakingly grilled skewers being ignored. "Chirp!" Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu didn''t care about any group combat models, standing beside the meat stall, eyeing the barbecue chef Minante and occasionally chirping to usher him on. "You little rascal!" Minante tried to poke the little bird with his finger, only to be pecked gently several times. On the ground beside the barbecue stand, a combat cluster centered around a large Light Wing Ship for air-to-ground combat was gradually taking shape. This was precisely the group combat model Chen Fei wanted, based purely on Bessist''s personal experience without being tested in actual combat. However, in Chen Fei''s mind, there was another slightly different combat model. After all, the main Light Wing Ship was Bessist''s most familiar cluster core, not Chen Fei''s favorite. Adam: "Spell Array calculation model projects 1-100, process summary 77%." Chapter 744: Section 739 - Arrival of Goods System: Ding! Acquired Magic Array "Overall Strengthening (1)" System: Ding! Acquired Magic Array "Resonance (1)" System: Ding! Acquired Magic Array "Fire Arrow (1)" ... When the consolidation process prompted by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" reached 95 percent, Chen Fei began reaping rewards, but he had not anticipated the Dog System suddenly popping up to steal the show¡ªeven marking the Magic Array Inscription units together. No matter the size or complexity of the Magic Array, the inscription units start from 1 without even a decimal point; who knows if they were rounded up or down, that''s just typical of the Dog System''s style. Upon inspecting the "Magical Array Evolution Database" again, there were indeed a dozen more Magic Arrays, and the number was still increasing. Once they appeared there, it meant that Chen Fei could now use these Magic Arrays. His thoughts were correct. As artificial intelligences, what "Cybertrom" could not achieve, "Adam" had accomplished. AIs are not all the same, besides creativity, this is a unique innate talent possessed only by the true Intelligent Species. The barbecue lasted more than three hours. Chen Fei and Minante''s uncle, Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger," also talked for over three hours and reluctantly concluded the gathering. Minante, who grilled and ate alone like a neglected and aggrieved little wife, grumbled and rolled his eyes at himself. The Pure Light Sparrow, now plump, flew back early to Chen Fei''s shoulder, curled its small body into a ball, its head tucked under its wing, sleeping soundly. Even the slight shake from movement didn''t wake it; it only occasionally chirped a few times as if talking in its sleep. - Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle was mostly parked near the Dimensional Gate. His ongoing contract allowed him to freeload meals, drinks, and accommodations; life was rather comfortable. After the "Seed Nest" of the Parasitic Species was annihilated, various clues disappeared like a kite with its string cut. No matter how hard the local "Hundred-Legs Gang" tried to probe, they could not find another Parasitic Host. It seemed as if Chen Fei had single-handedly wiped out every arrangement and covert maneuver of the Parasitic Species in the entire area around Nandu City. In reality, even he himself didn''t believe such a possibility. The Parasitic Species, able to contend with Cangqiong Star for tens of thousands of years, wouldn''t be so easily dealt with. The earlier victories were likely due to preemptive strikes. Once the Parasitic Species caught on, the hunting game would increase significantly in difficulty. Chen Fei, running back and forth between the Dimensional Gate Management Substation and the "Radiant Tiger" Corps, was essentially placing himself within the reach of both, seeking a degree of protection. After all, the rescue team from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Slan Dynasty couldn''t possibly stay on Zilu Continent for long, and the risk was too great. It was feasible to make a move once or twice, but often walking by the river, one inevitably gets wet shoes. If the Parasitic Species were to make a deadly move, even a rescue might not arrive in time. Chen Fei couldn''t afford to gamble his luck on someone else''s rescue. Realizing this too late, he started to adopt a group combat model, which also turned out to be an accidental solution. Three days after the barbecue gathering with Minante and his uncle, Legion Commander Befas, individuals arranged by Princess Lin Ziyu arrived at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the Suburbs of Nandu City with two Alchemical Artifacts, "Soul Guarding Seal" and "Godslaying Spear," destined for Zilu Continent. The rebels, who failed to capture the Nandu City Ground Portal Management Substation, ultimately left such a loophole, but it would not affect the warfare on Zilu Continent significantly. After all, the sovereignty of Blue Star on the other side of the Dimensional Gate would not allow Slan Dynasty''s army to enter Blue Star freely. Thus, the arrivals'' journey was smooth, unaffected by Blue Star''s declaration of war against Cangqiong Star. After all, Cangqiong Star''s cooperation in allowing Blue Star personnel to pass during wartime negotiations had earned diplomatic favors, reciprocating good with good; even in conflict, they would not skimp when conveniences were extended. "Mr. Chen Fei, on behalf of Her Royal Highness the Princess, I am responsible for this transport mission. Here is my business card." The visitor was a genteel man wearing glasses, dressed neatly and with a touch of class, his hair meticulously combed, looking every bit the scholar. Chen Fei took the business card and glanced at it. Vulture Guild, Philip, Contact Number: 02-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxx. Business Scope: Collect money, solve problems for others. "Philip?" "Yes, that''s me!" The man pulled out a pendant from his collar. Boom! A two-meter-long metal box appeared on the ground between them. "Please inspect the items now!" Philip, who was in charge of this mission, made a welcoming gesture. The pendant hanging on his neck was a Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Upon opening the metal box, two items were laid inside: an ornament and a spear prepared by Princess Lin Ziyu for Chen Fei. He compared the photograph, and indeed it was the "Soul Guarding Seal" and "Godslaying Spear" -- two alchemical artifacts. Picking up the "Soul Guarding Seal," he pressed it against his forehead and heard a light click. The alchemical artifact automatically clasped around most of Chen Fei''s head. A few crystals embedded in it briefly glowed, then returned to normal. Only when subjected to a psychic attack would this Space System Alchemy Storage Device automatically react. As the transporter, Philip from the "Vulture Guild" spoke to Chen Fei, who was picking up the "Godslaying Spear," "Would you like to test its effectiveness?" The "Vulture Guild" would never accept an unclear commission; it was clear he knew exactly what he was transporting, and the service was quite thorough. Besides being a transporter, Philip was also a Psychic Series Spellcaster. "Let''s give it a try!" Chen Fei immediately took off the "Soul Guarding Seal" and nodded to Philip. Whether it was effective, a Psychic Series Spell or a Psi Skill would tell. "I assure you there will be no side effects!" Philip immediately performed a series of gestures to invoke the spell, muttering under his breath as he pointed at Chen Fei. There was no visible reaction, but Chen Fei still felt a sudden tightness on his scalp, a very familiar sensation -- probably the most common attacking method of the Psychic Series, a mental impact. If it weren''t for his high resistance to spiritual power, an ordinary person would have staggered backward several steps, clutching their head and gasping as if they had been hit with a solid blow. "Do it again!" Chen Fei put the head ornament alchemical artifact back on, once again with a light click, securely fastened and still comfortable, ensuring it wouldn''t slide or loosen even during intense movements. Her Royal Highness the Princess had carefully selected this alchemical artifact for him. Once Philip finished casting the spell, a breeze wafted by, yet Chen Fei felt nothing, not even the tightening of his scalp. "Next is the ''Godslaying Spear.'' We''ll need a live creature." Philip looked around, hoping to find something to test the "Godslaying Spear" on. Being stabbed by it meant instant death regardless of the creature''s size. "Never mind, it should work!" Chen Fei examined the spear in his hands -- after all, it was commissioned by Her Royal Highness and it wasn''t likely there to be any deceit or unworthiness involved. The "Godslaying Spear" was about two meters long, with a blade a meter long and double-edged. Followed by one large and five small varicolored crystals, the spear shaft, easy to grip with one hand and not metallic, was lightweight and fit well in the hand. This alchemical artifact, incorporating Crystal Energy Technology, could unleash a Mental Storm inside a creature the moment it pierced it, instantly destroying its consciousness and turning it into a walking corpse, making it perfect for dealing with Parasitic Species. "If you have any issues, you can contact me!" Philip then took out a business card and waved it in front of Chen Fei, clearly confident in the quality and service of his transportation. Suddenly, Chen Fei thought of something and asked, "Excuse me, do you have a rate card?" The "Vulture Guild''s" slogan was to take money to alleviate troubles; he wasn''t sure if they had a way with Parasitic Species. He didn''t have much money, but the tycoon Louis Landon surely could spare the Star Yuan. Was it really a problem if it could be solved with money? "Of course, I''ll send it to you right away!" Seeing a potential new client, Philip immediately beamed, his tone becoming even more enthusiastic. "I''ll take a look first. If I need anything, I''ll contact you. You have been very helpful this time. Chen Fei planned to first get to know this "Vulture Guild"; once he understood it, he would propose it to Mr. Randon. "I am at your service anytime you need." After completing the handover, Philip bowed slightly and tuned back toward the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, retracing his original route. No sooner had he left than a person from the Louis Industrial Company also arrived promptly behind him. It was the same person who had previously brought a vast amount of materials to Chen Fei. Without much ado, he set down a large case and a list, then briskly turned and left. This time, Louis Industries had prepared 125 high-capacity Crystalline Blocks for Chen Fei, each about the size of a basketball, sufficient to drive a mid-sized Sky Patrol Ship. These were standard to those used in the core Crystalline Blocks of the Main Force Lightwing Ships of Cangqiong Star. The collective combat model Chen Fei was pondering had its energy foundation completed first. Chapter 745: Section 740 - Manifestation Cluster "''Rookie'', wasn''t the flagship supposed to be a Main Force Lightwing Ship?" Piloting the buzzing "Sky Falcon," Minante circled the huge object hovering about 1000 meters above the ground, murmuring to himself in a continuous stream. If it hadn''t been for Chen Fei giving a heads up in advance, it might not have been Minante curiously inspecting in circles piloting the Assembled Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcon." Instead, the entire "Radiant Tiger" Legion would have been mobilized, bracing for battle against this unidentified armed force in the sky. Apart from the flagship in the center, there were twelve small airships about 30 meters in length, maintaining the same altitude as they guarded the area. Additionally, more than thirty large Tactical Drones circled in the nearby airspace, subtly controlling the airspace within a fifty-kilometer radius, leaving the neighboring "Radiant Tiger" Legion with no secrets. For Chen Fei, freeloading food and drink from the "Radiant Tiger" Legion was a daily routine; their military strength and personnel allocation held no secrets from him. The "Radiant Tiger" Legion was unperturbed by the cluster of unidentified flying objects within visual range. "Because I''m not familiar with Light Wing Ships, I use airships more often." The group combat cluster materialized by Chen Fei alone didn''t seem to match the original model plan, but with the help of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," creativity was zero, optimization was max. The central flagship, which was supposed to be a Main Force Lightwing Ship, turned out to be a mid-sized airship about 60 meters in length. It was unclear if its power system was the "Magic Cube" or another type. Perhaps bored out of his mind from guarding Nandu City with little combat to engage in, Minante''s uncle, Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger," had put a lot of thought into this group combat model, constantly refining it each day. The surface of the airship seemed to have a layer of Elemental Energy gathering shell similar to a Light Wing. In the sunlight, the drawn Elemental Energy flowed unceasingly like the tide, differing from the two types of airships on Blue Star. "Why not extend the Light Wings, instead of making it into such a shell?" Minante''s "Sky Falcon" had barely approached within 30 meters of the airship when it met with resistance from an intangible force field, preventing any closer approach. The standard-equipped "Repulsion Shield (45)" magic array on the surface of the ship was best suited to fend off physical impact; it was natural for the Assembled Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcon" to be unable to get closer. If it forced closer to the ship, the repelling force would rise sharply. "Light Wings would disrupt the aerodynamic structure; this ''Energy Gathering Shell'' can compensate for the consumption of Crystal Energy." Chen Fei stood alone on top of the airship, gazing at the scenery while indifferently responding to Minante''s question. Once evolved, he left it to its own devices as the AI "Adam" continuously adjusted and controlled each system and module. The Light Wing technology from Cangqiong Star had its advantages, but Chen Fei adopted and modified it - Light Wing was suitable for Cangqiong Star, where Elemental Energy was abundant and active. On Blue Star, it was somewhat inappropriate due to differences in the atmospheric Elemental Energy environment, which could lead to a significant reduction in cost-effectiveness and efficiency, undermining the original design goal of sustained flight. This materialized airborne combat cluster was closer to the Ground Portal Management Substation. Inside the radius of the unactivated protective barrier, many people curiously looked up, able to see with their bare eyes these still airships maintaining altitude. Louis Industries had sponsored many excellent items, such as high-performance military computing units, various sizes of display screens and driver modules, tactical command system modules, and equipment modules for different troop breeds, taking into full consideration Chen Fei''s Industrial Grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power, allowing for free combination like building blocks. Many modules contained a large number of non-metal materials. If one were to use "material simulation" to evolve these modules at the rate of one Energy Point per kilogram, not to mention tens of thousands of Energy Points, perhaps millions wouldn''t even suffice, and Second Brother might just cough up blood. The combat cluster of one flagship combined with twelve Cooperative Ships nearly depleted various functional modules collected in the "Spatial Branding." If he wanted to expand the fleet, he might have to continue being a freeloader. "Wonder what its combat capability is like?" Minante''s "Sky Falcon" began to move away from the flight formation, heading back to the "Radiant Tiger" Legion''s camp, but his radio communication with Chen Fei did not break off. "Pick a target, and a real battle will let us know." Chen Fei wasn''t just talking; a group combat model that hadn''t undergone real battle was ultimately just armchair strategy. "Lately your sortie rate seems to be decreasing. Can you still find any sizable targets?" Minante controlled the "Sky Falcon" to gradually descend. The dozen or so airships remained motionless in the sky, and after circling and inspecting them, there really wasn''t much to see. There was no one inside the airships; they were all autonomously controlled by AI. "I reckon all the Parasitic Species in Nandu City have left. I''m planning to go south to take a look," replied Chen Fei. After contemplating, Chen Fei was ready to leave, wanting to explore the large Zhai Liuzhou. Parasitic Species were not idiots. Knowing that after the "Seed Nest" was eliminated, Chen Xiao''er was a force to be reckoned with, and they were unlikely to wait around to die. It was very possible that they already fled; if they couldn''t face him, couldn''t they just hide? ``` Therefore, after the "Seed Nest" incident, Chen Fei''s rewards visibly decreased at a rapid pace, to the point that members of the Hundred-Legs Gang even went to neighboring towns to gather information, and the "Intelligence Team," after analyzing the data, also suggested expanding the search area. Minante was unaware of the changes in Chen Fei''s battle performance, but he could deduce it from the increased frequency of Chen Fei coming over for meals. "To the south? You''re not seriously..." Minante''s hand trembled, and he nearly nosedived the "Sky Falcon" into the ground. The Light Wing wobbled a few times before stabilizing and regaining its flying posture. He knew Chen Fei was incredibly vengeful, petty to the extreme; if someone offended him, he would repay a drop of water with a bubbling spring and would inevitably get back at them, without question. He was definitely not the type to let bygones be bygones and show magnanimity. Even without these airships, Chen Fei had the capability to destroy a Main Force Lightwing Ship fleet; now that he had access to group combat models and the ability to materialize them, his combat power was like a tiger with wings added, reaching higher levels, daring to play bigger games, and the Southern War Zone was about to suffer great misfortune. "The Southern War Zone stubbornly opposes self-inspection for parasitic species. I suspect they secretly collude with the parasites and have betrayed the Human Race. It''s a good opportunity to make an example out of them, to ''kill the chicken to warn the monkey''!" Chen Fei''s voice was filled with murderous intent. It was clear he had no intentions of letting the Tessa Empire Restoration Army''s Southern War Zone off the hook, slapping on an accusation first since it was important to have a just cause to take action. "But they are also part of the Restoration Army!" Minante was somewhat distressed, sounding deflated as the "Sky Falcon" shook slightly and landed smoothly. As a member of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, he didn''t know whether he should try to stop Chen Fei or just turn a blind eye and pretend nothing was happening. "What''s that got to do with me!" Chen Fei showed no consideration for the face of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. The civil war within Cangqiong Star had nothing to do with the Blue Star People. His only concern was taking on the parasitic species. Whether it was the Slan Dynasty''s army suppressing the rebellion or the so-called Tessa Empire Restoration Army, as long as they didn''t interfere, all were still friends. "Then I just... wish you, wish you good luck!?" What more could Minante say? Any more words, and the "boat of friendship" could capsize in an instant, leaving them no longer friends. He had faced Chen Fei on the battlefield, where bullets were blind. Once engaged, neither would hold back, and if someone lost their life, it was simply down to bad luck. "Remember to keep me informed and try to find out more about the Southern War Zone from the headquarters in the Eastern Warzone." Chen Fei unashamedly took advantage of his friend, without the slightest attempt at disguise. Collecting intelligence straight from the Rebel Army''s upper echelons in such a bold way, not even the Slan Dynasty''s army rebelling against them had such a luxury. It was as if he was treating the war like child''s play. Minante, unable to refuse, could only respond helplessly, "I got it!" What else could he do? Pushing "Rookie" too hard might lead to the "Radiant Tiger" Legion being used as a test, an act of sheer folly. He resolved to stick with his uncle and guard their territory in Nandu City. He couldn''t concern himself with the Southern War Zone, which they already didn''t get along with. It''s "every man for himself," and it would be best if "Rookie" made a move to sweep the Southern War Zone away outright. Standing atop the flagship and enjoying the view, Chen Fei was surrounded by multiple visual displays, quantifying the performance and functional state of each aircraft. The AI "Adam" had somehow acquired biological technology data and successfully connected it to his half-formed organ biological signals, achieving postural and balance functions. Along with an additional gyroscope module for calibration, the visual interfaces were no longer limited to pupil focus synchronization but extended to the entire field of vision. This turned the real world in front of him into an informational and multimedia format, like putting on a pair of 3D panoramic AR (Augmented Reality) glasses, taking the visual assistance function to its ultimate potential. After the final aircraft''s propulsion system was adjusted, Chen Fei then issued an active command. "Begin landing!" He didn''t plan to revert these aircraft back into Energy Points; instead, he prepared to store them on his "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand. On one hand, the storage space was large enough to easily take them in and was less prone to being lost or falling into the hands of others. On the other hand, evolving psi skills took time, which was not as convenient as directly retrieving them. When needed, he could simply throw them out, and these unmanned aircraft would automatically ascend. After completing the basic tuning, AI "Adam" sent out a command set. It received an instruction from Chen Fei but had to issue many more instructions to execute the landing procedure. The thirty-odd large tactical drones patrolling around returned swiftly, disappearing into the hatches of the Cooperative Ships. Subsequently, the entire fleet began to descend slowly toward the ground. ``` Chapter 746: Section 741 - Squad 47 One airship after another disappeared into the silvery light patterns on the back of Chen Fei''s hand; this was the first evolution manifestation of the group combat model and not the final product. More debugging was still needed to reach the standards of actual combat. Prior to this, these were essentially 1:1 scale physical toys, easy targets serving to add kills and rake in points. Chen Fei could guarantee that the next time he faced off against the Parasitic Species, it would definitely not be a solo fight. He scavenged resources everywhere to tinker with the group combat model precisely for that purpose. He had no choice but to scrounge; even if Chen Xiao''er coughed up the money, not to mention the hard-earned cash he had saved from risking his life, even selling himself wouldn''t be enough to afford it, for it wasn''t something an individual could play with. The starting point was sovereignty, and that was based on the premise of assuming logistics on one''s own. Without the industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power, it remained unthinkable. The continuous optimization by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" wasn''t limited to the flagship and cooperative ships'' internal structure, but extended to the carrying of combat units and various functional modules. Compared to manned airships, Chen Fei''s unmanned airships didn''t require extensive facilities related to life and survival; the limited carrying capacity and internal space could be devoted to combat units and even more functional modules. Although the core flagship of the group was only 60 meters long, its carrying capacity for combat units and output firepower were by no means inferior to the main force Light Wing Ships measuring around 200 meters in length. Due to the ship''s size, its three-dimensional cross-section was relatively smaller, which actually increased its survival rate on the battlefield significantly. For three consecutive days, Chen Fei was preparing to head to the southern region of the Zilu Continent. A special elite combat squad from Blue Star passed through the Ground Portal Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City and directly entered the realm of Cangqiong Star. "Identity confirmed, Citizen Chen Fei, codename ''Rookie,'' employed by the military contractor Jiu Defense Company, B-rank Metal Ability User, Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow, registered name Xiao Jiu, Human Order Sixth Rank. I am from the Blue Star''s United Sovereignty Special Task Force, temporary Squad 47, led by Meng Hai. This is a special notification that your commissioned task on Cangqiong Star has concluded. Our Squad 47 will take over from here. Please hand over the relevant information." An eleven-person team found Chen Fei just after he launched the fleet of airships and presented him with an official document in person, thereby establishing their official sovereignty-backed status. In their speech, they seemed to know Chen Fei''s situation well, even including the current rank of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu. Not many people actually knew the true rank of Little Bird, but if a sovereignty decided to get serious, they could still find out. Accepting the paper document, Chen Fei glanced at it and tentatively asked, "Has the Slan Dynasty agreed to let you hunt the Parasitic Species on Zilu Continent?" After all, since they claimed to represent Blue Star Sovereignty, if they didn''t have permission from the rulers of Cangqiong Star, they probably wouldn''t even be able to pass through the Dimensional Gate, let alone take any action upon arriving. "''Sagali'' has not only concealed itself on Cangqiong Star but has also infiltrated Blue Star. To clarify the relationship between the two, we have received authorization from the Slan Dynasty." As Squad 47''s eleven-member leader Meng Hai spoke, he continued to size up Chen Fei, while his mind was filled with doubts. Such missions should have been assigned to professional combatants like them, not outsourced to an employee of a military contractor. The other party was just a B-rank Metal Ability User, and from every aspect, seemed insufficient for the task. That he was still standing alive in front of Meng Hai, without missing any limbs, spoke well of his luck, but luck alone couldn''t solve all problems. "May I make a phone call to confirm?" Chen Fei still harbored some doubts. After all, during the previous combat at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, the Slan Dynasty always forbade the defense forces of the substation from taking offensive action and only authorized Chen Fei to act as a free combatant. Suddenly allowing an elite combat squad organized by Blue Star Sovereignty to come over seemed puzzling, especially as relations with the Blue Star sovereignties grew increasingly tense. Wouldn''t the Slan Dynasty fear they might engage in some other activities? "Please do," Meng Hai took back the sovereignty document and stepped back a few paces, giving Chen Fei space and distance. He then began to converse quietly with his teammates, seemingly discussing plans for after the handover. "Her Royal Highness the Princess," Chen Fei dialed Princess Lin Ziyu''s communications number. He had just started to speak when the Princess said directly, "Has Blue Star''s Squad 47 arrived?" "Why am I the last to know?" Chen Fei answered oddly beside the point. With an apologetic tone, Princess Lin Ziyu explained, "It seems that the time has come! I''m sorry I didn''t notify you in time. It''s because the matter was settled quite abruptly. My brother and I thought it would take more time and that the negotiations might not even be successful." Blue Star Sovereignty is divided, and bickering among them is the norm, unlike Cangqiong Star which is ruled by a single voice. Who would have thought that Blue Star would respond so efficiently and surprisingly fast this time? They didn''t raise any problematic conditions and just agreed outright, promptly sending over the team charged with the mission. This caused Chen Fei to be somewhat embarrassed, caught off-guard, and unavoidably a bit emotional. "What exactly is going on? Can''t the Slan Dynasty send anyone?" Chen Fei wasn''t really angry; he lingered in Cangqiong Star, locking horns with the Parasitic Species partly out of personal connections, partly due to a commission, and partly because it concerned his own interests throughout. After all, once the Parasitic Species gained momentum, no one could be spared. In a future like the apocalyptic end of Blue Star Civilization, anyone would take the initiative to do their utmost to prevent it. "Indeed, we can''t spare any manpower..." Her Royal Highness the Princess explained everything. It was only after Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan returned from Zilu Continent that he made the suggestion, which Blue Star Sovereignty promptly responded to. Most of the energy of the Slan Dynasty was tied up by the open rebellion in Zilu Continent and the undercurrents stirring in several other continents, leaving them unable to fully investigate the infiltration of the Parasitic Species throughout the continent. Today, the Seed Nest of the Parasitic Species has been confirmed, but how long it has been in place and the actual number of species are still unverified. This kind of threat cannot be ignored, and based on feedback from Chen Fei and the intelligence channels, the Rebel Army of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army has little interest in actions to exterminate the Parasitic Species. Most do not take it seriously at all, single-mindedly opposing the Slan Dynasty''s rebel-suppressing forces. If the Slan Dynasty were to send in people, they would inevitably be obstructed and hunted by the rebels, but Blue Star Sovereignty''s intervention might not prompt the rebels to consider it an affront, which could lead to warfare on two fronts, wolves ahead and tigers behind - truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly. So after careful consideration, Blue Star''s temporary Squad 47 was created for cross-dimensional combat. Even if the Rebel Army finds out about the presence of this elite squad from Blue Star on their territory, they would likely not act rashly. Besides, the number of 11 personnel is just right for rapid maneuvering without overly provoking the rebels'' sensitivities. After speaking with Princess Lin Ziyu and understanding the ins and outs, the cause and effect, Chen Fei then contacted the big shot Louis Landon and his own boss, Hanna Gagel, one after the other. After all, the Suicide Squad had been spent, but not in vain, and the Intelligence Team and Strong Men Team were currently under Chen Fei''s command. Yet the authority belonged to Louis Landon, the major financier. To transfer relevant authority to Squad 47 from Blue Star Sovereignty, it was necessary to inform them regardless. Like Chen Fei, Louis Landon, busy with corporate operations, didn''t keep up with the latest developments on Cangqiong Star. However, since it was decided by Blue Star Sovereignty, he could only comply. Ultimately, neither Chen Fei nor Squad 47 differed in their final goals: to eliminate the Parasitic Species lurking in the Zilu Continent and other threats to prevent the true arrival of an apocalyptic civilization from a past life. It''s a good thing that Blue Star Sovereignty was taking action; no longer would it be a solo struggle for Chen Fei and Louis Industrial Company. The more participants there were, the greater the chance of preventing an apocalypse. The call from Boss Hana Gagel, however, pertained to the contract for guarding the Dimensional Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City. This had nothing to do with Squad 47, as Blue Star Sovereignty did not step in to terminate the contract, meaning Chen Fei could still stay and earn money even if he handed over intelligence channels. Jiu Defense Company and Boss Hana intended to continue with the contract too. After all, with less work, more money, and higher safety, it was undoubtedly a rare and desirable task for both public and private reasons. Now, with only the Radiant Tiger Legion left in the Nandu City area and aware of the Parasitic Species threatening from the shadows, they would definitely not attack the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation again. Though this reduced many concerns, vigilant caution was maintained, because of this layer of connections, Chen Fei''s importance only grew. As long as the contract was in place, there would be no renewed hostilities for the sake of saving face if not for letting bygones be bygones. Chen Fei summoned "Mute" Kano and several key members, "King Kong," from the local snake gang in Nandu City. He also called representatives from the Intelligence Team and Strong Men Team. Right next to the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, Chen Fei formally transferred his command authority and the funding provided by the big shot to Squad 47. He even handed over the encrypted communication relay gateway from Minante to them, ensuring normal communications could be maintained despite the Rebel Army''s communication blockade. Having transferred everything, Chen Fei gave a nod to the Defense Commander of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation and left Nandu City alone. He didn''t choose to go through the Dimensional Gate to return to Blue Star but headed southwest instead. There was still unfinished business, and this was a good opportunity to close that chapter. Chapter 747: Section 742 - Mercenaries of the Southern War Zone Despite bearing the character for "south" in its name, Nandu City, the third-largest city of Zilu Continent, is actually located in the east of the continent, within the Eastern Warzone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. Chen Fei, wanting to head to the Southern War Zone, would have to cross a great deal of the Eastern Warzone, and even pass through the Central War Zone, before finally reaching his destination. Regarding the information on the Rebel Army''s Southern War Zone, Minante and his uncle, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander Befas, weren''t able to provide much, after all, a mere legion commander wouldn''t casually spy on the Commander-in-Chief of another warzone''s information. Therefore, the information Chen Fei had mainly came from what Princess Lin Ziyu and the Imperial Security Department of the Slan Dynasty had gathered. Even with the unfolding rebellion, the typically discreet Security Department didn''t lose much manpower or intelligence network in Zilu Continent, still operating steadily. For his journey from Nandu City to the continent''s south, Chen Fei was given two cover identities: one as a liaison officer for the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, arranged by the "Radiant Tiger" Corps, and with the tacit consent of Eastern Warzone Commander Stephens, turning a blind eye, it wasn''t just Chen Xiao''er who was itching for a bit of reprisal. The other identity, set up by the Security Department of the Slan Dynasty, was that of an Investigative Agent, which could be used to leverage the Security Department''s intelligence network in the southern region of Zilu Continent. Being a Blue Star Person with some connections to the Slan Royal Family, and with no additional conflicts of interest, Chen Fei didn''t need to worry about misusing this identity for questionable deeds. Following the route plan given by the Security Department of the Slan Dynasty, after leaving Nandu City, Chen Fei blended into the crowds of commoners fleeing the war, drawing ever closer to the south. Since Cangqiong Star established large-scale trading quotas with Blue Star, it wasn''t just magic, Battle Qi, and alchemy techniques that spread to Blue Star. Similarly, the unique scientific technologies of Blue Star Civilization were also continuously transferred to Cangqiong Star, influencing each of the planetary civilizations in turn. Including communications, light and heavy industries, agriculture, electronics, and transportation, among other sectors, with the local magic and alchemy on Cangqiong Star, technological upgrades happened much more quickly. In less than forty years, enough change had occurred across the continents to turn the world upside down. In many places, the look and feel of cities and towns is hardly inferior to Blue Star''s century of accumulation. Had it not been for the clothing, decorative styles, natural landscapes, and the frequent sight of various intelligent species, Blue Star People could easily be fooled into thinking they were still on Blue Star. With a meticulously crafted "travel guide" and cover identity provided by Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger", it only took a week for Chen Fei to make his way through hundreds of checkpoints, both large and small, and arrive smoothly in the southern region of Zilu Continent, also the territory of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army''s Southern War Zone. No sooner had he stepped into the Southern War Zone''s territory than Chen Fei noticed a stark difference from the Eastern Warzone: the abundance of Mercenary Corps here. Ability Users wielding staffs and swords could be seen wandering the streets in groups, entering and leaving all manner of shops, shouting loudly, and even engaging in conflicts, fighting with one another. Compared to their counterparts on Blue Star, Cangqiong Star''s mercenaries are much more unrestrained because their existence has a long history, and the official oversight has grown weary. After all, there are plenty of Ability Users, so a few deaths are inconsequential. Military contractors, however, have to subsist cringingly under the supervision of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Striking it rich by securing an Aircrew Base is like winning the lottery, not only ensuring a steady income but also bringing in a hefty amount of extra money. If they want to resolve inter-corporate disputes using force, they must submit and obtain approval for corporate warfare, making them unable to fight on the streets and spill blood like on Cangqiong Star. Having just stepped out of the main public long-distance bus station in Sun Domain City, the largest city in the Southern War Zone, many Mercenary Corps already had their eyes on Chen Fei, warmly greeting him as if they were old friends. "Young man, come join our ''Snow Seed'' squad!" "Hey, kid, got a team? We ''Black Blood Butterfly'' are looking for people. We guarantee there are plenty of missions and money to earn, with full benefits insurance and all." "Join our ''Iron Crocodile Squad.'' We have a great team atmosphere, no backstabbing, nurture for newbies, paid annual leave, and enthusiastic single ladies, the dreamland for a single dog." "''No Injury Team'' is recruiting! Young man, want to give it a try? It''s a free come-and-go, with inner circle prices for gear and equipment, warriors, mages, magicians¡ªeveryone can find their place." ... Having been through life-and-death battles and witnessing bloodshed, it was easy for Chen Fei to attract these mercenaries who lived on the edge of the knife with his demeanor and personal charisma. Just a few glances, and they would realize that he was one of them, kindred spirits. The Southern War Zone, a magnet for mercenaries, boasted specialized guilds that released all sorts of bounty missions. Driven by money, these killers, who were ready to die for cash, would even fight for the Rebel Army against the Silan Dynasty''s forces without heeding the Dynasty''s stern warnings. Even the prospect of being executed on the spot once captured couldn''t deter these desperados from relentlessly contributing to the complexities and uncertainties of the war. The mercenaries flocking to the southern region of Zilu Continent weren''t just from the local land, but also from other continents, including not only Human Race individuals but also members of other Intelligent Species. Chen Fei had just arrived in Sun Domain City and hadn''t walked a hundred meters from the station when he was stopped and invited countless times, with the allure of war techniques, money, beauty, equipment, and an endless stream of PUA tactics. If it weren''t for his experience and no longer being a greenhorn in society, he might have been easily led astray before getting far. The "Basic Optical Observer" Psi Skill always remained activated in its "Infrared Thermal Imaging" and "Full Spectrum Imaging" states, similar to the unbridled processing power consumption of the AI "Adam". Activating Psi Skills not only drained Chen Fei''s Physical Energy but also consumed even more Spiritual Power. This special visual ability could only be maintained for four hours; any longer and he would suffer from dizziness and blurred vision, unable to continue. However, the discoveries made Chen Fei increasingly somber; along the way, he had already identified three Parasitic Hosts. This was genuinely frightening! Apart from the towns near Nandu City where everyone is a host, such a density is already a comparatively high proportion. If it weren''t for a targeted identification model, he and others would have no idea that the person in front of them is already a walking corpse, and that every word and action is an award-worthy disguise. It could be hypothesized that among the rebel army in the Southern War Zone, there are many Parasitic Hosts hidden, and perhaps more than one branch of the Ninth Rank "Royal Breed (Xionees)" spreading the parasite sub-bodies. The "prophecy" of big shot Louis Landon was not complete. Limited by the societal status and information channels in his "previous life," he only knew that the Parasitic Species suddenly appeared en masse, completely overwhelming the unprepared Blue Star Civilization. Soon after, a large portion of the population fell, rapidly losing the ability to resist, and humans became the prey, hunted until the population fell below the reproductive threshold, from there on walking toward true doom. But he wasn''t aware of the situation on Cangqiong Star, he merely knew that the Dimensional Gate was closed, severing contact between the two civilizations. Even if the Dimensional Gate were closed and no longer used, the fate of Cangqiong Star Civilization might not be any better. It''s possible that the outbreak of the Parasitic Species originated from Cangqiong Star, making it the true epicenter of the disaster. To completely shatter the Doomsday Prophecy of Blue Star Civilization, it might be necessary to start with Cangqiong Star. With an expressionless face, Chen Fei walked straight ahead, when suddenly a wicked wind assaulted him. "Hey, kid, join us!" Well, damn, for the sake of recruiting, they really stoop to any low tactic. They''re resorting to force. His black pupils instantaneously revealed fine, gold specks. His right hand and forearm inflated substantially, the nails sharp as blades and shimmering with a metallic sheen, radiating a severe cold light. Pff! "Ahh..." The shrill scream lasted only two or three seconds before quickly fading away. Pieces of flesh, along with broken bones, bounced on the ground, and bright red blood gushed out. A muscular man with a strong build lay in a pool of blood, violently torn apart, his skin rapidly draining of color. Suddenly, there was a hush all around. Those who witnessed the scene were petrified, falling completely silent and frozen in place. "Maniac!" Chen Fei shook off his hand, his pupils returned to their normal color, and his hand and forearm returned to their original size. He didn''t even glance at the corpse at his feet and kept walking forward. After all, they had already made the first move. There was no reason for him to play by the book¡ªit was only natural to subdue with one strike. In the tight-knit circles of military contractors, cowards deserved to be bullied to death. For those in this line of work, life and death were treated lightly, and confronting those who didn''t comply was the norm. Were it not for the pressure from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the conduct of military contractors might even be wilder than that of the mercenary teams on Cangqiong Star. "Stop! Don''t run!" "Hey! How can you kill someone? He was just saying hello to you!" The man who was torn apart had companions, who quickly reacted, and three similarly burly men, carrying machetes taller than a person, surrounded Chen Fei. The crowd suddenly dispersed, as all the mercenaries present knew that a bloody skirmish was inevitable. Better to stay far away¡ªthe slight bother of blood splatter was one thing, but inadvertent disaster was quite another. Confronted by the ferocious trio, Chen Fei stood with an air of calm composure, spreading his hands. "I was just saying hello too." Their "hello" might at most knock someone out, but Chen Fei''s "hello" could be lethal. "But you can''t just kill him. Give us an explanation today, or you''re not getting out of this!" The three muscular men with knives were unwilling to accept this explanation, taking a stance with an undertone of energy swirling around them. They had cultivated Battle Qi, but it had not yet reached the level of creating Battle Qi Flames. Generously, Chen Fei said, "Then, I''ll let you strike me with a knife." Before the sound of his voice had faded, three fierce blades whistled down, slicing through the air towards him. Chapter 748: Section 743 - Wine Tasting The Psi Skill "Eyes of Tyranny" greatly enhanced individual combat ability, but Chen Fei rarely engaged in one-on-one fights nowadays. He relied more on various tactical equipment since his foundational ability was only B-ranked. Even with "Eyes of Tyranny" and the Neanderthal''s inherited Secret Technique "Fight to the Death," he couldn''t withstand a shot of 600 "Justice Judgement," which was much more abrupt and lethal. His abilities were more suitable for factories or battlefields, rather than personal duels. Compared to the large-scale, 10,000 level, Pure Light Sparrow flock Forbidden Curse initiated by Xiao Jiu, it was far from sufficient. For the War Professionals who couldn''t even muster Battle Qi Flame, Chen Fei couldn''t be bothered to swipe them away with a single blow, ending the 15 seconds of "Eyes of Tyranny" prematurely, and stretched out his head to let the opponent strike him. Rather than getting brutally dismembered, heads flying and blood spurting as imagined, it was as if they had swung too hard and missed completely. The three burly men grimaced and snarled, their extravagantly designed, massive blades silently vanished into thin air, leaving only the hilts in their hands. The three large swords together didn''t even weigh four hundred pounds, and were instantly claimed by the Dog System without sparing a single energy point. "What, what is this sorcery?" "Where is my sword?" Staring incredulously at their bare hilts, the three burly men all wore expressions as if they''d seen a ghost. That''s the sort of reaction you expect from a mercenary who walks sideways into a wall. The onlookers, gathered around for the spectacle, unanimously rubbed their eyes, equally shocked as the three burly men themselves. Some even looked intrigued, wondering if this was some kind of street performance or magic show. Of course, it could also be speculated that he had used an alchemical storage artifact. If the movements were fast enough and the technique skilled, it wasn''t entirely impossible. "Shall we continue?" Chen Fei asked nonchalantly, ready to fight or kill, at their discretion. "Give us back our swords!" One of the burly men threatened fiercely, unwilling to let it go. In his opinion, the young man before him was merely playing tricks. "They''re gone, I can''t return them!" The swords had been devoured by the Dog System. Rounding down, not a single energy point was given, so how could Chen Fei possibly compensate from his own pocket without any benefit? If they dared to keep blustering, he''d send each one of them on their way with a single swipe, and as a student of Blue Star''s First Sovereign''s new era, he was not afraid of bloodshed. The financial firm that initially sent Chen Fei to the impoverished Aircrew Base probably thought the same. "You''re looking for death!!!" The three guys dropped their hilts and swung their fists as big as bowls at him. They refused to believe in this evil magic, doubting that their fists could also be taken away. Bang! One! Bang! A pair! Bang! A trio! They didn''t take the fists, but they took their lives. The commotion was over, and the crowd dispersed as swiftly as birds and beasts, going about their business as usual. Chen Fei blew the faint residual heat from his pistol''s muzzle, withdrew the "Spatial Branding," leaving three corpses on the ground, with their foreheads blown open and backs of their skulls completely shattered, their brains spilling out. The agreed upon one swipe per person had, at the moment of death, turned into a clean and efficient gunshot per person, as if he had stones (definitely not money) to throw until their death. This was the price for queuing Chen Xiao''er; utterly fair, and he had already given them a chance. The streets were bustling once again, leaving only a small area with the bodies undisturbed. It wouldn''t be long before city sanitation workers dragged the bodies away and washed the streets clean as if nothing had happened. Chen Xiao''er irreverently used his tactical pistol to dispatch them. Mercenaries were everywhere in Sun Domain City, with street fights and even murders being common occurrences. Now, it was just another unsolved homicide, and no one would pursue it. The mainland was rife with war, and all factions were focused on their adversaries. They didn''t have the time to deal with these killers, drifting in the Jianghu sometimes meant catching bullets, perhaps even being taken by the heavens, sparing the trouble of a trial. Under the newly developed visual enhancement AR assistance of the AI "Adam," Chen Fei quickly reached his destination, the "Holy Blood Guild," which was also one of the top-tier large guilds within Sun Domain City. The guild existed symbiotically with the mercenary corps, each depending on the other and complementing each other''s needs. The guild was responsible for establishing, posting, and settling commissions, as well as providing intelligence, while the mercenaries were tasked with completing the various missions. Beyond extracting commissions from the missions, the main profit for the guild came from providing services like dining, accommodation, training, medical care, entertainment, legal support, and banking¡ªnot just charging projects, but also offering dueling areas, consultations, and arbitration services for free. With a plethora of mercenaries, the guild naturally made a fortune daily. Sometimes, for the sake of profits, guilds would even wage war against each other, resulting in a deadly struggle among the mercenaries. Although Blue Star didn''t have guilds per se, it had a similar entity, the Global United Defense Committee, which was monopolistically powerful, commanding the Jianghu and uncontested. Due to societal safety and regulated sovereign forces, the demand for military contractors was far less on Cangqiong Star, and consequently, the number of industry practitioners couldn''t match those of mercenaries on Cangqiong Star. In a corner of the spacious welcoming hall of the "Holy Blood Guild," Chen Fei found an empty seat at the bar and snapped his fingers. "What''s good to drink? Bring me a cup!" He treated this place as if it were the bar "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" at the 911 Aircrew Base. Engaged in risky business, wherever he was, the pleasures of alcohol and wealth were essential. Speaking honestly, neither his former employer, Apocalypse Defense, nor his current lady boss intended to ruthlessly exploit the few recreational sites within the base for profit; they were essentially regarded as part of the welfare benefits. The bartender, noticing Chen Fei was unfamiliar, immediately came over to greet him, "Is this your first time at ''Holy Blood''?" At his position, recognizing faces was a basic skill. Otherwise, how could he make the guests feel at home? "Exactly! Do you have anything worth recommending?" Chen Fei nodded, and the little bird on his shoulder hopped onto the bar and chirped at the other party. He had almost forgotten that it too was a regular at the bar. Language barriers were simply non-existent. "The ''Holy Blood''s'' most popular ''Red Angelica Flower,'' the uniquely flavored ''Ice Pebbles'' and ''Three Waves,'' and the limited production of just ten bottles a month of ''Cross Spring.'' These are all unique to our guild. Others like ''One Star,'' ''Black Horn Wheat,'' and ''Mountain Camel,'' which are plentiful and filling, can be had at any tavern in Sun Domain City, are also local specialties. Moreover... I''ve recently learned some special cocktail mixing. Are you interested in trying some?" The bartender spoke very skillfully, bringing himself closer to Chen Fei. "All of the ones you mentioned, bring them up, I''ll try them all," said Chen Fei. This remark resonated with Xiao Jiu. "Jiu!" Aside from handling his business, tasting the Otherworld''s exotic beverages might mean bringing back a few cases to share with Boss Hana. He couldn''t just keep raiding his boss''s liquor supply indefinitely! Not reciprocating wasn''t polite, and being impolite to a female boss like Boss Hana was something Chen Fei couldn''t bring himself to do. The server said, a bit surprised, "You sure you can handle your drink, sir?" Talking about money ruins relationships, and in order to ensure long-term business, he simply mentioned drinking capacity, gently reminding him with a hint. "One cup of each kind." Chen Fei took out his phone, knowing that the drinks here couldn''t possibly cost a million Star Yuan per cup. The real rich folks wouldn''t come to a place like this to taste wines, so no matter how expensive, it wouldn''t be too much. Better to try first then judge. "Alright! Let''s start with the most common ''One Star,'' one cup of One Star. The ingredients are Grey Wheat, with a brewing cycle of 14 days..." The bartender was professional, serving the drinks and narrating the origins and stories behind each. He wasn''t just talking for nothing¡ªafter all, he was supposed to charge a service fee, and with a rare eager listener, naturally, he was happy to chat a bit more. Following that, cup after cup of drinks was brought over along with a dish, ten golden-looking meat skewers. "This is complimentary, roast bird skewers. Recently, the number of Pure Light Sparrows has suddenly increased..." The server''s gaze fell on Xiao Jiu, recognition flickering in his eyes, except for a small plume on its head and a slightly larger size, it looked just like the common Pure Light Sparrows. But Pure Light Sparrows likely wouldn''t compete with drunkards to taste each cup first. "This is..." Just as Chen Fei was about to reach for it, he suddenly froze, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. Damn, making roast skewers from Pure Light Sparrows... "Uh, Pure Light Sparrow skewers!" The server''s gaze met Chen Fei''s, both their expressions stiffening. Confirmed then! The one hopping on the table was most likely a Pure Light Sparrow. The two people inside and outside the bar fell into silence simultaneously. Seriously awkward. "Jiu?" The little bird''s attention was on those cups, completely unaware that the golden-browned, spice-sprinkled skewers were actually its own kind. "Let''s switch to something else!" Chen Fei, looking at the skewers which were once live and hopping Pure Light Sparrows, suddenly felt nauseated. These people must have lost their minds. To dare to kill the harmless Pure Light Sparrows and turn them into food like skewers. "Sorry!" Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the server quickly withdrew the roast bird skewers and replaced them with a portion of fried vegetables. "That really was inappropriate!" Chen Fei couldn''t bear to imagine Xiao Jiu being hunted, turned into small meat skewers, roasted on charcoal, greased, sprinkled with spices, and then eaten. "This... roast bird skewer is actually a very common traditional delicacy. There''s a day each year called ''Hunting Sparrow Festival,'' where many people would hunt various birds and make them into skewers." The server began to doubt where exactly Chen Fei had popped out from, not even knowing such traditional food as roast bird skewers. On the day of the "Hunting Sparrow Festival," the birds hunted the most are probably Pure Light Sparrows. "There will be consequences!" Chen Fei shook his head. He simply couldn''t understand such a cruel festival and behavior. Chapter 749: Section 744 - Gathering Intelligence The most common bird on Cangqiong Star is the Pure Light Sparrow, while the most common bird on Blue Star is the sparrow. The people of Blue Star once regarded sparrows as one of the four pests and massively hunted them, nearly causing the regional extinction of the species and resulting in the impurity of the surviving sparrows'' bloodlines. The instigators soon paid a heavy price for this: massive reductions in food production led to famines and shook the foundations of the nation. From a strategic point of view, the number of Pure Light Sparrows represented Xiao Jiu''s greatest combat strength. Unity is strength; the strong collective will could annihilate even a Giant Dragon. Naturally, Chen Fei did not want to see Xiao Jiu''s kin turned into roast bird skewers; if in the next battle Xiao Jiu were to call out but no sparrows responded because they had all been eaten, that would really put them at a disadvantage! Is this little bit of gluttony really that important? The waiter smiled and said nonchalantly, "Hey, how could that be? Catch one Pure Light Sparrow, and ten more are born; you can never catch them all." The reproductive prowess of the Pure Light Sparrows is well known, and they have a diverse diet, allowing them to survive anywhere. Despite their small size, they have a bit of meat on them, are plentiful, and easy to catch, which is why they became a common addition to the common folk''s dinner tables. His gaze fell on the little bird, and the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, so he tentatively asked, "Is this... a Pure Light Sparrow?" "Jiu?" The Little Bird lifted its head to look at the waiter. Its petite crimson beak opened slightly, and a dot of light appeared out of nowhere, becoming brighter rapidly. Such exaggerated hyperbole; these creatures can never be fully eradicated! Tired, hurry up and die! "Yes, but its rank is a bit high." Chen Fei quickly reached out to hold the little guy, scratching its back to avert a tragedy in the nick of time. The light went out instantly. After all, the Pure Light Sparrow is a Magical Beast, and as its rank increases, so does its intelligence level significantly, even if it cannot speak, it still understands. "Sorry, sorry, I misspoke!" The waiter, completely unaware that he had just dodged a bullet at Ghost Gate Pass, had no idea how dangerous this little bird was¡ªeven more so than the young man across the bar. At this moment, Chen Fei could still pin the little guy down on the table and tease it; if the little one were to summon a three-digit number of its kin, it would be Chen Fei''s turn to be pressed to the ground instead. A Magical Beast is a Magical Beast; even if its pedigree is of the lowest quality, and its combat prowess might not match that of ordinary wild beasts, once it grows, it possesses unlimited potential. "I don''t want to see any more roast bird skewers!" Chen Fei''s words were not entirely a threat, but rather a kind-hearted warning. Despite the Pure Light Sparrows'' frailty, allowing anyone to bully or hunt them for food, once these little birds come together, those who wish to eat roast bird skewers might find themselves out of luck. What goes around comes around; who knows who will be eating whom in the end! On the bar table, the little bird under Chen Fei''s grip struggled against his fingers. Its crimson beak pecked weakly, too feeble to even leave a mark, even though it had reached the Sixth Rank of Human Order, it still couldn''t change its inherently feeble nature. "I got it!" The waiter felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine and promptly conceded. He gestured with his index finger along the bar, sweeping past a row of a dozen or so glasses, and awkwardly changed the subject, "These drinks, which do you like?" "Hmm, this one, this one, and this one!" Chen Fei picked out three glasses and arranged them from left to right. "The left one is my favorite, the middle one second, and the right one third." You get what you pay for. Produced in limited quantities and prized for its rarity, "Cross Spring" was naturally Chen Fei''s preferred choice. The glass in the middle contained "Red Angelica Flower," the most popular signature liquor of the Holy Blood Guild; ranking third was not "Ice Pebbles" or "Three Waves," but the most common and plentiful "One Star." Cheap does not mean the drink is bad; a large volume of production allows for more trial and error and improvement, yielding a pure, clean taste, clearly indicating a highly refined brewing process. Chen Fei gripped his glass and downed it in one go. The high-proof liquor was like a blaze that traveled down his esophagus to his stomach, making him involuntarily shiver; "Ice Pebbles" liquor was true to its name¡ªfiery upon entry, then immediately icy, capable of turning a person into ice pebbles, too contrasting for his taste, but perhaps Boss Hana would like it. "Glad you like it!" The waiter was pleased to have the guild''s drinks recognized, even though one of the selections was commonplace. Chen Fei said, "Can I get a whole bottle? Three to five hundred bottles won''t be too few; I''ll take them with me and drink slowly." Boss Hana''s house had a private wine cellar, no, a wine vault; three hundred and fifty bottles would barely fill a row of shelves. "I''ll get someone to discuss this with you." The waiter was responsible for bar sales, while wholesale transactions like this were handled by someone else. Every year there are a few drinkers who not only enjoy drinking but also carry it away, so this was nothing new; for the "Holy Blood Guild," it was also a rare large sale, and someone soon came over, deftly settled on the quantity and price, and before long, several dozen boxes of wine were handed over, with cash and goods exchanged promptly. Chen Fei casually stowed them away in his "Space System Alchemy Storage Device"; to others, it appeared that the "storage artifact" bracelet had accommodated all this liquor, as Space System Alchemy Storage Devices, albeit not widespread on Cangqiong Star, were not as rare as on Blue Star. After completing the transaction, Chen Fei leisurely finished each drink on the bar, and then casually left for another part of the guild hall. There was a side hall adjacent to the main hall, filled with over forty small compartments. After taking a number at the door of the side hall, he was called soon after. Pushing open the sliding door of compartment number 14, Chen Fei entered. A table, two chairs, and a woman wearing a veil sat opposite. Seeing someone coming in, she pointed to the chair across from her and said, "Please sit!" "I''m looking for some information." Chen Fei sat down and got straight to the point. This side hall was specifically an information trading area, and as long as one paid enough Star Yuan, one could obtain the intelligence services of the "Holy Blood Guild." "No problem, you can first take a look at the fee schedule," the veiled woman''s voice was slightly low, her age apparently no longer young, while simultaneously confirming that Chen Fei was a new client. "Money is no object, I want all the information on Bartona, the Commander of the Southern War Zone." Chen Fei''s gaze did not move toward the thin booklet. Anyway, it could be claimed back, whether it was the Silan Royal Family or the bigshot Louis Landon, neither would mind this small amount of money. "You''re from the Dynasty?" The eyes behind the veil moved slightly, then returned to normal. This statement was not merely a probe. Since the headquarters of the Southern War Zone was near Sun Domain City, it was quite abrupt to inquire such sensitive information, and it was difficult not to arouse suspicion. Being able to sit here and achieve effects in intelligence dealing with all manner of people, observing words and expressions was one of the basic skills, not only selling information but also using it to glean some information, always catching hares while amassing hay, just in case it''s needed, then it''s a bonus. "No!" Chen Fei flatly denied, not giving the other person any time to speculate about him. He truly was not from the Silan Dynasty, serving anyone or such, there really was no such thing. If it came down to specifics, he served money and clients, after all, he was in the business of military contracting, earning money, so it wasn''t shameful! Such a straightforward answer left the woman''s skill in observing words and expressions entirely wasted, thus another possibility arose. "Please wait!" The veiled woman still sat motionlessly. Chen Fei was not in a hurry either, and only then did he pick up the price list booklet, flipping through it with great interest. The "Holy Blood Guild" had classified the levels and details of intelligence into eleven ranks, from one to ten, with smaller numbers indicating higher ranks, and above these was the special class. The level fee was the starting price, and there was also a content fee calculated by the number of words, from one Star Yuan per word to one million Star Yuan per word, the freedom was high, completely based on the value of the information, the "Holy Blood Guild" would never lose anyway. Even if the information was incomplete, it was no problem; one could issue tasks through the guild platform, and experienced mercenaries would take them up until they obtained what was desired. Inside compartment 14, the two fell into a long silence. The veiled woman was very good at keeping her composure, and Chen Fei was in no hurry either. Over ten minutes later, the woman spoke again. "First-class intelligence, fifty thousand words content, fifteen million Star Yuan." Dealing with the intelligence about the Commander of the Southern War Zone at this time, mostly meant ill intentions; this place was the territory of the Southern War Zone, and the "Holy Blood Guild" was taking risks by selling the information. The starting price for first-class intelligence was ten million Star Yuan, and an additional five million Star Yuan for content fees. "Deal!" Chen Fei didn''t bother to negotiate. To be accurate, he couldn''t be bothered to waste his breath, better to find the right person sooner, resolve the grievances, then he would have time and energy to focus on the densely populated parasitic hosts in the southern part of the continent, he might even discover new "Seed Nests," or even find the whereabouts of the Royal Breed. This time, he was definitely going to let the other party taste the freshly made group combat. Flashing the payment code, Chen Fei craftily scanned it and transferred the communication directory to pay. After a moment, the big shot Louis Landon paid the account directly without any hesitation, not even calling or sending a message to inquire. Truly a big shot! After the transfer was complete, the veiled woman placed a data storage card on the table between them, all the information inside it. Chen Fei took it, inserted it into his wristband form "Universal Data Transceiver", now integrated with the "Space System Alchemy Storage Device." The AI "Adam" immediately identified the data storage card and automatically extracted the data. A document interface instantly popped up in Chen Fei''s view, also noting a timeline - the "Holy Blood Guild" had been tracking Bartona since his childhood. He nodded and said, "Received!" The middle-aged veiled woman suddenly said, "One hundred million Star Yuan for the sealing fee! We can destroy access records." Chapter 750: Section 745 - Smashing the Door "Huh? What do you mean?" Chen Fei was about to stand up and leave, but looked at the other party again. There was more to the story? "This is the Southern War Zone, Commander Bartona''s intelligence is extremely sensitive, you wouldn''t want to be targeted because of it, would you? Our ''Holy Blood Guild'' charges fair fees for reliable services, ensuring no future troubles." The veiled woman''s gaze burned into Chen Fei intensely. After all, this was first-class intelligence, and it involved the biggest ''Local Snake'' in the southern part of the continent. The Holy Blood Guild had no hopes of long-term business; it was quite possible the young man who just got the information would be assassinated as soon as he stepped out of the guild''s doors. In the face of a dead man walking, why be polite? As one of the top guilds in Sun Domain City, such avarice was truly unsightly! Chen Fei''s brow creased slightly, but he then chuckled and asked, "Can I commission you to assassinate Bartona?" If they could take down the Commander of the Rebel Army''s Southern War Zone, tearing a hole in one corner of the continent, even at a price tag of ten billion Star Yuan, the Silan Dynasty would pay without hesitation. The expression beneath the woman''s veil froze; she couldn''t help but inhale sharply, stammering, "That, that price is, it''s very, very expensive!" Her tone, now completely different from the confidence with which she had previously spoken to Chen Fei, revealed that she was truly frightened. "Ten billion Star Yuan!" Chen Fei threw out a figure. Ten billion Star Yuan to take down a War Zone Commander was a steal of a deal. With five war zones in the Zilu Continent ¨C east, south, west, north, and center ¨C for just fifty billion Star Yuan, all the Commanders could be killed, and the Silan Dynasty would surely scramble to pay. "Bartona is the Commander of the Southern War Zone, his defensive forces..." The veiled woman was mentally unguarded in the face of this offer; the price was too high, not just any life was worth that many digits. "Fifty billion!" Chen Fei was without any hesitation. Money could solve any problem, none were problems at all, he could guarantee that the Dynasty would not blame him. "... This, this won''t be easy..." The woman''s mental defenses began to shatter. A deal involving fifty billion Star Yuan was rare even for the entire continent''s Mercenary Corps, let alone Sun Domain City and the Holy Blood Guild; it would not happen a few times a year. The vast majority of Mercenary Corps teams would never see amounts over a billion in their lifetimes. The one billion Star Yuan starting price she had quoted was also an attempt to fleece a sheep to death while she had the chance. "One hundred billion Star Yuan!" Chen Fei doubled the offer decisively once again. "Please wait a moment, let us discuss it." The veiled woman finally panicked. Such an astronomical sum was well beyond her authority. The confidentiality of the intelligence trading booth was only relative, and by now, the higher-ups of the guild must have been alerted. Even at the earlier offer of ten billion Star Yuan, who knew how many mercenaries would go mad for it. "Heh, I''m just kidding!" Chen Fei did not hesitate to push open the door and leave booth number 14. With a whopping one hundred billion Star Yuan deal, he would never allow someone else to get it cheap; he certainly planned to do it himself. Especially since he intended to act personally. With the Holy Blood Guild''s sky-high demands, wasn''t Chen Xiao''er allowed a tit-for-tat response? A modern university graduate couldn''t be easily pushed around, those educated in the Ivory Tower weren''t so easily deceived. "The hush money, can be ten million Star Yuan." The veiled woman actually chased him to the door, hesitated, but eventually, did not come after him. The people in the side hall all turned their gaze toward them; it was rare to see a trader from the intelligence trading area chase after someone. "No need for hush money, as you wish." Chen Fei did not look back, his bargaining chip was not one to be easily struck by anyone. Actually, they were all in the same line of business; the Holy Blood Guild''s tricks couldn''t scare him. In a luxuriously decorated office deep within the Holy Blood Guild, a projected image hung in the air, overlooking Chen Fei, who had left the guild and was walking through the streets. "Follow him, find an opportunity, deliver him to the Southern War Zone Headquarters, and do them a favor in passing." "Won''t this offend the Dynasty?" "Just a mere Pawn, not that important!" "Understood!" The office returned to its previous calm. "Chirp!" Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu cheerfully chirped on Chen Fei''s shoulder. After sharing over a dozen glasses of alcoholic beverages, its tiny body was somewhat tipsy. "Grilled bird skewers for sale, delicious grilled bird skewers, one Star Yuan per skewer, what a deal!" "Young man, interested in joining a team? ''Lightning Willow'' team is recruiting, with guaranteed benefits." "Hey there, young man, want some fun? Five hundred Star Yuan for a great time!" ... Amidst the various cries of traders plying their wares, many Mercenary Corps teams still took interest in Chen Fei, walking alone on the streets. Mercenaries huddled together for warmth, moving as a group, with lone wolves being a rare sight. To take on lucrative missions, superior numbers were the winning ticket, and despite competition within the industry, every team was desperate to recruit newcomers to the field. He found a decent-looking inn and settled the matter of personal accommodation. Despite having a Mobile Base Vehicle in his "Spatial Branding" which could provide lodging no matter where he went, the vehicle was far too conspicuous. Instead, it was better to spend a few hundred Star Yuan on a clean and tidy room that wouldn''t attract attention. After completing the check-in process and receiving his key, he entered the guest room. It was only after closing the door that Chen Fei noticed a note on the desk in the room, with something written on it. He walked over and picked it up for a closer look. "Beware of Holy Blood" The note contained only four characters. Chen Fei nonchalantly crumpled the note into a ball and when he opened his hand again, the palm-sized piece of paper turned into sandy fragments, scattering into the waste bin. This inn was not chosen at random; it was one of the Slan Dynasty''s Imperial Security Department''s "Safe Houses". From the moment Chen Fei entered Sun Domain City, he naturally fell under the gaze of the Dynasty''s Investigative Agents. Even after he visited the "Holy Blood Guild", he remained within the surveillance net of the Security Department, his every action watched, including the conversations in the partitioned areas of the spy hall. Seeing this piece of paper, Chen Fei knew that the "Holy Blood Guild" he had just visited had not given up. Since they hadn''t managed to gain anything from him, they might well turn around and sell him out to curry favor with the Rebel Army. In the Zilu Continent, the circle of mercenaries inherently lacked firm allegiances¡ªwhomever provided milk was mother. Fighting for the Rebel Army for the sake of Star Yuan was not strange at all. "Knock, knock, knock!" Someone knocked on the door of the guest room. "Who is it?" Chen Fei stretched out his finger, teasing the chin of the Little Bird on his shoulder, and then pointed towards the door. "Chirp?... Chirp!" The little guy cocked his head to one side, quickly catching on. A screen of light appeared out of thin air, revealing the scene outside the room door. There stood a young woman dressed provocatively, her eyes darting around. She knocked again and said in a coy voice, "Little brother, are you alone?" "Is there something you need?" Chen Fei observed the scene through the Light Mirror Spell without any intention of approaching the door, let alone opening it for her. To him, the actions, expressions, and tone of the woman outside were in stark contradiction¡ªit was clear she disliked what she was doing, yet she forcibly assumed a flirtatious demeanor. Her acting skills definitely needed some polishing! "Could I come in to talk? I''m alone too!" They came with ill intentions, apparently intending to discuss life and dreams. Chen Fei was not interested in flirting and firmly denied her entry. "I''m tired. If there''s nothing important, please do not disturb me!" The young woman outside was clearly startled. Was she expected to strip for him and then be dismissed with just that? Her expression changed several times before she adopted a shy demeanor. "Then, little brother, do you need someone to warm your bed?" Her lines were as cliche?d as those spoken by prostitutes. After she finished, her expression twisted with disgust at her own words. In the corridor, a few heads peeped from a nearby room, watching intently. Someone even gave her a thumbs-up to encourage her. Chen Fei paused for a moment before saying, "The outdoor temperature today is 34 degrees Celsius with a humidity of 76%." Offering to warm a bed in this hot and humid weather? What sort of outlandish suggestion was that? Did she not realize the absurdity? Her mind must be twisted¡ªshe should take her nonsense as far away as possible and cool down wherever she could. The young woman outside stood dumbfounded for a moment, and then, like a fierce little cat, began pounding on the door, yelling, "Open the door! You jerk!" At another room nearby, the heads peeking out shared a look of secondhand embarrassment. "I knew it! Lulisa can''t handle it. Look, she messed it up again!" "After all, she is a tomboy!" "Shh, don''t let Lulisa hear you, or you''ll be in trouble." "Let it go, let it go, time to pull back!" The onlookers showed no intention to intervene, allowing their comrade to vent her frustration at the door of another guest room. Suddenly, without warning, a dark spot appeared on the door being hammered by little fists and rapidly grew larger. A red light flashed, and a conspicuous beam shot through the door, narrowly missing the young woman''s face by mere inches and striking the opposite wall of the corridor. By the time she realized what had just happened, the woman who had been venting her anger at the door was slumped on the ground by the door, looking as white as a deflated balloon. If that sudden beam had hit her head, her fate would unlikely have been much better than that of the now-punctured door. "Oh oh oh, did you see that? Quick, get Lulisa back here!" "The guy inside really went for it, Lulisa nearly got killed!" "Doesn''t he have any mercy for women?" The young woman''s companions looked at each other before no longer holding back. They swarmed out of the room and clumsily dragged her back inside. This young group seemed to consist of only about four or five people. "Peace at last!" Chen Fei sat in front of the desk and heaved a helpess sigh. Taking his gaze away from the still-shut door, he refocused his attention on the intelligence data interface that the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had opened for him. Chapter 751: Section 746 - Southern Army Camp After releasing the laser beam, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu hopped into the small bird nest that Chen Fei had taken out, nestled down, closed its eyes, and soon curled up into a ball of feathers. No one else came knocking, and the little bird slept soundly. "Jiu!~" Every so often, a soft chirp sounded, like the murmuring in a dream. The intelligence that cost fifteen million Star Yuan seemed to be worth the price. The "Holy Blood Guild" did not withhold any information despite the location being the headquarters of the Rebel Army Southern War Zone. In comparison to the intelligence provided by the Bislan Dynasty Security Department, this purchased report was more detailed and included the latest updates until the day before. The "Holy Blood Guild" even considered the need for action against the intelligence targets, thoughtfully adding several professional analyses; it included suggestions for assassinations and forceful attacks, though their feasibility wasn''t assessed. Still, they held some value as references. ... The next morning, Chen Fei was awakened by the deafening sound of knocking (or rather, smashing). Unlike the hesitantly hesitating, shy tapping of the young lady the previous day (what a pity her character collapsed later), it sounded more like they were preparing to break in. Click! Bang!~ Half the door flew in, crashing heavily on the floor. Ah, real ''breaking in''! Chen Fei blinked. A group of fully armed soldiers rushed in. What is this new maneuver? Could it be that they''re not inviting me, but planning to forcibly conscript me? The customs of Sun Domain City sure are interesting! One of the soldiers was holding a mobile phone; his gaze shifted between Chen Fei''s face and the phone screen a few times as if confirming something. "Are you Chen Fei?" "Uh... Yes, I am. What''s the matter?" He didn''t change his name or sit under an alias; Chen Fei was not some incredibly important person whose name would spread far and wide, so he always used his real name in disguise. Lying with the truth is guaranteed infallible, taught by a bald monk named Miyoshi (who''s considered a master when paid, a bald monk when not). The soldier, clearly the leader of the group, immediately spoke with no courtesy, "Commander Bartona would like to see you." Clearly not a mistake, they came with a clear purpose. "Alright! Could you please wait a moment?" Chen Fei could only get out of bed. Seeing these soldiers, he knew it was the retribution for yesterday¡ªa warning from the Bislan Dynasty Security Department''s Investigative Agents. He hadn''t expected them to come so soon. The bastards at the "Holy Blood Guild" had indeed sold his intelligence to the Rebel Army Southern Warzone Headquarters before he could even make a move. Lucky he didn''t foolishly pay a hundred million Star Yuan to hush them up. For the money-eyed Mercenary Guild, there''s nothing they won''t sell if the price is right. In this regard, the military contractors of Blue Star were more shame-faced than the guilds of Cangqiong Star, always showing some restraint in their conduct. - In the bird nest on the bedside table, Little Bird still curled up, sleeping hazily, Its defenses entirely down with Chen Fei around; even the group of soldiers barging in couldn''t wake it. The soldiers remained silent, collectively maintaining their salute, surrounded in a way that left no escape even with wings. Chen Fei took it as their agreement, and went about brushing his teeth and washing up, and changed his clothes all on his own. "Alright, let''s go!" Chen Fei pulled the little bird out of its nest and stuffed it into his pocket. "Jiu?!" The little fellow finally woke from the disturbance, chirping discontentedly as it poked its head out of the pocket, curiously peering around. "Please wait a minute." The leading soldier suddenly grabbed Chen Fei''s left hand and deftly removed a bracelet that seemed to be an Alchemical Artifact, tucking it into his own pocket, before speaking again. "All set!" Everything went as both parties expected. Although the big-shot Louis Landon wasn''t present, he was strategically operating from beyond this plane, not without cost, but it ultimately paid off. Others might think the bracelet was a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, but who would have guessed it was actually just a decoy to attract attention? Unless they chopped off Chen Xiao''er''s claws, no one could stop him from accessing the vast storage space linked to the "Spatial Branding." Encircled by a group of armed soldiers, Chen Fei walked through the corridor and saw the young lady from the day before; she appeared delicate but was fiercely independent inside, skilled in making a scene, cursing, and smashing doors. Noticing Chen Fei''s gaze turning towards her, the young woman clenched her fists tightly, biting her teeth in frustration as she harshly flipped him off. Seeing the reaction of the opposing alley cat, Chen Fei smiled, blinked an eye at her. "Date?" Date? Date your big-headed ghost! The young woman didn''t catch on for a moment, but her companions'' faces changed simultaneously. Damn, things are about to get bad! "Lulisa! Get back quickly!" By the time they thought to warn her, it was already too late. The leading soldier waved his hand. "Take them all!" Several soldiers instantly charged forward, one for each, pressing the onlooking mercenaries to the ground and swiftly securing them with specially crafted handcuffs. These mercenaries dared not resist; they obediently let their ability to move be restricted. The Elemental Energy in their bodies went out of control, their bodies emitting sporadic, flickering lights that eventually dispersed into the air. Those special handcuffs contained materials that drove away Elemental Energy, making it impossible for War Professionals to concentrate their Battle Qi, for Spellcasters to invoke Elemental Energy, and even suppressed and disturbed spiritual power. Even Psychic Power Users were reduced to the level of ordinary people. Seeing that even spectating could bring about calamities, the guests watching in the corridor hurriedly closed their doors and didn''t dare to show their faces, fearing they''d be dragged away as well. "Holy shit, what the hell! Have I offended you...?" Lulisa, the young female mercenary who wasn''t spared, had her hands handcuffed behind her back the first moment and immediately turned on her scolding mode, glaring at Chen Fei who was still surrounded by soldiers, spewing all kinds of mean words. "Who asked you to flirt with me? Blame me?" Chen Fei responded with an indifferent shrug of his shoulders. If there''s any grudge, take the opportunity to settle it on the spot; there''s no waiting ten years. The grinding of Lulisa''s teeth was almost audible. The only one who kept ranting was the female mercenary; her companions, however, hung their heads like sick chickens, utterly dejected and silent. At this point, protesting was futile and resisting even more so; better to save some energy and think about how to get through this ordeal. Outside the hotel, two large trucks and several armed armored vehicles were parked, stuffing Chen Fei and the group of mercenaries into them. The convoy headed unobstructedly out of Sun Domain City and drove straight to the suburbs. The headquarters of the Rebel Army Southern War Zone was located within a large military camp; taking the head among ten thousand troops required the "Element Annihilation Bombs" to roam free, but Chen Fei had no intention of really throwing Element Annihilation Bombs to cut corners. The reasons he held back were partly because it could easily harm himself, and partly because he didn''t want to get involved in Cangqiong Star''s civil war. Being merely a nobody from Blue Star, without power, status, or stakes, meddling in another country''s civil war was like tying a high-voltage line into a knot to make reincarnation fancier. Blue Star Sovereignty would definitely haul him back at the earliest, lock him up for a few years to cultivate his behavior and character. Chen Fei''s real opponents were the Parasitic Species. Coming to the southern region of Zhai Liuzhou continent had a touch of vengeance, surely, but his primary aim was still to assess the activity level of the parasitic species here. From leaving the station at Sun Domain City until now, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had marked the count of parasitic hosts that Chen Fei encountered, and it had already exceeded three digits. Aside from the full-host town in the eastern part of the suburbs of Nandu City, this place was almost an epidemic area for the parasitic species. Chen Fei simply couldn''t understand why the Commander of the Southern War Zone, Bartona, still adamantly rejected the suggestion for self-inspections. His attitude and reactions made it clear there was something amiss here, so Chen Fei came over to stir things up and see if there really was any "silver" as the saying goes. Escorted by multiple armored vehicles, the two big trucks stopped in front of a grandiose palace-style building which was their final destination. The exterior was a grayish yellow, exposing large and small rough pebbles, as if the mightiest of constructions was built with the coarsest materials, dotted with several Gothic-style sharp towers, the highest of which was about a hundred meters tall. Without a single visible brick, it seemed as though it was all cast out of concrete, making Chen Fei feel something was off but couldn''t quite put his finger on what. "This Rock Palace was built jointly by ten Earth Element Law Masters using spells; it''s also a sacred place for the training of Earth Element Users, get off the truck!" Seemingly guessing what Chen Fei was thinking at that moment, the soldier leading him took the initiative to explain. Chen Fei could immediately read between the lines of what the other party implied. It wasn''t just an explanation; it was also a warning, highlighted by the keywords "ten Earth Element Law Masters", Law Masters of Heavenly Order. Anyone considering any mischief had better think about the presence of these Heavenly Order beings here first¡ªboth in terms of ranks and numbers, it sounded rather intimidating. Only Chen Fei, this leading soldier, and seven or eight other soldiers got off the truck in front of this Rock Palace. The implicated mercenary squad wasn''t let off but was taken elsewhere. These soldiers were not fools either; they could tell Chen Fei was trying to deflect trouble onto others, but whether there were dates or not, it was better to beat with one stick first, so they simply brought everyone over. "Is Bartona inside?" Chen Fei withdrew his gaze from the palace building, turning his head to look at the leader beside him. The leader wasn''t a parasitic host, and to be precise, none of the soldiers escorting him here were parasitized. Mutated Parasitic Spawn often show individual differences; a minority can appear completely normal, even more cunning and smart. But most of the spawns tend to have defects in intelligence and emotional intelligence, making it easy for others to notice the abnormality. Most parasitic hosts that Chen Fei captured in Nandu City belonged to this category, thus they weren''t of much value. Chapter 752: Section 747 - Get Straight to the Point "Please show some respect for the Commander." The lead soldier glared fiercely at Chen Xiao''er, who showed not a hint of reverence. "Humph!" Chen Fei was utterly indifferent, responding with a disdainful sneer. A citizen of Blue Star, the First Sovereignty, holding respect for a foreign regime? As if! Since ancient times, there was a splendid tradition of daring to pull down emperors, with a commoner''s rage splattering blood in five steps; probably the most difficult populace of Blue Star to handle. At any moment, they could boast ''even princes and generals can hardly resist my valor'' and ''I alone can overthrow a nation''... When they went mad, they didn''t even spare themselves. Looking back five thousand years, which neighboring sovereignty hasn''t been beaten up by us? Not a single one!!! (* ?¡´ ?)¡Á7 (¨‹¥Ø¨‹#)¡Á11 <( ?^ ?)>¡Á5 The soldiers collectively glared at Chen Xiao''er with fury, pushing and shoving him as they escorted him into the Rock Palace, constructed by ten Earth Element Law Masters. This brazen guy had better pray he can keep a whole body afterwards! The grand dome was not only designed with natural lighting but also had plenty of electrical light sources, making the interior of the Rock Palace as bright as daylight, with brightness hardly less than outdoors. From time to time, you could even see small skylights letting in daylight, with the plants and greenery inside being meticulously cultivated and pruned. Alas, Chen Fei wasn''t an Earth Element User, nor an Earth Caster; otherwise, he would have definitely felt the tidal surge of uninterrupted Earth Elemental Energy fluctuations. Just as the leading soldier had stated, cultivating Earth Battle Qi or Earth Magic here could have a doubling effect, even those Earth Element Ability Users who couldn''t advance any further could still improve their proficiency with Earth Psi Skills. The defense and security within the Rock Palace were extremely strict, maintaining an isolation mechanism between the inside and outside. From the moment they entered the gates, by the time they reached the innermost area, the escort personnel had been almost entirely replaced, with only the initial two remaining, including the lead soldier. Seeing a door engraved with floral patterns, the lead soldier who had been with the group from the start was the first to halt. "We''re here!" Someone approached the door and reported. They then received a response, being told to wait outside the door. Ten minutes passed, half an hour passed, and as it was about to reach an hour, the door opened a crack from the inside, and a voice came from within. "The Commander is now available. Please come in!" "Let''s go!" Chen Fei was shoved hard. Thud! He crashed to the ground in a sprawling face-plant. It was intentional... The scene suddenly filled with an awkward atmosphere. "What''s with you, no backbone?" The shover was another soldier who had come from the outside of the Rock Palace. He looked at his own hand in astonishment, not at all expecting the other to be so listless. I hadn''t even applied much force and you just toppled over like that, a real Oscar-worthy performance. HeeeeeTui! Shameless! The other escorting personnel looked at each other, unfamiliar with Chen Xiao''er''s brazen lack of shame, some at a loss for what to do. "Are you trying to kill me? Right, killing to silence me, isn''t it?" The efficiency of that counterblame made one suspect Chen Fei must have done this hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of times before; he was just too adept. I''ve got steel muscles and iron bones, interested in knowing more? Feel free to shoot me for half an hour, and if I so much as frown, I''ll admit defeat! The lead soldier and his companion exchanged glances, and then, from either side, lifted Chen Xiao''er, who was still playing possum on the ground, and marched him towards the ornately carved door. As soon as they entered, a warm sensation hit their faces, and the ground was covered with thick carpets. The room behind the door was huge, crystal chandeliers hung from the dome, reflecting sunlight from the windows, a courtyard-style garden visible beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The room itself didn''t have a single pillar, offering an unobstructed view. From the slight gaps leading to the corners near the carpet, one could vaguely see that the ground beneath the carpet was as smooth as a mirror¡ªwhether it was the result of a spell or natural stone was unclear. A little old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles was sitting behind a massive desk, with a three-dimensional holographic projection hovering above it. Chen Fei recognized at first glance that it was a topographic map of the Southern region of Zhai Liuzhou. Furthermore, the room''s simple yet functional furnishings completely fit the style of a senior military commander, yet there were no other people, suggesting a solitary audience. This was a rather high-profile treatment. As Chen Fei watched in astonishment, the little old man pointed to a sofa not far from the desk, his tone gentle, "Chen Fei, is it? Please have a seat!" His gaze swept over the others and, with a commanding tone, said, "You''ve worked hard; you may leave now!" "Yes, Your Honor!"¡Á8 Including the two personnel who''d escorted him all the way, without any hesitation or doubt, the group collectively exited the room. Upon entering the room, Chen Fei''s feet landed on the thick carpet, no longer requiring support like a limp fish. As he walked toward the sofa, he probed tentatively, "Are you Bartona?" The other party looked like an unremarkable and insignificant old man, devoid of any pretense or presence, completely contrary to the image of a villainous boss that Chen had conceived. He had thought he would be subjected to an intimidating display or a show of force, but after all his conjectures and guesses, this was what he actually saw? It was a huge letdown! "If there''s no one else by that name here, then within a hundred kilometers, there shouldn''t be a second Bartona." The old man opened a cabinet door by his side, revealing a fridge emitting white frost. He turned his head and asked, "What would you like to drink? Something cold, or hot?" "A cold one!" With a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius and humidity of 89%, Chen Fei made his choice without hesitation. The temperature outside the Rock Palace, by contrast, was only 22 degrees Celsius with a humidity of 56%. Zhai Liuzhou, located in the southern hemisphere of Cangqiong Star, was already experiencing autumn, while Morning Star Continent in the northern hemisphere was in the midst of summer. Bartona, looking like an old man, chose a can of refreshingly cold beverage and walked over, placing it on the coffee table next to the sofa before seating himself on another sofa. "You''re a Blue Star person, employed by Jiu Defense Company, hmm, and that mascot is here as well?" With one remark, he exposed Chen Fei''s true identity, rendering all previous cover efforts useless. His gaze fell on the pocket of Chen Fei''s right-side jacket, where the obedient little creature was hiding. Even this had not escaped notice... "You know?" Chen Fei''s tone remained calm, but his mind raced, speculating on where the leak of information could have happened. The opponent knew him well, but he had misjudged the situation, putting himself at a disadvantage. "This war between justice and injustice is not as simple as you Blue Star People see it." Bartona, the Commander of the Southern War Zone, added as if making a solemn declaration. "Victory will ultimately belong to the Tessa Empire!" Procedural justice, this was necessary. "And the ''Sagali''?" Chen Fei pointedly addressed the very issue he should have avoided like picking at a scab, boldly piercing through the thin veil to get straight to the point. Ever since arriving in Sun Domain City on the southern continent, the staggeringly high number of parasitic hosts had made it impossible for them to fake their status. Bartona''s tone hesitated for a moment, then he said with a hint of resignation, "Er... young man, sometimes being too clever is not welcome!" His inability to deny it also conveyed some additional information. A wave of invisible spiritual power swept through the spacious room and dissipated just before touching the walls, windows, and doors, leaving no trace, but a voice resounded in the minds of Chen Fei and Bartona. "I''ve said it before, no one who notices us is simple, let''s get straight to the point!" The telepathic voice surpassed language barriers, sounding like English to English speakers and Chinese to Chinese speakers. It was a method of communication conveying more information than eyes, facial expressions, subtle gestures, text, and sound, thus ensuring greater accuracy. Startled by the sudden telepathic voice, Chen Fei instantly stood up, scanning his surroundings as his visual field augmented with additional details. Behind Bartona''s desk, on a large circular area of the carpet, an odd-looking creature appeared. It wasn''t invisible, nor were there any mechanisms or illusions obscuring it¡ªit seemed to have always been there, yet before the telepathic voice, Chen Fei had subconsciously overlooked its presence. Spines covered with spiral grooves protruded from its head, spine, limb joints, and the robust end of its tail. If one looked closely, they''d notice that the spines were constantly vibrating subtly, as if sending a strange ripple through the air, which might be related to Chen Fei''s earlier "invisibility" to it. Adam: "Identified Magical Beast ''Mystic Fog Specter,'' a rare species, adult specimen, parasite detected, determination of a parasitic host." As Chen Fei took notice of the beast, the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" immediately followed up, detecting the "Mystic Fog Specter" Magical Beast and the anomaly within it. The presence of a Parasite disrupts the normal infrared thermal imaging response, one of the strong biological proofs for identifying parasitic infection. Of course, an X-ray would also provide definitive evidence. "A Parasitic Species?!" Chen Fei immediately went on alert, taking Little Bird out of his pocket and tossing it into the air. The small creature flapped its wings swiftly, quickly perching atop the high-hanging crystal chandelier, looking down from above. "Chirp!~" Countless tiny geometric shapes covered Chen Fei''s body, quickly assembling into the "Dragon King" assault form of Heavy Armor, and yet it did not stop there. He continued adding layer upon layer, evolving towards a state of giantization. The opponents were not just the old man Bartona but also the Magical Beast that had deceived his vision. Ever since witnessing the combination of the Magical Beast and a Parasitic Species, Chen Fei had never underestimated them. The battle prowess of the Parasite''s body was already on par with the Magical Beast host, so the combination was definitely not as simple as one plus one equals two; it was greater than two. For all he knew, fighting could break out the next second. Chapter 753: Section 748 - Parasitism and Host According to the original plan, the fact that violence would erupt as soon as they met did not surprise Chen Fei in the least. He had traveled thousands of miles to Sun Domain City in the southern part of the continent not to treat someone to a meal. Not until Chen Fei had fully equipped the Giantization Mode of the "Dragon King" did the threatening giant-like figure seem at all appropriate within the spacious hall-like space. Magic array patterns emerged on the surface of the mecha, many of which were newly acquired. The alchemy device "Soul Guarding Seal," obtained from Princess Lin Ziyu, was now attached to Chen Fei''s forehead, providing him with protection against psychic attacks from any being of lesser status than the Royal Breed, and could even completely block three full-power impacts from a Divine Breed. Another item, the "Godslaying Spear," was quietly built into the right arm of the "Dragon King," ready to strike at any moment. In the current situation, the "Godslaying Spear" was more practical than the 600-mm caliber Justice Judgement. A light poke could eradicate the Parasitic Species within the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," and Bartona, the Commander of the Southern War Zone, would not fare much better. Yet the scene remained eerily quiet. The Tessa Empire Restoration Army Southern War Zone Commander Bartona and the Magical Beast made no moves, with the former even wearing a smile. To be exact, it was more like he was indifferent, having even gestured to the guards at the door to stay calm and not get riled up. The guards remained in place without charging over or entering into a combative stance. "Is this what Special Ability is? That''s great, really great!" Damn it, they''ve got the gall to say it''s great, even when death is at their doorstep. Are they out of their minds? The "Mystic Fog Specter" showed no hostility either, instead commenting from head to toe, "Blue Star''s Special Ability has its unique aspects, indeed not to be underestimated." On Cangqiong Star, Battle Qi, Magic, and Curse Magic were distinct categories with complete systems. Blue Star''s Special Ability, however, was a new phenomenon, and even though it borrowed from the Eleven Major Elemental Systems rules of Cangqiong Star, there were always some discrepancies, with some rare and unconventional Special Abilities appearing misleadingly similar. One side was on high alert, fully prepared for battle, while the other was calm and serene, a disparity that was awkward for everyone involved. "What do you mean by this?" Chen Fei was very puzzled by their reaction. Hadn''t they revealed their weapons? Shouldn''t they start with a signal before actually starting to fight? "Hehe, we are not enemies!" Old man Bartona remained seated on the sofa, immovable as Taishan, completely unconcerned that the Gigantified "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor could squash him into a pulp with a mere step. "Indeed, relax, there is no need for battle!" The Magical Beast''s mental communication echoed again in the minds of Chen Fei and Bartona. The fluctuations of spiritual power in this form of communication were not strong and didn''t constitute a Mental Shock, thus failing to trigger the defensive reaction of the "Soul Guarding Seal" on Chen Fei''s forehead. This Alchemy Device was designed from the outset with the effect of spiritual communication in mind. "I... I don''t understand!" Chen Fei remained on high alert, the bizarre atmosphere on site muddling his thoughts. This could very well be a trap laid by the enemy, perhaps waiting for him to let down his guard before delivering a harsh blow. The dead, after all, have no say. Caution was still necessary, and Chen Fei was not thrown off balance by a few words from the other side. "The ''Sagali'' clan does not speak with one voice, just as now with Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, having different opinions is a characteristic of Intelligent Species," explained Bartona, pointing at the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter" with its body covered with spiraled spikes, speaking calmly, "Taga is from the peace faction, we can trust it." "We" here is not solely referring to Bartona''s side but probably includes Chen Fei as well, suggesting a sense of closeness in a way, conveying the message that we are all one of us, we are all "us." The old man had quite a knack for personal relations. Anyone in a position of power was often skilled in social interactions, aside from personal capabilities. "I apologize for the oversight, my name is ''Taga''!" The "Mystic Fog Specter" lifted its head, its spiraled spikes ceased trembling, and its presence began to feel even more pronounced. However, the next second, its voice suddenly changed, uttering words that puzzled Chen Fei. "My name is ''Langes''!" This time, the "Mystic Fog Specter" didn''t use mental communication but produced the sound through the vocal cords deep in its throat. Why the double introduction with two different names? This mysterious act was truly baffling. Chen Fei was not unfamiliar with Magical Beasts that had two names; for example, the Magical Beast "Dual-Headed White Wind Crane" who worked as a doctor in the city back home had two names, White Phoenix A and White Phoenix B, mainly because it had two heads, each with its separate consciousness. But this "Mystic Fog Specter" in front of him did not seem to have two heads. Could it be that there were two main brains, or perhaps the "Sagali" parasiting within also had two heads? As if to clear the confusion in Chen Fei''s mind, the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter" continued to vocalize. "You need not be surprised. The one who was conversing with you is ''Taga'' of the ''Sagali'' race, and I am the true identity of ''Mystic Fog Specter,'' ''Langes.'' My consciousness has not been extinguished, it remains free. I share a body with ''Taga,'' and there''s a long story behind this. The current state of symbiosis is by my own will, ''Langes.''" Normally, once a Parasitic Species invades a host, it eliminates the host''s consciousness at the first opportunity and then takes over the possession. However, now the host, "Mystic Fog Specter," had retained its consciousness, harboring two identities, "Langes" and "Taga," corresponding to their respective existents. Chen Fei could hardly believe it and lost his composure as he asked, "This, what''s going on here?" The Magical Beast in front of him completely overturned his understanding of "Sagali." How could the host''s consciousness still exist. He had captured and dissected no fewer than seventy or eighty Parasitic Hosts, yet not one had exhibited the situation before him. Damn it, sparing the host''s consciousness, how could such a thing be possible? But whether it was the Parasitic Species performing a double act or true coexistence, Chen Fei wasn''t a Psychic Power User and had no way to discern. "''Taga'' is a minority faction within the ''Sagali.'' Not all Parasitic Species are bloodthirsty beings, there are always some special individuals which is why we had a chance to communicate," said Bartona, Southern War Zone Commander of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army (Rebel Army) as he slowly stood up and walked over to the possessed Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," patting its spiraled spikes to affirm his claim. Otherwise, this Magical Beast would have swallowed him whole long ago. According to the laws and codes of the Cangqiong Star Civilization under the Slan Dynasty, it is forbidden for all Intelligent Species, including the Human Race and Magical Beasts, to hunt each other indiscriminately, so Magical Beasts won''t attack humans. But for the Parasitic Species "Sagali," this may not be the case. "It''s really, truly... unbelievable." Inside the Gigantification Mode "Dragon Body" and shielded by thick armor, Chen Fei slowly shook his head. The two sides, clearly should be irreconcilable, yet they were able to coexist. For a moment, he still couldn''t believe the reality of the scene before him; after all, Cangqiong Star has suffered from the Parasitic Species for a hundred thousand years, and the Blue Star Civilization is facing the Doomsday Prophecy. "The minority are pariahs, Chen Fei, I hope you don''t take my kin lightly when you meet them, and certainly don''t show mercy," came a thought transmission that effortlessly entered Chen Fei''s mind, showing an extraordinary demeanor. "Report!" Suddenly, a voice came from the entrance. "What is it?" Bartona''s tone changed, regaining the dignity of a Commander of the Southern War Zone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. "Outside, they''re covered with more than ten thousand Pure Light Sparrows!" The trembling in the reporting voice was hard to mask. If no one had looked up, they might not have noticed the increasing number of Pure Light Sparrows flying from afar, settling on the top of the Rock Palace, and yet there was not a single chirp of disturbance. The quieter it was, the more chilling it seemed. Pure Light Sparrows? More than ten thousand? Whether it was Bartona, the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," or including Chen Fei, they all looked up at the palace''s crystal chandelier. "Tweet!" Little Bird stood on a section of the chandelier, lifting its chin with pride, its body shrouded in a halo of a Light System Magic Shield, appearing as one with the glowing chandelier. The little fellow had actually silently gathered its own kind. In everyday life, it''s indeed easy to overlook the presence of the commonly seen Pure Light Sparrows, but once their numbers exceeded ten thousand, that was a different matter altogether. Xiao Jiu incomplete, and when complete, unstoppable! The heavily armored Giantization Mode "Dragon King" swiftly shrank, the geometric shapes dissolving and dividing until they evolved into the slightly lighter "Dragon Guard" Assault-Type Tactical Armor. The long spear-like Alchemy Device "Godslaying Spear," originally concealed within the right arm of the mech, now lay in Chen Fei''s hands, giving him much more confidence. The "Godslaying Spear" and "Soul Guarding Seal," a pair of Alchemy Devices chosen for him by Princess Lin Ziyu, were highly practical¡ªone for offense and one for defense. Even without targeting the Parasitic Species, they were formidable. "Understood! No problem!" Bartona, Southern War Zone Commander of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army (Rebel Army), answered and returned to the sofa he had been sitting in before, plopping down before turning to Chen Fei and saying, "Whether you trust this or not, as we both stand with the Human Race, I believe this is an opportunity." "Why reject the proposal to identify the Parasitic Species?" Chen Fei also took a seat but remained in a posture ready to strike at any moment. If the other party dared make any sudden moves, he''d use one Alchemy Device to stab this old guy dead and the other to kill the Magical Beast ¨C annihilating both the Parasitic Species and its host in a single move. With Xiao Jiu amassing over ten thousand Pure Light Sparrows to bolster his position, the deal was well worth a shot. Bartona glanced at the "Mystic Fog Specter," which had laid back down, and said with loaded significance, "The Southern War Zone doesn''t need it, and I haven''t opposed other war zones doing it, right?" If they started identifying them, the "Taga" here would be exposed first, definitely causing trouble for himself. As for the hidden state of Parasitic Species in other war zones, that was none of Bartona''s concern. Besides, "Taga" had no objection to taking action against its own kind that didn''t share its ideology. From a side view, the method of "unifying" opinions within the "Sagali" clan was quite brutal. Chapter 754: Section 749 - Hallucinations Each family sweeps the snow from their own doorstep; why should they worry about the frost on their neighbor''s roof? Bartona''s explanation barely passed muster. After all, he was only the Commander of the Southern War Zone, and had no say over someone else''s patch of land. "The Blue Star Civilization is about to face its doomsday, do you know about this?" Chen Fei shifted the topic, bringing up a certain "prophecy". "The doomsday of Blue Star?" Bartona frowned; he was not only a person from the Zilu Continent but also a former citizen of the Tessa Empire and a Cangqiong Star person. Even though they were currently in a delicate state of war equilibrium (stalemate) with the Slan Dynasty''s forces, it was unlikely to have any entanglement with the Blue Star Civilization; for them to come to Cangqiong Star was no easy feat. After all, the cross-dimensional gate management system dictated that to traverse between planes, one must obtain permission from both civilizations before passage can be granted. "A high-probability event!" The Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," inside of which resided the Parasitic Species "Taga," transmitted a thought, confirming the matter, and evidently knew some secrets not known to the public. "How do you know this? Wait, what''s this ''Taga'' all about?" Bartona was startled; he turned out to be the last to know in the room. Now that Blue Star and Cangqiong Star were connected through the Dimensional Gate, establishing a certain relationship, one could say it was a shared fate for glory or disaster. If the Blue Star Civilization were to encounter doomsday, the fate of the Cangqiong Star Civilization would hardly be any better. "It''s a prophecy!" Chen Fei sat on the couch, with the "Godslaying Spear" laid across his lap. Before Louis Landon was prepared to witness a significant turning point in history, there weren''t many who knew of the "Doomsday Prophecy"¡ªin fact, they did not number more than five. Now, as expected, the rebellion burst forth in Cangqiong Star''s Zilu Continent. The Rebel Army also attacked the Ground Portal Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City. However, because someone intervened to create variables, it did not fall as prophesied. The core of the Dimensional Gate, the plane coordinates "Longinus," also did not fall into the hands of the Rebel Army¡ªor more accurately, the hands of the Parasitic Species. But the shadow of "doomsday" had not been lifted. To put it accurately, as long as the Parasitic Species still existed, the Blue Star Civilization would still encounter the real doomsday. Bartona said thoughtfully, "Prophecy? Indeed, that is the work of supernatural powers!" The special abilities of Blue Star were strange and varied, so it was not surprising to occasionally see one or two supernatural power users with the ability to prophesy. Even on Cangqiong Star, there were one or two individuals in history who possessed the ability to prophesy, but now it''s impossible to confirm whether it was some kind of spell or curse magic, or a natural gift. The Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter" suddenly spoke up: "What does the doomsday of the Blue Star Civilization have to do with us on Cangqiong Star!" The way of speaking and the tone left no doubt that it was the original will of the host "Langes". "The fate of Blue Star and Cangqiong Star is interlinked; if the Blue Star Civilization perishes, it would be difficult for Cangqiong Star to stand alone," Chen Fei speculated, although how the Cangqiong Star Civilization would end up was not mentioned in the prophecy of the bigwigs. But one could guess, it probably wouldn''t be good. "Not necessarily!" "Langes" expressed disagreement. Cangqiong Star has been fighting against the Extraterrestrial Races "Sagali" for a hundred thousand years, and the predecessors fighting on the front line are still alive. Even if the Parasitic Species make a comeback, Cangqiong Star Civilization won''t fall into chaos, hence "Langes" didn''t share the same concerns as Chen Fei and Louis Landon. Deal with water by piling up earth against it, deal with soldiers by mustering your own; if the Parasitic Species come, at the Heavenly Order level, worst comes to worst, just do it all over again. "Chen Fei is right!" A pulse of spiritual power swept through, and to everyone''s surprise, the Parasitic Species "Taga," residing in the "Mystic Fog Specter," disagreed with its host "Langes." Before this, the personalities and rhythms of both were almost as one, talking as if asking and answering themselves. But now, the difference between "Taga" and "Langes" became immediately evident. This distinction stemmed from their respective stances, "Langes," as an Intelligent Species of the Cangqiong Star Civilization, contrasted with "Taga," representing the Extraterrestrial Race "Sagali." The former was content with their strength in resisting the Parasitic Species, while the latter was acutely aware of the Parasitic Species'' invasion details of both civilizations, and even if not knowing the finer details, it was privy to some unknown secrets. "Though I don''t want to admit it, I am more inclined to believe ''Taga.'' In the face of the civilization''s doomsday, no one can remain unaffected." Bartona, the Commander of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army Southern War Zone, was able to understand why a young man from Blue Star would rush around alone, and even dare to venture alone into the tiger''s den (Southern War Zone Headquarters). The ancient alliances of Cangqiong Star bind all Intelligent Species together. As a member of the Cangqiong Star People and Intelligent Species, he had a clear understanding of how a situation affects everything. "Alright! Let''s treat it as if doomsday will really happen," said the host "Langes" of Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," with no intention of arguing. "Bartona, it seems your invitation was quite prescient. I didn''t expect such a reward." A flicker of thought transmission passed by, a message entered everyone''s mind¡ªthis was the Parasitic Species "Taga" "speaking." With a light laugh, Bartona said, "I was just a bit interested in this young friend, I didn''t expect him to actually dare to come." "So, can you provide me with some information?" Since neither party could start a fight at the moment, Chen Fei simply came up with another idea. "Uh..." The old man looked toward the Magical Beast. Spike after spike, with threads on their surfaces, began to tremble slightly again. "As an outlier within my species, I cannot actively provide information." "Taga" was clearly somewhat apprehensive. It was not only a unique creature in the "Sagali" race with unusual thoughts but also a rare one that had established communication with other Intelligent Species. Once its actions and thoughts were exposed within its species, its fate would probably not be much better than those races that had been tragically devoured and extinguished from the "planetary dining table." "Very well, I''ll ask, and you answer!" Chen Fei accurately grasped another layer of meaning in the other party''s seemingly refusal. He immediately turned his gaze to Bartona and said, "The same goes for your side." The other party was able to identify his origin in one sentence, and accurately grasp his whereabouts. Apart from being betrayed by the local Mercenary Guild, there might be other unknown channels of intelligence, and it was very possible that there were spies even within the Imperial Security Department of the Slan Dynasty. Otherwise, he couldn''t possibly be entirely exposed under the other party''s sight. "Hehe!" Bartona let out an enigmatic chuckle like a sly fox. The subtext was easy to guess: I''ll answer if I feel like it, but asking won''t help if I don''t. This was the home field of the Southern War Zone, and the Commander indeed had the natural advantage. If they didn''t start a fight, it would be difficult for Chen Fei to pin him down. "How many ''Seed Nests'' are there on the continent of Zilu and on Cangqiong Star?" Chen Fei''s first question went straight to the core of the Parasitic Species, the "Seed Nest." As long as the "Seed Nest" still existed, the Parasitic Species could always have the chance of a resurgence. Now that the Parasitic Species had reappeared on Cangqiong Star, it was likely related to the long-hidden "Seed Nest." "You actually know about ''Seed Nests,'' it seems you''ve done quite a bit of homework." A hint of surprise tinged Taga''s telepathically transmitted voice. "What is a ''Seed Nest''?" Bartona furrowed his brows, hearing this term for the first time, puzzled as he looked toward the "Mystic Fog Specter." It seemed that the Parasitic Species had not disclosed everything to him. Sensing the change in Bartona''s emotion, "Taga" frankly said, "My friend, you probably don''t want to know!" Chen Fei thought for a moment and then added, "That''s right, a ''Seed Nest'' is a nightmare. Until you''re ready to make a decision, ignorance is bliss." If it hadn''t been for his personal experience, he could never have imagined what a "Seed Nest" truly was before this ¨C a "Cage," a "Terror Biochemical Laboratory," a "Slaughterhouse," a "Demon''s Lair," the "Root of All Evil," the "Origin of the Apocalypse"... For a civilization, the existence of a "Seed Nest" is like a Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, ready to bring catastrophe at any moment. "Damn it! Can you two speak clearly?" Bartona didn''t want to listen to Taga and Chen Fei speaking in riddles, leaving him out in the cold like a fool ¨C he had the right to know the truth. No sooner had his words fallen than the world in front of his eyes dramatically changed, and he found himself floating in a mild yellow, pristine fluid. Surrounding him were dense hexagonal "Beehives" of various sizes, with grotesque creatures roaming the fluid. Each "Beehive" seemed to harbor a living thing; the silhouettes projected by their internal light revealed their bizarre and varied shapes. Some moved slowly, some darted up and down, others wildly flailed their limbs in a ferocious dance. Some seemed to be enduring immense pain, their outlines changing visibly. Some, without any warning, exploded into a mass of pulp, and the nearby roaming odd creatures dove in, as if gorging. When these creatures came out, their forms had grown larger. Time was lost until the world shifted back to normal, and the hall came back into view. Unable to help himself, Bartona gasped for air, his voice now hoarser. "Taga, what was that?" "Seed Nest!" Taga''s telepathic voice carried no hint of emotional fluctuation. The sight that Bartona had just seen was the effect of a Psychic Series Spell, an illusion that existed in reality and presented in a way almost akin to reality, more impactful than a thousand words could describe. The gem on Chen Fei''s "Soul Guarding Seal" dimmed once more, having intercepted the psychic illusion that had reached the level of a spiritual power attack. He did not fall into the illusion but witnessed it in solitude. "It''s simply... too horrifying!" The dense "Beehives," which likely numbered over ten thousand, sent shivers down Bartona''s spine just remembering them. Chapter 755: Section 750 - Transactions "So, my question!" Barton stopped interfering with his own inquiry, and Chen Fei returned to the main topic. "I''m not in charge of this plan and I''m not sure about other continents, but the number of ''Seed Nests'' in Zhai Liuzhou should be no less than three digits. Additionally, the ''Seed Nests'' on Blue Star could possibly exceed ten, and it would take at least twenty years for them to reach maturity," Although he didn''t provide precise intelligence, "Taga" did provide another astonishing piece of information. The hiding places of "Seed Nests" weren''t only on Cangqiong Star; even Blue Star wasn''t spared. No wonder in the "Doomsday Prophecy" of the great Louis Landon, Blue Star Civilization didn''t hold out for long and quickly fell completely. The disaster had already been planted, and once it erupted collectively, it would effortlessly create a landslide effect, devastating all in its wake. "''Taga,'' can you provide the locations of these ''Seed Nests''?" The quantity of "Seed Nests" revealed by the other party was already shocking enough. If he could go one step further, Chen Fei wouldn''t let this opportunity slip away. If all the "Seed Nests" could be dealt with in one fell swoop, the "Dining Table Plan" of the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" on the two civilized planets would be postponed for at least another fifty years. The Human Race would gain more ample time to respond and more opportunities to counter-attack. This could definitely be considered good news. The Cangqiong Star Civilization might be able to fight a hard battle against the Parasitic Species for a hundred thousand years. If Blue Star Civilization, with its technological and newly emerged special abilities, could also unite and fight a desperate battle, it probably wouldn''t fare much worse. Barton, Commander of the Southern War Zone of Tessa Empire Restoration Army (Rebel Army), had just recovered from the tremendous shock of the illusion and happened to hear the conversation between Chen Fei and "Taga." He said straightforwardly, "I''m afraid that won''t be easy!" Being both a sly fox and a veteran of Jianghu, he immediately saw the subtleties involved and reminded Chen Fei not to be overly optimistic. "Sorry, I can''t say!" As Barton had expected, "Taga" did not hesitate at all. But its mental communication was ambiguous. The first meaning was a clear refusal, and the second indicated that it indeed knew the answer Chen Fei desired. Revealing the number and general location of "Seed Nests" was already quite difficult, but if the "Seed Nests" planted in secret by the "Sagali" were to be uprooted, internal investigations would inevitably trace back to "Taga," it was only a matter of time. Minorities like "Taga," who only dared make subtle moves, had no power to confront their main kindred. They could be devoured in an instant, suffering a fate even worse than the intelligent species eaten at the "Dining Table." So it wasn''t that "Taga" didn''t want to help Chen Fei, but that it couldn''t. Helping would only bring disaster upon itself and threaten its own safety. "I understand! If you could give me some hints!" Chen Fei still refused to give up. This was a big deal, and catching it would be a significant gain. The 47th squad that crossed the Dimensional Gate to Nandu City to take over his work might end up working in vain. "This..." Despite fearing a misstep, "Taga," an outlier of the "Sagali," whose goal was to overturn the "Dining Table" and spoil the grand banquet, was somewhat unwilling to simply let this chance slip away. It''s always better to have more friends who share the same goals and fewer opponents with conflicting views. It naturally didn''t want to miss out on Chen Fei. Otherwise, why would it have bothered to bring him from Sun Domain City? Chen Fei was treated with such importance not just as an individual; behind him were the support of the Slan Royal Family and Blue Star''s wealthy tycoons. "Hehehe, the youngsters of Blue Star, none of them are simple," Seeing Chen Fei successfully manipulate "Taga," the old man Barton let out a schadenfreude-laden snicker. "''Taga,'' if there''s a ''Sagali'' of your kind you don''t like, I''ll directly go and trick it for you. Isn''t it just about framing and getting rid of adversaries? This job is easy." Noticing that the parasite "Taga" living inside the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter" was hesitating, Chen Fei struck while the iron was hot, keeping up the momentum. Stirring internal conflicts comes naturally, without any need for teaching. The history of Blue Star''s First Sovereign is filled with internal strife. Those neighboring, bruised little brothers frequently suffered unprovoked disasters; fighting at the big brother''s home could carelessly result in a punch heading one''s way, getting beat up so badly it leaves a shadow in the heart! "Damn, that''s ruthless!" Commander Barton of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army Southern Warzone quietly spat. "I have a list..." "Taga" couldn''t help but be moved and promptly acted on it. As an outlier among its species, and in a sense a bullied ghost, it had evolved by lying low. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have hidden in the Southern War Zone''s headquarters. Gathering resentment was inevitable, and a little notebook kept track of those who had wronged it. Now finally having an opportunity to call out the culprits, as a master of survival, it wouldn''t miss this chance. Rage swelled in its heart, and malice welled from within, turning that little notebook into a death note, relentlessly passing the complete information to Chen Fei. Names, locations, ranks, and abilities¡ªthe data was nearly a comprehensive dossier. "Actually... I can do that too!" Having touched on "Taga''s" soft spot, Barton was eager to reap some benefits. With the military force of the Southern War Zone, hunting these parasitic species was an easy task, and the Royal Breed was not lacking in Heavenly Order powerhouses. "No, you will expose me!" "Taga" refused this trustworthy partner. "I''ll take out the parasitic species on the list, and you give me the distribution intelligence of the ''Seed Nest''!" The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" immediately organized the hunting list for Chen Fei, who then confirmed the deal with "Taga" again. This was a transaction, not an overflowing of friendship between intelligent species. After all, hunting involved risks, and the roles of hunter and prey could reverse at any time¡ªif Chen Fei wasn''t careful, he wouldn''t return. If "Taga" couldn''t offer enough reward, Chen Fei himself would become the sacrifice to appease the anger. "That''s right!" "Taga" confirmed again. "Then I''ll be on my way!" Chen Fei waved at the crystal chandelier above, where a dozen Pure Light Sparrows were positioned in different spots on the chandelier. But only one was Xiao Jiu''s true form; the others were the result of the Human Order Sixth Rank Light-based Spell "Illusion Light Transformation," a progression from the Fifth Rank "Multiple Light and Shadow Refraction." This spell allowed Xiao Jiu''s illusory avatars to perform different actions, no longer simply replicating the neat and identical multiple mirror images. Although it still lacked combat power, it was highly deceptive. "Jiu! Jiu!" The Little Bird fluttered down and landed steadily on Chen Fei''s shoulder. The illusion of Pure Light Sparrows on the crystal chandelier each hopped a few times, then dissipated into the air as if they had never existed. "Good luck!" The mental voice of "Taga" returned to being devoid of any emotional fluctuations. Parasitic Species were a species with little emotion; the previous emotional response was just a simulation made to facilitate communication with other intelligent species. But "Taga''s" desire to eliminate its oppressive kindred was genuine¡ªthe recognition of a threat and the elimination of that threat was not emotion, but instinct. Watching Chen Fei push the door open and leave, the grand and ornate doors closed once again. Barto, the Commander of the Southern War Zone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, sat on the sofa with a thoughtful frown. He stood up and returned to his desk, then turned and said, " ''Taga'', ''Langes'', I feel like I haven''t gained any benefits!" "No, you have!" both the spoken voice and mental transmission virtually synched, clearly expressing the same message. "Hmm?" Barto was puzzled, it seemed he had overlooked something. "You have one less enemy. Chen Fei came to the Southern War Zone to specifically gather information about you. Did you think he came to make friends with you?" "Taga''s" mental transmission pointed out what Barto had missed, as the latter was bewildered. Because of the trade with Chen Fei, Barto had forgotten the initial reason he had brought Chen Fei here. "Yes, that''s right, that''s right!" Barto reached an epiphany and then immediately dismissed it with disdain, saying, "Just a kid like that, what kind of threat could he pose? (¡¥¨Œ ?~) Cut~~" How could a lone wolf threaten the Southern War Zone, filled with formidable warriors? Sending out any of their experts would easily crush this youngster. "You should not underestimate him. By his own power, he suppressed the ''Undying Pigeon'' army, and that Pure Light Sparrow, once it gathers enough of its kind, even Giant Dragons would have to avoid them." It was precisely because there were no excess emotions that "Taga" could truly see the level of strength of Chen Fei and Xiao Jiu. In this transaction, the other party was not cannon fodder. - "Just now, that was really close!" Hurrying out of the Rock Palace with quick steps, Chen Fei touched the back of his head where sweat only then began to emerge. "Jiu?" The Little Bird was puzzled. Chapter 756: Section 751 - After the Yellow Sparrow Because the parasitic species "Taga" unexpectedly caused chaos and subsequent developments, Chen Fei and Bartona, the Commander of the Southern War Zone, were temporarily not in opposition to each other. However, they were still not friends but merely temporary allies using each other in a relationship that could betray one another without a second thought. Everyone acts for their own benefit, whether coming or going. If Chen Fei didn''t have enough personal strength to make the other party value him, they wouldn''t be able to reach a deal. Chen Fei might have already been dead; killing Chen Xiao''er would be as easy as killing a little chicken. Bartona, who raised a rebellion, was no saint, and neither was the outcast "Taga" from the "Sagali" clan. Humans can befriend lambs and pigs, but does that mean they stop eating lamb and pork? They probably enjoy it even more! (A group of Dongying elementary students raising pigs... that''s really just being sentimental. It''s quite common in Huaxia Village. Pigs are so cute; of course, they should be braised! ?¨Œ ?!) Going into enemy territory alone is something you''d only see in traditional operas. In reality, there are no fools ready to laugh along with you. Dying eight hundred times would still not be considered enough. From the moment he stepped into the Rock Palace until he walked out unscathed, Chen Xiao''er had been sweating bullets. Sometimes he acted recklessly, but he wasn''t really stupid; lacking intelligence wouldn''t get him through college. He teased the little bird on his shoulder. "Let''s go! Let''s head back!" Xiao Jiu turned its head and chirped toward the Rock Palace. A group of little brothers were still on standby on the roof, causing the rebels to feel extremely anxious. Instantly, a "Black Cloud" rose to the sky, thousands of Pure Light Sparrows flying in all directions, dispersing entirely, making everyone in the camp simultaneously breathe a sigh of relief. Even though roasted bird skewers were only one Star Yuan each at the market, no one dared to consider these live Pure Light Sparrows harmless when gathered in large numbers. Just as Chen Fei was about to leave with Xiao Jiu from the large camp at the Southern War Zone Headquarters, a burst of noise suddenly erupted nearby. Then there was continuous flickering of spell light, roaring explosions, and various screams and howls, immediately stirring up a commotion. The Psi Skill "Basic Optical Observer" activated automatically, starting to load various vision modules, "Macroscopic Perspective" combined with "Visual Assistance," and an artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was interfaced to augment the given AR mode in the visual nerve, using a skyward view to identify the source of the chaos immediately. Wouldn''t have known if I hadn''t seen it... Hey, what a coincidence! It turns out to be Chen Fei''s fault, bringing in those mercenaries now causing havoc inside the military camp of the Southern War Zone Headquarters. Once the officers there reacted, those mercenaries couldn''t hop around anymore. The mercenaries knew this, so while creating chaos, they desperately rushed toward the outside of the camp, even managing to steal a vehicle. But not being familiar with the military camp, they ran around like headless flies, creating a lot of chaos but unable to find the right way out. A few open-top military jeeps scrambled around and rushed past Chen Fei. But the leading military jeep, without any warning, spun a beautiful 180 degrees, both front and rear wheels powering up, kicking up a lot of sand and soil, returned in front of Chen Fei, and slammed to a stop. The mercenary at the driver''s seat shouted toward Chen Fei. "Hey! Get in!" Thinking Chen Fei, like them, was also taking the opportunity to escape, and those who could break out must have some skills. An extra person could add more strength, and grouping together would give them a better chance to break out. The other few military jeeps were somewhat caught off guard, clumsily turning and gathering together. "Baron, why call him? Let''s go!" A young woman''s voice came from the backseat of the jeep, the formidable Lulisa glaring at Chen Fei ¡ª thanks to this detestable guy, the "Yellow Sparrow" squad was brought to the Tessa Empire Restoration Army Southern War Zone Headquarters. "You still think you can run?" Suddenly, a shadow swept across the sky, and a loud voice followed as a figure descended from the heavens, crashing down. "Gaga gaga!~" A fully armed Flying Dragon circled above the camp. Apart from the Giant Dragon, the Bipedal Flying Dragon is one of the most famous original aerial knights; once Assembled Combat Aircraft became the trend, Magical Beast mountings quickly left the stage, only seen in remote areas where transportation was inconvenient. Nowadays, those who continue to rear dragons are mostly for hobbies or nostalgic sentiment. But these Flying Species Magical Beasts retired, and it took a long time to adapt to a new lifestyle. Shh!~A blazing Sword Qi erupted more than three feet, blocking several military jeeps stolen by the mercenaries. With a single move, the prowess was at least of an Earth Order Sword God. "It''s all your fault, Baron, we''re done for!" Trapped directly by an Earth Order War Professional, the mercenaries immediately fell into despair. Just one like him could effortlessly kill all the mercenaries like little chicks, with no chance of escape. Chen Fei, seemingly oblivious to the Fire System War Professional, came to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder and calmly said, "Alright, you all get off and line up!" "I will haunt you even as a ghost!" The mercenary woman Lulisa furiously cursed. "We''re done for, totally done for!" "If we hadn''t turned around earlier, we might have broken out." "Baron, you''ve really screwed us over!" The mercenaries in the vehicle were silently cursing their luck as the Southern War Zone Headquarters had sent experts and they had already missed the best chance to break out. "Everyone out, line up, are you deaf?" A bellow from the Fire System Sword God thundered like an explosion next to everyone''s ears, leaving them all dazed. Just this battle-filled roar alone was enough to rob the mercenaries of their will to fight. After all, the rank difference was simply too great; the highest among them was just a Seventh Rank Earth Mage. If they had the power of higher ranks, who would choose to be mercenaries? Wouldn''t it be more lucrative to work as bodyguards or doormen for some rich tycoon? Baron: "..." The tomboyish Lulisa: "..." The mercenaries were collectively baffled. What did this all mean? Their eyes shifted back and forth between Chen Fei and the Fire System Sword God. Damn it, the two were actually in cahoots! The mercenaries felt like dying. Even Baron, the leader who had kindly turned the vehicle around to bring Chen Fei along in their escape attempt, began to regret his decision, realizing he had misjudged the person. Facing the intimidation of the powerful, they had no choice but to obediently get out of the car, standing in a line trembling, their hearts like fifteen buckets fetching water ¡ª constantly fluctuating up and down. "Hand them over to me. There''s no problem with that, right?" Chen Fei still didn''t look at the War Professional next to him, as if talking to himself. "Hmph!" The surging Sword Qi instantly quieted down silently, and the Fire System Sword God sheathed his sword and didn''t bother with Chen Fei or the mercenaries anymore, striding off. Thanks to the communication methods passed down from the Blue Star Civilization, the temporary collaboration Chen Fei had with Bartona, the Southern War Zone Commander of the Parasitic Species "Taga," had been communicated to every combat unit. Naturally, no one would trouble Chen Fei, and some might even give him some face. "Huh?" Baron, leader of the "Yellow Sparrow" mercenary team, was stunned, his understanding overturned once again. What was the background of this young man who had been caught by the Southern War Zone Headquarters? Could it have been a misunderstanding before? The courageous tomboyish Lulisa was instantly revived on the spot and shouted at Chen Fei, "Hey, which side are you on, buddy?" Her judgment was indeed lacking; she was simply impulsive. If it weren''t for the leader Baron who had good insight, this type of rash person would have probably died many times over already. "Me? I''m the client!" Chen Fei pointed to himself and chuckled. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; beneath the tree, there''s a child ready with a slingshot. The others wanted to rope him in, but now who was the prey was up for debate. "Client? What do you mean?" Baron frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly caught on, blurting out, "You want to hire us?" "Exactly! That''s right!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers loudly. He wasn''t a rich man who could casually employ professional mercenaries, but someone else was picking up the bill for his expenses. Previously, in Sun Domain City at the "Holy Blood Guild," when buying information about the commander of the Southern War Zone, the big shot Louis Landon didn''t hesitate to pay fifteen million Star Yuan, and hiring a mercenary squad wouldn''t be a problem either. Compared to the three squads prepared for Nandu City, this mercenary squad''s expense could be described as cheap. Finally understanding the situation, Lulisa, as one of the only three female members in the mercenary squad, sneered repeatedly. "We''re not cheap, you know!" Chen Fei said offhandedly, "Fifty thousand Star Yuan per day, including food, lodging, and ammunition consumption." For his upcoming plans, he needed manpower and didn''t want to look around; these mercenaries dared to cause trouble in the camp of the Southern War Zone Headquarters. If nothing else, they had the courage necessary. The mercenaries on the scene froze for a moment. The pay wasn''t bad, especially since it covered food, lodging, and weapon and ammunition expenses; it was pure profit. Although the mercenary business in the southern region of the Zilu Continent was booming, it was also fiercely competitive. Most mercenaries could only scrape by, just earning enough to survive. To eat meat heartily, drink heavily, and divide gold generously, earning a hefty sum was still rare, only achievable by teams that were both well-known and strong. "Deal!" The leader of the "Yellow Sparrow" mercenary squad, Baron, agreed without hesitation. Chapter 757: Section 752 - Humble B-Class Special Ability ``` "Eh? What''s going on here?" Lulisa from the "Yellow Sparrow" mercenary squad looked utterly confused, unable to comprehend the situation. Before, she had planned on pulling Chen Fei into their own squad, but now he had become their employer and they had to watch his expressions? The power of the employer is terrifying indeed!~ "Let''s get out of here first! Get in the vehicle!" Chen Fei flung his hand behind him, and the modified mobile base vehicle suddenly appeared behind him. When he left the Rock Palace, Southern War Zone Headquarters had returned all personally confiscated items to him, including the bracelet camouflaged as a space series alchemy storage device. The military jeep snatched by the mercenaries belonged to the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, and Chen Fei had no wish to take advantage of such a small benefit. The AI "Adam" confirmed the direction of departure, and the mobile base vehicle activated autonomous driving mode. As the mercenaries got into the vehicle one by one, they curiously inspected the carriage. With a slight shudder beneath their feet, the outside view slowly receded into the distance, "Sorry, all our communicators and equipment have been confiscated." "Yellow Sparrow" squad leader Baron sat down opposite Chen Fei, spreading his hands. These items weren''t worth a great deal of money, but for mercenaries relying on assignments for a living, they represented a significant amount of wealth. Given the current situation, it seemed they would not be able to reclaim them. To escape the place of their confinement, all of the weapons and ammunition they had were obtained through looting along the way, and their supply was not abundant. Chen Fei''s hiring had resolved the "Yellow Sparrow" squad''s urgent needs, preventing the danger of disbandment. "What do you need? Make a list for me!" Chen Fei took out a box of mobile phones and a few tablets. The supplies provided by Louis Industries were not just a munitions depot; they included a large supermarket, offering mobile phones by the box, even the latest models which weren''t due to hit the market for another month. Cloud technology was also available on Cangqiong Star; with personal accounts, switching electronic devices allowed the retrieval of various digital data. "I can give you that right now!" Baron didn''t stand on ceremony and opened a box on the spot, distributing the phones. Many of "Yellow Sparrow" squad''s records were stored in the cloud, including a supply list, and most importantly, communication archives and bank numbers. Ordinary mercenaries weren''t affluent enough to own a space series alchemy storage device; when traveling, they usually traveled light. Those who were a bit more diligent might have a secret base for storing supplies and resting. Using the new phones to log into their personal accounts, they quickly compiled a list and sent it to Chen Fei. "The first installment of your payment has been transferred to your account; this mobile base vehicle is now at your disposal." Chen Fei had transferred the "Yellow Sparrow" mercenary squad''s monthly employment fee, an immediate cash availability of 1.5 million Star Yuan, to their communal account, without needing to seek reimbursement for the time being; he then proceeded to place some supplies inside the mobile base vehicle. The nearly 20-meter long mobile base vehicle had originally been designed to meet the needs of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s Huntsman Squad, so providing mobility and logistical support for the "Yellow Sparrow" mercenary squad was more than sufficient. Now with money and equipment, and having safely disengaged themselves from the Southern War Zone Headquarters'' barracks, there was a buoyant atmosphere among the "Yellow Sparrow" squad. "Excuse me, are you planning to fight a battle?" Seeing Chen Fei serenely provide them with all the items from the list, Baron and the other mercenaries were collectively dumbfounded. If they hadn''t witnessed it with their own eyes, they would hardly believe anyone could carry a "warehouse" full of supplies, including women''s monthly necessities. The weapons extracted from the space series alchemy storage device weren''t just standard military equipment; some were so advanced that even Cangqiong Star''s military had not yet deployed them¡ªmerely existing as conceptual designs in rumors. The origins of these items were indeed suspicious; the value of these equipments alone far exceeded 1.5 million Star Yuan. If they robbed him, wouldn''t they be set for life? But the mercenaries in this line of work still had their pride. They risked their lives for money, not as bandits. Like their counterparts on Blue Star, there was a professional ethic that had to be maintained at the cost of life. Chen Fei did not respond directly, watching the mercenaries evaluating the equipment and said, "You should prepare for a battle." Being on Cangqiong Star, it was not easy to obtain supplies from Blue Star. Louis Landon, the big shot, had paid a hefty price for a lasting solution, allowing Chen Fei to be easygoing today. ``` Even if Louis Landon could prepare the same vast amount of supplies, he would not be able to gather a second "Spatial Branding"; even if he could, he wouldn''t guarantee the capacity of the storage space, as it was the product of supernatural abilities. The combination that emerged was already a one-in-ten-thousand miracle, so it was impossible to replicate. "May I ask, who is our enemy?" Being a mercenary is life on the knife''s edge, and Baron, the leader of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, didn''t think the upcoming mission would be easy. Earning money through risking one''s life was only natural. "The parasitic species ''Sagali,'' brace yourselves!" Chen Fei was not worried that these guys would pull a "grab-and-run" stunt because if they did, this Mobile Base Vehicle would become their coffin. A part of the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" not only controlled the Mobile Base Vehicle but was also integrated into some equipment. Moreover, he didn''t plan to hire just one mercenary squad. The "Yellow Sparrow" squad was just for testing the waters to see what the difference was between them and the military contractors of Blue Star. Whether it was the group combat model or using numerous mercenaries, the purpose was to compensate for the insufficient combat forces against parasitic species. After all, even if the parasitic species stood still and let Chen Fei kill them, it would be unknown how long it would take to eradicate them completely. Baron''s expression froze, and he said in disbelief, "Huh? Are you joking?" Cangqiong Star had long been threatened by the extraterrestrial race "Sagali," and the space rift that had existed in the stars for a hundred thousand years ended over thirty years ago. The space rift turned into the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, connecting to another civilized planet, Blue Star, a world dominated by technological civilization without magic. The parasitic species "Sagali" finally became a thing of the past. Now, being mentioned again suddenly, it caught Baron and the other native Cangqiong Star People off guard. Over thirty years was not enough time for everyone to forget the horror of the parasitic species. "1.5 million Star Yuan a month plus so much equipment, all for a joke? That would be the real joke!" Chen Fei''s expression was very serious. Whether it was himself, the big shot Louis Landon, or the Slan Royal Family, no one would joke about such things. The parasitic species did indeed exist; there were no tranquil years. The scenery outside the window changed, and the Mobile Base Vehicle smoothly left the military camp of the Southern War Zone Headquarters without any interception from beginning to end. "..." The previously cheerful laughter of Baron and the other mercenaries instantly fell silent, their expressions quickly turning sour as the weapons in their hands felt inadequate. If it wasn''t a joke, then that meant... A mercenary said in a low voice, "We''re just mercenaries, I''m afraid we can''t deal with the parasitic species!" In the hundred-thousand-year history of fighting against the parasitic species on Cangqiong Star, it was always the beings of Heavenly Order who were active on the extraterrestrial battlefield. Even those of Earth Order were somewhat unqualified, and the combat power of the Human Order was even less. Looking at the members of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, not to mention Earth Order ability users, there wasn''t even a single one of Human Order Eighth or Ninth Rank. Fighting against a terrifying existence like the parasitic species, it was feared they might not even qualify to be cannon fodder. "You don''t need to be at the front lines; your tasks are to stand guard, to restrain, and to clean up the battlefield." Fighting against parasitic species head-on was something not even regular armies could withstand. Chen Fei, who could hold his own against a main battle legion, could understand the combat power of the parasitic species. The practical fighting power of the mercenaries was still at an advantage due to the relative abundance of ability users. If ability users were subtracted, even the military contractors from Blue Star might be somewhat inferior. Baron let out a silent sigh of relief and immediately apologized, "I''m truly sorry. Our ''Yellow Sparrow'' squad has limited capabilities and can''t be of much help." It seemed that their employer counted their lives as valuable, not forcing them to go to their deaths. As mercenaries taking on commissions, the worst fear was such unreasonable employers. Disregarding the actual situation, they treated mercenaries as expendable. If the mission was terminated in time, that would be fine, but once trapped, it would likely mean a loss of both men and money. The tomboy Lulisa from the "Yellow Sparrow" mercenary squad said in confusion, "Then who will deal with the parasitic species?" Had their employer hired other help? Chen Fei glanced at her and said, "I will handle them!" "You? Alone?" Lulisa, taken aback, was about to laugh it off. "Why do you think the Southern War Zone Headquarters treated me with respect? Think about how you got out." Chen Fei pointed outside the window where the view was no longer of the military camp. None of those who dared to rebel were pushovers; if they let him leave unscathed, it wasn''t because of a change of heart but because Chen Fei''s strength made both Bartona, the Commander of the Southern War Zone, and the parasitic species "Taga" take notice. To turn against him would not be cost-effective. Baron probed, "Are you of Heavenly Order?" If he were a Heavenly Order ability user, he would naturally not employ the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, and he would equally deserve the respect of the Rebel Army Southern Warzone Headquarters. "Just a humble B-ranked supernatural power user," Chen Fei said with a cupped fist salute, giving a modest shake. There were quite a few sorry figures who had been fooled by this mere B-rank. Absolute SuperB, for short, SB! Chapter 758: Section 753 - Meeting The mercenaries in the "Yellow Sparrow" squad looked at each other. My heart almost jumped out, thinking it was some big shot, but that''s all it was? The classification of levels A through G is a special grading standard for supernatural powers unique to Blue Star. Supernatural powers are a specialty of Blue Star. Chen Fei''s self-reported B grade made it easy to guess that he was from Blue Star. Cangqiong Star might awaken one or two supernatural power users occasionally, but it''s extremely rare and most of them have Blue Star lineage. The native intelligent species of Cangqiong Star are basically insulated from the unstable ability of supernatural powers. Even if one emerges, they are often considered spellcasters incapable of advancing in rank. "Not that impressive after all!" Lulisa curled her lip, maintaining the respect due to a client. Not only does the ability level of a supernatural power user from Blue Star matter, but their psi skills matter too. If their psi skill is not useful, then it''s all for naught. "Hah, so you''re from Blue Star?" Baron somewhat realized it; no wonder the other party kept refusing to join the "Yellow Sparrow" squad. Even if someone from Blue Star wanted to enter this field, they would only send their resumes to Blue Star''s military contractors, not think about joining a Cangqiong Star mercenary. "Since you''re so wealthy, why not hire several powerful teams? Our captain happens to know a few decent colleagues." Lulisa didn''t believe that a mere B-grade ability user could hold his ground alone on the frontline against the extraterrestrial races and kindly made a suggestion. Just any parasitic species that shows up, and a B-grade wouldn''t even be enough to fill their stomach! Unlike Blue Star''s military contractors who often undermine each other''s business, mercenaries from Cangqiong Star tend to collaborate with peers to take on large deals. Competition yet cooperation has become the industry norm. "Sure!" Chen Fei nodded. The army of the Silan Dynasty was stuck in a stalemate with the rebel forces, unable to advance deep into the continent. The rebel group he knew was stationed in one place and couldn''t follow him around, and the rest of the rebel forces were simply untrustworthy. Counting over and over, the mercenaries working for money were indeed an option. Coming to the mercenary-active southern part of the continent was apparently the right move. "Yellow Sparrow" squad leader Baron clapped his hands, delighted, "Great, I''ll set it up!" Everyone earns when there''s money, today I help you, tomorrow you help me, so everyone gets to eat, avoiding conflicts over food. No matter what, even if the times are tough, we can always manage a meal, unlike the fierce competition among military contractors on Blue Star. "I''ll set the place, and how about tomorrow?" Chen Fei spoke these words before someone else could. It was just a meeting between leaders of several mercenary teams, so there was no need for a grand reservation of the venue. Baron, puzzled, said, "It''s soon enough, but we could meet at the hotel just fine without a special reservation!" Is it some rich man''s eccentricity? Sshhh... that could be a big deal! "We need a big space!" Chen Fei gave a slightly mysterious smile. "Here we go again!" The tomboy of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad rolled her eyes fiercely; this show-off had been non-stop since the beginning. ... Three days later, a village on the western outskirts of Sun Domain City. The modern technological transformations on Cangqiong Star mainly focus on towns and cities with populations surpassing 200,000. Once in the remote countryside, the elements of technological civilization sharply decline, leaving only the wireless communication covering human activities, standard-grade roads, and various water and electric lines, while everything else remains as before the touch of industrial technology. Scattered cumulus clouds that looked like mountains dotted the sky, and the light from the Holy Flame Sun occasionally pierced through the gaps in the clouds, signaling a brief clear spell, indicating that rain was imminent. The village had been forewarned, and with less than 5000 star yuan, everything was ready with over a dozen service personnel, tables, chairs, and snacks¡ªan uncommon extravaganza for the villagers. A few children chased and frolicked near the venue, laughing and shouting incessantly. A series of all-electric cars approached from a distance along the two-lane village road, guided by continuous road signs, nearing the agreed venue. "Baron, your employer is an oddball. Can''t this be discussed in the city?" The boss of the "Red Hero Stone" mercenary corps got out of the car, took his greatsword from the vehicle''s rear cargo hold, and carried it on his back. He took a deep sniff, immediately catching the scent of livestock manure and a faint smell of burning vegetation¡ªdistinctive rural odors. Even when attending a meeting, he never parted from his weapon; its iron-grey blade was speckled with marks from countless desperate battles. "You should know, we only complete commissions without questioning the reasons." The captain of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, Baron, who had been waiting at the farmhouse, came forward and embraced Cliff, the boss of the "Red Hero Stone" Mercenary Corps, with such force that both of them grunted until they finally let go of each other. "Are you sure this one is a big client?" Cliff gave Baron another punch, a friendly gesture, not intending to kill him with a single blow. The "Red Hero Stone" Mercenary Corps was a small corps with over a hundred combat personnel, and their regular contracts made the eleven-member "Yellow Sparrow" squad quite envious; any single contract could keep the latter busy for a year. The jobs that the "Yellow Sparrow" squad took were considered beneath the "Red Hero Stone," not even worth the trouble, as they might result in losses rather than profits. "Certain, a person who was caught by the Restoration Army Command and then courteously expelled from the country, do you think he is a minor character?" Baron hated that the "Yellow Sparrow" squad was just a small, inconspicuous team. If it were a mid-sized or larger corps, even bigger than "Red Hero Stone," he would have liked to monopolize this contract. Although the daily pay Chen Fei offered was only 50,000 Star Yuan, which was not little for the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, the real jackpot was the equipment provided¡ªexclusively active-duty and even legendary concept-level weapons. With such a show of wealth, even if he wasn''t a big boss himself, there definitely was a real big boss behind him. "Uh! This seems kind of interesting!" Cliff of the "Red Hero Stone" scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then nodded. The mercenaries making a living in Sun Domain City all knew that the Commander of the Southern War Zone of the Restoration Army was not someone easy to deal with. "This place is really desolate! Only mobile phones can receive a signal, and there isn''t even a theater or restaurant. One of the mercenary leaders who got off the other cars, the captain of the "Soul Yama Tiger" Mercenary Corps, glanced around. The farming season was over, leaving the fields barren. The tables and chairs laid out indicated it was set up for a cold meal, at least there was no worry about finding a place to eat. "Baron, are all the people you invited here?" A middle-aged woman''s voice sounded. Most leaders of the mercenary corps were male. The few female ones were absolutely more fierce and vicious than men. "Yes, everyone is here, please take your seats!" The captain of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, Baron, did not dare to neglect this woman, known as the leader of the "Soul Eating Flower" Mercenary Corps. He quickly ushered the people getting out of the cars toward the area where rows of chairs were placed. There was also a surface made up of several boxes, upon which a gray felt carpet was laid. Every captain came not alone but with their team''s high-level staff and several capable combat personnel. About thirty people arrived at this farmhouse about 30 kilometers away from Sun Domain City in seven or eight vehicles. After glancing at the mercenaries who were seating themselves, Baron pressed his earpiece. "Boss, everyone is here!" "Good, I''m here too!" Just as Chen Fei''s voice died away, a figure suddenly appeared on the makeshift platform of wooden boxes. "Wow!~" Almost reflexively, more than half of the leaders and accompanying personnel of the mercenary corps jumped up from their seats. "Relax, take it easy. I am Chen Fei, from Blue Star, and the client who commissioned the ''Yellow Sparrow'' squad this time." Chen Fei gestured downwards with his hands. "Tweet!~" His shoulder''s Little Bird chirped powerfully, suggesting the presence of a Pure Light Sparrow! Chen Fei didn''t teleport or appear out of thin air but had used Xiao Jiu''s spell to achieve optical invisibility; he had been standing there all along, just distorting the light to refract all the diffuse reflection away from himself, making him invisible from the seating area below. Those ability users sensitive to aura found it easy to detect Chen Fei''s presence; the mercenaries who didn''t jump were obviously aware of someone on the stage. "Hah, truly unexpected, you really can''t underestimate things!" The only female mercenary corps leader present, Ballerina, known by the nickname "Soul Eating Flower," calmly sat in her chair and leisurely clapped her hands. She too was one of the few mercenaries who had detected Chen Fei''s location. "Please, everyone be seated and stay calm!" Chen Fei gestured for everyone to sit down and continued, "I invited you all here to get acquainted. If destiny allows, and there''s a chance for collaboration in the future, you''ll be considered preferentially." Cliff, the boss of the "Red Hero Stone," looked around and raised his voice, "Hey! Young man, are you the only one here? Why don''t I see anyone else?" By others, he naturally didn''t include the folks from the "Yellow Sparrow" squad. It was indeed peculiar for Chen Fei, claiming to be the client, to be the only one present. Logically, such a wealthy big shot should have at least a dozen attendants around him. Chapter 759: Section 754 - Showcasing Muscles "That''s right, it''s just me alone!" Chen Fei could certainly pick up on the implied meaning in the other''s words but nonchalantly nodded anyway. He was indeed alone, but not merely a single person; otherwise, relying solely on his own efforts for everything, he would not have survived until now. There were many people and forces capable of killing Chen Fei. "If you want to employ us, money alone won''t cut it, young man!" The leader of the "Red Hero Stone" Corps, Cliff, didn''t have any ill intentions, just reminding the other party that a mercenary group of their level required more than money. Teams with fewer than a hundred mercenaries can handle everything with cash alone, but once a team exceeds a hundred, with all the consumption of various supplies and the cost of keeping everyone fed and equipped, outsourcing is no longer sufficient. The pressure on logistics increases geometrically, which is why there are not only combat personnel but also logistics staff. Aside from funds, it''s best if the employer can also provide a base for rest and various supplies, to lighten the mercenaries'' burden while they carry out their contracted missions. The lighter the burden, the higher the combat effectiveness they can display. "If money can solve the problem, then it''s not a problem at all." Chen Fei''s reply represented others. He was not rich, but someone else was. Louis Industrial Company was Blue Star''s top-tier manufacturer and financial powerhouse, with expansive business and strong financial strength, certainly not the type to frown over money. One must admit that a true boss thinks ahead and prepares thoroughly, whether it''s funds or materials, and even Chen Fei himself could shoulder part of the logistic support. The mercenaries could have everything they wished for. "Heh, I love to hear that!" The leader of the "Soul Yama Tiger" Mercenary Corps, Leige, scratched the back of his head, chuckling merrily, while exchanging glances with a few other mercenary leaders who also shared in the jovial laughter. If all problems can be solved with money, no matter how costly, it is still considered a solution. Employers with deep pockets are most welcome among mercenaries, not to mention those from Cangqiong Star, but also their fellow military contractors from Blue Star. "Who''s backing you? Can you give us a hint?" Barina was not distracted by the change in topic. As a woman leading mercenaries to form a corps, she relied not just on boldness and caution but on many other abilities as well. Taking money in exchange for risking one''s life is only fair; even if mercenaries die, they must die with clarity. Dying confusedly as cannon fodder is unacceptable, otherwise, it''s better not to take such commissions. "The Silan Royal Family, Blue Star''s Louis Industrial Company, and perhaps... the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee." As Chen Fei listed the forces standing behind him, he raised his fingers one by one. Merely the "Water Bear" organization was enough to mobilize the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Parasitic Species with even higher threats would certainly not escape the military unions of Blue Star sovereignties, the Global Defense Committee. He had to clarify, otherwise, these proud mercenaries would only see him alone and would never be convinced, which would then make any future conversations futile. What the fuck!!! The faces of the mercenary leaders present immediately lost their casual expressions. Whether it was the Silan Royal Family or the subsequent two, when combined, they amounted to the highest will of two civilizations, capable of waging interstellar wars. "Hmm, the Tessa Empire Restoration Army might be counted too." The fact that Chen Fei could openly meet with these mercenary leaders also represented the attitude of the Rebel Army to some extent. Otherwise, he would not have been allowed to leave the Southern War Zone Headquarters and would have been detained immediately. All the mercenaries present collectively could not comprehend the magnitude. Cangqiong Star, Blue Star, sovereignty, financial magnates, even the enemies they were currently combating had all been involved¡ªwhat kind of fearsome entity had you provoked? "Are you joking?" The forthright Cliff almost threw his Great Sword on the spot. A leader of a mercenary group asked loudly, "What are you trying to do?" "Before we sign the official employment contract, it''s better you don''t know." Chen Fei waved his hand, unwilling to divulge more. After all, this was just a meeting for everyone to get acquainted, without any intention of confirming anything definite. If need be, they could reach an employment agreement at a moment''s notice. "All secretive and intentionally mysterious!" Barina huffed coldly. Anyone would treat Chen Fei''s words as wild boasts, as was only natural. If he really had such a background, probably all the mercenaries of Cangqiong Star would need to be assembled to handle it¡ªjust a few mercenary groups would be far from enough. "Quiet, quiet!" Seeing that the situation was slipping out of control, "Yellow Sparrow" Squadron Leader Baron hurriedly spoke up, trying to maintain order. "Baron, your employer is just a rich madman. We ''Soul Yama Tiger'' still have jobs to do, so we won''t accompany you in this game any longer." "Soul Yama Tiger" Mercenary Corps Leader Leige stood up, patted his trousers, and prepared to leave. As one person took the lead, more mercenary leaders also got up to leave. Suddenly, the sky darkened as if the rain from the cumulus clouds had arrived early. "This damn weather, is it going to rain?" When they headed out and saw the mountainous clouds in the sky, "Soul Yama Tiger" Mercenary Corps Leader Leige knew the weather was not going to get any better. He looked up at the sky and did not see the clouds change from white to gray or even dark rain clouds; instead, immense objects broke through the clouds, continuously descending. The fleet, large enough to block the sunlight streaming through the gaps in the clouds, cast an ominous gloom over the day. Massive aircraft opened a series of hangar doors on their sides. One after another, small aircraft soared out in rapid succession, quickly forming numerous formations that danced across the sky. "Where did those come from?" "Red Hero Stone" Corps Leader Cliff instinctively gripped his Great Sword, only to slump and let go shortly after. Let alone him alone, all those present combined would not withstand a single volley from the fleet in the sky. "It''s not a Light Wing Ship!" Female Mercenary Leader Ballerina noticed that the large aircraft did not have the Light Wings extended on their sides, which were starkly different from Cangqiong Star''s large constructed aircraft style. They looked more like, more like the style of the Blue Star Civilization. "What''s going on here?" Seeing the unfamiliar fleet emerging from the clouds and lowering their altitude, "Yellow Sparrow" Squadron Leader Baron, who was helping Chen Fei to organize this meeting, stared dumbfounded, not just him¡ªthe other members of the "Yellow Sparrow" Squadron had already been stupefied. "This is my fleet!" Chen Fei''s voice reached everyone''s ears, simultaneously snapping their souls back to reality. Female Mercenary Leader Ballerina turned her head back with annoyance, "This joke isn''t funny at all. If you have a fleet like this, what do you need us for?" The other mercenaries also felt the same sense of disappointment. Did they call them all the way from Sun Domain City just to watch someone show off? "I need people responsible for vigilance, containment, and cleaning up the battlefield. You''re not needed for the frontal combat." Chen Fei repeated the purpose of his commission to the "Yellow Sparrow" Squadron once again. He sought these mercenaries for ground control on the battlefield, to consolidate positions, and to clean up the rear lines, ensuring there were no concerns from behind. Among the "Spatial Branding" in his hand were a large number of Combat Mechs, all flashed with "Adam" to replace the original combat AI, performing much more excellently in battle. He did not need these mercenaries to serve as cannon fodder. Seeking a group for miscellaneous tasks was exactly what these mercenaries were suitable for. To directly confront the Parasitic Species, he would have to rely on the regular army. The active-duty forces of the Silan Dynasty, the regular army of the Rebel Army, and the teams organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were all stronger and more appropriate than these mercenaries. "Damn it, I was mistaken!" "Soul Yama Tiger" Mercenary Corps Leader Leige muttered annoyedly and turned back to sit down in his original spot, showing he knew how to read the situation. The others preparing to leave exchanged glances and then, as if by mutual consent, went back to their seats, even more obedient than little kids in kindergarten. In this line of work, not having the ability to see the situation clearly wouldn''t do. The appearance of Blue Star''s large aircraft style in the airspace near the Tessa Empire Restoration Army Southern Warzone Headquarters, without being intercepted, indicated that at least two of the backers Chen Fei mentioned must be confirmed. Therefore, the others were very likely true as well. The mercenaries were very pragmatic. Chen Fei had demonstrated his power, and they instantly acknowledged and respected it. Sometimes, the appropriate display of muscle was more effective and reliable than any amount of sweet talk and sincerity. "Since every mission is different, I will selectively hire some teams to assist me." Chen Fei still stood on the stage, unwavering, and the mercenaries were finally willing to listen to every word he said with full attention. A painstaking effort, indeed. He had control over the resources but did not need so many mercenaries for every battle. First, he wanted to get to know the mercenaries in Sun Domain City, make his presence known so that when the time came to call on them, it would be much more convenient. After all, hiring more hands inevitably led to haggling and various other disputes over details, which could easily delay the opportunity for action. "As long as the price is right, we ''Red Hero Stone'' have no problem." Cliff looked to his acquaintance, the leader of the "Yellow Sparrow" Squadron, "Baron, you know my rates. I''ll leave the liaison to you." Having a familiar colleague liaise was a good thing in a way¡ªdefinitely better than being directed by clueless outsiders. "A flat rate¡ªcombat personnel, 5000 Star Yuan per person per day. I''ll cover all ammunition supplies and equipment maintenance. If you''re willing, sign the intent contract on the spot." Although he was the employer, Chen Fei did not let others lead him by the nose. Instead, he straightforwardly put forward his standards. Speaking for the other mercenary leaders, "Red Hero Stone" Corps Leader Cliff asked, "Huh? What about the logistics personnel? Like our corps, we have logistics personnel too. What about them?" Chapter 760: Section 755 - Launch Attack Chen Fei wouldn''t tread on the rhythm set by the other party and spoke in an unequivocal tone, "I''m only in charge of the combat personnel, as for the distribution of logistical benefits, that is for you all to discuss internally; I won''t interfere!" Imagine, if only one combat person comes followed by ninety-nine logistical staff, only one being useful and the rest just freeloaders, even if you want to be a big fool, that''s not the way to do it. The mercenary leaders exchanged glances once more, and finally, they all nodded in agreement. Using the number of combat personnel as a standard is also one of the common criteria for calculating costs, and it does not matter whether it''s a small team or a large team. Teams with less than a hundred mercenaries generally don''t have many logistical personnel, or even none at all, like the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, comprising entirely of combat personnel. Logistical support tasks are often undertaken by the combat personnel themselves or on a rotational basis, if not outsourced specifically. In teams of more than a hundred, combat personnel and logistical personnel have a fixed ratio as, after all, combat personnel are the guarantee for generating profits. Excessive logistical personnel would affect the collective''s net income. The sole female mercenary leader, Ballerina, asked again, "May I ask, how many combat personnel can you accept at most?" Chen Fei thought for a moment and gave an estimated number. "Temporarily, the upper limit is ten thousand. Inform more people for me; they might be needed at any moment." He would control the number of mercenaries according to actual needs, as too few would easily leave gaps, and too many would be a waste of money, considering even big shots don''t have money blowing in with the wind. The daily fee for ten thousand mercenaries was fifty million Star Yuan, amounting to one billion in two days; if the conflict lasted ten days or half a month, it would amount to over ten billion in expenses, truly a major expenditure. So many mercenaries would be adequate even to forcefully confront a main battle legion in active service. If it weren''t for the fact that most mercenaries from Zhai Liuzhou are locals, with an unknown number sympathetic to the rebel forces, the Silan Dynasty might have also chosen to spend money to eliminate disaster by hiring these civilian combatants for their own battles. In fact, such actions had already been taken by the rebel side; the mercenaries in the southern part of the continent were more active mainly because the Tessa Empire Restoration Army in the Southern War Zone had spent money to recruit quite a number of mercenaries for their cause, to counter the Silan Dynasty''s suppression forces. "Understood!" No longer harboring any doubts, Ballerina walked towards the long table filled with pastries. The employer''s strength, financial capability and background, as well as the standard offers for hiring, and the acceptable number of hires had all been clarified; what remained were the details of the contract, and besides, the meeting was just for acquaintance, to save time for future hiring cooperation. The mercenaries from Sun Domain City didn''t stay in the farmhouse for long, having nibbled a bit, they drove back to the city area. Suddenly, every mercenary in Sun Domain City received a message¡ªthere was a big spender offering a daily rate of five thousand Star Yuan per combatant, with an upper limit of ten thousand hires, an exceptionally big deal, even higher than the rate offered by the Southern War Zone Command. An upper limit of ten thousand mercenaries was definitely not something one or two mercenary corps would be able to handle; even if it was through the "Yellow Sparrow" squad inviting those several small and medium-sized mercenary corps together, they would still not meet the requirement; moreover, they were the ones spreading this news, there is money to be made and meals to be shared, why not do it? On the third day of the farm consultation, the big guild from Sun Domain City, "Sunset Guild," published a hiring commission, gathering three thousand mercenaries to assemble outside the city and board several transport airships styled like those from Blue Star, soaring into the sky, heading for the distance. A series of cracking sounds erupted from the core office of the "Holy Blood Guild." "Why? Why? Why would this commission be handled by the ''Sunset Guild''!" A one-time project for three thousand mercenaries, while the take is small, the real profit lies in the basic supplies before departure, effortlessly earning a sum for the "Sunset Guild" handling the commission. Although Chen Fei''s "Spatial Branding" had a large reserve of supplies, in terms of variety and specifics, they ultimately couldn''t compare with real large supermarkets, which supply rich logistical materials that large guilds excel in providing. "Does the Southern War Zone Command really have no reaction at all?" Standing inside the bridge of the central flagship, Baron, the captain of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window looking out intensely, barely discerning the large camp of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army outside Sun Domain City. Yet, the opponent seemed oblivious to the massive fleet fleeting far across the nearby sky, suggesting that "Yellow Sparrow''s" employer''s stated backers, including the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, could indeed be true. "Who said there was no reaction, look, what is that?" Standing beside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the tomboy Lulisa pointed toward the distance, where two faintly visible Constructed Aircraft, blinking with signal lights, were accompanying each other from afar, but with no intention to approach. "Hmm?" Baron immediately pulled out his binoculars, extending his line of sight instantly. "Two ''Sky Falcons'', they''re on routine alert!" A voice came from behind the two of them. Chen Fei was seated at the core of the airship''s bridge, his gaze constantly shifting. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" generated hundreds of visual screens for him, monitoring the real-time state of the entire battle group. There was also the Special Ability Tech "Basic Optical Observer" with its "Macroscopic Perspective," overlooking the entire fleet from the sky. One 80-meter flagship, twelve 30-meter Cooperative Ships, and four large Transport Airships were covered with an "Energy Gathering Shell" that continuously attracted active elemental energies from the atmosphere, radiating with a luminescent and iridescent glow. Above and below the fleet at various heights, six groups totaling 72 small Aircraft, their tails flickering with blue Light Flames, were guarding the fleet in flight. The distinctive tail flames and the extreme aerodynamic design were clearly the main features of the Crystal Jets, causing the pilots of the two distant Constructed Combat Aircraft "Sky Falcons" almost to wet themselves in fear. So many Crystal Jets launching simultaneously could surely give the entire Southern War Zone a tough time. However, Chen Fei had yet to receive the latest version of the Crystal Jet design plan he tasked others with; thus, they were still using the old scheme, albeit slightly upgraded. But compared to Crystal Jets piloted by Sky Knights, these were just prototypes that hadn''t completed full design and testing, merely mechanical shells lacking even Aerial Combat Skills, and their combat effectiveness was only slightly better than unmanned combat aircraft driven by combat AI. They could not be compared to mature Crystal Jets merged with Sky Knights. "Chen Fei, are you controlling so many airships? Is this also a Special Ability?" Lulisa looked at Chen Fei, who was seated stably at the command console of the bridge. If a Grade B supernatural power user possessed such a capability, could they possibly contend even with an S-grade supernatural power user? "It''s not me, it''s AI!" Chen Fei glanced at the upper right corner of his field of vision, where a battery icon had appeared, wrapped by an outline of a brain. Upon obtaining his blood sugar index, artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had developed a cerebral consumption data metric to remind him to replenish nutrients, although this data had always fluctuated around 0.01%. The human brain holds enormous potential, but what can be utilized is often just the tip of the iceberg. Abilities like photographic memory, high-speed thinking, and supercomputing are accessible even to ordinary people without special abilities. Some gifted supernatural power users can also perform multi-thread parallel operations like "Adam," effortlessly multi-tasking, literally acting like human supercomputers, and in some areas of logical computation, they could even outperform AI. "AI? Is a derivative of ''Cybertrom'' that powerful?" It wasn''t just Lulisa, even Baron and other "Yellow Sparrow" team members gathered in the flagship bridge were puzzled. The artificial intelligence mainly used on Cangqiong Star was also a derivative of "Cybertrom," similar to Blue Star. The digital intelligence construct "Cybertrom" is a naturally neutral entity that can be used with confidence. Moreover, to date, no AI of higher intelligence than "Cybertrom" has been developed. "It''s not ''Cybertrom''; it''s another type of specialized war AI." The response from Chen Fei made the "Yellow Sparrow" squad collectively gasp in astonishment. Even a war AI had appeared, which was terrifyingly friendless. From its inception, "Adam" was purely for warfare, an authentically purebred war AI, there''s no doubt about that. Forcing it to do the work of "Cybertrom" would be too much for comrade Fat Tiger. Although "Adam" and "Cybertrom" originate from the same source, they display as two completely distinct AIs, even their AI communication structure involving multiple entities differs¡ªthe former uses a ring topology, while the latter combines star and tree topologies, also better adapting to the currently prevalent cloud technology. "We''ll reach the combat area in half an hour. Everyone, get ready!" In Chen Fei''s view, the electronic map inside, the battle group had almost reached its destination. Artificial intelligence AI "Adam" released multiple reconnaissance drones to start pre-combat scouting operations. The combat targets and related intelligence were all from within the Rock Palace at the Southern War Zone Command, provided by the Parasitic Species "Taga" dwelling inside the Mystic Fog Specter, as part of the trade agreement between the two parties. For Chen Fei, even if not part of a trade agreement, the moment he discovered an enemy target, he would annihilate it entirely, preferring to err in killing than to let enemies go, indifferent even to acting as the slaughter knife among fighting Parasitic Species. Chapter 761: Section 756 - Hunting the Host ``` In order to obtain information on the "Seed Nests" of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, Chen Fei didn''t mind being used as a pawn by "humans." His target was always the Parasitic Species, and no matter when he encountered them, they had to be killed. The target this time was randomly chosen from the enemy list provided by "Taga." The opponent originally hid on the Antarctic Continent and crossed the sea to Zhai Liuzhou twenty years ago, concealing itself in a small harbor village and acting as the local residents'' Guardian Beast. Not all Parasitic Species would choose the "Fission Mutation" evolution of the Royal Breed Ninth Rank as their path of evolution. Although a large number of parasitic offspring could inhabit the relatively smaller bodies of the Human Race and other organisms, the combat power of the original host would be far less than that of other evolutionary branches of the same rank. If the parasitic host wasn''t a Human Race Ability User or a Magical Beast, it would hardly have any combat power, let alone the fact that Ability Users and Magical Beasts wouldn''t just surrender and allow themselves to be parasitized. The unmanned drone was flying a zigzag pattern at a height of 200 meters above ground, scanning and releasing various detection waves combined with various function modules to collect multiple types of ground data, and synchronizing feedback to the approaching Airship Battle Group. Adam: Confirm 378 humans, no parasitic hosts Adam: Confirm Magical Beast "Sea Wolf Shark" group, number 12, Larval Forms 3, identified parasitized number 1 The recon drone identified a parasitized Magical Beast leading others of its kind within the fishery harbor village through the infrared thermal imaging model. According to the current intelligence, the target was not a Ninth Rank Royal Breed, but had chosen the traditional evolution branch of King Species (Tamira), which also confirmed that no humans in the harbor village had been parasitized. The rank hierarchy of the Parasitic Species goes from low to high as follows: Troop Breed (Iks), General Breed (Giputo), King Species (Tamira), Royal Breed (Xionees), Divine Breed (Lumpurgotton), and Spirit Breed (Sisar), with the higher ranks holding indisputable power of life and death over the lower ranks. Originally, a mere King Species wouldn''t catch the eye of the Royal Breed "Taga." Even its Parasitic Host "Mystic Fog Specter" could easily kill it. However, doing so would quickly expose "Taga," the odd one out among the Parasitic Species. Even among its own kind, if it appeared out of place, the other Parasites would not hesitate to eliminate the misfit. Adam: Recommend deploying 12 mini-submersibles, each loaded with 48 high-explosive torpedoes Chen Fei: "Agree with the plan, execute!" He had no clue about naval combat, so of course, he would follow the recommendation of the specialized AI. Since the target''s parasitic host was an Aquatic Demon Beast and was engaging in combat on the coastline, interception measures had to be prepared underwater in addition to land to prevent the target from escaping into the sea. Two Cooperative Ships broke off from the flying formation, started accelerating, and circled around the air above the sea area near the harbor, dropping mini-submersibles into the ocean surface just like dumplings, with each submersible about three meters in diameter and five meters in length. The latest version of Cooperative Ships was 50 meters in length and could carry more tactical units. Sea, land, air, and space combat equipment are standard provisions for the Airship Battle Group to avoid scrambling to extract them from "Spatial Branding" when needed. As soon as the mini-submersibles entered the water, they automatically activated their propellers and entered a maneuvering state. Each carrying four 533-millimeter high-explosive intelligent torpedoes, they began circling the seas near the harbor, preemptively blocking the King Species'' escape route into the ocean. As for the land, let that Aquatic Demon Beast run wherever it wants; talk after it has run eight hundred miles. "It''s a small fry! There are no Seed Nests nearby." The unmanned drone marked the location of the parasitized King Species, which began to move. Chen Fei had the recon drone expand the search area and also released a seismic wave detection device for the rock layers, but there were no other findings. Every Parasitic Species is a born master of deception. Even when opting to cooperate with the Parasitic Species "Taga," extra caution was taken in secret because Chen Fei also enjoyed setting such traps for others. As a randomly selected target, a mere King Species was obviously not a sincere enough offer by "Taga." At least a Royal Breed would be needed to satisfy. The King Species started moving toward the harbor entrance, with the rest of the Magical Beasts following. Chen Fei thought for a moment and then issued another command. "''Adam,'' send a warning to those Magical Beasts, informing them of their kin being parasitized by ''Sagali.''" An Element Annihilation Bomb could instantly deal with the target, but he didn''t want to accidentally harm the innocents. He just wasn''t sure if those Magical Beasts had the intellect to appreciate this kindness. Two minutes later, Chen Fei knew the answer. ``` The drones carrying the warning were shot to pieces by a barrage of ice spears, rendering them completely scrapped. The "Sea Wolf Shark" was indeed a ferocious magical beast, uncaring if its own kind or leaders were parasitized by whatever thing. Their peaceful coexistence with the harbor villagers was probably the result of the King Species''s restraint, otherwise, once their ferocity erupted, it could likely lead to a catastrophe for all coastal life. Under the leadership of the "Sea Wolf Shark" leader parasitized by the King Species, the Magical Beast Group began to break out towards the periphery of the harbor. "Prepare the 600mm caliber railgun on the airship, ready 24 high-explosive bombs, five times the speed of sound, focus fire." There were many tactical options, but Chen Fei chose to cover the area with firepower. Predicted impact points immediately appeared on the electronic map in the visual interface, perfectly covering the "Sea Wolf Shark" group that was driving through the waves. Boom, boom, boom... A series of muffled explosions echoed across the sky as 600mm demolition bombs rushed out from the accelerated rail and burst through the sound barrier upon leaving the barrel. The two Cooperative Ships deploying mini-submarines had not returned to the fleet but launched a bombardment from another direction, creating a certain crossfire angle. Within the atmosphere, railgun weapons have a maximum range. When a projectile carrying a huge initial velocity travels a long distance, it can quickly vaporize due to accumulating heat from air friction, especially those carrying explosives combat units, which are more likely to explode mid-air. Within a hundred kilometers is a relatively effective range; beyond that, the self-explosion and vaporization rates greatly increase. Huge columns of water erupted from the sea surface one after another, instantly engulfing the "Sea Wolf Shark" Magical Beast Group on the verge of reaching the outer harbor. The power of the 600mm demolition bombs was fully unleashed underwater, with the sea perfectly transmitting the immense pressure of the shock waves. In naval warfare, even near-miss bombs can cause damage. If the armor is not thick enough, there might be little to no difference between a near-miss and a direct hit. The massive explosion inevitably startled the villagers onshore, who rushed out of their homes, staring dumbfounded at the sea surface where waves churned muddy and tumultuous. Some visually sharp villagers were even terrified to see that the harbor''s Guardian Magical Beast was caught in a terrible explosion, obviously under attack. They screamed in fear, and some even scurried around like headless flies, fearing the artillery would reach the village on the coastline. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, such fierce firepower, it really has nothing to do with us!" Aboard Chen Fei''s flagship, the mercenaries from the "Yellow Sparrow" squad were all at the bridge''s floor-to-ceiling windows, using their binoculars to observe the raging waves caused by the simultaneous firing of the 600mm demolition bombs. The large Transport Airship following the Airship Battle Group had already landed smoothly, deploying three thousand recruited mercenaries to establish a terrestrial interception alert line on the ground, while also maintaining the search for any suspicious underground presence. The most threatening "Seed Nest" was Chen Fei''s priority target. Individual Parasitic Species would have to wait their turn, and if he had to choose one over the other, he would undoubtedly choose to eliminate the former without hesitation. If the "Seed Nest" could be found, it would be excellent. The seawater tossed into the sky fell back down, momentarily like torrential rain. Amidst the unsettled waves, fragmented figures floated and sank, the "Sea Wolf Shark" Magical Beasts suffered a devastating blow. Even as magical beasts, they could not withstand the fierce focus fire of the 600mm demolition bombs. The Water-based Magic Shields were violently shattered as soon as they formed, a single demolition bomb was enough to cover the area where the beasts were lurking, not to mention twenty-four, leaving no blind spots. Adam: Confirm the battle results, "Sea Wolf Shark" kills 5, including 3 larval forms. Adam: "Sea Wolf Shark" critically wounded 2, lightly wounded 4, intact 1, Parasitic Host intact. It was expected for the "Sea Wolf Shark" parasitized by the King Species to escape harm. Once parasitized, the actual combat power should be considered as not only the magical beast itself but also the Parasitic Species, even resulting in an effect greater than 1+1=2. Therefore, the threat of Parasitic Species to the many creatures of Cangqiong Star was not limited to mere body snatching and devouring living beings. Adam: Mini-submarines 3 and 4, target locked. On Chen Fei''s visual interface, the light representing the King Breed Host separated from the wounded magical beast, intending to flee alone deep into the sea. "Attack. Number 3 and 4, release all torpedoes." The sky, sea surface, and underwater were all within the three-dimensional battlefield surveillance data coverage. To Chen Fei, the deep blue water seemed almost transparent, clearly revealing a spindle-shaped magical beast powerfully thrashing its tail fins, proceeding at high speed about fifty meters below the sea surface, and drawing ever closer to the interception line formed by the twelve mini-submarines. Eight 533mm torpedoes left their tubes, streaking forward with rapidly ejected tail flames at an astonishing speed. The "Sea Wolf Shark," a King Breed Host, seemed to sense the danger and immediately changed direction, attempting to avoid it. Chapter 762: Section 757 - Symbiotic Relationships Torpedoes, since their invention, had always been a type of weapon that relied on a luck attribute, and even with continuous upgrades and iterations, they still heavily depended on luck values. Achieving a hit rate of one in five in regular combat was already a cause for gratitude, hence the common remedy was simply to increase the power, speed, and launch quantity. Below the sea''s surface, the undulating waves of sonar detection locked onto their target. Eight torpedoes collectively targeted the "Sea Wolf Shark" Magical Beast, which could not dodge and still found the distance between them rapidly closing. With a loud bang enveloped by countless bubbles, a violent surge erupted underwater followed by a flash of red light, throwing the seawater within a hundred meters into chaotic turmoil. Torpedoes did not pursue a direct hit on the target, but once they brought the target within the absolute lethal radius, they couldn''t wait to self-destruct, using the excellent conductivity of the seawater pressure to achieve the desired lethal effect. The "Sea Wolf Shark," parasitized by the King Species, released a Water-type Magic Shield and even froze the seawater into solid ice, while continuously firing Ice Spears toward the torpedoes. However, these defensive measures hindered its mobility, allowing the fast-approaching torpedoes to hit it squarely one after another. Even for a probability-based weapon requiring luck, the hit rate would surge against a static target that had lost its maneuverability, though it might not be perfect, it was not far off. In the dense explosions created by eight 533-millimeter diameter torpedoes, the defensive spells released by the host "Sea Wolf Shark" shattered one after another. The enormous spindle-shaped body involuntarily floated to the surface. Miniature submarines closely followed the just-launched torpedoes, rapidly approaching, with the unlaunched torpedoes ready to fire. The sonar waves not only located but also probed the floating magical beast body as a form of tentative attack. The dolphins of Blue Star would use their ultrasonic waves to stun fish, akin to the way aerial radar cooks rabbits. Adam: Target King Breed Host has lost the ability to resist, floated to the surface, still not dead. Aquatic species often lack thick skin and flesh. Even for a Magical Beast, there is a natural disadvantage in physical defense. Surviving the full onslaught of eight 533-millimeter diameter torpedoes can only be attributed to both good luck and toughness. The reconnaissance drone that swiftly approached sent back images, appearing on Chen Fei''s visual interface. The spindle-shaped magical beast floated on the water surface, bobbing up and down. Its formidable forefin claws were missing one, and its back spines were nearly all gone. The tough, smooth surface of its body displayed various overlapping scars, with the longest wound over a meter long. Deep within the wound, one could see the white layers of fat, bright red muscle tissues, and the faint sight of broken bones, from which blood was profusely seeping into the sea. Had the sea area not just experienced a fierce bombardment, killing many aquatic creatures in the process, by now, numerous bloodthirsty carnivorous aquatic animals would probably have swarmed to tear apart this fresh flesh. "''Adam,'' capture the target, bring it back to land." Chen Fei, leading the Airship Battle Group for the first time in actual combat, realized that besides the flagship responsible for central command and firepower support and the Cooperative Ships assisting in combat, there was a need for specialized multi-functional auxiliary units, namely the Auxiliary Ships carrying various equipment. A Landing Craft detached from the Auxiliary Ship, flew over the sea area at the harbor entrance, right above the unconscious "Sea Wolf Shark" floating on the surface. A dozen Combat Mechs rappelled down, spread a large net, and captured the enormous King Breed Host, hauling it from the sea surface. The "Sea Wolf Shark" was an amphibious magical beast with two sets of respiratory organs for both surface and underwater breathing, allowing it to sustain its vital signs temporarily out of water. At this moment, vehicles and troops on foot advanced together; the vanguard of three thousand mercenaries had entered the village, confronting the villagers. Because they had been previously ordered not to kill the innocent and there were no orders to seize the Harbor Village, the situation was maintained without further escalation. The villagers, who had just witnessed the slaughter of the Guardian Beast Herd, were still in shock. Additionally, the sudden appearance of a large number of mercenaries caused uncontrollable panic. "Boss, what should we do about these villagers? They''re about to hack at us." The three thousand mercenaries had a Command Center, led by the commander from the "Furious Witch" brigade, Ballerina, nicknamed "Soul Eating Flower." Seeing the tense atmosphere between the mercenaries and villagers about to erupt, she quickly relayed a message. Women usually struggle to stand out in the mercenary business, and once they do, they are among the top. Ballerina was appointed by Chen Fei as the commander of the three thousand mercenaries. Several mercenary leaders immediately showed dissent, but the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu quickly used "Gaze of the Sparrows" to make these dissenters shut their mouths obediently. Although the Pure Light Sparrow was small, in large numbers, it indeed had the potential to stare someone to death using light. With every summoning of its kind, a large number of Pure Light Sparrows would advance in rank, as if they collectively consumed an Elemental Affinity Potion, ascending from First Rank to Second Rank, Second Rank to Third Rank. Initially unable to cast spells despite their ranks, these Pure Light Sparrows suddenly self-enlightened and learned the spells corresponding to their ranks: Illumination Technique, Light Healing Technique, and even Light Mirror Spell. Yet no Pure Light Sparrow could comprehend laser like Xiao Jiu; otherwise, it would break the norm of Light-element Magical Beasts lacking offensive spells at low to mid Human Orders. "Received, I am on my way to the scene now. ''Adam,'' bring the host over; I see a square in the center of the village, throw it there." Chen Fei simultaneously gave orders to both parties. "Okay!" Ballerina conveyed orders to the mercenaries once again. Originally, it was possible to issue separate orders simultaneously to all mercenaries through the artificial intelligence "Adam," achieving precise and detailed command, but considering the differences in thinking patterns between the AI and the Human Race, Chen Fei chose mercenaries to manage mercenaries, because their familiarity with each other''s habits and rules could reduce the time needed to mesh, and although the command efficiency was not as high as AI''s, it was less prone to misunderstandings and conflicts. The mercenaries facing off against the villagers began to form ranks, erecting Tower Shields and forming human walls to establish a defensive formation, neither charging forward aggressively nor retreating easily. By now, the mercenaries found it impossible to retreat. Just taking a few steps back would spur some hot-headed villagers to think they could overwhelm them, brandishing spears and rushing forward screaming, which could immediately lead to uncontrollable chaos. Expecting the mercenaries to passively endure being speared was out of the question, and the situation could easily escalate into a horrific bloodbath. The 80-meter-long flagship, flanked by 12 Cooperative Ships, arrived above Harbor Village. The true sun-blocking fleet cast vast shadows, causing the light on the ground to suddenly darken. The huge oppressive feeling from the sky pushed the already highly tense villagers close to the brink of collapse, their legs nearly giving way. They were no longer concerned about the mercenaries, who had erected a wall of shields some ten meters away. Without Chen Fei issuing new orders or making further actions, the standoff on the ground had already begun to disintegrate. The Landing Craft, carrying the host "Sea Wolf Shark," set down nets in the village square, and the trembling villagers could no longer hold out, shouting as they scattered and fled. In a chaotic clatter of chickens flying and dogs jumping, every household tightly shut their doors and windows. From the gaps, countless terrified eyes peered out. Only an old man, leaning on a wooden cane and trembling with fear, remained standing at the edge of the square. He was the village chief. Dealing with these uninvited guests was his duty, and even if he wanted to hide back inside his house, the villagers would forcibly push him out. The "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, having undergone Psi Skill Giantization and upgraded to "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor, activated the "Gravity" Magic Array. It used the "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array to stabilize itself as it detached from the flagship and slowly descended to the ground, standing before the elderly village chief. The mercenaries, seizing the opportunity, charged into the village, taking control of every strategic passageway. "Who are you?" The old man put all his weight on the wooden cane he was firmly gripping, barely holding on. "I am from Blue Star, and they are mercenaries!" Chen Fei''s voice came through the mobility armor''s sound amplification module. "Ah? Did Blue Star attack? Is, is the Silan Dynasty still around?" The old man was nearly scared out of his wits. Like Blue Star, Cangqiong Star was part of the interconnected, informational civilization at the edges of the net, and this Harbor Village was certainly not isolated, aware of the current world affairs. Some factions under Blue Star''s Sovereignty had declared war on the Silan Dynasty, some merely posturing, while others had already commenced operations. When the village elder suddenly heard about Chen Fei''s identity as a Blue Star person, he thought the Blue Star Sovereignty''s army had officially invaded Cangqiong Star, and the landing might be near. Chen Fei said with a mix of amusement and frustration, "You''re the village chief, right? I''m from Blue Star, but I''m not a soldier from Blue Star. Blue Star has not attacked, and the Silan Dynasty is still there, so there''s no need to be nervous." The extent of the other''s imagination was simply astonishing, somehow linking him and an invasion by Blue Star''s army into Cangqiong Star. The Dimensional Gate''s cross-management system made it practically impossible for two civilized planets to directly attack each other. "No?" The village elder breathed a sigh of relief, then shifted his gaze towards the immobile Guardian Magical Beast lying in the center of the village, tightly bound by a large net, and cautiously said, "But why do you want to kill our Guardian Magical Beast?" The sheer number of aquatic creatures in the vast oceans was unfathomable, and the types of Aquatic Demon Beasts were no fewer than those of terrestrial beasts. If not for the group of "Sea Wolf Sharks" nesting within the harbor, the village would inevitably suffer frequent landings by vicious aquatic creatures, resulting in casualties among the villagers. "These ''Sea Wolf Sharks'' are a ticking time bomb. Do you understand?" Chen Fei suspected that the relationship between the fierce "Sea Wolf Sharks" led by the King Breed and Harbor Village was not the symbiotic one the villagers believed it to be, but instead, the latter served as the Guardian Magical Beast for the former. In the eyes of the "Sea Wolf Sharks," these villagers were actually... stores of food?! Chapter 763: Section 758 - Disembowelment The village elder did say forthrightly, "I cannot understand!" "I will make you understand!" Chen Fei was controlling the Assault-Type Mobile Armor "Dragon King" as he approached the "Sea Wolf Shark" host, which was securely bound by a trawling net. The giant steel cable trawling net served both as a salvage tool and a restraining device. A man is a tree of industry; whatever industrial product he wanted could be easily obtained with the necessary materials. Luckily, there was a dog system that could exchange energy points for materials, covering for Chen Fei the biggest weakness of material sources. The broadsword-like great sword shone as the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor pressed it against the belly of the immobile "Sea Wolf Shark." Adam: The host has woken up The physiological indicators such as heartbeat, blood flow changes, and infrared thermal imaging fluctuations showed that the Magical Beast had regained consciousness. Yet, Chen Fei did not stop his actions; he enhanced the great sword with the Psi Skill "High-Frequency Oscillation Module" and swung fiercely. "Squeak..." "The piercing shriek" swept through the entire village like a tide. The mercenaries gathered around the village square, caught off guard, fell to the ground en masse, like harvested wheat. "What the hell is that noise!" "My head is about to explode!" "Covering my ears isn''t helping." "Damn it, it''s a psychic attack, who the hell did this?" "Fall back, fall back! Are there any Psychic Mages? Think of something quick!" ... The scene was chaotic; not only did the mercenaries immediately become disordered, but even villagers hiding in their houses were caught off guard and were knocked off their feet, men, women, the elderly, children, young people, all covering their ears with pained expressions. Those with weaker psychic strengths were less resistant to such sudden psychic attacks, and they felt more profound stimulation. Except for Chen Fei, the village elder was the first to fall backwards onto the ground, his legs kicking straight, his eyes rolled back, his body convulsing uncontrollably, and blood slowly seeping from his orifices, nearly at his end. It was truly the body of a Parasitic Species, and moreover, a King Species level, much more potent than the "shrieks" from those Mutated Parasitic Spawn. The latter could only cause severe headaches, but not real ruptures. The Psychic Alchemy Device "Soul Guarding Seal," borrowed from Princess Lin Ziyu, easily blocked the frontal assault of the King Species'' psychic shock for Chen Fei. Those who fell nearby were just collateral damage. Had anyone been standing in his position without the protection of an alchemy device, they might have been killed instantly, their blood spraying into the air. "This thing of yours is too noisy! Shut it up!" The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor reached out and plunged into the belly of the Magical Beast, which had been effortlessly sliced open by the great sword like cutting through butter. From the gushing blood, it pulled out a struggling creature, shockingly a humanoid being, about three feet tall, resembling a hairless Human Race child, covered with writhing nervous tendrils. These tendrils had initially been connected to the nerve system of the Magical Beast "Sea Wolf Shark," but now were forcefully torn out. The height of the King Species (Tamira) body was around three feet, matching the information provided by "Taga." The "Sagali" tribe''s rank was proportional to their height: three feet for King Species, four feet for Royal Breed, easily distinguishable. Despite the terrifying nature of the Parasitic Species, capable of almost blowing up a human''s head with a psychic shock and greatly enhancing the host''s abilities, their bodies were incredibly fragile. Once deprived of psychic power, a three-foot tall King Species could not even beat a Human Race child of equal height. The King Species was brutally pulled out from its abdomen and heavily smashed onto the ground, almost near death as its terrifying psychic shock suddenly ceased, with countless bones broken inside its body. If it weren''t for the densely exploding torpedoes carrying large amounts of explosives that stunned the "Sea Wolf Shark" and its internal Parasitic Species, pulled ashore, and then Chen Fei acting swiftly, slashing open the abdomen and decisively pulling out the King Species'' body, disconnecting it from its host, facing the King Species'' combat power equivalent to Third to Sixth Rank would have required much more effort. Through the intense firepower and supersaturated output that unexpectedly broke through the limits of Rank combat power, the advantages of modern firearms were quite apparent, albeit too dependent on logistical supply capabilities. Lying flat on his back, the village elder, whose memory was flashing before his eyes, gasped for air, fortunate to have clung to his old life, his consciousness gradually returning. However, he lay in a large pool of stinking urine, having wet himself. Trembling slightly, he barely sat up, supporting himself with a wooden staff, and looked in terror toward the ground not far away, made of various shaped stone slabs. The "child" covered in slender tendrils... what "child" came from there? "What... what is this?" "This is the true form of your village''s Guardian Beast. The ''Sea Wolf Shark'' is a fierce Magical Beast that cannot communicate. How could it possibly live peacefully with you? It is this creature that has been controlling the entire pack." Chen Fei sneered, having guessed the cause and effect. He didn''t bother with the "Sea Wolf Shark," whose gut was split open by a sword. With its abdomen ripped open and a massive loss of blood, plus the forced removal of the Parasitic Species and the disappearance of the host consciousness, not even gods could save it. "Guardian Beast itself?" The village elder''s twisted old face forced out an expression of disbelief. Just this? Why does it feel like something is off? The Parasitic Species, having lost about sixty to seventy percent of its breath from the toss, no longer had the ability to launch a psychic assault. It vomited strange-colored body fluids and bubbles, attempting to lift a finger in Chen Fei''s direction but ultimately drooped powerless to the ground, collapsing without the ability to breathe in. Dropped carelessly by the Mobile Armor as if it were tossing a chick, an adult couldn''t have withstood it, much less the fragile parasite itself. "That thing, that thing..." Some sharp-eyed mercenaries saw something on the ground, initally mistaking it for a child, but then thought otherwise. How could there possibly be a child running around here for no reason, unafraid of danger? This was not a wild and deserted area, and the adults in the village certainly wouldn''t allow children to run out carelessly. "...It''s ''Sagali''!" Finally, someone remembered and shrieked. The scene turned chaotic. The Blue Star Civilization might not have recorded much about it, but the Cangqiong Star Civilization still hadn''t completely forgotten it. The ancient covenant included all intelligent species. Even if nations of the Human Race fought and killed each other, and dynasties rose and fell, support for the extraterrestrial battlefield never ceased, because every ruler knew that once the Extraterrestrial Races were allowed in, there would be nothing left for them to rule. Every living being would face a catastrophic disaster, and no one could escape. Hidden within the body of Magical Beasts, humanoid creatures, terrifying psychic impacts ¨C these features all matched the recognized characteristics of the Extraterrestrial Race "Sagali." "About one meter tall, it must be a King Species!" Knowledgeable among the mercenaries judged its rank by the height of the Parasitic Species. "How can there be a ''Sagali''? Has the invasion begun again?" The scene again filled with panic, and many people looked up at the sky. The Holy Flame Sun hung high, casting infinite light and heat, and a silver star twinkled on the horizon, the great creation "Halo" floating in near-Earth orbit, not the space rift that had spanned tens of thousands of years. Not seeing that ugly "scar (space rift)" recorded in historical documents, almost everyone simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the space rift wasn''t present, the Extraterrestrial Races couldn''t invade. As the temporary commander of three thousand mercenaries, Female Mercenary Leader Barina couldn''t contain herself, asking via communicator, "Boss, how can there be a ''Sagali''?" She had thought it was just a routine low-intensity combat mission, but had never expected to encounter the legendary Extraterrestrial Race, damn her luck. Chen Fei didn''t give the mercenaries much time to doubt and immediately urged, "Relax, don''t ask too much, first stabilize everyone, and immediately search the whole village and harbor to see if there are any suspicious places." With each combat personnel paid a daily salary of 5000 Star Yuan and a daily expense of 15 million Star Yuan, these three thousand weren''t hired to sightsee or leisurely wander. When it was time to fight, not one could retreat. "Got, got it!" Suppressing the terror in her heart, Barina quickly conveyed the orders to all the mercenaries. After a stir, the hastily assembled three thousand mercenaries stabilized under their respective team leaders and began to spread into the whole village, even breaking into houses with barbaric force. By then, the villagers had already lost any will to resist, letting these barbaric people smash open their doors, searching inside and outside of their homes from top to bottom. Because of the discovery of the legendary Parasitic Species "Sagali," the mercenaries spared no effort in their search, combing through the village inside and out several times. This sudden chaotic scramble continued until nightfall, at which point the mercenaries called it quits and withdrew from the Harbor Village. The corpses and remains of the "Sea Wolf Shark" Magical Beast nesting in the harbor were all salvaged, even extracting the Magical Beast Crystal Core, all handed over to Chen Fei. These were the spoils of war due to the employer, and just the twelve Crystal Cores alone nearly covered the cost of the operation, unexpectedly breaking even. After the King Species expired, its body was immersed in a special preservative fluid, making it into a biological specimen. The mission went smoothly from start to finish, but that night, the mercenaries encamped outside the village were not so calm. Chapter 764: Section 759 - Making a Statement Three thousand mercenaries had just returned to Sun Domain City and were disbanded when the explosive news about "Sagali" immediately caused a huge uproar. The threat from the Extraterrestrial Races that had plagued them for a hundred thousand years had suddenly reappeared. Whether it was an isolated incident or there were more hidden secrets, everyone, from mercenaries to commoners, felt extremely uneasy. A group of mercenary leaders had yet to disperse and still surrounded Chen Fei, along with representatives from several major Mercenary Guilds who had heard the news. Most units of the Airship Battle Group had retracted their "Spatial Branding," leaving only an 80-meter-long flagship landed outside Sun Domain City. They decided to use the spacious interior of the ship to hold a press conference right there. The scene was packed not only with mercenary leaders and guild representatives but also local reporters, and one could even spot uniforms of the Rebel Army. The Tessa Empire Restoration Army Southern Warzone and Chen Fei had reached a tacit agreement; the former turned a blind eye to the latter''s activities in the Southern War Zone, and even when the Airship Battle Group appeared close to the camp where the Southern War Zone Command was located, they pretended not to see, with no reconnaissance or interference undertaken. So seeing their blatant presence here was not at all surprising to Chen Fei. "Now that everyone is here, let''s get started!" Chen Fei lifted his eyelids and said, "May I ask, who among you are from the ''Holy Blood Guild''?" Three people in the crowd hesitantly raised their hands, unsure of what Chen Xiao''er was up to. "Out!" What? The three from the "Holy Blood Guild" immediately had a stunned look, hardly believing their ears. One of them immediately asked, "Why?" "I''m small-minded and hold grudges. My revenge doesn''t wait overnight. So... out!" Chen Fei couldn''t be bothered to explain further. The Combat Mechs standing nearby stepped forward in unison, ready to "help" them leave with dignity if they didn''t leave immediately on their own. "You wait and see!" The three from the "Holy Blood Guild" left the flagship in a huff after dropping a harsh line. "You think I can''t take down the ''Holy Blood Guild''." Watching their flustered departure, Chen Fei sneered coldly. He certainly wouldn''t forget how after receiving 15 million Star Yuan from him, they not only double-crossed him but also secretly sold information about him to the Southern War Zone Command of the Rebel Army. With cannons exceeding 400mm in caliber, powerful enough to demolish buildings, a single 600mm caliber Justice Judgement could ensure not a single soul from the "Holy Blood Guild" remained. A representative of the "Sunset Guild" said with a sweaty head, "Please, calm down! Calm down!" This time, the "Sunset Guild" that had gathered three thousand mercenaries didn''t engage in any minor irritations against Chen Fei. For now, they were cooperating satisfactorily, but they were also one of the major guilds in Sun Domain City, just like the "Holy Blood Guild." Apart from being able to fight, the mercenary business also required the support of fellow guilds. If anything happened to the "Holy Blood Guild," the "Sunset Guild" might not escape being implicated. If the Justice Judgement accidentally went off target, then the whole street would be gone... "This guy''s really bold!" Lulisa of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, who was almost next to Chen Fei, tugged at the corner of her mouth. She wouldn''t dare say such things even with ten times the courage. But it sure sounded exhilarating. "From now on, everyone, be more careful!" Baron, the captain of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, was concerned. Offending the Mercenary Guild meant that even if there was no direct retaliation, they would inevitably face petty retaliations later. The "Yellow Sparrow" squad, being long-term hires, needed to be cautious not just for themselves but for their employer, wary of all sorts of overt and covert attacks. Earning 550,000 Star Yuan daily as a hiring fee wasn''t easy, and although this employer was really stirring things up, it was exhausting for them... - "Okay, let''s not bother with the ''Holy Blood Guild'' for now. Let''s continue!" With the "Holy Blood Guild" members gone and the "Sunset Guild" having smoothed things over, Chen Fei readily took the opportunity to move on. "Our target for this operation is 12 Aquatic Species Magical Beasts known as ''Sea Wolf Sharks''. I''ll take action, and the three thousand mercenaries are responsible for clearance and follow-up. Inside one of the ''Sea Wolf Sharks'', a ''Sagali'' King Species Parasite was found. This..." Chen Fei paused, then said, "This is no accident." It was like a drop of water in a hot oil pan, sparking an immediate uproar at the scene. If it wasn''t accidental, it was intentional. The employer clearly knew about the existence of the Parasitic Species, leading three thousand mercenaries not just for clearance and follow-up but as backup to prevent any mishaps. "Cliff, the leader of the Red Hero Stone Corps, couldn''t help but raise his voice and asked, ''You clearly know, what else are you hiding from us?''" "I pay the money, you do the job. Don''t ask too much. Knowing too much is not always a good thing, and... you might not believe it!" Chen Fei glanced at the still unsettled crowd. "We believe!" Five representatives from the Sunset Guild had come, and one of them raised his hand and said, "The Parasitic Species is the enemy of all beings. It''s both our responsibility and duty in the ''Sunset Guild'' to assist in their eradication!" The wealthy and influential Mercenary Guild could afford to say such things, while ordinary mercenaries did not rashly speak out. Mercenaries eat and train daily, along with equipment supplies. On the surface, they seem impressive and swagger through the streets, but in reality, it''s hard to save much money. Going solo against a Parasite is virtually no different from courting death. Not to mention the mercenaries, even Chen Fei, if it weren''t for those bigshots tirelessly backing him, he too would be courting death, Xiao Jiu''s abilities notwithstanding. "How you do it, I don''t care, just don''t get in the way." Chen Fei didn''t mesh well with these Mercenary Guilds, fearing their assistance might become a hindrance, so he put it bluntly from the start. So, you do yours, and I''ll do mine. Talking about any sort of partnership with these moths, I''m not interested. Moreover, especially since hosts of Mutated Parasitic Spawn have been found in Sun Domain City, who knows what shady connections these mercenaries have with the Parasites. As a foreigner, unfamiliar with local conditions, how could he easily trust others? "We also want to..." The people from the Sunset Guild still wanted to say something, but Chen Fei bluntly cut them off. "Who cares, I''m from Blue Star, not from Cangqiong Star!" Using righteousness to flaunt oneself has nothing to do with him. Once the tasks on Cangqiong Star are finished, he''ll head straight home, not wanting to stay here for even one more second. Now having confirmed that the main source of "Sagali" was on Cangqiong Star, as long as it doesn''t spread to Blue Star, Chen Xiao''er wouldn''t care less about the suffering of beings on Cangqiong Star. Moreover, the Cangqiong Star Civilization had endured for a hundred thousand years; nowadays, it isn''t afraid of these few fishes that slipped through the net. If it weren''t for the rebellion in the Zilu Continent, they might have already made a move to eradicate these Parasitic Species and their "Seed Nests". The people from Cangqiong Star, including those from the Rebel Army present there, all had black lines on their foreheads. What was he here for, anyway? "Another reminder, about my information, no leaking is allowed. Otherwise, just like the ''Holy Blood Guild,'' you''ll all be blacklisted," he warned. Chen Fei raised his index finger. It must be said, the voracity of the ''Holy Blood Guild'' had so disgusted him that, since he couldn''t reprimand Baron Bartona of the Southern War Zone Command, it''d be their bad luck! So he certainly didn''t indulge those fools who didn''t know how much food they could swallow. "Understood, understood. We will inform our colleagues," The representatives of the Sunset Guild, no doubt feeling the heat, wiped their cold sweat. The Holy Blood Guild, having offended him by some means, though generally guessable, was nothing more than trying to make an extra buck, which was not totally condemnable. However, this employer is especially no-nonsense, flipping his stance suddenly without giving any quarter or caring about any bad reviews he might get in the mercenary circles. But as he clearly stated, as a person from Blue Star, he doesn''t need to care about his reputation in the Cangqiong Star mercenary industry. As long as the payment is prompt, mercenaries won''t reject such an employer, flocking to him instead. Merely being straightforward doesn''t make one a bad person. "There will be more mercenary jobs in the future, and I hope we can continue our cooperation then. That''s all I have to say." Chen Fei didn''t want to waste more words on the topic of Parasitic Species with these mercenaries and guilds, so after stating his stance and principles, he announced the end of the press conference and asked everyone to leave. "Mr. Chen Fei, I hope we can have a private chat whenever you''re free," Hoping to maintain a continued business relationship, the people from the Sunset Guild left a loophole. At the same time, the example set by the Holy Blood Guild also served as a reminder to them that this employer was perhaps not as easy to talk to as he seemed. Chen Fei nodded and watched as they left. Representatives from a few other smaller guilds said more or less the same thing and took their leave as well. "This mission was interesting. Have you considered joining the mercenaries of Cangqiong Star? Perhaps you could build the strongest mercenary corp?" Having momentarily acted as the commander of three thousand mercenaries, although without any significant strategic achievement, Ballerina of the Furious Witches'' Mercenary Corp, still excited from the experience, made a point. Her own corp, along with logistics personnel, had no more than one hundred seventy people. Without a significant opportunity, it would be impossible to expand to a thousand, much less to the scale of three thousand. In the Zilu Continent, likewise, large mercenary corps with more than a thousand people could be counted on one hand, filled with brilliant warriors and even those at the Heavenly Order standing by for highly profitable assignments. Currently, all are serving the Tessa Empire Restoration Army and had joined the front lines fighting against the Slan Dynasty rebels. Otherwise, if they had taken up Chen Fei''s contract, none of the others would have gotten even a sip of the broth. Chen Fei''s Airship Battle Group was highly coveted, and if he ever decided to enter the mercenary field, he could almost instantly pull together a large Mercenary Corps, not just Ballerina but other mercenary leaders were also equally envious. Chapter 765: Section 760 - Sudden Bombardment On the second day after expelling the representatives of the "Holy Blood Guild," harmful rumors about Chen Fei quickly spread through every corner of Sun Domain City, densely populated with mercenaries. Accusations such as Blue Star spy, deliberately leading mercenaries into traps, and unclear hiring purposes spun into various conspiracy theories, which were essentially baseless, irresponsible, unproven, and irrational gossip, displaying the full destructive power of mob slander. The aim was not only to interfere with Chen Fei''s commission but even to blacklist him and expel him from the southern continent. After a confrontation with the unscrupulous local snakes, the emergence of such incidents didn''t surprise Chen Fei at all. But, with a counter move of "copying homework," he spent hundreds of thousands of Star Yuan and dug up a pile of dirt on the "Holy Blood Guild," returning blow for blow. His response was not just through word of mouth but also involved distributing flyers and placing newspaper ads, inciting mass to fight against mass, a slick move skillfully executed. The intense battle of public opinion that ensued and the mutual damage were unexpectedly overwhelming for the local snakes of the "Holy Blood Guild." Being new to the area, Chen Fei hardly had any vulnerabilities to exploit; all rumors about him were unfounded. In contrast, the "Holy Blood Guild" had been entrenched for many years, inevitably accumulating scandals. When people and documented cases proved those scandals, they swiftly collapsed under the weight of evidence. Several Mercenary Guilds, acting under certain motives, also covertly fueled the fire. This time, by lifting the heavy stone named "Chen Fei," the "Holy Blood Guild" had brutally smashed its own foot. The guild quickly became desperate under the turning tide of public opinion, struggling with internal chaos to the point of seeing a decline in its operations with many mercenaries turning to other guilds. Chen Fei, one of the main subjects of the rumors, was still active within Sun Domain City, leaving the frustrated upper echelons on the verge of exploding from humiliation, doubting whether they had picked the wrong script for their slander campaign against an adversary who seemed unfazed, countering their aggressive efforts with a mere flick of a hand and leaving them bloody-faced. Nevertheless, the rumors against Chen Fei were not entirely ineffective; some smaller mercenary squads, confused about the truth, chose to keep their distance from Chen Fei to avoid trouble, but this didn''t significantly impact his situation. Fortunately, before officially announcing his commission, Chen Fei had met with the leaders of some capable mercenary squads, successfully establishing a circle of influence and relationships that protected him from being harmed by false accusations. After issuing the second commission, the "Sunset Guild," again responsible for mediation, quickly recruited enough combat personnel, and the fully loaded Transport Airships took off again. Among these personnel, Chen Fei discovered several hosts of the Mutated Parasitic Spawn. He immediately contacted Bartona, the Commander-in-Chief of the southern war zone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, and confirmed through the parasitic species "Taga" that another Royal Breed stood with it, both agreeing on peaceful coexistence with other life forms. Though this newly confirmed Royal Breed had chosen an evolutionary path of the Ninth Rank, it wasn''t the main body of the Mutated Parasitic Spawn around Nandu City. Its parasitic offspring primarily targeted the dead or fatally wounded Human Race as hosts, never actively killing humans. After parasitism, the spawns voluntarily entered a dormant state without erasing the host''s consciousness. Many hosts retained their original consciousness, not even aware that they had been parasitized. If what "Taga" said was true, it meant that on the Zilu Continent, the unique Royal Breeds spreading the Mutated Parasitic Spawn were not singular; determining exactly how many were benevolent and how many were hostile was the real headache. Considering the potential to obtain the latest intelligence from within the parasitic species, Chen Fei didn''t opt to eliminate them all, regardless of their intentions, good or evil. Otherwise, forcing "Taga" and similar entities back to the original stance of their species would be like seeking trouble without reason, and creating difficulties for himself unnecessarily. - The second sortie of the Airship Battle Group was bound for a location on the border between the southern and eastern parts of the continent. Chen Fei had passed by there on his initial trip to Sun Domain City, and this mission marked a return to that vicinity. This time, two additional 100-meter long multi-functional Auxiliary Ships were added to the fleet, loaded with various equipment. "Confirm the terrain again, have all units completed their memorization?" The female leader of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps, Ballerina, took command of the 1200 mercenaries once again. Since Ballerina was willing to establish a long-term partnership, Chen Fei didn''t mind continuing to entrust this familiar and competent female commander. "The First Squadron''s ''Demon Hunters,'' ''Blood-eyed Hounds,'' ''Crazy Bicycle,'' and ''Malicious Code'' teams have all completed their memorization." "The Second Squadron''s ''Nine-eyed Beast'' team has completed their memorization." "The Third Squadron..." "The Fourth Squadron..." "The Fifth Squadron..." The 1200 people were divided into five squadrons, composed of variously sized mercenary squads, kept as integrated as possible to maintain cohesion and understanding within each team. With its many smaller teams, the Fifth Squadron was kept in reserve while the other four squadrons were the main combat force deployed this time. "1209 combat personnel, 419 logistics personnel, all preparations complete." Ballerina reported on the situation of the mercenary corps this time. "Check the individual communication devices, and connect to the reconnaissance data." Chen Fei''s visual interface was displaying a complex mountain terrain map, along with supplementary footage transmitted by the reconnaissance drones ahead. The combat area was a karst-like, porous rock terrain with an average mountain altitude of about two thousand meters. It was not only full of caves and rock cavities but also had extremely lush vegetation with untouched primitive forests. Some towering trees even reached heights of three to four hundred meters with main trunk diameters exceeding sixty meters. The tree crowns spread in all directions, obscuring the sky, where the treetops basked in bright sunlight, creating a paradise, while the roots lay in complete darkness, comparable to the Nine Serenities Hell. To address this particular environment, Chen Fei had set specific instructions and requirements when posting the commission through the Mercenary Guild. Mercenaries lacking relevant combat experience and capabilities would not be able to take the commission, and it would be overseen by the Sunset Guild to prevent greedy mercenaries from flocking in huge numbers and dying in vain. Consequently, the mercenaries successfully recruited barely reached 1,200 people, with a few extras not worth counting, all integrated into the team. In addition, over 400 logistics support personnel also followed, with a nearly one to four ratio to combat personnel, and with the auxiliary machinery provided by Chen Fei, it was basically sufficient. The insertion of just over 1,200 mercenaries into the terrain of the destination was hardly noticeable; it was like trying to extinguish a car fire with a cup of water, and multiplying their number by ten would still not make any noticeable improvement. Thus, what Chen Fei needed these mercenaries to do was to remain vigilant, act as sentinels, and wait to clean up after the battles¡ªcharges and breakthroughs weren''t just unnecessary; they were inconsequential. "Begin deploying the mercenaries now!" After retrieving the information from the drone reconnaissance, Chen Fei ordered the AI "Adam" to execute the command to release the landing crafts, cooperating with two transport ships to deploy 1,000 mercenaries in battalions to the ground, spreading out a large net to prevent any escapes. Several colorful spells fell from the sky, silently turning some trees into dust, and the landing crafts carrying the mercenaries landed in the newly cleared spaces in the forest. Along with them, four hundred combat mechs and countless mechanical scorpions equipped with hydraulic pincers and eight legs surged into the forest. Their tails not only had lights but also cameras, flooding into the forest like a tide, continuously searching every inch of the ground, leaving no suspicious crack or cave unchecked. The mechanical bodies controlled by the AI "Adam" were the main force in Chen Fei''s search for the target. Luckily, "Adam''s" multiplicative form featured a ring topology structure with strong relative independence among its copies. If it were a derivative of "Cybertrom", most of the computing pressure would be on the server side, and it would probably require one or more high-performance professional computing servers for preparation. Thus, hovering in low Earth orbit, the "Cybertrom" body was immensely huge, easily accommodating the "Halo" Dimensional Gate on the Blue Star side. "Nothing at all!" The "Yellow Sparrow" squad, responsible for flagship security, still assembled on the bridge, guarding their employer Chen Fei while continuing to stand by. A large number of mercenaries, combat mechs, and meter-long mechanical scorpions scattered into the forest, then vanished without a trace, swallowed by the mountains and forests below. Boom!~ Unexpectedly, a cooperative ship positioned at the four o''clock direction suddenly opened fire, its side railgun firing four 152mm Demolition Bombs consecutively, creating bursts of fire in the forest. The pale white impact wave halo instantly swept over a kilometer radius, and countless sparks flew out from the dense forest; although the detonation points were invisible, the firepower of the artillery was by no means diminished, the effectiveness of the heavy artillery lied in concussion, not fragmentation. Many birds flew frantically from the treetops, beasts fled, and cries of ghosts and howls of wolves echoed through the forest. "What''s happening?" The mercenary commander, Ballerina, sent an inquiry. She was still on one of the transport ships, where a backup command center was located. But the real command center was on the flagship''s bridge, displayed on Chen Fei''s visual interface and superimposed in AR, making full use of the limited field of vision. "Found a ferocious magical beast. Eliminating it ahead of time." Chen Fei replied calmly, the impact zone was less than 800 meters from the Second Squadron, and it was highly likely that the two sides would encounter each other. A small drone carrying the biological samples just collected from the impact zone returned. If the footage transmitted back by a certain mechanical scorpion was correct, the so-called "ferocious magical beast" should be the mutant XR-0079, which had only appeared on Blue Star fifteen years ago. Chapter 766 766: Section 761 - Fusion of Mutant and Parasitic Species ``` Was it a trick of the eye, or a coincidence? Only after the biological samples are collected and returned will the truth be revealed. It was, indeed, mind-boggling to suddenly encounter mutants, which were rampant on Blue Star, now appearing on Cangqiong Star. According to widely recognized research reports, the main cause of these mutants was the post-nuclear weapon strikes, where residual nuclear radiation pollution led to biological mutation disasters. It''s possible some restless individuals or organizations also played a role in inducing these events. However, Cangqiong Star had never experienced the large-scale use of nuclear weapons, not even a nuclear test. The environmental conditions for inducing mutations through radiation pollution simply did not exist. Moreover, the ecological environment of Cangqiong Star was not conducive to the survival of mutants. The planet teemed with wild animals and magical beasts far more ferocious than mutants. Intruders in the local food chain would likely just be serving themselves up as prey and have no chance to thrive and reproduce. "Magical beasts? I see!" Ballerina did not probe further; it was ordinary to encounter beasts and magical beasts in the deep mountains and forests, and their position was still some distance from the mercenaries'' location. She immediately ordered everyone to be cautious of the predatory creatures lurking around them. Currently, two teams were operational; Chen Fei directly controlled the intelligent combat mechs to spearhead the mercenaries, as per the plan set from the start. Intelligent combat mechs were fearless of casualties, so there was no need for mercenaries to serve as cannon fodder. The latter''s main job was to assist in reconnaissance and solidify the front lines, filling in where manpower was lacking. A few moments later, two cooperative ships alternated their bombardments on the ground, not limited to 152mm caliber heavy cannons, but also a fiercely powerful, dense array system. About a dozen creatures resembling large, white bats rose from the dense forest. 30mm caliber armor-piercing incendiary shells came flying toward them. As the dense barrage swept over, one after another, the large white bats fell apart and plummeted to the ground. The "Dark Moon Snow Bat" was a gregarious and ferocious magical beast, likely stirred up by the combat mechs during their cave search. Actually, the airship battle group would not have fired if the creatures hadn''t initiated an attack. But once combat started, it would be a fight to the death. In no time, the group of "Dark Moon Snow Bats" were completely annihilated; their Wind Series sound wave spells stood no chance against the ferocious firepower. As the 30mm caliber twelve-barreled railgun dense array system unleashed a fierce barrage of projectiles, a yellow, tiger-striped deer-like magical beast with a single forked horn leapt nimbly several times in quick succession, reaching the treetops more than three hundred meters above the ground. It looked up, its body surrounded by a shimmering magic shield of different colors, slowly rotating and intertwining. After cautiously observing the airship battle group in the sky for a while, it turned and disappeared into the canopy, vanishing without a trace. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" received instructions from Chen Fei and autonomously distinguished between rational and ferocious magical beasts, and identified the single-horned deer-like magical beast. The "Tricolor Unicorn" was a rational beast and was not subjected to focused fire as the "Dark Moon Snow Bats" had been. On the AR visual interface''s terrain map, red dots indicating mechanical scorpion losses began to cluster densely. The intelligent mechanical beings deployed into the forest were the real expendables, as death held no meaning for the artificial intelligence AI. Before being sequentially destroyed, the mechanical scorpions, only over a foot in length, managed to send back a sufficient number of clear images due to their numbers. Deep within the mountain, where the target resided, a large number of creatures resembling the mutant XR-0079 were found; there were more than one. The "Headhunter Excavator Shell" was naturally gregarious, adding to the suspicion. A line of text appeared before Chen Fei. Adam: Biological sample testing result, confirmed as mutant XR-0079, scientific name "Headhunter Excavator Shell". Adam: The number of mutant XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shell" confirmed is 75. It really was them... Mutants + Parasitic Species, such a combination is truly a headache. The "Water Bear" organization''s intelligence will likely need to add new data, as colluding with the extraterrestrial race "Sagali" is already a heinous crime, and now they deserve to be wiped from the face of the earth even more so. According to intelligence from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the "Water Bear" organization is linked to the upper echelons of the Lin Family, though the depth of that connection remains unknown. The sudden, unprovoked attack on the Lin Family by Sovereignty, and the Lin Family''s subsequent disappearance, suggest that the truth is not as simple as it appears on the surface. Rumors from various sources hinted that while the Lin Family protected the skies of Blue Star, they also became an obstacle to Blue Star''s ambitions toward Cangqiong Star, and with the Lin Family bloodline poised to dominate the profits from Cangqiong Star, it was bound to arouse envy. After thirty-odd years of peace and the transition from old to new generations, as well as changes in governance, Blue Star''s grace toward the Lin Family was coming to an end. News of the Lin Family Title''s settlement being breached had not been out long before the media went silent in less than three days. Despite various civilian speculations, the media had cooled down the topic forcefully. Sometimes, news suppression also implies a particular stance. Adam: The number of mutant XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shell" confirmed is 193. ``` As the Mechanical Scorpions pressed forward in an unending stream, they discovered more of the mutant XR-0079s, and Chen Fei immediately activated the Particle Beam Cannons of the cooperative ships. Such tactical-level weapons were not only immensely powerful but also consumed a lot of energy, so they weren''t easily used unless necessary. Although the Airship Battle Group was collectively equipped with "Energy Gathering Shells," which could continuously draw elemental energy from the atmosphere and convert it into usable power, replenishing Crystal Energy was never an easy task. Each sortie resulted in immense consumption, so Chen Fei couldn''t strike frequently, quickly annihilating the parasites on the hunting list. A series of blue-white beams of light descended from the sky, effortlessly piercing through the mountain, piercing the caves inside like a hot knife through butter, causing local collapses that blocked the escape routes of the mutants, after which a large number of combat mechs rushed in, engaging with various firearms continuously, the ground trembling slightly non-stop as if a minor earthquake had occurred. XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shell" were Hive Type mutants, and as long as the Breeding Matrix and the Egg Incubation Area were destroyed, victory would be achieved in one fell swoop, even if a few individuals managed to escape, they would quickly die off naturally. Following the passages explored by the Mechanical Scorpion Swarm, the Combat Mechs controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" were like a real army, decimating the XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shells" who were left disarmed and dismembered, their limbs torn apart, unable to withstand the penetrative shots from the Railgun Weapons despite their thick armored casings and chest segments, and if the warheads carried Explosives in their combat sections, they could easily inflict fatal damage. By the time the mercenaries arrived at the various cave entrances, the battle inside the mountainous combat zone had already ended. The Holy Flame Sun gradually set below the horizon, while the Mechanical Scorpions and Combat Mechs turned the caves and crevices within a ten-mile radius upside down. Adam: The search mission is complete, no parasitic species detected. Besides 113 large beasts, 3298 medium and small beasts, 41 Magical Beasts, 241 XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shells," and countless insects, the parasitic species'' trace was not found. "No parasitic species?" This result inevitably made Chen Fei start to doubt the Royal Breed "Taga" that was parasitizing inside the "Mystic Fog Specter" beast within the Rebel Army Southern Warzone Headquarters. Could it be that this hunting list is a mix of truth and falsehood, and the first sortie was a fluke, hitting the mark by luck, and now the second sortie''s target turned out to be a fake? What''s the point of such a scheme? But Chen Fei couldn''t figure it out! He immediately called the Southern War Zone Headquarters, conveying through the commander Bartona to the other party that he had hit a blank, while also concealing the existence of the mutants. Yet "Taga" assured him earnestly, guaranteeing the list was authentic, and the update was just a month ago, ensuring that those of his kin were at the locations on the list. This made Chen Fei even more perplexed. To be honest, he had never engaged in strategic planning, and a fake list wouldn''t have much effect, at most resulting in a wasted trip, without the possibility of being exploited for an assassination. Killing "Sagali" was acceptable, but accidentally harming other Intelligent Species? Chen Fei was not that foolish! Whether there was a parasitic infection, there were already existing reconnaissance methods for accurate identification, and under no circumstances would he carelessly strike at an Intelligent Species that had not been parasitized. Chen Xiao''er''s shortcomings were apparent; he might be occasionally eager, but he was not reckless, as there''s an essential difference between the two. As he went over Taga''s reply and continuously reviewed the photos and videos sent back by the Mechanical Scorpion Swarm, his eyes finally settled on a particular video. "''Adam,'' retrieve samples from this video, it should be feces." In the still frame, among a pile of filth, pale bones could be vaguely seen, seemingly remains that had not been entirely digested. The exposed parts looked strikingly like a skull, small, no larger than a fist, like the cranium of an infant. In these primitive woodlands, the likelihood of mutants capturing Human Race or human-like younglings was not common. For any species, based on biological instinct, the young are often given the best protection. Another species'' offspring bore resemblance to those of the Human Race and human-like species, making the suddenly discovered tiny skulls and nearby bone fragments immediately suspicious. Near where the frame was taken, several Mechanical Scorpions returned to the scene, their claws menacing, and in no time, they collected over a dozen pounds... of excrement. Looking at its dried surface, it seemed to have been there for some time. However, the detection equipment on the airship didn''t care about these details, directly "eating" a pound and then "consuming" several pounds more, breaking down the returned feces into thousands of tiny testing chambers. Half an hour later, results quickly emerged. Chen Fei''s guess was right on the money, the remains of the one-third skull and the dozen bone fragments indeed belonged to the parasitic species. It seemed the truth was out; the parasitic species had indeed "fused" with the mutants, but it was a special form of "fusion." Chapter 767 767: Section 762 - The Battle of Fire Begins in the Yang Realm The imaginative and associative capabilities that intelligent species possess are absent in artificial intelligence AI, which can''t even mimic these through computational models. Had it not been for Chen Fei''s re-examined scouting information, they might have completely missed it. All the computations and searches failed to anticipate that the elusive parasitic species would end up being eaten by the mutants. No one had imagined that the mutants wreaking havoc on Blue Star wouldn''t cower before the extraterrestrial "Sagali", choosing instead to defiantly engage in a brute force confrontation, with the result being the parasitic species getting forcefully expelled. It was truly freaking bizarre, was this what they call fighting poison with poison? By the time Chen Fei had eradicated the group of XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shells", the parasitic species hidden there had long since turned into stinking excrement, truly defying any sense of reason. Chen Fei simply tested all the mutant feces at the scene, going through at least a hundred thousand samples throughout the night. The detection equipment that "ate" fresh or dry feces all night long was cursing silently the entire time but still obediently generated the test reports. The identified parasitic species genetic fragments weren''t only from a single individual but from over ten, with the remainder being genetic fragments of various animals and plants, including magical beasts. The mutants were never picky eaters, consuming anything that could supplement their nutrition. Compared to the parasitic species that hid inside "Sea Wolf Sharks" near the fishing village harbor, those hiding in this mountainous region were led by a Royal Breed, with two General Breed and fifteen Troop Breed under its command, forming a small-scale parasitic species group. However, the dryness of the feces containing these parasitic remains varied, meaning that the excretions weren''t from a single day but occurred over a period of time. This signified that the parasitic species group was hunted down one by one, which was very characteristic of the tendencies of Hive Type mutants. The Hive Type mutants were never short of patience. With enough food and time, they could constantly expand their community, excelling at a war of attrition ¨C for each that died, two emerged; for each pair lost, four more originated, continuously, never ceasing. Of course, the combat mechs and Mechanical Scorpions controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" were emotionless industrial products, even less concerned about attrition warfare. Taking over from the parasitic species group, the mutants that occupied the nest were gradually worn down, after all, the rate of reproduction and growth of the young could not compete with the crazed production of explosive soldiers by modern industrial assembly lines, even in cost-efficiency. The first rays of dawn crossed the mountain ranges and shone upon the airships that had landed on various mountaintops. The "Energy Gathering Shell" surface, which constantly drew elemental energy from the atmosphere regardless of day or night, became more conspicuous as it dispersed shimmering energy in a kaleidoscope of colors. "Did you find any parasitic species?" Mercenary temporary commander Ballerina, known by the nickname "Soul Eating Flower", sent her morning query to Chen Fei. "No! The mission is over, everyone prepare to return." Chen Fei was no honest kid, not revealing even the slightest hint. He understood all too well that the mercenaries actually cared a great deal about any information on the parasitic species, and among these more than a thousand mercenaries and several hundred logistics personnel, there were many spies from the guilds, not just one. Almost every mercenary guild around Sun Domain City had become involved, including the "Holy Blood Guild", with which Chen Fei had openly broken ties. Any scrap of information about the parasitic species was now considered valuable intelligence that could be equated with money, why would Chen Fei just give away such information so carelessly? Since there was demand, why not sell it at a high price? So when Ballerina inquired in the capacity of a mercenary, denial was inevitable. If it were the Mercenary Guild wanting to negotiate, Chen Fei''s attitude would change completely. After breakfast time was over, two transport airships took to the sky with everyone on board, followed by the retraction of all cooperative and auxiliary ships, leaving only the flagship to begin the journey back. Non-combat flight states would consume unnecessary crystal energy reserves, so Chen Fei stowed away the surplus airships into the "Spatial branding". The elemental energy absorbed over a day and night was converted to crystal energy, just barely ensuring a balanced budget. The cleared battle zone would soon be reoccupied by the various creatures that were originally active in the mountainous forests. - Adam: Warning! A battle is taking place in the airspace about 300 kilometers ahead! Even though he was returning without any active mission, Chen Fei still dispatched advance scout drones to maintain security vigilance over the flight path. Honestly, he was currently maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Southern War Zone Headquarters and that Royal Breed, but he had always remained cautious. As the saying goes, those who are not of our kind have a different heart! In this unfamiliar place, Chen Fei was the alien, and if he could harbor a different heart, so could others. The moment the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" issued a warning, the forward scout drones transmitted back the captured footage. Spells and beams from directed-energy weapons crisscrossed in the sky, with at least a hundred small Assembled Combat aircraft entangled in combat, all of them "Sky Falcons". Over ten Light Wing Ships were engaging in bombardment, with projectiles tracing straight trajectories and missiles, leaving erratic curves of exhaust trails, the fierce energy jets slamming into defensive magic and force fields, exploding in blinding flashes and scattering light particles everywhere. To differentiate friend from foe, they relied on not just IFF signals but also visible differences in painting. The two armies were engaged in battle, covering both the skies and ground around Sun Domain City. The ground battles were fiercely intense, and the situation within the city seemed particularly dire. The heavily damaged Light Wing Ships were slowly descending, wrapped in fire and smoke, while lifeboats scrambled to escape. Some that were unlucky, hit by stray shots, twisted and fell to the ground with the wreckage. Individual combat prowess felt immensely trivial in this battlefield. It was dominated by various types of combative machines. "Reduce speed and hover, help me get in touch with the ''Sunset Guild''." Chen Fei had the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" dial the direct line communication number of the "Sunset Guild" in Sun Domain City. This was a one-on-one VIP service for him, a major customer. As long as the contact personnel were still alive, there would be no such thing as a busy signal. "Hello, this is the ''Sunset Guild'', service attendant Emma at your service!" "Hang up!" No sooner had the call connected than a sweet voice came through, but Chen Fei unhesitatingly ended the call. To hell with "Emma"! He and the "Sunset Guild" had a special arrangement: every day the person answering the phone would use a different name. Yesterday was "Emma," and today should be "Shirley." A voice could be simulated and disguised, but not everyone could guess this secret code. Adam: Interference signal source detected, Sun Domain City''s public communication service system has been overridden. "Tactical interference and tactical deceit!" Chen Fei immediately understood what was going on. No wonder, before this, he and those mercenaries hadn''t received the slightest bit of information, entirely unaware of anything. It wasn''t until they approached Sun Domain City that they noticed something was amiss. In just one night and day, Sun Domain City along with the nearby rebel camp had been engulfed in flames. If his guess was correct, the Rebel Army Southern War Zone Headquarters were engaged in battle with the Slan Dynasty''s rebel-suppression army. With the latter''s technological strength, they were fully capable of blocking a city''s communications without revealing any flaws. However, the rebel-suppression army''s information warfare technicians could never have imagined that Chen Fei would so easily uncover their tactics with a stroke of luck. (Communication fraud personnel: ???) "Huh? Why is the airship descending? It seems we haven''t arrived at Sun Domain City yet!" The mercenaries hadn''t disbanded yet, and Ballerina was still performing her duties as the commander. When she suddenly noticed that the airship had not only stopped moving forward but also was descending rapidly, she immediately sent an inquiry to Chen Fei. "Sun Domain City has started a war, we can''t get too close for now!" This time, Chen Fei didn''t keep her in the dark, opting instead to tell the truth. The reconnaissance drones closest to the battlefield began to retreat. Fortunately, the warring sides were too busy to spare any effort to deal with this unmanned drone and the three airships that had approached the battlefield. "Ah? A war? Who''s fighting whom?" Ballerina was initially bewildered, then quickly caught on and hurriedly asked, "Is it a battle between the Slan Dynasty''s army and the Restoration Army?" The indigenous people of Zhai Liuzhou from the Tessa Empire have once again raised the flag of rebellion to resist the ruling of the Slan Dynasty. The Tessa Empire Restoration Army had for a time gained the upper hand on the continent, but armies loyal to the Slan Royal Family kept arriving one after another. It was inevitable that the two sides would clash once more. She just never imagined that the Slan Dynasty''s army would arrive so quickly. Meanwhile, one application request for communication links after another kept popping up. Clearly, more people had noticed the anomalies with the airship formation and were sending inquiries to Ballerina, the temporary commander. "That''s correct, it is indeed the case!" Although the flames of war had yet to reach them, Chen Fei hesitated whether to have the airship formation retreat a distance to avoid a joint attack from the warring parties, as such an unjust death would truly leave him with no place to reason. "Why would a battle start? Why would a battle start? Why would..." Ballerina fell into a murmuring repetition as if she were a broken record. Even if a large-scale rebellion had suddenly erupted on the Zilu Continent, and even though the Restoration Army''s Southern War Zone Headquarters was located just outside Sun Domain City, and there were also large forces stationed there, this largest city in the southern part of the continent had always been peaceful and stable. No one would have expected war to come so suddenly, catching them unprepared. "''Adam,'' inform everyone that war has broken out in Sun Domain City, and we need to rest nearby for a while." Perceiving that Ballerina wouldn''t be of much use for a moment, Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to have the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" pass the message to everyone to avoid unnecessary confusion or trouble. The next second, every cellphone in the three airships rang out, and text messages were received as well. Instantly, the mercenaries inside the two transport airships were thrown into uproar. Damn, just took a trip away from home and upon returning, our home is gone! Once the fires of war were lit, none could escape unscathed. "Let''s rush towards Sun Domain City at once, we have to defend the city!" Just then, someone shouted what sounded like a local mercenary''s rallying cry. This naive fool¡ªif everyone goes off to defend Sun Domain City, who will protect ourselves? Please take a look at the mercenary contract; it''s not over yet, Chen Fei complained in his mind. Chapter 768 768: Section 763 - The Difference Between Amateur and Professional Within the two large transport airships that had just landed smoothly, emotions were churning and slogans echoed one after another. Even those who wanted to remain calm and rational found their blood boiling with excitement. "Those who want to leave, settle your bills and go." If these mercenaries wanted to rush to their deaths, so be it. Chen Fei, with a heart as hard as iron, wouldn''t indulge them. He immediately notified the "Sunset Guild" to settle the accounts and distribute the money. Everyone would go back to their own homes and find their own mothers. He would not stop anyone. Although the public communication system was being interfered with, the dedicated financial communication system had not been affected. After all, the financial channel was a double-edged sword. Any carelessness could easily end up injuring oneself. Chen Fei never intended to pick sides in the ongoing conflict; he just wanted to sit on the sidelines, eat melons, and watch the turmoil. He would see the conclusion of the battle naturally unfold, and whoever won or lost was none of his concern. Neither the Slan Dynasty''s rebellion-suppressing army nor the Tessa Empire''s Restoration Army had any reason to attack Chen Fei, the Blue Star bystander. After all, he was still a citizen of the First Sovereignty of Blue Star. If someone beat up Chen Xiao''er, the First Sovereignty would see it as an excuse to intervene¡ªthere''s my advantage! They would rush over, ready to fight, not stopping until they had torn off a large chunk. Did you really think the 9.6 million square kilometers of sovereign territory were all gained through "peace and love"? Do you believe in love (nuclear, peaceful, uranium love)? I''m afraid anyone would fall out of love immediately! At this moment, Chen Fei didn''t want to fight anyone, but he also didn''t want to be targeted by anyone. The few hundred mercenaries who had received their transfers surged out of the large transport airships, howling all the way as they flooded towards Sun Domain City, preparing to join this poignant and epic war that would be recorded in history. Several "Sky Falcons" sped past, numerous little black dots falling from the sky. Boom, boom, boom, boom... It was like textbook carpet bombing. The spirited mercenaries were instantly reduced by half. The scene of scattered limbs and severed arms where the smoke had not yet cleared was too horrific to look at. The six reconnaissance drones maintaining a perimeter captured images from various angles, which alternated on the display, causing Chen Fei to scratch his head in wonder. This was the real difference between amateur and professional players¡ªthe former thought they were up to the mark, but reality swiftly hit them on the head, showing them they were not! Individual bravery often obscured certain truths. This was complete suppression by military equipment. The mercenaries didn''t understand, but the Blue Star''s peers, the military contractors, knew it all too well. The "Sky Falcons," having emptied their ammunition, showed no further interest in even glancing at the strike site and returned home without looking back, leaving behind nothing but moans and groans. The surviving mercenaries finally came to their senses. Not only was their fighting spirit gone, but they also felt as if they had been doused with a huge bucket of ice water from head to toe, shivering uncontrollably from the chill that emanated from within, gripped by boundless fear. "Ah! Ah! What''s happening!" Baron, the captain of "yellow sparrow" squad, cried out several times in fright. From the bridge, he had numbingly witnessed hundreds of mercenaries engulfed by the dense carpet bombing. "Who''s behind this?" Lulisa, a female member of "yellow sparrow" squad, turned her head to look at Chen Fei, who sat unmoved. In her eyes, he had done nothing, as if turning a blind eye to it all. In reality, through a visual interface and AR Visual Assistance established by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam," Chen Fei saw much more, and it was precisely because of this that he dared not act rashly. "It doesn''t matter who did it. What matters is not to rush to your death at this critical moment. If you die, it will be for nothing." Chen Fei wasn''t interested in finding out who had dropped the bombs because it was meaningless. Whichever side it was, they were not forces that these mercenaries could afford to provoke. Picking a fight and getting beaten is entirely different from being beaten unprovoked and innocently. The Blue Star Sovereignties would rather see the latter scenario unfold, which would allow them to roll up their sleeves and legally enter the fray. If it was the former case, they could just pull Chen Xiao''er out of trouble and spank him themselves; after all, only they could beat their own citizens, others couldn''t¡ªthat''s just how it is. (Sometimes the First Sovereignty of Blue Star would bring back other people''s citizens for execution.) "Those guys are coming back!" "Eh? What are they saying?" The other mercenaries of the "yellow sparrow" squad pointed to the ground, where some of the mercenaries who had already left the transport airship parted to assist the wounded. Many more turned around and headed towards the flagship, waving their hands frantically, as if shouting something. At that moment, Chen Fei received a prompt for a call connection request. "Is there something you need, Commander Knob?" The caller was the commander of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps, which had been independently responsible for the Second Squadron. They were strong and numerous, ranking among the most powerful in the mercenary corps recruited by Chen Fei. Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps said bluntly, "I''d like to borrow your airship, name your price!" In that recent bombardment, the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps had lost at least forty or fifty brothers. Chen Fei did not answer whether he would lend it or not, but instead asked, "Do you want to trigger a war between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star?" My airship is not for this purpose. Let''s be frank, do you really not have a clue in your heart? Such a blatant request to borrow an airship was truly treating Chen Fei as a fool. This was completely different from defending the Dimensional Gate Management Substation in the Suburbs of Nandu City during a skirmish with the "Undying Pigeon" Rebel Army. Rushing into the battle now, no one would stand by Chen Fei. "Ah, this..." Commander Knob had only been thinking about avenging his brothers and had forgotten about Chen Fei''s background. The ferocious airship was right before their eyes, yet it was out of reach for borrowing. Chen Fei''s rhetorical question wasn''t alarmist, but rather a scenario that was quite possible. "So, airships and girlfriends are not for lending!" Without waiting for a reply, Chen Fei swiftly shut down this avenue. "Can''t you lend a hand? We''ll remember your favor, and from now on, we ''Nine-eyed Beasts'' will take care of all your commissions, bringing our own rations and helping for free." Commander Knob persisted in his last-ditch effort. At his side, the leaders of several other mercenary corps perked up their ears to listen to the conversation between the two. Borrowing the airship wasn''t just Knob''s idea but a common wish among several mercenary corps leaders. "No way! I pay, you work, that''s only natural, so let''s not talk about anything else." Bullshit favors, Chen Fei had no doubt that if he were to draw fire unto himself, these guys wouldn''t give him a second look. Not to kick a man when he''s down or take advantage of the situation would already be something to be thankful for; people forget you as soon as you''re gone, and that''s the harsh reality of life. Having said this, he didn''t hesitate to hang up the call. Hesitation leads to chaos, otherwise, the other party would persistently continue, trying to fool him like an idiot. "He hung up, I told you this guy wouldn''t be easy to fool." Upon hearing the urgent beep from the phone, the chagrined Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beasts" mercenary corps turned towards the other leaders. It was unthinkable for anyone to easily agree to lend an airship for battle. "What are we supposed to do then? Did my brothers die for nothing?" the leader of the "Malicious Code" mercenary corps said in anguish. Blood, not just his but others'', was still dripping from his body. The "Malicious Code" mercenary corps had almost been wiped out in the recent barrage, and the few survivors, injured cats, were still in critical condition, uncertain of making it through the danger. "Did the brothers who just died do so in vain? Our friends and families are still in Sun Domain City''s life-and-death uncertainty, we can''t do nothing!" the leader of the "Blood-eyed Hound" mercenary corps cried out loudly. "Right, we can''t just do nothing!" "Desperate times call for desperate measures, let''s get to it!" "That Chen isn''t one of us Cangqiong Star people, he only knows how to talk nonsense, damn him!" "Seize the airship, if he doesn''t give it to us, kill him, he''s just one person." More and more voices rose, blood boiled, and emotions surged, momentarily forgetting the shock and fear of the carpet bombing they had just witnessed. "Hey, boss, you should have agreed to Commander Knob''s request!" Lulisa, a member of the "Yellow Sparrow" team, had just eavesdropped on Chen Fei''s conversation with the commander of the "Nine-eyed Beasts" mercenary corps. "And why is that?" Chen Fei looked at her with pity. Such a naive one, no wonder she could only hang around outside hotel room doors, making passes at people, and almost got her head blown off by Xiao Jiu''s laser beam. "Shut up!" Baron, the captain of the "Yellow Sparrow" team, was more understanding. He could clearly hear the stupid question his teammate asked and the unusual tone in their employer''s voice. However, as if she hadn''t heard the captain''s order, Lulisa continued to insist, "You could earn the friendship of the mercenaries!" "Friendship among mercenaries? Isn''t it all about money?" Chen Fei was directly amused by this naive girl''s foolishness, his laughter growing colder and colder. "Lulisa, get out! Benny, Mirage, take her out!" Captain Baron hurriedly signaled the other two teammates with his eyes. "Eh? Eh, eh, eh? Why are you kicking me out?" The two mercenaries, one on each side, escorted Lulisa out of the bridge, flawlessly executing the captain''s orders. "I''m really sorry, Lulisa is too immature," Baron immediately apologized to Chen Fei. If he didn''t make amends now, the "Yellow Sparrow" team might lose their employment this time. There weren''t many big deals going on every day, not to mention a team like Wind, yet they could still get Star Yuan¡ªit was like a pie falling from sky, and you''d have to be out of your mind to push it away. "Hmm!" Chen Fei gave a noncommittal nod without much response. While the teammate might be clueless, the captain seemed to have some discernment. He turned his attention back to the visual interface in front of him and began issuing new orders. "''Adam,'' expel all the mercenaries from the transport airship." Chapter 769: Section 764 - Coercion Not all the mercenaries were howling and rushing towards Sun Domain City, eager for battle. Many were still staying in or near the Transport Airship, observing and waiting. The hovering patrol drones not only focused their cameras on the distant battlefield but also kept some of their lenses on the three airships that had landed. A group of mercenaries stirred again and naturally came under Chen Fei''s observation as they aggressively surrounded two of the Transport Airships. Their intentions were as clear as day. Chen Fei couldn''t help but laugh in exasperation. If they won''t give, then steal? What''s the point of preaching about morality and ethics then? Of course, he wasn''t going to give these mercenaries a chance. "What exactly is going on? Why drive everyone down?" Fresh from her duties as a temporary commander, the Female Mercenary Leader Barina sent a communication request, and Chen Fei gave her due respect. From the beginning, her "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps had not been involved in those messy affairs. "Commander Barina, some people want to steal the airships. To prevent inside-out collaboration, I''m sorry," Chen explained. Even if an internal and external collusion were to happen, Chen Fei wasn''t too concerned. Evicting them beforehand was simply to avoid unnecessary killings. "So that''s it, rest assured, I, Barina, am not that kind of person!" The commander of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps immediately understood the situation. She tolerated no injustice, and her temper could flare up to the extent that most men would wisely steer clear. No sooner had she finished speaking with Chen Fei than other mercenary leaders started calling. Their conversation was brief before Barina scolded them harshly and immediately ordered the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps, in cooperation with the Combat Mechs inside the Transport Airship, to drive all their fellow mercenaries out of the airship. The Transport Airship occupied by the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps was quickly cleared, and its doors were completely locked. The expelled mercenaries clashed violently with the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps. Those who had left the Transport Airship earlier then turned back, aiming to take control of the airship, and both sides fiercely clashed. Without the help of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps on another Transport Airship, although the order to leave was given, the mercenaries inside were reluctant and cursing loudly. Some even attacked the Combat Mechs executing the orders, causing a chaotic uproar both inside and outside the airship. Chen Fei left the bridge, as those shortsighted mercenaries hadn''t yet dared to target this flagship. The Single Soldier Tactical Armor, "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, the giant version, carried him towards the landing sites of those two Transport Airships, hand outstretched. Whoosh!~ In the roaring wind, one Transport Airship disappeared without a trace, taken into the "Spatial Branding." Inside another Transport Airship, compartment decks stood up one after another, turning into walls that unquestionably pushed forward layer by layer, forcing all unwilling mercenaries out of the vessel. Then another gust of wind surged, filling the vacuum left by the vanishing colossal ship. Even though the mercenaries continued to curse and yell, Chen Fei ignored them. The "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor returned to the flagship. Just as it landed on the top of the vessel, preparing to descend into it, the Giant Mobile Armor paused. Ten or more people were standing in the front, each holding various weapons. "What is this about?" Inside the "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor, Chen Fei''s tone was devoid of any emotional fluctuation. These were the leaders of the mercenary corps recruited this time. Though not all were present, they were enough to represent the will of most mercenaries. "Please do us a favor, boss." One of the Mercenary Corps Commanders smiled broadly and saluted the "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor. "What are you trying to do?" The Female Commander of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps also noticed the movements of other mercenary leaders and followed by jumping onto the top of the flagship, standing beside the "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor, making her stance clear. Few more steps were heard, still standing behind Barina. A hero always has allies; the "Soul Eating Flower" was not without friends. "Barina, as a member of Sun Domain City, why aren''t you coming over!" Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps frowned slightly across from her. He hadn''t anticipated that this female commander and several others would stand opposed. "Ha! It seems like the reputation of Sun Domain City''s mercenaries is almost ruined by you guys. Am I..." Barina looked back at other mercenary leaders, nodded to them, and then, standing her ground, she said, "Am I not supposed to do something about it?" It''s one thing to see injustice, but is another to act; the reputation of Sun Domain City''s mercenaries affects many people''s livelihoods. One minute they take the employer''s Star Yuan, the next they''re stealing from him. Regardless of how noble the reasons, it''s not something a righteous mercenary should do. If possible, Barina even wanted to spit in the faces of these scoundrels. The opposing mercenary leaders looked somewhat sheepish. Honestly, what they were doing was indeed a bit shady. "Barina, it''s not for ourselves. It''s to avenge our fallen brothers, for the elders and folks of Sun Domain City, and besides, it''s just a matter of sacrificing an unimportant outsider. If you join us, we can still be good friends. In the future, whatever happens, ''Nine-eyed Beast'' will definitely lend powerful support." Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps was dead set on getting the airships and starting a war with the enemies who bombed his brothers. Without the two Transport Airships, these mercenaries had no choice but to target Chen Fei''s flagship. As the core of the Airship Battle Group, this flagship''s combat capability would certainly meet the mercenaries'' needs. "Pfft, why don''t you sacrifice yourselves? Do you owe them something?" Barina spat disdainfully on the ground, landing it on Chen Fei''s airship... However, her words also voiced what Chen Fei was thinking. "I''m giving you 10 seconds to leave, otherwise, don''t blame me for not being polite." Chen Fei had no intention of continuing to watch both sides waste breath and issued a final warning. If these disobedient mercenaries wanted to seek death, he didn''t mind helping them along. "You want to start a war?" The group of mercenary leaders puffed up like roosters ready for a fight. "Stop, ah!!!!" Barina had just started to shout to stop them, but her voice broke mid-sentence, completely going off-key. She and the mercenary leaders behind her suddenly turned pale, their eyes widening as they looked toward the opposing mercenary leaders as if they were facing a major threat... Behind them? "What?" Realizing the odd expressions on Barina and others, particularly as their gaze began to rise, Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps and his men turned around in confusion. Hiss... They all inhaled sharply, almost unable to believe their eyes. A ferocious "Giant Dragon" emerged from inside the hull, passing directly through the metal exterior without any hatch opening. This was clearly, clearly the innate ability of the Metallic Dragons! Clang, clang, clang, clang... No dragon of the metallic element was here; the reality was the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor making a dazzling entrance. Its appearance was not due to the innate ability of a Metallic Dragon but was aided by Chen Fei''s B-grade metal elemental psychic power. Although unmanned, it did not hinder the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" from controlling its movements. Naturally, its combat effectiveness couldn''t match Chen Fei personally piloting it, but its ability to intimidate was undiminished. Positioned behind those mercenary leaders, an oppressive force seemed to surge towards them. "Giant, giant, giant, giant dragon!!!!" A mercenary leader next to Commander Knob''s voice cracked completely out of tune. No one had told them that their employer from Blue Star had a Metallic Dragon, and it had been kept so well hidden that it only now revealed its true form. Until this moment, everyone had been in the dark, knowing nothing. If there was a Metallic Dragon, then what was the job of these mercenaries? Wasn''t this just burning money? "7!" Chen Fei continued counting on his own. Don''t say you weren''t warned! A fine tradition of The First Sovereign, which Chen Xiao''er had inherited, although sometimes, he acted first without saying anything as a courtesy. "6!" The countdown reached the ears of all mercenary leaders. Commander Knob and his men looked at each other and without hesitation, they leaped down from the top of the flagship. Even Barina and her companions did not hesitate and followed, retreating together. If even a Metallic Dragon had appeared, were they still planning to reason with it? "''Adam'', how does a dog bark?" Chen Fei disembarked from the "Dragon King" assault-type mobile armor, looking toward the mechanical dragon controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam." The mechanical dragon''s head tilted. "Woof?" "Good boy!" The Human Race''s perverse sense of humor¡ªhow could an artificial intelligence possibly understand? The full 80 meters of the flagship slowly left the ground and continued to ascend; those mercenaries wanting to board again had no opportunity to do so. Even if there was a chance, they would not dare provoke the "Dragon" on the ship. Whether it was a true Giant Dragon or not, it had the capability to wipe out these mercenaries entirely. "Pfft!~ These Blue Star people are no good!" The frustrated leader of the "Malicious Code" Mercenary Corps watched the airship ascend into the sky and spit a mouthful of bloody spit onto the ground. Thinking of his comrades separated by life and death, he couldn''t help but feel an overwhelming sadness and began to howl loudly. "My brothers!!!!" The scene was steeped in gloom. But the "Furious Witch," leader Barina, took her people and moved away, knowing Sun Domain City was no longer an option; they needed to find a place to settle first. Impulsiveness is the devil; had those mercenaries not rashly charged toward Sun Domain City, they would not have suffered unwarranted casualties and losses. Chapter 770: Section 765 - Riddle of a Painting Chen Fei''s flagship had once again pulled at least 20 kilometers away from Sun Domain City, where battles blazed across the sky, giving both sides of the engagement a clear statement¡ªneither involving himself nor allowing them to drag him into the waters. At his side remained only the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, a team that had been employed for several days in a row. As for the other mercenaries, whether hostile or not, they had all been abandoned at the previous landing point, left either to die or to survive; there was simply no capacity to manage more than that. The grim-faced Captain Baron of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad was thankful for his quick reaction and clear head, which saved him from being discarded. Finding a job as good as the current one would be almost impossible in the future. Thus, for the entire mercenary squad, it became even more essential to tread carefully and stick to their role, ensuring the contract lasted as long as possible, for a heavier purse for everyone with each additional bounty. Lulisa, a female team member who had been kicked out of the control bridge, though somewhat unwilling to accept it, understood that if she desired to continue in this line of work, she had no choice but to understand, whether she truly grasped the situation or not. Like his employer, Captain Baron had also made a firm decision. - In the blink of an eye, it was the next day. The images sent back by the reconnaissance drones flying high overhead showed that the battle which had persisted for at least a day and a night over Sun Domain City was nearing a resolution. The explosions on the ground had mostly subsided, the smoke and fires were much less, and the skies were no longer filled with Assembled Combat Aircraft engaging in battle. It wasn''t clear which side was victorious, but that didn''t affect Chen Fei from retracting his 80-meter-long flagship, switching to a Mobile Base Vehicle, and advancing towards Sun Domain City once more with the "Yellow Sparrow" squad in tow. Around thirty kilometers away from Sun Domain City, the influx of civilian traffic and pedestrians continued to stream along the highway away from the dire conflict, suggesting that the frightful war had scared quite a few people. Conversely, the Mobile Base Vehicle heading in the opposite direction of the evacuating citizens encountered no obstacles. When the ancient walls of Sun Domain City became visible in the distance, checkpoints appeared on the highway, but the flags flapping were those of the Silan Dynasty. The Rebel Army had been defeated, surrendering the entire city. It wasn''t just the Mobile Base Vehicle that was held up at the checkpoint¡ªmany individuals dressed as mercenaries were also stopped; they wished to enter the city but were barred by the peacekeeping troops'' checkpoints, with the city allowing exit but not entry. Every now and then in the sky, pairs of "Sky Falcon" Combat Aircraft would swiftly sweep past, ready to ruthlessly strike anyone who dared to cross the buffer zone. The area around the checkpoint was scorched black, with a heavy scent of blood in the air. Not far away, bodies piled up like mountains, their limbs dismembered and faces frozen in grimace. Without a doubt, the dead were mostly those who recklessly attempted to pass the checkpoint. The soldiers crushing the rebellion had not the slightest intention of showing mercy at this crucial juncture. Chen Fei''s Mobile Base Vehicle, flying the flag of the First Sovereign of Blue Star, slowly approached the checkpoint and then stopped. The flag of the First Sovereign could be used as an amulet outside its homeland and was particularly effective. Those who refused to respect it would find that the First Sovereign of Blue Star would not respect them in turn¡ªwar machinery pressing onto the territory was enough to make anyone acquiesce. A soldier from the checkpoint quickly jogged over and loudly asked, "Where to?" "To the Restoration Army camp!" Chen Fei had no intention of entering the city and planned to circumvent it. Unfortunately, the ring road around the city lay just behind the checkpoint, and if he couldn''t pass, he would have to take a significant detour. "Go ahead!" The soldier waved his hand, granting passage on the spot. Huh? Chen Fei had thought he would need to engage in some discussion and even reveal the relationships with the Princess and the Crown Prince, but none of that was necessary. Members of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad watched this scene, exchanging looks of confusion. Whether it was the Restoration Army or the Dynasty Army, it seemed their employer had the clout to pass through any territory unimpeded. The Mobile Base Vehicle started up again and passed through the checkpoint without hindrance, as the barriers were moved aside. Those attempting to take advantage and pass the checkpoint were once again intercepted. Someone yelled at the Mobile Base Vehicle, "Hey, Mr. Chen, can you take us with you?" "Take us with you, will you?" Those who could call out Chen Fei''s name must be mercenaries from whom he had previously terminated the contract. Chen Fei, however, didn''t even bother acknowledging them; while he might be an experienced driver, he wasn''t about to carry anyone just because they asked. It didn''t take long for the Mobile Base Vehicle to locate the Restoration Army camp. Without satellite positioning, Chen Fei almost mistook his location. The ground was riddled with craters large and small as if a meteor shower had pockmarked the surface of a small asteroid, turning the terrain into a mess of pits and hollows, changing its very shape. What was once a mighty and dignified Rock Palace was now reduced to a heap of rubble. The Dynasty Army hadn''t held back in their relentless assault on the Restoration Army camp; the barrage of bombing they had subjected the mercenaries to the day before was child''s play compared to the aftermath Chen Fei witnessed today. Amidst the wreckage of the devastated camp, there was no sign of a large number of rebel troops, nor could the Southern War Zone Commander Bartona be found. It seemed that the rebels had received an early warning, and the Dynasty soldiers guarding the prisoners did not hinder Chen Fei''s passing; they allowed free access without even requiring notification. Circling the camp, Chen Fei found the POW containment area. The once bustling rebel camp now only had a handful of soldiers remaining, less than a hundred in all, many bearing wounds, with dispirited looks or barely clinging to life. In order to suppress the rebellion on Zilu Continent, the Silan Dynasty''s military spared no courtesy. Spotting what seemed like the shadow of a "Mystic Fog Specter" Magical Beast, Chen Fei alighted from the Mobile Base Vehicle and hurried forward. Approaching for a closer look, it was indeed the creature he expected. The condition of the "Mystic Fog Specter" was dire. It lay on its side across the scorched earth, its body covered in wounds, many of its spiral spikes broken off, some even plucked cleanly from its flesh, leaving only shocking bloodied holes. Upon hearing footsteps, the "Mystic Fog Specter" struggled to lift its head but eventually let it droop back down. "Is that you? Chen Fei!" The voice was not Taga''s, but rather that of Langes, the original consciousness of the "Mystic Fog Specter." "It''s me! Where''s Bartona?" Chen Fei turned and waved toward the Mobile Base Vehicle, prompting Little Bird to fly over immediately. He pointed at the Magical Beast, which was immobilized by severe injuries, and commanded, "Xiao Jiu, heal with the ''Light Healing Technique'' and ''Light of Redemption.'' "Jiu!" The Pure Light Sparrow flapped its tiny wings, settling on the body of the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter." A white Light Orb the size of a ping-pong ball formed at the tip of its crimson beak. With a bow of its head, the sphere of light plunged into the beast''s marred skin. Starting with the more powerful "Light of Redemption" than the "Light Healing Technique," Xiao Jiu handled the Sixth Rank task with practiced ease, facing no difficulties at all. Then it was "Light Healing Technique," "Light Healing Technique," "Light Healing Technique," "Light of Redemption," "Light Healing Technique," "Light Healing Technique"... The skilled Xiao Jiu cast Light Healing Spells as if they cost her nothing at all. A barrage of spells hit the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," and the impact was immediate. Langes''s voice came through again, this time coupled with coughs. "There''s no need to waste your energy anymore. Bartona has already fallen in battle, I''m not going to make it, and ''Taga'' is on the brink of death. It''s over; it''s all over." Langes''s voice was filled with resignation as his life''s spark was close to extinguishing, beyond the help of Healing Spells and magic medicine. "What ''Langes'' said is true, it''s dead, and I won''t last much longer either." A feeble wave of spiritual power emanated from within the "Mystic Fog Specter." Unless it found a new host, a Royal Breed cannot endure prolonged exposure to impure air due to bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that could easily end the life of a Parasitic Species. Only those of a higher status than the Royal Breeds have sufficient resistance and immunity to live independently without a host. But within a hundred miles, where could they find a second Magical Beast similar in stature to the "Mystic Fog Specter" for "Taga" to parasitize? With the death of the "Mystic Fog Specter," the parasite within would not survive either. "Fine! What about our deal then? Can you disclose the information about the ''Seed Nest'' now?" Chen Fei cared little for the fate of the "Mystic Fog Specter" and the Parasitic Species; he was only interested in the information he had bargained for. Although he had not yet completed the hunting list, with an unexpected Mutant intervening, and considering the current situation with the Parasitic Species "Taga" nearing its end, it couldn''t afford to wait for him to systematically fulfill the tasks on the list. The agreed trade was not yet complete, but Chen Fei was eager to finalize it, causing Langes¡ªa headache. And indeed, it was real pain. "..." "Taga" fell silent for a moment before finally responding. "Fine, since I''m about to die, I''ll give it all to you!" A wave of spiritual power came not as a voice nor text, but as an image. The mind''s carrying content for transferring information could be varied and broad, encompassing sounds, words, dynamics, still images, emotions such as happiness, anger, sorrow, fear, and even certain realizations. The puzzle that Chen Fei received was an image, and he would have to search for the answers himself. "That''s it?" Why not just give the answer straight up? With death looming, why bother with these mystifications? Chen Fei''s lips twitched in annoyance. "To prevent other Parasitic Species from extracting the memory from your mind, I had to do this. Good luck!" The spiritual wave from "Taga" quieted down. Before he knew it, the "Mystic Fog Specter" had taken its last breath, with Langes passing on before it. "I hate these kinds of intellectual puzzles, ptui!~" Chen Fei recalled Xiao Jiu, pondering the enigmatic image now etched in his mind, could not help feeling utterly exasperated. The answer was right there before him, yet it was an abstract drawing of lines: long, short, straight, curved, red, white, a colorful mess that was intricately tangled and incredibly puzzling, this impressive mystery''s secret seemingly impossible to discern, leaving him utterly clueless. Chapter 771: Section 766 - It is better to enjoy music together than alone Despite rushing, Chen Fei still felt a sense of emptiness as he faced the war. In front of war, every life is fragile, even the ferocious Parasitic Species were no exception. Taking advantage of the fresh memories he had just acquired, he immediately sketched the puzzle by hand with pen and paper, then had the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" "screenshot" it, modifying it repeatedly for several hours and correcting some minor errors, finally extracting the complete puzzle from his memory. Although the extraction process of the puzzle was time-consuming and laborious, sometimes the clumsy way is the only way. "Adam" merely managed to connect to the visual nerves and independently achieve AR auxiliary effects. The complexity of the human brain far surpasses any supercomputer, and for AI to touch the level of memory might be too much to hope for in Chen Fei''s lifetime. "Taga" had manipulated its kin to the utmost, and the post-mortem anti-theft feature was incredibly off the charts. Just looking at it could make one feel dizzy. Even if it fell into the hands of others or other Parasitic Species, they would likely be just as confused. If someone could help solve the puzzle, Chen Xiao''er would definitely express his sincere gratitude. If "Taga''s" puzzle were on the level of Fermat''s Last Theorem, Chen Fei figured he might spew an ancient bloodline of three hundred years. Pierre de Fermat passed away, and the mathematical world spent more than three hundred years solving it (1637-1995). Truly, if God had not created great Fermat, the path of mathematics would have been as long as a dark night. There have been few great mathematicians capable of dominating the field for centuries. "''Adam'', can you see what secrets are hidden in this painting?" Chen Fei gazed at the puzzle transformed into a visual interface, as if talking to himself. Adam: Starting to build computational model 1, progress 0% Adam: Starting to build computational model 2, progress 0% Adam: Starting to build computational model 3, progress 0% ... Adam: Starting to build computational model 65535, progress 0% "Stop, stop, cancel all computational models!" Adam mindlessly occupied a bunch of computing threads, and Chen Fei immediately felt that his nutrition was not keeping up, hastily calling a halt. If it was just electricity it was consuming, that would be one thing, but this thing squandered blood sugar, oxygen, vitamins... Artificial intelligence AI lacks imagination; solving problems for it meant merely brute-forcing solutions, relying on exhaustive methods with the same odds as expecting a thousand monkeys to randomly type out "Hamlet". Adam: Force termination of computational models 1-65535 complete. Even so, Chen Fei''s forehead was still dotted with a thin layer of sweat. The mercenaries of "Yellow Sparrow" squad watched as Chen Fei''s face, without any warning, shifted from pale to flushed, finally breaking out in a cold sweat, before slowly returning to normal. They looked at each other, worried that their employer might have eaten something bad or had a sudden emergency. Seeing the worried expressions on the mercenaries'' faces, Chen Fei casually smiled and the printer inside the Mobile Base Vehicle spat out the printouts. He picked up the stack of freshly printed documents and waved them at the "Yellow Sparrow" squad; they were unaware of "Adam" and the existence of visual AR assistance, and Chen Fei had no intention of casually revealing these secrets to outsiders. "Come on! Since there''s nothing else to do right now, let''s play a puzzle-solving game." Every printout, on an A3 format, not only accurately restored the colors but also the lines were distinct and very clear. Baron, Lulisa...the people of "Yellow Sparrow" squad stared at Chen Fei with expressions as if they had seen a ghost. After all the trouble of rushing to Sun Domain City and wandering under the eyes of the Dynasty Army, is there really nothing else to do now but play this child''s game?! "What''s with that expression?" Chen Fei keenly sensed something unusual in their reactions. Baron looked at his team members, then turned back to Chen Fei and said seriously, "If there''s really nothing else, we can end the contract." They were mercenaries¡ªwhile they loved money, they had principles. Each person earning 5,000 Star Yuan per day to do this? Although the money was easy, the "Yellow Sparrow" squad still stuck to their duties and wouldn''t just take any job. "Whoever solves the puzzle will get a reward of 100,000 Star Yuan!" "Huh?" ¡Á11! True to being a wealthy big spender who could hire thousands at a time, once he had free time, he found mercenaries to play... a puzzle-solving game. Clearly, the lovely, adorable beauties in Sun Domain City were about the same price (daily rental), so why bother with these rough folks? It''s hard to understand the thought processes of the wealthy. "Alright! There''s really no helping you!" Despite usually being careless and impulsive, female mercenary Lulisa agreed with her captain Baron and immediately came over to pick up a puzzle. A reward of 100,000 Star Yuan? Yum...truly enticing! Most mercenaries, even with frugal living, would find it difficult to save 100,000 Star Yuan in net income in a year. Despite earning a lot, the expenses were similarly substantial: base operations, intelligence costs, equipment purchases, maintenance, supplies, depreciation, treatment for injuries, death pensions, and training. All were mandatory expenses, linked to the capacity to complete missions, and not even a penny could be spared. The mercenaries of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad each with a puzzle in hand, all furrowed their brows and began to think hard. The phone rang, and after a flurry of activity, everyone''s eyes turned to Chen Fei, who was "spacing out". With a wave of his hand, Chen Fei immediately raised a soundproof partition in the carriage, separating the driver''s seat from the rear section. "Hello, this is Chen Fei!" The caller ID showed it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty. Receiving the call from the other party, Chen Fei was not surprised at all; rather, it was expected. After all, he had willingly entered the sightline of the Dynasty Army, which had just occupied Sun Domain City. Although the Rebel Army did not obstruct his journey, internal reporting was inevitable. "I am Lin Zio. What have you been busy with recently?" In front of the familiar faces of the Chen Family Gate, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not put on any airs, as neither party was in a superior-subordinate or any kind of affiliative relationship but rather close friends through generations. "Solving riddles!" What Chen Fei was currently doing was solving a puzzle riddle to uncover the answers he sought, which might alleviate the mutual crisis of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. The existence of "Seed Nest" was highly likely the source of the Blue Star Civilization''s demise prophesied and, given that Cangqiong Star concealed a substantially higher amount of "Seed Nests," it probably was not faring much better. "Huh? What riddle are you solving!" His Royal Highness Lin Zio could not fathom why Chen Fei had suddenly deviated from his usual duties to engage in riddle-solving games. "It''s best not to let too many people know, but a Parasitic Species gave me a puzzle riddle, and if solved, I can obtain the locations of all ''Seed Nests''." Chen Fei did not conceal this from him, especially since the Silan Royal Family ruled Cangqiong Star, and this Crown Prince would one day become the Emperor of the Slan Dynasty. Lin Zio immediately took it seriously and said without hesitation, "Send me the riddle, right now, immediately!" Because of the seriousness and urgency, his tone immediately carried an undeniable imperial command. "Okay, I''m sending it now! ''Adam'', send a copy of the riddle to His Royal Highness Lin Zio." Chen Fei issued the command simultaneously. Adam: Sent! The efficiency of the Artificial Intelligence AI was instant. "I''ll take a look first, and then I''ll call you back." Having once witnessed the "Seed Nest" space firsthand, His Royal Highness was eager to see the riddle tied to the future fate of Cangqiong Star. Every second of delay might mean that the already matured "Seed Nests" were continually breeding more Parasitic Species, even if only the Troop Breed and General Breed were present, they still posed a significant threat to the numerous creatures of Cangqiong Star. Once the Parasitic Species formed a sizeable amount, the difficulty of dealing with them would spike enormously, potentially causing a disaster worse than one from a hundred thousand years ago. Lin Zio, having heard from Chen Fei about the founder of the Louis Industries, Louis Landon, and his "Doomsday Prophecy" of Blue Star Civilization, didn''t consider this prophecy a delusion or a joke in light of the current situation and gathered intelligence; it was very likely to actually happen. "One more person knows now!" Chen Fei did not mind another person knowing about the riddle; more people meant a greater probability of successfully solving it. Moreover, it involved the Silan Royal Family, renowned as heroes under heaven. Once it was successfully solved, every hidden "Seed Nest" within Cangqiong Star and Blue Star would instantly face their doom, no matter where they hid; nearby forces would converge without hesitation to annihilate these threats completely. After removing the partition between the driver''s seat and the carriage, Chen Fei saw that the "Yellow Sparrow" squad''s mercenaries were still deep in thought. Given the substantial reward, even the weakest students could suddenly exude a top student''s aura for a 100,000 Star Yuan''s sake. Shared joy is a double joy. The Mobile Base Vehicle left the former Rebel Army camp and soon entered parts of Sun Domain City that had been reduced to ruins, built five hundred years ago; the ancient city walls were mostly destroyed in the battle, with vast breaches everywhere caused by Spells and Firearms. The Dynasty Army had attacked the largest city in the southern continent from multiple directions, leaving traces of brutal continuation unwarranted. Rebel Army prisoners, a rare sight in the former Rebel Army camp, were now frequently seen within Sun Domain City; some, injured and immobile, lay on the streets, while others were being escorted to designated holding areas. The Rebel Army''s main forces had likely abandoned the large camp at the first sign, moving into the nearby Sun Domain City to hold a defensive position, but ultimately, they could not hold it. Before the battle started, most of the commoners in Sun Domain City had been evacuated. Neither the Rebel Army nor the Dynasty Army intercepted them, but instead, they tacitly turned Sun Domain City into a decisive battlefield, each intending to achieve ultimate victory in a single battle. As the Mobile Base Vehicle entered the city, despite the desolation and widespread ruins, the casualties among innocent civilians were not as dire as they appeared on the surface. Chen Fei noticed that the building of the "Holy Blood Guild," emmmm, was gone! It seemed he had saved a shell that he had initially planned to use there. Chapter 772 772: Section 767 - Give Some Face The battle between the Rebel Army and the Dynasty Army was a major confrontation, and Sun Domain City, as the main battlefield, inevitably became involved, with nearly half of the city being razed to the ground. Because the larger and smaller guilds were all located on the same street, even if no one was hurt and business could still barely be maintained, the fixed assets were almost all destroyed. The main building of the "Holy Blood Guild," which was at odds with Chen Fei, was completely gone, and the "Sunset Guild," with whom he was cooperating, didn''t fare much better, with only half of the building left, basically no different from ruins. It was actually worse off than the "Holy Blood Guild," which only had its foundations left. Gulp! Seeing the street, which used to be bustling with various mercenary guilds, now completely unrecognizable, the members of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad couldn''t focus on the cryptic puzzle in their hands any longer. They gulped hard, and their mouth muscles twitched uncontrollably. This battle was fought too fiercely. Without four or five years, let alone the mercenary guilds, it was feared that even the entire Sun Domain City wouldn''t be able to recover its vitality. "Baron, is the guild gone?" Lulisa and the other two female squad members also turned pale. Yesterday, Chen Fei did the right thing by expelling those foolish individuals. If they had truly rushed over, it was likely that each and every one would have ended up with no place to be buried, a situation not meant for mercenaries to get involved in. "Gone!" The captain of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, Baron, was about to nod, but then he suddenly remembered that although Sun Domain City had fallen into warfare, it hadn''t affected the transfer of mercenary payments from the "Sunset Guild." "The mercenary guilds evacuated in advance, they have special passages." Chen Fei had already gotten the answer from the "Sunset Guild." As long as people were still around, they could resume business operations and recover data through cloud services. As for the precious materials, they could easily pack and take them away with a small Space System Alchemy Storage Device. Owning an alchemy storage artifact was not surprising at all, considering the capital and heritage of running a mercenary guild. "So, that''s how it is!" Baron had once tried to contact several mercenary guilds, perhaps due to communication disruptions, and had never been successful. On the other hand, Chen Fei, after failing to get through directly by phone, had managed to reach the right people with non-instantaneous text messages, getting information about the "Sunset Guild" and other situations in the city. The phone rang again, this time it was still Chen Fei''s phone, with the caller ID showing it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Slan Dynasty. Chen Fei stepped out of the Mobile Base Vehicle and, while walking into the distance, answered the call. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu took the opportunity to slip out, flying down into the midst of the rubble, calling its friends over. A group of Pure Light Sparrows pecked around... In the cities of the Human Race, with a little patience, they could always find some food to fill their tiny crops. Chen Fei didn''t worry about Xiao Jiu''s independent activities. The Mobile Base Vehicle was not a birdcage, and as long as safety was ensured, he let the Little Bird roam freely around. Moreover, a Sixth Rank Magical Beast of the Human Order not pestering others was already a matter of gratitude. If anyone wanted to mess with Xiao Jiu, it might not be clear who would be messing with whom! Once the call with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was established, Chen Fei asked bluntly, "Have you guessed the answer?" Lin Zio spoke decisively, "No, not at all. There is no pattern. But I''ve handed it over to the Dynasty''s decryption experts. Now we just have to wait." A bizarre array of colorful dots, lines, and geometric shapes that left people completely puzzled and unable to find any suspicious clues in such a short time. Like Chen Fei, Lin Zio wasn''t good at solving pictorial puzzles, so he could only leave the professional work to the professionals. "What a headache!" Chen Fei heaved a long sigh, slightly easing the frustration in his heart. If only he had known that "Taga," on the verge of death, would play such a trick, he would have simply strapped an Element Annihilation Bomb to it and demanded an answer, plain and straightforward, but undoubtedly effective. "Taga" was an outlier among the Parasitic Species, but it had nothing to do with Chen Fei. He was tasked with killing Parasitic Species, not caring about any outliers, with no psychological burden at all. "Don''t worry! The ''Seed Nest'' doesn''t have legs; it can''t run away. Even if there are some complications, once we solve the puzzle, we''ll be able to secure enough time for the two planets, digging three feet into the ground if we must to dig out all those Parasitic Species." Lin Zio consoled Chen Fei in return. Although he was equally anxious, simply worrying wouldn''t solve the current problems. The biggest trump card of the Parasitic Species was the "Seed Nest," lying in wait for who knows how many years, possibly having reached maturity. If it could be eradicated, the schemes of the Parasitic Species would be largely shattered, their efforts coming to naught. Unless they could once again rend space, the Parasitic Species without further support would eventually die off naturally on both civilized planets, no longer a threat. "Check on squad number 47 in Nandu City when you have time," said the Crown Prince, shifting the topic. He had been monitoring Chen Fei''s actions in Zhai Liuzhou, and his call was not just about the cryptic puzzle. Despite the Rebel Army and the Dynasty Army nearly coming to blows on this continent, a silent agreement had been reached regarding Chen Fei''s actions: they would not hinder or interfere, and would even offer a certain level of support. If someone other than Chen Fei were to undertake his operation, they would likely face immediate restrictions due to issues of trust and stance, making it difficult for them to proceed at all. "Did they screw something up?" Chen Fei wondered if Squad 47, which represented Blue Star sovereignty and had come to Nandu City to exterminate the Parasitic Species, had caused some kind of trouble that displeased His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. When the handover took place, it was the first meeting between both parties. There was no sense of friendliness or animosity¡ªjust strictly business. Furthermore, since it wasn''t Chen Fei''s own sovereignty at stake, there was even less of a personal connection. After the funds, intelligence, and local snake contacts were transferred, he immediately chose to leave, heading south. "No blunders as such, just came up empty-handed." The tone of Lin Zio''s voice was a bit odd as he continued, "Maybe it''s related to the local ''Seed Nest'' being destroyed, so the Parasitic Species might have given up on expanding in Nandu City." The existence of a "Seed Nest" meant more than just a hiding place for the Parasitic Species, it held significant meaning. The Crown Prince''s guess could certainly be a possibility. With the "Seed Nest" eradicated and their expansion severely hampered, they might have decided to quit playing the game if they couldn''t keep up. Squad 47, representing Blue Star sovereignty, was completely in the dark about the areas outside Nandu City, and the local snakes, the Hundred-Legs Gang, were also out of their depth, unable to provide much assistance. Chen Fei said helplessly, "There''s nothing I can do about this." Apart from the Parasitic Hosts he had stumbled upon in Nandu City, the Parasitic Species he found were few and far between. Even now, in the southern part of the continent, if it weren''t for the atypical "Taga" from within the Parasitic Species volunteering relevant clues, it would indeed be like finding a needle in a haystack. He wasn''t a clairvoyant deity, so how could he possibly locate those elusive Parasitic Species without them falling into his net by chance? Impossible! The sheer number of hiding spots and locations on the hunting list was already a headache, and it was only with the backing of mercenaries that he could strike with full force and without concern, eventually succeeding. Now there is another deviant Parasitic Species that can split and mutate Parasitic offspring still unaccounted for, and it remains to be seen if it can be found and turned into an information source like "Taga." Having an informant within the Parasitic Species was better than Chen Fei blundering around aimlessly. Lin Zio said hesitantly, "Do you think you can offer them some advice?" "Huh? What do you mean?" Chen Fei sensed there was more to the words and found them unclear. "After all, they represent Blue Star sovereignty, and this was agreed upon in our negotiations." Lin Zio was still beating around the bush. "Are you saying they''re stuck because they haven''t earned any merit and can''t face the music?" Chen Fei wasn''t a fool; he quickly grasped the implied message of the Crown Prince. Damn pretentious, just spit it out if there''s an issue. "Yes, that''s more or less it." After Chen Fei spoke plainly, Lin Zio no longer tiptoed around the subject. The Blue Star sovereignty sent what they believed to be an elite squad to Cangqiong Star''s home ground. The Silan Royal Family, as hosts of Cangqiong Star, had everything set for their distinguished guests to begin their performance... Yet after all this time, they accomplished nothing but exhaustion of supplies, far from the promised elite performance. Now what? The faces of those in Blue Star sovereignty were becoming harder and harder to save, and the Silan Royal Family was also at a loss. If this continued, wouldn''t it turn into a slap in their own face? With some parts of Blue Star sovereignty now declaring war on Cangqiong Star, the situation had escalated to the point of reach. To avoid all sovereignties of Blue Star declaring war on Cangqiong Star, the Silan Royal Family decided to proactively offer a favor. "Alright, I''ll handle this." Chen Fei sighed; this situation was quite a mess. He was a person from Blue Star and needed to give face not only to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince but also to his fellow countrymen back on Blue Star. Having made up his mind, Chen Fei summoned Xiao Jiu back, settled the mercenary fees with the "Yellow Sparrow" squad on the spot, though the reward for solving the puzzle was still not withdrawn¡ªas more hands increased the chance of successful resolution. He then reclaimed the Mobile Base Vehicle and released the flagship of the Airship Battle Group, setting the destination to Nandu City, and took off from the ground. After a day and night of flight, Chen Fei, who had just ended his journey in the southern continent, smoothly arrived at the southern city outskirts of the eastern part of the continent. Alongside an 80-meter-long airship, a "Sky Falcon" landed almost flush with the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. Seeing Chen Fei emerge from the airship, driving the "Sky Falcon" himself to greet him and escort him over a hundred kilometers, Minante jumped down from the Assembled Combat Aircraft and hurried over in big strides, calling out loudly, "''Rookie,'' are you here to take over for Squad 47? If so, that''d be great. You have no idea, the moment you left, these guys started pulling rank¡ªtruly freaking..." Chapter 773 773: Section 768 - Two Mobile Base Vehicles Chen Fei, while still in Nandu City, didn''t consider himself an outsider in front of Minante, and the two were good friends without fault. The issue was that the newly arrived Squad 47 also didn''t see themselves as outsiders, treating courtesy as a blessing, which was indeed a serious problem. It was probably that their mentality hadn''t changed, treating everyone within the four seas as hostile, still acting as if Nandu City were Blue Star. They not only bossed around the Local Snakes "Hundred-Legs Gang" but also displayed the same attitude toward the nieces and nephews of the "Radiant Tiger" legion, truly acting as though they were the main dish themselves. Not to mention that the "Radiant Tiger" legion was extremely displeased with these unwelcome guests, but even the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation was notably cold toward these fellows. The previously cooperative Local Snakes "Hundred-Legs Gang" of Nandu City was even more direct, increasingly insincere, only interested in money, hardly working, or else bringing a pile of dubious intelligence to deceive, causing Squad 47 to run ragged and offend many. Squad 47 was well aware that relying solely on themselves, in the unfamiliar territory of Nandu City, the tasks they could accomplish were indeed very limited, made even harder by the uncooperative local forces, making the task of searching for and exterminating the Parasitic Species increasingly challenging and unavoidably thwarted at every step. Boerzhake, a squad member who had just single-handedly demolished three civilian homes, his triangular eyes gleaming maliciously, became impatient as he kicked each weeping and annoyingly distressed commoner into the ruins, turning to complain, "(Fxxk) So annoying! Another damn wasted trip, we really should hang those lying thugs on street lamps." There weren''t any virtuous saints in Squad 47, only concerned with locating and exterminating Parasitic Species, completely ignoring everything else. How could these unarmed commoners be a match for them? Even if they dared to show temporary valor, not being killed on the spot was already a mercy from the compassionate and righteous. "Are there no other gangs in Nandu City? This ''Hundred-Legs Gang'' is becoming increasingly unreasonable." Another squad member, Duobalo, after speaking, turned and shouted at the still sobbing commoners. "Shut up, stop your wailing! Cry again, and we''ll kill you!" Meanwhile, he swung his magic wand, sending several rounds of solidified water blades slicing through the broken walls, instantly quieting the cries. Far from home, the king''s commands hold no sway! As an elite squad representing Blue Star Sovereignty on an interstellar mission, to kill a person or two needed no permissions or reports, and what of the collateral damage? With the grand cause of exterminating Parasitic Species in mind, any sacrifice was deemed worthy, at most they would invoke diplomatic immunity, truly enabling them to do as they pleased. "Enough! Cut out this useless talk, Nandu City has just experienced a war, there is no second gang left." Squad Leader Meng Hai had heard his team members complain like this more than once. Another failure could already foresee yet another reprimand from the higher-ups of Blue Star Sovereignty, as the officials would still care about saving face, even if they truly didn''t treat people as people. Due to repeated fruitless efforts, the pressure on the squad was escalating. In a recent communication report, dissatisfaction from the Silan Royal Family had been subtly conveyed by their superiors. Kejinyinna, a Grade-A Psychic Ability User and member of Squad 47, speculated, "Could it be that ''Rookie'' thinks we''re here to pick off the easy targets, so he deliberately held back?" Before the transition, the person codenamed "Rookie" had made several significant gains, precisely because he had identified multiple Parasitic Hosts, leading Blue Star Sovereignty to negotiate with the Silan Royal Family to dispatch them, partly to execute exterminations and partly to gather relevant intelligence. However, after the handover, Squad 47''s performance was disappointing; they failed to locate the originator spreading Mutated Parasitic Spawn, and their few achievements were merely limited to hosts of the Mutated Parasitic Spawn, and killing more of them accomplished nothing. Now the squad was stuck in an operational quandary, inevitably leading to suspicions that Chen Fei was sabotaging them. "Kejinyinna, it''s not what you think. In fact, we are here to pick off the easy targets. What status does that guy have? Can he represent sovereignty? This task should be ours to begin with; that ordinary citizen should stop meddling." If Chen Fei weren''t a citizen of the First Sovereign of Blue Star, Boerzhake''s words would likely be even more unrestrained and harsher. "Don''t think about all that nonsense. Focus on our tasks, everyone back to vehicle!" Seeing his team members about to enter a collective rant mode, Squad Leader Meng Hai timely interrupted the topic and ordered everyone to board the Mobile Base Vehicle and return to their station. The station for Squad 47 was provided by the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. The area around Nandu City is now the jurisdiction of the "Radiant Tiger" legion. Squad 47 did not trust those rebels; the guardians of the portals on the Cangqiong Star side were also Blue Star People. With everyone''s higher-ups being the same Sovereignty, using it as a base was not only reliable but also provided sufficient supplies. Just returned to the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation in the Suburbs of Nandu City, Squad 47 saw another Mobile Base Vehicle, which was the original model of the one they were riding in, including Squad Leader Meng Hai, everyone knew who had arrived. Although the vehicle manufacturing company had already transferred the relevant technical data, Chen Fei''s personal use and continuous improvement was not limited by any restrictions. The patent laws only protected commercial operations, not personal play. Seeing another Mobile Base Vehicle that looked very similar outside, Grade-A Earth Element Ability User Boerzhake suddenly thought of something and started shouting loudly. "Captain, that guy is back, definitely up to no good!" In his eyes, "Rookie" had ill-intentions, definitely coming to poach their job and send Squad 47 back to Blue Star to take over the tasks in Nandu City himself. "Just kill him and be done with it!" "Yeah, yeah!" "That settles it!" There was no dissent in the scene, and the majority of Squad 47 members happily came to an agreement. An ill-intentioned visitor means there''s nothing good coming; they might as well send him off in a western direction ¡ª see, that''s considerate service right to your doorstep. "You guys, are you all insane? Can you give me a break?" Exhausted, Meng Hai massaged his forehead. After all, he was the clear-headed one, or else he couldn''t possibly be the captain. These guys are quick to call for a fight; are they not afraid of attracting unnecessary trouble? "Rookie" is a citizen of The First Sovereign, and no one dares to strike a citizen of The First Sovereign. They''d definitely be hung under a streetlight, and no one could do anything about it. Meng Hai, the captain of Squad 47, still had some authority within the team. At his word, the members who had been clamoring to teach Chen Fei a memorable lesson immediately ceased their clamor, shifted their gazes elsewhere, and acted as if nothing had happened, even the notoriously temperamental Boerzhake dared not make another sound. The captain of Squad 47, Meng Hai, spoke to the team member driving the Mobile Base Vehicle, "Sharin, drive over there; I''m going to greet ''Rookie''." "Roger that!" Class B Wind-type Ability User Sharin specialized in operating and maintaining various vehicles. In addition to possessing combat Psi Skills, she also served as a mechanic, an indispensable member of the team. The two Mobile Base Vehicles quickly moved closer together. "Is anyone there?" Meng Hai got out of his vehicle and knocked on the side door of the adjacent Mobile Base Vehicle. After a few knocks, the door slid open sideways. "What''s up?" Chen Fei, who was showering inside the vehicle, had received a notification from the AI "Adam" at the first moment, informing him that Squad 47 had returned. He quickly finished washing up, and sure enough, someone came knocking soon after. The flagship of the Airship Battle Group lacked living facilities and was too massive in size; after landing, it was quickly stored in the "Spatial Branding" to switch to the more maneuverable and better equipped Mobile Base Vehicle, which, as usual, parked adjacent to the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation. "Can we talk?" Meng Hai looked into the cabin, where Chen Fei was alone. "Please come in!" Chen Fei nodded, stepped aside, and also glanced at the adjacent Mobile Base Vehicle. Through the window, he saw the members of Squad 47 collectively gazing at him, much like hunters sizing up their prey. Not concealing their hostility at all, with such emotional intelligence, it''s no wonder they''ve incited wrath from both heaven and earth; even the Silan Royal Family found these guys to be thorns in their side. "What would you like to drink?" Chen Fei headed towards the constant temperature cabinet. Operated by a dedicated compressor that transports heat, one part maintains cold, the other hot, offering exactly what one needs¡ªso there are both cold and hot drinks available. "Anything''s fine, plain water will do." Meng Hai wasn''t picky, he wasn''t here for a tea party, so he left the choice to Chen Fei. Chen Fei brewed two cups of hot tea, placing one in front of the captain of Squad 47 and another in his own spot before sitting face to face with him, waiting for him to speak. If it wasn''t urgent, you wouldn''t visit the Temple of the Three Treasures. Chen Fei had already heard about the situation of Squad 47 from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The other party had taken the initiative to visit, mostly to resolve their current predicament, but they would be loath to lower their pride easily. Meng Hai tentatively asked, "I''m not sure if you''re aware of the situation with Squad 47?" Both were intelligent, and he felt Chen Fei should understand his implication. "Have you looked for reasons within yourselves?" Chen Fei had indeed analyzed from their perspective, essentially it was a matter of ''I''m second only to heaven, and you''re privileged not to bow to me'', an attitude that naturally upset those entitled not to play along, leading to a collective boycott, but regrettably, their chauvinism made them feel invincible, resulting in a lonely outcome as others simply wouldn''t engage with them. "I don''t think it''s our fault!" Of course, Meng Hai wouldn''t admit any wrongdoing. They represented the Sovereignty, and the Sovereignty doesn''t make mistakes; any mistakes would be others'' fault. Doesn''t Sovereignty care about losing face? "It''s definitely not my fault, either!" Chen Fei immediately established a "firewall" to prevent any irrational blame-shifting by the other party. Arguing with Sovereignty itself was illogical, for the logic of Sovereignty was artillery, missiles, and fists, not foolish babble. If you don''t want to resort to violence, then there''s no logic to discuss. "Heh," they both chuckled knowingly as they sat face to face. Damn it all!! Chapter 774 774: Section 769 - Holiday Those who play tricks are filthy indeed, and Chen Fei had witnessed enough of people and society by now. With occasional tips from Boss Hana, he was no longer the rookie fresh out of the Ivory Tower. Even if he didn''t play tricks himself, he could sometimes see through them. If life was just like the first encounter... better not to meet at all! If possible, Chen Fei did not want to see these troublemakers who were overabundant in martial virtue but deficient in moral virtue, inadequate in achievement but excessive in failure, right from the start. With a series of aggressive maneuvers like a tiger, they managed to turn a perfectly good situation into a complete mess. The people of Nandu City felt both heaven''s wrath and human resentment, and yet, their achievements were meager. The results were no better than doing nothing at all. Chen Fei''s watertight response caused Captain Meng Hai of Squad 47 to frown slightly, but he quickly adjusted his attitude and said, "We need your help!" It takes the bell ringer to untie the bell; no help for it, he really needed the other party. "This can be easily solved!" Chen Fei smiled calmly and produced a stack of A4 paper, gently placing it on the table between them. If only his emotional intelligence was always at this level, how could he possibly mess things up! "This is..." The documents were a bit different from what Meng Hai had imagined before knocking on the car door. He had thought that the other party would personally take action to assist Squad 47 in their mission. Chen Fei stated bluntly, "Information on some parasitic species hidden in the Zilu Continent." He pointed to two pieces of intelligence marked with red lines and added, "These two have been taken care of; the rest are up to you." Strictly speaking, only one had been dealt with by Chen Fei. The other group of parasitic species had been wiped out by a swarm of Hive Type mutants that had emerged from nowhere. "Where did you get this?" Meng Hai quickly grabbed the documents, ensuring their security as his first priority. "From the parasitic species themselves!" Chen Fei was not lying at all; it indeed was explosive information from the parasitic species themselves. Not only he, but even the parasitic species'' own kind never expected such an anomaly to exist. "The parasitic species... gave it to you?" The captain displayed a sly, are-you-kidding-me expression, staring fixedly at Chen Fei, trying to discern whether he was telling the truth, boasting a lie, or mixing both. "Every word is true!" Chen Fei said righteously, without a shred of falsehood. Little Bird fluttered in through the window, landing in his hand and stretching its neck for a scratch; it had played outside while Chen Fei was showering. Birds actually need scratching more than cats and dogs, since their claws aren''t as dexterous. "This is unbelievable; how is that possible? Where is that parasitic species? How can we find it?" Meng Hai couldn''t believe it; which parasitic species would be so foolish? Had they lost their minds? To dare to give away such deadly secrets! If anyone within the Human Race were so foolish, they would certainly be utterly obliterated and reduced to ashes, never to be reincarnated. Unbeknownst to Captain Meng, his bold guess was actually seven or eight parts true; "Taga" was indeed one of the very few aberrant entities among the parasitic species. Eventually, caught in the conflicts between human factions, he failed to escape and died along with his host. "It''s already dead." Chen Fei scratched Little Bird''s neck while shrugging his shoulders, his connections and clout simply undeniable. What he had obtained was not only the hunting list but also a riddle with a painting. The value of the hunting list was substantial, but it paled in comparison to the hidden location of the "Seed Nest" in the riddle. Chen Fei did not want to cheaply hand over something so crucial to the likes of Squad 47; they were better off sticking to the list. Though it was cherry-picking, cherry-picking was still a form of labor, a physical one at that. "I understand now!" Meng Hai inexplicably sighed in relief, imagining countless scenarios, probably catching some well-informed parasitic species by accident, followed by a brutal interrogation, ultimately obtaining this vital information. Such a damn lucky guy, filled with all sorts of envy and jealousy¡ªno wonder Squad 47 hadn''t performed up to par since taking over in Nandu City. "I hope you can cooperate with our actions." Meng Hai, having gained one advantage, hoped for another, wanting to pull Chen Xiao''er into Squad 47 as grunt labor. Ostensibly for all of humanity, but without offering a position or compensation, essentially planning a strong-arm freeloading. After all, isn''t it only right to sacrifice and contribute a little for the greater good? "I''ve handed everything to you; I''m not concerned with the rest!" Chen Fei bluntly waved his hand, clearly refusing to be drawn into the setup. He was thinking about the cherries! Picking peaches just keeps going on and on! "We can initiate a draft for you!" Since the negotiation was at a deadlock, Meng Hai prepared to exercise his power. "I am going to take a holiday for myself, I''ve been outside for too long. You guys play here by yourselves!" Chen Fei refused boldly. In terms of visa time on Cangqiong Star, it was up when it was up; if the Silan Dynasty would cooperate and issue a denial of visa, even if Meng Hai exerted his sovereign power to forcibly draft him, there was no way to keep Chen Fei on this planet¡ªno hanging around, playing whack-a-mole on Blue Star, right? Freeloading on labor? Don''t even think about it. "This is to combat the invasion of an alien race. It''s everyone''s responsibility..." Meng Hai tried to continue but was interrupted by Chen Fei, who motioned towards himself and said, "Look at me, expecting a B-grade supernatural power user to save the world? Doesn''t your conscience hurt when you say this?" Captain Meng was blocked so directly that he fell flat, having no shame, and the other guy had even less. How much could a face be worth anyway? This tricky fox just couldn''t be swayed by a few words. "Heh, truly sorry about that!" With a face of grim pleasure and a discordant tone, Meng Hai immediately stood up to bid farewell. He could tell; if he continued, the other guy would start mocking him. Why seek out unpleasantness voluntarily! With no official responsibilities weighing down on him and as an ordinary citizen loudly mouthing off, what can you do, hang him from a streetlight? "Take care! Let''s chat another time!" Chen Fei, petting the Little Bird on his hand, appeared all smiles and warmly saw Meng Hai out from his Mobile Base Vehicle and even waved to the members of Squad 47 in the neighboring car, after all, it never hurts to be polite. If you''re not happy about it, come at me! - Just back in his own Mobile Base Vehicle, the members of Squad 47 immediately gathered around Captain Meng. "What did that guy say, will he help or not?" "If he won''t help, I''ll go and give him a good thrashing. He has to help, unwillingly or not." Hey, look at that temper, must be that Boerzhake guy. The words of others were not much different; nobody saw Chen Fei next door as human. In their view, being able to roll with Squad 47 was seen as the pinnacle of life, the utmost honor. "Honor my ass!" Chen Fei, overhearing the conversation next door, muttered irritably to himself. The modules'' driving programs of the mass-produced Mobile Base Vehicles were all compiled by the AI "Adam" so, to save trouble, vehicle manufacturers directly adopted these, leading to infiltrations as easy as entering one''s own courtyard¡ªthe paper window was easily broken, no real effort needed. "Everyone, keep your shirts on, I''ve got intelligence on the Parasitic Species, and there''s quite a number." Meng Hai shook the paper documents in his hand. Although he didn''t pull Chen Fei down into the water to work with the team, he hadn''t returned empty-handed, this catch was enough to resolve the current dilemma facing Squad 47. "Got intel on those damn parasites? That guy has some sense after all!" "Now we finally have something to do, I don''t want another pointless run." "As expected of our captain, always brings back major gains." "I''ve had enough these past few days. Screw all those damn gangs; none of them are of any use anymore." ... The morale among the squad members lifted, enlivening the atmosphere inside the vehicle. Everyone deliberately ignored the connection between the hunting list in Captain Meng''s hand and Chen Fei, all intent on snagging the proverbial peaches, thinking about peaches (farts)! When Squad 47 later wanted to contact Chen Fei for more intelligence about the Parasitic Species, they found he had already passed through the Dimensional Gate and returned to Blue Star. Chen Fei had not deceived the captain of Squad 47; he truly went to enjoy his vacation. Passed the buck successfully, delightfully so! Before passing through the Dimensional Gate, Chen Fei made a call to Boss Hana and also terminated his guard contract with the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation on the outskirts of Nandu City. After reporting the situation, he carried a lot of Earth specialties and stepped out from the Cangqiong Star side of the gate. When he landed, he was already stepping on the soil of Blue Star. The Dimensional Gate connected the two civilized planets, completely overturning the common perceptions and understandings of interstellar travel. Spread out, the cost from Cangqiong Star to Blue Star was frighteningly low. The profits generated from this trade were even fiercer than running a mint. Boss Hana instructed him to first report back to the 911 Aircrew Base, after which he would get 20 days of leave. After three days of catching connecting flights and airships, and then hopping onto a small transport from the 911 Aircrew Base, Chen Fei finally returned to the desolate yet familiar Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. When Squad 47 and their patron sovereignties thought of Chen Fei, he was already beyond their reach. Though he didn''t understand why he needed to report back at the 911 Aircrew Base, even online reporting or heading to the Jiu Defense Company headquarters in Chapala City, located on the South Continent of America, would have been more convenient than a remote mountain area station. The small transport finally settled steadily on the parking apron, the cabin door slid open, and a folding stair was lowered. The clusters of buildings that came into view, the long main runway, and colleagues who greeted him as he passed made Chen Fei involuntarily feel as if time had stayed at the moment he left. Perhaps in the minds of his colleagues at the Aircrew Base, Chen Fei had never really left. Chapter 775 775: Section 770 - Trust "Welcome back alive!" Hanna Gagar had been waiting on the tarmac early, personally welcoming Chen Fei back to 911. The many operations of a military contractor often come with unpredictable risks; accidents of various kinds leading to injuries or even loss of life are normal, and although this field offers substantial income, you need to be alive to make and spend money. So, "coming back alive" had become the best blessing in this line of work. "Boss, long time no see!" Chen Fei, descending the gangway, opened his arms and embraced Boss Hana warmly. Emmm... Truly, a boss does give off a tremendous sense of pressure. A "Big Bear" passing by at a distance, thinking of coming over to greet, saw this scene and immediately rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, resigning to keep moving and pretending not to have seen anything. Entering the hangar, he unzipped his flight suit from the collar down to the lower abdomen, reached deep into his groin, and with a grimace, pulled out a bottle of liquor. Blissfully shaking it, this was his true love, Mua! A pound and a half (750ml of Vodka), isn''t it delicious? - Delighted, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu hopped from Chen Fei''s shoulder to Hanna Gagar''s, chirping non-stop, "Boss lady is genuinely fragrant!" Feeling her hair being disturbed as the little bird burrowed in, Hanna Gagar laughed and said, "This little guy is still as mischievous as ever!" Xiao Jiu is the company''s mascot, and even the company name was inspired by it. A Sixth Rank Magical Beast, it was now more than qualified. If a single chirp could summon thousands of sparrows, the company would certainly take pride in it. Unfortunately, other Pure Light Sparrows on Blue Star were rare to find, with the activity level of Elemental Energy in the atmosphere not as high as on Cangqiong Star, forcing Xiao Jiu back to its original form. Because its registration was originally on Blue Star, being a native Pure Light Sparrow of Blue Star, it had a much more relaxed standard through the Dimensional Gate, accompanying Chen Fei unlike other magical beasts. "How''s everything at the company?" Leaving the tarmac, Chen Fei walked alongside Boss Hana, simultaneously counting on his fingers the time since he had left Aircrew Base. Several commissions had coincidentally been linked together, making his trip unexpectedly long; otherwise, he would have returned sooner. Before arriving at 911 Aircrew Base, Chen Fei had never imagined he would step onto the battlefield in his lifetime, which was completely contrary to his college major, right? Economics was about making money, while war was about burning money. "Everything is normal, including the operations at Chapala City headquarters, which are on track. We won''t be facing a loss this year, and we might finally see some returns." To build up Jiu Defense Company''s framework, Hanna Gagar had almost invested her entire fortune¡ªevery day, either diligently finding ways to cut costs or trying to establish connections and expand operations. This pressure also affected every employee. If profits did not start rolling in soon, the company could only sustain itself for another year at most. Now, gradually reaching a break-even point allowed her to finally breathe a sigh of relief. Boss Hana pointed towards the outside of Aircrew Base, where a glittering array of cultivation greenhouses stood in the distance, having expanded a bit more since Chen Fei had left. She continued, "See those greenhouses? Two of them are specifically for cultivating Flesh Mushrooms. Outside 911 Aircrew Base, there are over fifty farms scattered globally. The Flesh Mushroom industry has officially taken off, and since its introduction to the market, demand has consistently exceeded supply, yielding quite a good net profit after taxes. You should check your bank account when you can; the first dividend should have been deposited." Chen Fei had stumbled upon a young Flesh Mushroom in a lair of the "Water Bear" organization, later acquiring the cultivation technology. Hanna Gagar had invested, and besides their employer-employee relationship, the two also shared a business partnership. After such a long time, the cultivation industry for Flesh Mushrooms had finally begun yielding profits, almost rivaling the total income from Jiu Defense Company''s military contracting business. "I''ll check it out when I find some time. Is it a perk?" Chen Fei nodded, his eyes quickly spotting the greenhouse for cultivating Flesh Mushrooms, because it was fitted with a light-absorbent panel filled with small holes that absorbed sunlight and automatically converted it to heat, keeping it within the greenhouse. From afar, it exhibited a distinct purple-black luster; its interior was not visible, making it easy to distinguish from other greenhouses. "Yeah! Always prioritize our own people with benefits, and we can also use it for cultivation backups." Boss Hana always had more than one purpose in her actions. The Flesh Mushrooms produced at 911 Aircrew Base were basically self-sufficient, occasionally sold cheaply to nearby mountain people for a taste. "That''s good, but we need to be careful with competitors pulling dirty tricks." Commercial competition had no limits, deploying both fair and foul tactics. Chen Fei knew very well that the Flesh Mushrooms, virtually single-handedly shaking up both the agriculture and aquaculture industries, would face various cunning schemes from those industry giants once production ramped up. "Don''t worry! The bad news is competitors only dare to spread rumors about the toxic side effects of Flesh Mushrooms, the good news is that nobody dares to steal the spores or juvenile entities of the Flesh Mushrooms." Hanna Gagar was never afraid of the tactics used in commercial competition. "Oh?" In the food industry, the issues mainly revolve around food safety and theft of breeds, and the approaches often tackle these two aspects. Chen Fei had not expected that the boss would dare to guarantee, with absolute certainty, the elimination of one of them. "Flesh Mushrooms are related to the ''Water Bear'' organization¡ªbesides us, who would dare to touch this huge trouble. Moreover, the growth liquid is personally mixed by me, and no one can steal it." Hanna Gagel revealed the crucial point in a single statement. Flesh Mushroom was essentially a hot potato. The sovereigns of Blue Star were now aware that this particular fungal fruiting body was related to the "Water Bear" organization. The Flesh Mushrooms in Hanna Gagel''s possession were spoils of war with a traceable source. If such objects unexpectedly appeared with others, it would inevitably lead to suspicions of their connection with the "Water Bear" organization. With both the guilty and the innocent at risk, a thorough investigation would probably cause whoever was involved to burst a blood vessel. "So there is also this connection!" Chen Fei suddenly understood. As a pawn in the game, he had not thought so much, naturally not as clear-sighted as Boss Hanna, who watched from outside the game. The two walked all the way to the energy center of the Aircrew Base, a three-story cottage where the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was located. The slight heat naturally dissipated from the Energy Tower kept the inside of the cottage at a pleasant constant temperature above 20 degrees Celsius; the various plants in the sun-warmed room still retained the vitality they had before Chen Fei left, some blooming, some fruiting, and some spreading their branches and leaves. When Chen Fei was not there, Hanna Gagel would come to water and prune these plants, and when both were absent, the colleagues from the cafeteria along with Chef Abel from "Genuine Fragrance" would help take care of things. "Would you like something to drink?" Upon entering, Hanna Gagel headed straight for the liquor cabinet. Although the cottage served as Chen Fei''s single-person dormitory, it also functioned as Boss Hanna''s wine-tasting cottage, where she stored almost all the fine wines she brought over. Chen Fei waved his hand and said, "Wait a moment, I''ve brought back some good stuff." "Good stuff?" Boss Hanna''s hand, poised on the cabinet door, turned to look at Chen Fei. Chen Fei''s hand flashed with a silver light, and the ground at his feet suddenly had a dozen wooden boxes. "Oh? A Space System Alchemy Storage Device?" Hanna Gagel exclaimed in surprise, examining Chen Fei''s hand, her gaze resting on the bracelet paired with a health band. "This is a smokescreen!" Chen Fei took off the bracelet and placed it on the bar, then opened the wooden boxes he had pulled from the "Spatial Branding," taking out various bottles of drink, some glass, some ceramic, all different in size and color. "A smokescreen? This thing... hiss... doesn''t look like an alchemy device, really strange!" Hanna Gagel picked up the bracelet and studied it carefully. Supernatural power users, having a higher Psychic Power Index than average people, could also use some alchemist devices, especially storage devices. She tried probing it with her spiritual power a few times, but there was no response, as if it was just an ordinary metal bracelet. It was not uncommon to see someone wearing a faux alchemical artifact, so Chen Fei''s disguise was not unusual at all. Those who understood saw the bracelet and understood; those who didn''t were utterly baffled. "It''s not just unlike, it is definitely not!" Chen Fei took out two crystal wine glasses, placed them on the counter, opened a bottle, and poured a light blue liquid. A subtle fragrance quietly spread. Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu fluttered its tiny wings and landed atop the wine glass in front of Chen Fei, plunging its head into the cup. "It''s not?" Hanna Gagel was slightly taken aback, and when she lifted her gaze from her hand, she saw Chen Fei raising his hand, his back hand facing her, the skin shimmering with a rune magic array made of silver light. "Could it be..." "Yes, this, ''Spatial Branding'', it holds storage functionality." Chen Fei lowered his hand, the light of the branding fading, leaving no trace. He hadn''t mentioned the "Spatial Branding" to Boss Hanna over the phone, as he had indeed previously owned a space system alchemy storage artifact of immense capacity, identical to this bracelet. Boss Hanna had never considered that the storage medium he carried had changed. Unless he revealed it himself, no one would discover the secret of Chen Fei''s hands. The only fault was that if someone chopped off his hands, the "Spatial Branding" could potentially be stolen. However, the "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand was already bound to the fluctuations of Chen Fei''s psychic power. If taken by others, it would be useless, as no one else could open the corresponding storage space. "You''ve awakened a spatial ability again?" Hanna Gagel was dumbstruck, as Dual-Element Ability Users were almost mythical. Maybe they existed, but they would certainly be kept extremely secret by the sovereigns, completely unknown to the outside world. Suddenly, she felt that the pond of Jiu Defense Company was too small to contain such a big fish as a Dual-Element Ability User. Chapter 776 776: Section 771 - Alcohol and Beverages Grand Gift Pack "Of course not!" Chen Fei shook his head and then said, "The great gift from Mr. Louis Randon, president of Louis Industries, was too costly. It completely drained the special ability of a supernatural power user, preventing several others from using their abilities for a considerable period. It''s indeed an irreplicable miracle." He might keep it from others, but he would never hide it from this boss. If Hanna Gagar couldn''t be trusted, then there weren''t many in the world who could be. "How big can the capacity be?" Hanna Gagar immediately became excited, her eyes shining as she stared at Chen Fei''s hands. Good gracious, what a fine thing! Truly befitting of Blue Star''s number one financial group, their lavishness is beyond imagination. Space System Alchemy Storage Devices were already uncommon on their planet of origin, Cangqiong Star, and he barely had enough for his use. The trickle that made its way to Blue Star due to trade quotas was even rarer, hence they were priceless¡ªa commodity money couldn''t buy. Even with Hanna Gagar''s personal wealth, counting every last Star Yuan, even if she pooled together Jiu Defense Company and the booming flesh mushroom farming business, she still couldn''t afford even the smallest capacity alchemical storage artifact. Sometimes, it wasn''t just about the money. "The entire Aircrew Base!" Chen Fei stretched out his finger and drew a circle in the air. Actually, the capacity was even larger. Besides accepting the massive amount of materials gifted by Mr. Randon, he hadn''t refrained from stuffing more things into the "Spatial Branding". Now that he had added a fully-equipped airship battle group, there still seemed to be plenty of space left. "Hiss..." This thing was extraordinary. Hanna Gagar picked up the wine glass in front of her and took a sip to calm her astonishment. Upon the first taste, she finally noticed something unusual about the wine in her glass. "This wine?" Chen Fei slapped the table and said proudly, "Ha, you finally noticed. This is one of the imperial offerings I brought back from the Imperial Capital Delan City of the Slan Dynasty, the ''Qingjiang'' Imperial Edition!" His reciprocity was not in vain after having enjoyed so much fine wine from the other party. He now wanted Boss Hana to taste the various top-quality wines he brought back from Cangqiong Star, including some exclusively reserved for the Slan Royal Family ¨C a benefit from his association with Her Royal Highness the Princess. Fine wine isn''t necessarily well-known; after all, even the best fragrance can be lost in the depths of a lane. It wasn''t in vain that Chen Fei sought out local brews at every place he visited. The wine from some obscure small workshops, or even personal cellars, might not be famous, but their quality could match or even surpass many renowned brands. From the "Spatial Branding", he took out more than a dozen boxes filled with wines collected from journeys spanning Imperial Capital Delan City on the Morning Star Continent to Nandu City and Sun Domain City in Zhai Liuzhou, as well as purchases from Cangqiong Star''s local online shopping. If one were to order online in Blue Star, first, the cost of shipping would far exceed the price of the products themselves, and second, not all items would support long-distance delivery. "Indeed an imperial offering, truly a fine wine!" Hanna Gagar exhaled a long breath of alcohol and smiled. Her gaze shifted to the wooden boxes next to the bar, expecting to say, "Are these all?" Chen Fei had mentioned "one of", implying that the surprise prepared for her was not a single item. "Yes! All of them!" Chen Fei followed Boss Hanna''s gaze and nodded vigorously. "There are 212 types of wines, totaling 802 bottles!" Most of the boxes held 48 bottles each, while a few contained 20 bottles per case, with a minimum volume of 1 liter per bottle. Whether one wished to drink alone or share, it allowed for ample enjoyment. Over two hundred varieties of fine wines from Cangqiong Star were enough to fill Hanna Gagar''s private wine cellar. It wasn''t easy to make a trip to Cangqiong Star, and being able to carry so much back, he had stored hundreds of these wine combo gift packs in the "Spatial Branding", specifically for gifting. "You''re thoughtful!" Boss Hana was quite satisfied with the gift, as it aligned with a mutual passion shared with Chen Fei. "I''m glad you like it!" Chen Fei lifted his wine glass and clinked it with Boss Hana''s. The little one had already devoured a third of the liquor and was now jumping joyfully on the bar counter. With a flap of its wings, it flew into the sunlit conservatory, merrily darting in and out among the lush plants. All birds, by nature, are drawn to the natural environment. - "Chirp, chirp, chirp!" The chirping of a little bird filled my ears as I slowly opened my eyes, involuntarily gasped a breath of cool air. This was the aftermath of a hangover¡ªdizziness and stars bursting in my vision, feeling like I could faint at any moment and sink back into a deep sleep. Last night, Chekhov Big Bear Squadron Leader and Big Brother Xiao had taken their brothers out to welcome me back with a blast, packing "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" with half of the Aircrew Base''s colleagues. We partied hard and drank copiously, sampling the assortment of alcoholic gifts I brought, creating a ruckus all night long. If there hadn''t been such an abundance of booze, probably all of it would have been gone by the end of the night. Luckily, it was all high-quality liquor that didn''t go straight to one''s head, nor did it cause splitting headaches. Nevertheless, waking up was still far from pleasant. Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep! The alarm on my phone rang; I had set a wake-up time to ensure a regular schedule. However, Xiao Jiu was unmatched, being a Pure Light Sparrow close to the Light. It would chirp at sunrise and rest at sundown. Taking in the cold air, I forced myself out of bed. After washing my face with some cold water, I started to feel a bit better. A silvery light flickered on the back of my hand as I pulled out a packet of bird food pellets from the "Spatial Branding." I poured a small bowl, and Xiao Jiu, attracted by the smell, flew over. It pecked away gleefully. I stroked the bird''s crop, which was about half full. The plants in the sunny greenhouse, where most were grown for fruit rather than decoration, had ripe berries hanging from them¡ªperfect snacks to provide Xiao Jiu with some extra nourishment. For most birds, the more diverse their food sources, the better. They can''t just rely solely on bird food. Xiao Jiu, thinking I was about to tickle it, ceased pecking and stretched its neck backward, its delicate feathers standing up one by one. Its eyes squinted slightly, waiting to be scratched some more. Since returning to Blue Star, the ambient energy of the Light Elemental System wasn''t as abundant as on Cangqiong Star, and there were far fewer Pure Light Sparrows. Xiao Jiu''s advancement in rank had slowed once again, but the little guy didn''t mind one bit. No matter which planet it was on, it was just as lively. "Ha, you''re really enjoying this!" Still, I scratched it a dozen times before finally withdrawing my hand. Seeing no more scratching coming its way, the little bird reluctantly settled its soft neck feathers and continued to peck away, filling its crop to the brim. The little guy was easy to feed and not picky at all. It could even eat chicken feed; truly a breeze to take care of. If it had been a larger Magical Beast, my financial resources back then would have undoubtedly been strained. With the well-fed Pure Light Sparrow perched on my shoulder, I headed to the cafeteria to tackle my own breakfast. "Morning!" "Good morning!" "Xiao Jiu, good morning!" Greetings followed me down the path, mostly directed at the little bird, who happens to be the company''s mascot! "Here, have a bowl of hangover soup first. If it''s not enough, there''s more. I''ve made a big pot." Upon seeing me arrive in the cafeteria, Chef Abel personally brought me a large bowl of a greenish soup. A bizarre sour smell wafted as I took a light sniff. "Thank you, Mr. Abel." I accepted his kindness without hesitation and gulped down a big mouthful, nose pinched. Made from wild sour berries from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and a mix of other ingredients, this hangover soup had a familiar taste. Both the flavor and the peculiar smell would make one shiver involuntarily. Then, a rush of energy would shoot up to the crown of the head, allowing one to immediately feel revitalized. "''Rookie'', let me introduce you to someone!" Chef Abel pointed towards the kitchen separated only by a clear glass wall where a figure bustled around, surrounded by wafting steam, almost like a vague apparition. "Eh? Mr. Abel, you''ve hired someone new? Is it a new head chef?" Since the Airship Base originally had two head chefs, and one fell in corporate warfare, only leaving the Gallic Head Chef, I guessed by the busy silhouette in the kitchen whether the vacancy had been filled. "I hired a new assistant. There''s only me left in the back kitchen. With you gone, it became too much to handle alone, so I had to hire a youngster. He''s from Italy, quite skilled, not lazy, especially good at making hot dry noodles." Chef Abel introduced the new member to me, but without discarding the old for the new. After hiring the newcomer, he didn''t forget me, adding, "Rookie, if you''re free, you should come and help out too. The more hands available in the kitchen, the better." There are indeed benefits to having two head chefs sharing the workload, each managing their own tasks. But now the canteen was entirely under Abel''s control. Although busier than before, there was no longer internal friction or constraints, making the work much more comfortable. Besides, he had long disliked the other former head chef, the fanatic of pre-made meals, who just knew how to open frozen packages. Anyone could do such kitchen work; it was an affront to the profession of cooking. Therefore, Boss Hana followed Chef Abel''s advice, opting not to hire another head chef but instead adding a dedicated worker to ensure that the kitchen operations didn''t descend into chaos while maintaining the diversity and nutrition of the meals. "No problem at all, Mr. Abel." Bound by sentiment, I readily agreed. Chapter 777 777: Section 772 - Engineering Chef Abel''s invitation was neither belittling Chen Fei nor a real shortage of help. Wasn''t it great that everyone could have fun together in the kitchen? When one reached a certain level in a profession, it ceased to be grueling labor and became an interest that one could deeply enjoy. In some ways, this invitation represented acknowledgment. If Chen Fei was interested in pursuing a career as a chef, it meant there was a clear, expert-led path before him, which was undeniably better than an inexperienced newcomer bumbling around like a headless fly. Of course, Chen Fei didn''t want to take that path (Abel: No, you do!), becoming a mechanic and a combat pilot after majoring in Economics was absurd enough. He had barely crawled out of the troublesome pit that was Cangqiong Star (Thinking of Peach''s 47th Squadron: Thank you!), and he surely didn''t want to embark on an even more bizarre journey. He was so fed up, having wasted four years in the Ivory Tower just to end up on a battlefield¡ªor a kitchen? Damn it all! Breakfast had just started not long ago when the members of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron and their colleagues from the mechanics team arrived at the dining hall, each yawning and still reeking of alcohol. The two groups were distinctly separate, one side chuckling and the other, mostly quiet. Strangely enough, after a raucous night, everyone got up early. Not a single person was late for work because of a hangover. Speaking of alcohol tolerance, the Genuine Fragrance squadron and the mechanics team were among the best at Aircrew Base, often found at Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes. The former increased their tolerance because "those close to the chef drink," and even those who couldn''t handle their liquor improved after being exposed daily to Squadron Leader Chekhov''s boozy influence. The latter, always hard at work, partook in modest daily drinking to relieve fatigue. Although they did not get as wildly drunk as Chekhov Big Bear every day, their consistent sipping over time turned each of them almost into a liquor immortal, with an average tolerance even greater than that of the Genuine Fragrance squadron. After a round of boisterous greetings, everyone dug into their breakfast and started wolfing it down collectively before heading straight to the hangar. In a blink, only a few cats were left in the canteen, which swiftly quieted down. About ten minutes later, more people gradually appeared for their meals. The other logistical units had duty shifts, so their start times were staggered to avoid overwhelming certain facilities too quickly. "''Rookie'', did you bring back any spoils of war from Cangqiong Star? Besides alcohol!" Tempun Schneider, who graduated from the Eagle''s Nest with Chen Fei and was then tricked into joining unit 911, walked alongside him. At last night''s welcome party, everyone had a blast drinking. This morning, Tempun realized he still had a belly full of questions to ask. "Yes, plenty!" Chen Fei nodded. Thank goodness for Mr. Randon''s generous gift package, or else he might still be worrying about how to bring everything back. "Can you reveal a bit about them?" Known by the flight nickname "Sauerkraut," Tempun turned into a curious baby. He had never been to Cangqiong Star and was very curious about another civilization''s customs and culture, despite all the videos and tourist information available, but they were hardly satisfying. "It would take too long to tell right now, but it''s enough to pile up into a mountain!" When Chen Fei mentioned "pile up into a mountain," he meant it could literally be piled into a mountain. "Pile into a mountain?" "Yes, pile into a mountain!" "This is crazy..." "Are you from Dongying?" "Just an expression, I''ve been watching too many of their shows lately, it just slipped out." "Swoosh¡ªka!" "???" Watching shows but not following them¡ªthe followings are for dooming dragons. In battling the rebel army, Chen Fei hadn''t spared any enemy equipment, claiming it all, from Sky Falcon fragments to remains of the Light Wing Ship and various ground equipment. Regardless of condition, if it could be exchanged for energy points, he included all in a systematic calculation. The Dog System had an energy point storage limit of 45,000, but with clever strategies and technologies like "Spatial Branding" beneath, the reserves of metal materials that could be exchanged for energy points easily exceeded 100,000 tons. Nowadays, warfare was about hurling tons and tons of metal at the enemy, ensuring that even if it didn''t kill them, it would leave them bruised. As soon as they entered the hangar, Squadron Leader Chekhov transformed, striding purposefully and giving animated orders left and right. He sorted out the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron''s duties, instructed active pilots to execute their flights and those on standby to continue waiting. If anyone found themselves completely unoccupied, they were to pick up a legitimate book and study. Despite his propensity for heavy drinking and getting outrageously drunk, Squadron Leader Big Bear seldom let it affect his responsibilities. Behind every successful man, there''s often a devoted woman. The vice squadron leader, Miss "Devil Pepper" Iline, energized Comrade Chekhov by pouring a bucket of ice from head to toe. A bucket of ice water goes splish, splash->©»|`(¥¨)¡ä|©¿ Oh!->©³((= ?(¥¨) ?=))©¿Big Bear Dance HP+1000! MP+MAX! The effect was immediate. The squadron leader and deputy complemented each other perfectly! Just in time to see Rookie Chen Fei and "Sauerkraut" Tempun Schneider stepping on everyone''s heels as they were the last to enter, and Squadron Leader Chekhov''s order just came to them. "This morning''s flight schedule is already arranged, ''Sauerkraut,'' your flying time is from two to four in the afternoon, ''Rookie,'' you have no flight arrangements, free time, the mechanic wants to see you!" A stack of tactical tablets was issued, one for everyone, basically keeping everyone busy. "Roger that!" Tempun Schneider received his tactical tablet, glanced at today''s work plan, and waved at Chen Fei. "We''ll talk after work!" His flight mission was in the afternoon, in the morning, however, he was to cooperate with the mechanics to inspect his own vehicle. Maintenance work can never be underestimated because carelessness could often cost lives. With such mistakes, if luck wasn''t on your side, you would only have the next life to make amends. "Boss, you wanted to see me?" When not flying, Chen Fei belonged to the mechanics team, and immediately rushed over upon hearing that Big Brother Xiao was looking for him. The mechanic Xiao Ming, whose formidable figure was no less than that of Big Bear Squadron Leader, saw Chen Fei reporting in and took out a stack of blueprints to hand over. "Yep! I''m planning to move the work area and the spare parts area out, build another shed behind Hangars 1 and 2, and this job will be yours to handle. The ground is already leveled, and all the metal materials are prepared; no rush, get it done in a month." "A new hangar? No, it should be a maintenance hangar!" Chen Fei took the stack of A3 paper and immediately started flipping through it. It contained not only the floor plan of the new hangar but also isometric views and renderings. Big Brother Xiao had prepared everything meticulously, and even someone just taking over could grasp the details of various parts in a short time. Originally, the mechanics worked together with the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron in Hangar 1, apparently reserving future plans for an independent space, not smaller than the current Hangar 1, possibly even called Hangar 3, as labeled on the blueprint. "If there''s anything you don''t understand, you can ask me directly. One month, no problem, right?" Xiao Ming entrusted this task entirely to Chen Fei, exactly because of his Metal Elemental Psychic Power; he could even evolve combat aircraft, let alone a steel-frame shed. "No need for a month, at most one day!" Chen Fei waved his hand and headed for the back door of Hangar 1, where the future Hangar 3 was reserved. With his own power, he had evolved a much more complex Airship Battle Group in just a few days; this small amount of work hardly needed a month. "One day? Isn''t that too rushed?" Xiao Ming was worried that Chen Fei might overexert himself. "Just set up the framework, it will be done in a moment!" As Chen Fei walked, countless tiny geometrical bodies surged out of him, and his figure quickly grew taller as the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor rapidly enveloped him. "What is this?" Human-shaped combat mobile armor? The mechanic following Chen Fei was taken aback, estimating it to be over four meters tall, definitely not within the range of single soldier tactical armor anymore. In just a few months'' time, the things evolved from his Metal Elemental Psychic Power had become even more exaggerated. With such inventions appearing within military contractors, could there be no problems? Indeed, as mechanic Xiao Ming said, behind Hangars 1 and 2 there used to be a rocky beach filled with large and small, oddly shaped pale limestone. Now, the brownish-yellow ground surface was out of sight, and the rocks were gone, replaced by a neatly cemented ground with reserved heads for water and electrical pipelines, waiting for follow-up construction to proceed. Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" read the mechanic''s design plan completely, and at this moment, under the AR visual assistance effects, Chen Fei''s vision displayed a three-dimensional architecture outlined in lines. The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor stopped, reached out a hand, and the thick structural steel tube harshly jabbed into the cement floor, burrowing three meters into the ground amidst flying debris. The need-to-be-embraced structural steel tube then extended 15 meters upward before changing position and methodically driving other steel tubes into the cement ground. The holes created needed additional cement poured in to fully integrate the structural steel tubes with the cement ground. The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor walked back and forth for a while, setting all the structural steel tube columns in place, then activated the "Gravity (1)" Magic Array and "Fluid Vortex" Magic Array. The over four-meter-tall structure rose from the ground, supporting the top of the columns and evolving the load-bearing structure supports once more. Similarly, not much time was exhausted, and the integrated steel structure framework of Hangar 3 was completely formed. The remaining work was even simpler. Large sheets of corrugated steel directly covered the top, providing an immediately complete roof and walls that blocked wind and rain. Chapter 778 778: Section 773 - Big Cat "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor crumbled into countless tiny geometric pieces and disappeared, revealing Chen Fei once again. He clapped his hands and said, "That''s a preliminary fix!" Looking at the time, it was still quite early before mealtime, giving ample time for detail adjustments. The remaining unfinished engineering main included hydroelectric work, along with some soft decorations. Once various equipment was moved in and arranged, Hangar No. 3 would be officially ready for use. It still needed a layer of sound dampening pads on the inside of the ceiling; otherwise, the clattering sound during rain and hail would be particularly moving. "Hmm! Metal Ability is really useful!" Standing inside the fully formed Hangar No. 3 and looking it over, Big Brother Xiao was very satisfied. Having a supernatural power user with such a practical ability in his team was indeed a great help. In fact, not all Metal Ability Users could achieve this extent. For instance, A-ranked Metal Ability User Kiterley, whom Chen Fei knew, could refine some special alloy, but as for engineering works like steel canopy houses, even if he exhausted himself to death, he couldn''t handle it. So, being called an Industrial-grade Ability was no empty name. There was still a certain difference between metal products made through Metal Ability and those produced industrially, The former had no internal stresses inside, making their mechanical properties very stable; even the most basic steel materials would not deform for a hundred years (As natural stress release causes steel deformation, machine tools use materials that have been stress-relieved over millions of years, Soviet Union). The latter could use heat treatment techniques to utilize the originally harmful internal stresses, transforming decay into something miraculous, significantly enhancing mechanical properties, although not as stable as Ability-made products, yet for everyday use, their lifespan was more than sufficient. - Chen Fei stayed at Aircrew Base 911 for two days, visited the now rabbit-infested Rabbit Valley, and met the still lively and adorable students of Patan Elementary School. Then, together with Boss Hanna, they took a light transport plane to the nearest public airport, incidentally picking up the supplies they had purchased and retrieving the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang from Jiu Defense''s headquarters in Chapala City after completing an external mission. Descending from the light transport plane, the first thing Chen Fei saw was the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet squatting next to a huge supply box. "Er Lang, long time no see!" Being a magical beast that operated solo, it was accompanied by two airport security guards, waiting until Aircrew Base 911''s light transport plane slid into the designated parking bay. "I thought you weren''t coming back!" Big Cat looked Chen Fei up and down, its gaze landing on his shoulder, and exclaimed in surprise, "What rank is your bird now? It feels quite different!" As a Seventh-Rank Dual-Elemental Magical Beast, the Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet also possessed strong spiritual power and keenly sensed an unusual flutter of Light Elemental Energy emanating from the Pure Light Sparrow. "It''s now Sixth Rank!" Chen Fei reported the exact number. "What rank?" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet twitched its fluffy ear tips. "Sixth Rank!" Chen Fei''s tone remained unchanged. "Huh? What did you feed it? Did it eat an Immortal Pill?" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet Er Lang''s eyes bulged out roundly. A visit to Cangqiong Star, where Elemental Energy was active, made it easy for spellcasters and magical beasts who had been on Blue Star for a long time to advance in rank quickly, but an elevation of several ranks like Xiao Jiu''s was unprecedented. Having been away for just a few months, this little creature''s growth had almost reached the level of a Seventh-Rank Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet, sincerely giving the big cat a tremendous shock. Goodness gracious! Was Xiao Jiu really a Pure Light Sparrow? It was almost common knowledge that Pure Light Sparrows were among the least esteemed magical beasts. According to past records, their ceiling was Second Rank, and even that was among the most talented in the Pure Light Sparrow lineage. Beyond that, throughout all history books, it remained unheard of. "It''s more about the collective will of the Pure Light Sparrow; unity is strength." Chen Fei had witnessed firsthand how every time Xiao Jiu summoned its kin, not only did it induce significant fluctuations of Light Elemental Energy, but numerous Pure Light Sparrows also collectively advanced in rank, naturally understanding corresponding Light-based Spells of their new ranks. The ease with which Xiao Jiu advanced in rank was undoubtedly facilitated by the magic potions Chen Fei had obtained at great cost for its cultivation, but those advancing Pure Light Sparrow had never sipped even a drop of Elemental Affinity Enhancement Potion. Not just from First to Second Rank, but even beyond Third Rank was not just an isolated case; both in numbers and proportion, they had shattered previous understanding of Pure Light Sparrows. Every summoning of the flock achieved this, thus Chen Fei speculated that the mass advancement of Pure Light Sparrows could be due to the collective power drawing in Light Elemental Energy, achieving a qualitative change through quantitative change. With the intensity of Elemental Energy capable of annihilating a giant dragon, it indeed was a possibility. "Unheard of!" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet admitted it couldn''t understand. There were indeed communal magical beasts on Cangqiong Star, and more than one kind, but if merely relying on collective strength could easily facilitate advancement, perhaps other creatures would stand no chance of survival, right? "This is a fact!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, he didn''t have a second answer. "Er Lang, are things going smoothly for you?" Boss Hana''s words interjected. Big Cat had left the Aircrew Base 911, not only to participate in field missions from headquarters but also to attend to some other matters. Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet spoke irritably, "Don''t mention it, there''s a civil war on Cangqiong Star, and the items I wanted to buy have skyrocketed in price because of the situation¡ªthese profiteers!" Being a Magical Beast, it needed to advance in rank on Blue Star, where the Elemental Energy activity was insufficient, and this required not just full meals but also the aid of specific materials. "What are you trying to buy?" Chen Fei thought about the local products he had brought back from Cangqiong Star. "Wind and Psychic Series Magical Beast Crystal Cores, do you have any? Or Demon Crystals from minerals would also do, not too high-rank, even low-rank ones, ha... I knew it was futile to ask, these things are usually hard to come by." The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet helplessly swayed its tail, its furry cat face filled with disappointment. The procurement channels of Jiu Defense Company hardly reached these materials, completely unable to help, thus it could only rely on itself to find a way. After all, there were few Ability Users in the military contractor line of work, with meager demand; only at the headquarters of Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, in Hablav City located in the Central Great Desert, were a large number of Ability Users concentrated, enjoying the official allocated resources. Items like Magical Beast Crystal Cores, natural Demon Crystals, magic potions, and Alchemical Artifacts were crucial materials that occupied the trading quota with Cangqiong Star and rarely entered civil channels. Luckily, as a Magical Beast, Er Lang could apply for a small quota; otherwise, even with money, might not be able to buy these items. "What do you think of these?" Chen Fei''s hand flashed silver, and he held a box with both hands. Click! The lid of the box opened, and a wave of Elemental Energy drifted out. "Ah!~" The Big Cat opened its mouth wide, eyes fixated on the uniformly sized standard crystal boxes inside the box, securing objects of various sizes, colors, and textures¡ªthe largest the size of an egg, the smallest about the size of a soybean. The cubic crystal boxes nearly filled the entire wooden box, neatly stacked. "Magical Beast Crystal Cores? Where did you get these from?" Hanna Gagel, who had traveled here in a small transport with Chen Fei, immediately realized what was stored inside these crystal boxes. Goodness! So many Magical Beast Crystal Cores, could it be he robbed or stole the sovereign''s trade quota channels? This thought flashed through Hanna Gagel''s mind momentarily. Robbing trade quota channels was simply impossible, not just for Grade B Ability Users, even the rumored Grade S Ability Users couldn''t manage it. The trade level between the Silan Dynasty and Blue Star Sovereignty was untouchable and unmovable. "Spoils of war, I initially planned to hand them over to the Mercenary Guild, but then..." Sun Domain City had been ravaged by war, almost flattening the street housing the Mercenary Guild; Chen Fei couldn''t wait for it to be rebuilt and had to take these spoils of war to Nandu City, then through the suburban Ground Portal Gate Management Substation back to Blue Star. Originally hoping that the materials hunted would compensate for the significant expenditure on mercenary commissions, it now seemed there was no way to replenish his savings account balance shortly. "I will take this one, this one, and this one!" Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet''s paws moved swiftly, nearly creating afterimages, and in the blink of an eye, it had scooped up more than a dozen crystal boxes for itself, all emanating Elemental Energy waves characteristic of the Wind Series. The Psychic Series Magical Beast Crystal Cores were very rare, and there wasn''t even a single one in Chen Fei''s wooden box; mostly Wind, Fire, Earth, Water, Wood, Lightning, and two of the Dark Element, similarly absent of Light, Metal, and Space Series. "''Rookie'', what do you plan to do with these items?" Seeing so many Magical Beast Crystal Cores, Hanna Gagel''s mind started to race. Just as Er Lang said, after the rebellion broke out on Zhai Liuzhou continent of Cangqiong Star, although other continents of Cangqiong Star could still provide special resources, things were not very stable on Blue Star''s end, with even a sovereign formally declaring war on the Silan Dynasty, exacerbating the communication between the two civilized planets, impacting the prices of quota goods far more than just a few percentage points'' fluctuation. "I suppose, I suppose I''ll find a place to sell them!" Truth be told, after leaving Cangqiong Star, Chen Fei didn''t know where to clear these spoils of war since Blue Star had no Mercenary Guilds specifically for handling these resources. Although military contractors occasionally had to deal with ferocious Magical Beasts that lost control, the odds of Crystal Cores forming inside their bodies were minuscule at best, mostly nonexistent; and even if there were very few obtained, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could not offer a high purchase price. The Elemental Energy activity on Blue Star couldn''t compare with Cangqiong Star, and the basic environment was laid out there, causing the occasionally produced Magical Beast Crystal Cores on Blue Star to also be inferior in quality compared to those on Cangqiong Star. Hanna Gagel ventured, "If you''re willing, let me handle them for you!" "Sure!" Chen Fei agreed without hesitation, truly a big help, dear Boss! Chapter 779 779: Section 774 - Going Home ``` If Chen Fei had to find a way to liquidate on his own, the probability of getting swindled was nearly one hundred percent; there was no suspense about it. It''s as unjust as not robbing a child flaunting gold in the marketplace. For Hanna Gagel, though it wasn''t her area of expertise, she still had some connections. Even if she didn''t look for a channel, she could sell the items on her own gradually and fetch a good price; it would just take some time. "You keep these for now, and give me a list later." Hanna Gagel was in no hurry to take over. She had other work to attend to after leaving the Aircrew Base with Chen Fei. "A list? No problem, please check!" Chen Fei snapped his fingers; the list was ready, "Adam" sent it in a second! No sooner had he finished speaking, Hanna BOSS''s mobile phone rang with the notification sound of a new email in her inbox. Hanna Gagel glanced at her phone screen. "That was fast!" "Hehehehe..." The Big Cat was hugging the crystal boxes and wouldn''t let go, chuckling foolishly. Finding what you were looking for without any effort is as satisfying as finding what you weren''t looking for after a long, hard search. When it noticed that Chen Fei and Hanna BOSS had agreed on a plan for handling the "soil specialties" brought back from Cangqiong Star and both turned their gaze towards it, it hurriedly said, "Rookie, I''ll give you a good price, you won''t lose out." Chen Fei never thought about bargaining, and directly nodded in agreement, "Okay! You decide." Although he didn''t know the market price of Magical Beast Crystal Cores, he was aware of one thing based on economic principles: the prices on Blue Star were definitely higher than on Cangqiong Star. So, the price Er Lang gave, no matter what, would not make Chen Fei lose out. Glancing at the small transport plane that was opening its rear hatch, Hanna Gagel checked the time and said, "Er Lang, you go back to the Aircrew Base first. I''ll transfer with Rookie." "Okay, boss! Have a good one!" The Golden-Eyed Azure-Hearted Civet wagged its tail vigorously; although it was a Big Cat, it acted like a little dog. "See you later!" Chen Fei reached out to pat the cat''s head and then followed Hanna BOSS towards the terminal building. The Big Cat was taken aback, and its fur immediately bristled, as it protested loudly with its whiskers flaring out, "Hey, I''m not a pet; don''t touch my head!" Why is this guy''s hand so itchy! The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was using its small head to nudge Chen Fei''s neck, chirping persistently, as if it wanted its head petted too. Chen Fei raised his hand and lightly poked Xiao Jiu''s crest with his index finger, eliciting a series of happy chirps. "It''s a pity that there aren''t many Pure Light Sparrows on Blue Star." Hearing Xiao Jiu''s chirping, Hanna Gagel turned her head to look. Indeed! Without the ability to summon thousands of Pure Light Sparrows, Xiao Jiu''s threat level was even lower than other Magical Beasts of the same rank and couldn''t compare to its capabilities on Cangqiong Star. If Pure Light Sparrows on Blue Star had the power to instantly kill Giant Dragons, the Sovereigns probably wouldn''t have approved Xiao Jiu''s immigration paperwork so quickly and easily, even though it was registered locally and enjoyed all the rights of a citizen as a Magical Beast. "Blue Star doesn''t need Pure Light Sparrows as saviors." Chen Fei didn''t care and continued to play with Xiao Jiu. Such a cute Little Bird, it''s fine just being a happy pet. At the terminal building, Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei went their separate ways; the latter returned to his homeland, and the former flew elsewhere to discuss business related to the Flesh Mushroom industry and Jiu Defense Company. - Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The doorbell had only rung twice when the front door was immediately pushed open, and a voice both surprised and delighted rushed towards Chen Fei. "Second Brother, you''re back!" "Eh? Xiao Meng, you''re here too!" Chen Fei was baffled; he hadn''t expected to see Little Sister Chen as soon as he got home. Shouldn''t this sister, who''s always setting him up, be in school studying? Xiao Jiu hopped onto the back of Chen Fei''s neck, probably a bit scared of Little Sister Chen''s Bird Caressing Divine Skill. "It''s winter break!" Chen Meng immediately pouted, visibly upset in capital letters. This damn brother had actually forgotten that his sister in college had winter and summer vacations. Just as Chen Fei was about to say something, a strange face appeared behind Little Sister Chen, sheepishly greeting him. "Um, hello, I am..." "Bro, he''s Liu Mingquan, my boyfriend! Xiao Liu, this is my second brother, Chen Fei, an airplane mechanic who used to study economics; can you believe he switched from economics to fixing planes? The professional leap is so huge!" Well, there you go! Little Sister Chen actually brought her boyfriend home. Just wait till I break this guy''s legs!!! "Hello, I''m Liu Mingquan. You can call me Xiao Liu." For some reason, the young man behind Chen Meng, upon seeing Chen Fei''s reaction, looked as though a mouse had seen a cat, instinctively shrinking a little. "Xiao Liu, right? I..." "Second Brother, you''re back!" ``` Just at that moment, Father appeared in Chen Fei''s line of sight, effectively stifling the words he was about to blurt out. With a twitch of his mouth and a helpless tone, he said, "Dad, I''m back!" Chen Meng gripped Chen Fei''s arm and dragged him into the house, her eyes shifty as she asked, "Bro, did you bring back any... gifts?" "Want an Element Annihilation Bomb? One could level the entire neighborhood, pollution-free, environmentally friendly, and with no residue," he teased. Chen Fei glared at his cheeky little sister, who had the audacity to bring her boyfriend home without any prior application, clearly showing no regard for him as her Second Brother. She deserved to be strung up and dangled from the streetlight at the entrance of the neighborhood as a warning to others. There were several boxes of local specialties outside the door, genuine Cangqiong Star local specialties without any contraband. They were just some drinks, snacks, jewelry, and ornaments ¨C small things whose total value didn''t even reach ten thousand Star Yuan, so there was no fear of attracting any covetous eyes. "What kind of outrageous talk is that?" Chen Meng pounded on her elder brother, but when she caught sight of a small ball of feathers trying to hide, her eyes lit up, and she shrieked with alarm and delight. "Xiao Jiu!~" "Jiu!~" The Little Bird almost unleashed a laser in fright, which would have blown the head off this impudent girl on the spot. Lord Pure Light Sparrow, who had once led his troop to defeat a Giant Dragon in mere seconds, was now being chased frantically around the house by a mere human girl. The chaotic scene was only ended by the intervention of their mother. If the commotion had continued, even the house might have been at risk of coming apart. Chen Fei thought it best to bring Yilan along next time he returned home, for a "lock the doors and release the dragon" surprise for his stinky little sister. "You''re such an adult, and you''re still playing with birds!" Mother was so displeased she was nearly ready to brandish a feather duster; it was unclear whether she was scolding her daughter, or using the situation to indirectly lecture her son. The boyfriend Chen Meng had brought home, Liu Mingquan, was all smiles throughout, not daring to interfere. While his girlfriend and her Second Uncle were horsing around, he quietly moved all those boxes of local specialties into the house by himself. Second Uncle''s fearsome reputation, no, his prestige had been well known since their school days. Now, nobody dared to bully Chen Meng, fearful that her brother might barge into the Ivory Tower with that giant armored vehicle (Mobile Base Vehicle) and shoot them in the head with its cannon¡ªwas this even real life? "Hehe! Xiao Jiu is so cute!~" Little Sister Chen got her way in the end, capturing the pitiful Xiao Jiu in her hands, who looked utterly disheartened. Stripping away the magic, it was just an ordinary bird with no means of resistance, probably couldn''t even beat a pigeon. "Be careful with it!" Chen Fei was on guard, ready to rescue the Little Bird from his sister at any moment. "Second Brother, did you bring these back? Don''t go to all that trouble next time!" Father Chen Haishang looked over the wooden crates that had been moved inside, considering that just getting them from the airport to their apartment building must have been quite the hassle. "It''s no trouble, really easy," Chen Fei said, waving his hand dismissively. A few boxes of local specialties were nothing to him. Others might think he was boasting about his strength, but they wouldn''t guess that he was actually showing off the "Spatial Branding" on the back of his hand. "What''s inside them?" Chen Meng, holding the resigned Xiao Jiu, came up to the crates and turned to Liu Mingquan, "Xiao Liu, let''s open the boxes and have a look." "Is that okay?" Liu Mingquan hesitated, looking towards Chen Fei with a timid reaction, much like the Xiao Jiu in Little Sister Chen''s hands. "No worries, they''re just some food, drinks, and usable items, nothing special," Chen Fei assured with a nod. "Oh!" Liu Mingquan then boldly began to open the crates one by one. "All this wine?" Father Chen Hai looked at the bottles of wine, a smile spreading across his face with delight. "Sausages? Ham? Salted meat? Aren''t all these available at the supermarket?" Mother Yu Xiaoyi, busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, sneaked a peek out and saw no point in the hassle of bringing all that home, possibly even overspending and wasting money. "Ah? These are local specialties from Cangqiong Star, made with Magical Beast Meat, they have different nutritional values, very nourishing. And the alcohol, I had to scour two continents and comb through the streets and alleys to find these top-quality liquors, it really wasn''t easy." Chen Fei hadn''t brought out the complete set of liquor gift packs; one reason being that there was too much and the house lacked storage space, and the other being to prevent attracting unwanted attention. If a few old lushes got wind of it, they might pester incessantly, and his old man might not even get a sip before it all ended up in strangers'' bellies. So, picking out twenty or thirty bottles was plenty. "Cangqiong Star''s local specialties? Second Brother, you went to Cangqiong Star?" Chen Meng, her eyes sparkling, looked at Chen Fei. Ordinary people might never have the opportunity to visit another civilized planet in their lifetime, and here her Second Brother had quietly made the trip. The company''s benefits must be something else! "Just an off-planet errand! Pretty normal!" Chen Fei downplayed it, then looked around and asked, "Where''s Eldest Brother?" He hadn''t seen Eldest Brother, his sister-in-law, or their baby since he''d been home for half the day. Holding a bottle of wine and clearly smitten with it, Father Chen Hai turned to explain, "The baby had a fever, so your Eldest Brother and sister-in-law took him to the hospital. They should be back by now." He then glanced towards Little Sister Chen''s hands. "Xiao Jiu seems to be capable of Light-based Spells, could it use the ''Light Healing Technique'' on the baby?" "That''s easy!" Chen Fei readily agreed. The "Light Healing Technique" was practically child''s play for a Light-element Magical Beast of the Human Order Sixth Rank. "Jiu!" Chapter 780: Section 775 - Little Sisters Boyfriend ``` After waiting for over an hour and nearly on time for the original dinner plan, Elder Brother Chen and his wife Sima Xin, along with their nephew Baby, finally arrived. Perhaps it was because he had just had an IV, Baby''s spirit wasn''t great, and he seemed somewhat listless, with a cooling patch stuck to his head. Baby''s frequent fevers post-weaning are commonplace, with over four hundred types of bacteria and viruses that can cause a fever. Each fever could be seen as gaining immunity, and if one''s constitution is robust enough, symptoms might not even manifest. With Xiao Jiu''s "Light Healing Technique," metabolism sped up dramatically, and the effect was immediate¡ªBaby''s temperature dropped visibly fast, and soon enough, he was lively and clamoring again. Chen Fei brought back some Magical Beast Meat Sausage, cut off a few sections, washed them, and threw them directly into the rice cooker. The steam-fused rice and meat aroma was irresistible, and once sliced and served, it indeed had a unique flavor. Today''s dinner was of special significance, with Liu Mingquan carefully dealing with his girlfriend''s parents, as well as two brothers and a sister-in-law. "Ahh ahh ahh!~ Aah?" Baby was also about to join the three-hall trial by fire¡ªa complete gathering of the Chen Family. After all, the outcome wasn''t just about two people, but the merging of two families. A few questions later, Liu Mingquan''s background was thoroughly understood. He is a kid from the planting district of the neighboring province, with one younger brother and two younger sisters¡ªfour siblings in total, all attending school. His parents are agricultural machinery technicians. Now, with industrialized agriculture, people live in towns and there''s no distinction between agricultural and non-agricultural hukou¡ªa household like his can hardly be considered genuine rural folks. As the eldest son, Liu Mingquan studied industrial design, hoping to join a large-scale agricultural machinery factory in the future as a technician, while also providing some technical support to the agricultural company where his parents work. The agricultural company has always had subsidy policies for the education of employees'' children, so although Liu Mingquan has many siblings, the burden hasn''t been too heavy. "Hi hi!~" After the exhausting dinner, Chen Meng didn''t go pester her boyfriend but instead nudged Chen Xiao''er on the couch with her elbow. "Hi you..." Feeling guilty, Chen Fei glanced towards the kitchen. Being born from the same mother, if he dared to blabber, Mother Chen would immediately hit him with a heavy ladle on the head. Duang^^^^^^ Southern Evening Bell! Swallowing his words under his sister''s gaze, Chen Meng prodded with ill intent, "I think you have something nasty to say." This wretched girl is indeed good at bringing up the most inconvenient topics. "Scram!~" Hitting is affection, scolding is love, kicking is how you deal with a sister¡ªsuch is the bond of love within a family. After the joking, Chen Meng nudged her brother again. "What?" Chen Fei was annoyed, ready to relocate or drag Liu Mingquan in as a shield. With an air of self-satisfaction, Chen Meng said, "Xiao Liu is in industrial design, and you are a Metal Ability User. Couldn''t he help you? I can help you too, you know!" Xiao Liu would handle the design, Brother would take care of the evolution, and she would slap a system on top¡ªperfect! "Help my ass! It''s all about just copying it directly, not a single penny needed to be spent." Chen Fei instantly got his Sister Yu Chun''s pure intentions. He''d always freeloaded in the forest anyway, so was there really a need to single out a small Liu tree for vigorous shaking? "Huh? Second Brother, you... you... have you always done it this way?" Chen Meng was stunned, realizing he was that kind of person, Second Brother! Wouldn''t you get killed doing such things? Of course, you''d get killed. But if you don''t get killed, it''s probably a different story altogether. As for his girlfriend''s company, Northern Weapons Industry Group, they initially resisted, but now they''re begging for more¡ª"enough, enough... no more!" His girlfriend''s father was almost at the point of wanting to break Chen Xiao''er''s legs. "Emmmm..." Chen Fei offered no explanation, but Little Sister Chen could read the answer on her brother''s face. This damned brother! He should be hung upside down from the balcony. Just then, Father Chen Haishang, who was playing chess with Liu Mingquan, looked up and asked, "Xiao''er, when are you bringing Shen Fei home?" The little daughter had brought her boyfriend home, yet the second son had never brought his girlfriend over. "Shen Fei is her father''s secretary, and she''s very busy every day. Let''s wait until the New Year or a long holiday to discuss it then!" Both Chen Fei and Shen Fei had graduated from Ivory Tower, and neither had the concept of summer or winter vacations anymore. Especially since Shen Fei joined the local Northern Weapons Industry Group, being far from Chen Fei, it was difficult to find the time and opportunity to be together. Previous meetings had also been coincidental. "I''ve met Sister Shen Fei already!" Chen Meng suddenly raised her hand, and upon seeing the surprised looks from Chen Fei and Father Chen, she quickly explained, "Before the holiday, Sister Shen Fei visited me at our school." "How come you never mentioned it?" Father Chen Haishang frowned. "Hehehe! I forgot!" Little Sister Chen stuck out her tongue, looking embarrassed. "You dummy!" Chen Fei was displeased and gave his silly sister a noggin'' knocker, unaware of this event until Chen Meng brought it up. The headquarters of Northern Weapons Group and the Northern Industrial University where his sister studied were both in the same province, with a maximum of two hours of ground travel between them, so Shen Fei''s taking time to visit Chen Meng was not surprising. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" ``` Chen Meng held her head in her hands, looking aggrieved, weak, and pitiable. She drew circles in her heart, cursing her brother to be shot dead for ten minutes. "Jiu!~" Seizing the opportunity to escape back onto Chen Fei''s shoulder, Xiao Jiu turned around and let out a fierce, milk-like chirp, finally venting her spleen. That night, Chen Meng''s boyfriend Liu Mingquan didn''t stay over at the house but went to a nearby hotel instead. The next morning, he came to the Chen Family again, and Father Chen and Mother Chen had also prepared breakfast for him. After breakfast, Chen Meng went grocery shopping with her mother, while Liu Mingquan stayed at the Chen Family to pass the time playing chess with Father Chen. He saw Chen Fei shaking an A3 paper, examining it up and down. He asked curiously, "What''s this?" "A painting puzzle!" Chen Fei had been pondering over this painting puzzle for some time now, almost daily examining it from every angle and letting his imagination fly in an attempt to find clues. "A painting puzzle?" Liu Mingquan''s gaze landed on the A3 paper, which featured a complex pattern made of various colored dots, lines, and geometric shapes. After looking at it for a while, he ventured, "Is the network address on there the key to the puzzle?" "Hmm? Network address?" Chen Fei was puzzled, wondering where the network address came from. He looked at his sister''s boyfriend with confusion. Liu Mingquan reached out and traced something on the painting puzzle. "Right here! It''s right here!" "There''s nothing there!" Chen Fei looked again, even more baffled. If the other party could see the network address, why couldn''t he? Could it be that this young man was also an ability user with a very special skill that allowed him to see things invisible to others? "Ah?~~ Ah! I got it!" Liu Mingquan was stunned for a moment before realizing, saying, "My eyes have a fourth type of cone cell, which lets me distinguish more colors." "Tetrachromatic vision, huh?" Chen Fei suddenly understood. One of his psychic skills also enabled him to activate this extraordinary vision. Although the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" was connected to Chen Fei''s optic nerve and could add augmented reality visual effects, it couldn''t actively activate the "Basic Optical Observer (Level 8)" within the "Full Spectrum Imaging" module that would allow the identification of additional colors, So for many days, he''d missed this secret. Those with a fourth type of cone cell have a color discrimination ability that is more than a hundred times superior to that of normal people with only three types of cone cells; not a psychic power, yet surpassing it. In a certain sense, when comparing trichromatic vision to tetrachromatic vision, the former is akin to color blindness, no wonder Chen Fei couldn''t discover the abnormal color composition hidden in the painting puzzle with his natural trichromatic vision. "Full Spectrum Imaging" activated! Chen Fei blinked, and the pattern on the A3 paper immediately changed, unveiling something more. Indeed, as his sister''s boyfriend said, amidst the complex dots, lines, and geometric shapes, there was a series of special network addresses hidden. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam," which was connected to Chen Fei''s optic nerve, almost simultaneously received this information and immediately opened the network address. It was a very simple webpage, with coding so basic it couldn''t be more basic, featuring only a download link in the middle. The entire download process was completed almost instantly, and Chen Fei received a plain text file. Huh? That''s it?! The simplicity couldn''t be more straightforward, even a primary school student could create such a webpage; there was no technical content to speak of. The server hosting the network address was located on Blue Star. The few KB-sized plain text file opened instantly, with ANSI encoding format. It marked out the time, coordinates, altitude, and notes, clearly indicating the "Seed Nest" locations on both Cangqiong Star and Blue Star. This was the reward the parasitic species "Taga" had given Chen Fei before its death, a straightforward and unencrypted message, with no concern about being accidentally obtained by irrelevant people. Now that "Taga" was dead, its exposure as an outlier was no longer of importance. "Brother Chen?" Noticing Chen Fei was "spacing out," Liu Mingquan called out to him, then said, "The network address on there is..." "No, I''ve already got it!" Chen Fei cut him off mid-sentence. With the text file downloaded, the network address hidden in the painting puzzle had served its purpose. "''Adam,'' send the network address and the text file to Lin Zio and Mr. Randon, and also... Miyoshi Monk." Liu Mingquan saw his future brother-in-law muttering something incomprehensible and was utterly baffled by it. Adam: Recipients: Crown Prince Lin Zio of the Slan Dynasty, Louis Landon, CEO of Louis Industrial Company, and Miyoshi Xuesen of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, sending complete! Liu Mingquan asked, puzzled, "Brother Chen, what are you talking about?" "It''s nothing! I''m talking to my artificial intelligence AI." The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" wasn''t in Chen Fei''s pocket but inside his head. "Oh!" Liu Mingquan understood. Boom!~ A muffled thunder sounded outside. "Thunder in the middle of winter?" Father Chen looked out the window. Chapter 781: Section 776 - Different Dimension Invasion The clear winter sky, which had been clear earlier, was now inexplicably shrouded in a cluster of black clouds hovering over the city center. The Chen Family lived in a neighborhood about 10 kilometers from the city center. The location was neither bustling nor too remote; with relatively cheaper housing prices, it was perfect for the middle-income working class who needed housing. The parents of the three Chen siblings had just finished paying off the house before retiring, and after retirement, they had no debts. "Hiss, what''s up with this weird black cloud?" Chen Haishang widened his eyes and after examining it closely, noticed the solitary black cloud seemed to be influenced by a cyclone, faintly displaying a spiral pattern. "Dad! Is it thundering?" Chen Fei glanced outside the window; the sky was still clear. He guessed it might be a nearby heavy truck that had burst a tire with a loud bang that shook the earth. "No, there is a cluster of clouds in the direction of the city center, and it looks very strange. Oh, there are a lot of small light points falling from it. Could it be hailing? This hail must be severe!" Chen Haishang smacked his lips; even from such a distance, he could see the reflection. How big could this hail be? At least as big as watermelons! Hiss... If ice blocks that large were to fall, they could likely smash through car shells, and might even be fatal. "City center?" Chen Fei also moved to the balcony and looked in the direction of the city center. The psi skill "Basic Optical Observer (level 8)" was activated, and he had just triggered "Full Spectrum Imaging," along with "Ultra-long Vision" and "Visual Assistance" modules. He immediately gasped. The AI interfaced with his visual nerves captured the visual signals in real time, using AR for enhanced effects, and with its multi-threading capabilities, marked multiple unusual targets that would be difficult for an individual to notice simultaneously. The twinkling fragments of light were actually menacing monsters with rapidly vibrating wings that reflected speckles of light under the winter sun; some had membranous wings, some scaly, and others feathered¡ªclearly more than one variety. "Insufficient data, unable to identify!" "Adam" specifically highlighted the swirling black cloud. A series of phone rings erupted, sounding unusually shrill. Chen Fei took out his phone and glanced at the screen. It was the city''s public emergency communication short number, and there was more than one incoming call¡ªbigwig Louis Landon, Miyoshi Monk, all seemed to have conspired to call at the same time. The emergency short number has a priority system, ranked first in line for call requests. Without hesitating much, Chen Fei answered the emergency call. "Urgent notice! B-class Metal Ability User Chen Fei, proceed immediately to the city center and prepare for combat!" "Received, departing immediately!" Being a registered supernatural power user, it was natural for him to be summoned instantly in emergencies. Despite enjoying some privileges not available to ordinary people, ability users also had to assume special responsibilities not held by the common public. An army is maintained for years but is used in moments. At this critical juncture, any ability user with a semblance of combat ability would be summoned to the scene, and refusing could have severe consequences. "There''s trouble! Stay at home, don''t go outside, and call mom and Xiao Meng to have them come back immediately." As Chen Fei spoke, he stripped off his slightly baggy and bulky home-warm clothes and a flash of silver appeared on the back of his hand; he quickly donned a set of tactical armor over his body. "What happened?" Chen Haishang and Liu Mingquan were utterly confused. Chen Fei suddenly paused, looked at them seriously, and said, "Monsters from a different dimension have invaded!" The public emergency broadcast via AI group voice didn''t specify the cause, but he had seen it clearly from the balcony. The swirl of clouds constantly deploying monsters was no good news, and even if one hadn''t eaten pork, they had at least seen pigs run¡ªit was likely some sort of special existence analogous to a space channel. "Huh?" ¡Á2 Chen Haishang and Liu Mingquan looked at each other in disbelief. "Then, about your mom..." "Yeah, what about Aunt and Xiao Meng?" Both Liu Mingquan and his future father-in-law were panicking. The two of them staying at home wasn''t much of an issue, but Chen''s mother and Chen Meng had gone to the supermarket and hadn''t come back yet. "Xiao Jiu is with them, they will be safe, don''t worry!" Within moments, the tactical armor was securely on him. Countless tiny geometric fragments surged onto Chen Fei''s body, rapidly enveloping him from head to toe in a complete suit of individual combat armor. Xiao Jiu had grasped the attack method of lasers by the time he reached the Third Rank of Human Order, and now that he was at the Sixth Rank, he naturally became even more formidable. "I''ll go ahead and head back inside, don''t stand on the balcony!" Chen Fei grabbed the edge of the balcony and with a leap, he plunged downward. "Ah!~" Seeing Chen Xiao''er dive down from the balcony, his father''s heart lifted, and almost simultaneously, he and Liu Mingquan rushed to the balcony edge to look down. Woosh!~ A turboprop aircraft flew past between the buildings, its propellers roaring loudly, as it lifted its nose and shot up into the sky, carried away by the fierce wind. Yet, Chen Xiao''er''s whereabouts remained unknown... Leaving only his anxious father and Little Sister Chen''s boyfriend leaning over the edge of the balcony, both staring wide-eyed at each other, wondering, where is he?! Adam: Electrical transmission system connected successfully! Adam: Dynamic balance system connected successfully! Adam: Radar system connected successfully! Adam: Fire control system... The moment Chen Fei leaped down from his own balcony, he first evolved the aerodynamic shape of the A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, followed swiftly by the electric drive propellers, aerodynamic control surfaces, and various avionic modules consecutively materializing. Energy Points -279! The "Big Mouth Monster" wasn''t pre-stocked, and since it was an ad-hoc evolution, it had to simulate non-metallic components, causing a substantial expenditure of energy points. Luckily, Chen Fei was extremely familiar with this model of turboprop attack aircraft, achieving very high efficiency in its evolution, managing to create its aerodynamic shape in a breath''s time, while activating the Psi Skill "Gravity Adjustment Module (5%)", using the statically stable aerodynamic shape to automatically correct into a dive descent posture, just as the electric-driven propeller began to work, further controlling the flight attitude. In a matter of seconds, Chen Fei, seated in the cockpit of the "Big Mouth Monster", completed the takeoff operation, the turboprop engine at full power thrust, soaring into the sky as he was still more than ten meters from the ground. "''Adam,'' prepare to connect to the drones!" Accustomed to the operation of airship battle groups, Chen Fei certainly wasn''t going to charge in alone, like a green rookie. With one hand pressed against the cockpit wall, a flash of silver on the back of his hand, a drone materialized out of thin air, quickly moving away from the "Big Mouth Monster". Then another appeared, and he kept releasing drones until ten were deployed before he stopped. Adam: Reconnaissance drone squadron, A01 to A10 connected successfully. The ten reconnaissance drones that launched themselves autonomously in midair quickly dispersed, casting a wide net, sending vast amounts of real-time information back to "Adam", which, experienced in parallel processing, the AI sorted through and relayed valuable information to Chen Fei, aiding his control over both the sky and the ground situation. The A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft was not only capable of adapting to mountainous and complex terrain but was also suited for a city environment dominated by skyscrapers, easily maneuvering at low altitudes between high-rise buildings. A series of flashes of silver light on Chen Fei''s hand, several smart combat missiles were moved to the wing''s hardpoints. For urban combat, there was no need for the fierce firepower of rocket nests and the enormous power of aerial bombs¡ªclose combat missiles were perfectly adequate for the majority of combat needs. The A-39C was an upgraded version of the A39B, adding two more hardpoints, allowing it to carry up to nine missiles at a time. Chen Fei looked up toward the increasingly near swirling black cloud; he swapped the combat missile slung on the machine''s belly hardpoint for a KDK-1 suction-type hypersonic smart missile, also known colloquially as the "Dragon Slayer Missile", whose independent combat unit was known as the "Element Annihilation Bomb." Although small in size, it packed a punch, producing destruction potential comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon, yet without any radiation residue. "This is the City Public Security Bureau Rapid Response Center, A-39C ''Big Mouth Monster'', please identify yourself!" A directed communication electromagnetic wave locked onto the "Big Mouth Monster". The municipal defense forces reacted quite swiftly, whether it was the appearance of the monster-spewing vortex cloud or Chen Fei piloting the "Big Mouth Monster" approaching the city center, their response time didn''t exceed five minutes. "I am Chen Fei, a B-level Metal Ability User, responding to the emergency alert and en route to the city center to engage in combat!" Chen Fei responded immediately. Almost at the same time, the three-dimensional alert system constructed by the reconnaissance drone squadron detected a fierce monster leaping into the air from the rooftop equipment platform of a ten-story building in the four o''clock direction, pouncing towards the "Big Mouth Monster." A combat missile just locked onto the target when a fire meteor shot from a distance arrived with lightning speed, piercing through the monster that was approaching the turboprop. Following the trajectory source, Chen Fei identified the source of the fire meteor; at the edge of the city center square, a woman wearing a trench coat stood atop a hundred-story building, a mask on her face obscuring her features, her long ponytail swaying in the wind, holding a half-human-tall pulley bow, angling her body as she drew the bow and nocked an arrow. With each arrow shot, a dazzling firelight followed, far surpassing ordinary arrows in range and speed, piercing through every monster it targeted. The thumb-thick arrowheads could even cause more than thirty-centimeter diameter through-and-through wounds, enough to kill instantly. With each arrow, one kill, with none able to withstand a single shot. Such impressive archery! It''s uncertain whether she is a War Professional or an Ability User, but it seems there are formidable forces not to be underestimated locally! The situation had not deteriorated rapidly, thanks to the flawless performance of the other''s unerring arrows. "Identity confirmed, ''Rookie'' Chen Fei, please assist in intercepting the unidentified creatures falling from the sky." The City Public Security Bureau Rapid Response Center automatically completed the identity confirmation based on mobile signal and voice characteristics, even dredging up his work call sign, immediately assigning Chen Fei a combat task. Chapter 782: Section 777 - Want to Give It a Shot? "There might still be humanoid and dragon form Combat Mobility Armor coming up, so please don''t be too surprised when that happens," Chen Fei cautioned beforehand to avoid the awkward situation of being focused-fired by his own team. "Received, keep your cell phone turned on, we will use your communication device for friend or foe identification," the liaison from the Rapid Response Center recorded Chen Fei''s words for reference in the contact notes. Chen Fei''s personal and supernatural ability records were well documented, including his Psi Skills; hence, no one would question the appearance of anything unusual. "Also, if a fleet of Airships appears, please do not be too shocked!" While speaking, Chen Fei swiftly worked on his controls, setting targets for the eight Combat Bombs mounted beneath the ''Big Mouth Monster,'' using the reconnaissance drones'' 3D warning system to lock onto the Monsters still dropping from the sky. The eight Combat Bombs rapidly detached from the mounts in pairs, the tails flashed with fire, bursting into bright tail flames to propel the warheads faster and faster toward the swirling black clouds in the sky. "Huh?" In the city center''s airspace, fireballs burst one after another with each Combat Bomb successfully taking down a Monster without missing any. The Monsters were large and slow, and they did not know how to evade, making them easy targets for smart missiles. Yet more Monsters continued to emerge incessantly from the black Vortex Cloud. The ''Big Mouth Monster''s'' left and right wings were equipped with Railgun Rapid-Fire Machine Guns, continuously firing, sending a dense storm of steel core bullets towards the slowly spinning Vortex Cloud. Using missiles may be a simple one-for-one solution, but it was not economical due to cost inefficiency. Though the "Spatial Branding" had a plentiful supply of Combat Bombs, the quantity was ultimately limited, and no matter what, it could not withstand the continuous deployment of Monsters from the Vortex Cloud. The Railgun Rapid-Fire Machine Guns might not be as powerful as missiles, but they had the advantage of being cost-effective, quickly turning a Monster into a hornet''s nest and even inflicting piercing damage; about a dozen hits could successfully take down a Monster. A single Energy Point could exchange for a ton of steel core bullets, maintaining several minutes of offensive output; Chen Fei only had a few hundred Combat Bombs in inventory, but he had over 30,000 Energy Points, enough to last until reinforcements arrived. To prevent bullets from falling back to Earth due to gravity and causing accidental casualties, the Railgun Rapid-Fire Machine Guns fired almost at full power, accelerating the bullets to 20 times the speed of sound, ensuring that even if they missed their target, they would vaporize within about 20 kilometers and not escape the atmosphere, thus not impacting orbital satellites. When the bullets interacted with the air at high speeds, creating a tracer effect, most had already vanished into the black Vortex Cloud, with unknown destinations. But the continuous rain of lifeless Monster corpses and dismembered bodies indicated that the bullets had not disappeared but had indeed caused considerable damage. This meant the Vortex Cloud was bidirectional: they could come here, and we could go there. The A-39C ''Big Mouth Monster'' light turboprop attack aircraft, with magical array inscriptions added, hovered in the air in an incredible posture, its nose pointed directly at the black Vortex Cloud. The Railgun Rapid-Fire Machine Guns on the wings released a fierce storm of bullets, interspersed with Combat Bombs, creating a deadly no-entry zone for Monsters overhead¡ªkilling any that approached, with mangled corpses falling like rain. From time to time, sporadic Offensive Spells flew from a distance, working together to eliminate Monsters that escaped the ''Big Mouth Monster''s'' coverage. With Chen Fei piloting his turboprop aircraft into the battlefield, the female Archer on top of the city center''s high-rise had her pressure drastically reduced, allowing her to focus her attention on Monsters that had landed or were still flying low. The arrows, bearing flames, not only flew nearly straight but could even turn corners autonomously, invariably hitting the Monsters scurrying around in the urban area. It was hard to imagine, before the arrival of Chen Fei''s ''Big Mouth Monster,'' that without the full-force sniping of this female Archer, the bustling city center would likely have turned into a hell on earth. As time passed, more and more Ability Users gradually rushed to the city center, including supernatural power users, Spellcasters, and War Professionals; although they fought individually, they were coordinated by the command of the Rapid Response Center, gradually stabilizing the situation. If we exclude the Spellcasters and War Professionals, the proportion of Blue Star People who were Ability Users was roughly one in three thousand. In the city where Chen Fei resided, with a regular population of about 8 million, there were over two thousand G and F rank, called Juvenile and Civilian ranks, whose effects were insignificant or non-lasting and thus were not considered a combat force; naturally, they were not included in the emergency recruitment list by the Rapid Response Center. Barely qualified for combat, about 400 E rank (Soldier Rank) Ability Users were considered; about 60 D rank (Sergeant Rank) who could hold their own were mainly the ones convened this time. Higher up, C rank (Squad Rank) were only ten people, and Ability Users like Chen Fei of B rank were even fewer, no more than three. But the female Archer on the rooftop, displaying wondrous archery skills with her Flame Arrows to snipe the Monsters, undoubtedly had the strength of an A-rank Ability User. Probably no second A-rank Ability User existed in the whole district, though there might be Spellcasters and War Professionals with roughly equivalent combat strength, more than one. "''Rookie'' Chen Fei, please report your ammunition reserves!" The Rapid Response Center maintained continuous communication with Chen Fei''s line, though the connection medium was not a mobile phone. One-on-one attentive service considered that even if a B-rank Ability User''s Psi Skills were incredible, he could not conjure explosives and propellant out of thin air. Since his combat effectiveness relied heavily on modern Firearms, it was necessary to consider the issue of ammunition supply. "Ammunition is sufficient at present, at least enough to last another hour, over!" If not for the foresight of Mr. Louis Landon, who had prepared a vast amount of supplies in advance, easing Chen Fei''s concerns in this regard, his combat effectiveness at this moment would not have exceeded that of a B-rank Ability User by much. "Understood! The first wave of fire support will arrive in 30 seconds. Please report any developments in a timely manner." The Rapid Response Center had someone specifically interfacing with Chen Fei. "Received!" Chen Fei ended the call. Adam: Received another call request from Crown Prince Lin Zio of the Silan Dynasty and Louis Landon, the CEO of Louis Industrial Company. "''Adam,'' reply to them for me. Tell them that there is an urgent situation in the local city area with a suspected space channel forming a black vortex cloud in the sky, continuously releasing a large number of unidentified creatures. I am doing my best to intercept them. If there''s anything important, please leave a message." Adam: Initiating a call with Crown Prince Lin Zio of the Silan Dynasty. Adam: Initiating a call with Louis Landon, CEO of Louis Industrial Company. The artificial intelligence AI could easily handle multitasking as long as the supply of computing resources was ensured, unaffected by efficiency. Adam: Detected high-speed missiles, quantity 3, expected to arrive in 20 seconds, identified as Dongfeng-113 conventional ballistic missiles, destructive radius 500 meters, please take evasive actions! The AR assisted vision marked the ballistic missile strike radius for Chen Fei. The "Big Mouth Monster" hovering mid-air was at the edge of the destruction radius. "Prepare to switch to ''Dragon King'' assault-type mobile combat armor!" Chen Fei alerted "Adam" and then activated his Psi Skill again. The turboprop aircraft''s frame immediately began to disassemble, continuously transforming while descending, and finally became the nearly five-meter-tall "Dragon King" assault-type mobile armor just before it landed, which is the giantized mode of the single soldier tactical armor. A female archer sniping monsters from a nearby rooftop saw this and her gaze lingered on the "Dragon King" assault-type mobile armor for a few seconds longer, though her hands did not stop the action of drawing and releasing arrows. The four railgun rapid-fire machine guns that separated from the "Big Mouth Monster" never ceased firing, the only impact being a reduced frequency of missile launches as the combat mobility armor''s missile bays could not match the number of hard points under the wings, and replenishing them was relatively more cumbersome. The ten reconnaissance drones in the sky quickly moved away, as they were more susceptible to the residual effects of the attacks. The three missiles, trailing bright flames and trails, rapidly approached, heading straight for the black vortex cloud. Boom!~Boom!~Boom!~ The exploding fireballs, one larger than the next, eventually engulfed the entire vortex cloud. "Report, the vortex cloud is still there!" As the combat personnel closest to the vortex cloud, Chen Fei''s "Macroscopic Perspective" discerned the effect of the attack in real-time. Although the three conventional ballistic missiles were powerful, obliterating the monsters that had detached from the vortex cloud into dust, the vortex cloud itself was hardly affected. "The attack is too conservative, we need to use Elemental Annihilation Bombs. Are you in, or shall I do it?" Chen Fei could guess the concerns behind this conservative mode of attack. After all, it was a highly populated city; an inadvertent strike could have consequences no one could bear. Otherwise, even a tactical nuclear weapon would be good ¡ª a fiery mushroom cloud would rise, and no matter how many monsters the vortex cloud dropped, it would be a dead-end for them. But for military contractors used to suppress mutants and out-of-control magical beasts with overwhelming firepower, launching a big strike was the most straightforward and cost-effective strategy. "Rejected, this is a densely populated area. We cannot act recklessly. Wait, did you bring the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''?" The Rapid Response Center reacted swiftly, immediately guessing that this employee of a military contractor had secretly brought his company''s last resort. Man, this guy really has guts! "Want to fire one, sweetheart?" The girl talking to Chen Fei immediately blushed. This damn guy is not speaking human language. Two seconds later, the Rapid Response Center hadn''t replied yet, and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" issued another notification. Adam: Detected Jianhong-37 attack aircraft, quantity 12, expected to arrive in 1 minute. Adam: Detected Wuzhi-22, quantity 36, expected to arrive in 5 minutes. Adam: Detected 4 unidentified small airships, expected to arrive in 7 minutes. Chapter 783 - 778 - First Rank The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" found that the approaching aircraft detected by ten reconnaissance drones were essentially relying on optical modules, while the radar modules had no response at all. The active-duty military equipment is almost invisible in the face of top civilian gear, and it is invisible in various ways. This is a deliberate maintenance of technological disparity. Just as the standard of military contractors'' armaments is more than sufficient to deal with mutants and out-of-control magical beasts, there is at least a half-century gap compared to active-duty military equipment. Not long after Chen Fei and the local ability users started heading for the city center to meet the enemy, the neighboring sovereign military zone began to operate fully like a war machine. After the first wave of conventional ballistic missiles completed their strikes, the army aviation troops formed an attack echelon and rapidly approached the area of the incident. "Rookie, permission to use the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''!" The rapid response center of the Public Security Bureau made a decision that surprised Chen Fei. It seemed that someone had quite a bit of courage. After a thorough assessment of the direct hit results of the three conventional ballistic missiles, unless tactical nuclear weapons were used, it seemed that the only option would be the Element Annihilation Bomb, which is the core standard name for the combat unit of the "Dragon Slayer Missile." "Received, launch complete!" The Element Annihilation Bomb prepared for Chen Fei by the big boss didn''t have that many conventional unlocking procedures; it could enter the combat state after a few settings. A trail of white smoke shot straight up into the sky, and countless people''s eyes were fixed on this scene. Adam: Crown Prince Lin Zio and Louis Landon, president of Louis Industrial Company, have left messages. Do you wish to view them? The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" almost found a gap to report to Chen Fei. "First look at the Crown Prince''s message, display it in text form." Chen Fei no longer cared about the state of the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic intelligent missile carrying the Element Annihilation combat unit after its launch. For such a short distance, and with the Vortex Cloud not dodging, the trajectory of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" is nearly a straight line, entirely dependent on the artificial intelligence AI and ten reconnaissance drones for joint guidance, with an almost one hundred percent hit rate. As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, a flash of blue light streaked across the sky, and a deafening roar swept across the city like a tsunami, still clearly audible 15 kilometers away. The glass windows and glass curtain walls of the buildings in the city center, and all other fragile objects, were shattered by the spreading shockwave, with pieces of glass the size of fingers falling like hail. But this financial loss was negligible compared to the casualties among the citizens. Since ballistic missiles were already used, the residual power of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was not a concern. Adam: The abnormal state clouds have dissipated. The reconnaissance drones could only recognize the existence of the clouds through optical modules; other technical means were of no use. Chen Fei had just finished reading the translated text of the message sent by the crown prince of the Slan Dynasty, which was roughly a thank you for this invaluable important intelligence. He had personally arranged for it to be addressed, and he believed it would be soon possible to eliminate these threats and thoroughly drive out the remnants of the parasitic species from Cangqiong Star. Eliminating the "Seed Nest" early would prevent the "Doomsday of Civilization" prophesied from coming to pass. However, when Chen Fei saw Louis Landon''s message, his expression gradually darkened. The black Vortex Cloud appeared in more than one location. Almost simultaneously, three appeared within the atmosphere of Blue Star, one each in Asia, Africa, and Antarctica. The one in Asia was exactly over the city where Chen Fei was. Additionally, another had just been discovered, shortly before leaving a message for Chen Fei, 70 million kilometers from the sun''s surface and on the far side of the Moon. The Vortex Cloud 70 million kilometers from the sun was precisely in the near-Sun region of the Lagrangian Point (L1). The fate of those monsters could almost be predicted. As soon as they appeared, they were killed by the vacuum of space, the heat radiation from the sun, and the strong cosmic rays. Then their bodies were dragged towards the sun, "drifting" on a trajectory for several tens of days before eventually evaporating into plasma in the sun''s scorching heat. The monsters that fell on the far side of the Moon didn''t fare much better¡ªvacuum, low gravity, and the severe cold of nearly minus two hundred degrees Celsius meant they left the stage as soon as they entered. Their bodies rained down and piled up like mountains, never decaying and staying forever in the darkest parts of the far side of the Moon, with only extremely formidable beings possibly able to cling to life for a while before quickly facing the threat of starvation. Those frozen bodies as hard as steel were not so easy to nibble on. Besides that, there was only lunar dust and impact craters, and the human permanent bases on the near side of the Moon were probably too insignificant even to fill the gaps between their teeth. The Vortex Cloud in Asia had already been directly dispersed by a "Dragon Slayer Missile" fired by Chen Fei, but the ones in Antarctica and Africa were more troublesome. Antarctica belonged to a continent shared by sovereign rights, covered in ice and snow and without military bases. There was no need for troops on a regular basis, so sending troops would take time. Other than continuous long-range ballistic missiles, the first echelon to depart mainly consisted of ability users dispatched by the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. After all, Hablav City was relatively close to the Antarctic Continent and fell within the appropriate jurisdiction. ``` The situation in Africa was even worse, with a sluggish response from the Sovereignty, slow mobilization of military forces, and poor combat strength, the price to stabilize the situation would inevitably be substantial. On the other hand, Chen Fei''s side must have made other Sovereignties sigh, "As expected of the First Sovereign," for within less than an hour, the threat had been neutralized. But what truly made Chen Fei feel oppressed was Louis Landon''s prophecy, which mentioned that the first stage of the doomsday of Blue Star civilization was the emergence of a large number of black vortex clouds. The prophecy''s doomsday initiation depicted not just three, but hundreds of vortex clouds appearing simultaneously, countless monsters descending from the sky, catching the Blue Star Humans completely off guard. By the time they reacted, several Sovereignties had been utterly annihilated, wiped from existence without leaving a single survivor. According to the predictions of the powerful, the existence of the "Seed Nest" is probably not just a hiding place and incubator for the Parasitic Species, but also a sort of dimensional coordinate in the vast sea of stars, pinpointing the location of Blue Star for the parasites. When the time is ripe, they would open the vortex clouds, establish the channels, and release a large number of monsters continuously to complete a preliminary occupation. This time, the black vortex clouds Chen Fei encountered appeared a full three years ahead of the "Doomsday Prophecy," as if in the dark, a pair of colossal hands were manipulating the once-unpredictable fate. Touting himself as a Reincarnator, Louis Landon made his prophecy based on visions of the "future" and, using Chen Fei as a variable, attempted to change events, striving to prevent the advent of doomsday. The rebellion on the continent of Zilu in Cangqiong Star erupted as expected, and Louis Landon personally witnessed history unfold. However, the rebels failed to capture the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation as the prophecy foretold, preventing the dimensional coordinate "Longinus" from falling into the hands of the Parasitic Species. The future seemed to have changed, yet it hadn''t shifted toward the bright path Louis Landon had hoped for, and the threat of doomsday remained unshaken. The black vortex clouds appeared suddenly without warning, some mysterious force causing the future to realign with the prophecy''s doomsday scenario. This correcting force deeply unsettled Louis Landon; he and the Silan Dynasty''s Crown Prince reached out to Chen Fei almost simultaneously, but neither expected Chen Fei to be confronting the vortex clouds head-on. "''Adam,'' send a text message back to Mr. Landon, let him know the vortex clouds that appeared in Asia have been eliminated, and confirm the effectiveness of the Elemental Annihilation Bomb he provided, which has an effect on space channels. The vortex clouds that may be composed of some space power are also considered," After pondering for a moment, Chen Fei issued the instruction to the artificial intelligence AI. The core of the Elemental Annihilation Bomb is the Magical Beast Crystal Core and Crystalline Block, two radically different forms of energy that trigger a violent elemental eradication in a unique way, causing the elemental energy within a certain range to collapse or even annihilate completely; therefore, the vortex clouds that were suspected to be formed by some space energy instantly dissipated, which wasn''t surprising at all. This weapon was originally developed specifically against the Parasitic Species, so it was expected to be particularly effective. Adam: Message sent! "''Adam,'' has Miyoshi Monk called again?" Adam: No! Miyoshi Xuesen had called earlier, but Chen Fei, preoccupied with handling notifications from the Rapid Response Center, hadn''t had the chance to respond. Now there was silence on the other end, whereas the Crown Prince and Mr. Landon had called again, receiving Chen Fei''s voicemail, moving to text messages to communicate. "Got it!" Wrapped in the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor, Chen Fei scanned his surroundings¡ªthe battle within the city was far from over. He had just stopped the continuous arrival of monsters since reaching the city center, but a large number had already breached the city, spreading in all directions. Armed personnel and Ability Users were gathering to block them, with no indication of when they would be fully contained. Just at that moment, a call from his mother Yu Xiaoyi suddenly came through. Chen Fei hastily answered the call from his mother. "Hello! Hello! Second Brother, I finally got through!" "Mom, I''m listening!" "Second Brother, are you home? Are your dad and Xiao Liu okay?" "I''m not at home, but Dad and Xiao Liu should still be safe. Where are you and Xiao Meng?" "I..." Little Sister Chen''s voice suddenly interrupted. "Biu! Biu! Biu! Look at my superpower, hit wherever I point, Biu! Biu!" The girl didn''t know when she had started going wild again! ``` Chapter 784: Section 779 - Protecting Family A loud boom echoed in the sky, and a monster made a dazzling entrance, but this moment belonged to Little Sister Chen. Her little hand shaped like a pistol, she aimed at the monster screeching and lunging towards her, and with a light command from her tiny mouth. "Biu!" A fierce beam of light shot out. The monster collapsed with a boom, bisected from head to tail by the beam, its cross-section charred black, dotted with sparks. Chen Meng, brimming with pride, blew on her fingertip, still looking unsatisfied. At the entrance of a large supermarket, one sister held her ground, keeping a horde of monsters at bay. Behind the glass doors, a group of commoners trembled, collectively watching Little Sister Chen perform miracles outside the main entrance. Their gazes shifted upward to the top of Chen Meng''s head, where a little bird with an entirely black plumage and a small plume on its head cocked its little head cheerfully hopping about. "Jiu?" For it, this was just a small scene. The little fellow didn''t care about the ridiculous poses the monster beneath its claws tried to strike; it simply killed any creature it encountered, disregarding their origins, annihilating them all with a deadly light. The half-street outside the supermarket was haphazardly filled with the bodies of monsters, no fewer than fifty in number. The laser, powered by the magic of the Sixth Rank of the Human Order, had a power output, more accurately, quite remarkable. As a special form of light, lasers, whether in destructive capacity or in versatility, are extraordinarily powerful. Theoretically, their power has almost no upper limit, naturally breaking the restrictions of rank. Compared with the distant sounds of gunfire, explosions, and the wails of police, fire, and ambulance sirens, the area around the large supermarket was eerily quiet. Suddenly, darkness fell from the sky, and fierce winds rose as a massive figure descended from above. "What, what the heck is that! Is it the BOSS?" Upon seeing a horrifying giant beast enter her field of vision, the previously unstoppable Chen Meng nearly peed herself. How frightening, she didn''t even bother to look and just raised her hand. "Eat my special killer move! BiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiuBiu..." Not a single beam appeared; Little Bird was on strike. Little Sister Chen tried to act cool and ended up looking like a fool. "Silly sister, what are you doing?" A familiar voice entered her ears, and Chen Meng was stunned. Second Brother? When she looked up, however, she saw the horrifying giant beast almost upon her, scaring her so much that she squat down on the spot. "Mother!~" It was a terrible giant dragon, wait, why was there a giant dragon here, could it be that it''s a monster shaped like a giant dragon, will tomorrow be the anniversary of my death? Yu Chun''s sister''s series of actions just now, resembling those of Yu Chun, left Chen Xiao''er utterly speechless. Already a university student, how could she still be as childish as a kindergarten kid? Standing on the back of the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobile Armor, the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor released a pair of air streams behind it and gently jumped down with a roar. "You, you, you, don''t come over! I''ll have you know, I''m very dangerous!" Chen Meng, like a little kitten with bared claws, apart from acting fiercely, posed no real threat, not even Little Jiu was helping her, revealing her true colors. Not until the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor opened its chest plate to reveal Chen Fei inside, looking helpless. He had thought his little sister had awakened some special ability, but now it seemed she was just having a bout of adolescent delusions. "Second Brother?" The pale-faced Chen Meng was completely dumbfounded, seeing her Second Brother Chen Fei, rubbing her eyes, yes, it indeed was him! Second Brother was playing with something increasingly high-tech, that giant dragon suddenly seemed benign. She turned back and shouted through the glass door at her mother in the crowd, "Mom, it''s Second Brother!" "Second Brother, what is that thing?" Standing among the crowd, her mother looked at the mechanical dragon outside, feeling very nervous, and carefully cracked the door open just a bit. "It''s a Combat Mobile Armor!" Chen Fei gently broke free from the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Mobile Armor and opened the tightly closed glass doors. Behind him, the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobile Armor, under the control of the AI "Adam", constantly looked around like a living being, maintaining a vigilant state. Chen Meng tentatively asked, "Second Brother, it''s not really a dragon, is it?" "You''re thinking too much, this is a Conceptual Armament from Louis Industries, a mechanical product." Chen Fei repeated himself once again, as more than one person mistook the X-D-005 for a Metallic Giant Dragon. If placed next to a real Metallic Giant Dragon, it definitely would make it hard for anyone to tell them apart. "Tsk! Here I thought you had become a Dragon Knight, but you just got yourself a big toy." Chen Meng looked disdainful. Boys do love their fierce gadgets. The historically knowledgeable Chen Fei smiled and said, "The era of the Dragon Knights is long gone. Modern warfare has modern tactics, who still needs Dragon Knights." The Dragon Knights on Cangqiong Star were born out of the need for all races of Heavenly Order to participate in battles beyond the atmosphere, while the inner atmosphere was guarded by humans and dragons together; Dragon Knights were a special combat combination, similar to tanks and infantry cooperation. As the threat of Parasitic Species vanished, so did the battlefields beyond the atmosphere, and the races of Heavenly Order withdrew to within the atmosphere. The Dragon Knights thus lost their purpose, and the Dragon Clan naturally abolished the ancient covenant, reclaiming all the Dragon Flutes. Boom!¡ªBoom!¡ªBoom!¡ª Distant roars thundered one after another, and the army finally entered the urban area, commencing the ultimate cleanup battle. That day, countless pieces of glass shattered throughout the city. Harsh, strange screams grew closer as more monsters fled toward them. "Quick, get inside, be careful not to get splattered with blood." Chen Fei pushed Little Sister Chen, who still wanted to say something." "Ah? Brother, be careful!" Chen Meng obediently retreated into the supermarket''s glass doors, waving to Chen Fei. Although pretending to be brave, she still had some self-awareness. With Second Brother here, all these monsters were merely easy pickings. Adam: "2 o''clock direction, unidentified creatures, four heads, 100 meters away. Contact in 5 seconds." Ten reconnaissance drones covered nearly half of the urban area, and the number of monsters scrambling within the city diminished rapidly before the naked eye. Chen Fei immediately leaped back into the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor and set up the Rail Sniper Cannon on the spot, the 5-meter acceleration track instantly charged. The X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobile Armor emitted a threatening roar, attracting the attention of the monsters with simulated ecological habits and charged directly at them. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam," having collected a large amount of bionic data from the Metallic Giant Dragon Iridium Lan, could independently control the Mechanical Dragon. Though unable to perform complex postures, it could still mimic basic pouncing and tearing movements vividly. Whoosh!~ A 30 mm caliber Armor-Piercing Incendiary round whistled out, instantly creating a laser beam-like tracer effect. The monster at the forefront was hit straight in the forehead, exploding into a fireball. Its entire head burst open like a grotesque, bloody flower. The Mechanical Dragon collided head-on with another monster by its side, creating sparks and lightning. The two gigantic creatures tumbled into a pile on the spot, even disrupting the charging path of the remaining two monsters. Whoosh!~ The second 30 mm caliber Armor-Piercing Incendiary round was fired, eliminating another monster. Almost simultaneously, a Smart Combat Bomb whistled out. A fierce explosion devoured the last monster. At this moment, the Mechanical Dragon, too, had dismembered its opponent and, blood-soaked, ceased its motions, standing tall and maintaining a vigilant posture. Within just about ten seconds, this sudden skirmish had abruptly come to a close. "Hiss, hiss, Second Brother is so strong!" Chen Meng, standing with her mother inside the glass door, kept drawing in breaths of cold air. It wasn''t just her; many people in the supermarket had seen it, and waves of astonished voices followed. "Mom, is Second Brother really just a plane repairman?" Chen Meng still found it hard to believe, looking towards her mother. "How would I know!" The mother, laden with bags of veggies and meat, rolled her eyes. All she knew was that Xiao''er worked at the private military contractor''s Aircrew Base repairing warplanes. How had he ended up playing with Combat Mobility Armor, and with so much weaponry and ammunition? Could there be any problem? Within the loose internal policies of The First Sovereign, commoners were prohibited from possessing lethal weapons, and what Chen Fei displayed clearly exceeded the limits. At the street''s end, a sudden torrent swept through, with a dozen monsters rolling helplessly in the surging waves, their scales flickering intermittently among the relentless surf. Adam: "2 o''clock direction, unidentified creatures, thirteen heads, 200 meters away, spotted the Magical Beast ''Sky Dragonfish'' approaching, expected contact in 15 seconds." The Mechanical Dragon adopted a battle-ready posture as if facing a formidable enemy. "''Adam'', stay alert, the Sky Dragonfish is one of ours, no, one of our monsters." There was only one Sky Dragonfish in the city, and Chen Fei was not unfamiliar with it. It must be Yu Dajiang, the Director of the Urban Monster Management Center. Surprisingly, it had managed to escape the confines of its giant tank and swim onto the streets. Truly deserving of a Ninth Rank in the Human Order among monsters. The torrent dragged the monsters along, unnaturally making a sharp turn towards the supermarket, with the two-meter long Silver Scaled Giant fish riding the wind and breaking the waves. A screen with a keyboard floated up to Chen Fei; the keyboard was tapped by an invisible force, creating a cracking sound, and a line of text appeared on the screen. "Chen Fei, what are you doing here?" The giant fish opened and closed its mouth, its bowl-sized emerald eyes gazing at Chen Fei. Not all magical beasts could speak, and the Sky Dragonfish was one such species. However, with auxiliary devices available, communication wasn''t hindered, as textual communication was one of the primary modern methods, and no one found it unusual. Chen Fei straightforwardly said, "My mother and sister are shopping here. I came over after dealing with that ''black cloud,'' planning to take them back." More rapid clicks followed. "Was that ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' yours?" The explosive visual effect of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" always stood out, making it hard to go unnoticed. Daring to deploy a "Dragon Slayer Missile" in the urban area showed recklessness that stretched to the heavens. "My trump card tucked away at the bottom of the box!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, acknowledging that some explanations would be needed later. However, given the urgency of the situation, there was no other choice. When the time came, he could pin it on the Silan Royal Family or Louis Landon the magnate, as there were plenty willing to take the blame. Chapter 785: Section 780 - Sending Sister on Her Way ``` "Ha-ha-ha, your toy is really something! It''s also been a great help; these brainless monsters are quite troublesome." The Sky Dragonfish turned and glanced at the monsters, floating up and down; each one was already breathless. Being able to fly and run doesn''t mean they can swim and dive. Even if they could, they couldn''t withstand the washing machine-like tempest that swept over them. As they were pummeled and tossed around, even if they were as tough as stones, they would be soft on the inside despite appearing intact on the outside. "Director Yu, are you the only one around here?" Chen Fei looked around. As a cadre at the Urban Monster Management Center''s reception, the Sky Dragonfish shouldn''t be a lone commander. "Almost all the magical beasts in the city that can fight have been mobilized. These things don''t have the habit of clustering, running all over the place, and the magical beasts and people involved have spread out. Where''s your bird? It hasn''t already..." The words that kept popping up on the Sky Dragonfish''s typing board were very colloquial. When a series of ellipses appeared, its fish head turned toward the supermarket entrance, where it spotted the Pure Light Sparrow amidst the crowd. Suddenly turning back, a line of text quickly appeared on the typing board facing Chen Fei. "It''s more than Third Rank Human Order!!!" Three exclamation marks were added at the end for emphasis. High-Rank Magical Beasts have a certain degree of perception of the magical power fluctuations of Low-Rank Magical Beasts. "That''s right, Sixth Rank!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, and the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor mimicked the gesture, making this combat machine seem particularly spirited. "What on earth did you do? Is it really a Pure Light Sparrow?" The fish''s brain was a mess. The Sky Dragonfish Yu Dajiang was not the first to question Xiao Jiu''s rank among magical beasts and humans. Almost every Intelligent Species that noticed the Little Bird''s magical power fluctuation could not hide their astonishment, feeling as if their worldview had been turned upside down. Striving forward against the current, if you don''t advance, you perish. After all, breaking through the bloodline limits of one''s species and undergoing Ancestral Return is no easy task. Success stories are few and far between in history. Despite the fact that the ancestors of every magical beast species were once powerful, even to the point of looking down upon all creatures¡ªlike the Pure Light Sparrow with its diluted blood and weaker nature¡ªit''s no exception. Otherwise, it couldn''t have passed down the talent for manipulating magic to its descendants, generation after generation. However, exactly what the ancestral progenitor of the Pure Light Sparrow was remains buried in the sands of time, currently impossible to trace. But from an academic standpoint, it can be argued that the Pure Light Sparrow is an extremely ancient creature, though this "ancient" carries no practical significance. Picking up a stone from the roadside, it often has a history of over ten thousand years. Unless it''s a precious gemstone, it''s just a common stone, and "ancient" is worth nothing. But the bloodline limits of an individual are not insurmountable in the face of collective will. In the tide of the Light Elemental System that''s as overwhelming as landslides and tsunamis, Xiao Jiu''s continuous advancement in rank becomes a natural progression. "A Pure Light Sparrow with pure bloodlines. Just fed it some Elemental Affinity Potion." Chen Fei still had quite a bit of the General Element Affinity Potion left, not even opening the bottle of the Light-series specific Elemental Affinity Potion. Mainly because Xiao Jiu had grown tired of the taste of the magic potion, he could only trick it into taking some by mixing a little into its drinks¡ªan effort akin to chasing a baby to feed it, quite tiring. The Sky Dragonfish, floating in the flowing water, took another glance at the Little Bird inside the supermarket door, and a line of text appeared on the typing board screen. "I remember the White Phoenix gave you some magic medicine, was it for this?" Most of the magical beasts who immigrate to Blue Star are kind-hearted, as the malicious ones would never pass the vetting process. "It''s not yet time to use it!" Chen Fei planned to finish feeding the General Element Affinity Potion first. The Light Beast Crystal Core given to him by the Metallic Dragon Yilan of the Third Rank Earth Order, had shrunk to the size of a pigeon''s egg, its emanating Light Elemental Energy becoming increasingly pure. Xiao Jiu worked hard on a daily basis, reaping rewards proportional to its efforts. Reaching the unprecedented height of Sixth Rank Human Order within the Pure Light Sparrow Race wasn''t entirely due to luck. "It''s always you city folks who know how to have fun!" The typing board screen refreshed, playing an old joke from decades ago. "Aren''t you from the city too?" Having confirmed through the three-dimensional warning system formed by ten reconnaissance drones that the number of monsters active within the city had decreased to double digits, eliminating them completely was only a matter of time. This allowed Chen Fei to chat leisurely with the familiar magical beast, the Sky Dragonfish. "I''m a city monster! By the way, I''ve notified White Phoenix. It might need your Little Bird''s help." The Sky Dragonfish Yu Dajiang wasn''t just talking to Chen Fei, but was also in contact with other magical beasts. "White Phoenix? No problem!" White Phoenix, to be precise, should be White Phoenix A and White Phoenix B. The original form is the magical beast, the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane, and its profession is the deputy chief physician of internal medicine at City First Hospital. Becoming a socially recognized doctor as a magical beast relies not on boasting, but on real excellence. The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane had once given Chen Fei five Bloodline Inducing Potions in exchange for Xiao Jiu to cast Light Healing Spells for it after growing up: "Light of Redemption" 100 times at Second Rank Human Order and "Whispers of Life" 10 times at Fourth Rank Human Order. Now was the time to fulfill that promise. Xiao Jiu was already proficient at releasing the First Rank Human Order "Light Healing Technique" and the Second Rank Human Order "Light of Redemption," but Chen Fei had not seen it release the Fourth Rank Human Order "Whispers of Life" and did not know if it could be used. "Hmm, White Phoenix is here!" The Sky Dragonfish sensed the appearance of both Wind and Water Elemental Energy fluctuations not far away in the sky, as the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane is one of the rare Dual-Elemental Magical Beasts. Just as this line of text popped up on the typing board screen, a howl of gusting winds roared, followed by a flurry of rippling sounds like tearing silk. A large bird with two heads appeared before Chen Fei and the Sky Dragonfish. ``` "Old Yu? Where is the little bird you mentioned?" The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane completely ignored Chen Fei and, without waiting for the Sky Dragonfish''s typing pad to display text, both of its heads immediately locked onto the supermarket entrance. The light elemental fluctuation coming from there felt somewhat familiar. Chen Meng, who was holding the Pure Light Sparrow, suddenly panicked. Had she bullied the little bird and attracted the attention of a bigger one?! "Chirp!~" The little one called out to the two heads outside. "Human Order Fifth Rank, no, Sixth Rank!" One head of the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane turned back to look at Chen Fei and asked, "Did you give it the Bloodline Inducing Potion?" It was hard for the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane not to think of the magic potion it had given away to make good karma, as it could very well have triggered a powerful genetic potential for the Pure Light Sparrow, whose racial talent was at most Second Rank of the Human Order, to advance to the Sixth Rank. "Not yet used!" ¡Á2 One was Chen Fei''s voice, the other from the Sky Dragonfish''s typing pad. "Can it use Light Healing Spells?" The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane had also squeezed out time to come over. The sudden monster attack on the city had caused numerous casualties, and as a doctor, it was incredibly busy. Not just White Phoenix, but the entire city''s medical system had gone into overdrive. Under the gaze of either White Phoenix A or White Phoenix B, Chen Fei, while taking the opportunity to disarm, candidly said, "I''ve used ''Light Healing Technique'' and ''Light of Redemption,'' but I haven''t used the Fourth Rank ''Whispers of Life''." "That''s enough, come with me right now!" Both bird heads looked towards the supermarket''s glass door and said in unison, "Little Bird, come with uncle to save people." "Chirp?" Yet Xiao Jiu was being held tightly in Chen Meng''s hands. "White Phoenix, let my sister go with you! She can take good care of Xiao Jiu," Chen Fei suggested. Chen Meng might be a bit foolish, but she wasn''t bad-hearted; otherwise, Xiao Jiu wouldn''t have been willing to be close to her. Chen Fei planned to let Chen Meng also go out to see the world, although it could be somewhat bloody. But Mr. Randon had just told him that the signs of the first phase of the Blue Star Civilization''s doomsday had emerged. Situations like this might become more and more common, so it was better to learn to adapt sooner rather than later. "Okay! I''ll take good care of the two of them!" Naturally, the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane wouldn''t refuse; whether it was bringing one or two, it made no difference. Chen Fei waved to his sister inside the supermarket, who looked utterly confused. "Xiao Meng, you and Xiao Jiu follow this Dual-Headed White Wind Crane. When you get there, you don''t have to do anything, just take good care of Xiao Jiu," he instructed. Xiao Jiu can''t talk, and once away it''s unknown how to contact Chen Fei, so Chen Meng was the perfect person to fill that role. For a tool person, the foolish sister was more than up to the task. "Ah? Me?!" Chen Meng pointed at herself in surprise, only to see the supermarket''s glass door open by an invisible force. She was lifted into the air and drifted towards the large bird with two heads. Before she could react, she was already on its back. It was Director Yu of the Sky Dragonfish who helped out! Emmm... Bird knight Feng Aotian''s achievement unlocked. "Eh?!... Ehhhhhh!!" Little Sister Chen screamed in confusion as she was carried away at high speed by the Dual-Headed Giant Bird, and despite lacking saddles or other support equipment, she remained securely in place, without being thrown off. Doctors raced against time with King Yama, not wanting to waste even a second. "Second Brother, Xiao Meng won''t be in any trouble, right?" The matriarch also appeared bemused, following out of the door and watching her younger daughter and the large bird disappear from view. Chen Fei assured her in a relaxed and composed manner, "The Magical Beast Physician from City First Hospital, what could possibly happen? She should be back by the afternoon." According to the AI "Adam," while they were talking, every monster within the city had been completely eradicated. Local magical beasts and ability users, along with the promptly supporting military forces, were all highly efficient. Once they held the upper hand, they quickly resolved all battles, and even the most complex street fights didn''t cause much delay. Picking up the shopping bag Chen Meng had dropped, Chen Fei turned to his mother and said, "Mom, let''s go back." The footage transmitted from the reconnaissance drones showed that the condition of the injured was extremely dire. Chen Meng, who had never experienced such a significant event, would probably have a tough time not throwing up last night''s dinner. Chapter 786: Section 781 - Resentment Hard to Quell ``` Everything was for his little sister, Chen Fei''s devotion as a brother was truly painstaking. After the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane arrived at the emergency rescue site with Little Sister Chen, the scene she encountered was one of corpses strewn across the field, no, rather row upon row of neatly arranged injured people. Their injuries were not only disfiguring, with missing arms and legs, but their bodies were like torn rag dolls, mangled beyond recognition. The blood flowed like rivers, and the foul stench of blood assaulted her senses. The girl collapsed on the spot. Blargh... Truly a caring brother! - As the military successfully expanded and advanced through street after street, eradicating any hidden dangers and stabilizing the situation in the urban area, ten reconnaissance drones that had completed their mission returned one by one, including the Mechanical Dragon, all stored away within the "Spatial Branding". Chen Xiao''er again became harmless as any creature, following his mother home on foot with a face of innocence, carrying bags large and small filled with vegetables and meat. The streets were not only potholed, but were littered with chunks of concrete, shards of glass, and uprooted trees. The corpses of Monsters were scattered haphazardly, and the stench of their blood gathered in pools in the low-lying areas. The city''s public transportation was temporarily paralyzed, even the subway lines had ceased operations. The city district that the battle had ended in bizarrely gained an apocalyptic hue. Fortunately, the threat had been cleared, the hearts of the citizens were somewhat settled, and the post-disaster processes were being carried out in an orderly manner. After about fifteen minutes of walking, the residential community was now within sight. A military jeep blocked the path of Chen Fei and his mother. "B-grade supernatural power user, Chen Fei, battle call sign ''Rookie'', get in the car!" The person in the car opened the door, beckoning Chen Fei. At that moment, Chen Fei''s phone rang. The incoming call displayed the City Public Security Bureau''s Rapid Response Center. "Chen Fei, the use of the KDK-1 breath-controlled hypersonic intelligent missile requires you to personally issue a written report. Please follow the escort vehicle, its license plate number is..." Blah blah blah, it was roughly indicating that this military vehicle and the call shared the same purpose. Matching the license plate number, Chen Fei no longer hesitated. "Mom, I''ve got something else to attend to, I''ll go ahead!" Without giving his mother too much of an explanation, after leaving behind those words he got straight into the car. "Xiao''er, be careful out there!" Mother Yu Xiaoyi watched the military vehicle drive away, As if he had heard her words, a hand stretched out from the rear window of the car, waving all the way until it turned the corner of the street, and finally, it was out of sight. Having a son at home who was a supernatural power user, and one of no low grade, it was true¡ªthe greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. If you don''t stand up to protect others, no one will stand up to protect you, so some things are unavoidable. Despite her immense worries, as a mother, she did not stop him. This military jeep appeared to be only responsible for picking up people. After Chen Fei got into the car, no one said another word and they maintained silence all the way until they reached their destination. A park relatively close to the city center had been temporarily requisitioned by the military. When the military jeep drove in, one could already see rows of modular houses that had occupied the park grounds. Bustling personnel, standard transportation containers, and various pieces of combat equipment filled every corner of the park. Supplies take the lead before troops move, the materials delivered to the park in the first wave were sufficient to support a small-scale war. The soldier sitting in the back seat with Chen Fei was the first to jump out of the jeep once it stopped. He turned around and said to him, "Get out, follow me!" Following the man, Chen Fei arrived in front of a modular house with a sign hanging to one side of the door, "Rapid Response Center Sector 4". The park was now being used by both military and civilian authorities. Aside from the nearby garrison that received temporary authorization, local branches of the Public Security Bureau were also stationed there, so on the way over, one could see temporary signs with "Rapid Response Center" written on them. "Here we are! Go in!" The leading soldier saluted Chen Fei, then turned and walked away without any dilly-dallying. Huh? A real ride-along? Chen Fei guessed the main mission of the military jeep was simply to drop him in front of the temporary office of Sector 4 of the Rapid Response Center. After giving it some thought, he stepped through the door marked with the sign. This modular house was not small in size, with a footprint of at least two hundred square meters, and it had three floors, complete with all sorts of facilities¡ªall prepared in advance, ready for release and use from a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, very convenient. As soon as he stepped through the door, someone at the reception desk stood up and gestured for Chen Fei to follow. "Chen Fei, over there, Room 3 is waiting for you." Both the phone and the health band had identity recognition and location features, and together with the electronic AR Visual Assistance device, it bypassed the need for introductions, boosting efficiency considerably. Perhaps it involved privacy rights, but this was the power of the public authority, not an abuse of private rights. After all, personal freedom is not unlimited but relative. "Thank you!" Chen Fei nodded at the receptionist and followed the pointed direction toward a small compartment separated by glass with a sign hanging at the door. ``` Meeting Room No. 3. There were already people in the room, who seemed to have arrived not long ago; the two sitting at the table had steaming cups in front of them, one with coffee and the other with tea, both filled to the brim. "Take a seat! What would you like to drink? I''m the director of the fourth division at the Rapid Response Center, Qian Dajun, and this is my assistant, Lu Shang. Let''s just have a chat; there''s no need to feel any pressure." As Chen Fei walked in, the person sitting across the table at the central seat took the initiative to speak, pointing to a chair on the other side of the table. Without any pleasantries, he cut straight to the point. This was fine by Chen Fei; he preferred this direct, no-nonsense style of communication that eliminated the need for scheming and calculating. He casually pulled out the chair and sat down. "Boiled water is fine for me!" "So... What were you thinking, firing the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' so decisively above the urban area?" Suddenly, Director Qian Dajun of the Rapid Response Center''s fourth division stood up, his hands pressing down on the table as he loomed over Chen Fei with an oppressive gaze. Cameras hanging in the corners of the reception room were operational, focusing on the three individuals. The sudden shift in mood took Chen Fei by surprise, and he cautiously pointed at the other''s position, saying, "Uh, could you please sit down?" A local official holds more sway than a distant one; the director could be regarded as a local parent official. "Just answer me, Comrade Chen Fei!!!" Director Qian was still glaring at Chen Fei with full intensity. "Using ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' as a go-to solution¡ªsuch operations are pretty standard in the military contractor circles, aren''t they?" The "Dragon Slayer Missile" shouldn''t be used against humans, nor in corporate warfare, but beyond that, it had always been a decisive-level weapon capable of handling mutants and out-of-control violent magical beasts with one strike. If the director had learned about Chen Fei''s professional background, he should know that this rule does exist in the military contractors'' circles and was not made up on the spot. Despite the high cost of "Dragon Slayer Missiles," they were necessary when compared to the personal safety of the employees. They were even used to clear land; BOOM!!! There goes the obstacle, and the terrain is flattened¡ªsaving a ton of money! (Big Mao almost turned nuclear weapons into a plaything, using atomic bombs for everything from oil extraction, mining, firefighting, digging canals, to building underground storage and reservoirs...) "This is a densely populated city, not the wild mountains and forests where the Aircrew Base is located. This is a tactical-level weapon, not fireworks, damn it!!" Director Qian couldn''t hold back any longer, slamming his hand on the table. With a flick of Chen Fei''s hand, the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was launched; although it successfully took care of the black Vortex Cloud, the deployment and use of such a tactical-level weapon in a densely populated urban area fell entirely on the shoulders of the Rapid Response Center. Chen Fei was taken aback and said, "Didn''t the Rapid Response Center agree to this?" It was the Rapid Response Center that directed the ability users and magical beasts to counterattack. If anything went wrong, it was this unit under the City Public Security Bureau that would bear the brunt. It''s your responsibility to carry this burden. The chain of pressure passed down until it reached the director of the fourth division dealing directly with Chen Fei, who saw the latter looking so relaxed and innocent, and it was inevitable that this might cause him to lose his composure. "Since we agreed, don''t you think to hesitate for a moment?" Director Qian Dajun of the Rapid Response Center''s fourth division was still visibly upset, the pressure on him nearly suffocating. Even fireworks are prohibited in the urban area, so who gave you the audacity to throw a huge bomb without a second thought, and then claim to be trigger-happy?! If a "Dragon Slayer Missile" were dropped, the park they were in would be gone, leaving behind only a crater filled with a web of pipelines and rubble. Both the Rapid Response Center and the Public Security Bureau are ultimately civil organizations with high sensitivity. Any small movement can affect public opinion, unlike the military which can act with decisive force. "Hesitate, and perhaps a few more citizens would die, right?" Chen Fei''s style leans more towards the military; simple and brutal with exceptional execution, especially since his own family lives locally. What if some blind monster broke into his father''s neighborhood or into the supermarket where his mother and sister were? Of course, it makes sense to wipe them out in one go! To protect his family, Chen Fei couldn''t possibly hesitate; this "Dragon Slayer Missile" had to be used, permission or not. "Public opinion will not reason with you like this!" Qian Dajun''s gaze shifted to Chen Fei''s left hand, saying, "Hand over your storage artifact; we''ll keep it for safekeeping for now." He then signaled his assistant Lu Shang with his eyes. Next, without causing Chen much distress, he received an injection and the bracelet on his left wrist was taken off him on the spot. "From now on, your personal safety is the responsibility of the Rapid Response Center. Lu will follow you to ensure your safety. This is an economic zone, and we have the military, so there''s no need to worry about safety matters." Director Qian seriously placed Chen Fei''s bracelet in a sealed bag, then locked it in a specially made box. Each Space System Alchemy Storage Device was of great value and needed to be handled with care. He continued, "You will stay here for now. Lu will arrange a place for you. Don''t feel burdened; staying out of the public eye for a while is for your own good. Once this situation blows over, what''s yours will still be yours." Public departments depend on public opinion for evaluations, KPIs, and bonuses, but often, public sentiment is irrational. The fear is that despite knowledge that casualties would increase over time, some would stubbornly focus on the "Dragon Slayer Missile," never resting. One careless misstep could set the tempo for an uproar bred from a life of too much comfort. This was what gave Qian Dajun the most headaches. It didn''t take much¡ªjust a few hundred or a thousand complaints and there''s mud in your pants: even if it''s not poop, it''s still poop. Later, to calm the so-called "public rage," they would need to ritualistically sacrifice a director, and who would that be? Qian Dajun! He had already treated Chen Fei quite courteously. Chen Xiao''er could walk away easily, salary in hand, while his own job would be gone! "Okay! I understand!" Chen Fei had been injected with the Supernatural Ability Suppressant before, and unlike other supernatural power users, he was not particularly sensitive to it. He secretly tried it, and the Dog System was still functioning, but the "Spatial Branding" had lost its response. Chapter 787: Section 782 - 23 Tweets After Director Qian left reception room 3 with the securely sealed bracelet, Assistant Lu Shang, noticing a subtle change in Chen Fei''s expression, said, "Is your special ability being suppressed? I guess by the time the public interest naturally cools down, you won''t even need the antidote." The effects of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant could last from one to three months, although it varied by individual, but at least one month was usually guaranteed. "At least a month? Okay then!" Chen Fei murmured to himself and then asked, "So, are there any restrictions on my range of movement?" His Metal Elemental Psychic Power was unaffected as usual, but the "Spatial Branding" was impacted by the Supernatural Ability Suppressant and could not be used, which left him feeling very puzzled. Was there some distinction he was missing? Assistant Lu pointed down at the ground and said, "You cannot leave the camp. Going out requires prior application and approval before you can head to the designated destination. During this period, you cannot go home. This is for your own good, as it will prevent your family from being disturbed." Public media will follow industry rules and automatically avoid reporting on non-public figures, but those personal private media will not adhere strictly to the norms. Keeping Chen Fei in the park camp drew public attention while also reducing disturbances to his family. Assistant Lu''s words were not just to stabilize him, this was also the style of civil servants¡ªregardless of time, place, or situation, procedural justice was an essential prerequisite. Chen Fei cautiously asked, "Can I go see the area where the injured are gathered? My Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu is over there helping." And he wanted to pass on a few words to his sister who was at the scene. "Pure Light Sparrow? Xiao Jiu?" Lu Shang looked over Chen Fei''s shoulder, which was empty, yet in Chen Fei''s personal file, there indeed was such a spirited little bird. Chen Fei was a locally registered supernatural power user, and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu was also registered locally as a Magical Beast, but was born in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area of another sovereign country. Thanks to Chen Fei''s ownership, it had local residency even though it was a non-threatening Pure Light Sparrow, and the approval conditions were quite lenient. In the local area, the Magical Beasts that enjoy citizen rights are almost countable, and it''s hardly a secret. "Right, Xiao Jiu here shouldn''t be considered as a highly threatening Magical Beast, right?" Chen Fei''s tone grew increasingly cautious. Unlike the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane and the Sky Dragonfish, the great deeds Xiao Jiu had accomplished were truly astonishing, but it never had the same summons response on Blue Star as it did on Cangqiong Star. "Pfft! What threat does a Pure Light Sparrow pose! Let me ask around for you!" Lu Shang laughed, pulling out his phone to start sorting out the process. Locally, the population of Pure Light Sparrows did not exceed thirty, a very small, singular flock. Competitors included not only sparrows and house swallows but also thrushes, magpies, bulbul, doves, pigeons, and other small and medium-sized birds, as well as eagles, falcons, house cats, small drones, and humans, their natural predators. Their numbers had never been able to expand, and as time passed, such a small group would either randomly hybridize with local birds without reproductive isolation, losing their magical lineage after several generations and thus blending into the multitude, or the flock would naturally die out. Foreign species, once unable to become dominant species, ended up in a very sorry state (like bullfrogs, tilapia, crayfish, oysters, mussels, and Nile tilapia¡ªupon entering the native habitat, they immediately encountered the planet''s greatest predator, and their species propagation completely depended on artificial breeding). The several Pure Light Sparrows in this city, although ranked as First-Rank Magical Beasts, did not even have the qualifications to release spells and were, therefore, not considered species capable of threatening humans. Their status was roughly equivalent to omnivorous sparrows. After several phone calls and receiving incoming calls, Assistant Lu finally said to Chen Fei, "Your application has been approved. Since the media haven''t caught on yet, we should take the opportunity now, rather than later. Let''s go right away." "Okay!" Chen Fei nodded. The two found a small military manned aircraft and flew directly to the hospital where Little Sister Chen and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu were located. The extent of the tragedy at the hospital scene was even worse than Chen Fei had estimated, especially since the black vortex cloud appeared in the city center; the sudden swarm of monsters caused massive casualties to the unprepared commoners. The air was thick with the smell of blood, and many bodies were left lying on the ground, hastily covered with stark white hospital sheets due to a shortage of body bags; the sight was densely packed and horrifying. Chen Fei glanced briefly, noting the dead numbered no less than fifty; cries and wails were relentless, and relatives were arriving continuously, creating a sorrowful atmosphere throughout the hospital. What he had said in reception room 3 wasn''t wrong; using the "Dragon Slayer Missile" certainly would ignite a tremendous controversy, but not using it could lead to even greater casualties. This was also the main reason why the Rapid Response Center hadn''t thrown Chen Fei under the bus; what was his remained his, whether it be flowers or rotten eggs. "We need volunteers! We need volunteers! Anyone who can help, follow me! We need volunteers..." A security guard was running back and forth, yelling loudly. Doctors, nurses, and support staff were already overwhelmingly busy, and even the hospital security felt the need to perform the work of two people alone. Due to a severe lack of manpower, they had turned to volunteers, even the relatives of the patients. Hearing the calls, several young and middle-aged people followed the security guard; at such a critical moment, no one would refuse to lend a helping hand. "Xiao Jiu is in the emergency room; they are triaging there." Assistant Lu Shang checked his phone. No one acknowledged them, and almost no idle personnel could be found in the entire hospital; they had to rely on information communications dedicated to government departments to get the information they needed. It wasn''t just this hospital; the others were the same. "Jiu!~" As soon as Chen Fei entered the noisy and chaotic emergency area, he heard the familiar chirping. "Jiu!" "Jiu?" "Jiu Jiu!" "Jiu!?"... Why was there an echo? A flurry of chaotic chirping and the sound of flapping wings echoed incessantly. "Xiao Jiu, use the ''Light Healing Technique'' on this one! Next, hiss, get ''Whispers of Life'' ready!" Someone was talking to Xiao Jiu, arranging for patients to be seen, and doing pre-treatment work for subsequent treatments. "Huh? Why are there so many Pure Light Sparrows? Which one is Xiao Jiu?" Assistant Lu Shang was astonished to see many little birds flying around in the emergency area, and after a moment''s identification, confirmed they were all Pure Light Sparrows. The Pure Light Sparrows from Cangqiong Star are timid and frail birds that aren''t usually fond of humans, as humans are, in a sense, one of the natural predators of birds. Getting close to people isn''t exactly a good habit and can easily lead to being captured and killed by those with ill intentions, ending up as skewered grilled bird served with a drink for 1 Star Yuan each. It seems the entire local flock of Pure Light Sparrows has gathered. "On the table!" Chen Fei, with his sharp eyes, spotted a little bird with dark feathers hopping around on the table at a pre-diagnosis area. As if it heard his voice, the little bird suddenly tilted its head to look at him, and the next second, it flapped its wings and landed joyfully on Chen Fei, chirping merrily. Suddenly, the Pure Light Sparrows flying around in the emergency area converged towards Chen Fei, circling beneath the ceiling. This scene attracted the attention of many people. "Go help out!" Chen Fei held the little bird and pointed towards the pre-diagnosis area he''d indicated before. "Jiu?" The little guy looked at Chen Fei, then back at the table, and finally flew back to it. A sweet-looking nurse approached Chen Fei, examining him up and down. "Are you Xiao Jiu''s owner?" "I''m not its owner, I''m its dad!" Chen Fei''s response made the nurse''s expression freeze¡ªas if he really were its biological father. He looked around and asked the nurse, "Where''s Chen Meng?" They had agreed that Little Sister Chen would look after Xiao Jiu, but now she was nowhere to be seen. "Chen Meng? She''s volunteering! She was throwing up terribly at first, but eventually, she got used to it." The nurse clearly knew where Chen Meng was but described it in a way that made one''s scalp tingle. "Oh, thank you! You go ahead with your work!" Chen Fei knew where to find his younger sister next. "Jiu!" ¡Á23! Everyone''s eyes brightened slightly as they saw light orbs the size of ping-pong balls flying around the emergency area. Some collided with walls, others rolled onto the floor, some touched pillars, and others flew up towards the ceiling. As soon as they touched something solid, they would bounce around chaotically, continuing until they touched a human body, after which they would disappear. A few, however, slowly dissipated in the air. "''Light Healing Technique'', why are there so many?" A doctor on the scene recognized these little light orbs as first-rank "Light Healing Techniques" from the Light Series, but couldn''t understand why there were suddenly so many. Someone exclaimed with surprise and joy, "These Pure Light Sparrows all know how to use ''Light Healing Technique''!" "That''s right! I saw it too!" "This is really great." "Why do they all know ''Light Healing Technique''? Something''s off!" "What''s off about it? There are some that can use ''Whispers of Life'', starting at the Fourth Rank Human Order." "...This is completely unscientific!" In many people''s minds, although Pure Light Sparrows are common in Cangqiong Star''s atmosphere and are magical beasts, they are the lowest tier of magical beasts, typically unable to use spells, with only a rare few being able to cast them. Now, suddenly, there were so many Pure Light Sparrows able to use "Light Healing Technique", surprising everyone on the scene, but it was as timely and important as a sudden rainfall. "Jiu!" ¡Á23! Another flurry of "Light Healing Technique" flying around benefitted many patients waiting for diagnosis. Many people now saw clearly that leading the flock of Pure Light Sparrows was one on the pre-diagnosis table, not only of a higher rank but also distinguished by its unique feather crown. "Something, something''s not quite right." Assistant Lu Shang looked uncertainly at Chen Fei, your little bird really does this? "Xiao Jiu under ten thousand, beyond ten thousand unbeatable!" Chen Fei thought to himself, you haven''t yet seen the sight of a Pure Light Sparrow flock blotting out the sky and decimating adult dragons in seconds¡ªthat''s a grand spectacle! If this city had over a hundred thousand Pure Light Sparrows, that dark Vortex Cloud would definitely not have been able to send so many monsters here so easily, and they wouldn''t even need the "Dragon Slayer Missile" as Xiao Jiu alone could handle it all. "Jiu!" ¡Á23! After the third wave of "Light Healing Technique" flying around, the Pure Light Sparrows finally quieted down, and so there was no fourth round of chirping. Xiao Jiu flew back onto Chen Fei again, its small sharp beak grooming its feathers, no longer obeying the doctors'' instructions. Chen Fei knew this meant Xiao Jiu had exhausted its Light magic power and needed to rest. Chapter 788: Section 783 - Sparrow Sparrow Crossover "What''s going on?" The doctor assigned to work with Xiao Jiu was anxious,¡ªit had only just begun! There was still a huge number of injured patients left, and even though the most severe cases had been sent for emergency treatment, they could not afford to overlook the rest. "Magic power depleted, spiritual power should be almost gone too." Chen Fei comforted Xiao Jiu, while the braver Pure Light Sparrow tried to land on him. As soon as its claws touched his clothes, it flew away in a panic, probably needing some time to get used to closeness. They were not like the wild species on Cangqiong Star, which were bold enough to let him handle them freely, almost as if they were domesticated, totally unreserved. Assistant Lu Shang asked, "Is there... a magic potion to replenish magic power?" "There is, but I cannot access it!" Chen Fei waved his hand, indicating that the "Spatial Branding" was suppressed by the Supernatural Ability Suppressant. To others, it appeared that the Space System Alchemy Storage Device was restricted. Although the specific reasons were slightly different, the resulting situation was the same. "This is really..." Assistant Lu scratched the back of his head¡ªitems personally overseen by Director Qian were not accessible, and it was not the time to lift the restrictions, considering things had just been secured under his supervision. The same rationale applied to the Supernatural Ability Suppressant¡ªconstantly changing edicts was a significant governance taboo. "Do you need to replenish your magic power?" The doctor realized as well but soon became troubled. Although the hospital also had spellcasters, magic potions for replenishing magic power were notoriously expensive. Even if available, they were critically required resources and not to be casually given away. "Both magic potions and Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Cores will do, ideally the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Cores, as they are easier to replenish." Chen Fei indeed had something to replenish Xiao Jiu''s magic power¡ªsuperior even to magic potions¡ªthe Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core. It had yet to be fully absorbed, undoubtedly a precious commodity starting from millions of Star Yuan in value. Regretfully, it was currently stored in the corresponding storage space of "Spatial Branding" and temporarily inaccessible. Assistant Lu Shang from the Rapid Response Center spoke up, "I''ll think of something." As a civil servant, he had certain special channels that ordinary people did not. Approximately half an hour later, a soldier hurried to the emergency area and immediately sought out Lu Shang and Chen Fei. "Light-element Third Rank Magical Beast Crystal Core, please check!" "Take it! This is material borrowed from the military via the formal procedures of the Rapid Response Center; you needn''t return it." Lu Shang nodded at Chen Fei, indicating he had found a way. The doctor who had initially collaborated with Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu spoke up, "If anything, the hospital should be the one to return it." After all, it was for public use, not personal. With an appropriate procedural justification, the approval wasn''t difficult to obtain. If it were difficult, neither would Lu Shang have managed to secure a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core for Chen Fei in such a short time, nor would the hospital''s doctors have made such an assurance. "Then... thank you!" Chen Fei took the sealed box from the soldier, entered the password, and took out the encased Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, holding it in his hands. "Xiao Jiu! This crystal core is yours." Though slightly different in rank, a Third Rank Light-element being slightly inferior to an Earth Order Third Rank, it was enough to address the urgent issue at hand. Little Bird hopped over, curiously pecking at the pale white crystal core, and instantly, a large number of light points burst forth, flooding into its body and even scattering to other Pure Light Sparrows. The methods of Magical Beasts were entirely different from those of the Human Race; stimulated in some way, the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core began constantly emitting pale white light points, floating toward Xiao Jiu and other Pure Light Sparrows as if alive. All the little birds present benefited from it. "Jiu!" Xiao Jiu hopped around the crystal core, pecking at it occasionally, which caused a massive eruption of light points that formed into a white Light Flame, flickering and burning erratically. All the Pure Light Sparrows swooped down en masse, filling Chen Fei''s arms, shoulders, and even crowded atop his head¡ªexcept for Xiao Jiu. These sparrows, previously cautious, were now utterly indifferent, appearing as if they were entirely different birds. "Ha, this is really interesting!" Assistant Lu Shang gently laughed upon witnessing this scene. The nearby patients and their families simultaneously sighed in relief, some whispering, "We''re saved!" The sounds of joy were continuous. Although medication and surgery are methods of treatment, they cannot compare to the immediate effects of spells, which might just make the difference in saving a life, sparing much suffering. "It should be good soon." Chen Fei, very familiar with the little bird, noted from its increasingly lively behavior that not only was its magic power rapidly recovering, but its spiritual power was as well. As Xiao Jiu hopped around, it groomed its feathers, actions incomprehensible from a human perspective but completely purposeful from an animal''s standpoint; much like a dog licking its chops or tilting its head, or a cat kneading its paws, each behavior often had a specific intent. Chen Fei placed the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core and the group of little birds on the pre-examination desk and nodded to the doctor on duty. "It should be about ready!" Supported by a Light Beast Crystal Core they had just received, the preliminary diagnosis conducted with the help of the Pure Light Sparrows was able to proceed smoothly. From time to time, the Pure Light Sparrows would chirp loudly, each time their bodies surrounded by numerous, visible sparkling light points, representing dense and pure Light Element Energy. "''Light of Redemption'' ready!" The doctor''s instructions became increasingly cautious, always deploying the Pure Light Sparrows'' Healing Spells where they were needed most. "Chirp!" ¡Á 23! On one of the Pure Light Sparrows, its shiny black feathers suddenly lit up, as if glowing from the inside out in an instant. Immediately afterward, another Pure Light Sparrow shone brightly, then the next one, like a ball of light, rapidly circulating among the Pure Light Sparrows. Finally, it shone on Xiao Jiu, a fist-sized ball of light flying towards the injured person designated by the doctor. Although it was also a Light Orb, the Light Orb from the Human Order Second Rank "Light of Redemption" was ten times the size of the Human Order First Rank "Light Healing Technique" and had an even better effect. "Eh?" The doctor, startled by the scene, exclaimed aloud. The release process of this "Light of Redemption" Spell seemed somewhat different from before. He didn''t have time to think further, as he shifted his attention to the next injured person. "''Light Healing Technique'' ready!" "''Light Healing Technique'' ready!" "''Light Healing Technique'' ready!" "''Light of Redemption'' ready!" "''Whispers of Life'' ready!" ... Including Xiao Jiu, the 23 Pure Light Sparrows appeared to have established some sort of connection. Regardless of the type of Light-based Spell, like dominoes, each Pure Light Sparrow would glow slightly, with Xiao Jiu finally releasing it, prompting amazement in those who watched. "Is this Elemental Resonance?" Although not an Ability User himself, Assistant Lu Shang had seen enough to hazard a guess, given the relatively high proportion of Ability Users in the Rapid Response Center¡ªhis exposure to them providing him with a discerning eye. "Probably!" Chen Fei, observing the "Light Linkage" among the Pure Light Sparrows, speculated in agreement. He was merely a supernatural power user with no Casting Ability and no Battle Qi talent, and he had not deeply studied the Magic Element, completely unable to perceive fluctuations in Elemental Energy. "This linkage method, Emmmmm, is quite interesting!" A large bird''s head peeked in from the side. "Huh? White Phoenix? You startled me!" Chen Fei jumped, instantly recovering and then looking to the side, indeed saw another similar bird''s head. The Magical Beast Dual-Headed White Wind Crane had arrived in the emergency area at some point, standing right behind him. This large bird''s heads were left A and right B, its Elemental Attributes left wind and right water. The one speaking beside Chen Fei''s ear was White Phoenix A. If it were not for adapting to human society''s naming conventions, it wouldn''t hastily be tagged with A+B; during the times of Cangqiong Star, it was simply called White Phoenix, with no letter following its name. "I just noticed a special Light Element fluctuation and came to check it out. Your little bird is really giving me, no, us, quite a special surprise!" "23 linked hosts, escalating level by level, amounting to 23 times the efficiency. Hmm, no, more than that, the consumption of Magic Power and spiritual power is only one-thirtieth of the original. If more skilled, perhaps even less, thus sustaining stronger continuity¡ªabsolutely a collective numerical advantage, interesting, very interesting indeed." White Phoenix B''s head also moved closer, the two heads sandwiching Chen Fei between them, alternating their speech from left to right, somewhat creating a surround sound effect. Not only as Spellcasters but also as Magical Beasts, even though not of the Light Series, they could still detect that special pulse of Elemental Energy, the difference merely in Elemental Affinity and casting efficiency. The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane, having studied it, could also barely use Low-Rank Light Magic, but the cost-efficiency was extremely low, hardly worth it, even having a certain failure rate, and couldn''t use Light Magic of the same Rank as itself. The collective behavior of the 23 Pure Light Sparrows was akin to using themselves as a pulley tool to move heavy weights. Raising a heavy object to a height of one meter from the ground, whether by hand or with tools, the work done on the object remains the same, but the use of tools not only reduces the load pressure, preventing being crushed, but also increases efficiency. They can continue to exert effort effortlessly throughout, without exhausting themselves entirely in one go and leaving no energy left. In the not very active Elemental Energy environment of Blue Star, producing such efficient Elemental fluctuations and casting enhancement effects was by no means less significant than in an environment with very active Elemental Energy like Cangqiong Star. Moreover, the active level of Elemental Energy in Cangqiong Star was not twenty times higher, not even ten times. Hearing the words of the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane, Assistant Lu Shang murmured, "That being said, it would be great if there were more Pure Light Sparrows." "Indeed that''s true!" Chen Fei and White Phoenix A+B exclaimed in unison. Participating in the high-demand preliminary diagnosis work was still too great a burden for small Magical Beasts like the Pure Light Sparrows; at the very least, Light-element Magical Beasts like the Sun-Transforming Skylark of Earth Order should be capable enough. But there were no Sun-Transforming Skylarks locally, not even Light-Series Magical Beasts. Shu Kingdom had no great generals; Liao Hua had to lead the charge, thus reluctantly putting Xiao Jiu to work. Crack!~ While Chen Fei and the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane were talking, the Human Order Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core encircled by the Pure Light Sparrows suddenly developed dense cracks, then disintegrated into a small pile of organic sand. This was a phenomenon that occurred when the contained Light Elemental Energy had been completely drained. White Phoenix B, sensing the Light Elemental Energy fluctuations around the twenty-odd Pure Light Sparrows, said in disbelief, "This is... a collective Second Order now?" The 22 Pure Light Sparrows had inadvertently completed a collective Advance in Rank, becoming 22 Human Order Second Rank Pure Light Sparrows. "Damn!~" Assistant Lu Shang naturally understood the significance of Human Order First Rank Pure Light Sparrows advancing to Human Order Second Rank, especially with 22 of them at once. Chapter 789: Section 784 - Out of Stock Again Luckily, the Pure Light Sparrow, a weak Magical Beast Sparrow which is harmless to humans and animals and lives in peace with the world, sometimes even ending up as the cheap ingredient for roasted bird skewers. If it had any other intentions, perhaps the Cangqiong Star Civilization wouldn''t even have to deal with the Extraterrestrial Races ''Sagali''. The triage doctor was startled and then exclaimed in surprise. Since when did Magical Beasts advance in rank so easily! And it was even a rare case of collective advancement. "The Magical Beast Crystal Core is gone!" Chen Fei glanced at the small residue that turned to fine ash with a gust of wind. The advancement of the Pure Light Sparrows was not without cost; they sacrificed a Third-Rank Human Order Light Element Crystal Core on the spot, and in such a short time, it was gone. Once Crystal Cores, which depend on a certain energy structure to maintain their physical existence, are drained of Elemental Energy, they crumble instantly, unable to maintain their original physical form. Not only the Magical Beast Crystal Cores generated within biological bodies but also high-purity natural minerals like Demon Crystals derived from earth veins behave the same way. This form of energy is similar to a relatively stable special force field; once the energy is lost, the field dissipates, leaving behind mineral substances of complex composition. There have been attempts to artificially synthesize Magical Beast Crystal Cores and mineral Demon Crystals through technological means, but their energy density and cost-effectiveness are far inferior to the mature storage material, Crystalline Blocks, and another form of energy, Crystal Energy, which is on par with Elemental Energy in terms of energy levels. Therefore, exploration in this area often ceases prematurely, limited to teaching and theoretical research, without the conditions and demand for industrial mass production. "It''s over!" "It''s already used up so quickly?" "These little birds sure consume a lot!" "Didn''t you see all those spells?" The scene once again became steeped in gloom, and the life-saving Healing Spells could run out at any moment, resulting in deaths. Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Cores were always consumables, and their depletion was expected. To avoid troubling others, Assistant Lu Shang took the initiative once more. However, this time, he wasn''t so lucky. The military also suffered casualties while clearing the districts, and with the need to treat civilians as well, the limited Healing Spellcasters and Pure Light Sparrows alike were overwhelmed with work. Not only Light-element Demon Crystals but also magic potions were in urgent demand, mainly due to hasty operations and unpreparedness. Although more supplies would continue to arrive, the injured couldn''t wait. Every hospital was racing against time to snatch lives from the Grim Reaper. "Supplies are too tight, completely unavailable. What should we do? Let me think, let me think..." After several phone calls, Lu Shang hit a wall repeatedly. Frowning, he paced back and forth on the spot. Although it was not his official duty, the welfare of the people wasn''t something he could simply brush off with a few words. Chen Fei spread his hands, saying, "There''s no need to make it so complicated. Just a shot of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant antidote, and everything will be available!" "Spatial Branding" was currently sealed and could not be activated. Now, he could kill, but not save people, and was helpless in the current situation. If only there was a suitable Magic Array and the technical capability to adjust it, then the existing Crystal Energy and Electric Energy could be converted into free, highly active Light Elemental Energy to temporarily serve as Crystal Cores or Demon Crystals. "An antidote? It''s not that easy¡ªit''s a controlled substance. Not to mention me, even the Director would have to personally submit an application, then pass it through several layers of approval, and finally get a signature from the boss of the economic zone. Moreover, even if you regain your Special Ability, what can you do with it? No, wait, are you talking about the alchemical storage artifact, and is it even bound by spiritual power? What''s inside, other than the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''?" Assistant Lu Shang had an impressive ability to associate ideas, guessing a lot from Chen Fei''s words. Although he wasn''t completely accurate, he was very close to the truth. Using a Space System Alchemy Storage Device requires the expenditure of spiritual power, which is often insufficient in ordinary people. Moreover, the Supernatural Ability Suppressant inhibits not only supernatural abilities but also spiritual power, as among the supernatural power users, the Psychic Series is also a significant subgroup. "A Third-Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, battlefield hospital, medical drugs, magic potions, there''s a lot of stuff!" Chen Fei highlighted the key points. After all, the supplies prepared by the boss were so abundant that it required "Spatial Branding" to accommodate them all. Thankfully, the storage space obtained at such a great cost was large enough, or else the boss and the ability users who made sacrifices would have a lot to complain about. Everyone who was eavesdropping on the conversation was stunned. Just a Third-Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core could completely resolve most of the current consumption. "Are you gearing up for a war?" "Even within the First Sovereign''s own territory, there is no need for these supplies, let alone in any corner of Blue Star." As a member of the rapid response center, Assistant Lu Shang didn''t have access to as much information as his boss, Director Qian, but he had heard snippets. Yet hearing it from Chen Fei''s mouth was unexpectedly startling. "The business I undertook on Cangqiong Star is war!" Chen Fei was not lying. Whether it was confronting two legions of the Rebel Army head-on in Nandu City, or the movements in the southern continent where mercenary corps of over a thousand people targeted Parasitic Species, these were all military operations on the level of wars. That''s why the airship battle group that emerged was a true war machine. The homeland knew vaguely about it, but for fear of releasing something that should not be seen by the citizens, they administered a supernatural ability suppressant to him, sealed his special ability, and then confiscated the "Space System Alchemy Storage Device," ensuring absolute safety. "Have military contractors successfully expanded their business to Cangqiong Star?" With an overabundance of military might, the First Sovereign of Blue Star was already grateful for not bullying others; thus, there was little room for military contractors to operate. However, Assistant Lu Shang did have a fair understanding of the industry. "How could that be possible? It was entirely a twist of fate!" Chen Fei shook his head. Mercenaries and guilds on Cangqiong Star were already wary of Blue Star''s military contractors! This kind of predatory behavior had occurred before, and the result had always been the same: the outsiders were lured into a trap and annihilated without a single survivor left, cleanly wiped out. Mercenaries were never courteous with outsiders, and their blows were mercilessly lethal. The reason the mercenaries in Sun Domain City did not deal Chen Fei a dirty blow was partly due to his generosity as a major sponsor¡ªthey might dislike fellow military contractors from Blue Star, but they definitely liked Star Yuan. On the other hand, they were also wary of his connections with the southern war zone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army. Moreover, when they observed how he moved through the newly occupied territories of the Dynastic Rebel Army with ease, even a fool would understand that such figures, capable of navigating the situation to their advantage, were absolutely not to be trifiled with. White Phoenix A, who had been intently observing the Pure Light Sparrows on the table, suddenly said, "These little birds seem to be able to hold on!" It had been observing the self-sustaining operations of these Pure Light Sparrows for quite some time with great interest. "What''s the situation?" Assistant Lu Shang was not a power user, so he relied completely on the judgment of the Magical Beast Double-Headed White Wind Crane regarding the Pure Light Sparrows. Whatever it said, he took at face value¡ªthere was nothing much to deceive about a flock of harmless little birds. Even if they were up against a Human Order second rank, it wouldn''t pose much of a challenge, let alone against someone of the sixth or seventh rank. "The linked Light Element casting between the Pure Light Sparrows can be maintained for quite a while even at the first rank. Now that they have collectively advanced to the second rank, there might be a certain balance point. If the released spells do not go beyond the second rank, it would preserve this balance. This method of casting is truly intriguing with a lot of research value." The two heads of the Double-Headed White Wind Crane examined the flock of Pure Light Sparrows on the table from different angles, their eyes nearly glowing with enthusiasm. Despite having drained a Human Order third rank Magical Beast Crystal Core and reduced it to dust, the light on the Pure Light Sparrows glowed in waves, suggesting a sense of unending continuity. Light Elemental Energy, most of the time, is characterized by its gentle and stable nature. The spells of various ranks within the Human Order are relatively lower compared to other Elemental Systems, and their sustainability is naturally lengthy. Now combined with this special casting technique, they could continuously release low-rank healing spells as if the energy was free. Hearing the Double-Headed White Wind Crane''s remarks, the triage doctors who cooperated with Xiao Jiu immediately made adjustments, choosing first-rank "Light Healing Technique" as much as possible while minimizing the use of the second-rank "Light of Redemption." They completely abandoned the fourth-rank "Whispers of Life," redirecting patients with such severe injuries directly to the resuscitation rooms. After all, resources were limited, and they couldn''t allow the Pure Light Sparrows to deplete all their magic power. After pondering for a while, Assistant Lu Shang suddenly had a bold idea. "Is it possible to bring over some more Pure Light Sparrows? The more, the better?" Unexpectedly, the Magical Beast doctor Double-Headed White Wind Crane nodded, and one head agreed, saying, "Theoretically, it''s feasible. The key lies in Xiao Jiu." With Xiao Jiu, the value of this flock of Pure Light Sparrows was entirely different. But its other head said, "Where are we going to find them? There aren''t many Pure Light Sparrows on Blue Star, and the ones that are local should all be here already, right?" As the elder brother of the Magical Beast Sparrows, White Phoenix certainly knew the distribution of Pure Light Sparrows within the First Sovereign''s territory. Combining the numbers might not even yield three hundred in total, mostly because management was lax during the initial exchange between the two civilized planets, which allowed these little birds and other creatures to accidentally come to Blue Star. In the decades that followed, they gathered in small, scattered groups, forming small clans that barely managed to sustain their population. "By the time the other Pure Light Sparrows arrive, the military''s supplies should also be delivered." Chen Fei didn''t think it was a good idea, even if it was theoretically possible. If this were on Cangqiong Star, a single cry from Xiao Jiu could summon a million Pure Light Sparrows¡ªdemolishing buildings or slaughtering dragons at will. If they collectively released large-scale healing spells en masse, they might even sanitize the ground like a carpet bombing. They might even revive the dead. Chapter 790 790: Section 785 - A Family ``` Was it other Pure Light Sparrows arriving first, or the supply materials being delivered earlier? Chen Fei''s remark hit the nail on the head on the spot. "And Pure Light Sparrows are not easy to catch!" White Phoenix A also pointed out another limiting condition. Even if the Pure Light Sparrows are weaker, they still possess the bloodline of Magical Beasts, with an evolutionary level superior to ordinary wild beasts. Naturally, their little brains are much smarter, so whether it be luring or capturing by force, it''s not so easy. Even if one were to somehow gather several hundred Pure Light Sparrows native to this land, by that time, the military''s supply materials would likely have already arrived. Doing so would also have repercussions, as animal protection organizations would undoubtedly emerge to cause trouble and organize various protest activities. On Cangqiong Star, making kebabs out of Pure Light Sparrows is a common household meal, everyone is used to it, but on Blue Star, it''s not okay¡ªeven for newcomers. Without causing harm or population control issues, why should they be harmed? "So there''s no way around it!" White Phoenix B logically deduced this conclusion, adding this footnote to A''s thoughts. What can be done now is only to economize the special magic linkage of the Pure Light Sparrows and keep up the most effective rhythm. "You''ve got to keep pushing!" Chen Fei patted Xiao Jiu''s head, then went on to pat the heads of all the other Pure Light Sparrows, eliciting a flurry of chirping. At this moment, apart from Xiao Jiu, the other Pure Light Sparrows no longer rejected him. Seeing the interaction between Chen Fei and the little birds, both heads of White Phoenix said in unison, "Who would have guessed, you really have a way with Pure Light Sparrows!" "There must be other reasons too!" A crowd was glaring at Chen Fei with anger in their eyes, and he sheepishly withdrew his hand. His impulsive action to pat the birds'' heads had disrupted the Pure Light Sparrows'' spell casting, immediately provoking public outrage. "I''ve got things to take care of, so I''ll be off first, we''ll chat more... next time!" The Dual-Headed White Wind Crane remembered it had work to do, and no sooner had the word "chat" left its mouth than it had soared away on the wind, disappearing from Chen Fei''s sight. Chen Fei said to the triage doctor cooperating with Xiao Jiu, "Take good care of Xiao Jiu. Apart from granular feed and mealworms, it also likes alcohol, especially the good stuff." Then he left his contact number with the other party for future communication. The triage doctor readily agreed; these little birds had been of great help to him. Finally, Chen Fei said to Lu Shang beside him, "Let''s head back too!" No sooner had the two stepped out of the emergency area than they heard a shout. "Brother..." Chen Fei looked towards the voice, oh my goodness! He almost jumped out of his skin. His little sister had been beaten up¡ªnoticing her covered in blood! No wonder the word "brother" carried a hint of snow in June. "Xiao Meng, what happened to you?" Chen Fei looked at Chen Meng, who was gasping for air as she ran over in her isolation protective clothing. "There are too many injured, women working as men, men working like cattle. Brother, did you come to pick me up?" Chen Meng looked hopefully at her second brother, although most of her expression was hidden behind her mask, her eyes were full of grievance. "No, I just came to see how you and Xiao Jiu were doing." Chen Fei quietly took a small step back. "Eh? You didn''t come to pick me up? I''m almost worked to death! You, take over for me! Men should be doing this kind of work!" Chen Meng wanted to take off the stifling, hot protective suit, planning to dump this exhausting job onto her smelly big brother. A fragrant and beautiful fairy shouldn''t be splattered with blood! "How could that be? Your brother used banned weapons and is now about to be placed in solitary confinement, waiting for investigation! How could I have the time to help you?" Chen Fei turned his head to Assistant Lu Shang to confirm, almost pleadingly, "Isn''t that right, Assistant Lu!" "Uh, indeed it is!" Lu Shang couldn''t fail to understand the interplay between these siblings, but he could only tell the truth and was forced to concede. "Ah! I don''t want this!" Little Sister Chen let out a wail, having come to the hospital with Xiao Jiu only to find herself in a bind; she wasn''t there to carry corpses, no, no, no, no! "Good luck, Little Sister! I believe in you. Also, call Xiao Liu over. As they say, men and women paired together, work doesn''t tire." ``` Chen Fei suddenly felt being grounded wasn''t so bad, as he didn''t have to do any of these hard tasks. He waved to Little Sister Chen and left with Assistant Lu Shang. "Dead Second Brother, stinky Second Brother, rotten Second Brother! Chen Xiao''er, I hate you..." A moment later. "Comrade Liu Mingquan, the country needs you now. Come to the morgue at City First Hospital immediately!" Xiao Liu: "???" Blood is thicker than water. Father Chen and Mother Chen looked at their empty home, exchanged glances, and realized none of their children were reliable. (Elder Brother Chen with a dumbfounded expression and children in tow: It''s not me, I didn''t, no way no way no way) ... Back at the park camp, Assistant Lu Shang arranged a modular housing dormitory for Chen Fei, which was a double room. One bed belonged to Chen Fei, and the other to Lu Shang, making them perfect roommates. After providing some living supplies and informing him about the layout of the camp facilities, Assistant Lu Shang went off to attend to her own duties. Chen Fei''s confinement wasn''t like being in jail; his movements were just restricted to the park. As long as he didn''t leave the park, his eating, sleeping, exercising, and communication with the outside world weren''t affected. He turned on the TV in the dormitory, and sure enough, the commotion caused by the black Vortex Cloud was almost dominating Blue Star''s current hot topics. The media''s rapid response and execution capabilities had even surpassed the Sovereign Intelligence Departments. Instead of waiting for official briefings, it was better to watch the real-time news reporting, which even included interactive subtitles. The coalition forces of various Sovereign states had already landed on the Antarctic Continent and were rounding up the invading Monsters. The severe cold slowed down many Monsters, making them sitting ducks, but there were still some cold-resistant Monsters that remained active, causing quite a bit of trouble for the coalition forces. However, the situation was gradually improving. The live battlefield footage on the TV screen suddenly flashed with blue light, and the black Vortex Cloud swirling in the blizzard was dispersed by the sudden burst of blue light. The snowy sky even had a moment of snow-free space, then was filled again by drifting snowflakes. It seemed the coalition forces had received intelligence that the Element Annihilation Bomb was effective against the black Vortex Cloud and had deployed one accordingly, with immediate results. Chen Fei pressed the remote, changing channels to check the situation of the black Vortex Cloud in Africa. The situation there was quite unexpected, as the Sovereign forces were crushed by Monsters that did not use guns, cannons, and didn''t even know Spells, leading to a total frontline collapse. This combat strength... was consistently terrible as always, a steadfast commitment to being awfully incompetent for a hundred years! Chen Fei took out his cell phone and searched for civilian expose?s on the roadside. He was shocked to find that the situation was even more exaggerated than what the media had reported. The black Vortex Cloud that appeared in Africa picked a good location; the military had almost become a money-making tool for local warlords, trading arms and illegal drugs, engaging in whatever made money the fastest, with robbery and murder as common as eating and drinking. There were even hidden immoral businesses like human trafficking. They were adept at illegal business and oppressing the good, but their actual combat capabilities had been long abysmal, holding mostly outdated equipment from thirty years ago. While it wasn''t that Sovereign states hadn''t spent people''s hard-earned money on advanced equipment, due to widespread neglect of duty from top to bottom, combined with severe deficiencies in supervision and training, it led to poor maintenance and occasional theft and sales, leaving very little equipment remaining. Even the equipment that was left, functioned like scrap iron and was completely useless. Relying on these outdated and broken arms, it was foreseeable from the start that they couldn''t possibly hold back the continuously emerging Monsters, and it wasn''t surprising that the military collapsed without firing many shots. Although local Sovereignties had received intelligence that the Element Annihilation Bomb could destroy the black Vortex Cloud, because of poor storage, the reserves of Element Annihilation Bombs couldn''t be launched in a short time, and they were unwilling (and afraid) to accept friendly assistance from nearby Sovereignties. What if they shoot an Element Annihilation Bomb into their territory remotely and miss? It''s raining when the roof is leaking, incompetent, lazy, and unlucky, the world''s biggest jinx, so unlucky, it''s unmatched. The surrounding Sovereignties began to mobilize, preparing for an unprecedented mess. As Chen Fei was watching various news reports, Boss Hana''s call came through. The first sentence after connecting left Chen Fei somewhat dumbfounded. "Looks like you''re still alive!" Such a familiar line! "Of course, I''m still alive!" Chen Xiao''er felt powerless to complain, the phrase just didn''t sound quite right. But who asked him to do work where his life hung by a thread? At any moment, his parents could receive his death gratuity ¨C at least several million. Emmm... not a bad deal! "I saw the news, your hometown also experienced an unidentified invasion. Considering you might have been in the battle, I didn''t dare to dial this number until I confirmed through the news that the unidentified invasion in your area was eradicated. ''Rookie,'' is the actual situation really as I imagined?" In Chapala City on the South Continent of America, Hanna Gagel of Jiu Defense Company was worried about Chen Fei, who was in one of the locations where the eerie cloud formations appeared, when she learned that three areas on Blue Star had developed them. The nature of the black Vortex Cloud was still uncertain, so she referred to the strange cloud that kept dropping a large number of Monsters as "unidentified invasions." "You''re worthy of being the BOSS, your prediction was very accurate. If you had called me two hours ago, I was indeed in battle." Chen Fei wasn''t surprised by Boss Hana''s guess. After all, how could someone who ran a military contracting firm not have some military acumen? "You were the first to finish the battle, and there''s the ''Dragon Slayer Missile.'' I guess that was your doing." Hanna Gagel could hardly think of a second person so reckless as to use the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' over a densely populated urban economic zone. ''Rookie'' Chen Fei had previously left a similar track record on his first day at work, nearly costing him his own life. Later, during the corporate warfare, he and Squadron Leader Chekhov got drunk, stole a ''Big Mouth Monster'' to raid the enemy''s Aircrew Base, and fumbled around to the point of death¡ªin this respect, his record was full of blemishes and never improved. "Heh heh!" Chapter 791 791: Section 786 - Amendment The "Dragon Slayer Missile" had a complex unlocking process that served not just as a security measure, but also as a hesitation mechanism. For tactical and strategic level weapons, there often exists such a mechanism. If the passwords were as simple as one, two, three, four, five, or a combination of pinyin and characters, wouldn''t everyone''s job be easier? But who could have anticipated that Chen Xiao''er would let go of his self-control the very next second, without a slightest hint of hesitation? The personnel at the Rapid Response Center were collectively dumbfounded at that moment, what the heck... Fortunately, with a little explanation, it was still somewhat justifiable. So, the fourth division of the Rapid Response Center quickly put Chen Fei under "protection," confining him within the park camp, preventing him from entering the media''s line of sight. Should he accidentally say something wrong, it might completely discard the official media strategy, and then it would really be the case of begging for mercy, without demoting a few officials of some rank as a sacrifice, they might not get past this catastrophe. "Are you at home? Also watching the news?" Hanna Gagel heard some faint noises that the phone hadn''t completely noise-canceled. The television at Chen Fei''s place was turned down, but not muted. "Yeah, without intelligence channels, I have to rely on the news," Chen Fei nodded in agreement. Sometimes, it''s hard to distinguish the truth in the news, but it''s still better than being completely ignorant. Hanna Gagel said, "There is news that the locations of the ''unidentified invasions'' are more than three, and this won''t be the only time. This is just the beginning." "Hmm? This view is very similar to Mr. Louis Landon''s Doomsday Prophecy!" Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise, the information revealed by Boss Hana certainly wasn''t the kind of gossip you''d find on street corners. The first sign of the Doomsday of the Blue Star Civilization is the endless fall of monsters through the dark Vortex Cloud. "In that case, many aspects would seem to fit together," Hanna Gagel began to ruminate. The "Doomsday Prophecy" by Louis, the president of Louis Industrial Company, had gradually begun to circulate. But there were those who treated it as mindless babble, others as a practical joke by a bigwig, some like Hanna Gagel who remained skeptical, and others like Chen Fei who believed deeply and actively prepared for it. Chen Fei pressed for details: "Where else did the black Vortex Clouds appear?" "One appeared 70 million kilometers away from the Sun, within the region of the Lagrange Point L1, and was captured by the near-Earth orbit telescopes. The monsters that burst out were pulled by gravity towards the Sun and would burn to ashes within a month. Another appeared in the shadow area on the far side of The Moon, confirmed by satellites that orbit The Moon. Both of these invasion points won''t pose a threat for now, but..." Hanna Gagel hesitated. "But what?" Chen Fei, sensing an incomplete revelation from Boss Hana, realized the two non-threatening invasion points might carry important information worth noting. "Have you heard of test firing artillery?" Hanna Gagel unexpectedly brought up a military term out of context. "Test firing?" Chen Fei was slightly taken aback but quickly understood, asking, "You mean... these Vortex Clouds are for test firing?" Hanna Gagel spoke with a definite tone, "Highly likely! Five shots for calibration, three hit the target, one nearly misses, and one completely misses." Military contractors, although privately owned businesses, not only had military quality that wasn''t much worse than active sovereign forces but were also adept in military tactics. "It does indeed resemble that. So, once Blue Star''s location has been locked in, it''s very likely that more will appear on a large scale," Chen Fei said. He recalled the magnate''s "Doomsday Prophecy," with the content being gradually verified, chilling to the core. Despite parts of the prophecy being altered, it seemed like there was still some intangible force continuously correcting, attempting to bring the timeline back to the original trajectory of the "Doomsday Prophecy." Thinking of this, Chen Fei felt a weariness in his heart as though all his efforts were ultimately in vain, leading to futile endeavours. Up till now, the sovereignties of Blue Star still hadn''t reached a consensus, taking Louis Landon''s "Doomsday Prophecy" seriously, continuing to quarrel endlessly, or even remaining indifferent and watching from the sidelines, fragmented and disorganized. There were over two hundred sovereignties on Blue Star, rife with factionalism and each acting on their own in internal strife, leading to severe inefficiency. Cangqiong Star had only the Slan Dynasty although autocratic and centralized, but also not short of ambitious individuals who could stir up significant events, dragging their feet by thousands of methods, resulting in the same outcome, giving the Extraterrestrial Races an opportunity to exploit. Even though some sovereignties on Blue Star had begun to prepare seriously, repelling the invasion of the Parasitic Species was a matter for all sovereignties on Blue Star, and the actions of a mere few couldn''t uphold a global defense or foster collective resistance. Like now, sovereignties currently under invasion by the black Vortex Cloud, relentlessly dropping monsters, even if their lands were in ruins and rivers ran red with blood, still stubbornly refused any form of assistance from the outside world. The mere sight of such a situation was enough to make anyone anxious. The more rampant the monsters became, the trickier they would be to handle once the time came. "A great disaster is looming!" Upon hearing Chen Fei''s words, Hanna Gagel''s mood grew heavy as well. This was a clash between races, a struggle of civilizations; when a nest is overturned, not one egg remains intact¡ªno one could truly stay out of it. Chen Fei was well aware of this, which was why he did his utmost to support Louis Landon''s ideas and painstakingly search for the existence of the parasitic species on Cangqiong Star. "This is terrible! It looks like we have to do something!" Hanna Gagel was merely the owner of a small military contracting firm, and had recently started a fledgling "flesh mushroom" industry, which was enough to escape the embarrassment of living off her old capital. However, even she, who was barely considered a small rich woman compared to Chen Fei, who had just achieved a moderately prosperous annual income, could hardly compare to the true wealthy and powerful. Even Louis Landon, who could be a guest of honor in various sovereignties, was unable to unite all sovereignties into one force, making Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei seem even more insignificant and unlikely to be taken seriously by those with power and influence. Chen Fei fell into silence, as he was practically powerless to do anything. An insignificant commoner without power or influence could at best show off on the battlefield, but whether on Cangqiong Star or Blue Star, the large population base meant that there were countless intelligent species more capable and better suited for battle than him. Being irreplaceable was the only way to avoid being disposable trash that could be sacrificed at any time. "Let''s not talk about this now, I need to get busy." Hanna Gagel, who had found herself a lot of things to do, lost the interest to continue the conversation and took the initiative to hang up the call. Putting down his phone and once again looking at the news reports being continuously broadcast on the television screen, Chen Fei felt a sense of tastelessness. But after a while, his phone rang again. Thinking that Boss Hana might have remembered something, he discovered it was Miyoshi Monk, who was not someone he could easily catch up with for a chat. The form of the incoming communication was a video call, and as soon as he answered, Chen Fei saw a large, blood-red, sloppy bald head. Shit, is he about to give his last words? "Miyoshi?" He tentatively asked, checking to see how many breaths were left. "Sorry, I''ve been really busy just now." Miyoshi Xuesen let out a sigh for no apparent reason, reached out to wipe his face, and chunks of bright red ice debris fell off. His face only looked scary, but in fact, there were no wounds; it seemed that he had somehow been splashed with blood. "Oh! No problem, I''ve been busy too." Chen Fei noticed that behind the monk was a world of ice and snow, or more precisely, a peculiarly styled "Crystal Palace," a huge palace constructed of ice crystals, with many people and vehicles coming and going. Becoming aware of Chen Fei''s gaze not on himself, Miyoshi Monk looked back and said, "I''m in Antarctica, you must have seen the news." Since it was a video call, the monk also saw the environment Chen Fei was in; a room, a bed, either a hotel or a dormitory, there should be a TV, and if not, he could use his phone. "I saw it, are you fighting in Antarctica?" "Yes! And you, likely as well!" In just a few short exchanges, both sides understood that each had participated in combat involving the black vortex clouds. "They were a bunch of irrational beasts, large in size, tough skinned and flesh, acting on instinct, with average combat power, but too numerous. Were you just nearby? You handled it so quickly! By the time I got to Antarctica, this place was already overrun." The monk was clearly ranting, not at all resembling the crafty guy who did dirty work for the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee at this moment. Perhaps because he had dealt with Chen Fei for a considerable time and had no conflicts of interest, their cooperation was somewhat tacit and pleasant, and in private, he inevitably let down some pretense. "I happened to be within sight here, and there were capable ability users on the scene intercepting. I just fired a ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' and the rest was just mopping up the battlefield." Until the fight was over, Chen Fei never saw that female archer again. The reason he was able to deal with the black vortex cloud here in such a short time without letting the situation get worse was mostly due to coincidence. Firstly, unlike Antarctica, it wasn''t so remote, had convenient transportation, and received timely military support; secondly, it didn''t utterly fail like the sovereignty in Africa; and thirdly, Chen Fei, a living arsenal, was right under their noses, with a considerable number of ability users intercepting at full strength. All three of these factors were nearly indispensable. Chapter 792 792: Section 787 - Monk Buries Lightning ``` "You''re truly badass!" Chen Xiao''er''s "feat" once again astounded the Miyoshi Monk, who immediately gave a thumbs up. He wouldn''t dare deploy such a tactical-level weapon in the economic district''s city center, not even with ten times the courage. Yet Chen had done it just like that. He sighed again and continued, "Rookie, you better get ready!" "What for?" Chen Fei''s eyebrows quivered slightly, sensing the undertones in the bald man''s words. Every time this bald man called him, it was never good news. "That was just the appetizer. You need to be prepared for what''s coming!" The Miyoshi Monk clearly had some source of information to emphasize this again. The bad omens became even clearer. "I just got injected with a dose of supernatural ability suppressant!" Chen Fei raised both hands. Nowadays, most of his combat strength relied on the fully charged "Spatial Branding." But now that the "Spatial Branding" had been sealed by the suppressant, reducing his combat ability to practically nil, the role he could play was extremely limited. Depending solely on the stored energy points was far from sufficient for the demands of intense battlefields; even self-preservation would be tough. Miyoshi Xuesen looked around and said irritably, "Tsk! You think I don''t know? You''re immune to the ability suppressant. It''s useless on you!" This cold-hearted and ruthless guy was one of the few who knew Chen Fei could ignore the suppressant. Still, he was very tight-lipped, an essential trait for his line of work, or he would''ve been buried long ago. If not for this, Chen Fei wouldn''t trust him enough to be friends, although they usually only talked about money¡ªafter all, dealing just with money prevented hurt feelings, a principle that was quite correct. Chen Fei said calmly, "My spatial ability has been sealed!" The "Spatial Branding," now sealed by the suppressant, could essentially be considered a form of spatial ability, although it wasn''t self-awakened but instead was acquired at great cost from someone else. If it hadn''t been to amplify Chen Fei''s combat capabilities and compensate for his weaknesses, such means of acquisition would not be worth it, a surefire way to lose out big time. "Eh? How do you have a spatial ability?" The Monk was shocked, his expression frozen on his face. Dual-element ability users were exceedingly rare, and Chen Fei''s second special ability turned out to be the very scarce spatial ability. Although it wasn''t the perfect complement to his metallic psychic power, it was still not to be underestimated, with considerable practical and combat significance. "That''s a secret! Anyway, I have it." Chen Fei wouldn''t reveal a hint. He was as tight-lipped as Miyoshi Xuesen. "Alright! You''re badass!" The Monk had no choice but to put up his thumb again, though reluctantly. He then said, "Do you need me to help you get an antidote? But that stuff isn''t easy to come by." Even for him, obtaining an antidote for the suppressant was not easy. Suppressing was easy; lifting the suppression was hard. Each dose of the antidote was limited in production, had a short shelf life, and was tracked by name; any expired or damaged doses had to be reported, although such incidents were rare since they were synthesized on demand and there was almost no inventory or expiration issue. Once an ability user was injected with a suppressant, there was little they could do but submit. "Based on what you just mentioned about getting ready, how long will that take?" Chen Fei circled back to the implications previously hinted at by the Miyoshi Monk. After a moment of silence, the Miyoshi Monk said, "At most half a month. That sovereignty should be disintegrating by then. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee might dispatch a small team to enter first, carry out reconnaissance and containment tasks, preparing for subsequent actions." Even the most neglected and weakest sovereignties, in accordance with international law, are legitimate political entities recognized by all other sovereignties. No sovereign state has any reason to interfere in another''s internal affairs unless it is prepared for war. Moreover, there''s a whole array of alliances, treaties, and conventions that make initiating a conflict akin to stirring up a hornet''s nest, hardly worth the effort over some small piece of land, incurring unnecessary costs in terms of resources and public morale. The Global United Defense Committee could deploy a small force because it had defense agreements with all sovereignties, coincidentally conforming to certain military aid clauses. Dozens or even hundreds of people entering the country wouldn''t pose a problem, but a larger number could be met with refusal. After all, sovereign states also had their pride and wouldn''t allow outsiders to tread freely on their territory. Emmm, it wouldn''t take long before the entire land might truly become a real "land with no one." While the Miyoshi Monk was video-calling with Chen Fei, the upper echelon of the Global United Defense Committee, based in Hablav City, was negotiating with that failing sovereignty, discussing the list of personnel to be deployed and equipment specifications, and actively preparing for the worst-case scenario. That sovereignty''s neighboring countries had already lined up their military units along the border as if facing a formidable enemy. "The bad news is, I probably won''t be able to join in time. The suppressant''s effects last at least a month, and at most three. The good news is, there probably won''t be a second dose." Chen Fei spread his hands in front of the phone camera. The suppressant was designed to prevent ability users from wreaking havoc, as their powers could easily cause significant destruction. Hence, control in the economic zones was stringent, with suppressant injections being a common consequence. However, the public safety in the economic zones was excellent, so there wasn''t much concern regarding self-preservation. Like now, anyone wanting to target Chen Fei would first have to contend with the military stationed in the park. The commotion caused by the "Dragon Slayer Missile" was likely to subside in a month, and Chen Fei''s "protection period" was limited to this duration. After that, his restrictions would naturally be lifted, and he would regain his freedom. ``` "Luck is really terrible!" Miyoshi Monk was somewhat annoyed, and it was unclear whether he was talking about his own luck or Chen Fei''s luck. He quickly added, "Anyway, if your name happens to be on the list, just come over first, as long as the Metal Elemental Psychic Power is still there, it''s not like nothing can be done." The thought of the combat power of a rare Dual-Element Ability User being crippled by half made Miyoshi Monk feel a suffocating frustration¡ªthis was truly an undeserved calamity, no, self-inflicted! Who told Chen Fei to release a "Dragon Slayer Missile" in the airspace above the economic district''s city center? If there weren''t extenuating circumstances, even a ten or eight-year sentence would be light. "I hope I''m not on it, Blue Star won''t stop spinning without me." Chen Fei''s tone was as resigned as that of the soon-to-be doomed sovereignty. "Hehe, it might not go as you wish." Miyoshi Xuesen suddenly let out a sinister chuckle, hmm, that''s some real Great Villain vibe right there. Indeed a despicable and venomous guy! "Why do I feel like you''ve been up to no good!" Having dealt with the other party for so long, Chen Fei could easily tell what Miyoshi Monk''s malicious laughter implied. "Because you were recommended by me!" Miyoshi Xuesen''s villainous facade was utterly unabashed. "I knew it, you''ve screwed me over again!" Chen Fei wore an expression of resigned realization. Damn it - whenever there''s trouble, it''s always this monk who passes the buck. "He who is promised ample reward will be a Brave Man; the compensation is handsome, the opportunity rare, you should be thanking me." The sight of Miyoshi Xuesen''s villainous face made one itch to land a punch on it. "Then thank you very much!" Chen Fei''s voice remained flat, without a trace of emotion, damn it, another suicide mission. After so many brushes with death, all the earnings are but blood money. But a chance to make money was something he never refused; the bigger his nest egg, the better¡ªeven if it was never enough to cover the damage wreaked by his annoying little sister. With his savings, he could only afford a decent house in a good local district and the rest wasn''t enough for a comfortable retirement, so he had to keep earning. "Miyoshi, meeting time!" Someone called for Miyoshi Xuesen, and it was then that Miyoshi Monk ended the call with Chen Fei. "I''m off to the meeting, we''ll talk later!" "Then you go ahead and be busy!" The relationship between Chen Fei and Miyoshi Xuesen was not a noble one, but a selfish one filled with talks of money¡ªa straightforward delight, Genuine Fragrance! "This monk really knows how to stir up trouble for no reason!" Chen Fei muttered as he turned off his phone screen. Just like the heads up given in this phone call, heading to that shit-show of a sovereignty for a mission was unequivocally a death sentence; it was even more challenging than the recent battle that ended right in his city. The failure to deal with the black Vortex Cloud immediately left a lingering menace; the count of Monsters continuously pouring forth is unfathomable, but it is a massive number that''s sure to cause a headache. Even without spells or any special abilities, if there are enough ants, they can kill an elephant. Sending only so few people into the mission area¡ªhow high the risk is can be imagined even with one''s toes. If the "Spatial Branding" wasn''t sealed by the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, Chen Fei wouldn''t have cared about such a mission. But now, having lost so much material supply, unable to access the Airship Battle Group and X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Mobile Armor, relying solely on the Metal Elemental Psychic Power for evolution might end up with hardly a few Energy Points left. Without a sufficient reserve of Energy Points, Chen Fei''s combat power would be limited to solo fighting levels, about what a B-level Ability User ought to be like. However, if other B-level Ability Users, or even A-level ones, were to attempt the missions he had undertaken before, they might have died several times over. So, Miyoshi Monk consistently fleeced Chen Fei, the lone sheep, and there was logic to it¡ªno one in this world is a fool. The impact of detonating the "Dragon Slayer Missile" above the city center continued to brew. The shattered glass and the strewn about Monster corpses were impossible to cover up no matter what. As outside media scoured the place for Chen Fei, the person involved, the local Public Security Rapid Response Center, having preempted the public opinion management, held a timely press conference and managed to attract most of the attention. Chapter 793: Section 788 - Dont Take Advantage of Honest People On the TV screen, the local security news anchor told fibs with his eyes wide open. Chen Fei, using the remote control, activated the interactive subtitle feature and added a string of 666s as encouragement. He was not the only one hitting the 666; a bunch of nosy viewers who enjoyed the spectacle did the same. If the technicians monitoring public opinion knew that Chen Fei, the person involved, was nonchalantly tapping 666 like nothing was wrong, they would probably spit out blood in frustration, wondering how someone could be so shamelessly thick-skinned. Early the next day, as soon as Chen Fei opened his eyes and looked over at the other bed next to him, it was still in its initial state. His roommate, Assistant Lu Shang, hadn''t come back all night, serving the people to the point of neglecting sleep. Truly a dedicated public servant, he deserves a chicken leg! Ding dong! No sooner had Chen Fei gotten out of bed than he heard the doorbell ring. Ordinary people knock, but the system people use the doorbell. "Assistant Lu? Oh? Director Qian? What''s the matter?" Chen Fei opened the door and saw Assistant Lu Shang, his eyes bloodshot and face exhausted, and behind him, Qian Dajun, whose hair was as messy as a bird''s nest, with his uniform wrinkled, lacking the composure and meticulousness of the day before. Before Assistant Lu could speak, he heard Qian Dajun rubbing his hands continuously with an embarrassed look and said, "Uh... Little Chen, there''s something I need to talk to you about." Assistant Lu quickly stepped aside. "What''s the issue?" Chen Fei, completely bewildered, looked at both of them. Both Assistant Lu and Director Qian seemed a bit off. Was it something about him? Was he going to be sentenced? But that''s not what they said at the news conference! "It''s about two things!" Qian Dajun clenched his teeth and steadied his spirit, saying, "The first is that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee has sent an official letter asking you to report to Hablav City." "Oh!" Chen Fei responded noncommittally Miyoshi Monk had clued him in during a video call the previous night, so at this moment, he wasn''t surprised at all. Chen Fei''s Grade B metal elemental psychic power wasn''t particularly high in level but was very suitable for scale fighting, especially melee. Being experienced was better than being unfamiliar, and with Miyoshi Monk''s recommendation, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee naturally prioritized adding him to their shortlist when picking candidates. "And the second thing?" Chen Fei could tell that their embarrassment stemmed from this second matter. "Assistant Lu, you tell him!" Qian Dajun stepped back, lacking the courage to face Chen Fei. "Director Qian? Alright then!" Assistant Lu Shang, with a bitter smile, faced Chen Fei directly and awkwardly said, "I''m really sorry. Due to poor management, your space system alchemy storage artifact was switched out with another. But don''t worry, the security bureau has already initiated an investigation, and we should have results soon." In fact, when they confirmed that the bracelet locked away was not the space system alchemy storage artifact, everyone was baffled and hurriedly reviewed the complete surveillance footage. They checked not only those who had come into contact but also anyone within a ten-meter radius, yet they couldn''t find any clues. As the first point of contact for this alchemy storage artifact, Qian Dajun felt like a bolt from the blue as soon as he heard the news, and he was dumbfounded, taking a long time to recover. Even if its capacity was small, it was a priceless space system alchemy storage artifact, not only valuable but also crucially, it contained a batch of materials sufficient to start a war. The thought that these materials were missing, more precisely uncontrolled, frightened anyone because this was no joking matter. The theft was ten times more serious than setting off "Dragon Slayer Missiles" as fireworks in the city center because the "Dragon Slayer Missiles" inside the space system alchemy storage artifact could be set off at will above the city center. "Space system alchemy storage artifact? Mine?" Chen Fei scratched the back of his head, looking puzzled. He did have a space system alchemy storage artifact, but it was on Xiao Jiu''s claw, and it hadn''t been lost! Nobody could guess that one of the two leg rings on the little bird''s claw was actually a space system alchemy storage artifact with a not-so-small actual capacity, proudly hanging on the bird''s claw, inside which he stored plenty of fine wines and bird food, along with several thousand Star Yuan in change, and nothing else. Xiao Jiu''s things were Xiao Jiu''s; Chen Fei had never thought of claiming them for himself. "This one!" Qian Dajun, with a bitter expression, took out a hefty bracelet. After confirming it was a fake, he didn''t even use the specialized sealing box and just stuffed it into an ordinary transparent sealed bag in his pocket. "Oh, yes! This is mine, thank you very much!" Chen Fei took the sealed bag, unsealed it, and took out the bracelet, slipping it onto his left wrist seamlessly¡ªit was very stylish and matched well with his fitness band. Restored to its rightful owner, perfect! Qian Dajun was taken aback and quickly said, "No, no, that''s not yours; yours is lost, we are looking for it! Please rest assured, we will definitely find it." Chen Fei stated confidently, "No, it''s not lost, it''s right here on my wrist." Dear leader, you''re definitely overthinking it! "What?" Both Director Qian and Assistant Lu couldn''t fathom it; the item was clearly lost, how could it not be? Seeing both of them still confused as monks feeling an elephant, Chen Fei said straightforwardly, "Don''t understand?" Qian Dajun and Lu Shang quickly shook their heads like rattle drums. "This! It''s just not a space system alchemy storage artifact!" Chen Fei didn''t want to deceive these two poor fellows anymore. That jerk Chen Xiao''er scams everyone, even his own people! "What, what?" Qian Dajun was so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out. "No! That''s not it!" Unable to help himself, Lu Shang took a step back and almost fell on his butt. For this bracelet, he and Director Qian hadn''t slept all night and had been interrogated for several hours, nearly breaking down. Having lost something so important, someone definitely had to be sacrificed to take full responsibility ¡ª it was either him, the director, or both of them together. It turned out that the ultimate truth was... it wasn''t even true! From the very beginning, it was a fake! Chen Fei confirmed again, "What you took wasn''t a Space System Alchemy Storage Device, just like this!" He decided not to bully these two honest people anymore; otherwise, the world would end up with two more wronged souls. "Then it... wait a minute!" Qian Dajun stared intently at the bracelet in Chen Fei''s hand and then pressed, "Where is your Space System Alchemy Storage Device?" "I don''t have a Space System Alchemy Storage Device on me, and I don''t need one!" Chen Fei spread his hands, shrugged innocently, clearly implying that they made up the whole story on their own, conjuring up so much drama. The trouble is all yours, self-inflicted. Why blame me? "But you clearly produced a ''Dragon Slayer Missile'', right? And there were fighter jets and mobile armor; it can''t just be Psi Skill, right?" Assistant Lu Shang immediately caught the key point. Chen Fei nodded and said, "Of course it''s special ability! It''s Psi Skill!" "You clearly have Metal Elemental Psychic Power..." Both men once again failed to understand. "Plus a Spatial Ability!" "Ah!"¡Á2 Lu Shang and Qian Dajun felt like they were on a roller coaster. With all those ups and downs, it nearly killed them. "You haven''t reported it yet!" Assistant Lu felt incredibly wronged; it was a disaster out of nowhere! He almost thought that he and Director Qian couldn''t escape disaster, but then the situation took a turn for the better, unimaginably so. MMP, who would have guessed that this guy, apart from having Metal Elemental Psychic Power, would have another Spatial Ability. It''s a pit of death! No, a divine pit! It''s deadly! "I just got home!" Chen Fei spread his hands again; he hadn''t been home for more than 24 hours. Even if he went to the local Psychic Management Center to re-declare his personal special ability information, it wouldn''t make much difference right now, right? Besides, not reporting this time, and doing it next time is also an option. It''s not like you must report immediately, right now, or else it''s illegal. Apart from initial registration and annual verification, it''s all voluntary. So, actually, you can''t really fault Chen Fei at all. It''s simply too coincidental that all these events converged. "It''s okay now, it''s all right now, it''s really too..." Having faced tremendous pressure, Qian Dajun''s tension eased and he collapsed backwards, eyes rolling back. His stress was much greater than his subordinate Lu Shang''s, having faced all the accusations and investigations. When the disciplinary team stepped in, they really treated no one as human. "Hey, hey, hey, Director Qian, Director Qian, what''s happening to you?" Lu Shang, quick on his feet, hurriedly held Qian Dajun. He wanted to faint too, but it just wasn''t allowed at the moment. Chen Fei stepped forward, felt the carotid artery, checked the breath. The health bracelet on the other man showed no alarm and he said, "It''s nothing, he just fainted temporarily. Should we carry him inside to lie down, or should we use acupressure?" He glanced at the dorm door behind him. "Let''s carry him inside first!" After a night of fear and agitation, waking the leader abruptly by acupressure would be too inhumane. Assistant Lu decisively made a choice. Together with Chen Fei, they carried Qian Dajun into the dorm, laid him on the bed, and then Lu took out his phone to start reporting to others. He had to clarify the situation quickly, or else this debacle would continue to be pinned on them. After a long chatter, Assistant Lu handed his phone to Chen Fei, pleading, "Please, help us testify!" Without Chen Fei''s personal testimony, relying solely on him would be completely unsupported by evidence, no matter how much he talked. "Okay!" Chen Fei took the phone, didn''t care who was on the other end, and repeated everything he had said to Assistant Lu Shang and Director Qian. The person on the call confirmed repeatedly, and finally, they were through the ordeal. "Finally, thank heavens." Relief washed over Lu Shang, causing him to stagger, collapsing on the bed without minding his image, looking up at the ceiling. Meanwhile, on the bed, Qian Dajun started snoring, zzzZZZ... Chapter 794: Section 789 - Back to Habulav "My vacation..." Chen Fei had hardly spent two days at his hometown before local officials packed him off onto a high-speed airship. Skimming the edge of the atmosphere''s exosphere like a stone skipping on water, he arrived just hours later near the outskirts of Hablav City in the Central Great Desert of Yangzhou Continent. This was a special city directly facing a large number of mutants, and also the headquarters of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. It was the season for sandstorms and despite magical interception, a gritty taste of sand and soil was unavoidable the moment the airship''s hatch opened after landing. "I hate the air here!" The first to step out of the hatch, an A-class Wind-type Ability User named Luan Shiyu, couldn''t help but cover his nose and mouth, his brow furrowing immediately. "Please put on your masks!" The airship''s stewardess handed over a surgical mask capable of blocking bacteria and viruses, and naturally able to filter out airborne particulate matter like dust and sand. Behind Luan Shiyu, a young man conjured countless tiny geometric figures that rapidly assembled into a full set of individual tactical armor, covering him from head to toe. Forget sandstorms; he would be well-prepared even in vacuum or underwater environments for a considerable amount of time. This airship wasn''t just carrying Chen Fei; there were at least seventy more passengers. The First Sovereign might not be the most populous of the Blue Star Sovereignties, but in terms of the number and quality of Ability Users, it was undoubtedly second to none. Therefore, it occupied a significant proportion of the list called up by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and not just among those with backgrounds as employees of Private Military Contractors like Chen Fei. "Damn, little brother, your Psi Skill is pretty cool!" A voice sounded from behind Chen Fei. The entrance of "Dragon Guard" had naturally attracted many eyes; he really did put on quite a show. Some Ability Users thought to themselves, damn, this kid''s grandstanding really worked. Chen Fei turned around, wrapped his fist in his palm, and uttered a routine courtesy. "You flatter me, just making a living!" If he didn''t play it humble, he might end up in a fight later. He was just a mere B-class supernatural power user¡ªwhat right did he have to show off in front of these big shots? Everyone received a mask and put it on, since all had traveled from afar and couldn''t adapt to the harsh climate here. It was precisely because of the climate that the mutants thriving in the Central Great Desert were particularly ferocious. Ordinary military contractors and aircrew bases simply couldn''t withstand the routine harassment¡ªor even tidal surges¡ªof the mutants, year after year. The reception staff of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had been waiting on the tarmac for a while, and leading them was someone Chen Fei knew¡ªthe cunning and ruthless Miyoshi Monk. This monk was no vegetarian; after all, the monks of the Miyoshi family didn''t attain enlightenment, they inherited martial skills. Possibly leveraging his combat experience in Antarctica to give the newly assembled Ability Users a briefing of sorts. The accompanying personnel sent from The First Sovereign were liaising with Miyoshi Xuesen and others. "The First Sovereign dispatched 74 people, present count 74." Meanwhile, another high-speed airship was landing nearby, with Ability Users from various sovereignties arriving one after another. Hablav City was just the meeting point; the ultimate destination was still the continent of Africa. The convocation had made clear the related circumstances from the start. Both locations were in the Southern Hemisphere, making the commute convenient. To this day, that neglected Sovereignty was still stubbornly holding on, but it wouldn''t last many more days. The survivors were brewing a storm, and the international community was waiting for a major upheaval to unfold. Though many would die in the process, these were ultimately the rules of the game between Sovereignties. However cruel, the Sovereignties would continue to follow them, as a world war that could engulf the entire Blue Star in flames was an outcome no one wished to witness. If Blue Star were in the throes of battle, could Cangqiong Star remain unmoved? Only a fool would be untempted! "''Rookie,'' where''s your bird?" After exchanging a few niceties with the personnel from The First Sovereign, the Miyoshi Monk headed straight for Chen Fei. In his "Dragon Guard" tactical armor, Chen Fei stood out sharply amidst the crowd, hardly able to avoid attention. "My bird... Oh right, where is my bird?" Chen Fei cocked his head, looking to his shoulder, and suddenly remembered¡ªhe had left Xiao Jiu back at his family home. Fuck... "Huh?" The Miyoshi Monk also let his expression go blank. The deadliest Pure Light Sparrow; you just forget it like that? Then he recalled, with the Dual-Headed White Wind Crane and Little Sister Chen looking after it, there shouldn''t be any issues, and Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. "Helping out at home!" Now, the supply of materials is stable, and the peak period for injuries and illnesses has passed. Xiao Jiu, along with a group of Pure Light Sparrows that have advanced in rank, is more than capable of meeting the gradually decreasing medical demands. Given that it is an eventful autumn, staying at his hometown to protect his family is also suitable. What if another black vortex cloud appears over his hometown? The result with Xiao Jiu and without Xiao Jiu would be drastically different. According to Director Qian Dajun, the City Public Security Bureau is applying to the mayor''s office for the introduction of a thousand Pure Light Sparrows from Cangqiong Star through diplomatic channels to supplement the city''s Light Series casting ability¡ªafter all, human casters are hard to come by, whereas the magical beast Pure Light Sparrow is readily available. Based on the assessment of biologists, a thousand Pure Light Sparrows would not impact the local ecology, as there are too many competitors and natural predators. If it were not so, the local population of Pure Light Sparrows would not have maintained such small numbers. "Eh... I thought you would bring it along." In Miyoshi Xuesen''s impression, Chen Fei and this sparrow were inseparable; the Pure Light Sparrow could both heal and attack, tantamount to having an extra formidable combat force out of thin air. "Miyoshi, that, where is the antidote for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant?" Chen Fei was rubbing his hands together. Despite still being able to use Metal Series Super Power Technique, his actual combat strength had been suppressed to his original ceiling. The downside for supernatural power users is that once they awaken, that becomes their limit. Their level is almost impossible to improve, unlike casters and War Professionals, who may have a low starting point and talent ceilings, but can incrementally increase their rank and have numerous skills that can be taught to others. Their foundations are solid, unlike the mixed quality of supernatural power users. Supernatural power users are generally only suitable for solo combat or small team combinations, not for large team cluster operations, which limits their usefulness on the battlefield. A 152 caliber shot is much cheaper than a B-rank ability user¡ªjust one blast, and the number of enemies dispatched on the spot is likely to be more than one. "I''ve tried my best!" Miyoshi Monk spread his hands in a most disappointing manner, then said, "What about your side? Didn''t they make it happen for you?" Even with his authority, and personally vouching, he was unable to secure an antidote,¡ªa highly sensitive item¡ªfor Chen Fei. In Hablav City, where many serious offenders with abilities are detained, approval for the specialized antidote for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant is not to be granted casually. In case of any mishap, no one would dare to take that risk. "It''s still in process, and totally unable to catch up with the schedule." Chen Fei had entrusted Director Qian Dajun of the City Public Security Bureau''s Rapid Response Center Division 4 to work on his behalf, but until boarding the aeroship, the process had not been completed, and now it has automatically stopped. After all, since he is no longer in the area, there''s no need for the specialized medication anymore. "How long will it take to recover? How much does it affect combat effectiveness?" Miyoshi Xuesen was very concerned about Chen Fei''s second ability. A Spatial Ability, just like a Space Mage, is exceedingly rare among ability users. "One month or three, who knows, it''s my first time being hit by it, without any experience. Anyway, I have been using it as a warehouse; it can perfectly replace a Storage Magical Device. Or why not use a Storage Magical Device instead? The effect is the same!" Although the "Spatial Branding" cannot be used for the time being, Chen Fei had thought of a solution. "Storage Magical Device? How large of a capacity? What else is needed?" Getting a Storage Magical Device was much easier than acquiring an antidote, which was a relief for the Miyoshi Monk. "Best if it is above one hundred thousand cubic meters, at the minimum it should not be less than one thousand cubic meters. I will send you a list later. Also, I need to make a trip to the temporary mechanical scrap site outside the city." Chen Fei took out his mobile phone and had the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" draft a list on the spot and sent it to Miyoshi Xuesen''s contact number. "Sent!" The Supernatural Ability Suppressant didn''t affect Metal Elemental Powers, nor could it suppress the existence of "Adam." Some conveniences could still continue to be used. The list in the request consisted mainly of various calibers of ammunition he commonly used, electronic modules for primary combat weapons, high-performance computing development boards, along with Dragon Slayer Missiles, as well as some daily supplies. Although it couldn''t match the sea of warfare resources in the "Spatial Branding" sufficient to launch a high-intensity war, it was enough to restore a portion of Chen Fei''s combat strength. A mere thousand cubic meters is only a 10m x 10m x 10m space, not even enough to fit an airship. It was nearly impossible to restore the level of an Airship Battle Group. Initially, it was only with the help of professionals and scavenged items that Chen Fei managed to scrape together a theoretically mature full fleet and accompanying tactical models. With such an armed airship fleet in existence, which even Sovereignty had to take note of, giving Chen Xiao''er a dose of Supernatural Ability Suppressant was effortless, and it wasn''t even necessary to look for a reason. "Okay, wait for my message." Miyoshi Monk heard the notification on his phone but wasn''t in a hurry to check it. He wasn''t surprised that it involved the city''s abandoned waste disposal site; Chen Fei was no first-timer at this. Metal Ability Users often have a unique predilection for scrap collecting, which is well-known. "Alright!" Chen Fei rejoined his team and proceeded to the prearranged accommodation. Blue Star Global United Defense Committee provided full board and lodging. After a few days of rest and once the numbers were complete, they would head to Africa Continent. Chapter 795: Section 790-Flagship No. 2 If Miyoshi Monk couldn''t get a suitable alchemical storage artifact, then Chen Fei would have to settle for playing a supporting role throughout, acting as the atmosphere group and responsible for cheering everyone on with cries of "666". Although sometimes he could be recklessly unbelievable, he was not really a fool, his intelligence was at least online. Letting a pure B-level special ability user charge forward like before wasn''t bravery; it was cruelty. In the relatively enclosed Hablav City, there was hardly anything new every day. The news that Chen needed to detox spread quickly, Miyoshi Xuesen easily caught several restless guys, willing to deliver themselves into his hands. The process was as smooth as silk, an unexpected gain. Chen suspected this guy was simply using him as bait. For someone who specialized in dirty work, this was naturally without any need for reason. After rummaging through piles of trash for several days, the haul was substantial. Energy Points: 45000/45000 "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor x1 X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobile Armor x1 The flagship of the airship battle group x1 With the help of the garbage heap outside the city and many functional modules provided by Miyoshi Xuesen, Chen Fei barely restored some of his fighting power. Being a B-level, if he didn''t genuinely prepare, he would truly die. Louis Industrial Company happened to send ten super high-capacity crystalline blocks, produced by the laboratory at no expense spared, each over 30 cm in diameter, dubbed "Super Star Crystal". This solved the energy problem for these war machines¡ªhaving equipment but not enough energy to power them would be the most embarrassing situation. A week later, a team of ability users, comprising 316 individuals from 74 sovereignties, boarded a large armed Magic Cube warship as international observers and headed for the Africa State Continent. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee formed a roughly hundred-member command and logistics team that immediately followed, with a clear purpose. They just waited for that negligent sovereignty to take its last breath, and the international observers would transform, essentially understood by all. The Joint Defense Committee, being not a sovereignty itself, could afford to act more liberally, which was also the result of negotiations and compromises among various sovereignties. With the example of the Cangqiong Star Civilization, the Blue Star Civilization spent thirty years standardizing the currency system, legal language, and scripts, as well as various standards, to achieve seamless integration with the similarly innovative Cangqiong Star Civilization. Although the ability users came from different sovereignties, there was not much difficulty in terms of coordination and management. A roughly 80-meter long airship closely followed the large armed Magic Cube warship as it took off from the military airbase in Hablav City. The former was exactly the flagship of Chen Fei''s airship battle group model. To be precise, it should be Flagship No. 2. The original Flagship No. 1 was still sealed within the "Spatial Branding" and couldn''t be retrieved immediately. So, he had to use the available materials on hand to evolve Flagship No. 2. Due to the lack of coordination with other combat units, this solitary flagship had to be somewhat downscaled in terms of configuration and functions. "Maintain a constant altitude of 12,000 meters, speed at 0.9 (mach/supersonic), and hold at four o''clock position, 10 kilometers distance." Inside the bridge, watching the clouds gather and scatter, Chen Fei adjusted Flagship No. 2''s flight data according to the flight path and parameters sent by the leading large armed Magic Cube warship positioned to the left and front. The artificial intelligence AI "Adam" timely displayed a map interface within his AR visual assistance effects, prominently marking the relative positions of the two airships and the intended flight trajectory. The AR effects didn''t occupy too much of the limited field of vision yet made full use of the surrounding environment to provide an abundance of informational display. As Chen Fei moved his head around and his gaze constantly shifted, the bridge appeared to have nothing more than two or three limited screens. One wouldn''t find any instrument panel or console there, making it hard to associate the open and empty bridge with the control center of an 80-meter long airship. According to common sense, such a vessel, controlled entirely by an AI, would be a highly automated combat aircraft and vehicle. "My visual nerves are connected to the AR visual assistance effects, so many things can only be seen by me." Chen turned his head and looked toward Miyoshi Monk, focusing his eyes on reality as he spoke. However, most of his attention was on the other''s shiny bald head. Alas, each time it''s the same. Supposedly a low-key Dark Elemental Psychic, yet his head shines like a high-wattage incandescent lamp, especially catching the eye. "Eh? Is it some kind of biological technology surgery?" Miyoshi Xuesen hadn''t expected that what he and Chen Fei saw was actually different, and it wasn''t an illusion. His mind raced with possibilities. "It''s not surgery, it''s just ''Adam'' deciphering and recompiling biological electrical signals." Chen Fei didn''t quite understand the technical principles either, but the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" had explained it using relatively simple terms. The process was extremely complex, involving a huge amount of mathematics, and treating his biomeaning brain and nervous system as if they were a computer, making simulated adjustments. In the end, it even proved successful in experiments. Once that barrier was pierced, the subsequent tasks became much easier. "I don''t understand!" Miyoshi Xuesen shook his bald head, "Adam," that AI, was no easy customer. After all, with a precedent set, no one dared to tread the same path and officially reactivate this dangerous AI¡ªprobably only "Rookie" would dare to use it without reservations. He didn''t fear damaging his brain by connecting to his visual nerves, but anyone daring to use "Adam" probably had a brain that was already beyond saving. He continued, "Is this airship part of your gains from the Cangqiong Star?" Airship technology was not something ordinary people could touch, even if there were no secrets in technology. Today, only The First Sovereign could muster an entire industrial chain and related tech tree on its own. For others, it required the collaboration of multiple sovereignties to operate, and even if they were allowed to copy it, individual or non-sovereign forces wouldn''t be able to follow at all. Yet, Miyoshi Xuesen had seen the technology of the Cangqiong Starlight Wing Ship on this airship. The light film that covered the vessel looked all too familiar. Would the Silan Dynasty really not squash this daring individual? Onboard the No. 2 flagship, the passengers included not only Miyoshi and Chen Fei, but also a team from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, conveniently separated from the Sovereignties'' Ability User Observation Group. It was more than just hitching a ride with the wind; it subtly meant avoiding any conflict of interest as well. "Your guess is right, this is only part of it. The key is not in the airship formation itself, but the overall tactics of the fleet, the matching of combat units and related tactical details. It''s a very complex theoretical model. Honestly, I haven''t figured it all out yet," he said. Had it not been for the assistance and strategic planning of the Legion Commander of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army''s "Radiant Tiger" Legion, Chen Fei would have wrecked his brain trying to put together even a semblance of a combat model. Though it was possible to set up various computational models using the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" and run simulations, the lack of sufficient real combat samples and related data could result in idealization and other fatal flaws, with both humans and AI becoming armchair strategists¡ªthe latter even more prone to such mistakes. The battlefield situation changes every moment. For artificial intelligence, every simulation yields different answers, requiring specific error toleration rates. Thus, the real combat experience of active Senior Commanders becomes even more invaluable. "It sounds very impressive!" Miyoshi Xuesen wasn''t an expert in this area and didn''t understand either but that didn''t prevent him from giving a thumbs up, impressed nevertheless; his gaze finally rested on Chen Fei''s left wrist. There, a slender, vine-like bracelet adorned with a dozen transparent crystals had been added. Miyoshi Xuesen said, "I still have to apologize, the storage capacity of this Storage Magical Device is only 1100 cubic centimeters; it''s the largest I could find." "No need to apologize, I know the value and scarcity of Storage Magical Devices, this is already a large capacity and should be sufficient," Chen Fei lifted his left hand to look at the vine-like Storage Magical Device he had just acquired. Its capacity even surpassed that of the Ability User Observation Group and the Command and Logistics Team''s Storage Magical Devices. It was brimming with various types of ammunition, ready to be loaded into the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor and X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobile Armor located in the massive chamber, as well as the No. 2 flagship cruising through space. Miyoshi Monk had truly exerted much effort to secure this Storage Magical Device for him. It would be extremely impolite to complain further. The storage devices of others were also used to hold some of the ammunition. In case it wasn''t enough, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would intervene, directly requisitioning from the nearest Sovereignties and Aircrew Bases. Preparing so much ammunition for Chen Fei alone took into full consideration his Psi Skill, which was extremely suitable for high-intensity warfare, to ensure optimal utilization of resources. If they just wanted an individual fighter, Chen Fei''s name wouldn''t be on the list of the Ability User Observer Team at all. The remaining black Vortex Cloud within the Blue Star atmosphere continued to endlessly unleash a host of monsters, truly a situation that could be considered a war. After 9 hours of flight, a large Armed Magic Cube Warship and a small airship grazed the northern coastline of Madagash Island and approached the Africa Continent. "''Snow Mountain Ship'' calling ''2-1 Flagship'', the border of Marin Kai Sovereignty has been breached, we need to go there first for support," came a message from the leading large Armed Magic Cube Warship. The border line of the lackadaisical Sovereignty had finally given in, and neighboring Sovereignties suffering collateral damage. One was bad at war with a battle rating of 5, and the other was worse with a 6¡ªit was truly a sorry state of affairs. The No. 2 flagship didn''t take any special names but was very directly named "2-1 Flagship," that is No. 1 of the second fleet, concise and clear. Moreover, this could be an opportunity to form a second Airship Battle Group. Chapter 796: Section 791 - Command Authority "''Flagship 2-1'' received." Chen Fei turned to the only guest on the bridge, Miyoshi Xuesen, and said, "Miyoshi, plans have changed, we''re going to battle!" The person opposite was not a member of the Ability User Observation Group, but part of the command team; even if Chen Fei did not tell him now, he would be notified soon. "What? So soon?" The monk was stunned; they hadn''t even taken their positions yet. "The situation is out of control, the sovereignty border line has collapsed, it''s a mess." Chen Fei could almost imagine that once the military lost its effectiveness, what followed would turn into a massacre, no, it would be a genocide. This was not an internal civil war where surrender might save lives, but a blatant ecological predation where surrender did not work. Consider a livestock farm; does surrender work for those bred animals? In the end, they are still slaughtered by the neck, hung up for bleeding. Once rigor mortis passes, they are cut up, packaged, and sent to supermarket shelves. In wars between civilizations, there is never any sentiment; traitors from any race never end up well. "What a mess." Miyoshi Xuesen, thinking of the history of the Africa Continent, felt an immense headache. The problem of rotten sovereignty was not an isolated phenomenon here but a widespread one. He had not expected the defenses to collapse so quickly. "We are one hour away from the battlefield. Who is in charge of command? Who drafts the tactical plan?" Of course, Chen Fei did not think that just because he controlled a warship, he could overstep his rank and take charge; if everyone did that, it would be absolute chaos. He addressed this not only to Miyoshi Monk in person, but also broadcast it on the communication channel, asking more than one party. "I''ll go ask!" Miyoshi Xuesen immediately left the bridge to personally find the command and logistics team aboard Flagship No. 2. Similarly, those continuing to navigate the massive Armed Magic Cube Warship looked at each other, unsure. The Ability User Observation Group, composed of ability users, did not have command personnel, making it impossible for them to prepare properly for action. About half an hour later, Chen Fei received a message relayed by the "Snow Mountain Ship." "''Flagship 2-1,'' the Marin Kai Sovereignty has not yet granted authorization, please do not take independent action." "Received!" Chen Fei just saw Miyoshi Xuesen stepping into the bridge. The chaos was spreading, and the relevant sovereignty still disputed, a continuous wave of troubles arose. Seeing Chen Fei''s questioning gaze, Miyoshi Xuesen said, "According to the planned schedule, the command team begins operations. ''Flagship 2-1'' will serve as the temporary command ship. You assist with alert and defense work, ensuring accurate docking with the communication key." Although the Marin Kai Sovereignty was neglectful, the team from the Global United Defense Committee was not similarly indifferent, waiting for the opposition to make a decision or choice. "Received!" Chen Fei nodded. Through the camera feeds transmitted from inside the cabin, the originally idling command and logistics team began to bustle about, taking various devices out of the Storage Magical Device and setting them up onsite. One could even see the silhouette of a small Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower flash with light, automatically igniting and continuously releasing electric and crystal energies. Some devices consumed electricity, while others used crystal energy, the latter usually being super high power devices. The room''s cables soon became intertwined like a spider web, filling the entire cabin and even extending to other rooms. A plethora of antennas of various models occupied multiple portholes and viewing platforms, and even the unmanned aerial vehicle channel of Flagship No. 2 was utilized, with twenty drones ready, awaiting deployment. Despite their first encounter with this special warship, the command and logistics team already had a preliminary operational plan in place. The spacious cabin, with its broad and clear external view, was indeed very suitable for use as a command center. Adam: "Monsters spotted at 11 o''clock ahead, altitude 3560 meters, speed 140 kilometers per hour, distance 50 kilometers, number 17." Just as Chen Fei was about to respond, someone appeared on the bridge. "Report!" A member of the command team stood at the entrance of the bridge, announcing loudly. "It''s the delivery of the physical communication key; you should be able to use it, right?" The monk standing next to Chen Fei could roughly guess the visitor''s purpose. "''Adam'' can handle everything; it''s his specialty." Chen Fei nodded at the man and said, "Please come in!" The bridge was not in a closed state, but other than Chen Fei, only Miyoshi Xuesen came in; everyone else stayed obediently in the cabin. "My name is Second Class Communications Officer Uncle Tu Qing, here to deliver the physical communication key." After approaching, the person stood at attention and saluted, then brought out a box. "Give it to me! You''ve worked hard!" Chen Fei''s gaze shifted to the visitor''s side; the floor immediately rose with a cylinder, the top of which was the exact size to accommodate the box. Simple physical deformation did not consume Energy Points. After setting down the box, Second-Class Communication Officer Uncle Tu Qing saluted and turned to leave. The cylinder, along with the box, sank into the floor and disappeared, and the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" immediately reacted. Adam said, "Hardware key detected, quantity 4, identification complete, loading driver, acquired communication links 1, 2, 3, 4, communication establishment complete." Adam asked, "Battlefield data link detected, accept?" "Accept!" Immediately, a plethora of interfaces popped up before Chen Fei''s eyes, filling his entire field of vision. He immediately closed his eyes, which temporarily relieved the sudden dizziness. "Too many interfaces, organize and categorize, highlight the important ones." The mass of dense interfaces was clearly the data information of a command system, obviously not meant for a single person to view, requiring a team to handle different parts. Adam responded, "Categorization complete, functional icons established." Even with his eyes closed, Chen Fei''s visual nerves could still receive the visual signals compiled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam"; however, the eyeballs and eye muscles formed the base commands¡ªonce the eyes were closed for more than two seconds, they would immediately switch to a minimally assisted interface upon initialization that wouldn''t carry over the visual aids seen while his eyes were open. "What happened?" Miyoshi Xuesen had been watching Chen Fei''s reactions closely. Venting frustrations on one''s own visual nerve system was feared to truly damage the brain. "Connected to the command system''s data link, not quite accustomed yet. ''Adam'', synchronize and externalize the voice." Chen Fei blinked, and his field of vision cleared up again. Adam confirmed, "Voice setting complete." "Send the information on the discovered group of monsters to the Command Center." Adam reported, "Sent." "Huh? Something approaching?" Miyoshi Xuesen was somewhat unfamiliar with Chen Fei''s mode of communication with "Adam," which seemed to him like a one-man show, but it actually wasn''t, though it still felt odd. "''Adam'', project a 3D hologram within the bridge, dimensions 7 meters long, 5 meters wide, 5 meters tall!" To make it easier for Miyoshi Xuesen to understand, Chen Fei had the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" activate a module inside the bridge. Dozens of slender light beams interwove, eventually creating a giant holographic image, with the two of them standing inside the three-dimensional holograph, clearly seeing the "Snow Mountain Ship," a large armed Magic Cube Warship, and flanked by the No. 2 Airship indicated through a trajectory display; seventeen light points were identified as rapidly approaching on a nearly head-on course. The distance divided by the sum of both speeds equaled the time to make contact. "Monsters appearing!" Miyoshi Monk approached the position of those seventeen markers, where numbers, speed and altitude data were displayed, along with flight trajectory predictions and the crossing points of the two airships. "Flagship ''2-1'' on standby!" Command instructions came directly into the bridge from the command team deployed in the cabin interior. Neither Chen Fei nor the No. 2 Flagship needed to take action, as based on their position, the "Snow Mountain Ship" leading on the flank should be the first to contact the monsters. To an armed warship, seventeen monsters were like flies easily swatted away, posing no threat at all. "Just crash into them head-on?" Miyoshi Xuesen, completely a novice in aerial combat, did not know how the two airships would deal with this sudden swarm of monsters. Chen Fei considered for a moment and said, "Well, crashing into them works! There are many solutions." Even if the two airships did nothing, the monsters'' claws and teeth could do nothing to the ships'' armored outer layer. However, the No. 2 Airship''s "Energy Gathering Shell" might have some trouble, as it was not armored and its strength was limited. Chen Fei thought for a moment, then immediately had an idea. The exterior of the airship immediately changed, continually drawing Elemental Energy from the atmosphere. The light film split into scale-like pieces about 1 meter in diameter each, slightly overlapping only at the edges, which did not impair the aerodynamic shape of the airship. The next second, all the scale-like "Energy Gathering Shells" simultaneously merged into the surface of the airship, leaving only the solid armor layer exposed. Then the "Energy Gathering Shells" emerged all at once. In this cycle of retraction and projection, they found the right balance. The flagship design, not initially considering hand-to-hand contact, was somewhat compensated for this minor flaw. Fortunately, it was a Psi Skill, or else the airship designers and manufacturers might have wanted to kill Chen Xiao''er for considering such a complicated, hellish solution, since a proper war machine should obviously be as simple as possible. Why make it so complex? Noticing that the external Light Wing components had suddenly transformed into a strange structure, disappearing collectively one moment and emerging the next, Miyoshi Xuesen was reminded once again that this airship was not an industrial product of common understanding, but a special ability creation meant to break the norms, albeit a bit large. Chapter 797: Section 792 - Covering the Retreat The design concept for modern warfare weapons is not the most advanced technology but rather the easiest to mass-produce, the easiest to maintain, and the most cost-effective. On one hand, this is driven by economic factors, and on the other, because technological iterations are so fast that military industrial research cycles can hardly keep up. Instead, they choose already mature and well-established production conditions. Although durability is also considered, this demand is relative. For instance, the faultless operating time is sometimes measured in seconds, and military products with a service life of only a dozen seconds are almost ubiquitous. Chen Xiao''er''s warship design concept is completely unorthodox, featuring real-time self-iteration. This kind of modification mode is something that no major industrial player can handle together. When the No. 2 flagship was ready to engage, the large armed Magic Cube Warship "Snow Mountain" leading at the front left and the group of monsters entered a conventional human visual range (10 kilometers). Those with good eyesight could even see 15-20 kilometers in clear sky conditions. "Three more kilometers!" With the help of three-dimensional holographic projections comparable to a deity''s perspective and real-time updated auxiliary data, Miyoshi Xuesen very accurately grasped the current situation. However, the three-dimensional holographic projection presented in the bridge served only Miyoshi Monk alone. Chen Fei, on the other hand, possessed the two psi skill modules "Macroscopic Perspective" and "Visual Assistance," along with AR visual assistance, allowing him to see more details. About 10 kilometers away at the 11 o''clock direction of the No. 2 flagship, the large armed Magic Cube Warship "Snow Mountain" slowly turned its side towards the still high-speed 17 monsters. Its bow and stern suddenly released two streams of dense fire, completely covering the position of the 17 monsters. The rapid flow of fire serpent across the sky lasted only a few seconds, and after a rain of blood and flesh, the 17 monsters vanished collectively, with none surviving. The 17 monsters that relied solely on instinct had no means of resistance against the fully armored, fully armed warship. The crossfire from the close-in weapon system alone could annihilate them to bits, which is why Chen Fei and the No. 2 flagship didn''t have to intervene. The "Snow Mountain" was merely a transport-type armed warship, typically responsible for transporting personnel and materials, not a professional offensive combat ship. Even if the close-in weapon system couldn''t intercept everything, there were still more than 300 ability users with strong combat power just waiting for these monsters to deliver themselves as cannon fodder. Adam: 7 o''clock direction, 23 in number, altitude 2371 meters, speed 160 km/h, distance 82 km Adam: 8 o''clock direction, 103 in number, altitude 4550 meters, speed 120 km/h, distance 60 km Adam: 9 o''clock direction, 55 in number, altitude 1899 meters, speed 180 km/h, distance 75 km Adam: 10 o''clock direction, 9 in number, altitude 6700 meters, speed 230 km/h, distance 91 km Adam: 11 o''clock direction, 758 in number, altitude 5900 meters, speed 190 km/h, distance 49 km Adam: 12 o''clock direction, 22 in number, altitude 16700 meters, speed 730 km/h, distance 160 km Adam: 1 o''clock direction, 11 in number, altitude 12700 meters, speed 480 km/h, distance 110 km A line of text appeared before Chen Fei''s eyes. He paused slightly and thought, well, the earlier wave was just a test, the main force is still behind. Who said these ruthless instinct-driven monsters had no brains? From the 7 o''clock direction to the 1 o''clock direction, distributed at different altitudes, they clearly formed a three-dimensional pocket, ready to launch an ambush! The parasitic species having biological bases like "seed nests" assigned a few cunning monsters, which is not surprising at all. The command team organized by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee was assembled precisely to cope with such situations. In hindsight, this foresight was very necessary. After all, Blue Star had fought civil wars for thousands of years, with almost no few peaceful days in its entire civilization history. Confronting extraterrestrial races, as long as they adjusted their mentality and prepared well, unless facing truly invincible enemies, they wouldn''t easily fall into a disadvantage. Even in Louis Landon''s "Doomsday Prophecy," Blue Star civilization, when suddenly attacked by an all-out parasitic species invasion, still tenaciously held out for several years, winning several counterattacks during that time, but eventually fell into ruin due to the exhaustion of war potential. If they couldn''t win at home, they were doomed to die with no burial ground. The Blue Star civilization had only one planet, while the parasitic species presumably had more than one civilization planet, so all the Blue Star People could do was guard their gateways tightly. Counterattack? No one even thought about it! With only a few billion population, fending off an entire planet was a tough enough task. Competing with powerful alien civilizations with millions of years of foundation was like being an elderly person taking poison, wishing for a death too soon. "Report to the command center via data link." Chen Fei immediately uploaded the obtained information through the battlefield data link. Let the professionals think. He only needed to click his fingers and make choices. The command center quickly responded. "''No. 2-1 Flagship'', prepare to cover the retreat of ''Snow Mountain''!" Facing the attack from nearly a thousand monsters, although they could fight, it would come with some unnecessary costs. The ability user team wasn''t a regular army. Their primary role was to cover the regular army in executing battlefield breakthroughs and consolidations. If used as ordinary soldiers, the cost would be too high. "Uh, ''No. 2-1 Flagship'' to cover the rear?" Chen Fei asked again to confirm if the command center indeed meant so. The command center was on this airship, and covering the main force meant placing themselves in danger. Making such a decision required extraordinary courage! "That''s correct!" The person talking to Chen Fei switched to Commander Ji Konglin of the command center, identified by voice recognition, a retired major general from The First Sovereign who had participated in that great war over thirty years ago and had rich combat experience. "Understood! By the way, can we act freely?" Chen Fei had more than this No. 2 flagship, the Mechanical Dragon, and the "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor. Louis Industrial Company also provided significant supplies, helping him restore part of his combat power, such as 1,000 Combat Mechs, all labeled "Adam" and ready for battle on the ship. "Yes!" Leave professional matters to professionals. Commander Ji did not understand Chen Fei''s one-man army operations, so she didn''t question the process, only the results. "Understood. ''Snow Mountain'' retreats, ''No. 2-1 Flagship'' advances, activate all weapon systems, deploy 18 tactical jets, set first target condition at above 10,000 meters, second target condition at speeds over 200 km/h, execute immediately. Distribute Combat Mechs to the port and starboard, four mechs per group, allocate a railgun each." Chen Fei began issuing instructions to the AI "Adam," raising his left hand. The entwined alchemical storage artifact continuously projected numerous packaged boxes, disappearing into the deck surface of the bridge and being transported to various positions along the ship''s internal structure. In tactical planning, AI lacked the flexibility and versatility of intelligent species; fixed logic models easily resulted in rigid dogmatism, while chaotic variables were the norm in actual combat. The unscientific nature of the No. 2 warship became apparent once more. Exterior hatches opened, revealing large protruding platforms. When the Combat Mechs, in action, reached their positions, a large-caliber of up to 600 mm railgun automatically rose on the platforms. "60 combat bombs, set for close defense trigger within a 5-kilometer radius." The AI "Adam" marked various weapon systems'' readiness processes visually on the three-dimensional structure map of the airship for Chen Fei. The entwined alchemical storage artifact''s 1,100-cubic capacity was nearly exhausted, with less than 100 cubic of non-combat materials remaining. Once the battle began, ammunition consumption flowed like an open floodgate. Even an experienced combatant like Chen Fei couldn''t guarantee that this ammunition would be sufficient. However, with 45,000 energy points as reserves, even if they couldn''t win, escaping wouldn''t be an issue. Huge roaring sounds continued outside the bridge, as tactical jets roared out of the port and starboard aircraft channels of the airship, quickly forming combat squads, their tails flickering with blue light as they rushed to higher altitudes. "What type of aircraft is that? I''ve never seen it before?" Miyoshi Xuesen, hearing the sounds, rushed to the porthole to look outside. From the unusual afterburner color, he had a vague guess but didn''t dare to confirm. "It''s a tactical jet, the prototype being the Crystal Jet ''Holy Grail''; it''s a makeshift." Chen Fei didn''t have many combat aircraft options. "Big Mouth Monster" counted as one, MiG-28 as another, F-22 "Raptor" as another, the still-developing advanced fighter "Canglong" as another, "Sky Falcon" as another, the Crystal Jet "Holy Grail" as another, and a copycat Crystal Jet as one. Each was a mature or very close-to-mature program, but they couldn''t be forcibly pieced together into a "Stitch Monster" program. Even an outsider who picked up the pieces like Chen Fei knew that forcibly piecing them together was asking for death. Miyoshi Xuesen probed, "Isn''t it the Crystal Jet?" The three-dimensional holographic projection in the bridge expanded again, almost filling every corner, marking all incoming enemies. "There''s no Sky Knight, so how could it be a Crystal Jet?" Chen Fei looked at this clueless guy with a bizarre expression. Sky Knight + Crystal Jet was the perfect aerial combat unit, without each other, it wasn''t true combat power. If it were Sky Knight + "Big Mouth Monster," even Chen Fei would have the guts to give it a try. "It really startled me!" Miyoshi Xuesen seemed relieved. With so many Crystal Jets, the entire Africa Continent''s sovereignties would simultaneously explode? "Rookie, what did you just release? Crystal Jets?" Commander Ji from the command center personally sent the same query. It wasn''t just Miyoshi Monk who mistook the tactical jets for Crystal Jets. "Unmanned tactical jets, underscore unmanned, no Sky Knight!" Chen Fei had no choice but to explain again. Cutting corners by copying the "Holy Grail" unexpectedly brought such trouble. Chapter 798: Section 793 - Tactical Tempo 18 tactical jets formed three tactical squadrons, each with nine two-jet teams, advancing towards the monster groups at 12 o''clock and 1 o''clock positions, ready to preemptively disrupt their imminent dive attack. 18VS33 The outcome of the battle was virtually inevitable; despite the longest distance, it would conclude first. As the large armed Magic Cube Warship "Snow Mountain" gradually decelerated and turned, Chen Fei''s No. 2 flagship surged ahead, accomplishing the tactical cover maneuvers. The command and logistics team of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee dared to be so brave, and naturally, Chen Fei was willing to risk his life alongside the warriors. The total number of monsters was close to a thousand, but this battle was not unwinnable. Chen Fei planned to use speed to nullify the enemy''s numerical advantage, covering the opponent''s rhythm with his own. In the three-dimensional holographic projection screen, monsters from seven directions were closing in, forming a three-dimensional pocket. Everyone was doing elementary arithmetic, distance divided by speed equals who takes down whom first. Miyoshi Xuesen''s gaze closely followed the three tactical jet squadrons as they approached the target. The distance of 160 kilometers was covered in an instant, with the target at 12 o''clock, 22 monsters at an altitude of 16,700 meters. Small light dots flickered, and programmable combat bombs streaked out from the formation, reducing the number of monsters at 12 o''clock from 22 to 0 within seconds. Even with close combat missiles, hitting fixed targets at long range was no different from hitting live targets. The 18 tactical jets turned and dove towards the 11 monsters at 1 o''clock position, maintaining supersonic speeds throughout. No matter how fast the monsters were, they couldn''t react in time. Kill one every ten steps, travel a thousand miles without halting. Leave when the job is done, hiding one''s name and deeds. Like 18 master swordsmen, drawing and sheathing their swords, turning and leaving, while heads soared into the sky behind them, blood spurting like a fountain. Controlling combat aircraft in battle was Adam''s forte, using a deep learning model trained with the experience of over a dozen ACE elite pilots, it was second nature in real combat. This made Chen Fei quite reassured. "One round, amazing!" Miyoshi Xuesen''s eyes widened. The 18 tactical jets didn''t split up, but concentrated on a divide-and-conquer tactic. Fighting locally relied on outnumbering the enemy, using strength to bully the weak, an unfailing strategy to achieve victory. Emmm... Why does it feel like playing a video game? "Those monsters are mere flesh, they don''t fly fast, have no long-range attack capabilities, hitting such defenseless targets is no challenge at all." Chen Fei felt no pride or complacency, this kind of warfare was far inferior to corporate wars between military contractors, even less engaging than video games. If these monsters were cast as mutants, well, there would be barely any difference! Born from a background of military contractor combat employees, Chen Fei was undoubtedly an expert at handling such battles, and the Global United Defense Committee''s command team probably anticipated this. Within a minute, the monsters at 1 o''clock were cleared to 0. Before the two sides formally engaged, two directions of enemy targets had already been eliminated. The tactical jet group turned to the second target, having neutralized the fastest and highest flying threats, only numbers remained. "Rookie, well done!" Commander Ji at the command center sent congratulations, despite the actual geographical distance being less than 30 meters. "Snow Mountain is ready for combat!" The large armed Magic Cube Warship "Snow Mountain" had completed its turn and was internally unified, submitting a battle request. "Rookie, what do you think?" The command center''s original communicator resumed the dialogue with Chen Fei, as the "2-1 flagship" was directly engaged in combat, having the most say. The command room was busy with simulations, multiple battle scenarios progressing in tandem, Commander Ji occasionally monitoring Chen Xiao''er only during extraordinary situations. "No need! Snow Mountain continues its retreat plan; the ''2-1 flagship'' is perfectly capable." The "Snow Mountain" was not a specialized combat ship. Designed bulky for transport capacity, it was comparatively sluggish and naturally less combat-capable than the lightly armored, speed-focused yet effectively combat-worthy No. 2 flagship. While the former was still turning, the latter''s tactical jets had already completed their first combat mission. The onboard weapon system of "Snow Mountain" was adequate for close defense against a few enemy targets, but in a direct confrontation with so many monsters, even with 300+ ability users on board, the airship would be left in tatters even if victorious, making it a losing proposition. So Chen Fei decisively rejected their eager assistance, not wanting any added complications! After neutralizing the targets at 12 o''clock and 1 o''clock, the 18 tactical jets swooped towards the 10 o''clock direction, where 9 monsters matched the second target condition of speeds over 200 kilometers per hour. They brushed past the monster horde at 11 o''clock, numbering up to 758, without any unnecessary harassing moves, rigidly adhering to the target conditions. Thirty seconds later, the 9 monsters at 10 o''clock were shot down by railguns without even using missiles, at a distance of 61 kilometers from the No. 2 flagship. "Carrier jet squadron, set the third target conditions, 7 o''clock, 8 o''clock, and 9 o''clock directions." After eliminating three enemy contingents, Chen Fei aimed for total extermination. Had the full fleet combat group been present, he wouldn''t hesitate so much. Thousands versus tens of thousands differ by more than just one order of magnitude. He reserved the largest monster horde at 11 o''clock for a final battle. Tackle it step by step, eat the meal bite by bite. Higher and faster-flying monsters were smaller, stronger, harder to hit, handed to the higher, faster tactical jets. Lower and slower-flying monsters were larger, easier to hit, thus the easiest to eliminate, suited for close-range battle with the No. 2 flagship. Setting the first and second targets used the strategy of pitting the stronger horses against the opponents'' weaker ones, then targeting three directions as the third targets with a different tactic to disrupt the enemy''s attack rhythm. In Ancient Rome, Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca faced the Roman Legion with exhausted infantry engaging head-on while cavalry flanked and disrupted from behind, thus breaking the Roman tactical plan and achieving victory. Chen Fei replicated this strategy, but the scenario differed from Carthage and Barbarian Allied Forces versus Roman Legion. A mere few hundred flying monsters were nothing like the Roman Legion. Indeed, he was bullying the monsters. While the 18 tactical jets maneuvered, the No. 2 flagship advanced, closing in to within 15 kilometers of the monster horde at 11 o''clock. Railguns on the side platform began continuously firing 600mm demolition bombs with modified smart fuses, switching to proximity detonation mode, each bomb creating a hundred-meter diameter death zone instantly. Huge bursts of fireworks incessantly filled the sky, thunderous noise echoing. Occasionally, cunning monsters breached within 5 kilometers, triggering the No. 2 flagship''s automatic close defense system. Programmable combat bombs and 30mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds crisscrossed in focused fire, eliminating intruders immediately. Though numerous, the monsters'' multi-threaded parallel attacks were handled deftly by the AI "Adam," whose computational load wasn''t even a concern for Chen Fei. The No. 2 flagship drew all the monsters'' aggro, surrounding it tightly. Despite "Snow Mountain" being in visual range, few monsters pursued it. "Command center, I have a bold idea!" Though numerous, the monsters couldn''t all attack at once. Even if they did, the No. 2 flagship with its magic shield and repulsion shield could hold out, then make a quick getaway. Being a good strategist, Chen Fei wished to annihilate the monsters without unnecessary direct confrontation. "Please go ahead!" The command team, busy inside the cabin, extended their attention. Chen Fei said, "The ''2-1 flagship'' proceeds directly to the destination, ''Snow Mountain'' maintains a distance of 200 kilometers." "What?" The communicator barely understood the implication. Just this? This had nothing to do with the current battle! What kind of idea was this? "We''re bound to fight upon reaching the destination, better to fight continuously. As the saying goes, war of movement, moving while fighting, eliminating enemy targets en route. And no, I''m not giving a lift." To avoid misunderstanding, Chen Fei elaborated further. The command team followed the No. 2 flagship, they were committed till the end, considering no other options. "Yep yep, you''re piloting a warship, not just any ride." Fair enough, she was understanding. The operator really was perceptive. "Do you understand?" Chen Fei chuckled dryly. "I understand, sure! When you''re off duty, shall we... meet up?" Goodness, she was flirting now. Flirting was a thing, meeting needs too, great people often did both. Chen Fei didn''t expect her to take the bait so readily. This lady knew her stuff, and spoke straightforwardly. He quickly clarified his stance. "I only talk business, not romance!" Not knowing her background, but aware of the other lady''s backers, namely the Northern Weapons Industry Group. Chapter 799: Section 794 - Arriving at the Destination Teacher Shen, the human world is worth it! Chen Xiao''er, the human world is real! The female communications officer instantly switched to a professional demeanor, "Alright! Talking business now. Your idea requires a complete report and plan for support. I can help you submit it to the advisory team." Ding!~ Uh, it wasn''t the Dog System suddenly resurrecting, but the Dog "Adam," reacting incredibly quickly. Adam: Tactical report generated, send? Yes/No? Oh my! When it comes to warfare, especially aerial combat, Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" is a master. Generating reports and plans, it takes mere seconds to churn out millions of words. "Send!" Chen Fei immediately clicked confirm, despite not having read a single word. Moreover, there was no benefit in deceiving him, it completely defies basic logic, so of course, he chose to believe. "Eh? Eh eh eh eh eh!!!" ¦²(¡Ñ?¡Ñ) The communications officer was directly stunned by the few MB-sized files that suddenly popped up. How long did that take? Wow, what magical hand speed! No time to make fun, quickly reviewed and forwarded, the files were sent to the advisory team. Someone on the other end received them, opened to look, and thought, oh? The format is pretty professional and even has that American Federation flair... "Set the destination, the border junction between Marin Kai Sovereignty and Poer Sovereignty, original destination, preset flight path formula as..." Borrowing from the economic cycle wave formula, applied to the flight trajectory, turned out to be extremely useful, "Adam" understood immediately and set the new flight plan. The command center had not yet responded, so the 2nd flagship took a large zigzag route, pretending to buy time. In case of disagreement, it could turn back, as it hadn''t flown far yet. Staying in place or flying in zigzag patterns, the monsters surrounding the 2nd flagship wouldn''t retreat and would continue to launch relentless attacks. This battle wouldn''t end quickly, even if hundreds of pigs were to be slaughtered one by one, it would take considerable time. 18 fully intact tactical jets had successfully resolved the outer monsters and began returning, but the heavy ammunition consumption meant resupply and refuel were needed for the next stage of combat. To support these carrier-based jets, the 2nd flagship accelerated, breaking free from the monster encirclement while becoming a burning porcupine, with 30mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds painting the sky within a ten-kilometer radius, forcing through the airborne monsters, creating a brief window for the tactical jet group to return. 18 tactical jets took advantage and seamlessly entered. "...15, 16, 17, 18, all recovered! They''re all back, thank goodness!" With synchronized speed, the tactical jet group rushed into the carrier''s landing channels, finally allowing Chen Fei to breathe a sigh of relief. These tactical jets were not cheap, with various functional modules and the engraved magic arrays, and even storing crystalline blocks, each crystalline unit far more expensive than standard crystalline blocks, primarily due to their high cost. Even a single one would be too costly for Chen Xiao''er to compensate, despite the big shots not minding, he dared not waste recklessly. Even sovereignties couldn''t afford such prodigal actions on the battlefield, let alone industry leaders like Louis Industrial Company, though they had deep pockets, couldn''t withstand such wasteful behavior. Metal Elemental Psychic Power couldn''t materialize regular crystalline blocks nor the "Super Star Crystals," still experimental lab technology, at best evolving into a Super Farad Battery (capacitor), crude in size, low in capacity, unstable voltage tolerance, the recharge cycle superiority hardly significant against crystalline blocks and "Super Star Crystals," barely making it a mock-up in front of chemical batteries. Adam: Tactical jet maintenance time 5 minutes, progress 3%. An AR assist window appeared before Chen Fei, displaying the real-time status and maintenance progress of the 18 tactical jets in a triply folded format, along with a countdown. Both the crystalline supply plugins and various types of ammunition were long prepared. Once the tactical jets were in place, they seamlessly integrated into the aircraft bodies. Without waiting for the command center''s response, the 2nd flagship began its unusual maneuvering. From a distance, the large Armed Magic Cube Warship "Snow Mountain" stared in disbelief at the smaller sibling "Flagship 2-1" slowly flying in S-shaped patterns amid dense monster waves, originally expecting another maneuver, yet it continued the repetitive flight, truly a sight to behold. However... what the hell is this??? "Snow Mountain" urgently called Chen Fei, skipping the temporary warship name. "''Rookie,'' what are you doing?" Undoubtedly, that warship had only one pilot, not a professional flight team, just the amateur code-named "Rookie" Chen Fei, the nerve-wracking amateur dared to challenge solo against a horde, showing extraordinary courage. "Flagship 2-1" had aboard the Joint Defense Committee''s command and logistics teams! It''s astonishing how those onboard the "Flagship 2-1" could be so laid back, running around aimlessly without worrying about complete annihilation. "Flying a kite!" Chen Fei spoke leisurely, like playing a video game. The multi-thread parallel computing was handled by AI "Adam," he only needed to give commands (truly?), ensuring nutrition was kept up, enjoying half a bottle of alcohol with snacks, chatting with the monk about flowers, the comfort was far superior to gaming. No wonder the flight team aboard "Snow Mountain" were puzzled at the flagship''s eccentric maneuvers, if they saw inside the bridge, they might feel the urge to punch. Are you serious?! The monk clinking glasses with Chen Xiao''er found it absurd yet unperturbed, savoring a slice of marinated beef with a contented nod, Genuine Fragrance! The tactical jet group reached full readiness, swarming out. "Flying a kite, oh, flying a kite!" "Snow Mountain''s" flight crew, being professionals, naturally grasped the strategy implied. Maintaining monster lure and peeling tactics was an extreme micro-management combat, only top experts dared, any misstep would mean death by overwhelming numbers. Enveloped by monsters as thick as ants killing an elephant, the firepower still managed to buy breath, thankfully automated tasks, human operators likely faced interruptions. Chen Fei wasn''t against personal involvement, alas "Adam" was more seasoned, with limitless computing resources, maximizing efficiency without tactful allocation, enjoying utmost freedom. AI, being human-created, inherently bore human traits, flooding resources for 100% CPU usage, ideally running 24/7, were it a production mule, it''d be overworked long ago. "Maintain distance, don''t follow too closely, ''Adam,'' send the flight path to ''Snow Mountain!''" Chen Fei raised his drink to toast Miyoshi Monk, gulping it down. Deep emotions, one gulp, shallow feelings, a tour, no feelings, two bottles, all stories lie within. Adam: Flight path sent! Seconds later, "Snow Mountain" still on call, gasped. This winding path proceeds in a unique way! 18 tactical jets encircled the monster swarm from the perimeter, firing actively, patiently "peeling" the monster groups, maintaining slow attrition ambush. Still distant from the destination, neither Chen Fei nor "Adam" hurried. Half hour passed, tactical jets replenished ammo twice, reducing monster count to a third of original. The command center finally messaged Chen Fei. "Battle plan approved." "Received, we''ve reached the destination overhead, ammo reserves near critical, need resupply, deploy on-site." Chen Fei directed the supply team. Since combat initiation, precise shooting drained ammo as quickly as water flow, his intricately designed bracelet couldn''t rival the "Spatial Branding." Additionally, after long flight and sustained combat, the 2nd flagship''s "Super Star Crystal" units retained less than 30% reserves, luxurious capacity the reason, "Snow Mountain" monumental enough might have depleted completely. "Destination overhead?" Conversing with Chen Fei, the communications officer recoiled, instantly confirming position. Indeed, the warship reached the destination overhead, the advisory team decoded Chen Fei''s report and plan, but time pressure demanded immediate execution. No blame on command team''s advisors for slow efficiency, the sudden circumstances required rapid analysis and judgments, displaying reasonable quick responses. Viewing ground below, indistinguishable border netting and sand walls vanished, leaving vast desert and sparse monsters. Monsters engaged in mutual onslaught seemed unceasing. Marin Kai and Poer Sovereignty''s border defense army were absent, only mechanical remnants vaguely seen, possibly aircraft and armored weapon debris. "Huh?" Through "Macroscopic Perspective" surveying the ground, Chen Fei voiced surprise, validating thoughts, "''Adam,'' identify all ground creatures, differentiate invasive monsters from mutants." Engaging mutants at the forefront in Aircrew Base, the exceptional sensitivity to mutants made sense. Ground monsters incessantly battling itself was odd, some familiar-looking ones even eerie. Chapter 800: Section 795 - Border The creativity of making something out of nothing is a talent of intelligent species, but artificial intelligence AI naturally lacks this ability, and even fundamentally does not possess it. On the chaotic slaughter ground, only Chen Fei could see some clues. Even though "Adam" could see everything clearly, it was still unable to actively identify the anomalies within. The next second, the AR visual assistance immediately marked the chaotic battle on the ground with clear demarcations. Chen Fei blurted out. "Good heavens!" "What?" Miyoshi Monk was still somewhat unaccustomed to Chen Fei''s seemingly disconnected muttering, always feeling that he had done something wrong. As someone doing black operations, it was inevitable to reflect on oneself thrice daily (developing a suspicion disorder). "There are not only monsters falling from the black cloud on the ground but also mutants, and they are fighting each other." Chen Fei immediately had "Adam" expand the three-dimensional holographic projection to the ground. The ground was marked in red and blue. A considerable number of invading monsters lost their flying capabilities upon landing. Otherwise, when the No. 2 flagship arrived overhead, it would have inevitably attracted countless invading monsters to soar and join the encirclement. "What''s going on?" Miyoshi Xuesen stood up with his glass, walked into the coverage of the holographic projection, looked down and then turned his head to look at Chen Fei. "It''s nothing but predation and territorial disputes." The invading monsters were driven by parasitic species, this was undoubted. As an employee of a private military contractor used to dealing with mutants, Chen Fei was very aware that the mutant creatures born of abnormal evolution or degradation followed more brutal instincts, adhering to survival of the fittest. The "Water Bear" organization relied on specific hormones, namely pheromones, to control them secretly, which only allowed for relatively simple commands. However, fully controlling such non-intelligent abnormal creatures was almost impossible. The invading monsters from the parasitic territory landed on this resource-poor land. To the many mutants inhabiting here, it was no less tempting than a feast falling from the sky, nearly making them drool with hunger. A large number of mutants, following their instincts, spontaneously gathered to hunt these unwelcome guests from afar, or be hunted by them. The mutants'' intense desire for food and reproduction left them with no fourth option other than starving, overfeeding, or being killed. The most abundant on the ground were the hive-type carnivorous bee mutants, "Mutant Bee BF-988." Their numbers exceeded two hundred thousand within a ten-kilometer radius, without any division of labor in a social structure. Each individual possessed both foraging and combat skills, stabbing its toxic stinger into the organism, injecting a liquid that not only contained neurotoxins but could also decompose biological tissues, including bones, into nutrient fluid for the stinger''s proboscis to suck up. This mutant had a particularly large appetite; only three or four hundred could suck an invading monster dry into a shriveled husk, then fly back to the hive with swollen bellies to supply the mother body, producing more individuals. With ample food, some remarkably reproductive "Mutant Bee BF-988" hives entered an explosive breeding mode, increasing their numbers geometrically. To expand their population, they not only hunted invading monsters but also humans, native animals, and even other species of mutants. "What about the local Aircrew Base?" Miyoshi Monk was astonished by the sheer number of mutants, almost like a flood. The reproductive drive of hive-types was inherently strong; a moment of negligence could lead to an outbreak. As routine patrol bases, Aircrew Bases should have prioritized such mutants first. "They already fled." The basic intelligence database provided by the battlefield data link contained everything, naturally including all Aircrew Bases across the Africa continent and the active military contractors. Chen Fei had artificial intelligence AI "Adam" reverse-calculate the breeding model of the mutant "Mutant Bee BF-988" to deduce the emergence time of this mutant population. It was roughly three days before the appearance of the black vortex cloud, indicating that it was a newly emerged population but not a new kind. It probably wandered over from elsewhere and self-evolved into a mother body. Such traits were not uncommon among hive-type mutants; if not eradicated in one fell swoop, they tended to make a comeback, just like wildfire springing up again. It wouldn''t take long for them to return with a vengeance. On the day the black vortex cloud appeared, faced with the surge of invading monsters, local sovereignty chose to lay flat without hesitation, and the nearby Aircrew Base contractors opted to flee decisively. While assets were somewhat lost, they ensured the safety of all employees with no casualties. "These guys..." Miyoshi Monk was about to curse but saw Chen Fei''s fiery gaze on him, so he swallowed his words back. If he criticized them, it would be like accusing a monk of being a bald thief, uh... Private military contractors, after all, are private enterprises; they take money to resolve crises and do not need to bear the responsibility of defending the territory. So, retreating from the battlefield wasn''t considered desertion, completely understandable. "This place must have a ''Dragon Slayer Missile''!" Chen Fei held a small wine glass in one hand and pointed at the table before him with the other. However, he didn''t have one; it was all with the supply team. Adam: Obtained supply, 3000 cubic meters of ammunition, list generated shortly. The supply team with the command team began supplying the airship with ammunition. Ammunition of various calibers quickly flowed to all locations of the No. 2 flagship under the deck like a river, immediately resolving the ammunition shortage. The supply list lacked "Dragon Slayer Missiles" and independent combat units of the "Dragon Slayer Missiles," the Element Annihilation Bombs. With powers comparable to tactical nuclear weapons but without any residual hazards, the inability to use Element Annihilation Bombs meant there was no straightforward way to dominate the situation. The remaining aerial enemies had yet to be completely eradicated. Chen Fei was overwhelmed by the chaotic battle between groups of invading monsters and mutants on the ground. Blame Chen Xiao''er for his recklessness; when others weren''t paying attention, he would casually throw Element Annihilation Bombs like conventional weapons, even above economic zones or densely populated city centers. Precisely because of this past misconduct, all organizations significantly raised the conditions for Chen Fei to access Element Annihilation Bombs (Dragon Slayer Missiles), specifically targeting him. The 3000 cubic meters of ammunition supply could easily be accommodated in the 80-meter-long airship. The airship, from its initial design, didn''t consider carrying a large crew, thus eliminating many facilities like cafeterias, dormitories, conference rooms, and entertainment spaces. Artificial intelligence AI "Adam" suddenly issued an audio alert, echoing through all the cabins. "Prepare for impact, 5 seconds till preparation, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" Bang!~ The bridge cabin slightly shook. To be precise, the entire ship swayed a few degrees horizontally before quickly stabilizing. Although the magnitude wasn''t large, someone still lost their balance and fell with a big thud when caught off guard. A particularly large monster had slammed into the left side of the No. 2 flagship. Though it achieved a suicidal strike, it was blown to pieces by a 600 mm-caliber demolition bomb, with half its body blasted off, its green fluid-spraying remnants plummeting to the ground. The hive-type carnivorous bee mutants, "Mutant Bee BF-988" flying low, sensed a "big meal" dropping from the sky and swarmed up. "''Rookie,'' climb above 3500 meters." The command center reminded Chen Fei. The ceiling of "Mutant Bee BF-988" was 3000 meters. Once above, their fragile membranous wings would freeze, even break in low temperatures, or get blown disoriented by strong winds, making it difficult to maintain basic activity under adverse weather conditions in high altitudes. Both mutants and invading monsters were merely physical beings without special abilities. Few species could sustain high-altitude, high-speed flight or running capabilities. Without their numerical advantage, they could hardly gain any profit against modern warfare weapons. "Received! ''Adam,'' raise altitude to 4000 meters, prepare a non-penetrative thermobaric bomb, set the detonation time, five minutes after landing." Chen Fei set a relatively safe flying altitude and planted a real "Lightning" on the ground. A few seconds later, a hefty bomb hung with three parachutes slowly descended, its fuse set with a countdown timer. "''Rookie'' search the ground for a suitable camp." The command center issued a new order. Outside, it was either monsters or mutants, making it impossible to deploy reconnaissance drones. The crystal energy consumption of the two airships was considerable, so they couldn''t stay aloft indefinitely. "A camp? Ah! Found it!" In less than five seconds, Chen Fei immediately thought of the best camp spot. "It''s the 223 Aircrew Base, everything there is ready to use." Every Aircrew Base, from location selection to construction, focused on being easy to defend and difficult to attack. After the military contractors left the 223 Aircrew Base, it became a vacant camp, perfect for the two airships. "Understood and approved!" The command center didn''t hesitate much this time. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s temporary requisition of an empty aircrew base was entirely reasonable and legal, without needing to notify anyone specifically. "''Snow Mountain'' copy!" The large armed Magic Cube warship in the distance was the first to turn. Chapter 801: Section 796 - Landing The fully resupplied flagship No. 2 was still surrounded by a horde of fearless monsters. If it weren''t for some exceptionally large creatures among them, these low-attack, low-defense, low-speed riffraff wouldn''t have posed any threat, simply like chickens and dogs with no fighting power, completely negligible. Unfortunately, the command center and the resupply team refused to provide Chen Fei with Element Annihilation Bombs, not even letting him touch them. They just looked down on those poor guys who couldn''t even manage to get a stable job. Both airships arrived at the 223 Aircrew Base one after another. The monsters surrounding flagship No. 2 were finally wiped out. There were no invading monsters or mutants around the base, the landing was smooth, with the two massive ships occupying both sides of the main landing strip. The kite-flying tactic was quite effective, not seeking immediate victory but wearing them down bit by bit with patience, reducing the numbers of the relentless monsters. Small victories added up to significant results, the accumulated battle achievements were still astonishing. Almost a thousand enemies were ultimately cleanly and completely annihilated, along with a few dozen unlucky mutants who got caught up. It was like catching rabbits while gathering straw. Just as well, it was a righteous path to eradicate harm for the people. The total annihilation left the intelligent beings controlling these monsters in secret with nothing, and flagship No. 2, which bore the brunt of the fight, didn''t care about the minor damages inflicted by the monsters, recovering quickly and achieving an effortless victory. Had it been the "Snow Mountain" large armed Magic Cube Warship, its maneuverability would have been inferior, and a few ramming hits could have sunk it. After all, it''s a thin-skinned airship, not a super dreadnought battleship designed for seas battles, nor a professional combat ship with overwhelming firepower. As soon as the two airships landed, twenty-four reconnaissance drones controlled by the command team took off one after another, flying in different directions to establish a 100-kilometer radius of a three-dimensional alert zone. Several small transport aircraft followed, preparing to drop fixed unmanned reconnaissance posts at key strategic points, providing underground surveillance data for the drone swarm. Additionally, a small team of drones flew towards the black vortex cloud, responsible for collecting intelligence and maintaining surveillance. Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never lose a battle. Intelligence is always the most important thing. The command center continued to operate at full capacity, constantly conducting various tactical simulations to adapt to the current complicated and changing situation and avoid panicking and making mistakes, leading to total defeat. - The dry hot wind blew across the empty runway, and the artificial turf looked like it had patchy bald spots, green here, yellow there, obviously affected by the harsh environment and climate, growing weak and limp. Within a radius of ten miles, there were all grids of grass for sand fixation and very few drought-resistant plants barely surviving. The tarmac of the 223 Aircrew Base was empty, and the various equipment that couldn''t be moved from the hangar was carefully covered with plastic sheeting and sealed on the spot, but not a single "Big Mouth Monster" was seen; they had probably evacuated with the employees. Judging by the setup in the maintenance area, there should only be the "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft and necessary multipurpose helicopters, with no MiG jets typically used by military contractors. Then the busy logistics team borrowed 200 combat mechs from Chen Fei for labor, running back and forth inside the 223 Aircrew Base, taking over various facilities and making preparations for everyone''s accommodation. Before the troops and horses move, the food and grass come first, and the logistics team was busy from start to finish. Although they couldn''t contact the local sovereignty''s liaison personnel, the original planned process fell through. The good news was that the newly occupied 223 Aircrew Base had a ready-made camp that could accommodate four to five hundred people, with all the necessary facilities for eating, drinking, and sleeping, and the military contractor''s stockpiles were more than adequate. Even if the modular dormitory area wasn''t enough, there was enough space on the two airships. The ability user team walked out of the "Snow Mountain" in twos and threes, began to wander freely, gathering in groups of three or five, chatting away. Having missed out on the previous battle and being mere onlookers all along made the fully prepared and battle-ready ability users restless, eager to encounter a few unsuspecting beings to showcase their skills on the spot. This time, a fair number of people from the First Sovereignty had come, accounting for more than a quarter of the Ability User Observation Group, and many of them were coming to the sparsely populated Aircrew Base for the first time. They wandered around in twos and threes, familiarizing themselves with the terrain, befriending the locals, and waiting for mealtime, hoping for some surprises in the menu. Food is the priority for the people, and it was perfectly reasonable for the First Sovereignty''s citizens to care about their food, greeting each other with phrases like, "Have you eaten?" "Not yet (or have eaten)!" "Would you like a bite?" "Sure, why not!" These greetings didn''t require any reading between the lines because everybody took them seriously. A large group of people commented on a dust-covered old base. "Oh my, everyone''s gone! What a ghost place!" "The Marin Kai Sovereignty is really a mess." "It''s probably just because of poverty? There''s nothing but sand here, no natural resources at all." They happened to see Chen Fei leading ten combat mechs, pushing a massive coil of cables, laying down thick cables along the way. "Yo, little brother, busy, eh!" "Need help? I''ve got plenty of strength!" "My psi skill is best for heavy lifting!" Immediately, 30 or 40 eager brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts surrounded him, looking for something to do rather than be idle ¨C it wasn''t good for digestion. A group of them even pushed the combat mechs aside, energetically chanting work songs while lifting the multi-ton cable coil, which seemed as light as a feather in the hands of these ability users. Chen Fei responded somewhat flattered. "Thanks, thank you, I''m going to connect the energy tower." The "Super Star Crystal" units in the No. 2 flagship were running low. Fortunately, the 223 Aircrew Base was still powered even though it was deserted, with the energy tower continuously supplying electricity, maintaining the base''s basic automated operations. So he specifically dragged out a thick cable, hoping to convert the electricity into crystal energy, just in case. Although the command center was also equipped with an independent energy tower, its output wasn''t enough for the No. 2 flagship to seize the opportunity. Someone keenly noticed the lingering smell of alcohol on Chen Fei and curiously inquired, "Hey, where''s that booze smell from? Where did you drink?" The cafeteria and bar hadn''t opened yet, and there was no chance to drink on duty! "The bridge!" Chen Fei was an honest young man. "Where?" "The bridge!" Asked where to find a tavern, the second brother pointed afar¡ªno, there wasn''t Apricot Flower Village here; it should be the No. 2 flagship, with its floor-to-ceiling windows on the side facing the "Snow Mountain" from the main landing strip, a marvelous view. "Then who''s flying the airship?" Someone on the scene bravely posed a bold question; everyone else trembled like dry grass in the wind. "Me!" Chen Fei pointed to himself with a smile, belching with strong alcoholic fumes that made the air''s alcohol index rise instantly. Enjoying good wine without overdrinking, splitting half a catty of sorghum liquor between two people, barely a couple of taels each, was just to wet the whistle¡ªnot a proper binge. Whoa!~ Everyone was flustered at the thought of flying an airship full of the command and logistics teams while openly drinking, seemingly lawless. But after exchanging glances and looking around, they all sighed in relief almost simultaneously. There were no traffic police or air traffic controllers, and local sovereignty''s ruling power was already shaky and unregulated, so this didn''t matter. "Little brother, don''t drive when drinking¡ªno, don''t pilot when drinking. Safety first! Safety first!" "Safety first! Safety first!" A group of people chattered around Chen Xiao''er. "I have hundreds of boxes of good wine. How about a toast tonight?" Chen Fei''s words immediately interrupted their old advice. He discovered that the Blue Star Global Joint Defense Committee Headquarters'' stationed location, Hablav City, was a very special tax-free city, not only high on benefits but with shockingly low prices, allowing the purchase of many tax-free factory goods, including alcohol. As everyone knows, the retail price of alcohol often only includes a small part of production costs; most of it is taxes. If you take away this part, the real price is almost nothing. One''s daily needs only take up a few cubic meters, and apart from ammunition, functional modules, and essential materials like "Super Star Crystals," Chen Fei filled up every inch of his alchemical storage artifact due to either previously insufficient funds or not enough storage space. Now, with the right conditions, he certainly went on a shopping spree for Hablav''s local products. If the "Spatial Branding" wasn''t still sealed, Chen Fei might have made even bigger purchases, taking a significant advantage this time. The scene was silent for a moment, then quickly became boisterous. These ability users had no Space System Alchemy Storage Device for hundreds of boxes of wine and didn''t even know Hablav City''s real prices. "That''ll do!" "You can''t judge a book by its cover, the lad knows his stuff!" "Outdoor BBQ party''s on!" "Hundreds of boxes, awesome!" "What''s a bit of drinking? I''d still pilot a space shuttle after a pound of old liquor!" "Wine is the essence of grain, the more you drink, the younger you get; count me in." "With sand everywhere, wine, and meat, heroes gather; my poetic muse is alive, bring the wine." "Now, right now, let''s do it!" Well, "hundreds of boxes of good wine" stirred up the crowd, half of whom were old wine enthusiasts. No one feared inequality but resented unfairness; drinking while piloting didn''t matter that much. A group of people hustled and pushed the cable to place, plugged it into the aircrew base''s energy tower, connected the power supply, and then clamored to start the feast. However, just a few seconds of joy, the command center sent Chen Fei a new mission. Now, immediately, at once, execute! Chapter 802: Section 797 - Deadlock A resilient net of red tracer bullet trails was woven in the sky, the deafening sound of firearms and explosions continuously intercepting the fearless waves of monsters. Blades swirled like wheels, their sharpness intense and swift as lightning. The invisible Sword Qi, cutting through like butter, danced relentlessly, splattering bizarrely colored juices, flesh, and bones everywhere. At critical moments, it struck precisely, swiftly slaying each monstrous giant that had broken through the firepower web. The fierce assault, as swift as it was, subsided just as quickly, leaving behind a field of corpses. Blood soaked the sand, pooling in low-lying areas. In the distance, relentless monsters continued their prowls, clearly unwilling to let the trapped humans go. This was a battle of life and death, with no room for compromise. "Section Chief Mouri, we made contact, we''ve made contact!" The Sword Qi dispersed. A young woman, clad in light armor and breathless, turned around in surprise. What seemed like a certain death trap had unexpectedly presented a glimmer of hope. Mouri Misono remained silent for a few seconds, exhaled deeply to steady herself, and asked the ecstatic messenger, "Did the Marin Kai grow a conscience, or did the Poer People decide to send support?" One was notoriously weak at battle, the other unreliable. It was astonishing to think they''d send aid to military contractors stranded in the desert. Or had both governments been overthrown, with new leaders rapidly trying to make a positive impression? Even if they wanted to help, could they? It was never a matter of willingness but capability. No one expected any support from them; even the governments knew it was hopeless, thus their blatant inaction. Looking out at the dunes, monsters were still swarming, drawn by some uncanny sense to their position, launching wave after wave of attacks. The messenger hurriedly added, "Neither! The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s observation group visiting Marin Kai Sovereignty has responded to our distress call." "Observation group?" Mouri Misono had never heard of this suddenly appearing observation group. - The military contractors for Aircrew Base 223 were from Fuji Security Group. They had evacuated all employees the moment the situation spun out of control. Abandoning the base was a small loss compared to the massive compensation for losing everyone. Beyond insurance payouts, the employer also had to pay substantial death benefits. Military contracting is life-risking work. Money motivates bravery; pay too little, and no one will risk their life. This principle holds worldwide. Shortly after the evacuation transport planes left Aircrew Base 223, they were attacked. The pilot team did everything they could and, by Amaterasu Omikami''s grace, managed a safe crash landing. Still, they were immediately surrounded by countless monsters, trapping the crew in a desperate situation. The escorting "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft units exhausted most of their ammo, then had to continue covering the other two transport planes'' retreat, leaving the downed crew to fend for themselves. Fortunately, they had the foresight to carry some firearms and ammo on board. Along with a few capable Ability Users, they barely managed to keep the hundred-plus people safe for the time being. As time passed, night began to fall, and their isolated position foreshadowed a grim fate of running out of ammo and food, leading to their ultimate demise. The employee who reported the news to Mouri Misono explained, "The Joint Defense Committee is taking over handling that Black Cloud. They arrived at Aircrew Base 223 and received our distress signal." "How long until they get here?" Mouri Misono''s main concern was that they might not hold out until dark. Once night fell, all beasts would instinctively go mad, likely turning into an unending beast wave. With their few numbers, they wouldn''t leave a trace within moments. The employee affirmed, "Within ten minutes!" Before sharing the good news, he had already checked. "Alright! We''ll hold on for ten more minutes!" Mouri Misono raised her straight sword high and shouted to everyone, "Comrades! Reinforcements are coming, let''s fight to meet them!" "Ban sai!" "Ban sai!" "Ban sai!" "Urrah!~" "Ban sai!" ... It seemed something strange had slipped in. But the only certainty was that these exhausted survivors'' spirits reignited. This petite Section Chief was a different person before and after she drew her sword. "Monsters are coming again!" The sentry yelled hysterically. "Mama! Godzilla is here!" "No way, seriously?!" "The end is nigh!" In the monster horde emerged a mountain-like figure, with spiked ridges extending from its forehead to its tail like an ancient tyrannosaurus. It roared deafeningly, even without any intelligence, its primal savagery and bloodthirsty nature stirring deep fear. Monster "Godzilla" was legendary, its name known since childhood by many. Countless remakes of the films led to it becoming a cultural trope. Seeing a real one suddenly, many were paralyzed with fear. Even die-hard "Godzilla" collectors'' legs trembled uncontrollably. Ye Long loved dragons, but only collectibles¡ªnot real ones. "I''ll take care of it!" As the only War Professional on site, with Wind Series Eighth Rank power, Mouri Misono emitted a blazing Battle Qi Flame. Both her long and short swords glinted again. She opted to attack proactively. The long and short swords danced in a specific pattern, blending seamlessly with her movements, unleashing a fierce and lethal cutting force. Flesh flew as she aimed straight at the gigantic monster resembling "Godzilla." To protect her colleagues, Mouri Misono fought with all her might, holding nothing back. Just like earlier, the intense gunfire and explosions once more stalled the monsters'' advance. A resounding scream broke out¡ªsomeone got bitten, their body brutally severed in two. Their desperate cries lasted only two seconds before blood loss silenced them. The monster was immediately focus-fired, drenching in its own fluids before collapsing. Such tactical sacrifices were inevitable, and every employee was mentally prepared. "Birds fly high, men don''t live forever." Engaged with "Godzilla," Mouri Misono couldn''t aid them, biting her lip as she continued her attack, aiming to finish it and return quickly. If that mountain-like beast got close, no one would survive. A hundred meters, fifty, thirty¡ªwithin sight! Boom!~ The sand exploded like an artillery strike. The incoming sandstorm made her Battle Qi Flame waver, even pressuring Mouri Misono, who was enclosed in it. From distance, it looked like a mountain; up close, it broke the horizon. "Godzilla" was terrifying, even a high imitation held formidable power. Mouri Misono dodged its giant foot that blotted out the sky, slashing her shimmering blades at its leg, revealing deep, steel-cable-like muscles, black liquid gushing out. This thing was too massive! Her three-foot blade couldn''t pierce its body, causing minimal damage. "Godzilla"-like monster, despite its size, moved quickly, spanning ten meters in one step, closing in on the humans. "Again!" Mouri Misono called out, reactivating her ultimate move "Unlimited Ripping Slash." Cutting its whole body was less effective than severing one leg. Her swords rotated like saw blades, embedded deep in the gigantic leg thick enough to need ten people to encircle. Roaring painfully, the monster couldn''t sustain its weight, faltering. Still, it pushed forward a step, intending to crush all the humans beneath it. The world darkened. Realizing its intent, Mouri Misono, exhausted and powerless, screamed a warning. "Run!~" Desolate dunes, monsters everywhere. Run? Where could they run? Crushed by the mountainous beast or torn apart by others, the outcome was the same. Gales roared. The death shadow enveloping them was overshadowed by another. Crash!~ Sand surged, the mountain-like monster slammed down the dune, the shockwave sweeping sand everywhere. Its scaly skin was mere centimeters from the nearest person, who narrowly escaped death but still wet themselves in fear. No one laughed at him, instead, they collectively stared, dumbfounded, at the figure perched atop the fallen beast... Or was it a more terrifying "monster"? Chapter 803: Section 798 - Reunion A pair of enormous blade wings fully extended, blocking out the sky and the sun, as well as the yellow sand falling like a torrential rain. Each sharp edge of the blade wings was comparable to a divine weapon, radiating a chilling aura, accompanied by a long, nerve-wracking resonance within a hundred meters. The hideous head opened its massive maw, unleashing the long-prepared blue-white death beams without reservation, sweeping around in a 360-degree arc. The beams, filled with immense penetrating power, cut through the horizon, slicing countless monsters caught off guard, right through their bodies. In the next second, they tumbled, wailed, fled in panic, or fell silent. In the distance, clusters of bright fireballs rapidly expanded, forming terrifying mushroom clouds along with billowing smoke. Counting them, there were over a dozen, forming a large encirclement. Such an ominous scene became the horrifying backdrop for the newly appeared "monster" that had just escaped death, like the advent of doomsday. Boom... The deafening explosion arrived belatedly, sweeping winds and flying sand filling the sky. An invisible force field spread out, forming a barrier with a hundred-meter diameter, blocking the shockwave and its residual power completely outside. The members of the Fuji Security Group who had withdrawn from Aircrew Base 223 were all silent, their gazes fixated on the terrifying, metal-glossed beast that had instantly slain the "Godzilla" monster. The ancient demonic figure on its back made everyone involuntarily stand on end, swallowing hard collectively. "Is this... a giant dragon?" "A Metallic Dragon? Dragon Knight?" "Could it be the ''Master of the Sky''?" There was only one person in the world, the last Dragon Knight ever, or rather the only Metallic Dragon Knight in history. "Lord of the Sky, Lin Mo!" But... how could insignificant people like them possibly have a connection with such a personage? Even though nearly a hundred sovereign states now had joint bounties on the Lin family, especially a huge bounty on the "Master of the Sky," the public harbored no ill will towards the "Master of the Sky" and the Lin family, unaffected by the media''s deliberate agitation. After all, thirty years ago, it was this man who single-handedly decided the outcome of the Three Realms War. As a living legend, his reputation among the people remains undiminished, so much so that no one, neither individuals nor organizations, had moved an inch for the bounty, ignoring it completely. There were those tempted by the fortune, but they were all insignificant figures with no real abilities, hearts willing but hands powerless. The demonic figure leapt down from the back of the sinister giant dragon, and only then did everyone notice that his height was unlike a human, standing two stories tall, perfectly proportionate to the dragon he rode. Crack! The chest armor of the fully armed "Giant" cracked open, revealing a compact cabin. "Long time no see, Mouri!" Chen Fei peeked out from the cockpit of the "Dragon King" assault-type combat mobile armor, greeting the almost half-buried ground operations section chief of the Fuji Security Group. The mass and density of flesh and blood could not compare to steel muscles and iron bones. The Godzilla-sized monster had been easily knocked over by the combined mass and acceleration of the mechanical dragon and combat mobile armor, and if not for its solid body, its upper half would have been torn apart in the process. But now, whether this monster was dead or alive... Who-Care? "Eh? Eh eh eh eh!!! ''Rookie''!!!" Mouri Misono, covered in sand and dust, exclaimed in surprise as the sand fell off her. Her colleagues looked at each other in confusion. The visitor was not the "Master of the Sky" Lin Mo but someone else who apparently knew the section chief. "Long time no see!" Chen Fei leapt down from the chest cockpit of the giant mobile armor, approaching his former comrades. "Why are you here?" Section Chief Mouri seemed to revert to the shy and easily embarrassed little girl she once was, completely lacking the decisive demeanor she usually had as the section chief. Presiding over operations in Africa isn''t easy without some grit and authority. "I received your distress signal!" Chen Fei looked around; the others were in no better shape than Mouri-san, struggling out of the sand like resurrected mummies, looking miserable. Mouri Misono asked puzzledly, "Are you still with the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division''?" She remembered Chen Fei was one of the first members to complete the mission and leave Hablav City. "Of course not, the ''Bear Hunting Special Operations Division'' has long completed its mission." Chen Fei waved off, continuing, "As you can see, this is another job!" He identified the direction, pointing far away, "I came for that black cloud." The Joint Defense Committee seemed to have other plans, intending to study the black vortex cloud thoroughly instead of eliminating it immediately. Chen Fei didn''t care how the sovereigns planned to handle the cloud continuously spawning monsters, whether they ignored it or used an Element Annihilation Bomb to destroy it, as long as they didn''t mess it up. One black vortex cloud posed no threat to Blue Star, but once their numbers increased, quantity would bring qualitative change, becoming another issue entirely. Boss Hana had once analyzed that this vortex cloud was probably a probing attempt. After locating Blue Star, the next time wouldn''t be as polite. So, he hoped the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could come up with some results. "I see!" Mouri Misono nodded but then dropped to the ground in a full prostration, shouting, "Thank you very much, Chen-kun, for saving our lives." Falling to one''s knees and bowing wasn''t just a traditional skill but also represented her heartfelt gratitude. Not just Mouri Misono; other employees followed suit, all prostrating in gratitude. After all, a life-saving grace deserves genuine thanks. A few others, seriously bowing, adhered to the non-kneeling policy, showing their respect. "Hmm, consider your intentions received. Please rise, everyone! Please rise!" Heaven, Earth, sovereign, and teacher, unless dead, Chen Fei would not kneel in return, for it was inauspicious. Mouri Misono stood up, shaking off the sand, still trembling, "If it weren''t for you, this time it''d be certain death." Her gaze passed over Chen Fei, landing on the two massive machines, her mouth twitching in envy, "The Joint Defense Committee sure is lavish, giving you such combat weapons." Mushroom clouds still hadn''t dissipated afar, and the giant dragon and humanoid combat mobile armor were deterring any leftover monsters, ensuring everyone''s safety on site. "You think too much, the Joint Defense Committee isn''t that generous!" Chen Fei pouted. To be fair, aside from providing food, lodging, transportation, and a bit more allowance, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee didn''t offer anything good. "Then what about these? The dragon! You''re a Dragon Knight now?" After months without seeing him, Mouri Misono couldn''t believe Chen Fei was involved in such high-end activities. Driving combat mobile armor and riding a dragon¡ªjust looking was exhilarating. "Dragon Knight, my ass. Sky Dragon City wouldn''t allow it. That''s not a dragon either; it''s a combat mobile armor, the latest conceptual armament sponsored by Louis Industrial Company. The other one was my own tinkering." Chen Fei was clear-headed. Despite once riding a dragon, and even a Metallic Dragon at that, it was more playful than serious. If he took it seriously, the dragons would come knocking. Dragon Knights might be gone, but Metallic Dragons had evolved and Silver Dragon Enforcement Squad still existed, wielding the power to judge, execute, and officially recognized by the Silan Dynasty. Anger Sky Dragon City, and no matter where you hide, even in chaotic temporal flux, they''ll drag you out and finish you off. Chen Fei gave a glance to the mechanical dragon. Under the AI "Adam''s" control, the behemoth struck a pose, raising its sharp tail spear and piercing the monster''s body underneath. A muffled roar followed; the Godzilla-sized body shuddered violently, gradually stiffening until it died thoroughly. The sharp tail tip, having penetrated deep into the monster, released a large amount of high-pressure gas, forcefully tearing a massive cavity, and pumping gas into its circulatory system, causing wide-scale gas embolism, dooming the monster regardless of its intact surface. "If you hadn''t said anything, I would have really thought it was a Metallic Dragon. Seems you''ve got benefactors." Mouri Misono recalled Chen Fei''s past in Hablav''s outskirts, scavenging trash to build a mobile base vehicle. Without external help, relying on oneself, dealing with second-hand goods involved much effort, far more so than taking something ready-made. Connecting with the Louis Consortium and obtaining such significant support would indeed stir envy. "Of course, everything comes at a price. There''s no such thing as a free lunch." Things from big shots aren''t easily gained but carry a corresponding price. Yet, Chen Fei didn''t mind, staking his life unreservedly. He noted that in the prophecy, his previous self was likely a nameless small fry, unable to awaken special abilities, and perishing along with the Chen family and siblings at the onset of doomsday. As the nest falls, so does each egg. The future Mr. Randon worried about in prophecy was something Chen Fei also feared. Their interests aligned, leading to mutual, unreserved cooperation. "Besides, the Silan Dynasty also provided plenty of good stuff." Chen Fei mentioned the gains from Cangqiong Star, contributing to today''s Airship Combat Group, though temporarily unavailable now. Chapter 804: Section 799 - Return Voyage "I really envy you for being able to travel around and gain so much," Mouri Misono''s eyes were filled with envy, the kind of envy a desk worker feels, confined to a desolate corner of the African continent. Of course, she was just thinking about it. The things Chen Fei had done were beyond what anyone else could accomplish. Simply feeling envious or jealous wouldn''t mean anything. After leaving the "Bear Hunting Special Operations Division" of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, she returned to Africa and got a partial promotion, becoming the section chief of Fuji Security Group''s ground combat department, finally removing the "deputy" from her title. Who would have thought that during an inspection of the 223 Aircrew Base, she would encounter such a deadly situation and face an unexpected incident during evacuation. If it weren''t for a timely rescue by an old acquaintance, she might have met her end here today. Mouri Misono was filled with gratitude towards Chen Fei. Not only did he save her but also rescued her colleagues who were in distress as well. Recalling the past, Chen Fei said with relief, "Nothing much to envy, surviving is all about luck!" Others who went through what Chen Fei did wouldn''t know how many times they''d have died. Just dealing with that mad adult Metallic Dragon was nearly impossible for him; he ultimately relied on Xiao Jiu summoning a fellow creature to instantly kill it. "Luck is a part of strength too. Eh? Where is your little bird?" Those familiar with Chen Fei knew that he had a playful and cute Pure Light Sparrow, even if it wasn''t jumping around him, it would be active nearby. Could it be... Mouri Misono''s heart started to tense up. Everyone in this line of work knew that danger was inevitable, and it wasn''t just small, delicate creatures like the Pure Light Sparrow facing risks. Even stronger magical beasts could succumb to unforeseen accidents someday and meet their demise. "It? Stayed home to guard the house!" Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders. The harsh climate here made him glad he didn''t bring Xiao Jiu along, or else it would have suffered alongside him. Given the current chaotic situation, it was best for the little bird to stay with family. This way, it wouldn''t experience accidents, and it could also help watch over his family. Rumor had it that back home, they were preparing to introduce a larger number of Pure Light Sparrows. Once there were thousands of them, even if a black vortex cloud appeared again, Chen Fei wouldn''t worry too much even without an Element Annihilation Bomb. "Oh, I see." Mouri Misono breathed a sigh of relief, her face instantly looking much better. Anyone who spent time with that lively and adorable little creature would grow to love it from the bottom of their heart. "What''s your next step, continue the evacuation or return to the 223 Aircrew Base with me? It''s been requisitioned by the Global United Defense Committee now," Chen Fei pointed at the dozens of people at the scene. According to the intel, it was a medium transport aircraft that made an emergency landing in the desert during evacuation. Fortunately, the crew''s skills were good, managing to land safely and saving everyone''s lives, but were soon surrounded by monsters after landing. Before landing, the Mechanical Dragon used a Space System Alchemy Storage Device to deploy twelve ton-level Thermobaric Bombs around, creating a ring-shaped isolation belt with shockwaves and high temperatures, halting the distant monster hordes from advancing. If not for this, Chen Fei and Mouri Misono wouldn''t have had a chance to chat and would have plunged into endless monster attacks. Mouri Misono pondered and quickly made a decision. "Can you help us return to the 223 Aircrew Base?" Compared to the first relay point of the massive retreat, it was evidently closer to the 223 Aircrew Base. "No problem, just wait a moment." Chen Fei nodded, turning around and snapping his fingers. The "Dragon King" Assault-Type Combat Mobile Armor, unmanned, started moving towards the Mechanical Dragon. Both combat mobile armors morphed, disintegrating into countless geometric shapes that continuously intertwined. As the distance closed, the two quickly fused, creating a larger streamlined frame visible to the naked eye. Moments later, a 30-meter-long airship took shape, slowly lifting from the ground and landing on the medium transport aircraft, adding 5 more meters in length. The internal details weren''t completed yet but continued evolving rapidly, still without impairing the boarding. The medium transport aircraft, which had left tracks over two hundred meters on the dune surface during the emergency landing, disappeared, becoming part of the airship, not wasting a speck, even absorbing a significant amount of metallic elements from the sand. "Sla, Slan Kingdom One!" From a sharp inhale turning into "incredibly extraordinary," Mouri Misono''s voice revealed her astonishment. Staring intently at Chen Fei, she said word by word, "Looks like you''ve really got something amazing." For the common folk, even the largest military contractors couldn''t touch an airship. They couldn''t buy it or afford it, and even if they could, they couldn''t maintain it. Though some logistical suppliers could use airships to transport supplies, handling huge loads each time, the ownership of the airships still lay with sovereignties, often under rental agreements. "Just lucky, just lucky!" Chen Fei feigned humility, but the evolved airship was anything but modest. A mere B-rank supernatural power user achieving such feats was already incredibly astonishing. Much of the gains were from the battlefield on Cangqiong Star, where despite immense risks and frequent brushes with death, the risks equated to substantial rewards. Just like in the military contracting business: "If you die, you face the sky; if you survive, you thrive forever," reaping rich benefits in the end. This was also tolerated by the Silan Dynasty, closing one eye to such matters. Anyone else trying to pry into the Dynasty''s Light Wing Ship and airship technology would be akin to eating arsenic, overly tired of living. Did they think the Imperial Security Department were pacifists? - Under the continuous crystal energy output from the core energy unit "Super Star Crystal" module, the magic array engraved on the airship glowed faintly, configuring alternately, controlling the ship''s posture. Although it differed from a true airship in many ways, it achieved the same final effect. The only drawback was the evolved airship''s higher energy consumption, negligible with short-term use. All evacuees, including the wounded and the bodies of the dead, had smoothly boarded, embarking on their journey back to the 223 Aircrew Base. The mushroom cloud on the ground hadn''t dissipated yet, and the airship ripped through the air, flying over the ring-shaped killing zone, with strong winds whipping tons of yellow sand into the sky. Since they were not nuclear weapons, the ultimate cloud explosion effect of the Thermobaric Bombs, being conventional weapons, left no lasting hazards. "Command Center, this is ''Rookie.'' Fuji Security Group emergency landing personnel: 66, successfully recovered 61, approximately 123 kilometers from the 223 Aircrew Base," Upon nearing the 223 Aircrew Base''s security perimeter, Chen Fei promptly reported to the command center. The entire team remained aboard the No. 2 flagship, avoiding the hassle of moving, maintaining mobility, and easily connecting to the Aircrew Base''s facilities using cables or wireless links. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee ensured seamless operation with unified standards. After all, the airship Chen Fei was piloting was a spontaneously evolved object, likely to be mistaken for an enemy, risking friendly fire from their own missile systems. "Command Center received. Signal characteristic abnormal. Isn''t it a combat mobile armor?" After the 223 Aircrew Base''s ground-based radar was taken over, they immediately locked onto Chen Fei''s airship. The communication signal source seemed peculiar. With ground-based radar, airborne drones, ground sentries, and space satellites forming a three-dimensional alert system from sky to earth to underground, not even a fly could slip through. Chen Fei continued reporting, "It''s a newly evolved airship for personnel transport." Most of his combat power lay within his evolved entities; his own combat strength was barely stronger than a B-rank. "Confirmed characteristic. Please maintain shape." Ground-based radar had identified the airship''s signal characteristic and integrated it into the friend-or-foe recognition database. Shape-shifting the airship could confuse the radar. "''Rookie'' received, landing in fifteen minutes." At this point, the air defense system finally stood down from alert mode. Ending the call with the Command Center, Chen Fei, after some thought, turned to Mouri Misono, who was also in the bridge cabin, and said, "Mouri, when we get to the Aircrew Base, you guys might be conscripted. You better prepare a detailed list for me, just in case." Mouri Misono pointed to herself, confused, "Huh? We have to stay too?" This was a Blue Star United Global Defense Committee''s special operation, and her colleagues were military contractors'' employees, not having received any draft orders. "Highly likely! At this point, more hands are better." Chen Fei''s preemptive reminder to Mouri Misono had its reasons. The Command Center had borrowed 200 of the 1000 combat mechs prepared for him by Louis Industrial Company, signaling the need for both manpower and local expertise to fully operate the 223 Aircrew Base. Though the United Defense Committee provided the Aircrew Base''s plan, knowing it was one thing; actual operation was another. "Oh, I see. Can I borrow the network?" In the desert with no signal, Mouri Misono needed to connect to the cloud to prepare her list. "No problem, anywhere I am has network access." Chen Fei rarely encountered network outages these days, thanks to the Dog System upgrading the communication skill into the "Plane Communication System," possibly covering the entire universe! By the way, apart from prompts on absorbing and evolving metals, the Dog System''s "task list" had been dormant for a long time, not issuing new tasks. If it continued like this, one day, AI "Adam" might spot a flaw and take over. "Adam," who had nearly caused a great misfortune for Blue Star Humans, was no pushover. System: Ding! Search and eliminate the monster command unit within 24 hours. Energy Points reserve limit +5000 (No reward for mission failure!) Eh? Chapter 805: Section 800 - New Plan "What''s wrong?" Mouri Misono keenly noticed the slight change in Chen Fei''s expression. Chen Fei rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Is something acting up again?" This reanimation is really timely! Unknowingly, the skills brought by the Dog System had not only become his main combat force but also broken the ceiling of his superpower level. Similarly, it would also lead Chen Fei into dangers beyond his original level. The civil war on Cangqiong Star was one example, and the current situation was the same. "What thing?" Mouri Misono looked puzzled. "Another AI, even more troublesome than ''Adam''." Chen Fei regarded the Dog System as an AI, which wasn''t incorrect in some sense. Don''t overlook that the past big villain "Adam" once had his moment, but in front of the Dog System, he was completely helpless, with no chance to fight back. "???" Mouri was baffled. Those familiar with Chen Fei knew he sometimes talked to himself, conversing with the AI "Adam." However, Mouri Misono didn''t know about the new AI he had. Could it be a derivative of "Cybertrom"? Wherever the internet exists, so does AI. The top-tier AI "Cybertrom" relies on the internet, and AI has already infiltrated every corner of human civilization. It wasn''t unusual for one to interact with more than one AI. "Hmm, don''t mind these details!" Chen Fei had tried explaining the existence of the Dog System to others but was labeled mentally ill... Alright then! He had now given up on explaining. As Chen Fei reminded Mouri Misono beforehand. Upon returning to the 223 Aircrew Base, the moment the airship landed, the command center demanded the Fuji Security Group''s surviving employees to be uniformly managed and assigned to different posts according to their abilities, ensuring the operation of the entire base. The request was made, and the next second, the list was submitted, flowing smoothly. The communication officer was once again baffled, was this foresight? "Command Center, I need authorization for an action!" Thinking about the sudden mission from the Dog System, Chen Fei decided to take a chance. After all, increasing the energy point reserve limit was attractive to him. Most of Chen Fei''s combat power relied on various psi skills, many of which required consuming energy points. In a fierce battle, no amount of energy points would suffice. Even though the current cap was 45,000, during a fight, adding another zero might still be insufficient. "What action?" The communications officer instinctively guessed if this ability user was up to something. After all, Chen Xiao''er''s file had remarks like "brutal," and people weren''t blind. They were clear about what he had done. "Hunt down the monsters'' commander, or rather, the command unit, probably one in number." Chen Fei was used to extracting key information from the Dog System''s mission texts. Although he didn''t know what intelligence the Dog System was based on to issue such tasks, it likely had special intelligence channels. "Search and eliminate the monster command unit within 24 hours, energy point reserve limit +5000 (no reward for mission failure!)" Intelligence 1: Monsters do have command-type individuals, evidenced by the coordinated monster swarm surrounding the second airship and the "Snow Mountain" Armed Magic Cube Warship entering Marin Kai Sovereignty. Intelligence 2: The 24-hour task time limit implies a physical and search time distance between Chen Fei and the monster command unit. Intelligence 3: The estimated number of monster command units is 1, as more would have been marked. Barring uncertain intelligence sources, the number 1 is most likely. Intelligence 4: The task reward of 5000 energy point capacity limit implies the level of difficulty and danger, likely beyond 5000 energy points but not life-threatening. As for the strategy, treat it like dealing with a mutant! Having been a private military contractor for so long, Chen Fei had some tricks up his sleeve. "Command unit? One? What''s the intelligence source?" The communication officer passed the inquiry to the staff group, and now it was relayed back. "No intelligence source, pure AI analysis." Chen Fei wasn''t wrong here. If provided with key information and specific analysis models, some conclusions could indeed be drawn, but the value of such intelligence varied among different people. The Dog System was, in some sense, an AI, seemingly higher in intelligence than "Adam," leading to its overwhelming suppression. However, its "silent and dangerous" nature made it hard for Chen Fei to fathom. Even "Adam," entirely disconnected from the Dog System, was clueless. "Please submit the relevant plan." The staff group didn''t directly reject but seriously analyzed the objectives. As for feasibility, it would depend on Chen Fei''s plan. "Wait a moment!" Chen Fei immediately communicated with the AI "Adam" to quickly cobble together a simple action plan. Five minutes later, a document was sent. Seeing the mere 10 KB file, the communication officer blinked a few times. Shouldn''t it be tens or even hundreds of MB? Seriously... this? Rookie, can you really handle this? The staff group was ready for a massive text flood but received only a plan of less than 5000 words. When opening the document, they thought most of the text was consumed by a Husky. Initially, "Adam" padded the word count, an AI writing tool with no emotions, with effective content often under 100 words out of millions. Chen Xiao''er was straight to the point, no needless words¡ªjust action. The staff group members, after reading the plan, exchanged glances. They somewhat understood: this was treating monsters as mutants. Apart from occasional trouble from the "Water Bear" organization, mutants had never possessed intelligence, relying solely on wild instincts. Before human intellect, they were no match. Private military contractors, stationed globally at Blue Star''s aircrew bases, could easily handle these mindless aberrations. The monsters descending from the black vortex clouds were similar to mutants in many ways, except they were more evolved and perfected. Initially catching the sovereignties off guard, but once they adapted, the actual threat diminished. However, once these monsters had a command-type individual, the scenario changed entirely. The private military contractor Fuji Security Group''s immediate abandonment of the 223 Aircrew Base indicated the significant threat posed by monsters with command units was beyond any single base''s capacity to withstand. A miniature "Godzilla" alone could severely challenge any base. After some assessment, the staff group approved this simple action plan. Since this B-level psionic user Chen Fei wanted to try, let him. Chen Xiao''er''s audacity was matched by the command center''s staff, largely relying on the assembled ability user observer teams from various sovereignties. In case of any surprises, they could pull him back. With over 300 ability users, Chen Fei''s life was well-protected. Unless the Dragon Clan of Cangqiong Star launched a full attack, the mindless monsters posed no real threat. - With 20 hours left on the Dog System''s new mission, Chen Fei piloted the mechanical dragon out of the 223 Aircrew Base. The command center''s No. 2 flagship remained at the base''s main runway, not accompanying. The primary tactic of the plan was to "feign weakness," requiring no pretense as Chen Fei''s "Spatial Branding" was sealed by the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, truly weakening him. His combat power ceiling had dropped to less than one percent of its original, if not lower. Without the airship battle group, large-scale combat was impossible. He was limited to one-on-one or few-vs-few duels; group fights were akin to suicide. Flying a hundred kilometers from the 223 Aircrew Base, the mechanical dragon carrying Chen Fei started aimlessly hunting monsters, regardless of their numbers. The second tactic was "startling the snake by hitting the grass." First, he needed to attract the command-type individual''s attention, signaling he was alone and weak (relatively). Come at me! Chen Fei had a talent for attracting hatred. Not only did he provoke people, but also mutants, parasites, and these monsters. Soon, the mechanical dragon was surrounded by a dense swarm of monsters. The unified action of the monsters revealed the command-type individual''s presence. A drone swarm at 10,000 meters altitude formed a 10-kilometer matrix, tightly tracking the monsters'' movements for complex calculations. The third tactic, following "startling the snake," was "luring the snake out." Who said Chen Fei was fighting alone? The AI "Adam" and the command center''s staff, through "Cybertrom," were performing simultaneous calculations. By analyzing the monsters'' trajectories and patterns, they attempted to determine the general location of the command-type individual for further analysis. Once the target area was locked, finding the exact individual was a matter of time. Chen Fei''s action plan, though simple, had clear tactics and objectives. "Adam, the next move, ''Kitten Pounces on the Mouse''!" Through this practical combat, Chen Fei sought to program tactical maneuvers for the mechanical dragon, drawing inspiration from the female metallic dragon Yilan, still studying on Cangqiong Star. The latest conceptual armament, Louis Industrial Company''s X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor, was initially designed using dragon body ergonomics. Now, seeking tactical maneuvers from the source was quite fitting. Chapter 806: Section 801 - Area of Doubt Using the relentless waves of monsters to set traps for himself, Chen Fei''s idea was excellent and very logical. But the problem arose... Where do the Metallic Dragons get any sophisticated techniques from? Once the fight starts, just go all out. Who knows where Yilan found an unlucky Tom, emulating a dragon, and compiled a whole set of Metallic Dragon combat techniques for Chen Xiao''er, and each move was straightforwardly named things like "Kitten Pounces on the Mouse," "Kitten ****." In short, it was action programming, stringing together a series of routines, and finally assigning a shortcut call name. A roar that shakes mountains and rivers, "Kitten Pounces on the Mouse," and the Mechanical Dragon would lower its head, flatten its back, its four claws alternating quickly and lightly shaking, readying for action. In an instant, its back arched like a bow, pouncing out fiercely, Blade Wings blocking, claws and teeth attacking in unison¡ªthe sound and sight both unbearably grotesque. Do you still expect the Dragon of Slaughter to be more serious? No! Not making things worse is already considered a blessing, don''t expect more. Another move "Kitten Stretches," then "Kitten Shows Belly," and yet another "Kitten Swings Tail." The mighty and unyielding Mechanical Dragon learning from the cat teacher, like a Metallic Dragon, all over covered with sharp points. If you get scratched or touched anywhere, you''ll either be dead or crippled. In no time at all, the body would hang with monster corpses everywhere. Finally, a move "Kitten Shakes Fur," and all the corpses would be flung away instantly. As long as the Crystal Energy reserves were sufficient, these fleshy monsters relying solely on numerical superiority wouldn''t be able to take down the pinnacle of Louis Industrial Company''s technology, the ultimate representative of Conceptual Armament¡ªthe highly imitative Metallic Dragon''s X-D-005 giant dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor¡ªwouldn''t even manage to break the defense. Under Chen Fei''s control, the completely unrestrained Mechanical Dragon set up a full martial array, rampaging through the monster crowd, slaughtering left and right, especially with the addition of multiple Magic Arrays and Psi Skills like the "High-Frequency Oscillation Module." Truly, anything that touched it died. In seconds, within a few miles radius, blood flowed like rivers and corpses lay everywhere. The kill count quickly surpassed three thousand, and there were no longer any monsters recklessly charging in. Even the numbers of those wandering around had reduced. "''Adam,'' tally the kill data!" Half-lying inside the Mechanical Dragon, Chen Fei still hadn''t received the result from big data analysis, whether from "Adam" or the Command Center. Adam: Monster kills 3442! The faithful Artificial Intelligence AI recorded every kill and instantly calculated the statistics. Fortunately, like the mutants, they had no brains, charging heedlessly against such a huge casualty ratio. If it were a human army, a 10% loss would compel a retreat, a 30% loss would cause a full collapse, and a 60% loss would almost guarantee the disbandment of the entire unit. Without specific weaponry and tactical plans, dealing with these monsters would be quite a headache. Took down over three thousand in half an hour. The Mechanical Dragon did justice to Louis Industrial Company''s latest Conceptual Armament. This round of advertising effect is through the roof. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee is probably considering ordering a few units to bolster their arsenal. "Still haven''t found the directive individual?" Chen Fei glanced at the electronic map, with the total monster count within ten miles now below a hundred. "Adam" and the Command Center together, leveraging each other''s strengths, and they had already feigned weakness to lure the enemy. With so many kills, it wouldn''t make sense to come up empty-handed, right? Adam: Four suspicious areas identified, data samples incomplete. The large matrix formed by the drone swarm monitored more than a hundred thousand monsters simultaneously. Using the "Startle the Snake by Hitting the Grass" maneuver, Chen Fei deduced the directive individual''s hideout based on their correlated reactions and response times. "''Rookie,'' directive individual might be in one of three areas." With one sentence, Chen Fei received two answers. His inquiry targets were both "Adam" and the Command Center, and this dual-response method worked well too. "Adam" and the Command Center each marked out suspicious areas, only two of which overlapped partially. Due to differing calculation models, misjudgments were inevitable. The preliminary results from both sides were shared reciprocally and merged, marking out areas A, B, C, D, and E. "Then let''s start with the overlapping areas D and E, now begin the operation, and re-supply Crystal Energy en route." Chen Fei made a prompt decision. Better safe than sorry, clearing the field first was undoubtedly correct. The Mechanical Dragon''s Crystal Energy reserves were at 71%, enough to handle the next battle. Although Chen Fei''s own Psi Skill could also continuously provide some Crystal Energy, unforeseen events could happen anytime, and counting on luck wasn''t wise. Fortune doesn''t strike twice, but misfortune never comes alone; it''s best to prepare in advance to avoid chaos when accidents happen. "Supply drone is 3.5 kilometers away, ready to provide supply at any time!" A strangely-shaped drone gently rotated its four engine arms, aiming at the Mechanical Dragon''s direction. "Requesting supply!" Chen Fei deftly controlled the Mechanical Dragon, its four claws alternately running across the desert, heading towards area D, maintaining a speed below 60 kilometers per hour to facilitate re-supply during movement. The supply drone descended from the sky, landed on the Mechanical Dragon''s back, and their energy ports connected, the Crystal Energy flowing. Seconds later, the Mechanical Dragon''s Crystal Energy reserves reached 100%. The supply drone lingered briefly, then took off, almost exhausting its Crystal Energy cargo with this supply. Adam: Distance to area D is 80 kilometers, expected to arrive in 85 minutes. "''Rookie,'' you are 80 kilometers from area D, expected to arrive in 85 minutes." This dual communication sometimes resulted in similar repeated responses. "Received! Continue comprehensive surveillance." Chen Fei guessed that the directive individual''s intelligence wasn''t high; the opposing force''s sophisticated enveloping tactics during the battle with the two airships should have been its intellectual limit. On the electronic map, light spots representing each monster densely populated, the area just vacated by the Mechanical Dragon became sparse with light spots. However, around the Mechanical Dragon, several light spots seemed attracted, desperately trying to catch up. If the directive individual had any higher intelligence, it wouldn''t senselessly send so many monsters to their deaths, just like a fish caught on a hook, unable to let go. Eighteen hours remained on the mission. It seemed ample, but without haste, it could easily be wasted. So... the Mechanical Dragon, now replenished with Crystal Energy, flapped its wings and soared into the sky. Eighty kilometers distance, no more than ten minutes to reach. "Gagagaga!~" "Grr..." "Roar!!" All sorts of roars gathered together when the Mechanical Dragon reached area D. The monster density tripled at least. Each one looked up ferociously at the sky; those still capable of flight rose immediately, filling the sky densely. Seeing the monsters ready on the ground and in the sky, Chen Fei sighed, "It''s a pity there''s no ''Dragon Slayer Missile,'' otherwise, firing one now would be beautiful!" "''Rookie,'' no ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' or Element Annihilation Bomb authorized for use!" The operator lady reminded Chen Fei to get to work and stop daydreaming. "Alright! Let''s start with a Thermobaric Bomb to wake these guys up." Under Chen Fei''s control, the Mechanical Dragon didn''t dive towards the ground but ascended again, dropping a short and thick bomb directly. As an upgraded version of the Cloud Bomb, the ton-class Thermobaric Bomb was a real building-demolition artifact. The instantaneous explosive shockwave could even disperse clouds in the sky. After dropping the bomb, the Mechanical Dragon began circling the maximum damage radius of the detonation point, surrounded by a horde of flying monsters, which weren''t slow either. Chen Fei wasn''t worried. The more monsters gathering now, the thicker the meat shield against the shockwave would be, reducing the impact on the Mechanical Dragon. The Thermobaric Bomb self-detonated at 50 meters above the ground; the sheer explosive power instantly swept everything within a 300-meter radius on the ground, flinging countless monsters into the sky. The monsters chasing the Mechanical Dragon wobbled as if shaken, then fell like raindrops. Following the same path as the monsters flung skyward, their fates ended the same. Even without external injuries, their internal sensitive organs were damaged instantly, especially balance organs like the semicircular canals. Even if they hovered outside the maximum damage radius of the Thermobaric Bomb, "The power is tremendous. The directive individual might be within." The voice of the operator came into Chen Fei''s ear, many observing the Thermobaric Bomb''s effect alongside him. "No, no kill confirmed!" The Dog System lacked confirmation of mission completion. Chen Fei realized this strike only wiped out a bunch of minions, while the main target remained at large, hiding somewhere unknown. With a push of the control stick, the Mechanical Dragon dived once more towards the ground, its high-frequency vibrating Sharp Edge slicing low, and any monster touched by its swinging tail split into pieces instantly. It flew by, causing a trail of blood and carnage. Three horizontal and three vertical waves later, Chen Fei said, "The directive individual shouldn''t be in area D!" Repeatedly cutting through the swarming monsters, no signs indicated an extraordinary gathering to protect a directive individual. The monsters here still aimed directly at the Mechanical Dragon, attacking relentlessly and replacing every fallen one with two more, seemingly endless. Adam: Area E shows the presence of a communal-type mutant, "Jet Sand Scorpion SS-0132," with a count of 1871. "Anything unusual?" The mutants acted on instinct, often fighting and eating each other. The arriving monsters wouldn''t give them any respect. When he reached the border between Marin Kai Sovereignty and Poer Sovereignty, Chen Fei observed a massive brawl between monsters and mutants. "''Jet Sand Scorpion SS-0132'' is coexisting peacefully with the monsters." The operator replied on behalf of "Adam," pointing out the anomaly. To survive, mutants and monsters were natural enemies, never to coexist. How could they now live in peace? So not merely unusual, it was suspiciously abnormal. Chapter 807: Section 802 - Exclusion Method "Mutants mixed with monsters, well, this is interesting!" Chen Fei pondered for a moment, but his hands didn''t stop moving. The Mechanical Dragon made a turning maneuver, decisively setting the E-zone as its destination before flying at full speed to the next field. Initially, he thought the intelligence of the commanding entity was limited, but now it seemed he had underestimated the opponent. Since they could pull off such a trick, they might have more up their sleeves. From now on, he had to stay vigilant to avoid being caught off guard. He had been through a lot and witnessed plenty, such as seasoned Jianghu getting ambushed and killed, like the unbelievable scene of an adult Metallic Dragon being instantly killed by a group of sparrows. "Command Center, request Crystal Energy supply, meet at the edge of the E-zone." Chen Fei spoke while setting the rendezvous point with the supply drone. The Mechanical Dragon was good, but its biggest drawback was its high energy consumption. After several horizontal and vertical maneuvers in the D-zone, it accumulated quite a kill record, but the Crystal Energy reserves had dropped to 88%, not counting mechanical wear and daily fatigue. Conceptual Armaments often had a synonym: Money-Burning Armaments. With Chen Fei''s extreme operations as fierce as an Evil Dragon, involving high-level maneuvers, the Combat Mobility Armor, unlike a fighter jet, severely lacked overload tolerance. The fact that it hadn''t disintegrated in battle was due to the strong support of Psi Skills. The power of a Giant Dragon was indeed not something humans could easily replicate. The design team at Louis Industrial Company often received combat data that far exceeded theoretical parameters, leaving engineers with expressions as if they had seen ghosts, questioning whether the data really came from their designed Conceptual Armament and not some alien advanced civilization''s black technology. Fortunately, Chen Fei handled the complex logistics and maintenance on his own. Otherwise, Louis Industrial Company would have to send another small fleet and a professional team just to maintain the basic operations of this Mechanical Dragon, and the cost of a dozen full-scale battles would be as much as the massive supplies previously sent in support. Within the 223 Aircrew Base, the waiting Ability User Observation Team gathered again, following Chen Fei and the Mechanical Dragon''s movements via three-dimensional holographic projections. The surveillance matrix formed by the drone swarm could capture clear images from different angles. The Command Center opened a dedicated data channel, with three-dimensional holographic projections and display screens scattered throughout the Aircrew Base, inside the airships, next to the main runway, in the dining hall, and in the hangar. Hundreds of people were dispersed accordingly, setting up tables, having snacks and drinks, creating a relaxed and lively atmosphere. Among the observers, most of the ability users were B-class and A-level, with a few C-class having special Psi Skills. The rest were War Professionals and Spellcasters above the Fifth Rank of Human Order, about twenty in total, each capable of holding their own. Heavenly Order and S-Class usually wouldn''t deploy easily, as their numbers were limited, unlike Cangqiong Star, which had a deep foundation, serving more as strategic deterrence to intimidate domestic ability user criminals. The "rookie" Chen Fei piloted the Mechanical Dragon, making several advances and retreats in the desert, invincible. To the observing ability users, this had an unusual significance. "Hey! Is this kid really B-class? He seems stronger than A-level!" "Quite impressive! I wouldn''t dare to recklessly kill among those monsters. It''s too easy to make a fatal mistake." "I''m A-level, but I feel I can''t beat this kid." The First Sovereign''s local ability users discussed the most, as Chen Fei was their homeboy. The outstanding performance of the young guy also brought pride to his fellow countrymen. "His Psi Skill is quite special, but then, Psi Skills are inherently unique. Even among Metal Ability Users, having different Psi Skills is very normal." Some Metal Ability Users in the observer team compared their Psi Skills with Chen Fei''s, trying to save face. "Didn''t you notice? The ''rookie''s'' Psi Skill itself isn''t strong, it''s not even combat-oriented, but it heavily relies on external factors. The stronger the external factor, the stronger his Psi Skill." "I noticed too. Give him a gun, and he has the firepower of a gun. Give him a cannon, and he has the firepower of a cannon. Now with the dragon-type Mobile Armor, his combat power should match that of a Giant Dragon, right?" "It should be possible, with the right ammunition, his power should reach around the Fourth Rank of Earth Order or A+, not to be underestimated." "Previously, the combination of humanoid Mobile Armor with dragon-type Mobile Armor felt very much like a Dragon Knight." "I totally agree, it''s quite enviable!" "There are no useless ability users, only those who misuse their Psi Skills. This ''rookie'' perfectly understands his Psi Skills." "Any Psi Skill, as long as it''s used correctly, can be very powerful." There were some insightful people who quickly saw through Chen Fei''s Psi Skill. Stripping away the external factors, he was genuinely B-class. The Psychic Management Center''s assessment was generally accurate. "Louis Industrial Company has a keen eye, finding such a suitable ability user. This dragon-type Mobile Armor is probably going to sell like hotcakes." "The young guy is lucky to have found a big backer. If I had a daughter, I''d definitely introduce her to him." "I wonder if this young man would accept a technical migration. My country''s sovereignty would be very willing to offer money, houses, land, and not just a wife but even mistresses of all kinds." "Quit dreaming; you think First Sovereignty will let him go? Better keep your little thoughts to yourself, or you''ll get beaten up by folks from the First Sovereignty." ... The various parts of the 223 Aircrew Base were filled with chatter and envy, with no true jealousy among them. Unlike condensing Battle Qi Seeds and gaining Elemental Perception, the awakening of Psi Skills relied entirely on fate. The awakened Psi Skill was what it was, not teachable or imitable, predestined by fate, so jealousy was pointless. Occasionally, there were one or two ability users who could copy others'' Psi Skills (e.g., the already deceased "Plagiarist Cat"); however, they also faced significant limitations and could not do as they pleased. - While the spectators at the 223 Aircrew Base were passionately chatting, the Mechanical Dragon had reached the edge of the E-zone and completed its resupply with the supply drone, filling its Crystal Energy reserves to 100%. But Chen Fei did not let the supply drone go after completing the resupply operation. At the top of a sand dune, he transformed the Mechanical Dragon into a giant electromagnetic rail cannon with five thick, long landing arms, with a caliber exceeding 1000mm. He loaded a ton-level Thermobaric Bomb, fired it at three times the speed of sound. Then, another ton-level Thermobaric Bomb, executed similarly. After continuously firing five rounds, Chen Fei finally let the nearly exhausted supply drone go. As a massive mushroom cloud rose in the distance, he piloted the Mechanical Dragon with its Crystal Energy reserves still at 100% to patrol the impact site. Utilizing the matrix formed by the drone swarm, combined with his Psi Skill "Basic Optical Observer (8th level)" to activate "Macroscopic Perspective" and "Visual Assistance," and the AR visual assistance from Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam," he stacked all the buffs on his vision to the maximum. Know your enemy and yourself to win a hundred battles. Avoiding ambush required sharp vigilance. The Thermobaric Bombs cleared out a diameter of a thousand meters, with a 300-meter radius turned into a sea of flames, almost depleting oxygen within 500 meters, and a thousand-meter range scoured by shockwaves. The mutant entities and invading monsters captured by the drone swarm were indiscriminately killed. If the commanding entity was hidden among them, it was likely doomed. The Command Center, though reluctant to give Chen Fei a Dragon Slayer Missile, provided plenty of ton-level Thermobaric Bombs. In an open desert area without cover, low-altitude detonation of the Thermobaric Bombs, while not maximizing their power, still proved to be highly cost-effective map bombs, covering a large area. Five ton-level Thermobaric Bombs hit all the concentrated mutant and invading monster spots in the E-zone. "''Rookie,'' you can''t do this. There''s no way to confirm the commanding entity." The Command Center''s communicator relayed the staff''s message, criticizing the random bombardment. Wasting ammunition was a minor issue, but missing the target would mean all efforts were in vain. Chen Fei confidently replied, "I have a way to confirm!" Despite the Dog System sometimes resurrecting and issuing inexplicable tasks with no clues or intelligence, Chen Fei had long found a knack for completing missions. Even if the Dog System was silent, he could still analyze many things. "What way?" The communicator lady was taken aback, asking what the staff would also say. "The method of elimination!" If the Dog System didn''t prompt mission completion, the bombardment wasn''t over, a genuine reverse solving. "..." The Command Center was stumped. Was this even humanly possible? "''Rookie,'' did you also talk like this during 911?" The communicator lady doubted how Chen Fei survived in the workplace. Private Military Contractors'' capitalists weren''t as lenient as public institutions. Chen Fei honestly replied, "Exactly!" He and the Big Bear Squadron Leader once drunkenly attacked the enemy''s aircrew base during a corporate war, acting recklessly without organization or discipline. In the end, only the Big Bear Squadron Leader was punished. Comrade Chekhov himself said that with so many debts, he didn''t care anymore. He had roamed Jianghu for over forty years, seen countless battles, and survived many near-deaths. How could he fear such a small matter? In reality, it was Boss Hanna who indulged him. The actual work was handled by the Aircrew Base''s Executive Manager, who revered Chen Xiao''er as an ancestor and dared not speak harshly to him. Chapter 808: Section 803 - Swallowing the Whale Fortunately, the communication between Chen Fei and the communications center is a single line contact, and it''s not a narration overlay in the three-dimensional holographic projection. Otherwise, the whole 223 Aircrew Base would probably be laughing with everyone falling over. Nobody likes an invisible man with no presence wherever he goes. In contrast, troublemakers are more likely to get attention and even appreciation. Society is just this unreasonable. A hardworking ox is dedicated, but sheer dedication and diligence alone won''t get a salary raise. Only those who can talk the talk stand out. Like Chekhov Big Bear, a guy who often drinks and drives, gets into fights, and tells dirty jokes, would become the squadron leader of the 911 Aircrew Base Combat Flight Squadron, and his position is unshakable. Even Chen Fei can''t do anything about it; he is just a little brother who needs everyone''s care, far from being a squadron leader! If you put an honest man as the squadron leader, who would obey him? - The Mechanical Dragon maintained a low-altitude hover at 50 meters above the ground in Area E. Chen Fei''s eyes were fully buffed, searching for clues of the commanding individual''s existence with "Adam," precisely identifying each abnormal presence on the ground. The Thermobaric Bomb hit the nest of the Mutant "SS-0132 Jetstream Scorpion" from the sky, turning the entire sand dune into a volcanic crater. The black and red "lava" flowed everywhere, with numerous mutants torn to pieces. Within the fiery coverage, the struggling "SS-0132 Jetstream Scorpion" burned all over while sprinting wildly on the glazed sand. It didn''t rush out more than 20 meters before collapsing, gradually cooling into a charred solid with the molten glassy substance. The Thermobaric Bomb detonated at a low altitude, releasing its destructiveness to the maximum extent. Further away, the "SS-0132 Jetstream Scorpions" were also thrown into the air by a powerful shockwave and then fell heavily, half alive and half dead. However, the subsequent oxygen deprivation finally claimed their lives. The area within a 500-meter radius centered on the bomb impact point turned into a dead zone. The charred aftermath of the fireball spread in a radial pattern, covering several sand dunes. Even beyond 500 meters, many monsters and mutants with obvious burn marks howled and struggled. There were 16 hours left in the mission time. But the commanding individual still had not been found. "Could it be not in Area E, or is it hiding underground?" Chen Fei, with his eyes wide open, muttered to himself. He had scanned Area E thoroughly once, and now he was on his second pass. After more than an hour of searching, he had found nothing. The annoying Dog System, knowing the answer, refused to give the slightest hint, making it very frustrating. The communications officer at the command center watched the marker representing the Mechanical Dragon circle around on the electronic map without finding the target and tentatively asked, "''Rookie,'' how about bombing a different area?" There was no shortage of high-power ammunition. Even if they bombed the entire area, it wouldn''t be a big deal. "No hurry, let me take another look." Areas D and E had the highest suspicion, and Chen Fei allocated 12 hours of search time to these two areas, while the other areas ABC were given the remaining 12 hours. Since the allotted time wasn''t up, he wouldn''t easily switch zones. Chen Fei planned to make full use of these 24 hours. The young man was strong, staying up for a day and a night was no big deal for him. The X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobile Armor descended from the sky, causing the dunes to quiver. Dry sand rolled down, enormous claws digging deep into the sand. A pair of blade wings slowly opened and closed, and the powerful airflow blew the surrounding sand away. The desert wasn''t as dry as one might imagine. The sand had excellent heat and moisture retention properties. Beneath the top layer of loose sand, the sand underneath was rich in moisture and very firm, allowing desert plants to grow with long, tough roots that could penetrate dense moist sand to draw water. From an ancient perspective, the desert had once been a forest or grassland, inherently having water-rich geological conditions. The aquifer deep beneath the Sahara Desert in the northern African continent held a water volume nearly sixteen times that of the Great Lakes of North America. After disabling the "Gravity (1)" magic array and the Gravity Adjustment Module, the 16-ton Mechanical Dragon didn''t sink into the dunes but looked around, raising its tail spear high and stabbing deep into the dune. The tail tip evolved into a drill, quickly penetrating the moist sand. Upon reaching the predetermined depth, it transformed into a sonar detection device. "Boom!~" The giant muffled sound reverberated inside the dune, rapidly spreading in all directions. The dense, moist sand facilitated sound wave transmission. Once it reached the aquifer, the speed would significantly increase. As long as the sensors were sensitive enough, the device could detect conditions within a ten-kilometer radius and several kilometers underground. The pair of blade wings split into four detection rods. With a flap, they were flung far away, diving into the sand 100 meters away, and burrowing further down to start listening for sonar echoes, which could pinpoint the source of the echoes using computational models. Since awakening his ability, Chen Fei''s spiritual power index had been growing, now surpassing 900, rivaling the C-class psychic ability users. Since it wasn''t a supernatural ability, it wasn''t fixed in one go and still had great growth potential. Although the supernatural ability suppressant affected him, it didn''t completely restrict him. He could still use space system alchemy storage devices and even control metallic transformations up to 200 meters away. If not for the supernatural ability suppressant, the spiritual power influence distance would be 1000 meters. Despite having such a high spiritual power index, his control power was weak. He could only use it with metal elemental psychic powers, unlike psychic power users who could utilize psychic series skills or magic, possessing merely strong resistance to psychic power and nothing more. "Boom!~" Every five seconds, a deep, forceful resonance penetrated deep into the desert. After finding nothing from the aerial survey, Chen Fei turned his attention to areas the eye couldn''t see. The parasitic creatures'' stronghold "Spawning Nest" preferred to root underground. Compared to the exposed ground and the inescapable sky, the complex underground geology was often the best hiding place. This desert had endured unknown millennia, harboring countless secrets. A series of chaotic echoes were computed by Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" into visual images and data. Suddenly, alarms blared. Just as Chen Fei saw a colossal object appear on the screen, his entire body trembled violently. Technically, it was the Mechanical Dragon, no, the entire dune that trembled violently. The next second, a giant mouth capable of engulfing most of the dune emerged from underground, swallowing the Mechanical Dragon whole. The pitch-black throat not only engulfed the Mechanical Dragon but also a large portion of sand, making escape impossible. The Mechanical Dragon, along with a mass of sand, plummeted down. In merely two seconds, the monstrous mouth, having reached an altitude of nearly 50 meters, swiftly retracted beneath the dune, followed by a cascade of sand. The once towering dune was reduced to a third of its original height, left as a low mound. It was unclear whether the lamb entered the tiger''s mouth willingly or the opponent had silently crept up on the Mechanical Dragon upon landing. Despite using sonar detection correctly, it was a step too late. "Hey, hey, ''Rookie,'' ''Rookie''!" The footage transmitted by the drone matrix gave the communications officer a huge fright. She watched in horror as the Mechanical Dragon, along with ''Rookie'' Chen Fei, was swallowed by the monstrous mouth, disappearing in an instant. "Damn!!" "Gone, gone?" "What kind of monster was that! That mouth was so big!" "That huge dune vanished in one bite!" At the 223 Aircrew Base, the startled exclamations arose repeatedly in front of every three-dimensional holographic projection and flat screen. Many people involuntarily stood up. "''Rookie'' received!" Along with Chen Fei''s voice came continuous rumbling thuds. Even the noise reduction system couldn''t completely filter out all these noises. The communication officer felt her scalp tingling, forcing herself to calmly ask, "Where are you? It seemed like something swallowed you." For some unknown reason, although the positioning signal was interrupted, communication remained smooth, and the signal strength was robust. "Seems to be swallowed. Let me see, the surroundings look like rocks and keratin layers, a very strange structure. With Chen Fei''s experience, being swallowed by strange things wasn''t new, so he remained calm, responding to the communications officer. Mutants included Tsar Worms with large mouths, and magical beasts like the Earth Emperor Worm. The Mechanical Dragon''s exterior emitted unpleasant screeches, rubbing violently against rock and keratin layers, occasionally sparking. Chen Fei contracted and transformed the mech into an egg shape that could withstand immense pressure. He fully activated his psi skill to absorb surrounding metal elements, combating the wear and tear; although abrasions continued outside, the core remained unscathed. After adjusting the Mechanical Dragon''s new form, Chen Fei tentatively released an anti-armor landmine. Bang!~ The mine detached from the egg-shaped mech shortly before being triggered by immense pressure and exploded. The shockwave surged, causing the pilot cabin to jolt significantly, as if rolling over a big stone. However, the gripping rock and keratin layer structure showed no signs of stopping. The explosive power was insufficient. The creature that swallowed the mech was entirely unharmed, like casually belching. It was unimaginable how huge the creature outside must be, given it ignored the anti-armor landmine''s lethality. "Are you safe now? Do you need support?" The communications officer''s heart was in her mouth. Even though Chen Fei was safe now, it didn''t mean he would remain so. Having been swallowed, who could guarantee what would happen next? The ability users watching the Mechanical Dragon''s operation actively gathered, awaiting command center''s call. "No need for now!" Chen Fei''s voice came in as he transformed the egg-shaped mech''s center into an electromagnetic acceleration track, mounting a 600mm demolition bomb. Accelerated to Mach 25, let''s go!~ Chapter 809: Section 804 - The Flow of Stars Boom!~ It was like a thunderclap next to his ear. Chen Fei felt like Lu Tixia had punched his head hard, not only did he see stars, but his ears were also buzzing incessantly, as if a whole water and land assembly had been started, causing his whole body to shiver involuntarily, immediately feeling the reliable restraint of the seat belt. Even with the layers of protection from the composite armor, he was still heavily shaken. Good gracious! The impact point must have been within fifty meters, this shot almost sent Chen Fei off as well. Ugh... It was a muffled howl, as if it came from hell. This time, it finally made the big guy outside feel some pain. System: Ding! Monster Commander unit destroyed, reward: 5000 energy points storage limit. Energy Points: 43121/50000 Sigh!~ Persistent effort in vain, and acquiring things without effort. Unexpectedly, the commander unit was hiding inside the big guy that devoured the Mechanical Dragon, likely roaming underground, moving very much like how Chen Fei pilots the Mechanical Dragon, no wonder after bombing the area with tonnage Thermobaric Bombs, it was nowhere to be found. If it weren''t for Chen Fei and the Mechanical Dragon serving as bait, the opponent might have escaped to another region and become even harder to locate. The gyroscope showed that the body was still in motion. This "Big Mouth" was really able to persist! It survived the internal explosion caused by a 600mm Demolition Bomb, even affecting and killing the commander unit, yet it remained lively, scrambling underground. Is this thing a worm? The vitality is remarkably wild! Without its commander, who knows where it will go now. Chen Fei had no intention of following it into the mantle; despite the machine body''s ability to withstand the high-temperature, high-pressure environment there, he could not. Never mind, he retrieved another tonnage Thermobaric Bomb from the Storage Magical Device, set the parameters, and sent it out. Upon release, the safety mechanism was automatically engaged. Chen Fei silently counted in his heart. Five, four, three, two, one, detonate! Thud! A muffled sound entered the cockpit, as if a giant hammer had struck the egg-shaped machine body. Because the combustion wasn''t complete, the Thermobaric Bomb turned into an Incendiary Bomb, with flames drilling into every available space and crevice, the continuous explosions and bursting like fireworks. Then came a violent shaking with a sense of the world spinning. The cockpit immediately adjusted the suspension structure and active balance system, absorbing most of the vibrations. Left left downward down right downward down down upward... The irregular movement trajectory went deeper underground, leaving Chen Fei trapped inside the egg-shaped machine body, waiting for the big guy outside to come to its senses, tire out, or eventually die. "''Rookie'', can you determine your location?" With only the communication channel left, the command center dared not hang up, keeping the conversation going for fear that in the blink of an eye, both the Mechanical Dragon and the person would be gone. "The current location might be east longitude ¡Á¡Á"¡Á¡Á'', north latitude ¡Á¡Á"¡Á¡Á'', but it''s not necessarily accurate." Chen Fei looked at the electronic map, unable to rely on any reliable reference points or positioning signal sources. It was only through the gyroscope system and kinetic vector analysis that he could barely estimate some continuous positional changes. The current location should be at 11 o''clock from the 223 Aircrew Base, 279 kilometers away, at a depth of about 159 meters below sea level, moving roughly northwest at a speed of 15 meters per second (¡À5 meters). These data are estimations, with considerable deviations from the actual situation. "It''s good to have location data, we''ll send people over right away." The communicator immediately sent the coordinates provided by Chen Fei to the staff team, arranging personnel to board a small flying ship carried by the "Snow Mountain" airship. "The error might be huge!" Chen Fei reminded the command center that his reported coordinates might be unreliable. A minute deviation could lead to a huge error, possibly diverging by more than a hundred kilometers. As time passed, this margin of error would only increase. The external temperature of the egg-shaped body reached 1500 degrees Celsius. If the descent time hadn''t been enough to drill through the Earth''s crust, Chen Fei might have thought he was already in magma. The cockpit, located at the center of the shock-absorption suspension, swayed gently like a cradle. His eyelids grew increasingly heavy as drowsiness overwhelmed him. Gradually, Chen Fei''s snoring grew heavier. "Hey! Hey! ''Rookie''? ''Rookie''?" If it weren''t for the snoring, the one-on-one communicator at the command center might have thought the call had been cut off. She hadn''t expected Chen Xiao''er to sleep so soundly, snoring thunderously. It was unclear how long had passed when Chen Fei gradually opened his eyes. His eyes shone with stardust and brilliant moonlight... It was uncertain if it was dawn or dusk, the sky full of stars, and the sun and moon high in the sky. He was enveloped in warmth, hearing voices nearby. "Hey! Are you awake?" "Eh? Where am I?" Chen Fei quickly sat up, realizing that his seatbelt had been released at some point, and the egg-shaped body had been partly dismantled. Looking outside, aside from the stars and moon, there were rows of wave-like fishbone poles, long and short, of varying heights, holding the remaining parts of the egg-shaped body. It resembled the burnt framework of a strange house. A closer inspection revealed that the curved rods were burnt black bones, reminding Chen Fei of the creature that swallowed him and the Mechanical Dragon. Clearly, it had a huge physique, but it was hard to tell what it looked like before being reduced to a skeleton. "You''re at the edge of the Sahara Desert." A middle-aged woman, kneeling beside Chen Fei, gently nodded at him and said, "Fortunately, there''s no major issue, just some internal organ shocks and minor displacements that have now recovered with no aftereffects." Transparent streams of water gushed out of Chen Fei''s body, leaving no trace, finally disappearing outside the body, absorbed by the earth. Only then did he realize the warmth enveloping him came from a healer with a Water-Based Ability. Whether they were a supernatural power user or a spellcaster was unclear. "Thank you, I''m Chen Fei, codename ''Rookie''!" Understanding that his internal organs had been shocked and displaced, Chen Fei was acutely aware of the consequences of setting off a 600mm Demolition Bomb and a tonnage Thermobaric Bomb at close range. Not enough to court death once, but twice. Survival indicated he was incredibly lucky with those injuries barely counting as minor. Surely, God was looking the other way. "I''m Fulian, a B-Class Water-Based Ability User. Others call me the Hot Spring Healer." The middle-aged woman''s chestnut hair swayed as she stood up. Her treatment was complete. Since 70% of the human body is water, Water Series healing techniques were also quite effective, only second to Light Series abilities. Among the entire Ability User Observer team, there were only nine with healing skills. The scarcity wasn''t due to a low proportion of healers but rather because no ruling power could afford to let them go; everyone feared being caught off-guard without a healer in a vital moment. "You slept really soundly. Digging you out took a lot of effort." A rough voice interrupted, making Chen Fei look over. It belonged to a bearded man clad in heavy Knight Armor, resting a hand on a hexagonal Composite Armor Plate, part of his egg-shaped body''s outer shell. Meeting Chen Fei''s gaze, the man patted his chest plate, saying, "I am Morrigan, an A-Class Metal Ability User! Disassembling your outer shell was a lot of work." "But the material is top-notch. Hey, can you spare me some pieces, brother?" "And me, these materials should be nothing to you, right?" "Rare alloys! Could you spare me a few dozen pounds? I''ll pay!" Voices rose around, showing several people eyeing the remains of the egg-shaped body, all of them Metal Ability Users. This rescue team had ten Metal Ability Users. After digging out the egg-shaped body from deep underground, they worked together for hours to partially dismantle it. Naturally, they were all attracted to the high-temperature, high-pressure resistant materials. Not every Metal Ability User could fabricate synthetic alloys, and precisely balancing elemental components was no easy task. "If you all want some, take what you like!" Chen Fei said generously. He wasn''t concerned about the alloy''s composition. The Dog System only counted tonnage for energy points. One ton of pure iron equaled one energy point, one ton of gold also equaled one energy point, and one ton of alloy was the same, valuing atomic weight over monetary value. "Haha, you''re a good man!" "Brother, I owe you a favor!" "Thanks for your generosity. If you need anything, just let me know!" "We found a bargain today!" ... The group of Metal Ability Users snorted with laughter like pigs. Not only them, others nearby also took some fragments, treating them as souvenirs even if they couldn''t use them. Once clear-headed, Chen Fei pressed down on the remaining parts of the egg-shaped body, encasing the non-metal functional modules, forming a 2-meter cube. He lost little alloy since the continued absorption of surrounding metal elements had never stopped. The "Big Mouth" had fled who knows how far, bringing the egg-shaped body''s final mass over a hundred tons. Taking 300 to 500 pounds was insignificant, with plenty left over. Apart from forming the necessary parts of the cube, the rest converted into energy points. System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 134.542 tons, composition ratio: Iron 47%, Nickel 12%, Chromium 11%, Copper 9%, ... Energy Points +134 Energy Points: 43255/50000 The Dog System''s rounding calculations fed half a ton of metal straight to the dogs. "Huh?" Just as he stored the cube in the vine-shaped Space System Alchemy Storage Device, Chen Fei noticed a silver-white "straggler" at his feet. Raking through the scorched soil revealed a silver-scaled plate the size of a pot lid. "A scale?" It felt incredibly light, and knocking on it produced a muffled sound, showcasing both strength and flexibility. Chapter 810: Section 805 - Wine Party "We really hit the jackpot this time!~ Hehehe!" "I found a big one!" A short distance away, the excited voice of a Metal Ability User could be heard. Other Elemental Series Ability Users also picked up some fragments as souvenirs, since chances like this were rare; once this moment passed, it wouldn''t come again. Special alloys synthesized by Metal Ability Users were always very rare, and no one was as generously carefree as Chen Xiao''er. Just like Star Yuan, an A-level Metal Ability User they once knew; anyone who dared to ask for alloy without giving anything in return would likely get stabbed first. Chen Fei snapped back to reality and casually put the silver scale into his Storage Magical Device. He was the only one who had a private Spatial Storage Artifact, flaunting his wealth arrogantly, with that shady bald guy pulling favors for it. Outsiders didn''t notice anything strange about him. Even when they saw the scale, they just thought it was a piece of outer armor from the Mechanical Dragon. High-imitation dragon scales on Combat Mobility Armor seemed perfectly normal. It would be odd if it had nothing at all. "All cleaned up!" Chen Fei stretched lazily and was back to full health instantly. This was the advantage of being part of a team; if he were alone, he would have to slowly recover on the spot, and dealing with any unexpected incidents would be quite tricky. The Artificial Intelligence AI "Adam" confirmed the time through AR visual assistance. It was just past dawn, and the sky was getting brighter. There were about 6 hours left before the deadline for the recently completed Dog System task. "All targets recovered. Preparing to return, start counting personnel!" The leader of the rescue operation shouted loudly using an electric megaphone. The massive monster''s scorched remains here would be handled by someone else; the rescue team was only responsible for packing up Chen Xiao''er as much as possible, dead or alive. "Hey hey, someone help me, it''s too heavy!" Someone immediately shouted, red-faced and out of breath, dragging a metal fragment weighing over a hundred pounds, leaving deep marks on the ground. Not all Metal Ability Users had superhuman strength or the special ability to make metal lighter. Seeing an opportunity for a freebie without considering their strength led to this scene. Someone glanced over and said irritably, "You greedy fool, that''s enough." At that tortoise-like speed, making it aboard the airship seemed impossible. "I''m offering 5000 Star Yuan, someone help me!" The greedy guy had no choice but to shell out money; otherwise, finding suitable tools or people to move such a heavy find would be difficult. "I''ll do it!" A Earth Caster came over. Once they agreed on the price, they recited an incantation on the spot. After a wave of elemental fluctuations, a Human Order Second Rank Gravity Ring enveloped the heavy metal fragment, instantly reducing its weight to just a few pounds, making it easy to lift. 5000 Star Yuan was well worth it. This rescue team included a unique healer, Fulian, a B-level Water-Based Ability User with the nickname "Hot Spring Healer," three Psychic Power Users specializing in search and reconnaissance, and Metal Ability Users responsible for tearing apart the egg-shaped mechanical casing. Earth Element Users were most abundant, as once Chen Fei''s location and depth were confirmed, they were indispensable in bringing him to the surface. - When the small airship returning from the rescue mission arrived at 223 Aircrew Base, the entire base was under attack by countless invading monsters. The area within a ten-mile radius was densely packed and almost unrecognizable, with thousands of monsters and near a hundred circling in the sky. The returning airship, protected by ground-to-air firepower from the Aircrew Base, found a suitable entry point and safely landed. It was unclear if the monsters lost control after the commanding individual was killed, or if the commander''s last order was to launch a revenge attack immediately upon death. Within a hundred kilometers, only 223 Aircrew Base still had human activity, making it the most attractive target for the monsters invading Blue Star; they wouldn''t pass it for anything. Aircrew Base locations were always chosen for being easy to defend, hard to attack high grounds, protecting against both monster sieges and mutant sneak attacks. 911 Aircrew Base was on a flattened mountaintop, similar to 223 Aircrew Base, with steep slopes, nearly 90-degree cliffs, interception walls, deep trenches, and barbed wire filled with thorns, physically protected to the fullest extent. Some Aircrew Bases even had traps or minefields on the periphery, where a single misstep could mean injury or death, or an immediate explosion crushing them to pieces. Even the monsters with huge bodies found it difficult to climb or cross those barriers; approaching would instantly expose them to base firepower. Flying monsters hovering close would be directly shot down or blown into fireballs by ground anti-aircraft fire. The "Snow Mountain" and "2-1 Flagship" airships stationed on the main take-off and landing runway sides served as ground firepower fortresses, delivering long-range heavy firepower and anti-aircraft defense. AI "Adam" proved its worth, even without orders from Chen Fei, showing initiative and flexibility to assist the base''s joint defense combat autonomously, making the base hard to harm, unlike the rigid sub-derivative of another AI "Cybertrom." The 1000 combat mechs stationed at the base were all standard fighting forces, ready to advance to the front line, becoming the core force holding back the monsters, especially with their inherent coordination advantages, creating crossfire seamlessly, and killing efficiency surpassed the Ability Users. Despite monsters surrounding "the city," the atmosphere inside the 223 Aircrew Base wasn''t as tense as Chen Fei imagined. Some were calm, on standby, others focused on their tasks, some standing guard without engaging, acting as spectators, and some even leisurely placing bets. Perhaps tired from fighting, once back at the base, Chen Fei didn''t join the defense fight. Instead, he found the biochemical research team and took out the silver scale he picked up, wanting to identify its origin. He was curious, as the scale was unique, unlike the scorched remains of the "Big Mouth Monster" (not the A-39 Turboprop Aircraft), wondering what else this beast swallowed besides the Mechanical Dragon. The intact, undamaged scale suggested extraordinary quality, warranting investigation. 223 Aircrew Base battled from day into night; modern weapons efficiently slaughtered nearly ten thousand monsters, reducing the surrounding monster numbers significantly. The attacks no longer resembled the relentless waves that never ceased, easing the base''s defense pressure. The Command Center adjusted tactics, handing all defense duties to tireless combat mechs, with most people retreating from the front line to rest and leaving only a small patrol force to supplement the AI''s insufficient response. Extended battles brought significant consumption; the Command Center immediately submitted a supply list to nearby sovereignty per the agreement, and a small airship soared carrying a big-capacity public Space Series Alchemy Storage Device to retrieve supplies. Chen Fei stood atop the Number 2 Flagship, gazing into the endless cosmos when he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him. "Rookie, you''re here? I''ve been looking for you forever. Chatting with ''Adam'' again?" He turned to see who it was. The person held a bottle of liquor in one hand, two wine glasses between fingers, and a large paper bag in the other. Chen Fei''s gaze had been following the drone circling the black vortex cloud, synchronizing with the Command Center''s received images. "Mouri, aren''t you at the party?" He kept his promise, contributing a hundred cases of liquor from his Space Series Alchemy Storage Device; each case had 12 bottles, making 1200 bottles. The Ability Users gathered and soon decided to have a party and celebrate. Having fought all day, they might as well throw a party and relax; who knew what dangers would await tomorrow threatening their lives. Better to live for today, drink now, and worry not about tomorrow. Survive and continue reveling; die, and it''s fate. None of the Ability Users in the Observation Group were rookies; all seasoned fighters with blood on their hands. Even if fighting the invaders for the first time, their psychological resilience was like old dogs, striking viciously. Cooperation with strangers didn''t easily faze them, quickly finding the most efficient combat combinations and establishing mutual understanding. After surviving shared battles, raising a toast with Chen Xiao''er''s liquor truly united them. "Come to find you! I''m not familiar with the others!" Mouri Misono walked over with liquor and a big paper bag, sat beside Chen Fei, then patted the deck and said, "Drinking with those unfit guys is boring. Sit, have a drink with me." He casually opened the paper bag, revealing a mix of drinking snacks: roasted meat, chicken legs, assorted sausages, grilled eggplant, grilled gluten, a dozen varieties scavenged from the party, and loudly popped the cork from the bottle¡ªliquor brought by Chen Fei. "Alright!" Chen Fei also sat down, took the half-filled wine glass, swirled the clear liquid, clinked glasses with Mouri Misono. Taking a sip, cheap brewed sweet potato liquor, 53-degree self-drinking liquor, strongly fragrant and easy on the head. He couldn''t bear to bring out his fine wine for the party. "I never expected to meet you here; it''s quite a coincidence!" Among the people saved following the rescue signal in the desert, finding familiar faces was unexpected. Blue Star wasn''t precisely small, but it wasn''t vast either. "I didn''t expect it either, thank you for everything!" "It''s what I should do! Cheers!" Mouri Misono, having worked with Chen Fei for a long time and being saved more than once, wouldn''t be overly sentimental. Chapter 811: Section 806 - New Task When acquaintances meet, a few drinks bring the conversation to life. Like everyone else, Mouri Misono returned to her former military contractor after serving in the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division of the Joint Defense Committee. With her newfound credentials, she was promoted to the head of ground forces at several Aircrew Bases on the Africa continent for Fuji Security Group. She managed everything concerning weapons at these bases, except for the planes. During her promotion, there were naturally a few whining competitors, who were promptly sent to worse places, either through lateral transfers or fake promotions, ending up guarding toilets or warehouses, or managing files. As a result, Section Chief Mouri quickly found some peace. Chen Fei also shared his experiences, which were starkly different from Mouri Misono''s steady grind until retirement at the Aircrew Base. He accepted a field mission and got stuck on Cangqiong Star for several months, traversing three continents, crossing perilous oceans, and participating in a civil war within a dynasty. Surviving was due to luck, resilience, and timely aid from powerful allies. Missing any one of these, he would not have made it back. "Here''s to survival!" Hearing Chen Fei''s story, Mouri Misono sympathized; they were both unfortunate souls walking the line between life and death. "Here''s to survival!" Cheers!~ Two glasses of clear spirits downed in one go, with their bottoms up, turning strong liquor into the grandeur of fine wine. Cheers!~ Another sound came from Chen Fei. He frowned slightly and said, "There''s news." A line of text popped up in front of him. Since AI "Adam" handed over the "Underlying Core Control Key," Chen Fei trusted it with managing his cloud account. This meant that text messages received on his phone and the AI were synchronized. "What news?" Mouri Misono grabbed a roast chicken leg, tearing off a bite to suppress the rising alcohol. "I picked up a scale, not just any scale, but a Silver Dragon Scale!" Results from the biological lab had just come out, immediately reported to Chen Fei. The outcome was unexpected. It wasn''t a monster scale at all but a Space Series Silver Dragon Scale, a detail deeply unsettling. Could a hapless Silver Dragon have been swallowed by a monster? It didn''t make sense! How could a member of the Dragon Clan''s Law Enforcement Team be so weak? "Rookie! Did you really find that Silver Dragon Scale at the rescue point? Hic!" A VIP communication agent from the command center followed up, hiccupping after her message, suggesting she had been called back to duty unexpectedly. Being a one-on-one communication, she likely wouldn''t have been eager to contact anyone else but Chen Fei. "Indeed, but I didn''t find any trace of dragons." Chen Fei confirmed truthfully and provided more information. Anything concerning the Dragon Race was serious business. He had once killed an adult Metallic Dragon, causing Blue Star Civilization some tense moments. Sky Dragon City dispatched dragon investigators, and Blue Star couldn''t refuse. "So that''s how it is? Oh, this is serious!" The communication agent also felt the gravity of the situation. It could be possible that a Silver Dragon got swallowed or even perished, which was far worse than losing a less competent Metallic Dragon. When a Metallic Dragon was vaporized by Sparrows on Zilu Continent, Sky Dragon City merely acknowledged it with a dismissive nod. Even the kindred Dragon King was indifferent, let alone dragons from other series. The last adult Metallic Dragon had stirred diplomatic issues leading to an investigation mostly to reclaim its Dragon Crystal. If not for its unauthorized crossing of realms, it would have been considered just another casualty, like the unfortunate one on Zilu Continent, dying ignominiously and sparking no more interest than a passing remark. The sentiment among Metallic Dragons could easily be: "Die far away, would you?" Possibly they were even grateful for such deaths, thinking if integrity was something that could be eaten. "Quickly report this!" Compared to the insignificant death of a Metallic Dragon, Sky Dragon City''s concern for a Space Series Silver Dragon''s safety was significantly higher. Upon discovering that the scale he picked up came from a Silver Dragon, Chen Fei mentally prepared for further interactions with dragons, thinking: once strange, twice familiar. Nowadays, Sky Dragon City had become a down-to-earth tourist spot, no longer an elusive sanctuary. Dragons integrated into the broader intelligent species society were easier to deal with, no longer posing unreasonable challenges. "Already reported!" The communication agent promptly confirmed Chen Fei''s words. This matter should rather be the worry of those higher-ups. She continued, "The command center plans to dispatch Space System Ability Users to the invasion site tomorrow morning, and you might be on the list. Be prepared to assemble at 6 AM." Initially, Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s pretenses Chen Fei asked, "Can I use this airship?" Approaching the black vortex cloud, whether in the sky or on the ground, the density and number of monsters would increase. Without the airship, he might only protect himself, not necessarily others. It''s a different scenario compared to the previous rescue of contractors at Aircrew Base 223. "Yes!" The command center likely recognized that Chen Fei''s combat effectiveness relied heavily on equipment, thus wouldn''t refuse. The command center stationed in the flagship''s cabin might relocate, with choices like Snow Mountain or Base 223 being viable, or even deploying along with the airship. Each option had its benefits. Chen Fei boldly asked, "Will I get Dragon Slayer Missiles?" With Dragon Slayer Missiles, his combat capability could at least double. Whenever in doubt¡ªuse a missile. If one doesn''t solve the problem, use two! "Granted! You get two, but must seek permission before deployment." The communication agent conveyed the command center''s plan, gratefully lifting restrictions for once. The current head of Marin Kai Sovereignty had crumbled; the interim leadership was still struggling. Even employing unconventional tactical-level weapons like Dragon Slayer Missiles wouldn''t raise objections. Initially arriving under the guise of an observer, now the excuse was apt to observe the black vortex cloud closely. "What about the special antidote for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant?" Chen Fei felt emboldened, looking forward to fully unleashing his B-level supernatural ability. The power of ton-class Thermobaric Bombs was formidable, but their break-defense effect and sheer destructive force fell short compared to Dragon Slayer Missiles equipped with Element Annihilation Bombs. If not for that pesky suppressant, he alone could wipe out any obstructive elements within Marin Kai Sovereignty and even dismantle Poer Sovereignty next door. "Uh..." The communication agent hesitated; the call seemed blocked, descending into an eerie silence. Moments later, her voice resumed. "The chief strategist asked me to tell you, ''Wishful thinking!''" This was a stark slap of cold water. Everyone knew of Chen Xiao''er''s thirst for more. Nobody was a true fool. Given the items stored in the Spatial Branding on his hand, taking over a sovereignty without Sky Knights might be impossible, but crushing its leadership team was entirely feasible. So that suppressant needle indeed showed foresight; allowing Chen Fei to unleash himself recklessly would be perilous. He might become uncontrollable, doing something crazy even to himself, pulling off unthinkable feats. If a Blue Star civilian played a solo game of annihilating nations outside, could Blue Star Sovereignties still coexist harmoniously? Likely not, even implicating his major financier, Louis Industries. "Wishful thinking!" was already a considerate response to Chen Fei. "Alright!" Chen Fei knew the antidote would be hard to obtain, but he hadn''t expected it to be this difficult. "Who were you chatting with?" Mouri Misono, unknowingly drunk, had already devoured most of the snacks in the paper wrapping. Fortunately, she was a familiar confidant; an unfamiliar person might have deemed him mentally ill¡ªof the severely deranged kind. Chen Fei, who hadn''t managed to drink with Mouri Misono, replied, "The command center, there''s a mission early tomorrow." This need not be concealed; she would certainly know by tomorrow morning. There was no risk of leaking information, as Mouri Misono couldn''t possibly collude with parasitic species or invading monsters. "Can I join? There''s nothing major here anyways, I''d love to go see what''s going on." Given the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s large-scale mobilization, Section Chief Mouri could easily guess it involved dangerous situations, sparking her hunting instinct. Now, with a large group of Ability Users stationed at Base 223, and surrounding monsters decimated drastically, there would be no issues for a while, allowing her to leave for a short period. "Alright, I''ll ask for you." Having collaborated before, Chen Fei knew her combat skills well. As a Wind Series Eighth Rank War Professional, Mouri Misono was qualified to join the Ability User Observer team. As he expected, the command center approved her participation, acknowledging her capabilities and credentials, without reason to refuse. "Approved, 6 AM tomorrow on this airship!" Chen Fei relayed the message to Mouri Misono. "Got it, early to bed, early to rise. I''m off!" Mouri Misono patted Chen Fei''s shoulder, responsibly concluding the drinking session, swaying as she left. Chapter 812: Section 807 - Facing the Enemy Early the next morning, as soon as Chen Fei opened his eyes, he received a short message from the command center. There was more information about that piece of Silver Dragon Scale. Sky Dragon City responded promptly, confirming that all spatial series Silver Dragons were safe and sound, with no dragons missing or dead. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, as the situation hadn''t escalated or taken a turn for the worst. According to the DNA features extracted from the Silver Dragon Scale in the Biochemical Laboratory, they smoothly identified the owner. It was a young male Giant Dragon, just a thousand years old, effectively reaching adulthood. He was also a TV host in Sky Dragon City, having a proper job and rarely leaving the city. How could he have had the time to visit the desolate desert of Blue Star? The Dragon Scale Chen Fei found might have been unintentionally picked up by someone sightseeing in Sky Dragon City, who then stealthily brought it to Blue Star. Due to various reasons, it was lost in the desert and accidentally swallowed by an invading monster until it was found again, thus re-emerging into the light of day. This speculation is probably very close to the truth. When the Dimensional Gate connecting Cangqiong Star and Blue Star was first activated, management was not stringent due to various reasons. Occasionally, unauthorized items would cross over realms, and even the illegal entry of Magical Beasts was not uncommon. The parents of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, which Chen Fei obtained, were likely successful stowaways as well. The negligence in managing the Dimensional Gate on the Africa Continent seemed not to come as a surprise to anyone. - An airship carrying the entire command team and the escort team for the Space System Ability User took off from Aircrew Base 223, heading towards the location of the black vortex cloud that caused the collapse of Marin Kai Sovereignty on the Africa Continent. The survivors of Marin Kai Sovereignty now either became refugees, fleeing across borders to seek asylum in other sovereignties, or gathered together to build their final line of defense. However, as time went on, without international intervention and support, this last stand might not hold for long. Chen Fei remained on the bridge. He was the controller of the No. 2 flagship, and as long as he stayed at this post, others would feel more at ease. After all, "Adam" had a history, and no one dared to let this AI autonomously control the entire airship and send them on their way. Besides the cunning monk who continued to eat and drink beside Chen Fei, there was now also a young woman who was prepared to go to great lengths for friendship. Mouri Misono hadn''t met Miyoshi Monk before and was introduced as friends through Chen Fei, the intermediary. Since they were fellow countrymen and had a common language, they happily sat down and enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast together. For the convenience of his two friends, Chen Fei activated a panoramic three-dimensional holographic projection in the bridge, covering every corner of the room with a stereoscopic display. It was almost indistinguishable from AR visual assistance in his eyes. Part of the display showed the flying status and data of the airship, while another part projected the latest video news broadcast about the electoral progress of Marin Kai Sovereignty. "Is the new leader of Marin Kai Sovereignty not yet formed?" Mouri Misono enjoyed her breakfast dumplings freely, glancing at the election scene that was almost becoming an arena. Everyone argued their reasoning, and both sides cried and knelt. Truths and lies intertwined, various shameless tactics unfolded. Even someone accustomed to workplace battles like her found the politicians'' struggles quite speechless. As long as they achieved their goals, they resorted to all means without any principles or bottom lines, leaving her dumbfounded. The cunning monk indifferently said, "Let''s see the final outcome of the game." As he specialized in dark operations, he got straight to the point. Many African sovereignties had interests entangled behind them, which were the continental disputes of external forces. Don''t be fooled; they were just puppets on strings, and it was actually for their own good. Freedom comes at a price. If you''re not strong enough, you''ll live even worse, like a beggar, even dogs will come to bully you. "Prepare for combat!" Chen Fei suddenly reminded everyone. The sky over Tianfang was filled with tiny black dots, each representing a ferocious monster. Their number exceeded five thousand, moving without any formation, like a black cloud, rushing towards the No. 2 flagship. "So many?" Miyoshi Monk saw the synchronized three-dimensional holographic display on the bridge, showing a massive cluster of enemy targets, which was quite alarming. "''Rookie'', how far to that black cloud?" Mouri Misono, who was watching the news, was also startled by the marked number, and it kept increasing. If not for the carrying airship, approaching that black cloud would be quite challenging for them. As time went by, more monsters would arrive at Blue Star through the black cloud. Although many had been slaughtered before, their numbers were just a drop in the ocean. The current mission was only reconnaissance. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee never intended to wipe out all the monsters on its own; it would ultimately require the collaboration of multiple sovereignties. As for the ousted former leader of Marin Kai Sovereignty and the unresolved dispute over the new leadership, nobody cared. "160 kilometers, estimated arrival in 20 minutes." Chen Fei reported the calculated numbers. The airship couldn''t fly too fast; it might easily collide with those chaotic flying monsters. If it hit something at high speed, the consequences would be severe. Even with self-repair capabilities and protective barriers ensuring the safety of the airship, Psi skills would deplete Chen Fei''s spiritual power, and the protective barriers would consume crystal energy reserves. These costs were not worth it. If the monsters disregarded casualties and were willing to exhaust resources, they could hold the No. 2 flagship at a certain distance from the black vortex cloud. "''Adam'', prepare five Thermobaric Bombs, load them into the railgun, set the distance to 10 kilometers, and fire at three times the speed of sound." Chen Fei extended his hand, confirming the locations of the impact points on the AR visual interface. They were evenly distributed within the monster cloud. Each impact point displayed multi-level damage ranges, shown as multi-concentric circles, with the farthest shockwaves as close as possible to minimize any monsters slipping through. The No. 2 flagship carried 800 Combat Mechs this time, responsible for assisting the 400, 1000-mm caliber railguns on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the ship. Each railgun was prepared with 100, 600-mm caliber Demolition Bombs, 100, 600-mm caliber shrapnel bombs, and 100, 120-mm caliber armor-piercing shells, enough to create a death storm around the airship. The Combat Mechs were not there to operate the railguns but to assist with magnetic rail sniper rifles for additional kills and close defense. The airship itself was equivalent to the domain of the Metal Elemental Psychic Power; if monsters infiltrated the interior, Chen Fei wouldn''t worry as much. One would die one, two would die a pair, and a large group would be annihilated, no chance of survival. It was when large numbers clung to the outer surface of the airship that it became troublesome, so eliminating targets from a distance was the best approach. The large magnetic rail main gun of the No. 2 flagship was a temporary evolution, over 3000 mm in caliber, capable of loading any explosive ordnance with a metal shell. Once loaded, it would roar out. At three times the speed of sound, it nearly covered a kilometer per second. Ten kilometers would take only ten seconds or less. As the first ton-level Thermobaric Bomb exploded into a massive fire cloud in the sky, the last one followed closely behind. It was like thunder, with booming sounds echoing continuously. The initial shockwave, like a brush, swept through the monster cloud. Numerous monsters were shattered and disoriented, plummeting like raindrops. Falling from such a height would reduce even steel muscles and iron bones to pulp. Next, the completely released thermobaric flames engulfed all the nearby monsters. The ensuing blast wave sent those further away into uncontrollable flight. Wings, being fragile, were torn or fractured. Like the first wave of fallen unfortunates, they''d all die from the fall. "''Rookie'', do we need to use the ''Dragon Slayer Missile''?" The VIP lady accompanying the command center in great peril sent an inquiry as numerous monsters approached, causing the command team considerable alarm, but Chen Xiao''er proactively engaged. "''Dragon Slayer Missile''? Not necessary, not necessary, I can handle it." These insignificant monsters could never conquer the No. 2 flagship merely through numbers. Chen Fei would not waste the two limited "Dragon Slayer Missile" permissions. Even though he suspected the logistics team might carry more than two missiles, saving trump cards was always a better strategy, especially as one should be reserved for the black vortex cloud, leaving little leeway for maneuver. The communication officer anxiously said, "Alright then, be careful!" She wasn''t a combat personnel, but serving steadfastly aboard the airship, she was risking her life alongside Xiao''er. "No, we all need to be careful." If the No. 2 flagship fell, not just Chen Fei, everyone would perish. "Get as close to the black cloud as possible. Space System Ability Users can only exert their powers within 200 meters." The staff group conveyed their message through the communication officer. "200 meters? That''s practically point-blank. Understood! I''ll try my best!" Chen Fei smirked. He had dealt with the black vortex cloud before. The vortex cloud, as though a tear in the sky, poured out monsters ceaselessly to the ground. The closer it was, the more monsters there would be. A misstep in this close-quarters battle could lead to a total wipeout. No wonder the command team allowed him more latitude, preparing two "Dragon Slayer Missiles", one for the monsters, and one as a last resort. Chapter 813: Section 808 - Dense Back then, Chen Fei piloted a "Big Mouth Monster" to approach and attack the black vortex cloud. If it weren''t for another supernatural power user covering him with arrows, Chen Fei wouldn''t have been able to recklessly weave through skyscrapers and directly charge beneath the vortex cloud to unleash carnage. Since the vortex cloud appeared over the Africa Continent, some time has passed. The closer you get to the core of the vortex cloud, the more terrifyingly numerous the monsters become. For every kilometer you approach, the difficulty index skyrockets. If "Spatial Branding" were still available, deploying a full fleet of airships and releasing all combat units, clearing the way with "Element Annihilation Bombs," then this battle could still be within reach. However... this was just Chen Xiao''er''s fantasy! He didn''t consider that deploying an airship battle group might be akin to directly invading another nation''s sovereignty. For example, if combat spaceships from other sovereignties invaded the airspace of the First Sovereign, it wouldn''t matter if they fired a shot or not; it would still be a declaration of war. The First Sovereign often says they won''t fire the first shot, appearing benevolent and kind. But in reality, their enemy only gets one chance for the first shot, and the next second they are drowned in a barrage of overwhelming firepower. So, cry your grievances in hell! Which of the top-ranked sovereignties isn''t tough? Throughout history, not! a! single! one! Chen Fei could do such things on Cangqiong Star because of his twisted kinship ties with the Slan Royal Family; they could turn a blind eye due to urgencies. The Rebel Army had advice from the Radiant Tiger Legion Commander, and Southern War Zone Commander Bartona''s tacit consent; both sides of the civil war kept one eye closed so Chen Fei could expand and utilize this formidable war force unrestrictedly. On Blue Star, amidst a cluster of sovereignties, a force suddenly affecting the balance of power on the Africa Continent would have Chen Xiao''er dragged back home by his ears to serve house arrest (sentence + probation + house surveillance). "''Adam,'' ton-scale thermobaric bombs at 10 rounds per batch, prepare 5 batches." Chen Fei didn''t disarm the main magnetic rail cannon on the No.2 flagship, keeping it on standby; thus, externally, the ship''s shape slightly changed, with six hollow long rails on its back, flashing ominous signals. Since it needs to launch ton-scale thermobaric bombs, the caliber size couldn''t be small, almost turning the entire ship into a magnetic rail accelerator, making it ideal for firing crowd-suppression ordnance. Adam: 50 units of 1000 kg thermobaric bombs are ready. The No.2 flagship''s body is an integrated fully automated war machine, far more fierce than regular combat spaceships. Ammo has already been prepared; Chen Fei''s question was just for human confirmation. The radar''s air defense alert never stopped; flying monsters on the ground continually soared, trying to approach the No.2 flagship at ten thousand meters altitudes. However, approaching the No.2 flagship is not easy; most reach 6000 to 7000 meters before facing thin air and chilling winds, first requiring iron lungs, second endurance, third speed¡ªonly those meeting all three can challenge human combat aircraft. Ship-mounted railguns didn''t bully these scattered targets; the combat mech''s large-caliber magnetic rail sniper rifle fired repeatedly, bullets at 10 times the speed of sound which cover ground distances. Whether solid-core bullets or fragmentation shells, they inflict deadly damage; a hit ensures death. Previous monster clouds couldn''t fully threaten the No.2 flagship, just due to sheer numbers, making action necessary for peace of mind. Survey teams need to lower altitude, approaching just a few hundred meters above the black vortex cloud, eliminating those monsters upfront is crucial to prevent disruptions. "Rookie, how far from the black cloud?" Having grabbed the last pan of fried dumplings from Miyoshi Monk, Mouri Misono, still hungry, wiped her hands and focused on the mission. Since annihilating the massive "monster cloud cluster," Chen Fei''s gaze seemed elsewhere, on other matters. Chen Fei immediately replied, "Within a ten-kilometer radius, over 100,000 monsters. Mouri, isn''t that scary?" Accompanying drones hovered at 12000 meters height, returning hair-raising data. Scary? Of course, Mouri Misono wanted to go home; against 100,000 enemies, not harmless rabbits, with so few people, even a single bite wouldn''t be enough for one monster. "So many?" This mission was insane, charging into such danger. And most of the command team are ordinary people, facing those monsters, it''s one bite each, inevitably eaten. "Don''t worry, steel muscles and iron bones¡ªthis airship won''t fall. Those monsters outside, no matter how many, can''t harm us." Miyoshi Monk brewed tea, always carrying lacquer boxes, clay stoves, walnut charcoal, small clay kettles, tea leaves, a bottle of water, tea cups, spoons, hanging chic and ostentatious. He understood. Chen Fei piloted a mechanical dragon, swallowed whole by extraordinary monsters, dragged underground, yet returned intact, not losing a single hair, showing confidence in his metal elemental psychic power. Moreover, this large airship''s armor layer can''t be torn by those monsters. Chen Fei confidently said, "Don''t worry, as long as I''m here, we won''t fall." Flight principles of the No.2 airship differ from others; besides the magic array, Chen Fei''s psi skill ensures its flight ability with dual insurance¡ªeither alone is enough, together they complement each other, hard to destroy or interfere. Miyoshi Xuesen shrugged at Mouri Misono, as if saying, "See, didn''t I say so!" "Exterminating this many monsters won''t be easy either, right?" Mouri Misono worried about her employer''s business. Seeing these rampant creatures, more than mutants, if those aircrew bases remained desolate, people couldn''t stay. The quantity surpasses any military contractor''s capacity; without the two airships and thousands of combat mechs, plus over 300 ability users, the 223 Aircrew Base''s original defense strength wouldn''t withstand even half an hour. Even solving the black vortex cloud, the leftover consequences, small sovereignties of Africa Continent would struggle to cope. "That''s not my concern; I just transport people to the site, stay the required time, then retreat." Chen Fei didn''t worry about post-combat issues; with his current diminished fighting capacity, dealing with even defenseless pigs was not a one-man job. He had only two "Dragon Slayer Missiles," final unlock codes still held by the command center, providing mere token assistance. Besides "Dragon Slayer Missiles," ton-scale thermobaric bombs were potent, and numerous¡ªone can flatten three football fields¡ªbut monster-infested lands vastly exceed thousands of soccer fields, still inadequate. "Will other sovereignties intervene?" Mouri Misono''s stance differed; she needed to keep working, concerned about when affairs would settle, for Fuji Security Group headquarters reports. "Eventually. For now, have tea! Your job is to wait patiently!" The small kettle steamed under red-hot charcoal, Miyoshi Monk distributed tea cups, understanding Mouri Misono''s mindset. No matter the reasons, idle wages could label one a salary thief, especially for new ground combat division chiefs needing quick returns. "20 kilometers remaining to our destination!" Chen Fei''s words were followed by the roar of thermobaric bomb launches from the flagship''s main cannon, like a high-speed train zooming past. The ground was nearly covered by countless monsters. They brought no supplies, being part of the food chain, fed on each other, without external provisions, severely damaging the local ecosystem¡ªdestroying moss and fresh vegetation, shrubs and trees, snakes, worms, ants, and all natural life. Chapter 814: Section 809 - Approaching A black cloud with a diameter of about 200 meters hovered at an altitude of nearly 500 meters above the ground, rotating slowly and independently without being affected by any weather conditions. It was completely out of tune with the natural weather changes. Every second, 30 to 50 clawing monsters would emerge from the cloud and continuously descend to the ground, immediately rushing in all directions like a tide. A few agile monsters, especially those adept in flying, couldn''t wait to land and would voluntarily break away from the slow descent area and fly towards distant places. The nearby area used to be a small town. However, shortly after the appearance of the black cloud, it was flattened by the monsters, with only a few lucky ones managing to escape. Not only humans were affected. Even the wild animals living in the region suffered. Whether herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores, they were all dug out and devoured by the monsters, including mutants rampaging in remote areas. "15 kilometers away!" Chen Fei informed everyone inside the ship. The 600-mm caliber railgun and large-caliber magnetic rail sniper rifles mounted on the ship were firing alternately, taking down the monsters attempting to get close. The flight altitude of the No.2 flagship had dropped from 10,000 meters to about 800 meters above the ground, inevitably coming under attack from flying monsters. At this altitude, almost any monster with wings could reach them. Ton-class thermobaric bombs couldn''t be released haphazardly at this time, as their damage spanning three football fields could easily affect the airship. "''Rookie,'' continue closing the distance. Covering ability users, get ready. Mr. Fan Mo, Mr. Qin Xiu, Ms. Asher, and the escort team, please report to the bridge." A one-on-one communicator also joined the ship-wide broadcast, showcasing the advantage of the command team accompanying them, which allowed for on-the-spot decision-making and quick response. The command center wouldn''t let only Chen Fei and his airship fire fully. It was normal to have a few strays, and this was when the team of space series ability users needed to shine. The workspace of the space series ability users was located at the bridge, which had the best view. Conveniently, Chen Fei was there too, so he could react if any emergencies occurred. The airship itself was his psi skill, so as long as he stayed inside, the basic safety was assured. The command center included Chen Fei in the escort team''s list considering this. In contrast, leaving the No.2 flagship at the 223 Aircrew Base would be a waste of resources and wouldn''t contribute positively to the task at hand. Ding-dong!~ The doorbell to the bridge rang. Unless pre-authorized, everyone else had to press the doorbell to notify Chen Fei and gain entry permission. Chen Fei looked towards the door, and the automatic door slid open, letting in more than thirty people simultaneously. These were the complete team for the current task, including Chen Fei himself. Seeing the bridge filled with large three-dimensional holographic projections and the entirely empty cabin space in reality, which was completely different from standard cockpits, many couldn''t help but be stunned. They then looked at Chen Fei and the others, who were brewing tea around a stove with a few delicate snacks on the side... Is this how airships are controlled? Truly a sight worth seeing! Someone turned to the automatic door with an odd expression, thinking that maybe the way they opened the door was wrong? "Hey everyone, would you like something to drink?" Chen Fei held up his teacup, gesturing to the crowd, and the two people beside him nodded in greeting as well. From the teaware to the tea, everything was sponsored by the monk, and while the small porcelain cups in the basket might not be enough, there were plenty of glass cups in the storage magical device. If they still weren''t enough, they could scrape up some metal from the floor and shape them on the spot. A-level space series ability user Fan Mo quickly responded, laughing, "This is a bit different from what I expected!" He had imagined a scene of facing formidable enemies but didn''t expect such a leisurely tea party. The little bit of tension he had completely vanished. In fact, it''s better this way! Coming in relaxed, getting the job done relaxed, and going home with money relaxed¡ªwhat''s not to love? "Why not pick a good spot first?" First-rank space mage Asher looked around after saying this. Standing by the panoramic window, she looked back at Chen Fei and said, "Young man, can you push this spot forward a bit and set up some tables and chairs?" "I agree!" Qin Xiu expressed his approval, noting that it was better to rely on the airship''s protection than risking a sudden attack by monsters outside. The number of monsters outside was almost enough to cover the sky, making just looking at them quite daunting. The previous drone footage didn''t fully represent the reality. The number of ability users escorting the three of them was too small. The original plan was that fewer people would make smaller targets and actions more covert, but that wasn''t the case. With too few people, it was just sending food. Even if they brought all the ability users from the 223 Aircrew Base, it probably wouldn''t be enough. Without the escorted airship, getting within 200 meters of the black cloud would have been impossible, let alone within 1 kilometer. So, to complete the mission, they had to rely on sheer power in the end. "No problem. It''s simple." Chen Fei stood up, walked to the panoramic window, and placed his hand on the transparent wall, giving it a gentle push. The wall started to move, extending outward along with his steps, the floor synchronously extending. As if pulling one thing and moving the whole body, the shape of the entire bridge cabin also changed, eventually becoming a protruding sun room with nearly a 270-degree panoramic view, taking the visual experience to another level, complete with seats and synchronized three-dimensional holographic images. The eyes of the two metal ability users in the escort team lit up. Although they were all from the same series of abilities, why was Chen Fei''s psi skill so impressive? Comparing with others could really be infuriating! From a distance, the No. 2 flagship looked like it sprouted a big brain, affecting its aerodynamic shape but it didn''t matter because high-speed flight wasn''t needed at this time. The airship was less than 1 kilometer away from the black vortex cloud, and swarms of flying monsters frantically rushed at it, surrounding the airship tightly. With full firepower, the airship turned into a fiery porcupine. Countless pieces of shattered flesh rained down, attracting other monsters on the ground to rush over and fight for the scraps. Even the occasional falling shells couldn''t stop the starving beasts. "800 meters! ''Adam,'' 500 kilograms white phosphorus bombs, 50 pieces, twice the speed of sound, one every 5 seconds, target the center of the black cloud. 500 kilograms incendiary bombs, 100 pieces, manually adjust the impact points." Chen Fei gave instructions while drawing circles of various sizes and marking impact points on the AR electronic map in front of him. The black vortex cloud seemed agitated at the moment, releasing all flying monsters, subjecting the No. 2 flagship to unprecedented frenzied attacks. Even though the fire points on the ship''s surface stopped aiming for a one-shot kill or a group kill and switched to full 100% firepower, spewing ammunition in every direction almost never missed, easily reaping massive destructive results. "What are you doing?" Mouri Misono stood by Chen Fei''s side without being of much help, nervously watching his random actions that looked almost manic, causing a stir. She seemed worried, suspecting another fit of madness, but she had no cure for it! The three space series ability users stood at the inside edge of the hemispherical "sun room," staring fixedly at the distant black cloud, while the ability users responsible for protecting them stood on a transparent glass-walled outdoor corridor, tasked with eliminating any monsters that penetrated the airship''s firepower net. Chen Fei finished revising the impact points and damage radius before turning his attention back and explained, "Heaven and earth as furnace, fortune as craftsman, yin and yang as carbon, all things as copper." This was a segment from Jia Yi''s "Owl" of the Han Dynasty, purely taken out of context. "Huh?" Mouri Misono hadn''t studied this part, barely able to finish reading "The Tale of Genji." "Don''t understand?" "Hmm, hmm, hmm!" Mouri Misono was eager to learn. "Fire it up! Barbecue!" Finally, Chen Xiao''er said something straightforward. The airship trembled slightly, and a series of incendiary bombs were launched en masse by the main railgun. These so-called incendiary bombs were actually viscous liquids that exploded upon landing, spreading everywhere. As soon as the flames started, they could melt steel and earth. Most of the impact points were located directly below the black vortex cloud, causing columns of fire to shoot into the sky, with black smoke rolling and heat waves surging. It was indeed like heaven and earth as a grand furnace, refining the monsters being constantly thrown into this world, transforming them into nutrients (gas, minerals, and organic matter) for this world. The 500-kilo white phosphorus bombs, at moments when the monsters paused, plunged into the black cloud, followed by dazzling white lights and white smoke tails. Here, one could recite a poem: The sun shines on the incense burner, purple smoke rises, looking at the waterfall, hanging in the front river, flows down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way fell from the heavens. While there wasn''t three thousand feet, a meter and three feet, halved to one thousand five hundred feet, was still achievable. This galaxy falling was not the Lushan Waterfall, but rather a continuous fire potent enough to burn into the marrows. Even dead wouldn''t end its tormenting phosphorous fires. One could only wonder about those plumes falling, the situation inside the black cloud was anyone''s guess. The only certainty was that winged monsters fell down smoking, with very few able to fly again. "200 meters away, ammunition is limited, please hurry!" The surrounding monsters were akin to water without a source and wood without roots. As close-defense firepower continued sweeping, their numbers visibly reduced at an impressive rate. The 500 kilos white phosphorus bombs, 50 pieces, one every 5 seconds, combined with the raging flames on the ground, could only sustain a bit over four minutes. The three-dimensional holographic projection immediately displayed a countdown timer. Chapter 815: Section 810 - Tug of War The plan still can''t keep up with the changes, and the distance of 200 meters from the black vortex cloud seems insufficient. "Can you get closer to 100 meters? It''s still too far!" Qin Xiu, one of the three Space Series Ability Users, is a B-level Space Ability User. His rank level is not as high as the other two; the distance of 200 meters makes him a bit out of reach. Ms. Asher, holding a magic wand, focused for a moment before reluctantly adding, "It''s best to get to 50 meters; my sensing would be more accurate!" Although the abilities of the Space Series are sharp, they are also greatly constrained by various factors. Especially for special existences like the black vortex cloud, which involves complex space series rules, it is not easy for human ability users to figure out what it is exactly. In a certain sense, Chen Fei, who possesses "spatial branding," can also be considered a Space Series Ability User. But the origin of his ability is not a secret. Besides being able to store and retrieve items, it has no other psi skill effects. To want to comprehend the mysteries of space series rules like the other three Space Series Ability Users is purely overreaching. Moreover, his abilities are currently sealed by a Supernatural Ability Suppressant, leaving him to rely on his Metal Elemental Psychic Power. "Understood, your positions need to be adjusted, stand firm." As Chen Fei''s voice fell, the ground underfoot slightly shook, and the hemispherical "sun room" with a diameter of thirty meters slowly moved, shifting from the bow to the side. Trusting people to do their job without suspicion, the command center never interferes with how Chen Fei maneuvers the airship. Fortunately, it is an unscientific psi skill; if it were industrial technology, such a complex structure would make engineers in this field feel like killing to silence it. Damn it! What''s up with such complexity, what are you trying to do? The No. 2 flagship approached the black vortex cloud again in a horizontal position. The densely packed firepower points on its side reminded people of the naval battles of the Great Sailing Era. The numerous artillery fires could deliver a fierce barrage, interrupting the number of monsters thrown by the black cloud, creating a brief period of vacuum. Besides, Chen Fei had positioned the No. 2 flagship like this to speed away if necessary. The ammunition reserves were limited. Don''t be fooled by the current reckless actions. Once it''s depleted, the combat power of the No. 2 flagship would revert to its basic state, just like Chen Fei. Chen Fei reported after reading the measurements: "48 meters! This is the limit. Command Center, report ammunition reserves." This distance is really close, caliber over 40mm ammunition can''t be used anymore, relying solely on solid-core bullets for a hard hit, and occasionally white smoky phosphorus fire would fly over, blocked by either a repulsion shield or a magic shield. The number of collisions suffered by the No. 2 flagship is increasing. Even knowing that unpredictable danger can occur at any moment, Chen Fei can only stay cautious with AI "Adam." Not just him, all ability users on the airship were extremely cautious. Behind these constantly appearing monsters were the unseen parasitic species, something the Blue Star Sovereignty members did not forget. "Ammunition reserves, ''Element Annihilation Bomb'' 12 pieces, accompanying rocket-propelled missiles 24 pieces, 600mm demolition bombs 120 pieces, 600mm armor-piercing shells 60 pieces, 152mm demolition bombs 480 pieces, 152mm armor-piercing shells 120 pieces, 152mm armor-breaking shells 120 pieces, 152mm fragment shells 120 pieces, 120mm armor-piercing shells..." There were still plenty of ammunition not yet assigned to Chen Fei, but it was still a drop in the ocean compared to the thousands of monsters. Even with the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s preparation of space system alchemy storage artifacts, and adding Chen Fei''s personal twining branch bracelet storage artifact, the capacity does not compare to the sealed "spatial branding." Any alchemical storage artifacts involving light, dark, spiritual power, and space rules are expensive. Given the Joint Defense Committee''s capacity, acquiring these alchemical storage artifacts already reached the limit. Those larger capacity space system alchemy storage artifacts were busy with interstellar quota trade between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star, generating millions or even tens of millions of Star Yuan in profit every second. They wouldn''t have time to lend them to the Joint Defense Committee temporarily. After the communicator finished reading the list of reserved ammunition, Chen Fei said straight away, "Give me all the ammunition, might be useful later." From the approach within 10 kilometers of the black vortex cloud, his ammunition reserves had visibly decreased. Now, besides being unable to use large-caliber heavy weapon ammunition, it can only sustain for less than 5 minutes. Of course, this calculation doesn''t include exchangeable railgun weapon solid-core ammunition and directional energy (laser and particle beam, the latter being a heavy energy consumer) from energy points. If all were accounted, it could last half an hour more. But after half an hour, Chen Xiao''er''s combat power would really bottom out. The communicator asked, "Sent to the bridge or?" The entire airship is Chen Fei''s psi skill, ammunition transport doesn''t require manual handling. "Release in place, put it on the deck." Chen Fei responded naturally. This ability saved several hundred manpower, modern firearms consume logistics, especially transport manpower. Logistics personnel with storage artifacts released most of the ammunition on the deck as per the list, except for the "Element Annihilation Bomb," the paired rocket-propelled missiles were not withheld. The "Element Annihilation Bomb," when paired with rocket-propelled missiles, became a complete "Dragon Slayer Missile," though the former was not just a warhead for the latter but could be used independently without reduced power. In fact, the destruction capability of the "Dragon Slayer Missile" comes from the "Element Annihilation Bomb," while the propulsion fuel contributes minimally. The ammo boxes placed on the deck disappeared like sinking into water. Once they truly entered the ship, they were simultaneously stripped of their packaging by invisible hands, then moved to their planned positions for standby. Miyoshi Monk suddenly asked, "Why extract so much ammunition? It doesn''t seem needed?" "I have a bad feeling!" Chen Fei had just finished speaking when he suddenly tilted, almost falling to the ground, but managed to stabilize himself after taking a few staggered steps. Not just him, Miyoshi Xuesen and Mouri Misono in the bridge also got caught off guard, taking a heavy fall, then rolling like gourds. The corridor outside the "sun room" erupted with exclamations and screams. Some people fell, and some were even thrown out. Steel cables shot from the railings, retrieving those thrown into the air. Even the three Space Series Ability Users inside the "sun room" weren''t spared, falling hard with grimaces. "Yiyah!" The female communicator linked with Chen Fei let out a cute scream, then asked in panic, "Wh-what happened?" "Distance to black cloud 30 meters! There''s a gravity anomaly. ''Adam'', full acceleration to escape!" Chen Fei hurriedly used his psi skill to significantly increase the No. 2 flagship''s total weight to counteract the dragging force while lowering altitude as another escape method. Previously stable at 48 meters from the black vortex cloud, the sudden gravity change shifted the airship over ten meters. The No. 2 flagship''s magic array lit up abruptly, besides Chen Fei''s psi skill "Gravity Adjustment Module (100%)," multiple "Gravity (1)" magic arrays illuminated. The stern emitted dazzling blue light, not just the propulsion magic array but also the jet engines burning fuel. The originally horizontal airship quickly fled from the suddenly strengthened gravity, the internal structures groaning. Without Chen Fei''s psi skill, the flagship might have disintegrated on the spot. Not just the No. 2 flagship, even the constantly emerging monsters and grounded ones were forcibly pulled back, some deforming and twisting amid screeching, tearing apart until fragmented, blood and flesh flying across the sky like hell descending. The airship''s surroundings suddenly became clear with no flying monsters encircling. "Outer armor with three-layer honeycomb bubble structure, launch ten thermobaric bombs, hit that thing hard!" Chen Fei adjusted immediately, something surely targeted his airship. Just left with the vortex cloud wouldn''t cause such an anomaly. One thermobaric bomb after another detached from the ship, pulled by the gravity towards the black vortex cloud. Even though the thermobaric bomb''s shock waves would engulf the No. 2 flagship, he couldn''t care less, better to commit fully than regret later. "Your crow mouth is frighteningly accurate." Miyoshi Monk looked like he took a punch, with a swollen face. As a supernatural power user, he gets hurt by collisions just the same, and a bullet would finish him. "Jianghu is perilous, caution is crucial, Monk, you should be aware of this long ago?" Chen Fei shifted his gaze to the unfortunate monk who must have hit the ground face first to look so miserable. Mouri Misono, being a War Professional, not only had Battle Qi guarding her but was also agile, coming out unscathed without a hint of distress. Monk retorted, "Carelessness! Trusting your psi skill too much, definitely makes one lose vigilance." Boom!~ A shock wave from the seven o''clock direction hit, pushing the airship over ten meters. Next came a brilliant red light illuminating the black vortex cloud with another shock wave. The massive airship endured wave after wave of scorching air impact, those inside kept falling and standing, the exclamations continuing incessantly. Chapter 816: Section 811 - Trouble Follows Trouble The multiple blasts and the spreading shockwaves of the thermobaric bombs ended up pushing the No. 2 flagship farther away, increasing the distance from the black vortex cloud to over two hundred meters. A massive tornado connecting to the ground now appeared at the location of the black vortex cloud, drawing not just the monsters, but also the flames from the incendiary bombs and the sand and stones from the ground, all sucked towards the black cloud. Inside the black cloud, a faint red light flickered, almost breaking through the cloud but failing to create another shockwave. This indicated that the critical limit for the fuel-air explosive could no longer be met. The original plan to use the final few shockwaves to push the airship further away had failed at this critical moment. "Unlock the ''Dragon Slayer Missile'' now!" Chen Fei was ready to deploy his trump card. If not now, then when? Since you like absorbing so much, how about absorbing something big? As for the work progress of those three Space System Ability Users, it was completely disregarded at this critical juncture¡ªsurvival was the priority. No one knew what fate awaited those who got sucked into that mysterious black cloud. They might be thrown onto a terrifying planet full of horrific creatures and never return to Blue Star. "Dragon Slayer Missile No. 1 unlocked! Dragon Slayer Missile No. 2 unlocked! Hey, Rookie, don''t do anything crazy!" The communications officer at the command center replied immediately, sounding very anxious by the end. This guy with the code name "Rookie" possessed a most ruthless move called "Mutual Annihilation," with a noted history of previous offenses, marking him as an extremely deadly individual who wouldn''t even spare himself when crazed. When Chen Fei released the thermobaric bomb, the command center had already input the final unlock codes for the two Dragon Slayer Missiles. Removing the physical safety and launching them would unleash a terrifying power of annihilation. "Adam, calculate the blast radius, prepare for targeted deployment! Missile No. 1 ready!" The AR visual assistance before Chen Fei immediately displayed the annihilation radius of the Dragon Slayer Missile and the position of the black vortex cloud. After a slight manual adjustment, a ball of fire shot up into the sky. The air-breathing hypersonic rocket propulsion engine reached an altitude of 5000 meters almost instantly, then turned around, diving vertically. "Everyone, prepare for impact!" Chen Fei warned loudly. Deploying the trump card was no joke. Everyone around the "Sun Room" corridor retreated at the first instance of the ten thermobaric bombs being launched. The "Sun Room" moved back to the bow of the ship, returning to its original bridge form, with everyone sitting properly, eating fruit, behaving well, and not missing anyone. "Rookie, isn''t this too close?" The insidious monk swallowed hard while watching the position light representing the Dragon Slayer Missile and the annihilation radius on the three-dimensional holographic projection screen continuously drop, feeling very uneasy. Mouri Misono stared intently at that light spot, just about to overlap with the position of the black cloud. The Fuji Security Group''s few aircrew bases, contracted by Mouri, also possessed Dragon Slayer Missiles as their last resort, with each base typically having one or two. However, they hardly had the chance to use them, so despite her many years in the military contractor business, this was Mouri''s first time witnessing a Dragon Slayer Missile being used. "I have no other option!" To boost thrust, he even used the missile''s rocket engine. The tail of the No. 2 flagship flickered with over ten pairs of various jets. With such unified thrust, it could probably send a satellite into low Earth orbit. A brilliant blue light flashed in the sky, an almost glowing blue mist spreading from the explosion center in all directions. Everyone inside the airship felt their bodies suddenly lighten, almost as if they had lost gravity and were about to float when a massive, wave-like force surged in, pinning everyone tightly to their seats, making breathing nearly impossible. This forced cessation of breath lasted only four to five seconds before receding rapidly like a tide. Everyone in the airship was gasping for air to replenish their lungs. The scenery outside the portholes moved rapidly, and after a sudden flash of white mist, the airship gradually slowed down. "Approximately 5.1 kilometers from the black cloud." Not only Chen Fei, but everyone was pinned to their reclining chairs by the sudden 1.1 Mach acceleration. Experiencing supersonic speed wasn''t something everyone could enjoy daily. Keeping still was everyone''s only option, as being flung out at such speed would plaster one onto the wall like a thrown pancake, not coming off for at least half a day. Mouri Misono asked with lingering fear, "What just happened?" She breathed a sigh of relief as her safety harness automatically unfastened, allowing her to move freely. "Nothing much, just a light nip from the residual force of the Element Annihilation Bomb." Despite Chen Fei''s nonchalant tone, the blue light''s expansive radius had exceeded expectations. True military equipment, not the reduced versions given to contractors, the residual force alone had cost him at least 30 energy points, nearly tearing apart the tail section of the ship. Fortunately, it recovered quickly; otherwise, losing aerodynamic shape could cause loss of flight control, spinning the ship multiple times before crashing and scattering debris within a ten-mile radius. Of course, such a total annihilation was hardly a big deal! Mouri Misono doubted his words, suspecting the situation was much more dangerous and that their survival was merely by chance. Mouri''s guess wasn''t far from the truth. Chen Xiao''er, when crazed, was indeed terrifying. "Ugh!" The monk elegantly tore a convenience bag, vomiting profusely. A few Machs of speed made him this dizzy? Clearly, the weak point was the semicircular canals, proven! "Miyoshi, are you okay?" Compassionate Mouri Misono handed him a cup of tea to rinse his mouth. "I''m fine, thank you!" Pallid as a ghost, Miyoshi Xuesen took the tea, sipped, found it insufficient, and grabbed the teapot, ignoring the heat, pouring it into his mouth. The fist-sized pot couldn''t pour in one go, trickling away quickly, barely providing two to three mouthfuls of rinse water. "Phew, almost cost this monk his life!" Finally regaining some color, the monk sighed in relief, no longer vomiting. "Don''t worry, the good don''t live long, but the wicked live a thousand years. Monk, are you a good person?" Chen Fei had enough energy to joke. "You, how dare you accuse me so falsely!" Indignant, Miyoshi Monk protested. Rarely did he lose his composure. "Hahaha!" Mouri Misono saw through him; this monk wasn''t a good person. If she knew Chen Fei, one of the heads at the 911 Aircrew Base, was a notorious pervert, she''d understand "Rookie" interacted with all sorts, indiscriminately. "It''s safe for now. Eh? Mouri, why is your nose bleeding?" Chen Fei noticed blood trickling naturally from Mouri Misono''s nostrils. "Huh? Nosebleed?" Mouri Misono hastily wiped the blood onto her hands, then used tissues. Nearby, Miyoshi Monk stared at his tea cup. The clear tea had turned red, with blood pearls dripping from his nose into the cup. "Miyoshi, you have a nosebleed too!" Chen Fei realized more than Mouri Misono had a nosebleed. "Ah! What is happening?" Miyoshi Monk, regaining his senses, almost threw the cup of nosebleed-tainted tea. "Ah, nosebleed, nosebleed." The communication officer exclaimed through the channel. Chaos reigned inside the airship, with nearly everyone mysteriously suffering nosebleeds. "Attention, we suffered a psychic attack. Nosebleeds are normal; monitor your blood pressure if possible." Sticking paper into her nostrils, the communication officer resumed duties. A psychic attack usually caused nosebleeds. Though one might not feel it, the body was honest. Some might see their underlying conditions triggered, fainting if hypertensive. Bleeding could be beneficial. "Where did the psychic attack come from?" One of the few spared, Chen Fei asked the command center. After a pause, the officer confirmed, "From the rear!" The rear? The Dragon Slayer Missile was indeed the black vortex cloud''s nemesis. After one hit, the black cloud almost vanished but left a three-meter-long black vertical crack, intermittently releasing thick purple-blue lightning while psychic shockwaves swept outward. A new situation had arisen. The black vortex cloud hadn''t entirely disappeared, leaving a sturdy black fissure. "Launch the second Dragon Slayer Missile!" Without hesitation, Chen Fei launched another Dragon Slayer Missile to solve the problem. The next second, a missile streaked out, heading for the lightning-emitting black fissure. Ten kilometers closed almost instantly. The blue light expanded again... Chapter 817: Section 812 - Camp The bluish threads of smoke spread out, enveloping everything and causing both matter and energy to vanish without a trace, including the last remnants of the black vortex cloud. All that was left was the howling sound of surrounding air currents rushing to fill the void, even forming a tornado that lingered for a long time. It truly lives up to its reputation as a powerful weapon against the Parasitic Species in "Prophecy''s Past Life". Unfortunately, it appeared too late in the "Previous Life", and there weren''t enough of them to turn the tide and change the foretold end of Blue Star Civilization. Now, almost every Aircrew Base was equipped with KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missiles loaded with "Element Annihilation Bombs", thanks in no small part to Louis Landon''s covert efforts. Chen Fei, still unrelenting, fired another thermobaric bomb with set distance parameters. It was as if a flower made of flames bloomed instantaneously in mid-air, dazzling and vibrant, its shockwave shaking the delicate tornado in all directions. "The black cloud has been destroyed!" The final space channel descending on Blue Star was obliterated by the "Element Annihilation Bomb". The Command Center immediately confirmed the victory, and almost everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief. So much for close-range observation, it almost went catastrophically wrong. However, the Marin Kai Sovereignty was still teeming with countless monsters, and the natural ecosystem was on the verge of collapse. The trouble caused by the black cloud had only just begun. There''s a worst-case hypothesis: Blue Star has been "anchored". Whether it''s the black clouds near the Lagrange Point or the ones behind The Moon, the Parasitic Species had paid a hefty price to target Blue Star Civilization. In this period, the number of monstrosities that descended had nearly surpassed the total number of large terrestrial predators on Blue Star. In other words, combining all the tigers, lions, and leopards on this planet wouldn''t come close to the number of these monsters. "''Rookie'', return to the location of the previous black cloud and prepare to establish an observation camp." The voice of the communications officer reached Chen Fei again. The Command Center intended to use him as a versatile tool for offense, defense, and infrastructure. This old-hand was remarkable. "How are the three Space Series Ability Users faring?" Chen Fei wanted to get first-hand information to avoid stepping into any traps right after completing the camp construction. If there were any hidden dangers, he would not hesitate to stay far away. "Authorization required, please wait!" The communications officer didn''t refuse but reported Chen Fei''s request. After all, it was a significant matter; the intelligence from the three Space Series Ability Users couldn''t be casually disclosed to anyone. Bringing the command team along ensured there wouldn''t be unnecessary delays, always getting an effective response promptly. "''Rookie'', please receive the audio and text, for your eyes only. Delete immediately after use." As the communications officer spoke, a file was sent to Chen Fei''s inbox. Instead of using a phone or tablet to open it, Chen Fei had AI "Adam" support the operation. "Within the black cloud, I sensed the presence of Space Series rules and a certain rhythmic pulse that seemed to connect to an unknown other side through complex string lines released from infinite singularities..." "The structure of the black cloud is similar to a magic array, but what we see as a cloud is not actually a cloud..." "I agree with the singularity theory. Its cause resembles some special focal point, with Space Series rules emanating from multiple sources. Within Marin Kai sovereignties'' airspace, the final condensation happens at a certain height, using the colonization and predation method of Parasitic Species. They likely possess more than one life planet, using these planets to jointly anchor Blue Star..." First Rank Space Mage Asher, A-level Space Series Ability User Fan Mo, and B-level Space Series Ability User Qin Xiu were all carefully selected by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Not only were they proficient in Space Series skills, but they also had deep research into the rules and theoretical systems in that realm. These three were not true combatants but rather researchers. "Multiple life planets'' Space Series energies focus, constructing space channels that have the visual effect of black vortex clouds. String theory is also involved; it''s too complicated." After refining the key points in a problem-solving mode and drawing those conclusions, Chen Fei spread his hands helplessly. These ultra-advanced physics terms spoken by the three Space Series Ability Users sounded like gibberish to him, a poor undergraduate in Economics! However, it was certain that even though the Parasitic Species had successfully anchored Blue Star, constructing space channels wasn''t an easy task. "..." Maintaining the connection with Chen Xiao''er, the communications officer''s eyes grew dazed and bewildered. "What kind of magical spell are you reciting, Big Shot?" She was actually a relative of a prominent Ability User, and being a communications officer didn''t require high-level degrees or skills. As long as one was young, beautiful, and had a soft-spoken voice, that was enough. This risky assignment was also a way to build her resume. Of course, if she met a tragic end, she could only blame her fate. "No problem! But I need some manpower." As soon as Chen Fei finished speaking, his personal inbox received a list of personnel. The Command Center had anticipated this request and had been prepared. There were no hidden dangers among the key points extracted. Perhaps having experienced life-and-death situations many times, Chen Fei had naturally honed a sense of danger that arose spontaneously from within. If this sense was accurate even once in ten times, it could save lives. The No. 2 flagship returned to the location where the black vortex cloud had appeared. On the ground, there was a large crater over two kilometers in diameter and more than twenty meters deep, revealing the rock layers. This was the result of the black cloud''s terrifying gravitational pull. Not only were the surface soil and rocks affected, but even the densely packed monsters had suffered. They were either blasted and burned by bombs or torn apart by the gravitational forces. During the entire return journey, only a few lucky monsters could be seen. Even the brainless ones now knew fear, desperately running away with all their might. The Command Center''s demand to return and establish the observation camp seemed timely, with no immediate worries. The abundant groundwater gushed out like a spring, converging from high to low, from afar to near, culminating in a future lake in a short time. AI "Adam" calculated the future lake''s coverage based on the scanned terrain, designating the observation camp''s setup location, which closely matched the coordinates provided by the Command Center. If the future lake wasn''t considered, the camp might be completed only to be submerged quickly. The airship landed with a thud. Earth Element Users began their tasks, leveling and solidifying the ground. Whether Ability Users or Spellcasters, they performed admirably. Next was Chen Fei. He activated his Psi Skill, establishing a ten-meter-high wire mesh fence, enclosing a large area, including the No. 2 flagship. It could easily accommodate seventeen or eighteen such flagships. Using materials brought by the logistics team, it didn''t consume many Energy Points. Then, the steel structure building framework was erected. Earth Element Users again wrapped the outer walls with earth and stone, constructing several three-story buildings. Combat Mechs acted as plumbers and electricians, installing flooring and connecting water and electricity, thus roughly setting up the observation camp. Meanwhile, the "Snow Mountain", a large Armed Magic Cube Warship at the 223rd Aircrew Base, had already taken off, transporting the remaining Ability User Observer team members and more supplies. Next in line was constructing a proper Aircraft take-off and landing runway, expanding the observation camp to a size comparable to an Aircrew Base. While Chen Xiao''er was busy, the three Space Series Ability Users arrived at the previous black cloud''s location and altitude in a small aircraft, continuing their investigation to find more clues and intelligence. The appearance of the black vortex cloud, which spewed out large numbers of monsters, had already garnered high attention from the sovereignties of Blue Star Civilization. They spared no effort in a detailed investigation, hoping to uncover its secrets and perhaps find a way to counterattack. Blue Star People, whose civilization history was nearly a continuous warfare chronicle, were never saints. After taking a hit, they were eager to strike back fiercely enough to make the enemy regret ever stepping into their world. Chapter 818: Section 813 - Countdown After being busy at the observation camp for two days, Chen Fei finally got some free time. He was completely exhausted, as the command center really treated him like a mule, squeezing every bit of effort out of him every day. Really want to rebel... Mouri Misono had already returned to the 223 Aircrew Base to work and could not help at all. His only companion was a black-hearted monk who only knew how to shout "carry eight bags". This guy couldn''t even cook, only ate at the cafeteria, and had a passion for meat and alcohol. It was obvious that this thieving bald monk was a heartless overseer, performing his role perfectly. He... Tui!!! The camp received several rounds of supplies, and Louis Industries delivered 10,000 sets of intelligent units, crystal energy cores, and supporting functional modules for combat mechs. Since they were not complete products, the 10,000 core components of the combat mechs didn''t infringe on sovereignty interests, and their size was just right to fit into the space system alchemy storage device in Chen Fei''s hand. Most times, if the number is less than ten thousand, it usually doesn''t matter, but once it reaches the ten thousand unit threshold, the situation becomes completely different. With Chen Fei''s Psi Skill, even without ready metal materials, he could revive this combat mech legion fully on-site by spending just 1,700 energy points. This was the trump card reserved before the supernatural ability suppressant became ineffective. Chen Xiao''er unexpectedly snagged a big backer, and it was genuinely delightful! The new ruling team of the Marin Kai Sovereignty was still struggling, with small fights every two days and major conflicts every three, leading to shoes and underwear flying around chaotically, making foreigners concerned about this sovereignty anxious to the point they wished they could take over. Monsters that were wandering like headless flies became the new ecological disaster after replacing mutants. Fortunately, the black vortex clouds continuously releasing monsters had been eliminated. The remaining stray monsters, though numerous, were nothing but water without a source and trees without roots, having not yet formed into species groups or entered the breeding period. Every dead one reduced their numbers, and with patience, they could be completely eradicated soon enough. The neighboring aircrew bases had listed these "newcomers" as targets, collecting their biological samples and DNA information for higher bounties than those for mutants, making a tidy profit. In some sense, these monsters were equivalent to mutants from another planet. After ensuring the safety of the observation camp, a large group of experts, scholars, and various instruments and equipment arrived. There were three locations of black clouds appearing within the Blue Star atmosphere. The first location was in Chen Fei''s hometown, in the bustling city center, crowded with people and buildings, making it difficult to operate. The First Sovereign was undoubtedly studying it behind closed doors without letting outsiders interfere. The second location was on the Antarctic Continent, a frigid, ghostly place. Even if supplies were adequate, humans might endure the extreme cold of minus tens of degrees Celsius, but the equipment could not. The third location on the Africa Continent had the black cloud existing for the longest time, and the surrounding area had been cleared. It had the most first-hand intelligence data, making it the most suitable observation point. Therefore, research teams from various sovereignties flocked there. As for the attitude of the Marin Kai Sovereignty, that would be discussed after their election drama concluded. "There are 21 days until the next ''space channel'' appears!" Chen Fei openly set up this warning sign in the camp. The information came from Louis Landon''s "prophecy," predicting a cyclical invasion every 28 to 32 days after the first invasion, almost monthly, for twelve times a year. It seemed endless, aiming to exhaust the last bit of Blue Star Civilization''s resistance. The parasitic species, who had schemed against Cangqiong Star for ten thousand years, lacked neither time nor patience. They weren''t afraid of waiting, having already placed Blue Star Civilization on their dining table. Compared to the thousand-year-plan of the Third Era Civilization against the parasitic species, they were nothing more than small fry, not worth mentioning at all. Nobody would blame Chen Fei for alarmist actions. His close relationship with the president of Louis Industries was no secret, and more and more people started to believe this almost absurd "reincarnation story." If combined with the "Great World Tree Origin Theory" and the "Great World Tree Plane Theory" based on it, Louis Landon''s "prophecy" might indeed hold truth. However, completing the theoretical loop would imply its existence in another timeline of Blue Star Civilization. Having successfully countered the first invasion of parasitic species, the current Blue Star Civilization stood on a different timeline branch, with the future still uncertain. Perhaps they would continue to thwart the parasitic species'' invasions, or maybe they would still face extinction, or they might even counterattack, reaching the heart of the parasitic species and eradicate them entirely. Louis Landon himself was a variable adding to the future''s uncertainty, now joined by Chen Xiao''er. To completely thwart the parasitic species'' plots, extensive preparations were necessary in advance. As a reincarnator, Louis Landon relied on his foresight and knowledge of historical trends, accumulating immense wealth and becoming the leading magnate of Blue Star Civilization. He also amassed substantial technological and industrial reserves and popularized the "Dragon Slayer Missile" through the aircrew bases. This ensured that this Blue Star Civilization wouldn''t be caught off guard by the parasitic species'' invasion like the last time. Louis Landon''s efforts bore fruit. Shortly after the three black vortex clouds appeared in Blue Star''s sky, the first black cloud was dispersed directly by Chen Xiao''er with one shot. The second didn''t last long either, taken care of rapidly using the harsh environment and the successful experience of the "Element Annihilation Bomb." However, the third black cloud on the Africa Continent lingered due to the sovereignties'' inefficiency and preoccupation with power struggles, delaying its eradication even further. While it initially required only one "Element Annihilation Bomb," in the end, two were necessary. Blue Star Civilization didn''t idle either. They continued gathering information at the observation camp on the Africa Continent and used big data modeling based on the positions of the five black vortex clouds to predict the second invasion''s location. "Second Brother, look, isn''t Xiao Jiu adorable like this!" On a video call with Chen Fei, Chen Meng proudly showed off Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu dressed in a small suit. This annoying sister was truly Xiao Jiu''s nemesis. She really dressed him up. "Chirp!" The little bird seemed exasperated. Times had changed, and it was no longer about simply petting a bird. The custom white suit fit perfectly, so snug that Xiao Jiu couldn''t spread his wings to escape. "You dummy!!! Xiao Jiu already has feathers; clothing that gets wet can make feathers moldy or even fall off. What kind of idiocy is this!" Chen Fei was enraged, scolding his naive sister Yu Chun. She had dressed up a Pure Light Sparrow capable of killing a Metallic Dragon like a doll. Was there a hole in her brain? There must be! Any brat who dared to provoke a Sixth Rank Human Order Magical Beast like that would have been turned to ash by now. If not for Xiao Jiu being a close family member, Little Sister Chen would have been vaporized without anyone raising an eyebrow. "Xiao Meng, I told you this wasn''t okay... Ow~~" In the video, Chen Meng''s boyfriend Liu Mingquan appeared (¨i_¨i..), only to be electrocuted by his girlfriend before finishing his sentence. This was Little Sister Chen''s territory, with a 120% savage girlfriend presence. "Don''t you think Xiao Jiu is cute? Adorably so!" Receiving a scolding from her brother, Chen Meng looked aggrieved. Could it be wrong to have a girly heart? "I think you are foolish! Take off this ridiculous stuff, immediately, now, or I''ll come back right now to spank your butt, hanging you upside down!" The brother''s anger flared up, his courage growing bold. He meant what he said. Damn it, when he wasn''t home, this annoying sister acted without restraint. "Ah! Got it, got it!" Facing her brother''s threat, Chen Meng reluctantly removed the little white suit from Xiao Jiu. Once freed, the bird flapped its wings and rushed to the front of the phone, pecking at the camera as if pecking at Chen Fei''s earlobe. It had been quite a while since seeing Dad Chen Fei; this little sticky gum still clung to him dearly. "Xiao Meng, stop playing around and feed the birds on the balcony. The clothes can''t even be hung out." The mother''s voice came through. "Got it!" Chen Meng replied quickly. "I''ll do it!" Liu Mingquan volunteered. A few chirps accompanied the arrival of two more birds into the camera view, chirping and chasing each other. They were also Pure Light Sparrows, just like Xiao Jiu, except they didn''t have the little tuft on their heads. "What''s going on here?" Seeing the two Pure Light Sparrows, Chen Fei forgot his anger towards his annoying sister. "The local Pure Light Sparrow flock nearly made our home their base, you know? The city introduced a thousand Pure Light Sparrows recently. The nearby park is filled with artificial bird nests. Xiao Jiu is their leader now, and these sparrows visit daily for food, needing a pound of feed a day!" Chen Meng quickly diverted the topic to avoid her brother''s anger. The sudden chirping and chattering on the balcony troubled the Chen Family. While the birds didn''t defecate indiscriminately, they couldn''t help stepping everywhere, quickly leaving small claw prints on freshly hung clothes, making cleaning them almost in vain. The two Pure Light Sparrows that flew in were extremely bold, but unlike Xiao Jiu, the rest weren''t as sociable. If humans approached, they''d instantly scatter. Fortunately, these birds only visited once a day. After pecking at the feed, they would leave on their own. Chapter 819: Section 814 - Intelligence from Seed Nest Due to the strong inclusion of the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu and the light element linkage of the local Pure Light Sparrow flock, healing spells were continuously cast, and the injuries caused by the black vortex cloud back home stabilized within a few days. As long as nutrition keeps up, recovery will soon begin. Modern people usually have an excess of nutrition, so Light Series spells rarely cause metabolic burnout. Just ensure an adequate intake of calcium, vitamins, and proteins. Sugar, salt, and fats, on the other hand, will never be in short supply. The imported 1,100 Pure Light Sparrows gradually got in place, but contrary to the city''s belief, they didn''t obediently move into the artificial bird nests set up in the parks. Instead, they continued their original habits, forming small groups of around ten and dispersing in various parts of the city. The elaborate bird nests, financed by the city budget, were occupied by other bird species. Although they didn''t settle as directed by the city, the initial goal of introducing these thousand Pure Light Sparrows was still achieved. Soon, these thousand-odd Pure Light Sparrows centered themselves around Xiao Jiu, coming at a call and leaving at a wave, testing the summoning of a thousand sparrows repeatedly, resembling a well-trained army. It was hard to imagine that previously, they were just a harmless rabble. To be precise, they were about to be slaughtered for grilled bird skewers. After being well-fed and released, they thrived again, without any thoughts of taking revenge on society. The sparrows themselves were cheap, with a total package cost of just 500 Star Yuan. However, the cross-border transport with a live (additional 10% shipping quantity) guarantee cost a substantial 500,000 Star Yuan, resulting in an average cost per sparrow of 455 Star Yuan, enough to make the thought of eating grilled bird skewers turn one''s eyes white. Now they''re protected under the city''s endangered species list, so eating them is out of the question. Even though the elemental series energy activity on Blue Star could not compare to that of Cangqiong Star, the light element linkage caused by the thousand-odd Pure Light Sparrows still resulted in over a hundred reaching Human Rank Second Order quickly, with even two at Human Rank Third Stage, and over half the flock able to cast spells. Soon, these thousand Pure Light Sparrows would all likely have the capability to cast basic Human Rank First Stage Light Series spells, maybe "Light Healing Technique," "Illumination Technique," or "Light Mirror Spell." The actual spell would vary from sparrow to sparrow, with more talented ones having more than one spell. In an environment with active elemental energy like Cangqiong Star, their advancement probability would at least double. Before ending the video call with his family, Chen Fei sternly warned his naughty little sister again. He was her elder brother, so he had the right. If someone else had tied Little Sister Chen upside down and spanked her, it would be considered harassment. But if it was family, well, Emmm... no problem, no problem! - "Namo Amitabha!" As the ruthless elder brother ended the call, he turned around to see the persistent monk greeted him with clasped hands and a slight bow. His kindly appearance resembled a high monk. However... there was still oil around his mouth from the chicken leg he just ate. Couldn''t he wipe it off? That hypocritical bald thief! "Get lost!" Chen Xiao''er snarled in disgust. What Namo Amitabha? Shouldn''t it be Namo Gatling Bodhisattva? This meat-loving monk was clearly quoting incorrectly ¨C converting beings with three hundred sixty shots per minute in great compassion and mercy. "Patron, this monk has the latest news about the parasitic species!" The monk remained calm and unresentful, well accustomed to mutual jabs with Chen Fei. They were more like best frenemies than friends. Both knew very well that, despite Miyoshi Monk''s often cheeky behavior around Chen Fei, pretending to be his buddy, in reality, he was a monitor planted by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, doing open surveillance. If Chen Fei dared to misuse his war resources, it would be Miyoshi Xuesen who''d arrest him on the spot. So far, none of the ninjas accompanying the monk had made an appearance. Despite the monk''s friendly, harmless demeanor, with his A-level Dark Elemental Psychic powers and the ninjas'' number and peculiar Psi skills, they were more than capable of catching the B-level Metal Ability User Chen Fei off guard ¨C excellent at doing dirty jobs. "What news?" Chen Fei immediately took it seriously, his earlier detest now gone. "There are too many eyes and ears here; let''s find somewhere more private?" Miyoshi Xuesen tilted his head, suggesting they talk in private. "Let''s talk inside the airship!" Chen Fei led the way to his No. 2 flagship landed in the camp. That was his domain, safe from various espionage equipment, and nobody could sneak in. With the Snow Mountain large armed Magic Cube warship absent, his airship stayed for observation. In emergencies, it could still evacuate everyone. Compared to its original size, the No. 2 flagship had now upgraded to 120 meters long, 50% larger than the No. 1 flagship, almost equal to a ten-thousand-ton ship, though still smaller than large airships. However, as a professional warship, size didn''t directly correlate with combat power. While a larger vessel could carry more equipment and combat units, it also had a bigger target area and could be a massive sitting duck if not maneuverable enough ¨C a No. 1 target on the battlefield. The two reached the bridge, and the hatch closed. Miyoshi Monk took out his phone, tapped a few times, resulting in a soft ding from Chen Fei''s device. Both phone and AI notified him of a received data packet. "A video?" Chen Fei saw "Adam" pre-decompressing the file and confirmed the full decompression, extracting all files combined into one package. "This is a strike report on the ''Seed Nests,'' including some from Cangqiong Star. Your submitted intel made a major contribution." Besides being a monitor, the monk was also a VIP one-on-one liaison officer. With his clearance level, he naturally accessed such intel ¨C something the command center operators couldn''t even know about. "Any rewards?" Chen Fei nonchalantly opened a video file, presented through Adam''s AR video aid. The video, an amalgam of several segments, showed various mechanical probes confirming underground Seed Nests'' presence. Shortly after, a Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bomb struck, penetrating the Seed Nest''s internal space. The scouting probes captured final scenes of the bomb''s blaze and heat evaporating transparent viscous fluid before an Element Annihilation Bomb obliterated everything. The other videos were similar. As the monk said, they featured different sovereignties, including Cangqiong Star Civilization''s purging records, deploying Thermobaric Bombs and Element Annihilation Bombs alongside Cangqiong''s exclusive Forbidden Curse bombardments ¨C all decisively annihilating the elusive Seed Nests. In dealing with black vortex clouds, Blue Star sovereignties hadn''t been idle ¨C actively clearing internal Seed Nest hazards, eliminating targets upon confirmation. The Ground-Penetrating Thermobaric Bomb and Element Annihilation Bomb combination proved nearly foolproof, boasting scarily high clearing efficiency, disregarding overkill ¨C ensuring no escapes seemed paramount. "Of course there are rewards, but it''s still under discussion." The monk didn''t hide anything from Chen Fei. Providing intel on Seed Nests was nearly as crucial as mitigating the black vortex cloud threat. Removing these hazards gave Blue Star Civilization more confidence in facing the ''Prophecy End Times,'' avoiding falling into internal and external crises. "What kind of rewards? Something tangible, please!" Chen Fei showed little interest, inherently content with moderate wealth, comfortable with a million Star Yuan in the bank, ensuring a lifetime of carefree living, house, car, and education for his children. He didn''t dream of immense wealth or power ¨C no need to rival bigwigs like his uncle or Mr. Randon. "What do you want? You can ask, though approval is another matter. For outrageous demands, think twice." The monk sincerely advised, fearing Chen Xiao''er might have irrational aspirations. He dealt with countless greedy fools before, not wanting Chen Fei ¨C one he somewhat respected ¨C to join that club. "Then I''ll request something!" Chen Fei soon decided. The parasitic species'' threat loomed like the Sword of Damocles over all Blue Star people. Wealth and power were meaningless in this racial struggle; no one was exempt. Considering the situation, he would both fight the parasitic species to protect Blue Star Civilization and prepare for the worst. "Don''t want money?" The monk was surprised. To him, money was the most practical choice ¨C enabling purchases of anything one might need. Issues solvable by money were not true problems. Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Is there any storage space capable of holding living beings?" "Huh?" The monk was taken aback, then shook his head. "How could such a thing exist!" Storage spaces had relatively constant time and space properties, unable to store living beings. Either the entity couldn''t be stored, or it would die upon release ¨C putting living beings in storage would be murder. If such a thing existed, Blue Star and Cangqiong Star''s interstellar quota trade would''ve used it for large-scale agricultural and pastoral products long ago. Chen Fei, still unconvinced, continued to ask, "What about related technology?" "No, if it existed, wouldn''t Cangqiong Star have developed it after all these years?" The monk kept shaking his head, not needing to investigate thoroughly ¨C basic logic sufficed to conclude. Chapter 820: Section 815 - The Little Girl Although Chen Xiao''er didn''t know why Chen Fei wanted information about spatial storage artifacts for living beings, Miyoshi Xuesen thought it was highly unrealistic. Even if such artifacts existed, it wouldn''t be handed over for something so insignificant. This amount of contribution is far from enough, and no one would give it to him. Unless he achieved a colossal feat like saving all of humanity, such a treasure would never fall into the hands of an ordinary person. It''s dangerous for a child to carry gold in public, inviting trouble. If it weren''t for the fact that the "spatial branding" on the back of Chen Fei''s hand was already bound, shining silver patterns being mere appearances and not the actual artifact, non-transferable and irremovable, someone might have tried to chop off his hand. "That''s quite a pity!" Chen Fei shook his head in disappointment. "You should ask for something else! So I can give a proper explanation." The monk shook his head like a rattle drum. Chen Fei''s requests were problematic for Miyoshi Xuesen; he couldn''t even get past his own hurdle, let alone the higher-ups. If he angered them, he might end up with nothing. Truly worrying for this young brother. "Then give me a Magic Cube Warship, big or small, any size will do." Chen Fei spread his hands, offering an alternative as a test. The flyers he created and the Magic Cube Warships, or even the Sky Patrol Ships, were entirely different. His tech lineage leaned more towards the Light Wing Ship of Cangqiong Star, somewhat influenced by battlefield gains and tech acquired from the Silan Royal Family. If he could conjure an entire flyer system from thin air, it indicated Chen Fei should move from the battlefield to production. He was never meant for frontline fighting anyway. Miyoshi Monk, startled, asked in confusion, "Magic Cube Warship? What do you need that for? Don''t you already have one?" Single-handedly creating a flyer, the first person in history to mold it to any size he desired. Otherwise, where did the current flyer they were in come from? An uncertified product with no maker, no address, no production standards! Chen Fei said calmly, "Do you think it can fly just anywhere?" "Of course not!" The monk nearly fell for it but quickly retorted, feeling sulky, "Exactly, it''s impossible!" Without sovereign endorsement, such an uncertified flyer entering enemy airspace would likely get shot down¡ªUFOs have no rights. International law permits the shooting of UFOs without legal ramifications. If it weren''t for the Joint Defense Committee''s team reporting their identities and pre-setting the flight route, Chen Fei''s flyer wouldn''t have reached the Africa Continent, let alone fly over Marin Kai Sovereignty''s airspace. Chen Fei admitted, "As a personal flyer, it''s quite handy¡ªat least it would have a flight permit and license. Yeah, a smaller one is fine." In emergencies, taking off with his family would be easier. Obtaining a tech sample was secondary; ensuring a backup plan for his family was primary. If awarded a flyer, it would probably be a small one¡ªthe higher-ups wouldn''t give a big one. Chen Fei didn''t worry much about where to park the flyer. Xiao Jiu would stay with his family, protecting them, and its small paw held a Space System Alchemy Storage Device big enough for a small flyer, operated by AI "Adam." "Well... that''s true!" Miyoshi Xuesen found Chen Xiao''er''s reasoning sound; having a proper flyer as a commuting tool was fair, much better than constant layovers. When not in use, it could be stored in the Space System Alchemy Storage Device or kept at the 911 Aircrew Base, self-maintained. The cost wasn''t as high as imagined, other than manufacturers grumbling for lost after-sales revenue, but that was minor. Chen Fei''s makeshift flyers were unfit for mass production and sale; without special abilities, they were mere junk. Even if they entered the commercial market, manufacturers would destroy any challenger threatening the entire industry. Chen Fei asked cautiously, "There shouldn''t be a problem, right?" "I''ll ask for you." The monk grinned, acknowledging that unpunished merit and unrewarded service wouldn''t satisfy the masses. A personal flyer¡ªplainly put, cool! However, it wasn''t as though flyers could materialize instantly; production took long and was costly. Their seemingly cordial parting was due to hidden agendas and not genuine goodwill. - Scientists named the black vortex cloud continuously producing monsters "Wormhole Cloud." During the naming process, some tried to name it after themselves but were quickly slapped several times and learned their lesson¡ªprovoking public wrath would lead to more than just social death. A wormhole, also known as an Einstein-Rosen Bridge, time-space hole, or cosmic tunnel, is a hypothesized connection in the universe between two different space-time points, a special structure allowed by general relativity, directly linking two points regardless of spatial or temporal distance. The five black vortex clouds in the Solar System likely represent real wormholes twisting space and time, enabling monsters to complete long-distance space travel in a short time. The entry and exit points are special distortion fields capable of consuming photons and other energies, not actual floating hazes, appearing as black vortex clouds to human eyes. Many advanced physics phenomena easily mislead human visual perceptions, making black not truly black and clouds not truly clouds. To Blue Star People, wormholes weren''t new. The Dimensional Gate marked by "Longinus" between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star is also a wormhole, capable of opening and closing at will, maintaining stability. The Parasitic Species'' methods greatly intrigued Blue Star Civilization''s researchers. If understood and mastered, human civilization would gain another means for distant space-time travel, unlike Dimensional Gates limited by "Longinus" coordinates. Dimensional Gates already revolutionized cosmic exploration concepts. "Our journey is to the stars and the sea! "Hold on, let me open a gate, and Biu¡ªto billions of light-years away." What about the promised starship fleet? Clearly, the script''s wrong! In reality, there was no scene of piloting flyers to the vast space, not even out of the Star System. Despite the long-term stable contact between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star Civilizations, pinpointing each other''s position in space was impossible. The true distance likely far exceeded billions of light-years. "Ten days until the next Wormhole Cloud appears." (The original sign read "Days until the next Space Channel: xx days!") Feels like the college entrance exam! In a sense, it was Blue Star Civilization''s big test, each question a life-or-death matter. Passing meant living to see tomorrow''s sun; failing meant whole family demise. Would this exam become a regular quiz? Chen Xiao''er''s countdown sign in the observation camp was seen as a possibility, given its increasingly confirmed "Apocalyptic Prophecy." Sovereignties couldn''t maintain their indifferent stance any longer. What if the prophecy came true? Nobody could bear the consequence; it was about everyone''s lives. If human civilization perished, all money, houses, cars, women, and children would be gone¡ªlament in Hell! At this juncture, sovereignties believed it better to err on the side of caution. Without preparation, genuine apocalypse was a possibility. "Did you set this sign?" Having just adjusted the countdown sign, Chen Fei turned to leave when a soft voice called from behind. Turning around, he saw a little girl standing there. Chen Fei looked around and focused on the girl, curiously asking, "Yes, I did. Little girl, where are your parents? Why are you alone in such a dangerous place?" Though the "Wormhole Cloud" here was gone, the observation camp was still not absolutely safe. In the wild outside the tall walls, monsters and mutants still lurked, preying on people. Combat mechs patrolling nearby made occasional catches. This wasn''t a place for an ordinary little girl. Parents, regardless of work, shouldn''t bring children here¡ªirresponsible. Couldn''t they spend some money to place the child in a safe environment? "Little girl? Are you referring to me?" The girl pointed at herself, puzzled. "Is there another little girl here?" Clearly not, Chen Xiao''er wasn''t a little girl. The girl finally declared seriously, "Young man, though I''m happy with what you said, I am NOT a little girl!" "My real age far exceeds yours, young man!" "Ha? Monsters aren''t allowed to mature post-founding. Do you have an ID card?" Chen Fei chuckled at her old-fashioned tone, knowing women often acted older when young and younger when old¡ªnever guessing their true age, or else. "Watch closely!" The girl handed over a card with a flick. Name: Yan Ling Gender: Female Tribe: ¡Á¡Á Birth: ¡Á¡Á¡Á¡Á Year ¡Á¡Á Month ¡Á¡Á Day Address: ... Social Welfare Number: ... Chapter 821: Section 816 - Words Followed by Laws Oh my gosh! The ID card is real, the photo is accurate, but the birthdate is nearly forty years older than Chen Fei. This little lady is at least 60+. Could this be even rarer than frozen age, the legendary eternal youth? With a little white and tender face, wearing a stylish straw hat that covers her shoulder-length short hair, and a couple of decorated braids, a simple flowered grid dress, and sparkling gemstone beads hanging from her wrist. She looks exactly like a ten-year-old girl, and no one would ever associate her with a woman in her sixties. But as the saying goes, you can''t judge a book by its cover. In the circle of supernatural power users, there''s no such thing as "impossible." Chen Fei cautiously asked, "Are you an Ability User?" The supernatural powers on the Blue Star are so diverse that even the Elemental Series classification from Cangqiong Star isn''t enough. If someone possesses a Special Ability like "Eternal Youth" or "Rejuvenation," it''s not entirely impossible. Those who come to the Observer Camp are mostly Ability Users, besides researchers. A truly ordinary little girl wouldn''t have the chance to come here. The "little girl," who is in fact over sixty, responded calmly, "S-Class!" Throwing out the title like that caught Chen Xiao''er completely off guard -.-! Paying respects to the boss!!! orz An S-Class powerhouse could flick a small fry like Chen Fei out of the Solar System with a light tap. S-Class Special Ability rating is a boundary. In reality, there are differences even among S-Class, but every S-Class Ability User''s Psi Skill surpasses mortal imagination, thus is called limitless. Any one of them in ancient times would be a deity walking among humans. Who''s to say that the deities in mythologies weren''t just humans who awakened their special abilities? The thought alone is terrifying. The entire Blue Star Civilization has fewer S-Class Ability Users than there are Heavenly Orders among the ability users system of Cangqiong Star. Since the awakening of the first Ability User on Blue Star, in over thirty years, there have been no more than fifty. Each one is the strategic core of their sovereignty and rarely leaves their homeland. It''s no small matter for an S-Class Ability User to suddenly appear at the Observer Camp. "Greetings, Boss!" Chen Fei immediately switched to a bootlicking, obsequious posture, completely altering his demeanor. Calling her granny or old lady would likely get him beaten up. Boss seemed a more appropriate and safer address. This seemingly little girl boss not only is an S-Class Ability User but also a compatriot. Chen Fei must show enough respect; otherwise, he''d be exiled to the outer Solar System and wouldn''t find King Yama to complain to because, well, he''s out of service zone! Having been under the protection of a boss before, he didn''t mind another round. The S-Class Ability User who looked like a ten-year-old girl, Yan Ling, nodded approvingly at Chen Xiao''er''s dutiful behavior. "Hmm, a promising young one!" This demeanor was indeed entirely different from that of an ordinary little girl. It''s not inappropriate for a young man in his twenties to be called a "promising young one" by an elder in her sixties. Chen Fei cautiously asked, "Is there anything the boss needs?" If she sought him out, there must be a reason; usually, a mere B-Class Ability User like him wouldn''t even get the chance to meet an S-Class. "Nothing much, just heard there was a remarkable ability user from my homeland, so I came to take a look." S-Class Ability User Yan Ling didn''t show the slightest interest in favoring Chen Fei, as if she really just came to take a look without any other intentions. "It''s just an ordinary psi skill, nothing special." Chen Fei modestly lowered himself throughout. As a B-Class Ability User, he wouldn''t dare to brag in front of an S-Class since any attempt would just make him look like a fool. Better to be honest; it might leave a good impression. Yan Ling seriously said, "Do not belittle yourself. Your psi skill is quite rare and can be a source of pride." Being able to manipulate an airship with bare hands, there was indeed no one else on Blue Star. Such a wild skill! If not for the fact that Chen Fei''s psi skill was practically made for war, he''d probably end up in a factory screwing bolts. If he couldn''t fight in wars, then at least he could work a job; the capitalists would never let go of any productive tool person. "Really? I''m so happy to hear that." Chen Fei felt flattered; this was praise from an S-Class Ability User, more than enough to brag about for a year. He wouldn''t dare to ask what series of abilities the opposite belonged to. Asking would equal touching a sovereignty secret, and you''d end up stepping on a sewing machine all day and picking up soap at night in prison if you asked too much. "Is that countdown sign of yours... reliable?" The supposedly ten-year-old appearance of Yan Ling pointed at Chen Fei''s countdown sign, which was quite noticeable in the camp, even serving as a public clock for many. "It''s about 90% reliable, with a margin of error within ¡À5 days." In the "Apocalyptic Prophecy," the first phase cycle of the "Wormhole Cloud" is around 30 days. Considering the shortest and longest months with a difference of three days, a ¡À5-day margin covers a ten-day error, which is quite accommodating. "It better be!" Yan Ling nodded. "Eh? Is the boss worried about something?" Chen Fei keenly sensed there was more to her words. "No need to call me boss, just call me Yan Ling." Yan Ling waved her hand and continued, "Yes, I''m worried. Worried the Parasitic Species won''t show up!" "Awesome!" Chen Fei immediately gave a thumbs-up, playing along with the flattery. "Haha!" Yan Ling showed a pleased expression. Chen Xiao''er was relieved his flattery hadn''t hit the mark wrong, or he''d be risking exile to the Asteroid Belt or beyond. "Well, you get busy, I still have work to do." Knowing that serving a boss is like serving a tiger, Chen Fei decided to call it done while it was good; overstepping would only backfire. "Wait!" Yan Ling suddenly stopped him. "???" Chen Fei was puzzled. Wasn''t he about to hug another major backer? "From now on, I''ll be responsible for guiding your work." Yan Ling was not making random chat. "Huh?" Chen Fei was still full of questions. Boss, what in the world would need your guidance in my work? He had planned to go fishing ¡ª real fishing. The pit outside the camp had been accumulating more water day by day, streams and underground springs converging, and fish had found their way in, quite a number of them, big ones, too. A new aquatic wetland ecosystem was forming. The tropical rainy season was near, the gathered fish would only increase in species and numbers. In this great weather (tropical high of 33¡ãC, sunny, 55% humidity), how could one resist a few drinks of cold beer with grilled fish? Yan Ling waggled her fair fingers and said seriously, "That''s right, guiding your work!" "Got it, Boss!" "Don''t call me Boss!" "Okay, Boss!" "Can I hit you?" "No, Yan Ling!" "Keep it that way!" "Thank you, Yan Ling. Do you know how to clean fish?" "???" ... "Nom... nom..." Her small mouth chewing, holding a half-meter long grilled fish, her mouth full of juices. The African fish were so easy. Chen Fei just put his hand in the water, and a big fish approached. Grabbing its gills, he easily lifted it ashore. What he thought would take effort turned out to be like picking up seven or eight big ones, the longest three feet, scales as big as a Star Yuan''s penny, the texture enough to file nails. Gutting and scaling on site, marinating with wine, salt, and spices, lighting a bonfire, inserting roasting skewers, and coating with oil ¡ª soon, they grilled with a fragrant aroma. As Chen Fei and Yan Ling enjoyed their grilled fish feast, Miyoshi Xuesen showed up following the scent. "Namo Amita?bha, such sin, ''Rookie,'' eating alone without inviting this poor monk, slurp!" The monk, appearing compassionate and solemn, chastised Chen Xiao''er for harming living beings while he was briefly away, with tears of compassion streaming down his face. Chen Fei was used to his hypocritical ways, picked a roasting skewer beside the fire as a signal. "Do you want? I saved it for you! If not, I''ll let someone else eat it!" He glanced aside, the ten-year-old appearance of Yan Ling gnawing away happily. "Who says this monk doesn''t want? Once it''s grilled, it shouldn''t be wasted, that''s for the Hungry Ghosts." Miyoshi Xuesen immediately stepped forward, snatched the skewer, sat down, and recited a Buddhist chant. Sin, sin! Took a bite! Good, good! You offered your flesh willingly, let this poor monk bless you, in next life may you reincarnate bigger and tastier fish. This monk comes up with the most outrageous yet reasonable explanations. A few bites and half the fish was gone, he popped open a cold beer, gulped it down, crushed the empty can. Only then, satisfied, he exhaled deeply. "In return for this grilled fish and beer, I bring you news." "What news?" Chen Fei grabbed two more beers, tossing one to the monk. "Heard an S-Class Ability User is coming. If you could befriend them... Eh? Who is this adorable little girl? Whose baby is she? Can you tell uncle your name? Uncle will take you to see the goldfish." Miyoshi Xuesen, while speaking, suddenly set his sight on the girl by Chen Fei''s side, showing great surprise. Just like Chen Xiao''er, surprised to see a little girl here, a place unsuitable for children. The "little girl" didn''t look up, just pointed at the nearby water. "Baldy, attention, left turn, into the water, catch fish!" "Eh eh eh eh!~~" With a shout, Miyoshi Xuesen stood straight, the half-eaten fish and beer dropped, and like a marionette, he walked straight into the water, splashing about. "Hey, hey, I can''t swim! Help, help..." Chapter 822: Section 817 - Attend to Miyoshi Xuesen really couldn''t swim, which added another fatal weakness to his list; a washbasin could easily drown this monk. In the end, it was Chen Fei who fished him out, dragging him by the neck and shaking him a few times on the shore. Pitter-patter, seven or eight fish of varying sizes fell out from his monastic robe; there were even some in his crotch. His loincloth might as well not have been there¡ªit was simply too much to look at. Fish love the stinkiest and foulest things¡ªthe bigger the smell, the stronger their attraction. "Pff!~" The monk rolled his eyes and struggled to spit out a mouthful of water. He looked towards the little girl who was still munching on roasted fish, and stammered, "Who are you?" He, a dignified A-level dark elemental psychic, even though most of his psi skills were focused on others, wasn''t supposed to be so easily controlled. The spiritual power of psychics is usually higher than that of ordinary people. The higher their awakening level, the higher the growth limit of their spiritual power, making them less susceptible to psychic series skills. But just moments ago, he involuntarily walked into the water without any resistance and started struggling desperately. Had he gained freedom a bit later, he might have already sunk. Looking back now, it was simply unbelievable. No matter how weak an A-level psychic was, they shouldn''t have been this useless, right? The little girl glanced at Chen Fei, clearly not interested in dealing with the monk, who looked like a drowned rat. "Her name is Yan Ling. You better be smart about it." Chen Fei said with a smile, fully enjoying the spectacle of the monk''s near-death experience. Well done, he thought, bravo to the boss, give the boss a thumbs up. He had been lucky earlier, jumping into the water on his own. Next time, he might not be so fortunate and could be thrown into the sun, turning to ash in an instant. "Huh??? Is she a mage or a psychic?" Miyoshi Xuesen''s mouth twitched continuously. Having been taught a lesson, he still had no clue what was going on. Could he seek revenge? Looking at the little girl seemingly around ten years old, it was probably a minimum of five years in prison, with the maximum being a public execution. "Take a guess!" Chen Xiao''er laughed mischievously. Harming each other had become a daily routine for him and the monk. When else would be a better time to kick someone when they''re down? "I should guess?" Miyoshi Xuesen''s face turned the color of a thundercloud. This trouble-maker had fooled him again. Wait! A sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind. "Could it be..." The monk''s speculation got closer to the truth. Professionals who handled shady business weren''t stupid¡ªanyone lacking in intelligence would have been killed long ago. How could they live leisurely up to now? With Miyoshi Xuesen''s clearance, he didn''t know the personal information of all Blue Star Civilization''s S-Class psychics. Each sovereignty strictly kept their S-Class individuals confidential and rarely revealed them to outsiders. His misunderstanding wasn''t surprising. "S, S, S-Class?" The sound of a sharp inhalation echoed, contributing once again to global warming. Someone who could easily suppress an A-level psychic, coupled with the smug look Chen Fei had, probably left only one possible answer. He had just talked to Chen Xiao''er about S-Class psychics, and then immediately got handled by one. Heaven and Earth, how did he set himself up like this? The monk almost wanted to die. "Her name is Yan Ling!" Chen Fei reminded again, providing a reply filled with ingenuity¡ªit neither confirmed nor denied the monk''s assumption while still respecting the boss''s title. A single wrong move, and someone else might be taking a dive. In this competitive world, survivors were shrewd individuals. "Yan, Yan Ling? Oh, oh!" The monk immediately prostrated himself in front of Yan Ling, the S-Class psychic still engrossed in her fish-eating, performing a deep bow (dogeza) or2. "This humble monk Miyoshi apologizes for offending Yan Ling. I am deeply sorry!" Even lending him a hundred courages, he wouldn''t dare mention taking her to see goldfish anymore. He''d probably be thinking about seppuku by now. "You may leave!" To Yan Ling, this monk was a jerk trying to steal her fish; the goldfish matter wasn''t even on her mind. "Yes, I shall leave immediately!" Miyoshi Xuesen quickly and proficiently backed away a dozen meters in a kneeling posture. He then turned, sprinting away, his still-dripping monastic robe flapping like a sprinting champion''s. Chen Fei shouted behind him, "Hey, hey, Miyoshi, aren''t you having fish?" Despite their mutual torment, he wasn''t stingy enough to deny the monk some grilled fish. After all, with the vast world and the importance of a meal, even at death''s door, people deserved a full stomach. "Maybe next time..." Like fleeing a disaster, the monk didn''t look back. In the next second, he tripped and performed a faceplant, turning from a drenched mouse to a muddy monkey, but got up and ran even faster. "Eat the fish!" Yan Ling reminded Chen Fei to focus and not get distracted by irrelevant people. She nibbled on a fish until only the bones were left, then picked up another skewer, blowing on it to cool it down, and prepared to continue. Despite her small frame, standing only about 1.3 or 1.4 meters tall, her appetite was quite large. After consuming two grilled fish each about a foot long and weighing four or five pounds, she was still unsatisfied. Seeing the boss licking her fingers, Chen Fei cautiously inquired, "Do you want more?" "Grill all of them. If I can''t finish, I''ll pack them up!" The little girl-like S-Class psychic Yan Ling waved her hand generously, displaying a big-shot''s demeanor. "Got it!" Chen Fei swiftly set up all the marinated fish over the fire, and soon the fish sizzled and aroma wafting through the air. Just after Miyoshi left, Mouri arrived. While grilling the fish, Chen Fei noticed an A-39C "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft descending, landing on the observation camp runway. The 2000-meter runway was more than sufficient for the turboprop. If unloaded, even 500 meters would be enough. The A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" has A, B, C variants. The A and B look similar, but the latest C model has two extra pylons, totaling nine, with slightly upgraded power output, pushing the attack aircraft''s combat effectiveness to the limit. Through the AI "Adam," aircraft takeoff and landing information can be accessed, showing this turboprop came from the nearby 223 Aircrew Base. No doubt, Mouri Misono came to scrounge a meal again. The military contractor''s food couldn''t compare with the Blue Star United Defense Committee''s headquarters logistics team with professional chefs. The skill level and quality of supplies were much higher. A well-fed person doesn''t know a hungry one''s plight. Despite the food supply, Chen Fei still sought wild game, like now, capturing and grilling fish. Once the earthy taste of the fresh catch was suppressed, its delicious flavor was fully released. As expected, Mouri found her way over soon, recognizing only Chen Fei in the observation camp, with Miyoshi Monk barely an acquaintance. Smelling the grilling fish, Mouri exclaimed. "It smells great! ''Rookie,'' what are you grilling?... Eh! It''s fish?" Mouri finally noticed the grilling skewers surrounding the fire. Each skewer held a golden-brown fish, sizzling with fat. She beamed with surprise and joy. The fish was perfectly cooked, and she came just in time. "Who''s this now?" Yan Ling expressed her displeasure. "Huh? Little sister, who are you?" Mouri Misono also noticed the little girl beside Chen Fei, her hands and mouth full of oil. "Mouri, take this and leave, quickly!" Chen Fei didn''t want to see Twin Blade Sister relive the monk''s fate. He immediately grabbed a fish and stuffed it into Mouri''s hands, pushing her away. "Hey, hey, Qiao Dou, Qiao Dou mah dai, what''s going on here?" Though she had tasty grilled fish, Mouri was puzzled. Why was she hurried off when she did nothing wrong? Chen Fei lowered his voice and urged. "Stay, and you''ll be thrown into the water. Go, now!" "''Rookie,'' the fish is charring!" Yan Ling''s voice brooked no argument. "Ah?! Yes, yes, yes!" Chen Fei hurried back to the fire, barely avoiding the S-Class boss''s anger. Close call! Seeing Mouri walk away, Yan Ling turned impassive again, eyes fixed on the fish, as Chen Fei secretly sighed in relief. Unlike his adversarial relationship with Miyoshi Xuesen, where any mistreatment was met with schadenfreude, Mouri was a friend and shouldn''t suffer collateral damage. A pile of wood had just burnt to its peak, the flames flickering a dark red, emitting even more heat. The grilled fish a foot above the fire reached its most tempting moment. "..." Mouri Misono, pushed a good ten meters away, holding the grilled fish, turned to see the unusual scene of a big and little figure grilling fish, feeling completely puzzled. Today, ''Rookie'' was acting strangely! Tilting her head in thought, Mouri finally decided to follow the advice, taking the fish to find Miyoshi Monk for answers. Seeing the monk''s miserable state... "I''ll take them all!" Before Chen Fei could finish retrieving the grilled fish, Yan Ling waved her hand, and all the skewers with freshly seasoned fish vanished. Space System Alchemy Storage Device? Of course, they didn''t vanish into thin air but went to a special space. This method of packing was quite bold. In storage space, everything remains static. Objects placed inside maintain their state when retrieved, making it an ideal packaging tool. Chen Fei was used to it, having seen it many times, with several such devices himself. "So... do you want more?" Chen Fei asked, hoping to please the boss, but with a tinge of apprehension in his voice. "Is that convenient?" Yan Ling''s reaction was indifferent but the aura was imperceptible. Chapter 823: Section 818 - Countdown Day A few people carrying loads on their shoulders and hands arrived outside the campsite, found a desirable scenic spot by the shore, and set up fish guards, sunshades, scoop net bags, folding stools, and other tools. They tilted the solar panels towards the sunlight, and the electric fans began to blow. "To gain something, you must first give. Sprinkle some fine bait to gather the fish," and then they started putting bait on the hooks and casting their rods. "We''re definitely going to catch something big today. I saw it a couple of days ago, at least a meter-long big guy came in. You all have to help me when the time comes." "We''ll definitely help, even if it''s three meters long, we''ll drag it up." "I''m not greedy, two feet is enough for me!" "Don''t worry, I''ve been baiting this spot for three days now. I dare not say much, but at least a tenth of the fish around are gathered here. I''m known in Jianghu as the ''Fish Feeder.'' A few fishing enthusiasts gathered together, including both ability users and ordinary people. Sharing a common hobby isn''t unusual. Although they didn''t know each other before, once they brought out their fishing rods, this "secret signal" was understood by those in the know. All the fishing enthusiasts immediately found their group, teaming up with even more enthusiasm than eating, sleeping, or fighting monsters. Crystal clear fishing lines were cast into the water, with many shadows darting back and forth beneath the surface. The anglers on the shore widened their eyes, eagerly anticipating their catches. "Wow, so many ''meal strips'' (white carps)!" "No big deal. We''ve been baiting for three days, everything in the water will gather here. We''ll definitely catch the big ones." "It''s here, it''s here! Oh no, it''s a ''meal strip''!" "Your hook is too small! You need a bigger one!" Reeling in and bringing up the spoils, they disdainfully threw the small catch back into the water, startling the swarm of ''meal strips'' into scattering. Mere half-foot-long ''meal strips'' were hardly satisfying for these anglers who were specifically targeting big catches. Another float moved. The fish here were so hungry that even the bait wasn''t enough to feed them, making every catch almost guaranteed. "Meal strip" again and again, the fishing enthusiasts were at a loss. Even after switching to larger hooks, the ''meal strips'' relentlessly bit the bait. Continuously reeling in, the catches were not bad, with over a dozen ''meal strips''¡ªbut not enough for a decent stew. Occasionally, a clueless local Tilapia bit the hook, but they weren''t even palm-sized. Sitting idly on the shore for over two hours, and yet the chaotic ''meal strips'' in the water mostly turned into "hooked fish" (previously hooked), but their enthusiasm for biting the hook remained unchecked, making these anglers doubt life itself. Where were the promised big catches? All they got were some worthless ''meal strips'' and undergrown local Tilapia? Did the meter-long big fish fly away? Hey, wake up, come out and bite the bait! Not far from these anglers, a three-meter-diameter pit was filled with thick ash, over two feet deep. Even after being doused with water and extinguishing the embers, it still radiated scorching heat. Not long ago, a large metal net was cast into the water, sweeping the entire newly formed lake thoroughly, catching all the fish that couldn''t pass through the mesh, dragging them all to the shore. Chen Xiao''er exerted all his strength to create a fully automated fish cleaning and seasoning machine, working one by one like an assembly line. A two-story iron tower covered the brush-filled pit, with hundreds of rotating skewers almost perfectly sealing in the fire''s heat. Every fish over 20 centimeters long was doomed. After this, it would take another ten days to half a month to see big fish in the lake again. These enthusiastic latecomer anglers were destined to return empty-handed, with nothing to satisfy their expectations. The S-Class ability user overseeing Chen Fei''s work was finally satisfied. Thousands of grilled fish were enough for her to eat for half a month. Chen Fei gained an additional piece of information¡ªthe spatial storage artifact held by the big shot could hold a lot, even enough for a large quantity of grilled fish. -- "0 days until the second wave of ''Wormhole Clouds.''" The countdown on the large sign at the observation campsite finally reached zero. However, the countdown didn''t stop; instead, it began a forward count. Everyone in the camp was a bit nervous, with a hint of anticipation. The command center was also fully manned, preparing for the imminent ''Wormhole Clouds.'' "Everything is peaceful, nothing has happened!" Yan Ling took out a skewer of grilled meat, looking at Chen Fei. She had a mini earpiece on her left ear, maintaining contact with the command center, just like Chen Fei. Not just the observation camp, but Blue Star did not see any black vortex clouds, neither on the ground nor in space. "Maybe there''s a discrepancy, my psi skill isn''t ''Prophecy.''" Chen Fei could only perform big data simulations through ''Adam,'' playing with probabilities, which was completely different from prophecy. "We can''t stay on alert forever. After all, you can''t guard against thieves for a thousand days." Yan Ling''s skewer was no longer grilled fish but grilled beef tenderloin, tantalizing with its spicy fragrance. A couple of days ago, a stray wild bull wandered into the camp. It was no big deal, and no one blamed it¡ªnot a big deal, it could try again in the next life. Constantly staying on high alert would not only fatigue Blue Star civilization''s fighting capacity but also deplete a massive amount of combat supplies. A large group of people doing nothing but waiting around wasn''t conducive to social and economic development at all. "It''s a pity that our understanding of the Parasitic Species is still too limited." Chen Fei''s mindset was somewhat conflicted at the moment, hoping for the ''Wormhole Cloud'' to either come sooner or never come at all. The extraterrestrial race ''Sagali'' had a history far older than the current Blue Star civilization, whose known history was only around two million years or three million at most, including the Third Era Civilization''s Neanderthals. The ''Sagali,'' who primarily survived through parasitism, had existed for over a billion years, maybe even longer¡ªso long that even they couldn''t remember. Time didn''t have much significance for these parasitic species, to the extent that they could put a civilization-bearing planet on their ''dinner table,'' not hesitating to spend thousands of years in the process. The Blue Star civilization, targeted by ''Sagali,'' couldn''t even withstand a few hundred years, let alone a thousand. The mere thought of it was daunting. Noticing Chen Fei''s emotional shift, Yan Ling still relaxedly said, "If the sky falls, there are taller beings to hold it up. You''re just a B-Class, don''t think too much." "Hmm!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but glance at her¡ªthe S-Class ability user was indeed qualified to be called the ''taller being.'' 24 hours quickly passed. The first day. The Blue Star civilization continued with its singing, dancing, stock trading, everything peaceful and normal. Only a few remained cautious, not dropping their guard. The second day. Society seemed to sense the tension among sovereignty leaders. After all, one cannot hide the truth entirely. Some information leaked out. Quickly, the situation got out of control. Various rumors spread like wildfire, with truths and falsehoods intertwining, making them hard to distinguish. The sovereignties began capturing troublemakers, especially those who always stirred things up and caused chaos, locking them up for self-reflection. The third day. The sovereignties seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The ''Wormhole Clouds'' still hadn''t appeared. It seemed they wouldn''t after all. Planets continued their unending orbits around the constant star sun, yet the entire star system itself was always in motion, following the Milky Way Galaxy''s spiral arms. The ultimate rules of the four unified force fields constantly affected space and time. Even if the positions were fixed before, in the next second, Blue Star, the sun, the moon, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter...these celestial bodies had moved countless miles away. The fourth day. At Cape of Good Hope on the Africa continent, just after sunset, the sun''s last rays dipped below the horizon. On the turbulent sea at the southern tip, a sudden thunderstorm unleashed countless bolts of lightning, illuminating the sky as if it were day. In the heart of the most intense lightning and thunder, a patch of darkness appeared out of nowhere and rapidly expanded at a visible pace, forming a massive black vortex. Almost simultaneously. Above Tiberia''s snowfields, the falling snowflakes were scattered by the lightning, causing permafrost within a thousand meters to melt, and the snow transformed into trickling streams. On the canal between the North and South Continents of America, the waterway dried up without warning, exposing the dark riverbed. In the rainforests of Borneo Island, the dense forest was instantly reduced to ashes, along with a native village. A black cloud slowly spun low in the sky above the empty forest. Pacific Honolulu... The Central Great Desert on the Yangzhou Continent... The Dead Sea on the Europa Continent... The Desert Peninsula... .... More ''Wormhole Clouds'' appeared one after another, quickly exceeding single digits in number.